Manchester United (4-1-2-1-2): De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, Fletcher, Di Maria, Mata, Van Persie, Falcao
Manchester United’s biggest concern will be the absence of captain Wayne Rooney who will be serving the first of his three-match suspension he picked up against West Ham United last weekend. This means Louis van Gaal will likely call-up Juan Mata to slot in behind striking duo Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao. Good news for Van Gaal could be the return of Phil Jones at centre-back who will play alongside Marcos Rojo with Luke Shaw given the role at left-back. With Ander Herrera out with a fractured rib, Darren Fletcher will be given the armband in place of Rooney as he replaces the injured Spaniard. Marouane Fellaini could mark his return against his former side as he lessen’s the clubs ever-growing injury list, consisting of Michael Carrick, Jonny Evans, Herrera, Jesse Lingard, Chris Smalling, and Ashley Young among others.
Everton rested a few usual faces in their draw with Krasnodar and with Manchester United next, Roberto Martinez will be looking to field their strongest squad. Romelu Lukaku and Steven Naismith began on the bench, with the Belgium striker later being given 45 minutes in the midweek clash. However, they will both surely get the nod to start at the weekend. The Toffees are without Ross Barkley and Kevin Mirallas, who are both still a while away from full fitness, while Seamus Coleman, Sylvain Distin, James McCarthy, and Steven Pienaar are still a doubt. The two likely candidates to start however, are Coleman at right back, and McCarthy alongside Gareth Barry in the middle of the park.
What the fans are saying…
Remember this?
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
//www.youtube.com/embed/LKfAvx56xiM
Back in the 2011-2012 campaign, Manchester United needed to win against Everton to almost secure the fact that they can pick up the English Premier League crown once more, but that wasn’t to be. United were 4-2 up and on their way to another victory, but two quick goals from the Toffees blew the title race against Manchester City wide open after coming back to equalize with a 4-4 score line. Will there be revenge? or another upset?
Football is, and will always be, a completely amoral sport.
We struggle to comprehend the existence of gay players or even black managers, yet borderline cannibals, convicted felons and racists are continually given second, third or fourth chances in football for one simple reason – the beautiful game is a results-based industry. If your positive influence on results outweighs the bad reception from the press, your prior indiscretions are quickly forgotten.
Of course, everybody deserves a shot at redemption – which is the line Dave Whelan should have taken when unveiling textgate scandaler Malky Mackay as Wigan Athletic’s new manager on Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately, he went on the defensive.
The Scot caught public sympathy when sacked by Cardiff City’s Bond-villain owner, Vincent Tan, nearly twelve months ago. But that was flipped on its head when, upon applying for the Crystal Palace job in August, it was revealed that the Welsh side had sent a dossier of texts and emails between Mackay and scouting crony Iain Moody to the League Managers’ Association, many of which were homophobic, racist and anti-Semitic.
Some of the highlights included referring to a homosexual club official as ‘a gay snake – not to be trusted’, texting ‘f**king chinkys. There’s enough dogs in Cardiff for us all to go around’ after the Bluebirds signed South Korean international Kim Bo-Kyung, responding to a list of transfer targets with ‘not many white faces amongst that lot but worth considering’, stating ‘there’s nothing like a Jew that sees money slipping through his fingers’, in reference to agent Phil Smith and sending a picture to Cardiff’s staff entitled ‘Black Monopoly’, where every square was ‘Go to Jail’.
One could argue the Latics owner’s bravery in ending Mackay’s tacit banishment from the footballing landscape after just three months is highly commendable – if you’re willing to ignore that Wigan desperately need a proven manager after plummeting into the Championship’s relegation zone and Mackay’s track record in the second tier is solid, having achieved promotion with Cardiff in 2013.
Even so, Wigan are hardly the only club on the lookout for a new boss but Whelan’s probably the only chairman in England that would have extended an arm to Mackay at this point in time. Whelan’s amicability often precedes him. Someone has to give Mackay another chance sooner or later, so why not the Latics right now?
Mackay was apologetic enough in his unsurprisingly tense inaugural press conference, too, insisting he’s ‘not a racist’, is aware of his mistakes and has even taken part in an on-going educational programme – a token gesture perhaps, but symbolic of his wrongdoing nonetheless.
The predominant oversight on Whelan’s part however is that Mackay’s problems have now become Wigan’s problems – as if escaping the relegation zone to get within a respectable distance of the play-off standings wasn’t already a daunting enough challenge for the 2013 FA Cup winners.
