With just one game - the UEFA Champions League final - to play in the 2010/11 season, every single Man United supporter have to change focus in June, July and August. No football (except the European U21 Championship in Denmark and pre-season friendlies) is actually played on the pitch for most of this period, but there is still enough to read about in the papers. Silly-season is upon us, and here is a briefing from a Manchester United supporters' point-of-view.
by @Nicopoleides
Likely transfers out:
Owen Hargeaves: Sir Alex has confirmed that Hargo won't get a new deal, and this is the most obvious departures of the summer. Not good news, as he was a brilliant player in 07/08, but suffering injury after injury after injury unfortunately makes him unable to return for United - and possibly as a footballer at all. Still we've really got to admire his never-say-die attitude and fighting spirit. I want curly hair too!
Wes Brown: Not a lot of joy for the 'Longsight Libero' over the last twelve moths, following reports of a quarrel with Mr. Ferguson at the USA Tour of 2010. And as both we supporters and players like Paul Ince, David Beckham, Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy have experienced before, you can't become the gaffer's opponent and still remain at Old Trafford. Wesley signed a trainee contract back in the summer of 1996, so it would be hard to see him leave, and I guess it would be hard to leave for him as well. But this season has just contained 10+5 games for the first team and with only 4+3 in the league he didn't even get a winners' medal. Anything else than a transfer seems unlikely at this point. No matter what, he should be honoured for his effort for this club, both as a squad player and as a regular. The Champions League winning season of 2008 was possibly his best at United, featuring at the right back for most of the campaign, but not forget that he was a decent centreback around 2004 as well.
Tomasz Kuszczak: Around ten games a season since his arrival back in 2006 is not enough for a goalkeeper about to reach his prime. And despite he's a quite good shot-stopper, Ruud Gullit seemed to have a point when a 'keeper's a 'keeper because he can't play football. Tomasz' footwork is capable of making heart-trouble for anyone, and even though he has improved in the box, he's unfortunately not good enough to be a first choice in United. Professional lad giving his all, and should be credited for that, but now it's time to say goodbye. Let's hope he can become a regular somewhere else.
Gabriel Obertan: Even his former manager (at Bordeaux), ex-Red Laurent Blanc, was surprised when United payed £3m for the frenchman in 2009. Two years later we can agree with him, and even Gabby is one of the best players at the reserves' level, his pace isn't enough in the Premiership. Seems to suffer lack of the right mentality, and could a transfer could be good for him. Next season both Welbeck (primary striker), Cleverley and Morrison deserves games more than him, mainly because every one of the three have the potential to become MUFC regulars, in opposition to Obertan. It's time to move on.
Mame Biram Diouf: Blackburn isn't known for playing like Barcelona, but the Senegalese hasn't shown any proves of being United quality. We've already got a lot of strikers, both young and old, and I think Diouf would be happier as a regular for a Blackburn-esque club than sitting on the bench for United. Positive lad with the whitest teeth in our club, but unfortunately what we're looking for in terms of quality. Good luck wherever you go, Mame! Except of Manchester City or Liverpool, of course.
Paul Scholes: Our Ginger Prince is the best passer in the Prem, but his lack of pace becomes more and more obvious. I think he should retire (transfer is absolutely NOT goint to happen) and keep his dignity, not being remembered as one who played too long, like Gary Neville. But the decision is up to Scholesy himself. No matter what, one of the greatest players to ever wear the red shirt and an MUFC legend.
Possible transfers out:
Michael Owen: He's got what he came for, some winning goals and the 19th title. As he's not getting better, I'd like Fergie to choose Welbeck over Owen anyday, as the mancunian needs games to evolve. Owen is past his prime, as even if he's been professional and acted loyally, the time's up for him. We've got a lot of youngsters who need games more than him. Arguments for a stay is that he's not compaining about his presence at the bench and if Welbeck and Macheda head for loan spells he could be a decent back-up. Best fourth choice in the league?
Darron Gibson: Has shown improvement over the last year, and is in my opinion a good back up as he keeps professional and not complains at the bench. The 24-year-old is a safe back-up and able to make a good job as a squad player, but could be sold to give more talented Pogba, Tunnicliffe and/or Cleverley more games for our first team. As well I can understand if he wants to leave to play regularly in a smaller club. His contract expires in 2012 and to keep him for one more season and release him seems not to be the best option in economical terms. But if Scholes retires, there may be space for Gibbo alongside Fletcher, Carrick and Anderson. In my opinion we should sign him up for three years and put off a sale until we don't need him or he wants to leave himself. Homegrowns are always welcome at Old Trafford.
