The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Arsenal

an article i wrote on bleacherreport

In this fourth part of the series on how clubs in the Barclays Premier League could strengthen their side ahead of the '09/'10 season, I look at what many term as the greatest club in the world. Yes, I will be looking at Arsenal (alright, alright, I admit that the "many" refer to Arsenal fans).

After what has been a largely unsuccessful season, where we were out of the title race before it even started, got spanked by Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, and lost meekly to Chelsea in the FA Cup, improvements are a must for Arsenal.

Anybody who thinks this side are good enough to win the title next season, probably also think they have a chance at getting together with Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox, Jessica Alba, and of course Adebayor's favourite girl, Beyonce Knowles. All at the same time. In the same room. On the same bed. Wearing...OK, I digress.

Basically, major improvements are needed for Arsenal, but I will try my best to highlight the three most important areas to strengthen.

STRIKER

With Adebayor sulking around in London like Nicolas Anelka did years ago, I think it's time that he moved on. He used to be an unpolished striker who worked his socks off and thus gained the admiration of some of the fans.

Then, a goal-laden season finally rewarded him for all his hard work, and it seemed at one point of time, that Adebayor would be the one that we could rely on for goals.

Unfortunately, the work ethic that endeared him to the Arsenal support has now left him, and he seems the most unenthusiastic and unmotivated on the pitch. That is not easy, considering he shares the pitch with Abou "my style's like Berbatov, I just don't have half the amount of skill" Diaby.

As such, he has to go. Who will replace him though? Here's a few suggestions.

Roque Santa Cruz has been something of a success in the league. Adding an aerial presence for Blackburn, he has also been a calm finisher when the chances present themselves to him, and on top of that, he's a willing chaser.

The problem with him is his injury record, and with the Arsenal physios already dealing with permanent resident Tomas Rosicknote, Santa Cruz might not be the best signing, despite his quality and his desire to leave Blackburn.

Also, Mark Hughes has been known to be a keen admirer, and with the Manchester City bosses (who reportedly just renovated their homes and used 20-pound notes as wallpaper) financing any move, Arsenal might not be able to win a bidding war if it happens.

As such, I would suggest we go for a Manchester City cast-off who I think would be perfect for us—Jo.

Out of favour at Manchester City, he has proven to be very useful for the Toffees, during his loan spell at Goodison Park. He adds a physical presence to the side, and has good skill to get him out of tricky situations.

That is an impressive combination that few strikers can boast of. His hold-up play is excellent, and his finishing is quite good, definitely on par with Adebayor's or even better.

In terms of availability, I think it would not be a problem at all, as Mark Hughes does not get on with him, and with the club boasting 15 world-class players in each position, they should be quite willing to sell him.

Given that we have a limited transfer budget, and the bulk of it should be spent in other areas which I will elaborate on later, I think Jo would be the perfect signing for us.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER

Currently, we play Cesc Fabregas + either one of Song, Diaby, or Denilson here.

Of the three players after Fabregas (I will do Diaby a favour and count him as a player for the purposes of this article), I think Song and Denilson have shown a lot of potential, but perhaps it is unrealistic to expect them to step right into the first team of a club chasing titles at such a young age.

In fact, I think even Fabregas needs someone experienced in at the club, to help shoulder the burden of running the midfield. There are a few candidates, and I will take a look at them now.

First up is Xabi Alonso. We were close to signing him this season, we didn't - he went on to have an outstanding season at the heart of Liverpool's midfield, we went on to do battle with mighty Aston Villa for FOURTH spot.

I think he is the player we should look to sign again, as he will take the creative burden off Fabregas, and he is also willing to sit in his own half to provide the extra body in defence when necessary. The problem is that having seen him excel this season, would Rafa Benitez still want to let him go?

Well, if he refuses to sell Alonso, we could then look at another one of our supposed targets, Gareth Barry. What I like about this transfer is that, it not only would strengthen us, it would also weaken Aston Villa.

Barry would also add some much-added energy to the Arsenal midfield, something that Diaby could never provide even if his life depended on it.

I think Gareth Barry would be an ideal signing for us, but if the price goes too high, as it probably will, considering Martin O'Neill would not want to let him go, we can perhaps consider Fernando Gago, who is himself an accomplished passer of the ball, and also not afraid to put in a challenge.

With Real Madrid going through major changes at the moment, we might also be able to pinch him on the cheap.

CENTRE-BACK

Lastly, we look at the position that desperately needs reinforcements. This is an area of our team which is practically crying out for help, arms flailing in the air as it realises that its ship is going down, and the life-buoy it was given has holes all over. Here, we have William Gallas, Kolo Toure, Philippe Senderos, Johan Djourou, and Alex Song.

Alex Song's best position is still in midfield, in my opinion, so that leaves us with four players. Djourou is too young and inexperienced to hold down a first-team spot for me, and so we are down to three realistic options.

William Gallas, since being stripped of his captaincy, has, to his credit, improved a lot. To be fair, we really missed him in the recent cup games, and had he been around, I'm sure we would have put up a tougher fight. However, he does have some bad history already, and I don't believe he will stay at Arsenal.

Kolo Toure looks a shadow of his former self. His decision-making was never top-notch, but in the past, his pace made up for it. Now, his pace is not as devastating as it used to be, and his decision-making seems to be getting worse.

Philippe Senderos looked to have a lot of potential, and I still think he is a good player, so he should stay, in my opinion. I also hope that Paolo Maldini has been giving him tips on how to defend, and also look good while doing it. OK, that's pushing it a little, poor Senderos would never look good doing anything.

Of course, you might have wondered why I left Silvestre out of this discussion. My answer to that is I am actually wondering why you actually had to wonder why I left Silvestre out of this discussion.

We need to stop getting bullied at the back, like we were against Stoke. Remember that game? It was truly dreadful.

I think we could really do well with Daniel Agger. Not Rafa's favourite player, Agger has declared his intention to leave to secure first-team football before. He is strong in the air, yet is a good distributor of the ball, and possesses one hell of a long shot.

He would be the perfect signing for our defence, but once again, Rafa Benitez might not want to strengthen a rival by selling Agger to us.

As such, we might have to look elsewhere in the league, and I think we could certainly use the physical presence of Christopher Samba in our defence.

An absolute monster in the air, Samba would be the solution to our problem of getting bullied by physical (big, rough, ugly, talentless) strikers like Kevin Davies, Kevin Davies, and did I mention Kevin Davies?

Being a Blackburn player probably also means that if we really want him, we can get him, as Sam Allardyce is not the kind of manager you would reject Arsenal for.

If we can get big Christopher Samba, I think he would forge a very decent partnership with Kolo Toure or Johan Djouorou, as Samba will clear the aerial threats, while Toure can mop up behind him.

If Senderos has somehow become very strong and defensively sound after a season at AC Milan, then we could perhaps try and pinch Sebastian Bassong from Newcastle, as he looks like a William Gallas in the making. The ability, not the big talk and the crying on the pitch.

So that's it. If Arsenal commit the summer transfer window to signing players in these departments, or even get the exact players I've talked about in this article, then I would be a very very happy man indeed, and perhaps we won't be out of the title race by September.

The Three-Transfers Road To Improvement: Chelsea

another article i wrote on bleacherreport

So, in this third part of my 20-part look at the three transfers that could improve each team in the Barclays Premier League, I look at Chelsea, a team that started the season with a huge bang, but after that, let water into their ammunition, misfired a little, and finally revived themselves with the arrival of Guus Hiddink.

Chelsea has demonstrated this season that they are capable of matching the best in the business when they have everyone available and united.

