Liverpool hero Ray Houghton believes that his old club will make in two top four finishes on the spin this season despite losing Luis Suarez.
The Reds secured a long awaited return to European football’s top table last term as they finished second after mounting a shock title push.
Although dreams of a first ever Premier League crown were crushed late on at Anfield, few have denied that 2013/14 was a success on the red half of Merseyside as the club made sure that the new season will be the first one since 2009/10 that they feature in the Champions League.
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Since then they’ve lost talismanic striker Suarez – who hit 31 league goals during the last campaign – but almost £100m has been reinvested in top talent such as Lazar Markovic, Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana.
Some have suggested that with Manchester United looking to bounce back Liverpool may fall out of the top four, but Houghton has faith in his old club:
“Yes, for me they will (finish in the top four).” He told talkSPORT.
“They may be below Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man United in the bookies’ eyes, but I don’t see it that way at all.
“They’ve got a much stronger squad than last season. Sure, they’re just missing a key ingredient in Luis Suarez, but they’ll still be very competitive.
“I think it’ll be less about how many goals Liverpool can score – we all know what the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Rickie Lambert can do – and more about how they can defend over the course of 38 games.
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“Liverpool have bought well this summer, the signing of centre-back Dejan Lovren from Southampton in particular, and they needed to because they need more depth for the Champions League.
“But the bottom line is they need to defend better, that’s where they were found out last season.”
It might seem to outsiders that Celtic’s league campaign was business as usual in Glasgow but the Hoops actually had one of the best league campaigns in Scottish football history, racking up an incredible 99 points and 102 goals. This is in contrast to last season when they only managed 79 points.
While improving on domestic league consistency was one of Neil Lennon’s stated aims at the start of the season many fans were left disappointed when Lennon’s men were dumped out of both the Scottish Cup and League Cup. The fans live in a microcosm of football where anything less than a double is frowned upon.
It was a disappointing season in Europe too after failing to recreate those special nights in 2012/13 on their way to qualifying for the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.
In this roller coaster of a season, we count down on who fired the Bhoys to glory and who left the Celtic support scratching their heads in frustration.
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21. Derk Boerrigter
Appearances (Sub): 8 (15)
Goals: 1
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Derk Boerrigter arrived last Summer from Ajax as one of Neil Lennon’s key signings ahead of another tilt at the UEFA Champions League. Quoted as costing anywhere between £1m and £3m, most Celtic fans wish he’d stayed on the injury tables in Amsterdam than using the ones in Glasgow.
Having a notorious injury record in his home country, he arrived claiming to the Scottish press he was no ‘sick note’ only to be sidelined by injury a day after that interview.
Appearances were few and far between after and when he did play he didn’t look like he had much to offer the Scottish Champions domestically, never mind in Europe.
20. Amido Balde
Appearances (Sub): 3 (21)
Goals: 3
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 0
Another Summer signing last year, Amido Balde has not shown any of the promise he did in the Portuguese Primeira Liga the season prior.
The description of ‘raw’ Neil Lennon used to describe the striker on his arrival proved to be accurate, he is by no means the finished product.
Despite scoring 3 goals coming off the bench, it perhaps says it all that the highlight of his season was a goal in a Turkish friendly tournament during the Winter break. Will we see more of that or will he leave quietly in a loan deal back to Portugal?
19. Beram Kayal
Appearances (Sub): 13 (7)
Goals: 1
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 0
Once touted as the next big thing in the Celtic midfield, it’s been a few years since the Israeli truly excited the fans in the stands in Glasgow.
Struggling to cement his place in the side over the emerging Nir Biton or unnatural midfielder Charlie Mulgrew has led to speculation that this season might be his last in green and white.
If it is, he at least left with one memorable goal in the Champions League this season, his goal allowing victory over Ajax in the group stages.
18. Liam Henderson
Appearances (Sub): 4 (4)
Goals: 1
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
Liam Henderson would likely be much higher in this list had his cameo this season not been so late in the day. A product of Celtic’s state of the art Lennoxtown facility, the 18 year old has impressed fans and pundits North of the border even this early in his career.
His crowning moment was undoubtedly the assured finish that sent Celtic on their way to clinching the title against Partick Thistle, his first senior goal.
It’ll be interesting to see if he can lay a marker down as someone Neil Lennon can turn to on a regular basis next season. One to watch.
