With last night’s 1-0 loss at the hands of Stoke, the pressure on Alan Pardew has once again been ramped up. The Newcastle chief has managed just a handful of wins (five to be precise) in 2014, which is a record that has irked supporters on Tyneside who have been calling for change for some time.

Newcastle now sit at the foot of the table on level points with Burnley – favourites for relegation – after six fixtures, and the poll at the end of last season which revealed that 86% of ‘Toon’ followers wanted Pardew sacked would appear to be increasing in numbers by the week.

But despite receiving the dreaded vote of confidence today, who’s out there to replace the controversy-riddled gaffer? Well we have FIVE candidates right here…

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON PARDEW TO SEE WHO COULD REPLACE HIM

[/ffc-gallery]

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

[ffcvideo file=”TopFiveVideosoftheWeek” type=”mp4″]

David Moyes

The pick of the bunch would appear to be Moyes. The Scot’s wonderful work at Everton seems to have been all but forgotten after a disastrous season at Manchester United, but there’s no doubting that he has the ability and track record for success in English football. A move to Newcastle would likely appeal to Moyes, who will be eager to repair his reputation at a big club and prove to the Red Devils’ hierarchy that he was worthy of the “Chosen One’ tag.

The Magpies would benefit from his experience, while Mike Ashley will surely be attracted to the work his did on a shoestring budget at Everton.

Tony Pulis

The shock of the summer managerial merry-go-round was Pulis’ decision to leave Crystal Palace. His heroics last season at Selhurst Park saw the former Stoke boss drag the Eagles back from what looked to be certain relegation after Ian Holloway’s awful start to the campaign, which gained him the Premier League manager of the year award. A dispute about transfer funds is understood to have been the major factor in his decision to leave south London, and Newcastle could offer him a new home.

Pulis may have a reputation for agricultural football, but his time at Palace was one in which he brought in some flair to go with his often direct approach. A good record at the bottom end of the table could help to keep the Tynesides away from the drop zone.

Tim Sherwood

Despite possessing a decent record as Spurs manager over the back end of last season, Sherwood was unceremoniously dumped by the Londoners shortly after the last ball of the campaign was kicked. His outspoken nature and penchant for the gilet may have made him a laughing stock, but he did get the best from the divisive Emmanuel Adebayor while handing young players their debuts on the way to getting big results.

There are worse options out there for Newcastle.

Neil Lennon

After three back-to-back Scottish titles, Lennon opted to leave Celtic over the summer in search of work south of the border. Despite his experience and talents, the Northern Irishman has, as of yet, been unable to get himself a big job, but his name is in the mix for the Newcastle hot seat. He may be unproven in the Premier League, but the former Bhoys midfielder has bags of passion and plenty of know-how, which could make him a big hit at St James’ Park.

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.

Like Moyes, Lennon has operated on low budgets in the past while bringing success, so his methods may appeal to Mike Ashley.

Steve Bruce

There may be plenty of Sunderland baggage with Bruce, but the former Manchester United defender has been mooted as a favourite to patrol the touchline at St James’. Bruce is an underrated manager in the Premier League, with his achievements at clubs such as Wigan, Birmingham and now Hull City having never been enough to land him a job at a club with top six aspirations.

The 53-year-old has already confessed that he would have liked the Newcastle role earlier in his career, and his North East roots could make him a favourite among Magpies supporters… even though he has taken charge of Sunderland in the past.

The advent of Sky in the early 1990s and its subsequent televised domination of English football saw the Premier League being branded as The Best League In The World, and until fairly recently this claim, though nothing more than a boastful marketing gimmick to draw in more subscribers, rang true nonetheless. For most of the last decade Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool formed the untouchable Big Four, the ultimate symbol of Premier League might. While Spain, Germany and Italy had their own heavyweights, they came in twos or threes at most; none of their respective leagues could boast a quartet of genuine powerhouses like England could.

