Manchester United without Sir Alex or Wayne Rooney, Chelsea with Jose Mourinho – next season is set to be a cracker

May 15, 2013 by Leave a comment

As the 2012/13 Premier League season lurches towards its underwhelming end, the realisation for many a fan is that it left us with precious little memories, compared to other seasons – notably the most sensational ending in the competition’s 21-year history last term.

As Sergio Aguero slammed home the winner that gave Manchester City the Premier League over fierce local rivals Manchester United with the last kick of the game against Queen Park Rangers last season, Martin Tyler screamed: “I swear you will never see anything like this again.”

Tyler’s now iconic sound bite may have had some truth to it, certainly this season at least, he was right.

Sergio Aguero

As the season sleepwalks into its final day, there is only the tedious race for fourth place that is still to play for amongst London trio Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. The champions United won the division as far back at April 22. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side took advantage of a lacklustre competition and they marched to their 13th Premier League title in an efficient, if unspectacular, manner.

Two of the three relegated teams’ fate were sealed a week later when Queens Park Rangers played out a dour 0-0 with Reading before Wigan Athletic joined them on Tuesday following a 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.

Indeed the most exciting events to happen in the league this season were announcements and decisions that will not come into focus until next season.

Happily next season is already shaping up to be mouth-watering, with a whole of changes sweeping throughout the league, giving it a fresh feel for the summer of 2013.

To begin with, four of the top six teams this season will be starting the 2013/14 campaign with new managers at the helm.

Manchester United will be without Alex Ferguson for the first time in 26 years, with his replacement David Moyes leaving Everton, where he served for over a decade himself.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Ferguson’s absence from English football is a concept millions of fans around the country have never known and Moyes’ adaptation to the country’s biggest club will be the most fascinating plot next season.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright admitted that he will not be hasty in appointing Moyes’ successor, with the most reliable reports linking the Blues with Wigan’s Roberto Martinez, Porto coach Vitor Pereira and Swansea City boss Michael Laudrup.

Rafael Benitez will depart Chelsea, with Jose Mourinho seemingly set for a second stint at Stamford Bridge. The return of the ‘Special One’ is enough to excite every Chelsea fan and most neutrals. Love him or loathe him, Mourinho is pure box office and his return to England is sure to stir up feuds, drama and entertainment.

Man City are looking for a new manager with Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini touted as the favourite to take over from the axed Roberto Mancini. Incidentally, the Italian was given his P45 just 366 days after he ended his side’s 44-year wait for a league title in the top division.

Pellegrini’s presence in English football would provide another interesting sub-plot to next season’s 38 act drama. The Chilean has won widespread plaudits for his work with the Andalusians this season, after guiding them to a Champions League quarter-final in their first season in the competition, despite working against a backdrop of financial meltdown at the club.

Away from the dug-out, the division will be without two players who will have played 1456 top-flight games between them by Sunday evening. Jamie Carragher will retire from Liverpool after 16 years of sterling service for the Reds, while Paul Scholes looks set to make the last of 718 appearances for United when they play West Bromwich Albion.

Between them they have won five FA Cups, three Champions Leagues, five League Cups, a UEFA Cup, a Super Cup and two World Club Championships. Scholes leaves United with 11 Premier Leagues and both players say goodbye to the game as archetypal one-club legends for their respective teams.

Wayne Rooney’s future is also subject to speculation with Ferguson admitting that the England international had asked for a transfer request a few weeks back. Rooney has been linked with moves abroad to Paris Saint-Germain amongst others, but there have also been reports suggesting that the former Everton forward could move to Chelsea.

Wayne Rooney

A move to Stamford Bridge would be another incredible development in United’s recent evolution, and perhaps it may seem incomprehensible that Rooney could turn out for the Blues next season. However, stranger things have happened in football, and Man Utd’s decision-makers have never been shy of selling a star player when they think his talent may be on the wane.

Next season will also have the fixture that pits Cardiff City against Swansea City, a game which will only add more spice to a division that already boasts the Merseyside, Manchester, north London and Tyne-Wear derbies.

Equate in all this with the fact that the transfer window is not yet even open and you get the feeling that next season could be one of the most intriguing all of time.

