Goalless Swansea host West Brom this weekend in their first top flight meeting for 28 years.
The Swans have failed to hit the back the net in their opening four matches and that statistic is beginning to overshadow their slick passing and attractive style of football. Manager Brendan Rodgers has a massive task on his hands to get his strikers motoring and scoring goals with the prolific duo of Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham yet to replicate the killer instincts they displayed many time in the Championship last year. Graham, in particular, is under increasing pressure to justify his record £3.5 million price tag and should have bagged at least one last week at Arsenal. 0-0 draws against Wigan and Sunderland at the Liberty Stadium will be important come the end of the season but they need to start winning games sooner rather than later to keep confidence high and ensure a swift return to England’s second tier doesn’t come to pass.
West Brom, on the other hand, recorded their first win of the campaign last week against another promoted side in the form of Norwich. The return of Peter Odemwingie was massive and it took the Nigerian only three minutes to get his name on the score sheet for the season. He and Shane Long looked dangerous up front at Carrow Road last week and their effectiveness as a partnership will have a huge bearing on the Baggies season. Graham Dorrans also returned last week and put in the sort of performance that saw him linked with the leagues top clubs two seasons ago before a dramatic dip last seasons saw him lose his place. Boss Roy Hodgson will be confident of picking up a second consecutive win against the Swans who are still adapting to the rigors of the division.
Swans skipper Gary Monk could make his first appearance of the season after injuries to Steven Caulker and Alan Tate left them short in defence.
Gabriel Tamas will be absent for the visitors after he pleased guilty to a violent conduct charge and was banned for three games. Zoltan Gera is out whilst Chris Brunt will face a late fitness test on a knee problem that has restricted his game time so far this season.
Key Player
Scott Sinclair: With the goals not flowing it’s up to Sinclair to get the Swans hitting the back of the net. His pace and trickery will trouble West Brom although he needs to have more conviction in front of goal.
Ben Foster: The ex-England keeper has had a decent start to his Baggies career and will need to be in fine form this weekend to keep out a Swansea attack who will be desperate to open their accounts for the season.
Verdict: 1-1
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An extra time Gael Givet goal secured a 4-3 win for Blackburn over Newcastle on Wednesday night, and provided under-fire manager Steve Kean some respite as his team progress through to the cup quarter finals.
Rovers flew into a 2-0 lead through goals from Ruben Rochina and Yakubu, but two injury-time goals by Danny Guthrie and Yohan Cabaye forced the game into extra-time.
Morten Gamst Pedersen recovered the Lancashire club’s lead in the first half of injury time, but the visitors refused to lie down, and Peter Lovenkrands made it 3-3.
French defender Givet scored the winner on the 120 minute mark in an epic display, and received sparkling praise from manager Kean.
“Gael Givet encapsulates the whole spirit we have got here – he had a hamstring nick but would not come off,” the Scottish coach told The Daily Mail.
“He’s a warrior, he has put his head where other people wouldn’t put their feet. He was fantastic.”
The win will give Blackburn a cup run and be a welcome distraction for the league, where Rovers are bottom. Despite this, Kean has admitted that he has been working on his side’s defence in training.
“We had worked so hard to get a clean sheet so when their first goal went in it was a horrible feeling.
“It’s tough mentally when they scored so late to go and score again but we did it.
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“We are always going to score goals but we have been working day in, day out defensively so that when we lose possession we get a good shape,” he concluded.
Having spent thousands of hours watching football, I have spent a fair few days reading about it too – not just in newspapers, or online, but books too. Not all hit the spot – Shaun Goater’s autobiography or that of Jeff Stelling were entertaining enough, but hardly classics. Listed below are my top ten football books, in no particular order, a varied bunch of reads. With thousands more available, it is just the tip of the iceberg, but the books show that there is much more to the sport than kicking a football around a piece of grass.
A Season With Verona – Tim Parks
Less a football book, than a social commentary on a whole nation paired with a travelogue, the book’s title pretty much says it all. Tim Parks was born in Manchester, moving permanently to Italy in 1980. The book follows Parks’ attempts to attend every game in Verona’s epic 2000-2001 Season in Serie A. During it, we see much of what defines the country, and its football fans, with anecdotes that will be familiar to anyone who follows the beautiful (and often not-so-beautiful) game.
