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One of the most interesting sub-plots to this summer at Stoke, will be whether Defender Jonathan Woodgate will be offered a new contract. The injury prone centre half signed a one-year pay as you play deal in June, and although featured heavily in the first half of the season, he hasn’t been since for a couple of months amid speculation over his future.

The experienced Woodgate is still three games short of his target, which would trigger an automatic new contract, but it seems Tony Pulis is keen to sign him up. On the face of it, it does seem a good deal. Stoke are crying out for experienced and quality centre-backs like Woodgate to back up the younger pair of Robert Huth and captain Ryan Shawcross. Woodgate has England caps and boasts stints at Real Madrid and Tottenham, but his career has somewhat gone downhill since those glory days, due to injury.

At the beginning of the season Woody dislodged Robert Huth from the first team which, looking back, seems an incredible decision from Tony Pulis. The bold move back fired, with Woodgate looking increasingly suspect, the team were calling out for Huth’s imminent return. The German had an immediate impact, and Woodgate was shipped out to right-back, where his lack of pace and weakness against it was brutally exploited.

He has taken some stick from home supporters this season, and in some cases that was deserved, and it is safe to say that we expected more to come from the 32 year-old who Harry Redknapp was very sad to see leave Tottenham. But Tony Pulis was right when he said a couple of weeks ago “He’s been very good for Shawcross and Huth in many respects”.

Injuries have plagued another season for Woodgate, but Pulis firmly believes that he can return to his former glories. If he was to be given a run of games over a prolonged period of time then I am also confident that Woody could rediscover his very best, but I heavily doubt that he could ever remain fit enough to do so.

However, despite the fans reservations, Stoke should stick with Woodgate for one more year. At centre-back he is reliable when deputising, although not quite Huth or Shawcross. With the added experience of Matthew Upson, whose future is also uncertain, Stoke’s suspect defending this season will surely turn back into the resilient force it once was.

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Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez says club owner Sheikh Mansour has told him he can leave if he wants.The Argentine has been the subject of endless speculation linking him with a move away from Eastlands.

But he revealed on Sunday Mansour had given him the go-ahead to leave the club if he wanted to do so.

“He signed me, he wants to keep me but, at the same time, he has told me to do whatever I need to do to be happy,” Tevez told The News of the World newspaper.

“He has told me, ‘if you want to leave, then you can go’. There is no deadline, it’s down to me.”

“They offered me a new contract in December but I didn’t want to extend it.”

“At the end of the season they offered me another new deal but at the moment I don’t know whether I will accept it.”

“There are options but if I don’t play for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter or Milan it won’t be a massive void in my life.”

“There are no other issues – Manchester is my second home.”

Tevez, 27, handed in a transfer request last December, but he played out the English Premier League season that saw City finish third.

He said the club’s chief executive, Garry Cook, failed to deliver on several promises and he held no regrets about trying to leave the club.

“It was a situation that some people on the board created. They promised something for six months and didn’t deliver,” Tevez said.

“So, after six months of promises, they don’t do something, why should I believe them now? I don’t. I will never speak to these people again. I still feel the same way.”

“I deal direct with Sheikh Mansour, no one else. It makes no difference to my future, as they don’t mean anything to me. I won’t have a relationship with them. They live in a different world.”

Tevez said he stayed in December because of his respect to the City fans, having considered quitting the game all together.

Having started his senior career with Argentine club Boca Juniors, Tevez admitted he wants to spend more time with his family, who live in Buenos Aires.

“The pressure isn’t the issue but I miss my family and my home life in Argentina too much to be away from them,” he said.

Liverpool fans hopes of a January spree were dashed this week as John Henry suggested that perhaps the summer would be a better time to make significant changes to the personnel. History has proven that January isn’t necessarily a good time to buy players and therefore the Liverpool owner may well have a point.

At FFC we have seen a variety of blogs this week highlighting the aforementioned transfer dilemma; reflecting on the shafting the Reds received from the FA and the real reason for Damien Comolli’s appointment.

