Category Uncategorized

Liverpool’s 2014 has been one of contrast and change. The year started so well as Brendan Rodgers’ Reds went on a stunning winning run to almost clinch a first ever Premier League title, playing some of the best football in the English top flight along the way.

Then came the summer… Luis Suarez’s bite on Giorgio Chiellini was swiftly followed by his move to Barcelona, and Liverpool have not been the same side since. The Merseysiders are currently 19 points down on the tally they had this time last year, and the top four quest looks like it may be a tricky one for Rodgers this time around.

We’ve stuck with the Anfielders through the thick and thin, and here are the ten best articles from the 2014 journey…

Could this be the transfer coup of the season for Liverpool?

It may look like a bullet dodged now, but Liverpool really, really, REALLY wanted this Egyptian – who was tipped for the top…

Amid the chaos of any transfer window you’re always likely to get your high profile moves, but at the same time it is often those that slip the radar that prove to be the most successful.

Mohamed Salah is hardly a household name in England, but those that saw him play against Tottenham and Chelsea in the last couple of years will realise what a talent the Egyptian looks set to be. At 21 he has all the pace you would expect from an incisive wide man, but what separates him from many of the other quality wingers is his technical ability and all round attacking craft.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Three transfer ‘ins and outs’ at Liverpool this January

With January now on the agenda, let’s look back at the issues facing Liverpool last time around…

The January window is well under way, and despite the regular criticism the winter market often gets in England, there’s no doubting it’s utility to Premier League clubs.

The mid-season window gives managers the chance to add reinforcements for the season’s final run-in, and attempt to get some of the deadwood off the wage bill.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Six marquee signings in Liverpool’s summer plans

A ‘marquee’ man has always been Rodgers’ wish, and here are six that may have been better than Balotelli

To sum up Liverpool’s transfer activities from last summer in a nutshell; there was a lot of tents, some very snazzy and well-priced tents, but no genuine marquee.

Their efforts in the January window shared a similar fate, with Mohamed Salah rejecting a move to Anfield in favour of a Chelsea switch and the Reds’ late attempts to sign for Dnipro’s Yevhen Konoplyanka ending in failure.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Barca’s loss Liverpool’s gain… six players that could be heading to Anfield

Ironically it was Barca who raided Liverpool in the end, but it looked, initially, as if the Reds would profit from their proposed ban…

The coming transfer window was billed as a huge one for Spanish powerhouses Barcelona. With Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol both planning to leave the club, and concerns over ageing midfield duo Xavi and Andreas Iniesta, the Catalans were expected to significantly strengthen in several key areas at the end of the season.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Six to follow Moreno to Liverpool

Alberto Moreno was one of the Reds’ high profile summer signings, and it was predicted that a few more big names could follow

According to the ever-reliable Daily Mail, following his impressive display in the Europa League final,Liverpool are set to launch a swoop for Sevilla starlet Alberto Moreno.

With Jose Enrique a rather ordinary defender and Aly Cissokho’s loan spell unlikely to become a permanent deal at Anfield, the highly-rated Spaniard would certainly address the Reds’ need for a new left-back ahead of next season.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Six deals Liverpool could make before the World Cup

The World Cup presented an odd transfer embargo for clubs, but Liverpool were linked with a host of stars before a ball was kicked in Brazil.

Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers will want to be quick in putting the title disappointment of this past season behind them and move on to preparing for the next campaign.

While the team were praised throughout the season for their brand of football, there is a lot of work that needs to be done to ensure next year is equally as successful, if not more.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Five signings to convince Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool

We all now how this one ended… but Liverpool did try to keep their man

Liverpool currently sit on top of the Premier League table with 80 points and are in the running to end their 24-year league trophy drought. And a big part to their success this season has undoubtedly been down to the talents of Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan has just received the PFA Player of the Year award after scoring 30 goals in just 31 appearances this season.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Five reasons to be excited about Balotelli…

Erm… it looked positive initially!

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Oh Mario Balotelli… how we’ve missed you so.

When Balotelli left Manchester City back in the January of 2013, the Premier League lost one of the world’s most enigmatic characters in football.

