Yaya Toure has been the source of some big transfer gossip lately and could be set to leave Manchester City for Real Madrid in January.
Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly monitoring the happiness of the player after his agent came out publicly to state he was unsettled by certain issues at City, including the fact they forgot to wish the player a happy birthday.
The former Barcelona player has been a big hit at the Etihad since his arrival and has been a midfield force to be reckoned with, scoring thirty eight goals in one hundred and thirty five appearances, and one of the main reasons behind the recent success for the Manchester club with his constant top performances. The fact he went public to say he was no longer happy at the club coupled with the fact that Ancelotti’s side have had a bit of a poor start to the season and seem to be struggling with the defensive midfield position at the moment would suggest that this could well be the ideal move in January for both Madrid and Toure. This would be a fantastic deal for the Spaniards who always boast a selection of the world’s top players in their team and Yaya would fit right in as one of the best defensive/goal scoring midfielders in the world. He could be the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle at the Bernabeu and his presence would bolster the current squad offering a big boost for the title challengers.
The player himself would also benefit from such a move as he seems to be a bit deflated in his performances so far this season, which is a big sign of his low morale at the club, and usually when you see a player stop giving 100% the writing is already on the wall. Toure has yet to reach the performance levels of last season and is yet to score in three appearances for Manuel Pellegrini’s side this term. He has also not provided an assist or made an interception for City, which is quite out of character for a player of his ability and talent.
It would be a great shame and a big loss for City to see him leave as, despite having a great squad of players, he is a key player for them and brings so much to their chances of adding to the silverware cabinet. Even the neutrals would prefer him to stay in England, it is always nice to watch such talent in the Premiership regardless of who you support and when players of that calibre go back abroad there is definitely a sense of loss for the English game.
England’s loss would of course be Spain’s gain and the Galacticos have made a big faux pas in the transfer market this summer having let two massive players leave in Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria which would no doubt have put the Italian boss under a lot of pressure, explaining the poor start his team have had to the new season. If they can lure the unhappy star to Madrid then it would be considered a huge coup for the Spaniards and would go a long way to fill the hole left in the team by Alonso, who left for Bayern Munich this summer.
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We have seen situations like this all to often in the past when a big star becomes unhappy at a club he will eventually head through the exit door and we have also seen that when Real Madrid are linked with a player, they usually turn the screws until they get what they want, as they did with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. So it is safe to say that if you place a bet at the bookies on this transfer going ahead there could be a chance of you having some sort of a winner on your hands.
Leeds United have tried a new approach led by their Italian chairman Massimo Cellino that mimics the bigger European clubs in terms of transfer policy and managerial responsibility.
If you look at the likes of Real Madrid who employ this style it seems to work wonders, the board choose who to buy and the manager picks his team and tactics. Everyone knows their roles and where they stand, like a kid in a sweet shop the manager has a spoil of all the best talent available to pick and everyone is happy with a system that clearly outlines everyone’s job.
Real Madrid are one thing, though, and Leeds United are entirely another. When David Hockaday got offered the job it was too good a job to turn down for the manager, but he didn’t realise it was also an almost impossible job to do given the current set up at the club with Massimo Cellino and the Sporting Director Nicola Salerno making decisions on who would play, who they wanted to sign and pretty much every other aspect of running the club aside from coaching the players.
Hockaday had previously helped establish a football academy at Cirencester, as well as spending time as first team coach at Watford and as youth team coach at Southampton. He also spent four years as manager of Conference Premier side Forest Green Rovers, so coming into the Leeds hot seat was a big step in his career and a big ask in terms of how different the working environment is at the Championship club.
Most see the European style set up at Leeds as a strange way of running things, it is understood that the idea comes from Cellino’s experience owning Italian football club Cagliari where he is famous for sacking his managers. Despite this, the fans at Leeds saw him as some sort of saviour who would be able to propel the club back up to the Premiership big time and turn things around at the club which has struggled greatly since its relegation from the Premier League back in 2004, but the European style of running a club simply does not work at this sort of echelon of English football.
We have seen certain elements leaked into the English game with sporting director roles being created at the likes of Spurs and Newcastle with mixed results, mainly managers not being happy to relinquish control of the job description and clash of personality causing issues with transfers.
