Mick McCarthy is adamant his bottom-of-the-table Wolves side is a force to be reckoned with at home – even against Manchester United.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s league-leading men travel to Molineux on Saturday and McCarthy believes his side poses a threat.
He said: “We’ve proved at home we can beat anyone and we keep everybody honest. Nobody turns up here and gets an easy ride and Manchester United will know that.”
“Sir Alex Ferguson always says this part of the season is the business end and Manchester United kick into gear. Well they did on Tuesday night (in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa) when they got off to a devastating start. “
“Ryan Giggs, Nani, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are terrific. They’re worryingly good but they won’t worry me tomorrow.”
Defender Ronald Zubar’s error gifted a last-minute win to Bolton on Wednesday but McCarthy is sticking by his player.
He said: “I wanted to kill him on Wednesday night but he’s one of our players. He runs around and puts his shift in. Do you think he’s the only one who’s made a mistake? I don’t think so.”
“There’s only one bloke who never made a mistake and you know what happened to him. We’re all liable to make a mistake; you don’t cast him aside, you support him.”
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.
“I believe I will get the best out of him. He’s been terrific for us and I wouldn’t leave him out on the back of a mistake.”
Adlene Guedioura (broken leg), Stephen Hunt (calf), Michael Kightly and Michael Mancienne (both knee) are all missing for Wolves.
Arsenal produced a victory that ended up being comfortable against West Ham to mark their first game since Arsene Wenger announced that he would quit the club at the end of the season.
The game was 1-1 going into the closing 10 minutes but Aaron Ramsey’s strike was followed up by two late goals from Alexandre Lacazette to turn the score into a slightly flattering 4-1 for the Gunners.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang cup-tied for the midweek meeting with Atletico Madrid, the Frenchman is finding form at just the right time for Wenger, who would love to clinch the trophy and finish on a high.
Of course, the forward was a high-profile summer signing in a transfer window that also saw Romelu Lukaku join Manchester United from Everton and after the match, some Arsenal fans were in the mood to compare the duo.
We’ve taken a closer look at the best of the points Arsenal fans put across…
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.
This season has been pretty much business as usual for Spurs.
Early hopes of a top four finish have been crushed as we approach the final month six weeks of the season. The fans will blame that all on the Europa League, but neutrals will surely have other explanations.
Anyway, Spurs are slowly getting there. They’re flirting with the top four, and have been for so long, but they can’t seem to finish the job.
But the only way they’re going to do that is by investing well in the transfer market and getting rid of all that dead wood they’ve got hanging around White Hart Lane these days.
Ahead of the summer, Mauricio Pochettino’s men have been linked with 23 players. Some of those rumours have legs, others are just made up snippets of rubbish that help keep fans excited on slow news days.
But it’s still worth asking the fans who they really want playing at White Hart Lane next season, which is exactly what we did earlier this week.
A huge 379 voted thumbs up or thumbs down on the players they do or don’t want at their club at the beginning of next season. And here’s how they voted…
[interaction id=“none”]
5. Benedikt Höwedes
Tottenham’s defence does need a bit of work to it, and with World Cup winner Benedikt Höwedes catching the eye of some of Europe’s top clubs with his performances for both Germany and Schalke, it’s no surprise MirrorFootball had Spurs as leaders for his signature.
Will Jan Vertonghen still be at the club beyond the summer? Youness Kaboul definitely won’t be, while Eric Dier is still a bit green around the edges.
So could Benedikt Höwedes be on his way to White Hart Lane in the summer?
Well in short. No. The £13million-rated is not leaving Schalke, according to the club’s executive chairman Clemens Toennies.
But Höwedes does have a release clause in his contract, which means Spurs’ fans dreams of having a world cup winner in their squad next season aren’t over just yet.
203 fans voted a thumbs up for the defender, while 53 Spurs fans aren’t too keen.
4. Danny Ings
Even if Burnley manage to avoid relegation this season, Danny Ings is almost certain to leave the club on a free transfer in a bid to test his skills at a club battling in the top half of the table.
He’s netted nine goals in 29 league outings for The Clarets this term and MailOnline reckon Spurs are looking to offer him a contract in the summer.
