“In Spain, they call it ‘Fifa virus’”, said Michael Laudrup last week when pointing out Swansea could have a good chance against Tottenham after the international break. We do call it ‘Fifa virus’, indeed. The Spanish media started using the term to refer to how top teams struggle in the league after most of their stars have been called up by their national team. But are international breaks a real harm for big Premier League clubs, or just an excuse to justify a bad result?
It cannot be denied club managers are partially right when they moan about seeing the majority of their players disappearing for ten days in the middle of the season. They often travel thousands of miles to play for their countries, sometimes pointless games, and come back exhausted – if not injured – without time to prepare the next league fixture.
In Spain, where the spine of the national squad is provided by the Madrid-Barca duo, the attention that the media pays to what Vicente del Bosque asks of his players borders on the absurd, to the point of keeping track of how many minutes the footballers of each one of the two giants have played. If the Spanish coach has used more Barcelona players and rested Real’s ones, the Catalans will raise their voices claiming an outrageous favouritism, and vice versa.
[cat_link cat=”england” type=”list”]
On the other hand, it seems fair to point out what the clubs sometimes overlook in their assertions. The fact is that not always the player has to travel to the other side of the world, overcome the jet lag, fight the hardest of battles and come back from a hectic experience. Sometimes being called up by your national team just means a home game against San Marino, Liechtenstein, or any other weak opponent, bag a 6-0 and job done without more effort than a training session. Definitely not harder than a trip to Russia in the middle of the week for a Champions League fixture, for example. But yet the managers tend to blame the bad results on this so-called ‘Fifa virus’.
The question is, how badly have the international breaks affected the Premier League ‘big boys’ this season? Well, taking into consideration the top five Premier League clubs at the moment (Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal) we can come up with some conclusions.
Since the 2012-13 season started back in August, there have been six international breaks followed by league games. In those Premier League fixtures Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City managed to get 13 out of the 18 points up for grabs. United follow the trio with 12 points, while Tottenham seems to be the most affected, having bagged only half of the points (9). It feels necessary to mention that Spurs had, on paper, the hardest calendar, as two of those six games were direct clashes against Arsenal and Chelsea (having been defeated in both).
Those numbers give a slight idea of how each club have dealt with the international breaks, but a measurement of their performance over the rest of the season is needed in order to get an overarching view of the matter.
Therefore, analysing the rest of the games shows that Manchester United is the most affected team by the breaks, as their performance drops down from an average of 2.7 points in regular games to 2.0 in games after international football is played. Spurs follow the Red Devils with 1.92 points per game against 1.75, while Manchester City seem to perform equally (2.0 versus 2.1). Surprisingly – or maybe not by now – Arsenal (1.7 against 2.1) and Chelsea (1.8 and 2.1) have obtained better results after their stars have been with the national teams.
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.
There could be more factors to consider of course – calendar, miles travelled, number of players used, minutes played -, but the above results show there is not a trend that explains a losing tendency at the top teams. In fact, some teams with plenty of international players (Manchester City, Chelsea) perform as good or better, suggesting that international football does not have a negative impact on their results.
It may be distracting from clubs’ bread and butter or tedious for the fans (no one likes to see the race for a title stopped by a friendly game), and the debate could evolve into how to make international football more attractive – a month in the football calendar only for national teams, perhaps? – but in the meantime we could say that what we call in Spain ‘Fifa virus’ is nothing other than a serious bout of ‘man flu’.
Despite the news that they borrowed £15m last month, QPR claim their shareholders remain focused for the short, medium and long term.
It is the first time during chairman Tony Fernandes’ reign as majority shareholder that the club have borrowed against the club’s assets and it has led to increased fears about the financial future.
QPR are around £90m in debt and almost certainly doomed to relegation – ten points adrift of safety with just five games left – but they insist that all is as it should be at Loftus Road.
A spokesman said: “The club’s shareholders have an ongoing relationship with Barclays and both parties were keen to extend this relationship to include QPR, particularly in light of the club’s stated plans for a new stadium development.
“Given the current financial climate, it demonstrates the clear backing banks want to give our shareholders and their plans for the club.
“The loan is personally guaranteed in full by the club’s shareholders, who remain wholly committed to the club’s short, medium and long-term objectives.”
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.
