Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino has told Manchester United and Chelsea that they will not be able to force his club into selling Luke Shaw in the summer.
The 18-year-old left-back has emerged as one of the Premier League’s top young players this season, establishing himself as a first-team regular with the Saints, earning his senior international debut and playing his way into contention for a World Cup call-up.
With his form having been so impressive, a number of big clubs have been linked with moves for his signature, with United and Chelsea both said to be willing to pay upwards of £20m for the teenager.
Both Southampton and the player have made no indication that they are willing to part company, but that has not quelled talk that a switch will happen once the season ends.
Now Pochettino has revealed that he believes Shaw will be staying and that the Hampshire side will make any decisions about his future:
“At the end of the day Luke Shaw is a player that belongs to Southampton, and it will be the club, Southampton, that makes the decision as to what happens with his future.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.
“Of course there will be interest for him, but so far right now he’s a player at Southampton and it looks as though it will continue that way.
“There are a lot of players who are under interest at Southampton, but they are all very happy at the football club, and most of them are under long-term contracts.
“They understand the situation of what it means to be a professional player in the Premier League.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“There’s nothing really we have to speak about on that front.
“If there is any decision to be made, it is for the owners, not for me.”
[ffccomp link=”https://www.footballfancast.com/competitions/win-nikes-brand-new-england-football-kit” oneliner=”For your chance to WIN the new England kit made by Nike, simply comment below with your size…” step=”TELL US YOUR SIZE BELOW” terms=”http://england-kit-giveaway.pen.io/” topics=”england, nike, brazil, kit, football, soccer”]
Barcelona have done what Barcelona do best: they’ve splashed out in extravagant fashion on another forward, bordering on a backhand to those who continue to trumpet the need for defensive reinforcements.
It’s the second successive summer in which it has happened (and yes, this summer’s transfer period is far from over). Last summer, the struggles at the back had hit fever pitch. Bayern Munich had annihilated Barca in the semi-final of the Champions League to the tune of 7-0 over two legs. Carles Puyol’s inability to involve himself adequately throughout the season was becoming more pronounced, while his absence alongside Gerard Pique was clearly having an effect on the consistency of the former Manchester United defender.
And once again, Javier Mascherano isn’t a centre-back, nor is Adriano, who was forced into that role on more than one occasion.
Over two summers Barcelona have spent close to £150 million on Neymar and Luis Suarez, and that figure may be higher – it probably is in fairness, due to the ambiguity surrounding Neymar’s fee and the fallout from that transfer episode. But thus far, Barcelona have done nothing to address their weaknesses at the back, while seemingly complicating matters up front.
It’s not that they haven’t been linked with centre-backs. A big talking point in Spain is the potential transfer of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia to the Camp Nou, which, for the right price, would represent a good piece of business.
Another is the reported targeting of Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen, who isn’t coming off his best season, but who nevertheless carries plenty of importance at White Hart Lane.
The Belgian international makes a lot of sense for the La Liga side, with his technical proficiency standing out as something Barcelona demand from their footballers. The issue is at the other end of the table, where Tottenham could very well lose another major star to Spain for the third successive summer.
WANT MORE? >> Tottenham transfer news | Latest transfer news
Spurs have been quiet over these summer months, certainly in comparison to their north London rivals and those who are strengthening just ahead of them in the league table in the top four. And while Vertonghen would command a handsome fee in the ballpark of £30 million, Tottenham can’t afford another setback – especially one of their own making – with plenty of ground to make up already.
Mauricio Pochettino was expected to look to his former club Southampton as a means to filling in the gaps in the squad at White Hart Lane. Instead, the Argentine has seen those names head off to rival Premier League clubs, with Tottenham’s only business thus far coming from the soon-to-be-announced additions of Michel Vorm and Ben Davies from Swansea – good, reliable players, but not the individuals who will play big parts in bridging the gap.
The other issue is that Vertonghen’s sale would necessitate the rebuilding of the back four, much like the club had to do last summer with the midfield and attack. Younes Kaboul can’t be relied upon due to recent injury layoffs, Michael Dawson quickly proved last season that he was no longer up to the task of being a starter at the club, and Vlad Chiriches, while good in spells, still has some way to go to totally convince those who doubt him.