“Addictive reading…each chapter is a short story, the whole book an epic.” The Observer
“A fascinating emotional journey…his descriptions of Italian football are descriptions of Italy itself, its regional differences, its squabbles, its distinctive temper.” The Daily Telegraph.
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The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro – Joe McGinniss
The first season spent in the dizzy heights of Serie B, in their entire history, by Castel Di Sangro is shared by American writer Joe McGinniss in what becomes an increasingly fascinating read. McGinniss spends the entire 1996/97 season in the small hamlet of Castel Di Sangro.
The book starts with some reservations, as McGinniss explains in simple terms the rules of football, and you soon realise that (understandably) the book is aimed at an American audience. However, it is written with great warmth and attention, and more importantly, fate supplies the author a staggering story that no Hollywood scriptwriter could have dreamt of, building to a sensational end to a season full of highs and lows, and a fair amount of tragedy too.
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Paul Lake – I’m Not Really Here
This goes on the list with no bias from me – whilst it is fair to say there is more to be gained from this book for Manchester City fans, I would strongly argue that any football fan should give it a go. Thinking of all the turgid autobiographies I have read in my time, it is rare to see a footballer’s autobiography written so well, with such emotion, and humour. Co-written with his wife Joanne, it is a must-read, dealing not only with football but with the depths a man can sink to when his life is ripped apart – it shows a side of football we rarely see, and the last line of the book still brings a lump to my throat.
Read my full review here: https://www.footballfancast.com/2011/08/football-blogs/book-review-paul-lake-autobiography-im-not-really-here
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Continued on Page TWO
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Why England Lose: And Other Curious Phenomena– Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski
I recently took this book on holiday, and it mysteriously kept disappearing, such was the fascination at what it had to say amongst my friends. A superb read that details various statistical anomalies within football, without ever getting boring, such as:
“Why do England lose?”
“Why do Newcastle United always buy the wrong players?”
“How could Nottingham Forest go from winning the European Cup to the depths of League One?”
“Penalties – what are they good for?”
Why England Lose isn’t in the first place about money. It’s about looking at data in new ways. A prizewinning writer and a leading sports economist have come together to present the sport in a new light, from new angles. The book’s scope is wide – from racism, to the mistakes of the transfer market, to how city size reflects club glory, or which country loves football the most. A great read, as are Kuper’s other books on football.
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Inverting The Pyramid – Jonathan Wilson
A definitive football book. It can be a dry read at times, but Jonathan Wilson’s look at basically the history of football, and how the sport was spread and tactics evolved around the globe is a fascinating read. He shows how countries shaped their own methods and styles, looking at how teams lined up in some of the key games in the sport’s history, all leading to the tactical variations used in the present day.
“A fascinating history of tactics, a book that is guaranteed to enhance your football watching: your team may still lose, but you’ll have a far better idea why they did.” The Independent on Sunday
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You are the Ref: The Ultimate Illustrated Guide to the Laws of Football: Keith Hackett & Paul Trevillion
A book that reaffirms how ignorant I am about parts of the sport I love.
It’s a penalty to the away side. Just as the kick is about to be taken, the home side’s official mascot suddenly jumps up behind the net, dancing. The penalty-taker misses and turns to you in outrage. What do you do?
You are the Ref is the cult classic comic strip from legendary Roy of the Rovers artist Paul Trevillion – if you’r eone of the few people not to have stumbled across the strip, it puts you in the spotlight and asks the question: what would you decide?
Written by former international referee Keith Hackett, and brilliantly illustrated by the aforementioned Trevillion, it is the perfect book to test your knowledge of the laws of the game, great for dipping in and out of, with added profiles of some of the game’s biggest names. You’ll be amazed as much at what you didn’t know as what you did.
Add plenty of extra trivia and a top ten spot is guaranteed.
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Full Time: The Secret Life of Tony Cascarino: by Tony Cascarino
One of only two autobiographies on the list, it is not a surprising choice, often listed as one of the best.