Leeds to me are a massive club still and what they need is a bit of financial stability, some decent investment in quality English players and a decent manager to be given free reign to put his own stamp on the club and the squad so that he can build a base from which they can mount a serious promotion challenge and get back to the big time. In my opinion they had that with Brian McDermott and if you have a look at the amount of unknown players that have come in through the door this summer, the team looks a shambles and doomed to be in a relegation scrap.
The current business model simply does not work and they have tarnished the reputation of a very promising manager and are dragging the club further into trouble and possible relegation from the Championship, which is very heartbreaking to see and harsh on the United faithful who must have needed patience of a saint to follow their beloved team in the past decade. I hope that the Italian realises the job at hand and although he is passionate about his club he is doing things in the wrong manner.
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Leave the European style to the big boys who know how to do it and leave the English football club as it should be before it is too late and they sink further into trouble.
What a remarkable five months it’s been at West Ham.
Hammers fans had consistently expressed their disappointment during last season, when they finished 13th in the table, over the style of football being played by Sam Allardyce’s men. The Upton Park outfit have always taken pride in how they played the game.
Traditionally, the Hammers have always been proud of bringing through young players from the famous ‘Academy of Football’ with the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson and Michael Carrick all developing their careers with great success thanks to former academy director Tony Carr. Ever since the glory days of Trevor Brooking, Martin Peters and Bobby Moore wearing the Claret and Blue with pride, playing football on the deck has always been a priority.
Pretty football and short passing is something you tend not to associate with manager Sam Allardyce. In the 2013/2104 campaign, forward Andy Carroll was the main focal point of the team, forming a relatively strong partnership with Kevin Nolan, rekindling their glory days at Newcastle United.
The board have instructed Big Sam to play more attractive football for this season, and the signings that have been made over the summer have proved that the former Blackburn Rovers chief has listened.
Out of the nine new players joining the contingent at the Boleyn Ground over the summer many have already been able to make an immediate impact which has resulted in the East Londoners climbing to a staggering fourth in the table after nine games.
Diafra Sakho has scored six in as many starts and Enner Valencia has looked just as lively. At the back, on-loan right back Carl Jenkinson looks like having a promising future in front of him while Aaron Cresswell hasn’t looked out of place since making the move from the Championship to the Premier League.
One outstanding signing that has united the squad together with his superb ability and leadership is on-loan FC Barcelona midfielder Alex Song. Thus far, the Cameroon international has been impeccable. The one problem is if he carries on with displays like the one in the magnificent 2-1 win against current champions Manchester City, clubs bigger than West Ham will look to tie him down to a permanent deal.
Against Manuel Pellegrini’s men, the former Arsenal midfield general showed top flight clubs such as the Gunners and Liverpool what they missed out on. In a midfield that consisted of Yaya Toure, David Silva and Jesus Navas, Song took complete control in the centre of the field. The Cameroonian will be a big miss for the Hammers after Christmas as he is expected to fulfil his international commitments and play in the African Cup of Nations, with fellow teammates Cheickhou Kouyate and Sakho also due to participate in the tournament in Morocco.
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While with his native Cameroon side, both David Gold and David Sullivan’s priority is to negotiate a deal with the Nou Camp outfit, signing the defensive midfielder on a long-term contract before some other club does.
Derby County look to be on their way back to the Premier League after a seven-year absence. The Rams have managed to shrug off last season’s play-off final heartache – and currently sit top of the Sky Bet Championship table with 38 points from 20 games. But how much of their recent turnaround in fortunes do they owe to their experienced manager Steve McClaren?
When the ex-England boss took over at Pride Park, Derby seemed to be rotting in the Championship and heading for another disappointing season. Nigel Clough tried and failed to get the Rams back to the promised land – and could only manage a couple of mid-table finishes in his time with the club. That led to Derby opting for Steve McLaren, who had brief spells of management in Holland, Germany and a short stay at Derby’s bitter rivals Nottingham Forest, to take over at the helm 11 games into last season.
There was plenty of controversy surrounding McClaren’s appointment, due to the fact he managed Forest two years prior – and because he had failed so miserably when he was in charge of the Three Lions. Nonetheless Derby’s chairman Andrew Appleby, replaced the popular Clough, with the controversial McClaren, in a bold move that looks like it’s going to pay off.
