The Three Transfers Road to Improvement: Portsmouth

another article i published on bleacher report

In the 14th part of my "Three Transfers" series, I look at Portsmouth, a team that is in the middle of a takeover by billionaire Sulaiman Al-Fahim.

Some might remember him being involved in the takeover of Manchester City, and he made bold proclamations of who he was going to sign for City back then. As such, I think we can expect him to splash the cash now that he is in charge of Portsmouth.

Portsmouth have a fair few problems to fix. They started the season with high hopes, but without Lassana Diarra and Jermain Defoe, arguably their top two players, they lacked quality and ended up losing almost half of their fixtures.

I think the short-term aim of the club would be to get into the top half, and possibly a Europa League place with a little luck.

If that is Portsmouth's aim, then I believe strengthening is required in a few areas, and I shall address them now.

STRIKER

After Defoe's departure, goals have been in short supply for the south coast club. Scoring a measly 38 goals, which equates to just 1 a game, is not enough, especially when your defence is not exactly water-tight.

Currently, Portsmouth have Peter Crouch, Nwankwo Kanu, David Nugent, and John Utaka on their books.

Peter Crouch managed to find a little form heading into the tail-end of last season, but clearly he needs to have better partners if he is going to improve on his performances next season.

Nwankwo Kanu's future is still up in the air, but even if he signs, the 32-year-old will probably be used in a role off the bench.

John Utaka has been preferred on the right, instead of in his favoured role, probably because his finishing has left much to be desired.

As for David Nugent, I don't think he has enough quality to be playing in the Premier League, and should at most be restricted to a place on the bench.

As such, signing a new striker must be the priority for Portsmouth in the summer.

I would suggest that with their new-found money, they should go after Darren Bent.

While many criticise him for being a multi-million pound flop, it must be noted that Bent is not the one who put such a price-tag on his head, and it is a result of the crazy market conditions, which sees him valued at 16.5 million pounds.

Darren Bent would be perfect for Portsmouth, as he is pacy, and as such, would be a perfect complement for Peter Crouch.

Often, Crouch has been the lone striker up front for Pompey and has had to drift wide to pick up the ball in space. If Bent were to move to Pompey to partner Crouch, then Bent would be the one running into the channels, leaving Crouch in the middle, where is the most effective.

Also, Crouch can make use of his height to flick the ball on for Bent to chase, if the team decides to use the aerial route.

With Redknapp reportedly keen on offloading Bent, Pompey would definitely be able to afford him, and he would be the perfect signing.

If they are unable to get Bent, they could perhaps turn their sights to Obafemi Martins.

The Nigerian striker is blessed with superb paceand athleticism, and while his shooting is not the best, he would also be a good partner for Peter Crouch, in a classic "big man, small man" combination.

With Newcastle needing to sell players, especially those on insanely high wages, Martins would definitely be attainable as long as Portsmouth come up with a reasonable offer.

RIGHT-BACK

Well, Glen Johnson is certainly one of the best right-backs in the league, but unfortunately for Pompey, it is unlikely that he will stay much longer.

With reported interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, among other clubs, the promise of European football will probably be too big a draw for Glen Johnson to ignore.

Assuming he goes, this leaves a huge gap for Pompey to fill. I think they should look for someone similar—i.e. good with the ball at his feet, and bombs down the flank with aplomb.

The player who I think is most similar to Johnson is Gianni Zuiverloon from West Bromwich Albion.

Zuiverloon is never afraid to run down the flank with the ball, or in support of the right-winger, and is thus a valuable asset to have when trying to break down other teams.

Defensively, he is not the best, but he is still young, and his reading of the game will definitely improve as he gets more matches under his belt. Also, his pace gets him out of trouble most of the time, so it's not too huge a problem.

If Zuiverloon cannot be attained, then Portsmouth could try to get Lucas Neill on a free transfer.

His contract runs out at the end of the month, and it looks increasingly unlikely that he will stay at West Ham.

Lucas Neill is very different from Zuiverloon, as he is defensively very solid, but his attacking ability is probably not even half as good. He has loads of Premier League experience, though, and would be a quality addition to any of the other teams in the league, not just Portsmouth.

His status as a free agent just makes it much more appealing for Portsmouth, and with their money, they should be able to afford his wages.

At the end of the day, it depends on whether Portsmouth want a like-for-like replacement for Johnson in Zuiverloon, or they want defensive solidity in the shape of Neill.

LEFT-WINGER

Currently, Portsmouth have Jerome Thomas as their only natural left-winger. Over the course of the season, they have used Armand Traore and Niko Kranjcar here as well.

However, Armand Traore will return to Arsenal at the end of his loan spell, while Niko Kranjcar should be left in the middle, where he can use his play-making abilities fullest.

While Jerome Thomas is a useful player to have in the squad, he is probably not good enough for a team with aspirations of finishing in the top half.

As such, Portsmouth definitely need a new left-winger, and I think they should try to sign Tranquillo Barnetta from Bayer Leverkusen.

The Swiss international is a quick winger who enjoys running at defenders at full tilt, and should be a hit in the Premier League.

He is equally adept at using either of his feet, and is comfortable on either wing, which will be a huge bonus to Portsmouth.

With Bayer Leverkusen also not qualifying for Europe, Portsmouth might find it a little easier to tempt Barnetta to the south coast to ply his trade in the English Premier League.

If Barnetta proves to be too expensive, or is not willing to move to England, then perhaps Dmitry Torbinsky will be an interesting option.

He is just as quick and just as skilful as Barnetta, and also possesses an excellent cross.

The only drawback is that he is not quite as proficient with both his feet, and as such is sometimes forced to cut in by experienced defenders.

Torbinsky currently plays for Lokomotiv Moscow, and if Portsmouth were interested, I'm sure he would jump at the opportunity to play in the English Premier League.

So that's it. That's my take on who Portsmouth should splash the cash on in the summer.

Taking a step back from all the suggestions, key to their summer is also making sure their best players like Sean Davis sign new contracts, as 15 of the Pompey team are free agents come the end of the month.

If they manage to keep their best players, use their money wisely and strengthen well, they should be in the running for one of the European spots next season, and not fighting a relegation battle.

The Three Transfers Road to Improvement: Bolton Wanderers

In the 13th part of my "Three Transfers" series, I shall be taking a look at Bolton Wanderers, a club which has finished just about where everyone expected them to, well clear of the relegation zones, yet nowhere near European football.

To be fair, credit must be given to them for finishing above the likes of Sunderland and Newcastle, clubs that are run on much higher budgets.

The solid, uncompromising style of Megson and his charges, also mean that every visitor to the Reebok Stadium is not given an easy ride.

However, if they are to ensure that they stay well clear of relegation next season, signings are definitely going to be needed, and here's three they can consider.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER

This is a crucial area to strengthen. Bolton might look well-stocked here, despite Kevin Nolan's departure.

They have Gavin McCann, Fabrice Muamba, Mark Davies, Tamir Cohen, Joey O'Brien and Chris Basham on their books, which means six players for three central midfield spots.

On close examination, however, none of the six players are attacking midfielders. They are more "graft" than "craft", and that explains why Bolton seem to lack the necessary flair to turn draws into wins.

Bolton fans will remember the good ol' days when a certain Jay Jay Okocha lit up the Premier League with his tricks, flicks and free-kicks. Strangely for a player bursting at the seams with flair, a good long throw was also part of his arsenal.

Back then, Bolton were always in the top half of the table. That was due not only to their defensive solidity, but also because they had a player capable of turning a match on its head in Okocha.

As such, having already achieved their initial aim of stability after appointing Megson, I feel the top priority in the summer is to sign a flair player who can light up a game with moments of brilliance.

These players don't come cheap, and those willing to come to Bolton are probably in short supply in Europe.

Therefore, my first recommendation for this position is a player who plies his trade in Egypt for Al-Ahly.

That man is none other than the Egyptian Zinedine Zidane, Mohamed Abou Trika.

