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Norwich have adapted well to life in the Premier League. They have now taken eight points from their opening six games and are up to ninth in the table. They have found particular success in the last two games by beating Bolton away and Sunderland at home. They have done so with a new look 4-5-1 formation.

Therefore, I decided it was a good time to review why the system works and the reasons Norwich should stick with it.

The system is not defensive

Whenever people think about 4-5-1 systems, they immediately believe them to be defensive in nature. It is an understandable assumption because in general, this system only includes one striker. However, a big part of what makes this system attacking or defensive is the personnel used.

In Norwich’s case there are three attacking midfield players in Anthony Pilkington, Elliott Bennett and Wes Hoolahan. Steve Morison plays the lone man up front and David Fox and Bradley Johnson gives the midfield that much-needed defensive stability and balance.

The system is not designed to contain teams, but is an attacking formation that suits Norwich’s strengths. When Norwich loses the ball enough bodies can get back quickly into that crucial midfield area to prevent the team becoming exposed.

Wes Hoolahan

The vast majority of Norwich fans will agree that Wes Hoolahan is club’s best player. However, in the early games of the season, the Irishman found himself in and out of the side. Hoolahan though has now started both of Norwich’s last two games and the new formation seems to get the best out of him.

Wide players/width

Last season Norwich played a narrow 4-4-2 Diamond formation with Wes Hoolahan being the main attacking threat. In the Championship, it worked because opposing players were not good enough defensively to stop Hoolahan. Furthermore, the opposing wide players were not good enough to exploit the weaknesses in the system.

The Premier League though features some of the best players in the world. Therefore, the opposition would be both capable of marking Hoolahan out of the game and also exploiting Norwich’s weaknesses. The adapted system offers more stability and also more attacking threat.

The opposition now also have to worry about Elliott Bennett and Anthony Pilkington in the wide midfield positions, and also the attacking runs of full-backs Marc Tierney and Kyle Naughton. The problem for opposing teams is they can’t afford to man mark Hoolahan, because this may in turn create space for Norwich’s other attacking players.

Goals from all areas

Most formations are overly reliant on strikers scoring the majority of the goals. However, the new system has the created two wins from as many games and four different goal-scorers so far. Lone striker Steve Morison is now also off the mark following his winning goal against Sunderland.

The success of using such a formation depends on attacking players getting into forward areas and supporting Steve Morison. Norwich has managed to do that superbly so far. The majority of the Norwich squad is unproven at Premier League level, so Norwich may well need to share out the goals amongst the team, rather than relying on one or two individuals; if this formation allows them to do this then so much the better.

Versatile system that can be changed late on in games

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The system can be changed late on in games in order to suit Norwich City. Hoolahan can be substituted for a second striker if the manager feels he needs it and/or a more defensive midfield player could come on for one of the wide players. However, Norwich has fewer options if one of the wide players is ineffective in the game, but one of the pacy strikers could probably occupy in a wide position if necessary.

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Kyle Walker came into the spotlight most recently with a good goal for Aston Villa against Sheffield United in the FA Cup. Now Fabio Capello has mentioned his name when talking about potential right backs for his England squad.

It is exciting for England that Capello is willing to put less experienced lads like Walker, Gibbs and Henderson in the spot-light and consider young in-form players when compiling his squads. Walker’s attacking capabilities are what he has been praised for, and he looks to be creative and skilful.

Since Micah Richards is injured, Capello needs to decide who he should have in his squad as a second right back. Martin Kelly is a steady right back but he has not set the world on fire. He is competent defensively but not a modern day full back with pace and flair. That is not to say that he would not do a decent job in international football, but I don’t think he is the answer for England, I want to see England with quick full backs and playing with skill and energy. Walker is raw, but he has potential. In him and Kieran Gibbs we are presented with a genuine possibility of that. England’s forthcoming game against Denmark on 9 February could be a great opportunity to offer Walker a taste of international football, even if just for 20 minutes.