It was a brave decision by Appleby, considering how vibrant the Clough name is around those parts, especially when replacing him with a former Forest boss. But after the dust had settled and McClaren got down to business, it was immediately evident that the Rams were a different outfit. McClaren led Derby to a fourth place finish last term – they saw off Brighton 6-2 on aggregate in the Championship play-off semi-final, before shockingly losing the final 1-0 to QPR in heart-breaking fashion thanks to a late Bobby Zamora strike.
Many teams and managers would have suffered from a play-off hangover, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for McClaren and Derby. The Rams have played some expansive and attractive football since then – on their way to the top of the Championship. They’re by no means the best side the league has ever seen – but with the likes of Craig Bryson, Jamie Ward, Johnny Russell and the prolific Chris Martin all playing to such a high standard – it looks as though it’s going to take something special to knock them off their perch.
It’s no secret that if you have any aspirations of winning the Championship, you need season-long monotonous integrity, the ability to bounce back after a defeat and certainly a bit of luck. Derby, so far have had all three. It’s impossible to say what direction the Rams would have gone if they hadn’t have opted for McClaren, but it’s probably a safe bet that they wouldn’t be doing as well as they are today. The boss has got them all playing to the best of their abilities and they are all singing from the same hymn sheet, at the moment Derby are certainly the team to beat.
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It’s well documented just how hard the Championship is to get out of. Many high profile managers, with big, talented squads have tried and failed. Even teams that are top at Christmas have failed to go on and secure top-flight football. But there seems to be a togetherness and hunger at Derby, and that is going to take something extraordinary to stop.
Following Radamel Falcao’s surprise exclusion from Manchester United’s match-day squad last Sunday, agent Jorge Mendes, whose other clients include Cristiano Ronaldo, David De Gea and Angel Di Maria to name a few, has sought to heap pressure on manager Louis van Gaal in regards to future selections, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Likely in a bid to ensure the Colombian international’s Sunday absence doesn’t become the norm at Old Trafford, Mendes, who rarely steps into the public limelight to discuss his clientele, is quoted as saying “I don’t know (if he will stay). He is a fantastic player and I think it’s very difficult for Manchester United fans — they have an absolutely brilliant player, one of the very best in the world, who would without any doubt play 90 minutes, every time, with any other club.
“The truth is, now, we don’t know what will happen. What we do know is that he will play for one of the very best clubs in the world next season, whether that is Manchester United or not. I am 100 per cent sure of that. But you know how football works — we’ll see what happens.”
Read between the lines and the subliminal message to van Gaal is a clear and simple one – use Falcao now, or lose him come the summer.
Perhaps that’s what van Gaal wants. After all, although Falcao was seen as the jewel in the crown of United’s summer acquisitions, the signing that truly caught the imagination of the fan base and painted a very ambitious picture of the campaign to come, the 28 year-old’s Premier League career, thus far, is incomparable with his prolific spells in Argentina, Portugal and Spain.
He’s managed just one goal every 201 minutes in the English top flight, totalling three, and is yet to create a meaningful partnership with the Red Devils’ joint-leading goalscorer, Robin van Persie. So far, United have forked out £1.77million per goal in wages – that doesn’t come anywhere close to justifying the £47million they’d need to pay to secure Falcao’s services permanently from Monaco.
Although one could point to the superficial correlation between the shock defeat to Southampton, in which United failed to record a single shot on target, and the Colombian hitman’s absence, nothing from his prior Premier League outings suggests the Red Devils would have fared any differently with him in the side. Creating opportunities was as much a struggle for United as taking them on Sunday and of all the problems they’ve faced under van Gaal this term, efficiency in front of goal hasn’t been one of them – in fact, it’s served far more commonly as their saving grace.
In many ways however, even if van Gaal does see Falcao’s future at Old Trafford spanning past the summer, that’s beside the point. The manager of a club as monolithic as Manchester United should not be buckling to the demands of agents on their client’s behalf – be it Radamal Falcao, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or a time-travelling Pele.
