Nottingham Forest’s dreadful form in the English Championship continued on Tuesday night, this time losing at home to top ten side Brentford at the City Ground.
The 1-0 defeat was Forest’s third loss in a row and the sixth match in a row they’ve have failed to score a single goal.
It’s of course concerning to supporters, who are beginning to anxiously look over their shoulders at the relegation candidates below them, despite in theory being relatively safe from the drop.
Despite the current situation, fans are for the most part remaining cool-headed when it comes to the status of manager Aitor Karanka, still having belief he can turn things around in the summer when he has a proper chance to sign his own players.
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Undoubtedly the biggest problem is in attack and supporters can’t wait to see a quality striker or two arrive at the club, believing Karanka has overseen enough improvement in the defence to be optimistic.
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Fans took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…
When Wayne Rooney first burst onto the scene as a fresh faced youngster with that all-mighty strike against Arsenal in 2002, Premier League fans throughout the land pretty much took note in unison – for a new hero of English football had seemingly been born.
And this time around, it wasn’t all born out of pure hype and speculation as is normally the case with young emerging English talents. The 16-year-old Wayne Rooney really was the real deal. He had just as much potential as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been subject to in their younger days, and if it wasn’t for a few frustratingly timed injuries, the powerful striker really could have done the business in the Three Lions shirt as well.
Who knows how far England could have gone in Euro 2004 if Rooney wasn’t forcibly replaced by Darius Vassell in that all important quarter-final with Portugal…
Since making that faithful move to Old Trafford many moons ago though, just how well has the now 29-year-old’s career ultimately played out? Has the promising talent fulfilled the lofty expectations that were initially set upon his head as a teenager, or has Wayne Rooney in-fact greatly underachieved as a Manchester United player in the long run?
The answer – whilst certainly arriving as a somewhat cloudy one – seemingly disappoints in that all too familiar English way. Today Wayne Rooney is sadly a shadow of his former self. He may have gone on to achieve a great deal in the game, English football may indeed be left better off thanks to the striker’s contribution – but ultimately – the player himself simply could have been so much more if circumstances would have allowed.
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Within the ever testing realms of top-flight English football, Rooney’s initially incredible start at Old Trafford has only since deteriorated in recent years. The former Everton fan favourite used to be unpredictable – he was once so powerful in front of goal with his bustling approach that even the league’s very best defenders would inevitably have to move out of his way when things were going well for the striker. The impressionable young man wasn’t scared of any opportunity. He would take on shots from all over the pitch – and nine times out of ten – the results would be more than successful for his team.
Today though, Wayne Rooney is utilised by Louis van Gaal as if he has never played as an out-in-out striker before. Yes he is Manchester United’s current top goal-scorer which is a testament to the player himself – but when you consider that QPR’s Charlie Austin has proved more efficient in front of goal whilst playing for a relegation fearing side in 2014/15 – such an achievement is hardly as impressive as it sounds.
The Wazza of the modern era is seemingly played all over the pitch for reasons unbeknownst to most of the footballing community. Rooney just isn’t naturally a deeper-lying midfielder, he doesn’t operate nearly as well on the flanks either, so unless he is given his proper responsibility as a real attacking striker, the player is pretty much wasted on most occasions.
Perhaps, however, Van Gaal is just the latest in a long line of managers to fall victim to this particular trap – with such a turnaround in events originating from Sir Alex Ferguson himself. For all his perceived know-how in the Premier League era, the Scotsman may have just been the real source behind Wayne Rooney’s downfall.
During the Ferguson era at Old Trafford, the England striker was over-worked and over-run all because several of Manchester United’s other star talents, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, were sensationally sold off without being properly replaced. Wayne Rooney therefore had to make up for their loss all over the park – which has subsequently meant that his most natural position and original pace and power have simply dwindled at Manchester United as his career has played out.
It must be remembered of course that Wayne Rooney still remains a good player however, but today it just wouldn’t be right to call him a world class star any more.
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Defences simply don’t fear him in the way they previously did, too many games pass the striker by without offering a great deal for his team – and as for his later performances in an England shirt and solitary World Cup goal – Wayne Rooney just hasn’t turned out to be the player everyone was hoping he would be when he first broke onto the scene as that fresh faced 16-year-old.
