Video: Arsenal Target Gokhan Inler

In the last few weeks Arsenal have been linked to both Yann M'Vila and Yannick Djalo, and now, talkSPORT have reported that Arsene Wenger may spend £8 million on the Swiss midfielder, Gokhan Inler. The 26 year-old currently plays for the Seria A side Udinese, but speculation has been rife in Italy about his future at the club.

He has been watched by several Premier League clubs since his move to Napoli in 2007 including Liverpool, as Roy Hodgson believed he could replace Javier Mascherano in Liverpool's central midfield before the Englishman's departure. Inler plays in a similar area to Mascherano - a deep lying position just ahead of the defenders, and it is this kind of player that several Arsenal blogs have been suggesting Arsenal buy to guard the defence.

Inler has scored 3 goals this season, one of which was a stunning strike from long range against Napoli as you can see below. However, you may notice the lack of celebration and joy in the players face. Some said that this was a sign of Inler's growing disinterest in playing for Udinese, but the player cleared this speculation up:

"I have many friends in Switzerland who are Napoli supporters and they asked me not to score. Out of respect to them, I responded that way." 

"My heart is black and white and I think I proved that with my performance against Napoli. 

"I'm sorry if I offended anyone, as it was not my intention. Once I got back to the locker room, I shouted my joy and embraced my team-mates.

"My future has absolutely not been decided and I haven't signed for another club."

DBSFootball in association with: http://www.watch-football.tv/football/ - Live Football Streaming.

Sir Alex Jumps To Hodgson's Defence

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson came to the defence of Roy Hodgson after the unpopular Liverpool manager left the club by mutual consent ahead of United's game against them.

Ferguson, who is a known friend of Hodgson's claimed that the English manager didn't have enough time in the job to be judged fairly:

“It’s incredible – why did they take him there in the first place? We are talking about the current LMA Manager of the Year and the ­experience he’s got.

“He’s been round the world managing Inter Milan twice, Switzerland and ­Finland and he took Fulham to the ­Europa League Final last season. He more or less had the squad he ­inherited – so it’s his fault, is it?

“He brought in Paul Konchesky, Raul Meireles and Christian Poulsen. I think Joe Cole was done before he arrived but that couldn’t be announced until July 1, when his ­contract with Chelsea ­ended.”

Ferguson knows what it is like to be under pressure, as he himself was close to the sack before winning the F.A Cup in 1990. However, he has since survived for 24 years as manager of the Old Trafford club, and has led them to almost unrivalled success in his time, although over those 24 years, the way football is run has changed into something that the Scot doesn't agree with:

“Managers are given time at this club – there’s always been a good ­understanding. Look at how long Sir Matt Busby was here and Ron ­Atkinson was given ­plenty of time before me. I’m hoping the situation doesn’t get worse.

“It’s a case of trying to change the mindset of ­different types of directors you have got ­nowadays. You go back 30 or 40 years and their attitude was, ‘I’ll ­enjoy a wee brandy ­today and enjoy watching my team play."

“Now, new people are ­running clubs and don’t even have an association with them. lot of clubs have been bought by outsiders.”

Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish has taken over from Hodgson at Liverpool and will manage his first game back at Liverpool against Ferguson. It isn't the easiest welcome back to football - against a side unbeaten this season in the Premier League, while Liverpool stand only four points above the relegation places, but Liverpool fans at least believe if anyone can turn their season around, it is "King Kenny". It promises to be a good game.

Liverpool To Sign £13 million Eljero Elia

Liverpool's search for new players who will help to keep Roy Hodgson's job safe has begun, as the Reds have reportedly agreed terms with Dutch winger Eljero Elia.

Elia has been linked with Liverpool for a while, but up until now it has only been rumours. Now, it looks as if the rumours are finally coming true, as sources in Germany- home of his current club Hamburg, suggest that the pacey winger has been subject to a £13 million bid from the Merseyside club and have agreed personal terms with the 23 year-old.

Elia would be a ideal addition to the Liverpool side who massively lack natural wingers and players who are actually willing to play on the wing. Joe Cole has again expressed his desire to hold a central attacking role in the Liverpool side, and with Babel also preferring a central role, Hodgson knew he needed a natural wide man. The team have also lacked creativity and pace and after seeing Elia in the World Cup for Holland, he certainly has pace in abundance and the ability create chances for his team mates.

Elia has scored a career total of 27 goals while mounting a good assist total of 22, and in 2009 was awarded the Johan Cruijff Award for "Young Player of the Year" in the Netherlands - an award that has previously been won by Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp and Marc Overmars as well as Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Rafael van der Vaart.

Arsenal & Liverpool to Fight for German Defender

Pace is gathering on the rumours surrounding Per Mertesacker's future, with reports suggesting that Arsenal and Liverpool will soon go head to head for the German defender's signature.

Arsenal have been linked to Blackburn defender, Chris Samba as well as Mertesacker, but it looks as if, now that the transfer window has opened, Wenger is stepping up his chase for the Werder defender. According to reports, Arsenal have actually tabled a bid of £8.5 million, but the Bundesliga club apparently want a fee more in the region of £10 million.

Roy Hodgson's interest is also clear, as he has apparently had Damien Comolli, the Liverpool director of football strategy watch the 26 year-old last month and has advised the Liverpool board to hand the money over and make his signing a priority. Jamie Carragher is currently out injured with a shoulder injury, and Mertesacker would definitely sure up the Liverpool defence and certainly be a great addition to the Reds squad in general.

Mertesacker is very experienced, with 127 games for his German club and an impressive total of 73 International appearances. He stands at a massive 6 foot 6 inches, and has the ability to score a few from set pieces because of his towering height. A total of 22 career goals mark out the German as a player who can add several advantages to the two sides defence which can sometimes be suspect.

It is likely that the defender would prefer a move to current high flyer's Arsenal in London, as they are more or less guaranteed Champions League football next season, and have a very good chance of winning the Premier League title this season. The chance to be a part of this with Arsenal will probably be far more attractive than a mid-table scrap with a team that are often all over the place. Or maybe he likes a challenge.

It's Not All Hodgson's Fault

WARNING: The below article will be deeply unpopular with the majority of Liverpool fans' current views. Read at your own risk.

The latest Liverpool defeat has only magnified Liverpool fans anger with the manager Roy Hodgson. If ever there was an example of a football manager under pressure, it is Hodgson at this very moment. Nothing he does pleases Liverpool fans. Nothing that he says Liverpool fans like. No decision that he makes is agreed with. Not because they are all wrong actions, wrong things to say and wrong decisions, but simply because the majority of Liverpool fans have made up their minds about him. They don't like him.

I have massive sympathy in this respect for Hodgson. The blame seems to be solely heaped onto him, with even players performances blamed on his tactics. In my opinion, the players should be taking far more of the stick that Liverpool fans are dishing out. They are simply not playing well enough. That is a fact. They have the ability, but are not showing it, and because of this, results are very poor, leading the fans to look for someone to blame. They can blame the players, but that would achieve nothing. Blaming the manager could get him sacked, and a far easier option for everyone. Solution? Blame the manager. For everything. Get him sacked. Get a new manager. Liverpool will be great again.

It doesn't work like that. But at the moment, that's all I see happening. He needs a chance to be given money, bring in some players, and stamp his authority on the team. Liverpool were hardly the best team at the end of Bentiez's reign, and turning around a club in the situation that Liverpool were in was never going to happen over the course of a couple of months. Anyone who thought that were deluding themselves.

In relation to the Wolves loss; Wolves were bottom of the league. Man for man, Liverpool are a better side. Liverpool had Gerrard and Torres - world class players. Unless Hodgson's tactics involved "lose the game" or something to that effect, the players should have done a whole lot better and won the game. There was a lack of togetherness, and very few players showed any sign of leading the team - standing up and being counted but we all know that the players are capable.
Hodgson said after the game:

"We are not deliberately losing matches. You know what these players are capable of. All I can say is that it is time for people to help us along. We lacked quality and confidence."

In my opinion, there are a few things that the Liverpool team need.

Firstly, they need the support and backing from the Liverpool fans. Abusing the manager isn't going to make his job any easier, and having him sacked will not only cost the club money.

The team needs some new faces of quality. For that to happen, the board need to give the manager money to spend and prove that he has their support.

The players must come together, as a team, and fight for their club, for their fans, and for their manager. They must show their quality, and they must prove that they are worthy to wear the red of Liverpool and play at
their famous ground in front of thousands of expecting fans.

Finally, the manager. Although he has had  rough start, it is up to him to turn it around. He knows that his reign so far has been disappointment, and he would have hoped that it would have gone better, but he is a very good manager. He knows his football, and he is certainly good enough to manage Liverpool.

The only way Liverpool get out of the mess they are in is if they pull together and start to play as well as we all know they can. Lest Liverpool fans forget the famous song that they sing; it seems to me as if Liverpool fans are letting Hodgson walk through the storm by himself.

Liverpool Links with Ronaldinho, Ashley Young and Suarez Untrue Says Roy

Transfer rumours have grown over the past few years. They have moved on from things you may hear of various rumours here and there over the course of the season as well as a couple of times during the transfer window, and then the deal is done. They are now fully blown stories on players thinking of moving, agents asking or more money, hinting at a move, players going to leave then deciding against it, with blogs like this one circulating the latest gossip on players moving to what club and for how much, and so on.

But Roy Hodgson has dismissed the latest links to Brazilian Ronaldinho, Aston Villa pacey winger Ashley Young and biting "cheat" Luis Suarez. Hodgson, who has been under big pressure to turn Liverpool into a title challenging team again since taking over as manager, said the following:

"Ronaldinho and Suarez are players who we have never even thought about but I would think there is not a manager in the Premier League who has not given Ashley Young a thought at some stage or another,"

"But giving a player a thought and thinking 'This is a good player' and signing him are two vastly different things.

"I could give you quite a long list of players in the Premier League who I admire and think are very good."

The "list" that Hodgson refers to probably includes every Fulham player that he managed at his time at Craven Cottage. Them, and the recent players linked to a move to Anfield. Wigan winger Charles N'Zogbia may be in Hodgson's mind as well as Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City. But lets listen to what Roy ha to say some more:

"But there is no truth in the rumour. If you are asking if there are any negotiations taking place between Aston Villa and Liverpool, then there aren't."

Hodgson is also comfortable with his position at the club due to the new owners and their dedication to the Liverpool cause:

"We have got new owners who are working unbelievably hard and putting in enormous hours at the club, both here physically, as they are at the moment, and even when they are in America spending hours studying games and liaising with us here"

They will all agree then, that Liverpool need to add to their squad in January. Back up players and a new energy is needed in most positions; a partner for Torres and a midfielder with a passing ability, vision and stability like Xabi Alonso who they lost to Madrid and still haven't replaced. In addition to a strong centre back, to fill in for the injured Jamie Carragher while possibly partnering or replacing him in the future.

Hodgson knows additions to his squad must be made, and I am pretty sure he will act on this knowledge, because if Liverpool do not build on their recent current good form, then Hodgson's time could be coming to an end at Liverpool as fans become frustrated with him.

N'Zogbia to Liverpool?

Charles N'Zogbia of Wigan Athletic has continually been linked with a move away from the DW Stadium, and has even admitted himself that if a bigger, better club came calling, he would happily consider it, describing Wigan as a "stepping stone" to future success.

Liverpool, and their new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli, have already been linked to a few creative midfielders including Marek Hamsik, Eden Hazard and Giovani dos Santos, and are now reportedly interested in signing the Wigan Frenchman in a deal worth a possible £9 million. It is thought that the extra natural width will produce more chances for the strikers - namely, Fernando Torres, as Liverpool seek to gain as many points as possible in their climb back to success.

Ryan Babel has failed to impress for Liverpool since his move from Ajax in 2007, while the striker-turned-winger Dirk Kuyt has a distinct lack of back-up for when he gets injured or needs a rest. Hodgson has apparently registered this, and was reportedly keeping a close eye on 24-year old N'Zogbia in Wigan's recent 2 - 2 draw with Stoke City in which he put in a man of the match performance.

N'Zogbia recently said:

"Wigan's just a stepping stone. They know very well I'm not a player who is going to stay at the club.

"I give 100 per cent on the pitch, but, if there's a bigger club that wants me, the manager and the president have always told me the door is open for discussion."

He has been a major player for Wigan since signing in 2009; he was named Wigan's Players' Player of the Year and Supporters' Player of the Season for 2009–10, and scored the winning goal against Arsenal in an excellent comeback in April which all but secured struggling Wigan's Premier League status.

Last summer he was given permission to speak to Birmingham City, after a £9 million was accepted by Wigan, but the deal did not materialise. So if he was eager to join Birmingham, surely he will be convinced to join Liverpool - especially as he will then have the chance to play alongside two of the best players in the world in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. That way,Wigan will have turned out to be the perfect "stepping stone" for the former Newcastle man.

Liverpool Line-up Rennes Winger

Liverpool are lining up Sylvain Marveaux of French club Rennes on a free transfer.

The 24-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season, and he has expressed his desire not to renew it, therefore making him free to find a new club at no cost. Monaco, Marseille and Paris Saint Germain are said to be interested, but Liverpool's new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli, has marked the Frenchman out as a player who will add nicely to the small squad that Liverpool now have.

He can play in a number of positions in the midfield but is mostly played on the left side of midfield or in a further advanced position more centrally. Last season, Marveaux played 28 times in all competitions, scored 12 goals, and assisted 5. Despite suggestions that the new director of football strategy at Liverpool may have a bigger say in transfers than Hodgson would like, Hodgson has made it clear that it is important for the manager to make the decisions on who will be in is team.

The free transfer is also convenient for Liverpool. Although they have new owners who admit that investment is needed, it is not known whether John Henry will spend big money, so a free signing while adding to the squad at the same time will only help Liverpool's still slightly fragile position.

Roy Hodgson... A Small Fish In A Big Pond... Full Of Sharks...

Firstly, I would like to start off by saying that this isn't an attack on Roy Hodgson personally or on his past achievements as a manager. He is one of the most respected and liked managers in the English game. He's managed one of the biggest clubs in Europe, Inter Milan. He has managed two international sides, Switzerland and Finland respectively and both with relative success and we all know how he did with Fulham, Uefa Cup Final and all that... Add to this that he a very nice person. always giving sensible opinions and respect for his opposition unlike some Premier League manager who we'll name on another day...

Okay, so where's my criticism going to come from I hear you ask? Well all you have to do is to listen to some of Hodgson's interviews and its obvious he doesn't have the mentality to be managing a club the size of Liverpool or the mentality to take on Manchester United and City, Chelsea and even Arsenal.

Now here's the time to prove it. What does a manager of a big club do when your player is criticized by the manager of your deadliest rivals? Well if you're Roy Hodgson you would avoid confronting the culprit and  let the media have a field day. This all happened after Liverpool's 3-2 defeat to Manchester United, Alex Ferguson was quoted as saying "I have watched it again. Fernando Torres made a meal of it. An absolute meal of it. There is no doubt he tried to get the player sent off." In response to this Hodgson responded by saying "Some of my coaches were jumping up and down but I didn’t have a great view. Sir Alex was closer to it." Now I can imagine what this would've done to his relationship with Torres and with Liverpool fans. These comments give me the impression that Sir Alex is a better judge of Liverpool players than their own manager?

Another one of these incidents occurred after Liverpool lost to Northampton in the Carling Cup. When asked about his clubs perilous position near the foot of the PL table he responded "Things are looking really, really bleak. It has been said that if you are in the bottom three, you are in a relegation fight, and I would have to go along with that". Now you're the manager of a team which has won 18 league titles and 5 European Cups and are now admitting there is a possibility that they may be relegated. This in a league which contains, West Ham, Wolves, Wigan, Blackpool, Fulham and West Brom as possible relegation fodder...

Hodgson has also failed to assert his control over transfer rumours. This also involves Fernando Torres, who was rumoured to be a Manchester United target when Wayne Rooney looked like he was about to leave. When questioned on the likelihood of the move materialising he responded by saying "I am not naive to believe there won't be any danger and we will never lose a player like Torres, I understand these things can happen. I don't believe we will lose him, we will do our best to ensure he stays, and I only hope I can do everything in my power to help him return to the very top level we know he has. I certainly hope he will get back very quickly, we want to get him back to form and back to the level we know he can achieve as quickly as possible." This is the talk of manager of an average sized club having one of his players eyed up by one of the giants not of a boss of a top club who doesn't want to sell to a rival.

If you compare Hodgsons reaction to Sir Alex Ferguson's when Real Madrid were exciting themselves over Cristiano Ronaldo. Ferguson came out and criticised Real Madrid regarding any interest they may have in the player involved, confirmed the player is happy and also ended up reporting them to FIFA. Now although the player didn't stay in the long run, but it showed that Ferguson was in charge and wouldn't have another club dictate affairs at his club, Hodgson hasn't done anything like this to show his power at the club.

Now top managers who are used to running big clubs with big ambitions would do whatever it takes to defend their clubs. For example Arsene Wenger has an aversion to seeing events when they involve his players committing distasteful acts, Ancelloti has the habit of having all his pre and post-match interviews sound the same regardless of the result or opposition which removes pressure from his players and finally Alex Ferguson seems to redirect the glare of the media away from the players to the match officials at key times.

These behaviour's aren't commendable qualities in general life but they are Machiavellian attributes that top managers need to hold their own against the media, their rivals and also to gain the trust and support of their players and fans. These are qualities that Roy Hodgson doesn't have and I feel in the long term it will cost him his job... 

Vagner Love to Liverpool?

97 goals in six seasons, Brazilian, and relatively cheap - it's just what Liverpool need, isn't it? Vagner Love, the CSKA Moscow striker is being linked with Liverpool after Roy Hodgson hinted at several new signings to improve his struggling squad.

Hodgson is in particular in the market for an out and out striker, of real quality, to partner Fernando Torres up front. Torres has been going through a quite long difficult period recently in which he has been way off form, and a top quality striker, such as Love, who can support him would be welcomed by the Spanish star.

Reports vary as to how much Hodgson will have to spend in the upcoming January transfer window, but it is thought hat the new owners will give the former Fulham manager around £35 million to spend. It is also thought, that Vagner Love would leave the Russian club for a fee in the region of £10 million, however, predictions differ.

The player, who is distinguished by is colourful braids, has played 20 times for his nation, and scored 4 goals, while scoring a career club total of 154 in 269 games. Evidently, he has no lack of experience, and would add his footballing knowledge to Liverpool, who seem to be using more and more younger players like Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing.

In the current situation of the club, Liverpool would welcome any decent players into their team, especially if they offer someting attacking, and different. Vagner Love does that.

Manchester United Won't get Liverpool's Reina

Apart from the obvious reluctance from the Liverpool manager to let arguably his most consistent player, Pepe Reina leave - especially for one of Liverpool's biggest rivals in Manchester United, the "Red Devils" simply wouldn't be willing to involve themselves in a big transfer tussle involving a large sum of money that they just don't have.

Hodgson said

 “If [Sir Alex] Ferguson is looking around at the end of the season and he has got lots of money to replace van der Sar, he might very well want Pepe Reina because he is the best around.

“But we do not want to sell him. I would like to think that we are going to become a successful club once again and Pepe is crucial to that.

“We have heard nothing from Manchester United and, more to the point, we don’t want to hear anything from Manchester United."

Hodgson obviously doesn't want to let his star player go - and with good reason. He is "crucial" for Liverpool's success and it was only six months ago he signed a six year contract to stay at the club. Reina knows how much Hodgson and Liverpool value him, and how much they want him to stay. Unless there is a "secret get out clause" in his contract, (which I very much doubt that there is - or if there is I very much doubt that Reina would take advantage of it) only then would Liverpool have to let the player go.

I believe that Manchester United would be very unwilling to create a big story involving the chase for Reina, nor do I believe that Reina wants to leave Liverpool. I know that Liverpool don't want to let him go, and I know that Manchester United have limited funds to buy big players and pay big wages to them, especially considering the mass increase in their current players wages.
All points considered, Reina doesn't seem likely to join Manchester United. The Dutchman Maarten Steklenburg seems a far more likely choice for United - as I have reported on before, Here http://bit.ly/chVKBD.

Liverpool to start Re-building with two new wingers

So far, Liverpool have had an odd season. Their poor performances have seen them drop into the relegation zone, and their top players have been out of sorts - finding it tough to have a good game in a red shirt. Compare this misery with the relief of having new owners, ones that promise not to plunge the club in debt but willing to invest, and Liverpool fans may be unable to decide whether the season so far has been good or bad.

They have plenty of time to decide however, and one person whom will be a catalyst in the answer to that question, is Roy Hodgson. The Liverpool manager has been promised a substantial amount of money to spend in the January, and summer transfer windows. He will have £30 million to spend in each period, and those keen mathematicians will have already worked out that this totals £60 million - a sum that the previous Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez could only have dreamed of under the previous owners.

Hodgson is already reported to have identified a couple of player that could dig Liverpool out of the mess that they currently find themselves in.

Chris Brunt of West Brom is a rather surprising rumour that is circulating. The Irish winger is very versatile and has been a big player for his current club, inspiring his team to a shock win against Arsenal this season, and generally being a source of many goals in the newly promoted team. He is able to play on both wings as well as playing just behind the striker, and it may be this versatility that has caught Hodgsons eye.

Being Albion's best player this season, they will be looking for around £9 million for him, a sum that Liverpool can now easily afford.

The other player that Hodgson is monitoring is the Portugese left wing-back, Fabio Coentrao. He impressed in the World Cup for his native Portugal - delivering excellent crosses for Cristiano Ronaldo, and being a big threat throughout the tournament. He caught the eye of Carlo Ancelotti too, and that summer, Chelsea were reportedly interested, but no deal materialised. The Benfica man will probably cost more than Brunt, but a player of his quality, of which he displayed in the World Cup would be welcomed with open arms at Andield, as the team are in dire need of some pace and creativity.

Hodgson does not have great support from the Liverpool fans, as some are calling for him to be sacked already, so his activity in the transfer market will be heavily scrutinised. Without the excuse of greedy, unwilling owners to hide behind anymore, the Liverpool manager will have to deliver the goods, or risk the wrath of the fans.

Why Rafa Should Still Be At Liverpool...

Now I know that I'm going against the British media, pundits like Andy Gray and the former Texan owners of the club when I say that Rafa Benitez should still be managing Liverpool FC.

When Benitez first came to Liverpool it was off the back of deposing the two great powers of Spanish football, Barcelona and Real Madrid and making Valencia the champions of Spain. He came to an ailing giant of football. His predecessor Gerard Houllier had moderate success winning the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and the League Cup but failed to make Liverpool champions of England.

In his first season Rafa had immediate success winning the Champions League with a Liverpool side made up of Houllier signings and a few acquisitions made by Benitez from La Liga. Following this success I feel that Liverpool fans expected more of the same not realizing that the club was punching way above their weight.

Liverpool as a club are far behind the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and even Manchester City with regards to finances and facilities. If you start by looking at the size and quality of the stadiums. Both Manchester clubs have far larger stadiums in terms of capacity and Chelsea have invested millions in improving Stamford Bridge. Liverpool are still in Anfield which has a maximum capacity of 45,400 and was built in 1884. With the resources Benitez had available to him in comparison to Manchester United and Chelsea I feel that a European Cup, FA Cup and consistently qualifying for the Champions League is a good return.

I know that critics of Rafa point out signings such as Andrea Dossena, Alberto Aquilani, Robbie Keane and Ryan Babel as major flops. But in response to this I can say Rafa raised the profile of the club, signings such as Xabi Alonso (who Real Madrid were interested in at the time), Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger, Dirk Kuyt and Pepe Reina showed Liverpool had the ambition and manager to attract the top talent from around Europe.

Benitez also improved the performances of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. Gerrard wasn't a 15+ goal midfielder before his arrival. Carragher under Houllier was a utility man usually shoved out to left back and not the cornerstone of a European Cup winning defence.

I also feel that the British media have been treating Benitez unfairly. Questions over the tactical shape and quality of his teams has been a major stick to beat Benitez with. On the left is the team Benitez had assembled the season before Christian Purslow became managing director at the club when they finished 2nd. Following his appointment I feel Benitez became an isolated figure at the club.

Many say that Rafa needed to leave the club due to the clubs poor finish and the club needed to progress. If this was the case it doesn't seem to be working. Under Roy Hodgson the club have lost Javier Mascherano, Albert Riera and Emiliano Insua who have been replaced by Christian Poulsen, Joe Cole and Paul Konchesky.

This time last season (25/10/2009) Liverpool were in 5th place in the Premiership after a 2-0 win over Manchester United. At the moment they are 19th with only one win this season recorded this season. Further to this at the peak of his powers Rafa led Liverpool to a 4-1 victory against Manchester United and 4-0 against Real Madrid.

The team which finished seventh under Benitez last season (on the left). Fernando Torres only played 15 league games which is less than half, imagine if Wayne Rooney only played 15 games for Manchester United? Without their talismanic striker Liverpool lacked the goal threat, Torres scored 12 goals in the games he played. This cannot be blamed on Benitez Torres due to the international calender hadn't had a break in two years (Euro 2008 was followed by the Confederations Cup).

I do understand that Xabi Alonso would've been a big miss for the team but it didn't seem to affect the form of Torres. And if you look at the bigger picture Liverpool were just 7 points off 4th place. Although finishing outside the top 4 is a failure but I don't feel there was as much of a gap between Liverpool and the teams challenging for that spot as there is now.

Liverpool's starting line up against Manchester United (bottom left) their biggest match of the season is a far weakened line up with an axis of Poulsen and Meireles, neither of whom have played in the Premier League before. Meireles has come from the weaker less physical Portuguese League and Poulsen was discarded after a disappointing time in Italy with Juventus. Konchesky is another player who I feel isn't a player qualified to play for a major club partnered with Joe Cole on the left. Yes this is the same Joe Cole who Chelsea felt was fit to let go for free and then spend 6 million to buy his replacement from Liverpool in the form of Yossi Benayoun. This clearly shows Roy Hodgson isn't qualified for the job and Liverpool have regressed as a club since Benitez left.

In view of this there are two main reasons why Rafa Benitez should still be Liverpool manager. Firstly, one bad season doesn't make him a bad manager, his previous successes should have bought him more time and secondly the club have been unable to find a better replacement.

A Mash-up of the days News in Football

Roy Hodgson has told of his delight that Liverpool have been taken over by new owners after a horrific period which saw the Gillet-Hicks stint cause chaos on and off the pitch. Hodgson admitted:

 "It's very positive and of course I'm delighted".

 He has also been assured that his job is safe after receiving the backing from the Liverpool board. Maybe now Liverpool can move forward and will no longer have to worry about a very heavy weight that has been pulling them down towards debt and disaster for the past couple of years.

Wayne Rooney knows what it feels like to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, and when your friends call you "vulgar" and a "chav" it's hardly going to make you feel any better. This is the news, which I reported on earlier, in which the young Italian striker Macheda had reportedley called Rooney a "coatto". Now, this word translates into many things in English, and it just so happens, that newspapers chose the more controversial meanings to publish. Macheda is apparently furious about the misquotation and was talking in jest about his fellow striker... or could this be another lie just to add to the drama? Cue dramatic music.

Next, and we are with a couple of golden oldies who have revealed their much less controversial retirement plans. Well, one of them has. Kind of. Florent Malouda, the thirty year old Chelsea winger has revealed that he would love to end his career playing for a team in the "true country of football", Brazil.

"It would be great to play for a club like Flamengo or Vasco da Gama, it is something that I want to do in my life"

The other retiring player that I am talking about is Edwin van Der Sar. The Dutch goalkeeper is forty this month - a very respectable age for a footballer playing at the highest level at Manchester United. The shot-stopper hasn't actually confirmed his retirement plans, but his goalkeeping coach has done the second best thing by more or less confirming it himself. Eric Steele said:

"I think Ed has made his mind up and said this is his last year."

It seems that if Van Der Sar does retire, it will not be Gianluigi Buffon who will replace him. The Italian goal-keepers agent probably made the interviewer cry after rubbishing his question as to whether United had shown an interest. The agent said:

"I don't know where these rumours come from, it is a nonsense. Buffon is out for an injury for three months, who wants an injured player? And it seems to me that the best player of Manchester United is the goalkeeper van der Sar."

You had better read DBSFootball tommorow for more!

Liverpool want Honda to drive their miseries away.

After Liverpool lost to Manchester United late on in Sundays game, Roy Hodgson would have been looking for things to cheer him up. It looks like he may have found it too, in Honda!

Hodgson feels that around £12 million will be enough to get what he wants. Before you ask, Roy Hodgson hasn't been scammed into buying a dodgy Honda car for £12 million from his local car sale shop, no! Honda is a Japanese International - Keisuke Honda to be precise.

The Japanese playmaker is currently playing for CSKA Moscow in Russia, but also had a relatively succesful World Cup. He scored a couple of goals with his trademark free-kick, where he hits the ball so hard, often it is hard to see the ball for the viewer. Watch His World Cup Free-kick HERE.

He has had a good start to his CSKA career, however it has been suggested that he wishes to move to the Premier League, and with Liverpool returning that interest, a deal could go through.

Fabio Coentrao, Ashley Cole and Karim Benzema thrown together in Transfer Window Speculation

Coentrao in, Cole out?

Today's transfer news begins with Chelsea and Real Madrid, as Jose Mourinho is apparently very keen to bring his former left back Ashley Cole to his new club Real Madrid. He seems like he will try everything to get what he wants. The Portuguese tactician regards Cole as one of the best left-backs in the world, and so in order to get him, he is willing to offer Karim Benzema as part of a deal, according to the Mail. The Mirror, also reporting that Mourinho wants Cole, states that even though Carlo Ancelotti claimed that Cole was going no-where, he is prepared to do a U-turn and allow him to leave, just as long as he gets the Portuguese World Cup left-back Fabio Coentrao. Coentrao looked very bright in the World Cup. He bombed down the left side, skipping passed players like they weren't there, and delivered beautiful crosses in the box for his attacking colleagues such as Ronaldo to blast into the back of the net. He created a lot for Portugal, and prompted the commentators to suggest that English clubs may take an interest in this bright young talent, their prophecy may yet become a reality with Chelsea.

Next, and to the team with strikers to burn, Manchester City. Yes, even though they have probably enough strikers to create a whole squad , apparently, they are monitoring Zlatan Ibrahimovich and his situation at Barcelona. The Swede didn't really win the Spanish fans over last season, and hasn't really lived up to expectation at the Nou Camp, much like Berbatov's situation at Old Trafford. However, Mancini isn't reportedley interested in Berbatov - despite being reportedley interested in every other striker.

I'm Staying!

Meanwhile, Adebayor has told reporters that he would like to move to Juventus. Maybe he sees challenging for a place in Manchester City's over-populated team as too much, or maybe he wants a change of scenery. Who knows? He was speaking too fast to understand.

Cesc Fabregas' boring and annoying transfer saga has stopped - at least for one more year, as he told Sky Sports that he is sorry for not speaking sooner to clarify his position, but he is an Arsenal player and 100% commited for the up-coming season. Even though, he says it now, there is probably no doubt that he will leave for Barcelona at some point in the next 2 years.

Arsenal are still trying to find a new defender. This time, reports suggest that they want Roma defender, Phillipe Mexes. They have wanted Phil Jagielka, Per Mertescaker, as well as a few other defender's and were also intereted in a few goalkeeper's, including Joe Hart, Rene Adler, and Mark Schwarzer, but either their clubs won't let them move, or they just don't want to move. One things for sure though, Arsenal need a new goalkeeper.

£150 Miwwion?

Liverpool are closer and closer to being taken over by the Chinese business-man Kenny Huang by the day and he has told Liverpool that he will give Roy Hodgson £150 million to spend on transfers if he takes over the club before the end of the transfer window. That's quite a transfer kitty, and one Hodgson isn't used to, and so he will stick to what he knows and try to prise Shaun Wright Phillips from Manchester City - instead of using all £150 million to try and get Messi.

£70 Million for Torres? Take it Hodgson.

Manchester City seem to be the only team making any transfer headlines this summer and it will probably be like that for the next few summers until the Arabs get bored and go and find something else to spend their money on. But for now, we will have to put up with endless rumours involving City and their millions, spending completely stupid amounts of money on average players, and even more stupid money on the better players.

There is no doubt that Fernando Torres is one of the best strikers in the world. He proved that time and time again at Liverpool by scoring goal after goal. But Liverpool bought him for about £20 million pounds. Apparently, City are prepared to smash the English transfer record by making Liverpool a £50 million profit for the striker. Thats £70 million. If that actually is the offer, Roy Hodgson should take it and run. Knowing City, he may even be able to squeeze another £10 million out of the Arabs, they'll just get it back in pocket money next week any way.

Torres has been picking up a lot of injuries, mainly because he is so difficult to tackle, and so defenders have no other alternative but to hack his legs off. But as a result of this dangerous tackle theme with Torres, he gets a few recurring injuries. Last season, when Torres was out, all Liverpool had was David N'gog. Thats the equivalent of Man United having Rooney injured and only having Danny Welbeck to replace him. Not good. But with £70 million, Hodgson could work wonders. It would change everything. He could bring in another 3 quality strikers. He did a great job at Fulham with only about £7 million - better, in fact than Liverpool in the Europa League.

So if I was Hodgson, I would take the amazing offer and give away a world class player and bring in two or three fresh faces which would in the long term strengthen the squad whilst stabalising the team. In addition, with Mascherano looking like he wants to go for £30 million, either buy a cheaper replacement or pay off some of that massive debt!

Brave Fulham Lose out in Final

A heart thumping final.

Fulham have achieved a massive feat to reach the final. But their hearts were broken by a Diego Forlan goal late in extra time. A cruel blow to a brave, passionate team punching well above their weight.

I don't think Fulham will be able to achieve a final again for a while. Nor do I think Roy Hodgson will stay on as manager. He can do no more. He has taken them as far as a small club can go.

Their excellent performances this season especially in Europe has made teams think very hard about how to win and their amazing fight has feared teams into defeat. But to win a final was too much.

It could have gone either way in the match, and it was very close, reflected in the tight scoreline. But the lucky Madrid took the trophy, and the Fulham fans, players and team were distraught.