Vertonghen may have had a poor season by his standards last term, but the Belgian international is one of only two players in Tottenham’s defensive setup who could merit a place in one of the Premier League’s legitimate title-challenging teams. The other being Hugo Lloris.
Tottenham can’t afford another season of allowing a wave of newcomers to settle in. There simply isn’t time, with those ahead of them pulling away at great speed and Everton also looking to build on what they achieved last season with Roberto Martinez.
This is when Daniel Levy’s steel will come to be tested. Barcelona may eventually land Mathieu from Valencia, but the Frenchman is 30, and not only do Barcelona need to make a younger addition, they also need to cover themselves for their impending transfer ban. Thus far, they’ve been unsuccessful in their attempts for Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
A serious move for Vertonghen looks likely. The player has cast doubt on his future with Tottenham in the past, citing the need for Champions League football, while the allure of a club like Barcelona may be too much to resist.
Gareth Bale’s departure last summer was never in any great doubt, with the same able to be said of Luka Modric the summer before. But Vertonghen isn’t a sure thing. Spurs can still keep hold of their standout defender. Lose him and it could set off the steady stream of high-profile exits from the club, with the view being that there is a genuine inability to combat overtures from the biggest around Europe.
Lose Vertonghen and there’s no telling how long Spurs will be in a state of rebuild.
“I’m not equipped to manage successfully without Peter Taylor. I am the shop window and he is the goods.” So said Brian Clough about his right-hand man who died on 4 October 1990, while on holiday in Spain.
Taylor made this observation of his relationship with Clough: “My strength was buying and selecting the right player, then Brian’s man management would shape the player.”
But whatever words they used to describe this unique partnership, it was their team on the pitch which spoke most eloquently about the pair.
The two men first become acquainted at Ayersome Park, home of Middlesborough FC, in the late 1950’s. It was a relationship that was to last 30 odd years, with a major hiccup along the way.
Taylor was a goalkeeper in his playing days. He saw service between the sticks at Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Middlesborough and finally Port Vale. After retiring from the playing side of the game in 1962 he went into football management at Burton Albion where he achieved some considerable success.
Then in 1965 Clough, manager at Hartlepools United (as they were called in those days) came calling, and the rest, as they say, is history.
While Cloughie was the charismatic, outspoken, ‘ole big ‘ead’, Taylor was the quiet man pulling the strings in the background. They were as different as chalk and cheese which is why they gelled together so well. Their management partnership took them from Hartlepools to Derby County, Brighton and Hove Albion, and finally to Nottingham Forest.
In between Clough took a 44 day sabbatical at Leeds United while Taylor stayed on at Brighton.
It was at Forest that Taylor (and Clough) achieved their greatest success in management, winning back to back European Cups against Malmo in 1979 and Hamburg in 1980.
In 1982 Taylor returned to Derby County as manager before retiring two years later. Sadly, their relationship soured in 1983. There are many reasons given for this and now is not the time to rake over old coals. Suffice to say, it is reported that they never spoke again. Six years later, one half of one of football’s greatest management teams, was dead, the result of a Pulmonary Fibrosis, a respiratory disease.
It is reported that when Clough was told of Taylor’s death he broke down and wept. His feeling of loss would haunt him for the rest of his life.
When Clough was awarded the freedom of the city of Nottingham in 1993, he said: “I have only one regret today, and that is that me mate isn’t here with me.”
In his autobiography, published the following year, Clough wrote: “To Peter. Still miss you badly. You once said: ‘When you get shot of me there won’t be as much laughter in your life’. You were right.”
Clough paid one final tribute to Taylor in September 1999 when he said he would like the ‘Brian Clough Stand’ to be renamed the ‘Brian Clough and Peter Taylor Stand’, to recognize what a huge contribution Taylor had made to their managerial partnership.
Taylor might well have been the ‘quiet one’ but never again will Brian Clough be mentioned without reference being made to his old mate, Peter Taylor.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
@richardbowdery
Richard Bowdery writes for BobbyFC, the football website with a retro twist. www.BobbyFC.com
Fill out our survey and win a pair of PUMA EvoPOWER boots as worn by Mario Balotelli, Cesc Fabregas and Marco Reus!
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.
