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Aston Villa and England winger Ashley Young’s optimum playing position has been debated fervently in recent weeks. Former manager Martin O’Neill used the right-footed winger on the left flank and even once described him as, “world class.” At 25-years old it may seem peculiar to have your regular playing position scrutinised. Yet both caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald and now permanent boss Gerard Houllier have experimented with the speedy Young. Given licence to roam can Young become an enduring fixture in the England squad and “make his name,” as Houllier has suggested?

MacDonald gave Young the freedom to oscillate between both wings in the early stages of the season and Houllier has stated that the player can excel as a second striker. O’Neill had argued that Young could compete with some of the best wingers in Europe. When quizzed on that assertion the new manager said, “As a left winger? No. He can play on the wing. Whether he can be one of the best in the world in that position … I think he can be one of the best in another position.” Evidently for the Frenchman that new role is behind a main striker where he can create chances and score more regularly for Villa. His view is not merely based on instinct as he witnessed the impact made by Young after switching positions in their Carling Cup victory over Blackburn. Trailing to Gael Givet’s first half strike, a change of tactics ensued as the England international was moved inside to support Emile Heskey. The two combined well, Young scoring two after the former international forward grabbed the equaliser.

Aston Villa’s No7 was granted an identical role just behind the resurgent Heskey in their weekend away win at Molineaux. But as an experienced winger, those wide man traits may be hard to desert as he invariably drifted to either wing which is where he attempted the bulk of his passes. Could the club miss his quick, direct approach on the wing? Accolades such as the PFA Young Player of the Year award for the 2008/09 season were received after impressing in that berth. He has been at his best when tormenting lackadaisical full backs such as, Arsenal’s Gael Clichy last season, managing to wriggle free and deliver numerous crosses. However earlier this year Young said of his markers, “At times this season teams have doubled up or even tripled up.”

Houllier believes the midfielder has a natural intelligence and awareness on the pitch and is composed in front of goal. This may point to a central role which would give him and the team a much needed air of unpredictability. Having placed a huge emphasis on pace, crossing and strong forwards, this is a trait the club have lacked, occasionally struggling to destabilise defences. Following James Milner’s departure there is arguably a dearth of creative talent in the centre and the team were outscored by their rivals for fourth place last season. Villa’s total goal tally was 52 whilst Manchester City registered 73, Tottenham 67 and Liverpool 61. Promising youngsters such as Marc Albrighton and Barry Bannan can take the place vacated by Young.

Since taking charge, however, Houllier has not had Stephen Ireland available who will be expected to compete for a central creative position. Young may have the attributes to succeed in that role but his redeployment is arguably about team rather than individual improvement. The former Liverpool manager said, “He can be a star as a team player. It’s his work rate and attitude that can improve the rest of the team.”

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There is an overriding feeling among many Arsenal fans that Arsene Wenger’s time at the club is up. Continued frustrations both on and off the pitch at the Emirates have certainly left much to be desired from a man who offered so much to the football club; and yet, the idea that Arsene Wenger is still highly coveted by almost every major club in Europe and could find a home at Real Madrid or PSG doesn’t quite sit well with Arsenal fans. There’s a sense of we don’t want him, but we don‘t anyone else to have him either. The irony being that every knows Wenger is still capable of pulling off equally impressive miracles at other clubs, much like he has done for Arsenal in the past.

In light of supporter unrest at both the Emirates and Real Madrid, there has, of course, been talk of Arsene Wenger replacing Jose Mourinho should the Madrid manager decide to leave at the end of the season. And despite the calls of “You don’t know what you’re doing” during Arsenal’s last game following an unpopular substitution, Arsenal fans immediately went on the defensive, hoping that Wenger won’t have has head turned by what’s on offer in Spain. For a lot of Arsenal fans there is still much faith in the Frenchman. Many feel he deserves to be given time to turn things around at the club and prove he is still the only man for the job. Yet the year-on-year frustration of a lack of trophies, watching the club’s best players walk out the door, and continued excuses for why the team are failing on the pitch has undoubtedly reached boiling point.

