When it comes to the Premier League’s final standings, Liverpool’s ultimate position in the English table – and resultantly whether they qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2009, stage an audacious late charge for the title or fall short of both aims at the final hurdle – will undoubtedly be determined by how many goals they can score between now and the end of May.

I guess you could say that about any Premier League side – or for that matter, any club in any league in any part of the world – but while Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal don three of the best four defensive records in the division, Liverpool have conceded 35 times already this term – a statistic only three goals better than 16th-place Crystal Palace.

While the Reds’ ruthless SAS strikeforce of Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are considered to be arguably the best in the English top flight, the same cannot be said for Liverpool’s rather frail backline, who have kept just seven clean sheets so far this year – the lowest amount in the  Premier League’s top half.

When Glen Johnson is featuring regularly at left-back, £15million signing Mamadou Sakho – the most expensive purchase of Liverpool’s summer – has managed just twelve league starts all season and loan flop Aly Cissokho is still depended upon as back-up despite being one of the weakest performers on the Anfield roster, you know that something has intrinsically gone wrong.

Right now, Brendan Rodgers faces a situation where his best centre-back pairing remains unclear and full-back selection has become a case of whoever is fit enough to play most likely will. It’s safe to say that Liverpool’s defence isn’t what you’d describe as ‘top four quality’.

In obvious ways, Liverpool’s defence is their biggest burden, and if it wasn’t for the form of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge this season, who have netted an incredible 42 Premier League goals between them, the Reds would probably be struggling for a Europa League spot right now.

But there is a flipside to that proverbial coin –  is it possible that, as well as being Liverpool’s potentially most fatal of flaws, their shaky defence is also their greatest blessing?

The juxtaposing quality of the Reds’ defence and attack makes them an incredibly difficult opponent to gauge. How can you accommodate your game plan for both at the same time, whilst also considering Liverpool’s quality on the ball in the middle of the park?

Sitting deep only plays to the Reds’ strengths –  the more Steven Gerrard, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez get on the ball the more likely the Anfield side are to score. All three are visionaries, capable of unlocking defences with their guile and craft or getting on the scoresheet themselves. At the same time, you’re throwing away your greatest chance of winning the match, by not relentlessly attacking and probing an incredibly uncertain defence – undisputedly Liverpool’s biggest weakness.

Premier League teams have realised this, especially when the Reds are away from home, They’ve conceded 23 goals on the road this season, which is the fifth-worst record in the top flight, and resultantly, opponents have felt compelled to take advantage of the Anfield side’s defensive frailties.

But in return, that allows for Liverpool to enact their most effective mode of scoring –  the counter-attack. The Reds have found the net six times on the break this season, which according to Whoscored.com makes them the most dangerous and consistent counter-attacking threat in the Premier League.

Looking at the players, it’s easy to understand why; Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez are perhaps the most penetrating front three in the division in terms of pace, dribbling ability and lethality in front of goal, whilst a stretched game allows Steven Gerrard to do what he does best – those world-class long-range passes from one end of the pitch to the other, taking players and often entire departments out of the game with a single accurate propulsion of the ball.

If Liverpool had a Vincent Kompany or John Terry in their ranks, this tactical conundrum for their opponents would not exist. A strong defence, in addition to a possession-centric midfield and a speedy attack, suggests that sitting deep and hitting on the break is by far the most sensible and realistic approach to claiming a result. There would certainly be no great benefit of attacking a side that can easily nullify your threat going forward, only to take advantage of the space left behind.

But whilst Kolo Toure continues to add to the Premier League bloopers reel, Martin Skrtel’s ill-discipline verges upon 90’s football territory and Aly Cissokho struggles to make  a single forward pass without losing the ball, Liverpool’s opposition are in effect obliged to try and take advantage, even if it does result more often than not in the Reds taking all three points.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

More than any form of thought-out philosophical master-plan from Brendan Rodgers, this has been by far the most tactically beneficial influence on Liverpool’s season.

Patching up the Reds’ defence, especially at full-back, will most likely be the Anfield gaffer’s first port of call in the summer transfer window. They’ve already been linked with a variety of defenders in the tabloids, ranging from Sheffield United’s Harry Maguire to Chelsea’s Ashley Cole, and Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna to Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez.

But bizarrely, that process could in effect nullify Liverpool’s greatest and most potent weapon – the tactical uncertainty their oxymoronic defence and attack generates in opponents – and paradoxically, improving the Reds’ defence could make it much harder for the Anfield side to score.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has slammed referee Phil Dowd for his performance in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool, reports Sky Sports.

