Ivan Gazidis has been quick to talk up Arsenal’s position going into this summer’s market, all the while making everyone aware of the difficulties due to the managerial merry-go-round among some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
But in all honesty that isn’t enough of a barrier to prevent Arsenal getting what they want and need this summer.
The club are armed with at least £70million for Arsene Wenger to use as he pleases, while Gazidis has also been quietly pushing for the manager to use all of the resources available to him.
Despite the number of players Arsenal have been linked with and the depth the team needs, there is already a good foundation for a strong starting XI, with only a few additions required.
The emphasis, however, needs to be on building a squad who are capable of handling the pressures of four competitions over the course of the season. There really is no excuse for Wenger not to strengthen considerably ahead of next season.
Click on Gonazalo Higuain to see the Arsenal XI every Gunner will be praying for come the start of the season
15/10/2011 Gonzalo Higuaín Celebra El ‘Hat-Trick’ Ante El Betis.El Real Madrid se impuso al Betis (4-1) en un partido correspondiente a la octava jornada de la Liga BBVA, disputado este sábado en el Santiago Bernabéu, con goles de Higuaín en tres ocasiones y Kaká, consiguiendo un resultado que deja a los blancos líderes provisionales.DEPORTESREUTERS
Ashley Cole is rated higher than Leighton Baines in FIFA 14’s list of the top 5 defenders in the Premier League, thus making him England’s best left back.
The Chelsea footballer is on third place of the list and leaves the Everton left back behind him on fourth. EA Sports has therefore made it clear that if you want a strong left side for England you will have to choose the Three Lions’ centurion over the Toffees’ man.
Manchester United’s Nemanja Vidic is the top defender in the game’s League and is followed by Manchester City’s Vincent Kompany. United’s Rio Ferdinand sits behind Baines on fifth place.
England’s left back position has raised many debates as people have supported that Cole’s experience is vital whilst some other argued that Baines’s quickness and hunger makes him better than the former.
Cole is one of the all time greats as he has played for both Arsenal and Chelsea where he counts 156 appearances for the Gunners and 217 for the Blues. He has also amassed 105 caps for England.
Baines on the other hand is considered as one of the Premier League’s best defenders with 204 caps for Everton where he also scored 18 goals. He was also just a breath away from joining Man United this summer alongside his former teammate Marouane Fellaini.
Nevertheless you can still play with each one of them in Chelsea and Everton respectively, but you will have to make Roy Hodgson’s tough decision when you play in international competitions.
None of them though make the list of best defenders in the world although Vidic and Kompany get third and fourth place respectively.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva will be the man to beat overall in the game whereas Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm is second best. Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos makes the list on fifth place.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
EA have made a little tweaking on the defensive part as well as now defenders are able to make a second chance tackle to recover from a failed tackle.
Therefore all of you take notice that once the opposing defender misses to capture the ball from you that does not mean he is done trying.
Such is the nature of modern football fans and the tendency for “knee-jerk” reactions that any form of criticism can be misinterpreted as full-blown hostility.
Every club wants to move towards young, progressive managers, ignoring those who have been around for well over a decade. But couldn’t you argue that there’s a reason the veteran managers have been around for so long? Yes, they’re good, but they’re that good because they’re able to learn from their mistakes and prolong their stay at the top of the game.
Is the same true for Andre Villas-Boas?
He’s tactically intelligent and has an idea for taking Tottenham forward. I stopped short of saying a clear idea because there is little clarity in what he’s currently doing. It’s ironic that his rival counterpart at the Emirates is often accused of stubbornness, but there is something quite clearly stubborn about the way in which Villas-Boas sets up his team.
The loss against Newcastle on the weekend could have been completely different on another occasion. Spurs peppered the Newcastle goal with shots but were unable to beat Tim Krul. The loss aside, that was one of the only times this season where Spurs looked like they could score more than once. The fact that they didn’t only compounds the problem of Villas-Boas’ rigid management.
There shouldn’t really be a worry as to whether he’s good enough or not – I believe most are of the opinion that Villas-Boas has the managerial skill set to eventually be considered one of the leading coaches in Europe. But flexibility becomes part of that. Where flexibility can justifiably become a secondary issue is if the manager is getting it right off the bat, where his clear go-to tactical set up is working and bringing results. That isn’t the case at present for Villas-Boas.
[cat_link cat=”tottenham” type=”list”]
The Portuguese’s stubbornness isn’t really a newly-discovered aspect of his managerial style. At Chelsea he insisted on doing it his way, which is fair considering the goal is what the owner apparently wanted. But it resulted in his firing midway through the season. At Spurs last season, he was accused of seeing things that clearly weren’t there after losses.
But he has done a lot for Tottenham, arguably warranting the patience of fans. The question is how long will his belief that he is right with the current team last? They’re not scoring and therefore not producing what is expected of them following the activity of this past summer. He alone is accountable, and for all his insistence that this is the right tactical approach, we haven’t really seen much in the way of an improvement.