17. Darnell Fisher
Appearances (Sub): 10 (3)
Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 0
Another youth that broke through the ranks this season was 20 year old Darnell Fisher. After injuries to Mikael Lustig and Adam Matthews, Neil Lennon trusted the young Englishman enough to step up and become a starting right back.
He didn’t disappoint, his pace and eye for a cross evident in the 10 league starts he made. It’s only because of the quality of the likes of Lustig and Matthews that he didn’t feature more.
There’s been reports he’s out of contract this Summer and wherever he plays next season be it at Celtic or back in England, he definitely has a bright career ahead of him.
16. Teemu Pukki
Appearances (Sub): 16 (16)
Goals: 7
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 0
Teemu Pukki arrived from the Bundesliga last Summer as arguably Celtic’s biggest signing. The Finn has had a difficult time with glimpses of quality usually drowned out by runs of mediocre outings.
Neil Lennon has stuck with the striker though, perhaps feeling that his lack of impact this season is down to adapting to life in Scotland and a lack of confidence more than his ability.
He divides Celtic fans with many writing him off already and many thinking he’s shown enough to at least have another chance next season. It looks likely he’ll get that chance regardless of their views and there’s a good chance he can been Celtic’s most improved player next campaign.
15. Georgios Samaras
Appearances (Sub): 23 (10)
Goals: 10
Yellow Cards: 6
Red Cards: 0
Ah Georgios. The enigma. The flamboyant. The frustrating. No player in recent years has had a more interesting journey at Celtic Park than the big Greek. Once derided, then worshipped, his last season in a Celtic shirt seemed to be a summary of his previous 5.
With his contract up it seems certain he’ll leave but he managed to score on his last appearance against Dundee United. He burst into tears, the emotional moment proving that Celtic will always be in his heart and that he too will always be in the hearts of Celtic fans.
If only he was more consistent, he could have been a Celtic superstar.
14. Stefan Johansen
Appearances (Sub): 14 (3)
Goals: 2
Yellow Cards: 4
Red Cards: 0
Stefan Johansen has only been at Celtic since the end of January but has already become an integral member of the Celtic squad.
When Joe Ledley moved to Crystal Palace many worried that Celtic’s midfield would regress further after the departure of Victor Wanyama last Summer. The Norwegian eased those fears impacting with a series of man of the match performances and posing the question “Joe who?” in the minds of the Celtic fans.
If Celtic are to compete in Europe next season, Johansen will be a massive part of that. It was shrewd business to capture the Norwegian player of the year for only £2m or so. Is he the next big talent coming out of Glasgow? Time will tell.
13. Leigh Griffiths
Appearances (Sub): 11 (3)
Goals: 7
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 0
Griffiths arrived at Celtic Park in January and it’s fair to say the reaction of the fans amounted more to “Really?” than “Wow!”.
However, it was always clear the Edinburgh lad was going to bang in goals and bang them in hard.
He has proved that to be true and now looks like Celtic’s next great hope for goals after Gary Hooper moved down South.
There are serious question marks about his attitude and behaviour off the field and the greatest barrier to having a successful career in Glasgow looks to be the man himself.
If he sorts that out, there’s no stopping him.
12. Nir Biton
Appearances (Subs): 11 (9)
Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 0
Red Cards: 1
The pick of last year’s Summer signings is this man, Israeli Nir Biton. The internationalist had a fine season in the Hoops, slotting deep into the midfield.
He didn’t find a regular position in the side until December but when he did, he made his mark, performing consistently well into February on Celtic’s long winning run in the league.
Had he not received a groin injury he probably would have made another 8-10 appearances. Regardless he looks destined to feature heavily next season and will be key in giving the side defensive steel in Europe.
11. Adam Matthews
Appearances (Sub): 26 (4)
Goals: 1
Yellow Cards: 3
Red Cards: 0
Adam Matthews is one of the best young wing backs in Britain. I’m firmly a believer that he could be a fine English Premier League player at a mid table side.
The Welshman had a frustrating season by his standards, unable to shake off niggling injuries throughout.
When he did play he excelled with excellent tackling, blistering pace and the eye for an end product. It looks likely he’s staying at Celtic for another Summer and at 22, still has plenty of time to improve and improve. If I was an English club I’d be very interested.