Walker’s career, so it seems, is set to take off in the future. He has not managed to break into Tottenham’s first team yet  but, if this season goes well at Aston Villa he could do next year.

Meanwhile Alan Hutton has occupied the right back role in the majority of Tottenham’s games this year. It appears that Redknapp likes have a quick full back and so has chosen Hutton over Corluka. for me, Hutton is not great defensively, and for someone who is labelled as an attacking full back, his final ball often fails to flatter. Corluka is not as quick but he is not useless on the ball and had a good season last year. I think he has been unlucky not to play more this season.

But, with the fact that Harry likes a dynamic full back, coupled with the attacking abilities Walker has shown, I would not be surprised to see him playing more games next year in a white shirt. I have heard a Spurs fan call him a ‘new right-sided Gareth Bale’. While the extent of this may be debatable, Tottenham fans would be licking their lips in anticipation if it were true.

My only worry is that Walker may not be playing week in week out at Villa and early signs seem to suggest this might be the case. He has not even been in the squad for Villa’s last two games, which they have won (he has been struggling with a back injury). Houllier has gone with a back line of Clark, Collins, Dunne and Cuellar at right back. This is a solid but uninteresting defensive unit. With Agbonlahor, Young and Bent though, pace going forward does not seem to be his worry.

It is early days in Walker’s spell at Villa and his goal in the FA cup will have shown Houllier what kind of an option he can offer. Against Birmingham he had a swagger about him which is important for a youngster. A Spurs fan could still have preferred him to have gone back to QPR where he would play every game but Premier league exposure is the goal for him at the moment.

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He is still only 20 and he has done well at Sheffield United, and QPR. A good game in the FA cup, against a Championship side, does not prove that he is ready but it does prove that he has a lot of talent. I like the look of Walker and I would not be surprised if this time next year he is playing regularly in the Spurs first team. Only time will tell…

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Manchester United winger Nani could make a shock transfer to Real Madrid, according to Talk Sport.

The 25 year old still has two years remaining on his contract at Old Trafford, and whilst his club remain confident of him renewing his current deal, Real Madrid could pounce on United’s lack of urgency and try to persuade the Portuguese star to come to the Bernabeu.

The supposed bid is reported to be in the region of £19 million, and could be accelerated as Nani’s agent is also the agent of Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The earlier summer signing of Shinji Kagawa could leave Nani out of the Manchester United starting eleven, and a move to join his fellow countrymen in the Spanish capital could suit the Portuguese starlet.

However, money laden Russian team Anzi Makhachkala are also said to be interested in Nani, and a significant wage increase will be used to tempt him to make the move.

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Nani has scored 37 times for the Red Devils since joining from Sporting Lisbon 5 years ago, having been bought to compliment Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford. Now, the pair could be reunited in the La Liga champions squad.

England are set to be without Darren Bent and Micah Richards for their Euro 2012 qualifying fixtures against Wales on Tuesday, but in-form striker Wayne Rooney has shaken off a knock and should play.

The Manchester United forward has started the 2011-12 season at a blistering pace, and despite scoring twice against Bulgaria on Friday, picked up a slight injury.

However, manager Fabio Capello has confirmed that the hitman should be fit and able to play at Wembley against the Welsh side.

“Rooney has a problem with his foot but I think he should be okay for Tuesday. It’s a different part of his foot. His big toe. It’s nothing, I think but we will have to wait for a minimum of 24 hours,” the Italian coach told Sky Sports.

Rooney confirmed his availability also after seeking medical advice from England’s physio.

“I landed on it in the second half. The physio has looked at it and said it’s fine,” he told The Sun.

No such luck has favoured Richards or Bent, who have both been sent back to their clubs after being determined as not able to feature on Tuesday.

Aston Villa attacker Bent has a groin problem that meant he struggled to train ahead of the game, and director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking has confirmed that the striker has returned to the Midlands club.

