According to the man himself, “I’m really pleased with how I have played in the last few games and the team is winning. When that happens, everyone has a better performance.” It would appear that the Liverpool midfielder is not wrong. Having seen a number of his performances of late, it would seem the young Brazilian midfielder has started to live up to his billing.
Following his performance against Chelsea the midfielder received rave reviews for his role in the victory. With a new manager and renewed belief at Liverpool it would seem Lucas is eager to impress and cement a regular place in the first team.
The much maligned Brazilian has certainly grown into a hard-working, tough-tackling midfielder who has been arguably Liverpool’s most improved and most consistent performer over the past 18 months. His performance against Chelsea very much seemed like a coming of age for the 23 year old.
Prior to his decent consistent form this season Lucas was targeted as a convenient scapegoat by supporters – admittedly, mainly those who rarely if ever attended games when Benitez’s reign unravelled last season. However, Hodgson showed an early sign of faith in the Brazilian by naming him skipper in Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly.
Then came the arrivals of fellow central midfielders Christian Poulsen and Raul Meireles, this appeared to jeopardise the Brazilian’s position. Instead, Lucas has responded positively and been a mainstay of the line-up that has kick started Liverpool’s season with four straight wins.
The young midfielder reaffirms the idea he has started to live up to his billing by stating “Everyone could see that the manager had brought in a midfielder in Poulsen and Mascherano was still here. We had a lot of midfielders. I don’t really think about things too much. I just want to keep working hard and be pleased with myself. I am trying to do everything I can. If at the end the manager doesn’t play me, it is his decision; all I can do is work really hard.”
This positive attitude has definitely proved beneficial not only for Lucas but the whole team. The young Brazilian seems to have turned a corner in the hearts and minds of the fans as he matures into a hard-working, tough-tackling defensive midfielder. The true test will be if he can maintain this decent start to the season. What do you think? Is Lucas well on his way to becoming a Premier League star?
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Everton manager David Moyes had no excuses after watching his side produce a lame display in the 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal.
Moyes' side fell two goals behind before Tim Cahill grabbed a late consolation effort, but Everton never looked capable of salvaging anything from the match.
The Everton boss said afterwards:"I don't really feel as if we deserved an awful lot. I don't think we played all that well.
"I didn't think there was much in the game before the first goal. I didn't think Arsenal were great and I don't think we were.
"Losing a goal just before half-time was crucial to them and the one just after half-time made it really difficult.
"We tried to keep going, we'd wanted to do that from the first minute but I never felt we got into the tempo or speed of the game.
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"There were things which on another day may have gone in Everton's favour but didn't.
"I thought we created one or two chances which on another day we might have scored. If we'd got the goal a bit earlier then who knows?"Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Newcastle may have been a little fortunate to have emerged from their clash with Chelsea last weekend with a share of the spoils, however Chris Hughton will have been buoyed by several key performances in amongst the snow showers and Chelsea pressure.
West Brom will surely be kicking themselves. Having finally ended their winless streak in the league last weekend, the Baggies crashed out of the Carling Cup to struggling Championship outfit, Ipswich. Roberto Di Matteo will argue that anything that could distract his players from the goal of Premier League survival is an unwelcome addition to the calendar, however players themselves may see it a little differently- so close as they were to a Wembley appearance.
Both sides are comfortably sitting in mid-table, however with games coming thick and fast, the Premier League landscape can alter very quickly. Newcastle have not been very good at home thus far, so will be looking to keep up their decent away record.
Prediction: 2-1
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Forget the feel good nature of Chelsea’s 7-0 FA Cup thrashing of Ipswich Town last weekend, here begins the real test of the champions’ stomach for what will be a tough road back to title contention.
Blackburn stifled the three times Premier League winners for long periods at Ewood in October, and with rumours abounding that Carlo Ancelotti is prepared to leave talismanic forward, Didier Drogba, on the bench ahead of an absolute must win clash; Steve Kean will smell an opportunity to grab an unexpected result.
Sadly for Chelsea fans, last week’s FA Cup demolition appears to have convinced Ancelotti that the Blues do not need to strengthen their squad for the remainder of the season. As a result, it will be straightforward to suggest who may play on Sunday, the only question being over Ashley Cole’s return to fitness from an ankle injury.
If Chelsea take the lead early the Blues could be comfortable winners, however with conceding stupid goals an ever-present threat with the West London club at the moment, I fancy Rovers to grab a morale sapping draw.
Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara has joined English Premier League rivals Wolverhampton on loan for the remainder of the season.
O’Hara, 24, was expected to be sent out on loan by Spurs as he continues to regain match fitness in his recovery from a back injury.
The former England Under-21 international spent two spells at Portsmouth last season and picked up the relegated club’s player-of-the-season award, but has been unable to force his way into Harry Redknapp’s side since returning to White Hart Lane.
O’Hara was present at Wolves’ 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Stoke City at Molineux on Sunday and will be keen to see regular first-team action under manager Mick McCarthy.
McCarthy was thrilled to welcome O’Hara to the club, which is two points from safety on the Premier League table.
“Jamie’s a good player who will add quality to our squad and hopefully improve us,” McCarthy said.
“He’s been injured but he’s recovered from that and may just need a bit of game time.”
“But he’s a good personality who will be good around the place as well.”
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“It’s a very positive signing for us because he’s a good footballer and is very competitive.”
“He’s got a very good pedigree and will fit into what we have here and I’m thrilled we have brought him in.”
Goalkeeper Paul Rachubka is hoping to retain his place in the Blackpool side for the visit of his former club Manchester United on Tuesday.
The American-born stopper made his first league appearance in more than 12 months when he replaced the injured Richard Kingson at Bloomfield Road on Saturday.
The Seasiders were beaten 2-1 by Sunderland and Rachubka pulled off a number of fine saves in the 30 minutes he was on the field.
“Richard had eight stitches in his head which isn’t nice and you don’t wish that on anybody but it doesn’t look good,” Rachubka, 29, said on the club website.
“It’s 10 years now since I played for United and I’ve been here, there and everywhere since but this is what I aimed to come back to with Blackpool in the Premier League, something I genuinely believed we could do when I first joined.”
“I haven’t thought about United because I’ve been so focused on getting myself fit but there’s a chance I could play and if I do then I genuinely believe we can beat them.”
“On our day we’ve seen that we can do that, we’ve beaten Liverpool before and we score goals, we get around sides and we’ve got a chance,” the keeper added.
“I went through a range of emotions when Richard went down; I went out for a warm-up and went through the routine and hoping he’s alright.”
“Unfortunately he wasn’t and I got my chance but you don’t really get time to think about it, you just go straight out there and go for it.”
“I wasn’t nervous, I love playing at Bloomfield Road, that’s where I work, it’s my stage and I love to perform on it.”
If manager Ian Holloway continues with Rachubka, the ‘keeper will face a United side keen to add to their already impressive 22-game unbeaten run.
Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged his strikers to follow Dimitar Berbatov’s path to 20 goals this season.
Berbatov’s third hat-trick of the campaign in Saturday’s 5-0 win over Birmingham took the Bulgarian to 18 goals, all but one of which have been scored in the Premier League.
Javier Hernandez and Nani are the closest to Berbatov with nine and eight respectively while Wayne Rooney is stuck on three, two of which came from the penalty spot.
“Dimitar is getting up towards that 20-goal mark, which is going to be important for us,” said Ferguson.
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“It does put a certain brand mark on the team and hopefully we will get another one to that level too. Once you do that you know it is a substantial season.”
Berbatov has now equalled Ruud van Nistelrooy’s feat during the 2002-03 title winning campaign by scoring three hat-tricks in a season.
The 29-year-old is also closing in on the five Alan Shearer scored in 1995-96, which remains a Premier League record, even if he is unlikely to match the seven Denis Law scored for United in all competitions during the 1963-64 campaign.
“Dimitar is realising his ability,” said Ferguson. “The other players sense it too. They are playing their part in playing with him. He has special qualities. I think we are using them.”
Santos missed the chance to go to the top of the Campeonato Paulista on Saturday after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Santo Andre.
Adilson Batista’s side could have gone ahead of leaders Palmeiras, who are not in action until Sunday, but they faced a spirited outfit who entered the game with five draws from six matches.
