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Winning the Champions League is the obvious answer to that question but how many fans remember that Everton finished above Liverpool the season that they were crowned Champions of Europe despite trailing in 37 points behind champions Chelsea.

As Benitez banks his pay-off the Spaniard can expect to field enquires from Inter Milan and Juventus about top flight opportunities while Moyes begins preparations to defy economics and keep Everton challenging for a place in the Europa League.

Former Celtic and Middlesbrough defender Derek Whyte presents Premiership football throughout the Middle East on Dubai based Showtime Arabia and is amazed that his fellow Scot is overlooked when the big jobs become vacant.

Moyes has forever been quoted as ‘the next Manchester United manager’ but despite that label no club has come in to offer him a crack at Champions League football and the opportunity to get involved in the sharper end of the transfer market.

“It drives me nuts to see Rafael Benitez getting linked with Juventus or Inter Milan yet Davie Moyes is never quoted for those sort of jobs,” Whyte admitted.

“He does well every season but has to wonder how he’s ever going to get Champions League experience.

“Last season we went out for dinner when he came out to Dubai during an international break and we were talking about his position and we was discussing if he’d ever get a chance in the Champions League.

“He can only take Everton so far, it amazes me that no team has taken a chance on him. I don’t think that Everton have the finances to push any further.”

While Liverpool’s season trundled from one disappointment to the next ranging from an FA Cup defeat at home to Reading through to finishing seventh in the Premiership, Everton finished strongly just two points behind despite a crippling injury list.

Mikel Arteta and Phil Jagielka both started in just 11 Premiership games which allowed other such as Fellaini and Steven Piennar to emerge alongside the consistently consistent Tim Cahill.

In eight years in charge at Goodison Moyes has constructed a number of different teams with the emphasis on developing from within alongside sensible investment in the transfer market.

The £17m profit on Joelon Lescott more than covered the transfer fees for Arteta, Jagielka, Cahill and Piennar with Whyte impressed by the way that Moyes maximises his squad.

He added: “Considering that they were without Jagielka and Arteta for most of the time Everton had a fantastic season.

“When those two came back into the side and with Steven Pinnear on form they were an impressive side.

“Davie builds teams and also brings through younger players like Jack Rodwell which are all the qualities that you look for in a top manager.

“He’s well appreciated and rewarded at Everton but I’d love him to get the chance to move on and test himself at another level, I’m sure that he could do equally well elsewhere.”

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Article courtesy of Joe McHugh from VIDEO CELTS

After failing to sign a new contract and revealing that he is currently learning Italian, Javier Mascherano has cast huge doubts over his Liverpool future. The 26-year-old midfielder, who angled for a move to Spanish champions Barcelona last summer, is thought to be a top transfer target for newly-appointed Inter Milan manager Rafael Benitez. The Argentine has expressed a keen desire to reunite with his former manager, having stated of Benitez that “his football is my football.” With team-mate Yossi Benayoun rumoured to be close to sealing a switch to Chelsea, the upcoming summer at Anfield looks as though it will be one more of departures than arrivals. Should the Argentine leave, how a big a blow would his loss be for Liverpool?

Having been rescued from West Ham United’s reserves in early 2007, Javier Mascherano has become an integral first-team player at Anfield, racking up 135 appearances for the Merseyside club. Alongside current Real Madrid man Xabi Alonso, Mascherano formed one half of one of the most effective midfield partnerships in Europe, with the Argentine’s tenacity and grit allied perfectly with the Spaniard’s vision and creativity. Whilst Alonso is more renowned for his intelligent and measured approach to the art of defensive midfield play, Mascherano has built a reputation as one of the most accomplished ‘destroyers’ in the world today. El Jefe’s performances for Liverpool have been characterised by his passion, energy and single-minded determination to win the ball.

Mascherano’s world class abilities have been recognised by Argentine national team manager Diego Maradona, who appointed Mascherano as captain almost immediately after being named manager himself. Maradona has even stated that his team-sheet is “Mascherano and ten other guys”, such is his importance to the national side.