Today marks David Moyes’ first official day as Manchester United boss, and indeed, the Internet is already rife with pictures of the Scot sat behind a desk somewhere in the depths of the Premier League champions’ training facility at Carrington.
The former Everton manager will already have a number of issues filling up his in-tray, such as his so far unsuccessful pursuit of Leighton Baines and discussions of a new contract with goalkeeper David De Gea following a coming-of-age campaign for the Spaniard that saw him make the PFA Team of the Year, but no matter will be as concerning for David Moyes this summer as the situation regarding Wayne Rooney.
Speculation was triggered in the tabloids following the England international being benched for United’s second-leg Champions League clash with Real Madrid, and despite Ferguson adamantly denying Rooney would be on the move in the summer, the Scot revealed during his final post-match press conference that his forward has made a formal transfer request.
Ever since, a sticky situation has ensued, with the club and Rooney himself distancing themselves from Ferguson’s claim, whilst the mainstream newspapers have speculated moves with every significant European club from Barcelona to Arsenal, with PSG and Chelsea somewhere in the middle.
The ‘showdown talks’ have been built up for some time, due to Rooney being kept busy by the birth of his second son, however, with the transfer window now officially open, United fans will be expecting a clear message from a club that prides itself on avoiding media hysteria sooner rather than later.
[cat_link cat=”manchester-united” type=”tower”]
But whilst the transfer saga has so far been dominated by what the 27 year old’s next destination will be, and whether or not he will remain within the realms of the Premier League, an equally as pressing issue is surely how will David Moyes replace his want-away forward?
Rooney may have his fair share of critics, citing the fact that he is yet to reach the dizzy heights expected of him as an Everton teenager as the main cause of their disapproval, but there is no doubt he is an intrinsic part of the first team at Old Trafford, that cannot simply cut-and-pasted out of the starting XI, with the void filled by a replacement from the continent.
A record of 197 goals in 400 appearances for the Red Devils, in addition to 74 Premier League assists throughout his career, speaks for itself, but Rooney’s importance expands beyond his ability to find consistent end product. The United forward has undertaken an incredibly specific role this season at Old Trafford, operating at the tip of midfield and screening in front of Michael Carrick, whilst also providing vital support to Robin Van Persie in the final third. The task requires that constant work-rate, robustness and energy Rooney possesses, whilst his technical ability is equally as essential. The Premier League champions possess quality and creativity throughout, but in terms of transforming defence into attack and taking the team into the opposition’s half, Rooney’s presence is vital.
With like-for-like replacements few and far between, speculation regarding Rooney’s successor in attacking midfield has been incredibly limited. Thiago Alcantara’s rare contract situation has lead to rumours he could swap La Liga for the Premier League this summer, but we are yet to see any concrete evidence to suggest the Spain Under 21s star will be seeking a move away from the Nou Camp, apart from his £15million availability, triggered by a clause in his contract.
Similarly, with David Moyes reluctant to seem overzealous in his first transfer window, a big money move for an established player appears to be off the cards. The much desired Mario Gotze has already chosen his alliegences for next season, whilst Cesc Fabregas and Luka Modric have dismissed rumours they’ll be pushing the idea of a summer transfer. A number of other promising strikers and midfielders have been linked, such as Christian Eriksen, Kevin Strootman and Robert Lewandowski, but none seem capable of playing in Rooney’s unique duel role, or successfully replacing his physical presence and high work-ethic.
But could it be that the United boss has already written and comfortably filed away in his brand new filing cabinet his ‘Rooney Plan B’ for next season, with the candidate to fill the void already on the roster at Old Trafford? The man I am insinuating as the England man’s successor in attacking midfield is Japan international Shinji Kagawa.
It’s difficult to sum up Kagawa’s inaugural campaign in England in a few simple words, and it’s understandable why overall opinion is divided on the 24 year old. Measuring in at just 5 foot 7, the physical nature of the Premier League could well be too much for Kagawa, and the intensity of the English top flight undoubtedly took its toll this year, with the midfielder sidelined from October to January after twisting his knee in the Champions League.
