All posts by h79snht.top

Before Manchester City hit the big-time in August 2008 and became one of Europe’s footballing super powers, they were on an even footing with the likes of West Ham.

A Capital One Cup Semi-Final meeting between these two sides about seven or eight years ago would have been a difficult one to call, with both sets of players evenly matched in almost every area of the pitch.

But that’s all changed since City fortunately became the oil-rich Abu Dhabi United Group’s new business venture in the Premier League.

Since that day in August 2008, City have had the pleasure of signing a number of Europe’s most sought after players for fees they could only dream of just years before.

And if you compare the amount of talent City manager Manuel Pellegrini has at his disposal compared to West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, there’s little to suggest that the Hammers have any chance of progressing to their first League Cup final since 1981.

When these sides met in the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2006, which the Hammers won 2-1 on their way to a historic final defeat on penalties to Liverpool, the market value of their squads were very similar.

According to www.transfermarkt.co.uk, Manchester City had a squad worth an estimated £75.5million that included the likes of an 18-year-old Georgios Samaras, a 23-year-old Joey Barton, a 17-year-old Micah Richards and 25-year-old Darius Vassell.

The Hammers had a similar looking squad, which was estimated at around £50.5million, and included Dean Ashton (22-years-old), Yossi Benayoun (25), Bobby Zamora (24) and Mark Noble (18).

But now it’s a completely different story all together. The Hammers are pretty much at exactly the same point as they were back in 2006 with an estimated market squad value of £84million.

But Manchester City have moved in to a completely different league all together, one that the Hammers can only dream of reaching.

City’s current crop of strikers are worth more than Sam Allardyce’s entire squad put together. Sergio Aguero (market value of £35million), Edin Dzeko (£24m), Alvaro Negredo (£22m) and Stevan Jovetic (£23milion) are arguably City’s main threats to any of their opponents over a course of a season. They are the firepower behind City’s impressive home form so far this season, so it’s little wonder why they are worthy so much money.

The value of the Hammers’ four front men do not even make up the value of Negredo alone. Andy Carroll (£14m), Modibo Maiga (£2.6m), Carlton Cole (£1.3m) and Mladen Petric (£1.8m).

And that is perhaps where this Capital One Cup Semi-Final will be decided. The first-leg at the Etihad Stadium could see the return of West Ham’s record signing Andy Carroll, but his much-needed contribution is not expected to outweigh that of the likes of Aguero and Negredo.

Aguero’s brace at Upton Park earlier this season proved to be the difference in their Premier League meeting, and he will be expected to do it all again in both legs to ensure City reach the Wembley final in February.

West Ham’s steady progress towards Premier League stability is exactly what City fans were expecting at the turn of the last decade. But as we edge closer to the half-way stage of the current decade, City fans are basking in the glory of being the favourites for almost everything and enjoying the company of some of the world’s best players week-in, week-out.

And that shouldn’t change in this Semi-Final with City possessing more than enough strength up front to brush aside the Hammers.

They say you don’t win a football match on paper but, on the pitch alone, City are showing more signs of success than the Hammers are at the moment.

Sponsored by Capital One. The Credit Card that Supports the Supporters.

 

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

---

Subscribe

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

For exclusive content, competitions and more visit: Facebook.com/CapitalOneUK

For Capital One Credit Cards visit: www.capitalone.co.uk

Get all your Capital OneCup news here »

An international cap is a sacred thing. Short of winning silverware, representing your country is the highest achievement that a player can hope for. It’s a proud moment. And for too long we’ve allowed pride to get in the way of our decision-making.

When Wayne Rooney was substituted after an hour in England’s recent game against Denmark, he left a quiet game in which he earned his 89th cap, your typical international friendly that goes a long way to support the argument for irrelevance of such matches. And yet with his withdrawal, things began to get a lot more interesting.

The joint introduction of Adam Lallana and Danny Welbeck after 60 minutes changed the game. Now there was movement. With players running into space at speed, the chances England created increased exponentially, and we got the game’s only goal. Although football is often made out to be a very complicated game, it can be incredibly simple. And so it shouldn’t be surprising that when you’ve lots of fast players who don’t stop moving, the other team finds it very difficult to defend.

