Liverpool: Is Brendan Rodgers Shuffling Cards in the Last Chance Saloon?

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Making changes to the coaching staff at a football club may not seem like a monumental occurrence. But for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, the recent shuffling of the pack at Anfield could be a defining moment in the career of the young manager.

When the final whistle blew at the Britannia Stadium on the final day of last season, many people questioned whether the Northern Irishman would be able to survive the fallout from the humiliating 6-1 defeat inflicted by Stoke City. Fan forums went into meltdown, replacements were touted and an emergency meeting was called by the club’s hierarchy.

It is testament to either the board’s faith in his abilities or Rodger’s skill as a salesman that he came away from that meeting relatively unscathed, and with the full backing of his superiors. The subsequent dismissals of assistant manager, Colin Pascoe and first team coach, Mike Marsh gave many observers the impression that Rodgers may have thrown his colleagues under the bus when it came to apportioning blame for Liverpool’s underwhelming season.

Whatever the circumstances behind the departures, it is clear that Merseyside club’s American owners have decided to give Rodgers the opportunity to put things right - and on his own terms. While many of last year’s transfer dealings were not fully endorsed by the manager, it is expected that this summer the focus will be on bagging Rodgers preferred targets, both on and off the field.

By putting so much faith in their manager, the American owners are also giving the Red’s boss enough rope to hang himself should things not improve in the coming season. In fact, Rodgers now finds himself in a position where the next 12 months will be make or break.

After extolling the virtues of having a clear philosophy in his first three seasons at the helm, Rodgers is now talking about taking the club in “a new technical direction.” The appointments of Sean O’Driscoll and Pep Lijnders are integral to this new vision.

After plying his progressive style of football with varying degrees of success in the lower leagues, O’Driscoll was eventually appointed coach of the England under-19 set-up, and has now quit that role to join the Anfield boot room.  Lijnders was already working at the Liverpool academy where his impressive work with the under-16s persuaded Rodgers that he was ready to make the step up.

With another first-team coach also due to be appointed, Rodgers will have a whole new set of technical minds at his disposal next term.

Once the football gets underway in August; the performance of this newly-assembled back room team will be under just as much scrutiny as that of any players that Liverpool might recruit this summer.

 

Written by Neil Morris

Follow Neil on Twitter @nmorris01

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Yohan Cabaye: An Incredibly Surprising and Astute Signing for Crystal Palace

It’s not everyday you hear Crystal Palace sign a player who was playing Champions League football just a season before. But the Premier League side have made an incredibly smart and astute signing by landing Yohan Cabaye from French champions Paris St-Germain. They have done the same for a club-record transfer fee of £10m.

Of course, it is a bit surprising. Why would Cabaye leave one of the most ambitious European side for a mid-table English club? Well, after a dream move to PSG, the Frenchman spent more time on the bench than on the pitch. He made just 13 Ligue 1 starts for the Parisian club last season and only once did he finish the match after starting it. Cabaye, who signed for PSG in the winter of 2014, but he has found chances extremely limited.

As opposed to his stint at Newcastle United, where he was one of the key players in the side and basically indispensable, he was a luxury commodity at PSG and if he wished to play next year’s Euro’s that France are hosting, he needed to play every week and impress Deschamps. Cabaye is aware that there are plenty of young Frenchman who are waiting to gobble up a spot the national squad.

There were some links with Arsenal and Liverpool at one point of time. He also attracted interest from West Ham United, who could offer the player Europa League football this season, and Roma and Atlético Madrid, who would be playing the Champions League. But it was Palace he decided to opt for.

Alan Pardew was the one of the main factors in landing the 29 year-old. Cabaye and Pardew maintained an extremely healthy relationship at Newcastle. Pardew did a fantastic job at Palace after taking over mid-season and helped the club finish in the 10th place, an incredible achievement for a side battling relegation for some time last season. The Eagles look like they’re ready to step up their game and push for a top half finish this season.

Cabaye has apparently also sought reassurances about the club’s ambition and the fact that “he will not be the only major signing this summer”. The Eagles have been linked with QPR’s Charlie Austin and Swansea’s Ashley Williams and will to step up their pursuit of the player.

Cabaye’s arrival will only help the team further. More importantly, it could prove to be detrimental in their case to persuade existing players like Bolasie and Gayle, who have been linked with a move away from the club, to stay at the club.

Cabaye is certainly the next building block for Palace, who look like an ambitious side trying to build on the success of last season and ensure it isn’t a one-off thing. It will be interesting to see who makes way for him- Joe Ledley, James McArthur, Mile Jedinak or Jason Puncheon- and it will be further interesting to see whether he operates in a more attacking role, or plays a deeper role, trying to orchestrate things from the centre of the pitch.