Defender Marcelo Godri gave Santo Andre the lead after just five minutes, delighting the Estadio Municipal Paulo Machado de Carvalho crowd in Sao Paulo.
But with their talented side, Santos always possessed a threat in front of goal and managed an equaliser on the stroke of half-time thanks to former Manchester United midfielder Rodrigo Possebon.
Neither side could manage a winner in a tight second half, with Santos ruing their missed opportunity to go top.
In other matches, Noroeste came from behind to thump Mogi Mirim 4-1, thanks to a Jose Carlos double.
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Ze Roberto gave Mogi Mirim a 21st-minute lead but Carlos’ brace and goals to Aleilson and Diego capped a memorable victory.
Anselmo Ramon’s 94th-minute equaliser saw Oeste claim a point in their 1-1 draw away at Americana.
The debate over Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon is always open with both players competing for a place in the England team, but despite their similarities in playing style, they are viewed differently. Walcott’s rise to fame came from his big money move from Southampton to Arsenal and despite not making a debut for the Gunners, he was called up to the England squad for the 2006 World Cup. Since then there seems to be high praise for the occasions when Walcott is showing the potential that has been put on his head from a young age. However, across north London, Aaron Lennon has been generally consistent for Tottenham Hotspur but without the hype and hysteria. So, why is Lennon not seen in the same light as his England team mate?
Despite Peter Crouch scoring the only goal in Milan last week that saw Spurs victorious, it was Aaron Lennon’s electric pace, close ball control and pass that made the move. It reminded me of Theo Walcott’s run for Arsenal in the Champions League at Anfield a few seasons back. Maybe Lennon is just a victim of the fame game when it comes to judging both of these players fairly. He never had the big money move like Walcott despite being a teenage prodigy himself making his debut at 16 with Leeds United. But the £1 million move to Spurs in 2005 wasn’t a deal that raised eyebrows unlike Walcott’s big money move to the Emirates.
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Another contrast is man management. Lennon was signed under Martin Jol’s time at the club but was left out once Juande Ramos’ brief spell in charge started only for Harry Redknapp to show enough faith in the player to find his form again. Walcott however was signed by Arsene Wenger, a man known for nurturing young talent into reaching their full potential, so his progress has always been more highlighted. Whereas Lennon burst onto the scene without as much expectation and focus, but should this be the season where a serious comparison is made?
Especially looking at the England angle, who would you pick? For me it would come down to the formation of the team. I see Aaron Lennon as an out and out right winger who hugs the touchline and is able to beat the full back with his pace and trickery to put in a cross. Although Walcott has been groomed into this role at Arsenal, I believe his better position is playing in a forward role, either on the right or left side or down the middle with a target striker.
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Both players have pace in abundance but I think Lennon being 2 years older than Walcott, is the more complete player at the moment. His displays in the Premier League and Champions League have shown more maturity in his play in terms of decision making, whereas Walcott, who has looked stronger this season does seem to go missing during some games. I was quite disappointed in his performance against Barcelona in the Champions League. As an England fan myself, this debate only has a win/win scenario as I believe both can be important impact players for future tournaments.
Last night wasn’t especially great if you’re a Manchester City fan, like myself. It began with an uninspired performance, got a bit worse with a striker who had an allergic reaction to the type of grass on the pitch. A two goal deficit to overcome without the aid of an away goal added a bit more to the misery, and that’s before we throw in a poor performance to boot. You would think that it couldn’t possibly have been worse last night, but, unfortunately, it was.
There has been one constant throughout City’s season that we, as blues, could rely on. One thing that we knew, if all else failed, that we could count on to remain solid and dependable in the face of adversity. But, last night, that constant was snatched from us in one moment of madness in the Kyiv cold.
I’m talking, as everybody else is, I’m sure, about Roberto Mancini’s hat.
The moment that that monstrosity parked itself on Roberto Mancini’s head was the moment that it became clear to all City fans that his sense of style – so often revered by the media and so often envied by fans of teams with less stylish managers (Tony Pulis, I’m looking in you and your baseball cap’s direction) – had deserted him. Never have City fans seen such hideous managerial headwear since Alan Ball, complete with flat cap, was at the helm. Although, there was, famously, Mario Balotelli’s impression of Feathers McGraw from earlier this season, but he hasn’t ever managed City and it, therefore, cannot count.
