SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2015 SPORTS Pardew leaves Gallic legacy at St James’ Park

LONDON: By overseeing a ‘French run of goals scored by foreign players There have been French players at for £4.8 million ($7.5 million, 6.2 million strong for players from across the Revolution’ at Newcastle United, outgo- from one country in the English top Newcastle before, such as the flamboy- euros) in July 2011 and was sold to Paris Channel. ing manager Alan Pardew has had a flight. ant wingers David Ginola and Laurent Saint-Germain for £19 million in January Given a tour of the stadium shortly more far-reaching impact on the club’s Earlier that year, the club had hosted Robert, but for a club where the walls 2014. before signing from Montpellier last July, heritage than almost any of his immedi- a ‘French Day’, which saw fans turn up for used to ring with the Geordie tones of Newcastle also made a £7 million Remy Cabella-whose former club’s aver- ate predecessors. a match against Southampton brandish- home-grown heroes like profit on Mathieu Debuchy, who left for age crowd was 14,679 during his last While he failed to win over large sec- ing Tricolore flags and wearing berets, or , it represents a cultural Arsenal, while winger Yoan Gouffran, season in France-told L’Equipe: “My tions of Newcastle’s support during his while the Marseillaise was played before sea-change that has not been to every- now a first-team regular, cost only £1.4 mouth was watering!” four-year tenure, the stockpiling of kick-off. Pardew was rechristened ‘Alain one’s liking. million from Bordeaux. Newcastle’s standing in France is now French players under Pardew radically Pardieu’ on social media and joked: “I “I don’t think it’s a healthy thing to In fact, Newcastle’s main problem comparable to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal changed the make-up of the success- think there’s a good chance I could win have too many French players in one with their French contingent has been and several French coaches have been starved club’s playing staff. French manager of the year.” dressing room,” Shearer confided in keeping them at the club. Loic Remy was identified as potential candidates to suc- Of the 27 players signed by The heavy French presence in the 2013. snatched from Newcastle’s grasp by ceed Pardew by British bookmakers. Newcastle during Pardew’s time at the changing room has had the added ‘Newcastle’s form oscillated continu- Chelsea after spending last season on Allied to owner Mike Ashley’s prefer- helm, 13 were French-a testament to the bonus of making it easier for Newcastle ally under Pardew, with the club finish- loan at St James’ Park, while Moussa ence for a ‘continental’ management influence of chief scout Graham Carr, for to attract Francophone players to the ing 12th, fifth, 16th and 10th in the four Sissoko has become one of the most structure-where Carr and managing whom has proved richly fertile club. Including Papiss Cisse (Senegal), seasons he completed sought-after players in the country. director Lee Charnley preside over play- territory. Cheick Tiote (Ivory Coast), Mehdi Abeid and lying 10th in the table on the day he But despite Newcastle consistently er recruitment-the post-Pardew In October 2013, a sequence of 13 (Algeria) and Kevin Mbabu (Switzerland), left. But from a financial perspective, the failing to challenge for major honours, Newcastle is a much-changed club. But consecutive Gallic goals saw Newcastle there are currently 13 French-speaking French invasion has been a resounding the allure of playing in front of 52,000 as they say on the Gallowgate End: ‘Vive establish a new record for the longest players on Newcastle’s books. success. Yohan Cabaye arrived from Lille boisterous fans at St James’ Park remains la difference!’—AFP Real streak threatened by buoyant Valencia

MADRID: La Liga leaders Real in the Club World Cup final, has dis- Madrid face one of their toughest missed suggestions that he could tests since embarking on a 22- leave the Spanish capital after a game winning streak back in remarkably successful 18 months September when they start 2015 since joining from Tottenham with a trip to Valencia today. Hotspur. Los Che have reason to be opti- “It has been a fantastic year for mistic in the new year with a return me. I wanted to come to Real to Champions League football for Madrid to win titles and work next season top of their agenda. alongside the best players and that Valencia sit fourth, a solitary point is exactly what I have done in a sin- above Sevilla, Villarreal and Malaga, gle year,” he told the club’s website. but demonstrated their financial “Hopefully we can keep improving, advantage over the other keep winning titles and I can keep Champions League hopefuls fol- showing my best.” lowing Singaporean businessman Barcelona start the year just a Peter Lim’s recent acquisition of the point adrift of Real at the top, but club by splashing out 25 million having played a game more. The LONDON: Chelsea’s Brazilian-born Spanish striker Diego Costa celebrates in this file euros (£19.4 million, $30 million) on Catalans also face a potentially photo. —AFP Argentine international tricky trip away to ’s Enzo Perez this week. Real Sociedad today and have had Terry backs Chelsea to “I have the greatest expectations little time to prepare for the game of making a good start here,” Perez as a group following the Christmas said as he was presented to the break. recover from Spurs mauling Valencia fans on Friday. “I hope that Lionel