Dr Richard Steadman is a very lucky man. Working from his Vail Clinic high up in the mountains of Colorado, he has somehow managed to attract the distant but extremely lucrative trade of the Premier League.
Dr Steadman has acquired a global reputation as the finest knee surgeon that money can buy for his work with the US ski team and now every time a Premiership footballer suffers a knee injury that requires surgery, Steadman is the man they look to.
Why is this? Every football club must be well aware that the procedures can be performed in England with the same success? Several of my friends have undergone extensive knee ligament surgery and not one of them has felt the need to leave England and every one of them is now playing football again, and this is without the professional physio and rehab work players would undoubtedly receive.
Steadman is not the only doctor to profit from the Premiership’s bizarre disdain for England’s clearly capable surgeons. Rather than look nearby, the League prefers to send its players around the world. If you have a hip problem Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, nicknamed the “Svengali of Munich”, is the man to see, whilst Marijana Kovacevic leapt into the limelight a couple of years ago when the press suddenly discovered that many of the world’s leading players were visiting her in Serbia to receive her horse placenta treatment.
The reason for this expensive and unnecessary exodus, (there may not be many horse placenta surgeons in England, so I’ll have to accept that one) may of course just be another consequence of the vast amounts of money in football. If you pay a player £150,000 a week, you would do well to get him the finest doctors and money is certainly no object for some clubs. If this is the thinking behind the trend, it is misguided. There is absolutely no reason why you would need to send a player to Colorado for knee surgery, or Munich for a hernia.
Even Owen Hargreaves, whose knees were some of the worst Steadman had ever seen, could have had his surgery in the UK. It may sound glamorous and professional to send all your players over to the States to get treatment but in reality it is more costly and inconvenient.
I’m sure all these fabulous Svengali’s do an excellent job, but if English doctors can give Wayne Rooney a full head of hair, nothing is beyond them.
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United’s great start to the season continued last weekend with a professional performance at Old Trafford. They say the sign of a good team is when you don’t play well but still pick up the points and Fergie’s men are certainly proving that.
At FFC this week we have seen a mixed bag of Manchester United blogs that includes Fergie must persist with Anderson; United’s rivalry makes no difference; John confirms Sir Alex’s interest.
We also look at the best Manchester United articles around the web this week
Welbeck v Hernandez
Why are so many footballers overhyped?
3pts is all that matters for Manchester United
Don’t blame Michael Owen for his cushy life
Why Fergie must persist with ‘Mr Inconsistent’
Why Liverpool and United’s rivalry makes no difference
Was Fergie wise to let BOTH of them go?
A case of deja vu at Old Trafford?
Fergie to rival Milan with £10m bid
John confirms Manchester United and Arsenal’s interest
[divider] Best of WEB [divider]
Complacency & Lack Of Domestic Rivals Could Cost United In Europe – Red Flag Flying High
Data point: United’s player performance to date – United Rant
A ‘fall from grace’ born of convenience – The Busby Way
Should Wayne Rooney Captain Manchester United? – The United Religion
When will Fergie bring back the “old” guard? – 7Cantonas
[divider]
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Click on Miss Sanford below to see her in all her glory
Republic of Ireland have booked their place at Euro 2012 after a 1-1 draw with Estonia at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Emerald Isle’s place at the competition finals was all but guaranteed after a 4-0 win in the first leg in Talinn, and a draw was more than enough to see the home nation make the cut.
Stephen Ward gave the home side the lead after 32 minutes, with a second half Konstantin Vassiljev strike merely a consolation for the Eastern European visitors.
The result means that Giovanni Trapattoni’s men win the playoff tie 5-1 on aggregate, and will now travel to Ukraine and Poland for the tournament next year.
The Italian coach was delighted with his team’s performance and glad to make the European Championships for the first time since 1988.
“This evening was another game, a tough game and we’re happy we didn’t lose. In football it is possible to concede a goal. In first half, two or three time Robbie Keane could have scored. They were not easy chances but he could have score two,” he told RTE Sport.
