The Big Boss is back at the helm, but he must follow these five pointers in order to ensure success returns to the Super Eagles
The song ‘End of the Road’, by Boyz II Men, is one of my favourites. I love it, but I can’t deny that it annoys me.
Why?
Well, it’s because it’s misleading. Despite a title suggesting such
finality, the line ‘I still can’t let you go’ echoes repeatedly at the
end of the song.
I am reminded of this gripe when I consider the return of Stephen Keshi; despite feeling (at least once) that we’d reached ‘the end of the road’ with the Big Boss, it seems Nigeria just can’t let him go.
The coach’s return appears to have been received well by Super Eagles fans, but I’m not convinced that it’s the right move.
Here are five things that Keshi got wrong during his first and second
stints as coach, and the errors that he mustn’t make again… His Bossy Attitude
Steven Keshi showed glimpse of his domineering attitude after he took
Nigeria to her apogee—clinching the Afcon 2013 title—and also to
the edge after he infamously threatened to resign instantly.
This act was somewhat justified given the fact it was based on an
unjust scepticism going into the tourney. Afterwards, however, he
apparently dwelled on this meagre accolade and was persistently spotted
lashing out to critics—fans, ex-internationals and the FA—mostly not on
the pitch of play but in the media.
His most recent—before his second appointment—his headless rant about
the football federation and its leadership, which he later
countermanded disgracefully.
Subtleness must become an order of the day for Keshi, who must curb his tone with the media. Midfield Malaise
I can remember the unpleasant look I wore when I realised that two
different players were made to don the prestigious No.10 jersey in the
recent international in Nelspruit; that justified the kind of confusion
harboured by our midfield for the past two years.
After the Afcon victory, the main question surrounding the team was
the identity of the ‘third man’ in midfield, but now, it’s hard to feel
secure with any of the midfield three.
One-time hero Ogenyi Onazi is a totally different player than he was,
and the team's lynchpin John Obi Mikel has seen niggling injuries keep
him away from Chelsea's bench.
Keshi must fast-track a remedy for this problem area of the pitch. Failure to integrate youth players
Keshi appeared to be staunchly against giving players from the swashbuckling U17 a spot in the senior national time.
His stubbornness came in stark contrast to South Africa coach Shakes
Mashaba, whose young Bafana Bafana team eliminated the Super Eagles from
the Afcon.
The Big Boss can no longer continue to ignore the kids.
He must be brave and put his faith in youth.
With the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Taiwo Awoniyi on the fringes
of the side, Keshi has options—he cannot continue to overlook them. Playing without a style
Keshi might also never be grateful for the pervaded influence—now
seen as a landmark—Manu Garba's all-conquering team have had on those
who watched them.
A problem they've also left him with is not only getting the results
for the Super Eagles but by doing it with a substantive and appealing
pattern of play.
The national team have constantly been criticised after uninspiring
performances regardless of the results, which also was a major problem
in Keshi's debut campaign. The allegations became more solidified after
everyone witnessed the U17 and U20 side displayed what was tagged 'total
football'.
If the kids can do it, why can’t Keshi’s senior side?
Don’t Nigeria fans deserve and require the Big Boss to deliver? Personal interest over form
One must admit that the last set of invitees to the Super Eagles'
camp were not only the most promising squad available but also the most
form-driven collection called upon in recent times.
Keshi, on countless occasions, made headless selections mostly based
on personal preference over form and wasn't spared the rod either. But
now with notice of players performing exceedingly well both on the local
and global front, Keshi must be careful while choosing his squad.
No longer can the Big Boss continue to pick his favourites and ignore
those who are delivering for their club sides across the world.
These are just five factors that Keshi must improve upon his return to the Super Eagles hotseat.
Nigeria expects.
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn believes Jurgen Klopp would be a "perfect fit" for the Gunners but has called on the club to place their faith in Arsene Wenger for two more years.
Arsenal have repeatedly been touted as a potential destination for the
German, who has won two Bundesliga titles and been a Champions League
runner-up during his time at Signal Iduna Park.
Klopp has drawn
something of a cult following for his exploits at Dortmund, his brash,
energetic style combining perfectly with the high-pressing,
turnover-based game that won the club so many admirers.
Winterburn - who won three Premier League titles and made over 500
appearances in 12 years at Arsenal - concedes that Klopp has the
"credentials" required, but is cautious of a change in the Emirates
dugout.
"If Arsene Wenger decides to step down or move
upstairs, then obviously he’s a manager with the credentials, the way
his teams play, I think a lot of people would think it’s a perfect fit,"
he told Goal.
"It sounds good, it sounds
right, I think in essence you never really know until that manager comes
in and you see the players leave and the players come in, and where the
team will finish.
"It looks right, but again I would always
hold judgement and wait – while supporting that manager – until he’s had
at least one season to show what his methods are and what he can do for
the football club."
Arsenal have enjoyed a superb run of form since losing to local
rivals Tottenham in early February, winning eight consecutive Premier
League matches and securing a second consecutive FA Cup final berth.
As a result of their domestic form, Arsenal are on course for a
second-placed finish in the Premier League and Winterburn believes
Wenger must be allowed to see through his vision for the current Gunners
squad.
Arsenal have spent heavily in the past two years -
acquiring the likes of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid and Alexis Sanchez
from Barcelona - and Winterburn says the club are on the precipice of
continued success.
He added: "My thoughts are quite clear, and
that's why I talk about the next three years. This year we've just had,
in terms of the spending power and the players coming in, and the next
two, where we'll see the vision of where Arsenal are going to go and
where they'll be after that.
"I would like Arsene Wenger to see
out the next two years, and see where we are then, but obviously, with
Klopp leaving Dortmund, it sort of puts the conundrum in because he’s
been linked with Arsenal before, particularly when Arsenal were
struggling. Wenger was coming under severe pressure, so I understand
where it’s coming from but I would be surprised if there was a change
this summer."