We all mull through transfer rumours every day, be it reading a newspaper on the train home, on the iPad while grazing over a bowl of cereal, or a quick gander at Sky Sports News before bedtime. But we all know that the vast majority of them are complete nonsense, dreamed up by some overworked journalist scared they’re about to get the sack from the Daily Mail.But every now and then, should one be able to mineÂthe wealth of misinformation in front of them, a transfer rumour eventuallyÂproves true.So with that in mind, here’s FOUR January transfer rumours involving Manchester United that we at Football FanCast think might actually happen.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON LOUIS VAN GAAL TO GET YOUR TRANSFER FIX
[/ffc-gallery]
MATS HUMMELS
Admittedly there’s plenty of evidence to suggest Mats Hummels won’t be moving to Manchester United in January, such as the Borussia Dortmund centre-back accepting the club captaincy during the summer to deter Old Trafford’s interest, or recent reports claiming he’d prefer a move to Arsenal.
But the Black-Yellows have just named their price for the German World Cup winner, according to the tabloids:
And although that sum would be just £3million shy of David Luiz’ record-breaking move to PSG in June, Manchester United demonstrated during the summer their willingness to pay any fee required to land the world’s top talent.
Hummels certainly falls into that category and is a known favourite of Louis van Gaal, having briefly worked together at Bayern Munich. Here’s a clip of the 25 year-old in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/cOlTY9h1IsA?rel=0
He’d resolve United’s limited quality and leadership at the back too, but whether the 6 foot 4 Beckenbauer-esque defender would actually quit on the Black-Yellows in January remains to be seen.
Kevin Strootman
Football – Holland v Germany – UEFA European Under 21 Championship Israel 2013 – Group B – Ha Moshava Stadium, Petah Tikva, Israel – 6/6/13Kevin Strootman – Holland U21Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton
Manchester United’s interest in Netherlands international Kevin Strootman is no secret, with Louis van Gaal admitting as much back in the summer.
Often referred to as the Dutch Roy Keane for his competitiveness and tough tackling, the 24 year-old seems like the perfect acquisition to add some bite and tenacity to United’s midfield.
He’s also well acquainted with LVG through the Oranje set-up, even captaining the Netherlands under the United gaffer on occasion. Here’s a clip of Strootman in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/_Wq8cQ-ldJo?rel=0
The Red Devils would have likely signed the Roma star during the summer, had he not been sidelined with a long-term knee injury.
So, after making his first appearance of the season against Torino just ahead of the international break, its likely United will return for Strootman when the transfer market reopens.
Roma clearly don’t want to sell however and have already mooted some outrageous fees for the industrial midfielder:
Thus, United may be forced to wait until the summer when the Italian side are feeling a little more reasonable.
Juan Mata
Juan Mata only joined the Manchester United ranks last January for a then-club-record £37million deal, but rumours linking him away from Old Trafford have persisted ever since:
The Spain international’s form has been decent for the Red Devils, amassing nine goals and five assists in 24 league appearances – including this winner against Crystal Palace just before the international break:
Yet, both David Moyes and Louis van Gaal have struggled to find a regular spot for the 26 year-old in their starting Xis, unable to usurp Wayne Rooney at No.10 and lacking the athleticism to play out wide.
Equally, as Jose Mourinho had prophesised at the start of last season, his lack of defensive contribution can place an almighty burden upon the rest of the team.
So after a year without a clear role for the second-largest signing in United’s history, it wouldn’t be too surprising if the Red Devils decided to try and get some of their original investment back in January.
They’ll likely have to sell at a sizeable loss however, which could convince LVG to hold onto Mata for now.
MARCO REUS
The second Dortmund player on this list, it appears virtually every major club in Europe will attempt to prize Marco Reus away from Westfalen this January, following news that he’s ended contract talks with the German side.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
His £20million release clause isn’t set to come into effect until the summer, but that combined with their poor start to the season means the Black-Yellows will be unable to turn down more lucrative offers in the New Year.
The Red Devils need another winger – with Antonio Valencia now seen as a more defensive option and Adnan Januzaj yet to rekindle his form from last season – and the Germany international’s credentials are undoubted, having won two Bundesliga Player of the Year awards in the last three years. Here’s a clip of Reus in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/rlYrndbblKk?rel=0
With Real Madrid already privy to a wealth of world-class, likeminded attacking midfielders and Barcelona now banned for the next three transfer windows, it seems the Premier League is the only viable destination for the winger-forward.