The future of Manchester United midfielder Anderson continues to do the rounds at the moment, with reports that manager Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to listen to offers for him at the end of the season, but should they persevere with the talented but injury-prone Brazilian or are they best getting rid altogether?
The 24-year-old arrived at Old Trafford as a raw attacking midfielder in 2007 and after a decent first campaign in England, he has struggled for the most part with both form and fitness; there’s no denying that there’s quality there, as his eight international caps highlight (the last of which was won in 2008), but the application and desire have at times been missing, with worries, much like there is with Wayne Rooney, over his fondness for the buffet table.
While talking to The Independent last month, Anderson summed up his Manchester United career well by saying: “When I take two steps forward I seem to take three back. It is sad but I have to do my job. I need to play games and not to have any injuries. I have had some problems. But when I don’t have these problems I know my quality. I know I can play.” Currently and somewhat unbelievably, he is now in his sixth league campaign at the club and has been reduced to just 93 league appearances, which comes in at just 15.5 games per season, all of which are most definitely not from the start.
He’s started just 11 games this season and featured seven times off the bench across all competitions, while he’s made just 33 appearances in the last two years. When it comes to the pecking order, with Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley firmly established as the first-choice central midfield pairing, Anderson is way down, below Ryan Giggs Phil Jones and Shinji Kagawa, while Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher continue to lurk in the shadows.
However, when you consider the long-term nature of the club’s midfield, you’d assume Anderson would be best served biding his time and sticking round, because while Cleverley is still learning his trade, Carrick is 32 years of age in the summer, Scholes could be set to retire again at the end of the current term, Fletcher’s fitness issues point to a long and difficult road to recovery and Jones may be earmarked as much for a defensive role as anywhere else. There’s clearly a fluid period just on the horizon and should Ferguson resist calls for yet another summer to bring in a defensive shield, his prospects could brighten.
Talk of a return to Brazil to boost his international chances at playing for his country in their home World Cup in 2014 refuse to go away, with some sort of third-party arrangement becoming the norm of late with returning big names, while Porto could also be interested, even if United’s valuation around the £15m mark looks both unrealistic and hugely inflated considering his recent injury troubles.
The pursuit and eventual signing of Robin van Persie and the January acquisition of Wilfried Zaha will have put a serious strain on the wage structure at the club and there may be some movement out of the exit door, with the likes of Anders Lindegaard, Nani and Alexander Buttner all remaining on the fringes of late, but crucially, would it be considered a mistake to get rid of Anderson?
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When he signed for the club and was immediately converted to a deeper-lying box-to-box midfielder in the true English style, there was consternation in Brazil at what they perceived as ruining a creative talent by not playing him in what was considered his natural position. The role involves a lot more running than he was used to and the tough nature of the defensive side of the game has clearly taken its toll on his body, but he’s a much more rounded player as a result, even if he has lost that sparkle.
He’s capable of dictating the play, but his awareness of what’s around him, and most importantly, behind him, has never been the sharpest and when used as part of a two-man partnership with Cleverley at the start of last season, while the plaudits may have rushed in for what they did going forward in an attacking sense, they were both too similar to work together long-term and they left absolutely gaping holes behind them for the opposition to exploit.
Ferguson has tinkered with different formations this term, after bringing in van Persie and Kagawa into what was already a top-heavy squad, ranging from 4-3-3, 4-4-2 and 4-4-1-1, but if the Scot would decide more on the first midfield, with Kagawa pushing forward behind the lone striker, Anderson could play that box-to-box role to good effect. Of course, the same problem of the lack of a defensive shield would be a problem and his lack of action so far has been a direct consequence of Carrick’s form and the way he’s grown into that role the past two years.
Anderson remains and always will do a deeply divisive figure, just in the same way that Nani is – his apologists argue he hasn’t been given a long enough run in the first-team to get up to speed and rely on the rare moments of quality as evidence of his talent, while his detractors simply state he doesn’t want it enough, citing his ballooning weight and partying ways as a sign he can’t be relied upon – the truth is somewhere in-between.
