- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami
While undoubtedly of great potential, the simple reality is that the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong, Johan Djorou, Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, and recently departed players like Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner wouldn’t feature nearly as much at Old Trafford, the San Siro, or the Bernabeu as they have at the Emirates. Ferguson and Villas-Boas have the likes of Berbatov and Anelka, or Carrick and Malouda, to call on, not Marouane Chamakh and Francis Coquelin. Even more worrying is the fact that the side so outplayed by Dortmund, who tallied 23 shots and 57% of possession, is perhaps the strongest one possible for the club in the near future given that Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere remain injured.
Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta add crucial experience and skill in the midfield, and Per Mertesacker should help to shore up a defence that has been criminal at times in recent years. Brazilian fullback Andre Santos will also provide competition for relatively untested Kieran Gibbs at left back. Wojciech Szczesny has solidified his place as the number one goalkeeper and will surely hold his position between the sticks for a long time, with the Polish stopper showing confidence far beyond his 21 years. But it seems the hallmark of champions is the ability to grind out results despite a lacklustre performance a la Inter’s heroic defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2010, or Manchester United’s unlikely comeback win over West Brom in Gary Neville’s last match, subpar performances that still yielded the needed result.
Arsenal finally looked a side capable of doing the business even on an off day, with Robin Van Persie’s strike a potential stepping stone to confidence and belief after a rough start to the campaign, with questions surrounding the team’s ability to finish in the top four and the manager’s grasp of the plot. But the disappointment of yet another late equalizer to throw away all three points has become a hallmark of the side in recent years, and it seems to suggest that Golden Generation Wenger has promised so long is simply not up to it, if not haunted, by the pressure of delivering trophies. Blow after blow to the collective psyche- the Carling Cup heartbreak, the Barcelona eliminations, the 4-4 draw with Newcastle, and the most recent thrashing at the hands of Sir Alex’s squad are the main highlights of a horror reel that seems to have put the attitude beyond repair. When it begins to go bad against Arsenal, it seems anything that can go wrong, will, and the players panic. The new additions will do their part to settle the side, and the youth injection may unearth future leaders in the way Wilshere and Szczesny have been able to contribute significantly immediately. But Wenger’s reluctance to address key issues in the past few seasons has weakened the squad to the point that the title returning to North London seems an outlandish dream, and the Champions League group stages even looked suspect at one point.
Progress from the group stages is surely possible, and only four matches into the season it is impossible to say that Arsenal will not have the quality to qualify for the Champions League for another consecutive year. But what once seemed an string of unlucky coincidences has transformed into a clear pattern of failures when it matters most, with no end in sight.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami
Bill Kenwright’s struggles to balance the books has seen Everton go from European regular and a challenger for Champions League spots, to many predicting a finish outside the top half. One player primed to make an impact for the Blues is Royston Drenthe, a defender/midfielder brought in on loan from Real Madrid. The Dutch international has struggled to make an impact at the Bernabeu since joining from Feyenoord, he has made just 15 league starts, and the new era of “Galacticos” has seen him pushed further down the pecking order. Last season he enjoyed a successful loan spell on the pitch at Hercules, but was suspended over a disagreement with the club’s management.
He notched 4 goals in 17 appearances for the Valencia-based side, and earned generally positive plaudits for his play, despite the Valencia-based club’s relegation. Drenthe has also impressed at international level in the past, scoring 7 goals in 24 appearances for the Netherlands U21 side, which also saw him claim the Golden Player Award in their victorious campaign at the 2007 European U21 Championships. He finally made his full debut under Bert van Marwijk in Novemeber of last year, and a loan spell in the Premier League could reignite his international chances.
At 24, the Rotterdam native is in his prime, and will want to prove himself in a new country after being left out in the cold again by Real Madrid, and anything close to the success enjoyed by compatriots Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder will have Toffees fans ecstatic. The English game’s frantic pace and physicality suits the versatile Drenthe, who can be played at either fullback or wing on the left side. His pace and ability to get forward means that Everton now have two dangerous fullback/winger type players, with PFA Young Player of the Year nominee Seamus Coleman quickly maturing on the right side, although the Irishman is sideline with damaged ankle ligaments for now. The ever-present Leighton Baines has been excellent in the top flight for some time, so it seems more likely Drenthe will get his chance in midfield, an area where Everton are struggling for numbers. Johnny Heitinga has been forced into a makeshift central midfielder in a partnership with Marouane Fellaini. Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has failed to make the desired impact since arriving at Goodison Park, and a spot in Moyes’s first eleven looks very likely for Drenthe.
If he is given ample time, his loan signing may prove to be a brilliant bit of business on a shoestring budget from the Scottish manager, and with Drenthe out of contract at Madrid at season’s end, Everton may also have the option of picking up a valuable player on a free transfer. If they are to lift the current negative mood among Liverpool’s blue contingent, Drenthe may play a crucial role in any success for The People’s Club this season.
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| photo by jad99 |
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami
After gaining promotion as the Championship’s runner-up in 2007/8, the Potters have finished 12th, 11th, and 13th respectively in their first three seasons back in the top flight. Last year also saw them narrowly defeated by Manchester City in the FA Cup Final, earning a Europa League third play-off round berth in the process. After battling past Croatian outfit Hajduk Split in that round, they dismantled FC Thun of the Swiss Super League 5-1 on aggregate. Pulis’s side has been assembled on the bargain, but owner and chairman Peter Coates has steadily provided the funds over the past year to bring in new talent, and in this transfer window especially it has helped Pulis add the numbers and quality needed to compete in all competitions.
Since his acquisition from Real Zaragoza last summer, Jermaine Pennant has looked a new man with his pace and energy on the wing reminiscent of his early days at Arsenal. Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate have both been brought in on free transfers, and whatever the England internationals may contribute will be soon as a bonus due to the low risk factor in adding them. Wilson Palacios’s deadline day transfer will delight Stoke fans, as the Honduran stopper is cut perfectly in the mold of a central midfielder in the Welsh manager’s system, which has seen grafters like Glenn Whelan, Dean Whitehead, and Rory Delap excel. He joins fellow former Spurs team-mate Peter Crouch in moving to the Brittania Stadium, and the lanky 30 year old’s potential partnership with Kenwyne Jones could give centre backs nightmares of crosses raining in from all sides. Pulis was also on the trail of Cameron Jerome for some time, and his addition from Birmingham City will round out a talented core of strikers also including Irish international Jon Walters and recent injury victims Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe.
With the impressive Asmir Begovic in-goal, it seems that the team assembled is absolutely perfect for how Pulis wants to set out his team and have them play, which has earned criticism and special focus on cold Tuesday nights at the Brittania. But the persistent predictions of an eventual return to the second-tier have proved to be false, and their solid showings in Europe mean that many in the side, and perhaps even their always pessimistic manager, have their sights on the top half of the table this season.
A resilient showing against Chelsea earned them an opening day draw in front of the home support, and Kenwyne Jones rescued a point at Carrow road at the death to deny Norwich all three points on the second matchday. Ryan Shotton also struck late to give Stoke a smash-and-grab win over West Brom at the Hawthorns, keeping their unbeaten streak alive. Liverpool will provide a stern test at the Britannia on 10 September after the international break, and the match against Dalglish’s side will be an interesting tactical presentation, as well as a home debut for Stoke’s new contingent. Given the current rate of progress around Stoke-on-Trent, the Potters will represent a tough match for all opponents this campaign both at home and in Europe.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami
The capital club, long Spain’s leader domestically and on the continent, last won the league in 2007/08 and have since been in the shadow of their all-conquering Catalan rivals, who have taken the world by storm with their incredible success and style of play.
The recent Barcelona dominance is an especially hard pill to swallow for Madridistas given their own side’s relative drought; in fact, last year’s Copa Del Rey triumph was the first time they lifted the trophy in almost twenty years, and given the financial power and high expectations the club has, 4 league titles and one Champions League title (most of which were in the first half of the decade) capped off a relatively lacklustre 2000-2010 period for Los Blancos. After the 5-0 massacre at the Nou Camp last November, it seemed almost nothing would bring Mourinho and company within striking distance of challenging Guardiola’s men. And Barcelona have strengthened, with Cesc Fabregas’s arrival finally completed, joining with highly rated Alexis Sanchez from Udinese to add to an already formidable squad.
Both had to settle for a spot on the bench for the second leg of the SuperCup, and given Barcelona were able to start the same eleven that convincingly beat Manchester United at Wembley, it would seem they are even tougher to surpass. But even towards the end of last season, there was hope. Reading roughly, Madrid evenly split the “World Series” of Clasicos in late April and early May, drawing twice, losing once, and winning the Copa Del Rey, and tempers on both sides were high throughout, with the “Special One” earning himself another touchline ban.
