Manchester United seem to be a shadow of their former selves. Struggling to win home games, struggling through Europe and failing to delight the Old Trafford faithful as they used to week in, week out.
With the Premier League growing ever more competitive, there is a real need to keep up in terms of transfer expenditure and attracting big names. Rivals Manchester City got the ball rolling with the scheduled appointment of Pep Guardiola at the end of the season, and it seems that Man United need a big name to get their summer moving.
And where better to look than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who seems to be dropping hint after hint that he wants to make the move to the Premier League at the end of the season.
The Sweden international’s deal runs with Paris Saint-Germain expires in in a few months’ time and a flurry of clubs are reportedly interested in his signature, including a handful from the Premier League. The emerging Chinese Super League has also been touted as a possible destination for the former Inter Milan striker, but nothing is concrete yet.
Manchester United could really do with a signing like ‘Ibra’ this summer.
It seems for the past couple of years the Old Trafford faithful have been let down in the transfer window as Louis van Gaal tries to bring in young starlets who just don’t seem to live up to the hype. Take Dutch winger Memphis Depay for example. The former Eredivise man had an incredible reputation prior to his move to England, yet just hasn’t lived up to what was expected. His form has been erratic and he has underwhelmed many football fans across the world.
That is why Ibrahimovic is such a safe bet – if he signs for you and is happy, he will score you goals and help you win games. Yes there is an extraordinary ego to deal with, but what a role model for Man United’s young squad he could be.
At 34, he shows no sign of slowing down, which is pretty incredible for a footballer in the modern game. He’s not the player he was 10 years ago, but to be able to play Champions League football now to the level he’s showing is some feat. He would be a massive coup for United.
Yet this could be the part of the deal that lets the Red Devils down – their potential inability to qualify for Europe. It’s a massive factor that could decide the deal. After all, ‘King Zlatan’ doesn’t want to have just the Capital One Cup to look forward to, does he?
West Ham, Chelsea and Arsenal are also reported to be interesting in signing the veteran striker, but with Major League Soccer also a possible destination, it looks like it could be a race for his signature.
He would bring so much to the Premier League, and it is very possible that a year with Zlatan could turn Manchester United’s fortunes around.
When Sir Alex Ferguson splashed out £18.6million on Michael Carrick in summer 2006, not every Manchester United fan was convinced by the England international.
But 416 appearances, five Premier League titles and one Champions League titles later, the deep-lying midfielder will be remembered as arguably one of the shrewdest investments Ferguson ever made.
Now 34 years of age, however, Carrick’s ten-year Old Trafford career appears to be drawing to a close with the Red Devils yet to extend his contract beyond the end of the season.
Arsenal and Newcastle have been mooted as potential candidates to acquire the veteran playmaker on a free transfer.
But a bigger and more intriguing question than where Carrick will end up this summer is who’ll replace him at the base of United’s midfield.
With that in mind and the summer transfer window looming in, Football Fancast have conjured up a list of FIVE perfect successors for the departing maestro.
TONI KROOS
Rumour has it Toni Kroos will look to leave Real Madrid this summer and the technically-gifted midfielder would be the perfect replacement for Michael Carrick, sharing or arguably exceeding the quality and intelligence in possession the England international brings to deep midfield.
Furthermore, the 26-year-old is vastly experienced, lifting a Champions League title in 2013 and the World Cup with Germany a year later, and is well acquainted with life at institutionalised clubs, rising through the ranks at Bayern Munich before moving to the Bernabeu two summers ago.
But even if the 64-cap international does look to move on this summer, Los Blancos will command an enormous fee for a player viewed as arguably the best central midfielder in world football.
ADRIEN RABIOT
Adrien Rabiot may be considerably less proven than some of the players on this list but the 21-year-old would fit perfectly into Manchester United’s mantra of investing in prodigious talent.
