This season’s squabble has been somewhat of a non-entity. Primarily this has been due to the fact that I have to sit and “admire” the sporting scene across the pond, however the secondary reasons were the real deciding facts.
As we all knew, Chelsea had won the Premier League in early October, demolishing teams with scorelines that the Australian cricket team would be content with. England had the World Cup coming home to them in 2018 with an immaculate bid that no one could compete against. And Roy Hodgson would be seeing silverware next season – if Liverpool could win the Championship that is.
Oh how I love the unpredictability of football. Manchester United now find themselves sitting pretty with an Arsenal team, who look finally able to make the jump up to title contenders, hot on their heels. Manchester City’s money has given them hope, especially since Chelsea have collapsed.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win against 5th place Bolton – unbelievable in itself – was of vital importance in keeping them within a Champions League place. A loss could have been devastating for an aging side with few new signings coming in. Whether this victory will revive them is yet to be seen, but if it does not, could a collapse equal and above the likes of Leeds United be on the cards? Ibrahimovic is not a real fan, do not expect him to hang around for Europa League glory.
The current top three are doing everything they can to help their London rivals however, with each team slipping up against supposedly weaker opposition. None seem willing to embrace the role of being top-dog setting a neutral fan up for one of the most topsy-turvy seasons since the Premiership began in 1991.
However, the unpredictability on the pitch has been equalled by events, nationally and internationally, off the pitch. Roy Hodgson’s Merseyside disaster continues. An Anfield loss of 1-0 to bottom club Wolves does nothing to help his cause.
Aston Villa without Martin O’Neill look like a fish out of water. Everton keep showing signs of improvement but remain lower down the table than expected. Whereas Fulham fans are starting to add up the reasons to panic.
Yet, with these teams being in demise, restoring the table to equilibrium, others are on the way up. Bolton and Sunderland are two of the main winners so far. However, no one could complain about Blackburn’s or Newcastle’s positions either. Except the owners that is.
Sacking Chris Houghten and Sam Allardyce is nothing short of madness, not to mention rude and disrespectful. The only saving grace is that both these men will have no problem getting further employment. It just goes to show how unrealistic owners have become.
Still though at least the owners can bribe their way into fans hearts with promises of investment, record signings and cup glory! Unlike the England World Cup bid team who lambasted every other nation for open bribery, whilst continually giving underhand gifts for prospective votes, only to fail to take into account the Eurovision song contest and realise that the rest of the World hates us.
The home of football had the infrastructure, the most economically agreeable bid and fans that would embrace the world’s biggest tournament with an infectiousness that would mean that nobody would be worried about coming to watch their players represent their country on the national stage.
Instead we go to Russia in 2018 where even black players in Russia’s major league say the fans are far to racist to even consider bringing such an international event to the country. Good luck Africa that year.
This choice almost seems normal when compared to 2022 though – Qatar. Fair enough, they are going to air-condition the stadiums with state-of-the-art technology providing the cool climate needed for football. But what about the fans outside? The ones enjoying a beer? Soaking up the atmosphere with their friends and family? Well, not if you’re a woman of course. Or a homosexual. Oh, and no alcohol either.
Do not fear though, combat this we shall. Let’s just laugh about the situation and play the tournament in winter so it is not so hot. Just in the middle of ever other nation’s winter break or busiest schedule. At least Qatar are a world renowned footballing side.
Logically it is mad. When you think about it seriously we have just handed over a “football tournament” to a country which is no good at “football”. It would be like the nation putting someone in the first round of X-factor – who is in everyway terrible, but is still “singing” – through to the final and then voting for them just because we could do! It would be like saying to the unpopular kid at school, “go organise a party and we will all come” and actually meaning it! Only this is the world’s biggest party and other people wanted to host it! It would be like saying “let’s open up the world’s largest sport to everybody” and then giving it to a nation that excludes blacks, gays and women!
But hey-ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The only way the world cup is coming home in the next few years is if England win the thing, or steal it. Thank goodness though for our domestic football. The energy, style and vibrancy creates an atmosphere so intense that even the best players fall to a well organised Blackpool side.
If my club began with a “W” I would be slightly worried, but not too much. West Ham look like they may become only the second side ever to be bottom at Christmas and stay up – West Brom being the other. The league is just that tight. More outlandish results remain ahead leaving only one thing that is for certain, next season the Premiership will see the return of the mighty, dirty-dirty, Leeds United.
Thursday, 30 December 2010
The Certainty of Football
This season’s squabble has been somewhat of a non-entity. Primarily this has been due to the fact that I have to sit and “admire” the sporting scene across the pond, however the secondary reasons were the real deciding facts.
As we all knew, Chelsea had won the Premier League in early October, demolishing teams with scorelines that the Australian cricket team would be content with. England had the World Cup coming home to them in 2018 with an immaculate bid that no one could compete against. And Roy Hodgson would be seeing silverware next season – if Liverpool could win the Championship that is.
Oh how I love the unpredictability of football. Manchester United now find themselves sitting pretty with an Arsenal team, who look finally able to make the jump up to title contenders, hot on their heels. Manchester City’s money has given them hope, especially since Chelsea have collapsed.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win against 5th place Bolton – unbelievable in itself – was of vital importance in keeping them within a Champions League place. A loss could have been devastating for an aging side with few new signings coming in. Whether this victory will revive them is yet to be seen, but if it does not, could a collapse equal and above the likes of Leeds United be on the cards? Ibrahimovic is not a real fan, do not expect him to hang around for Europa League glory.
The current top three are doing everything they can to help their London rivals however, with each team slipping up against supposedly weaker opposition. None seem willing to embrace the role of being top-dog setting a neutral fan up for one of the most topsy-turvy seasons since the Premiership began in 1991.
However, the unpredictability on the pitch has been equalled by events, nationally and internationally, off the pitch. Roy Hodgson’s Merseyside disaster continues. An Anfield loss of 1-0 to bottom club Wolves does nothing to help his cause.
