Tag Archives: Premier League

Allan: Have Liverpool stumbled upon a diamond in the young Brazilian?

  By O-Posts Team | July 17, 2024 - 13:37 | , , , ,
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Allan (Left)

On the face of it, Liverpool FC’s participation in Malaysia’s Frenz International Cup earlier this year was not a resounding success. Their Under-18 side, proclaimed pre-tournament as ‘undoubtedly the team to beat’ by the competition website, won an easy group but were dumped out in the quarter final by Valencia.

However, as well as valuable experience for youth team players, these tournaments also provide a golden opportunity for clubs to uncover unknown stars in the making from around the world, and in this case Liverpool believe they have stumbled upon a diamond. A diamond in the shape of 18-year-old Allan Rodrigues de Souza, who starred in the Internacional side that swept all before them in South East Asia as they scored 20 goals in six games, culminating in a 3-2 final victory against Argentinian outfit Estudiantes.

From his role in central midfield, left-footed Allan scored two of those twenty. The first was a free kick curled into the top corner against Valencia, while the second was a magnificent 40-yard lob of the Porto goalkeeper in the semi final. The Scouse scouts in attendance are sure to have noted his technical excellence, precise long passing, strong tackling and ability to read the game.

Allan’s deliveries from corners and free kicks were also top notch (a fact that will inevitably lead eventually to his left foot being dubbed a wand in the English press), an area in which some observers believe Liverpool are currently lacking. He would most likely be employed at Anfield as a defensive midfielder or perhaps slightly further forward, spraying passes from the centre of the park, should formation allow.

As Inter have progressed to this year’s Copa Libertadores semi finals, boss Diego Aguirre has implemented a rotation policy in which the club’s youth teamers have seen plenty of first team action. Allan, however, is not among those to have been deemed ready and is yet to have made his professional debut. As such, Liverpool’s interest was a shock for Brazilian observers, most of whom had never heard of the youngster.

His youth, lack of experience and the potential difficulties of adapting to life in England make him a risky signing, however with an initial fee agreed upon of just £500,000, and further cash only due as a percentage of any future sale, the deal is a risk the Anfield club can easily afford to take.

Allan will, at least, have compatriots Lucas Leiva, Philippe Coutinho and fellow new boy Roberto Firmino to keep him company and help him settle in to life on Merseyside, although he will certainly not be joining them in the first team squad just yet.

 

Written by Calum Leahy

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Angel Di Maria: The Argentine could wave goodbye to United, but will still be a huge coup for PSG

  By O-Posts Team | July 15, 2024 - 20:58 | , , , , ,
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In the midst of the excitement borne out of the frenzy of free spending that has landed Manchester United Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, there is some warning to be found in the tale of Angel Di Maria that big reputations partnered with big fees will not always be the formula for success. A year since United shelled out a British record sum of £59.7 million for Di Maria, it seems that fresh interest from Paris St Germain may end his short-lived time in England.

Louis Van Gaal may be reluctant to admit his time with the winger, who was the headline of his first transfer window in charge, is up after just one season but the Dutchman, who has given indications to his ruthless streak by flogging his countryman Robin Van Persie to Fenerbahce, will appreciate that it is business.

Van Gaal’s total summer outlay has neared £70 million with the signings of Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian as well as Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin, and with the potential of more to come, a reported £43 million sale will be an important recoup of funds. United’s eye-watering revenue streams means Financial Fair Play regulations are never a concern at Old Trafford but a chance to balance the books will be welcomed as they look to fund moves for PSG’s Edinson Cavani, possibly as a direct swap for Di Maria, and Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi.

PSG meanwhile have benefitted from the relaxation in the FFP ruling that prevented them from beating United to Di Maria’s signature last year. UEFA sanctions handed to the French champions for breaking the governing bodies’ rules on finances have been identified by Nasser Al Khelaifi, PSG’s Qatari owner, as the main reason behind their failure to lure Di Maria directly from Madrid.

The announcement from UEFA president Michel Platini in May about the easing of those restrictions has permitted PSG to enter the market with the same aggression that previously snared David Luiz, Thiago Silva, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lucas Moura, Marquinhos and Cavani as their ambitious owners, the Qatari Investment Authority, sought to establish their club as a European powerhouse. Their refreshed spending powers has reportedly allowed them to offer Di Maria a package of the same £200,000-a-week wages he is currently on at United.

