Posted in Uncategorized on August 29, 2010 by Mr. Opeke
The sputtering Reds finally brought itself together to win their first Premier League game this season. After a blunder cost them the win against Arsenal and an intense 3-0 loss to Manchester City, Liverpool was in dire need of 3 points to keep themselves in the race for a Champions League spot. West Brom appeared to be the dream fixture for them and it seemed like a given 3 points.
However, the 3 points didn’t come so easy and they struggled for the win through an accurate strike from Fernando Torres in the 65th minute. The Spaniard came to Liverpool’s rescue once again even though he wasn’t even close to his peak form. Reina accurately threw the ball to Kuyt who slid Torres in on goal to neatly volley past Carson.
You can't fit a square block into a round hole
Liverpool was able to squeeze out the three points, but what is the real problem for Liverpool’s lack of goals? In my perspective, Liverpool lacks a lot of chances and shots on goals. They took 4 less shots that West Brom (16 shots to 11) who’s forward line is not as impressive as Liverpool’s. Then why are they creating less chances? The real problem is a lack of creativity that has been missing in the midfield since Xabi Alonso left a year ago. Our wingers at the moment (Jovanovic and Kuyt) are both forwards who are being played out of position on the left and right side respectively. I’ll write another article when I see Joe Cole play and see what changes, but for now the wingers both lack pace and creative distribution into the center of the park.
Raul Meireles
With the transfer of Raul Meireles being competed today. Hopefully he will add some midfield reinforcement to help out Gerrard, who would prefer to roam forward!
Sorry readers. I haven’t posted things in a while because I was at a family vacation in the UK and getting prepared for school. The school year is about to start and I won’t be able to write articles on as a regular basis, but keep an eye out.
Seeing that pre-season is drawing to a near for the English Premier League (the season begins on August 14), I just wanted to write a smaller article on how the pre-season for the Big 4 went. For those of you who don’t know, the Big 4 in the Premier League consists of 4 great teams that generally finish every year in a 1-2-3-4 fashion. These teams are Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Recently Liverpool seems to have dropped out of the Big 4 when they finished 7th last year, but as a fan I bet they will bounce back stronger than ever.
Manchester United:
Manchester United chose to pursue their pre-season fitness by finding their competition on the North American continent. On their “Manchester United North American Tour” playing Celtic FC in Toronto, the Union in Philadelphia, the Wizards in Kansas, the MLS All-Stars in Houston and Chivas FC at home which included a deal for Javier Hernandez. In these matches they won 3 out of 5 including a 2-1 dissapointing loss to the Kansas City and then a 2-1 loss to Chivas where the star Javier Hernandez scored for his hometown team (he played the first half for his old team and the second half for MUTD). This was more of a proving session than anything else for the Manchester United squad that consisted mostly of reserve, fringe and youth players. A lot of players took their chance to shine, including Kiko Macheda, Obertan, Tom Cleverly and Rafael.
Conclusion:
If anything can be said about this team, it shows that they have some quality coming through from the proven Manchester United youth system.
Chelsea:
There’s not much to say for this team’s disappointing pre-season run which has only included one win so far out of 4 matches. Their only win, against Crystal Palace was a drab 1-0 with a goal from the returning Michael Essien. Their next 3 matches (Ajax, Frankfurt and Hamburg) all defeated the Blues who brought a lot of their first-team players back to prepare for the following season early. There was no excuse for Chelsea to lose to all 3 teams, but pre-season slumps do happen and the normally impressive side was able to only score one goal.
Conclusions:
Chelsea should not be worried as much because of the losses, but should be worried about who is going to replace Peter Cech in goal as both Ross Turnbull and Hilario have made fatal mistakes in the games this pre-season. However this is a sign for the other big 3 teams that the champions are not ready to win the title, nonetheless the Community Shield.
Liverpool (My Squad):
The new look Liverpool continued their tradition of playing most of their pre-season friendlies in Scandinavia and playing with their affiliated clubs up there. It seemed like their pre-season was going to be a drab Chelsea-like affair until the team started gelling and N’gog took a scorer’s role in Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres’s absence. He scored consistently through matches where he started and led Liverpool to crucial wins and ties. Does he make his stand for a bench spot?
Conclusion:
All I know is that Liverpool is looking good under new management and with their new squad and while it doesn’t promise instant success, I hope it allows for good things to happen in the future.