Aston Villa without Martin O’Neill look like a fish out of water. Everton keep showing signs of improvement but remain lower down the table than expected. Whereas Fulham fans are starting to add up the reasons to panic.
Yet, with these teams being in demise, restoring the table to equilibrium, others are on the way up. Bolton and Sunderland are two of the main winners so far. However, no one could complain about Blackburn’s or Newcastle’s positions either. Except the owners that is.
Sacking Chris Houghton and Sam Allardyce is nothing short of madness, not to mention rude and disrespectful. The only saving grace is that both these men will have no problem getting further employment. It just goes to show how unrealistic owners have become.
Still though at least the owners can bribe their way into fans hearts with promises of investment, record signings and cup glory! Unlike the England World Cup bid team who lambasted every other nation for open bribery, whilst continually giving underhand gifts for prospective votes, only to fail to take into account the Eurovision song contest and realise that the rest of the World hates us.
The home of football had the infrastructure, the most economically agreeable bid and fans that would embrace the world’s biggest tournament with an infectiousness that would mean that nobody would be worried about coming to watch their players represent their country on the national stage.
Instead we go to Russia in 2018 where even black players in Russia’s major league say the fans are far to racist to even consider bringing such an international event to the country. Good luck Africa that year.
This choice almost seems normal when compared to 2022 though – Qatar. Fair enough, they are going to air-condition the stadiums with state-of-the-art technology providing the cool climate needed for football. But what about the fans outside? The ones enjoying a beer? Soaking up the atmosphere with their friends and family? Well, not if you’re a woman of course. Or a homosexual. Oh, and no alcohol either.
Do not fear though, combat this we shall. Let’s just laugh about the situation and play the tournament in winter so it is not so hot. Just in the middle of ever other nation’s winter break or busiest schedule. At least Qatar are a world renowned footballing side.
Logically it is mad. When you think about it seriously we have just handed over a “football tournament” to a country which is no good at “football”. It would be like the nation putting someone in the first round of X-factor – who is in everyway terrible, but is still “singing” – through to the final and then voting for them just because we could do! It would be like saying to the unpopular kid at school, “go organise a party and we will all come” and actually meaning it! Only this is the world’s biggest party and other people wanted to host it! It would be like saying “let’s open up the world’s largest sport to everybody” and then giving it to a nation that excludes blacks, gays and women!
But hey-ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The only way the world cup is coming home in the next few years is if England win the thing, or steal it. Thank goodness though for our domestic football. The energy, style and vibrancy creates an atmosphere so intense that even the best players fall to a well organised Blackpool side.
If my club began with a “W” I would be slightly worried, but not too much. West Ham look like they may become only the second side ever to be bottom at Christmas and stay up – West Brom being the other. The league is just that tight. More outlandish results remain ahead leaving only one thing that is for certain, next season the Premiership will see the return of the mighty, dirty-dirty, Leeds United.
As we all knew, Chelsea had won the Premier League in early October, demolishing teams with scorelines that the Australian cricket team would be content with. England had the World Cup coming home to them in 2018 with an immaculate bid that no one could compete against. And Roy Hodgson would be seeing silverware next season – if Liverpool could win the Championship that is.
Oh how I love the unpredictability of football. Manchester United now find themselves sitting pretty with an Arsenal team, who look finally able to make the jump up to title contenders, hot on their heels. Manchester City’s money has given them hope, especially since Chelsea have collapsed.
Chelsea’s 1-0 win against 5th place Bolton – unbelievable in itself – was of vital importance in keeping them within a Champions League place. A loss could have been devastating for an aging side with few new signings coming in. Whether this victory will revive them is yet to be seen, but if it does not, could a collapse equal and above the likes of Leeds United be on the cards? Ibrahimovic is not a real fan, do not expect him to hang around for Europa League glory.
The current top three are doing everything they can to help their London rivals however, with each team slipping up against supposedly weaker opposition. None seem willing to embrace the role of being top-dog setting a neutral fan up for one of the most topsy-turvy seasons since the Premiership began in 1991.
However, the unpredictability on the pitch has been equalled by events, nationally and internationally, off the pitch. Roy Hodgson’s Merseyside disaster continues. An Anfield loss of 1-0 to bottom club Wolves does nothing to help his cause.
Aston Villa without Martin O’Neill look like a fish out of water. Everton keep showing signs of improvement but remain lower down the table than expected. Whereas Fulham fans are starting to add up the reasons to panic.
Yet, with these teams being in demise, restoring the table to equilibrium, others are on the way up. Bolton and Sunderland are two of the main winners so far. However, no one could complain about Blackburn’s or Newcastle’s positions either. Except the owners that is.
Sacking Chris Houghton and Sam Allardyce is nothing short of madness, not to mention rude and disrespectful. The only saving grace is that both these men will have no problem getting further employment. It just goes to show how unrealistic owners have become.
Still though at least the owners can bribe their way into fans hearts with promises of investment, record signings and cup glory! Unlike the England World Cup bid team who lambasted every other nation for open bribery, whilst continually giving underhand gifts for prospective votes, only to fail to take into account the Eurovision song contest and realise that the rest of the World hates us.
The home of football had the infrastructure, the most economically agreeable bid and fans that would embrace the world’s biggest tournament with an infectiousness that would mean that nobody would be worried about coming to watch their players represent their country on the national stage.
Instead we go to Russia in 2018 where even black players in Russia’s major league say the fans are far to racist to even consider bringing such an international event to the country. Good luck Africa that year.
This choice almost seems normal when compared to 2022 though – Qatar. Fair enough, they are going to air-condition the stadiums with state-of-the-art technology providing the cool climate needed for football. But what about the fans outside? The ones enjoying a beer? Soaking up the atmosphere with their friends and family? Well, not if you’re a woman of course. Or a homosexual. Oh, and no alcohol either.
Do not fear though, combat this we shall. Let’s just laugh about the situation and play the tournament in winter so it is not so hot. Just in the middle of ever other nation’s winter break or busiest schedule. At least Qatar are a world renowned footballing side.