The consequences of such a drastic change in fortunes must be questioned. Yes it was only 30 minutes of football. And yes it was a friendly against Denmark. But so clear was the change in England’s forward play that it would be idiotic not to seriously consider what this means.

The simplest thing to deduce from the game would be England played better without Wayne Rooney. This is hard conclusion to make sense of as Rooney is also England’s best footballer. However, England have regularly not played well with Wayne Rooney in the team, so there is no reason to expect his talent alone is enough to insure the team performs. And if this alternative combination of youth and pace proves to be more effective, there are no reasons other than normative ones for choosing the striker at the World Cup.

For a long time in England, there has been too high a value assigned quality when choosing the national team. Whilst this is an undeniably important aspect, emphasizing any one factor too much tends to have a detrimental affect on the thing as a whole. By concentrating too much on this single attribute, the values of form and effectiveness have gone underappreciated.

For instance, the selection of Emile Heskey was regularly balked at by fans and pundits because he was said to be ‘not good enough’ to play for England. Not good enough for whom? Heskey was certainly good enough to cause trouble for the opposition defence and tended to have a greater affect on games than the more technically gifted strikers whose inclusion people called for.

It would seem that Heskey was not good enough for them. This relative preference for quality above all else appears to be borne out of some sort of insecurity. The fear is that if we send players who are technically poor and lose, we will look inferior. Where as if we play our technically best players and still lose, there will be somehow less shame attached to it. In reality, the really shameful thing is to pick a team that has less of a chance of winning than you could have done out of fear.

This fear seems to be the motivation behind those saying ‘you can’t not pick Wayne Rooney’. Well why can’t you? Yes, he may be a better footballer than Raheem Sterling, but if the team has a better chance of winning with Sterling, or Lallana, or Oxlade-Chamberlain or even Danny Welbeck, then they should be on the pitch instead of Rooney.

It’s not stupid to leave Rooney out if you’ve got good reason to. And on the basis of last Wednesday there may be just such a reason. What is stupid is to pick the striker ahead of more effective alternatives in nothing other than hope.

Unless Roy Hodgson has good reason for believing the temperamental forward will be more effective than his contemporaries, then he should go with the team that gives England the best chance of winning. Anything else would be idiotic. Anything else is cowardice.

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

---

Subscribe

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

http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v7.aspx?Id=505546&ThemeId=15665

Newcastle United will surely be looking to reinforce his squad in the summer and what better way to scout his targets than by watching the World Cup. With Group H being the target, there are choices from Algeria, Belgium, South Korea, and Russia.

There are already a few players who have already made a name for themselves despite all the teams from this group being knocked out, with Belgium the final nation to face the exit. Some hidden talents can surely boost the Magpies ahead of next season as new signings will surely keep the fans happy.

Here are SIX World Cup stars Newcastle United should sign from Group H.

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON LEE CHUNG-YONG TO SEE THE FULL LIST

[/ffc-gallery]

Aissa Mandi

Name: Aissa Mandi

Age: 22 (October 22, 1991)

Club: Stade Reims

Position: Right Back

Nationality: Algeria

Estimated Value: £1.7 million

//www.youtube.com/embed/gQyPhQqSZag

With the highly possible departure of Mathieu Debunchy, Newcastle will be without a quality right back and with rather limited funds, Mandi could serve as a very probably move. At only 22, he is a regular for both Stade Reims and his national team as well.

He is very good when it comes to making interceptions and tackles and is also very effective when attacking due to his ability to send accurate long balls and crosses to the more attacking players.

Faouzi Ghoulam

Name: Faouzi Ghoulam

Age: 23 (February 1, 1991)

Club: Napoli

Position: Left-Back

Nationality: Algeria

Estimated Value: £4.4 million

//www.youtube.com/embed/Z7L8dVip8Gk

Although he recently made a switch to Napoli, Alan Pardew could be interested in a move for the speedy full back in bids to provide some cover alongside the left flank. He had been a regular at Saint Etienne and continues to feature for the first team at Napoli, making 37 appearances the previous season, notching one goal and providing five assist.