“We showed the Irish people we built a fantastic team and we deserved to qualify. We have a good team with good players. We improved our qualities. After we lost against Russia we started with a new mentality and attitude. The players believed our system.
“The team improved and they believed what we asked from them. For us that is very satisfying,” he concluded.
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Meanwhile, Croatia, Czech Republic and Portugal have also made the finals after winning their respective playoff ties on aggregate on Tuesday night.
The Premier League’s two unbeaten teams meet at the Etihad Stadium with Newcastle desperate to maintain their positive start to the season against table topping Manchester City.
A summer of spending has paid off for manager Roberto Mancini with his multi-million pound squad soaring to the top of the table where they’ve established a five point lead over rivals United. 10 wins from 11 games and 39 goals have made City early favourites for the title and they’ll be supremely confident of extending their lead against Newcastle on Saturday. They were pushed to the wire against QPR before the international break and needed the divine intervention of Yaya Toure to secure a 3-2 win at Loftus Road. The loss of Vincent Kompany to suspension destabilised the back four and debutant Stefan Savic looked way out of his depth alongside Joleon Lescott at the heart of City’s defence. The 20-year-old’s shaky display could prompt Mancini into giving Kolo Toure his first start in just under a year after his six month ban for failing a drugs test. The Italian has a big decision to make over his team selection with several of his stars away on international duty and he could choose to tinker with his side to ensure victory with the Magpies boasting the meanest defence in the league. The form of Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko has given Mancini a huge dilemma as to who starts up front whilst Sergio Aguero is expected to return from a groin injury giving the City boss another headache. Despite the selection quandaries the Citizens enjoy playing against the Geordies having avoided defeat against them in their last nine meetings.
This is a different Newcastle United to the one they beat twice last season with Alan Pardew transforming the side into a stubborn and uncompromising machine. They’re unbeaten in 14 games stretching back to last season and have remained undefeated in their opening 11 games for the first time since 1994/95. A summer of discontent has been followed by what feels like an indian summer on Tyneside with the team performing above expectations sending a feel good factor flowing around the city. However that was brought to a stuttering halt after owner Mike Ashley decided to rename St James’ Park last week with the famous ground given a new title -the Sports Direct Arena. It’s an issue die hard Geordie haven’t taken well too and there are fears that the clash between board room and supporters could once again undermine the players efforts on the pitch. Heading to the home of the league leaders will require every ounce of black and white support as they aim to come away victorious from the Etihad Stadium for the first time since September 2000 – a run of eight games. Pardew goes into the fixture with doubts over the fitness of key players Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote and Leon Best who all picked up injuries before the international break. It will certainly be a huge test with Magpies keeper Tim Krul and back four ever presents Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Ryan Taylor facing up to the leagues highest scorers.
Manchester City – 1st
Last Five
Won 3-2 v QPR (A), Won 3-0 v Villarreal (A), Won, 3-1 v Wolves (H), Won 5-2 v Wolves (A), Won 6-1 v Manchester United (A)
Potential Starting X11
25. J. Hart 2. M. Richards 15. S. Savic 6. J. Lescott 13. A. Kolarov 34. N. De Jong 18. G. Barry[C] 21. D. Silva* 7. J. Milner 16. S. Aguero 45. M. Balotelli
Injury News
Mancini can expect to have Aguero back from a groin injury but it’s looking likely that midfielder Samir Nasri will miss out after picking up a knee injury.
Key Player
David Silva – What a storming start to the season Silva has had in his second campaign in the blue half of Manchester. His graceful gliding around the field, feather light touch and mind boggling arsenal of flicks and tricks have encapsulated the Premier League this season. His clever use of the ball and defence splitting passes will be vital to unlocking a stern Newcastle rearguard.
Match Fact
City have tasted defeat only four times at the hands of Newcastle in the Premier League since 2002/03 winning seven times in their last 16 meetings.
