Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Why Pellegrini is the right choice for Man City

May 13, 2013 by soccersagacity

Roberto Mancini’s departure from Manchester City is good news for City fans, if Manuel Pellegrini is appointed as his successor.

roberto mancini, man city, mancini sacked, manuel pellegrini, malaga, man city

Mancini – ‘relieved of his duties’

 

Tactical failings

Despite winning the Premier League last season, City’s fundamental lack of attacking width was obvious. Mancini always preferred a compact midfield devoid of wingers and relied heavily on the stamina of Gael Clichy and Pablo Zabaleta to provide overlaps during attacking passages.

These conservative tactics had been stifling the team’s attacking talent and this was shown by their inability to break down the top sides in Europe, evidenced by their failure to advance from the group stages of the Champions League.

Mancini claimed the Premier League title in 2011-12, just. Yet this season has been a different, trophy-less story.

City have become predictable. With 62 league goals this season, they are behind Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea and, of course, Robin van Persie Manchester United on goals scored. Mancini’s pragmatic Italian tactics have seen City concede just 31 times in 36 games, but this is not the philosophy that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, or Director of Football Txiki Begiristain (formerly of Barcelona), expect.

manuel pellegrini, manchester city, malaga, roberto mancini, man city, sacked, mancini sack

Pellegrini – doesn’t even need to buy a new tie

Time for a change

If – as is widely reported, Manuel Pellegrini is appointed – City will be gaining a manager of distinction and one who is hugely respected, particularly in Spain, despite a relatively modest list of achievements (in terms of trophies, at least).

Champions League success is at the top of City’s list of objectives, and Pellegrini has consistently outperformed his teams’ expectations in Europe. In fact, he is the only manager to reach the Quarter Finals of the Champions League with two debutant teams in Villarreal and Malaga – the latter only narrowly missing out on the Semi Finals after a late siege from this year’s finalists Borussia Dortmund.

In Spain, Pellegrini has extracted exciting attacking performances from each of his teams.

At Villarreal, he mixed Spanish talents with South American imports to great effect, and brought the team unprecedented success. Playing a fluid 4-4-2 (4-2-2-2), El Submarino Amarillo broke the Barca-Madrid duopoly and narrowly missed out on a Champions League final to Arsenal.

At Real Madrid, the Chilean guided Los Blancos to their (then) club record points tally of 96 points, only to be pipped by Guardiola’s party-pooping Barcelona side. Were it not for the availability of Mourinho following his departure from Inter Milan, Pellegrini would likely have been given a deserved second season at the Bernabeu.

In joining Malaga, he was tasked with throwing together any available players under the authority of a rich owner and was had to desperately sculpt them into a team. Despite boardroom problems and off-field disarray, he brought the players together on the pitch.

Suddenly, the pieces start to fit together.

Isco, malaga, man city, manchester city, transfer, cavani, pellegrini

Isco could be next if Pellegrini arrives

Pellegrini’s Philosophy

Fortunately for David Silva, Pellegrini loves a playmaker. Formerly with D’Alessandro at River Plate, then Juan Roman Riquelme at Villarreal, briefly with Kaka at Madrid, and latterly with Santi Cazorla and then Isco at Malaga – Pellegrini’s teams revolve around a creative number 10.

City have a number of players who could fit the bill here. At the front of the queue will be David Silva, who must surely be a focal point if City are to become a major force in Europe.

Aside from the Spaniard, Samir Nasri has the technical ability (if not the mindset) to flourish in the playmaker role.

For a change of tactic, Yaya Toure can be deployed in his preferred attacking role. What he lacks in skills and turning circle, he makes up for in raw power and unmatched presence in the midfield.

Manchester City’s formation may change under Pellegrini and – based on the current squad – would likely see Nasri and Tevez deployed in wider support positions either side of Aguero. Alternatively, a 4-2-3-1 similar to Mancini’s starting XI in the FA Cup final could be used, but with the attacking three midfielders more spaced out.

aguero, man city, sergio aguero, kun, mancini, pellegrini

Aguero struggled with injuries this season. Probably all that sitting down.