Messi, and Dani LONDON: expects Chelsea to Mourinho’s team could complete a clean this new project at Valencia grows, Alves only returned to training on recover from their New Year’s day mauling at sweep of honours this season. and that 2015 will be a happy year Friday, while the latter remains a Tottenham when Watford visit Stamford Chelsea captain Terry is confident of a for us all.” Perez is expected to make doubt due to a hamstring injury. Bridge in the FA Cup third round today. morale-boosting win on Sunday and he said: his Mestalla debut against a Real “Every game now is a chance to The 5-3 loss at White Hart Lane was as “We’re very disappointed to start the New side still shorn of Luka Modric cut the gap,” said Barca goalkeeper painful as it was unexpected and the visit of a Year with a defeat but we’ll move on from through injury. Claudio Bravo, who will be facing side battling to get out of the Championship this. Sergio Ramos is also a serious the club he played with for eight should provide an opportunity for Jose “It’s hard to see them (City) claw us back. doubt having played with a calf years before joining Barca in June. Mourinho’s shell-shocked players to recover We were eight points in front and now we’re injury as the European champions “It depends on us playing well their confidence. level on points. “It’s disappointing to have lost ended 2014 by collecting their and, sooner or later, our rivals will It will be a major surprise if the Premier that lead but we said in the dressing room fourth trophy of the year in the drop points.” Moyes, meanwhile, League leaders stumble against a team led by we’ll come together, put a run together and Club World Cup against San has urged his players to summon former Chelsea midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic, hopefully get a lead again.” Lorenzo a fortnight ago. Unusually the spirit and performance levels the fourth manager to take charge of the The Spurs defeat suggested some of the opening of the transfer window which saw them defeat Real and Hornets this season. Mourinho’s players are starting to feel the has sparked rumours of possible Atletico Madrid at home this sea- Chelsea haven’t needed to rely too much strain of the busy festive period and the man- departures from the Santiago son before his appointment. “We on luck in the FA Cup in recent seasons, but if ager is likely to be tempted to make changes Bernabeu rather than big money respect Barcelona because they are Mourinho’s side are looking for omens, the for the visit of Watford. signings with linked a very good team, but they are pairing with Watford should provide a lift. Keeper Thibaut Courtois has a finger injury with a move to Manchester United. coming to San Sebastian and we The club have paraded the trophy four so he could be replaced by Petr Cech and However, the Welshman, who have to show them this is not an times in the last eight years, the first of those Mourinho may use the opportunity to rest scored in his third final for Los easy place to come and win,” said victories-in 2007 — marked the first final Diego Costa and . Blancos with his 11th of the season the Scot.—AFP DUBAI: Real Madrid’s Christiano Ronaldo reacts in this file photo. —AFP played at the new Wembley and Mourinho’s Watford have largely maintained steady one and only success in the competition. progress this season despite the upheavals in Following that win, the west London club vir- the dug-out and currently lie fifth in the tually took up residency at Wembley, tri- Championship. Wenger battles to vanquish Arsenal ghosts umphing in 2009, 2010 and 2012, twice fac- Promotion to the Premier League is the ing Watford on the road to success during the priority but an impressive display at Stamford LONDON: Arsene Wenger admits will be some soul searching as the first two of those campaigns. More memo- Bridge will boost confidence and carry added Arsenal must deal with the Gunners look to rediscover the rably for some Blues supporters, Dave significance for Jokanovic who spent two specter of their defensive “ghosts” form which had seen them head Sexton’s side crushed Watford 5-1 in the semi- years as a player at Chelsea over a decade if they are to get their spluttering to Southampton on the back of final in 1970 en route to winning the trophy ago. Watford midfielder Daniel Tozser said: season back on track. Wenger’s just one defeat out of nine games in a famously brutal final and subsequent “Chelsea at the moment are in the top five side are desperate for a morale- in all competitions. “The last two replay against Leeds. teams in Europe. But it will be a pleasure for boosting victory as they open matches we were in good spirits Eyes will be fixed firmly forward, though the guys to play against a team like this. “We their defence of the FA Cup in a and those games were close after the Spurs loss that allowed Manchester have nothing to be afraid of, nothing to lose. repeat of last season’s final against together (over Christmas) and we City to move level on points at the top of the This is a game we have to enjoy, to show and Hull at the Emirates Stadium fought really hard for the two Premier League table and quietened claims to see where we are at the moment. —AFP today. wins, but at Southampton, it was Having started 2015 in dispirit- slightly different, we didn’t show ing style with an error-strewn 2-0 up with a good performance,” defeat at Southampton, which left Mertesacker said. United aim to avoid them languishing in sixth place in “We have to come back to our the Premier