Football Poem: England’s World Cup Misery

The World Cup Finals
we aim at - every four
long years,
But with the current
England team - it
always ends in tears!
No matter how we try -
or who the manager
is -
We always fail to
qualify - and we lose
on penalties!!

We used to be so
good - and we won
almost everything,
England’s brave lion-
hearts - cannot win
anything!
Please excuse my
cynicism, I’d love to
be more positive -
But with the shabby
performances - of
the England’s negative?

We seem to lack
the talent - and some
just don’t qualify,
We never win anything -
it really makes us cry!!
England used to be -
the very best of all,
Walking out onto the
pitch - all feeling ten
foot tall!!

Even the European
Championships - we
never do any good,
And we have “world
class” players - as we
darn well should!!
We have got some
brilliant players - but
many are from over-
seas,
We don’t have much
home-grown talent -
who can win for
England - with ease!!

And, why are they
always spitting? This
is so very dirty.
Running around
slobbering - getting
rather shirty!!
Maybe in the future -
England will reign
supreme,
Well, yes, I know, but
I can pray - if only in a
dream!!!!

 

Written by Darryl Ashton

Follow Darryl on Twitter @AlfGarnettJnr

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FIFA 16: Bayern’s Top 10 Best Players in the latest FIFA edition

You might have noticed a lot of hype around Bayern Munich in FIFA Ultimate Team and FIFA 16 Career Mode. There is a simple reason for that: Bayern has a lot of quality players.

We have sorted the Bavarians in order of their ranking in FIFA 16. Let’s find out where your favorite stands.

 

Javi Martinez – 84

Martinez had an absolutely great season defensively with his club last year. He made some really great tackles and stops to help his side keep clean sheets. He has had the same FIFA rating for the past two years.

 

Jerome Boateng – 85

Boateng was the heart of Bayern’s defence last season. He along with other defenders created a wall, which was indestructible against nine Bundesliga sides.

His FIFA 16 overall is 85, which is his personal best so far.

 

Mario Gotze – 85

Germany won the World Cup final with Gotze’s late goal. But the midfielder has not been much of a star as expected with his club not performing up to scratch. This might be the reason behind a downgrade of one to his FIFA 16 rating.

 

Arturo Vidal – 86

Vidal was one of the most successful midfielders in the whole world last season. He won the Serie A and Copa America and reached the Champions League final with Juventus. We predict that he is going to be brilliant for Bayern this term.

He is one of the most traded players in the game.

 

Thomas Muller – 87

The World Cup winning striker for Germany was also vital for Bayern regaining their Bungesliga title. Muller was huge for the club and country last season, which might be the reason he got an upgrade of one to his overall rating.

 

Phillip Lahm – 87

Lahm can play in so many positions that EA had to reassign his position twice in the previous FIFA installment. He is incredible among Defence-oriented players as he has balanced attributes in both the full back and holding midfield positions.

 

Robert Lewandowski – 87

The golden striker in Bundesliga last season, Lewandowski was sensational for Bayern after completing a move from Dortmund. He scored some brilliant goals to increase his previous FIFA rating from 86 to 87.

He is popular among Premier League club-users in Career Mode.

 

Franck Ribery -87

Ribery is the best left winger Bayern has ever had. Despite not performing very well due to injury, he still made some impact in the league with some brilliant performances.

His FIFA rating has been reduced to 87 from 89 in the previous version.

 

Arjen Robben – 89

Despite his elderly-looking facial features, it does not seem that Robben has aged so much due to his brilliant physical and pacey attributes in the game. Robben was vital for Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga as he scored tons of times to make sure his side won.

His FIFA 16 rating is 89, which is very high considering his age.

 

Manuel Neuer - 90

The German goal keeper is the highest rated goal keeper and the highest rated player in Bayern Munich’s squad in FIFA 16. The Ballon d’Or contender was not only superb for his club, but also with his nation winning the World Cup in Brazil.

 

Written by Charchit Dahal

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Value Spotting: The Top Five Premier League Transfers So Far this Summer

As we’ve now entered the final month of the transfer window, stand by for all hell to break loose. Brinksmanship and desperation are about to play key roles in club’s futures as remaining gaps in Premier League squads are hastily filled.