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Filed under Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, QPR, Tottenham Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wayne Rooney’s options in leaving Manchester United are very limited

May 15, 2013 by Leave a comment

Much has been made of the transition at Premier League champions Manchester United. The Old Trafford club will have to come to terms with the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson will no longer be the man in charge, with new boss David Moyes to assume the position next season. However, a key player could also be on his way out in the form of Wayne Rooney. The England international is said to have handed in a transfer request – however realistic options on where the forward could move to are few and far between.

United have stated that Rooney is not for sale, but if the attacker insists on leaving the Premier League champions could well be forced to part with the forward. Those who bet on the Premier League will know that the Old Trafford outfit will be reluctant to sell Rooney to one of their domestic rivals, despite links with Chelsea and Arsenal of late. The favourable odds are on Rooney moving abroad should he leave Manchester United.

The attacker’s salary and the potential transfer fee will also be an issue. Rooney is rumoured to currently earn more than £200,000 per week at Old Trafford, and the number of clubs that could, or would be willing to, come close to offering this are minimal. Add to this a transfer fee likely to be well in excess of £20 million, and Rooney’s purchase is a very expensive one.

Wayne Rooney

Barcelona have been linked with Rooney, but a move to the Camp Nou seems unlikely given the Catalan club’s policy to build from within. Real Madrid are unlikely to be interested, while a move to an Italian club like Juventus would force Rooney to drop his salary considerably. Bayern Munich have the financial means to buy him, but have publicly stated that they are not interested.

Realistically this only really leave Paris Saint-Germain, with betting tips pointing in this direction. A move to the French capital would make sense, as Carlo ancelotti’s men are on the rise, have the financial clout to buy him and have former team-mate David Beckham in their ranks. However, despite PSG having ambitions to become a major force in Europe, Rooney would have to settle for second-rate domestic football in Ligue 1.

Although Rooney may well be unsettled currently, with Moyes coming to the club there is no guarantee that he won’t see the changes at United as an opportunity to reinvigorate his career at Old Trafford. Given the obstacles such as his wages and transfer fee, the lack of big-name suitors and United’s reluctancy to sell to another Premier League club, and Rooney does not have a lot of options.

Filed under Manchester United Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea should be looking at Adam Maher

May 11, 2013 by Leave a comment

Adam Maher is quickly becoming a household name in European football, and the prodigious 19-year-old showed why once more for AZ Alkmaar in the KNVB Beker final last week. The skilful playmaker is one of the hottest prospects in Dutch football, and showcased his ability on the big stage in his last outing, leading AZ to their first cup success in 31 years.

The attacking midfielder scored the first goal in his team’s 2-1 victory over PSV, with a sublime piece of individual skill and a composed finish, as shown here.

The bigger Eredivisie clubs such as Ajax and PSV themselves will be eyeing Maher as a possible summer signing, however the playmaker looks ready for an extra step, and a move to the Premier League. With four full Netherlands caps under his belt before his 20th birthday, Maher’s future looks extremely bright.

His fast feet and close control are exemplary, as shown by this piece of skill against Mark van Bommel in the cup final.

Manchester United have been looking for skilful players to play in the centre of the park and keep possession, and Maher would certainly fit the bill. Admittedly he would need to work on the defensive part of his game, however tutelage at Carrington could mould him into a top player.

Maher would also be a close match for Arsenal, with the teenager a youthful replacement for Tomas Rosicky. With the Gunners’ brand of possession football and intricate passing, the Dutchman would surely fit right in.

Finally, Chelsea have been putting an emphasis on youth in their transfer dealings, and seem set on the 4-2-3-1 formation. Although the dream pairing of Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard hold the three starting berths, Maher has the versatility and the quality to deputise in any of the three positions.

Filed under Arsenal, AZ Alkmaar, Chelsea, Manchester United Tagged with , , , ,

Unbelieveable new video of Lionel Messi as a child

May 11, 2013 by Leave a comment

Watching Lionel Messi tear through defences is a weekly event these days, however a new video of the Barcelona star has been released – with him doing just that as a child.

It is unclear how old he is or who he is playing for, and the video quality is quite sketchy. However, it is clear to see that the three-time Ballon d’Or winner was destined for greatness from a young age.

Filed under Barcelona Tagged with ,

QPR in financial strife after relegation from Premier League

May 10, 2013 by Leave a comment

QPR will play Championship football next year after a terrible 2012-13 campaign, with relegation from the Premier League already confirmed. The club’s owner Tony Fernandes invested heavily in the club since buying the Loftus Road outfit back in August 2011, but the organisation’s financial future now looks bleak.