Marcelo’s horror tackle on Fabregas in injury-time of the SuperCup is the latest in a line of unsavory incidents on both sides, but the strife seems to have brought the team together. Never short of theatrics, Mourinho has expressed his belief that his former employers get preferential treatment on numerous occasions, even whilst at Inter Milan after their epic semi-final victory in the 2009/10 edition of the Champions League. And while the self-described “persona non grata” has undoubtedly killed off any goodwill he had earned from the supporters at the Nou Camp, his antics and fiery disposition seem to have lit a fire under the squad, and a range of signings since his appointment have proven to be successes. Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, and Angel Di Maria all had immediate impacts on the first team picture last term, and formed a vital core for the run to the Champions League semi-finals.
This transfer window has seen another slew of players join the squad. Left back Fabio Coentrao brought in from Benfica to compete with the excellent Marcelo, and both players’ ability to play on the wing gives the manager a versatile option on the left side. After leaving Madrid’s B side in search of first team football, Jose Callejon returns after four successful seasons at Espanyol, and the pacy winger will provide depth and skill on the flanks.Turkish duo Nuri Sahin and Hamit Altintop also bolster the midfield ranks. Sahin is just 22, and was a driving force behind Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga-winning campaign last year, while Altintop is an experienced central midfielder capable of sitting deep or playing further up the pitch. Raphael Varane seems one for the future, with the 18 year old centre back joining from Lens to learn from Ricardo Carvalho and Pepe, and could go on loan.
With Casillas in goal, and a back four of Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, and either Coentrao or Marcelo, with Raul Albiol and Alvaro Arbeloa for cover, performances like the one from the 5-0 loss should be a thing of the past. Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira excelled as the pivot players in Mourinho’s system, often a 4-2-3-1 against Barcelona, and Altintop provides an alternative as well as cover. It looks as if Lassanna Diarra will not be needed, but the French international remains for now. Sahin will compete with Ozil and Di Maria for time on the wings, and Callejon could feature either on the wing or as a forward. Cristiano Ronaldo has been employed as winger, central attacking midfielder, and even as a striker, but the return of a healthy Gonzalo Higuain, as well as the on-form Karim Benzema, will see him return to his customary role as the center of the attack.
Kaka again looks like he will struggle to feature. An early setback is surely not what the supporters desired, but with a new attitude and confidence under Mourinho, Real Madrid are on the way up – time will tell if they can meet or surpass Barcelona’s heights.
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| photo by Ronnie Macdonald |
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland
Perhaps keeping in mind the difficulty in bringing the Arsenal captain back to Catalonia, Pep Guardiola’s side have sold three promising young players to major European clubs- Bojan Krkic to Roma, Oriol Romeu to Chelsea, Jeffren Suarez to Sporting Lisbpm- but with inserted buyback clauses that give the club the right to purchase the player back after a certain amount of time. This clause was also mentioned in Thiago Alcantra’s rumored move to Arsenal as a makeweight for Fabregas, and represents an interesting and different approach to youth talent in a roster stocked with seasoned talent.
Barcelona are so successful on two fronts, current squad and youth development, that it is actually creating problems as there can only be eleven men on the pitch. The European Champions’ squad simply doesn’t have room for the younger players coming through the ranks, with many senior contributors like Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, and Pique still at the top of their game. By selling the players to competitive clubs like Chelsea and Roma, Barcelona are gaining money in the short term, and have the ability to wait and see if the player thrives with first team football in one of Europe’s toughest leagues. In essence, this can almost be thought of as an advanced sort of loan deal, and may catch on at other clubs in the future.
It is easy to see, for example, Manchester United use a system like this with current players like Federico Macheda and Tom Cleverley, or Chelsea with Daniel Sturridge, although the buying club may not be willing to lose a successful acquisition once the selling club change their mind. The merits of this system remain to be seen.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland
Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, and Dimitar Berbatov are themselves three of the top strikers in the Premier League, and each face being left out of the team due to competition for places.
Further, Michael Owen’s one-year extension sees him hoping to build on his 11 league appearances last year, but the return of Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda from loan spells means that six may be a crowd. Macheda is still just 19, and may be loaned out again, but has stated his preference to stay in England.
Welbeck had a very successful season with Sunderland last term, and the taste of first team football has done him a world of good. He made 26 appearances for the Wearsiders in the league, notching 6 goals, and has told the media that Ferguson has promised him a chance this year. Likewise, Owen still sees himself playing some role at the club, while Berbatov led the team in scoring with 22 goals, but failed to even make the bench for the Champions League final, with a starting duo of Rooney and Hernandez preferred, and Owen making the bench.