Winterburn has also defended Wenger for his
somewhat minimal outlay in the transfer windows prior to the €50 million
signing of Ozil, claiming that the club were severely limited in their
ability to spend by the debt they took on in the wake of their move to
the Emirates Stadium.
"I had the luxury of playing under Arsene
Wenger so I know what he's all about, and I know there's been a lot of
frustration around the supporters in terms of the move to the new
stadium and being able to sell the vision of being able to compete with
the big boys," he said.
"But my views are quite clear and I've
never hidden away from them; I don't think Arsenal had the spending
power, while that stadium debt was being whittled down, to compete with
the top teams. You don't have the likes of Robin van Persie and Cesc
Fabregas within your squad and allow them to leave if you can bring in
players to complement them, lets say like Alexis Sanchez at €40 million.
"I don't believe Arsene Wenger would not have spent that money to help improve the squad.
As he runs out onto the Stamford Bridge pitch on Saturday, Juan Mata may just glance over at the Chelsea substitutes' bench and breathe a sigh of relief.
When
Samuel Eto'o put Manchester United to the sword in west London 14
months ago, Mata was in no mood to appreciate one of the best seats in
the house. He watched impassively, with a growing awareness that he had
already made his last appearance under Jose Mourinho.
A week
later he was a United player. An embattled David Moyes heralded the
arrival of "one of the finest playmakers in the game today", while
Chelsea could point to a princely £37.1 million fee for a man regarded
surplus to requirements after two exceptional seasons in blue.
A KEY MAN AT MAN UTD | Mata's stats since joining the club make for impressive reading
Yet in the short term none of the involved
parties benefited greatly from the headline deal of January 2014. Mata's
departure at least covered the cost of signing Nemanja Matic and
Mohamed Salah, but Chelsea's Premier League title challenge collapsed
due to the absent combination of midfield creativity and goal threat
against defensive opponents. Mata had offered both until Mourinho's
arrival.
United saw their new marquee signing as a market
statement rather than a key cog in a coherent wider plan. Despite his
open admiration for Mata's quality, Moyes had no idea how to incorporate
the Spaniard's unique skill set into his dysfunctional attacking unit
and his underwhelming impact at Old Trafford spared Mourinho much of the
criticism for a deal that significantly weakened his own attacking
options.
It also bolstered the narrative that the Portuguese had
helped create around Mata: that he was a luxury, a defensive liability
who lacked the physical capability, the desire or both to fulfil his
tactical duties at both ends of the pitch.
Perhaps Mourinho
shared his concerns with close friend and former mentor Louis van Gaal,
because Mata has had to prove himself all over again since the
Dutchman's arrival at Old Trafford.
But, recent weeks have
demonstrated that there is still a place for exceptional playmaking
talent. Van Gaal's United have finally developed a post-Sir Alex
Ferguson identity and Mata has emerged as a key figure – surprisingly
from the right wing, the position in which Mourinho often deployed him
to highlight his flaws.
Antonio Valencia's powerful surges from
right-back create chances for Mata to drift inside, where his passing
combinations with the improving Ander Herrera and Wayne Rooney have
enabled United to reach a new level of attacking purpose and
imagination.
"Juan
Mata is always one of my better players," Van Gaal, now a believer,
told reporters after the Spaniard's match-winning display against
Liverpool at Anfield. "We have to play like a team and you have to play
in positions so you look like a team. Now he is playing as a fast
right-winger and the combination with him and Herrera gives him more
opportunities. I was looking for balance and now I have found a position
for him."
Critical goals against Liverpool and Manchester City
have endeared Mata to the United fans while reinforcing one of his best
qualities: big-game impact. In 29 matches against the Premier League's
current top five and Tottenham since his arrival in England four years
ago, the Spaniard boasts 12 goals and eight assists.
His key
defensive numbers stand up to scrutiny too. Mata has made only five
fewer tackles (24) than Willian (29) – the man who replaced him in the
Chelsea starting XI – in three fewer Premier League matches this season,
while pulling off more interceptions (18) than both the former Shakhtar
Donetsk winger (9) and Oscar (14). At the other end he has scored as
many goals from open play (8) as the two Brazilians combined.
None
of this, of course, will make Mourinho regret his decision. Chelsea sit
top of the Premier League, on the brink of a first title since 2010,
having solved last season's two main problems by signing Cesc Fabregas
and Diego Costa – even if the fading of both has forced Eden Hazard to
once again carry the team since the turn of the year.
Mata, in
turn, is too nice to admit he returns on Saturday with a point to prove.
"Going back to Stamford Bridge for the first time will bring me plenty
of good memories," he insisted earlier this week.
But when the
first ball is kicked, he will surely hope to remind Chelsea just what a
weapon they handed over to the team now emerging as their biggest rivals
Former England coach Glenn Hoddle has slammed David Luiz after his display in Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 Champions League defeat to Barcelona, likening the Brazilian to “an eight-year-old who hasn’t been coached.”
The centre-back came on as a first-half substitute for injured
compatriot Thiago Silva with his side already trailing 1-0, but was
twice nutmegged by Luis Suarez’s as the Uruguayan netted two to put
Barca 3-0 up late in the game.
And Hoddle, working as a pundit for Sky Sports in the UK,
claimed the €50 million signing from Chelsea should have done much
better regardless of the fact he was not fully fit going into the game.
“Even if you’re not 100 per cent fit you can’t show that lack of intent,” said the 57-year-old.
“He is the last man on the pitch when Suarez picks up the ball and
starts running at him. He realises he is the last man and the very last
thing you should do when you’re the last man is jump in. You bide time
for your team to get around you.
“Instead he does what an eight-year-old who hasn’t been coached does:
he tries to win it by putting both of his feet together. But when he
does that he can’t move anywhere. Suarez nutmegs him again.”
The 27-year-old was PSG’s hero in the previous round, heading the
extra-time equaliser which saw them qualify for the quarter-finals at
Chelsea’s expense.
