Category Archives: Review

Portugal’s Big Three: Who is going to come out on top this season?

  By O-Posts Team | August 4, 2024 - 17:20 | , , , , , , , , ,
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Analysis of the Big Three after summer transfers and pre-season friendlies

As ever, the summer transfer market has seen many of the Primeira Liga’s top players leaving Portugal in exchange for more high-profile leagues or a huge hike in their salaries, or for the exceptional few, both.

As for the incomers, a mixed bag of prestigious veterans, highly-reputed performers and risky investments makes for a fascinating season ahead.

Tom Kundert runs the rule over the summer business done by Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting and attempts to decipher what it means for the 2015/16 title race.

 

Benfica

Major ins and outs: Benfica’s major signings so far are two Moroccan internationals Mehdi Carcela-González and Adel Taarabt. Both are undoubtedly talented, but the latter will have to prove critics wrong to shed his work-shy reputation. His surplus weight has made more headlines than his football since arriving in Lisbon.

A series of other low-key signings, including left-back Marçal who Benfica swooped to capture ahead of Sporting, barely had a look-in on Benfica’s pre-season tour of North and Central America.

Carcela-Gonzalez

Carcela-Gonzalez

Indeed, Benfica’s team this year appears a copy of last season’s championship winning side minus two important cogs: right-back Maxi Pereira, who controversially signed for bitter rivals FC Porto, and striker Lima, who left for a big payday in the Middle East.

Star man Nico Gaitán continues to be “sold” by the press on an almost daily basis, but at the time of writing (4 August) he is still a Benfica player.

 

Pre-season friendlies: Defeats against PSG, New York Red Bulls and Monterrey and two goalless draws against Fiorentina and Mexican outfit América (leading respectively to a defeat and victory on penalties) have done little to raise the overriding sentiment of inertia surrounding Benfica this summer.

New coach Rui Vitória insists results are not important at this stage, and points to last year’s poor pre-season by Benfica, which did not prevent them from becoming champions.

Assessment: The two-time champions will surely need to do business in August to be competitive in the new season, especially if the Gaitán exit rumours prove founded.

The Eagles look particularly threadbare up front having lost striker Lima, a player that guaranteed goals and who always made things happen for Benfica with his selfless running in the final third, and goal-scoring winger Salvio who is ruled out injured until well into 2016.

As it stands, it’s difficult to imagine Benfica making it three titles in a row.

FC Porto

Major ins and outs: Porto have gone to great lengths to secure an array of high-profile names. Iker Casillas, Maxi Pereira and Imbula will, according to the latest news, be joined by Pablo Osvaldo at the Estádio do Dragão, all transfers that have had the local press in a frenzy. The Blue and Whites look especially well stocked in midfield.

In addition to €20m Frenchman Imbula, the Portuguese quartet of Danilo, Sérgio Oliveira, André André and Ruben Neves, not to mention Héctor Herrera and Evaldo, give coach Julen Lopetegui a plethora of options.

Pereira… controversial move

On the other side of the coin, Porto have lost five of their best players from last season: striker Jackson Martínez, right-back Danilo, midfielders Óliver Torres and Casimiro, and winger Ricardo Quaresma.

 

Pre-season friendlies: After easy victories against weak opposition in Germany, Porto returned to the country for a second training camp and lost and drew respectively against Borussia Mönchengladbach and Schalke 04, before much improved displays led to a goalless draw against Valencia (winning on penalties) and a 3-0 win over Stoke City.

 

Assessment: Porto invested heavily last summer but went trophy-less for a second successive season, yet president Pinto da Costa has again funded an overhaul of the squad, including several resonant names.

However, Porto have also suffered some big losses, none more so than Jackson Martínez, and the striker position remains a worry, with the purchase of the volatile Osvaldo smacking of a panic buy.

The Dragons are favourites for the title in my book, but with a squad packed with big egos plus the huge pressure to come first, the potential for the season to go pear-shaped is there.

Sporting

Major ins and outs: Colombian striker Teo Gutiérrez and Kevin-Prince Boateng (a signing yet to be made official) are the biggest-name arrivals at the Alvalade, with the attacking options also boosted by Costa Rican forward Bryan Ruiz, and rumours continue to rumble on that the Lions are after Greek marksman Mitroglou.

Brazilian centre-back Naldo joins from Udinese and ex-Portugal right-back João Pereira returns to the club.

Ruiz

Ruiz

Speculation linking William Carvalho with a move away from the Portuguese capital persists, but so far the only high-profile departures from Sporting are right-back Cédric, who left for Southampton, and Nani, whose loan period expired.

Pre-season friendlies: After playing some friendlies behind closed doors against weak opposition, Sporting went to South Africa and won a pre-season tournament thanks to a draw against Ajax Cape Town followed by a penalty shoot-out victory, and a 2-0 victory over EPL outfit Crystal Palace.

On Sunday, back at their Alvalade home, Sporting were impressive in overcoming Roma 2-0.

Assessment: Sporting’s major acquisition this season is undoubtedly the coach, Jorge Jesus, who guided Benfica to three titles in six seasons. Known for his attacking philosophy, it comes as little surprise that the club have boosted their options up front, with numerous and on the face of it high-quality options.

