Half Time Report: Who'll Be Shopping In The January Sales?

With the Premier League season in the balance for each of the 20 teams involved, January represents an excellent opportunity for sides to supplement their sides, and maybe find that couple of signings that will enable them to meet, or even surpass, their targets. We have seen teams perform exceptionally well under pressure in January, which can have a dramatic effect on the rest of their seasons. For example, remember Papiss Cisse's 13 goals in 14 games for Newcastle following his £9m move from Freiburg in January 2011, pushing Newcastle to the cusp of the Champions League.

Alternatively, January can also be a month to dread for sides, particularly teams towards the bottom end of the table. With Chairmen often finding it difficult to resist offers for their star men, selling an in-form player can equally have consequences - and not good ones.

With this in mind, who is likely to be making their move in this month-long carnage? And who is likely to be hoping that not much goes on?

Arsenal - YES
As attractive as flair players are, you need a bit of grit at the back to be successful. Despite this being shouted almost every week at Arsene Wenger by the pundits on Match of the Day (and in some cases, his own fans!), Arsenal have yet to sign a top quality defender to go alongside the likes of Sanchez, Cazorla, Ramsey etc going forward. Maybe it's because he couldn't find anyone French, but he has to move quickly in this window to ensure that Arsenal do not lose their top 4 status.

Who would be good? Though not a long term signing, Ron Vlaar may well be an option, however I feel that with Borussia Dortmund currently on such a poor run, there has never been a better time to test their resolve with a bid for either Mats Hummels or Neven Subotic.

Aston Villa - NO
With limited funds, this month may well be all about keeping their key players, rather than extending. The likes of Ron Vlaar and Christian Benteke may once again be targets for the larger teams, so Paul Lambert will do well to retain his current squad. The loss of either of these could be the difference between Premier League football next year, and a trip to the Championship.

Burnley - NO
Like Villa, it will be all about keeping hold of their key men - specifically Danny Ings.

Chelsea - MAYBE
Despite their considerable wealth, I am not expecting to see too much out of Chelsea this January. With Jose Mourinho having spent heavily in the summer to build his own team, I honestly can't think of many positions that he needs to replace. From front to back, they are pretty intimidating as a side, so I think it may be a case of some investment in youth players for the title-chasers.

Crystal Palace - MAYBE
With a new manager in the shape of Alan Pardew, the January transfer window could represent a good opportunity to stamp his authority on his new club. A top quality striker or midfielder may be the way forward, so a cheeky bid for either Danny Ings or Charlie Austin may be on the cards.

Everton - NO
Having forked out £28m on Romelu Lukaku in the summer, and with a chairman notoriously shy on splashing the cash, it is unlikely that we are to see any big business from the Toffees. I think reducing the injury list needs to be at the top of their priorities - then we may see them find some form.

Hull - MAYBE
Much like Everton, considerable investment made in the summer means that the Tigers should be expected to be fairly quiet. A couple of loan deals may be on the way (with Hatem Ben Arfa clearly on the way out), but other than strengthening the defence, I'm not sure Hull will be able to do much more in the window.

Leicester - YES
At the King Power, however, we may see some movement. With wealthy backers, Leicester perhaps did not take full advantage of the summer transfer window, with their only significant money signing the £7m buy of Leonardo Ulloa. The team continues to leak goals, so some strengthening in the centre of midfield and defence may well be needed.

And who could they get? From a midfield perspective, Manchester United's Anderson or Werder Bremen's Cedric Makiadi may be reasonable purchases for relatively little outlay, while defensively, Celtic's Virgil van Dijk may also help.

Liverpool - YES
Following a number of less than convincing summer buys, Brendan Rodgers has already made his intentions clear to dip into the transfer market this month - I'm guessing predominantly for a striker. With reports surfacing of links to a huge bid for Karim Benzema or Ilkay Gundogan, I personally think they are too far-fetched. Bids for targets like Wilfried Bony or even Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may well be more realistic, but it will mean more outlay on an already expensive transfer spend.

Manchester City - YES
With both Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko injured, City's main transfer targets must be strikers this January. Like Liverpool, I see them looking towards the likes of Bony, with certain reports also linking the Blues to Atletico Madrid's Mario Mandzukic. If I had my way, I'd be making a considerable offer for Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus, as he can play either wide or up front. This would allow for potential rotation when City's main strikers become available, and would give Manuel Pellegrini an additional option.

Manchester United - YES
Despite spending over £150m in the summer, United will also be looking towards new faces this month. Defensively, the Red Devils have been a nightmare, and have relied heavily on David de Gea to bail them out in games. However, without the allure of Champions League football, they can kiss goodbye to attracting the likes of Mats Hummels, though Neven Subotic may be a more realistic aim. Alternatively, it may be that Louis van Gaal dips into his Dutch World Cup squad once more to target FC Porto's Bruno Martins Indi.

Newcastle United - NO
In short, keeping Moussa Sissoko may prove Newcastle's largest test in January, but with proven strikers in Papiss Cisse and Ayoze Perez, and a strong continent of youth players, I expect a new manager to be the only real incoming on Tyneside.

QPR - MAYBE
Should Charlie Austin leave, I expect the Hoops to flex their financial muscle again. However, having already agreed the loan signing of Mauro Zarate from West Ham, unless Austin is sold I'm expecting more deals of this kind or little to come from the London club.

Southampton - NO
After such an exceptional start to the season, I don't think they need anyone! Having made a number of top class signings in the summer, I think the time should certainly be spent on gelling their squad and building for the future with their stellar youth set-up.

Stoke - NO
Similar to a number of clubs, a lack of available funds and a reasonable summertime spend means that Mark Hughes is unlikely to strengthen his squad in January. Given his success, it may be keeping hold of Bojan Krkic that is Stoke's best bit of business.

Sunderland - NO
With the Black Cats still in the heart of a relegation battle, I think Gus Poyet will trust in the side he has, particularly after their spirited display away at Manchester City.

Swansea - MAYBE
This all depends on Wilfried Bony's future. The big Ivorian has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Manchester City or Tottenham, and despite being unavailable at the African Cup of Nations, Swansea's transfer budget may depend on any sale.

Tottenham - MAYBE
Other than a striker, Spurs are pretty much sorted. They are currently overly reliant on Harry Kane, and though the youngster has been in exceptional form, he will at some point need a rest. With both Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor both woefully out of form, Wilfried Bony has been tipped for a move to White Hart Lane. Other than that, Spurs are looking fairly strong at the minute, so should the Ivorian move, I sense it being the only purchase.