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It’s a feeling that most Arsenal fans, I’m sure, will admit, but turning on Arsene Wenger was never intended to be the way the story comes to and end. Many thought that eventually, following the success of the youth project and the number of trophies won with Cesc Fabregas still at the club, Wenger would simply call time on his managerial career, take up a seat in the boardroom at the Emirates and leave a lasting legacy for his successor to emulate what he has achieved on the pitch. But even at the age of 62, you sense that there is still a lot to be offered from Wenger—who continues to turn down advances from other clubs, particularly in his home country.

There would also be a bitterness from Arsenal fans if the unthinkable happened and he left for a club with endless riches and proceeded to splash the cash in a way we never thought possible. Well what of all the money that is apparently gathering dust deep in the vaults of the Emirates? Should fans blame Wenger for not wanting to strengthen the squad accordingly, or does the blame lie elsewhere at the club? Is Wenger solely responsible for not improving the quality of doctors and physios at the club to manage the worrying regularity of injury to key players? And what of the coaching staff who have seemingly out-stayed their welcome and offer nothing to the exposed frailties of the first-team. There are a number of questions that remain to be answered and Arsene Wenger is taking the full force of frustration from the fans.

It would be a tremendous shame if Arsene Wenger simply walked away at the end of the season with so much uncertainty surrounding the club. It would be equally heartbreaking if he went on to another club and found immediate success while Arsenal struggled to find it’s feet.

It is absolutely a time for change at the club, but I’d love to see what Arsene Wenger can offer the club with a boardroom who are a little more in-tune with what the fans want to see. A figure similar to that of David Dein would definitely not go amiss either; someone to just nudge Wenger in the direction that his sometimes admired stubbornness refuses to venture. Most will want to believe that the manager has still got it, but everyone wants to be shown that it is not him who is holding the club back.

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The trials and tribulations of Liverpool Football Club over the past few decades has certainly meant that the club has had its fair share of players that have adorned cult hero status. But what is a ‘cult’ hero though? It’s a difficult thing to define, but more often than not, it’s a player that rarely meets expectations yet is adored by the terraces for the rare occasions that he reminds us that he’s still a professional footballer. Full-blooded commitment to the cause, eccentric characters and the ability to do something unexpectedly and inexplicably out of character in its importance are often essential ingredients in making up a cult hero.

Here are a list of 10 that plied their trade for Liverpool at one time or another in no discernable order. If there is anyone that you think is more deserving of a place on this list than the ones that I’ve chosen? Post your comments below.

Click on the image below to see the Top 10 Liverpool Cult Heroes

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Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney insists he is 'only a human being', following a recent dip in form and damaging off-field allegations about his private life.

The 24-year-old England international is currently being troubled by an ankle injury, but insists that he will be back to his best in the near future.

He told reporters:"I'm only a human being. I hurt as well, but I need to get through this and get back to playing football the way I can do.

"I know I can play better, so I'm hoping to get a consistent run of games in the team. If I do that, I'm sure my form will be back to its best.

"When you're not playing at your best, you need to just continue playing and doing the simple things, then your form will come good.

"You always want to play well and give the manager no excuses to leave you out, but there are top players here, so you have to be at your best to keep your place.

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"If you're not, the manager has the players to leave you out. All footballers get left out at some stage, but I want to play every game.

"My performances could be better. I obviously missed pre-season and I've only played four or five games this season, but the more games that you play, the better your form will become, so I'm hoping to get a run of games."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Terry Henry was a sensation at Arsenal . He remains a Gunners’ legend. But to sign him on loan for a couple of months would be a mistake. Yes, he scored goals for fun and spearheaded us to glory many times, not least of all during the season we went unbeaten in the Premier League. At no point am I denying he was one of the best players we have ever had.

But cast your minds back to his last season with us and his attitude when things weren’t going as he would have liked. The strops. The raised eyes. The gestures. Since then, of course, he went on to play for Barca but didn’t really reproduce the amazing ability he showed in our colours, although he did manage to be top scorer with 19 goals in his first season at the Nou Camp. And a move to NYRB in the US MLS tells its own story.

I know we will be without Mazza Chama and the Gervster for a bit while they take part in the African Cup of Nations. The former is merely a squad player but valuable back-up should, Lord forbid, owt happen to RVP. The G-man is a threat with his pace and directness but doesn’t score enough goals.