Their work in this summer’s market has so far been slow, spending £7 million on Serge Aurier from Toulouse and £6.6 million on Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp, deals offset by the £9 million sale of Yohann Cabaye to Crystal Palace. But a move for Di Maria will be a statement of intent in-keeping with their desire to make it deeper into the Champions League than the quarter-final stage that has so far been an impasse for the club under Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc.

Di Maria of course won that competition with Real Madrid only 14 months ago and was a vital part of his country’s run to the World Cup final just a month later before injury robbed him of the chance to compete against Germany in the Maracanã showpiece. He moved to United as La Liga’s leading assist maker and as the player Cristiano Ronaldo personally lobbied Florentino Perez not to sell.

Man of the match in the 4-1 triumph over rivals Atletico as Real brought home La Decima and a big part of the 2012 La Liga championship under Jose Mourinho having fought back from a difficult start to the season, Di Maria’s stock was extremely high. His genius apparent, Van Gaal could justify all of the money it took to buy him.

Back then, that is. Di Maria ended his season of struggle at United with just one start in the last eight games after getting sent off for pulling the referee’s shirt in an FA Cup tie with Arsenal. Before then hamstring injuries had blocked a promising start in which he was named player of the month for September and illustrated his vast talent with an audacious chipped goal against Leicester. Off the field, there was also the misfortunate case of his house being attacked by men with scaffolding poles.

Di Maria witnessed the incident with his wife and daughter who probably would have met with relief Van Gaal’s announcement in May that he would be interested in selling the winger if he asked to leave. United’s raft of new arrivals is likely to mean there will be a shift to a 4-3-3 and no room for Di Maria in the midfield role he prefers, leaving the position on the right-flank of an attacking trio where he will face competition from Juan Mata.

Though with 11 assists last term he was United’s creative player and he remains for Van Gaal a vital asset who can dictate the pace of a game with his intelligence and guile, as he did in the away victory over Liverpool in which he produced a delicate lofted pass for Mata to dispatch the game’s winning goal. He is still the player that can produce pivotal performances of the kind that guided Argentina past Paraguay in the semi-finals of the Copa America with a 6-1 win.

Though he limped off with injury in the final defeat to Chile, his two goals and an assist in the demolition of Paraguay posed a dilemma for Van Gaal as much as it would have attracted PSG.

With the Dutchman toying with the temptation to try and find a way of fitting Di Maria into his side and PSG looking for a replacement for Ezequiel Lavezzi who is set on a return to Italy, there are many questions to answer but with a hugely talented player determined to get his club career back on track at the centre of them all.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Asmir Begovic: Can the Bosnian challenge Courtois for a first team place at Chelsea?

  By O-Posts Team | July 15, 2024 - 18:29 | , , ,
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Asmir Begovic has ditched Staffordshire-based Stoke City and moved into the big city and give himself a massive challenge – to fight for a first team place against one of the most coveted young goalkeepers in the world, Thibaut Courtois.

Begovic started his career off at Portsmouth, he was farmed out several times wanting first team football during his time at the club – but when the Bosnian and Herzegovina international joined Stoke 5 years ago, and it would have been hard to see him joining a club within the top four.

The growth and development of Begovic is impressive. His shot stopping, positioning and composure have all improved during his time at Stoke and ultimately will go on to help Chelsea in the several competitions they’re participating in throughout the year.

Depth is important for Jose Mourinho this season, as was evident in the signings he made last season – but even more so with the signings he has already made. Falcao for example, seemingly a replacement for Didier Drogba, may have had a bad season but is still a player of undoubted quality.

Begovic is just another part of that. Mourinho is ambitious and likes to spend money, and he is at the perfect club to do just that. Mourinho wouldn’t admit it but he is setting his squad up for a massive season, to try and compete for not just one trophy but two or maybe even three.

With an abundance of Premier League experience and a goal to his name, Asmir Begovic shouldn’t have any problems fitting in to life at Chelsea Football Club, and for a modest fee of £8m it should see a nice healthy profit after the sale of Petr Cech in the goalkeeping department this season.

Champions League experience is what Begovic would have joined Chelsea for, to prove himself on the big stage, and there is no doubt he has the quality to live up to that standard.

 

Written by James Clark

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Jordy Clasie: Is the Feyenoord skipper a worthy successor to Schneiderlin?

