Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has reacted in disbelief to Patrice Evra being left out of Laurent Blanc’s France squad.
Evra was expected to resume international duty on Wednesday, when France take on Brazil in a friendly at the Stade de France in Paris, after serving a five-match ban for his role in Les Bleus’ World Cup player revolt.
But the left-back was a surprise omission, with France coach Laurent Blanc explaining away the shock snub as ‘tactics’.
Ferguson was dismayed by the treatment meted out to his player, saying it was unfair to Evra to continue punishing him beyond his five-match suspension.
“It is surprising he has been left out because he has been punished. I don’t see why he should be punished further,” Ferguson said.
“If they are saying he is not good enough to play for France then you cannot argue with that. But I know he is the best left-back France have got and one of the best in the world.”
“There is no question in my mind about that. He is a fantastic footballer. He will be disappointed but he just has to accept it.”
Ferguson once coached Blanc when the latter finished off his playing career at Old Trafford, and said the France coach should know better than most the high standard required of footballers at Manchester United.
“Patrice Evra is a very important player for Manchester United and he will continue that way,” he said.
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“Laurent Blanc was a player here and he knows the expectation at this club. He knows that any player coming from Manchester United is playing at the highest level and he knows that about Patrice.”
“He has served his punishment. He had five games and I thought they would have moved on.”
Watching pre-season games is fast becoming the bane of my life given the not so sociable kick-off times, yet one thing that has given me immense pride thus far is seeing players from the Castilla – the youth academy come through and play well amongst stars like Ronaldo, and not look out of place. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have two of the finest academies in football, producing breakout star after star, yet how many youth team players have you seen your club utilise in the Premier League?
The answer is very few, with some youth set ups being quite frankly one up from pointless. Top clubs seem to be more focused on poaching what they feel is the next big thing from lower league or foreign clubs, only to have them play in the reserves before being sold to someone else lower down the food chain – Chelsea and Kakuta spring to mind here.
Yet take a look at a few of the lower league clubs, and Crewe in particular. Run by highly respected former manager Dario Gradi, the set-up has been highly successful in producing quality youth players who have been sold and allowed the club to keep going with the aid of this money, not to mention having highly successful careers themselves.
In the past we have seen Dean Ashton, Danny Murphy and Nicky Maynard to name but a few who have been sold and in the case of the older two gone on to represent England at International level. The latest of these starlets is Nick Powell, who has been sold to Manchester United after catching the eye of Fergie and having a superb season, winning all five of the end of year awards on offer at Crewe.
Likewise Reading have recently become ones to watch in relation to their youth set up, with Nas Bashir – now running his own academy – due a huge deal of credit here. Sigurdsson will be the most notable name from this set up to have gone on to a big move, yet plenty more are expected to flourish, all due to the nurturing they received when at the academy.
Why is this so rarely the case for the big boys? It begs the question if what is really needed is a man with a vision and the ability to get the very best out of the set-up, like Gradi and Bashir clearly have – is it their approach that is missing in the premier league or is it simply the fact that clubs are not prepared to develop players and allow them the time in the first team to come good in the world of top flight football which has now become so cut throat?
Bashir believes that not all kids will develop at the same rate, and Gradi puts in an eye watering amount of work with the young players to nurture them, focusing on the individual and teaching them to utilise both feet giving them experience they would be pressed to get at most other clubs – playing near enough 100 games by 23 is no easy task, yet Westwood and Murphy achieved this.
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Of course, clubs such as Crewe have to develop players and sell them on, ones like United do not, and with the FPP now making it easier than ever to poach players outside of the former catchment area, it doesn’t look like the big boys will have the incentive to develop a set up like Gradi’s anytime soon.
Scott Parker may have moved on to Tottenham, but West Ham has moved quickly to bring in two players, who should bring real quality to the Championship. David Bentley and Henri Lansbury have both joined the club in season-long loans.
Lansbury spent much of last season on loan at Norwich City, helping the club win promotion to the Premier League. There were rumours that Lansbury might be set for a permanent switch to Norfolk, but it is unclear if Arsenal would be prepared to sell the player at this stage.
In a way it is interesting that Lansbury has been allowed to leave Arsenal at all, considering Arsene Wenger had said that the player would get a chance in the first-team this season. Lansbury has also made appearances for Arsenal from the bench already in the Premier League this season. But it seems that it has been decided that Lansbury’s further education is best served by playing more regularly in the Championship.
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West Ham will be getting a player who is technically very good with great vision and passing ability to create chances for his new team-mates. Lansbury also likes to get forward and has a tendency to score goals himself. He also has a fantastic engine and work-rate, which is sure to make him a fans’ favourite this season.
David Bentley’s career has been going down the toilet at Tottenham, so he needed to get out and play some football. If the player can recapture the form that he showed at Blackburn after leaving Arsenal then West Ham should create plenty of chances.
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Clearly losing the services of Scott Parker is disappointing. However, the England midfielder was never going to put up with playing Championship football. West Ham fans should look to the future and remember that the club could well be back in the Premier League next season and there is no reason why Lansbury and Bentley can’t become permanent additions to the squad.
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Overall even though Parker has now gone the West Ham squad looks in good shape and the club is clearly in a good position to gain automatic promotion this season. It’s also good to see a number of English players in the squad and that should put the Hammers in good stead, when the club is back in the Premier League. With the move to the Olympic Stadium and an experienced manager at the helm things are going to get a lot better.
The rumours currently circulating regarding Charlie Adam’s potential move to Liverpool have drawn a wide array of attention. In particular Ian Holloway has suggested that Liverpool’s offer is ‘ridiculous’, ‘derisory’, ‘farcical’, the list goes on, pick your quote.
What I want to discuss here concerns not the transfer fee but the transfer itself. Are Liverpool mad?
Liverpool’s second choice striker is David N’Gog. With 9 goals in 55 Premier League appearances in his Liverpool career he is hardly flattering to deceive. Granted, he has not played many full games but that does not detract from the fact that he is distinctly average. Again I grant that he is only 21 and has potential but again that does not detract from the fact that he is not ready. Not ready for Liverpool’s first team, not ready for the Premiership, and not ready for a team that wants to contend to finish in the top 6, let alone the top 4.
In fact, to my knowledge, David N’Gog is the 52nd best striker in the Premiership.
I do not see the point in spending £30 million on a few decent players that will strengthen a weak squad when one player costing £30 milllion could dramatically improve the state of Liverpool’s predicament. The lack of depth in their midfield pales into insignificance when you analyse just how thin their strike force is.
Further still, a world class striker would allow Gerrard to play the role he is best in. Stevie has made the ‘box-to-box’ midfield role his own in the last ten years. He has only recently been deployed just off the striker. To be fair, he had an excellent season in 2008/9 playing this role but his skills as a midfielder cannot be forgotten. An extra striker would allow him to use these.
If Gerrard played under the best manager in the Premier League (Sir Alex Ferguson), he would play the role that Darren Fletcher currently plays. Ten times out of ten I would choose Gerrard ahead of Fletcher. It would mean playing 4-4-2 and not 4-3-3 and changing from the formation that saw them finish second. Surely Man United must be doing something right?
Instead of looking for another Alonso (a label banded around with Adam) they should look for a genuine partner for Fernando Torres. They should evolve, just as Man Utd have done over the years and adapt to suit what they currently need. Not try and recreate an excellent side of yester year (that did not actually win anything!)
Spending big cash may be a tough financial decision, but if they do not do it now they will lose more money in the long run. Key players like Carragher and Gerrard are getting on now and only have a few years left in them (Carra maybe even less). Crucially though is the question of how long will Fernando Torres continue to be content not playing Champions League football. If they lose their big guns, it is only a matter of time before even more serious financial investment will be needed to compensate for the money they have lost in missing out on European football.