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Moreover, every midfielder that’s shown a consistent run of form plying their trade in Europe ever since Owen Hargreaves became damaged beyond repair has quickly been labelled as the ‘perfect solution’ to the team’s midfield problems, and while their decline in Europe is evident, the 15-point lead in the top flight indicates a side on the rise again after a rebuilding phase.
It’s difficult to quantify quite where Anderson falls given his marginalisation, having confidently been proclaimed the long-term saviour of United’s systemic midfield issues. Giving him one more season is a cyclical argument that gets you nowhere, but handing him the boot after so little playing time seems unfair. With the title already in the bag, Ferguson should give the Brazilian a run of games between now and the end of the season to prove himself, and either way, a career-defining decision awaits at the end of term.
Arsenal won for the fourth successive time in all competitions on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Stoke City at the Emirates Stadium, but fans are still looking for a more from their team.
With little left to play for in the English Premier League this season, it’s all about the UEFA Europa League over the next weeks and months, but fans still expect good performances in league action and were left disappointed this weekend despite knocking a few goals past the Potters.
Much of the criticism was aimed at Danny Welbeck, who failed to have much of an impact on the game before being hauled off on the hour mark, after which Arsenal produced a more cohesive attacking display.
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His performance was perceived by supporters to be so bad that many are now calling for him to be axed as soon as possible, believing he is below the standard required of an Arsenal player in 2018.
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They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on his display…
An early transfer blow for Manchester United has already come in the shape of Marquinhos penning a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain.
The 20-year-old Brazilian was linked with the Red Devils during January after emerging as one of the planet’s best young defenders and was seen as a potentially wise addition at Old Trafford as Louis van Gaal sets about repairing his rearguard.
Naturally the news that such a player is not available is a negative for the club, but there is no need to fear, as there are plenty more fish in the sea. So cast out your net, Louis, because any of this FIVE may be worth catching…
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Raphael Varane
A £30m swoop has been talked up, and it’s easy to see why United are rumoured to be ready to pay such a sum. Varane, simply put, is one of the very best young centre-backs on the planet, with the 21-year-old already a regular for France and Real Madrid – giants of the international and club game – showing that he must have that special something.
Very much the new breed of defender, the former Lens man is adept on the ball, quick across the turf and intelligent when reading the game.
Mats Hummels
The long-term Louis van Gaal target, Hummels looks to be back on the club’s radar. United chased the German World Cup winner throughout summer 2014 but ultimately failed to land him, yet Dortmund’s underwhelming season may leave the wider more open this time around.
Widely regarded as the best centre back around, Hummels is commanding, strong, quick and excellent with the ball at his feet. Ideal for LVG’s much used 3-4-3 system if he goes back to it.
Nicolas Otamendi
Rugged and fierce in the tackle, Otamendi is a little ‘old school’ when it comes to the art of defending, which certainly has its place despite the changing nature of the game. An uncompromising centre-back, the Argentine has been a key member of the resurgent Valencia side, who look on course to get back into the Champions League thanks, in part, to the heavy investment of new owner Peter Lim.
A release clause-triggering offer of close to £40m may be needed, but Otamendi can also play at right-back, which will come as a boost for LVG given that he’s been using Antonio Valencia in the role.
Stefan de Vrij
A player coached by Van Gaal at the World Cup last summer, De Vrij has emerged as a target for the coming transfer window of late. He opted to join Lazio at the start of the current campaign, but even though he’s been in Rome for less than 12 months, United are said to be keen.
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The 23-year-old is adept at centre-back and was a key part of Feyenoord’s impressive 2013/14 side, forming a solid partnership with Bruno Martins Indi – now at Porto.
Jose Gimenez
Even tough a more experienced head may be of use at United right now, Atletico Madrid’s rising star Gimenez is an option. The 20-year-old has forced his way into the La Liga champions’ first team this season, and his bravery alongside countryman Diego Godin has been enough to keep Joao Miranda out of Diego Simeone’s XI.
Atleti are unlikely to be open to the idea of offloading the Uruguayan, but United have the financial muscle to potentially turn their heads.
