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The crowning glory of Tom Hicks and George Gillett’s ill-fated takeover plan at Liverpool was the promise to relocate the club to a new ground in Stanley Park. Fast forward five years, and the plan for the ground remains just that, a plan. However that may be for the best in the short term, as the Reds look to improve their ailing form and establish, once more, a place in the UEFA Champions League.

The visions of the new 60,000 seater stadium excited fans upon their release in 2007, with its futuristic design seen as what could be a catalyst for the club to push on and become title challengers. However financial issues surrounding the American duo, and the Fenway Sports Group’s takeover have pushed the blueprints into the background.

Although this could be seen as a negative around the club, perhaps a few lessons should be learnt from Arsenal’s move to the Emirates Stadium, as they looked to keep pace with Manchester United and the Roman Abramovich backed Chelsea. Anybody who has been to the North London club’s new home will testify of it’s quality, yet the economic implications have held the club back somewhat over the past few years. The project cost an initial £390 million, with a significant sum coming from bank loans, denting the clubs financial situation. The increased income created from a larger stadium will eventually see it fund itself, yet the short term impacts can have a negative effect on performance levels of the team. Although Arsenal’s issues may have stemmed from the end of the ‘golden generation’s’ reign, the failure to spend top dollar in replacing them was surely influenced by the budget adjustments caused by the stadium development.

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To relate this to Liverpool, success in the short term is what is needed. There would be very little point in building a large ground, without top level European football. The club would more than likely fill the ground to a significant level through the season, such is the size of their loyal fan base, yet to maximise income the pull of Champions League football, and the increased level of revenue from gate receipts, would be needed. It’s clear to see that the club need to spend once more this summer, with a long term replacement for Steven Gerrard and a genuine goal-scorer top of Kenny Dalglish’s wish-list. Players of sufficient quality will likely cost in the region of £20-£25 million each, and with no big money sales looking likely, the investment, alongside any potential stadium plans would put a strain of the club’s bank balance.

As well as this, Anfield will always be the spiritual home of Liverpool, and a move from the site may result in a different atmosphere. I’m not saying that the fans will lose their passion, but there wouldn’t be that magical ambiance which is ever present at their current home. The ideal situation would be to extend the ground, which would be significantly cheaper than relocating, and will also keep the Anfield magic alive.

Eventually Liverpool will need a larger home, if they are to move up to the level of United, Arsenal, and Manchester City. However in the short term, the club need to establish on-field success, and the allocation of finances should be tailored toward this. Liverpool simply cannot spend another five or six years treading water.

Do the Reds need a new ground to keep pace? Or should they invest in the squad? Comment or follow @Alex_Hams to have your say

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If you have a spare 5 mins then why not watch the latest ‘Football Coffee Break’

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David Gold and David Sullivan have never been ones to shun the limelight. During their time as owners of Birmingham City the duo enjoyed a turbulent relationship with fans, as the club yo-yoed between leagues. After leaving Birmingham Gold and Sullivan took over West Ham United and immediately voiced their opinions on the club and players. Throughout the summer there has almost been a constant stream of rhetoric with regard to recruiting players, and often it is Gold or Sullivan doing the talking instead of manager Avram Grant. As the clubs owners the pair have the right to do what they want within their club, but they might be advised to take more of a back seat in the future and let the manager do the talking. Fans, players and the manager can get frustrated by their frequent opinion giving which could lead to discontent at Upton Park.

As soon as Gold and Sullivan took over West Ham United, they began voicing their outspoken opinions on what the club was doing wrong. After first giving assurances that Gianfranco Zola’s job was safe, it quickly became apparent that the Italian was a dead man walking. Following a 1-3 home defeat in March by then relegation rivals Wolves, David Sullivan launched a furious verbal attack on the manager and the players.

In an open letter to fans published on the club’s website, Sullivan stated “Nobody at the club should delude themselves that we are a good team. The table does not lie.”

Sullivan and Gold’s criticism of the team continued, and provoked a public rebuke from Luis Boa Morte who told BBC Sport “Mr Sullivan should have a bit more composure when he talks to the press to hammer the players. It’s not helping anyone. The fact that you have money doesn’t mean you can say do whatever you want.”

