Half Season Analysis- Part 3

I started the last post with what in my opinion was the best goal of the season. This time I will start off with a video of a player who will easily be anyone's choice for player of the season at this point and also the clear favourite at this moment to take home the PFA Player of the Year award. None other than Liverpool's own Luis Suarez. He has had a brilliant start to the season and has been a key player for the side's run to the top and challenging for the title. Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool owner John W. Henry's best business in the transfer window was to keep hold of the Uruguayan forward.

Liverpool 

Unexpected, but good start for Liverpool, fans will hope Rodgers can keep it going

No one, not even Liverpool fans at the start of the season predicted that Liverpool would be title contenders this season. The form the club has shown this season, has shocked lot of the fans of the club and also the general public. Jamie Carragher himself has stated that if he knew that the club would perform at the level that they are right now, he would not have retired! 

The club may be fifth right now after the loss to Chelsea, but they are now most certainly considered part of the title race for the foreseeable future. Most Liverpool fans would be happy with their current position in the league and still accept a top four spot at the end of the season. 

Luis Suarez has been in terrific form and as I stated above the frontrunner for the Player of the Year this season. To think he actually missed the first five games of the season, he has been absolutely tremendous so far. Him and Sturridge have formed a lethal partnership upfront and are a real threat for any defence in the league.

Will he still be here in 2015? Time will tell

Brendan Rodgers has done a wonderful job at the club, and while not all of his signings have done well, he has this finally got the team playing the way he wants it and you can see what time given to the manager has done for the club, something that some clubs could take note from. Rodgers' and owner John W. Henry should give themselves a pat on the back for staying strong and not selling Luis Suarez at any price to Arsenal. Convincing him to sign a new contract at the club was another smart move by the powers above at Liverpool. Raheem Sterling has also improved this season after going off the boil last season and credit once again should be given to Brendan Rodgers' man management. 

The fans will hope that the season ends with the club placed in a Champions League spot. How they have missed those famous Champions League nights...

Performance Score: 7.5/10
Best Player: Luis Suarez
Under Performer: Glen Johnson, Martin Skrtel
January Transfer Window: The current injuries at the club has really stretched the resources. A new winger and some reinforcements at the back would do well. Not sure if replacements at RB and RCB could be found in this transfer window. 

Manchester City

Can he guide City back to the Title? They sure are one of the favourites

At the start of the season, Manchester City were along with Chelsea were put in the favourites bracket by pundits to clinch the Premier League title back from neighbours Manchester United. The start to the season was mixed. While they were dominating teams at home, away from home they were being beaten by all comers. The city away from home looked a completely different prospect to the one that welcomed teams to the Etihad. In their first six away games, City lost four, drew one and managed three points against West Ham. They have recently managed to conquer those away demons though, with seven points from the nine available, dropping points against Southampton. 

They have been completely dominant at home and that is what has kept them in the title race. No team has left the Etihad this season, in the league with even a point. Until Crystal Palace visited Etihad, all the visitors conceded atleast two goals. Teams haven't only been beaten but humiliated. United lost 4-1, Norwich 7-0, Tottenham 6-0, Arsenal 6-3 are the results that stand out. 

This midfield has dominated over many teams in the Premier League this season. 

Aguero and Negredo have formed a formidable partnership and Samir Nasri has improved under the watchful gaze of Manuel Pellegrini. The defence has caused Pellegrini some problems but with Kompany back and Joe Hart restored as the No.1, you feel even that will improve. Yaya Toure has once again been the driving force in midfield, but Fernandinho's performances haven't gone unnoticed with many terming him as the buy of the season. Him and Yaya have dominated opposition midfield's with Pace and Power that has been too much to handle for most opposition teams. David Silva has been hampered by injuries but has been a really creative spark whenever he has played this season. 

Manchester City are surely to contest for the title at the end of the season and their brilliant home form could be key to retaining the title in a year where consistency has been a major issue for most Premier League clubs.