Hiddink’s arrival seemed to unite the Blues on and off the pitch, and the players were worthy winners over Liverpool and came within seconds of seeing off Barcelona in the Champions League.

So who do Chelsea need to sign in the summer? Looking at their team-sheet, they look strong in almost every department, but I can see a few areas where they could look to strengthen.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER

Michael Essien showed when he returned from injury just what Chelsea missed, adding energy and bite to their midfield. He is one of the best central midfielders in the world, and that is no exaggeration. He defends doggedly when needed, but at the flick of a switch, he brings the ball into the opponent’s half, adding drive and urgency to the attack.

Frank Lampard has enjoyed one of his best seasons in a Chelsea shirt in my opinion. How he achieves such consistency week in, week out, (without getting injured too) is beyond me, but he is indispensable to the Chelsea midfield, along with Michael Essien.

Which brings us to the remainder of the central midfielders. Michael Ballack, John Obi Mikel, and Belletti, who has been used there this season.

Ballack is not getting any younger, and I think he has not brought his international form to Chelsea since he signed for them, which is a real pity, as he is a midfield general for Germany.

Mikel has not been anything special and, while he does add industry to the side, he is poor offensively, and Chelsea could do much better than the Nigerian international.

Belletti has done a very good job for Chelsea this season, but he too, is going to be eligible for senior citizen rebates soon, and as such, cannot be factored in as an option for next season.

Having listed their options in the middle of the park, I think Chelsea need to add one more player to replace Ballack, who has not been the success that most people, including myself, predicted he would be.

That man is Andrea Pirlo.

Manchester United have won the title three times in a row, and to me, one of the biggest reasons for that is the calm midfield play of Michael Carrick.

While not the biggest headline-grabber in the Manchester ranks, there is no doubting that Carrick’s simple distribution of the ball has been the launch-pad for many United attacks.

With Carlo Ancelotti coming in, the Pirlo, Kaka, and Pato rumours have been flying around Stamford Bridge and it is likely that one or more will come in.

Should Pirlo arrive, I think he can perform a “Carrick role" for Chelsea. Essien will do the dirty work for him, while Lampard will join the attack as he usually does, with devastating effect.

RIGHT-WINGER

Currently, Chelsea alternate between Anelka and Kalou for this role. As such, they sometimes suffer from a lack of width.

Even when Joe Cole is back, he is not a natural right-winger and all three of the aforementioned players have the tendency to drift inside, relying on Bosingwa to provide the width. However, with Bosingwa charging up the flanks repeatedly, this can sometimes leave Chelsea’s defence exposed.

As such, I think Chelsea need a right-winger, someone who can stick to the flanks, run with the ball at pace, and deliver good balls in.

The man they should look to is David Bentley. He has good technique, decent pace, and definitely has the core ability to be a top-class addition to Chelsea.

Of late, he has not been favoured by Harry Redknapp, probably because of his huge ego, but I think his ego will be kept in check when he’s stuffed into a dressing room where everybody else is bigger than him.

He will also be available for a low price, as Harry Redknapp prefers Aaron Lennon to him, and will probably ship him off in the summer.

If David Bentley is deemed too big a risk to take, considering his supposed attitude problem, they could perhaps poach Ashley Young, who has proven to be one of the top wingers in the league. Of course, he would command a much higher fee as he is one of the key men at Aston Villa and Martin O’Neill would not want to let go of him.

LEFT-WINGER

Left wing is definitely a department that Chelsea needs to strengthen. Currently, they have Florent Malouda as the only true left winger.

Joe Cole used to play there, but he isn’t your typical left-winger. Malouda has found form recently, but for a large part of his Chelsea career, was average. As such, I think Chelsea could do with someone more consistent than him on their left wing.

I would suggest they try and take Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich. He has electrifying pace, is not afraid of taking defenders on, and has supreme technique.

With his addition, I think Chelsea could really stretch their opposition and they should go all out to sign him. Money has never been a problem for the Blues, and Bayern Munich will definitely let go of their star man if the price is right.

Ribery will also realise that he has to move away from Bayern as the club is playing in an inferior league, and I am sure he will relish the challenge of plying his trade in the English Premier League.

Having said all this, I sincerely hope that Chelsea will not sign any of the above-mentioned people, as I am an Arsenal fan, and if they added these players to their team, they would be near unstoppable.

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Liverpool

another article i published on bleacherreport

So, in this second part of my 20-part look at the three transfers that could improve each team in the Barclays Premier League, I look at Liverpool, a team that promised so much, but delivered nothing at the end of the day.

Looking at the Liverpool team now, there seems to be an over-reliance on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. Even Rafa Benitez, the walking encyclopaedia of facts has admitted this indirectly, stating that they would have won the title if Gerrard and Torres had started together more often.

Obviously then, the quality of the replacements is an issue here, and if Liverpool had the options upfront that Manchester United had, I am sure they would have had a better chance of winning the title.

STRIKER

Fernando Torres is a world-beater when he’s fit and on form. However, this season, Liverpool have dominated matches without killing their opponents off on numerous occasions, and the absence of Torres might be pointed to as the cause of that.

As such, it is definitely vital for Liverpool to sign back-up for their talented Spanish striker. It will not be easy to find someone who is good enough to step in, and yet be willing to sit around on the bench waiting for opportunities. Andriy Voronin certainly was not happy sitting on the bench at Liverpool, and it does not look like he has a future at Anfield anymore.

Looking around at who might be available, I can think of two players Liverpool could sign and who would be willing to wait for their chance.

The first is Michael Owen. Yes, Michael “Look Ma, I’m at Newcastle and picking up wages to get injured” Owen. He used to be one of the most-feared strikers in the world, but then injuries robbed him of his pace, and he became less effective.

However, he still possesses a good finish, and is still capable of making good runs. Steven Gerrard has forged a brilliant partnership with Fernando Torres of late, but way before his arrival, Gerrard seemed to have a similar understanding with little Mickey Owen.

With his contract running out, Liverpool would be able to get him on a free, and that would be outstanding business for a man who still has something to offer.

The second player is somebody who has not really played as a striker in his career, but who I think is incredibly versatile, and with a little bit of training, could be a fantastic striker.

That man is Salomon Kalou. He is incredibly quick and skilful, and while he might not finish as well as Michael Owen, he is more versatile, and can be played anywhere across the front three.

Dirk Kuyt might be an excellent defensive right-winger, but against teams that compact their defence, Kuyt is not the best option to pry open the defence. Kalou could be used in such situations, and I think he will be an excellent addition to Liverpool’s attack.

If Ancelotti does come to Chelsea, I think he will bring along with him some players, and look to clear out some of the existing players at Stamford Bridge, and so Kalou will not be too expensive, as he is not an integral part of their squad.

LEFT-BACK

Andrea Dossena, Fabio Aurelio and Emiliano Insua. Three names that will hardly leave right-wingers quaking in their boots. To be fair, Aurelio has demonstrated his worth to the team at set-pieces and with his crossing ability.

Insua has also shown in his few appearances this season, that he is one for the future, as he looked very promising. Dossena—well the less said, the better. Aside from scoring goals to put the icing on the cake, he is generally useless.

So, Dossena should really be shipped on in the summer. That leaves Aurelio and Insua as the left-backs for Liverpool. I think Aurelio’s time at Anfield is also up, as he is not solid enough defensively.

With Insua still relatively inexperienced, Liverpool need someone who can step in there right now and do a solid job on the left side of their defence, and teach young Insua a thing or two.

I can think of no one better to bring solidity in that department than Gabriel Heinze. He was a Liverpool target a few years back, if you remember, but Ferguson blocked the transfer from happening, and in the end he went to Real Madrid.

