It was a strange atmosphere before kick off at Old Trafford with Manchester United the huge underdogs for a major European occasion.
The United fans were not flying planes above the stadium, instead holding up A4 pieces of paper to make a mosaic – however United put in a shift to be proud of.
Eyebrows were raised when Moyes announced his starting XI and here are the three things we believe the United boss will have learned from his night at the office.
Fellaini simply isn’t good enough –
Playing in a false nine role for Everton, who are lumping the ball forward for him to flick on to, is one thing. Bossing the midfield in the Champions League quarter final is something dramatically different.
The summer panic buy has not impressed at all so far at Old Trafford, but that isn’t the issue. The problem is that Moyes simply can’t see that he needs to be dropped.
Tom Cleverley has come under fire in recent months, Ryan Giggs is 40 and Darren Fletcher cannot seem to play more than once a week – but surely it is time for the Belgian to be shoved aside.
Phil Jones can be his future captain –
Eyebrows were raised when Sir Alex Ferguson forked out almost £17million for Phil Jones from Blackburn but it is really starting to look like shrewd work.
Whether asked to play at centre back, right back or in midfield, the England man does a job and looks to be growing as a player and a person as each week goes on.
A certainty to be on the plane to Brazil in the summer, Jones has all the attributes to be the skipper for United with Nemanja Vidic on his bike to Inter and especially with the fact he is still young and learning.
Shinji Kagawa has to play –
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
With Juan Mata cup tied, surely this was another great chance for Shinji Kagawa to show us what he can do?
Moyes elected with Fellaini and Giggs in midfield and to be honest, that was comical at times with the ageing legs of the Welshman and the woeful first touch of the hair.
Kagawa impressed at the weekend so what more does he need to do in order to become a regular under Moyes?
West Brom boss Steve Clarke faces an anxious wait to see if on loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku can recover in time for his side’s home fixture against Manchester City.
The 19-year-old has illustrated this term why Chelsea were willing to part with a reported £18 million fee to Anderlecht for the star’s services last season.
The Belgian international has already become a real asset for the Baggies, illustrating his sheer power and pace.
However, the player picked up an ankle problem which excluded him from participating in this round of 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
It is a tight call whether the 6ft 3in marksman will be able to the lead Albion line against the Premier League champions, but his manager is hopeful.
Clarke is aware that the striker has had the knock for a few weeks and was feeling the strain against QPR. But he is happy that all the correct precautions have been taken to ensure the player doesn’t become seriously injured.
The former Chelsea number two went on to tell the West Bromwich Albion official website: “It’s not a big problem but it’s one we’re mindful we don’t want to become a big problem. We’re monitoring it.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The Baggies’ front line has been on top form this season with Lukaku providing another dimension to the already formidable Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long partnership.
The loan signing has been part of what appears to have been a successful bargain summer recruitment policy for the West Midlands side, with new midfielder Claudio Yacob also impressing after signing on a free from Racing Club.
Liverpool have had a difficult few days in the transfer market, just when everything seemed to be falling into place following the surprise acquisition of Fabinho from Monaco.
Widespread reports indicated that Nabil Fekir was on his way from Lyon, but last weekend, the French club released a statement confirming that the attacking midfielder will be staying put.
Unsurprisingly, Liverpool fans were left stunned by the news, and now they have been hit with another wave of bad news – this time relating to Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar.
The Reds were heavily linked with a move for the Frenchman last summer, as well as in the January window, but a deal never came to fruition.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”252976″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch 21 things that will definitely happen at the World Cup”]
On Tuesday, Atletico Madrid confirmed on their official website that they have agreed to sign Lemar this summer, and the news has sparked a reaction from Liverpool fans.
Some are not too concerned to have missed out, while others have expressed sadness that he has slipped through their fingers.
Card
Card
Card
Card
Card
Card
Card
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
While Arsene Wenger has often lamented the mid-season transfer window, he was forced to act in January this time around.
Doubts over Alexis Sanchez’s future resulted in a swap deal with Manchester United, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan moving the other way, and that seemed to trigger Arsenal’s interest in Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well – who arrived in north London on January Deadline Day.
But some would argue neither player are as talented as Sanchez, while Arsenal’s business didn’t actually solve their long-standing problems in defence and at the base of midfield. At the same time, the Gunners handed a good addition to Chelsea in the form of Olivier Giroud, following Francis Coquelin and Theo Walcott out of the exit door.
So, with a net January outlay of £11.12million according to Transfermarkt, are you happy with your club’s efforts in the transfer market, Arsenal fans? Let us know by voting below…
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Arsenal target Julian Draxler was the subject of a late transfer bid from a mystery club, according to Schalke’s Director of Sport Horst Heldt, reports Sky Sports.
The 20-year-old German international was strongly linked with a move to Arsenal throughout January, although the Gunners were unable to reach an agreement, despite sending a team to Germany to negotiate a deal.
Draxler has a £37million release clause in his current contract with the Bundesliga club, although Arsenal were understood to be unwilling to meet the fee.
Now Heldt has admitted it was not just Arsenal who attempted to sign Draxler last month, claiming a bid “came from a club to the north of us.”
With London being no further north than Gelsenkirchen, the suggestion is that the offer came from either Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg or a club in Russia.
Wolfsburg sold Diego to Atletico Madrid on deadline day, and therefore may have targeted Draxler as the ideal replacement.
“It had the dimension of a transfer that you don’t do any day of the week,” Heldt said.
“It was certainly a decent offer, but it wasn’t sufficient for us. We told Julian our opinion, and that was that.”
Draxler has spoken for the first time since the close of the transfer window, and while he admitted he was aware of Arsenal’s interest, he has insisted he remains happy at Schalke.
“The fact is, Horst Heldt had offers for me this winter,” Draxler said.
“I’m happy about that. On the other hand, it shows the respect I enjoy at this club, even if Heldt refuses without me being asked.
“I wasn’t too aware of everything that was going on in the media because I was concentrating on getting back to fitness.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“Of course I wasn’t completely unaware of everything that was being said but I know the truth of the story so I didn’t let it drive me crazy.”
Brad Friedel has insisted that “there was never a big fight” between him, rival goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Andre Villas-Boas.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas has shared goalkeeping responsibilities between Friedel and Lloris over the course of the last three games in the Premier League and the American was between the sticks for Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea.
When Lloris was brought to Tottenham Hotspur in the last transfer window, speculation raged about how Friedel was set to become second choice goalkeeper.
But Friedel insists that despite this, no problem exists between him and Lloris, and that Spurs were searching for someone to be the top goalkeeper at the club long-term.
“It was always in his (Villas-Boas’) plans to play me against Chelsea and I knew from the point he benched me against Aston Villa. The media wanted to make out that it was this big fight between Hugo and myself and the manager, but there was never a big fight,” he told sportsillustrated.com.
“The fact is Tottenham have been looking for the last year and a half for a long-term number one goalkeeper. I don’t think they envisioned what my fitness levels would be at this age and I sort of surprised myself.”
He also reiterated that the competition between the two keepers is friendly and helps both players improve their game.
“It’s healthy, but there’s a competition. It’s friendly. It’s going to be a situation where Andre will choose a team that he feels will win the game on the day and that’s how it’ll be from now until the end of the season,” he added.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Friedel’s run of 310 successive Premier League games was ended by Lloris earlier in the month.
According to reports in The Sun on Sunday, via Sun journalist Alan Nixon on his Twitter account, Arsenal are keen to sign Spain international Rodrigo, rated at £36m by Transfermarkt, this summer.
What’s the word, then?
Well, The Sun on Sunday says that the Gunners, along with Premier League rivals Chelsea, are both keen on the 27-year-old following an impressive campaign for Valencia.
Having managed Sevilla for a number of years new Arsenal manager Unai Emery, who can get something that Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck can’t give him if he signs another £17.5m attacker, will certainly know all about the striker, who has come on leaps and bounds since an unsuccessful loan spell with Bolton Wanderers in 2010.
The arrival of the Spaniard at the Emirates Stadium would be strange in a sense though given they already have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Danny Welbeck to play in the centre-forward spot.
How did Rodrigo do during the 2017/18 campaign?
He was excellent.
The 27-year-old scored 19 goals and provided a further seven assists in 44 appearances in all competitions.
The Spain international showed that he is a good all-round striker in terms of being able to score with his feet and his head on a regular basis, as well as being good in possession, at dribbling and at holding the ball up to allow his teammates to catch up with the play.
[ad_pod ]
Would he be a good signing for Arsenal?
Even though he only scored once in 17 appearances for Bolton eight years ago, it is clear to see that the 27-year-old has matured and come on leaps and bounds since then, and his goal record and the fact that he is in the Spain squad should prove that he can be a success in the Premier League now.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
The arrival of the striker would surely throw the futures of the likes of Lacazette and Lucas Perez into doubt however, and the north London outfit should also be wary of how Alvaro Morata and Sandro Ramirez have struggled in the English top flight having been prolific in La Liga previously.
Amid what can only be described as a rather underwhelming weekend in the Premier League, Tottenham’s trip to Southampton stands out as a fixture that might offer something resembling a close-knit game.
Spurs were a class above Saints in the reverse fixture at Wembley on Boxing Day, but the latter know they need to start picking up points at home to turn their season around, currently laying just one point and one place above the relegation zone.
Of course, that’s easier said than done, especially with Spurs winning eight of their last ten across all competitions. But could they come unstuck against Southampton this weekend? Here’s everything you need to know before Sunday’s 4pm kickoff…
What History Tells Us
Tottenham and Southampton once had almost complete parity in this fixture, but since the latter’s return to the Premier League in 2012, the former have dominated. Indeed, that nine-game difference in terms of wins is the exact number of victories the Lilywhites have claimed from their eleven meetings with the south coast outfit during the last six years.
Accordingly, Spurs have scored more goals and conceded less yellow cards, and even their win-rate at St. Mary’s is a healthy 33% – just 11% less than the home side’s.
The good news for the neutrals though, is that there have only ever been three scoreless draws between both clubs in the Premier League – and the last was all the way back in 2001 – while Spurs have scored at least two goals during their last five visits to St. Mary’s. That suggests we’ll see plenty of goalmouth action on Sunday.
Referee Influence – Kevin Friend
Kevin Friend is amongst the Premier League’s most lenient referees, ranking in the bottom five from the 18 to officiate in the top flight this season for fouls per game, fouls per tackle and yellow cards, and Southampton simply must take advantage of that on Sunday.
A win over Tottenham, especially with Harry Kane in such fine form, will require an expert rearguard display and Friend has consistently given teams license to make physical challenges that blur the line of acceptability – not to mention allow those who do commit fouls to go largely unpunished for it.
That will be vital to stopping Tottenham’s fluid attacking play and Friend’s huge home bias this season, 83%, is another big positive for Saints to take into the weekend – that’s the greatest percentage of any Premier League referee this season.
However, the number of penalties Friend has awarded is a clear warning for both sides; despite his leniency in other areas of the pitch, the 46-year-old has taken a no-nonsense approach to any shenanigans inside the box. Both teams must take that on board or it could be a decisive factor.
Team News
Southampton may be without a Premier League win since November but Mauricio Pellegrino at least appears to have settled on something of a first team formula in recent weeks, with Alex McCarthy preferred in goal and Shane Long replacing Manolo Gabbiadini up top. With the Irishman scoring just one Premier League goal so far this season though, striker Charlie Austin still represents a big loss for the south coast outfit.
Overall, however, we’re expecting Pellegrino to name an unchanged side from the one that drew with Watford last time out – although we could see Sofiane Boufal or Nathan Redmond brought into the fold out wide purely to offer some extra pace on the break.
Tottenham too, are likely to stick with their trusted XI on the most-part. However Hugo Lloris is now a doubt due to illness, so his reliable understudy Michel Vorm could be deployed between the sticks instead.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
In midfield, meanwhile, anchorman Victor Wanyama could make his first Premier League start since August at the expense of England international Eric Dier – the powerful Kenyan has been regaining his fitness with substitute appearances in recent weeks.
Spurs’ attack picks itself these days with Heung-min Son, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Kane all in predictably strong form, and with Danny Rose absent through injury, the only other real spot of contention is at right-back. Serge Aurier started last time out, so we’re predicting Kieran Trippier to get the nod this time.
When David Moyes looks back to the end of last season – a small, glorious period in which he was celebrated nationally for his decade-long service to Everton as he marched towards the Old Trafford throne – he’ll probably wonder where it all went so wrong.
Last week, Manchester United came away from a Champions League tie against Olympiakos with a two-goal deficit, making it seven out of a possible twelve defeats for the club in 2014. Regardless of domestic form, unless we witness a dramatic turn-around in the second leg at Old Trafford, the Red Devils’ shocking performance in Greece could well be the most defining one of their season.
Blowback from Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement was always expected; perhaps not to such an extent the reigning Premier League champions’ title defence would be over by Christmas and they’d soon go on to lose 2-0 to a striker-less Olympiakos in Europe, but none the less, this debasing form that’s rocked the Old Trafford camp had been anticipated as a distinct possibility, even by the most faithful of Manchester United fans.
Rather, Moyes’ biggest error, his most fatal and intrinsic of flaws, has been his continual inability to step out of the shadow of his monolithic predecessor and differentiate from the old regime.
In many ways, you can’t hold it against him. After all, Ferguson selected Moyes as his heir to the Carrington throne personally, presumably due to the incredible similarities between the two. Both are club men, rather than careering go-getters, both, through their Scottish roots and aggressive demeanour, share that determined, ruthless spirit customary north of the border, and although the former Everton boss may not be the master of the hairdryer, he does come with those frightening light blue, bulging eyes to assert his will in the dressing room. Furthermore, during his Goodison days, Moyes always promoted an intrinsically English style of football in-keeping with Manchester United’s traditional identity.
