William ‘fatty’ Foulke is arguably the fattest player to grace both the domestic and International arena.
The Sheffield United goalkeeping Legend weighed in at an incredible 22 stone and when he later move on to Chelsea the rumour has it that Foulke weighed more than two of the Blues’ backline combined. A top quality goalkeeper, Foulke proved that you didn’t have to be in peak shape as a footballer to make a decent career in the Beautiful Game. There are plenty of other players who have since packed on the pounds and subsequently been highly successful within the game.
This list is a tribute to the fat footballers of recent years and although the likes of Micky Quinn and Mido didn’t make the list, both of you remain forever in our thoughts.
Click on William Foulke below to unveil the top 10
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Blackburn boss Steve Kean has stated that his side have not started recent matches well, and is eager to have his side come straight out of the blocks in upcoming fixtures.
The Lancashire club are locked in a five-team relegation battle, and are currently in the dropzone in 18th place, locked on 28 points with two of their rivals.
With an integral home fixture against an off-the-boil Liverpool on Tuesday night at Ewood Park, the Scottish manager has urged his team to start the game well.
“We need to get back to how we were against Manchester United at the start when we were straight on it, we were focused,” he told Mirror Football.
“We’ve been slow to start against Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion and we need to look at the reasons why.
“I think we have to bring that to the players attention and we have to spark ourselves into life a lot quicker,” he confessed.
A win over Kenny Dalglish’s men would lift Rovers up to 16th place, and put increased pressure on the likes of QPR, Wigan and Bolton.
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Bolton have joined Wolves and Blackburn in being relegated, after drawing 2-2 with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday.
Owen Coyle’s men needed to beat the Potters and hope QPR were defeated by Manchester City to stay up, and in the end Mark Hughes’ team did lose to the eventual Premier League champions.
Bolton had taken the lead after goals from Mark Davies and Kevin Davies had cancelled out a controversial Jonathan Walters opener, but a 77th-minute penalty by Walters gave the Potters a point, and saw the Reebok Stadium outfit demoted.
Trotters manager Coyle was livid with the refereeing decisions in both of the goals they conceded and frustrated at being relegated to the Championship.
“My feelings are obviously with our supporters and our wonderful club,” he told Sky Sports.
“I felt that we did enough to win the game after a slow start but the decisions – you’ve seen them yourself today.
“For that first goal to be allowed when Jonathan Walters clearly headed the arm of my goalkeeper when he’s got the ball in his hands, it was beyond belief that that could be given at this level but it was.
“And then we picked ourselves up, got 2-1 in front and had chances to go 3-1 and really put the game to bed.
“And then we allowed Stoke to come on at us with a little bit of pressure, although not any great goal-scoring opportunities.
“As it happens, Crouch has had a chance, Adam’s made a great save of it and then Crouch has played it around him.
“But for me it’s as soft a penalty as you’ll ever get because Crouch has actually stumbled into Adam.
“Adam is not even looking at him – he’s looking at where he’s played the ball.
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“But even then at two-each we still put ourselves up the park, Tim Ream’s had a great header in the last seconds of added time, a great save from the Stoke goalkeeper which would have afforded the three points and kept us in the Barclays Premier League.
“So of course it’s difficult to take, it’s a range of emotions,” the Scot concluded.
Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill has admitted that he is desperate to keep attacker Stephane Sessegnon at the club this summer.
The gifted forward proved himself as an important player for the Black Cats in 2011-12, and as such has been linked with a move to a number of other teams.
Despite this, the Northern Irish coach has revealed that he does not want to cash in on his star man during the transfer window.
“You can never tell what’s going to happen over the summer and I don’t want to be saying anything categorically at the start of it which will make us look foolish at the end of it,” he told the Sunderland Echo.
“I don’t want to say something now which will be thrown back at me next season with people saying: ‘Well you said this, or you said that’.
“But there’s no doubt Stephane Sessegnon is a player that we obviously want to keep and we’ll be doing everything we can to do so.
“He adds something to our attack that no other player does and our priority is to improve ourselves as an attacking force next season.
“If you want to do that, you have to look at keeping your best attacking players and attracting others.
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“Stephane has been making the right noises about being happy to stay at Sunderland and hopefully that will be the case,” he concluded.
Samir Nasri has taken a swipe at former club Arsenal once more, stating that he is glad that he is at Manchester City so he can be in the running to win trophies.
The France international left the Emirates Stadium last summer to join Roberto Mancini’s men, and had a parting dig at the north London club by stating that he was leaving to win silverware.
The attacking midfielder has once more slated Arsene Wenger’s men, which will infuriate fans of his ex-employers.
“Celebrate your third-place achievement and I will focus on winning titles,” Nasri is quoted as saying by The Daily Mail.
“I’m glad I left because City are far more competitive and are winning titles, not dreaming about it.
“I have said 300 times I did not leave Arsenal for money, only for sporting aspirations and if people don’t believe me that’s their problem,” he continued.