It’s limited Kagawa’s game time this year, recording just 20 Premier League appearances, and furthermore, limited us to analyse the Japanese’s quality. But overall, from what I’ve seen of the United man, considering he’s not only battled with fitness but also the language barrier this season, I feel he’s shown enormous potential. Six goals and three assists in 17 domestic starts, including a hatrick against Reading, is decent if unimpressive, whilst a pass completion ratio of 89% is a solid return for a midfielder who is predominantly forward thinking.
According to OPTA, his pass completion in the final third stands at 85%, considerably higher than Rooney’s, at 73%. Similarly, Rooney has been directly dispossessed 50 times this season, and lost possession on 398 occasions in 28 Premier League appearances, whilst Kagawa has been dispossessed just 33 times and lost possession 172 times in eight less domestic appearances in comparison to the England international.
Of course, there are several areas where Rooney unsurprisingly trumps his Red Devils team-mate. The 27 year old has created almost double the amount of chances from open play – 33 to Kagawa’s 16 – and this season’s record of 13 goals and 13 assists for 33 appearances in the English top flight and Champions League combined speaks for itself. Furthermore, Rooney also outweighs the Japan international in terms of defensive contribution, winning possession a total of 113 times in the Premier League, including 41 times in his own third and 16 times in the attacking third, with a tackle success rate of 95%, in comparison to Kagawa’s total of just 66, with a tackle success rate of 88%.
But there is only so much you can take from statistics, and there is the ongoing debate regarding what they actually prove that a good analysis from the naked eye cannot. But it’s rather telling that towards the end of United’s title-winning campaign, despite it being a crucial time of the year, Ferguson favoured Kagawa to Rooney on several occasions, and the Japanese outshone his team-mate considerably amid an intense fixture against West Ham, whilst Kagawa’s presence in the squad alone is undoubtedly contributing to the England man’s indecisiveness regarding his future in Manchester.
It may be a surprising hypothesis to some, but prior to this season, Kagawa netted 21 goals in 49 appearances in two years in the Bundesliga, contributing heavily to Borussia Dortmund’s two consecutive league titles. Similarly, he has grown in stature throughout the season, and although his all-round game is yet to reach the level required for the Premier League, we’ve seen from the 24 year old an ability to score and provide goals, keep the ball well, and an undying engine that often leaves him with having covered more ground than the rest of his team-mates in any given fixture.
But can he take the reins over from a man who has been the heartbeat of the United starting XI for the best part of a decade? Gary Neville believes Kagawa’s future lies on the wing, however, I humbly disagree. Rooney very much represents the qualities of the last ten years of the Premier League, whilst his Japanese counter-part could have the unique skills set required in the English top flight’s immediate future. Midfields are becoming weaker, more progressive and technically based, whilst the necessity of pace above all other attributes is becoming more evident by the game.
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.
Kagawa maintains within him both of these integral qualities, whilst also capable of performing a similar role as Rooney in serving his team in both attack and midfield. The Japan international’s performances still have an element of hot and cold about them, but the consistency will come with regular and extended game time.
Fans are crying out for Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to fill the void Rooney would leave behind, others Gareth Bale, whilst pundits have suggested David Moyes will have to reinvent the wheel to some extent, at least in terms of formations, should the England international decide on a summer departure.
But the solution could well be at the club already, in Shinji Kagawa. Installing the entirety of his faith in one player who is yet to fully excel in England is undoubtedly a risk on the Scot’s part, amid a campaign where the difference between success and failure will be slimmer than ever, but it could pay off dividends, whilst also leaving him one less difficult task in the transfer market in terms of finding an adequate replacement for Rooney, which could represent an equally as bold gamble.
The Belgian frontman had found himself in high demand this summer following continual pursuit from Tottenham and a host of other clubs. A deal indeed seemed likely after Benteke handed in a transfer request to Aston Villa. However, last week any potential for a move seemed to be quashed with the announcement that he had signed a new deal with the Premier League club. Was this surprise turn of events a question of club loyalty of just self-interest?
Loyalty in modern football is an incredibly perplexing notion. Largely gone are the days of the one club man happy to tie his colours to the mast. Can you imagine the likes of a Jimmy Armfield or Stan Cullis handing in a transfer request to push through a move? This isn’t loyalty of any kind, this is simply holding out for the best deal. I don’t begrudge Benteke nor am I surprised at his actions. In a world of money enthused agents, it is commonplace for a player of Benteke’s calibre to work his situation to an advantage. In signing a new contract, with what I presume is a higher wage packet, the player has achieved exactly that. If Villa were unwilling to up Benteke’s wages it would have been interesting to see where his view on loyalty stood then.
