Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 1/10/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to.

Pic Courtesy of Odds Life

Sergio Aguero could have landed himself in hot water after claiming that foreign players are treated more harshly by referees in England.

When asked if he believed that match officials are more wary of giving penalties where foreign players are involved, he replied “Maybe, yes.”

"Here in England, there are almost as many foreign players as English players, and it's not right that some have a privilege that others don't." 

The Argentinian was speaking after Manchester City’s 2-1 win at Fulham, where his counterparts Carlos Tevez and Pablo Zabaleta both had penalty appeals waved away.

Meanwhile, Tottenham gaffer Andre Villas-Boas was left to reflect on “making history” following his side’s 3-2 victory at Old Trafford.

This was Spurs’ first win at the ground in 23 years, as goals from Jan Vertonghen, Gareth Bale and Clint Dempsey took the spoils in a pulsating encounter.

Villas Boas said: "We spoke about making history at half-time.

"We knew we would be under pressure. The team excelled themselves."

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has moved quickly to dispel rumours of a row with Darren Bent.

The England striker has already been stripped of the captaincy this season, and was dropped to the bench for Sunday’s West Midlands’ derby against West Brom - although he did come on to score the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

"I just thought for this given game this was the right team," Lambert said. "I need everybody to perform.

"I don't think Darren Bent has got anything to prove to me or the outside world, everybody knows he's a proven goalscorer," he added.

Former FA chairman Lord Triesman believes his former employers have let black players down, following their handling of the John Terry alleged racism case.

He said: "I really think as you look around the country and talk to black players, what you will find is they respect him as a player, but they really feel let down because they don't feel the line has been drawn clearly enough."

The Chelsea defender was found guilty of using racially aggravated language towards QPR man Anton Ferdinand by an independent FA hearing, resulting in a seemingly meagre punishment when compared to other footballing ‘crimes’ – a four-match ban and £220,000 fine.

Dutch midfielder Evander Sno has suffered a second heart attack on the pitch.

Sno was playing for NEC against Feyenoord when disaster struck, and he was able to walk off the pitch, although he was kept in hospital overnight for observation.

Luckily, the former Celtic man had a defibrillator fitted following his first cardiac arrest whilst playing for Ajax Reserves in 2010, and has been left fairly unscathed by the incident.

Route One's Daily Football News Round-Up - 18/9/2012

We find the latest football news stories making the headlines, so you don’t have to. 

Picture Courtesy of SOS 1878

Everton boss David Moyes was left fuming after two controversial decisions denied his team victory against Newcastle last night.

After seeing legitimate strikes from Victor Anichebe and Marouane Fellaini ruled out, the Scot was left to rue what might have been following the 2-2 draw at Goodison Park.

"I said [to the referee] 'you have missed two goals'. But what can I do about it? We played very well and should have won the game deservedly but didn't."

Manchester City have been given a timely boost with the news that Sergio Aguero is set to return from injury.

Citeh begin their Champions League campaign against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu tonight, and will welcome the Argentinian striker back after a month out with a knee injury.

Across Manchester now and United defender Patrice Evra has returned to full training, and is in contention to start in his side’s Champions League opener against Galatasaray.

Evra missed United’s 4-0 romp against Wigan through injury, and his return to fitness will prompt a selection headache for Sir Alex Ferguson, who would have been impressed with Dutchman Alexander Buttner’s debut in the same game.

Arsene Wenger meanwhile has admitted for the first time that Theo Walcott could leave the Emirates in the near future.

The England winger is out of contract at the end of the season, and so far talks over a new deal have not proven fruitful. 

"Clearly it is a worry," Wenger said. "We are still in a position where we hope Theo extends his contract.” This news will no doubt interest managers across the country.

An Argentinean Premier Division game had to be delayed by over ten minutes when a group of hooligans tried to enter the field of play.

The incident – which happened during the second half of the Velez Sarsfield v River Plate tie – is the latest episode of football-related violence in the country. It is believed that eleven people have died in Argentina this year in fan-based feuds.