His height gives him some advantage when it comes to aerial battles with smaller quicker wingers, while his speed makes it available to keep up with them. Ghoulam’s ability to step in and make an inception can give his team a huge advantage when playing the key passes during the counter attacking.

Islam Slimani

Name: Islam Slimani

Age: 26 (June 18, 1988)

Club: Sporting Lisbon

Position: Striker

Nationality: Algeria

Estimated Value: £1.7 million

//www.youtube.com/embed/50fe1aKP22E

If scoring goals was a problem for Newcastle United in the previous season, the addition of Slimani may help add some extra firing power up top. Known for his aerial ability, he could be the player to come in and help fill the void ever since Demba Ba made his move to Chelsea.

With two goals in three games during Algeria’s World Cup run, his scoring capabilities have already been showcased on the largest stage. He also managed eight goals in 26 matches for Sporting Lisbon and best of all, his value is still very reasonable. Alan Pardew should really consider the striker who was named Algeria’s Player of the Year in 2013.

Anthony Vanden Borre

Name: Anthony Vanden Borre

Age: 26 (October 24, 1987)

Club: Anderlecht

Position: Right Back

Nationality: Belgium

Estimated Value: £1.7 million

//www.youtube.com/embed/j4sDpC5pW4o

Alan Pardew may need to begin preparing for life without first choice right back Mathieu Debunchy and that is where Vanden Borre can step in. The right back is very tricky when carrying the ball forward and can provide quite a powerful shot.

His World Cup was cut short after breaking his ankle in the match against South Korea but his passionate personality and willingness to succeed has always been a great motivator during his career. His additional to the squad could give Alan Pardew another quality right back to fill the likely to be vacant role.

Steven Defour

Name: Steven Defour

Age: 26 (April 15, 1988)

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

---

Subscribe

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

Club: FC Porto

Position: Central Midfield

Nationality: Belgium

Estimated Value: £6.1 million

//www.youtube.com/embed/1tTOEDvQH7Q

Defour is a player who can step in and control the ball in the middle of the park and also provide the killer ball to the more attacking players. Apart from his ability to get forward and create chances for his team mates, he also joins the defenders to make important challenges before his opponents reach the team’s defensive line.

Alan Pardew will still be searching for a player than can replace Yohan Cabaye in central midfield and with a highly probable price tag; Newcastle should really consider acquiring his services. He also won Belgium’s Golden Shoe back in 2007 as the club hope for him to replicate his earlier performance.

Lee Chung-yong

Name: Lee Chung-Yong

Age: 26 (July 2, 1988)

Club: Bolten Wanderers

Position: Right midfield / right winger

Nationality: South Korea

Estimated Value: £.3.5 million

//www.youtube.com/embed/84oRFPi77NE

With Bolten being relegated, Newcastle have the ability to reinforce the club with players who are very likely to want to return to football in the English Premier League. He can serve as a tricky winger who has the ability to take players on with his neat footwork and can also provide the key passes to the more attacking players.

He was a regular feature throughout Bolton’s season, scoring three goals and providing six assist. Apart from his attacking aspect, he is also quite quick, meaning that he can always race back to help out with defending. With his side being relegated, his value could drop as well, so if Alan Pardew wants to make a reasonable purchase, acquiring his services could be a positive investment.

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta has claimed that his side has no hope of winning the Champions League if they continue to play the way they did against Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

The Gunners succumbed to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against a vastly superior Dortmund side in their first group game, with Arteta believeing that an appearance in June’s final in Berlin will remain but a distant dream unless there is a drastic improvement in the team’s performances.

“If you make the mistakes that we did, against top sides, we know that there is no chance to win the Champions League” said Arteta in the aftermath of the defeat.

“We encouraged them to do that by giving the ball away so many times in very difficult positions. They exploit the spaces very well and they put us under pressure.

“I am bitterly disappointed. I am very disappointed because we knew their strengths, what we had to avoid and what we did was encourage them to play their game.

“We have to react. We have to analyse what we have done wrong and try to improve.”

Arsenal’s European zenith came in 2006 when they reached the Champions League Final in Paris, only to lose narrowly to Barcelona despite taking the lead. Since then, Arsene Wenger’s men have not enjoyed much success on the continent, exiting at the Round of 16 stage in the past four seasons.