Now, I do not think Ferguson blocked the transfer just because Liverpool were huge rivals. He blocked it because he knew how much that would strengthen Liverpool. Ferguson let Silvestre go to another rival team because he knew that Silvestre would not strengthen Arsenal at all.

With Florentino Perez possibly becoming president of Real Madrid again, there will be a raft of changes in the Spanish capital, and I am sure Heinze would be one of those that will be allowed to leave, as Perez, if you remember, does not really see defence as being important to a team’s success.

Heinze would be seen as a destroyer, much like Makelele when he was at Real Madrid, and will be allowed to move on.

RIGHT-BACK

In this department, Liverpool have Arbeloa and Degen. Carragher is also capable of playing there, but that would be moving him away from his favourite and best position at centre-back.

Arbeloa reminds me of John O’Shea, in that he plays anywhere across the back, but is not brilliant at any of the positions. As such, he should not be holding down a first-team spot.

Degen has not played much, if at all, this season, and you would imagine that he will be rather rusty when he comes back, and as such, cannot be relied on as a first-team option. Besides, having watched him play on a number of occasions, he does not look like a world-beater in any way whatsoever.

I think Liverpool need a right-back, and they should look no further than Glen Johnson. He has matured beyond recognition this season, and is one of the few bright spots in what has been a poor season for Portsmouth.

Once known as an adventurous full-back who did not have the word “defend” in his dictionary, Johnson has obviously been working hard on the training ground, and looks a much more complete full-back this season.

With Dirk Kuyt, as mentioned above, being a defensive winger, Johnson’s ability to bomb forward will be very useful, as he can go on the overlap to support the Liverpool attack, and let Kuyt drift inside to add an extra body in the box, whether it is to win a header, or just to pick up the pieces.

With Portsmouth not qualifying for Europe next season, I am sure Liverpool will be able to attract Glen Johnson to the club, and they should pull out all the stops to get him.

So that’s it.

If Liverpool strengthen in these three areas, I think they would be a much more complete team, and would look to be challenging once again.

And that, Rafa, is a FACT.

HAHAHA

The 3-Signings Road To Improvement: Manchester United

another article i wrote on bleacherreport.com

This is the first article of a new series that I am embarking on. The "3-Signings Road to Improvement" series will feature an article on each club in the Barclays Premier League, talking about their shortcomings, and how perhaps three new signings, once this season is over, can push them to achieve greater things next season.

I will write the articles based on league position as of today, and as such I will start with current champions of England, Europe, and the world (not exactly a great achievement, but I'll mention it nonetheless), Manchester United.

With the team doing well on all fronts, Sir Alex Ferguson might be tempted to change little, and he'd be right. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, as the old saying goes.

However, I do see a few signings that could yet improve United, and make them virtually unstoppable.

RIGHT-BACK

For me, a major weak area for them is their right-back spot. Gary Neville and Wes Brown have been the specialists there in recent seasons and both have had seasons to forget.

Gary Neville wasn't exactly Mr. Reliable to begin with, and unlike Giggs, who like a fine bottle of wine seems to get better as he ages, Neville would be better off being compared to a bottle of milk that is three years past its expiration date.

Wes Brown had a decent season until he was ruled out through injury, but even in his best form, I do not see him as world-class. And with the resources United has, I think they could certainly do better than have Wes Brown at right-back.

"What about Rafael?" I hear United fans screaming away. He is definitely a very talented youngster, but I think he lacks the experience to command a first-team spot just yet.

He has been repeatedly exposed by players with more experience, and was given a torrid time by Robinho and Martin Petrov in the Manchester derby. I think he will be fantastic in a few years' time, but meanwhile they need someone else to show him the ropes.

As such, I suggest the first area to strengthen United will be at right-back. Sergio Ramos might be the ideal option, but there is no guarantee he would want to leave Real Madrid and the idol status he enjoys in Spain; plus, he would be really expensive if he is given the green light to go.

Besides, as explained above, i think Rafael Da Silva will be an absolutely cracking player in a couple of seasons, so getting Sergio Ramos would stifle his development.

Instead, I would suggest United go for someone much cheaper, but still very reliable.

That man is Habib Beye. He is suitably experienced, has shown great fighting spirit despite being part of the Grand Tyneside Circus, and will probably be available on the cheap should Newcastle go down. Even if they do stay up, I don't think Newcastle can deny a player the chance of playing for United.

STRIKER

With Tevez looking like he is leaving Old Trafford. Sir Alex might need a striker. I say "might," because he does have Fraizer Campbell and Manucho returning from their spells at Tottenham and Hull respectively, while Danny Welbeck and Frederico Macheda have impressed with the limited chances they have had.

That might not be enough for Sir Alex and Manchester United though, who might want a little more experience as they will look to challenge on all fronts again.

Benzema's name has been tossed around the tabloids for the last 43 transfer windows, and this summer will be no different. I think he would fit in at Old Trafford, but it remains to be seen if he will accept being a bench player like Tevez.

I think Manchester United would be better off going for Roque Santa Cruz.

If Ronaldo leaves at the end of the season, then his aerial ability at set pieces will be missed. Benzema won't be the solution to that, but Santa Cruz definitely will.

Also, I think Santa Cruz's predatory instincts are better than Benzema's, and he has the added advantage of being tried and tested at Premiership level already. He will definitely come cheaper than Benzema, and the lure of Europe should mean that he will not mind playing second fiddle to Rooney and Berbatov.

WINGER

Definitely, the need for a winger hinges solely on Ronaldo's decision at the end of the season. Should he go, a player of his calibre will definitely have to be replaced; and I think right now, there is only one player who could even come close to being an adequate replacement, and that is Franck Ribery.

Should Sir Alex want him, he would definitely be available if a substantial transfer fee is offered. Ribery will definitely not want to be stuck at an under-achieving Bayern, and should they fail to qualify for the Champions League, then there is absolutely no doubt that he will go.

However, there is a chance that Sir Alex might not go like-for-like. He might be tempted to replace Ronaldo with Kaka, and I think this might actually be a better buy, as Kaka can finish, something Ribery is not as good at.

Ronaldo's goals have been vital for United in recent seasons, so the player brought in must be capable of scoring as well.

Kaka has said before that he would welcome a new challenge, and the fact that he actually considered a move to Manchester City means he is definitely open to departing the San Siro should a good offer come up. And should Manchester United come knocking, I have no doubt he will go to Old Trafford.

So that's it.

Basically, for United, nothing much really has to be done. After all, they did get to wherever they are with this team.

A lot depends on whether Ronaldo stays or goes. Whatever it is, expect them to be contenders again next season.

Manchester United vs Arsenal: Advantage United

I remember eating my words when Arsenal dominated United at the Emirates. With basically no strikers available except Bendtner, who clearly isn't a good enough player for Arsenal, I had predicted United to win comfortably at the Emirates, only to be shot down by a Nasri brace and a masterclass Arsenal performance. This time, however, it is different, as not everyone expects Arsenal to lose. Arsenal's rejuvenation in the league has been remarkable and I don't think there will be any underestimating of Arsenal in Sir Alex Ferguson's side.

Injuries:
United have a full squad to choose from, with the exception of recently injured Gary Neville and the always injured Hargreaves. Which means Wes Brown, Rafael, and O'Shea are back for this match. This is an added bonus for United, as the Right Back position has been a weakness in the defensive 4 this whole season. Nasri totally owned Gary Neville with his tricks and pace, which was part of the reason why Arsenal had a field day at the Emirates. With no-nonsense Wes Brown, pacey Rafael or clumsy-but-effective O'Shea, United have enough reinforcements at the Right Back area.

Arsenal, however, have a lot of players missing for this match. Arshavin has been a great player since signing for Arsenal and they will miss his creativity and dribbling ability against United. Gallas and Clichy are still out injured for the Arsenal defence, and they also have chronically ill Robin van Persie and Rosicky out. That list is essentially a list of 5 first team players, so Arsenal are considerably weakened. Add to the fact that Gibbs and Silvestre are doubts (but I reckon they'll play in the end), Arsenal have an immense weakness in their defence, and United will look to profit there.

Line-up Predictions:
I fancy United to line up with a 4-5-1, and Arsenal might do the same. United have been using the 4-5-1 consistently in the Champions League and the usefulness of the extra midfield cover for the defense shows in the stats - United have kept the most clean sheets in the competition, a grand total of 7, and boast the best defensive record having conceded only 5 goals. I think Arsenal will do likewise, line up with a 4-5-1 and look to counter-attack with pace as it is at Old Trafford, much like how they played against Liverpool at Anfield.

United: Van der Sar - O'Shea - Ferdinand - Vidic - Evra - Carrick - Ronaldo - Giggs - Fletcher - Rooney - Berbatov

Arsenal: Almunia - Sagna - Djourou - Toure - Gibbs - Song - Walcott - Fabregas - Denilson - Nasri - Adebayor

Goalkeepers:
Little or none seperates both goalkeepers. Both have excellent shot stopping abilities and good reflexes. Van der Sar has recovered from his lack of confidence that has plagued him for the past 2 seasons. Now he's claiming crosses well again and showing everyone why he used to be considered a world class goalkeeper. He will be crucial for United to read the game and act as a sweeper, as will Almunia's shot stopping be for Arsenal. Van der Sar definitely has more experience than Almunia and that will play a part in the pressure-cooker environment of the Semis.

Defenders:
Sagna, Djourou, Toure, Gibbs. They aren't exactly the best defenders. Gibbs is young and inexperienced and it showed when he played against Liverpool. Dirk Kuyt and Arbeloa combined well on the right flank and peppered the Arsenal penalty box with crosses. A rash clearance while under pressure led to Liverpool going 2-1 up. While pacey, Gibbs will have a tough time against Ronaldo and the overlapping O'Shea, unless he turns out to be the second coming of Santon. Sagna is a solid player going forward, but he isn't as good defensively. He relies more on his pace to get back rather than defensive reading of the game, and does occasionally get caught out while being high up the pitch. Djourou and Toure are average and not world class. In a nutshell, the Arsenal defence is very shaky at the moment and United will look to exploit that.

United, on the other hand, have the meanest defence in the competition, if not the world. Aside from the problematic right back spot, which O'Shea has filled in decently, the rest of the defence is just filled with awesome. Vidic and Ferdinand have formed a partnership that have can thwart any attacking lineup, while Evra has been solid this entire season (other than against Aaron Lennon). Add to the fact that United can bring on Rafael, who has looked like a great prospect, or Wes Brown, who was alongside Fletcher as my MOM in the match against Barca last season, or Jonny Evans as defensive cover. United definitely have the edge in terms of quality of defenders.

Central Midfield:
Denilson, Song and Fabregas does not ooze class and confidence. Denilson is far from the finished product and for all his combativeness, he is not an accomplished passer of the ball, or a great tackler. Song is prone to his moments of ball-watching and laziness. Fabregas will be Arsenal's main threat from the midfield, and his great passing ability can unlock any defence. United will have to watch out for him as he has been employed in a more advanced role, like the Gerrard role for Liverpool, and he scored a brace through that over the weekend.

United, on the other hand, will probably play Fletcher, Carrick and Giggs. Perhaps Scholes in place of Carrick. Or maybe Anderson instead of Fletcher. Whatever the permutation, there is class in the midfield for United. Fletcher has featured steadily for the first team and he has put in some great performances in the heart of midfield. He has great energy and is decent going forward as well, not to mention that he is THE big game player. Carrick has grown well into his defensive midfielder role and provides great defensive cover, along with great through balls from midfield. As for the PFA player of the year, well, he single handedly destroyed the Chelsea midfield the famous 3-0 win this season. His ability to beat a man and then pick a pass will definitely be crucial to unlocking the Arsenal defence, as Arsenal will try to crowd out the middle of the park to prevent United from passing the ball to the front trio. One thing that might undo United would be their lack of pace in midfield, and that should be Arsenal's main focal point should both Scholes and Giggs start. I still give the edge to United and think that United have the better midfield and should be able to boss the match.

Wingers:
Nasri and Walcott both possess an abundance of pace and great dribbling ability. Nasri is able to wriggle out of tight spots well, while Walcott has blistering pace and can go past defenders with ease. They will definitely be key men for Arsenal. However, Nasri is not an old-school touchline hugging winger, and I doubt he will torment O'Shea much. He sometimes has a tendency to cut in and, against United, will be moving into a very crowded midfield. I don't fancy Nasri to have much of an impact against United. Walcott is THE man to watch. Aaron Lennon skinned Evra many times and the right side was a hugely profitable area for Spurs. For Arsenal to get something out of the match, Walcott must have a great game.

Ronaldo and Rooney should occupy both Right and Left wing spots. Ronaldo to terrorise Gibbs, and Rooney to provide some defensive cover for Evra. As seen from the match against Spurs, Rooney and Evra together were able to totally stifle Aaron Lennon in the second half. Rooney also has the ability to cut in and shoot, or put in a cross from the left, or exchange positions with Giggs midway through the attack, or swap play with his brilliant cross field passing. Rooney is a dangerous player to have anywhere on the pitch and he is on a confident streak right now after his virtuoso display against Spurs. Ronaldo, against Gibbs, is a total mismatch. Frankly, I don't rate Gibbs and I think Ronaldo will have a field day. I do expect Nasri to track back often to crowd Ronaldo out, which is why I think Nasri will have 0 impact on the game. I do expect Gibbs to get caught out 1 on 1 against Ronaldo a few times during the match, and that is where United will look to score from.

Strikers:
Adebayor has not hit his heights from the previous seasons. Previously, his work ethic and determination endeared him to Arsenal fans. Now, he looks much lazier and less motivated to play for Arsenal, probably because of the contract saga. He can be a handful for defenders to handle, but I think Vidic will be competent in handling him, as Adebayor does not possess much trickery. What he relies on are strength, jumping ability and pace, all of which the United duo of Vidic and Ferdinand have too.

Berbatov is a different type of player from Adebayor. He is a link man between midfield and attack and likes dropping deep to set up play. He is the league's assist leader and has gotten 9 goals for United, so whoever doubts his quality can kiss my ass. He was instrumental against Spurs in the build up play with his first touch and close control and was involved in both the second and third goals. He is a player who can win a match through a moment of brilliance, and will be the perfect forward to unlock a stubborn Arsenal defence.

Experience:
The United team are definitely more experienced than Arsenal. Without a doubt, experience plays a key factor in this match as knock-out competitions call for a level head and patience, and you only get that through experience. Against a full house crowd at Old Trafford, playing in the Semi Finals of the most prestigious European cup tournament, I fancy some of the Arsenal players to let their nerves get to them and make mistakes. United, after all, are playing on home soil and have felt it all before, and the home crowd will definitely spur them on. My prediction is that Arsenal will not be able to get much accurate passing going together and there will be long spells of United possession.

Strength of bench:
Arsenal have no game changers in their substitutes. Fabianski, Bendtner, Eboue and Diaby are the closest to being first teamers and they have not done enough to prove their quality. Whether they are game changers is an entirely different matter. Would you send on Vela if you knew you needed a goal? His quality is undoubted, but I have doubts about his composure in front of goal. Look at how Bojan missed a golden opportunity in the dying seconds of the match against Chelsea.

