Every summer usually has a transfer that defines the period. However, some transfers transcend the boundaries of what is expected, or even what was previously thought possible, truly shaking the world of football. In this post, I'll outline my top 10, before looking at the mega-moves that we may see this August.
10. Angel di Maria - Real Madrid to Manchester United (£59.6m, 2014)
The first in my list is the first in the enormous money moves that I've looked at, and makes the list primarily because of the sum paid. Seen as one of the world's best wingers, di Maria starred at the World Cup in Brazil, helping Argentina to the final. With Manchester United in a slump following a poor season, a statement of intent was required - step forward di Maria for an eye-watering sum.
9. Neymar - Santos to Barcelona (£50m (to date), 2013)
The most sought-after young talent in the world at the time, Neymar opted for the Catalans over a number of clubs, leaving his beloved Santos for a reported £50m. This transfer would have serious repercussions, however, with contract irregularities reported set to turn this into a world record move - an incredible £116m quoted as the total potential price.
8. Alan Shearer - Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United (£15m, 1996)
While it's not really the fee that means that Alan Shearer's transfer makes my list, it's the context. In 1996, the English transfer record stood at a metre (by today's standards) £8.5m, paid by Liverpool to Nottingham Forest for striker Stan Collymore. However, having won the Premier League title with Blackburn, England's number 9 made the move to his hometown club, with the Geordie almost doubling that record overnight, and demonstrating to the world the spending power that English clubs have.
7. Sol Campbell - Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal (Free, 2001)
Again, not a transfer I'm picking on fee, but on context. It's extremely rare to see players move directly from one club to its direct local rivals, particularly in the higher division where the rivalry is that little more intense. Sol Campbell, a key part of the Spurs team of the 1990s, made the move across North London to Arsenal, and in so doing, cemented his Spurs legacy as the ultimate 'Judas'.
6. Luis Suarez - Liverpool to Barcelona (£75m, 2014)
While the £75m price tag you may assume is the reason for this to be in this list, it's actually not the only explanation. What makes this move most surprising, particularly for the level of investment made, is that Suarez had received a three month ban from all footballing activity for his bite on Giorgio Chiellini just a matter of weeks earlier. Nevertheless, this did not deter Barcelona, and Suarez made his move last summer for the inflated price.
5. Carlos Tevez - Manchester United to Manchester City (£25.5m, 2009)
Arguably the most controversial move across a city in English footballing history, and one that spawned an ingenious marketing campaign 'Welcome to Manchester' (if of course, you're a Manchester City fan and therefore a true Mancunian). Carlos Tevez had enjoyed a semi-successful loan spell at Manchester United in 2007/2008, before making the move to the heavily spending Blues the following summer. The chants of praise were soon changed to something slightly more offensive and insulting over in Salford!
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United to Real Madrid (£80m, 2009)
Perhaps a few of you will be surprised by the fact that I've only rated this in at number four in my list, but I'll explain my decision. Unlike a number of other big money transfers, where the player either doesn't really justify the price, or the move is a surprise in the first place, neither is the case in terms of Ronaldo. Having made it perfectly clear that he wanted to leave Manchester United, it was equally clear that he would command an enormous sum. Therefore, while it was a transfer that shook the world, it was perhaps not as much of a shock as others.
3. Robinho - Real Madrid to Manchester City (£32.5m, 2008)
Rewind to 2007. Manchester City had just narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League. Enter first Thaksin Shinawatra and then the Abu Dhabi United Group on transfer deadline day 2008. With manager Mark Hughes on the golf course, City needed to make a statement of intent. And boy, did they, stealing Real Madrid striker Robinho from under the noses of Chelsea for a British record £32.5m.
2. Luis Figo - Barcelona to Real Madrid (£37m, 2000)
If we thought Carlos Tevez's move from United to City was acrimonious, then we've clearly forgotten Luis Figo's decision to move across the Clasico divide, with Barcelona selling their star man to Real Madrid in the summer of 2000. Pure chaos ensued, with the Portuguese's first return to the Nou Camp seeing him so badly abused that he stopped taking corners. Pelted with bottles, lighters and even a pig's head, Figo showed incredible courage, but also, why it may not be a logical move between close rivals - especially in Spain!
1. Gareth Bale - Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid (£89m, 2013)
Though this move was not a considerable surprise, if you'd have asked Spurs fans the number it would have taken to prise Gareth Bale away from them, I think only the most hardcore of fans would have suggested a world record £90m. Compared to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, the Welshman is nowhere, but the potential, and David Levy's notorious negotiation skills, meant that the fee inflated significantly.
With this summer window in full swing, are there any transfers that could shock the world of football enough to make this list? Raheem Sterling's £49m move to Manchester City certainly acts as a contender, but is there anything that looks like happening elsewhere?
The significant rumour mill surrounds Juventus wonder kid Paul Pogba. Both Manchester City and Barcelona have been linked with £60-70m moves for the Frenchman, which would certainly qualify as the defining move of this window. How likely this is is uncertain, but from a personal perspective, it would be great to see him in a blue shirt come September.
Analysis of sporting events, talking points and controversies.
Showing posts with label Suarez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suarez. Show all posts
Sunday, 19 July 2015
Sunday, 7 June 2015
Football's 'Best Ever Side' - Really?
For those of you that live in a cave, or don't have access to a TV or the internet, yesterday was the Champions League final. And following a (rather more closely fought than anticipated) 3-1 win for Barcelona, people have as usual got carried away. Calls for the new European champions to be recognised as football's 'best ever side' have emerged, thanks largely to the incredible number of goals scored by the club's front three this year.
For me, this is frankly ludicrous. I'll go into this in more detail later, but far from the being the best side to play football, they're not even the best side I've seen in my lifetime. In fact, they're not even the best Barcelona side I've seen in my lifetime!
Though much has been made of this current side, my favourite Barcelona side remains the Champions League winners of 2009. Managed by Pep Guardiola, this side had matched the feat of the current Barca team, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey ahead of the meeting with Manchester United in Rome.
Here, it's worth outlining the opposition that the two sides faced. Though Juventus certainly do have some talented players - Tevez, Pirlo, Buffon and Marchisio to name a few - there are a number that are certainly past their best. This was absolutely not the case for the 2009 side. In Manchester United, they had a side that had run away with the English league (and anyone who's watched a season will tell you how difficult that is - unlike Italy), and contained players in their prime. Defensively, the likes of Evra, Vidic and Ferdinand were all seen as being at the pinnacle of the game, and going forward, the side had an embarrassment of riches, with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez forming a formidable partnership, not unlike the current Barca trio.
Despite this, Barcelona simply destroyed United, with Xavi and Iniesta toying with them in the midfield before letting Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o take over. Though the final score was only 2-0, it could and perhaps should have been many more, with United unable to penetrate the defence.
Whether that side is my favourite because of the football they played and the fact that a treble was unprecedented for Spanish sides at the time, or simply because they picked apart a Manchester United side that I was thoroughly sick of watching win, I'm not sure. Either way, it cannot be disputed that they were comfortably the best side in the world at that moment - but is that true of the Barcelona side of today?
I'd argue not. I know they say that the best side over 38 games wins the league, so perhaps this Barcelona side is better than Real Madrid. But it is worth noting that only a spectacular collapse from Carlo Ancelotti's men in the mid-season, following an incredible 22-game winning streak, handed Barca the Spanish title. I'd strongly suggest that had the furore around Gareth Bale and his unpopularity with the fans not potentially upset the morale surrounding the squad and the feel-good factor at the club, Real Madrid would be sitting here with three trophies, and we'd be calling for them to be instated as the best team in the world.
I'd also argue that, although they were soundly beaten in the Nou Camp, Bayern Munich have a better squad that the Catalans. They had to complete their two legged tie without the assistance of either Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery, two of the best wingers in the world - imagine if Barca had to go on without both Luis Suarez or Neymar. I can't imagine if the roles had been reversed, we would have seen anything other than a German victory.