However, the season is still in its infancy, and after last weekend’s impressive display against league champions Manchester City, Arsenal midfielder and England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is convinced that the Gunners are more than capable of returning to winning ways as they head to Aston Villa on Saturday.

“It is early in the season, Villa are a good side. It is a nice place to go and play football and we have to be at the required level” the Arsenal man said.

“They will be tough but if we believe in ourselves as title contenders this year and we will have to go with the belief that we will win the game and that is what we are going to do.

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

---

Subscribe

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

“They are a good side with good players and we saw them go to Anfield and put in a good performance both defensively and going forward. We know what Villa are capable of but won’t let this performance get us down too much.”

After making some big-name signings in recent years – Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez being the standout examples – Arsene Wenger was confident that his side would have the quality and strength in depth to sustain a credible challenge for the league title and proceed further into the Champions League than in previous campaigns. However, after Tuesday’s insipid performance the pressure is on for the Gunners to prove their worth, otherwise their captain’s warnings may ring true.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Before I kick this off I think it’s very important to state that Celtic’s Aleksandar Tonev has not, at the time of writing, been found guilty of racially abusing Aberdeen’s Shay Logan. The SFA have received referee Bobby Madden’s report on the alleged incident revolving a remark made by the Bhoys star to his opponent and a case may be made if clear evidence is found.

Celtic have insisted that Tonev has stated to them that he’s not guilty, while the player’s agent has also defended his client.

Of course we all hope that he is not culpable and that the incident is just a misunderstanding. But should he have made the remark he’s accused of, then the SFA must throw the book at both club and player in a bid to ensure that repeat incidents are not witnessed or endured by anybody.

Tonev was up against Logan for the entire game, which ended 2-1, in what was a heated showing between the pair. The Bulgarian, on loan from Aston Villa, frequently clashed with his opponent in a footballing sense, with both players refusing to give an inch in their battle.

Logan reported the incident early in the second half and informed both his captain Mark Reynolds and the referee.

Now, nothing has been proven, but the last thing Scottish football needs is more controversy. We’re not here to delve into the accusations to have been thrown back and forth between Celtic and Rangers down the years or even Leigh Griffiths’ relatively recent troubles, but these problems leave the game in a difficult position.

This incident cannot be swept under the carpet, with acts of racial abuse or gestures of any kind simply unacceptable in the modern game. Football in Britain has moved forward almost immeasurable leaps since the days of the 70s and 80s and it’s always worth remembering that nations across Europe are still involved in shameful accusations on an almost seasonal basis.

That is not to mean that Tonev should be given an easy ride at all, with the UK having the reputation it has due to strict enforcement and punishment for offenders. Luis Suarez and John Terry are two of the most high profile wrongdoers in recent times, and the FA acted swiftly on both counts to ensure that the players were banned for lengthy periods, fined and held up as examples to others.

Even though Tonev was not in British football during the times of these offences he will be aware of the punishments dished out and the strict warnings aimed at other professionals, rendering any action, if guilty, he made completely unacceptable.

I’ll stress again that I hope for the sake of football that he’s not proven to have made such utterances, but should he have then the SFA must act as their counterparts below the border did – quickly and efficiently.

Tonev should not be banned for life – everyone deserves a second chance in society – but a massive punishment and a vast fine should be dished out. Further to this, Celtic, although some could deem this unfair, should suffer some sort of sanction.

This would help in getting the message through that racism is intolerable and help to ensure that such attitudes are not bred within groups of players.

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

---

Subscribe

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

This incident is set to rumble on with more announcements set for later this week. So for now we will all continue to sit tight and hope that this episode is just a horrible mix-up.

[ffcvideo file=”TopFiveVideosoftheWeek” type=”mp4″]

[ad_pod id=’fr2rumours’ align=’center’]

In the pick of this evening’s Champions League action, reigning champions Real Madrid play hosts to Premier League side Liverpool.

The Reds are back in Europe’s competition for the first time since 2009 this season, but were quickly brought back down to earth when Los Blancos visited Anfield last month, thumping the Merseysiders 3-0.

Going to the Bernabeu certainly won’t improve Liverpool’s odds, but there’s still a chance the Reds can claim a respectable result against the Group B leaders.