Nasri looks set to feature for France on Monday evening against England, and the City playmaker has admitted that losing is not an option.
“There is a great deal of confidence in the French camp but much will depend on the opening game against England.
“They remain an extremely tough opponent. I have had banter with Joe Hart and Joleon Lescott at City but losing is not an option.
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“I would like to see both sides qualify but people need to understand that if France qualify at the expense of England then so be it,” he concluded.
The British summer is upon us once more and surprisingly nothing much has changed. The English rain still falls, Murray still hasn’t won Wimbledon and now Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists he still won’t be spending big in the transfer market.
It’s a recurring trend that sports fans across the country have become accustomed to but the Frenchman’s principles have led to another of his star players being linked with a move away from the club. Robin van Persie’s impending departure has raised further concerns at the Emirates Stadium that they cannot compete financially with Premier League’s big spenders. While many fans appreciate the Gunners’ sustainability, Manchester City’s ability to snare their best players every summer has led to some questioning why their top talent cannot be persuaded to stay in North London.
With one year left on his contract, Van Persie’s future is not set in stone but many believe it is only a matter of time before the Dutchman leaves and while Wenger’s philosophy of spending wisely is admirable, the Arsenal project has lost another talented individual at a time when they should have been playing their best football for the club. The one positive will be the hefty chunk of cash received but since Wenger has announced he will not be splashing out, Arsenal fans will certainly not be witnessing the same sort of player influx as Paris Saint Germain this summer.
It may not be a glamorous recruitment policy but its needs must given Wenger’s philosophy so which players can Arsenal realistically sign on the cheap that will improve their squad?
Click on Mathieu Valbuena to unveil the top 10
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The phrase, “must get off to a good start,” is as horribly tedious as it is immortal. Every season it seems to get dusted off as we evaluate a new manager’s chances, as if a mediocre or uninspiring start would be some form of viable alternative. Every time a manager walks into a new club, they’ve got to hit the ground running and start winning games. For Brendan Rodgers though, the phrase might hold a bit more prominence.
Liverpool enter the new season under a real paradox of expectation. The appointment of Brendan Rodgers is one that is supposed to exude longevity. The Ulsterman is a of the new breed of young manager and he brings with him a blueprint for the future alongside his roadmap for technical excellence. Liverpool’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, seem to be doing everything in their power to emphasize this- it is said that Champions League football is not a direct necessity for next term.
But as much as FSG want to, quite rightly, quell expectation, there is a bubbling undercurrent of impatience. There is only so long that a club like Liverpool can stay in regression for, and since the dying moments of the Rafa Benitez era, the club has slipped further and further away from the summit of English football.
Whilst you could hardly describe the club as undergoing freefall, expectations have been dealt a ruthless reality check in recent years. Since Benitez guided his side to Premier League runners-up during the 2008-09 season, the club have kicked on my moving backwards. Finishes of 7th. 6th then 8th have succeeded since and Benitez, Roy Hodgson and Kenny Dalglish have all been and gone during the same time frame.
But it’s not been the decline caused by drastic implosion or lack of investment, which is what makes it all the more frustrating. They’ve not invested petromillions, but Benitez was always backed, Hodgson was allowed to bring in his own men (enter, Paul Konchesky) and the new regime gave Dalglish as much help as they possibly could. Of course, the aforementioned change in ownership played it’s part. But after a pretty mediocre three years, the notion of being told to wait a little longer isn’t the most appealing of prospects.
Although Brendan Rodgers hasn’t been brought in for a slap dash season. He’s been brought in for the long haul, and supporters generally seem to have brought into him. He plays the brand of football that is hoped will drag Liverpool kicking and screaming back into the forefront of the modern game and he’s already made the right noises in and around the club. Rodgers speaks with drive and authority and he has a far more accessible feel than Kenny Dalglish. King Kenny will always be King Kenny, but his PR skills certainly didn’t help proceedings last term. Rodgers has brought genuine optimism back to Anfield.
Yet all the pre season posturing and column inches of adulation mean nothing when the season kicks off. Rodgers will be given plenty of time by both the fans and the board but ultimately, he has to start winning football matches.
When people start talking about embarking on a project at a football club, expectations and aims seem to fluctuate as and when the season goes on. Supporters understand that to get to the finished article, they have to endure the building process and results can often be unpredictable and sometimes volatile.
But the improvement needs to be there to see and progress will have to be made. Memories don’t last long in football and time is a commodity that few are afforded. Rodgers needs to get off the ground quickly, specifically by flying out the blocks in the Premier League. The fixture computer, however, hasn’t been particularly kind.
Their opening five fixtures are potentially as savage as they can get, or at least their three home games are anyway. Rodgers takes his Liverpool side to the Hawthorns on the opening day, where the somewhat unknown quantity of Steve Clarke’s West Brom await. And this represents the perfect acid test for supporters’ patience.