But his form defensively has been questioned on many occasions, and Hoddle added that he has never been convinced by David Luiz.
“For me he is a liability at the back, and he always has been. You
have to find a place for him in midfield or even at right-back,” he
continued.
“He’s a footballer who likes to play in the playground when there is
no shape to the game. He is a talent but that’s not what top football is
about.
Peter Odemwingie is glad to be back in training after more than six months off due to knee ligament injury.
The Nigerian veteran collapsed in a game for Stoke City last August
but is now set to return to the first team after his long lay off.
"I'm joining the team (in training) again and it's a big step in my rehab," Odemwingie told Sky Sports News HQ.
"It's just a bit over six months and I'm really pleased because it's a
bit earlier than some players. I hope to be mentally right but it looks
OK.
"I'm not scared and hopefully I can get one or two games before the end of the season."
In contrast, his compatriot Victor Moses could now be out for the
rest of the season after pulling up injured with a hamstring during
Saturday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham.
Potters manager Mark Hughes told the club’s official website that
they could be without the Nigerian winger for the remainder of the
season.
"It may well be that Victor's season is over unfortunately because of
the type of injury he has got. He might get back but at the moment
we're probably thinking that he won't make it,” said Hughes.
"It's a shame because Victor has done really well since he's been with us.
"He was our shining light in the early part of the season and then
unfortunately he got a couple of quite serious injuries that held him
back and in the end he hasn't been able to finish the season with us.
"He'll look back on his time with us and think he's made an
impression and done well and we'd agree with that because he's been a
really important figure for us this season.
The recently Banned uruguan Footballer Luiz Suarez Caught Teaching His Son How To Bite. We all know what he is famous for, but judging from the picture above, does it mean luiz suarez is teaching the innocent kid how to bite? :)
Luiz suarez just made a record breaking transfer of 75million pounds from liverpool to FC Barcelona weeks ago inspite of his bad image from the just concluded Fifa World Cup in Brazil.
With Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton, Tottenham and
the 13-time Premier League champions all vying for third and fourth
place, the Dutchman is expecting a dramatic finale
Louis van Gaal expects Manchester United to be in a race for Champions League qualification until the last week of the season.
The Dutchman has attracted criticism for the club's tactics this season
but United currently lie fourth with 11 games left to play, while
Arsenal's form has seen them overcome a worst ever start to a Premier
League season to sit third.
Sixth-placed Liverpool are the form
team in the top flight, having taken 26 points from a possible 30 over
their last 10 games while Southampton's win over Crystal Palace sees
them a point adrift of United in fifth.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are seventh and lie six points behind United, though Mauricio Pochettino's men have a game in hand.
Arsene Wenger previously predicted that it would take 72 points to
guarantee a top-four finish this term, which Van Gaal is unsure of, but
he is not expecting anything to be confirmed until May.
When
questioned on Wenger's comments, Van Gaal told reporters: "I don't think
of how many points. But he is more experienced in the Premier League so
I want to believe him.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will leave the club at the end of the season but will not play for a rival.
The 34-year-old midfielder made the announcement on Friday midway
through a season when he has no longer been a guaranteed starter.
Gerrard said he’s “making the announcement now so the manager and
team are not distracted by stories or speculation about my future.”
“This has been the toughest decision of my life, one both me and my family have agonised over for a good deal of time,” he said.
“From now until the last kick of the last game of the season, I’ll be
as fully committed to the team as I ever have been. It is my sincere
hope and wish that one day I can return to serve #LFC again, in whatever
capacity best helps the club,” he added.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Gerrard has been free to talk to foreign clubs since New Year’s Day.
The former England captain also said his next club “will be somewhere
that means I won’t be playing for a competing club and will not
therefore be lining up against Liverpool – that is something I could
never contemplate.”
The club’s manager Brendan Rodgers said: “As a leader and as a man,
he is probably incomparable to anyone I have ever worked with.”
“This is an era where ‘legend’ is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn’t do him justice.”
The ESPN FC panel debates whether or not Jose Mourinho should've rested his top players against Sporting Lisbon.
LONDON -- Jose Mourinho says there is no prospect of Fernando Torres returning to Chelsea from his loan move to AC Milan.
It
was agreed in the summer that Torres would play out the last two years
of his Chelsea contract at Milan, but his poor form and high wages have
already led to speculation that Milan will look to offload him.
When asked whether the Spaniard could return to Stamford Bridge, though, the Blues boss said: "No."
Pressed
on whether it was true that Milan are seeking to end the deal, Mourinho
said: "I don't know but he's on loan for two seasons at AC Milan."
Chelsea
added Diego Costa, Didier Drogba and Loic Remy to his squad over the
summer and Mourinho stressed that the club could not add any further
players given restrictions over squad sizes.
"He's our player but
he's on loan. We have no space for players in the list, either in the
Champions League or Premier League. That's an impossible picture," he
said.
"But I have to say, nobody from AC Milan made contact with
us thinking about that possibility, so probably nothing is true and,
more than possibly, he's happy at Milan and Milan to have him."
Mourinho also rejected talk of a January exit for Petr Cech, with the 32-year-old goalkeeper set to stand in for the injured Thibaut Courtois against Hull City on Saturday.
"I
don't think it's possible," he said. "I read a couple of weeks ago his
agent saying no chance of leaving Chelsea in January. That plus the fact
that I have no info about any offer for him makes me believe 100
percent that he's staying. I repeat again: I'm so happy we have this
fantastic situation with the goalkeepers."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger speaks ahead of his team's match with Newcastle on Saturday. LONDON
-- Aaron Ramsey looks set to miss Arsenal's festive fixture programme
after manager Arsene Wenger confirmed the midfielder has sustained a
hamstring injury.
Ramsey, 23, scored a memorable volley in Wednesday's 4-1
Champions League win at Galatasaray, but it seems that may be the last
significant contribution he makes to the Gunners' cause in 2014.