City’s Summer Spending

After recognising that their inactivity last summer cost them this year’s Premier League crown, expect Sheik Mansour to leave his cheque book waiting for the new manager.

Few would be surprised to see Dzeko, Kolarov and Pantilimon leave but, judging by recent performances, there may be half a dozen players who are actively shepherded out the club.

Gareth Barry isn’t up to the task at the top level of European football, and the attitude of players like Samir Nasri are questionable at best. Carlos Tevez has made no secret of his desire to return to Argentina with Boca Juniors, whilst a number of fringe players may seek first team football elsewhere.

Reportedly, top of City’s wishlist are Edinson Cavani and Isco. Whether the transfer dealings are dictated by Begiristain or Pellegrini: only time will tell.

Whatever the summer holds, one thing is for certain: Manchester City’s owners expect the Premier League crown back at The Etihad Stadium in 12 months’ time.

About these ads

Posted in Champions League, Debate, England, Manchester City, Premier League, Sack Race, World Football | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

From the Reserves to the First Team to the Physio Room – Bristol Downs League

March 6, 2013 by soccersagacity

bristol downs league half time team talk motivation

Division One teams get treated to the ‘better’ pitches

At the start of the season, I was a starting midfielder for Cotswool Reserves. By the middle of September, I was featuring for the first team regularly (admittedly, due largely to the heavy drop-out rate of the regular first team players). As I write this, I can barely remember the feeling of trudging through the mud on a Saturday thanks to a 4 month lay-off. It’s been a tough season up on the Clifton Downs…

The 1st goal for Cotswool

It was mid-September, and I had been called up to the first team for the game against high-flying Easton Cowboys. I remember this because:
a) They play in a bright yellow kit
b) They have a ginger Rastafarian-wannabe in the team, who happens to be quite good (click that link, it’s worth it)

rasta footballer dreadlocks

Rasta footballers – rare

The game started well and we were 2-0 up inside 20 minutes. ‘This is good’ I thought, ‘it’s nice playing in the first team’. Then it got better.

The Cowboys ‘keeper took a goal kick quickly to the left back, who dummied a pass inside and went to dribble down the line. Just inside their half, I read his move and nicked the ball from his feet. Suddenly the pitch opened up in front of me.

I ran forward and after a few surprisingly controlled knock-ons I was on the edge of the box. I could feel the full back and covering centre back breathing down my neck (quite literally) as I took one final touch into the box. Short of breath, I glanced at the keeper before slamming the ball home at the near post. It sounds a lot more composed than it was, and I’m pretty sure that I was actually aiming for the far post. Never mind, a goal’s a goal.

goal scored to the near post football

How to score at the near post – head down, hit it hard, hope for the best

I felt like a white Jermain Defoe.

The 3-0 lead promptly went to our heads. We quickly conceded 2 goals before half time, and went on to lose 6-3. Business as usual.

The Reserve Team Collapse

By October the reserve team had forfeited several games due to lack of players and I was a regular fixture in the first team squad. After a futile attempt to attract new players (who quickly lost interest when they saw the disorganised, shambolic performances) the decision was made to disband the reserve team and focus our limited resources on the first team’s fight to stave off relegation.

Rik Waller fat football

Rik “Fats” Waller – sporting hero

arjen robben injury bayern munich holland madrid chelsea

Midfielders – injury prone

One good thing came of this turn of events. As a member of the first team playing in Division One, I get to wear a Nike kit that actually fits my underwhelming physique. The reserves, on the other hand, had to wear a ProStar kit that looked as if it has just been peeled off Rik Waller’s bloated ‘body’.

You’d think that by switching from two teams to one we’d suddenly have massive competition for places? Think again. Those who rarely turned up now avoided Saturdays all together, and the regular players slowly became less and less until we had a solid core of around 14 players vying for a spot in the first team.

