After firing long-serving manager Mick McCarthy earlier this month, Wolves chairman Steve Morgan has struggled to settle upon a definitive replacement for the straight-talking Yorkshireman. Zarif Rasul wonders whether Wolves could have benefitted from a more defined approach.
And so another pair of targets have been locked in the crosshairs. Morgan, spurned by his first choice Alan Curbishley, and beaten by Leeds in the pursuit of Neil Warnock, has decided to complete his varied managerial shortlist by reportedly making moves to lure the Championship club-managing pair of Gus Poyet and Brian McDermott to Molineux, all while a fidgety Steve Bruce watches on with bated breath.
The decision to relieve McCarthy of his duties last week was not surprising, nor unjust; a tally of five league wins from 25 outings this season, coupled with increasingly vocal disapproval from the Molineux faithful meant McCarthy could have no complaints about being handed his P45.
However the timing of the decision – less than three months before the end of the season and after the close of the January transfer window – and Wolves’ scattergun approach to sourcing McCarthy’s successor do not emanate assuredness, nor are they emblematic of a holistic, long-term strategy.
The five aforementioned candidates comprise a wildly multifarious shortlist, with each man equipped with his own distinct skill-set, managerial style and level of experience. The club’s recruitment policy, quite plainly, smacks of desperation and a clear lack of focus. From looking at the five candidates it is practically impossible to see what type of manager Morgan desires and whether or not the club is considering its long-term future.
Wolves currently sit in 18th place – albeit level on points with 17th-placed Blackburn Rovers – with 13 games left to safeguard top flight survival. Whoever fills the vacant hotseat will be unable to bring in any of his own players, and will effectively have to rely on his man-management skills and tactical nous to steer Wolves away from relegation.
While Morgan and the Wolves hierarchy may be unsure of the type of manager they desire, it’s clear that they feel any form of new approach will help to drive away the stench of stagnation and decline at the club, with whomever replaces McCarthy expected to bring with him a sense of impetus and drive.
The benefits of the so-called “bounce” effect of a new managerial appointment are well-documented, and seemingly supported by empirical evidence.
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]
Neil Warnock’s dismissal at QPR last month was preceded by a dismal run which saw his former charges gather two points in eight games; Mark Hughes has already gained four points from five games since arriving at Loftus Road.
The swinging of the managerial axe was even more justifiable at Sunderland. Steve Bruce had overseen a run of five wins from 27 Premier League games prior to his exit, with successor Martin O’Neill steering the side to seven wins in his first 12 Premier League games and hauling the side into the top half of the table.
There are of course a number of factors which may explain the occurrence and prevalence of the bounce effect. The arrival of a new manager signifies a clean slate for all players at the club, with the opportunity for previously frozen out members of the squad to impress, while established first-teamers will be provided with a further incentive to up their game in order to retain their first-team berths.
And in the case of relegation-threatened clubs, the ever-nearing prospect of impending Championship football should act as increasingly relevant motivation tool. If the thought of trading fixtures at Old Trafford and Anfield for matches at Ashton Gate and The Den doesn’t encourage Wolves players, then surely nothing will.
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.
Since promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2009, Wolves have admirably fought off relegation two seasons in a row. While their continued presence among the country’s elite may have heightened expectations among a small minority of Wolves fans, it is clear that survival is still imperative and the primary concern for the club.
But irrespective of whether or not they succeed in securing Premier League survival, the club cannot afford to proceed with a haphazard managerial selection process at the expense of sacrificing the creation of a long-term vision. Wolves could stand to suffer in the long run if they opt for a short-term fire-fighter instead of someone ready to imbue his own identity and ethos on to the club for years to come.
Follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/zarifrasul
With Gary Neville stepping into Andy Gray’s shoes at Sky, the former United defender joins the long list of players who have made the transition from the pitch to a paid-up pundit and in Neville’s case with relative ease.
To be fair to Neville, a player who irritated me greatly, he is one of the decent analysts out there who has a genuine insight into the game of football and is actually educating those listening over tactics, positioning and the general mindset of players and teams at certain points within the game. He has the ability to be amusing as well, as he highlighted with his critique of David Luiz’s performances this season, and doesn’t have to rely on cheesy puns or jokes that are served up by the regular goons on the Beeb. Neville has certainly opened my eyes and dispelled the myth that footballers actually have a brain and have something to offer as pundits.
Below is a list of ten players turned pundits who irritate me greatly
Click on Lawro below to see the Top TEN
[divider]
[divider]
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.
Tottenham recorded a much-needed 2-0 Premier League win over Blackburn on Sunday at White Hart Lane.
The hosts were dominant throughout, with Rovers not having a single shot on or off goal in the 90 minutes, and a goal in each half from Rafael van der Vaart and Kyle Walker secured victory for the north London outfit.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was pleased with the victory and has challenged his side to win their remaining three fixtures in the race for fourth place.
“We’ve got to win our games – it’s going to be close, it’s going to be tight. I mean, we’ve got two really hard away games I think this week,” he told Sky Sports.
“Bolton are in good form and they’re fighting for their lives and then we go to Villa who still need a result, probably, so they’re tough games.
“Then Fulham at home, that’s a very difficult game so we’ve just got to see how we go.
“We’ve just got to keep trying to win the games and if we win all the games, no-one can finish above us, really. That’s the top and bottom of it.
“We’ve got a much better goal average than Newcastle. But we’ve got to win the games. Chelsea are looking very dangerous, they’re in fantastic form, but we’ll see how we go,” he stated.
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.
Manchester United are believed to be ready to make a last-ditch attempt to sign Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen, who is of interest to Tottenham and Arsenal, according to Mirror Football.
The Belgium international is entering the last year of his contract, and as such could be available at a cut-price £7 million, with the Emirates outfit supposedly the current frontrunners for the centre half’s signature.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to have sent scouts to Holland to watch the Amsterdam-based club’s captain, and was impressed with glowing reports after Vertonghen led Ajax to their second consecutive Eredivisie title.
Vertonghen himself has admitted that he has a choice to make, and that he is interested in the attacking brand of football that Premier League clubs are starting to play.
“I have to make a choice. There’s something going on with Tottenham, but there are more clubs interested in signing me.
“The most important thing for me is that I get regular playing time. Plus I need a stable environment.
“More and more clubs in England seem to realise that you can go a long way with ‘good 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.
“Arsenal started with it, and teams like Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester City are playing good football as well now,” he concluded.
Both Radamel Falcao and Hulk are reportedly unsure of their futures, with Chelsea weighing up a summer move for one or both, according to Metro.
With Didier Drogba out of contract and likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Roman Abramovich is ready to splash the cash to bring a new top forward to west London.
Falcao scored a brace for Atletico Madrid against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League final, and has been a hit in his debut season at the Vicente Calderon.
With increased speculation over the Colombia international’s future, the hitman’s father has revealed that Falcao may leave the Spanish side.
“My son is very happy at Atletico and wants to stay, but his future depends on the board.”
Meanwhile, Hulk has been linked with a move away from Porto for some time, and his agent has confirmed that the Brazil international wants to leave the Portuguese champions this summer.
“The time for Hulk to move is now. He is the most coveted player in Europe and we should work together to do what is best for him,” Theodoro Fonseca confirmed.
The Blues have already sealed the signings of Kevin De Bruyne and Marko Marin for next season.
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.
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has declared that Cristiano Ronaldo is not even in the top 10 footballers in the world as the best 11 play for the Catalan side, reports The Daily Mail.
Ronaldo had claimed that he deserved to be awarded the World Player of the Year accolade after guiding Real Madrid to the Liga title ahead of the Blaugrana but Rosell scoffed at his statement, insisting that there is only one man worthy of winning the Ballon d’Or, Lionel Messi.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t the second best player in the world, he is the 12th. The first 11 are Barca players,” Rosell claimed.
“Outside of Spain everyone is clear that Messi deserves to win the Ballon d’Or, but not here.”
The Argentine superstar had his best season to date for Barcelona, breaking the world record for the most goals scored in a single season with 73 in all competitions making him the forerunner to take the individual award for the fourth consecutive year.
Despite his side losing out on the title to Los Blancos, Messi also beat rival Ronaldo to the Pichici award for the league’s highest goal scorer, finding the net an unprecedented 50 times.
The two clubs will once again come face to face in August for the Spanish Super Cup in what will be Tito Vilanova’s first game in charge of the Catalans. He already has history with Jose Mourinho after the former Chelsea manager poked him in the eye in a touchline altercation, and Rosell continued by having a gibe at the Portuguese manager.
“I would not accept a manager who would win at any cost,” he added.
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.
“I would ask for forgiveness if the manager of this club put their finger in anyone’s eye.”