Playing in the hole behind the strikers, Abou Trika is a tricky player who uses his vision to set chances up for his team-mates. He also times his runs into the box to perfection, popping up with crucial goals for both club and country.

He boasts an approximate one goal in three games for either club or country, and has big-match experience as well, having won the African Cup of Nations twice, and the FIFA Club World Cup once.

In my opinion, he has all the attributes necessary to be a hit in the Premier League, and even though he is 31 this year, noone would think it if they watched him play.

If Megson finds it tough to sign him due to interest from other clubs, then he could perhaps set his sights on bringing Aaron Ramsey in on loan from Arsenal from next season.

Ramsey has found first-team opportunities for Arsenal limited, and perhaps a loan move to another Premier League side would be beneficial for all parties involved.

Bolton will get a player who creates opportunities for others with his silky passing skills and occasional driving runs, and being schooled the Arsenal way, there is no doubt that he will help Bolton to retain the ball in the final third, an area where they often lack inspiration and guile to prise open the opposition's defence.

RIGHT-WINGER

For the longest time, Kevin Davies has been used as a right-winger by his managers at Bolton. While it is obviously not his favoured position, Davies has been a model professional, and has never moaned about being played there.

This season, however, should prompt his boss, Gary Megson to rethink the wisdom of leaving Davies out on the right. Davies has shown this season that there is more to his game than just winning headers and leaving defenders with bloodied noses.

He proved to his doubters that he can actually score goals, as he scored twelve this season, which is a good tally considering he doesn't operate as an out-and-out striker.

Johan Elmander, who was deployed as the lone striker for many games, finished the season with a measly five goals, not a good return at all, for someone who cost 11 million pounds.

As such, Kevin Davies should be given a chance in his favoured position next season, but for that to happen, Bolton have to sign a right-winger.

My top recommendation for Bolton is David Odonkor.

Once one of the brightest prospects in world football, the German winger has been affected by injuries for the past couple of years.

However, he remains a good player, and his pace is quite frightening. If Megson can get him to perform to the best of his abilities, then Bolton have themselves a fantastic player.

With Real Betis getting relegated to the second division in Spain, Odonkor may well jump at the opportunity to play in the English Premier League.

If the deal doesn't go through, Bolton could sign Gary O'Neil from Middlesbrough.

A hardworking player, with decent technique, O'Neil would fit in with the rest of the Bolton squad, who scrap for each other and generally put up a good fight every week, no matter who the opposition is.

He possesses a good cross as well, which is important, as that will play to Bolton's strength in the air.

With Middlesbrough down in the Championship, Bolton could nip in and steal O'Neil for a reasonable price, as they will be forced to sell their prized assets in a bid to keep afloat financially.

STRIKER

Bolton have had a fair few strikers over the past couple of seasons, but none has really convinced. This remains one of their problems, scoring goals, and if they had someone who could regularly knock in as many goals as Anelka once did for them, they would definitely be higher up the table.

Also, the current strikers are all big and strong, but not very good on the ball. The exception to the rule is Ricardo Vaz Te, but he's the sort of striker who needs ten chances to even get the ball anywhere near the goal. His record reads 6 goals in 72 appearances, which is a measly tally, even for any other outfield position.

As such, I think Bolton have to invest in a good striker with pace and skill to bring them back to the top half of the English Premier League, and I think their best option is to pull out all the stops in an attempt to get Ricardo Oliveira.

Having just been relegated with Real Betis, Bolton can possibly get him if they are willing to break the bank, and go on a charm offensive.

Skilful and explosive, Ricardo Oliveira is like a poor man's Robinho, and would certainly enhance Bolton's firepower.

If Oliveira proves a step too far for them, then Bolton could perhaps set their sights considerably lower on Kevin Doyle.

Doyle is much less skilful and also not as quick as Oliveira, but he is certainly a much more realistic target for a club like Bolton, and they would not have to break the bank to finance a move for him.

Stuck with Reading in the Championship, and having lost his long-time manager Steve Coppell, Doyle would probably welcome a move back to the Premier League, and I think he would fit in well with the rest of the team.

So there you have it, those are my recommendations for Bolton to sign in the summer. If they can pull off a few of the signings here, they will become a better, and perhaps, just perhaps, a more entertaining team. Neutrals like me can only hope the latter part comes true.

Stop Overreacting, Ronaldo Leaving Doesn't Change United

an article i wrote for bleacherreport.com

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It is apt that United have finally chosen to sell Ronaldo on the back of a season which was based on defensive solidity and depth of squad.

Sure, much has been made of Ronaldo's 42 goal haul which won him the Ballon d'Or, where he single-handedly carried United through matches against the weaker teams in the EPL, during a period where Tevez and Rooney were misfiring.

Ronaldo has been a consistent source of goals. Scoring 18 goals in the EPL when he missed out on pre-season and was out for 12 weeks shows his quality.

However, if anything, season 08/09 was proof that even with the Portugese star misfiring, United's squad depth and defensive solidity carried them through, and that the formula on relying on Ronaldo does not always work.

Before anyone jumps onto my back, do know that I am a fan of CR7. He's magical on the ball and seems to have cut out his diving tendencies. I have often argued against people saying that he doesn't turn up in big matches, and always defended his whining on the field as a sign of passion and perfectionist mentality. I am sad to see him go, and I think he will be a massive loss to both the EPL and United, but I don't see that United will be considerably weakened with his departure.

It makes perfect economical sense that Ronaldo goes now. You have a global economic crisis, large debts in the club and suddenly there is an option to cash in on a £12 million buy, netting a £68 million profit. Assume wages of £120,000/week for his entire stay in United, that's only a cost of £38 million. You see an overall £30 million profit that Ronaldo has brought to United, not including the money won from competitions.

People often say that it is stupid to sell your best player; that Ronaldo is an irreplaceable talent; that we should look past his diving antics and judge him by what he brings onto the field. I know, I was a strong advocate for that, but this season has shown that he isn't the most irreplaceable person.

After all, United have always recovered from losing their best players. Roy Keane, Ruud van Nistelrooy, David Beckham, Eric Cantona, the list could go on.

Thus, an £80 million deal is a great price, and for the first time I agree that it is Ronaldo's time to go. He has won everything to be won in the English league, now it is time for him to live his dream.

United will definitely miss him, but quality will be added. Many signings can be made with £80 million pounds. Tevez can finally have a home (although he wants to leave), and names like Karim Benzema, Franck Ribery are touted as the incoming talents.

Whoever the replacement, do keep in mind that United have such a great squad, and his leaving won't have too much of an impact. It will just mean that other players take more shots, and not leaving the bulk of the shooting to Ronaldo. The goals won't dry up.

Owen Hargreaves' return in the next season will feel like a new signing. The £80 million pounds will be put to good use. The future is bright, with our upcoming talents in Anderson, Tosic, Fabio, Rafael, Macheda, Welbeck, and Gibson. United will collectively move on and go to greater heights.

And we shall applaud Ronaldo for his 6 great years of service and his many goals.

The Three Transfers Road to Improvement: Stoke City

another article i wrote on bleacher report

In the 12th part of my "Three Transfers" series, I will be looking at Stoke City—a team widely expected to go straight back down to the Championship, but ended up finishing in mid-table.

Their form at the Britannia Stadium was fantastic as they were only beaten four times there. It was also at home that they saw off the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Manchester City.

And while they were not so good away from home, they did manage crucial victories over fellow relegation rivals like West Bromwich Albion and Hull City.

Perhaps the most enduring image of Stoke's season would be that of Rory Delap wiping the ball with his sleeves before launching a missile right into the six-yard box. That has won them a fair few points this season, getting them the goal that allowed them to defend stoutly for the rest of the game to grab a point or three.

If they are to succeed this season, they will need to strengthen their team, (especially in the attacking department) so that they can get a few more goals from alternative sources.

Here's a look at who I think Stoke should, and realistically, could sign.

