It is perhaps all too all easy to accuse Tottenham of being a little slack this January. The Premier League club were always going to struggle to match the summer activities that saw them spend in excess of £100m for the first time, but have they actually let other clubs grab the initiative this month?
In January there always seems to be a compulsion to spend for the sake of it. Transfers naturally bring a feel good factor to the club and to its fans, but really when you sit down and take stock in the months that follow you often ask yourself, was it really worth it?
There is always this risk with a club like Spurs who do know how to flex their financial muscle and who always have an eye for a deal whatever the situation. Transfers need though to improve on what the club already has, and given the squad that Spurs have assembled this is no easy task.
It isn’t the finished article by any stretch of the imagination, but there is no need to panic with wholesale changes. If anything Spurs need to start dispensing with those that simply aren’t needed, something that will likely start this window as well. Selling the likes of Chadli and Capoue could be just as beneficial to a Champions League charge as bringing in someone new. Excessive competition for places doesn’t help anyone, and if anything could just stifle the momentum that players build up on the pitch. It is all about balance, and this is something Spurs are yet to achieve.
Fans yearn for big deals; many see it as a necessary for immediate success; but who is really to say that Marco Reus at £30m would be any better than a fit and firing Erik Lamela? We’ve all watched Bundesliga and Serie A, and it is easy to make judgements on players, but that doesn’t mean that anything is guaranteed. Adding players out of compulsion not only doesn’t make financial sense; it doesn’t make good footballing sense either.
It may upset a few people, but good business for Spurs this January would represent tying up a deal for a returning Dimitar Berbatov before the month is out. With Jermain Defoe on the way out, the need for a third striker is the most pressing, and one that few would disagree in saying that Berbatov would satisfy.
Looking at the squad as a whole there aren’t all that many weaknesses. If Sherwood can get everyone fit then it is a team to rival any and that without changes should be close to finishing in the top four. The deluded may say that the club should bust a gut for Luke Shaw to replace a less than convincing Rose, but £30m on an inexperienced youngster just isn’t rational footballing business in the eyes of Levy.
Aside from that though there is little of concern, in fact the more pressing thing for Sherwood is to get the most out of what he has already because with the likes of Lamela and Solado at full tilt, Spurs could be a serious handful for sides in the coming months.
Spending little this January isn’t an oversight by Spurs and neither is it showing a lack of ambition. Big January deals don’t guarantee success, and sometimes they can totally backfire if you look at Torres. It can go both ways, and for Spurs it is a totally unnecessary risk given the situation they find themselves in currently, on the cusp of the top four.
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The May post mortem may look back to January as being pivotal, but for me it would be a pretty ignorant way at looking at things. Spurs have the squad to meet their targets, and given that I think the current window just shows prudence above anything else.
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Grass Roots is new mocumentary following fictitious League Two football club Greystone Athletic as they partake in the FA’s investigation into the current state of the English game. Centred on downtrodden club manager Harry Pickles (Ed Aczel), we follow Greystone through the often comic trials and tribulations of life in football’s lower tiers.
Ahead of the Grass Roots launch on London Live this Sunday at 9pm, we caught up with fictional manager Harry Pickles to talk philosophy, wine and WAGs:
Outside of football, who is your greatest inspiration?
Here’s one that might surprise you – Gary Barlow. Both of us have come in from the harsh winters of our lives and ended up reaping the benefits of life experience. He tops charts and I top tables. I think we would get on quite well actually.
How would you describe your management style?
Liberating. I encourage my players to get the ball down and play. I’ve been accused of many things from other managers in the past but we knock the ball around like a pin ball machine at times. To put it into one word, I’d have to say ‘glossy’.
What’s your proudest moment in football?
I once nutmegged Kevin Keegan in a charity match. I won’t forget that in a hurry. It was really funny because afterwards I went up to him and said, “Did you see me pop that through your legs, Kevin?” and he said “Yes”. It was great fun.
Do you have ambitions to manage at a higher level?
Of course. It will be a hard decision to make when that happens.
What is your proudest achievement in the game?
Winning the league last year would be up there. We had some real rotters in the side early doors but I got us playing. The 3-6-1 formation I got us playing in the winter away days worked a treat.
How would you like people to see Greystone Athletic?
From a seat in the stadium please.