Indeed, Rabiot is one of the most exciting young midfielders in world football, having represented France almost 50 times at youth level and already amassed 114 appearances for current employers PSG – including 38 outings across all competitions this season.
A lanky, technical, deep-lying midfielder who reads the game well and isn’t afraid to put his foot in, there’s certainly something Carrick-esque about the France U21. But rated as the club’s brightest prospect, the Parisians will be reluctant to part with him this summer.
GRANIT XHAKA
Once dubbed ‘young Schweinsteiger’ for his tenacity, strength and control of possession, Granit Xhaka certainly isn’t too far away from Michael Carrick on the midfielder spectrum, albeit perhaps a more dynamic and gritty as a consequence of his age.
The 23-year-old is a real terrier and has picked up three red cards already this season, but he’s also blessed with a fantastic passing range and consistency on the ball, averaging the most successful passes per match of any non-Bayern Munich player in the Bundesliga this season.
The Switzerland international’s leadership qualities as Gladbach captain make him an even more appealing candidate to replace Carrick, but Arsenal appear to be leading the chase for his signature at the moment.
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MIRALEM PJANIC
Miralem Pjanic is notably more forward-thinking than Michael Carrick, but offers a similar kind of service to the United veteran in possession with a healthy dollop of output on top, notching up ten goals and eleven assists in 31 Serie A appearances for Roma this season.
Expert deliveries and strikes from dead ball situations have been a predominant source but the Bosnian international is equally famed for his technique and creativity in open play – something the current United engine room is in desperate need of.
Now coming to the end of his fifth season at the Stadio Olimpico, the 26-year-old could likely be tempted to leave this summer. However, Roma are reportedly looking to tie Pjanic down to a new long-term contract before the summer transfer window.
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ERIC DIER
In terms of home-grown successors to Michael Carrick, it’s hard to look past Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Dier, who has been a revelation in the holding role this season after previously plying his trade at full-back and centre-half.
Indeed, there’s a simplicity yet progressiveness to the England international’s game, holding position well, plugging gaps in the Spurs backline and providing physicality in midfield but always looking to move the ball forward.
Dier’s consistency in possession and versatility suggests he’s already a very well-rounded player at the age of 22. But it will probably take an unjustifiable fee to convince Tottenham to sell this summer and having only enjoyed one season of true prominence in his short career, United may deem the coming summer a little too soon for a major investment.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp would have been a little bit taken aback this week when target Mario Gotze sensationally ruled out a transfer away from the Allianz Arena this summer.
The German was thought to be a top transfer priority for the Reds, but with the former Dortmund man set to stay in Germany, Liverpool will have to turn their attention elsewhere.
The need to improve at Anfield has never been greater and if Klopp wants to build a Liverpool squad that can compete for the title or domestic glory, he’ll need to get the right players in, and attacking midfield is a big priority. Whilst both Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have both been solid this year, squad depth is essential if you’re to challenge at the top.
So with Gotze ruled out, here are FIVE options Liverpool should be targeting instead of the German.
Oscar
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The Chelsea midfielder is a solid option and generally a sure-fire performer. Whilst this season hasn’t been his most fruitful in England, the Brazilian international has still managed eight goals in 37 appearances in a fledgling Chelsea side.
With Antonio Conte coming in this summer, the futures of many first-team players is well and truly up in the air, and Oscar could be left on the fringes of the squad. A move to Anfield? Who knows!
Isco
IS it me your looking for?
This Real Madrid playmaker has struggled for competitive game time at the Bernabeu this term, frequently being used as an option from the bench rather than as a full-time starter. Competition at one of the best clubs in Spain is always going to be intense, but at 24, this is the time for Isco to well and truly shine. If he wants to cement a place in the Spain squad for years to come, he needs to be playing regularly and Liverpool might be the answer for him.
Sadio Mane
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The Premier League record holder for the fastest ever hat-trick, Sadio Mane has been on fire for Southampton this season.