RIGHT-WINGER

Currently, Liam Lawrence takes up the right midfield spot for Stoke. He has had a decent season for them, and should definitely be kept at Stoke for next season.

However, beyond Lawrence, there is no established right-winger at Stoke City.

This could be dangerous in case of injuries or suspensions, which would force them to field someone who does not favour playing on the right.

Leaving aside injuries and suspensions, my opinion is that Lawrence is better suited to playing in the middle as he has considerable play-making ability, and possesses a good long shot.

He is also not exactly fast or tricky, so a good left-back would be able to clamp down on him pretty easily.

To allow him to play through the middle, Stoke should sign a right-winger, and I think they should go after the signature of Kris Commons.

A tricky little winger who brings the ball up with pace, he has a good long shot on him, making him very difficult to mark as defenders don't know whether to back off him to avoid getting beaten, or to close him down to prevent the long shot.

Once linked with the likes of Newcastle and Wigan in January, Commons has disappeared off the radar a little in recent months, but he remains a quality player.

He would definitely add another dimension to Stoke's play.

If that move does not work out, then Stoke could try going for Commons's international teammate, James Morrison.

Also a winger capable of operating on both flanks, James Morrison has the added advantage of having played in the Premier League for a few seasons with Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion.

A slight problem with this is that West Brom does not need to sell, and, with their plans to bounce straight back up, would be unwilling to let go of one of their prized assets.

RIGHT-BACK

Andy Griffin and Andy Wilkinson have been played in this position this season, but for me, neither cuts it at Premiership level.

Both of them aren't terrific defenders and are terrible going forward as well.

Certainly this is an area that Stoke could improve in, and I suggest that they look to bring in Chris Gunter.

The Welsh international was touted as the next big thing in Welsh football, and performances on the pitch seemed to justify it as he was an integral part of the Cardiff side at such a young age.

A decent defender who can bring the ball up into attack, he will definitely be a good addition to Stoke City.

Tottenham has a little collection of right-backs down at White Hart Lane, and should be willing to let him go if the price is right.

If they regard him as part of the future, then Stoke would still do well to bring him in on loan for the season.

Alternatively, Stoke could target Lauren from Portsmouth. His uncompromising style and tough tackling should go down well with the Britannia faithful, while he also has the technical ability to provide some threat from the flanks.

Age is not on Lauren's side though, as he is 32 this year. However, he is still definitely more athletic than Andy Griffin and would be a good addition.

With Portsmouth being the latest club to be taken over by people with insane amounts of money, it can be assumed that players like Lauren will be allowed to leave for a relatively low price as they will look to sign more exciting talents.

STRIKER

Currently, the club has James Beattie, Mamady Sidibe, Richard Cresswell, Ricardo Fuller, and Dave Kitson as their striking options.

Of the four, only James Beattie and Ricardo Fuller can qualify as successes.

Dave Kitson was the club's record signing at the start of the season, but after failing to score a single goal he was shipped out on loan to Reading in January.

Stoke then moved to sign James Beattie, a move that was hugely successful. Kitson is not a bad player, but he just seemed unsuitable for the Stoke system, and I think his long-term future will not be at the Britannia Stadium.

Mamady Sidibe is a giant target-man for his teammates to punt long aimless balls to, but aside from that, he is really not good enough at Premiership level. Now that James Beattie has been brought in and used as a target-man, Sidibe is probably going to find his playing time reduced even more.

Richard Cresswell, like Sidibe, does not belong in the Premiership. And, if Stoke wants to guarantee safety next season, they definitely need someone better than Cresswell.

However, any recruitment in this department would need to be cheap and also of sufficient quality, as Stoke does not have loads of cash to squander on another Kitson-like signing.

As such, I would suggest they pick up Daniel Sturridge from Manchester City.

From his performances this season, it is clear that he is good enough to play in the Premiership as he combines pace with a good eye for goals.

Sturridge is a free agent, having rejected a new contract from Manchester City—probably because he will not be seeing much first-team action if he stays at the City of Manchester Stadium, which could hinder his development.

If Stoke does offer him the chance of guaranteed first-team football, then there is a chance that Sturridge would be persuaded to call Britannia Stadium his home for the next few years.

Alternatively, if Stoke has enough money, they could try bidding for Benjani Mwaruwari of Manchester City.

Strong and hardworking, he would be a good addition to the Stoke frontline.

He will probably be allowed to leave the City of Manchester Stadium as well, seeing that there are 436 strikers currently on their books.

So, that's my take on who Stoke City should go for in the summer.

And, if they somehow manage to secure the signatures of all the players mentioned above, they might even make it into the top half of the table next season!

The Three Transfers Road to Improvement: Wigan Athletic

another article i wrote on bleacher report

In the eleventh edition of the "Three Transfers" series, the club under the spotlight is manager-less Wigan Athletic.

Having enjoyed a consistent season, Wigan has now lost Steve Bruce to Sunderland, and look like they might lose even more over the summer.

Paul Scharner has publicly stated that he would like a move in the summer. Antonio Valencia has not expressed interest in a move, but seems certain to go with many bigger clubs targetting him.

When the two of them leave there will be gaping holes in the Wigan team, which has already lost Wilson Palacios and Emile Heskey in January.

The gaps within the team will definitely have to be filled with quality players, and the only positive that can come out of this is that they are likely to get good money for Scharner and Valencia, which can then be re-invested into the side.

Who should they sign though?

Here's my take...

RIGHT-WINGER

A bit of a no-brainer.

If Antonio Valencia somehow ends up staying, then this will be an irrelevant suggestion.

However, I really do not see how the Ecuadorian will still be at the JJB Stadium come August and, for the purposes of this discussion, I will assume that he has been snapped up for a substantial amount of money.

Valencia is one of the best right-wingers in the English Premier League, and his successor will have some huge boots to fill. Looking internally, Wigan does have Daniel De Ridder.

However, it is unlikely that he will step up to Valencia's level, considering he was never a first-teamer in Birmingham or Wigan.

As such, the search for the right-winger must be taken out of the club. While I did mention that they would have substantial funds, convincing a player of a suitable quality to come to Wigan is not an easy task.

For example, David Bentley would probably be an awesome signing for them, and Wigan would be able to afford it with the funds from the sale of Valencia, but persuading him to come will be a real difficulty.

I think Wigan will end up having to set their sights lower, and I would recommend they go for Gary O'Neil.

One of the better performers in Middlesbrough's terrible season, O'Neil is a hardworking player who always gives his all for the club. This would tie in well with the rest of the Wigan squad who work hard for each other and never stop running.

Also, as Mario Melchiot is getting older, O'Neil's work-rate will also be useful in tracking back to help Melchiot with defensive duties.

With Middlesbrough getting relegated, Wigan will have no problems meeting any asking price, and I think O'Neil will have no problems joining Wigan.

If that deal doesn't materialise, Wigan could opt to sign Jermaine Pennant. Once a bright prospect, Pennant has lost his way somewhat, stumbling from one club to another.

Despite his misbehaviour and supposedly poor attitude, there is no doubting his quality.

A pacey right-winger who whips in delicious crosses for the strikers, his technical ability will be much appreciated in Wigan, and he is a more like-for-like replacement for Valencia than O'Neil is.

Liverpool does not need Pennant anymore and would be keen to release him, so the Latics could find themselves picking up a bargain. If they can get Pennant to concentrate on football, then they will not miss Valencia that much.

STRIKER

Hugo Rodallega, Henri Camara, and Marlon King are the only recognised forwards left in Wigan. Henri Camara and Marlon King are not good enough currently to hold down a first-team spot, which is why they were allowed to go on loan in the first place.

With Rodallega impressing, Wigan still needs to sign one more established striker, and I think that their first priority should be to tie Mido down to a permanent deal.

He has impressed for them and was particularly effective against Arsenal as he proved to be a real bully in the air.

On the floor, his technique also serves him well, so he cannot be accused of being a one-dimensional footballer. Just like Jermaine Pennant, if Wigan can make him concentrate on playing football, then they have themselves a good player.