The Magpies had led 1-0 at Anfield following a Martin Skrtel own goal, before quickfire goals from Daniel Agger and Daniel Sturridge turned the game in the Reds favour.

Newcastle found themselves reduced to nine men, with Dowd showing Shola Ameobi two yellow cards in quick succession for dissent, before sending off Paul Dummett for a challenge on Luis Suarez.

“I know Shola. He doesn’t swear. I told the ref he doesn’t swear so how angry can he possibly get,” said Pardew

“I don’t actually know how angry you can get. He said: ‘If you carry on I am going to send you off’.

“Whether it was sarcastically I don’t know but Shola said: ‘You are going to send me off!’ And he did.

“That’s sort of explanation that Phil gave me. So I think he should have managed that far better than that.

“It was shame. Liverpool then got two goals but with 10 men it was always going to be difficult.”

Pardew felt his side deserved more from their performance, and insisted Dowd had a big influence on the outcome.

I thought our season in terms of performance was strong,” added Pardew.

“We had a good game plan. Perhaps we were slightly unfortunate not to get the second goal when Gouff (Yoan Gouffran) was one on one.

“The ref played a part in my view in the second half.

“He should have managed the game a lot better than he did. And we conceded two goals.

“He had a part in the first one by Vurnon (Anita). Then there was a foul from Agger on Shola.

“Liverpool have had a fantastic season and they showed their quality. If you give too many set plays away it will hurt you.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“Unfortunately we didn’t quite do as well as we should have.”

A matter of inches, a goal post’s exact width to be precise, was the difference between Wayne Rooney becoming an England hero against Italy on Saturday night. Unsurprisingly, he’s now been labelled fairly unanimously as the Three Lions’ biggest, most overpaid and underperforming, zero.

Alan Smith of Arsenal and Sky Sports fame believes the Manchester United star should now be dropped along with Liverpool’s Glen Jonhson, the Daily Mail have described his performance as ‘underwhelming’ and massaged the wound with a plethora of salt by dubbing his shanked corner ‘the worst ever’ (not just England’s worst ever, but quite ridiculously, football’s worst ever), and the Telegraph’s Paul Hayward is now questioning Rooney’s ‘relevance’ to the England cause.

It’s interesting how split seconds can quickly define entire narratives. Not that Rooney’s performance was particularly pleasing against Azzurri, not that the his crucial miss on the hour mark should be instantly forgiven.

The 28 year-old is the current England team’s most iconic player and the best-paid player in Premier League history. With either side of the goal at his mercy, the ball just within the realms of the penalty box and Italy’s Salvatore Sirigu completely sold, letting such a glorious, unchallenging opportunity to equalise whistle past the near post is nigh-on-inexcusable at World Cup level.

But let us consider the alternative for just a moment. Let us flirt with the futile possibilities of ifs and buts. Let us advocate devilishly. If Rooney’s ill-fated strike had veered into England’s preferred side of the post, he would have ended the evening as the Three Lions’ hero, with every beer-soaked England fan up and down the country singing his name along the early-morning walk home from their favourite drinking holes.

Although the intrinsic, driven performance of Raheem Sterling is duly noted, one goal and one assist – that exceptional far post cross to Daniel Sturridge after 37 minutes – would have made the United forward, by default, England’s Man of the Match. Any criticism of his limited overall contribution from the left-hand side would have been entirely forgotten – rather, Rooney would have been heaped with praise for his ability to provide result-determining quality whilst undertaking a role for the sake of the team that doesn’t lend itself to his more natural strengths.

But the combination of one skewed shot and one disappointing result from a fixture we were never likely to win is all the ammunition the British press needs to start a witch hunt, as if England would have beaten the Italians if Adam Lallana, Ross Barkley or Jack Wilshere were on the pitch instead, all of whom boast a combined record of just one goal in 25 appearances for the Three Lions.

Yet Steven Gerrard’s performance against the Azzurri was equally as uninspiring. The 34 year-old was as consistent on the ball as ever, but over the course of 90 minutes had relatively little impact on the match itself. He actually recorded fewer touches of the ball, one less shot and only seven more passes than Glen Johnson. Hardly what you’d expect from an England captain and our most in-form midfielder during an opening World Cup fixture.

Likewise, questions have to be asked of Joe Hart for Italy’s second goal, and the entirety of England’s defence for both.

