All posts by h79snht.top

If you take beauty from some of the smaller and perhaps fleetingly accepted Premier League details much like myself, you will be familiar with the fact that league regulations designate seven substitutes on a match day; a two person advance on the number of players retired after the culmination of the 2007/8 campaign. More spaces on team coaches have been filled in the years since with the aim of giving managers more of a choice to reactively call upon given the matches incidences.

However, the nation’s Football League put the ‘number of substitutes’ debate to a vote in the summer and the majority favoured a reversion back to naming five players on the bench and was the rationale agreed upon for this 2011/12 campaign. With a host of clubs in England’s next respective tiers struggling to fund large squads, and easily naming seven different subs a week, financial fair play reasons were also mooted in the reasons for opting for the reversion. Football League clubs still have to name seven subs for FA Cup and Carling Cup matches but are allowed five as devised by the Football League in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Nevertheless, the more asset-rich Premier League understandably maintains the seven substitute stance. More funds may be available for back-up talent, but you can’t help get the feeling that it is so much easier to get into a squad these days and that the modern-day ‘benchwarmer’ is a role fulfilled by many an unused player.

As we all know, the Premier League adopts the ‘home-grown’ talent ideology nowadays and in a 25-man squad, at the end of each transfer window there has to be at least eight players, foreign or not who have been affiliated to the FA for three seasons prior to their 21st birthday. Understandably, this was brought into operation to safeguard the passage of more youthful products into the first team selections of clubs to help the national team.

However, there are still a number of players who seem to be used simply ‘for show’ and there is not always a place on the bench for the clubs more youthful talent (the idea wasn’t it?). Take the two North London clubs. Tottenham fans are still baffled by the retention of Giovani Dos Santos who has failed to live up to the heights predicted for him since his move from Barcelona in 2008. This season he has made five unused substitutes appearances in the league and in the other five appearances he has entered the field of play, he has only reached a minute combined total of 66 minutes in playing time.

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

Similarly employed and fleetingly called upon despite full fitness is Arsenal’s summer signing Park Chu Young. The Korean international captain has even more league unused substitutes appearances totalling ten and has astonishingly just seven minutes playing time; against Manchester United, since his summer move from Monaco. Both players continue to be a firm fixture in their national team set up despite a distinct lack of playing time however.

We must comprehend that Arsenal and Tottenham have bigger and more competitive squads than most but doesn’t it make a mockery of the clubs initial PR speeches when they predict a good future for players whom they rarely go on to deploy?

Back in August last year, Arsene Wenger said of Park’s signature

‘We are delighted to have signed Ju. He will add true quality to our attacking forces and will be a valuable addition to our squad’.

If valuable means keeping the bench warm in the eyes of Wenger, the Korean is certainly doing his job, but in all seriousness highlights the modern pattern that there is a specific breed of ‘cup players’.

Other arguable examples in the league include Rafik Halliche, Romelu Lukaku, James McFadden, Sebastian Coates, Albert Crusat and Rob Hulse and these types do little but wear a high-vis and parade the touchline, whereby the league hoped many younger talents would gain these supposedly vacant extra two slots. Yes, the likes of Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba, Cameron Lancaster and Sam Hutchinson may have been spotted on Premier League benches this season but it is still at far too infrequent intervals with the selection of more experienced ‘benchwarmers’ still taking precedence.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

If The Premier League followed the Football League’s stance in reverting back to five substitutes, not only would clubs reduce their wage bill as fringe players would be fed up at an even lesser role, but it would be that much more competitive to get into a match day squad and questions of self-motivation and self-desire would be raised for the manager to reward good character, instead of simply selecting those players seemingly just ‘for show’.

What do you think, are seven substitutes a good thing? Who is your benchwarmer at your club? Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989

[divider]

[ffcvideo file=”tfcb8″ type=”mp4″ image_type=”jpg”]

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has stated that rumours that he had a bust-up with team-mate Mario Balotelli are completely false.

Reports indicated that the Ivory Coast international and the temperamental forward had clashed in the City dressing room at half-time of their 3-3 draw with Sunderland at the weekend, but Toure denies this.

“They said I fought with Mario at Swansea and against Sunderland,” he told The Daily Mail.

