Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke is sure that Louis van Gaal is the right man to be in the Old Trafford dugout after watching his Holland side at the World Cup.
The experienced Dutchman is set to make his switch to the Theatre of Dream proper when the Brazilian tournament finishes for his nation, which may be in three games’ time with the Oranje set to face Costa Rica in the quarter-finals.
Van Gaal has a wealth of experience at the very highest level following spells with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Ajax, but some fans and pundits displayed reservations surrounding his appointment with club icon Ryan Giggs a name to have been tipped to take the role after being caretaker at the end of last season.
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Yorke was among that camp, but the ex-Trinidad & Tobago international says that he has been won over by van Gaal’s management of the Netherlands in recent weeks:
“I said on numerous occasions that I think Ryan Giggs was the one to be given the job and now I look back and reflect and think maybe Van Gaal is the right decision,” he told talkSPORT.
“You can’t question Van Gaal with what he has done and achieved in his career as a manager,
“Wherever he has gone, he has been successful, even if it is for a short period of time.
“He proved again in this World Cup that he is not just a great manager, but gets the maximum out his players, which is essential.
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“I think the players have lost their focus a bit and with Van Gaal coming in, with so much experience, he may get that focus back again and get the players achieving things United are usually associated with.”
Liverpool’s pursuit of Sevilla left-back Alberto Moreno is becoming one of the summer’s most arduous transfer sagas.
No doubt, the Spain international is an impressive talent – arguably La Liga’s equivalent to now Manchester United prodigy Luke Shaw. But Los Palanganos are incredibly reluctant to sell – their reported valuation has gone from £11million to over £20million in the space of single transfer window.
Mirror Football believe the deal could be back on. But we’ve heard all this before, and it’s time for the Reds to consider some alternatives. Just in case Brendan Rodgers is short on ideas, we’ve listed SIX of them.
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RICARDO RODRIGUEZ
The obvious alternative to Alberto Moreno is Wolfsburg prodigy Ricardo Rodriguez, a marauding left-back who shares the Spaniard’s entrenched desire to contribute going forward.
The 21 year-old absolutely destroyed the Bundesliga last season and transitioned his potent form into the World Cup, as shown below:
The Switzerland international may not be the most assured defender, but his attacking style would fit perfectly into Brendan Rodgers’ progressive philosophy. Here’s a look at him in action last season – some of his goals are absolute stunners:
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This World Cup assist to Haris Seferovic wasn’t too bad either:
But Die Wolfe are understandably keen not to part with Rodriguez this summer. As well as the Swiss star’s agent announcing an apparent €25million price-tag, the Bundesliga side have issued a hands-off warning:
SEAD KOLASINAC
Another Bundesliga left-back said to be in Liverpool’s transfer thinking is Schalke hot shot Sead Kolasinac, who offers a more rugged and conventional style than Alberto Moreno.
The 21 year-old is an impressive talent, having racked up 40 league appearances for the Miners since his debut at the start of the 2012/13 campaign. Last year he kept the ever-dependable Christian Fuchs out of the first team.
The World Cup didn’t fare too kindly for the Bosnian international, his tournament typified by this own goal against Argentina:
But the 6 foot full-back was in strong form last season. Here’s how he compared to Alberto Moreno:
Indeed, proficient tackling is a major part of the youngster’s game. Take this challenge against Stuttgart for example:
//www.youtube.com/embed/DH2UWswlv-M?rel=0
Or this against against Frankfurt:
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Although Kolasinac found two assists last season and is famed for his high-energy style, the Schalke starlet doesn’t offer too much going forward, as detailed below:
And having agreed a new contract until 2017 just last year, the Veltins Arena outfit are under no obligation to sell.
DALEY BLIND
Netherlands international Daley Blind was absolutely sensational at the World Cup, finishing the tournament with the second-most assists, as detailed below:
That includes this sensational delivery to Robin van Persie against Spain:
Not to mention this tidy strike in the play-off to help Oranje clinch third-place:
The prominent form follows an impressive domestic campaign which saw the Ajax utility man claim his club’s Player of the Year award. Here’s a look at his stats from last term:
And although the 24 year-old may not be a specialist at No.3, his ability to play in midfield or at centre-back would add vital depth to Liverpool’s roster.