What’s the most important aspect of a manager’s job?
Decision making. You make the wrong decision and there can be hell to pay. I once played a prank on my one of the lads and told him to bulk up or leave the club. He got a hernia lifting a medicine ball. You live and learn.
What do you do to motivate the players?
It depends on the player. Some of them need a firm hand. I’m never physical with a player but they need to know I am a threat. The dressing room is the jungle and I am king. Some just need a cuddle. I get my assistant to handle them. Not enough time for me to be acting like Mother Theresa.
How would you feel if a foreign owner wanted to change the club name to the Greystone Giants?
Not for me all this re-branding. Sure re-brand a coffee chain or go from Jif to Cif but Greystone is a heart and soul club that shouldn’t be having its name changed for any reason. Foreign mega bucks or no foreign mega bucks.
What role do WAGs play at your football club?
I encourage them to be honest, but obviously the type of woman is important. I would rather my lads be settled down with a pushy, ‘career minded’ female, or male, than spending all their time in clubs looking for loose women. We don’t have any gay players by the way, but I’d bloody love one.
What’s your attitude to drinking in football?
They have to stay hydrated. Next.
Do you take a hands-on approach with your players?
As I said earlier, for some of the lads I do and for some I don’t. There was one lad who I won’t name who I got very hands on with. Once the court case eventually cleared I think he knew I did it for the right reasons.
Is it possible for a manager to be too close to his players?
Neil Warnock is a chiropodist. That’s the line right there. Nobody should be fiddling with the players feet so intimately. Nothing wrong with a thorough rub down from the physio if the lad has done well, but I keep my hands in my pockets.
Would you describe yourself as a ‘wheeler dealer’?
(Laughs) I guess so. I’ve torn the transfer market a new one on many occasions I can tell you.
What drives you in football?
The thought of becoming a better person. I wake up, 7:30/7:40 latest and teach these lads all the little treasures this beautiful game has. You don’t get that in other sports. Cricket has tea breaks, Rugby can’t be dealing with 90 minutes and golfers wear silly trousers don’t they? No. Spreading the love of the game is where my vocation lies.
Do you think Notorious B.I.G. was talking about the state of modern football when he said “Mo Money Mo Problems”?
Who is he anyway? I don’t understand him. Did he have a speech impediment?
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How would you describe your tactical approach to the game?
It’s traditional with a dash of foreign flair on top. I always set up to win the game. We don’t sit on leads – in fact, I won’t let them sit down on the coach if we lose the lead. They have to stand. They soon learn.
What’s the biggest problem facing English football?
What you should be asking is what our greatest strengths are. We have some really lovely pitches up and down the country and some of the kits these days are a lot more fashionable than the tight 70’s rubbish. I’d go as far to say the Bovril is better than ever too.
Do you believe that a man be bigger than the club? If so, which man?
(Pickles ponders) Can a man be bigger than a club? Yes. Is it healthy is what you should be asking. To that, I say no. The manager might be the driver of the club but you have to have a chairman putting in petrol, and some players giving it a jump start when the battery is flat.
Where do you see Greystone Athletic in 10 years?
Still plugging away. Who knows? If I get afforded the chance to stay here I could see us becoming as synonymous with League 2 as the likes of Rochdale.
Finally, the question on everyone’s lips this summer, do you think England can win the World Cup?
No. I realise that I’m opening myself for criticism and some questionable items to be put through my letter box but if I’m honest, I think it’s Belgium’s time. They had me with their chocolate and waffles but now they even have a football team to go with it. Barring them, I’d like a surprise. The Costa Ricans are a hospitable type of people in my experience so maybe them.
Grass Roots launches on London Live Sunday 20th April at 9pm
Neymar going off on a stretcher must have been every Brazil fan’s nightmare. He appeared to be in a significant amount of pain, but Brazil have proved that their World Cup bid is about far more than a reliance upon their poster boy.
David Luiz and Thiago Silva scored the crucial goals as the hosts beat Colombia 2-1. Luiz Felipe Scolari has guided his charges to his third ever World Cup semi-final (the last two times he got there he knocked out England on the way).
The momentum is with the hosts and there appears to be a real sense of belief and desire that nothing will stop them from winning on home turf.
