When fans of the English Premier League refer to the ‘top four’, they are generally talking about Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. However with the influx of the new TV money there appears to be a tide of contenders threatening to break the dominance of the big four.Ever since Rafa Benitez joined and started reshaping a Liverpool side that often failed to deceive into genuine contenders for honours and Roman Abromovich came in and gave Mourinho so much money to spend that they could afford to buy £21 million bench players like Shaun Wright Phillips, the top four places in the league table have generally been filled by those teams each season. Finishing in one of the top four places gains qualification for the Champions League- the two top automatically enter the group stages while the teams that finish third and fourth play a two legged tie against often substandard European opponents.
The last time the stranglehold on the top four was broken was by a spirited Everton side in 2004/05, who finished three points ahead of a Liverpool team distracted by the Champions League - but the Toffees then failed to advance in either the Champions League or the UEFA Cup, losing to Villareal and then getting thrashed by Dinamo Bucharesti. Liverpool still qualified for the Champions League the next season by virtue of them picking up the trophy and being allowed back in by UEFA. Other than Everton, the closest a side has come spoiling the party was the Tottenham Hotspur team of 2005/06, who led a struggling Arsenal side for large parts of the season before succumbing on the last day of the season to West Ham United and thus gifting Arsenal their place in the Champions League qualifiers. While most do not think that another team will break into the top four very soon, with the amount of big spending and the types of players being brought into the Premier League, anything is possible. Here, I will take a look at the four teams that I feel are the most capable of doing so.
Everton Football Club
As mentioned above, Everton were the only team to break into the top four in recent history. While Everton used to be a team whose performances fluctuated wildly (they finished seventeenth the season before, just escaping relegation), it seems the team is finally beginning to gel. While teams like Tottenham Hotspur have started off poorly in comparison, Everton sit a lofty third in the Premiership- ahead of 2005/06 champions Chelsea due to goal difference. In defense, Everton’s only weak position is at right back- the trio of Leighton Baines, Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott form an otherwise stable backline. In midfield, Everton possess both creative players and grafters- Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar can set up chances for the strikers up front while Tim Cahill and Leon Osman both make sure opponents do not have time and space on the ball. Arteta and Cahill are two of the most under-rated player in the Premiership, and as long as Everton keep hold of them, they will do well. Up front, Everton made smart moves in the transfer market- moving to sign Aiyegbeni Yakubu, a striker who has only been outscored in the last four years in the Premiership by Thierry Henry. Everton also have the dangerous Andy Johnson capable of scoring goals, and youth players James Vaughan and Victor Anichebe have turned a few heads with their stellar performances off the bench. Where Everton could be most hit is when the African Cup of Nations comes around- they will lose important players at both ends of the pitch in Yobo and Yakubu, and should Arteta pick up an injury in that time they may struggle. Everton have a good squad, with competent players to come in if injuries occur, and in my opinion are the most likely to break into the top four this season.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
This year was supposed to be the year Tottenham Hotspur finally made a strong push to finish in the top four. Having thrown it all away on the last day two seasons ago, Spurs followed that up with poor season, never really challenging Arsenal again and being dragged along at times by Dmitar Berbatov. After being given over £40 million to spend in the transfer market, manager Martin Jol knew that he had to make buys that could help Tottenham challenge this year. Sadly, his buys in the transfer market have been not up to scratch. Having a forward line that consists of Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe in attack- three players who scored more than sixty goals between them last year, it was perhaps up front where Tottenham did not need to strengthen. However, Jol thought differently- shelling out a massive £16.5 million to purchase goal poacher Darren Bent scored more goals in the Premier League than any other Englishman. It is in the centre of midfield where Tottenham need some creativity, their sole signing to try and correct this was the purchase of Kevin-Prince Boateng from Hertha Berlin, a player who might become good in the future but is not yet ready to be a starter now. Although Tottenham have had a horrendous start to their Premiership campaign- picking up a mere four points after five games played (with their north London rivals Arsenal still to visit), they cannot be ruled out of the running for fourth place. Arsenal in fact had a similar start last season and went on to comfortably finish fourth, so Tottenham Hotspur fans will be hoping they can do the same. As they still have a decent collection of players- the likes of Berbatov, Bale and King would easily get into the squads of any top four team, they cannot be written off yet; however I would say that should they not get a point at the very least against Arsenal in the North London derby on September 15 th, you can safely rule them out this season.
Manchester City Football Club
After the end of last season, where Manchester City finished 14th and just four points above the relegation zone, talk was of them trying to reach the top ten at best. That was until the takeover by Thai businessman Thaksin Shinawatra. As soon as his £81.6 million bid to buy the club was accepted, Shinawatra brought in ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, and quickly gave him money to spend as Eriksson bought over £40 million worth of new talent. Having already witnessed a bright start to the season, fans are talking about finishing fifth- and whispers slowly begin to arise that a finish one place higher may be possible. Eriksson has made some very good buys- Vedran Corluka and Javier Garrido have shown they are competent defenders, helping the established Micah Richards and novice goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel start the season off with three clean sheets. They also have experienced Richard Dunne in defence, a player that helps command the backline. In midfield, Manchester City have the players for almost any event- the guile of Geovanni matched up with the dynanism of Petrov, the energy of Johnson and the pace and trickery of Elano. Up front, Eriksson brought in Rolondo Bianchi and Valeri Bojinov, two players that can certainly cause problems on their day. Sadly, Bojinov has been ruled out for the next five months but they should still have firepower to see off most teams. While the most optimistic fans of the club may think it possible this season, I feel it is still a year too soon for the Eastlands club, and while they will compete for the UEFA Cup places getting fourth will be a gap too far to bridge.
Newcastle United Football Club
Characteristics of Newcastle United Football Club in the past included a selection of overpaid, lazy players as well as a shambolic defence. That is true no longer- new manager Sam Allardyce has taken care of that. After being appointed manager soon after he left Bolton, Allardyce completely revamped the set of players he deals with strongest- the defenders. Immediately moving in the transfer market to sign David Rozenthal, Jose Enrique. Claudio Cacapa and Habib Beye, the new Newcastle defence looks a lot more solid that those of previous seasons. The manager also signed ex-Manchester City hothead Joey Barton and Abdoulaye Faye from Bolton to add some bite and steel in midfield, and wrapped up his transfer dealings by signing Alan Smith from Manchester United and Mark Viduka on a free transfer from North East rivals Middlesbrough to play up front. Michael Owen seems to be finally fit as well, and will surely score goals if given the chance. As Newcastle’s biggest problem in the past was defence, and having Allardyce as a manager means “good defence” in football terms, it seems that their biggest problem will cease to exist as long as Allardyce is there. Newcastle have started the season well, currently level on points with last year’s champions Manchester United while having a game in hand. Looking far better than the team that was only able to finish 13 th last season, Newcastle’s team has being mentioned this year as one of the teams capable of breaking into the top four slots, and quite rightly too. On their day, Newcastle are near impossible to deal with and as they are still a youthful side, they will only get better and better. In my opinion Newcastle have just as much of a chance as Tottenham this season, and should they hit a proper run of form and good luck with injuries, they will be right up there in the table.
12 September 2007
7 September 2007
Will the Terrific Trio Become the Fantastic Four?
When Barcelona wrapped up arguably the coup of the transfer window by picking up the world class Thierry Henry for just over £16 million pounds, football fans were both puzzled and ecstatic about the transfer. Yes, they would be able to finally see four of the most formidable attacking players play together for one team- but on the other hand did Barcelona really need Henry? Already possessing Ronaldinho Gaucho, Leo Messi and Samuel Eto’o up front, Barcelona had three players that any team in the world would be happy to have one of- let alone three. Those that watched last season’s title race would surely argue that their defensive needs needed improving much more than their attacking ones, which is why the purchase of Henry was seen as unneeded by many top football pundits around the world (Gabriele Marcotti stated that “where else but La Liga would their [Real Madrid] closest rivals sign one of the greatest attacking weapons in footballing history at great expense despite already boasting three of the best strikers in the world?”). Although Barcelona scored more goals and conceded fewer goals than any other team in La Liga, they finished second, not winning the title due to their inferior head to head record against champions Real Madrid.
Barcelona scored 78 goals in their 38 league games, meaning they scored an average of around 2 goals a game. Their 33 goals conceded meant they conceded an average of just below 0.9 goals a game. If you take these two figures into account, this means that should have (on average) won every game 2-1, so why didn’t they win the title? Obviously in football you cannot win all your games- you will draw some, and yes you will lose some. However, given the fact that Barcelona scored 12 more goals and conceded 7 goals less than champions Real Madrid, this shows that they should have not even let the Bernabeu side close enough to let the head to head results have any meaning on the title race. The conclusion we can draw from these facts is that when Barcelona won games, they won them well yet when they conceded in games, they often lacked the impetus to claw their way back into a winning position. Most would argue that a striker of Henry’s calibre would only help them do this- here I will reason whether Henry’s signing was as needed or not.
While Barcelona definitely do not need help scoring goals in La Liga, it could be argued that Henry will help them dominate the prize they won in 2005/06- the Champions League. Although Barcelona disposed of mediocre Bulgarian side Levski Sofia with relative ease, they struggled against the top sides- failing to beat Chelsea both home and away, not managing to get the all important second goal at Anfield when they needed it as well as dropping two points in Germany against Werder Bremen. With three of Ronaldinho, Henry, Messi and Eto’o on the pitch as well as one of them on the bench, this Barcelona attack should find even the toughest defence in the world only slightly hard to breach. While Henry has never won the Champions League before, he has scored a total of fifty goals in European competitions- as well as spearheading a youthful Arsenal side into the final of the competition that they ironically lost against his present employers.
As Barcelona won nothing last season, most would agree it is obvious that they need strengthening. They have done so- bringing in Yaya Toure to play in midfield as well as Eric Abidal to play in defence. While perhaps a fully fit Barcelona squad would not need Thierry Henry, the realities of the modern game are that players will pick up injuries, and when they do it is priceless to have someone like Henry waiting to come in and play in their role up front. This became a reality when Samuel Eto’o was recently ruled out for at eight weeks at the very least following a thigh injury. He will also be missing at least a month of the season during December/January due to the African Cup of Nations (ACoN)- how happy will Barcelona fans be to have Henry come in and play up front instead of the erratic Eidur Gudjohnsen or the ageing Santi Ezquerro?
Since adding too many big names to a squad can cause huge problems with so many large egos in the dressing room (as the Galacticos of Real Madrid found out during their unsuccessful spell between 2003-2007), Barcelona head coach Frank Rijkaard will have a difficult task on his hands handling the four superstars up front, but it is probable that injuries, suspensions and international events like the ACoN will make his task easier in deciding who to play up front. If Rijkaard is able to successfully integrate all four players as well as the new arrivals into a team unit that plays together coherently, Barcelona will definitely be in contention for not just domestic honours, but European ones as well.
Barcelona scored 78 goals in their 38 league games, meaning they scored an average of around 2 goals a game. Their 33 goals conceded meant they conceded an average of just below 0.9 goals a game. If you take these two figures into account, this means that should have (on average) won every game 2-1, so why didn’t they win the title? Obviously in football you cannot win all your games- you will draw some, and yes you will lose some. However, given the fact that Barcelona scored 12 more goals and conceded 7 goals less than champions Real Madrid, this shows that they should have not even let the Bernabeu side close enough to let the head to head results have any meaning on the title race. The conclusion we can draw from these facts is that when Barcelona won games, they won them well yet when they conceded in games, they often lacked the impetus to claw their way back into a winning position. Most would argue that a striker of Henry’s calibre would only help them do this- here I will reason whether Henry’s signing was as needed or not.
While Barcelona definitely do not need help scoring goals in La Liga, it could be argued that Henry will help them dominate the prize they won in 2005/06- the Champions League. Although Barcelona disposed of mediocre Bulgarian side Levski Sofia with relative ease, they struggled against the top sides- failing to beat Chelsea both home and away, not managing to get the all important second goal at Anfield when they needed it as well as dropping two points in Germany against Werder Bremen. With three of Ronaldinho, Henry, Messi and Eto’o on the pitch as well as one of them on the bench, this Barcelona attack should find even the toughest defence in the world only slightly hard to breach. While Henry has never won the Champions League before, he has scored a total of fifty goals in European competitions- as well as spearheading a youthful Arsenal side into the final of the competition that they ironically lost against his present employers.
As Barcelona won nothing last season, most would agree it is obvious that they need strengthening. They have done so- bringing in Yaya Toure to play in midfield as well as Eric Abidal to play in defence. While perhaps a fully fit Barcelona squad would not need Thierry Henry, the realities of the modern game are that players will pick up injuries, and when they do it is priceless to have someone like Henry waiting to come in and play in their role up front. This became a reality when Samuel Eto’o was recently ruled out for at eight weeks at the very least following a thigh injury. He will also be missing at least a month of the season during December/January due to the African Cup of Nations (ACoN)- how happy will Barcelona fans be to have Henry come in and play up front instead of the erratic Eidur Gudjohnsen or the ageing Santi Ezquerro?
Since adding too many big names to a squad can cause huge problems with so many large egos in the dressing room (as the Galacticos of Real Madrid found out during their unsuccessful spell between 2003-2007), Barcelona head coach Frank Rijkaard will have a difficult task on his hands handling the four superstars up front, but it is probable that injuries, suspensions and international events like the ACoN will make his task easier in deciding who to play up front. If Rijkaard is able to successfully integrate all four players as well as the new arrivals into a team unit that plays together coherently, Barcelona will definitely be in contention for not just domestic honours, but European ones as well.
5 September 2007
Why Arsenal Should be Happy to be out of the Limelight
While the Gunners are currently second in the table, level on points with leaders Liverpool albeit with an inferior goal difference, nearly no one apart from their fans have even mentioned their names with regards to who will be competing for the title come May 2008. Liverpool will finally do it is the cry, or that Manchester United and Chelsea will both recover from their shaky starts to reclaim their places at the top. The young Arsenal side is written off as being too youthful, too experienced- how can they do it when the average age of their first team is so low?
Although many Arsenal fans may be irritated with this, the reality is they should be happy- the Arsenal team always thrives as the underdog. This was best shown in the run to the Champions League final during the 2005/06 season- the Gunners outclassed and outplayed all opponents that neutrals and football pundits alike thought would destroy them; first relying on a magnificent Thierry Henry goal and some brilliant defending to beat Spanish giants Real Madrid, then running rings around an ageing Juventus side. In fact, in the first knockout round that Arsenal were expected to comfortably dispatch their opponents they had problems- while they won the first leg by a single goal against Villareal, the second leg was a tense, nervous affair that could have gone either way. However, luck stayed with the Gunners as Riquelme missed his penalty, and although they were thwarted in the final by a star studded Barcelona side, they were arguably the better team for large spells of the game- despite having a man less for all but the first eighteen minutes.
So, why exactly should the Arsenal side be happy to stay out of the limelight? Well, being in the limelight means all eyes are on you, and although that is great when you are winning games, it provides unwanted pressure when you are not doing as well. Expectations will rise, as they are for Liverpool- a team that has not won the title for the last seventeen years is expected to lead the title race, just because of their large win over a side bound for relegation. All I ask for is this, fellow Gooners; don’t have any expectations of the title at this moment in time, just hope for an improvement on last season. With ten points in four games (we had half the amount at this stage last season) we have certainly started off better, and for that all those that sport red and white around the world can rejoice.
Although many Arsenal fans may be irritated with this, the reality is they should be happy- the Arsenal team always thrives as the underdog. This was best shown in the run to the Champions League final during the 2005/06 season- the Gunners outclassed and outplayed all opponents that neutrals and football pundits alike thought would destroy them; first relying on a magnificent Thierry Henry goal and some brilliant defending to beat Spanish giants Real Madrid, then running rings around an ageing Juventus side. In fact, in the first knockout round that Arsenal were expected to comfortably dispatch their opponents they had problems- while they won the first leg by a single goal against Villareal, the second leg was a tense, nervous affair that could have gone either way. However, luck stayed with the Gunners as Riquelme missed his penalty, and although they were thwarted in the final by a star studded Barcelona side, they were arguably the better team for large spells of the game- despite having a man less for all but the first eighteen minutes.