Paul Lambert outlined the change of heart in his comments made on the clubs website:
“Having had time to re-evaluate his future Christian Benteke has decided to commit to the club,”
I would presume Lambert would have been quite frank about what the Belgian owed to a club that had placed so much faith in him. Indeed I do not imagine Benteke is heartless enough not to care about these sorts of considerations. However, I think this re-evaluation in the main was in regard to the Belgian’s transfer options.
None of the big clubs that had shown so much interest appeared to be willing to make concrete offers. At least not offers which matched anything near Villa’s valuation. If this valuation had been met I am sure Christian Benteke would have willingly been off to ply his trade elsewhere. Arguably the influence of agents on players causes these sorts of scenarios to happen, and the people he trusts have placed a man of Benteke’s age in a difficult situation.
Yet when you look on the face of it, the saga appears to have been a shrewd bit of business by the Belgian’s people. They were able to test the waters to see what options lay elsewhere, and when that failed they were able to get an improved deal for their client. In financial terms this was an incredibly well thought out move by both the player and his representatives.
So how does his decision to go back on a transfer request affect him in footballing terms? I doubt the Villa faithful will find it difficult to embrace their star man once again. Few are naïve enough to ignore the fact a player of his class has aspirations to play at a higher-level one day. Many will no doubt just be thankful that they have another season with the star man able to frequently grace Villa Park. For Aston Villa the deal allows them to build on what they achieved last year, rather than take a step back if they were to lose their star man.
In terms of the player himself the deal could prove to be beneficial. At 22 a footballer is lucky to nail down a starting role at a top division club. Playing time is key to Benteke’s development and at Villa he is guaranteed this regularly. Rather than be a lesser part of the tactical jigsaw, he is the key man for Villa. I am not suggesting he would not start for a club like Spurs, but that he may not be the central figure of the side.
An undoubted success last term with 23 goals in all competitions, the Belgian clearly has a lot to offer. However, one good season in the Premier League is insufficient to judge how a players career may pan out. Staying at Villa and building on what he has achieved will allow him to become a much more valuable asset in years to come. Building a reputation at a club where he is cherished could lead him to become a more prized asset later down the line. This is to the benefit of both the player and Villa. Benteke if he progresses will be able to join almost any club that he wants and the club will be able to make a huge profit on their initial £7m investment.
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.
I don’t believe loyalty is a key feature of the way the Benteke saga has panned out. Instead the events of the preceding month stand out as making perfect footballing sense from the perspective of both camps. The way the issue has been resolved I believe will be to the long term benefit of player and club alike.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas loves the Europa League. Apart from regularly discussing his bromantic break-up with former mentor and current managerial rival Jose Mourinho in the public eye, the continent’s second tier tournament could well be his favourite thing in the world.
To be fair to the Portuguese, it is the competition in which he first made his name and began attracting the interests of Europe’s elite clubs. His Porto side claimed the continental accolade in 2011, which, along with a Primeira Liga title in the same season, earned AVB various individual honours in his native Portugal, including the Coach of the Year award, and soon propelled him to his first job in the Premier League with Chelsea.
In England however, we have a slightly different view, summarised best by the Tottenham gaffer’s predecessor Harry Redknapp, who described the Europa League as “a nightmare…it kills you off” in 2011.
So with Andre Villas-Boas already proving this year that he’s once again taking Europe’s second string tournament incredibly seriously, fielding strong sides and including first team regulars such as Hugo Lloris, Moussa Dembele, Michael Dawson, Paulinho and Roberto Soldado to claim decisive victories against continental minnows Dynamo Tbilisi and Tromso IL, it’s time to ask whether the Portuguese’s love affair with the competition will get in the way of Tottenham’s Champions League qualification ambitions this year.
Last term, the Lilywhites made it all the way to the quarter-finals, only to fall short against Basel in a penalty shoot-out. Tottenham’s ill-fated efforts from the spot were undoubtedly affected by the team’s fatigue, having taken on Everton in the Premier League the weekend previous to the Thursday night tie in a vital race for fourth spot clash and then going on to play a full 120 minutes against the Swiss champions.
