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SunSport columnists answering hard hitting questions
Topic Started: Jan 1 2013, 05:22 AM (83 Views)
Homer
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WELCOME to 2013 and what promises to be one of the most exciting years in football.

We have asked SunSport columnists TERRY VENABLES, HARRY REDKNAPP, IAN WRIGHT and ALAN SHEARER give their thoughts on the big issues over the next 12 months.


Who will win this season’s Premier League title and why?


VENABLES: MANCHESTER UNITED. They have a seven-point lead at the top of the table over their ‘noisy neighbours’ at the moment.

And while I don’t think their eventual winning margin will be as much as that, I still think they will hold on to top spot under pressure from City.

REDKNAPP: MANCHESTER UNITED will be champions. I’ve thought it from day one, even though they are not achieving the kind of football or performances they have done in past seasons.

But the signing of Robin van Persie has made all the difference. It’ll be close this year as there are plenty of teams with plenty of quality but United will see it through.

WRIGHT: MANCHESTER UNITED. They were only just pipped last season in the last minute on the last day.

But they now have Robin van Persie up front, who is an incredible player. He could tip the balance for United in the race against City.

SHEARER: I SAID Manchester City at the start of the season and I am not going to change my mind now.

I know Manchester United are playing the best at the minute but they can still look vulnerable at the back.

And I think that, like last season. there are still plenty of twists to come.


Will Alex Ferguson start the 2013-14 season as Man Utd boss?

VENABLES: I BELIEVE he will. I just can’t see him leaving. Despite turning 71 yesterday, Fergie has shown in the last week or so that he still has the fight and passion for the job — just ask Alan Pardew or Mike Dean about that.

And he does not take kindly to younger managers trying to muscle in on his territory.

REDKNAPP: YES. I believe he will. You can see from his body language — and other kinds of language — that he is still so passionate about football!

I don’t see anything from him to suggest he will be retiring. He is not ready for slippers yet, despite being in his 70s.

WRIGHT: I BELIEVE he will. As long as United keep on winning, I am sure Fergie will retain his appetite for being in charge at Old Trafford.

And that is good news for every supporter of Manchester United — and bad news for everybody else.

SHEARER: WELL, he certainly hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down in the last week or so, has he?

Maybe if he regains the Premier League title from City he will see that as the perfect way to go out. But I think he still has plenty left to give.


Who’ll win the Champions League and how far will Man Utd and Arsenal go?

VENABLES: YOU can’t look too far beyond Lionel Messi and Barcelona, who have both been in such imperious form of late.

However, German champions Borussia Dortmund are my dark horses. Both United and Arsenal will find it very difficult to get through the next round.

REDKNAPP: THE two Spanish giants and Bayern Munich are the standout teams left in. The fact Madrid are doing so poorly domestically will drive them on in Europe.

We’ll be lucky to see the English clubs through to the quarters. United v Madrid could be spectacular, Arsenal have it all to do against an exceptional Bayern side.

WRIGHT: I AM going with Barcelona. Last season, they missed out against Chelsea and will badly want to put that right.

It will be very hard for Arsenal against Bayern Munich, who are tearing it up in Germany. I back Manchester United to beat Real and they could go all the way to the final.

SHEARER: SPANISH giants Barcelona are still the benchmark for every club in the world to aspire to — despite their surprise failure against Chelsea in the semi-finals last season.

I can see Manchester United beating Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid and reaching the semi-finals. But Arsenal will be out next round to German powerhouses Bayern Munich.


Would you like to see Jose Mourinho back as a Premier League manager?

VENABLES: I THINK everybody, probably including the man himself, would love to see The Special One back in the English game.

The Premier League is widely touted as the best domestic league in the world and I agree.

So it should have the best managers in the world, and Mourinho is certainly one of those.

REDKNAPP: YES. He is a great character, great manager. He recently said he wants to win the European Cup with Madrid before he leaves. If he does leave, few clubs could accommodate him but the two Manchester teams spring to mind. And you get the feeling England remains a special place for The Special One.

WRIGHT: YES, I would. I think Mourinho is a wonderful character. Every single Press conference he is involved in is nothing if not entertaining.

