2012/2013: 12th
Transfer(s) In: Adel Taarabt (QPR, Loan), Maarten Stekelenburg (AS Roma, Undisc), Fernando Amorebieta (Athletic Bilbao, Undisc), Ange-Freddy Plumain (RC Lens, Free), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Free), Sascha Riether (FC Koln, Undisc), Scott Parker (Tottenham, Undisc), Darren Bent (Aston Villa, Loan), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur, £4 Million), Elsad Zverotic (Young Boys Bern, £0.25 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Alex Kacaniklic (Burnley, Loan), Chris Baird, Simon Davies, Mladen Petric, Mark Schwarzer, Mahamadou Diarra (All Released)
Transfers Review:
Fulham's transfers indicate a move forward from the usual 'selling club' status that they are given. With big names leaving almost every season, with the likes of Dempsey and Dembele leaving in recent years, this tended to be the key to why Fulham have remained in vastly the same position in the Premier League over the last few years. This season appears to have broken that pattern, with the key names from the last season, such as Dimitar Berbatov, remaining at Craven Cottage.
They have also added a few top-quality players to the ranks, with the likes of Roma's Maarten Stekelenburg and Bilbao's Fernando Amorebieta their most high profile additions. By adding QPR's enigmatic playmaker to their squad, they have improved both their defence and their midfield, in order to aid the often isolated Berbatov. In Plumain and Riether, they have also invested in the future, so that when others are sold, or retire, they have strength in depth.
If we compare the actual transfers to my predictions at the end of last season, we see that I suggested that a more defensive-minded midfielder may be needed to break up the play and aid the flair players. In Derek Boateng, they have certainly signed someone of that ilk. In truth, Fulham have strengthened almost every area of the squad. This is a very impressive feat when you have only signed half a dozen players. They will be hoping that these signings will propel them to a top half finish, and that maybe they can be the West Brom of 2013/2014.
Pre-Season:
Fulham's pre-season started with a tour of Costa Rica, in which they took part in three exhibition matches. In all, Fulham dominated the match, winning against Cartigines by 3 goals to 0, before beating Alajuelense 3-1, and finishing their tour with a 5-3 victory on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Moving back to the UK, Fulham played two further matches, both against considerably more difficult opposition.
Beginning with Real Betis, Fulham started their run to the start of the Premier League season. After a Steve Sidwell goal in the 13th minute, Betis levelled after 55 minutes, as Igiebor rolled the ball home from close-range. Fulham dominated proceedings, continue to amass chances, and having a penalty claim turned down and a goal disallowed before the end of the game. But the score stayed the same, and despite a positive performance, Fulham were denied a winning return. They finished their pre-season with a game against Parma, and once again, Steve Sidwell opened the scoring after just 10 minutes. But the Cottagers' performance levels dropped as the match wore on, with Amauri only being denied a leveler by the offside flag, and Marco Parolo rattled the crossbar. After the interval, the Italians did not have to wait long before equalising, with Gabriel Palletta heading home just before the hour mark. As the game dragged on, the Serie A team bcame the more likely to score, until eventually, Fulham hearts were broken. Nicola Sansone latched onto a knock-down to fire home the winner four minutes from time, to end Fulham's pre-season in the worst possible manner.
Key Players:
With Mark Schwarzer leaving the Cottage for the Bridge this summer, a goalkeeper was needed. Here, Martin Jol pulled off a master-stroke, bringing in Holland international Maarten Stekelenburg. The Dutchman has proven his worth in just the pre-season friendlies, and I feel will be vital to Fulham's push for a top 10 finish. He has excellent reflexes, and has fantastic experience of both continental and international competition, having travelled and performed in a World Cup Final.
In order to succeed, not conceding is only half the battle, with scoring the other half. Dimitar Berbatov will continue to be an integral part of Fulham's team, and his goals will propel them up the table. He can at times seem disinterested and petulant, but every now and then he has moments of genius, that can often be the winner of valuable points.
Key Fixture Dates:
17/08/2013: Sunderland vs Fulham
31/08/2013: Newcastle vs Fulham
21/09/2013: Chelsea vs Fulham
26/10/2013: Southampton vs Fulham
30/11/2013: West Ham United vs Fulham
07/12/2013: Fulham vs Aston Villa
01/01/2014: Fulham vs West Ham United
11/01/2014: Fulham vs Sunderland
01/02/2014: Fulham vs Southampton
01/03/2014: Fulham vs Chelsea
15/03/2014: Fulham vs Newcastle
05/04/2014: Aston Villa vs Fulham
Top Goalscorer:
Just like last season, I see Dimitar Berbatov leading the line for the Cottagers. If he goes through one of his lean periods, Darren Bent will chip in, but I fear for Fulham's success, as they have very little in the way of alternatives. Whilst I cannot see him being up with the top scorers in the league, I certainly see him retaining his Fulham top goalscorer tag this campaign.
Prediction:
Fulham's team certainly now has the names to challenge for a top 10 finish, but it is the strength in depth that worries me about them. As much as I would like to see them get back to their former glories (the Europa League final a few years ago), I think that this will be a year of transition, and building the squad. Any injury to Dimitar Berbatov practically stops their goal threat, and I think that it is this that will consign them to another season in mid-table. If they manage to add further strength in January or next summer, then I feel they can compete higher up.
Fulham 2013/2014: 14th
Analysis of sporting events, talking points and controversies.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
Everton: Will The New Era Take Its Toll?
2012/2013: 6th
Transfer(s) In: Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic, Free), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, Undisc), Arouna Kone (Wigan Athletic, Undisc), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, Loan), Roberto Martinez (Wigan Athletic, Undisc), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Loan), Gareth Barry (Manchester City, Loan), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic, £12 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jan Mucha (Both Released), Phil Neville (Retired), David Moyes (Manchester United, Undisc), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United, £27.5 Million)
Transfers Review:
Undoubtedly, the most important transfers that have occurred at Everton this season involve the managerial position rather than any on-field place. After over a decade of loyal support, David Moyes decided that the Manchester United job was too good to refuse. After his repeated heroics with Wigan, firstly keeping them up season after season, and culminating in their FA Cup triumph in May. These credentials attracted the attention of Bill Kenwright, who managed to settle a fee with Dave Whelan to bring the talented Spaniard to Goodison.
Most of the signings that Roberto Martinez has made have, at one time or another, represented Wigan during his time in charge. Alcaraz will add to the already strong defence, with Distin and Heitinga highly competant defenders. Joel Robles, who played that FA Cup final a couple of months ago, having been on loan from Atletico, will also provide adequate cover for Tim Howard. Arouna Kone is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, having made double figures in a relegated team last season, and will provide many valuable goals in attack. James McCarthy, though an expensive signing, will provide further steel and creativity in the centre of midfield. Both Barry and Lukaku are good loan signings, and will provide short-term gains, but I feel that longer term solutions will be required. Deulofeu is a promising youngster from Barcelona, and I feel will be used sparingly throughout the season to give him the experience. However, whilst these signings are good, the majority of them have come from a side that have were relegated last season, so one must wonder just how much they will add to a top half team. In comparison to my prediction from my Everton season review post, Callum McManaman is about the only member of that Wigan side that looks promising not to be snapped up by the ex-Wigan manager. And typically, he is the one I predicted would go!
What the Toffees have managed to do is keep their hands on the majority of their star names. Though Marouane Fellaini did make the journey over to join his old manager, Leighton Baines remaining at Everton is a major boost to their success. With old manager Moyes and Manchester United seemingly desperate to secure their signatures, throughout the window it was a real battle to keep hold of Baines until September 3rd. The call from their old manager seemed to be too much to resist for the big Belgian, though Martinez will be pleased to have got £27.5 Million, a full 4 more than the old release clause.
Pre-Season:
Everton began their pre-season preparations on home soil, with games against lower-league opposition. A good opportunity to try and find some new youth prospects, and a chance to bed some of the new signings into the squad earlier. Two wins, against Accrington and Blackburn followed, before we moved into August, where the competition got considerably more impressive. In the International Champions Cup, Everton faced Juventus in San Francisco in their opening game. After 90 minutes, a Kwadjo Asamoah strike levelled Kevin Mirallas's effort on the hour mark, and the game went into penalties. After 13 successful spot kicks, the game was settled in Everton's favour after Peluso's kick was saved by Howard. This left the Liverpudlian side with a tie against Real Madrid in LA. After Ronaldo scored the opener, he created a second for Mesut Ozil before the break. Nikica Jelavic grabbed a consolation for the Toffees, but Madrid hung on to eliminate Everton. Considering the opposition, Everton will be heartened by their performance.
Their final two games took place back on home soil, with the visit of two Spanish sides. Firstly, they entertained Valencia, where they suffered a chastening 1-0 reverse. This readied them for their final game of the pre-season warm up against Real Betis, where they performed much better, securing a promising 2-1 win. These games suggest that they have the personnel, and the ability, to secure a positive performance in the Premier League, however, there are aspects to Everton's form that may cause them trouble during the campaign.
Key Players:
I think that this will prove to be a massive season for Kevin Mirallas. The winger had a good initial season at Goodison Park, scoring a couple of memorable goals, and I think that he may have to take a more central role this time around. With Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic both out of form, this is when the Belgian will have to stand up and be counted.
Seamus Coleman could also be forced into a key player role this year. The young Irishman seems in that Baines-esque mould, and will often be seen bombing down either side. More commonly known as a right-back, he may have to transfer to the opposite side, and take the role of instigator of many attacks.
Key Fixture Dates:
03/11/2013: Everton vs Tottenham
23/11/2013: Everton vs Liverpool
03/12/2013: Manchester United vs Everton
07/12/2013: Arsenal vs Everton
28/01/2014: Liverpool vs Everton
08/02/2014: Tottenham vs Everton
05/04/2014: Everton vs Arsenal
19/04/2014: Everton vs Manchester United
Top Goalscorer:
If Kevin Mirallas takes to his more central role quickly, I feel he may well have a claim for this position. However, with the ability and pace that Arouna Kone has, coupled with the clinical finishing which led him to the top goalscorer for Wigan last time around, I feel that he may well pip the Belgian to the post. Since Roberto Martinez can get the best out of the Ivorian, it would be silly to assume that that partnership would stop working at Goodison Park.
Prediction:
I think that Roberto Martinez will do well at Everton, but he, like every other new manager in the field, will take time to adjust to his new role. His teams' mentalities of not playing until the clocks go forward will not do at a side like Everton. He can ill-afford the kind of start that Wigan were so accustomed to, as he has not only the European places to consider, but their standing within their own city. As things stand, unfortunately for the Toffees, the re-adjustment period will be too long to secure either of their objectives, and they will finish away from the European places and behind Liverpool. But they will be building for the future, especially if Martinez is given the amount of time that Moyes was.
Everton 2013/2014: 7th
Transfer(s) In: Antolin Alcaraz (Wigan Athletic, Free), Joel Robles (Atletico Madrid, Undisc), Arouna Kone (Wigan Athletic, Undisc), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, Loan), Roberto Martinez (Wigan Athletic, Undisc), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, Loan), Gareth Barry (Manchester City, Loan), James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic, £12 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Thomas Hitzlsperger, Jan Mucha (Both Released), Phil Neville (Retired), David Moyes (Manchester United, Undisc), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United, £27.5 Million)
Transfers Review:
Undoubtedly, the most important transfers that have occurred at Everton this season involve the managerial position rather than any on-field place. After over a decade of loyal support, David Moyes decided that the Manchester United job was too good to refuse. After his repeated heroics with Wigan, firstly keeping them up season after season, and culminating in their FA Cup triumph in May. These credentials attracted the attention of Bill Kenwright, who managed to settle a fee with Dave Whelan to bring the talented Spaniard to Goodison.
Most of the signings that Roberto Martinez has made have, at one time or another, represented Wigan during his time in charge. Alcaraz will add to the already strong defence, with Distin and Heitinga highly competant defenders. Joel Robles, who played that FA Cup final a couple of months ago, having been on loan from Atletico, will also provide adequate cover for Tim Howard. Arouna Kone is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, having made double figures in a relegated team last season, and will provide many valuable goals in attack. James McCarthy, though an expensive signing, will provide further steel and creativity in the centre of midfield. Both Barry and Lukaku are good loan signings, and will provide short-term gains, but I feel that longer term solutions will be required. Deulofeu is a promising youngster from Barcelona, and I feel will be used sparingly throughout the season to give him the experience. However, whilst these signings are good, the majority of them have come from a side that have were relegated last season, so one must wonder just how much they will add to a top half team. In comparison to my prediction from my Everton season review post, Callum McManaman is about the only member of that Wigan side that looks promising not to be snapped up by the ex-Wigan manager. And typically, he is the one I predicted would go!
What the Toffees have managed to do is keep their hands on the majority of their star names. Though Marouane Fellaini did make the journey over to join his old manager, Leighton Baines remaining at Everton is a major boost to their success. With old manager Moyes and Manchester United seemingly desperate to secure their signatures, throughout the window it was a real battle to keep hold of Baines until September 3rd. The call from their old manager seemed to be too much to resist for the big Belgian, though Martinez will be pleased to have got £27.5 Million, a full 4 more than the old release clause.
Pre-Season:
Everton began their pre-season preparations on home soil, with games against lower-league opposition. A good opportunity to try and find some new youth prospects, and a chance to bed some of the new signings into the squad earlier. Two wins, against Accrington and Blackburn followed, before we moved into August, where the competition got considerably more impressive. In the International Champions Cup, Everton faced Juventus in San Francisco in their opening game. After 90 minutes, a Kwadjo Asamoah strike levelled Kevin Mirallas's effort on the hour mark, and the game went into penalties. After 13 successful spot kicks, the game was settled in Everton's favour after Peluso's kick was saved by Howard. This left the Liverpudlian side with a tie against Real Madrid in LA. After Ronaldo scored the opener, he created a second for Mesut Ozil before the break. Nikica Jelavic grabbed a consolation for the Toffees, but Madrid hung on to eliminate Everton. Considering the opposition, Everton will be heartened by their performance.
Their final two games took place back on home soil, with the visit of two Spanish sides. Firstly, they entertained Valencia, where they suffered a chastening 1-0 reverse. This readied them for their final game of the pre-season warm up against Real Betis, where they performed much better, securing a promising 2-1 win. These games suggest that they have the personnel, and the ability, to secure a positive performance in the Premier League, however, there are aspects to Everton's form that may cause them trouble during the campaign.