So, why exactly should the Arsenal side be happy to stay out of the limelight? Well, being in the limelight means all eyes are on you, and although that is great when you are winning games, it provides unwanted pressure when you are not doing as well. Expectations will rise, as they are for Liverpool- a team that has not won the title for the last seventeen years is expected to lead the title race, just because of their large win over a side bound for relegation. All I ask for is this, fellow Gooners; don’t have any expectations of the title at this moment in time, just hope for an improvement on last season. With ten points in four games (we had half the amount at this stage last season) we have certainly started off better, and for that all those that sport red and white around the world can rejoice.
What exactly is 'Second Season Syndrome'?
Ask almost any fan of a club that has done well in their first year after being promoted to the Premiership and their feelings will not be one of anticipation, but more of fear- all due to the condition dubbed “second season syndrome”. Second season syndrome is defined as a downturn in fortunes for a club two years after promotion to the top flight- especially if they have done exceptionally well the prior season. While most promoted clubs often drop straight back down into the division they came from, quite a few have surprised football fans and pundits alike with a brilliant first season- however after expectations are raised, they often struggle in their second year.
The first notable example of second season syndrome that was seen in the Premiership was Middlesbrough in the 1996/97 season. Promoted as champions of Division One in 1995, Middlesbrough shone in their first season- reaching the heights of fourth place in October before eventually finishing well clear of the relegation zone in 12th place. The next season however, despite manager Bryan Robson buying expensive players (at the time) like Fabrizo Ravanelli and Emerson, Middlesbrough eventually slumped to a dismal 19th place in the table and were relegated, starting the trend that would be continued quite a few times over the next decade.
For Ipswich Town in 2001/02, the sudden drop was even more alarming. After being promoted due to them winning the Division One playoffs in 2000, Ipswich shocked the Premiership after storming into fifth place and thus winning a place in the UEFA Cup. Although they qualified for the UEFA Cup again next season (this time via their UEFA Fair Play ranking), Ipswich were relegated at the end of the year- winning just one of their first seventeen Premier League fixtures and eventually going into financial administration.
While the next team to be hit by second season syndrome was not relegated, the drop was still a massive seven places down the Premier League table. The team this time was Manchester City, promoted as Division One champions in 2002. They did well as a team in their first season- eventually finishing a respectable ninth in the table. Their second season, however, saw them sucked into a relegation battle for all but the last few days of the season, finally finishing sixteenth to stay up (and have since pushed on to become a comfortable mid-table team).
The last example of second season syndrome that I will give you is the season of 2006/07, where not just one, but two teams struggled in their second season. This time both teams were not relegated- but a struggle of such great magnitude looked almost impossible after their successful first seasons in England’s highest division. West Ham United and Wigan Athletic, both promoted from the second tier in 2005. West Ham finished ninth in their first year as well as reaching the final of the FA Cup (and thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup), but in their follow up season were almost certain to be relegated until an exceptional run of form by Argentine striker Carlos Tevez. Wigan Athletic went from tenth in their first team to surviving due to goal difference on the last day of the season- despite keeping most of their star players.
While all this does is highlight the difficulty of going from a side promoted to the Premiership to a comfortable mid table side in the top flight, fans of those clubs about to celebrate their second season should still have faith- there are survivors, as West Ham, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic have shown, and the former two at least are almost certain not to go down this season.
The first notable example of second season syndrome that was seen in the Premiership was Middlesbrough in the 1996/97 season. Promoted as champions of Division One in 1995, Middlesbrough shone in their first season- reaching the heights of fourth place in October before eventually finishing well clear of the relegation zone in 12th place. The next season however, despite manager Bryan Robson buying expensive players (at the time) like Fabrizo Ravanelli and Emerson, Middlesbrough eventually slumped to a dismal 19th place in the table and were relegated, starting the trend that would be continued quite a few times over the next decade.
For Ipswich Town in 2001/02, the sudden drop was even more alarming. After being promoted due to them winning the Division One playoffs in 2000, Ipswich shocked the Premiership after storming into fifth place and thus winning a place in the UEFA Cup. Although they qualified for the UEFA Cup again next season (this time via their UEFA Fair Play ranking), Ipswich were relegated at the end of the year- winning just one of their first seventeen Premier League fixtures and eventually going into financial administration.
While the next team to be hit by second season syndrome was not relegated, the drop was still a massive seven places down the Premier League table. The team this time was Manchester City, promoted as Division One champions in 2002. They did well as a team in their first season- eventually finishing a respectable ninth in the table. Their second season, however, saw them sucked into a relegation battle for all but the last few days of the season, finally finishing sixteenth to stay up (and have since pushed on to become a comfortable mid-table team).
The last example of second season syndrome that I will give you is the season of 2006/07, where not just one, but two teams struggled in their second season. This time both teams were not relegated- but a struggle of such great magnitude looked almost impossible after their successful first seasons in England’s highest division. West Ham United and Wigan Athletic, both promoted from the second tier in 2005. West Ham finished ninth in their first year as well as reaching the final of the FA Cup (and thus qualifying for the UEFA Cup), but in their follow up season were almost certain to be relegated until an exceptional run of form by Argentine striker Carlos Tevez. Wigan Athletic went from tenth in their first team to surviving due to goal difference on the last day of the season- despite keeping most of their star players.
While all this does is highlight the difficulty of going from a side promoted to the Premiership to a comfortable mid table side in the top flight, fans of those clubs about to celebrate their second season should still have faith- there are survivors, as West Ham, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic have shown, and the former two at least are almost certain not to go down this season.
4 September 2007
Arsenal's Group: Champions League Analysis
When Arsenal were drawn against Sparta Prague in the Champions League qualifiers, most, if not all Gooners predicted a relatively simple, yet physically testing passage to the group stages of Europe’s elite club competition. At the end of the two legged contest, they were proved right- the Gunners winning 2-0 away from home courtesy of goals from Cesc Fabregas and Aliaksander Hleb, while later beating the Czech side 3-0 at the Emirates stadium after Rosicky netted against his former club and then Fabregas and Da Silva finished them off. During the Champions League draw, Arsenal could have drawn the likes of Lyon and Valencia; however the eventual outcome was Czech side Slavia Prague, Romanian side Steaua Bucharest and Spanish side Sevilla. Here I take a look at how those sides got into the Champions League, as well as what kind of threat they will pose to us.
SK Slavia Praha (Slavia Prague)
Although the Czech side beat Dutch giants Ajax to take their place in the Champions League group stages, they should not pose much of a threat to the youthful Gunners. As the Gunners have already beaten Czech champions Sparta to reach the same stage as the lesser known Slavia Prague taking care of their lesser known counterparts should not prove a problem for the likes of Rosicky, Fabregas and van Persie. For the weak Arsenal side of yesteryear the away match would have been a problem; however the Arsenal side of this season has shown that it is ready to scrape it out with the kickers of the football world and should find them as much as a problem as Sparta were to beat. Slavia got into the group stages of the Champions League by beating Ajax 1-0 in the Amsterdam Arena and then taking them back to the Czech Republic and winning 2-1. While in the past Slavia had players such as Karek Poborsky, Patrik Berger and Pavel Kuka, their most threatening player of the modern side is Vladimir Smicer. Although Smicer has already picked up a Champions League winners medal during his time at Liverpool, even scoring during the remarkable comeback against AC Milan, he is on the wane as a player and the likes of Gilberto should be able to shackle him with ease.
Most notable player: Vladimir Smicer
FC Steaua Bucureşti
Steaua Bucharest broke into the group stages of the Champions League by beating Belarusian side BATE Borisov 4-2 on aggregate. After a thrilling 2-2 draw in Belarus, Steaua comfortably ran out 2-0 winners at the Stadionul Ghencea (stadium) in Bucharest. Steaua Bucharest are the most successful domestic side in Romania’s football history, having already won twenty-three National Championships, twenty Romanian Cups and the European Cup in 1986. While they will prove a harder task than Slavia, they will not be the hardest team Arsenal will have to face this season and if Arsenal are not careless at the back and keep it tight, they will do well against their Romanian opponents. In history their best player would have to be current head coach Gheorge Hagi- regarded as the best player to ever play for Romania. At the present moment, star players include Nicolae Dica, a promising striker wanted by the likes of Benfica and Aston Villa during the summer transfer window; Mirel Radoi, a strong, powerful defender that can play all across the backline; and Valentin Badea, a technically gifted striker that Steaua coach Becali said would eventually become Romania’s top striker.
Most notable player: Nicolae Dica
Sevilla FC
Sevilla are a side that love to come out and the beautiful game as it should be played. A great side to watch going forward, Sevilla surprised many last year when they competed in an astonishing title race with the Real Madrid and Barcelona- despite spending much, much less than the other two clubs. Having won the UEFA Cup for the past two years in a row, as well as picking up the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, Sevilla are blessed with an array of talent. Possessing the likes of Fredric Kanoute and Luis Fabiano up front, Jesus Navas and Renato in midfield as well as the dynamic Dani Alves in defense, they are a side that has quality in all areas of the pitch. Their best player has to be the Brazilian fullback Dani Alves, a player that orchestrates the majority of their attacks from his position at the right side of the defense- his brilliance causing owner del Nido to put a £27m price tag on his head to ward off potential buyers. Sevilla got into the group stages of the Champions League by beating Greek side AEK Athens 6-1 on aggregate, winning the first leg 2-0 at home and then destroying AEK 4-1 during the second leg in Greece. While Sevilla’s abundance of quality all over means they will prove a testing team for the Gunners, Sevilla love to come out and attack- and more often than not Arsenal beat those kinds of sides.
Most notable player: Dani Alves
This Champions League group certainly has the potential to be interesting- to state the obvious we could slip up in any of our games yet we could also win them all. A win at home followed by a draw away to each of the other teams should be enough, although if we want to finish top perhaps we should be looking at taking maximum points from the Slavia and Steaua Bucharest encounters (and take a draw at the very least in Spain). While last season’s Champions League campaign was a bit shambolic, one only hopes we can do as well as we did in 2005/06- and not just reach the final this time, but win it as well.
SK Slavia Praha (Slavia Prague)
Although the Czech side beat Dutch giants Ajax to take their place in the Champions League group stages, they should not pose much of a threat to the youthful Gunners. As the Gunners have already beaten Czech champions Sparta to reach the same stage as the lesser known Slavia Prague taking care of their lesser known counterparts should not prove a problem for the likes of Rosicky, Fabregas and van Persie. For the weak Arsenal side of yesteryear the away match would have been a problem; however the Arsenal side of this season has shown that it is ready to scrape it out with the kickers of the football world and should find them as much as a problem as Sparta were to beat. Slavia got into the group stages of the Champions League by beating Ajax 1-0 in the Amsterdam Arena and then taking them back to the Czech Republic and winning 2-1. While in the past Slavia had players such as Karek Poborsky, Patrik Berger and Pavel Kuka, their most threatening player of the modern side is Vladimir Smicer. Although Smicer has already picked up a Champions League winners medal during his time at Liverpool, even scoring during the remarkable comeback against AC Milan, he is on the wane as a player and the likes of Gilberto should be able to shackle him with ease.
Most notable player: Vladimir Smicer
FC Steaua Bucureşti
Steaua Bucharest broke into the group stages of the Champions League by beating Belarusian side BATE Borisov 4-2 on aggregate. After a thrilling 2-2 draw in Belarus, Steaua comfortably ran out 2-0 winners at the Stadionul Ghencea (stadium) in Bucharest. Steaua Bucharest are the most successful domestic side in Romania’s football history, having already won twenty-three National Championships, twenty Romanian Cups and the European Cup in 1986. While they will prove a harder task than Slavia, they will not be the hardest team Arsenal will have to face this season and if Arsenal are not careless at the back and keep it tight, they will do well against their Romanian opponents. In history their best player would have to be current head coach Gheorge Hagi- regarded as the best player to ever play for Romania. At the present moment, star players include Nicolae Dica, a promising striker wanted by the likes of Benfica and Aston Villa during the summer transfer window; Mirel Radoi, a strong, powerful defender that can play all across the backline; and Valentin Badea, a technically gifted striker that Steaua coach Becali said would eventually become Romania’s top striker.
Most notable player: Nicolae Dica
Sevilla FC
Sevilla are a side that love to come out and the beautiful game as it should be played. A great side to watch going forward, Sevilla surprised many last year when they competed in an astonishing title race with the Real Madrid and Barcelona- despite spending much, much less than the other two clubs. Having won the UEFA Cup for the past two years in a row, as well as picking up the Copa Del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, Sevilla are blessed with an array of talent. Possessing the likes of Fredric Kanoute and Luis Fabiano up front, Jesus Navas and Renato in midfield as well as the dynamic Dani Alves in defense, they are a side that has quality in all areas of the pitch. Their best player has to be the Brazilian fullback Dani Alves, a player that orchestrates the majority of their attacks from his position at the right side of the defense- his brilliance causing owner del Nido to put a £27m price tag on his head to ward off potential buyers. Sevilla got into the group stages of the Champions League by beating Greek side AEK Athens 6-1 on aggregate, winning the first leg 2-0 at home and then destroying AEK 4-1 during the second leg in Greece. While Sevilla’s abundance of quality all over means they will prove a testing team for the Gunners, Sevilla love to come out and attack- and more often than not Arsenal beat those kinds of sides.
Most notable player: Dani Alves
This Champions League group certainly has the potential to be interesting- to state the obvious we could slip up in any of our games yet we could also win them all. A win at home followed by a draw away to each of the other teams should be enough, although if we want to finish top perhaps we should be looking at taking maximum points from the Slavia and Steaua Bucharest encounters (and take a draw at the very least in Spain). While last season’s Champions League campaign was a bit shambolic, one only hopes we can do as well as we did in 2005/06- and not just reach the final this time, but win it as well.
29 August 2007
Is the MyFootballClub Scenario a Good Idea?
Throughout the history of football, there have been many innovative ideas. Deciding to disallow the use of the conventional backpass to the goalkeeper, putting numbers on shirts, even the intense physical conditioning that a lot of the top level managers use have all contributed to make the sport the spectacle it is today. In the past few years, one of the things in football that has caused the most amount of debate is take-overs by "foreigners". Whether it's Thaksin Shinawatra at Manchester City, Malcolm Glazer at Manchester United or Roman Abromovich at Chelsea, most businessmen that have taken over clubs in the recent past have courted controversy at one point or another. In the past, most football clubs were owned by fans of the club itself- no it seems that more and more businessman looking to make a quick buck or for a real time version of popular computer game Football Manager. Now, it seems like ordinary fans will be able to actually have a say in the running of a club. MyFootballClub, a website set up by former football journalist Will Brooks claims that common football fans will finally be able to effect decisions of a club- be it who to sign in the transfer market, selecting which players will feature in the first team or the amount of money put into the youth fund for the coming season.
The site charges a fee of £35 for all those wanting to take part (£7.5 for administration of the MyFootballClub Trust while £27.5 goes into club expenditure) and members get to vote on which club they would like to see taken over. Currently leading the list is League One club Leeds United, with Nottingham Forest and Cambridge United in second and third place respectively. Although the website is keeping the number of people that have signed up a secret so that clubs they were negotiating with would not know the extent of their wealth, 53,051 members had signed up as of July 31st- making the total value of the company worth £1.46 million at the very least. Now that all the facts have been sorted out, this writer will give his view on whether he feels that the idea is a good one or not.