Perhaps we expect more from Wazza Roo. After all, he is the only England player who can stake a claim for being truly world class whilst amid his peak years. After all, this is the Premier League’s most lucratively-paid player of all time, and a forward who has won five titles with Manchester United. Many felt that considering the lukewarm tone of the 28 year-old’s Three Lions career thus far, a committed and clinical performance against Italy was a timely opportunity for redemption.

I’d subscribe to that theory too – the Italy match was a fantastic opportunity for Rooney to hit back at his wealth of critics, whose numbers have multiplied like heated yeast since the end of the Premier League season.

But the England international has always been a player who takes a while to get going; Sir Alex Ferguson often remarked of Rooney’s limited sharpness unless he’s playing bi-weekly football, and the cliché that his scoring form tends to improve towards the midseason-mark is no coincidental misnomer.  Furthermore, striking an ideal equilibrium between quality, age and experience, he is still by far England’s most threatening individual entity.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Many will feel Three Lions managers have overlooked soft international performances from Rooney only too often in the past,  but he surely deserves the courtesy of featuring in all three of England’s group games before he’s made into public enemy No.1. Judging him on a single performance, where he played in a significantly less influential position but still almost produced the quality required to earn England a point, is nothing short of scape-goating.

But perhaps that is England’s eternal curse – whilst our young players impress and delight, free from the pressures of a nation’s expectations, it is those we feel we deserve more from that we are most prepared to blame.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Leeds United have been pretty busy already this summer. They’ve welcomed a new manager in David Hockaday, an £11million reimbursement from the sale of Ross McCormack to Fulham and a fresh transfer policy, inspired by owner Massimo Cellino, that’s obsessed with talents from Serie A.

But an incredibly disappointing 2-0 defeat to Millwall on the Championship’s opening weekend suggested there’s still work to be done at Elland Road. And Hockaday agrees, citing three areas of the squad that still require strengthening.

So with that in mind and the summer transfer window coming somewhat close to it’s conclusion, here’s a list of FIVE signings the Yorkshire outfit could still make before the end of deadline day.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON CHRIS WOOD TO REVEAL ALL

[/ffc-gallery]

CHRIS WOOD

Leeds United’s search to replace the fire-power of Ross McCormack has reportedly thrust them into the hands of Southampton’s want-away striker Billy Sharp.

But another option the Yorkshire outfit should be considering is a bid for Leicester City front-man Chris Wood. The towering Aussie was expected to join Wolves amid interest from several Championship sides but recent speculation suggests the Molineux deal has now broken down:

It gives Leeds a fantastic opportunity to weigh in, and Wood certainly has the quality to address the goal-scoring gulf McCormack has left behind at Elland Road.

He’s netted 36 times in his last 107 Championship appearances, and measuring in at 6 foot 3, uses his height and strength well to bring others into the game.

Here’s a look at the former West Brom youngster in action:

//www.youtube.com/embed/VjqT9eiYUTE?rel=0

An argument could be had to suggest Wood is too similar to Leeds target man Matt Smith, but at just 22 years of age he’s a fantastic prospect that the Whites would be wise to get their hands on.

SHANE DUFFY

Shane Duffy absolutely excelled on loan to Yeovil last season, in fact, the 37-game spell saw Whoscored.com rate the Everton youngster as the best player in the entire division, picking up an unbelievable nine Man of the Match awards:

But time is running out for the 22 year-old at Goodison and he admitted earlier this summer that pre-season performances could well go on to decide his immediate future with the Mersey outfit.

Roberto Martinez’ appraisal is yet to be revealed, but with England prodigy John Stones shining through, first team opportunities are likely to be slim next term either way.

Leeds currently only have two centre-halves on the books and that has pushed them towards rekindling a deal with Chesterfield’s Liam Cooper.

But the Republic of Ireland international would be a wise investment too. Just take a look at his incredible averages-per-match from last term:

And with just a year left on Duffy’s contract, the current window is the ideal time to convince the Toffees to sell.

KIERAN AGARD

Despite being personally scouted by Massimo Cellino last season and refusing to extend his contract at Rotherham United, Leeds appear to have cooled off their pursuit of Kieran Agard.

Which in my opinion is one monumental error, not least because the former Everton youngster destroyed League One last season, netting 26 times in all competitions to help Miners achieve promotion through the play-offs. Here’s a look at all his goals from the campaign:

//www.youtube.com/embed/2EY8tktd6HE

The 24 year-old comes with blistering pace and can feature as a striker or out wide – two areas of the Leeds roster that desperately require an injection of youth and quality.