I’d prefer Arseen Wenger to shuffle the pack and give the Oxo Kid his chance as opposed to bringing back a player who is 34 and past his best.

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For the record, our leader said of his thoughts on re-hiring Tel: “I have to think about that. Short term is ideal for us, but I haven’t made any enquiry yet. Thierry is not here at the moment. It has never come up in conversation. January 1 is the vital date for us. We have seven days to make decisions on players.”

By all means honour the great man with a statue. But allow his golden days in red and white to remain untarnished by a return that would hinder the progress of our young guns.

Written by Carl Eldridge for Arsenal Insider

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Borussia Dortmund may have to wait another week to lift the Bundesliga title if Bayer Leverkusen have their way again this weekend.Dortmund had to put the champagne on ice after falling at relegation-threatened Borussia Monchengladbach last Saturday, while Leverkusen defeated Hoffenheim.

That narrowed the gap between the top-placed club and their closest challenger to five points, ensuring Leverkusen’s slim hopes of stealing the trophy remained alive.

Dortmund can still clinch their first league title since 2002 if they defeat visiting Nurnberg and Leverkusen lose or draw at Cologne on Saturday, though on paper this appears unlikely.

Firstly, Nurnberg, sixth on the table, will be desperate for points as they attempt to wrest a Europa League berth from Mainz, who are two points away in fifth.

Secondly, Cologne are slumping abysmally in the run-in to the season’s end – losing five of their last seven – and will be under new direction from sporting director Volker Finke after coach Frank Schaefer ended his tenure early amid the spectre of death threats.

Earlier, St Pauli will fear taking a step closer to relegation on Friday when they visit Kaiserslautern, who sit mid-table with 37 points.

But the bottom-placed club can take some comfort in knowing Kaiserslautern have been less than spectacular at home, winning just one of their eight league fixtures at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.

Also on Friday, relegation-threatened Wolfsburg make the trip to the improved Werder Bremen, who have gone unbeaten through their last eight matches.

On Saturday, Hannover’s hopes of holding on to their Champions League berth will no doubt be lifted by a visit from second-bottom Monchengladbach, who are equal on points with St Pauli but still a chance of escaping the drop zone if they can pull out another unlikely victory.

Bayern Munich, one point behind Hannover and their main threat to third place, will welcome a bruised Schalke outfit still reeling from their 2-0 Champions League semi-final loss to Manchester United on Tuesday.

Mainz, who occupy the final Europe place on the table, welcome relegation-threatened Eintracht Frankfurt to the Stadion am Bruchweg in a match that could have dire implications for both.

Mainz may find themselves displaced by Nurnberg should the latter find a way past Dortmund, while Frankfurt could slip into the drop zone should Wolfsburg take the points at the Weserstadion.

Finally, seventh-placed Hamburg’s slim hopes of a Europe berth rest on a visit from Freiburg, two points behind in eighth, while mid-table sides Hoffenheim and Stuttgart battle it out at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Billy Clarke is pleased with the way the operation on his serious knee ligaments injury went but admits he is finding it very difficult to watch his Blackpool team-mates playing in the Premier League.

The 22-year-old was told his season was over after he suffered the injury just two minutes into the Seasiders' opening pre-season fixture against Tiverton.

"The lads have done brilliantly but I'm not too good at watching," Clarke admitted."Winning 4-0 at Wigan was great but in my head I just wanted to be out there.

"The operation went well, according to the surgeon, and I'm just on a slow rehab at the moment.

"I need to get my leg working and bending and to make sure I don't lose much muscle in my thigh area. That's probably the plan for the next six to eight weeks.

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"I need to get a full range of movement back in my knee and then I can hopefully start cycling. I'll probably be able to start light jogging a month after that."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Sunderland’s impressive start to life under Martin O’Neill continued at the DW Stadium as they moved into the top half of the Premier League with victory over Wigan.