Villas-Boas is dealing with a large number of players who are new to this league and this country – bedding in is natural, so is allowing time for each player to familiarise themselves with one another. But the manager is neither doing himself nor his players any favours. Defensively they look good; there’s a unity and an understanding about the back line. The attack is greatly contrasting. You could argue that players aren’t working for one another and you could also question whether there is a clear brief as to what they ought to be doing on the pitch. This isn’t a needless attack, because so many good players can’t be so ineffective for so long.
Villas-Boas was brought up working with Jose Mourinho and Bobby Robson. It wouldn’t be amiss to say he’s developed some of their characteristics for doing things their way. But those managers earned that right. Mourinho may be a controversial figure, but he’s a winner. He’s been a success wherever he’s been and even if he moves on from Chelsea, he’ll immediately have a host of top clubs offering him one of the best-paid jobs in Europe.
The Tottenham manager still has some way to go before he reaches that plateau. It is very much about learning on job. Last season following a sluggish start, Tottenham put together a good set of results and found themselves in a battle for fourth place in the Premier League on the last day of the season. This time, they don’t have Gareth Bale to help them up the league table. Villas-Boas will need to learn to use what he currently has to compensate for that loss.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It was midway through Michu’s first and only season with Rayo Vallecano that he was linked with a move to Manchester United.
Like Levante during the same season, an interesting and exciting talking point was emanating well away from the big two in La Liga, though not necessarily geographically.
Rayo were and continue to be the smallest of the Madrid-based teams currently competing in the top flight. During that season in which Michu came to fame, the team that wanted to attack, but couldn’t always help themselves at the other end, where they became entrenched in a relegation scrap that went all the way down to the wire, past the final game and well into the final minutes of the league season.
At Rayo, Michu was compared to Frank Lampard for his goals from midfield – a fitting description back then. But Michu has abandoned the clearly defined midfield role and has walked along a path of ambiguity. Still no one really knows if he’s a midfielder or a forward. Perhaps he’s both, like his compatriots who effortlessly move about the pitch and throw up great debates as to how to properly define, say, Juan Mata, who is a No.10 at Chelsea but who played as a left winger and striker at Valencia.
And there is no knock on Michu’s abilities, just that he doesn’t fit the mould of a typical Spanish player. The positional uncertainty is there, so too is the quality in the final third, but the style and fluidity of performing in *that* type of system is clearly absent, or rather a different approach is preferred.
It doesn’t matter too much. With the building of a superpower comes the need to further develop to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Spain have conquered Europe and the world, but it would be foolish for them to not seek other means of advancing through on goal; the oft-marginalised Plan B.
The thing is, that Plan B may not come from Michu, at least not initially. Diego Costa is the bullish battering ram than can complement the ‘traditional’ players in Vicente Del Bosque’s team. He’s direct, he’s proving to be a fantastic source of goals, and his call up eventually will be deserved.
But like Michu, it would have been a little unusual, even wrong had he – and for the sake of the argument, dismiss nationality – been called up to the national team in 2009. It was the height of Guardiola’s Barcelona. Xabi Alonso, as good as he is, was breaking up the most dominant midfield axis in Europe in Barcelona’s midfield three. Andres Iniesta would find a place further up the pitch, but that again highlights the flexibility of many of the Spaniards. There was talk of the false 9 to attempt to replicate the Barcelona model to its fullest. First it was David Silva and then eventually Cesc Fabregas. It was the necessary evolution of a national team taking the strongest elements of its domestic game.
Now, however, is the right time for Spain to be talking about Michu and even Costa. Not because of how good they are, but because of their contrasting style that will strengthen Spain’s standing at the zenith of international football.
In a Barcelona where Fabregas is steadily carving out his future as the direct option over Iniesta and even Xavi, Michu will represent a similar alternative for Spain. He won’t play keep ball with Xavi, Busquets or Silva; you may even forget he’s on the pitch while the tiki-taka is in full flow. But he will pop up when it matters and will likely to put the ball in the back of the net, such are his instincts further up the pitch.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Michu may have deserved a call by the Spanish coach in the past, but now the time is right.
Has the wait for Michu’s Spanish call up been justified?
The tenure of Tottenham Hotspur’s manager Tim Sherwood has from its inception been an unnecessarily tenuous affair, to objective observers at least.
Taking over from former boss Andre Villas-Boas, Sherwood had no previous managerial experience whatsoever but, on the face of it appears to have steadied the ship, acquitting himself well in his new and unfamiliar role.
Yet it would appear grumblings of discontent are emerging from the stands at White Hart Lane, with many supporters feeling that their former midfielder’s reign in charge would be best confined to the history books at the end of the season, a view that has sparked gossip-mongering over who could be next in line to take the job.
Here, we examine whether Sherwood should stay on or undertake a new challenge come May.
It was a surprise to many in the world of football when experienced Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy handed Sherwood an 18-month contract as head coach.
Having been working as technical-director, he undertook the role of interim boss following the sacking of Villas-Boas, guiding his side to a 3-2 victory over Southampton at St. Mary’s. It appeared then that Levy had seen enough, with the announcement that his role would be permanent, coming the following day.
