Brian McDermott, Nicky Hammond and Sir John Madejski were all singing from the same hymn sheet this week. By telling the fans that all is well at Reading FC. Are they right? And does results against Palace and Millwall prove it? We talk about the recent public relations exercise aimed at the Royals’ faithful.
In league news- Reading grab 4pts from a possible 6pts .As good results against Palace at home and Millwall away, mean Reading continue their unbeaten run, but does this mean that there’s goals without Siggy?
Jonny Fordham joins us to talk about his meeting with Hammond and all the latest goings on from around the club. Plus, we round up with all your post in ‘Any other Business’.
All this and more on this weeks Reading Football FanCast!
Click here to listen to the Podcast
Thanks to – Jonny Fordham www.Get-Reading.co.uk
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Just like birthdays and anniversaries, the release of the NEW addition of the Football Manager game has become the latest addition to most supporters’ calendars as we all wait in anticipation for the latest features to be added to this near flawless game. I for one can’t get enough of a game that is arguably part of the greatest gaming franchise of all time.
Having historically played the game on the PC, I was a little weary about making the transition of playing it on various handheld versions. I shouldn’t have been as it is simply addictive.
Whilst there has inevitably been some streamlining of the game and format, it certainly doesn’t detract from the experience and excitement you get from attempting to take a club like Barnet through the Leagues to the Promised Land. The simplistic nature of the format provides a perfect tonic for those trips to works, flights abroad, or just sitting around in waiting rooms, largely down to the fact you can get through the games quickly and the subsequent seasons. The inclusion of features like the ‘Challenge’ mode make for an interesting alternative to game play and gives you the opportunity to put your managerial abilities to fulfil your selected objective. I’m clearly a manager that needs time to build and don’t possess that Harry Redknapp affect of changing a team’s fortunes overnight.
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The Football Manager Handheld 2012 is absolute revelation and arguably the best football game within the App store. Despite costing £6.99, it is simply a snip given the hours of pleasure you will get from the game and I wholeheartedly recommend you download it right away. You won’t be disappointed!
Download Football Manager 2012 Handheld HERE for the ultimate football management experience on the move
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has maintained his stance that club captain Cesc Fabregas was misrepresented in a controversial media interview.In an interview published in Spanish magazine Don Balon, Fabregas was quoted as hinting Wenger would have been sacked if he managed a club similar to Arsenal in Spain, due to the fact the club has not won a trophy since 2005.
Wenger responded, suggesting the author had twisted Fabregas’ words and that the club were ‘really upset about it’.
It led to the publishers of Don Balon to post audio of the interview on their website and release a statement stating they had made no changes to the transcript.
But on Friday, Wenger was still seething about the article and maintains the publication broke an agreement with the club.
“What they say is not interesting to us. They did not respect our agreement,” Wenger said.
“They will never get an interview from us again, ever.”
“I stand by my claim 100 percent. We had an agreement they had to send us copy for approval and it was not done.”
“I maintain completely that they did not respect our agreement. The article in itself I do not want to discuss.”
Birmingham City completed a deadline day deal for Chilean winger Jean Beausejour from Mexican side Club América. The 26 year old penned a 3 year deal at St Andrew’s for an undisclosed fee but how much do we really know about Birmingham’s new signing?
Many Birmingham fans first encounter with Beausejour came in this summer’s World Cup where the winger impressed as part of Marcelo Bielsa’s Chile team who won many fans with their attacking brand of football. Beausejour was a mainstay in Bielsa’s team, playing every minute of their run to the second round. Beausejour played on the left wing of Bielsa’s adventurous 3-3-1-3 formation and scored the winner in La Roja’s opening group game against Switzerland, earning man of the match honours for his game winning display.
Beausejour started his career in his native Chile with Universidad Católica where he rose up through the youth ranks to play 16 times for the Santiago based club. While at Católica, he had a one year loan spell at Universidad de Concepción before he moved abroad in 2004 to Switzerland to join Servette.
