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Another week and another footballer looks to use the media in order to ensure he gets what he wants. This time Luka Modric felt the need to tell all and sundry the reason he needs to leave White Hart Lane and move to one of Tottenham’s main rivals. It is a crass way to conduct business, but footballers have never been renowned for having great etiquette when it comes to such matters.

Nothing surprises me in football. Ever since I sat in that bar in New York and saw the news that Sol Campbell had moved to the other side, I lost complete faith in footballers and their loyalty to the cause. If your own captain can do it to your football club then why should expect any different from the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and now in this case Luka Modric. I am sure the latter won’t go through the same measures to force a move like Berbatov did by refusing to play, but I do question the logic of Tottenham holding onto a player that clearly wants to leave. You only have to see what happened at Arsenal last summer with Fabregas to know that it is a mistake to hold a player against their will, given the kind of performances that Cesc put in last season.

What frustrates me more than anything is the need to make his feelings public. If Modric wants to leave then do it through the proper channels instead of the public plea through the media. The press need little excuse to unsettle the football club and now they have their bait for the next few months and Spurs fans can now look forward to a summer of speculation and unrest. I am sure that is one of the reasons why Daniel Levy was so swift in his response on the official website and why it was refreshing to see; unfortunately player power will ultimately win the day.

Luka Modric may have been good for Tottenham in the past few years, but equally the club has been very good for him and deserves a far greater respect that has been shown. The Croatian may believe he is bigger than the football club and that he needs to fulfil his ambitions elsewhere, but he should be careful what he wishes for as Spurs aren’t a million miles away from Chelsea in terms of potential. Modric has made his bed and I agree with Gary Mabbutt in that we should sell him on as we can’t afford to have unhappy players at Tottenham and we need those who will give everything for the cause. It’s just a shame for the fans that stood by him in the early days and given him so much support, but unfortunately they have been here many times before.

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Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will play no part in Manchester United's Champions League clash with Rangers.

Sir Alex Ferguson has opted to rest the duo and is likely to start with Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans at the heart of his defence at Ibrox.

Meanwhile, a report in the Manchester Evening News suggests Juventus are lining up bids for Dimitar Berbatov and Federico Macheda.

The Serie A side are looking to strengthen their strikeforce after confirming that Brazilian forward Amauri could be sidelined for at least two months with a knee injury.

Ferguson dropped former Bulgaria international Berbatov from his 18-man squad for Saturday's 2-0 victory against Wigan Athletic. The 29-year-old has failed to score in his last nine appearances since grabbing a hat-trick in the victory against Liverpool in September.

Nineteen-year-old Macheda is believed to be interested in returning to Italy despite making a big impact at Old Trafford.

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Panathinaikos are also said to be keen to sign Anderson on a loan agreement. The 22-year-old has not been part of United's squad recently.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

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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By Gareth McKnight

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With Charlie Adam tipped to arrive at Liverpool in the near future, the issue of central midfield will seemingly become a big topic among Reds fans. With Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles , Jordan Henderson , Alberto Aquilani and perhaps Adam all vying for offensive midfielder spots, it is difficult to see how they all can fit in:

Raul Meireles – With the arrival of Adam seemingly imminent, it has led to speculation that the Portuguese international may depart the club. Reports in Italy suggest that Inter Milan maybe interested in persuading the 28 year old to move to the San Siro. A £14million has been suggested for the player who only arrived from Porto last summer for £12.5million. It has been hinted that age and niggling injuries has persuaded Kenny Dalglish to allow the player to depart. Personally, I hope he doesn’t go, he had a decent first season and found his feet gradually as the season wore on. It takes time to adapt to a new league, and I think it would be unfair to allow the player to go before he is truly allowed to shine.

Alberto Aquilani – His agent speaks daily in newspapers, TV and radio about how the Italian midfielder wants to stay in Italy. It is unlikely he will return to Anfield but there maybe a scenario where he might have to if no Italian club can meet Liverpool’s asking price. Juve manager Antonio Conte is still considering his options, and has yet to make up his mind on Aqua, while both Napoli and AC Milan have reportedly been interested but there has been no sign of movement in attempting to buy the 26 year old.

Jordan Henderson – The midfielder will most certainly get his fair share of games after his £16m+ move from Sunderland. Some believe he will play on the right hand side of midfield, and he may well do for some games, but I am fairly certain he is destined for a central midfield berth in the long term. With Gerrard returning from injury, and Lucas playing a holding midfield role, he will have to displace somebody else in the team.

Charlie Adam – I am still uncertain as to why we are interested in the Blackpool captain. For sure he is a good passer of the ball, and an expert set piece taker but attacking midfield is full of players such as Gerrard, Henderson and Meireles already. If he comes to play in a deep-lying playmaker role, he will not be playing to his strengths, and this reasoning has led to some to speculate over the future of Raul Meireles . Personally I would take Raul over Adam for an attacking midfield role.

What do you think?

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Read more of David’s articles at Live4Liverpool

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Chris Hughton may not have admitted it before kick-off but a victory in last weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby has gone a long way towards securing the Newcastle boss and new deal at St James’ Park.