Things started off well, with the seemingly rejuvenated Spurs losing just one of their next six matches, with doubts that had been expressed regarding Sherwood’s appointment appearing unjustified.
These were brought racing back to the surface, however, following a 5-1 home defeat to Manchester City, which has sparked a period of uncertainty, with the side losing three of the subsequent five games.
Focus will similarly not have been aided by the speculation that former Barcelona, Bayern and current Netherlands manager Louis Van Gaal is being lined up to take charge of the North Londoners.
The Duthcman made clear that he would not be in charge of his national side come Euro 2016, stating “maybe there will come a new challenge, I have said before that a challenge should be a club in the Premier League.”
Sherwood though has remained dignified throughout, to a point that it is not unreasonable to expect his services to be in demand if he is released from his current role.
Whether or not that would be fair though, is up for debate, as his record thus far must be assessed in its right and proper context.
For one thing, the former Blackburn midfielder is working with a side that is entirely of his predecessors making, having made no additions in January and losing experienced striker Jermain Defoe in the process.
Indeed, the only ‘signing’ that he has been able to make has been the reinstating of Emmanuel Adebayor to the side, who to his credit has notched up eight goals for his new boss.
Furthermore, it has to be said that the influx of players that occurred during the summer has included some questionable acquisitions, with Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli and Roberto Soldado all putting in performances of dubious quality.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
It is a testimony to his impact then, that his current record has seen his side picking 23 of the available 33 league points since he took charge, compared to 17 under Villas-Boas when he took over, and 15 in the 11 league games prior to his sacking. It would seem then, that based on his results so far, which is of course all he can be judged upon, Sherwood is doing better than the former incumbent.
But Spurs fans appear, dare I say it, to have a rather lofty opinion of their club whose record since the Premier League began in 1992 has been pretty ordinary. In 20 seasons they’ve only finished in the top 4 twice, won the League cup twice and got to the quarter finals of European competition twice. The majority of this, granted has been achieved within the last 5 years, however, if the Premier League has proven anything it is that nouveau success among clubs outside of the big 5 can be fleeting.
This is not to say that the supporters are unjustified in their thirst for success, more that it should be moderated by an element of realism regarding the facts of their club. Are they a big club? Well that depends how you would define that rather broad statement, in terms of fanbase, yes, but in terms of performance and trophies the answer would at best be a weak ‘kind of’ at worst, a pretty resounding no.
In summary then, Sherwood, if given the time to formulate the side into something of his own, with tactful signings and little more experience, could well prove to be the man for Spurs, a side who’s season appears to have been largely undone by the sale of star-man Gareth Bale. If though, the club opts not to persevere with him, one can only hope they do so for his replacement, after all, in building a enduringly successful team, stability can often prove to be nine tenths of the law.
Louis van Gaal doesn’t believe in egos and superstars, which probably explains why he has failed to get on with some of the biggest names in football in the past. He abhors those who oppose his managerial techniques – players and board members – and, as described by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, behaves like a dictator.
You have to wonder how far Wayne Rooney’s most recent contractual saga would have stretched. Had van Gaal been in charge at United, it’s likely the England forward would either have been made to stay on the coach’s terms, or he would have been sold.
But van Gaal is a winner. He’s meticulous in his approach to management. He knows exactly what he wants from his players and forces them into his system, rather than adjusting his methods to suit the players in his squad.
The current Netherlands coach is known to prefer the 4-3-3 formation, or a variation of it, seen at Bayern, with each player holding very specific duties on the pitch. What should be said about van Gaal is that he doesn’t allow passengers in his team. He wants defending and teamwork from the front (Luca Toni and Mario Gomez weren’t favoured by the Dutchman while at Bayern), he wants wide players to follow his oft-rigid instructions exactly – and based on his success rate in the past, it’s hard to argue against his methods. Intelligent football comes first.
What United desperately need at this time is a manager who can whip this squad into shape, or a modification on this squad following acquisitions this summer.
Van Gaal is known for having guided both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola in the early stages of their managerial careers, and the model currently in use at Bayern Munich is one that was introduced under the Dutch manager during his tenure from 2009 to 2011.
Does that mean United, if they land van Gaal this summer, are set to strut through next season and beyond with the swagger currently held by those in Bavaria and previously at Barcelona? Not quite. It’s no secret that it takes years of planning to develop a style currently on display at both FCBs. But what is absolutely certain is that van Gaal will make the players at United better, while also improving on the dire displays of much of this season under David Moyes.
Not only does he have a track record of getting the best out of his players, he’s also capable of working miracles, as seen by his Eredivisie triumph with an under-resourced AZ Alkmaar, who were closer to relegation than the title the season before, and, of course, the European Cup success with a youthful but immensely talented Ajax team.
Van Gaal’s success stories with youth in the past will bode well for United’s youngsters. Players like Tom Cleverley may simply be seen as expendable and not good enough. That interview held with The Mirror back in February won’t have helped the United academy graduate, with Cleverley unable to define what exactly his role is in the United midfield. As already mentioned, there are no passengers in van Gaal’s teams.