That, however, will largely depend on whether the Premier League runners-up can dominate the individual battles.

Thus, here’s FIVE key battles Brendan Rodgers’ side need to win if they’re to come away from the Bernabeu with a point or more.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON MARIO BALOTELLI TO REVEAL

[/ffc-gallery]

CRISTIANO RONALDO VS SIMON MIGNOLET

With an outrageous 22 goals already this season, including this stunning strike at Anfield last month:

… and now just one strike away from matching Raul’s all-time Champions League top scorer record of 71 goals, if Liverpool are to stop Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring at the Bernabeu for the first time since August, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will have to be on top form.

The Belgium international has come under fire of late – Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher even saw grounds to criticise his attempts to prevent Phil Jagielka’s wonder-strike during the Merseyside derby:

But with the odds firmly against him to keep Real Madrid’s star forward at bay, Mignolet enters the Bernabeu fixture under little pressure.

That being said, Ronaldo’s currently enjoying the hottest form of his career. And just in case you’d somehow forgotten what he’s capable of – maybe you’ve been hit on the head with a very, very large spanner – here’s the Portugal international’s twenty best ever goals:

KARIM BENZEMA VS DEJAN LOVREN AND MARTIN SKRTEL

Karim Benzema may find himself slightly outshone by the impeccable attacking cast surrounding him at Real Madrid, but tactically, his influence remains pivotal.

He’s the man who links play between the midfield and the front-line for Real, occupying defenders, always providing a direct outlet and creating space for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Martin Skrtel and summer signing Dejan Lovren have struggled to gel as a centre-back partnership this season and failed to prevent the France international from getting from the score-sheet at Anfield. In fact, he netted twice – this shrewd header:

…followed by a close-range finish as a result of some poor marking from a corner:

Lovren and Skrtel need to match the physicality of Benzema’s stocky 6 foot 2 frame – especially in the air – whilst also stopping the Frenchman from supplying those around him.

He’s grabbed five assists already this season, although the 26 year-old is yet to claim a set-up in Europe:

JORDAN HENDERSON VS TONI KROOS

Toni Kroos is Real Madrid’s pace-setter; their deep-lying playmaker that dictates the direction and tempo of attacks.

The German World Cup winner was allowed to run riot at Anfield, with his 89 passes (producing an incredible pass completion rate of 97.8%) only bettered by central midfield partner Luka Modric:

He’ll inevitably get time and space on the ball – that’s why he’s one of the top midfielders in world football – but Liverpool need to reduce it as much as possible, and that task will likely fall to Jordan Henderson.

The England international’s form has been turbulent this season but he’s got the energy and athleticism to go toe-to-toe with Kroos for much of the match. He’s also the second-most proficient tackler in Liverpool’s squad:

…so if any Reds player can catch Kroos in possession high enough up the pitch to start a counter-attack, it’s undoubtedly the former Sunderland youngster.

Likewise, the German international’s defensive qualities leave a lot to be desire, and Henderson has the pace and intelligence to exploit space behind him on the break.

We know he can score and create around the penalty area too:

And Liverpool’s attackers will need the 24 year-old’s support on a night where they’ll spend the majority of it isolated.

MARIO BALOTELLI VS PEPE

Brendan Rodgers felt compelled to haul Mario Balotelli off at half-time against Real Madrid last month, and the Italian striker’s return for Liverpool stands at an incredibly disappointing two in twelve.

But with the injury-stricken Daniel Sturridge’s chances of starting rated ‘highly unlikely’ by the Liverpool boss, it appears Rodgers has little choice in giving Balotelli another crack against Los Blancos.

He didn’t find an inch of room against Pepe at Anfield – in fact, Liverpool’s summer signing failed to land a shot on target – which is perhaps why he ended up swapping shirts with the Real Madrid centre-back at half time.

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

---

Subscribe

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

But an eternally enigmatic, unpredictable figure, Balotelli has a knack of pulling off the sublime without a moment’s notice – take this strike against Bologna for example:

Could this be the night he justifies his £16million transfer fee?

GLEN JOHNSON VS ISCO

There were certainly more notable performers during Real Madrid’s 3-0 victory at Anfield last month, but the individual statistics are incredibly telling.