With just Harry Kane netting the goals up front for Spurs this season, Pochettino will be in the market for an out and out goal scorer, and Ings certainly fits the bill, especially for absolutely nothing.
A total of 220 fans gave Ings a thumbs up, and 57 Spurs fans appear to swinging towards actually paying money on a proven goalscorer. Wonder whether they remember the last time their club did that. *cough Soldado *cough*
3. Juan Mata
We’ve got nothing against Tottenham, but this has to be one of the most ridiculous rumours in the history of transfer rumours.
Juan Mata to Tottenham? Nah.
The Spaniard has been absolutely superb for Man United in recent months and you can’t imagine Louis Van Gaal flogging him off to a side with potential to challenge them for a top four finish next season.
Still, Metro believe Spurs have offered £18million for the midfielder and Pochettino is confident of getting himself a bargain. Though he might just be the only one on the world who is.
To some extent, it’s quite surprising that he isn’t Spurs’ fans first choice summer signing. 254 of them gave him a thumbs up, and only 50 stuck their noses up at him.
2. Kevin Wimmer
The Koln defender is on the verge of making his “dream’ move to White Hart Lane this summer, in what is Spurs’ only concrete bit of business so far.
And the fans appear to be pretty keen on seeing him next season, 240 fans voting him up and just 35 saying no to the German star.
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.
A fee is still be agreed between the two sides, but he’s already spoken of his delight at the move…
“The English Premier League is the only one that can match that. For me, the English league would be a great challenge,” he said.
“There I can develop, because it’s very demanding. I’m a fan of English football. It would be a dream to move to a top club like Tottenham.”
So there you have it. Spurs fans’ second choice man is pretty much in the bag already.
1. Toby Alderweireld
Football – Southampton v Newcastle United – Barclays Premier League – St Mary’s Stadium – 14/15 – 13/9/14Toby Alderweireld – Southampton Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed LeicesterEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
The Belgium international has impressed on loan at Southampton this season, which has sparked a lot of interest in him as parent club Atletico Madrid consider selling him this summer.
You’d expect Southampton to have first refusal on the £10million centre-half, but Tottenham are also sniffing around.
The Telegraph reckon Maurico Pochettino has turned to Alderweireld after missing out on West Ham defender Winston Reid. And the fans are warming the idea of signing him, with 293 fans giving him a big thumbs up and a measly 22 voting him down.
With three of the fans’ five preferred signings being defenders, it’s pretty clear what they’re expecting from Pochettino this summer.
So if you’re reading, Poch, get yourself out there and buy some defenders!
Chris Hughton bemoaned Norwich’s poor finishing at Wigan and hinted he could look to bring another striker to the club this summer.
The Canaries’ boss was left frustrated following the 1-0 defeat at the DW Stadium on Saturday which has opened up the battle to avoid relegation as third-bottom Aston Villa are now just four points behind his side who sit in 14th position.
Hughton, who has already agreed a deal to sign Sporting Lisbon’s Dutch hitman Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the summer, felt Norwich should not have lost to the Latics.
And he appears intent on strengthening his forward line with players who are ‘clinical’ enough to make a difference in tight matches.
Hughton, whose side have won only once in the last 14 outings, said: “It’s about clinical moments, and they had the one in the game that got them the goal.
“I thought we were good in that first-half period – we broke well, and probably away from home, that’s as much as we’ve got into the final third.
“It’s two things when you’re away from home though – if it’s a close game you’ve got to make sure you keep that clean sheet, or you’ve got to have that little bit of quality that gets you that goal.
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.
“We didn’t have that today – it’s something that we were guilty of and something we’ll have to look at but it was a never a game that I felt we were going to lose.”
To celebrate 25 years of the Premier League each week in Football Fancast we’re going to be looking back at a memorable game that took place on the corresponding date. This time out we revisit a Hollywood climax in a land of pies and pier.
Here’s the set-up. On April 18th 2010 Wigan Athletic hosted Arsenal at the DW Stadium in a Sunday lunchtime kick-off. After five seasons in the top flight the Latics were now an established Premier League force yet in reality their status was never anything less than precarious with two previous escapes from the clutches of relegation on their C.V.
