Southampton’s net transfer spend was £4.2m : Analysis

There wasn’t a lot of business done at St Mary’s in January but there was plenty of change at the South Coast club.

Nigel Adkins was sacked as manager after his side came back from 2-0 down against the champions of Europe Chelsea to snatch a 2-2 draw, leading them to three points above the relegation zone. This was too little too late to save Adkins and Argentine Mauricio Pochettino was brought in by Southampton chairmen Nicola Cortese.

The Saints did make an addition to the playing staff despite the change of manager. Vegard Forren, 24, was purchased for £4.2 million from Norwegian champions Molde, signing a three and a half year deal, after initially being linked with Liverpool.

The left footed centre back won awards back in Norway after his performances in 2012; collecting the NISO Golden Ball (player of the year) and 2012 Knicksenprisen (defender of the year), as well as being awarded his first international cap for Norway and has now got five caps to his name.

Pochetinno will look to Forren to add quality to the defence and help sure up the Saints back line, as they fight to stay in the Premier League.

Disappointment for Saints would be in the failure of their linked transfer with Liverpool’s new signing Philippe Coutihno. Southampton were rumoured to be looking to hijack the Red’s bid, as new gaffer Pochetinno worked with the Brazilian in Spain at Espanyol. The 20 year old could have played a significant role at Southampton and would have gone a long way to securing their safety in the top flight, with the quality he would have  brought to the midfield.

On the other hand the Saints fans will be happy they managed to keep the first team intact especially captain Adam Lallana, who will be like a new signing, coming back after two months from a knee injury.  Striker Rickie Lambert also remains st St Mary’s as does youngster Luke Shaw, who will sign a new contract on his 18th birthday, after collecting admirers from Premier League clubs with his performances this season, none more so than Arsenal.

Not a lot of money has been splashed out at Southampton, but I feel they have enough to beat the drop.

West Brom may grant Peter Odemwingie a London move after all

Peter Odemwingie’s future looks like it could lie at Selhurst Park as the emergency loan window opens, according to reports in  the Daily Mail.

Championship promotion chasers Crystal Palace are showing interest in West Brom’s forward, after he drove to QPR to try to force a move on deadline day; but these ill fated actions fell through, and subsequent disciplinary measures have been taken.

Palace are looking to loan the striker with the intention of a permanent deal at the end of the season, paying an initial fee, then a further payment if the Eagles are promoted to the Premier League this campaign.

Odemwingie, 31, has been criticised by Baggies chairmen, manager and fans for his actions on deadline day after the move collapsed. He also faced a barrage of abuse on Twitter, but has now accepted West Brom’s punishment and returned to training making him available for first team selection.

The move to South London may come down to whether the Nigerian would drop down a level to the Championship for the remainder of the season, while at the same time West Brom boss Steve Clarke has a difficult decision to make. Moving Odemwingie on, will leave him short of options, but keeping the striker at the Hawthorns may disrupt the dressing room, as the actions of the past couple of weeks hasn’t sat well with some members of the squad.

Another factor will be if Palace can afford his reported £39,000 a week wages, but they will want to spend some of the £15 million they recieved for Wilfried Zaha on a replacement. If they do achieve promotion, Odemwingie would give them valuable experience in their first season back in the Premier League.

The 31 year old has now apologised for the actions which Clarke described as “total lunacy”, and the manager has said he hasn’t played his last game for the Baggies. Now the apology has come, Odemwingie’s West Brom future might be saved, but if he has caused a rift too wide in the Hawthorn’s dressing room he maybe moving to London after all; just not to the club he first thought.

Why Danny Graham is worth all the fuss

Swansea’s Danny Graham is about to take the central role in a bidding war as Queens Park Rangers join the battle to sign him in the January transfer window.

Sunderland, Norwich, Aston Villa and Reading have already showed interest in the 27 year old who has been on the rough end of Miguel Michu’s run of excellent form, starting just 10 league games this season.

According to the Daily Mail Harry Redknapp is considering a £4 million bid for the forward but it is Sunderland who are the favourites to sign the Englishman.

Last season Graham was one of the main men at the Liberty Stadium but has fallen out of favour with the emergence of the Spaniard, but has still managed to bag himself six goals in all competitions.

The striker still has a lot to offer for a mid table side that plays his style of football. He wouldn’t fit into a club that plays a direct game, but with the ball played into his feet, Graham will be effective for the manager.

