Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp is under no illusion that the clubs debt could be significantly eased if his team survive in the Premier League this season.
Rangers have one of the highest wage bills in the country and the clubs long term future could be in doubt if they are playing Championship football next season.
Big money January deals for the likes of Loic Remy and Christopher Samba could be fatal blows if Redknapp’s team fail to conduct the great escape between now and May.
Rangers gave themselves a lifeline with a crucial victory at Southampton last week and they ‘entertain’ an out of form Sunderland side at Loftus Road today with victory potentially moving them just one point adrift of survival.
Redknapp is no stranger to a relegation scrap having been here with West Ham, Southampton and Portsmouth in the past but surely this would be the great escape to beat all great escapes if the club can avoid the drop and not plunge into further debt.
“If the debts are high the chairman and the board must understand that,” Redknapp told The Sun.
“They’re not silly men, they’re successful businessmen.
“They know what they’re doing so I’ll leave it to them. It’s their business.
“It’s important obviously to stay up. But when you are a football manager we are not involved in that side of the business.
“I’ve said it a million times, we are not involved in players’ wages.
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.
“That’s done at a different level to what we work. We work with the team and on the pitch.
“The financial side of it I don’t know. Those results were from before I came here.”
Southampton forward Rickie Lambert is convinced his team-mate Jay Rodriguez will earn an England call-up if he keeps playing well.
The striking pair have both touted as possible contenders for the national team this season after playing a key role in helping the Saints move away from the Premier League’s relegation zone.
Calls for Lambert’s inclusion in Roy Hodgson’s plans have been made for some time off the back of his impressive scoring record for the South-Coast club during their rise through the divisions.
However, the 14-goal man’s sidekick is making an equally compiling case with his form since Mauricio Pochettino’s appointment as manager really catching the eye and justifying Nigel Adkins’ decision in the first place to sign him from Burnley for £7m.
“I think it is only a matter of time before Jay does get a chance with England if he carries on like this,” said Lambert.
“Everyone has seen what a good player he is. It makes my job so much easier when playing alongside him.
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 is like a player reborn. At the start of the season he wasn’t as confident as he hoped he would be – but slowly and surely the confidence has come back.”
The 16th of April will go down in Cardiff City folk law, a chilly Tuesday spring evening, as the night that Cardiff City ended 50 odd years of hurt
When Cardiff were relegated from the old First Division in 1962, the world hadn’t (outside of Liverpool and the seedy red light area of Berlin) even heard of the Beatles and Ipswich Town had just been crowned champions.
Along with The Bluebirds, Chelsea went down into division two, while Liverpool and Leyton Orient took their place. Ironically, for a team that now boasts five former Coventry City players and two Coventrians in their first team, that it was Coventry born Frank Ifield who was number one with I Remember You.
Unfortunately, after 51 years, few people remembered Cardiff City had ever been a top flight team, even the Bluebird supporters themselves, two generations bloodied into the fold against the tide of supporting glamorous big named English clubs, only knew because they had been told. They’d seen the grainy footage on club produced video’s and Dvd’s, instead they had become accustomed to disappointed, of being the perpetual bridesmaids, used to relegation and playing in the lower leagues, of being on the verge of administration, of being saved at the 11th hour by shady deals by shady little men.
So it came to pass that a scoreless draw against Charlton provided the sweet magical moment, one which came 53 years to the day since a home victory at Ninian Park against Aston Villa secured Cardiff’s previous promotion from the second tier to the promise land.
Promotion this season is something Cardiff City fans had demanded, having been made to sacrifice too much, put up with so much abuse, of being accused of selling their souls ( no matter what and where their personal feelings and allegiances lay) of a season of constant taunts from opponents’ fans. Fans have had to endure the one season in Cardiff City’s history it’s been the hardest to be a supporter, to settle for anything less was unthinkable failure wasn’t an option, but it was a deep-rooted fear, a dread that Cardiff City were going to do a Cardiff City and blow it, but as the season began to draw to a close that became all but impossible.
Cardiff City in the end achieved promotion with three games to spare, finally burying the painful ghosts of three successive play-off failures. The Bluebirds can now prepare for the financial rewards, the umbrella payments, the added bonus that this season will bring – The television rights are up for negotiation, a fact that will add even more coffers into the Cardiff City bank account. Then there will be the publicity that comes with a place in the top flight, sponsors will now be fighting to endorse the club from Welsh capital.