In Roberto Martinez’s first season in charge they were aspiring to play attractive, open fare and if that made their rare memorable days – such as a recent victory over Liverpool – all the prettier it also led to a fair share of hammerings too. Back in November, Tottenham had walloped nine past them and before the year was out Manchester United racked up five for the second time in this campaign.
Going into this game Wigan were four points beyond the drop zone with just four to play and of that quartet two were relegation rivals in West Ham and Hull while the final day offered up eventual champions Chelsea away at the Bridge. Then there was Arsenal, here today, Robin Van Persie, Nasri, Fabregas and all. The Gunners were stinging from a North London derby defeat in midweek but that only made them more dangerous. Before kick-off they were six points adrift of Chelsea but with a precious game in hand. They had a fourth Premier League title in their sights and they were hurting. For Wigan that was an unfortunate combination.
Football – Wigan Athletic v Arsenal Barclays Premier League – DW Stadium – 09/10 – 18/4/10 Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia celebrates scoring their third goal with Victor Moses (L) Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul Thomas Livepic NO ONLINE/INTERNET USE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE +44 (0) 207 864 9000.
As proven by the opening spell that had Arsene Wenger’s men immediately settle and meaningfully dominate possession. Before the break Theo Walcott finished tidily and then three minutes after the restart Mikael Silvestre headed home from a corner. Arsenal being Arsenal they then went after a third.
If there was one ray of hope for the Lancashire side it was that the visitors were notably weakened in defence on that Sunday afternoon, with first choice keeper Almunia injured and Thomas Vermaelen absent too. But the clock kept on ticking and Arsenal kept on passing and as legs tired and the crowd began to accept the inevitable the contest reached eighty minutes.
Here’s the pay-off. A move down the left was squared at pace into the box and Ben Watson thumped in a low drive with such surety that it made the net loudly fizz on contact. Suddenly the DW Stadium was woke.
Travails, resurgent belief, and even the odd uncharacteristic long ball followed but one passage of play merged to another until the 88th minute was reached. A speculative set-piece was misjudged and floated harmlessly into the grasp of Lukasz Fabianski but the Polish stand-in did some misjudging of his own and flapped at it, patting it down onto the head of Titus Bramble. The Wigan defender reacted with an instinctual stretch of his neck and that was sufficient to see the ball loop over the line.
Pandemonium. Sheer pandemonium. Or at least initially it was sheer, but then two seconds in it’s possible to detect the collective pause; the doubt. Surely a supposedly top class keeper doesn’t spill a beach ball cross like that? Surely he must have been manhandled. He hadn’t and he did and the sight of the ref jogging back to the centre circle prompted a second wave of celebration.
Arsenal were now on the ropes; their title hopes were now on the ropes. Anything other than three points here and it was almost certainly all over for another year. Three points for Wigan however all-but-secured safety. A draw meanwhile was pretty much no good to either side.
Maybe it was knowing this that drove Charles N’Zogbia in-field with the ball instead of down towards the corner to waste time with the full ninety now up. Whatever his motivation it certainly panicked and surprised the Gunners back-line who flocked towards him en masse.
The French winger’s only route to goal at this point was around them and even then it required substantial curl on the shot with the slightest of a sliver of goal to aim for. Fabianski steadied himself. Two Arsenal defenders lunged desperately.
But the shot was perfect, in calculation and for drama. It was Hollywood in a land of pies and pier. The thump off the inside of the post could have been Wenger’s heart dropping to the floor.
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.
What happened next?
The Latics were pulverised 8-0 at Stamford Bridge but by then it mattered not. They were safe to fight another top flight day.
It was a season of pure frustration for Arsenal who finished third, exited the domestic cups in the early stages, and encountered a sublime Barcelona in the Champions League.
Monday night saw another disappointing performance from Manchester United as they crashed out of the FA Cup in a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at Old Trafford; throwing away their only chance of silverware in the process.
The performance, as well as the team selection from United boss Louis van Gaal, posed further questions and concern about the fortunes of the Red Devils, who look to be set for an almighty scrap for a top four finish. To rub salt into the wound, it was a former player and boyhood fan of the club Danny Welbeck who netted the winner to send Arsenal on their way to Wembley once again.
With many pundits and fans stating the need for more money to be spent, it’s conceivable that United could rue the fact they don’t have some of their old players to call upon as the pressure grows to get results. And with many of their stars misfiring, there’s no doubt some of their former squad members would walk into the side at this present time.