He would also be another cheap signing as Middlesbrough will definitely let him go to reduce wage bills now that they are in the Championship.

Another possible signing who would fit at Wigan is Bafetimbi Gomis.

Once the subject of much transfer speculation regarding the top clubs of Europe, the goals have dried up a little in the previous season, (nine goals as opposed to 16 in 07/08) and his name hasn't been bandied around as frequently recently.

He is still a quality striker and his physical attributes should make him a good fit in the Premier League. Wigan could stand to benefit if none of the top clubs show an interest as they will have enough money to prise him away.

Gomis has also publicly declared that he needs to be playing in a better league, and he might be persuaded to come to England where his idol, Didier Drogba, plies his trade.

CENTRE-BACK

Titus Bramble and Emmerson Boyce have forged a terrific partnership in the centre of the Wigan defence. In particular, Titus Bramble has been outstanding and his performances this season should have convinced anyone, who still isn't convinced, that he is a very good defender.

Deservedly, he was voted the club's player of the season by the fans and the media, and Wigan can look forward to another good season from him.

However, with Paul Scharner insisting on leaving, there is no cover beyond Bramble and Boyce and surely that is unacceptable for any Premier League club.

There are two options that Wigan can take.

They can bring in a better defender to replace Boyce and then use Boyce as cover for both centre-back and right-back, or they could bring in someone of a lower quality to act as cover.

For the first option, I would suggest they buy Sebastien Bassong.

A quick and solid defender, Bassong would be an improvement over Boyce who is also solid, but is probably made to look good by Bramble.

Bassong has expressed his desire to play for a Premier League club and certainly will not stay at Newcastle following their relegation.

Wigan has got a good chance of signing him, and they should.

If Wigan looks to bring in cover, they could try signing Alexander Diamond from Aberdeen. A defender who plays with his heart on his sleeve, Diamond would be a good addition to Wigan.

He is strong in the air and, while not the fastest on the deck, his determination pushes him to make an extra effort to get to the ball before the strikers.

He is a good defender and is definitely near or at Premiership quality already, despite his young age.

However, it remains to be seen if he is good enough to displace Boyce from the side and, should he be signed, would remain as cover at first.

So, those are my suggestions for Wigan to sign in the summer.

Should Roberto Martinez really take over Wigan, he will have to turn on the charm to persuade quality players to ply their trade at the JJB.

A few of the above players would certainly help!

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Manchester City

another article i wrote on bleacher report

At the halfway mark of my series, I look at the team that finished 10th in the league—Manchester City. Ideally, City would have wanted to finish in the European spots, but I'm sure that for a first season, the management and most fans would not be too disappointed with 10th place.

However, I think some players' performances would perhaps be a source of disappointment to the fans, and I will be addressing them in this article.

City definitely need to strengthen in the summer to push themselves into the European spots. Central midfield would have been one of the areas I would have focused on, but with the signing of Gareth Barry, that position is now good to go. The other positions that definitely require strengthening are...

CENTRE-BACK

On paper, this department is well stocked. Richard Dunne, Micah Richards, Vincent Kompany, and Nedum Onuoha have been used here, and all have performed well for City at a certain point of their careers.

However, for two of the above, their best has not been seen for the whole of season 2008/2009. I am referring to Dunne and Richards.

While Richards is still young and can perhaps improve with the appropriate guidance, Dunne looks to be past his prime.

For a player who already had the pace of a 129-year-old tortoise with three broken legs prior to the start of the season, he seems to have lost a yard of pace in the past year, and that has made him less effective as a defender.

For City to progress in the league, replacing Dunne is crucial. A top-class defender should be added to the ranks so that he can guide the likes of Richards and Onuoha along and aid them in their development to become first-choice centre-backs in future.

I would suggest Manchester City sign Porto's Bruno Alves. He is similar to Dunne in that he is a good defender and is very strong, and thus would be well-suited to the English Premier League. While not exactly boasting Theo Walcott's pace, he is definitely faster than Dunne.

More importantly for City, Alves would bring with him a wealth of European experience, which would be useful when they finally qualify for European competitions.

Money should not be a problem for City, and Hughes should be able to convince Alves to take up a new challenge, having won enough championships with Porto.

Should Alves prove to be impossible to tempt over, then Hughes can use his ex-Blackburn connections to go for Christopher Samba.

The giant Blackburn defender has shown that he is a real warrior, and with the current City side being accused of lacking a solid spine, the signing of Samba would definitely go some way to changing that view.

I don't think I even need to assess whether it's possible to prise Samba away from Ewood Park.

RIGHT-WINGER

Currently, Shaun Wright-Phillips occupies this position. While he is definitely good enough for a team trying to qualify for Europe, his replacements, Kelvin Etuhu and Darius Vassell, who have been used there in the past, are definitely not.

As such, a right-winger should also be one of the top priorities on Mark Hughes' shopping list.

One of the best right-wingers in the Premier League currently is Antonio Valencia. He definitely will not be remaining at Wigan for next season, and it has been reported that Real Madrid tabled a bid for him a few weeks back. However, if that deal does not materialise, then I think City have a good chance of signing him.

They are certainly a club on their way up and would present him with an opportunity to play with better players. Money is not a problem for them, and any deal would probably benefit Wigan, Antonio Valencia, and Manchester City.

If Valencia is snapped up by another club, then City could perhaps set their sights on Joaquin from Valencia—the club, not the player.

Valencia missed out on the UEFA Champions League, and Joaquin might well decide that it is time for a new challenge and become part of this huge project going on in Manchester.

Since joining Valencia, Joaquin has not reproduced his Real Betis form but still remains a quality player. A tricky winger who likes to reduce opposition left-backs to mere spectators on the pitch, Joaquin would be a fantastic acquisition if he can find his form again.

With Valencia reportedly in financial trouble, they might be willing to cash in on Joaquin, and Manchester City will definitely have the ability to match any asking price.

STRIKER

It may seem strange that I am pushing for Man City to sign a striker, despite them having nine players who can play there. They are Robinho, Craig Bellamy, Valeri Bojinov, Felipe Caicedo, Ched Evans, Benjani Mwaruwari, Daniel Sturridge, Jo, and Darius Vassell.

Of the nine, Sturridge has rejected a new contract and looks likely to leave. Vassell is clearly not good enough for a club with City's ambition. Caicedo and Evans could potentially come good, but City need to be in Europe quick and cannot rely on them for goals. Jo cannot get along with Mark Hughes and will probably be shipped out.

Robinho, Bellamy, and Bojinov are the only strikers who seem to be able to match the ambitions of the club. However, Robinho's best position is on the left wing, where he can cut in with great effect, while Bellamy and Bojinov seem to play best with a big guy partnering them, as they are unlikely to win many headers.

Their pace would be best utilised if they had someone big to flick the ball on for them to chase.

For that reason, I think Manchester City should try to sign Roque Santa Cruz. Strong in the air, good on the floor, he would be the perfect partner for players like Robinho and Bellamy.

Besides, we have all witnessed the fantastic understanding between Barry and John Carew at Aston Villa in the season just past, and should Mark Hughes sign his former employee, then they could perhaps try to replicate that, as Santa Cruz definitely possesses the necessary attributes to be the "Carew" for Manchester City.

Another possible target would be Pavel Pogrebnyak. Tall and strong, Pogrebnyak also boasts an excellent goal-scoring record in Russian and European football. He has been tipped to be the next big thing in Russian football for the longest time, and City might want to take a chance on him.

I say "take a chance," because there is no guarantee a player signed from a foreign league will be a success.

So those are my suggestions for Manchester City to sign in the summer. With the backing of some of the richest people in the world, they will be favourites to land any player they are interested in.

However, they might have to persuade the top-class players to come to a club where they do not already have Champions League football, and that will not be an easy task.

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: West Ham

another article i wrote on bleacher report

This is the ninth instalment of my "Three Transfers" series, and today we shall take a look at Gianfranco Zola's West Ham.

Tipped to do badly under a rookie manager, West Ham have exceeded all expectations to finish in ninth spot in the league. That this was achieved without their star striker Dean Ashton, who was ruled out for the entire season through injury, makes the achievement even more admirable.

West Ham also had to sell another of their prized assets, Craig Bellamy, in January, so to achieve a top-half finish is really quite something.

However, I think that there are a few areas that West Ham could definitely strengthen, and I will discuss them in this article.

CENTRE-BACK

Without doubt, this area has to be strengthened. Currently, the players who can play there are Matthew Upson, Lucas Neill, James Collins, James Tomkins, Daniel Gabbidon and Jonathan Spector.

Of the six players listed above, only three can be considered to be good defenders. I am referring to Matthew Upson, Lucas Neill, and James Tomkins.

Matthew Upson's quality is undoubted. Strong in the air, good on the floor, he is one of the best defenders in the league.

James Tomkins has shown in the matches he has played, that he has the potential to become a good player, and as such, should remain at the club.

Lucas Neill is also a fine player, but unfortunately for West Ham, his contract is running out soon, and having recently rejected a new contract, he might not be a Hammer for much longer.

As the centre of defence is crucial to any team's chances of success, I think West Ham need to focus their summer spending in this department, by making a centre-back their top priority.

A possible target would be David Wheater from Middlesbrough. A commanding presence in the air, Wheater looks like he has the potential to be even better than Matthew Upson. With Boro relegated to the Championship, they might not be able to stand in the way of a move for Wheater from a Premiership club.

Another possible signing is Rangers defender Madjid Bougherra. He recently helped Rangers to pip Celtic to the domestic double, and is a quality defender. Not one to ever shy away from a challenge, Bougherra would definitely be a good partner for Upson. The problem here is that Rangers are in the UEFA Champions League next season, so it might be a little difficult to entice him to come to West Ham.

RIGHT-BACK

This season, Behrami, Neill, and Spector have been used in this position.

Behrami has performed well, but to me, his best position is right-wing, as he does not have the defensive awareness necessary to be a good right-back.

Lucas Neill, as mentioned above, is a fine player, but his contract runs out, and might not be there much longer.

Jonathan Spector is a decent player, but is not first-team material for a team that is chasing European football.

As such, a right-back is someone West Ham should be looking to sign.

In my opinion, the ideal right-back for West Ham is Gianni Zuiverloon. An explosive player with exhilarating pace, Zuiverloon seems tailor-made for West Ham's brand of slick, attacking football.

Valon Behrami did well at right-back, mainly because of his explosive pace, which also helped to cover some of his defensive deficiencies. With the signing of Zuiverloon, it will be like putting Behrami at right-back, except this time, the defending is better. An added advantage of this move would be the freeing up of Valon Behrami to play in his favoured wing position.

Unlike Newcastle and Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion probably do not need to sell all of their players, but they will struggle to hang on to Zuiverloon should an offer from West Ham come in.

LEFT-WINGER

Currently, the only natural left-winger in the team is Luis Boa Morte, who has never lived up to his transfer fee. He promised much with his arrival, but in reality, he has never put in a good performance since becoming a Hammer.

Junior Stanislas, Jack Collison and Savio Nsereko have also been used there this season. However, none of them are natural wingers, and besides, they are still young and relatively inexperienced, so they should be given time to improve themselves before being played in the first team regularly.

As such, I would suggest that West Ham attempt to sign Jonas Gutierrez. He loves to run with the ball down either wing, and has shown a tendency to cut in, and would be well-placed to do that on the left wing. The Argentine international would bring energy and flair to West Ham, qualities that Gianfranco Zola would definitely admire.

Once again, coming from a relegated club, Gutierrez would definitely be allowed to leave, as his wages are on the high side, and Newcastle aren't exactly rolling around in truckloads of cash.

Another suggestion for their problem left-wing area is Stephen Hunt from Reading. With manager Steve Coppell having left the Madejski Stadium, I expect to see quite a few players leaving Reading in the summer.

Hunt would be a good addition to West Ham, as they are a hardworking side that attack with flair, and Hunt definitely has the attributes to succeed there. He never stops running, and is able to come up with the occasional moment of quality to excite the fans. He would probably come a little cheaper than Jonas Gutierrez as well, although there is quite a clear gap in class.

So that's it - my suggestions for Zola next season. As an Arsenal fan, I can appreciate teams that like to pass the ball around with flair, and I hope whoever West Ham sign, they can continue playing with the same flair they did this season.

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Tottenham

Another article i wrote on bleacher report

This is the eighth part of my "Three Transfers" series, and the focus is now on Tottenham Hotspur, the geographical arch-rivals of Arsenal.

I say "geographical," because they have never really challenged Arsenal in the league since Wenger's arrival. The closest they came to finishing above Arsenal was a few seasons back, when the chef I paid cooked up a heartwarming (and stomach-upsetting) meal of rat faeces pasta for the Spurs players, and they went on to lose their last game meekly to West Ham.

On paper, Spurs have a squad that should be finishing higher than the eighth position they ended up in. They got off to a torrid start this season, and at one point, there was even talk of relegation. Of course, that was never going to happen, but certainly, looking at the squad, I can see a few areas where they could improve.

LEFT-BACK

Gareth Bale and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are both good going forward, but crucially, both do not have the required defensive awareness (at least not yet), to succeed in the top flight as a first-choice left-back for a team chasing European football.

This is definitely the weakest link in the Spurs team, and if Redknapp does not fix this in the summer, the Tottenham defence will continue to look shaky and flimsy next season.

In my opinion, Spurs should go for a no-nonsense type of defender, as their attacking options are good enough to create chances, so their defenders should just stick to the most basic task of defending.

Someone in the mould of Hermann Hreidarsson would be good, but obviously the man from Iceland is too old to be considered as a potential signing.

A realistic target would be Stephen Warnock from Blackburn Rovers. He is a reliable defender, and while going forward is not his strongest point, stabilising the defence is far more important for the Spurs team to succeed.

With European football unlikely to arrive at Ewood Park in the near future, a chance to move to the capital, and a higher possibility of featuring in European football, could appeal to Warnock. Wages will definitely be much higher as well, so all that remains is whether Blackburn will sell.

Tottenham apparently need to sell before they can buy, but with Harry Redknapp looking keen to clear out most of the squad, I am pretty sure they can raise enough money to prise Warnock away from the clutches of the walrus-lookalike "Big Sam" Allardyce.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER

As mentioned above, Tottenham's best season was quite some time back, when Michael Carrick was still at White Hart Lane. This is no coincidence.

He was like a conductor, orchestrating the moves in the middle of the park. He rarely ever lost the ball, and could see passes that the other midfielders currently there can't.

Wilson Palacios is a fantastic battler, and will never shy away from a challenge, but he cannot be relied upon as the creative hub of a team.

Similarly, Jenas and Zokora will give you non-stop running and energy, but they lack the vision to start moves the way Carrick did.

Perhaps a case can be made for Tom Huddlestone, who has the vision and the technique to spray the balls around, but unfortunately, he has been largely inconsistent, and cannot be relied on week in, week out.

One option is to move Luka Modric into the middle, with two midfielders in Palacios and Jenas behind him to do the dirty work. Modric possesses everything you need in a creative midfielder, and I think he would be a huge hit in the centre of midfield, floating around creating opportunities for his teammates.

That would leave a hole on the left wing though, with Modric currently being played there quite often. This will be addressed in the next position that I will talk about.

Meanwhile, in terms of possibly signing a central midfielder, I think Spurs could target Rafael Van der Vaart. Disgruntled at the lack of first-team opportunities at Real Madrid, Van der Vaart could well jump at the opportunity of joining a club as glamorous as Spurs.

He could perhaps see himself as the man to lead Spurs back to Europe, and if that's the case, then Tottenham will be very lucky indeed.

LEFT-WINGER

Currently, Modric occupies the position most of the time, with Gareth Bale and David Bentley also taking up that spot.

David Bentley has proven that he is definitely not suited to playing on the left wing, as he has struggled to have any influence in games when started there.

Gareth Bale has a good left foot on him, and as he does not seem to be very good defensively, playing him at left midfield seems quite wise. However, he is still young and inexperienced playing there, so should not be a first-team option.

Tottenham have been linked with Stewart Downing for ages, so they might be in for him again this summer.

However, there are two problems with this.

One, Stewart Downing is ruled out with injury 'til the January transfer window, so Spurs might want to wait till January to make their move.

Two, Downing's best attribute is his pin-point delivery. Who in the Spurs front-line is equipped to take advantage of that though?

Pavlyuchenko is probably the only one who can claim to be good in the air, and even then, he isn't the best. Let's not even try to imagine Robbie Keane or Jermain Defoe beating Christopher Samba to a header.

So, I think Spurs should try to sign Martin Petrov. He would be perfect for them, as he would run down the left flank, beat a man, and provide good cut-backs for the strikers.

Alternatively, he can put his left foot to good effect and take long shots. He is an explosive player, and Tottenham would be frightening to defend against with Aaron Lennon and Martin Petrov on the flanks.

If Spurs cannot get Petrov, they could try getting Royston Drenthe from Real Madrid. Unused and unhappy, Drenthe would possibly arrive on a cut-price deal, and he has the advantage of being versatile, as he has featured at left-back and central midfield before.

Being an Arsenal fan, I dearly hope that Spurs will not sign any of the players listed above, as it would undoubtedly strengthen them. Here's hoping they end up signing Mikael Silvestre and Abou Diaby instead! For £100 million too!

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Fulham

another article i wrote on bleacher report

In the seventh part of my "Three Transfers" series, I will be taking a look at Roy Hodgson's Fulham. Narrowly escaping relegation last year, Fulham have achieved a level of consistency in the league this season, that has seen them finish in seventh place, which is really, the highest they could realistically aim for, given their limited resources.

As with the Everton article, it might be difficult to strengthen this side, as they look solid in most positions, and money isn't exactly available in truckloads. Here's where I feel improvements can be made.

LEFT-WINGER

Currently, American Clint Dempsey is being played out of position at left wing. He has been doing a decent job out there, with his tremendous work-rate, and knack of getting into good goal-scoring positions.

However, I think Fulham would be better served if they had someone who can naturally take the ball down the wings and deliver good crosses like Simon Davies on the right. With Dempsey in the team, Fulham sometimes lack width, and that forces Paul Konchesky to push up in support, leaving the defence rather exposed to a quick counter-attack.

With the other option in the squad being Julian Gray, who has only made one appearance for Fulham, clearly, a natural left-winger should be near the top of Roy Hodgson's summer shopping list.

Ideally, I think Fulham should pull out all the stops in a bid to acquire Martin Petrov from Manchester City. Since he returned from injury, appearances have been few and far between, and it is still unclear if that is because he is rusty, or because he is no longer an integral part of the team.

In any case, with Manchester City probably going to buy 269 players this summer, Martin Petrov might be viewed as dispensable, and if so, Fulham would really improve their squad with the addition of an explosive and exciting player like Petrov.

If that deal doesn't work out, Fulham could set their sights a little lower and perhaps try to sign Chris Brunt. He has a good left foot, a bit of pace, and most importantly, is a hardworking creative player. Creative players are seldom hardworking, so he is a bit of a rare find.

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER

The Fulham squad has a fair few of players in this position. Danny Murphy, Dickson Etuhu, Olivier Dacourt, and Andranik Teymourian. Out of the four players listed above, Olivier Dacourt looks like he is past his prime, while Andranik is perhaps good enough to be a substitute, but is certainly not first-team material in a side playing in European competition.

Dickson Etuhu has done well this season, adding energy and bite to a midfield that has lost Jimmy Bullard. Danny Murphy has been outstanding as usual, as the creative hub of the team, and so his place in the team should still be reserved for him, despite him being on the wrong side of thirty.

With the demands of European football next season, it would be unwise and unrealistic to rely on Murphy and Etuhu to play every three days. As such, Fulham will probably have to shop for a central midfielder to share the minutes on the pitch with the other midfielders.

With Middlesbrough being relegated, Fulham could do with one of either Didier Digard or Julio Arca. Arca is the more versatile of the two, having played at left back and left wing earlier in his career, and thus is the Argentine equivalent of Gareth Barry. Didier Digard is a combative midfielder who is able to pick out a pass, and I think if he remained fit, Middlesbrough would not have gone down. That they had to play Matthew Bates in the centre of midfield really spoke volumes about their lack of quality in midfield, and it was no surprise that they went down.

Both of them are likely to be available for a low price, as Boro will definitely have to reduce their wage bills by selling their top earners. Personally, I think Arca will be the better signing, because of his versatility, and also because he is more inventive, meaning Fulham do not have to rely on Danny Murphy to create chances.

STRIKER

While Fulham have more than a few strikers, with Zamora, Johnson, Kamara and Nevland fighting for two spots, none of them can be considered as good enough for a top six team.

In particular, Bobby Zamora has come in for criticism this season, after registering a paltry two goals for his side in an entire season. Sure, his hold-up play may be excellent, but he has also registered only two assists all season. So he's not a creator, and he certainly isn't a scorer, but yet he's in the first team as a striker. Hold-up play is important to a team, but wouldn't it be better if Fulham got someone who can do both (ie hold up play, and score more than two goals a season)?

For that, I suggest Fulham consider taking Mark Viduka to Craven Cottage. Still good despite his age, he holds up the ball excellently as well, and unlike Zamora, he does not take 52 million chances before finding the net. He is very clinical, and with his contract surely not going to be renewed by Newcastle who are struggling to keep afloat, Fulham could nip in and pinch Viduka away on a free transfer.

If that move doesn't materialise, Fulham could go for Mido. This will be a bit of a gamble, considering Mido is a striker who seems to perform based on his mood, and has been known to have an attitude problem. On his day though, he is unbeatable in the air, and has very good technique, making him a very difficult striker to mark. With Boro being relegated, I'm sure Southgate will be willing to let him go.

Another Egyptian also springs to mind when thinking of strikers. Amr Zaki was in fantastic form for Wigan at the start of the season, and although that fizzled out after mid-season, he is undoubtedly a good player. With Steve Bruce unwilling to make the loan deal permanent, Hodgson could perhaps take a gamble on Amr Zaki to be the man who will get him the goals.

Having done admirably to reach the Europa League, Fulham will have to be wary of letting their European commitments distract them too much from the domestic league. A deep squad will definitely help, so I think Hodgson has to address the depth of his squad as well. If Fulham somehow manage to secure the signatures of the players listed above, I think they could be next season's Aston Villa, ie threatening to break into the top four.

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Everton

another article i wrote on bleacher report

In the 6th part of my "Three Transfers" series, I will be looking at Everton, a club that performed admirably well this season, despite a period where they lost all their strikers to injury.

Looking at their squad, if everyone is fully fit, they don't really need any major additions. David Moyes has done an excellent job of putting together a nice blend of brain and brawn in the side, and their performances this season have seen them finish fifth in the table, and also get to the FA Cup Final, quite a feat for what is supposedly a "small club", as described by Rafa Benitez.

It will be a tough task to think of three transfers that would improve Everton, given the quality in their ranks, and also their budget, but here's where I feel improvements can still be made.

RIGHT-BACK

Tony Hibbert has been a loyal servant for Everton since he joined the Toffees eight years ago. While he is a solid right-back, he is not much of an offensive threat, and this is something where Everton should look to improve on.

On the left, Leighton Baines bombs down the wing on the overlap regularly, and whips in some fantastic crosses. Now, imagine if Everton could replicate that on the right. I think with the ability in the air that Everton possesses, they could get a fair few more goals, if they had a right-back who could attack well.