Malky Mackay undoubtedly must take the majority of the plaudits for the promotion, for building a team capable of winning the Championship.
And there is no doubt this is a team moulded by Mackay. Of the Eleven that started against Charlton, only two players – goalkeeper David Marshall and right-back Kevin McNaughton – remained from the team that played in the 3-2 play-off final defeat against Blackpool at Wembley in 2010, the only other survivors of the Dave Jones era who remain at Cardiff City are Mark Hudson (side lined by injury), Peter Whittingham (relegated to a place on the bench) and Craig Bellamy who had spent part of the 2010/11 season on loan from Liverpool under Jones.
The game was a nervy affair with passes going astray – it was clear it meant so much to both sides.
Highlights of the match itself were a David Marshall save, and a disallowed goal from the head of Craig Noone.
After having shown few signs of nerves in the majority of the game, understandably anxiety crept into Cardiff’s play in the closing 10 minutes, anyone with a connection to Cardiff City football club were willing the sound of the final whistle, knowing that if the score remained as it was it would signal their entrance to the Premier League.
The supporters were becoming increasingly edgy, but tentatively as the seconds ticked by we started to celebrate, the chants becoming frenetic and deafening “The Blues Are Going Up” (although rather bizarrely) the commentator on Astro sports channel in Malaysia who were streaming the game live, repeatedly stated the Cardiff City fans were chanting “The Reds are going up”?
As the news filtered through to us supporters that Watford were losing away at Millwall, meaning even a loss would suffice for we Bluebirds’ to realise our promotional dreams at long last!
The game seemed to slow – but then, when the referee finally blew his whistle it brought about total jubilation. Cardiff City were promoted to the Premier League.
Screams of YES! GET IN! Chants of “The Blues Are Up!” rang out among the mass hugging and dancing, the pitch invasion began, the Charlton players fled the field. A few of the Cardiff City players were in less of a hurry – two in particular – the Silver Fox and Bluebird favourite Kevin McNaughton who is The Blues longest-serving player and the only player in the current squad that had played in the 2008 FA Cup final.
Super Kev had been with us through all those nearly years, it meant as much to him as it did to us – that was plain to see! The other player was a lifelong supporter who had his Dad and Son cheering from the stands – Craig Bellamy who had twice taken a cut in wages to play for ‘his’ team.
I wriggled free from a hug and set off down the terrace sending this prepared tweet as I went – “@RealSarahJPrice: YAYAY!!! BLUEBIRDS ARE PROMOTED!! Excuse me off to invade the pitch BLUEBIRDS!!!”
I went onto the pitch to celebrate for (in my mind) all the supporters who were not there to see this historical moment, from my friend who had missed the game due to a recent foot operation, to all the friends, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, Grampy’s and Nan’s who hadn’t lived to see the day, I even found myself at one point looking at the night sky staring at the moon, which was now clouded by the blue and yellow smoke from canisters let off by supporters and tearfully said “Stuart we made it” directed to the late former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable who had been a much-loved figure on the terraces even at the height of his fame Stuart made every game humanly possible.
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.
Crying tears of joy tinged with a deep sadness for two supporters in particular, Dads that should have been there – I saw Kevin McNaughton lifted high upon the shoulder of one Bluebird supporter after another – arms in the air, face scrunched up in exaltation, screaming and swearing his head off, the gist of which was ‘Yes at last’.
With these scenes on the pitch and chants of The Blues are going up clearly audible, and ringing in his ears Vincent Tan in the tunnel being interviewed live on Sky Sports News grabbed the red Cardiff City shirt he was wearing and said “lucky red, lucky red”
The promotion to the Premier League and what it meant to the blue part of south Wales was better described by Craig Bellamy who had his father and teenage son, Ellis, who is on Cardiff’s books, watching from the stands, Bellamy tearfully said “Football wise, this is certainly the best moment.”
“To have people I truly love around me, to share this with me, to see my dad afterwards and all the heartache he has been through watching Cardiff over the years. I have lost count how many games I used to go to with him on a Tuesday night against some team, and him pulling me to the side, leaving 10 minutes before the end, and saying we would never go back.”
So Saturday away at Burnley Cardiff City could confirm the title. That’s all we wait for, for the party to really begin that and the promised promotion song written and performed by lifelong Bluebird James Fox.
The Bluebirds are flying high and are really happy about it too!