That makes an Old Trafford switch all the more likely, but Reus has been linked to Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea too. Recent speculation even suggests a swap deal involving the Blues’ Andre Schurrle:
According to Mirror Football, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has absolutely no chance of bringing one of his favoured Netherlands internationals, Arjen Robben, to Old Trafford.The Bayern Munich star was on United’s radar during the summer, but has once again dismissed the notionÂof hooking up withÂthe Manchester United bossÂany time soon.”[Bayern]Âis the perfect club with the perfect manager for me,” the potent winger has recently revealed. “My family is happy, we have lived here for five years and I am exactly at the place I want to be. It cannot be better than it is at the moment, so you don’t need to have thoughts about other clubs and other leagues.”If you see me again in three years in the Premier League, then who knows, but at the moment, there is not even one per cent of me thinking about going to England or anywhere.â€Back to the drawing board for van Gaal then, but United’s squad would certainly be improved by a pacey, counter-attacking goal-threat from out wide. Perhaps it’s time to consider some like-minded alternatives, and being the forward-thinking bunch we are at Football FanCast, we’ve already come up with FIVE.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON ARJEN ROBBEN TO REVEAL ALL
[/ffc-gallery]
MEMPHIS DEPAY
If you can’t get Arjen Robben, why not stage a bid for the next winger set to dominate the Netherlands’ flanks for the many years to come? Namely, PSV Eindhoven star Memphis Depay.
Louis van Gaal knows the 20 year-old well, having utilised him to great effect in a cameo role during Oranje’s play-off-reaching World Cup campaign.
That saw him bag two goals and one assist in four appearances – including this goal against Australia:
//www.youtube.com/embed/CKv5HqtCD0w?rel=0
He’s started the current campaign in even stronger form, as shown below, amassing six goals in six appearances across all competitions:
Often referred to as “the Dutch Cristiano Ronaldo” for their shared dead-ball technique, joining Manchester United under van Gaal’s leadership seems like the next logical step in the 20 year-old’s career. Here’s another look at him in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/MiRW90BBv_o?rel=0
But having committed himself to four more years at PSV after penning new terms at the end of the summer window, the Red Devils will have to wait until next summer at the earliest to sign Depay, and likely pay considerably more than originally expected.
JUAN CUADRADO
Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado, strongly linked with a Manchester United move during the summer…
…is on the verge of weaving a £27million release clause into his new contract – a figure that’s not only well within United’s financial reach, but furthermore represents fantastic value for money.
The 26 year-old, famed for his endless stamina and incredible top speed, wreaked havoc in the Italian top flight last season and brought his form to the World Cup:
In fact, nobody bettered the Colombian international’s four assists at Brazil 2014, including this athletic knock-down to eventual Golden Ball winner, James Rodriguez:
Combining pace, athleticism, trickery and netting prowess, this goal typifies the South American’s style of play: //www.youtube.com/embed/DUlRxcSaxZo Cuadrado’s pace and mobility could make all the difference to a United side lacking in both, but recent reports claim Chelsea are the leading contenders for his signature:
MARCO REUS
Football – Bayern Munich v Borussia Dortmund – 2013 UEFA Champions League Final – Wembley Stadium, London, England – 25/5/13Bayern Munich’s Philipp Lahm in action with Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus (R)Mandatory Credit: Action Images / John SibleyLivepic
It seems the European elite are waiting until next summer to try and sign Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus, when his ridiculously cheap £20million release clause comes into effect.
But unquestionably one of the most exciting attacking talents in world football, Manchester United would be wise to try and beat the pack by tempting the Black-Yellows with a slightly more lucrative offer in January – especially with their title bid seemingly already over after picking up just seven points from their first eight games.
Indeed, the German international ripped the Bundesliga apart last season, as shown below, earning him the division’s Player of the Year award for the second time in three years:
The 25 year-old can operate anywhere across the front or as a No.10, capable of playing the roles of scorer or provider. His technical qualities are second to none, but they’re underpinned by electric pace that would add a whole new dimension to United’s attack. Here’s a look at Reus in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/rlYrndbblKk?rel=0
Reus is currently enjoying a habitually strong form, as detailed below:
But launching a bid in January could well open Pandora’s box – even Bayern Munich look set to make an offer for the Dortmund talisman:
JOSE CALLEJON
Football – Swansea City v SSC Napoli – UEFA Europa League Second Round First Leg – Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales – 20/2/14Napoli’s Jose Callejon (R) in action with Swansea’s Ben DaviesMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ChildsLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
A self-professed favourite of Jose Mourinho from their time together at Real Madrid, €10million signing Jose Callejon has proved to be an absolute gem for Napoli since leaving the Bernabeu in summer 2013.
