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Another weekend of Premier League action means more important games with Liverpool taking on Spurs and Manchester United’s trip to West London. However, these won’t be the only highlights of the weekend. For example, Newcastle fans will get a first glimpse at Demba Ba and Papiss Demba Cissé in action after Senegal were knocked out of the African Nations Cup.

Who though should lead the line for your side this weekend?

The Captaincy Debate

Let’s start with the aforementioned Demba Ba. He was in scintillating form prior to his departure to Africa. After a poor tournament for Senegal, the Newcastle forward will be looking to add to his tally of 15 goals in the Premier League. The Magpies face Aston Villa on Sunday and given the fact the Villains haven’t been watertight at the back, Ba isn’t a bad bet to bag a brace at the weekend.

However, Norwich striker Steve Morison is worth consideration. The ex-Millwall man has helped to fire the Canaries into the top half with eight goals so far this season. He’s done brilliantly to make the transition from the Championship to the Premier League appear so smooth. Bolton Wanderers visit Norfolk this weekend. Owen Coyle’s team have improved immeasurably over the last few weeks but they will need to be wary of Morison’s presence on Saturday.

Another player to take into account is the mercurial talent that is Gareth Bale. He has deservedly filled many column inches this season with some stunning performances. His latest came at White Hart Lane on Tuesday evening as he netted a double against lowly Wigan. The Welshman faces a tougher test on Monday night as Spurs travel to Anfield. Bale produced a fine performance in the North West just under a fortnight ago against league leaders Manchester City. There’s every chance he’ll raise his game again.

With Blackburn Rovers coming to the Emirates, it would be foolish to rule out Robin van Persie from scoring during the Gunners’ Saturday lunchtime clash. The Dutchman could count himself unfortunate not to net against Bolton on Wednesday evening as he was first denied by the post before a cute chip bounced off the crossbar. Arsenal’s finest will be hoping for better luck on Saturday against one of the Premier League’s bottom three.

The Captain: Robin van Persie – Unlucky on Wednesday, it’s hard to look past van Persie as skipper due to Blackburn’s attitude to defending this season.

The Vice Captain: Demba Ba – Returning from the African Cup of Nations, expect a strong performance from Newcastle’s best forward.

Long Term Look

Luis Antonio Valencia might not strike you as a particularly cheap outlet in Fantasy Football – playing for Manchester United generally helps to add a few million onto your price. However, in comparison to other pricey midfield options, the Ecuadorian winger is certainly value for money.

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Valencia played a pivotal role in United’s victory at the Emirates two weeks ago and he’s been in excellent form since the beginning of December, picking up nine assists and two goals as Manchester United’s title ambitions have rekindled. With a tough run of games still to come, Valencia could be a shrewd addition to your side at £8.1 million.

For more on the Premier League, follow @arhindtutt on Twitter

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Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has 11 potential first team starters injured for Saturday’s match at Bolton.Midfielder Kieran Richardson was ruled out for the rest of the season on Friday, the latest in a long list.

The injuries have contributed to Sunderland’s run of one win from their last 14 league matches.

“I have been in the game 30-odd years and I have never known anything like this. We have around 10 players who will not feature again this season,” Bruce said.

“It is quite incredible but we just have to try and get on with it but I have not known anything like this.”

Bruce is resigned to fielding a patched-up side.

“In any league it is difficult to plug those gaps we have. We have been wondering if we have been doing anything wrong.”

“It has just been one of those horrible six months where we seem to get one or two back then we get three or four injured in the meantime. It has been a hell of a tough time.”

Richardson’s injury is the latest blow. The former Manchester United player took a knock in Saturday’s 3-2 home defeat by West Brom and a scan revealed a fracture.

“He will miss the rest of the season. We diagnosed on Thursday that it looks like a stress fracture of his fibula,” Bruce said.

“We had X-rays after the game against West Brom and had a scan in the week and did not detect anything. But unfortunately the injury did not seem to go away.”

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“Kieran has tried manfully one or two times and we re-scanned him on Thursday and picked up this stress fracture.”

Sunderland will be without goalkeeper Craig Gordon (knee), defenders Titus Bramble (knee) and Michael Turner (knee) and midfielders David Meyler (knee), Jordan Henderson (ankle) and Lee Cattermole (shoulder).

Forwards Fraizer Campbell (knee), Richardson (calf), Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Asamoah Gyan (hamstring) will also miss.