What Have We Learnt From the Opening Round of Premier League Games?

So the first week of the football season brought thrills, spills and plenty of goals. We're looking forward to the next 37 now!

It may be early days of course, but here's what we have learnt so far about how the campaign looks set to shape up:

Norwich are bang in trouble

Not that we enjoy being the harbingers of doom, but we did feel that the Canaries would struggle this term. They had a great season last time round, but much of that can be attributed to the now departed Paul Lambert. 

Similarly, it is hard to see Grant Holt having the same forceful impact as he did last campaign. Fulham may have looked lively, but in truth Norwich were ripped to shreds by a side tipped for mid-table obscurity. Expect a tricky nine months for Chris Hughton’s boys. 

Swansea are ready to surprise their critics

Here at Route One we – amongst many others – tipped the Swans to struggle. They’d lost their charismatic leader and brought in a managerial unknown in Michael Laudrup. QPR, their opponents, had invested heavily in new players during the summer. There was only one outcome, surely?

A 5-0 drubbing later, and the Swans were singing in the valleys well into the night. New Spanish sensation Michu scored twice and also hit the woodwork, and the platform for the beautiful game that Brendan Rodgers had put into place was well and truly continued at Loftus Road.

Liverpool and Arsenal are both works in progress

You couldn’t accuse either Arsene Wenger or Brendan Rodgers of putting their respective feet up this summer and taking it easy. The Frenchman may have lost his prized possession in Robin Van Persie, and the improving Alex Song by the looks of things, but he hasn’t rested on his laurels. He’s brought in Podolski, Giroud and Santi Cazorla, who put in a really eye-catching display in Saturday’s goalless draw with Sunderland.

Rodgers, on the other hand, has been tasked with reintroducing the silky football he developed at Swansea to the Anfield faithful, who have had to sit through the more ‘direct’ approach employed by ‘King’ Kenny Dalglish. 

And following the Reds’ 3-0 spanking at the hands of WBA, we have to surmise that this is very much a long-term project, rather than an overnight fix.

QPR need to bolster their defence. And fast

The transfer window slams shut in around 11 days time, and it will be painfully obvious to Mark Hughes, his coaching staff, the Loftus Road faithful and the players themselves that defensive reinforcements are required. Messrs Ferdinand, Onouha, Fabio and Hill were torn apart by the pace and trickery of Wayne Routledge and Nathan Dyer, as well as the midfield guile of Michu. 

The Hoops have brought in Jose ‘Eyebrow’ Bosingwa, but expect more to follow if Hughes’s men are to meet their pre-season expectations.

Hazard lights up Chelsea

A £32 million price tag would put a lot of pressure on most 21-year-olds, but it seemed on Saturday that young Eden has taken it in his stride. Despite an indifferent Community Shield the week before, Hazard lit up the DW Stadium with his inventive attacking play. 

We also got a glimpse of Oscar, and there was enough on show to suggest Chelsea could be right in the title race until Christmas at least.

Southampton aren’t just here to make up the numbers

The Man City and Southampton encounter on Sunday was a real crowd pleaser. Plenty of goals, plenty of endeavour and plenty of fancy footwork. And most notably – it wasn’t all from the team in light blue.

Nigel Adkins made a couple of bold decisions – leaving last season’s top scorer Rickie Lambert being the chief one – but what the Saints turned in was a gutsy, flowing performance that suggests they’ll be a handful for plenty of sides this season.

Same old, same old for Man City

And City did what City do well – get the three points when their backs are against the wall. Going 2-1 down to the Saints wasn’t on the agenda, but they did what all good champions do – fight back and get what turned out to be an unlikely victory. The injury to Sergio Aguero aside, things look ominous for the rest of the Premier League this season.

And what about Manchester United? They will be absolutely desperate to get one of their centre halves fit again, after witnessing Michael Carrick getting demolished by Marouane Fellaini in the air for Everton’s winner. And can they get at least two of Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck into the same starting line-up? Only time will tell...

Whatever happens, stay tuned to Route One for all of the latest football betting banter, tips and news.