It’s hardly as if Rafael’s season at Manchester United needed much in the way of a cherry on the cake, but following his outrageous strike against Queens Park Rangers during the weekend, the young Brazilian may already have his own personal memento of a title-winning season.
Of course, even considering the Red Devil’s 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, it’s still verging on the naïve to crown Sir Alex Ferguson’s team as league champions with 11 games still to play. But one thing that we can already safely lay claim to, is the outstanding season that Rafael’s contributed to their title efforts.
Because if there was any question marks lingering over the long-term stability of Manchester United’s right-back berth, then the 22-year-old seems to have answered them with aplomb. Spectacular 25-year volleys aside, the former Fluminense youth product has been in superb form for his side season, offering both a consistently steady influence defensively as well as an energetic and penetrative presence up the other end of the pitch.
His best season yet at Old Trafford? Undoubtedly so, or at least the man himself seems to think so anyway.
“I think so,” Rafael replied, when asked by MUTV if this is his finest season.
“I have played many games very consistently so it is probably my best season here.
“Of course, I think there are some games where I feel I could have done more – I should have done this or should have done that better. I definitely still want to improve.”
At still only 22, United fans will be delighted to hear their young right-back ooze such maturity and it’s certainly in keeping with the calmer presence that we’ve seen on the field of play this season.
It’s hardly as if Brazilians lack much in the way of charisma and a penchant for the flamboyant, but ever since Rafael made his first fleeting appearances as an 18-year-old in 2008, it was clear that this South American had something a little bit extra. The youngster looked to be a ball of energy and most importantly, not one to shy away from a tackle. He’s made of tough stuff, but often that exuberance and natural aggression has been perhaps a little too prevalent in his all round game.
Indeed, for all the strides that he’s made this season, that willingness to make his presence felt in games still has a tendency to spill into over eagerness and you need look no further than the recent 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, to see that Rafael’s still some way off the finished article.
While there’s absolutely no shame in having an off day against one of the best teams in the world, Rafael still seemed like such a raw product and perhaps given his age, supporters would do well to appreciate there’s still a lot of potential yet to be realised.
But again, encouragingly for fans, Rafael is well aware that he needs to slowly manage that natural enthusiasm. Speaking about the game at the Santiago Bernabeu, he told MUTV:
“I think because it was a big game [against Real], I expected a lot more of myself and I thought I had to win every ball. I think I came out for the first half thinking like that. I thought, ‘I need to win this ball’ and, if I did something wrong, then I really had to win the next ball.”
Explaining that the calming words of Sir Alex Ferguson helped him regain his composure for the second half, it’s perhaps clear that the maturing process for the Brazilian’s mentality is just as important as what he’s doing with his feet. But with 32 appearances to his name in all competitions for Manchester United so far this season, make no mistake about it, Rafael is now a vital first-team component within this side.
And for all the occasional hotheaded moments and slightly rash tackles that he has a tendency to indulge in, despite his age, there aren’t many better within his position in this league. The likes of Manchester City’s Pablo Zabaleta and Liverpool’s Glen Johnson are amongst the Premier League’s outstanding candidates at right-back this season, but Rafael isn’t far behind at all. And at only 22, it might not be long before he’s the pick of the bunch, either.
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Expectation must be managed around Rafael’s future progress but for as magnificent as he’s been at Manchester United this season, the nature of the club will always demand improvement and next season, supporters are going to be looking for him to step up a gear. There’s no reason to think that he’s not capable of doing so, but for all the potential he still retains, it counts for nothing if left unfulfilled.
Yet for all the potential Rafael bestows, most importantly, it’s the performances he’s been churning out in the present, rather than what he might do in the future, that really deserve the plaudits.
If – or perhaps, when – Manchester United lift the Premier League title, although the likes of Robin van Persie and Michael Carrick are sure to be the frontrunners for their player of the year, Rafael shouldn’t be too far behind. This season has been his best yet in a United shirt. Whether it serves to be his defining one, only time will tell.
Speculation surrounding Toby Alderweireld’s future at Tottenham Hotspur continues to rumble on.