Furthermore, although Rotherham were able to extend Agard’s contract until 2015 through a club option clause, they will be powerless to stop the English forward walk out the exit door for free next summer.

Thus, League One’s third-top scorer will be available at a realistic price. But well-known interest from Bristol City could prove to be a stumbling block.

MATTHEW LOWTON

Matthew Lowton will be forever famed for this sensational goal which went on to trigger Aston Villa’s dramatic great escape at the end of the 2012/13 campaign:

But the 25 year-old’s Villa career has since taken a downward turn, in no small part due to a reported spat with Paul Lambert after turning up late for training in January this year.

The Villians boss denies a rift, but rumours persist that the defender could be ousted this summer, amid alleged interest from Middlesbrough.

Lowton – who spent five years at Leeds’ academy before moving to Sheffield United in 2005 – is primarily considered a right-back, an area Leeds don’t currently require drastic strengthening in. But in truth, he’s a utility man, capable at playing anywhere across the backline or in midfield.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The Whites roster could certainly do with some Premier League quality and versatility, which the Englishman possesses in abundance. Here’s a look at some of his highlights for the Birmingham outfit:

//www.youtube.com/embed/khwV-cIEV3c?rel=0

NICK POWELL

Entrenched hatreds aside, Manchester United’s Nick Powell would be an impressive addition to the Leeds roster for next season on a year-long loan.

The highly-rated Crewe product impressed in the Championship last year during a term-long stay with Wigan, as viewable below:

He also netted three times in six Europa League outings. Here’s a collection of the 20 year-old’s career highlights thus far:

//www.youtube.com/embed/ZfclynD35gY?rel=0

Furthermore, Powell, who can operate in midfield or as a striker, doesn’t appear to be in Louis van Gaal’s plans, having been left out of the Red Devils’ squad for their pre-season tour of the USA.

Elland Road would be a perfect location for the 20 year-old to get some much-needed playing time, but Wigan are keen on his services permanently and Premier League side Leicester City have also been linked:

Ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby, statistics released by EA SPORTS FIFA 15 Ultimate Team have put paid to fan arguments across the country and revealed the best combined starting XI of the two clubs.

Much has been made of the supposed shift in power in Manchester and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the official player rating index of the Barclays Premier League, has revealed that the blue half DO now have the edge. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index has taken data from both Manchester City and Manchester United and measured both sides’ players’ contribution to the success of the team using six key indices to calculate the best starting XI as…

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON YAYA TOURE TO REVEAL THE COMBINED XI

[/ffc-gallery]

“Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, Official Player Ranking Index of the Premier League. Pick, manage and play as your own team of stars in EA SPORTS FIFA 15 Ultimate Team. Find out more at http://www.easports.com/uk/fifa/ultimate-team #FEELTHEGAME”

THE EA SPORTS PLAYER PERFOMANCE INDEX SCORING EXPLAINED…

1. Winning Performance

Players receive points for time on the pitch in a successful team. Players will receive more points if they play the full 90 minutes in a winning team. This index shares league points won by a team between the players according to the minutes they are on the pitch. Only time on the pitch and points scored are taken into account in this first index.

2. Player’s Performance per match

Players receive points for positive influences on a winning performance (shots on target, tackles, clearances, saves etc). Players have points taken away from their score for negative actions such as shots off target and receiving yellow and/or red cards.

3. Appearances

Players receive points for minutes on the pitch. The number of points won by ALL teams in the Barclays Premier League are divided among the players according to the number of minutes they have played. This does not take into account the result of a match, it awards points purely for playing time.

4. Goals scored

Players are awarded points for scoring goals. These points are only given to the goalscorer.

5. Assists

Players are awarded points for assists. These points are only awarded to players that make the assist.

Assists are awarded to the player from the goal scoring team who makes the last touch before the goal is scored.

If after this touch, an opposing player touches the ball outside the penalty area altering the intended destination of the ball, then no assist is given, except if this intervention directly results in an own goal.

In the event of a penalty or free-kick, the player earning the penalty or free-kick gets an assist if a goal is directly scored, but not if he takes it himself, in which case no assist is given.

6. Clean sheets

Allocates points for clean sheets to the whole team. The proportionate split of the points is weighted according to the player’s position. Therefore a goalkeeper will be awarded a greater proportion of the points for keeping a clean sheet than a striker. The points are also awarded proportionately to the time spent on the pitch.

The overall EA SPORTS PPI is a correlation between all of the above six indices. The Index only includes actions that can be measured objectively and does not reward one action more than another (e.g. a pass by a midfielder will not gain more points than a tackle made by a defender). Subjective factors relating to individual players’ skill levels or evidence of a specific flair, such as a particularly spectacular pass or goal, are not included within the index.