Cabaye has done well playing the deep-lying playmaker role, and it will probably be the way to go for Pardew who could then use the Frenchman as well as Puncheon in the same eleven.

This is definitely just a start, but Palace fans can dream about the side pushing for a European spot next season. However, more signings of the same or close to the same level need to be made for that to happen.

Stoke City have been linked with Xherdan Shaqiri while West Ham United have landed Dimitri Payet. Hence, teams in the same category, more or less, are also strengthening considerably.

Cabaye is an extremely smart investment, nonetheless, and one which can have a big impact on Crystal Palace’s future.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Pione Sisto: Danish wonderkid linked with the likes of Arsenal and Barca close to Ajax move

Pione Sisto’s performances during the Under-21 Euros in June have opened for a move to Ajax, according to Danish press. The 20-year-old’s talent is undeniable, and a move to a bigger club such as Ajax this summer seems likely.

In fact, Midtjylland FC, his club in Denmark, expects him to be their biggest ever sale. Considering that Midtjylland over the years have developed players such as Simon Kjær and Winston Reid and sold them to bigger European clubs, there is no doubt Sisto’s talent is incredible.

 

QUICK FACTS:

Name: Pione Sisto
Date of birth: 04.02.2022 – Age: 20
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Club: Midtjylland FC

 

Key strengths

Sisto is considered an incredible talent, much due to his exquisite pace and unpredictable dribbling. In the Danish Superliga he takes on opposing defenders with ease whether it is one, two or three defenders coming at him.

Key to any young player’s development is not being afraid of failure, and Sisto has that ability in abundance. He loves to try new skills and tricks, and more often than not he is successful.

He also has a fierce shot on him and can score from distance as well as good vision and passing abilities to set up his teammates for goal scoring opportunities.

 

Stats

At the age of 17, Sisto got his first team debut for Midtjylland. During his first season, 2012/13, he appeared in a fair amount of games before becoming a first team regular the following season. In 2014/15 he helped Midtjylland to their first ever league title in Denmark.

His end product is also good, notching up 17 goals in 65 matches from his midfield position for his club. His performances did not go unnoticed and he was called up for Denmark’s Under-21s in December 2014.

He made three appearances in the Under-21 Euros in June, scoring the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Czech Republic.

 

Interested clubs

As mentioned, Ajax are closely monitoring the 20-year-old and seem to be the club most likely to sign him this summer. Ajax have previously nurtured the talent of another Danish attacking midfielder, Christian Eriksen, who Sisto have been likened to by Denmark national coach Morten Olsen.

The transfer fee for the rapid midfielder is expected to be around €5 million, making him Midtjylland’s most expensive sale ever.

Sisto has also been linked with a move to major sides in the continent such as Arsenal, Manchester City, Barcelona and Juventus.

 

Written by Lars H. Thomesen

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Lucas Biglia: Could the Lazio star add some steel to Man United or Real Madrid’s midfield?

It is easy to notice some players whether it be as a result of a spectacular goal, a dazzling display of skill, a defence-splitting pass or a goal-saving challenge but Argentina and Lazio’s midfield engine Lucas Biglia is known for none of these things.

Unassuming and quiet, Biglia may never steal the headlines, but he has proven his qualities time and time again and after playing an integral role in Lazio’s return to the Champions League and cementing a place in the Argentina national side.

A gradual development since his early playing days with Argentinos Juniors now has Biglia linked with two of the biggest clubs in world football but why are both reportedly ready to open their cheque books?

 

Who is Lucas Biglia?

Hailing from the town of Mercedes, 100 Km west of Buenos Aires capital, Lucas Biglia was quickly spotted playing for his local side and incorporated into the renowned academy of Argentinos Juniors. Before making his debut in La Paternal, Biglia had already tasted success with Argentina’s under-17s when he was part of the squad that won the South American Championships in 2003 and he later captained the side to a third place finish in the under-17 World Championship, scoring in the 3-2 semi-final defeat to Spain.

Biglia’s professional debut for Argentinos followed shortly as they gained promotion back to the Primera but at the end of the following campaign, Biglia made the switch to one of the so-called ‘Big Five’ in Independiente. In the same year, Biglia avenged the 2003 under-17 semi-final defeat by helping Argentina under-20s to world glory alongside Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Ezequiel Garay in the Netherlands.

Eventually after continuing to impress with Independiente, Biglia made the step up to European football with Belgian side Anderlecht paying around €3 million for the 20-year-old ahead of Spanish clubs, Valencia and Villarreal.

It did not take long for Biglia to establish himself at the heart of the Anderlecht midfield and after helping the club to the title in his debut season, the number five was also named Young Professional Footballer of the Year. The club was unable to defend the title the following season but it did not prevent Biglia from being linked with a host of big clubs across Europe.

In spite of the continued speculation, Biglia remained in Belgium for seven seasons, notching close to 300 appearances and lifting four league titles. That is not to say that the continued rumours didn’t affect Biglia with his relation with supporters at times strained over his desire to leave and test himself in another league.

That opportunity finally arose in July 2013 fresh off winning another Belgian title, when Lazio provided a route out and a step up to Serie A. The switch to one of Europe’s top leagues did not faze the defensive midfielder and the Rome based club have steadily improved, culminating in them finishing third last season and returning to the Champions League.

Making the most of the opportunity to replace Fernando Gago in Argentina’s midfield has only enhanced Biglia’s reputation but whether it is for La Albiceleste or for Lazio, his understated work often goes unnoticed surrounded by more highlight-reel-friendly attacking players.

Every side, however, needs someone to do the less glamorous jobs and so this summer might just see Biglia take another step in his career progression.

 

Could Madrid or Man Utd turn to Biglia in midfield?

Biglia is no stranger to transfer rumours, but at 29 years of age he is now perhaps running out of time if he is to represent one of Europe’s biggest clubs and as such it is unsurprising to find him at the centre of such speculation again this summer.

Unlike the dazzling displays of Brazilian Felipe Anderson or Italian international Antonio Candreva, Biglia went somewhat under the radar during Lazio’s very positive 2014/15 season but it has not prevented Manchester United and Real Madrid being strongly linked with the Argentine defensive midfielder. It is little wonder with a Champions League campaign to prepare for that Lazio are keen to retain the services of their number five.

Italian newspaper Il Messaggero claims that a lucrative new deal has already been tabled but Biglia’s agent, Enzo Montepaone has so far kept his cards close to his chest: “Soon I will be in Italy to speak to (Lazio president Claudio) Lotito. I am not giving too much space to the rumours (of a new contract). I will shortly speak with the club’s leadership and then we will see.”

Lazio may well need a bumper new deal to keep hold of Biglia if the rumoured offers from Manchester and Madrid are anything to go by. The values vary but United have been credited with an £18.6 million bid and Rafa Benitez almost immediately made Biglia a Real Madrid target after taking over this summer.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Lazio are holding out for in excess of £21 million (€30 million) but Real are confident of striking a deal for less than this amount. Biglia may not be the most obvious Real Madrid signing given his lack of flair but just as he would in Manchester, he could provide an excellent ball-playing shield in front of the defence.

 

What would Biglia bring to either side?

Solidity and efficiency would be two words that Lucas Biglia would bring to any side and perhaps these are not the most eye-catching of terms and somewhat downplay his role but nonetheless they are crucial.

Since partnering Javier Mascherano for Argentina, the national side has looked far more compact and Gerardo Martino admitted during the Copa America that with Biglia, as opposed to Ever Banega or a more forward thinking midfielder, Argentina are a more solid outfit. At club level, it is very much the same with Biglia allowing those more attacking midfielders to enjoy the freedom while he sits deeper.

The statistics back this up too, with only Udinese’s Brazilian midfielder Allan averaging more tackles per match in Serie A last season. However, Biglia is not the destroyer type of defensive midfielder and although his timely interceptions and tackles are a feature of his game so too is his passing. Only three players averaged more passes per match than Biglia and yet he still maintained a pass completion rate of 88%.

Despite having a good range of passing, Biglia focuses more on efficiency and protecting possession of the ball. Knowing when and who to give the ball to but also when to hold is a vital part of the central midfield and Biglia not only excels in this department but is also comfortable when asked to push further forward.

Madrid have a wealth of attacking options available and perhaps could benefit from a player willing to sit and do the ‘simpler’ tasks while Manchester United are continuing to build a side that could mount a serious title challenge. With Michael Carrick’s career slowing down and injuries taking a toll, Biglia could provide an important role in front of Louis van Gaal’s defence.

Will either actually come back to Lazio with a firm offer? Who knows, but both could do a lot worse than signing Lucas Biglia.

 

Written by Peter Coates

Follow Peter on Twitter @golazoargentino

You can check out more of his excellent work on Argentinian football through his website, Golazo Argentino

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