Performance Score: 7/10

Best Player: Sergio Aguero

Under Performer: Joe Hart
January Transfer Window: Do they really need signings? Maybe a centre back, but that would probably be better bought in the summer transfer window. 

Manchester United

Replacing Ferguson hasn't been easy but who expected it to be anyway?

For the first time in 26 years, United fans saw a new manager at the helm of the of team affairs. David Moyes was chosen by  Sir Alex Ferguson himself to try and fill the large shoes left by him. One Scotsman replacing another. 

It hasn't been as expected a smooth transition for United fans. A tough start in terms of fixtures did not help David Moyes at all and neither did a squad which has been in general under performing. A poor transfer market and it wasn't the start that the new manager would have asked for.

David Moyes' best move in the transfer market

The new manager started off with a promising 4-1 win but a loss to Liverpool and a heavy defeat at the Etihad really ramped up the pressure on him. His failure to address long issues in Central Midfield also made matters worse and a very poor Home record has handed Moyes a hard task in the second half of the season.  Most of the new generation United fans have been spoilt by trophies and dominating teams which has meant that the current predicament of the club has been some what new to them. Something similar to what Liverpool fans felt back in the 2009-2010 season. 

Recent weeks have brought some positivity back in the club, and while Moyes has made many mistakes, he has also improved on those same mistakes and is learning quickly, what it is to be manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world. His decision to not sell Wayne Rooney and keep him has proven to be a master stroke, and Rooney has carried the team this season with some influential performances. 

United fans will hope, Moyes can guide the club to a top four finish and maybe even a cup victory. Though secretly all United fans will be wondering, could we get back in the race for the title?

Performance Score: 5.5/10

Best Player: Wayne Rooney

Under Performer:  Patrice Evra

Transfer Window: Recent performances suggest a LB is as important as a new CM. But the question is, will their be players available of the quality that Moyes requires?

Newcastle United

Can Newcastle go on as they have till now?

The season did not start well for Pardew and his men. Travelling to the Etihad, they were hammered four to nothing by the home side. Fast forward to the half way point and Newcastle fans would be happy with how the club has done up till this point. Currently eighth, the toon army have had  their moments this season.

A win over Chelsea at St. James, thrashing Stoke City and the big win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The win over the reigning league Champions at their home, was the first for the Geordies, since 1972.

Newcastle have befriended consistency since the loss to rivals Sunderland away from home, losing only two games and drawing one. This has helped them climb up the table and at one point found themselves above Manchester United and Spurs.

Pardew will expect his men to continue performing well and keep this decent run of consistency going.

Performance Score: 6.5/10
Best Player: Tim Krul
Under Performer: Papiss Cisse
January Transfer Window:  Sell to buy may be the policy that is continued. Newcastle are not a squad with depth and it will be interesting to see how Pardew addresses that. A key player may have to leave though.

Part 1: Here | Part 2: Here

Comments welcomed! 

Tottenham have got it wrong, just like they did in the summer... and views on the Champions League draw

Sell your best player. Spend more than 100 million, buying seven new players from different leagues. Then give your manager six months to get it working. Welcome to modern football, where time is a commodity which is priceless for managers today.

 Tottenham currently lie sixth in the table, eight points off the top and more realistically five points from the top four. They have qualified for the Round of 32 in  the Europa League and are in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup.  Almost midway into the season and the Spurs board believed that this wasn't good enough and decided to give AVB, the sack. The board, I believe has got this wrong.

Buying seven players and losing your best player from last season, is not the ideal way to begin a new season. As Sunderland have shown in the past two seasons, buying a whole new squad(well almost) doesn't necessarily help the club move forward and infact could pull the club down. Integrating so many new players into the style you want them to play, while they are already trying to settle down in a new league, possibly in a new country and for some like Erik Lamela, trying to learn a new language as well, it is hard to get a team playing as a cohesive unit instantly. As the saying goes, too much of anything isn't good and so has been the case here.

The correct way to have gone about things, would probably have been to give AVB atleast till the end of this season. Then analyse and see where to go from there. Sacking him in the middle of the season is a big mistake and continues to underline the impatience of not only fans but the top management in today's time.
The below picture gives an even more clearer picture of the situation in the Premier League.

 Picture Credit: sportingintelligence.com

It does seem that the two big defeats against Manchester City(away) and Liverpool more recently(home) was what really got AVB the sack. A little more patience would certainly help though. But buying seven players and hoping they would start with a bang was a mistake and similarly sacking AVB was another. The only way Daniel Levy and co, could come out of this mess would now be to do what Southampton did last winter, and find their own Mauricio Pochettino from somewhere. AVB though could leave with a solace of knowing that he goes with the highest win % of any Spurs Premier League manager.

Picture Courtesy: 101greatgoals.com

Champions League Draw Reaction

The draw for the Round of 16 was held today and the result was some really exciting games to look forward to when the Champions League will make its return in February.

The two games to look forward to are obvious. While the focus has been on how the two English clubs have been dealt a tough draw, one should note that Barcelona and Munich would themselves would've certainly preferred a simple tie. Those two would also not be jumping with joy having draw the English teams.

Manchester City vs Barcelona, is this season's version of Manchester United vs Real Madrid.  

Both of the teams have an enviable line-up of attackers while at the same time frailties in defence that need looking at. Barcelona it could be said are weaker at the back compared to City, who've got Kompany and Nastasic to call on when everybody is fit. Though a certain  little Argentinian in the Barcelona side is enough to cover any frailties that Barcelona may have. Infact it will be the clash of Aguero and Messi that will be most intriguing with both set to line-up together in the World Cup. Neymar, Negredo, Iniesta, Silva will be other key players for both the sides in attack. Also, it will be a return for Yaya Toure to his old club, and he will be looking for a win. 

The other exciting game in this round will involve another English club, when Arsenal once again face Bayern Munich. Both teams have seen changes at their clubs since the last time they met. Arsenal currently hold a slender lead at the top of the table, whereas Bayern have undergone certain tactical changes in their playing style under Pep Guardiola. Pep had a good time facing Arsene Wenger when he was the manager at Arsenal, and will be hoping that run can continue. The Arsenal manager though, would love to beat Bayern over the two legs(instead of just one) and continue proving that this Arsenal squad does have what it takes to win titles. 

Didier Drogba will be returning to his past kingdom, when he makes his grand return to Stamford Bridge with Galatassaray to face his old master, Jose Mourinho and the new Chelsea. It will be an interesting tie as it also sees Mourinho face Mancini, the man he replaced at Inter and also Sneijder who was key to Mourinho's treble winning season with the Inter Milan side. 

AC Milan vs Athletico Madrid will be an interesting tie to look forward to while PSG, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund will all be expected to reach the quarters.

Lot can obviously change over the two months with injuries, form, etc but here are my predictions for who will be still standing when the draw for the Quarters is held:

1. Barcelona
2. Manchester United
3. Athletico Madrid

4. Paris Saint-Germain
5. Chelsea
6. Real Madrid
7. Borussia Dortmund
8. Bayern Munich.

So what are your early predictions for the Champions League? Make sure to tell me what your predictions are in the comments section below. 

Also one more thing, yesterday was a special night for one footballer who has been fighting a very rare disease for what has been almost two years. The moment when Darren Fletcher was subbed in by David Moyes, it was a moment to savour for every United fan and he was rightly applauded on. Here's hoping Fletcher can slowly recover some of his old form and return to the same old Fletcher that the United faithful were used to seeing before he was struck down with the disease. Welcome back Darren Fletcher, Football Genius.

"Today was my re-debut. I replaced my first idol (Beckham) back then and I replaced my other idol (Giggs) today"- Darren Fletcher.