Despite the shock transfer of Darren Bent it is fair to say that the January transfer window has been somewhat a tame affair, as many Premier League clubs are seemingly being careful with their finances. In some cases clubs simply have to sell before they can buy, much to the frustrations, no doubt, of many managers and supporters.
The lack of spending at the top of the Premier League has surprised many, especially given the open nature of this title race, not to mention the open fight to stay in the Premier League; however with clubs biding their time in the transfer market it appears that there could well be the deadline day circus that we have become accustomed to in past January windows.
The media clearly believe that a transfer storm is set to erupt in the final few days of the window, but it begs the question as to whether Alan Pardew will partake in some last minute shopping.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Does Pardew need to bring any players in before the transfer window shuts next Monday and if so who would you like to see him bring in?
Back in 2007, I was speaking to a friend of mine who had just finished running an under 15 boys football tournament up at Warwick University. The first thing he mentioned, even before he’d finished telling an amusing story about referee, Alan Wiley, was that there was this really special kid there. Everyone was raving about him. Player of the tournament. His name? Jack Wilshere.
You will often hear about players like Wilshere. There is always a teenage prodigy in almost every sport, but so rarely do they deliver the exceptional achievements expected of them. The young Arsenal midfielder remains capable of said achievements, his potential and probable success landing him a first start for the national team last week.
But has Wilshere earned his place in the England set up? After being an under-used member of the Arsenal squad last term, despite the hype, his promotion to first team regular has been a little puzzling. Arsene Wenger displayed an almost pathological reluctance to play the boy last season – sending him on loan to Bolton where Owen Coyle was another respected voice to wax lyrical about his talents.
Yet this season, Wilshere has been an ever present. Commentators will now say; “Wenger has left the big guns on the bench: Van Persie, Fabregas, Wilshere…”
Have I missed something? Did Arsene Wenger actually deploy Wilshere in disguise during the Gunners’ calamitous final weeks of last season? Has he been supremely successful?
Before his meteoric rise to Premier League and international stardom, the Arsenal midfielder had something of a frustrating time, when a first team breakthrough seemed a formality, yet it was not forthcoming.
Consecutive years of pre-season ‘Emirates Cup’ glory for Wilshere resulted in mass acclaim but little else in terms of selections. Fabio Capello, possibly sensing a chance to talk about something other than his goalkeeping problem, jumped on Wilshere as a potential World Cup prospect in the summer of 2009. Come the start of the season, however, Wenger refused to play him.
It is hard not to have a little sympathy for the object of so much national scrutiny. From being a fringe squad player, to a national icon in the blink of an eye, is something that very few footballers truly experience. It is also a very un-Wenger method of team selection. Theo Walcott has been at Arsenal for five years, yet is still being eased into first team action – why the sudden change of heart from the Frenchman?
Wilshere’s performances this season have looked secure. It is a compliment to say he looks utterly comfortable and at ease with the highest levels of domestic football, yet he is yet to achieve anything tangible. It is almost as if the words ‘Wilshere’ and ‘Potential’ are intrinsically linked.
If you think I’m being a little harsh, answer me this question. Had England won the World Cup, or even made the semi-finals, would the Arsenal youngster be mentioned in the same breath as the national squad?
Fabio Capello includes the youngster in his plans because it’s what the media want to hear after such a disappointing World Cup. He talks of Wilshere playing a ‘Makelele’ type role, almost as if the Italian has never been to the Emirates to watch the diminutive midfielder play. But has the Italian even seen enough of the player to understand what he is capable of yet?
At Wilshere’s age, other players of similar hype have set the world alight. We saw on Wednesday night that promise and encouraging signs are one thing, but that it is possible to expect more from a 19 year old footballer. Christian Eriksen’s display in the Danish midfield was a little sobering for those believing too much is being expected of Wilshere too soon.
As a nation, I believe we are too hard on the national team and the potential for future success. As of now, Wilshere is by no means needed in international football. His performances at domestic level have not yet warranted inclusion – there are other players without the same level of hysterical build up more worthy of selection. Wilshere’s time will come. Potentially.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
To get a full rendition of that Alan Wiley anecdote, follow me on Twitter. It’s worth it. I promise.
English midfielder David Beckham has returned to pre-season training with his MLS club, the Los Angeles Galaxy.Beckham arrived at the Cal State University Dominguez Hills field on Thursday to begin his training with the club ahead of the 2011 Major League Soccer season.It followed a six-week training spell at Tottenham Hotspur and the former Manchester United midfielder spoke of his happiness to return to Los Angeles.”I am happy to be back and I am happy to see some sun,” said Beckham, whose contract expires in November. “I only missed a few weeks with the lads here but it was important for my fitness that I continue with my (training) level there (England) and come back fitter than I was last season.”Beckham said it was important for him to keep training to build his fitness ahead of the new season after he played just seven matches for the Galaxy last season.”Since the fourth of January I have been training at a high level,” he said.”At my age and at this stage in my career, I can’t afford to take three months’ holiday. So I took the opportunity to go to Spurs and train down there.””It was more important for me to train rather than just sit on a beach.”The 2011 MLS season kicks off on March 15.