  By O-Posts Team | July 14, 2024 - 18:45 | , , , , , , , ,
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As you may have read in my last few articles, the majority which have been to discuss whether the next Eredivisie starlet was ready for the Premier League and today is another.

But this is different, this one has legs as Southampton have already contacted Feyenoord for their star’s services, which is why I am seeking to discuss if this young kid from Holland is ready to replace the departed Morgan Schneiderlin.

First, let’s have a look at who Jordy Clasie is and his rise to stardom in Rotterdam.

 

Club career

Clasie grew up in Haarlem, a small town not so far away from Amsterdam.

He was given his first football boots by Willem Van Hanegem, a former Dutch international himself who was a friend of his father.

At 9 years of age, he was discovered by Feyenoord and accepted the offer to join their youth system.

It was not smooth sailing for the young Jordy at the start as constant travelling via trains was taking its toll, plus he was getting criticized on a regular basis by then head of youth development: Henk Van Stee, who would regularly call him too small and urge him to leave the club.

But then he left for Shakhtar Donetsk and his successor, Stanley Brard, did have confidence in Clasie, who knows what would have happened if he didn’t.

Clasie was loaned out to Excelsior in 2010 making his debut vs Feyenoord of all clubs a week later and had his first competitive goal ever scoring away at NEC in Nijmegen. After a successful loan period, he returned to Feyenoord and started most of the preseason before making his official debut against, coincidentally, Excelsior.

He quickly grew to be a fan favorite and scored his first goal for Feyenoord against Groningen. Clasie finished the season only missing one game and ended up winning the Young Player of the Season award, which was given to him by his old friend Willem Van Hanegem.

And guess who was the manager who gave him his breakthrough? Ronald Koeman, the current Southampton manager.

Things moved quickly for Clasie the next season, where he was given the number 6 and was made reserve captain behind Stefan De Vrij amidst rumors of interest from major clubs like AC Milan, Roma, Juventus, and Tottenham Hotspur. However, Clasie rejected these clubs to stay a few more seasons at his beloved Feyenoord.

He is currently Feyenoord’s captain, but the club’s failure to win any trophies has surely shortened Clasie’s patience with his beloved side and their ambitions.

 

International career

Clasie was first called up to the “Jong Oranje”, or the Dutch U-21s, in December 2010.

He also was called up for the 2013 U-21 Euro Championship in Israel, where he was used mainly as a substitute.

On the 1st of August 2012, he was picked by Louis Van Gaal for the Dutch side for the friendly vs Belgium. He wouldn’t wait long to grab his first cap, which he managed to do so on the 7th of September 2012 vs Turkey at the Amsterdam Arena.

He was then picked for the World Cup two years later and was praised for his performance in the third-place play-off vs Brazil, which Holland won comfortably 3-0.

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

Well, Jordy Clasie is your typical 21st-century defensive midfielder. He is small in stature, just like Javier Mascherano or Nigel De jong, but because of his fine tackling ability this does not work against him.

He is a very sound passer of the ball, but likes to keep the game simple and does not look for a 50 yard pass or a through ball. He is also not attack-minded as his low goalscoring rate proves and is very assured and calm when the ball is at his feet.

 

Is he the ideal target for Southampton?

In my opinion? Yes.

Here are the reasons why:

  1. Clasie is at his best when he has a talented 10 in front of him, who he can give the ball to after winning it. He has not had this at Feyenoord, but I think with a player like Dusan Tadic in front of him this would prove beneficial for both player.
  1. The confidence factor, which has been witnessed with Ronald Koeman- the man who gave Clasie his big break. Because of this, Clasie will know that at Southampton he has a manager who has the utmost confidence in him and that can help the player immensely.

Of course there are things that could go wrong as he could struggle with the pace of the Premier League as Feyenoord at a very slow tempo or he could up short physically, but I do not see this happening.

In conclusion, to all Southampton fans: this could be a signing to be excited about.

 

Written by Jamie De Geir

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Morgan Schneiderlin: The latest signing in a window that allows United fans to forget about Glazer

  By O-Posts Team | July 13, 2024 - 20:49 | , , , ,
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It is slightly over a decade since the Glazer family purchased a controlling stake in Manchester United from J.P McManus and John Magnier, before a month later completing the takeover and loading the club with debts in excess of £500 million which they have spent the next ten years servicing.

