Morabito said: “It could happen. From the statements made by (coach) Carlo Ancelotti, you get the feeling he isn’t in the plans of AC Milan. There’s a lot of affection for the player at board level, but technically he isn’t the best solution for Milan.
“It could be Roma that win this competition because the conditions are quite favourable. The only problem is his contract. But even in this case, we could find a solution.”
]]>The Blues defender is on loan at Sevilla, but German side Borussia Dortmund still expect to sign him at the end of the season as Chelsea prepare to cut their losses.
The Holland defender, 26, has been on loan with Sevilla this season but has made only six appearances.
]]>But despite laying siege to the visitors goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half, Wanderers couldn’t get a third goal.
And a double substitution by Arsene Wenger helped turn the game, bringing on Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott.
The duo gave Arsenal a badly-needed attacking edge and within six minutes the Londoners were back in the game.
Unmarked William Gallas fired home after Ivan Campo failed to cut out Cesc Fabregas’ in-swinging corner.
Four minutes later, Steinsson felled Alex Hleb and Robin van Persie converted from the spot.
Bolton never looked likely to make their own comeback and it was no surprise when they conceded a third goal.
Fabregas’ shot initially hit Andy O’Brien which then in turn deflected off Jlloyd Samuel.
Cue scenes of jubilation on and off the pitch with anyone connected with Arsenal as the Gunners live to fight another day in their battle with Manchester United and Chelsea.
Wenger reacted to Arsenal’s recent poor league form by dropping top scorer Adebayor to the bench.
The Togo international hadn’t scored in his previous six Premier League outings and, to add insult to injury, his arch rival, Nicklas Bendtner, replaced Adebayor.
There could have been a serious injury to Icelander Steinsson due to Diaby’s challenge.
It was every bit as bad as Birmingham City’s Martin Taylor’s tackle on Eduardo da Silva last month, but Wenger somehow managed to remonstrate with the fourth official.
Steinsson, whose leg was lucky not to be broken, was bizarrely jeered by Arsenal supporters when he touched the ball.
Arsenal had the territorial advantage early on but couldn’t create worthwhile opportunities.
Van Persie went closest with an angled left-foot shot, while Bendtner’s poor control prevented him testing Ali Al-Habsi.
Meanwhile, in their first meaningful attack Bolton hit the front as Steinsson produced a superb cross from the right and Taylor stole in ahead of Kolo Toure to head that elusive first goal.
Taylor previously hit the net from the penalty spot against Bolton back in August.
However, his last goal from open play came 11 months ago in a 2-1 win over Newcastle.
And just like buses, the goals came in twos - albeit with a deflection off William Gallas.Mathieu Flamini was dispossessed by a combination of Gavin McCann and El Hadji Diouf and they set-up Taylor, whose left foot drive clipped Gallas and deviated away from Manuel Almunia.
A combustible first half erupted again just before the break when Arsenal complained McCann’s challenge on Philippe Senderos deserved a booking.
And when Kevin Davies slid in on the Swiss international to receive a caution from Chris Foy, Toure was booked for dissent.
There was no let up in the drama after the interval and Manuel Almunia’s save from Gary Cahill on the hour proved pivotal.
]]>Last year there were three teams from the Premier League in the semifinals of the Champions League, with Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United all making it to the last 4. Sure an Italian League team, AC Milan, won the title beating out a scrappy Liverpool side, but three out of the last 4 in the best league tournament in the world? This year looks to the be the same as last year, as the Champions League is in the Quarterfinal stage and 4 of the 8 teams are from the Premier League, with AS Roma the only Italian League team left in the prestigious tournament. There might not be any after the next knock out phase, as AS Roma battles it out with Manchester United for a spot in the semifinals.
Besides the AS Roma vs. Manchester United match up you can look at the last round to see why the Premier League is currently superior. AC Milan lost to Arsenal and Inter Milan lost to Liverpool. That’s 2 for England and 0 for Italy. Even though the debate rages on it is hard to look at the Champions League as a barometer to which league is better. In the Champions League there is more physical play, which suits Premier League teams better. Italians play fantastic soccer, but if you watch their league games they are not nearly as physical as Premier League games. If you even breath near the player with the ball in an Italian League game they will call a foul. While in England you pretty much have to mug the guy to get a whistle. This is the reason why Italian players are notorious for the flop. But in this debate you have to look at the Champions League.
The Italians won both the World Cup last year, as well as representing their country in the Champions League with winners AC Milan. You can debate which country produces the best soccer players, but it is hard to deny that, at the moment, the English Premier League is the best soccer league in the world.
]]>Arsenal’s failure to deal with a barrage of long balls in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge on Sunday allowed Chelsea striker Didier Drogba to score twice and clinch a 2-1 win that left the Gunners languishing six points behind Manchester United.
Wenger was surprised by the way his back-four failed to stand up to the battering, with William Gallas and Kolo Toure both culpable for Arsenal’s meltdown.