The Gateshead born player showed how valuable he was to the Swans when his late goal against Arsenal kept them in the FA Cup and there is one thing for sure, the 27 year old knows where the goal is.

The majority of clubs chasing Graham are in trouble at the bottom of the table or trying to stay out of the relegation battle and he could be just the player they need. He will give a 100%, cares about both the team and individual performance, which is what Redknapp  is unsure some players at Loftus Road are committed to. With the lack of goals at QPR, he should match up well with Adel Taarabt  if he did make the move.

His statistics from last season show what Graham can do when he is getting regular football in the Premier League. In 32 league starts he found the back of the net 12 times, which is a smart return for a team in their first season back in the top flight, helping the Swans secure their Premier League status.

It’s not just his goal scoring, he’s confident on the ball, dictating play, and taking a huge role in the play in the final third.

For £4 million, Graham is worth all the attention he is getting at the moment from a number of clubs. With passion, pride and a sense of knowing where the goal is, he is made up of the qualities clubs and managers in the bottom half of the table want, so it’s no surprise there may be a bidding war about to start.

Five Kevin Strootman facts

PSV’s dominating midfielder Kevin Strootman has three top English clubs chasing his signature according to Talksport.

The Dutchman has been linked with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool for some time, but PSV have insisted that the 22 year old is not for sale, yet inside sources have suggested if the price is right he will be allowed to leave, which may start a bidding war between the three giants.

The price believed to be the magic number is £18 million and reports in Italy have stated that an English club have come forward. With AC Milan also showing interest, it’s Old Trafford that is at the forefront of the Strootman’s mind as he openly spoke about the pride of being linked with United and has expressed his desire to play in the Premier League.

Here are five things that we might need to know about the 22 year old, if indeed he does come to the Premier League.

1) Strootman made his international debut four days before his 21st Birthday in a friendly against Austria and he has gone on to win 15 caps; scoring his maiden goal against Finland in September of the same year. The Midfielder came through the ranks of the Dutch set up and was included in their Euro 2012 squad.

2) The 22 year old became Holland’s youngest ever captain in a competitive match, when he led his country out in World Cup qualifiers against Andora and Romania in the absence of Wesley Sneijder, demonstrating the promise and respect he has in Holland. He has gone from second tier football to national captain in just two years.

3) Even though he is known as a deep lying, holding midfielder, he used to be more attacking earlier in his career, especially during  his days playing for Sparta Rotterdam, and that has shown in his play this season. With the introduction of Mark Van Bommel at Philips Stadion, he has been allowed not to just think about being a containing midfielder but also to look forward and affect the play in the opposition half, resulting in five goals and five assists in 18 Dutch Eredivisie appearances, which has been by far his most prolific season in front of goal. He hasn’t forgotten his main job though, picking up four yellow cards in the league.

4) In his short career he has felt the pain of relegation. In his opening season of first team football, he was outstanding playing for Sparta and excitement was created around the youngster. His second season was completely different, the lowest point of his career, as Sparta for only the second time in their history were relegated to the second tier football.

5) Strootman signed for Sparta in 2007 and was elevated to the first team in 2008. After a fantastic first season of professional football he created real interest from other clubs. After relegation the following year, he gained a lot of respect in Holland for  his loyalty by staying with the club at the start of the following season, when bigger teams namely champions at the time FC Twente came calling. He played another 16 times for Sparta, before moving back to the top flight in the winter, signing for FC Etrecht and quickly moved on to PSV. He has emerged as one of the best midfielders of his age around the world.

http://threeandin.com/2013/01/09/5-kevin-strootman-facts-some-of-which-are-almost-worth-knowing/

Will Sir Alex genuinely pursue Standard Liege transfer?

Alex Ferguson believes Tottenham should be investigated for manipulating transfer rules after signing Zeki Fryers from Standard Liege for around £3 million the Daily Mail states.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that Ferguson is complaining;  he usually does when he comes off second best and won’t like to appear outsmarted. United sold the 20 year old in the summer to the Belgian club, after him being on trial at White Hart Lane.  Spurs turned the move down as they felt the fee too high, it would have been in the region of £6 million through the compensation rule.

The deal that has been agreed between Tottenham and Standard Liege will leave United around £3 million out of pocket, due to the fact that the ruling doesn’t cover teams in Belgium and Ferguson believes there will be a “trail” of evidence that proves his point.

Sir Alex told the Daily Mail: ” I’m disappointed in Tottenham, I really am.”

“I think it’s a blatant manipulation of the situation. They tried to buy him at the end of last season and we couldn’t agree terms.