Fernandes admitted earlier in the season that he would consider walking away from QPR should the side be relegated, and football in-play betting odds suggest this is still a real possibility.

Should the Air Asia entrepreneur make that move, the club could find themselves in a similar position to the likes of Leeds United and slip down the leagues quickly due to financial mismanagement.

QPR owner Tony Fernandes

Harry Redknapp’s wages will surely be considerable, much more than anyone else in the Championship, and the ex-Tottenham man’s future could also be on the line. However, the rumours suggest that a raft of big-money signings will be leaving the club. The main problem is that some of them will not want to due to the extortionate wages QPR handed them in a bid to salvage their Premier League status.

Players of quality such as Loic Remy, Christopher Samba and Julio Cesar will have no problems finding a new club, however some other players will not want to take a hefty paycut to leave, and could lurk in the reserves eating away at the club’s coffers.

The likes of Jose Bosingwa, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Tal Ben Haim, amongst others, will find it almost impossible to find a club that will match their current wage structure.

One thing is for sure, and that is that QPR must slash their wage bill and recoup as much money from transfer fees as possible over the summer. If Redknapp does stay he could well be the man to lead them back to the top flight, given his reputation for astute buys in the transfer market. But first a period of consolidation and damage limitation is needed.

QPR’s case should serve as an example to other clubs that will look to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season and in the future. Although the temptation will always be there to splurge money in a bid to avoid the drop, the consequences of these actions are far-fetching.

Should a team like Wigan get relegated this season also, the Latics will be in a much better position to bounce straight back to the Premier League given that they are ran sensibly by a cautious chairman and do not live beyond their means.

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Premier League preview: Big games for Tottenham, Arsenal, Wigan and Aston Villa

April 27, 2013 by Leave a comment

With Manchester United sealing their 20th league title with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa on Monday, all the attention now shifts to the relegation battle and the top four places.

Arsenal v Manchester United

The Gunners welcome the champions to the Emirates for a big game in their battle for the top four. Arsenal currently have a two-point advantage over fifth-placed Spurs and are one point in front of fourth-placed Chelsea. After their vital win at Fulham last weekend, this is another huge game for the home side as Chelsea and Spurs both have a game in hand on them.

Robin van Persie

Some people may be wondering what sort of attitude Manchester United will have toward this game having already clinched the title. Sir Alex Ferguson has set them the target of winning their last four games to break Chelsea’s Premier League record of 95 points, and with questions also being asked about how good this United team actually is, they will want to put down a marker against one of the top teams in the division. With both teams wanting the win there is sure to be goals and you would expect there to be a positive result one way or the other.

Aston Villa v Sunderland

A massive relegation battle at Villa Park as Paolo Di Canio’s in-form Sunderland look to secure their Premiership safety. Following impressive back-to-back wins against Newcastle and Everton, Sunderland know a win here would take them to 40 points and all-but secure their place in the league next season. Di Canio has got them playing attacking football by getting the ball wide to their creative players like Adam Johnson and James McClean and getting more men into the box than under the previous regime. Di Canio has also got them well organised with two clean sheets in his three games in charge so far. His passion on the touchline seems to be translating to the players and the fans, the players seem to be enjoying their football again and have pride in the shirt.

Paul Lambert

For Villa despite their defeat at Manchester United they have been in decent form, with three wins in their last six games. The problem remains with their home form though, as they still seem to suffer from nervousness at Villa Park, with just two wins in their last six. Despite this fact Luxbet have them as favorites at 2.20. They need to start improving their home form, as come Monday night Wigan may be level on points with them and the Latics still have a game in hand at home to Swansea to come. Paul Lambert will be desperate to avoid having to go to Wigan on the last day of the season needing a result but it is hard seeing them getting the win here against a rejuvenated Sunderland.

Wigan v Tottenham

Arguably the biggest game of the weekend comes at the DW Stadium as relegation-threatened Wigan welcome a Spurs side buoyed by their 3-1 victory over Manchester City last weekend. Wigan’s usual good form at this time of the season has not come to fruition, with just two wins in their last six and with trips to West Brom and Arsenal still to come they need to find some better form quickly. Despite what Roberto Martinez has claimed, the upcoming FA Cup final may well be a distraction to the players as in the back of their minds the players will want to keep themselves fit for their big day at Wembley.