Players leaving is just 50% of the business. A lot of supporters are buzzing for the players we're linked to every summer, and with the Ronaldo money in hand, Internazionale's Wesley Sneijder seems to highly desired by red devils all across the world. The northern part of London is a home for two lads linked to MUFC as well. Additionally, Udinese winger Alexis Sánchez has been rumored for a move to Manchester - but the red or the blue part of town?
Possible transfers in:
Luka Modric: In my opinion a perfect choice on our central midfield, able to play in a duo, covering space defensively and making magic at the opponents' half. Modric is a top box-to-box midfielder and could be played in the trequartista as well. Main obstacle is Tottenham Hotspur and their transfer fee demand. They're obviously not very interested in selling a key player to a competative side and last year's Champions League money could give the Lillywhites more strenght to refuse a bid. An argument for a transfer is the lack of Champions League football at White Hart Lane in the upcoming season(s).
Wesley Sneijder: This man is probably the best trequartista in the world, highly desired by a lot of reds. United have been under-fire for playing boring football, and the dutchman is certainly able to do something with that case. Still, a purchase of such a highly rated player is un-Fergie-like; the Scotsman is not known for paying the highest transfer fees, especially over the last couple of years. And like Juan Sebastian Verón was, Sneijder is used to play in a league with a slower way of play, than he will experience in England. But my heaviest issue with signing him is where we should play him. In the 'hole'? Well, Rooney is world class when he's dropping deep (or, for that case, playing as a striker), making us able to play Chicharito up-front. With Sneijder in, we need to play Wazza as a lone striker and leave both Hernández and Berbatov on the bench. The Bulgarian is simply too good to be sold/become a regular benchwarmer and there is no reason to want the Mexican out either. In other words, I don't think there is space for Sneijder in our teamsheet, even though he's a brilliant player.
Alexis Sánchez: Udinese's winger has been linked with an Old Trafford move over the last couple of years, but I wonder if his physical abilities would be enough in the Premier League. More muscular power needed if he should be able to make some impact on the English top flight. With that said, he has the potenial to become a superstar if he keeps working hard and is able to mix his natural talent with knowledge of how to use it effectively.
Ashley Young: Personally I believe more in the former Watford player Ashley Young. Has proven he's able to perform in the EPL and a transfer could be the way to go for him to realise his potential. Good crossing ability combined with pace could make Young a hotspot in this year's silly season. With Nani, Valencia, Park, Cleverley and Morrison, I'm just wondering if there's enough minutes for everyone throughout a season to keep happy. If yes, Young could be a quite good signing. The most important part would though be to avoid a merseyside move; paired with Andy Carroll he could end up vital for the scouse.
David De Gea: A few days ago, Fergie revealed that he was set for a career in the red part of Manchester, but Atlético Madrid didn't agree there actually had been any contact at all between the clubs. Confusion among the supporters at the moment, but I think he'll be signed up when the transfer window opens. Could be a world-class goalkeeper in a year or two, but do we have time and accept his eventual 'junior' mistakes? In that way, Stekelenburg would have been a safer choice, even though De Gea's potential is higher. A transfer fee of £17m was mentioned, and that would be either a scoop for a world-class player or another failure to replace a great GK.
May 28, 2011
May 26, 2011
Premiership in every letter
The 2010/11 campaign of the world's most popular football league is finished, but there's always an opportunity to have a closer look. The following would browse through the Prem from A to Z.
by @Nicopoleides
Aerial. Manchester United scored more headed goals than any other side. Javier Hernández and Dimitar Berbatov were two of the contributors to the Red Devils' 18 successful headers. The most headed goals scored by individuals were six, and there is no shocker that there's a Stoke City player among those. Kenwyne Jones, former Toon striker Andy Carroll and the blue merseysider Tim Cahill bagged six goals from headers each.
Bicycle kick. 77 minutes played in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford and a Nani cross went in from the right-hand side. There was no hesitation from Wayne Rooney in the box, and that bicycle kick is in my opinion the obvious goal of the season.
Celebration. A lot of goals were scored in this campaign, almost three a game on average. We need to go back to the 1967/68 season to find more than 2,80 times to celebrate every game, like it was this year. 3,03 goals a game was the answer of 67/68, never beaten ever since.
Deflection. No side scored more deflected goals than Manchester City, 8. Someone ready to overtake the Frank Lampard syndrome?