It’s time for LVG to take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book – a manager who never let player power come even within the distant peripheries of his own. The obvious example is Roy Keane, who was released from his contract after over a decade at United, serving as captain for eight years, after overstepping the boundary between player and manager during that infamously hyperbolic critique with MUTV. He’s hardly alone in the clan of players that felt Fergie’s wrath however; David Beckham, Jaap Stam and Paul Ince are just a few who were moved on for, amongst other reasons, not fitting in with the obedient mentality of the Old Trafford squad.
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Whether such monolithic influence is plausible in the modern day remains open to debate; the Scot was amongst a dying breed that appeared to hold full autonomy over every area of their clubs, whilst the sheer scale of his success at Old Trafford propelled Fergie towards near-mythical status – nobody, especially agents, would dare question his decision-making.
Yet the principle behind it, in regards to Falcao and Mendez, does not change. Falcao may well be regarded as one of the finest strikers in world football, boasting a career return of 234 goals in 369 appearances at club and international level, but he’s done little to prove the legitimacy of that reputation at United. Likewise, he clearly isn’t a natural suitor to van Gaal’s philosophy and although that may seem wasteful of a world-class talent, the team must come before individuals.
What would Ferguson do in this situation? In my opinion, make an example of Falcao, as he did with Keane, Beckham et al. Leave him on the bench, or even out of the squad altogether, as a message to current and future playing personnel – the manager, and only the manager, picks the team.
Louis van Gaal has claimed that his Manchester United side are the best team in the Premier League right now, ahead of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and in-form Liverpool.
The Red Devils currently occupy third spot and look to be on course to book a return to the Champions League, but the campaign, as a whole, has been far from convincing.
Even though LVG oversaw a £157m investment in new players last summer, United have stuttered in league action – the loss at Leicester City was a low point – and their cup form has been relatively poor, with Capital One Cup elimination at the hands of the MK Dons, while it took a replay to overcome League Two outfit Cambridge United in the FA Cup.
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As well as this, critics have labelled Van Gaal’s side a ‘long ball’ team and record signing Angel di Maria has struggled since the turn of the year.
However, the Dutchman has been bullish, claiming that United are the best team in England’s top flight right now:
“As you know, when you see the score of the last 19 or 20 matches we are the best team in the league.” He is quoted by The Mirror.
“Now I believe that every player knows the philosophy of me and my staff. Everyone wants to follow that philosophy and you can see that in the team spirit of the team which is unbelievable.
“Mostly I have told them (the players) after the matches that we can play better, but I have also said it was already 70 minutes good, this match, or 45 or 60, but we have to do it 90 minutes.
“I don’t believe we have been able to do it for 90 minutes, so I think we have a long way to go. You don’t have to exaggerate that we are playing well.
“But, very important is that we continue to win and that we don’t lose so much anymore and that the results are more stable.
“You never know (how far away you are from being the best team in the league), but it is the right question because I want to improve the performance.”
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Deadline day is over. The calm returns after the storm. I sit amongst a dozen writers from Palace fan sites ruminating about the deals that did and did not happen, preparing to meet a man who knows more than most about the chaos it can bring. Joe Ledley.
The Welsh international joined Crystal Palace from Celtic in a deadline day deal in February 2014, but a year on is enjoying far more relaxed circumstances. Settled at Selhurst Park now, over a coffee and baked goods we got to know the man himself at the Neteller Ledley Live event.
Having already played in an FA Cup final for Cardiff and the Celtic side that famously defeated Barcelona, Ledley has become an integral player for Palace. The Eagles have been excellent since the arrival of Alan Pardew, gaining 10 points from five Premier League games to move clear of the relegation zone.
We’ll get to that, whilst discussing the Welsh mafia at Palace, Yaya Sanogo’s dress sense and Ledley’s international exploits.
Firstly we must start by asking – how do you maintain that magnificent beard?
I go to a grooming place in central London and I’ve got a few oils to put on it to keep it trim – I’ve got more hair on my chin than my head at the moment! I thought it was going to end on 1st January but had a vote on twitter and the majority wanted to keep it so we’ll get to the end of the season and see.
What was moving from Palace to Celtic on deadline day like?