The problem with such criticism from the owners is that it can evoke a backlash from players, the manager and the fans. If it had not been so obvious that Zola would not be at West Ham for the next season, more players may have signalled their displeasure at the owners’ remarks.

With a new manager at the club, Gold and Sullivan have now turned their attention to speculating publicly over transfer targets. During the summer David Gold spoke of his desire to bring David Beckham and Juan Roman Riquelme to Upton Park. However it has emerged that Beckham has had no contact with West Ham and intends to continue playing for LA Galaxy this season. Juan Roman Riquelme meanwhile, has recently signed a contract with Argentine side Boca Juniors. With much of Gold and Sullivan’s speculation turning out to be just that, the better option may be for them to hold their tongues and let the manager get on with the job in hand. A player transfer should be solely the manager’s choice, and Avram Grant would be better left alone to make deals in the summer market and go about signing players the way he wants to. David Gold and David Sullivan have the right to voice their opinions, there is no question over that, but they might just experience greater success during their time at West Ham if they are just that little bit more publicity shy.

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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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Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson praised the natural goalscoring ability of Javier Hernandez after his late goal secured a 1-0 Champions League victory over Valencia.

The Mexican substitute broke the deadlock with just five minutes remaining with a low drive after a dull game had seemed certain to end goalless.

It was a superb result for Ferguson's team as they had been victorious on just one of their previous 18 trips to Spain.

Hernandez arrived at Old Trafford in a £7million deal from Chivas before the World Cup finals.

"The way he took his chance, it was like shelling peas. It was so natural to him," said Ferguson.

"He has work to do on his physique but you cannot take away from the fact that he is a fantastic finisher."

United are now level on four points with Rangers at the top of the Group C table and Ferguson was content with their evening's work at the Mestalla against in-form domestic hosts.

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"It's a great result for us. It's not easy coming here," he added.

"Rangers also won tonight and have got Valencia in a double header next, so it's important we kick on now."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Following the exit of Darren Bent to Aston Villa for £18 million, Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has been on the lookout for a new striker and it seems as though he may have found his man in the shape of Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor. It is thought that Bruce is keen to do a deal in the January transfer window and secure Adebayor on loan until the end of the season.

It has been no secret that Steve Bruce has been looking for a striker to form a partnership with Asamoah Gyan since the shock exit of Bent earlier this week. Reports had linked Sunderland with a move for Tottenham striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, and his out of favour Spurs teammate Robbie Keane had even been mentioned as a possibility in some quarters. However, Bruce has now turned his attentions to the Togo striker to link up in an all-African strike force with Ghanaian international Gyan.

Adebayor himself has been out of favour at Eastlands and first team appearances have been rare for him under Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini. Despite the exit of Roque Santa Cruz on loan to Blackburn, the signing of Edin Dzeko means that Adebayor is still well down the City pecking order. The Togo striker is desperate to revive his career in the Premier League and may well see a move to Sunderland as an opportunity to show those in English football that he’s a top striker.

The one sticking point on a move may be Adebayor’s hefty wages, and Sunderland will be looking for City to pay a proportion of them in any loan deal. Negotiations between Sunderland and Manchester City are already taking place in regards to making Nedum Onuoha’s stay at the Stadium of Light a permanent one, and this deal is likely to be completed in the coming days as well.

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It’s never low-risk when it comes to Mario Balotelli. And while the Italy international has shown his talents on both the domestic and international stages, has Balotelli shaken that loose cannon characteristic and become a valued team player?

I’m not all that impressed or even interested in a football player setting off fireworks in one of his many bathrooms. It’s moronic and I’d think the same of Lionel Messi if he were to do it. But Mario Balotelli has shown two sides of himself in football: a potential world class striker with a stunning array of weaponry in front of goal; and the mouthy child in an adult’s body who is holding that potential back.

Maybe there was a reason that very few teams wanted to take the high-priced gamble on Balotelli while he was at Inter. Interest where there, but who needs that sort of headache. Manchester City had no problem parting with the cash, even if they were to take a few hits along the way.

It said a lot when Jose Mourinho said he wanted nothing to do with him, and perhaps rightly, other clubs took the Portuguese’s advice and stayed well clear. Evidently, unmistakeable talent isn’t enough. With the financial dark cloud that is sweeping across football, can any club besides the PSGs and Manchester Citys afford to take such a risk?

The negative side of Balotelli is the one who will argue with his team-mates over who has first dibs on a free kick. We saw it at Chelsea between Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba, and the stupidity of it wasn’t lost when Balotelli fancied a similar argument.

He’s the type of player who can win you a league title. Unfortunately, he’s also the type who can lose it for you. He can find the net in style, making even the most simple of tap-ins look cool. But it seems he plays a big role in his team’s result, based on whether he has brought a clear head to the game, rather than one looking to fight anyone and everyone.

The latter was most appropriate in the final game of last season. Subsequent punishments aside, I would have loved to see Balotelli put Joey Barton in his place.

And maybe that’s the sort of player a club needs. No, not the one who will actively look for fights, but rather a player who wants to win and protect his own.

Balotelli seemed to give few problems to his country during the Euros, with a minor incident occurring when he had to be restrained by a team-mate following a goal. His attitude and actions following the final whistle against Spain was hardly classy but still understandable.

He’s a powerful athlete whose skills and presence on the pitch are well beyond his years. But it’s about permanently unlocking that ability and laying to rest the selfish and arrogant player who is now unwelcome at any club where Jose Mourinho rules.

The Euros were hopefully an indication of what we’ll see from Balotelli in the future. He was smart in his play and devastating in his finishing. That’s what City paid for.

He has the potential to be a valued member of a title-winning team, rather than just a gamble when his team needs a change.

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Roberto Mancini has surely looked over his should a number of times while standing in the technical area, wondering which side of Balotelli is sitting on the bench.

He needs to prove he can be more than just a nuisance on the pitch. But the Euros were an encouraging step in Balotelli’s development.

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Porto president Pinto da Costa has given a candid interview stating that Andre Villas-Boas left the Portuguese side too early in his career, and that Chelsea players’ are undermining him due to continued contact with Jose Mourinho.

The young Stamford Bridge trainer has come under scrutiny as his side battle to try to qualify for the Champions League, with the club currently in fifth place.

Da Costa has confirmed that he feels that his former coach will be successful in the long run, but the situation at the London club currently is not ideal.

“He will be successful with Chelsea because his contract isn’t just for one year,” the executive told Gazzetta dello Sport, translated to English by The Daily Telegraph.

“He needs time to mould his own team and he can’t do that as long as there are players, as I’ve heard, who exchange text messages with Mourinho. And Roman Abramovich knows this.

“He left thinking that Chelsea was a unique opportunity, but I believe that was a mistake because there would have been others.

“If he were to leave Chelsea, I am sure he will become the next coach at Inter. He has the right personality to coach the Nerazzurri. In the past, I said the same thing about Mourinho,” he concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Everton have stated that they are working with police to find the identity of fans who threw objects onto the Goodison Park pitch on Saturday, and have pledged action against the culprits.

Liverpool players Luis Suarez and Craig Bellamy were the subject of the abuse, with coins and plastic bottles being thrown at them during the Merseyside derby at the weekend.

The Premier League club have stated that the indiscipline is not acceptable, and anyone found guilty will be dealt with in an unerring manner.

“We are fully aware of the incidents which occurred during Saturday’s derby game,” Everton director of communications Ian Ross told the club’s official website.

“We are currently working with Merseyside Police on collating and analysing all available CCTV footage of the incidents.

“If we can identify any supporter who threw anything – and we mean anything – on to the pitch on Saturday we will take immediate firm and far-reaching action.

“This behaviour is totally unacceptable and will be rightly condemned by all right-thinking Evertonians – and that is 99.9 per cent of our fan base,” he concluded.

Jack Rodwell was sent off in the first half of the match in controversial fashion, and Everton have appealed the dismissal, with a decision to be made in coming days.

