A leading heart specialist has stated that Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba is unlikely to play football again after his recent health scare.
The former England under-21 international collapsed on the White Hart Lane pitch ten days ago, and was rushed to hospital and revived after his heart had stopped for 80 minutes.
Muamba is seemingly on the mend and improving day-by-day, however Peter Weissberg, who is the medical director of the British Heart Foundation, feels that his playing career may well be over.
“It is not possible to say, but I think it is likely he would be advised not to play again because most conditions like this are a combination of physical activity and an underlying tendency to have a cardiac arrest,” he told Mirror Football.
“With people like Fabrice, we can put in a defibrillator inside the body.
“But I repeat, I think it is unlikely he would be advised to play football again even though he may be fit and healthy to do so,” the medical professional concluded.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
So the League Two season has run it’s course and the time has come for me to now name my Cobblers team of the season. It’s hard to choose a goalkeeper as we seem to have gone through eight in one way or another this season but here goes….
Shane Higgs – came into the club when Aidy Boothroyd took over. He was out of contract after his release from Leeds United at the end of last season, and made a good impression on a lot fans with a string of fine saves and the way he could command his penalty area. But after playing a handful of games for the club the goalie curse struck and he was ruled out for the rest of the season, but I am really looking forward to seeing him play again next season.
Blair Adams – Blair was another signing made by ADB after he joined the club on loan from Sunderland. He did enough to have that loan extended until the end of the season he became dependable in a problem left back position and was good defending. He also was just as good going forward providing a good link with the wide men.
Clarke Carlisle – Clarke joined the club on a six month loan from Burnley in January and was immediately made captain by ADB a shrewd move by the manager. He certainly helped shore up a leaky defence with his no nonsense defending and always seemed to be in the right position, leading from the front talking to the players and helping them believe in themselve and build their confidence. I just hope we can sign him on for next season now that he has been released by Burnley.
Kelvin Langmead – I like many fans at the beginning was not to sure about Kelvin in the first half of the season as he seemed to lack confidence and was often caught out at the back. But since ADB came in and rewarded him with an 18 month contract, the guy has come on in leaps and bounds. He has proven to be a great defender who has forged a good partnership with Clarke Carlisle and has been on the score sheet a few times in crucial games towards the end of the season. I now look forward to seeing him perform for a whole season in 2012/13.
John Johnson – John was made captain by the previous manager and but was stripped of this when Clarke Carlisle signed. I was interested to see how he would react and I think its fair to say he made the right back position his own putting in a string of great performance’s, looking really solid while giving 100% for the cause. Well played Johnno.
Ben Tozer – Well there is not much to say about Ben he has had a great season this season he has been pushed from pillar to post this season and played in a variety of positions for the club. He just missed out on being in my top three players of the year from last week but he has been a solid link in the build up between defence and midfield slotting in the gaps when needed.
Ben Harding – Ben has been a ray of light for the midfield since he has signed, linking defence and attack to ensure that we have had more bite in midfield. He was missing towards the tail end of the season and I think we suffered a bit as he can hold the ball well and make that crunching tackle that every midfield needs. A quality signing by Boothroyd.
Luke Guttridge – Well nothing much needs to be said about Luke as he is a terrier in midfield and also chips in with a few goals. He is constantly running and looking to link up with every attack. He played a vital roll just behind Bayo in the tail end of the season and I was glad to have this guy back at the football club.
Michael Jacobs – 20-year-old Jacobs came on again this season and is a constant threat to opposing defenders with his weaving runs, cutting inside on to his other foot and striking from distance especially the goal he scored at Bradford City earlier in the season. He made his 100th appearance for the club during the last game of the season but with contract now up and a host of Championship clubs after his signature it may be the last we see of him at Sixfields.
Saido Berahino – Saido signed on loan from West Brom and he has the potential to be a great striker in years to come. He linked up with Bayo really well and all in all was a threat whenever he played, chipping in with a few goals as well. If he fancies coming back anytime he will always be welcome.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Adebayo Akinfenwa – Bayo contributed a massive 18 goals this season and again proved his worth as a cult figure within this football club of ours. A constant threat whenever he plays but was left out when ADB took over however he worked hard to improve his fitness and came back half the man he was but he lost none of that brute force and goal-scoring prowess. The guy is a beast and I just hope he will stay and see out his career at the club I know deep down he calls home.