In a tucked-in left-hand role that allowed him to drift centrally, midfielder Isco recorded the second-most touches of any player on the pitch:

In addition to the most successful dribbles:

In fact, the Spain international’s 8.44 rating, according to Whoscored.com, was only bettered by Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, so his influence in the Anfield victory cannot be overstated.

His league form has been solid too this year, so solid in fact, it appears Carlo Ancelotti will stick with his ad hoc 4-4-2 against Liverpool to accommodate Isco, despite Gareth Bale returning from injury.

To prevent a repeat performance, we’ll have to see some improvement from Glen Johnson. His experience – boasting 43 career outings in Europe and 54 caps for England -could prove vital at the Bernabeu, but the 30 year-old’s form has been wanting this season, as shown below, and Brendan Rodgers will expect more.

ENJOY THIS BLOG? CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR US!

[ad_pod ]

Since one bustling Ivorian has already made his name at  the Etihad Stadium in recent years, there is no reason to suggest that Wilfried Bony can’t push on and become as popular as Yaya Toure, should his reported £30 million move to Manchester United push through.

The big-man certainly has his options open this January, as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are also said to be keen on landing Bony’s signature as the transfer window plays out.

Whilst such a move would seemingly signal heartbreak for the Liberty Stadium faithful, who have overseen their marquee centre-forward blossom in the Premier League with Swansea since his arrival in 2013, there are several other candidates available for Garry Monk should he eventually lose his main man.

With the January transfer window now upon us, here are FIVE noteworthy strikers who could potentially fill the void left by Wilfired Bony at Swansea:

Loic Remy

While the Frenchman may not pack quite the same punch as Bony in terms of physicality and stature, Loic Remy nevertheless deserves credit for what he can bring to the table.

Scoring goals may be his most important asset, with an impressive 14 recorded for Newcastle United last season, but Remy is also famed for his quick turn of pace and intelligent reading of the game. The Chelsea no. 18 has something very Henry-esque about his style, and whilst he is certainly not at the Arsenal legend’s level quite yet, under the right set-up Remy could definitely thrive.

Although the tricky striker seemingly wanted to make a name for himself at Stamford Bridge, if Bony were to make the move to West London, Remy’s game time would suffer even more. For that reason, a player + cash deal could be a decent move for the Swans, and for Loic Remy himself.

Lima

Despite being a grand 31-years-old, Benfica’s Lima has proved to be a handful of a striker, both domestically in the Primeira Liga and in the Europa League for several consecutive seasons.

The uncapped Brazilian may not have made any waves on the international scene, but the powerful no. 11 has become a firm fan favourite at the Estadio da Luz with over 50 goals scored in the past two seasons. Lima has the strength and reliability in front of goal, and whilst his days of being a quick mover may have passed him by now, the Brazilian hit-man could still be a force in the Premier League.

Although the South American forward could certainly prove an asset at the Liberty Stadium, the apparent lack of sensation and excitement that would arrive upon him signing on the dotted line could see this potential deal become a non-starter. Lima’s goal stats remain undeniably impressive however.

Seydou Doumbia

Another powerful Ivorian striker who could fill the void left at Swansea, Seydou Doumbia marks a transfer target who is similar to Wilfried Bony in terms of what assets he brings to the game.

The CSKA no. 88 has already given the Premier League reason to remember his name after his Champions League destruction of Manchester City back in November 2014. He has played countless games for both club and country, and with his powerful stature mixed with a calm composure when under pressure, the Ivorian forward’s achievements come as no surprise.

Although Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool are said to also be interested in landing Doumbia, if the Swans take home the reported £30 million price tag that they have set for Wilfried Bony, Garry Monk could certainly let the money do the talking in his quest to secure a replacement at the Liberty Stadium.

Emmanuel Emenike

Arriving as the undisputedly greatest ‘beast’ on this list, Emmanuel Emenike could offer Swansea the perfect solution should they fail to keep hold of Bony this January.

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

---

Subscribe

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

Whilst he doesn’t quite share the same technical ability with the ball and composure in front of goal, Fenerbahce’s bustling forward still has several essential qualities to make it in the Premier League. Emenike is undeniably strong, hungry for goals and worthy enough to test even the best defenders in England. He may not be quite as prolific as some other striker candidates, but the 27-year-old could nonetheless still do a great job for Monk this season.