“They took him on trial and to Portugal with the Tottenham squad and came back and said they couldn’t afford him. All of a sudden he signs for Standard Liege.

“The Premier League should stop the registration until they examine it. There will be a trail of mobile phone (records) or something it’s obvious to me.”

The Belgian club stated that Fryers who has represented England Under 16s, 17s and 19s, was feeling homesick after joining the club and they couldn’t stand in his way.

If the roles were reversed Ferguson wouldn’t hesitate in making the deal. Spurs may have manipulated the situation, they may not have, but in signing the player they have broken no rules. Sir Alex coming out with the remarks he has, could be construed as calling Tottenham and Standard Liege liars and in some ways cheats if we are not to take what the parties are telling as on face value. If we don’t accept their version, then what they have done may not be ethical but equally it isn’t illegal.

Rules and regulations in all walks of life get manipulated by people and organisations to favour themselves and you just have to accept it and move on, even if we don’t like it.

We all know Sir Alex isn’t adverse to a good moan when things go against him and in this instance it could be the case that he may have just been publicly out thought and out witted; which really does rile him.

http://threeandin.com/2013/01/07/will-sir-alex-genuinely-pursue-standard-liege-transfer/

Dream 2012 team

It’s been a fascinating 12 months in the premier league with great individual and team performances, none more so than Manchester City in the last game of the 2011/2012 season to clinch the title. We’ve seen youngsters step up to the mark, while tried and tested players have gone to all new heights.

At the Britannia Stadium I have seen some of the best players in the world visit the home of Stoke City, my club of choice, and here is my dream XI of 2012.

Goalkeeper

Asmir Begovic (Stoke City)

The Bosnian has been in tremendous form in 2012, stripping the number one jersey away from Thomas Sorenson and making it his own. The 25 year old supports his two centre backs solidly. He is strong in the air when balls come into the box and is confident with his feet and has pulled off some spectacular saves, leading to one of the tightest defences in the league. He has started to attract the attention of clubs at the top end of the league, and it will be really important for Stoke and Tony Pulis to keep hold of Begovic if we are to fight for a top half finish.

Denfence

Right Back – Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)

Zabaleta in my opinion is the complete full back. He is strong going forward, like most are nowadays, but he is a reliable defender as well, making him by far the best in the league. The Argentine goes about his business in the right way with little fuss, while being a leader on the pitch, helping Manchester City to their first title in 44 years.

Centre Back-Vincent Kompany Captain (Manchester City)

City’s captain was fantastic in their league winning campaign; a real rock and  leader for Roberto Mancini. He started this season a bit slower than the heights he set at the start of the year, but is starting to attain them now. The Belgian international won the player of the season award for the 2011/2012 campaign, showing how strong he was at the beginning of 2012.

Centre Back- Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City)

Shawcross is a real defender, puts his body on the line for his side and leads by example at the Britannia. He reads the ball well in the air and on the deck, while tackling hard but fair. It was a tight decision between him and teammate Robert Huth to partner Kompany, but in the light of the defensive display against Southampton, Shawcross is my man. Huth looked totally lost in the first half without his mate (suspended) in a usually water tight defence. The 25 year old’s hard work in 2012 was rewarded with an England cap, and he will keep improving as he plays more at the top level. Pulis and Peter Coates will be hoping their captain puts pen to paper on the six year contract they are offering, as he is a vital cog in the team.

Left Back- Leighton Baines (Everton)

Baines is part of one of the strongest left sides in the premier league, playing behind Steven Pienaar. The 28 year old has been tremendous in the last calender year, with consistent performances going forward and backwards. I watched him this season at the Britannia Stadium and he was rock solid and deserves all the attention he is getting during the transfer window.

Midfield

Right Midfield- Leon Osman (Everton)

I believe Osman is one of the most underrated players in the league, and he  has been exceptional in 2012, picking up his first England cap. The one club man is a real work horse, with the quality and touch that you need at the top level. With the range of passing he possesses, he is a real threat in the opposition’s half.

Centre Midlfield- Juan Mata (Chelsea)

Mata made the team just in front of Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla, because he has been performing at the highest high level for 12 months not just this season. Mata with his tremendous skill on the ball, creates chances for his side that other players wouldn’t see. He is the best player in the league in the role he plays for Chelsea and has added goals to his effective performances towards the latter end of the year, having a major say in most games.

