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Monday 20 August 2012
How do you translate 'Man City' in French? Three letters: PSG. The Ligue 1 Preview
13:06 | 
Posted by
Bappo |
I might be French but I'll be the first one to admit that La Ligue 1 hasn't set the world alight for a while, probably since the heydays of l'OM and PSG in the mid-90s. Lyon dominated afterwards and actually put French football on the map with some superb performances in the Champions' League, most notably dismantling Real Madrid a few days. Had their team possessed a decent striker then they would have been an outside bet for European glory. After all they did field a team consisting of Coupet, Reveillere, Cris, Cacapa, Abidal, Juninho, Mahamadou Diarra, Essien, Govou and Malouda with previously mentioned failure of a striker (most notably a young Nilmar!). Lyon were close to the top, very close.
But the league itself was poor. Dwarfed by Lyon, very few teams dared to show their colours, notably in Europe. French football was dragged back by defensive tactics and a total focus on the league rather than attempts at glory in Europe. Sure the rest of UEFA heard of a few players making waves such as Yoann Gourcuff in 2008-2009, but nobody really cared. The usual big clubs such as Marseille and PSG were too embroiled in turmoil to mount a serious challenge.
But whilst the league has been poor, France has kept producing players, and has kept exporting them. A typical example in mind is Yohan Cabaye. Highly rated in France, with over 200 appearances for Lille by the time he was 23, Yohan proved through his inspired play last season for Newcastle that the Ligue 1 was still capable of producing tactically aware and technical sound players. But nobody cared for Ligue 1 still. Oh how this is about to change.
In a move reminiscent of Manchester City's gradual conquest of the Premier League, another Middle East Prince/sheikh/whatever their title is has invested in a football club. And when you think they saw potential in Manchester City, it's easy to understand why PSG had a certain appeal. Indeed, PSG is remarkably the only team to represent Paris in the top flight. So you're looking at a potential of around 7 million fans, more if you include the infamous banlieues where PSG have historically enjoyed great support.
And, again reminiscent of Man City, PSG have gone about their business in what I like to call 'Phase 1 of the Nouveaux Riches': this means buying a ridiculous amount of players in a short space of time, stacking up on players to show your new strength. Man City did that under Eriksson and Hughes before calming down. PSG still have money fever and are led by an amateur in Leonardo.
Menez, Pastore, Alex, Lavezzi, Matuidi, Diego Lugano, Salvatore Sirigu. Whilst these are undoubtedly good players, they didn't set the world alight and PSG fans didn't exactly have stars in their eyes. BUt this all changed with the arrival of the incomparable Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, to a lesser extent, Thiago Silva, both of AC Milan. Now PSG have world-class leaders in two important areas of the field and, judging from Zlatan's double in his first game, even when unfit, they will have an impact.
So does this mean PSG are a shoo-in for the title? Absolutely not. Lille have recruited intelligently with players used to Ligue 1, Lyon are still lurking in the shadows, especially after their capture of Milan Bisevac from PSG, Marseille could be a challenger and Montpellier have had the most low-key summer break of any champion. With growing pains due to their lack of cohesion PSG might find themselves with a mountain to climb. It's going to be an enjoyable season in Ligue 1.
(And, if you want to watch more Ligue 1 and discover some hidden gems, Youtube has signed a partnership with Ligue 1 and will show highlights for free. It's easy to access at http://www.youtube.com/user/ligue1official?feature=results_main)
THE TEAM TO FOLLOW
For obvious reasons this has to be PSG. Led by an egomaniac incapable of buying any player not Brazilian or playing in Serie A, the Parisian club are following no footprint to success whatsoever. Talk about assembling as many players as possible without creating a certain level of cohesion within the team. Not only that but most of their attacking players believe they are better than they actually are (take a bow Menez, Nene, Pastor and Lavezzi) and haven't seemed to grasp the concept of passing the football. It's going to get interesting in Paris, and you've got to wonder how long both Ancelotti and Leonardo will stay at the club. Fireworks to be expected.
THE TEAM TO SUPPORT
If there is one single team on limited means which has done superbly in Europe recently, it has to be the LOSC, known in England as Lille. After years of climbing up the table on a modest budget under Claude Puel, Lille have turned to Rudi Garcia, selling expensively before buying up-and-coming Ligue 1 players. For every Gervinho, Moussa Sow, Cabaye, Adil Rami and Eden Hazard, sold for around 60 mil combined in the last 2 seasons, Lille have managed to buy players such as Marvin Martin, Dimitri Payet, Benoit Pedretti and Nolan Roux for much lesser money. This has enabled them to build a magnificent new 50,000 seater stadium to go along with their pristine training ground of Luchin. Combine this financial modesty and realism with an excellent youth system and a competitive team for Ligue 1 standards, and Lille have reached the upper echelons of Ligue 1 in the last few years, culminating in the holy grail of winning the damn league in 2010-2011. PSG's only serious contenders.
Not only is the LOSC an example of a well-run club, but the city and people there are very welcoming (just ask Joe Cole!) and it's close to the UK. If you ever cross the Channel and pass by Lille, catch a game there and follow the team.
COMING TO A CLUB NEAR YOU
French football has always produced good players who have found their way abroad. Even distinctly average ones managed to make their way to the Prem (hello Franck Queudrue, Sebastien Schemmel and Noe Pamarot). So who are the players you might and should hear about in the coming months?
RYAD BOUDEBOUZ (Sochaux)
Sochaux have always produced good technical Ligue 1 players through the years but Ryad Boudebouz might be more than that. A left-footed winger capable of playing on both wings or behind the striker, the 22 year-old has already amassed an impressive pedigree, playing 130 games in Ligue 1 and scoring 20 goals. He has also played for Algeria at the 2010 Wold Cup, most notably against England, and has 13 caps to his name. He has rightly been linked to Liverpool and other English clubs. It's a question of when not if for Ryad, and knowing the price probably won't be too high (a maximum of 7-8 mil) he's a risk worth taking.
Ideal for: Fulham, Liverpool
Could end up at: Newcastle
ANDRE AYEW (Marseille)
'Dede' Ayew was a star in his native Ghana before he had even played for Marseille. The son of national football icon Abedi Pele (who also played for l'OM), he had led the Ghanaian U-20 to an unprecedented victory in the U-20 World Cup in 2009. After a season at Arles-Avignon in Ligue 2 where he learnt the rigours of professional football, he came back to l'OM with a renewed focus and understanding of what was asked of him. Showcasing superb ability in the 2010 World Cup with the entertaining Black Stars, Dede became an undisupted starter for l'OM from 2010 onwards. And boy has the Marseille crowd been rewarded. Playing either on the left wing or in centre midfield, Ayew has recorded an impressive 19 goals in 63 Ligue 1 games. He even drew plaudits from Sir Alex Ferguson when OM played Manchester United in the Champions' League. A player destined for a top club, and still only 22. A powerful runner with a good left foot and an eye for goal. Who wouldn't want that?
Ideal for: Arsenal, Manchester United
Could end up at: Arsenal, Manchester United.
LUDOVIC OBRANIAK (Bordeaux)
Obraniak is the French equivalent of Scott Parker; a man who has made his way to the top of his league by starting at the (relative) bottom. After graduating from yo-yo club Metz, Ludovic moved to successful Lille and helped them to their highest finishes. Originally a starter for Rudi Garcia's team, he gradually took on the role of super-sub with the emergence of Eden Hazard and the arrivals of Joe Cole and Dimitri Payet. With a silky left foot, and capable of playing on both wings or centre midfield, Obraniak is a great player to have in your squad. His arrival at Bordeaux in January 2012 helped push them towards the top of the table as he scored 4 goals in 17 games and had countless assists. At 27 he should be at the peak of his powers and could be a relatively low-risk purchase. If not, watch him organise Bordeaux's midfield on Youtube.
Ideal for: Newcastle, Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa
Could end up at: Fulham, Newcastle
NICOLAS ISIMAT-MIRIN (Valenciennes)
Now this one is clearly based on potential, but his pedigree so far is quite impressive. The young man graduated from the impressive academy of Clairefontaine and moved to perennial strugglers Valenciennes where he played for their reserves for two years. In 2010 he finally made his debut and has had a growing influence within the team, playing close to 40 games and earning rave reviews for his maturity and physical build. An impressive 6 ft 2 and possessing decent pace, his inclusion in the Valenciennes team is even more impressive considering his club continuously fight against relegation and Ligue 1 doesn't always play its youngsters. Still 20, he's clearly one for the future and numerous clubs will keep an eye on him.
Ideal for: probably not moving for another year or two, but Arsenal, West Ham and Swansea could be looking at him.
Could end up at: West Ham, Tottenham
MAXIME GONALONS (Lyon)
At 23, Gonalons is already Lyon's captain and that in itself is quite an achievement, even for a club heading downwards. A composed and cultured holding midfielder with a good 6 ft 2 build and decent pace, Maxime already has played more than 60 games in Ligue 1 for Lyon, and even scored in the Champions' League against Liverpool. An ever-present figure for Lyon last season, his play has been rewarded with 3 caps already and he seems to be in new France coach Didier Deschamps' long term plans. With Lyon's financial situation being quite poor, a respectable bid could incite president Jean-Michel Aulas to let him go.
Ideal for: Arsenal, Tottenham
Could end up at: Arsenal
YOUNES BELHANDA (Montpellier)
Similarly to Sochaux, Montpellier have always had a very good youth set-up. Having won the Coupe Gambardella (Youth Cup) in 2008-2009 alongside fellow graduates Stambouli (see below), Cabella and El Kaoutari (all promising), Belhanda was finally given a chance in Ligue 1 of all places during the 2009-2010 team. Since then he has gradually improved and proven durable, playing an impressive total of 97 Ligue 1 games in 3 seasons. But last year was when he finally showed us his full potential. Positioned behind striker Olivier Giroud (now of Arsenal), Belhanda was influential in helping Montpellier become more assured in possession. Armed with impressive creativity and composure for his age, the 22 year-old actively participated in the conquest of the title, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists in 28 games. Blessed with the ability to play on both wings as well, Younes Belhanda has also become a full Moroccan international, earning 14 caps already and playing at the CAN in 2012. An exciting prospect. A player in the Sessegnon mould.