In the space of two days, Whelan’s – and subsequently Wigan’s – reputation has already taken an incredible hit. Bizarrely, building upon concerns of his light-heartedness towards Mackay’s crimes during Wednesday’s press conference, arguing the Scot was ‘unlucky’ for ‘doing a little bit wrong’, the 77 year-old millionaire told the Guardian yesterday afternoon; “I think Jewish people do chase money more than everybody else,” before attempting to downplay the offensiveness of the slur ‘chink’.
In short, it’s been a public relations disaster. Two sponsors have already severed ties with the DW Stadium outfit, including shirt sponsors Premier Range, a kitchen firm, describing their position as ‘untenable’. Equality campaigners Kick It Out have publically declared their condemnation and Wigan now have a new enemy in the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who rejected Whelan’s ‘half-hearted apology’ of his controversial remarks.
But things could soon get a lot worse for the former JJB Sports owner and his latest employee; the FA’s official investigation into Mackay and Moody is still several months away from completion. It’s believed the Latics boss will be sacked on the spot should further shocking revelations come to light as part of a clause in his contract, should that be the case, however, what as Whelan gained from his idiotic, poorly-thought defence of Mackay? What have Wigan gained from associating themselves with a racist? How dented will the family club’s reputation be?
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Amid this ongoing debate however, perhaps the most important people have been forgotten. How do Wigan’s black and ethnic minority players feel about answering to a manager that willingly uses racial slurs behind closed doors? How can they possibly trust him?
I wouldn’t be surprised if between now and January, some of the six non-white players to have represented Wigan in the Championship this season decide to hand in transfer requests.
Marouane Fellaini came to epitomise everything that went wrong at Old Trafford last season.
His cumbersome, attritional nature symbolised the negative philosophy Manchester United adopted under David Moyes, just as his £28million transfer fee agreed on deadline day – £6million more than the release clause United had bizarrely allowed to expire a fortnight earlier – symbolised Ed Woodward’s failure to attract top talent to the club during summer 2013.
Drafted in from Moyes’ former club and the only player in the entire squad the Scot had selected rather than inherited, until Juan Mata’s arrival in January, Fellaini’s lanky build and bumbling bel-fro was the demonic face of United’s so-called ‘Evertonisation’ under their former manager – the theory that Moyes’ recruitment, tactics and ideas had somehow transformed United from world leaders into a small, ordinary club.
The 26-year-old came close to leaving Carrington during the summer – there’s no doubt about that. Certainly not a natural suitor to Louis van Gaal’s technically-demanding style, the papers claim the Dutchman spent much of the transfer window trying to offload Fellaini to either Fiorentina or Napoli. It’s likely the Serie A switch or another move abroad would have come intro fruition if the midfielder hadn’t picked up a leg injury in late August.
But solutions in football often come from the most unlikely of sources, and Louis van Gaal may have found one in a player he was prepared to throw on the scrapheap just a matter of months ago.
Following impressive displays against West Brom – in which Fellaini netted just moments after coming on at the interval – and Chelsea – where he went toe-to-toe with Cesc Fabregas – the much-maligned midfielder may now have a vital role to play in van Gaal’s opening campaign at Old Trafford.
The performance against West Brom demonstrated something important about Fellaini. Firstly, a reminder that he can score goals – the trademark he became famed for at Everton after netting eleven times in his ultimate season.
Amalgamating cricket scores through United’s incredible cast of expensively-assembled attacking talent, the Gaalactios, appears to be at the heart of van Gaal’s game-plan this season, and the 26 year-old proved against the Baggies that he’s capable of contributing too. In fact, he’s bagged the same amount of goals – in 90 less minutes – as Radamel Falcao this season.
But secondly and most importantly, that the 6 foot 4 Belgian’s height and power can be an intrinsic asset for any Premier League side, especially when battling against those at the less flattering end of the table. Van Gaal’s already admitted certain aspects of the English game have caught him by surprise – the pace, the power, the intensity, the constant pressure on the ball – and that’s reflected in United’s summer transfer policy.
Indeed, of United’s £150million spent, only one arrival, Luke Shaw, came with Premier League experience, whilst Marcos Rojo constituted the only signing that measures in at above 6 foot. Even Daley Blind is just 5 foot 11 and, likewise to fellow summer addition Ander Herrera, worryingly slender when compared to the brawn and tenacity anchoring other Premier League midfields.
That diversity is why Fellaini could prove so important for United between now and the end of the season. A physique almost tailor-made for the challenges of Premier League football, his simple-yet-effective battering ram approach compliments and protects the more eccentric foreign talents surrounding him.