"We
have the scan last night and I don't know enough the extent of his
injury," Wenger told a news conference, adding that he could not put a
timescale on the Wales international's recovery period. "It's a shame
because he was getting close to his form."
Ramsey's absence is one
of many concerns Wenger is dealing with ahead of Saturday's home game
against Newcastle, with his defensive injury woes increased as Nacho
Monreal and Laurent Koscielny are also out of this weekend's match.
With
Calum Chambers suspended, Wenger faces some big decisions in selecting a
back line to face a Newcastle side that ended Chelsea's unbeaten start
to the season last weekend.
"Defensively, I have 24 hours to think
about it and I will find a solution," he continued. "We have to play
someone with almost no experience or someone who is not used to playing
in the position."
Wenger insisted that his side's poor display in the 3-2
defeat at Stoke last weekend was a blip in what he sees as an improving
defensive record, despite the injury problems that have affected his
squad this season.
"Before Stoke, we got three clean sheets in a
row, but always the last game that is judged for the quality of the
team," he said. "This is the modern game. Our last game was Galatasaray
and we defended well there. I agree we didn't defend well at Stoke.
"We
work on our weak points, obviously, but it is difficult. We came back
[from Turkey] at 5am in the morning on Wednesday morning and we just
have to recover at the moment. Our [training] sessions now are recover,
recovery."
Wenger has confirmed that he will look to add a
defender to his squad in the upcoming January transfer window, but he
warned Arsenal supporters that movement of players will be limited next
month.
"If everybody is fit and available, we don't need to go on
the transfer market, but we have to consider that Koscielny could be a
question mark with his fitness, so we have to go out on the transfer
market, yes," he said.
"There will be very little activity because
all the big clubs want to keep their players. It will be as usual --
quiet in the first three weeks and then frenetic in the last three or
four days. Usually, the transfer market in January is not very active."
While
Wenger has a lack of players to select from in defensive positions, his
attacking options are plentiful, with Lukas Podolski pushing for a
Premier League return after his fine display in the Galatasaray game and
Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud also available after missing the trip
to Turkey.
Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has given a pat on the back to the
other two English premiership sides, Arsenal and Manchester City that
made it to the UEFA champions league round of 16.
Mourinho, whose side topped its group after winning four of her six
group games said he is happy with the fine run of Arsenal and Man City
in the money spinning competition, even as he added that he wanted to
see them forge ahead in the tournament.
“I’ m happy Manchester City and Arsenal reached the last 16. I work
in England. I want the prestige of English football and I hope they keep
doing well,” Mourinho said after Chelsea’s 3-1 victory over Sporting
Lisbon Wednesday night.
On who Chelsea will draw in the round of 16, Mourinho said the Blues
fear no foe as he has a solid squad that is ready to face any opponent.
Monday’s draw will pair Chelsea against either Juventus, PSG, Basel, Bayer Leverkusen or Shakhtar Donetsk.
“We don’t fear anybody, but we know there are very good, strong teams
in this competition. Last year we were close and we didn’t have the
team playing at such a high level as we do this season, so we can dream
we will do it,” Mourinho said.
While Chelsea had avoided the likes of fellow group-winners, Real
Madrid and Bayern Munich, French champions Paris St-Germain and Italy’s
Serie A-winners, Juventus, finished second in their groups and could
prove tricky knockout opponents.
With
the resetting of squads less than a month away, ESPN FC's Mark
Donaldson has some advice to Premier League Fantasy players: replace
your injured players.
Get all the latest team news and information from the weekend's Premier League action with the help of Physioroom.com. SATURDAY'S MATCHES
PREDICTION: A 3-1 for Southampton FANTASY PICK: Graziano Pelle KEY STAT: Burnley have
five points fewer after 15 games (12) than they did in 2009-10 when
they were relegated from the Premier League at the season end (17). - BURNLEY
Striker
Sam Vokes is still not ready to be considered. The Wales international,
who has not featured since March because of a knee injury, played 90
minutes for the development squad in midweek but will not be brought in
for first-team action just yet. Centre-back Michael Duff looks set to
miss a fourth game with his calf problem while Stephen Ward (ankle) and
Matt Taylor (Achilles) are still some way off. Provisional squad:
Heaton, Trippier, Shackell, Mee, Reid, Wallace, Kightly, Cisak,
Sordell, Marney, Jutkiewicz, Boyd, Gilks, Keane, Long, Barnes, Arfield,
Ings, Chalobah, Jones. - SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton
expect to have midfielder Toby Alderweireld back from a hamstring
problem. James Ward-Prowse is also set to be in the squad after resuming
full training following two months out with an ankle problem. Morgan
Schneiderlin, however, is missing with a groin injury. Forward Jay
Rodriguez has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation from a knee
problem, so remains out. Provisional squad:
Forster, Bertrand, Clyne, Yoshida, Fonte, Wanyama, Long, Davis, Tadic,
Pelle, Mane, Davis, Gardos, Isgrove, Reed, Targett, Mayuka, Hesketh,
Alderweireld, Ward-Prowse.
PREDICTION: A 3-0 win for Chelsea FANTASY PICK: Willian KEY STAT: Cesc Fabregas (81) is now clear in sixth place in the all time Premier League assist ranking; one ahead of David Beckham (80). - CHELSEA
Goalkeeper
Petr Cech will make his first Premier League start after Thibaut
Courtois suffered a minor injury in training. Playmaker Cesc Fabregas
will serve a one-match suspension as Jose Mourinho reverts to the
majority of his first-choice line-up. Defender John Terry and forwards
Eden Hazard and Willian were rested for the midweek defeat of Sporting
Lisbon, which saw Mourinho make six changes to the side which lost for
the first time this season last weekend at Newcastle. Provisional squad:
Cech, Ivanovic, Luis, Fabregas, Zouma, Ramires, Oscar, Hazard, Drogba,
Mikel, Schurrle, Salah, Remy, Costa, Matic, Willian, Cahill, Terry,
Azpilicueta, Schwarzer, Beeney, Loftus-Cheek, Christensen. Expert Analysis: Diego Costa -- Lacking Fitness.