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Richards has also returned to Eastlands, as he is suffering from a hamstring injury. Chris Smalling is expected to continue at right-back for The Three Lions, with Phil Jagielka offering cover if needed.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard may be in line for a starting place in the centre of midfield after watching the Bulgaria game from the bench. Gareth Barry and Scott Parker were given the nod over the 33-year-old on Friday, but with both one booking away from suspension, Fabio Capello is set to turn to the Stamford Bridge man.

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has admitted that he desperately needs to bring in striking reinforcements in January and has Jay Bothroyd, Robbie Keane and Ryan Babel on his wish list.

“The board understands the situation and there are a few names we’ve talked about that could enhance the team.” McLeish said.

“Loan or permanent? There are both options and we are not going to kill the club by paying excessive money, which can happen in the January window.”

“We need, quite simply, to score more goals. To finish ninth, with the amount of goals we scored last season, was unbelievable.”

It is thought that Birmingham’s number one target is Cardiff City and England striker Jay Bothroyd who has scored an impressive 15 goals already this season. Bothroyd has previously played in the Premiership for Coventry, Blackburn and Charlton, but his reputation and fiery temper meant that he failed to settle that any of these clubs. McLeish is thought to be ready to take a risk on the 28 year-old and is ready to offer around £5 million.

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Robbie Keane has been linked with many clubs in January after Spurs announced that they were prepared to listen to offers for the player. Birmingham will have to fight it out with West Ham, Everton and Wolves if they are to secure the Irishman’s services.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has stated that there has been no further progression over a possible move for Robin van Persie and the sale of existing strikers at the club is not expected.

The Premier League champions have been linked with a move for the Dutch marksman, who is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in less than a year and is reluctant to sign a new deal.

Despite this the Italian trainer does not want to speculate over a possible move, and does not intend to sell a number of fringe players.

“Van Persie? He is an Arsenal player and I don’t want to disrespect Arsene Wenger,” Mancini told Sky Sport Italia.

“We have four strikers and we will start the preseason in five days, it’s unlikely there will be major changes in such a short time.

“The same goes for Dzeko, his farewell is not expected The interest of Juventus for him? It will be difficult that Edin goes away.

“Kolarov? I myself wanted him at City, he is a great player. If it depends on me, he would remain at the City. I’d love to have him again in the next season but I cannot impose myself on his will.

“Tevez will remain here unless he wants to change team,” Mancini concluded.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Right at the start of the summer, one of the biggest priorities for the transfer window among both fans and pundits was for Liverpool to get rid of the dead-wood in the squad. Relics from mainly the Roy Hodgson era, but also some left over from Rafa Benitez ’s time too, it was believed that by removing these players from the squad we could rid ourselves of a number of players who were taking up a sizeable chunk of our wage bill. Although Milan Jovanovic and Paul Konchesky have left the club, there are a number of players not considered good enough for the squad, still at the club with 20 days left in the transfer window:

Christian Poulsen – Although there was a rumour in the Danish press a couple of weeks ago linking the midfielder with a move to FC Copenhagen, Poulsen’s agent denied the rumours and stated Poulsen’s intention of staying on Merseyside. Poulsen himself in recent day has stated his intention to stay:

“I have been really happy and I want to play, that’s my goal for the future. I am happy there with my family, it’s a good club and they treat me really well. I hope I can change my situation and play more. I haven’t heard anything from Liverpool; I am trying to be fit for the new season. So I think they want me at the club and I am happy to be there and unless they tell me something different, I am a Liverpool player for the coming season.”

The Dane has been poor in pre-season, as he was the entire of the last campaign, but there seems to be an unwillingness on his part to move away to get more first team football. His lack of pace means he can’t cope with the Premier League, and it looks as if that unless he has a change of heart, he is content to pick up his wages despite being behind Lucas Leiva and Jay Spearing in the pecking order.

Joe Cole – The obvious reason why Joe has been a hard man to shift this summer is because of his sizeable wages. With Stewart Downing, Maxi Rodriguez and Dirk Kuyt ahead of him for a starting berth on the wings, and Gerrard, Aquilani, Meireles and Henderson ahead of him in the attacking midfield role, Cole will be sitting on the bench for the most part this season.