But after just a year in a half back in Serie A with AC Milan, the Italian superstar is returning to the English top flight this time playing in the red of Liverpool.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

Bring him back! Liverpool ace makes case for re-call

Aspas was a disaster last season, but he’s impressing over in Spain this time around…

Liverpool’s attacking prowess this season is a far cry from their ruthlessness in front of goal last season.

That is partly down to Daniel Sturridge being sidelined with a calf injury and mostly because Luis Suarez was allowed to leave after enjoying the best season of his career.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

A step in the wrong direction for Liverpool?

Where did it all go wrong?

There are the transfers that shock because you didn’t think they were possible – Torres to Chelsea for £50m. And there are those that shock by virtue of their sheer size – Bale to Real Madrid for £86m. But every now and again a transfer shocks because it’s just plain bizarre.

CLICK HERE TO READ ON…

He went from hero to jobless in a matter of weeks at Newcastle, but since then a lot has changed for Chris Hughton and he inevitably found himself back in the Premier League spotlight. In the wake of his former side’s current plight did the Magpies miss a trick by letting Hughton go?

The path he has taken since initially suggests they may have done. He did a tremendous job with Birmingham City to get a disjointed squad into the Championship playoffs. He also provided a respectable Europa League campaign, including a 2-1 victory in Brugge as a cherry on top of the cake for the Blues fans. He has shown that he has the capability of ensuring unity in his squads that can enable them to go on runs just as Norwich have. There were doubters of the Canaries as they struggled for early season form now they are on their best run in their Premier League history. The manager takes huge credit for that and rightly so.

[post_link url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/newcastle-united/would-demba-ba-really-be-better-off-if-he-leaves, https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/newcastle-united/alan-pardew-targets-marseille-ace-as-a-plan-b, https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/newcastle-united/pardew-admits-transfer-errors” target=”_blank” type=”tower”]

I raise a smile at Hughton establishing himself as a Premier League manager. Newcastle fans nostalgically call upon the 5-1 Halloween demolition of Sunderland at St. James’s Park. No supporter on Tyneside will forget the day when Kevin Nolan caused havoc chicken clucking around as he put a hatrick past his team’s bitter rivals. There was the feeling that this alone would be spare Hughton a lot of time, and that a popular manager can finally settle. The lacklustre performance at the Hawthorns in his last game in charge was not an indicator of a departure. Nobody expected him to go when he did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though.

Now you look back you can see why his partnership with Newcastle United came to an end. Hughton was destined to leave for the reason that he may have been a great coach but his existence was not very much beyond that. I am not ignorant to assume that all he did was coach, but he was an isolated figure even if the fans never wanted to admit it. Newcastle supporters are correct to say he was unfortunate to be sacked, but the board knew exactly what he brought to the table. He was a motivator and encouraged a fantastic team spirit. This wasn’t enough; they did not have the confidence that he was the face they could put their trust in. The turbulent spell like they are facing now needs a strong personality to take the criticism in his stride and ability to see the vision of the board before the supporters. The quiet unassuming figure of Hughton was not what the Newcastle decision makers wanted to work with.

Ashley was all too aware having a manager in charge that was seen as a fans messiah was dangerous. He knew from when Kevin Keegan was installed due to fan power that this can only end one way, in tears. The Owner could not take the risk that Hughton could use the fans as a weapon against him. There was no communication between Chris Hughton and the board they were separate entities and for this reason they had to split.

Mike Ashley was rarely given credit for his meticulous business planning before the days of Pardew. This is because any manager’s positive image was done individually and did not include the main man in charge upstairs, which would have made the fans appreciate the board. Alan Pardew instantly spoke about working with the board as a unit. The 41 year old has marketed Newcastle as a brand run by the club’s hierarchy, rather than promoting his personal image of Mr Pardew being Mr Newcastle United. This was a perfect scenario for Ashley because he knew any popularity Pardew would gain he would benefit from too.