Eighteen. Arsenal's flying dutchman Robin van Persie touched the Premier League record of 18 goals from January 1st onwards in a single season, and is currently the joint holder of that record alongside Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fastest. Maxi Rodriguez of Liverpool needed only 32 seconds to put the ball behind Fulham's Mark Schwarzer at the 9th May 2011, the fastest goal of this campaign. The Argentinian went on to seal a hat-trick in a 5-2 hammering to make sure the Whites lost their fourth home game in the EPL 10/11. Neither Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal were able to perform better than the liverpudlians at the Cottage.
Goal-line technology. The entire football world was able to spot Frank Lampard's frustration when his World Cup 'goal' aganist Germany was disallowed, even if it was clearly behind the line. But no Lamps frustration when the ref signaled for a goal when Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes acted clumsy and gave the englishman a 'goal' at Stamford Bridge almost a year later. Goal-line technology needed, FIFA. No more to say about that.
Hat-trick. What are the similarities of Didier Drogba, Theo Walcott, Andy Carroll, Dimitar Berbatov(3) Kevin Nolan, Mario Balotelli, Leon Best, Robin van Persie, Carlos Tévez (2), Louis Saha, Dirk Kuyt, Wayne Rooney, Maxi Rodriguez(2) and Somen Tchoy? They all went on to grab at least one hat-trick this season. 17 hat-tricks in EPL 10/11 makes this campaign equal the records of 95/96 and 97/98. Still Tyneside's beloved Alan Shearer is the man with the most Prem hat-tricks (11).
International duties. Players featuring the the FIFA WC 2010 struggled to make a good effort, especially in the 2010 half of the Prem. Lampard and Gerrard were suffering injuries, Rooney is his own story, Torres showed lack of form, Evra wasn't on top and the list goes on. On the other hand, players like Adam, Carroll, Wilshere, Nani, Scholes, Berbatov and Bale has performed very well. Of course there is exceptions, but is this actually random, FIFA, or is a longer vacation in front of the season needed?
Joint top-goalscorers. Former teammates Carlos Alberto Tévez and Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov shared the honour of being the most lethal players of this campaign, equalling eachothers' 20 times of finding the net. This is the first time in this decade that the title is shared; the last time was in 98/99 when Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink, Dwight Yorke and Michael Owen made 18 goals each.
King Kenny. Roy Hodgson made Liverpool less entertaining than they had been for years and the opponent goalkeepers had quite a good time. 13th-placed scousers, with just 26 points in 22 games, shouted for change, both ownerial and managerial. Double luck for the merseysiders as King Kenny entered the dugout and from the 22nd January onwards only champions Manchester United (35) and runners-up Chelsea (33) captured a higher amount of points than the scousers' 32. And please mind United had a game in hand.
Long throws. Stoke City's Rory Delap should be a well-known lad for most of Premier League fans with his characteristic long throw-ins. The potters made 570 long throws throughout the season (compared to 2nd-placed Bolton Wanderers' 288...) , but only scored four goals from them. Is Tony Pulis a handball manager?
Milestone. Or perhaps music is the term for this one? Dudley Junior 'DJ' Campbell sealed the 1000th goal of the Prem campaign with his strike against Bolton on 14th May.
Narrow margin. There is 380 games in a complete Premiership season, and this year 138 of them ended with a one-goal victory. Despite Man United had been under-fire of critisicm aimed at their 'boring' way of play, the Red Devils were in charge of the biggest win, 7-1 to poor Blackburn Rovers, and Carlo 'Eyebrow' Ancelotti's Chelsea went on for the biggest away victory, a 6-0 hammering of Wigan Athletic at the renamed DW stadium.
Offside. Darren Bent was caught offside 67 times, 20 more than any other player.
Prepared. Liverpool's Martin Skrtel and Everton's Leighton Baines played every single one of the 3420 minutes in 10/11, and were the only outfield players to do so. No doubt the two prepared well in the pre-season.
Que sera sera. Manchester City went on to Wembley and won their first major trophy for 35 years, beating Stoke 1-0 in the FA Cup final. Quite a few quid needed to bring down the Ticker banner at Stretford End.
Relegation. 33 points in 38 games were not even enough to secure the 19th spot for West Ham United, as the Hammers finished bottom, heading for the Championship alongside Birmingham and Blackpool. With 33 points in the previous season, 2009/10, they would have escaped the entire relegation zone.
Super-sub. Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández scored five times coming off the bench, more than any other player in the league. Though the Mexican (11 sub-apps) wasn't able to level Newcastle's Nile Ranger's record of 23 appearances as a sub, a top rating in the Prem.
Turnaround. Both Rooney and Tévez wanted a transfer this season, but as the form (and goals) kept on coming, both made a turnaround. El Apache is still considering his future at Eastlands, but Rooney seems to stay put in Mancunia. These emotional turnarounds can be too hot to handle for any supporter, especially when it's not even silly season.