While the idea of "the people" running a football club may be a sound one in principle, a look at nearly any football forum on the Internet will tell you that most of "the people" are lacking a few brain cells. The very fact that a club like Leeds United, a team that was given a fifteen point penalty for financial issues leads the list of clubs to purchase speaks for itself- as do the listings of Arsenal and Manchester United (two clubs that would cost over £1 billion to purchase) at 9th and 11th place respectively shows that voting even in large numbers can sometimes produce futile results. Also, while the MyFootballClub scenario allows your vote to be counted, it is unlikely that a solitary vote in 50,000 people will make a large dent in the decisions you want to affect. There are official fan forums of teams that ask you to contribute ideas as to how the team can be improved and they are often free to join- what difference does MyFootballClub offer you, apart from charging you £35 to voice your opinion?
Although a fee of £35 seems a fairly cheap price to join the service, which as MyFootballClub says is "less than most Premiership tickets" as well as the price of a "football manager computer game", what benefit does joining the service give you? Whereas football manager computer games can be played for hours on end, and going to a football match allows you to see your favourite team in the flesh, how does joining what is effectively a glorified fan forum create any more ‘fun' that a free online message board would do? As MyFootballClub have not even selected the team they are going to purchase yet, those fans that have already paid up could be hugely disappointed if their dream to control the decisions of Leeds United turned into a reality of controlling the decisions of non-league side Cambridge United. Since football is a very passionate sport, it is nearly impossible for those that have a true interest in it to generate support for another team. Why then, should fans of the club that MyFootballClub will purchase waste money on a team they were never interested by in the first place?
Even though it must have seemed a good idea when Will Brooks concocted the MyFootballClub scenario, in reality there are just too many problems and too many drawbacks for it to work smoothly. While fans would get to ‘own' a football club for probably the first time in their lives, there are many ways they could satisfy their passion for the sport, and spending £35 on MyFootballClub is certainly something that will bring them a great deal of satisfaction.
The site charges a fee of £35 for all those wanting to take part (£7.5 for administration of the MyFootballClub Trust while £27.5 goes into club expenditure) and members get to vote on which club they would like to see taken over. Currently leading the list is League One club Leeds United, with Nottingham Forest and Cambridge United in second and third place respectively. Although the website is keeping the number of people that have signed up a secret so that clubs they were negotiating with would not know the extent of their wealth, 53,051 members had signed up as of July 31st- making the total value of the company worth £1.46 million at the very least. Now that all the facts have been sorted out, this writer will give his view on whether he feels that the idea is a good one or not.
While the idea of "the people" running a football club may be a sound one in principle, a look at nearly any football forum on the Internet will tell you that most of "the people" are lacking a few brain cells. The very fact that a club like Leeds United, a team that was given a fifteen point penalty for financial issues leads the list of clubs to purchase speaks for itself- as do the listings of Arsenal and Manchester United (two clubs that would cost over £1 billion to purchase) at 9th and 11th place respectively shows that voting even in large numbers can sometimes produce futile results. Also, while the MyFootballClub scenario allows your vote to be counted, it is unlikely that a solitary vote in 50,000 people will make a large dent in the decisions you want to affect. There are official fan forums of teams that ask you to contribute ideas as to how the team can be improved and they are often free to join- what difference does MyFootballClub offer you, apart from charging you £35 to voice your opinion?
Although a fee of £35 seems a fairly cheap price to join the service, which as MyFootballClub says is "less than most Premiership tickets" as well as the price of a "football manager computer game", what benefit does joining the service give you? Whereas football manager computer games can be played for hours on end, and going to a football match allows you to see your favourite team in the flesh, how does joining what is effectively a glorified fan forum create any more ‘fun' that a free online message board would do? As MyFootballClub have not even selected the team they are going to purchase yet, those fans that have already paid up could be hugely disappointed if their dream to control the decisions of Leeds United turned into a reality of controlling the decisions of non-league side Cambridge United. Since football is a very passionate sport, it is nearly impossible for those that have a true interest in it to generate support for another team. Why then, should fans of the club that MyFootballClub will purchase waste money on a team they were never interested by in the first place?
Even though it must have seemed a good idea when Will Brooks concocted the MyFootballClub scenario, in reality there are just too many problems and too many drawbacks for it to work smoothly. While fans would get to ‘own' a football club for probably the first time in their lives, there are many ways they could satisfy their passion for the sport, and spending £35 on MyFootballClub is certainly something that will bring them a great deal of satisfaction.
25 August 2007
Why Newcastle fans should be optimistic this season
Every single year, Newcastle fans start the season off with raised expectations of how their team will do. Despite the failures of the year prior, fans dubbed one of the most passionate in England feel that the coming year may be different, before inevitably viewing a year of losing to mediocre teams, a horrible team and a distinct lack of silverware. This year however, it may be different- and here I write to tell you why.
While ex-owner of the club Freddy Shepherd regularly courted both controversy and embarrassment by his outbursts in the press, new owner Mike Ashley has quietly stayed in the background while offering new manager Sam Allardyce funds to spend. Although Newcastle have had a series of bad managers in the past, Allardyce seems a step in the right direction after his strong spell at Bolton Wanderers, leading a club in the bottom half of the England’s second tier to become a respectable mid-table team in the Premier League. The highlight of Allardyce’s time at Bolton has to be taking the club into the UEFA Cup for the first time in the club’s history. Bolton Wanderers were known as a tight defensive unit- something that Newcastle were the complete opposite of.
Immediately after arriving at Newcastle, Allardyce cleared out much of the “dead wood”- players such as Titus Bramble and Oguchi Onyewu. These players had not been up to the task they were supposed to do- defend, and it clearly shown in the goals conceded column of the Premier League table. Some of Newcastle’s transfer dealings during this window have been very astute, and here I will look at the new players that will be playing in black and white for season 2007/08.
Up front, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith have been added to the ranks. These are excellent additions to a striking lineup that already included the likes of Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins, and is surely guaranteed to score goals. Mark Viduka is a proven Premier League player, having scored goals for the likes of Middlesbrough and Leeds United before joining the Geordies. Alan Smith will provide able backup should injuries occur, and has an added bonus of being able to play in central midfield- something that will benefit Newcastle with their well known about injury problems. Although Michael Owen is injured at the moment, Viduka and Martins should form a powerful partnership that Premiership defenses will find hard to cope with.
In midfield, ex-Real Madrid player Geremi and ex-Manchester City hothead Joey Barton join the club. Geremi is a versatile player that can fill in at defense if need be, while Barton will add some passion to a side that looked lifeless at times last season. Coupled with the likes of Emre, Nicky Butt and N’Zogbia, there are quite a few players in that Newcastle midfield that could cause problems for even the best teams in the game.
Lastly, it is defense that needed the most strengthening and this has been done. With Rozenthal, Enrique and Cacapa having already joined the club, Newcastle are also rumoured to be in talks with Leighton Baines and/or Nicky Shorey. The Toon have also done well to keep hold of goalkeeper Shay Given- a player who saves them at least 5-10 points per season. With all these dealings in the transfer market, Newcastle fans will be ecstatic to know that after so many seasons of defensive woe, they finally have a manager that looks at bolstering the defence.
So, why exactly should Newcastle be optimistic about the upcoming season? With a few more additions to the talented squad they already have, there is no reason why they will not be in the reckoning for European places come May 2008. With an attacking line-up almost guaranteed to get goals and a solid midfield, if Allardyce makes the defence anywhere near as strong as Bolton’s defence was, Newcastle will be right up there with Tottenham, Everton and Manchester City battling out for that fifth place slot (and UEFA Cup football). Although I think it is too early for them to qualify for the Champions League, with a couple of successful seasons who knows what could happen. The start they have had thus far will only help increased the sense of optimism- a strong preseason, where they beat the likes of Juventus and Celtic followed up with a thrashing of Bolton and a draw against Aston Villa in the Premiership. While Newcastle will definitely not be in contention for the Premiership title, fans should expect a strong push in the domestic cups- and maybe even some silverware if the club gets a few lucky breaks in the FA and Carling Cup.
While ex-owner of the club Freddy Shepherd regularly courted both controversy and embarrassment by his outbursts in the press, new owner Mike Ashley has quietly stayed in the background while offering new manager Sam Allardyce funds to spend. Although Newcastle have had a series of bad managers in the past, Allardyce seems a step in the right direction after his strong spell at Bolton Wanderers, leading a club in the bottom half of the England’s second tier to become a respectable mid-table team in the Premier League. The highlight of Allardyce’s time at Bolton has to be taking the club into the UEFA Cup for the first time in the club’s history. Bolton Wanderers were known as a tight defensive unit- something that Newcastle were the complete opposite of.
Immediately after arriving at Newcastle, Allardyce cleared out much of the “dead wood”- players such as Titus Bramble and Oguchi Onyewu. These players had not been up to the task they were supposed to do- defend, and it clearly shown in the goals conceded column of the Premier League table. Some of Newcastle’s transfer dealings during this window have been very astute, and here I will look at the new players that will be playing in black and white for season 2007/08.
Up front, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith have been added to the ranks. These are excellent additions to a striking lineup that already included the likes of Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins, and is surely guaranteed to score goals. Mark Viduka is a proven Premier League player, having scored goals for the likes of Middlesbrough and Leeds United before joining the Geordies. Alan Smith will provide able backup should injuries occur, and has an added bonus of being able to play in central midfield- something that will benefit Newcastle with their well known about injury problems. Although Michael Owen is injured at the moment, Viduka and Martins should form a powerful partnership that Premiership defenses will find hard to cope with.
In midfield, ex-Real Madrid player Geremi and ex-Manchester City hothead Joey Barton join the club. Geremi is a versatile player that can fill in at defense if need be, while Barton will add some passion to a side that looked lifeless at times last season. Coupled with the likes of Emre, Nicky Butt and N’Zogbia, there are quite a few players in that Newcastle midfield that could cause problems for even the best teams in the game.
Lastly, it is defense that needed the most strengthening and this has been done. With Rozenthal, Enrique and Cacapa having already joined the club, Newcastle are also rumoured to be in talks with Leighton Baines and/or Nicky Shorey. The Toon have also done well to keep hold of goalkeeper Shay Given- a player who saves them at least 5-10 points per season. With all these dealings in the transfer market, Newcastle fans will be ecstatic to know that after so many seasons of defensive woe, they finally have a manager that looks at bolstering the defence.
So, why exactly should Newcastle be optimistic about the upcoming season? With a few more additions to the talented squad they already have, there is no reason why they will not be in the reckoning for European places come May 2008. With an attacking line-up almost guaranteed to get goals and a solid midfield, if Allardyce makes the defence anywhere near as strong as Bolton’s defence was, Newcastle will be right up there with Tottenham, Everton and Manchester City battling out for that fifth place slot (and UEFA Cup football). Although I think it is too early for them to qualify for the Champions League, with a couple of successful seasons who knows what could happen. The start they have had thus far will only help increased the sense of optimism- a strong preseason, where they beat the likes of Juventus and Celtic followed up with a thrashing of Bolton and a draw against Aston Villa in the Premiership. While Newcastle will definitely not be in contention for the Premiership title, fans should expect a strong push in the domestic cups- and maybe even some silverware if the club gets a few lucky breaks in the FA and Carling Cup.
Could Drink Be the Reason Brazil Did So Poorly at the World Cup?
The Brazilian team at the 2006 World Cup was a shadow of the one that had competed in the last two- stopovers, pirouettes and nutmegs replaced by a sluggish passing game while the sexy, flowing football we had seen before replaced by a team that did not know where its players were on the pitch. After Brazil was eliminated by a strong France team in the quarterfinals, rumors came out in the press that the Brazilian players had been drinking not just after games, but before them as well.
This shocking story emerged little more than a week ago, with CBF president Ricardo Teixeira telling reporters that a few players “arrived between 4 and 6 in the morning, drunk”. Although this has since been denied by Brazil’s assistant coach Mario Zagallo, could there be some truth in the claims? Throughout the World Cup, Brazil was hyped up as the golden team- most saw them as a shoe-in for the trophy.
After they were dumped out, they were criticized of a lot of things- the president of the country slamming Ronaldo after it emerged he weighed 98kg at the start of the tournament. However, not a single person hinted at this sort of unruly behavior- until now, that is. This will be looked at in great detail over the next few weeks, as drinking is hardly the best preparation for the biggest international football competition in the world- no matter how many stars your team possesses.
This shocking story emerged little more than a week ago, with CBF president Ricardo Teixeira telling reporters that a few players “arrived between 4 and 6 in the morning, drunk”. Although this has since been denied by Brazil’s assistant coach Mario Zagallo, could there be some truth in the claims? Throughout the World Cup, Brazil was hyped up as the golden team- most saw them as a shoe-in for the trophy.
After they were dumped out, they were criticized of a lot of things- the president of the country slamming Ronaldo after it emerged he weighed 98kg at the start of the tournament. However, not a single person hinted at this sort of unruly behavior- until now, that is. This will be looked at in great detail over the next few weeks, as drinking is hardly the best preparation for the biggest international football competition in the world- no matter how many stars your team possesses.
Can Tottenham Hotspur Break Into the Top Four?
A collection of able, but not brilliant players, boardroom disharmony and extravagant spending in the transfer market has long since been a feature of Tottenham Hotspur as a football club. The debate about whether they could break into the top four has been going on for a long time- perhaps originating after they led an injury-hit Arsenal side for large parts of the 2005/06 season before succumbing on the last day to finish fifth. Since then, they have never really looked like taking away that coveted fourth place from their hated rivals. While most expected them to push on last season, again challenging heavily for a top four finish, Spurs fell off the pace, finishing eight points behind their north London rivals Arsenal compared to just a single point difference the year prior.
Despite spending more than £40 million pounds this time round in the transfer market, Tottenham have still not looked any closer than last year to breaking into the top four with their shaky start to the Premiership season. After conceding a last minute winner to a Sunderland side that had just come up from the Championship, Martin Jol’s team then went on to be comprehensively thrashed by an Everton side at White Hart Lane. In fact, reports in the media hinted that the win over Derby County was the only thing that had kept Martin Jol his job with Tottenham. Although some would think that the recent win could be the start of a change in fortunes, it appears that the Tottenham board think differently. After publicly announcing that Jol would be staying at the club, they were left with egg on their faces after Juande Ramos revealed they had approached him with “a dizzying offer”. Hardly the best news if you’re Martin Jol, considering you were lied to and then the board went behind your back looking for replacements.
When you take a look at the Spurs team, it is hard to see how they can finish ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal. While Tottenham’s first choice backline looks stable on paper, their replacements are not up to scratch- shown in some of the shambolic defending we have witnessed this season. Quite a few fans have doubts about goalkeeper Paul Robinson, while players such as Ricardo Rocha, Anthony Gardner and Assou-Ekotto have repeatedly shown they cannot defend. In midfield, even though they have solid defensive players with Zokora as first choice and Huddlestone as backup, they have problems in both the attacking midfield slot and on the wings. Aaron Lennon is the only player they have that can play well out wide, and with the rest only capable of sporadic good performances. As for attacking central midfielders, Jermaine Jenas and Danny Murphy have been inconsistent at best, while promising players like Taarabt and Boateng will take some time to get used to top flight football. Up front is the only area of the pitch where Tottenham fans will agree they have players just as good as the top four, but is it a case of having too much wealth? Berbatov showed his anger when he was subbed off against Sunderland, and one wonders how Jol is going to keep four strikers that would start at most clubs content.
While only deluded fans of the club itself could believe that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club will be able to break into the top four, I feel the most probable way for them is down rather than up- with the likes of Manchester City, Everton and Newcastle all playing better than the north London side.
Despite spending more than £40 million pounds this time round in the transfer market, Tottenham have still not looked any closer than last year to breaking into the top four with their shaky start to the Premiership season. After conceding a last minute winner to a Sunderland side that had just come up from the Championship, Martin Jol’s team then went on to be comprehensively thrashed by an Everton side at White Hart Lane. In fact, reports in the media hinted that the win over Derby County was the only thing that had kept Martin Jol his job with Tottenham. Although some would think that the recent win could be the start of a change in fortunes, it appears that the Tottenham board think differently. After publicly announcing that Jol would be staying at the club, they were left with egg on their faces after Juande Ramos revealed they had approached him with “a dizzying offer”. Hardly the best news if you’re Martin Jol, considering you were lied to and then the board went behind your back looking for replacements.
