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After lurching from one crisis to another over the last few months Liverpool appear to have returned to some semblance of normality this week with two important wins for both their domestic and European aspirations.

Wins against Bolton and Napoli would be the bare minimum in previous seasons, but after the desperate run of results that had left the Reds locked in the Premier League basement, Steven Gerrard’s late hat-trick against the Italians and Maxi Rodriguez’s last gasp winner in the league put a more positive spin on Roy Hodgson’s start at Anfield.

On the blog front much has been made of Liverpool’s behind the scenes management changes. Roy Hodgson may claim to be comfortable with the continental approach reflected by Damien Comolli’s appointment as Director of Football, but what will this mean for the Reds in the long term? There is also analysis of the fallout from the end of the Hicks and Gillett era and Roy Hodgson’s bizarre spat with former manager Rafa Benitez.

We also cover the best of the web’s articles on the Anfield club.

Featured articles of the week

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The Premier League’s New Comic Strip #2

Spurs, Liverpool, United…whose need for Real Madrid swoop is greater?

Did Broughton miss a trick in safeguarding Liverpool’s future?

Should Liverpool fans look upon Comolli’s appointment with trepidation?

Controlled ruthlessness in football

An important FACT that is lost on most Premier League players

The FIVE ‘realistic’ transfer targets for Liverpool to ponder

Liverpool’s Stadium Dilemma

Will transfer deals meet expectations at Liverpool?

The ten most heated matches in England

Liverpool’s transfer policy could have a knock on effect

Ten things we have noticed from the Premier League this season

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

Best of the Web

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Damien Comolli: A view from a Spurs fan – Live4Liverpool

Nice move NESV, Bad move Roy – Kopblog

Soto Kyrgiakos: Liverpool’s Unlikely Hero – This is Anfield

Red hails Young Starlet’s “Unbelievable Skills.” – Live4Liverpool

Uefa’s financial fair play legislation has arrived. The limit on spending will come into effect for the 2013/14 campaign but the monitoring of teams has begun. Over the next two seasons clubs will not be allowed a total loss greater than €45 million and UEFA reserve the right to ban them from European club competitions should they overspend.

At face value, this seems like an excellent idea. The inflation of debt and spending is undoubtedly one of biggest problems of the modern game and it is high time rules were implemented. However, whether or not Uefa’s rules improve the game may be difficult to assess for several more seasons. Many people are sceptical as to whether this will in any way help the poorer clubs close the gap on Europe’s wealthiest. Whilst this would be an admirable result, it is not the point. The point is quite simply to stop clubs spending what they don’t have, to force them to live by their means.

A concern is that Uefa’s financial control will push Europe’s largest clubs towards forming their own breakaway league. At the moment there is little cause to worry.

For a start, the legislation is not as restrictive as many think. First of all, youth development, training facilities and stadiums are amongst the expenses that are not included. Second, if a club sign a player for £40 million on a four-year contract, this will amount to £10 million per year as the fee is spread over his contract, this means that the big clubs will still get to spend big money. Third, if a club can show that it’s on the field improvement is triggering off the field growth, their entry into European competition may be considered with more leniency.

These instances of flexibility and consideration show that Uefa has attempted to get this right. The intention is not to stifle clubs, just to protect them from their own recklessness. It should not be deemed a sufficient intrusion to prompt a revolution. (For those clubs that fear it may serve to level the the playing field, a quick look at Manchester City’s sponsorship deal will remind them of the gulf that exists and show them how it can be maintained.)

A breakaway European league is always talked about as though it is an imminent possibility but it would be a huge risk for the clubs involved. The sacrifice of teams’ domestic leagues and their dominance within them is something that requires careful consideration. Uefa’s attempts to slow down the crazy inflation of football debt should not serve as a trigger. Attempting to reel in the bank loans should, in theory, be welcomed. If, however, several years down the line the profits of the top clubs are affected, then a revolution would definitely be on the cards.

Would you want a breakaway league? Leave your views below…

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Catch up with me on twitter for more football goodness: http://twitter.com/#!/philipwroe

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Since getting promoted to the top flight in 2007/8, Stoke City have embarked on a project; transforming themselves from relegation favourites into a stable Premier League force. While they will always have their detractors, it may be about time that the somewhat patronising platitudes and plaudits finally heading their way come to an end, for they could be a serious threat to those with Europa League aspirations this term.

Of course, Stoke are already competing in Europe this season courtesy of an FA Cup final appearance last term against Man City, yet people still feel the need to belittle their achievements as merely a blip on the radar before the status quo is rightly resumed.