Goalkeeper – Joe Hart

Joe Hart has met with competition this season, with Malaga keeper Willy Caballero joining over the summer, however Hart has affirmed his place as the City number one, playing eight of the nine Premier League matches. De Gea, meanwhile, went in to this season with the guaranteed number one spot, and has repaid his manager’s faith with some impressive performances. It is Hart, however, who has pipped De Gea to the goalkeeping spot in the Manchester combined XI.

Right-back – Rafael

Pablo Zabaleta was offered some competition for the right back spot at City this summer, as the club signed Arsenal fullback Bacary Sagna, however the World Cup finalist has played every game he has been fit and eligible for this season, and thus competes with Rafael for the right back spot in the combined XI. It is Rafael, who makes the team, possibly helped by the fact Zabaleta had points deducted after being sent off in the game against Chelsea.

Centre-backs – Vincent Kompany & Martin Demichelis

The centre back position has provided a few problems for Manchester United this season and no fewer than seven players have played in the central defensive positions over the course of the first nine matches. Due to the inconsistency in the United back line, it is the City pair of Kompany and Demichelis who make the team. In the below table, defensive contributions is a combination of clearances, interceptions and blocks.

Left-back – Gael Clichy

The summer saw Manchester United let stalwart Patrice Evra depart the club and be replaced by England youngster Luke Shaw. City already possessed Gael Clichy and Aleksander Kolarov, and both continue to battle for the left back spot, with Clichy spending 528 minutes on the pitch, in comparison to Kolarov’s 373, Clichy edges out the competitors for the left back role in the combined XI.

Centre-midfielders – David Silva & Yaya Toure

Manchester City have a variety of players who can play in the midfield, both defensive and offensively. While many have said Yaya Toure has not been on top form, he makes the team due to his influence in the opposition half. David Silva has enjoyed playing the free role in attacking midfield this season and he ranks highest of any midfielder from the two Manchester sides. In the red half of the city, new signing Ander Herrera has looked impressive but has been unfortunate with injuries, while Daley Blind has also settled in well. More recently, Marouane Fellaini has had a good run of form, notably scoring against West Brom, however doesn’t challenge the main contenders yet, due to lack of games.

Wingers – Angel di Maria & James Milner

The outstanding player for Manchester United this season has undoubtedly been the most expensive player in Premier League history, Angel Di Maria, who has kept the likes of Adnan Januzaj out of the side. At City, James Milner has enjoyed a mini renaissance that has ensured he is a firm fixture in the side. Milner is now consigning plenty of talent to the bench in our combined XI, such as Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri.

Striker – Sergio Aguero & Robin van Persie

Neither City nor United lack in firepower, and between both teams they possess six of the best strikers in the league. Aguero has been in sensational form this season and has the second highest PPI score in the league, only trailing Diego Costa. Robin van Persie earns the second spot in the side ahead of Dzeko, Falcao, Rooney and Jovetic.

Ten years of pent up rage, anger and envy exploded out of Arsene Wenger on Sunday afternoon, as a shoving match ensued between himself and Jose Mourinho amid Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Compared to the ever-humble demeanour of Le Professeur, Mourinho is a dastardly, arrogant and Machiavellian figure; he’s described Wenger as a ‘voyeur’ and ‘a specialist in failure’ in the past, and in truth, Wenger’s eruption of angst could have happened at any point over the last decade. The motivation to do so, amid Mourinho’s persistent public berating of his Arsenal counter-part, has always been there.

But when push comes to shove, as it did on the Stamford Bridge touchline at the weekend, Wenger’s hatred for Mourinho is sourced in his own failings as Arsenal manager. Since the Portuguese first turned up in the Premier League in 2004, it’s as if the Gunners have been frozen in time.

To take you back ten years, Arsenal had just completed perhaps the greatest achievement of any club in Premier League history – their vintage ‘Invincibles’ season, where the north London side went undefeated to claim the English crown.

The Gunners, through their seemingly unstoppable brand of expansive football, looked set to become the Premier League’s new powerhouses. But that all changed in an instance, or rather, within the duration of a single press conference, as Mourinho professed himself to the world as the ‘Special One’ upon being officially appointed Chelsea manager.

His Blues side, funded by fortunes Wenger could only dream of and created around a more attritional, conservative style of play, quickly tore the Premier League, and Arsenal, apart. They may not have been designed specifically to halt the Gunners’ rise, but that’s what Chelsea did and Mourinho has continued to do to an emphatic extent.

