The 6th best team in the world according to FIFA’s rankings, Uruguay have been matched at the same price as England by many bookmakers to win the World Cup. After finishing fourth in the 2010 tournament in South Africa, many pundits believe the Uruguayans could once again prove to be tough opponents.
They needed a play-off victory over Jordan to get there, but Uruguay will be at the World Cup in Brazil, and will face England in their second match of Group D.
Brazil automatically qualified for the tournament as hosts, but if they had to qualify with the rest of South America, Uruguay would likely have failed to reach the finals. However, Oscar Tabarez just about lead them to the tournament and now England must face the unpredictable La Celeste.
With many of their top players scattered around the World’s top leagues, not many England fans, or Roy Hodgson, would have had a chance to see the nation play. But what they will have seen are the individual talents the country boasts.
Here are three that could threaten England’s hopes of success in Brazil.
Luis Suarez
What can be said about this forward that isn’t obvious to Roy Hodgson already? One of the deadliest strikers in world football, let alone the Premier League, Luis Suarez was probably the first thing Hodgson thought about when he saw England called out during the draw. After missing the first five games of the season through suspension, some fans wondered how the striker would come back into his Liverpool side, pondering whether he would be at full match fitness and sharpness. They couldn’t have imagined what has happened since.
The 26-year-old is the Premier League top scorer with 17 goals from just 11 appearances, including two hat-tricks. In the sharpest form of his life, Suarez has terrorised defences this season, be it English defenders or some of the world’s best. He has scored headers from 18 yards out, volleys from 40 yards, and dribbled his way past multiple defenders on his way to make himself one of the most feared forwards in world football.
Suarez was looking to leave the Reds during the summer for a team playing in the Champions League, and is likely he will want to move again should Liverpool fail to qualify for the elite European competition. With the chance to highlight his talent in Rio, and raise more interest in him, if that’s even possible, we could see Luis Suarez at his hungriest (no pun intended!)
Edinson Cavani
After scoring 78 Serie A goals in just three seasons with Napoli, Edinson Cavani was one of the most wanted strikers over the summer transfer window. Despite interest from Manchester City and Chelsea, the Uruguayan moved to PSG for over £50million, where he’s continued to find the back of the net. 11 goals in 14 Ligue 1 matches, as well as four from five in the Champions League, has proved that Cavani can score against any defence in any league.
Strong in the air and deadly with the ball at his feet, defenders can’t help but back off in fear. The forward is a match winner, and a man who can change the game from just a half chance. But one of the most worrying things for Roy Hodgson is his relationship with Suarez. One of the most feared strike partnerships in International football, the pair seem to interchange seamlessly, and have a great knowledge of how the other plays. In one blink, Hodgson may just see the pair run rings around his English defence.
One slip up, one poor pass or one goalkeeper fumble, that’s all it can take to let Cavani pounce and punish you. There’s a reason he was wanted by Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, and it’s because he knows how to finish. With a goal against Chelsea and three against Manchester City in the 2011/12 Champions League, Gary Cahill, Joe Hart and Joleon Lescott all know just how good he is.
Diego Godin
Football isn’t always about tricks and skills. Sometimes it’s about strong, old fashioned defending. Diego Godin is one of those players. An experienced head at the back for Uruguay, the 27-year-old is currently playing in the joint best defence in La Liga. Only Barcelona have conceded the same amount of goals as Godin’s Atletico Madrid, with both teams allowing just nine shots to hit the back of the net from 15 matches.
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A rock for Atletico over the last four seasons, Godin has been a crucial player for the Spanish side. His ability to read the play and intercept attacking passes has saved both his club and nation from conceding, as well as leading to a counter attack of their own. Wayne Rooney may still be looking for his first World Cup Finals goal when these two teams face each other, and an in-form Godin could keep the United forward waiting.
In an ageing Uruguay defence, Godin is one of the fastest defenders likely to go to the World Cup with manager Oscar Tabarez. The 27-year-old played in five of Uruguay’s six 2010 World Cup fixtures, as they finished in fourth place, narrowly losing their semi-final to Holland 3-2 after beating Ghana on penalties the round before. The Atletico defender will surely be keen to go one further this time out, and deny England from reaching the knockout stage.
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Former Arsenal and England captain Sol Campbell has slammed the FA and football in general for their treatment of black players, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Campbell believes that he would have been England captain for ten years if he was white and that the people at the top will not change their mind-set as they do not want to.
The former Tottenham and Arsenal defender wore the armband on three occasions for his country but he feels it should have been more, with Michael Owen captaining the side ahead of him.
Campbell has released his autobiography, in which he slams the FA and football fans for not wanting to change their outlook on football with black player and managers not given a fair chance.