Since moving to Switzerland, Beausejour has been something of a nomadic figure playing for a number of clubs across different continents. After only one year in Switzerland, Beausejour made the move to Brazil to play for Grêmio where he was a first-team regular, making 55 appearances for the Brazilian giants.
His success with Grêmio saw the Chilean secure a move back to Europe; this time with Belgian club Gent. However, his time in Belgium proved to be an unhappy one as Beausejour failed to make a single appearance in Gent colours and returned to Chile the next season.
He returned to Chilean football in 2007 and had spells with Cobreloa and O’Higgins. It was at O’Higgins that Beausejour enjoyed some of the best football of his career which alerted the new national team coach Marcelo Bielsa to his talents. Bielsa selected Beausejour three times for Chile during his one-year with O’Higgins.
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With his reputation soaring, Mexican side Club América decided to sign Beausejour in 2009 and he didn’t disappoint, playing 45 times and scoring on three occasions including one against great rivals Chivas.
As evinced by his displays in the World Cup, Birmingham have gotten a player with pace, power and trickery, qualities which stand Beausejour in good stead to make a rather seamless transition into the hustle and bustle of Premier League football. One concern for Birmingham fans is Beausejour’s inability to settle in one place as he has played for 8 different clubs before moving to St Andrew’s. However, if Beausejour can keep his passport in his pocket and settle in Birmingham, he could prove to be a shrewd investment by Alex McLeish.
Sunderland will not be able to recall Asamoah Gyan from his season-long loan at Al Ain due to small print in the contract.
New Black Cats’ boss Martin O’Neill had stated that he would consider whether or not to bring the African frontman back to the Stadium of Light to cover for injuries up front, and give him another chance.
However Mirror Football clarify that the Wearisde club have been alerted to the fact that there is no recall option in the deal that was signed by Steve Bruce, so Gyan’s return is not an option until the summer.
The Ghana international is reportedly earning £200,000 a week in the Middle East, compared to the £30,000 he was on at Sunderland, and is happy where he is for the time being.
“For now, I can’t really say anything about Sunderland,” Gyan admitted.
“I am on loan for a year so we will have to see what happens at the end of the season. I am doing well. So let’s see where my future lies after my loan deal.”
The news will force O’Neill to look to strengthen his attacking options in the January transfer window, as Sunderland have looked devoid of a clinical edge up front this season.
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Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor hopes to turn his loan move from Manchester City to Real Madrid into a permanent one.The 27-year-old did his cause no harm on Tuesday, with a brace in Real’s 4-0 thrashing of Spurs in their Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash at the Bernabeu.
Adebayor, who has scored five times in 13 games for Real, is hopeful his hard work will pay off with a permanent contract in the Spanish capital under Jose Mourinho.
“I have two months to go and the club will decide what they want to do – but of course I want to stay,” Adebayor said.
“I just have to keep working hard every day in training”.
“They brought me here to help with the run-in to the end of the season – and today I have done that well.”
Adebayor has now scored 10 goals in 10 games against Tottenham, with eight of those coming while playing for Arsenal, and he admits he always looks forward to playing the Londoners.
“I am very happy when I play against Spurs as I always have a chance to score,” he said.
“So now we have to concentrate on the second game to go through to the semi-finals.”
Although there had been rumours and gossip, most Bristol City fans thought that the signing of England’s number one goalkeeper was just a pipe dream. When the news broke that David James had indeed signed for Bristol City, fans were stunned, delighted and newly optimistic. Bristol City have not made such a marquee signing since most fans can care to remember, but almost as important as the signing of David James is the statement of intent that comes with it, and the ambition the club has shown. James could well be a stellar performer this season, but he is now 40 and is in the twilight of his career. Two other signings were made on the day David James signed for the club, and understandably they somewhat slipped under the radar amid the excitement. Bristol City also signed Bolton’s right-back Nicky Hunt and QPR’s Damion Stewart. Nicky Hunt has been a decent Premier League performer, but in the Championship he should be one of the best at what he does in the league. Damion Stewart is perhaps less well known, but he won QPR’s 2008/09 Player of the Year award is a behemoth in the centre of defence. If these signings gel, and one or two more are brought in then Bristol City will have a squad capable of making a strong challenge in the Championship, and supporters will be hoping for a play-off place at the least.
