Citys Brats....

afternoon. please spread the word about this blog. readership pleases me greatly. like cake.


I return to you fresh from a week in Portugal's fine capital of Lisbon, though as I write this, sitting outside a cafe with my roaming wifi, one could be forgiven for thinking I was still there......anyways on to matters....




 Last nights ticking timebomb that was Carlos Tevez, last night destructed on the outskirts of Munich, destroying egos, and smashing ideas of a seemingly purring football club. Tevez's behaviour last was 6 months in the making.  Tevez had publically stated his desire to leave Manchester (which frankly I didnt see coming) to be with his family. What he didnt consider were the ramifications of his outburst. Tevez was on wages of up to 250,000k a week, which only a handful of clubs could get near to meeting; Real, Anzhi, PSG and Man City themselves. Problem.

The argentine's actions last night, are scandalous, for such a high profile player as Tevez. Its the equivalent of me refusing to go to work for WHATEVER reason but still demanding to be paid. It is alleged and I say this in the strongest sense of the word, that he had warmed up late in the first half last night at the Allianz Arena and was told to be prepared to come on if Dzeko didnt up his game. So the second half began and City looked more lifeless and Mancini dragged Edin off. But then Tevez when called said 'No thanks'  

Lets look a the facts; We dont know for certain he refused to play, BUT he refused to move from the bench. That much is certain. YES he has been dicked around by Man City but that was all his own doing; slating Manchester and the club. Tevez claimed earlier today that he did not refuse to play;

 "There was some confusion on the bench and I believe my position may have been misunderstood."  

he added:

 

 "This is not the right time to get into specific details as to why this did not happen. But I wish to state that I never refused to play.

I'm sorry. But what misunderstanding would that be? after 4 years in the English top flight, you should know what the universal sign for "get on the fu**ing" pitch" is. In this regard Mr. Tevez doesn't have a leg to stand on. My feelings are his agent Kia Jorabchian has been in his ear to try to calm the situation down...I have a certain amount of sympathy for Carlos. He is clearly a family man and he loves his children very much. He loves the fans and he does work exceptionally hard and is an equally talented player.

But this guy has bought into the devil (City) and a devils contract is a dangerous thing, near like selling your soul. So City own him. he has a lucrative contract; they can do as they see fit. This makes Arsenal's retention of Cesc Fabregas seem like child's play, as certain foolish individuals have mentioned to me. But the real issue I have with the defence is exactly that; If I was getting paid in excess of 200k a week I would forget about my unhappiness. I'd even force happiness upon me. BECAUSE I WAS BRINGING IN 500K. A MONTH.

I'd be clinically depressed....

thats a no go, coming from a guy who has suffered with borderline depression, at times.

the more interesting question now is after Manchester Citys' dire performance in Munich coupled with unhappy players; Joe Hart, Edin Dzeko to name but a few, how do City move forward from this? After a performance like this and resulting toys being thrown out of prams, if this was Arsenal it would be a crisis. If Man City do not address these problems they could have a mutiny on their hands in the vein of Shay Given gate. Lets face it; City don't need more insolent children on their books with Ballotelli a frequent offender and Kun Aguero having already show signs of dissent when removed from the field during a game. Not to mention a certain lesbian looking french winger who will remain nameless. If either Dzeko or Kun were to lose their form, City could have some real problems.


After Gary Cooks resignation (or rather his forced) as a result of alleged racist bullying towards Nedum Onuoha's 'cancer ravaged' mother, City were looking to avoid more bad PR....
 

Three Lions Optimism..

afternoon.


A week has passed since the international break and after another eventful week in the Premier League, there is much food for thought regarding the course of the English National team and its future.
6 points was a good outcome, if perhaps not merited (are u reading Robert Earnshaw). The squad in my opinion has real potential but only if certain players are included and used in the right combination.

