In the spirit of the transfer window, I thought I would review past transfers which have not met expectations and disappointed the manager, the fans and the board who approved of paying good money for them.
1. David Bellion: He came to Old Trafford with high expectations as being dubbed as 'the next Thierry Henry' because of his pace. Yet that was all he could offer with no end-product. As usually the case with young French players, they tend to be snapped up by Arsene Wenger who is very familiar with the talent pool in France. And yet he was not signed by Wenger, as he probably knew that his potential was limited. I can see history repeating itself with Gabriel Obertan. However, in all fairness to him, he has been injury-plagued to start off with. Yet he will probably remain as a squad player to cover the flanks rather than a star in the first team.
2. Sebastien Squillaci: It may be unfair to dub him as a flop as he has only been at Arsenal for less than a season, but he has been less convincing than Laurent Koscielny who arrived during the same transfer window. This may be viewed as an unorthodox signing by Wenger as Squillaci is over 30. Nevertheless experience is usually required in the back four. However, the preferred defensive partnership is Vermalan and Koscielny. I doubt Squillaci will be remaining at the Emirates for much longer and Wenger is likely to buy someone younger such as Cahill or Mexes.
3. Shaun Wright-Phillips: The re-signing of the once prodigous winger was an expensive mistake. It was expected by many that he would recreate the form he once produced when he was at the beginning his career with Manchester City. Now that his development had been stagnated at Chelsea, he is no longer feared by defenders and is being overshadowed by the stars at the Eastlands. He has also been disappointing in the England set-up and so the his peak of his career came too early. A loan move to Fulham seems likely and he may benefit from a new challenge and new surroundings.
4. John Obi Mikel: A young player who was fought over between Manchester United and Chelsea, and it was the Blues who were victorious in signing him, but the real winners were United as they dodged a bullet in a transfer flop. He remains as Essien's understudy, and yet when the time came for Mikel to step in for Essien, he was ineffectual. However, it could be argued that Chelsea did not do a good enough job in developing him into the defensive midfielder he should be, and maybe Sir Alex Ferguson would have moulded him into a world-class player. Mikel may remain as an understudy for a few more years, but I think it would be best for him to move on if he wants to rejuvenate his career.
5. Sandro: He was arrived at White Hart Lane in the summer of 2010 as an unknown figure and he still remains as an unknown figure. His position is as a defensive midfielder and my previous assumption was that he would slot into the side from the start of the season and be the 'Makelele' for Tottenham Hotspur. He may need more time to settle into England and the Premiership, but he could be a signing which gets lost amongst the shining gems like Bale, Van der Vaart and Defoe. The question is whether he will get an opportunity to shine or will he dwindle like Giovani Dos Santos.
6. Ryan Babel: He was one of many signings by Rafa Benitez that only made up the numbers in the squad. He came with high expectation as he came from the illustrious Dutch club Ajax and was known for his pace. However, he was never given the regular run in the Liverpool side which was centred around Torres and Gerrard. Babel is looking to move this January and would probably benefit in a change of scenery. He is still young and needs a mentor to help him mature as a footballer and as an individual.
7. Emile Heskey: He was once a legend at Leicester City and was labelled as the perfect foil for Rooney in the England set-up. Now he has become a 'has-been'. O'Neil was hoping for Heskey to recreate the form he once knew at Filbert Street and bring it to Villa Park. However, age has crept up with him and was past his peak when he joined Aston Villa. He was much admired during his Leicester City days, but will now be remembered as the butt of most jokes from last year's World Cup.
8. Nicola Zigic: Known for his outstanding height, he was brought to St Andrews to become their main target man. However, he has been short on goals this season, which has lead to Birmingham flirting with a relegation battle of late. He may still need more time to settle into the Premiership, but it does not help that McLeish is in need of a goalscorer and Zigic may be displaced by a January signing.
As seen, many of these transfers can turn sour. Sometimes, it may not be the right club for them and the best thing to do is to move on. Darren Bent was frustrated by the lack of opportunities at White Hart Lane, and then became one of the top goal-scorers in the Premiership last season at Sunderland. Diego Forlan suffered a similar situation and yet when he moved to Spain, he became of the most prolific goal-scorers in La Liga. Dealing in the transfer window is a tricky business and there will always be risks associated with it. Spend too much and you can take the club into administration (as in the case of Leeds United). Spend too little, and you can end up with a squad that is not competing with your rivals (as in the case of Arsenal). Some players will need time to settle in, and the faith to succeed as seen with Evra and Vidic at Manchester United. With time running out, many teams will want to and need to strengthen their sides and I think we will have some surprising and big transfers to be made on deadline day.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Manchester City: Mid-season review
Manchester City have surprised us all with their current position in the league table. They have brought in quality signings, churning out the right results and are taking advantage of the dwindling form of Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa, which has made it easier for them to be chasing a Champions League place. They boast an exceptional squad and are now a worthy opponent to face in the Manchester derby. At this critical point of the season, it important to review I shall review how this club as progressed.
Goalkeepers: Mancini placed a lot of faith to replace the experienced Shay Given with the rising star that is Joe Hart, and it has paid off. Joe Hart has produced some excellent saves, shown great maturity and has a commanding presence. This is encouraging for all England fans as Joe Hart can become a great England goalkeeper such as Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton and David Seaman. The real test will come when (and if) he faces the European greats such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and AC Milan, and will be dealing with different attacking threats like Messi, Villa, Benzema, Eto'o and Pato. As a result of his scintillating form, Shay Given will leave, whether it be in January or in the summer as he will not tolerate any longer in warming the bench.
Defenders: One of the marked differences in Manchester City has been their defence. It has been leaking less goals and the additions of Kolorov and Boateng have made a difference in solidifying their back four. Vincent Kompany's move to the back four has been vital in this sturdy defence. I have always rated him as one of the best defenders in the game and surprised that he was not picked up by one of the major clubs at an earlier age. One player which I hope will develop is Micah Richards. He was an exciting young prospect at the age of 18 with his power and pace on the right flank. Yet his lack of form and concentration has let him down, and he cannot hold a regular first-team place. City will endeavour to keep hold of him as he is a product of their academy and is needed to be part of their home-grown quota. However, his confidence will be undermined if Manchester City ends up buying Dani Alves to complete a world-class back four.
Midfielders: Again, Mancini has strengthened this area of the team in the summer, with the signings of David Silva, Yaya Toure and James Milner. My preferred midfield line-up would be Toure as a holding midfielder, James Milner in the centre of the park whilst having Silva and Johnson on the flanks. However, Mancini likes to have 3 defensive midfielders in Barry, De Jong and Toure which I believe makes them a negative side. The consequences are that Adam Johnson is kicking his heels on the bench too often than he should and the speculation has already started of him moving to another club to find regular first-team football. Although James Milner was an excellent acquisition, I believe that Manchester City can splash the cash and buy someone that extra bit special. My recommendation would be Diego of Wolfsburg. Like what Rafael Van der Vaart is doing at White Hart Lane, Diego can play as an attacking midfielder or in the hole to support the strikers and even score plenty for himself. He has not been able to showcase his full potential yet at club or international level. However, he is approaching his peak and if given the opportunity to be part of an ambitious and progressive team, I believe he can set the Premiership alight.