The aim will of course be, to beat West Brom. But more importantly, Liverpool simply cannot loose. Because in their next three home games, they play host to Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United respectively. Throw in a tricky away trip to Sunderland in between and you can understand why the Liverpool management are asking for patience.
But whilst fans will do everything they can to heed to their demands, Rodgers has to combine building his project for the future with winning over a set of fans that intrinsically behold high expectations.
He can have all the time in the world, but if Liverpool lose to City and Arsenal at home, he will be under huge pressure to get a result against Martin O’Neill’s side at the Stadium of Light. Why? Losing three on the bounce would set up an encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to try and stop the rot.
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You can see why the stakes are high- the Anfield crowd would be loathe to see their fiercest rivals create a stink around the place come mid-September. But that’s exactly what it would create. Defeat would hurt and suddenly the rebuilding process will have to be undertaken without the probation period of time and patience.
Supporters should never go into a new season with pessimism and Liverpool fans will be loathe to see observers putting Rodgers under pressure before he’s even started. He could of course come out and stuff the opposition and any remaining doubters by putting the League Champions to the sword on the 26th. But however he does it, Rodgers needs to get his project winning games and soon. We’ll soon see just how patient Liverpool fans are.
How do you feel about Brendan Rodgers’ difficult set of opening fixtures? Do you fancy Liverpool at home or do you sense danger around the corner? Let me know you see it on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat us your views.
Liverpool have insisted that they would rather keep striker Andy Carroll for another season rather than face the prospect of taking a heavy loss on him before the transfer deadline, according to the Daily Express.
Despite the England international not featuring in Brendan Rodger’s first-team plans for the season, the club have said they will not compromise on the player’s price – meaning the 23-year-old looks set to spend another campaign resigned to the bench.
Bids from West Ham, Aston Villa, Fulham have all been turned down, with Carroll eager to move back to his hometown club, Newcastle. Alan Pardew is keen to end the 6ft 3in England forward’s Liverpool nightmare, but the club are not willing to match the £20 million asking price set by Liverpool. Magpies’ manager Alan Pardew feels that Carroll’s price will depreciate as the transfer deadline moves closer, knowing Rodgers’ desperation to sell the player and use the funds received to sign some of his own targets. However, Rodgers has announced he will not let Carroll go if a serious offer arrives too late for him to bring in a serious replacement. It was rumoured that Tottenham were interested in a deal, but with their recent signing of Emmanuel Adebayor, this interest may have cooled.
It is no secret that new Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers wants Carroll off his books only 18 months after the striker signed for the side, but has failed in his bid to sell the player so far, with Carroll unwilling to go to a club which doesn’t play in Europe regularly. Rodgers is set to have talks with Carroll to explain the situation to the striker, and will inform the England international that he might have to join a lesser club who are ready to match Liverpool’s fee, or spend a lot of time in the coming season warming the bench at the Merseyside outfit.
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Wales have slipped to a 6-1 hammering at the hands of Serbia on Tuesday night.
The hosts looked markedly the better side in the World Cup qualifying fixture from the first whistle and stormed into a 2-0 lead through goals from Aleksandar Kolarov and Zoran Tosic.
Gareth Bale gave the Celtic visitors hope with a sublime free-kick to make it 2-1, but Filip Duricic restored the Serbs’ two-goal cushion before the interval.
Three second-half goals from Dusan Tadic, Branislav Ivanovic and Miralem Sulejmani completed the rout.
Chris Coleman was massively disappointed by the result and admitted that the performance from his side was simply not good enough.
“Obviously I did not see it coming,” he told reporters, published in Sky Sports.
“We knew it would be difficult coming here but on the back of Friday’s performance against Belgium we thought we could get something but we can’t accept that level of performance.
“To say it is disappointing is an understatement. We have to do much better than that and we are capable of doing much better.
“At times it was men against boys, the goals we conceded were criminal really and the individual errors were disappointing.
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“To lose 6-1 is an absolute hammering and we can’t ignore that, the manner of the performance was particularly disappointing.
“At this level you cannot gift teams goals, you have to at least be hard to beat and play with a bit of pride and we didn’t do that. We caved in,” he concluded.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew says he may have to enter the transfer market and try to land a defender on the last day of the transfer window after Ryan Taylor was injured in last night’s 1-0 win over Greek side Atromitos.
The victory was marred by Taylor’s serious-looking knee injury that occurred early in the game. Pardew admits if Taylor faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he may be forced into a late move to bring in defensive cover. The Newcastle boss remained realistic over the situtation, telling Sky Sports:
“I fear that the news isn’t going to be good on that injury, if I am honest, which is a shame because he is an important player for us. We will have to wait and see.
“The Ryan Taylor injury will make me think about whether we perhaps need another defender. I shall go to see the chairman and have a discussion with him.”
Last night’s victory means Newcastle have progressed into the Europa League group stage. The draw for the next phase of the competition will be taking place at 12:00 BST, and Newcastle are situated in pot three with potential clashes with Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Leverkusen on the table.
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