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By Gareth McKnight

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There has been a gradual progression of Premier League football away from all the games kicking off at the same time. It used to be a traditional three o’ clock on a Saturday afternoon, no exceptions. Super Sunday then became a seemingly immovable fixture in our footballing calendars every week. Is Monday football though the point where we say enough is enough?

It has been a long time since the TV companies paid any regard for the fans travelling and watching the games. The 30 day rule of notice where a game can be changed for TV stops any sort of monetary saving for the matches and the real world doesn’t stop for football. The trip to Fulham, there and back, for Newcastle fans, this Monday, shows how painfully out of touch the footballing powers are with the supporters.

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Those who are working would realistically have to at minimum take half a day off Monday off and possibly some of Tuesday off work to accommodate the travel to London and then home to Newcastle after the game. If they are relying on public transport then this can be increasingly fraught with danger. The trains are particularly unforgiving if you are 1 minute late, it departs and has no remorse for the football fan who has shown dedication to watch their side lose 2-1 in the bitter cold. There is also that heavily patronizing automated speaker which apologises incredibly for the delay to your service which means that an away trip could continue long into the early hours of the next morning.

The moving of games from a Saturday to a Sunday you can almost accept in a sense. For the teams in the Europa League it gives them an extra day’s window of rest. It can also be used to separate and appreciate those special fixtures the fans look forward to every season.  The switch isn’t necessarily welcomed, because of all the strange times it throws up, such as the 12.45 or 1.30 kick offs. I am sure the Swansea fans are hardly delighted at having to ensure they arrive at White Hart Lane in time for 1.30. I suspect that most would have to take the hit of driving down with the logistics of public transport to such a game being difficult. I am sure the Swansea fans will feel far from super at the ludicrous time some will have to wake up on Sunday morning to play their part in the proceedings at Tottenham. This said, at least they know that when the game is finished they can be home in plenty of time for work on Monday morning.

Another factor completely disregarded is the disruption to a working week. The sense of realism has escaped those at Sky who seem to have forgotten the logistics of working. If one of their employees with less than 30 days’ notice asked for an accumulated day off work to follow their football team, I can imagine the muted reception that would receive. Also days you can book off with annual leave are so few and far between, which makes them so precious, the usual figure being around 20 days a year. These are usually used these for emergencies, or a holiday in the summer with the family when the football takes a short break. It shows a lack of any sensitivity from the TV money men.

I am sure employers won’t be delighted to see their employee desperately tired so early on in the week after going to the football on the Monday. This means that a lot of fans have to make the logical decision to avoid these games. The experience of watching and going to live football is never adequately replaced by the analysis of Gary Neville and Ed Chamberlain. This sort of behaviour just encourages armchair support and the isolation of the real football fans that represent everything that is great about this game. It forces football fans to have to ignore games they may desperately want to go to. The Manchester derby being placed on a Monday night last season was pure lunacy. This game was so pivotal in the title campaign and for those unable to compensate for football during their working week, it must have been a blow miss such a game. If it is a European game then it can be justified as a one off experience and an opportunity to watch a different style of football. Even this is so expensive that it can only be done by most once a season, for the lucky few that can afford it.

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The domestic football we have on offer will always be the same every day of the week and the only addition Monday’s provide is price. Those at Sky and other TV Companies does not deserve to be awarded this luxury of being able to monopolise Monday night’s and pick teams to play it’s games when it so chooses. The Christmas calendar throws up all sorts of midweek games which are gruelling for all teams, and Monday night football is a headache we could do without.

West Ham starlet Jordan Spence wants a place in the Hammers first team after making an appearance in the club’s 4-1 victory over Southampton.

The defender is an integral member of the Hammers’ Development Squad, which currently leads the Barclays U21 Premier League Group 1, and has impressed in his performances.  His current form has been noticed by Sam Allardyce, with Spence playing in Capital One Cup matches against Wigan and Crewe.

However, he now has his sights set on playing for the first team regularly, and feels that he has enough talent to play in the country’s top flight every week.

In an interview on West Ham’s official website, Spence said: “I have always said that I believe that I am good enough to play in the top flight. I have had the opportunity to do that a few times now and it is where every young footballer in this club should be working towards.