United have quality in abundance on their bench. Tevez can be brought on to change a match completely, as we witnessed in the game against Spurs over the weekend. Scholes can be brought on to unlock the meanest of defences, while Anderson and Park can be brought on to provide energy in the midfield area. Evans and Brown and Rafael are great defensive options to have. United definitely have more strength in depth and definitely have the advantage here.

Conclusion:
I certainly believe that United are the better team overall. Especially when Arsenal are missing match winners like van Persie, who can be very lethal from set pieces. The United defence is huge and should be able to cope aerially against Arsenal from set pieces, and I think Ronaldo's presence in the air might be very effective against Arsenal's defenders. I think that the match will be a tight affair and very cagey in the first half, but we'll see a very open second half. Almunia will probably be the busier of both keepers and I think United will head to the Emirates with a 1-0 lead after a moment of brilliance from one of United's many matchwinners.

Why It Will Be an All-English Final In The Champions League Again

published this at bleacherreport.com

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3 of the remaining 4 teams left in the UEFA Champions League hail from the English Premier League. One finals spot is guaranteed to be filled by an English team, as Arsenal take on the holders, Manchester United.

Chelsea vs Barcelona is the tie that will decide if an all-English final repeats itself this time around. Although most people on the streets believe that Barcelona will dump Chelsea in the semi-finals en route to the final, my opinion is that Chelsea are the stronger team, and will progress. Here's why:

Goalkeeper:

A no-contest here. Let's just put it this way. Petr Cech is a world-class goalkeeper who was going through a crisis of confidence. One fantastic penalty save from Mark Noble at the weekend would have done wonders for his confidence, and that is bad news for Barcelona.

Victor Valdes. He has to be the worst goalkeeper playing for a top 5 side in Europe, ever. He is unreliable, not particularly agile, and his distribution isn't exactly great either. He actually had the cheek to ask for his wages to be similar to that of the other superstars in Barcelona. If I were Guardiola, I'd insist Victor Valdes be put on a pay-as-you-play deal, and I mean Valdes has to pay Barcelona to play, not the other way round. THAT, is how low I rate him.

Defence:

Barcelona's defence is far from water-tight. Their best defender, Carles Puyol is an overrated player who runs around like a headless chicken. Daniel Alves has fantastic ability with the ball, but is not the best defensively. Eric Abidal is average at best. I think Kalou and Malouda will relish the space offered to them by the full-backs, who will undoubtedly push up in support of the attack. Also, Didier Drogba is in good form, and I do not see how Barcelona's centre-backs can handle him.

Chelsea's defence, on the other hand, is made of sterner stuff. Do not be fooled by the 4-4 draw with Liverpool. That was a game against a team that had no choice but to attack from the off. The absence of Ashley Cole is over-emphasised, I feel. With Messi on the right wing, a right-footed defender is better in one-on-ones with Messi, as the brilliant Argentine has a fondness for cutting in repeatedly. The problem with Chelsea's defence is that John Terry and Alex are not the quickest on earth, something that Eto'o and Henry will look to profit from.

Midfield:

Xavi is a fantastic midfield playmaker, and I think he is one of, if not the best in that position currently. He is joined by Iniesta and Toure/Keita, which is a very good midfield. Toure/Keita are not brilliant, but they just provide the extra body back in defence, and when dealing with counter-attacks.

Chelsea have a brilliant answer to that in midfield though, and it is ME. No, not myself, but Michael Essien. Essien was brilliant in nullifying Gerrard in the previous round, and he will look to repeat his performance against Xavi. Essien is joined by Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack in midfield. Lampard will be pulling the strings from midfield, and I think he will have an easy time against Yaya Toure, who really isn't that good. Michael Ballack clearly does not bring his German international form to Chelsea, but he will be useful in the set-pieces, as Chelsea will look to profit from those, considering Barcelona do not really have an aerial presence, and Chelsea have it in abundance.

Attack:

Messi, Eto'o, Henry. The trio are magical when on song, and I don't mean Rigobert Song. Everyone's magical when playing against Rigobert Song. Back to the topic though, Chelsea might have a problem dealing with the pace of the three musketeers, and their chances lie in stopping the supply from midfield, further highlighting what a key role Essien will play in this game.

Didier Drogba. Frankly, there is no way to stop him. Even if Barcelona cut off the supply on the ground, there is no way they can stop a long ball punted towards him, and there is even less they can do to prevent Chelsea taking advantage of set pieces. Besides, they do have ex-Real Madrid man Nicolas Anelka to bring on, should they require more firepower.

Coach:

Guus Hiddink. He has a good record in knock-out competitions, and is very good with tactics. The 3-1 win at Anfield was a superb achievement, for which he must take some credit.

Pep Guardiola is inexperienced, and with him, you get the feeling that the team is making his job easier. He hasn't actually made any radical tactical changes to the side he inherited, and it is yet to be seen if he can respond in-game to different situations.

To sum this up, I think Chelsea's hopes lie with Michael Essien, Frank Lampard, and Michael Ballack winning the midfield battle. Barcelona are not capable of playing direct football, as their forward line is not equipped to do that, so stopping Xavi and Iniesta will be the way to go for Chelsea. I think this is exactly what will happen over two legs, and Chelsea will progress.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on Chelsea to progress @ 2.30 = $23.00, from bet365

Why Manchester United Will Qualify For UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals

another article i published on bleacherreport.com
Please visit the above link, take part in the poll, leave a comment, whatever. if you really like it, you can add it to your favourites...anw, enjoy.

As the United defence went AWOL in the dying stages of the first leg against Porto to allow Mariano to equalise, just minutes after Carlos Tevez looked to have secured victory, the Old Trafford faithful went silent.

At 2-1, the tie was very much in the balance, considering that Porto had one away goal. A 1-0 back in Portugal would send them through. So, for the game to eventually finish 2-2 must count as a mini-disaster. The result leaves Manchester United realistically needing a win over at the intimidating Estadio do Dragao. A 2-2 draw would prolong the tie, and send it into extra-time and possibly penalties. Anything higher than a 2-2 would also see Manchester United progress.

As Porto has recorded wins this season over the likes of Fenerbahce and Arsenal, and also managed to keep a clean sheet against Atletico Madrid, who have quite an array of attacking options, most neutrals might think that Porto have a great chance of qualifying for the semi-finals. After all, they just need to shut up shop at the back, like they did against Atletico, and hold on for the final whistle, right?

Easier said than done. Manchester United will take some stopping. Porto are faced with a little bit of a dilemma here. Should they look to defend, Manchester United will eventually score. Here's why:

1) Helton

Occasionally brilliant, often bumbling. A goalkeeper cut from the same mould that produced Heurelho Gomes, Fabien Barthez, and of course, Massimo Taibi, Helton is hardly a keeper you would rely on to keep clean sheets. While he can hardly be blamed for the two goals conceded by Porto in the first leg, one needs only to look at the previous round of matches, where he let a Forlan shot coming straight at him spill into goal. Suspect when coming for crosses, and quite awful decision-making means that he is the weakest link in the Porto line-up, and I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson will be instructing his men to shoot on sight.

2) The Porto defence

While not exactly poor defenders, they are rather slow. In the first leg, Manchester United did not test them fully, as they were pegged back by some brilliant Porto attacks. Now, with Manchester United needing to go all-out from the whistle, they will be stretched to the limit. I predict they will struggle in the face of lightning-quick Manchester United counter-attacks.