It was probably the most stressful thing in my life. I didn’t know what I was doing whether I was coming or going – it was a big decision to make within a few hours. I made the right decision playing in the Premier League – it’s the best league in the world.
So you would place it above La Liga and The Bundesliga?
I think it is the best, I think you’ve got better players in La Liga with Messi, Ronaldo and Bale so players wise it is brilliant but the sheer love for the game, the broadcasting and publicity, everything means the Premier League is the best.
Have you ever thought about playing abroad?
Before I signed for Celtic I got linked with a few clubs in Italy, Spain and Russia but it’s different when you have family and friends. Hopefully I will spend as much time as possible in the Premier League- though you never know what will happen when you are older you have to put family first.
So will you take some time out when your career ends?
I think I will have some time out of football for at least a year. I started playing at a very young age and football is great but I’ve never had a Christmas at home with my family, never got out of bed and had family time. Then I’ll just get bored and hopefully do my badges and get into football because even if it’s just the academy I’d love to do that.
More immediately, what do you believe Palace can achieve in the next few years?
When I signed I believed in our squad and I knew we would stay up with the manager, players and belief we had. The second year is always harder and hopefully this year we can stay up and just keep improving, and be a Stoke in staying in the Premier League for years to come. That’s what the fans want, and hopefully one year we can make Europe.
On Europe, how was being involved in the Champions League and beating Barcelona?
It’s the best competition in the world with the best teams in the world and luckily I had the chance to do that, to make the last 16 of the Champions League was a great honour and to beat Barca was the icing on the cake. To be on the same pitch as Messi, Iniesta and to hold our ground and win the game was fantastic for us.
Who was the toughest opponent you faced in midfield from those experience?
There’s a lot of players like Xavi who I couldn’t get anywhere near. In terms of being physically tough. Pogba was good, he was up for a battle. He was very good at Juventus – it’s always good when you have players who are willing to fight like that, so Pogba.
What has Alan Pardew changed to create this upturn in results since arriving?
When I arrived we had Tony (Pulis) and never really had much of the ball possession wise, same with Neil Warnock and if you look at recent games our possession has been higher. He (Pardew) wants us to play more football and play in the right way, get it down and play through midfield which is great for myself. The more of the ball you have the higher chance you have of winning.
Relaying the pitch must have helped this change of style?
Yes especially with the new manager now possession has been higher than before, you see at the beginning of the season the pitch was not in a playable state at all. People could have got serious injuries on it with ankles turning etc – it has allowed us to do much better with the ball.
What do you think went wrong under Neil Warnock?
We went through that run being undefeated for a few games but couldn’t get that win, he’s got to be unlucky because we were grinding out performances but not getting that win. For instance we were 2-0 up at West Brom then they get that goal that was clearly a free-kick on Jules (Speroni) and we end up missing three points away from home.
What was you say is the best atmosphere from your time at Palace?
Even though we didn’t win, I think Liverpool at home, especially being 3-0 down. Many people didn’t fancy us and just thought ‘keep it down-not 5 or 6’ and especially being our last home game, it was a sell-out. All of a sudden when that one goal went in you could feel the home stadium lifting and to get it to 3-3 was a fantastic achievement. It was a great atmosphere and a great occasion.
Celtic vs Rangers must have been… (Ledley interrupts)
It was unbelievable, we used to do a huddle before the game. You couldn’t hear a word the captain was saying when he was a yard away, it was loud. It was shaking – those are the games you always want to play in and it was a great honour.
On big occasions, what was the FA Cup semi-final and final experiences like with Cardiff?
A fantastic occasion and it was the winner to put us on the way to the final and we are still in that and hopefully we can do it here. The hunger is there, those are the best days of your life, those are the days you remember – the occasion of the final, even though we lost.
If Palace were in the cup final, penalty shoot-out time, who are your five takers?
It’s got to be Mile (Jedinak), he does well, then Gayley, Muzza (Murray) is good aswell, I might even put my mate Hennessey in and I’ve got an 100% record (3 from 3) so myself.
Have the Palace fans surprised you in terms of how loud they are?
I was shocked at the atmosphere when I came here especially in the game against Liverpool, last home game of the season it was electric, I saw that at Celtic but I didn’t expect to see it down here as well. To be here is a fantastic honour, the supporters have been great here at Selhurst Park, I think they are probably the best in the PL.