When you take a look at the Spurs team, it is hard to see how they can finish ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool or Arsenal. While Tottenham’s first choice backline looks stable on paper, their replacements are not up to scratch- shown in some of the shambolic defending we have witnessed this season. Quite a few fans have doubts about goalkeeper Paul Robinson, while players such as Ricardo Rocha, Anthony Gardner and Assou-Ekotto have repeatedly shown they cannot defend. In midfield, even though they have solid defensive players with Zokora as first choice and Huddlestone as backup, they have problems in both the attacking midfield slot and on the wings. Aaron Lennon is the only player they have that can play well out wide, and with the rest only capable of sporadic good performances. As for attacking central midfielders, Jermaine Jenas and Danny Murphy have been inconsistent at best, while promising players like Taarabt and Boateng will take some time to get used to top flight football. Up front is the only area of the pitch where Tottenham fans will agree they have players just as good as the top four, but is it a case of having too much wealth? Berbatov showed his anger when he was subbed off against Sunderland, and one wonders how Jol is going to keep four strikers that would start at most clubs content.
While only deluded fans of the club itself could believe that Tottenham Hotspur Football Club will be able to break into the top four, I feel the most probable way for them is down rather than up- with the likes of Manchester City, Everton and Newcastle all playing better than the north London side.
1 August 2007
Eduardo da Silva: A Look at the New Arsenal Signing
After the departure of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry to Barcelona, fans across the globe were both shocked and excited. Who was Arsene Wenger lining up to replace the French genius? Names thrown into the hat included those of the likes of Huntelaar, Owen, Torres and even that of Samuel Eto’o. A week later, the striker that came to Arsenal was not one of those ‘big names’, but a relative nobody compared to those players. Eduardo da Silva, nicknamed ‘Dudu’ joined Arsenal on July 3rd, 2007 and here I try to inform Arsenal fans about what a player we have on our hands.
Most Arsenal fans would have had a vague recollection of the name when he signed with us, remembering that he featured against the Gunners in a two legged Champions League qualifier last year. Although he shone, is he the man capable of filling the giant-shaped hole in Arsenal’s squad left by Henry? Even though most would say no, judging from his past experiences there is nothing that says he will not be able to do so. Brazilian-born but a player for the Croatian national team, da Silva has starred for Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian league. His tally of 73 goals in just a 104 appearances speaks for itself, as does the numerous accolades he has won while with them. Voted Croatian player of the year in 2004 and 2006, as well as being the league’s top scorer in 2006 and 2007, Eduardo’s performances and goals have been instrumental in Dinamo’s march to two Croatian league titles as well as two Croatian Cup triumphs. His 34 goals in just 32 appearances last season was a new Croatian league record, breaking the 29 goals scored by ex-Dinamo striker Goran Vlaović.
While da Silva is nothing short of brilliant on the domestic stage, he is a star player for the Croatian national team as well. His stellar performances on the international stage have been one of the main reasons for Croatia rising to the top of Group E in the European 2008 qualifiers, a group containing the likes of England, Russia and Israel. With a record of 8 goals in 14 appearances, his goals per game ratio is up there with the best and surely will only improve. He already knows how to score against the big names, the highlights of his time with Croatia including a looping header to beat England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on the way to a 2-0 win for Croatia as well as a hattrick against Israel to wrap up a 4-3 win away from home. His partnership with Luka Modric has blossomed both at club and international level, and as reports linking Modric to Arsenal grow stronger and stronger, we may be seeing both of them linking up in the red and white very soon.
Surely the biggest question about how da Silva will cope is whether he can make the step up from the weaker Croatian league to the unforgiving Premiership- if he does, Arsenal will have a terrifying player on their hands. The weather should not be a problem, as anyone that can play football in the freezing climate of Croatia should have no problem with the relatively pleasant weather of England. Whereas other players like ex-Liverpool striker Morientes and ex-Arsenal player Jose Reyes could not adapt to the physical side of the Premiership because of its extreme difference from La Liga, the Croatian league is hardly light, with a lack of skill made up for with bone-crunching tackles. Whether he will set the Premiership alight or not is a question yet to be answered of course, as we can never be fully sure when the likes of Baptista, a player who seemed perfect for the English game have failed. Dudu, however seems to have the abilities to succeed and the attitude to replace Henry’s place in the team as well.
Where will Eduardo play? His best position is up front, although he is capable of playing on the wing as well. With him and Van Persie as our strikers, we would have two players that are left footed- an unusual strike partnership to say the least. If he were to be played out wide, his left foot could offer us something different as none of our other wide players are left footed. Although he is a decent player, the bonus about this Wenger signing is that he is not good enough to be guaranteed a place in the starting eleven- meaning he will have to fight for his place and thus, hopefully put in good performances week in, week out. Even the fans that had never heard of Dudu must have been gripped with excitement when they saw this player sign for us, because with players and signings, the phrase “Wenger knows” has rarely been proven wrong.
Most Arsenal fans would have had a vague recollection of the name when he signed with us, remembering that he featured against the Gunners in a two legged Champions League qualifier last year. Although he shone, is he the man capable of filling the giant-shaped hole in Arsenal’s squad left by Henry? Even though most would say no, judging from his past experiences there is nothing that says he will not be able to do so. Brazilian-born but a player for the Croatian national team, da Silva has starred for Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian league. His tally of 73 goals in just a 104 appearances speaks for itself, as does the numerous accolades he has won while with them. Voted Croatian player of the year in 2004 and 2006, as well as being the league’s top scorer in 2006 and 2007, Eduardo’s performances and goals have been instrumental in Dinamo’s march to two Croatian league titles as well as two Croatian Cup triumphs. His 34 goals in just 32 appearances last season was a new Croatian league record, breaking the 29 goals scored by ex-Dinamo striker Goran Vlaović.
While da Silva is nothing short of brilliant on the domestic stage, he is a star player for the Croatian national team as well. His stellar performances on the international stage have been one of the main reasons for Croatia rising to the top of Group E in the European 2008 qualifiers, a group containing the likes of England, Russia and Israel. With a record of 8 goals in 14 appearances, his goals per game ratio is up there with the best and surely will only improve. He already knows how to score against the big names, the highlights of his time with Croatia including a looping header to beat England goalkeeper Paul Robinson on the way to a 2-0 win for Croatia as well as a hattrick against Israel to wrap up a 4-3 win away from home. His partnership with Luka Modric has blossomed both at club and international level, and as reports linking Modric to Arsenal grow stronger and stronger, we may be seeing both of them linking up in the red and white very soon.
Surely the biggest question about how da Silva will cope is whether he can make the step up from the weaker Croatian league to the unforgiving Premiership- if he does, Arsenal will have a terrifying player on their hands. The weather should not be a problem, as anyone that can play football in the freezing climate of Croatia should have no problem with the relatively pleasant weather of England. Whereas other players like ex-Liverpool striker Morientes and ex-Arsenal player Jose Reyes could not adapt to the physical side of the Premiership because of its extreme difference from La Liga, the Croatian league is hardly light, with a lack of skill made up for with bone-crunching tackles. Whether he will set the Premiership alight or not is a question yet to be answered of course, as we can never be fully sure when the likes of Baptista, a player who seemed perfect for the English game have failed. Dudu, however seems to have the abilities to succeed and the attitude to replace Henry’s place in the team as well.
Where will Eduardo play? His best position is up front, although he is capable of playing on the wing as well. With him and Van Persie as our strikers, we would have two players that are left footed- an unusual strike partnership to say the least. If he were to be played out wide, his left foot could offer us something different as none of our other wide players are left footed. Although he is a decent player, the bonus about this Wenger signing is that he is not good enough to be guaranteed a place in the starting eleven- meaning he will have to fight for his place and thus, hopefully put in good performances week in, week out. Even the fans that had never heard of Dudu must have been gripped with excitement when they saw this player sign for us, because with players and signings, the phrase “Wenger knows” has rarely been proven wrong.
29 June 2007
Off on Holiday
Fellow Gooners & football fans, I will be out for a month long holiday this month of July. Thus, I will not be adding any more articles until I return. Those few of you that do read my articles (which is very, very few), please comment using the 'Comments' link.
Cheers
Jason Pereira
Cheers
Jason Pereira
Would a Quota on Foreign Players Make Any Difference to the English Premier League?
A foreign player quota; that is a limit on the amount of foreigners you can have in your squad. Discussed by world football’s leaders, many have blasted leading clubs to take into account players born in the country they play in, as those clubs prefer to sign cheaper foreign alternatives. The influx of foreign players in the English Premiership in particular has long been drawn up as a reason why England constantly fails on the international stage.
While just eleven ‘foreigners’ were listed to start in the first week of fixtures at the start of the Premiership in the 1992/93 season, a massive 59% of players that took to the field in last year’s campaign were foreign. Fans of the England international team will suggest that those foreigners are taking up valuable squad places for English youth, but is that the case? If those English youth players are good enough, they will be able to realise their dreams of moving to a top four club- as Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips have all done.
That’s not to say a stint at a top four club is the best for young English players because they will often get limited playing time. Often, a spell at a smaller club can benefit those youngsters greatly- the likes of Leighton Baines at Wigan, Micah Richards at Manchester City and Fabrice Muamba at Birmingham can testify to this. Whereas at a top four club the trio would be mostly bench players, they are allowed to flourish in an environment with less pressure and if they have not already, they will get their first England caps in the coming months. Even though the top clubs do not really take gambles on those players from the lower divisions, clubs further down in the Premiership do- as shown when Everton paid what could be an eventual £5m to bring Joleon Lescott to Goodison Park. Impressing greatly, Lescott has been one of the star performers of an Everton side that qualified for the UEFA Cup. Another young English player to do well in the Premiership is Nicky Shorey, bought for a mere £25,000 from Leyton Orient to eventually arrive with Reading into England’s top flight, and even earning himself an call-up to England’s friendly against Brazil a day before his wedding. The last example I bring you is that of once non-league winger Michael Kightly, who could soon be playing in the Premiership. The English player moved to Wolverhampton Wonderers from Conference side Grays Athletic, with Premiership champions Manchester United apparently interested in getting his signature. Once known as ‘the Ryan Giggs of non-league football’, Wolves have put a £2m value on Kightly and with his stock continuing to rise, it is likely he will make the step up sooner rather than later.
How does the influx of foreign players help the England national team, you ask? Foreign players have contributed to developing one of England’s greatest squads of all time, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand all capable of getting into any football side in the world. The foreign ‘invasion’ has also meant English players have gained football knowledge and skills they would not have had there been a ban on foreign imports. Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon possess technical prowess matching some of the best continental players in the world, with the former regularly turning in virtuoso performances for Chelsea while the latter hoodwinks defences with his quick feet and ability to play in confined areas.
A quota on the amount of foreign players allowed in the Premiership would not just be detrimental to the league as a spectacle, but it would not help the national team either, with only a larger amount of mediocre players becoming available. Only the cream of the crop rise to the top, and in today’s difficult Premiership it is clear that those best suited to playing for England are doing so. All that is needed for the national team is a half decent manager and some serious, serious penalty practise and they will be up there competing with the best as with the likes of Bentley, Richards and Lennon coming through the wait for England to end their barren run on the national stage draws closer every time a promising youngster manages to break into the Premiership.
While just eleven ‘foreigners’ were listed to start in the first week of fixtures at the start of the Premiership in the 1992/93 season, a massive 59% of players that took to the field in last year’s campaign were foreign. Fans of the England international team will suggest that those foreigners are taking up valuable squad places for English youth, but is that the case? If those English youth players are good enough, they will be able to realise their dreams of moving to a top four club- as Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney and Shaun Wright-Phillips have all done.
That’s not to say a stint at a top four club is the best for young English players because they will often get limited playing time. Often, a spell at a smaller club can benefit those youngsters greatly- the likes of Leighton Baines at Wigan, Micah Richards at Manchester City and Fabrice Muamba at Birmingham can testify to this. Whereas at a top four club the trio would be mostly bench players, they are allowed to flourish in an environment with less pressure and if they have not already, they will get their first England caps in the coming months. Even though the top clubs do not really take gambles on those players from the lower divisions, clubs further down in the Premiership do- as shown when Everton paid what could be an eventual £5m to bring Joleon Lescott to Goodison Park. Impressing greatly, Lescott has been one of the star performers of an Everton side that qualified for the UEFA Cup. Another young English player to do well in the Premiership is Nicky Shorey, bought for a mere £25,000 from Leyton Orient to eventually arrive with Reading into England’s top flight, and even earning himself an call-up to England’s friendly against Brazil a day before his wedding. The last example I bring you is that of once non-league winger Michael Kightly, who could soon be playing in the Premiership. The English player moved to Wolverhampton Wonderers from Conference side Grays Athletic, with Premiership champions Manchester United apparently interested in getting his signature. Once known as ‘the Ryan Giggs of non-league football’, Wolves have put a £2m value on Kightly and with his stock continuing to rise, it is likely he will make the step up sooner rather than later.
How does the influx of foreign players help the England national team, you ask? Foreign players have contributed to developing one of England’s greatest squads of all time, with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand all capable of getting into any football side in the world. The foreign ‘invasion’ has also meant English players have gained football knowledge and skills they would not have had there been a ban on foreign imports. Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon possess technical prowess matching some of the best continental players in the world, with the former regularly turning in virtuoso performances for Chelsea while the latter hoodwinks defences with his quick feet and ability to play in confined areas.
A quota on the amount of foreign players allowed in the Premiership would not just be detrimental to the league as a spectacle, but it would not help the national team either, with only a larger amount of mediocre players becoming available. Only the cream of the crop rise to the top, and in today’s difficult Premiership it is clear that those best suited to playing for England are doing so. All that is needed for the national team is a half decent manager and some serious, serious penalty practise and they will be up there competing with the best as with the likes of Bentley, Richards and Lennon coming through the wait for England to end their barren run on the national stage draws closer every time a promising youngster manages to break into the Premiership.
27 June 2007
Young Players to Watch in the Upcoming Premiership Season
While the start of the Premiership season is still over a month away, eager fans have no doubt frantically checked the schedules for when their derby matches are, bought their supply of beer and locked up their non-supporting spouse in the cupboard to avoid being irritated during matches. Here, I give you a list of the top ten players I feel will shock the Premiership, some of them being spoken about worldwide, others seemingly unheard of. The likes of Cesc Fabregas, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo are not included as them being so experienced, it is a disservice to class them as unproven "kids".
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)
The English-born player played in every single Aston Villa game last season, surprising many with his skill with the ball and blinding pace. His return of 10 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions is stellar for a mere 20 year old, often played on the wing as Aston Villa used other options up front. Agbonlahor has the mindset to succeed on the big stage, already scoring against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. However, he is not just a scorer of goals. The England U21 international also set up six goals for his team-mates, and both fans and players of Aston Villa will be glad to have such a selfless player in their ranks. Tipped for great things in the future, Agbonlahor will no doubt trouble more Premiership defenses in the upcoming season and will hope to continue his scoring record against the top four.