Key Players:
I think that this will prove to be a massive season for Kevin Mirallas. The winger had a good initial season at Goodison Park, scoring a couple of memorable goals, and I think that he may have to take a more central role this time around. With Steven Naismith and Nikica Jelavic both out of form, this is when the Belgian will have to stand up and be counted.
Seamus Coleman could also be forced into a key player role this year. The young Irishman seems in that Baines-esque mould, and will often be seen bombing down either side. More commonly known as a right-back, he may have to transfer to the opposite side, and take the role of instigator of many attacks.
Key Fixture Dates:
03/11/2013: Everton vs Tottenham
23/11/2013: Everton vs Liverpool
03/12/2013: Manchester United vs Everton
07/12/2013: Arsenal vs Everton
28/01/2014: Liverpool vs Everton
08/02/2014: Tottenham vs Everton
05/04/2014: Everton vs Arsenal
19/04/2014: Everton vs Manchester United
Top Goalscorer:
If Kevin Mirallas takes to his more central role quickly, I feel he may well have a claim for this position. However, with the ability and pace that Arouna Kone has, coupled with the clinical finishing which led him to the top goalscorer for Wigan last time around, I feel that he may well pip the Belgian to the post. Since Roberto Martinez can get the best out of the Ivorian, it would be silly to assume that that partnership would stop working at Goodison Park.
Prediction:
I think that Roberto Martinez will do well at Everton, but he, like every other new manager in the field, will take time to adjust to his new role. His teams' mentalities of not playing until the clocks go forward will not do at a side like Everton. He can ill-afford the kind of start that Wigan were so accustomed to, as he has not only the European places to consider, but their standing within their own city. As things stand, unfortunately for the Toffees, the re-adjustment period will be too long to secure either of their objectives, and they will finish away from the European places and behind Liverpool. But they will be building for the future, especially if Martinez is given the amount of time that Moyes was.
Everton 2013/2014: 7th
Crystal Palace: Barmy Bristolian Helps Eagles Soar Into Premier League
2012/2013: 5th (Championship)
Transfer(s) In: Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, Free), Elliot Grandin (Blackpool, Free), Kevin Phillips (Blackpool, Free), Jerome Thomas (West Bromwich Albion, Free), Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, £4 Million), Jose Campana (Sevilla, Undisc), Stephen Dobbie (Brighton, Undisc), Jason Puncheon (Southampton, Loan), Neil Alexander (Rangers, Free), Florian Marange (Bordeaux, Free), Jack Hunt (Huddersfield, £2 Million), Cameron Jerome (Stoke City, Loan), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa, £2 Million), Adrian Mariappa (Reading, £3 Million), Adlene Guediora (Nottingham Forest, £2.5 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Andre Moritz (Bolton Wanderers, Free), Alex Marrow (Blackburn Rovers, Undisc), Jermaine Easter (Millwall, Undisc), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United, £15 Million)
Transfers Review:
As with all of the other promoted sides, I did not do a season review blog post, and therefore I cannot compare my transfer predictions with the actual incomings. However, I can review those transfers that have been made, both in and out. Beginning with the incomings, Ian Holloway has added to the strike force considerably over the summer, with Kevin Phillips and Stephen Dobbie signed on permanent deals from Blackpool and Brighton respectively, and new blood in the youngster Dwight Gayle and the more experienced Marouane Chamakh. Both I can see being successes at Selhurst Park, however both are risks. Chamakh has struggled at Arsenal, finding the net only 3 times last year, and Dwight Gayle, whilst a prolific goalscorer at Peterborough, has no experience at the highest level, and it is always difficult to predict how a player will cope with the step-up. David Nugent is testimony to that sentiment. Jerome Thomas and Elliot Grandin both had that top-flight experience at their respective clubs, and both will be valuable additions to Holloway's squad. Thomas, in particular, will need to perform well, in order to replace the side's star player from the last couple of seasons, Wilfried Zaha, on the wing. The only transfers that need to cross the English Channel are Florien Marange and Jose Campana. The 20-year-old central midfielder will add a bit of power in the centre of the park, and will enable the more creative players to work their magic.
Similarly to Cardiff, Crystal Palace have managed to keep the majority of their top players from the previous season. The only exception is Wilfried Zaha, however, with the deal agreed in January, it would be a little unfair to suggest that they have made a poor decision or they have not had time to replace him. Certainly the £15 Million they managed to extort from Manchester United will leave many Crystal Palace fans perfectly happy to let the 20-year-old go, as they have managed to bring in many names for much less than that. Other than Zaha, only a couple of players have left, and none of them would be considered to be critical to their survival this season.
Pre-Season:
The Eagles's pre-season has been undertaken entirely on home soil, travelling around the country to take part in multiple friendly matches against sides from all divisions. I have never been one for huge amount of easily winnable matches, as these do not prepare a squad for the mental and physical toughness of the Premier League. It certainly does give a very good opportunity for the youth players to get some experience, and to get some links between your new new players. This is clearly shown by results like the one away at Waterfront United, which the Eagles won 4-0. However, the marquee friendly was their final one at home to Lazio, in a match that would finally challenge Crystal Palace's ability to cope with the demands of the Premier League.
The Italian-cup holders were always going to be a test for the newly-promoted Crystal Palace, and this proved to be the case. Having dominated the opening stages, the Serie A side took the lead after just 12 minutes, with Miroslav Klose nodding in the rebound after Candreva's shot was parried. The dominance continued to the break, with only a clearance off the line denying Lazio a second. After half-time, Palace began to improve, creating several half-chances, with new boy Dwight Gayle looking particularly impressive. His relationship with Kevin Phillips also looked strong, and the two will be looking to link up more during the opening weeks of the season. However, despite some late pressure, Lazio hung on to condemn the Eagles to a defeat in their last pre-season game.
Key Players:
Whilst many of the signings brought in by Ian Holloway may prove to be integral to the first-team, I feel that they already have a couple of players that looked very impressive last year, and who i believe will be able to transfer comfortably to the Premier League stage. Kagisho Dikgacoi looked an impressive prospect last season. Though he did not get as many of the headlines as Wilfried Zaha, who on his day was unplayable, he was by far the more consistent performer for the Eagles. They will need him to be Mr Consistent for the promoted side this year, in order to help them avoid the drop.
Going forward, Ian Holloway has made several shrewd signings, as he has a couple of strikers that will score you double figures already, and so he can focus more on the youth. One of those strikers, Glenn Murray, is another to watch out for. The experienced Englishman had the season of his life last campaign, hitting 30 goals for the first time. If he can replicate the performances we saw last year, I am certain that he will trouble defences up and down the land.
Key Fixture Dates:
24/08/2013: Stoke vs Crystal Palace
23/11/2013: Hull vs Crystal Palace
30/11/2013: Norwich vs Crystal Palace
07/12/2013: Crystal Palace vs Cardiff
01/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Norwich
18/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Stoke
28/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Hull
05/04/2014: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace
Top Goalscorer:
Glenn Murray is certainly the man that I see grabbing the majority of Crystal Palace's goals this campaign, if allowed by fitness. Kevin Phillips I think has gone past the point where he will score 20 goals a season, and the new recruits are all too inexperienced to challenge Murray for that top goalscorer berth. The Englishman's abilities in the air and on the ground makes him the typical number 9, and I think that is exactly what Crystal Palace needs.
Prediction:
Crystal Palace's goal for this season will be to avoid relegation by any means possible. Ian Holloway will be all too familiar with this task, having been given that objective by the Blackpool board a couple of seasons ago. Unfortunately for the Bristolian born man, as much as his antics make him a popular choice amongst the public, I fear he will be fighting a losing battle again this time around. The squad just doesn't have enough strength in depth to challenge with the rest of the Premier League, and I think that another couple of seasons in the Championship will prepare them for another tilt at the top flight.
Crystal Palace 2013/2014: 20th
Transfer(s) In: Marouane Chamakh (Arsenal, Free), Elliot Grandin (Blackpool, Free), Kevin Phillips (Blackpool, Free), Jerome Thomas (West Bromwich Albion, Free), Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, £4 Million), Jose Campana (Sevilla, Undisc), Stephen Dobbie (Brighton, Undisc), Jason Puncheon (Southampton, Loan), Neil Alexander (Rangers, Free), Florian Marange (Bordeaux, Free), Jack Hunt (Huddersfield, £2 Million), Cameron Jerome (Stoke City, Loan), Barry Bannan (Aston Villa, £2 Million), Adrian Mariappa (Reading, £3 Million), Adlene Guediora (Nottingham Forest, £2.5 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Andre Moritz (Bolton Wanderers, Free), Alex Marrow (Blackburn Rovers, Undisc), Jermaine Easter (Millwall, Undisc), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United, £15 Million)
Transfers Review:
As with all of the other promoted sides, I did not do a season review blog post, and therefore I cannot compare my transfer predictions with the actual incomings. However, I can review those transfers that have been made, both in and out. Beginning with the incomings, Ian Holloway has added to the strike force considerably over the summer, with Kevin Phillips and Stephen Dobbie signed on permanent deals from Blackpool and Brighton respectively, and new blood in the youngster Dwight Gayle and the more experienced Marouane Chamakh. Both I can see being successes at Selhurst Park, however both are risks. Chamakh has struggled at Arsenal, finding the net only 3 times last year, and Dwight Gayle, whilst a prolific goalscorer at Peterborough, has no experience at the highest level, and it is always difficult to predict how a player will cope with the step-up. David Nugent is testimony to that sentiment. Jerome Thomas and Elliot Grandin both had that top-flight experience at their respective clubs, and both will be valuable additions to Holloway's squad. Thomas, in particular, will need to perform well, in order to replace the side's star player from the last couple of seasons, Wilfried Zaha, on the wing. The only transfers that need to cross the English Channel are Florien Marange and Jose Campana. The 20-year-old central midfielder will add a bit of power in the centre of the park, and will enable the more creative players to work their magic.
Similarly to Cardiff, Crystal Palace have managed to keep the majority of their top players from the previous season. The only exception is Wilfried Zaha, however, with the deal agreed in January, it would be a little unfair to suggest that they have made a poor decision or they have not had time to replace him. Certainly the £15 Million they managed to extort from Manchester United will leave many Crystal Palace fans perfectly happy to let the 20-year-old go, as they have managed to bring in many names for much less than that. Other than Zaha, only a couple of players have left, and none of them would be considered to be critical to their survival this season.
Pre-Season:
The Eagles's pre-season has been undertaken entirely on home soil, travelling around the country to take part in multiple friendly matches against sides from all divisions. I have never been one for huge amount of easily winnable matches, as these do not prepare a squad for the mental and physical toughness of the Premier League. It certainly does give a very good opportunity for the youth players to get some experience, and to get some links between your new new players. This is clearly shown by results like the one away at Waterfront United, which the Eagles won 4-0. However, the marquee friendly was their final one at home to Lazio, in a match that would finally challenge Crystal Palace's ability to cope with the demands of the Premier League.
The Italian-cup holders were always going to be a test for the newly-promoted Crystal Palace, and this proved to be the case. Having dominated the opening stages, the Serie A side took the lead after just 12 minutes, with Miroslav Klose nodding in the rebound after Candreva's shot was parried. The dominance continued to the break, with only a clearance off the line denying Lazio a second. After half-time, Palace began to improve, creating several half-chances, with new boy Dwight Gayle looking particularly impressive. His relationship with Kevin Phillips also looked strong, and the two will be looking to link up more during the opening weeks of the season. However, despite some late pressure, Lazio hung on to condemn the Eagles to a defeat in their last pre-season game.
Key Players:
Whilst many of the signings brought in by Ian Holloway may prove to be integral to the first-team, I feel that they already have a couple of players that looked very impressive last year, and who i believe will be able to transfer comfortably to the Premier League stage. Kagisho Dikgacoi looked an impressive prospect last season. Though he did not get as many of the headlines as Wilfried Zaha, who on his day was unplayable, he was by far the more consistent performer for the Eagles. They will need him to be Mr Consistent for the promoted side this year, in order to help them avoid the drop.
Going forward, Ian Holloway has made several shrewd signings, as he has a couple of strikers that will score you double figures already, and so he can focus more on the youth. One of those strikers, Glenn Murray, is another to watch out for. The experienced Englishman had the season of his life last campaign, hitting 30 goals for the first time. If he can replicate the performances we saw last year, I am certain that he will trouble defences up and down the land.
Key Fixture Dates:
24/08/2013: Stoke vs Crystal Palace
23/11/2013: Hull vs Crystal Palace
30/11/2013: Norwich vs Crystal Palace
07/12/2013: Crystal Palace vs Cardiff
01/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Norwich
18/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Stoke
28/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Hull
05/04/2014: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace
Top Goalscorer:
Glenn Murray is certainly the man that I see grabbing the majority of Crystal Palace's goals this campaign, if allowed by fitness. Kevin Phillips I think has gone past the point where he will score 20 goals a season, and the new recruits are all too inexperienced to challenge Murray for that top goalscorer berth. The Englishman's abilities in the air and on the ground makes him the typical number 9, and I think that is exactly what Crystal Palace needs.
Prediction:
Crystal Palace's goal for this season will be to avoid relegation by any means possible. Ian Holloway will be all too familiar with this task, having been given that objective by the Blackpool board a couple of seasons ago. Unfortunately for the Bristolian born man, as much as his antics make him a popular choice amongst the public, I fear he will be fighting a losing battle again this time around. The squad just doesn't have enough strength in depth to challenge with the rest of the Premier League, and I think that another couple of seasons in the Championship will prepare them for another tilt at the top flight.