“I believe if I was white, I would’ve been England captain for more than 10 years, it’s as simple as that.” he said in the biography by Simon Astaire.
“I don’t think it will change because they don’t want it to, and probably the majority of fans don’t want it, either,”
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And he added: “There is a ceiling and although no one has ever said it, I believes its made of glass.”
Everton have been warned off of making a January bid for Hull centre-back Curtis Davies, according to reports from The Mirror.
The Tigers defender has been one of the season’s surprise performers, turning in a number of impressive displays for Steve Bruce’s newly promoted side.
His consistent showings have caught the eye of Everton chief Roberto Martinez, who is said to be ready to make additions to his squad in the coming weeks in a bid to build on a fine opening half of the campaign.
The Spaniard was a fan of Davies while at Wigan, and even attempted to secure his signature.
Now he is keen to make a fresh swoop, but it is understood that Hull have indicated that the 28-year-old will not be sold.
Davies only moved to the KC Stadium over the summer in a £2.25m deal from Birmingham, and is already being talked of as a potential member of Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the 2014 World Cup.
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Even if he sees his efforts for the defender thwarted in before the transfer deadline, Martinez is likely to revive his interest at the end of the season.
Wigan’s heroic victory over Manchester City to send them Wembley-bound for an enticing FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal led to the traditional out-pouring of that age-old discourse which is ‘the magic of the FA Cup’.
But this notion of the FA Cup being something more than just another cup competition is far too regularly overindulged.
Now such is the extent of televised football that FA Cup weekends will often see ITV and BT Sport crammed full of fixtures as exciting as Arsenal vs Coventry, Bournemouth vs Liverpool, Stevenage vs Everton and Sheffield United vs Fulham.
For your regular football fan, they are not exactly what dreams are made of. And they certainly aren’t the kinds of fixtures I’d drop what I’m doing to tune in and watch.
The potential of a cup giant-killing is a great narrative for broadcasters. It gives them something to grab onto and run with in order to attract as many fans who are hopeful of a good spectacle. But for your everyday supporter it just isn’t convincing enough.
The empty seats at stadiums tell the story. The official attendance of 59,451 at the Emirates for the fourth-round tie with Coventry was apparently a near full house but the amount of empty red seats in the upper tiers seriously brought into questions someone’s mathematics.
For many sides the FA Cup provides an unwelcome distraction from the weekly grind of the domestic league calendar. Sheffield United and Fulham, both having been battling a relegation battle, elected to play weakened sides.
As if their apathy wasn’t clear enough, once more the number of empty seats in the stadium told the story from the fan’s point of view. They would rather not have bothered.
Football will always be football. And cup football will always be cup football. You’ll occasionally be lucky enough to see the unlikely occur, as in the case of Wigan at the Etihad, but more often than not the stronger prevail.
But let’s not pretend these kinds of results are exclusive to the FA Cup. Bradford City’s triumph over Arsenal in the Capital One Cup last season was every bit as heroic as Wigan. Their subsequent two-legged win over Aston Villa kept the cup dream alive. Wrexham fans remember Mickey Thomas’ legendary free-kick against Arsenal in the 1992 FA Cup fourth round. Grimsby Town fans will probably remember their third round victory over Liverpool at Anfield in the League Cup in 2001.
Because of the farce of FA Cup replays, it makes it eminently tougher for them to occur. I get why they occur. They place the round on an evening footing and they give home fans of the ‘smaller’ team something to look forward to while the club can gain it’s all-important big payday. But replays detract from the competition. When Exeter achieved a fantastic 0-0 draw at Old Trafford back in 2005, they won the privilege of hosting Manchester United at St James’ Park.
As enjoyable an experience for all involved with Exeter City, the potential of taking United to extra-time on their home turf and forcing them to penalties would have been have been more enjoyable. And the chance of beating them a second time round was non-existent.
In recent seasons the Capita One Cup has had a much greater allure to it. The fact the early rounds come thick and fast means that it doesn’t disrupt the early season flow in the way international breaks or FA Cup football does. The final being in February means that every fan is fully committed to their club season and the enthusiasm can percolate through to the League Cup.
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Stories of fans queuing for hours to get tickets for their club’s third-round FA Cup tie were a result of simply being unable to see their team play any other way. Nowadays many people would rather sit in the comfort of their own home as opposed to sitting out on a cold January afternoon to see their side’s second-string XI knock Shrewsbury over 4-0.
This may just be reflective of the commercial growth of football today, but I also believe it is a product of the lack of ‘magic’ in the FA Cup. Big wins are what clubs base their history on. Every fan loves the big time and every fan loves an underdog victory.
But whether it’s part of the FA Cup is neither here nor there.