During 2004/05, Chelsea’s first ever Premier League title-winning campaign, the Gunners were pushed back to second place, twelve points behind their London rivals. And in the nine seasons since, Arsenal have been trapped between fourth and third.

In Mourinho, Wenger found his nemesis – by definition, an unbeatable opponent. And true to the word, the Frenchman is yet to get the better of the Portuguese in a competitive fixture, a run that now extends to twelve matches. If the two were in a league table of their own, Wenger would have five points, Mourinho would have 26.

Mind-games, a dark art Mourinho unquestionably masters in, have certainly played their part. But in truth, perhaps the greatest counter-attacking manager in world football, the Chelsea gaffer’s philosophy is what Wenger has continually failed to overcome. It perplexed him back in 2004 and a decade later, the Arsenal manager is still searching for a formula, a way for his ideology to outdo Mourinho’s.

In that time, Arsenal haven’t progressed or regressed. Their Champions League status never in doubt but their title credentials eternally limited by Premier League sides of all varieties mimicking the pragmatic performances of Mourinho’s mantra, exposing Arsenal’s fatal flaws. It’s as if the Chelsea manager worked out the cheat codes to defeat Arsenal, before printing them out for every manager in England.

Meanwhile, the Gunners first team has become a dystopian version of its former self; overloaded  with technical attacking players, malnourished in physicality and with the exception of the last two summers, dependent on cheap, young players to prove good value for money.

Just as Wenger had done in the mid-to-late 1990s, Mourinho changed much about the Premier League. His inclusion of Claude Makelele in holding midfield completely transformed views on formations and philosophy – previously, virtually every Premier League club worked within the realms of 4-4-2 – and the likes of Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba brought a whole new level of physicality to the top flight.

In a nutshell, he instigated an enormous change in how English sides organise themselves without possession and on the whole, the Premier League has embraced his principles. Only within the last few years has scoring goals over defensive stability truly come back into fashion; in 2010 Chelsea bagged the most goals scored in a single season (103), in 2012 the title was decided between Manchester City and Manchester United on goal difference alone, and last term, two clubs – City and Liverpool – reached triple figures in the league.

Yet Wenger has continually shied away from them. Within three years of Arsenal’s last Premier League title, he’d sold the club’s most physical midfielders – Giberto Silva, Patrick Vieira and Edu – and with the exception of Alex Song, the Gunners haven’t had a true athlete in the middle of the park since. Resultantly, Arsenal have only become more susceptible to counter-attacking football, more subliminally subservient to Mourinho’s will.

In fairness, we are likely witnessing what will be remembered as an exceptional Chelsea side – one of the least disputed champions in Premier League history. They’re already five points ahead of the pack at the league’s summit and possess the quality and depth to keep their noses in front until May.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

But Wenger’s harrowing record against Chelsea epitomises Arsenal’s dormancy, their eternally purgatorial state, over the last decade.  The Gunners boss is still clinging onto a philosophy that was ripped apart by Mourinho back in 2004 and the frustrations of its inevitable failing showed on Sunday afternoon.

Last season’s FA Cup triumph at Wembley convinced many Arsene Wenger was still the right man to take Arsenal forward. But if he’ll always be undone by Mourinho, with the proviso that the Chelsea gaffer doesn’t make an abrupt departure in the foreseeable future, will Arsenal ever win another Premier League title under the Frenchman?

[ffc-quiz ]

Fill out our survey and win a pair of PUMA EvoPOWER boots as worn by Mario Balotelli, Cesc Fabregas and Marco Reus!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world’s leading questionnaire tool.

Jason McAteer believes that his old club Liverpool must stick by Brendan Rodgers amid reports that Rafael Benitez is open to a return to Anfield.

The current Kop chief has come under intense pressure on the back of difficult start to the season and a host of underwhelming summer buys.

With Luis Suarez sold during the last window, Rodgers oversaw a £100m mega spend, but performances on the pitch – Liverpool sit in 11th spot – after 11 games have been below par.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

Even though he guided the Merseysiders to second place last term the Northern Irishman’s position is rumoured to be under scrutiny, which has prompted rumours of a stunning comeback for Rafael Benitez.

The Spaniard coached the club to Champions League glory in 2005, and has recently hinted that he would consider a switch back to the North West of England.