League, Gunners boss main strength and we have to more Cup woe Wenger knows Arsenal have some remind ourselves every day that psychological issues to overcome we need to have a big perform- YEOVIL: Louis van Gaal has warned his stadium. “For the players, it’s more difficult before they can hope for a more ance.” Manchester United stars not to underesti- to prepare for a match like this, especially positive second half of the season. Wenger will rotate his squad mate minnows Yeovil as they bid to avoid after playing so much over Christmas.” Even Plagued by defensive frailties against Steve Bruce’s team, with another humiliation at the hands of lower though United have not given up hope of for several years, Arsenal were Colombia goalkeeper David league opposition in today’s FA Cup third winning the Premier League title, left-back once again architects of their own Ospina set to replace Szczesny. round tie. United head to the unglam- Luke Shaw believes the FA Cup represents downfall at St Mary’s when a pair Danny Welbeck missed the ourous surroundings of tiny Huish Park to arguably their best chance of silverware of costly blunders from goalkeep- Southampton game because of a launch their challenge to win the competi- this season. er Wojciech Szczesny were com- thigh problem and the Gunners tion for the first time since 2004 when they “We are not going to say the Premier pounded by poor play from cen- striker is expected to be sidelined eased to a 3-0 final victory over Millwall. League is over yet, because that is still our tre-backs Laurent Koscielny and again, while Olivier Giroud serves That is the longest time without an FA Cup number one priority,” Shaw added. “We Per Mertesacker. the last part of his three-match “I cannot fault the attitude of win for the club since the 14 years between want to win that, but we are going to focus suspension. England winger Theo the team, but we were again the 1963 win over Leicester City and the on this game today. Walcott could come back into the haunted by the ghost of what we 1977 defeat of Liverpool. “The reason I came to Manchester side following his return to fitness, United have reached two finals, two United is because I want to be winning tro- have seen since the start of the season,” Wenger said. along with French midfielder semi-finals and two quarter-finals since phies and I think I have got the best chance Mathieu Flamini 2004 but winning the trophy for a 12th here.” Van Gaal will check on the availability “This is not the first time it has “I will make a few changes time has proved elusive. of Marcos Rojo (thigh), Daley Blind (knee) happened. We did not defend well (against Hull), that is for sure,” But in addition to their desire to end and Marouane Fellaini (illness) who are all enough in the final third, and we Wenger added. Hull would dearly that barren spell, United manager van Gaal major doubts. paid a heavy price. It is a self- is driven by a desire to prove his team have United are also without Ashley Young inflicted defeat.” love to avenge the Cup final loss, learned the lesson of their embarrassing (hamstring) and Antonio Valenica (groin), The dramatic 3-2 victory over but Bruce is more concerned with League Cup exit earlier this season. The while Angel Di Maria has returned to train- Hull at Wembley in May, when the ensuring the injury-hit Tigers Dutchman picked a team of fringe and ing after a thigh injury but may not be Gunners recovered from two goals don’t get dragged into a fight to youth team players as United were humili- risked. The tie offers Yeovil respite from a down to lift the FA Cup and end avoid relegation. ated 4-0 by third tier side Milton Keynes testing League One campaign that has left their nine-year trophy drought, “The disappointing thing was Dons in August and it seems apparent he Gary Johnson’s side rooted at the foot of was supposed to herald the start we’ve lost three or four players realised from that chastening day not to table at the mid-point of the season. of a new successful era for through the ridiculous pro- underestimate lower league opposition And while the mouthwatering prospect Wenger’s side. gramme over Christmas,” Bruce again. “I had the experience against MK of facing United’s superstars provides a But they remain troubled by said. “The travelling and every- Dons, who are also in League One,” Van welcome distraction, it also provides a the same inconsistences that have thing involved with it is total non- Gaal said. “You never know in a cup match, reminder of the time the two clubs last met vexed Wenger for so long. Arsenal sense. We’ve lost three more you have to win because you’re out if you in the competition in 1949. fans are growing increasingly frus- arguably to fatigue. (Liam) lose. “We have to beat Yeovil but every Yeovil, then of the Southern League, trated by their team’s problems, Rosenior has a hamstring, (Andy) team in England wants to beat Manchester sprang to prominence by beating with one man arrested after invad- Robertson needs an ankle X-ray United so it will be difficult. Sunderland in the fourth round before los- ing the St Mary’s pitch to berate and Gaston Ramirez hurt his groin. SOUTHAMPTON: Arsenal’s Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez is pictured “Everything about playing a lower ing heavily to United, the cup holders, 8-0 Wenger on Thursday. “As well as that, Abel Hernandez is in this file photo. —AFP league team will be different-the pitch, the in the following round.—AFP And Mertesacker accepts there physically exhausted.” —AFP