Should the Reds revive their rumoured interest from earlier in the summer however..
They’ll face stiff competition from fellow suitors Manchester United and Barcelona, with the Red Devils reportedly prepared to meet Ajax’s £17.5million valuation.
JETRO WILLEMS
Another Dutch left-back that’s been catching Premier League attention for some time is PSV youngster Jetro Willems, who was on Manchester City’s radar back in April 2013:
The 20 year-old was in sensational form last season to find four goals and three assists from defence. His stats were pretty solid across the board too:
Here’s a short clip of the Netherlands international – who missed the World Cup through injury – in action. As you can see, his attacking attributes are underpinned by lethal pace and silky skills:
//www.youtube.com/embed/-iBh5Z-0-Ag?rel=0
Currently the record-holder as the youngest player to ever feature in a European Championship, there’s no doubting Willems’ potential.
But tied down to a contract until 2016, PSV will likely command a sizeable fee to let the youngster leave.
GAEL CLICHY
And while we’re on the subject of Manchester City, Liverpool could do a lot worse in their left-back pursuit this summer than French defender Gael Clichy.
The 29 year-old is no world-beater but offers vital Premier League experience, having amassed 251 top flight outings throughout spells with the Citizens and former club Arsenal.
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Furthermore, the France international is incredibly consistent and offers a very complete all round game, just take a look at his stats from last season:
Dependable defensively, influential but not proficient going forward and famed for his blistering pace, Clichy comes with a lot of positives.
The former Gunners star denied plans to leave the Etihad earlier this summer:
But still sharing game-time with Aleksander Kolarov, first team football whilst remaining in the Champions League could be enough to make Clichy reconsider. Here’s a short clip of the defender in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/k6UcVEbiqzo?rel=0
MARCOS ROJO
The World Cup performances of Argentina international Marcos Rojo have reportedly caught the transfer attentions of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Southampton:
Indeed, the 24 year-old was nothing short of exceptional at Brazil 2014. Here’s his stats from the tournament:
No doubt, the Sporting Lisbon defender is a classy and confident footballer, typified by this ‘Rabona’ clearance in his own penalty box against Bosnia:
He also measures in at 6 foot 2 and is equally adept at playing at centre-half – that could have particular significance for Liverpool, with rumours that Daniel Agger could be sold this summer.
There’s hot competition for his signature however, and recent speculation suggest the Saints are planning a £14million bid.
Here’s some of Rojo’s best moments for club and country:
Former Liverpool star Jamie Carragher believes that there is no pressure for the Reds and that they can get a result against an in-form Real Madrid on Tuesday, Express reports.
Liverpool haven’t had the best start to the season and are on a poor run of form, and after their 1-0 defeat to Newcastle this past weekend, face the reigning European Champions at the Santiago Bernabeu in their next Champions League fixture.
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The previous tie at Anfield only two weeks ago ended in a 3-0 thrashing by Madrid, but ex Reds defender Carragher claims Brendan Rodgers’ side can perform better than expected.
“People don’t expect Liverpool to get anything so the pressure is off a bit but you don’t want to go there and get embarrassed,” he said.
“You don’t want to be 3-0 down at half-time in the Bernabeu because they won’t be holding back in front of their own fans.
“Of course Real Madrid are big favourites but it’s not impossible for Liverpool to get something out of the game
“The big thing is defending better than they did at Anfield.
“They will be under pressure for long periods of the game and they have to stay neat and compact. They have to keep it tight and then try to hit them on the counter-attack.”
Carrager also added that if Liverpool are to get at least a point, then they must do all they can to stop Cristiano Ronaldo.
“He’s the best in the world and he’s in the form of his life,” he said on Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It’s not easy to stop him but you have to try to deny him the kind of space he revels in with his pace and power on the counter-attack.
“He was very quiet for the opening 20 minutes at Anfield but then came to life and transformed the game with a stunning finish. No-one else in the world would have scored that goal.
“It’s going to be tough over there as Real are a top team. They proved that at Anfield.
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“Liverpool haven’t started the season well but they’re still not away from the top four and they’re still right in contention to get out of their group in the Champions League.”