In contrast, William’s untimely injury and lack of cover for the holding/defensive midfield area – a position that was absolutely pivotal for Jesus’s Benfica teams – is a big concern.

Sporting look competitive, but winning the title in JJ’s first year may be too big an ask.

 

Written by Tom Kundert

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James Rodriguez: Is Real Madrid’s big money signing the Real Deal?

  By O-Posts Team | July 31, 2024 - 16:08 | , , ,
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Much was expected of James Rodriguez when he arrived at Real Madrid with an €80 m price tag last summer. Having made a huge impression playing for his country at the World Cup, the Colombian was under pressure to hit the ground running in Spain.

He also had the unenviable task of filling the void left by the departed Angel Di Maria - a player who had been voted man-of-the-match in the Champions League final just a couple of months earlier. So how did the youngster perform in his first season? And what will the future hold?

Had it not been for the signing of Luis Suarez by rivals Barcelona, the transfer of Rodriguez to Madrid would have been the biggest story of last summer. The fact that the fee paid for Suarez eclipsed that of the former Monaco man probably helped to divert some of the attention away from the player. However, it was inevitable that his first season would bring the intense level of scrutiny that is part and parcel of life in the Spanish capital.

Despite the pressure and the constant comparisons to his peers, the 24-year-old delivered a first season that exceeded everyone’s expectations. In a year that the club seemed to be suffering from a post-décima dip, the young Colombian’s performance was one of the biggest positives.

A total of 16 goals and 15 assists in all competitions is a return that few players in his position can boast. Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema scored more goals for Los Blancos and only the Portuguese superstar provided more assists. When you consider that the debutant also missed a couple of months of the season with a fractured foot and had to adapt to playing in a much deeper role than he was used to, the stats look even more impressive.

While the Spanish media and a large proportion of the fan base directed their negativity towards Gareth Bale and Iker Casillas, and analysed every aspect of Ronaldo’s body language, the new kid on the block quietly went about his business. His only really disappointing performance came in the Champions League semi-final against Juventus but in his defence, he was not the only player to under-perform that night.

Clearly a player with natural confidence, James looks set to be a massive part of Real Madrid’s future. He has the flair and skill that is seen as a compulsory requirement by the demanding Bernabeu crowd, but he also has the team ethic and work-rate that should impress new coach and renowned task master Rafa Benitez.

With five years of a six-year contract still remaining, James has the potential to be an important figure at the club. He has stiff competition in the midfield area with the likes of Spanish international Isco vying for the same role but as things stand, he should be the first midfield name on the team sheet. Much will depend on how Benitez intends to use him and whether the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Napoli boss will adopt a strict rotation policy.

If James can equal or exceed his performance of last season, he will cement his position as a genuine world class player.

 

Written by Neil Morris

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FIFA 16: Three Major Changes in the latest FIFA Installment

  By O-Posts Team | July 7, 2024 - 17:18 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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We expect big changes from the new FIFA 16 as EA has promised a better game after the failure of FIFA 15.

We do not know all the changes that EA has done to improve the game, but we know some of the major changes that we will see in the upcoming new sensation (according to EA at the E3 conference).

 

Women’s Football

Women’s Football is the one big change we are going to see in FIFA 16. EA has announced that they have added twelve women’s national teams in the game and has focused on the female gameplay to make it more accurate as possible.

This is a milestone for FIFA as well as Women’s Football. There are only a very few people who completely follow Women’s Football, but after this everyone buying the game will have a chance to explore it.

Also, it has been reported that EA are planning on making a separate FIFA game for females only from next year. It will only be a great success for the future if the initial Women’s Football in FIFA 16 is as good as the EA claims.

 

New Tactical Defense with Improved Goalkeeping

When EA initially released the first gameplay trailer we were worried that again they were only focusing on adding new features, not fixing previous errors. But then they released the second trailer suggesting they have made some serious changes in the interference engine of the game. These improvements includes a new tactical defending and a more realistic goalkeeping.

The Tactical Defending includes more animatic moves like diving clearance and triangle traps giving the video game simulation a more real life like feel. There are not much changes in goalkeeping, however they have fixed previous bugs like air ball glitch.

 

More Animations and Graphics

We have already talked about more animatic moves in previous section but that is not all there is. The developers have added new stadiums, celebrations, skill moves, interactive crowds, and many other new graphics and animations to make the game compatible with the new interactive engine.

Other graphics includes new menus and modes, which have not been revealed yet.

 

Written by Charchit Dahal

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Juventus: Matri the unlikely hero for the Old Lady and his loyal coach Allegri

  By O-Posts Team | May 22, 2024 - 20:32 | , , ,
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Juventus went mightily close to surrendering their chances of a possible treble, Lazio substitute Felipe Djordjevic beating goalkeeper Marco Storari early in extra-time with a rasping drive that cannoned off both posts and back out of the goalmouth. It would certainly have been contentious, Juventus’ own substitute Alessandro Matri having a goal cruelly disallowed for offside in the 87th minute of normal time of a Coppa Italia final which saw the Old Lady and the Biancocelesti match each other blow for blow from the very first whistle.