Lets look at the way England lined up against Bulgaria:


                                                                   HART

SMALLING                      CAHILL                              TERRY                       COLE


    WALCOTT                  PARKER                     BARRY                DOWNING


                                                                                        YOUNG
                                                                ROONEY                                                                       

Now how they did versus the welsh::


                                                                       HART


SMALLING                      CAHILL                              TERRY                       COLE


    MILNER                   LAMPARD                   BARRY                DOWNING


                                                                                        YOUNG
                                                                  ROONEY

During his time at the Villa, Ashley Young had always seemed to be on the fringes of the starting 11. But now, with his move to Man Utd, he seems to have a new lease of life, in no small part to to his newly found understanding with club mate Rooney. The way these two feed off each other is seemless. These two pretty much pick each other for the Starting XI.

This poses interesting questions about Englands other attacking players and where they may fit in, or not. But lets look at the back line first - an area I am going to focus on...


At The Back:

John Terry would appear to be the only one left of the old guard that is an automatic selection - if fit. Rio Ferdinand has seen better days; He has lost about 40% of his pace and there are beginning to be serious questions asked of his ageing limbs, with him picking up groin strains and muscle injuries. So where else do we look?

As I have previously written, this should be Gary Cahill's breakthrough year; he's now 25 and is gradually becoming one of the Premier League's better defenders; He is solid, works tirelessly, is particularly mobile and at times deadly in front of goal - certainly for a defender. This was underlined by his goal on his debut against the Bulgarians. They way he took his chance; The way he stayed in a dangerous area but most importantly his composed finish in tight area. As his second cap against the Welsh showed, it looks like Cahill is here to stay.

I was very impressed with Chris Smalling, also on international debut. A centre back at heart, yes, but when utilised as a full-back, Smalling adds another level of defensive offensive, if you will. For a guy of 6 foot, he has a better eye for a cross than many other diminutive wingers wouldn't. Smalling's other attribute is that he is quite pacy and can break down any potential counter-attacks. Smalling still has much to garner, against the big european teams, but already his place is beginning to look assured as a better alternative to Glen Johnson, who lacks a defensive nouse, as any sane Liverpool fan will atestify.

As far as Ashley Cole goes, I have no real vision of a left back that could take his place, except that is, Leighton Baines. One may go as far as to say Baines' delivery into the box is equal to, if not better than Cole. Baines lacks strength in the defensive department though. But the biggest hindrance to his chances are his own personal problems of homesickness. If he can overcome this, then he has a real chance of breaking through. IF

Kieran Gibbs would be the other full back to push for Cole's place, but currently he is going through a tough time with injury and like Baines, has defensive issues. he needs to strengthen his physique for this to happen.
A few other names are starting to emerge from the shadows following big money moves in the summer...

First there is Phil Jones. This guy is a bull. He looks terrifying when on the ball (for the opponents). He can run at defences with ease when utilised as a holding midfielder  and even then as a centre back, he still enjoys jaunts forward as he portrayed in his 2 assists against Bolton at the weekend. Jones is powerful and his heading ability for someone so young is impressive. He is also built well. I can see him slotting into a main centre back role, but also as a holding player to add more steal to an England midfield, that the likes of Milner, Barry and  the outgoing Lampard may not. If not there he could adequately fill in at right back. It will
be interesting to see where he will do the majority of his playing time...

From a personal view, Id love to see Roger Johnson get a fair shot. During his time at Birmingham, his performances were often match winning ones, or indeed match saving ones. But he was never really considered. In March he was called up to the squad,
but injury denied him a debut cap which was a huge shame. I am a big fan of Johnson and am slightly surprised that a bigger club than Wolves didnt come in for him. He's 26, not young, but most certainly not past it. He adds a real steel to the back line, as well as guts and goals. The only problem is I'm not sure where he comes down the pecking order as it stands. I hope Capello and future bosses do the right thing.


Defensive Pool;   Terry, Cole, Cahill, Richards, Jones, Smalling, Lescott, Baines, Glen Johnson, Warnock, Gibbs, Ferdinand, Roger Johnson, Upson;


Through the Middle:


The midfield picture is less clear, as far as permanent fixtures are concerned. With Gerrard struggling with niggling injuries and Lampard being ushered out (about time) the new England midfield is in the process of being molded and melded together. Scott Parker appears to now be a definite starter. As is Theo Walcott, who we will go onto later and Gareth Barry. So what are the other options?...