Of course, as Everton's game is based on solidity at the back and in midfield, a potential signing must also not be defensively crap, so that rules out somebody like Justin Hoyte.

A possible signing Everton could go for is Habib Beye. A solid full-back, with the ability to go forward when required, I think Beye would be perfect for Everton. With Newcastle relegated, he would also not be too expensive, and this is important for Everton, as they do not have the luxury of splashing cash around, unlike some other team in blue (no, not Sunderland when they play away).

If the Beye deal doesn't materialise, another right-back they could go for is Alan Hutton. He is not first choice at Spurs, and might welcome the chance to play in Europe.

STRIKER

On paper, Everton are quite well-stocked here. Yakubu and Saha are the established names, and competition is in the form of Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan.

However, Saha cannot be counted on to finish a season without major injury, as he is made from the same mould as other footballers/hospital VIP card-holders like Tomas Rosicky and Darren Anderton.

Yakubu has been missing for a large part of this season, while Victor Anichebe and James Vaughan are nothing more than pure potential, and they aren't ready to make the step up to the first team week in, week out yet.

Having qualified for Europe, I think Everton should look to strengthen their team, and if possible, bring in a different kind of player to Saha and Yakubu.

I think Everton could send out a real statement of intent to the other teams in the league by signing Javier Saviola. The little Argentine is only 28 years old, but has been reduced to a bit-part role at the Santiago Bernabeu. With his pace and goalscoring instincts, I think he would be the perfect partner for someone like Yakubu. He also brings with him European experience, having won the UEFA Cup with Sevilla, and played in the Champions League with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the past. This European experience could be crucial in the Europa League next season.

WINGER

Currently, the wingers at Everton are Pienaar, Osman, Arteta and Van der Meyde. Van der Meyde has been out of favour, and seldom gets any first-team action. That leaves three players for two spots on the left and right wing. However, given that Arteta has had a stellar season operating in the middle of the park, perhaps, he should stay there, where his playmaking skills can be put to best use.

So with Pienaar manning the left flank, and Osman on the right flank, Everton has played very well this season. However, with the demands of European football next season, Everton could perhaps do better if they had more players to rotate.

David Bentley has been touted as a possible transfer by some media sources, but I think he would not fit into Everton, as the team is based on hard work and hard running, and everyone fighting for each other. I just do not believe David Bentley is the sort who will put club before self, and as such, I think he should not even be considered.

Ideally, Everton would want a winger who can operate on both flanks, as it will be easier to rotate, and I think the perfect player for Everton is Sanli Tuncay. Blessed with technique, he is also a willing worker and always puts the team before himself. He was one of the bright sparks in what was a poor season for Middlesbrough, which ultimately resulted in relegation.

Signing him might not be that easy, even though Boro have been relegated, as there is definitely going to be a whole host of clubs going after his signature.

If Everton cannot get Tuncay, then they could perhaps turn their attentions to Chris Brunt. One of the stand-out performers from a West Brom team that often entertained despite losing, Brunt has a good left foot on him. That, coupled with his high work-rate, would make him quite a good signing for Everton. I can already picture Brunt's delicious left-foot crosses being headed home emphatically by the likes of Cahill and Fellaini.

The signings that Everton will make in the close-season really depend on the budget offered to David Moyes. Hopefully, for Everton fans, the Europa League, which has promised higher revenue for clubs, will provide Moyes with the financial injection to improve the team. Whatever it is, they are my favourite club from Merseyside, and I hope they will make the right signings for next season.

Barcelona Vs Manchester United: Don't Expect a Free-Flowing Game

An article I posted on bleacherreport.com!

I've read many predictions where people have said that it would be a thrilling Champions League final, with a huge scoreline due to both teams having great attacking talents.

I do recall reading the exact same things last year, during the semi-final when United met Barca. It ended with only 1 goal separating both teams after 180 minutes of football.

No, it won't be a free-flowing game. United will stifle Barca's attack and look to break, and I expect many fouls to be commited by United's midfield trio. I do think that it will be a United win after 90 minutes of football, though, and here's why.

Lineups

I fancy United to line up with a 4-5-1 again, as they have done all season in the Champions League. It's a great counterattacking formation which tore Arsenal apart 3-1.

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

Barcelona shouldn't change from their 4-3-3 formation, which is very similar to the 4-5-1 if you think about it, just that the 2 wingers push up further to become attackers.

Barcelona: Valdes - Puyol - Pique - Caceres - Keita - Toure - Xavi - Iniesta - Messi - Eto'o - Henry

Injuries and Suspensions

Darren Fletcher is suspended for United, and Owen Hargreaves is still injured. Other than that, Alex Ferguson has a full squad to choose from.

For Barca, Alves and Abidal are both suspended. Milito and Marquez are also out injured, and the 4 could actually make an entire first team defence. Iniesta and Henry are doubts, but I think they will play in the end.

I feel that United's loss is greater than Barcelona's, as Fletcher and HArgreaves are the players that United need in matches like this. The energy they bring to the game is tremendous and they will be crucial in stifling Barcelona's attacking talents.

Barcelona's losses through injuries and suspensions won't impact the game much, as I see them defending from the front and keeping a lot of the ball. After all, Abidal and Alves aren't very good defenders anyway.

However, it will be where United look to profit as both centre-backs are inexperienced and rather slow.

Defence

I have predicted Pique and Caceres to start in the middle, and Puyol out on the right and Keita on the left.

On paper, it's an even weaker defence than the normal Barcelona defence. However, it won't matter much, as they won't be doing much defending.

Their weaknesses would be that Pique and Caceres are both slow and inexperienced. Also, Puyol isn't much of a right back, and Keita is more suited to being in midfield.

In a nutshell, the Barca defence aren't a compact unit and haven't had many games together, so United will look to put pressure on the defence by bypassing the midfield and getting the ball out quickly to the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo and Park, who can then take on the defenders 1 on 1.

For United, Vidic and Ferdinand will start in central defence, O'Shea out on the right and Evra on the left.

Vidic and Ferdinand need no further praises. Vidic has been outstanding and Ferdinand is one of the best readers of the game.

O'Shea has put in many great performances in defence, whether left or right. He has hardly put a foot wrong this season and is a vastly underrated squad player.

Evra has shown that his weakest matchup is against a touchline hugging winger like Lennon. Messi isn't such a player as he likes to cut in and drift in.

Had Alves been available, I would fear for United's left side, as he serves the overlapping role very well. However, Puyol will play in his stead and can't offer much in terms of attack, so Evra should not have much trouble shadowing Messi towards the centre of the pitch.

Barcelona's main threat would be from Henry and Iniesta doubling up against O'Shea. O'Shea isn't a fast player and has trouble against tricky attackers - Iniesta and Henry fit the bill perfectly.

Midfield

Toure, Xavi and Iniesta will complete the midfield for Barcelona.

Iniesta is definitely the main threat as he can dribble, pick a pass, and shoot from distance.

Xavi is one of the central midfielders in today's game and is a great passer of the ball. He doesn't get forward often, but sits behind as an outlet for the attacking players to pass to when they are pressured.

Toure is the ballwinner for the midfield trio, and he adds a very physical presence to the midfield. He can tackle well and break up attacks, and will be crucial in stopping the few counter-attacks from United.

Have I mentioned their work rate? Barcelona's work rate is fantastic and will close down United's midfield in the blink of an eye, which means Carrick, Anderson and Giggs will have to be at their best.

For purposes of comparison, I shall only look at the central midfield of United.

Giggs will play like Iniesta, beating the man and linking up play from midfield. He has played this role to perfection before, single-handedly beating Chelsea in the Premier League.

Carrick will play the Xavi role, sitting slightly deeper and offering options to the wingers and strikers when they are pressured. His passing is also excellent, but what United will see more of is his reading of the game and making interceptions as Barcelona look to get the ball to their front trio.

Anderson will play like Toure, winning the ball and engaging the midfield in a physical battle. His energy is invaluable and his ball winning will be crucial in stifling Barcelona's attack.

