All posts by h79snht.top

Two wins from six games would have been viewed as disastrous at Manchester United through much of the last 20 years. But in this ‘transitional period’ the Red Devils are in a very different place, in which a narrow 2-1 home win of West Ham is actually now viewed with positivity.

All mocking aside, United really do have lots to be cheery about after the weekend’s result, with things beginning to look up after almost 18 months of frustration. Louis van Gaal is now on board which has put the memory of David Moyes to bed, while the squad contains some of the world’s very best attacking players.

So, does the season start here for the club? Here are FIVE reasons it may…

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CLICK ON RADAMEL FALCAO TO REVEAL THE FIVE REASONS

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It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…

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New players gelling

With such a drastic spend and a major overhaul during the summer, the adjustment time at United was always likely to be significant. And, as predicted by many, the Red Devils have been a little off of the pace in the early weeks of the season, with the wealth of attacking and midfield talent at Louis van Gaal’s disposal all vying for places in the XI.

After a few shock results the win against West Ham was much needed, and although it took some huffing and puffing, the Red Devils looked bright for some chunks of the game. Players settling in? Looks like it.

Rooney’s absence could provide balance

Rooney’s moment of madness against the Hammers could actually be of benefit to United in the coming weeks. After a gentle run of fixtures, LVG’s men now face Everton and Chelsea in their coming three games, whom will provide stern tests. With Rooney out of the equation, Van Gaal could opt for a more stable and defensively sound XI, perhaps with a more orthodox midfield player slotting in in the place of the skipper behind Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie.

Van Gaal’s tactics coming across

The Dutchman said at the start of his reign that his methods and ideas would take some time to garner results. Scorelines and narratives at the club have generally been far from positive so far, but with each training session and week the messages will be sinking in.

Van Gaal is no fool either, His spell at Bayern Munich was not dissimilar, but the outspoken manager turned things around and is widely seen as one of the Bavarians’ best ever managers.

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Rivals’ hectic fixtures

While United have only the Premier League to focus on until the FA Cup kicks in in January, their major rivals are all busy balancing the Capital One Cup and Champions League/Europa League as well. Liverpool proved last season that fewer fixtures can be the springboard for impressive results, so United must use the situation to their advantage.

January spend looming

January may be a while away yet, but reports are already suggesting that United may wade into the transfer market once again. LVG oversaw a £150m spend during the summer, but money is still available with defensive additions needed.

Kevin Strootman of Roma is already being mooted as a target, while possible moves of Mats Hummels, Nicolas Otamendi and Angelo Ogbonna have also made the headlines. A few choice additions could sort out United’s obvious deficiencies.

Amid all the brouhaha surrounding England’s do-or-die Euro 2016 qualifiers against the might of San Marino and Estonia, news of the release of Roy Keane’s most recent autobiography, The Second Half, may have evaded the attention of many followers of the game.

Quiet, friendly and averse to confrontation, Keane’s revised reminisces were never expected to raise many eyebrows, with his sitting-on-the-fence approach and his inoffensive anecdotes being derided as nothing more than the actions of a dull footballer transcribing his dull life into literary form.

This is a pile of codswallop, of course, as Keane’s book – the most eagerly awaited sports autobiography since that of his boss-turned-nemesis, Alex Ferguson – has come at an ideal time for media outlets desperately searching for newsworthy material during a particularly uninspiring international break when headline-grabbing stories were always going to be thin on the ground. For the past week, the public – football-loving or otherwise – has been treated like some poor soul strapped onto an operating table in the lair of a crazed, demented professor, forcibly drip-fed an intoxicating mix of accusation upon accusation, tirade upon tirade and scathing criticism upon scathing criticism by delirious newspapers, websites and news channels who have plundered the former Manchester United midfielder’s explosive memoirs with glee.

