Tag: Liverpool

MERSEYSIDE DERBY HISTORY: DISAPPOINTING STARS

Ahead of the Merseyside Derby, we look at some of the most disappointing stars that have participated in the derby since the 90s.


From the back, we start with Brad Jones. The goalkeeper was the replacement of Simon Mignolet late 2014 as the Belgian was struggling with form and consistency. The understudy had his chance but he could not impress. His only Merseyside derby action was in the October 2012 game that ended in a stalemate. With Jones now in the Eredivisie and Loris Karius usurping Mignolet before returning back to the bench, there’s a lesson.

Marc Hottiger came highly recommended from Newcastle in the 90s but he stayed just 16 months before moving to the Swiss League. He featured in the 1996 Merseyside match where Reds legend Robbie Fowler equalized after Everton went ahead through Andrei Kanchelskis. Hottiger makes this list as right back but in the left wing, it’s Andrea Dossena: the man who netted in the 4-0 Real Madrid victory and four days later against Manchester United in 2009. His career has since wound down.

In central defence, TorbenPiechnik and Mauricio Pellegrino would emerge. Pellegrino was part of the team that did the Istanbul miracle. He was the first Argentinean to play at Anfield in 2005. He had a bad start but had his breakthrough in the Merseyside derby of 2005 where Liverpool won 2-1. On the other hand, Danish star Piechnik spent two years at the Merseyside but failed to build a name for himself. Continue reading MERSEYSIDE DERBY HISTORY: DISAPPOINTING STARS

BRUCE COMPLAINS OF FITNESS ISSUES AT ASTON VILLA

Aston Villa new manager Steve Bruce has raised issues regarding fitness at the club.


Bruce was obviously not too happy as the players tired out easily during the 1-1 draw with Wolves at Villa Park. The coach was smart not to condemn the regime employed by the former coach, Roberto Di Matteo.

“We tired badly, which was alarming,” he said. When asked if it was a fitness concern, he said:

“I think that’s an easy one and Iwouldn’t like to say that against any other manager, but it’s fair to say that some can be in better condition and I think that’s only right. That’s the difficulty when you have to make two substitutions through injury,” he added.

Bruce admitted that losing a lead can be linked with the fitness concern of the players.

“I can understand now why they concede late. It’s blatantly obvious. We’ll go to work on that. It’s very difficult in this league as obviously we’re playing again on Tuesday. We’ll do eveythig we possibly can to make us better equipped to go and play in the Championship,” he added.
Continue reading BRUCE COMPLAINS OF FITNESS ISSUES AT ASTON VILLA

Peterborough United have already set themselves a high standard

Peterborough United have already set themselves a high standard of getting promotion without fail in the upcoming campaign.

The team could only finish ninth under the management of Dave Robertson, who was appointed as the caretaker manager after the Darren Ferguson. Rather than go for a new name, the club has decided to offer Robertson the opportunity to show his qualities as a manager. Since taking over as the full-time boss, he has brought in the likes of Jack Collison and Joe Gormley into the squad. These players are expected to fine-tune some of the areas where Peterborough United struggled last season.

The club started its pre-season friendly matches with a 3-2 win over Hamlet while the team also have friendly matches against the likes of West Ham and Ipswich Town between now and the start of the season. The opening game for Peterborough United will be against Rochdale. Last season, both teams finished level on points with each other and it could be a similar scenario at the end of this season as well. Captain Michael Smith says that it is no longer sufficient that the team just get promotion into the Championship for the first time since 2013, but they also need to play a beautiful brand of football. Continue reading Peterborough United have already set themselves a high standard

Massimiliano Allegri has stated that the striker does not remain for sale

Amidst a lot of transfer rumours surrounding Alvaro Morata, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has stated that the striker does not remain for sale at a reported € 30 million.

The striker scored goals in the two Champions League semifinals and also went on to score the consolation for the Italian outfit in the final against Barcelona. This was an impressive performance from the Spaniard, who moved to Juventus just two months ago for around € 20 million from Real Madrid. After helping Juventus beat his former club, speculation has grown that Madrid would exercise their right of buying him back for € 30 million that was inserted in the sale agreement.

If the Spanish club do not get him, Allegri believes that Morata is worth around € 80 million in the market today. The 22-year-old scored 15 goals in 41 appearances for Juventus across all competitions. More importantly, he had the presence that helped Juventus build their football around him. The club managed to win yet another league title while also completing the Coppa Italia title. They could have become the first Italian team since Inter Milan in 2010 to have won the treble. Still, it was an excellent campaign for Juventus and Allegri says that this has increased the worth of Morata. Continue reading Massimiliano Allegri has stated that the striker does not remain for sale

daniel de rossi

The summer transfer window is on the horizon and this is a period of time that allows players to make a switch to another club. Rumors always start floating around as the contracts of certain players reach their end.

As.Roma’s Daniele de Rossi is one of the players who recently has been linked with a move outside of the Italian League, Serie A. At the age of 31, the Italian midfielder is reaching the last few stages of his career and retiring is an option that players start considering at this age.

Daniele de Rossi is now being rumored to be thinking about making a move to the American League, the Major League Soccer at the end of the season. Toronto FC and Orlando City are the MLS clubs that have displayed most interest in signing the central midfielder.

New York City FC is another club in the MLS that might be the destination of Daniele de Rossi if he ever does decide to spend the last few years of his playing career in America. The current contract of the Italian midfielder with As.Roma lasts until 2016 but it could end sooner depending if whether or not the player is planning on making a move overseas when this season reaches it’s end in a few months.

Antonio di Natale is another veteran attacker in Serie A who is being linked with a move to the MLS but these rumors are very hard to believe as both Daniele de Rossi and Antonio di Natale are icons for their respective clubs.

Antonio di Natale is 37 years old but he continues scoring goals for his club on a consistent basis and he was named as the top goal-scorer of Serie A for 2 successive season in 2010 and 2011. It really comes as no surprise to know that he is captain of Udinese and that does not seem like it’s going to change anytime soon. Continue reading daniel de rossi