3) Cristiano Ronaldo

He will be a star in this match. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, he was rested for the league game against Sunderland, and as such, should be fresh and raring to go for this one. Second, Ronaldo thrives whenever people boo him. His best seasons in England have come after the infamous incident in the 2006 World Cup where he got England favourite Wayne Rooney sent off, and that of course meant he became an object of hate back in England and at every away ground. This being the stomping ground of his former club Sporting Lisbon's rivals, he is going to be roundly abused by Porto fans. And he will perform.

4) Dimitar Berbatov

The brilliant Bulgarian is back, and I think he has been missed. He provides all sorts of opportunities for his teammates with his quick thinking and vision, much like how Bergkamp used to be the brains for Arsenal. Tevez and Rooney will provide the legs, but should Porto look to shut up shop, Dimitar Berbatov will be there to pick the lock all night long.

So that means Porto cannot look to defend from the first whistle. However, should they adopt an attacking approach, they will be torn to bits on the counter. It is a lose-lose situation for Porto, and I cannot see Manchester United getting knocked out here. Porto no longer have the element of surprise now, as Sir Alex Ferguson will not need to tell his men about the dangers of Porto's attackers. Without underestimating their opponents as they did in the first leg, and possibly without the air of complacency hanging over Old Trafford, I think Manchester United are clear favourites to advance.

I'm going to put my money where my mouth is, so if you fancy lining your pockets with a little extra money, consider a little flutter on Manchester United to advance to the semi-finals, which is priced at 1.90 at bet365.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on Manchester United to advance to the semi-finals @ 1.90 = $19.00

Why a Tough Midfielder Is Really The Last Thing Arsenal Needs

Another article I published on bleacherreport.com. Here's the link

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/150389-why-a-tough-midfielder-is-really-the-last-thing-arsenal-needs

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Why a Tough Midfielder Is Really The Last Thing Arsenal Needs

I'm sure you've heard it all before. Arsenal's midfield lacks bite. Arsene Wenger never replaced Gilberto, Flamini and Vieira, and as such, there is a gaping hole in the midfield that needs to be filled with a tough-tackling, gritty player.

Is there much truth to the above statements though? My opinion is that while a tough-tackling midfielder would fit into most teams, this is a type of player that Arsenal does not really need.

Judging by performances from this season and last, Arsenal has two big problems. One of them is that they cannot unlock teams that play all 11 men behind the ball and scrap for a draw as if their lives depended on it. The other problem is that they tend to be bullied aerially, especially in defence.

The first problem can be solved in two ways. The first way is the Arsenal way, that is, find more creativity, somehow, either by buying a new player, or promoting someone from the reserves. By introducing a new threat that teams are not quite sure how to prepare for, this increases the number of goalscoring chances, and in turn, the number of goals. Our struggles were clear this season, when they failed to get chances against the likes of Fulham, Wigan, Sunderland, and many more. It is no coincidence that Arshavin's arrival has sparked Arsenal back into form, as he has opened defences up with his unpredictable running and passing.

The second way is to bypass the packed defence by lumping the ball into the area, and hoping a big man up front wins the ball in the air. I think this is a style totally unsuitable for Arsenal, as they do not have the personnel required for this.

So, assuming Arsenal go by the first way, which is to find more creativity within the team, a tough midfielder is really the last thing Arsenal needs. As of now, Wenger usually plays Adebayor/Bendtner as one of the striking pair, and both of them don't really add to the creativity department. That leaves Van Persie, Arshavin, Fabregas and Denilson as the sources of creativity. Should Arsenal get a tough midfielder, then this reduces their creativity, as Denilson is the likely one to be replaced. In most of their games, they are knocking on their opponents' door for the duration of the 90 minutes, and their opponents rarely venture forward, so I do not see any use for a defensive midfielder to shore up the defence.

The other problem Arsenal has is at the defensive end. They tend to be bullied aerially, as evidenced against Stoke City and any other team with tall players. This is obviously a problem with the centre-backs, who are both not tall enough to cope with such a threat. Gallas and Toure are both good covering defenders, but they desperately need someone who can win more battles in the air.

Once again, it's difficult to see how having a tough-tackling midfielder will help here, as teams often bypass Arsenal's midfield by thumping it straight up to their burly strikers.

I think what Arsenal really need is a centre-back tall enough to improve their aerial presence at the back, and I honestly do believe that is the final piece of the jigsaw to make them a regular contender for top-spot in the coming seasons.

HULL CITY TO BE RELEGATED?

Hull City started the 08/09 season so promisingly. Victories at White Hart Lane and more notably, the Emirates Stadium underlined the fact that they were a force to be reckoned with.

Unfortunately for them, the word "were" is the most important word in that sentence. Once flying high in the league, they have now won 1 of their last 13 games. If that isn't relegation form, I don't know what is.

Their desperation can also be seen from their manager Phil Brown apparently clutching at straws after their recent FA Cup defeat to Arsenal, trying to deflect attention from his team. He accused Cesc Fabregas of spitting at his assistant manager (a claim which has not been backed up by any solid proof), and said that Arsene Wenger refused to shake his hand in the two league fixtures prior to the FA Cup encounter. The latter of the claims has since been proven to be false, as video footage of the two matches clearly show Wenger and Brown exchanging handshakes at the final whistle.

Although Hull City seem to be well-positioned in the league, safe in 13th place, a closer inspection of the table will reveal that they are actually only 4 points from the relegation zone. With 40 points being usually enough to guarantee safety, Hull City should be safe if they can get at least 7 points from their remaining 8 matches. However, that is a very big "if". Here's why:

April 4th
Hull City vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth are themselves not out of relegation trouble. With 32 points and a game in hand over the other relegation candidates, they need the points as much as Hull do. The big difference is that Portsmouth are on their way up, while Hull are in free-fall. Man-for-man, Hull are no match for Pompey. Peter Crouch, Glen Johnson and Sean Davis are all playing very well at the moment, and their performance against Everton last week certainly shows they are up for the battles. Even with home advantage, the most I can see Hull getting is one point.

Prediction: 1 point

April 11th
Middlesbrough vs Hull City

Another relegation candidate. Middlesbrough have to win their home games to try and stay in the Premier League, and home games do not come much easier than against Hull City. This is a crucial match, as anything other than a Boro win will see the likes of Plymouth and Crystal Palace visiting the Riverside Stadium next season. I fancy Boro to win here, but the best Hull can manage away from home is a point.

Prediction: 1 point

April 18th
Sunderland vs Hull City

Another away game, another relegation candidate. Sunderland are right below Hull, and with home advantage, the situation again looks bleak for Hull City. With Kenwyne Jones back to full fitness, Sunderland have a decent strikeforce of Djibril Cisse supporting Kenwyne Jones. This should be bad news for a defence that is the second-worst in the league, letting in 52 goals in 30 games. I fancy Sunderland to pick up a home win here.

Prediction: 0 points

April 25th
Hull City vs Liverpool

Is any analysis really needed here? Liverpool need the points to push Manchester United to the wire. The 2-2 draw back at Anfield will also mean Liverpool are likely to take Hull seriously this time. 3 points for the Reds.

Prediction: 0 points

May 2nd
Aston Villa vs Hull City

Aston Villa have way too much quality and pace for Hull City to handle. The midfield of Barry, Petrov and Sidwell will totally overwhelm whatever combination Phil Brown can think of. Away from home as well, Hull City don't have a ghost of a chance.

Prediction: 0 points

May 9th
Hull City vs Stoke City

Another relegation candidate. This time, being at home, Hull City will be thinking of getting a win, and will probably look to attack Stoke. However, Stoke City just seem to be made of sterner stuff than Hull, and will definitely make use of the long throws to unsettle a leaky backline and an unconvincing goalkeeper. I do not see Stoke getting beaten here.