Manchester United’s young Dutch winger Gyliano van Velzen looks to have a bright future in the game. The lanky left winger may not have the appearance of a typical tricky winger, but van Velzen is a tall, skilful and pacy winger. The Dutchman can also be used up front, like he did for the youth team when first choice strikers Will Keane and John Cofie were injured.
Manchester United signed van Velzen from Dutch side Ajax. United’s scouting team had been watching van Velzen for a while and decided to act quickly after reported interest from other clubs around Europe.
Van Velzen is a product of the famous Ajax academy. The same academy that has produced the likes of Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Kluivert, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and the legend Marco van Basten.
The youngster had initially turned down an offer from Manchester United and decided to stay with Ajax’s under-17s. Van Velzen, who was affiliated with Ajax since he was 13 years old, then decided that a move to England was the right move to make. It was believed that United had offered the van Velzen family a house in the Manchester area and offering their son, Gyliano, a professional contract.
The deal of van Velzen to Manchester United angered Ajax. They felt that Manchester United had illegally poached their youngster and wrote to United’s chief executive David Gill asking for compensation. It is believed that if Ajax were not happy with Gill’s response, they will look at other avenues to take, although they would rather not take legal action.
Van Velzen joined Manchester United in November 2010. He started to impress during the 2011/12 season and only youth team star Tyler Beckett made more appearances than van Velzen. The Dutchman scored eight times and has seen his game starting to develop an end product on regular occasions. His impressive performances for the youth team saw Warren Joyce bring him into the reserve squad and hand him three substitute appearances.
At the start of this season, van Velzen was loaned to United’s partner club in Belgium, Royal Antwerp. Van Velzen started his loan spell brightly, scoring in a 2-0 win over Brussels. But his form dipped and he was sent back to Manchester United.
On his return, Royal Antwerp manager Dennis van Wijk told Voetbal international.
“He had a very good start, but then became a little tentative. He’s a young player. He’s very talented but that does not always play a role in whether or not they’ll reach the top. But he has enough quality.”
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.
Next season will be interesting to see if Sir Alex Ferguson will look to introduce first team football to youngster.
Southampton could be without top scorer Rickie Lambert (back) and 17-year-old Luke Shaw (virus) with neither training this week. Gaston Ramirez and Danny Fox are still banned.
Charlie Adam is suspended after his red card against Tottenham last week, while Glenn Whelan is struggling to be fit. Andy Wilkinson (back) could return and Michael Owen is hoping to feature in his last game before retirement.
Mauricio Pochettino…”My future in Southampton has to be with Nicola. reality is we share a common passion and long-term plan for this club. It would not make much sense for me to continue at this club if he is not here. I do not understand Southampton without Nicola in the future. Nicola has created everything we see at Southampton now.”
Tony Pulis… “He (Owen) has been fantastic around the place. He has been a really, really good lad. He’s not had the playing time he’s wanted, and I know he has been disappointed with that. So there will be a send off for him at Southampton on Sunday for what has been an absolutely wonderful career. As to whether he’ll play, I’ll be telling him first before anybody else.”
Match Statistic: Southampton have managed just one goal in the six-and-a-half hours of Premier League football.
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.
Prediction: Southampton 2-0 Stoke City
Make your bets ahead of the showdown between Southampton and Stoke at St Mary’s by clicking on the banner below
Arsenal are close to signing Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo, according to the Telegraph.
The Bundeslia and Champions League winner will cost the Premier League side around £14million, as Wenger looks to finally strengthen his squad.
20-year-old Yaya Sanogo is the club’s only addition this summer, despite Wenger being reportedly given a £70million transfer kitty. Although the Gunners have targeted star players such as Wayne Rooney, Gonzalo Higuain and Luis Suarez this summer, Wenger is still yet to spend a penny on a transfer fee.
But the French manager is close to changing that with his pursuit of the Brazilian midfielder. Gustavo has slipped further down the Bayern pecking order after the Bavarian side signed Thiago Alcantara from Barcelona, and the 26-year-old looks set to try his hand in the Premier League.
Gustavo, who can also play centre-back, is expected to instantly rival Mikel Arteta for a starting place, with the Spaniard having to play in the holding midfield role due to injuries to Abou Diaby. The Brazilian would effectively be a replacement for Alex Song, who left for Barcelona last summer.
Wenger is hopeful that they can push through a deal for Gustavo before Saturday, when the Gunners face Aston Villa on the opening day of the new season.