This is demonstrated when Alan Pardew explained about the club’s transfer failings he mentions the five man hierarchy getting it wrong with himself and chief scout Graham Carr included. The affiliation of blame to two popular characters in his honest appraisal draws in an acceptance from the fans. It deflects blame away from Ashley rather than venom and spite in his direction, which is essential. The owner knows that Pardew will work his visions around what is dictated to him and this is pivotal for any working relationship. Mike Ashley is the ultimate boss, because it is his money that goes in and Pardew understands this loud and clear. This is why he was so handsomely rewarded with an 8 year deal. The Sports Direct owner is sure to make some ruthless business calls on player sales and purchases in the future but the fact that this won’t be a surprise to Pardew is a massive boost.

Newcastle experienced a stormy spell when Carroll left for £35 million. A fan backlash then has prepared the former Southampton boss for this current wave of frustration. He answers to the board before the fans though and the unity this provides will ensure Newcastle remains a strong unit for the foreseeable future. If Pardew plays by Ashley’s rules he will be rewarded, and given opportunity to sign players to improve the team under a suitable structure.

Pardew and the club’s hierarchy have been on the same page since day one; he was wanted and had utmost respect from the owner. He is a channel of communication between the fans and the owner that had never existed under Hughton. How Hughton was viewed upstairs was always shrouded in controversy. He ended up in charge purely as an agreement of convenience in the Championship and because he got the Magpies promoted he had to stay, in the same way Abramovich was obligated to keep Di Matteo.

Alan Pardew is a completely different kettle of fish to what Hughton was. He buys into the Ashley plan and he doesn’t appear to be left in the dark on subjects and can usually shed light on issues between board and fans. I am convinced that results would not have been all too dissimilar under Hughton or ‘Pardiola’, but the current boss was brought in to guide the ship at times just like now. It is why the fans remain patient that he will turn it round once again and few fans have called for his head.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

While the split with Hughton was unfortunate and messy for the fans, essentially the board certainly understood why they sacked him, and what they wanted from a manager. The timing was difficult but when was a good time to ever sack a fans favourite. There may be a clamour from fans to recall Hughton’s great exploits and yearn for the days he was here. Those who do that though will miss the point of the way the Newcastle hierarchy has to run if the club is to have a long term future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcF83WMdrDw

Leeds fans have been reacting to the news that Liam Cooper and Andy Lonergan will miss Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Centre back Liam Cooper and goalkeeper Andy Lonergan are both set to be out for extended periods, says Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom.

Cooper was enduring a poor spell of form and taking plenty of stick from fans, and sustained his injury in the loss against Wolves. The captain was clattered by his own player, suffering a severe dead leg. Fans don’t seem all that sympathetic about the injury.

Lonergan had missed several games with a neck injury, and is now set for a longer spell on the sidelines after aggravating the injury. The 34 year-old probably doesn’t hold much hope of getting back in the team now, after the sudden emergence of Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Leeds host Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, still seeking their second win in the calendar year. The injury to Lonergan won’t impact the lineup, but Cooper’s injury means Everton loanee Matthew Pennington will likely keep his place.

Fans have been reacting to the injury news on Twitter, and we don’t think Liam Cooper will want to check his social media this morning…

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

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.

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON WAYNE ROONEY TO SEE THE FULL LIST

[/ffc-gallery]

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

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

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.

Ipswich Town yet again failed to put in a good performance when fellow strugglers Peterborough United came to Portman Road on Saturday.

If the Tractor Boys were playing against a better side then it could have been another thrashing but thankfully the visitors were just as poor as the home team.

I have no idea what the Ipswich defence were doing when Lee Tomlin broke into the box. No matter how many times I watch the goal I can’t work out how they managed to let Tomlin have so much space to shoot. Ipswich did not even have a shot on target in the first half and if it wasn’t for Peterborough’s equally poor play then Ipswich would have never got back into the game. Perhaps the away side will feel like they could have won the game as Mick McCarthy’s side never looked like winning it.

Peterborough are mine and probably everyone else’s favorites to be relegated. The fact that Ipswich looked second best to a team destined for League One worries me  greatly.

We can perhaps forgive the team for getting thumped by teams like Leicester, Blackpool and Crystal Palace because they are decent sides, but when they get showed up by the divisions weaker sides we have to draw the line and say that it is completely unacceptable.

You have to look at the likes of Lee Martin and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who get paid above average wages for those at Championship level and think what do they do to deserve those wages? Of course it is unfair to just single out two players but they are two prime examples of players that look like they don’t even care about their careers, let alone Ipswich’s league position.