Plus we look at the best Liverpool blogs on the web this week.

Hola bebé – Carles’ lady puts Premiership WAGS in the shade

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Good to see NESV getting a head start on the Academy front

Should Liverpool keep these transfers underwraps?

Do Liverpool have every right to feel shafted?

Right to curb Liverpool’s transfer enthusiasm?

Liverpool cannot contemplate letting starlet move on

The REAL reason behind Comolli’s appointment

FIVE potential replacements to take the reins from Roy Hodgson

What to do with Roy Hodgson?

Liverpool’s Top TEN stoppers of all time…in my view

Transfer threat does little for Liverpool star’s credibility

Further evidence to suggest why Roy is the wrong man for Liverpool

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

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10 disastrous quotes of Roy Hodgson’s LFC reign – This is Anfield

Dead Man Walking – Kopblog

Why Henry’s philosophy is all about “the numbers” – Live4Liverpool

Comolli outlines plans for the future – This is Anfield

The Tomkins Times: Liverpool’s season so far after a third of the Premier League campaign – Tomkins Times

Roberto Mancini refused to shake hands with Tony Pulis, or talk to the media after the game at the Britannia Stadium as the Man City boss was frustrated at the physicality dished out by Stoke City. David Platt revealed that the Italian was raging at the end of the game and just needed time to cool down after some of the challenges that were being made; something that Pulis felt was a bit rich given Gareth Barry’s tackle on Glen Whelan. The dropped points give’s United the advantage in the title race as they prepare to play Fulham.

Elsewhere in the news Robin van Persie believes Arsenal have their own Rooney in Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alan Pardew calls on the Newcastle support to convince Demba Ba to stay, while Kenny Dalglish believes that Liverpool are a victim of their own success.

Headlines

Roberto Mancini has bemoaned the tactics deployed by Stoke City in Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at the Britannia Stadium – Guardian

Kenny Dalglish believes that Liverpool have been a victim of their own success, in light of the Reds defeat against Wigan – Guardian

Sir Alex Ferguson remains confident that Manchester United will keep their nerve in the title run-in – Guardian

Alan Pardew has called upon the Newcastle support to make it impossible for Demba Ba to leave the football club – Daily Telegraph

Mark Hughes has laid into Djibril Cisse for his two footed challenge that saw the Frenchman see Red for the second time in a matter of weeks – Independent

Bolton paid a fitting tribute to Fabrice Muamba at the Reebok Stadium yesterday – Independent

Fabio Capello has expressed an interest in returning to England and managing in the Premier League – Daily Mail

Chelsea have a £37m hole they need to fill if they are to comply with the financial fair play awards – Daily Mail

Tottenham and Chelsea are set for a £7m battle this summer for the services of Demba Ba – Daily Express

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Liverpool are plotting a summer move to sign Matias Suarez, but face huge competition for his signature – Mirror

Robin Van Persie believes that Arsenal have their very own Wayne Rooney in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Sun

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Lecce won 2-0 at Bari 2-0 on Sunday to relegate Sampdoria from Serie A, while Udinese won to retain fourth place.A strike from Brazilian forward Jeda and Andrea Masiello’s own goal secured victory for Lecce against already-relegated Bari at the Stadio San Nicola.

Lecce remain 17th, but are now five points clear of third bottom Sampdoria, who lost 2-1 at home to Palermo.

Jonathan Biabiany had equalised for Sampdoria after Fabrizio Miccoli put Palmero ahead on the stroke of half-time.

But substitute Mauricio Pinilla struck with four minutes to go to see Palmero take all three points.

Coupled with Lecce’s victory, a defeat at home confirmed the end of Sampdoria’s eight-year stay in the top flight.

Like Bari, Brescia went into the penultimate round of matches already relegated to Serie B.

And the poor form that led to their demotion continued with a 1-0 defeat away to Cesena.

At the other end of the table, Udinese remain fourth and on course for a Champions League qualification berth after they beat Chievo 2-0 away from home.

Chilean Mauricio Isla and Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah were on target for Udinese.