Newcastle – 3rd
Last Five
Won Everton 2-1 (H), Won 3-1 Stoke (A), Lost 4-3 v Blackburn (A), Won 1-0 v Wiga (H), Drew 2-2 v Tottenham (H)
Potential Starting X11
26. T. Krul 5. D. Simpson 2. F. Coloccini [C]* 27. S. Taylor 16. R. Taylor 8. D. Guthrie 4. Yohan Cabaye 24. C. Tiote 18. J. Gutierrez 19. D. Ba 20. L. Best
Injury News
Key midfielder Yohan Cabaye could could return after going off mid-way through the first half against Everton whilst there are also concerns over the fitness of Leon Best and Cheick Tiote. Gabriel Obertan has an outside chance but Sylvain Marveaux will definite miss out
Key Player
Fabricio Coloccini – Not everyone’s first choice for the captaincy when Pardew handed him the armband but the Argentine has shone in what has been Newcastle’s best start to a season in 17 years. Coloccini has been a rock alongside Steven Taylor and his organisational skills and reading of the game will be key to halting a rampant City attack and keeping their tag as the league’s meanest defence.
Match Fact
Newcastle have been superb on the road this season winning three and drawing two of their away games this season but they haven’t fared well in the blue half of Manchester. The Magpies have failed to win on their last eight visits to the blue half of Manchester but will go into this game optimistic of avoiding defeat.
Last Time at the Etihad Stadium
Premier League 3rd October 2010
Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle
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Tevez, 18 (pen)
Johnson, 75
Gutierrez, 24
Attendance: 46,067
Referee: Martin Atkinson
PREDICTION
City are unrepentant at the moment and the sheer size of their squad means Mancini will be able to call upon a number of fresh faces to face the Magpies who are struggling with injuries to key players. With the likes of Silva and Aguero in the ranks it’s unlikely Newcastle will be able to resist the home sides undoubted attacking class. Without Cabaye in the midfield Pardew’s side will be shorn of creativity which is something that Danny Guthrie will tasked with providing. However with Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong providing protection to the defence this could be a lost cause for the Geordies. There is no doubting they’ll give it a right old go though!
Harry Redknapp was left fuming last night and laid into referee Chris Foy over his failure to award Tottenham two second half penalties and ruling out Emmanuel Adebayor’s equaliser. Video evidence suggests that Harry was absolutely right to criticise the officials, although the FA are likely to have a dim view at the Spurs manager’s comments.
Elsewhere in the news Owen Coyle gets backing from his chairman; Marouane Chamakh is set to weigh up his options at Arsenal, while Juan Mata isn’t concerned by Manchester City at all.
News
Petr Cech discussing new deal
Chamakh weighing up transfer options
Arsenal CEO gives backing to Wenger
Bolton chairman backs Coyle
Pardew: AVB has no respect
O’Neill delighted with Black Cats win
Juan Mata not scared at all
Redknapp unhappy with refereeing in defeat
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Transfer Talk
[divider]
Jose wants Lampard reunion at Real as Madrid boss offers Granero in swap – Daily Mail
Villa ready to offer escape for Fulham striker – Mirror
Moyes’ bid to land legend Henry – Sun
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United turn to PSV youngster Willems as Fergie searches for the next Evra – Daily Mail
Last weekend, in his post-match interview as seen on Match of the Day, Mick McCarthy confirmed that Emmanuel Frimpong was joining Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan until the end of the season, in a deal that the Wolves boss described as, “fantastic” adding that he was, “delighted because he’s a terrific young player.” For Emmanuel Frimpong it will provide the much-needed Premier League experience that has so far been limited to 3 starts, most recently in the 2-1 away victory over Aston Villa , and two sub appearances.
