Sunderland: Stadium of Light At The End Of The Tunnel?

2012/2013: 17th

Transfer(s) In: Modibo Diakite (Lazio, Free), Emmanuele Giaccharini (Juventus, £6.5 Million), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar, £5 Million), Vito Mannone (Arsenal, £2 Million), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, Free), Ondrej Celustka (Trabzonspor, Loan), El-Hadji-Ba (Le Havre, Free), David Moberg Karlsson (Free Agent, Free), Cabral (Free Agent, Free), Duncan Watmore (Altrincham, Free), Charis Mavrias (Panathinaikos, £3 Million), Ki-Sung Yeung (Swansea City, Loan), Fabio Borini (Liverpool, Loan), Andrea Dossena (Napoli, Free)

Transfer(s) Out: Danny Graham (Hull, Loan), Ahmed Elmohamedy (Hull, £2 Million), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool, £9 Million), James McClean (Wigan, Loan), Connor Wickham (Sheffield Wednesday, Loan), Matthew Killgallon, Titus Bramble, James McFadden (Released)

Transfers Review:

                                        Without a shadow of a doubt, the Wearside team have been one of the most active in this transfer window, strengthening with no fewer than 14 players, and letting go, either permanently or temporarily, of another 8. Paolo Di Canio is clearly stamping his authority on the club, re-shaping it into the image that he finds most suitable to achieve his objectives. The eccentric Italian has made several key, and very impressive signings. Most notably, the capture of Juventus winger Emmanuele Giaccherini is quite a find for a team struggling against relegation last campaign. His Italian connections also snared the Lazio defender Modibo Diakite on a free transfer, again a highly impressive signing. The ex-West Ham star has made additions all over the field, from Vito Mannone to replace the departed Simon Mignolet, Valentin Roberge to give a bit more width to the defence, Giaccharini and El-Hadji Ba to strengthen the midfield, and American Jozy Altidore to add some goals and firepower up front. Though these signings will take time to gel, I am positive that with their collective experience, we will see a vast improvement from Sunderland this campaign.

                                          In order to recoup some of the money outlayed on transfer fees, di Canio has also shifted some of the dead weight. The underperforming Graham and Elmohamedy both went to newly promoted Hull, lowering the wage outlay and bringing in £2 Million, both McClean and Wickham went out on loan to gain valuable experience of the league below and the big money mover was Mignolet, with the Belgian leaving for Liverpool for a reported fee of £9 Million in an attempt to balance the books.

Pre-Season:

                                            Sunderland's pre-season consisted entirely of a tour of the UK and taking part in the Barclays Asia Trophy. During the tour of the UK, di Canio used mostly youth players, as he was seemingly too busy signing players to take part in exhibition matches! The most useful part of their pre-season was travelling to Hong Kong to take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy. In the semi-final, the Mackems were drawn against Tottenham. On an atrocious playing surface, Sunderland were dominant during the first half, taking a 2-1 lead into the break. After half time, Tottenham fought back. But Di Canio will be glad to see them weather the storm, and they sealed the win late on, with a breakaway goal. Bearing in mind that Spurs are expected to be challenging for the top 4 this season, and they are the same amount of time along in their preparations for the new season, this result was particularly impressive.

                                            In the final, Sunderland met Manchester City. In a tight game, City stuck early through a fabulous volley from Edin Dzeko. As time went on, Sunderland managed to retain the ball better, but they lacked that killer ball to split open the City defence. On the one or two occasions when they did have a good sight of goal, the accuracy of their strikers was ever so slightly off. Nevertheless, a successful tournament for the Mackems, especially when they entered it as the 3rd best team in the competition of 4.

Key Players:

                                               With Giaccherini on the opposite wing, I think that this will be the season that makes or breaks Adam Johnson. After his big money move from Manchester City last season, the England winger was fairly ineffective at The Stadium of Light, with his highlight being a goal in the Tyne Wear derby at St James' Park. He will need to rediscover the form that took him to the cusp of an England call up for the 2010 World Cup if he wants to hold down a regular place. I think that he is more than capable of producing good performances, and I would be surprised if he didn't return to his best this campaign.