Liverpool need to bite the bullet and splash out on a striker of genuine quality. They do exist (Llorente, Suarez, Aguero, Pazzini are a few off the top of my head). It would send such an exciting message to everyone involved at the club. A club that’s famously supreme morale is in a deep, deep trough.
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And for those who are interested in the 51 Premier League strikers in the league I rate higher than N’Gog, here you are…
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Andre Villas-Boas’ ill-fated spell at Chelsea damaged both the ego and reputation of a young manager whose stock had previously been at an all time high. The 2010/11 season had seen the then Porto manager sweep all before him as his team triumphed in the Europa League and the Portuguese league as well as the Portuguese equivalent of both the Charity Shield and the FA Cup. It was a season that raised the profile of not just the manager but also a number of players within the squad, some of who also earned moves abroad.
33 at the time, Villas-Boas was appointed by Roman Abramovich in an attempt to bring Porto’s slick, attacking football to a Chelsea team burdened by the stereotype of a more rugged, physical approach.
In hindsight, his task at Chelsea was always a difficult one. There were too many strong personalities in the Chelsea dressing room, many of them not a dissimilar age to Villas-Boas himself. The challenge of moving from the Portuguese to English league was a tall order in itself, to take that in his stride whilst revamping a squad full of such established players seemed near enough impossible.
Those lessons, however, will not have gone unlearned. Appointed as Tottenham’s new manager in the wake of Harry Redknapp’s unfortunate demise, there are those who cite his turbulent months as Chelsea as an indication that he is not suited to this league.
How anybody can make that assumption after witnessing Villas-Boas receive less than a year to prove himself is a bit of a mystery. If players and managers were only judged on their first six months then Thierry Henry would have been a complete flop.
The difference in both the attitude and style of Tottenham and Chelsea cannot be underestimated. Tottenham’s squad is young and hungry for success, like their new manager. Harry Redknapp’s brand of football might not mimic that of Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona but these Spurs’ players are used to playing attacking football and a high defensive line, like their new manager.
Tired with short-term fixes and an often-outdated management of the club, Daniel Levy has found, in Villas-Boas, a manager to match his own progressive nature. As Jose Mourinho’s chief scout of opposition at Chelsea, Villas-Boas refined his meticulous approach to games. His moves are calculated, his teams have an ethos and you wouldn’t ever catch him telling one of his players to ‘just f*****g run around a bit’.
Redknapp was undoubtedly a talented man-manager, but football is more than that. When Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth he said it was the best moment of his career, at 33 years old his Portuguese replacement has already won more trophies. And he did it in one season.
Villas-Boas might not be the most popular choice but he can take Tottenham to a level that Redknapp was unable to. It is the perfect club for Villas-Boas; as long as he can keep hold of his best players for one more season he can begin to mould them in to a team in his image.
He has learned his lessons from Chelsea, there were signs of that even after a few months when he stopped playing with such a high defensive line.
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Moreover, whilst Tottenham already have many of the players that he needs for success the pressure to get results immediately will not be anywhere near as high as it was at Chelsea. The difference between Levy telling you he will support you and Abramovich telling you the same thing could be the difference between success and failure.
Daniel Levy and Tottenham know this. There will have been a host of suitors for the job at Spurs. A richly backed club, based in London with a loyal fan base and a brilliant squad is the perfect recipe for a successful club. All Tottenham needed was the perfect manager. In Andre Villas-Boas they have found that.
Last season was one of the most competitive Premier League seasons despite a rather predictable eventual outcome. After a summer of as yet, unfulfilling transfer sagas, it’s time for the world’s best league in terms of talent, to recommence.
Arsenal – 5th
Before the summer, Arsenal fans sang ‘spend some money’ to Arsene Wenger, albeit in a more coarse manner. So far, there has been no proper defensive reinforcement. The team still lacks experience and an English core to the side. For a side challenging for the title, they need to grind out more wins. This might be the season where the Gunners slip out of the top four, especially if Fabregas and Nasri leave the Emirates.