The daily dosage of revelations on the back pages has been like some perverse form of opening an advent calendar over Christmas; instead of a snowman-shaped chocolate or a similarly dainty confectionery, the reader is treated every day to a brand-spanking new Keaneism, accompanied by the haunting image of the Irishman’s bewhiskered, sunken-eyed face – his cold, lifeless gaze akin to that of a man who walks by unperturbed after witnessing the neighbour’s cat being run over by a van.

Regardless of how tiresome and drawn-out the coverage of Keane’s autobiography may or may not be, there is no denying that the man is a compelling figure. The way in which his relationship with Ferguson has deteriorated from being one which enjoyed considerable and consistent success at United to one which is fuelled by bitterness and resentment gives us a fascinating insight into what happens when a manager and his captain – both equally as ambitious, strong-willed and obstinate – come to blows.

That said, his obsession with Ferguson also occasionally borders on the comical. In a recent interview conducted by Kevin Kilbane for BBC Sport, Keane only really becomes animated when he starts talking about his former boss. His unshakeable refusal to let bygones be bygones – he states that he’d “probably have a go” at Ferguson if he met him – is highly humorous, as is his scornful, desert-dry wit in general. Keane says further on in the interview that he is giving up on punditry, which is a crying shame as his brutal put-downs of players, managers and even entire teams – his claim that Tottenham will always let you down stands out as a particularly memorable example – were at times more entertaining than the matches themselves during his time as a pundit on ITV.

In an age where footballers – understandably, one might argue – saturate interviews and public appearances with cliché and vacuous pleasantries for fear of getting punished for stepping even slightly out of line, Keane is a welcome maverick. Football is entertainment, and the Irishman is infinitely entertaining. His aura makes his every word worth listening to, much like a certain Brian Clough – another of his former bosses during his playing days.

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Roy Keane is a treasure of the game; love him or hate him, football would be all the poorer without his loveably, uniquely scathing presence.

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There seems to be a trend in modern football. The Premier League has exposed it, the World Cup gave us a few hints and pundits are banging on about it week in, week out. The art or defending is dying, with goals coming thick and fast in the top leagues across Europe, while every ‘emerging starlet’ appears to be either a ‘tricky No. 10’, a ‘goalscoring sensation’ or a ‘wing wizard’.

Gone are the days of 0-0 Champions League knockout games of the mid to early 2000s in which John Terry, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, among others, marshalled their backlines to provide fans with tactical thrillers, with mad scoreline increasing normal. Goals are exciting and capture the highlight reels, but the one commodity needed above all other right now is top class centre-backs, of which there are few.

Yet there is one player stands out above all others currently, with his name in the transfer gossip columns on an almost weekly basis. I am of course talking about Mats Hummels, the Dortmund and Germany enforcer. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are the English sides being most strongly linked with the star defender, as reports suggest that Arsene Wenger has made him his top target ahead of January, while Louis van Gaal is keen to revive the Red Devils’ failed move for him over the summer.

Hummels has given no indication that he wants to leave BVB – in fact, he’s stated the opposite – but things change quickly in the fickle world of football, so it would not be a major shock to see the 25-year-old’s name crossing Sky Sports’ yellow ticker in early 2015.

But which suitor should he choose? Presuming United and Arsenal are the only two ‘big players’ in for him, he will have a serious decision to make…

MANCHESTER UNITED

A prime example of United’s failings so far this season under Van Gaal is the shocking 5-3 loss at Leicester City. The result against the Foxes summer up the problems at Old Trafford – albeit they lost at the King Power Stadium – with attacking flair and defensive solidity completely imbalanced. 3-1 up with half an hour to play, the Red Devils needed to coast to three point, yet a backline with Tyler Blackett a key man was ruthlessly exposed.

We don’t need to tell the rest of the story – Jamie Vardy tore United apart with his pace and movement – to make it clear that a top class defender like, let’s say Hummels, may well have eased them over the line for a routine win.