Strikers: With the recent acquisition of Edin Dzeko, the pressure to score from Tevez has been relieved. This attacking partnership is an exciting prospect and will help Manchester City to challenge Manchester United for the title, and it may even come down to the wire, if the pair are free-scoring. With the young Balotelli continually maturing and developing, Manchester City could do with having a fourth striker to provide strength in depth. Ideally, it would be best to have someone young and talented who has progressed from their Academy. However, Daniel Sturridge moved on to Stamford Bridge and there has not been anyone like him since. My recommendation would be to buy Connor Wickham of Ipswich Town. He is only 17 years old, but alerted many of the English top flight clubs when he scored England's winner in the Under 17 European Championships against Spain last May. He is tall, powerful and highly rated by Arsene Wenger. Under the right tutelage, he can become a rising star in English football.
The Manager: He has lasted longer than I expected as I thought the Man Ciy hierarchy would replace him with the likes of Frank Rikaard or Guus Hiddink. But Italian has been able to create a squad, instil his system of football and display his tactical nous. With early wins over Liverpool and Chelsea, he has shown that he can compete against the traditional top 4. His objective for this season is to gain a Champions League place, which he is on track for. But it could be next year where he will be expected to win the Premiership, and that will be a tough task considering that Manchester United will still be the team to beat, and Tottenham Hotspur will be another challenging team. Mancini will need to instil consistency into the team to be able to grind out wins on a regular basis, and ensure dressing room harmony in a club full of stars.
The Owners: The Abu-Dhabi United Group have not disappointed the fans and have invested beyond the dreams of those supporters who were at the terraces at Maine Road. They have signalled their intent for Manchester City to become a global club and want the club to progress at a rapid rate. Money is no object and the fans hope it stays that way. Also I would not be surprised if they were to build a super stadium, which would be a 100,000 capacity stadium that would eclipse the Nou Camp and Wembley. My recommendations for them would be to invest in their Academy and start producing talented youngsters again as they previously did with Daniel Sturridge, Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland. This would help them to become a sustainably financial club, contribute to the British talent pool and create a legacy in which Barcelona and Manchester United are doing.
Goalkeepers: Mancini placed a lot of faith to replace the experienced Shay Given with the rising star that is Joe Hart, and it has paid off. Joe Hart has produced some excellent saves, shown great maturity and has a commanding presence. This is encouraging for all England fans as Joe Hart can become a great England goalkeeper such as Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton and David Seaman. The real test will come when (and if) he faces the European greats such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter and AC Milan, and will be dealing with different attacking threats like Messi, Villa, Benzema, Eto'o and Pato. As a result of his scintillating form, Shay Given will leave, whether it be in January or in the summer as he will not tolerate any longer in warming the bench.
Defenders: One of the marked differences in Manchester City has been their defence. It has been leaking less goals and the additions of Kolorov and Boateng have made a difference in solidifying their back four. Vincent Kompany's move to the back four has been vital in this sturdy defence. I have always rated him as one of the best defenders in the game and surprised that he was not picked up by one of the major clubs at an earlier age. One player which I hope will develop is Micah Richards. He was an exciting young prospect at the age of 18 with his power and pace on the right flank. Yet his lack of form and concentration has let him down, and he cannot hold a regular first-team place. City will endeavour to keep hold of him as he is a product of their academy and is needed to be part of their home-grown quota. However, his confidence will be undermined if Manchester City ends up buying Dani Alves to complete a world-class back four.
Midfielders: Again, Mancini has strengthened this area of the team in the summer, with the signings of David Silva, Yaya Toure and James Milner. My preferred midfield line-up would be Toure as a holding midfielder, James Milner in the centre of the park whilst having Silva and Johnson on the flanks. However, Mancini likes to have 3 defensive midfielders in Barry, De Jong and Toure which I believe makes them a negative side. The consequences are that Adam Johnson is kicking his heels on the bench too often than he should and the speculation has already started of him moving to another club to find regular first-team football. Although James Milner was an excellent acquisition, I believe that Manchester City can splash the cash and buy someone that extra bit special. My recommendation would be Diego of Wolfsburg. Like what Rafael Van der Vaart is doing at White Hart Lane, Diego can play as an attacking midfielder or in the hole to support the strikers and even score plenty for himself. He has not been able to showcase his full potential yet at club or international level. However, he is approaching his peak and if given the opportunity to be part of an ambitious and progressive team, I believe he can set the Premiership alight.
Strikers: With the recent acquisition of Edin Dzeko, the pressure to score from Tevez has been relieved. This attacking partnership is an exciting prospect and will help Manchester City to challenge Manchester United for the title, and it may even come down to the wire, if the pair are free-scoring. With the young Balotelli continually maturing and developing, Manchester City could do with having a fourth striker to provide strength in depth. Ideally, it would be best to have someone young and talented who has progressed from their Academy. However, Daniel Sturridge moved on to Stamford Bridge and there has not been anyone like him since. My recommendation would be to buy Connor Wickham of Ipswich Town. He is only 17 years old, but alerted many of the English top flight clubs when he scored England's winner in the Under 17 European Championships against Spain last May. He is tall, powerful and highly rated by Arsene Wenger. Under the right tutelage, he can become a rising star in English football.
The Manager: He has lasted longer than I expected as I thought the Man Ciy hierarchy would replace him with the likes of Frank Rikaard or Guus Hiddink. But Italian has been able to create a squad, instil his system of football and display his tactical nous. With early wins over Liverpool and Chelsea, he has shown that he can compete against the traditional top 4. His objective for this season is to gain a Champions League place, which he is on track for. But it could be next year where he will be expected to win the Premiership, and that will be a tough task considering that Manchester United will still be the team to beat, and Tottenham Hotspur will be another challenging team. Mancini will need to instil consistency into the team to be able to grind out wins on a regular basis, and ensure dressing room harmony in a club full of stars.
The Owners: The Abu-Dhabi United Group have not disappointed the fans and have invested beyond the dreams of those supporters who were at the terraces at Maine Road. They have signalled their intent for Manchester City to become a global club and want the club to progress at a rapid rate. Money is no object and the fans hope it stays that way. Also I would not be surprised if they were to build a super stadium, which would be a 100,000 capacity stadium that would eclipse the Nou Camp and Wembley. My recommendations for them would be to invest in their Academy and start producing talented youngsters again as they previously did with Daniel Sturridge, Michael Johnson and Stephen Ireland. This would help them to become a sustainably financial club, contribute to the British talent pool and create a legacy in which Barcelona and Manchester United are doing.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Blackburn's Ambition
One of the big stories of the week was Blackburn's attempt to sign the former Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldinho (albeit unsuccessful). My opinion is that he has now burnt out and is surplus to requirements at the San Siro. None of the major clubs across Europe will move for him and the only contribution he would have brought to Blackburn is off-the-field in terms of a commercial windfall in shirts purchased, club merchandise and improved PR. As expected with the new foreign ownership, they will want to invest significantly into the club and demand results straight away. The Venkys' actually want to break into the top four and bring Champions League football to Ewood Park. This is rather unrealistic as Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have recently broke into this pack and they had to spent a considerable amount of money to get there, as well as possessing better managers. If Blackburn is to realise their Champions League dream they will need to do the following:
1. Spend like City: Manchester City are now title contenders because they have spent a lot and brought it quality signings like Tevez, Kompany, Silva and the Toure brothers. Along with the signings they have, they are building up a squad to have 2 good players competing for each position. Manchester United and Chelsea enjoyed success and it was mainly due to the heavy spending of buying star players. The Venky Group will have money to spend, but I doubt it will be as extravagant as Manchester City. The likelihood is that they would buy players who have fallen out of favour at a cut price such as Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City, Stephen Ireland from Aston Villa and Ryan Babel from Liverpool.