Admittedly, he’s not the only United midfielder that offers something quintessentially Premier League when compared to the club’s summer signings. Darren Fletcher, albeit far from the player he once was, remains on the roster, whilst veteran Michael Carrick is expected to return to first team action in the coming weeks.
But the Red Devils’ poorest results this season have come against their weakest opposition; the 4-0 drubbing by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup, the 5-3 comeback by Leicester City, the scoreless draw against top flight whipping boys Burnley. Whilst Carrick and Fletcher can both offer the midfield a more solid base, the former particularly a better fit for LVG’s technical ethos, Fellaini’s strength and aerial ability can impact at both ends of the pitch – an ugly, direct plan B for when the Champaign-footy isn’t quite paying off.
Van Gaal’s underestimated the Premier League in some respects and until now, Marouane Fellaini too. The Belgian international is almost the antithesis of a van Gaal player, but a necessity all the same in a squad assembled, perhaps naively, without the characteristics of the English game in mind.
I do not expect Fellaini to become a United icon, either in cult or popular terms. I don’t particularly expect him to be at the club next season, especially with the Red Devils seemingly planning the next two transfer windows to be as lucrative as the last.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
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 amid an inaugural campaign in which LVG’s learning as much about the Premier League as it is him, the services of a Premier League-proven midfielder, purpose-built for the unique, physical quirks of the English game, could be the difference between fourth and fifth.
And after his impressive form over the last week, Fellaini looks a dead-cert to feature against Manchester City and Arsenal – two coming fixtures that will define United’s season.
Nigel Winterburn feels that Arsene Wenger is changing his managerial style and should be given more time in charge at Arsenal to bring back the glory days.
The Gunners boss has been in charge of the north London giants since 1996, enjoying an illustrious spell at the club including league and cup triumphs.
However, the recent years of his time at Arsenal have not been trophy-laden, with last season’s FA Cup the first piece of silverware won in nine years.
WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Latest transfer news
For much of the ‘drought’ Wenger was criticised for a lack of spending, but over the course of the past 18 months the Frenchman has paid in excess of £40m and £30m for Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez respectively.
And Winterburn believes that this change in philosophy means that Wenger must be kept on to see what’s possible, even with Gunners fans losing patience with him:
“My take on it is we are in a new period for Arsenal, particularly since the signing of Mesut Ozil. ” he told talkSPORT. “It looks as if the club has got some substantial funds now and I think Arsene Wenger needs to look at the situation and decide if he can get reinforcements in.
“The squad is too thin and there are certain areas they know need to be improved if they are going to challenge for the title next season, which Arsene Wenger is telling us is going to happen.
“I’d like to see him in charge simply I because I’d like to see, with the money I believe is now available, whether he will change and look to bring in new players, and it is looking like he will.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
“Arsenal have never spent £40milion before like they did with Ozil and £30million like they did on Alexis Sanchez. Now, if he went out and did that on a holding midfield player and maybe another centre-half then people would start to say Arsene Wenger is changing his ways.”
Although it’s very much the same story every January, Arsenal look set to make some moves in the transfer window before the deadline passes. While it’s usually late or underwhelming loan deals – Kim Kallstrom is a prime example – Arsene Wenger looks, this time, to be after proven quality to boost his side’s top four chances. The Metro claim that one of the players the Frenchman wants before the month is out is Ilkay Gundogan, whom Dortmund are reportedly looking to sell for offers of around £15.6m.
So, does this potential deal for Arsenal make sense… here are FIVE reasons we think it does.
Good fee
£15.6m for one of Europe’s most highly-rated holding midfielders? Good deal, that! Arsenal have been linked with a host of stars to solve their central woes, yet the likes of William Carvalho, another mooted target, will cost far more. Gundogan has won all of the major prizes on offer in German football with BVB, has featured, and scored in, a Champions League Final and has represented Germany at senior level – for whom he would surely have been a World Cup winner last year had injury not blocked his route to Brazil. Bargain.
Better than Wenger’s current options
We all know that defensive midfield is a major issue for Wenger. The Frenchman has a few options in the role, but none of his trio of genuine holders are of the quality needed for a push for the title. With the stats of Gundogan crunched against Mathieu Flamini, Francis Coquelin and Mikel Arteta, the German, despite coming back from injury, comes out on top in may key areas. The 24-year-old boasts the most chances created, the best shot accuracy and the greatest average pass length, while his pass completion percentage (85%) ranks respectively given his greater level of attacking intent.