The superiority of the English game in the early 21st Century was evident in continental competition. Although the rise of Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur and the decline of Liverpool towards the end of the 2000s led to the break-up of the Big Four, Premier League sides remained a major force in the Champions League. For seven out of eight seasons between the years of 2004 and 2012, at least one of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea appeared in the final of the tournament. In contrast, Barcelona – the only Spanish side to make the final during the same period – appeared three times, while Bayern Munich were the sole German representatives, losing two finals in 2010 and 2012.

However, in the years following Bayern’s loss to Chelsea in 2012, the balance of power in European football has shifted dramatically. The past two Champions League finals have either been all-German or all-Spanish affairs, reflecting the emergence of La Liga and Bundesliga as the two dominant leagues in world football. Bayern, Barca and Real are reigning supreme, and one could argue that Chelsea are the sole remaining member of the long-forgotten Big Four who can realistically challenge this triumvirate on the continental stage.

A swift rebranding was clearly needed then, and English football’s top flight changed from being The Best League In The World to the more ambiguous and less prestigious Most Entertaining League In The World. A subtle demotion of the league’s status it may have been, but the bigwigs at Sky were still content with their new title, as the final-day delirium of Manchester City’s title victory in 2012 and their compelling three-way jostle with Liverpool and Chelsea for the championship last season showed that the Premier League, though lagging behind its Spanish and German equivalents in terms of quality, was peerless in the entertainment stakes.

Judging by the opening months of the new campaign, however, the boffins in charge of selling the league to the millions of armchair supporters around the world may need to arrange another brainstorming session. The title race has been more of a one-team title stroll as Chelsea – undefeated in their first eleven games – look insurmountable. The ineptitude of Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal in challenging the Blues at the top of the table means that the climax of the season is shaping up to be one of the most predictable in recent years, and it will take a major and uncharacteristic cock-up from Jose Mourinho to allow their rivals back into contention.

The lack of competition for the championship in England is in stark contrast to the situation in Spain, where just seven points separate Celta Vigo in seventh and Real Madrid in first. Indeed, the Celestes have actually lost fewer games than the ten-times European Cup winners, and have conceded the same amount of goals. For drama and unpredictability, it seems that the go-to league is now the Spanish top flight, which leaves the Premier League desperately scrambling through the bargain bucket of superlatives for a suitable title. No longer The Best, nor even The Most Entertaining, it may have to settle for The Most Watched or The Most Popular, which is great news for television companies seeking revenue, but hardly an endorsement of the league’s quality or entertainment value.

Nevertheless, it’s not all doom and gloom for the top tier of English football. Far from it in fact, as ultimately, the Premier League’s identity crisis merely highlights the fluctuating nature of European football. Just as each league goes through its period of dominance – from the Eredivisie in the early 1970s to Serie A in the 1990s – so too do they endure a lull, as these aforementioned divisions are themselves experiencing presently. English football may very well be in the early stages of decline, but this is no reason to panic as such a phenomenon is natural in the game.

The Premier League must learn to accept that it can no longer currently be considered as neither The Best, nor perhaps The Most Entertaining. This is not to say, however, that these titles cannot be reclaimed in the future.

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’s your opinion? Follow me on Twitter @GruffuddOwen

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Hugo Lloris is currently the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and he deserves to play in the Champions League to test himself against the very best.

The Frenchman won the Coupe de France in 2011-12 with Lyon and he was named ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ for three years running in Ligue 1 from 08-09/10-11, before making the move to the Premier League to join Spurs. He isn’t the most decorated goalkeeper around, but he’s seemingly better now than ever before.

The 27-year-old signed a four-year contract extension in the summer, so he must be enjoying himself at White Hart Lane – but can he win trophies and/or play in the Champions League with Spurs in that time frame?

Tottenham Hotspur are on the up and more importantly the old ‘top-four’ is dissolving. It may be harder than ever for a side which isn’t Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, or Man United to win the title, but it seems more likely that “an outsider” can qualify for the Champions League. Spurs have by no means been as good as they can be, but they’ll be there or thereabouts come May. They’ll also very much have the chance to win either the Capital One Cup or FA Cup, and the Spurs fans may even expect a trophy this season. Tottenham are also in the Europa League, which isn’t quite as popular as the Champions League but winning it isn’t easy.