O’Neill has led the Black Cats away from the relegation zone with Sunday’s shock win over league leaders Manchester City  their fourth in six matches since the departure of Steve Bruce. Any lingering relegation fears appear to have evaporated on Wearside as they ran the show in the North West putting the pressure firmly back on Roberto Martinez’s shoulders. The Latics’ good form during December put them in with a real chance of moving out of the bottom three but they fell back into old habits against Sunderland as they proved to be the architects of their own downfall on more than once occasion. Martinez will be extremely unhappy with this players and will see this defeat as a missed opportunity to move out of the bottom three as their insistence to try and adhere to his slick style of football cost them dear once again. Their attempts to play an elegant passing game is admirable but their vulnerabilities in midfield and defence were highlighted as the visitors broke at speed time and time again.

Two defeat in their last eight games had seen morale soar in the Wigan dressing room and their bright start indicated a side who were brimming with confidence. Steve Gohouri saw an early strike cleared off the line by Craig Gardner before they went onto hit the post twice in quick succession just after the half hour. Firstly David Jones struck the upright after he latched onto Albert Crusat’s pass before Ben Watson saw his stinging effort fly back off the upright. Sunderland slowly but surely started to get themselves into the game and took the lead four minutes into added on time at the end of the first half with Craig Gardner lashing a superb 30-yard-free kick past Ali Al Habsi to lay down an early contender for goal of the month. That goal gave the Black Cats a huge boost going into the break and it didn’t take them long to double their lead with young James McClean heading home at the second attempt after Al Habsi saved his initial effort. Martinez will be unhappy with midfielder Jones who cheaply gave the ball away in a dangerous area allowing David Vaughan to cross for the winger to score his first goal for the club.

Wigan’s heads didn’t drop and seven minutes they gave themselves hope of a comeback as James McCarthy found Hugo Rodallega who turned John O’Shea on the edge of the area and fired the ball past Simon Mignolet. But hopes of salvaging a point were dashed with 17 minutes to go as Nicklas Bendtner brushed aside Maynor Figueroa with ease before cross for Stephane Sessegnon who stretched to slide the ball into the net and put the game beyond doubt. It should have been four just minutes later only for Al Habsi to save smartly from McClean’s curler from 18-yards. Sunderland maintained their pressure as the clock wound down and Vaughan wrapped up the victory in style 10 minutes from time smashing the ball home to move the Black Cats into 10th.

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The Premier League has given us Cantona, Ginola and Beckham who ultimately we all love no matter who they kicked in World Cup ’98. It has also thrown up the likes of Kevin Davies, Duncan Ferguson and Vinnie Jones, not loathed as much as the ones who made my ‘Dirty XI’ but would certainly make another football fans.

I have ignored the ones with silly haircuts, poor fashion sense or the ones who wouldn’t look out of place in a boy band. What are left are the not very good, the bad and the ugly – aka the most hated Premier League XI of all-time!

Disagree with me? Follow me on Twitter and tell me who would make your ‘Most hated Eleven’…

Click on Cole below to see the Premiership’s Most Hated XI

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Why the newspapers are dominated with claims and counter claims with regards to the recent transfer bid for Scott Parker, I for one are left scratching my head over our club’s pursuit for a player. I don’t doubt that the boy has abilities; but is he really any better than what we have already got?

Parker aside I have been extremely confused at the nature of some of our transfer interests and what value to add to the team. We seem to be attempting to buy players because we feel we need to, rather than being more calculated with our choices.

So what does Parker bring to the Tottenham midfield that the likes of Jamie O’Hara couldn’t, other than a bit of experience? O’Hara showed on numerous occasions last season for Portsmouth that not only has he got the creative flair with the ball at his feet, but more significantly he has that steel about him in midfield and is certainly not afraid to put the boot in when need be. O’Hara is also 6yrs younger than Parker, therefore it surely makes greater sense to retain O’Hara and save ourselves a few million in the process.

It is clear listening to press conferences and media reports that a sense of frustration is starting to creep into Harry’s voice at the failure to secure deals, but it is a dead market out there and the current set-up with Levy doing the negotiations is the right one. I ask the question as to whether there is really the need to strengthen, what is already a strong squad? Maybe there is a case to bring in a top class striker, but looking at the squad that is the only area that really needs improvement in my opinion; although most clubs would be delighted to possess our attacking quartet. We must not buy players for the sake of buying them, especially in the cases of Bellamy and Parker, who in truth are no better than what we have already got.

Written By Matt Wright

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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