André Villas-Boas

Spurs meanwhile will be full of confidence after their comeback victory against Manchester City and know that they need to keep winning before their big showdown against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a couple of weeks. With Gareth Bale another week further along in terms of regaining fitness and so much pace and so many goal scoring threats it is hard to see how Wigan will cope with this Spurs side.

By Chris Newman

Filed under Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Sunderland, Tottenham, Wigan

Arsenal’s top four chances on line against Manchester United

April 27, 2013 by Leave a comment

Arsenal against Manchester United has a certain ring to it, and in past years it has been one of the most glamorous and exciting fixtures on the Premier League calendar. However, with the Red Devils winning the last three encounters between the sides, including an 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford at the start of last season, the fixture has lost some of its sheen. When the Gunners host United this Sunday, the home side must buck the trend and get three points to keep their top-four ambitions alive.

Gone are the days of the Roy Keane-Patrick Vieira battles, and United have somewhat forgot their rivalry with Arsenal given that the north London outfit have not been challenging for the title for a number of seasons. Instead of a title challenge, the last number of campaigns have been all about securing Champions League football for Arsene Wenger’s men. The Gunners are an outside, bet here even at home; Arsenal are 3/1 with Ladbrokes to get a much-needed three points.

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson

United wrapped up the Premier League title on Monday night with an easy 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, but in truth the league has been over as a contest for quite some time. Arsenal will hope that United take their foot off the pedal slightly on Sunday, and Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that his side may well be shuffled for the fixture.

One interesting sub-plot is Robin van Persie’s return to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since his controversial transfer to United in the summer. Given that this is the first game since United clinched the title, the Gunners are set to give their opponents a guard of honour – which will not go down well with the home faithful.

Regardless of personal vendettas against former players, Arsenal must monitor Van Persie closely, or the Dutch forward could put a considerable dent in his ex-employer’s top-four chances. A hat-trick to round off the title and 24 goals in all this season mean that Van Persie will most likely be awarded the Player of the Year award, and with good reason.

With Chelsea and Tottenham only a point and two points respectively adrift of the Gunners in third, it is plausible that a United victory this weekend could see Arsenal drop to fifth place. Given the tight nature of the race for the top four, it is imperative that Arsenal stand up and be counted against a side that has had the better of them in recent times.

Filed under Arsenal, Manchester United Tagged with , , , , , , ,

Raphael Varane – Real Madrid’s new Fernando Hierro

April 24, 2013 by Leave a comment

It’s been over 10 years since Real Madrid have been crowned kings of Europe; this maybe doesn’t sound a lot to some, but this club demand and expect European success. Their 7th, 8th and 8th European titles came over a six-year period but it’s been a frustrating wait for the Los Blancos’ fans, who crave that 10th title so badly.

Raphael Varane would have been 10-years-old when Los Merengues last won the UEFA Champions League. There have been some of the world’s best players don the famous white shirt since the last European success, but perhaps the failure to replace central defender Fernando Hierro, who was an integral part in those three European successes over six years, appears to hurt Madrid’s recent European campaigns.

Raphael Varane

Hierro is a Madrid legend. He was the commanding figure in defence who ensured the attacking flair players could fulfil the clubs philosophy demands and  play freely, while he would organise and lead the back line. In his time at the club between 1989 and 2003 he played over 400 games and a major part in the club lifting five La Liga titles and three European cups.

Since Hierro’s departure the club have tried and failed to find another player who possessed such mental and technical qualities. Expensive purchases have been made on Ricardo Carvalho, Sergio Ramos and Pepe; all very good ball playing defenders but all prone to concentration lapses and perhaps would benefit from a commanding centre half beside them. Step forward Raphael Varane.

The Frenchman is only 19-years-old; as a young boy he progressed through the Lens youth academy and made his competitive debut for the club when only 17. After some excellent mature performances for such a young player he attracted the attention of many top clubs. He chose arguably the biggest club in the world to provide his next challenge. He signed for Real Madrid for €10million in 2011, turning down Manchester United, and quickly made his debut in the first team in his debut season. However this season has really seen Varane show his value and perhaps Mourinho’s recent selections suggest he may be first-choice centre half for the remainder of the season and long-term future.