Gylfi Sigurdsson is probably not a familiar name for those more accustomed to watching the Premier League than the Championship. However it is not without some justification that his former manager Brian McDermott described him as, “Reading’s best player for a generation.” The midfielder scored 16 league goals in 32 appearances last season but departed for Bundesliga outfit Hoffenheim in August for a fee of around £7 million. Adam Johnson left Championship side Middlesbrough for a comparable fee back in January. Should more PL clubs have registered an interest in this 21-year old free-scoring midfielder?

The Reykjavik born youngster was technically a home grown player as he signed up for a scholarship with Reading FC in 2005. He progressed rapidly through their youth and reserve sides but had to wait until August 2008 for his senior debut. Appearances were largely confined to the League Cup and the 6ft 1in midfielder was loaned to Shrewsbury Town and Crewe Alexandra for the purposes of gaining valuable experience. Unglamorous it may have been but ‘The Sig’ returned to the Madejski Stadium equipped to display skill and maturity for the 2009/10 season.

Known as a clean striker of the ball, Sigurdsson supported their main forward and scored 20 goals in all competitions last season. He additionally showed his technical ability and invention from dead ball situations. The campaign had its complications as a string of losses saw Brendan Rodgers leave his managerial post at the Berkshire club in December. McDermott became the caretaker boss having previously been in charge of the Under-19s and the reserve team. Their stunning FA Cup run which took them to the quarter finals of that competition helped McDermott secure the role permanently. The Icelandic international in his first full season with the senior team was the driving force in that exciting cup run.

Reading’s Player of the Season who is known for his composure from the penalty spot, equalised in this manner during their third-round replay at Anfield. Reading went on to win at Liverpool in extra time and the attack minded player who can also be utilised on the wings controlled a weighted pass and slotted home against Burnley in the following round. His manager felt he was growing in authority and developing an aura. Unwilling to prove him wrong, Sigurdsson was on the score-sheet in the fifth-round against West Brom. The game finished 2-2 but the Icelander scored in extra time with a curling effort from 25 yards, having already rattled Scott Carson’s crossbar earlier in the tie.

Crucially for Reading the form of this mercurial rising star was not confined to the cup, eventually being beaten by Aston Villa. He was a pivotal figure in their push to avoid relegation and they recorded a respectable ninth place finish. Accolades were not merely forthcoming from the club as Sigurdsson was the Championship Player of the Month for March. Anticipating interest from across Europe this summer, the club pre-emptively managed to get the midfielder to sign an improved three year deal in May. He started this season in blistering fashion, scoring a sumptuous long range effort against Scunthorpe and with an easier finish away to Leicester.

When Hoffenheim revealed the extent of their interest, the club whose parachute payments have ceased could not dismiss the offer. McDermott has already reinvested a portion of that fee and feels his side can cope without their exceptional former ball player. His new boss in Germany has said of him, “although 20-years old, (he) has a great ability to score from midfield and we still see in him huge potential to develop further.” It has been a meteoric rise for the youngster who will be missed by the Royals and English football too.

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England’s youth development has long been seen as lagging behind the rest of the top European countries. It seems as if every nation goes through a rut with their youth set-ups at some point, so what exactly can we learn from those successful nations, who have managed to turn their failing youth set-ups around?

There are many improvements that could be made to the English youth set-up by implementing some of the positive aspects employed by other nations. Other European country’s have coordinated national coaching systems which put them miles ahead of the UK. Nations like Spain and France have over ten times of the amount of qualified coaches with the UEFA pro-license than the UK has, which is obviously going to have an impact on youth development on a wide scale.

In Europe young players are given a fair shot, and clubs seem to get the transition right between the youth and senior team. European players tend to make their first team debut around age 21-22, but in England young players are often not given the chance, or they are judged upon Carling Cup and substitute appearances. Young players are given no time to mature, as instant results are demanded from fans and the media, and this lack of patience seems to be inherent in our footballing philosophy in this country. We need to get the important transition between the ages of 18-21 right, or we risk losing huge amounts of talent in the system.

In other countries many smaller and lower league teams have proper world class academies. In the UK very few, outside of the likes of Leeds, Watford and Southampton from the lower tiers could claim to be genuinely world class. There is significantly less money thrown at the grass-roots in the UK, and that obviously is going to have a negative effect, compared to nations who are spending much larger amounts developing youth prospects.

If we look at other countries like Germany and Spain, they also tend to have more of a collective mentality. Clubs, instead of focusing on themselves, focus together on a common goal, to invest in the future of the national team. In Holland, clubs all train the same way focusing on technique and tactics, in a country wide method of education. Young players also have much more contact time than their English counterparts. They also have exceptional facilities and clubs are the beacons of their local community. In Holland there is also much more emphasis on fun in the game, something which seems to have been lost somewhere along the way in the English game, where winning takes preference.

