It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

Arsenal can play some attractive attacking football, but can't seem to convert the attacks into goals. Players always seem to add another pass and another pass, instead of having a crack at goal.

By Jim White2:26PM GMT 24 Nov 2014 Comments36 Comments
It seems unlikely, but just imagine for a moment James Tomkins as a member of Wimbledon's Crazy Gang. And imagine what Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu or Lawrie Sanchez might have made of their colleague's performance at Goodison Park on Saturday.
Falling to the turf clutching at his face after being lightly brushed in the chest by Kevin Mirallas: back in the dressing room, the mockery would have been unyielding, his suit would have been cut to ribbons, buckets of water emptied over his head.
This was not the sort of behaviour that passed muster in the Wimbledon dressing room back when the Crazies were at their fractious, rollicking peak. It was not so much the feigning that would have been considered anathema by the knuckle draggers of Plough Lane. What would have disturbed them was Tomkins's evident lack of masculinity. He went down, you could almost hear them pointing out, like a girl. At Wimbledon they would simply never have given their opponents any hint that they might be hurt. For them it wasn't manly.
Plenty has changed in the game in the 25 years since the Neanderthal days of the Crazy Gang. Much of it for the better, not least in referees' vigilance against the kind of career-ending assaults on ankles and shins that they referred to as tackles, or the end of tolerance for their relentless mental and physical bullying of colleagues that coaches once mistook for team building.
But of this there can be no doubt: the assumptions of how a player should behave on the pitch have altered, too, beyond recognition. If players were hurt in the past - and they frequently were, especially with Jones and Fashanu on the prowl - they would be reluctant to show it for fear that to do so might be a demonstration of weakness.

A reputation for being hard to knock off your stride was hugely valuable in an intense competitive environment. In the 1970 FA Cup final, for instance, the level of physical assault was more appropriate for a boxing match. As scything tackles rained down, there was no point in the players feigning anything. As the journalist Hugh McIlvanney reported wryly at the time, the only way Eric Jennings, the referee in that particular match, might have reached for his book was on production of a death certificate. So everyone instead tried to stay on their feet, to show that they were the sort who would not easily be knocked off their stride. Or indeed knocked out.
But as football has increasingly become a non-contact sport, such renown is no longer required currency amongst those who play the game. These days it is a rare event when a player does not roll around on the turf as if under small arms fire the moment he comes into the vague proximity of an opponent. Indeed, so institutionalised is the requirement to hit the ground as often as possible when running, that if a player doesn't go down when expected it becomes a point of comment.
As on Saturday when Yaya Toure received plaudits for powering on through various invitations to tumble issued by the opposing defence to score the winning goal for Manchester City against Swansea. The expectation is now that the challenged player will invariably play the victim. And the better they play it, the more shameless their subterfuge, the higher the chances of kidding the referee into reducing the number of opponents.
When faking is now so routine, the inevitable corollary is the sort of behaviour that would have been considered undignified in the past but has now become commonplace. And the odd thing is, the unyielding glare of the television camera has not reduced the practice.
Despite being shown to look ridiculous in repeated slo-mo after the event, players appear more willing than ever to adopt a position of weakness. Since Rivaldo first demonstrated in the 2002 World Cup the effectiveness of going down ostentatiously, for more than a dozen years the growing urge has been to assume the position of the cry baby. Real men, it appears, don't get their opponents sent off.
And despite the widely delivered common prejudice, this is not a habit restricted to players raised overseas. It was not Carlos Kickaball and his dodgy foreign ways on show on Merseyside in November 2014. It was James Tomkins, who was born in Basildon, the kind of foresquare, uncompromising centre back who in the past would rather have undergone root canal surgery without the benefit of anaesthetic than behave like a theatrical toddler. Now, however, he is shameless in the pursuit of nefarious advantage. Off with the end of his socks.

By Telegraph Sport
4:17PM GMT 27 Nov 2014
Brazil legend was admitted to hospital in Sao Paulo on Monday with a urinary infection, according to reports

Brazil football legend Pele is in intensive care as his condition worsens, according to the hospital in which he is staying in São Paulo.

The 74-year-old was taken to hospital on Monday with an urinary infection. It was the second time in two weeks that he has been admitted for treatment.

He entered the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo but officials there released only a brief statement with no details about his condition.

He had an operation at the same hospital on Nov 12 to remove kidney stones and was discharged on Nov 15.

Pelé won three World Cups as a player – in 1958, 1962 and 1970 – and has also been named football player of the 20th century by Fifa.