Aston Villa – 11th
The departure of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing threaten to cripple Villa. The question is can N’Zogbia and Albrighton step up to the plate? Add into the mix the arrival of Alex McCleish, who has a job on his hands to keep expectant Villa fans happy. The defence should be strong under the former Birmingham manager, especially with the arrival of Shay Given, keeping them well out of any trouble.
Blackburn Rovers – 18th
Things don’t quite add up at Ewood Park. Much is said about Venky’s big ambition for the club but the amount spent on new arrivals so far suggests otherwise. Having narrowly avoided relegation last year under Steve Kean, it’s hard to see Rovers improving drastically. They may live to regret sacking Sam Allarydce. Chris Samba needs to stay for survival to be achieved.
Bolton Wanderers – 13th
With Lee and Tyrone Mears both picking up serious injuries in pre-season, Owen Coyle already has a tough task. Add to that the loss of Daniel Sturridge returning to Chelsea and Johan Elmander moving to Turkey, Coyle looks short of options up front. 2011 hasn’t been a great year for Wanderers and although they won’t go down, don’t expect the Trotters to perform miracles this season.
Chelsea – 2nd
Arrigo Sacchi, the former AC Milan manager, once said, “a jockey doesn’t have to have been born a horse.” This certainly applies to André Villas Boas, a manager who never played professionally but hasn’t let this stop him from coaching. He’s tactically astute and needs to find a way to get the best out of Torres soon. Chelsea could do with more strength in depth though.
Everton – 9th
With little transfer activity at Goodison Park, Everton fans shouldn’t be expecting too much next season. Their injury curse appears to have struck again with Seamus Coleman ruled out for a few months. To move Everton to the next level, Moyes needs some money – something in very short supply on the blue half of Merseyside. Another mid table finish beckons.
Fulham – 10th
Another year brings another new manager at Fulham. Martin Jol could do with another striker to give the Whites a bit more firepower up front. In terms of the club’s league finish, it might be beneficial if Fulham bowed out early on from the Europa League. However, the competition is important to the fans after the club’s success in the competition two years ago.
Liverpool – 4th
A few managers (Roberto Mancini and Jupp Heynckes) have recently said, “Strikers win you matches but defenders win you championships.” Apply this to Liverpool. Going forward, they look solid. At the back, even with José Enrique, they’re not exactly impenetrable. This might prevent them from making a title challenge but this year could well be the season when Liverpool return to the Top Four.
Manchester City – 3rd
Although more money has been spent, the Community Shield showed City’s deficiencies and that work is still needed. As a manager, Roberto Mancini must try and take the initiative more. Currently, he is too reactive instead of being proactive. It might help squad morale if Balotelli went to pastures new. Although they will probably miss out on the title, they should still retain their place in the Top Four next season.
Manchester United – 1st
Sir Alex Ferguson has strengthened well, slotting square pegs into the square holes that were in his side. He thought ahead (unlike Arsene Wenger), ensuring he got his targets early on. Wesley Sneijder would complete the jigsaw for United. If Ferguson wants to succeed in Europe for a third time, he needs to work out how to limit Real and Barca. That might be a bridge too far, the Premier League title might not be though
Newcastle United – 15th
Alan Pardew has started to craft his own side this summer which has included a spate of French imports. Yohan Cabaye from French Champions, Lille, looks the most impressive acquisition. Behind the scenes though, trouble seems to be brewing on the Tyne. The Joey Barton saga needs to be sorted quickly or it could affect the atmosphere amongst the squad. Things must be right in house or success on the pitch is nigh on impossible.
Norwich City – 17th
On paper, Norwich City shouldn’t be able to cut it in the Premier League. However, in practice, they have a very good manager in Paul Lambert who can coerce the very best out of his players. The Canaries must develop a different style to that of your archetypal promoted side or they will return from whence they came. Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt are the men who hold the keys to survival.