Overall, the North Londoners played 12 fixtures in the double-legged competition, and the Tottenham faithful must be wondering if such an impetus on the Europa League eventually contributed to them missing out on a Champions League spot in the Premier League by just a single point to local rivals Arsenal at the end of the season.
Aaron Lennon, Gareth Bale and Jermain Defoe all picked up niggling injuries during the home stretch last term as Tottenham honed in on fourth spot, and one can only speculate that the additional eight to eleven games they all played in the auxiliary tournament must have had some influence on their fitness.
Granted, none missed more than five Premier League fixtures as a result, but their brief absences could well have been a determining factor in Spurs finishing below the Gunners instead of above them, considering the minute margins in league standing at the end of last season.
[ad_pod id=’tui’ align=’center’]
Before their injury bouts, Defoe was in hot goal-scoring form, with 14 of his 15 goals for the season coming prior to his spell on the sidelines. Similarly, Aaron Lennon’s efforts on the flanks, providing pace and width to the Tottenham cause and also serving as an excellent counterweight for the in-form Gareth Bale, were pivotal to Spurs’ tactics and formation last season, and without the occasional England winger, the North Londoners’ results began to curve.
History has a tendency to repeat itself, but things are quite different at Tottenham this season. The departure of Gareth Bale in the summer triggered an unprecedented spending spree from the North Londoners, in which seven new players joined the club for a combined total of £110million, whilst budding England youngsters Danny Rose and Andros Townsend also return to White Hart Lane after being farmed out to Sunderland and QPR respectively.
If a lack of quality in depth was the leading contributor to Spurs falling short at the final hurdle last year, it’s safe to say it won’t be an issue this season. Barring a few key departments, namely the strike-force and at left full-back, Tottenham have the bodies and quality to handle any serious injury crisis, and AVB now has the luxury of rotating a talented squad at his own digression – not that he’s shown any tendency to rest key players for Europa League affairs throughout his North London tenure.
That being said, the Europa League represents the same conundrum this year as it always has – unless you win the trophy come the end of the season, it’s an incredibly pointless enterprise. It’s an extra 15 games per campaign that Premier League clubs quite frankly don’t need considering the intense physical nature of the English game, especially when it requires such a logistical commitment to bounce around to obscure locations across the continent mid-week to face generally much lesser opposition.
What business do the third-best team in Norway have taking on the fifth-best team in England? For Spurs to lose would only cause embarrassment, and for Spurs to win would only enforce what we already know about the qualities of the Premier League in comparison to the Norwegian top flight.
And as Chelsea proved last year, it’s incredibly easy to stroll your way to the final without even coming up against serious opposition, barring you can spare yourselves from any hiccups along the way. If the Champions League is the tournament of dreams, requiring players to push themselves to the limits against elite opposition, the Europa League is a competition of professionalism and competence, even in its latter-most stages.
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.
At the same time, if you asked the entirety of Tottenham’s fan base whether they’d prefer to claim the Europa League title this season or guarantee their place in next year’s Champions League tournament, the answer would be fairly unanimous.
Villas-Boas doesn’t see it that way however, and the Portuguese is as eager as ever to make the Europa League trophy his first contribution to the Tottenham silverware cabinet.
But the Spurs gaffer must be wary; the current campaign represents Tottenham’s greatest chance to date to break into the Premier League’s top four, or even exceed that expectation, and the White Hart Lane faithful won’t be best pleased if their chances of doing so are scuppered for the sake of a tournament that can be best described as the European equivalent of the Capital One Cup.
One of the most enthralling factors of knockout football is the possibility of a ‘giant killing’. In a set 90 minute game, the better team on the day can often triumph, breaking down the barriers in quality, investment and league boundaries. The Capital One Cup this year has already witnessed such events, and could be set for a few more during Round 4. Although only teams from the Premier League and Championship are left, some clashes do pit the plucky underdog against the goliaths of the English game. Here are five ties to keep an eye on for a potential upset.