Jamie Redknapp labelled Manchester United’s ad-hoc defence in the second half of the Manchester derby as the worst Red Devils backline of all time, consisting of Antonio Valencia, Michael Carrick, Patrick McNair and Luke Shaw, but Arsenal have fielded some pretty ropey back fours too this season.
In the Capital One Cup for example, we saw Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers, Isaac Hayden and Francis Coquellin – a defence with an average age of 20 and an average career appearances of just 37 – lose 2-1 to Southampton, providing further evidence of Arsene Wenger’s apathy towards a tournament he’s yet to win in eighteen years.
And for the best part of the last two months, full-back Nacho Monreal has deputised at centre-half for the injured Laurent Koscielny. Despite the 28 year-old’s performances ranging from average to oblivious, he’ll probably continue to do so until the Frenchman returns to fitness.
It’s hard to think of a defender in world football less equipped to be a Premier League centre-back than the Spain international; he measures in at just 5 foot 10, isn’t particularly quick or strong and throughout spells with Osasuna, Malaga and now the Gunners, has only ever impressed for his contributions going forward. Defensive awareness, on the other hand, is commonly viewed as Monreal’s predominant weakness, one that’s been exposed on countless occasions in the Premier League before – even in his preferred left-back role.
But Arsene Wenger made Arsenal’s bed in the summer and now they’ll have to lie in it. With Koscielny and right-back Mathieu Debuchy both likely sidelined for the next two months, the Gunners have already hit the bare bones of their defensive depth – in fact, it was reached by the end of August – so until the January window, when the Emirates gaffer will almost certainly remind us that a returning crocked star is the equivalent of a new signing, the north Londoners will simply have to make do.
This was an easily avoidable situation however, had Wenger not committed the unforgivable sin of completely ignoring his backline’s fragility throughout the summer.
Arsenal have dropped nine points from winning positions this season, the most of any Premier League side, not to mention their capitulation against Anderlecht in the Champions League, throwing awat a three-goal lead. Rather tellingly, Monreal featured at centre-back against the Belgians, in addition to the lead-squandering draw against Hull City and the loss to Swansea City on Sunday afternoon.
Resultantly, instead of being within a victory’s-distance of Premier League pace setters Chelsea, Arsenal are already twelve points behind, and the planned title charge – inspired by the momentum gained from winning last season’s FA Cup in combination with the summer addition of world class forward Alexis Sanchez – is already over. Bizarrely, Wenger appears to have no shame in admitting his side are out of the title race as early as November, after just eleven games.
One can only ponder how Wenger thought this season would pan out during the summer, or whether he gave it any genuine thought at all. Despite the resolve of Arsenal’s defensive depth being tested enough times last season, the north Londoners parted with three defenders this summer – Carl Jenkinson, Thomas Vermaelen and Bacary Sagna – but replaced them with just two, Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy.
This isn’t the first Arsenal campaign plagued by injury issues and it won’t be the last, so the logic of reducing the Gunners’ defensive numbers by one is quite frankly, completely lost on me – especially amid the most lucrative transfer window in the club’s history.
It’s not as if cheap centre-backs were somehow barred from participating in the last transfer window. Southampton for example, signed Atletico Madrid’s Toby Alderweireld, a versatile defender that’s already put in a number of decent Premier League performances, on a season-long loan, as did West Ham with former Gunner Alex Song – a player that would have not only improved Wenger’s options in defence, but also added variety to the midfield.
Then there’s Ron Vlaar, Winston Reid and Fabian Schar, three contract rebels that were available for the £5million-£10million mark, Tottenham’s £8million-release-clause acquisition Federico Fazio and then-Feyenoord’s-now-Lazio’s-via-£7million Stefan de Vrij.
Considering the detrimental impact the absence of a recognised fourth centre-back has already had on Arsenal’s season, even the likes of Nemanja Vidic, Joleon Lescott and Rio Ferdinand could have proved inspired on a one-year deal. Take how effectively Jose Mourinho has utilised 36 year-old striker Didier Drogba this season, for example.
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Wenger’s made plenty of mistakes over the last ten years but I find this one of the most troubling. This isn’t a debate of philosophies or transfer policy, two issues the Arsenal boss appears immovable on; this is simply a case of negligent naivety. In another industry, it would probably be labelled as malpractice.