Costa has looked a little out of sorts in recent weeks and is finding
it difficult to rediscover and create the goal-scoring opportunities
which appeared to come so naturally when he burst onto the Premier
League scene. However Jose Mourinho offered a little insight into the
Spanish striker, advising "it is his lack of conditioning" which is
affecting his performance on the pitch. Having struggling for most of
the season with a hamstring complaint, Costa has been unable to train
fully and as a consequence has suffered physically. Fitness is paramount
-- particularly in one of the most demanding leagues in the world --
and players will struggle to reach optimal levels during the season due
to demanding fixture schedules. Ben Dinnery - HULL
Hull
captain Curtis Davies could be handed a recall. The centre-half has
been dropped for the last two matches, but manager Steve Bruce could
revert to a back three at Stamford Bridge, opening up a vacancy at the
back. Gaston Ramirez has completed a three-game ban, but fellow loanee
Hatem Ben Arfa is set to continue his exile from the squad. Provisional squad:
McGregor, Jakupovic, Davies, Rosenior, Robertson, Chester, Dawson,
Bruce, Elmohamady, Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore, Brady, Aluko, Quinn,
Ramirez Hernandez, Aluko, Jelavic.
PREDICTION: A 2-2 draw FANTASY PICK: Jonathan Walters KEY STAT: Of
all regular goalkeepers, Asmir Begovic has the lowest saves to shots
ratio in the Premier League this season, keeping out just 53.5 percent
of opposition shots on target. - CRYSTAL PALACE
Crystal
Palace defender Damien Delaney could return to the Eagles starting
line-up. Delaney was on the bench for the goalless draw against
Tottenham last weekend but is now considered fully fit, having recovered
from a calf injury. Midfielder Jason Puncheon will be assessed after
missing training on Thursday through illness while Joe Ledley (hip) and
Adrian Mariappa (knee) are both ruled out. Provisional squad:
Speroni, Hennessey, Kelly, Fryers, Delaney, Dann, Ward, Hangeland,
Jedinak, Bannan, McArthur, Bolasie, Thomas, Puncheon, Gayle, Campbell,
Johnson, Doyle, Chamakh, Zaha. - STOKE
Stoke
are likely to be without defender Marc Muniesa. The Spaniard tweaked
his hamstring during last weekend's victory over Arsenal and is set to
be replaced by either Marc Wilson or Robert Huth, both of whom are fit
after injury. Striker Jonathan Walters has an ongoing problem with his
knee but is expected to feature while Steve Sidwell, Peter Odemwingie
(both knee), Victor Moses (thigh) and Dionatan Teixeira (broken foot)
are all sidelined. Provisional squad: Begovic,
Sorensen, Butland, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Cameron, Bardsley, Nzonzi,
Adam, Ireland, Wilson, Whelan, Walters, Arnautovic, Bojan, Assaidi,
Diouf, Crouch, Shenton.
PREDICTION: A 2-1 win for Man City FANTASY PICK: Frank Lampard KEY STAT: Only one of the last nine meetings between Leicester and Man City in all competitions has ended in a home win (HW1 D3 AW5). - LECEISTER
Kasper
Schmeichel has been ruled out for at least six weeks for Leicester
after breaking a metatarsal in training. Ben Hamer will deputise in goal
but boss Nigel Pearson will look to sign a new goalkeeper in the
January transfer window. Captain Wes Morgan returns from suspension,
Ritchie De Laet is available after illness, Leonardo Ulloa (leg) is fit,
Dean Hammond (calf) is back in training and Matt Upson is close to a
return after a long-term foot injury but will not play. Provisional squad:
Hamer, Moore, De Laet, Konchesky, Wasilewski, Drinkwater, James, King,
Cambiasso, Albrighton, Mahrez, Knockaert, Vardy, Ulloa, Nugent, Schlupp,
Wood, Powell. Expert View: Kasper Schmeichel - Fractured Metatarsal. Stress
fractures of the foot, and in particular the fifth metatarsal, can be
problematic when healing -- optimistic guidelines envisage two months
but it can take considerably longer. Fairly common among young players,
the injury is attributed to overuse either through too much training or
too many matches, but other factors can include the football boot --
number of studs and configuration -- plus the type of playing surface. BD - MAN CITY
Manchester
City captain Vincent Kompany is set to return. The defender was not
risked for the midweek Champions League victory at Roma after a spell
out with a hamstring injury. Playmaker David Silva could start after
returning from a knee injury as a substitute in Rome, while midfielder
Yaya Toure is available after his European suspension. City must
continue without star striker Sergio Aguero, who is out with a knee
injury. Provisional squad: Hart, Caballero,
Zabaleta, Sagna, Kompany, Demichelis, Mangala, Boyata, Kolarov, Clichy,
Milner, Navas, Nasri, Silva, Toure, Fernando, Ferndinho, Lampard, Dzeko,
Jovetic, Pozo.
PREDICTION: A 1-0 win for Sunderland FANTASY PICK: Adam Johnson KEY STAT: The Hammers have failed to score in four of their last six Premier League games against Sunderland. - SUNDERLAND
Steven
Fletcher could return to the Sunderland starting line-up. Fletcher was
an unused substitute in last week's goalless draw at Liverpool after
limping off during the defeat to Manchester City with a back injury, but
is fit to return. Sebastian Coates is available again after being
ineligible for the trip to Anfield, but Emanuele Giaccherini (ankle) and
Billy Jones (hamstring) are both still ruled out. Provisional squad:
Pantilimon, Mannone, Reveillere, Brown, O'Shea, Vergini, Coates,
Cattermole, Rodwell, Bridcutt, Gomez, Larsson, Johnson, Buckley,
Alvarez, Mavrias, Fletcher, Wickham, Altidore. - WEST HAM
West
Ham midfielder Mark Noble is Sam Allardyce's only injury concern. The
27-year-old recently broke the record for Premier League appearances for
a Hammers player but will not add to his tally due to a problem with
his Achilles tendon. Allardyce has a selection headache in attack with
Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia, Diafra Sakho, Carlton Cole and Mauro
Zarate all fully fit and in contention to feature against the Black
Cats. Provisional squad: Adrian, Jaaskelainen,
Cresswell, O'Brien, Reid, Tomkins, Collins, Jenkinson, Kouyate, Song,
Nolan, Amalfitano, Downing, Jarvis, Vaz Te, Zarate, Carroll, Sakho,
Valencia, Cole.