Will Gustavo do well at the Emirates? What else do Arsenal need?
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.
If you’d have asked Atletico Madrid supporters whether they’d accept a 14-year wait to beat Real Madrid with two wins coming along within the space of four months, both being at the Bernabeu and one landing them the Copa De Rey, they’d probably have snapped your hand off.
Further fantasy and uncharted territory has been added to the mix. Not only are Atletico currently as good as Barcelona in La Liga, with both reaching this point in the league season unbeaten, Diego Simeone’s side have a midfielder who could play for Barcelona now and who could possibly replace Xavi in the Spanish national team in the near future.
It can be an eye-opener to realise that Koke is still only 21. He’s not a youngster, though, and he’s not a player with potential to fulfil – he’s done it already. He’s a veteran of two major cup finals over the past two seasons, as well as the UEFA Super Cup win over Chelsea at the start of last season. His name wasn’t brought up as often as Thiago Alcantara or Asier Illarramendi following this summer’s European U21 Championship, but he was just as good.
Spain have known about him, coming through the ranks at Atletico, evolving from a central midfielder to a wide player but with just as clinical a pass. And now, rightly, the rest of Europe are starting to pay attention – and it’s far from fleeting.
Koke is being lined up for a January swoop by Liverpool. You can bet, however, that Diego Simeone will not allow the Vicente Calderon to be besieged. There will be a party waiting to greet any unwanted visitors, with the man mountain German Burgos, Simeone’s assistant, leading the defensive charge if need be.
[ad_pod id=’tui’ align=’center’]
Diego Costa is taking plenty of plaudits so far this season. The forward has picked up where he left off last term, forcing many to forget Radamel Falcao and allowing Atletico to uncover the Colombian’s replacement in house. But Koke has been just as vital and just as good. It was the 21-year-old who put Costa through on goal for the winner in the Madrid derby earlier this season. It has been Koke, too, who has provided Costa with his most scoring opportunities thus far. At present, Koke stands alongside Cesc Fabregas as the leading assist-maker in La Liga. Koke is industrious, a work horse like Simeone was in his time, but capable of as much elegance as Fabregas.
It’s not just that Liverpool would be a step down for Koke; it’s that most teams in Europe would be a step down.
Spanish football has been burnt too many times with the notion and hope of a new dawn in La Liga: a third power to break up Real Madrid and Barcelona’s stranglehold at the top. But there’s something different about this Atletico, a club who have always had the status but who have been a mess for too long. Simeone has restored pride, organisation, to a degree, from top to bottom, and they’re winning. In comparison to Real Madrid and their unequalled wealth, Atletico have won three trophies under Simeone in the past two years to Real’s two. And here’s the thing: more will come. Unlike others who have fallen once European football had been introduced to the calendar, Atletico are winning, having already beaten Zenit at home and Porto away.
Atletico having good players isn’t anything new. Whether it’s been academy graduates or high-profile names brought in via the market, Atletico have always held hot commodities. But Simeone has turned this into a winning team. Gabi and Mario Suarez are the first-choice central midfield pairing, but Koke drifts in from the wing to provide even more stability defensively and an edge to Atletico’s game that allows for so many scoring opportunities in each game.
Koke, in the progressive mindset of the game, is the perfect midfielder. He’s not as diminutive as his compatriots, standing at 5’10, so he’s able to assert himself in a defence capacity. But he combines that rougher side of his game with the spectacular, such as the cross-field pass to David Villa in the Madrid derby, executed with the outside of his right boot. Had Villa taken the volley first time and scored, it would have been one of the best goals this season in all of Europe.
From a talent standpoint, Koke is a one off. But such is the factory in Spain, there are multiple candidates who could stand forward and legitimately stake a claim to being the replacement for Xavi in the national team. Atletico have one of their own, not a hazy dream well off in the distance, and they’ll battle to keep him.
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.
Why would Liverpool target Koke want to leave Atletico Madrid now?
The World Cup is a special event. Fans have the opportunity to watch the best players on the planet represent their nation, in an attempt to be crowned champions of the world. Expect trickery, flair, passion, and the odd upset. But one of the biggest anticipations in Brazil is goals. Lots of goals. The deadliest strikers, all in one place, looking to terrorise defenders. This could be fun to watch.
Whilst some of them, like England’s Wayne Rooney, will be looking for their first goal at a World Cup finals, others will be eyeing up their own personal award, the Golden Boot. Whist legends such as Gerd Müller and Brazil’s Ronaldo have won the award, the list of players to miss out is even more impressive. Zico, Karl-Heinz Ruminegge and Maradona all fell short of winning the star prize during their playing career. So who are the favourites to win the Golden Boot this year? Here are the bookies’ top 5.
Lionel Messi, 8/1
The Argentine is currently off the field recovering from a hamstring injury, but everyone is expecting him to return with a bang. The 4 times Ballon d’Or winner is expected to watch his rival Ronaldo win the end of year award, which could fuel Messi in the summer. The Barca star will be keen to show the world that he’s better than his Real rival, and what better way than to score stunning goals at the World Cup.
Messi has a relatively easy group on paper, facing Iran, Nigeria and Bosnia in Group F. But there will be two tough tests for the small forward. Firstly, he must outscore his teammate Sergio Aguero, who is in fine form for Manchester City. And secondly, it will be a test to see how he does without the service provided by Xavi and Iniesta. Whilst Barcelona’s Tika-Taka football suits Messi perfectly, how will he do with Banega and Biglia in the centre?
Neymar 14/1
Another Barca star, the Brazilian has the opportunity to repeat, or even improve on, his strong performances at the Confederations Cup. His 4 goals, and stunning tricks, earned him the Golden Ball award at the tournament, and Neymar will be eager to earn the award again at the World Cup, along with the Golden Boot. Starring at the Nou Camp, especially in Messi’s absence, Neymar is supposed to lead Brazil to tournament glory in the fans’ eyes.
The forward, who normally plays on the left, loves to confuse defenders, tying their legs together with stepovers and stunning tricks. As long as he remembers to shoot, and doesn’t focus on doing too much unnecessary footwork, then the Brazilian youngster has a great chance of being the tournament’s top scorer. Not bad odds either, averaging at 14/1 across most major bookmakers.
Cristiano Ronaldo 14/1
The Golden Boot is just one of many awards that Ronaldo could win in the next 12 months. With a possible Ballon d’Or coming his way this month, the Real Madrid superstar is also the joint top scorer in La Liga, with 17 goals from just 15 games. But he will have his work cut out in Brazil. Portugal have been drawn against Ghana, USA and Germany. Not the easiest of teams to play.
But with Ronaldo in the side, anything is possible. The former Manchester United star’s hat-trick against Sweden in the play-offs secured Portugal’s place at the World Cup, and the nation could be relying on his goals to get out of the group. The powerful forward can blitz past defenders comfortably, before unleashing a stunning, precise shot from long range. Could he win the Golden Boot?
Sergio Aguero 16/1
The striker has been deadly for Manchester City this season, scoring 13 goals in the Premier League and 6 in the Champions League. The scorer of City’s famous league winner back in 2012, Aguero has often been described as unstoppable. With pace and precise accuracy, the Argentine has delicately dribbled his way through tight gaps in the defence before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper.
In a strong team with Messi and Higuain, Aguero could be forced to share his goals tally with his star teammates. But often the finisher and not the creator, this summer could be the perfect end on what looks set to be an incredible season for the Argentine. Let’s just hope he can find his good form again when he comes back from his calf injury.
Luis Suarez 16/1
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.
England fans beware, as Luis Suarez is on fire this season, Despite missing the first 5 games of the season, the Uruguayan has 17 goals to his name from just 11 fixtures. With two hat-trick balls already, the Liverpool forward has pretty much dominated every defence he has come up against this campaign, scoring in a variety of ways. Be it headers on the edge of the box, or 45 yard volleys, Suarez can score in every fashion.
Teamed up alongside Edinson Cavani for Uruguay, the Red could be key in deciding who qualifies out of group D. England, Italy and Costa Rica will face the forward, who is currently one of the most feared strikers in Europe. A strong dribbler, he must be tracked every second by the defence, because just half a yard is all he needs right now.
[divider]
Click on the banner below to join the boys in Brazil!
The current campaign has been a rather taxing experience for Jack Wilshere. While the rest of the Arsenal cast have dazzled and delighted, holding top spot in the Premier League table for a good four months, the midfielder’s performances have ranged from impressive to absent, with the dynamic displays of old few and far between.