Centre Midfield- Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

Fellaini has had a tremendous 2012 and has reached even greater heights in the current season than he did in the last. He can play any role in the middle of midfield while going up top at times too. He has one of the best touches I have seen especially taking the ball out of the air with his chest. His outstanding performance in 2012 would be against Manchester United on the opening day of the 2012/2013 season, helping his Everton side pick up three points.

Left Midfield- Gareth Bale (Tottenham)

Bale has turned himself into one of the best left sided players in the world, and he has been outstanding in 2012. With pace, trickery and vision, right backs fear the Welshman and its not surprising that the likes of Real Madrid are sniffing around the 23 year old. He is not only a danger going forward with the ball, but he can spot danger through his not so effective years at left back. This season alone Bale has 10 goals and four assists in the Premier League, showing why he is the best winger in the league.

Centre Forward- Luis Suarez (Liverpool)

Suarez never fails to be in the papers either for his football or his actions, but it is the football that is most spectacular. He is the main player at Liverpool and the Anfield side would be in huge trouble if it wasn’t for the Uruguayan. He scores all kinds of goals with his feet and head, from all angles and distances, but also has the ability and vision to set chances up. He has been chosen over Swansea’s Michu, because he has the better all round game.

Centre Forward- Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

RVP has been my stand out player of 2012, scoring 30 league goals last season for Arsenal and already bagged 16 goals for Manchester United this campaign. The Dutchman has the ability to score from anywhere on the pitch anyway he wants, but also  has the ability to create chances with six assists in the current season. RVP has been in stunning form throughout the whole of 2012 both Arsenal and Manchester United’s 2012/2013 seasons would have been a lot different if he hadn’t made the switch to Old Trafford.

How your club stands at Christmas

With the January transfer window just around the corner and reaching the half way point of the season on boxing day, here are my assessments of the teams in the Premier League so far.

Arsenal

It must be so frustrating for the fans at the Emirates watching their side play so inconsistently. At times you wonder how they aren’t challenging the two Manchester clubs at the top of the table and are playing blistering football; but their problem is they follow it up  with a terrible performance and you can’t see them achieving a top four finish. This has shown in the results, beating Southampton and Tottenham, putting six and five past their respective defences, then failing to to find the net against Swansea and Norwich in defeats. With Theo Walcott’s future still undecided, Arsene Wenger will be in the market for an out and out striker, after the loss of Robin Van Persie in the summer. The real bright spark for the Gunners is their summer purchase, Santi Cazorla and the return of Jack Wilshere;  Wenger will be hoping they can boss games and tear midfields apart in the second half of the season.

Aston Villa

Paul Lambert’s young side struggled at the start of the season, only picking up nine points from the first 10 games, but things have started to look a little brighter as late, apart from the Chelsea game. Its the lack of goals that has really hurt Villa scoring only 15 but Christian Benteke is coming into form going into the busy period over Christmas and New Year, which will be pivotal in their season and chances staying in the league, the 22 year old will only get better over the campaign. My fear for them is the inexperience in the squad, if things go against them and they get dragged into a relegation battle they might not have the nerve and know-how to cope. Even though they’re languishing near the dreaded drop zone, I think they have enough quality in the side to reach safety.

Chelsea

Its been a stressful season for the European champions after a very bright start and becoming some people’s favourites for the title. They gained 22 points out of a possible 24 in the first eight games, but have only picked up one win in their next eight league fixtures, resulting in Roberto Di Matteo losing his job. At the start of the season Juan Mata, Edin Hazard and Oscar were breathtaking, defences couldn’t get near them as they took control of the game.This disappeared for a long period of time but the thrashing they inflicted on Villa will give them all confidence and Chelsea will look to get back to the heights, standards and results they set at the start of the season. Rafa Benitez will have to do business in January and a centre back and striker are a must as cover or replacement for David Luiz and Fernando Torres. If I were Petr Cech, John Terry or Garry Cahill I would have no trust in Luiz as you don’t know what he is going to do next and would want someone else along side me. A third place finish is what they will be looking for now, but if they get back into the amazing form we saw earlier on they may push the Manchester clubs.

Everton

This season has all the signs of a very successful one for David Moyes’ men. Usually slow starters they have got off to a flier sitting in fourth, Marouane Fellaini taking charge of games Goodison Park from the centre of midfield. They also possess one of the best left sides in the league with Leighton Baines and Steven Piennaar, while on the opposite side Leon Osman gets on with his job with little fuss. They will be hoping that Nikica Jelavic will get back to what he does best, especially over the busy festive period. With only two defeats in the league so far and the tradition that Everton always hit top form after Christmas, a top four question is a serious possibility for a solid footballing side.

Fulham

Too many goals will have been conceded for Martin Jol’s liking, having the joint second worst defence in the league conceding 33 goals. It is crucial that Jol gets captain Brede Hangeland to sign a new contract as he is instrumental to the denfence at Craven Cottage; he would be a huge loss if he left in January and would leave Fulham in a mess. Dimitar Berbatov was an important signing in the summer and without the addition of the Bulgarian, Fulham would have been closer to the relegation zone than they are now, which is only five points clear. If they can get Bryan Ruiz fit and and playing to his potential form alongside Berbatov they will start to climb the table and move away from the drop zone.

Liverpool

Its going to be another disappointing season for the Kop with an almost certain finish outside the top four. Luis Suarez has led the way for Liverpool with 11 goals and has the quality that a Liverpool player should have, but there just isn’t enough around him that can receive the same plaudit. Raheem Sterling has been a real revelation and has impressed at Anfield along with Jon Jo Shelvey. The problem at Anfield is the lack of strength in depth, but Brendon Rodgers has already done something about this and will have the services of Daniel Sturridge when the window opens, but more business will have to be done. Unless things improve rapidly Liverpool will be in the Europa League again next season.

Manchester City

The champions are yet to hit the dizzy heights they achieved last year but will be just four points behind Manchester United on Christmas day.  They’ve lost less games than United losing just one which was against their great rivals, but they have lacked that killer instinct this season and have drawn too many. City have the second strongest defence in the league and Matija Nastasic seems to be just the fit alongside captain Vincent Kompany and it is an important partnership in their defence of the title. At the other end of the pitch the top three or four, depending on how many Roberto Mancini plays,  look like they are starting to click in the last couple of matches with the addition of Carlos Tevez to the starting 11, which will scare Sir Alex Ferguson and teams they come up against. Money will more than likely be spent to strengthen the already star studded squad, and we know from last season that four points can be turned around by City.

Manchester United

Sitting top of the table they will be favourites to lift the title, but they will have to improve at the back if they are to hold off City. They have conceded too many sloppy goals for a team that wants to be champions and Sir Alex will be looking to put this right going into the transfer window. Ferguson still hasn’t found his first choice keeper which won’t be helping matters at the back, but Patrice Evra hasn’t lived up to his usual high standards and Jonny Evans doesn’t strike me as a commanding centre back. The strikers have got the defence out of trouble most of the time, being the deadliest forward line in the league, finding the net 44 times. Robin Van Persie has been inspirational after his move from Arsenal and has become an instant favourite with the fans. If they can sort their difficulties out at the back they will be hard to catch at the top.

Newcastle

It has been a disappointing first half of the season for the Toon after last seasons heroics. Too many players haven’t played to the same level as they did last year, two of them being the very influential Cheik Tiote and Papiss Cisse. The one player that has continued his form from last season is Demba Ba keeping Newcastle going with the 11 league goals he has netted so far and boss Alan Pardew will be desperate to keep hold of the Senegal forward.

Norwich City

After picking up just three points from the first seven games, things have really taken off at Carrow Road. They aren’t huge scorers but are well organised, which a side like Norwich have to be to stay in the Premier league. They will have to be careful not to concede too many goals, having let in four or more goals in four matches so far this season, they need caution not to get into bad habits as confidence will soon disappear.

Queens Park Rangers

With the change of manager things have begun to pick up, but its going to be a real battle to stay in the league. They have the joint worst forward line and the fifth worst defence, which doesn’t add up to a good season. The bright light that will excite Harry Redknapp is Adel Taarabt who tore Fulham apart and they have quality in the side with the likes of Esteban Granero, Djibril Cisse and Stephane Mbia but at present they don’t look like they can put it all together. Money will surely be spent in January and they have the best possible manager to get them out of trouble, but I can’t see it happening.

Reading

Its basically a championship side that are trying to cut it with the big boys and its not going to plan. They have the worst defence in the league conceding 37 goals and it is plain to see why they have let so many in with the defending on show against Arsenal. The team sit bottom with just one win and have been beaten on their travels eight times, picking up just two points on the road, which has to be a real worry. Brian McDermott has got a tough job on his hands and needs money to spend throughout the side to stand a chance of staying up this season.

Southampton

After a poor start they have given themselves a strong chance of survival. With just four points from 10 games they were the people’s favourites to go straight back down, but a recent good run has lifted them out of the bottom three on goal difference. Jose Fonte’s new deal is an excellent move for the club as he plays and important role in the Saints defence, which can be a bit leaky. Southampton fans will be looking to Rickie Lambert, the clubs top goal scorer with six and Adam Lallana for inspiration and both players have the quality to guide the club to safety but it will be a difficult task.

Stoke City

The Potters are having another strong season in the Premier League, and they have to thank to the dedication that goes on behind closed doors with the defensive work they do. Ryan Shrawcross, Robert Huth and goalkeeper Asmir Begovic have been outstanding at the Britannia Stadium, conceding just three goals at home and 13 all together, leading to the Potters having the best defence record in England. The one area that will worry Tony Pulis is the lack of goals that his side are scoring as the number of 0-0 draws mount up to five. With the likes of Steven N’Zonzi, Charlie Adam and Peter Crouch in the Stoke attack you wouldn’t think scoring would be a problem but they are failing to find the back of the net with alarming regularity. Pulis will hopefully welcome back Michael Owen in the festive period after injury and with Marc Wilson out with a broken leg a left back wouldn’t go a miss.

Sunderland

The Black Cats aren’t living up to the quality that they have at their disposal this season, sitting 15th. The problem that they have at the moment is starting games slowly, going behind in seven of the last 12 games and with the lack of goals they have scored, it isn’t a great way of trying to win games of football.You would think with Steven Fletcher, Stephane Sessegnon and Adam Johnson to name a few they would have scored more than 19 goals in 18 games, and O’Neil will have to sort it out if they are to move up the league into a position where the fans believe they should be, if not a relegation battle could be on the cards.

Swansea City

They have a lot to be proud of this season, with the fighting grit of Ashley Williams and Chico, to the goal scoring threat of Michu. They have shown that they have the quality to play football against the so called big boys, and are not afraid of mixing it up against Manchester United. Michu has been one of the buys of the summer with his 12 league goals, and the quality they possess in midfield is astonishing for a team only in their second season in the Premier League, especially considering how little money they have spent. A solid mid table finish is likely at the Liberty Stadium.

Tottenham

After losing the first game of the season Spurs have put themselves in a strong position to finish in the top four. They have adapted well to life without Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaar with the addition of Mousa Dembele and things will get even better with Scott Parker coming back from injury. Jermaine Defoe has shown why he is a top class striker, after having few opportunities last season he has hit the back of then net nine times in the league in this campaign. They have a quantity of attacking flair at their disposal, including Gareth Bale, but they are also strong at the back with Jan Vertonghen leading the way. Anything other than a top four finish will be disappointing for Spurs’ fans now.

West Brom

The Baggies have a solid mid-table side and I would think they will fall from the seventh place that they currently hold, but there is usually a shock team in and around the Europa League position at the end of the season. They were always expected to be strong in attack; with quality such as Shane Long Romelu Lukaku and Zoltan Gera goals were always going to be scored, but the strength of their defence is what has shocked me, only conceding seven at home. At the moment they are possibly over achieving but there will be a top half finish for the Baggies.

West Ham

The biggest problem at Upton Park is the growing injury list. If Sam Allardyce could field his first 11 he would have a mid table side, but at the moment he will be fearing entering a relegation battle and as a result has banned full contact training. The start of the season was so promising and it could all be ruined by their bad luck.  Mohamed Diamme who has recently been added to the injury list had been in great form for the Hammers, making things happen in the middle of the park. Allardyce will have to spend more money than he really wants to in the new year due to having so many players unavailable.

Wigan

They are used to being in the position they find themselves in and are the masters of the great escape. They have got some talented players in the squad but it seems things are going against them at the moment. James McArthur is a real bright spark for Roberto Martinez and he will be looking towards the 25 year old to dominate the midfield while Ali Al Habsi continues to shine in goal. I feel they have enough to stay up for another term and Al Habsi is one of the strongest keepers in the league, which will give Wigan a lot of confidence.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/24/how-your-club-stands-at-christmas/

Rodgers lining up a move for Barca Star

Brendan Rodgers is lining up a bid to entice Alexis Sanchez away from Barcelona to Anfield according to the Mirror.

With the lack of service that is available for Luis Suarez at Liverpool, Rodgers is looking to bolster the forward line; but he might have to wait until the summer for the Chilean striker, with Catalan boss Tito Vilanova believed to be unwilling to sell in January.Rogers has looked at all options and has tried loaning the forward with a view of a permanent deal in the summer, but a cash deal is what he wants.

The 23 year old, who can play all the way along the forward line, would bring many options for Rodgers. One role that he could undertake is cover for Suarez if something should happen to Uruguayan, but his major responsibility would be to play on the right of an attacking three or out wide in a midfield five, feeding Suarez while creating opportunities for himself.

At the Camp Nou, Sanchez has proven his worth, with his lightening pace and quick footballing brain he is able to free himself of his marker and is aware of the open space, exploiting it for teammates or his own use. With a fierce shot and the ability of an acute finish he is a danger for any goalkeeper.

This aspect of his game will be a huge bonus for the Liverpool faithful, but it will be the following stat that will wet the appetite of the Kop. In four starts and five appearances coming off the bench this season in La Liga, Sanchez has notched up 13 assists, another four in the Champions League and a further two in his lone outing in the Copa Del Rey.

It has been a major problem at Anfield getting the service requirements to Suarez, with captain Steven Gerrard leading the way with four assists in all competitions. With his pace as his main weapon, alongside his vision and imagination, Sanchez can split defences in half with his passing, while also having the ability to beat a man down the wing and delivering a lethal cross for strikers to meet. Suarez would thrive with the addition of the Chile International and so would the likes of Gerrard, Joe Allen and Raheem Sterling.

Liverpool could become a real threat if they add Sanchez to the employment list in January or even in the summer. It would create one of the most feared forward lines in the Premier League; Suarez leading the line, Sanchez and Sterling either side with Gerrard and Allen in behind.

Rodgers’s side sit just four points behind Everton, who are currently in the last Champions League spot and if Sanchez does arrive in January fourth place is not just a dream, it could be a reality.

Feisty Paraguayan International On His Way To The Bridge, Or The Etihad?

Manchester City and Chelsea have been advised to have a close look at Paraguayan youngster Mauro Caballero.

The 18 year old has been a real revelation at youth and senior level in Paraguay and according to Talksport he is already gaining the attention of Portuguese sides Benfica and Porto.

Caballero currently applies his trade for Paraguayan club side Libertad and his father believes his destination is Europe. His father, also called Mauro Caballero,who represented Paraguay 14 times, is the second highest goalscorer in the Paraguayan league with 107 goals and it looks as though he has passed his traits on to his son.

Caballero Jnr. has scored a prolific number of goals at  junior international level. At 14 he found the back of the net 27 times in 24 appearances and this form continued to the under 17’s where he scored five goals in the South American Championships making him the second highest scorer in the tournament.

At just 1.75m tall he is reported to be strong in the air, as well as possessing intelligent movement, blistering pace and a sixth sense for goal, all attributes that a top class striker needs to be a real threat in the Premier League.

His father has stated that they have received one offer for a January move but nothing has been decided according to Talksport.

He told Radio Cardinal AM: “The future of Mauro points to Europe. There is one great option for January, but  we cannot confirm anything yet.”

Both Manchester City and Chelsea are reported to be looking for extra firepower, but the Stamford Bridge side are in more desperate need, with just Fernando Torres as a front line striker. If he has the movement and pace being reported, I would expect him to link up well with Juan Mata, Edin Hazard and Oscar; with his credentials he would look forward to mixing it with these styles of players.

On the other hand Roberto Mancini knows what a diminutive South American with those attributes can do at Eastlands with Sergio Aguero becoming a instant hit for the champions and is arguably one of the best strikers in the league.

Both teams would have to wonder if he is Premier League ready at such a tender age but he is certainly one for the future, be it this season or next. One thing for certain, one of the hottest prospects coming out of South America will be playing in Europe pretty soon.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/10/feisty-paraguayan-international-on-his-way-to-the-bridge-or-the-etihad/

The Top 10 Breathtaking Players Who ‘Defined’ The Premier League

We have seen some of the best players in the world applying their trade over the last 20 years in the Premier League and here are my top 10 breathtaking players to grace these shores.

Peter Schmeichel: I’m going to start in a bit of a different direction, and have a goalkeeper in the list. Schmeichel is one of the best keepers the world has ever seen, pulling off saves most keepers wouldn’t dream of making, while scoring the odd goal at the other end. In his eight years at Old Trafford he won the Premier League five times, three FA Cups, one League Cup and the Champions League in 1999 and he played a key part in all of these successes. The save that sticks out in my mind is the penalty save in the FA cup semi final replay in 1999 against Dennis Bergkamp in the final minutes of the game to take it into extra time. The great Dane still holds the record for clean sheets to game ratio, with a clean sheet every 2.38 games and was elected into the English football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Ryan Giggs: The Welshman has played in every season of the Premier League, and is the only person to score in each. Giggs made his debut for United in 1991 in the old division one, and has terrified full backs for nearly two decades down the left, with his blistering pace and dazzling skills. He has become the most decorated player in English football, winning the league an astonishing 12 times. Even though his role has changed over recent seasons he still plays an integral role at Old Trafford. The goal that I can still see in my mind comes in the same game as Schmeichel’s save. He picked the ball up on the half way line took on a number of Arsenal defenders then blasted it past David Seaman into the roof of the net.

Gianfranco Zola: The little maestro has to be on of the most professional footballers this country has seen. With his tricks and flicks defenders had trouble getting on top of the Italian, but he could also score some spectacular goals setting Stamford Bridge alive. He spent seven years at Chelsea, and has been voted the club’s greatest player, receiving 60% of the votes on Chelsea’s official website.

David Ginola: The Frenchman is one of the most technically gifted players there has been, taking on players at will. He was at his best on Tyneside , he could not only take players on but score with both feet, which isn’t a certainty, even with the best players in the world.   He wasn’t just a tricky winger, he had the build to look after himself, in a very physical league.

Dennis Bergkamp: He has already been mentioned for missing a penalty, but his first touch was out of this world. He could bring any ball under his command and with his vision was a real master around the 18 yard box. He seemed to have more time on the ball than those around him, while having a real eye for goal, scoring some tremendous goals from all angles, one of the best coming against Newcastle. With his back to goal he flicked it over his shoulder and around the back of  Nicos Dabizas before slotting it home in one movement.

Thierry Henry: He arrived at Highbury as a winger but Arsene Wenger quickly transformed him into one of the most feared strikers the English game has seen. He could glide past defenders at will, with sheer pace and real skill, defenders didn’t stand a chance and he seemed able to find the back of the net from most parts of the pitch, with all kinds of shots. He became a club legend at Highbury, being part of the Invincibles scoring a total of 228 goals for Arsenal.

Christiano Ronaldo: He arrived at Old Trafford at the age of 18 and set the place on fire at once. From the very start fans could see he had incredible skill, but what came next was staggering. The amount of goals that the Portuguese scored  is really impressive and in the 2007/2008 season he scored 42 goals in all competitions. In 2008 he became the first United player since George Best in 1968 to win the Ballon d’Or and in January 2009 was United’s first player to win the FIFA World Player of the Year award. He is one of the cleanest strikers of the ball there has been, with a killer free kick. His credentials were shown when he became the world’s most expensive player moving to Real Madrid for £80 million.

Eric Cantona: He could have been put in a list of the most arrogant players to play in the Premier League with his trademark celebration arms aloft centre stage, but he had the skill and quality to back it up. He was a genius on the pitch, lifting the game with his presence while bringing others into the game. He played a central role in Manchester United transforming into a championship winning side, claiming the league title three times in his four and a half seasons at Old Trafford. There were his downsides, leading to him being banned for eight months but on his return he helped his side over turn Newcastle to win the 1995/1996 league.

Paolo Di Canio: Nothing was impossible for the eccentric Italian and he would try nearly anything, which was shown with his scissor kick volley against Wimbledon. He to was highly strung like Cantona and you weren’t quite sure what was going to happen next with him, but you can’t deny that he was an incredible talent, with incredible skill.

Matt Le Tissier: The one club man spent his whole career at his boyhood team Southampton, despite offers from “bigger clubs” and gained the nickname Le God by the fans at The Dell. Between January 1994 and May 1995 he scored an impressive 45 goals in 64 games and won the Match Of The Day Goal of the Season award for his 40 yard lob against friend and Blackburn keeper Tim Flowers. He became the first midfielder to score 100 goals in the Premier League and is well known for his penalty record, converting 47 out of 48. Barcalona’s Xavi can be quoted of saying: “His talent was simply out of the norm. He could simply dribble past seven or eight players but without speed-he just walked past them. For me he was sensational.”

There are a few that didn’t make the list that are in the Premier League still like David Silva, Santi Cazorla and Robin Van Persie but I think you need to make a real mark on the league over a number of years, but they have real potential and may have made the list on another day.

There are also players from the past that came very close with the likes of David Beckham, Alan Shearer  and Michael Owen being a few.

http://threeandin.com/2012/12/09/the-top-10-breathtaking-players-who-defined-the-premier-league/