Sent off on his full home debut, in a 2-0 loss to Liverpool , Emmanuel Frimpong immediately grabbed the attention of the viewing public with a “spirited and tenacious” performance, as Arsene Wenger’s interviewer put it, with the Frenchman choosing to put his sending off for a wild challenge on Liverpool midfielder Lucas, down to “a lack of experience” and a “big heart.” His performance up until the sending off was “impressive” according to Phil McNulty, but his sending off marked a change in momentum, with Liverpool breaking down a resilient Arsenal midfield, now a man short, and scoring twice to record a 2-0 win at The Emirates.
However, the combative midfielder is only 19-years old and much like Alex Chamberlain and Francis Coquelin , Frimpong’s contemporaries, the Ghanaian England youth international was chucked in at the deep end, blooded in the harshest of ways against the best the Premier League has to offer. It did the youngster no harm, however, and since his red-blooded debut, he has gone on to start in two games that led to victory against Swansea and Aston Villa. An abundance of midfield players, a luxury that couldn’t have been further from the truth when the midfielder made his debut, has seen Arsene Wenger use 11 midfielders so far in the Premier League this season, and with Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby close to returning, the Frenchman has chosen to send out Frimpong in a team where weekly “spirited and tenacious” performances will be needed.
Much like previous loans of Arsenal’s, such as Wilshere’s to Bolton and Alex Song ’s to Charlton , The Professor has sent a central midfielder to a club that will be battling week-in-week-out for points, and it’ll be here where Frimpong’s style, “he is a fighter and he is a winner” (Arsene Wenger told Arsenal.com) will be honed and channeled into the performances regularly churned out by Arsenal’s current #1 holding midfielder, Alex Song .
Song is held in high regard by Arsenal fans and coaches at the club alike, “He is one of the players who surprised everybody. You wouldn’t expect what he delivers at the moment,” said Wenger, “He had periods when he had doubts in his mind, when people would say he was a bad buy or things like that. When you are a young boy that is difficult to take, but he’s got over that.
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He went through some difficult periods.” Arsenal fans are no longer criticising the purchase of Alex Song, who having broken through at the age of 21 making 48 appearances in Arsenal’s midfield, is now attracting interest from some of Europe’s finest with a £15m fee circulating around his bleach blond head.
Emmanuel Frimpong is hoping to emulate the successes of the Cameroonian international, “that’s what I want to be doing in a few years,” said Frimpong in 2009, before he endured a dogged 18-months of successive injuries culminating in a 9-month lay off due to a damaged anterior cruciate ligament, “ in the last couple of years Alex has showed everyone what he can do. He went on loan to Charlton and came back stronger. Everyone wondered if he would be a good player for Arsenal , whether he would establish himself in the first team, and I think he has proved that. He is playing really well at the moment.” Now, it is Frimpong that hopes to go out on loan and come back stronger.
Wolves fans can expect to reap the rewards that the last team to feature Frimpong regularly did: Arsenal’s u-18s during their 2009 FA Youth Cup run, which ended in triumph over Liverpool with a heavy 6-2 scoreline, in which Frimpong featured throughout the tournament but went off injured 20 minutes in during the first leg of the final. Steve Bould, who took the u-18′s on their march to FA Cup success, was “delighted” with Frimpong’s offering during the competition and the main focus was to harness the undoubted talent of the Ghanaian.
The midfielder, who is nine days younger than England international Jack Wilshere , regularly produced displays of superb shifts, acting as the engine in the team alongside Coquelin , who featured in the Arsenal team that beat Aston Villa on December 21st next to his midfield partner through the age ranks. The 19-year old can be expected to churn out tireless performances in the Orange shirt of Wolves, doused with “ferocious long-range efforts” and match-winning defensive displays, which Frimpong highlights as his main strength, “I enjoy making tackles more than anything because it helps the team to regain the ball and of course that is when [Arsenal] are dangerous,” and hopefully Steven Fletcher can be the danger that Van Persie is when Frimpong wins the ball, “Obviously when [a team] go behind it is always hard to come back but we know that we are always capable of doing so, [it] shows character.”