In many ways, Mancini’s hat was the perfect metaphor for City’s performance in Kyiv. It wasn’t in keeping with what had gone before it for the previous seven months of the season and, not only was it difficult to look at, but you knew that it could have gone on all night and never once been right.
It actually started off quite well – City were coping competently with Dynamo Kyiv’s counter attacks and looking slightly threatening at times with some spells of pressure. But, and if there’s one thing that we can criticise Roberto Mancini’s City for it’s this, City failed to turn any of their spells of pressure into clear cut chances. There were half-chances at best – nearly moments where the shot didn’t come, or they were speculative volleys from tight angles, or an over hit pass that would have led to a one-on-one, but instead rolled through to the keeper…
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Then, there was a bit of self-foot-shooting from City for the opening goal. Kolarov and Hart could both have done better and Shevchenko could have done us a favour by showing some of his Chelsea form and skying it or something, but, with over an hour of the match to play, it wasn’t a disaster. There was still time for City to pick up the tempo and play some of that good football we’ve been spoiled with this season.
But, in typical City fashion, that didn’t happen and, as the game wore on and the visitors went in search of that equaliser and away goal, the inevitable happened and Kyiv scored again. A cross that shouldn’t have come in came in, an unlucky flick off one of the centre backs and the right back was a bit flat footed for my liking and, before we know what’s going on, City have a mountain to climb.
Though, to be fair, the conditions on that mountain can’t be much colder than they were in Ukraine.
I was then astounded to read several opinions around the City supporting Twitter feeds and message boards that going out of the Europa League could be a blessing in disguise. It’s a bloody good disguise if it is, because it passed me by – the Europa League being a competition that City could, before last night, at least, have realistic expectations of winning. I mean, it’s not like City have been winning trophy after trophy, so the chance of one more would be nice…
The age old problem is the build-up speed. So many times this season, City have been keeping the ball well – though, last night, that was a struggle at times – but the movement has been too slow. It’s a bugbear of mine when I hear cries that “backwards passes are bad passes” because they’re not. Not every pass needs to be forwards, providing it drags the opposition out of position and messes up their shape. That allows the forward players to exploit the space.
But, last night, again, that build-up was too slow. So, while the passing did drag the Kyiv players out of position, the lack of urgency allowed them to get back into position before the space could be exploited. That left the team shooting from range or giving the ball away in the final third trying to pass it through a wall of shirts… And susceptible to a quick breakaway. Unfortunately.
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City remain in the competition thanks to the skin of the skin of their teeth (or, in other words, the fact that, right at the end, Joe Hart made sure we didn’t need to score four goals without reply to win), but the position is no less than precarious, at best. Kyiv have proven how effective they are on the counter attack and that will be their gameplan at Eastlands – they’ve no need to risk giving City space to find two goals, so they’ll look to keep it tight and kill off the home side on the break.
And, with a two goal deficit to recoup, City will have to push forward, leaving them open to being counter attacked. An away goal for Kyiv could well be the end of any European success for City this season. In fact, coming away from Ukraine two goals behind and without an away goal is worse than leaving Germany trailing Hamburg 3-1 two years ago.
City need to step it up for the final run in. And Roberto Mancini needs to lose the hat. In fact, no, he needs to destroy the hat. Then there’s no chance it’ll be seen in his vicinity again.
It’s the day to dust down your novelty Guinness hats and celebrate all things Irish and Green, it’s the 17th March – St.Patrick’s Day! And in the jolly spirit of our near neighbours I’ve decided to create a list of some of the best players that the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have given us in the history of football.
Over the last few decades we have seen a number of players pull on the green jerseys of both Ireland teams, some of them are Irish born and bread whereas others have more distant Irish relations. To make this list fair and in true spirit of St.Patrick’s Day the following Top Ten are for those players Irish through and through!
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>>>CLICK ON GEORGE BEST BELOW TO SEE THE TOP TEN IRISH PLAYERS!<<<
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Celebrate St.Paddy’s Day with a pint of Guinness and a Man Hug!