Prediction: 1 point

May 16th
Bolton Wanderers vs Hull City

Usually, this would be a walk in the park for Bolton, who do seem to be distancing themselves from the other relegation candidates with some of their players being on fire at the right time. Kevin Davies is the 2nd-highest English scorer in the league, and Bolton just seem to be pulling themselves together at the right time. By May 16th though, Bolton might already be safe, and if complacency creeps into their game, Hull City might sneak a point.

Prediction: 1 point

May 24th
Hull City vs Manchester United

This match depends on whether the title has already been sewn up. If it hasn't, then Hull City will be on the end of a heavy beating, as there is no way Manchester United will let Hull City prevent them from a title. If it has been sewn up, then Hull City might well sneak a draw, but will it be enough?

Prediction: 1 point

Total tally: 5 points + 33 points = 38 points

Overall, I certainly do not see Hull getting enough points to stay up, and I think they will go down. You can count them unlucky, as Jimmy Bullard would have added steel and creativity to their midfield, but then he got injured for the rest of the season shortly after signing for them. The truth is, though, that their team is just not good enough to stay up. Their performances early on in the season were probably possible because opposing teams had not viewed them as a threat, and their confidence spurred them on to victory after victory. Once the league's teams sat up and took notice, they began to get outplayed regularly.

To end this off, I recommend you consider a punt on Hull City to get relegated. Odds for this to happen are very good, at 3.75 at bet365.

Eddy's prediction: $10 on Hull City to get relegated at 3.75 = $37.50

another article that i also published on bleacherreport.com

The Best 11 Outside The Big Four in England (08/09)

another article i published on bleacherreport.com...


Most fantasy 11s are made up of huge stars playing for top teams. This season, many of the smaller clubs have upset the members of the top 4, with the hardest hit being Arsenal.

For a while, it looked like Arsenal might have let Aston Villa grab 4th spot ahead of them. Even though it looks unlikely now, I think the rest of the 16 teams have been generally competitive and most teams would have at least one player that would make this list, which is basically a dream team comprising players who ply their trade for English teams outside the top 4.

Being the nearest challengers to Arsenal, Aston Villa and Everton will definitely have players featuring in this lineup, but I've looked at every club and picked out the top-performing players, then made some really tough decisions, and this is what I've come up with.


Goalkeeper: Chris Kirkland (Wigan)


Chris Kirkland has been dogged by injuries since he joined Liverpool back in 2001. Right now, fully at home after a similar injury-plagued spell at West Brom, he has once again proven himself to be an excellent shot-stopper. His quick reflexes and towering frame have proven vital in Wigan's push up the table this season. They are now knocking on the door of Europe, and it would be just reward for an excellent season for Kirkland. Wigan fans, just pray he doesn't get injured again.

Notable mentions:
Robert Green (West Ham)
Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)


Right-back: Glen Johnson (Portsmouth)


Glen Johnson has been one of the few bright spots in a bad season for portsmouth. having kicked off the season with an array of talent at harry redknapp's disposal, the team now has had its heart ripped out with the departures of redknapp, lassana diarra, and jermain defoe. however, glen johnson has been an ever-present in a portsmouth team currently battling relegation. his defending used to be questioned, but it has improved considerably this season. offensively, he has scored a few absolute crackers this season, and has 3 goals to his name already. if portsmouth are to retain their status as a premier league team, glen johnson is going to be key.

Notable mentions:
John Pantsil (Fulham)
Habib Beye (Newcastle)


Centre-back: Phil Jagielka (Everton)


Jagielka has been an absolute rock for Everton this season. Strong in the air, reasonable pace, but most importantly, a strong desire to keep the ball far away from his goal. Never one to shy away from a challenge, yet one who always plays hard but fair. I haven't seen Jagielka intentionally go out to hurt anyone, and that's exactly why he isn't just a superb defender, he is a perfect role model for kids out there who want to know how to play football, or in fact any other sport. Determination to win, but above all, sportsmanship. His partnership with Lescott/Yobo is the one of the reasons why Everton are right up there with Arsenal and Aston Villa.

Notable mentions:
Titus Bramble (Wigan)
Matthew Upson (West Ham)


Centre-back - Brede Hangeland (Fulham)


Brede Hangeland, the giant Norwegian defender, has been an integral part of Fulham's back four this season. The fact that Aaron Hughes actually looks like a decent defender is probably down to Hangeland being absolutely dominant in the air. With his height and natural aerial prowess, he has repelled most teams that still try the aerial route against Fulham. On the offensive end, he might not have scored many - just the one in fact, this season, but it was a vital goal that gave them all 3 points against arsenal at craven cottage. If he keeps up this form, I will not be surprised if bigger clubs come knocking at the end of the season.

Notable mentions:
Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)
Michael Turner (Hull City)


Left-back - Joleon Lescott (Everton)


Lescott is picked at left-back, even though he has spent half the season in this position, and the other half at centre-back. Although he is a very competent left-back, I think his selection is more down to the lack of good options from the other clubs. To be fair to him, he has once again delivered the goods for Everton. Though a little panicky at times, he can never be accused of lacking commitment, as he harries and chases attackers ruthlessly once they get near his goal. His physique also allows him to muscle wingers off the ball fairly. He has also picked up 4 goals this season, which is a decent return for a defender.

Notable mentions:
Leighton Baines (Everton)
Maynor Figueroa (Wigan)


Right-winger - Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)


This was a tough choice. I had to fit Stephen Ireland into the team, considering how good he has been for Manchester City this season. With the spotlight on Robinho and other supposedly "bigger" stars, the graduate from City's Academy has won his place in the first 11 with a series of good performances, that have yielded him 7 goals and 7 assists already this season. That's some feat, considering City are useless away from home. With an eye both for a goal and a pass, he has been an integral part of City's attack, and despite not being an orthodox right-winger, his switching with Shaun Wright-Phillips has given City more options when they attack.

Notable mentions:
Aaron Lennon (Tottenham)
Valon Behrami (West Ham)


Central Midfielder - Gareth Barry (Aston Villa)

Having been placed in various positions from the start of his career, ranging from left-back to centre-back, then left-wing to central midfield, it's safe to say Barry has found his true home in the middle of the park. As comfortable in defence as he is spraying probing passes around the field, Gareth Barry is Mr Aston Villa. It's hard to imagine a Villa side without him, which is why Villa fans should count their blessings that the move to Liverpool never materialised. With 4 goals and a number of assists to his name, his return is decent, but it's his unseen work that makes me pick him in this lineup. The decoy runs, the tracking back, the sheer effect of having him on the field. These cannot be seen from statistics, which is why they often don't tell the full story. He would be an excellent addition to other top clubs, such as Arsenal or Liverpool, and I hope he gets to experience Champions League football before he retires.

Notable mentions:
Sean Davis (Portsmouth)
Scott Parker (West Ham)


Central Midfielder - Mikel Arteta (Everton)


Mikel Arteta. What can I say? This man is a magician with the ball. His close control is excellent, his set pieces are almost always spot-on, and his passing range is among the top ten in the league. With him in the middle of the park, most of Everton's play went through him, and why not? He is to Everton, what Fabregas is to Arsenal, what Barry is to Aston Villa. With him on the field, the team look dangerous. Without him, Everton are a bunch of scrappers, although I must admit Everton are very good at that too. It is a real shame that he has to miss the rest of the season, as I think had he been around, Everton might be even closer to 4th place.