The book was received so well due to the searing honesty of Cascarino – he does not hold back on admitting his thoughts, and his many mistakes. It is well-written too of course, as it was put together (I.e. ghost-written) by award-winning Irish journalist Paul Kimmage, written in a style akin to a thriller by slowly revealing details.
Cascarino reveals all – he talks of his gambling, and his worship of Jack Charlton, and hatred of Glenn Hoddle. He talks of his crippling self-doubt, and of taking unknown medicines whilst at Marseille. And then there was his international career…
The Guardian said, “Compared with the standard-issue footballer’s autobiography, this is Tolstoy.” Perhaps not quite, but it’s brilliant storytelling, and gives a shockingly honest portrait of one footballer and his world.
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Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby
Fever Pitch is both an autobiography and a footballing bible rolled into one, winning the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 1992.
Everyone knows about the book, so little needs to be said – but it makes the list because quite simply Hornby is an excellent writer – any football fan could associate with his stories of what the game meant to him, how it affected the rest of his life, from work to personal relationships, and how it shaped who he was. His story of growing up in a world that revolved around football is a familiar one for millions of us, and the climax to the story reminds us why we do what we do.
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Broken Dreams: Tom Bower
Another one from the archives.
Broken Dreams is Bower’s controversial account of how some of the sport’s most high-profile managers and chairmen have been getting their snouts in the trough at the expense of their clubs and the game.
Focussing on the likes of Terry Venables, Brian Clough, Ken Bates and Harry Redknapp–and a huge cast of FA officials, club bigwigs and super-agents–Bower draws together threads from existing sources, with newly acquired information from over 200 interviews, weaving a compelling tale of vanity, greed and corruption at the heart of the football establishment.
The book is a real eye-opener, raising serious doubts over the characters of many of the nation’s most famous footballing names. We read of missing money in Redknapp transfer deals, Ken Bates’ disastrous business decisions and Terry Venables’ even worse business dealings. But there’s lots more about the murkier side of the sport, of what goes on behind the scenes, the extent to which money tarnishes the actions of those that run the game and our clubs, the bungs, the missing money – and even to this day much of what it has to say is relevant. Little has changed.
Another William Hill Sports Book of the Year, in 2003.
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Football Grounds of England – Simon Inglis
Does what it says on the cover – lots of pictures of football grounds, and how they developed (though not up to date by many a year). What’s not to like?
Robin Van Persie was the hero once again for Arsenal scoring twice as Arsene Wenger’s side came from a goal behind to win their fourth successive Premier League game.
The Dutchman has now scored 31 top-flight goals in 2011 and was once again on hand to save the Gunners after they fell behind to Steve Morison’s opener on the quarter hour mark – his third goal in as many games. The Canaries could only hold on for 10 minutes though before Van Persie struck from close range to score from Theo Walcott’s cross before superbly clipping home Alex Song’s pass to secure victory. It was just rewards for Arsenal who rolled back the years to produce an energetic display of attacking fortitude that ultimately proved too much for Paul Lamberts men. Norwich looked good for a point with the visitors squandering a hatful of chances but it wasn’t to be as Van Persie proved to be the difference once again for the North London side. They should have been at least a goal to the good within the first 15 minutes only for some tremendous defending to thwart them. Firstly Gervinho saw his close range shot blocked, Van Persie then dragged an effort wide before Russell Martin produce an astonishing goal line clearance to deny Walcott.
It proved to be costly as the Canaries Morison opened the scoring against the run of play punishing Per Mertesacker for failing to deal with Marc Tierney’s long ball brushing the German defender out of the way and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner. However that seemed to spur the Gunners on as they continued to pile the pressure on agains only to be denied by two more goal line clearances from Martin with the defender hacking Van Persie’s header off the line before saving keeper John Ruddy’s blushes after he let a Gervinho shot find it’s way towards goal. You could sense a goal was on the horizon and it was Van Persie who delivered tapping in from six-yards out after Walcott flew past Tierney on the right and fizzed the ball across the Norwich penalty area. The Gunners continued to attack at every opportunity but still lacked a cutting edge in front of goal with Gervinho wasting a host of chances. The most notable saw him round Ruddy after latching onto Van Persie’s threaded pass only for the keeper to recover and prevent the Ivorian from putting Arsenal into the lead.
Still the away side continued to attack with vigour and they got their reward’s just before the hour mark with Van Persie scoring his 10th goal in five games. Canaries defender Martin, who had been impressive throughout the contest, surrendered possession on the half way line allowing Song to play the 28-year-old in and he made no mistake stroking the ball home with supreme ease to put Arsenal in front. Norwich tried in vain to find an equalising goal only to see Anthony Pilkington scuff Elliott Bennett’s cross wide from close range with the goal gaping. It almost got worse for the home side as Walcott, who had tortured the home defence all afternoon with his pace, sprung clear once again but saw his drive hit the outside of the post. Never the less it twas the Gunners who held on and picked up a deserved 10th win in 12 games to move level on points with fourth placed Chelsea for a few hours at least.
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With a third of the Premier League season now gone by, the table is starting to find its level and supporters are starting to get a better understanding of where their respective clubs are at this season and the challenge that faces them in the coming months. Once again the Premier League has been broken up into three tiers, with each team facing their own private battle.
Unlike previous years there has certainly been some stability on the managerial front with only Steve Bruce succumbing to the bullet so far, as clubs look to show patience with their managers to turn around their current plights. The managers may not be so patient with players at their disposal and may look to make significant changes in the January transfer window.
The January transfer window is loved and loathed in equal measures, with many managers and supporters alike welcoming the opportunity to freshen things up, while others see it as a source of distraction. History shows it is a renowned place for panic buying, as last January certainly proved, but there have been notable successes in the past that shows it can be a significant period to turn around a club’s fortunes. I feel the African Cup of Nations and the unprecedented amount of long term injuries we have seen will force many club’s hands and subsequently we can expect to see another expensive month for many Premier League chairman.
So how do you feel about Aston Villa’s fortunes so far this season and would you look to see changes made in January? Who would you like to see brought in and ultimately who would you like to see moved on in the up and coming window?
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Gonzalo Higuain’s father and agent has stated that the striker has no intention in leaving Real Madrid, and has distanced his son from a move to Chelsea.
The Argentina international competes with Karim Benzema for a place in Jose Mourinho’s starting XI, and reports in both the Spanish and British press have linked the South American attacker with a move to Stamford Bridge come January.
Despite this, Jorge Higuain has stated that the 24-year-old will not be leaving the Santiago Bernabeu.
“Nobody at Real Madrid has said anything about wanting to sell Gonzalo and he doesn’t have any intention of leaving,” the representative told La Stampa.
“In fact, he wants to continue with Real Madrid until his contract expires in June 2016.
“If somebody told us we weren’t welcome (at Real) I’m sure we would receive very good proposals,” he stated.
Serie A giants Juventus have also been speculated as a potential suitor, but Higuain senior has said that there has been no contact from the Turin club or Andre Villas Boas’ men.
“Regarding the rumours that say Chelsea and Juventus are interested in my son, the only thing I can say is that they are both two great teams.
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“They would be two important opportunities, but nobody has gotten in touch with me,” he concluded.
Gary Neville’s frank admission last year that playing for England was ‘a massive waste of time’, is hardly a surprising revelation and may simply confirm what a lot of this country’s supporters already suspect; that playing and performing well for England is just not a high priority for many of today’s Premier League superstars. It also backs up the claim that this has been the problem with England’s national team for years.
We’ve all grown accustomed to it. Every time an international tournament comes along the press is quick to build up England’s hopes, promoting them to one of the favourites on the evidence of…’inventing’ football? 1966? Whilst I may be (only slightly) exaggerating, the main cause for England optimism is of course the English Premier League and its vast array of stars. However, it seems lost on many in this country that perhaps boasting the self proclaimed ‘best league in the world’ doesn’t equate to the best players in the league being English. For all the grandeur, splendour and quality of the Premier League, a lot of that quality has been provided by the non-English. But, that’s not to say there hasn’t been a plethora of English Premier League stars over the years, as quite clearly there has. It just ensures the success of the Premier League and the teams in it helps build the great expectations of the English national team, which always ends in ‘catastrophic’ failure. But I digress a little. But not much…
You see the success of our Premier League teams and the failings of the National team can be intrinsically linked by Neville’s comments. As a member of the most successful team in Premier League history he was used to winning at club level. Whilst he counts himself as ‘patriotic’, he also states that playing for England was just a ‘bonus’. Winning for Manchester United was always the most important thing to him. These comments have been echoed by many others in the past – Jamie Carragher is another with similar sentiments – but obviously with Liverpool winning rather than United! As a supporter, I put my club first so can take comfort from my players doing the same – but can see how other fans take issue with such comments.