So clearly, proclaiming the current side as the best ever to grace the game of football is a tad premature. But to be fair, how many of the current Barcelona side would get into the sides of either 2009 or 2011? Who would I pick as my best Barcelona team of the last six years?
Goalkeeper - Victor Valdes (2011), Right Back - Dani Alves (2011), Centre Back - Carles Puyol (2009), Centre Back - Gerard Pique (2009), Left Back - Jordi Alba (2015), Defensive Midfield - Yaya Toure (2009), Centre Midfield - Xavi (2009), Centre Midfield - Andres Iniesta (2011), Left Wing - Neymar (2015), Centre Forward - Lionel Messi (2011), Right Wing - Luis Suarez (2015)
So with only three players in my best Barcelona team of the best six years, is the current side the best of all time? No. Also, to assume that a Barcelona side of within the previous decade is to totally ignore the incredible club sides put together by Real Madrid in the early 2000's, including the likes of Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham and Roberto Carlos, Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team of 2002/2003 or (annoyingly) Manchester United's treble-winning team in 1999. It also neglects the incredible national teams that have been created - think of Spain's 2010 World Cup winners, or the Brazilian sides in either 2002, with the three Rs of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, or the side recognised as the greatest World Cup team, the Brazilian team of 1970 including Pele, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto and Rivellino.
However, the 122 goals scored by Messi, Neymar and Suarez this season cannot be ignored. They certainly have a claim to be the best strike force of all time, but to create an extension to the rest of the team is unfair. Become the first side ever to retain the Champions League next season, as well as completing another domestic and European treble with the same group of players, and then we'll talk.
For me, this is frankly ludicrous. I'll go into this in more detail later, but far from the being the best side to play football, they're not even the best side I've seen in my lifetime. In fact, they're not even the best Barcelona side I've seen in my lifetime!
Though much has been made of this current side, my favourite Barcelona side remains the Champions League winners of 2009. Managed by Pep Guardiola, this side had matched the feat of the current Barca team, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey ahead of the meeting with Manchester United in Rome.
Here, it's worth outlining the opposition that the two sides faced. Though Juventus certainly do have some talented players - Tevez, Pirlo, Buffon and Marchisio to name a few - there are a number that are certainly past their best. This was absolutely not the case for the 2009 side. In Manchester United, they had a side that had run away with the English league (and anyone who's watched a season will tell you how difficult that is - unlike Italy), and contained players in their prime. Defensively, the likes of Evra, Vidic and Ferdinand were all seen as being at the pinnacle of the game, and going forward, the side had an embarrassment of riches, with Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez forming a formidable partnership, not unlike the current Barca trio.
Despite this, Barcelona simply destroyed United, with Xavi and Iniesta toying with them in the midfield before letting Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o take over. Though the final score was only 2-0, it could and perhaps should have been many more, with United unable to penetrate the defence.
Whether that side is my favourite because of the football they played and the fact that a treble was unprecedented for Spanish sides at the time, or simply because they picked apart a Manchester United side that I was thoroughly sick of watching win, I'm not sure. Either way, it cannot be disputed that they were comfortably the best side in the world at that moment - but is that true of the Barcelona side of today?
I'd argue not. I know they say that the best side over 38 games wins the league, so perhaps this Barcelona side is better than Real Madrid. But it is worth noting that only a spectacular collapse from Carlo Ancelotti's men in the mid-season, following an incredible 22-game winning streak, handed Barca the Spanish title. I'd strongly suggest that had the furore around Gareth Bale and his unpopularity with the fans not potentially upset the morale surrounding the squad and the feel-good factor at the club, Real Madrid would be sitting here with three trophies, and we'd be calling for them to be instated as the best team in the world.
I'd also argue that, although they were soundly beaten in the Nou Camp, Bayern Munich have a better squad that the Catalans. They had to complete their two legged tie without the assistance of either Arjen Robben or Franck Ribery, two of the best wingers in the world - imagine if Barca had to go on without both Luis Suarez or Neymar. I can't imagine if the roles had been reversed, we would have seen anything other than a German victory.
So clearly, proclaiming the current side as the best ever to grace the game of football is a tad premature. But to be fair, how many of the current Barcelona side would get into the sides of either 2009 or 2011? Who would I pick as my best Barcelona team of the last six years?
Goalkeeper - Victor Valdes (2011), Right Back - Dani Alves (2011), Centre Back - Carles Puyol (2009), Centre Back - Gerard Pique (2009), Left Back - Jordi Alba (2015), Defensive Midfield - Yaya Toure (2009), Centre Midfield - Xavi (2009), Centre Midfield - Andres Iniesta (2011), Left Wing - Neymar (2015), Centre Forward - Lionel Messi (2011), Right Wing - Luis Suarez (2015)
So with only three players in my best Barcelona team of the best six years, is the current side the best of all time? No. Also, to assume that a Barcelona side of within the previous decade is to totally ignore the incredible club sides put together by Real Madrid in the early 2000's, including the likes of Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham and Roberto Carlos, Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team of 2002/2003 or (annoyingly) Manchester United's treble-winning team in 1999. It also neglects the incredible national teams that have been created - think of Spain's 2010 World Cup winners, or the Brazilian sides in either 2002, with the three Rs of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, or the side recognised as the greatest World Cup team, the Brazilian team of 1970 including Pele, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto and Rivellino.
However, the 122 goals scored by Messi, Neymar and Suarez this season cannot be ignored. They certainly have a claim to be the best strike force of all time, but to create an extension to the rest of the team is unfair. Become the first side ever to retain the Champions League next season, as well as completing another domestic and European treble with the same group of players, and then we'll talk.
Saturday, 17 January 2015
Half Time Report: Premier League Team of 2014
Following the Ballon d'Or ceremony, which saw an abject lack of players from the English league, and the second half of this season under way, it's a good time for me to pick my Premier League team of 2014.
Here I'll be looking not only at the first half of this season, but the back end of last to determine who should be considered one of the best Premier League players of 2014.
Goalkeeper - David de Gea (Manchester United)
Towards the back end of last year, he was in the category of good, but not great. However, the poor defensive performances from United this season have seen de Gea move ahead of the likes of Hart and Lloris and into this team. Having almost single-handedly saved United's season in the early sticky patch at the beginning of Louis van Gaal's reign, he has secured them points at home to Everton and away to both Arsenal and Southampton. As a result, he deserves his place, and is set to be key in the run-in.
Left back - Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Though he hasn't been necessarily the most talked about player in the Premier League, he can certainly stake his claim for the best left back. By the end of last season, I'd have said that only Luke Shaw was ahead of the Chelsea player for performances, however, a well-publicised lack of fitness since his move to Manchester United and a string of injury problems mean that it's Azpilicueta that has been the most consistent left back, and deserves his place in my team.
Centre back - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
The City stalwart also makes the team. Though it hasn't necessarily been his greatest 12 months, he was still a significant driving force behind the club's second title win in three seasons. Again a consistent performer, himself and Martin Demichelis struck up a good defensive partnership at the back end of the season. Though City have failed to continue that form, it has not been as a result of the big Belgian, and City have missed him considerably since his injury.
Centre back - Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
Despite Liverpool's defensive capitulation for the majority of this season, I still have to put Skrtel in this team. Primarily because no centre backs have particularly stood out, but he was also a critical figure in the Reds' march towards the title. His six goals from set pieces earned them valuable points against Manchester City last year, and Arsenal this, and has proven himself to be among the best in the Premier League.
Right back - Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
An absolute revelation this season. Run close for this place by Seamus Coleman's performances in the first half of the year, he has been a different class in the first half of this year. Both he and Ryan Bertrand have been flying down both wings for Southampton, leading to their incredible push into the Champions League places so far this season. If Southampton can keep hold of him long-term, I see them having the long-term England right back.
Left midfielder - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
A no-brainer for the team. Probably the most deadly midfielder plying his trade in the Premier League today. With his exceptional pace and eye for a pass, he has laid claim to the title of the world's third best player. Scoring 18 goals in all competitions this year is a good return for a midfielder and with his 10 assists, he is always a real threat going forward. No defender in the world enjoys playing against him, so he should certainly be included.