Ideal for: Liverpool, Everton, Sunderland
Could end up at: Everton
ALAIN TRAORE (Lorient)
Alain Traore was one of those players who looked good on Football Manager yet never really produced. After being sent on loan to Brest and producing (3 goals in 14 games) for a team starved of goals, Traore came back to Auxerre with a vengeance and was the sole shining light in a disappointing season which ended with relegation. Playing as a second striker, Traore scored 9 goals in 27 starts and added 3 assists, but it wasn't enough to prevent his club sliding towards Ligue 2. Now freed from the toxic atmosphere at l'Abbee-Deschamps, and under the expert tutelage of Christian Gourcuff, Traore is setting himself up for an exciting season. Judging by his performance in the 2-2 draw against PSG where he combined well with Aliadiere (more on him later), he might prove to be a good signing for Lorient, the usual stepping-stone team. Still only 23, he has a decent future ahead of him.
Ideal for: Wigan, Aston Villa, Swansea, Southampton
Could end up at: Wigan, Fulham, West Brom
ETIENNE CAPOUE (Toulouse)
A big and strong holding midfielder only aged 24, Etienne Capoue is getting close to his peak. He has been an ever-present member of the most successful Toulouse team in years and has already played around 110 games as an undisputed starter since the 2008 season. Relatively quick, and a fan of a strong tone-setting challenge, Capoue has shown loyalty to the club which taught him the fundamentals. More a Makelele type than a Vieira clone, he is efficient and his distribution, whilst simple, is excellent. He is the archetype of the player who plays within his means, and that is not a criticism. Capoue knows his role on the pitch (break up attacks, defend) and does it very well. He has just been rewarded with his 1st cap for France under Deschamps. An attractive proposition considering he probably won't cost too much money.
Ideal for: Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, QPR
Could end up at: Arsenal, QPR
MARVIN MARTIN (Lille)
Marvin Martin is one of those very good young French players who have managed to fly under the radar. This is despite the fact that he has now managed to amass 15 caps for France, scoring 2 goals in the process. I remember mentioning him to mates whenever France was playing, and it always was a unanimous reaction which consisted of:
1) who the hell is he?
2) what a ridiculous name!
Whilst I agree with the second reaction, I'm not a fan of the first. Playing for a struggling Sochaux side, his partnership with Ryad Boudebouz helped the club end the season in the top half of the table for a change. In that season, playing in an advanced role, Martin recorded an impressive 17 assists to go with his 3 goals in Ligue1. Whilst the following season was more eventful and more difficult, Martin was once again impressive, finishing the year with 8 assists despite dropping down from playing in the hole to playing in centre midfield. This performance was also notable due to the fact Martin had to battle niggling injuries throughout the year. Now 24, and having recently joined Lille, Martin definitely has a look of the new Cabaye about him. A comparison which should cast interested glances from the Premier League.
2010-2011 season game Sochaux-Nice: admire the 2nd and 3rd goals by Boudebouz and Martin
Ideal for: Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton
Could end up at: Arsenal
BENJAMIN STAMBOULI (Montpellier)
Another graduate of the impressive Coupe Gambardella-winning Montpellier team, Benjamin Stambouli, whose father Henri was a notable manager, also made his debut under Rene Girard in the 2010 season. Equally comfortable as a ball-playing centre-back or a solid defensive midfielder, Benjamin has accumulated 37 games for Montpellier in the last two seaons. He compensates his slight build (5 ft 11 in) with a good reading of the game, and has drawn comparisons with Laurent Koscielny. Benjamin also already has 12 U-21 caps for France and is highly rated by Monpellier manager Rene Girard, who himself used to be U-21 manager between 2004 and 2008. Considering what Girard has achieved with a young Montpellier squad, the inclusion of Stambouli is testament to the young man's abilities.
Ideal for: Tottenham, Everton, Fulham
Could end up at: Everton, Tottenham
STEPHANE RUFFIER (Saint Etienne)
France has recently been blessed with very good young goalkeepers. Whilst Lloris (world class), Mandanda and Carrasso have grabbed many of the headlines in France and abroad due to their exposure to Champions' League football, Stephane Ruffier remains unknown outside France. Still only 25, the young man has already accumulated nearly 150 games in Ligue 1 for Monaco and St Etienne. A supberly athletic shot-stopper, especially impressive on his line with superb reflexes, Ruffier only has one cap to his name but this shouldn't be a stain on his reputation. He would easily be England's number 2 for example, and has performed admirably for all his club. Ruffier is also unafraid of taking responsibility as he was captain at Monaco and continuously vocal about their poor performances which ultimately led to relegation, for which he was one of the very few to rigthfully escape any blame. Considering St Etienne do not have a great history as a selling club, Ruffier could be available for very little money when compared to the ridiculous amounts thrown at Jack Butland recently. With Lloris probably leaving Lyon, Ruffier has been mentioned as a possible successor, and he wouldn't look out of place in a club with a great recent goalkeeping tradition (Coupet, Lloris).
Ideal for: Everton, Sunderland, Tottenham, Aston Villa
Could end up at: Everton
CLEMENT CHANTOME (PSG)
Clement Chantome is a prime example of what PSG are doing right, but not in the way you might be thinking. Still only 24, with 120 Ligue 1 games under his belt, Chantome should be one of the young French players PSG should build around whilst adding world-class players like Ibrahimovic. Unfortunately, rumour has it that Chantome's days are numbered, despite Ancelotti's appreciation of the young man's talent. If Chantome were to leave then Premier League clubs could be attracted by Clement's versatility. Originally trained as a holding midfielder, Chantome considerably expanded his repertoire by developing the ability to play on the wings or in the hole. A cultured and technically sound midfielder, Chantome's prime ability resides in the fact he plays within his means and within the system. A valuable player to have on your team.
Ideal for: Everton, West Brom
Could end up at: Everton
Special mentions to: Bruno Ecuele Manga (Lorient), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse), Romain Alessandrini (Rennes), Romain Hamouma (St Etienne), Remy Cabella (Montpellier), Vincent Aboubakar (Valenciennes),
REMEMBER THEM?
ADRIAN MUTU (AC Ajaccio)
This transfer hasn't been confirmed but apparently AC Ajaccio, the Corsican minnows, have agreed in principle to sign Adrian Mutu from Cesena. It will be interesting to see how he will perform, and I personally expect him to score beautiful goals whilst chatting to the Corsican mafia. He should settle well.
JEREMIE ALIADIERE (Lorient)
PSG's draw against Lorient in the first game of the season didn't just shock people due to the difference in the quality of players, but also because we witnessed a goal by someone we had thought lost to football. At one point in the game, Jeremie Aliadiere picked up the ball on the left wing and cut the defence apart, dribbling past 4 PSG players before placing the ball beautifully in the corner of Nicolas Douchez's goal. This had come 10 years too late, but it was finally a glimpse of what could have been for Aliadiere. Partnered with Alain Traore in Les Merlus' attacks, Aliadiere has already scored 2 in 2 and looked very sharp.
PREDICTIONS
1. Lille
2. PSG
3. Lyon
4. Bordeaux
5. Toulouse
6. Montpellier
7. Marseille
8. Rennes
9. St Etienne
10. Nancy
11. Lorient
12. Nice
13. Valenciennes
14. Brest
15. Sochaux
16. AC Ajaccio
17. Bastia
18. Reims
19. Evian TG
20. Troyes
But the league itself was poor. Dwarfed by Lyon, very few teams dared to show their colours, notably in Europe. French football was dragged back by defensive tactics and a total focus on the league rather than attempts at glory in Europe. Sure the rest of UEFA heard of a few players making waves such as Yoann Gourcuff in 2008-2009, but nobody really cared. The usual big clubs such as Marseille and PSG were too embroiled in turmoil to mount a serious challenge.
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| Cabaye: an example of Ligue 1's youth set-up even when its teams fail at European level. |
But whilst the league has been poor, France has kept producing players, and has kept exporting them. A typical example in mind is Yohan Cabaye. Highly rated in France, with over 200 appearances for Lille by the time he was 23, Yohan proved through his inspired play last season for Newcastle that the Ligue 1 was still capable of producing tactically aware and technical sound players. But nobody cared for Ligue 1 still. Oh how this is about to change.
In a move reminiscent of Manchester City's gradual conquest of the Premier League, another Middle East Prince/sheikh/whatever their title is has invested in a football club. And when you think they saw potential in Manchester City, it's easy to understand why PSG had a certain appeal. Indeed, PSG is remarkably the only team to represent Paris in the top flight. So you're looking at a potential of around 7 million fans, more if you include the infamous banlieues where PSG have historically enjoyed great support.
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| Leonardo and Ancelotti: putting their reputations on the line |
And, again reminiscent of Man City, PSG have gone about their business in what I like to call 'Phase 1 of the Nouveaux Riches': this means buying a ridiculous amount of players in a short space of time, stacking up on players to show your new strength. Man City did that under Eriksson and Hughes before calming down. PSG still have money fever and are led by an amateur in Leonardo.
Menez, Pastore, Alex, Lavezzi, Matuidi, Diego Lugano, Salvatore Sirigu. Whilst these are undoubtedly good players, they didn't set the world alight and PSG fans didn't exactly have stars in their eyes. BUt this all changed with the arrival of the incomparable Zlatan Ibrahimovic and, to a lesser extent, Thiago Silva, both of AC Milan. Now PSG have world-class leaders in two important areas of the field and, judging from Zlatan's double in his first game, even when unfit, they will have an impact.
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| Zlatan at PSG: creepy smile apart, a great move by the Parisian club. |
So does this mean PSG are a shoo-in for the title? Absolutely not. Lille have recruited intelligently with players used to Ligue 1, Lyon are still lurking in the shadows, especially after their capture of Milan Bisevac from PSG, Marseille could be a challenger and Montpellier have had the most low-key summer break of any champion. With growing pains due to their lack of cohesion PSG might find themselves with a mountain to climb. It's going to be an enjoyable season in Ligue 1.