They may not have reached the dizzy heights that have been expected of them but they have overcome two stern tests in Colombia and Chile. Germany will face an extremely motivated Brazil on Tuesday and Neymar looks unlikely to feature.
When there is will, there is a way and here’s why Brazil are now the favourites for the World Cup come up against.
1. Brazil’s two goals this evening were scored by defenders they have goals all over their team
2. They stopped the star of the World Cup so far James Rodriguez. It can’t get harder than that.
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3. It doesn’t always have to be pretty, they simply know how to win
Arsenal’s £35million of Alexis Sanchez is meant to be a game-changer. Some have labelled it the best Premier League deal of the summer, and indeed, the former Barcelona star does possess the quality to become a talismanic performer for the north London club.
Tactically too, he’s an ideal acquisition. The Chile international, through his tiki-taka heritage, does not only lend himself to Arsenal’s definitive possession-based, technical style, but also offers the pace, penetration and the threat in-behind that the Gunners lacked last season following Theo Walcott’s injury in January, leaving their midfield and attack incredibly one-dimensional.
But like a house without foundations, a match-stick model without glue, a breadless sandwich or Bryan Blessed with his voicebox removed, signing the 25-year-old was essentially pointless if Arsene Wenger doesn’t invest in a defensive midfielder this summer.
Not least because, although Sanchez is a sensational talent, the difference he’ll make for Arsenal in the big games is incredibly minimal. Last season, the north Londoners claimed just six points against top five opposition and lost all of their four away fixtures with an aggregate score of 20-4, while Liverpool were the only side beaten at the Emirates.
And in none of these contests was creativity or goalscoring the predominant issue for Arsenal. Two away fixtures, against Liverpool and Chelsea, were over within the first half hour as the north Londoners continuously struggled to protect their goal.
This was unquestionably Arsenal’s undoing last year in comparison to their title rivals. Eventual winners Manchester City claimed 10 points against top five opposition, beating Liverpool, Everton and the Gunners at the Etihad, Liverpool also amassed 10 points, beating Everton, Arsenal and City at Anfield, and Chelsea’s only top five defeat came in a visit to Goodison. If the Gunners are to improve upon their seemingly perpetual final standing of fourth next season, they have to start winning the heavyweight affairs and stop gifting points to their title rivals, especially on the road.
Away from home and even at the Emirates last year, the Gunners’ defence was relentlessly exposed on the counter-attack against teams with top quality going forward. Chelsea quite simply overpowered them in the middle of the park before hitting back quickly on the break, while Liverpool’s mixture of work-rate, fearlessness and firepower ran them into the ground. There was no figure in midfield taking defensive responsibility, and none capable of matching the pure physicality and energy of the opposition. Buying a new forward, whether he be Alexis Sanchez, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, will do absolutely nothing to change that.
Most tellingly, either Mathieu Flamini or Mikel Arteta featured in all of Arsenal’s away defeats while both played alongside each other during a 3-0 romping by Everton. Quite clearly, Arsene Wenger’s current holding options don’t provide enough defensive quality to balance out his progressive philosophy.
Which comes as no great surprise – Mikel Arteta, although a talented player and natural leader who fits Arsenal’s style well, cannot compare to his Manchester City or Chelsea counterparts in terms of natural defensive awareness or basic brawn. Likewise, Mathieu Flamini was brought back into the Emirates fold last summer as a low-budget, short-term fix. He’s a useful player to have in the squad, but cannot be considered the ultimate solution to Arsenal’s midfield problems.
The north Londoners need to find a player that brings balance, structure and defensive awareness to their midfield in key games. He must be physical too – Chelsea and Manchester City possess some of the most phenomenal athletes in world football – Nemanja Matic and Yaya Toure to name but two – yet Aaron Ramsey is the only Arsenal midfielder who measures in at above 6 foot. Even the Invincibles had the 6 foot 4, gangly-legged Patrick Vieira and Brazilian water-carrier Gilberto Silva at the heart of their midfield, protecting the defence and going mano-e-mano with the likes of Roy Keane and Dennis Wise.
The Premier League has moved on somewhat since then but these kind of players and personalities remain vital in the big games. Arsenal are absent of a midfielder who can intimidate the opposition’s attack, which has made them exceptionally easy to play against over the last few seasons. Alexis Sanchez may worry the opposition defence but that has never been Arsenal’s problem – Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey are all very capable of that.
Don’t get me wrong – Sanchez represents a fantastic piece of business that many European clubs will be jealous of. He does add a new dimension to the Gunners going forward, and I do not intent to discredit that, or Arsene Wenger’s decision to buy him.
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But in my opinion, it remains a futile enterprise if Arsenal do not address their most intrinsic flaw this summer. As much as I’m sure the Chile international will net a multitude of goals against the Premier League’s more rank and file sides, he does not change the way Arsenal function in big matches for the better.
He does not provide a greater sense of balance in midfield or improve them off the ball, and until Arsene Wenger finds a signing who does, the inability to beat those closest to them in the table will remain the north London club’s perpetual curse.
It may not be what Southampton particularly want, especially at this stage of the transfer window, and selling another key member of the squad could wreak further havoc on their reputation and morale ahead of the new season. But selling Morgan Schneiderlin is the best option for the club this summer.
The French international has been quite clear about his desire to leave Southampton and has taken steps that will more or less ensure a messy split when a sale does eventually take place. His latest admission that his head isn’t in the right place to compete should be an indicator to the club that this isn’t a player worth hanging on to.
As good as Schneiderlin is, who’s to say his valuation will remain at a constant over the coming year? Southampton will do what they can to get a figure in the region of what they received for Adam Lallana, circa £25 million. But a season of poor form and one hand consistently on the exit door will see the club lose whatever leverage they may still have by this time next year, and they will be forced to sell at a fraction of the price.
There isn’t long left in the window, but with over two weeks remaining, it isn’t a disastrous situation. Defensive midfield isn’t the only position that would need addressing, and in Ronald Koeman, Southampton have a manager with more than enough contacts in the game to suitably replace those who have departed.
WANT MORE? >> Southampton transfer news | Tottenham transfer news
What will be important for the new manager going into the season is ensuring he has a settled squad. Schneiderlin has been one of the most consistent midfield performers in the Premier League over the last two seasons, but his unhappiness could prove to be a problem throughout the year. It’s not worth the hassle of trying to juggle the want-away Frenchman and integrate newcomers into the team and league.
There are others in Europe who have a history of holding onto players who have kicked up a fuss. Athletic Bilbao famously held Fernando Llorente to the final year of his contract as means to make clear that they were in charge of the situation. The club firmly won over supporters in that particular saga before seeing the Spaniard head to Juventus on a free transfer.
But Bilbao’s situation is notably different to that of Southampton. Relatively speaking, the Premier League club are open to buy anyone in world football, whereas the La Liga side have self-imposed restrictions on only signing players with Basque heritage. Transfer fees mean little when the priority is to enhance the academy.
In addition, Borussia Dortmund did something similar with Robert Lewandowski when Bayern Munich came knocking last summer. But again the situation was different to that of Southampton’s. Dortmund won’t allow themselves to lose more than one major player per summer, whereas Southampton’s exodus is extraordinary and a one off.
The combined fees of Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Morgan Schneiderlin alone should see Southampton hold enough to completely revamp the squad – and Europe is never short of bargain players of high quality. Add to that the fees brought in from Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers and the club can plan for well into the future on the recruitment front.
WANT MORE? >> Southampton transfer news | Tottenham transfer news
The only problem that they’re having is in the impression that they’ve caved to the demands of a player.
But there’s far too much in play here that shouldn’t really matter. If Southampton sell Schneiderlin now after saying they wouldn’t, what does that say about the club? Well honestly who cares? Who cares if people think the club can’t keep their word? What if an interested party table an obscene bid for the player, something that shatters all previous expectations? Should they still hold fire because of what people may think about them?
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It’s a lot of nonsense. Selling Schneiderlin, who quite clearly doesn’t want to be there, and getting maximum return for him is absolutely in the best interest of the club.
There’s a lot of speculation about what may happen to Southampton during the season as a result of these sales. But very few are going the other way on the matter, suggesting that the money could be reinvested for the better. The premium attached to Premier League players is insane. No one can argue that there isn’t a player in Europe who can do just as well as Schneiderlin for a fifth of the price. As an example, Muhamed Besic, Everton’s latest signing, looks a great piece of business at £4 million.
One way or another Schneiderlin will leave Southampton. For the club, there’s little point in dragging this episode out for at least another six months, with the player’s value is hugely unlikely to increase further.
The Championship is often overlooked as a Premier League recruitment pool, with sides from the top flight often preferring cheaper, better-proven talents from abroad.But there’s still plenty of talent in the English second tier, should you know where to look, and just to prove it, here’s a list of FIVE Championship prodigies that have reportedly caught Arsenal’s attention over the last 18 months or so.The Gunners snapped up Carl Jenkinson from the lower leagues back in 2011 – could we see one of these hotshots follow the defender’s path to the Emirates in the course of the next few transfer windows?
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON ARSENE WENGER TO REVEAL
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TYRONE MINGS
Football – Ipswich Town v Norwich City – Sky Bet Football League Championship – Portman Road – 14/15 , 23/8/14Ipswich’s Tyrone MingsMandatory Credit: Action Images / Paul ReddingEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
Kicking off this list is the most recent Championship prodigy to be linked with an Emirates switch – Ipswich Town’s Tyrone Mings:
Many feared the worst when West Ham swooped for the Tractor Boys’ star full-back Aaron Cresswell this summer but Mings has filled the void in abundance, winning the Championship’s Player of the Month award for September after bagging assists against Brighton and Wigan.
The 21 year-old’s defensive displays have been equally impressive this season, as detailed below, and it’s Mings’ ability to contribute heavily at both ends of the pitch, creating 22 scoring chances in 16 outings this term, that’s earning him such rave reviews:
Measuring in at a towering 6 foot 3, the former Chippenham Town youngster already possesses the physique to handle the rigours of the Premier League.
Arsenal’s squad needs some defensive reinforcements in January too, but having penned new terms at Portman Road in September – a very busy month for the defender – the tabloids believe he’ll now cost the Gunners around £10million.
JORDAN COUSINS
Charlton Athletic run one of the most successful academies in the Football League, with some of their more recent Premier League-reaching alumni including Jonjo Shelvey, Diego Poyet and Arsenal’s very own Carl Jenkinson.
And the latest prospect to emerge from the Valley youth ranks is England U21 Jordan Cousins – heavily linked with the Gunners last January:
The 20 year-old is an impeccable athlete with appealing versatility; often considered a defender in his younger years, Cousins has featured predominately in midfield for the Charlton first team and this season surprisingly finds himself out on the wing.
The flanks don’t particularly play to the Junior Lion’s strengths – he’s more stocky and industrial than quick and graceful – but even so, Cousins has claimed the joint-most assists of any player in the Charlton squad this season:
He also scored an absolute stunner against Wigan last term, demonstrating his technical quality:
//www.youtube.com/embed/EmZcLPdeZwE?rel=0
Cousins is certainly a little rough around the edges and a long way off the Arsenal first team.
But he’s held down a slot in the Addicks’ starting XI almost permanently since his Championship debut in August 2013 and is the kind of youngster that could be moulded into anything – be it a holding player, a full-back, a box-to-boxer, an offensive midfielder or even a ball-playing centre-half.
He’s tied down at the Valley until 2016, but Charlton are often forced to surrender their brightest prospects for relatively modest fees.
PATRICK ROBERTS
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It seems virtually every major Premier League club, including Arsenal, wants to get their hands on Fulham youngster Patrick Roberts:
So is this sought after whipper-snapper?
Well, following their relegation doom last season, the Cottagers are rebuilding from the ground up, throwing a number of impressive young talents – some academy products, others brought in from other clubs – straight into the first team fray this year.
The 17 year-old’s only made two starts, in addition to nine substitute appearances, amassing the solitary assist in just 301 minutes-worth of Championship action. That may not seem much to get excited about, but here’s the winger’s vitals this season based on per-90-minute metrics:
Also boasting 12 goals in 26 appearances for England across the junior levels, ranging from U16 to U19, Roberts’ development has been documented for some time.
He was also a key component of the Fulham side that reached last term’s FA Cup Youth Final, even netting in the 7-6 aggregate defeat to Chelsea. Here’s a clip of the Fulham hotshot in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/liCPHbvALbs?rel=0
Roberts signed professional terms in February however and is under contract in west London until 2016, whilst the tabloids claim Fulham value their man at an astonishing £15million.
WILL HUGHES
If Arsenal aren’t continuing to monitor Derby County’s Will Hughes after being linked to the midfielder last season:
…then quite frankly, their scouting department needs an overhaul.