West Brom - MAYBE
Like Crystal Palace, a new manager may mean a change in squad, however, with a limited budget, I'm not sure Tony Pulis is set to make many changes. A striker would be a good start, as the Baggies have struggled for goals so far this year, but it may be a battle between them and Crystal Palace for Danny Ings.

West Ham - NO
Like Southampton, such has been the excellent start to the season for West Ham, I really don't feel they need to buy anyone. Big Sam made a number of good signings in the summer, and I expect it to be enough to get them through the rest of the year.

Wigan Athletic: The Brighter Side Of Relegation

2012/2013 Season Review:

                After the inevitable ‘Great Escape’ we have come to expect from Roberto Martinez’s Wigan last season, he once again strengthened to attempt to ensure that Wigan avoid the last weeks’ scramble for points. Signing Arouna Kone, to provide some pace and clinical finishing, along with Ivan Ramis, James McCarthy and James McArthur (providing commentators with a nightmare few months working out which was which!), he watched his Wigan side start with a 0-2 home defeat against Chelsea. More promising, and perhaps representative, was the 2-0 away win the following game at St. Mary’s. September proved a more testing month in the league, with the Latics collecting only one point, and slipping into the relegation places by the end. Two thumping 4-1 victories in the Capital One Cup gave them something to save, and this saw their form eventually improve.

                October began in a much better fashion, with a home draw against Everton, before picking up their first win in 7 league games at home to West Ham. However, a poor defeat on penalties to League 2 side Bradford ended Wigan’s Capital One Cup good results. This type of form is comparable to early season forms of previous seasons, where they have needed their traditional ‘Great Escape’ when we get into spring. November also mirrored this form, with the Latics taking only three points out of their five league games in the month. Relegation form in anyone’s book, and one that Wigan would need to improve if they wanted to avoid the drop. This season, more so than many before it, seemed to have an air of inevitability about Wigan’s relegation, and there was widespread belief that Wigan’s upturn in form would come too late.

                December, the busiest month of the season, is essential to a successful season. Without a consistent string of results, a side will invariably fall short of their objectives for the season. Wigan, unfortunately for them, failed to significantly improve their recent form, picking up only four points during the month. Particularly disappointing was that the games were mostly against sides around them in the table, making it even more imperative they achieve results. However, the month, and year, did end on a positive note, with a convincing 3-0 away victory at Aston Villa, giving them hope for better fortune in 2013.

                January started with a 0-4 home demolition by Manchester United, sweeping away all momentum. The start of the FA Cup then signalled a chance to escape their weak league form, and start again on an even keel.  Unconvincing 3^rd and 4^th Round successes against Bournemouth and Macclesfield did little to quash the nerves around the side, and no league win in the month further exacerbated an already hopeless looking situation. After the two busy months, Wigan seemed to re-find themselves. February saw Wigan really find their cup form, dominating Huddersfield on their own patch, winning 4-1, and following that up with a 3-0 success at Reading in the league. This led pundits to conclude that the club’s cup form could be the key to the preservation of their league status in the coming months.

                March, if we ignore the 0-4 hammering at home to Liverpool, was an exceptionally successful month. A shock win at Goodison Park in the FA Cup 6^th Round, meaning a trip to Wembley, started things off well, with three goals in four first half minutes to put the home side on the ropes. Successive wins against both Newcastle and Norwich then gave the Latics genuine hope of another ‘Great Escape’. Including these games, Wigan went on a five game unbeaten run, including a victory against Millwall in the FA Cup Semi. Whilst the game was unfortunately marred by violence in the Millwall end, Wigan thoroughly outplayed their Championship opponents, winning the game 2-0. Two successive league defeats followed the euphoria of achieving an FA Cup final, which severely dented their survival hopes, but a draw at home to Tottenham, followed by an away win at West Brom once again reignited the Wigan fans’ hope of survival, leaving them just three points adrift. However, a 2-3 defeat at home to Swansea left their Premier League status hanging by a thread, and it was not the best preparation for arguably their biggest game in their short history.

                The FA Cup Final against Manchester City, in which Wigan were the 9/1 long shots, started with City on the front foot, forcing Wigan keeper Joel into a number of good saves. However, as the game went on, it became more and more obvious that Roberto Martinez had got his tactics spot-on, with Callum McManaman in particular standing out. The second half continued in the same vein, with the Latics dominating both possession and chances, and once Pablo Zabaleta had been sent off for City, the inevitable occurred. Ben Watson’s 91^st minute header sent the Wigan end into delirium and left many rubbing their eyes in disbelief. The final whistle sparked scenes of jubilation on the touchline and in the stands. A first major trophy in their history, and a thoroughly deserved win.

                Unfortunately, they were unable to celebrate their FA Cup victory for long, before being plunged into despair at the Emirates. A 4-1 defeat just four days after their Wembley heroics meant their relegation was confirmed. Some may say it is about three seasons too late, however I genuinely think the Premier League will miss Wigan’s indescribable late season form each season. Pundits have said that Wigan only play well ‘when the clocks go forward’. They cannot afford to do that next year, or they will be finding it very hard to stay in the highly competitive Championship.

                Overall, if you had offered the FA Cup to the Wigan side at the start of the season in exchange for relegation, they probably would have taken it. Promotions occur every year, but a cup final is probably a once in a career opportunity for these Wigan players. As for their manager, they may face a struggle to keep him, as he is too good to ply his trade in the second tier. I fear for Wigan, as the Championship is notoriously competitive, and getting back up is not easy.

 

Player of the Season: Arouna Kone – Based on the FA Cup run, I would say McManaman. However, based on the overall season, I have to go with the big Ivorian. Eleven goals in your first season is a good return, especially when you consider the position of the club. His pace and finishing ability will leave him in demand from other Premier League clubs next season, perhaps the promoted sides.

 

Game of the Season: Manchester City 0-1 Wigan – Perhaps the easiest selection I have had to make. An historic day for the club and the city, and the best illustration that you should never underestimate the underdog. Bringing back shades of Sunderland vs Leeds, and the Crazy Gang’s heroics against Liverpool a decade or so later, Wigan’s success will live long in the memory, and shows us just why the FA Cup is so revered.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Keeping Roberto Martinez, whilst a huge challenge, is their most important aim of this pre-season. I fully expect that this will be a summer of more exits than entrances for Wigan Athletic, with many of the club’s FA Cup heroes in demand. This makes it impossible to judge exactly will be needed, but they need to retain a core from the current squad to build a Championship equivalent around.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

None

Out:

Franco Di Santo (Lazio, Bologna, West Brom, ST), James McCarthy (Newcastle, CM), Maynor Figueroa (West Ham United, CB), Callum McManaman (Everton, RW), Roberto Martinez (Manager, Everton)

West Ham United: Keeping Their Heads Whilst All Around Them Lose Theirs

2012/2013 Season Review:

                In their first season back in the Premier League after the briefest of stays in the Championship, Sam Allardyce’s side were looking to consolidate themselves as a Premier League team once again. In order to do so, the former Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle manager made several signings that he hoped would propel his side up the table. Matt Jarvis was bought from Wolves for a reported £10 million, as well as Mohamed Diame, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Modibo Maiga. The most notable acquisition in the summer was certainly the loan signing of £35 million Liverpool striker Andy Carroll. All of these enabled the Hammers to start the season with a victory, a 1-0 home success over Aston Villa. Though a disappointing first away game resulted in a 3-0 defeat at Swansea, West Ham quickly collected themselves to remain unbeaten in the league throughout September.