Louis van Gaal only officially arrived at Old Trafford this morning, but according to the Daily Express, Âthe Manchester United manager has already made plansÂto axe as many as ten players from the Red Devils roster – despite Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic Âalso leaving the Premier League side this summer, with Patrice Evra soon expected to follow suit.The Dutchman’s cull is hardly a great surprise. Last season proved that without Sir Alex Ferguson to pave over the cracks, United’s squad has lacked starÂquality for some time.But who to get rid of? Who is the most deserving of the 62 year-old’s proverbial axe crashing down on their necks this summer? Well, in case LVG is short on a few ideas, we at Football Fancast have listed the SIX players who need to be ousted from Old Trafford this summer.
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MAROUANE FELLAINI
Apparently, David Moyes thought he was signing a No.8 of the Frank Lampard mould when he splashed out £27million on Marouane Fellaini last summer.
Which makes absolutely no sense at all, because at former club Everton the now-job-seeking Scotsman used the Belgian lankster as an anchor man and a supporting striker, but never in a box-to-box, goal-scoring capacity.
The 26 year-old has failed to fulfil that role for United, with zero goals in his debut season at Old Trafford. The torrid campaign also highlighted, to no great surprise, that the 6 foot 4 midfielder is terrible on the ball:
In a nutshell, he’s not the technically-gifted, mobile midfielder United’s engine room has been calling out for for the last few years, and resultantly, rumours are already rife that Fellaini will be offloaded this summer:
The Daily Express believe the Red Devils will sell for around £15million, and Fiorentina have emerged as the Belgium international’s likeliest suitors:
JAVIER HERNANDEZ
Exceptionally quick, surprisingly good in the air, an instinctive finisher and a real ‘fox in the box’, Javier Hernandez is arguably the most natural goal-poacher the Premier League has to offer. Just check out his first 32 goals for Manchester United in the below video:
//www.youtube.com/embed/1u39tLGTNok?rel=0
But the Red Devils know full well that it’s now use-it-or-lose it time in regards to the Mexico international, who continuously made noises about leaving Old Trafford throughout last season as David Moyes left him dwindling on the bench.
You can hardly blame Chicarito – with the exception of last season and despite more commonly featuring from the bench than as a starter, the 26 year-old has reached double figures in all of his Premier League campaigns.
With Louis van Gaal’s the-son-I-never-had relationship with Robin van Persie well known, it’s unlikely Hernandez’s super-sub status will be dropped anytime soon at Old Trafford. Furthermore, suitors for the South American are hardly in short supply:
ASHLEY YOUNG
//www.youtube.com/embed/lARDJ6QcDPk?rel=0
For a club once represented by David Beckham, Bryan Robson, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andrei Kanchelskis to name a few, Manchester United’s current batch of widemen are embarrassingly average.
The pick of the bunch – often-crocked diving enthusiast Ashley Young. Just take a look at these Tom Daley impersonations:
Admittedly, this kind of thing is what Louis van Gaal tends to look for in his wingers:
But having netted just eight times in the Premier League since moving to Old Trafford for £17million in summer 2011, incidents of such have been few and far between.
Once alleged by Martin O’Neill to be on par with Lionel Messi, the now 29 year-old has never fulfilled his potential with the Red Devils, and now is the time to cut him loose.
Worryingly, suitors for the former England winger are hard to find. But Manchester United fans have made their feelings perfectly clear:
ANDERSON
Pot-Bellied midfielder Anderson is like that puke-stain in your student halls kitchen that you eventually accept has now become part of the carpet. Admittedly, there have been some noteworthy performances down the years:
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But the Brazil international, who was surprisingly issued Europe’s Golden Boy award back in 2008, has never bettered the 24 appearances made in his first Premier League season, which was now seven years ago.
As if to make some sort of statement about the ‘new era’ at Manchester United, David Moyes sent him packing to Fiorentina in January, where the 26 year-old struggled for fitness and form:
With the ‘try before you buy’ tactic spectacularly failing, Anderson has boomeranged his way back to Carrington. He appears to have been given a meet-and-greet, no-actual-responsibility role similar to Fredo Corleone in the Godfather, which pretty much says it all:
TOM CLEVERLEY
Tom Cleverley, once billed as the next Paul Scholes, has spent the last two seasons looking more and more like the next Nicky Butt, and even that is a rather kind description compared to what you can find on Twitter.
As you can see, his pass completion rate is the best of any player in the Manchester United squad. Scholes-esque indeed.
But stats can be deceptive, especially when you make no pass longer than five yards and more often than not return the ball to the person who just gave it to you (usually Michael Carrick).