10. James Forrest
Appearances (Sub): 21 (6)
Goals: 7
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
Forrest is another player who hasn’t managed to hit the heights of his ability due to injury this season. This is something which is starting to become regular with the 22 year old and there are concerns within the Celtic support that injuries might define his Celtic career.
However, his impact this season, especially in its early stages cannot be denied. He was the man who sent Celtic into the Champions League group stages with his crucial last minute winner seeing off Shakther Karagandy in the playoffs.
Also scoring in the group stages vs Ajax, there’s no denying James Forrest still has a bright future ahead of him. Next season could be a massive one for him, can he realise the potential he’s shown for years now?
9. Mikael Lustig
Appearances (Subs): 23 (7)
Goals: 2
Yellow Cards: 2
Red Cards: 0
Mikael Lustig is a machine, a Terminator. Relentless, unstoppable, conquering. Seeing him cover Celtic’s right flank is a joy. You could spend 90 minutes watching him alone.
He would have been a player of the year contender had he not bowed out of the season in December for surgery. Up to that point he was a key player in Europe and absolutely demolishing all opponents domestically. The fact he keeps the fantastic Adam Matthews out of the team more often than not speaks volumes. Celtic are blessed to have two right backs of such quality.
He also scored a goal of the season contender away to Hearts in the Scottish Cup that was the pick of a 7 goal haul that should be youtube’d right now.
8. Charlie Mulgrew
Appearances (Subs): 37 (3)
Goals: 6
Yellow Cards: 9
Red Cards: 0
The utility man. It’s easy to overlook Charlie Mulgrew’s impact on Celtic because he performs a number of roles. This season it has been mostly in midfield. Football purists might sneer at a central defender stepping into the middle of the park but he hasn’t looked out of place.
Perhaps in Europe Celtic need a more dynamic performer, such as the previously mentioned Johansen but domestically Charlie has excelled sitting deep and spreading passes across the park.
He suits Celtic and Celtic suit him, with his set piece capability also a big danger for the opposition it looks like Neil Lennon will rely on him in years to come.
7. Emilio Izaguirre
Appearances (Subs): 46 (0)
Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 8
Red Cards: 0
Lustig and Matthews on the right, Izaguirre on the left. He lives up to their standards and then some. The 2011 player of the year recaptured the form of his debut season in Scotland to have one of his best campaigns yet.
Skilful, intelligent and quick, he’s probably more of an asset in attack than defence. This is highlighted with 9 assists, third in the squad behind Stokes and Commons.
He recently gave an interview stressing how happy he and his family were in Glasgow so it looks like those big money moves talked about a few years ago may never come to fruition. If he keeps playing like he has this season, that’ll keep the Celtic Park faithful very happy indeed.
6. Scott Brown
Appearances (Subs): 49 (0)
Goals: 4
Yellow Cards: 8
Red Cards: 1
The captain and leader of Celtic had a fine season in the Hoops. When Brown arrived at Celtic there were some who balked at his £4m price tag, a stick used to beat him for a number of years.
It’s clear by now, at least to me, that ‘Broony’ has paid back that fee with his contributions. The making of him was becoming club captain and every year since he has improved.
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The team are noticeably sluggish and lacking without him in the team. It may be that his presence has more of an effect on the team than his ability as a footballer. This was highlighted in the Champions League campaign, his red card against Barcelona ruling him out for a number of crucial games, Celtic didn’t look like the same team.
5. Efe Ambrose
Appearances (Subs): 51 (1)
Goals: 3
Yellow Cards: 5
Red Cards: 0
Nobody made more appearances this season than the somersaulting Nigerian Efe Ambrose. This is a testament to his consistency and the partnership he has formed with the imperious Virgil van Dijk.
That’s 2 standout seasons he has had now and looks like being a fixture in the Celtic defence for years to come.
Heading to the World Cup with African champions Nigeria, he also has one of the best celebrations in football. If he scores in Brazil expect the celebration to be better than the goal.
4. Anthony Stokes
Appearances (Subs): 40 (4)
Goals: 21
Yellow Cards: 4
Red Cards: 1
When Gary Hooper left last Summer there were many wondering where the goals would come from. Anthony Stokes had a difficult year the season prior and many doubted he could step up and be counted.