Everton first up on the box tonight then Spurs.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30252441

If we could get another 3 pts today that would do nicely.

Media move on to McCarthy
Comments (5) jump
James McCarthy is the latest player being used to fill "column inches" in the tabloid papers, with the Daily Mail and Express both reporting that Arsenal will bid £16m for the Irish international.
With speculation over the future of Seamus Coleman dying down, The Mail now claim that Arsene Wenger will "test Everton's resolve" over the 24 year-old should the offer be rejected.

McCarthy, who was talked about as a target for Manchester United before they signed Daley Blind, is expected to be offered a contract extension by the Blues in recognition of his pivotal role in Roberto Martinez's team.

Original Source: MailOnline
Reader Comments
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Ian Bennett
073 Posted 30/11/2014 at 08:25:26 £16m? They must be looking to only sign the one leg.
If you are going to make up a story, make it credible.

Paul Andrews
075 Posted 30/11/2014 at 08:29:54 If ever proof was needed that the papers make it up this article provides it.
Why do they imagine Martinez would pay £13 mil,develop the player into a top class holding midfielder,one of the best in the Prem,then sell him for a 3 mil profit.

Colin Glassar
077 Posted 30/11/2014 at 08:31:31 Add £10m to that and I just might make an effort to yawn.
I love Andy Dunn's extremely condescending piece in today's Mirror about Big Bill and The Goodship Lollipop. What a twat.
Brent Stephens
081 Posted 30/11/2014 at 09:37:39 Colin #077 just read the mirror piece (once only, admittedly) and I thought it was bigging us up, including Bill, without being condescending.
Anyway, roll on the Goodship Lollipop and lets hope Spurs come to a sticky end today.

James Morgan
082 Posted 30/11/2014 at 09:41:48 Daily Mail hack rings up Express journo in a hushed voice...
"What can we run with in the sports tomorrow?"
"McCarthy to Arsenal, £16m, we've not done that before!"

"Yes, that should shift a few prints, the gooners are always banging on about needing a top midfielder!"

Tripe as usual. Next.

A cracking day at the Turf for everyone, thoughtfully entertaining game and despite Villa having a lot of possession in the first half Burnley created far more clear cut chances hitting the wood work twice and to be honest should have taken the 3 points.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30156609

Never mind confidence is high as we go to QPR next week.

COME ON YOU SPURS walk over. easy easy easy.

Everton spurn chance to extend their unbeaten run



Everton's eight-match unbeaten run came to a shuddering halt at White Hart Lane as they allowed Tottenham to wipe out Kevin Mirallas' stunning opener and run out 2-1 winners.

Starting in confident fashion after their 2-0 win in Wolfsburg, and buoyed by the return to the side of Leighton Baines and Gareth Barry after injury, the Blues dominated the first 20 minutes and went ahead after a quarter-of-an-hour. Initially tripped by Vlad Chiriches on the edge of the box, Mirallas collected a clearance from the resulting free kick and curled an inch-perfect shot under Hugo Lloris's crossbar from 20 yards.

The lead lasted just six minutes, though. Sylvain Distin's mis-placed ball forward went straight to Jan Vertonghen in the centre circle and two passes later, Harry Kane had advanced and fired a low shot that Tim Howard only managed to push into the path of Christian Eriksen. The Dane had continued his run and was on hand to knock the ball into the far corner to level the scores.

And Everton's cession of the lead was compounded in first-half injury time when Barry was caught in possession by Kane and Aaron Lennon fed Roberto Soldado who ended an eight-month wait for a goal by firing past Howard to make it 2-1.

Everton's response in the second half was a ponderous one, with Spurs able to pull men behind the ball to protect the lead and Roberto Martinez's side lacking width.

Tottenham almost doubled their lead in the 59th minute when Federico Fazio failed to get what would have been a crucial touch in front of goal to Eriksen's cross before Martinez made a double change to introduce Leon Osman and Aiden McGeady for Kevin Mirallas and Samuel Eto'o.

Good work from Ross Barkley carved out what would be Everton's best chance of the game with 18 minutes left but Hugo Lloris denied Seamus Coleman and it wasn't until the last 10 minutes that the Blues finally started to put Spurs' makeshift defence under pressure.

They nearly made the breakthrough a minute before the end of regulation time when Romelu Lukaku was fouled near the corner flag and Baines whipped in a free kick but the Belgian's towering header was stopped by Fazio's arm, out of sight from the officials.

The defeat keeps Everton in 10th place and five points off fourth place as they prepare for the visit of Hull City to Goodison Park in midweek.