15 goals and a flurry of assists later, and the Senegal international has done his reputation no harm with a an extremely impressive season, helping the Saints into Europe along the way. He can play on the wing or behind the striker and would be an excellent addition to Jurgen’s side.
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Nabil Fekir
Unfortunately for this talented Frenchman, he’s was ruled out for a large part of the season just gone with a long-term injury but you only have to rewind a few months to see what the 22-year-old can do.
He was the 2015 Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year, in a season that saw him feature of 40 times, scoring 15 goals. He generally plays behind the striker and has an excellent ability to bring his colleagues into the game. Keep an eye on this talented youngster.
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Nathan Redmond
A former Birmingham City youngster, Nathan Redmond has been one of Norwich City’s most consistent performers for a few years now. He’s quick, can cross in an excellent ball and loves an effort from long range. He’d be something different, for sure.
The majority of attention appears to be focused on three European Leagues.
The richest and most widely exported is our own Premier League, followed by La Liga and Serie A. The French Ligue 1 has become a hunting ground for all teams looking for a gem to polish up, but it is not a league that is wildly competitive, as PSG prove year after year.
A dash for cash and extended playing career has seen a few star names heading for Turkey, while the Dutch Eredivisie is constantly only a mere after thought.
But Germany’s Bundesliga is getting more coverage these days and is a genuine hotbed of talent. Borussia Dortmund’s current squad is slowly being taken apart, as four of five of their top names look to depart, three of which could end up on British shores this summer.
German football benefited the most from the Premier League’s incredible spending spree last summer, as English top flight clubs splashed a massive £151m on players from the Bundesliga, with the likes of Kevin de Bruyne leading the way.
But who else is ready to join the Premier League and make a name for themselves.
Here are five…
Ricardo Rodriguez
A great left-back can be hard to come by in the Premier League, so there could be a number of teams in England’s top-flight potentially eyeing Ricardo Rodriguez this January.
The Wolfsburg defender is no stranger to getting forward and his attacking abilities have earned him several plaudits already this season, with an impressive six goals and four assists in 16 games.
Mario Gotze
Time to leave the comfort zone of Bayern.
Since the arrival of Portuguese international Renato Sanches, Gotze is now falling down the pecking order, as Kingsley Coman took his place more often than not last season.
Gotze is also finding it difficult to establish himself with the German national team and could very soon become the forgotten man.
He needs to rejuvenate his career and the Premier League is perfect for him.
Kevin Volland
Having come through from TSV Munich 1860 and Hoffenheim, Volland has made his name in the Bundesliga as a deadly striker.
Having joined Leverkusen in May, he is probably a year away from joining the Premier League, but he should not be overlooked.
The 23-year-old has been deployed as an explosive winger for much of the previous couple of seasons, but is very much at home as a central striker.
The German international will link up with Hernandez next season after an 18 million euro move, but expect to see Volland in the Premier League soon.
Christoph Kramer
Although he has only recently signed a contract with Borussia Monchengladbach, why he hasn’t been snapped up before is a bit of a mystery.
This German international slips under the radar every transfer window, but is highly rated in the Bundesliga. A defensive midfielder, he is solid and provides cover for the back four and is said to be one of Germany’s stars of the future.
Premier League clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have watched him, but a move to England would let us see what the Bundesliga sees every week.
Leroy Sane
Another attacking midfielder, the 20-year-old Sane is wanted by Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Not only is Das Wunderkind being chased by City, but rumours of Manchester United and Bayern Munich considering bids are also putting pressure on the player.
As if that was not enough, Sane was selected for the German Euro 2016 squad over the injured Marco Reus. The Schalke player will be hot property over the summer for sure.
Paul Pogba’s move to Manchester United is likely to smash the world transfer record in spectacular fashion. It feels like a fair few years since United received a world record fee for Cristiano Ronaldo and since then we have seen Gareth Bale also smash the record – also on his way to Real Madrid.
It’s all about the price tag, or so the mainstream poppy song says, and modern football is becoming more and more like that. Money runs the world and it is running modern football in a way we have never really seen before. Players can demand wages that previous belonged in the upper echelons of celebrity stardom and agents are holding a greater role in the game than we have ever seen before.
Whether it is Paul Pogba who breaks the next transfer world record or not, we can expect it to come damn soon. Will it be one of these FIVE to break it next?
Paulo Dybala
Juventus’ Argentine wonder, Paulo Dybala, might yet be the next holder of the much unwanted world transfer record tag. Able to play as a 10, a centre forward or, occasionally, from the wing, Dybala is one of the most gifted players in world football.
Currently a member of the highly successful Juventus squad, Dybala will surely seek to spend time in Spain or England before his career is out.
Anthony Martial
Seeing as the previous record holder was Cristiano Ronaldo, for his move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, it would be somewhat fitting if Anthony Martial was the next in line for a similar transfer fee.
The gifted French forward, who plays on the left-wing or as a central striker, had a strong first season with United and is on hi way to becoming one of the very best.
Eden Hazard
If you try to forget about Eden Hazard’s dismal campaign last time around, you may just remember that he was one of the world’s best the season before. The supremely gifted Belgian winger lights up a football pitch with his jinking runs and possesses an ability to retain the ball as rare as it is wonderful.
However, Chelsea’s jewel in their crumbling crown is, if he can return to his best, destined for a big money move towards the continent, isn’t he?
Julian Draxler
The Germans have somewhat of a knack for producing stunning talents and Julian Draxler is just the latest off of Schalke’s remarkable production line.
The Wolfsburg star impressed for Germany at this summer’s European Championships and, if he continues on his current career trajectory, could easily become the most sought after player in football.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
From the relative obscurity of Saint-Etienne, Aubameyang has become one of the most desirable commodities in world football, thanks to a magnificent 2015-16 season with Borussia Dortmund.
The Gabonese forward, if he recreates his form from last season, could yet smash through the world transfer record. His brilliant channel running, terrorising pace and lethal finishing make him one of the very best around.
The last few weeks at Manchester City there has been a lot of focus on the goalkeeping situation and the spotlight would have been cast even further after Claudio Bravo’s debut in the Manchester derby on Saturday afternoon.
It was certainly a baptism of fire for the Chilean international as he made his first appearance since signing from Barcelona late last month and the jury will be out after his somewhat erratic display at Old Trafford.
After going 2-0 up City were well in control but then United found the one chink in their armour and that was none other than Bravo himself. His failure to deal with a free-kick meant the ball fell at Ibrahimovic’s feet and once he volleyed home to reduce the arrears, we had a contest on our hands.
You could perhaps mark that one down to opening day nerves but if the first half was unfortunate, albeit clumsy, then the second half from Bravo was incredibly erratic. On many occasions, he would have left City fans with hearts in mouths after seemingly being caught in possession.
The biggest talking point of the second half was whether or not United should have been awarded a penalty after Bravo’s almost desperate lunge on Wayne Rooney. It was apparent that Bravo had lost control of the ball and then seemed to lunge at Rooney with his feet at the ground.
On any other part of the pitch, it would have been deemed a red card and an early bath but, rightly or wrongly, goalkeepers seem to be afforded more protection and it was an incredibly lucky let off from referee Mark Clattenburg.
If they were the negatives, you have to take into account that it was Bravo’s neat footwork which started the move fro City’s opener, so it’s not as if he had an awful game. But for someone who came to the Etihad under much fanfare, you do have to ask yourself whether he was worth all the hassle.
It’s quite apparent that Bravo plays much more in keeping with the way that Pep Guardiola wants a keeper to play, and it’s not as if Joe Hart would be that comfortable on the ball and able to start off moves like the one that led to Kevin De Bruyne putting City ahead.
Also, a keeper doesn’t become bad after just one game. This is someone who has won just about everything you can win with Barcelona, not to mention Copa America success with Chile, so this is one of the world’s top ‘keepers, but his overall performance on Saturday certainly didn’t suggest that.