In the end it all proved to be quite routine for Arsenal. Any lingering doubt over securing third place were put to rest as they triumphed over West Brom at the Hawthorns aided by the slippery mits of Baggies on-loan keeper Fulop. Obviously the North London conspiracy theorists will be buzzing with that knowledge but it doesn’t draw away from the fact Arsene Wenger has achieved something deemed inconceivable 10-months ago. Obtaining automatic qualification to the Champions League was a mere pipe dream for the Gunners at the beginning of the season after losing key figures Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri without the adequate time to replace them. Two wins from their first seven games left them staring down the barrel of the unthinkable until a miraculous revival saw them surge up the table overtaking the Spuds who appeared dead certs to finish third. Keeping Robin Van Persie at the Emirates Stadium will now be the main focus for Wenger who would loathe to lose his 37-goal top scorer ahead of the next campaign.
This week on FFC should the Gunners hierarchy stand firm during Robin Van Persie’s contract negotiations and is the season just gone a one to forget for supporters?
Best of FFC
Football FanCast Meets Robert Pires
Has Arsene’s Pride Come Before Arsenal’s Fall?
Should Arsenal look to follow suit and play hardball?
What can we honestly expect from Arsenal FC?
Arsenal set to offer RVP £5m signing on fee as part of bumper deal
The TEN ‘conclusions and lessons’ we have learnt From Arsenal’s season
[divider]
Best of WEB
[divider]
The “Oh God, It’s Going To Be A Long Summer” Post – A Cultured Left Foot
The missing ingredient in the Arsenal camp – Gunnersphere
How those RVP negotiations might have went… – Online Gooner
Can he ever create another ‘Invincible’ side? – Gunnersphere
Can’t pull the wool down – Arseblog
Arsenal take third | Robin comments concerning | Kieran Gibbs… you little beauty! – Le Grove
One way to stop players leaving, Alisher Usmanov!! – Highbury House
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Why Junior Hoilett Should Join Arsenal, Not Spurs – Transfer Tavern
[divider]
Quote of the Week
[divider]
“Robin wants to win trophies. Arsenal have to show him he can do it with Arsenal. The best way for them to get him to sign a contract is to bring players to the club who can show him that the club are in the same line as him.
“It is really important because we know how Robin loves Arsenal – that is not the question, the question is how Arsene Wenger will convince Robin they can win trophies.” Former captain Patrick Vieira believes Arsenal need to show ambition if they are to keep top scorer Robin Van Persie
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Malaga forward Salomon Rondon, and have sent scouts to watch the striker according to The Daily Mail.
The west London club are in the market for a new frontman after Didier Drogba’s exit from Stamford Bridge, with Porto’s Hulk thought to be the side’s first choice.
However, Blues scouts were in attendance as Rondon played for Venezuela took on Chile at the weekend, and the Premier League club are now thought to be weighing up a transfer bid.
The 22-year-old striker is burly and is thought to have the physical attributes to excel in the Premier League, and Arsenal and Newcastle have also been credited with an interest in the South American also.
After 25 goals in two seasons for the Andalusian side Malaga rate Rondon at around the £20 million mark, and as such he would represent a more cost-effective alternative to signing Hulk.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
After another season of disappointment for Leicester fans, will 2013 be the year the Foxes seal promotion back to the big time?
On the 24th October last year the Leicester City board decided to call time on Sven-Göran Eriksson’s reign at the club. The move came as no surprise after a 3-0 drumming at the hands of Millwall and the club languishing in 13thplace.
The Thai owners felt they had no option but to make a change if they were to succeed in bringing Premier League football back to The King Power Stadium.
Nigel Pearson, the man who left the club 2 years earlier to join Hull City, was the owner’s choice to take over the reins after Sven’s departure. Pearson couldn’t weave the magic required to get Leicester into a play-off position and they finished off a turbulent season in 9th place.
Fast forward 8 weeks and for the second year running bookmakers have installed Leicester as favourites to be crowned kings of the Championship, and with good reason. Leicester have one of the strongest squads in the league and owners with money to burn, this combination should provide Leicester fans with an abundance of optimism, but things are never that simple.