Matri however would have last laugh, sweeping home the winner after Carlos Tevez was shut-out by Lazio’s desperate defending. They were to be let down by Etrit Berisha, the goalkeeper who could have done better with the striker’s rather tame effort, but there was a felicitous quality about Matri wheeling away to celebrate the goal that had delivered his manager the second part of a domestic treble.

Matri played under Massimiliano Allegri at Cagliari for two seasons before the manager left for AC Milan while Matri was signed by Juventus. Two years later and the pair where reunited in Milan, Allegri spending €11 million on the forward and handing him the number 9 shirt. The goals would dry up though and five months later he would find himself being loaned out to Fiorentina, then Genoa last summer where an upturn in form resulted in Juventus, now managed by Allegri, take him back on another temporary spell to plug the gap left by the sale of Sebastian Giovinco to Toronto FC.

With Milan paying half of his €2.5 million salary, it was a low-risk deal for Juventus who got a fourth-choice striker who brought with him a wealth of experience and the ability to chip in with a goal when needed. He has started just 5 times since moving back to Turin in February but he has 2 vital goals to his name, the opener in the second-leg win over Fiorentina in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, then the winner in the final. The presence of Matri, plus Juventus’s luxury of tying up the Serie A title early, has allowed Allegri to juggle his attacking options, giving rest to Alvaro Morata, Fernando Llorente and Tevez as he chased trophies on three-fronts.

All four have now made invaluable contributions to position the Old Lady with two trophies already in the bag and with a chance to add a historic third in Berlin on June 6th. Their 10th Coppa Italia will position a silver star above their badge next season alongside three gold stars to mark 30+ league wins, but even if it won’t guarantee a star, a third European Cup will be the trophy they most covet on the 30th anniversary of when they first lifted it- the still haunting disaster of Heysel in 1985.

A fourth straight Scudetto will bring salient discussions about the league’s lack of competitiveness, they are currently 16 points ahead of second placed Roma, but the achievement of Allegri’s debut season in Turin cannot be diminished. Juventus’ director general Beppe Moratta recalls how the car he, Allegri and club president Andrea Agnelli were travelling in when the former Milan coach was brought in to replace Antonio Conte was pelted with eggs, kicked and spat at by supporters who waved a banner reading ‘We don’t want Allegri!.’

Allegri had delivered a first Scudetto to Milan since 2004 during his first season at the San Siro and overcame the departures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva to lead the Rossoneri to a third place finish in his second season. Though with Milan sat in 11th at the start of 2014 he was sacked and that sat more prevalently with Juventus fans. Allegri had been out of work since that January and arrived on a salary of €2.5 million for 2 years with lot of winning over to be done.

Arriving “amidst chaos” last July according to defender Leonardo Bonucci, 10 months later and Allegri has done far more than his original mandate. Few could have ever foreseen a third-ever domestic double let alone a chance to win a treble and it is twenty years since they last won the Coppa, when Marcelo Lippi was in charge.

Allegri took a squad that was accustomed to winning and made them win a bit more, maintaining the central core of players that had provided the spine of Conte’s hat-trick of league wins; Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba, Carlos Tevez, Giorgio Chiellini, Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Barzagli forming a fearsome spine of class mixed with endeavour and nous.

It was Juventus’ natural 3-5-2 that overcame Lazio, Chiellini and Barzagli partnering Bonucci in a seasoned back-line that is given protection by the evergreen brilliance of Andrea Pirlo in-front of them. Pogba and Vidal meanwhile do the scurrying and harrying while Tevez, scorer of 29 goals this term, leads from the front with his own fiery brand of energy. It all awaits Barcelona in Berlin in just over a week’s time.

Left-back Patrice Evra, veteran of Manchester United’s trophy-laden years, was added for £1.2 million and Alvaro Morata, the talented youngster frozen out by Real Madrid’s new wave of Galactico, was signed for £17 million. The Spaniard has returned 12 goals, including the important away goal against his former club in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Other signings included Stefano Sturaro and Roberto Pereyra who were acquired to address cover options in various areas of the squad. Plus, in February there was Matri, on Wednesday evening reminding everyone how you can’t forget about him. Allegri surely never will.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Champions League Quarter-Final Second Leg: All four favorites seal their places in the semis

  By O-Posts Team | April 25, 2024 - 18:11 | , , , , , , , , ,
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So all the four favourites made it through to semi-finals, but what can we make of what happened?

On Tuesday night:

- PSG showed the entire football world just how good, bad and limited their team is. Their first half at the Camp Nou was horrifying (entertaining if you are Barca fan), but in the second half, they put Barca under so much pressure that even Messi started diving. But of course they messed up all the chances they created.

- David Luiz showed us that he is one of the few players, who have the power to be the worst and the best player in the same game with his immense contribution at the Camp Nou.

- Despite being on course to win all three titles in France for the second year running, Laurent Blanc is expected to be relieved of his duties at the end of the season. Now what could possibly be the reason? Is it his inability to go beyond the last eight in Europe? Is it the fact that he turned Cavani, a fantastic forward, into Ibrahimovic’s favourite left-sided or right-sided sidekick? Is it because he is building his team around Ibrahiselfish? Or just all of the above? Wondering…

- Neymar spent the entire second half of the game against PSG trying to set up his Boss; sorry, I mean teammate Messi instead of actually creating a goal-scoring chance for his team. Is he expecting a pay raise? From Barcelona, I mean.

- Luis Suarez did not dive in the entire game against PSG. Maybe there was something wrong with him. But anyway, congrats to him for not diving; and to Neymar as well.

- Somebody needs to tell Javier Mascherano to stop his falling and touching the face nonsense because no matter how hard he tries it won’t get him into Captain America 3, Suicide Squad or any other Hollywood movie. And the new Spiderman role already belongs to Aubameyang so por favor Javier, stop this nonsense.

- As we all expected and anticipated, Bayern Munich made a fool out of Porto at the Allianz Arena. But the good news and of course the silver lining for Porto is that they didn’t concede 7 goals and they manage to score one goal. But despite that, they were ghosts during the entire game. Honestly, did those guys went to Germany to play or did they just go there to be slaughtered?

 

On Wednesday:

- Real Madrid finally managed to do the unthinkable; they beat Atletico within 90 minutes. But that was not the only surprise. One of the three surprises was that it wasn’t Ronaldo who scored the goal, it was Chicharito. Yes, the king of outcasts, one of the very few players who managed to be the best bench-warmer in not only two different clubs but in two different countries: jersey number 14, Javier Hernandez.

- But if you thought that Hernandez goal was the cherry on top, you were mistaken. And although it has happened before, it has to be the biggest surprise of the week. So here it goes: CRISTIANO RONALDO MANAGED TO BE UNSELFISH IN FRONT OF GOAL IN THE DYING MINUTES OF A VERY IMPORTANT GAME. Yup, he is the one who gave to vital pass to Hernandez. And that merits a big congrats to CR7. I guess if Messi can dive, Ronaldo can be unselfish. Freaky auarter-finals.

- Despite being the hero for Real Madrid, Hernandez managed to make Arsenal legend Thierry Henry angry for not celebrating with Cristiano, who assisted the goal. Now, I don’t know if it is Henry’s Arsenal’s side or his Barcelona’s side talking but what’s wrong with running for joy and waiting for your mates to come and celebrate with you? Ronaldo does that for every goal. And no offense to ‘King Henry’, but how many times has he run to the teammate who assisted him when he scored goals? For what I can remember, he would run slowly and wait for the rest of the team to congratulate him. So with no disrespect to your opinion Thierry, I don’t see what’s wrong with running for joy.

- Sticking with Real, Hernandez heroics might just have allowed Ancelotti to live another day, but Los Blancos boss will be hoping that his boys rediscover their ability to finish off their opponent earlier in the game as the season enter its final stage. And if UEFA ‘fair’ draw keeps Barca and Bayern apart for the semis to set up ‘Europe’s most wanted final’, Real will be in for a tough end of the season.

- After taking a page from Mourinho’s book by not rotating his players, Ancelotti used another trick from the ‘Special Book’, book of the Special One, by playing a defender in central midfield. What’s next? Loaning 30 players?

- After an amazing 2013/2014 season, Atletico Madrid is showing us just how much they have fallen. They went from Champions League finalist and La Liga winners to… just another good team. That’s what happens when you sell most of your best players and replace them with excellent but cheap bargains. In football terms, that’s called doing an Arsenal.

- After realising how dangerous Monaco can be on the counter, Juventus left their fancy football in Turin and honoured their Italian origin by playing the Italian game; defend with 12 men, with the twelfth men being the coach. Although it’s not many people’s glass of Heineken (Champions League sponsor), it’s a genius tactic.

 

Conclusion

With the draw sealed and dusted in Nyon, which have set two gigantic semi-final clashes: Real Madrid vs Juventus and Bayern Munich vs Barcelona. Two matches, both rivalries that evoke memorable moments and tight encounters. They should prove worthwhile as always, no matter the result and outcome.

 

Written by Christopher Kayembe

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European Football Weekend Review: The Surprises were Unsurprising

  By O-Posts Team | April 20, 2024 - 20:11 | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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So the weekend is over and it’s now time to analyse what happened, in the most honest, unbiased and fair way… Or just the opposite. It depends on how you see it.

 

Barclays Premier League

Chelsea stayed true to their ‘one goal margin’ name when they defeated Manchester at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. And of course, it was Eden who scored the only goal of the game. Despite all the ‘memorable moments’ that the game had, there is one thing that really stood up in the game and it was not the fact that Falcao played more than 10 minutes (although that was really surprising). It was Chelsea’s new trend: “Don’t dominate, just win”. Many coaches might disagree with that mantra, but it might be what wins Chelsea the title this season, and it’s Mourinho’s new system. Remember the ‘parking the bus’ tactic from last season?

On United’s side, it’s the end of an amazing run of impressive wins. Who is to blame? Mourinho’s tactics? Was it the fact that Mata, Fellaini, Herrera, Rooney and Ashley Young didn’t deliver? Although it maybe one or all of the above, the reason that many will go with is the fact that Falcao started the match and started up front, while Rooney was again dropped in midfield.

Moving to other side of Manchester, City beat West Ham 2-0 to end their run of well deserved defeat. Jesus Navas was the unlikely hero as he had his feet on his team’s 2 goals, but all eyes was on Aguero as he scored his 20thgoal of the season (sorry Navas). Although the win got the Citizens back to winning ways, it won’t ease the pressure on Pellegrini and his ‘old-er men’.

