On the back of many a sumptuous display from Jack Wilshere last season it got me wondering, what will the makeup of the England side be in five years time look like with Wilshere at its hub?
It is often reported in the media that there is a dearth of young English talent, but I would argue that there are plenty of players ready to take the international game by storm, led by Mr Wilshere. Of course it is very hard to predict how footballers will progress in the future, and there are bound to be some players who come from nowhere to be part of the international setup. However, this is how I think the England starting XI will look in five years time…
Click on the young English trio below to see the starting XI
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The irrepressible financial weight of the Abu Dhabi United Group has consistently improved the Manchester City team since they brought the club in 2008 but everything changed last season when the club finally achieved a place in the Champions League. The calibre of player they have been able to recruit this summer means Roberto Mancini’s team now look capable of challenging for honours at all levels. However he will have to use his well-developed man management skills to satisfy all of the world-class players in his quality-laden-squad.
Mancini has now achieved his aim of having top two class players for each position on the pitch so that his team are prepared for the domestic and European season that lies ahead. Any worries that it may take Mancini time to find his strongest team have been distinguished with their excellent start to the league season but one major problem he will now face is the sheer competition for places at the Etihad Stadium especially in attack.
He has developed a side that are spoilt for riches upfront with the talents of Nasri, Aguero, Dzeko, Baotelli, Tever and Silva to choose from in what is probably the most exciting forward line in the Premier League. It certainly will be difficult to please all of these classy players every week.
Player management is never easy for a Premier League manager but particularly so when you have precarious talents like Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez in your side. What the competition for place does provide to Mancini is variation as they can ease into most tactical situations with increased options which will make them difficult to play against.
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Seeing four-goal hero Dzeko on the bench for the clash against Wigan was quite a surprise after his fine start to the season but it just demonstrates the strength of the squad at Mancini disposal. Each player has to fight for a place in the side but it shows that Mancini is able to implement a rotation policy without many problems. Dzeko was rested before the Champions League tie against Napoli but there is no doubt it also gave the Italian manager a chance to see how the potentially lethal partnership of Aguero and Tevez linked up. It will now be interesting to see which forward line he picks for this weekend’s match against Fulham.
It would be hard to drop the radiant Argentinean striker Aguero who appears to have had no problems settling into life in the Premier League and he could be the man to give City an extra kick in their title chase. But 21-year-old Italian international, Balotelli has not featured in City’s first two games and it will Mancini’s test to give him entertained on the bench, without the need for an Ipad, while Tevez featured off the bench last night for the Champions League clash and he appears ready to play for Mancini. Tevez may have missed a penalty at the weekend but it was a positive display by the world-class forward and I fully expect to see him starting on Sunday.
It is going to be a long season for City and they are almost certain to have current first-team players missing during part of the season and as result the players not currently in Mancini’s first starting lineup will get their chance in the team. It will be up to them to show him why they should in fact be the first choice in their position. If City wanted to they could now put out two impressive looking teams and this shows the real depth of their squad. The luxury of resting top names for the weekend while still maintaining a strong side makes them serious contenders for honours this year if Mancini can indeed keep all of his players happy.
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Let me know what you think and follow me on twitter @aidanmccartney for more thoughts and discussion on the beautiful game.
Adel Taraabt had an astonishing year in the Championship last season, winning the Championship player of the year and leading QPR to Premier League promotion. Despite his amazing amount of talent, doubts still linger around the player, and so far he seems to be proving the doubters-who thought he would be found out at this level-correct.
Taraabt was QPR’s hero in the Championship, his impressive statistics of 19 goals and 16 assists saw him propel the side to the top flight. He has all the talent in the world- skill, vision, technique, pace and passing, but his terrible attitude and discipline problems hold him back. You can have all the talent in the world, but that alone does not always cut it in the Premier League.