He is the Special One. He has that X-factor. And English football can never have too much of that. Maybe he could return to Chelsea...

SHEARER: YES, the Portuguese man-o-war was a major loss when he left the Premier League.

And I think his return to these shores would help the league to bring in a lot more quality players to our country. He is box-office gold when it comes to quotes as well.


Which young star is your player to watch in 2013?

VENABLES: I AM going to go for Oscar. The Brazilian midfielder, 21, has made an excellent start for Chelsea since arriving from Internacional for £25million last summer — and I am expecting big things from him in the months ahead.

REDKNAPP: TIKA MUSONDA at Chelsea. You probably haven’t heard of him yet but you will. He is a Belgian defender-come-midfielder who is about to turn 19. And I hear he has got loads of potential. Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany tells me Belgium have very high hopes for this youngster.

WRIGHT: HE may be plying his trade in the Championship but my young player of the season so far is Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace. It is great to see such talent at my old club. He will be in the Premier League next season — with Palace or someone else.

SHEARER: I HAVE been impressed with 21-year-old centre-half Steven Caulker at Tottenham. He has done his apprenticeship with loan spells at the likes of Yeovil, Bristol City and Swansea and worked his way through the England ranks. A real one to watch.


Which Championship challenger would you like to see in the Premier League?

VENABLES: CARDIFF have been knocking on the door for the past few years and deserve a seat at the big table as much as anyone. And I would like to see my old club Crystal Palace join them in the top flight next season.

REDKNAPP: THERE are some big teams up there at the moment and I like the look of Leicester City. Maybe they need to win more games, even though they don’t lose many. Middlesbrough are another big club who would not look out of place in the Prem.

WRIGHT: CARDIFF. I think they have had a few good attempts and they have an excellent manager in Malky Mackay. The club deserves their crack at the bigtime. But I would also love to see Palace in the Premier League.

SHEARER: I WOULD like to see Middlesbrough back so we can have three top-flight teams in the North East again. That is given the other two stay up! Tony Mowbray is doing a top job there and they are well placed for an automatic promotion push.


Will England qualify for the the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil?

VENABLES: YES, we will be there for the party in Rio in 2014. We are second in the group behind Montenegro and we can’t afford too many more draws. But we always seem to pull it out of the bag in qualifying.

REDKNAPP: YES, I should blooming well hope so anyway! If they don’t, then we have serious problems. Qualification for major tournaments should be considered routine for England given the quality of the players we have at our disposal. The hard part begins once they get to major finals.

WRIGHT: YES, they will. Roy Hodgson’s boys are not topping their group at the moment. But I am sure, with the quality we have, they will come through in the end and finish in first place, so avoiding the play-offs.

SHEARER: I THINK we will qualify but end up doing it the hard way — through the play-offs. The problem for Roy Hodgson and his boys will come when we get to Brazil. We will really struggle as we are still a long way off being a world force.


What is your biggest sporting wish for the New Year?

VENABLES: FOOTBALL-WISE, I wish the authorities would clamp down on defenders manhandling attackers at set-pieces. The black arts of defending are getting beyond a joke now. The Premier League is becoming more like NFL or basketball than football.

REDKNAPP: TO SEE a swift end to all the personal and vicious abuse that seems to pour down from the terraces these days. Let’s give it a rest, eh, and enjoy the football?

WRIGHT: I WOULD love to see Arsenal win the Premier League title. It would be the ultimate. But I know it is a long shot (80-1, Wrighty!)

SHEARER: THAT football gets a bit of its credibility back. There is no doubt 2012 was a huge year for sport and there were great moments in football. But the sport’s name suffered with the problems over racism — and that needs to be sorted out.


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AntMcfc
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Homer
Jan 1 2013, 05:22 AM
VENABLES: FOOTBALL-WISE, I wish the authorities would clamp down on defenders manhandling attackers at set-pieces. The Bblack arts of defending are getting beyond a joke now. The Premier League is becoming more like NFL or basketball than football.
Like basketball, that non contact sport where it's a foul to touch someone, yeh?
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