“That shocked me. My lawyers called me about this and it was the first I knew about it.

“It’s just not true. It didn’t happen. I am a footballer, not a boxer. People don’t know my relationship with Mario. He’s not my friend, he’s my brother and I love him.

“To say we had a fight is very sad. It upset me and I feel sorry for Mario. He suffers most from these things.

“At half-time against Sunderland it was very difficult. We are trying to win the league and are losing 2-1. It’s not good. But everybody was quiet. We were just looking at each other, trying to find a way to turn the result.

“But I didn’t even talk to Mario. The next day he sent me a text message saying, “Apparently we had a fight”. I just want to stop people writing and thinking that,” he concluded.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Wigan attacker Victor Moses has rejected a new contract to keep him at the DW Stadium, and is ready to move to a bigger club in the summer according to Sky Sports.

The Nigeria international has been a standout performer for the Latics this season, and is one of the main reasons for Roberto Martinez’s men avoiding relegation.

The African forward is highly-rated and Wigan are eager to keep him for at least another season, but Moses has his eye on a move to one of the Premier League big boys.

Moses’ agent Tony Finnigan has declared that the player is ready for a step up, and wants to leave Wigan once the transfer window reopens.

“I think what Wigan have done is tremendous and shows it was the right place for him to go after Palace. But now I think Victor is ready for the next step,” the representative stated.

“He still has lots of improving to do in terms of scoring goals more regularly. But I think that would come if he was surrounded by better players. That’s what he wants and is why he won’t be extending his contract. I can’t see Victor changing his mind.”

The news is sure to alert the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool, who are both interested in the £10 million-valued attacker.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Dnipro wide-man Yevhen Konoplyanka has been attracting the interest of clubs in England with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal trailing the 22-year-old according to Talk Sport.

Konoplyanka is set to represent co-hosts Ukraine in the forthcoming European Championships and is expected to play a large part in their campaign. A string of solid performances in the tournament could well see his value raised and competition for his signature from elsewhere increase.

The winger possesses terrific pace and has improved rapidly since his league debut at the age of 17. According to the report he aspires to play in one of Europe’s top leagues but the excellent financial position of Dnipro will mean that he will not come cheap.

Historically Ukrainian players have struggled for success in the Premier League with Sergiy Rebrov, Andriy Shevchenko and Anriy Voronin all struggling to make an impact during their spells in England.

Konoplyanka however is of a different mould and his willingness to run at players and whilst also offering versatility will prove an attractive proposition for the trio.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be eager to add depth in the wide areas with Nani performing inconsistently last season and Arsene Wenger will also look to improve the quality of his attacking options. Chelsea could make an offer as they continue the summer overhaul of their squad with the likes of Marko Marin and Eden Hazard already set to make their mark at Stamford Bridge next season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

It is always a sad time when a fantastic footballer’s career comes to an end. In the modern day there are fortunately a number of destinations where a successful player in the twilight of their career can go to earn a last paycheque before they hang up their boots. The MLS, Qatar and United Arab Emirates have perhaps more traditionally served as a less competitive environment where a career can be extended in recent times. David Beckham and Thierry Henry are to players to opt for America while Fabio Cannavaro and most recently Raul have opted for the Middle East. China has also added its name to the list recently but Brazil is now emerging as a new favourite to house some of the great veterans of the game in previously uncharted territory in South America.

The country is experiencing an economic boom and is now one of the top 10 largest economies in the world. This has filtered through to the clubs in the source of sponsorship money from companies experiencing the vast benefits of growth. Such deals have enabled many of the country’s biggest clubs to hold on to their prize assets, like Santos retaining the in-demand Neymar and Ganso, as well as tempting other players who could still cut it in Europe back to their homeland. Another reason for the latter however involves the desire to gain support to participate in the national team, a motive arguably behind Vagner Love and Luis Fabiano’s recent return to Brazil.

If executed correctly, such big name signings can help improve the revenue flowing into the club further. This was the aim when Flamengo added Ronaldinho to their team, completing a deal that would see sports marketing agency Traffic pay 75% of his wages in return for control over his image rights. Of course, that did not work out quite as well as planned and ultimately left the player well out of pocket.