All nations go through a rut at some point, but it is important to make changes to enable youth development to progress. About a decade ago Germany looked into how they could improve the game in their country. They put in place a strong structure between governing bodies-something distinctly lacking from the British game-and made significant changes to the game. There was a huge investment in German football, as well as improvements in stadia and facilities. It became a requirement for all Bundesliga, and Bundesliga 2 clubs to have youth academies which met certain strict criteria. The youth game in Germany now focuses on small sided games, prioritizing touch and technique and individual skills-just about the antithesis of the way the game is taught in the UK. In the UK players have been trained in a way that favours the physical, with power, size and strength dominating the English youth set-up, whilst technical play is simply neglected. Germany now have a thriving domestic league, with the core of its players coming from the German youth system, the changes and serious financial investment in the youth game, have clearly had a positive effect.

In some European nations there is also a tendency for youth academies to play in the lower leagues. In Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid’s youth academies, or B teams, are filled with youngsters who play against senior teams at a much higher level than reserve team football. It is a highly competitive method of development, and is a great way for young footballers to gain experience, as well as improve their level and understanding of the game. When they are ready they then progress to the first team, and it is not such a big jump for a young player. They play against tough, experienced opponents in front of big crowds, and deal with media pressure on a regular basis, this helps them to adjust better to the game at the highest level. English players play fewer competitive games, in front of sparse crowds, and rarely get the chance to impress, especially at the big clubs. A system like the Spanish one is unlikely to be given the go-ahead by the FA, and it does pose problems with regard to wiping out the identity of lower league football in this country. However, it would certainly improve standards of young footballers, and make the transition to senior football easier for them. Spanish football was in a rut before its recent glorious period, and it has taken them 20 years for the changes they made to their youth system to pay off. By making changes they have ensured that youngsters have adopted a style of play to suit their level of skill and technique, and this fits in with the nations footballing philosophy as a whole.

In other successful European nations players tend to play on smaller pitches at younger ages, which seems to be very beneficial. In the UK children move to full size pitches far too early, which puts the emphasis on an athletic based game, favouring the physically gifted over the technically gifted smaller players. Under 11’s playing 11 a side on a full size pitch, with full size goals is frankly ridiculous, the players get little time on the ball, and it is often discouraging for a lot of youngsters. In Spain, Italy and France, they don’t move to full size pitches until around the age of 14, and by learning the game on a smaller scale players acquire the skills which have put them at the forefront of world football.

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It is the whole structure and philosophy that needs to be overhauled if we are to improve youth standards in this country. We need to change our whole attitude to football from the grass-roots up, with a system of education that improves on our technical deficiencies, teaching these skills at an early age. Our desperation for results and immediate investment-in mostly foreign players-has forced spending on youth development down the priority list and this needs to change if we are to see improvements in this country. It is difficult to say that what works in one country will work in another, but clearly there are some changes and positives that we can take from other countries, which would do nothing to further harm the state that English youth football is already in.

Do you think we should take on board some of the methods of other nations? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or following me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate.

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West Ham midfielder, Gary O’Neil, is considering taking legal action against Nigel Reo-Coker following a tackle by the Aston Villa player which has put his career in jeopardy. The 27 year-old left the field on a stretcher and underwent a two-hour operation on his ankle, where it is understood cruciate ligaments had been ripped.

O’Neil will miss the rest of the season and will not be allowed to put weight on his foot for at least the next two months. The best case scenario is a return to action in eight months, but the former Middlesbrough midfielder has been given only 50% reassurance that he will actually ever play again. This is understandably of great concern to West Ham but of even more poignancy to the player himself, who having been so damaged by the challenge of Reo-Coker wishes to personally punish the individual he believes should take full responsibility for his predicament.

In August 2008, former professional footballer, Ben Collett, who almost played for Manchester United but didn’t quite, was awarded £4.5million in compensation for a tackle by Gary Smith which ended his career during his debut for United’s reserves against Middlesbrough as an 18 year-old in 2003. Collett was defended by his former colleagues and manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, at the trial which enabled him to secure such an extensive pay-off, an amount which many questioned at the time. The issue here is surely not the financial value of the player’s potential but whether the decision to award compensation is justified.

Smith’s tackle was deemed ‘negligent’ in the eyes of the law, but the verdict implied the opposite; that Smith, as he approached to make the tackle, may have temporarily forgotten his legal duty of care towards Collett, had he ever been aware of it in the first place. Nobody can argue that the tackle was malicious or premeditated, just negligent or a bit on the reckless side, maybe an error of judgment on the part of Smith. In the past, compensation has been awarded when footballers deliberately set out to injure their opponents, and I would defy any judge to distinguish between an error of judgment and negligence in the mind of a modern professional footballer.

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Reo-Coker’s tackle was clearly not initiated with the intent to stunt the career of his opponent, and it should be feared that Collett’s trial might set a dangerous precedent if O’Neil takes similar action against the former West Ham captain. Such action is wrong when considered that tackles of the kind made by Reo-Coker happen every week, one hundred times over, and you can call it negligence or an error of judgment but, as some insurance firms have already stated, the floodgates will open. This could engender a situation whereby clubs claim against their opponents when a player is put out of the game for a few weeks or where smaller clubs may find they can no longer afford their insurance premiums.

So in the wake of the Collett award, and the current O’Neil/Reo-Coker situation, either the game will have to change beyond imagination, to the extent that it becomes effectively a non-contact sport, or clubs and players will become uninsurable. Common sense dictates that football games are full of accident, poor decision-making, errors committed in the heat of the moment and bad timing. Players who take to the field should be mentally prepared for the consequences of these human frailties and O’Neil should consider avoiding legal action to prevent setting a threatening precedent.

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A couple of Premier League managers won’t be happy after the international break. Tottenham gaffer Harry Redknapp has lost Michael Dawson and Jermain Defoe to long term injuries, while staying in North London Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will be without the services of Theo Walcott. The England winger got injured in the build up to Wayne Rooney’s goal and had to be stretchered off, with the latest news that Theo will miss up to six weeks of action due to a turned ankle. It’s a massive shame for Gunners fans as the speedy player made a cracking start to the season for Arsenal, and neutrals will be disappointed that we won’t see Alan Hansen criticising Walcott once more on Match of the Day. So what has brought Theo Walcott to tears? Was the pain too great or have Hansen’s words finally started to get to him?

Leave your suggestions below…

This week you can win £50 worth of credit to spend on classic footy shirts!

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Last week’s winner: Russell – click here to see all entries

Northern Ireland have appointed Michael O’Neill as their new manager, after he parted company with Shamrock Rovers.

The 42-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the home nation, and will take charge of the team from February 1st, replacing the outgoing Nigel Worthington.

O’Neill led Shamrock Rovers to consecutive domestic titles, and is honoured to be taking control of the national side.

“I am honoured to be chosen to manage my country. I am a proud Northern Irishman who was fortunate enough to win 33 senior caps and it was always an ambition to manage my country,” he told irishfa.com.

“To be entrusted with the role early in my managerial career is quite humbling but I am confident that we can make progress. Northern Ireland has a strong football tradition but one that needs to be refreshed with some more contemporary success.

“That is my primary objective – to restore a sense of belief and pride in what it means to represent Northern Ireland so that our players will want only to play for their country. That is how it should be.

“There is a huge amount of work to be done but with the right direction and the necessary passion good progress can be made. The board and the CEO have a clear plan for the future and have given me responsibility to set about the task of renewal within the context of a long-term plan.

“At the same time, in the interests of everyone involved, most particularly our supporters my job is to work with the players to sustain a competitive performance throughout the qualifying phase of the 2014 World Cup finals,” he concluded.

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O’Neill’s first game in charge will be against Norway in an international friendly at Windsor Park on February 29th.

By Gareth McKnight

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Sir Alex Ferguson has once again proved that you should never doubt him or his team, Manchester United. After beating Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge it looks like Man United will be the sole Premier League survivor in the Champions League and with a potential semi-final against Bundesliga outfit Schalke, you wouldn’t bet against Fergie’s men making the final either. Added to that United are seven points ahead of closest challengers Arsenal in the Premier League table and have an FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City to look forward to, but that isn’t all Fergie can win this year.

For all the talk of this being the weakest Manchester United team in years and that the Red Devils have hardly played well all season, just as always, things seem to be going pretty well at Old Trafford. The treble is a real possibility and is likely to be decided by two matches against City and Barcelona or Real Madrid, and once again they’ve proved they have the staying power and can pull a result out of the bag when it really matters. But then we never really doubted that, did we?

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Everything seems to be coming together at the right time. Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand played together at the heart of United’s defence for the first time in a while on Wednesday, while Wayne Rooney appears to be firing on all cylinders again. Add to that Nani’s form, Antonio Valencia’s return to fitness and the incredible veteran that is Ryan Giggs and Manchester United’s starting eleven is looking pretty strong. While Fergie’s team is showing their form at the right time, the Scotsman will hope the same goes for his horse.

Sir Alex’s horse What a Friend runs in the Grand National on Saturday and at 11/1 it’s one of the favourites. bet365 are going 150/1 about Sir Alex Ferguson landing the treble this season on the football front and winning the 2011 Grand National with What A Friend! bet365 spokesman Steve Freeth says “Fergie has been the scourge of bookmakers for years by winning countless trophies and a Grand National victory would make it squeaky bum time for us after offering 150/1.”

So can Fergie do the impossible and win the quadruple? At 150/1 it’s well worth a punt!

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Can Fergie complete a double this weekend? His horse What a Friend is 11/1 to win the Grand National. Make sure you don’t miss out on the biggest betting event of the year!

Leeds United’s return to the second tier of English football this coming season has been met with a renewed sense of optimism at the Yorkshire club. Leeds finished second to Norwich City in League One last season to clinch automatic promotion to the Championship. For a club who were as recently as 2001 contesting the Champions League semi-final, Leeds fans have endured more than most in the past decade. In that time the club has faced multiple relegations, financial implosion, administration, point deductions, countless play-off defeats and being forced to sell its training ground and stadium. There is a sense that the malaise has been halted under the stewardship of Ripon-born Simon Grayson and that the Premier League has missed a club of Leeds’ size, history and stature.

As the club set about gaining promotion to the Championship last season, a series of cup fixtures reminded its supporters and football fans of what they had been missing. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Elland Road was played in front of a sell out crowd. Leeds could hardly believe their luck when they were pitted against old rivals Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup earlier this year. Leeds took 9,000 fans with them, creating a superb atmosphere at Old Trafford. The away side served up an unexpected 1-0 defeat of Manchester United much do the delight of the travelling fans. This seemed a reward for numerous hardships visited upon the club and had the fans dreaming of Don Revie’s glory days from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Much in the vein of his successful Leeds sides Grayson’s men were involved in minor scuffles with Manchester United’s players, adding to the drama of the occasion. The goal-scorer on that day, Jermaine Beckford, was on target again as Leeds drew 2-2 with Tottenham thanks to his late penalty kick. They succumbed to defeat in the return leg at Elland Road but it was a reminder to the football world of what had been.

On the same weekend as Leeds’ upset in Manchester, the FA Cup tie between Wigan and Hull at the DW Stadium could only attract a derisory crowd of 5,335. Leeds fans and those who have surreptitiously missed their presence in the top flight should guard against talk of a return by divine right. The passion and loyalty of their supporters allows them to sell out home games in League One and take hoards of away fan across the length and breadth of the country. However part of the romance and excitement of football is that any team regardless of size and history can go up and down the leagues. But is there outside chance of Leeds challenging for the Premier League play-off places this season? Notwithstanding the loss of Beckford to Everton, new recruit Alex Bruce thinks so. “They belong in the Premier League and hopefully I can play a part in putting them back where they belong.”

Grayson has been exceptionally busy in the transfer market and is determined to build a side that can compete in the second tier. New full backs, Paul Connolly and Fede Bessone have Championship experience and Billy Paynter who scored 29 goals for Swindon last season will attempt to fill the void left by Beckford. Another outstanding performer from League One, Kasper Schmeichel has also been recruited. A recent 3-1 friendly defeat of Wolves has Leeds fans in bullish mood ahead of the season opener against Derby tomorrow. Their long suffering fans may not be the only ones wishing them well this season.

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With the PL season nearly upon us, let’s see the WAGS that will be keeping the players on their toes. Click on image to VIEW gallery

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Harry Redknapp will look to bolster his Tottenham squad in January by bringing in Villarreal attacking midfielder Borja Valero, according to reports in The Sun.

Redknapp is not looking to break the bank in order to add strength in depth at White Hart Lane this winter, and the £9million price tag could be extremely tempting for North London club.

The former West Brom midfielder failed to settle in England and only featured 31 times in the league for the Baggies in his time in the midlands. After a successful loan spell; where Valero became a key player at El Madrigal; a permanent move to Spain was declared in the summer but Villarreal are struggling in the bottom half of La Liga and are out of all European competitions already.

With just one cap for Spain, Valero wants to be playing European football to catch the eye of national coach Vicente del Bosque and Tottenham could be the ideal suitors for the 26-year-olds attacking style of football.

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Chelsea are expected to renew their interest in Luka Modric in January and with Spurs vying for three competitions when the new year begins, strength in depth may become a crucial aspect of success or failure.

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