Admittedly, there was a time when the 24 year-old looked like a real prospect:
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//www.youtube.com/embed/ROOwg-uXGCc?rel=0
But the midfielder’s form has been so poor over the last two campaigns that over 10,000 England fans signed a petition to ban him from the 2014 World Cup. Despite protesting publicly, Roy Hodgson followed their advice.
Louis van Gaal tends to favour technically gifted, young players. But Cleverley’s performances have been substandard for some time and his development should be continued elsewhere.
Luckily, it appears Everton are prepared to offer him an exit route…
CHRIS SMALLING
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Another spectacular England flop whose club form appears to have no bearing on his Three Lions status whatsoever is defender Chris Smalling.
The centre-back-come-right-back has spent four years at Old Trafford but rarely shown the form produced at former club Fulham, which paved the way for a £10million move to United in 2010.
Often closely resembling a dear in headlights, who can’t hit a cross-bar from 18 yards…
//www.youtube.com/embed/ZH4JSPt3F6s?rel=0
…the 24 year-old is quite simply not Manchester United standard and a long way off being a natural successor to Wes Brown.
After being hilariously mistaken for Barack Obama…
…apparently Arsenal are prepared to swap him for the significantly better in quality and experience Thomas Vermaelen:
Believe it or not, today marks an incredible 18 years since Arsene Wenger first turned up in north London dressed like a school teacher way back in 1998. Indeed, quite remarkably, if the Frenchman’s Arsenal career were a living person, they would now be legally allowed to drink.
On the way there have been enormous highs and inevitable lows, with dull moments few and far between. So to celebrate the anniversary of the Gunners gaffer’s monolithic Premier League spell, winning three titles and five FA Cups, here’s a look at Arsenal’s 18 most defining moments under Wenger.
He however, will be more focused on his side’s Champions League clash with Galatasaray this evening.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON THE ARSENAL MANAGER TO REVEAL ALL
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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
Arsene Wenger wasn’t officially appointed Arsenal manger until September 30th, 1996. But in August that year, murmurings of his future presence were enough to convince AC Milan midfielder Patrick Vieira to join the club.
The retired Gunners icon later revealed; “I am delighted to be joining Arsenal at the same time as Mr Wenger becomes their coach. Being able to speak French to him will make life a lot easier for me.”
The £3.5million signing’s power, strength and quality went on to underpin Arsenal’s midfield for the best part of the next decade, being named captain in 2002 and winning seven trophies with the north Londoners.
Vieira’s arrival also set a new precedent of young, high-potential, foreign signings that not only came to dictate Arsenal’s future transfer policy, but much of the Premier League’s.
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ARSENE WHO? (1996)
Football – Arsenal unveil their new sigining Francis Jeffers from Everton – Highbury, London – 14/6/01Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger and new signing Francis Jeffers at the press conferenceMandatory Credit: Action Images / Richard HeathcoteDigital
When Bruce Rioch was sacked as Arsenal boss in 1996, the bookies made former Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff the favourite to take over at Highbury.
So when Arsene Wenger, a manager who had spent the last few years in Japan’s top flight, arrived in north London dressed like a maths teacher, the British public, and particularly the British press, were in a state of shock.
The Evening Standard ran with the headline ‘Arsene Who?’, but within the next few years, Wenger’s views on transfer policy, diet, philosophy and fitness had revolutionised the English game.
The first double (1998)
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It took Arsene Wenger two years to claim his first trophy as Arsenal boss, but when he did, it was in emphatic style.
A 4-0 thumping of Everton at the end of the 1997/98 Premier League season secured the Gunners their first league title since 1991. It was soon followed up by an FA Cup haul via a 2-0 victory over Newcastle at the old Wembley. This was only the second double in Arsenal’s history.
Thierry Henry arrives (1999)
Football – Stock Season 99/00Mandatory Credit: Action ImagesThierry Henry – Arsenal
Eyebrows were raised when Arsene Wenger splashed out £11million on Thierry Henry back in 1999, breaking Arsenal’s club-record transfer fee. But under the Le Professeur’s leadership, the France international soon emerged as one of the most prolific strikers in world football and Premier League history.
Including a seven-game loan stint during the 2011/12 season, Henry’s Arsenal career ended with 228 goals and 93 assists in 376 appearances, winning the Premier League’s golden boot four times in the space of five seasons between 2001 and 2006.
He’s currently fourth in the Premier League’s all-time top scorer rankings, and the leading goal scorer in Arsenal’s history. Not bad for £11million.
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Changing role of Arsenal’s full-backs (2000)
Football – FA Barclaycard Premiership – Arsenal v Manchester United – 16/4/03Ashley Cole – Arsenal in action against Manchester UnitedMandatory Credit:Action Images / Alex Morton
A defining moment that will likely slip under the radar, but remains as intrinsic as any other in Arsenal’s successes under Wenger.