Back in the summer, if through knowledge of a crystal ball you were informed the Gunners would awaken from their dormant state and take up a pivotal role in the Premier League’s title race, you would have automatically assumed that Wilshere would be at the centre of it. Having found just three goals and four assists in 23 league appearances however, the much-heralded England international has been a sideshow attraction, leaving his Arsenal team-mates to revel in the limelight.
After picking up a variety of niggling knocks throughout the season, the regularly-crocked midfielder now faces six weeks on the sidelines after being upended on international duty by Denmark and Liverpool defender Daniel Agger. He faces a race for fitness ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Based on form and fitness throughout the season, the Gunners midfielder should not be going to Brazil. But through reputation alone, harking back to that award-winning 2010/11 campaign where Wilshere picked up the Premier League Young Player of the Year and Arsenal Player of the Year accolades, was anointed into the PFA Team of the Season and his world-class potential was obvious for all to see, the Emirates starlet’s name has already been written on Roy Hodgson’s team sheet in permanent marker.
Wait a second – doesn’t this story sound awfully familiar? An injury-striken Arsenal midfielder producing by no means his best form despite the obvious potential? In the mean time, his starting role for club and country almost virtually guaranteed? Barring the references to the England national team, for lack of a more applicable terminology, is Jack Wilshere doing a bit of an Aaron Ramsey?
The contrasting fortunes of the Welshman’s Emirates career are well known. Sourced from Cardiff City as a prominent teenager, the then-long-haired Ramsey arrived in North London as a high-in-confidence young buck, twisting. turning, creating and scoring in midfield and demonstrating the kind of promise that would make his £4.8million signing seem like absolute peanuts a few years down the line.
A leg break in 2010, courtesy of Stoke City shin-shatter enthusiast Ryan Shawcross, severely halted the 23 year-old’s development, not only due to the many months he was forced to spend out of the game in recovery, but furthermore the psychological fear of another serious injury that was left imprinted upon the youngster’s mindset.
Resultantly, Ramsey spent two years in the Arsenal first team verging upon boo-boy status at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger’s trust in the midfielder saw him miss just six Premier League fixtures in the space of two seasons, but the Wales international’s performances on the pitch failed to justify such a guaranteed role in the Gunners starting XI – much like Wilshere this season.
The breakthrough came this year – Ramsey claimed a sensational eight goals and six assists in 18 appearances in the first half of the season before being sidelined with a thigh injury in December, also averaging an astonishing 3.7 tackles per match. A far cry from his reputation just a matter of months earlier, where many suspected Ramsey’s lack of progress at the Emirates would result in an abrupt summer departure.
Back in September, Wenger told reporters regarding the Welshman’s almighty improvement; “He was resistant to go into the fights for a long, long time but now he’s over it. He had a difficult period last season where people became a little bit impatient with him. He lost confidence and sometimes, if you give the players a little rest, it can rebuild their confidence.”
Comparisons with Wilshere’s recent plight are obvious. Like his midfield team-mate, the England international burst onto the Emirates scene in a blaze of glory, heralded as a future star for club and country in his first season and his technical talents regarded as worthy enough of Barcelona’s legendary midfield. Inevitably unable to live up to that reputation since has been Wilshere’s biggest failing. The same can be said of the former Cardiff midfielder before this season.
But once again, likewise to the Welshman, the 22 year-old missed an entire campaign of his career through injury, and although he went on to make 25 Premier League appearances last term, the brief from Arsenal’s medical department was ‘to be used sparingly’ – starting runs in the first team were a noticeably rare occurrence. The following campaign – the current one – has been a period of frustrating stagnation for the Englishman, where performances have fallen some way short of lofty expectations.
With that in mind, could it be that Wilshere’s malaise in form this season can be sourced to the same psychological blockade that plagued Aaron Ramsey? Should we as fans have learnt from the Welshman’s episode not to overhype a talented youngster too soon, especially when injures are regularly involved?
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.
The Three Lions midfielder is often regarded as combative in nature, and although his repetitive injures may be a subliminal concern, by personal feelings are that Wilshere hasn’t been challenged enough throughout his career – his place in the Arsenal team, providing full fitness, has always been certain, and the same can be said for the midfielder’s regular participation in England starting XIs.
Either way, if in parody of Ramsey, this is Wilshere’s darkest hour before the dawn, Arsenal fans will feel little cause for concern. Wenger put his utmost faith in the Welshman and he’s become a far better player for it, after defeating his own personal demons. The Frenchman has made it abundantly clear that the Three Lions starlet will receive likewise backing.