It’s certainly not the only reason Arsenal are currently in sixth place after winning less than half of their games this season. Clearly there are questions over leadership, mentality and balance throughout the starting XI.
But whereas another proven centre-back could have at least improved the Gunners’ defensive performances in certain fixtures, the absence of one has already affirmed Arsenal’s fate this season – another campaign where Champions League qualification for the umpteenth year in a row is the only reward.
Since their shaky start to the 2014/15 campaign, Louis van Gaal and Manchester United have now won six impressive games on the bounce, beating the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool in the process.
The Red Devils have seemingly overcome the adversities that plagued them at the beginning of the season, with their uncanny ability to capitulate at the drop of the hat looking less and less likely with every passing match. For this, they have none other than their enigmatic Dutch boss to thank.
Whilst Louis van Gaal is starting to seem like a revelation at Old Trafford this season, his summer signings that cost the club £150m have certainly helped the Dutchman. Critics of United claim that any team who spends that much money in one single transfer window should be doing well by now regardless of who is in charge. We have seen through the efforts of Manchester City that the title can in-fact be bought, and many claim that what Van Gaal is doing at United is no different.
Although that definitely makes sense, the Red Devil’s boss has seen the likes of Angel Di Maria, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind all fall victim to injuries in recent weeks, but United’s form has not suffered as a result. For that, Van Gaal deserves credit.
It remains true that the new boss at Old Trafford has certainly had more financial backing from the board than his predecessor did, but that’s not to say that David Moyes didn’t splash the cash either. The Scot still spent £37 million on Juan Mata and £27.5 million on Marouane Fellaini respectively, which ultimately proved not to be enough to save his career at Manchester United.
Louis van Gaal has therefore made clear progress for United in their attempts to move forward, but he has been definitely blessed through the advent of not playing in Europe this season. The former Bayern boss has seen his side rise up past the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in 2014/15, all, or at least partly, because he can rest his players midweek and focus of the team’s attention on their domestic duties without distraction. For those sides playing in Europe, such a luxury cannot be afforded.
One clear, yet more subtle, success of Van Gaal this season has been his ability to breed a new found confidence in his players. David De Gea’s recent blossom and subsequent Man of the Match display against Liverpool acts as the best evidence for this notion, while several other players, such as Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick, have noticeably stepped up their game under LVG.
We get the impression that Manchester United have found themselves a ‘proper manager’ in the Dutchman. He has seen it all before during his spells with Barca and Bayern, as well as internationally with the Netherlands. Louis van Gaal’s preference for three at the back and dependence on youth development has shown that he is not scared to make the big decisions and switch things up when necessary. It is this mentality that has got the respect of the Manchester United fans and board alike, which sadly, David Moyes never came close to achieving.
Whilst there is still a long way to go in the 2014/15 campaign, the Red Devils have made great progress under their new Dutch boss and will they will be hoping that the impressive form continues. LVG has therefore gone a long way in restoring the famed glory days back at Old Trafford this season.
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Manchester United are a big club who need a big name at the helm, and in Louis van Gaal, they certainly have that.
After some suspect defensive displays at Arsenal this season, is Gabriel Paulista really the man to add some solidarity to the Gunners’ back four?
The Brazilian centre-back signed for a fee of £11.2 million and joins fellow centre-backs Laurent Koscielny and Per Meteresacker at the club. It remains to be seen whether Paulista has been bought to replace one of the current centre-backs or whether he will only be a squad player. However, considering the rather sizeable fee paid by Arsenal, you’d think the defender should be challenging for a starting spot.
At 24-years-old, Paulista is a good age and certainly has the potential to improve further. In terms of his stats so far this season, he does not particularly stand out compared to both Mertesacker and Koscielny. The Brazilian has won more tackles, made more blocks and has the highest Squawka performance score out of the three defenders this season. Although this may seem impressive, Koscielny has only played 12 games so far this campaign while Paulista has played 19. The Brazilian has also made two errors that have led to goals in 2014/15 while the current centre-backs at Arsenal have not been directly at fault for any goals conceded this season.