But McAteer is adamant that his old side must be patient with Rodgers:

“Rafa has spoken many times on the record of his love for Liverpool and I’m sure if he got the opportunity he would come back and manage the club, but you can’t disregard Brendan after a poor start to the season,” he told talkSPORT.

“The fans are talking about maybe changing Brendan but I think, on the whole, Liverpool are happy with Brendan Rodgers. I think he will be given time. I certainly don’t think he will be sacked this season.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“People are judging his signings at the minute. They haven’t gone down too well, but he has got a lot of talent in that squad and it is going to take time to integrate them and for the players to believe in his philosophy. We have lost [Daniel] Sturridge though injury and Luis Suarez in the summer so it is a big thing to start again. Liverpool have taken a couple of steps backwards but I have big hopes for Brendan Rodgers and I’m sure he will do really, really well in the next few games and we will be talking about Brendan being the manager we talked about last season.”

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

With Alan Pardew leaving his managerial role at Newcastle United to head for Crystal Palace last week, Mike Ashley must get a new manager on board as quickly as possible to get the Magpies’ season back on track.

Pardew’s last game in charge of the Geordies was a hard fought 3-2 win over stuttering Everton at St James’ Park a fortnight ago. Shortly after the victory, rumours broke that the former West Ham United and Southampton boss could be on his way back to Crystal Palace – the place where he spent four years of his 18 year playing career. The news didn’t come as a huge shock to the football world, as it was obvious Pardew had taken the club as far as he possibly have could and it had long been apparent that he wasn’t the man the Toon Army wanted at the helm.

The only surprising thing about his move to Selhurst Park is the fact he left a club in top half of the Premier League to move to a side who are embroiled in a relegation battle. But the new Eagles’ boss has an affinity with the south London club, and the Crystal Palace fans are sure to be happy with the appointment of the 53-year-old.

That leaves Newcastle without a manager at arguably the most important time in the season. The Magpies may sit comfortably in tenth place in the Premier League table, but they will want to get a new manager in as soon as possible. Assistant boss John Carver has taken charge of the last two games, but unfortunately for the 49-year-old,  hasn’t done an awful lot to impress Ashley.

In his first game, Newcastle took the lead three times in the home league encounter with Burnley on New Year’s Day, only for the Clarets to hit back three times and earn a surprising 3-3 draw. Then Carver took his side to Leicester City in the FA Cup where they were disappointedly beaten 1-0.

With the January Transfer Window open, it’s imperative that Ashley gets the right man in with a vision to take the club forward. With leading scorer Papiss Cisse away on international duty, and star man Moussa Sissoko attracting huge interest from the Premier League big hitters as well as French club Paris Saint-Germain, the vacant managerial role at St James’ Park has to be number one priority.

With Derby County boss Steve McClaren and St Etienne’s Christophe Galtier both ruling themselves out of the job, we are still none the wiser as to who is going to succeed Pardew in the Newcastle hot seat. Ex-Spurs boss Tim Sherwood is the new bookies favourite, and Remi Garde, who recently spent three years in charge of French giants Lyon, is allegedly in talks with the club.

Newcastle are undoubtedly a huge club who have massively underachieved in recent times. Their 60-year wait for a domestic trophy will go on for at least another year after being knocked out of both competitions.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Newcastle face arguably the toughest test of their season when they travel to Stamford Bridge to face table-toppers Chelsea tomorrow. John Carver will be in the dugout, but for how much longer is anyone’s guess.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Radamel Falcao has dropped a major hint that he’s ready to walk away from Manchester United this summer, by claiming that needs to find a club where he can play regularly.

The 29-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in a deadline day loan deal from Monaco last summer, and was hailed as one of the signings of the window by many given his prolific spells with Porto and Atletico Madrid before his injury-interrupted season at the Stade Louis II.

However, he’s struggled in the Premier League and has only notched four goals for United, while slipping down Louis van Gaal’s pecking order to the point that he’s competing with rookie James Wilson to be backup to Wayne Rooney and, when fit, Robin van Persie.

WANT MORE? >> Man United transfer news | Latest transfer news

Reports have claimed that the club are far from keen to pay the £43m clause to make his loan deal permanent this summer, which has plunged Falcao’s future into major doubt.

And the marksman has now weighed in on the subject of his next move, hinting that he may head away from United in search of game time:

“Obviously I need to find a place where I have continuity and where I can play.” He is quoted by Goal. “I am totally focused on the club. There are eight games left and anything can happen.”

“He [Van Gaal] has to make decisions like any other coach. Regardless of whether they are favourable for me or not, I try to behave in the best way possible, to be professional at all times and to take advantage of the time he gives me. That’s it.