At the same time, the United boss inherited a squad that had strolled their way to a Premier League title the year previous – it would take a brave man, especially considering the Scot’s inexperience at major clubs, to rip up the blueprint simply for the sake of change.
But the paradoxical after effect has been that, barring results, the only difference one can draw from Manchester United this term in comparison to the last is that era-ending change in leadership. In a nutshell, David Moyes has become Sir Alex Ferguson-lite, and the Red Devils have become Diet-United. That ultimate ingredient in the Carrington club’s successes – Ferguson’s magic – has been replaced by a synthetic substitute that just can’t replicate the flavour.
Had Moyes formalised some of his speculated signings in the summer, perhaps things would be different.
That’s no diss to the current Red Devils squad; yes, their limits were well-documented even as they lifted the Premier League trophy, and yes, those who were expected to shoulder the majority of responsibility this season have decisively shirked it, but regardless, the United roster is still a better assembled cast than Everton, Tottenham and Liverpool’s.
But the likes of Ander Herrera, Angel Di Maria and Ilkay Gundogan arriving would have been a breath of youthful, fresh air in an otherwise ageing squad. Most importantly, all three – in addition to United’s many other targets from summer 2013 – would have significantly changed the way United play.
Now however, the tactical differences between the Red Devils under both managers are virtually non-existent. No matter how United’s line-ups are portrayed during match-day coverage, it’s still essentially the same 4-4-1-1 system – two wingers as a permanency, and Wayne Rooney in his dual No.10 role – that was used by the old regime throughout the entirety of last season. Once again, the only differences are the outcomes and the man in charge of selection.
For example, United were sternly criticised for their record-breaking number of crosses during their 2-2 draw with a bottom-of-the-table Fulham side last month. Under Ferguson, the Cottagers would probably have been praised for their bus-parking performance, but under Moyes, it was labelled a statistic that highlighted the side’s lack of creativity.
More than anything else, it was the fact we’d heard this song before, and so had Rene Meulensteen, who commented after the game; “When I saw Manchester United today I thought the game-plan was quite straight forward – get it wide, get it in. If you’re well organised and the goalkeeper is in good positions to come and collect the ball, it can be easy [to defend against].”
Not that I’m suggesting Manchester United would be in a different position than they are now if Moyes had arrived at Old Trafford in the summer immediately announcing plans to go against every tactical principle of the club’s identity – although there have been signs of the Red Devils’ need to modernise tactically for some time. That would be purely through the benefit of hindsight alone.
But amid the current situation David Moyes now finds himself in, in which Manchester United could finish the season with the unenviable title of the worst championship defence of the Premier League era, the Scot would at least have the safety net of trying something different.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Regardless of results, he could have answered his critics honestly with the undeniable truth that he was attempting to move the club in a new direction, rather than his futile efforts of prolonging an era that was orchestrated, masterminded and personified by the one man no longer at the club.
It would be wrong of me to suggest that David Moyes is entirely to blame. The fact is that Manchester United is a club shaped in Ferguson’s image – his influence can be felt at every level of the Old Trafford hierarchy, in the club’s every department and, barring Juan Mata and Marouane Fellaini, every player in the first team is a Ferguson signing.
A more daunting battle than confronting his predecessor’s almighty shadow and reputation is the task of overcoming the institutionalised legacy Ferguson has left behind. In essence, if Moyes is to ever instigate significant change at Old Trafford, the history, beliefs, ethos and character of the club itself – all molded in Ferguson’s effigy – remains his biggest nemesis.
Click below to watch the Capital One Cup final for FREE
Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has stated that his side must not take their foot off the gas when winning games.
The Old Trafford outfit lost the Premier League title to Manchester City on goal difference last term, and as such the England man feels that the Red Devils should look to win each game by as many goals as possible.
“We know when we are winning two or three-nil we need to go and win five or six-nil,” The Sun quote Cleverley as saying.
“It does not need the manager to tell us we let sides back into games last season.
“With 60 or 70 games a season, if you’re two or three up you might think ‘We have another big game Tuesday so we can take our foot off the gas now’.
“But we have a squad to cope with the number of games so we can go all out for 95 minutes every game,” he commented.
Cleverley feels that Chelsea and Arsenal will have a big say in the title race this term, and the battle may well go right down to the wire once more.
“The way the four teams have started you can definitely see a four-horse race.
“Arsenal are probably playing the best stuff at the minute while Chelsea are winning games — which is what they are good at.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“It’s dog eat dog up there. You know if you get a bad result there’s going to be two or maybe all three of the other teams winning.
“You have to be on your game every week and a bad three or four-game run could be very significant. I think it will be the most competitive season ever,” he concluded.