Upset. A lot of Liverpool supporters had a go at Fernando Torres when the Spaniard signed for Chelsea. The consolation is that the £50m man has scored less goals for the blues than Bébé has done for Man United.
Vintage wine. And Ryan Giggs. Both just getting better as the years goes on.
Woodwork. If all the balls which hit the woodwork had found its way into the back of the net, Arsenal would have been champions with a couple of games to play, hitting the aluminium over 20 times. Still there was no single player to get that close to scoring more than Kenwyne Jones and Didier Drogba, with 6 times each.
Xenophobia. No side won less points than Owen Coyle's army on the road. Bolton Wanderers' eleven points are not suited to impress anyone, and their fear of being away from home has got to be reduced in front of the next season. Only two away victories (at Upton Park and Molineux) is level with relegators West Ham and Birmingham.
Yid Army. Tottenham Hotspur delievered an impressive 2009/10 campaign to secure the Yids a well-deserved Champions League spot. But with ten games to play in Europe (five abroad), it may have become too much for Harry Houdini's men. This season have the Lillywhites been unable to turn close games into their favour, and no Champions League football is to be played at White Hart Lane in the upcoming season. Let's hope they'll avoid ending up like Portsmouth if Harry leaves for Chelsea, like he's rumoured to do.
Zebra. Good to have Newcastle United back in the top-flight, but the Toon were unfortunately unable to make St. James' Park a fortress. The departure of Andy Carroll didn't make that easier, but a safe 12th spot was no matter what the most important report at Tyneside. A striker seems needed to improve their W6 D8 L5 record at home.
by @Nicopoleides
Aerial. Manchester United scored more headed goals than any other side. Javier Hernández and Dimitar Berbatov were two of the contributors to the Red Devils' 18 successful headers. The most headed goals scored by individuals were six, and there is no shocker that there's a Stoke City player among those. Kenwyne Jones, former Toon striker Andy Carroll and the blue merseysider Tim Cahill bagged six goals from headers each.
Bicycle kick. 77 minutes played in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford and a Nani cross went in from the right-hand side. There was no hesitation from Wayne Rooney in the box, and that bicycle kick is in my opinion the obvious goal of the season.
Celebration. A lot of goals were scored in this campaign, almost three a game on average. We need to go back to the 1967/68 season to find more than 2,80 times to celebrate every game, like it was this year. 3,03 goals a game was the answer of 67/68, never beaten ever since.
Deflection. No side scored more deflected goals than Manchester City, 8. Someone ready to overtake the Frank Lampard syndrome?
Eighteen. Arsenal's flying dutchman Robin van Persie touched the Premier League record of 18 goals from January 1st onwards in a single season, and is currently the joint holder of that record alongside Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Fastest. Maxi Rodriguez of Liverpool needed only 32 seconds to put the ball behind Fulham's Mark Schwarzer at the 9th May 2011, the fastest goal of this campaign. The Argentinian went on to seal a hat-trick in a 5-2 hammering to make sure the Whites lost their fourth home game in the EPL 10/11. Neither Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal were able to perform better than the liverpudlians at the Cottage.
Goal-line technology. The entire football world was able to spot Frank Lampard's frustration when his World Cup 'goal' aganist Germany was disallowed, even if it was clearly behind the line. But no Lamps frustration when the ref signaled for a goal when Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes acted clumsy and gave the englishman a 'goal' at Stamford Bridge almost a year later. Goal-line technology needed, FIFA. No more to say about that.
Hat-trick. What are the similarities of Didier Drogba, Theo Walcott, Andy Carroll, Dimitar Berbatov(3) Kevin Nolan, Mario Balotelli, Leon Best, Robin van Persie, Carlos Tévez (2), Louis Saha, Dirk Kuyt, Wayne Rooney, Maxi Rodriguez(2) and Somen Tchoy? They all went on to grab at least one hat-trick this season. 17 hat-tricks in EPL 10/11 makes this campaign equal the records of 95/96 and 97/98. Still Tyneside's beloved Alan Shearer is the man with the most Prem hat-tricks (11).
International duties. Players featuring the the FIFA WC 2010 struggled to make a good effort, especially in the 2010 half of the Prem. Lampard and Gerrard were suffering injuries, Rooney is his own story, Torres showed lack of form, Evra wasn't on top and the list goes on. On the other hand, players like Adam, Carroll, Wilshere, Nani, Scholes, Berbatov and Bale has performed very well. Of course there is exceptions, but is this actually random, FIFA, or is a longer vacation in front of the season needed?