But it is such a collaboration that could see Clarence Seedorf join Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo. With the saga ongoing, according to sports daily Lance!, the club’s kit suppliers Puma had revealed an interest in paying part of the player’s wages which have proven to be a stumbling block. Puma know it will boost shirt sales and thus their revenue and with multi-national corporations recognising the huge market in Brazil we could start to see some of Europe’s great talents head to South America to end their career.

Alessandro Del Piero is the latest player to be linked such a move by Sky Sports Italia after his contract with Juventus ended. Cruzeiro, Corinthians, Botafogo and Flamengo were the teams touted as the six-time Scudetto winner’s potential suitors in Brazil, but River Plate have also been mentioned as well as a host of club’s from Asia and America. Capturing such a presitigious player would be a coup financially, but even more so if they could still contribute to the team, which Del Piero certainly could.

Hosting the World Cup in 2014 only serves to add to the interest surrounding Brazil. Huge levels of investment into infrastructure and stadiums (if completed in time!) will serve to take the clubs to the next level. Indeed they are already thinking more like businesses than previously. Corinthians recently signed Chen Zhizhao on a long term loan with the Timao board admitting that it was largely a marketing move to help boost merchandise sales in Asia.

For a European to ply their trade in South America remains a rare exploit. World Cup winner David Trezeguet is currently playing for River Plate in Argentina’s second tier. In Brazil perhaps the best known European was Serbian Dejan Petkovic who spent time at no fewer than seven different Brazilian clubs before lifting the national championship with Flamengo in 2009.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The outlook for the Samba nation looks positive both economically and in footballing terms. They possess a hugely competitive championship that will only continue to grow if managed correctly. And so potential transfers of previously world class players like Seedorf and Del Piero could set a precedent for retiring Europeans to test their mettle in South America.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

It could be argued that Liverpool haven’t produced a world-class talent from their academy since current skipper Steven Gerrard over a decade ago; this subsequently led to a transforming of the academy system under former manager Rafa Benitez that is only starting to bear fruit – with this in mind, should Brendan Rodgers focus on blooding more youth into the first-team next season?

On Twitter last week, somewhat bizarrely, there was a buzz among many Liverpool supporters that Daniel Pacheco had returned to the club after a loan spell in Spain with Rayo Vallecano. Pacheco is 21 years of age now, if he was going to break through, he would have done it by now and the concerns about his slight build are obviously still being ignored.

The myth that he is good enough for the first-team and has been cruelly overlooked by a succession of managers comes merely from the fact that Liverpool purchased him from Barcelona and after all, everyone that Barcelona produces must be a world-class talent in the making. As a club, Liverpool’s conveyor belt of young talent has long since dried up, with Pacheco talked up more simply because of the reputation of his former club rather than anything special about the player himself, but there is a definite Catalan influence on the youth-team set-up now and one that needs to be taken advantage of.

In Pep Segura and Rodolfo Borrell, both of which have been tipped to have big parts to play as part of Rodgers’ inner council that consults on everything from transfers to style of play, they have two key figures at the club which have helped train the side’s reserves and academy over the past few years. Kenny Dalglish as Aacademy Director under Benitez helped implement a system which was supposed to see every side at all levels play in a similar style much like La Masia academy at Barcelona, with players able to slot seamlessly into the side the further they progressed up the ladder within the club.

While Pacheco has obviously missed the boat and his time has now passed, the club still have a wealth of talent that has up until this point, been confined to reserve-team football at best. Dalglish upon taking charge during his interim spell, when he knew he had nothing to lose, granted first-team opportunities to the likes of Jack Robinson, Jonjo Shelvey and Jon Flanagan, but they were by and large in short supply last term as he attempted to bed in an array of expensively-assembled talent at their expense in the pursuit of a top four finish.

It’s precisely these sorts of targets which restrict the opportunities granted to youngsters and Rodgers is thought to have been brought in with a long-term project and without any specific targets in mind, which should allow him more time to develop his side and integrate youth-team players more.

Perhaps more than at any other club, Liverpool fans like to see a representation of the future out on the pitch, whether they are local born and bred or not. The fanbase when results are not going well are always fixated on the youth and reserve teams, castigating the current manager in the process for not giving this or that player a chance. Nevertheless, there is sufficient talent currently within the ranks to allow Rodgers some time to experiment.