Hugo Lloris oozes class every time he walks on the pitch for club or country. He proves week-in-week-out that he is the most consistent player at Spurs and is currently the best shot-stopper in the Premier League. The statistics certainly back this up;

Comparing Lloris to a selection of the other top goalkeepers in the Premier League, the following is revealed:

Most Clean Sheets

David De Gea – 2

Hugo Lloris  –  3

Joe Hart – 2

Wojciech Szczesny – 1

Thibaut Courtois – 2

Goals Conceded

David De Gea – 10

Hugo Lloris – 7

Joe Hart – 5

Wojciech Szczesny – 9

Thibaut Courtois – 7

Saves Per Goal

David De Gea – 1.30

Hugo Lloris – 2.50

Joe Hart – 2.00

Wojciech Szczesny – 1.22

Thibaut Courtois – 1.17

Total Saves

David De Gea – 13

Hugo Lloris – 15

Joe Hart – 8

Wojciech Szczesny – 11

Thibaut Courtois – 7

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.

Distribution Accuracy (Distribution Length – average in metres)

David De Gea – 67% (46)

Hugo Lloris – 75% (50)

Joe Hart – 67% (37)

Wojciech Szczesny – 77% (43)

Thibaut Courtois – 57% (49)

If nothing else these statistics show that Lloris is an all-round good goalkeeper. He may not have the best distribution accuracy but he is very strong and he finds his Spurs teammates 75% of the time when kicking or throwing the ball after an attack breaks down. On average his distribution distance is the longest of the five goalkeepers.

Perhaps the most important statistic among the above however is ‘saves per goal’ – Hugo Lloris really is in a league of his own with this one. Compared to the others he is far and beyond the best shotstopper. There is no statistic to show how good the saves were but from watching all five, their job is rarely easy.

The French captain and Spurs vice-captain IS the best goalkeeper in the Premier League and I hope to see him in the Champions League – the big question is, will it be with Tottenham?

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Its taken four months, 13 Premier League fixtures, five defeats and the introduction of three academy products, but Tottenham are finally beginning to resemble a Mauricio Pochettino side.

Their 2-1 home victory over Everton on Sunday was inspired by the blend of passion, tenacity, organisation and elegance that became synonymous with the Argentine at Southampton. The second goal particularly; a full-blooded tackle from Harry Kane deep in Everton’s half was quickly turned into the deciding strike, with Aaron Lennon providing and the misfortunate Roberto Soldado netting his first Premier League goal of the campaign.

Yet, there’s still a long way to go before Tottenham become the bona fide ‘Pochettenham’ that the manager, the fans, the players and the boardroom dream of. Clearly his ideas are beginning to transition into positive results – even the infamously slender, elusive and inconsistent Christian Eriksen appears to be buying into the more industrious side of things – but the weakness of Spurs’ starting line-up against Everton said it all.

There’s nothing wrong with giving first team opportunities to young players – in fact, quite the opposite – but if Pochettino felt he had a genuine choice in the matter, it’s unlikely a midfield partnership of Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb, boasting just 26 Premier League appearances between them, would have been selected against the Toffees at the weekend. The same can be said for fan favourite Harry Kane – a promising prospect by all means, but one still way off the standard you’d expect to be starting regularly at a top six Premier League club.

Of course, whilst they provide passion, grit and local connection, growing in confidence and stature as the supporting volume around White Hart Lane swirled louder and louder, those left out of the starting line-up to face Everton are worryingly less responsive to both Pochettino and the fans.

Mousa Dembele, Etienne Capoue, Emmanuel Adebayor, Erik Lamela and Paulinho, who cost the club around £61million in transfers and an unimaginable amount in wages, were the notable exclusions as Spurs produced their first genuine Pochettino performance of the season – although the latter South Americans were both brought in the last half an hour.

Clearly, if this manner of performance is to become Tottenham’s defining philosophy long-term, Pochettino needs Daniel Levy’s backing in the transfer market.

This did NOT happen by any stretch of the imagination during the summer. £32million spent – just £8million net – is an incredibly modest budget for an incoming manager, especially considering £3million was devoted to a signing that won’t actually be at Pochettino’s disposal until January at the earliest, DeAndre Yedlin, and another £4million went on a back-up goalkeeper.