The Rams reached the play-off final last season and this year look dead-certs for automatic promotion. The 19 year-old’s form has played a significant role in that, contributing six goals and eight assists in his last 61 Championship outings – including this goal against Blackburn in September:
Soon followed by this effort against Fulham:
Here’s a look at Hughes’ vitals over the last 18 months:
As you can see, it’s the England U21’s quality in possession that particularly stands out, allegedly even enticing scouts from Barcelona to Pride Park in November 2012, and would furthermore make him an ideal acquisition for the Gunners.
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Hughes appears destined to reach the top flight at some point and likely the England national team too. Resultantly however, he’s been mooted with fees as high as £15million.
MOSES ODUBAJO
Arsenal have been linked with Moses Odubajo before, and may feel compelled to revive their interest after the Brentford starlet’s solid start to life in the Championship.
The 21 year-old was at Leyton Orient last season, with his twelve goals across all competitions firing them to the League One play-off final – where he netted this stunning volley against Rotherham:
//www.youtube.com/embed/Hg5yKX2WwCY?rel=0
The Bees snapped him up during the summer, despite rumoured interest from Tottenham and West Ham, and the winger-come-full-back has gone on to produce some decent form in the second tier, as shown below:
The Greenwich-born hotshot is quick, industrial, versatile and possesses a decent eye for goal – in other words, there’s a lot the coaching staff at Arsenal could work with.
Having only moved to Griffin Park last summer however, Arsenal will likely have to wait until at least next summer to attain Odubajo’s signature.
It’s only halfway through the season, but we are already seeing which clubs did wonders in the transfer market during the summer.
Some made a few key marquee signings that lifted the squad, while others bought a group of players only for them to find it difficult to adapt to their new environment.
Now half way through the season and the January transfer window now open, we take a look at the TOP FIVE Best Premier League transfers so far this season…
5. Diego Costa to Chelsea
Last season Chelsea were in the running for the Premier League title, however in several games against smaller clubs the Blues weren’t able to penetrate a rigorous back-line, and manager Jose Mourinho pointed to his misfiring strikers as their issue.
However the Chelsea hierarchy moved quickly to fix the problem, signing Atletico Madrid star Diego Costa. And he has led the Chelsea attack effectively to the top of the table.
The Brazilian-born Spaniard took to the English game like a duck to water, scoring nine goals in his first seven league appearances and currently on 13 goals in 20 games in all competitions.
The 26-year-old’s only issue is his niggling injuries, but Jose Mourinho still has Didier Drogba to call upon.
4. Alexandre Song to West Ham
When Alex Song was made available by Barcelona at the beginning of the season, the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were all linked with the former Arsenal star.
And although Song wanted to return and play for the Gunners, it was their London neighbours West Ham that took the Cameroonian on loan, and what a signing he has been.
Song brought composure, guile, and athleticism to the West Ham midfield, resulting with the Hammers’ incredible rise to challenge for an unlikely Champions League spot.
3. Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea
Another former Arsenal player brought back to the Premier League, Cesc Fabregas seemed to be the final piece in Chelsea’s puzzle to once again dominate football.
The Blues have an abundance of creative attacking midfielders in the squad, but none that can sit in the middle and dictate the tempo like the Spaniard.
Deployed alongside the combative and no-nonsense Nemanja Matic, Fabregas has been involved 20 goals this season… scoring four and assisting an incredible 16 in all competitions halfway through the campaign.
2. Alexis Sanchez to Arsenal
While Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas seemed to complete an already strong foundation of players in Chelsea, Arsenal’s summer signing is carrying his new team on his back like he has been there for years.
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Sanchez is pacey, tricky, but most importantly the Chilean international is composed, scoring 14 goals and providing seven assists in just 24 games for the Gunners.
Without the former Barcelona stars’ goals Arsenal will be near the bottom of the table, making him one of the best transfers so far this season.
1. Ronald Koeman to Southampton
If you told anyone during the summer that Southampton will be challenging for a Champions League in December, you would be laughed at and kicked out of your local pub for being too drunk.
Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas are class players expected to perform at Chelsea, Alexis Sanchez was amazing during the World Cup and was supposed to do well for Arsenal, and Alex Song is a huge upgrade to the West Ham midfield. But no one expected anything from Ronald Koeman.