With just one match of the season now remaining, they are two points clear of fifth-placed Lazio, who won 4-2 at home to Genoa.

Roma are out of top four contention after they lost 2-1 away to Catania.

Brazil international Robinho netted twice, while veterans Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf were also on target, as champions AC Milan beat visitors Cagliari 4-1 at the San Siro.

Another disappointing season for Juventus took a turn for the worse with a 1-0 defeat at Parma, while Fiorentina were held 1-1 at home to Bologna.

Oh dear, that wasn’t supposed to happen was it? It was meant to be the game of the season so far. It had all the makings to be a classic, but sadly it wasn’t. The two managers were too conservative for the game ever to open up – and a point was a decent result for both sides. The game itself lacked imagination and a sparkle that these two so often produce against each other. Was Roberto Mancini too concerned about loosing and was Ferguson brave enough in the second half. Manchester didn’t provide the fireworks, maybe they are being saved for Saturday. In the regional battle, London was the clear winner last night with Arsenal and Chelsea winning.

Below are five things that we can take away from the Manchester derby.

Manchester United need Wayne Rooney

His 34 goals last season seem a distant memory after his slump in form dating back to his injury against Bayern Munich in March. However, Manchester United need to see a fit and healthy Wayne Rooney return to Old Trafford as soon as possible. The early season form of Dimitar Berbatov sidelined the Rooney issue, but the Bulgarian hasn’t scored since his hat trick against Liverpool. Berbatov’s recent slump must be a worry for United fans as Javier Hernandez is not ready to lead the line for United. A fully fit Rooney is one of the top strikers in the world and United need him back as soon as possible.

Carlos Tevez needs support

The little Argentinian looked lost last night. To be fair, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic marshalled him well and didn’t give him a kick for the most part. If Mario Balotelli wasn’t Mario Balotelli, Tevez may have had this support at some stage last night. Manchester City have to address the problem of goals in their team. Last night, it was as if his team mates were waiting for him to conjure up a piece of magic. The wide men needed to be more creative for Tevez to come alive. The next two games could be interesting if Tevez can’t shake off his thigh injury. His goalscoring record is phenomenal but a more expressive City might ease the burden on the striker.

Big games sometimes flatter to deceive

Big match hype. Sky bring out the big guns. Sharp dressing Ruud Gullit and blind dresser Graeme Souness. Seriously, who can’t match a suit jacket to a pair of trousers? Unbelievable. There was the usual inflammatory langauge before the game and a typically hostile Manchester City crowd under the lights. It should have been a classic, but it was dire. Big games sometimes go like that, but after the games the two Manchester clubs produced last season, can we really complain that one didn’t live up to the billing. Its easy to say that as the home team Manchester City should have attacked United more and bossed the game. However, Roberto Mancini is answerable to his bosses and fans, not Richard Keys. Were City defensive or were they stifled by a very experienced United side. Either way when two top teams play the same formation, games tend to turn into chess battles, waiting to see who blinks first. To credit both sides, neither did. If Tevez had elected to shoot in the first five minutes, it may have been a different game.

Sir Alex still has a trick or two up his sleeve

Virus? What virus. We were all led to believe that Manchester United were going to be depleted to the extreme by Sir Alex Ferguson. United had their strongest eleven available on the pitch with decent cover on the bench. Bringing on Wes Brown, John O’Shea and Javier Hernandez. Was this another mind game by Ferguson to test Mancini’s nerve. When the two clubs train opposite each other, it would be difficult to fool City. However, the media took the bait as usual and we all expected United to be without Patrice Evra, Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov. After Berbatov’s performance, many United fans may have wished he had come down with something.

Were City there for the taking in the second half?

Did Manchester United miss an opportunity in the second half last night. United were on top for most of the half and looked the most likely throughout the game. City were forced into a defensive approach by a strong United midfield, but could Ferguson have taken advantage of this. Should the change have been to bring young Javier Hernandez on to partner Dimitar Berbatov rather than replace the Bulgarian. Sure, this would have been a risk considering the strength of the Manchester City midfield but, they Werner threatening United. It may have been a change that won United the game. Of course, having to replace two full backs forced Ferguson’s hand to a degree. After a controlled second half performance, and with Arsenal and Chelsea winning, United may see last night’s game as an opportunity missed.