It speaks volumes about control of transfer policy at White Hart Lane that injury-free £4.7million signing Benjamin Stambouli, signed on deadline day as an alternative to Morgan Schneiderlin, hasn’t featured in the Premier League since his September debut.

So if Pochettino can make a Pochettino side out of players he inherited, signings he had little part in and youngsters – one of which, Mason, didn’t see the light of day under the last three manages at White Hart Lane – imagine what Spurs could be capable of with a squad tailored by him personally.  The areas that require immediate addressing in January are already obvious; the strike force, the heart of midfield, the left wing.

And it’s not only on the incoming front where Pochettino needs full backing from the board. If his ideas are to truly take effect and not become lost in the more apathetic areas of the squad, the Tottenham manager must be given complete say on who is moved on too. Some faces, like Dembele, unfortunately just don’t fit, whilst others, like Adebayor, just aren’t fit for purpose.

Perhaps you could make this argument for any club with a new manager, but for Tottenham it has particular resonance; their transfer model of buying European prospects for future profits, purchasing players seemingly for financial reasons alone, is the corrosive disease that engulfed Andre Villas-Boas’ regime and up until last weekend, appeared to be eating away at Pochettino’s too.

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.

However, there are signs already that Levy will support Pochettino when the January window arrives, albeit with some compromise. Last week, Spurs secured the services of former Southampton Head of Recruitment Paul Mitchell – someone who not only fits into the Lane’s current management structure, but also boasts a proven track record of working with Pochettino.

That’s certainly a step in the right direction, so now the ultimate question is finance. Tottenham have generated a net spend of negative-£13million since summer 2010 and clearly, fingers were singed by the fire that was Spurs’ £110million spree after Gareth Bale’s departure to Real Madrid. But if he wants Pochettino to be a long-term success in north London, Levy must think big – and that needs to be reflected in the Lilywhites’ transfer budgets over the next two windows.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

With the January transfer window now closed, it’s time for Tottenham to start planning their summer recruitment – and before anything else comes the Bosman market.

The rule, first created in 1995 by the European Court of Justice to allow footballers to move freely upon the expiration of their contracts, has completely changed where power lies in the beautiful game. It’s now the players – not the clubs – that have the upper hand.

Not that clubs like Spurs can’t benefit from picking up players on free transfers – in fact, quite the opposite. And with that in mind, we’ve listed the FIVE contract rebels the Lilywhites should be looking to add to their squad this summer.

YEVHEN KONOPLYANKA

One coveted contract rebel Tottenham fans will already be familiar with is Dnipro winger Yevhen Konoplyanka, who was heavily linked with a White Hart Lane switch last season and again in the January transfer window.

Having monopolised the Ukrainian Player of the Year award between 2010 and 2013, winning it thrice, and also claimed the Ukrainian Premier League’s Player of the Year award for 2013, the 25 year-old is widely considered to be one of the top talents outside of Europe’s five leading top flights – originally gaining continental notoriety for his stunning goal against England at Wembley in 2012.

He boasts an impressive return of 32 goals in 149 league appearances for Dnipro, but the Ukraine international is better famed for his playmaking abilities, often drifting into the channels from wide positions to create scoring opportunities.

Konoplyanka’s best position remains the left wing – which is exactly what Tottenham need this summer. Although many have been impressed with the goalscoring form of Nacer Chadli this season, the Dnipro talisman represents an unequivocal upgrade in that department, and a more feasible option long-term.

He turned down a move to Roma during the January window according to the Daily Star, likely leaving the Lilywhites to battle it out with fellow suitors Liverpool for his signature this summer.

ANDRE-PIERRE GIGNAC

Despite the recent heroics of Harry Kane, Tottenham’s front-line desperately requires a reshuffle this summer, bringing in new faces to replace the unwanted Emmanuel Adebayor and £27million flop Roberto Solado – who have netted just thrice between them in the Premier League this term.

One bosman-based solution comes in the form of Andre-Pierre Gignac, currently amid the best for of his career with 16 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions for Marseille. That includes a 14-goal haul in the league, which has fired L’OM to second in the Ligue 1 table.