The midfield battle will be very exciting and I expect both sets of midfielders to be fouled a lot when both sets of midfielders close each other down very quickly.

I would give Barcelona the edge because they have players in their peak playing there, but United's midfield isn't too bad too. Unfortunately, for the most part, they will be playing it long and we will only be able to see their defensive qualities on show.

Attack

Messi, Henry and Eto'o. They have scored 71 goals between them in the La Liga. Which means they have outscored the entire United team in the EPL, who have only managed 68 goals.

However, stats don't tell the entire story, as teams in the EPL tend to set up shop more. Teams in the La Liga prefer to attack and go down valiantly with a fight.

Don't take away anything from Messi, Henry and Eto'o though. When on form, they are pretty much unstoppable. However, I think United have the defensive capabilities to stop them, as they will make it a 6v3.

For the most part of the game, it will be Ferdinand + Vidic against Eto'o, O'Shea + Park against Henry and Evra + Rooney against Messi.

I forsee Barcelona not getting much joy down the flanks and resort to passing the ball into the centre of the park, and Eto'o not touching the ball much at all.

United's defence and midfield will be very close together, which means the space in between for Barcelona to exploit will be lessened. This will nullify Henry and Messi's darting runs into the field.

Should they lose the ball, United will launch into counter-attacking mode, and will make up the ground in the classic EPL style - fast paced football.

That will be where Ronaldo, Rooney and Park have the most joy.

3 passes from this trio resulted in a goal against Arsenal, right from their own penalty box.

United will look to counter-attack with devastating effect, especially against the slow defenders that Barcelona have.

However, don't expect too much counter-attacking football, as Barcelona are very adept at keeping possession.

How the match will go

I expect a Barcelona vs Chelsea part 2, where Barcelona had 70% of the possession and Chelsea broke forward in numbers when they had possession.

We all know how Barcelona will play, they will pass it short and get it to their front trio, who will try to work the opening or to lay off to their attacking midfielders/overlapping wing backs.

However, United look well equipped to stifle the Barcelona attack, and I doubt they will get many shots on target, if any at all.

Remember, Chelsea still had the best chances of the match when it was Drogba against Marquez and Pique. This time, it's Caceres and Pique against Ronaldo, who is definitely excelling in the lone forward position.

United will look to play it long to both wings and isolate the Barcelona full backs. Rooney has done very well in the left wing position, and Park is a vastly underrated player.

If anything, Barcelona's full backs will be joining the attack more often than not, giving space for Rooney and Park to run into when United counter-attack.

And with the 4-3-3 formation, Barcelona's midfield will be rather compact in the middle of the field, and they won't be able to track back to help their full-backs.

I fancy Barcelona to have around 60-65% of the possession, and United to have a few brief spells of dominance. However, they won't be too adventurous and will always have the numbers back.

Instead, United's chances will come from the break, and it will be from one of those breaks where United score the winning goal in the Champions League final. After that, it will be a defensive masterclass where United totally stifle Barcelona's attack.

There you go, I'm predicting a 1-0 victory for United.

I just hope I'm right like the last time.

The Three-Transfers Road to Improvement: Aston Villa

another piece i wrote on bleacherreport

In my fifth article of the series, I look at Aston Villa.

Aston Villa have had a better season than expected. They were in fourth spot for a long time, before Arsenal finally got their act together and Villa started dropping like a stone.

It must be emphasised, though, that Arsenal reclaiming fourth spot was as much due to the quality of Wenger's men, as it was to the lack of resources O'Neill could call upon.While the first team did brilliantly, the squad was too thin to cope with injuries, fatigue, and loss of form.

As such, I will now look at where Villa could possibly strengthen to improve next season.

Left-Winger

Currently, Ashley Young is setting the league alight with his performances on the left wing. He is widely regarded as one of the best left-sided English players, and his good form has led to call-ups to the national team by Fabio Capello.

However, Villa were lucky that Ashley Young did not have a long injury lay-off at any point this season. Young had a period of games when he wasn't at his best, and it was in these games that Villa looked quite ordinary. Being such an important player for his team, it is rather surprising that Martin O'Neill does not have good backup for him.

James Milner can probably do a good job there as well, but he is the first-choice right-winger, so shifting him to the left, would mean sticking someone else in on the right.

As such, I think finding a good quality backup for Ashley Young is important for Martin O'Neill in the summer.

The top man he should look for, in my opinion, is Aiden McGeady. The Celtic man possesses similar skills to Ashley Young, and would be an ideal replacement. Villa thrive on the counter-attack, and McGeady is someone who can break at pace with the ball.

With only Milner and Young at the club as proper wingers, McGeady could be part of a trio being rotated to play in the two wing spots to ensure freshness and also to cover for injuries or suspensions.

He is not a favourite of Gordon Strachan as well, so perhaps Celtic will be willing to do business with Villa.

If McGeady proves too expensive, then Martin O'Neill could sign Adam Johnson, the promising youngster from Middlesbrough, who will probably be available on the cheap, now that Boro have to sell players to raise money after being relegated.

With his wing-play and trickery on the flanks, he would be a good backup for Young. The only draw-back is his relative inexperience which means he can only be a backup, and will not be able to play in the first team as often to relieve some of the burden on Young and Milner.

Centre-Back

When Martin Laursen announced his retirement, Martin O'Neill must have lost a few more hairs on the top of his head. Villa's loss of form started with Laursen's injury, and they have not looked as solid at the back without the presence of the lion-hearted Dane in the middle of their defence.

Needless to say, Aston Villa must look to replace him. The replacements were given time to prove their worth in Laursen's absence, but none of them really convinced and Aston Villa went on a wretched run of form while he was on the sidelines.

I think Villa need someone who can command the air as well as Laursen did, while also bringing a truckload of experience to the team, to help organise the defence.

I think Villa could certainly do with Ryan Nelsen, the rock at the heart of Blackburn's defence. He is suitably experienced, and unbelievably solid, and with his no-nonsense defending I'm sure the players ahead of him will attack with confidence, knowing they have a reliable defence to win the ball back should they lose it.

The problem is Sam Allardyce might not want to sell him, as Nelsen is clearly the type of no-nonsense defender that Big Sam likes to work with. As such, Randy Lerner is going to have to give O'Neill the money necessary to take Nelsen away, as I can see the Kiwi captain being absolutely immense for Villa.

Should that move not materialise, I think Villa could try to bring David Wheater of Middlesbrough in. This move will be much simpler, for the reasons explained above.

He will provide a commanding presence in the air, and though not quite as experienced as Nelsen, he looks like he could potentially be a very good defender, so is definitely worth taking on.

Right-Back

One of the reasons for Villa's dramatic downfall, was the lack of a backup right-back. Once Luke Young was moved to the left, Reo-Coker or Gardner was trusted at right-back, and neither excelled. Reo-Coker, in particular, has had some terrible performances in that position.

As such, I think they need a backup right-back. I say "backup", because I think Luke Young is good enough to hold down a first team spot, as he has impressed me with his determination and defensive qualities.

For a backup, the person must be really young, or really old, as anyone in between would certainly not want to be stuck on the Villa bench waiting for Luke Young to get injured.

I think the best possible signing is Belletti from Chelsea. With Chelsea showing less need for him as the season progressed, Villa could definitely get him for a reasonable fee, and I think he would be a good signing.

While Luke Young is a solid defender, Belletti could be useful to try and break down stubborn defences, as he provides an additional attacking threat from the back. His versatility would also be useful, as he can provide cover for the midfield.

More importantly, with Villa in Europe again next season, Belletti will be able to share his experience, having been there and done that, winning the Champions League with Barcelona four years ago.

With that all said, frankly, Villa were not far away from the top four this season. If they had a deeper squad, they would be much closer to Arsenal than they finished. So, if Randy Lerner is able to provide O'Neill with the cash to splash, Villa could be looking at a different European competition come the end of next season.