Oh yeah and on a sad note, David Silva was stretched off the field after being elbowed by Cheikou Kouyate. Get well soon D. S.

 

FA Cup

Despite the fact they booked their place in this year’s final with a 2-1 win over Reading, the Gunners weren’t themselves possessed by ‘the Ghost of Arsenal’s past’. Of course, all the credit should go to Reading (except their goalkeeper) for revealing Arsenal;s true colours but for a team that is hoping to stop ‘Chelseazard’ from winning the title, it should have been a routine win. And of course if it wasn’t for Adam Frederici generous gift, it’s very likely that the game would have gone to penalties. However, on the positive side, Sanchez got his title of ‘Gunners’ saviour’ back.

Now despite the fact that many expected Liverpool to be Arsenal opponent in final, the Reds had other ideas. Rodgers men went down 2-1 against Aston-Benteke Villa, despite taking the lead.

Who was to blame this time? Was it the fact that Lovren and Skrtel were at their usual worst? Was it the fact that Gerrard was a ghost during the game? Was it cause Moreno is an overrated wing back? Was it the fact Balotelli had 45 ineffective minutes? Or was it a ‘come and coach us plea’ to Jurgen Klopp? Whatever it was, it definitely sounds like a ‘leave when you can’ message to Sterling.

 

La Liga

Barcelona beat Valencia 2-0 and Luis Suarez scored again. Nothing much to report on that except the fact Messi scored his 400th La Liga goal. No offense but that would have been impressive if Leo and his buddy Cristiano weren’t busy breaking records every week.

Speaking of Cristiano, him and his teammates (sidekicks) recorded a 3-1 win over Malaga to stay 2 points behind Barca. Now the big issue with this game was the fact that Ancelotti lost Modric and Bale through injury. Why did he play them just few days before hosting Atletico Madrid in Champions League? What happened to rotating the squad? That’s maybe a discussion for another day, but Ancelotti depleted his squad of 2 important players by employing Mourinho’s no rotation policy.

 

Bundesliga

It was a weekend of expected and unexpected results in Germany. Yes Dortmund and Leverkusen won, but Monchengladbach and Wolfsburg De Bruyne drew and Bayern didn’t win by 7 goals. Maybe I’m wrong about the Bundesliga not being exciting. Or maybe those teams played the way they did just to make me change my opinion about the Bundesliga. Is there a conspiracy against me by this league?

 

Serie A

Juventus won and Tevez scored. The Milan derby, aka the battle of the best bench-warmer XI, was so boring that you could have felt as asleep watching it, and Roma drew (it would have been a surprise if they didn’t). A typical Serie A weekend.

 

Ligue 1

In Ligue 1, aka PSG 1, it was business as usual. PSG won and their closest rivals all drew to make sure that the Les Parisiens win the title in peace. Like I said, un weekend sans surprise.

 

Conclusion

Those who thought that this weekend would be surprising, you were right, it was surprisingly unsurprising. Supra Checkin’ Out.

 

Written by Christopher Kayembe

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Newcastle United: Who should stay and who should depart St. James Park

  By O-Posts Team | March 26, 2024 - 17:56 | , , , ,
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Newcastle United have had their moments in the sun, but this season has yet again been topsy-turvy for the Toon Army. Who should remain and who should suffer the chop at the end of the campaign?

 

Goalkeepers

This is arguably the easiest part of the squad to analyse. Tim Krul should be kept. The Dutchman is arguably in the top 7 category of best keepers in the league. Rob Elliot is a 50-50 option. The ex-Charlton man should be allowed to leave when Karl Darlow comes in as backup to Krul. Elliot has had an average time at the club and any decent offer should be accepted with a mutual parting of ways.

Krul... mainstay

Krul… mainstay

Jak Alnwick impressed against Chelsea on his PL debut, but nevertheless I’d expect him to leave on a free as his contract runs out this summer.

We have young Euro U17 champion Freddie Woodman rising through the ranks. He should be a good enough option as third choice. Signing a veteran to be third choice would be another consideration, but the problems in this area are nothing compared to the outfield positions.

 

Fullbacks

Janmaat has been one of the best performers this season for the Geordies and must be kept (though we all know that Mike Ashley will no doubt be looking to sell him on for a profit this summer). Haidara, who joined the club in January 2013, has stepped up to the plate when he has featured this season. He has proven enough to be the starting left back for [insert head coach’s name here]’s Newcastle side next season.

Ryan Taylor has not fully gotten over his injury problems, but he should be kept for at least one more season.

The club need to sign a left back to compete against Haidara for that spot on the team sheet. Other than that, things should theoretically (although somehow this doesn’t truly work for Newcastle) be fine if the club keeps the three aforementioned options and signs an additional left back. Paul Dummett can cover at left back if required.

 

Centrebacks

First of all, Fabricio Coloccini should be allowed to leave St James’ Park this summer. Since that season in which he was voted into the PFA Team of the Year, Colo has declined to the extent that he should be replaced in the Magpies’ starting XI. He has not been consistent enough - same goes for most of the players - and has too frequently had lapses in concentration as well as poor decision-making. He has done well for the club overall but it’s time to cut ties before he taints his legacy with poor performances.

Williamson is not good enough to be a regular in the team and should either be sold or, at best, be relegated to fourth choice. Steven Taylor, like Elliot above, is a 50-50. I’d be in favour of keeping him; he should be let go only if the club brings in a centreback of higher quality.

Coloccini.... should call time on his Newcastle stay

Coloccini…. should call time on his Newcastle stay

Paul Dummett has impressed enough to both retain his squad spot AND be given a chance as a starting centre-half. Versatile enough to play both centrally and on the left (for example, he did have Raheem Sterling in his pocket in the 1-0 win earlier this season), the local lad is expected to eventually become a starter at centre-half for Newcastle. If eventually, why not the present? Give him a chance and I doubt he’d let us down.

Curtis Good has not accomplished anything noteworthy since signing from Australian outfit Melbourne Heart(Melbourne City FC). A loan move in 2015/16 would be best for the 22-year-old Australian.

The same applies for Lubo Satka, who has the potential but is not ready for first-team action. The gap between the first-team and the U21 Premier League is too big and a loan move is needed to bridge that gap.

At least two signings are needed in this area. One has to be of sufficient quality to slot straight into the starting XI. The other “signing” would be Jamaal Lascelles, signed last summer from Nottingham Forest.

 

Central/Holding Midfield

First of all, Cheick Tiote has served the club well but, like Coloccini, it is now time for him and the club to part ways. His frequent disciplinary troubles were condoned when he was performing well in his first few years on Tyneside, but his drop in performance level and injury proneness mean that he should be sold.

Mehdi Abeid is ready to make the step up and has impressed whenever he has been on the pitch this season. Abeid has returned from his 2013/14 loan spell at Panathinaikos looking and playing like a man transformed. The Algerian international has what it takes to be a starter in central midfield at St James Park. Jack Colback - the “Ginger Pirlo” - has been a great signing on a free from Sunderland and must be kept.

Vurnon Anita should be sold. The ex-Ajax man has not done enough to prove his worth and should ideally be replaced in the summer. According to those who work in the NUFC academy, such as Peter Beardsley, Olivier Kemen has the tools required to make the step up to senior level football in the PL. Personally, I feel that the France U-19 captain should be given a first-team opportunity for what remains of this 2014/15 campaign.

The club is stuck in “midtable mediocrity” and there is nothing to play for other than PL prize money re table positions. Kemen should be given a chance and have a review in the summer, where he’d either stay at the club as a first-team squad player(and also feature for the NUFC U-21s) or go out on loan.

At least one signing is needed in central/holding midfield, two if Tiote is sold. One of the two signings must be of sufficient quality to push for a starting role from the get-go.

 

Attacking Midfield and Wingers

Moussa Sissoko and Siem de Jong must be kept at the club. The former is a no-brainer player to hold on to and the latter has not had any real chance to show the fans what he can do. Gabriel Obertan is a 50-50 but should be sold in favour of signing a useful squad player on lower wages.

Remy Cabella has kicked on since Alan Pardew’s exit and is more than good enough to be a key player in 2014/15. He is comparable to Hatem Ben Arfa but the ex-Montpellier star has a much better defensive work ethic than Ben Arfa. The Gallic flair that the diminutive playmaker brings to the table harks back to the days of Kevin Keegan’s “Entertainers” era.

Cabella.... kicking on

Cabella…. kicking on

Jonas Gutierrez should probably be released in the summer. He is approaching the twilight years of his career and should be allowed to leave for more regular action elsewhere - perhaps a return to Velez Sarsfield.

Yoan Gouffran looked to be a decent signing when he first joined the club but has since proven to be not good enough to be kept any longer. The Frenchman does not offer enough either in attack, which is his job, or defensively tracking back to warrant being given any more chances.

Since bursting onto the scene in pre-season last summer, Rolando Aarons is currently one of the most promising young wingers in England and must be kept at the club. His contract expires in 2016 and contract talks have not gone smoothly as there is no reported resolution in sight.

Two or three signings are needed if Obertan, Jonas and Gouffran are all sold/released in the summer.

 

Forwards

Ayoze Perez is currently the jewel in the Newcastle crown and his breakthrough was not expected. After all, he was initially set to be brought through slowly, first going through the U-21 team. The Spain U-21 forward is well and truly a star in-the-making and we can only hope that Mike Ashley doesn’t decide to cash in at the end of this season. The vultures are circling, namely the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Manchester City.

After signing from Bundesliga side Freiburg, Papiss Cisse had as perfect a first six months at a club that any player or fan could wish for. Since then, he has had a topsy turvy time on Tyneside and is should be up for consideration as to whether he should be sold. He has been the club’s top scorer this season, with impressive goals-to-minutes statistics, but should be replaced if the club brings in another number 9. Facundo Ferreyra has done zilch since moving from Shakhtar Donetsk and will be leaving.

Emmanuel Riviere has not been worth the £6 million spent to take him from Monaco. From his displays thus far, he is only a squad option but should be given another season to prove his worth. Adam Armstrong is in an extremely similar situation as the aforementioned Olivier Kemen. Armstrong is too good for the U-21s but is not yet a true 1st-teamer. I’d be well in favour of keeping him in a squad role and the club pushing him along gradually but another part of me thinks he should be loaned out to a lower division club to whom he’d be a key player.