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Click on image below to see a gallery of Cristiano Ronaldo’s latest lady

One area of Everton’s squad Marco Silva is looking to improve is at left-back. Sky Sports have recently reported that the Toffees have targeted Bayer Leverkusen’s Wendell and Germany international Marvin Plattenhardt. But according to the Daily Mirror, the Merseyside club could now turn their attention towards Celtic prodigy Kieran Tierney in a move that must absolutely be pursued.  

The Breakdown

At 33, Everton’s current first-choice left-back Leighton Baines is coming towards the end of his Goodison Park career and possibly his time in the Premier League. TEAMtalk reports that the England international could be set to join former team-mate Wayne Rooney in the MLS.

Baines is at the age where he won’t be able to play 38 games a season or have the influence he once did on the left flank from a very physically demanding position and role. But he’d still be a useful asset to have and selling him would see Everton needing to sign two new left-backs during this transfer window.

Nevertheless, regardless of Baines’ situation, Everton need a left-back for both now and in the future.

In that regard, £4.5m-rated (via Transfermarkt) Tierney is the ideal candidate. At 21 years of age, Tierney is still in the very early days of his career, yet already has a tonne of experience under his belt having cemented the position of first-choice left-back at Celtic.

As well as making appearances in the Champions League, Tierney has also played for the Scotland national team, further indicating the sort of footballing maturity he possesses despite being so young.

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With all of that in mind, Tierney is a player that Celtic aren’t going to let go without putting up a fight. Any potential transfer is going to be an expensive one, while Everton would likely face competition for the Scotland international’s services, with the Times having recently reported on interest from Manchester United.

Everton, though, must put themselves at the front of the queue if there’s even a remote chance of signing Tierney this summer

According to reports in The Mirror, Everton are interested in signing £25m-rated West Bromwich Albion defender Jonny Evans in the summer, although he could be available for as little as £3m.

What’s the word, then?

Well, The Mirror says that the 30-year-old has a clause in his Baggies contract that will allow him to leave for just £3m if the west Midlands outfit suffer relegation to the Championship.

That is certainly on the cards right now as Alan Pardew’s side lie seven points from safety with just 10 Premier League matches left to play this term.

The Mirror says that Sam Allardyce is keen to bring the Northern Ireland international to Goodison Park if he is to stay in charge next season, although he could face competition for his signature from top flight rivals West Ham United and Leicester City, while Arsenal and Manchester City were also keen on the West Brom captain during the January transfer window.

How has Evans done this season?

The Baggies skipper missed their first three Premier League matches of the season – in which they picked up seven of the 20 points they currently have – and the club and the versatile defender went 19 games without tasting success before they beat Brighton and Hove Albion in January.

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Evans has played at both centre-back and left-back for the west Midlands outfit during the current campaign, but he was also involved in the incident during a mid-season training break in Barcelona where he and three of his teammates stole a taxi, which saw him stripped of the captaincy for one game before he was reinstated into the role by manager Alan Pardew.

Would he be a good signing for Everton?

He certainly could be, yes.

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Evans would arrive at Goodison Park with plenty of experience and quality, and his leadership skills would come in handy in a Toffees backline that has struggled in particular this season.

The 30-year-old is also a very good defender and is calm in possession, and the fact that he could cost just £3m should mean that he is a no-brainer target for the Merseyside outfit, whether Allardyce is in charge next term or not.

It’s almost here! After months of checking release dates, countless play throughs of the demo and anxiously waiting for the postman/shop to open, FIFA 15 lands tomorrow.