One issue though, has tempered Bristol City’s fans’ excitement this summer. The club are intending to build a new ground, which could be one of England’s 2018 World Cup stadia should the country win the bid. Bristol City Council have however, turned down Sainsbury’s bid to buy the land of Bristol City’s current ground which they wanted to turn into a superstore. Sainsbury’s buying of the current ground is absolutely critical financially and so currently Bristol City’s attempt to build a new stadium will not go ahead. Fans of the club are highly disappointed at the news and there has been a great deal of anger directed at the City Council which has been accused of showing a lack of ambition. If Bristol City is to become a long-term force within English football, then moving to a new stadium seems necessary. This season though, fans still have good cause for optimism and can hold the belief that the club can be promoted to the Premier League in the near future.
Just as important as the new signings is the new manager that has taken the helm at Bristol City. Steve Coppell is widely respected in the game, doing sterling work as a manager at Crystal Palace and Reading. Coppell led both these clubs to the top tier of English football, where they both performed admirably. Steve Coppell has proven success of getting clubs into the Premiership and getting them to perform when they get there, and Bristol City fans will be hoping he can do the same at his new club. Supporters will be hoping the club can hold onto striker Nicky Maynard, who finished as second top scorer in the Championship last season, and sign a couple more players before the end of the transfer window. If that happens, Bristol City should be a strong side within the league this season. If they don’t get promoted this term then Coppell and the club will have the ambition to do so before his contract expires, and the fans may well get to see the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal at Ashton Gate sooner rather than later.
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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery
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Manchester City may be powering through all Premier League opposition, recently handing a first league defeat to Newcastle United, but Liverpool away might prove to be a sterner test, with the Anfield side hot off a surprise victory over Chelsea this past weekend.
Each team enjoyed home victories over the other last season. The standout performers of both of those games are now taking a more peripheral role for their clubs, with the struggling Andy Carroll resigned to a place on the bench and the Carlos Tevez episode paving the way for others to take on goal scoring responsibility.
There are, however, a number of reasons why this season’s first encounter could prove to be in greater contrast, primarily the difference in ambition of both clubs a year on.
Manchester City last year were still a team building to becoming a title-winning side. A team capable of sustaining a charge on the domestic title whilst at the same time proving they belong with Europe’s elite. Now with additions such as Sergio Aguero and the new-found role for David Silva as team playmaker, City are looking a far more complete side. A team who maybe at times lacked the know-how to go away to places like Old Trafford and Anfield a year ago are now looking the complete package. Never before have a team gone to Old Trafford and humiliated Manchester United in the manner City did last month.
Similarly, it’s very difficult to remember an Anfield humiliation of that magnitude, despite the lows of the Hicks-Gillette reign. Manchester City are a team now with a lot more purpose than the side that lost 3-0 at Anfield in April. Yes Champions League qualification was important back then, but now a sustained challenge on the Premier League title becomes of paramount importance as Roberto Mancini describes his side as one capable of going toe-to-toe with Barcelona.
Should City have any reason to fear Liverpool and the atmosphere that should greet them as they walk onto the pitch at Anfield? Perhaps even at this stage it’s a little unclear what to expect from Liverpool. A team who have picked up victories away to top four rivals Chelsea and Arsenal have also been on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham. Their Jekyll and Hyde form doesn’t end there as Liverpool have struggled for points against Premier League new boys Swansea and Norwich, both of whom managed to pick up a point at Anfield.
But like Manchester City a year on, Kenny Dalglish’s side have far greater aspirations this season. Backed by the heavy spending of owner John W. Henry over the summer, there is now an expectation for Liverpool to finish in the top four. As has been mentioned, a year on and with strengthened squads the targets for both sides seem a lot more realistic.