Over £700 million has so far been spent on bank charges and interest fees whilst United fans have paid for it with gradual ticket price rises and the controversial mandatory purchase scheme for cup matches.

Behind that unsavoury takeover, the catalyst for the protest club FC United and years of chronic under-investment that eventually led to Sir Alex Ferguson’s exit and a malaise under David Moyes, was a certain Ed Woodward, who in 2005 was a banker who facilitated the high-interest hedge-fund loans that allowed the Glazers to gain control.

Woodward was given the role of executive vice chairman after David Gill’s exit in 2012 and, after supporters called for his sacking following a disastrous 2013 transfer market under the guise of Moyes, has now been promoted to flavour of the month for directing an off-season that has seen United sign Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and most recently Morgan Schneiderlin.

With the chequebook being waved about, it is currently impossible to find any trace of the anti-Glazer sentiment that trended on Twitter for two days after the defeat to Swansea on the opening day of last season, with the huge debts and risky talk of financial reorganisation firmly on the back-burner.

Woodward and the Glazer’s marketing team deserve immense credit for the series of sponsorship deals that has boosted the club’s annual revenue to £433 million, positioning them as Europe’s third richest club according to Forbes, but the 14% drop they announced for May’s third quarter financial results has seemingly sparked the club, with the record-shattering £1.1 billion deal with Adidas in pocket, into action as they aim to once again mount genuine challenges on all fronts next season.

Following Moyes’s embarrassing failure to land Ander Herrera and the eventually panic-driven £27 million move for Marouane Fellaini two years ago, Woodward and United have acted with a conviction that delivered Juan Mata for £37 million from Chelsea, Moyes’s last signing at Old Trafford, while his successor Louis Van Gaal’s spending has now surpassed £200 million in just over a year. With both Edinson Cavani and Nicolas Otamendi being linked, there could still be more for United’s fans to get giddy about.

Last year’s acquisition of Angel Di Maria and now the recent capture of Schweinsteiger shows how United have returned to shopping for elite players while the arrival of the German, as well as the combative Schneiderlin from Southampton, has brought long-overdue maintenance to a midfield department that had been left to decay in the six years between Owen Hargreaves’s signing in 2007 and Fellaini’s move in 2013.

The announcement of both deals on the same day, for a total of £35 million, is anathema to the dithering under Moyes that led to the shambolic deadline day signing of Fellaini for £4 million more than what the Belgian would have cost earlier that window. United and Van Gaal now fly to the USA for a pre-season tour with Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger on board after another ominous flexing of their financial muscle and the appeal of their ambitions.

Schweinsteiger will bring with him near-unparalleled experience of recent Bundesliga domination with Bayern Munich and a World Cup triumph with Germany, while Schneiderlin will also provide the nous gained by seven years with Southampton, three of which were in the Premier League.

Having signed for the Saints as an 18 year old in 2008 for £1.2 million from Strasbourg, the French midfielder stuck with the club through relegation from the Championship in his first season and the subsequent administration to lead them back up to last year’s brilliant seventh place finish. With 260 appearances to his name on the south coast, few at St Mary’s will begrudge the 25 year old the chance “to play with better players and the best manager in the world.”

Only Chelsea’s Nemanja Matic won more tackles than Schneiderlin in the top flight last term while with 2.42 interceptions per game the French international was rated above the likes of Sergio Busquets. He will add much-required bite and discipline to United’s midfield and he is also an underrated distributor of the ball, tallying 52.9 passes per game last term and finding a teammate once every 95 seconds.

Already established as one of the best holding midfielders in England, last season was the continuation of the form that saw him complete the most tackles and make the most interceptions in the 2012/13 Premier League season as he picked up both fans’ player of the year and player’s player of the year awards.

There was always a feeling that amidst Southampton’s exodus of last summer, Schneiderlin was the one who had the potential to cause most damage should he too be sold. After reportedly being close to a move to Spurs last July, Ronald Koeman kept hold of his player and would see him thrive, though the Dutchman was forced to admit this week “every player has a price” after the midfielder missed Southampton’s first day of pre-season training.

Koeman looks set to bring in PSV Eindhoven’s Jordy Clasie as a replacement but unlike those who had departed St Mary’s before him, Schneiderlin’s exit could deal a fatal blow.

