Ashley young hasn’t exactly set the Premier League alight this season. However, that’s not stopping Tottenham’s undying interest in the young England International. Harry Redknapp has made no secret of his admiration for the Aston Villa man, who has less than 18 months left on his current contract.

With Young stalling on his latest contract negotiations could a move to White Hart Lane be imminent? With the uncertainty that surrounds the player at this moment in time Tottenham’s apparent obsession is showing no signs of dwindling. The question is; what do the fans think? Would they welcome him with open arms?

Trawling the blogs and forums across the net it is evident that Villa fans don’t want to lose one of their prized possessions, and with Bale playing out of his skin, it appears Spurs’ fans are not too concerned whether Young joins them or not, even though it seems that many believe he would be a good addition to the squad.

Diehard Spurs fan, Drew Walsh states that Young is not exactly what Tottenham need. I think many out there would agree that when everyone is fit Harry has excellent options in the wide areas, with Bale, Lennon, Modric, Kranjcar and even Van der Vaart all capable of fulfilling that role. Should Spurs therefore, be seriously looking at Young? Furthermore, with Defoe on his way back to full fitness, surely Young’s appearances would be limited. Surely Tottenham’s worrying defensive situation is a greater priority and it would appear that supporters would rather see a world class defender join the ranks. It is also clear that many of The Spurs’ faithful believe they should either be in the market for a world class powerful and natural centre forward. Young is neither, and for many supporters his purchase would seem illogical, buying what is not actually needed.

[divider]

[divider]

Harry Redknapp already has a situation where players are growing tired of limited first team appearances. Should Tottenham secure the services of Young I feel this situation would worsen, unsettling an already tense dressing room. Croatian International, Niko Kranjcar for example, is said to be considering his options elsewhere after falling down the pecking order at White Hart Lane.

To add to the dilemma, Young hasn’t had the same impact on the Premier League like he has done in previous seasons, and I would go as far to say that this term he hasn’t even stood out in what looks like a very average Aston Villa side. I fear that should he join a strong Tottenham side he would simply become a ‘bit part player’ never reaching his true potential.

Whilst Spurs’ fans might welcome the addition of Ashley Young to their squad I feel they would prefer a top world class striker or defender. Having secured Van der Vaart would the signing of Young be a step in the wrong direction? Furthermore, is this obsession about securing Young’s services more that of the press and media than of Spurs’ management? It’s my feeling that he is just one of many possible signings that pundits are including in the Spurs’ rumour mill!

If you like what I’ve written why not follow me on Twitter

Fancy playing your mates every week in a Premium Fantasy Football game?

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Chief executive Garry Cook has suggested that Manchester City's record-breaking transfer spending sprees are unlikely to be repeated.

Cook has hit out at suggestions that his club's massive outlay on new players has been irresponsible.

Manager Roberto Mancini spent £120million on a host of star names during the summer with Mario Balotelli, James Milner, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Jerome Boateng all arriving at Eastlands.

Recent financial results revealed that City's wage bill has topped the £130million mark and that has led to suggestions of problems when UEFA's new Financial Fair Play rules come into effect.

However, Cook claims that future spending is likely to be more controlled at a club which has a long-term plan.

"Clearly our intention is to comply (with the new regulations)," Cook told The Guardian.

"Our two-year plan was to take a budget and build a competency to compete at the highest level, not forgetting the need for succession planning in every position.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 are pleased with how that worked and will not be signing players to the same level of intensity in the next transfer windows.

"Financial fair play is on our conscience, we talk about it at every board meeting and it's part of our long-term plan."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Everton manager David Moyes has admitted that his side are in a tricky position after a run of five games without a win left them just two points outside the relegation places.

The Toffees had previously strung together three consecutive league victories to rise up the table, but have since struggled for form, being thrashed 4-1 at home by West Brom at the weekend.

Moyes told the Daily Post:"The fact is we have not performed well enough over the piece so far.