You must be delighted with the support they have given you?
I have always respected the fans and they pay a lot of money to come and watch you play, you have to respect that and hopefully I have the same feeling with the fans here as I did at Cardiff and Celtic. The fans here have welcomed me from day one so I will always remember that.
Is there a Welsh mafia at Palace?
We’re taking over! Especially last season when we had Gabs (Danny Gabbidon) here too. It’s like a club when you meet up with Wales it’s a great feeling, we didn’t have that not many years ago so all of a sudden we are all long, have a bit of experience and are tight as a unit. When you meet up and you go away for 10 days you rely on your family to have a laugh with and mix around with is great.
How do you see the upcoming Welsh trip to Israel?
It’s massive – we’ve had a great start, we’re second in the group, one point behind them but away. We have a strong squad and you can never know in football so we just have to hope that it’s our time to qualify. I don’t think we will ever have a better chance.
Do you think the squad depth could survive an absent Gareth Bale?
I think there is not long ago against Scotland Gareth went off injured when we were behind and little Johnny came on, did great and we won. Obviously you want Gareth in the team because he’s a world-class player but in the squad now there’s a lot of us playing in the Premier League with plenty of experience for such a young age, so I think we would cope.
When did you first see Bale and what were your thoughts?
I remember seeing him on TV and then met up with him for the Welsh squad and it you could just see that he had something special. The more he went to Spurs and gained experience he reached the next level, he was quick and just had everything.
Is he the best player in the world for you?
Gareth will not like me saying this but for me I’d go for Messi.
With the big issues addressed all things Crystal Palace are delved into, starting naturally with what captain Mile Jedinak brings to the Eagles…
He’s a great captain, great leader and great player for us, he’s been fantastic this season and when he went away he’s won a tournament with his country. Everyone looks up to him – his discipline on and off the pitch is great.
Julian Speroni is another leader at Palace, thoughts on his testimonial year?
Everyone at the club looks up to Jules, with his age as well to keep going the way he is has been remarkable, playing at the highest level. It’s a great achievement and he’s a great stop stopper who has still got it for me. It feels like he can just keep going for years to come – he’s been brilliant since I’ve been here.
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Who is the worst dressed?
There’s a few, Sanogo has come in and he has been awful his dress sense has been shocking. He will try and wear tracksuit bottoms but with a smart tracksuit and running trainers and it just doesn’t go, but I won’t tell him to his face though!
Who are the best skills merchants at Palace?
It’s out of Wilf (Zaha) and Bolaise, there just at it all training session trying to get as many megs as they can, trying loads of tricks, we just let those two get on with it. Punch is good, he has some skills too, so those three.
Glenn Murray comes across as a bit grumpy often, is he always like that?
That’s just him in general life, to be fair me and Muzza get on we have a bit of a laugh but I can understand why people think he’s grumpy. To be fair you just need to get into him, give him a bit of banter but ye he is quite miserable!
Have any of the outfield players tried their hands in goal?
Wayne (Hennessey) fancies himself outfield – he thinks he can do a better job than me in midfield but they don’t let us in so we don’t get injured. When he’s on the ball he actually seems like an outfield player as he’s so casual with the ball at his feet.
Who is the best trainer?
Since I’ve joined I’d say it’s the hardest I’ve probably ever seen a group of boys work off the pitch we are in the gym, professional, everyone always wants to some more. I think Wardy (Joel Ward) is a good pro so I will say him.
Who do you play as when on FIFA?
I used to be mad with FIFA but with the little one (his child) running around now I don’t have time for it anymore, but I would be Barcelona.
Last but not least, have you tried to start a trend for beards at Palace?
I’m trying to make as many of them grow beards as possible, but I don’t think many of their wives and girlfriends are having it. Mile is finally growing his back so I think there could be a good few beards going on. Hennessey is trying but can’t do it – hopefully we can get a few more out there.
Amen to that, Premier League survival and some great beards, what more could one want? The midfielder and his beard have been great company at the Neteller Ledley Live event at Selhurst Park.
Alexis Sanchez has been hugely important for Arsenal this season proving that he is worth every bit of his £35m fee.