He obviously has the skills, but his huge ego and terrible work ethic continually let QPR down at this level, and he is simply too brittle to succeed in this league. Even in the Championship he went missing at times during away games, and he has a tendency not to turn up in the games that matter. It isn’t hard to see why Harry Redknapp was willing to let him leave Tottenham in the first place, as he is a liability for a team at this level. His lack of teamwork and defensive play just cannot be tolerated in the Premier League, especially as he has the potential to be rendered wholly ineffective if a side manages to mark him out of the game.
Neil Warnock indulged him in the Championship, but he simply can’t do that in the Premier League. Bowing to his every whim is the price QPR have paid for his mercurial talent, but his behaviour simply can’t be tolerated in this division, and his shortcomings have been immediately exposed. He has no work, or team ethic, and it has been suggested that some of his team-mates are shocked at his lack of effort on the training field, and puzzled as to why he is allowed to get away with it.
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The Championship suited Taraabt, but the Premier League is a huge step up, and it is one he has yet to prove he can succeed at. He could get away with giving the ball away in silly areas, and being greedy in the Championship, because he was a cut above, but in the Premier League he is just a small fish in a big pond, and he can’t afford to do that. He was anonymous at Fulham last weekend, and was hauled off at half time, much to his dismay, as he apparently left the ground during the half time break. There was a lot less pressure on him in the Championship, but this season there are a lot of expectations on him, which he has so far failed to live up to. It is a tough season for QPR, and they need steely individuals to get them through it, and Taraabt is simply not of the required mould.
The arrival of Joey Barton and Shaun Wright-Phillips has seen him forced down the financial and star name pecking order, and it seems it hasn’t sat well with Taraabt. He also lost his captaincy to Joey Barton, and it seems he doesn’t like sharing the limelight with other players. He is no longer top dog and he clearly doesn’t approve.
He has always had a reputation as a talented player, but sadly the negative aura surrounding him is holding him back. On his day he is a great player to watch, and he can be a match winner for QPR, but he is yet to set the Premier League alight. The next few months are really make or break for him, as we see whether he is willing to put in the effort to ensure he makes it at this level.
QPR probably over-relied upon him to some extent last season, and now he really needs to step up, if he is to help them avoid the drop this season. If he isn’t prepared to adapt then he is setting himself up for failure. The top flight is a huge step up and many consistent performers in the second tier fail to carry their form on at a similar level amongst the big boys. He could be exceptional if he was to get his head down and work hard, but it just seems like that is something he is unwilling to do, and ultimately he will not succeed at this level because of it.
Do you think Taraabt has been found out at this level? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below, or following me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate
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Celtic FC have once again joined forces with Football Aid, allowing football fans the opportunity to play on the hallowed turf at Celtic Park 2012, while raising vital funds for charity at the same time.
Football Aid offers fans the opportunity to Live the Dream of an authentic match day experience; to gain exclusive access to the pitch and tunnel areas, pull on their own personalised shirt in the official changing rooms, walk down the tunnel to the sound of a cheering crowd and ultimately to step out onto their Field of Dreams and represent their club in a never to be forgotten 90 minute match.
The matches have also been supported by a host of Celtic legends down the years, with the likes of Danny McGrain (Football Aid’s Vice-Patron), Paul Lambert and Neil Lennon all lending their valuable experience in recent years, by playing alongside supporters in the hugely enjoyable matches at Celtic Park.
Booking your position couldn’t be easier, just visit www.footballaid.com and choose your club, then you’ll have two ways to secure your Fixed Price position: Option 1: ‘Buy Now’ – Our quickest and most popular option, or Option 2: ‘Sponsored to Play’ – Pay a non-refundable £100 deposit to secure your position and then simply pay off the remaining balance anytime before 13th December.
So if you’re keen to secure your place on your Field of Dreams early this season, why not visit www.footballaid.com today to make sure you’re ahead of the crowd! Alternatively if you’d like any additional information, you can call Football Aid on 0131 220 5999 or email [email protected].