But it does mean that Phil Jones and Chris Smalling may finally get their careers at United off and running, both in and out of the team since arriving at the club, both suffering from injuries and inconsistency. The talent is there, notably in Jones, and a manager like van Gaal will be invaluable in their development.
Van Gaal isn’t without his shortcomings, though. For all the praise that can be lavished on the veteran coach, there are also concerns about his style that may rumble to the surface if he arrives at United this summer.
The Dutchman rarely leaves a club without first having made at least one enemy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a player, members of the boardroom or the local media. Van Gaal’s approach to management, strictly adhering to his principles, can land in him hot water, too.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
What can be noted is the criticism Pep Guardiola has faced following Bayern’s 1-0 loss away to Real Madrid on Wednesday night. The Catalan coach is said to be doing too much to disrupt an effective winning machine, tinkering with a system to suit his own. As evidenced by Wednesday’s loss, it can be detrimental.
Van Gaal has suffered from similar problems in the past. It goes without saying that not every footballer can adjust to every tactical setup, while for those who can, it naturally takes time. Don’t be surprised then if van Gaal arrives at United and isn’t immediately racking up the wins.
Arsenal are said to be one of two teams in the Premier League chasing Federico Fazio. The Sevilla centre-back has been a regular for his club in recent seasons, helping them to the Europa League title last season.
There are obvious concerns about Fazio, notably his defensive awareness to counter a severe lack of pace. His stature is very similar to that of Per Mertesacker, but the German has looked far more comfortable than the Argentine.
Fazio has improved over the past 12 months, however. Initially he would have been a considerable risk, but he has shown more composure in his game than what was regularly seen from him in the past.
If Arsenal do wrap up a deal for the 27-year-old, where he’d possibly replace Thomas Vermaelen in the squad, the club will need to continue to invest.
These are six players who could follow Fazio to Arsenal.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Antoine Griezmann to reveal all
Football – Ecuador v France – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group E – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 25/6/14France’s Antoine Griezmann (L) in action against Ecuador’s Frickson ErazoMandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
[/ffc-gallery]
Alexis Sanchez
Football – Spain v Chile – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group B – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 18/6/14Chile’s Alexis Sanchez warms up before the matchMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Recent rumours of Alexis Sanchez heading to Liverpool should send Arsenal scrambling. In a summer where there is little clarity about who Arsenal’s star striker purchase will be, they can’t afford to pass on the availability of the Chile international.
Alexis is everything Arsenal need as a centre-forward. He allows for a completely different approach to what Olivier Giroud offers, able to inject pace, trickery a consistent source of goals. Considering Arsenal targeted Luis Suarez last summer, Alexis would make a lot of sense as the club’s prime target this year.
Alexis has had one of the best season’s of his career, and by staring at the World Cup for Chile, this is the best time to sign a player who was recently struggling for form and confidence.
//www.youtube.com/embed/q07wKowKpOM
Mathieu Debuchy
Football – Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur – Barclays Premier League – St James’ Park – 13/14 – 12/2/14Mathieu Debuchy – Newcastle United Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed SykesEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further det
Mathieu Debuchy is said to miss the Champions League, in what is a not-too-subtle indicator that he’s thinking about life away from Newcastle. The French international signed for the club for a bargain fee of £5.5 million in January 2013 and has adapted well to the Premier League.
The 28-year-old was a part of Lille’s title winning side, and, being a French international, does have the quality to replace Bacary Sagna as Arsenal’s first-choice right-back.
It isn’t too clear where Arsene Wenger will be moving in order to address the right-back position in his squad; Carl Jenkinson is too far off from being given the starting role. But Debuchy could be a low-cost, high-quality addition for the club, certainly if other targets prove to be unattainable.
Serge Aurier
Football – Greece v Ivory Coast – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group C – Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil – 24/6/14Greece’s Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (R) in action with Ivory Coast’s Serge AurierMandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed LeicesterLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Serge Aurier has reportedly agreed a contract with Arsenal, and with the Ivory Coast now out of the World Cup, expect more to emerge on this story in the coming days.
The 21-year-old full-back has done a lot to impressive over the past season, and this World Cup will do a lot for his reputation outside of France. Aurier is quick, strong and comfortable at both ends of the pitch. He’d be considered a step up from Bacary Sagna in the attacking third, with Aurier appearing to have a superior delivery to the former Arsenal full-back.
There seem to be very little complaints among Arsenal supporters about giving the starting role to a 21-year-old, knowing full well that Aurier is a starter for both Toulouse and the Ivory Coast. This is a player with a high ceiling who could be set to thrive at the Emirates. If the reports are accurate that he could be had for less than £10 million, Arsenal should be looking to tie up this deal as quickly as possible.
Loic Remy
Football – Newcastle United v Swansea City – Barclays Premier League – St James’ Park – 13/14 – 19/4/14Loic Remy – Newcastle United Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Lee SmithEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Talk of Loic Remy to Arsenal has gone extremely quiet in recent weeks. Interpret that however you like. Arsenal were said to be strong favourites to sign the French international prior to the start of the World Cup, but there have been few signs following that to indicate where Remy’s future lies.
Arsenal fans appear torn on the subject. While most are in agreement that a player of his experience and quality in front of goal is needed, he shouldn’t be an alternate option to a genuinely world-class centre-forward. There are doubts about whether Remy is good enough to lead Arsenal to the Premier League title.
But his versatility and ability to play on the wings makes him an attractive option. In addition, the transfer fee in the region of £10 million would be considered a bargain for a full international of Remy’s age. This one remains a possibility.
Antoine Griezmann
Football – Ecuador v France – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group E – Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 25/6/14France’s Antoine Griezmann (L) in action against Ecuador’s Frickson ErazoMandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Antoine Griezmann was regularly linked with a move to Arsenal ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. It appeared that the club were looking to tie up a deal for either Griezmann or his Real Sociedad teammate Carlos Vela.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Going into this World Cup, Griezmann was being tipped to have a breakout tournament in the absence of Franck Ribery. After two hugely impressive seasons in La Liga, this was set to be the summer in which the Frenchman really established himself as one of Europe’s top young forwards.
There’s no doubt Griezmann would be an asset in the Arsenal team. Not only does he have the speed Arsenal are desperately in need of, he is also, surprisingly, an aerial threat in front of goal.
This would be an exciting buy for Arsenal if it goes through this summer.
//www.youtube.com/embed/ytBAcHTddHk
Hector Moreno
Football – Brazil v Mexico – FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 – Group A – Estadio Castelao, Fortaleza, Brazil – 17/6/14Brazil’s Neymar in action with Mexico’s Hector Moreno Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed LeicesterLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Hector Moreno is a centre-back that has really flown under the radar in recent seasons, despite being in excellent form for Espanyol over that period. The Mexican has carried over his good domestic form to the World Cup in Brazil, where he was one of the best players on the pitch in his side’s 0-0 draw with the host nation.
Moreno is a powerful centre-back who is ideally suited to the Premier League. Others in England have been linked with a move for the 26-year-old, but Arsenal should really be looking at a player of his quality. Thomas Vermaelen may be moved on this summer, and Moreno would represent a step up in quality, with Arsenal undoubtedly needing depth at the heart of their defence.
Jose Mourinho says Frank Lampard could succeed him as Chelsea manager in the future, reports the Daily Mirror.
Lampard is set to come up against the club he left in the summer for the first time, when Chelsea travel to the Etihad to take on Manchester City tomorrow.
Mourinho admits he was surprised Lampard opted to join the Premier League champions on loan, but says that shouldn’t stop him succeeding him as boss in the future.
“I still believe that what this club proposed to him, which is to be back when he wants and to do what he wants – these were the words from Mr Abramovich – I think it’s not in any danger,” Mourinho said.
“It’s just a period of his career. We thought he was going to play for New York. He decided to play for City. It was just an option, and he had that right to do that. His place in Chelsea’s history is untouchable. I think, in the future, nothing has been lost. He can be back one day, I think so. If he wants to be a manager, he could succeed me.”
Mourinho has been busy creating a new look attacking Chelsea side since Lampard’s departure, and the Portuguese coach says he believes owner Roman Abramovich is delight with their start to the season.
“When I watch television and I see him hugging his young kids after a Chelsea goal, it’s easy to understand it’s a moment of happiness,” said the Portuguese coach. “He’s enjoying it, obviously.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“My feeling is every Chelsea fan – and he’s not just a fan, but the owner – is happy. The team are playing well . The team are getting good results. The draw against Schalke is not a good result, but is not a dramatic result. The way the team plays, everything we are showing on the pitch not just our philosophy but the way the team faces the competition – everything is positive.”
In the most dramatic, unexpected and exciting transfer of summer deadline day, Manchester United wrapped up a loan deal for Monaco striker Radamel Falcao yesterday afternoon.
The Colombian international’s quality is well known, being commonly regarded as one of the most potent strikers in world football. And the Red Devils have secured his services until at least next summer after paying a £6million loan fee, with the option of making his temporary switch permanent.
He may not have been the defensive signing many Red Devils were hoping for this summer but Falcao has a lot to offer the Red Devils.
In fact, he has so much to offer them, we at Football FanCast have felt compelled to conjure this list of the FIVE things the 28 year-old will bring to Manchester United.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON UNITED’S LATEST SIGNING TO REVEAL ALL
[/ffc-gallery]
[ad_pod id=’footballfancast’ align=’center’]
GOALS GOALS GOALS
Football – AS Monaco v Tottenham Hotspur – Pre Season Friendly – Stade Louis II, Monaco – 13/14 – 3/8/13Radamel Falcao – AS Monaco Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed Leicester
Of course, the obvious advantage to signing Radamel Falcao is that his goal-scoring credentials are nothing short of ridiculous.
Throughout spells with River Plate, FC Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco, the Colombia international has produced a career return of 200 goals in 305 appearances . That includes 18 goals in just 16 outings during the 2010/2011 Europa League tournament – the highest campaign total in the history of the competition.
Falcao has found goals easy to come by in the Argentinean, Portuguese, Spanish and French top flights and in the European second tier. In fact, last season at Monaco was the first campaign since moving to Europe in 2009 in which the 28 year-old hasn’t netted over 30 times.
So without further ado, here’s a look at the South American’s best ever goals:
//www.youtube.com/embed/xCmk96_Pfpg?rel=0
EXCITEMENT
Football – AS Monaco v Tottenham Hotspur – Pre Season Friendly – Stade Louis II, Monaco – 13/14 – 3/8/13Radamel Falcao – AS Monaco Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Jed Leicester
Radamel Falcao may not be the world-class defensive signing Manchester United fans were desperately hoping for this deadline day but in the words of Neil Lennon, it’s a transfer that truly captures the imagination.
Premier League punters have been witnessing the 28 year-old’s goalscoring exploits from afar for years, but now they’ll get a close-up look of the striker in action.
That may seem like a rather superficial point but it’s exactly the kind of pick-me-up everyone involved with Manchester United needs right now. The club currently finds itself at its lowest low since the 1980s, after succumbing to a 7th place finish last season and picking up just two points in Louis van Gaal’s three opening Premier League fixtures.
Suddenly United are an exciting, modern, entertaining and vibrant proposition once again, having spent the last twelve months looking horrendously outdated whilst playing some incredibly drab football.
Whether you agree that Falcao was the signing the Red Devils needed or not, you’ll undoubtedly feel compelled to see how he gets on in a United jersey.
OPTIONS
Louis van Gaal’s decision to introduce a 3-4-1-2 system at Old Trafford has understandably proved to be a controversial one – not least because the Red Devils are yet to win a competitive match with a formation that’s long-been considered alien to the Premier League.
But amid the debate, it’s long been forgotten that the Dutchman is employing the formation out of necessity. Right now, none of his full-backs are fit, Manchester Uniteds squad is completely absent of any top-class wide men and fitting Juan Mata, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney into the same starting line-up is proving to be a difficult conundrum.
But the arrival of Radamel Falcao does give van Gaal vital options. It’s already been alleged that he could revert back to his more favoured 4-3-3 formation, or at least a variation of it, whilst pushing Wayne Rooney deeper into midfield is another alternative worth consideration.
Furthermore, the United boss no longer has to rely upon a select few key players. Falcao’s arrival allows Rooney, Mata and RVP to be rested without compromising the quality of the starting XI. And it couldn’t have come at a better time, with rumours that the Netherlands international needs knee surgery.
THE BEST STRIKE-FORCE IN THE LEAGUE
Manchester United’s frontline was already rather envious but Radamel Falcao’s arrival brings it to a whole new level.
Indeed, defending could well prove to be the Red Devils’ undoing this season after Louis van Gaal failed to address his side’s desperate need for a top-quality centre-back on deadline day.
But at the other end of the pitch, United look absolutely deadly. Just take a gander at Falcao, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie’s stats for the 2012/13 campaign:
In short, imagine this:
Combined with this…
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Louis van Gaal has often commented on the importance of his attacking philosophy and although there may be a drastic imbalance within the United squad, a world-class strike-force fits the LVG mentality perfectly.It could even be argued to be intrinsically more important to the Dutchman’s philosophy than a water-tight defence.
It’s also reminiscent of United in the late 1990s, when their dominance of the English top flight was fuelled by the incredible strike-force of Dwight Yorke, Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
STATEMENT OF INTENT
With Manchester United out of the Champions League, they needed to make a statement in the transfer market to assure fans, pundits and rivals alike that they’re still a part of the European elite.
It could be argued that was already achieved with the record-breaking £59million signing of Angel di Maria, and in that regard, the Colombia international’s arrival can be considered a double-whammy.
After all, this is one of the most potent and sought-after strikers in world football we’re talking about, and Manchester United fought off Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid for his signature.
Even without their involvement in Europe’s top competition, Falcao’s temporary services keeps Manchester United on the map.
What a mouth-watering weekend this will shape up to be with some of the fixtures on show. There is a massive Manchester derby on Sunday to look forward to with a stuttering Manchester City, and a re-born Manchester United both looking to claim some points to improve their recent fortunes, it will be a battle to savour with lots of talking points. Newcastle have enjoyed somewhat of a revival lately as well and face an out of form Liverpool in Saturday’s early kick-off. In form Southampton and West Ham take on Hull City and Stoke City respectively, can both teams continue their adventures in the dizzy heights of the top four? Or will the winning runs come to an end for these two early season high flyers? Relegation threatened QPR and Burnley face tricky trips away to big London teams, Chelsea will host west London rivals QPR on Saturday looking to extend their lead at the top of the table whilst Arsenal host Burnley in another 3pm fixture in a match that may leave the hapless Clarets still in search of their first win. Let us take a look at Football Fancast’s predictions for this weekend’s fixtures below.