Defensive midfield a worry
As mentioned before, the holding role has been a major issue for Arsenal for some time. The Gunners are known for their ‘soft underbelly’, which has been ruthlessly exposed in the biggest games – think Liverpool’s 5-1 demolition job at Anfield last season. A ‘Claude Makelele’ is not ever going to be viable in a Wenger set-up, yet Gundogan offers defensive resilience and attacking flair, making him a long-term successor for Arteta.
A ‘Wenger player’
//www.youtube.com/embed/l1Y0MlH9W_Q
As touched on in the last point, Gundogan is very much a player Wenger will appreciate. The Frenchman enjoys slick passing and neat movement, which the German ace brings in spades.
Slotting in alongside Jack Wilshere, Gundogan could add yet more creativity to the Gunners’ engine room, while his tendency to sit a little deeper will also help to shield the club’s backline in the biggest games.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Still young
Even though Gundogan has endured an injury-disturbed two years, he’s still very much a young player. At 24, he has a good few years before entering his peak, and so long as he can be kept injury free, the future looks bright. He could also become a part of Arsenal’s future, alongside the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey.
Steven Gerrard’s career has been punctuated by huge moments. His final duel with his club’s great adversary, Manchester United, lasted only 38 seconds. This moment, one of sheer madness, may have cost his beloved Liverpool, Champions League football.
Is it fair to place the blame on the shoulders that have carried the club for so long?
Rodgers no doubt needed his captain against Manchester United, for all of their good form going into the game; United had quietened the Anfield crowd; he needed his inspirational leader to reawaken the Kop.
Those 38 seconds will be broken down for years to come. But here they are again…..He comes onto the pitch to rapturous applause, sporting his traditional armband, one that he had, rightly or wrongly, took from Henderson. His first involvement was a trademark cross field ball, his second, a thunderous tackle on Juan Mata, his third, a petulant and pathetic stamp on Ander Herrera.
Three moments, the crowd were certainly no longer silent.
For all of Liverpool’s first half struggles, they were still in the game. Only one goal behind, after arguably their worst half of league football for a while.
His red card allowed United more time on the ball, allowing the mercurial Mata his moment. His exceptional bicycle kick was the clincher in this clash that will go a long way to deciding the top four places.
Ironically, Liverpool’s season had arguably turned due to Gerrard’s absence, the Henderson-led Liverpool had put together a superb run of form, a run of form that had allowed them to be on the brink of a European place. Something that seemed a distant memory, during the turbulent opening months of the season.
[ad_pod id=’football-friends’ align=’center’]
Unfortunately for Rodgers and Liverpool, the narrative has already been written for their season. Gerrard’s early season announcement of his move to Hollywood, has meant that every event is now a ‘last.’ Imagine the furore should the manager have not put his club captain on the pitch at all yesterday.
His farewell tour has been reduced following his brainless red card. He will now miss the FA Cup replay against Blackburn and the fairytale ending at Wembley is now out of his hands.
With Man United now opening up a five point gap on their rivals, it is difficult to see Liverpool overhauling them. In positive news for fans on the Kop, Gerrard’s absence may turn out to be a huge positive, as they have already shown, this side doesn’t depend on their captain, it in fact flourishes.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Gerrard was happy to take the blame for yesterday’s loss in his post-match interview, one that lasted substantially longer than his performance on the pitch. There is little doubt he could be blamed for yesterday. He could also be blamed for a lot more, in a season defining match, he let his team mates, his fans and his club down.
For all the good he has done for the club, for all of the moments he has had for his beloved club, his ‘last’ iconic image in a Red shirt could be him solemnly walking down the tunnel.
Manchester City have sunk from title winners into a squad fighting just to hold onto fourth place in recent months. The Citizens started their campaign strongly, pushing league leaders Chelsea every step of the way, but with key players now underperforming City have quickly seen their fortunes take a turn for the worse.
Manchester United, though, have seen a drastic improvement in all areas of their game, particularly when going forward.
United have won six or their last seven matches and have only lost six times all season. It took longer than expected fort manager Louis van Gaal to turn the squad into top four contenders but, true to his word, the Dutchman has done just that. And now there are only a handful of games between them and Champions League football.
Van Gaal’s men have been steadily picking up points all season but that has at times been down to the heroics of goal keeper David De Gea. When United were shaky at the back or not prolific enough up front, the Spaniard ensured that his team went away from the match with at least a point.
