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Rafael van der Vaart is not best pleased with life at Tottenham Hotspur of late. He has been effectively marginalised in the first time by a switch in formation and the searing form of Luka Modric; he was incredulous at being left out of Spurs’ Europa League group stage squad, criticising the club for displaying a lack of ambition. Harry Redknapp took action at the weekend to correct the issue – but it backfired on Tottenham, nearly costing the team all three points at St James’ Park.

Redknapp’s tactical basis thus far in the 2011/12 Premier League season has been to stick to an old-fashioned but flexible 4-4-2 system, and it has worked wonders for Tottenham. Since their opening defeats at the hands of the Manchester giants, Spurs were in some of the best form in the league, as demonstrated by superb victories over both Liverpool and Arsenal.

But in an attempt to revitalise van der Vaart, who is not always effective in a wide position and lacks any desire to track back when his team is not in possession, Redknapp chose to return to last year’s unpopular 4-5-1 for the trip to Newcastle on Sunday, restoring van der Vaart to his preferred trequartista role while pushing Modric (right-footed) and Bale (left-footed) onto the left and right wings, respectively.

Clearly, van der Vaart’s low mood has forced Harry’s hand. It is well known of the mercurial Dutchman that he is not blessed with the world’s most resolute mindset. But just as obvious is that Redknapp and Tottenham have not learned how to deal with temperamental star players, despite their previous experience of such personalities (David Ginola springs to mind, for some reason).

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Modric has been quoted this week as saying he is unsure he wants to sign a new deal at White Hart Lane – although since he is already tied down to the club for five years, with Daniel Levy showing no sign of wanting to relinquish his services, it would be fiscally prudent to do so. Now it appears van der Vaart must be accommodated, even if it is at the detriment of the team as a collective.

Redknapp was heavily praised by journalists attending the post-match press conference for a “stroke of genius” in introducing Defoe, but the Englishman brushed that compliment aside. “If I was really clever,” he responded, “I’d have started him and maybe we’d have won the game.”

It should be noted that the blame for the tactical switch cannot be solely laid on van der Vaart’s insecurities. Redknapp himself emphasised that he was switching the shape around to account for Newcastle’s strength in the middle of the park. Yohan Cabaye and Cheik Tiote are one of the more industrious central-midfield pairings in the Premier League at present and a big part of why the Toon are still unbeaten in mid-October. But with Spurs in such strong form themselves, should Redknapp be gambling on switching strategies for a game of this importance, when a strong return was so vital to keep up the momentum of the derby victory following the international break?

The decision to rest Defoe from the start risked hampering his burgeoning relationship with new strike partner Emmanuel Adebayor. Bale and Modric were extremely quiet until they switched over after the first half-hour. Van der Vaart scored the penalty to give Spurs an initial lead, and had a good game, but he would still have been on the park to take the spot-kick in a 4-4-2 and Modric, Bale and Defoe would have performed better (if the 2011/12 season thus far is anything to go by). Take a good look at the video Harry – here’s hoping you switch back to what has been working by the time Spurs face Blackburn next weekend.

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Cerezo Osaka kicked off their AFC Champions League campaign in style with a 2-1 victory over Arema in Japan on Wednesday.The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute at Kincho Stadium when Cerezo debutant and Brazilian import Rodrigo Pimpao found the back of the net in the Group G affair.Singaporean striker Noh Alam Shah equalised for the Indonesian club five minutes after the break from the penalty spot, but Pimpao capped a dream start in his first competitive club game off Brazilian soil with a winning goal in the 76th minute.The other clash in Group G saw South Korean club Jeonbuk Motors defeat Shandong Luneng 1-0 after Won-Jae Park netted the winner in the 59th minute for the hosts at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.Ten-man Sydney FC and Suwon Bluewings played out a hard-fought scoreless draw in their opening Group H match at the Sydney Football Stadium.The Australian side were forced to play a man short for nearly an hour after captain Terry McFlynn was dismissed for stomping on Lee Sangho.Suwon fielded their quartet of new signings in defender Hwang Jae-Won, midfielder Lee Yong-Rae, striker Yeom Ki-Hoon and South Korea South Africa 2010 goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong.Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua were held to a scoreless draw by J-League club Kashima Antlers at Hongkou Stadium in Group H.Iranian Premier League leaders Zob Ahan came from behind to topple Emirates 2-1 in their Group D match.K-League club Seoul’s trip to United Arab Emirates side Al Ain proved a fruitful one, with Dejan Damjanovic’s strike enough for the Koreans to secure a 1-0 victory in Group F.Fifth-placed Qatar Stars League side Al Rayyan were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab in their Group D encounter, with Nasser Al Shamrani cancelling out a 34th-minute penalty from Brazilian Itamar to ensure a share of the points.UAE outfit Al Wahda exchanged late goals with their Uzbekistani opponents Bunyodkor in their 1-1 stalemate at Al-Nahyan Stadium, while a double from Algerian striker Abdelmalek Ziaya spearheaded Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad’s 3-1 win over Iranian club Persopolis in the other Group C clash.

Injured captain Rio Ferdinand believes England have a "great chance" of winning a "wide open" World Cup.

Ferdinand is back home after picking up a tournament-ending knee ligament injury during England's first training session in South Africa.

A programme of rehabilitation from the Manchester United medical staff will prevent the 31-year-old defender from returning to South Africa, but Ferdinand has given a ringing endorsement of the Three Lions' chances.

Speaking ahead of Friday's Group C encounter with Algeria, he said:"If we win this one, the confidence will build and we'll get back on a high.

"We still have a great chance of winning the World Cup and no team can claim to be the outright favourites. There's no-one who scares us.

"A lot of teams come to a World Cup with an aura about them and, while the Germans and the Argentines have each had good wins, I don't think you could say with conviction any team has stood head and shoulders above the others in the first round of games.

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"And, of course, one of the favourites Spain has lost to Switzerland. So I think the competition is wide open."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

In the traditional football season curtain-raiser at Villa Park last weekend, Premier League champions Manchester City beat ten-man FA Cup winners Chelsea 3-2.

It wasn’t a match without controversy, though, as Serbian right back Branislav Ivanovic was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Aleksandar Kolarov.

Here are Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard arguing with referee Kevin Friend following the dismissal of Ivanovic in the Blues’ Community Shield loss against Manchester City last weekend.

Can you come up with a funny caption for this picture?

Leave your suggestions in the comments section below…

This week you can win a copy of ‘Chelsea FC – Champions of Europe 2012’ on DVD!

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Extras include exclusive interviews with Chelsea’s top stars, Frank Lampard, Gary Cahill and Petr Cech, a tribute to Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and highlights of the victory parade.

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Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed that Wayne Rooney will return to the Manchester United starting line-up for the Champions League clash with Otelul Galati on Tuesday night.

The in-form attack was surprisingly left on the bench for the Premier League champions’ 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday, as the Scottish coach felt that his international ban for England was playing on his mind.

Despite this, Rooney will play in the fixture in Romania, after being desperate to feature at Anfield.

“He’ll be playing tomorrow,” Ferguson declared in a pre-match press conference.

“When the initial news came through it was a definite blow for him. He didn’t expect that. None of us did.

“It was a silly action but it wasn’t seriously dangerous. When he realised getting a three-match ban meant missing all the games for England and might not be involved at all, it is not easy to qualify in major championships, that resonated in Wayne’s mind.

“But actually, when he came on he was quite bubbly. He was full of energy and enthusiasm.

“He was desperate to get on, which is good. When he was sat watching the game he probably said, ‘Christ I could be out there’,” Ferguson concluded.

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Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand will not feature against the Romanian champions, as he is being rested for the clash with Manchester City this Sunday.

Nemanja Vidic, who has missed all but one game of the campaign so far this term, is in line for a return however, after recovering from a calf problem.

By Gareth McKnight

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Bolton midfielder Mark Davies has signed a new deal with the team that will keep him at Reebok Stadium until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Davies joined Bolton from Wolves in 2009 and has established himself as a key part of Owen Coyle’s first team this term, making 25 appearances.

Coyle spoke of his delight at Davies’ contract extension as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for European football.

“Mark was already under contract but what this shows is that we are trying to build a football club for years to come,” Coyle said.

“The nucleus is centred around young, exciting players and Mark certainly comes into that category.”

“He is enjoying an extended run in the team at the moment and he is showing his qualities. To have a player of his ilk commit his long-term future to the football club is a tremendous boost.”

Bolton have already tied up some important players on long-term deals this season, including Fabrice Muamba, Lee Chung-yong, Stuart Holden and striker Danny Ward, and Davies said he felt his new contract was a vote of confidence from Coyle.

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“I’m really pleased to have signed a new contract,” Davies said.

“The football club has been good to me since I moved here two years ago and I’m really settled in the area. The manager believes in me and I feel like I’m part of his plans.”

Despite claims that the Premier League is in dire straits with its finances and wages are spiralling out of control.  An in depth look into Deloitte’s report actually shows the Premier League is running rather well.

Firstly the Premier League’s turnover sits at an incredibly £2 billion. If we compare that with Italy’s Serie A or Spain’s La Liga, there is a £500 million gap in revenue. La Liga and Serie A are currently turning over somewhere in the region of £1.5 billon. In order to compete at the highest level the Premier League has put good use to this high revenue, by giving the players more money. Now to the average man on the street that sounds atrocious. Part of me takes his point too, but stick with me and I shall give you reasons why it’s working.

Firstly why is the Premier League arguably the best league in the world? Well one of the main reasons is the quality of players. The best players in the world play or wish to play in England. This isn’t because they want to enjoy the Manchester rain. It’s money. It is sad it has got to this, but it’s where we are at so we should accept it. The rise in dominance of the Premier League in the Champions League is all down to the increase in wages. The Premier League with its massive turnover can now spend much more to secure the best talent in the world.

I haven’t heard many fans complaining at the standard of football in the Premier League recently. That’s because it is the best in the world. The best things cost money. Furthermore if the Premier League is turning over £2 billion a year I would rather see the majority of that money in the pocket of the player rather than the fat cats sat upstairs. The players are the game. They create every goal, tackle, pass, free kick and corner that makes us coo so obediently. Their talent is a rarity and in the market rarity breeds value.

What also must be remembered is that the 67% of all turnover being spent on wages by Premier League clubs is not too alarming when compared to the continent. France and Italy both have higher ratios in the 70% region of wages to turnover. Spain is currently running at 67% also. So compared to the rest of Europe the Premier League is not haemorrhaging money on wages at ridiculous rates. In fact we are less than rivals. The Premier League’s profit last season was £79 million. Serie A produced figures of £116 million in the red and France’s Ligue 1 £64 million. So next time you hear Platini telling us how the English games finances need sorting out, tell him to look in his backyard first.

Ignore his and Sepp Blatter’s attempts at bringing in a fair play system in finances. It’s not revolutionary and will do little to change or help the game. If anything it’s bad for the fan and doesn’t create more competition. The basic idea would be that clubs could only spend in line with their revenue rates. So who would be able to spend the most money on players and salaries? Erm Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. They currently have the highest revenue streams in the UK. Lots of change there then for competition. Additionally and more worryingly for the fan, clubs may increase ticket prices, merchandise, etc in order to raise their revenue streams so they could spend more money. That idea is really not helpful for football.

So where could we cut some money out of football and give the clubs some breathing place? You don’t have to look at the players. It’s agents. I came across an amazing statistic yesterday that 36% of all transfer money in 2008/09 in the Premier League went into the pockets of agents. That totals to £80 million. For myself I find that more shocking than the players wages. The Premier League has come into stick for running at only £79 million profit considering the £2 billion turnover. Get rid of agents or minimise their earnings to double that instantly. The £80 million drain on clubs over transfers could make substantial savings.  I don’t understand that if a player is bought by a Premier League club for £10 million why a chaperone has to be paid £2-3 million?! Let’s eradicate that from our game first and foremost to save some money.

There are some worrying numbers in the Deloitte report, particularly for the Championship and Football League who are running at wages being a staggering 90% and 80% of turnover respectively. The Football League needs to take steps to bring this down. The Premier League on the other hand is still healthy and providing some of the best football in the world. Long may that continue. The problems seen at Liverpool, West Ham and of course Portsmouth are nothing to do with players wages, it has been the complete mismanagement of finances by the owners. Portsmouth’s staggering wage bill doesn’t come from player’s demands, they should have signed less players or individuals whose wage demands would have sat with their budgets.

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Listen to the debate I had on Sky News last night on this very subject below.

It’s that time of the year again when all the ups, downs, heartbreak and passion come rushing back to a football fan.

Hopefully this time it is Sheffield United’s year. With a range of new signings, cracking youngsters and a below par league, there is no reason why not.

John Cofie, Nick Blackman, Darryl Westlake, Tony McMahon, Matt Hill and Shaun Miller have all been added to the ranks with a mix of youth and experience already in the team with have a very good chance of returning to where we belong.

But even with six new signings coming in our best bit of business this summer was renewing the contract of Kevin McDonald who was instrumental in our 3rd place finish last season. The former Burnley man was a vital player last season with his pin-point passing and amazing football brain which makes him unmissable. When he plays well, we play well.

Our first summer arrival was Premier League wonderkid John Cofie who signed on a loan deal from Manchester United. He has joined until January when his loan move will be reviewed by Sir Alex and then he will make a decision if he can stay for the remainder of the season. Cofie brings with him blistering pace and an eye for goal.

The second summer recruitment was Darryl Westlake from Walsall who was signed just days after we sold Matty Lowton to Aston Villa. Westlake looks like a suitable replacement for Lowson and he bring an attacking side to our game just like Matt did.

When we returned from Malta we made a treble signing in Shaun Miller, Matt Hill and Tony McMahon. Miller has joined from Crewe for a fee around 65k and he possesses decent pace which is what we lacked last season in the rest of our strikers. McMahon joins on a free from Middlesbrough; he’s a naturally gifted player who has already proven his attacking intent after a scorcher on his debut against Morecombe in pre-season. Most ‘Boro fans will be sad to see him go as he is at least Championship quality. Matt Hill is a familiar face at Bramall Lane after he enjoyed a successful loan spell last season and to me he shone in the last three games in the run and personally I’m happy to see him back at the lane

The last of our summer purchases so far is Nick Blackman from Blackburn who joins with an undisclosed fee. He, just like, Cofie has blistering pace and made the perfect start with a debut goal on Saturday during out Capital one Cup exit to Burton. With both Cofie and Porter injury doubts for Saturday’s season opener against Shrewbury, Blackman will be raring to open his account in the league.

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The signings this summer are proving we mean business this coming season and if we can keep hold of key players like Quinn, Maguire and Doyle we can once again push for the long awaited promotion back to the Championship.

Feel free to follow me on twitter @jakkUTBveall 

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For someone who has won almost everything there is to win domestically, and been nominated for the Ballon d’Or (coming only second to Ronaldinho), who all would agree was a different class of player at the time, Frank Lampard could be more than justified to act like a ‘big-time Charlie’, or at the very least demand the adulation he deserves from football fans.

Yet here is someone who divides fans more than most players, with the less intelligent football fans amongst us repeating over and over again that Lampard is an over-rated, over-paid and overweight player, who did not deserve the recognition he has achieved over a long career, does not deserve a place in the national team or the Chelsea midfield and the goals he is renowned for scoring from midfield were merely deflections, lucky shots or penalties. If this is the case, then twenty plus deflections a season must mean Lampard is one of the luckiest players ever to exist on a footballing field.

Lampard broke the record for the highest number of consecutive appearances for an outfield player, and has been ever-present in the Chelsea midfield over the last seven seasons – a midfield that under Mourinho was undoubtedly one of the best in the world. When Jose Mourinho arrived at Stamford Bridge, he told Lampard that whilst he was a great player, under his management, he was going to become world class, the complete midfielder. Jose was right, and Lampard has gone on to become a lynchpin in the Chelsea line up, and a major reason for their success.

Whilst Chelsea fans recognise this, and give Lampard the love and recognition that he deserves, fans of the national team have never quite taken to Lampard, and the player has been made a scapegoat for the failings of the ‘golden generation’ on more than one occasion.

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Even the most ardent of Lampard’s supporters would admit he has never quite delivered his best form for the national team, and there has been a difference from the Lampard seen at Stamford Bridge to the Lampard on display at Wembley. However, this has been the case for many English players, none more so than Liverpool talisman Steven Gerrard, who despite struggling in an England shirt has never been berated and criticised by fans to the same level as Lampard.

There are many who feel that Lampard and Gerrard are too similar to play together and this is the reason why both fail when starting in the same eleven, and if a choice was to be made Gerrard should be the clear victor. Yet when Gerrard has started without Lampard, he has still not shone to the degree expected. The problems England had, and still face are far more complex than managers playing Lampard and Gerrard together, and the attitude, mentality and lack of spirit being huge issues within the national team.

The young crop of players emerging now more than warrant their place in the team, with older hands such as Scott Parker and Gareth Barry also in excellent form and making a solid claim to the starting line-up, it is more difficult than ever for Lampard to break into the national team. After being dropped against Bulgaria – something that came as a shock to the player who had been training as part of what was widely assumed to be the first eleven all week, there were whispers Lampard’s international career looked over.

Lampard returned to the starting line-up against Wales a week later, and put in a solid performance, yet did not last the 90 minutes and again came in for criticism from certain sections of the fan base.

Lampard has never been one to give up, spurred on in his club career by the abuse at West Ham and then England fans Frank has let his career blossom, and played an unimaginable amount of consecutive games, even taking a penalty in the Champion’s League Semi Final against Liverpool, just days after his beloved mother had passed away. Players of such character and heart do not give up.

There is much to come from Frank Lampard , and he is not the type of player to turn his back on anything. In reality he will relish the challenge. Whilst a place in the starting line up during Euro 2012, when he is a year older and younger players like Jack Wilshire and Tom Cleverley are a year more experienced, may be unlikely, a place in the squad is not. Lampard has invaluable experience and can rise to the plate when the game is at its toughest. As team mate and friend John Terry stated, ‘write Lampard off at your peril.’

 Article courtesy of Rebecca Knight on This is Futbol

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Porto continued their march to the Liga Sagres title with a 2-0 win over Braga on Sunday, while Benfica beat Vitoria Guimaraes.

Braga finished second last season to qualify for the Champions League and were one of the few teams who may have been expected to trouble Porto.

But the runaway leaders made it eight wins from their last eight matches to stay 11 points clear at the top of the table.

The hosts kept Porto out in the opening 45 minutes at the Estadio municipal de Baga, but a second-half brace from Argentine Nicolas Otamendi helped Porto to a straightforward victory.

The defeat leaves Braga sixth and in danger of going from the Champions League group stages to missing out on European football altogether next season.

Benfica continued their seemingly doomed title defence with a 3-0 win at home to fourth-placed Vitoria Guimaraes.

Brazilian Sidnei struck first in the 24th minute at the Estadio da Luz, before former Valencia man Pablo Aimar and Carlos Martins completed the scoring.

Naval beat Academica 3-1 at Estadio Municipal Jose Bento Pessoa to climb off the foot of the table with just their third win of the season.

Visitors Academica got off to a disastrous start when Pape Habib Sow was sent off after giving away a penalty in the 21st minute.

Kevin Gomis converted from the spot to give Naval the lead.

Michel Simplicio struck to double the hosts’ advantage five minutes before the break.

A second-half comeback appeared to be on the cards when Gomis fouled inside the box and followed Sow in making an early exit.

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Moudou Sougou dispatched the penalty to make it 2-1 six minutes into the second half.

But Academica were unable to find another breakthrough and Giuliano struck to ease the nerves for Naval with three minutes remaining.

Portimonense slid to last place after losing 2-0 away to Rio Ave, with Joeo Tomas and Yazalde Pinto finding the net for the hosts.

A last-minute goal from Venezuelan Mario Rondon helped Pacos de Ferreira beat Maritimo 1-0.