Notable mentions:
Danny Murphy (Fulham)
Luka Modric (Tottenham)


Left-winger - Ashley Young (Aston Villa)


Who else could it be really? When he was first signed for 8 million pounds from Watford, more than a few eyebrows were raised. However, he has been absolutely superb for Aston Villa for the past two seasons. Week in week out, we see Ashley Young tormenting defenders down the wings with his blend of pace and trickery. As if that wasn't enough, his set-piece delivery is good as well, opting to bend the ball into the danger zones at pace, causing opposing defences all sorts of problems. He has 5 goals already this season, which is a decent return for a player who spends much of his time hugging the touchline. At a tender age of 24, I foresee a bright future for the talented Mr Young.

Notable mentions:
Steven Pienaar (Everton)
Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle)


Striker - Carlton Cole (West Ham)

One of the reasons for West Ham's revival under Gianfranco Zola has been the form of Carlton Cole. Strong and fast, Carlton Cole has always had the attributes to be a good striker in the Premier League. However, he hasn't exactly set the league alight until this season. With 9 goals and 3 assists to his name, on top of some superb performances, even Fabio Capello has been impressed, and has called him up to the England squad this season. When Bellamy left, many predicted West Ham would go through a slump in form, but Carlton Cole has managed to forge an effective partnership with David Di Michele as well, ensuring that West Ham haven't really missed the Welshman that much.

Notable mentions:
Peter Crouch (Portsmouth)
Kenwyne Jones (Sunderland)


Support Striker - Tim Cahill (Everton)


Forced into this position by injuries to Moyes's side, Tim Cahill has proved to be a revelation up front. Not only is he a scorer of goals, he is a scorer of vital goals. His leap in the penalty area is unreal, and it gives him the opportunity to get his head to the ball, considering his disadvantage when it comes to height against usually taller opponents. He times his runs perfectly as well, and as he usually comes from a less advanced position, it makes it very difficult for defenders to track him. By the time they realise he's unmarked, it's way too late, as he wheels away to the corner flag, and punches it in glee. It's fair to say that without him, Everton would be nowhere near the top 5 this season, and it's often in matches where he doesn't play, that Everton end up drawing or losing. His collaboration with Fellaini upfront was a tactical surprise that worked a treat, and I'm not sure Everton are really better off with Jo up front.


Notable mentions:
Craig Bellamy (Manchester City)
Sanli Tuncay (Middlesbrough)

right, i suddenly had the urge to write about arsenal. so i went to bleacher report and submitted an article. here it is.

Can Arsenal Finally End Four Year Trophy Drought?

by Eddy Hirono (Contributor)

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The last time Arsenal won anything at all, it was a scarcely-deserved penalty-shootout triumph over Manchester United, who have gone on after that to win rather more trophies, and that is an understatement.

The images should still be clear in the minds of Arsenal fans. The commanding figure of Patrick Vieira positioning the ball on the spot, taking a deep breath, and then slamming it into the back of the net to clinch the FA Cup. We did not deserve it, not after registering one shot on target throughout 120 minutes of football. However, the winning mentality came through, and we did it.

Unfortunately, since then, Arsenal have won nothing. The closest we've come was a League Cup Final against Chelsea a couple of years back, and last season's spectacular late-season collapse after starting so well in the league.

So the big question remains. Can Arsenal actually break their long drought and bring back a trophy, any trophy to the Emirates faithful this year?

With Arsenal 10 points off the top in the English Premier League, it is highly unlikely that we will pose any threat. So, the spotlight is firmly focused on the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League.

In the FA Cup, Arsenal have a semi-final against the mighty Blues of Chelsea. This will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination. Many might point to Arsenal's impressive 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge for proof of Arsenal's ability to beat Chelsea. However, let's not be fooled by that result. It was achieved without a very important player for the Blues, Didier Drogba.

The Ivory Coast international terrorises defenders across Europe, but he has a real liking for bullying Arsenal centre-backs. He single-handedly won the League Cup for Chelsea with two goals after Theo Walcott had opened the scoring for Arsenal.

In the league, he has scored winners against us on more than one occasion. The problem is, as much as Gallas and Toure are able defenders, they lack the physique that Drogba possesses to challenge him effectively in the air.

For Arsenal to get past Chelsea, they have to look to Arshavin. Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink will know all about the talent of the Russian, and will definitely detail players to mark him tightly. This will play straight into Arsenal's hands, as they can utilise the superior movement of the other players to create problems for Chelsea.

If they do reach the final, Manchester United or Everton await them. Once again, it's not easy. However, Arsenal tend to thrive against teams that attack them. This season our losses have mostly been to teams that defended as if their lives depended on getting a result (Hull, Fulham, Stoke, etc).

Assuming we do get Manchester United in the final, I honestly do fancy our chances. Manchester United are not unbeatable. Should Ferguson play Giggs/Scholes/Neville, then Arsenal will rip them apart with a fast, attacking game. Even one of their best players this season, Nemanja Vidic, has shown in recent matches that he is human after all, and perhaps more crucially, a lack of pace on the turn, something that can be exploited by the likes of Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri.

So that's for the FA Cup. The UEFA Champions League is no easier. First up, we face Villarreal. Arguably, this is an easy tie, as Villarreal are one of the weakest teams left in the competition. With crafty players such as Santi Cazorla, Robert Pires, Nihat Kahveci, and Giuseppe Rossi in the side, one can never rule them out though. Nevertheless, I am confident we will overcome the Spanish obstacle.

It is in the semi-finals where we face Manchester United or Porto. As mentioned above, I do fancy Arsenal to pip Manchester United should it come down to this. And if we actually face Porto, I'm supremely confident that they will not pose us any problems whatsoever.

In the finals, if we can get there, we will face Barcelona/Bayern/Chelsea/Liverpool. None are easy, but I think having got to the final, we should fancy our chances. With Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott back, who's to say Arsenal can't do it?

I have a feeling this is going to be a special season for Arsenal fans. I hope it's not just the Arsenal fan in me speaking.

and that's the end of the article. of course this being thetipsters.blogspot.com after all, here's my tip.

$5 on arsenal to win champions league @ 9.00 = $45.00
$5 on arsenal to win fa cup @ 4.00 = $20.00

odds taken from bet365

more hyundai ads

ok building on roland's post about the hyundai ad. did u see the new ad for the hyundai avante?

basically, there's a race and there are tons of competitors trailing behind a breakaway leader. now the leader does a usain bolt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzSpPaCIG0g) and starts slowing down on purpose before the finishing line. well, at this point none of us quite know why the guy is doing this. but within a matter of seconds, it becomes clear.

perched on top of the no.2 spot, is the prize for coming in second, and it is a....

yep, u guessed it. it is a stunning korean beauty of a car, a car oozing sophistication and cutting-edge technology. it is the HYUNDAI AVANTE.

well, i don't want to come across as knocking the car. it is a solid family car, which is good for budget-conscious people. however, for people to fight for second place just because they want an AVANTE, is frankly quite ridiculous and unrealistic.

and the ad isn't even an original idea! that's what makes this ad truly dreadful. the concept of finishing second to get a more "desirable" prize was first popularised by the wonderful iranian film "children of heaven". the antics before the man reaches the finishing line are in my opinion, inspired by the usain bolt spoof i linked to above. all in all, a poor advertisement.

before i go off though, tip of the day.

west ham v west brom.

a tough tie to call, but i think west brom will be gripped by relegation fears, and might be able to nick a draw at upton park, against all odds.

$5 on west brom +0.5/1 @ 1.83 then. that's my prediction!

good luck and good night folks

cheers,
eddy

P.S. do yourself a favour and check this clip out. truly funny. i love simon from leicester. the presenter's reaction after that was just fantastic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgovSQv1SXM&NR=1