Perhaps it was the frenetic pace of the Premier League that Bravo has to adjust to. He was constantly harassed in the second half as United looked to put the squeeze on him and the City defence to cut off all the supply lines, and it was a tactic that very nearly worked.
You have to imagine that other teams will now look to implement that same tactic when going up against City and Bravo. It’s a style of goalkeeping that is high risk but can also bring high reward as you in effect have another outfield player as an outlet.
We pretty much saw the best and worst of Bravo in those first frenetic 90 minutes on Saturday, and he will be glad he just about cleared that first hurdle and can now acclimatise to life in English Football. But you get the feeling that he might not be so lucky throughout the duration of the season. If he plays like that every week then surely he will be caught out on more than one occasion.
It was a chaotic display by Bravo but it certainly wasn’t a dull one – he will no doubt light up the Premier League with his performances – but whether or not he grabs the headlines for the right reasons remains to be seen.
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Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur’s EFL Cup clash wasn’t exactly the thriller in Manilla – in fact, quite the opposite.
Both managers fielded weakened teams consisting ofÂyoungsters and squad players; consequentially, it had the aura of a glorified reserves match for extended periods.
Nonetheless, the ninety minutes produced three goals and was fought between two teams who insist on entertaining, energetic styles of football. At the same time, it’s always good to see youngsters get chances at top Premier League clubs – even if they do come in the League Cup.
And the unusual dynamic of the match due to the aforementioned selections lead to some rather curious statistical results as the Reds beat Spurs by just one goal.
We, like much of the footballing world, have gone stats mad over the past few years. So with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at the three most intriguing stats to have emerged from yesterday’s 2-1 affair at Anfield.
WINKS AND STEWART IMPRESS IN MIDFIELD
Harry Winks and Kevin Stewart find themselves along similar paths at their respective clubs, with both prodigious midfielders pushing for a place in their manager’s first-team plans.
Neither did their chances any harm yesterday evening; Winks (above) completed the joint-most successful dribbles and created the joint-most chances of any Spurs player, whilst Stewart (below) ranked first for interceptions and second for tackles throughout the Liverpool team. Courtesy of Whoscored.
STURRIDGE DOMINATION
Daniel Sturridge may be struggling for game-time in the Premier League but he certainly rose to the occasion yesterday evening, claiming the Man of the Match award with a result-deciding brace.
He was the best player on the pitch by some distance and it appears the England international has some form in the League Cup – in fact, his goals-to-games ratio is outstanding.
SPURS HOODOO
Spurs don’t have the best track record against Liverpool, to say the least. In fact, the Lilywhites’ win-rate versus the Reds is just 27.9% – also suffering 42 losses from 86 meets.
That includes a win-less run of eight against the Anfield outfit, further extended by last night’s 2-1 defeat.
Champions League football is the greatest challenge in the club game and it doesn’t get any harder than facing Barcelona. The Catalan giants are one of the sport’s great and powerful institutions and, in part, that is down to the wonders worked by Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard nurtured the greatest player of all time and won trophies at an obscene rate, but it was his style that left the greatest mark on the world’s most popular sport. A tactical enlightenment took place in Catalonia, as a new way of playing the game was developed to devastating effect.
Guardiola’s Manchester City team are now facing the juggernaut he built. Barcelona have evolved as a team and as a club, but they are no less irresistible a force. The second part of a double-header between the two teams takes part in north west England on Tuesday night, with the drubbing that Manchester City faced at Camp Nou dauntingly fresh in the memory.
Qualification from Group C is almost guaranteed for Barcelona, who have taken nine points from the nine available. City, on the other hand, sit just one point ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach who are in third spot. Gladbach host Celtic, whom they dominated in gameweek three, on Tuesday night and are strong favourites to claim another victory over the Scottish club.