Indeed, the Spaniard’s creative influence has been monumental for the Serie A side over the last two seasons, as detailed below:
And the 27 year-old’s six-in-seven return this year includes this stunning finish against Inter Milan:
Here’s a more extensive look at Callejon in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/PHUYFnFYqIc?rel=0
Most appealingly, reports in Italy claim the goal-scoring winger wants to leave Napoli after their failure to qualify for the Champions League and troubled start in Serie A. The Express allege they could sell for as little as £16million, but moot Arsenal as his likeliest suitors:
Even if the rumours prove to be false, Callejon’s contract includes a £23.5million release clause.
YEVHEN KONOPLYANKA
By no means a likeminded winger to Arjen Robben, Ukrainian international Yevhen Konoplyanka is a more traditional wide-man of the touchline-hugging, whip-it-in mould.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Manchester United fans will know the 25 year-old well – he’s been linked with an Old Trafford switch on numerous occasions in the past, including during the summer window:
You might also remember him for this stunning goal against England back in 2012:
//www.youtube.com/embed/GB0wDwgI39c?rel=0
Indeed, Konoplyanka is considered to be one of the most sought-after players outside of Europe’s major leagues, with his list of suitors including Spurs, West Ham and Liverpool to name a few:
He currently plies his trade with Dnipro, boasting a return of 39 goals in 180 appearances for the Ukrainian side, including two in ten this season. But with the Ukrainian’s contract coming to an end in summer 2015, a January move to a major club is becoming increasingly likely.
A £5million fee has been mooted by Mirror Football. Here’s another look at Konoplyanka in action:
There has been a lot of pressure surrounding Arsene Wenger of late and many Arsenal fans are starting to lose faith in the Frenchman.
Although Arsenal’s start to the season hasn’t been particularly disastrous, there are still calls for Wenger to leave his post after nearly two decades in charge; the fans may well be frustrated with the sporadic form of Arsenal but it would be a massive mistake if Wenger were allowed to leave the club (before his contract is up).
One of the main reasons why it would work against Arsenal is due to stability. Similarly to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, the club clearly struggled to adapt to life without a figurehead as strong and influential as Sir Alex. It is only now that Manchester United can claim that they are putting together results that would have been commonplace under the Scotsman’s reign. Therefore, it seems fair enough to suggest that Arsenal would have similar problems if Wenger suddenly left the post at the Emirates.
This raises the thought of exactly why Arsenal would struggle? To put it rather simply, the current Arsenal squad has clear weaknesses and Wenger is probably getting the best out of his squad at the moment; there is an alarming lack of depth in the defensive areas, where Wenger has relied all too much on younger players to perform in these areas when other first-team players are out injured. Furthermore, there is also no real defensive midfielder in Arsenal’s side; Mathieu Flamini is probably the closest Arsenal have to a defensive midfielder but many fans have not been impressed with his return so far. Mikel Arteta is a liability at times, despite the Spaniard still possessing undoubted technical abilities. However, an all-action, box-to-box midfield engine is what is missing.
Jack Wilshere offered the energetic element to Arsenal’s midfield in a defensive sense but his injury has exposed the problem even more. To put things simply, Wenger could easily sway fans’ opinions by signing the right players in January. A boost to the defensive element of the squad will solidify Arsenal, who have an abundance of attacking midfielders; a sense of variation in midfield will allow the current team to prosper, rather than expose their lack of strength in key areas.
Some Arsenal fans may have become frustrated at the club’s lack of ambition and spending power. However, this is simply not the case. In the past two seasons, Wenger has spent big on both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Although Ozil has struggled at times, Sanchez has been an absolute revelation at the Emirates. If Wenger adopts this marquee signing approach with more of a defensive stance, Arsenal will soon reap the benefits. To accuse Wenger of having no ambition is simply wrong but he must spend wisely in the next couple of transfer windows. Arsenal fans will also have to ask themselves whether life would really be better without their manager. Once again, they are through to the last 16 of the Champions League and are two points adrift of fourth place in the Premier League, not to mention their FA Cup success last year.