There are question marks over whether some of the players are committed to the cause and doubts have been raised over Nigel Pearson’s ability to produce results under intense scrutiny. The extreme pressure is due in large part to the fact Leicester are in effect ‘doing a Man City’ and trying to buy success.
Manchester City have proven money can buy you success but what they and Leicester have both proven is that it doesn’t come instantly. There are many factors that contribute to a Championship winning side but relentlessly pumping ubiquitous amounts of cash into a club is not an effective formula.
It takes time to ingrain a winning mentality and picking out the right transfer targets is also key to a side’s success. There has been little movement on the transfer front so far from Leicester but there is still plenty of time for Nigel Pearson to make some quality additions to his squad this month and next.
The only exit from the club so far has been Ivorian international Sol Bamba, one of the clubs best performers last season, departing to pastures new with Trabzonspor. Pearson will need to fill the void left by Bamba with a stellar replacement to keep the players and fans happy.
The main threat to Leicester’s chances of securing the league title will come from two teams who were relegated from the Premier League last season, Wolves and Bolton. Both have squads filled with quality and will be desperate to make the leap back to the promise land at the first time of asking.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Cardiff, who have narrowly missed out on promotion for two years running, will be a threat to Leicester’s chances, as will Leeds who have a ground and fan-base fit for the top flight.
Blackburn who were also relegated from the top tier last season should also not be overlooked. Steve Kean will struggle to hold onto the clubs best players and it’s yet to be seen how he will cope at this level but they should be contenders come the end of the season.
With expectations for promotion at an all-time high at The King Power Stadium, anything less than promotion will inevitably be deemed a failure. Over the past few seasons the team has adopted the motto “Keep the Faith”. If the club are going to achieve promotion then that slogan will be more prevalent than ever.
Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic has stated that Premier League champions Manchester City will face a tough campaign in defending their title.
Roberto Mancini’s men are the team to beat after lifting the crown on the last day of the season last term.
Despite this, the Serbian defender is predicting that the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United will be motivated to overthrow their big-spending rivals.
“City will find it a lot more difficult next season, every team will want to beat them because they are the champions,” Ivanovic stated at a press conference in the United States, published in The Daily Mail.
“It was the same with us, when you win something – it doesn’t matter if it’s a big or small club – they will fight and have extra motivation.
“The real test of a good team is if they can be successful again in the next season, particularly in the Premier League because it’s a long season and everyone wants to beat you.
“For me Manchester United are always the number one favourites.
“After watching City win it last season United will have the motivation. Also other teams, like Chelsea, will look at City and try to build something new and looking to be in the race to win the league. It will be tough for them,” the eastern European concluded.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
La Liga’s Lionel Messi, Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo have been nominated as the final names to be in with a chance of winning the FIFA 2012 Ballon d’Or.
Messi, after winning the golden ball in 2009 and going on to win in 2010 and 2011 – when the Ballon d’Or merged with the FIFA World Player of the Year – could win a record breaking fourth consecutive award.
Before Messi’s win in 2011, Michel Platini stood as the only man to win three consecutive times between 1983 and 1985 but it would be no surprise if Messi surpassed Platini’s achievement this year.
Although, Iniesta, after receiving the UEFA Euro 2012 Player of the Tournament, and as a member to the Euro 2012 winning team with Spain, is by no means out of the running.
Ronaldo, the Portuguese national captain, had an electrifying season capped off by claiming the La Liga title with Real. However, he was widely criticised when failing to take a penalty against Spain in the Euro semi-final.
The Portuguese put his name down for the fifth penalty but Fabregas’ spot-kick wrapped up the game, leaving Ronaldo standing in the centre circle.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Alvaro Negredo might be one of those strikers who needs a few good opportunities before finally finding the net, but on the weekend, the Sevilla striker and captain looked like one of the side’s most dangerous players in their 2-1 win over Getafe.
Maybe Negredo, like former Real Madrid team-mate Roberto Soldado, gets washed away in the excitement of other La Liga strikers like Fernando Llorente and Radamel Falcao. However, the experienced Spanish international certainly has the qualities to succeed in the Premier League.