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Paulista’s playing style is not a typically English one; he likes to play from the back, often making interceptions and reading the game, more of a Gerard Pique than a Ryan Shawcross. However, at this level, it may take time for him to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League. He certainly has the skill and understanding of the game to become a hit in the Premier League but it will be interesting to see whether he can provide real defensive muscle to his game, something that is vital in England when strikers like Wilfried Bony, Andy Carroll and Diego Costa are about.
Wenger has obviously identified Paulista as a player capable of making it in the English top flight. He has pace, a good leap and is composed on the ball, attributes that current defender Laurent Koscielny also possesses. There is no doubt that the Frenchman has been a good servant to Arsenal but it did take him a while to fully adapt to the English game. Although this may not appeal to Arsenal fans, the same story could take place with Paulista.
Usually, it is easier for attacking foreign players to adapt. However, foreign defenders who hit the ground running are usually few and far between. The likes of Federico Fernandez, Federico Fazio and Marcos Rojo have barely set the league alight since their summer arrivals and these are all players that came to England with good reputations.
There is no doubt that Arsenal are taking a gamble with the Villarreal defender instead of opting for a reliable Premier League performer like Winston Reid. However, he will be given game time and an opportunity to prove himself at Arsenal due to the lack of squad depth they have in the defensive positions.
Arsenal fans will be relieved that the club have finally signed a defender just so Wenger doesn’t have to play either Nacho Monreal or Mathieu Debuchy at centre-back when the club suffers another inevitable injury crisis. Instead, Paulista will be the option in the heart of defence.
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To suggest that he is the answer to Arsenal’s defensive problems would be quite premature. However, it represents a step in the right direction for the club and now it is up to Paulista to prove that he is good enough to play at the top level.
Poor old Angel Di Maria has struggled to set the world alight since arriving at Manchester United from Real Madrid in the summer.
He had a fairly promising start to life at Old Trafford but has since tailed off, and now rarely produces the moments of magic expected of him on a weekly basis.
Not like he was doing at Real Madrid, anyway. And that makes you wonder why the La Liga giants sold him in the first place…
Well, it appears Barcelona’s assistant Director of Football Carles Rexach knows the true reason behind it, and it’s pretty funny:
“Florentino Perez looks at the world market and wants a team of Galacticos for everyone to admire. Do you understand what I mean? Ronaldo is the flagship of the club. Perez is selling an international brand. Vicente del Bosque and Di Maria are too ugly for Real Madrid. They are different from Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.”
So that got us thinking, who out there is a lot more uglier than poor old Angel?
There has to be plenty in the game and, while the Argentine is no oil painting, he’s not the ugliest footballer to have ever lived, nor was he the ugliest at Real Madrid last season.
Here’s a few that are seemingly a lot more worse off…
Luka Modric…
Football – Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund – UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain – 12/13 – 30/4/13Real Madrid’s Luka Modric looks dejected Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Carl Recine
Just why wasn’t he sold if Perez wants a team of ‘beautiful’ Galacticos. Anyone who looks like Gail Platt cannot be a beautiful Galactico. Simple as that.
Man United’s long ball tactics
Those long ball merchants at Old Trafford really need to learn how to play on the floor. It’s like the cool kid at school being forced to sit with the gang of geeky kids in class. Everyone else is laughing at you, including the geeks.
Stoke City’s style of play (and Peter Crouch)
But it appears to be strangely successful. Crouchy’s ugly bonce getting on the end of ugly long balls is beautiful, isn’t it? Isn’t it? Oh.
Ian Dowie
No explanation necessary. Obvs.
This little fella
What even is this?
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Bournemouth’s rise from the lower leagues to the precipice of the top flight has all the makings of a cinema blockbuster. With only two games to go and their destiny in their own hands it appears that The Goldsands Stadium will play host to the perfect Hollywood ending.
But are our leading men really the heroes they have been portrayed as? Is this really the rags-to-riches story every sports fan should get on board with?
Make no mistake, the meteoric rise from the very gutters of the English league pyramid to the cusp of the ‘big time’, is an impressive feat. But as The Cherries have moved ever closer to the best, and richest league in the world, their everyman appeal has dwindled.