He hit back with possibly his best season as a Celtic player. He matched his overall goal tally of 2011/12, 19 coming in the league, and pitched in with 11 assists.
After recently signing a new contract and with his Griffiths partnership looking tasty the next step for the Irishman is being effective in Europe. Can he bring his form onto the big stage? The jury is out on that one but with his determination you wouldn’t put it past him.
3. Fraser Forster
Appearances (Subs): 51 (0)
Goals: 0
Yellow Cards: 1
Red Cards: 0
La Gran Muralla, The Great Wall, that’s what the Spanish press call him after his exploits in the Champions League. A pretty good nickname to have as a goalkeeper and he lived up to it this season.
The big Englishman broke all sorts of records this season, ones that have stood for decades and decades. He quite literally became a part of Celtic and Scottish football history.
He eventually made it to 1,256 minutes of football without conceding when a Jonny Hayes goal, unstoppable by anyone’s standards, whistled past him up in Aberdeen.
Should Joe Hart make his inevitable mistake in Brazil (I’m Scottish OK), then England have a goalkeeper in Forster that is ready to take on the best and excel, he’s done it already many times.
Will he move on this Summer? It seems likely. If he does he’s leaving big boots to fill both in size and stature.
2. Virgil van Dijk
Appearances (Subs): 45 (2)
Goals: 5
Yellow Cards: 4
Red Cards: 1
The credit for Celtic’s clean sheet record this season can’t all go to Forster. This man arguably had as big a part to play.
The Hoops waited near on a decade for a player as good as this in the centre of defence. It’s a position that eluded Celtic scouts for years until they found Ambrose and then they found van Dijk.
Strong, confident, skilful, strong, strong, strong. There’s no getting away that van Dijk is destined for leagues bigger than the Scottish Premiership. He scores goals too… volleys, headers, free kicks.
Need I go on? He is the best footballer in Scotland by a distance, but one man had a bigger part to play this season…
1. Kris Commons
Appearances (Subs): 44 (4)
Goals: 32
Yellow Cards: 4
Red Cards: 0
Kris Commons had his best season as a Celtic player, his best season as a footballer and likely one which will never be repeated in his career such was its standard.
Scoring an incredible 32 goals from midfield is the marquee stat that highlights that. It doesn’t tell the whole story though because he created and contributed to a lot more of Celtic’s goals and generally was the man that kept the Hoops ticking all year.
Yes Stokes hit 21 but it was Commons who filled the considerable hole left by Gary Hooper. His goal against Karagandy in the Champions League playoff was voted goal of the season by the Celtic fans and he picked up the club and the PFA Player Of The Year awards.
He’s an incredible performer and one again who is vital if Celtic can become competitive in Europe again. Can Celtic use him in the right way that allows him to bang them in against top level opposition?
Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe has leapt to the defence of Luis Alberto and Iago Aspas, following the duo’s difficult start to life at the club.
The Spanish pair were signed for a combined £14m from Sevilla and Celta Vigo during the last window, but have only managed a combined five Premier League starts.
There are already rumours circulating that Aspas may be sold this month, while Alberto has also been linked with a loan move to gain more experience.
However Pascoe says that both players are adjusting to life and football in England, and that they will soon start to show why the Merseysiders spent heavily for them:
“Luis has found the pace of the Premier League hard but he and Iago are working well in training and the more they get used to the Premier League the better they get.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.
“Alberto can play in a couple of positions. He can play wide or up front as a nine or as a 10 and if you asked him he would say a 10.
“We can tweak things if we have to and push him up there but we’re not going to put him at nine as we have Luis (Suarez) up there.
“Iago started the season well and obviously had his (thigh) injury. He has been working hard; he has to wait his turn like all the strikers do.
“He did well the other day (against Hull) and with the way he is training he is getting better.
“It is like any player, if they are British or foreign, you hope they gel together quickly but sometimes you need time to adapt to the Premier League.
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“They know themselves sometimes they have to be patient.“
Aspas and Alberto are expected to play some part in Liverpool’s FA Cup clash with Oldham this afternoon, with Brendan Rodgers likely to make numerous changes to his squad after a demanding festive period.
Arsenal are set to open up contract negotiations with star attacker Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain in the near future, The Sun claim.
The England international has four years left on his existing deal at the Emirates Stadium, but has made a dramatic impact since moving to north London.