But the Dutch boss completely rebuilt the Southampton that lost a host of top players, buying the likes of Graziano Pelle and Dusan Tadic to once again reinvigorate the Saints attack. The players they did keep also stepped up their game, and Koeman is the big reason Southampton are in with a shout of making the Champions League come May.
Winning both the League Cup and the FA Cup in one season would be a massive success for Liverpool, and a fitting tribute to the departing Steven Gerrard.
Despite a rather poor start to the season, Liverpool are starting to put a run of results together in the Premier League, going unbeaten in their last six and only losing one of their last 10 top flight fixtures. They produced an excellent attacking display in the first leg of the Capital One Cup semi-final against Chelsea and were unlucky not to win the game. If they can get a result at Stamford Bridge, they should fancy themselves in the final against either Tottenham Hotspur or Sheffield United.
In terms of the FA Cup, Liverpool have a fourth round tie against Championship side Bolton Wanderers at Anfield this evening. This is certainly a match Liverpool would expect to win, and there is no doubt the current Liverpool side have the squad and the quality to reach the FA Cup final, but they must take each round as it comes.
The FA Cup final falls on the same day as Steven Gerrard’s 35th birthday. If Liverpool do get there, it will also be Steven Gerrard’s last game for the club before he moves to LA Galaxy in the summer. If anything, this is a huge incentive for Liverpool to give the FA Cup a good go this season.
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The only issue for Brendan Rodgers is the prospect of juggling Premier League fixtures whilst Liverpool are still competing in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League. This represents the biggest stumbling block for the Merseysiders, as too many fixtures could really disrupt their season. The battle for a Champions League place this season is set to be one that could go right down to the wire and Rodgers has made it clear that qualifying for the Champions League should be the top priority for Liverpool.
They currently sit five points adrift of fourth placed Man United, and teams such as Arsenal, Tottenham, United, Southampton and West Ham are all vying for the same position. So it’s clear Liverpool will need to put together an impressive run of results if they are to successfully break into the top four, something that becomes a lot harder when a fixture list like Liverpool’s is so congested.
Therefore, in order to provide Gerrard with a fitting send-off, Rodgers will have to figure out his priorities in terms of the league and cup competitions. He could go all out to win the Europa League and gain Champions League qualification as a result, but that is easier said than done. Finishing fourth is far from a guarantee for Liverpool but there is no doubt that this is the club’s main target for the rest of the season.
A lot will depend on how they do in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Chelsea. If they lose that, other competitions will immediately become more desirable. There is a possibility that Liverpool could win two trophies by the time the season finishes, but Rodgers will have to handle his team and fixtures excellently if he stands any chance of providing the send-off that Steven Gerrard deserves.
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It has been a disastrous season to say the least at Blackpool, with League One football all but certain for next season.
After escaping relegation by just two points last term, this time round has been a disaster right from the start. The Seasiders are rooted firmly to the foot of the Championship with just 22 points from their 33 matches played. It means they are 12 points from safety with just 13 games left to play, and need more than a miracle to somehow survive the drop.
With just four league wins all season, this is very unlikely, but the team need to put in encouraging and positive performances for the rest of the season to give their fans just a glimmer or hope and something to cheer about. Lee Clark was given a near impossible job when he took over as manager in October and has only been able to register three wins as boss. He has had to sign players regularly throughout his time at the club due to the extremely sparse numbers that were available when he arrived.
Clark has signed upwards of 20 players since taking the job, either on short-term deals or loans, which has given the team no stability whatsoever. The constant chopping and changing hasn’t helped but, then again, he hasn’t had much quality to work with and obviously cannot be blamed for Blackpool’s predicament.
Although the Pool were beaten heavily 4-0 by high-flying Brentford mid-week, the two previous results showed some sort of resilience in the side. The club earned a credible 1-1 draw away to Blackburn and showed that fighting spirit that was evident under Ian Holloway as they drew 4-4 to Nottingham Forest. This result at least sent the fans home with something to encourage them as the nine men of Blackpool salvaged an equaliser with 97 minutes on the clock.