PREDICTION: A 1-1 draw FANTASY PICK: Joleon Lescott KEY STAT: Alan Irvine's side have netted 57 percent of their goals from set pieces, which is the highest proportion in the top flight. - WEST BROM
Captain
Chris Brunt will again miss out. The midfielder has failed to recover
from a hamstring injury he suffered in last week's 2-1 Barclays Premier
League defeat to West Ham. Jonas Olsson is out following an operation on
his Achilles but Saido Berahino is set for a recall after being dropped
to the bench for the goalless draw at Hull and Claudio Yacob is
available following a ban. Provisional squad:
Foster, Myhill, Pocognoli, Gamboa, Dawson, Lescott, McAuley, Yacob,
Davidson, Wisdom, Baird, Varela, Gardner, Morrison, O'Neil, Dorrans,
Mulumbu, Blanco, Sessegnon, Samaras, Ideye, Berahino, Anichebe. - ASTON VILLA
Aston
Villa pair Ron Vlaar and Fabian Delph could be in contention to return.
Captain Vlaar has been out since early November with a calf injury
while England rookie Delph dislocated his shoulder in October but both
have returned to training and may make surprise returns. Tom Cleverley
(bruised foot) is a doubt and fellow midfielder Ashley Westwood will
miss around a month with a knee injury. Forward Andi Weimann returns
from suspension but defenders Philippe Senderos and Nathan Baker remain
out, as does midfielder Joe Cole. Provisional squad:
Guzan, Given, Hutton, Lowton, Okore, Clark, Vlaar, Herd, Cissokho,
Delph, Richardson, Sanchez, N'Zogbia, Cleverley, Grealish, Bacuna,
Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke, Robinson. Expert Analysis: Ashley Westwood -- Medial Collateral Ligaments.
Collateral ligaments were the injury of the game week 15 as Sergio
Aguero stole the headlines after two minutes against Everton but on
Sunday Ashley Westwood suffered a similar fate during the hard fought
win over Leicester. The Villa midfielder was stretchered from the field
of play moments before half-time with manager Paul Lambert fearing the
worst -- however a scan on Monday confirmed the injury was not as bad as
initially feared with damage to the inner stabilising ligament of the
knee [MCL]. It is hoped Westwood could return in around a month although
4-6 weeks in the first instance would provide a more realistic
timeframe.
PREDICTION: A 4-2 win for Arsenal FANTASY PICK: Olivier Giroud KEY STAT: 23 points is the second worst tally of points under Arsene Wenger after 15 games (2012-13 -- they had 21). - ARSENAL
Arsenal
will be without midfielder Aaron Ramsey due to a hamstring problem.
Defenders Laurent Koscielny (calf), Nacho Monreal (ankle) and Calum
Chambers (suspended) are all not available, so right-back Mathieu
Debuchy could be asked to move over to centre-half, but otherwise
Arsenal report no fresh injury problems from the midweek Champions
League win over Galatasaray in Istanbul. Captain Mikel Arteta (calf),
Theo Walcott (groin), Mesut Ozil (knee), goalkeeper David Ospina
(thigh), Abou Diaby (calf) and Jack Wilshere all continue their
rehabilitation. Provisional Squad: Szczesny,
Gibbs, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Bellerin, Flamini, Cazorla,
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud, Martinez, Podolski,
Campbell, O'Connor, Maitland-Niles, Ajayi, Akpom. - NEWCASTLE
Newcastle
captain Fabricio Coloccini is set to be passed fit. Boss Alan Pardew is
closely monitoring the Argentinian's recovery from a hamstring injury
but is keen to make the minimum of changes from last weekend's win over
leaders Chelsea. Daryl Janmaat is also available after shrugging off a
minor problem but Moussa Sissoko and Steven Taylor are suspended and
Rolando Aarons is ruled out for a month with a hamstring strain.
Goalkeepers Tim Krul and Rob Elliot are both out which means young
Jak Alnwick gets a start. Provisional squad: Alnwick,
Janmaat, Dummett, Williamson, Coloccini, Streete, Haidara, Tiote,
Anita, Cabella, Colback, Gouffran, Ameobi, Riviere, Cisse, Perez,
Armstrong, Woodman, Abeid. Expert Analysis: Rob Elliott -- Thigh Strain.
Elliot has been ruled out until January after the Newcastle goalkeeper
suffered a tear to the quadriceps muscle -- thigh -- during the win over
Chelsea last weekend. Elliot had waited patiently for his opportunity
this campaign and following an ankle injury to Tim Krul (out until
January) the former Charlton stopper was set for an extended spell in
the first team. However hopes of managing an ongoing thigh problem were
dashed when the excessive force caused by kicking damaged muscle fibres
which will see him miss the Festive fixture period. Youngster Alnwick is
set to seize the moment. BD SUNDAY'S MATCHES
PREDICTION: A 3-1 win for Man Utd FANTASY PICK: Robin van Persie KEY STAT: Only
Everton v Liverpool (20) has seen more red cards than Liverpool v
Manchester United of all fixtures in Premier League history (15). - MAN UTD Team news to follow... Expert Analysis: Chris Smalling -- Groin Strain.