Only one signing is needed up front and he has to be of sufficient standard to immediately push for the lone striking role. Ayoze’s ability to play anywhere in attack would mean that he should play more than enough minutes next season to continue his development.

 

Overall view

A major squad revamp is required, with key signings needed to improve the spine of the team. With Mike Ashley at the helm, the probability of cup runs and trophies are bleak.

The least the fans deserve would be a competitive team that gives everything and plays with an attack-minded philosophy. Much like the recent second half against Arsenal. Much like Keegan’s “Entertainers”.

 

Written by Mark Ooi

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AS Roma: A Strong start to the Season, but a Stuttering finish

  By O-Posts Team | March 25, 2024 - 18:34 | , , ,
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October 5 2014, Juventus beat Roma 3-2. This is what Roma manager Rudi Garcia said after the match;

“This game made me realise who will win the Scudetto. We are stronger than Juventus, Because we are stronger, we have to win tomorrow (versus Chievo), because we have to talk about results.”

That was a huge statement to make after just seven matches played, but you could appreciate Rudi Garcia’s confidence, his team won all their matches in Italy prior to that loss to Juve, conceding just the once. Let’s not forget that they also held the reigning Premier League champions Manchester City to a draw in the Champions League before they travelled up to Turin. Roma were playing some exhilarating football at the time.

Over 5 months on, the gap between Juventus and Roma is an enormous 14 points, meaning that Juventus are strolling towards a fourth consecutive Scudetto. So, what went wrong?

Before the Christmas break, Roma were just 3 points behind Juventus, so since the turn of the year, Roma have declined significantly. The side have won just three times in the league since January, as well as being eliminated in the Europa League to rivals Fiorentina. That form meant that Roma have to look behind them with Lazio, Sampdoria, Napoli and Fiorentina all looking to clinch second place. Lazio have won four of their last five games, which puts them just a point behind Roma.

Rudi Garcia’s men have drawn an awful lot this year, 10 draws since the turn of the year. With that many stalemates, you simply can’t brush it off as a one off, there are deeper problem which need rectifying.

There is no balance in the team, the passing has been poor, as well as the finishing. Many of their ‘top’ players who were crucial last year often failed to turn up, which include the likes of Daniele De Rossi, Maicon and Iturbe.

I think there needs to be a sense of realism, Rudi Garcia’s statement about winning the Scudetto may have conveyed false hopes to the fans. Some could argue that the Roma team is weaker than last season.

The side sold one of the best defenders in the league, Medhi Benatia to Bayern Munich last summer. Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman played a vital role, he made 25 appearances and was a fundamental player last season. Unfortunately, he’s been injured for the majority of this season.

Mattia Destro was their top goal scorer last season with 13 goals to his name. Although not suited to Rudi Garcia’s style of play, he often came up with the goods when the side weren’t playing well. Consequently, the young Italian was sold to Milan in January.

Last year Roma finished second, 17 points behind Juventus. So arguably, the side are weaker – which is why it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a large gap is still evident.

 

Written by Serie A Writer

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Italian football: A reflection of the nation’s rich, dramatic history

  By O-Posts Team | March 9, 2024 - 20:10 | , , , , , , ,
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1982 World Champions

Italy is a beautiful, complicated, passionate country filled with a rich and dramatic history. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the country’s favorite sport of Italian football, or “calcio”, would be steeped in rich history… and drama, as well.

 

History of Italian Football

In 1898, the Federazione Italiana Giuco Calcio was started in Turin, Italy. It was created to serve as the governing body for Italian football.

With Mario Vicary at the helm as the first president, the budding organization provided Italian football with the structure it needed to be taken seriously. In fact, according to FIGC.IT, their first championship, the “tri-colored championship”, was won by Genoa in Turin in 1898.

Having won the title for four World Cups in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006, today’s Italian National Football Team – the Azzurri - is the second most successful national team in the world. They are second only to Brazil, who has just one more World Cup trophy under their belt.

They also won the UEFA European Championship in 1968; took first place for the gold medal in the 1936 Olympic football tournament; and was a two-time winner of the Central European International Cup in 1927.

 

Game of the Century

One of the most notable and hard-fought games in Italian football history is the “Game of the Century” that took place between Italy and West Germany during the semi-finals of the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Played in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in the company of more than 100,000 fans, Italy won that game 4 – 3, after five goals were scored in extra-time. That was the first – and only - time in World Cup history that has happened.

Unfortunately, after such an exciting game, Italy fell to Brazil in the finals of that World Cup competition.

 

Scandal rocks Italian football

Over the years, Italian football has had its share of scandal. The most recent of which is the news of the betting scandal that broke at the end of June, 2011. Also, in that same month, a match-fixing corruption scandal hit the headlines, overshadowing the 2006 Calciopoli match-fixing case.

 

Italian National Football Team gets new management

Former Juventus manager Antonio Conte recently replaced Cesare Prandelli as the manager of Italy’s National Football Team, following the team’s disappointing elimination in the first round at the 2014 World Cup competition in Brazil. Another disappointing World Cup campaign for the Azzurri, which doesn’t match up and hold a candle to its glorious and memorable history in the game.