                                                  This season is also an opportunity to right a few wrongs in English football for Jozy Altidore. The American striker previously had a brief spell in the Premier League with Hull a few seasons back, only to score once in 22 appearances. Form certainly not good enough for the top flight. However, since that disappointment the US international has been on fire in Holland, finishing last season with close to a goal a game average. He will want to dethrone Steven Fletcher at Sunderland as top goalscorer for his first objective.

Key Fixture Dates:

17/08/2013: Sunderland vs Fulham
24/08/2013: Southampton vs Sunderland
27/10/2013: Sunderland vs Newcastle
30/11/2013: Aston Villa vs Sunderland
14/12/2013: West Ham United vs Sunderland
01/01/2014: Sunderland vs Aston Villa
11/01/2014: Fulham vs Sunderland
18/01/2014: Sunderland vs Southampton
01/02/2014: Newcastle vs Sunderland
29/03/2014: Sunderland vs West Ham United

Top Goalscorer:

                                                    Though I do think that Altidore will be a success at Sunderland, I am still expecting Steven Fletcher to retain his top goalscorer status. It will inevitably take time for the American to re-acclimatize to life in the Premier League, during which Fletcher may have got out of sight, especially if he starts like last season! The Scot is deadly either in the air or on the ground, and it is even more impressive that he is achieving this with mid to lower table teams in Sunderland and Wolves before that.

Prediction:

                                                       Paolo di Canio showed us enough tactical ability last season to convince me that Sunderland will improve this season. The calibre of his signings have reinforced that opinion for me. Though they will take time to bed into the squad and get used to the English game, I feel like there will be one or two standout performers over the course of the season, propelling Sunderland up the table. I think they will finish well above last year's aberration, and they may even nip infront of their hated neighbours Newcastle for that final top 10 spot.

Sunderland 2013/2014: 10th

Stoke City: Are They At The End Of The Line?

2013/2014: 13th

Transfer(s) In: Marc Muniesa (Athletic Bilbao, Free), Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven, £3 Million), Mark Hughes (Free Agent), Oussama Assaidi (Liverpool, Loan), Steven Ireland (Aston Villa, Loan), Marco Arnautovic (Werder Bremen, £2.5 Million)

Transfer(s) Out: Michael Owen (Retired), Rory Delap, Carlo Nash, Mamady Sidebe, Dean Whitehead, Matthew Upson (Released), Tony Pulis (Sacked)

Transfers Review:

                                                   The most important transfers that have been made at the Britannia this season have been made in the dugout rather than on the pitch. After his second spell of over half a decade in the Potteries, Tony Pulis was sacked after a poor season last time around. His replacement was, to the despair of many Stoke fans, former Blackburn, Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Hughes. Whilst many were disappointed with his appointment, I actually do not see him as too bad a choice. His high profile failures with both Manchester City and QPR were at clubs with a considerable amount of money, a feature some managers find it difficult to handle. At Blackburn, where the kitty was considerably lower, he was hailed as a bargain-hunter, with the likes of Roque Santa Cruz one of his greatest buys. Stoke appear to fit more into the second category, and I actually believe that Hughes is a reasonable choice.

                                                       His ability to make shrewd aquisitions has been illustrated by his five signings this summer. Marc Muniesa, a large part of Athletic Bilbao's run to the final of the Europa league a couple of seasons ago, was signed on a free transfer, and Erik Pieters, a Dutch central midfielder with good potential, was signed for a miserly sum (in footballing terms at least!) of £3 Million. Later on, two loan deals for Oussama Assaidi and Steven Ireland from Liverpool and Aston Villa, before a final deal for Werder Bremen's enigmatic Marko Arnautovic for a reported £2.5 Million. However, all of these players hardly fit the 'Stoke mould' under the stewardship of Tony Pulis. This implies that Hughes is attempting to stamp his authority on this Stoke team by altering their playing style from the long ball game we have all become so accustomed to.

                                                       There has also been a fair clearout of the more experienced players in the Stoke squad, with the majority of them being part of the side that took the Potters to the Premier League. Names like Upson, Whitehead, and even club legend Rory Delap, will not be on show at the Britannia next season, after all were released at the end of last campaign. This once again indicates a significant shift in regime, as Hughes wants rid of all of those considered to be surplus to requirements, and those more experienced players that were the core of the long ball game.