That is the club he leaves behind however and Schneiderlin will now prepare for his “new adventure” as the deepest-lying midfielder in the 4-3-3 system that Van Gaal is likely to introduce. He will provide the willing legs for Schweinsteiger, protection for Herrera and Juan Mata and competition for the ageing Michael Carrick as United’s midfield now looks capable of laying the foundation of a proper title challenge.

If that comes true, expect the history of the Glazers and Woodward to be further glossed over with the tide of goodwill and fickle admiration.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Liverpool: What does Rodgers need to do to bring the Reds back to winning ways?

  By O-Posts Team | July 13, 2024 - 14:31 | , , ,
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Now in his fourth season in charge of Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers is still without a trophy to his name.

The £29 million signing of Brazil striker Roberto Firmino is a clear statement of intent from the Northern Irishman, whose legacy will be judged on the silverware he is able to bring to the club.

Firmino’s transfer fee, young age and the hype surrounding his arrival are evocative of the infamous Andy Carroll signing, just under five years ago.

That was a move sanctioned by Kenny Dalglish – Rodgers’ predecessor – and it came to represent both the promise and failure of his second tenure as Liverpool manager. Dalglish may have coached the club to a League Cup triumph and FA Cup Final, but the project ultimately collapsed, with Carroll struggling for fitness and form.

Until this point Rodgers has typically avoided these sorts of transfers, happy to work within the parameters set by chairman Tom Werner and the Fenway Sports Group.

Given the importance of the role of the Carroll transfer in Dalglish’s exit from Liverpool, you get the sense that Firminio’s arrival will also be a defining moment for Rodgers.

Of all of the Liverpool arrivals this summer, the Brazilian is clearly under the most pressure: not only to perform, but also to force his way into a first-team in a top-heavy squad.

Did the shadow of the big-money move to England occupy the striker’s mind during the recent Copa America? He and his Brazilian teammates struggled and Rodgers would have been hoping for more encouraging displays.

The issue for Firmino is that he is in a unique situation within this squad and will begin to feel ostracized if he struggles to adapt quickly. Danny Ings, James Milner and Nathaniel Clyne have also been signed but the English trio are expected to perform different roles this season.

Liverpool need a talisman in the wake of Luis Suarez’s departure and Mario Balotelli’s failure to flourish within any of Rodgers’ systems. Firmino will need to be that man, as well as shoulder the goal-scoring burden, despite not arriving with an imposing goal-scoring record.

None of his fellow arrivals seem set to compliment the player on the pitch but Adam Lallana, Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho – all Rodgers signings – still remain at the club and are cultured footballers who might work well with the newcomer.

The likely sale of Raheem Sterling this summer (Liverpool and Man City have reportedly agreed a transfer fee of 49 million British Pounds) takes on a fascinating complexion: if it is confirmed, Rodgers might get the opportunity to re-invest those funds and perhaps assemble a supporting cast for Firmino.

Other high-profile arrivals would not only take some of the spotlight away from the Brazilian but also add quality and variety to a squad lacking in depth when compared Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United.

It would also do the same for Ings, Clyne and Milner, who would form part of the base of the squad, allowed to contribute to in a more rudimentary and consistent fashion. That is not to suggest they are limited players but rather than they are players who will be at their best when allowed to focus on their particular strengths.

Ultimately, Rodgers will also need to strike a balance between quality and quantity. Having already made a clutch of signings, the temptation could be to continue on in the same vein, but Benitez, Hodgson and Dalglish struggled to bring consistency and results after signing a larger pool of players.

Sterling’s likely departure and the arrival of replacements mean Rodgers is likely to go down a similar path this season, where a positive start – particularly in the league – will be crucial.

 

Written by Chris Paraskevas

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Bastian Schweinsteiger: Man United capture the imagination as well as the Bayern legend

  By O-Posts Team | July 12, 2024 - 13:23 | , , , ,
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Perhaps it was the speed of it that surprised. Even when Pep Guardiola had informed Bastian Schweinsteiger that a path out of Bayern Munich was free if he chose to take it, not many would have expected the midfielder to leave the club he has served for 17 years. But virtually out of nowhere arrived the news that Manchester United were closing on a deal to take the 30 year old to Old Trafford in what is one of this summer’s more captivating transfers.