Geoff Evans
1 Posted 30/11/2014 at 19:38:53 Tenth place is about right. The manager's tactics have been sussed. Possession football's great when you've got Iniesta and Messi in your team; without them, it's like watching a bunch of crabs going sideways and getting nowhere.
Having the most possession is one thing, scoring the most goals is what counts.



Lee Gorre
2 Posted 30/11/2014 at 19:48:16 Just reading Martinez comments. Not for the first time this season, I've been watching a different game. The man needs to learn when positive spin is the right thing and when it isn't. They're goals weren't fortunate, they were down to poor play on our part – Distin giving the ball away and then failing to defend the attack, and Barry ridiculously caught in possession.
The play was too slow and yet again we have gone 1-0 up and then for some reason gone on the back foot – just like every game when we go in front. Martinez is obviously aware of it, so should know something needs to be done about it.

Poor subs – Pienaar should have come on to create some threat down the left. Desperately disappointing.


Craig Mills
3 Posted 30/11/2014 at 19:54:18 Really disappointed with the performance today. Apart from a wonder strike, I thought we offered very little going forward whilst looking decidedly uneasy at the back throughout the game.
Too many players below par, too many individual errors, Howard's attempt to save their first goal was nothing short of embarrassing, Distin for the second is just poor..



Mike Keating
6 Posted 30/11/2014 at 20:17:49 Agree with Craig
Disappointing and we got muscled out of the game by a team which do not have a reputation for being physical.
After the goal we were second to every ball and caught in possession
Terrible performance

I know that there are lots and lots of Gordon Brown fans on here, but did they know that his alleged temper in private has been caught on camera with his wife as a witness:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9KXrRUZqtw&list=RDS9KXrRUZqtw&index=1

Brilliant Stan :0)

Thanks, a goody eh CC -):

By Paul Hayward, Chief Sports Writer
1:46PM GMT 02 Dec 2014
In bidding for the 2018 World Cup the FA missed a once-in-a-lifetime chance to blow the whistle on Fifa corruption and instead signed a Faustian pact

Remember the handbags? They seemed a tiny thing at the time – a homage to Lady Thatcher, perhaps – but the luxury accessories lined up for the wives of Fifa’s World Cup voters were the first sign that England’s 2018 bid thought it could play a dirty political game while pinching its nose.

With a curious mix of abhorrence and a slavering eagerness to bring the World Cup to these shores, the Football Association and government (let us not forget Whitehall’s involvement or the public money squandered) pitched themselves into a process that is now coming back to torment them as a swarm of ghosts. In a sentence, English football spurned a historic chance to blow the whistle on Fifa corruption and instead signed the Faustian pact.

And, studying the fallout for England’s governing body, this is the most charitable interpretation we can come up with. Confirmation that the FA compiled intelligence dossiers on Fifa executive committee members and rival bidders is no shock. Nor is it necessarily reprehensible. Nobody could hope to enter Fifa’s Augean Stables without knowing who is aligned with whom and which Exco member might be dodgy. The problem is what they did with that information.


A fat lot of good it did them too. Anyone who was in Zurich for the week of the vote will never forget observing England 2018’s deluded belief that David Beckham had swung the vote, Prince William had swung the vote, David Cameron had seduced Fifa’s panjandrums into seeing England as Blake’s Jerusalem, ripe and ready to greet the world.

If the bid leaders were calling on ex-MI6 security specialists, ambassadors and other high level sources, as the Sunday Times claim, how did they miss the clear signs that deals had already been done, that 2018 was going to Russia and 2022 would end up as the plaything of a repressive oil state who proposed to stage a World Cup in conditions that might kill the players?

The warnings were pretty hard to ignore. In November 2010, Miguel Angel López, the leader of the Spain-Portugal bid, announced that England’s frantic late lobbying would come to nothing. "All the fish is sold," he said. I reckon this should become Fifa’s new slogan. Never mind ‘ For the Game. For the World.’ Much better is ‘All the fish is sold.’

Anyway: if there was this sophisticated network of intelligence gathering in London, it either failed to set the alarms off or the FA’s team simply ignored any inconvenient findings. We need to establish whether they failed to pass on or draw attention to clear evidence of corruption: to what it extent the FA of the time might have been complicit, if only through silence, in how the votes turned out.

England’s 1,752-page bid book was delivered to Fifa around the time Lord Triesman resigned as FA chairman after a newspaper published tapes of a private conversation in which he accused Spain and Russia of plotting to bribe referees at the 2010 World Cup.

In 2011 Triesman used parliamentary privilege to allege that four senior Fifa officials had asked for inducements. The Mail on Sunday’s Patrick Collins reported the previous year that Andy Anson, the bid’s chief executive, had said of Fifa’s Exco at a private press briefing: “At least 13 are buyable.”

Collins wrote: “On the way home, I thought about Anson's indiscretion. How did he know which members were 'buyable'? What kind of research had they done to reach such a conclusion? Had the matter been raised with Fifa's so-called 'ethics committee?”

As Collins asked four years ago, why was this not acted upon on at the time? Probably because the FA knew by then they were in the midst of a filthy business but elected to press on anyway. Eyes on the prize. But they went further. When Panorama lifted the lid on Fifa on the eve of the vote the England bid team issued a statement: "We stand by our previous position that the BBC's Panorama did nothing more than rake over a series of historical allegations none of which are relevant to the current bidding process. It should be seen as an embarrassment to the BBC."

We also now know from Michael Garcia’s redacted report that England officials allegedly tried to help an associate of Jack Warner find a job in London, sponsored a gala dinner for the Caribbean Football Union and of course sent the England team to Trinidad & Tobago to schmooze Warner, whose reputation was well known. So it would be useful to know whether the bid officials at the time simply used the intelligence gathered about Warner to help them find ways of securing his vote, which, again, they failed to do. Old Jack had them on a string.

Now we hear tales of security experts advising England bid officials to lock their phones in lead boxes during meetings and have rooms swept for bugs. Industrial espionage around a multi-billion contract is hardly surprising. The impetus meanwhile, in the latest revelations, is towards state involvement in the network of alleged sweeteners that eventually sent 2018 and 2022 across new frontiers.

Thus Britain’s Serious Fraud Office and the FBI in America emerge as law enforcement agencies no longer willing to look the other way, as the FA did while “currying favour” (to use the Fifa ethics committee phrase) with Warner and attacking the BBC for doing its job in trying to expose corruption.

The curse for the current FA regime is that they are having to answer for the sins of an earlier time. But it hardly inspired confidence to see them convince themselves that cooperating with Garcia’s investigation (unlike Russia or Spain) was some kind of noble act, when in fact the activities now seeping out obliged them to come clean if they are serious about wanting to reform Sepp Blatter’s failed state. Greg Dyke’s bizarre belligerence on the subject of a free £16,000 watch he brought home from this year’s Fifa Congress in Brazil also points to a major disconnect.

You can see, too, how handing over intelligence 'dossiers' to an organisation no one can trust would be problematic. Fifa has already demonstrated its eagerness to divert attention from institutionalised corruption by bashing the English and the FA.

Yet the FA’s current leaders cannot protect the 2018 bid, hide behind indignant statements or refuse to acknowledge that a once-in-a-lifetime chance presented itself to expose the truth about Fifa, even if it meant withdrawing from the ballot. Instead, they sent in Prince William. They tried to work both sides of the street.

Another cracking game, as we move up the table.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30188074

How are your Duffers these days Dil, speak to us -):

Everton 1 Hull City 1: Sone Aluko cancels out Romelu Lukaku's opener to brings jeers to Goodison Park
Everton vs Hull City, Premier League – Roberto Martinez's side have won just two of their seven league fixtures at home as they once again squander a lead


A Plan B is sadly lacking, all very well playing from the back consistently,
works if you have players the calibre of Messi and Iniesta, afraid Distin and Jagielka are only good enough to hoof the ball the Davy Moyes academy. Barkley seems to be lacking confidence. Martinez is taking the flack for spending to much time at the World Cup instead of concentrating on pre-season training fitness levels. Injuries too frequent.

The sooner McCarthy is back and Oviedo the better. City up next, I'll be hiding behind the settee. :0(

What's going on? LOL! Great result for Newcastle. Stoke repeat STOKE! beating Arsenal 3-0 at home half time.

Is there hope for Everton against City? Hiding behind the settee 5.30pm Sky Sports 2 kick off at the Etihad.

QPR 2 Burnley 0. should have won that, had enough possession, wheres Dil these days watching Swansea -):

What a soft penalty that was!

Really soft, if Everton up their game could get a result here.

Oh well at least we didn't get a hiding. Every cloud ETO, not bad for a free. Winners of the group with a game to spare in Europe. Quite a few players to come back from injury, money to spend in January without any pressure to sell anybody. Barkley getting fitter will have gained a bit of confidence in that display today as sub. Still a two horse race for Prem imo and Everton can only get better and climb the table.