The Injury

The games came thick and fast and in November we faced top of the league Torpedo. This is a team that – after inflicting a 7-0 defeat earlier in the season – prompted our Spanish centre forward to conclude “they are like Barcelona”; a worrying prospect.

We planned a 4-5-1 formation for the game. I’d love to say it was a tactical decision to swamp the midfield, stifle their attacking movement and stick to set pieces to ensure we were defensively solid. I think the reality was that we only had one fit forward for the game.

Under constant pressure, the team of six-foot speed merchants made us work hard for our 0-0 scoreline going into the latter stages of the first half.

Then, assigned to a post due to my lack of height, an in-swinging corner evaded everyone and I stabbed a foot at the ball. I successfully cleared it…about 3 yards to their striker who slammed home the loose ball. Twat.
At half time we were 2-0 down but had managed to cause Torpedo a few problems with our long throws. This wasn’t over.

We started the second half well and pushed forward, but left ourselves exposed. It was only a matter of time until they broke us down and by 75 minutes we were 4-0 down. Then it happened.

Stretching for a 50:50 in midfield, I rooted my right foot in the turf and my leg jolted – I heard a pop. Immediately something felt very wrong. I went to stand up but it wasn’t happening, and I hobbled off the pitch.

ImageI went to the hospital later to find there was no bone damage, and that it was ‘most likely a muscle tear or ligament damage’. Nice and specific diagnosis there, thank you nurse. ‘Just use these [hands me crutches] and take some Ibuprofen’ [opens the door with a look of ‘stop wasting my time’]. Brilliant.

3 weeks on crutches, and I could just about walk unaided again. By this point – now December – walking was a novelty and playing football again was a distant prospect.

The Return

Now early March, I’ve managed a few tentative runs on the gym treadmill and am nearly ready for a return to action. Unfortunately, this weekend is a double header in which we play two games back-to-back (yes, one after the other) to catch up on fixture congestion after many weather-induced postponements.

I’ll be lucky to make it through a 15 minute cameo.

Posted in Amateur Football, Bristol, Bristol Downs League, Cotswool FC | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

5 January signings to save Aston Villa

January 9, 2013 by soccersagacity

The January transfer window closes in 3 weeks and Aston Villa are in a precarious position, hovering just above the relegation zone and having conceded 5 billion goals in their last 5 games. Even Wigan and Bradford City have hit three goals apiece past the woeful Villa defense. With the Premier League’s youngest squad seriously struggling, Paul Lambert needs the backing of Randy Lerner in this transfer window more than McLeish or O’Neill ever did previously.

Scott Sinclair aston villa manchester city everton transfer january loan swansea

The lesser spotted ‘Sinclair in a City shirt’

barry bannan aston villa

Barry Bannan – nothing like Patrick Vieira

Here’s a look at 5 (realistic) signings that could save Villa’s season.

Scott Sinclair
Club: Manchester City
Cost: Loan

Sinclair had a fine 2011/12 season with Swansea before making the brilliant career choice to go put out cones and carry bibs at Manchester City for £50,000 a week.
Having made just 4 appearances for City since his £8m move, Sinclair will be keen to get back to first team action to prove that he is worth his place in the City squad. With Villa lacking creative spark, it could be a win-win situation.

Jolean Lescott
Club: Manchester City
Cost: Loan

Despite ‘a source’ in The Mirror apparently ruling out a loan move in January, Lescott – a boyhood Villa fan – is below Kompany, Nastasic and Toure in the City pecking order and could be tempted by a chance to be a hero – at least in the short term – at Villa Park.

Moussa Sissoko
Club: Toulouse
Cost: £10m

Although Lerner might need to actually spend the Milner/Young/Downing/Barry money, a strong CM is an absolute priority. Sissoko is tall, powerful and aggressive in the tackle, drawing predictable comparisons with Patrick Vieira. He is literally the exact opposite to Barry Bannan. Need I say more?