Having posed the question regarding Mascherano’s departure to several other Liverpool fans (most notably via 606 and the club’s official forum), it appears as though Mascherano may not be as indispensable as the likes of Torres, Gerrard and Reina. Whilst many have acknowledged that Mascherano is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, several Reds fans have made the point that the former River Plate man is replaceable. Unlike Torres’ unrivalled acceleration and finishing ability, or Gerrard’s all-round ability and talismanic leadership, Mascherano’s strongest traits and attributes can be replaced, especially as most teams these days tend to deploy the use of at least one dedicated midfield ‘destroyer’.

In addition to this, Reds fans have also pointed to some of Mascherano’s flaws. The Argentine’s impotency in front of goal has been highlighted, having scored just three goals in his time at Anfield. Similarly, Mascherano’s hot-headed, temperamental nature has at time been to the detriment of his side, most notably during a fixture against Manchester United in 2008, where his behaviour earned him a first-half red card.

Despite this, Mascherano is undoubtedly a world-class midfielder, and he will be sorely missed at Anfield. Should he leave, it is imperative that the club replace the Argentine as swiftly as possible, so as to avoid the situation that occurred last season with the failure to adequately replace Xabi Alonso. At the beginning of last season, Mascherano’s form dipped due to the fact he had had his head turned by interest from Barcelona; it is important that the club avoid a repeat of this scenario, and it seems evident that Mascherano would rather be elsewhere. Providing the rumoured £30m fee that Mascherano’s sale would generate is given to the club’s management for reinvestment, I feel that El Jefe’s departure would not be as big a blow as initially feared.

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Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp is close to bringing a fourth Croatian to White Hart Lane after confirming his interest in Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.

Luka Modric, Vedran Corluka and Niko Kranjcar are all currently on Spurs' books, and Redknapp has spoken of his admiration of all the Croatian players he has worked with during his career.

He was quoted on croatiansoccerreport.com as saying:"I might be taking another goalkeeper from Croatia – Pletikosa. (There is) every chance I might be getting him so that's good.

"I'd say the best players I ever managed in my life have been Croatian boys. They're fantastic boys. I've had Igor Stimac, Slaven Bilic, Davor Suker. Robert Prosinecki was a genius. They were fantastic footballers and all of them were great guys."

Pletikosa is his country's most capped goalkeeper. He lost his starting place for Euro 2004 due to injury but was again first choice at the World Cup in Germany two years later.

He endured an unhappy spell in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk before signing for Spartak and made his international debut in February 1999 against Denmark.

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Pletikosa turned down the opportunity to join Spurs in January.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

I wrote an article a few months back arguing the case that Wigan could potentially be relegation favourites going into this new Premiership season, and while I wouldn’t hold too much store by just one result, the manner of the capitulation again newsboys’ Blackpool does have an awfully ominous feel to it.

Three of the four starters from last term’s defence have departed, and while it could be said that this was long overdue due to their appalling goals against tally of 79 goals, the second worst in the league last season only behind relegated Burnley, and a lack of clean sheets, with the side collecting only 8 in total all last season, it could perhaps be a case of too much change all at once.

This total was somewhat distorted by the 8-0 hammering by Chelsea on the final day of the season and the 9-1 defeat at White Hart Lane it has to be said though and in Paul Scharner and Titus Bramble, when fit and playing together, they at least had a capable central defensive partnership. The Jekyll and Hyde nature of the side’s character has meant that manager Roberto Martinez must have been unsure as to what team was going to turn up come match day, never a fine predicament to find yourself in as a manager.

With Paul Scharner, Titus Bramble and Mario Melchiot all having departed, the shifts in the defence were notable against Blackpool and the lack of organisation painful to watch at times. Titus Bramble, for all his error prone gaffes can be a solid centre half. He’s unlikely to ever shed the joke image he’s acquired over the years, and he’s not the sort of player that’s likely to shine to the casual viewer on Match of the Day, but he could be missed this season.

Melchiot’s departure will have gone unnoticed by many as he departed on a free transfer to Umm Salal at the end of last season, but he’s a widely experienced full-back at this level. His departure does leave a gap open at the back, and with Emerson Boyce pushed inside against Blackpool, a player whose undoubtedly not good enough postionally at this level to play at centre half, it left the relative Premiership newcomer Steve Gohouri to play at right back, and he had a nightmare.