Jonny Evans was afforded an earlier than expected return to the United
side when Chris Smalling broke down at Southampton on Monday night. The
defender has suffered from a number of muscular issues this season but,
following his sending-off during the derby, Smalling was looking to
establish himself in the heart of defence. However with barely 10
minutes on the clock Smalling pulled up with what was later confirmed a
minor groin grade one tear. The England international has been ruled out
for around two weeks but, given the player's history, I wouldn't be
surprised to see Smalling sidelined for a little while longer to
minimise the risk of recurrence. BD - LIVERPOOL
Striker
Mario Balotelli is back in training and could return to the squad. The
Italy forward has been sidelined since Nov. 8 because of a groin problem
sustained on international duty. Midfielder Adam Lallana will be in the
squad despite breaking two ribs just over a week ago while centre-back
Kolo Toure is expected to have recovered from a groin injury which kept
him out of the midweek Champions League draw against Basle. Provisional squad:
Mignolet, Johnson, Lovren, Skrtel, Moreno, Lucas, Henderson, Lallana,
Gerrard, Sterling, Lambert, Jones, Manquillo, Enrique, Toure, Can,
Coutinho, Allen, Markovic, Balotelli, Borini.
PREDICTION: A 1-1 draw FANTASY PICK: Wilfried Bony KEY STAT: Swansea
have now thrown away 16 points from winning positions in the Premier
League this season; more than any other team and with those points would
be top of the table. - SWANSEA
German
goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel will make his first Premier League start
since May. Tremmel deputises for the suspended Lukasz Fabianski, who was
sent off in Swansea's 3-1 defeat at West Ham last weekend and
subsequently lost his appeal against his red card. Defender Neil Taylor
returns after missing out at Upton Park because of suspension and
Argentina central defender Federico Fernandez is available after being
sidelined for six weeks with calf trouble. Provisional squad:
Tremmel, Rangel, Bartley, Williams, Taylor, Britton, Ki, Montero,
Routledge, Sigurdsson, Bony, Cornell, Amat, Fernandez, Richards,
Shelvey, Carroll, Dyer, Gomis, Emnes, Barrow, Tiendalli, Fulton. - TOTTENHAM Team news to follow... MONDAY'S MATCH
PREDICTION: A 3-0 win for Everton FANTASY PICK: Steven Naismith KEY STAT: Rob
Green has been forced into a save on average every 23 minutes which is a
more regular rate than any other shot-stopper this season. - EVERTON
John
Stones could make an unexpected comeback. The 20-year-old defender, who
sustained an ankle injury against Manchester United on October 5, is
back in training ahead of schedule and in contention for a place in the
squad. Steven Naismith, James McCarthy (both hamstring) and Darron
Gibson (knee) will also be given a chance to prove their fitness, but
midfielder Gareth Barry is suspended and Christian Atsu's hamstring
injury is still being assessed. Provisional squad:
Howard, Coleman, Distin, Jagielka, Stones, Baines, Garbutt, McGeady,
McCarthy, Gibson, Barkley, Osman, Mirallas, Lukaku, Hibbert, Pienaar,
Besic, Naismith, Eto'o, Alcaraz, Kone, Oviedo. - QPR
QPR
striker Charlie Austin is suspended. Austin was sent off in Saturday's
2-0 victory over Burnley after receiving two yellow cards and misses the
trip to Goodison. Defender Steven Caulker is fit despite needing
hospital treatment on a cut sustained to his head while falling over
during a social occasion with team-mates last Sunday. Provisional squad:
Green, McCarthy, Murphy, Traore, Onuoha, Ferdinand, Dunne, Caulker,
Yun, Hill, Isla, Henry, Barton, Fer, Mutch, Phillips, Kranjcar, Hoilett,
Vargas, Zamora.
ESPN FC's Jason Dasey and Dez Corkhill preview the
upcoming heated Premier League clash between Manchester United and
Liverpool, in which a win is vital for both sides.
Premier League Spotlight previews the weekend's top-flight
fixtures, highlighting the key points to keep an eye on as the action
unfolds.
Weekend fixtures
Saturday
Burnley vs. Southampton
Chelsea vs. Hull
Crystal Palace vs. Stoke
Leicester vs. Man City
Sunderland vs. West Ham
West Brom vs. Aston Villa
Arsenal vs. Newcastle Sunday
Man Utd vs. Liverpool
Swansea vs. Tottenham Monday
Everton vs. QPR
Weekend battle: Manchester United vs. Liverpool
There is an increasing strain on the face of Liverpool manager
Brendan Rodgers. His beaming white smile has not been flashed anywhere
near the number of times it was last season. Habitually a beacon for
positivity, the Northern Irishman cut a particularly downtrodden figure
on Tuesday night in the wake of this campaign's latest setback, as all
that the side fought for in 2013-14 went up in smoke before the end of
the calendar year.
It was anticipated that the Anfield effect would be enough to rouse
these underperforming Reds players in their final Champions League group
game against Basel, but again they were listless and got what they
deserved: barely a draw. Regardless of who left and who arrived in the
summer, or the so-called challenges involved in a return to the
competition after a five-year absence, Rodgers should have guided his
team into second place behind Real Madrid, considering their group
consisted of Basel and Ludogorets.
Which is the weakest part of Liverpool's team?
Yet he failed and the melancholy that has inevitably followed,
combined with a dour Premier League campaign so far, means the pressure
is on him to save their season by ensuring requalification for the very
competition they just departed. He said after the 1-1 draw with Basel:
"We have to fight for the rest of the season." Ninth in the table and
with six of their 15 league fixtures having ended in defeat, the
improvement needs to be dramatic. The ray of light is that, beyond
leaders Chelsea and title holders Manchester City, the quality in the
division is subpar.