Firstly, there is Wilshere, who when fit is a first teamer. His dynamicy is unmatched as far as English players go. He is best utilised right in the middle of the park, where he can create and run at teams. His absence for the Wales game was keenly felt. Someone who has a real shout at establishing himself is Tom Cleverley. In his time on loan at Wigan last season, he was often the stand out player. Now, since his return to Man Utd, he has forced his way into the starting XI, ousting Carrick and replacing the retiring Paul Scholes, thus partnering Anderson in the midfield.

Cleverley has had an impressive start to the season, which has had a direct impact on United's transfer dealings in that position, or lack thereof. For England though he could easily play on the right or left of midfield as a supplier, but also as tenacious tackler and distributor.



Matt Jarvis of Wolves could definitely do a job as a left winger, but that very much depends on the way other attacking players are utilised. Stewart Downing also, could also play on the right and has slightly more pace than Jarvis. Lately - after being the darling of Steve McClaren's England tenure - with many asking as to why he merited inclusion, his performances for Villa and more recently Liverpool have seen him earn his call up. Then there is Ashley Young, as mentioned. But it is his positioning or where he is played that will determine the forward options for England...


Midfield Pool:   Young, Wilshere, Barry, Parker, Lampard, Gerrard, Henderson, Jarvis, Downing, Milner, Cleverley;


Up Front:


England's striking options are plentiful. But the right combination and balance has to be reached. Currently, Rooney plays as the sole striker, with Ashley Young the provider just behind him. This formation leaves England's options limited in a 4 4 1 1 formation. Looking at the strikers individually there is much to ponder...

Danny Sturridge could quite easily be a starter. A lot of people have said that with 5 strikers, and more at Chelsea (Torres, Drogba, Anelka, Lukaku, Sturridge) he would find it increasingly difficult to make a place in the starting line up his own, if, as indeed he did, refuse a move away from Stamford Bridge to fight for his own place. But with Torres' currently goal drought and Didier Drogba's concussion, Sturridge is beginning to fight his way into the line up. His sublime, if not, outrageous finish against Sunderland, highlights that he does not lack confidence.

The other big loan striker breakthrough was another Danny, Welbeck. He would appear to be battling Javier Hernandez for a starting berth at Old Trafford, with Dimitar Berbatov increasingly falling out of favour.  
If utilised as a front two, Sturridge and Welbeck could work together very well, both very pacy and technically sound.

outside of these two, there is Zamora, who continues to impress at Fulham; Andy Carroll of Liverpool, but with his current problems on and off the pitch, there remains a big question mark over him; Jermaine Defoe needs to recapture his goalscoring prowess, but will continue to knock on the door and Kevin Davies exists as a real goal threat, for a sometimes lacking England threat,


Attacking Pool;   Rooney, Carroll, Welbeck, Sturridge, Zamora, Davies, Defoe;

So with all this said what could we be looking at come next summer in Ukraine and Poland.

well, potentially this.



                                                                HART




SMALLING                CAHILL                                TERRY                      COLE


                                                               JONES




                   CLEVERLEY                  WILSHERE                 PARKER 


                                                                                   YOUNG


                                                               ROONEY


or...




                                                                HART




   JONES                     CAHILL                                        TERRY                  COLE




   CLEVERLEY/MILNER                WILSHERE               PARKER/GERRARD   



  STURRIDGE/WALCOTT               ROONEY                 YOUNG/WELBECK


but really, there is much to be concluded...

The new blood....

and a very happy sunday to you all.



from the go id like to apologize for not posting for a few weeks. It been all go a chez Leverett, with festivals and what not. Basically I wrote 2 separate pieces but I've chosen to hold fire on them-for now....

onwards and upwards....

m

so it took total annihilation of his team for the manager to wake up and smell the coffee. With the absence of Wilshere, Song and Frimpong, Arsenals threadbare side were dismantled with ease, overrunning the midfield as only united can do best. Not exactly aiding the situation was the lamentable Johann Djourou who seems to be sliding back to his old ways.

Not 24 hours after this total humilaition, Arsene was right into the market....

Firstly lets cover Andre Santos' arrival, a move which I was most surprised with. But happily so. Arsene Wenger's belief in Kieran Gibbs, has not wavered, but his realisation, thankfully has. Gibbs is very injury prone at this stage of his career and this may never change. But even though Traore's impending move to QPR was on the cards i still didnt see Wenger recruiting another LB.

Enter Santos. 28. Brazilian international, most recently playing ahead of Real's Marcelo at the Copa America  this summer. Wenger's penchant for Brazilians is no secret, but this guy has real flair. Something Arsenal have sorely missed since the days of Sylvinho, and this guy has more than a touch of him about his play. All too often have had quick full backs that cant defend; this guy can and not only create and open play up, but can cross and deliver with aplomb. For £6.2m from Fenerbahce, it could prove to be a great piece of business...

Onto, in my opinion, the big signing (literally). Standing at 6'6' and exemplifying raw, German efficiency and power is Per Mertesacker. Arsene Wenger has been following the progress of the German at Werder Bremen for the past 2 years, and after deals for Cahill and Jagielka were deemed too expensive, Wenger has swooped for a proven, successful international, at half the price.

At just 26, and an international career spanning 7 years and 75 caps already, Mertesacker is a stalwart of the modern german game, paired with Arne Friedrich in central defence, his perfomances have progressed Germany to world cup semi-finals.

Further more Per claims to be a life long Arsenal fan, visiting his aunt in England to watch Premier League games. So he will not lack heart and fight. Something Arsenal need in abundance at this tricky time.

Curious one this. Park Chu Young or 'Ju' as he prefers to me known was a classic out-of-the-blue Wenger signing. As I have previously blogged, Park had been an unofficial Lille player for going on a month, but the i's and t's hadn't been dotted. He had completed one part of his medical with the French champions, but then suddenly a call came from the Arsenal manager, and Park jumped at the chance. Well who wouldn't?

.......

Anyway. He was soon on a train to Colney to complete said medical and become an Arsenal player. Some reports claim his deal is up to £10m so as to pay off his national service for South Korea, which he is expected to participate, in 2013. Park will be an interesting acquisition, hopefully giving Arshavin a real wake call and replacing the oft ineffectual Niklas Bendtner, who has seemingly ruled out a return. I really hope he gets a good run in the first team, because I really think he could become a cult hero, in the vein of Eboue.

though hopefully he can actually play football......

Another deadline day arrival was Yossi Benayoun on loan from Chelsea. He never really got a chance to shine for the blues, after having a great run of form for Liverpool. For me if Benayoun is on his game is very unique player. He is hard to read, and hard to deal with when he gets on run. Hopefully with a seeming dearth of real ruthlessness in the current team, Yossi can add an element of surprise to Arsenal's far too predictable game...

Quickly mentioned Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain, who was signed for £12m potentially rising to 15. That is an awful lot of money for a kid essentially. We shall have to see how he progresses.

Finally, I want to touch on the Arrival of Mikel Arteta. I am still of two minds; on the one hand Arteta, since his emergence as one of the finest midfielders in England during his time at Everton, and arguably only just behind Cesc Fabregas in terms of assists, goals and all round team performance. on the other, a guy who lets face it, has had in share of injuries, particularly thigh and hamstring troubles and many have said could be past his best.

There is no doubt that Mikel will play for the shirt; He doesnt do sulking or non performances and is a thorough professional. I have often thought that is ever Cesc departed, he would be as close to a Fabregas clone as humanly possibly; Same stature, build, appearance, postition. He even resembles him to a degree.

I would love for him to be a brilliant signing. I never thought I'd see Arteta in an Arsenal shirt. And with Wilshere (when he comes back), I see Arteta as the perfect mentor for Englands brightest midfield star.

Only time will tell.....

I will be doing a final extensive transfer round up in my next post. And boy is there much to cover....