The year 2000 marked a vital philosophical shift for the north London club; rugged left-back Nigel Winterburn was sold to West Ham and replaced by youth product Ashley Cole, previously a left-forward for the academy team.
Likewise, £7million signing Lauren joined the Arsenal ranks from Mallorca to take the reins from Lee Dixon at No.2, despite being more commonly regarded as a central midfielder at the time.
Both Cole and Lauren offered the Gunners a more athletic, marauding presence and greater control of possession, forming two crucial tactical pillars that would underpin ‘The Invincibles’ side in the campaigns to come.
It would also begin a school of thought that continues today, where full-backs are viewed from a tactical perspective as amongst the most important players on the pitch.
SOL CAMPBELL’S FREE TRANSFER (2001)
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Perhaps the most controversial Premier League transfer of all time, and undoubtedly one of the best value-for-money acquisitions in Arsenal’s history.
In 2001, Arsenal were on the hunt for a new centre-back, with club captain Tony Adams edging closer towards retirement.
Wenger found a solution from an incredibly unlikely source – local rivals Tottenham Hotspur. Their lynchpin defender, Sol Campbell, had just left the club on a free transfer after being advised by then-England manager Sven Goran Eriksen to find a new club with Champions League football.
Labelled ‘Judas’ by Spurs fans, Campbell’s short move across north London is still a sore spot today. It worked out well for the centre-back though; he spent five years with Arsenal, winning two Premier League titles and playing in the 2006 Champions League final.
A second double (2002)
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In 2002, Arsene Wenger masterminded Arsenal’s way to their second Premier League title under his management, finishing seven points clear of second-place Liverpool – one of the biggest margins in the competition’s history. The domestic title was secured with a historic 1-0 win over reigning champions Manchester United at Old Trafford – courtesy of this goal from Sylvain Wiltord:
//www.youtube.com/embed/86IMQ7BeyBw?rel=0
And just like the first, it was quickly followed by a Wembley celebration as the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-0 at the Millennium Stadium.
The Invincibles (2003/04)
Unquestionably the most defining moment of Arsene Wenger’s managerial career – claiming the 2003/04 Premier League title without losing a single fixture.
Indeed, the Arsenal side, including the likes of Jens Lehmann, Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Gilberto Silva, Freddy Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, went 49 consecutive league fixtures undefeated, becoming forever-known throughout the annals of English football as simply ‘The Invincibles’.
They trumped Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten record from the 1980s by seven fixtures, but the Gunners’ run was eventually ended with a controversial 2-0 defeat to Manchester United.
Little did Arsenal fans know however, this would become their club’s last league title to date under Wenger.
If you have a spare one-and-a-half hours, here’s all the goals from Arsenal’s 49-game streak:
//www.youtube.com/embed/S_07W3C4tSw?rel=0
The arrival of a nemesis (2004)
Football – Chelsea FC – Jose Mourinho Press Conference – Stamford Bridge – 2/6/04New Chelsea manager Jose MourinhoMandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton
Indeed, it seemed in ‘The Invincibles’, the Premier League had met its new dominant force. But another power was quickly emerging on the English scene – Chelsea, backed by Roman Abramovich’s oil billions and masterminded by manager Jose Mourinho.
Polar opposites in personality and philosophy, Le Professeur and ‘The Special One’ quickly found themselves at odds. Their rivalry’s most controversial moment came in 2005, when the Chelsea boss described his Gunners counterpart as ‘a voyeur’.
//www.youtube.com/embed/LJiBLRCl1x4?rel=0
Chelsea’s emergence ended Arsenal’s stranglehold of the table’s summit as they went on to claim consecutive league titles under Mourinho. And to date, Wenger is yet to beat the Portuguese in a Premier League fixture.
The all-foreign line-up (2005)
Football – Arsenal v Blackburn Rovers – FA Cup Semi Final – Millennium Stadium – Cardiff – 04/05 , 16/4/05Robert Pires – Arsenal in action against Blackburn RoversMandatory Credit: Action Images / Darren Walsh
In 2005, Arsene Wenger came under huge criticism from the British press for fielding the first all-foreign match day squad in the history of the Premier League.
Indeed, the Invincibles side that had previously demolished the Premier League contained just two home-grown representatives – Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell. It defined how Arsenal had branched away from their English roots under Wenger, embracing talents, ideas and philosophies from abroad.
The Frenchman was even accused of racism. But he hit back, quipping to journalists; ” I don’t look at the passport of people, I look at their quality and their attitude.”