Tim Cahill

Club: NY Red Bulls
Cost: Loan

If there’s one thing Villa are lacking this season, it’s experience. Cahill would bring this in abundance, with personality and work rate to match. Available on a three-month loan in the MLS off-season, a return to Goodison is perhaps more likely but would be guaranteed game time at Villa Park. His heading ability would also be crucial in helping Villa at set pieces at both ends of the pitch.

Martin Olsson blackburn rovers transfer west ham january transfer window donovan

Martin Olsson could finally put Joe Bennett out his misery

Martin Olsson
Club: Blackburn
Cost: £2-3m

OK, so there are many better defenders out there, but Olsson is a quick, strong full back with Premier League experience. There aren’t many defenders with these strengths for under £4m, but Lambert will need to move quickly to beat West Ham to his signature.
Lazio’s Belgian full back Luis Cavanda is also apparently a transfer target, but I’m not going to pretend I know anything about him so won’t pass judgement.

Here’s how the Villa team could look at the end of the January transfer window:

Aston Villa team 2012 2013 january transfer window guzan vlaar lowton el ahmadi benteke weimann

It’s not going to happen, is it?

Who do you want Villa to sign?
What can we expect from Lambert and Lerner this month?
Will Villa survive to fight another Premier League day?

Join the debate on Twitter: 
@soccersagacity & @giplu

Posted in Aston Villa, Debate, England, Premier League | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

No Manager, No Players, No Corner Flags – Bristol Downs League 2012/13

October 31, 2012 by soccersagacity

As this is the first blog of the 2012/13 season, we should start with a quick catch up on the season so far.

Cotswool FC v Clifton Rockets Bristol Downs League 2012 football soccer

The Downs League is based in picturesque Clifton. Sadly the football isn’t quite as aesthetically pleasing

It’s now late October and the new season is well underway. Cotswool Reserves sit proudly at the foot of Bristol Downs League Division 3 after 7 games with no wins, no draws and a comprehensively shite -27 goal difference. All is not lost, though, as a confident 5-2 Cup win against the side rock bottom of the entire Bristol Downs football pyramid recently reminded us what it feels like to be happy on a Saturday afternoon.

 

After a summer spent watching Euro 2012, Olympic football (not dissimilar to Amateur South West football, it turns out) and generally forgetting what exercise feels like, we had a couple of pre-season friendlies to get us back in the mood. Like a poor man’s Newcastle United, we kept the majority of our squad together but failed to add the summer transfer signings we were hoping for. Nevertheless, after a couple of warm-up victories we were feeling confident for the new season.

 

The early season games didn’t go well. If anything, the team was even more disorganised than before. If you have played amateur football and you think you know taking-the-piss organisation, you ain’t seen nothing yet. This is a whole new world of incompetence.

Bristol football downs league clifton rockets cotswool fc soccer

A nice sliced left foot shot. I was just happy to have made contact at all.

For example, prior to one game I arrived at the prison-like changing rooms to find no manager, no kit, no balls (in any respect) and a grand total of 4 players. We waited and waited, but kick off was nearing so we headed out to the pitch. After ‘warming up’ (still just four of us) for 15 minutes (regular readers will know this constitutes standing in the goalmouth booting balls around aimlessly) there was no sign of the other players.

5 minutes before kick-off, 5 players arrived (but no manager as yet) and I asked the referee to delay the start of the match, citing some nonsensical and ill-thought-out excuse about a family emergency. It then became clear that the 5 late players were wearing kit which they had donned in the changing room after we’d left, but had not brought any for the rest of us.
A couple of us ran back the half mile back to the changing rooms and, after 10 minutes of trying to work out who had the keys to the locked prison cell, we grabbed the extra kits and headed back to the pitch.