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Football Aid celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2010 and have allowed over 12,225 football fans the chance to Live the Dream in more than 460 matches. They are a groundbreaking organisation which generates funds annually by hosting charity football matches at iconic stadiums all over the UK. The unique concept was the brainchild of businessman and Football Aid Chairman Craig Paterson and funds raised from the event will benefit the work of a charitable project nominated by the club, as well as projects nominated by Football Aid’s parent charity Field of Dreams.
The Premier League is littered with talent everywhere you look, though of course it is and has always been defined by its star names. Where would we be without Rooney, Gerrard, Terry, and the rest who light up the stage week in, week out. These are the players we read about every day, and who get all the limelight and plaudits for their efforts on the football field.
In this era of Premier League mega-stars it is easy to forget about the other few hundred players in the league (excluding David Bentley), who work just as hard and make vital contributions to their sides. There is a load of unsung heroes out there on the field every week who put in just as much effort-if not more-as the top names yet don’t get anywhere near the same amount of recognition. Why these players don’t get the recognition they deserve is a mystery. Some probably don’t get the credit they deserve as their vital contributions are within unglamorous sides who aren’t in the big four. Other players simply shun the media limelight and mega stardom, as they are only interested in playing football and putting the team before themselves.
These players are the type who would be the first on the team sheet every week, yet they don’t get the plaudits like a Drogba or a Fabregas. They are just as critical and most are the heartbeats of their sides, who would be much poorer without them. Some have made vital contributions that have saved their sides from dropping out of the division, others have propelled their sides to achieve greater things than expected, yet they barely get mentioned in the same breath as the big stars of the league. It’s time to pay tribute to the Premier League players who don’t get enough recognition.
Click on the image below to see the top ten
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Compiled by Lauren Rutter
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Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has stated that the side’s defensive efforts are the platform for the club’s renowned attacking abilities.
With the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Luka Modric supporting main striker Emmanuel Adebayor, the North London outfit have won 10 out of their last 11 games and sit in third place in the Premier League standings.
Bale has scored five league goals this season and created a number of others, but he was quick to hail the efforts of his backline as the reason the attacking players are given free reign to play.
“I just think we’ve got the balance right,” the wideman told the club’s official website.
“We’ve Scott Parker in the team now and he covers every blade of grass, closes everyone down and gives us that security in midfield.
“Younes [Kaboul] and Ledley [King] have been great, Brad and the full-backs have been playing well and that gives us front five the licence to attack as much as we can and that has got us the goals.
“We’re all playing with so much confidence at the moment.
“Even if we’re on the back foot or teams are attacking us, we’ve got the pace to hit them on the counter-attack. It’s good to have that in our armoury,” he concluded.
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Spurs take on Stoke on Sunday, with their defensive qualities set to be put under pressure by the direct nature of Tony Pulis’ men.
I think it’s fair to say that Arsenal lost against Man City on Sunday due to the lack of firepower we currently possess.
To restrict a team that’s been scoring almost three goals a game to just one but failing to find the net ourselves is very disappointing to say the very least. However, it provides food for thought for Arsene Wenger and also shows that it’s upfront that we currently lack personnel, not in our defence.
Injuries have depleted our back-line vastly, but with none of our forwards sidelined, we still look short of options and attacking prowess. That is an important aspect for quality teams to have and Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh certainly failed to provide this yesterday afternoon in Manchester.
So in my opinion Wenger has to look into reinforcing our attacking options this January, especially with the African Cup of Nations set to handicap us even further.
So here are five possible forwards that our manager should look into singing this January:
Lukas Podolski:
Currently the name on every Arsenal fans lips, and rightly so. Anyone who is capped 95 times for Germany must have serious quality, and he would certainly help Arsenal’s fortunes upfront. The 26-year-old’s contract expires next year and it is believed that FC Koln would consider bids of around £13-17 million for their star forward this winter. Podolski can play anywhere across the frontline and he’s reaching an age where strikers are at their best. However, Wenger might have reservations about signing him given his dramatic failures at Bayern Munich, which has led many to assume that he lacks the mental strength to play for the bigger clubs. Wenger though has a reputation of bringing the best out of those who struggle, and Podolski’s recent form alone is enough to tempt the Frenchman into luring the German to London this January.
