Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has told Belgium international Jelle van Damme to stop moaning and start producing the goods on the football pitch.
The 27-year-old moved to Molineux from Anderlecht for £2.5million in the summer and made a solid start to life in England, starting the Premier League games against Stoke City, Newcastle United and Fulham.
However, he has failed to start a game since the early September victory over the Cottagers and was quoted in his homeland during the last international break as saying that he wanted to return to Anderlecht on loan in January.
However, an angry McCarthy told the Express and Star:"Let me clear something up, there's no chance of any loan deals. Jelle is a player with us and one of my squad of 25. He signed a four-year contract.
"No-one can go anywhere in October, November or December so every single member of the squad needs to knuckle down and win us some games, get us some points until the window opens.
"In some cases, like with Greg Halford, they might go out to get some football. But otherwise it's January. And when we get there, one or two of them might want to go or I might want to change one or two around.
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"That's when we can do it. In the meantime it's a case of shutting up and getting on with it."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Neither Liverpool nor Fernando Torres, have been consistently at their best this season but his second against the champions, a curling effort that left Cech stranded, was of the highest quality. Torres came into the game with only two goals to his name, following a start to the campaign plagued by injury a continuation of the poor form he suffered at the World Cup. But like all good players he proved the old cliché of class being permanent where as form is only temporary with two moments that decided the game.
Chelsea had looked fairly dominant so far this season, their sole defeat being by a single goal at the hands of Manchester City and dispatching others with apparent ease. Yet Torres was able to break this fierce rearguard twice. Could this be a sign then that Torres is returning to his best?
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended Blackpool boss Ian Holloway for making ten changes before Wednesday's Premier League clash at Aston Villa.
The Seasiders narrowly lost 3-2 in the Midlands with a perceived weaker team following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Everton.
Premier League officials are investigating the situation, but Wenger believes the new 25-man squad guideline works in Holloway's favour.
But the Frenchman insists that it is of paramount importance that wholesale changes do not disturb a team's performance in the future, otherwise disgruntled supporters may rightfully speak out.
"We are allowed only 25 players now in our squad, so you would think if you are allowed only 25, then you have to declare you can use them how you want," Wenger said.
"When you had 50 and you could use 50, you could say there was an opportunity sometimes to throw a game away.
"That is one of the few positive aspects of the 25-man squad, that you have to present decent players, which is what he did, and they gave big problems to Aston Villa.
"What is most important is the performance of the team. We are all in professional sport and what is the most important thing is to respect people who pay the money to watch the games.
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"If people who bought a ticket at Aston Villa and think the game against Blackpool was a waste of money, we have to think about the problem.
"They are the decider and we must always have that in our minds. We have to respect people who pay to watch football. It is not only my opinion or the opinion of the press, it is the opinion of the people who watch the games."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
A victory over your rivals is a fantastic feeling. A thumping win is even better! It will be talked about as football news in the region for years to come and even if it doesn’t result in the team topping the Premiership League table or any other table around the world, it’s still worth a hell of a lot to the fans in question. Here’s a countdown of the ten greatest derby thrashings. Is there a better result for a club and their fans than serving up true humiliation to their bittermost rivals?
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Click on image below to see the TOP 10
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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes he can play at the top level for another five years.The England international, who made his debut for Liverpool in 1998 and turns 31 in May, has declared he would like to continue playing for as long as possible, despite admitting his attention at times veers to life after football.
“I believe I can play football for another four or five years but I do sometimes think about what I’m going to do when I finish playing,” Gerrard said.
“I would like to stay involved in some capacity, whether that’s on the media side or in the dugout we’ll have to wait and see.”
“I will certainly try to get my coaching qualifications at some point.”
Gerrard, who is a product of the Liverpool youth system, is 10th on the list of most appearances for the Anfield club with 551.
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Ian Callaghan holds the record with 857, with the late Emlyn Hughes second on 665.
Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will undergo surgery on an Achilles problem on Tuesday which will sideline him for another month.Vermaelen, 25, first injured his Achilles on international duty with Belgium in September and was originally scheduled to miss just a week.
But it has been four months since he played for Arsenal, with three unsuccessful comebacks forcing him to go under the knife in Sweden.
“I have already tried to come back three times, but the pain proved too much on each occasion,” Vermaelen told the Daily Mail.
“Recent tests showed a minor problem next to the Achilles tendon has been causing the pain. That’s why I’ll undergo surgery.”