(And, if you want to watch more Ligue 1 and discover some hidden gems, Youtube has signed a partnership with Ligue 1 and will show highlights for free. It's easy to access at http://www.youtube.com/user/ligue1official?feature=results_main)
THE TEAM TO FOLLOW
For obvious reasons this has to be PSG. Led by an egomaniac incapable of buying any player not Brazilian or playing in Serie A, the Parisian club are following no footprint to success whatsoever. Talk about assembling as many players as possible without creating a certain level of cohesion within the team. Not only that but most of their attacking players believe they are better than they actually are (take a bow Menez, Nene, Pastor and Lavezzi) and haven't seemed to grasp the concept of passing the football. It's going to get interesting in Paris, and you've got to wonder how long both Ancelotti and Leonardo will stay at the club. Fireworks to be expected.
THE TEAM TO SUPPORT
If there is one single team on limited means which has done superbly in Europe recently, it has to be the LOSC, known in England as Lille. After years of climbing up the table on a modest budget under Claude Puel, Lille have turned to Rudi Garcia, selling expensively before buying up-and-coming Ligue 1 players. For every Gervinho, Moussa Sow, Cabaye, Adil Rami and Eden Hazard, sold for around 60 mil combined in the last 2 seasons, Lille have managed to buy players such as Marvin Martin, Dimitri Payet, Benoit Pedretti and Nolan Roux for much lesser money. This has enabled them to build a magnificent new 50,000 seater stadium to go along with their pristine training ground of Luchin. Combine this financial modesty and realism with an excellent youth system and a competitive team for Ligue 1 standards, and Lille have reached the upper echelons of Ligue 1 in the last few years, culminating in the holy grail of winning the damn league in 2010-2011. PSG's only serious contenders.
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| Lille's new stadium. The Borussia Dortmunds of France. |
Not only is the LOSC an example of a well-run club, but the city and people there are very welcoming (just ask Joe Cole!) and it's close to the UK. If you ever cross the Channel and pass by Lille, catch a game there and follow the team.
COMING TO A CLUB NEAR YOU
French football has always produced good players who have found their way abroad. Even distinctly average ones managed to make their way to the Prem (hello Franck Queudrue, Sebastien Schemmel and Noe Pamarot). So who are the players you might and should hear about in the coming months?
RYAD BOUDEBOUZ (Sochaux)
Sochaux have always produced good technical Ligue 1 players through the years but Ryad Boudebouz might be more than that. A left-footed winger capable of playing on both wings or behind the striker, the 22 year-old has already amassed an impressive pedigree, playing 130 games in Ligue 1 and scoring 20 goals. He has also played for Algeria at the 2010 Wold Cup, most notably against England, and has 13 caps to his name. He has rightly been linked to Liverpool and other English clubs. It's a question of when not if for Ryad, and knowing the price probably won't be too high (a maximum of 7-8 mil) he's a risk worth taking.
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| Boudebouz: silky dribbler |
Ideal for: Fulham, Liverpool
Could end up at: Newcastle
ANDRE AYEW (Marseille)
'Dede' Ayew was a star in his native Ghana before he had even played for Marseille. The son of national football icon Abedi Pele (who also played for l'OM), he had led the Ghanaian U-20 to an unprecedented victory in the U-20 World Cup in 2009. After a season at Arles-Avignon in Ligue 2 where he learnt the rigours of professional football, he came back to l'OM with a renewed focus and understanding of what was asked of him. Showcasing superb ability in the 2010 World Cup with the entertaining Black Stars, Dede became an undisupted starter for l'OM from 2010 onwards. And boy has the Marseille crowd been rewarded. Playing either on the left wing or in centre midfield, Ayew has recorded an impressive 19 goals in 63 Ligue 1 games. He even drew plaudits from Sir Alex Ferguson when OM played Manchester United in the Champions' League. A player destined for a top club, and still only 22. A powerful runner with a good left foot and an eye for goal. Who wouldn't want that?
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| 'Dede' Ayew: powerful. |
Ideal for: Arsenal, Manchester United
Could end up at: Arsenal, Manchester United.
LUDOVIC OBRANIAK (Bordeaux)
Obraniak is the French equivalent of Scott Parker; a man who has made his way to the top of his league by starting at the (relative) bottom. After graduating from yo-yo club Metz, Ludovic moved to successful Lille and helped them to their highest finishes. Originally a starter for Rudi Garcia's team, he gradually took on the role of super-sub with the emergence of Eden Hazard and the arrivals of Joe Cole and Dimitri Payet. With a silky left foot, and capable of playing on both wings or centre midfield, Obraniak is a great player to have in your squad. His arrival at Bordeaux in January 2012 helped push them towards the top of the table as he scored 4 goals in 17 games and had countless assists. At 27 he should be at the peak of his powers and could be a relatively low-risk purchase. If not, watch him organise Bordeaux's midfield on Youtube.
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| Obraniak: skilful |
Ideal for: Newcastle, Sunderland, Fulham, Aston Villa
Could end up at: Fulham, Newcastle
NICOLAS ISIMAT-MIRIN (Valenciennes)
Now this one is clearly based on potential, but his pedigree so far is quite impressive. The young man graduated from the impressive academy of Clairefontaine and moved to perennial strugglers Valenciennes where he played for their reserves for two years. In 2010 he finally made his debut and has had a growing influence within the team, playing close to 40 games and earning rave reviews for his maturity and physical build. An impressive 6 ft 2 and possessing decent pace, his inclusion in the Valenciennes team is even more impressive considering his club continuously fight against relegation and Ligue 1 doesn't always play its youngsters. Still 20, he's clearly one for the future and numerous clubs will keep an eye on him.
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| Isimat Mirin: one for the future |
Ideal for: probably not moving for another year or two, but Arsenal, West Ham and Swansea could be looking at him.
Could end up at: West Ham, Tottenham
MAXIME GONALONS (Lyon)
At 23, Gonalons is already Lyon's captain and that in itself is quite an achievement, even for a club heading downwards. A composed and cultured holding midfielder with a good 6 ft 2 build and decent pace, Maxime already has played more than 60 games in Ligue 1 for Lyon, and even scored in the Champions' League against Liverpool. An ever-present figure for Lyon last season, his play has been rewarded with 3 caps already and he seems to be in new France coach Didier Deschamps' long term plans. With Lyon's financial situation being quite poor, a respectable bid could incite president Jean-Michel Aulas to let him go.
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| Gonalons: Tactically intelligent |
Ideal for: Arsenal, Tottenham
Could end up at: Arsenal
YOUNES BELHANDA (Montpellier)
Similarly to Sochaux, Montpellier have always had a very good youth set-up. Having won the Coupe Gambardella (Youth Cup) in 2008-2009 alongside fellow graduates Stambouli (see below), Cabella and El Kaoutari (all promising), Belhanda was finally given a chance in Ligue 1 of all places during the 2009-2010 team. Since then he has gradually improved and proven durable, playing an impressive total of 97 Ligue 1 games in 3 seasons. But last year was when he finally showed us his full potential. Positioned behind striker Olivier Giroud (now of Arsenal), Belhanda was influential in helping Montpellier become more assured in possession. Armed with impressive creativity and composure for his age, the 22 year-old actively participated in the conquest of the title, scoring 12 goals and providing 4 assists in 28 games. Blessed with the ability to play on both wings as well, Younes Belhanda has also become a full Moroccan international, earning 14 caps already and playing at the CAN in 2012. An exciting prospect. A player in the Sessegnon mould.
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| Belhanda: Exciting |
Ideal for: Liverpool, Everton, Sunderland
Could end up at: Everton
ALAIN TRAORE (Lorient)
Alain Traore was one of those players who looked good on Football Manager yet never really produced. After being sent on loan to Brest and producing (3 goals in 14 games) for a team starved of goals, Traore came back to Auxerre with a vengeance and was the sole shining light in a disappointing season which ended with relegation. Playing as a second striker, Traore scored 9 goals in 27 starts and added 3 assists, but it wasn't enough to prevent his club sliding towards Ligue 2. Now freed from the toxic atmosphere at l'Abbee-Deschamps, and under the expert tutelage of Christian Gourcuff, Traore is setting himself up for an exciting season. Judging by his performance in the 2-2 draw against PSG where he combined well with Aliadiere (more on him later), he might prove to be a good signing for Lorient, the usual stepping-stone team. Still only 23, he has a decent future ahead of him.
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| Traoré: fulfilling his talent |
Ideal for: Wigan, Aston Villa, Swansea, Southampton
Could end up at: Wigan, Fulham, West Brom
ETIENNE CAPOUE (Toulouse)
A big and strong holding midfielder only aged 24, Etienne Capoue is getting close to his peak. He has been an ever-present member of the most successful Toulouse team in years and has already played around 110 games as an undisputed starter since the 2008 season. Relatively quick, and a fan of a strong tone-setting challenge, Capoue has shown loyalty to the club which taught him the fundamentals. More a Makelele type than a Vieira clone, he is efficient and his distribution, whilst simple, is excellent. He is the archetype of the player who plays within his means, and that is not a criticism. Capoue knows his role on the pitch (break up attacks, defend) and does it very well. He has just been rewarded with his 1st cap for France under Deschamps. An attractive proposition considering he probably won't cost too much money.
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| Capoue: solid |
Could end up at: Arsenal, QPR
MARVIN MARTIN (Lille)
Marvin Martin is one of those very good young French players who have managed to fly under the radar. This is despite the fact that he has now managed to amass 15 caps for France, scoring 2 goals in the process. I remember mentioning him to mates whenever France was playing, and it always was a unanimous reaction which consisted of:
1) who the hell is he?
2) what a ridiculous name!
Whilst I agree with the second reaction, I'm not a fan of the first. Playing for a struggling Sochaux side, his partnership with Ryad Boudebouz helped the club end the season in the top half of the table for a change. In that season, playing in an advanced role, Martin recorded an impressive 17 assists to go with his 3 goals in Ligue1. Whilst the following season was more eventful and more difficult, Martin was once again impressive, finishing the year with 8 assists despite dropping down from playing in the hole to playing in centre midfield. This performance was also notable due to the fact Martin had to battle niggling injuries throughout the year. Now 24, and having recently joined Lille, Martin definitely has a look of the new Cabaye about him. A comparison which should cast interested glances from the Premier League.