Raphael Varane

So early in his career Varane has already shown real quality and Mourinho already has put faith in his ability by selecting him in all Madrid’s crucial European and domestic matches this season, while expensive more experienced players watch from the bench. He is quick, strong, good in the air, can read the game, a clean tackler; all the attributes required to be a top centre half. He is the one clearing up from whenever his defensive partners have made errors. Dare I say it, he reminds me of Fernando Hierro.

This season Madrid’s defensive set up seems a lot more solid with Varane in the team. Diego Lopez has established himself as number 1 after Iker Casillas’ fall out with Mourinho. Ramos can now attack the ball as he likes to do knowing that Varane will be covering behind him. In front Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira protect the defence and break up the attacks whenever possible and cover for the full backs, who Mourinho likes to push forward. Then it’s up for the attacking four (whoever selected) to show their flair and creativity.

At the moment Varane’s name on the team sheet might not strike fear into the opposition the way Cristiano Ronaldo or Mesut Ozil would, however he may be a major contributor to Los Blancos finally lifting their 10th European Cup, be it this season or in the very near future.

By Sandy White

Filed under Real Madrid Tagged with , , ,

Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool – look to the Eredivisie for transfer targets this summer

April 21, 2013 by 2 Comments

The Premier League big boys will already have one eye on the impending reopening of the transfer market, with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and Liverpool looking to strengthen their squads.

A continued source of young talent is Holland’s Eredivisie, which has produced and nurtured such talents as Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez. Here are five exciting talents from the Dutch top flight that would make an impact in England.

Wilfried Bony

The Eredivisie’s top goalscorer this season with an unprecedented 30 goals in 27 games, Bony has been the catalyst for Vitesse Arnhem’s unexpected title challenge. The Ivory Coast international is the latest strong and quick forward from his nation, and looks sure to move to a bigger club this summer.

Wilfried Bony

Newcastle have been linked the African hitman, but the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham should both be monitoring Bony too.

Stefan De Vrij

Feyenoord’s captain and the leader of a home-grown revival in Rotterdam under Ronald Koeman. The assertive centre-half is one of the brightest defensive prospects in European football, and has made inroads into the Netherlands international set-up. At 21-years-old, De Vrij looks set to be a top performer and would suit the physical style of English football.

Stefan De Vrij

Arsenal, Liverpool and even Manchester United should be keeping tabs on De Vrij, who looks destined for greatness.

Alfred Finnbogason

The Iceland international has started to show up in scouting reports around Europe in the last 12 months due to his eye for goal and confidence on the ball. A loan spell with Helsingborg and 12 goals in 17 games earned him a move to Heerenveen in the off-season, and the Scandinavian has proved a bargain purchase. 24 Eredivisie goals in 28 outings is an excellent return for the 24-year-old.

Alfred Finnbogason

Heerenveen are very much a selling club and as such Finnbogason should be available at a bargain price. Liverpool and Tottenham could bolster their attacking options here, while a number of mid-range Premier League sides would have a prodigious talent on their hands.

Christian Eriksen

Arguably the best player in Dutch football at the moment, Eriksen has been repeatedly linked with a move away from Ajax, with England, Italy or Spain the destination. The Denmark international has played a significant role in the Amsterdam club’s title defence, and was influential in their recent 3-2 away win over PSV.

Christian Eriksen

Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham have been linked with Eriksen in the past, however the Dane has the ability to play at any of the big clubs.

Kevin Strootman

PSV’s central midfield of veteran Mark van Bommel and Strootman is much admired in Holland, and the 23-year-old continues to grow in stature. Now a firm fixture in the Netherlands international squad with 18 caps, the box-to-box midfielder has outgrown the Eredivisie and would be a fantastic purchase for a number of English clubs.

Kevin Strootman

Manchester United have not had a dominant central midfielder enforcer since Roy Keane – Strootman could be the man to fill the void. Arsenal would also seem like a match given that Arsene Wenger has failed to replace Alex Song.

Filed under Ajax, Arsenal, Chelsea, Eredivisie, Feyenoord, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool – have a look at the Greek Lionel Messi

April 19, 2013 by Leave a comment

Ioannis Fetfatzidis has been donned the ‘Greek Messi’ by the press, and for good reason. The 22-year-old attacker continues to star for Olympiakos and has become a regular fixture for his national side. With Premier League clubs looking to bolster their squads this summer, the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool could do worse than make a bid for the sublimely talented playmaker.

Here is his latest offering in a recent game against Panthrakikos.

Filed under Videos Tagged with , , , ,

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