“I knew I had a problem at the beginning of September, when I was preparing for Belgium’s games against Germany and Turkey. I didn’t want to miss them, but after the game in Turkey, the pain became too great.”
The news is a big blow to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who will be without one of his first-choice defenders for at least the first leg of his side’s Round of 16 Champions League clash with Barcelona.
But there is better news for Wenger, with midfielder Tomas Rosicky set to return to action against Leeds United on Wednesday.
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The Czech midfielder missed Saturday’s 3-0 away win at West Ham due to illness but is likely to play in Arsenal’s third-round FA Cup replay at Elland Road.
“He was sick but had normal training on Saturday. He should be okay for Wednesday,” Wenger told Arsenal’s official website.
It promises to be an anxious wait at Tottenham as Daniel Levy awaits the news as to whether Spurs will be granted permission to move into the Olympic Stadium. Opinion is certainly mixed among supporters, with many seeing it as sacrilege that the club could even consider leaving N17.
At FFC we have seen a mixed bag of articles which includes a Spurs deal that shows the power is shifting; Tottenham need a transfer splash and will Pienaar’s arrival pave the way for White Hart Lane exit.
We also look at the best Tottenham articles around the web this week.
The Top TEN Premier League Games of the 90s…well I think so!
A Tottenham DEAL that shows the power is shifting
Time ‘loyalty’ was added to striker’s long list of attributes
Liverpool or Spurs – who represents the best move?
Hart Break Lane? Or football at its finest?
Manchester v London – where does the future of the Premier League lie?
United and Tottenham pairing leaves Capello with cause for concern
Pienaar’s arrival set to pave the way for Tottenham exit?
A welcome addition to WHL, or trouble we could do without?
Why Tottenham need to make a transfer splash
David Beckham for Tottenham is pure showbiz
Few can blame Tottenham, given the parameters laid out by LOCOG
*Best of WEB*
Strikers on strike. – Spurs Musings From Jimmy G2
Pienaar Butter Jelly Time – Who Framed Ruel Fox?
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Dear Mr Tottenham supporter, regarding Stratford… – Dear Mr Levy
Transport Myths & The Old Legacy Sketch- Harry Hotspur
Stratford Decision Day Looms: No One Bothers To Ask The Fans – Tottenham On My Mind
A late double from defender Robert Huth helped Stoke City come from behind to earn all three points against visiting Sunderland 3-2.
The away side scored with their first attack of the game. As the ball was fired into the box Asamoah Gyan attempted a shot but missed the ball, however it bounced favourably for in-form Kieran Richardson who netted his fourth goal in his last three matches.
Huth had two golden chances to equalise when Rory Delap’s long throw found him in a crowded area but he fired his first shot straight at Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal. The ball then rebounded back to Huth off the keeper’s chest, but given a second chance, he blasted over the bar from just five yards.
Midway through the first half, another Stoke set-piece almost ended with their first goal, but Danny Higginbotham put his shot into the side-netting.
Eventually the home side’s persistence paid off. Delap sent in another long throw which caused problems for Gordon and his defence. John Carew, despite appearing to be in an offside position, toe poked the ball into the back of the net to score his first goal for his new club.
Sunderland scored their second just three minutes after the break. Gyan ran onto a ball lofted deep into Stoke territory and held off Huth before making enough room for himself to fire past Asmir Begovic in goal.
Tony Pulis’ men looked at their most threatening from set plays, and Phil Bardsley and Anton Ferdinand made important headed clearances to maintain Sunderland’s lead.
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But they finally caved in when Jermaine Pennant whipped in a cross that was nodded on by Carew then edged into the goal by Huth from close range.
Another in-swinging cross from Pennant in injury time found Huth who had made the run and prodded his side’s late winner under Begovic.
Despite their recent performances that suggest time doesn’t apply to them, the clock is ticking on the careers of some of Manchester United’s ageing stars. Ryan Giggs may have signed a new one-year deal, but the future of Paul Scholes is less clear. Whether he gives it another year or not, Sir Alex Ferguson knows a replacement is needed sooner rather than later. One of the players linked with filling the void over the past few years has been Roma’s Daniele de Rossi. But who is he? Is he really the man to plug the gap in Manchester United’s midfield?