The French coach would love to get straight to work on the problem on the training ground, but the midweek internationals will deny him that luxury.
As if that isn’t bad enough, injuries to full-backs Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy could unsettle Wenger’s defence even further.
“It is a game we should have won but we have shown some lapses in concentration that we paid for,” Wenger said. “That is difficult to swallow because we played quite well and were in control of the game.
“I feel we have some defensive problems that we need to sort out. We gave an easy goal away against Middlesbrough and Aston Villa. Defensively we lost control of the game.
“Overall the team played well but we got caught when Nicolas Anelka came on with the long balls and the physical battle.”
Arsenal have lost their nerve with the finish line in sight, failing to win any of their last five matches and Wenger knows they have handed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side the initiative.
“Of course it is a big setback when you add the four games we drew and then losing here,” he said. “I feel we have to come back to winning games before we dream of the title.
“I believe we have the strength but at the moment we are six points behind United. We have first to win our next game before we speak about the title. We have to become stronger defensively first.
“The players will be very disappointed because they gave everything but we go home with nothing. I feel Ferguson is the biggest winner.”
There could be no more bitter way for a purist like Wenger to surrender the title to his old adversary from Old Trafford as Arsenal allowed themselves to be battered by Chelsea’s rudimentary football in the closing stages.
Wenger had been confident of three points when Sagna headed in Cesc Fabregas’s corner in the 59th minute.
When Blues boss Avram Grant replaced Michael Ballack with Juliano Belletti the Chelsea faithful groaned their disapproval, chanting for Jose Mourinho.
But it proved an inspired decision. Belletti’s long ball in the 73rd minute reached Drogba, who took advantage of a generous offside decision to slam home Frank Lampard’s pass.
There was even more to come from the Ivorian with nine minutes to go. Belletti’s cross was flicked on by Nicolas Anelka and Drogba’s shot was parried into the net by Manuel Almunia.
Grant admitted it was time Drogba started to show the kind of form that made him the Premier League’s most feared striker last season.
He had scored only twice since returning from African Nations Cup duty in February, but was too powerful for Arsenal.
“It is about time because since he is back from Africa, like the others, he was not in the shape he was before,” Grant said. “That is reasonable because they played a lot of games in humid weather. But against Tottenham he was better and here he was very good.”
Chelsea are five points off the top and United have to visit the Bridge on April 26, so the title is still within reach after Grant finally won a significant match.
“I don’t know if we will win the league but we will do our best to do it,” Grant said.
“We have won more than 80 percent of our games. Since we lost in the League Cup we scored 20 goals or more in all the competitions.
“I promised we would play attacking football. We did that and scored goals. It is important because for me the way is more important than anything else.”
]]>So the David Beckham road show takes it’s final drive. There is no denying Sir David of Beckenham Palace has been an inspiration to us all, a perfect roll model, a perfect dad, blah blah blah, we know this already.
Lets just give him his 100th cap and move on, a 10 minute cameo would suffice, there is no room for sentiment.
Cynics could argue that Capello is using this to distract attention from a game which England do not expect win, a meaningless friendly, although is there really such a thing?
Last month’s friendly against the Swiss existed initially I suppose as an early warm up for Euro 2008, but as a result of nearly 2 years of management by a man totally unqualified for the job, it took on a new meaning. This was Capello’s first chance to put together and watch a side made up of players who will form the future of the national side.Therefore it was a vital game, the first step towards moulding the new squad and side in the Italian’s image. So why were the media so keen to turn it into a testimonial?
David Beckham chose to give up competitive football at the highest level when Skeletor decided she wanted to live in LA. He chose to play in the equivalent of a pub league. He had not kicked a ball since the Croatia game, and in no way was an in form player.
On the other hand, David Bentley has for a long time looked like the natural successor to Beckham, yet struggled to get a place in the England line up. Yes he was a cock over the under 21 issue, but his meagre punishment was given and he was available to play again. Yet McClaren always appeared to favour Chelsea’s midget wonder on the wing, a goal scorer yes, but a boy who could not put a decent cross in if Willis’s life depended on it.
Bentley has the potential to be everything Beckham is. He can cross a football, he can beat his man, he can take a decent free kick, he has had a succession of appalling haircuts and he appears to want to deliver for his country. All he needs is to marry some overrated wannabe and he’ll have the lot.
So tell me, which is more important. Giving Becks his 100th cap against the French or allowing Bentley 90 minutes to prove his worth?
]]>Defoe conceded defeat in his battle to nail down a first-team place under Juande Ramos by signing a loan contract at Fratton Park - a deal which soon became permanent.
Both clubs had been under the impression that the former West Ham forward would be available for duty on Saturday due to the change in terms of the deal but an alteration in Premier League rules, brought about after a similar situation with Tim Howard last season, means he will not be allowed to face his former club until next term.
It is another blow for the 25-year-old, who has already missed out on Spurs’ Carling Cup victory over Chelsea at Wembley and would be cup-tied if his new side got to the FA Cup final.