Ideal for: Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton
Could end up at: Arsenal
BENJAMIN STAMBOULI (Montpellier)
Another graduate of the impressive Coupe Gambardella-winning Montpellier team, Benjamin Stambouli, whose father Henri was a notable manager, also made his debut under Rene Girard in the 2010 season. Equally comfortable as a ball-playing centre-back or a solid defensive midfielder, Benjamin has accumulated 37 games for Montpellier in the last two seaons. He compensates his slight build (5 ft 11 in) with a good reading of the game, and has drawn comparisons with Laurent Koscielny. Benjamin also already has 12 U-21 caps for France and is highly rated by Monpellier manager Rene Girard, who himself used to be U-21 manager between 2004 and 2008. Considering what Girard has achieved with a young Montpellier squad, the inclusion of Stambouli is testament to the young man's abilities.
 |
| Stambouli: versatile |
Ideal for: Tottenham, Everton, Fulham
Could end up at: Everton, Tottenham
STEPHANE RUFFIER (Saint Etienne)
France has recently been blessed with very good young goalkeepers. Whilst Lloris (world class), Mandanda and Carrasso have grabbed many of the headlines in France and abroad due to their exposure to Champions' League football, Stephane Ruffier remains unknown outside France. Still only 25, the young man has already accumulated nearly 150 games in Ligue 1 for Monaco and St Etienne. A supberly athletic shot-stopper, especially impressive on his line with superb reflexes, Ruffier only has one cap to his name but this shouldn't be a stain on his reputation. He would easily be England's number 2 for example, and has performed admirably for all his club. Ruffier is also unafraid of taking responsibility as he was captain at Monaco and continuously vocal about their poor performances which ultimately led to relegation, for which he was one of the very few to rigthfully escape any blame. Considering St Etienne do not have a great history as a selling club, Ruffier could be available for very little money when compared to the ridiculous amounts thrown at Jack Butland recently. With Lloris probably leaving Lyon, Ruffier has been mentioned as a possible successor, and he wouldn't look out of place in a club with a great recent goalkeeping tradition (Coupet, Lloris).
Ideal for: Everton, Sunderland, Tottenham, Aston Villa
Could end up at: Everton
CLEMENT CHANTOME (PSG)
Clement Chantome is a prime example of what PSG are doing right, but not in the way you might be thinking. Still only 24, with 120 Ligue 1 games under his belt, Chantome should be one of the young French players PSG should build around whilst adding world-class players like Ibrahimovic. Unfortunately, rumour has it that Chantome's days are numbered, despite Ancelotti's appreciation of the young man's talent. If Chantome were to leave then Premier League clubs could be attracted by Clement's versatility. Originally trained as a holding midfielder, Chantome considerably expanded his repertoire by developing the ability to play on the wings or in the hole. A cultured and technically sound midfielder, Chantome's prime ability resides in the fact he plays within his means and within the system. A valuable player to have on your team.
 |
| Chantome: can adapt. |
Ideal for: Everton, West Brom
Could end up at: Everton
Special mentions to: Bruno Ecuele Manga (Lorient), Moussa Sissoko (Toulouse), Romain Alessandrini (Rennes), Romain Hamouma (St Etienne), Remy Cabella (Montpellier), Vincent Aboubakar (Valenciennes),
REMEMBER THEM?
ADRIAN MUTU (AC Ajaccio)
This transfer hasn't been confirmed but apparently AC Ajaccio, the Corsican minnows, have agreed in principle to sign Adrian Mutu from Cesena. It will be interesting to see how he will perform, and I personally expect him to score beautiful goals whilst chatting to the Corsican mafia. He should settle well.
 |
| Mutu and the Corsican mafia: a match made in heaven. |
JEREMIE ALIADIERE (Lorient)
PSG's draw against Lorient in the first game of the season didn't just shock people due to the difference in the quality of players, but also because we witnessed a goal by someone we had thought lost to football. At one point in the game, Jeremie Aliadiere picked up the ball on the left wing and cut the defence apart, dribbling past 4 PSG players before placing the ball beautifully in the corner of Nicolas Douchez's goal. This had come 10 years too late, but it was finally a glimpse of what could have been for Aliadiere. Partnered with Alain Traore in Les Merlus' attacks, Aliadiere has already scored 2 in 2 and looked very sharp.
PREDICTIONS
1. Lille
2. PSG
3. Lyon
4. Bordeaux
5. Toulouse
6. Montpellier
7. Marseille
8. Rennes
9. St Etienne
10. Nancy
11. Lorient
12. Nice
13. Valenciennes
14. Brest
15. Sochaux
16. AC Ajaccio
17. Bastia
18. Reims
19. Evian TG
20. Troyes
Thursday 16 August 2012
The Unwelcome Neighbours: The Chelsea Preview
I have an admission to make: I am a Fulham fan. And whilst it grinds my gears to always be referenced by everyone as their 'second favourite club', I also take great pleasure in rival fans acknowledging the beauty of Craven Cottage or the warm welcome they always receive when they get there.
I also happen to live in the area and, whilst walking to the local Tube station, I saw a giant poster which nearly made me throw up. There it was, smack in my face: a ginormous photo of the Chelsea team with "Champions of Europe" inscribed at the bottom. And, despite my anger rising at the fact that this was in Fulham (to borrow EA Sports' mantra: It's in the name!) and not Chelsea, and that this was the second time they were doing this (victory celebrations in Fulham as well....tiring) in a few months, I realised it was a fitting symbol of the Chelsea of the last few years.
That poster portrayed Chelsea exactly as they are: unwelcome neighbours.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Chelsea, but that 'unwelcome neighbour' aspect also clearly had its advantages. Abramovich's arrival in the Premier League signalled a shift in power and made the league more competitive. We used to only have Man U and Arsenal at the top. Now we have a highly competitive league with four teams capable of winning the title (yes I include Arsenal) and others stacking up to catch the train (did you see Tottenham and Liverpool's teams last season???). So it hasn't been all bad.
However, the more specific 'unwelcome neighbour' aspect also illustrates exactly why people actively dislike Chelsea. I'll pass on the fact they bought their way to the title because that's exactly how you win it: by buying it. And Man City or Man United fans saying the opposite are delusional. So that wasn't a wrong in itself. No, what bothers people is the lack of class which has seemed to permeate through the club. From Peter Kenyon (douche-bag) to Jose Mourinho's spectacular, entertaining yet tiring antics to their decision to stage a large part of their celebrations in areas closer to Fulham FC (Yes I understand that Fulham Broadway has 'Fulham' in it and is closer to Chelsea. Parsons' Green, on the other hand....), Chelsea have taken pride in using that 'unwelcome neighbour' tag to full effect. And rightly or wrongly, depending on your allegiance, it has overshadowed their achievements, especially under Mourinho when they actually were playing attractive football. Yes they were a well-drilled machine, but those matches against Barcelona, with Drogba, Lampard, Duff, Cole and Robben on fire were some of the most exciting Champions' League ties of recent years.
£10 to the guy who can name the first scorer in the 1st leg (Initials: F.L.)
Chelsea have triumphed in adversity, and whilst this is laudable and often used as an inspiration tool by managers ("us against the world"), it only started to leave us feeling dirty last season. Whilst Chelsea fans are not the only ones who can be accused of blind allegiance (hello Liverpool fans! How is Luis Suarez? Still racist?), Chelsea's defence of their captain and talisman John Terry, a toxic character if ever there was one, was nauseating, although not to the same level as Liverpool's of Suarez.
So where does this leave us? Chelsea are an ageing team used to having its own way. This was demonstrated by their open and disgusting way of quitting on AVB and their new-found happiness at being under the tutelage of puppet Di Matteo. And yet they have been superbly backed yet again by their owner who has, ironically, finally decided to stump up the cash on young players which AVB probably asked him to buy last season. Oh, how a year changes everything.
So where does Chelsea stand now? Not close to a title. At least not yet. With a balance to be found again, especially with the arrival of defensive 'talents' such as Hazard, Marin and Oscar, the "backs against the wall" tactic will be hard to use again. More importantly, and perhaps more tellingly, it will be interesting to see how the baton will be passed. Will JT and Lamps finally accept that they are not in a majority anymore and cannot dictate their own terms, or will they keep holding on, hoping for backing from their 'pal' Di Matteo?
Whatever happens, Chelsea will be an interesting proposition this season, and are clearly a team in transition. Whether this materialises in dressing-room bust-ups or the sacking of Di Matteo (always probable, especially when people will have woken up and realised all he did was hand the power back to the players), Chelsea will be, as ever, entertaining and dramatic. And perhaps that's when we'll finally accept them as a welcome neighbour and a positive influence on the Premier League.
THE TRANSFER REVIEW
EDEN HAZARD
Now here is a young man primed for a fall. With dazzling arrogance the young Belgian announced his decision to join Chelsea, or as it's been constantly re-hashed, "The Champions of Europe". If ever there was one example of Twitter being an even more vain version of Facebook, this was it. And this made us forget that Eden had been targeted by all the big teams across Europe for a while. I personally had the pleasure of watching him break into the Lille team in 2009 when I went to watch them play in their decrepit Stadium Lille-Metropole. I remember an 18 year-old full of gusto and footballing arrogance (the good kind). Apart from being amazed by the sight of an obese Bafetimbi Gomis playing for an atrocious St Etienne, Hazard proved to be the lasting memory from an average Ligue 1 game.
So what have Chelsea bought? A young player (still 21) blessed with talent, vision, creativity and superb dribbling skills. Coming in from the left hand-side or playing behind the striker, Hazard loves running at defenders and creating mismatches. He even found a nice goalscoring touch last year when he had what is known as an 'Andy Johnson season' (20 league goals but a myriad of them penalties). And, despite what you might have heard, he is not a selfish player, as evidenced by his 15 assists. Any time a player contributes directly to 35 goals in one season in Ligue 1, a notoriously tactical and defensive league, then people should take notice.
The downside? An arrogant streak which the man has displayed numerous times for the Belgian national team, even leaving the stadium when substituted at half-time. It will be interesting to see how he settles alongside notorious bullies and 'owners of the dressing-room' Terry and Lampard.
But one thing is for sure: Chelsea have bought huge potential. I guess that's what 40 mil gives you.
Best case scenario: a more collective Arjen Robben
Worst case scenario: Damien Duff
THORGAN HAZARD
Now that was a surprising one, and it does smack of Chedric Seedorf's 'career' at AC Milan. Except that Thorgan has played for Belgium's U-21 and for Lens in Ligue 2 despite only being 19. Another one for the future, and if he helps Eden settle easily then Chelsea will have bought themselves a £1m nanny. But I believe there is potential there. Don't expect him to be involved straight away though. Still a gamble, albeit a relatively risk-free one at that price.