Crystal Palace 2013/2014: 20th
The Ashes 2013: 4th Test, Chester-le-Street: Aussies Broad-Sided By Stuart Demolition
Just four days had passed since the end of the 3rd Test at Old Trafford, and still there seemed ample time for bickering and controversy around this Ashes series. The major story broke on an Australian TV channel, which claimed that England batsman Kevin Pietersen was using some form of silicone tape to prevent the thermal imaging part of the Decision Review System (DRS) picking up nicks, thereby stopping Pietersen being given out caught behind. Understandably, the English batsman and his colleagues reacted angrily to these claims, as accusations of cheating are rarely taken in good spirits. Cue several character references from fellow team-mates, including his captain Alastair Cook, who claimed he 'would never do something like this'. This means little to me, as how many times have we heard glowing character references from fellow sportsmen, only to to discover that they were guilty as accused? The debacle involving the spot-fixing with the Pakistan cricket team is a good example of this, as all were defended vehemently, but still convicted. The argument that makes me certain the accusations were untrue, apart from the Australian team's clear lack of outrage, is that putting tape on his bat would not actually help him avoid getting out much. Whilst it would aid him avoiding the caught-behind claims, it would hinder the third umpire in cases of lbw, as the smallest nicks on the bat would should that the decision should be reversed. Unless Pietersen was certain that he was not going to be trapped lbw, which he could not have been, then to put tape on his bat would seem a ridiculous thing to do.
As per usual, not a week goes by where the DRS system isn't questioned or queried. This four day break is no exception. After the dismissal of Usman Khawaja in the first innings of the 3rd Test, where the ball was clearly shown not to have hit his bat, the Australian PM tweeted his disapproval of the decision. The lack of trust of the DRS system has become so bad amongst the players that they are even starting to walk instead of reviewing. A case in point would be Tim Bresnan, who was equally shown to not have hit the ball in replays. However, due to what can only be imagined as a lack of faith in DRS, and its ability to reverse the decision, he opted to walk instead. These incidents led ex-England captain Michael Vaughan to call for the immediate removal of the DRS system, a move supported by many ex-cricketers. I think that any technology in sport is a good thing. Notice that in cricket, the errors are not being made by the technology, they are being made by the human operating it. A more sophisticated, or trusted system is certainly needed to ensure that human error is reduced to a minumum.
Moving onto events in Durham, Day 1 began with England winning the toss and electing to bat. However, after five days of Australian dominance at Old Trafford without reward, the Aussies got off to a similar start in the north east. Joe Root, who has failed with the bat on all but one occasion this tour, fell for 16 as England toiled. Cook and Trott began to anchor the innings, taking them to 107-1 by 2:30. Then, just as it seemed that a half-century was on the horizon, Trott edged Nathan Lyon to Usman Khawaja. The Australian spinner would prove to be a thorn in England's side for the rest of the day. Cook and Pietersen then continued to pile the runs on, taking Cook past 50, only for Pietersen to get himself in and then out, for 26. With England on 149-3, in form Ian Bell came to the crease to partner Cook. At first glance, this appeared a partnership that would take England to a very respectable total. In reality, it last a matter of moments, as an lbw shout on Cook handed Jackson Bird his maiden Test wicket. Bell lasted little longer, chipping a simple delivery to Harris at long on, leaving England with the tail exposed at 155-5. Prior and Bairstow set about their recovery effort, with both needing to find some kind of form. Instead, Prior only managed 17 before perishing to Siddle, whilst Bairstow accrued 14, before an lbw to Lyon got rid of him. Broad went for a duck in the following over, and with England on 197-8, there was a real possibility that they wouldn't make it past 200. Tim Bresnan and Graham Swann began bringing the run rate up, pushing England past the 200 mark, before Swann eventually had to go for 13. The final pairing remained firm until the close, leaving England on a perilous 238-9. Not bad considering they had a middle order collapse, leaving them at 197-8.
England's batting order did not last long on Day 2, with the pair failing to add to their overnight score, and Anderson losing his wicket to Bird in the second over. Australia's response started badly, with David Warner gone early for just 3, before Usman Khawaja swiftly followed for a duck. That brought Michael Clarke to the crease. After a couple of shots to get himself set, it appeared as though England would be in for another tough afternoon. But then we witnessed something that rarely happens: an error from the Australian captain, gifting Broad his wicket for just 6. Australia were rocking at 49-3, but Chris Rogers's innings was the anchor for the Australian team. Gritty and, at times fortunate, the opener remained composed as others lost theirs. Steve Smith had the briefest of cameos before departing for 17, bringing former opener Shane Watson to the crease. This partnership proved to be crucial to the success of the Australian batsmen. As Rogers edged Broad repeatedly, he managed to scramble his half-century, with Watson keeping a positive strike-rate at the other end. At tea, Australia had dragged themselves to a respectable 148-4, and put themselves within striking distance of England's first innings total. The onslaught continued after the break, but both batsmen remained firm, with Watson eveuntually bringing himself to a half-century, and Rogers putting himself on the cusp of three figures. When Watson did go to the bowling of Broad for 68, Australia had managed to get themselves to within 35 of England's total, and with 5 first innings wickets still in hand, they looked well placed to give themselves a good lead. A nice moment followed, with all sides of the ground rising to salute Chris Rogers's maiden Test hundred. His tenacity and determination had prevented the seemingly inevitable collapse of the Australian batsmen, and had led his side to 222-5 at the close of play, just 16 runs behind.
Unfortunately for Australia, Day 3 is where the momentum shifted. Just as England lost a wicket in the second over of the second day, Haddin went to Swann in the second over of the 3rd. An even bigger wicket fell just moments later. With England still leading by 5, Chris Rogers nicked Swann to Matt Prior (after a neat bit of work from the keeper). After such a fantastic innings, it was a shame to see such a soft dismissal. Not that England cared. With the tail now exposed, Siddle, Lyon and Harris all went before lunch, finishing the Australian innings on 270 all out, with a lead of just 32. England's response was once again checked by terrific Australian bowling, with Ryan Harris the key man. After dispensing of Root for just 2 with a stunning delivery, the seamer then got rid of Cook and the dangerous Trott in quick succession. With England on 49-3, a partnership was desperately required if they were to stand any chance. Pietersen and Ian Bell were that partnership, securing the innings and taking England to tea on 123-3, with a lead of 91. The pair stayed firm after the interval, leading Bell to yet another half-century. Pietersen looked set to follow the Warwickshire man to 50, but a poorly played shot to a Lyon delivery left him nicking through to Haddin, bringing an end to the 106 run partnership. The out of sorts Bairstow was next in, and he got off to a positive start, making it to 18 before a bizarre decision. Despite the light looking perfectly fine, the umpires decided that it wouldn't be safe to continue, and took the players off for a farcical 7 minutes. After the restart, Bairstow managed to add a further 10 runs before he perished, but Bell, like Rogers the day before, had to wait until into the evening to secure another century in this Ashes series. This fantastic innings enabled England to get to 234-5, 202 runs ahead. This set the final two days up nicely to be a close contest.
Day 4 proved to be the pivotal one, and ensured that England would not just retain the Ashes, but win the series. It did not start all that well, with overnight hero Bell having to depart for 113, before Prior went the very next ball for a golden duck, leaving Harris on a hat-trick. After defending that delivery, Broad could only make 5, before Harris did for him. Tim Bresnan added valuable runs as England moved past 300, and closed in his own personal half-century. However, he eventually fell just 5 runs short c&b to Lyon, but left England handily placed. Swann added the final few runs before Anderson was bowled by Lyon, meaning that England's innings came to a close on 330, setting Australia a target of 299 to win the 4th Test. In response, Australia started well, with both Warner and Rogers passing 30 comfortably. At 100-0, Australia looked to be in pole position, with Warner past his half-century, and Rogers on the brink. However, on 49, Rogers clipped a Swann delivery off his legs and into the hands of Prior. At tea, Australia seemed firm on 115-1, however few could have predicted the collapse that was to unfold. Even immediately after tea, Australia were adding the necessary runs, getting to 147-1, nearly half-way to their target. Swann then took the wicket of Khawaja, before Bresnan took the big scalp of Warner for 71. This set about an incredible turn of events, with one particular man taking the fore.
That man was seamer Stuart Broad. After an impressive first innings 5-fer, the bowler continued his form into the second innings. He began with the biggest wicket of them all, with a stunning delivery getting rid of the pivotal wicket of Michael Clarke. Next over, Steve Smith pulled back onto his stumps from another outstanding Broad delivery. After Bresnan took the wicket of Watson, Broad polished off the tail with no mercy. After Haddin was trapped lbw for 4, Harris went for 11 for the same reason. At 199-8, it seemed only a matter of when and not if England would reclaim the Ashes, meaning that Broad could bring up an incredible 10 wicket haul. He even managed to better that, taking the wickets of both Lyon and Siddle, to finish off the Test with a career-best 11 wickets, and sending the Chester-le-Street crowd into delirium.
This Australian collapse will also worry coach Darren Lehmann, and the entirety of the population down under. With the return Ashes series just a matter of months away, there will be much work for the Aussie staff and players to do if they are to stand a chance of reclaiming the urn on home soil. For me, I think that the Australian years of dominance are emphatically over, and though I do not expect a 5-0 victory down under like many commentators, I full expect the England side to retain, at least, the Ashes when they make that long journey this winter.
As per usual, not a week goes by where the DRS system isn't questioned or queried. This four day break is no exception. After the dismissal of Usman Khawaja in the first innings of the 3rd Test, where the ball was clearly shown not to have hit his bat, the Australian PM tweeted his disapproval of the decision. The lack of trust of the DRS system has become so bad amongst the players that they are even starting to walk instead of reviewing. A case in point would be Tim Bresnan, who was equally shown to not have hit the ball in replays. However, due to what can only be imagined as a lack of faith in DRS, and its ability to reverse the decision, he opted to walk instead. These incidents led ex-England captain Michael Vaughan to call for the immediate removal of the DRS system, a move supported by many ex-cricketers. I think that any technology in sport is a good thing. Notice that in cricket, the errors are not being made by the technology, they are being made by the human operating it. A more sophisticated, or trusted system is certainly needed to ensure that human error is reduced to a minumum.
Moving onto events in Durham, Day 1 began with England winning the toss and electing to bat. However, after five days of Australian dominance at Old Trafford without reward, the Aussies got off to a similar start in the north east. Joe Root, who has failed with the bat on all but one occasion this tour, fell for 16 as England toiled. Cook and Trott began to anchor the innings, taking them to 107-1 by 2:30. Then, just as it seemed that a half-century was on the horizon, Trott edged Nathan Lyon to Usman Khawaja. The Australian spinner would prove to be a thorn in England's side for the rest of the day. Cook and Pietersen then continued to pile the runs on, taking Cook past 50, only for Pietersen to get himself in and then out, for 26. With England on 149-3, in form Ian Bell came to the crease to partner Cook. At first glance, this appeared a partnership that would take England to a very respectable total. In reality, it last a matter of moments, as an lbw shout on Cook handed Jackson Bird his maiden Test wicket. Bell lasted little longer, chipping a simple delivery to Harris at long on, leaving England with the tail exposed at 155-5. Prior and Bairstow set about their recovery effort, with both needing to find some kind of form. Instead, Prior only managed 17 before perishing to Siddle, whilst Bairstow accrued 14, before an lbw to Lyon got rid of him. Broad went for a duck in the following over, and with England on 197-8, there was a real possibility that they wouldn't make it past 200. Tim Bresnan and Graham Swann began bringing the run rate up, pushing England past the 200 mark, before Swann eventually had to go for 13. The final pairing remained firm until the close, leaving England on a perilous 238-9. Not bad considering they had a middle order collapse, leaving them at 197-8.
England's batting order did not last long on Day 2, with the pair failing to add to their overnight score, and Anderson losing his wicket to Bird in the second over. Australia's response started badly, with David Warner gone early for just 3, before Usman Khawaja swiftly followed for a duck. That brought Michael Clarke to the crease. After a couple of shots to get himself set, it appeared as though England would be in for another tough afternoon. But then we witnessed something that rarely happens: an error from the Australian captain, gifting Broad his wicket for just 6. Australia were rocking at 49-3, but Chris Rogers's innings was the anchor for the Australian team. Gritty and, at times fortunate, the opener remained composed as others lost theirs. Steve Smith had the briefest of cameos before departing for 17, bringing former opener Shane Watson to the crease. This partnership proved to be crucial to the success of the Australian batsmen. As Rogers edged Broad repeatedly, he managed to scramble his half-century, with Watson keeping a positive strike-rate at the other end. At tea, Australia had dragged themselves to a respectable 148-4, and put themselves within striking distance of England's first innings total. The onslaught continued after the break, but both batsmen remained firm, with Watson eveuntually bringing himself to a half-century, and Rogers putting himself on the cusp of three figures. When Watson did go to the bowling of Broad for 68, Australia had managed to get themselves to within 35 of England's total, and with 5 first innings wickets still in hand, they looked well placed to give themselves a good lead. A nice moment followed, with all sides of the ground rising to salute Chris Rogers's maiden Test hundred. His tenacity and determination had prevented the seemingly inevitable collapse of the Australian batsmen, and had led his side to 222-5 at the close of play, just 16 runs behind.
Unfortunately for Australia, Day 3 is where the momentum shifted. Just as England lost a wicket in the second over of the second day, Haddin went to Swann in the second over of the 3rd. An even bigger wicket fell just moments later. With England still leading by 5, Chris Rogers nicked Swann to Matt Prior (after a neat bit of work from the keeper). After such a fantastic innings, it was a shame to see such a soft dismissal. Not that England cared. With the tail now exposed, Siddle, Lyon and Harris all went before lunch, finishing the Australian innings on 270 all out, with a lead of just 32. England's response was once again checked by terrific Australian bowling, with Ryan Harris the key man. After dispensing of Root for just 2 with a stunning delivery, the seamer then got rid of Cook and the dangerous Trott in quick succession. With England on 49-3, a partnership was desperately required if they were to stand any chance. Pietersen and Ian Bell were that partnership, securing the innings and taking England to tea on 123-3, with a lead of 91. The pair stayed firm after the interval, leading Bell to yet another half-century. Pietersen looked set to follow the Warwickshire man to 50, but a poorly played shot to a Lyon delivery left him nicking through to Haddin, bringing an end to the 106 run partnership. The out of sorts Bairstow was next in, and he got off to a positive start, making it to 18 before a bizarre decision. Despite the light looking perfectly fine, the umpires decided that it wouldn't be safe to continue, and took the players off for a farcical 7 minutes. After the restart, Bairstow managed to add a further 10 runs before he perished, but Bell, like Rogers the day before, had to wait until into the evening to secure another century in this Ashes series. This fantastic innings enabled England to get to 234-5, 202 runs ahead. This set the final two days up nicely to be a close contest.