Pre-Season:

                                                          The Potters' pre-season has been indicative of a side that is going through a significant transitionary period, with performances perhaps not at the level that would otherwise have been expected. After a brief tour of America, during which they played teams like MLS side Philadelphia Union, they returned to the UK to face a couple of sides from the lower divisions as we moved into August. They opted to take part in friendlies against Blue Square Premier sides Macclesfield and Wrexham, and though they won the pair, they only managed to beat each side by the odd goal, which for a club four divisions above is simply unacceptable.

                                                            Their final pre-season match came against the Serie A side Genoa. Despite producing a much improved performance than those that preceeded it, Stoke were unable to find that goalscoring touch, a feature of their game that Hughes will be keen to eradicate. Last season, they were far too guilty of not scoring enough goals, and as a result drew too many games, putting them in danger of relegation.

Key Players:

                                                            If Stoke are to stave off relegation again this season, they will need their player of the season last year to be on top form once again. After much speculation, they will be glad to have retained the services of Asmir Begovic. The Bosnian, who has proven himself to be amongst the top 5 goalkeepers in the Premier League, is a good reason for so many of the clean sheets that the Potters have kept over the last few years. His reflexes and command of his area are superb, and it is little wonder that top 4 teams, such as Arsenal, have been reported to be watching him with interest.

                                                             In order to score more goals this campaign, the pace, skill and delivery of Jermaine Pennant will be vital. His quiet season last year meant that it was hardly a coincidence that the Potters found themselves in trouble come April. If the Englishman should stay fit and in form, Stoke will fancy themselves to stay away from trouble this time around.

Key Fixture Dates:

24/08/2013: Stoke vs Crystal Palace
29/09/2013: Stoke vs Norwich
04/12/2013: Stoke vs Cardiff
14/12/2013: Hull vs Stoke
18/01/2014: Crystal Palace vs Stoke
08/03/2014: Norwich vs Stoke
29/03/2014: Stoke vs Hull
19/04/2014: Cardiff vs Stoke

Top Goalscorer:

                                                              The change of tactics under Mark Hughes seemingly signals the end to the long ball/long throw game made famous under Pulis. This will have consequences for the goal tally of Peter Crouch. The lanky Englishman has always been superb in the air, but his touch has at times been suspect. This is why I will go for Jonathan Walters to cement the title he won last season. Although his tally was low (11), he was the main threat up front for the Potters, and I expect that to continue again this campaign.

Prediction:

                                                               As I said earlier, the appointment of Mark Hughes is, in my opinion, not a bad one for a club with the spending power of Stoke. However, with the Welshman attempting to change the style of the Stoke City team's play, I think that the job is a bit of poisoned chalice. The old way had seemingly stopped working by the end of last season, and with an overhaul so difficult to complete quickly, I fear for the survival of the Potters. I have a feeling that, after a good 6 years in the top flight, this season could see the end of Stoke's Premier League status.

Stoke City 2013/2014: 18th

The British and Irish Lions Win Series Down Under: End To 16 Years Of Pain

                      19-10. The scoreline at half time of today's game. I tweeted at the time that the game was perfectly poised for the second half, with any outcome possible. I certainly did not expect the response that occurred in Sydney! A second half demolition of the Wallabies, finishing with an unbelievable scoreline of 41-16 in favour of the Lions, giving them a 2-1 series victory. A first series win for the British and Irish Lions since 1997, and only the second victorious tour since the professionalisation of the sport of rugby union. As I mentioned in my Lions preview post, I still fail to understand how the Lions have historically been so unsuccessful, as all four of the prospective teams available for selection to the Lions are fully capable of beating the Aussies on their day. Therefore, a combination of the four of them should be favourites to win on every occasion.

                        However, as has been proven, this is rarely the case. That makes the events of the last two weeks even more momentous, as the 2013 Lions have had to overcome not just their Australian opponents, but the weight of the failure of multiple previous tours. The success of this set of Lions could perhaps lay the demons of the previous 16 years to rest, and allow the Lions to experience victory more in future tours. This post will examine where the test series was won, along with reviewing all three of the 2013 Lions test series.