Tottenham Hotspur have already expressed an interest in signing the Nigerian hitman, but as the apparent dismissal of their reported £8 million bid highlights, Swansea won’t be able to pick up Emmanuel Emenike on the cheap.

Jackson Martinez

The potential signing of Porto and Colombia hot-shot, Jackson Martinez, would certainly prove to be a landmark deal should the Swans pull it off.

The fiery 28-year-old may have already made a name for himself prior to the 2014 World Cup last summer, but even when operating from the bench in Brazil, Jackson Martinez proved to be a deadly finisher with a cool nature on the ball. This is just the kind of player Swansea require in the potential absence of Wilfried Bony.

Both Marvin Emnes and Bafetimbi Gomis would certainly benefit from playing alongside the Colombian star, but as his asking price will likely be a bit steep with several of Europe’s big-boys also in the hunt to land his signature, Swansea could face stiff competition in the quest to tie down Jackson Martinez.

This afternoon’s Merseyside derby was unfortunately one that won’t be remembered in the annals of the fixture’s history. Neither Everton nor Liverpool managed to get on the score-sheet at Goodison Park, and both goalkeepers were rarely tested despite Simon Mignolet and Joel Robles enduring rather ropey form of late.

Everton and Liverpool are two clubs synonymous with developing young players however, and if there’s one silver lining to be taken from today’s 0-0, it’s that there was plenty of impressive youthful talent on display for both sides.

With that in mind, here’s the THREE young hotshots that lit up an otherwise drab Merseyside derby.

JORDON IBE

Brendan Rodgers saw fit to issue Jordon Ibe his first Premier League start since returning from a six-month loan spell with Derby County against Everton this afternoon. It didn’t take long for the 19 year-old to repay his manager’s faith in him, producing this cracking effort half-way through the first 45, chipping Joel Robles’ wood-work:

https://vine.co/v/OU7UJJEagwu/embed/simple

In fact, he finished the first half with the most successful dribbles and second most shots of any Liverpool player, as detailed below:

Unfortunately however, his influence waned in the second half.

JOHN STONES

Although there were no goals to speak of today, one positive Everton can take is their clean sheet. The Toffees have defended nothing short of woefully at times this season, conceding 34 goals in just 24 games – only Newcastle and the Premier League’s bottom three have a worse record.

Reinstating John Stones at the heart of defence since his return from injury however has made a huge difference, and Everton have now recorded three clean sheets in their last three Premier League outings with the young England international in the side, including in today’s Merseyside derby.

In terms of the stats too, he was arguably the Goodison outfit’s best defender today, as detailed below:

That produced was a positive response from Everton fans on Twitter:

EMRE CAN

In terms of value-for-money, Emre Can might well be Liverpool’s best signing of the summer. Despite being primarily considered a defensive midfielder, he’s excelled in the unique right-centre-back role Brendan Rodgers has thrust him into in recent weeks. Whoscored.com actually rated the Germany U21 as the Man of the Match – here’s a look at his stats:

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

---

Subscribe

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

To summarise, that’s the most tackles, interceptions and successful dribbles of any Liverpool player. Not bad for just under £10million. Add that to a pass completion rate of 87%, and there’s surely enough evidence to suggest Can’s future does indeed lie further up the pitch.

Once again, Liverpool fans on Twitter were very impressed:

Arsenal legend turned radio presenter Ray Parlour is supporting London and South East finalist Jake Goodall in The People’s Pundit, championed by the Carlsberg Fan Squad, and came to watch a game with him at the Carlsberg Bar in Leicester Square to give him some top tips on punditry.

We went along to watch the Barcelona and Manchester City game to find out more about what he thinks makes a brilliant pundit team.

Ray believes you need a mixture of a fan and a footballer to get the perfect balance: “Fans have got a great feel for the game, they can be completely neutral and just have an amazing knowledge of the game.

“Footballers have a knowledge of how footballers can play and what they are thinking when they have the ball.”

He added: “You never know what you are going to do after football, I got the opportunity so gave it a go and I loved it and thankfully they asked me to come back!”