Arsenal fans clearly want another push at the Premier League title, however, they must be deluded to think that their current crop of players can get there. Therefore, Wenger still needs time as the club are going through a transitional period and Wenger will continue to invest in players in the future. Wenger is still continuing to nurture young talent and, in the near future, Arsenal could easily look like a side capable of challenging for the title.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Arsenal fans leading the Wenger-out brigade should have some patience, their club is not in crisis and they have one of the best managers in the world who still delivers success every season; sometimes, you have to be careful in what you wish for.
Aston Villa’s inability to score goals this season has been nothing short of appalling.
The fact that Bournemouth scored more goals in one game in Birmingham this season – an 8-0 win at St.Andrews in October- than Lambert’s side have managed in their 11 home Premier League games this campaign speaks volumes on just how inept this team are at putting the ball in the onion sack.
You have to feel sympathy for the loyal Villa supporters who have to put up with this every week. From a fan’s perspective, there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing your team score goals on a frequent basis. It would be far more pleasing to lose 2-3 or 4-5 as opposed to these regular 0-1s that provide no aesthetic spark for the desperate watching eye.
Villa have now scored 11 in total in 23, which is the worst goals-per-game ratio of any team in Europe’s top five league or any of the 649 teams in all of England. If they dare continue at this rate, they’ll break the record for the fewest number of goals scored in a Premier League season. Their October Goal of the Month was cancelled due to the fact they scored no goals. Alan Pardew has seen his Cystral Palace side score more goals than Paul Lambert has. It’s ludicrous.
So where does the blame lie?
The biggest point of interest lies in there midfield, where Tom Cleverley, Carlos Sanchez, Fabian Delph and Ashley Westwood exert no playmaking authority on the game. They’re all players of a pretty similar mould- midfield screeners if you will. Competent at holding shape and keeping possession, but more reliant on someone with more invention and initiative to find the killer pass. They’re not specialists in any sense- not great creators or nor hounding destroyers, more competent team players who contribute to the side’s overall pattern.
Carlos Sanchez’s New Yar’s Day performance against Crystal Palace summarises what this category of players offers. He recorded the most passes (117) and touches (133) by an Aston Villa player in a Premier League game since the start of the 2003/04 season- but nearly all of those passes were lateral as opposed to vertical. Ultimately, he offered nothing, except a midfield screening and some possession.
It means that Villa look fairly good in defence, compact in shape, and effective at maintaining possession, but there’s zero midfield pentetration and a fundamental lack of guile. A 4-3-3 as sterile as this cries out for a designated playmaker as a number 10 and a general switch to a 4-2-3-1, but Villa don’t possess a man of that craft.
Some blame lies with Christian Benteke, who’s gradually regressed since his groundbreaking-19-goal debut season two years ago. Whilst lacking clear-cut-chances (he has had chances, but he’s not missing sitters) from those around him, he’s actually averaging more shots than he did in his last two seasons. Unfortunately his shot accuracy has plummeted to 37.5%.It would be unfair to blame one person on their team’s general shortcomings, and his lengthy injury in 2014 explains why he’s not the player he once was.
Villa’s inability to convert from set pieces is the final nail in the goal-drought coffin. Chris Hughton’s Norwich or a Tony Pulis Stoke became very reliant in previous years by nicking a header from a corner in tight low scoring games. Villa have managed just three goals from set pieces, which means their more reliant than ever to score from open play.
It’s difficult to predict where Villa are heading. They’ve been floating in the realms of mid-table mediocrity for a while now, devoid of inspiration from a highly unpopular chairman, shackled by the terms of their ongoing financial plight.
That trend looks set to continue – their defensive record is good enough to see them probably edge to safety again this season. Perhaps, cynically, relegation would galvanize the club for a new dawn. Would scoring goals in a successful Championship team be better than this?
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
You should be careful what you wish for, but if their impotency continues long into the future, perhaps, perversely, several steps back may become the way forward.