                        Interviews I have heard that were held with Lions fans after the first test have said that there were tears shed after their victory. I cannot understand that. I get that the Lions tour is the most prestigious of all home nations rugby, but to cry after a single victory implies that the fans never expected the Lions to be successful this time. Either the fans have the typical British mentality that they never expect to win, or they do not trust the players' proven abilities on the rugby field to beat the Australians. The first is a stereotype, and the second is ridiculous, for the reason I state above. Nevertheless, the hard fought 23-21 victory in Brisbane on the 22nd of June set the Lions up for this historic series win. Full of quality and last minute drama, the match had everything. A breath-taking George North try, the celebration of which he had to later apologise for, put the Lions 13-12 up at half-time. A cat and mouse second half ensued, with the Australians closing the gap to just two points as the clock ticked onto 80 minutes. A silly penalty gifted the Aussies the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. But replacement Kurtley Beale sliced the kick wide, taking the tally of points missed to 14, and handing the Lions the first Test advantage.

                          It was always going to be the case that the Aussies would respond. And a week later, in Melbourne, the Aussies levelled the series after a pulsating and nervous 80 minutes. Similarly to the previous match, a final minute penalty was missed to decide the outcome. This time, however, the roles were reversed, with Leigh Halfpenny missing a distinctly more difficult kick from the halfway line. This allowed the Aussies to claim a 16-15 win, rekindling their hope of a series win and denying the Lions the redemption they craved. After a game in which the Lions had dominated, leading 15-9 until the final 5 minutes, and spurning several chances, Australia made them pay with the only try of the game, Adam Ashley-Cooper crashing over to win the game. This put the series on a knife's edge going into the decider in Sydney, where the Lions would have to use every ounce of their desire to secure that elusive tour win.

                           With the difference between the two sides over the last two matches being just 3 points, today's game seemed destined to be a tense and close affair. An early Corbisiero try handed the Lions the inertia, before four Leigh Halfpenny penalties handed the Lions that 9 point lead at half time. Whilst not quite as anxious as the previous two 80 minutes, the opening half roughly followed the pattern that we would expect. However, the second half saw a complete demolition of the Australians, a demolition that few saw coming. A masterclass from Lions kicker Halfpenny, landing 7 of 8 kicks, propelled the Lions to a superb 41-16 victory in the third test. In the process, the Welsh full-back ensured his own personal place in history, claiming the record for the highest points scorer on a Lions tour, surpassing Neil Jenkins' old record of 41. The Welshman finished on 49 points, valuable points for the Lions in securing their first series for 16 years. If there were tears after match one of the series, I shudder to think what was unfolding in the Lions end of the crowd at the final whistle.

                             Hopefully this starts an era of more successful British rugby. Whilst all four of our individual home nations pride themselves on an excellent national rugby squad, we have all too often failed to perform when we amalgamate. Praise must go to Warren Gatland, who can now add this Lions tour victory to his highly impressive CV. Now the floodgates have opened, will the Lions now go on to bigger and better things on future tours, using the strength of the 2013 Lions?

                          

Stoke City: The End to the Long Ball Game?

2012/2013 Season Review:

                Stoke had a relatively calm summer as far as transfers are concerned, with Charlie Adam being the only high profile incoming. This had the additional benefit of leaving Stoke’s squad practically untouched, giving them the stability so obviously lacking from rival squads. A traditional strong home form, brought about in part by their raucous home support, and partially via their unique long ball game, normally aids Stoke’s push towards the top 10. This season, however, this was not to be.

                An four game unbeaten start to the season gave Stoke a promising start, including home draws against Arsenal and Manchester City. Whilst a disappointing exit by Swindon of the Capital One Cup punctured this good early season form, only two league defeats by the end of October gave Potters fans further reason for optimism. However, it is worth noting that games that they would ordinarily have won the previous years at home, they drew this campaign, a factor that certainly contributed to their late season perils.

                November was more typical in terms of the traditional Stoke results, namely good at home but appalling away from the Britannia. Home wins against QPR, Newcastle and Fulham were interspersed by poor away performances against Norwich and West Ham, a run that ended at the beginning of December with a 1-0 win away at West Brom. December in general was a highly successful month for the Potters, remaining unbeaten throughout the whole of the busiest month of the season. Taking simply this month into consideration, it seems ridiculous that Stoke would find themselves in a relegation battle come the end of the season. January saw an emphatic end to the good form, with three heavy defeats against Manchester City, Chelsea and Swansea, before exiting the FA Cup at home to Man City.