Denílson Pereira Neves (Arsenal)
Although a relative unknown in the Premiership, Denilson has already won the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup with Brazilian side São Paulo. He made just 12 appearances for them, mostly as a substitute, when Arsene Wenger parted with £3.4m to bring a player that was barely known in Brazil, let alone worldwide. While global audiences lusted after the talents of Brazil stars Kerlon and Alexandre Pato, only Wenger knew what a player he had on his hands. Wenger eased the Brazilian U19 international into English football as all his youth players are- by being given a run in the Carling Cup. Denilson shone, showing that he could not just attack, but defend as well. Firing in a series of highly powerful shots and highly accurate corners, it is surprising that he does not have more than just a solitary assist to his name but you can be assured of one thing- when the first goal comes, the rest will follow. His performances in the Carling Cup helped Arsenal reach the final where the team of Arsenal youth players and reserves lost to a full strength Chelsea side. Although he has only started four games in the Premiership, he is tipped for great things and will get a lot more games this season- satisfying many Arsenal fans wanting to see more of the young player they saw outclassing those many a year older in the Carling Cup run.
Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)
Bendtner comes to Arsenal far behind in the list of striking options, with Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott all ahead of him. While Arsenal search for another striker to replace the departed Thierry Henry, this is not to say Bendtner will not get games for the Gunners. Theo Walcott is being played on the wing at the present moment to give Arsenal some much needed width, while Emmanuel Adebayor will disappear for more than a month when the African Cup of Nations takes place. Having an aerial presence to add to great ball control and deceiving pace, Bendtner was sent out on loan to Birmingham- not just to give him regular first team games but also to see if he could compete in the physical Championship. By all accounts, he has done well. Steve Bruce, Birmingham manager has named Bendtner as one of his most instrumental players in securing their promotion to the top flight as the Arsenal man impressed greatly. With a scoring record of 1 goal every 3 starts, Bendtner did well at such a young age. The Danish player also set up 9 goals for his team-mates, leaving Arsenal fans waiting to see how he will do with the first team. Already a full Danish international, if Bendtner does not play much in the Premiership he will have the Carling Cup to show off his talents, and one would not bet against Arsenal reaching the final again if he plays as well as he did for Birmingham.
Matthew Anthony Derbyshire (Blackburn)
Blackburn have a new English striker ready to trouble defenses. His name, you ask? Matt Derbyshire. After shining at loan to Wrexham where he scored 10 goals in 16 appearances, Derbyshire came back to star for Blackburn as well. Ending the season with 9 goals in 14 starts for Blackburn's first team, Derbyshire was subsequently called up for the England U21 team to play at the European Championships. Good in the air and at getting into the box, it seems Derbyshire has all the facets to become a top, top player in the Premiership and where better to bide his time than at a club like Blackburn. Competition is fierce at Blackburn, with the likes of Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Shabani Nonda all competing for a place in the frontline but fans of the club will know that even if the inevitable departure of McCarthy takes place, they can rely on Derbyshire to score goals. Mostly used off the bench, it is sure that he will get to start more games for the club this season and Blackburn fans will be hoping their team can sneak into Europe if their performances improve.
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (Manchester United)
Better known as Nani, United shocked the world by spending a massive £17m to bring Nani to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon. Dubbed the new 'Cristiano Ronaldo', Nani is seen as a long term replacement for the ageing Ryan Giggs. Possessing speed and guile that will make him useful to United's quest to protect their Premiership title, Nani is equally capable of using either foot to cross or shoot with the ball and his celebration, consisting of a series of somersaults will keep him in the mind of those that have seen him score goals. A regular for Sporting Lisbon in the 2006/07 season, Nani helped them win the Portuguese Cup as well as finish just a point behind league winners FC Porto. Nani has an array of tricks, flicks and turns to beat opposition players and should he adapt to the English Premiership, he will be one to fear. Although he will not start many games for United this season, Nani will be a player that can come off the bench and change games- perhaps starting a few Carling Cup ties. Having already played for the Portuguese national team, the new United player will try to deliver on the great expectations being placed on him, as the boots of Welsh legend Ryan Giggs will not be easy ones to fill.
Anderson Luís De Abreu Oliveira (Manchester United)
Anderson Luís De Abreu Oliveira, better known as just Anderson was the second player bought United's sensational £50m splurge. As with Nani, he could cost £17m pounds or more, depending on appearances and the like. Christened the new 'Ronaldinho' because of their resemblance both on and off the football field, Anderson is a central attacking midfielder brought in to replace Paul Scholes in the long run. Capable of playing all across the midfield, as well as covering at fullback, Anderson will be able to cover for United in case of injuries or suspensions- perhaps far better than United's two current jack of all trades, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher ever could. Starting his football career playing for the same club that Ronaldinho did, Anderson's performances at Gremio caused Porto to sign him. He returned the favour by helping them win the 2006/07 Portuguese league, getting the better of his new Untied compatriot Nani. Anderson has not played for the full Brazil national side yet, but he has still done well at youth level- winning the Adidas Golden Ball en route to firing Brazil into the final of the 2005 U17 FIFA World Cup where they lost to Mexico. United fans will hope that the acquisitions of Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves in their latest splurge will help them not just win the title, but be kings of Europe as well.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
Once sharing a room with now-Arsenal prodigy Theo Walcott, Bale was tipped for great things in the Premiership, whether at his then club Southampton or for another team. As Southampton failed to qualify for the England's elite division, losing to Derby County in the Championship playoffs, Bale was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for a £5m initial fee, eventually rising to a possible £10m dependent on the usual appearances & trophies. Gareth Bale plays as an attacking leftback, capable of filling in as a winger if needed. A deadly left footer to have in your team for set pieces, Bale surprised many Championship keepers with the pace and swerve he put into his freekicks. Winning the Football League Young Player of the Year award for the 2006/07 Championship season, the Welsh-born player should find the Premiership no problem to adapt to as Tottenham attempt to break into the top four. Already a Welsh international, Bale made his debut against Trindidad and Tobago on 27 th May, 2006, coming on as a substitute and setting up the goal that would win Wales the game from Robert Earnshaw. With Aaron Lennon already terrorizing defenses in the English Premiership, Bale would ensure that opposition players on the opposite flank get no rest as well.
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
The name Lennon is now widely known among followers of the English Premiership. The Spurs winger has made many a defender fall over with his ability to change direction at speed and his flashy footwork. Playing for England at the World Cup, Lennon was one of the impressive features of a side that slumped to a penalty shootout loss against Portugal in the knockout rounds. Tottenham fans point to Lennon as the perfect replacement for David Beckham when the LA Galaxy player decides to retire from the International stage, and few would disagree. Creating goals aplenty for his fellow Spurs players, Lennon will hope to add goals to his armoury, the one thing he currently lacks. Although the right winger made 13 goals for his team-mates, he only scored 5 goals himself. However, with the ability he has to get into advanced positions, few would disagree that he will get more goals in his career. Costing Tottenham Hotspur just £1m from Leeds in June 2005, his value has increased tenfold since then and he represents another player Spurs will have made a massive profit on if he decides to follow Michael Carrick's footsteps out of White Hart Lane. Fans of the North London club will hope he doesn't, as if he does they will have no chance of getting into the top four ahead of London rivals Arsenal.
Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan)
Far to good to be playing in a team as dour as Wigan, Antonio Valencia impressed greatly playing on the wing last season. His dynamism and electric pace brought in another dimension and him adapting quickly to English football was one of the main reasons Wigan avoided relegation. A valued member of the Ecuador national team, those of you that watched the World Cup would have noticed Valencia putting in accurate crosses from the byline, as well as helping his team out in defense when the need arose. Voted as the Best Youth Player at the 2006 World Cup in the official poll, the young players' fast growing fanbase were disappointed when tournament officials awarded the gong to German forward Lukas Podolski. Merely on loan from Villareal at present, Wigan's new manager Chris Hutchings looks set to confirm a new one-year deal for Valencia. Constantly running up and down the pitch to help both defense and attack, the Ecuadorian international's selfless play has allowed his teammates to shine. One for the future, Valencia will try to improve on his solitary goal from last season and will be a fearsome player to come against in the future.
Giles Barnes (Derby County)
Giles Barnes, attacking midfielder for Derby will be able to display his talents in the Premiership arena for the first time next season. One of Derby's most important players as they secured promotion via the Championship playoffs, Barnes even helped provide for the team's most important goal of all- the cross which Pearson converted to beat West Bromwich Albion in the playoff final was his. A goal-scoring midfielder, Derby's number 28 scored 8 goals himself and made 6 goals for his teammates on his way to becoming a fans' favourite at the Pride Park Stadium. Not just blessed with pace, Barnes has the physical build to compete in the unforgiving Premiership. An entertainer, the English player's impressive performances have led him to be linked with Tottenham and London rivals Arsenal, but his rejection of Tottenham as a possible destination will no doubt increase his standing in many Gooners' eyes. New to the Premiership, Derby are assured of not being humiliated as long as Barnes and manager Davies stay with them and who knows, they could surprise a few teams along the way.
Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa)
The English-born player played in every single Aston Villa game last season, surprising many with his skill with the ball and blinding pace. His return of 10 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions is stellar for a mere 20 year old, often played on the wing as Aston Villa used other options up front. Agbonlahor has the mindset to succeed on the big stage, already scoring against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. However, he is not just a scorer of goals. The England U21 international also set up six goals for his team-mates, and both fans and players of Aston Villa will be glad to have such a selfless player in their ranks. Tipped for great things in the future, Agbonlahor will no doubt trouble more Premiership defenses in the upcoming season and will hope to continue his scoring record against the top four.
Denílson Pereira Neves (Arsenal)
Although a relative unknown in the Premiership, Denilson has already won the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup with Brazilian side São Paulo. He made just 12 appearances for them, mostly as a substitute, when Arsene Wenger parted with £3.4m to bring a player that was barely known in Brazil, let alone worldwide. While global audiences lusted after the talents of Brazil stars Kerlon and Alexandre Pato, only Wenger knew what a player he had on his hands. Wenger eased the Brazilian U19 international into English football as all his youth players are- by being given a run in the Carling Cup. Denilson shone, showing that he could not just attack, but defend as well. Firing in a series of highly powerful shots and highly accurate corners, it is surprising that he does not have more than just a solitary assist to his name but you can be assured of one thing- when the first goal comes, the rest will follow. His performances in the Carling Cup helped Arsenal reach the final where the team of Arsenal youth players and reserves lost to a full strength Chelsea side. Although he has only started four games in the Premiership, he is tipped for great things and will get a lot more games this season- satisfying many Arsenal fans wanting to see more of the young player they saw outclassing those many a year older in the Carling Cup run.
Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)
Bendtner comes to Arsenal far behind in the list of striking options, with Robin Van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott all ahead of him. While Arsenal search for another striker to replace the departed Thierry Henry, this is not to say Bendtner will not get games for the Gunners. Theo Walcott is being played on the wing at the present moment to give Arsenal some much needed width, while Emmanuel Adebayor will disappear for more than a month when the African Cup of Nations takes place. Having an aerial presence to add to great ball control and deceiving pace, Bendtner was sent out on loan to Birmingham- not just to give him regular first team games but also to see if he could compete in the physical Championship. By all accounts, he has done well. Steve Bruce, Birmingham manager has named Bendtner as one of his most instrumental players in securing their promotion to the top flight as the Arsenal man impressed greatly. With a scoring record of 1 goal every 3 starts, Bendtner did well at such a young age. The Danish player also set up 9 goals for his team-mates, leaving Arsenal fans waiting to see how he will do with the first team. Already a full Danish international, if Bendtner does not play much in the Premiership he will have the Carling Cup to show off his talents, and one would not bet against Arsenal reaching the final again if he plays as well as he did for Birmingham.
Matthew Anthony Derbyshire (Blackburn)
Blackburn have a new English striker ready to trouble defenses. His name, you ask? Matt Derbyshire. After shining at loan to Wrexham where he scored 10 goals in 16 appearances, Derbyshire came back to star for Blackburn as well. Ending the season with 9 goals in 14 starts for Blackburn's first team, Derbyshire was subsequently called up for the England U21 team to play at the European Championships. Good in the air and at getting into the box, it seems Derbyshire has all the facets to become a top, top player in the Premiership and where better to bide his time than at a club like Blackburn. Competition is fierce at Blackburn, with the likes of Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Shabani Nonda all competing for a place in the frontline but fans of the club will know that even if the inevitable departure of McCarthy takes place, they can rely on Derbyshire to score goals. Mostly used off the bench, it is sure that he will get to start more games for the club this season and Blackburn fans will be hoping their team can sneak into Europe if their performances improve.
Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (Manchester United)
Better known as Nani, United shocked the world by spending a massive £17m to bring Nani to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon. Dubbed the new 'Cristiano Ronaldo', Nani is seen as a long term replacement for the ageing Ryan Giggs. Possessing speed and guile that will make him useful to United's quest to protect their Premiership title, Nani is equally capable of using either foot to cross or shoot with the ball and his celebration, consisting of a series of somersaults will keep him in the mind of those that have seen him score goals. A regular for Sporting Lisbon in the 2006/07 season, Nani helped them win the Portuguese Cup as well as finish just a point behind league winners FC Porto. Nani has an array of tricks, flicks and turns to beat opposition players and should he adapt to the English Premiership, he will be one to fear. Although he will not start many games for United this season, Nani will be a player that can come off the bench and change games- perhaps starting a few Carling Cup ties. Having already played for the Portuguese national team, the new United player will try to deliver on the great expectations being placed on him, as the boots of Welsh legend Ryan Giggs will not be easy ones to fill.
Anderson Luís De Abreu Oliveira (Manchester United)
Anderson Luís De Abreu Oliveira, better known as just Anderson was the second player bought United's sensational £50m splurge. As with Nani, he could cost £17m pounds or more, depending on appearances and the like. Christened the new 'Ronaldinho' because of their resemblance both on and off the football field, Anderson is a central attacking midfielder brought in to replace Paul Scholes in the long run. Capable of playing all across the midfield, as well as covering at fullback, Anderson will be able to cover for United in case of injuries or suspensions- perhaps far better than United's two current jack of all trades, John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher ever could. Starting his football career playing for the same club that Ronaldinho did, Anderson's performances at Gremio caused Porto to sign him. He returned the favour by helping them win the 2006/07 Portuguese league, getting the better of his new Untied compatriot Nani. Anderson has not played for the full Brazil national side yet, but he has still done well at youth level- winning the Adidas Golden Ball en route to firing Brazil into the final of the 2005 U17 FIFA World Cup where they lost to Mexico. United fans will hope that the acquisitions of Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves in their latest splurge will help them not just win the title, but be kings of Europe as well.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
Once sharing a room with now-Arsenal prodigy Theo Walcott, Bale was tipped for great things in the Premiership, whether at his then club Southampton or for another team. As Southampton failed to qualify for the England's elite division, losing to Derby County in the Championship playoffs, Bale was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for a £5m initial fee, eventually rising to a possible £10m dependent on the usual appearances & trophies. Gareth Bale plays as an attacking leftback, capable of filling in as a winger if needed. A deadly left footer to have in your team for set pieces, Bale surprised many Championship keepers with the pace and swerve he put into his freekicks. Winning the Football League Young Player of the Year award for the 2006/07 Championship season, the Welsh-born player should find the Premiership no problem to adapt to as Tottenham attempt to break into the top four. Already a Welsh international, Bale made his debut against Trindidad and Tobago on 27 th May, 2006, coming on as a substitute and setting up the goal that would win Wales the game from Robert Earnshaw. With Aaron Lennon already terrorizing defenses in the English Premiership, Bale would ensure that opposition players on the opposite flank get no rest as well.
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur)
The name Lennon is now widely known among followers of the English Premiership. The Spurs winger has made many a defender fall over with his ability to change direction at speed and his flashy footwork. Playing for England at the World Cup, Lennon was one of the impressive features of a side that slumped to a penalty shootout loss against Portugal in the knockout rounds. Tottenham fans point to Lennon as the perfect replacement for David Beckham when the LA Galaxy player decides to retire from the International stage, and few would disagree. Creating goals aplenty for his fellow Spurs players, Lennon will hope to add goals to his armoury, the one thing he currently lacks. Although the right winger made 13 goals for his team-mates, he only scored 5 goals himself. However, with the ability he has to get into advanced positions, few would disagree that he will get more goals in his career. Costing Tottenham Hotspur just £1m from Leeds in June 2005, his value has increased tenfold since then and he represents another player Spurs will have made a massive profit on if he decides to follow Michael Carrick's footsteps out of White Hart Lane. Fans of the North London club will hope he doesn't, as if he does they will have no chance of getting into the top four ahead of London rivals Arsenal.