A third FA Cup in four years (2005)
Football – Manchester United v Arsenal – FA Cup Final – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff – 04/05 – 21/5/05Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger celebrates after the game with his teamMandatory Credit: Action Images / Phil Shephard Lewis
Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League may started to wane but the trophies continued. In 2005, Arsene Wenger claimed his third FA Cup in the space of four years, winning the Wembley final against Manchester United 5-4 on penalties.
This would prove to be Arsenal’s last trophy however, for the best part of the next decade.
Champions League final (2006)
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Arsenal’s aesthetic football has never quite transitioned to the European scene. But the closest they’ve come to success on the continent under Wenger was in 2006, when the Gunners met Barcelona in the Champions League final.
Despite losing ‘keeper Jens Lehmann to a red card in the 18th minute, Arsenal took the lead through a Sol Campbell header. But the numerical advantage eventually told, as the Catalans netted twice in the last 15 minutes to claim a 2-1 win.
Sour grapes for Wenger, but that trophy proved to be the dawn of a new era at Barcelona. They went on to win two more Champions League titles in the next five years, becoming remembered in the history books as arguably the greatest club side of all time.
MOVE TO THE EMIRATES STADIUM (2006)
The start of the 2006/07 season saw Arsenal move into a new home, swapping the ageing Highbury for the modern 60,000 capacity Emirates stadium.
Arsene Wenger described it as ‘the biggest decision in Arsenal’s history’, and debt payments on the new ground would limit the Gunners gaffer’s spending power for the many years to come – not that he ever needed an excuse to count the pennies.
To honour the grand opening, Wenger, David Dein and many of Arsenal’s players were invited to Buckingham Palace to attend afternoon tea with the Queen.
GOODBYE HENRY (2007)
Football – Blackburn Rovers v Arsenal FA Barclays Premiership – Ewood Park – 13/1/07Thierry Henry celebrates after scoring the second goal for ArsenalMandatory Credit: Action Images / Michael ReganLivepicNO ONLINE/INTERNET USE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE +44 (0) 207 864 9000.
Truly the end of an era for Arsenal fans, in 2007, the club said goodbye to iconic striker and all-time top goal scorer Thierry Henry.
The year previous, infamous Spanish prankster ‘Jimmy Jump’ threw a Barcelona shirt at the striker with ‘Henry, 14’ printed on the back during a Champions League clash with Villarreal.
//www.youtube.com/embed/4dJlM77SpJ4?rel=0
His prophecy soon proved true, and the La Liga giants splashed out €24million on the France international, ending his eight-year stay with the Gunners.
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In 2008, Henry was voted the most important player in Arsenal’s history by a fan’s poll, and he returned to the club during the 2011/12 campaign, on loan from MLS side New York Red Bulls.
THE EXODUS (2011-2012)
Arsene Wenger’s five-year plan envisaged a cycle of talented young players that would eventually go on to rival the quality and efficiency of ‘The Invincibles’.
But the players weren’t singing from the same hymn sheet and from 2011 to 2012, the Gunners were forced to surrender many of their top talents to rival clubs.
Following Kolo Toure’s move two years’ previous, Manchester City lured Sami Nasri and Gael Clichy to the Etihad in summer 2011, whilst club captain Cesc Fabregas returned to boyhood club Barcelona in a €35million deal.
A year later, Robin van Persie, after claiming consecutive Premier League golden boots with Arsenal, refused to sign a new contract and was resultantly sold to Manchester United.
Wenger was forced to rebuild from the ground up.
MESUT OZIL AND THE END OF AUSTERITY (2013)
After several years of dormancy at the elite end of the transfer market, Arsenal erupted in summer 2013 with a club-record £42million move for Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil.
It was the marquee signing supporters had demanded for seasons and marked the end of Wenger’s penny-pinching recruitment methods, with the debts of the Emirates stadium fully paid.
Previously, Arsenal’s transfer record was a mere £16million, spent on Russian international Andrei Arshavin in 2009. And before that, it had remained at just £13million for eight-and-a-half-years, harking back to Syvlain Wiltord’s arrival in 2001.
1,000 GAMES IN CHARGE (2014)
In March this year, Arsene Wenger reached his 1,000th game in charge of the north London club; a sensational landmark in a Premier League climate where the average management tenure is just over one season.
At the time, his win record for the Gunners was at an impressive 57.3%, even bettering Sir Alex Ferguson’s return after 1,000 games at Manchester United.
An old nemesis was out to destroy the party however – Chelsea, reinvigorated by the return of Jose Mourinho, recorded a 6-0 thumping over the Gunners.
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THE TROPHY DROUGHT ENDS (2014)
Pressure was building on Wenger as the 2013/14 season drew to a climax. Arsenal had led the Premier League table for 128 days, but their title charge corroded during the campaign’s final run-in, exacerbating concerns that the club hadn’t won a trophy for nine years.
To make matters worse, Wenger was yet to sign a new contract, and in truth, if the Gunners had lost to Hull City in the 2014 FA Cup final, the Frenchman would unlikely still be Arsenal boss.
But the north Londoners clawed their way back from a 2-0 deficit to trump the Tigers 3-2 after extra time, the deciding goal coming from Arsenal’s Player of the Season, Aaron Ramsey:
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It extinguished a dark cloud that had been lingering over Arsenal for nearly a decade, and reaffirmed beliefs that Arsene Wenger was still the right man to take the club forward.
After the impressive second place finish in last season Premier League, the hopes and ambition from everyone at Liverpool for the 2014/2015 campaign were always going to be higher.
So far the club have failed to meet these expectations, with the Reds already losing four of their first 10 league games – including defeats to West Ham United, Aston Villa and Newcastle United.
In order to cope with the stresses and strains of the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League – which was missing from the Merseysiders calendar for the past five years – a plethora of signings were made during the summer window.
Based on the new recruits’ performances thus far, Brendan Rodgers should already be looking to the January transfer window for replacements. The three additions from high flying Southampton – Rickie Lambert, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana – have not lived up to their combined £49m price tag, with the likes of Emre Can, Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno also failing to impress so far.
However, the one player that has come under more scrutiny than any other in squad is striker Mario Balotelli.
Yes, the controversial Italian has immensely disappointed this season, and has failed to get off the goalscoring mark in the Premier League for his new club. Yet you can’t blame an entire team’s failings on one man. This is an easy way out and Balotelli has been made a scapegoat.
There is so much media attention on the former Manchester City striker. Every movement he does is watched like an eagle from everyone across the world. One slip up, and questions get asked about what was Rodgers thinking of paying £16m for a player that is little more than a ‘penalty taker’.
Invariably, this intense focus on one man from the rest of the Liverpool squad, many of whom have been little short of appalling in their displays thus far.
Captain Steve Gerrard is one of them.
Gerrard may be a Liverpool legend but the midfielder has consistently been targeted by opposition managers as the weak-link in this Liverpool side. The captain’s performances are the main reason why last season’s runners-up last up are leaking goals.
The former England international veteran is showing his age, and it’s no surprise why the skipper was dropped for the 1-0 Champions League defeat against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. Liverpool would not be hesitating in giving Gerrard a new contract if they knew he still had something to offer.
Rodgers has said in the recent past that midfielder Joe Allen is Liverpool’s answer to Xavi. The former Swansea City chief could not be farther from truth.
Allen’s lack of positivity on the ball is one of the reasons why the Reds have also struggled to score. Unlike Gerrard in his prime, spraying balls everywhere and causing havoc to the opposition, Allen’s simple style involves him playing short passes to the flanks or backwards, never looking to play the ball forward pass.
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As well as Gerrard and Allen underperforming, the likes of Simon Mignolet, Glen Johnson, Martim Skrtel, Mahamadou Sakho and Lucas have also failed to convince.
Balotelli may be Liverpool’s badman but it’s his teammates who are the real Anfield villains this season.
Joel Campbell is adamant that he’s not looking to leave Arsenal in January and that he wants to stay and fight for his first-team future.
The pacey striker returned to north London over the summer after a loan stint at Olympiakos and was expected to be given playing time after his stunning displays for Costa Rica at the World Cup.
However the 22-year-old has managed just 53 minutes of action in the Premier League and Champions League, plus one start in the Capital One Cup – a game the Gunners lost.
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This has prompted speculation that the Central American ace is ready to leave the Emirates Stadium, which is further backed up by his agent’s angry reaction to a summer loan switch to Benfica being called off by Arsene Wenger.
Leicester, as well as a host of clubs from across Europe, are rumoured to be keen, but Campbell says that he’s not looking to move:
“What they have been saying is not true, I’m very calm. I have not been furious,” he is quoted by The Express.
“Obviously, yes, I would like to be playing, but that’s something that has to be earned day by day. I have to keep training and waiting for the opportunity, I know it’s a very competitive team.
“Arsenal is one of the best teams in the world where there are many important players. I have to be patient, keep training and I know my chance will arrive and I’ll have to take advantage of it when it comes.
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“[I’ve learned] a lot [from Arsene Wenger]. He is a coach who has many years in football and with Arsenal. I am learning from him and from my peers every day in training. I’m doing my best to be a better player every day.”
Crystal Palace’s tricky winger Yannick Bolasie has been in fine form for the Eagles yet again this season. His league performances so far this term have been exceptional. Should the Premier League big boys be eyeing up a move for Bolasie in the January transfer window?