In Raheem Sterling, Connor Coady, Andre Wisdom and Suso to name but four, they have some real potential that could be gradually blooded into the first-team side. Dalglish’s reluctance to use them last season frustrated many, but with a new manager now at the helm and less of an emphasis on top four football (although the longer the club stay out of the Champions League, the more it will hurt them financially), there is a very real chance of progression.

Rodgers is known to have a preference for a 4-3-3 formation and with little in the way of pace at the club at the moment, this could be a breakthrough season for one of Sterling or Suso, who have both demonstrated some frightening ability at the admittedly limited level of reserve-team football.

Former reserve-team coach John McMahon had this to say about Suso: “He needs to know about the discipline and work that’s required in a team, like tracking back, tackling and staying with runners.” While Suso himself admits he struggled initially with the transition: “The game here requires you to run a lot more. For that reason it is more difficult. “I need to improve my intensity and my defending.”

It would be a shame that if the very creativity that he is being lauded for is then drilled out of him in the pursuit of a more rounded and disciplined player – the first-team already has plenty of those, but it requires more craft rather than graft. Rodgers is known to be a fan of possession-based football and someone like Suso could be what he’s after, in the short-term at least, with the club’s transfer budget unlikely to set pulses racing this summer. Sterling remains an interesting option as an impact substitution and both could have a part to play in the coming campaign.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Which young player would you like to see given more first-team opportunities at Liverpool next season?

You can follow me on Twitter @JamesMcManus1

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

Having topped the group and qualified for the quarter-finals of the Olympics, Team GB can certainly take some pride in their efforts so far at London 2012. The first football team from Great Britain for 40 years may not have set the world alight with some lacklustre performances but they have progressed through the competition and have every chance of claiming a medal.

A place on the podium may be overcrowded in team sports but a top three finish would justify the decision to reform the side after so many years, despite various controversies that surrounded the initial build up. The omission of David Beckham and lack of Irish and Scottish representation aside, Team GB’s results have proven why having a united football team was an inspired idea but given the lack of motivation exhibited by players and the underwhelming football on offer, can a British team really last or is it just a novelty in honour of having the tournament on home shores?

For starters all football fans will have enjoyed having some extra action to get their teeth into but the standard of competition has not been up to scratch. Not only has the British team been cobbled together at the last minute but they have had little preparation and the majority of the squad appear to be tired and unmoved by proceedings. It should be considered criminal for any professional sportsman to fail to be inspired by the Olympics but with football, an under-23 themed International competition doesn’t exactly represent the pinnacle of the beautiful game. As such players do not seem as enthusiastic as they should be and the turgid performances witnessed by fans are testament to a drop in standards from the weekly hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

International football has always provided a different style of play and it’s not only Team GB who have seemed below par but their side is made up almost entirely of players plying their trade in the English top flight and they should therefore be dominating matches against the likes of UAE and Senegal. Instead they seem incapable of raising their game beyond doing only what is required of them and had it not been for Craig Bellamy’s passionate influence then the team could easily have bowed out of the competition with a whimper. A conflict of motivations appear to have affected the team and despite some players being inspired by their Olympic opportunity, there are many who seem far more concerned with the upcoming opening weekend of the Premier League and are happy to simply go through motions. Further, domestic managers seem unwilling to release their top stars so Stuart Pearce will feel his squad could have been far stronger had he been allowed to call up the names he originally wanted. Instead players like Gareth Bale have sidestepped the competition and Pearce has been left with a group of players whose intentions are unclear plus a mix and match of Welsh and English stars but no Scottish or Irish, which is hardly indicative of a Great Britain team. While Pearce’s hands are clean as his squad choices were largely based on the talent available to him, another concern is that fans from the unappreciated nations are unlikely to fully get behind the side and with so many problems already surrounding the viability of Team GB, plus the low key atmospheres and sluggish performances, many are wondering if they will ever see a Great Britain football team again in future Olympics.