Though Schweinsteiger will receive a significant increase in salary, signing a three-year deal worth £140,000 per week, a fee of £15 million for a player who still remains in the elite bracket is excellent business. Though Guardiola’s desire to freshen his team with his Barcelona prodigy Thiago Alcantara has accelerated Schweinsteiger’s exit, United are still getting a significant member of Germany’s World Cup winning squad of last year as well as a pivotal figure in Bayern’s last three consecutive Bundesliga triumphs.

Schweinsteiger brings with him a wealth of experience and perhaps more importantly for a team who are aiming to restore themselves as title challengers, a winning mentality as a veteran of eight Bundesliga titles, seven German Cups and one Champions League across the 536 appearances for his country’s most successful club.

He is Germany’s current captain and tasked with leading the World Champions into next year’s European Championships in France, manager Joachim Low has said how he feels the move will benefit the player.

“I know that he still has big ambitions and goals. He will face the new challenge in England as we all know, with dedication and highly-motivated” said Low, “I expect them [United] to also provide him with a further boost and incentive in terms of the European Championship in France, in which we [Germany] will rely on him and he will lead the national team.”

The number of the midfielder’s appearances and the influence he carries has gradually declined since Guardiola took over from Jupp Heynckes and introduced a more measured approach to the spine of his side, dabbling with both Phillip Lahm and David Alaba as holding-midfielders before Xabi Alonso was signed and Sebastian Rode emerged, pushing Schweinsteiger to a peripheral role.

He would start just 21 times in all competitions last year, exactly half the number he managed in 2012/13 when he was named German footballer of the year as Bayern secured a glorious treble in Heynckes’s last year at the helm.

German football magazine Kicker named him in a continent best XI that season while UEFA ranked him at seventh in their Best Player in Europe award. It is that footballer that Manchester United and Louis Van Gaal are now hoping they have got their hands on, the swashbuckling force who provided Bayern’s centre-midfield drive alongside the more reserved Javi Martinez.

Van Gaal of course knows Schweinsteiger well having coached him for two years between 2009 and 2011 and is likely, having first-hand experience of the German’s vast pedigree, to see no issue with expecting the 30 year old to assume most of United’s midfield responsibilities.

Van Gaal is also still in pursuit of Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin who, as the Premier League’s second best tackler last term, would add a large amount of bite in what would be a fearsome engine room when partnered alongside Schweinsteiger and Ander Herrera.

The two possible new arrivals would indicate a permanent shift to a 4-3-3 which makes sense when taking into account the signing of Memphis Depay and Van Gaal’s desperation to find a spot in which Angel Di Maria can settle having watched the Argentine struggle in his first season after making the £64 million switch from Real Madrid.

Furthermore it would also hand Van Gaal with more viable alternatives to Michael Carrick, with whom Manchester United’s best form last season came with him in the side, and the balance he offered that the Dutchman found hard to replace during the 33 year old’s time out with injury.

Of course there has to be some trepidation over the signing of a player who is now advancing into his 30’s, isn’t accustomed to a winter break and has suffered a series of recent knee and ankle problems, but Van Gaal has once again delivered in the aim of delivering world class talent and sparking the excitement in his supporters that accompanies such ambition.

Though he will be hoping that Bayern’s decision to relinquish the player amiably and without too much restraint isn’t a foreboding to another high-profile flop in the mould of Radamel Falcao or even Di Maria.

Despite the collective despair from Bayern fans over the fact they have lost one of their most loyal players, Guardiola shouldn’t have too much trouble in the post-Schweinsteiger transition given he set in motion his gradual phasing out last season. Van Gaal shouldn’t have too much trouble fitting him in either, provided the German stays free of the injuries that have dogged him since 2011.

“Bastian wanted to do something new at the end of his career” said Bayern’s chief executive Karl Heinz Rummenigge on Saturday. With Depay already secured, Matteo Darmain on his way to add defensive steel to the right-back position and possibly Schneiderlin and Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi to follow, that “something new” is likely to be very successful if the right blend is found.

With their first ever German player in tow as a result of their standing as off-field behemoths, Manchester United are ready to be powerhouses on the field once again.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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Radamel Falcao: Is Mourinho taking a gamble in signing the struggling goal-getter?

  By O-Posts Team | July 11, 2024 - 16:52 | , , , , ,
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It is indicative of the enduring faith that Jose Pekerman still has in Radamel Falcao that the Colombia coach abandoned the 4-2-3-1 that saw them light up last year’s World Cup in Brazil for this summer’s Copa America, reverting back to a front two in order to fit the 29 year old into the side.