The Gunners have had to watch on as Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri have forced a move away from the club in the last year of their contracts, whilst Theo Walcott is in the final 12 months of his deal and is refusing to extend for the time being.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to be rewarded for promising showings for the north Londoners with a prolonged deal and a pay increase to boot.
Arsene Wenger hopes that signing the Ox up on a new long-term contract will avoid a similar tricky situation arising in the future, and may even convince Walcott to consider a new contract with Arsenal also.
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Everton have set their sights on Cardiff boss Malky Mackay if David Moyes decides to leave the club at the end of the season.
Moyes has admitted his side look set to miss out on a top-four finish following Saturday’s defeat at Sunderland and a top-five finish, which would secure a place in the Europa League, also looks unlikely following Spurs’ win over Manchester City on Sunday.
There has been speculation throughout the campaign that manager Moyes could walk away from Goodison Park when his contract comes to an end in the summer if the club miss out on European football.
The Sunday Mirror have now reported that Mackay, who led Cardiff to the Championship title this season, is a leading contender to take charge of Everton if Moyes decides to call time on his stay with the Merseyside club.
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However, Cardiff are keen to keep hold of the Scottish manager and Everton could face a big battle to secure their reported top target.
The Manchester Derby is another hugely anticipated match in the English Premier League as two teams from Manchester go head to head for bragging rights.
With City currently ahead of United in recent seasons, Louis van Gaal will need to unleash his squad’s full potential in order to overcome their neighbours at the Etihad.
So, with that in mind, here are FIVE things the Red Devils need to do if they are going to have a chance of picking up three points against Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
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Force Manchester City to defend
In recent matches between the two teams, Manchester City’s attacking presence has always gotten the better of Manchester United due to their quick and intricate passing. Even with key playmaker David Silva injured, they will still keep the same playing style.
If Louis van Gaal wants to avoid unnecessary pressure, he will need to encourage his side to be continuously attack their opponents rather than sit back and hope to break on the counter attacks. With such a lethal strike force, the Red Devils will need to make the best out of their chances.
Keep Sergio Aguero in line
Manchester United will already know that if they give Sergio Aguero any sort of room anywhere in or around the penalty area, they will surely be punished given the Argentine’s lethal form. With an out-of-form Yaya Toure and an injured David Silva, all the Manchester City players will be pushing the ball to Aguero.
This means United will have to be in constant communication over his movements as Daley Blind will need to be on the top of defensive game when tracking back to aid the squad’s defence. If the players can frustrate him enough and keep his impact at a minimum, they will surely avoid a losing unnecessary goals.
Unleash the Manchester United Galacticos
Although Manchester United are struggling defensively, they have one of the most feared front lines in the Premier League. If Louis van Gaal can unleash the likes of Wayne Rooney, Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, and Robin van Persie against Manchester City, they could actually come away with three points.
Given the fact that City were unable to fend off Newcastle United at home, they could have defensive troubles of their own as Van Gaal will have to urge his players to attack Joe Hart’s goal. The four superstars in the squad are proven world class players and will need to be at the top of their game to ensure that Manuel Pellegrini will register his third consecutive defeat.
Manchester United need to keep their defensive composure
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Even though David De Gea is currently in amazing form, he cannot keep out every opportunity that comes his way. This means the back four, along with the midfield players will need to work together in order to ensure their goalkeeper is not over-exposed in any way.
It is known that Manchester United have been struggling defensively throughout the season, so if they can reproduce a similar performance to the one that kept Chelsea at bay, it could just be enough to ensure a tight scoreline. With Manchester City enjoying their attacks from the sides, players like Rafael and Luke Shaw will especially have to be at the top of their game.
Manchester United need Wayne Rooney to continue his derby form
If Wayne Rooney is full fit for the clash, Manchester City wills surely have something to fear because the Manchester United captain has already recorded 11 goals in this derby fixture. It is still unknown whether he will play a part given his latest injury, but knowing Rooney, he will do all he can to take part.
With the England man in the squad, United will have another devastating outlet in the attack as he joins Angel Di Maria as the link between the midfield and the attack. In addition to this, his never give up mentality will be a huge asset as he leads his teammates to track back and make sure everyone gives it their all.
Manchester City’s summer business is yet to really click into gear and their high profile targets seem to be slipping away. Paul Pogba looks to be on his way to Barcelona, Kevin De Bruyne’s future is seemingly in Germany and Raheem Sterling’s move is stalling and dragging, despite the Reds’ own moves.
Pedro, linked with the Citizens of late, has been marginalised even further at Barcelona with the signings of Neymar and Luis Suarez and the Spaniard looks a long way from even competing for a starting berth. In fact, Pedro’s best chance of a regular place is, probably, a Suarez ban for some insane behaviour.
Despite signing a new contract, it is likely the Spain international could be lured away from the Camp Nou if more starts were offered. Even with only 15 league starts last season, Pedro still managed six goals and six assists – the sort of end product that City sometimes find hard to come by.
Notably, Manchester City are often short on width and rely heavily on their overlapping full-backs. When Pablo Zabaleta and Gael Clichy/Aleksandar Kolarov are more restricted the game becomes severely cluttered in the centre, and breaking teams down increases in difficulty. Jesus Navas was signed to be the answer to this, but even with his electric pace his end product is often disappointing – he failed to find the net at all last season.
Pedro would bring a different approach to Navas’ and is more of a wide goal-scorer than creator, as he shows regularly at Barcelona. However, it is not just Navas who has been tasked with providing width at City, as previously James Milner was often used in a wide role. In failing to retain Milner for the 2015/16 campaign, City have lost not only a massively versatile player, but one of their more natural wide men.
Although Pedro is not a wide player in a traditional sense himself – do not expect to see him with chalk on his boots – he is could bring more width to City’s attacking moves than the likes of David Silva and Samir Nasri.
City are at risk of becoming further reliant on Silva if they are to use a 4-2-3-1. Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic are both likely to be sold and the revenue could be used to fund a move for Pedro, who will allow tactical flexibility and bring goals from deeper in the team. While Manuel Pellegrini wants to stay with his 4-4-2, City often look at their best in a 4-2-3-1 and Pedro would fit perfectly into that system, while allowing Silva to pull the strings in the ‘No.10’ position.
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With the move for Sterling still alive, Pedro could play on the opposite flank and allow their most creative force, in David Silva, to play in between the lines and create for Sergio Aguero. The cost of signing Pedro is far outweighed by the benefit of the extra goal threat, particularly when Aguero gets his regular injury.
Toni Martinez has been the name on the majority of West Ham United fans’ lips this season, despite the 20-year-old not being part of the first team.
The Spanish forward caught the eye quickly by excelling in the club’s development side.
The youngster only joined the Premier League outfit in 2016, but supporters have been calling for a first-team start for a while.
This season, former manager Slaven Bilic opted against giving the forward a chance, while current boss David Moyes seems to be taking a patient approach with youth.
Over the weekend, though, Martinez eventually made his debut when he came on as a substitute in Saturday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Shrewsbury Town.
The Spaniard replaced Javier Hernandez in the 71st minute, but he was unable to affect the scoreline as the match ended in a goalless draw.
Even though fans were frustrated by the result, many were pleased to see Martinez get some minutes.
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Some, though, are baffled that it has taken this long for the youngster to be given an opportunity.
What a difference a month makes in the Premier League. After an FA Cup loss at home to Arsenal saw people questioning whether Louis van Gaal was truly the right man for the job at Old Trafford, three hugely impressive victories against Tottenham, Liverpool and now Manchester City has seen the Dutchman’s side climb to third in the table, with a second-placed finish an easy target. United are playing their best football at the most crucial moment of the campaign, and with a number of big-money signings being touted in the summer, surely the aim will be the title next season rather than another top-four finish.
2. Pellegrini’s days are numbered.
The parallels between Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini’s sophomore season and that of his predecessor Roberto Mancini are worrying. An excellent debut campaign has been followed up by a hugely disappointing second year, and after this crushing derby loss – City’s fifth away defeat in a row in all competitions – the club’s oil-rich owners may have decided that enough is enough. Pellegrini can have no excuses for how poorly his players have performed given how much money he spent in the summer, and it seems increasingly likely that he will pay for it with his job.
3. Kompany continues descent from hero to zero.
Touted as one of the best centre-halves in the game last season, City skipper Vincent Kompany’s fall from grace has been alarming and has come to embody his side’s underwhelming campaign. The Belgian was withdrawn at half-time against United having performed poorly in the opening 45 minutes, and was lucky to remain on the pitch after a desperate, ill-disciplined challenge on Daley Blind. Kompany has the air of a man completely devoid of confidence and belief in his own abilities. Much like his manager, is his time at Eastlands also up?
The last week for Coventry City was supposed to be a defining week in the clubs history and whilst in many ways it has been, there are still so many questions that have been left unanswered.
The confusion which now surrounds the club began late on Thursday evening when out of nowhere owners Sisu chose to put Coventry City FC Limited (CCFC Ltd) into administration. The statement released detailed that CCFC Ltd a ‘non-operating subsidiary’ had been put into administration but CCFC (Holdings) Ltd was not suggesting the club itself had been spared administration.
Confusion was the overriding emotion following this statement and the scheduled court case which would have seen the club as a whole go into administration was postponed to allow for further investigation into the club.
The other important aspect which was the only thing that we seemed to be a hundred per cent certain on was that Sisu’s actions had voided the contract between them and ACL meaning Coventry City FC now had no home, with there now being no rental contract between the two parties.
Rumours and possible scenarios began to circulate around the social media sites as City fans tried to understand the implications of Sisu’s actions. Rumours of new owners looking to invest as well as potential grounds to play our remaining home fixtures, and whether or not the club will get a points deduction.
Then on Friday it emerged that the club was clearing out stock from the club shop at the Ricoh arena. It was later confirmed that staff and stock had been moved to a different location which was later confirmed as city’s Ryton training ground. This seemed to signal the end of City’s time at the Ricoh but now where does the club go.
Saturday arrived with pretty much all of the questions still left unanswered and attentions turned to the match against Portsmouth. Does this match even matter was the question on a lot of fans minds but being football fans we got on with it and got behind the boys in Skyblue.
It was a game where the players could be excused from being distracted by what’s been going on at the club but the players seemed to respond relatively positively. An early penalty looked to give the Skyblue fans something to cheer but McSheffery stepped up and had is penalty saved by an impressive Eastwood. Things kind of went downhill from there and despite a number of good chances for City it wasn’t to be their day. 2-0 to Portsmouth was the final result and it seemed like things couldn’t get any worse for City.
How wrong I was as new continued to break over the next few days. News emerged that ACL and others believed the club had made a mistake and was actually in administration as a whole. For this reason ACL went into court on Tuesday with the intention of withdrawing their application for CCFC to be put into administration.
This has all come down to where a so called ‘golden share’ lies. This ’golden share’ refers to the clubs membership of the football league and it is now understood to lie with CCFC Ltd and not as Sisu suggested with CCFC (Holdings) Ltd. This should have meant the club were going to be confirmed as being in administration but continued discrepancies mean we are still left wondering although a point’s deduction looks more and more likely as time goes on.
One thing that is very interesting as well as worrying is that the court was informed that the club is actually £60million in debt. Now Sisu have consistently stated that the club has no debt so once again it would suggest that we have all been lied too on an even bigger scale then we could have imagined.
The club has taken some positive steps in that a short term deal is now being talked of too enable the club to play its last three home matches at the Ricoh Arena. No matter what happens I think everyone can agree that this is a favourable scenario for all involved.
Our club is in crisis and we are undoubtedly looking for a saviour. Former life president Joe Elliot this week has stoked the fans hopes by publicly talking about an American millionaire who is apparently interested in the club.
His name is Preston Haskell and has in the past shown strong interest in another UK based football club, Leeds United. On the face of it he seems like the real deal. He has a fortune worth an estimated $250 million (£157 million), is a genuine sports fan, great business knowledge and so far have only heard good things about this millionaire from Texas.
We have heard all this before though and had our hopes raised only to be left with the likes of our current owners. At this moment in time though anyone other than Sisu seems like a good option and for that reason I welcome administration and I never thought I would say that.
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It is a huge shame that it has come to this for our beloved club but administration does offer he club a potential fresh start. We have been going downhill as a club for as long as I can remember and just maybe this could finally be the beginning of revival for the club. My only concern is how far we are going to have to fall before we begin to rise again.
Sisu’s dealings with this club are far from over and there is plenty of drama still to come that I am sure of. It does have to end at some point though and one way or another I cannot wait for a resolution to this so once again we can concentrate on the football side of things.