Whenever an article is written about Stoke praising their progress it is often met with the caveat about their style of play. It’s become an obsession for most that when discussing Stoke (granted, I accept the irony that I may be falling into that very same trap now) that to praise them is to highlight their limitations at the same time. With no other club in the Premier League does this happen.

Under Tony Pulis’s astute leadership Stoke have finished 12th on 45 points, 11th on 47 points and 13th on 46 points. This summer’s heavy spending in the transfer market then can be seen as nothing more than a statement of intent through fear of giving way to stagnation.

Cast your eye around Stoke’s squad now and it’s filled to the brim with Premier League, and in some cases, international quality players. The arrivals of Peter Crouch, Wilson Palacios, Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson this summer all signify a step in the right direction and fittingly for a Tony Pulis signing, they all arrive with a point to prove.

We’ve all fallen into the trap before of praising ‘little old Stoke’ for doing well, but the biggest compliment that you can pay them is that last weekend’s 1-0 defeat of big-spending Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium didn’t come as a surprise. I’ve long been a fan of Pulis’s side and welcome the change for once of a team not merely settling to make up the numbers – see here for further proof of an article I did just over a year ago on the topic – https://www.footballfancast.com/2010/09/football-blogs/fortune-favours-the-brave-for-bold-stoke

Could they emerge as a serious threat to those challenging for a Europa League place this season?

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Most certainly. Spurs are a dishevelled and deeply unsettled side after this summer’s transfer window. Arsenal, while they have strengthened, are susceptible to a challenge and have shown time and time again that they lack the desired mental strength over the course of a long campaign. Liverpool are likely to be inconsistent for the majority of the campaign as they begin to blood new faces. Everton are well and truly skint and a top-half finish would be an achievement in itself for Moyes’s charges and Aston Villa look like a side on the precipice of regression under Alex McLeish.

It’s far from certain, but when you analyse their nearest challengers, Stoke have the most dependable back line out of the aforementioned sides and the least amount of outside pressure on them. They will still struggle to score goals (Cameron Jerome, why?) but they remain difficult to break down and a pain to play.

They’re the model by which future Championship sides will base their first summer in the Premier League on. It seems that only now are they beginning to garner the plaudits that they truly deserve.

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They’ve been labelled as ‘honest’, ‘hardworking’, ‘committed’ and ‘tough’ in the past, but perhaps before we all give way to the worst kind of revisionist thinking, it would be best just to praise Stoke for what they are good at for once, as opposed to judging them for what they aren’t.

You can follow me on Twitter at – @JamesMcManus1

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Juventus striker Amauri could be on his way to the Premier League after two unnamed English clubs bid for the player, according to Sky Sports.

The Brazilian-born Italy international is out of favour at Juventus and spent the second half of last season on loan at Parma, scoring 7 goals in 11 appearances. He signed for Juventus as part of a complex swap deal in the summer of 2008 but has only scored 24 goals for the Turin-based club.

Amauri’s agent is yet to reveal the clubs interested in his client but Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp is rumoured to be keen on the 31-year old. Redknapp is hoping to overhaul his attacking options after an inconsistent season and is believed to be willing to listen to offers for Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Jermaine Defoe.

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Parma, who originally brought the player to Italy in 2000, are yet to make a move for player on a permanent basis. However, Lazio and Napoli are rumoured to be after the 6ft 1in target man. Amauri has one year left to run on his contract but Juve are keen to recoup some of the money they invested in the player.

South Africa international Benni McCarthy is finally out the door at West Ham United after having his contract terminated by mutual consent.McCarthy, 33, arrived at Upton Park in a 2.2-million-pound move from Blackburn Rovers in last January’s transfer window but proved a costly failure at his new club.

The Bafana Bafana striker went goalless in 14 appearances with the Hammers, was fined 200,000 pounds for ongoing weight issues and soon found himself down manager Avram Grant’s pecking order.

He was left out of Grant’s 25-man squad for the second half of the English Premier League season following the transfer-window arrivals of Robbie Keane and Demba Ba, spelling the end of his short, fruitless spell at the East London club.

“West Ham United have mutually agreed with Benni McCarthy to part company with immediate effect,” a short statement on the club’s website read.

“The club would like to wish Benni the best for the future.”

According to English media, McCarthy would have received a further 2.3 million pounds had he opted to sit out his contract until its expiry in June of next year, but instead will walk away with a lump sum payment of 1.5 million pounds and the chance to restart his career elsewhere.

West Ham had attempted to send the former Porto attacker out on loan in January but failed to attract a suitor in the Championship.

Roberto Mancini has reportedly asked the Manchester City hierarchy for additional funds to strengthen his squad’s defensive options, as Vincent Kompany is set to learn his fate on Tuesday.

The Etihad Stadium skipper was dismissed for a challenge on Nani in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, which Mancini’s men have appealed against.