"We have put in some good performances, but not consistently enough and our form has suffered badly in recent weeks.

"We are in a bad position and we have got some tough games coming up against Chelsea and Manchester City.

"But we have to keep going, keep trying and go out there and do it again and hope we start converting some of those chances.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 don't know if things will change, but as things stand at the moment there is no money to buy any strikers in January, so we will have to look to players to step up and take more responsibility."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Tottenham are reportedly set to test Everton's resolve over midfielder Steven Pienaar and use Niko Kranjcar as bait in a part-exchange deal.

The future of South Africa international Pienaar remains up in the air as he is out of contract at the end of the season, and is widely expected to leave in the new year with a host of clubs keen on the South African international.

Harry Redknapp is a known admirer and Spurs are thought to be heading the race for his signature with former Portsmouth man Kranjcar reportedly a potential player to be used in a part-exchange deal.

Kranjcar has only managed to start one Premier League game this season and has struggled to win a regular first-team place at White Hart Lane this season.

When asked about his future, Pienaar said: "I am still focused on staying at Everton. The season is not over yet, anything can happen."

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

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 can't comment on that (Tottenham speculation), I don't know what is going on."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Claudio Ranieri once said to the assembled media at a press conference; “Football managers are like a parachutist. At times it doesn’t open.” At the time, Ranieri was having to fend off rumours that his job was under threat from then England boss, Sven Goran Eriksson, and under much scrutiny, the likable Italian appeared to be cracking under the pressure. Sure enough, during the Champions League semi-final against Monaco days later, the Chelsea parachute failed to open for the last time and Ranieri’s tenure was as good as over.

Nearly seven years later, as Roberto Mancini reflects on his first year in charge at the City of Manchester Stadium, he may do well to remember the fable of Ranieri. Very few men in football have been trusted with spending the vast quantities of money that both Italians have been allocated. Yet, while the financial freedom liberated Ranieri’s successor at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho, Ranieri was a man constantly ill at ease with the rags to riches nature of his term at Stamford Bridge.

You may suggest that there is a far clearer parallel between Mancini’s predecessor, Mark Hughes, and the eccentric former Chelsea manager. Both men were unwanted baggage for their club’s new owners, and were written off from an early stage as being short-term appointments.

However, when it comes to being judged as a manager in these unique situations, both Ranieri and Mancini have much in common. It is the nature of the vast sums of cash available to the current Manchester City boss that success at any level will be intrinsically linked with the financial backing supplied by Sheikh Mansour, a feeling that Ranieri knew all too well during his time in the Premier League.

Mourinho was not constrained by such an asterisk. His success as a Champions League winning manager negated the financial advantage his management was given. Until Mancini gains this sort of success, his record at City will be forever be doused in scorn. But is this fair?

Results so far this term have been solid without being spectacular. Whilst City are certainly in the title race, they must appreciate that in any other season, their current points tally would put them out of contention. They have failed to chase big games, electing to park the bus against Arsenal and city rivals United, whilst they did just enough to see off an uninspired Chelsea.

The signings made under Mancini are equally difficult to judge. His acquisition of Patrick Vieira was always very much a hiding to nothing, and whilst the former French skipper has had little impact on City’s success, he can hardly be considered a failure. The purchases of James Milner and Adam Johnson have, in general, been positive additions to the City squad and Mario Balotelli has shown glimpses of the talent that attracted the Italian but the attitude which convinced Inter Milan to let him go.

Mancini has coped reasonably with his expensively assembled squad, staving off a crisis when Carlos Tevez looked set to walk out of the club, controlling the egos of several of the more highly strung members of the side, and making the most difficult decision of his tenure so far; bringing in Joe Hart to replace the more than capable Shay Given.