The constant, somewhat unwarranted speculation around Hughton’s future masked what has been a very decent start from a Newcastle side relying on more or less the same personnel that took them down two years ago. Kevin Nolan’s hat-trick is not the only good news the Newcastle captain has received this week; a court has granted tearaway striker Andy Carroll permission to stay in a hotel as he awaits trial for assaulting a former girlfriend.

On the blogs this week, we ask if former manager Kenny Dalglish has identified the problems surrounding Hughton’s contract saga and Elliot O’Reilly winds the clock back and discovers what happened to one time Newcastle striker, Mirandinha.  Also this week, there is analysis of how the same band of disinterested, poorly motivated players that flopped out of the top flight 18 months ago are now back, hungry for the challenges of the Premier League.

There are also some cracking contributions as we scour the best of the web.

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Are Newcastle hanging him out to dry?

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Click here to see the Best NEWCASTLE BLOGS around the Web this week

Best of the Web

We are not getting carried away with seventh place- The Newcastle United blog

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Face it Brucey- derby day hammering was in the post- Blog on the Tyne

Four battles that must be won at The Emirates. – NUFC Blog

A month of Saturdays: October 2010- Black and white all over

Are Newcastle fans now more realistic? – NUFC Blog

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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Porto have moved one step closer to completing a historic treble after a 1-0 win over Sporting Braga in the Europa League final on Wednesday.After wrapping up the Liga Sagres title with five matches to spare, Andre Villas-Boas’ side won their second trophy of the season thanks to Radamel Falcao’s header one minute before half-time.

Falcao’s goal was his 17th of the Europa League campaign – a new record – and means Porto just need to defeat Vitoria Guimaraes in the Taca De Portugal final on Sunday to wrap up the treble.

Porto entered the match having scored a staggering 130 goals in 52 matches this season – largely thanks to the likes of Hulk and Falcao – but could not repeat the dose in Dublin as they struggled to break down a Braga defence in what was, in truth, a poor match.

It was an open affair early and Braga could have gone ahead inside five minutes but Custodio’s volley flew wide after he beat Porto’s offside trap.

Hulk was next to go close on eight minutes after he cut inside from the right, beating two defenders before curling his left-foot strike inches wide.

The remainder of the first half turned out to be a cagey affair with Braga pair Silvio and Hugo Viana going into the book for rash challenges.

Porto were the more creative in the attacking third and deservedly went ahead one minute before the interval.

Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin picked up a loose pass on halfway, before he burst forward and supplied a delightful cross from the right for striker Falcao, who placed a superb header into the top corner.

Braga could have replied almost straight away when Marcio Mossoro was presented with a gilt-edged chance in the first minute of the second half.

A defensive lapse allowed him in and behind the Porto defence but goalkeeper Helton saved well with his legs.

Helton was in the thick of the action, rushing off his line in a bizarre move, but for all of their second-half dominance Braga struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

Alvaro Periera could have doubled Porto’s lead with 20 minutes remaining but he could not meet Hulk’s superb cross while Braga’s Meyong Ze wasted a chance from the edge of the penalty area.

Porto were solid enough in defence to keep their opponents at bay and although it was not the prettiest of encounters, it would have mattered little to their fans as they now are favourites to win three trophies in one season.

The two steals of the summer transfer window have to be Manchester United’s signing of Javier Hernandez and Tottenham’s last minute deal for Real Madrid’s Rafael van der Vaart. The two this season have offered their clubs something new and their fans couldn’t be happier. For Manchester United to get the deal for Hernandez done before he lit up the World Cup was a great piece of business. For Tottenham to attract a player of the proven class of Rafael van der Vaart showed to us that the club are not resting on their laurels –  and will keep improving his squad to compete in the Champions League and to continue to finish in the top four on a consistent basis.

Gary Neville has heaped praise of Javier Hernandez after his terrific display earned United three points away at Stoke on Sunday. Hernandez has looked in good form since his £7million transfer. He scored rather fortuitously in the Community Shield against Chelsea, netted his first league goal last week against West Bromich Albion and a futher two on Sunday against Stoke City.

Neville speaking to the Independent on Tuesday spoke highly of the Mexican talent. “He’s got the right attributes and his talent. At this club you get rewarded if you work hard and he deserved his goals against Stoke. He will score lots and lots of goals for this club. He is one of the most exciting young prospects we’ve had for some time.”

For a true Manchester United legend like Gary Neville to speak so highly of the youngster is special praise indeed. Its what Hernandez has brought to Manchester United that has attracted so much attention. He has terrific movement, he is always alert and always looking to get in behind a defence. His knack for scoring goals has been highlighted as well. When Sir Alex Ferguson said he an unearthed a natural goalscorer in April many were dubious. However Hernandez has shown his willingness to take chances. His back header against Stoke was an example of a player trying everything to score a goal for his team. If he had headed it properly, Thomas Sorensen may have saved it – it was the surprise element that caught everyone off guard. Manchester United have an unearthed a great talent and the Mexican looks like he will go from strength to strength at Old Trafford.