Ronnie Stam has been brought in from Dutch champions FC Twente  for around the £3m mark and with a decent reputation but he only came off the bench against Blackpool, and will have to acclimatise to a new league quickly to head off any potential slump.

Maynor Figueroa looked destined all summer to depart to Roy Hodgson’s new look Liverpool side for around £5m, but after Emiliano Insua’s move to Fiorentina was called off due to the Argentine’s extortionate wage demands, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the Honduran was forced to stay at the DW Stadium.

Paul Scharner has yet to find a new club after leaving on a free in the summer and he proved a valuable centre half in his time at Wigan. Capable of marshalling the backline with authority and chipping in with the odd important goal, he’ll be extremely difficult to replace and his versatility is a precious commodity for clubs in the lower reaches of the top flight.

And therein lies the problem, despite the arrival of Ronnie Stam and Antolin Alcaraz, Martinez has fundamentally failed to sort out the problems with the backline. Gary Caldwell was brought in during January last season, probably to offset the planned departure of Paul Scharner, but he’s failed to shine as yet and hasn’t looked comfortable in the Premiership since his move south of the border.

Experienced Premiership players are crucial to any club, but especially to clubs trying to sort out their failing back line and while Stam and Alcaraz may be good signings in the long run, a settling in period has to be allowed and the Premiership is not the sort of division where you can learn on the job. A move for someone such as Sol Campbell or Tal Ben Haim would have not gone a miss, and although wage demands will have come into it, those two know the league inside out and could have done a job for the Latics.

Wigan are a frustrating animal – creative, unpredictable and with the potential to beat the bigger sides in the league, on their day they can be a handful, but it’s at the back where their problems inherently are. It’s clear for all to see that Wigan are vulnerable when put under pressure, and last season’s 36 point total was achieved with the help of impressive victories over Arsenal and Chelsea, and these are not the sort of games you can rely to pick up points year on year.

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They face Man City, Spurs and Chelsea in three of their next five league games, and with it unlikely that they’ll pick up points in any of these three fixtures, Martinez could be put under some severe pressure straight away.

Chris Kirkland is undoubtedly a fine goalkeeper, despite a shaky start against the Seasiders, the midfield looks in decent shape and so does the front line after it was bolstered with the arrival Mario Boselli, a player who’s looked promising in pre-season, to compliment Hugo Rodallega, but at the back they were pulled apart time and time again by Blackpool and it could prove a dangerous precursor for the rest of the season. The existing problems from last campaign have not been addressed and this

Written By James McManus

As Joe Hart single handedly shut out Tottenham at White Hart Lane, his predecessor could only look on from the bench and admire. But Hart’s justification will offer little consolation to Republic of Ireland keeper Given who admitted he would consider quitting Manchester City if he was dislodged from the number one spot.

A player of Given’s quality dictates that leaving him out will naturally initiate transfer talk with Arsenal and Fulham at the forefront of mooted destinations.

However, would it not be worth City’s neighbours Manchester United stepping in to provide the first team opportunity this great keeper craves?

His undisputable pedigree would perhaps be the perfect replacement for Edwin Van Der Sar whose contract expires at the end of 2010/2011season with retirement on the horizon.

Given was a model of consistency during 354 appearances for Newcastle and has arguably been one of Manchester City’s best signings amidst the millions they have spent, typified by his excellent 2009-2010 campaign.

And whilst Joe Hart’s rise to prominence will please Capello, Given is particularly disappointed when he reflects upon just how good he has been at Eastlands.

Given said: “I haven’t joined City to sit on the bench, I’ve gone there to play. If that’s not the case, I’ll sit down on Monday with the club and see where I can go after that.” He added: “Joe did well last year and deserves great credit for that but I’d like to think I did OK at Manchester City.”

If Sir Alex Ferguson decided that Given was the man to replace Van Der Sar, he would be buying an excellent goalkeeper who has made 402 Premier League appearances to date and despite being the wrong side of thirty his ability shows no sign of diminishing.

Roberto Mancini wants to keep hold of the Irishmen but what he must understand is that having a plethora of world-class players means that at some point in time, they will become unhappy warming the bench at the City of Manchester Stadium, especially when they harbour international ambitions.

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If United do make a move to secure Given as the man to supplant Van Der Sar, it will gift the want away goalkeeper the first team opportunity he deserves after 13 years of excellent top flight goalkeeping.

One thing is for sure, there are not many better goalkeepers around than Shay Given.

Tribute to Shay Given Video

When talent is wasted through ill-discipline, laziness, lack of application and direction football fans are not particularly forgiving. In contrast there can be no greater shame than seeing a gifted player’s career cut short or disturbed through injury. Below are ten players who were forced into premature retirement or have seen more of the treatment table than the pitch.

Martin Laursen

The former Aston Villa centre-back retired from football last year after sustaining a knee injury in January 2009. Faced with a major operation and a long period of rehabilitation the ex-Milan player who had previously suffered with knee injuries decided to hang up his boots. He had been at Villa Park for five years and was the club captain.

Dean Ashton

Soon after turning 26, West Ham striker Dean Ashton announced his retirement from football. He had failed to fully recover from an ankle injury suffered during an England training session in 2006. After returning the following season he scored 11 times and earned another England call-up. But the superb finisher experienced a reoccurrence of the ankle injury at the start of the 2008/09 season and never played again.

Jonathan Woodgate

Speculation is rife that Woodgate will be forced to retire unless he undergoes surgery on his injured groin. The former Madrid defender who has battled against injuries throughout his career has not featured for Tottenham since November last year. The player who has visited specialists across the world in an attempt to solve his groin problem is not expected to be named in Harry Redknapp’s 25-man squad.

Owen Hargreaves

Another injury ravaged player set to be a victim of the Premier League’s new rules is Manchester United’s Hargreaves. Sir Alex Ferguson is said to be greatly concerned over his chances of recovering from a career threatening knee condition. The midfielder who was sorely missed at the World Cup has made one substitute appearance for the club since undergoing double knee surgery in December 2008 and January 2009.

Kieron Dyer

The West Ham United winger who signed from Newcastle in 2007 broke his leg shortly after moving south to east London. He has recently been dogged by a series of hamstring injuries and co-owner David Sullivan suggested he was a player who may have to accept retirement. Having made only his eighth start for the Hammers on Saturday, he will be hoping to prove his critics wrong.

Continued on Page TWO

Matt Murray

The Wolverhampton Wanderers keeper had to accept retirement from football earlier this week. This followed an unsuccessful battle to return to playing after rupturing his patella tendon. Mick McCarthy believed the 29-year old could have been an England regular.

Ledley King

The Tottenham stalwart continues to struggle with a long-standing knee problem which has restricted his playing time. The defender previously came close to retirement but has managed to assuage his persistently troubled knee. King is put through less combative training techniques and is often rested when games come thick and fast. Due to his immense talent it is a situation tolerated by Spurs and their fans.

Jamie Redknapp

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Another chronic knee complaint forced the former Liverpool and Tottenham captain Jamie Redknapp to retire in 2005. Dr Richard Steadman, whose books are full of crocked footballers, told the midfielder that his career was over. Injury had also ruled the player out of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

Darren Anderton

Players who have graced White Hart Lane are propping up this list and perhaps the most infamous is the man labelled with the nickname, ‘sick note.’ Anderton played for a host of clubs, most notably Spurs but was beset by a range of injuries. Despite groin and Achilles trouble he made over 30 appearances for England. The unlucky midfielder retired two years ago, finishing his career with Bournemouth.

Michael Owen

After sustaining a ruptured hamstring in the Carling Cup final last season, Owen dismissed suggestions that he is cursed by injury. The former Liverpool, Madrid and Newcastle forward has vehemently rejected his injury prone tag. The label has stuck for the goal-scorer who bizarrely ruptured his anterior cruciate knee ligament against Sweden at the 2006 World Cup.

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New Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier enjoyed the perfect return to the Premier League as his side grabbed a late 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.

Stewart Downing tucked Marc Albrighton's centre away to open the scoring, but when Matt Jarvis' cross shot deceived Brad Friedel in the second half, the points looked set to be shared.

But a fabulous header from Emile Heskey in the 88th minute ensured the points went to Villa Park and the former Liverpool coach was delighted with the promising start to life in the Midlands.