QPR striker Jamie Mackie is at the centre of a transfer battle between Premier League new boys Southampton and West Ham, reports The Sun.
Both are looking to add the quality necessary to survive in their first season back in the top flight, and Mackie’s form in the Premier League for QPR last season has attracted both clubs to the 26 year old Scot.
The Saints and The Hammers are both considering bidding £1 million for Mackie, who scored 7 goals in 34 appearances for the R’s last year.
Should the bids transpire, a battle will ensue as both clubs look to make Mackie one of many summer signings.
Following the arrival of Andy Johnson from Fulham last month, as well as the January acquisitions of Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cisse, Jamie Mackie could find himself surplus to requirements at Loftus Road ahead of the coming season, and a move to either promoted team could suit everyone 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.
Grant Holt was originally an attacking target for West Ham, but has since committed to Norwich, whilst Southampton look for a new signing to accompany the prolific Ricky Lambert at the front of the Saints attack.
As the sand ebbs ever further away in the Luka Modric hourglass, it feels as if it’s time for Spurs fans to start asking themselves some uncomfortable questions. Although the likeliness is that the Croatian will eventually get his transfer away from White Hart Lane, the impossibility of the midfielder staying at White Hart Lane doesn’t seem quite so absurd after all.
For all debate over his behavior, his worth and his transfer fee is but academic. If Daniel Levy won’t settle for anything less than £40million, then Modric simply will not leave. And for the first time this summer, that feels like it could be a serious reality.
It’s always difficult to pre-empt a transfer saga that is becoming as drawn out as Modric’s is at White Hart Lane, but the battle lines that have been drawn this summer are clear for all to see. Circumstance has changed at White Hart Lane over the last twelve months, but Modric’s price tag seemingly hasn’t. Levy’s hardline stance over Modric has softened and the Croatian will now be let go should the right offer come in- one that will have to match the £40million that Chelsea offered on deadline day last summer.
But the chairman’s willingness to sell isn’t the only thing that’s differed from events last term. Modric voiced his intentions to depart in 2011, but things stayed civil and the toys stayed in the pram. Regardless of his murmurings to media back in his native Croatia, the midfielder strayed away from all out warfare. He got his head down and contributed, to the main part, another great season for Harry Redknapp’s side.
This summer, however, Modric has adopted the style of the archetypal football militant. Uncomfortable flirtations with other clubs has turned into bitter disdain for his current one, with his failure to join the rest of the team on their pre season trip to the United States. The art of going AWOL on a football club can be treated as something of a trump card in the era of ‘player power’ that we are now said to be under. By refusing to train and becoming a perceived toxic presence in the dressing room, more than the odd Premier League player have got their wishes.
Unfortunately though, Daniel Levy doesn’t seem to have read the rules. Modric’s trick would go down like a lead balloon at any point of pre season, but the timing of it this summer has really infuriated the Spurs hierarchy. It’s been said that Levy has seen red over Modric’s performance co-in siding with the club’s promotional drive in the United States. Tottenham have just entered the first of their five year, £50millon deal with Under Armour and their shirt sponsor, Autonomy, is a wholly owned subsidiary of another American company, Hewlett-Packard.
The notion that Modric’s antics have overshadowed the club’s opportunity to maximize their brand potential, if not damaged it in the home nation of their two flagship sponsors, has supposedly been met with anger and dissapointment. It’s hard to believe that Levy would have ever settled for a penny less than what he thought was best. But any chance of a compromise for both parties has surely been shredded to pieces.
Although if the chairman really is serious about sticking to his £40million valuation, it could leave Spurs supporters facing some difficult realties. Because there really is no guarantee that anyone will pay that much money for the 26-year-old. His talent is unique and his ability is mercurial, but even then, his price tag really is pushing the boundaries of reality- even in today’s market. Real Madrid believe his value is lowered as a result of his antics but the length of his contract begs to differ. Levy will view Modric as an asset and with four years left to run, the ball is firmly in his court.
But where does that realistically leave the situation? There’s still time left to make a deal, but it feels hard to believe that Levy can leave it any longer. The club have been burnt in the past by leaving their transfer dealings too late and the it seems impossible to believe that Modric’s fate will be left till deadline day.
An offer from PSG is said to be waiting in the wings, but it seems hard to envisage Modric playing in Ligue One and maybe there is a hint of that in his current behavior. The Croatian hasn’t completely burnt his bridges in N17 and his statements and press releases have been carefully worded.
Supporters however, aren’t likely to give a monkeys how Modric has gone about it. The fact is that a player whom has been backed to the hilt at White Hart Lane and forgiven after his flirtations with Chelsea last year, has refused to go on tour and in essence refused to play for the club. Lightning has struck twice and not all fans will be particularly warming to him should he stay. But the reality is that it’s not inconceivable he’ll be turning out wearing the cockerel next term.
So can supporters hypothetically forgive him? It’s a question that doesn’t have a definitive answer. The relationship with Modric felt sterile towards the beginning of last term, but affection gradually grew as time went on. Football is fickle by nature and the truth is that should Modric produce the goods on the pitch, memories will always become a little more selective. As macabre as it may sound, there was a begrudging respect in the way the Croatian went about last season- no artificial affection, no fake badge kissing to save his skin; he just got his head down and got on with it.
Then again, this was the same man who only a season before he first tried to renege, said: “I have no interest in going anywhere…I feel I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at Spurs.” This was the day he signed a six-year contract with a rumoured, highly lucrative signing on fee. Modric took the carrot and has probably paid for it as a result. But it’s academic now.
The Modric situation isn’t easy for anyone and if he does stay, then Levy is dropping supporters into something of a situation. There will always be those who applaud good football at White Hart Lane, but Modric could expect a tough few weeks back. Then again, should the Croatian issue a grovelling apology and nail a winning volley against Arsenal, then it’s hard to gauge anything but forgiveness. Football is a fickle sport and we could be about to see the ultimate test.
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.
Whatever happens, Luka Modric is a wonderful footballer and matches aren’t won or lost by your character off the pitch. But a bitter taste is currently residing in the mouth of Spurs fans. If does stay, he will have to instantly start doing the business. Otherwise, the bitter taste could run a hell of a lot deeper.
Could you see yourself chanting Luka Modric at White Hart Lane next season if he stays? Does forgiveness come easy or is this simply too difficult to forget? Tell me how you feel about the Croatian on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tell me how you see it.
For once, during the Premier League’s summer hiatus, there is an usual wave of optimism fluttering around Tyneside following a season that exceeded the wildest expectations of any black and white clad Geordie. For all intents and purposes Newcastle United were the top-flight’s obligatory surprise package last term. Cynically tipped by pundits and rival supporters to suffer the agony of a second relegation in three years the Magpies left their critics tucking into sizeable portions of humble pie finishing comfortably in fifth, ahead of Champions League winners Chelsea may I remind you, and securing a spot in the Europa League just narrowly missing out on a place in Europe’s elite club competition.
Replicating that success will be the main assignment for Alan Pardew and his players in the upcoming campaign as the Magpies ready themselves to diligently juggle their commitments on the domestic front with those on the continent for the first time in six-years. Acclimatising to the Thursday – Sunday routine won’t be plain sailing for a team still desperately thin on the ground in terms of squad depth. But Pardew has proven his credentials as a wise tactician and intuitive man manager during his short spell at St James’ Park guiding Newcastle to a level beyond their wildest dreams in such a short space of time. The bar has been raised. Can they exceed it for a season running?
The summer so far
You could say it’s been somewhat of a mixed bag for Newcastle since last season came to a rather dischanting end at Goodison Park with a 3-1 defeat at Everton. The inevitable trimming of dead wood from his squad didn’t pose too many problems for Alan Pardew with the wage bill slashed by the departures of free agents Alan Smith, Peter Lovenkrands and Danny Guthrie whilst Leon Best was sold to Blackburn for a reportedly handsome fee. Incomings so far have been low-key and largely focused towards boosting a development squad that has been radically overhauled during Mike Ashley’s five-year tenure on Tyneside.
Even so Gael Bigirimana has shone since arriving from Coventry gaining comparisons with Cheick Tiote for his tenacious style in central midfield. There are high hopes for fellow new recruits Curtis Good, signed from Melbourne Heat, and winger Romain Amalfitano following his move from Reims with Pardew hoping his foray into the French market comes up trumps once again. The return of Sammy Ameobi and Haris Vuckic from injury has also provided a welcome boost with both expected to feature heavily in Europe with both catching the eye during pre-season. Vuckic, in particular, has suffered a torrid time with injuries but will be determined to put those behind him and finally make the breakthrough from bit-part reserve to fully bloomed first teamer.
Keeping his blue-chip players at St James’ Park will surely rank as Pardew’s most notable achievement of a window that has been less than kind this year. 12-months ago the Magpies were revelling in the cost-effective captures of Yohan Cabaye, Demba Ba and Davide Santon but have struggled to obtain fresh faces this time round despite utilising the same protocol. The saga surrounding France international Mathieu Debuchy has underpinned Newcastle’s transfer frustration as owner Mike Ashley refuses to bow to the brinksmanship deployed by Lille president Michel Seydoux. One last throw of the dice shouldn’t be ruled out though with Debuchy still making noises about following former teammate Cabaye to the North East. A move for Vurnon Anita holds a certain amount of promise with the Ajax star set to fly in to the North East for a medical after the two clubs agreed a fee. The 23-year-old would unquestionably be a huge asset to Pardew as he can operate in midfield and at left back – something that has sparked up a fervent debate amongst supporters on twitter.
A sensational move to bring Andy Carroll back to his hometown club is still said to be in the pipeline despite Liverpool rejecting Newcastle’s opening bid for the England forward. Twente defender Douglas also remains on Pardew’s radar although complications over his desire to gain Dutch citizenship could scupper any potential deal. And while the squad still appears in good health, aided by the comeback of Steven Taylor and Sylvain Marveaux from long-term injuries, there still remains a lingering fear that it still lacks the necessary depth to compete on four fronts.
Holding onto 16-goal top scorer Ba will also be considered a major triumph as he was widely expected to leave for pastures new with several clubs milling over whether to activate the very public £7.5 million release clause in his contract. It will have as a huge sigh of relief to everyone connected to Newcastle that the 31 July deadline passed without incident with the Senegal strikers potential suitors unwilling to take a risk on him due to his well documented knee condition – something described by Pardew as a ‘deficiency’. With all key personnel retained, for now, bringing in one or two new recruits by the end of August should leave the Toon Army in decent shape for the season ahead.
Transfers
Out
Leon Best (Blackburn Rovers) Undisclosed
Danny Guthrie (Reading) Free Transfer
Alan Smith (MK Dons) Free Transfer
Peter Lovenkrands (Birmingham City) Free Transfer
Fraser Forster (Celtic) Undisclosed
In
Romain Amalfitano (Reims) Free Transfer
Gael Bigirimana (Coventry City) Undisclosed
Curtis Good (Melbourne Heat) Undisclosed
What can we expect?
This is certainly a season that Newcastle are looking forward to with renewed optimism and don’t expect them to rest on their laurels as supporters gear up for the excitement of a first European campaign in six-years. Still, they face an unenviable task of managing a schedule that will see them traverse the continents vast plains on a Thursday before dashing back home to honour their domestic responsibilities on Sunday with little time in-between to catch their breath. The physical and psychological burden the Europa League can have on a team has been well documented with Stoke and Fulham noticeably suffering last term.
It’s a fresh challenge that Alan Pardew will no doubt thrive in having displayed his shrewd man management methods in order to maintain a high-level of morale in the dressing room. The players have bought into his ideology of positive reinforcement to cultivate a harmonious environment and it is that which will be of significant importance in the event that the campaign starts going pear shaped.
Burnout also remains a huge threat to the Magpies’ ambitions of breaking into the top-four and Pardew will need to ensure he manages his squad effectively to keep his key personnel fresh and focused on the challenges ahead beyond the torrid Christmas period. A couple of new signings will naturally make his task slightly easier whilst it’s expected that he will give the youth players a chance to shine in the group stages.
Depending on whether Pardew manages to boost the senior side of his squad and devise a perfect squad rotation policy it’s within the realms of possibility that Newcastle can comfortably cope with the pressure of delicately balancing their priorities as they compete for honours on four fronts.
[divider]
Continued on Page TWO
[divider]
One to watch
After whetting the Geordie supporters’ appetite with a series of eye catching displays during the latter half of last season Hatem Ben Arfa will be out to deliver the same standard of wing wizardry across a full campaign. The France international has suffered an appalling time with injuries during his short time with Newcastle and there were whispers that he could leave the club during the January transfer window.
But after regaining his fitness and buying into the ‘one or all, all for one’ philosophy of the Magpies dressing room Ben Arfa started to produce the kind of form that saw him linked with Manchester United and Barcelona in the past. A breathtaking goal against Blackburn in the FA Cup provided the spark that lit a flame beneath the 25-year-old that saw him go from strength-to-strength with each passing game
A merciless mauling of West Brom and magnificent solo effort against Bolton were only glimpses of his true potential with a huge chunk of credit going to Alan Pardew for focusing his mind and eradicating the selfish streak that became an unwelcome trademark at his previous clubs.
It’s not often a manager can draw a smile from a notoriously moody Ben Arfa but it was apparent that he was enjoying life on Tyneside. It’s well known that he has an inherent distaste for authority but his obedience and new found selflessness on the field is down to the trust Pardew has placed in him to fulfil the duties expected of every player in a black and white shirt.
And whilst Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse hogged the plaudits last term for their goalscoring heroics it was Ben Arfa’s introduction to the side that swung the balance for Newcastle in their European aspirations. Whenever the ball was at his feet he dazzled with a flurry of quick feet and a rapid burst of often leaving the opposition seeing stars. He injected that extra dash of quality that proved to be the deciding factor in the clubs unexpected rise to prominence and will be charged with doing the same again in the coming season.
Breakthrough year for..
Amidst the abundance of exciting young talent currently at St James’ Park the thought of Mehdi Abeid developing into a regular first team fixture is one tinged with tangible excitement. The young Algerian was a virtual unknown when he arrived at Newcastle from Lens last summer but is now regarded as one of their brightest youth prospects in recent years.
Despite being limited to showcasing his talents in the reserves, interceded with a few fleeting appearances in the Carling Cup, Abeid has unquestionably set Tyneside tongues wagging with his stylish approach to midfield play. Where younger players are usually rash with their decision making the 20-year-old exudes composure when the ball is at his feet along whilst displaying a keen perception of his surroundings.
He doesn’t overplay or overcomplicate and likes to keep things simple despite possessing remarkable vision and technique to pick out even the most challenging of passes. Equally the defensive side to his game seems to improve markedly during pre-season giving him the appearance of an all-round midfielder.
His best chance of game time this term will come in the Europa League after Pardew acknowledged that the development squad will be used during the Magpies’ European excursions to ensure first team are kept fresh and injury free. It will provide the perfect playground for Abeid to continue his football education with many expecting him to step up and fill the void left by Danny Guthrie. Frankly, I think we’ll all be surprised at how times he features in a Newcastle starting eleven.
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.
Predictions
Unlike last year the questions of posed of Newcastle United are substantially different as fans and pundits alike ponder whether Alan Pardew can deliver another top-five finish under ever changing circumstances. The addition of a Europa League campaign will undoubtedly provide the biggest test for Pardew and his squad to overcome and the fear is that they will crumble under the pressure of fighting on four fronts.
But with Tim Krul now the clubs established number one and Fabricio Coloccini leading from the back the Magpies have a solid core that also contains the Premier League often unappreciated midfield partnership of Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye. And with Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba fulfilling the attacking duties goals will never be in short supply.
For Pardew it’s all about using his psychological nous to get inside the heads of this players and keeping that morale at a consistently high level should things start to go south. With the teams around them making big money signings the 51-year-old will have to adroitly manage his squad in order to maintain focus and safeguard against exhaustion as they jet off to the far reaches of Europe every Thursday night.
At present Newcastle look good value for seventh but, depending on the outcome of their transfer dealings end progress in the Europa League, there is no reason why they can’t aim for fifth again and consolidate their position in the top-flight’s upper echelons.
Odds
via SkyBet
Newcastle to be crowned Premier League champions – 125/1
Premier League top goalscorer – Papiss Cisse – 20/1
Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson has completed a £2 million move to Fulham. The former Manchester United midfielder conducted talks with Martin Jol after Sunderland accepted the bid.
Richardson was not included in the 18 for the Capital One Cup second round victory over Morecambe, and speaking to The Mail Online, O’Neill revealed the reason afterwards:
“A club has made an offer for him today and we, as a club, have accepted that, and it gives Kieran the opportunity to find out for himself.
“If it doesn’t materialise and he comes back, I’ll still be pleased, but it’s a position we might have to go and have a look at. Jack [Colback] played very, very well there tonight, but Kieran wanted to pursue this and have a look at this, finding we had accepted the offer, and I will see what comes of it.”
It comes as no surprise that the former Manchester United player, who is in the final year of his contract, has left the Stadium of Light after weeks of speculation over his future. O’Neill has already been linked with a series of replacements, and he confirmed he would look to make progress on that front once the deal went through. He continued: “It is something, if Kieran does go, that we would have to look at.”
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.