We arrived at 2.20pm – 10 minutes into the already-delayed game – which we had started with 9 men. Blowing out our arses, we got to the pitch and ran straight on to complete the 11. Looking around, I didn’t recognise 4 of the guys on our team. Cue spending roughly a third of the game trying to being introduced to fellow midfielders at any possible pause in play. Somehow, we went on to score five goals in that match, but eventually lost 7-5.

What makes the whole thing worse is that it was against one of the worst teams I’ve ever seen in my life. Ever. In any kind of competitive activity.

It’s hard to swallow the fact that the team you play for is less competent than the worst team you’ve ever seen.

 

Bristol football downs league clifton rockets cotswool fc

I got tackled…not by Fatty, but by the 4 inch deep grass…

This was not an isolated incident. Repeatedly we have failed to have enough players to make up our two squads and have roped in friends of friends to help us out, literally minutes before kick-off. We’ve delayed multiple games for various reasons; played with 10 men due to injuries, hangovers and lack of substitutes; forgotten to bring corner flags to the pitch; and many other equally piss-poor reasons. Oh, and we had to pause a match because two of our players were wearing Number 7.

 

After this shambolic start, the team was in disarray. Something had to change. Rather unexpectedly, it did. The reserve team manager resigned with immediate effect. The management was restructured (this sounds more professional than it is) and the first team manager decided to take over the running of the reserve team to bring some stability, whilst the old hands in the first team were left to player-manage the team in the short term. I agreed to be right-hand man to the new reserve team manager, helping out on match day, reporting on players from training and generally being the AVB to our Mourinho. If Mourinho were a toothless 60 year old Bristolian, and AVB were a talentless 25 year old twonk.

 

The first week after the management change, the reserves won 5-2 in the Cup and some confidence was restored. But with the next game against a top-six team followed by an ‘away’ game (meaning you have to change kit if there’s a clash) versus the league leaders, this upturn in spirits is likely to be short-lived.

 

In the words of the Chuckle Brothers – “oh dear oh dear”.

Bristol football downs league clifton rockets cotswool fc throw in rules

Long throws are our biggest weapon thanks to our very own Rory Delap

 

Bristol football downs league clifton rockets cotswool fc throw in rules

Pitch markings – optional, apparently

 

Posted in Amateur Football, Bristol, Bristol Downs League | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Coming soon…

October 5, 2012 by soccersagacity

After a summer break, soccersagacity.com will be back soon with weekly updates from the Bristol Downs League. Check back regularly for more nonsensical ramblings and vitriolic outbursts that would make Ashley Cole proud.

In the meantime, here’s a few pictures from pre-season to whet the appetite…

bristol downs league kick off night match football soccer

Bristol Downs League midweek matches – hardly the Champions League

Bristol Downs League goal football soccer

Bristol Downs League sunset football soccer evening beautifulAdidas Predator football boots hard ground blades

 

 

Posted in Amateur Football, Bristol Downs League | Leave a Comment »

Premier League 2012/13 Season Predictions

August 16, 2012 by soccersagacity

It seems like a lifetime ago that Martin Tyler was reaching for the tissues following Sergio Agüero’s last minute heroics against QPR.

With the 2011/12 season widely dubbed ‘the greatest ever’, the 2012/13 season has a lot to live up to. This summer has seen managerial changes galore, and with players swapping clubs left, right and centre there’s sure to be a few Chamakh’s for every van Persie.

So what will the Premier League table look like come May 2013? Let’s take a look at what might happen at the top end of the league…

 

Manchester City

Last season: Champions

Summer business: Minimal. Rodwell comes in to boost their ‘homegrown’ quota by one – Gareth Barry is now completely pointless. An already strong team has been kept together, and they are good enough to win the league again. Selling Adebayor/ Santa Cruz remains a priority to meet the Financial Fair Play regulations. On-form and motivated bi-polar billionaire Carlos Tevez could be crucial.

jack rodwell manchester city man signs everton midfielder

Jack Rodwell is City’s only signing this summer…so far

Successful season: No more fall-outs, team grows together. Tevez stays and enjoys playing football more than golf and forms an outstanding partnership with Agüero. City win the league before the last minute of the last game of the season. Champions League semi-finals appearance and an FA Cup win.