Carlos Bacca, who hit 28 goals for Sevilla last season, partnered Falcao for their opener against Venezuela but he would then be dropped for Teo Gutierrez for the next two games against Brazil and Peru. Meanwhile Jackson Martinez, coming off a season in which he struck 32 goals from 41 games for Porto, sat patiently on the bench until he was introduced late against Peru before starting the quarter final, ahead of Falcao, against Argentina.

Pekerman’s reluctance to drop Falcao resulted in Colombia looking laboured on their run to their penalty shoot-out elimination to Argentina, ceding the attacking intent from full-back and the central influence of James Rodriguez, two big factors behind their run to the World Cup quarter finals a year ago, who was shifted out wide.

Jeison Murillo’s strike against Brazil was their only goal in four games as Pekerman’s refusal to discount Falcao contributed to a stagnant and immobile attack. In his 252 minutes on the pitch, Falcao managed 0 goals, 6 shots, of which just 1 found the target, and just a single chance created.

It was a continuation of the attacker’s miserable decline in form since suffering the ACL tear in January 2014 that would rule him out of that year’s World Cup. Manchester United would present Falcao with a chance to restore himself to the fearsome goal-scorer that was in deadly effect at Porto and Atletico Madrid, but 4 goals from 29 games in England saw him head in the opposite direction.

Pekerman clearly still believes that the devastating Falcao of Porto and Atletico still exists within the Colombian, the same intuition that convinced Louis Van Gaal to bring him to Manchester a year ago and now Jose Mourinho is the latest manager to assign himself to that notion.

Chelsea haven taken Falcao on a season-long loan deal similar to the one United arranged last August. With his reputation hit by his time at Old Trafford, the Colombian has taken a £145,000 wage cut to secure his move to Stamford Bridge where he will now compete with Loic Remy to be second in line to Diego Costa.

Chelsea are still haunted by the hat-trick he claimed against them in the 2012 Super Cup for Atletico while Mourinho’s own bad memories are influenced by the Copa Del Rey final of a year later. The Portuguese will be driven by a motivation to help Falcao recover that ominous touch and with Monaco unable to find a buyer but desperate to get one of their biggest financial liabilities as they aim to tighten their belts after the lavish spending in the early days of owner Dmitry Rybovlev, it represents a low-risk gamble for the champions.

That gamble has been designed by Didier Drogba’s second exit from the club and if Falcao can replicate the Ivorian’s contribution from last term- 7 goals from 14 starts- then he will be an invaluable cover option, together with Remy, to Costa, who is of course familiar with the Colombian from their time together at Atletico, as Chelsea chase glory on four fronts.

It is worth noting that Drogba, in his bit part role at the age of 37, appeared for the club 38 times last season, so Falcao should be optimistic that he will not be short on playing time.

His poacher instincts will be an asset when Chelsea are challenged with breaking down stern defensive opponents and is likely to thrive on the service provided by the likes of Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas should he rediscover the confidence that had evaporated during his time in Manchester.

The situation has now also changed for both Falcao and Mourinho, with the Colombian now established as a diminished force in need of restoration the Portuguese will be under far less pressure to get the best out of the striker than Van Gaal was at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has of course faced this task before, most notably with Hernan Crespo whom he convinced had a future in London in 2005 after being loaned out to Milan. The Argentine would win the Premier League in 2006 having scored 13 goals.

Diego Milito was transformed from journeyman to Champions League winner, along with Samuel Eto’o who was ditched from Barcelona, at Inter Milan in 2010 while Drogba and Costa have thrived under Mourinho’s guise at Chelsea.

The fortunes of Andriy Shevchenko and Fernando Torres at Stamford Bridge will present stark reminders of how a switch to Chelsea may not always ensure success but there is a difference; Falcao will be of Mourinho’s own choosing and he will be determined to get it right.

With the Colombian equally intent on rewarding his new manager’s faith, then Chelsea’s low-risk gamble may yet pay the highest-dividends.

 

Written by Adam Gray

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

  By O-Posts Team | July 10, 2024 - 21:26 | , , ,
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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

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

  By O-Posts Team | July 10, 2024 - 17:53 | , , , , , , , , , ,
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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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