Day 4 proved to be the pivotal one, and ensured that England would not just retain the Ashes, but win the series. It did not start all that well, with overnight hero Bell having to depart for 113, before Prior went the very next ball for a golden duck, leaving Harris on a hat-trick. After defending that delivery, Broad could only make 5, before Harris did for him. Tim Bresnan added valuable runs as England moved past 300, and closed in his own personal half-century. However, he eventually fell just 5 runs short c&b to Lyon, but left England handily placed. Swann added the final few runs before Anderson was bowled by Lyon, meaning that England's innings came to a close on 330, setting Australia a target of 299 to win the 4th Test. In response, Australia started well, with both Warner and Rogers passing 30 comfortably. At 100-0, Australia looked to be in pole position, with Warner past his half-century, and Rogers on the brink. However, on 49, Rogers clipped a Swann delivery off his legs and into the hands of Prior. At tea, Australia seemed firm on 115-1, however few could have predicted the collapse that was to unfold. Even immediately after tea, Australia were adding the necessary runs, getting to 147-1, nearly half-way to their target. Swann then took the wicket of Khawaja, before Bresnan took the big scalp of Warner for 71. This set about an incredible turn of events, with one particular man taking the fore.
That man was seamer Stuart Broad. After an impressive first innings 5-fer, the bowler continued his form into the second innings. He began with the biggest wicket of them all, with a stunning delivery getting rid of the pivotal wicket of Michael Clarke. Next over, Steve Smith pulled back onto his stumps from another outstanding Broad delivery. After Bresnan took the wicket of Watson, Broad polished off the tail with no mercy. After Haddin was trapped lbw for 4, Harris went for 11 for the same reason. At 199-8, it seemed only a matter of when and not if England would reclaim the Ashes, meaning that Broad could bring up an incredible 10 wicket haul. He even managed to better that, taking the wickets of both Lyon and Siddle, to finish off the Test with a career-best 11 wickets, and sending the Chester-le-Street crowd into delirium.
This Australian collapse will also worry coach Darren Lehmann, and the entirety of the population down under. With the return Ashes series just a matter of months away, there will be much work for the Aussie staff and players to do if they are to stand a chance of reclaiming the urn on home soil. For me, I think that the Australian years of dominance are emphatically over, and though I do not expect a 5-0 victory down under like many commentators, I full expect the England side to retain, at least, the Ashes when they make that long journey this winter.
Monday, 12 August 2013
Chelsea: Can The 'Special One' Bring League Glory Back To The Bridge?
2012/2013: 3rd
Transfer(s) In: Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen, £18 Million), Marco Van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem, Undisc), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, Free), Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid, Free), Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala, £30 Million), Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala, Free)
Transfer(s) Out: Marko Marin (Sevilla, Loan), Gael Kakuta (Vitesse Arnhem, Loan), Oriol Romeu (Valencia, Loan), Ross Turnbull, Florent Malouda, Yossi Benayoun, Paulo Ferreira, Rafa Benitez (All Released), Romelu Lukaku (Everton, Loan)
Transfers Review:
If I look back to my Chelsea season review post from a couple of months ago, I said that Chelsea's squad were already good enough to challenge for the title. All they required was a manager that could gel the players together properly, and, most importantly of all, was stable in his job. Unfortunately for Chelsea, that has rarely been the case. However, there has always been a place at Stamford Bridge for Jose Mourinho. Maybe not in Roman Abramovic's house, but certainly among the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge! Provided Mourinho stays at Chelsea for the foreseeable future, I see no reason why Chelsea cannot see some of the success that the former Madrid manager brought to the club nearly a decade ago.
All of Mourinho's aquisitions look like shrewd purchases, with both Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel ones for the future. Schurrle will certainly be used in the upcoming season, having proven himself in a quality German league. He will certainly add a little width to the attacks, aiding Chelsea's 'Holy Trinity' of Oscar, Hazard and Mata to create more for the front man. Having a back-up goalkeeper of Schwarzer's quality is rare in the Premier League, with the vast majority of second string goalkeepers eventually searching elsewhere for first team football. His advancing age means that a long term purchase he is not, but he will certainly be useful in the short term. Though Abramovic used his Russian connections to snare both Willian and Samuel Eto'o from Anzhi Makhachkala, the manager will be pleased to have players of that quality. Mourinho will also be glad to have rebuffed the advances of Barcelona for David Luiz. The enigmatic defender was a core part of Chelsea's European success last season, and Mourinho will want him to be at the heart of his defence this season.
However, none of these was the prize that Mourinho most coveted. The long-standing spat between Wayne Rooney and new Manchester United manager David Moyes alerted Mourinho to the possibility of signing the England international. This was only made more likely after Moyes's rather ill-concieved comments to the media, in which he clearly indicated that Rooney was considered 'second-fiddle' to Robin van Persie. Initial bids of £30 and £35 Million were both rejected by the current Premier League champions, leading Mourinho to insist that Rooney pushed his way away from United. This did not materialise, leading Mourinho to turn his attention to the experienced Eto'o. I think that Eto'o is a good signing for Chelsea, but Rooney could have been this season's Robin van Persie signing, moving the title race in Chelsea's favour.
Pre-Season:
Chelsea, in preparation for the upcoming season, started their pre-season with a tour of Asia, where they took part in three exhibition matches. Whilst they were good in terms of marketing the brand in Asia, they did little in terms of match fitness or training, as they were all walkovers. Beginning with the match against the Singha-All-Stars, with entirely changed side to include the youth, they still ran out comfortable 1-0 winners. The next two games were even more emphatic. Against a Malaysia XI, Chelsea dominated to win 4-1, before rounding their tour off with the most convincing win, an 8-0 triumph over the Indonesia All Stars.
Returning to Europe, they took part in the International Champions Cup, after a brief stop in America for a friendly against Inter Milan. A comfortable 2-0 win over the Italians, made even more so after Hugo Campagnaro was sent off just after half time, will have been doubly pleasing for the ex-Inter boss Mourinho. In the International Champions Cup semi final, they faced the other side of Milan, with the same result. Goals from the impressive Kevin de Bruyne and Andre Schurrle set up a meeting with another of Mourinho's ex-clubs, Real Madrid, in the final. Unfortunately for Chelsea, they came up against a rampant Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward scored twice to condemn the Blues to a 3-1 defeat, a match that Mourinho labelled as 'perfect' afterwards. This defeat, he claimed, allowed them to change what was wrong before the start of the season.
Key Players:
Put quite simply, they are not named the 'Holy Trinity' for nothing. If I had to choose one, based solely on last season's form, Juan Mata would be him. His vision and passing ability are both superb, and he really came to the fore last season, finishing the season with the most amount of goals created in the Premier League. Eden Hazard will also be critical to Chelsea's success this year. After a positive first season in England (the kick on the ball boy excluded), the Belgian will want to kick on and add a few more goals to his game.
At the back, David Luiz is also going to be essential to Mourinho's plans. Whilst he has often be criticised for his defending, he found the perfect balance between attack and defence for much of last season, often sitting just infront of the back 4. His determination, passing and strength will also be key assets to Chelsea keeping clean sheets this season, and he would have been an enormous miss had he decided to join Barcelona.
Key Fixture Dates:
26/08/2013: Manchester United vs Chelsea
21/09/2013: Chelsea vs Fulham
27/10/2013: Chelsea vs Manchester City
21/12/2013: Arsenal vs Chelsea
18/01/2014: Chelsea vs Manchester United
01/02/2014: Manchester City vs Chelsea
01/03/2014: Fulham vs Chelsea
22/03/2014: Chelsea vs Arsenal
Top Goalscorer:
If things stay as they are, Fernando Torres would be my pick. The Spaniard showed glimpses of his old form last campaign, illustrating on occasions why the Spaniards hold him in such high regard with the nickname 'El Nino'. A regular starting berth under Mourinho could see Torres re-gain his Liverpool form, but how many times have we said that about Torres at Chelsea when a new manager comes in?
Prediction:
Chelsea are certainly title contenders this season, and I would expect that to be up with the Manchester clubs throughout the year. In terms of squad, both quality and depth, they probably lose out to Manchester City but beat Manchester United. The advantage that they hold over the pair of them, and one I believe is critical, is that although they have changed their manager, it is almost as though they haven't. This will allow them to make the transition into the Premier League much more quickly than either of their rivals. In Mourinho, they arguably have a finer manager than either of the Manchester clubs. For this reason, I believe Mourinho will bring league glory back to Stamford Bridge this season.
Chelsea 2013/2014: 1st
Transfer(s) In: Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen, £18 Million), Marco Van Ginkel (Vitesse Arnhem, Undisc), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham, Free), Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid, Free), Willian (Anzhi Makhachkala, £30 Million), Samuel Eto'o (Anzhi Makhachkala, Free)
Transfer(s) Out: Marko Marin (Sevilla, Loan), Gael Kakuta (Vitesse Arnhem, Loan), Oriol Romeu (Valencia, Loan), Ross Turnbull, Florent Malouda, Yossi Benayoun, Paulo Ferreira, Rafa Benitez (All Released), Romelu Lukaku (Everton, Loan)
Transfers Review:
If I look back to my Chelsea season review post from a couple of months ago, I said that Chelsea's squad were already good enough to challenge for the title. All they required was a manager that could gel the players together properly, and, most importantly of all, was stable in his job. Unfortunately for Chelsea, that has rarely been the case. However, there has always been a place at Stamford Bridge for Jose Mourinho. Maybe not in Roman Abramovic's house, but certainly among the Chelsea fans at Stamford Bridge! Provided Mourinho stays at Chelsea for the foreseeable future, I see no reason why Chelsea cannot see some of the success that the former Madrid manager brought to the club nearly a decade ago.
All of Mourinho's aquisitions look like shrewd purchases, with both Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel ones for the future. Schurrle will certainly be used in the upcoming season, having proven himself in a quality German league. He will certainly add a little width to the attacks, aiding Chelsea's 'Holy Trinity' of Oscar, Hazard and Mata to create more for the front man. Having a back-up goalkeeper of Schwarzer's quality is rare in the Premier League, with the vast majority of second string goalkeepers eventually searching elsewhere for first team football. His advancing age means that a long term purchase he is not, but he will certainly be useful in the short term. Though Abramovic used his Russian connections to snare both Willian and Samuel Eto'o from Anzhi Makhachkala, the manager will be pleased to have players of that quality. Mourinho will also be glad to have rebuffed the advances of Barcelona for David Luiz. The enigmatic defender was a core part of Chelsea's European success last season, and Mourinho will want him to be at the heart of his defence this season.
However, none of these was the prize that Mourinho most coveted. The long-standing spat between Wayne Rooney and new Manchester United manager David Moyes alerted Mourinho to the possibility of signing the England international. This was only made more likely after Moyes's rather ill-concieved comments to the media, in which he clearly indicated that Rooney was considered 'second-fiddle' to Robin van Persie. Initial bids of £30 and £35 Million were both rejected by the current Premier League champions, leading Mourinho to insist that Rooney pushed his way away from United. This did not materialise, leading Mourinho to turn his attention to the experienced Eto'o. I think that Eto'o is a good signing for Chelsea, but Rooney could have been this season's Robin van Persie signing, moving the title race in Chelsea's favour.
Pre-Season:
Chelsea, in preparation for the upcoming season, started their pre-season with a tour of Asia, where they took part in three exhibition matches. Whilst they were good in terms of marketing the brand in Asia, they did little in terms of match fitness or training, as they were all walkovers. Beginning with the match against the Singha-All-Stars, with entirely changed side to include the youth, they still ran out comfortable 1-0 winners. The next two games were even more emphatic. Against a Malaysia XI, Chelsea dominated to win 4-1, before rounding their tour off with the most convincing win, an 8-0 triumph over the Indonesia All Stars.
Returning to Europe, they took part in the International Champions Cup, after a brief stop in America for a friendly against Inter Milan. A comfortable 2-0 win over the Italians, made even more so after Hugo Campagnaro was sent off just after half time, will have been doubly pleasing for the ex-Inter boss Mourinho. In the International Champions Cup semi final, they faced the other side of Milan, with the same result. Goals from the impressive Kevin de Bruyne and Andre Schurrle set up a meeting with another of Mourinho's ex-clubs, Real Madrid, in the final. Unfortunately for Chelsea, they came up against a rampant Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward scored twice to condemn the Blues to a 3-1 defeat, a match that Mourinho labelled as 'perfect' afterwards. This defeat, he claimed, allowed them to change what was wrong before the start of the season.
Key Players:
Put quite simply, they are not named the 'Holy Trinity' for nothing. If I had to choose one, based solely on last season's form, Juan Mata would be him. His vision and passing ability are both superb, and he really came to the fore last season, finishing the season with the most amount of goals created in the Premier League. Eden Hazard will also be critical to Chelsea's success this year. After a positive first season in England (the kick on the ball boy excluded), the Belgian will want to kick on and add a few more goals to his game.
At the back, David Luiz is also going to be essential to Mourinho's plans. Whilst he has often be criticised for his defending, he found the perfect balance between attack and defence for much of last season, often sitting just infront of the back 4. His determination, passing and strength will also be key assets to Chelsea keeping clean sheets this season, and he would have been an enormous miss had he decided to join Barcelona.
Key Fixture Dates:
26/08/2013: Manchester United vs Chelsea
21/09/2013: Chelsea vs Fulham
27/10/2013: Chelsea vs Manchester City
21/12/2013: Arsenal vs Chelsea
18/01/2014: Chelsea vs Manchester United
01/02/2014: Manchester City vs Chelsea
01/03/2014: Fulham vs Chelsea
22/03/2014: Chelsea vs Arsenal
Top Goalscorer:
If things stay as they are, Fernando Torres would be my pick. The Spaniard showed glimpses of his old form last campaign, illustrating on occasions why the Spaniards hold him in such high regard with the nickname 'El Nino'. A regular starting berth under Mourinho could see Torres re-gain his Liverpool form, but how many times have we said that about Torres at Chelsea when a new manager comes in?