I’m sure many Spaniards would have been angered by his inclusion in the Euros ahead of Llorente, as Negredo looked distinctly out of his depth alongside Xavi and David Silva. But, at the end of it, who are fans or neutrals to question Vincente Del Bosque’s methods?
Negredo was never going to be a hit at Real Madrid, despite playing for Castilla and doing well. Real Madrid’s policy simply doesn’t allow for youth graduates or B team players to succeed at the Bernabeu while foreign superstars are lining up to pull on the white shirt.
Instead, Negredo found some success at Almeria before landing at the much higher profile Sevilla via a short return to Madrid. Flanked by Jesus Navas and with a good group of players behind him, the Sevilla captain was able to prove why he is one of the Spanish league’s better marksmen, landing on a final tally of 14 league goals last season. It’s not Messi or Ronaldo numbers, but then who can emulate that?
Negredo is noticeably comfortable as the lone striker, while displaying excellent athleticism and obvious strength. I’ve yet to see Negredo bullied off the ball in Spanish football, but the nature of the game in La Liga shouldn’t deter potential buyers from Negredo, who is more than capable of looking after himself.
The Sevilla captain strikes me as a player who would do well as one of a couple of options at a bigger club in England, but would certainly flourish in a lesser spotlight. He does, however, need to move up a tier at some stage; Sevilla are a good side for him, but it would be interesting to see how he manages at one of the bigger clubs in Europe.
He’s unlikely to win you a league title on his own immediately, but he will grab the important goals and more than play his part. His brief cameo with Spain at the Euros was not the best indication of what Negredo is capable of, however, he can be inconsistent.
English clubs have been linked with him in the past for fees around £20 million, but that is a little steep. Something closer to £12-15 million max would surely tempt Sevilla into selling.
Negredo is a powerful and at times unpredictable character to have in the forward positions. He’s good in the air but can also lash screaming shots at goal from well outside the box. He has a good level of technical ability, while also possessing the attributes to be a target man in the box. He’s the sort of striker that Tottenham should be looking for, and Liverpool could certainly do a lot of good by pairing him with Luis Suarez.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The economic problems in Spain allow for foreign clubs to land unbelievable bargains from those who know their assets are worth more. It shouldn’t take long for someone in the Premier League to knock on Jose Maria Del Nido’s door with a serious level of interest in his star striker. Ahead of the huge fees of Falcao and Llorente, Negredo would represent a positive and low-risk move for a club in need of an experienced and capable striker.
Tottenham’s Luka Modric has finally completed his switch to Real Madrid, and will be unveiled by the Spanish side according to The Daily Mail.
The diminutive playmaker has made his intentions to leave White Hart Lane clear, with Jose Mourinho’s men in negotiations over a deal all summer long in a protracted transfer saga.
Despite the north London side standing firm on their £40 million valuation initially, Daniel Levy has had to compromise and accept €34million (£26.9m) to facilitate a move before the transfer window closes.
Modric has not been part of Andre Villas-Boas’ training and as such a move was needed to end the player’s isolation at White Hart Lane.
It is thought that Tottenham will make a late push to reinvest the money made from Modric’s sale in other players before the window closes at the end of this week.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Atletico Madrid striker, Radamel Falcao has been embarrassed by some unwelcome claims by his father, stating that it is his son’s dream to play for Real Madrid. Sky Sports reports.
Falcao’s standing in European football could not be higher at the moment, after his stunning hat-trick helped Atletico crush Chelsea 4-1 in the UEFA Super Cup.
Radamel Garcia told Spanish television that his son’s dream move would be to Real Madrid, but would consider playing in England, with Chelsea and Manchester City reportedly interested in the striker.
“Of course he wants to go to the 2014 World Cup, but most of all, he wants to go to Real Madrid – he will change teams at the end of the year”, Garcia boldly claimed.
But there are suggestions that Garcia’s claims should be taken with a pinch of salt, after previously stating that it was his son’s dream to play for Chelsea and that a deal would be very likely in January.
Falcao himself was keen to dismiss the speculation through his twitter account: “Just so the whole world is clear: my dream is to win titles with Atletico Madrid and to qualify for the World Cup with Colombia.”