So potentially, Guardiola’s side could be two points behind Monchengladbach by 10pm on Tuesday. Probably, in fact. The performances a couple of weeks ago suggest that is the most likely outcome.
Football Soccer – FC Barcelona v Manchester City – UEFA Champions League Group Stage – Group C – The Nou Camp, Barcelona, Spain – 19/10/16Barcelona’s Lionel Messi speaks with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero Action Images via Reuters / John SibleyLivepicEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Should the worst happen for City, they will, of course, have an opportunity to put everything right at Borussia Stadium on November 23rd. Europa League football will not be a certainty for the 2013/14 Premier League champions if they are defeated by Barcelona: their Bundesliga rivals will face Barcelona in gameweek six, so it will still be in City’s control. But things might just look tighter than Guardiola might have expected at the start of the campaign.
Still, points on the board are meant to be favoured – or so the cliché says. Defeat for Manchester City against Barcelona is not the be-all and end-all though. The fixture layout will likely leave the Citizens looking in an exaggeratedly precarious position although qualification – unless they return to their indifferent form of the previous few weeks – should be still achievable. Pressure on the game in Monchengladbach, regardless of the results on Tuesday, will be high and that game is likely to be far more influential on the fortunes of Manchester City’s campaign than the visit of Barcelona.
Success against Barcelona is not mathematically necessary, but a good performance is a must, regardless of the outcome. After the significant improvement against West Brom, recovery after a dodgy October must be continued on Tuesday. Another thrashing like last time and City’s credentials for reaching the latter stage of the Champions League will be harmed seriously. Failure to record a victory against Celtic is all that raises doubt over City’s ability to qualify for the last 16, the 3-3 north of the border will be the real regret should Guardiola’s side suffer the ignominy of demotion to the Europa League.
Throughout the years Celtic have rarely struggled in front of goal with so many candidates to choose from, although it’s hard to look beyond a certain 242 goal Swede.
As a support act to the prolific Swede there are many names that created great memories, scored goals by the barrowload and left with the trophies and medals that they deserved.
Like central defenders the role of the striker, until fairly recently, has been all about partnerships such as Nicholas and McGarvey or Walker and McAvennie from the Centenary season.
There has usually been one figure that has dominated, with Larsson backed up perfectly by John Hartson or Chris Sutton.
Different times have called for different styles but even through some bleak times there has almost always been a striker that you could reasonably expect to put the ball in the back of the net.
Will Moussa Dembele work his way onto this list in years to come?
The team is based on players who have played since that afternoon in Lisbon, the Lions have been left out of contention for this vote.
CHARLIE NICHOLAS
Football – Stock 91/92 – 21/3/92Charlie Nicholas – CelticMandatory credit: Action Images / Darren WalshFilm
Enjoyed two incredible seasons when he broke through as the Cannonball Kid before a less successful stint that was more Champagne Charlie.
Three years after losing Kenny Dalglish, Nicholas exploded onto the scene with all the skill in the world and a poachers instinct around goal.
George McCluskey and a broken leg made the 81/82 season a bit of a write off but alongside Frank McGarvey and Davie Provan, the goals and excitement flowed freely before his departure for Arsenal.
*Cast your vote on the final page…
DIXIE DEANS
The art of scoring with a striker that just loved to hit the back of the net.
Stein returned to Motherwell for a striker and struck gold with Dixie, who was in his pomp alongside Kenny Dalglish, Jimmy Johnstone and loved to see a Hibs jersey.
Deans litterally scored for fun, 124 times in 184 matches as nine-in-a-row was clinched in style at a time when Scottish football was still competitive and respected across Europe.
*Cast your vote on the final page…
HENRIK LARSSON
Football – Scottish Premier League, Rangers v Celtic, 29/4/01Celtic celebrate Henrik Larsson’s 50th goal of the seasonMandatory Credit: Action Images / Aidan Ellis
The King of Kings arrived without much fanfare and left a in sea of tears as he moved to Barcelona before winning a deserved Champions League medal.