But in the last couple of weeks the Red Devils have organised their back line to be capable of dealing with even the most dangerous of forwards, cutting them off before they can do any real damage.
Then there is the attacking midfield trio of Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata, which has been United’s most successful grouping. Even expensive new signing Angel di Maria has had a tough time breaking back into the hugely confident squad. Together with Wayne Rooney excelling up front, United have become one of the best teams when going forward.
[ffc-gal cat=”manchester-united” no=”5″]
Keeping their best XI injury free and performing as a cohesive unit has shot United up the table and once again clubs are beginning to fear playing them, something unknown since the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Where Van Gaal knows his best squad, City’s Pellegrini now appears unsure. Key players who were vital for them last season could now be on their way out of the Etihad this summer. The powerful Ivorian Yaya Toure has been linked with a move to Inter Milan, as has Steven Jovetic, and Samir Nasri is reportedly on Juventus’ radar.
All three have underperformed, so perhaps they wouldn’t be greatly missed. But the worry is that lack of Champions League football next year may tempt their better players like Sergio Aguero and James Milner to go elsewhere.
The situation has declined so rapidly that even Pellegrini, just 12 months after leading City to their second Premier League title, may not have his job for much longer. Several replacements have been mentioned, such as Napoli’s Rafa Benitez and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp who has recently announced that he will indeed be leaving theBundesliga outfit in the summer.
City may look very different with a batch of new players and a new man in charge next season. United, on the other hand, look likely to stick with Van Gaal and are only in the market for a few key additions to help boost their return to the top four.
If City fail to handle the next few months correctly they may find themselves unable to compete successfully next season, and therefore potentially forfeiting their top four position.
They are a club in transition in a league that takes no prisoners. United went through it last year when they changed managers and ended up in seventh, but after a few good decisions and patience from supporters, the club are back to where they belong climbing the table and turning Manchester red once again.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
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 think it will be a loss for him, for his career. He can say ‘I was European champion at Liverpool’ and I have to say that is correct. But I can say to him in the next 10 years we will compare trophies at Chelsea and trophies at Liverpool. And he will lose.”
Jose Mourinho said this ten years ago, when Steven Gerrard was still enjoying the ecstasy of being a Champions League winner. 2005 was a great year for Gerrard; aside from the Champions League win, he was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and Ballon d’Or Bronze.
Despite the offer from Chelsea, Gerrard stayed put and kept his loyalties in Merseyside. But, should he have signed for Chelsea after all?
Jose Mourinho may have been considered arrogant for what he had said about Gerrard at the time, but he was not far wrong. Chelsea have been dominant within these quotes, and are on course to snag the Premier League title once again this season. Being a Champions League winner was a big deal then, but Chelsea have that accolade themselves now.
[ffc-gal cat=”liverpool” no=”5″]
Lampard and Gerrard would have been given the opportunity to play together at Chelsea, in addition to playing together for England. No doubt they would have been a force to be reckoned with at Chelsea. But as time progressed, would they have been able to play together – or would they have been competing against each other for a regular role at Stamford Bridge?
In fact, would Steven Gerrard even be playing in England today? Look at Ashley Cole. Within his final year at Chelsea, he fell out of favour for a much younger replacement – Cesar Azpilicueta. If Cole could not keep his place at Chelsea, who’s to say Gerrard would have? He could well have been playing abroad by now like Cole, who now plays for Roma.
Gerrard’s final season has been far from favourable. Brendan Rodgers seems uninterested in the fact Gerrard will be leaving in the summer, and often choses not to start the captain. Gerrard was subbed on against Manchester United at Anfield, only to be sent off almost immediately: not an ideal way to finish your last ever home game against your bitter rivals.
The FA Cup final falls on Gerrard’s 35th birthday, but he will not be on the pitch at Wembley, as Liverpool were knocked out by Aston Villa last weekend. If anything, his last season in England has been somewhat of a nightmare. Had he been at Chelsea, he could have had the opportunity to bow out as a Premier League winner.
No matter how you weigh it up, should Gerrard have moved to Chelsea is a question that can never be answered. Had he been at Chelsea, he would never have lifted the Champions League in 2005, and all the recognition that came with it.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
He has in turn made himself a club legend at Anfield by committing to his club for the best part of 20 years. Although he will not be a ‘one club player’, he will no doubt be remembered in Liverpool’s history for his achievements.
More than two decades at Real Madrid has seen goalkeeper extraordinaire Iker Casillas win everything there is worth winning in football.