After signing for Palace from Bristol City in August 2012, the 25-year-old has developed into one of the Premier League’s best wingers. Bolasie really caught the eye in his first season at Selhurst Park, which culminated in the Eagles gaining promotion to the top-tier via the play-offs. The winger made a total of 48 league and cup appearances for the south Londoners in his first season with the club.
Since Crystal Palace’s time back in the top-flight, the Eagles’ number seven has upped his game to an even higher standard. Despite failing to score last term, Bolasie played in 29 of Palace’s Premier League games in what turned out to be a very successful campaign that saw the London club finish the season in 11th place under the management of Tony Pulis.
After Pulis shockingly parted company with the Eagles in the summer, Neil Warnock took over a few games into the campaign. But that hasn’t hindered Bolasie’s fine form. He has started in all but one league game under Warnock – and scored what turned out to be the winner in the 3-2 victory over Everton at Goodison Park in September.
Bolasie has shown all season long just how important he is to Crystal Palace. His performance at White Hart Lane last Saturday proved that. He was superb throughout – showed some audacious bits of skill, and the Eagles would have felt hard done by leaving North London with just a point to show for their efforts.
Bolasie has very quickly turned himself into one of the Premier League’s most exciting wingers. He has incredibly fast feet, he’s extremely skilful and has recently added an end product to his game too. The 25-year-old has flourished in Crystal Palace’s first-team over the last few seasons, and would undoubtedly be an asset to any big club. Despite being eligible to play for France or England, Bolasie eventually chose to represent DR Congo – and went onto feature in their 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Bolasie’s fine performances would have no doubt put the Premier League top clubs on red alert – although Neil Warnock has recently gone on record to say that he wont be leaving Selhurst Park anytime soon. When asked in a recent interview with talkSPORT, the Palace boss said: “Oh no, he wont be going anywhere in January, no chance. He’s a great lad anyhow. The top clubs won’t know what he can or can’t do, how can they come in for him. I think he’s made to measure at Palace if I’m honest.”
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If I was Neil Warnock I would be doing everything in my power to try and persuade the Palace board to not sell their star man if indeed a substantial offer is made in January. After all, someone with the ability of Bolasie’s could end up being the difference between relegation and survival come the end of the season.
West Ham’s revival this season has been down to several important factors; Big Sam’s boys have been rejuvenated by their new signings who have brought about a distinct improvement in front of goal, and solidified by strong leadership at the back which is in no small part down to Winston Reid.
The New Zealand international has gained many plaudits throughout his time in the Premier League for his tough tackling and solid aerial qualities, despite an uneasy start to his East end career back in 2010. With the January transfer window now upon us and West Ham’s defensive leader slowly moving out of the shadows and into the spot-light, would a reported move to Arsenal really suit Winston Reid? Or would it simply be a step too far for the towering centre-back?
The Kiwi star didn’t exactly have the greatest start to life at Upton Park, as playing at right-back under Avram Grant, his Premier League debut ending in a resounding 3-0 defeat to Aston Villa. Since West Ham’s timely relegation to the Championship that season however, Reid has come on in leaps and bounds to be one of the most promising centre-backs in English football.
The 26-year-old, who previously plied his trade with Danish outfit Midtjylland, has subsequently become a main-stay in the West Ham back four for his more than solid performances. His reading of the game is near flawless, he has the calmness necessary to make it in the Premier League, and his strength in the tackle would leave even the most burly strikers bruised.
One area of Reid’s game that has not received as much praise however is his often unpredictable distribution from the back. The New Zealand star isn’t exactly the most confident on the ball and he lacks the pace to get himself out of tricky situations, with the defender’s touch often cause for concern around Upton Park.
Such technical deficiencies would seem to throw his potential move to Arsenal remain in doubt. We all know that Arsene Wenger prefers players who are comfortable on the ball and can be categorised as ‘proper footballers.’ Whilst Reid may be one hell of a ‘proper defender’, it takes a certain style and finesse to play at the very top. At this current stage in time, that particular area of Reid’s game may be holding him back.
The West Ham man would nevertheless provide the Gunners with some much needed tenacity and resilience at the back. Wenger’s side have displayed a distinct lack in defensive meanness in recent years, with some pundits even going as far as labeling them as push-overs. In that respect, the promising centre-back could be the perfect addition down at the Emirates.
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Perhaps Arsenal will decide to wait until the summer on this one as with Reid’s contract with the Hammers is due to expire. Wenger could be shrewd enough to pick him up on the free should an club not come in for the Kiwi first.
Wherever Reid eventually ends up he will likely prove a success, even if that means he loses the hero status he currently has at Upton Park. With any move to the Emirates requiring the utmost ability with the ball however, perhaps Winston Reid’s defensive qualities won’t be enough to see him make it to the Emirates this January.