Fabregas wants more options
Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas admits the side are too small and need a target man to give them a different option.
The Gunners have been criticised for being too lightweight after going down to heavy defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City in recent weeks.
Fabregas feels Arsenal were found wanting in attack against Chelsea and City in the absence of the injured Robin van Persie and believes the Gunners need a striker in the mould of Didier Drogba to provide them with a different option in attack.
“Throughout the game (against City) we had a lot of possession but didn’t really have anyone to go in behind the defenders, apart from Carlos Vela,” Fabregas told The Guardian.
“We had a lot of similar players who like the ball into their feet. Sometimes it’s true that you need a different kind of option.”
Difference
Fabregas felt Drogba was the difference between Chelsea and Arsenal in the Blues’ 3-0 win at Emirates last month.
“Overall, I saw a Chelsea team that was normal but a team that has probably the best striker in the world,” added Fabregas.
“An average team that has the best striker in the world can always do something and Didier Drogba makes all the difference.
“We dominated for the first 40 minutes without creating too much. Maybe we didn’t have someone whose game is to go beyond defenders, and we were a little small to fight them on crosses.”
The Spanish international admits Chelsea are the side to beat this season and concedes Arsenal cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to challenge for the Premier League title this term.
“We accept Chelsea are currently the strongest side. They are showing more consistency than us. What is for sure, though, is that we cannot afford any more slip-ups,” concluded Fabregas.
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Absence, Arsenal, Carlos Vela, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, Consistency, Drogba, Emirates, Game, Guardian, Gunners, Manchester City, Options, Possession, Premier League, Robin Van Persie, Slip Ups, Striker, Target Man, Ups
Big Sam ready to return
Sam Allardyce has confirmed he will be back in charge of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
The Rovers chief underwent an angioplasty procedure last month, and has been recuperating at home.
Allardyce has missed league games against Bolton, Fulham and Stoke, whilst he was also unable to attend as his side won their Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on penalties on Wednesday night.
Although the Rovers boss will be in the stands, rather than on the touchline against Liverpool, he is looking forward to returning to the helm.
“I will be up in the stand out of the way, and guiding it from there – I will be linked up and having some input, I will also speak to the lads before the game,” Allardyce confirmed to Sky Sports News.
“It is an unexpected situation what has happened, and a bit of a traumatic experience but the specialists are saying I can move back into there now and get on with the job I love doing and I am looking forward to seeing the lads.”
He was delighted to see his side make the Carling Cup semi-finals in his absence.
“Hopefully it will spur us on and through to January so we can look forward to the semi-finals as we are just two games away from Wembley,” he said.
The Blackburn boss does admit he needs to take better care of himself.
“There is obviously some greater care I will have to start doing and taking better care of myself,” he said.
“It is difficult but I will keep going for regular testing like I have done.
“A little more exercise when possible and go week by week and he said I should be fully recovered in two or three weeks.”
Allardyce is very grateful for all the messages of goodwill he has received over the last few weeks.
“I was overwhelmed with the amount of well wishers and I would like to thank them publicly and on camera as it is impossible for me to get back to everyone,” he stated.
Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Angioplasty Procedure, Carling Cup, Chelsea, Fulham, Goodwill, Helm, Lads, League Games, Liverpool, Sam Allardyce, Semi Finals, Sky Sports, Sky Sports News, Touchline, Traumatic Experience, Two Games, Unexpected Situation, Wednesday Night, Well Wishers, Wembley
Gerrard admits title Liverpool’s hopes are slim
• Captain says they must focus on getting back into the top four
• Midfielder sees win over Everton as platform for a winning run
Steven Gerrard has admitted a top-four finish is now a more realistic aim for Liverpool than winning the Premier League this season as they lie 13 points behind the leaders, Chelsea, after a poor run of form throughout October and November.
Gerrard said: “I think we have to be realistic. At the moment we’re out of the title race, but we will keep trying to get back in it. There is still a lot of football to be played and it is possible to turn it around, but I think Chelsea are looking really strong at the moment.”