With all of Manchester City’s muscle both on and off the pitch, the determination to be back among the top tier of European clubs will give Liverpool enough incentive to prove why they can be taken seriously as top four contenders.
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It’s been in use since 1965, it’s widely accepted without much argument, it’s part of the footballing fabric of cup competitions around the world and I hate it. It’s the away goals rule.
Its intention is simple – designed and brought into being to promote attacking football, to encourage away teams to try and score and reduce the number of dour stalemates.
For me that’s rubbish. I doubt there’s any stats available to prove or disprove the point, but I can’t really see how it has brought about a new wave of exciting, attacking football. I’d say it has done the opposite – causing 1st leg ties to often be dour, miserable affairs as the home side often make it their primary objective not to concede, seeing a 0-0 draw as a good result. But the away team will not be too displeased with a draw away from home either, knowing any victory in the 2nd leg will see them through.
You could argue too that it gives an unfair advantage to the team playing away first, as the home team in the first leg squander their natural advantage by being defensive to avoid conceding.
There are also some strange anomalies around the world. In the Carling Cup, it only applies after extra time in a 2nd leg. This rule prevented Burnley reaching their 1st cup final in 47 years when they went out to Spurs in the semi final of the Carling Cup in 2009, losing the away leg 4-1, but winning the home leg 3-0. Two goals by Spurs in extra time saw them go through instead. In the CONCACAF Champions League the rule applies at the end of the 2nd leg, but not after extra time. Not everyone uses it – the playoffs in the Football League for example.
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But even if it had led to a new era of attacking football, I still would not support it, for one simple reason – I simply don’t think it is fair. If 2 teams have scored and thus conceded the same number of goals over 2 legs, I see no reason why one team is knocked out, and one progresses, due to a seemingly random arbitration process. Yes, the team that progresses scored more goals away from home. So what? They conceded more too. Why are we rewarding attacking away from home over defending? It makes no sense to me. If extra time is involved after the 2nd leg it also means the home team in the 2nd leg has an extra half hour playing at home, though the away team has an extra half hour to score an away goal.
It seems to confuse people sometimes too. Away goals are often said to count double, but they clearly don’t. And when Bayern Munich won 1-0 away to Internazionale the other week, I heard at least 2 commentators mention the crucial away goal of Bayern’s. Only it isn’t crucial as an away goal at all – there is no score in the 2nd leg that would see them go through on away goals.
The odd manager has come out to voice their disapproval at the ruling. Arsene Wenger did in 2008, having discussed it with other managers at a meeting in Vienna. He argued that the rule was created in different era when away teams always looked to defend. Has anything really changed?
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So what do you do if you don’t have away goals? Well of course it will mean a greater dependency on penalties. This is hardly the perfect way to decide matches either, but at least there is some skill involved, and anything is better than the current system that exists in many competitions around the world.
Check out Manchester United’s star of the future, Ravel Morrison…
Sunderland striker Darren Bent has revealed that he almost quit the international scene after Fabio Capello left him out of the England squad for this summer's World Cup finals.
However, despite his initial disappointment, the 26-year-old former Charlton Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur forward has had a change of heart and will now try to force his way into Capello's plans.
He said:"I felt that I was taken to Austria as a token gesture. It was as though he (Capello) decided he had to take me because of the goals I'd scored.
"He took me to the training camp, gave me 45 minutes and, because I didn't score two goals, that was it. It hurt. I can't deny that was how I felt.
"I had long conversations with my dad and my manager. I just felt I was only there to make up the numbers. I thought 'should I just call it a day with England and hang up my boots in international football?' I contemplated it.
"But you can't burn your bridges like that. I hope it is going to be a meritocracy. A few people have said to me that I've jumped up the pecking order after what happened over there, but who knows?
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"People are saying this is going to change and that is going to change, but how much can it? All I can do is keep going, keep believing in myself and keep scoring goals.
"I'm not going to give up on England because of what happened this summer. I'm going to keep working hard, keep playing well for Sunderland and keep knocking on that door. That's all I can do."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email