                Further polarisation in terms of home vs away form continued, with Stoke picking up no away points for the whole of the first three months of 2013, a run that put even more importance on the games at the Britannia. Unfortunately, ordinarily winnable games began to be drawn, or even lost, at home, pushing Stoke slowly down the table. Home draws against Wigan and West Brom were followed in April by defeats against Manchester United and, more critically, Aston Villa, in what had been described pre-match as a relegation ‘six-pointer’. These results were indicative of relegation form, and Stoke badly needed to snap out of this run in order to extend their 5 year stay in the top flight. Their traditionally infallible long ball game, relying heavily on set pieces, was failing to create the chances the Potters fans were so used to, and soon their was considerable discontent in the stands. Pundits best summed up the situation by stating that no-one cares if you are playing unattractive football and winning, but it becomes a big problem when the results stop coming.

                Fearful of alienating their usual vociferous support, Stoke’s form took a timely peak. Successive wins away at QPR and at home to Norwich gave the Potters a little more breathing space away from the dreaded bottom three, but they remained within touching distance. This ensured that the side needed to remain at the top of their game for the remainder of the season. Two points from their last three games, coupled with their rivals inability to capitalise on their slip-ups, allowed Stoke to limp over the line, amassing 42 points and finishing in 13^th place.

                Overall, Stoke fans and management will consider this season a disappointment, after 5 years of comfortable mid-table success. The board’s disappointment with this year’s results was clearly illustrated with the sacking of manager Tony Pulis at the end of the season. However, I genuinely fear for their survival next year, as Pulis instilled a unique philosophy upon his players, and one that very few coaches appear to be implementing. Having seen how long it often takes to ‘re-train’ the players in a new style of football, the next manager at the Britannia will have a tough job, and I fear may be leading the Potters down next year.

 

Player of the Season: Asmir Begovic – Another consistent season from the Bosnian keeper, without whom Stoke would have been on the receiving end of many more hammerings. He has been a valuable asset to the Potters, and with Tony Pulis having left and the club being in a state of instability, I fear that Stoke may struggle to maintain his services for the coming season.

 

Game of the Season: Stoke 3-3 Southampton – A rollercoaster game at the Britannia, where a stunning last minute equaliser by Cameron Jerome rescued a point for 10 man Stoke. A poor first half performance from the Potters saw them slip 3-1 behind, before staging a rousing comeback in the second half. Despite Steven N’Zonzi being dismissed for a full-blooded lunge, Stoke managed to claw their way back into the game, with goals from Matthew Upson and Jerome’s speculative 30 yard effort saving Stoke’s home record.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Having dispensed of Tony Pulis, Stoke’s summer transfer dealings very much depend on the type of manager that comes in. If they manage to find a similarly oriented manager in terms of tactics, a new striker is a must, with Jonathan Walters being the club’s top goalscorer on 11 goals. However, if the style of play changes, any transfer targets could be vastly different.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Anthony Pilkington (Norwich City, CM), Luis Pedro Cavanda (Lazio, RB), Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace, CM), Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace, LW), George Waring (Free Agent, CB), Guilherme Siquera (Granada, LB)

Out:

Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City, ST), Peter Crouch (West Ham United), Thomas Sorensen (???, GK), Tony Pulis (Sacked, Manager)

Sir Alex Ferguson Retires: An End of An Era

             The phrase I use in my title is certainly clichéd, but in this case I think there can be no doubt it is correct. Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the most controversial and successful managers of all time, has announced he is to retire at the end of this season, after a magnificent career spanning nearly 40 years. Such an announcement does not come as a surprise, especially when I heard he was planning to have hip surgery at the end of the season. From the humble beginnings of lowly East Stirling in 1974, Ferguson’s career has been on a seemingly never-ending incline, leading to him being the longest serving top flight manager and most decorated manager in the history of English football. With 38 trophies at Manchester United, a place on the Board of Directors, and a stand at Old Trafford named in his honour, Ferguson’s place in the history of both Manchester United and the English game is assured.