Centre midfielder - Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
The only new signing to make the team, and no wonder! His 14 Premier League assists to date surpasses the total amassed by Steven Gerrard for the entirety of last season, and he now has Thierry Henry's league record of 20 well within his sights. Having contributed 17 assists and four goals in all competitions, Fabregas has been at the heart of Chelsea's drive towards the top of the Premier League, and has more than begin to repay the £30m spent on him.
Centre midfielder - Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
The enormous Ivorian was without a shadow of a doubt Manchester City's most influential player in their title winning season last year, outscoring the likes of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva. Only Frank Lampard scored a greater number of goals in a season from midfield than Yaya, and despite an opening half of the season criticised by many (predominantly Paul Scholes), he still has nine goals. Not a bad return for a midfielder, and his lung-busting, powerful runs alone means he deserves his place.
Right midfielder - Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
The find of the season last year. Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with his lightning pace and skill, terrorising defences up and down the country and providing numerous chances for the SAS pair in Liverpool's strike force. He can score too, netting 12 times in 2014 and bursting into the England squad for the World Cup. Though Liverpool's demise this season has left him slightly out of the limelight, he has begun to be relied upon by the Reds far more for game-changing moments, and who would have expected that 18 months ago?
Striker - Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Despite the biting incident, and his transfer to Barcelona in the summer, it would be doing his performances a disservice to leave the Uruguayan out of the team. As proven by Liverpool's drop-off, his performances led to the side's agonising run to title contention, only for a slip, and a catastrophic collapse from 3-0 at Crystal Palace to deny them. His 14 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this year put them on their incredible run of 16 Premier League games unbeaten, a run they can only dream of without him.
Striker - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Again, a simple choice. Probably the best striker in the Premier League at present, and his statistics are simply absurd. 28 goals in 2014 in only 35 games is an incredible return for any player, with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo boasting a better record. He has single-handedly won games and saved points for Manchester City, most notably in Europe, where his hat-trick against Bayern Munich put City on the road for Champions League qualification. The only question that comes to mind is just how many goals would he have scored this year if he had avoided injury for such a large chunk of the early months?
Bench - Joe Hart (Manchester City), Leighton Baines (Everton), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Diego Costa (Chelsea)
So there is my selection - who would make your team?
Here I'll be looking not only at the first half of this season, but the back end of last to determine who should be considered one of the best Premier League players of 2014.
Goalkeeper - David de Gea (Manchester United)
Towards the back end of last year, he was in the category of good, but not great. However, the poor defensive performances from United this season have seen de Gea move ahead of the likes of Hart and Lloris and into this team. Having almost single-handedly saved United's season in the early sticky patch at the beginning of Louis van Gaal's reign, he has secured them points at home to Everton and away to both Arsenal and Southampton. As a result, he deserves his place, and is set to be key in the run-in.
Left back - Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Though he hasn't been necessarily the most talked about player in the Premier League, he can certainly stake his claim for the best left back. By the end of last season, I'd have said that only Luke Shaw was ahead of the Chelsea player for performances, however, a well-publicised lack of fitness since his move to Manchester United and a string of injury problems mean that it's Azpilicueta that has been the most consistent left back, and deserves his place in my team.
Centre back - Vincent Kompany (Manchester City)
The City stalwart also makes the team. Though it hasn't necessarily been his greatest 12 months, he was still a significant driving force behind the club's second title win in three seasons. Again a consistent performer, himself and Martin Demichelis struck up a good defensive partnership at the back end of the season. Though City have failed to continue that form, it has not been as a result of the big Belgian, and City have missed him considerably since his injury.
Centre back - Martin Skrtel (Liverpool)
Despite Liverpool's defensive capitulation for the majority of this season, I still have to put Skrtel in this team. Primarily because no centre backs have particularly stood out, but he was also a critical figure in the Reds' march towards the title. His six goals from set pieces earned them valuable points against Manchester City last year, and Arsenal this, and has proven himself to be among the best in the Premier League.
Right back - Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton)
An absolute revelation this season. Run close for this place by Seamus Coleman's performances in the first half of the year, he has been a different class in the first half of this year. Both he and Ryan Bertrand have been flying down both wings for Southampton, leading to their incredible push into the Champions League places so far this season. If Southampton can keep hold of him long-term, I see them having the long-term England right back.
Left midfielder - Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
A no-brainer for the team. Probably the most deadly midfielder plying his trade in the Premier League today. With his exceptional pace and eye for a pass, he has laid claim to the title of the world's third best player. Scoring 18 goals in all competitions this year is a good return for a midfielder and with his 10 assists, he is always a real threat going forward. No defender in the world enjoys playing against him, so he should certainly be included.
Centre midfielder - Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea)
The only new signing to make the team, and no wonder! His 14 Premier League assists to date surpasses the total amassed by Steven Gerrard for the entirety of last season, and he now has Thierry Henry's league record of 20 well within his sights. Having contributed 17 assists and four goals in all competitions, Fabregas has been at the heart of Chelsea's drive towards the top of the Premier League, and has more than begin to repay the £30m spent on him.
Centre midfielder - Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
The enormous Ivorian was without a shadow of a doubt Manchester City's most influential player in their title winning season last year, outscoring the likes of Sergio Aguero, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva. Only Frank Lampard scored a greater number of goals in a season from midfield than Yaya, and despite an opening half of the season criticised by many (predominantly Paul Scholes), he still has nine goals. Not a bad return for a midfielder, and his lung-busting, powerful runs alone means he deserves his place.
Right midfielder - Raheem Sterling (Liverpool)
The find of the season last year. Raheem Sterling burst onto the scene with his lightning pace and skill, terrorising defences up and down the country and providing numerous chances for the SAS pair in Liverpool's strike force. He can score too, netting 12 times in 2014 and bursting into the England squad for the World Cup. Though Liverpool's demise this season has left him slightly out of the limelight, he has begun to be relied upon by the Reds far more for game-changing moments, and who would have expected that 18 months ago?
Striker - Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Despite the biting incident, and his transfer to Barcelona in the summer, it would be doing his performances a disservice to leave the Uruguayan out of the team. As proven by Liverpool's drop-off, his performances led to the side's agonising run to title contention, only for a slip, and a catastrophic collapse from 3-0 at Crystal Palace to deny them. His 14 goals in all competitions for Liverpool this year put them on their incredible run of 16 Premier League games unbeaten, a run they can only dream of without him.
Striker - Sergio Aguero (Manchester City)
Again, a simple choice. Probably the best striker in the Premier League at present, and his statistics are simply absurd. 28 goals in 2014 in only 35 games is an incredible return for any player, with only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo boasting a better record. He has single-handedly won games and saved points for Manchester City, most notably in Europe, where his hat-trick against Bayern Munich put City on the road for Champions League qualification. The only question that comes to mind is just how many goals would he have scored this year if he had avoided injury for such a large chunk of the early months?
Bench - Joe Hart (Manchester City), Leighton Baines (Everton), Seamus Coleman (Everton), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Diego Costa (Chelsea)
So there is my selection - who would make your team?
Sunday, 8 December 2013
2013/2014: The Year of the Free-Kick?
Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, David Beckham, Roberto Carlos. All of these men have been considered 'dead-ball specialists'. We have seen many spectacular goals from each of these from free-kicks, and it has become an essential to have such a player in your team. Very much like in rugby or American football, kicking has become an ever-more important aspect to football. Over the past few years, goals from free kicks has been fairly stable in the Premier League, with several players renowned for their ability, but few outside those beginning to chip in. However, this season, free kicks have taken a much more important role, and we have seen many players who you would not consider 'dead ball specialists' score them.
Looking at statistics, we can see that during the 2011/2012 season, 29 direct free kicks were scored, with Sunderland scoring the most (5). After just 15 games of the 2013/14 season, the total of free kicks scored has reached a staggering 20. If free kicks continue to be scored at this rate, we will see over 40 goals from free kicks this season, setting an all-time Premier League record.
So who has been scoring all of these free kicks? Though they may be top of the table and have marksmen like Podolski and Ozil to take them, Arsenal are yet to contribute to the free kick goal tally. Aston Villa have two, and both have been scored by the same man. Leandro Bacuna, the relatively unknown midfielder before this season, with spectacular efforts against Manchester City and Cardiff City, made himself well known to the Villa fans, and Premier League viewers around the world. Cardiff and Crystal Palace, like Arsenal are yet to score from one, but a familiar name in Frank Lampard has registered for Chelsea. Everton also contribute two from a single player, and Leighton Baines scored them both in the same match! Turning the game on its head, his two brilliant set pieces ensured Everton would leave West Ham with all three points.
Fulham have struggled to score goals all season, so that they do not appear on the list is unsurprising. Hull also do not feature, but Liverpool certainly do. In Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard they have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to free kicks, and the pair have not failed to deliver, with Gerrard scoring one against Hull, and Suarez contributing two, against Everton and in a four goal display against Norwich. Free-scoring Manchester City have been most prolific from dead balls, but not from the usual sources. Aleksandar Kolorov and David Silva are the club's recognised free kick takers, but Alvaro Negredo's goal against Swansea, and Yaya Toure's incredible haul of three, against Newcastle, Hull and Norwich, mean that Manuel Pellegrini may want to review his set piece takers! Manchester United have contributed with three, with Wayne Rooney scoring all, against Crystal Palace, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion.
Newcastle, despite having an excellent taker in Yohan Cabaye, have failed to register a free kick yet this season, whilst Robert Snodgrass has added one for Norwich City. Southampton's resident specialist, Rickie Lambert has added another one for his collection, whilst Stoke have had efforts from Marko Arnautovic and Jermaine Pennant. Sunderland, despite their previous supremacy in this area, have also failed to score from a free kick this term. Swansea, West Brom and West Ham all have also failed to register, whilst Kyle Walker's recent effort against Manchester United is the only free kick from Spurs. Nevertheless, this is already nearly as many as the whole of 2011/2012, despite neither Gareth Bale nor Cristiano Ronaldo being in the league.
What could be causing this? If we were seeing players like Robin van Persie or Luis Suarez scoring more free-kicks, we could simply put it down to increasing player ability or speciality, but it is not. We are seeing a plethora of players scoring from free-kicks, many of whom have either never or infrequently scored from them before. Could it be to do with the ball? There have been complaints from goalkeepers in recent years that the balls move in the air far too much, making it impossible to track the path of the ball. However, has the ball changed so drastically over the past two years that it could account for the rapid increase in goals from direct free kicks? I think not. If we compare free kicks stats from now to those from the 1970's and 80's, then we could explain it that way, but two years is too little time.
However, another explanation may go some way to explaining it. Over the last decade, football has become less and less physical, with challenges often resulting in free kicks. Clubs have therefore cottoned on to the fact that dead balls are going to be of greater importance than ever before. As a result, further training has been done to improve the free kicks of a wide range of players. Whereas 10 years ago, perhaps only one or two specialist free kick takers would be used for dead balls, now any one of six or seven may be used. The correct accuracy and power will take time to perfect, so two years can make a massive difference in this time frame. This may not be the whole explanation, but I believe it goes some way to explaining the recent trend of free kick goals in the Premier League.
This season has been truly record-breaking in terms of free kicks, and to do it without some of the greatest free kick takers in the world is astonishing. However, such is the importance of free kicks in football, I feel this will slowly become the norm. It will be extremely interesting to see if this trend continues over the next few seasons, as this will determine whether it was a flash in the pan, or if we are seeing the hard work on the training ground come to fruition in the Premier League. This may be the Year of the Free-Kick, but it may also be the beginning of a free-kick dynasty.
Looking at statistics, we can see that during the 2011/2012 season, 29 direct free kicks were scored, with Sunderland scoring the most (5). After just 15 games of the 2013/14 season, the total of free kicks scored has reached a staggering 20. If free kicks continue to be scored at this rate, we will see over 40 goals from free kicks this season, setting an all-time Premier League record.
So who has been scoring all of these free kicks? Though they may be top of the table and have marksmen like Podolski and Ozil to take them, Arsenal are yet to contribute to the free kick goal tally. Aston Villa have two, and both have been scored by the same man. Leandro Bacuna, the relatively unknown midfielder before this season, with spectacular efforts against Manchester City and Cardiff City, made himself well known to the Villa fans, and Premier League viewers around the world. Cardiff and Crystal Palace, like Arsenal are yet to score from one, but a familiar name in Frank Lampard has registered for Chelsea. Everton also contribute two from a single player, and Leighton Baines scored them both in the same match! Turning the game on its head, his two brilliant set pieces ensured Everton would leave West Ham with all three points.
Fulham have struggled to score goals all season, so that they do not appear on the list is unsurprising. Hull also do not feature, but Liverpool certainly do. In Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard they have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to free kicks, and the pair have not failed to deliver, with Gerrard scoring one against Hull, and Suarez contributing two, against Everton and in a four goal display against Norwich. Free-scoring Manchester City have been most prolific from dead balls, but not from the usual sources. Aleksandar Kolorov and David Silva are the club's recognised free kick takers, but Alvaro Negredo's goal against Swansea, and Yaya Toure's incredible haul of three, against Newcastle, Hull and Norwich, mean that Manuel Pellegrini may want to review his set piece takers! Manchester United have contributed with three, with Wayne Rooney scoring all, against Crystal Palace, Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion.
Newcastle, despite having an excellent taker in Yohan Cabaye, have failed to register a free kick yet this season, whilst Robert Snodgrass has added one for Norwich City. Southampton's resident specialist, Rickie Lambert has added another one for his collection, whilst Stoke have had efforts from Marko Arnautovic and Jermaine Pennant. Sunderland, despite their previous supremacy in this area, have also failed to score from a free kick this term. Swansea, West Brom and West Ham all have also failed to register, whilst Kyle Walker's recent effort against Manchester United is the only free kick from Spurs. Nevertheless, this is already nearly as many as the whole of 2011/2012, despite neither Gareth Bale nor Cristiano Ronaldo being in the league.
What could be causing this? If we were seeing players like Robin van Persie or Luis Suarez scoring more free-kicks, we could simply put it down to increasing player ability or speciality, but it is not. We are seeing a plethora of players scoring from free-kicks, many of whom have either never or infrequently scored from them before. Could it be to do with the ball? There have been complaints from goalkeepers in recent years that the balls move in the air far too much, making it impossible to track the path of the ball. However, has the ball changed so drastically over the past two years that it could account for the rapid increase in goals from direct free kicks? I think not. If we compare free kicks stats from now to those from the 1970's and 80's, then we could explain it that way, but two years is too little time.
However, another explanation may go some way to explaining it. Over the last decade, football has become less and less physical, with challenges often resulting in free kicks. Clubs have therefore cottoned on to the fact that dead balls are going to be of greater importance than ever before. As a result, further training has been done to improve the free kicks of a wide range of players. Whereas 10 years ago, perhaps only one or two specialist free kick takers would be used for dead balls, now any one of six or seven may be used. The correct accuracy and power will take time to perfect, so two years can make a massive difference in this time frame. This may not be the whole explanation, but I believe it goes some way to explaining the recent trend of free kick goals in the Premier League.
This season has been truly record-breaking in terms of free kicks, and to do it without some of the greatest free kick takers in the world is astonishing. However, such is the importance of free kicks in football, I feel this will slowly become the norm. It will be extremely interesting to see if this trend continues over the next few seasons, as this will determine whether it was a flash in the pan, or if we are seeing the hard work on the training ground come to fruition in the Premier League. This may be the Year of the Free-Kick, but it may also be the beginning of a free-kick dynasty.
Wednesday, 14 August 2013
Liverpool: Will The 'Suarez Saga' Wreck Their Chances?
2012/2013: 7th
Transfer(s) In: Simon Mignolet (Sunderland, £9 Million), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo, £7 Million), Luis Alberto (Sevilla, Undisc), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, Free), Aly Cissoko (Valencia, Loan), Victor Moses (Chelsea, Loan), Tiago Ilori (Sporting Lisbon, £7 Million), Mahmadou Sakho (Paris Saint Germain, £18 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Stuart Downing (West Ham United, £5 Million), Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers, Undisc), Pepe Reina (Napoli, Loan), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea, £6 Million), Andy Carroll (West Ham United, £15 Million), Jamie Carragher (Retired)
Transfers Review:
Liverpool have made several good additions to the squad this summer, with central defender Kolo Toure the first to be announced. With Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger the only top defenders in the squad, the addition of the experienced member of the 'Invincibles' can only be positive. Mixing youth with experience, the signing of Luis Alberto is certainly one that was intended to replace the departing Jonjo Shelvey. Iago Aspas, the ex-Celta Vigo striker, will add valuable goals after an excellent season in La Liga last term. Another crucial signing was Simon Mignolet. The young goalkeeper has proven his ability at Sunderland, and I feel will go on to become one of Europe's top keepers in the next few years. They were relatively busy in the days leading up to the deadline, with three further incomings. Defenders Tiago Ilori and Mahmadou Sakho will be very useful signings, and Victor Moses will provide a little more creativity down the wings. If we look at my Liverpool season review post, in which I predicted their signings this summer, just a central defender was what I foresaw. In Kolo Toure they have that, and I suspect that their other signings will only push them to better performances this campaign.
As much as their incomings are positive, they have also lost several members of the squad, members that were used at least semi-regularly last season. Jamie Carragher's decision to retire was not a surprise, but Liverpool will miss his experience and leadership in defence. Two promising youth prospects have also left the club this summer, with Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey opting to join Bolton Wanderers and Swansea respectively. Whilst they may not have been regular starters, they certainly affect the strength and depth of the squad, which could take its toll later on. One fo the least surprising transfers was Andy Carroll's to West Ham. After a successful loan period last term, it came as little surprise that West Ham moved to make his move permanent. With Brendan Rodgers clearly illustrating that the big Geordie was surplus to requirements at Anfield, the striker knew that he would soon have to look elsewhere. With West Ham interested, the deal suited both parties. West Ham also made another signing from Liverpool, with Stuart Downing, who Sam Allardyce claimed was an unrealistic target just a few weeks ago, making the trip down to East London to sign for £5 Million. After his form improved drastically last campaign, I wonder if this was a good decision from the Northern Irish manager, as I feel Downing had more to give at Anfield.
However, this transfer window has been beset by controversy for Liverpool, with their talismanic striker Luis Suarez making clear designs to leave the North West club. With regular links to Real Madrid, with the striker admitting that he wanted to join the Spanish side. As the transfer window rolled on, Arsenal became more and more interested in the Uruguayan, with Arsene Wenger a clear admirer of the striker. An initial offer of a reported £30 Million was rejected out of hand by Liverpool, before Arsenal attempted to unlock a clause in his contract with an offer of £40 Million and £1. Though the Gunners did not know it at the time, the clause only meant that Liverpool had to alert Suarez and allow him to talk to Arsenal, not that they had to release the Uruguayan. This pedantry has caused Suarez to become more and more disenchanted with Liverpool, making an increased number of clear statements about his intention to leave. This has culminated in Rodgers insisting that the striker has shown a 'lack of respect' to the club and forcing him to train alone. Whilst this is the most high-profile controversy, Pepe Reina's move to Napoli is another instance in which the club, and Rodgers in particular, has been accused of being disrespectful. Reina, on arrival in Italy, accused his manager of loaning him to the Serie A club without telling him, saying that he felt hurt and that he deserved better. This shows that there may be blame on both sides of the Suarez debate, but thankfully for Liverpool, the Uruguayan seems to have put this behind him. This could have had disastrous consequences for the North West club's season, as a disruptive part of the squad would inevitably have had an effect. As it is, the Reds will miss out on the striker for the opening 6 games of the season (the punishment for his bite on Branislav Ivanovic), but they will be glad to have his ability back at their disposal, and he may be valuable later on.
Pre-Season:
The 'Suarez saga' has seemingly not had any effect on the squad throughout the pre-season, as the Liverpool results indicate that it has actually brought them together as a unit. Liverpool started with a comfortable 4-0 victory away at Preston before embarking on a tour of Asia. During this tour, Liverpool won all three of their matches, without conceding a single goal. They began with a 2-0 win against the Indonesia All Stars, before a success by the same scoreline against Melbourne Victory, and finishing with a 3-0 victory against Thailand. Moving back to the UK, Liverpool also played three further fixtures.
They started their run to the Premier League season with a match against Greek side Olympiakos, in Steven Gerrard's testimonial. The England midfield is best known in Liverpool for 'that goal' against the Greeks in 2005, which set them on their way to the Champions League title. A 2-0 success in this game for the Scouser, after goals from Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson. A second game against Valerenga ended in a 4-1 victory for Liverpool, with goals from Aspas, Alberto, Sterling and Kelly. The Reds ended their pre-season preparations with a visit to Celtic. After a perfect pre-season that had seen them win 6 straight matches, Liverpool lost their final game 1-0, after a goal from Amino Balde. This was the worst possible way to end their preparations, especially after such a promising start.
Key Players:
I would say that a player that will be crucial to Liverpool's success is Phillipe Coutinho. The little Brazilian impressed since his move to the North West in January 2013, creating multiple chances and goals for the strike partnership of Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. His form will continue this season, as his vision and passing ability will make him a valuable asset to Liverpool.
At the back, Martin Skrtel will have to be a rock in order to improve their defensive record over the last couple of seasons. Liverpool have had a tendency to concede soft goals, and this is something they will need to cut out if they are to try and challenge for one of the Champions League places.
Key Fixture Dates:
01/09/2013: Liverpool vs Manchester United
02/11/2013: Arsenal vs Liverpool
23/11/2013: Everton vs Liverpool
14/12/2013: Tottenham vs Liverpool
28/01/2014: Liverpool vs Everton
08/02/2014: Liverpool vs Arsenal
15/03/2014: Manchester United vs Liverpool
29/03/2014: Liverpool vs Tottenham
Top Goalscorer:
In my opinion, with the departure of Suarez seeming imminent, I feel that the man to take over his mantle is Daniel Sturridge. The ex-Manchester City and Chelsea man showed impressive form since his move to Liverpool, and I expect this to continue. His partnership with Coutinho flourished at Anfield, and their understanding of one another will only strengthen in the months to come. I do not believe that he will challenge the Golden Boot this season, but 15-20 goals is the best he can expect to achieve.
Prediction:
Liverpool will be aiming for a European spot this season, with the rather optimistic target of the top 4 being bandied about by many football commentators. I do not believe that Liverpool have returned to their glory days, nor do I feel that they have an adequately deep or strong squad to compete with the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal over the course of the whole season. I think that the best that they can expect is to leapfrog Everton into 6th this campaign. With stability finally seeming possible for Liverpool, it will need small steps back towards the Champions League spots, meaning that this season is too son for that.
Liverpool 2013/2014: 6th
Transfer(s) In: Simon Mignolet (Sunderland, £9 Million), Iago Aspas (Celta Vigo, £7 Million), Luis Alberto (Sevilla, Undisc), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, Free), Aly Cissoko (Valencia, Loan), Victor Moses (Chelsea, Loan), Tiago Ilori (Sporting Lisbon, £7 Million), Mahmadou Sakho (Paris Saint Germain, £18 Million)
Transfer(s) Out: Stuart Downing (West Ham United, £5 Million), Jay Spearing (Bolton Wanderers, Undisc), Pepe Reina (Napoli, Loan), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea, £6 Million), Andy Carroll (West Ham United, £15 Million), Jamie Carragher (Retired)
Transfers Review:
Liverpool have made several good additions to the squad this summer, with central defender Kolo Toure the first to be announced. With Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger the only top defenders in the squad, the addition of the experienced member of the 'Invincibles' can only be positive. Mixing youth with experience, the signing of Luis Alberto is certainly one that was intended to replace the departing Jonjo Shelvey. Iago Aspas, the ex-Celta Vigo striker, will add valuable goals after an excellent season in La Liga last term. Another crucial signing was Simon Mignolet. The young goalkeeper has proven his ability at Sunderland, and I feel will go on to become one of Europe's top keepers in the next few years. They were relatively busy in the days leading up to the deadline, with three further incomings. Defenders Tiago Ilori and Mahmadou Sakho will be very useful signings, and Victor Moses will provide a little more creativity down the wings. If we look at my Liverpool season review post, in which I predicted their signings this summer, just a central defender was what I foresaw. In Kolo Toure they have that, and I suspect that their other signings will only push them to better performances this campaign.
As much as their incomings are positive, they have also lost several members of the squad, members that were used at least semi-regularly last season. Jamie Carragher's decision to retire was not a surprise, but Liverpool will miss his experience and leadership in defence. Two promising youth prospects have also left the club this summer, with Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey opting to join Bolton Wanderers and Swansea respectively. Whilst they may not have been regular starters, they certainly affect the strength and depth of the squad, which could take its toll later on. One fo the least surprising transfers was Andy Carroll's to West Ham. After a successful loan period last term, it came as little surprise that West Ham moved to make his move permanent. With Brendan Rodgers clearly illustrating that the big Geordie was surplus to requirements at Anfield, the striker knew that he would soon have to look elsewhere. With West Ham interested, the deal suited both parties. West Ham also made another signing from Liverpool, with Stuart Downing, who Sam Allardyce claimed was an unrealistic target just a few weeks ago, making the trip down to East London to sign for £5 Million. After his form improved drastically last campaign, I wonder if this was a good decision from the Northern Irish manager, as I feel Downing had more to give at Anfield.
However, this transfer window has been beset by controversy for Liverpool, with their talismanic striker Luis Suarez making clear designs to leave the North West club. With regular links to Real Madrid, with the striker admitting that he wanted to join the Spanish side. As the transfer window rolled on, Arsenal became more and more interested in the Uruguayan, with Arsene Wenger a clear admirer of the striker. An initial offer of a reported £30 Million was rejected out of hand by Liverpool, before Arsenal attempted to unlock a clause in his contract with an offer of £40 Million and £1. Though the Gunners did not know it at the time, the clause only meant that Liverpool had to alert Suarez and allow him to talk to Arsenal, not that they had to release the Uruguayan. This pedantry has caused Suarez to become more and more disenchanted with Liverpool, making an increased number of clear statements about his intention to leave. This has culminated in Rodgers insisting that the striker has shown a 'lack of respect' to the club and forcing him to train alone. Whilst this is the most high-profile controversy, Pepe Reina's move to Napoli is another instance in which the club, and Rodgers in particular, has been accused of being disrespectful. Reina, on arrival in Italy, accused his manager of loaning him to the Serie A club without telling him, saying that he felt hurt and that he deserved better. This shows that there may be blame on both sides of the Suarez debate, but thankfully for Liverpool, the Uruguayan seems to have put this behind him. This could have had disastrous consequences for the North West club's season, as a disruptive part of the squad would inevitably have had an effect. As it is, the Reds will miss out on the striker for the opening 6 games of the season (the punishment for his bite on Branislav Ivanovic), but they will be glad to have his ability back at their disposal, and he may be valuable later on.
Pre-Season:
The 'Suarez saga' has seemingly not had any effect on the squad throughout the pre-season, as the Liverpool results indicate that it has actually brought them together as a unit. Liverpool started with a comfortable 4-0 victory away at Preston before embarking on a tour of Asia. During this tour, Liverpool won all three of their matches, without conceding a single goal. They began with a 2-0 win against the Indonesia All Stars, before a success by the same scoreline against Melbourne Victory, and finishing with a 3-0 victory against Thailand. Moving back to the UK, Liverpool also played three further fixtures.
They started their run to the Premier League season with a match against Greek side Olympiakos, in Steven Gerrard's testimonial. The England midfield is best known in Liverpool for 'that goal' against the Greeks in 2005, which set them on their way to the Champions League title. A 2-0 success in this game for the Scouser, after goals from Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson. A second game against Valerenga ended in a 4-1 victory for Liverpool, with goals from Aspas, Alberto, Sterling and Kelly. The Reds ended their pre-season preparations with a visit to Celtic. After a perfect pre-season that had seen them win 6 straight matches, Liverpool lost their final game 1-0, after a goal from Amino Balde. This was the worst possible way to end their preparations, especially after such a promising start.
Key Players:
I would say that a player that will be crucial to Liverpool's success is Phillipe Coutinho. The little Brazilian impressed since his move to the North West in January 2013, creating multiple chances and goals for the strike partnership of Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. His form will continue this season, as his vision and passing ability will make him a valuable asset to Liverpool.
At the back, Martin Skrtel will have to be a rock in order to improve their defensive record over the last couple of seasons. Liverpool have had a tendency to concede soft goals, and this is something they will need to cut out if they are to try and challenge for one of the Champions League places.
Key Fixture Dates:
01/09/2013: Liverpool vs Manchester United
02/11/2013: Arsenal vs Liverpool
23/11/2013: Everton vs Liverpool
14/12/2013: Tottenham vs Liverpool
28/01/2014: Liverpool vs Everton
08/02/2014: Liverpool vs Arsenal
15/03/2014: Manchester United vs Liverpool
29/03/2014: Liverpool vs Tottenham
Top Goalscorer:
In my opinion, with the departure of Suarez seeming imminent, I feel that the man to take over his mantle is Daniel Sturridge. The ex-Manchester City and Chelsea man showed impressive form since his move to Liverpool, and I expect this to continue. His partnership with Coutinho flourished at Anfield, and their understanding of one another will only strengthen in the months to come. I do not believe that he will challenge the Golden Boot this season, but 15-20 goals is the best he can expect to achieve.
Prediction:
Liverpool will be aiming for a European spot this season, with the rather optimistic target of the top 4 being bandied about by many football commentators. I do not believe that Liverpool have returned to their glory days, nor do I feel that they have an adequately deep or strong squad to compete with the likes of Tottenham and Arsenal over the course of the whole season. I think that the best that they can expect is to leapfrog Everton into 6th this campaign. With stability finally seeming possible for Liverpool, it will need small steps back towards the Champions League spots, meaning that this season is too son for that.
Liverpool 2013/2014: 6th
Monday, 12 August 2013
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
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Liverpool: The Never Ending ‘Re-Adjustment Period’
2012/2013 Season
Review:
The
season began with another managerial change, with former Swansea manager
Brendan Rodgers taking the helm. With him, he brought young Welsh talent Joe
Allen, along with the signing of Fabio Borini from Roma. The first
controversial issue of his tenure was his decision to allow Andy Carroll go out
on loan to West Ham, despite the fact that Liverpool were running perilously
low on strikers. This forced Luis Suarez into a sole striker role, pushing him
further into the spotlight. A role he took on, in both positive and negative
ways.
For
Liverpool, the season began in the worst possible way, with a heavy defeat away
at West Brom. A more heartening result against Manchester City followed, where
the Reds dominated but an error from Martin Skrtel handed City a 2-2 draw.
These performances seemed few and far between, with a narrow aggregate victory
over Hearts in the Europa League before defeats in the Premier League to both
Arsenal and fierce rivals Man Utd. Whilst their performance against United
merited more, Brendan Rodgers passing philosophy began to be called into
question, with pundits claiming that it was taking a long time for the
Liverpool players to adjust to the new system. Rodgers got his first league win
as Liverpool boss in an emphatic 5-2 win at Carrow Road, where Luis Suarez
claimed his second hat-trick in as many years.
October
was a month of frustration for the Liverpool fans. A tough Europa League group
saw one win and one loss, more struggles in the league, with only 1 win in 3,
and a disappointing home exit of the Capital One Cup at the hands of Swansea.
November continued in a similar vein, with further toil in the Europa League,
dropping a further 5 points. Liverpool’s league form began to steadily improve,
mostly thanks to the performances of Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan was having his
most successful season so far, adding finishing to his trickery, speed and
vision, and therefore chipping in with vital goals. Nevertheless, controversy
was never far from him. Brendan Rodgers found himself having to regularly defend
Luis Suarez against accusations of diving, and was eventually undermined by
Suarez himself, after he admitted in an interview to diving in a game against
Stoke.
As Brendan
Rodgers philosophy began to take effect, Liverpool’s form began to improve.
December saw 5 wins out of 7 in all competitions for Liverpool, before Rodgers
dipped into the January transfer fund to buy more attacking players. Chelsea’s
Daniel Sturridge and Inter Milan’s Phillippe Coutinho were brought in, and
seemed to make an instant impact. Another defeat against Manchester United, and
a poor exit of the FA Cup to League 1 side Oldham marred what otherwise would
have been considered a successful month. A further disappointing exit to Zenit
St Petersburg in the Europa League Last 32 put paid to Liverpool’s chances of
silverware, leaving them to focus solely on securing European football for the
following year.
Liverpool’s
claim for a Europa League place, and even the final Champions League place was
strengthened with a narrow 3-2 victory over Spurs at Anfield in mid-March,
however their chances were dealt a fatal blow in the following game. A disappointing
3-1 defeat at St. Mary’s put Champions League football out of reach, giving
them only pride to play for, attempting to usurp Everton as the top
Liverpudlian side. Liverpool responded well to that setback, going the rest of
the season unbeaten (8 games). Unfortunately for Liverpool, they drew 4 of
these, including the Merseyside derby, thus failing to gain significantly on
Everton, and finishing in 6th place.
During
this run, possibly the most controversial issue of the season occurred. During
the 2-2 draw against Chelsea, Liverpool talisman Luis Suarez was involved in an
altercation with Branislav Ivanovic, where he appeared to bite the Chelsea
defender. Suarez’s actions were subsequently condemned by pundits, officials
and the club itself, and he offered a hasty apology to the FA and Ivanovic.
Nevertheless, this did not prevent the FA handing out an 8 match ban for the
Uruguayan, which ruled him out of the rest of the season. A ban that the player
and the club found incredibly harsh, and a decision they considered contesting,
which would arguably have undermined their condemnation of Suarez’s actions.
Overall,
Brendan Rodgers first season as Liverpool manager should be considered successful.
He certainly has done no worse than Kenny Dalglish, and he has instilled a new
style of football which shows much promise. Unfortunately, this season will be
remembered more for the misdemeanours of Luis Suarez than the positive play.
Player of the Season:
Luis Suarez – Despite his problems, the Uruguayan has been a delight to
watch at times this season. Love him or loathe him, he does have prodigious
talent, and coming runner up in the Golden Boot, in a 6th placed
team, and without playing the final five games of the season, is impressive.
Game of the Season: Norwich
City 2-5 Liverpool – Instead of pointing to Liverpool’s 6-0 demolition of
Newcastle, where the home side simply failed to turn up, I feel that the
emphatic win over Norwich shows the positives of Liverpool’s game. 4-0 up
inside of 57 minutes, with a Suarez hat-trick, Liverpool were rampant, and
despite a rousing comeback from the home side, Liverpool eased to a 5-2 victory
to give Brendan Rodgers his first Liverpool league win.
Summer Transfer
Targets (What I Think They Need): After the Suarez controversies, there has
been much speculation over whether he will leave in the summer. Keeping
him must be Liverpool’s primary concern.
After that, another central defender to replace the retiring Jamie Carragher
would be useful, with Kolo Toure looking like a likely replacement. With the
signings made in January, along with the refound form of Henderson and Downing,
Liverpool look like this genuinely will be the final ‘re-adjustment’ period.
Transfer Gossip
Links:
In:
Alex Pearce (Reading, CB), Martin Montoya (Barcelona, RB),
Angelo Ogbonna (Torino, CB), Loic Remy (QPR, ST), Victor Wanyama (Celtic, CDM),
David Villa (Barcelona, ST), Douglas (FC Twente, CB), Ashley Williams (Swansea
City, CB), Cristian Tello (Barcelona, LW), Tiago Ilori (Sporting Lisbon, LB),
Christian Eriksen (Ajax, CM)
Out:
Luis Suarez (Atletico Madrid, ST), Andy Carroll (West Ham
United, AS Monaco, ST), Pepe Reina (Barcelona, GK)
Tuesday, 30 April 2013
PFA Team of the Year 2013
My Player of the Year blog turned out longer than I thought,
so I thought I would do a separate one on the PFA Team of the Year. Again,
another highly contentious subject, with fans from most clubs complaining about
someone having been omitted. I believe that the vast majority of the team
selected is correct, or at least justified, based on the performance of many
throughout the season. This certainly would have been one of the toughest
squads to call, as there has been little to choose between many players this
season, and many teams, and indeed individuals, have surprised us with their
performances over the past nine months.
I have
only one significant complaint regarding the team. In terms of both attack and
midfield, it is difficult to argue with the selections, as all have been
exceptional. In fact, there are a few more names that would not have looked out
of place: Marouane Fellaini, Santi Cazorla, Michu etc. It is in defence where
the PFA appear to have neglected to note the statistics, and instead opted for
the very tempting approach of ‘pro-champions’. If you look at statistics,
Manchester City have conceded fewer goals than Manchester United, and have kept
more clean sheets. I am not saying they have done it deliberately, nor am I
saying this out of bitter City loyalty, having experienced it for City myself
last year. I am merely stating that it is easy to understand why, especially
with Manchester United so far ahead in the title race, players, that in another
team would have been omitted, have been included. I seem to remember at the
start of the season that United were being heavily criticised for their poor
defending, epitomised by the chaotic 4-3 victory over Reading in December.
Nevertheless,
I will run down each of the selected players, stating why I think they deserve
(or do not) their place, culminating in me putting forward my own Team of the
Year (maybe with a few substitutes...)
Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham) – Another certain inclusion for
me. The big Belgian has had a highly impressive first season in the Premier
League, even going on a recent scoring streak.
My Team of the Year
Jussi Jaaskelainen (WHU)
Leighton Baines(EVE) Ashley
Williams(SWA) Jan Vertonghen(TOT) Pablo Zabaleta(MNC)
Gareth Bale(TOT) Juan
Mata(CHE) Michael
Carrick(MNU) Eden
Hazard(CHE)
Robin
van Persie(MNU) Luis Suarez(LIV)
Substitutes:
David De Gea(MU) Matija Nastasic(MC) Patrice Evra(MU) Marouane Fellaini(EV) Santi Cazorla(AR) Michu(SW) Christian Benteke(AV)Monday, 29 April 2013
PFA Player of the Year Award 2013
Last night marked the prestigious PFA Awards for the
2012/2013 Premier League season. Firstly, congratulations must go to Gareth Bale
for winning both the PFA Player of the Year, and the PFA Young Player of the
Year. Secondly, I was unsettled by the booing that greeted Luis Suarez’s name
at the ceremony last night. As the audience was made up of his peers, it shocks
me a little that they lacked the necessary class to simply ignore the situation.
Furthermore, it reinforces the implicit argument, by the FA’s punishment, that
biting someone is worse than racism. No players booed Suarez after the Evra
affair, but now he has bitten someone (again), he deserves booing? I think not.
This lack of professional courtesy, along with the recent controversy over
Reginald D. Hunter’s jokes, has slightly detracted from what I believe is a
deserving winner.
Nevertheless,
there appears to be significant debate over whether Bale did deserve this award.
Having spent the morning trawling through BBC Sport’s comment section on the
article (I know I’m sad!) many comments have been raised that suggest that
either Robin van Persie or Luis Suarez would have been more deserving recipients.
I am aware that much of what is written on these comment sections is entirely
biased, and often offensive (until moderators remove it), and fans will
naturally support the player for their own team. However, a few interesting
points were raised, which I believe merit some discussion and examination.