The German would surely be the bedrock of the United team should he make the move, with Van Gaal in desperate need of a player to command his backline and impose some sort of authority. Hummels could do so, while bringing his top-notch ability on the ball to the fore to help build attacks.

The cash is there to offer Dortmund around £30m and give the player himself a massive pay hike, making such a move a ‘no brainer’ for United. Hummels himself may have some reservations due to the uncertainty of Champions League action at Old Trafford, however.

ARSENAL

Unlike United, Arsenal can virtually guarantee Hummels top-level European action for the foreseeable future, such is Arsene Wenger’s penchant for landing fourth place. This would likely appeal to the Dortmund star, as would the presence of a number of his international team-mates, including Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil – albeit the futures of the latter two are unclear.

Hummels would probably be used as a replacement for the aforementioned Mertesacker to play alongside Laurent Koscielny in the Gunners’ back four, which has the potential to be a solid partnership. The competition of a top class player fighting for his role may, however, be a drawback.

There’s little doubt that the Londoners need another capable defender after letting Thomas Vermaelen leave. Wenger’s decision to neglect obtaining – or failure to sign – a replacement has been exposed by injuries already, with young Calum Chambers forced from right-back into the heart of the defence.

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Hummels would appear to be an ideal fit given his ability with ball on the deck as well as his power and pace, yet funding may be an issue. Arsenal are understood to have £20m at their disposal for January, which is the sort of sum United would simply smash out of the park.

VERDICT

This is a tough one as both clubs are blessed with fine histories, great managers and some of the best stadia around. Arsenal can offer top level European action, while United have the financial clout to make even PSG blush. It would appear that becoming the future of the Red Devils’ backline could be tempting, and with money not just talking but screaming at the top of its lungs in the modern game, they look to be the more convincing suitors. Or he could just stay at Dortmund…

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It was always going to be a season of trial and error at White Hart Lane.ÂTottenham appointed a new manager in Mauricio Pochettino during the summer and the transition process has expectantly lead to some teething pains, including a run of four home defeats in the space of five Premier League fixtures at the Lane.But all things considered, it hasn’t gone too badly for the Lilywhites. They’re not flirting with the relegation zone for example and are only six points off the Premiership’s top four.A few select signings in January could be all that’s needed to propel the north Londoners back into the race for Champions League qualification, so just in case Pochettino’s short on ideas, here’s a list of FIVE such acquisitions.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON THE ARGENTINE TO REVEAL ALL

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FABIAN DELPH

If the Lilywhites are to sign one player this January, in my opinion, it should be rumoured target Fabian Delph.

Mauricio Pochettino’s preference for gutsy, mobile and energetic midfielders has seen him favour the likes of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb over Moussa Dembele, Etienne Capoue and Paulinho in recent weeks.

The Aston Villa star shares that youthful vigour and industry but blends it with proven Premier League quality, having amassed 91 top flight appearances for the Midlands outfit. This lung-bursting run and improvised finish against Chelsea last season epitomises the nature of the 25 year-old’s game perfectly:

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It’s been a sensational twelve months for Delph too. He earned the Villain of the Year award at the end of last season and more recently a spot in Roy Hodgson’s England squad, with three caps since his September debut. Here’s a look at his stats over the last few seasons:

The dynamic midfielder is currently sidelined until the New Year with a shoulder injury, but it’s looking increasingly likely that he’ll return to fitness with another club. Delph’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and recent speculation claims he won’t be signing a new deal:

Ideal for Spurs then, who could likely prize the Three Lions starlet away from Villa Park for under the £10million mark.

YOHAN CABAYE

Another central midfielder reportedly looking for a new home in January is PSG’s Yohan Cabaye, having sloped down the pecking order at Parc de Princes this season behind the likes of Javier Pastore, Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Motta, Marco Veratti and youngster Adrien Rabiot.

Spurs fans will know the Frenchman well; he emerged as one of the Premier League’s top midfielders during a two-and-a-half-year spell with Newcastle, amassing 18 goals and 15 assists in 93 appearances.

The 28 year-old is better famed for his quality at set pieces, as shown in the video below:

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But he’s industrious too and can orchestrate play from deep – something the likes of Dembele, Capoue and Paulinho have continually failed to do over the last few seasons. Here’s a look at Cabaye’s vitals:

£19million may be a large investment for a player already amid his peak years and Spurs will have to battle against some intense competition for the 38-cap France international’s signature.

But he’d boost the quality of the Lilywhites’ midfield enormously and that alone makes him worth every penny.

HECTOR MORENO

//www.youtube.com/embed/G2o7uzGEhrM Mauricio Pochettino added Eric Dier and Federico Fazio to his squad this summer and also appointed Younes Kaboul as the club’s new captain, yet there are still clear problems at the heart of Tottenham’s defence.

The Spurs gaffer needs a defender who understands his philosophy perfectly, in which case, he should return to former club Espanyol for South American centre-half Hector Moreno.

The 26 year-old first drew attention at the 2010 World Cup putting in some top displays for Mexico as they reached the round of 16, including a clean sheet against France.

He’s since affirmed a reputation as one of La Liga’s better defenders outside of their top four, and served under Pochettino for one-and-a-half seasons, winning Espanyol’s Player of the Year award during his inaugural campaign, before the Argentine’s sacking in November 2012.

Here’s his stats from the last few years, including the World Cup in Brazil:

Spurs were reportedly courting the 6 foot centre-back during the summer, until a fractured tibia at the World Cup ruined his chances of a White Hart Lane switch.

Recent speculation suggests the move could be back on in January however, with Espanyol in desperate search of funds:

MAURO ICARDI

What a difference a dependable goalscorer can make – just ask Premier League leaders Chelsea.

Harry Kane’s been the pick of the strikeforce at White Hart Lane this season but Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor have hardly provided adequate competition.

The trio have netted just five goals between them and the Togo international has now returned to his homeland on compassionate leave.

So Tottenham need a talismanic No.9 and recent reports claim they’ll attempt a swoop for Inter Milan starlet Mauro Icardi:

The 21 year-old’s progress since moving to the San Siro from Sampdoria in summer 2013 has been phenomenal, going to net 17 goals in 36 league appearances for the Serie A side.

That includes a potent return of eight in 14 this season in addition to nine strikes last term – which are viewable below:

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It’s believed Icardi would set Spurs back around £25million, but the north Londoners could soon find themselves eclipsed in their pursuit of the Argentine international by fellow Premier League suitors Chelsea:

RICKIE LAMBERT

A speculative suggestion perhaps, considering Rickie Lambert only joined Liverpool in the summer in what was initially described as a ‘dream move’ for the England international.

Yet, it’s closer resembled a nightmare, with the 32 year-old often stuck behind the likes of Mario Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge in the pecking order as he struggles to adapt to the Reds’ ball-retaining style of play.

There are some reports suggesting he could be on the move in January – especially if Brendan Rodgers decides to splash the cash on another centre-forward:

Should that be the case, then Spurs would be wise to get involved – even if it’s just a temporary move. Lambert was the focal point of Pochettino’s philosophy at Southampton, providing industry, aggression and power in attack and regularly creating opportunities to bring the midfield into the game.

The 6 foot 2 striker may have only bagged one Premier League goal in 13 appearances for the Reds, but let’s not forget his incredible form during the Saints’ last two campaigns, as detailed below:

It will be a tough task convincing the former non-leaguer to choose Spurs over Southampton, but his prior history with Pochettino could tip the balance.

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A few months ago, the 2013/14 campaign looked like a real write-off for Tottenham, as the north Londoners recorded a series of lukewarm results and the players struggled to adapt to Mauricio Pochettino’s methods and philosophy.

It seemed their transition period, a work-in-progress under a new manager, would be a long one, perhaps until the Argentine would be given licence to remodel the squad in summer 2015.

Now however, amid a superfluous run of eleven wins in their last 19, the Lilywhites are through to the Capital One Cup final and just three points off a Champions League spot in the Premier League.

We at Football Fancast are now tipping the White Hart Lane outfit to close that minuscule gap between themselves and fourth-place Manchester United between now and the end of May, and here’s FOUR reasons why.

HITTING FORM AT THE RIGHT TIME

How well you start a Premier League season is almost completely irrelevant to how well you end it – whilst those that begin brightly usually tend to inevitably fall away, those that start more troublingly, such as Tottenham, have the opportunity to build momentum and end the campaign on a crescendo.

Fortunately for Spurs, they appear to be hitting form at just the right time, after struggling to adapt to Mauricio Pochettino’s change in philosophy and style at the start of the campaign. As viewable below, their league form has miraculously improved since mid-November, and they’re now on a run of seven wins in their last eleven:

Although involvement in the Capital One Cup final and the Europa League might exhaust their resources somewhat, the Lilywhites are now entering the home stretch in imperious form. If they can sustain it until the end of the season, they’ll undoubtedly breach the three-point gap between themselves and fourth-place Manchester United.

GOOD RESULTS AGAINST TOP SIDES

Poor performances against the Premier League’s big boys has always been the glass ceiling between Tottenham and regular Champions League qualification.

Harry Redknapp, Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood all struggled for answers and until recently, defensive capitulations against England’s top clubs had become the norm for the North Londoners – particularly last season.

This term however, the Lilywhites have already bagged some decent scalps against those just above them in the table. They recorded an impressive scoreless draw against Manchester United just after Christmas, and followed it up with a famous 5-3 victory over table-toppers Chelsea on New Year’s Day. Highlights below.

In the second half of the campaign, those kind of victories serve as six pointers, completely changing the landscape of the Premier League table.

Admittedly, Spurs’ form against their divisional rivals earlier in the campaign wasn’t great – a 4-1 thumping by Manchester City at the Etihad, and 3-0 defeats to Chelsea and Liverpool – so the real test comes in the next few weeks, when the Lilywhites face Arsenal and Liverpool in the space of just three days.

HUGE IMPROVEMENTS DEFENSIVELY

Those with the better defensive records tend to finish higher in the Premier League table. Take a look at last season for example, with the exception of Liverpool in second:

Tottenham started the campaign looking rather ropey at the back, with Younes Kaboul putting in a string of wayward performances and a lack of pressure from the front regularly becoming the undoing of Mauricio Pochettino’s high-pressing philosophy.

Since the incarnation of centre-back duo Jan Vertonghen and Federico Fazio however, the Lilywhites have dramatically improved on the defensive side of things, whilst the inclusions of academy trio Harry Kane, Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason has rendered the north Londoners considerably more capable of defending from the front in echoes of Southampton’s style under Pochettino last season. Here’s a look at their stats this term compared to Tottenham’s other centre-back options:

And since they first partnered on November 23rd, the Lilywhites have won seven from eleven, conceding twelve and keeping two clean sheets, compared to their 17 goals conceded in their eleven fixtures prior.

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CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – A REAL MATCH-WINNER

In the absence of Gareth Bale, Tottenham desperately lacked genuine match-winners last season – the kind of talismanic entity with enough quality to decide results single-handed.

Rather miraculously, Spurs have discovered their ability to win matches late-on this season, which many have put down to Mauricio Pochettino’s gruelling fitness regime, and the Lilywhites have now won ten points this term with goals scored in the 88th minute or later – four more than any Premier League side.

And directly responsible for nine of those points is attacking midfielder Christian Eriksen, who is looking more and more like the next player to leave White Hart Lane for a ridiculous amount of money.

This term, he’s netted late winners against Swansea City, Hull and Leicester, some even coming in the final moments of stoppage time, and if the Danish prodigy can sustain his form until the end of the campaign, there will likely be even more last minute strikes to come. Here’s a look at the 22 year-old’s stats this term:

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has hit out at his misfiring strikers after the Reds were knocked out of the Europa League by Besiktas, according to report from the Express.

Rodgers was disappointed that the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling were unable to take several opportunities during the game, which resulted in the Turkish club progressing via a penalty shoot-out.

Tolgay Arslan scored for his side in the 72nd minute to cancel out Liverpool’s 1-0 lead from the first leg, and it was Reds centre-back Dejan Lovren who missed the deciding penalty kick – the only effort off target of the 10 taken by both sides.

But Rodgers believes that if his side took their chances, then they would have netted the all-important away goal, making them favourites to progress to the next round:

“I’m disappointed, of course, to go out in the manner we did,” said Rodgers. “I thought we created opportunities in the first half to make it really difficult for them.

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“Over the course of the game, we defended very, very well and limited them to very few chances.

“We created chances in the first half. We were missing a lot of our creativity (with the absent players), but it’s no excuse.

“The one mistake we made we got punished for when we were too deep for the moment they scored. It was a tight game and we just didn’t manage to finish the opportunities that we had.

“I can only give credit to my players even though we went out on penalties.

“Good luck to Besiktas and their supporters. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been a good place for us this time in the Ataturk.”

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Liverpool have less than 60 hours to prepare for their crunch Premier League fixture this weekend, in which the Merseyside club hosts champions Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday lunchtime.

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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has blasted his side after their 2-1 FA Cup loss to Aston Villa on Sunday, according to reports from Sky Sports.

The Reds looked to be heading towards the final when Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring in the 30th minute, but Cristian Benteke equalized shortly after, before Fabian Delph sealed the win for Villa with a second half strike.

WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news

And Rodgers believes his side lacks the mentality to win big games, and that they need to avoid succumbing to the pressure during the occasion.

“We need now to have the courage and bravery to play better in the big games, because we didn’t play well enough today,” he said.

“We weren’t quite on it. We looked as if maybe the occasion and the energy got to us a bit today, but that’s what can happen with young players.

“We have come up short in a few games and it is something we certainly need to improve. We are a team that is growing, but all these experiences will hopefully help.

“We’re obviously bitterly disappointed but more with the performance. You can always lose a game but you need to play well and give yourself an opportunity.

“We had some chances but I thought they were better than us today to be honest.”

The loss will come as the biggest blow for Steven Gerrard, who was hoping to end his Liverpool career by winning the FA Cup ahead of his summer move to MLS club LA Galaxy.

However, Rodgers still lavished praise on the Kop captain, who he believes had a good game.

“Is it a shame? Absolutely,” Rodgers added.

“I think he was doing everything he possibly could today to help the team.

“I thought he was excellent, collectively we did not perform well enough.”

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Villa will be facing Arsenal, who beat Reading 2-1 after extra time, in the final at Wembley on May 30th.

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After getting so close to the Premier League title last year, Liverpool fans were praying this year could be theirs. But once again it wasn’t meant to be.

The Reds have some fantastic individuals but their team form has let them down. The signing of Mario Balotelli during last summer looked like it was going to be a great one, but he hasn’t found form at Anfield. The side are unbeaten in their last 50 Premier League home games when they are winning at half time and their home form has been great this season, so why haven’t they been able to make an impact and win the League?

Rodgers has become the first Anfield boss since the 1950’s not to win a trophy in his first three seasons in charge and many are calling for him to be sacked, but it isn’t the right answer. Sir Alex Ferguson was a legend for Manchester United but it’s easily forgotten that it took him four seasons before he won his first trophy at the club.

Since taking over at Liverpool in 2012, Rodgers’ main strategy was to build a new squad. Rodgers said: “We might not be ready for the title but the process begins today, it’s a new cycle, and that is something that we will work towards in the years to come.”

More than eight players came in over the summer so it was never going to gel straight away.

When the Northern Ireland man was announced as the new guy in charge, owner John Henry said: “We do not expect miracles overnight nor should anyone else. But we firmly believe that the direction the club is heading in will lead to Premier League championships.”

This is why former Liverpool player Mark Lawrenson believes that fans are expecting too much of Rodgers: “When you have young players then you are going to have highs and lows. No-one was moaning when they were on a 13-match unbeaten league run between December and March.”

It is all well and good saying that time is what they need, not a new manager, but Liverpool players are growing restless. Ex-Liverpool player John Scales said: “Liverpool are way short of where they want to be and where the team wants to be. There are lessons to be learned.”

This season there has been many embarrassing incidents, including last Monday night’s 1-0 loss to Hull City. Daniel Sturridge looks to be out for the rest of the season. It is unsurprising that Liverpool have struggled. When a team loses their top goal scorer they are bound to struggle. Chelsea lost Diego Costa to injury at the beginning of April and they haven’t been as polished since.

While fans are getting annoyed about the lack of energy at Anfield they are forgetting how things have improved since he took over. They have reached two cup semi-finals and got back into the Champions League this season.

Rodgers deserves to stay. He is building the future of Anfield and if things hadn’t been as good as they were last season, the fans would have this season’s expectations set so high.

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Rodgers deserves one more season- it is what Fergie got!

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It may have come down to a bit of final day fortune but Mauricio Pochettino will be very pleased with a fifth-place finish during his first season as Tottenham manager.

The Lilywhites haven’t done better since the 2011/12 campaign, despite the Argentine finding himself obliged to turn to youth products amid the apathetic performances of the Lilywhites’ more recognised names.

But Pochettino has now set a standard that he’ll have to surpass next season – namely, breaking the glass ceiling between the north London club and the Premier League’s regular Champions League qualifiers.

That will take acquiring some top class quality in the transfer market this summer, however – which is no easy feat when you’re not plying your trade in Europe’s flagship tournament.

So just in case the White Hart Lane gaffer is short on a few ideas ahead of the coming transfer window, we’ve listed FIVE signings that would guarantee Spurs Champions League qualification next season.

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MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN

Central midfield has become arguably Tottenham’s weakest department this season, with inexperienced duo Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason stepping in for the lackadaisical likes of Moussa Dembele, Etienne Capoue and Paulinho – who are all widely expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer.

Mauricio Pochettino needs to add star quality that also pushes Spurs’ starting Xi further towards his own philosophy – and on both of those fronts, Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin fits the bill perfectly.

Since the Saints’ top flight ascension in summer 2012, he’s emerged as one of the Premier League’s most formidable enforcers, this term averaging the second-most tackles per match, 3.7, of any player in the division.

That’s had an undoubted influence on Ronald Koeman’s side finishing the year with a goals conceded record of 33, only bettered by champions Chelsea.

After almost forcing his way out of St. Mary’s last summer, the 25 year-old is almost certain to leave in the coming transfer window. The France international’s £25million price-tag should be within the Lilywhites’ financial reach but Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have all been linked in recent weeks.

JAMES MILNER

Experience and depth are crucial components of any Champions League qualification bid and Manchester City’s James Milner offers both in abundance.

What’s not to like about this guy? He’s home-grown, two-footed, creative yet industrious, a consummate professional, extremely versatile and offers an ocean of experience, with 418 Premier League appearances and 53 England caps under his belt already.

Furthermore, the 29 year-old is set to leave the Eithad on a free transfer this summer despite enjoying arguably his most productive season to date for the Citizens, amassing five goals and seven assists in 32 Premier League appearances.

That will make the midfielder – who has been tested at right back and centre-forward over the last year – one of the best value-for-money signings in the coming transfer window.

Any club who can offer regular first team football stand a chance of attaining Milner’s signature. Currently, however, it seems to be a race between Arsenal and Liverpool.

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE

Spurs need someone to share the goalscoring load with Harry Kane and few Premier League strikers have shown better form in 2015 than Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke.

Just when the Belgian battering ram appeared to be on the verge of dropping into the abyss of mediocrity, he’s re-emerged as one of the English top flight’s most formidable target men, bagging twelve goals in his last twelve appearances for the Birmingham outfit.

Mauricio Pochettino favoured old-fashioned No.9s during his Southampton days, namely Rickie Lambert and Dani Osvaldo, and the 24 year-old firmly falls into that category as well, boasting a beastly 6 foot 3 frame that torments opposition backlines and brings others into the game.

Villa boss Tim Sherwood has admitted the Belgium international could force a move away from Villa Park this summer, with the tabloids valuing him at around £30million.

But with clubs like Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool reportedly interested, Spurs are facing an uphill battle.

TOBY ALDERWEIRELD

Another Southampton-based suggestion, Toby Alderweireld excited many a Tottenham fan when he claimed he wanted to reunite with former Ajax centre-back partner Jan Vertonghen a few months ago.

The Belgium international has been in fantastic form for Southampton this season, averaging 1.7 tackles, 1.3 interceptions, 5.7 clearances and 1.5 successful aerial duels per-match as part of a Saints backline boasting the second-healthiest goals conceded record in the Premier League.

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The south coast outfit want to sign him permanently from Atletico Madrid and they apparently have a £6.8million option to do so.

But Atletico could refuse Southampton’s bid at the cost of £1.5million – which would then allow them to sell the 26 year-old to the north Londoners for around £10million.

Pochettino is reportedly desperate to bolster his centre-back options this summer and Alderweireld would be the perfect candidate. Not only does he offer the starting Xi superior quality, but his arrival might also convince Vertonghen to pen his long-awaited contract extension.

PEDRO

Winger-forward Pedro has done it and won it all throughout his Barcelona and Spain careers, namely lifting five La Liga titles, two Champions League titles, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, whilst generating a return of 114 goals in 365 appearances.

At 27 years of age, he’s still firmly within his prime, but the La Liga star’s Nou Camp tenure could come to an abrupt end this summer after slumping behind £75million signing Luis Suarez in the pecking order. His contract is due to expire at the end of next season and without a new deal in sight, the Catalans are reportedly willing to sell for just £7million.

Of course, his likeliest suitors include Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United – the Premier League’s most renowned clubs.

But the tabloids believe Spurs have an outside chance of landing the Spain star too this summer. However unlikely that may seem, it’s an opportunity the Lilywhites just can’t afford to pass up.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed the sale of Filipe Luis back to Atletico Madrid, according to reports from the Daily Star.

Luis only arrived at Stamford Bridge from Atletico last summer via a £16million deal, but the left-back struggled for first-team football playing behind Cesar Azpilicueta in the pecking order.

This has seen the Brazil international constantly linked with a return to his former side, and the switch is finally taking place after the two clubs reportedly agreed on a £11million fee.

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Now Blues manager Jose Mourinho has revealed that the Premier League champions will be searching for a new left-back to replace the 29-year-old in this summer transfer market.

“In this moment we need a left-back, because I think we are selling Filipe Luis now or tomorrow,” he said.

“But I think we will sell Filipe Luis. We need to go the market, we need to find a club that accepts a bid until Aug. 31, and we are going for a left-back.”

Mourinho also went on to add that a left-back will be the only other major signing this summer, unless another player leaves Stamford Bridge before the end of the window.

“In other positions we have no space,” he added.

“We are a very happy group. The players feel it. We are a club in peace. We are a club where our future has to be bright.

“But imagine if somebody comes with a bid on Aug. 29 and we are happy with the bid, the player is happy to leave. We must be ready.

“If we speak about new players at the moment we speak about the balance of the squad, which is a balanced squad.”

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One of the players being linked with a move to Chelsea is Ausburg left-back Abdul Baba Rahman, who Mourinho sees as the perfect player to play as back-up to Azpilicueta.