2. Have an excellent manager: The exeception to heavy spending and still be consistently in a good league position is Arsenal. And the reason they are where they are is Arsene Wenger. He is one of the most intelligent and shrewd managers in the world, who has consistently recognised young talent and developed them. However, there is only one Arsene Wenger and not even a lucrative contract from Blackburn will entice the Frenchman away from the Emirates. Chris Hughton, Roy Hodgson and Alan Curbishley are available and are good managers who drive the club forward. But I reckon the new owners would rather have someone with a greater reputation to bring in the big players. A wildcard would be Diego Maradona. He would bring attractive, attacking football and the English media will love his persona and passion. However, a more sensible choice would be Martin O'Neil. He was doing a fantastic job at Aston Villa until his relationship with Randy Lerner had soured. He would thrive with the new challenge and the backing of fresh investment. He can also develop young English talent as seen previously and he could mould Phil Jones into one of the best defenders in the Premiership. Combined with a good assistant manager like Steve Clarke, and Blackburn would have strong management in place.
3. World-class stadium: Investing in a new stadium with a 60,000+ capacity will provide the income required to compete with the big 4. Liverpool recognised this, but no action has followed and are suffering the consequences. But investing a large capacity stadium would be all in vain unless they can fill those seats. Ewood Park struggles to fill its capacity in most games and Blackburn are not an 'attractive' club to support like Manchester United and Chelsea. To resolve this, Blackburn will need to change its image and strategy in developing their fanbase.
4. Stronger support: Blackburn may struggle to become a well-supported club as they do not boast the strong histories such as Manchester United and Liverpool. However in saying that, the new owners are reporting of an increased supportship in India (the origin country of the owners). I believe that India is the untapped market that has not been fully exploited yet. It is only a small section of middle-class Indians who do follow the Premier League. But for a country that boasts a population of more than a billion people, there is the potential for other Premier League clubs and not just Blackburn to develop a strong supporter base, drive the development of football as a national sport and even scout for talent. Manchester United and Chelsea place great efforts in developing their 'brand' in the Far East and in the States, and so Blackburn could do the same in India.
Blackburn have an interesting journey ahead of them and it will be interesting to see if they can realise their owner's ambitions. The Premiership is becoming ever more competitive and the added competition from Blackburn can only be good for the game. However, my prediction for Blackburn is that they will engorge in a spending spree for about a year, and then the bank balance will dry up and the owners will be in a dire financial situation (as seen with West Ham and Portsmouth). Will ambition be the saviour or downfall of Blackburn?
1. Spend like City: Manchester City are now title contenders because they have spent a lot and brought it quality signings like Tevez, Kompany, Silva and the Toure brothers. Along with the signings they have, they are building up a squad to have 2 good players competing for each position. Manchester United and Chelsea enjoyed success and it was mainly due to the heavy spending of buying star players. The Venky Group will have money to spend, but I doubt it will be as extravagant as Manchester City. The likelihood is that they would buy players who have fallen out of favour at a cut price such as Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City, Stephen Ireland from Aston Villa and Ryan Babel from Liverpool.
2. Have an excellent manager: The exeception to heavy spending and still be consistently in a good league position is Arsenal. And the reason they are where they are is Arsene Wenger. He is one of the most intelligent and shrewd managers in the world, who has consistently recognised young talent and developed them. However, there is only one Arsene Wenger and not even a lucrative contract from Blackburn will entice the Frenchman away from the Emirates. Chris Hughton, Roy Hodgson and Alan Curbishley are available and are good managers who drive the club forward. But I reckon the new owners would rather have someone with a greater reputation to bring in the big players. A wildcard would be Diego Maradona. He would bring attractive, attacking football and the English media will love his persona and passion. However, a more sensible choice would be Martin O'Neil. He was doing a fantastic job at Aston Villa until his relationship with Randy Lerner had soured. He would thrive with the new challenge and the backing of fresh investment. He can also develop young English talent as seen previously and he could mould Phil Jones into one of the best defenders in the Premiership. Combined with a good assistant manager like Steve Clarke, and Blackburn would have strong management in place.
3. World-class stadium: Investing in a new stadium with a 60,000+ capacity will provide the income required to compete with the big 4. Liverpool recognised this, but no action has followed and are suffering the consequences. But investing a large capacity stadium would be all in vain unless they can fill those seats. Ewood Park struggles to fill its capacity in most games and Blackburn are not an 'attractive' club to support like Manchester United and Chelsea. To resolve this, Blackburn will need to change its image and strategy in developing their fanbase.
4. Stronger support: Blackburn may struggle to become a well-supported club as they do not boast the strong histories such as Manchester United and Liverpool. However in saying that, the new owners are reporting of an increased supportship in India (the origin country of the owners). I believe that India is the untapped market that has not been fully exploited yet. It is only a small section of middle-class Indians who do follow the Premier League. But for a country that boasts a population of more than a billion people, there is the potential for other Premier League clubs and not just Blackburn to develop a strong supporter base, drive the development of football as a national sport and even scout for talent. Manchester United and Chelsea place great efforts in developing their 'brand' in the Far East and in the States, and so Blackburn could do the same in India.
Blackburn have an interesting journey ahead of them and it will be interesting to see if they can realise their owner's ambitions. The Premiership is becoming ever more competitive and the added competition from Blackburn can only be good for the game. However, my prediction for Blackburn is that they will engorge in a spending spree for about a year, and then the bank balance will dry up and the owners will be in a dire financial situation (as seen with West Ham and Portsmouth). Will ambition be the saviour or downfall of Blackburn?
Friday, December 31, 2010
January 2011 Transfer Window: Possible moves?
Many still have their reservations of buying players in the January transfer window due to issues of being eligible for the European competitions, the struggle to settle in quickly without having a pre-season and the pressure to deliver straight away from the board and fans. Nevertheless, there have been some exciting and successful January transfers in previous years such as Landon Donovan's loan spell at Everton in 2010, Jermaine Defoe's return to White Hart Lane in 2009, and Nicholas Anelka's arrival at Chelsea in 2008. With many clubs still strapped for cash, the rumour mills have still been grinding out many stories of possible transfers and we may see the arrival of some big names and shock moves.
Ashley Young: He is still an exciting prospect that is approaching his peak and one of the few gems at Aston Villa. With the current situation at Villa Park, Sir Alex Ferguson may take advantage of this and make an offer. This would appeal to Young as he will get Champions League football for the first time in his career and his prospects of being seriously considered for an England starting place will be dramatically improved. Young will be able to slot in the side easily with his pace and eye for goal, and having that extra bit of quality on the flanks.
Edin Dzeko: This could be THE big money move of the window as Manchester City will open up their cheque book and bolster their side for a reported figure of £35m. City have been too reliant on Tevez for goals, and they need that burden to ease off him. Balotelli is still young and adjusting to life in the Premier League, whilst the likes of Adebayor and Jo have lost their potency in front of goal. With Dzeko in the side, Manchester City could push United for the title this year.
Gary Cahill: He is one of the brightest young prospects in terms of English defenders and has proved to be solid and commanding in shoring up a leaking Bolton defence. I can see Arsene Wenger approaching him to join a bigger club that will also enhance his England career. He would be a worthy investment and could be develop into one of the best central defenders in the Premiership. The alternative would be Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen, but could be too expensive for the economical Frenchman.
David Luiz: Since Ricardo Carvalho's departure, Chelsea's defence has not been the same and the whole team have shown to be fallible in this past month. Abramovich may be forced to spend big again with David Luiz as Terry needs to have a more stronger defensive partner as Chelsea slip behind in the title race. Their strategy of developing younger players has not proven to be fruitful and thus Chelsea lack that strength in depth, unlike Manchester United. Ancelotti will need to act swiftly as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City may also move in for him.
Robbie Keane: He seems to be a likely departure from White Hart Lane as he cannot command a regular first team place. Yet he will not be lacking suitors within the Premier League. Aston Villa need to bolster their attacking options and have a more prolific striker and Keane fits the bill. Villa are a big club and Keane could be part of a rejuvenation of the team and help Houllier and his men back to the top half of the table. Keane could forge a lethal partnership with Agbonlahor and be a mentor to this still in-development forward.
Andy Carroll: He has been sensational this season and the reason why Newcastle are not in the relegation zone. His goals tally will have alerted many clubs and one possible destination would be Anfield. It is no secret that Hodgson and his men are struggling, even with the likes of Torres, Gerrard and Reina. Carroll can come in to boost their attacking options and again this move to a bigger club will enhance his international prospects. However, if he stays at St James Park, he could develop and become a legend that progressed through their ranks and donned the famous No.9 shirt. I predict that he is likely to stay with Newcastle till the rest of the season and a big money move could happen in the summer.
Igor Akinfeev: He has impressed many as a young goalkeeper in Moscow and on the international stage and is probably looking to spread his wings away from Russia. Arsenal need a reliable goalkeeper and Akinfeev may be the one to fill this troublesome position at Highbury. The alternative would be Shay Given, but the hierarchy at Manchester City would not approve of a move to one of their rival clubs. Wenger would also face competition from his adversary Sir Alex and he is looking for a suitable replacement for Edwin Van der Sar. Good and reliable keepers are rare like diamonds, and for Arsenal to actually gain some silverware, they will need a keeper like Akinfeev.
Lassana Diarra: This talented and tireless defensive midfielder may be on the return to England with Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp boasts a fantastic squad, with strength in depth in all positions. For Tottenham to challenge for the title and compete in Europe, Harry will need to make quality transfers that will enhance his team, as proven with the astute signing of Rafael Van der Vaart in the summer. Diarra would add some much needed steel in the midfield engine room which will complement the creativity of Modric and Van der Vaart. Diarra has worked with Redknapp before at Portsmouth, and he would probably like to rekindle their working relationship again.
Michael Owen: There has been much talk of his move away from Old Trafford as he is becoming a forgotten face amongst Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Bebe and Macheda. However, I will say that his move will be a wildcard and he could move to a club in dire need of a striker like Everton. I know this will be a sensational move considering his time spent at Anfield. But previous United leavers such as Howard, Neville and Saha have rejuvenated their careers at Goodison Park. Everton are too reliant on goals from Cahill this season and the likes of Yakubu, Beckford and Anichebe are not firing on all cylinders.
For some clubs, January is a time for buying players. However, other clubs are trying their best to keep hold of their crown jewels. Many clubs will be trying their luck this January to prise away Jack Rodwell, Gareth Bale, Phil Jones, Ryan Shawcross and Mark Albrighton, whether it be other Premiership clubs or European clubs. I believe this January will probably be a quite one, and most likely it will be Manchester City who will splashing the cash the most and running up the headlines.
Ashley Young: He is still an exciting prospect that is approaching his peak and one of the few gems at Aston Villa. With the current situation at Villa Park, Sir Alex Ferguson may take advantage of this and make an offer. This would appeal to Young as he will get Champions League football for the first time in his career and his prospects of being seriously considered for an England starting place will be dramatically improved. Young will be able to slot in the side easily with his pace and eye for goal, and having that extra bit of quality on the flanks.
Edin Dzeko: This could be THE big money move of the window as Manchester City will open up their cheque book and bolster their side for a reported figure of £35m. City have been too reliant on Tevez for goals, and they need that burden to ease off him. Balotelli is still young and adjusting to life in the Premier League, whilst the likes of Adebayor and Jo have lost their potency in front of goal. With Dzeko in the side, Manchester City could push United for the title this year.
Gary Cahill: He is one of the brightest young prospects in terms of English defenders and has proved to be solid and commanding in shoring up a leaking Bolton defence. I can see Arsene Wenger approaching him to join a bigger club that will also enhance his England career. He would be a worthy investment and could be develop into one of the best central defenders in the Premiership. The alternative would be Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen, but could be too expensive for the economical Frenchman.
David Luiz: Since Ricardo Carvalho's departure, Chelsea's defence has not been the same and the whole team have shown to be fallible in this past month. Abramovich may be forced to spend big again with David Luiz as Terry needs to have a more stronger defensive partner as Chelsea slip behind in the title race. Their strategy of developing younger players has not proven to be fruitful and thus Chelsea lack that strength in depth, unlike Manchester United. Ancelotti will need to act swiftly as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City may also move in for him.
Robbie Keane: He seems to be a likely departure from White Hart Lane as he cannot command a regular first team place. Yet he will not be lacking suitors within the Premier League. Aston Villa need to bolster their attacking options and have a more prolific striker and Keane fits the bill. Villa are a big club and Keane could be part of a rejuvenation of the team and help Houllier and his men back to the top half of the table. Keane could forge a lethal partnership with Agbonlahor and be a mentor to this still in-development forward.
Andy Carroll: He has been sensational this season and the reason why Newcastle are not in the relegation zone. His goals tally will have alerted many clubs and one possible destination would be Anfield. It is no secret that Hodgson and his men are struggling, even with the likes of Torres, Gerrard and Reina. Carroll can come in to boost their attacking options and again this move to a bigger club will enhance his international prospects. However, if he stays at St James Park, he could develop and become a legend that progressed through their ranks and donned the famous No.9 shirt. I predict that he is likely to stay with Newcastle till the rest of the season and a big money move could happen in the summer.
Igor Akinfeev: He has impressed many as a young goalkeeper in Moscow and on the international stage and is probably looking to spread his wings away from Russia. Arsenal need a reliable goalkeeper and Akinfeev may be the one to fill this troublesome position at Highbury. The alternative would be Shay Given, but the hierarchy at Manchester City would not approve of a move to one of their rival clubs. Wenger would also face competition from his adversary Sir Alex and he is looking for a suitable replacement for Edwin Van der Sar. Good and reliable keepers are rare like diamonds, and for Arsenal to actually gain some silverware, they will need a keeper like Akinfeev.
Lassana Diarra: This talented and tireless defensive midfielder may be on the return to England with Tottenham Hotspur. Harry Redknapp boasts a fantastic squad, with strength in depth in all positions. For Tottenham to challenge for the title and compete in Europe, Harry will need to make quality transfers that will enhance his team, as proven with the astute signing of Rafael Van der Vaart in the summer. Diarra would add some much needed steel in the midfield engine room which will complement the creativity of Modric and Van der Vaart. Diarra has worked with Redknapp before at Portsmouth, and he would probably like to rekindle their working relationship again.
Michael Owen: There has been much talk of his move away from Old Trafford as he is becoming a forgotten face amongst Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Bebe and Macheda. However, I will say that his move will be a wildcard and he could move to a club in dire need of a striker like Everton. I know this will be a sensational move considering his time spent at Anfield. But previous United leavers such as Howard, Neville and Saha have rejuvenated their careers at Goodison Park. Everton are too reliant on goals from Cahill this season and the likes of Yakubu, Beckford and Anichebe are not firing on all cylinders.
For some clubs, January is a time for buying players. However, other clubs are trying their best to keep hold of their crown jewels. Many clubs will be trying their luck this January to prise away Jack Rodwell, Gareth Bale, Phil Jones, Ryan Shawcross and Mark Albrighton, whether it be other Premiership clubs or European clubs. I believe this January will probably be a quite one, and most likely it will be Manchester City who will splashing the cash the most and running up the headlines.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Life after Martin O'Neil at Aston Villa
I think it would be fair to say that many in the world of football were disappointed by the departure of Martin O'Neil at Aston Villa. He turned an under-achieving mid-table side into a top-four contender in the league and seriously challenging in cup competitions. He brought success to his previous clubs at Leicester City and Celtic, and brought hope and excitement at Villa Park. He nurtured and developed young British talent such as Ashley Young, James Milner and Gabriel Agbonlahor. His legacy is still prevalent with emerging new talents in the form of Marc Albrighton and Nathan Delfouneso. However, it all went into turmoil when O'Neil announced his shock exit, days before the opening weekend of the new season. The fingers point towards a breakdown in the relationship between O'Neil and club owner, Randy Lerner. In all fairness to Randy Lerner, he has provided great support to O'Neil as he bankrolled the signings of Young, Milner, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Friedal, Cuellar and others. The players that are mentioned have proved to be astute signings which have improved the side significantly. However, O'Neil has got it wrong at times and some of his signings have not proved to be a return on investment. A lot of money has been spent on Downing and Delph, yet they have struggled for form or fitness. Beye, Shorey, Sidwell, Guzan and Heskey look to be flops and have not added much value to the squad. And it could be these types of signings that have annoyed Lerner as he may feel that some of this money has been ill spent. However, one must also bear in mind that Villa do not boast a sizeable warchest like Manchester City or Chelsea and Lerner cannot compete along those budgets. Nor do they have the revenue income from ticket sales like Old Trafford or the Emirates due to having a stadium with a capacity less than 50,000. Therefore, Villa may not be able to acquire the 'quality' signings they need to push forward. Martin O' Neil may have recognised that Villa may have reached their peak in being a top 6 club in the Premiership and it's difficult for them to go beyond that. This may be why Barry and Milner had moved on to Man City where they could realise their opportunities for realistically challenging for a Champions League place and even play in it within their career span.
But life must move on at Villa Park, otherwise all their hard work will all be in vain and could move backwards. A priority must be to appoint a new manager. Kevin Macdonald has come in as caretaker and has enjoyed a good enough start, with a 3-0 win against West Ham and are still in for contention to progress into the next round of the Europa League. However in my opinion, I believe that an experienced and proven manager is what is best for Villa to move on and progress. Many names have been thrown into the hatincluding former Man City boss Sven Goran Eriksson, current USA coach Bob Bradley and even the Croation coach Slaven Billic. These contenders have enjoyed success previously, but I do not think they would be the right fit for Aston Villa. My choice for this position would be Alan Curbishley. I am sure he is incredibly hungry to prove himself again at a big club after his relatively short stint at West Ham. He enjoyed a long and successful career with Charlton Athletic, along with launching the Premiership careers of Darren Bent, Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky. I think Curbishley can continue to follow through with the ethos of developing young English talent at Villa and bring the best out of Marc Albrighton, Ciaran Clarke and Nathan Delfouneso. Also working under a trusted and respected manager, the likes of Friedal, Young and Agbonlahor are unlikely to move onto new pastures.
With 10 days left of the transfer window, Aston Villa have got their work cut out for them if they want to make any signings. The acquisition of Stephen Ireland in the James Milner transfer is a fine one, as Ireland can reproduce his best form within a regular role in the midfield engine room. He has passion, talent and strength, and we could see a revival in his career as seen with former Man City team-mate, Richard Dunne. Ireland was consistently rated as one of the best players in the Eastlands by the backroom staff. However, his temperament was questionable at times and this may have led to him being pushed into the periphery by Mancini. Nevertheless, I feel confident that Ireland can become a great player for Villa and demonstrate why he was even mooted as a potential replacement for Roy Keane at Manchester United. A cause for concern at Villa would be the strikers department. Agbonlahor is young and talented striker who is still learning and has yet to reach his peak. He can be prolific in front of goal, but the burden should not fall entirely on his shoulders. Carew and Heskey are ageing veterans now and cannot be expected to be goal-machines, whilst Delfouneso is still in the transitory period between reserve team football and first team football. With a reported £20 million or more that was exchanged for Milner, Villa should be able to get a quality striker and have some money leftover. Hugo Rodallega of Wigan could fit the bill, as he has shown that he can be lethal in the Premiership with his strength, pace and eye for goal. Barcelona's Bojan has fallen out of favour at Nou Camp due the emergence of Pedro. Bojan is young and talented striker with a rich Catalan education and could add another dimension to largely British squad. However, my recommendation would be Luis Suarez. He was highly sought by Manchester United and Real Madrid after his 49-goals exploit last season at Ajax. Although he engaged in some serious unfair play at the World Cup this year, there is no doubt about his quality and ability to score. He may come at a high cost, but it would be a worthwhile purchase if he forms a deadly strikeforce partnership with Gabriel Agbonlahor.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Martin O'Neil is a man that I highly respect and I wish him all the best in moving on. However I also hope that Aston Villa do not crumble as a consequence as previously seen with clubs that O'Neil has left (Leicester City were relegated from the Premiership and Celtic have struggled to challenge for the SPL title against bitter rivals Ranger). This could prove to be a make or break season for Aston Villa as they look to move on from Martin O'Neil's departure. Randy Lerner must not undo all the hard work that he has done since coming into Villa Park and become another hated American owner like the Glazers or Hicks/Gillet.
But life must move on at Villa Park, otherwise all their hard work will all be in vain and could move backwards. A priority must be to appoint a new manager. Kevin Macdonald has come in as caretaker and has enjoyed a good enough start, with a 3-0 win against West Ham and are still in for contention to progress into the next round of the Europa League. However in my opinion, I believe that an experienced and proven manager is what is best for Villa to move on and progress. Many names have been thrown into the hatincluding former Man City boss Sven Goran Eriksson, current USA coach Bob Bradley and even the Croation coach Slaven Billic. These contenders have enjoyed success previously, but I do not think they would be the right fit for Aston Villa. My choice for this position would be Alan Curbishley. I am sure he is incredibly hungry to prove himself again at a big club after his relatively short stint at West Ham. He enjoyed a long and successful career with Charlton Athletic, along with launching the Premiership careers of Darren Bent, Scott Parker and Paul Konchesky. I think Curbishley can continue to follow through with the ethos of developing young English talent at Villa and bring the best out of Marc Albrighton, Ciaran Clarke and Nathan Delfouneso. Also working under a trusted and respected manager, the likes of Friedal, Young and Agbonlahor are unlikely to move onto new pastures.
With 10 days left of the transfer window, Aston Villa have got their work cut out for them if they want to make any signings. The acquisition of Stephen Ireland in the James Milner transfer is a fine one, as Ireland can reproduce his best form within a regular role in the midfield engine room. He has passion, talent and strength, and we could see a revival in his career as seen with former Man City team-mate, Richard Dunne. Ireland was consistently rated as one of the best players in the Eastlands by the backroom staff. However, his temperament was questionable at times and this may have led to him being pushed into the periphery by Mancini. Nevertheless, I feel confident that Ireland can become a great player for Villa and demonstrate why he was even mooted as a potential replacement for Roy Keane at Manchester United. A cause for concern at Villa would be the strikers department. Agbonlahor is young and talented striker who is still learning and has yet to reach his peak. He can be prolific in front of goal, but the burden should not fall entirely on his shoulders. Carew and Heskey are ageing veterans now and cannot be expected to be goal-machines, whilst Delfouneso is still in the transitory period between reserve team football and first team football. With a reported £20 million or more that was exchanged for Milner, Villa should be able to get a quality striker and have some money leftover. Hugo Rodallega of Wigan could fit the bill, as he has shown that he can be lethal in the Premiership with his strength, pace and eye for goal. Barcelona's Bojan has fallen out of favour at Nou Camp due the emergence of Pedro. Bojan is young and talented striker with a rich Catalan education and could add another dimension to largely British squad. However, my recommendation would be Luis Suarez. He was highly sought by Manchester United and Real Madrid after his 49-goals exploit last season at Ajax. Although he engaged in some serious unfair play at the World Cup this year, there is no doubt about his quality and ability to score. He may come at a high cost, but it would be a worthwhile purchase if he forms a deadly strikeforce partnership with Gabriel Agbonlahor.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Martin O'Neil is a man that I highly respect and I wish him all the best in moving on. However I also hope that Aston Villa do not crumble as a consequence as previously seen with clubs that O'Neil has left (Leicester City were relegated from the Premiership and Celtic have struggled to challenge for the SPL title against bitter rivals Ranger). This could prove to be a make or break season for Aston Villa as they look to move on from Martin O'Neil's departure. Randy Lerner must not undo all the hard work that he has done since coming into Villa Park and become another hated American owner like the Glazers or Hicks/Gillet.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Pre-Season Assessment: Manchester United
The time has now come to discuss my supported team, Manchester United. After the disappointment of narrowly missing out on the title, Sir Alex and co will be ever more determined to win it back and challenge for the Champions League trophy too. This young squad is another year older with senior players like Giggs, Scholes and Neville supporting them. Sir Alex wants to emulate the successful young team that he accomplished in the 90's with the Nevilles, Beckham, Butt and Giggs. And this year could be the year where it all fits together. Let me show you how this squad fairs.
Goalkeeper: The No. 1 custodian for this season will continue to be Edwin Van Der Sar without a doubt. Despite his age, he is a strong, commanding and reliable keeper who can give confidence to his four defenders in front. However, I do predict that this could be his last season, and Sir Alex will have his eye out for a suitable successor. Possibly this could be Igor Akinfeev, Gianluigi Buffon or Manuel Neuer. Ferguson will not want to repeat goalkeeper merry-go-round when he had to replace the great Peter Schmeichel and had to go through Mark Bosnich (not United quality), Fabian Barthez (too erratic and eccentric), Massimo Taibi (an embarrassment) and Tim Howard (never recovered from a fatal mistake). Ferguson will bide his time for one more season, and will be satisfied with a safe enough back-up in Kuszczak.
Right-Back: Rafael Da Silva will be a maturer player and will have learnt from his mistake in his sending off against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season. We saw that night that he can terrorise down that wing and possesses plenty of quality. If he can remain a mainstay in the team for the whole season, this could be the start of a career of being the true successor to Gary Neville. Wes Brown, Gary Neville, John O' Shea and Richie De Laet can offer back-up in this position so this area should not be of concern.
Centre-Backs: The strong defensive duo Ferdinand and Vidic would be the ideal pairing for every game. But it seems that age has crept up to Ferdinand as he is troubled by injuries on a regular basis since last season. Jonny Evans has shown to be able to deputise in these times effectively, but he is still very young and can succumb to the odd mistake. Now with the addition of Chris Smalling, this should provide healthy competition for Jonny Evans as a deputy to Ferdinand-Vidic. Smalling has made quite a meteoric rise to prominence as a young and talented defender. Much will be expected of him as many were surprised that Sir Alex chose splash out on a player who plying his trade in the non-league 18 months beforehand. At a height of 6ft 4", he may provide a few goals from set pieces with his towering presence. Yet I am sure Ferguson does regret letting Pique go as he is now developing into becoming a world-class defender.
Left-Back: This position belongs to Evra as he is one of the best left-backs in the world. Fabio and John O' Shea will merely be back-ups for Evra. However, I would like to see Fabio develop like his twin so that we can see both brothers playing in a future United team like the Neville brothers of the 90's.
Central Midfield: The centre of the park had belonged to Keane and Scholes. Now Scholes does remain at United, but we cannot expect his goal scoring rate of past, nor can he play week-in week out. Darren Fletcher moved out of the periphery of the squad and is now considered a regular first team player, but a Scholes-type replacement would complement him in the midfield. Darron Gibson has shown flashes of his potential and his eye for goal, and this season could be the one where he steps up to challenge for a first-team place rather than be a Carling Cup player. Michael Carrick has never fulfilled his potential or played consistently well throughout the whole of last season, whilst Owen Hargreaves continues to spend his United career in the treatment room. Anderson has still yet to live up to his hefty price tag and is plagued by injuries. I feel that Ferguson will be patient for one more season until he will be certain to offload Carrick, Hargreaves and Anderson. If Ferguson manages to snare Mesut Ozil (the perfect Scholes successor) in this transfer window, he would offer the goals and creativity that is needed in this United team.
Right Wing: Antonio Valencia came in last season and fitted in well. He is by no means a Cristiano Ronaldo, but he does the job of getting those vital crosses in. He is still yet to reach the peak of his career and I am sure we will be able to see him flourish even further this season and with more goals. Park Ji Sung and Gabriel Obertan offers healthy competition for this position, but this seems like a safe area for this United side.
Left Wing: Ryan Giggs is a legend. Not just to Man Utd, but to the Premiership. However, he cannot be the wing wizard as he used to be and has now adapted his game to a more central role, rather than out wide. Nani came out of the wilderness in the second half of the season and began to show why Ferguson invested a huge sum in bringing him to Old Trafford at a young age. With experience and maturation, he is playing with more confidence and ability. It may seem now that the left wing position can be his this season, and that he too can provide a goal threat like his former team-mate Ronaldo did. Can Ferguson place his faith with this young Portuguese winger on a regular basis and show that he was right in not signing David Silva?
Strikers: Wayne Rooney will be out to answer his critics, and make up for his lack of goals in the World Cup. He was the club top scorer last season and is likely to be so this season too. However, he may not have to bear the burden of being the main goal scorer with the new signing of Javier Hernandez. I will admit that I was skeptical as to why Ferguson was buying an unknown player from Mexico. But this could prove to be the signing of the season, as Hernandez has shown goal scoring abilities in the World Cup and the pre-season friendlies. With this extra firepower, United can attack with more confidence. Berbatov may have been kept because Ferguson wants to have a senior striker, alongside Michael Owen to mentor his younger strikers. Like in the treble-winning squad, Ferguson had 4 competent strikers at his disposal with the likes of Yorke, Cole, Sheringham and Solskjaer. Now Ferguson has that with these four. He also has Diouf and Wellbeck, but they will be loaned out to gain regular Premiership experience. However, Ferguson will want to keep Macheda as a back-up in the squad and will want him to be a super-sub like Solskjaer. Has Ferguson made the right decision in not splashing out on Karim Benzema? And can those frustrating draws of last season be goal-fests?