Disappointing season: More fall-outs undermine Mancini’s influence. Overpaid fringe players cause a negative atmosphere. Team’s lack of wingers means opponents learn to play against them, and they struggle to hit the heights of last season. Lose out to United in title race and another early exit from Champions League.

Prediction: Champions. City still have the strongest 1st and 2nd XI in the league, possibly only behind Barcelona and Madrid in the World. Barring an injury-ravaged season, they should be good enough to retain the title. Agüero to be crowned Top Goalscorer and Player of the Season.

 

Manchester United

Last season: 2nd

Summer business:Robin van Persie. Shinji Kagawa. Wonderkid from Crewe. Haven’t yet sold Berbatov, which is a worry. Aging squad needs further refreshment.

van persie manchester united man transfer football rooney soccer arsenal rvp

RVP and Rooney will form one of the League’s best ever strike partnerships, on paper at least

Successful season: RVP stays fit, forms a telepathic partnership with Rooney and beats his previous seasons’ goal tally. United beat City and regain the league title. Competitive Champions League campaign and a domestic cup win.

Disappointing season: RVP returns to his old ways and misses half the season with injury. Rooney left to prop the team up, gains weight and loses his hair again. Kagawa fails to settle and team continues to lack midfield creativity. City win the league at a canter and United end the season trophy-less.

Prediction: 2nd. The addition of van Persie keeps them ahead of Chelsea in the City-challenging crowd. Fergie rarely let’s his teams underperform and this season will be no different. Valencia, Nani, Kagawa and Young mean RVP will have chances in abundance. Strong title challenge.

 

Arsenal

Last season: 3rd

Summer business:Lost captain van Persie to rivals United. Fans despair. Wenger signs well with Podolski, Giroud and the outstanding Cazorla. Wilshere and Diaby working towards fitness.

podolski lucas arsenal german striker

Podolski will be charged with replacing van Persie at Arsenal

Successful season: van Persie’s exit makes room for the new partnership of Giroud and Podolski. Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain offer deadly width and pace to tear teams apart on the counter attack. Cazorla becomes the new David Silva. Arsenal challenge for the title and put strong building blocks together for next season. Domestic cup win to end trophy-less streak.

Disappointing season: Another trophy-less season. Without van Persie, the team struggles for goals. Giroud fails to adapt and Podolski plays like he did at Euro 2012. Cazorla has no one to pass to except Walcott, who still hasn’t learnt to shoot. Fall behind Spurs in the final standings.

Prediction: 4th. Santi Cazorla is the signing of the summer so far (value for money). A lot depends on how the new forwards adapt to the Premier League. Season will be seen as transitional after losing the Dutchman. Fans will be on Wenger’s back, unfairly so.

 

Tottenham Hotspur

Last season: 4th

Summer business:Two good signings in Vertonghen and Sigurdsson, but the impending departure of Modric to Madrid weakens the starting XI. Moutinho is lined up as the ideal replacement but yet to be agreed. Andre Villas-Boas in for Harry Redknapp brings an entirely new management style – aesthetically at least, the move to handsome young manager from a blushing scrotum shows progress.

andre villas boas tottenham hotspur avb spurs new manager redknapp football soccer

AVB takes over from Redknapp at Tottenham

Successful season: AVB settles quickly into the hot seat and continues the Tottenham tradition of bold attacking football. Tottenham outscore their opponents and challenge for the top four again. They will see RVP’s departure as a chance to leapfrog Arsenal into the Champions League slots.

Disappointing season: The defensive frailties that plagued Villas-Boas’ Chelsea side reoccur and his Spurs team to concede too many goals. With no attacking spearhead, Tottenham create chances but struggle to finish them, and drop out of the European places altogether. AVB is sacked for a second consecutive season and goes to manage Inter.