Now it is time for Frimpong to inject some much needed “character” into a Wolves team, that are without Jamie O’Hara and, yet again, have a relegation battle on their hands for the second half of the season. For Wolves, this may just be their most important signing in their quest for another season in the Premier League.
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Pressure is mounting on Mick McCarthy after his Wolves side were eliminated from the FA Cup by Birmingham on Wednesday night.
A Wade Elliott goal with 15 minutes to go ensured The Championship side progress to the fourth round of the competition, after a 1-0 win at Molineux in the third round replay.
McCarthy was left frustrated by the loss, and admits that he vented his anger towards his players.
“I am very disappointed, angry, and the game hinged on us not marking from a corner so I’m disappointed with that,” he told Sky Sports.
“I’ve loads of complaints, not with them, but with us for not being good enough on the night. I’ve said my piece in the dressing room.
“I know winning games creates that winning mentality and I didn’t want to lose tonight. I’m bitterly disappointed, I didn’t want to lose. I’m angry about that.
“Yes, there are a lot of changes, some enforced, some my decision, but they are all Premier League players and the best of them was Matt Doherty, the one kid on the pitch.
“I know what they can all do individually, but collectively they’ve not done it as well as we could have done. I’m livid we’ve gone out,” he stated.
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Birmingham will now take on Sheffield United in the fourth round after a Premier League scalp for Chris Hughton’s men.
As Fabio Capello’s deserted desk chair enters its final revolution the search for his successor has already began to pick up heat. The Italian’s decision to quit as England manager last night surprised few who had reached the conclusion that his tenure at Wembley had simply become untenable. The Football Associations’ decision to go over his head and strip John Terry of the captains armband proved to be the final straw for a man who was never universally accepted by both the media or supporters. The verbal sparring on twitter over a predictable selection of names, topped by everyone’s flavor of the month Harry Redknapp, is becoming increasingly dull. The Tottenham chief is the nations preferred choice to fill Capello’s seat in the dugout before it’s even had a chance to cool down even in these subzero temperatures.
However with Spurs currently in the midst of a three-way tussle for the Premier League title it’s unlikely Redknapp would be willing to abandon his mission at White Hart Lane in favour of England, which, in essence, is a bit-part management role. Whilst an inevitable tug of war between FA chairman David Bernstein and Spurs supremo Daniel Levy will ensue over the 64-year-old there have been suggestions that the job will be offered on a part-time basis. The idea of a manager fulfilling the role on an interim basis has been mooted before but should the FA finally choose to scrap the England job as a full-time position?
It’s a role that leaves a manager with a substantial amount of time to sit and twiddle his thumbs along with taking in the occasional football match; in Capello’s case that meant anywhere within a 150 mile radius of London. The former Real Madrid chiefs £6 millon-a-year salary has seen him become labelled as an expensive mistake in some quarters. In the current economic climate fans are being forced to dig deeper into their pockets to attend football matches so would the FA be willing to appoint another manager on a similar deal? They’re almost caught in a catch-22 with their clamour to find a cost effective Englishman who possesses the necessary experience to end the Three Lions’ 46-year trophy drought. I’m just making assumptions here but you can bet your bottom dollar the FA will be anxious to avoid splashing out heavy six-figure sums on a deficient English coach never mind another johnny foreigner.
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Frankly the options are thin on the ground at the moment with many free agents considered inadequate for a position of this magnitude. Stuart Pearce could be tempted into the role but having already admitted that he isn’t prepared for the big job it’s unlikely he’ll be the man the FA turn too. That has the entire country scribbling Redknapp at the top of their list of candidates to fill the breach. From my viewpoint the England manager’s job has become something of a poisoned chalice in recent years with the pressure to succeed in a major tournaments proving to be the undoing of several individuals including Capello. Would the media’s tendency to change their opinions at the blink of an eye and ruin reputations once results go south appeal to a manager already coping with the stress of domestic management?