Thankfully, Lee Martin’s contract is up in the summer so he will either be leaving or he will be signing a new contract on lower wages. I know a lot of fans think he has the potential to set the Championship alight but personally I would not have a problem with the club letting him go, even if it is for nothing. Yes he did win us a penalty and yes he may have the occasional good run of form once a season where he looks like one of our best players, but that is not really enough to justify having him around. With a bit more consistency I would consider him an average player at this level but nothing more than that. Most of the time he looks uninterested and it is a shame that he is letting what talent he has go to waste.

In fairness the same could be said for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas as the tricky winger has been far from his best this season. JET has always lacked consistency and even more importantly lacked composure in the final third of the pitch. It is exciting to see the former Arsenal player’s fancy footwork, weaving in and out of defenders to break into the box, but his inability to provide a decent cross or shot really lets him down.

Sometimes you get the impression that JET is really fired up for the game and defenders panic any time he gets near them. However once the winger knows he has a regular place in the team he starts to slack off, losing his enthusiasm and flair. Recently he has started on the bench and looks more up for games when he eventually does come on but why should we keep a highly paid player at the club who can never maintain a regular starting role?

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Like I mentioned before, these two players are not the only ones failing to pull their weight but they summarise the kind of players that are at Ipswich. If they don’t even care about their own careers then the club has no chance of getting the best out of them. January can’t come soon enough, hopefully McCarthy will get the money to bring some real footballers into the club.

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]

Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s World Cup campaign has once again contained impressive doses of enormous potential, even if the Chelsea youngster still doesn’t appear the finished article. But that’s perhaps because it’s still not quite clear what type of midfielder the 22-year-old really is, and which part of the engine room his future ultimately resides in.

Following a season in which roaming No.8s were instrumental aspects of Manchester City’s domineering Premier League title win and Liverpool’s cavalier run to the Champions League final, it feels as if Loftus-Cheek is emerging at the perfect time. Gareth Southgate has carved out similar roles in England’s midfield as part of his 3-1-4-2 setup, taking advantage of a new breed of midfielder that are part No.8 and part No.10, and that’s the position Loftus-Cheek has taken up throughout the World Cup bid – including against Belgium on Thursday night.

With five dribbles to his name, there were plenty of instances in which Loftus-Cheek showed how effective he can be in that role, driving on from the engine room to become part of the forward line. His size wreaks havoc and when he manages to build up speed, he can be unstoppable on the counter – something Roy Hodgson tapped into with great effect at Crystal Palace last season.

But when compared with Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli, there is a key difference. Loftus-Cheek isn’t quite as nimble or offensively threatening. Perhaps his game will get to that point on the latter front – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provides a great example of a player whose output was questioned but has really exploded into life over the last twelve months – but in his early 20s, the Blues starlet probably won’t become much more agile or faster than he is right now. Growing in strength and power seems more likely.

And thus, moving into a deeper role would perhaps be a better fit for Loftus-Cheek in the long-term. He’s got the strength, dribbling ability and composure to act almost like Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele at No.6 – receiving the ball and moving it forward wisely with effortless elegance. Particularly in the Champions League last season, it was Dembele who gave Spurs the platform to launch attacks from that deep-lying pocket, combining his capacity to muscle opponents off the ball with the technical quality to shift it onto an open man.

[brid playlist=”4766″ player=”12034″ title=”World Cup 2018″]

For that kind of transition though, other aspects of Loftus-Cheek’s game still require improvement. He was dispossessed five times by Belgium – for Dembele to do that at the base of Tottenham’s midfield would be sacrilege. Likewise, his passing accuracy was just 78%; Dembele’s in the Premier League last season was 92%, and for Belgium on Thursday night it was 99%. Although that’s no doubt influenced by the obligation for Loftus-Cheek to play riskier passes in a more offensive role, the difference remains distinctly noticeable.

Is this the best World Cup ever? Give us your thoughts here and win any World Cup shirt of your choice.

So, what do you see as Loftus-Cheek’s ultimate position? Should he continued to be used as a powerful and dynamic no.8, or would moving him into a deeper role truly see him thrive in the years to come? Let us know by voting below…

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Chelsea find themselves doing a bit of soul searching today after a humbling experience against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. Although the players were only following the instructions of their manager, the passive manner of the performance in the 1-0 defeat has inevitably left a sour taste – and it’s also telling of how Antonio Conte views his current squad in terms of quality.

Following Sunday’s clash, we asked Chelsea fans to give individual performance ratings out of ten for each player involved in the meeting with the Citizens and it appears there are four, excluding substitutes, that disappointed Blues supporters most.

While midfield pairing Cesc Fabregas and Danny Drinkwater picked up an average rating of just 4/10, two Chelsea players actually fared worse than that. Wing-back Victor Moses received a mere 3.7 rating, while attacking midfielder Pedro – who failed to make any use of what little of the ball he received – had the worst rating of just 3.6.

Were these performances simply a one-off, Chelsea fans, or would you like to see some of the aforementioned quartet axed from the starting XI for the Blues’ next game? Let us know by commenting below…

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod ]

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.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

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.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“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.”

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

With nearly half of the season gone already in the top flight, every team is readying itself for the busy and potentially decisive festive period, which can often make or break any European hopes any respective club may secretly harbour. But with both the Manchester clubs seemingly assured of Champions League football again next term, what about the other hopefuls, such as Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton, Newcastle and Arsenal? Let’s take a look and assess their chances.

Last season, Chelsea’s success by triumphing in the most unlikely of circumstances saw them clinch the final qualifying place despite only finishing 6th in the Premier League, cruelly relegating Tottenham to the Europa League. After all, as Liverpool fans experienced after their shock success back in 2005, it’s difficult to call it the ‘Champions League’ when it doesn’t have the defending champions in it and along with Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United, England had its four representatives, who, by and large, most people would have predicted prior to the season beginning, even if the route was somewhat convoluted this time around. This season, though, the race for a top four place looks wide open and several teams stand a reasonably good chance of gatecrashing the party.

The fact that so many of the top sides are currently in a period that they would term as ‘transition’ means for the first time in recent memory, there could be two places up for grabs in the top four, with only Sir Alex Ferguson’s and Roberto Mancini’s sides good enough to string a consistent run of form together at the moment, despite their obvious deficiencies and each and every challenger has gone through a period of rotten form already.

Chelsea currently sit in third in the league table at the moment, but a ten-point gap has slowly but surely opened up behind United and they’ve slipped well off the pace, long before the deeply unpopular Rafa Benitez ever stepped through the door at Stamford Bridge. The team’s blistering start was unexpected, yet they lack leaders throughout the team aside from the traditional and much-maligned ‘old guard’ and they look brittle at the back when put under any sort of pressure.

[cat_link cat=”premiership” type=”list”]

They became the first defending champions to crash out at the first hurdle in mid-week despite hammering Nordsjaelland 6-1 at home, with the damage already done under Di Matteo and the disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Juventus proving costly. They are currently on a run of seven games without a win in the Premier League and the struggles of Fernando Torres up front refuse to go away, with the spectre of Falcao looming large. Nevertheless, the sheer amount of quality that they have within the squad should mean they are there or thereabouts by the end of the term and they always retain the ability to strengthen heavily in January should they need to, and you suspect they just might to try this route to success again in the hope of reviving a flagging campaign.

Arsenal produced a stunning comeback in form towards the back end of last season from February onwards, overhauling a huge lead that their north London rivals Tottenham had on them in the process on their way to third place, but a repeat performance looks unlikely at best at the moment. They’ve qualified for the Champions League during the past 15 consecutive seasons under Arsene Wenger, a tremendous run which he deserves credit for, but without someone like Robin van Persie to lead the line, they look short of not only confidence, but quality in several key areas and they look unlikely to extend it to 16 seasons in a row this year.

My tip for the top four this season was Tottenham and I’ll stand by that given the progress the team is currently making under Andre Villas-Boas, particularly given the sheer pace of change at the club over the past few months. While they are a flawed outfit, prone to capitulation, they look capable of stringing together a run of results more than most of their rivals for a top four spot. It’s imperative that they keep Moussa Dembele fit, though, for without him, they lack energy and conviction in the middle of the park, while they could also do with a new centre-half in January, but they finally appear to be hitting their stride and look set to make the top four for the second season running for my money.