Luis Antonio Valencia (Wigan)
Far to good to be playing in a team as dour as Wigan, Antonio Valencia impressed greatly playing on the wing last season. His dynamism and electric pace brought in another dimension and him adapting quickly to English football was one of the main reasons Wigan avoided relegation. A valued member of the Ecuador national team, those of you that watched the World Cup would have noticed Valencia putting in accurate crosses from the byline, as well as helping his team out in defense when the need arose. Voted as the Best Youth Player at the 2006 World Cup in the official poll, the young players' fast growing fanbase were disappointed when tournament officials awarded the gong to German forward Lukas Podolski. Merely on loan from Villareal at present, Wigan's new manager Chris Hutchings looks set to confirm a new one-year deal for Valencia. Constantly running up and down the pitch to help both defense and attack, the Ecuadorian international's selfless play has allowed his teammates to shine. One for the future, Valencia will try to improve on his solitary goal from last season and will be a fearsome player to come against in the future.
Giles Barnes (Derby County)
Giles Barnes, attacking midfielder for Derby will be able to display his talents in the Premiership arena for the first time next season. One of Derby's most important players as they secured promotion via the Championship playoffs, Barnes even helped provide for the team's most important goal of all- the cross which Pearson converted to beat West Bromwich Albion in the playoff final was his. A goal-scoring midfielder, Derby's number 28 scored 8 goals himself and made 6 goals for his teammates on his way to becoming a fans' favourite at the Pride Park Stadium. Not just blessed with pace, Barnes has the physical build to compete in the unforgiving Premiership. An entertainer, the English player's impressive performances have led him to be linked with Tottenham and London rivals Arsenal, but his rejection of Tottenham as a possible destination will no doubt increase his standing in many Gooners' eyes. New to the Premiership, Derby are assured of not being humiliated as long as Barnes and manager Davies stay with them and who knows, they could surprise a few teams along the way.
26 June 2007
Can English Players Flourish At Arsenal?
'He'll never sign for Arsenal, he's English. Don't you know Wenger hates English players?" This is the response a friend of mine gave me when we discussed Arsenal being linked to Leighton Baines. Although the first Wenger team was built of an English back five (Seamen, Dixon, Adams , Bould and Winterburn), these players were inherited from a previous Arsenal manager, George Graham. Even so, they have surmised that Wenger's stringent diet routine and methodical training schedule increased their careers by at least another five or so years. The sight of Parlour marauding up and down the right flank was a common one at the start of the new millennium and of course which Arsenal fan can forget Ian Wright latching on to through balls to round the keeper and score.
However, in recent times Wenger's transfer policy has been to sign mainly foreign players. Why, you ask? Wenger has always been priced out of the market for the top class England players. Wayne Rooney, a player who Wenger admired went for a reported £30 million pounds, whereas Wenger found the world class Van Persie for around £2.75 million pounds, less than a tenth of Rooney's cost! Other examples would include £30 million pounds for Rio Ferdinand compared to £150,000 pounds for Kolo Toure, or even £1 million pounds for the prodigious Cesc Fabregas whilst Michael Carrick went for £18.6 million pounds.
Nevertheless, many critics of Wenger's transfer policy say he could sign other less priced English players, such as Joey Barton, or Steve Sidwell, or even David Nugent. What they fail to realise is that Wenger has had his hands burned thrice by English players and thus is wary of taking the risk again. Pennant, a promising winger and thought of by many of being capable of replacing Ljungberg on the right wing was constantly drinking after games, arriving late for training and getting into the press for bad behaviour. Francis Jeffers, the supposed next English Michael Owen tempted Wenger to part with £10.5 million pounds for him- but he developed into a flop of the highest order and was quickly jettisoned for a huge loss. Lastly, all Arsenal fans can remember being knifed in the back by club idol, and possible future captain Ashley Cole. The England left back met London rivals Chelsea's manager and director of football in a hotel just a week before a big game and then wrote a book critisising all at the club- manager, players, and fans included.
This is not to say that a stint on the books of Arsenal Football Club is bad for English players. There are many examples of English players leaving Arsenal to go on and shine at other clubs. Steve Sidwell, who flourished at Reading, being one of the most exciting players in a team that took the Premiership by storm has now gone to FA Cup winners Chelsea. David Bentley, a promising talent that could play either on the flank or as a secondary striker (in the Dennis Bergkamp role) sadly could not wait for his chance as he had the then great Pires and Ljungberg ahead of him on the flanks as well as Bergkamp himself in his role up front. He has since moved on to Blackburn, where he has impressed greatly and was recently linked with Premiership Champions Manchester United for a reported £6 million pound move. Jermaine Pennant is of course at UEFA Champions League finalists Liverpool, driving forwards and pinging in crosses from his favoured position on the wing. Even a mere season at Arsenal will help no end as Harper and Stack at Reading, Jerome Thomas at Charlton, Fabrice Muamba at Birmingham as well as many others scattered across the lower leagues of England will tell you.
Wenger does not ignore English players, he merely looks at what is best for the club and if he can purchase a foreign player, at a fraction of the cost, of an English player with similar talents, then he clearly is doing what is best for the club and its supporters. Even so, there are still English players blossoming at Arsenal Football Club. Theo Walcott, one of the upcoming stars of the next generation was wanted by Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool among others but he chose to come to Arsenal as he saw young players have a good chance to succeed with the Gunners. His skill and pace enticed Arsene Wenger to fork out £5 million pounds rising to a possible £12 million depending on appearances and trophies won, making the then sixteen year old Walcott the most expensive player of his age in the history of British football. Along with Justin Hoyte, an England U21 regular, Walcott makes up the second half of just two English players in the Arsenal squad.
Do not be fooled by the scarcity of English players however- Arsenal still have a great interest in developing English youngsters. The problem with buying English players is that very few of them have the technical skill required to perform on the big stage in Arsenal's passing game. Only the likes of Aaron Lennon and Joe Cole possess this in the current England setup, and since both of those players play for direct rivals they are off limits for the near future. Arsene Wenger is a smart man and quickly found a way around this problem. By developing youngsters in Arsenal's very own youth teams, the ability to adapt to Arsenal's continental style of football is instilled in these players from a young age. These players although not ready to make an impact now will form an English spine for Arsenal in a few years. The likes of Henri Lansbury, a swift attacking midfielder will provide competition for places when he is ready. Along with Marc Randall, another central midfielder, Matthew Connoly, a central defender and current captain of the Arsenal reserves and Jay Simpson, a striker that scored the first ever hattrick at the Emirates Stadium, these players will undoubtedly push for Arsenal places in the coming years. Even if they do not make it playing for Wenger's Arsenal, they will find other clubs gladly willing to take them on their books due to their thorough Arsenal education. I write this to inform and educate those that do not know of the miracle we are currently witnessing at Arsenal. Too often Arsenal fans are taunted by those supporting rival clubs about the lack of English talent at Ashburton Grove, now those remarks can be buried in the scrapheap as they deserve. Although not possessing many English players in the current first team, it is undoubted that the future is not just red and white for Arsenal, but red and white for England as well.
However, in recent times Wenger's transfer policy has been to sign mainly foreign players. Why, you ask? Wenger has always been priced out of the market for the top class England players. Wayne Rooney, a player who Wenger admired went for a reported £30 million pounds, whereas Wenger found the world class Van Persie for around £2.75 million pounds, less than a tenth of Rooney's cost! Other examples would include £30 million pounds for Rio Ferdinand compared to £150,000 pounds for Kolo Toure, or even £1 million pounds for the prodigious Cesc Fabregas whilst Michael Carrick went for £18.6 million pounds.
Nevertheless, many critics of Wenger's transfer policy say he could sign other less priced English players, such as Joey Barton, or Steve Sidwell, or even David Nugent. What they fail to realise is that Wenger has had his hands burned thrice by English players and thus is wary of taking the risk again. Pennant, a promising winger and thought of by many of being capable of replacing Ljungberg on the right wing was constantly drinking after games, arriving late for training and getting into the press for bad behaviour. Francis Jeffers, the supposed next English Michael Owen tempted Wenger to part with £10.5 million pounds for him- but he developed into a flop of the highest order and was quickly jettisoned for a huge loss. Lastly, all Arsenal fans can remember being knifed in the back by club idol, and possible future captain Ashley Cole. The England left back met London rivals Chelsea's manager and director of football in a hotel just a week before a big game and then wrote a book critisising all at the club- manager, players, and fans included.
This is not to say that a stint on the books of Arsenal Football Club is bad for English players. There are many examples of English players leaving Arsenal to go on and shine at other clubs. Steve Sidwell, who flourished at Reading, being one of the most exciting players in a team that took the Premiership by storm has now gone to FA Cup winners Chelsea. David Bentley, a promising talent that could play either on the flank or as a secondary striker (in the Dennis Bergkamp role) sadly could not wait for his chance as he had the then great Pires and Ljungberg ahead of him on the flanks as well as Bergkamp himself in his role up front. He has since moved on to Blackburn, where he has impressed greatly and was recently linked with Premiership Champions Manchester United for a reported £6 million pound move. Jermaine Pennant is of course at UEFA Champions League finalists Liverpool, driving forwards and pinging in crosses from his favoured position on the wing. Even a mere season at Arsenal will help no end as Harper and Stack at Reading, Jerome Thomas at Charlton, Fabrice Muamba at Birmingham as well as many others scattered across the lower leagues of England will tell you.
Wenger does not ignore English players, he merely looks at what is best for the club and if he can purchase a foreign player, at a fraction of the cost, of an English player with similar talents, then he clearly is doing what is best for the club and its supporters. Even so, there are still English players blossoming at Arsenal Football Club. Theo Walcott, one of the upcoming stars of the next generation was wanted by Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool among others but he chose to come to Arsenal as he saw young players have a good chance to succeed with the Gunners. His skill and pace enticed Arsene Wenger to fork out £5 million pounds rising to a possible £12 million depending on appearances and trophies won, making the then sixteen year old Walcott the most expensive player of his age in the history of British football. Along with Justin Hoyte, an England U21 regular, Walcott makes up the second half of just two English players in the Arsenal squad.
Do not be fooled by the scarcity of English players however- Arsenal still have a great interest in developing English youngsters. The problem with buying English players is that very few of them have the technical skill required to perform on the big stage in Arsenal's passing game. Only the likes of Aaron Lennon and Joe Cole possess this in the current England setup, and since both of those players play for direct rivals they are off limits for the near future. Arsene Wenger is a smart man and quickly found a way around this problem. By developing youngsters in Arsenal's very own youth teams, the ability to adapt to Arsenal's continental style of football is instilled in these players from a young age. These players although not ready to make an impact now will form an English spine for Arsenal in a few years. The likes of Henri Lansbury, a swift attacking midfielder will provide competition for places when he is ready. Along with Marc Randall, another central midfielder, Matthew Connoly, a central defender and current captain of the Arsenal reserves and Jay Simpson, a striker that scored the first ever hattrick at the Emirates Stadium, these players will undoubtedly push for Arsenal places in the coming years. Even if they do not make it playing for Wenger's Arsenal, they will find other clubs gladly willing to take them on their books due to their thorough Arsenal education. I write this to inform and educate those that do not know of the miracle we are currently witnessing at Arsenal. Too often Arsenal fans are taunted by those supporting rival clubs about the lack of English talent at Ashburton Grove, now those remarks can be buried in the scrapheap as they deserve. Although not possessing many English players in the current first team, it is undoubted that the future is not just red and white for Arsenal, but red and white for England as well.
Real Madrid- A Hopefully Concise Summary
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. 30 La Liga titles, 9 European Cups- that is what you think of when the name of the current Spanish title holders is mentioned. Synonymous with tapping up, big name players and a succession of sacked managers, Real Madrid is arguably the biggest, and certainly one of the most interesting clubs in the world of football. In the past seven years of football alone, Real spending in the transfer market for a who's who of world football includes- £47m for Zinedine Zidane, £39m for Luis Figo, £26m for Ronaldo and £25m for David Beckham. These four were the main stars brought in as part of president Florentino Pérez's Galáctico Era, in which he promised to bring in one Galáctico, or star player , every year.
Vicente Del Bosque was the manager at that time under Pérez and renowned for his calm and emotionless demeanour. He created a team capable of outplaying and outscoring any team, and his star -studded team won trophy after trophy- the Champions League in his first season followed by two La Liga triumphs and another Champions League win in his four years in Madrid. During these years Real Madrid were not just the rulers of Spain , but of Europe as well. While all good things come to an end, it was a surprise how the end came about at Real. Del Bosque, the man who had so calmly managed the big egos at Real , was sensationally not offered a new contract just a day after he had orchestrated the club's march to its 29 th La Liga title. Under Perez, Real had always focused on attack rather than defence- their belief seemed to be that they would always outscore their opponent and thus it did not matter how many the opponent scored as long as they scored more. This failure to view defence of major importance led to the departure of Claude Makalele to Chelsea, the best defensive midfielder in the world leaving after he was not offered the same wages as the Galácticos Real employed. Patrick Vieira, one of the world's premier midfield maestros, also rejected Madrid's advances because they refused to offer him the same salary offered to Real's attacking players.
This blinkered view towards defence, a failure to let new managers have ample time to build a team and a series of bad signings led to four barren years at Real, during which not a single trophy was won. Seven different managers came and went in those four years and many signings failed to impress, such as Walter Samuel, Antonio Cassano and Julio Baptista. This unfruitful period reached it's lowest point when Real's squad of ageing superstars were thoroughly outclassed by a youthful Arsenal side in the Champions League, where Real were seen off due to a wonder goal by once targeted striker Thierry Henry. Finally, on February 27th, 2006 Florentino Perez resigned, ending the Galáctico Era and signalling the start of a new time for Real Madrid.
This new period started on July 2nd, 2006 when Ramón Calderón was chosen as club president. Calderón started off by putting Fabio Capello in control of Real's squad . As Capello had led AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma to title wins in the notoriously defensive Serie A, it was clear he would sort out the defensive issues Real Madrid had faced. Immediately going back to his old club to sign Emerson and Cannavaro, available on the cheap after a disruptive Serie A scandal, Capello also added Mahamadou Diarra from Lyon. These three defensively minded players were regarded as being among the best in the world in their respective positions. Lastly Capello went to Manchester United in the English Premiership and bought star striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy for a mere £10.3m- a bargain for one of the best goal-poachers in the world.
Season 2006/07 started off poorly, with the club's dour style compared to prior years coupled with poor results left them behind Barcelona and the season's surprise package Sevilla FC. When Real were knocked out of the Champions League on away goals by the also struggling Bayern Munich, fans of the club were calling for Capello's sacking. With hindsight, they will be glad that their cries were not answered as Real's performances improved in the second half of the season due to a return to form of their right winger David Beckham- even after Capello had previously said that the Englishman would never play for Real again. The partnership between Beckham and ex Manchester United team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy, contributed to many goals for Real; Beckham pinging the ball in from the right while Van Nistelrooy rose to power a header past a helpless goalkeeper was a common sight in Real's revival. The club snatched top position in the La Liga standings for the first time that season after a late winner against Espanyol, coming from 3-1 down to snatch all the points in the last minute was coupled with a last minute equaliser by Betis' Brazilian striker Rafael Sobis in the Barcelona-Betis match. A never say die attitude coupled with Barcelona's complacency meant Real kept their position at the top till the last day of La Liga. Real Madrid were ahead of Barcelona despite having a weaker goal difference by virtue of a better head to head standing, which is how La Liga determines positions when two teams are level on points. Sevilla FC, just two points behind fell out of the race as they slumped to a 1-0 loss to Villareal. Barcelona started the day better, Puyol putting the Catalan side ahead as Valera gave Mallorca a shock 1-0 lead against Real. Barcelona's 5-1 victory was proved to be all in vain by the end of the night as Capello's inspired substitution, taking Beckham off for Jose Antonio Reyes, the winger on loan from Arsenal reaped rewards. Reyes fired in two goals to leave Real with their first trophy in four years while Barca nursed their wounds.