Arsenal:
The possibly crazed Wenger may have fought all summer to keep Fabregas as his own for the next season, but he didn’t forget to fill in the weaker parts of his team. He spent money to pry away Laurent Koscielny from Lorient and sign the highly rated Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux on a free transfer (right from Liverpool). From their preseason friendlies (mostly from their Emirates Cup) Arsenal looks like they are running off a new confidence this season that hasn’t been around for a while. Chamakh showed his skill in the air and clinical finishes. Koscielny already seems to have formed a great relationship with his other center-back Vermaelen and Wilshere is proving once again this pre-season that he deserves a permanent spot on the first team. Coming off a strong showing at the Emirates Cup even with mediocre goalkeepers (Wenger will probably purchase a new keeper soon) shows that this Arsenal squad may actually challenge for silverware this season.
Conclusion:
Along with Manchester United, this looks like the most solid squad coming into the 2010/2011 season. I hope for the best for Wenger who is under pressure to win some silverware. Now that the Fabregas transfer saga is over, I hope the captain can focus on bigger and better things this season.
Cleverly showed up with a fantastic goal in this match
The new Manchester United star
5-2. No close score by any means, but from a Manchester United side that was composed of any players from the World Cup and only one real starter from the side (Nani). On the other hand, the MLS All-Stars fielded 11 in-season and fit players that even featured players that were part of the World Cup squad (Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle). Yet from 22 seconds, Macheda was able to score his first goal from a well placed finish off a defensive miscommunication. Of all of the tests that this squad was supposed to face in their North American tour, this became more of a showcase when Macheda bagged his second just a few minutes later. The scoreline stayed 2-0 until half-time where things looked grim for a MLS All-Star side that came out completely flat. Things changed in the second half where the MLS side came out with a bit more energy and managed to get a goal back from the substitute and the Houston-based Brian Ching. Things looked better from the MLS side, but it was not to be as Manchester United pulled 2 goals back in quick succession. First, Tom Cleverly had a brilliant run in the box from a 1-2 with Fletcher before lifting the ball over the defender and placing the ball in the near post at point-blank range. The second came after Mexican star Javier Hernandez came of the pitch and won the free kick for Manchester United right outside the box. 22-year old Gibson stepped up to take the free kick and sweetly whipped the ball into the upper left corner over the wall. As the game seemed even more beyond reach, Javier Hernandez beat the offside trap. The pass came from the air and he let it take a bounce before coolly chipping the approaching keeper. It seemed like the perfect debut for the new Mexican star and made a very good impression on the crowd and the gaffer Mr. Ferguson. The game was over at this point. The crowd was satisfied after the 6 goal thriller and were disappointed to see the MLS All-Star team lose for the first time to a foreign team in regulation time. However, it was not to be finished as Toronto striker De Rosario capped a fine solo goal in the dying minutes of the game. Both teams finally stopped leaking goals. 90 minutes were finished.
What can I take from this match? Cleverly had some flair and could be a solid center midfielder in a future senior side if he got more first-team experience. Macheda definitely showed why he should be a contender for that third striker spot on the bench on Manchester United. Hernandez showed that he is ready to play and has the pace and movement that Berbatov has failed to show since his transfer from Tottenham. Nani showed that he has the physical ability and skills to be a great winger, but lacks the footballing IQ. Rafael showed that he is ready to compete and become a replacement and even an upgrade for Gary Neville with his pace and his attacking Brazilian spirit.
Receiving instruction is not one of Balotelli's strong points
Balotelli’s transfer to England has been in the majority of all transfer talks going on this summer. The highly rated Italian teenager has been seeking a move away from Inter Milan after many disagreements with previous coach Jose Mourinho and it seems like Rafael Benitez wants nothing to do with the player as well. The 19 year-old, nicknamed Super Mario, has been an important part of the Inter Milan setup though he does not feature as much as he would like throughout the season. In the Serie A he often plays as a sub for any of the three strikers up front (Eto’o, Milito and Pandev), and between the injuries and the rests the players take for Champions League, he often features a lot as a starter in the latter stages of the season. His scoring record at for the first team has been impressive for a player that features mostly as a substitute (20 goals in 59 appearances). This past season Balotelli was able to record 11 goals and 8 assists in 40 appearances, a personal best in both categories for the young striker.
A devastating freekick from Super Mario
Recently Manchester City’s rumored interest had materialized and they launched several bids for him before finally settling for a 24 million pound transfer in the past 24 hours. Now the battle for a starting spot begins at Manchester City with 3 quality strikers fighting for 2 spots in their 4-4-2 formation. The clear favorites last season were Adebayor and Tevez up front and Bellamy and Santa Cruz coming off the bench, but now Balotelli changes things. He knows that he didn’t transfer to Manchester City to be a quality substitute like he was at Inter Milan. Tevez seems like the better option for a lock at the striker spot rather than Adebayor as he is not only clinical in front of goal, but has a work-rate that is unmatched in the Premier League. Now the two men of African descent (Balotelli was an orphan to two Ghanaian parents) must battle for the other spot. Adebayor’s aerial ability and scoring record provide a strong case for a starting spot this new season (14 goals, 3 assists) and a perfect complement chemistry for Tevez. On the contrary, Balotelli’s pace, and his ability to score from anywhere on the park gives him a big bonus. He also has a knack for scoring from set-pieces with a devastating free-kick. However, his reputation to have a bad attitude after bad losses and getting substituted makes him quite a wild card.
I can’t lie though, after recent reports this morning that Adebayor is awaiting to play with Balotelli this season, it brings the rumor that is Tevez on the way out? I have also seen him linked with a move in Inter Milan in recent days as a replacement for the aging Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito.
Who knows how this is going to work out. We just have to wait and see because there are still a few weeks left in the transfer window and anything can happen!
In yesterday’s post, I covered how the financial battle over Cesc Fabregas rages on (see http://wp.me/p10kXF-a).Today, I hope to cover more of the impact that Cesc Fabregas will make if the move to Barcelona actually takes place.
Fabregas makes a pass
Though I am not an Arsenal fan and do not watch many of their matches, I am familiar with his role on the team. Serving both as the captain of the squad and as one of the most technically gifted central midfielders in the EPL, he acts as a midfield general and is involved in most of the attacking plays going forward. This past year, Arshavin did not feature as much because of injury and a lot of the creative and playmaking had to come through the middle of the pitch. He took on this opportunity to shine throughout this season, providing just as many assists (19) as goals(19) in 36 appearances. He also has an amazing vein of form when his endorsed CTR360 cleats were released on the market, scoring 6 goals in 4 games. However, how would he fit into a Barcelona system where he would no longer become the focus of play and simply be a gear in the fluid midfield of Barcelona?
Fabregas fights Giggs for the ball
On Barcelona’s famous 4-3-3, he would take the place of Sergio Busquets in the center of the park and Sergio would become the back up, now that Yaya Toure has left for Manchester City. Sergio was forced to become a dominant physical presence in the center of the field, allowing both Xavi and Iniesta to roam on the sides and provide support for the forwards. If Fabregas was to take this spot on the field, he would have to focus more on developing his defensive part of the game, but his technical ability would instantly benefit the team. With all due respect to Sergio, a wonderful tall Spanish midfielder that is an important part of the national team does not match up with the passing and offensive acuteness of Fabregas with only 1 goal and 2 assists this whole season. If Fabregas inherited this position, it would not allow him to score many more goals but his tactical IQ would certainly provide more assists down the middle of the park and would relieve defensive pressure from Xavi and Iniesta.
So in conclusion, would Fabregas be an upgrade for the catalans?
YES
But would he be so much of an upgrade that Barcelona should possibly ruin any chance they have of coming back to swoop the talented midfielder away from the club at a later time?
MAYBE
I feel David Villa already makes Barcelona that more menacing on the offensive front and Sergio will do well in protecting the midfield like he always has. They should be content with their acquisitions in the transfer market and allow their youth in midfield to develop for another year before going after Fabregas.
This summer was not only highlighted by the World Cup, but by multiple players claiming that they were planning to discuss their footballing futures after the tournament. Fabregas was one of the few to cast his future in doubt before the World Cup by claiming he wanted to go home to Barcelona. This was a very bold move by the Arsenal captain as he had rejected moves back to the Catalan club many times before, but clearly this time around he had changed his mind. Maybe he had gotten tired of England and the toughness of the Premier League and wanted to go back to the tactical game of the La Liga. Or maybe he wanted to head back to his first club, where he grew and developed as a player before he was snatched away by the cunning Arsene Wenger. Either way, he made it very public that he wanted to go back home and play for his childhood club, but it wasn’t up to him if he was going to leave or not. Arsene Wenger was quickly to respond by telling everyone that he wasn’t going anywhere for the time being. Wenger realized that he not only was going to lose another key player in his system to the Barcelona Transfer Monster, but was going to have to replace his captain once again (Thierry Henry in 2007). Barcelona made no official bids before the World Cup, but their interest was looming like sharks in the water. However, Arsenal was able to hold on to the captain and use Fabregas’s lengthy contract to keep Barcelona at bay. The deal, running out in 2014 guarantees four more seasons at the club, as long as Arsenal does not choose to transfer the player. However, in the last few hours, Fabregas penned a deal with Barcelona that guarantees him 7 million euros per season for at 5 years if he eventually is transferred. As of now, it seems like everything is in place except Arsenal accepting a bid from Barcelona which will be soon to arrive.