Logically it is mad. When you think about it seriously we have just handed over a “football tournament” to a country which is no good at “football”. It would be like the nation putting someone in the first round of X-factor – who is in everyway terrible, but is still “singing” – through to the final and then voting for them just because we could do! It would be like saying to the unpopular kid at school, “go organise a party and we will all come” and actually meaning it! Only this is the world’s biggest party and other people wanted to host it! It would be like saying “let’s open up the world’s largest sport to everybody” and then giving it to a nation that excludes blacks, gays and women!
But hey-ho, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. The only way the world cup is coming home in the next few years is if England win the thing, or steal it. Thank goodness though for our domestic football. The energy, style and vibrancy creates an atmosphere so intense that even the best players fall to a well organised Blackpool side.
If my club began with a “W” I would be slightly worried, but not too much. West Ham look like they may become only the second side ever to be bottom at Christmas and stay up – West Brom being the other. The league is just that tight. More outlandish results remain ahead leaving only one thing that is for certain, next season the Premiership will see the return of the mighty, dirty-dirty, Leeds United.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Premier League Potential
The World Cup excitement, and premature blues, have come and gone leaving behind a suitable gap in which to prepare for the start of the new Premier League season. With managerial changes, player transfers and injuries to look forwardtoo, who is going to be looking strong come May?
In terms of new faces there appear to be very few who will break into the respective team starting XI’s. Arsenal have managed to hold onto influential Cesc Fabregas, whether he will continue to play as strongly for the Gunners is yet to be witnessed. The Londoners young side should be coming into their own this season, with the added bonus of an out-and-out striker in Chamakh partnering a fully fit Van Persie. The departure of Sol Campbell and William Gallas will do them no harm.
Aston Villa are on the brink of losing their main man James Milner, something which will surely be a detriment to both the team and the player himself. A benchwarming spot at Manchester City awaits. No-one is yet to be brought to Villa but once Milner’s deal goes through expect a replacement to follow. With the other teams improving all around them will a top 6 position be possible for O’Neill’s men?
One of Villa’s midland rivals Birmingham had a storming first season in the Premier League, which caused many a low score for the predictors. On-loan shotstopper Joe Hart was one of the main reasons for their success but naturally he has returned to his parent club, so Ben Foster has been snapped up from Manchester United to fill the gaping hole. To finish as high as they did last season is surely not going to happen?
Blackburn may not fill you with excitement but nor do they worry you for relegation either. Their lack of goals may prove problematic. Kalinic will probably score enough goals to retain Rovers position in the lower half of mid table.
The tangerines of Blackpool are illuminating the Premiership for a year and no doubt they will be effectively out of the Premiership before their lights go out for summer. Ex-Rangers player Charlie Adam is the tower of this side; if he gets crowded out Blackpool could be in even more trouble, not that you can finish below 20th.
Bolton are another side who will hear the calls of mid-table boredom. Manager Owen Coyle is astute enough to keep the Reebok Stadium in the top league next season. The additions of Marcos Alonso from Real Madrid, Martin Petrov from Manchester City and Robbie Blake from Burnley are probably three of the best signings this season. Holding onto central midfielder Muamba is also a large bonus.
Chelsea topped the table last season and maybe surprisingly will be fielding a pretty similar team to that of last season. New signings Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Kalas do not look like first teams regulars, whereas Ballack and Joe Cole have moved on. Will the old guard of Terry and Lampard keep this side at the top after such a disappointing World Cup?
There appears to be no new flavour in the Toffee bag either, unless Jermaine Beckford exceeds expectations. Injuries hampered the Merseyside team last season, improving dramatically when all their players were available in the latter half of the season. If all the starting XI remain fit expect a small push for a top 6 place.
Mark Hughes will have a job on his hands achieving as much as Roy Hodgson did at Fulham. The introduction of Jonathan Greening will add some creative presence in midfield, although it may already be occupied by Duff, Murphy, Etuhu and Davies. The loss of Chris Smalling to Manchester United will not aid Sparky’s cause.
Roy Hodgson’s new challenge is reviving a Liverpool side that has slummed out of the top four and into the embarrassment of qualifying rounds for the Europa League. He has managed to keep hold of his major players whilst the capture of Joe Cole on a free transfer is definitely a superb signing. However, Torres is continually injured and Gerrard is struggling to do everything himself. Expect a push for the top 4, whether they will get there is to be witnessed.
One of the sides standing firmly in their way is the cash-flowing Manchester City. The Blues have their sights set on silverware, and lots of it. It’s just a shame the player’s jewellery boxes don’t count. New signings David Silva, Yaye Toure, Alex Kolarov and Jerome Boateng will do nothing for their outgoings, or for their compliance with the new Premiership ruling of only having 25 players in the squad, with 8 of those being home-grown players. Keeping everyone happy is going to be an impossible task. Their summer signing spree is not finished yet either.
In stark contrast to their arch rivals, Manchester United have spent very little this summer. Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez have been brought in but both have their eyes set on the future. Rooney will be looked upon to score the goals, if he misfires as he did for England the Red Devils could be struggling.
The Magpies are back in the Premiership and expect them to be there next season. They are by far the strongest of the promoted sides and will take no prisoners at St.James’s Park. Smith and Barton have enough to unsettle any visiting team, unsurprisingly though their discipline may be a concern. The signing of Sol Campbell mystifies.
Stoke will be looking to break into the top 10 this season as their large, physical style of football has firmly established them as a middle table team. Tony Pulis has worked wonders with his team and has changed his side very little over the last two seasons. Etherington and Delap will provide most of the balls for Fuller, Sidibe and Shawcross to convert.
Sunderland are one of the teams fighting Stoke for that elusive top-ten finish and this year they may be on the brink of achieving that goal. Jones and Bent will once more provide the firepower whilst Titus Bramble has been brought in to, yes this is right, tighten up the defence...The Black Cats have a strong core that should see Steve Bruce’s men do well this season.