Liverpool have not won the league since 1990 and Gerrard said: “It’s been too long without a league title and because it is missing from my collection it is one that I’m most desperate for going forward.”
However, he said their target now was “to get back into the top four. We’re coming off the back of a fantastic win at Everton and we want to continue that against Blackburn and try and go on a run of games where we can get closer to the teams above us.”
Gerrard, 29, is due to make his 500th appearance for Liverpoool in Saturday’s match against Blackburn Rovers at Anfield and said: “It means everything to me personally. I’m a local boy and my dream when I was young was always just to play one game for Liverpool. So to reach this milestone is a really proud moment for my family and myself.”
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Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Amp, Anfield, Appearance, Blackburn, Chelsea, Everton, Game, Gerrard Liverpool, Guardian News, Liverpoool, Local Boy, Match, Midfielder, Milestone, Play One, Premier League, Proud Moment, Realistic Aim, Steven Gerrard, Target
Allardyce to leave hospital after surgery
• Blackburn’s club doctor says procedure went well
• Manager should be back in charge for Liverpool game
The Blackburn Rovers manager, Sam Allardyce, is expected to be discharged from hospital tomorrow after undergoing heart surgery today, the club have confirmed.
Allardyce, 55, underwent an angioplasty, a procedure to correct narrowing to one branch of his coronary arteries.
The Blackburn club doctor Phil Batty said: “The procedure has gone well and Sam is expected to be discharged from hospital tomorrow.”
Allardyce said: “I would like to thank everyone who has sent messages of goodwill and the entire cardiology team.”
The former Bolton and Newcastle manager, who has missed Blackburn’s last two matches, will be absent from the dug-out again tomorrow when Rovers host Stoke City at Ewood Park in the Premier League, with his assistant Neil McDonald again taking charge of the team.
It is not yet known whether the manager will be fit enough to return to his duties ahead of Wednesday’s Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea, although it is anticipated that he will be back in time for the Premier League game with Liverpool at Ewood Park on 5 December.
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Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Amp, Angioplasty Procedure, Batty, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiology Team, Carling Cup, Chelsea, Coronary Arteries, Doctor Phil, Goodwill, Guardian News, Heart Surgery, Hospital Tomorrow, League Game, Liverpool, Nbsp, Neil Mcdonald, Newcastle, Premier League, Sam Allardyce
Wenger: Arsenal injuries could have been worse
• Van Persie out for ’six weeks’ with ankle-ligament damage
• Gibbs may return for Tuesday’s game with Standard Liege
Arsenal’s manager Arsène Wenger has expressed his relief that Robin van Persie and Kieran Gibbs were not as seriously injured as feared during the international break.
The loss of the Holland striker Van Persie for at least six weeks with ankle-ligament damage is a blow, but Wenger feels it could have been worse. Gibbs, meanwhile, looks set to be back for the visit of Chelsea at the end of the month, if not before, with scans showing the foot injury suffered while with England Under-21s in Lithuania is not serious.
“We knew when Robin came out with this injury that he would be out for a long time, but frankly I feared it would be more because the first news was very, very bad. So it was a relief that he would be out for [only] six weeks,” Wenger said.
“Of course it is a disappointment and something we did not want, but I feel we have enough strength to compensate for his absence for a while. It will also allow him to be fresh for when he comes back.”
On the subject of Gibbs, he added: “Our medical staff called me saying he was in hospital in Lithuania with a suspected broken metatarsal. Later on it was much better news. He will still be out for Sunderland [on Saturday], but maybe we could have him back for [the Champions League tie with] Standard Liege on Tuesday.”
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Categories: Uncategorized Tags: Amp, Ankle Ligament Damage, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Chelsea, Disappointment, England Under 21s, First News, Foot Injury, Guardian News, Kieran Gibbs, League Tie, Lithuania, Medical Staff, Robin Van Persie, Six Weeks, Standard Liege, Striker, Sunderland