Prediction:
Chelsea are certainly title contenders this season, and I would expect that to be up with the Manchester clubs throughout the year. In terms of squad, both quality and depth, they probably lose out to Manchester City but beat Manchester United. The advantage that they hold over the pair of them, and one I believe is critical, is that although they have changed their manager, it is almost as though they haven't. This will allow them to make the transition into the Premier League much more quickly than either of their rivals. In Mourinho, they arguably have a finer manager than either of the Manchester clubs. For this reason, I believe Mourinho will bring league glory back to Stamford Bridge this season.
Chelsea 2013/2014: 1st
Cardiff City: Bluebirds Paint The Premier League Red
2012/2013: 1st (Championship)
Player(s) In: Gary Medel (Sevilla, £11 Million), Steven Caulker (Tottenham, £8 Million), Andreas Cornelius (FC Copenhagen, £7.5 Million), Simon Moore (Brentford, Undisc), John Brayford (Derby County, £2 Million), Maximiliano Amondarain (Nacional Montevideo, Free), Kevin Theophile-Catherine (Rennes, £2.5 Million), Peter Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion, £2.9 Million)
Player(s) Out: Heidar Helguson (Retired), Robbie Earnshaw (Released)
Transfers Review:
As Cardiff did not participate in last year's Premier League, I do not have a season review to compare my predictions to, as I have done with my previous blog posts. However, Cardiff have been very active in this transfer window, particularly with incomings, which should give me plenty to talk about. Having repeatedly shattered their transfer record (firstly for Cornelius, then Caulker, and finally Medel), Cardiff have made their spending power abundantly clear to the rest of those hoping to avoid relegation. In Steven Caulker in particular, the Bluebirds have a player that has proven himself at Premier League level with Tottenham, and I believe will be a valuable member of the first team squad. The other big money signings will undoubtedly play a part, but I feel that they may take some time to bed into the squad and get used to the physicality of the Premier League. Cornelius looks a powerful centre-forward, and I think he will contribute with many of Cardiff's goals this season.
Another pleasing aspect for Cardiff fans is that, as well as making several valuable additions to the squad, they have also managed to maintain the majority of their title-winning squad from last year. Of the playing squad, only Earnshaw and Helguson have departed, leaving a wealth of talent, many of whom will make the necessary step up from Championship to Premier League football. However, whether that will be sufficient to keep the Bluebirds in the top flight, only time will tell.
Pre-Season:
With the prospect of being back in the Premier League after over a decade of absence, I would have expected Cardiff to play as many friendly matches as possible, in order to prepare their players, and to gel their new recruits. Malky Mackay obviously agreed with these sentiments, and scheduled 5 pre-season matches. Even more encouragingly for the Bluebirds, of those 5, they lost just one, and had two positive victories. Beginning with an enthralling 4-3 win over Forest Green, Cardiff then suffered two disappointing results as youth players were tested and the new signings were given time to bed into the squad. A 1-1 draw with Cheltenham was followed by a 3-2 defeat against Brentford. However, this would prove to be their last failure.
August's two games would provide optimism for the Cardiff fans, suggesting that many of their players may have what it takes to make the step up to the Premier League. Firstly, a 1-0 win over Italian Serie A side Chievo Verona, where striker Kim Bo Kyung gave Malky Mackay's side a morale boosting win. Further was to follow, as Cardiff dispensed of La Liga side Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish side, who made the Europa League final 2 years ago, fell 2-0 down to goals from Whittingham and Campbell, before Iraola pulled on back. But the Bluebirds held on to record a morale boosting victory over a European-quality side. Performing in this manner on a regular basis will be the challenge for Mackay's side.
Key Players:
If Cardiff are to succeed on their return to the Premier League, they will need their big players to perform for them on a regular basis. As I mentioned, of their new signings, Steven Caulker will provide the steel in the defence, and will be the basis for many of the clean sheets they keep. The ex-Tottenham man is also a danger from set pieces at the other end, and may well pop up with a goal or two to steer the Bluebirds away from trouble.
Further forward, the passion and drive of their captain, hometown boy Craig Bellamy, will also be vital in ensuring they retain their Premier League status next year. His fiery nature tends to get him into trouble, but will also prove an inspiration to those around him, especially the younger players. He was the backbone of the Cardiff City Championship winning campaign last time around, and will be integral to any success the Bluebirds have this time around.
Key Fixture Dates:
(Based on derbies and who I consider to be their rivals)
14/09/2013: Hull vs Cardiff
26/10/2013: Norwich vs Cardiff
03/11/2013: Cardiff vs Swansea
04/12/2013: Stoke vs Cardiff
07/12/2013: Crystal Palace vs Cardiff
01/02/2014: Cardiff vs Norwich
08/02/2014: Swansea vs Cardiff
22/02/2014: Cardiff vs Hull
05/04/2014: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace
19/04/2014: Cardiff vs Stoke
Top Goalscorer:
Unfortunately for Cardiff, whilst Craig Bellamy will provide you running all day long, and will lay on a hatful of chances, he is unlikely to be the man to stick them away. Peter Whittingham, at times prolific in the Championship, I feel will be unable to exploit the same amount of space a division above. This is why I feel the honour of top goalscorer will fall onto the shoulders of one of either Andreas Cornelius, Fraizer Campbell or Nicky Maynard. I'm going to go with Cornelius. His European experience, strength and power will be assets in this league, and after a settling in period, I do fancy him to start putting a few away. However, I would be surprised if he got into double figures in the league.
Prediction:
With the money that their Malaysian owners have spent on players this summer, the expectation will very much be that the Bluebirds will escape the drop this time around. Unfortunately, with expectation comes pressure, a pressure not felt by many of their rivals. A team getting used to the transition to the Premier League does not need additional pressure heaped onto their shoulders. Ultimately, despite the emergence of a few Premier League class players, Cardiff's squad is not deep or experienced enough to survive this season. The English top flight may be 10% Welsh now, but I wonder how long that will be the case. I would be surprised if it were any longer than a year.
Cardiff City 2013/2014: 19th
Player(s) In: Gary Medel (Sevilla, £11 Million), Steven Caulker (Tottenham, £8 Million), Andreas Cornelius (FC Copenhagen, £7.5 Million), Simon Moore (Brentford, Undisc), John Brayford (Derby County, £2 Million), Maximiliano Amondarain (Nacional Montevideo, Free), Kevin Theophile-Catherine (Rennes, £2.5 Million), Peter Odemwingie (West Bromwich Albion, £2.9 Million)
Player(s) Out: Heidar Helguson (Retired), Robbie Earnshaw (Released)
Transfers Review:
As Cardiff did not participate in last year's Premier League, I do not have a season review to compare my predictions to, as I have done with my previous blog posts. However, Cardiff have been very active in this transfer window, particularly with incomings, which should give me plenty to talk about. Having repeatedly shattered their transfer record (firstly for Cornelius, then Caulker, and finally Medel), Cardiff have made their spending power abundantly clear to the rest of those hoping to avoid relegation. In Steven Caulker in particular, the Bluebirds have a player that has proven himself at Premier League level with Tottenham, and I believe will be a valuable member of the first team squad. The other big money signings will undoubtedly play a part, but I feel that they may take some time to bed into the squad and get used to the physicality of the Premier League. Cornelius looks a powerful centre-forward, and I think he will contribute with many of Cardiff's goals this season.
Another pleasing aspect for Cardiff fans is that, as well as making several valuable additions to the squad, they have also managed to maintain the majority of their title-winning squad from last year. Of the playing squad, only Earnshaw and Helguson have departed, leaving a wealth of talent, many of whom will make the necessary step up from Championship to Premier League football. However, whether that will be sufficient to keep the Bluebirds in the top flight, only time will tell.
Pre-Season:
With the prospect of being back in the Premier League after over a decade of absence, I would have expected Cardiff to play as many friendly matches as possible, in order to prepare their players, and to gel their new recruits. Malky Mackay obviously agreed with these sentiments, and scheduled 5 pre-season matches. Even more encouragingly for the Bluebirds, of those 5, they lost just one, and had two positive victories. Beginning with an enthralling 4-3 win over Forest Green, Cardiff then suffered two disappointing results as youth players were tested and the new signings were given time to bed into the squad. A 1-1 draw with Cheltenham was followed by a 3-2 defeat against Brentford. However, this would prove to be their last failure.
August's two games would provide optimism for the Cardiff fans, suggesting that many of their players may have what it takes to make the step up to the Premier League. Firstly, a 1-0 win over Italian Serie A side Chievo Verona, where striker Kim Bo Kyung gave Malky Mackay's side a morale boosting win. Further was to follow, as Cardiff dispensed of La Liga side Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish side, who made the Europa League final 2 years ago, fell 2-0 down to goals from Whittingham and Campbell, before Iraola pulled on back. But the Bluebirds held on to record a morale boosting victory over a European-quality side. Performing in this manner on a regular basis will be the challenge for Mackay's side.
Key Players:
If Cardiff are to succeed on their return to the Premier League, they will need their big players to perform for them on a regular basis. As I mentioned, of their new signings, Steven Caulker will provide the steel in the defence, and will be the basis for many of the clean sheets they keep. The ex-Tottenham man is also a danger from set pieces at the other end, and may well pop up with a goal or two to steer the Bluebirds away from trouble.
Further forward, the passion and drive of their captain, hometown boy Craig Bellamy, will also be vital in ensuring they retain their Premier League status next year. His fiery nature tends to get him into trouble, but will also prove an inspiration to those around him, especially the younger players. He was the backbone of the Cardiff City Championship winning campaign last time around, and will be integral to any success the Bluebirds have this time around.
Key Fixture Dates:
(Based on derbies and who I consider to be their rivals)
14/09/2013: Hull vs Cardiff
26/10/2013: Norwich vs Cardiff
03/11/2013: Cardiff vs Swansea
04/12/2013: Stoke vs Cardiff
07/12/2013: Crystal Palace vs Cardiff
01/02/2014: Cardiff vs Norwich
08/02/2014: Swansea vs Cardiff
22/02/2014: Cardiff vs Hull
05/04/2014: Cardiff vs Crystal Palace
19/04/2014: Cardiff vs Stoke
Top Goalscorer:
Unfortunately for Cardiff, whilst Craig Bellamy will provide you running all day long, and will lay on a hatful of chances, he is unlikely to be the man to stick them away. Peter Whittingham, at times prolific in the Championship, I feel will be unable to exploit the same amount of space a division above. This is why I feel the honour of top goalscorer will fall onto the shoulders of one of either Andreas Cornelius, Fraizer Campbell or Nicky Maynard. I'm going to go with Cornelius. His European experience, strength and power will be assets in this league, and after a settling in period, I do fancy him to start putting a few away. However, I would be surprised if he got into double figures in the league.
Prediction:
With the money that their Malaysian owners have spent on players this summer, the expectation will very much be that the Bluebirds will escape the drop this time around. Unfortunately, with expectation comes pressure, a pressure not felt by many of their rivals. A team getting used to the transition to the Premier League does not need additional pressure heaped onto their shoulders. Ultimately, despite the emergence of a few Premier League class players, Cardiff's squad is not deep or experienced enough to survive this season. The English top flight may be 10% Welsh now, but I wonder how long that will be the case. I would be surprised if it were any longer than a year.
Cardiff City 2013/2014: 19th
Aston Villa: Time For The Kids To Grow Up
2012/2013: 15th
Player(s) In: Jed Steer (Norwich City, Free), Antonio Luna (Sevilla, Undisc), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg BK, Undisc), Jores Okore (FC Nordsjaelland, Undisc), Leandro Bacuna (FC Groningen, Undisc), Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan, Undisc), Libor Kozak (Lazio, £5 Million)
Player(s) Out: Stilian Petrov (Retired), Richard Dunne (QPR, Free), Jean Makoun (Stade Rennais, Undisc), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest, Free), Brett Holman (Released), Darren Bent (Fulham, Loan)
Transfers Review:
Comparing the completed transfers to those predicted in my Aston Villa season review post a couple of months ago, we can see that Villa have been far more successful in the transfer window than the papers thought they would. They have also got rid of far more players than initially assumed. In terms of whether they have filled the positions I thought they required, whilst they have bought a central midfielder to replace the retired Stilian Petrov, in Leandro Bacuna, he remains a youngster, meaning that ability may have been brought in, but experience certainly has not. This is certainly something that I feel is needed for Villa to exceed their objectives this season.
This lack of experience is illustrated further when we look at the Villains' other recruits. Not a single one older than 24 years old, and covering positions all over the field, Paul Lambert has sent another signal of intent over his transfer policy. He has also let go of several of his most experienced squad members, with Richard Dunne, Jean Makoun and Stilian Petrov all absent from Villa's ranks this campaign. I do worry about the resilience of this Villa side, as less experienced players tend to allow one defeat to turn into four, and we often see more fledgling sides towards the lower end of the Premier League table.
However, Villa's best piece of business this campaign has not been any of their acquisitions. Keeping hold of 20-goal Christian Benteke is undoubtedly the highlight of Lambert's summer. The big Belgian looked destined for a larger club, with both Spurs and Liverpool seen as potential suitors, but after crisis talks with Lambert, he was persuaded to sign a contract extension and stay at Villa. After his outstanding performances last campaign, I am certain every Aston Villa fan will be delighted at that news.
Pre-Season:
Villa's pre-season form has been patchy, with Lambert attempting to give many of his younger players a test. As with last season, youth appears to be the way forward for Aston Villa, with Lambert entrusting his younger players with positions of great responsibility. In their early pre-season friendlies, the mix of new players and inexperience left Villa with only a draw and a defeat to show for it. A 2-2 draw against Wycombe Wanderers was followed by a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Luton Town. As the season moved closer, August's friendlies produced more positive results. An expected victory against Irish champions Shamrock Rovers was followed by a testing tie at home to Champions League quarter-finalists Malaga.
In their final warm-up game before the start of the Premier League, Villa were certainly at the races. In-form Benteke opened the scoring after 12 minutes, before experienced centre-back Ron Vlaar beat Malaga keeper Caballero with a bullet-header from a corner. Benteke seemingly put the game beyond doubt on the half hour, when he won and converted a penalty, taking his personal total to 7 goals in 5 games. Villa 3-0 up and crusing. Their sense of ease did not last long, as firstly new boy Jores Okore miscued a clearance into his own net, before Sergi Darder added a second to make the last few minutes decidedly nervous. But the Villains held on to give themselves a morale-boosting win going into their opening league game at Arsenal next week.