You probably don’t need us to tell you who to use, but we’ll offer some gentle guidance and point you in the direction of Manchester United. Unlike in reality, the Red Devils look to be a very good team of choice for your living room, and here are FOUR reasons why…

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CLICK ON FALCAO TO REVEAL THE FOUR REASONS

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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…

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Attack, attack, attack

With Radamel Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, Manchester United have three players in the top 25 rated on the game. Rooney is the weakest option, but with a rating of 86 he’ll still be his usual self and could be a real threat in an attacking midfield role.

Angel di Maria

Away from the strikers, Angel di Maria is one to look out for. Rated at 86 with four stars for skill moves, the Argentine will be a real threat from a deeper role, and the sort of player you can use to humiliate opponents with just a touch of the right joystick.

A challenge on career mode

United’s quest to get back into the Champions League can become your aim in career mode. To be fair, it should be a lot easier than Louis van Gaal is actually making it look, with the club’s armoury the envy of many sides across Europe.

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Defence shouldn’t be the issue it actually is

United’s backline in the right hands should be okay on FIFA 15. Get your tactics right and drop Tyler Blackett, and who knows, you may be able to keep a clean sheet at Leicester… Besides, Mats Hummels should be easier to sign in career mode than in real life.

As the ‘Golden Generation’ of the last decade begin to close the book on their England careers, the need for an injection of fresh blood to the squad has never been more apparent.

The temptation to repeatedly select players long in the football tooth has seemingly become difficult to resist for Roy Hodgson as he attempts to guarantee safe passage to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Stalwarts like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard have had their time in the sun on the international scene and, while effective against inferior nations; their influence is minimal against countries sitting in the upper echelons of the FIFA rankings.

That’s not to imply that Gerrard or Lampard are necessarily bad players, but a perennial lack of success warrants change. Continually relying on senior players year after year has proven to be a backwards step for the Three Lions in the quest to end 46 years without a major tournament success.

Upon Hodgson’s appointment in May it was expected that he would re-evaluate the selection process and alter the makeup of a squad that has operated with an indistinguishable core since the turn of the Millennium.

Establishing a new youthful backbone and building a fresh, vibrant team from the nations most promising talent is an unsatisfied craving that supporters have been unable to shake.

Taking a leaf out of the Capital One Cup’s book would be a positive step for a start. A competition now regarded as the premier breeding ground for clubs to educate their young players.

Sir Alex Ferguson and then Arsene Wenger pioneered the idea that the competition would better serve the younger members on the fringes of the first team squad and exposure to top-level football would aid in their development. Furthermore it’s an exhibition of faith from a manager to a wild-eyed teenager taking his first steps into the professional game

Initially the concept was dismissed as undermining and disrespecting the heritage of a cup held in high regard by English football’s elite. Ferguson’s decision to use it to nurture his young stars caused such a stir that his selection policy was even raised at the Houses of Parliament in 1994.

It even went as far as Port Vale fans signing a petition against the Manchester United manager’s plans to field a weakened side. Yet more and more teams are following his and Wenger’s lead in giving their fresh faced brood an opportunity to impress, showcase their talent and ultimately prove whether they have what it takes to become a regular part of the senior setup.

David Beckham certainly reaped the benefits of Ferguson’s plan, as did Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Simon Davies and Keith Gillespie. They all featured in that controversial tie with Port Vale and all went on to become regulars in the Premier League and for their countries at international level.

That’s not forgetting Cesc Fabregas either who, at 16 years and 177 days old, become the youngest player in Arsenal’s history, making his debut in the League Cup against Rotherham United at Highbury and literally ran the show.

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Sticking with youth and fostering a new ‘Golden Generation’ is the unenviable task laid out in front of Hodgson. Replacing the likes of Gerrard, Lampard and John Terry was never going to be easy, but persevering with youth is certainly the way forward if England are to progress.

Thankfully it seems as if Hodgson has heeded the demand for change with 28 of his recent call-ups aged 25 or under and 14 members of the current squad coming in under that radius. Of course a few familiar faces remain but it’s clear that the core of the team is taking on a new identity.

And as Ferguson and Wenger have shown in the League Cup in years gone by, being bold and persisting with youth propagates success. Whether Hodgson stays bold and sticks with this policy remains to be seen.