Thierry Henry:
The French striker is currently training with his former club and Wenger has recently declared that the Arsenal legend looks in good shape. I think it’s fair to say that Henry is a pale shadow of his former self, but class is permanent. The former French international is an intelligent player and at 34, he still has his goal scoring instincts intact. Furthermore, Henry would be a huge inspirational presence for our younger players and will certainly adhere to the fans as well. Wenger might need to shed a few extra bucks to loan him till the end of season, but a short-term deal is on the cards. However, if I’m not mistake, Wenger isn’t someone who looks for short-term solutions. But it happened once with Sol Campbell so why not again, this time with the club’s record goal-scorer.
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Olivier Giroud:
The Montpellier striker has fired his club to the upper echelons of Ligue 1 and has reportedly attracted interest from Newcastle and Arsenal in recent weeks. There appears to be no credibility in these rumors, but the 25-year-old would certainly appeal to Wenger given his French roots and transfer fee of around £7-10 million. Giroud certainly hasn’t got the same quality of Van Persie, but the French international would be a good understudy and back-up option for the in-form Dutchman. Giroud has the technical ability and intelligence to succeed at Arsenal and is my personal choice, along with Podolski, to join The Gunners this January.
Matias Suarez:
Very few Arsenal fans are aware of this 23-year-old Anderlecht striker, but Wenger has reportedly got scouts watching him at the moment. Touted as someone in the Javier Hernandez mould, Suarez would be available for as little as £6 million. The departure of Lukaku has allowed Suarez to flourish and you can always bet on the Anderlecht academy to have imparted him with good technical skills and ability. He’d certainly want to move to a club like Arsenal and looks like someone Wenger likes to sign – he’s young, technical and cheap.
Marco Reus:
One of the breakthrough players in the Bundesliga this season, the Borussia Mönchengladbach striker is one of the hottest properties in European football. The German is being linked with a move to Bayern Munich, but will find it hard to establish himself in a star studded line-up. The 22-year-old also has a £16 million release clause in his contract that reportedly comes into effect this summer. Though an extremely costly target, the German international has the talent to become one of the best players in world football. If Wenger decides to move for him in January, then he may have to pay up to £30 million due to his club performances this season and I don’t think there is any realistic chance for us to land him, as he is being chased by a lot of big clubs.
If Wenger is looking beyond the African Cup, then the Frenchman has options like Moussa Sow , Salomon Kalou and many others to look at.
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No matter how much he snubs talks of players coming in January, I’ve seen enough from Wenger’s press conferences to suggest that he’s aware of his team’s shortcomings. I am pretty sure that Wenger is searching for reinforcements and trust him to make the right moves this winter.
Article courtesy of Vivek Arulnathan from Gunnersphere
SkySports reports that Chelsea boss Andre Villas Boas has rejected suggestions from Carlo Ancelotti that Fernando Torres would prosper if the club were to sell Didier Drogba.
The ex-Stamford Bridge manager believes that the struggling Spaniard is floundering due to the African striker’s continued presence at the club, but Villas Boas disagrees with this analysis.
“For me, it’s not the case,” he told reporters at a press conference.
“Fernando has been with us a year and is in a great moment of form and looking sharp.
“It’s nothing to do with one being present and the other one not. In a club of our dimension, we have top competition.
“The people you compete with are as good or better than you and you have to compete to reach the starting XI.
“It’s the same with Barcelona and Real Madrid. You compete with the best within the group,” he stated.
Drogba is currently away on international duty at the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast, and added responsibility will fall on Torres’ shoulders in his absence.
The veteran frontman’s contract expires at the end of the season, but Villas Boas has admitted that he has had no thoughts to sell Drogba in January to avoid losing him on a free transfer come the summer.
“It’s not something that crossed my mind.
“I count on Didier, on what he represents as a player and an icon,” he concluded.