Key Players:
Villa's determination to keep hold of this player over the summer means that there can only be one to watch out for at Villa Park this season: Christian Benteke. After a stunning breakthrough season last time out, the big Belgian will be looking to solidify his reputation in English football, and push Villa away from the drop as a consequence. His goals last time around certainly ensured that the Villains would not be playing Championship football in 2013/14, and all of his pace, power and accuracy will be needed to ensure that Aston Villa finish higher than last year. Villa could perhaps be accused of being a one-man team, as without him they often looked toothless in attack. Lambert will be hoping for as few injuries as possible to his star man, as the replacement is inexperienced in the Premier League.
Key Fixture Dates:
(Based on who I believe are their main rivals this year)
14/09/2013: Aston Villa vs Newcastle
02/11/2013: West Ham United vs Aston Villa
30/11/2013: Aston Villa vs Sunderland
03/12/2013: Southampton vs Aston Villa
07/12/2013: Fulham vs Aston Villa
01/01/2014: Sunderland vs Aston Villa
08/02/2014: Aston Villa vs West Ham United
22/02/2014: Newcastle vs Aston Villa
05/04/2014: Aston Villa vs Fulham
19/04/2014: Aston Villa vs Southampton
Top Goalscorer:
Once again, a simple choice, with the powerful Benteke bearing a large burden on his shoulders for Aston Villa. Excluding a serious injury, I cannot see any other Villa player coming close to scoring the number of goals Benteke does this campaign. The only worry for Villa will be whether they can provide enough service so that the Belgian extends his fantastic scoring run, and betters last season's total.
Prediction:
Aston Villa's initial objective will be to avoid relegation this season, but with the quality in the squad I think they have the potential to progress higher than that. Dependant on the fitness of Benteke, and the progression of many of the youngsters and new signings at the club, the fringes of the top half is about the best Villa can expect from this season. My only concern is that the inexperience rife in the Villa ranks could cause mistakes like the ones we saw from Carl Baker against Reading last year. Experienced players would help settle their younger counterparts down, but the Villa squad doesn't really possess many. For that reason, a top lower half finish is my best guess.
Aston Villa 2013/2014: 12th
Player(s) In: Jed Steer (Norwich City, Free), Antonio Luna (Sevilla, Undisc), Nicklas Helenius (Aalborg BK, Undisc), Jores Okore (FC Nordsjaelland, Undisc), Leandro Bacuna (FC Groningen, Undisc), Aleksandar Tonev (Lech Poznan, Undisc), Libor Kozak (Lazio, £5 Million)
Player(s) Out: Stilian Petrov (Retired), Richard Dunne (QPR, Free), Jean Makoun (Stade Rennais, Undisc), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest, Free), Brett Holman (Released), Darren Bent (Fulham, Loan)
Transfers Review:
Comparing the completed transfers to those predicted in my Aston Villa season review post a couple of months ago, we can see that Villa have been far more successful in the transfer window than the papers thought they would. They have also got rid of far more players than initially assumed. In terms of whether they have filled the positions I thought they required, whilst they have bought a central midfielder to replace the retired Stilian Petrov, in Leandro Bacuna, he remains a youngster, meaning that ability may have been brought in, but experience certainly has not. This is certainly something that I feel is needed for Villa to exceed their objectives this season.
This lack of experience is illustrated further when we look at the Villains' other recruits. Not a single one older than 24 years old, and covering positions all over the field, Paul Lambert has sent another signal of intent over his transfer policy. He has also let go of several of his most experienced squad members, with Richard Dunne, Jean Makoun and Stilian Petrov all absent from Villa's ranks this campaign. I do worry about the resilience of this Villa side, as less experienced players tend to allow one defeat to turn into four, and we often see more fledgling sides towards the lower end of the Premier League table.
However, Villa's best piece of business this campaign has not been any of their acquisitions. Keeping hold of 20-goal Christian Benteke is undoubtedly the highlight of Lambert's summer. The big Belgian looked destined for a larger club, with both Spurs and Liverpool seen as potential suitors, but after crisis talks with Lambert, he was persuaded to sign a contract extension and stay at Villa. After his outstanding performances last campaign, I am certain every Aston Villa fan will be delighted at that news.
Pre-Season:
Villa's pre-season form has been patchy, with Lambert attempting to give many of his younger players a test. As with last season, youth appears to be the way forward for Aston Villa, with Lambert entrusting his younger players with positions of great responsibility. In their early pre-season friendlies, the mix of new players and inexperience left Villa with only a draw and a defeat to show for it. A 2-2 draw against Wycombe Wanderers was followed by a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Luton Town. As the season moved closer, August's friendlies produced more positive results. An expected victory against Irish champions Shamrock Rovers was followed by a testing tie at home to Champions League quarter-finalists Malaga.
In their final warm-up game before the start of the Premier League, Villa were certainly at the races. In-form Benteke opened the scoring after 12 minutes, before experienced centre-back Ron Vlaar beat Malaga keeper Caballero with a bullet-header from a corner. Benteke seemingly put the game beyond doubt on the half hour, when he won and converted a penalty, taking his personal total to 7 goals in 5 games. Villa 3-0 up and crusing. Their sense of ease did not last long, as firstly new boy Jores Okore miscued a clearance into his own net, before Sergi Darder added a second to make the last few minutes decidedly nervous. But the Villains held on to give themselves a morale-boosting win going into their opening league game at Arsenal next week.
Key Players:
Villa's determination to keep hold of this player over the summer means that there can only be one to watch out for at Villa Park this season: Christian Benteke. After a stunning breakthrough season last time out, the big Belgian will be looking to solidify his reputation in English football, and push Villa away from the drop as a consequence. His goals last time around certainly ensured that the Villains would not be playing Championship football in 2013/14, and all of his pace, power and accuracy will be needed to ensure that Aston Villa finish higher than last year. Villa could perhaps be accused of being a one-man team, as without him they often looked toothless in attack. Lambert will be hoping for as few injuries as possible to his star man, as the replacement is inexperienced in the Premier League.
Key Fixture Dates:
(Based on who I believe are their main rivals this year)
14/09/2013: Aston Villa vs Newcastle
02/11/2013: West Ham United vs Aston Villa
30/11/2013: Aston Villa vs Sunderland
03/12/2013: Southampton vs Aston Villa
07/12/2013: Fulham vs Aston Villa
01/01/2014: Sunderland vs Aston Villa
08/02/2014: Aston Villa vs West Ham United
22/02/2014: Newcastle vs Aston Villa
05/04/2014: Aston Villa vs Fulham
19/04/2014: Aston Villa vs Southampton
Top Goalscorer:
Once again, a simple choice, with the powerful Benteke bearing a large burden on his shoulders for Aston Villa. Excluding a serious injury, I cannot see any other Villa player coming close to scoring the number of goals Benteke does this campaign. The only worry for Villa will be whether they can provide enough service so that the Belgian extends his fantastic scoring run, and betters last season's total.
Prediction:
Aston Villa's initial objective will be to avoid relegation this season, but with the quality in the squad I think they have the potential to progress higher than that. Dependant on the fitness of Benteke, and the progression of many of the youngsters and new signings at the club, the fringes of the top half is about the best Villa can expect from this season. My only concern is that the inexperience rife in the Villa ranks could cause mistakes like the ones we saw from Carl Baker against Reading last year. Experienced players would help settle their younger counterparts down, but the Villa squad doesn't really possess many. For that reason, a top lower half finish is my best guess.
Aston Villa 2013/2014: 12th
Arsenal: Top 4 Or Bust?
2012/2013: 4th
Player(s) In: Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, Free), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo, Loan), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, £42.4 Million)
Player(s) Out: Gervinho (Roma, £8 Million), Andre Santos (Flamengo, Free), Vito Mannone (Hull, £2 Million), Johan Djourou (Hamburg, Loan), Denilson (Sao Paulo, Free), Andrey Arshavin, Sebastien Squillaci (All Released)
Transfers Review:
Comparing Arsenal's signings to my earlier Arsenal season review post, in which I laid out those players who had been considered transfer targets, and who would be expected to leave, we can clearly see that many of Arsenal's transfer targets have either moved on, or have elected to stay with their respective clubs. How many of these were approached by the Gunners is unclear, but certainly a couple were thought to be very much on the Arsenal radar. In terms of outgoings, Arsenal will be glad to have kept key players like Podolski and Sagna, and have got rid of much of the deadwood. However, replacements for all of these have yet to be found, perhaps leaving the squad a little threadbare. Certainly, they cannot afford many injuries as things stand.
In another season in which Arsenal had seemingly failed to spend a large sum, initial moves for firstly Gonzalo Higuain, and more notably, Luis Suarez, to bolster their striking options, had both been unsuccessful. With Higuain now at Napoli, the Suarez affair rumbled on. Arsenal's bid of £40,000,001, designed to trigger a clause in the striker's contract (which the Gunners were ill-informed about), illustrated Wenger's change in position over spending. The usual sense of 'only spend what we bring in' has been abandoned, with the board well aware that a lack of recruits may lead to them missing out on that all-important 4th place this year. The deadline day signing of Mesut Ozil for £42.4 Million further illustrates the change in emphasis. The Real Madrid man will be an excellent signing, but I do question whether another creative midfielder is needed, with both Cazorla and Podolski already on the books. Whether Wenger will go to the figures that Brendan Rodgers is suggesting for Suarez (closer to £100 Million) is doubtful, but Arsenal still need to bring in further reinforcements, especially with the release/sale of several back-up players.
Having said that, the North London club were one of the first to announce a transfer, with the France U21 international Yaya Sanogo coming in on a free transfer from Auxerre. The 20-year-old striker looks a decent prospect, and will provide vital goals in Arsenal's charge for the top 4. However, he is just 20, and he will inevitably take time to adjust to the Premier League. As much as I think he looks a prospect, I would be highly surprised if he scored more than 10 goals this season. In my opinion, a defender, a wide midfielder, and a high profile striker are still all needed to give Arsenal the advantage on the race for the 4th place. As it stands, I fear for Arsene Wenger's long record of providing Champions League football.
Pre-Season:
The Gunners set off on a pre-season tour of Asia at the beginning of July, where they were greeted by enormous crowds wherever they went, indicating Arsenal's impression on the continent. Whilst the results may not be particularly relevant or indicative of the upcoming season, it is always a good opportunity to hand the young players a chance to show themselves. They certainly took that opportunity, demolishing firstly the Indonesia All Stars 7-0, before travelling to Hanoi to win against Vietnam 7-1. The following two matches were certainly a lot closer, but ultimately ended with the same result. The Gunners beat Nagoya Grampus Eight 3-1, before a close fought 2-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds to end their tour. Returning to Europe, Arsenal took part in three (perhaps more relevant) friendly matches, starting at home to Napoli in the annual Emirates Cup. After falling 2-0 down after the first half-hour, the Gunners fought back to secure a promising draw, with late goals from Giroud and Koscielny. In the final, Arsenal faced Galatasaray, and an old adversary came back to haunt them. Didier Drogba, who returned to Europe in January after a brief stint in China, converted a soft penalty to level Theo Walcott's first half strike, before drilling home late on to secure the win for the Turks. After that disappointment, a visit from high-spending Manchester City to finish the Gunners' preparations would have been the last thing they needed. However, Arsenal responded to produce arguably their finest performance of the summer, winning 3-1, and handing themselves the perfect morale-booster before the start of the new Premier League season.
Key Players:
Wenger and Arsenal will have to rely on many of their established names to produce the form that is worthy of Champions League football. This season may well prove to be pivotal in the career of Jack Wilshire. The England midfielder has been beset by injuries for the majority of the last couple of seasons, and will be anxious to find some kind of form. From an English perspective, seeing Wilshire perform regularly will only be beneficial when it comes to the national team.
Secondly, this will have to be the season where we see the best from Santi Cazorla. The diminutive Spaniard looked promising last campaign, but with Arsenal's lack of signings, his input becomes ever more crucial. He now must take the role that Juan Mata performed so outstandingly for Chelsea last year: chief playmaker. How many goals Arsenal score this season could be, in no small part, down to him.
Key Fixture Dates:
01/09/2013: Arsenal vs Tottenham
02/11/2013: Arsenal vs Liverpool
10/11/2013: Manchester United vs Arsenal
14/12/2013: Manchester City vs Arsenal
21/12/2013: Arsenal vs Chelsea
08/02/2014: Liverpool vs Arsenal
11/02/2014: Arsenal vs Manchester United
15/03/2014: Tottenham vs Arsenal
22/03/2014: Chelsea vs Arsenal
29/03/2014: Arsenal vs Manchester City
Top Goalscorer:
This is an area in which Arsenal are going to struggle this campaign. Unless the Luis Suarez affair ends in their favour, bringing the Uruguayan to The Emirates, much of the goalscoring responsibilities will fall onto the shoulders of Olivier Giroud. Arsene Wenger's love of French strikers is obvious, with, at times, spectacular results. I do not think that the former Montpellier man is of the calibre of Thierry Henry, however. Unlike his compatriot, I doubt Giroud's ability to carry this team in the way Henry or Robin van Persie used to do. I do believe that Giroud will finish as Arsenal's top goalscorer, though I do not expect his tally to be particularly high.
Prediction:
Once again, this will be a season in which the Gunners challenge for a place among Europe's elite, rarely threatening the title race, but unlikely to slip down the table dramatically. As things stand, I fear that this season may be the year that their city rivals Tottenham pip them to that final Champions League spot. In my opinion, Arsenal will struggle in the final third, without a proven goalscorer. Whilst they look defensively strong, I expect to see too many draws to claim that 4th place.
Arsenal 2013/2014: 5th
Player(s) In: Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, Free), Emiliano Viviano (Palermo, Loan), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, £42.4 Million)
Player(s) Out: Gervinho (Roma, £8 Million), Andre Santos (Flamengo, Free), Vito Mannone (Hull, £2 Million), Johan Djourou (Hamburg, Loan), Denilson (Sao Paulo, Free), Andrey Arshavin, Sebastien Squillaci (All Released)
Transfers Review:
Comparing Arsenal's signings to my earlier Arsenal season review post, in which I laid out those players who had been considered transfer targets, and who would be expected to leave, we can clearly see that many of Arsenal's transfer targets have either moved on, or have elected to stay with their respective clubs. How many of these were approached by the Gunners is unclear, but certainly a couple were thought to be very much on the Arsenal radar. In terms of outgoings, Arsenal will be glad to have kept key players like Podolski and Sagna, and have got rid of much of the deadwood. However, replacements for all of these have yet to be found, perhaps leaving the squad a little threadbare. Certainly, they cannot afford many injuries as things stand.