In 2011, Bournemouth became the latest in a long line of clubs to be taken over by a foreign businessman; Maxim Demin has reached into his pocket heavily to make what once seemed a distant dream, now a distinct possibility. Last year the Cherries recorded a £15.3m loss, a figure that if repeated this campaign, would see them fall foul of financial fair play regulations, hardly the record of a brave underdog.
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After an impressive season in the Championship, Bournemouth flexed their financial muscles by purchasing Callum Wilson from Coventry, one of the hottest properties in league football was acquired, smashing their transfer record; showing that this Bournemouth era is different to any in their history. In fairness to the Cherries, some would argue they were simply using the money they received from a sell-on clause in Adam Lallana’s contract at Southampton as well as the money accrued for Lewis Grabban, but for a club who so recently recorded huge losses and in this generation alone have experienced the heartache of financial mismanagement; it showed the reckless ambition the club now possesses.
As their charge to the Premier League looked as if it may be faltering, the plucky Cherries could recruit Kenwyne Jones on a measly wage in excess of £30,000, another twist to tug at the heartstrings.
On the pitch Bournemouth have wowed neutrals and pundits alike with their free flowing passing football and there is no doubt they have displayed some of the more pleasing play that the division has to offer. What hasn’t wowed an ever increasing number of supporters however is their preference to indulge in the dark arts; 15 times this campaign they have been awarded a spot kick, significantly more than any other side in the division. On more than one occasion these penalties have not only been soft, but have simply not been penalties at all.
Even with the overwhelming number of decisions that have gone in his favour, Eddie Howe still recently channelled his inner Mourinho by claiming there is a conspiracy against his players. Quite a convenient time for the leader of our heroes to put damning pressure on officials.
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When Bournemouth do, inevitably, make the Premier League, it will undoubtedly be the football story of the year; lowly Bournemouth who have dared to dream and made it all the way to the big time.
It’s the feel-good film of the summer, pass me the bucket.
We’ve all sat in our living room, watching football on the television and listening to ‘experts’ analysing the beautiful game. We have also, at one time or another, stated we could do a much better job; Carlsberg’s People’s Pundit has given everyone a chance to have a go.
FootballFanCast.com had the opportunity to speak to the legendary anchor man of Soccer Saturday and Champion’s League football to get some of his opinions, predictions and tips for budding pundits.
Jeff Stelling is supporting Southern finalist Kevin Clarke in The People’s Pundit, championed by the Carlsberg Fan Squad, and came to visit him in his local pub to give him some top tips on punditry.
FFC: How do you prepare for Soccer Saturday, when do you start?
JS: It starts on a Saturday night usually, pretty much straight after the show, there’s no rest! I read everything that has happened that day. Then I’ll sit down and watch Match of the Day and The Football League Show and then from the Sunday I will use any resources I can to build up all the stats that mean I will never get caught out.
FFC: How do you remember all those stats every week?
JS: I’m old fashioned, or just old! I write down everything about every club. It sounds silly but I start with very basic stuff, for example I will write Manchester United down then I’ll write Old Trafford and Louis van Gaal down. It sounds so basic but you never know when you will have a blank moment so you can never be too careful!
FFC: What advice would you give to someone starting out in the industry?
JS: Well things like the People’s Pundit are perfect. It’s all about making your opinion heard. It used to be so hard but now everyone can have a voice. It’s really important to be a pundit, not a parrot. Don’t just repeat what you’ve heard a commentator or someone else has said, formulate your own opinion.
Be like the Neville’s and Carragher’s of the world, they are opinionated but can back up everything they say. Also have an interesting turn of phrase, look at Merson, ‘He’s like a fish up a tree’, things like that make people interested in what you are saying. Finally, and most importantly, be yourself and stick up for what you believe in.
FFC: What have you noticed during covering Champions League football that has led to English teams struggling?
JS: Well it’s partly cyclical of course, but mainly I feel it’s down to the intensity of the league. Just look at Chelsea against Burnley a few weeks back, top against one of the bottom teams and it’s still a hard slog. That would never happen in Spain for example; they scored nine against Granada, that never happens in England. I know it sounds a cliché but it really is the most fantastic league to watch, it’s so entertaining. Maybe not the strongest, but it’ still the best.