Harry Redknapp’s side will have their sights set on the 4th Champions League spot once again this season. The distraction of being in the actual tournament may hamper their chances of remaining 4th in the domestic league, yet their large squad should help them out. Sandro is the only new signing so far, but then again they already have two full sides that would give any team a good game.
West Brom start the season just one place above the relegation zone and they shall be looking to hold onto that spot for as long as possible. Roberto Di Matteo is a quality young manager, adding a more resolute style to the team that tried to play free-flowing football in the Premiership and won only relegation. They will be there or there about come May, at the bottom that is.
West Ham on the other hand, finished last season in a nail biting 17th place but after sorting out their financial insecurities they will look to establish themselves in the middle of the table once more. The squad has too much talent to be in a relegation battle, supposedly. Parker will once more maraud the midfield with previous Premiership fan favourite Thomas Hitzlsperger – a.k.a “The Hammer” – joining the Hammers. The London side may hope Rob Green remains a safe pair of hands.
Wigan may be one of the teams dicing with death come May. At times last season they beat the top teams, at other times they were demolished or beaten by a poor outfit. Consistency is the key in this league and Wigan don’t have it. All hope will be on the new signing Mauro Boselli but how often do new foreign strikers settle easily in the Premiership?
The final team, Wolves, face a similar fate as Wigan. Every match will be a battle, with every point key to staying another year in the top league in England. Steven Fletcher has been snapped-up from relegated Burnley for £6.5million, as has Stephen Hunt from Hull City for a mere £3million. Buying previously relegated players does not bode well.
It is clear the Premiership is going to be tight this season, whether it be at the top or the bottom. It may be that three distinct mini-leagues appear within the main affair. Of course there are always teams that do better than expected, as well as the one team that struggles. Who will it be this season? You decide.
In terms of new faces there appear to be very few who will break into the respective team starting XI’s. Arsenal have managed to hold onto influential Cesc Fabregas, whether he will continue to play as strongly for the Gunners is yet to be witnessed. The Londoners young side should be coming into their own this season, with the added bonus of an out-and-out striker in Chamakh partnering a fully fit Van Persie. The departure of Sol Campbell and William Gallas will do them no harm.
Aston Villa are on the brink of losing their main man James Milner, something which will surely be a detriment to both the team and the player himself. A benchwarming spot at Manchester City awaits. No-one is yet to be brought to Villa but once Milner’s deal goes through expect a replacement to follow. With the other teams improving all around them will a top 6 position be possible for O’Neill’s men?
One of Villa’s midland rivals Birmingham had a storming first season in the Premier League, which caused many a low score for the predictors. On-loan shotstopper Joe Hart was one of the main reasons for their success but naturally he has returned to his parent club, so Ben Foster has been snapped up from Manchester United to fill the gaping hole. To finish as high as they did last season is surely not going to happen?
Blackburn may not fill you with excitement but nor do they worry you for relegation either. Their lack of goals may prove problematic. Kalinic will probably score enough goals to retain Rovers position in the lower half of mid table.
The tangerines of Blackpool are illuminating the Premiership for a year and no doubt they will be effectively out of the Premiership before their lights go out for summer. Ex-Rangers player Charlie Adam is the tower of this side; if he gets crowded out Blackpool could be in even more trouble, not that you can finish below 20th.
Bolton are another side who will hear the calls of mid-table boredom. Manager Owen Coyle is astute enough to keep the Reebok Stadium in the top league next season. The additions of Marcos Alonso from Real Madrid, Martin Petrov from Manchester City and Robbie Blake from Burnley are probably three of the best signings this season. Holding onto central midfielder Muamba is also a large bonus.
Chelsea topped the table last season and maybe surprisingly will be fielding a pretty similar team to that of last season. New signings Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Kalas do not look like first teams regulars, whereas Ballack and Joe Cole have moved on. Will the old guard of Terry and Lampard keep this side at the top after such a disappointing World Cup?
There appears to be no new flavour in the Toffee bag either, unless Jermaine Beckford exceeds expectations. Injuries hampered the Merseyside team last season, improving dramatically when all their players were available in the latter half of the season. If all the starting XI remain fit expect a small push for a top 6 place.
Mark Hughes will have a job on his hands achieving as much as Roy Hodgson did at Fulham. The introduction of Jonathan Greening will add some creative presence in midfield, although it may already be occupied by Duff, Murphy, Etuhu and Davies. The loss of Chris Smalling to Manchester United will not aid Sparky’s cause.
Roy Hodgson’s new challenge is reviving a Liverpool side that has slummed out of the top four and into the embarrassment of qualifying rounds for the Europa League. He has managed to keep hold of his major players whilst the capture of Joe Cole on a free transfer is definitely a superb signing. However, Torres is continually injured and Gerrard is struggling to do everything himself. Expect a push for the top 4, whether they will get there is to be witnessed.
One of the sides standing firmly in their way is the cash-flowing Manchester City. The Blues have their sights set on silverware, and lots of it. It’s just a shame the player’s jewellery boxes don’t count. New signings David Silva, Yaye Toure, Alex Kolarov and Jerome Boateng will do nothing for their outgoings, or for their compliance with the new Premiership ruling of only having 25 players in the squad, with 8 of those being home-grown players. Keeping everyone happy is going to be an impossible task. Their summer signing spree is not finished yet either.
In stark contrast to their arch rivals, Manchester United have spent very little this summer. Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez have been brought in but both have their eyes set on the future. Rooney will be looked upon to score the goals, if he misfires as he did for England the Red Devils could be struggling.
The Magpies are back in the Premiership and expect them to be there next season. They are by far the strongest of the promoted sides and will take no prisoners at St.James’s Park. Smith and Barton have enough to unsettle any visiting team, unsurprisingly though their discipline may be a concern. The signing of Sol Campbell mystifies.
Stoke will be looking to break into the top 10 this season as their large, physical style of football has firmly established them as a middle table team. Tony Pulis has worked wonders with his team and has changed his side very little over the last two seasons. Etherington and Delap will provide most of the balls for Fuller, Sidibe and Shawcross to convert.