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Manchester United may have one of the best young talents in the Premier League right now – but some would argue that Tottenham have the most technically gifted player in the Premier League. Raphael van der Vaart has been different class since he joined Tottenham. In the summer, managers were complaining that there was little value in the transfer market. However, Redknapp has found value all right – signing the Holland international for £8million. Who needs a massive takeover when you have a manager with the negotiational skills of Redknapp. To not only persuade Real Madrid to let van der Vaart leave but to convince the player himself to join. A truly wonderful footballer is now gracing the Premiership and it is no suprise the impact he has had on Tottenham.

After the injury to Jermain Defoe, Spurs fans may have been worried about where the goals would come from in both the Premier League and the Champions League. However, the combination play between Peter Crouch and Rafael van der Vaart has been excellent and the two are forging a good understanding. His impact on the team has been sensational. Domestically, he has scored four goals in six games as well as one assist. His goals have come at important, game changing times also. The equaliser against Everton on Saturday, both goals against Aston Villa and the equaliser against Wolves that set Tottenham up for victory. In Europe he has played in two Champions League matches scoring one and assisting one.

Rafael van der Vaart didn’t have the greatest time at Real Madird but now it seems he has found the right club. Tottenham will build the side around him, something Real Madrid didn’t do. Tottenham’s signing of van der Vaart at £8million could be one the best signings in Premiership history – we will have to wait and see how he progresses. He is without a doubt the signing of the season so far, and if his form continues Tottenham can be very confident of moving forward in the Champions League and finishing in the top four come the end of the season.

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Thierry Henry has stated that scoring the winning goal against Sunderland on Saturday made him feel like a youngster again.

The veteran French attacker found the net in injury time to give The Gunners all three points in a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light, in what will be his last Premier League appearance for the north London outfit before heading back to New York Red Bulls.

The goal was a source of delight for Henry, who is eligible for Arsenal’s Champions League tie against AC Milan in midweek before returning to the United States.

“Just like a kid who came on and scored his first goal for the team he loves, that’s exactly how I felt, really like a kid,” he told BBC Sport.

“When it comes to Arsenal, I always feel something special. At the end of the day, I was there at the end of the move, but I just want to help.

“That’s all I wanted to do. I said it right from the start – I didn’t want to be a hero or whatever, just like one of the guys in the dressing room.

“When you come on as a sub, you want to help your team and change the game anyway, anyhow, and it did happen.

“A lot of the time, the guy who puts the ball in the back of the net will always get the credit, but the cross from Andrey Arshavin was perfect.

“You can always miss, but it was going to be very difficult to miss that one, so you have to give him a lot of credit for that one.

“I was just there at the right time and I finished it, so that’s the most important thing.

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“Obviously, I stayed a bit longer with the Arsenal fans at the end because I knew it was the last game for me in the Premier League, so I just wanted to say, ‘Thanks, that’s it’,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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It’s been a great season for Birmingham City, having lifted the Carling Cup at Wembley earlier in the campaign, but Alex McLeish’s men are still threatened with relegation from the Premier League and need a result against Tottenham at the weekend. Here are McLeish’s thoughts on this and next season…

Does your Carling Cup success count for your greatest achievement in your managerial career?

I think when you get to your next trophy, it looks the best and feels the best. All those emotions that I have ever felt when lifting the trophy have all been the same and you just want to experience that all the time. Beating Arsenal in the carling cup is up there. People gave us virtually no chance against a top side that are in the Champions League every single year for the last 12 years. They have quite a frightening record. For us to do that was a huge achievement. Was it the best feeling for me? I don’t know. They all feel the same when you get a trophy in your hand the feeling is the same as all the rest of them.

So have you got the playing resources to compete on all fronts in the Europa League and cope with the extra games?

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We don’t have them at the moment. Whether it means we have to spend millions of pounds to compete on all fronts is another matter. It could be the strength and depth in the squad but it doesn’t mean you have to spend the earth and have a strong squad. We have to be prudent and make a few shrewd signings. We will look at the Bosman market and look at loans. Everything we can do that won’t stretch our resources. We are not Manchester United, but we will try to plan. The main thing is if you plan ahead it can save you a lot of wasted time and heartache.

Which areas of the squad are you looking to improve for the summer?

I think for the centre back position we are ok. The goalkeeping side of things is fine. There are one or two areas, like possibly the midfield where we could improve. As some players get older, you look to recruit younger players and players with potential. Most managers will give you the same answer as me and that is we are looking for the strikers, people who can score goals.

A lot of fans will be keen to know whether you have a budget to further strengthen the squad?

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We haven’t even discussed budgets at the moment to be quite honest. We have really been concentrating on the Premier League. We have not taken our focus off that. Of course there are a lot of names that our chief scout and staff and the contacts we have in the game have given us which we will certainly be thinking about. Right now we are focusing on getting up this league and then we can really look to see what we are going to do and see how much we are going to spend.

Visit the Dugout www.yahoo.co.uk/dugout for new interviews every week with England’s top football managers

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