Prediction: 5th. This will largely depend on AVB’s ability to bring in a striker to lead the line. The permanent move of Adebayor is still in the pipeline, but alternative options are dwindling. The Portuguese needs to move fast, as Defoe won’t be able to carry this team on his own. Expect lots of classic Villas-Boas squats.

 

Newcastle United

Last season: 5th

Summer business:A few minor signings, nothing like the headlines of Cabaye and Cisse of previous windows. Keeping hold of their best players is an achievement in itself.

hatem ben arfa newcastle united soccer midfielder football

Ben Arfa will need to be at his best to get Newcastle into Europe again next season

Successful season: A strong squad with plenty of talent that is mentally stronger for last year’s experience kicks on. Key players stay fit and lead Newcastle to another European-qualifying finish, with hopes of a good run in this season’s Europa League.

Disappointing season: Cisse gets injured, Ba struggles and Newcastle are light on goals. The best XI is good, but the squad is shallow and a long campaign domestically and in Europe takes its toll and the Magpies limp to a mid table finish. Stars like Ben Arfa and Cabaye leave in January.

Prediction: 7th. With Liverpool and Chelsea seemingly stronger than last season, Newcastle will struggle to match a 5th place finish. 7th would be solid and Pardew could seek further squad investment next summer knowing he has built a consistent European standard team.

 

Chelsea

Last season: 6th

Summer business:Busy. Eden Hazard signs for $100bn. Younger brother Thorgan signs for a packet of sweets. Marin and Oscar provide more attacking midfield options. Drogba leaves to run riot in the Chinese Super League. Essien continues his post-injury hibernation.

eden hazard chelsea midfielder soccer football new signing lille

Hazard is expected to hit the ground running at Chelsea

Successful season: Torres finds form, fed by a midfield full of attacking flair and invention. New players blend seamlessly into the squad and score for fun. Chelsea mount a title challenge and have a good go at retaining the Champions League. Retaining the FA Cup would be a bonus. Hazard named Young Player of the Year and tops the league’s assist table.

Disappointing season: Torres finds no form. New team of flair midfielders are stifled by Di Matteo’s defensive tactics and the team looks disjointed. Unable to keep up with the Manchester clubs and make little impact in the cups, RDM is sacked before the season’s end.

Prediction: 3rd. Chelsea have spent the most of all English clubs and it should show. Torres looks on hot form after Euro 2012. Di Matteo builds around defensive stability and needs the midfield provide Torres with the chances to hit 30+ goals this season. Title challenge, good cup runs, possibly one domestic cup win but a strong season overall.

 

Liverpool

Last season: 8th

Summer business:Kenny “stuck in the past” Dalglish leaves, Brendan Rodgers comes in. A couple of summer signings but nothing ground-breaking. Major talking point has been Rodgers seemingly casting out £35m man Andy Carroll.

fabio borini liverpool striker signs brendan rodgers

Borini adds much-needed firepower to the Liverpool attack

Successful season: Rodgers gets the team playing attractive football which the fans haven’t seen for years. Suarez and Borini form a strong combination, with Carroll also used in rotation. Joe Cole remembers how to play football. Solid push for Champions League places. Cup run to a final.

Disappointing season: More of the same. The team relies on Reina-Agger-Gerrard-Suarez spine too heavily and squad can’t cope with injuries. Another slump into mid table and no cup runs of note. More unrest, and Rodgers isn’t given time to implement his philosophy. Jay Spearing is relied upon. Glen Johnson is asked to performance defensive duties.

Prediction: 6th. Rodgers is a likeable manager who will engage players and fans alike with attacking, creative football. It may take time to organise a team around his philosophy, so don’t expect too much in his first season.

 

Predicted final table:

premier league prediction 2012 2013 english football

Posted in Debate, Premier League | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Chelsea’s Fantastic Four: 2012-13

July 19, 2012 by soccersagacity

With Roberto Di Matteo on the verge of completing a deal for Brazilian wonderkid Oscar, we preview how Chelsea’s attack might look as they seek to retain the Champions League and challenge Manchester City for the Premier League.