                Whilst they suffered a disappointing exit of the Capital One Cup via a hammering at home to Wigan, they were settling in well in the Premier League. 3 wins out of 4 in October extended the Hammers unbeaten run to 6 games, and moved them well clear of the dreaded relegation zone, and into the top 10. Whilst they did eventually slip up in an away defeat at the DW Stadium, I am certain that had you offered the East London side’s fans a top ten place by the end of October, the majority would have bitten your hand off! Further strong form continued through November, though they did suffer consecutive away defeats away at Tottenham, Manchester United and Chelsea, before a home defeat against Liverpool. None of these should be considered particularly, surprising, but they did have a considerable effect on the Hammers’ momentum.

                December as a month was comfortably their most challenging one so far, collecting only one point, and losing away at Reading at the end of it. As the Premier League was beginning to become ever more competitive and congested, there were fears that continuation of this form could leave West Ham in danger of relegation by the end of the season. A home win on New Year’s Day gave Hammers’ fans some relief, though once again a poor run of results followed. An exit of the FA Cup to Manchester United was followed by two further defeats, including a morale-sapping hammering at the Emirates. February once again started more promisingly, with a victory over Swansea, but as was the story of the mid-season, they lost the remaining two league games.

                That pattern finally ended in March, where the Hammers won two of their three league games, accumulating vital points to solidify their position. May would prove most pivotal in that achievement, with the Hammers going the first four games unbeaten, including draws against Liverpool and Manchester United, and a win against Wigan that all but ensured their survival in the Premier League. Their next target was then to achieve a top ten finish in their first season back in the top flight, an objective completed with the final day 4-2 victory over relegated Reading.

                Overall, an exceptionally successful season, with West Ham (the 3^rd promoted side) being the top finishers of all the three promoted last year. A top ten finish is more than many fans would have dreamt of, and will bring in valuable cash to spend on players that can push them further up the table. Whilst I would issue a word of caution to firstly consolidate before looking any further up the table, I see no reason why West Ham cannot achieve this aim.

 

Player of the Season: Kevin Nolan – The fact that a midfielder is the club’s top scorer tells you one of two things: either the forwards have had a nightmare season, or the midfielder has had a superb one. Fortunately for West Ham, it is the latter. The former Bolton and Newcastle man clearly enjoys working under Sam Allardyce, and has been producing consistently excellent displays throughout this season, including his first Premier League hat-trick. Nolan’s strength, determination and leadership have enabled West Ham to do more than just survive this season, and he will be key to any future success.

 

Game of the Season: West Ham 4-1 Southampton – A difficult one, as unlike many of their counterparts, West Ham were exceptionally consistent in their performances, rather than having several atrocious ones and a few outstanding. So perhaps it is best to select the one with the largest margin of victory, and one where they comprehensively outplayed their opponents. After a fairly weak first half, Allardyce’s words at the break obviously had the desired effect, as the Hammers scored twice in the opening 5 minutes of the second half. Adam Lallana’s reply briefly had West Ham worried, but subsequent goals from Noble and Maiga ensured the three points for West Ham.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Having made their intentions to re-sign Andy Carroll, but this time permanently, and having made the initial signing of Razvan Rat from Shakhtar, perhaps the only area that requires any attention is in the centre of the defence. Other than that, most areas of the squad have been performing to their maximum, and therefore reinforcements are not required. Perhaps Aston Villa’s Matt Lowton could be a potential target this summer.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk, RB, Free), Nikica Jelavic (Everton, ST), Alpaslan Ozturk (Beerschot, CB), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic, CB), Peter Crouch (Stoke City, ST), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City, RW), Andy Carroll (Liverpool, ST), Lamine Sane (Bordeaux, CM), Wilfried Bony (Vitesse Arnhem, ST)

Out:

Carlton Cole (Released, ST)

West Bromwich Albion: Bye Bye ‘Boing Boing’?

2012/2013 Season Review:

                With Roy Hodgson having left at the end of the previous campaign to manager England at the Euros, Steve Clarke stepped in at the beginning of this season. He moved quickly in the transfer window, bringing in Romelu Lukaku on loan from Chelsea. Other than this, there was little in the wa of action from the Midlands side in the transfer market. Nevertheless, this piece of business would turn into an inspired acquisition for the Baggies. Clarke couldn’t have wished for a better start to his West Brom managerial career, with a 3-0 home victory over Liverpool in the opening day. Their early season form remained strong, as a draw away at Tottenham, and a victory at home to Everton followed, both of these sides expected to be in the top 6 come the end of the season. A 3-0 defeat at Fulham, and a Capital One Cup exit followed after the international break, perhaps indicating that the Baggies could ill-afford to rest on their laurels.

                After the first Midlands derby against Aston Villa, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate, West Brom’s form was decidedly patchy throughout October, winning the first but then losing the following two games to put Clarke’s men solidly in mid-table. November, on the other hand, was about as close to perfection as it is possible to achieve, with West Brom picking up 4 wins out of their 5 league games, their only failure being away to in-form Swansea. Most noticeable in the Baggies terrific run was their second consecutive home victory over Chelsea, a defeat which saw the ex-West Brom manager Roberto di Matteo removed from his post at Chelsea. However, this form was only temporary, and a four match streak without a win followed.

                After back to back victories against Norwich and QPR either side of Christmas, Clarke’s side then went another 8 games without a win, including going out of the FA Cup at the hands of struggling QPR, and another draw in the return fixture against Aston Villa. After such a promising start, which had seen the Baggies climb as high as 3^rd, their mid-season form was letting them down somewhat, and leaving them perched just inside the top 10. January also saw the club involved in a transfer controversy, as previous season’s top scorer Peter Odemwingie was linked heavily to relegation threatened QPR, and the West Brom hierarchy had demanded he was not for sale. Not too controversial up to this point. However, having made his feelings about a move perfectly clear to the West Brom officials, Odemwingie decided that the best way to convince the board to let him move was to drive from the Midlands down to London on deadline day. The fact that this was all done without the approval of the board got Odemwingie in hot water with both them, and the fans, who regularly booed his appearances thereafter. To make matters worse, the move never materialised, making the whole trip irrelevant.

                The Baggies’ trip to Anfield was seen as a good way to put the Odemwingie fiasco behind them, and rectify their recent poor run of form. Despite being outplayed by Liverpool, West Brom managed to steal a priceless 2-0 win. The subsequent 2-1 win over Sunderland put the Baggies within touching distance of the Liverpudlians, but once again, inconsistency ensured that by the end of March, they sat comfortably in mid-table. Having been assured of safety for some time, there was certainly the temptation to switch off and not press on for their record points tally. To a certain extent, we can see evidence of this, as the Baggies won only 1 of their remaining 7 league games, putting them in a respectable, but improvable 8^th at the end of the campaign.

                Overall, West Brom should be very happy with their performance this season. Too often used to relegation scraps, being known as the ‘boing boing’ club for their regular bouncing between leagues, they will be glad for the stability. However, there should also be a hint of regret and disappointment for what might have been. With such a positive start to the season, the possibility was there to post a very competitive total of points. Hot seasons come around once in a blue moon for clubs like West Brom. We have all seen what happened to Newcastle after last season’s 5^th place finish. I only hope that West Brom can remain as stable next year.

 

Player of the Season: Romelu Lukaku – The big Belgian has been an inspiration at West Brom this season. Having been loaned out in order to get some match practice, the Chelsea man has shown us all what he is capable of. Fantastic strength and clinical finishing are only two aspects to this youngster’s game, and he has the capacity to substantially improve.

 

Game of the Season: West Brom 5-5 Manchester United – After a rather indifferent turn on form towards the back end of the season, West Brom gave the fans a final day to remember with this classic comeback that I am certain will be on every Premier League Classics DVD. Having trailed 4-1 and 5-2, a Romelu Lukaku hat-trick saw the Baggies deny Sir Alex Ferguson a victory on his 1500^th and last game as Manchester United manager.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Losing Lukaku back to Chelsea will inevitably be a loss, but sources suggest that they will attempt to retain their Belgian wonderkid. In terms of positions, West Brom could do with another central defender, and a more creative attacking midfielder. Players like Scott Sinclair and Ryan Shawcross could well be potential targets.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Diumerci Mbokani (Anderlecht, ST), Franco Di Santo (Wigan Athletic, ST)

Out:

Jonas Olsson (???, CB), Peter Odemwingie (Hull City, ST), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea, ST), Gonzalo Jara (Released, CM), Jerome Thomas (Released, RM)

Tottenham Hotspur: Last Day European Heartbreak Once More

2012/2013 Season Review:

                With Harry Redknapp’s departure at the end of the previous season, Tottenham were left in a state of uncertainty, as the Englishman was widely considered to be the best man for the job. The chairman, Daniel Levy, decided to take a risk on Chelsea reject Andre Villas Boas. Considering that Chelsea paid £12 million to get AVB out of his contract at Porto, to get him on a free is a significant saving. AVB quickly got to work in the transfer market, bringing in Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen, Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor and Lyon’s Hugo Lloris before the start of the campaign. However, these additions failed to get Spurs off to a good start, losing their first league game 2-1 away at Newcastle, and only drawing their opening two home league games against weaker opposition.

                With these poor early performances, AVB secured two further signings, with Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembele tasked with creating and scoring more goals. Tottenham’s league form then began to improve, with three consecutive league wins in September, the last of which being their first win at Old Trafford in 23 years. Unfortunately, Tottenham’s European form failed to match their good domestic performances, drawing their opening three games and leaving the Londoners in danger of exiting the competition in the group stages. Their league form then began to dip, as defeats at home to Chelsea and, more alarmingly, Wigan, left Spurs a way behind the league leaders. During the poor run, Tottenham also exited the Capital One Cup, with a Fourth Round defeat away at Norwich. Further controversy over the destination of the goalkeeper’s jersey dominated this period, as Brad Friedel’s early season form was keeping big money summer signing Hugo Lloris out of the side. A poor defeat away at Manchester City and then a horror show at rivals Arsenal seemingly made AVB’s mind up, as Lloris became ever more preferred as the season went on.

                After the disastrous Arsenal result, Tottenham were shaken into life, and their league form gradually began to improve. Three successive league victories, including an important win over Liverpool, followed the derby aberration, and they ensured progression in the Europa League, beating Panathinaikos 3-1 in the final group stage game. During December, Spurs’ flying winger, Gareth Bale, really began to come to the fore, with excellent performances either side of Christmas, and a habit for scoring spectacular goals. By the turn of the year, Tottenham sat just below the Champions League spaces, and with a very good chance of qualifying for the competition automatically. Bales’ fantastic form continued after the New Year, where, apart from a poor performance in the FA Cup against Leeds United, Tottenham remained unbeaten for the whole of January, including a heartening performance against runaway leaders Manchester United.

                As the season ticked into February, it was becoming more and more obvious that the battle for the final two Champions League places would be between Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs, with all hitting good form as the season moved towards its climax. As a result, we saw more and more dramatic results and finishes to games, with none of the three teams able to slip up. February saw a continuation of the good form of the previous month, and ended with a stunning Bale goal away at West Ham to win the game 3-2. Having also claimed a two leg victory over Lyon in the Europa League Last 32, Spurs were drawn against old foes Inter Milan in the Round of 16. Firstly though, they had to negotiate a crunch derby game at home to Arsenal, and one that could have a significant impact on the top 4 places. A tight first half exploded into life with two Spurs goals in the space of three minutes, as firstly Bale and then Aaron Lennon put the Lily Whites in a commanding position. Per Mertesacker headed in from a corner to reduce the arrears for the Gunners, and precipitated a grandstand finish, in which Arsenal poured forward in search of an equaliser. It never came, and Spurs held on to strengthen their grip on 4^th place.

                After a brilliant 3-0 victory over Inter at home, Spurs travelled to Milan knowing that only exceptional circumstances would see them eliminated from the Europa League. Unfortunately, without the injured Gareth Bale, Spurs were poor throughout, ending up being fortunate to make it to extra time. An Emmanuel Adebayor goal gave Spurs a priceless away goal, leaving Inter unable to respond. Nevertheless, a shock for AVB and his side, reminding them that they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas. April turned into a very damaging month for the Lily Whites, going out of the Europa League at the hands of FC Basle, and dropping valuable points in the race for fourth, handing momentum back to Arsenal. Three wins out of their four remaining games was not sufficient to see Spurs into the Champions League, missing out once again on the final day to their great rivals. Reminiscent of the end of the 2006 season, where Spurs were unable to field a full side due to a mysterious intestinal illness, leaving Arsenal clear to take the final Champions League spot.

                Overall, a successful but disappointing season. AVB has clearly continued when Redknapp left off, only narrowly missing out on Champions League competition. Whilst they had a good chance to win the Europa League, their league form has been encouraging, and in Gareth Bale, they have arguably the third best footballer on the planet.

 

Player of the Season: Gareth Bale – The Welshman’s most successful season to date. His pace, dribbling and ability to score truly outstanding goals has made him an incredibly valuable asset to the Spurs side. This season in particular, he has at times carried this side, picking up points almost single-handedly. Having failed to deliver Champions League football, I fear for Tottenham attempting to keep the winger, as there are many that are looking for his signature.

 

Game of the Season: West Ham 2-3 Tottenham – An enthralling game, which swayed first one way, then the other, as Tottenham took an early lead through Bale, before a clumsy Scott Parker challenge gave Andy Carroll the chance to level the scores from the spot. A chance he took, and momentum swung wholly in the Hammers favour when Joe Cole drilled a shot past Lloris to turn the game on its head. A valiant Tottenham fighback ensued, with Gylfi Sigurdsson levelling with quarter of an hour to play. This led to an incredibly open final ten minutes, with both sides going for the victory. With time running out, Gareth Bale received the ball a full 30 yards from goal, and unleashed an unstoppable drive to beat the helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen and keep Spurs in the hunt for the Champions League.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Inevitably, the talk this summer will be all about whether they can keep hold of Bale. If not, I fear that he will be irreplaceable. If they do manage to keep him, only minor changes will be required to push Spurs that couple of points forward next year. A top quality striker and left back may be reasonable transfer targets, with David Villa and Ignazio Abate possible signings.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Leandro Damiao (Internacional, ST), Thomas Ince (Blackpool, RW), Roberto Soldado (Valencia, ST), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, ST), Heung Min Son (Hamburg, ST), Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe, LM), Sergi Roberto (Barcelona, LB), Miralem Pjanic (Roma, CM), David Villa (Barcelona, ST), Alberto Botia (Sevilla, LB), Joao Moutinho (Porto, CM)

Out:

Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, LM), Danny Rose (Sunderland, RB), Emmanuel Adebayor (AS Monaco, ST), Aaron Lennon (Inter Milan, RW)

Swansea City: A Silver Second Season

2012/2013 Season Review:

                The exit of Brendan Rodgers to Liverpool threaten to derail the Swans’ season before it had even begun. However, Huw Jenkins pulled off what turned out to be a masterstroke, bringing in the Danish superstar Michael Laudrup to run the Welsh club. The former Mallorca manager used his substantial knowledge of the Spanish game, bringing in no fewer than 4 players from the continent. Chico Flores, Michu, Jonathan de Guzman and Pablo Hernandez all left the sunnier climate of Spain for the rather more wet environment of South Wales. Celtic’s Ki Sung Yung was the Dane’s only summer signing not to come from Spain, but all of which would contribute significantly during the season. Michu in particular was an outstanding signing, for only £2.2 million, and his quality was instantly indicated in the Swansea’s opening day 5-0 demolition of QPR. A subsequent 3-0 home win over West Ham took the Swans to the league summit for the first time since their return, but three subsequent league defeats in September put Swansea quite a way behind, leading people to worry about the transition from Rodgers to Laudrup.

                Swansea’s Capital One Cup form remained strong, and eventually began to improve their league results. Progression to the Quarter Final at the end of October could well have been the driving force behind the Swans going the entirety of November unbeaten, culminating in an impressive 2-0 win away at the Emirates at the beginning of December. Swansea then beat Middlesbrough in their Quarter Final to set up an intriguing two-legged semi against the favourites for the competition Chelsea. Another long unbeaten run followed over the New Year, spanning 7 games, including a very impressive 2-0 first leg lead in the Capital One Cup at Stamford Bridge. However, despite a positive performance in one cup competition, the Swans exited the FA Cup at the first opportunity, away at Arsenal.

                A highly-charged second leg at the Liberty against Chelsea followed the FA Cup exit, in which the Swans showed an exemplary rear guard action to deny the Blues a route through. The frustration was all too much for Chelsea winger Eden Hazard, who got into an altercation with a ball boy, in which he appeared to kick the youngster. Whilst both parties later apologised to one another, it still marred what was otherwise an historic night for Swansea City, who would travel to Wembley as overwhelming favourites against League 2 side Bradford City. Swansea’s league form before the cup final took an almost pre-cautionary slump, as players appeared to be more concerned with avoiding injury. With the Swans clearly safe in mid-table, maximum effort was no longer required, and players could look forward to the cup final in good spirits. Nowhere was this mentality better displayed that at Anfield the game before the final, where the Swans capitulated to a 5-0 defeat.

                The slacking off in the previous few games obviously paid off however, as in their main showpiece, Swansea were rampant, thrashing Bradford 5-0 at Wembley to secure their first major trophy in their 101 year history. Braces from Dyer and De Guzman, along with a typical goal from Michu, ensured that Swansea would be getting their hands on silverware, and claiming a place in next season’s Europa League in the process. After the euphoric Wembley victory, Swansea’s league form took a dramatic nosedive, with them only winning 2 of their following 11 games until the end of the season. They were certainly fortunate they had amassed as many points as they did at the beginning of the season, otherwise they could have found themselves in considerable trouble by the end of it.

                Nevertheless, this season can only be seen as an unqualified success for Swansea, and for Welsh football in general, as with Cardiff joining the Premier League next season, Wales will make up 10% of the top flight. A first trophy and a top 10 finish is more than sufficient for their second season back in the Premier League, and with Michael Laudrup’s style of attractive football, I cannot see Swansea finding their Premier League status in trouble any time soon.

 

Player of the Season: Michu – An easy contender for bargain of the season, Michu started as he meant to go on, with an opening day brace. Deadly in front of goal, particularly in the first half of the season, ensured that Swansea occupied a top 10 finish and a trophy by the end of the year. The fact that Michu ended the Premier League campaign in 5^th place in the goalscoring charts, ahead of any Manchester City, Arsenal or Chelsea player, shows just how successful a first season it has been for the popular Spaniard, who will surely command a much higher price tag as a result.