In light of these problems, here are FIVE players Man United should never have let leave…
[interaction ]
Danny Welbeck
It was widely noted that former United man Danny Welbeck celebrated his winner against his old club, and to be honest with you, who can blame him? Depsite his love for the club, Welbeck was told in no uncertain terms that he had no future at Old Trafford, with Van Gaal of the belief that the youngster didn’t have the quality required to score the goals United needed.
But given the chance upfront, Welbeck has shown he will score goals, and his willingness to play out of position in a wide area is something that United could well still do with. Given some of the performances put in by United’s star players this season, the decision to let Welbeck leave looks stranger every week.
Paul Pogba
Despite numerous options in the middle of the park, United continue to be linked with a new central midfielder, with a certain characteristic missing from their side. They are in desperate need of a player who can attack as well as defend, a box-to-box player who can influence their team just like Yaya Toure does at Manchester City. Frustratingly for United fans, Paul Pogba looks to be just that man.
Always tipped as a promising talent, Pogba left United again after finding first-team options limited, something he would have no such worries over now. The Frenchman has become one of the top young midfielders in Europe since joining Juventus, and and just like Welbeck; found himself on the scoresheet last night as Juve extended their lead at the top of Serie A. There’s little doubting the fact he would walk into Van Gaal’s side today, and is certainly ‘one that got away’.
Gerard Pique
To say Gerard Pique has won a few trophies since his Old Trafford departure is somewhat of an understatement. He has won the lot. A World and European champion with Spain, and a Champions League winner with Barcelona, the central defender has excelled since leaving Manchester.
A solid no-nonsense defender who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, Pique is just the player United fans would like at the heart of a back four which has been suspect in recent times.
At the time they may have felt he wouldn’t cut it at the club with opportunities limited, but make no mistake, he would be a welcome part of the current squad.
Carlos Tevez
Man United fans could be forgiven for feeling there was still plenty more to come from Carlos Tevez before he left Old Trafford. A Champions League winner with the Red Devils, the Argentine striker found it difficult to hold down a regularly position in the United team under Sir Alex Ferguson, and subsequently came back to haunt the club after moving to their city rivals and winning the Premier League in 2012.
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.
Now plying his trade in Italy with Juventus, the 31-year-old already has 21 goals to his name this season, and would surely be welcome in a United side lacking goals – and apparently a 20-goal-a-season forward according to their manager.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo made his name during a sparkling six seasons at Old Trafford where he developed into one of the world’s greatest players. He won all there was to win for the English giants, before following his dreams and making a record-breaking £80 million transfer to Real Madrid.
Since then, Ronaldo has raised his game even more, and his astonishing goalscoring record saw him collect another Ballon D’or crown early this year, after helping Madrid recapture a long awaited Champions League title last season.
After he set his sights on the Bernabeu, it was widely accepted that United would lose the Portuguese star at some point – something nobody held against him after all he had done for the club. But in a side that’s lacking a spark, Ronaldo and his magic on the ball is sorely missed at Old Trafford.
Scott Parker is desperate to play in next summer’s World Cup Finals in Brazil after overcoming his recent injury problems.
The England stars future in International football looked in doubt as he returned home from Euro 2012 needing surgery on an long standing Achilles problem.
The surgery would keep Parker out until December.
Since returning to fitness, Parker has started Tottenham Hotspur’s last 13 games and earned himself a place in Roy Hodgson’s current England squad to face San Marino and Montenegro.
“Now I am amongst it again, the fire rumbles in my belly to get to Brazil. I’ve not had many massive injuries in my career, but the ones you do have give you that hunger again” Parker said
“I need to take things one step at a time but, now I’m in the squad, if I get my chance, I need to take it.”
The Tottenham Hotspur star admitted that he believed his chances of playing in another major tournament were over.
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.
“If you ask any player when they have been out for some time, doubts do cross your mind about when you are going to come back.”
According to reports in Belgium, Everton and West Ham will battle it out to sign Burnley midfielder Steven Defour this summer.
What’s the story?
Belgian outlet Nieuwsblad.be claim West Ham want to sign the tough tackling midfielder, but will face stern competition from the Toffees.
