Sheffield United’s Captain Chris Morgan may be in a bit of bother as he his reckless challenge on Iain Hume has left the striker with a fractured skull and internal bleeding. Barnsley are consulting their lawyers and considering legal action. Hume, 25, has just recently been moved out of a high dependency unit in hospital after undergoing a very serious operation.

Morgan was only initially booked for the challenge but replays show a clear indication that the Sheffield United defender forcefully used an elbow whilst challenging for a header with Hume. This caused an angry reaction from Barnsley’s manager Simon Davey as he deemed the incident as a straight red card.

Referee Andy D’Urso has been heavily criticised, Davey and assistant Ryan Kidd approached him at half time over Hume’s treatment by the Blades. D’Urso was a Premier League verified referee and this display adds to the poor refereeing currently been had in the Championship.

Stuart Atwell’s performances for the Reading-Watford and the Nottingham Forest- Derby County game were very much questionable. In the Reading-Watford game, he gave a goal that clearly went a yard wide and gave a poor penalty decision at the end of the Nigel Clough Trophy game.

We can only hope the ex-Leicester City man can make a full speedy recovery to this horrid, unusual injury. The Blades have sent their sympathy, they are known to be ‘saddened’ and ‘concerned’ regarding Hume being monitored in a high dependency unit. They are clearly disgruntled and the threat of legal action hovering over the club and Morgan is certainly worrying.

United sit in a healthy position of fourth position and if the League hands further punishment to Morgan they would lose one of their stronger players. As for Barnsley, they will be missing a vital striker for a significant about of time as they look to race clear of the relegation zone.

Do you think Chris Morgan should be banned for his challenge on Iain Hume or are serious injuries part and parcel of a football game?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Has Harry Redknapp managed to unearth the Darren Bent we all saw score so frequently at Charlton Athletic?

Five goals in the last two games may have confirmed that. His stunning hat trick against Dinamo Zagreb in the Uefa Cup was one of pure goal scoring pedigree. He was able to justify himself as a worthy £16.5 million pound man by scoring with three top-notch finishes. Plus, a useful brace against super rich Manchester City, condemning them to a 2-1 defeat, placed a reminder to those critics and pundits who was against him – that Darren Bent is back and firing on all cylinders.

His time at Tottenham Hotspur so far, has been somewhat subdued but under the famous ‘Arry he is lavishing playing decent football once again.

Before Bent was completely overshadowed by fellow strikers Dimitar Berbatov, Robbie Keane, and Jermaine Defoe and their moves to Manchester United, Liverpool, and Portsmouth respectively materialised to find him the only one left. Now Bent finds himself pinnacle in the set up and with that his confidence starting to soar.

He stood up and answered what was asked of him. He scored 11 goals so far this season, and from his pre-season exploits this should not come as much surprise.

With Tottenham as a team playing awful and having their worst start ever to a League season, Bent faded. Juande Ramos seemed to pay little faith in him, he often found himself on the bench looking wary.

Redknapp came ruthlessly in, changed the team fortunes, and played Bent up front with Luka Modric supporting. With that, the goals have been pouring in. The ex-Portsmouth manager must have the expertise in dealing with players like Bent. Whether it is putting an arm around his shoulder or a kicking him up the backside, Redknapp must be doing something right.

New Russian signing Roman Paulyuchenko have found himself playing sparingly as Bent has been given the starting berth and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

Fabio Capello must be encouraged to see a gifted natural goal scorer finding his feet once again. Whilst Capello feeling his attacking options for England remain rather limited, Bent recent performances have certainly been eye catching and provided the England manager with something to think about.

His goal against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium showed his eye for goal, he pounced on a ball that Manuel Almunia had spilt and finished it superbly. He was on the ball like a flash and he reacted faster than any of the poor Arsenal defence did.

Bent has the ability to frighten any defender; his strength and pace is an asset to any team. Like many other strikers his form resembles his confidence. When he has it, he looks unerring but without it, he looks like Humpty Dumpty.

Surely, the Redknapp factor cannot play that much of a difference; the then, manger of Charlton Alan Pardew managed to get Bent’s confidence roaring, even though his goals did not managed to keep the Addicks safe.

At Charlton, he did not have the quality players around him like; he does in a Spurs shirt. Players like David Bentley, Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon, and Gareth Bale all supplying him with great opportunities and genuine goal scoring threats.

Bent would be undoubtedly be grateful, as Tottenham’s revival looks very much in action and he will need to continue this scoring streak if he is too fire his team up the table.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

He has begun on his road in pursuing to emulate the greats who have graced the prodigious Number Seven Red Shirt. He is now an integral part of the current Liverpool squad and have the chance to make history for the team and himself.

The Kopites will always remember the legends that have occupied the number seven shirt, the likes of Ian Callaghan, Kevin Keegan, Kenny Dalglish and Peter Beardsley have always been fondly thought off and remembered and cherished. Now it is up to Keane to cement his place among these prestigious men.

He resembles the ‘typical’ Number seven in many ways and has all the main attributes that Keegan and Dalglish both had. These ‘Number 7s’ have all had quick, intelligent feet and an unerring ability finish at considerable chance. Impeccable movement and the aptitude to change a game.

I am no way comparing the impact Keane is having too Keegan and Dalglish nor sparking any identical similarities. Keegan and Dalglish will always be the best players to have ever played for Liverpool but in recent times the Number 7 has not been up to scratch. Harry Kewell? Vladmer Smicer? Nigel Clough? Steve McMahon? Steve McManaman? None of them have even came close.

Keane has the chance to turn these fortunes.

Fair enough, he has only scored two goals against a poor West Brom side but it was in the manner he did it in, everyone watching saw what it meant to him. These were his first goals at Anfield and ones that will stick in his mind for the rest of his career.

They were two classic goals as one was from a precise pass from Captain Steven Gerrard and the other one was rounding keeper Scott Carson before slotting home from a tight angle.

The only down point was that neither of these goals were in front of the famous Kop end. It will be only a matter of time before he does score in front of the faithful.

He has been instrumental in Liverpool’s early season form, creating many goals but now that he has found his own goal scoring touch, he may become the player we knew at Tottenham.

Jimmy Case once famously said that ‘you know when you’re a fanatic — you’d do anything and travel anywhere. I’d happily die for those(Liverpool) fans. I know exactly how they feel because they were me — I was them.’

Keane can relate to this. Liverpool are his club, the team he supports and the team he has always been destined to play for. An understanding should soon follow suit between him and the fans. They are known for their unconditional love for those who sport the Number seven shirt, so in retrospect he is already lucky in that sense.

Keane has joined his boyhood club after going through 11 years of plying his trade for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Coventry City, Inter Milan, Leeds United, and Tottenham Hotspur. And at 28 years old you can argue that he is currently in his prime and has to supply his best football straight away. Benitez must have wanted a striker with the know-how and Keane seemed to fit that very tight criteria.
Moving from Spurs will always be challenging, as it is a venture into the next level, the demands of Champions League football. A massive step up.

He was vital to Tottenham’s success and was the hairpin in the side but at Liverpool, he will have to prove himself again. His charisma and enthusiasm will always be well liked and his personality and willingness for the cause is outstanding.

Kenae may have thought that this chance would have never materialised and with Benitez spending almost £20 million on a striker that he feels that finishes off his Liverpool ‘title’ team, Keane must feel under pressure to perform.

Hopefully, for Keane these goals will start as a beacon, not only for him but the whole team.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News