Best case scenario: A midfield version of Ryan Bertrand
Worst case scenario: Sam Dalla Bonna
MARKO MARIN
This was a transfer which p****d me off, and that's a good thing if you're a Chelsea fan. I know the Bundesliga is a pretty open league, but 35 assists in three and a half-season is still an impressive feat for a man who has just turned 23. Even more impressively, this was for a dire Werder Bremen devoid of any decent strikers and creativity. I remember watching Marko marin at the U-21 Euro in 2009 and he was Germany's stand-out player with Mesut Ozil at the time. At a reported £8m Marin is a low-risk purchase by Chelsea (especially considering Hazard cost £35m) and should provide good value for money. Capable of playing on either flank or behind the striker, he has a decent left foot to complement his right peg. A very astute signing.
Best case scenario: A rich man's Damien Duff
Worst case scenario: a German version of Ambrosetti
OSCAR
This one sort of came out of nowhere. Whilst it is always easy to get confused with their names, even when they are shortened, I have to say that oscar hadn't realy appeared on my radar until he signed. At least not in the same way players such as Neymar (obvious), Leandro Damiao, Ganso or Lucas Moura had been constantly mentioned in the papers. And the man is still young (only 20) and raw (less than 50 professional games in the Brazilian league). Should his 6 full caps or convincing appearances at the Olympics (from what I heard/saw as I was too busy watching Usain Bolt destroy everyone in sight) reassure us? perhaps. But many players have played for Brazil and gone on to have had average careers at club level (Kleberson, Felipe Melo, any Brazilian centre-back in the 90s). SO it is a gamble. And an expensive one at that, with a reported £25m going back to Internacional.
Best case scenario: A better Juninho
Worst case scenario: Kleberson
WALLY'S ADVICE
Pearls of wisdom for Roberto Di Matteo, also known as The Puppet. Not sure he needs them considering JT and Lamps will probably pick the team (ok, ok, that's harsh).
Purchase a wing-back or two
Not sure buying wingers or attacking midfielders was the way forward, especially considering Chelsea already had Mata, Sturridge, Ramires, Meireles (even though he's average), Malouda (ok that one's an obvious joke), Benayoun and Kakuta. What was probably more important is buying versatile defenders. Whilst the centre-back position should be covered with Terry, Cahill, an improved Luiz and Ivanovic, the only wing-backs apart from Cole and Branislav are Hutchinson (didn't he tell us he retired???), Bertrand and the ever-present Paulo Ferreira.
Cover for right-back, with a specialist in that role, would be a nice upgrade for a squad meant to be challenging on many fronts. And whilst Chelsea have been linked with Cesae Azpilicueta of Marseille for £7m, a better option in our eyes would be Mathieu Debuchy of Lille, probably available for less than £10m, only 26 and a convincing performer at Euro 2012 for France.
Get ready to rotate or there will be trouble
A lot of attacking players for few places. Sturridge wanting to play down the middle and competing with a resurgent Torres. Mikel, Oriol Romeu, Essien, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles and McEachran (where is he?) combining for the '2' in the 4-2-3-1. Hazard being a diva. Robbie will need to rotate or dressing room dissent will be coming.
Please give youth a decent chance
Sturridge, Bertrand, McEachran, Chalobah and Hutchinson are young, English and highly-thought of. Please give them a chance ahead of the Paulo Ferreiras and Raul Mereiles of this world.
Play Ramires in his favourite position
Ramires was, with Mata and Drogba, Chelsea's most important player of last season. So please Robbie, play him as a shielding player who can burst forward, Ã la Vieira. He has the talent, energy and unselfishness to play there. And he can only be better than a slow and cumbersome Mikel. With Ramires linking up from deep with Hazard, Marin and Mata, Chelsea can be seriously dangerous.
Please give Torres a decent chance
We're not talking about starting 3 games in a row before being substituted at the 60th minute. We're talking about playing 90 minutes in 8 to 10 consecutive games to start the season. Then, if he's screwed up, play Sturridge.
THE LINE-UP
In our view
Cech
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole
Ramires Lampard
Marin Mata Hazard
Torres/Sturridge
How they probably will line up
Cech
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole
Mikel Lampard
Ramires:Marin Mata/Hazard Mata/Hazard
Torres
PREDICTIONS
Growing pains to start with as Chelsea will need to find the right balance and many players acclimatise to the Premier League. But, if Abramovich is patient, lets Di Matteo warm up the seat for Guardiola and accepts a Champions' League spot as a good achievement, then Chelsea can go on to dominate for years. 4th
I also happen to live in the area and, whilst walking to the local Tube station, I saw a giant poster which nearly made me throw up. There it was, smack in my face: a ginormous photo of the Chelsea team with "Champions of Europe" inscribed at the bottom. And, despite my anger rising at the fact that this was in Fulham (to borrow EA Sports' mantra: It's in the name!) and not Chelsea, and that this was the second time they were doing this (victory celebrations in Fulham as well....tiring) in a few months, I realised it was a fitting symbol of the Chelsea of the last few years.
That poster portrayed Chelsea exactly as they are: unwelcome neighbours.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Chelsea, but that 'unwelcome neighbour' aspect also clearly had its advantages. Abramovich's arrival in the Premier League signalled a shift in power and made the league more competitive. We used to only have Man U and Arsenal at the top. Now we have a highly competitive league with four teams capable of winning the title (yes I include Arsenal) and others stacking up to catch the train (did you see Tottenham and Liverpool's teams last season???). So it hasn't been all bad.
However, the more specific 'unwelcome neighbour' aspect also illustrates exactly why people actively dislike Chelsea. I'll pass on the fact they bought their way to the title because that's exactly how you win it: by buying it. And Man City or Man United fans saying the opposite are delusional. So that wasn't a wrong in itself. No, what bothers people is the lack of class which has seemed to permeate through the club. From Peter Kenyon (douche-bag) to Jose Mourinho's spectacular, entertaining yet tiring antics to their decision to stage a large part of their celebrations in areas closer to Fulham FC (Yes I understand that Fulham Broadway has 'Fulham' in it and is closer to Chelsea. Parsons' Green, on the other hand....), Chelsea have taken pride in using that 'unwelcome neighbour' tag to full effect. And rightly or wrongly, depending on your allegiance, it has overshadowed their achievements, especially under Mourinho when they actually were playing attractive football. Yes they were a well-drilled machine, but those matches against Barcelona, with Drogba, Lampard, Duff, Cole and Robben on fire were some of the most exciting Champions' League ties of recent years.
Chelsea have triumphed in adversity, and whilst this is laudable and often used as an inspiration tool by managers ("us against the world"), it only started to leave us feeling dirty last season. Whilst Chelsea fans are not the only ones who can be accused of blind allegiance (hello Liverpool fans! How is Luis Suarez? Still racist?), Chelsea's defence of their captain and talisman John Terry, a toxic character if ever there was one, was nauseating, although not to the same level as Liverpool's of Suarez.
 |
| John Terry: despicable character. Does not help his club's image. |
So where does this leave us? Chelsea are an ageing team used to having its own way. This was demonstrated by their open and disgusting way of quitting on AVB and their new-found happiness at being under the tutelage of puppet Di Matteo. And yet they have been superbly backed yet again by their owner who has, ironically, finally decided to stump up the cash on young players which AVB probably asked him to buy last season. Oh, how a year changes everything.
So where does Chelsea stand now? Not close to a title. At least not yet. With a balance to be found again, especially with the arrival of defensive 'talents' such as Hazard, Marin and Oscar, the "backs against the wall" tactic will be hard to use again. More importantly, and perhaps more tellingly, it will be interesting to see how the baton will be passed. Will JT and Lamps finally accept that they are not in a majority anymore and cannot dictate their own terms, or will they keep holding on, hoping for backing from their 'pal' Di Matteo?
Whatever happens, Chelsea will be an interesting proposition this season, and are clearly a team in transition. Whether this materialises in dressing-room bust-ups or the sacking of Di Matteo (always probable, especially when people will have woken up and realised all he did was hand the power back to the players), Chelsea will be, as ever, entertaining and dramatic. And perhaps that's when we'll finally accept them as a welcome neighbour and a positive influence on the Premier League.
 |
| Di Matteo just can't believe he's won the Champions' League by doing so little. |
THE TRANSFER REVIEW
EDEN HAZARD
Now here is a young man primed for a fall. With dazzling arrogance the young Belgian announced his decision to join Chelsea, or as it's been constantly re-hashed, "The Champions of Europe". If ever there was one example of Twitter being an even more vain version of Facebook, this was it. And this made us forget that Eden had been targeted by all the big teams across Europe for a while. I personally had the pleasure of watching him break into the Lille team in 2009 when I went to watch them play in their decrepit Stadium Lille-Metropole. I remember an 18 year-old full of gusto and footballing arrogance (the good kind). Apart from being amazed by the sight of an obese Bafetimbi Gomis playing for an atrocious St Etienne, Hazard proved to be the lasting memory from an average Ligue 1 game.
So what have Chelsea bought? A young player (still 21) blessed with talent, vision, creativity and superb dribbling skills. Coming in from the left hand-side or playing behind the striker, Hazard loves running at defenders and creating mismatches. He even found a nice goalscoring touch last year when he had what is known as an 'Andy Johnson season' (20 league goals but a myriad of them penalties). And, despite what you might have heard, he is not a selfish player, as evidenced by his 15 assists. Any time a player contributes directly to 35 goals in one season in Ligue 1, a notoriously tactical and defensive league, then people should take notice.
The downside? An arrogant streak which the man has displayed numerous times for the Belgian national team, even leaving the stadium when substituted at half-time. It will be interesting to see how he settles alongside notorious bullies and 'owners of the dressing-room' Terry and Lampard.
 |
| Hazard: oozes potential. Possibly world-class |
But one thing is for sure: Chelsea have bought huge potential. I guess that's what 40 mil gives you.