Nevertheless, such are the fluctuating fortunes of the league’s top clubs, Mancini could find himself under severe pressure should the clubs around City win all of their games in hand. It was not so long ago that the manager’s decision to replace Carlos Tevez was accompanied by widespread booing and chants of; “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Results, as always will absolutely have to keep coming.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But is Mancini not doing a good job? It is incredibly difficult to judge City’s season on the strength of their achievements to date – cynics would suggest that everything they have accomplished thus far is simply to be expected considering their level of spending. Any real judgement will have to be made at the end of the season, Champions League qualification must be accomplished at the bare minimum. However it would look at this point that Roberto Mancini’s expensively woven parachute might just open to save him, he only need to look down at Claudio Ranieri to see what happens if it fails.

[divider]

Love fantasy football? Love live footy? You’ll love live fantasy football! Take part in the Wolves v Liverpool match and play Picklive for FREE Go on, give it a go!

Alberto Zaccheroni believes his faith in Eiji Kawashima was repaid in Japan’s Asian Cup penalty shootout win over South Korea.

Goalkeeper Kawashima came in for criticism after an uncertain performance in Japan’s 3-2 quarter-final victory over Qatar.

But Zaccheroni continued to back his man and was duly rewarded with an improved display in Tuesday’s thrilling semi-final.

With the sides unable to be separated at 2-2 after extra-time, the Lierse SK custodian saved two penalties and saw another struck wide of the goal to send Japan through to the final of the Asian Football Confederation’s elite competition, where they will face Australia.

Afterwards, Zaccheroni made it clear that although he never lost confidence in Kawashima, his heroics in the shootout were somewhat surprising.

“There are no goalkeepers who do not make mistakes, they do not exist,” Zaccheroni said.

“A couple of days ago I told Kawashima I trust him very much. I told him that again today and throughout the game he performed much better than I expected.”

Korea struck first through a Ki Sung-yong penalty 23 minutes into the match at Doha’s Al Gharafa Stadium, but Ryoichi Maeda levelled soon afterwards.

Hajime Hosogai then put Japan ahead seven minutes into the additional 30 minutes and they looked on course to win the tie, but Hwang Jae-Won equalised in the last minute of extra-time to send the match to penalties.

“It was a very tight match,” Zaccheroni said.

“Looking at the first half we were better than them, especially with our attacking and combination play.”

“In the second half, Korea were better than us, especially because they pushed us with their physical ability. They could run more than us as well.”

“In the penalties I told the players to forget the goal we conceded at the end. I told them to have the confidence to take the penalty shoot-out and win.”

Despite ending up on the losing side, South Korea coach Cho Kwang-rae was proud of his players’ commitment to the cause.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“They never gave up and pressured the opponent until the last minute of the match and were able to score a second before the full time to take the game to penalties,” Cho said.

“We had spent some time preparing for penalties in previous training sessions but I think the players may have been too tired and that is maybe why we were not successful.”

“But the players all impressed me with their never-give-up attitude. I think they have shown the entire world that Korean football has a great future.”

Japan meet Australia in the final on Saturday.

Wolves defender Richard Stearman hopes his new deal at Molineux will help his international aspirations.

Stearman, 23, recently signed a new three-and-a-half deal with the Premier League strugglers after being rewarded for his consistency under manager Mick McCarthy.

The former England under-21 representative was delighted with the deal and hopes that his international career can kick on now that his future is secured.

“I’m delighted to have got something signed,” Stearman told the club’s official website.

“It’s been in the back of my mind for a while now that my contract was running down and it’s great to have got something agreed with the club. Now I can just concentrate on my football.”

“I want to continue playing for Wolves in the Premier League and I’ve got international aspirations as well. But the main thing for all of us at the moment is making sure we are still in the Premier League at the end of the season.”

Stearman believes regular games in the heart of defence has helped him develop and says he is pleased with the side’s form, despite the fact Wolves sit second last on the Premier League table.

“This is the first time I’ve had a sustained run in the Premier League in my natural position of centre half,” he said.

“It’s great to be back in there and I hope I’m rewarding the gaffer for keeping faith in me. Personally I’m delighted with the way things have gone in recent weeks and as a team I think our form has been good despite losing at Liverpool.”

“We’re just looking now to trying to get through to the next round of the cup on Sunday and kick on in the league.”

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Stearman praised the playing squad’s ‘spirit’ and is hopeful that the club can progress in the FA Cup – where they meet Stoke in the fourth round on Sunday – despite the potential distraction a cup run could pose to a relegation battle.

“It’s about getting in a winning habit. We haven’t won too many this season so any win is good for boosting confidence,” Stearman said.

“We did well in the last round by winning the replay 5-0 which gives us good confidence going into Stoke.”

“We know it’s going to be a tough game but we want to make progress if we can.”

An eclectic and eccentric view of football, business and management by media entrepreneur Chris Ingram.

*

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how vitally important the FA Cup is to smaller football clubs.

And blow me down, Crawley get drawn away to Man United in the 5th Round!

Just look at the economics:

Man United’s matchday revenue is £3.4m per game

In the FA Cup the home team has to share the revenue 50% = 1.7m

Crawley’s estimated annual turnover = 850k

So, this is going to deliver Crawley FC two year’s revenue from just one game at Old Trafford!

Rival clubs in the Conference Premier will see this as ironic: the new owners of Crawley have been accused of `splashing the cash’ in a dash for promotion. The cost of the assembled squad is at a level that most other clubs at this level can only dream of. However, such is the ability of football to scramble our brains, that most owners of clubs talk about the importance of balancing their books and running a club like a conventional business but if given a chance, would spend big money chasing the dream. Wage bill limits may be far from perfect but they are certainly a help in encouraging chairmen and directors to act sensibly (and I speak as one of the guilty parties!).

Even supposing my figures are not exactly right (and tell me if you know better), they’re broadly right and they need to be seen in the context of what’s happening at this level of football. One club handily-placed for promotion into our League may go out of business because they lost 3 games (and therefore all their revenue for a month) because of the snow. Windsor and Eton, 118 years old, went into administration last week. Kidderminster in the Conference Premier, are one point off the play-off places, but haven’t paid their players this year and the Inland Revenue are threatening to pull the plug on them because of money owed to them. Football clubs tend to be incredibly fragile businesses at this level.

Meantime, the biggest clubs are rumoured to be asking the FA to ban replays in the FA Cup, with everything decided on the one game. This is due to their worries about the wear and tear on their squad. With players at my club’s level earning up to £600 a week while Premier players earn up to £200,000 a week, the sympathy at grass roots level only goes so far.

There is a vital, symbiotic relationship between big clubs and small ones in this country.

We need help from the big clubs BUT each level of football relies on much of its talent being developed by the divisions below them. Eliminating replays in the FA Cup will without doubt, result in even more clubs folding at the grass roots level. The FA would be well advised to remind the top clubs of this.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

*

Chris Ingram is as passionate about football as he is about business. Owner of Woking Football Club, and a majority shareholder in the fast growing sports media business Sports Revolution, Chris is one of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs.

Recently celebrating 50 years in the media industry and still actively involved with Woking, Chris is ideally placed to comment on the business side of football.

*

READ more of Chris Ingram’s work at our Football Business Section

Manchester United failed to follow in the footsteps of the three other Premier League teams in the Champions League last night, but Sir Alex Ferguson’s men did earn an away draw and will be heavy favourites heading into the second leg at Old Trafford next month. Elsewhere Arsenal scraped past Stoke in the Premiership, but it came at a cost as both Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott suffered injuries, with the latter certain to miss the Carling Cup final against Birmingham at the weekend.

In the newspapers this morning it is being reported that Arsenal are lining up a £15 million bid for Lorient striker Kevin Gameiro, Kenny Dalglish is set to hand a chance to Joe Cole in the Europa League tonight and West Ham are preparing to start legal action against the FA in regards to compensation for the injury to Dean Ashton.