Firstly, one of the most overused phrases when describing Gareth Bale in this
comment section was ‘a model professional’, something which was simultaneously used
to castigate Luis Suarez’s chances. This prompted numerous responses from angry
(and I suspect Liverpool) fans, stating that the idea of Bale as a ‘model
professional’ is laughable due to his habit for diving. To me, they are arguing
from a rather indefensible position. Whilst, personally, I believe that diving
is one of the greatest sins of the modern game, it can be stamped out by
tougher officiating. It is also simply an example of one professional
attempting to gain an unfair advantage. However, both Bale and Suarez have been
found guilty of this offence. Racism, and what can only be described as ABH, on
the other hand, cannot be so easily eliminated. Neither are they simply an
occupational hazard of having 22 highly competitive players in one place. Whilst
I take the point about Bale not being a ‘model professional’, I would go a step
further. I would eradicate that phrase from the dictionary when attempting to
describe the actions and personality of a footballer. However, in my opinion,
Bale’s misdemeanours are far slighter than those of Luis Suarez. As this award
is voted for by their peers, clearly the players thought so too. I agree that
personality should not be the sole determining factor, but it should definitely
contribute. The winner of the award supposedly represents the best of football.
Therefore, players will vote based partially on their abilities, and partially
on their personalities.
Secondly,
arguments have been raised regarding Gareth Bale’s statistics. As he happens
not to be either the Premier League’s top goalscorer, or top creator (I refuse
to use the word assist on the grounds that it is an Americanism), he is
apparently unworthy to win the award. Once again, these arguments completely
miss the point. Firstly, you can spin statistics to say whatever you want.
Gareth Bale happens to be the joint top scorer on goals scored away from home,
if that really matters. Secondly, his position should be taken into account. As
both Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie are centre forwards (i.e. it is their
primary job to score goals, and lots of them), one should expect them to be
towards the business end of the goal charts. Bale, as a winger/attacking
midfielder, should not be judged to the same standard. The fact that he, at
time of publishing, is only 6 goals behind van Persie and 4 behind Suarez, is
impressive. The only statistic that I believe Bale lacks on is as a creator, as
he remains several behind both van Persie (8) and Suarez (5), despite being in
a seemingly beneficial position on the pitch. Those arguing for Suarez on the
basis of statistics clearly have either not read them properly, or have spun
them to their own advantage, as he trails in almost every one. As for Robin van
Persie, in terms of statistics he is difficult to argue with. However, this
brings me nicely to my third point. I believe consistency and moments of genius
are key in determining the victor. Robin van Persie, whilst he undoubtedly has
had moments of brilliance this season, went missing from the turn of the year
until a few weeks ago. That is not the sign of a player destined for an award.
Gareth Bale, on the other hand, began writing headlines from November onwards,
and I believe has been the most consistent player this season. Timing,
unfortunately, is an element in this process, and Bale appears to have picked
his moment to come good to perfection.
Finally,
the most childish argument of them all, of ‘British-bias’ towards Bale. I was
unsure whether to even include this, but I thought it so easy to shoot down I
couldn’t resist. The fact that 4 of the 6 candidates to win the award this year
were non-British, and that this is not untypical of most years, implies that
there is no such thing. There are several British names that could have been
included, if such a thing existed. Leighton Baines, Rio Ferdinand, both of whom
were put into the PFA’s Team of the Year, but omitted from the nominees. The
idea of a ‘British-bias’ is ridiculous, especially when you consider it is
voted for by the players, most of whom, as it is regularly commented upon, are
not British! This argument appears nothing more than the whining of the sore
loser.
So well
done to Gareth Bale, overall a deserving winner. Fortunate in some
respects, and I do wish he would stop diving, but a genuinely great footballer.
With these awards, he joins a very exclusive list of multiple winners, and of
players to have won both awards in the same season. If he progresses the same
way as the last one, a Mr Ronaldo, then the rest of the Premier League will
have serious problems.
Monday, 22 April 2013
Luis Suarez: World Beater or Thug?
English football thought it had seen the back of the
majority of controversial issues when Mario Balotelli left these shores for
warmer climes. How wrong we were. Luis Suarez, a man of undoubted talent,
having recently been nominated for the Player of the Year Award by his peers,
seems to be the man to take over Balotelli’s mantel. His actions in today’s
Premier League match between his Liverpool side and Chelsea perfectly summarise
the polarized nature of his time in Britain-from hero to villain and then back
again in the space of 45 short minutes.
It is
also worth reflecting on his past ‘sins’. Whilst revered on Merseyside (the red
half at least) for his footballing talent, which most Liverpool fans would
concede is the primary reason for them remaining in the top half of the Premier
League table this year, he has seen his fair share of controversy. Many
football fans had their minds made up for them about Luis Suarez as a ‘gentleman’
after his handball against Ghana in the 2010 World Cup Quarter Final. His
recent spat with Patrice Evra regarding racist abuse has been well documented, along
with the farcical ‘will they/won’t they’ storyline over handshakes that looked
like it had just been plucked from the script of Friends. The 8-match ban
alone, whether fair or unfair, you would consider significant enough to keep himself
out of trouble and his name in the limelight for positive reasons only. Not
Luis Suarez. Most defenders you see interviewed say he is a ‘nuisance to play
against’. Only with a handful of players is that not a phrase which is praising
the attacking qualities of the striker. Unfortunately, whilst the majority of
the time he is a ‘nuisance’ in the positive sense, scoring 23 league goals this
season, and assisting numerous more, he is all too often a ‘nuisance’ in the
negative. His diving has been noted on several occasions, including an
admission by himself to such in January. It is the more underhand, cynical and borderline
violent actions that leave many football fans with a bad taste in their mouths
whenever Suarez’s name is mentioned. He also seemingly has form for this too.
At his previous club Ajax, Suarez was banned for 7 matches for biting PSV
Eindhoven midfielder Otman Bakkal in November 2010, an incident which seems
ever more relevant after today’s events.
If ‘a game of two halves’ is a cliché,
then perhaps ‘a half of three halves’ would best describe Luis Suarez’s
performance this afternoon. After a rather anonymous first 45 by his standards,
he was the catalyst for Liverpool’s opener, using his prodigious talent to put
a goal on a plate for Daniel Sturridge. The gallant hero of Liverpool FC to the
rescue again. Or so it seemed. What happened next was nothing short of
extraordinary. Having deservedly conceded a penalty for a blatant handball, his
frustration appeared to get the better of him. And what do normal people do
when they are frustrated? That’s right, they bite the nearest person! Rather
than accepting his punishment and having a few stern words with himself, Luis
Suarez decided to bite the arm of Branislav Ivanovic, the Chelsea defender.
Nevertheless, this is not the end of the story. To add insult to Branislav
Ivanovic’s injury, he then popped up in the 7th minute of stoppage
time to steer a header past Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal to rescue a point for
Liverpool. The headlines practically write themselves: ‘Suarez is a ‘shot in
the arm’ for Liverpool’ and the like. The fact that Brendan Rodgers, who at
times has had to be a staunch supporter of Suarez, against all opponents, was
unable to support his player, speaks volumes. Whilst it could be argued he
really did need to review tapes of the incident, it is certainly true he has
been quick to defend Suarez in the past.
Regardless of tonight’s apology,
I expect to see a rather lengthy ban for Suarez, and it remains to be seen
whether we see him again in the Premier League. Once again, it appears, Luis
Suarez has wasted his considerable talent on becoming embroiled in yet more
controversy. He has always had the potential, and application to be a ‘world
beater’, but his competitive streak seemingly gets the better of him, and he
appears unable to control his anger and frustration. I made the point earlier
about him taking over from where Mario Balotelli left off. Like Suarez,
Balotelli has considerable potential if he chooses to apply himself. In
Britain, it never worked, as he found himself involved in several high profile
controversies, ranging from setting off fireworks in his bathroom, to handing
out money dressed as Father Christmas. Unlike Suarez, the majority of Mario
Balotelli’s misdemeanours were idiotic, the sign of a petulant, immature clown.
The more violent aspect of Suarez’s game appears to indicate a shift away from
Balotelli, and towards the ilk of Joey Barton. I sincerely hope I am wrong, as
it would be a shame to see such great potential wasted.
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