Club Brugge were held 2-2 at Standard Liege and Lierse and AS Eupen fought out a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s Belgian First Division action.Brugge, fourth on the table, missed a golden opportunity to narrow the gap between themselves and the top three – all of whom drew this weekend – when they conceded two late goals to Liege.Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic put the visitors ahead in the 68th minute, and when Nigerian striker Joseph Akpala made it 2-0 eight minutes later Brugge seemed certain to move within three points of third-placed Gent.But Mohamed Tchite gave the hosts reason to believe with an 85th-minute strike, and Mehdi Carcela stunned Brugge with a second goal in stoppage time to snatch a share of the points for Liege.Elsewhere, relegation battlers Lierse and AS Eupen managed a point apiece in their encounter.Lierse’s South African midfielder Lance Davids cancelled out Argentinean attacker Pablo Chavarria’s second-minute goal with one of his own 10 minutes into the second half.
Premier League action kicks off again starting at Upton Park where the Hammers play host to top-of-the table Red Devils. Whilst the last visit of United to East London ended up in a 4-0 defeat knocking them out of the Carling Cup, many feel that this game will be a great chance for United to increase the chances of winning the Premier League title.
Scott Parker is doubtful for West Ham after picking up shoulder and calf knocks during the international break for England, but will be expected to start for what is a crucial game considering how close the bottom half of the table is.
However, Avram Grant’s team are 6th in the Premier League form table and have only lost 1 in their last 7 games at Upton Park. Although despite the victory over United in the Cup, the Hammers have suffered 5 defeats to Alex Ferguson’s side in their last 5 attempts without scoring a single goal.
United will be without Jonny Evans and Paul Scholes (both suspended) and despite several players on the sidelines through injury, captain Nemanja Vidic returns in defence which will be a huge boost.
Considering the home side’s recent run of form, this game is tougher to call than the league table states. West Ham have scored 15 times in their last six games and they January signings have been a huge boost to their attacking play.
However, with Vidic returning to the United backline, even an in-form Hammers attack may struggle to hit the back of the net too many times in this game. West Ham will certainly put up a fight, and maybe scrape a draw but United win (probably in dying minutes) looks likely.
Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Manchester United
Watch Jason Cundy & Scott Minto on Scoreboard and see their pre-match predictions
[ffcvideo file=’gw31_whu_v_mnu’]
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
With only 3 points separating Wigan Athletic in 20th place in the Premier League table to Blackburn Rovers in 13th, the race for survival is still well and truly on and it has left us fans scratching our heads over which three teams will be the ones to suffer the dreaded R word – Relegation. In my article last week on Aston Villa’s relegation threat if they lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers (which they did), the attention has now focused on Newcastle United joining the scrap for survival.
The Magpies were hammered 4-0 at Stoke City last weekend and the manner in which the team conceded the goals with some woeful defending and mistakes by key players must’ve left Alan Pardew wanting to tear his hair out on the touchline. The defeat means that the Toon Army have only won one game in their last 10 and although they currently sit in 11th place, they are just 6 points ahead of Wigan and 4 points from Wolves in 18th place who fill the last relegation spot.
When the club sold striker Andy Carroll on transfer deadline day back in January there were predictions of the club getting relegated as the club had no time to sign a replacement striker or at least spend money on the squad. Newcastle have been hovering around mid-table for most of the season and Carroll still sits 4th in this season’s top goal scorers list with 11 (joint with Kevin Nolan).
[ad_pod id=’fox-mpu’ align=’right’]
It’s obvious that Newcastle have missed Carroll up front having to rely on the likes of Peter Lovenkrands, Leon Best, Nile Ranger and Shola Ameobi. But the Magpies have been without Carroll for longer than when he was sold to Liverpool due to his thigh injury, however Newcastle proved they can win without him with a 1-0 win at Wigan and a 5-0 hammering of West Ham at the start of the year in which Best scored a hat-trick.
Despite the shock defeat away to Stevenage in the FA Cup that followed, the team bounced back once again at home to Arsenal after being 4-0 down at half-time, coming back to draw 4-4 and showing tremendous team spirit in the process. It showed in the next two games with two clean sheets after a 0-0 draw at Blackburn and a 2-0 victory away to Birmingham City.
It’s key to point out that despite their current record of one win in the 10 games, a fair few of them have been draws. However, manager Alan Pardew has admitted that his team are part of the large relegation fight with 8 games of the season remaining and has stressed that his team need to get over the finishing line as quickly as possible.