"Emile's goal was fantastic, we know what he's capable of. It's not easy to play up front these days.

"He's got tremendous assets, but sometimes he doesn't believe enough in himself and he should have more faith in what he's capable of doing.

"(It was) the perfect return because we got the three points and we beat a very, very difficult team.

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"The first goal was important because it brought confidence to the team and the two goals we scored were at the end of two could moves and the player's attitudes today were fantastic."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has questioned the wisdom of stripping Steven Gerrard of the England captaincy.

Gerrard, who assumed the international armband when Rio Ferdinand picked up a knee ligament injury on the eve of the World Cup, saw the captaincy return to the fit-again Manchester United defender for Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro.

Hodgson was surprised by the decision of England coach Fabio Capello, which he hopes doesn't have an impact on Gerrard's role as Reds skipper.

"I was disappointed to see that he had the England captaincy taken away from him," he told the club's official website ahead of Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton.

"I've got to be honest and say I don't really understand that decision.

"As much as Rio is a great player as well, I think if you have been out for a long time through injury and you're making your first England appearance for a long, long time, someone who actually had the captaincy for three games and had done brilliantly deserves to keep it.

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"I haven't spoken to Steven about the subject but I just hope he is not too disappointed about it because at the moment, in his form and with his ability and desire to take responsibility, he plays a true captain's innings for us and I think he did it for England in the three games before."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Josh McEachran is the first player born after the UEFA Champions League began in 1992 to play in the tournament but that’s not all the young player is known for. At just 17 McEachran has also been involved in the Premier League and the Carling Cup and only seems to get praise from those that know him.

Having been spotted by Chelsea at the age of eight, McEachran has worked his way through the ranks and into the first team. McEachran could be the next player to come through the youth team and then sustain a first team spot, like John Terry did. Former Chelsea player Jason Cundy watched McEachran progress through the Chelsea Academy. In the London Evening Standard he said: “I coached Josh for two years at Under 11 and Under12’s at Chelsea and he always stood out for his ability.”

It’s not just for his club that he’s been performing well; McEachran notched up 11 appearances for the England Under 17’s, scoring once and has since been called up several times for the Under 19’s. Josh’s parents are both Scottish and there were rumours in the press earlier this year that Scotland Under 21 coach Billy Stark had tried to lure McEachran to play for Scotland. Stark denied the claims but it shows how ‘in demand’ the young player is.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti insisted that the player stayed at Chelsea rather than going out on loan because he was someone they needed in reserve. He told The Daily Telegraph: “He can play in the first team right no without problem. He is very young but he showed fantastic ability and quality. We won’t be sending him on loan. He will stay here and play here. We now have one more player.”

Being a young talented player with so much expectation can be daunting but John Terry has taken McEachran under his wing. In the London Evening Standard he said: “I think Josh could be very good. He was with us in pre-season and I am quite close to him. He is a quiet lad but really wants to learn.” With someone like John Terry as a guide, McEachran is likely to have a good base to move forward.

With all this attention McEachran’s ego could have ballooned out of control but the young lad seems to have kept his feet firmly on the ground, he said “Last year was good for me. I didn’t perform well in early stages of Youth Cup but in the semi- final and final I picked up my game and played well.” (Official Site)

With the constant talk of Chelsea’s ageing side the hype surrounding a young talent can only prove that Chelsea do have promising talents. With experience will come confidence and McEachran may be lucky enough to make a name for himself on the Premier League scene.

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Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has failed to recover from a hamstring injury and will miss Wednesday's Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The influential Spanish midfielder will not travel with the rest of the squad to Ukraine after picking up the problem during Saturday's 1-0 victory against West Ham United.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger confirmed:"He has a good chance to play on Sunday (against Newcastle United) but Wednesday night is too risky.

"He has no real strain, just a bit of pain. I don't know what it's down to but we cannot take a gamble as he has had injuries before. There's still a bit of reluctance to push it 100 per cent.

"Alex Song has a problem with his calf which we will assess today and he may not to travel.

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"Arshavin has a problem and we might leave him at home and Denilson has a groin problem. The one that is definitely out is Fabregas, the three others will be assessed later."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email