242 goals over seven seasons cruelly interrupted by a horror leg break that would have destroyed most players.
A respectable first season under Wim Jansen was followed by a prolific term under Dr Jo Venglos before the goals and glory flowed under Martin O’Neill.
His final season send off was spectacular and emotional with doubles scored in the SPL at home to Dundee United before delivering another double in the 3-1 win over Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup.
*Cast your vote on the final page…
SCOTT MCDONALD
Football – Dundee United v Celtic – Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League – Tannadice Park – 07/08 – 22/5/08Celtic’s Scott McDonald celebrates with the trophyMandatory Credit: Action Images / Steven Paston
Had a lot to prove to the Celtic support but let no one down, starting off with the winning goal against holders AC Milan in the Champions League.
Skippy had a point to prove, his attitude wasn’t perfect but around goal he was deadly.
Alongside Jan Vennergoor of Hesselink he pushed Celtic to the 2008 title on that emotional night at Tannadice, he deserved better than to be bundled out the door to Middlesbrough to make way for Robbie Keane.
FRANK MCAVENNIE
Football – Scottish Masters – Braehead Arena, Glasgow – 3/7/05Celtic’s captain Frank McAvennie celebrates with the trophyMandatory Credit: Action Images / Jason CairnduffLivepic
It was brief yet spectacular, but in an 18 month spell in between West Ham duty McAvennie was in incredible form, even more incredible since his weekends seemed to be spent back in London.
Linking up with Andy Walker and Joe Miller he made the Centenary season spectacular with two goals against Rangers to open up 1988, then finished the season off with a double against Dundee United to collect the Scottish Cup.
While most of his team-mates suffered the following season, McAvennie hit new heights before it all came to a halt with a move to relegation bound West Ham rather than George Graham’s Arsenal.
Manchester United once again tripped up on their travels as they drew 1-1 with struggling Everton last weekend.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic had given the visitors the lead with an audacious lob over the stranded Maarten Stekelenburg. But a last-gasp penalty – given away by substitute and former Toffees man Marouane Fellaini – denied them all three points.
The Belgian was penalised for a foul on Idrissa Gueye only minutes after coming on for what was his 100th Manchester United appearance and made to pay as former team-mate Leighton Baines duly converted from 12 yards.
Manager Jose Mourinho will be hoping his side – who are now 13 points adrift of league leaders Chelsea – will be able to turn their hit-and-miss season around with a victory over visiting Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, who travel to the Theatre of Dreams in mixed form themselves.
Spurs hammered hapless Swansea 5-0 last weekend before beating CSKA Moscow 3-1 in Champions League action. Prior to that, however, they suffered their first league defeat of the season at Chelsea amid a seemingly endless struggle for consistency.
All is set for a thrilling encounter, but who will come out on top? Football FanCast think it could be Man United’s day… so long as they set up like this.
GK – David de Gea
Having sat out the cold night in Ukraine as Man United beat Zorya Luhansk 2-0, De Gea is a shoo-in to return to the XI for league action in place of Sergio Romero.
The Spaniard is, quite rightly, considered to be among the best stoppers on the planet and could well be called upon at Old Trafford with Harry Kane and Dele Alli firing for Spurs.
RB – Antonio Valencia
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Having reinvented himself as a right-back, Valencia has been a mainstay since Mourinho’s arrival, with his energy a useful outlet on the right flank.
Only De Gea, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have played more minutes of Premier League football than the Ecuadorian this term, which tells you all you need to know about the likelihood of him being brought back into the XI for a huge game on Sunday.
Question marks still remain over his defensive abilities, but he certainly hasn’t let the Red Devils down so far.
CB – Eric Bailly
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Having been ushered back in on Thursday night in the 2-0 win over Zorya Luhansk, Bailly looks to be fit once again after a nasty knee injury. The Ivorian has been excellent since his summer arrival from Villarreal and his awesome physicality will be needed against a Spurs side that are relentless in their pressing and clever with their movement around the box.