Here’s hoping to better times for Italian football.

 

Written by Ann Tiller

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The Best Football Cleats for Men and Women

  By O-Posts Team | February 14, 2024 - 18:31 | , , ,
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Playing football is all about how you control the ball with your feet while running. There are three elements at play - your feet, the ground, and the ball. To streamline their interaction, the single most important thing that a football player must own is a good pair of cleats.

Choosing the perfect pair of football cleats is difficult and there are several factors to consider. The two most important issues to think about when buying soccer cleats are comfort and the position you play in. Cleats help you to maintain balance and also improve your speed on the field.

Football cleats are different from shoes made for other sports. They are designed without outer soles and mid soles. They are designed to keep the center of gravity of the player low, thereby ensuring stability on the football field while running or stopping suddenly and changing direction.

 

Football Cleats for Men

This section of the report takes a look at the best men’s football cleats designed for comfort and performance.

 

Nike Hypervenom Phantom

Priced between $160 and $210, Nike’s Hypervenom Phantom are widely considered among the best football cleats that money can buy. They are designed for agility and are perfect for attacking players, though even defenders find them useful.

The boots mark the introduction of NikeSkin, a new material designed to give players a natural feel along their feet. It is remarkably light and thin enough to feel and control the ball through the material. The upper portion of the cleats have a greater surface area in contact with the ball and NikeSkin allows for better controlled shots.

Increased boot area is the result of a new lacing system, where the lace sits higher on the front of the cleat. It is designed using ACC technology which gives the wearer maximum ball control under diverse weather conditions. The configuration of studs is designed for agility and allows for quick and sudden changes in direction.

Nike Hypervenom Phantom football cleats provide good traction while swerving and prevent slipping and sliding. The football boots are extremely comfortable and the only serious complaint against the model is its lack of durability.

 

Adidas F50 adiZero

The adiZero is a model of football cleats designed for speed and is exclusively made for attacking players. It is not suited for defenders or goalkeepers. These cleats are the most secure football cleats for men. Priced from $165 to $240, the boots are extremely lightweight, even with the introduction of toe padding.

Breaking-in time is practically zero as the shoes are flexible and comfortable right out of the box. A new stud arrangement called SpeedTraxion provides maximum acceleration and precision during sudden swerves and direction changes. The studs are perfectly distributed and there is no pressure on the wearer’s foot.

The upper portions of these cleats are made of a hybrid skin called DribbleTex which is great for dribbling, but not good for striking. The boots fit snugly and are suitable for all football players except those looking for a wider fit.

The only drawback is a slight lack of comfort when worn over long periods.

 

Nike Mercurial Vapor IX

Nike Mercurial Vapor IX are the most comfortable boots with practically no breaking-in period required. Priced between $149 and $195 on Amazon.com, they are suitable for players in any position but work best for attackers.

The upper part is dimpled, and this greatly improves dribbling and adds speed to strikes. The boot is extremely flexible and allows for free movement. The blade design on the sole-plate is soft to prevent injury to other players. The boots themselves are the lightest that Nike has released and are designed for sudden and explosive bursts of speed.

Due to the thin nature of material used, the cleats have a shorter life-span but those who want a better feel and control of the ball are usually willing to accept this short-coming.

 

Football Cleats for Women

There are also many excellent models of football cleats for women, and in this section we’ll look at the most popular models.

 

Adidas Women’s Predator Instinct FG

These football cleats from Adidas are the most comfortable model available. They are ideal for defenders and central players, and are priced around $85 on Amazon. Though they are heavy, the Adidas Predator Instinct FG allows smooth movement. The gel pad improves ball control while passing.

The rubber in the upper portion has a zig-zag design which offers great flexibility and extra traction on the ball. The new sole plate gives a player better control over fast movements. These cleats are highly resistant to stress and are waterproof.

They are for people with medium fit and are not suitable for those who want a wider fit and more space.

 

Nike Magista Opus iD

Nike Magista Opus iD football cleats are designed to protect women feet while offering great comfort during the game. This elegant footware is ideal for central and defensive players.

The cleats are comfortable and light, being padded nicely for protection. The upper part is meshed for flexibility and has a layer of KangaLite for added durability. Shoes are coated by NikeSkin for waterproofing.

These cleats are not good for striking and can be a bad choice for attacking players. The sole plate is very well balanced and pressure on the player’s foot is minimal.

Some wearers find that the boots are a little stiff compared to other shoes. Otherwise the Nike Magista Opus is perfect if you are looking for a simple and clean option without too many features. Prices start at $240.

 

Puma Evospeed

Puma Evospeed football cleats are designed for women who love speed on the football field. They are great for wing players and attackers. Despite being speed boots, they are well padded and feel comfortable during play. The sole plate is perfect for the intricacies of changing direction and altering speed.

Studs are arranged to provide acceleration in a very short time. The upper portion is not very flexible and has a layer of small projections to improve ball control while dribbling and striking.

The everfit cage is a nice touch as it greatly increases durability without compromising much on flexibility. The fit is good, but people with wide feet may have to buy a larger size.

The primary drawback is stiffness of both the upper part and the sole which takes some time to break in these cleats. The price is reasonable, starting at $25 going up to $45.

 

Written by Elena Williams

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