Another team with an outside chance of making the grade is Everton, who happen to be going through their own patch of sticky form right at this minute, which has seen them draw seven of their last nine league games, winning just one. After a fantastic start, the traditional slow-starters have seemingly gone about their season in reverse and there’s a sense that they’ve failed to capitalise when the going has been good to establish themselves while others around them have floundered. They are still just three points off the pace and Tottenham in fourth place, but draws against the likes of QPR, Norwich and Wigan, not to mention the late equaliser they conceded against Fulham and their recent defeat to Reading could come back to haunt them further down the line. They are only one Marouane Fellaini injury away from their hopes being ended, and while they remain a solid, organised and increasingly attractive outfit to watch, their inability to grind out results and keep clean sheets could cost them dearly.

Their Merseyside rivals Liverpool are another team deemed with an outside chance of making the top four this season under new boss Brendan Rodgers and there’s evidence that slowly but surely they are adjusting to their new style of play with some success. They currently sit in 11th, but just seven points behind Tottenham in a tightly-congested table and their recent nine-game unbeaten run pointed to progress being made. The dampening of expectations around Anfield this summer, coupled with the fact that they are relying heavily on inexperienced youth players and are overly-reliant on Luis Suarez means they are not the best organised to make the step up required. The return of Lucas Leiva from injury should see them finish in the top eight, possibly even top six, and the club’s fans would have taken that at the start of the season; they are building towards a genuine challenge within a couple of years, but for the moment, it may have come too early for them and they need to remain realistic.

Finally, we move over to Newcastle, a side that’s failed to live up to expectations under Alan Pardew this season and one which is struggling with their own variant of second-season syndrome. With such a small squad, every injury and suspension has been keenly felt, while the lack of investment in the summer was tantamount to gross negligence; a needless tightening of the purse strings at the precise time when they needed to be loosened. The balancing act of European and Premier League football has proven too much to handle for them this season and they look set for a campaign of mid-table obscurity, which is a deeply disappointing follow-up performance to their fantastic breakthrough last year.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

If I had to stick my neck out on the line and predict the top four by May, coincidentally, it would look exactly the same as it does now, with Chelsea and Tottenham joining the sure-fire bets of United and City. The increasingly competitive nature of the top flight has made predicting the Champions League spots harder to predict than ever, with Swansea and West Brom also worthy of a mention after their early season form, but over the course of a long campaign, the teams with the most money will gradually edge ahead, with Arsenal’s decline creating the conditions for which another club can now steal a spot.

It’s far from sown up yet and Everton still stand the best shot out of all the remaining contenders if you ask me, but it’ll prove exceedingly difficult for the likes of Newcastle and Liverpool to come back after their slow starts. Clinching a top four spot is still considered the Holy Grail in England, with Arsene Wenger even ranking it above winning the League Cup, but with 23 games of the campaign left and such an open race, it promises to deliver a few twists and turns yet – the flawed nature of all the usual suspects practically guarantees it.

Who do you think will qualify for next season’s Champions League? To be in with a chance of winning an iPad, let us know by clicking on the banner below

[ad_pod id=’ipad’ align=’center’]

Reported Arsenal target Lucas Torreira produced a brilliant display for Uruguay in their 3-0 win against hosts Russia in their final 2018 World Cup group fixture on Monday, and Gunners fans were loving his performance.

[ad_pod ]

Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero confirmed last week that the 22-year-old had left the club amid rumours that the north London outfit had agreed a deal to sign him, but any transfer seems unlikely to be confirmed until after the South American nation are knocked out of the tournament.

The 5ft 6in player certainly impressed in a defensive midfield role for Uruguay, and he showed his positional discipline by sitting in and protecting his back four, even trying to stop a cross by diving on the ground head-first at one point.

[brid autoplay=”true” video=”258359″ player=”12034″ title=”The World Cup Twitter Report”]

Arsenal supporters, who have also told their club to sign a 25-year-old attacking Premier League flop following a brilliant World Cup display, were quick to have their say on Torreira’s showing via social media, and while one said “this could be a game-changing signing”, another said he is “exactly what we need”.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…