“I know there has been a lot of talk, but I try to distance myself from that. People speculate, but I am good and feeling calm. I just need to play. I can’t let myself get worried, I need to be prepared to take the opportunity when it comes.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“I am happy at the club and with how the fans and my team-mates have treated me. I will keep fighting until the end at Manchester United.”

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

In February it was being reported that Nigel Pearson was sacked at Leicester manager. We reported it too soon as it turned out, but surely he was on thin ice that night. Very thin ice.

That was the day when he seemed to have lost it completely. That was the day when he grabbed Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur by the throat and then pulled the Scottish international back as he tried to leave. McArthur himself admitted to feeling ‘scared’ of Pearson during the incident. And it’s not hard to see why – it wasn’t the sort of thing you see very often on a football pitch, and Pearson had a creepy, maniacal grin on his face. He had something of a serial killer about him.

The Leicester manager has been prickly all season, always coy with the media in interviews. He keeps his guard up and doesn’t seem to have a lot of fun being interviewed, and even Gary Lineker has characterised Pearson as ‘weird’.

So throughout the season, it has looked like the pressure, the stress and strain of Premier League management was getting to Pearson. He looked like a man who was struggling under the pressure of keeping his team in the Premier League. And only last week, Nigel Pearson caused controversy by calling a journalist at the BBC an ‘ostrich’.

He has confronted both journalists and fans this season. Sworn at them and fought with them, and only occasionally has he apologised.

So he’s had his fair share of controversial moments it’s safe to say. And it looked like the pressure had gotten to him so much that he’d simply lost the plot.

Yet his team are climbing out of the relegation zone, they have won five of their last six games, and going into their final three games they will fear no one. Two of the games, Sunderland and QPR look very winnable indeed, and even their other game against Southampton looks tasty. I’d back Saints this weekend, but you never know. Leicester are on form and only one win would put them on 37 points, which may yet be good enough for safety.

So how can a manager who has totally lost his head be the mastermind of such an escape?

The answer is, maybe he never actually lost it after all.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video-small’ align=’left’]

The Independent has labelled him a maverick, and that’s an apt description. He is certainly different to most of the managers in the league, and he is perhaps the reason why Leicester are doing so well. It might be because of Pearson rather than in spite of him.

Firstly, they’ve played well all season. They haven’t really had the right results from time to time, but they’ve never been thrashed, they’ve always been in games. And perhaps if they had managed to turn some of those narrow defeats into draws they wouldn’t be in this position just now.

And secondly, it looks like Leicester are a confidence team. All of their wins this season in the league have come in little unbeaten patches. They won two on the spin in August-September, they were unbeaten in three around the turn of the New Year, and just now they’ve gone on a run where they have lost only once in six games – losing only to Chelsea, and there’s no shame in that at all.

Both these things may have a common cause: togetherness. Pearson has created a squad where there are no rumblings of dissent, they players all seem to play together and for the shirt, and clearly Pearson takes any slight against his players personally. That explains his spats with both journalists and fans.

In fact, Pearson seems to have a keen sense of squad togetherness. In 2010, during Pearson’s first spell at Leicester, defender Wayne Brown clashed with teammates after he talked of his political views and his support for the BNP. It wasn’t his political views as such, but his belligerent way of putting them across that angered his teammates. In a squad filled with players of different nationalities and different backgrounds, Pearson saw that this could cause unrest and division – so Brown was swiftly out on his ear.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

This season Pearson has been protecting his players like a mother goose. He’s defended them against perceived attacks and he’s gone on the offensive himself against those doing the attacking. Even if he’s gone over the top at times.

Pearson has made himself the centre of attention and taken the media spotlight off the players. At clubs like Newcastle and QPR, the players are under the spotlight at the minute. The consensus is that they aren’t playing well enough, they don’t care, or they simply aren’t good enough. At Aston Villa before Tim Sherwood’s arrival, the media were chanting the same line. But Sherwood has taken the limelight, and so has Pearson. Both for different reasons, but the outcome is the same. The pressure, the spotlight and the media focus is on the managers so the players can go out and win in peace.

And the results have come.

Leicester are still threatened by relegation, but their fixtures are kind. Going on current form and the fixture lists, Leicester should have enough to stay up now. And if they do, they’ll have their manager to thank. He’s been the human shield, taking all of the flak and attention this season to allow his players to win games. The togetherness he has instilled in the squad has seen them through the tough periods too, and their form is all down to Pearson.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]