Torres has a smile on his face after scoring his 4th goal of the season

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Fernando Torres likely woke up in a good mood this week after scoring his fourth goal of the season while playing in the Chelsea and Wolves match. The final score of the match came out at 6-0, but it turns out that this may not have been enough for his club.

While he may be floating high, it appears that Chelsea is not yet sure about him as they are getting ready to place a very hefty £45m bid on Radamel Falcao. The news that the team is looking for another strong striker is likely not the news that Torres would have wanted.

Chelsea of course knows that Falcao would be a heck of a striker as the 26 year old really showed off his skills during the Super Cup final of last month. He was able to score a 4-1 victory over Madrid putting in a show worth paying top dollar for.

In addition, while playing in Atletico he was able to score a total of 36 goals in only 49 different appearances last season. After this grand season Chelsea has their eye on the Colombian with goals to transfer him over by the close of January.

The Terry case brings other issues to the fore

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The FA’s role as a selector of the national side, and a governing body at the same time, has been relieved by the Terry case with the captain of Chelsea claiming that conflict made it impossible for him to be selected to play for England. Many would argue that the situation is actually reversed, but since it is hard to narrow down the Wembley separation of powers this is an issue that is causing a lot of problems for the FA.

Disciplinary measures have always caused discontent among players, and therefore it is not very surprising that the Premier League has always been happy to leave these types of matters up to the FA to handle. However, over the last few years since Lord Burns first brought the topic up since 2005, there have been calls for the FA to create an independent disciplinary chapter so that there are no claims of bias.

The FA has firmly resisted this idea and it is likely that it will resist again in the Terry case although Terry will likely believe that all of the charges against him are the result of a FA agenda. David Bernstein, the Chairman, has not yet made a public comment regarding the Terry case because he does not want it to appear that he is interfering with the disciplinary hearings.

Darren Bailey, the head of governance for the FA, ultimately is the person that decided to bring charges against Terry as he was not connected to the Club England set-up.

Work to start on new Man City academy within weeks

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Manchester City has said that within the next few weeks work will start on their new football academy. The development is to include the construction of 16 training pitches and a 7,000- seater stadium solely for youth matches.

They are also to build community facilities and a sixth form college on the 80 acre site which is next to the Etihad Stadium. The club has chosen as its construction partner BAM Construction, with work expected to be finished in time for the 2014/15 season. Local people will get most of the jobs created.

Ferran Soriano, the Chief Executive, believes this is important for the future of the football club. The club has a central strategy develop young and home-grown players as a way of creating a winning team as well as a sustainable football club. This ambition was outlined in September 2008 by Sheikh Mansour when he bought the club. The club believes that after four years when they have been researching and planning they are in a position to execute the plan. They are pleased to be joining with BAM who will play a large part in the strategy.

Patrick Viera, football development executive for Manchester City, has said how vital it is to invest in the players of the future. He believes it is very important to have a project to develop young players for five or ten years’ time.

A bridge will link Etihad stadium to the academy which will feature facilities for the first team, including an injury and rehab centre, changing rooms, gym and refectory. There is also to be accommodation available on site for both junior and senior players.

 

Hillsborough report finally exonerates Liverpool fans

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Following the publication of a report into the Hillsborough disaster, English fans’ behaviour will be under the microscope for the next few games following calls to put a stop to sickening chants at games. The report which was released on Wednesday found Liverpool fans blameless for the 1989 FA Cup semi-final crush which killed 96 of the supporters. The report was widely welcomed although the club is still mocked by rival fans with hateful songs and chants.

A few fans from Manchester United sing about the Hillsborough disaster while some supporters from Liverpool gloat over the Munich air crash in 1958 which decimated the Manchester United team.

Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool manager, hopes that the independent panel’s findings would put a stop to the taunts. Rodgers told Liverpool’s website that he does not like to hear anything which associates tragedy and death to other people. He is saddened by the minority who attempt to smear the reputation of a club. Ferguson, manager of Manchester United, echoed the views of Rodgers. On Friday the Premier League said that the handshake between the teams which happens before the match will go ahead.

In November Chelsea were compelled to condemn some of their supporters after they chanted songs about Ferdinand in Belgium during a Champions League game: both clubs have since warned their supporters to behave. The Queens Park Rangers’ website published a reminder on Thursday about fan’s behaviour whilst on Chelsea’s website they sad that abuse and discrimination has no place in any football stadium.

Both Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers are going to work together with the police ensuring that anyone who uses inflammatory or discriminatory language on Saturday will be identified. The strongest possible action will then be taken against them, it was revealed in a statement.

 

Manager and players from Bolton pay tribute to the courage of Muamba

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Owen Coyle, manager of Bolton, believes that the strength and courage displayed by Fabrice Muamba in his young life will give him a good base for he moves on from football. Fabrice suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during an FA Cup tie at White Hart Lane on March 17.

Following this he had 15 electric shocks while still on the pitch during the time that paramedics were trying to revive him. Doctors revealed later that the ex-England under-21 midfielder’s heart stopped for 78 minutes.

As Fabrice made a remarkable recovery in hospital he received messages of support from all walks of life. Coyle feels that the 24-year-old will have gained strength through this battle as well as his young life when he had to flee war-torn Zaire, where he was born and is now renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo. Coyle believes he was born to be successful in whatever he does.

Striker and captain of Bolton, Kevin Davies, also paid tribute to Muamba saying that he holds him in the highest regard, both professionally and personally. He said that he is sure that Fabrice will be disappointed that he will not be able to play; the team was hoping he would somehow get back. Davies went on to say that he is a great guy to spend time with.

Davies sent him a text of support when he heard the news, advising him to take positive steps towards his future. He said that the club and his team mates will support him in his next journey when he decides what he wants to do. Davies said that he is very bright and sensible.