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

Having been without a Team GB since 1972 and failed to qualify for the main tournament since 1960, it would appear the opportunity to have a home nations style side was a novelty that officials could not refuse, but regardless of various derivative reasons to dismiss the squad, fans have still turned out in their numbers to watch their heroes and ultimately the team have reached the knock-out stages. Given the manner with which the team struggled through their group, a winnable game against Korea Republic should not be smirked at, but they seem to be finding their feet with every match they play together and should be able to reach the semi-finals for a likely showdown with favourites Brazil. There would be little shame in losing to the strongest side in the competition plus they could still claim a bronze medal and become the most successful British football team ever. It may not be UEFA Champions League but such achievements are still finite in the career of professional footballers and Bellamy has already stated his pride in being the first British goal scorer in decades, so why not take satisfaction from being an Olympic medal winner?

The summit of sporting achievement is the Olympics but sports like football always have difficulty persuading partaking members who are not as committed to the cause while fans allegiances are also less devoted, especially when it’s an integrated Great Britain. Before the tournament started few would have batted an eyelid if the team had fallen flat on their face, but the reality is they have performed admirably enough so far and have the potential to improve still further. A bronze medal may not be enough to encourage players and fans that the Olympics is an important tournament but becoming the most successful side in British history should still warrant a concerted effort from the team and an impressive performance this summer could be the catalyst for future generations to fully get behind a unified Great Britain football team.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Is Team GB a novelty or will they compete at future games? Do fans feel connected to the British side or are they more concerned with domestic action?

Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher

I know it’s pretty impossible to tell what will happen in the Premier League, mainly because no one expected last season to end in the outstandingly entertaining way it did, but I would like to try. Here is my potential top five for the Premier League:

1. Manchester City:

In Villa Park yesterday it felt as though City were laying down a gauntlet in the 12 second half minutes in which they scored three goals. They still haven’t made a new signing, although a deal for Jack Rodwell is soon to be finalised, but do they really need to? Considering the fact Stefan Savic is back up to either Joleon Lescott or the imperious Vincent Kompany a top class defender is essential and Daniel Agger would fit the bill. All the talk of bringing in Van Persie seems a bit pointless considering they have a choice in attack between Balotelli, Aguero, Dzeko and Tevez.

Carlos Tevez will be vital for City this season as he will act like the new signing if he can stay as focused as Mancini claims he is. His link up play with Aguero could be one of the factors the boys in the MOTD studio are raving about if City reclaim the title next season. Although a lack of signings tends to be seen as negative City fans will gladly settle for a new centre back as well as Jack Rodwell, as long as reborn Carlos Tevez can play like we all know he can. If he does then I can’t see City finishing below first again.

2. Manchester United:

Although we haven’t had a revolution of new signings in the red half of Manchester this season Shinji Kagawa looks to be an astute one. After all the theatrics involved with Eden Hazards move, United fans will be pleased to hear that Kagawa has better stats lasts season than Hazard and played in a league viewed by many as playing at a higher level. However, something strange has been happening at Old Trafford this pre-season, instead of plenty of enthusiastic fans getting excited about a new season, a split is starting to appear.

Due to his uncompromising backing of the increasingly dodgy looking Glazer regime, Sir Alex Ferguson no longer has the total backing of the majority of the fans. Petitions are being written, letters sent to the Scot and fans even questioning that the reason for his almost blind loyalty is down to money not the love of the club.

If you told this to anyone in football ten years a go they would have laughed in your face before assuming you were a City fan incognito. With uncertain times off the pitch at least Fergie can rely upon Vidic to return and sort out a defence that looked nervy at best during last season. Not only that but United had 14 players missing through injury when things looked worrying and won’t be expecting the lightning strike of bad luck to hit twice in two seasons.

Even with all that in mind, I think they need to step up the pursuit of Van Persie or bring in another striker as they could be looking to the FA or League cup for realistic silverware. City’s potential dynasty could have begun last May and with the momentum on their side it’ll take a lot to stop them.

3. Chelsea:

With a dazzling array of creative and exciting stars added to the midfield line up at Chelsea, you’d expect them to improve on their worst league finish since Roman Abramovich took control of the club. Although the glory of that final in Munich will still be sung about in the crowd the challenge for Di Matteo starts now.

With the addition of Hazard, Marin and Oscar means that Chelsea have addressed the lack of creativity in the midfield and after a good summer for El Nino picking up the golden boot, perhaps Torres will finally come good in blue. I am very excited about the new Chelsea line up as they now potentially have the best midfield in the league. For this reason I believe that they will finish top of the London league, which has some way to go to better the Manc alternative. Arsenal and Spurs have made changes but I think that due to the defensive resilience shown toward the end of last season, mixed with the creativity added this summer, all that is needed at Stamford Bridge is someone to convert the chances into goals. This could be the season that Torres returns.

4. Arsenal:

Thanks to Manchester mania taking over the race for the Premier League last season, Arsenal’s third position in the League was under rated in my opinion. We all remember the atrocious start to the season Wenger’s team made, after what he described as ‘the most disturbed pre-season I know’, and to finish in third was a feat unfairly ignored. To replicate that finish will be even more difficult considering the reinforcements brought in at Chelsea and the threat of Tottenham under AVB.

In Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski are signs to be optimistic at the Emirates this season. For me Arsenal will do well to finish fourth as one of the reasons they did so well in the league last year was thanks to a terrible run by Spurs in the second half of the season and Chelsea’s own disaster start under AVB. Arsenal were able to capitalise on others hiccups tremendously last year so if I am wrong and they do replicate third in the league or better then I hope it is the start of something and not just the final hurrah under a Premier League legend in Arsene Wenger.

5. Tottenham:

The debate about AVB will go on and on but it won’t be decided until Tottenham’s season begins. AVB’s time at Chelsea is better left as a bad sporting memory and will either be looked back on as a minor blip on an outstanding managerial career or it’ll be the first piece of evidence people use when damning him into the pit of Premier League failures.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Luka Modric looks set to finally leave much to the dismay of the White Hart Lane faithful. This could be a blessing in disguise with the money they should receive for him will allow them to finally add to an attack that, right now, only consists of Jermain Defoe. Deals are in progress, we are told, for Adebayor and Leandro Damiao, the latter could prove to be a fantastic signing, but with the kick off to the 2012/13 season just around the corner it’s hard to see where the goals will come from on a regular basis.

On the bright side though the addition of Vertonghen and Sigurdsson will make the lose of King and Modric, if/when he leaves, easier to deal with. Vertonghen’s arrival from Ajax is a real coup with many in the Dutch sides camp saying that he is better than Vermaelen was when he left Ajax for another North London club a few years a go.

For me though this is a year of transition for Spurs and a finish in the top four should be viewed as nothing short of excellent. However if we see any of the suicidal defending present this time last year at Chelsea we may not see AVB around for very long.

Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria, Ander Herrera, Daley Blind. These are just some of the big names that have joined the Louis van Gaal bandwagon at Manchester United after a miserable 2013/2014 under the guidance of former Everton gaffer David Moyes. Looking at the players that the Dutchman has recruited, as well as the players already at the club, it’s safe to say that scoring goals won’t be a problem for the Old Trafford side.

However, on the basis of the start of the 2014/2015 campaign, a panic stricken backline has been the fundamental reason why the Red Devils have dropped vital points. After losing valuable experience in the shape of Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra to QPR, Inter Milan and Juventus respectively, the likes of Jonny Evans, Rafael and youngster Tyler Blackett have been exposed at the back on several occasions.

Although the club are in a transitional period, winning one game in six in all competitions, conceding 12 goals in the process is not the ‘Manchester United way’. With a mega spend on the frontline, splashing the cash on a world class defender should be the priority in order for the 20 times Premier League champions to at least bring Champions League football back to the red side of Manchester.

One notable centre half that would fit perfectly into the heart of the defence is Mats Hummels. The Borussia Dortmund centre back is your all round, complete defender. As well as revelling in the tackle and reading the game, the Germany international has the capability to compose players around him and play from the back. Strong in the air, and a decent target man from set pieces, the strong defender can also provide the occasional goal. In the 2012/2013 season, the Dortmund centre back made more tackles than any of his teammates and committed the second fewest fouls in the side. With reported interest already rife for Hummels, van Gaal should make the German signing on the dotted line at Old Trafford his main priority in January.

An alternative to Hummels, one of the best defenders in the world, is Atletico Madrid’s Brazilian defender Miranda. Probably a surprise to many not to be selected for Luis Felipe Scolari’s World Cup squad, the centre half had a magnificent 2013/2014 campaign, that included aiding Atletico Madrid win the La Liga title and reaching the Champions League final. Also being courted by Premier League rivals, the 30-year-old can bring vital experience to a youthful United defence that includes 18-year-old £27m left back Luke Shaw and youth prodigy Tyler Blackett. Despite not being the tallest centre half at 6”0, Miranda has an incredible leap, as well as good awareness and a quiet aggression.

United’s leaky backline is something that teams will look to exploit. However, despite the lack of experience, the potential is there for the likes of Shaw, Blackett and Rojo to establish themselves as players that can be relied upon. Nevertheless, with the undoubted quality of the forward line causing havoc in the Premier League, a world class and experienced centre half is desperately needed.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

The Premier League is up and running, and already we have our first controversial moment, courtesy of Newcastle boss Alan Pardew.

This summer’s sport has provided a genuine feel good-factor, and with the country still basking in Olympic glory the pressure was on the returning Premier League to continue in this vein of fair play and decency. But Pardew’s shove on assistant referee Stuart Burt seemed to bring everyone back down to earth with a bump.

The FA have charged the Newcastle boss with misconduct, and the press and several fans forums seem to have been deeply offended by the incident.  Having watched it back several times, I can’t help but feel that is a bit over the top.

The 51-year-old described the incident as ‘comical’ in his groveling apology. I personally would have described it as hilarious. Not  so much the incident itself, but the reaction that followed from Pardew was priceless.

He realised instantly what a cock-up he had made as soon as Stuart Burt turned to confront him. He turned away unable to look the linesman in the eye, and continued to shout his complaints at nobody in particular.

When approached by Martin Atkinson he just stood there like a schoolboy in his short sleeved white shirt and tie, looking sheepish as he received his telling off. He had no answers, no explanation. It was simply a moment of madness.

His attempts to get hold of a headset from his assistant John Carver under the nose of fourth official Lee Mason was also hilarious. As he tried to sneak back into the dugout to grab it and relay some last minute instructions, Mason turned and snapped at him to get up to the stands pronto. It was similar to the actions of somebody refused entry to a nightclub, but pleading with security to let them in quickly to ‘talk to their mates.’

The whole incident was simply ridiculous, and Pardew clearly spent his time in the directors box – otherwise known as ‘the naughty corner’ – coming up with a way to minimize the damage.

He settled for the ‘comical’ approach, play the incident down and just keep smiling. Nobody can stay angry somebody with a smile on their face surely?

“I was saying to the players about the great Olympics and to set an example. And they all did that … except for me.” he told his post match press conference, with comedic timing Jimmy Carr would have been proud of.

Well he won me over. I don’t think the push was overly aggressive, and you can tell by his reaction Pardew regretted it as soon as it happened. Like a child getting caught swearing, he knew what he had done but it was too late to change it.

It seemed like he had meticulously thought and rehearsed his post match interview with Match of the Day several times, and I think if your willing to go to that much effort to make light of a moment of madness, I’ve come around to the feeling we should give the guy a break.

I agree what he did was wrong and sets a poor example, but I personally am a big fan of the passion Pardew brings to the game. Incidents like this where he gets caught up in the moment have happened before, some have landed him in hot water and others haven’t.

His instinctive victory jig when West Ham scored a play-off semi final goal against Ipswich was an example of someone getting totally lost in the moment. His ill-fated appearance on Match of the Day was an example of his passion causing problems, as he ended up using the worst vocabulary possible to describe a brilliant tackle. Similarly to the shove, this was not out of nastiness or spite, just passion and fuzzy thinking.

He claimed he would have ‘kicked his granny’ to be in the position Newcastle found themselves in with two games remaining last season. Not a great term to use, but you can see where he’s coming from .. sort of.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

And who could forget his famous touchline bust up with Arsene Wenger in 2006, when the Frenchman took exception to his over-the-top celebrations, Pardew responded by squaring up to the Arsenal boss and engaging in a shoving match. ‘Why shouldn’t I celebrate my team scoring?’ was his reasoning, and rightly so.

Pardew has come out and apologised and that should be the end of it. I hope the FA show some common sense and don’t go out to try and make an example of the Newcastle boss. We need Alan Pardew on the touchline to provide us with more comedy gold.

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]