The full 90 minutes may be a stretch for the African ace, but Mourinho will want him on the pitch for as long as is possible.
CB – Phil Jones
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Much-maligned in recent years, Jones hasn’t quite lived up to the billing his received in his formative days. The no-nonsense defender, however, is a very capable centre-back, has performed well when called upon this season and seems a good match physically for Harry Kane.
With the incredibly mobile Bailly alongside him, he might look more comfortable at the heart of United’s backline.
LB – Matteo Darmian
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Left-back has been a problem position for Mourinho of late, and we reckon Darmian will once again get the nod. The Italian has been filling in while Luke Shaw has been injured and appears to be ahead of Daley Blind in the pecking order. With Bailly drafted into this rearguard, it would be wise to keep some stability in the form of Darmian retaining his place.
CM – Ander Herrera
He may not receive the headlines in the same way as his regular midfield partner but Ander Herrera has been arguably Manchester United’s best performer this season, covering a phenomenal amount of ground, putting his foot in when required and linking play well in the middle of the park.
Indeed, the Spaniard has subtly become one of the first names on Jose Mourinho’s team sheet and looks almost certain to start against Spurs on Sunday, when he’ll be competing with the likes of Mousa Dembele, Dele Alli and Victor Wanyama.
CM – Paul Pogba
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Who else? Manchester United fans may be keen to see him in a more advanced role but the fact Paul Pogba can influence the match in both midfield positions shouldn’t be ignored.
The Frenchman is blessed with the necessary strength and power to duel with the aforementioned Dembele and Wanyama but has really shown his attacking flair in recent weeks, grabbing two assists in his last three appearances across all competitions.
And the other benefit of playing Pogba as a deep-lying midfielder is simple; it makes more room in the starting XI for United’s other attacking talents.
RW – Juan Mata
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Jose Mourinho dropped Juan Mata for last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Everton but the United gaffer may feel more comfortable fielding the diminutive Spaniard at home and his creative instincts will probably be needed against a well-organised Spurs side.
Despite struggling to hold down a consistent role in the starting XI, Mata is United’s second-top scorer in the league and has also conjured up an impressive 1.8 key passes per match.
CAM – Henrikh Mkhitaryan
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Following a worrying start, Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s Manchester United career appears to have exploded into life. Starting all of the Red Devils’ last three fixtures and impressing throughout – most notably picking up two assists in a 4-1 demolition of West Ham and scoring past Zorya on Thursday night – he’s looking every inch the player that cost so much over the summer.
The Armenian assassin of his Borussia Dortmund days has seemingly arrived and he couldn’t come at a better time, with United looking to close a six-point gap between themselves and Sunday’s opponents.
LW – Anthony Martial
Another attacking force who’s struggled to prove it under Mourinho. Anthony Martial’s yet to hit the dizzying heights of last season and injuries have limited him to just six starts in the Premier League.
Nonetheless, the French forward now boasts four goals and one assist in his last seven appearances and was suspiciously left on the sidelines for the Europa League win over Zorya, suggesting the United gaffer may have been resting him with the Tottenham clash in mind.
The 21-year-old appears to be returning to somewhere near his best and is certainly capable of netting past Spurs.
ST – Marcus Rashford
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A controversial selection, perhaps, considering Jose Mourinho has shown unreserved faith in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, which has seen the Swedish icon end a barren spell in front of goal with seven strikes in his last six games across all competitions.
Nonetheless, we’re now entering that hectic part of the season where the fixtures mount up and at the age of 35, United need to manage the former PSG star’s game-time delicately.
At the same time, Marcus Rashford must be chomping at the bit for a starting berth up top, having been forced to settle for cameo roles out wide for much of the campaign. Likewise, whilst Zlatan is plagued by ageing legs, Rashford has the youthful energy to stop Spurs building from the back by pressing high.