The 29 year-old Belgian has had some injury issues this season, but has still managed 24 league appearances for Sean Dyche’s Clarets.
Both West Ham and Everton could undergo massive squad overhauls this summer, and both sides have glaring weaknesses in midfield.
Defour’s contract runs out in the summer of 2019, though the report from Nieuwsblad.be does say he would be open to extending his Clarets contract.
West Ham or Everton?
Defour is unquestionably talented, and has earned over 50 Belgium caps despite the depth of midfield options in Belgium’s golden generation.
The 29 year-old has one goal and one assist this season, but it’s not his attacking output that makes him appealing as much as what he offers in a defensive sense. Defour will cover every inch of grass, and is the type of player that every manager would want in their team.
He is averaging 1.4 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game in Burnley’s midfield, and his eye for a pass makes him a useful key in unlocking deep defences. He also has that bit of star quality, as he showed with his tremendous free kick goal at Old Trafford this season.
Valued at £6.3million by Transfermarkt, Defour’s reading of the game would be extremely beneficial to either of the linked clubs, but he would be a better fit at Goodison.
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.
[ad_pod ]
Everton are just missing someone in midfield to link things up between the expensive attacking flair they brought in last summer, and Defour could be the perfect fit.
Everton fans, would you like to see a summer swoop for Defour? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
When the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League was made, Arsenal fans were rubbing their hands at the prospect of a tie against French side Monaco; what many judged the best possible outcome for the Gunners to reach the quarter-finals.
However, after a shock 3-1 defeat at the Emirates, they were somewhat left with egg on their faces and appear to be on their way out of Europe at the same stage yet again.
Despite a poor team performance overall, with the side displaying numerous examples of schoolboy defending, striker Olivier Giroud took much of the criticism for the defeat that night, and somewhat harshly was made the scapegoat.
The French forward missed a number of chances on the night that could have completely changed the complexion of the tie ahead of the return leg next week, and has since made it clear of his personal disappointment over his performance.
Yet with the spotlight very much on him heading into March, Giroud has shown terrific mental strength to find the net in successive league games in wins over Everton and Queen’s Park Rangers; a time when other players may have buckled.
Every player is entitled to a bad game, it’s part and parcel of the sport. It’s all about how quickly they can react and put it behind them that will define an individual, and Giroud has done that brilliantly, something he deserves to be applauded for.
[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]
His latest goals mean he now has eight in his last 10 games, a period that saw him reach the landmark of 50 goals for the club, after 117 appearances – figures that many centre forwards would be pleased with. Despite his goal scoring record, he’s still yet to convince some fans and pundits, who don’t give him the credit he deserves, and are particularly concerned with his ability to deliver in the big games like Monaco, for example.
The fact is, he gets in the right areas to give himself the chances. Continue to do this, and then a player of his ability will score goals, as he as shown in his time at the club. Yes he will miss some, all strikers do, but his movement and ability to find space in the penalty area mean he will also find the net frequently and this is vital to Arsenal, who lack any real alternatives as an out-and-out striker.
Strong and powerful in the air, the forward also holds the ball up extremely well to bring his teammates into attacks, something that can often go unnoticed. And in a side that like to play type of football that Arsenal do, this is invaluable to the side.
And despite the missed chances, some of his recent goals have highlighted once again just how good his finishing can be. No doubt he will strive to improve his shots to goal ratio, but what striker doesn’t? Giroud clearly has mental toughness to put missed chances behind him, and with continued support from the manager and fans, can keep on improving and lead the line for Arsenal for the next few years as he enters what should be the peak of his career.
For Arsenal to have any chance of progressing into the last eight of the Champions League, they will need to score at least three goals in Monaco, which is certainly no easy task given the defensive strength of the French side. But with Giroud in their side, it’s still an achievable one.
With the creative options Arsenal posses, you can bank that he will find himself with a few opportunities to cut the deficit in the tie, and with his hunger to make amends for the first leg, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Giroud lead the comeback and help Arsenal to a famous victory.
Watch this space!
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.
At quite what point Emmanuel Adebayor transcended the line between an struggling passenger and a figure of derision within this Tottenham Hotspur team is somewhat unclear.
But with any existing goodwill seemingly in desperately short supply at White Hart Lane after a string of fruitless appearances, the heat upon the Togolese international is beginning to become intolerable. And it shows no sign of relenting anytime soon.
While it would be verging on the uncouth to suggest supporters doubted the sincerity of the former-Manchester City man’s injury during last weekend’s North London derby, it will perhaps come as little surprise to some that Adebayor’s stretcher-requiring issue might not suppress his availability for the weekend’s tie with Liverpool.
Regardless of the severity of his knock, perhaps in some ways, a spell out of the firing line is what Adebayor needs at the moment. As much as he’s looked a man bereft of the capability to stick the ball in the back of the net, he’s also looked like a striker bereft of anything resembling one iota of confidence. And for as delighted as supporters may be that Jermain Defoe now appears ready to return to the fold, their faltering striker’s lack of self-belief is something that they can’t sweep under the carpet.
With Defoe now back involved with first-team affairs following nearly a month out with ankle ligament damage, it’s very much a case of out of sight and out of mind, when it comes to the notion of Adebayor for some. However you wish to dress it up, the Togolese has had an extremely poor season and for all the issues that he had in getting his season off the ground – his first start didn’t come until the 2-1 defeat away to Manchester City back in November – his contribution in front of goal simply has not been good enough.
Yet even when Defoe’s been struggling for goals in this side, Villas-Boas’ team have still managed to produce the goods, the fact is that Emmanuel Adebayor still has an important part to play should the Lilywhites wish to fulfil their ambitions of both Europa League progress and Champions League qualification. And part of that process involves extending their patience towards their faltering just a little longer.
This doesn’t involve chanting his name, praising him from the stands or necessarily showing him much in the way of anything approaching affection. Merely ensure that the atmosphere towards him isn’t one that starts turning toxic.
Quite where his long-term future stands at White Hart Lane could well be anyone’s guess after this season. Regardless of his questionable goalscoring output, following his mucking around over his decision to go to the African Cup of Nations and his subsequent delayed arrival back from the competition, it’s been widely reported that neither Villas-Boas nor chairman Daniel Levy were particularly enamoured with his behaviour. And for Adebayor, it’s upsetting the latter that may have potentially burned an irreparable bridge in N17.
Although regardless of a potential breakup, the one time-Real Madrid striker isn’t going anywhere for the moment and with Spurs fighting on two fronts as we head into the final straight of what could be a defining season for the club, they’re not going to achieve all of their goals with Jermain Defoe playing every minute of every match until the end of the season.
Like it or not, we’ve not seen the last of Adebayor in a Tottenham shirt and if he’s going to start returning to the sort of form that saw him play a starring role in the side that attained a fourth placed finish last term, he’s not going to do so underneath a hail of pelters from the Spurs fans.
Now that might not have happened as of yet, but after another disappointing showing against Arsenal on Sunday, the tides of patience are beginning to renege, and fast.
But although some will argue that he’s not done much to warrant any more goodwill from the home fans, Adebayor hasn’t cut this caricature of disinterest and petulance that many like to make out. The goals haven’t been coming and his movement’s not been anywhere as sharp as it should be, but he’s still putting a shift in and working hard.
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.
As ridiculed as he was in the aftermath of the North London derby, he may not have done much with the ball, but it was his peeling run that freed up Gylfi Sigurdsson’s line of sight to see up Gareth Bale for the first goal. Reinventing the wheel it most certainly was not, although when Defoe did a similar sort of thing against Manchester United back in September to allow Bale to score, he was heralded as hard-working genius.
Clearly Adebayor doesn’t hold anywhere near the same sort of lofty standing as Defoe does with supporters and most prominently, he’s not been scoring enough to allow him much in the way of a reprieve, either.
But for however frustrated supporters may feel towards Emmanuel Adebayor, they can’t let that frustration boil over into substantial malaise. He’s still got an important part to play in their team’s season and if he is going to start scoring goals in the near future, he’s unlikely to do so within a backdrop of simmering ridicule.
Support in football is a two-way street. But for as little as he may have done in front of goal, Tottenham haven’t exactly been loosing too many games when that Emmanuel Adebayor has featured in this season, too. He must do a lot more but when he next takes to the field, he must do so within an atmosphere of amiability, as opposed to one of mild disdain.