QPR and West Ham have been rumoured to be interested in a loan move but the Reds are looking for a permanent move to offload the player’s sizeable wages. In addition, Tottenham have also been tipped as potential suitors but Joe would have to take a sizeable wage cut to fit to Spurs’s wage structure. We will have to hope that Luka Modric moves to Chelsea and Harry turns to Joe for a quick purchase on the final day of the transfer window.

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Nabil El Zhar – After returning from his loan spell at PAOK Salonika last season, the Moroccan has been relegated to reserve team football as the Reds try to find him a new club. He has started a few games for Rodolfo Borrell’s side to keep his fitness up but there has been very little talk about the 24 year old’s departure from the club. Perhaps, like Jovanovic, they could give the player dispensation to find a new club?

Philipp Degen – The perennially injured full back, and a poor defender to boot, spent last season on loan at Stuttgart where he didn’t really have a very successful time. Started on the right wing against Galatasaray in a friendly, but it was the last time we have seen Degen anywhere near the first team. Hopefully a move to a lower Bundesliga club or a return to Switzerland can be arranged before the end of the window.

Article courtesy of David Tully at Live4Liverpool

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Having been first taken to Upton Park by my Dad for my fifth birthday to watch a 6-0 mauling of Sunderland, with Kevin Keen bagging a hat-trick if memory serves me correctly, I can count myself as a West Ham fan of nearly 20 years. When given the task of naming my West Ham dream team, I decided to try and keep it to players I have seen play in the famous Claret-and-Blue of the Hammers, with a couple of notable exceptions! So this dream team comes with the warning that, although many West Ham legends have been missed out, they have not been forgotten, and are only omitted due to the fact I never had the privilege of seeing them play! If you think I am just a whipper-snapper who doesn’t know he was born, then feel free to put your West Ham dream team in the comments box below! So without further delay, here is my West Ham dream team;

Click on image below to see the West Ham DREAM team

It seems just a fleeting juncture since Liverpool’s Joe Cole was a shining beacon of talent at both club and international level. A Premier League Champion at Chelsea and the protracted answer to England’s perpetual left midfield quandary. Fast forward to 2012 and the London-born player is returning from a foreign hiatus that saw him attempt to re-align his wavering career; his move to Liverpool tainted with miserly playing time. An impassioned season-long loan spell across the channel with Lille has put Cole back into the frame at parent club. Italian Alberto Aquilani has faced a similar torrid time during his Anfield career thus far. Lacklustre performances unsettled the midfielder and a return to his homeland seemed ominous. Following spells at Juventus and Milan, Aquilani is now back on Merseyside. With new manager Brendan Rodgers at the helm, will the return of Cole and Aquilani become comparable to new signings or will the duo yet again fail to deliver what is required?

Rodgers’ astute tactics and positive footballing philosophy are unquestionably the two prominent reasons that the vacancy at Anfield was offered to him. At Swansea, the Northern Irishman lit up the Premier League with his offensive, possession based tactics. Hoping to bring a similar philosophy to Liverpool, certain men on the roster at Anfield may feel more secure of playing time than others. Rodgers’ tactics tend to be focused around an extremely fluid version of the 4-3-3 formation. With one striker playing a lone role and two wide set attacking midfielders to support. A reasonably rigid 3 in midfield complete the attacking half of the pitch. With a distinct lack of wide set attacking midfielders in Liverpool’s squad, especially now with Dirk Kuyt having moved to pastures new, Joe Cole may be the perfect man to fit into Rodgers’ plans. The former West Ham man plays in a similar vein to that of Nathan Dyer, Scott Sinclair and Wayne Routledge; three players that Rodgers used in the aforementioned wide set attacking midfield role for Swansea. Cole may also adapt well to the required position thanks to a similar role being appointed to him at Lille. The French club used Cole and Hazard as the two wide attacking players, assisting the lone man up front. His said experience of a similar position across the channel in addition to his natural poise as a wide attacking midfielder could see him catapult straight into a team that had practically thrown him out not a year ago.