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Unfortunately this is one of the few examples of the old Holloway fighting spirit, as the Tangerines have seen quite a few hidings already this season. Other than the Brentford heavy beating, in recent months Blackpool have lost 4-0 to Norwich, shipped seven away to Watford and were dismantled 6-1 at home to Bournemouth. The fans have had very little to shout about and signs were apparent of a long season ahead way back in the summer.
It was well documented how just under 30 players left the club before the start of the season, the majority being regular first team players. Just two weeks before the season, Blackpool had only eight players and no goalkeeper, which gave then manager Jose Riga a manic last few days of the transfer window to just about assemble a starting XI. Only unwanted free players were signed and the season was only going to go one way.
Chairman Karl Oyston reportedly has money available – the club received around £48million in parachute payments following relegation from the Premier League in 2011 – but refuses to spend it for reasons no one is quite sure about. Along with that, the text scandal where he sent obscene text messages to Blackpool fans has supporters protesting against his reign in their droves. It is fair to say that Blackpool are one of the worst run clubs in the country with a chairman seemingly unwilling to help keep the club’s head above water.
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Manager Lee Clark is in an extremely tough situation, with relegation set to leave the club in League One. This could potentially be the start of a plunge down the Football League for Blackpool but Karl Oyston is the only man that can stop it with resources at his disposal to do so.
It is fair to say that Ipswich Town have performed above early season expectations, which now they’re right in the hunt for a Premier League place.
The Tractor Boys are currently in fourth position, just three points off an automatic promotion spot. But with just two wins in their last six league matches, Ipswich know a play-off finish is by no means guaranteed. Brentford, in seventh, are only two points away from Ipswich and, with tough games coming up for the club, the up-coming weeks could determine whereabouts they finish in the Championship.
Since taking over in November 2012, manager Mick McCarthy has performed excellently, especially considering the mess they were in when he took over. Before he became boss, the club were 12 games without a win and in all sorts of trouble on and off the pitch. But McCarthy led the team from the foot of the table to the safety of 14th in his first season in charge. Last season was another consolidation but this time round, he has managed to get the very best out of a squad built from mainly free agents and nurturing young talent.
Before the transfer window where Freddie Sears was brought in from Colchester for an undisclosed fee, the entire squad had been assembled for just £10,000 under McCarthy’s reign. Tyrone Mings was the only man that had cost anything when he was signed from non-league Chippenham in 2013.
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The manager’s ability to bring through and improve young players has allowed the 21-year-old left back to shine and become one of Ipswich’s leading players this season. But the way Mick McCarthy has bought wisely in the transfer windows and got the best out of his players should be commended, because not many other mangers could have got this team to fourth in one of the hardest and most competitive leagues in Europe.
Whilst Mings has been a key player for the Tractor Boys and a talent that has caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs, Daryl Murphy has been the stand-out player for club this season. The 31-year-old striker has found a new lease of life at Ipswich, in a career that threatened to wind-down and not reach the once high potential.
It was Roy Keane who first gave Murphy a chance to impress at Portman Road back in 2010 while on a loan spell from Sunderland. The Irishman scored six times before signing for Celtic, but he only made 19 league appearances in his time in Scotland. He spent two more years on loan to Ipswich before finally becoming a permanent signing in the summer of 2013. Murphy managed 13 goals last season and is well clear as the league’s top scorer with 21 goals this time round. He is at long last proving himself to be the prolific goalscorer many tipped him to be whilst at Sunderland nearly a decade ago.
Apart from Mings and Murphy, there is plenty of experience and talent in the squad that McCarthy has built over the past couple of years. The experience lies in the likes of Jay Tabb and Christophe Berra, who are very good players at this level that work extremely hard for the team, along with the Hunt brothers. Berra adds that bit of quality at the back needed to succeed at this level.
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David McGoldrick has been a very popular and effective signing since joining in 2013. The Republic of Ireland international scored 14 goals last season and is proving to be a more than suitable partner for the prolific Daryl Murphy. Young players such as Luke Hyam and 18-year-old midfielder Ed Bishop have also impressed, with Bishop tipped for big things in the future.
In Mick McCarthy, Ipswich have one of the best managers in the division that has assembled a very competent squad full of youth and experience. We are now in the business end of the season and McCarthy’s knowhow to succeed at this level could prove vital for the Tractor Boys. It has been 13 years since Ipswich Town were a Premier League club, but now they have a good a chance as any to put that right with promotion this season.