It is often said that, for clubs like United who compete in many competitions, squad rotation is a reality and a necessity; however, the addition of Vucinic would surely facilitate the loan or sale of at least one or two of the current strikers, seeing as there is no foreseeable way all will be content with their amount of playing time. Owen seemed the most likely to exit, but the club’s offer of a one year contract suggests Ferguson may value him in some way still. But with confidence gained from his stint in the Northeast, it would seem Welbeck is capable of handling the responsibilities given to Owen last year, and holding down the 4th striker spot.
Berbatov has been linked with a move away, but has continually come out in recent interviews proclaiming his desire to stay and fight for his place, praising United as the top of the footballing world. Any sale would presumably go against his wishes, although multiple Serie A clubs have been credited with interested in the Bulgarian frontman.
Hernandez was the signing of the season last year, and looks set to stay in Manchester for a long time, as does Rooney after his new contract after a brief period of indecision when it looked as if he would quit the club.
Vucinic has a great record at Roma, scoring 62 goals in all competitions for the capital side since joining from Lecce in 2006, as well as impressing recently for the rising Montenegro team, but with a current side already overloaded with attacking options, his addition would not seem to make much sense, especially since he would struggle to get games.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland
His season long loan saw him notch 7 goals and 5 assists, but it was this past season where he really set the Championship alight and made both Premier League and European clubs take notice, as well as causing Tottenham supporters to wonder why he was let go. With a healthy diet of first-team action (43 of his 44 league appearances were starts), he thrived under Neil Warnock. His 19 goals were tied for third in the division, whilst his 16 assists led the Championship. But almost before the champagne was dried after Rangers's promotion celebrations, the player often accused of thinking too much of his own abilities was making noise about leaving QPR for a bigger and better club. The young star has never been afraid to speak his mind, quitting Morocco after just 10 caps after being dropped for an African Nations Cup qualifier, and it now looks likely he will end up at newly-rich Paris Saint-Germain for around £10m.
Warnock's position has looked unsteady this summer, with speculation surrounding his future, and the loss of his best player will put even more pressure on the manager to bring in the right players, while also being fiscally conservative. Taarabt's exit would also leave a massive hole in the midfield, and would bring about a fundamental change in the tactics employed by Warnock, whose attack was based around the mercurial number seven. And with a lack of Premier League experience in the side at the moment, the loss of their talisman player will be seen as the exact opposite of what is needed to stave off the dreaded immediate return to the second tier. If Warnock is given Taarabt's fee to spend on new players, he could well improve the squad and build solid foundations for QPR's first season in the top flight since their relegation in 1996. But it seems that, so far, their transfer window seems to weaken a side already written off by many.
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| photo by Zweifüssler |
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland
While Crouch may not be Drogba or Rooney, he does play his role well, and provided 9 assists in the league and Europe combined. He can still be of use, even if he doesn’t remain first choice. Roman Pavluychenko, the subject of criticism for his seemingly lazy demeanor on the pitch, recently pledged his heart and love to Tottenham, despite previously saying he needed first team football whether at Spurs or somewhere else. The Russian has also been a headache, as it is clear he has rich amounts of talent, yet sometimes struggles to impose himself on games. But it was Pavluychenko who was 2nd on Tottenham’s scoring charts in the league, hitting 9 goals (Van Der Vaart had 13), more than Defoe and Crouch combined. He added a further 3 in the Champions League in just 6 appearances. While perhaps not having the highest work-rate, it would seem the Russian has the most ability of the group, and still has a place in Redknapp’s plans too. Since the 2004/05 season, Jermaine Defoe had scored 10 plus goals in all but one campaign, when he hit 9 in 05/06. This past season saw injury problems limit the former Portsmouth hitman to just 28 appearances in all competitions, and although he did score 8 goals in total, he often found himself on the bench. He too has stated his desire to play more regularly to safeguard his England career, and has stated he would consider a move away from N17. At 28, Chairman Daniel Levy may see this as the best time to (again) sell Defoe, while he is still in his prime and commands a considerable fee. He would be the most likely of the first three discussed to move on.
Robbie Keane and Gio Dos Santos have been particularly enigmatic for Spurs fans, with both experiencing huge success for their national teams, but failing to find the same form for their club. Whether this is down to lack of skill or lack of opportunity tends to divide opinion. Keane has scored 16 goals in just 23 appearances for Ireland in 2009, sparking a revival for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side; but since his return to Spurs from Anfield, he has been sent on loan twice due to lack of first team chances under Redknapp. For the second half of last year he was loaned out to West Ham, and scored 2 goals in just 9 appearances, with injuries taking their toll. He played just 12 times for Spurs in all competitions last season, making only two starts, and scoring the lone goal off the bench against Arsenal in their 4-1 loss at White Hart Lane in the Carling Cup. With 51 international goals and a place in the top ten of the Premier League’s all time scoring list, Keano remains one of Spurs’s best performers in the Premier League era, but it seems his future is destined to be away from Tottenham. West Brom, Blackburn, Bolton, and Celtic have all been mentioned as possible destinations, and the player himself sees the need to leave Spurs lodge for the sake of his career. Though he may still be able to recover his old form, it seems Redknapp is done giving chances to the Irish all-time record goalscorer.