Sunderland are one of the teams fighting Stoke for that elusive top-ten finish and this year they may be on the brink of achieving that goal. Jones and Bent will once more provide the firepower whilst Titus Bramble has been brought in to, yes this is right, tighten up the defence...The Black Cats have a strong core that should see Steve Bruce’s men do well this season.
Harry Redknapp’s side will have their sights set on the 4th Champions League spot once again this season. The distraction of being in the actual tournament may hamper their chances of remaining 4th in the domestic league, yet their large squad should help them out. Sandro is the only new signing so far, but then again they already have two full sides that would give any team a good game.
West Brom start the season just one place above the relegation zone and they shall be looking to hold onto that spot for as long as possible. Roberto Di Matteo is a quality young manager, adding a more resolute style to the team that tried to play free-flowing football in the Premiership and won only relegation. They will be there or there about come May, at the bottom that is.
West Ham on the other hand, finished last season in a nail biting 17th place but after sorting out their financial insecurities they will look to establish themselves in the middle of the table once more. The squad has too much talent to be in a relegation battle, supposedly. Parker will once more maraud the midfield with previous Premiership fan favourite Thomas Hitzlsperger – a.k.a “The Hammer” – joining the Hammers. The London side may hope Rob Green remains a safe pair of hands.
Wigan may be one of the teams dicing with death come May. At times last season they beat the top teams, at other times they were demolished or beaten by a poor outfit. Consistency is the key in this league and Wigan don’t have it. All hope will be on the new signing Mauro Boselli but how often do new foreign strikers settle easily in the Premiership?
The final team, Wolves, face a similar fate as Wigan. Every match will be a battle, with every point key to staying another year in the top league in England. Steven Fletcher has been snapped-up from relegated Burnley for £6.5million, as has Stephen Hunt from Hull City for a mere £3million. Buying previously relegated players does not bode well.
It is clear the Premiership is going to be tight this season, whether it be at the top or the bottom. It may be that three distinct mini-leagues appear within the main affair. Of course there are always teams that do better than expected, as well as the one team that struggles. Who will it be this season? You decide.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
USA
The USA still have not come round to the sport of soccer as much as the other much beloved sports across the pond. However, an opening match in this year’s World Cup against the home of football provides the team with an opportunity to ignite a fury of excitement amongst Americans if a result can be achieved.
The USA naturally walked through qualifying beating Barbados 8-0 at the start of the campaign. They topped the third stage of qualifying when put against the best CONCACAF could offer and have now, despite being placed with England, been landed with a relatively straight forward group.
Group C hosts England, Slovenia and Algeria. England will be favourites, yet their recently poor showing at World Cups will probably mean they are one of the weaker seeded sides, giving the USA hope of at least a point, and maybe more. Slovenia and Algeria should both be overcome by an USA side with increasingly talent.
The USA’s main strength is their fitness. This is unsurprisingly for a nation that places a lot of emphasis on running for long periods at a quick pace. This increased stamina allows manager Bob Bradley to play a 4-4-2 formation, with the left and right-backs both given the licence to join in the attack as wing-backs.
Johnathan Spector and captain Carlos Bocanegra will play this role well. Both of them have experience with British clubs and so will know the English game well. Spector and Bocanegra have an all-round ability which allows them to push forward, yet they can also play anywhere along the back four.
In Tim Howard the USA have an excellent goalkeeper. Having played for Manchester United and Everton his reading of the English game will also be vital. He has been consistently strong for the Toffees so do not expect him to leak easy goals.
His two central defenders however, have been known to be susceptible to errors. Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu are both extremely physical players. Expect them to winch out of no challenge. Their over-the-top presence can be exploited though.
The midfield four of Donovan, Bradley, Clark and Dempsey are the bed-rock of the team. Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey all weighed in with 5 goals during qualification which is high for midfielders. Donovan and Dempsey will terrorise the wings, giving opposing full-backs a torrid time.
Donovan has 120caps for his country already, at the surprisingly young age of just 28 – the receding hairline clearly not an accurate representation. His 42 goals for the country make him also the USA’s all-time leading goalscorer. His brief spell at Everton was a great success. As for Dempsey his time at Fulham has been full of success, helping them reach the UEFA Cup Final this summer.
Hull City’s Jozy Altidore will lead the line up top. The 20 year olds presence will be felt by marking defenders. His 6 goals in qualifying made him the USA’s top goalscorer in the campaign. He will be expected to add to his goals for the nation.
The USA had an unexpected good Confederations Cup in 2009, beating Spain – the only team to do so in over 40 games the Spanish have played – and pushing Brazil in the Final. However, whether they can continue this run of form against the top teams is to be witnessed.
In their favour they do have a group that makes progression to the last 16 almost a guarantee. To lose out against Algeria or Slovenia would be a surprise. Once through the group stage better opposition await, yet on their day they can beat anyone. Let’s just hope they do not beat England on their way.
The USA naturally walked through qualifying beating Barbados 8-0 at the start of the campaign. They topped the third stage of qualifying when put against the best CONCACAF could offer and have now, despite being placed with England, been landed with a relatively straight forward group.
Group C hosts England, Slovenia and Algeria. England will be favourites, yet their recently poor showing at World Cups will probably mean they are one of the weaker seeded sides, giving the USA hope of at least a point, and maybe more. Slovenia and Algeria should both be overcome by an USA side with increasingly talent.
The USA’s main strength is their fitness. This is unsurprisingly for a nation that places a lot of emphasis on running for long periods at a quick pace. This increased stamina allows manager Bob Bradley to play a 4-4-2 formation, with the left and right-backs both given the licence to join in the attack as wing-backs.
Johnathan Spector and captain Carlos Bocanegra will play this role well. Both of them have experience with British clubs and so will know the English game well. Spector and Bocanegra have an all-round ability which allows them to push forward, yet they can also play anywhere along the back four.