Each day the defender does not sign a new deal at the North London club, the more likely it seems that he is heading towards the exit door.
There has not been any official word as yet, but a recent report in the Daily Mail claims that Paris Saint-Germain are willing to meet the 29-year-old’s wage demands and pay him around £10m a season.
The publication adds that Tottenham are unwilling to give Alderweireld his desired salary of around £200,000 per week, nor are they prepared to give him a five-year deal due to his age.
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Within the report, it states that manager Mauricio Pochettino has informed the club that the centre-back can leave this summer.
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Chairman Daniel Levy is likely to make the final decision about the future of the player, who attracted plenty of attention for a recent post on Twitter.
Fans have now taken to social media to discuss the latest reports involving Alderweireld and PSG.
Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.Comment from discussion PSG willing to match Alderweirelds wage demands.
Arsene Wenger believes his Arsenal side are capable of achieving their targets for the season even if the club don’t sign a new centre back in the January transfer window, reports Metro.
Wenger is under pressure to bring a new defender to the Emirates this month, having suffered a host of injuries at the back over the course of the season.
The Frenchman also allowed former captain Thomas Vermaelen to move to Barcelona in the summer, and failed to sign a direct replacement for the Belgian.
Arsenal have been punished with injuries to the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Mathieu Debuchy, however Wenger insists his side will continue to cope even if they fail to bring in some new talent this month.
When asked if the Gunners could cope without signing a defender this month, the Frenchman said: ‘We can, because we have [Calum] Chambers, [Per] Mertesacker, Koscielny.
‘But we have now lost Debuchy, who could play centre-back, Monreal, who can play centre-back, Gibbs as well has been out … of course, if we have another injury or two, we will struggle.
‘It’s risky. It’s too risky. Of course we have made enquiries and then you have a second handicap of who wants to sell their best players, especially a central defender, in the middle of the season. They say: “OK, come back in June or July and maybe yes.”
Arsenal have been linked with a move for West Ham defender Winston Reid this month, but Wenger remained tight-lipped on the prospect of any deal.
“I am not the only one working on the case. It’s not a supermarket where you go in and buy a defender,’ he said.
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‘It’s a market that is very restricted, that players who can strengthen the best 10 teams in Europe, you don’t find many and it’s the same for everybody.
‘We are a big attraction, of course we are, but if it was easy we would do it.’
Lyon president Jean-Michael Aulas has said that striker Bafetimbi Gomis will stay in France after turning down the opportunity to leave this month, Sky Sports reports.
Gomis has been linked with a move away from France, with Premier League outfits Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle all believed to be keen on signing him, however the club’s president has confirmed that the striker will remain with Lyon.
“We had offers for Gomis, but he refused,” he told BeIn Sport.
Gomis himself has also reiterated that he is happy at Lyon.
“I want to finish the season here but the club also has their say, let’s wait and see. Until the window closes there will be speculation,” the frontman told Sky Sports.
The 27-year-old French international has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season, helping Lyon to the top of the Ligue 1 table, two points ahead of big spenders PSG.
Liverpool and Chelsea have both already moved for strikers this month, securing the services of Daniel Sturridge and Demba Ba respectively, while Newcastle saw Frenchman Loic Remy snatched from under their noses by QPR.
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However, despite Gomis wanting to remain at the Stade de Gerland till the end of the season, a summer move for him could still be on the cards with only 18 months left on his contract .
Patrice Evra’s passion for football is infectious, and the Frenchman’s catchphrase of ‘I love this game!’ has become famous around the world.
The Frenchman absolutely loves making videos, but the timing of his latest one has not gone down too well with the West Ham United fans.
The 36-year-old joined the Hammers on a short-term deal at the start of February, and made his debut for the London club against Liverpool on February 24.
David Moyes’ side have lost all three of their Premier League matches since then, and Evra has struggled to make his mark.
West Ham’s decision to draw attention to Evra’s latest video would have been with the view to raising spirits ahead of Saturday’s key Premier League clash against Southampton.
However, it has not gone down well with the supporters, who feel that the former France international should currently be focusing on getting his form right on the field.
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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below: