All posts by h79snht.top

It’s been another tough week for referees. Well, one in particular. Martin Atkinson took charge of the FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, and after misjudging the severity of Mario Balotelli’s challenge on Alex Song last week, he preceded to draw more unwanted attention to himself by guessing over whether a ball had crossed the goal-line, and guessing wrong. Chelsea went on to win 5-1.

The argument over goal-line technology is almost redundant now, as it seems to be on the way. The FA have confirmed that goal-line technology could be introduced to English football as soon as next season. Two systems are under testing by FIFA at the moment and by July there may be a green light to implement it domestically. Or not.

But balls over lines wasn’t the only talking point, and far from it. Ashley Young will be thanking Atkinson for at least taking a little bit of the exposure off him. Having yet again propelled himself into the air as if he had just detonated a land mine, Young was once more bending the rules for maximum profit. And yet again, fans seem to be confused over the rules of football.

There seems to be this creeping acceptance that contact in a penalty area means a penalty. Never mind that two players contacting together could mean equal blame, it seems that many think touching an attacker within 18 yards of the goal is an open invitation for a spot-kick. Commentators say it all the time. Co-commentators say it even more. Pundits repeat it. Fans regurgitate it. And it’s all utter hogwash. A penalty from a foul results from a trip, or an attempted trip (intent CAN be enough to exact punishment). Standing still and committing the heinous crime of letting a player kick your standing leg is not a foul. Except for the defender, perhaps. And it is so annoying how it has been generally accepted that players can “win” penalties nowadays, be it Ashley Young or Adam Johnson, that somehow this is just part of the game. Well it clearly is, but that doesn’t make it right. Let’s just accept racist remarks, hooliganism and poor-quality burgers if that’s the case. And let’s keep proclaiming that “raising your hands” is an excuse for the referee to send you off. Or the ball touching your hand in the penalty area is a just cause for punishment.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Back at Wembley, and only a few minutes after Chelsea’s controversial goal, Spurs were back in the game, with a perfectly legitimate goal that still resulted in a slating by some for the referee. A slating due to him doing his job perfectly. As tweeter after tweeter asked why Cech wasn’t sent off, it seemed that denying a goal scoring opportunity still counts to some even when a goal is scored. Go figure. Though Mike Parry, ex of Talksport, still thinks the rule is “last man”.

The rule was brought in to stop cynical professional fouls by defenders. That’s why it does not require a red card for Peter Cech, a decision that logic would suggest would be ridiculously harsh anyway, punishing the defending team twice over. In theory Bale could have deliberately missed the shot and got a red card for Cech and a penalty into the bargain, as was debated by the commentators at the time, but surely not, as even if Bale had missed, he clearly had a goal scoring opportunity. Cech would have been similarly cheated to have been dismissed.

Martin Atkinson was back on our screens and in our thoughts once more in midweek as he hung behind the goal as one of Howard Webb’s multitude of assistants, generally overseeing things and keeping a straight face. Cue more questions from fans about what the point is of assistants behind the goal – they don’t anything, hey, they don’t even have a flag!! And as we all know, no one can function without a flag. So if this is your view of them, then please stop. I’ll leave it to a tweet by the journalist Jonathan Wilson to set the record straight.

FFS. How is this hard to grasp? Goalline officials speak to refs on mics. We have no idea how much or how little they say.

A bit harsh, but it gets the message across. Maybe we should give them flags, just to stop people whinging.

The same game brought plenty of other talking points. Ribery showed Ashley Young and co. a thing about diving, hitting the deck as if knee-capped on a minute-by-minute basis. Then there were claims for a penalty in the first half as he went down after having his shirt grabbed at. That grab however didn’t cause the fall, slight as it was, so I can’t see any problem in not awarding a penalty. But in the second half perhaps Bayern Munich had better claims for penalties after two tackles in the area. This led to the usual guff and oft-quoted assertion that the defender “got something on the ball”, as if this excuses him from any punishment whatsoever. When will commentators realise that you can touch the ball in an attempted tackle and still foul the opposing player?

The rules aren’t easy – a game built on the premise of 17 laws first drawn up in 1863, and given a major revamp in 1997, has 10,000 variations and interpretations of situations, which are tweaked on a yearly basis. Fans can’t possibly know them all, and some follow the game more than others of course, but I would expect national newspaper journalists to have a grasp of them, rather than tweeting to ask why Cech wasn’t sent off (I’m looking at you Darren Lewis). I spent so long arriving at games at the last minute I forgot the first kick had to be forward. Referees make some terrible mistakes, some are just not up to it in my opinion, but they are not helped. The ruling authorities have dragged their feet for years in helping them with the technology available, and they face a double whammy by being slated by fans and journalists alike that can’t even be bothered to check the rules.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

Chelsea fans, and some players, will be desperate to exorcise the demons of the 2008 Champions League final defeat to Manchester United when they return to the showpiece of Europe’s premier club competition this weekend. The bitter disappointment of that night remains as a constant reminder of the club’s continual quest for the trophy. A win over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena would secure the most triumphant night in the west-Londoners history, but Ruud Gullit has intimated that Roman Abramovich would be just as pleased to see his team defeated.

Andre Villas-Boas struggled to maintain control at Chelsea and after being removed from his position as coach, Roberto Di Matteo was drafted in for the interim. Only expected to ride out an extremely average season, the Italian has surpassed his remit and taken his team to FA Cup glory as well as a Champions League final. He is now one of the favourites to secure the permanent post, and there would be little opposition should the Blues lift the ultimate prize on Saturday. However, Ruud Gullit has suggested Abramovich would be equally pleased with defeat in order to select the new manager freely. He told The Sun:

“I think there is somebody already in line. But will he still want the job if Chelsea win the Champions League? Would even Jose Mourinho want to come in and replace Robbie [Di Matteo], knowing he could not top what his predecessor had achieved? If Robbie wins the Champions League, it would suddenly put a lot of pressure on the next guy. So maybe the owner doesn’t even want to win the final.”

Given the history of the Russian owner’s whimsical hiring and firing of managers there is of course cause for some pessimism. But Abramovich’s sole aim since purchasing the club has been to win the Champions League. If he has a manager who can deliver that, why would he sack him?

Despite a disappointing season, Di Matteo has a chance to complete a double. The last Blues manager to guide the team to such a feat was Carlo Ancelotti in his debut 2009/10 season. When he failed to match that trophy haul the following year he was shown the door. There will be immense pressure to appoint Di Matteo if Chelsea defeat Bayern. Win, and the 41-year-old may get a shot but his reign at would come under severe scrutiny with improvements expected early next season. Surely lifting the title would prove he is worthy of the position?

If the Stamford Bridge outfit decided not to go with the former West Bromwich Albion manager, what other options are open to them? Fabio Capello has been linked to the position but he is out of experience at club level, similarly to France coach Laurent Blanc. Chelsea hired World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari but he failed to translate his exploits at national level to the domestic stage.

Jose Mourinho has also been touted for a return to the Bridge but he has reaffirmed his commitment to Real Madrid and would have little to gain by taking over at his former club so soon. Pep Guardiola is without doubt the stand-out candidate, but his decision to take a sabbatical makes him unavailable for the job. So why not trust in Di Matteo. He has proven to be a hit with fans and players alike whilst also securing the goods.

Chelsea are notorious for meddling in transfers above the head of the coach. Mourinho was explicitly disappointed at the signing of Andriy Shevchenko while it was clear that Ancelotti had little to do with the capture of Fernando Torres. The club’s executives will likely be able to retain control over such areas with Di Matteo in charge rather than a higher profile coach.

Yes, defeat for Chelsea would allow Abramovich more freedom to choose the man he wants to continue the job next season, but realistically he will not be hoping to lose. That is preposterous. Failure is not an option as it would mean the Blues would play no part in the tournament next season. The Russian billionaire is in charge of the club and is not one to crumble under media pressure. He is just a few hours away from getting his hands on the trophy that he so fervently craves. If Di Matteo can supply him with that, he will no doubt be rewarded handsomely.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

What do you make of Gullit’s claims? Let me know on Twitter @thwebber.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

There is a popular belief in society that all the best artists are crazy, for it is only these individuals who have the capability to produce something we’ve never seen or even considered before. What about footballers? Do they have to be mad to be brilliant? Surely the best players are those who can conjure something completely unique on their grassy canvas.

For all their positive attributes, the ‘workhorses’ or ‘no-nonsense’ defenders will only ever be truly loved by their own managers. As fans, our idols are those who dazzle further up the pitch, always flirting with the idea of doing some entirely unconventional. If I were to offer you the choice of a glass of tap water or a brash cocktail – containing equal measures of flamboyance and frustration – which one would you chose? The water is without question better for you and infinitely more reliable but you’ll still find yourself opting for the beverage with the umbrella sticking out of it, because of the unexpected excitement it might bring.

A perfect example is Paul Gascoigne, a player of effortless genius who had the unfortunate ability to match every extreme high with an equivalent low throughout his career. His lust for the ball when others shied away from it was inspirational and that was before he started to weave his magic. ‘Gazza’ is still idolised today, partly because of his exploits on the pitch but also because his off-the-field antics resonated with so many ‘normal’ individuals. You’ll often hear him described as a proper ‘character’ in football, as if he played the lead role in your favourite television programme.

Players like Paul Gascoigne, Paolo Di Canio and even the likes of Tino Asprilla all attracted legions of fans during their time in the Premiership. They were by no means perfect in the way they played football, nor did they dominate at the end of season awards, but they all possessed the uncanny ability to try something beyond the normal realms of comprehension. Instead of looking for the easy option, they would seek the most entertaining one and because they had the talent to execute such unusual moves, everyone fell in love with them.

Mario Balotelli undoubtedly represents the next talented star to blend both the brilliant with the bizarre. The Italian is blessed with flair, pace and textbook technique but he is not adverse to a fireworks display in his bathroom or leaving the house disguised as Feathers Mcgraw. Despite a series of ill-disciplined outbursts, the 21-year-old has notched 17 goals in 31 club appearances this season and deserves credit for carrying the torch in the absence of Carlos Tevez.

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Having endured a turbulent first season in the Premier League with more ups and downs than a typical rollercoaster, an air of doubt has surrounded his future at the club after a petulant display against Arsenal. He certainly lacks the composure of his elder team-mates but when he has the ball he is such a rare and intriguing spectacle that English football would be far less attractive without him.

Elsewhere in the world of football, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi both seem able to be exceptional on the pitch without the accompanying acts of ludicrously. Messi may have a tattoo of his mum on his back and Ronaldo may be guilty of pantomime reactions when he’s fouled (and even when he’s not), but these appear futile compared to throwing darts at youth team members or an unannounced visit to a women’s prison.

In fact Messi can be further admired by the way he conducts himself on the pitch, he rarely complains, rolls around on the floor or waves an imaginary card after he’s been fouled for the umpteenth time. His maturity is an example to all young footballers but it will be interesting to see how he copes with the increasingly desperate measures the opposition will employ to try and stop him. Need I remind you of the legendary Zinedine Zidane at the 2006 World Cup.

The very best players compete without any boundaries or limits, they thrive on the adulation of the supporters but when the whistle blows and the lights go out, some will search for that same buzz in those less desirable recreational activities. Perhaps there is an argument that the modern day culture of the sport drives certain players to commit such acts of outlandish behaviour. We as a nation are more than willing to propel players to such dizzying heights of stardom only to berate and criticise them the moment they make an inevitable mistake.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

With sensationalised media coverage and the growing levels of expectation for club and country, players are constantly walking a tightrope of their own success. You may not have to be crazy to be brilliant at football, but some would argue that it certainly helps.

[divider]

[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]

Ipswich Town have had a week of good news and bad news. The bad news is that Paul Jewell’s main transfer target Joel Ward turned down the chance to sign for Ipswich and chose to sign for Crystal Palace.

However, the good news is that Ipswich have now made their first summer signing in Macclesfield right back Elliot Hewitt. The young Welshman turned 18 years old on Wednesday and this signing shows Ipswich are heading in the right direction.

Joel Ward put in some very encouraging performances at the back for Portsmouth last season and at 22 years of age he looked like just what Ipswich needed. Many see the club’s failure to sign Ward as bad news but others are actually pleased that the club failed to lure the former Portsmouth man to Ipswich.

If Joel Ward did sign for Ipswich he would have been joining the club for the wrong reasons. Over the last few seasons the Ipswich squad has consisted mainly of players who clearly don’t care about playing for the club and are only playing for the money. Their lack of passion and desire to play for the club was always clear to see.

It was obvious that Grant Leadbitter never cared about Ipswich because he only started to play well when his contract was coming to an end and he needed to sell himself to other clubs by playing well. Joel Ward is not necessarily in the same category as Leadbitter as he turned down higher wages to join Crystal Palace and be closer to his family. However, if Ward did accept Jewell’s offer it wouldn’t have been for the right reasons and it would have showed in his performances on the pitch.

The great thing about this week has been that Ipswich have signed a player who looks like he will be proud to wear an Ipswich Town shirt. Elliot Hewitt is exactly the right type of player fans have been crying out for. A young lad with the desire to make a name for himself and more importantly a desire to play for Ipswich. Picking the gems out from the lower leagues is a far superior transfer policy to what Ipswich used to do when they only searched for players in Premier League Reserve teams.

It seems that Paul Jewell may well have learnt the lesson that other managers have failed to. If he keeps up this transfer policy then there will be a different atmosphere at Portman Road next season. Fans will turn up to the games and see the team play with passion and determination whether they win or lose. It will be refreshing for the fans to see a new attitude within the team after so many years of seeing failed Premier League players lug around the fine pitch.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

A change in the teams work rate and philosophy won’t come with just one signing though.

It is concerning to think that Paul Jewell once named Grant Leadbitter as his Ipswich captain. At the time myself and most other fans were unhappy with the decision as I can’t think of a worse player to captain the side. It can hardly be inspiring for the team to play under a captain who doesn’t care about the club. Thankfully Paul Jewell did strip Leadbitter of his captaincy later on in the season and all we can do is hope that he has learnt his lesson. The next few signings will shape the team for next season and whilst the signings don’t necessarily need be young they need to want to play for Ipswich.

[ad_pod id=’writer-1′ align=’right’]

While the world patiently waits for the new Premier League season to arrive, a flurry of activity relentlessly flows through every club, with players arriving and departing in equal measures. While there has yet to be a bank-breaking, marquee signing this summer, the media is awash with rumours of big name stars searching for new employers. Many of the players who receive the most coverage are star strikers. The men who pose the greatest goal threat for their respective teams are often the players held in highest regard, demanding lucrative transfer fees and generating excitement around any club. Whilst there are no doubts that there will still be a considerable amount of movement and new additions to the Premier League, these 10 players may be the most likely to claim the golden boot when next May arrives.

This list includes previous winners of the prized top scorer trophy, new signings that are untested in this league and outside bets who have shown enough talent in finding the net to acquire a place in this group of stars. While some performed admirably last campaign, some had relatively quiet seasons. Have a look at this list and see if you agree whether one of these players will add an individual trophy to their career come the seasons climax.

Click on Papiss Cisse to unveil the 10 candidates

[divider]

[divider]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[divider]

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

Newcastle have reportedly made a bid of £3.15m for Twente defender Douglas, Sky Sports claim.

The Tyneside club are eager to strengthen their squad ahead of the 2012-13 season, and will look to build on their fifth-placed finish from last term.

With Romain Amalfitano already been added to Alan Pardew’s squad, a commanding defender is next on the Geordies’ radar.

Douglas has impressed for the Eredivisie side over the last number of campaigns, and as such has been linked with a move to one of Europe’s big leagues consistently of late.

The Brazilian centre-half has also admitted that he is ready to leave the Enschede-based side for a new challenge, but manager Steve McClaren is said to be eager to recoup a handsome price for the South American.

As yet there has been no news on whether the bid has been accepted, with Newcastle looking to build on their acquisition of Cheik Tiote, who also move to the north east from Twente.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

By Gareth McKnight

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

After suffering an all too familiar defeat on penalties only two months ago, England have “an ideal opportunity to see some revolution” as they face Italy once more, Roy Hodgson has claimed. The implication was that this “revolution” would see a youthful side take on the Azzurri, however, the withdrawals of Theo Walcott, Daniel Sturridge, Joe Hart and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain means older players have been called up for duty.

There will still be six previously uncapped players starting the game, but the centre of midfield will be patrolled by Frank Lampard, 34, and Michael Carrick, 31, who share 112 full international caps between them. At the Euros this year, England’s midfield was built on ‘thirty-somethings’ – with Steven Gerrard, Scott Parker, Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard all in Hodgson’s provisional squads, but some pulling out due to injury. With this theme continuing into Wednesday night’s friendly, there seems to be less a glimpse of the future of England on offer, and more a stepping stone leading in the right direction.

Hodgson has never had the opportunity to pick either of these central midfielders, through injury or participation in Champions League, and will certainly be keen to analyse their performance during the game. However, while there is evidence to suggest England have real quality emerging in most areas of the side, central midfield remains a weakness. Finding a dynamic, youthful midfielder over the next few years leading up to Brazil 2014 will be crucial for England.

What do you think about England’s squad for the friendly? Are there any young players you think could make the step up to International duty? Tweet me @dudeyoungy

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]

It seems the last time Arsene Wenger sent out his strongest team on a consistent basis was the nearly season of 2007/08. That year, the central midfield duo of Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas arguably became Arsenal’s best partnership post-Vieira. They were flanked by Alex Hleb and Tomas Rosicky, and their results and charge on the Premier League title was testament to how technically excellent and effective they all were.

That appears about it for Arsenal, as since then the injuries have continued to pile up, the best players have continued out the exit door, and for all of Wenger’s wisdom in the game, he never seems willing to seize the day.

The win against Tottenham saw Arsenal play their most impressive football of the season, certainly from an attacking perspective. It wasn’t just that the team were in the right frame of mind for the occasion, but every member of the starting XI was comfortably the best Arsenal had to offer. That so far has been the only league game where all of those players have started together.

But should it be seen as mismanagement from Wenger? After all, isn’t it he who often says that the club are only focused on the next game as it is the most important? Why then opt for rotation? Why keep one eye on the next game when all manner of disappointments can occur between two matches? Why not go out and grab all three points when they are clearly on offer?

It came to light a few days following the game at Aston Villa that Jack Wilshere was carrying a knock and needed to be rested. But supporters and the media weren’t to know that. The player was evidently fit enough to take a place on the bench, with the option of throwing him on in the worst case scenario. It sparks memories of the game against Aston Villa at the Emirates in 2009 where Cesc Fabregas came on for a 20-minute two goal cameo, only to be subbed off after aggravating his injury.

You can understand why any manager needs to rotate his players over a season which tallies up 50-plus games. But Arsenal have always been a greatly different proposition. They’re a team who can crumble with shocking ease, they’re a team who are often devoid of any leadership on the pitch, and the most obvious factor of failing to capture all three points has been the considerable lack of depth.

To reiterate recent points, Arsenal seem to fall to pieces when just one key player is taken out of the starting XI and replaced with someone of lesser quality. The most famous night at the Emirates up until this point is certainly the win against Barcelona in 2011, a match which saw Arsenal’s strongest midfield and attacking line up start. Goals came via Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin, the second of which being put together by Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere. Two weeks later, Arsenal crumbled in the League Cup final against Birmingham. The makeup of the team was largely the same, except for arguably the most important factor—Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal have always had fantastic players—undoubtedly some of the best in England and Europe—but the squad has always held them back. The lack of consistency with the makeup of the starting XI has been a problem, and there’s always a sense that we never really experienced the best of this Arsenal era on a regular basis.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

It was Robin van Persie who was a regular casualty for much of his Arsenal career, while the injuries certainly increased for Fabregas in his final few seasons with the club. It was also a disappointment that Aaron Ramsey missed the entire season in which Jack Wilshere rose to prominence, while Thomas Vermaelen spent a season out injured following his impressive debut year at the club.

There’s always been a gap, an unmistakable but costly void somewhere in the team. Would Arsenal have gone on to win the title in 2008 had van Persie, Eduardo, Bacary Sagna and Flamini not picked up injuries at various stages in the year? That was certainly Arsene Wenger’s best team since the move to the Emirates. But like the Invincibles, we simply didn’t get to see enough of them.

Former Tottenham Hotspur team-mate Luka Modric has urged Gareth Bale to join him at Real Madrid, believing he would make the perfect counterpart to Cristiano Ronaldo on the opposite flank.

In the Premier League, the Welsh winger has been in hot form again this year, with six goals already to his name as well as an assist. Although just 23-years-old, Bale has been improving year upon year, and the suggestion from Modric that he should move to a bigger club sparks an interesting debate. Has Gareth Bale simply outgrown Tottenham – a team that currently plays in the Europa league, and certainly have strong competition to finishing fourth? A dive into the stats should help clear things up.

Bale is certainly a Champions League player, he proved that with his exceptional display against Inter Milan a few years ago, where he ran riot on the left flank against Maicon – an experienced defender who is a World Cup winner. Furthermore, he has often become talismanic at times for Spurs. For example, it is no coincidence that the Welshman was the only player capable of making a difference for Tottenham after Adebayor’s sending off during the North London derby. His second half goal, in which he penetrated the Arsenal half with his direct pace and dribbling, before producing a tidy and accurate finish into the bottom corner with his weaker foot is in many ways a trademark goal for Bale.

[post_link url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/championship/blackburn-rovers/blackburn-keeper-to-leave-if-friedel-returns,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/tottenham/why-a-fuss-free-return-is-needed-for-emmanuel-adebayor,https://www.footballfancast.com/football-blogs/the-premier-league-one-season-wonder-xi” target=”_blank” type=”tower”]

It seems a long time ago since Bale arrived at White Hart Lane from Southampton for £5million, at which time he was considered to be a left-back as opposed to a left-winger. He was best known for his free-kicks, which is another asset that the 23-year-old has in his locker. Since then his turn of pace and his dribbling control has greatly improved, and along with his technical ability has made him a serious goal threat. The Cardiff-born winger has a shot accuracy of 52%, which is on par with the likes of Wayne Rooney, Demba Ba, Michu, Robin van Persie and team-mate Jermain Defoe. But furthermore, that is hardly the only part of Bale’s game.

He is also the seventh best crosser in the league, with a success rate of 20% – which sounds low, but is comparably quite high – despite the fact he has spent much of the season with mainly Jermain Defoe to aim at, and considering he has attempted over 100 crosses already in just fifteen games. It is a better return than any of the Chelsea attackers, and is mainly overshadowed by full-backs and central midfielders who often have more space to cross from. In total, Bale has created 32 scoring chances this season, the tenth best in the league.

Back to Bale’s defensive roots – he should not only be considered an attacker. Unlike many of his other counterparts, the Welshman can tackle and anticipate the game well while his team is defending, and then has enough speed and acceleration to quickly advance on the break, or join the attack from a more defensive position. He has made twenty interceptions this season, with a tackle success rate of 68%, and is statistically much better in the air than the majority of Premier League wingers.

It would be wrong to suggest that the Tottenham man doesn’t come with faults. His incessant diving has agitated fans and referees, and despite being incredibly athletic, he often comes across weak and lacking in passion when it comes to stern challenges. Similarly, his passing is questionable at times, with a 68% passing completion rate in the final third, and 78% completion rate for passing overall – not the best for an attacking midfielder.  He is also often inconsistent, sometimes with a dribbling success rate of 50% or more, but in other games failing to gallop past a single opponent and his work-rate off the ball is also sometimes lacking.

Perhaps suggesting he has outgrown Tottenham is somewhat harsh on a club who performed well last season and are currently lying in fourth place. But Bale is an important aspect of that team, despite his young age, and cannot drive the team on by himself. My main argument is quite simple – Gareth Bale’s abilities are rarely limited by his opposition, proved by the fact he has scored against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool this season. His pace, skill and technique make him a constant danger to any defence, and he has the ability to score goals as well as create chances from either out wide or the middle. Furthermore, he can contribute defensively, although that side of his game has somewhat diminished as he takes on greater attacking responsibility.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Bale is improving year on year, and considering he already has six goals to his name, will no doubt beat his total last season of ten, but has some way to go before matching his assists tally of eleven. I do believe however, Bale’s departure from White Hart Lane is not a matter of if but when, and is likely to happen sooner or later. I’ve always viewed him as a Manchester United player, but should the Spanish giants come calling, it is hard to imagine the young Welshman will be able to resist.

[ad_pod id=’xmas’ align=’center’]

Former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville argued an extremely salient point worth noting in the midst of all the madness of transfer deadline day, stating that the clubs that do the majority of their business in the final few hours of the window are more often than not poorly run. But does this theory carry any weight?

Neville tweeted at the height of the final day’s worth of trolley-dashing fun: “What the transfer deadline gives you is a clear indication of which are the badly run football clubs!!!”

It would appear to tie in rather neatly with the universally accepted opinion that if a club gets the majority of their transfer business done early enough in the summer, that they go into pre-season with the aim of integrating the new faces and start the full season with a more settled side. Nevertheless, there are obviously bargains to be had as the final hours of the clock tick down and before the window slams shut.

Of course, current reigning Premier league champions Manchester City made a big splash on the final day, bringing in the likes of Javi Garcia, Scott Sinclair, Maicon, Matija Nastasic and Richard Wright and it has to be said, there was a degree of desperation to the way that they went about their business.

The frustration felt by manager Roberto Mancini all summer was palpable and he had a very public falling out with the club’s football administrator Brian Marwood over their inactivity throughout the window, as they missed out on both Eden Hazard and Robin van Persie to rivals Chelsea and Manchester United.

The school of thought that unless you are constantly looking at improving your squad, you are in danger of not only standing still but going backwards is a sound one, and it appears that even though the club were mindful of the Financial Fair Play rules and the effect a potentially budget-busting signing could have on their financial future, it appears as if their movement was simply to indulge and placate Mancini.

Nobody in their right mind would state that Liverpool did well on the final day either, but for completely different reasons to City’s Arsenal-esque attempts to get bodies into the club. The lack of a CEO at the club appears to have cost them and managing director Ian Ayre has come in for some criticism for failing to secure a deal for either Clint Dempsey or Daniel Sturridge after allowing Andy Carroll to leave on loan to West Ham.

It’s been widely reported that Liverpool offered just £3m for Dempsey, who was in the final year of his contract at Craven Cottage, with the club’s owners FSG unconvinced that paying the £5m plus asking price was sound business considering the 29 year-old forward’s age. Their offer was rejected and Tottenham swooped in during the final hour to clinch his signature, leaving Liverpool woefully short on numbers up front now until January. It was a lesson in how not to conduct your business on deadline day and just drives home the point how risky it all is if it doesn’t end up falling your way.

Tottenham could never be accused of being a poorly run club, and chairman Daniel Levy is as tough a negotiator and astute businessman as there is currently operating in the top flight. He’s often criticised for running his club like a business, but when you take away the sentiment that often blinds your everyday fan, what other way is there to run it?

The club’s slow start to the campaign has once again been attributed to their lack of movement in the market this summer, as they haggled with Real Madrid over the transfer of Luka Modric. In the end, they managed to secure a package worth upwards of £30m, plus a potentially lucrative long-term commercial partnership that could be set to benefit the club in the years to come.

They signed Hugo Lloris and Clint Dempsey on the final day, only just missing out on Joao Moutinho by the narrowest of margins. Considering that prior to this summer, the club required a replacement for Luka Modric, a couple of strikers and a long-term replacement for Brad Friedel in goal, they haven’t done too badly, but they operate solely on the principle that they spend what they’ve got and they weren’t about to part with any cash until the Modric deal was tied up. In that sense, they can be seen as sensible, but they have still paid the cost of doing their business late, in the short-term at least.

It all depends on what sort of budget the club in question is operating with, to be honest – Stoke, for example, clinched deals for both Charlie Adam and Steven N’Zonzi for a combined total of around £7.5m – they clearly got both cheaper than they may have done earlier in the window due to the respective selling clubs willingness to shift them on. They already have a reasonably settled side, so the impact that the new players coming in can have will only enhance the team, whereas at a bigger side in transition, it may disrupt the harmony and balance of the starting eleven.

There is certainly a degree of validity to Neville’s statement, as best highlighted by the fact that Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea all remained inactive on deadline day, despite all having noticeable gaps in their squads that needed plugging. A big club can be held to ransom on deadline day while a smaller one can profit and secure the odd bargain – it simply all depends which side of the coin that you approach it from.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Naming and shaming a club as poorly run is a rather simplistic way of looking at things; QPR for instance look to be without a coherent plan as they invested in practically a whole new spine to their side, while Tottenham were shackled by negotiating a large deal out of the club.

There are many reasons for conducting the majority of your business on deadline day, and it’s a hugely risky strategy to say the least, but to call every club poorly run that does dip their toe into the murky waters of the market in the final few hours would seem to be a somewhat dramatic generalisation, not taking into account the various factors which clubs are run by.

You can follow me on Twitter @JamesMcManus1

[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]