The forward fell out of favour with Spanish giants Barcelona who felt that he was too unsure in front of goal after scoring only eight times in La Liga during his second season at the Camp Nou but the Chilean has reinvented himself in North London.
With only a handful of games left this campaign, the Gunners should finish once again in the top four providing important Champions League football for their roster of stars next season. But that is a given now. Arsenal always finish fourth or higher but they have not managed to reach the Premier League’s pinnacle since their unbeaten invincible’s season of 2003-04.
Arsenal have been missing that certain something and they may just have found it in Sanchez.
A lot of foreign players struggle in their first year of English football. The league is very demanding and unlike other countries we do not indulge in a winter break where if anything it is the busiest fixture period.
Sanchez hasn’t been as explosive as say Chelsea’s Diego Costa but he has been more consistent. Likewise the Chilean won’t be winning the league’s highest goal scorer award with his current 13 league goals but his ability to adapt so quickly to our domestic game looks good for next season.
Sanchez and strike partner Olivier Giroud make a good team and are sure to further solidify their partnership next season. With both in fine form Arsenal can truly challenge for the title even when facing stiff competition from teams like Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United who are likely to all be contenders once again.
Sanchez was an inspired signing by manager Arsene Wenger and supporters are fortunate that the 26 year old ended up with them rather than rivals Liverpool where he could have been successfully leading their attack this season instead. Brendan Rodgers was hoping he would be an ideal replacement for the loss of Luis Suarez but Arsenal hijacked their deal and have benefited enormously. Liverpool really could have used a player with the Chilean’s attacking qualities this season and if they end up missing out on the top four then they really will rue their mishandling of last summer’s window.
Sanchez’s 19 goals in all competitions has helped Arsenal to currently sit third in the league, be in the running to retain the FA Cup and they almost progressed through to the Champions League quarter finals when they beat Monaco 2-0 on the night but lost overall on away goals. Definitely not a bad season for the Gunners and next year looks set to be even more productive.
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Arsenal still need to strengthen their squad just like every other club and their focus should be on signing a holding midfielder such as Morgan Schneiderlin or James McCarthy, both of whom Wenger is reported to be interested in, rather than looking at any forwards.
Upfront Arsenal are blessed with a whole host of attacking players to chose from. Sanchez, Giroud, Theo Walcott and new boy Danny Welbeck are all fighting to lead the line so Arsenal can focus their money this summer elsewhere safe in the knowledge that they have several stars now who next May might help them finally lift that cup again.
The four Championship sides in the play-offs are battling it out to join Watford and Bournemouth in the Premier League next season after the duo came out on top in one of the most exciting promotion races for many years.
And during a fantastic season, a number of players have certainly caught the eye and look sure to make the step up to the Premier League sooner rather than later.
Some are still in with a chance of achieving the dream through the play-offs, but for others it looks like they may well soon be in for a transfer after their side’s missed out on the top six, despite the impressive performances of some of their star players.
Here a five stars who look set to light up the Premier League next season…
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Patrick Bamford
Patrick Bamford looks set for a bright future having impressed once again in the Championship, this time with Middlesbrough.
The on-loan Chelsea star was named the Player of Year in England’s second tier thanks to his 17 goals, and he can go along way to ensuring his side can successfully navigate the playoffs.
Whether or not he gets his chance at Chelsea next season remains to be seen, but there’s no doubt he will plying his trade in the top division next term with a number of clubs interested in him.
Will Hughes
Derby must be cursing their luck having not only missed out on automatic promotion, but also missing out on the top six on goal difference following a disastrous end to the season.
Their brightest talent Will Hughes played an unwanted part in their shock three-nil defeat to Reading on the final day; gifting the Royals their opening goal, but this shouldn’t overshadow what has been another great season for the youngster.
Having been linked to Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United in the past, the Rams will do well to keep hold of him for another season.
Jordan Rhodes
Another 20-goal season for Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes is sure to have attracted further interest from the Premier League, and he may well feel it’s time to test himself at the highest level having once again missed out on the playoffs.
He’s passed the 20-goal mark for the last three seasons now, and it’s no surprise to see a number of clubs linked with a move for the Scottish International this summer, who could prove a shrewd acquisition to whoever wins the battle.