Their next game is at home to Wolves, a six pointer that Villa found themselves in last weekend but with the international break it will allow Pardew and his team to get rid of any mistakes on the training ground. Out of the 7 other remaining fixtures, Newcastle play four teams below them, which they hope to win if they don’t want to be dragged down the table, with the other three fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Whilst we are focusing on Newcastle, let’s not forget that Fulham in 12th on 35 points can’t be overlooked as part of the relegation scrap. Mark Hughes’ men are higher up on the form guide than most teams below them but some back to back defeats over the remaining games could be devastating for whichever team are within reach of the dreaded drop zone.
The goal I am picking this week for goal of the week is Dejan Stankovic wonder goal for Inter Milan in their 5-2 home defeat against Schalke in the Champions League. It was the opening goal of the game and what a goal it was.
A long ball over the top from Esteban Cambiasso to find Diego Milito, but the Schalke ‘keeper Manuel Neuer came running out to header the ball; the ball found Stankovic on the halfway line who hit it 1st time and it floated into the back of the net.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
[ad_pod id=’horse-3′ align=’left’]
Can Fergie complete a double this weekend? His horse What a Friend is 11/1 to win the Grand National. Make sure you don’t miss out on the biggest betting event of the year!
Arsenal could be boosted by the return of up to four players when they host Liverpool in a Premier League blockbuster on Sunday.Arsene Wenger is hopeful that young goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny and Johan Djourou will make a return to first-team action from finger and shoulder problems respectively, while midfield pair Denilson and Alex Song could also feature at the Emirates Stadium.
Szczesny made a bright start to his Arsenal career with a string of impressive performances and could end Jens Lehmann’s brief return to the Gunners’ starting side if selected.
“Djourou and Wojciech are question marks,” Wenger told Arsenal TV online.
“It could be a possibility that they could be available. It’s difficult to say what their chances are. Denilson and Song have a chance to be available as well.”
Bacary Sagna is unlikely to play due to a knee problem while long-term absentee Thomas Vermaelen will not be risked despite returning to training after an Achilles injury saw him spend seven months on the sidelines.
Arsenal’s last fixture saw them post a 3-1 win at relegation-threatened Blackpool on Sunday, a victory that was much-needed and broke a string of five matches without a win in all competitions.
The Gunners will need to make the most of their chances against a Liverpool outfit who impressively disposed of Manchester City 3-0 at Anfield which has improved the club’s chances of qualifying for European competition.
While a Manchester United or a Manchester City FA Cup victory would allow Liverpool to qualify for the Europa League if they finish sixth, they want to make sure of that spot and not leave it up to chance by finishing fifth.
Andy Carroll’s brace against Manchester City were his first goals for the club and if he and strike partner Luis Suarez can form a potent partnership in the last few matches of the season, Kenny Dalglish’s side have every chance of earning a European berth.
However, Liverpool also have a lengthy injury list, with defenders Daniel Agger, Martin Kelly, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Glen Johnson all sidelined while inspirational captain Steven Gerrard has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a groin problem.
The last time these two sides met, a Pepe Reina own goal in injury time gave Arsenal a point in a 1-1 draw on the opening day of the season.
Mirror Football is reporting that Tottenham’s full-back turned winger Gareth Bale is not looking to move on – despite the interest in him. Bale signed a new four and a half year contract as recently as March – but that has not stopped the interest in the player from clubs such as; Chelsea, Inter Milan and Barcelona.
The Welsh international has been in good form that has included scoring 7 Premier League goals and being voted as the PFA Player of the Year. But the 21 year old is keeping his feet firmly on the ground; he said “I have not always been the most confident of people, particularly as a schoolboy, so I needed my parents to keep telling me to believe that I was better than I actually thought I was myself.”
Bale has underlined his intention to stay at Spurs and said “We have a great young team and a great manager. I believe we are going places. We’re a club on the up with a new training ground and plans for a new stadium. We’ve got a bright future and I want to be part of it.”
Follow me on Twitter @jimlk2007
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema could be on his way to Arsenal after manager Arsene Wenger claimed his signing ‘does not seem impossible’, despite the recent claims by his agent that he was staying put.
The Frenchman has struggled to cement a regular first-team place under Jose Mourinho but has still scored 35 goals in 81 appearances for the club since his £25 million move two summers ago.
According to SkySports, Wenger is thought to be keen on adding a striker to his squad as Arsenal look to pose a serious challenge for the title next year after their disappointing finish to the season. Wenger described Benzema as ‘a player that I like’ and, with the Frenchman entering the final year of his contract, Real could cash in on him as they look to move for Sergio Aguero.
Current Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner has been regularly linked with a move away from the Emirates whilst Robin van Persie has struggled with injuries for much of the season.
This is not the first time the ex-Lyon man has been linked with the Premiership with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also thought to be a long-term admirer.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
[divider]
Imogen Thomas Joins Paddy Power For a Champion Offer! They will refund losing Champions League Final bets if Man United lose the match Make your bets now!