Arsene Wenger – the main man down at Arsenal for nearly 20 years now – is undeniably one of the best managers the English game has ever seen. Even if his team’s most recent exploits fail to shine the classy Frenchman in his most successful light, the 65-year-old brings with him a wealth of trophy-winning experience, as well as a priceless reputation for playing entertaining football.
The Gunners have been transformed during Wenger’s tenure at the North London club, from the ‘boring, boring Arsenal’ team of old, to the notorious ‘Invincibles’ that took the nation by storm in 2003/04.
In light of Arsenal’s long-term manager approaching such a milestone with the club, just how well does Le Professeur compare with his contemporaries in English football, and to what extent does Arsene Wenger truly deserve to be crowned the best manager the Premier League has ever seen?
Such a topic inevitably becomes a tit-for-tat argument, with most fans of top four clubs suggesting that their own coach deserves the credit above anyone else. No one could truly say that one individual manager is simply untouchable, for they all bring their own set of skills and abilities, as well as some inevitable shortcomings.
The case for Arsene Wenger however remains a convincing one. The former Monaco man has not only proved his worth when it comes to winning trophies – in spite of Jose Mourinho’s claims that he is a ‘specialist in failure’ – but the animated French boss has also been able to achieve such a legacy in a generally positive and captivating manner.
[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]
Yes – the current Arsenal team of 2014/15 simply doesn’t live up to the Gunners sides of old, and yes, Wenger may very well be approaching the end of his time as a successful Premier League coach these days – but when you consider the calibre of players he has discovered and subsequently introduced into the English game – there really can only be one winner in this argument.
The likes of Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, Cesc Fabregas and so on… have made the Premier League into what many consider the best domestic competition in the whole of Europe. Other English giants have obviously contributed a great deal in this department as well, but as Wenger is simply the master of finding raw talents and turning them into world renowned superstars, the Frenchman simply deserves the most credit – even if some of these foreign ventures have spelt the end for several Englishman trying to tie down first team places in the Premier League.
Jose Mourinho may have governed over some of the league’s best talents throughout his time at Stamford Bridge, he has proven to have a knack for gamesmanship in press conferences and post-match interviews, and he may even provide the Premier League with its stand-out character in the dug-out at the moment – but without the many millions handed down to him from Chelsea’s Russian ownership – the ever enigmatic Portuguese boss simply wouldn’t have been able to have the same impact in the slightest.
Anyone can rinse Europe’s very best talent with the financial power Mourinho has been able to call upon throughout his time in the Premier League. It takes a truly special manager to source his own gems from obscure teams across the continent and build them into some of the world’s greatest – and as of yet – Mourinho just hasn’t proved capable of such a feat on a consistent enough level.
One manager who may therefore be able to challenge Wenger as the Premier League’s best would be Sir Alex Ferguson. The former Old Trafford man not only turned Manchester United into one of the most formidable English outfits at the time, but he also went about his business by investing his efforts in youth team players, and eventually seeing them grow into some of the best performers of the modern era.
Sir Alex nevertheless failed to reach the same levels of entertainment as the current Arsenal boss, relying instead on a meaner, more intimidating brand of football. The rest of England would be lying if they said that they didn’t enjoy watching the Frenchman’s Arsenal team of old, but the same seemingly can’t be said of the opposing Man United side under an authoritative Ferguson at the time.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
While such a debate will seemingly rage on, the overall outcome would simply have to place Arsene Wenger as the best Premier League manager of the modern era – regardless of where you footballing loyalties happen to lie.
Leicester City are in a fight at the bottom of the table. In many ways, that’s a good thing from their point of view, as they’ve occupied bottom spot for most of the season, and they’ve not really looked like leaving it.
But vitally they’re still in touch, and last weekend’s win over West Ham – as well as the fighting performance in the 4-3 defeat away to Tottenham – will give the Foxes hope of staying up. And it’s fighting performances that will do it.
They currently sit six points from safety – Six points from Hull in 17th and seven points from Aston Villa in 16th – but Leicester have two games in hand. They have one game in hand over most of the league, but with Villa and QPR playing out a pulsating 3-3 draw in midweek those two teams have played more than the rest.
The problem for Leicester is that their own game in hand is against Chelsea.
The Foxes may have been hoping that Chelsea would have already won the league by that point and would have their flip-flops on, but that doesn’t look like being the case. Chelsea haven’t been in the best of form themselves, and they have crunch games against Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool to negotiate. So it looks like the Leicester game will be important for them.