Tyrone Mings
Having attracted interest from the likes of Arsenal and Crystal Palace already, Ipswich’s hopes of hanging onto Tyrone Mings could depend on whether or not they can go on and win the play-offs.
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The full-back has been a key part of the club’s push for promotion, and at just 22 could soon be a Premier League player, although Mick McCarthy will be doing his upmost to ensure he remains at Portman Road for at least another season.
Sam Byram
It’s been another turbulent season at Leeds United, but despite all the problems both on and off the pitch Sam Byram can be pleased with his efforts.
The versatile defender is being chased by both Liverpool and Everton and is another who looks capable of playing in the Premier League in the future.
With Glen Johnson set to leave the Reds in the summer, the 20-year-old has already been earmarked as a long-term replacement, and unfortunately for Leeds his time at Elland Road could be coming to an end.
Over the course of the past seven days, Manchester United’s transfer plans have really come to fruition.
Following the early acquisition of Memphis Depay, Van Gaal has now swooped for Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Matteo Darmian, addressing three issues within his squad, but despite the spend totalling around £80m, there is no time to rest with more signings clearly needed.
Perhaps the most pressing area for LVG now is at centre-back, with some shaky showings last term almost enough to cost the club a top four finish – David de Gea’s heroics and Liverpool’s inability to put a run of form together late on were decisive.
Reports from Super Deporte claim that Nicolas Otamendi will be the subject of a move this week, however, Manchester City are also ready to submit their own bid for the 27-year-old Argentine. United simply cannot afford to lose out to their noisy neighbours, and here are FIVE reasons why.
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Van Gaal needs a defensive leader
To all watching Manchester United last season it was abundantly clear that Van Gaal’s side were lacking a defensive leader. Although talented, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling as a pair do not offer the sort of authority needed, with the two fairly inexperienced as a double act at the highest level. Either alongside a commanding partner may work, and Otamendi is just that sort of defender.
The Argentine is very much a ‘front foot’ enforcer, with bravery and willingness to take responsibility evident in his game. He may lack the cultured approach of some other options, but he does guarantee a rugged presence at the back, which could compliment the skills of Smalling or form a formidable unit with Jones.
A threat at the other end of the pitch
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Although a defender is employed to cut out attacks from the opposition, it’s always handy to have another threat at the other end of the pitch. Although he hasn’t always been prolific through his career, Otamendi added another string to his bow last term with Valencia, weighing in with six goals for Los Che – the majority of which were from set-pieces.
Although Van Gaal has plenty of firepower from midfield and wide to support his attack, it’s always handy to have a genuine aerial threat from corners and free-kicks in tight games.
A further signal of intent
Up until the middle of this month United’s transfer business was looking a little underwhelming. Memphis Depay was the only arrival, and although talented, his youthful age and the ‘risky Eredivisie purchase’ tag set alarms bells ringing given that the Red Devils were pretty poor last term.
However, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin bringing experience and Premier League know-how and Matteo Darmian addressing the right-back conundrum, LVG’s squad now looks far more balanced. The lack of a top-class centre-back is obviously an issue, but should Otamendi arrive it’s hard to argue against Van Gaal having one of the strongest outfit’s in the back and middle third in the division.
A better option than the likes of Ramos
Although Sergio Ramos is seen as the ‘marquee’ man in terms of potential additions, Otamendi may be a better option. The Spaniard’s rumoured desire to join United stinks of a player using a club to get one last big contract, and the Real Madrid man’s red card record is also a worry. There is also the feeling that Otamendi is motivated for the right reasons, with his career very much on an upward trajectory, whereas Ramos has now won it all in the white shirt at the Bernabeu in a glittering few years.
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There aren’t too many other option out there, with links with Mats Hummels having cooled
Keep him from a title rival
Far from being a wise basis for a move, snapping up Otamendi would keep him from bitter rivals, and fellow title contenders, Manchester City. Reports claim that the Sky Blues will also put forward a bid, and watching a major target head to an enemy will not make for pleasant viewing at Old Trafford.
This should not be the main source of motivation for United to move for the 27-year-old, but it is a factor that may come into play.