QPR – 19th
The ‘R’s season revolves solely around one man – Adel Taarabt. If he fires, then QPR will probably survive. Sounds easier than it will be as he needs to be kept under control and injury free. Loftus Road needs to be a fortress. Some rather unfair murmurs about Neil Warnock’s job over the summer won’t have helped the Hoops cause.
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Stoke City – 12th
Decent at the back and good going forward, Stoke City need more strength in depth, especially to cope with the strains of the Europa League. Beyond a good first team, there isn’t much there. Don’t be fooled. They are experienced, physically strong and you’d be mistaken if you think they’re only threatening from set pieces. Another striker would help pull them in and around the top half.
Sunderland – 7th
The Black Cats have the biggest resources outside the Premier League’s top six and this is illustrated by the 10 signings made over the summer. The feeling on Wearside appears to be that after a few years forming his side, its’ time for Steve Bruce to deliver something back. A top 10 finish will be the minimum requirement and they’re a good shout for a Europa League spot as well.
Swansea City – 20th
As aesthetically pleasing as the Swans maybe, the defence may prove their eventual downfall. A good relationship is required between a back four and the goalkeeper, and Dorus De Vries’ departure could well have a negative effect. They’re not as one dimensional as some of their rivals but they may just simply not be strong enough for Premier League football.
Spurs – 6th
As far as their ambitions of getting back into the top four, they could certainly do without the Europa League. Van Der Vaart needs to stay fit for longer this season and a striker is required if Spurs are to push on. To break into the top four, they need to find a balance between attack and defence, something they weren’t able to do last season, as well as putting away the weaker teams home and away.
West Brom – 8th
Under Roy Hodgson, the Baggies will be a very well disciplined side this season and will comfortably retain their Premier League status. In the past, sides under Hodgson tended to struggle on the road, something he will need to rectify, perhaps with a slightly more attacking brand of football. The Hawthorns won’t be an easy place to visit this season.
Wigan Athletic – 16th
The sheer presence of the Latics in the Premier League shows what can happen if your club is well run. Survival is always good enough for Chairman Dave Whelan and he will be hoping for more of the same. Roberto Martinez showed loyalty by declining Aston Villa’s advances over the summers. He will need to find a way to cope with the departure of Charles N’Zogbia. A relegation scrap will ensue but Martinez has proven his managerial qualities in the past, so they should relish it.
Wolves – 14th
Bringing in Roger Johnson from Birmingham is a terrific coup for Mick McCarthy. Making him Club Captain suggests a new outlook in the West Midlands. Up front they are hard working with the likes of Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher and Johnson will help to shore up what was a leaky defence last year. Jamie O’Hara is a good signing in the middle of the park and this should ensure safety from relegation.
So my final table is as follows.
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Man City
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Spurs
7. Sunderland
8. West Brom
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9. Everton
10. Fulham
11. Aston Villa
12. Stoke City
13. Bolton Wanderers
14. Wolves
15. Newcastle
16. Wigan
17. Norwich City
18. Blackburn Rovers
19. QPR
20. Swansea City
With a few weeks until the transfer window shuts, there’s still the possibility that signings will be made which change the course of the season. A few clubs in particular still have business to do. It will be interesting to see how the three promoted sides fair with little Premier League experience amongst the three of them. If this season comes close to matching last year in terms of entertainment, fans have an intriguing year of football ahead.
Article courtesy of Archie Rhind-Tutt from his excellent site – Gone With The Rhind
Kick-Off the Premier League season with Football FanCast’s NEW ScoreCast from 2.45pm
Just over two years ago, Tottenham were bottom of the Premier League and facing up to the very real possibility of relegation from the top flight for the first time since the league was created in 1992. Fulham, on the other hand, were eyeing a European place, having made a concerted push up the division under Roy Hodgson.
As 2011 begins, Tottenham find themselves in the midst of a credible title challenge, with one of the most talented squads in the division. Across London, Fulham are nervously edging towards the trap door, with current manager. Mark Hughes, rueing a lack of resources.
Whilst the Cottagers showed some encouraging signs in beating Stoke at the Britannia on Tuesday, pressure from relegation threatened clubs around them refuses to decrease. Hughes will be stressing to his men that for all of Spurs’ threat, they are liable to concede, although the clean sheet they kept against Newcastle this week suggests that Harry Redknapp has hammered home the importance of a watertight defence if the white half of North London are to seriously push for the top domestic honours.
Prediction: 2-1
Click to see the match odds at Paddy Power below
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England goalkeeper Joe Hart has admitted that he aspires to be as good as Gordon Banks one day, and that he will look to be a steady hand for the Three Lions this summer.
Roy Hodgson’s men are in preparation for their Euro 2012 opener against France on Monday, and the Manchester City stopper will be between the sticks for the English side.
Hart has spoken of his heroes growing up, and admitted that Banks, and particularly the save from Pele’s header in the 1970 World Cup, are a source of inspiration.
“When I was growing up it was David Seaman, national keeper and a wonderful player for Arsenal. I always pester Patrick Vieira about him. Also Peter Schmeichel, who took the game by storm and won everything,” he told reporters, published by The Telegraph.
“Banks is spoken of so highly around the world. We all know about the save. I’ve got a long way to go to get anywhere near him. I’m on my journey as a goalkeeper.
“I’ve got 18 caps and I want to improve on that at every opportunity. I’m just looking forward to being that rock that England need. It’s not a case of ‘I’m great, I’m untouchable’. It’s just that I know what I can do, I know what I am required to do and I enjoy doing it. I love improving.
“There have been stages when things haven’t gone great for me like when I was left on the bench when Shay Given came in at City, but there’s no point getting lost in it and doubting yourself,” he concluded.
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Former France international Patrick Vieira has announced his retirement to take up a development role with Manchester City.The 35-year-old, who was listed for a free transfer after City opted against renewing his contract last month, has been named the club’s new football development executive.
“This role is a fantastic new challenge for me and I am very grateful to Manchester City for offering me this opportunity,” Vieira said.
“I have a lot to learn about the non-playing areas of the business but there are many very experienced people here for me to learn from and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the club’s ongoing success.”
“I am particularly pleased to be given the opportunity to work with the club’s community scheme.”
“Everyone at Manchester City – the fans, the staff and the players – have made me and my family feel very welcome here over the past two years.”
“I am very happy to have been given the chance to stay and develop my career away from the pitch.”
Viera retires after more than 400 appearances at club level for the likes of Cannes, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan and Manchester City, winning three English Premier League titles and four FA Cups with the Gunners.
He was capped 107 times for France and was part of Les Bleus’ 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 winning campaigns.
“Whilst it is sad to see Patrick’s playing career come to an end, we are delighted that he has chosen to extend his time with Manchester City in this new capacity,” said City’s chief operations officer Brian Marwood.
“Wherever he goes he commands the respect of his audience and we believe he will make an invaluable contribution to our club as we build on our recent successes.”
Luis Suarez has garnered quite the reputation in the last couple of years and he is now on of Europe’s top striking talents. His days at Ajax are numbered and he looks certain to depart from Holland this season with a move to the Premier League in the offing. His two main suitors are Liverpool and Spurs, both with very different projects on the go at the minute and both in very real need of a player of Suarez’s capabilities, but whose need is greater?
Spurs are enjoying a fantastic season. As I contested in an earlier article of mine this week, they are not too far off truly challenging for the title. Their main obstacle to cementing their place in the elite and proving that last season’s 4th spot wasn’t a one-off but the start of a period of dominance for the North London side, is their comparatively weak strike force compared to the rest of the top four sides.
Luis Suarez could provide the perfect partner for Jermain Defoe in attack and spearhead a concerted effort for the title. The league is wide open this year and with the only inevitable thing in such an unpredictable season being that the top sides around them will drop crucial points again at some stage of the rest of the campaign, Spurs would do well to bolster their front line with a genuinely world class acquisition while they have the chance, otherwise this season could go down as a missed opportunity.