Best case scenario: a more collective Arjen Robben
Worst case scenario: Damien Duff
THORGAN HAZARD
Now that was a surprising one, and it does smack of Chedric Seedorf's 'career' at AC Milan. Except that Thorgan has played for Belgium's U-21 and for Lens in Ligue 2 despite only being 19. Another one for the future, and if he helps Eden settle easily then Chelsea will have bought themselves a £1m nanny. But I believe there is potential there. Don't expect him to be involved straight away though. Still a gamble, albeit a relatively risk-free one at that price.
 |
| Chedric Seedorf: a trail blazer for Thorgan Hazard |
Worst case scenario: Sam Dalla Bonna
MARKO MARIN
This was a transfer which p****d me off, and that's a good thing if you're a Chelsea fan. I know the Bundesliga is a pretty open league, but 35 assists in three and a half-season is still an impressive feat for a man who has just turned 23. Even more impressively, this was for a dire Werder Bremen devoid of any decent strikers and creativity. I remember watching Marko marin at the U-21 Euro in 2009 and he was Germany's stand-out player with Mesut Ozil at the time. At a reported £8m Marin is a low-risk purchase by Chelsea (especially considering Hazard cost £35m) and should provide good value for money. Capable of playing on either flank or behind the striker, he has a decent left foot to complement his right peg. A very astute signing.
 |
| Marko Marin's reaction after realising he had to pass the ball to Claudio Pizarro. Now happy to be in London. |
Worst case scenario: a German version of Ambrosetti
OSCAR
This one sort of came out of nowhere. Whilst it is always easy to get confused with their names, even when they are shortened, I have to say that oscar hadn't realy appeared on my radar until he signed. At least not in the same way players such as Neymar (obvious), Leandro Damiao, Ganso or Lucas Moura had been constantly mentioned in the papers. And the man is still young (only 20) and raw (less than 50 professional games in the Brazilian league). Should his 6 full caps or convincing appearances at the Olympics (from what I heard/saw as I was too busy watching Usain Bolt destroy everyone in sight) reassure us? perhaps. But many players have played for Brazil and gone on to have had average careers at club level (Kleberson, Felipe Melo, any Brazilian centre-back in the 90s). SO it is a gamble. And an expensive one at that, with a reported £25m going back to Internacional.
 |
| Kleberson: his shadow looms over every Brazilian import. |
Worst case scenario: Kleberson
WALLY'S ADVICE
Pearls of wisdom for Roberto Di Matteo, also known as The Puppet. Not sure he needs them considering JT and Lamps will probably pick the team (ok, ok, that's harsh).
Purchase a wing-back or two
Not sure buying wingers or attacking midfielders was the way forward, especially considering Chelsea already had Mata, Sturridge, Ramires, Meireles (even though he's average), Malouda (ok that one's an obvious joke), Benayoun and Kakuta. What was probably more important is buying versatile defenders. Whilst the centre-back position should be covered with Terry, Cahill, an improved Luiz and Ivanovic, the only wing-backs apart from Cole and Branislav are Hutchinson (didn't he tell us he retired???), Bertrand and the ever-present Paulo Ferreira.
Cover for right-back, with a specialist in that role, would be a nice upgrade for a squad meant to be challenging on many fronts. And whilst Chelsea have been linked with Cesae Azpilicueta of Marseille for £7m, a better option in our eyes would be Mathieu Debuchy of Lille, probably available for less than £10m, only 26 and a convincing performer at Euro 2012 for France.
Get ready to rotate or there will be trouble
A lot of attacking players for few places. Sturridge wanting to play down the middle and competing with a resurgent Torres. Mikel, Oriol Romeu, Essien, Ramires, Lampard, Meireles and McEachran (where is he?) combining for the '2' in the 4-2-3-1. Hazard being a diva. Robbie will need to rotate or dressing room dissent will be coming.
Please give youth a decent chance
Sturridge, Bertrand, McEachran, Chalobah and Hutchinson are young, English and highly-thought of. Please give them a chance ahead of the Paulo Ferreiras and Raul Mereiles of this world.
 |
| Remember him? |
Ramires was, with Mata and Drogba, Chelsea's most important player of last season. So please Robbie, play him as a shielding player who can burst forward, Ã la Vieira. He has the talent, energy and unselfishness to play there. And he can only be better than a slow and cumbersome Mikel. With Ramires linking up from deep with Hazard, Marin and Mata, Chelsea can be seriously dangerous.
Please give Torres a decent chance
We're not talking about starting 3 games in a row before being substituted at the 60th minute. We're talking about playing 90 minutes in 8 to 10 consecutive games to start the season. Then, if he's screwed up, play Sturridge.
THE LINE-UP
In our view
Cech
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole
Ramires Lampard
Marin Mata Hazard
Torres/Sturridge
How they probably will line up
Cech
Ivanovic Cahill Terry Cole
Mikel Lampard
Ramires:Marin Mata/Hazard Mata/Hazard
Torres
PREDICTIONS
Growing pains to start with as Chelsea will need to find the right balance and many players acclimatise to the Premier League. But, if Abramovich is patient, lets Di Matteo warm up the seat for Guardiola and accepts a Champions' League spot as a good achievement, then Chelsea can go on to dominate for years. 4th
Wednesday 15 August 2012
How not being Alex McLeish guarantees love: the Aston Villa preview
When Randy Lerner arrived at Villa, it seemed as though the club was going places. With the brilliant Martin O'Neill in charge, the Villains made their way up the table, playing exciting counter-attacking football and regularly falling just short of the Champions' League places. Not only were Villa competitive but they regularly fielded a very British side and even started to include players who had gone through the ranks. It was clear to many that Villa just needed a little push to potentially break into the top four and 'do an Everton'. Even more impressively O'Neill managed to do so despite succumbing to Heskey fever, a common sickness amongst many highly-rated managers.
 |
| A surprisingly common sight over the years. |
And then it all crumbled. Disillusioned with demands by Lerner to reduce the wage bill (which at one point accounted for an unsustainable 70% of Villa's turnover!), O'Neill decided to leave of his own accord in early August. I'm a huge fan of the current Sunderland manager but this was a stab in the back of a chairman who had supported him throughout and was making legitimate demands.
Whilst some football clubs do not necessarily need a strong manager to be successful (see Chelsea under Avram Grant and Roberto Di Matteo), Aston Villa were the opposite. Stressed by the prospect of starting the season with only the able Kevin McDonald as caretaker manager, Lerner and co went into panic mode. They would not get out of it for two years.
It all started with the appointment of Gerard Houllier, a man with an interesting managerial pedigree, especially in England with Liverpool. Whilst with the Reds, he had helped mould players like Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy into established Premier League players and internationals, helping them move through the ranks (except in Murphy's case, bought from Crewe). The plan, a sensible one, was to apply the same solution to a Villa side supposedly brimming with young talent. As we said, a sensible plan. Except the Villa youngsters are genuinely average.
A quick list for you: Chris Herd, Eric Lichaj, Ciaran Clark, Marc Albrighton, Barry Bannan. These were meant to be the future generation of Villa players. Show me which one has shown Premier League quality. OK, maybe Albrighton, but he's no better than a number of Championship wingers such as Matt Phillips and Tom Ince for example. And they play for the same club. And they're the first ones who come to my head.
 |
| Lichaj and Herd: two examples of Villa's mediocrity |
So Houllier failed, and it was with relief that he left after a diabolical season. Aston Villa fans rejoiced everywhere, hoping for a sensible appointment to bounce back from a disappointing year. The Martin O'Neill years seemed far behind. And then disaster struck.
In surely one of the strangest decisions ever made by a Premier League chairman, Lerner turned to Alex McLeish. Despite managers such as Mark Hughes being on the market after arrogantly leaving Fulham (look where he is now!) or Roberto Martinez basically being offered by Dave Whelan, the American owner turned to the fiery Scot.
Alex McLeish. Alex 'long ball' McLeish. Yes he beat France once through a prayer of a shot by McFadden and a mistake by Landreau. Yes he won 'titles' with Rangers. But that's akin to saying Shakhtar Donetsk or Dynamo Kiev will win the Ukrainian League. And yet I don't see their manager lined up for a job in the Premier League.
He also got Birmingham relegated when he got there, only to see them promoted and relegated again whilst playing horrendous football. And yes, he did win the Carling Cup. But did you watch that final? Do you remember Koscielny and Szszszszszszszczczesny committing a schoolboy error?
 |
| Where was the piece of skill from one of McLeish's players? |
So not only were his achievements overblown, but the man had just managed Birmingham City, aka Villa's main rivals!
Lerner's decision was incomprehensible, incoherent and several other words starting with -in which would probably be worth using.
I don't think I need to mention how the season went for Villa, we all witnessed it. Horrendous football devoid of any creativity, a lack of ambition and a long flirt with relegation.
And then Lerner woke up and sacked McLeish. And speaking on behalf of football fans, and probably football itself, we thank you Randy for waking up from your coma.
 |
| Likeable and likes entertaining football. Obviously not named McLeish |
So now Villa have gone for another Scot tasked with a considerable rebuilding job. Has Lerner succumbed to 'Flavour of the month' syndrome? Only time will tell.
But we're sure of one thing. Paul Lambert is not Alex McLeish. And for that he will be granted a longer honeymoon period.
THE TRANSFER REVIEW
BRETT HOLMAN
Now this is an intriguing one. The Australian had been plying his trade in Holland, turning out for the last 4 seasons for AZ Alkmaar. Not only does this mean that he helped them win the title in the 2008-2009 title, but also that he has been under the stewardship of Van Gaal, Koeman and Advocaat. When you compare these guys to the last few Aston Villa managers, then it is safe to say that Brett Holman has perhaps received a better footballing education in the last four years than Gabby Agbonlahor.
Consider as well that Villa have seriously struggled to provide any width since the combined departures of Downing and Young and this looks like a match made in heaven. Despite its failings, the Eredivisie is still quite a technical league. True, they have given us several Mateja Kezmans and Landzaats. They have also given us van Nistelrooy and Bryan Ruiz. Finally, the fact Holman came on a Bosman means this is a relatively risk-free move. Clever from Villa.
I am therefore expecting Holman to easily beat off the competition of Agbonlahor on the wing, helping Gabby retain his place up front, where he prefers to play. Brett will be given his chance, but will he be more Harry Kewell or more Danny Tiatto? I'm hoping and guessing, to a certain extent, that he will more closely resemble the former.