Overall, we can see that this squad is young, talented and has strength in depth. Chelsea will be the team to beat in the Premiership, with Arsenal and Man City providing a strong title challenge. Real Madrid and Barcelona will be the toughest foreign opponents in the Champions League this season, and United will have to be that extra bit special to overcome them. This season will be exciting, with plenty of shocks, surprises, goals and tears. And we will get to see glimpse of this at the Community Shield this Sunday. Whoever wins on Sunday, will probably win the Premiership title.
Goalkeeper: The No. 1 custodian for this season will continue to be Edwin Van Der Sar without a doubt. Despite his age, he is a strong, commanding and reliable keeper who can give confidence to his four defenders in front. However, I do predict that this could be his last season, and Sir Alex will have his eye out for a suitable successor. Possibly this could be Igor Akinfeev, Gianluigi Buffon or Manuel Neuer. Ferguson will not want to repeat goalkeeper merry-go-round when he had to replace the great Peter Schmeichel and had to go through Mark Bosnich (not United quality), Fabian Barthez (too erratic and eccentric), Massimo Taibi (an embarrassment) and Tim Howard (never recovered from a fatal mistake). Ferguson will bide his time for one more season, and will be satisfied with a safe enough back-up in Kuszczak.
Right-Back: Rafael Da Silva will be a maturer player and will have learnt from his mistake in his sending off against Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season. We saw that night that he can terrorise down that wing and possesses plenty of quality. If he can remain a mainstay in the team for the whole season, this could be the start of a career of being the true successor to Gary Neville. Wes Brown, Gary Neville, John O' Shea and Richie De Laet can offer back-up in this position so this area should not be of concern.
Centre-Backs: The strong defensive duo Ferdinand and Vidic would be the ideal pairing for every game. But it seems that age has crept up to Ferdinand as he is troubled by injuries on a regular basis since last season. Jonny Evans has shown to be able to deputise in these times effectively, but he is still very young and can succumb to the odd mistake. Now with the addition of Chris Smalling, this should provide healthy competition for Jonny Evans as a deputy to Ferdinand-Vidic. Smalling has made quite a meteoric rise to prominence as a young and talented defender. Much will be expected of him as many were surprised that Sir Alex chose splash out on a player who plying his trade in the non-league 18 months beforehand. At a height of 6ft 4", he may provide a few goals from set pieces with his towering presence. Yet I am sure Ferguson does regret letting Pique go as he is now developing into becoming a world-class defender.
Left-Back: This position belongs to Evra as he is one of the best left-backs in the world. Fabio and John O' Shea will merely be back-ups for Evra. However, I would like to see Fabio develop like his twin so that we can see both brothers playing in a future United team like the Neville brothers of the 90's.
Central Midfield: The centre of the park had belonged to Keane and Scholes. Now Scholes does remain at United, but we cannot expect his goal scoring rate of past, nor can he play week-in week out. Darren Fletcher moved out of the periphery of the squad and is now considered a regular first team player, but a Scholes-type replacement would complement him in the midfield. Darron Gibson has shown flashes of his potential and his eye for goal, and this season could be the one where he steps up to challenge for a first-team place rather than be a Carling Cup player. Michael Carrick has never fulfilled his potential or played consistently well throughout the whole of last season, whilst Owen Hargreaves continues to spend his United career in the treatment room. Anderson has still yet to live up to his hefty price tag and is plagued by injuries. I feel that Ferguson will be patient for one more season until he will be certain to offload Carrick, Hargreaves and Anderson. If Ferguson manages to snare Mesut Ozil (the perfect Scholes successor) in this transfer window, he would offer the goals and creativity that is needed in this United team.
Right Wing: Antonio Valencia came in last season and fitted in well. He is by no means a Cristiano Ronaldo, but he does the job of getting those vital crosses in. He is still yet to reach the peak of his career and I am sure we will be able to see him flourish even further this season and with more goals. Park Ji Sung and Gabriel Obertan offers healthy competition for this position, but this seems like a safe area for this United side.
Left Wing: Ryan Giggs is a legend. Not just to Man Utd, but to the Premiership. However, he cannot be the wing wizard as he used to be and has now adapted his game to a more central role, rather than out wide. Nani came out of the wilderness in the second half of the season and began to show why Ferguson invested a huge sum in bringing him to Old Trafford at a young age. With experience and maturation, he is playing with more confidence and ability. It may seem now that the left wing position can be his this season, and that he too can provide a goal threat like his former team-mate Ronaldo did. Can Ferguson place his faith with this young Portuguese winger on a regular basis and show that he was right in not signing David Silva?
Strikers: Wayne Rooney will be out to answer his critics, and make up for his lack of goals in the World Cup. He was the club top scorer last season and is likely to be so this season too. However, he may not have to bear the burden of being the main goal scorer with the new signing of Javier Hernandez. I will admit that I was skeptical as to why Ferguson was buying an unknown player from Mexico. But this could prove to be the signing of the season, as Hernandez has shown goal scoring abilities in the World Cup and the pre-season friendlies. With this extra firepower, United can attack with more confidence. Berbatov may have been kept because Ferguson wants to have a senior striker, alongside Michael Owen to mentor his younger strikers. Like in the treble-winning squad, Ferguson had 4 competent strikers at his disposal with the likes of Yorke, Cole, Sheringham and Solskjaer. Now Ferguson has that with these four. He also has Diouf and Wellbeck, but they will be loaned out to gain regular Premiership experience. However, Ferguson will want to keep Macheda as a back-up in the squad and will want him to be a super-sub like Solskjaer. Has Ferguson made the right decision in not splashing out on Karim Benzema? And can those frustrating draws of last season be goal-fests?
Overall, we can see that this squad is young, talented and has strength in depth. Chelsea will be the team to beat in the Premiership, with Arsenal and Man City providing a strong title challenge. Real Madrid and Barcelona will be the toughest foreign opponents in the Champions League this season, and United will have to be that extra bit special to overcome them. This season will be exciting, with plenty of shocks, surprises, goals and tears. And we will get to see glimpse of this at the Community Shield this Sunday. Whoever wins on Sunday, will probably win the Premiership title.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The Future of England
The disappointment of the so called 'Golden Generation' was illustrated again at this year's World Cup. Wayne Rooney did not score a single goal, Steven Gerrard continued to be marginalised by Frank Lampard and John Terry was unable to command a strong defensive line. A group of individual talents were again unable to bring glory to England, as they seem to fall apart collectively. These are players who are considered 'world class' when playing for their clubs, yet they become lost souls in an England shirt. By the time the 2014 World Cup starts, many of these players will be in their twilight of their careers and will be past their peak.
And now the Premier League is under fire for the demise of the English national team by allowing such a great influx of foreign players that are inhibiting English players to develop in the Premiership. I believe that there is some truth to this claim, but some accountability must fall on managers who are not putting their faith in English players. Scott Parker and Shaun Wright-Phillips found their chances limited at Chelsea and never progressed into stars. Foreign players such as Torres, Tevez and Fabregas bring in a bigger commercial windfall through merchandising sales and publicity. However, the counter argument could be that managers are under so much pressure to succeed in every match, that they cannot take the risk in playing unproven English talent. Another side to this story is the culture of the English game and youth academys. The emphasis in England is the physical game and physical development, rather than the technical game as seen in Italy and Spain. One can cite the examples of Messi, Zola, Maradona. These are all incredibly gifted players who may have struggled in their early years if they were placed in the English academies because of a lack of height or strength. As seen with Wenger and Arsenal, he was unhappy with the state of the Arsenal academy when he first joined. He created a shift in paradigm where greater focus of technical development was created from a young age rather than the physical game. This is why he has now started to bear fruit with the emergence of Kieron Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Emmanual Frimpong.
Heavy investment is made at Chelsea on their youth development, but their faith lies in young foreign players rather than English talent. We see the emergence of Gael Kakuta and Jeffrey Bruma, and these could be the future of Chelsea. However, it appears that they have shunned the likes of Ryan Bertrand, Scott Sinclair and Michael Mancienne who are now plying their trades at lower clubs on loan deals. Chelsea do have Daniel Sturridge on their books, in which they bought from Man City. Yet I forsee his first team chances to be limited as Chelsea would rather buy and then play established stars such as Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli or Kaka.
The new squad rules that is implemented this season on having at least 8 home grown players in the squad may improve the situation. However, the success of this intervention will only be seen when these 'home-grown players' are actually playing for their teams on a regular basis, rather than warming the bench on matchdays.
I would like to list the potential England squad for 2014 to show that there is hope for English football.
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Ben Amos (Manchester United).
Defenders: Micah Richards (Man City), Nedum Onaha (Man City), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kieron Gibbs (Arsenal), Leighton Baines (Everton).
Midfielders: James Milner (Aston Villa), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Adam Johnson (Man City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
There are other players who could be considered too such as Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic) and Danny Wellbeck (Manchester United).
If you closely observe, you will notice that all these players ply their trade in England. It may be beneficial for them if they gain experience playing in the European Leagues such as La Liga and Serie A. Also, many of these players lack Champions League experience which is vital in knowing how to play against foreign opposition in cup competitions. However, these are young players who have yet to hit their potential, and one can only hope that they realise it by taking advantage of their opportunities and having the determination to succeed. England does have young talent waiting in the wings, and Fabio Capello must adapt with the times and prepare the new generation for future tournaments. We will have to wait and see how and if the England team evolves in the European Championships Qualifying campaign.
And now the Premier League is under fire for the demise of the English national team by allowing such a great influx of foreign players that are inhibiting English players to develop in the Premiership. I believe that there is some truth to this claim, but some accountability must fall on managers who are not putting their faith in English players. Scott Parker and Shaun Wright-Phillips found their chances limited at Chelsea and never progressed into stars. Foreign players such as Torres, Tevez and Fabregas bring in a bigger commercial windfall through merchandising sales and publicity. However, the counter argument could be that managers are under so much pressure to succeed in every match, that they cannot take the risk in playing unproven English talent. Another side to this story is the culture of the English game and youth academys. The emphasis in England is the physical game and physical development, rather than the technical game as seen in Italy and Spain. One can cite the examples of Messi, Zola, Maradona. These are all incredibly gifted players who may have struggled in their early years if they were placed in the English academies because of a lack of height or strength. As seen with Wenger and Arsenal, he was unhappy with the state of the Arsenal academy when he first joined. He created a shift in paradigm where greater focus of technical development was created from a young age rather than the physical game. This is why he has now started to bear fruit with the emergence of Kieron Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Emmanual Frimpong.
Heavy investment is made at Chelsea on their youth development, but their faith lies in young foreign players rather than English talent. We see the emergence of Gael Kakuta and Jeffrey Bruma, and these could be the future of Chelsea. However, it appears that they have shunned the likes of Ryan Bertrand, Scott Sinclair and Michael Mancienne who are now plying their trades at lower clubs on loan deals. Chelsea do have Daniel Sturridge on their books, in which they bought from Man City. Yet I forsee his first team chances to be limited as Chelsea would rather buy and then play established stars such as Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli or Kaka.
The new squad rules that is implemented this season on having at least 8 home grown players in the squad may improve the situation. However, the success of this intervention will only be seen when these 'home-grown players' are actually playing for their teams on a regular basis, rather than warming the bench on matchdays.
I would like to list the potential England squad for 2014 to show that there is hope for English football.
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Ben Amos (Manchester United).
Defenders: Micah Richards (Man City), Nedum Onaha (Man City), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kieron Gibbs (Arsenal), Leighton Baines (Everton).
Midfielders: James Milner (Aston Villa), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Adam Johnson (Man City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa).
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Theo Walcott (Arsenal).
There are other players who could be considered too such as Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Victor Moses (Wigan Athletic) and Danny Wellbeck (Manchester United).
If you closely observe, you will notice that all these players ply their trade in England. It may be beneficial for them if they gain experience playing in the European Leagues such as La Liga and Serie A. Also, many of these players lack Champions League experience which is vital in knowing how to play against foreign opposition in cup competitions. However, these are young players who have yet to hit their potential, and one can only hope that they realise it by taking advantage of their opportunities and having the determination to succeed. England does have young talent waiting in the wings, and Fabio Capello must adapt with the times and prepare the new generation for future tournaments. We will have to wait and see how and if the England team evolves in the European Championships Qualifying campaign.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The 1st Blog: Liverpool pre-season
Welcome readers!! This is the first blog of Football Commentaries where I discuss the latest football news, transfers and issues.
Fernando Torres has stated his commitment to Liverpool FC at a time when the gossip columns have been exploring the endless possibilities of transfers to other clubs. I think this is fantastic news for Liverpool and the Premiership because we need the Premier League to remain highly competitive. Torres is one of the best strikers in the world, despite a poor showing at this year's World Cup. However I feel that if Liverpool underachieve as they did last season under Rafa Benitez, then Ray Hodgson is likely to lose Torres to the likes of Man City, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter or Real Madrid. What will also be interesting is whether Hodgson will play Torres as a lone striker or will he be partnered up with Liverpool's new striker Jovanovic. However, we must not forget that Liverpool has bolstered their attacking midfield options with Joe Cole and if he is paired up with Steven Gerrard, I think Liverpool can be incredibly lethal.
I am also intrigued as whether Hodgson will impress as a manager at Liverpool. Without a doubt, he did an incredible job at Fulham, where he turned relegation candidates into Europa League finalists. However emulating that type of success will be a big step up as his main rivals will be Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Tottenham Hotspur rather than Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Everton. Hodgson will be at a bigger club, with higher expectations (to get back a Champions League place) and now uncertainties with ownership. I hope for the good of the Premiership that Hodgson does turn Liverpool around and make them title challengers again.
Fernando Torres has stated his commitment to Liverpool FC at a time when the gossip columns have been exploring the endless possibilities of transfers to other clubs. I think this is fantastic news for Liverpool and the Premiership because we need the Premier League to remain highly competitive. Torres is one of the best strikers in the world, despite a poor showing at this year's World Cup. However I feel that if Liverpool underachieve as they did last season under Rafa Benitez, then Ray Hodgson is likely to lose Torres to the likes of Man City, Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter or Real Madrid. What will also be interesting is whether Hodgson will play Torres as a lone striker or will he be partnered up with Liverpool's new striker Jovanovic. However, we must not forget that Liverpool has bolstered their attacking midfield options with Joe Cole and if he is paired up with Steven Gerrard, I think Liverpool can be incredibly lethal.
I am also intrigued as whether Hodgson will impress as a manager at Liverpool. Without a doubt, he did an incredible job at Fulham, where he turned relegation candidates into Europa League finalists. However emulating that type of success will be a big step up as his main rivals will be Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Tottenham Hotspur rather than Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Everton. Hodgson will be at a bigger club, with higher expectations (to get back a Champions League place) and now uncertainties with ownership. I hope for the good of the Premiership that Hodgson does turn Liverpool around and make them title challengers again.
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