FFC: Do you still find watching a game on a wet and cold afternoon at Victoria Park, more entertaining than a game at the Bernebau?
JS: Simply put, no. I went Hartlepool v Newport a few weeks ago and it was horrible; nerve wracking and nail biting, but nothing beats it. For european football I watch it as neutral, I enjoy the quality in Europe, but for me, Hartlepool is a great deal more enjoyable.
FFC: Who are your shouts for promotion from the Championship?
JS: It’s hit and miss really, it’s so hard to call, but I fancy Bournemouth to get over the line – they just score too many goals. Don’t get me wrong it will be an amazing story, but they’re not a Cinderella club, they’ve spent some money, not that there’s anything wrong with that of course. Along with them I’m going with my heart and saying Middlesbrough, but it will be desperately close, it’s been such a good league and any of the teams have a real chance of staying up next year.
FFC: And finally, who will go down from the Premier League?
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JS: Again, this a total pick and mix, it really could be anyone. You look at Leicester and a few weeks ago they were gone, now they are right back in the mix with a good run-in. You’ve got to look at the remaining fixtures. Sunderland and Hull’s are horrendous, whilst Burnley’s is difficult. I think I would say Leicester, QPR and for the third I would say… I’m really not sure, but I do think Burnley will get out of it and I hope they do. Sean Dyche has done an unbelievable job and if he does keep them up he should win Manager of the Year.
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After Norwich sauntered to playoff glory against Middlesbrough this week, the twenty teams who will battle it out in next year’s Premier League were decided. So joining Norwich in replacing relegated QPR, Burnley and Hull will be champions Bournemouth and runners up Watford.
After two of the three promoted teams were sent back from where they came this season, can this year’s crop fare better? Will they follow the example set by Leicester City or will all three be readying for a return to the second tier in twelve months’ time?
Bournemouth were the surprise package of the Championship this year, few expected them to challenge for the playoffs, almost no-one pre-empted them lifting the title. They played a brand of football that earned them admirers nationwide, their free flowing football will be a welcome addition to the top flight.
It will be interesting to see whether Eddie Howe and The Cherries will approach next season in the vein of Burnley; they have a solid team spirit which has born so much of their success and splitting that up could cause problems. However, for all of their dynamism and attacking prowess, next year they will still need to improve on quality. Callum Wilson notched 19 times last term and appears central to their hopes of survival, their resolve may be tested if rumours are to be believed with a number of potential suitors interested in the former Coventry man.
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If Bournemouth can add some Premier League experience and Wilson can translate his Football league form to Premier League form, then The Cherries could once again confound the critics.
Many will expect to make an instant return to the Championship but they have momentum, something which can be so vital and if Howe gets it transfer policy right, as he so often does, then they could ensure their Premier League journey is not a short one.
Watford timed their run to promotion perfectly, winning ten of their last 14 fixtures to steal an automatic spot right under the noses of Middlesbrough and Norwich. However, as is becoming a traditional custom at Vicarage Road, the managerial dugout is once again empty. Slavisa Jokanovic’s departure ensures that The Hornets are set for their fifth boss in a year. The constant upheaval and lack of longevity is surely not a set up for success.
In Troy Deeney they do have a player that has flourished in the lower leagues and deserves his crack at the top level. But past Deeney they have few standout players, they were a side that were a sum of all parts and for them to succeed next year they will surely need heavy investment.
Although they finished second, Watford at this point are arguably the weakest of the three promoted clubs and they could face a struggle next year.
The final club Norwich made an instant return to the top flight following their win at Wembley and they still have the look of a Premier League team. Nathan Redmond was undoubtedly a Premier League talent plying his trade in the Championship and in Bassong they have a defender of immense talent and experience.
Of course it is inconceivable that Norwich can expect to stay up without investment and they do need a number of players to ensure they can truly compete with the ‘big boys’ next year. Manager Alex Neil recognises that it will be an extremely tough task, whether they will be ready is yet to be seen.
At this point in time for one reason or another all three will start the season as the bookmaker’s favourites for the drop, but critics are there to be wronged and they will all fancy their chances at achieving their number one task of staying in the top flight.
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