But for England supporters, they’ll be hoping that this Ramsey-esque phase of Wilshere’s career doesn’t last too long. If they could pick between the Ramsey now and the Ramsey of the last two years to represent them at the coming World Cup, the result would be unanimous.
There’s a strong case to be made that Arsenal’s most important signing this summer will come in central midfield, not centre-forward.
The team suffered for a lack of goals and ingenuity during the second half of last season. Olivier Giroud was entrusted with the burden of being the leading goal-getter for the side, but the paucity of alternatives throughout the campaign had the Frenchman running on empty when it mattered.
This team need goals if they’re to win the Premier League. The key, however, is that they need more. They also need inspiration from an individual of the class of Mesut Ozil, whose arrival at the club last summer did much for the apparent transformation, lift in spirits and trophy success with the FA Cup.
This Arsenal side aren’t lacking players who can score. Last season, Theo Walcott only made 10 league starts yet he still managed five goals. The season prior, the England international had a career-best 21 goals in all competitions. Aaron Ramsey is a player reborn, finishing this past season on 13 goals in all competitions. How much more would it have been if not for that thigh injury suffered in December?
There are concerns about Lukas Podolski’s defensive work, as well as his ability to fit in effectively to this system employed by Arsene Wenger. But if progress is made on that front, the Polish-born German international is comfortably the best finisher at the club.
The problem has been injuries. The problem has been a lack of consistency at fielding the team’s best XI. Injury causes confusion, a disruption of form and an ultimate struggle to attain the goals set out at the start of the season. It’s not to say Arsenal don’t need more goal scorers – they do, and it’s very much about depth – but central midfield is of vital importance to the continued development of this group.
WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Latest transfer news
Arsenal were horrifically exposed in the away losses to Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea – 6-3, 5-1 and 6-0 losses. The issue wasn’t so much that the attack was poor – I still struggle to see how blame can be placed at the door of Ozil for those losses, as some have felt the need to single out the German as the prime culprit for such capitulations.
Arsenal were not only overrun in midfield through Wenger’s disinterest in flooding the centre of the pitch, but they also lacked a specialist to suitably and effectively stem the tide towards their own goal.
Mikel Arteta should be commended for his efforts for the club in what was initially thought to be an unfamiliar midfield role. Mathieu Flamini may wear his heart of his sleeve and will never throw in the towel, but the Frenchman lacks the smarts and composure of some of the leading defensive midfielders around Europe.
Morgan Schneiderlin may become a part of the exodus at Southampton this summer and Arsenal have been touted as a highly probable destination.
The French international doesn’t have the glamour of Javi Martinez, nor does he have the experience of Sami Khedira, but there are few better suited to playing the Arsenal way than Schneiderlin.
Arsenal don’t just need someone to step into the team and play a one-dimensional defensive role. Wenger is well known for wanting his players to carry out multiple duties on the pitch. The team need a player who can play effectively at both ends of the pitch; they need someone who won’t disrupt the methodical build-up play of the rest of the team.
Schneiderlin fits that description. What Arsenal need is a blend of both Arteta and Flamini, someone who can fit in seamlessly with the rest of the squad and play the possession-based game as done by Arteta, as well as add the toughness and aggression regularly associated with Flamini.
WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Latest transfer news
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 regularly been criticised for their soft underbelly. Maybe it can’t simply be addressed by acquiring a specialist in an area that should, in theory, prevent the opposition racking up high score lines. There’s a lot that needs to be done with the mentality in the Arsenal squad, including preparation.
But the natural step is to ensure the right pieces are in place. Schneiderlin’s advantage over others who have been linked with Arsenal this summer is his familiarity with the Premier League. There’ll be no need for periods of adaption, while there is also little doubt about his credentials, having been instrumental in Southampton’s impressive form over the past two seasons.
Arsenal’s midfield needs to get younger. Both Arteta and Flamini are in their thirties. At 24, this is the right time to bring Schneiderlin in. With Arteta currently 32, there is still time for the Spaniard to assist Wenger in helping the Southampton midfielder adjust to life in north London, specifically in carrying out that anchoring role.
With everyone fit, Arsenal won’t struggle for goals. But a fully fit squad does still lack the adequate tools to prevent on-pitch humiliation in the form of five or six-nil hammerings.