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Sunderland’s renaissance under Martin O’Neill continued at the Stadium of Light as they saw off Swansea with two stunning goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Craig Gardner to move into the top half.
Defeat at Chelsea last week was the Black Cats’ second in seven games under their new boss and they wrapped up a fifth victory of the O’Neill era with Sessegnon and Gardner scoring in either half. It will be a bitter pill to swallow for Brendan Rodgers after seeing his side dominate proceedings on Wearside only to lack a cutting edge in front of goal; something that wasn’t absent in their breathtaking win against Arsenal six days prior. Their latest loss was their seventh on the road this season and saw them drop to 11th in the table as the hosts jumped a place above them collecting their 10th point in 12 since changing managers.
A breathless opening saw the hosts take a surprise lead with Sessegnon doing brilliantly to open his body and curly a magnificent strike beyond Michael Vorm and into the top corner following a quick passing exchange with James McLean on the left. Vorm had earlier tipped Sebastian Larsson’s venomous volley onto the post but had little to do for the rest of the half as Swansea dominated in their pursuit of an equaliser. Despite missing the last three games though injury Wes Brown showed that his sharpness hadn’t deserted him thwarting Nathan Dyer with last ditch tackle before Phil Bardsley denied Scott Sinclair. Chances came and went for the Welsh side with Sinclair firing over from six-yards before Gylfi Sigurdsson saw his cross headed over by Danny Graham jut before half time.
The Icelandic midfielder then tested Simon Mignolet for the first time in the game seeing his 57th minute free kick palmed away by the Sunderland keeper. The home support became restless as Swansea continued to control the contest as they tried and failed to fashion an equaliser allowing the Black Cats to come alive in the final quarter hour and seal the game with an outstanding goal from Gardner. The former Birmingham midfielder controlled Sessegnon’s cross field pass on his chest before lashing a dipping 25-yard volley past Vorm to lift the hosts into 10th and maintain new boss O’Neill’s unbeaten record at the Stadium of Light.
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The FA revealed that they are keeping their options over the New England manager, although their preference would be an Englishman. David Bernstein says they are conducting a shortlist in the coming days and there are many candidates that are likely to enter the frame. It appears that Harry Redknapp is everyone in the game’s favourite to take the England job, with some papers suggesting that he will only look to manage the country on a short term basis this summer, before resuming his duties at White Hart Lane.
Elsewhere in the news today Andre Villas-Boas has revealed that he doesn’t fear the sack at Chelsea; Patrick Viera believes that referees are out to get Manchester City, while Sir Alex Ferguson has shrugged off concerns about Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra shaking hands before tomorrow’s encounter at Old Trafford.
The FA have been left red-faced with reports that England’s caretaker boss Stuart Pearce, was alleged to have racially abused Paul Ince back in the mid-90s – Independent
Sir Alex Ferguson has shrugged off concerns about whether Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra will shake hands at Old Trafford in tomorrow’s lunchtime showdown – Guardian
The FA is keeping their options open as to who will manage England in the Euros in 2012. While Harry Redknapp remains everyone’s favourite for the post, David Bernstein was quick to point out that the Tottenham boss was not the only one under consideration – Guardian
Andre Villas-Boas reveals that he does not fear the sack from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich – Guardian
Harry Redknapp may be interested in managing England but only on a short term basis. The Tottenham boss could well take on the job of managing the country at the Euros, before settling back into his role at White Hart Lane ahead of next season – Daily Telegraph
Diego Maradona believes that the FA used the John Terry row as a way to remove Fabio Capello from his England post – Daily Telegraph
Tottenham are putting a £10m fee on Harry Redknapp’s head if the FA wish to appoint him as the next England manager – Daily Mail
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Patrick Viera believes that referees are out to get Manchester City this season, as they don’t want to see the Citizens win the title this year – Daily Mail
Real Madrid are reportedly set to test Arsenal’s resolve with an approach for Robin van Persie – Mirror