A case in point are Manchester United, who have somehow strung
together a run of five top-flight wins despite their displays not
meriting such a sequence. Most recently they triumphed at Southampton as
their two shots on target ended up in the back of the net and handed
them a 2-1 victory that lifted them to third in the table. Third! At
least their manager Louis van Gaal was frank in his assessment of his
team's 90 minutes: "The performance was not good enough -- we were the
lucky team."
Liverpool were 3-0 winners when they faced Manchester United in March.
Worryingly for the rest of the Premier League, that result, and the
four others previously (especially at Arsenal), felt very "United under
Sir Alex Ferguson" indeed, when they were no strangers to playing poorly
yet still succeeding. The return of the clinical finishing of Robin van
Persie, with three goals in as many performances, bodes well, too. It
also somewhat accentuates shortcomings of Sunday's opponents Liverpool,
for they have not benefited from the luxury of having a cold-blooded
goalscorer amid their ranks to paper over the cracks.
"For us the solution is simple -- we have to be better in our
performance level" was Rodgers' rather broad resolution for Liverpool.
Perhaps of greatest concern, putting the Luis Suarez sale aside and the
failure to improve an already brittle defence, is the lack of chances
created. Opponents are hardly being made to work hard to stifle the
Reds, a team famed for its dizzying movement last campaign. Certainly,
Liverpool's 3-0 win at Old Trafford in the corresponding fixture last
term feels a lot longer ago than March 16, 2014. Under pressure: Arsene Wenger
It was very Arsenal to lose at Stoke as they did but also very
Arsenal to respond as they did at Galatasaray three days later. When it
mattered in the Premier League, Arsene Wenger's team's susceptibility
for defensive incompetence, combined with gutlessness, saw them concede
three times in the opening 45 minutes at the Britannia. In a Champions
League game that meant not much, though -- the Gunners impressed and
scored some excellent goals. Ergo, all is right in the Wenger world.
Now, Wenger did not warrant the frankly classless verbal barbs
from those at Stoke-on-Trent station that followed the 3-2 loss,
although if you sift through the lack of respect shown there are grains
of agitation not without cause. Some will, of course, counter that
Gunners fans are acting with a sense of entitlement, that regular
Champions League qualification is a reward not a right. But that is to
miss the point. Stagnation is the nub of the issue at the Emirates --
that, with Wenger at the helm, a resistance to being true winners
remains.
The return to fitness of Mathieu Debuchy is a huge boost for Arsene Wenger.
Wenger was at least boosted by the return of natural and experienced
right-back Mathieu Debuchy versus Galatasaray after his three-month
injury absence. His availability alleviates some of what would have been
an unnecessary -- had the club's manager done his summer transfer
window business properly -- onus on the young shoulders of Calum
Chambers. Wenger is famed for giving youth a chance but too regularly
over the years he has exposed promise too severely, as the game at the
Britannia Stadium showed with 19-year-olds Hector Bellerin and Chambers
struggling.
A home match against Newcastle awaits on Saturday evening, the
Magpies with their tails up after ending Chelsea's unbeaten start to the
season -- a result probably met with a deep sigh of relief in North
London as it meant their 2003-04 record remained unique. A grotesque
start was the Gunners' undoing at Stoke, not dissimilar to last season's
away meetings with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, casting
concern that a regression instead of progression is indeed setting in.
Far better will be demanded by an increasingly disenchanted Gunners
faithful. Finding form: Manchester City
Maybe the Premier League title race isn't a foregone conclusion after
all? (It still probably is.) Chelsea's loss at Newcastle and Manchester
City's 1-0 win over Everton cut the Blues' lead at the summit to three
points and widened it from third spot to five, which rubber-stamped this
season as the two-horse race it was predicted to be. It really has been
a good week for Manuel Pellegrini's side as, after their fourth victory
on the spin in the league, they then booked their place in the knockout
phase of the Champions League with an impressive win at Roma.
David Silva's return will help to soften the blow of Sergio Aguero's injury.
That their 2-0 triumph against Roma, who are second in Serie A, was
achieved without the spine of their outfield -- no Vincent Kompany, Yaya
Toure or Sergio Aguero -- made the result all the more commendable,
although lest we forget a squad as strong as City's shouldn't be winning
just two of their six group games in Europe. Regardless, the victory
also eased fears over how hard Aguero's absence through injury will hit
them.
Pellegrini said of the news the Argentine, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions this term, will be out for up to six weeks: "Our team doesn't depend on one player." And, although the statistics suggest otherwise,
City can probably take comfort in his absence coming during a seemingly
favourable, albeit hectic, run of fixtures: Leicester, Crystal Palace,
West Brom, Burnley and Sunderland. Caveat Aguero's injury with the
return of the wonderful David Silva and Pellegrini's words don't seem
too daft. Statistically speaking (via Opta) - Only Everton v Liverpool (20) has seen more red
cards than Liverpool vs. Manchester United of all fixtures in Premier
League history (15) - Angel Di Maria has 20 goal assists in 2014 -- more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues - Newcastle United have won just one of the last 14
Premier League matches against Arsenal (W1 D5 L8), and have lost the
last five on the bounce - Olivier Giroud has netted four goals in four Premier League appearances against Newcastle - Manchester City have only had more points at this stage of a season in one previous campaign (2011-12 -- 38 points)
Sam Allardyce's won 11 matches last season. After 15 matches this campaign, they've already won eight.
Any other business: West Ham
All hail Big Sam Allardyce and his fourth-placed West Ham United. To
think his future was in serious doubt towards the latter part of last
season -- this campaign (see Alan Pardew at Newcastle) really is one of
renaissance. The Hammers' 3-1 win over Swansea was a third in succession
and, after just 15 matches of 2014-15, they are a mere 13 points short
of 2013-14's points total of 40. There's surely a part of everyone that
would love to see Allardyce doing his thing in the Champions League.
Watch out, Europe's elite (and Sunderland on Saturday), because Andy
Carroll's coming to get you.
A KEY MAN AT MAN UTD | Mata's stats since joining the club make for impressive reading
NIC
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