Even though Real have just won La Liga for the first time since the 2002/03 season, it would not be Real Madrid without internal disputes. Despite Capello's success, Calderón has still not confirmed that the ex-Juventus man will be there next season, publically stating he had drawn up a list of four possible managers to replace Capello- Arsène Wenger, Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman and Bernard Schuster. One would have to be extremely overconfident to sack a coach after he has just won you a domestic title, and Real Madrid fans will point to the barren years that followed Del Bosque's departure in the hope Calderón does what is best for the club.
Vicente Del Bosque was the manager at that time under Pérez and renowned for his calm and emotionless demeanour. He created a team capable of outplaying and outscoring any team, and his star -studded team won trophy after trophy- the Champions League in his first season followed by two La Liga triumphs and another Champions League win in his four years in Madrid. During these years Real Madrid were not just the rulers of Spain , but of Europe as well. While all good things come to an end, it was a surprise how the end came about at Real. Del Bosque, the man who had so calmly managed the big egos at Real , was sensationally not offered a new contract just a day after he had orchestrated the club's march to its 29 th La Liga title. Under Perez, Real had always focused on attack rather than defence- their belief seemed to be that they would always outscore their opponent and thus it did not matter how many the opponent scored as long as they scored more. This failure to view defence of major importance led to the departure of Claude Makalele to Chelsea, the best defensive midfielder in the world leaving after he was not offered the same wages as the Galácticos Real employed. Patrick Vieira, one of the world's premier midfield maestros, also rejected Madrid's advances because they refused to offer him the same salary offered to Real's attacking players.
This blinkered view towards defence, a failure to let new managers have ample time to build a team and a series of bad signings led to four barren years at Real, during which not a single trophy was won. Seven different managers came and went in those four years and many signings failed to impress, such as Walter Samuel, Antonio Cassano and Julio Baptista. This unfruitful period reached it's lowest point when Real's squad of ageing superstars were thoroughly outclassed by a youthful Arsenal side in the Champions League, where Real were seen off due to a wonder goal by once targeted striker Thierry Henry. Finally, on February 27th, 2006 Florentino Perez resigned, ending the Galáctico Era and signalling the start of a new time for Real Madrid.
This new period started on July 2nd, 2006 when Ramón Calderón was chosen as club president. Calderón started off by putting Fabio Capello in control of Real's squad . As Capello had led AC Milan, Juventus and AS Roma to title wins in the notoriously defensive Serie A, it was clear he would sort out the defensive issues Real Madrid had faced. Immediately going back to his old club to sign Emerson and Cannavaro, available on the cheap after a disruptive Serie A scandal, Capello also added Mahamadou Diarra from Lyon. These three defensively minded players were regarded as being among the best in the world in their respective positions. Lastly Capello went to Manchester United in the English Premiership and bought star striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy for a mere £10.3m- a bargain for one of the best goal-poachers in the world.
Season 2006/07 started off poorly, with the club's dour style compared to prior years coupled with poor results left them behind Barcelona and the season's surprise package Sevilla FC. When Real were knocked out of the Champions League on away goals by the also struggling Bayern Munich, fans of the club were calling for Capello's sacking. With hindsight, they will be glad that their cries were not answered as Real's performances improved in the second half of the season due to a return to form of their right winger David Beckham- even after Capello had previously said that the Englishman would never play for Real again. The partnership between Beckham and ex Manchester United team-mate Ruud Van Nistelrooy, contributed to many goals for Real; Beckham pinging the ball in from the right while Van Nistelrooy rose to power a header past a helpless goalkeeper was a common sight in Real's revival. The club snatched top position in the La Liga standings for the first time that season after a late winner against Espanyol, coming from 3-1 down to snatch all the points in the last minute was coupled with a last minute equaliser by Betis' Brazilian striker Rafael Sobis in the Barcelona-Betis match. A never say die attitude coupled with Barcelona's complacency meant Real kept their position at the top till the last day of La Liga. Real Madrid were ahead of Barcelona despite having a weaker goal difference by virtue of a better head to head standing, which is how La Liga determines positions when two teams are level on points. Sevilla FC, just two points behind fell out of the race as they slumped to a 1-0 loss to Villareal. Barcelona started the day better, Puyol putting the Catalan side ahead as Valera gave Mallorca a shock 1-0 lead against Real. Barcelona's 5-1 victory was proved to be all in vain by the end of the night as Capello's inspired substitution, taking Beckham off for Jose Antonio Reyes, the winger on loan from Arsenal reaped rewards. Reyes fired in two goals to leave Real with their first trophy in four years while Barca nursed their wounds.
Even though Real have just won La Liga for the first time since the 2002/03 season, it would not be Real Madrid without internal disputes. Despite Capello's success, Calderón has still not confirmed that the ex-Juventus man will be there next season, publically stating he had drawn up a list of four possible managers to replace Capello- Arsène Wenger, Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman and Bernard Schuster. One would have to be extremely overconfident to sack a coach after he has just won you a domestic title, and Real Madrid fans will point to the barren years that followed Del Bosque's departure in the hope Calderón does what is best for the club.
Who Can Replace The Legend That Is Henry?
Summers are known for two things in the football world- the scarcity of the sport that everyone loves to watch and the inevitable rumours of players leaving Arsenal. Who will it be this year, Vieira to Real? Pires to Inter? Henry to Barca? Ashley Cole to Chelsea? These are many of the questions that have troubled Gooners across the world. Coming into this week, Vieira had gone to Inter Milan via Juventus two years earlier, Pires had gone to Villareal, Ashley Cole had gone to Chelsea in a part swap for William Gallas yet one person remained- Thierry Henry. For the past eight years, Henry hasawed not just Arsenal fans with his pace, vision and skill but the whole of the Premiership. Defenders knew not where to turn when the Frenchman ran at them, knowing committing themselves could leave them grasping at a red and white shirt that had just slipped the ball through their legs, or even worse left them flat on their backsides as Henry has done to too many defenders these past years at Arsenal. But when Barca came calling, instability at his beloved Arsenal as well as a desire to win things led him to the only other club he said 'played the Arsenal way'. Here I compare and contrast the likely replacements for Henry. Now he's gone- who best to fill his place? This is no doubt a question thousands of Arsenal fans across the globe are asking themselves.
- Darren Bent
The Charlton forward guarantees one thing- goals. The man regularly has featured in the top ten in terms of goals scored rankings, and would take a move to jump up a division with open arms considering his team Charlton were just relegated. Bent being a lifelong Arsenal fan, the club would have one of its own playing up front and surely he would not desire to leave us, even to go to the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona; however, being English he will undoubtedly cost far more than he is worth : he has been valued at around £18m pounds by his club , and they look unlikely to sell for anything else. Also, according to reports, he has nearly sealed a move to Tottenham, and even though he would probably opt for us and Champions League football if we went in for him- I doubt we should get into a bidding war for a player that has never set the world alight.
- Nicholas Anelka
The ex-Arsenal man name has surprisingly cropped up, as Wenger seems to want to finally have Anelka realise his potential at Arsenal Football Club. Although he left the club in acrimonious circumstances when his brothers forced a move, he seems to have matured as both a footballer and a person. He offers a quick fix- he will stay for 2-3 years while the likes of Bendtner, Vela and Adebayor develop as better players, as they have promised to do ever since they were brought to Arsenal as youth players. He should score goals as he knows how to play the Arsenal way. Anelka comes cheap, seemingly available for around £9 million pounds- causing many Arsenal fans across the globe to call for his signature. All throughout Anelka's career, he has never reached the heights he did at Arsenal- only hitting more than 20 goals once in the last six years. Also, his desire to leave Bolton, a club that just a year ago took a gamble of nearly £9 million pounds to lure him from Fenerbahce to the Premiership could prove troublesome for Arsenal in the future. Who's to say that he will not leave Arsenal in a year's time if say AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Inter come in for him?
- Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Klaas Jan Huntelaar is an intriguing player. Even more of a goal poacher than Darren Bent, he has scored for fun since he started his professional football career. How many times this season and last have we seen an Arsenal player pass to another despite being in a good shooting position? Having hit 72 goals in the past two seasons, yet not having a single assist to his name shows that he is capable of putting the ball in the back of the net and perhaps has the one thing most Arsenal forwards do not- selfishness. How many times this season and last have we seen an Arsenal player pass to another despite being in a good shooting position? What goes against Huntelaar, however, is that his goals have mainly been scored in the Dutch Eredivisie, a weaker league than the Premiership. Comparisons to one Mateja Kezman, who flopped at Chelsea despite scoring a boatload in the Dutch league have been made- I feel a comparison to Ruud Van Nistelrooy suits Huntelaar better as he seems to have all the tools to succeed in the Premiership. Also, his partnership with Robin Van Persie has flourished in the few games they have played together on the International stage, and Arsenal could only reap the benefits of them playing together all the time. Although not cheap at £15 million pounds, he is certainly not unaffordable , and a £15 million pound investment for someone that will score goals for the next 5-10 years is not one too extravagant to make.
- Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres is one of the still remaining stars of the Spanish league that has not moved on to a bigger club. Now the captain of Athletico Madrid, it is his time to go on if a suitable offer came in for him since his club have not qualified for Europe and do not look like qualifying for the Champions League for another five years at the very least, with Real, Barca, Sevilla, Valencia all possessing better players and more money than them. Perhaps his price tag has put off potential investors- a reported £28 million pounds is required to break his contract, although a supposed £15 million pounds & Reyes deal is all that is being mentioned for Arsenal at the moment. Could he do well in the rough hustle and bustle of the English Premiership? The answer to this question would determine whether he would turn out to be a massive success or a huge flop. Comparisons with Thierry Henry have been mooted, with the Spaniard being able to score with either foot or his head equally well. Also, he forms a reward-reaping partnership with Arsenal midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas on the international stage and would surely only enhance that partnership with the Gunners. The disadvantage of Torres is that he would take a year or two to bed in; with Tottenham & Newcastle heavily strengthening along with the rest of the top four, Arsenal cannot afford to be left behind. Also, are funds present to finance a move for both Torres and the winger to solve the width problem so evident on the pitch at Ashburton Grove?
- Ryan Babel
Ryan Babel has been linked with Arsenal almost since the start of the new millenium. Equally adept at playing on the wing or up front, he has already been compared to Thierry Henry by Dutch coach Marco Van Basten and will only improve with time. Available for a mere £6 million pounds due to a buyout clause in his contract, he could fill Arsenal's need of a new striker and new winger in one swoop while still leaving plenty of money in the transfer budget for other players. As with Huntelaar, he has played with Van Persie on the International stage and he recently shone in the European U21 Championships with the victorious Dutch team. He has repeatedly come out in the press speaking of his desire to play for Arsenal and under Wenger. However, Babel has never really impressed me- his poor first touch means he would find it difficult to thrive in the Premiership. I consider Babel a slight upgrade on the ever improving Walcott, but Arsenal would be best suited letting the Englishman have his time in the first team rather than buying the Dutch player. A somewhat headless chicken on the wing and someone that has never been prolific up front, he would take at least 2-3 years to reach his pomp- time that we cannot afford. Could Babel come in and replace the 30 goals a season that Henry used to give us? He is hardly someone to put your hopes and dreams on, and in the 2-3 years that Babel will take to adjust and reach his full potential we will have Walcott ready to terrorize defenses across the continent. One for the future, and Arsenal have enough of those players- someone is needed to come in and make an immediate impact.
All of these players have aspects to their game that have made them much vaunted across the football world. The pace of Babel, the intelligence of Anelka, the guile of Darren Bent or the selfishness of Huntelaar could help us in our quest for honours. The best man for Arsenal out of all those players is Huntelaar. He will be able to come in and make an impact on both the domestic and the European stage, something that we need a striker to do greatly. He possesses the selfishness and skill needed to succeed in the unforgiving Premiership and would no doubt placate fans who have wanted a big name player at Arsenal. This player is just hitting his peak and remember- he was the first man to net at the newly opened Emirates stadium, a sentimental thought to hold in the hearts of Arsenal fans. Those that have seen him play will know he was born score goals and he would only blossom under the tutelage of the wise Arsene Wenger. Although he will be able to make a mark now, he will also be there for the future and would complement either Adebayor or Van Persie equally well. Also, we will have a player that we know can do the business, in case of injuries and when Adebayor travels to the African Cup of Nations. One for the present and the future, Klaas Jan Huntelaar could become the 'super, super class' of player Wenger wanted at Arsenal.
- Darren Bent
The Charlton forward guarantees one thing- goals. The man regularly has featured in the top ten in terms of goals scored rankings, and would take a move to jump up a division with open arms considering his team Charlton were just relegated. Bent being a lifelong Arsenal fan, the club would have one of its own playing up front and surely he would not desire to leave us, even to go to the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona; however, being English he will undoubtedly cost far more than he is worth : he has been valued at around £18m pounds by his club , and they look unlikely to sell for anything else. Also, according to reports, he has nearly sealed a move to Tottenham, and even though he would probably opt for us and Champions League football if we went in for him- I doubt we should get into a bidding war for a player that has never set the world alight.
- Nicholas Anelka
The ex-Arsenal man name has surprisingly cropped up, as Wenger seems to want to finally have Anelka realise his potential at Arsenal Football Club. Although he left the club in acrimonious circumstances when his brothers forced a move, he seems to have matured as both a footballer and a person. He offers a quick fix- he will stay for 2-3 years while the likes of Bendtner, Vela and Adebayor develop as better players, as they have promised to do ever since they were brought to Arsenal as youth players. He should score goals as he knows how to play the Arsenal way. Anelka comes cheap, seemingly available for around £9 million pounds- causing many Arsenal fans across the globe to call for his signature. All throughout Anelka's career, he has never reached the heights he did at Arsenal- only hitting more than 20 goals once in the last six years. Also, his desire to leave Bolton, a club that just a year ago took a gamble of nearly £9 million pounds to lure him from Fenerbahce to the Premiership could prove troublesome for Arsenal in the future. Who's to say that he will not leave Arsenal in a year's time if say AC Milan, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Inter come in for him?
- Klaas Jan Huntelaar
Klaas Jan Huntelaar is an intriguing player. Even more of a goal poacher than Darren Bent, he has scored for fun since he started his professional football career. How many times this season and last have we seen an Arsenal player pass to another despite being in a good shooting position? Having hit 72 goals in the past two seasons, yet not having a single assist to his name shows that he is capable of putting the ball in the back of the net and perhaps has the one thing most Arsenal forwards do not- selfishness. How many times this season and last have we seen an Arsenal player pass to another despite being in a good shooting position? What goes against Huntelaar, however, is that his goals have mainly been scored in the Dutch Eredivisie, a weaker league than the Premiership. Comparisons to one Mateja Kezman, who flopped at Chelsea despite scoring a boatload in the Dutch league have been made- I feel a comparison to Ruud Van Nistelrooy suits Huntelaar better as he seems to have all the tools to succeed in the Premiership. Also, his partnership with Robin Van Persie has flourished in the few games they have played together on the International stage, and Arsenal could only reap the benefits of them playing together all the time. Although not cheap at £15 million pounds, he is certainly not unaffordable , and a £15 million pound investment for someone that will score goals for the next 5-10 years is not one too extravagant to make.
- Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres is one of the still remaining stars of the Spanish league that has not moved on to a bigger club. Now the captain of Athletico Madrid, it is his time to go on if a suitable offer came in for him since his club have not qualified for Europe and do not look like qualifying for the Champions League for another five years at the very least, with Real, Barca, Sevilla, Valencia all possessing better players and more money than them. Perhaps his price tag has put off potential investors- a reported £28 million pounds is required to break his contract, although a supposed £15 million pounds & Reyes deal is all that is being mentioned for Arsenal at the moment. Could he do well in the rough hustle and bustle of the English Premiership? The answer to this question would determine whether he would turn out to be a massive success or a huge flop. Comparisons with Thierry Henry have been mooted, with the Spaniard being able to score with either foot or his head equally well. Also, he forms a reward-reaping partnership with Arsenal midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas on the international stage and would surely only enhance that partnership with the Gunners. The disadvantage of Torres is that he would take a year or two to bed in; with Tottenham & Newcastle heavily strengthening along with the rest of the top four, Arsenal cannot afford to be left behind. Also, are funds present to finance a move for both Torres and the winger to solve the width problem so evident on the pitch at Ashburton Grove?
- Ryan Babel
Ryan Babel has been linked with Arsenal almost since the start of the new millenium. Equally adept at playing on the wing or up front, he has already been compared to Thierry Henry by Dutch coach Marco Van Basten and will only improve with time. Available for a mere £6 million pounds due to a buyout clause in his contract, he could fill Arsenal's need of a new striker and new winger in one swoop while still leaving plenty of money in the transfer budget for other players. As with Huntelaar, he has played with Van Persie on the International stage and he recently shone in the European U21 Championships with the victorious Dutch team. He has repeatedly come out in the press speaking of his desire to play for Arsenal and under Wenger. However, Babel has never really impressed me- his poor first touch means he would find it difficult to thrive in the Premiership. I consider Babel a slight upgrade on the ever improving Walcott, but Arsenal would be best suited letting the Englishman have his time in the first team rather than buying the Dutch player. A somewhat headless chicken on the wing and someone that has never been prolific up front, he would take at least 2-3 years to reach his pomp- time that we cannot afford. Could Babel come in and replace the 30 goals a season that Henry used to give us? He is hardly someone to put your hopes and dreams on, and in the 2-3 years that Babel will take to adjust and reach his full potential we will have Walcott ready to terrorize defenses across the continent. One for the future, and Arsenal have enough of those players- someone is needed to come in and make an immediate impact.
All of these players have aspects to their game that have made them much vaunted across the football world. The pace of Babel, the intelligence of Anelka, the guile of Darren Bent or the selfishness of Huntelaar could help us in our quest for honours. The best man for Arsenal out of all those players is Huntelaar. He will be able to come in and make an impact on both the domestic and the European stage, something that we need a striker to do greatly. He possesses the selfishness and skill needed to succeed in the unforgiving Premiership and would no doubt placate fans who have wanted a big name player at Arsenal. This player is just hitting his peak and remember- he was the first man to net at the newly opened Emirates stadium, a sentimental thought to hold in the hearts of Arsenal fans. Those that have seen him play will know he was born score goals and he would only blossom under the tutelage of the wise Arsene Wenger. Although he will be able to make a mark now, he will also be there for the future and would complement either Adebayor or Van Persie equally well. Also, we will have a player that we know can do the business, in case of injuries and when Adebayor travels to the African Cup of Nations. One for the present and the future, Klaas Jan Huntelaar could become the 'super, super class' of player Wenger wanted at Arsenal.
Carlos Tevez, a worthwhile signing for Arsenal?
Throughout this transfer window, Arsenal Football Club have been linked with a series of players, whether winger, striker or midfielder. Now that Henry has gone, these rumours about which striker Arsenal will sign have increased no end, and one of the most appearing rumours on various sports websites is that the Argentine Carlos Tevez will be moving to Arsenal. Tevez, a 23 year old who shone at the 2006 World Cup for Argentina has been credited as the main reason West Ham United escaped relegation to the Championship. "Carlitos" scored 7 goals in the last 10 games of the Premiership season moving West Ham from a position where all seemed lost to stay in the Premiership after Tevez scored the winning goal against champions Manchester United on the last day.
These performances caused Tevez to be linked to a number of clubs- the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea all mentioned as a possible destination for West Ham's stellar performer. However, potential buyers will be put off by the fact that Tevez is not owned by a club, but a company. Media Sports Investments. This ownership by a third party led Sheffield United to ask for a court hearing questioning West Ham's right to stay in the Premiership. Almost certain to move, Carlos Tevez is too good for a club of West Ham's stature and will soon be off, although where to?
Arsenal and Inter Milan are the two clubs he has been most strongly linked with recently. Inter Milan want Tevez to strengthen their quest for the Champions League, and Tevez revealed he would be happy to move there. Tevez spoke to Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, saying: 'Inter is a great club. There is a true possibility that I will wear the Nerazzurri colours next season. 'It's also true that Real Madrid are interested in my services but my agent knows exactly how I feel about it - better Inter than Real.'
Although the Argentine contingent at Inter would make things easy for Tevez to move there, it is questionable whether Inter need another striker, already signing David Suazo from Cagliari to add to Ibrahamovic, Crespo and Adriano already at the club. A move to Arsenal makes more sense as the Gunners need a striker to replace the departing Henry. "Carlitos" admitted he was interested in a move to Arsenal, telling the Sun: "I know people are now talking about Arsenal and obviously that is something I am excited about. It's another big club and the good thing is I wouldn't have to move out of London. I also already know English football and I like it. Arsenal's style is more technical than physical so I could fit in no problem."
Tevez found West Ham difficult at first as the then manager Alan Pardew refused to play him in his favoured position up front, often sticking him out wide on the wing or leaving him on the substitutes' bench. However, after Pardew was sacked new manager Curbishley played Tevez as a forward and reaped the rewards as West Ham United were saved from the drop. Now that Tevez has adapted to English football, he would be a player that could come in and make an immediate impact at Arsenal without needed the settling in period that a player based in a different league would.
Even though Tevez was hardly prolific during his stint in East London , he scored for fun during his spells at Boca Juniors Argentina's Primera División and Corinthians in Brazil 's Série A. His record of 1 goal every 3 apperances for West Ham United was by no means poor as he played on the wing for most of it and can only score more in a team that creates more chances. Carlos Tevez joining Arsenal would be a signal of intent from Wenger and no doubt he would terrorize not just Premiership defenses, but European ones as well.
These performances caused Tevez to be linked to a number of clubs- the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Chelsea all mentioned as a possible destination for West Ham's stellar performer. However, potential buyers will be put off by the fact that Tevez is not owned by a club, but a company. Media Sports Investments. This ownership by a third party led Sheffield United to ask for a court hearing questioning West Ham's right to stay in the Premiership. Almost certain to move, Carlos Tevez is too good for a club of West Ham's stature and will soon be off, although where to?
Arsenal and Inter Milan are the two clubs he has been most strongly linked with recently. Inter Milan want Tevez to strengthen their quest for the Champions League, and Tevez revealed he would be happy to move there. Tevez spoke to Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, saying: 'Inter is a great club. There is a true possibility that I will wear the Nerazzurri colours next season. 'It's also true that Real Madrid are interested in my services but my agent knows exactly how I feel about it - better Inter than Real.'
Although the Argentine contingent at Inter would make things easy for Tevez to move there, it is questionable whether Inter need another striker, already signing David Suazo from Cagliari to add to Ibrahamovic, Crespo and Adriano already at the club. A move to Arsenal makes more sense as the Gunners need a striker to replace the departing Henry. "Carlitos" admitted he was interested in a move to Arsenal, telling the Sun: "I know people are now talking about Arsenal and obviously that is something I am excited about. It's another big club and the good thing is I wouldn't have to move out of London. I also already know English football and I like it. Arsenal's style is more technical than physical so I could fit in no problem."
Tevez found West Ham difficult at first as the then manager Alan Pardew refused to play him in his favoured position up front, often sticking him out wide on the wing or leaving him on the substitutes' bench. However, after Pardew was sacked new manager Curbishley played Tevez as a forward and reaped the rewards as West Ham United were saved from the drop. Now that Tevez has adapted to English football, he would be a player that could come in and make an immediate impact at Arsenal without needed the settling in period that a player based in a different league would.
Even though Tevez was hardly prolific during his stint in East London , he scored for fun during his spells at Boca Juniors Argentina's Primera División and Corinthians in Brazil 's Série A. His record of 1 goal every 3 apperances for West Ham United was by no means poor as he played on the wing for most of it and can only score more in a team that creates more chances. Carlos Tevez joining Arsenal would be a signal of intent from Wenger and no doubt he would terrorize not just Premiership defenses, but European ones as well.
What must England do to find success on the International stage?
Despite having undeniably talented players, lots of money and of course a passionate fanbase, England have only won the World Cup once, way back in 1966, and have never won the European Championships- reaching the semi finals only twice in those. Ranked a lowly eighth by FIFA, it is a surprise that the country with the most watched league in the world finishes below the likes of Portugal and France- teams that have a very weak domestic league when compared to the English Premiership. Two things have haunted England at major tournaments, the first being a lack of technical skill possessed by their counterparts on the international stage; the second being failure to take penalties well at the highest level. Too often, such as in 1998 and 2006 World Cups as well as in the 1996, 2004 European Championships England have failed to deliver when it comes to penalty time, and the national team has suffered because of it. This inability to take penalties is not just a feature of the full national team- recently the England U21 team was knocked out of the European tournament for their age group after losing to eventual winners Holland in a penalty shootout. With regards to penalties, there is not much England can do to help them score more at international tournaments bar practising, practising and practising some more in pressure situations. In that respect, it was heartening to see the England U21 squad playing a penalty shootout against Slovakia after a friendly at Stuart Pearce's request, as these types of shootouts can only help players handle the pressure.
The other matter however, which is the lack of technical skill possessed by most top flight England players mean they are destined to fail unless they fix this weaknesses, and fast. Of the current England setup, only Joe Cole and Aaron Lennon possess the quick feet and ability to play in small spaces that most of their foreign counterparts do. More work needs to be put in at youth level by the Football Association in order to try and fix this, and youngsters need to be encouraged to play with the ball at their feet, concentrating on playing a good game rather than just the win. In Brazil, younger players play as they wish, being encouraged to beat their man and make short passes rather than mindlessly hoofing the ball up front. Positions in a formation are given once the players are older and wiser and even then it is the players that choose where and how they would like to play rather than a coach giving orders. As the players grow up, not just a will to play Brazilian's "samba style" is instilled in them but also the confidence to keep their cool even when the clock is running down and a goal is needed. Statistics prove how little English players are at the forefront of trophies compared to the other countries they compete with. Just 16 English players have played in a UEFA Champions League final since its inception, compared to the 90 Italians that have featured in the same amount of time. Surely this shows that something needs to be done?
Even for all these problems, England still have a strong team and that is because of one thing- the availability of foreign players to clubs in the Premiership. Although most argue that this is the reason England do poorly in international competitions, they fail to realise England did not win anything from the World Cup win in 1966 to the first influx of foreign players in the Premiership. The large amount of foreign talent available means only the best English players will survive, as they likes of Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney have shown. Also, English talent is able to compete with players from Spain, France , Italy and Brazil as well as learn skills from them- something they would never have been able to do had the league only allowed British players. England fans may despair as they do not look like winning anything under McClaren's reign- but with the likes of Theo Walcott, Micah Richards and Wayne Rooney emerging it is hard to see how they will remain starved of success for much longer. The 2010 World Cup in South Africa would seem the best place to start as by then the precocious Rooney, Lennon and Ashton will be in their pomp, ably supported by the experienced Gerrard and Hargreaves and backed by the developing Walcott and Richards.
Should Arsenal Revert to a 4-3-3?
The players are capable, the passing game is right. Should Arsenal revert to the formation used by the great Dutch teams of the past and present? Arguably, that is the way forward for the Gunners. A surplus amount of central attacking midfielders and not a single out and out winger, this formation would suit the players at Arsenal and could change the meaning of attacking football as we know it. Currently, the Gunners play a standard 4-4-2 formation with four central defenders, two central midfielders, a player on each flank and two up top.
However, in recent times Wenger has moved towards playing central attacking midfielders on the wing. The likes of Rosicky and Hleb, although performing on the wing will reach nowhere near their full potential if they are continued to be played there. All of the players at Arsenal now that Henry has left would flourish in a 4-3-3 formation. The same back five could be used (Lehmann/Fabianski, Eboue, Toure, Gallas, Clichy)- but the major changes would be in midfield and up front. In a 4-3-3 , generally you have a defensive midfielder sitting in front of the defence and nullifying attacks. This player would be Gilberto, who has proved over the seasons past that he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
Slightly ahead of Gilberto, two attacking midfielders are played- two that can create attacks by either a defence splitting pass or a driving run. These players must know how to defend as well, so for the two attacking midfielders I choose Fabregas and Diaby. Fabregas can play from deep, sending in wonderful through balls for the strikers to run onto while Diaby can play as Vieira did, winning the ball with a crunching tackle and then trying to set up a quick counter attack with a run through the middle of the field.
Up front, there are only two options for the lone striker- Adebayor and Bendtner. Although Van Persie and Walcott could play at the head of the trio of forwards, they are best suited slightly wider. Adebayor and Bendtner have the aerial presence to be able to knock down balls for other players as well as the pace to latch onto any through balls provided by the Spanish wizard Fabregas. In the wing forward positions, I would like to see the likes of Van Persie and Walcott, as well as Rosicky, Hleb and Ljungberg. The wing forwards can constantly swap over, go wide or cut inside- making them near impossible to mark for opposing teams.
Could Arsenal win trophies with this formation? It is hard to see why not, as this formation allows all players to play in their favoured position while containing a certain amount of unpredictability. It offers the option to play Arsenal's beautiful passing game or the option of hoofing the ball to the frontman if needed. Arsenal have finished fourth in the league and trophyless these past two seasons- this new formation could change it all.
Things to Try in Pre Season?
Now that everyone is probably bored with the transfer talk, and the much talked about departure of an Arsenal legend (no names!), I thought I'd question the grey cells on something different. What would you like to see tried out in pre season training, or the various friendly tournaments Arsenal are due to play in? Things that you think would improve us, or just things you'd like to see done, whether it's formations, player positions or set pieces. My shortlist:- The 4-3-3 formation, would like to see it tried out as we all know we have the players for that kind of setup. Would like to see Adebayor or Bendtner up front as the lone striker with two deep lying wing forwards playing off him. A surplus of central attacking midfielders without a single winger means this formation could suit Arsenal down to the ground.
- Kolo Toure in midfield- the guy has everything you could want a midfield enforcer to have- controlled aggression, loping runs and crunching tackles. Is one of the most eager players to get us into games when we are behind and undoubtedly his energy is better suited to midfield, especially as his lack of heading ability is often exposed in defence.
- Eboue in midfield. We've all seen how good he is going forward, although some feel he is suspect defensively. Could he handle the lesser time & space afforded to him in midfield? If this was pulled off, we may not even need a winger, although some would question Hoyte's capability as a first choice right back for the entire season.
- Rosicky playing as a shadow striker, in the Dennis Bergkamp role just behind Adebayor. Although Rosicky's performances on the wing have by no means been poor, he works better controlling the play from Cesc's position or being a free role as Ronaldinho is for Barcelona. He could accomplish much playing off Adebayor up front, perhaps this could be used if Van Persie gets injured at any point this season. - Worked set pieces, ones that have been practiced by the club and then can be put into place in matches. An example of this is the one England used in the U21 Championships, where Lita scored with a diving header from two yards out. If executed properly, these can cause havoc
- Lastly, the Van Persie-Bendtner partnership in a few games as we've seen Bendtner shine in the Championship and Van Persie shine in the Premiership, and the duo compliment each other perfectly. Unlike Adebayor, whose finishing at times is erratic Bendtner can put the ball past the keeper like the best of them and the Premiership saw how devastating Van Persie was last season. Put them together and do you have an unstoppable force?
Any thoughts?
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