The impressive haul includes five domestic titles and three Champions League trophies with the most recent being just last year and he is still in the running to retain it come June 6th. But despite his influence at the club and the love of his supporters Casillas has been heavily criticised this season with many expecting him to leave as soon as this summer.
At 33-years-old he is hardly past it, with many goalkeepers maintaining their first team presence long into their thirties, but several slip-ups have caused some at the Bernabeu to feel he is not consistent enough to be Real Madrid’s number one anymore.
Madrid supporters are notoriously fussy despite having some of the most talented and expensive players in the world. Just a few under-par performances by the team or its individuals can result in the crowd waving white handkerchiefs or whistling as the squad leaves the field. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have suffered this fate, even though they have scored a huge amount of goals this season as fans felt they just weren’t good enough.
[ffc-gal cat=”arsenal” no=”5″]
Casillas’ future may not look so bright in the Spanish capital, but he has been rumoured to be still held in high regard elsewhere in Europe. Casillas could also make a sizeable amount of money by heading off to America’s MLS but a goalkeeper of his age and reputation can still command a starting place in some of the smaller European teams or, alternatively, would be an asset to any of the top clubs as a second choice stopper.
Playing second fiddle, at least at first, seems like his best option. That way he can still play for a high achieving club for a few more seasons, and that’s where Arsenal comes in. The Gunners have been associated with a potential transfer for the Spaniard this season, especially as Wojciech Szczesny has announced that he may leave this summer in favour of finding more first team football. Szczesny is only 25, so it is understandable that he doesn’t want to have to wait for David Ospina to get injured or lose form before he gets another the chance to play in the important fixtures at the Emirates.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move across London for Chelsea’s Petr Cech, who has been overlooked by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho since the arrival of Thibaut Courtois. The Gunners may find it easier to coax Real Madrid to sell Casillas to them rather than holding out for Cech, who would be leaving for a direct rival.
Despite his weaknesses, Casillas is still a formidable and intelligent keeper who, if he did sign for Arsenal, may have to sit out the first few games. But there is every chance that once he does start a match then his impressive display may just win him the role on a more permanent basis. Then Casillas would be making a name for himself in another league for a club whose fans are much more supportive and forgiving than his previous ones.
Obviously Casillas loves Real Madrid and is sure to have dreamt of ending his career there but if that becomes an impossibility, then a move to Arsenal would be the perfect way to reinvent himself for a whole new audience.
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Stoke City fans will have been quite concerned when the Potters sold their player of the season Steven N’Zonzi to Sevilla for £7m recently, but should they be worried?
Stoke may have already signed a good replacement for the towering French midfielder in the shape of Chelsea loanee Marco van Ginkel. N’Zonzi was a huge player for Stoke last season in every sense of the word, he played in every league game, scoring three goals in the process including a memorable curling effort in what has proved to be his last game for the club against Liverpool in the final day of the campaign.
N’Zonzi did perform a key role in the midfield for the Potters, and showed himself to be almost the perfect type of defensive midfielder for the Premier League. He is calm and composed on the ball and certainly gives the impression in possession of having time and space.
He has been heavily compared to fellow Frenchman Patrick Vieira, both in his languid style and his fantastic physical attributes – height, strength and energy – which allow him to cover great distances in matches. Understandably losing a player of such calibre is a worry.
There is no doubting that Mark Hughes has a lot to replace in the centre of his midfield and whether Van Ginkel is really the right man remains to be seen.
There is a long time left in the transfer window, and Hughes may well be in the market for a new midfielder more similar to departed the Frenchman, but as it stands his likely replacement could well be the Dutchman.
Van Ginkel does not boast the physical presence of N’Zonzi, but he does stand at over 6ft tall and has the strength to cope with the physical demands of the Premier League despite being just 22-years-old.
Despite his young age, Van Ginkel is recognised as a solid, well-rounded player who has all the tools to go right to the top.
On the pitch he is widely known for his maturity on the ball, as well as his control and extensive range of passing. He is comfortable with both feet, makes intelligent runs into the box and has an exceptional long-range shot. Van Ginkel describes himself as a box to box player something which current Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is impressed with about the youngster. He said: “He covers a fantastic area of the field defensively and after that he has this instinct where he wants to go into finishing areas, he wants to score goals.”
FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.
By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.
Comparisons have indeed been made with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. Obviously we don’t know how good the Dutchman will be in the end, but the youngster does look like a highly impressive prospect, and the more you look at him the more you have to say: why would Mark Hughes need to sign another midfielder?
Van Ginkel could well be the replacement for N’Zonzi and what a stand in he could prove to be.