“I have now got to continue working hard, day in day out, and hope that people notice that so I get more chances to show what I can do.”

He also talked about how he enjoyed playing in Saturday’s match after spending most of the 2011/12 season playing for Bristol City on loan.

“First and foremost it was great for me to get out and play for the first team because I missed most of last year. It is important for me to play for the first team because everybody knows how proud I am every time I pull on a West Ham United shirt. It was also very pleasing to also be part of another great win.”

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Jordan Spence scored the winning goal in the Development Squad’s victory against Bolton Wanderers on Monday.

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One of the most intriguing transformations in football has been the evolution of the modern full-back. Nowadays, they are ever present in the final third of the pitch, surging forward into the penalty area and increasingly ending up on the scoresheet. However, as more and more young starlets flock forward in search of the headlines, do they risk neglecting their essential defensive duties?

In the not too distant past I can recall full-backs essentially playing arm in arm with their centre-back brethren, moving up and down the pitch as one cohesive unit. Over the years however, an increasing number of managers have realised the attacking potential of such players and urged them to push forward. One of the key advantages to adopting this mentality is that full-backs will always have space in front of them, making it easier to be lured up the pitch to offer support.

This transition has been aided by the fact that the 4-4-2 formation is effectively extinct in the Premier League, having been replaced by fluid, intricate set-ups where players are rarely in a fixed position. There are very few traditional, touchline-hugging wingers and so the responsibility to provide the main source of width lies solely with the full-back. The time honoured belief that ‘attack is the best form of the defence’ is perhaps more evident than ever before.

Over the past 12 months, the likes of Barcelona and Manchester City have attempted to give their wide men more freedom by experimenting with the use of wing-backs. The 3-5-2 set-up has had a varying degree of success, largely because it relies heavily on possessing three impenetrable centre-backs that neither side currently has in their ranks. It does however seem logical that full-backs in the Premier League could one day take the shape of James Milner, Dirk Kuyt or Park Ji Sung, as managers look to marry an unrelenting work-rate with a touch of creative flair.

The current batch of promising full-backs need no encouragement to set-up camp in the oppositions half. Tottenham’s Kyle Walker has pace to burn and seems perfectly comfortable spending 90-minute periods performing shuttle runs up and down the right flank. The speed and athleticism of both Walker and Gareth Bale make Spurs an incredibly dangerous counter-attacking side, which strikes fear in the opposition’s full-backs, trapping them in their own half.

In Manchester, Rafael seems eager to embrace the stereotypical nature of the Brazilian full-back. His expertly taken goal against Liverpool highlights the positives of having such a technically gifted player high up the pitch but he is a constant cause for concern in defence, lunging in recklessly to leave his team-mates woefully exposed. Across the city Micah Richards appears to be paying the price for possessing an inferior ability to get forward. His imposing physique is effective when trying to regain possession but he rarely puts it too good use further up the pitch. Richards sadly doesn’t possess the composure or consistency needed to become an effective centre-half and therefore finds himself in a state of limbo, not quite good enough for either role.

In spite of Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend, the performances of Carl Jenkinson and Kieron Gibbs were incredibly promising. Both players found the perfect balance between their attacking and defensive duties, pushing up only when the Gunners looked comfortable in possession. They also produced a number of well-timed tackles, helping to nullify Chelsea’s world-class wide men. This is perhaps the result of working tirelessly with new assistant manager Steve Bould and should serve as the perfect example for youngsters across the country.

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The key then is finding the right blend between defence and attack, providing support at the opportune moment so not to leave your team susceptible to the counter-attack. Many fans will point to Marauone Fellaini or the return of Steve Pienaar as the reason for Everton’s resurgence this year but i think they dominant preceedings on the flanks as a means of forcing teams into the middle of the park. The defensive duo of Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman have both benefited from linking up with the tenacious, like-minded individuals that form the Toffee’s midfield and they now find themselves with a strong influence at both ends of the pitch.

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub where I will always consider Jimmy Bullard to be brilliant both on and off the pitch.