Walcott out, Fabregas in race against time – Guardian

Cole to be given chance to kick-start Liverpool career – Telegraph

Arsenal prepare £15 million bid – Daily Mail

Chelsea outcast set to leave Stamford Bridge – The Sun

West Ham ready to take legal action against the FA – Guardian

Dawson: Tottenham now Premier League’s most wanted – Telegraph

Scholes set to extend United career – The Sun

Villa target West Ham ‘keeper – Mirror

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

New takeover bid for Manchester United – Daily Mail

Premier League target not for sale – Mirror

[ad_pod id=’fox-mpu’ align=’right’]

Since joining Liverpool from Newcastle back in January, Andy Carroll has been sidelined with a thigh injury which has meant he hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for the whole of 2011. Not surprisingly, the inactivity that goes with such an injury has meant Andy has put on a few pounds (not just because of his contract fees either!) and the Geordie striker has been put on a special training regime by the Reds to ensure that he’s down to his ‘fighting weight’ when he does eventually start.

Carroll isn’t the first footballer to struggle with his weight, as these 5 examples show;

Mido – The Egyptian striker was famous for the amount of weight he put on whilst at Middlesbrough, and his size was often a subject for chants from ‘mean’ fans up and down the country. Mido, who also had spells with West Ham, Tottenham and Wigan, never really fulfilled his potential at Boro scoring just 12 goals in 51 appearances. He blamed his lack of form on an inflamed ‘pubic bone’. The 28 year old is currently at Dutch giants Ajax, and weighs a svelte 83kg.

Yakubu – Currently at Leicester City, the Yak, has never been what you would call ‘dainty’. Another ex-Boro legend, the Nigerian’s weight was often called into question during his time at Everton. Following one 10 month lay off, Yakubu admitted that he had spent most of his spare time watching DVD’s including Will Smith’s ‘Hancock.’ He stressed that he had tried very hard not to get fat, but admitted that the boredom often resulted in him stuffing his face.

3) Andy Reid – Often compared unfavourably to the Michelin Man, Reid is another footballer who has struggled to lose that ‘spare tyre’ over the years. Strangely it’s never really stopped Reid from performing, with most of his past managers claiming that he’s as fit as a butcher’s dog. Reid has spent much of his career at Sunderland, maybe because vertical stripes are quite flattering. He’s at Sheffield United for the time being who have a similar slimming effect.

Mick Quinn – If anyone knew about weight problems, it was the Mighty Quinn. The Liverpool born striker, who managed over 200 goals during his career, was known for his ‘playboy’ lifestyle. Fans initially loved his rotund appearance, singing ‘He’s Fat, He’s Round, He Scores at Every Ground’ at the tubby-target man. Following his retirement however, Quinn piled on the pounds and weighed a hefty 19 stone when he signed up for ITV’s Celebrity Fit Club, alongside dart’s player Bobby George and astrologer Russel Watson. Quinn managed to lose 4 stone 8 pound and was named Mr. Fit Club 2006.

Neil ‘Razor’ Ruddock – As played by Ray Winstone. No, I’m joking! Ex-Liverpool and West Ham hardman, ‘Razor’ Ruddock was always a hefty player but since retiring like Quinn he’s really piled on the pounds. When he went into the Australian jungle for his stint on I’m A Celebrity (Get Me My Career Back), it was hoped that some of the weight would drop off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone tuck into a Kangaroo’s anus as quickly and happily as Ruddock did!

This article is only meant to entertain, not to mock! You know who else has a bit of a weight issue…yeah, me….but that’s ok! I like to eat, and that’s just fine! More cushion for the pushin’, more of me to love etc etc. So to all my hefty brothers, be they wheezing heavily on the pitch, or just wheezing heavily at the side of it, I say just be comfortable in your skin, whatever you weigh! If this list is anything to go by, you might still have a footballing career ahead of you. And women go crazy for a bigger man! Look at Barry White and the Hairy Bikers!

For actual dietry advice, consult your GP, but for the latest amusing articles and transfer rumours join my Twitter page @petermagpie

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.