Dos Santos joined Tottenham from Barcelona, and was seen as a coup for the club, highly rated both at the Nou Camp and in his home country of Mexico. But three years later he has made just two starts in the Premier League, and took the pitch for Spurs just 4 times, only one as a start in the Carling Cup. His time with the club has seen him score just a solitary goal, in the Europa League more than 2 years ago. The Mexican has been farmed out to Ipswich (2009), Galatasaray (2010), and Racing Santander for the second half of this past season, where he did score 5 goals in 9 starts. His sublime chip against the United States in the Gold Cup final reminded the world of his potential, but he too looks almost certain to be out the door.
What, then, should Redknapp and Levy do? Whether or not Luka Modric completes his dream move to Stamford Bridge, the sale of at least 2 of these 5 would bring in money to fund another buy. Dos Santos may be loaned if the club have not fully given up on him yet, but Keane and Defoe’s sales combined should earn at least 10m for the club’s coffers. With Jamie O’Hara also now at Wolves for a 5m fee, and the potential sale of a few other players like David Bentley, Jermaine Jenas, Alan Hutton, Niko Kranjcar, Wilson Palacios, Sebastien Bassong, and one of Huerelho Gomes or Carlo Cudicini considering the arrival of Brad Friedel, it seems most of the capital needed for a top striker could be made available even before the possible departure of Modric, as well as funds for other players in different areas. A legitimate threat to score 15 goals a season in the league, and also go up against Europe’s best, would greatly increase Tottenham’s threat to the rest of the league and their top six rivals. If Spurs are serious about again featuring in the Champions League, and even challenging for the title, a marquee new face must be brought in.
- by Andrew McCarten, writing from Miami, FL via. Ireland
Aquilani came through the ranks at his hometown club, AS Roma, making his Serie A debut in 2003 under Fabio Capello while still just 18. After a successful year long loan at Serie B Triestina, the creative midfielder notched 133 appearances for the Giallorossi, earning plaudits around the country as well as picking up the Italian Cup (twice) and the Italian SuperCup, also contributing mesmerizing displays in the Champions League. He picked up his first senior cap for Italy in 2006, after featuring 20 times for the U21 side, and has since appeared 15 more times for the Azzurri.
Looking purely at the stats, his lone season at Liverpool isn’t that bad; in just 18 Premier League appearances, 9 of which were off the bench, he managed 6 assists and a goal. However, as his been an unfortunate trend in his career, injuries blighted his season and took a toll on his fitness, limiting his production and ability to play; so much so that incoming manager Roy Hodgson sent him out on loan to Juventus for the whole of the 2010/11 season, with the Turin club having the option to buy him permanently for 14m. Labelled a “Kop flop” by the English media, it seemed that this would be the end of his time at Anfield, with the player himself declaring numerous times he wished to stay in his native country with Juve.
However, the Biaconeri were not willing to meet the pre-agreed evaluation, and current manager Kenny Dalglish now sees Aquilani as having a role in his first-team plans. And it is difficult to see why he would not. With Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez, and Dirk Kuyt all threats up front, Aquilani can have a field day every weekend setting up his trademark intricate and precise passes and garnering assists. The prospect of accompanying Steven Gerrard in the midfield will also be reason for Aquilani to look forward to the season beginning.
Liverpool have a renewed depth in the midfield – Charlie Adam has joined from Blackpool as has Jordan Henderson from Sunderland, to accompany Maxi Rodriguez, Lucas, Jay Spearing, and even Joe Cole. Raul Meireles is widely believed to be on his way out of the club, seen as surplus to requirements. Stewart Downing’s arrival from Aston Villa will likely see Dalglish employ a 4-4-2 or maybe even a 4-2-3-1 to fit all of his talent into one lineup. With Aquilani’s ability to either play deep in the “Xabi Alonso” playmaker role, or higher up the pitch, he should see a sizeable amount of action this term for the Reds, and will be given a proper shot to justify his price tag and prove his worth in the English top flight.