[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]
Leicester can ill-afford to write off games at this stage, they need all the points they can get. But the Chelsea game is only one game, they have other fixtures. The fixtures they do have are not easy but, if they want to stay up, most of those games are ones they would be marking down for potential points.
Chelsea aside, Leicester face Southampton, Newcastle and Swansea at home – not easy games, especially when you’re at the bottom. And the trip to the Hawthorns at the weekend is a tough fixture, too. They might fancy their chances of nicking points against these teams though. The odd win and draw, especially the home games, shouldn’t be out of the question.
But that makes only five of their eight remaining games. The other three are probably more important. They are real ‘six-pointers’ away to Burnley and Sunderland and at home to QPR on the final day. Sunderland on the penultimate matchday, and then QPR the following week look like huge games for the Foxes, but they have to make sure they are still in touch by the time these games come around.
That means doing something they haven’t always done this season – battling hard.
I don’t mean that the players haven’t been putting in the effort – in fact, they’ve tried harder than most. But Leicester have won only five games all season and drawn seven. 11 of their 18 defeats have been by one goal, and turning even some of these defeats into draws would have made their position much, much better. As it is, even four wins from these eight games might still not be enough to save them.
But if they do manage to win the big games against those around them, and if they do manage to pick up some battling points against the bigger teams in those other fixtures, then that might be enough to save them.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The season now is all about how many points they can accumulate. It might be too late to completely write off games that they can’t win, but it’s not so late that draws aren’t a good enough result. Keeping the points tally ticking over is the best thing Leicester can do now, and scrambling draws are much better than valiant defeats. More valuable to the club at any rate – not just in terms of their points accrued stats, but also in terms of their bank balance. Relegation is a costly business.
The Foxes are in a dogfight, but that’s right where they want to be. But the thing about dogfights is that you battle hard and you take every little edge that you get. In the run-in, if they can draw some of the games that earlier in the season would have ended in defeat then the Foxes might just be able to emerge from the the dogfight this season, ready to do it all over again next year.
After a thoroughly underwhelming season, Everton have finally managed to string together a consistent run of form. Four wins in a five game unbeaten run has led The Toffees from looking apprehensively over their shoulders to now having a real chance of breaking into the top half.
At the start of the season, would Everton fans have taken a season where they ventured well in Europe and finished in the top ten? Can Everton’s final ten games of the season paper over the cracks of a worrying campaign?
Roberto Martinez’s first season on Merseyside could have scarcely gone better for the former Wigan manager; he inherited the resoluteness of David Moyes’ Everton and added a swagger and a verve that had been missing from Goodison Park for a huge chunk of time. The Spaniard led his charges to the brink of the Champions League and hopes were high that they could replicate the same sort of form this time around.
The permanent signings of Lukaku and Barry, as well as the young, effervescent Ross Barkley with a season’s experience meant for a tantalisingly exciting Everton campaign.
[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]
However, whether it is a case of second season syndrome or something worse, Everton have struggled to even get close to the side that graced the division last year. Where last year they were incisive, this time they have been laboured. Where last campaign their cavalier approach wowed fans and neutrals alike, their caution this term has been a disappointing look into Everton’s past.
Of course, the added games of their campaign in the Europa league has clearly taken its toll on Martinez’s men; the extra games have meant, as much as they would like to, they have struggled to play with the levels of intensity they exhibited so often last year.
However, as the season has progressed and their European adventure came to an end, they finally seem to be playing in a style that is more reminiscent of last year. With their recent run of form, they have gathered a level of confidence they have not possessed all season. Their run of fixtures from now to the end of the season, Manchester United aside, is a favourable one and they will be confident of picking up even more points to ensure they finish this season as one of the form sides in the country.
This campaign has undoubtedly been a disappointment, but with another pre-season for the manager to mould his current players and continue bringing in more personnel to compliment his style it can only reap positive benefits for The Toffees.
The increased minutes that Everton have played have clearly had a negative impact on his side but it is a credit to both his managerial abilities and the character of his team that they are finishing so strongly.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
This end to the season may be papering over the cracks of a poor season at Goodison Park, but it also may give a truer representation of where Everton are. The future is still bright for the blue half of Merseyside and this end of season run may prove to be the catalyst for future successes.