In terms of strength and height, the 6 foot 1 striker – once heckled with jeers of ‘un Big Mac pour Gignac’ regarding his weight – is perfect for the Premier League, and would certainly offer something a little different to Tottenham’s attacking line-up to the comparatively slender Kane.

The 19-cap-five-goal France international’s age, 29, might muffle Spurs’ interest somewhat. But available on a free contract come the summer, he could prove to be an astutely cheap short-term addition for the Lilywhites until a more permanent understudy to Kane is found.

LUIZ ADRIANO

Offering an equally costless alternative to Gignac is Shaktar Donetsk star Luiz Adriano, who’s currently leading the Champions League’s scoring charts with nine goals in just six appearances, eight of which came in back-to-back drubbings of BATE Borisov.

Throughout his career with the Ukrainian Champions, the Brazilian boasts a potent return of nearly one-in-two, or more specifically, 122 goals in 253 appearances – including 20 goals in just 25 league outings last season.

More than just firepower however, Adriano offers all the power, pace and directness one could want in a Premier League striker, and his recent form has earned a place in the Brazil national team, suggesting he could be on the verge of advancing his game to a higher level.

That also would likely require a move to a more competitive league and there’s plenty of clubs reportedly willing to offer him that opportunity, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Roma.

Tottenham would be wise to weigh in, but a lack of involvement in the Champions League does put them at a significant disadvantage.

WINSTON REID

Now into the final six months of his contract and unlikely to qualify for European football with eighth-place West Ham this season, star defender Winston Reid will almost certainly be plying his trade with another Premier League club next year.

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.

In fact, some sources claim he’s already agreed a move to White Hart Lane and although the New Zealand international may not be the most talented centre-back to represent the Lilywhites in technical terms, he’s an undisputed master of the nuts and bolts of the defensive trade, bringing a new sense of grittiness and physicality to Tottenham’s backline.

Whether the rumours prove true, however, remains to be seen. The 26 year-old has also been strongly linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United throughout the season, so the Lane is hardly the only Premier League destination on his radar.

FABIAN SCHAR

Although Winston Reid remains an impressive centre-back option for any top half Premier League club, in my opinion, FC Basel prodigy Fabian Schar, also yet to extend his contract past the summer, constitutes a far superior potential signing for the Lilywhites.

Indeed, the 23 year-old recorded the best statistics of any centre-half involved in the Champions League last term, averaging a near incredible 3.3 tackles, 4 interceptions and 6.7 clearances per match, and continued to impress in the tournament this year with a Man of the Match performance against Liverpool in Group B.

That impressive form, combined with a front-footed style, the confidence to bring the ball out of the back with striking similarities to Jan Vertonghen, and some decent performances for Switzerland at the World Cup, has generated plenty of interest in the Bebbi star however, with Arsenal, Inter Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Spurs all linked to his signature throughout the season.

Manchester United and Manchester City could go toe-to-toe for Real Madrid pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale this summer, according to Spanish football expert Graham Hunter.

The duo are the most expensive players in the history of the game, with Los Blancos having broken the world transfer record on two occasions to land the pair for fees of £80m and £86m respectively.

But despite the double act having been successful at the Bernabeu, visible signs of unrest between the two players and issues surrounding Real’s form have placed their futures in doubt, and Hunter feels that both United and City could pursue mega moves for them when the transfer window re-opens:

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United transfer news | Latest transfer news

“There is a very clear opinion among the two Manchester clubs, and I mean City as well as United, that they think they have an opportunity to come and buy Ronaldo.” He is quoted by The Express.

“Honestly, my opinion is we have to wait and see because I think he (Ronaldo) will be tempted. He will be asked by both Manchester clubs. I think that goes for Bale too.

“It has been a talking point amongst the Manchester City players for a great part of the last 10 days.”

Ronaldo and Bale have impressed for Real, but their relationship has shown signs of decline of late, with the Ballon d’Or winner having reacted angrily when the Welshman netted from a rebound from his shot against Levante over the weekend.

And Hunter feels that the pair are no longer a dream combo:

“When Bale arrived, on the training ground he won over Cristiano Ronaldo.” He said. “He gave respect to Bale. Now, (Bale) is working a little bit less, he’s certainly believing that he’s more of a Ronaldo figure in that club, on the training ground.

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.

“If Bale had behaved as he’s done this season when he arrived last season, I think the cracks in that relationship, that marriage of convenience between them, would have become apparent more quickly.”

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Mario Balotelli put in his best performance of the season at Anfield last weekend with a wonderful goal and an assist in a 2-2 draw. But unfortunately for the striker it wasn’t in the Premier League, or even the FA Cup, but in a charity clash. And that probably tells you all you need to know about his Liverpool career to date.

The signing of the eccentric Italian striker was always going to be a risk for Liverpool and it’s safe to say it hasn’t paid off. Losing their star asset in Luis Suarez last summer was a huge blow for the Reds. His impact on the team was invaluable as they narrowly missed out on their first Premier League title. Replacing him was going to a huge ask for anybody, and so it has proved.

On the face of it, £16million for a player with proven experience in the Premier League didn’t appear to be that bad when it was announced AC Milan had agreed to sell their leading scorer. 30 goals in 54 appearances for Milan suggested Liverpool had gone someway to filling the void left by Suarez. But for some reason, it just hasn’t worked out for Balotelli.

Four goals in 25 games including one league strike tells its own story. Balotelli is enduring a torrid time at Anfield. The 24-year-old has failed to hold down a regular first-team spot and has been predominately restricted to a place on the bench since the return of Daniel Sturridge from injury.

He’s clearly not fancied by Rodgers and it seems increasingly likely that he will be shown the exit sooner rather than later. And for both player and club, you’d have to say that seems like the best option.

On his day Balotelli has shown he has the ability to cause any defence problems. A world class performance against Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 2012 saw him score both goals; arguably the best match of his career. But he has yet to show even the slightest hint of achieving this form since his return to the Premier League, which is a real shame given his quality.

[ffc-gal cat=”liverpool” no=”5″]

His success at Milan came when he was the main man in the team. The team was built to play around him, and he appeared to thrive at being the focal point of every attack. But at Liverpool he is not seen in this way. And for a character such as Balotelli this hinders his performances.

A player of this ability can’t afford to be spending large parts of the season sat on the bench. He showed his capability during his second spell at the San Siro where he was a regular in the team, and he seriously needs to consider a summer move in order to get back his goal scoring form.

His omission from the latest Italian national squad would no doubt have hurt him, and should act as a huge wake up call as to what will happen if he stays at Anfield. It’s hard to see him fighting his way back into Rodger’s plans, and as a result he’s at serious risk of jeopardising his chances of appearing at next summer’s European Championships in France.

With Belgian international Divock Origi already on his way to Anfield at the end of the season, and the potential of more arrivals to bolster their attacking options, Balotelli is going to fall even further down the pecking order.

He’s sure to have a few top clubs keen giving him another opportunity, and it would be no surprise to see him return to the San Siro, either with AC or Inter where he could reunite with his former manager Roberto Mancini.

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.

And with Liverpool probably be willing to accept a far lower price than the one they paid for him less than a year ago, it would be a good deal all round.

It’s a shame we haven’t seen the same Balotelli that had such an impact at Manchester City, and although he was controversial at times, this was part of the reason people enjoyed watching him. He hasn’t fitted in at Liverpool and has ultimately proved to be a poor signing from the club; a disappointing observation but ultimately an unsurprising outcome.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United side are truly finding their form in the Premier League. They have won their last six league games and are comfortably in third spot, one place and four points ahead rivals Manchester City.

But they won’t be running away with the title just yet. There is plenty to be done before they will be title contenders.

Firstly, Manchester United need to keep a firm grip on their world class goalkeeper David de Gea. He has made a huge improvement this season, and a massive difference for his side under Louis Van Gaal. Securing Champions League football will make it easier to keep him, with Real Madrid rumoured to be interesting him bringing back to Spain.

With the back line being hit with plenty of injuries this season, it makes sense to add to it. United have been linked with the likes of Dani Alves, Mats Hummels and Nathaniel Clyne. If moves are going to be made, it should be for Mats Hummels. He’s a World Cup winner and his fierce loyalty to Borussia Dortmund will only last so long.

Chris Smalling and Phil Jones may be doing well as a centre-back partnership, but if United make the Champions League then there must be room for rotation. You also cannot underestimate the impact Marcos Rojo has had on his debut season, which suggests Jonny Evans could be on his way out of the Old Trafford door this summer.

Up top, decisions need to be made as soon as possible. The future of both Robin Van Persie and Radamel Falcao are uncertain at present. Falcao’s time at Manchester United is seemingly running out, as he has just four goals to his name this season. At the time of his loan move, the price for a permanent move was quoted at £43million, which is a high price for an underachieving forward.

Robin Van Persie’s season under Van Gaal has been underwhelming. He is out of form, but he is still United’s second highest goal scorer for the season. Realistically, the Dutchman has just a few years left of playing at the highest level – but will they be elsewhere?

The Red Devils need to invest in a young, prolific, goalscoring goalscorer. Though any links with Edinson Cavani need to be nipped in the bud. He is the most expensive signing in French football history, and PSG will not let him go cheap. United themselves could put more faith in James Wilson, whose pace has been highly praised this season, and it won’t cost a thing to use him more. Either way, United need more goals to challenge for the title next year.

Louis Van Gaal’s philosophy is clearly working at Manchester United. After a slow start, we’re beginning to see the fruits of his labour, with far better performances  now than at the beginning of the season – their recent convincing victories over Tottenham, Liverpool and rivals Man City are evidence of that.

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.

The side are good, and playing well, but tweaks should be made ahead of next season. Lifting the Premier League title will be top of Van Gaal’s list next term.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Manchester United’s return to the Champions League will have a huge positive impact on their already impressive financial situation, City Index’s Chief Market Strategist, Joshua Raymond, has told FootballFanCast.com.

The Red Devils look on course to reach at least the qualification phase for next season’s top European competition, with Liverpool needing to make up six points and 14 goals in two games to overhaul Louis van Gaal’s side.

Such news is undoubtedly positive for the club, who have seemingly only missed one term in the big time in what has been a tricky period following the exit of Sir Alex Ferguson and the disastrous spell under the guidance of David Moyes.

WANT MORE? >> Man United transfer news | Latest transfer news

Although financial results show that United have indeed posted a £2.9 loss over the course of the first three months of the year – the same period 12 months ago garnered an £11m profit – Raymond believes that returning to the Champions League puts the giants on track to re-establishing themselves as one of English football’s top forces:

“Manchester United reported Q3 total revenues of £95m, in line with forecasts, but raised their earnings guidance for the full year to between £385m and £395m, a rise of around 15% on prior guidance. The club also rose its EBITDA guidance to between £103m and £110m.” he said.

“What we have seen from these numbers is growing confidence in the recovery of the Man Utd team’s performance over the coming year, with a return to Champions League football all but assured, assuming smooth progression through a qualification stage, likely to help the club increase both match day and broadcast revenues. This, alongside with another strong set of commercial revenues has helped the company to hike its guidance.

“What remains starkly clear is the impact of no Champion’s League football at the club, with match day revenue falling £11.6m and broadcast revenue dropping by £13.9m in the quarter, largely as a result of no European football. Despite this, the board remain confident on their commercial growth and it is admirable that the dramatic loss of form in the team has not had a derogatory impact on the commercial side thus far.”

United are likely, unless they can finish ahead of either Arsenal or Manchester City to end the season in fourth, which will see them entered into a two-legged play off with, potentially, a strong continental side.

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=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

A few months ago, Morgan Schneiderlin’s much-speculated move to Arsenal seemed almost inevitable.

We know the Gunners were interested in a deal last summer until Southampton publicly insisted the France international wouldn’t be sold, whilst The Secret Footballer – the reigning champ of in-the-know espionage – claimed in January that the 25-year-old had already agreed a move to the Emirates.

So with the Saints feeling rather obliged to sell after Schneiderlin put his Champions League ambitions on hold to lead a squad undergoing considerable transition with almost immaculate professionalism, many assumed he was one rubber stamp away from officially joining the Gunners this summer.

That could have well been the case, until it was revealed Southampton valued their lofty centre-mid at just shy of £30m, which would have made Schneiderlin the third-most expensive signing in Gunners history after Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Arsene Wenger reportedly baulked at the price-tag and thus, instead of becoming Arsenal’s latest midfield recruit, the Frenchman is now Michael Carrick’s long-term successor at Manchester United.

Of course, tabloid gossip is one thing; what actually goes on behind the closed doors of Premier League clubs is another. For all we know, Wenger may have never even considered the notion of signing Schneiderlin, let alone for his eventual transfer fee of £25m. But either way, in my opinion, the Gunners gaffer has just made a huge mistake – because Arsenal won’t find another enforcer this summer who has proved firstly, his talent in the Premier League and secondly, his compatibility with their midfield.

The Gunners’ engine room is a rather unique place. Whilst Chelsea, Manchester City and United’s are filled with 6 foot-plus monsters, capable of shoulder barging you from the centre circle to the touchline with one monolithic swing, Arsenal employ pint-sized technicians and playmakers who would be interpreted as No.10s by pretty much any other Premier League club.

Which explains why Arsene Wenger hasn’t spent any money on a bona fide defensive midfielder since Lassana Diarra way back in summer 2007 – and even he managed just seven Premier League appearances before being flogged to Portsmouth six months later. The rest have come from the Gunners’ academy, like Alex Song or Francis Coquelin, signed on free transfers, e.g. Mathieu Flamini, or found themselves shoehorned into the anchoring role, like Mikel Arteta.

Perhaps he has a point; after all, a cumbersome 6 foot 3 warrior of the William Carvalho variety could well clog up Arsenal’s midfield, disrupting their rhythm, tempo and definitive style of technically-demanding build-up play. Nobody wants that; the neutrals enjoy the Gunners’ free-flowing football almost as much as their actual fans.

Yet, Schneiderlin is a rarer breed of enforcer. He’s tall, powerful and averaged the second-most tackles per match, 3.7, of any Premier League player last year; representing precisely what Arsenal lack in midfield compared to other title contenders. But he was also Southampton’s metronome last season, averaging the most passes per match of any player in their squad, and finished up with a pass completion rate of 89%. Only twelve Premier League players, one being Arsenal’s Mathieu Flamini, proved more consistent when moving the ball.

Of course, many of these passes will be simple and sideways, for that is the nature of the nine-cap international’s role. But Schneiderlin is a somewhat silkier player than the likes of Carvalho, Grzegorz Krychowiak or even Spain international Javi Martinez, with a strong first touch, the confidence to turn markers and progressive enough to conjure up nearly one created chance per match last term. In comparison, Flamini made just three chances from 15 league starts. Whilst Schneiderlin may not be blessed with the ability to further improve Arsenal’s build-up play, he’s at the very least compatible with it.

Wenger will undoubtedly point to the rise of Francis Coquelin, a youngster who averaged the most interceptions per match, 3.7, of any player in the division last season, as a reason not to spend big on the former Southampton man. No doubt, the Frenchman’s rapid progress and ability to add discipline to Arsenal’s midfield, starting with that 2-0 win over Manchester City, has been impressive. Likewise, having risen through the club’s academy, there’s no doubting his compatibility with Arsenal’s philosophy.

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.

But in my opinion, investing full faith in a 24 year-old with just 43 Premier League outings under his belt based upon half a season of good form, ahead of a campaign in which the Gunners will be under huge pressure to launch their most viable title charge for the best part of a decade, is an equal, if not greater, risk to spending £25million on an enforcer who has proved his Premier League pedigree over the course of three seasons.

Perhaps most troubling of all is the fact Schneiderlin will be reminding Arsenal of what they missed out on at least twice a year for the foreseeable future, as he joins Louis van Gaal’s all-star Manchester United cast. Should the Red Devils return to the dominance of old whilst the Gunners slump back towards the purgatory of fourth place, Wenger’s election to pass on Schneiderlin might emerge as one of the defining moments.