Joint top-goalscorers. Former teammates Carlos Alberto Tévez and Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov shared the honour of being the most lethal players of this campaign, equalling eachothers' 20 times of finding the net. This is the first time in this decade that the title is shared; the last time was in 98/99 when Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaink, Dwight Yorke and Michael Owen made 18 goals each.
King Kenny. Roy Hodgson made Liverpool less entertaining than they had been for years and the opponent goalkeepers had quite a good time. 13th-placed scousers, with just 26 points in 22 games, shouted for change, both ownerial and managerial. Double luck for the merseysiders as King Kenny entered the dugout and from the 22nd January onwards only champions Manchester United (35) and runners-up Chelsea (33) captured a higher amount of points than the scousers' 32. And please mind United had a game in hand.
Long throws. Stoke City's Rory Delap should be a well-known lad for most of Premier League fans with his characteristic long throw-ins. The potters made 570 long throws throughout the season (compared to 2nd-placed Bolton Wanderers' 288...) , but only scored four goals from them. Is Tony Pulis a handball manager?
Milestone. Or perhaps music is the term for this one? Dudley Junior 'DJ' Campbell sealed the 1000th goal of the Prem campaign with his strike against Bolton on 14th May.
Narrow margin. There is 380 games in a complete Premiership season, and this year 138 of them ended with a one-goal victory. Despite Man United had been under-fire of critisicm aimed at their 'boring' way of play, the Red Devils were in charge of the biggest win, 7-1 to poor Blackburn Rovers, and Carlo 'Eyebrow' Ancelotti's Chelsea went on for the biggest away victory, a 6-0 hammering of Wigan Athletic at the renamed DW stadium.
Offside. Darren Bent was caught offside 67 times, 20 more than any other player.
Prepared. Liverpool's Martin Skrtel and Everton's Leighton Baines played every single one of the 3420 minutes in 10/11, and were the only outfield players to do so. No doubt the two prepared well in the pre-season.
Que sera sera. Manchester City went on to Wembley and won their first major trophy for 35 years, beating Stoke 1-0 in the FA Cup final. Quite a few quid needed to bring down the Ticker banner at Stretford End.
Relegation. 33 points in 38 games were not even enough to secure the 19th spot for West Ham United, as the Hammers finished bottom, heading for the Championship alongside Birmingham and Blackpool. With 33 points in the previous season, 2009/10, they would have escaped the entire relegation zone.
Super-sub. Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández scored five times coming off the bench, more than any other player in the league. Though the Mexican (11 sub-apps) wasn't able to level Newcastle's Nile Ranger's record of 23 appearances as a sub, a top rating in the Prem.
Turnaround. Both Rooney and Tévez wanted a transfer this season, but as the form (and goals) kept on coming, both made a turnaround. El Apache is still considering his future at Eastlands, but Rooney seems to stay put in Mancunia. These emotional turnarounds can be too hot to handle for any supporter, especially when it's not even silly season.
Upset. A lot of Liverpool supporters had a go at Fernando Torres when the Spaniard signed for Chelsea. The consolation is that the £50m man has scored less goals for the blues than Bébé has done for Man United.
Vintage wine. And Ryan Giggs. Both just getting better as the years goes on.
Woodwork. If all the balls which hit the woodwork had found its way into the back of the net, Arsenal would have been champions with a couple of games to play, hitting the aluminium over 20 times. Still there was no single player to get that close to scoring more than Kenwyne Jones and Didier Drogba, with 6 times each.
Xenophobia. No side won less points than Owen Coyle's army on the road. Bolton Wanderers' eleven points are not suited to impress anyone, and their fear of being away from home has got to be reduced in front of the next season. Only two away victories (at Upton Park and Molineux) is level with relegators West Ham and Birmingham.
Yid Army. Tottenham Hotspur delievered an impressive 2009/10 campaign to secure the Yids a well-deserved Champions League spot. But with ten games to play in Europe (five abroad), it may have become too much for Harry Houdini's men. This season have the Lillywhites been unable to turn close games into their favour, and no Champions League football is to be played at White Hart Lane in the upcoming season. Let's hope they'll avoid ending up like Portsmouth if Harry leaves for Chelsea, like he's rumoured to do.
Zebra. Good to have Newcastle United back in the top-flight, but the Toon were unfortunately unable to make St. James' Park a fortress. The departure of Andy Carroll didn't make that easier, but a safe 12th spot was no matter what the most important report at Tyneside. A striker seems needed to improve their W6 D8 L5 record at home.
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