Before that inevitably garish extravaganza, I’ve looked at the deals already completed. Here’s my top five signings of the summer. (Disclaimer: free transfers were not considered for selection).

 

5) Nathaniel Clyne, Southampton to Liverpool, £12.5m

Southampton transfer-nutmegged Liverpool last summer as Dejan Lovren, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert joined the Reds for a combined £50m, before floundering as the Saints flourished. £12.5m for Clyne, one of the Premier League’s best right-backs for two seasons, prime candidate of course for English premium inflation, at least addresses the balance.

Clyne has proven himself capable of contributing to an expansive attack whilst reliably adhering to defensive duties. The latter strength will be of particular use to Livepool.

Man Utd scouring for right-backs this summer makes Liverpool’s uncharacteristic value extraction all the more commendable.

 

4) Gerard Deulofeu, Barcelona to Everton, £4.2m

During Deulofeu’s troubled year on loan at Sevilla, coach Unai Emery spoke of maturity issues, suggesting the youngster needed to work harder for the team. Still, Deulofeu’s five assists were level second with Barca-bound Aleix Vidal, bettered only by Carlos Bacca’s six. More creativity is precisely what Everton need.

Kevin Mirallas was the Toffees’ only consistently productive winger last season, at least until Why Didn’t Baines Take It-Gate. Eventually, Aaron Lennon had to be loaned to offer respite.

£4.2m seems significantly below the true value of a player schooled at football’s greatest club side, who even during a perhaps immature year was highly effective.

 

3) Jordy Clasie, Feyenoord to Southampton, £8m

One of Dutch football’s prize assets, Clasie was instrumental in Feyernood’s recent renaissance, particularly under Ronald Koeman, and will offer Southampton the creative-destructive combo required in Morgan Schneiderlin’s absence.

Aged 24, his 11 international caps include a World Cup semi-final.

What sets this transfer apart is the manner of its handling. Schneiderlin’s eye-catching influence telegraphed his exit for about 18 months – enough time to test Saint’ successful off-field strategy.

A year after Schneiderlin preferred, planning and research enabled Southampton to sell their best player for a minimum £23.5m profit and source a highly competent, up-and-coming replacement for a third of the price - a hell of a way to soften the blow.

 

2) Yohan Cabaye, PSG to Crystal Palace, £10m

Alan Pardew’s rescue mission turned top half finish sealed Crystal Palace’s fifth straight higher league finish and brought into focus a culmination of off-field positives. Investment and new stadium talks continue just as broadcasting income is set to soar.

Cabaye’s signing backs that up by giving fans a new experience. He left his homeland within a year of it hosting Euro 2016, and the national champs after five trophies in 18 months.

Aged 29, Cabaye turned his back on the Champions League after just nine games for a side with no immediate chance of making it. The sheer incredulity has already altered perceptions of Pardew. Ultimately, his oft-mocked Newcastle reign yielded a promising post at a club on the rise, and one of Europe’s finest midfielders on the cheap.

Cabaye will increase Palace’s overall quality and, just before that off-field growth truly comes to fruition, demonstrate Pardew’s value.

 

1) Petr Čech, Chelsea to Arsenal, £11m

Short-termism is most likely a swearword in the Wenger household and yet here he is sanctioning £11m for a 33-year-old. If guaranteed results were sought, Čech, who won 13 trophies in 11 years at Chelsea and remains world class, must surely constitute the safest of bets.

Beyond his obvious points-return-improving value however, his signing is, for want of a better word, special due to the personalities involved.

Signing a still capable key component of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea success strikes a great blow for Wenger, so often patronised and insulted by his counterpart. Ego clashes and power battles between Mourinho and Roman Abramovic were laid bare.

No way’, said Jose; ‘it’s not your decision’, replied Roman.

Wenger exploited circumstance, potentially reigniting long-standing power struggles within his champion rival, to secure vital quality, perhaps for the rest of his reign. There’s life in the old dog yet.

 

Written by Chris Smith

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Pepe: Is the Real Madrid player a good fit for Manchester United?

It has been just over two years since Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United. In that time the club has dropped out of the top four for the first time in 22 years, recruited and sacked David Moyes, recruited Louis van Gaal, spent over €370m on players and scraped back into the top four.

Long gone are days of stability when a poor season meant no trophies and finishing third. The failure to finish in the top four at the end of the 2013-14 season caused panic at the club. The squad was almost completely overhauled and one of the most experienced coaches in world football was recruited to steady the rocking ship.

 

Di Maria sale to PSG means more cash to burn

With a top-four finish secured last year, it would be easy to think that normal service has resumed at Old Trafford - but they are not quite there yet. With more cash to burn following the sale of Angel Di Maria, they are still keen to add further reinforcements to their ranks, with Real Madrid’s Pepe the latest target to emerge.

Spending more money does not guarantee success but all the evidence suggests that it gives you a much better chance, and United are intent on ensuring that there are no more ‘blips’ on the horizon.

With the current boss confirming that he will not continue when his contract ends in 2017, foundations need to be laid for the future; and for United, that means building an engine that will need the occasional tweak rather than another complete overhaul.

 

Defence needs adjusting; another Real Madrid player linked

One area that still needs some adjustment is the defence and van Gaal has been criticised for rebuilding the squad from the top down rather than starting with the backline. However, having a strong attacking unit and a solid midfield will ease some of the burden on a defence that has been over-exposed in the last two seasons.

One answer for United could be to bring in an experienced defender to sure up the current rearguard, and Pepe could be just the right man. Having spent eight years at the world’s biggest club, there are few centre-backs better qualified to bring some calm reassurance to the Red Devil’s defensive unit.

At 32 years of age, the Brazilian would not be a long term solution but he would certainly provide an immediate fix to what is consider as United’s one remaining weak spot.

With first choice target Sergio Ramos apparently ready to sign a new deal at the Bernabeu, United have turned their attention to a player who might be keen to take the opportunity to secure perhaps one last big payday in his career.

 

Why go for Pepe?

Pepe has less than a year left on his contract and may find his first team opportunities reduced with the continued emergence of French youngster Raphael Varane.

With no new contract on the table, he would be free to talk to other clubs in January so now could be the perfect time for the English club to pounce.

 

Written by Neil Morris

Follow Neil on Twitter @nmorris01

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Liverpool: 2015/16 Season Preview - It’s Do or Die for Rodgers

The summer break often has mystical powers when it comes to football fans. Any disappointments from the previous season become fading memories and the positives can be somewhat embellished; a few new signings and the magical optimism returns. The excitement builds as your team travels to the four corners of the world to play either a Premier League team for a strange looking trophy, an all-star pub team or one of the European giants for some other kind of tournament.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the world tours as football is a global sport and it means fans in different part of the world get an opportunity to see their favourite team play, even if it’s purely a revenue raiser for clubs, but that’s for another day.

Anyway, during all this pre-season goings on, too often hope, optimism and expectation become detached from reality of just what lies ahead.

 

Tough start ahead for Liverpool and especially for Rodgers

Make no mistake, we’re in for a really tough start to what could be an uncomfortable campaign for those with expectations of Liverpool finishing in the top four. After somehow hanging on to his job, Brendan Rodgers must’ve thought the Premier League were trolling him when the opening day fixtures were announced; a return to the scene of the most embarrassing performance in living memory. It will be a test to see if there are any psychological scars and if we’ve learned lessons from the final day 6-1 massacre.

A fortnight later, it’s away to a strong Arsenal, with trips to Man United, Everton, Spurs, Chelsea and Man City all to come in the opening 13 Premier League fixtures. There’s also home games to Southampton, Crystal Palace and bogey team Aston Villa in that run. I believe it’s fair to say that the opening third of the season could define our campaign.

Make no mistake, Brendan Rodgers is a man under intense pressure and scrutiny. There’s very little margin for error and if he was a cat, he’d have used up eight of his lives; he has no more excuses and simply has to deliver this season.

So, whilst many fans are freshly invigorated for the new season, the wounds of last season are sores that will quickly be re-opened should we have a bad start. That’s not to say I think he will be sacked if we lose two or three of our opening five fixtures, but if we are well adrift in November and lost half of those opening 13 games, the pressure could be insurmountable.

Not only did the owners decide against sacking him after a calamitous season, they also backed him heavily in the transfer market; so whilst they’re unlikely to get trigger happy too early if things don’t go to plan, that grace won’t last for long. Simply put, this is a make or break season in Brendan Rodgers career as Manager of Liverpool Football Club.

 

Thoughts on the club’s summer signings

So much has been said and written about Liverpool’s two major signings of the summer: Roberto Firmino and Christian Benteke, that I don’t want to cover old ground here. What I will say is that Benteke’s Premier League goal record suggests that he can help take the burden off Daniel Sturridge and allow him the time get properly fit. My concern is that the big price tag is often a difficult thing for players to handle, as their performances are often judged in relation to their cost. Also, his success at Aston Villa came in a counter attacking team, so whether he can adapt to a different style and strike up an understanding with the creative talents of Firmino and Coutinho will be a test for him.

Firmino is a signing that excited many and rightly so, he has the potential to become a star and having seen him play in the Bundesliga, I feel confident he can adapt to British football. He has many positive attributes and is a player that I feel is on the cusp of mainstream recognition of his talents.

They should help to address the lack of goals that hampered us in tight games last season, but the issue of a leaky defence is still a question that appears unanswered. Nathaniel Clyne is a definite improvement at right back and should represent great value at a potential £12.5m, but our unwillingness or inability to upgrade on Martin Skrtel and our baffling blindness to the importance of a quality defensive midfielder could come back to haunt us.

Adam Bogdan may be seen as decent and experienced as a back-up goalkeeper, but he’s not going to provide any competition to Simon Mignolet, which means we can’t afford him to have a run of form as dreadful as the first half of last season. Joe Gomez looks very promising and versatile, but we need more orthodox cover at left back to support Alberto Moreno.

James Milner is a good addition to the squad, even if his contract is frightening, but hopefully he will bring enough energy, experience, desire and professionalism that helps mentor and improve some of the younger players and he proves his worth. Him starting in a central midfield with Jordan Henderson concerns me. Both will work incredibly hard and are under rated in their movement, passing and creativity, but neither are defensively minded and we risk leaving our backline exposed if we go into the season with that formation.

Despite what some may think, a central-defensive midfielder is a specialist position and there’s a reason why most top, successful sides have one. With Danny Ings and the return of Origi from loan, we have good options up front. Ings has shown he can score goals in the Premier League and has good pace, movement and seemingly, an excellent attitude.

Origi has pace, power and the ability to go past an opponent; he may be raw, but he looks like he could cause defenders a few problems and could be a useful option from the bench.

 

Worries over the club’s leaky and frail defence

If we are to break into the top four, we are going to need Coutinho to continue the progress he made last year and Sturridge to be fit and available for a good portion of the season. Like the manager, it could be a make or break year for Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren; both were signed for big fees from Southampton last summer and both have under achieved.

Lovren has particularly struggled and it’s very hard to see him turning it around, but with Europa League to contend with and Sakho’s injury record, he will be called upon. He has to be the rock he was hailed as and not crumble into dust if he is to have a future. Lallana is a good player with an over inflated price tag hanging heavy around his neck; often guilty of slowing the play down and taking too many touches, he has to add more end product to his technical ability.

Lazar Markovic and Jordan Ibe are quicker and more direct, Lallana needs to prove he deserves to be ahead of them in the pecking order. If we are to have a good season, the whole squad needs to be functioning, because with the extra Europa League games, effective rotation will be important.

 

Season prediction

We’ve made a lot of signings again this summer, which might sound good for better squad depth, but it again presents the issue of fluidity, understanding and settling that number of players in. If we can negotiate the opening few months relatively unscathed and rotate the squad well, perhaps we could kick on and have a good second half of the season.

Unfortunately though, I don’t think we’ve improved enough and the teams currently in the top four are looking stronger, so I think a fifth place finish is on the cards.

 

Written by Andy Wales

Follow Andy on Twitter @AndyArmchair

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