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You see the Premier League era and the success, glory and obscene amounts of money it has brought, has given today’s top player everything they could possibly ever want. They are rich, they are famous – world renowned in fact, and they are successful with their club teams. When the inevitable happens and the great expectations are not reached with the English national team, they are slaughtered by the press and public. Many England players, past and present, have stated on occasions they have been barracked by the home support. It was particularly prevalent in the old Wembley days. Some supporters club allegiances are not put to one side and abuse will be given to a ‘domestic’ opposite player, rather than channelling support for their country.
It has become a vicious circle; the more England fail, the more abuse the players receive – and today’s Premier League star just isn’t used to receiving such criticism – be it too harsh or not. The fear of failure is so much so that players, such as Neville, see representing their country as something they could do without – rather than it being the pinnacle of their career. Now too many players spend too much time fearing the consequences of failure when they pull on an England shirt, scared of what will be written or said of them if a mistake is made.
The modern Premier League English international has much to occupy his mind, other than the failing of the national team. Discipline has always been a key issue when talking about England, and again Neville brought to light that players would rather be gambling on the horses or playing card games, rather than focusing on the job in hand. Other stories regarding mobile phones in training and the infamous WAGS issue have all dogged fairly recent campaigns, but that seemingly came to a close with the appointment of the strict Fabio Capello as England manager. However, on the pitch, when it come to tournament time, not much changed with England’s ‘golden generation’ coming to a humiliating end in South Africa.
It’s hard to know who to blame for all the failings; the previous/current managers and their lack of man management or flexible tactics? Or is it the press, the media and the fans for the unrealistic expectations, then the incessant abuse that follows the failures? Or is it simply down to the players, who in today’s game are too pampered and precious, put their country second, and have simply achieved too much too soon, without achieving the heights of the legends of yesteryear?
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Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has pleaded his innocence, despite choosing not to appeal the FA decision to ban him for four matches.
The Italy international initially escaped punishment after it appeared that he kicked Scott Parker in the head in the Etihad Stadium team’s 3-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.
However the game’s governing body in England retrospectively handed down a four-match punishment, and despite not challenging the decision, Balotelli has stated that he is innocent.
“I am not a villain or a violent player,” the attacker told The Independent.
“I have accepted the ban because I couldn’t prove my innocence.
“I didn’t try to heel Parker,” he concluded.
Roberto Mancini is also very upset with the forward’s suspension, and feels his side have been hard done by.
“The referee was there, 10 metres from the tackle. He could have sent Mario off at that moment, not after the game because he watched the video,” Mancini stated.
“That is easy. I can be a referee in the next game. He (Howard Webb) can’t say he didn’t see it. He saw everything.
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“Now it is finished and Mario can do nothing. We lost Vinny (Kompany) for four games for nothing and now we are without Mario,” the trainer moaned.
“If there are not three worse teams than us in the league this season, I will shoot myself in the head.” (Guardian)
The bold and somewhat alarming verdict of Swansea City captain, Garry Monk. His confidence however appears justified, as few can question the growing trend of promoted clubs enjoying successful maiden campaigns in the Premier League.
In fact two of the three promoted clubs have avoided relegation in each of the past three seasons. The likes of Stoke, Newcastle and West Brom have all emerged from the Championship and dug their heels firmly in the hallowed turf of the Premier League. The time-honoured assumption on the terraces that ‘teams go up only to come straight back down’ finds itself under threat, especially when just once (1997-98) have all three promoted teams endured relegation.