The Italian has been a regular fixture in Roma’s and Italy’s midfield for quite some time now. The 27-year-old is an explosive, box-to-box type of player – a seemingly dying breed these days. De Rossi has bags of experience, which Ferguson will be looking for. He’s captained his country, scored in the penalty shoot out victory in the World Cup final, and certainly knows a thing or two about European football.
The problem Ferguson may face in bringing De Rossi to Old Trafford is the players allegiance to his club’s cause. Just like Catalans have with Barcelona, De Rossi has a special connection with the Trigoria and after Francesco Totti, he is the club’s darling. Roma also have new owners: mega-rich Americans hell-bent on ruling the football world, (we’ve heard that before) which could prove to be stumbling block number two for Manchester United.
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Whoever Sir Alex to decides to bring in, it’s going to be a gamble. How can you replace a player like Paul Scholes? Somebody who has been the heartbeat of the club for the past two decades, almost. But De Rossi can certainly do as well as anybody else coming in. Similar to Scholes, he loves a tackle (whether it’s clean or not) and isn’t bad in front of goal.
If speculation is to be believed, Ferguson sent his scouts over to Italy to watch De Rossi in action against Napoli last week. The Italian club is well aware of United’s interest and reports have suggested that a player-plus-cash deal could get the ball rolling, with either Federico Macheda or Anderson going in the other direction.
I can’t see Ferguson being too keen on the idea of letting players go in such a deal, but if De Rossi is the man he has been chasing, I’m sure he will use other means of persuasion. The funds are available, and the attraction of winning silverware at Manchester United is hard to resist for any player.
So De Rossi could be the next big arrival at Old Trafford. Filling Paul Scholes’ shoes is a massive task, and only the best need apply. Daniele De Rossi certainly fits that bill.
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Real Madrid appear ready to offload Brazilian playmaker Kaka in the summer with Manchester City and Chelsea waiting in the wings. Both have been heavily linked with the midfielder in the past.
City tried to sign Kaka in the 2009 January window before he went to Madrid later in the year and ever since Ancelotti took over at Chelsea there has been speculation linking him to be reunited with his former player. But is Kaka really the type of player Chelsea need at this time? With rumours of a Chelsea clear out in the summer, surely bringing in a player who would be 29 at the time would not be a sustainable solution. Read on to find out why I believe it would be a mistake for Chelsea to sign this type of player.
Age
At 28 going on 29 is this someone Chelsea should be investing in? He certainly wouldn’t be one for the future and at his age would be expected to come good almost straight away, especially with a big reputation. Fernando Torres, signed for £50 million still hasn’t scored for Chelsea and the pressure is increasing with every game.
Kaka would surely need time to adapt to the Premier League, something not on his side. One of the main problems at Chelsea is that they currently have too many players past their peak. Florent Malouda, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Ashley Cole, Nicolas Anelka are all over 30 and with their best years behind them. Kaka could only give maybe two seasons at his best.
Expense
Real Madrid paid £60 million to acquire Kaka in the summer of 2009 and while they will not be able to recuperate that, they will not be letting the midfielder go cheaply. I doubt anything less than £40 million would be taken seriously by the Spanish Giants. £40 million on a 29 year old is very risky business indeed and given Abramovich gave Ancelotti £70 million in January to sign two players it is unlikely this sort of cash would be available for one.
If anyone has been following Chelsea’s transfer rumours recently, they are mostly linked with young and up coming talent. Players in their early twenties such as Javier Pastore, Ganso, Eden Hazard and then even younger prospects such as Jack Rodwell. These are the types of player Chelsea need to rebuild their team.
Not another Central Midfielder?
Okay while not essentially a player that plays in the middle of the park but one that will play further forward through the middle, looking to link up midfield and attack. Is this not the role Frank Lampard plays? As mentioned earlier Lampard’s best years maybe behind him but he is still a quality player and one that is not linked with the exodus of Chelsea players expected to leave Stamford Bridge in the summer.
I have never been keen on Gerrard and Lampard in central midfield together for Anfield neither do I believe that Kaka and Lampard could work effectively in the same team. Couple this with the fact Chelsea have more than enough options in central midfield with Essien, Mikel, Ramires, and Benayoun.
Yes, the last two can operate on the right side of midfield but both prefer a more central role.
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Finally, Chelsea have bright stars such as Gael Kakuta and Josh McEachran coming through and must ensure the best development is given to them in order to reach the first team.
By Richard Field for the Transfer Tavern – click here to see the original article, as well as all the latest transfer rumour stories