In another season in which Arsenal had seemingly failed to spend a large sum, initial moves for firstly Gonzalo Higuain, and more notably, Luis Suarez, to bolster their striking options, had both been unsuccessful. With Higuain now at Napoli, the Suarez affair rumbled on. Arsenal's bid of £40,000,001, designed to trigger a clause in the striker's contract (which the Gunners were ill-informed about), illustrated Wenger's change in position over spending. The usual sense of 'only spend what we bring in' has been abandoned, with the board well aware that a lack of recruits may lead to them missing out on that all-important 4th place this year. The deadline day signing of Mesut Ozil for £42.4 Million further illustrates the change in emphasis. The Real Madrid man will be an excellent signing, but I do question whether another creative midfielder is needed, with both Cazorla and Podolski already on the books. Whether Wenger will go to the figures that Brendan Rodgers is suggesting for Suarez (closer to £100 Million) is doubtful, but Arsenal still need to bring in further reinforcements, especially with the release/sale of several back-up players.
Having said that, the North London club were one of the first to announce a transfer, with the France U21 international Yaya Sanogo coming in on a free transfer from Auxerre. The 20-year-old striker looks a decent prospect, and will provide vital goals in Arsenal's charge for the top 4. However, he is just 20, and he will inevitably take time to adjust to the Premier League. As much as I think he looks a prospect, I would be highly surprised if he scored more than 10 goals this season. In my opinion, a defender, a wide midfielder, and a high profile striker are still all needed to give Arsenal the advantage on the race for the 4th place. As it stands, I fear for Arsene Wenger's long record of providing Champions League football.
Pre-Season:
The Gunners set off on a pre-season tour of Asia at the beginning of July, where they were greeted by enormous crowds wherever they went, indicating Arsenal's impression on the continent. Whilst the results may not be particularly relevant or indicative of the upcoming season, it is always a good opportunity to hand the young players a chance to show themselves. They certainly took that opportunity, demolishing firstly the Indonesia All Stars 7-0, before travelling to Hanoi to win against Vietnam 7-1. The following two matches were certainly a lot closer, but ultimately ended with the same result. The Gunners beat Nagoya Grampus Eight 3-1, before a close fought 2-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds to end their tour. Returning to Europe, Arsenal took part in three (perhaps more relevant) friendly matches, starting at home to Napoli in the annual Emirates Cup. After falling 2-0 down after the first half-hour, the Gunners fought back to secure a promising draw, with late goals from Giroud and Koscielny. In the final, Arsenal faced Galatasaray, and an old adversary came back to haunt them. Didier Drogba, who returned to Europe in January after a brief stint in China, converted a soft penalty to level Theo Walcott's first half strike, before drilling home late on to secure the win for the Turks. After that disappointment, a visit from high-spending Manchester City to finish the Gunners' preparations would have been the last thing they needed. However, Arsenal responded to produce arguably their finest performance of the summer, winning 3-1, and handing themselves the perfect morale-booster before the start of the new Premier League season.
Key Players:
Wenger and Arsenal will have to rely on many of their established names to produce the form that is worthy of Champions League football. This season may well prove to be pivotal in the career of Jack Wilshire. The England midfielder has been beset by injuries for the majority of the last couple of seasons, and will be anxious to find some kind of form. From an English perspective, seeing Wilshire perform regularly will only be beneficial when it comes to the national team.
Secondly, this will have to be the season where we see the best from Santi Cazorla. The diminutive Spaniard looked promising last campaign, but with Arsenal's lack of signings, his input becomes ever more crucial. He now must take the role that Juan Mata performed so outstandingly for Chelsea last year: chief playmaker. How many goals Arsenal score this season could be, in no small part, down to him.
Key Fixture Dates:
01/09/2013: Arsenal vs Tottenham
02/11/2013: Arsenal vs Liverpool
10/11/2013: Manchester United vs Arsenal
14/12/2013: Manchester City vs Arsenal
21/12/2013: Arsenal vs Chelsea
08/02/2014: Liverpool vs Arsenal
11/02/2014: Arsenal vs Manchester United
15/03/2014: Tottenham vs Arsenal
22/03/2014: Chelsea vs Arsenal
29/03/2014: Arsenal vs Manchester City
Top Goalscorer:
This is an area in which Arsenal are going to struggle this campaign. Unless the Luis Suarez affair ends in their favour, bringing the Uruguayan to The Emirates, much of the goalscoring responsibilities will fall onto the shoulders of Olivier Giroud. Arsene Wenger's love of French strikers is obvious, with, at times, spectacular results. I do not think that the former Montpellier man is of the calibre of Thierry Henry, however. Unlike his compatriot, I doubt Giroud's ability to carry this team in the way Henry or Robin van Persie used to do. I do believe that Giroud will finish as Arsenal's top goalscorer, though I do not expect his tally to be particularly high.
Prediction:
Once again, this will be a season in which the Gunners challenge for a place among Europe's elite, rarely threatening the title race, but unlikely to slip down the table dramatically. As things stand, I fear that this season may be the year that their city rivals Tottenham pip them to that final Champions League spot. In my opinion, Arsenal will struggle in the final third, without a proven goalscorer. Whilst they look defensively strong, I expect to see too many draws to claim that 4th place.
Arsenal 2013/2014: 5th
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Community Shield 2013: United on Cruise Control
After the excursion to Villa Park last year, the season's official curtain-raiser returned to the national stadium. For those that are unfamiliar with the match, it sees the winners of the previous year's Premier League play the holders of the FA Cup. This year, Manchester United met Wigan Athletic, after a memorable season for both last year. The Red Devils made their way to Wembley after collecting their 20th top flight title, and 13th Premier League crown. Wigan, the perennial underdogs, were unfortunately relegated in the league, but after an incredible run to the FA Cup Final, with impressive displays against Everton and Millwall, they performed one of the all time shocks in the final, beating Manchester City 1-0. With a significantly weakened team on account of their relegation, there were few that were giving them a hope today. But that is what people said in May...
Although this game ultimately means nothing, both clubs would have been eager to begin their season as they intended to continue. For David Moyes in particular, after an unspectacular pre-season tour, this was an opportunity to cast off the doubters of his ability to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at United. With Wigan looking one of the favourites for promotion come this May, they would also have wanted to maintain the momentum after their 4-0 thrashing of Barnsley last week. Both sides showed their determination to win the trophy, putting out practically full strength squads. The game started as was intially expected, with United dominating possession. The last thing that the Wigan fans would have wanted was to see their team fall behind early. But this was exactly what happened. To the despair of all neutrals (and Arsenal fans), Robin van Persie extended his fantastic scoring form since his move to Old Trafford. After a flowing move, Patrice Evra stood up a ball towards the back post. Poor marking from Wigan saw van Persie free on the penalty spot to place an accurate header just inside the post, beyond the despairing dive of Wigan keeper Scott Carson. 1-0 after just 6 minutes, and worries of a walk-over began to surface.
These concerns were not eased by the dominance that United enjoyed over the next 20 minutes. Fotunately for Wigan, they seemed perfectly content to knock the ball about in the middle of the field, retain possession and create chances at will. Only some excellent last-ditch defending, and some wasteful finishing from United meant that Wigan went into the final ten minutes of the half in with a chance. This clearly didn't escape the notice of the Wigan players, who began to push forwards. After getting a couple of free-kicks in dangerous situations, they really should have equalised. A whipped-in free kick was headed back across the box, with Leon Barnett needing just a touch to steer it home. Unfortunately for the Latics, the ball was slightly too high, missing the big centre-back and allowing United to clear. The final few minutes passed relatively without incident, with a spat between Nemanja Vidic and Grant Holt dominating proceedings. At half time, we had seen United dominate the early period, but we had seen enough of a Wigan fight-back to show that the result was still in doubt.
After the break, proceedings continued in a vastly similar fashion. United instantly got back on the front foot, pushing the Latics to the edge of their penalty area. Once again, Wigan's hopes were crushed by an early goal. More than a touch of fortune this time, as the predatory van Persie scuffed a shot towards goal after a neat move, only to see it ricochet off Wigan's James Perch and wrongfoot Carson. Having extended their lead, United once again seemed content to sit back and hold the ball, and where necessary, soak up any Wigan pressure. Though the Latics did attempt to push on, they never really threatened David De Gea's goal. On the break, both Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck had chances to extend United's advantage, but neither to provide the clinical touch. United also used the later stages to bring their younger players into the squad, with Januzaj replacing the excellent van Persie. The Dutchman will once again prove an integral part of United's season, and could provide a first major trophy to Moyes, though I am sure the Scot will count this one! In terms of youth, Wilfried Zaha also looks a good prospect, and England fans will be hoping he remains injury free this year. Whether he is worth the reported £15 million that United paid, I am unsure, and he will have to prove himself worthy of that valuation, but he is certainly a good player for the future.
Manchester United will be glad that they did not suffer the same fate as their city rivals, as that would have been the worst possible preparation for the away trip to Swansea next Saturday. I have never believed that the Charity Shield actually gives any insight into the teams involved, and this one is no different. In fact, this one is perhaps less representative than last year's Manchester City vs Chelsea, as United were playing a side a league below them, and one that they were widely expected to win. And win they did, and comfortably. Moyes will be pleased with his side's performance, but will expect them to step it up a gear if they want to retain the title they won so comfortably last year, with the resurgent Chelsea and Manchester City. For Wigan, they retained their pride. There is no embarrassment in a 2-0 defeat to the current Premier League champions. Their first objective must be to get back into the Premier League, and they certainly have the squad to do so. The Europa League will be a pleasant excursion, and one hopes that it does not detract from their league form. Both sides should have a successful campaign, but both managers will be under immense pressure to deliver their objectives.
Although this game ultimately means nothing, both clubs would have been eager to begin their season as they intended to continue. For David Moyes in particular, after an unspectacular pre-season tour, this was an opportunity to cast off the doubters of his ability to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at United. With Wigan looking one of the favourites for promotion come this May, they would also have wanted to maintain the momentum after their 4-0 thrashing of Barnsley last week. Both sides showed their determination to win the trophy, putting out practically full strength squads. The game started as was intially expected, with United dominating possession. The last thing that the Wigan fans would have wanted was to see their team fall behind early. But this was exactly what happened. To the despair of all neutrals (and Arsenal fans), Robin van Persie extended his fantastic scoring form since his move to Old Trafford. After a flowing move, Patrice Evra stood up a ball towards the back post. Poor marking from Wigan saw van Persie free on the penalty spot to place an accurate header just inside the post, beyond the despairing dive of Wigan keeper Scott Carson. 1-0 after just 6 minutes, and worries of a walk-over began to surface.
These concerns were not eased by the dominance that United enjoyed over the next 20 minutes. Fotunately for Wigan, they seemed perfectly content to knock the ball about in the middle of the field, retain possession and create chances at will. Only some excellent last-ditch defending, and some wasteful finishing from United meant that Wigan went into the final ten minutes of the half in with a chance. This clearly didn't escape the notice of the Wigan players, who began to push forwards. After getting a couple of free-kicks in dangerous situations, they really should have equalised. A whipped-in free kick was headed back across the box, with Leon Barnett needing just a touch to steer it home. Unfortunately for the Latics, the ball was slightly too high, missing the big centre-back and allowing United to clear. The final few minutes passed relatively without incident, with a spat between Nemanja Vidic and Grant Holt dominating proceedings. At half time, we had seen United dominate the early period, but we had seen enough of a Wigan fight-back to show that the result was still in doubt.
After the break, proceedings continued in a vastly similar fashion. United instantly got back on the front foot, pushing the Latics to the edge of their penalty area. Once again, Wigan's hopes were crushed by an early goal. More than a touch of fortune this time, as the predatory van Persie scuffed a shot towards goal after a neat move, only to see it ricochet off Wigan's James Perch and wrongfoot Carson. Having extended their lead, United once again seemed content to sit back and hold the ball, and where necessary, soak up any Wigan pressure. Though the Latics did attempt to push on, they never really threatened David De Gea's goal. On the break, both Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck had chances to extend United's advantage, but neither to provide the clinical touch. United also used the later stages to bring their younger players into the squad, with Januzaj replacing the excellent van Persie. The Dutchman will once again prove an integral part of United's season, and could provide a first major trophy to Moyes, though I am sure the Scot will count this one! In terms of youth, Wilfried Zaha also looks a good prospect, and England fans will be hoping he remains injury free this year. Whether he is worth the reported £15 million that United paid, I am unsure, and he will have to prove himself worthy of that valuation, but he is certainly a good player for the future.
Manchester United will be glad that they did not suffer the same fate as their city rivals, as that would have been the worst possible preparation for the away trip to Swansea next Saturday. I have never believed that the Charity Shield actually gives any insight into the teams involved, and this one is no different. In fact, this one is perhaps less representative than last year's Manchester City vs Chelsea, as United were playing a side a league below them, and one that they were widely expected to win. And win they did, and comfortably. Moyes will be pleased with his side's performance, but will expect them to step it up a gear if they want to retain the title they won so comfortably last year, with the resurgent Chelsea and Manchester City. For Wigan, they retained their pride. There is no embarrassment in a 2-0 defeat to the current Premier League champions. Their first objective must be to get back into the Premier League, and they certainly have the squad to do so. The Europa League will be a pleasant excursion, and one hopes that it does not detract from their league form. Both sides should have a successful campaign, but both managers will be under immense pressure to deliver their objectives.
Tuesday, 6 August 2013
The Ashes 2013: 3rd Test, Emirates Old Trafford: Rain Retains Ashes
Typical Manchester. Hailing from the city myself, I am all too aware of the daily potential for rain, with the weekly forecast rarely completely absent of the dark clouds and two drop symbols. However, after the recent heatwave, my hopes were initially high that we would see a result at Old Trafford, with a full 5 days play looking on the cards. After the result at Lord's, it appeared as though five days would not even be necessary, with the English rampant, and looking to wrap up a series win, pushing on to achieve a home whitewash. Once again though, this rollercoaster of a series threw up another surprise, with the rain eventually coming to the aid of the home side, ensuring that England retained the Ashes.