 

Game of the Season: Bradford City 0-5 Swansea – Easily the best day of Swansea’s season, and arguably one of the best days in the history of the football club. The tag of overwhelming favourites did not phase the Swans one bit, attacking from the off before Nathan Dyer rolled in his first after 16 minutes. The Welsh side kept their foot to the floor, and soon they had a second, with Michu placing a shot past Matt Duke to effectively end the game as a contest. Three more goals and a red card followed, and Swansea were left jubilant, with their first trophy in their 101 year history.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): In terms of signings, Michael Laudrup performed exceptionally well at the beginning of this season, bringing in clearly well scouted and well established players, all of which he knew would adapt quickly to his style of football. Similar nouse will be required this summer, though i suspect there will be significantly fewer signings. Another striker to take the pressure off Michu’s shoulders could be possible, along with another strong central midfielder to break up the play. Celtic’s Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper could both be adequate signings in the summer.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Scott Sinclair (Manchester City, LW), Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City, GK), Junior Hoilett (QPR, LW)

Out:

Ashley Williams (Arsenal, Liverpool, CB)

Sunderland: Nutty Professor Helps Mackems Beat The Drop

2012/2013 Season Review:

                Martin O’Neill, after a strong start to his Sunderland career, saw his side tail off towards the latter end of last season. In order to rectify that, he spent big in the summer. A reported £15 million spent on proven goalscorer Steven Fletcher, and a further £12 million on disgruntled Manchester City winger Adam Johnson, for whom Sunderland were his boyhood club. These high-profile signings were intended to push Sunderland up the table, into the top half and potentially even challenging for a European berth. Sunderland started the season well, remaining unbeaten throughout August and September and progressing to the Fourth Round of the Capital One Cup. Steven Fletcher appeared to be an inspired signing, scoring all of Sunderland’s first 5 league goals.

                Their first defeat came at the hands of the champions Manchester City at the Etihad, ironically a game the Mackems drew the previous season, breaking the Citizens 100% home record. Not the ideal preparation for the Tyne-Wear derby, where Sunderland were largely outplayed, but managed to salvage a late draw through Demba Ba’s own goal, a moment Sunderland fans remember with glee. A disappointing exit of the Capital One Cup in a Tees-Wear derby at the Stadium of Light, followed by two defeats in the league, checked Sunderland’s early season good form. The Mackems inconsistent form continued, with a pattern of two defeats and one win recurring several times throughout the early stage of the season. This placed Sunderland in a relatively safe mid-table position, but still some way short of their pre-season expectations.

                Two successive victories either side of Christmas gave Sunderland a bit of momentum going into the New Year, with a particularly positive result and performance at home to Manchester City. January was another month of two tales. Whilst two successive league wins further strengthened Sunderland’s league position, their FA Cup run was cut short by a defeat at home to Championship side Bolton Wanderers, leaving the league as their only source of attention. After the Wigan result, a winless run of 9 Premier League games put the Mackems perilously close to the relegation zone, and ultimately cost manager Martin O’Neill his job, after just over a year in charge.

                Martin O’Neill was replaced by the energetic Italian Paolo di Canio. After a feisty but successful spell with Swindon, in which di Canio took the Robins up from League 2, before leaving in rather acrimonious circumstances. Di Canio was instantly embroiled in considerable controversy, as revelations about his political views landed him in hot water with the press. Reports emerged that di Canio actually tended his resignation to the board just three days after his appointment, in a response to the controversy, which the board rejected. This decision was instantly vindicated as, in di Canio’s first game as Sunderland manager, he made the short journey to Newcastle, where his side comprehensively beat the Geordies 3-0. A game that will live long in the memory of any Sunderland fans, and di Canio’s celebrations on the touchlines caught the attention of the rest of the footballing world.

                 Di Canio’s momentum then saw Sunderland beat Everton at home, to move clear of danger, but a disastrous 6-1 defeat away at Aston Villa dumped the North East side right back into trouble. Two draws in the final three games, coupled with the inability of those around them to capitalise on Sunderland’s slip-ups, ensured that Sunderland’s status as a Premier League club remained secure for another year. As a season, Sunderland fans will consider their achievements this campaign as disappointing, especially considering the money that has been spent. Paolo di Canio, a divisive figure both within and away from the club, has considerable talent as a manager, but needs to reign in the controversies before he can be wholly successful. If he can do that, and show the same passion on the touchlines that endeared him to the Sunderland fans, then there is no reason why he could not lead Sunderland to a top 10 finish next year.

 

Player of the Season: Simon Mignolet – A toss-up between him and Steven Fletcher, though Fletcher’s lack in form towards the back end of the season tips the balance in favour of the Belgian. Another consistent season, in which Mignolet has once again performed exceptionally on a number of occasions, ensured that Sunderland’s predicament did not get any worse.

 

Game of the Season: Newcastle United 0-3 Sunderland – A no-brainer for any Sunderland fan, as di Canio’s opening game saw an absolute demolition of their arch-rivals. Stephane Sessegnon set Sunderland on their way, causing wild celebrations on the sidelines. More celebrations (and a knee slide) followed, as Adam Johnson curled a shot from the edge of the area past Rob Elliot to put the Mackems in control. David Vaughan wrapped things up in the 90^th minute, with a sweet strike from the corner of the box, giving the keeper no chance, and causing di Canio to do a Mourinho-esque run down the touchline to celebrate with his players.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Their big names to perform to expectation would be a start, with both Sessegnon and Adam Johnson being singled out for particular criticism. In terms of signings, with aging defenders like John O’Shea and Wes Brown, younger blood would be handy. Another striker to chip in with a few goals would also be most important, as Connor Wickham has failed to produce the form he promised when he broke onto the scene last year. Players like Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa and Arouna Kone would both be potential targets.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur, RB), Gary Hooper (Celtic, ST), Valentin Roberge (Maritimo, LB), Charlie Austin (Burnley, ST), Modibo Diakite (Lazio, CB)

Out:

Titus Bramble (Released, CB)

Stoke City: The End to the Long Ball Game?

2012/2013 Season Review:

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

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

Out:

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

Southampton: Return to the Promised Land

2012/2013 Season Review:

                After a few years in the wilderness, with 2 relegations, financial problems, and a 15 point deduction, Southampton returned to the Premier League with back to back promotions. Manager Nigel Adkins was hailed as a genius by the Saints fans, and he brought in several players designed to help Southampton survive in the Premier League. A £13million club record fee for Gaston Ramirez, as well as moves for Artur Boruc, Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez. The season started with good performances, but poor results, as Southampton lost their opening four league matches. Though they were unfortunate to lose against the two Manchester clubs, a 6-1 demolition at the Emirates gave the Saints a wake-up call.