Leicester City vs. Fulham
First up we have Leicester playing host to Fulham. The Foxes have enjoyed a fine run in the competition so far, slaying Wycombe, Carlisle and Derby to book a clash with a top tier side in the last 16. They may well have a chance to add the Cottagers’ scalp to the collection, with the London side far from their best as it stands. Martin Jol’s men have added attacking quality to their ranks over the summer, but have left their soft underbelly exposed in the process. With the King Power Stadium the venue for the tie, a shock result could be on cards.
Birmingham City vs. Stoke City
Birmingham vs. Stoke could be one of the ties of the round. The Potters are really moving away from their brutish reputation under Mark Hughes, with the addition of a number of more creative players giving them much more of a spark in the final third. But, for all of their impressive play, Sparky’s men are currently in the lower realms of the top tier and have struggled for wins. Birmingham are by no means in good form, but they do enter the clash with a real chance of flooring their divisional superiors. The Midlanders have experience in the League Cup, having lifted the trophy in 2011.
Burnley vs. West Ham
Arguably the most surprising name in the hat for Round 4 was Burnley, who booked their place courtesy of an impressive 2-0 win against Preston North End. Their reward is a home tie with West Ham, which does present a genuine chance for them to reach the last eight. The Hammers have mixed positive results such as a shock 3-0 win against Tottenham, with some lifeless displays leaving them nearer the foot of the Premier League than the pinnacle. With Danny Ings in the form of his life, Burnley may be the dark horse for a spot in the quarter finals, and possibly a trip to Wembley.
Tottenham vs. Hull City
Newly promoted Hull are far from being an established Premier League force, making them real underdogs for their tie with Tottenham. However, the Tigers could be in with a chance of slaying Spurs, who have been a little inconsistent so far this term. The London side went about a radical overhaul over the summer, selling star man Gareth Bale and investing over £100m in new talent. Although arrivals such as Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela have undoubted quality, Andre Villas-Boas is still bedding in his new look side. Home advantage may count for little as well, with West Ham having shown the world how to take advantage of Tottenham with a resolute defensive display and a little good fortune in front of goal.
Newcastle vs. Manchester City
Finally, we have Newcastle vs. Manchester City. The Magpies certainly cannot be described as a small team, but are definitely underdogs against City, even with home advantage. The Citizens have been mightily impressive so far this season, with Manuel Pellegrini having addressed some of the attacking concerns, which contributed to the loss of their Premier League title last term. But, Newcastle are also looking strong and have a fearsome attacking duo of their own in the shape of Papiss Cisse and Loic Remy. With some steely defensive resilience and a little luck in the final third, it could be the black and white side continuing their march towards Wembley.
[divider]
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.
Sponsored by Capital One. The Credit Card that Supports the Supporters.
For exclusive content, competitions and more visit: Facebook.com/CapitalOneUK
For Capital One Credit Cards visit: www.capitalone.co.uk
Lacina Traore says that Everton’s style of play was the main reason behind his decision to reject West Ham in favour of a loan move to Goodison Park.
The 6ft. 8” front-man look nailed on to be joining the Hammers a matter of weeks ago from Monaco – whom he recently signed for from Anzhi Makhachkala – only to alter his destination once the Toffees were interested.
The Ivorian’s decision came a major blow to Sam Allardyce, who was convinced that he’d landed a forward capable of aiding the East London club’s push for safety.
Traore says that it was hard to choose between Everton and West Ham, but that Roberto Martinez’s side’s style of play was ultimately the deciding factor:
“It was quite close but Everton was my choice,” he is quoted by the Daily Star.
“I looked at the styles of play of the two teams we are talking about and the way in which Everton play is more of a passing side and the style of Everton suited my technical ability.
“Also I looked at where they were in the league and they (Everton) were quite well off for points in the league so I think with that sort of emphasis on skill and the passing game I am hoping I can settle in as quickly as possible with my style of play.
“There were other clubs interested in me at the beginning but I knew Everton had a good possibility of getting into European football next season.”
Traore is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, but he is expected to be at full-fitness soon, which will come as a timely boost for Martinez who lost Romelu Lukaku to injury during Tuesday’s 4-0 Merseyside derby hammering at the hands of Liverpool.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet came out to play down any disbelievers as he praises his team to not give up in their objective of remaining in the Premier League next season, according to talkSport.
Gus Poyet side’s recent 2-1 defeat to West Ham United means his side remain in the relegation zone without any improvements on their poor run of form.
West Ham went up 2-0 with goals from Andy Carroll and Mohamed Diame, giving them a comfortable lead before Adam Johnson managed to grab one back to force a nervy finish for Sam Allardyce.
The Black Cats were throwing everyone forward as they searched for the equalizer in the final moments before eventually losing 2-1, giving Allardyce’s men a crucial victory in their bids to ensuring they stay up.
Even though the host lost yet another home game, the manager has come out to say that his side will not put their heads down as they will fight till the final day to ensure they remain safe.
He said: “It’s difficult to accept, sometimes when you see a team at the bottom they have no spirit, no heart and they give up.
“But I don’t think it’s possible to see my team giving up.
“I hope we get some luck for now until the end of the season – a decision from the referee or a deflected shot goes in.
“It’s about winning now. We have a chance and will go to the end.”
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.
Sunderland had a lot of goal scoring opportunities when they pushed men forward looking for the equalizer, but somehow lacked the composure to put the ball into the back of the net.
Poyet was also angered by a clear handball in the penalty box by Kevin Nolan, but was denied a penalty that he believed should have been given.
The Uruguayan added: “It was clear, deliberate. He tried to play the ball with his hand. You would need to ask the referee. It was easy to see but that’s the way it’s been.”
Football wouldn’t be football without the odd rout every season or so. We’ve seen plenty in the Premier League over the years, and there’s always one or two flying around on the international stage during periods of friendly fixtures.
Let’s face it, we’ve all witnessed our favourite team being ripped apart and suffering an embarrassing result at the hands of a superior outfit in a game that was so easy it’s just wrong. But what are the most embarrassing?
There’s plenty to choose from, so we’ve picked just five for you to enjoy. Will we see a repeat of any of these scorelines in Brazil this summer?
[ffc-gallery]Click on Wayne Rooney to reveal all
[/ffc-gallery]
NEW BRAZILIAN BBQ Steak Flavour! In Stores Now!
Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – 28 August 2011
The Premier League Champions ran riot at Old Trafford as a makeshift Arsenal side depleted by injuries and suspensions suffered their worst defeat since 1896.
Wayne Rooney bagged the sixth hat-trick of his United career, while Ashley Young netted a superb brace. Danny Welbeck, Park Ji-Sung and Nani also found the net as Arsenal were brushed aside with ease.
It was a result that, in hindsight, wasn’t entirely unexpected given the Gunners’ weakness from the off – at one point they had FIVE academy players on the field at once – but it was still one of the most embarrassing routs in the Premier League era, especially when you consider Arsenal’s previous top-flight dominance.
[ad_pod id=’survival align=’center’]
Tottenham 9-1 Wigan – 22 November 2009
The result wasn’t entirely unexpected, with Spurs chasing a top four spot and Wigan looming just above the relegation zone at the time. But it was the manner in which the result happened that was the most embarrassing for Roberto Martinez’s Wigan.
Peter Crouch’s ninth minute header was all that separated the two sides at the interval at White Hart Lane. The Latics were still in the game and had shown signs of an equaliser before the break.
But a seven-minute hat-trick from Jermain Defoe between the restart and the hour-mark all but ended the tie. Defoe went on to score two more to take his goal tally to five on the evening, while Aaron Lennon, David Bentley and Niko Kranjcar piled on the misery of Wigan’s second-half capitulation.
Paul Scharner’s 57th minute consolation meant the White Hart Lane crowd saw nine goals in just 45 minutes, with the Wigan faithful forced to head back up north with their tails firmly between their legs.
[ad_pod id=’survival align=’center’]
As Adema 149-0 SOE Antananarivo – 31 October 2002
In what was quite literally a cricket score in Madagascar, Adema inflicted a bizarre rout on their arch rivals SOE Antananarivo, although they didn’t score any of the goals.
In a TBH Champions League tie in 2002, SOE’s manager Ratismandresy Ratsarazaka was still reeling from poor refereeing decisions that he felt had cost his side the league title.
So, in retaliation, he ordered his players to keep scoring own goals from start to finish, with Adema players not having a single touch of the ball all game.
The referee didn’t abandon the game for some reason and the SOE players kept going until he called time on the game.
The Madagascar FA subsequently suspended Ratsarazaka for three years, while four SOE players were suspended until the end of the 2002 season.
[ad_pod id=’survival align=’center’]
Middleborough 8-1 Manchester City – 11 May 2008
At the time, this wasn’t as much of an embarrassment as it would be today, but it’s the way in which both these sides went soon after that makes it an interesting result.
On the final day of the 2007/2008 Premier League season, both Boro and City had nothing to play for other than the chance to finish one or two league positions higher. Boro had secured their top-flight survival a month earlier and were just going through the motions, while the best Sven-Goran Eriksson’s City side could hope for was a seventh placed finish.
But an Afonso Alves hat-trick helped the hosts to an 8-1 victory at the Riverside, forcing City to react by sacking Eriksson.
That summer, City was bought out by Abu Dhabi United Group and have now become one of the super powers of world football.
Boro were relegated to the Championship the following season and have struggled in the second tier ever since. Funny how things turn out in football, isn’t it?
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=’survival align=’center’]
Australia 31-0 American Samoa – 11 April 2001
Before this game, American Samoa had only won one game in their entire history – against Wallis and Futuna way back in 1983. They were ranked 203rd out of 203 in the world by FIFA and had just been declared ineligible by football’s governing body due to passport issues.
Attempts to replace their first-team with their under-20 players – to face Australia in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers – failed because they had high school exams, meaning they were forced to call up their third choice players, which included two 15-year-olds.
Australia had just come off the back of a 22-0 win over Tonga and were ranked 128 places above American Samoa.
Cue an absolute whitewash as Archie Thompson equaled the world record for the most goals in a game with 13, while David Zdrillic bagged eight.
The Socceroos received a lot of criticism for the way they showed no mercy in the game, though, with Samoa coach Lui saying: “We don’t know what Australia were trying to prove scoring all those goals.”
It was all in vain however, as Australia were eventually beaten in a qualifying play-off by Uruguay, ultimately missing out on the following summer’s World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
English football has been going through a rough patch of late, with Roy Hodgson’s tenure with the Three Lions so far culminating in early elimination from Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The FA created an FA commission to enhance and improve young English players and make the England national competitive again. Presently, it’s not all doom and gloom, with a valuable 2-0 away victory over Switzerland, a nation that are 11 places above England in the FIFA world rankings. One man who has gripped the nation with his amazing technical ability and has also gone on leaps and bounds for his club is Raheem Sterling.
Currently, Liverpool have plenty of England internationals amongst their ranks. Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Henderson, Glen Johnson, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert have all caught the eye of England bosses with their performances for their clubs in recent seasons. However, none of them have produced the same level of quality as Sterling.
Despite still only being 19-years-old, Sterling was catching the eye of several Premier League clubs at the age of 15 when he was part of the QPR academy. After Rafael Benitez signed the whizkid for £600,000 in 2010, Sterling later became the second youngest player to make a first team appearance for the Reds in 2012.
From that moment, Sterling hasn’t looked back and is currently by a long distance the best English talent in the country. Blessed with blistering pace, fantastic dribbling skills and some aggression despite his small frame, Sterling should be a winger based on the incredible attributes he has. However, after recently being moved into a more central role, Sterling has excelled massively. Credit has to go to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers for how he has handled the young superstar. Considered to be a so called ‘bad boy’ with his bad temper and reluctance to authority, the one key factor that Rodgers has engraved in Sterling is maturity.
While Hodgson has discovered that Sterling is more effective in that number 10 role, the former Fulham and Blackburn Rovers gaffer has changed his formation from a standard 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 diamond midfield formation. Some have said that revolving a team around a 19-year-old is putting too much pressure on a young person’s shoulders. Many thought the team should revolve around captain Wayne Rooney because of his unquestionable quality.
Instead, Hodgson has switched Rooney to the wing in some national games so it can accommodate the central position behind the striker for Sterling. After being fast tracked into the first team at Anfield in 2012 because of an unsuccessful transfer window for Liverpool, Sterling found it difficult to hold down a regular spot, despite starting 19 consecutive games up until the New Year, but exhaustion and a thigh injury took its toll.
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.
Now, Sterling has the capabilities to take the world by storm, and any young and aspiring footballer who wants to look up to a player in a similar situation and wants to make a success of himself should ook no further than Liverpool and England midfield sensation Raheem Sterling.