In Tim Howard the USA have an excellent goalkeeper. Having played for Manchester United and Everton his reading of the English game will also be vital. He has been consistently strong for the Toffees so do not expect him to leak easy goals.
His two central defenders however, have been known to be susceptible to errors. Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu are both extremely physical players. Expect them to winch out of no challenge. Their over-the-top presence can be exploited though.
The midfield four of Donovan, Bradley, Clark and Dempsey are the bed-rock of the team. Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey all weighed in with 5 goals during qualification which is high for midfielders. Donovan and Dempsey will terrorise the wings, giving opposing full-backs a torrid time.
Donovan has 120caps for his country already, at the surprisingly young age of just 28 – the receding hairline clearly not an accurate representation. His 42 goals for the country make him also the USA’s all-time leading goalscorer. His brief spell at Everton was a great success. As for Dempsey his time at Fulham has been full of success, helping them reach the UEFA Cup Final this summer.
Hull City’s Jozy Altidore will lead the line up top. The 20 year olds presence will be felt by marking defenders. His 6 goals in qualifying made him the USA’s top goalscorer in the campaign. He will be expected to add to his goals for the nation.
The USA had an unexpected good Confederations Cup in 2009, beating Spain – the only team to do so in over 40 games the Spanish have played – and pushing Brazil in the Final. However, whether they can continue this run of form against the top teams is to be witnessed.
In their favour they do have a group that makes progression to the last 16 almost a guarantee. To lose out against Algeria or Slovenia would be a surprise. Once through the group stage better opposition await, yet on their day they can beat anyone. Let’s just hope they do not beat England on their way.
USA
The USA still have not come round to the sport of soccer as much as the other much beloved sports across the pond. However, an opening match in this year’s World Cup against the home of football provides the team with an opportunity to ignite a fury of excitement amongst Americans if a result can be achieved.
The USA naturally walked through qualifying beating Barbados 8-0 at the start of the campaign. They topped the third stage of qualifying when put against the best CONCACAF could offer and have now, despite being placed with England, been landed with a relatively straight forward group.
Group C attends England, Slovenia and Algeria. England will be favourites, yet their recently poor showing at World Cups will probably mean they are one of the weaker seeded sides, giving the USA hope of at least a point, and maybe more. Slovenia and Algeria should both be overcome by an USA side with increasingly talent.
The USA’s main strength is their fitness. This is unsurprisingly for a nation that places a lot of emphasis on running for long periods at a quick pace. This increased stamina allows manager Bob Bradley to play a 4-4-2 formation, with the left and right-backs both given the licence to join in the attack as wing-backs.
Johnathan Spector and captain Carlos Bocanegra will play this role well. Both of them have experience with British clubs and so will know the English game well. Spector and Bocanegra have an all-round ability which allows them to push forward, yet they can also play anywhere along the back four.
In Tim Howard the USA have an excellent goalkeeper. Having played for Manchester United and Everton his reading of the English game will also be vital. He has been consistently strong for the Toffees so do not expect him to leak easy goals.
His two central defenders however, have been known to be susceptible to errors. Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu are both extremely physical players. Expect them to winch out of no challenge. Their over-the-top presence can be exploited though.
The midfield four of Donovan, Bradley, Clark and Dempsey are the bed-rock of the team. Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey all weighed in with 5 goals during qualification which is high for midfielders. Donovan and Dempsey will terrorise the wings, giving opposing full-backs a torrid time.
Donovan has 120caps for his country already, at the surprisingly young age of just 28 – the receding hairline clearly not an accurate representation. His 42 goals for the country make him also the USA’s all-time leading goalscorer. His brief spell at Everton was a great success. As for Dempsey his time at Fulham has been full of success, helping them reach the UEFA Cup Final this summer.
Hull City’s Jozy Altidore will lead the line up top. The 20 year olds presence will be felt by marking defenders. His 6 goals in qualifying made him the USA’s top goalscorer in the campaign. He will be expected to add to his goals for the nation.
The USA had an unexpected good Confederations Cup in 2009, beating Spain – the only team to do so in over 40 games they Spanish have played – and pushing Brazil in the Final. However, whether they can continue this run of form against the top teams is to be witnessed.
In their favour they do have a good that makes progression to the last 16 almost a guarantee. To lose out against Algeria or Slovenia would be a surprise. Once through the group stage better opposition await, yet on their day they can beat anyone. Let’s just hope they do not beat England on their way.
The USA naturally walked through qualifying beating Barbados 8-0 at the start of the campaign. They topped the third stage of qualifying when put against the best CONCACAF could offer and have now, despite being placed with England, been landed with a relatively straight forward group.
Group C attends England, Slovenia and Algeria. England will be favourites, yet their recently poor showing at World Cups will probably mean they are one of the weaker seeded sides, giving the USA hope of at least a point, and maybe more. Slovenia and Algeria should both be overcome by an USA side with increasingly talent.
The USA’s main strength is their fitness. This is unsurprisingly for a nation that places a lot of emphasis on running for long periods at a quick pace. This increased stamina allows manager Bob Bradley to play a 4-4-2 formation, with the left and right-backs both given the licence to join in the attack as wing-backs.
Johnathan Spector and captain Carlos Bocanegra will play this role well. Both of them have experience with British clubs and so will know the English game well. Spector and Bocanegra have an all-round ability which allows them to push forward, yet they can also play anywhere along the back four.
In Tim Howard the USA have an excellent goalkeeper. Having played for Manchester United and Everton his reading of the English game will also be vital. He has been consistently strong for the Toffees so do not expect him to leak easy goals.
His two central defenders however, have been known to be susceptible to errors. Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu are both extremely physical players. Expect them to winch out of no challenge. Their over-the-top presence can be exploited though.
The midfield four of Donovan, Bradley, Clark and Dempsey are the bed-rock of the team. Donovan, Bradley and Dempsey all weighed in with 5 goals during qualification which is high for midfielders. Donovan and Dempsey will terrorise the wings, giving opposing full-backs a torrid time.