Kompany will find out whether the appeal has been successful or not on Tuesday, and if the red card is upheld will face four matches on the sidelines, as it is his second dismissal of the season.

The Telegraph indicate that Mancini has approached the club’s owners for additional transfer funds to buy a new defensive player in January.

As Kolo Toure is also unavailable through international commitments at the African Cup of Nations, Joleon Lescott and Stefan Savic are the club’s only recognised centre backs available for selection currently.

Meanwhile, City are being linked with a move for Real Madrid centre half Raul Albiol in an attempt to bolster their backline, according to Spanish newspaper AS.

The Spain international as been frozen out at the Santiago Bernabeu, and risks missing out on Euro 2012 if he does not play more first-team football in the second half of the 2011/12 campaign.

Big-spending Malaga and Serie A giants Juventus have also been speculated with a bid for the 26-year-old.

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By Gareth McKnight

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It will come as no shock to anyone that Mr Bargain Deal himself Harry Redknapp is looking to enter into the January transfer window. What may come as a shock is that instead of looking to get a cut price deal for a player, Harry is considering what can only be described as a marquee signing – someone who is a little bit ‘special’ and who would cost the big bucks.

Yet do Spurs really need such a big signing to show people the progress that they have made in the recent seasons – becoming actual title contenders this time around. The progress that Spurs have made since Redknapp took charge, and even since the signings of Parker, Friedel and Adebayor in the summer have meant that the North London side have begun to wake up from being one of football’s biggest  sleeping giants, and can make a claim for a top four spot this season with ease.

The special player that has been talked about is Carlos Tevez, yet Redknapp seems doubtful over this, and that can only be described as a good thing, with Tevez a disruptive force where ever he seems to go, and Spurs need that like a hole in the head.

It is partly their collective mentality and team ethos that has seen them do so well, and the signing of a big name – and with that will come big egos – could well rock the boat in a way they do not want.

Another thing that must be acknowledged is the fact that they managed to retain Luka Modric in the summer, and this is more of a signal of new times to come for Spurs – being a club that no longer has to sell big names – than a big January signing which could more than likely be a flop – just think back to Carroll and Torres!

Spurs this season are not only financially secure but are also more than looking decent prospects in the league. Couple this with the fact that they are playing good football in attack and have finally learnt how to shore things up at the back, and you have a very good team and a very bright future.

People are sitting up and taking notice of Redknapp’s side, and adding an overpriced and overpaid ‘star’ in January will not make much difference to this. Yes, if the right player at the right price comes along, Spurs are more than entitled to go for it, but buying for the sake of having a ‘star’ on their books is something that would do far more harm than good.

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Carlos Tevez has been in inspired form this season for Manchester City, scoring 21 Premier League; two of which were scored last night in a 3-0 win against Stoke. The Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini now says that Tevez wants to stay at the club – but how confident can he really be with the constant transfer speculation and the fact he submitted a transfer request earlier this season. Therefore, if he did move on in the summer; it would present Manchester City with a huge transfer headache especially considering the other expensive signings up front have yet to prove to be reliable.

Bosnia & Herzegovina striker Edin Dzeko came to the Premier League with a glowing reputation after performing very well in Germany with Wolfsburg. However, despite a transfer fee on £27m he has yet to demonstrate any sort of form in the Premier League and has so far only scored one goal in 14 appearances. However, there is some hope that he will come good bearing in mind that he has scored 4 further goals in the European competition and the FA Cup.

Mario Balotelli has adapted better to the Premier League and has managed to score 6 goals from 15 games. However, he has had his problems with injury and discipline since signing for Manchester City from Inter Milan for £24m in the summer. Balotelli has already been sent off in the Premier League against West Brom and in the Europa League in a game against Dynamo Kiev. Balotelli has shown an inflated ego and a petulant attitude in the past at Inter Milan. These things could cause trouble for Manchester City in the future, there is little doubt about his talent – but can he be relied upon?

So if Tevez was to move on in the summer there would be a massive hole in the Man City attack and Mancini will need to decide how best to fill it; Keeping in mind that he will need a striker that can hit the ground running and not one that will need six months to settle in. Therefore, the obvious place to start looking is the Premier League itself; players like Dimitar Berbatov, Robin Van Persie and Didier Drogba spring to mind. But failing to get this transfer right could mean City lose ground on their top four rivals; it appears that convincing Tevez to stay is the best option.

If you enjoyed reading this article don’t stop your involvement there leave a comment below and join me on Twitter to discuss if Tevez will stay and if not who can Man City buy to replace him?

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West Ham United travel to manager-less West Bromwich Albion for a relegation six-pointer at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 13:36:29 +0000