Jake (pictured with Parlour above) entered the competition at the last minute when his friends phoned him to tell him about it getting his application just 20 minutes before the deadline.

Luckily it paid off! He is the first finalist to be announced after winning a two part semi-final, which involved commentating on a goal and an on the spot question live with Jeff Stelling.

He said: “I have always wanted to be a pundit – I sent the application and thought nothing of it.

“Growing up, I watched Jeff Stelling every Saturday I could – I have admired him greatly from a young age. Commentators have a hard job but it’s something I cannot wait to try more of.

“I can’t believe it could actually come true! I cannot wait for the next stage.”

Ray spent the evening watching the match and giving Jake tips on commentating, though both were gutted about the result.

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

---

Subscribe

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

Ray said: “That first goal is so crucial. It was always going to be a big ask for Man City.”

Jake is now waiting to find out who his fellow finalists will be in Boot Camp.

“The mission of the Carlsberg fan squad is to make football better for fans. That’s why, If Carlsberg did Pundits…they’d probably be just like you. Ray Parlour caught a game with London and South East finalist, Jake Goodall, at the Carlsberg Bar in Leicester Square to help him prepare for Boot Camp in the People’s Pundit, championed by Carlsberg – the official beer of the Premier League. To find out how Jake and all of our other pundits get on in the race to secure their big break on talkSPORT, or to find details of a regional heat near you, head to ThePeoplesPundit.co.uk. Plus, if you’d like to show your support to Jake, follow him @GoodallJake4 #PeoplesPundit”

Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford last night gives the North London outfit an excellent chance of retaining the FA Cup this season, while good league form has Arsene Wenger’s side sitting pretty in the top four.

Although some of the Emirates Stadium faithful will feel aggrieved at the lack of a title push and a potential exit from the Champions League at the hands of a modest Monaco side, there are other promising signs of progress in North London.

Arguably the most pleasing thing for Wenger this term will be the fact that two young stars that have patiently waited for a chance to impress have been given that opportunity and excelled.

In midfield Francis Coquelin has been recalled from a loan stint at Charlton and shown that he has the attributes to be an essential member of the Gunners’ side.

Meanwhile, with Mathieu Debuchy’s injury having Wenger weighing up his other options at right-back, Hector Bellerin has stepped into the breach and shown that he is certainly not out of his depth.

The development and evolution of these two young stars will be a fillet for Wenger, who has proven himself over the years as a manager capable of breeding young talent in the Premier League.

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

However, with the Gunners starting to spend big on the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, the balance of being able to rely on young players from the academy is a desirable aspect also.

Bellerin has started nine Premier League games this season and been very consistent; so much so that the youngster has a shot at being the North London club’s first choice at right-back.

With the 19-year-old Spaniard’s only other senior football a handful of games for Watford last season, opposition wingers would have been rubbing their hands when Bellerin’s name was initially on the Gunners teamsheet.

However, the forward-thinking full-back has shown maturity beyond his years and slotted into the team’s back four seamlessly.

Coquelin’s ability to command the Arsenal midfield has been even more impressive, with the 23-year-old Frenchman looking like one of the Premier League’s best defensive midfielders this season.

Recalled from a loan in The Championship to cover for the glut of injuries in the Arsenal midfield, most would have expected the Laval-born man to make a few appearances before leaving the club this summer after his contract expired.

However, Coquelin has provided the balance in the Arsenal side that has been missing since the days of Patrick Vieira; a determined, physical and dynamic enforcer in front of the team’s defence that has allowed the attacking elements of the team to stream forward at will.

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

---

Subscribe

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

The Frenchman’s statistics in relation to successful tackles and interceptions have been mightily impressive in the 13 appearances he has made, with Coquelin earning himself a new deal at the Emirates Stadium in the process.

There is no doubt that Arsenal need to spend big this summer again if they are to keep pace with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City.

That said, Coquelin and Bellerin have shown that they have exciting futures at the club and highlight the importance of giving youth team graduates a chance on the biggest stage.

Win a pair of Puma football boots as worn by Cesc Fabregas and Super Mario by filling in this quick survey!

Create your own user feedback survey