To fit Alberto Aquilani into the new Liverpool/Rodgers system, some central midfielders may have to search for first team football elsewhere. With Steven Gerrard, Charlie Adam, Jay Spearing, Jordan Henderson, Lucas Leiva and Jonjo Shelvey already jostling for position, the return of Aquilani leaves Rodgers with 7 central midfielders and just 3 spots to fill. Should players such as Shelvey and Spearing depart, the Italian could make a real impact as the beating heart of Anfield’s new era. At Swansea the ”volante de salida” position was taken up by Leon Britton. A tactic based upon the style of football displayed by Barcelona heavyweight Xavi, the ”output wheel” as it is literally translated is required to break up opposition play and release the ball through astute passing. It would have to be assumed that Steven Gerrard would take a more offensive position in Rodgers’ formation, so this unenviable role may go to the returning Aquilani. His time in Italy indicates that he is a good passer of the ball and while he may not have the luxury of time in the English game, the Italian has the credentials to at least audition for the position.

With undoubted movement in and out of Anfield this summer, the return of Cole and Aquilani will probably pass by some fans unnoticed. However, should Rodgers take an interest in bringing the outcasted duo back into the frame, they may become more noticeable than ever before.

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Last season’s Championship Player of the Year and QPR’s prize asset Adel Taarabt has been subject to intense speculation about his future. The Moroccan playmaker was a sensation in England’s second tier last season and such fine form has seen Taarabt heavily linked with a move to France and Paris St Germain.

If you had asked many QPR fans which players they would have wanted to stay for their first season back in the Premier League, I would expect many would have said their captain Taarabt. But the midfielder’s brilliance is too often out-weighed by sparks of petulance. During a game with Hull last season Taarabt argued with team-mates, sulked and then asked to be substituted in the first half, a display that reportedly ended Manchester United’s interest in the player after a scout was present. With a huge task facing QPR next season and a possible relegation fight on their hands, would they be better off to let Taarabt leave for a good price?

Despite dominating large parts of the Championship last season, QPR face the same problems of all promoted teams when competing in arguably the toughest league in the world. Promoted teams best chances are often based on strength, organisation and consistency. The past ten years has been littered with a few examples of how best to stay in England’s top flight, including Bolton back in 2001/02 and more recently Stoke in 2008/09. Roy Hodgson’s turnaround at West Brom last season changed them from the ultimate yo-yo team to a solid, strong team unit capable of fighting to stay in the Premier League.

There is no doubting Taarabt’s skill and talent; there were times last season where he stood head and shoulders above the rest with ability that could have graced any league in the world. 19 goals and 16 assists from midfield rightly earned him the Championship Player of the Year and Neil Warnock worked hard to get the best out of Taarabt.

But is he a risk in the Premier League? At times QPR will not be able to play their attractive football based around the skill of Taarabt, many games against the top clubs and those around them will require hard work and compact displays where Taarabt may not see as much of the ball. He would have to be willing and able to adapt his game in the Premier League.

QPR teammate Shaun Derry has spoken about his surprise that Taarabt is still with the club, going as far to label him a “liability”.

“Last year he was incredible for us, he was absolutely fantastic at times and at other times he was terrible and that sums him up in a few words,” Derry told talkSPORT.

QPR can ill-afford liabilities and such a description from an experienced and important figure from within the club like Derry raises serious questions about how Taarabt’s temperament would suit the Premier League.

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The influential midfielder does look to edging closer to a move away for a figure thought to be around £13.5million, especially after he was left out of their pre-season tour.

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As a neutral it will be a shame not too see Taarabt attempt to grace the Premier League will his skill and undoubted talent. He, along with all his QPR teammates deserve a shot at the top flight after such an impressive season last year but for Warnock and QPR it may be the right time to cash in on their prize asset in a league where consistency and strength may be their best hope.

If you want to read more of my bite size, 160 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5