 

                Sir Alex Ferguson’s career is a long list of honours, both on and off the pitch, and during his 26 years in charge of Manchester United, he has seen many significant high points. Such examples would include the first title for the Red Devils in 26 years, collected in 1993, the first English team to complete the treble, achieved in 1999, and the surpassing of the previously considered unbeatable Liverpool record of 18 top flight titles, back in 2011. As Manchester United manager, he has seen and experienced it all in the English game, and has had many memorable battles along the way. Initially, his lack of success at United that put him on the brink of the sack. A calculated risk by the United board to allow him to continue, and one that has paid off in the most spectacular fashion. His rivalries on the pitch are also well documented, and none you can say with any certainty he has comprehensively lost. Firstly, the battles in the mid-90s with Newcastle United and Kevin Keegan in particular, prompting the famous ‘love it’ lines. Secondly, his late-90s and early 2000’s spats with Arsene Wenger. Whilst Arsenal did win three titles, most famously the ‘Invincibles’ season, United and Ferguson remained top dog around those years. And who was there to end the ‘Invincibles’ winning run? Manchester United of course. Arguably his most famous personal spat was with Rafa Benitez during his stint at Liverpool, whose infamous ‘fact’ rant saw him lose significant credibility. The only battle that could be argued Ferguson has lost during his career is versus Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Statistics favour Mourinho in this department, with him winning more games than the Scot when the two have come face-to-face. He also oversaw two relatively runaway back-to-back title victories, a feat which no other manager has achieved against Sir Alex. Nevertheless, once Mourinho departed for Inter Milan, Ferguson reclaimed the top spot. More recently, the threat coming from Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City has forced Ferguson into action once more, and, after narrowly losing the 2012 title, he eased to his 13^th league title this year.

 

                There has also been a more controversial side to Sir Alex during his years in charge. Whilst these may be no more than the jealous mutterings of those fans who have been on the receiving end of his success, they still bear consideration. His all too regular berating of officials has seen him accumulate several FA punishments, fines and bans, and for some, these punishments and charges have not occurred regularly enough. They have also often led to specific referees being given fewer Manchester United matches, leaving favoured refs, such as Howard Webb, to referee the majority of Old Trafford fixtures. This has been argued to go some way to explaining the accumulation of penalty awards in favour of the home side. His infamous 2003 Beckham-boot incident led to subsequent revelations about his temper. This temper has also led him at times to exaggerate and over-dramatise situations when things have failed to go his way. Such examples have occurred this season, both when he claimed Robin van Persie could have been killed after receiving a ball to the head at Swansea, and when he neglected his press duties after defeat in the Champions League to Real Madrid, the latter smacking of ‘control freakery’ when his players seemed to do the same. However, a certain amount of needle is essential in being a successful manager, and his sometimes overdramatic antics simply make for good television. Without him, phrases such as ‘squeaky bum time’ would not have been created, and we wouldn’t get to see his dreadful, strange, double arm waving goal celebrations! Being passionate is not necessarily a bad thing, and whilst some of his actions over the years may have been misguided, they merely go to show that he is, in fact, human.

 

                His retirement undoubtedly leaves a chasm which Manchester United seem unable to adequately fill. Whilst bookmakers have placed Jose Mourinho as firm favourite to succeed Fergie, I have my doubts. His ‘where I am loved’ comments after Madrid’s Champions League semi-final exit last week are more indicative of Chelsea, not United. Hints made by both Mourinho and Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez support this conclusion. If not Mourinho, who else? Ferguson’s retirement announcement has come too late to secure the services of Pep Guardiola, who is now contracted to Bayern Munich. Whilst the rumour mill will ensure that many names will be thrown into consideration, serious contenders that have come into the frame are Everton’s David Moyes, and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp. In my opinion, Moyes’s inexperience in guiding a title-challenging club fatally harms his chances. Whilst his knowledge of the English game and his eye for a bargain is unquestionable, he lacks the necessary experience to win titles. Klopp, on paper at least, appears a better fit. However, there is no guarantee that he will have the ability to manage in the English game. There is also no guarantee that anyone who is brought in to replace Ferguson will have his tactical abilities and his ability to gel squads.

 

                Sir Alex Ferguson is the iconic manager when discussing English football, and his achievements, in my opinion, will never be surpassed. Almost certainly, we will never again see a reign at a club as long as his. Manchester United have a herculean task to replace him, and I fear for his successor, as the pressure placed upon him will be almost unbearable. As for the club itself, I believe that this end of an era will take a toll. Whether they can recover sufficiently to challenge for future glory remains to be seen. If they fail to, this merely reinforces my assertion that Sir Alex Ferguson is irreplaceable, and that he is, or was, the driving force behind many of the 13 titles and 38 trophies he won at United.

 

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