Once again it all comes down to the financial incentives that come with a position that situated firmly in the glare of the media. Despite Redknapp’s supposed patriotism it’s unlikely he’ll leave Tottenham, whether it be permanently or part time, to manage England on the cheap. The same applies to any club manager the FA has in it’s cross hairs. Truthfully the current squad is in need of a major overhaul after Euro 2012 with the supposed ‘golden generation’ failing to perform in a decades worth of major tournaments. It’s in this respect that the need for a full-time manager would come in useful purely for scouting purposes. The need for fresh blood in the squad requires some serious reconnaissance stretching the length and breadth of the country which is something that Capello failed to do adding yet more justification to describe his pay cheque as absurd. The fact is a part-time manager wouldn’t have the time to tackle such a burdensome task due to their commitments at club level therefore having to rely on a team of scouts to effectively choose the squad for him. Even a manager without club ties might feel that he isn’t compelled to make the effort if it isn’t included as part of their pay packet.
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For me there is no definitive answer to whether the England manager’s job needs to be a full-time position. The pressure, constant media scrutiny and hopes of a nation weighing heavy on one mans shoulders makes it a position requiring an experienced and level headed individual. However a man possessing those qualities usually comes at a cost and it’s unlikely the FA will ungrudgingly fork out a large sum once again even if they have their eyes set on Redknapp. The prospect of an amateur stepping in surely leaves the FA in a quandary over whether a full time manager is the right path to take. Where they go from here is unknown.
Stoke bounced back from the disappointment of being knocked out of the Europa League by getting three points in a 2-0 win over Swansea on Sunday.
The Britannia Stadium outfit scored through Matthew Upson and Peter Crouch in the first half, and the score stayed like that until the final whistle.
Potters boss Tony Pulis was happy with his team’s display and feels they showed adequate energy to record the victory.
“We are pleased because Brendan (Rodgers) and the backroom staff have done a great job there,” the Welsh manager told Sky Sports.
“They play great football; they move the ball fantastically well. They work very, very hard, they are nice and compact and solid.
“I thought the lads were fantastic today with the closing down and stuff. Where they get the energy from I don’t know. That is our 43rd game of the season today.
“The thing is that you stay focused. No-one will get carried away at this football club, everybody knows about the family of this club,” he concluded.
The win sees Stoke up to 12th place in the standings, whilst Swansea slip to 14th.
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Dirk Kuyt has stated that Liverpool have a bright future, and he hopes that he can be part of it and retire on Merseyside.
The Reds have won the Carling Cup this season, are through to the FA Cup semi-finals but are lagging behind in the race for a top-four finish; the Netherlands international feels the club have progressed under Kenny Dalglish.
“We have a sense that we are a coming force, that we are building something special,” he explained to Mirror Football.
“We have a sense that we can do something next season for sure, but we are still in this season, and we still have a chance.
“We cannot give up on any spot in the Premier League and we are still in the FA Cup, so we have to keep fighting this season to deliver.
“Future wise, I think we will be okay. I think we have much to look forward to, because there is a sense we can go places with this squad, because there are some players with real talent.
“Yet we know as a club how important the top four is to the future – the finances [connected with Champions League qualification] mean you cannot afford to be out of it too long.
“That is why we have to keep going, and even if we are some points behind now, we can not give up,” he continued.
Kuyt has not had as much playing time as he would like this season, and is eyeing a more regular first-team slot.
“I want to play every game. It is very disappointing when I don’t – like the Carling Cup Final for instance.
“From my point of view I’m feeling really well physically, I don’t think I’ve ever felt stronger, and I’m ready to play games, I am ready to play every game of the season.
“For me it is all about trying to convince the manager he needs to pick me more than he does at the moment.
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“I can see myself staying at Anfield for the rest of my career, as long as I am satisfied and am entitled to play in each game to get to the level I want to be.
“As long as I play as much as I want to play then I will be happy, but if it gets to the point where I am not playing every game any more, then maybe I will have to make another decision – but I don’t think about that at this stage,” he concluded.