Last year Ian Holloway’s Blackpool gained countless admirers as they proved it is possible to compete in the top flight by fighting fire with fire. This imperfect recipe for avoiding the drop has been tweaked and fine-tuned by the present-day surprise candidates Norwich and Swansea. Both teams play without fear, taking the game to their opponents and in doing so shifting all the pressure and anxiety off their own shoulders. They’ve both transformed their stadiums into the clichéd fortress and helped prove to many that the gulf in quality between the two divisions isn’t as vast as you might think.
Brendan Rodgers is a devoted disciple of the ’keep ball’ philosophy inaugurated by his predecessors Paulo Sousa and Roberto Martinez. The Swans play with the viewpoint that if you have possession then the opposition can’t score, although Brighton did their best to disprove this fact in their recent FA Cup clash with Liverpool. Norwich on the other hand play with real width and an attacking flair that Kenny Dalglish is still trying to implement at Liverpool. They are spearheaded by strikers Holt and Morrison, who are capable of battering even the most resilient of defences into submission.
A successful stint in the Premier League seems to revolve around maintaining the core squad that helped inspire promotion. No longer is there a firm belief that you have to spend big to survive, instead managers are seeking to build on strong foundations and punish any team that reveals even a hint of complacency.
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Queen Park Rangers have endured contrasting fortunes since their return to the Premier League. An influx of seasoned professionals were intended to starve off the threat of relegation but a combination of negative tactics, inconsistent player performances and unrest in the boardroom have left the R’s languishing just a point above the drop zone.
The outright refusal of promoted clubs to descend back down from their origins has meant the Championship is now inundated with names who boast a long-standing history in the top flight. The likes of Leeds and Leicester are finding it increasingly difficult to forge a promotion charge and have even suffered stints in League One since their exit from the Premier League. Just 6 of this seasons 24 clubs have never set foot in the Premier League, which gives you a real sense of the tradition, stature and expectations of the growing number of clubs desperate to win promotion. As the financial rewards for earning place in the top flight increase year on year it serves to fuel the levels of motivation and desire, which is why the Championship is now seen as an exciting, feisty spectacle.
The superior levels of wealth invested in the Premier League has enabled clubs the freedom to flex their financial muscle. Squads are now littered with talent from across the globe and the multi-million pound youth academies. With each new achievement comes further expectation, and this overwhelming feeling of pressure has created a cut-throat nature at the heart of football. New signings are given little time to impress, managers even less so, which has seen many drop down into the Championship in an attempt to relaunch their career.
The Premier League is undergoing a transition, a revival in my eyes, with the established order entering a state of flux. Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur are currently frolicking in amongst the fabled ‘top 4’, with cracks beginning to appear in the once dominant forces of Arsenal and Chelsea. Everton and Fulham seem incapable of progressing without significant investment whilst Premier League veterans Blackburn and Aston Villa find themselves on a slippery slope. However, these changes are not the sign of diminishing quality, the unpredictable nature of this unforgiving league is what makes it truly entertaining.
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Once upon a time it was the promoted sides who were asked all the questions, are you prepared? Have you earned the right to be here? But nowadays, the new kids on the block are asking all the questions and the Premier League elite are struggling to find the answers.
Is the Premier League predictable? Will Cardiff become the next team to lose their top flight virginity? Share your thoughts on Twitter @theunusedsub
Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker has stated that his side are not worried about Arsenal cutting the gap on Tottenham to one point in the race for third.
Spurs have lost their last three league games with the Gunners winning their last three, to make it a close battle for Champions League qualification.
However, the England international feels that his side must focus on their own games and not worry about their north London rivals.
“I wouldn’t say we’re worried one bit,” he told Mirror Football.
“We’re focused. We need to win football matches. That’s it.
“We’re in such a good league. Every week you’re looking. There’s Arsenal. There’s Chelsea. Ultimately all we can do is keep performing and keep picking up results.
“We’ve got some good senior players here. William Gallas has been in this position before – he’s won championships.
“We know what we need to do. We need to all pull together and see through the last remaining part of the season.
“The second-half performance against Arsenal was nowhere near our standard. Then against United we got the performance, but we all know this is a results business.
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“Hopefully we can go on a run now. We’ve got some difficult fixtures coming up,” he admitted.