But despite those setbacks Defoe, whose fine form in recent weeks has brought him five goals in his last five games, could not be happier with his move.
‘I can’t play at Spurs, that’s for definite,’ Defoe told talkSPORT.
‘I wasn’t sure but that’s how it is and I’m gutted. But you look at the situation and you say `I definitely made the right move’. It’s important to play football and more importantly to play with good players.
‘I’m doing that with Portsmouth and this club is going in the right direction. The crowd are great and I’m getting the chances to score goals.
‘I feel sharper than ever, I feel fitter than ever and I could keep running all day.’
Defoe also believes he is being denied what would have been a warm reception from his fans in north London.
‘I’ve bumped into a few Spurs fans and they said `we were really looking forward to you coming back, you’re going to get a great reception’.’
Defoe was rewarded for his recent exploits in front of goal with a place in Fabio Capello’s second England squad, something he rates as one of his priorities after struggling to become a regular during his time at Tottenham.
‘I’m quite proud of myself,’ he said.
‘When I was at Spurs I had a hard time, I had some good times there too but it was difficult. Coming to Portsmouth could not have gone any better.
‘Going away with England feeling good about yourself is important; you look forward to meeting up with the boys.
‘I believe if I do what I’m doing at club level I’ll get the opportunity (with England). Then I’ve got to try and keep the shirt.’
Reflecting on a possible international link-up with Wayne Rooney, he added: ‘Some say little and large is better up front but I don’t agree. Look at some of the best football teams in the world - Manchester United play with Rooney and (Carlos) Tevez.
‘I’ve played with Rooney before and it could work.’
]]>Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool have all had Villa watched in recent months and been linked with bids for the Spain striker over the last year.
With Valencia now facing a season without European football next term, Villa is considering his future and admits: “I have always been aware when offers have arrived for me and I will always make a decision on what’s best for my career.
“Though, of course, everything will be done with the consent of the club.
“I have to think about my future and what I am going to do. I will be listening to all offers.”
]]>
As expected, Roberto Acquafresca chose to play for Italy, the country of his father and the one where he was born. He politely thanked Poland for the interest and decided to fight for the place in the Squadra Azzura squad in the future. This whole fuss brings a question to my mind: why is it that we can’t find those players earlier?
Hardly a surprising decision by Acquafresca. He made a conscious choice and decided what’s best for his career. We can’t really blame him, there isn’t much linking him with Poland apart from the nostalgia factor. The Italian side also reacted immediately after the “Polish” rumours had started spreading with Pierluigi Casiraghi and Gianfranco Zola (current youth team coaches) convincing Roberto to stay with Italy (the Olympic Games must have also helped to make the decision). So, the case is closed, but what can we learn from it?
Personally, I think that it’s high time we establish a professional scouting department that would search for players with Polish background all over the world. By we I mean the Polish FA. We must reach those players when they are fifteen or sixteen and establish a bond between them and the country of their ancestors. We ought to show that we care for them, organise some “welcome groups” consisting of famous players from the past and present. There should be a constant contact between the Polish scouts and the youngsters playing abroad. We can’t just count on the parents of those kids to teach them some affection for Poland, we must stimulate it. There is much work to be done since children of the Polish emigrants from the eighties are growing up. Look at what the Turks are doing in Germany; they managed to convince the Altintop twins to play for Turkey. And they are constantly monitoring hundreds of Turkish descendats playing there. Some time ago I read an interview with a Polish scout working behind our Western boarder. He is not a full time worker and I don’t know if the FA even refund his phone bills or the gas money. He has no arguments to convince young palyers of Polish origin to play for our youth teams. What he can count on is only this nostalgia factor. But not everybody is a son of Wlodzimierz Smolarek, right?
Here’s a list of players that we’ve already lost (feel free to add the ones that escaped my memory in the comments): Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski, Piotr Trochowski, Dariusz Wosz, Lukas Sinkiewicz, Danny Szetela, Ben Sahar, Robert Olejnik (I’m not sure with this one, he’s an Austrian keeper), Andy Johnson, Phil Jagielka, Tomasz Radzinski, Roberto Acquafresca, Paul Freier, Sebastian Tyrala (maybe it’s still an open case, the guy is from Borussia Dortmund), Michal Delura, Tomasz Sokolowski (played for Norway), Diego Klimowicz. Just from the top of my head, and there are hundreds of undecided players (especially in Germany). We should already be fighting for the likes of Lukas Jutkiewicz from Everton or Daniel Sikorski from Bayern. Moreover, there is a case of Ludovic Obraniak (photo on the left) from Lille who wants to apply for a Polish citizenship and help us in the next qualifying campaign. He’s an attacking midfielder and a regular for his team. Worth a very serious look, in my opinion. POLISH FA, GET TO WORK YOU OLD GRANNIES!!!!!!!
Spurs boss Juande Ramos is keen to find a new long-term No1 and the Daily Star Sunday says he is turning to England international Foster.
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