Also, on a totally unrelated matter, you have to be rooting for Holman. I mean, the guy just has gorgeous hair. We're talking early 90s Backstreet-boy style hair. Delightful.
 |
| Brett Holman second from right. Notice the moustachioed Alan Smith on the far left. |
Best case scenario: A better Brett Emerton, a poor man's Harry Kewell
Worst case scenario: Australian Heskey when he played on the wing.
RON VLAAR
Haaaa Dutch centre-backs. They are akin to the Portuguese striker or the English left-midfielder of recent times. In teams stacked with talent they always seem to be the biggest liability. Name me a decent Dutch centre-back since Jaap Stam and De Boer. Johnny Heitinga? Joris Mathijsen? Please.
Ron Vlaar is no different, except he's actually deemed to be worse than the tow previously-mentioned players. Heck, he even has less caps for Holland than the mercurial Andre Ooijer or old Villa favourite Wilfried Bouma. I mean, these distinctly average players held 55 and 37 caps for Holland respectively. Vlaar has 9.
Do I need to make myself clearer? Maybe I am a tad harsh in the sense that the Premier League does not really bother with tactics, and so maybe Vlaar will settle in nicely. However, we're talking about a 27 year old Dutch centre-back only finally moving abroad after 6 years at a distinctly average Feyenoord side. Call me circumspect.
 |
| Ron Vlaar in a Holland shirt. Not necessarily a sign of quality. |
Best case scenario: Wilfried Bouma
Worst case scenario: A younger, willing-to-play version of Chelsea's Winston Bogarde (also known in simple terms as a 'waste of space')
MATTHEW LOWTON
Now this transfer on the other hand, I like (read with Borat voice). And I'll even go as far as saying that clubs should do this more often. Let's just look at a few defenders to have come up from lower leagues in the last few years: Kyle Walker, Kyle Naughton (both graduates of Lowton's alma mater Sheffield United), Nathaniel Clyne (finally snapped up). Young English players with lower-league experience should be given a chance, and I'm glad Villa have gone with Lowton. You're telling me you'd rather buy the Lee Young-Pyos, Noe Pamarots and Pascal Chimbonda of this world? Players like Lowton will demand lesser wages and have more of an interest in proving themselves.
In Lowton's case, Villa just bought a young player (23 years-old) with already 78 league games for Sheffield United. Not only that but Lowton has come up with his fair share of goals (10 goals, a high number for a wing-back) and is versatile. What's not to like about this signing? At 3 mil, people could argue it was relatively expensive for a player unproven at this level. I personally disagree and look forward to seeing Matthew Lowton perform for Villa. He can't be any worse than Eric Lichaj or Chris Herd anyway. Now there's a source of consolation if ever there was one!
 |
| The man Lowton will seek to emulate. Don't push it as far as getting the same hair Matthew! |
Worst case scenario: Habib Beye
KARIM EL AHMADI
Who? My thoughts exactly. A 27 year-old defensive midfielder who plied his trade for FC Twente and Feyenoord (where he played with Ron Vlaar) but also for Al-Ahli on loan by the time he was 26 and as recently as 2011. With 3 transfers coming from the Eredivisie you have to hope Paul Lambert and his scouts know something we don't. In El Ahmadi's case that's exactly the prognosis. An unknown yet risk-free acquisition. A gamble.
 |
| El Ahmadi: gamble or stroke of genius? |
Best case scenario: what Jean Makoun should have been
Worst case scneario: Jean Makoun
WALLY'S ADVICE
Here are our pearls of wisdom for a soon-to-be overworked Paul Lambert
Give your wingers a chance
Holman, Albrighton and the forgotten man N'Zogbia are Villa's available wingers. One is an unknown with a decent pedigree, the other is still a promising youngster and the last one on the list used to tear defences apart for Wigan. Give them a chance to shine and Villa will prosper. Lambert seemed to like a good old-fashioned 4-4-2 with genuine wingers last year, and this system could help Villa regain some sort of respectability by taking advantage of their decent wingers.
 |
| Remember him? You gotta let him fly! (see clip below) |
Hold your senior players accountable
Alan Hutton, Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock, Steven Ireland, N'Zogbia and Gabby Agbonlahor need to react after a disappointing season. Lambert has to ensure they show the way or they should be shown the door, especially Warnock and Ireland who were simply atrocious last season.
Challenge your youngsters
Whilst I have criticised the distinctly average youngsters Villa have produced recently, they did seem to show some glimpses at the end of last season. Even though Chris Herd, Eric Lichaj and Fabian Delph have flattered to deceive, they still have potential. It is time for Lambert to mould them into Premier League players or let them go. It's crunch time for these young men.
A special mention to Andy Weimann, who actually looked like a real prospect with his enthusiasm.
And it's an especially big season for Barry Bannan who needs to start producing.
Get your influential players fit asap
Darren Bent, Shay Given and Stylian Petrov need to be fit for Villa to perform adequately. Whilst Petrov's illness puts things into perspective, Villa needs at least 2 of the 3 to be able and ready to participate to a revival.
THE LINE-UP
In our view
Given
Lowton Dunne Clark Warnock
Bannan Delph
N'Zogbia Holman
Agbonlahor Bent
How they probably will line up
Given
Hutton/Lowton Dunne Vlaar Warnock
Herd Clark
Bannan
N'Zogbia Holman/Albrighton
Bent/Agbonlahor
PREDICTIONS
A slight improvement with more attractive football but growing pains throughout the season. A quick flirt with relegation at one point but Villa will finish a comfortable 13th.
Tuesday 14 August 2012
Arsene Wenger: Football's Christopher Nolan? The Arsenal Preview
I went to the cinema to see The Dark Knight Rises not long ago. And watching this absolute action-packed blockbuster somehow made me think of Arsene Wenger and his beloved Gunners.
This connection happened when I discovered that somehow Batman now had a flying car. My thought process went like this, in that particular order:
1) Damn, a flying car (channelling inner 5-year-old still fan of Batman), that is cool!
2) A flying car? Really?
3) Christopher Nolan had too much money and didn't know what to do with it.
I'm guessing you've guessed that the first two points had no link with Arsenal. The third one, however, applies to the Gooners pretty well. Let me explain.
For years now we have been told that Arsene Wenger has had money available. Heck, we've even had chairmen and different shareholders (Usmanov noticeably) mentioning that they were ready to finance a big blockbuster on the transfer market.
And what did Arsene offer us last summer? Instead of The Dark Knight (superb film, better than its prequel and sequel) he gave us Daredevil. He brought to these shores the likes of:
- Andre Santos (typifies every stereotype ever written about Brazilian full-backs),
- Per Mertesacker (a poor man's Robert Huth, without the pace. Think on that for a second)
- Park Chu-Young (Who?)
- Gervinho (collaborating with Bacary Sagna to form the most inexplicable and improbable hair-styled duo since Jedward)
Out of that list, only Mikel Arteta saved that summer of activity. This was especially depressing considering the previous summer had brought Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh to the club. The least said about them the better.
With that in mind, it seems quite clear that Arsene was suffering from the "flying car syndrome". Money was available, he was urged to use it, wanted to be creative but just did not know how. Exactly like Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight Rises.
You're telling me we needed that flying car?
You're telling me we needed Marion Cotillard? (Ras-al-Ghul's daughter? Seriously? Took the fun away from Bane).
As The Dark Knight Rises seemed chaotic at best (not helped by the fact I could barely understand what Bane and Batman were saying throughout the movie), so did Arsenal's transfer policy. Especially considering that Arsene wasn't buying youngsters anymore, but established players, with last summer's recruits being aged 26 or more.
So Arsene changed his style this year, yet again. And in buying Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla he has finally gone for the short-term. Will it finally work? Only time will tell. But I'm guessing that, exactly like The Dark Knight Rises, there will be fireworks this year for Arsenal. Not sure whether they'll be good or bad.
THE TRANSFER REVIEW
Seeing as my whole analogy was related to Arsene's transfer dealings, it is time we examine them closely.
OLIVIER GIROUD
I have to say I'm a fan of Olivier Giroud already. Even though I haven't seen him play that much, the man seems to have a confident personality. The fact he posed semi-naked for Tetu Magazine in France (a notorious gay mag) shows that he's not afraid of many things. But I have a sneaky feeling that his play will do the talking.
Quite tall, adept with his feet, selfish and team-oriented when he should, as evidenced by his 21 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 last season, Giroud is young enough to learn (25 with only two years of Ligue 1 behind him) and mature enough to behave appropriately. He has also taken the same path to Arsenal as Laurent Koscielny, the two of them playing in National (French League 1) before uniting at Tours in Ligue 2 for a season. Seeing how well Koscielny has performed for Arsenal, Gooners should be encouraged. There should be more hunger from Giroud than from Chamakh.
So a positive and ambitious signing. At 12 mil, Giroud is quite a snip considering he was top scorer in one of the most tactically astute leagues in Europe where goals are hard to come by.
Best case scenario: A poor man's Van Persie
Worst case scenario: A slightly better Marouane Chamakh
LUKAS PODOLSKI
I watched Podolski quite closely at Euro 2012, trying to see what Arsenal had bought. Despite my deep desire to watch the Bundesliga regularly (arguably the most entertaining league in Europe with the Premier League), the only time I had seen him were for the German National Team. Impressive in 2006, 2008 and 2010, Podolski really didn't set the world alight at Euro 2012.
What you buy with Podolski is pedigree. Still only 27, but with an impressive 101 caps and 44 gols for Germany, Lukas is an interesting proposition, especially considering he can play on the wing or up front. At a reported 10 mil, another impressive snip by Arsene. The only gripe? A relative failure at Bayern Munich and a tendency to prefer being the top dog at club level. Being a star for FC Koln is one thing, settling at Arsenal is another.
Best case scenario: A poor man's Robert Pires-Van Persie combination
Worst case scenario: Alexander Hleb
SANTI CAZORLA
Santi Cazorla is a typical example of English fans and pundits' ignorance of anything beyond the Premier League. Because, if I was a Gooner, I'd be more excited about Cazorla's arrival than Podolski's. Despite playing in the relative backwaters of Villareal and Malaga in La Liga, Santi is a class act. Otherwise, how can you explain his 45 caps for Spain at a time when midfielders come aplenty for La Roja? We're talking about 45 caps for the best team on the planet for the last four years, and what is most impressive is that these have all come since 2008, when Spain started getting to that unparalleled level.