Chelsea team 2012 2013 hazard torres mata oscar lampard ramires

How Chelsea could line up for the 2012-13 season

The key to the above formation is the ability of Lampard and Ramires to provide a stable enough central partnership to allow the front four the freedom to play fluid passing football without worrying too much about their defensive responsibilities.

 

“The centre of the park”

Lampard

We all know ‘Fat Frank’ isn’t the player he used to be, and he certainly won’t hit 20 goals-a-season anymore. However, a look north to how Fergie has employed diminutive ginger Paul Scholes in a ‘Pirlo’ role should give you all the justification you need that Lampard should retain his place in the centre of Chelsea’s midfield.

Lampard possesses an eye for a pass and composure in his decision making that make him a valuable part of this formation. With more experience than the rest of the midfield/attack, he can orchestrate the forwards, giving guidance to the youthful Oscar/Hazard/Mata combination further up the pitch.

 

Ramires

The engine room of this Chelsea side – Ramires has the stamina of Dirk Kuyt, but thankfully isn’t cursed with the same technical ability. His role in this side would be to compensate for Lampard’s lack of mobility and cover as much ground defensively as possible.

Alternatively, against stronger opposition, the central pairing could become a three with Oscar (or whoever the AMC is) sacrificed and David Luiz being employed as a defensive midfielder behind Lampard and Ramires. Luiz could also replace Lampard if a bit of erratic defending interspersed with attacking brilliance is what RDM is looking for.

 

“The Fantastic Four”

Oscar

The skillful and highly-rated Brazilian is somewhat of a gamble for Chelsea (if they indeed manage to complete his signing, as expected). However, he will offer invention that Lampard and Ramires don’t, and has the potential to play in a fluid attacking trident with Mata and Hazard either side, behind Torres. His ability to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League will determine how successful he can be in England.

In the event that Chelsea fail to complete a deal for Oscar, they may choose to move Mata inside and give Daniel Sturridge the wide attacking role. Or just splash some more деньги in search of another wonderkid (Ganso).

 

Mata

In the 2011-12 Premier League season, Juan Mata created 102 goal scoring opportunities. Only David Silva (104) created more.

The beauty of Mata’s play is his typically Spanish movement; he glides across the pitch and, much City’s prolific assist-maker, creates space for himself. His ability to turn, dribble and find a pass under immense pressure makes him key to Chelsea’s attack, and with increased creativity around him this season he should get even better.

 

Hazard

No one quite knows what the cocksure Belgian will deliver in the blue of Chelsea. There’s no doubting his ability, but his mentality could be called into question when he realises defenders like Vidic and Kompany won’t be as forgiving as those he faced in Ligue 1.

What Hazard will benefit from at Chelsea is the increased level (mentally and technically) of the players around him. The above formation allows Mata and Hazard to interchange positions in a way that Roman’s men haven’t done since the days of Robben and Duff. Constant movement between the two wide players will either leave one of them free, or expose space for Torres and Oscar to exploit.

 

Torres

Possibly the most important piece of this jigsaw is the Spanish number 9. With Drogba gone, Torres is RDM’s main man this season. This season will decide whether he climbs to the lofty heights of his days under Rafa Benitez at Liverpool, or is cast off as another failed Abramovich forward (see Kezman, Shevchenko).

His form in the Euros showed (in the little time he had) that under the right circumstances he can still be a lethal finisher. With a wealth of creative talent behind him, this season could potentially be his most fruitful yet. If he fails to find form, Hazard’s Belgium teammate and devourer of books Romelu Lukaku is waiting for his chance to shine.

 

City, be afraid. Or don’t, as you have Aguero. But everyone else…be afraid! Chelsea are back!

 

Posted in Chelsea, Premier League | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 365 other followers

%d bloggers like this: