Daily Archives: August 9, 2021

Football Poem: The English Premier League Kick-Off

  By O-Posts Team | August 9, 2021 - 21:28 | , , , , , , , , , ,
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The Premier League has
now kicked off - we can
now applaud the players,
Walking on to the perfect
pitch - showing off their
kickers.
Boots all gleaming white -
and on occasions - shiny
yellow,
And if a footballer goes
up to the crowd - it’s just
to say; ‘HELLO?’

Out of the tunnel they
proudly march,
With their shirts and
shorts all ironed with
starch.
Fans all singing - as
they stand in a line -
All singing loudly - so
divine.

The referee is there -
looking so stern and
manly,
He has a pocket smart
phone - and listens to
Accrington Stanley!!
The referee’s assistants -
stand and run the pitch,
All this and a lot more -
but sometimes there’s a
glitch!!

The elite teams are all
in action - playing for
their lives,
Each player knowing -
only one survives!!
There can only be one
winner - or a score draw,
is an option,
When these top players
play - they really show
devotion.

So, welcome to the
home - of the English
Premier teams,
All of them knowing -
winning is their dreams.
So grab the remote
control - and settle down
to view,
The English Premier
League - is now here -
for me and for you!!

 

Written by Darryl Ashton 

Follow Darryl on Twitter @AlfGarnettJnr

Check out more of his brilliant work at his Google+ page

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Martin Samuelsen: Former Man City youth player hailed and signed by West Ham’s Bilic

  By O-Posts Team | August 9, 2021 - 18:17 | , , , , , ,
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Few football fans across Europe, including Norwegians, had heard of Martin Samuelsen when he signed a two-year-deal with West Ham in June. The former Manchester City youth player got his debut in July, and now he is the Premier League player Norwegians look forward to seeing the most as the season kicks off.

 

QUICK FACTS

Name: Martin Samuelsen  
Age: 18 – D.O.B: 17 April 1997 
Position: Midfielder/Forward  
Club: West Ham 

Nurtured in Manchester the Norwegian 18-year-old has impressed massively during West Ham’s pre-season. He even got his official debut for the first team in the Europa League qualifier against Birkirkara in July. Despite being signed for the future, chances are he will play Premier League as soon as this season.

 

Key strengths

As shown in many YouTube videos his family has created over the years, Samuelsen clearly has brilliant technique and loves taking on players. From young age he was head and shoulders ahead of his age with his step-overs, first touch and quick feet.

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic was clearly impressed with the teenager when he pulled on the Hammers shirt for the first time in a friendly against Peterborough in July, a game in which he also scored.

“Martin was lively and is a very talented player. You can see that he has quick feet and a quick way to control the ball, which is very important. He can be very useful,” Bilic said.

 

Stats

At 14, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City were all chasing Samuelsen much due to his goal-scoring abilities as a kid. At his first club, Djerv 1919, he took notes of his own stats, which were concluded ‘somewhere around 1450 goals’ by the time Vard Haugesund snatched him up.

A year after the move to Vard Haugesund, Manchester City brought him to England. However, things never really happened for Samuelsen at Manchester City, so when he got an offer from Premier League colleagues West Ham this summer it was an easy decision to leave Manchester behind for better times in London.

As a result of the sudden emergence of Samuelsen he has never played for Norway – not even on Under-18, Under-19 nor Under-21 level. Norway coach Per-Mathias Høgmo has however looked at Samuelsen, so his debut for Norway’s first team should come sooner rather than later.

 

Prospects

Despite a tough time at Manchester City, Samuelsen had multiple interested clubs when he decided his time at the Etihad academy was up. Roma showed interest and invited him to come train with before Christmas last year.

Speaking to Norwegian press, Samuelsen expressed his delight with his performance in the Italian capital, highlighting that he nutmegged Roma legend Francesco Totti in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

However nothing came of the visit to Rome, but he didn’t have to wait long for more interest in his signature.

In March 2015, Bundesliga club Schalke 04 and West Ham came calling. He opted for West Ham, as he as a young prodigy always dreamed of playing in the English Premier League. That dream might become reality at Boleyn Ground within a couple of months.

 

Written by Lars H. Thomesen

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Max Gradel: The Saint-Etienne star is a major coup for new boys Bournemouth

  By O-Posts Team | August 9, 2021 - 14:59 | , , , , , , ,
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Premier League new boys AFC Bournemouth recently landed Max Gradel after their £7m bid for the Saint-Etienne star was accepted. The pursuit of the striker has certainly been tough for the Cherries as Gradel has actually been linked with the English club since last summer. However, the lure has obviously definitely been more since Eddie Howe’s side got promoted to the top tier.

It is certainly a bit of a coup for the side as they’ve landed a player with a lot of football experience, someone who has also been capped 41 times by the Ivory Coast. After a successful last season, Gradel had offers from CSKA Moscow and Lille among other clubs but the striker decided to sign for Bournemouth, where he spent a loan spell in 2007/08.

 

Trial with Arsenal and stardom with Saint-Etienne

Gradel, who spent four months on trial to Arsenal as a youngster before signing up to Leicester City’s youth academy, certainly has the profile to be the Cherries biggest star if he kicks on from where he left the last season.

He scored 17 goals from 23 starts for St-Etienne and it wouldn’t be wrong to claim that he almost carried the entire side in the second half of the season with his goals. In the last three games, the player scored five goals including a brace in two of the last games, and grabbed an assist too.

Having started his senior career at Leicester City, Gradel spent a year on loan at Bournemouth and then at Leeds United, the club he then moved to permanently. He therefore should find the transition of playing in England easier and expect to hit the ground running. He is now at the peak of his career and it would be wrong to blame Bournemouth fans for expecting a lot from the new arrival.

 

How does he benefit the Cherries?

The forward can play anywhere across the attack – on the wings, as a second striker and as a lone striker up-front. With the amount the club spent on him, and his performances last season, it is unlikely that Howe has brought him to warm the bench. Gradel could either fight loanee Christian Atsu or Marc Pugh for a spot on the left flank, or be used as a number 10 behind Callum Wilson, who scored 20 goals for the club last season.

Of course, he could be used alone up-front as well. With eight goals and an assist playing on the left for St-Etienne last season, Howe is surely going to consider deploying the player on the wings.

Gradel is a pacey player who likes to dribble and cut inside from wide areas. He also crosses the ball well (which again makes a case for him to play on the wing). His small frame and quick speed allows him to move away from opposite defenders quickly.

Bournemouth will hope that they’ve signed a player who can help them stay up in the competition. Of course it won’t be his job alone but the side has splashed out a sizable sum for him and that, along with the fact that he did so well last season, would carry expectations.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

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Newcastle: 2015/16 Season Preview — Inspiring signings, but more needed to push the club forward

  By O-Posts Team | August 9, 2021 - 13:17 | , , ,
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Manager 

Perhaps most famous for his disastrous stint in charge of the England national team, Steve McClaren takes over from the departed Alan Pardew at St James’ Park. McClaren is an experienced manager, having enjoyed success at both Middlesbrough and FC Twente in the past, winning a league title with the Dutch club in 2010.

His reputation as an excellent coach precedes him and there is much work to be done on the training ground at Newcastle, after the current squad’s recent flirts with relegation.

Off the pitch, the 54 year-old will also need to placate frustrated fans and local media, the latter still suffering under a bizarre press ban imposed by owner Mike Ashley.

 

Key Player 

Moussa Sissoko has both inspired and frustrated since swapping Toulouse for Tyneside in 2013, but there is no doubting that Newcastle are transformed when the France international hits his stride.

On his day, the 25 year-old can turn games in an instant with his powerful, direct running and goal-scoring threat: in only his second game for the club after joining, he terrorized Chelsea, scoring two goals in a match-winning performance.

 

Expectations 

Previously the Newcastle United board have made clear their disregard for both the League Cup and FA Cup, instead demanding focus on finishing on the Premier League and the financial rewards it guarantees. Given the club’s romantic history with cup competitions, this is a sticking point for fans.

A mid-table finish would be considered a success given how close Newcastle came to the drop more than once under Alan Pardew. Expect to see under-strength line-ups in both domestic cup competitions.

 

Transfers

Two relatively big name signings have punctuated the Newcastle off-season so far: Georginio Wijnaldum (who joins from PSV) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (who joins from Anderlecht). The former won the Dutch Footballer of the Year award as he skippered his club to the league title last season while Serbia striker Mitrovic is seen as a potential star of the future.

Young centre-back Chancel Mbemba also arrives from Anderlecht, as Steve McClaren continues to clear deadwood from the current squad. Aside from trying to move on fringe players, the former Derby boss will also fight tooth and nail to keep Moussa Sissoko at the club in the wake of fresh interest from Manchester City and Liverpool.

 

Strengths 

If McClaren and his coaching staff can keep key players fit, Newcastle have shown that they are capable of mixing it with the best teams in the Premier League on their day. Talent and international pedigree exists in the form of Tim Krul, Daryl Janmaat, Moussa Sissoko and Papiss Cisse: all match winners when on top form.

St James’ Park still retains the potential to be a football fortress but that is dependent on the mood of fans: Newcastle supporters are galvanized when they see their side playing with passion and commitment and McClaren would be wise to try and utilize this edge.

 

Weaknesses 

A lack of stomach for the fight is a worrying character trait of the current playing squad, with the team’s incredulous dip of form at the back end of last season almost spelling disaster. Keeping a capable group of players focused and motivated will be one of the new manager’s toughest tasks.

Defensively there is a lack of cover despite the arrival of Mbemba, with captain Fabricio Coloccini’s future still uncertain. The Argentine will begin the season on the treatment table and he remains Newcastle’s finest centre-back, with Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor rarely finding form or fitness consistently.

An inability to provide an attacking threat from set pieces –and defend from them – is also a real Achilles heel for this team and addressing this issue is absolutely crucial to Newcastle’s season.

 

Conclusion 

This season is about addressing the basics: set pieces, attitude and consistency. If McClaren and his coaching staff can motivate the club’s best players, Newcastle will quite easily avoid another relegation scrap.

However, there is a pressing need to invest in the playing squad, not least at centre-back and probably up front as well.

Owner Mike Ashley has loosened the purse strings somewhat this summer, but more spending is needed if United are to move forward as a club.

 

Written by Chris Paraskevas

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