An impressive set-piece taker capable of playing on the wings or in the center, Cazorla is a complete two-footed player with an eye for a goal. In that sense he is already an upgrade on Hleb or Rosicky, who both came with considerably greater (and undeserved) reputations. With Arteta's presence at the club, Cazorla should settle in nicely. And when he'll get going English defences should watch out. A superb signing.
Best case scenario: Robert Pires
Worst case scenario: Arsenal's version of Juan Manuel Mata
WALLY'S ADVICE
We at Wally are like any football fan, we love to hand out advice. And even though Arsene knows more about any footballer in the world (literally, he's probably watching tape of a 15 year-old Ethiopian playing in his back garden), here is our following advice for the greatest manager Arsenal have ever had (a fact Gooners should remember once in a while):
Get rid of the dead wood
No, not really that sort of dead wood. But let me write a quick list, off the top of my head: Abou Diaby, Per Mertesacker, Park Chu-Young, Sebastien Squillaci, Marouane Chamakh, Johan Djourou, Lukasz Fabianski. Pretty self-explanatory.
Arsene: get rid of these players, they create a feeling of mediocrity at the club.
Get Aaron Ramsey back and firing
The situation of Aaron Ramsey makes me seriously dislike Arsenal fans sometimes. Not only are they prone to turning on their own players rather quickly recently, but their booing of the young Welsh captain was sickening. Here was an inexperienced yet talented 21 year-old coming back from borderline career-ending surgery and struggling to come to terms with playing a long season. Understandable right? Not for Gooners. Inexplicable behaviour from the 'fans'. So please Arsene, put your faith in Aaron, especially considering that the 'Messiah' Wilshere (FYI only 37 Premier League games for Arsenal. Just sayin') is basically crocked.
Learn how to defend
This has been the argument for many years, and the appointment of Steve Bould as assistant manager should go a certain way towards remedying that problem. But if you want to defend properly, please ask Kieran Gibbs to track his man, please ask Alex Song to track back (or don't portray him as a 'defensive midfielder') and please mark your men at set pieces!
Sort out the Van Persie situation asap
Do we need to say anything more? Latest reports indicate a 22mil bid by Man UNited to be accepted by Arsenal. Our advice? Take it and spend it on defensive minded players to bring competition to certain areas of the team (especially at right-back).
THE LINE-UP
In our view
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Song Arteta
Oxlade- Chamberlain Cazorla Podolski
Giroud
How they probably will line up
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Song Arteta
Walcott Ramsey/Cazorla Cazorla/Podolski
Giroud/Van Persie/ Podolski
PREDICTIONS
A solid 3rd place for Arsenal, yet still far away from the champions.
This connection happened when I discovered that somehow Batman now had a flying car. My thought process went like this, in that particular order:
1) Damn, a flying car (channelling inner 5-year-old still fan of Batman), that is cool!
2) A flying car? Really?
3) Christopher Nolan had too much money and didn't know what to do with it.
 |
| Seriously? |
I'm guessing you've guessed that the first two points had no link with Arsenal. The third one, however, applies to the Gooners pretty well. Let me explain.
For years now we have been told that Arsene Wenger has had money available. Heck, we've even had chairmen and different shareholders (Usmanov noticeably) mentioning that they were ready to finance a big blockbuster on the transfer market.
And what did Arsene offer us last summer? Instead of The Dark Knight (superb film, better than its prequel and sequel) he gave us Daredevil. He brought to these shores the likes of:
- Andre Santos (typifies every stereotype ever written about Brazilian full-backs),
- Per Mertesacker (a poor man's Robert Huth, without the pace. Think on that for a second)
- Park Chu-Young (Who?)
- Gervinho (collaborating with Bacary Sagna to form the most inexplicable and improbable hair-styled duo since Jedward)
 |
| Arsenal's right-hand side: devoid of creativity, and shambolic hair |
Out of that list, only Mikel Arteta saved that summer of activity. This was especially depressing considering the previous summer had brought Sebastien Squillaci and Marouane Chamakh to the club. The least said about them the better.
With that in mind, it seems quite clear that Arsene was suffering from the "flying car syndrome". Money was available, he was urged to use it, wanted to be creative but just did not know how. Exactly like Christopher Nolan in The Dark Knight Rises.
You're telling me we needed that flying car?
You're telling me we needed Marion Cotillard? (Ras-al-Ghul's daughter? Seriously? Took the fun away from Bane).
As The Dark Knight Rises seemed chaotic at best (not helped by the fact I could barely understand what Bane and Batman were saying throughout the movie), so did Arsenal's transfer policy. Especially considering that Arsene wasn't buying youngsters anymore, but established players, with last summer's recruits being aged 26 or more.
So Arsene changed his style this year, yet again. And in buying Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla he has finally gone for the short-term. Will it finally work? Only time will tell. But I'm guessing that, exactly like The Dark Knight Rises, there will be fireworks this year for Arsenal. Not sure whether they'll be good or bad.
THE TRANSFER REVIEW
Seeing as my whole analogy was related to Arsene's transfer dealings, it is time we examine them closely.
OLIVIER GIROUD
I have to say I'm a fan of Olivier Giroud already. Even though I haven't seen him play that much, the man seems to have a confident personality. The fact he posed semi-naked for Tetu Magazine in France (a notorious gay mag) shows that he's not afraid of many things. But I have a sneaky feeling that his play will do the talking.
 |
| Giroud: Bold |
Quite tall, adept with his feet, selfish and team-oriented when he should, as evidenced by his 21 goals and 11 assists in Ligue 1 last season, Giroud is young enough to learn (25 with only two years of Ligue 1 behind him) and mature enough to behave appropriately. He has also taken the same path to Arsenal as Laurent Koscielny, the two of them playing in National (French League 1) before uniting at Tours in Ligue 2 for a season. Seeing how well Koscielny has performed for Arsenal, Gooners should be encouraged. There should be more hunger from Giroud than from Chamakh.
So a positive and ambitious signing. At 12 mil, Giroud is quite a snip considering he was top scorer in one of the most tactically astute leagues in Europe where goals are hard to come by.
Best case scenario: A poor man's Van Persie
Worst case scenario: A slightly better Marouane Chamakh
LUKAS PODOLSKI
I watched Podolski quite closely at Euro 2012, trying to see what Arsenal had bought. Despite my deep desire to watch the Bundesliga regularly (arguably the most entertaining league in Europe with the Premier League), the only time I had seen him were for the German National Team. Impressive in 2006, 2008 and 2010, Podolski really didn't set the world alight at Euro 2012.
What you buy with Podolski is pedigree. Still only 27, but with an impressive 101 caps and 44 gols for Germany, Lukas is an interesting proposition, especially considering he can play on the wing or up front. At a reported 10 mil, another impressive snip by Arsene. The only gripe? A relative failure at Bayern Munich and a tendency to prefer being the top dog at club level. Being a star for FC Koln is one thing, settling at Arsenal is another.
 |
| Podolski: bringing fear to a handball pitch near you |
Best case scenario: A poor man's Robert Pires-Van Persie combination
Worst case scenario: Alexander Hleb
SANTI CAZORLA
Santi Cazorla is a typical example of English fans and pundits' ignorance of anything beyond the Premier League. Because, if I was a Gooner, I'd be more excited about Cazorla's arrival than Podolski's. Despite playing in the relative backwaters of Villareal and Malaga in La Liga, Santi is a class act. Otherwise, how can you explain his 45 caps for Spain at a time when midfielders come aplenty for La Roja? We're talking about 45 caps for the best team on the planet for the last four years, and what is most impressive is that these have all come since 2008, when Spain started getting to that unparalleled level.
An impressive set-piece taker capable of playing on the wings or in the center, Cazorla is a complete two-footed player with an eye for a goal. In that sense he is already an upgrade on Hleb or Rosicky, who both came with considerably greater (and undeserved) reputations. With Arteta's presence at the club, Cazorla should settle in nicely. And when he'll get going English defences should watch out. A superb signing.
 |
| Cazorla: used to flying under the radar. At your peril. |
Best case scenario: Robert Pires
Worst case scenario: Arsenal's version of Juan Manuel Mata
WALLY'S ADVICE
We at Wally are like any football fan, we love to hand out advice. And even though Arsene knows more about any footballer in the world (literally, he's probably watching tape of a 15 year-old Ethiopian playing in his back garden), here is our following advice for the greatest manager Arsenal have ever had (a fact Gooners should remember once in a while):
Get rid of the dead wood
Arsene: get rid of these players, they create a feeling of mediocrity at the club.
Get Aaron Ramsey back and firing
The situation of Aaron Ramsey makes me seriously dislike Arsenal fans sometimes. Not only are they prone to turning on their own players rather quickly recently, but their booing of the young Welsh captain was sickening. Here was an inexperienced yet talented 21 year-old coming back from borderline career-ending surgery and struggling to come to terms with playing a long season. Understandable right? Not for Gooners. Inexplicable behaviour from the 'fans'. So please Arsene, put your faith in Aaron, especially considering that the 'Messiah' Wilshere (FYI only 37 Premier League games for Arsenal. Just sayin') is basically crocked.
 |
| Ramsey: give the boy a chance |
Learn how to defend
This has been the argument for many years, and the appointment of Steve Bould as assistant manager should go a certain way towards remedying that problem. But if you want to defend properly, please ask Kieran Gibbs to track his man, please ask Alex Song to track back (or don't portray him as a 'defensive midfielder') and please mark your men at set pieces!
Sort out the Van Persie situation asap
Do we need to say anything more? Latest reports indicate a 22mil bid by Man UNited to be accepted by Arsenal. Our advice? Take it and spend it on defensive minded players to bring competition to certain areas of the team (especially at right-back).
THE LINE-UP
In our view
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Song Arteta
Oxlade- Chamberlain Cazorla Podolski
Giroud
How they probably will line up
Szczesny
Sagna Koscielny Vermaelen Gibbs
Song Arteta
Walcott Ramsey/Cazorla Cazorla/Podolski
Giroud/Van Persie/ Podolski
PREDICTIONS
A solid 3rd place for Arsenal, yet still far away from the champions.
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