[ffc-gallery]
Click on Arsenal’s gaffer to reveal all
Football – RSC Anderlecht v Arsenal – UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday Three Group D – Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Brussels, Belgium – 22/10/14Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger before the matchMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
[/ffc-gallery]
Football – Newcastle United v Liverpool – Barclays Premier League – St James’ Park – 27/4/13Fabio Borini celebrates scoring the fifth goal for LiverpoolMandatory Credit: Action Images / Ed SykesLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for
Saturday 1st November 12:45 Newcastle vs Liverpool
Alan Pardew has hit out at the club’s fans who were calling for his head with two Premier League victories in a row, including an impressive away result at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur which was then followed by the scalping of Manchester City in the cup at the Etihad in midweek. They are enjoying a sort of purple patch at the moment and confidence should be a bit higher going into this game against a Liverpool side that have been way below par so far this season. Liverpool will be hoping to get marquee signing Mario Balotelli firing the goals in for them soon, after being disappointing so far. This will be a tough game for both sides and based on current form you have to fancy the home side to nick a point here.
Football Fancast prediction: 1-1 draw.
CAPTION CORRECTION – Football – Leicester City v Manchester United – Barclays Premier League – King Power Stadium – 21/9/14Leicester City’s Leonardo Ulloa celebrates scoring their fifth goal Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew BoyersLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. P
Saturday 1st November 15:00 Leicester City vs West Brom
Leicester returned to the Premier League and took it be storm with some impressive displays and hard fought victories, including their great comeback against Manchester United. They can be nothing short of proud of how they have performed so far but have dipped in recent games and find themselves close to the bottom three with one draw and three defeats from their last four games. West Brom are a tricky customer when they decide to turn up on the day and in Saido Berahino they have an awesome young talent who can cause any team all sorts of problems, and you have to feel that it will be his goals that will save West Brom from trouble this season, as they do not seem to have much more to offer in terms of goals. Leicester look like the most likely to come out on top of what will probably be quite a scrappy affair.
Football Fancast prediction: 2-1 Leicester win.
Football – Manchester United v Chelsea – Barclays Premier League – Old Trafford – 26/10/14Chelsea’s John Terry remonstratesMandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason CairnduffLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Saturday 1st November 15:00 Chelsea vs QPR
What can you say about Chelsea so far this season that has not already been said? Jose Mourinho’s men look unstoppable and they are like a bull in a china shop at the moment. The football has been entertaining, the players are bullish, confident and on top form, the manager is quite simply getting everything right and all that he touches is turning to gold at the moment. They are missing key striker Diego Costa, but that won’t worry them, there are plenty more goals in this team at the moment. On the complete other side of the scale, we have QPR who have been woeful at best for the majority of the games they have played in. There is a very public issue from the manager here with player fitness, and those who have been fit enough to play, have not shown the desire and passion to win games-until their home game against Liverpool that is. They pushed on from that and beat Aston Villa 2-0 in their last outing and are finally starting to look like they understand what is required to win a game of football. They will not have enough to defeat an in form Chelsea and this has goal-fest written all over it.
Football Fancast prediction: 4-0 Chelsea win.
Football – Southampton v Sunderland – Barclays Premier League – St Mary’s Stadium – 18/10/14Graziano Pelle celebrates scoring Southampton’s fifth goal with Dusan TadicMandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account
Saturday 1st November 15:00: Hull City vs Sothampton
The home side have enjoyed a fairly decent start to their campaign, flourished mainly due to some decent business in the transfer market by Steve Bruce. Their best signing looks to be Mo Diame from West Ham. This guy is enjoying a re-birth as a player, being used in his favoured central position the powerhouse has bagged four goals out of six games for the Tigers and is looking to be quite the snip at only £4Million. Their opponents, however, are the team of the moment having endured a fire sale of players in the summer; they have actually come out on top with what looks to be a better squad than last season (against all odds). Southampton are simply flawless at the moment and fully deserve their spot in the top two of the league. This will be an interesting match with plenty of goals in it, one that the South Coasters will edge, but only narrowly.
Football Fancast Prediction: 3-2 Southampton win.
Saturday 1st November 15:00: Arsenal vs Burnley.
It is hard to ignore the fact that Arsenal have suffered as a result of various injuries to key players and with that in mind it would most likely be a three horse race for the title right now than a two horse race between Man City and Chelsea. That said, the truth is they are not in the mix despite how well Arsene Wenger recruited over the summer. The Gunners only have one victory from their last four games, and will be hoping that they can rediscover winning ways with the visit of Burnley to the Emirates this weekend. The away team have been nothing short of awful since their return to the big time and are sitting at the bottom of the table, yet to find a single victory this season and you have to feel that this weekend will not be the weekend that they find their first set of three points despite facing a weak Arsenal side.
Football Fancast prediction: 2-0 Arsenal win.
Football – West Ham United v Manchester City – Barclays Premier League – Upton Park – 25/10/14Diafra Sakho celebrates with team mates after scoring the second goal for West HamMandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact you
Saturday 1st November 15:00 Stoke City vs West Ham
Stoke are always one team that are very unpredictable, but on their day, especially at home, it is very hard to predict anything other than a home side win due to how strong and hard they are to break down. They do have some key players missing for this game, more notably so their main striker Peter Crouch who picked up a suspension following Stoke’s game in the cup during the week. They are not at full strength and will have to dig deep to find a result against West Ham. The Hammers also have their own injury worries with top scorer Diafra Sakho being an injury doubt for this game. That having been said, there are goals coming in from all sorts of other players for them at the moment and they are a team full of confidence after their recent results which see them sitting fourth in the table at the moment. You have to fancy West Ham for a win in this game, but they will find it a very tricky three points to earn, trickier even than against Manchester City last week.
Football Fancast Prediction: 2-1 West Ham win.
Football – Tranmere Rovers v Everton – Pre Season Friendly – Prenton Park – 14/15 – 22/7/14Everton’s Tony HibbertMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul CurrieEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Saturday 1st November 15:00 Everton vs Swansea
There isn’t much between these two sides going into this clash. Both teams sit in mid-table after a fairly decent and comfortable start to the campaign. Neither team will be in trouble this season, but neither of them will find themselves challenging for major glory either. Everton have their eye on getting into the top four, as they always do and are not too far off of the mark, sitting four points behind the fourth spot at the moment. Their summer signing of Samuel Eto’o seems to have been their best bit of business and they will hope he can continue to score goals throughout the season for them. Over at Swansea, Garry Monk has done really well in his short managerial career so far and can be very proud of the football his team are playing recently. There is not much to pick from in this game and both teams will probably cancel each other out with some exciting football in the mix.
Football Fancast prediction: 1-1 draw.
Football – West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United – Barclays Premier League – The Hawthorns – 14/15 , 20/10/14Manchester United’s Radamel FalcaoMandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl RecineEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further d
Sunday 2nd November 13:30: Manchester City vs Manchester United
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
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 biggest game of the season so far and what an exciting prospect this is turning out to be. The games between the two sides are usually a sizzling encounter to say the least but it seems that this weekend has a lot riding on it for both sides. Manchester City, arguably the better of the two sides in the last two seasons have not been up to their impeccable standard so far this season. Their defence has leaked 10 goals already this campaign and their recent form makes for bad reading. They were outclassed last weekend by West Ham who fully deserved their three points and they have faltered since then in the cup, being knocked out by Newcastle. Not only that but David Silva is out of this one, and he has been their best player so far. Manchester United are also a team whose fortunes have been down recently and are going through a re-building period under their new manager Louis van Gaal. He has signed some great players up front but forgot to re-enforce his defence, meaning they have had a poor start to this campaign. Give them a couple more seasons and they will be mixing it up with the trophies once more. This game will be interesting and, if anything, I fear that City’s bad run is set to continue here.
Football Fancast prediction: 1-0 Manchester United win.
Football – Tottenham Hotspur v Asteras Tripolis – UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday Three Group C – White Hart Lane, London, England – 23/10/14Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the fifth goal for Tottenham and completing his hat trickMandatory Credit: Action Images / John SibleyLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Sunday 2nd November 16:00 Aston Villa vs Tottenham Hotspur
Both these teams have the potential to do well this season, and both of them have fallen flat on their faces so far. Bags of potential in both sides and a complete failure to live up to it. Aston Villa have looked the worse out of the two having lost five out of their last five games, just after their manager signed a five-year extension to his contract. Irony is a cruel mistress at times and Tottenham Hotspur are a mystery, great squad, good manager who knows what he is doing, yet poor results and players using pitch size as an excuse. They need to man up and start trying harder. This has a bore draw written all over it other than the inform Erik Lamela for Spurs who will most likely be the difference in this game to edge it for Tottenham.
Football Fancast Prediction: 1-0 Tottenham win.
Football – Crystal Palace v Burnley – Barclays Premier League – Selhurst Park – 13/9/14Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha in actionMandatory Credit: Action Images / Steven PastonLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Monday 3rd November 20:00: Crystal Palace vs Sunderland.
The home team go into this fixture with mixed fortunes so far. They looked at the early part of the season that they would face certain doom after their saviour from last season; Tony Pulis quit his job before the season had even started. Ex manager Neil Warnock has come to the rescue for Palace and helped them onto some decent football and a couple of victories, however, they have not been up to Pulis’ standard from last season and will still find themselves struggling to avoid a dogfight this season. Sunderland are a team that you would have expected to be sitting in the top 10 but have instead crashed and burned into the bottom three after two defeats on the bounce, one of which they will want to forget as quickly as possible and I will not mention it here (8-0 Southampton shhhh). They looked even worse against Arsenal than they did against Southampton and only found one victory so far this season. Poyet has a massive job on his hands this season and he will struggle to stop them staying in the bottom three this weekend.
Football fancast prediction: 3-1 Crystal Palace win.