Donovan has 120caps for his country already, at the surprisingly young age of just 28 – the receding hairline clearly not an accurate representation. His 42 goals for the country make him also the USA’s all-time leading goalscorer. His brief spell at Everton was a great success. As for Dempsey his time at Fulham has been full of success, helping them reach the UEFA Cup Final this summer.
Hull City’s Jozy Altidore will lead the line up top. The 20 year olds presence will be felt by marking defenders. His 6 goals in qualifying made him the USA’s top goalscorer in the campaign. He will be expected to add to his goals for the nation.
The USA had an unexpected good Confederations Cup in 2009, beating Spain – the only team to do so in over 40 games they Spanish have played – and pushing Brazil in the Final. However, whether they can continue this run of form against the top teams is to be witnessed.
In their favour they do have a good that makes progression to the last 16 almost a guarantee. To lose out against Algeria or Slovenia would be a surprise. Once through the group stage better opposition await, yet on their day they can beat anyone. Let’s just hope they do not beat England on their way.
Friday, 11 June 2010
Uruguay
Uruguay have once more qualified through the play-offs to reach the World Cup. Goals away by Lugano and at home by Abreu gave Uruguay an aggregate 2-1 victory over the unfortunate Costa Rica to make it to the finals. How they fair there, will probably correspond with how Deigo Forlan plays for them.
With countries such as Brazil and Argentina in their qualifying group, it is always going to be a challenge to qualify for the World Cup. Two other nations are guaranteed a ticket yet one more can be obtained, as it so invariably has, through a play-off match against a North American qualifier. So Uruguay have done well to make it to South Africa with a form that looks somewhat patchy.
Uruguay only won one game against another team that is managed to battle through qualification to reach South Africa, a 2-0 won at home against Paraguay. This lack of results against the better teams may show us that they may well struggle this summer.
The South American’s have managed to land themselves in Group A, which contains France (last times beaten finalists), Mexico (an omnipresent second round nation) and South Africa (the tournament hosts). Each tie is tricky for different reasons, but Uruguay do have the talent to cope, if they perform to their full potential.
The front pair of Deigo Forlan and Luis Suarez are a dangerous combination. Forlan will be remembered forever in Britain for being one of the biggest flops the Premier League has witnessed, going 50 games for Manchester United. However, he has topped the lead goalscorer charts in La Liga twice – once for Villarreal and once for Atletico Madrid.
Luis Suarez is Ajex’s club captain and has netted almost 70 goals in 100 matches for the side, an unbelievable achievement. Suarez scored four goals in qualifying and will be looking to score more at the World Cup. If he fails to hit the target, Oscar Tabarez can always bring on the reliable Sebastian Abreu, who scored 6 goals, many of which were after coming off the bench.
Expect to see Oscar Tabarez to field an attacking 5-3-2 formation, with defensive midfielders holding, giving the wing-backs licence to rampage forward to join in with the action in the latter parts of the pitch. This is his second time in charge of the national side, having taken Uruguay to the knock-out stages of Italia 90.
Despite playing with seemingly attacking wing-backs, MartinCaceres and Maxi Pereira are more natural gifted at defending. So do not expect to see too much flair coming from wide areas of the pitch.
Diego Lugano is the Uruguay captain and is also a solid centre-back. He will play in the middle of the back three, controlling the game with this feet and his voice. His head has also being very useful going forward, with Lugano scoring 4 goals during qualification, including the first against Costa Rica in the play-off.
Uruguay will be looking to progress to the second round, yet their group is tough. France will be expected to win and South Africa will look no doubt play better than their abilities suggest with the tournament being played there. However, Uruguay have the power to overcome all three of their group opponents, it is just whether their form will give them the consistency to play the football they are capable of. We shall have to wait and see.
With countries such as Brazil and Argentina in their qualifying group, it is always going to be a challenge to qualify for the World Cup. Two other nations are guaranteed a ticket yet one more can be obtained, as it so invariably has, through a play-off match against a North American qualifier. So Uruguay have done well to make it to South Africa with a form that looks somewhat patchy.
Uruguay only won one game against another team that is managed to battle through qualification to reach South Africa, a 2-0 won at home against Paraguay. This lack of results against the better teams may show us that they may well struggle this summer.
The South American’s have managed to land themselves in Group A, which contains France (last times beaten finalists), Mexico (an omnipresent second round nation) and South Africa (the tournament hosts). Each tie is tricky for different reasons, but Uruguay do have the talent to cope, if they perform to their full potential.
The front pair of Deigo Forlan and Luis Suarez are a dangerous combination. Forlan will be remembered forever in Britain for being one of the biggest flops the Premier League has witnessed, going 50 games for Manchester United. However, he has topped the lead goalscorer charts in La Liga twice – once for Villarreal and once for Atletico Madrid.
Luis Suarez is Ajex’s club captain and has netted almost 70 goals in 100 matches for the side, an unbelievable achievement. Suarez scored four goals in qualifying and will be looking to score more at the World Cup. If he fails to hit the target, Oscar Tabarez can always bring on the reliable Sebastian Abreu, who scored 6 goals, many of which were after coming off the bench.
Expect to see Oscar Tabarez to field an attacking 5-3-2 formation, with defensive midfielders holding, giving the wing-backs licence to rampage forward to join in with the action in the latter parts of the pitch. This is his second time in charge of the national side, having taken Uruguay to the knock-out stages of Italia 90.
Despite playing with seemingly attacking wing-backs, MartinCaceres and Maxi Pereira are more natural gifted at defending. So do not expect to see too much flair coming from wide areas of the pitch.
Diego Lugano is the Uruguay captain and is also a solid centre-back. He will play in the middle of the back three, controlling the game with this feet and his voice. His head has also being very useful going forward, with Lugano scoring 4 goals during qualification, including the first against Costa Rica in the play-off.
Uruguay will be looking to progress to the second round, yet their group is tough. France will be expected to win and South Africa will look no doubt play better than their abilities suggest with the tournament being played there. However, Uruguay have the power to overcome all three of their group opponents, it is just whether their form will give them the consistency to play the football they are capable of. We shall have to wait and see.