Their strength in depth is excellent all over the pitch apart from up top. Suarez could be the missing ingredient Spurs are looking for. Their midfield is up there with the best in the league and they have creativity in abundance, but they do sometimes lack a cutting edge in front of goal against the best that Suarez could help eradicate. Jermain Defoe has been out for long periods so far this term through injury and suspension, and in his absence Peter Crouch has yet to fully stake his claim with just a solitary effort to his name despite 14 league starts. Pavlyuchenko, again while a decent option, is not committed enough to lead the line for a title challenger and his contribution can sometimes be lacking. In short, Spurs could do with Suarez an awful lot. His work-rate, finishing and pace could be a real asset.
However, I feel Liverpool’s need at the minute is greater than Spurs. Whether that means Suarez will rock up at Anfield any time soon though, I’m not so sure and surely if an offer was put to him as to who he’d rather join out of the aforementioned duo, he’d most definitely plump for the sights and sounds of London over Liverpool.
Liverpool are clearly a club on the wane. The cupboard is bare so to speak. They lack quality in so many key positions and have on over-reliance on so few players, that sometimes the burden can be overbearing on their key players. If Torres, Gerrard and Reina don’t perform for them, they rarely succeed in their endeavours.
Interim manager Kenny Dalglish looks like he’ll be given funds to spend this transfer window, but the confusing state of affairs at Anfield as to the identity of the club’s next full-time manager may put off several potential targets from joining the club, as will their dire league position.
This Liverpool side should be doing better, that much is clear. They are no world beaters and they lack the invention and concentration to put in a quality shift for the full 90 minutes at the minute, but there were signs in the first half against Everton in the Merseyside derby last weekend that there is still enough there to work with, and Dalglish, the talismanic club legend, will be hoping his presence can be used as a catalyst to push them higher up the league.
One of the main problems Dalglish has inherited though, a problem that existed under Hodgson and that he did little to remedy, and one that Hodgson himself was passed on to by Benitez, is that Fernando Torres has no discernable competition up front or a strike partner to share the load with.
David N’Gog has a decent strike rate despite his clear limitations and while he can frustrate at times, he’s not too bad a prospect considering he’s only 21 years old and arrived at the club for just £1.5m in 2008. He’d be handy to have around as the club’s third-choice striker. But let’s just say Torres isn’t having any sleepless nights that N’Gog will be keeping him out of the side any time soon. The lack of pressure on Torres has been a downfall of Liverpool‘s management in recent times.
A move for Suarez, which rather unbelievably is looking increasingly likely by the day should the rumours be believed, should reinvigorate Torres while also making a statement of intent that ambition around Anfield is not quite yet consigned to the past. Mediocrity is not something that the Anfield crowd are used to seeing, but that was all they got during the insipid Hodgson era as a state of inertia set in after consistently turgid displays on the pitch.
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Dalglish looks to have removed that to an extent already and with the club just the four points above the drop zone, the club’s target of a top six finish looks as far away as ever. But, this is a tightly contested league and Liverpool are just 8 points off sixth-placed Sunderland and with a game in hand. Things can change quickly in the league this season, that much is clear, and with a decent run of results Liverpool could be right back in the thick of it.
Suarez may be faced with a choice; join an emerging, youthful and vibrantly attacking outfit on the up, or try to revive a falling giant. Money talks, and he may not get a straight choice between the two, for the choice would surely be a simple one, but Spurs have other options already within their squad that Liverpool simply don’t possess. If he were to sign, Suarez would unquestionably be Liverpool’s best signing since Torres in 2007 and their need looks greater at the minute, purely because they are performing way below expectations and Spurs are just about performing as they should be.
What does everyone else think? Whose need is greater? Would Torres and Suarez link up well? Will Redknapp have the money to move for Suarez this transfer window?
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