                An emphatic 4-1 victory over fellow strugglers Aston Villa gave Nigel Adkins his first Premier League victory, and moved the Saints off the foot of the table. A further run of 4 defeats from 5 put the Saints back to the bottom of the league, and a 3-0 away defeat away at Leeds sent Southampton out of the Capital One Cup. If Southampton wanted to survive in the league, they desperately needed an upturn in form. November provided a kick start to the Saints season, getting back to back victories away at QPR, and then at home to Newcastle. This mid-table form continued into December, with a victory over Reading and draws against Fulham and Stoke cancelling out defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool. By the end of the year, Southampton were sitting in a lower mid-table position, needing to be ready for a relegation struggle.

                January saw the emergence of a home form that justified referring to St. Mary’s as a ‘fortress’. Losing only twice at home for the remainder of the season, the Saints began the New Year with an encouraging draw against Arsenal. A 5-1 demolition at the hands of Chelsea in the FA Cup was the only disappointing result of a promising month for Southampton. Successive positive away performances against Aston Villa and Chelsea gave Saints fans further reason for optimism as the season ticked into February. However, despite moving three points away from the drop zone, Nigel Adkins was sacked and replaced by a relatively unknown young manager by the name of Mauricio Pochettino. Early reports of the language barrier were quickly swept under the carpet, with the Argentine requiring a translator for his press interviews. However, this turned out to be an inspired decision, with the new boss overseeing three famous home wins against top 6 sides. All three of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea tasted defeat at St. Mary’s, and these wins, coupled with an upturn in away form, saw the Saints climb away from the drop by the end of April.

                This allowed Southampton to enjoy their final few weeks’ experience of their return to the Premier League, having wildly exceeded their expectations. Few fans would have expected to be safe from relegation a month before the end of the season. Whilst many were significantly underwhelmed by the decision to sack Nigel Adkins, Pochettino has picked up where the old manager left off, ensuring that the Saints maintained their Premier League status for next season. After the trials and tribulations of the previous few seasons, with liquidation being a real and considerable threat at times, it will have been nice for the fans to have top flight football once more. As for next year, the dreaded ‘Second Season Syndrome’ will have to be avoided, but provided they reinforce effectively, and key players continue to perform at a high level, I can see no reason why they would be relegated next year.

 

Player of the Season: Rickie Lambert – The Saints’ journeyman striker continued his fine form in the lower leagues in the top flight, ending the season as the joint top English goalscorer, an impressive feat for a newly promoted side. A traditional centre forward, the Liverpudlian-born number 9 has proven himself at all levels of English football, with both Bristol Rovers and Southampton, which makes his success in the top flight all the more sweeter.

 

Game of the Season: Southampton 3-1 Manchester City – Mauricio Pochettino’s first victory as Saints’ boss was a morale boosting scalp over the current Premier League champions. Having comprehensively outplayed City in the first half, going in at the interval 2-1 ahead, Southampton maintained momentum in the second period, ensuring a thoroughly deserved 3-1 success. This marked the start of a rich vein of home form, which practically guaranteed the South Coast side a place in next year’s competition.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Southampton’s new manager has created a very effective playing style towards the end of the season, meaning that very few reinforcements are going to be required. Jay Rodriguez’s late season form will prevent the Saints from rushing out to buy a new striker to support Lambert, but perhaps another central defender and a bit more width in the midfield would be useful. Dependent on the funds Pochettino gets to spend in the summer, players like Robert Huth and Charles N’Zogbia would be good acquisitions.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Victor Wanyama (Celtic, CM), Victor Ruiz (Valencia, RB), Frickson Erazo (Barcelona SC, LW)

Out:

Morgan Schneiderlin (Arsenal, CM), Billy Sharp (Leeds United, ST)

Reading: A Baptism of Fire

Season Review 2012/2013:

                Reading’s promotion as Champions of the Championship seemingly gave them the best chance of the three sides to stay up in the Premier League. In Brian McDermott, they had a stable manager with a good record in the Championship, and seemed capable of taking the next step. He strengthened the side in the summer, bringing in Pavel Pogrebnyak after his impressive loan spell at Fulham the previous year. Reading began their return to the Premier League with a promising 1-1 draw at home to Stoke, where a late Adam Le Fondre penalty showed that Reading had the belief and fight to take games to the last minute.

                Three successive defeats dented Reading’s confidence somewhat, but Reading’s Capital One Cup form rekindled hope that this one could be a successful campaign for the Royals, progressing into the Fourth Round with victories over Peterborough and QPR. Three draws in four league games preceeded that cup tie, and what a game it was! 4-0 up at home to Arsenal after 31 minutes, it all looked done and dusted for Reading. Theo Walcott then pulled one back on the stroke of half time, a moment that Reading boss Brian McDermott later stated was the turning point. With their tails up, Arsenal fought back, eventually scoring a late, albeit controversial goal to level the scores at 4-4 and taking the game into extra time. Two goals in injury time in extra time gave Arsenal a memorable 5-7 victory, and left Reading in the depths of despair.

                Despite that disappointment, Reading regained their composure quickly, going the next three games unbeaten, including an impressive 2-1 win over high-flying Everton. However, this success was short-lived. A disastrous 7 game losing streak severely damaged Reading’s survival hopes. Having been at the last game, in which they travelled to Manchester City, I can honestly say that Reading were unfortunate to leave with nothing, as their defending deserved more. However, a 91^st minute Gareth Barry goal broke Reading hearts, and left McDermott seething.

                The turn of the New Year saw an upturn in form, and in particular, the emergence of Adam Le Fondre. Mostly used as a second half substitute, the former Rotherham man began to score critical goals. In particular, he single-handedly turned the game at St. James’s Park in Reading’s favour, scoring twice in 6 second half minutes. The next league game produced an even more impressive result, with the Royals gaining a home draw with Chelsea, with Le Fondre once again central. Unfortunately for Reading, the form was not maintained, once again going on a long losing streak throughout February and April consisting of 8 games, including an FA Cup exit at Old Trafford. This latest losing streak was too much for the board, removing McDermott from his duties and replacing him with ex-Saints boss Martin Adkins.

                Adkins first game in charge could hardly have been tougher, with a trip to the Emirates to face Arsenal. A 4-1 defeat represented a 2 goal improvement on the demolition of his Southampton side at the start of the season. A defeat against his old employers in the following game left Reading cut a long way adrift at the bottom of the table, extinguishing any hope of survival. A battling 0-0 draw against Liverpool, in which goalkeeper Alex McCarthy drew a lot of praise for his performance, gave Adkins his first point as Reading boss, and a 4-2 win over Fulham in early May gave him his first, and only, Premier League win. Reading’s fate was decided after the atrocious 0-0 draw at home to QPR, in which neither side really looked like they wanted to win in, and as a result both were relegated.

                Overall, a disappointing return to the Premier League for the Royals, especially having been promoted as champions last season. Occasional high points were all too often blighted with long periods of defeats, but they return to the Championship with players, and a manager, proven at this level. As a result, they will remain confident of a swift return.

 

Player of the Season: Adam Le Fondre – Alfie to his team-mates, Le Fondre became one of the most important parts of Reading’s survival bid, scoring several key goals. Whilst the term ‘super-sub’ tends to be a label no player wants to be given, Le Fondre’s goals off the bench against Newcastle, West Brom and Chelsea give some credence to the claims. He will certainly be looking for more game time next season!

 

Game of the Season: Reading 3-2 West Brom – A quite incredible turnaround for the Royals, who trailed 2-0 with just 8 minutes to play. Jimmy Kebe’s stooped header rekindled hope of claiming a much-needed point for Reading, and they seemingly got their wish as Kebe was clumsily fouled by Jonas Olsson in the box to hand Le Fondre the chance to level from the spot. He willingly accepted the gift, and at that point it looked as though the drama was over. Far from it. A late free kick caused havoc in the West Brom box, leaving Pavel Pogrebnyak free to hook the ball past Foster to claim a priceless win.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): Fortunately for Reading, they already have a squad that is largely proven at Championship level. Therefore, keeping hold of their key men will be the first priority. As far as signings go, another goalscorer to support Le Fondre may be needed, along with someone else to sure up their leaky defence. Players like Crystal Palace’s Glenn Murray and Wolves’s Roger Johnson may be possible targets.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

None

Out:

Alex Pearce (Liverpool, CB), Noel Hunt (???, RM), Pavel Pogrebnyak (???, ST)

Queens Park Rangers: No Second Reprieve

2012/2013 Season Review:

                Having narrowly escaped relegation in that chaotic final day game at the Etihad last May, in which commentator Martin Tyler proclaimed that ‘everyone’s a winner!’, QPR started this season with the mantra of ‘never again’. Mark Hughes utilised Tony Fernandes’s spending power to the full in the summer transfer window, acquiring the likes of Robert Green, Julio Cesar, Stephane M’Bia, Ji Sung Park and Bobby Zamora in an attempt to propel the club up the table. Instead, the Hoops started the season in the worst possible manner, being demolished 0-5 at home against Swansea. A more promising draw away at Norwich followed, but the initial results did little to diminish the anxieties of the club.

                More encouraging performances from QPR followed, in a 3-1 defeat away at Manchester City, before a 0-0 draw at home to Chelsea and a narrow 2-1 defeat away at Tottenham. Whilst the Rangers were failing to pick up points, their performances suggested that the wins would come. The following three performances, however, threw doubt on those assumptions. Home defeats against Reading, in the Capital One Cup, and West Ham, were backed up by an away defeat to West Brom. This dismal form continued, as QPR remained rooted to the foot of the table. After a run of 12 games with only 4 points as a return, Mark Hughes was relieved of his duties in late November, with Harry Redknapp being announced as his replacement.

                Redknapp oversaw the 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford, and his tenure began with a four game unbeaten run, culminating in QPR’s first win of the season, in a 2-1 victory at home to Fulham. The run of results allowed QPR fans to dream of a ‘Harry Houdini’ style Great Escape, which looked a long way away under Mark Hughes stewardship. Unfortunately, 3 more defeats took those dreams out of focus, and led for Harry to call for January reinforcements. In a seemingly never-ending rollercoaster set of results, the next scoreline took some believing. A Shaun Wright-Phillips goal against his former employers gave QPR a famous win at Stamford Bridge against an out of sorts Chelsea. This result, coupled with the influx of big name, expensive players, such as Chris Samba and Loic Remy, led the Hoops to go on a 7 game unbeaten spell, picking up more vital points in their bid to survive.

                A premature end to their FA Cup campaign, being eliminated in the Fourth Round by MK Dons, allowed QPR to focus all of their attention on retaining their Premier League status. Although by February it looked a long shot, fans believed that this Harry Redknapp assembled side could maintain enough momentum to push their side over the line. Two wins in early March, against Southampton and Sunderland, took the Hoops to within touching distance of the group above, and for the first time, pundits were beginning to ask themselves if the seemingly impossible could actually happen. Unfortunately, two successive narrow 3-2 defeats against Aston Villa and Fulham destroyed QPR’s momentum, cutting them away from the rest once more. Their fate was confirmed in the dire away game against Reading, with a boring 0-0 draw condemning them to the Championship next season. Three further defeats left QPR propping up the table, amassing only 25 points.

                Overall, not the season that Tony Fernandes or the board had envisioned this season, especially with the money pumped into the club. Reports of unrest of the difference in salaries, particularly surrounding Chris Samba, were common at the end of the season, and QPR will have to get their house in check if they are to compete for promotion next season. I suspect we will see a significant exodus, as QPR do have quality players. They were just assembled to quickly to generate short-term success.

 

Player of the Season: Julio Cesar – A strange choice, especially considering that QPR were relegated, but the Brazilian number one was a shining light in a very dark side. A number of outstanding performances give Cesar my vote, particularly his showing at home to Manchester City in late January. I would be amazed if the Hoops hang onto him, as he is undoubtedly a great talent.

 

Game of the Season: QPR 3-1 Sunderland – The game that got every QPR fan believing that the Great Escape was on. Despite dominating the early stages, the Hoops fell behind through Steven Fletcher tap-in. Cue a rousing response from QPR, levelling within ten minutes as Loic Remy steered a shot past Mignolet. A nervy start to the second half was shattered by a stunner from Tottenham loanee Andros Townsend, before another long range effort from Jenas wrapped up the points for Redknapp’s men.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (What I Think They Need): In short, to lower the wage budget, without losing many of their star talents. Large salaries, such as Chris Samba and Loic Remy may well be sacrificed, but the Hoops may want to try to hang onto stars like Adel Taarabt and Junior Hoilett. I expect to see little in the way of incomings at Loftus Road, but perhaps, if anything, a striker to replace Remy may be needed. Blackburn Rovers’s Jordan Rhodes is a proven goalscorer at that level, and would be a useful purchase.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, CM)

Out:

Loic Remy (Liverpool, Arsenal, ST), Julio Cesar (Arsenal, GK), Djibril Cisse (???, ST), Junior Hoilett (Swansea City, LW)