Switzerland
Undoubtedly, the Swiss are the most boring football team to watch this tournament. Their last appearance in Germany 2006 encapsulated perfectly what this nation is all about, drawing 0-0 with France, yet beating Togo and South Korea both 2-0 to progress to the last 16. The game against the Ukraine was eventually decided on penalties after 120minutes of mind-numbing goalless boredom. Ukraine missed their fair share and still managed to go through as the Swiss scored none in the shootout.
So, as you may guess, Switzerland are not a team full of attacking flair. They were the only side in Germany 2006 not to concede a goal in regulation play, a fine achievement. They grind out results and defend solidly. Unlike some of the other nations who defend on the basis of physical strength – such as Greece and Serbia – Switzerland rely on ball possession. What is missing is attacking pizzazz.
Inler and Fernandes control games from the centre of the park, yet they struggle to know what to do with the ball once they receive it, unless a square or backward pass is on. However, both break-up the opponents play well, making it hard for opposing teams to attack the defence.
The two wingers will look to provide some small spark. Tranquillo Barnetta helped Bayer Leverkusen go on an unbeaten 24-match unbeaten run at the start of the season, but this does not mean they won all 24 games, or that he aided the side in an attacking sense. Marco Padalino will make an appearance on the right having scored once in his 7 caps, a seemingly high strike-rate in this side.
The defence is marshalled by Philippe Senderos. The ex-Arsenal man is on his day a fine central defender. However, he can be prone to the odd case of stupidity, which may be why he is a former Arsenal player and not a current one.
The right-back Stephen Lichtsteiner is a capable player for Lazio. He also completed a banking apprenticeship. Unlike Ludovic Magnin who not only plays left-back but also is a qualified primary school teacher.
The strikepartnership of Alexander Frei and Blaise Nkufo score a large majority of the Swiss goals. In qualifying Switzerland scored 18 goals, Frei and Nkufo scored 10. Frei is the national team’s all-time leading goal-scorer, however, he frequently underperforms on the biggest stage and is a race to recover from injury.
Ottmar Hitzfeld is the Swiss national coach. He has won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. He will be looking to use all his tactical astuteness to man-manage Switzerland through to the second round. However, he will rarely change from a standard 4-4-2.
In a recent Four-Four-Two magazine, there were reports on each nation competing in the World Cup. Next to each article was a picture, usually of the team celebrating qualifying. For Switzerland, there was a picture of the national side training in the background, whilst in the foreground there was a cow with a bell round the neck. This is all they could do to liven up the Swiss team.
Switzerland will look to stifle their opponents. Spain will easily overcome this tactic. Chile have a great attacking flair, so expect a game played in two halves, depending on which one Switzerland is defending at the time. Honduras should find Switzerland hard to break down and so this may prove to be Switzerland’s one chance of points in South Africa.
Switzerland will struggle to get out of the group stages. To do so they will have to play some boring football. Only once in qualifying did they score more than 2 goals – they scored 3 against Luxembourg – however they never let in more than 2 either. So, they won’t even be entertaining in a embarrassing big loss way. Therefore, taking all this into account, Switzerland may be one team I may not mind missing during the tournament in South Africa.
So, as you may guess, Switzerland are not a team full of attacking flair. They were the only side in Germany 2006 not to concede a goal in regulation play, a fine achievement. They grind out results and defend solidly. Unlike some of the other nations who defend on the basis of physical strength – such as Greece and Serbia – Switzerland rely on ball possession. What is missing is attacking pizzazz.
Inler and Fernandes control games from the centre of the park, yet they struggle to know what to do with the ball once they receive it, unless a square or backward pass is on. However, both break-up the opponents play well, making it hard for opposing teams to attack the defence.
The two wingers will look to provide some small spark. Tranquillo Barnetta helped Bayer Leverkusen go on an unbeaten 24-match unbeaten run at the start of the season, but this does not mean they won all 24 games, or that he aided the side in an attacking sense. Marco Padalino will make an appearance on the right having scored once in his 7 caps, a seemingly high strike-rate in this side.
The defence is marshalled by Philippe Senderos. The ex-Arsenal man is on his day a fine central defender. However, he can be prone to the odd case of stupidity, which may be why he is a former Arsenal player and not a current one.
The right-back Stephen Lichtsteiner is a capable player for Lazio. He also completed a banking apprenticeship. Unlike Ludovic Magnin who not only plays left-back but also is a qualified primary school teacher.
The strikepartnership of Alexander Frei and Blaise Nkufo score a large majority of the Swiss goals. In qualifying Switzerland scored 18 goals, Frei and Nkufo scored 10. Frei is the national team’s all-time leading goal-scorer, however, he frequently underperforms on the biggest stage and is a race to recover from injury.
Ottmar Hitzfeld is the Swiss national coach. He has won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. He will be looking to use all his tactical astuteness to man-manage Switzerland through to the second round. However, he will rarely change from a standard 4-4-2.
In a recent Four-Four-Two magazine, there were reports on each nation competing in the World Cup. Next to each article was a picture, usually of the team celebrating qualifying. For Switzerland, there was a picture of the national side training in the background, whilst in the foreground there was a cow with a bell round the neck. This is all they could do to liven up the Swiss team.
Switzerland will look to stifle their opponents. Spain will easily overcome this tactic. Chile have a great attacking flair, so expect a game played in two halves, depending on which one Switzerland is defending at the time. Honduras should find Switzerland hard to break down and so this may prove to be Switzerland’s one chance of points in South Africa.
Switzerland will struggle to get out of the group stages. To do so they will have to play some boring football. Only once in qualifying did they score more than 2 goals – they scored 3 against Luxembourg – however they never let in more than 2 either. So, they won’t even be entertaining in a embarrassing big loss way. Therefore, taking all this into account, Switzerland may be one team I may not mind missing during the tournament in South Africa.
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