Day 1 began brightly, with the Australians winning their first toss, and electing to bat. This appeared to be an important moment, as the pitch seemed perfect for batting, and was only likely to worsen over the course of the Test. Chris Rogers and Shane Watson set about the English bowlers in the early overs, with Rogers looking particularly impressive. As has been the case recently, Watson got in, and then got out, managing just 19. At 76-1, Australia had got off to a good start. However, a moment of enormous controversy followed soon after. Having defended well since coming to the crease, Usman Khawaja was given out caught behind off the bowling of Swann. The batsman instantly reviewed the decision, standing his ground. As the TV began relaying the pictures, it became more and more obvious that Khawaja had not touched the ball. No mark on Hotspot, the thermal imaging used, no sound as the ball passed the bat, and even more convincingly, clear daylight between the bat and the ball. Despite this overwhelming evidence, unbelievably the decision was upheld, and Khawaja had to walk for 1. This drew criticism from fans, pundits, and even the Australian Prime Minister on Twitter, calling it 'one of the worst cricket umpiring decisions I have ever witnessed'. As captain Michael Clarke came to the crease, there was a sense of injustice amongst the Aussie ranks. This propelled Rogers and Clarke to put a good partnership together, before the opener eventually fell for 84, leaving Australia on 129-3. However, if England thought they had created a good platform for themselves, they were wrong. In a stand lasting the rest of the day (a full four hours), Clarke and Steve Smith put on a further 174 runs, leaving Australia at 303-3 at the close, with Clarke on an unbeaten 125, swinging the balance Australia's way.
Day 2 started in the same vein as the first, with Australia, and mostly Clarke, on top. Quickly bringing up his 150, the Aussie captain, aided by Smith, pressed on to put the Australians in a commanding position. With a century seemingly guaranteed, Smith was also beginning to play with increased freedom. However, this freedom eventually came back to bite him, as he played a loose shot to a Swann delivery on 89, putting Australia on 343-4. After such a fantastic innings, the 24 year old will be bitterly disappointed he couldn't manage his first Test century. Further misfortune for Smith was that David Warner was the next man in. This meant that rather than the rapturous applause he deserved, the pitch was alive to the sound of boos in the direction of the new man. After his 'unprovoked attack' on England batsman Joe Root, it was unlikely to be any different! His panto villain cameo was appropriately brief, with the Aussie being caught at slip by Trott on just 5. This brought about the largest cheer of the day from the English fans, who up until then had had precious little to cheer about. Brad Haddin's solid start led the Australians to 392-5 at lunch, putting them in a commanding position for the rest of the Test, and, with reports of poor weather on the horizon, leaving Clarke with a dilemma of whether to declare. Clarke's mammoth innings came to an end roughly a day after it started, playing onto his stumps to give Stuart Broad his 200th Test wicket. A fantastic knock from the captain, who Australia are often too reliant on for success. When Siddle fell just a couple of overs later, it looked as though the tail would be mopped up fairly easily. But an 8th wicket stand between Haddin and Mitchell Starc saw the Australians past 500, and handing the pair half-centuries. At 527-7, Clarke declared, decided that this would be sufficient to get the 20 wickets required. The next 40 overs seemed to prove him right, as England started poorly. After captain Cook got off to a positive start, Joe Root fell cheaply to Siddle for 8. Tim Bresnan was then sent out as night-watchman, only to perish for 1, leaving England in real trouble at 52-2 at the close, and in desperate need of a large score.
After two days of Australian dominance, Day 3 needed to be the day that England fought back. And when Trott fell to Harris for just 5, it looked as though England were in deep trouble. However, in came Kevin Pietersen. With the new spinner Nathan Lyon not performing as well as expected, Cook closed in on his half-century. However, similarly to Steve Smith, after looking good for a century, he fell, managing just 64. This put England on 110-4, still needing 218 to avoid the follow-on. Just like Australia, the middle-order then proved vital. Pietersen and the in-form Ian Bell then took England away from trouble, and towards that follow-on target. When Bell lost his wicket to a fantastic delivery from Harris for 60, England were looking altogether more secure on 225-5. Pietersen quickly brought up his maiden Test century at Old Trafford, playing some expansive cricket, and victimising the spinner Lyon. Jonny Bairstow had a brief cameo, making 22 before he fell to Starc. Pietersen went to the same bowler a couple of overs later, after an lbw review failed. With England at 280-7, they could ill-afford a collapse. Fortunately for England, Prior and Broad steadied the ship, taking England to 294-7 at the close, needing 34 to avoid the follow-on.
England's objectives for Day 4 would have been as follows: 1) avoid the follow-on 2) set a respectable target 3) attempt to skittle the Australians out in their second innings and 4) do several rain dances throughout the day. Number 1 was achieved fairly comfortably, with the capable Broad and Prior batting well to take England towards 350. Broad fell for a well-played 32, with Lyon finally taking his first wicket, after a miserable day the day before. Swann came in and went out very quickly, scoring a run a ball for his 11. A period of frustration for the Australians followed, as the English batsman attempted to while away overs and time. With the impending rain, the Australians knew that every over was crucial, and therefore getting the final wicket quickly was critical. The wicket of Prior eventually fell an hour and a half into the first session, leaving the Aussies to rush off and get themselves ready to bat. Treating the rest of the Test as a one-day game, the Australians set off at a decent pace, with Warner and Rogers opening. Rogers quickly fell for 12, but the scoring continued at a good rate with the partnership of Warner and Khawaja. When Warner perished on 41, who was there to take the catch? Joe Root, who else! Khawaja followed quickly, leaving the Australians at 99-3, with a lead of 258. Just four runs later, Watson had to make the walk back to the pavilion, having made a valuable 19 for his team. The last thing England would have wanted to have seen was Steve Smith striding out to meet Michael Clarke at the crease after the events of Day 1. However, a gift of a run-out managed to keep the run count down (lead at 300), and got rid of the dangerous Smith. Haddin and Starc both followed before tea, leaving the score at 172-7, with an Australian lead of 331. Another moment of controversy came soon after, as the players were taken off for bad light. Cue furious protests from the Australian players, spearheaded by Clarke, who recognised just how crucial this time may be. This proved even more critical as the rain prevented any further play after tea, and, with little signs of improvement for Day 5, it seemed as though the Aussies would run out of time and overs.
This proved to be the case in Day 5. After the decision by Clarke to declare at their overnight total of 172-7, with a lead of 331 to defend, England got off to a terrible start. Cook, who has looked fairly consistent throughout this series, went for a duck. Things went from bad to worse, as both Trott and Pietersen lost their wickets, leaving England in trouble at 27-3. Cue torrential Mancunian rain, which lasted for the rest of the day, eliminating any chance of the Australians winning the Ashes. This meant that only 20.3 overs were bowled in the day, but that did not prevent fans staying in the ground to chant their approval at the result.
As I mentioned in my last post, I wanted to see a little more fight from the Australians, particularly with the bat. I am pleased to say that the next two Tests look as though they will be highly competitive, with all three results realistically possible. No 5-0 whitewash for England, nor an Australian Ashes win is possible, but pride is still to play for, and I think that (provided the rain stays away), we are still in for an interesting couple of weeks of cricket.
Day 1 began brightly, with the Australians winning their first toss, and electing to bat. This appeared to be an important moment, as the pitch seemed perfect for batting, and was only likely to worsen over the course of the Test. Chris Rogers and Shane Watson set about the English bowlers in the early overs, with Rogers looking particularly impressive. As has been the case recently, Watson got in, and then got out, managing just 19. At 76-1, Australia had got off to a good start. However, a moment of enormous controversy followed soon after. Having defended well since coming to the crease, Usman Khawaja was given out caught behind off the bowling of Swann. The batsman instantly reviewed the decision, standing his ground. As the TV began relaying the pictures, it became more and more obvious that Khawaja had not touched the ball. No mark on Hotspot, the thermal imaging used, no sound as the ball passed the bat, and even more convincingly, clear daylight between the bat and the ball. Despite this overwhelming evidence, unbelievably the decision was upheld, and Khawaja had to walk for 1. This drew criticism from fans, pundits, and even the Australian Prime Minister on Twitter, calling it 'one of the worst cricket umpiring decisions I have ever witnessed'. As captain Michael Clarke came to the crease, there was a sense of injustice amongst the Aussie ranks. This propelled Rogers and Clarke to put a good partnership together, before the opener eventually fell for 84, leaving Australia on 129-3. However, if England thought they had created a good platform for themselves, they were wrong. In a stand lasting the rest of the day (a full four hours), Clarke and Steve Smith put on a further 174 runs, leaving Australia at 303-3 at the close, with Clarke on an unbeaten 125, swinging the balance Australia's way.
Day 2 started in the same vein as the first, with Australia, and mostly Clarke, on top. Quickly bringing up his 150, the Aussie captain, aided by Smith, pressed on to put the Australians in a commanding position. With a century seemingly guaranteed, Smith was also beginning to play with increased freedom. However, this freedom eventually came back to bite him, as he played a loose shot to a Swann delivery on 89, putting Australia on 343-4. After such a fantastic innings, the 24 year old will be bitterly disappointed he couldn't manage his first Test century. Further misfortune for Smith was that David Warner was the next man in. This meant that rather than the rapturous applause he deserved, the pitch was alive to the sound of boos in the direction of the new man. After his 'unprovoked attack' on England batsman Joe Root, it was unlikely to be any different! His panto villain cameo was appropriately brief, with the Aussie being caught at slip by Trott on just 5. This brought about the largest cheer of the day from the English fans, who up until then had had precious little to cheer about. Brad Haddin's solid start led the Australians to 392-5 at lunch, putting them in a commanding position for the rest of the Test, and, with reports of poor weather on the horizon, leaving Clarke with a dilemma of whether to declare. Clarke's mammoth innings came to an end roughly a day after it started, playing onto his stumps to give Stuart Broad his 200th Test wicket. A fantastic knock from the captain, who Australia are often too reliant on for success. When Siddle fell just a couple of overs later, it looked as though the tail would be mopped up fairly easily. But an 8th wicket stand between Haddin and Mitchell Starc saw the Australians past 500, and handing the pair half-centuries. At 527-7, Clarke declared, decided that this would be sufficient to get the 20 wickets required. The next 40 overs seemed to prove him right, as England started poorly. After captain Cook got off to a positive start, Joe Root fell cheaply to Siddle for 8. Tim Bresnan was then sent out as night-watchman, only to perish for 1, leaving England in real trouble at 52-2 at the close, and in desperate need of a large score.
After two days of Australian dominance, Day 3 needed to be the day that England fought back. And when Trott fell to Harris for just 5, it looked as though England were in deep trouble. However, in came Kevin Pietersen. With the new spinner Nathan Lyon not performing as well as expected, Cook closed in on his half-century. However, similarly to Steve Smith, after looking good for a century, he fell, managing just 64. This put England on 110-4, still needing 218 to avoid the follow-on. Just like Australia, the middle-order then proved vital. Pietersen and the in-form Ian Bell then took England away from trouble, and towards that follow-on target. When Bell lost his wicket to a fantastic delivery from Harris for 60, England were looking altogether more secure on 225-5. Pietersen quickly brought up his maiden Test century at Old Trafford, playing some expansive cricket, and victimising the spinner Lyon. Jonny Bairstow had a brief cameo, making 22 before he fell to Starc. Pietersen went to the same bowler a couple of overs later, after an lbw review failed. With England at 280-7, they could ill-afford a collapse. Fortunately for England, Prior and Broad steadied the ship, taking England to 294-7 at the close, needing 34 to avoid the follow-on.
England's objectives for Day 4 would have been as follows: 1) avoid the follow-on 2) set a respectable target 3) attempt to skittle the Australians out in their second innings and 4) do several rain dances throughout the day. Number 1 was achieved fairly comfortably, with the capable Broad and Prior batting well to take England towards 350. Broad fell for a well-played 32, with Lyon finally taking his first wicket, after a miserable day the day before. Swann came in and went out very quickly, scoring a run a ball for his 11. A period of frustration for the Australians followed, as the English batsman attempted to while away overs and time. With the impending rain, the Australians knew that every over was crucial, and therefore getting the final wicket quickly was critical. The wicket of Prior eventually fell an hour and a half into the first session, leaving the Aussies to rush off and get themselves ready to bat. Treating the rest of the Test as a one-day game, the Australians set off at a decent pace, with Warner and Rogers opening. Rogers quickly fell for 12, but the scoring continued at a good rate with the partnership of Warner and Khawaja. When Warner perished on 41, who was there to take the catch? Joe Root, who else! Khawaja followed quickly, leaving the Australians at 99-3, with a lead of 258. Just four runs later, Watson had to make the walk back to the pavilion, having made a valuable 19 for his team. The last thing England would have wanted to have seen was Steve Smith striding out to meet Michael Clarke at the crease after the events of Day 1. However, a gift of a run-out managed to keep the run count down (lead at 300), and got rid of the dangerous Smith. Haddin and Starc both followed before tea, leaving the score at 172-7, with an Australian lead of 331. Another moment of controversy came soon after, as the players were taken off for bad light. Cue furious protests from the Australian players, spearheaded by Clarke, who recognised just how crucial this time may be. This proved even more critical as the rain prevented any further play after tea, and, with little signs of improvement for Day 5, it seemed as though the Aussies would run out of time and overs.
This proved to be the case in Day 5. After the decision by Clarke to declare at their overnight total of 172-7, with a lead of 331 to defend, England got off to a terrible start. Cook, who has looked fairly consistent throughout this series, went for a duck. Things went from bad to worse, as both Trott and Pietersen lost their wickets, leaving England in trouble at 27-3. Cue torrential Mancunian rain, which lasted for the rest of the day, eliminating any chance of the Australians winning the Ashes. This meant that only 20.3 overs were bowled in the day, but that did not prevent fans staying in the ground to chant their approval at the result.
As I mentioned in my last post, I wanted to see a little more fight from the Australians, particularly with the bat. I am pleased to say that the next two Tests look as though they will be highly competitive, with all three results realistically possible. No 5-0 whitewash for England, nor an Australian Ashes win is possible, but pride is still to play for, and I think that (provided the rain stays away), we are still in for an interesting couple of weeks of cricket.
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