England manager Roy Hodgson has expressed his concern that he only has a handful of players to select from that play regularly for their Premier League clubs, according to The Telegraph.
England begin their World Cup qualifying campaign with a trip to lowly Moldova on Friday, followed by a potentially tricky tie against Euro 2012 co-hosts and group opponents Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday.
Although the prospect of facing a Moldova side who are currently ranked 137th in the FIFA World Rankings won’t cause Hodgson too many sleepless nights, the fact that the majority of his squad haven’t played too many minutes on the pitch will come as a concern to the manager.
England’s back line is not a problem. Goalkeeper Joe Hart is a certain starter for Roberto Mancini at Manchester City. Additionally, England’s defence should all be ready and fit for the Moldova and Ukraine encounters.
Likewise, Leighton Baines, Ryan Bertrand, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Kyle Walker and Joleon Lescott have all featured for their respective clubs in the first three weekends of the Premier League season.
John Terry has also been declared fit for the Moldova game after suffering from a neck injury which had seen him absent for Chelsea’s victory over Newcastle in the Premier League and their defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup last Friday.
The only minor setback in defence for Hodgson is the withdrawal of Ashley Cole from the Moldova game after he suffered a knock to ankle during the Super Cup game aforementioned. The 31-year-old will be reassessed by the England medical team just before the Ukraine match.
It is in midfield and attack where the 64-year-old Hodgson will be feeling uneasy. Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard and Manchester United’s Michael Carrick are the only week-in-week-out starters for their respective clubs.
Other England inclusions such as James Milner, Tom Cleverley, Frank Lampard, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain and Theo Walcott can only currently be described as squad players rather than key members of the first team judging by the Premier League team-sheets at present.
One would assume that Adam Johnson will become a first-team regular for Sunderland after joining the black cats for £10 million last week. However, it will take him time to regain his match sharpness after being left out of the cold at Manchester City last season.
Hodgson will have even more of a selection dilemma up front following the withdrawals from Wayne Rooney and Andy Carroll. Of the three strikers that the England manager has at his disposal, none of them are guaranteed picks for their clubs.
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Arguably, all three players have been hindered by new arrivals at their respective clubs. Danny Welbeck may be encounter limited first-team action by the arrival of Robin van Persie, Daniel Sturridge hasn’t started a game following the arrival of Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge and Jermain Defoe may have to accept being second choice striker at Tottenham after capturing Emmanuel Adebayor from Manchester City.
England should have the strength in depth to overcome Moldova and Ukraine in their opening two fixtures and perhaps throughout the whole World Cup qualification campaign. However, lingering is the concern that once a major tournament arrives, will the new exciting youthful looking England side have played enough minutes on the pitch to cope with the world’s best?
As reported by The Scottish Sun, Josh Windass could leave Rangers this summer, along with ten others, as two Premier League clubs seek his signature when the transfer window opens.
What’s the story?
Windass has had a good season at Ibrox, scoring 17 goals and creating eight assists, and while he has at times failed to turn up in big matches, he’s one of the better performers in the first team currently.
Premier League side Burnley and recently promoted Cardiff City are both now interested in signing him according to The Scottish Sun, who report Rangers rate him at around £3m.
The paper reckon that incoming boss Steven Gerrard could be tempted to sell him to fund deals he wants to do this summer and Windass isn’t the only one.
The Scottish Sun say Director of Football is currently compiling a list of who could be moved on or sold and it runs into double figures with Eduardo Herrera, Fabio Cardoso, Andy Halliday, Jak Alnwick, Joe Dodoo, Bruno Alves, Michael O’Halloran, Sean Goss, Russell Martin and Alfredo Morelos all potentially leaving Ibrox.
Will Gerrard’s revolution work?
There’s absolutely no doubt that Gerrard and his staff are correct to embark on a complete squad overhaul this summer.
There are simply far too many players on decent wages who haven’t shown the kind of quality or commitment this season to be considered regulars under the Liverpool legend.
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There are of course risks that come with such a massive change in a dressing room, but with the club already taking steps to curb player revolt with the suspensions of Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller, Gerrard is going to have free reign to do what he likes when he arrives on June 1st and have the full backing of supporters and the board.
Pundit and former Chelsea and Aston Villa striker Tony Cascarino has told The Times that Manchester United outcast Luke Shaw will “regret staying” at the club and he should look to leave as soon as possible.
The 22-year-old has struggled to win over Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho over the course of the last 18 months, and he found himself behind the likes of Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind in the pecking order for the left-back and left wing-back roles earlier this season.
It looked as though things may be changing for Shaw when he made his first Premier League appearance and start of the campaign in the 1-0 win against Bournemouth at Old Trafford last Wednesday, putting in a man of the match performance.
However, the England international found himself back on the substitutes’ bench for the 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Sunday, with Young and then Marcos Rojo both featuring at left-back before him as he failed to come on.
In his column for The Times, Cascarino said: “He needs to leave Manchester United and restore his reputation as a top-flight left back. A footballer’s career is not long and he can’t waste his talent sitting on the bench — even if he will earn more money doing so
“Shaw will regret staying at United.”
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Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose over the last couple of months, and if that deal does materialise during the January transfer window then you would think that Shaw’s career at Old Trafford is done.
Luis Boa Morte will be remembered for plenty of positives in his lengthy football career, but penalty kicks might be recognised as his strongest suit.
The Portuguese star who has had stints with Arsenal, Southampton, Fulham, West Ham United and more recently with Larissa, Orlando Pirates and Chesterfield, made news this week with his outrageous penalty kick in a charity game for Luis Figo XI against Venezuelan Champions Deportivo Anzoategui…
Boa Morte dummied a shot, which forced the goalkeeper to move to his right before striking the ball inside the opposite post. But the entertaining pk raised questions among many if it should have stood or not.
Since it was a charity match, the goal was allowed to stand without any investigation. But had it been a more serious match there is no question the referee would have taken a closer look at it.
FA Laws of football say nothing about that specific kind of kick other than the need to kick the ball forward. However, FIFA rules note that feinting to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted as part of football. Also, if in the opinion of the referee the feinting is considered an act of unsporting behaviour the player shall be cautioned.
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Either way I think that creativity should be an added aspect of penalty kicks as long as you do not touch the ball and advance it forward. Even in the Fifa video game by Electronic Arts, Inc, in the penalty kicks feature you are allowed to dummy the goalkeeper as long as you advance the ball towards the net.
This added dimension demonstrated by Boa Morte keeps the goalkeeper guessing and the game more interesting.
Liverpool are set to miss out on yet another transfer target, as Real Madrid playmaker Nuri Sahin looks to have opted for a loan move to The Emirates despite Liverpool submitting a more attractive offer. It is thought Sahin’s decision was based upon wanting Champions League football, a competition Liverpool have failed to qualify for in the last three seasons.
The sad truth of the matter, is Liverpool’s failure to qualify for Europe’s elite competition, is now having a big impact on their transfer business. Brendan Rodgers is having to wheel and deal in a manner it seems only Harry Redknapp is capable of, as he attempts to build a squad capable of challenging for the top four.
The setbacks he has suffered in the transfer market prove that Liverpool is no longer viewed as the ‘dream move’ it once was for so many players. Whether it be through lack of funds or lack of Champions League football, there seems to be a fundemental problem in attracting the right calibre of players to Anfield.
Glyfi Sigurdsson became the first player to snub the Rodgers revolution, despite playing some fantastic football under the Liverpool boss at Swansea. Many Liverpool fans were furious at Sigurdsson’s decision to snub the Reds for a bigger pay packet at Tottenham, but the Icelandic midfielder claimed the move was entirely based on footballing reasons.
If you look at the statistics from the past three seasons, Tottenham have finished 4th, 5th and 4th, only missing out on Champions League football this season after Chelsea won the competition to claim their last spot. Liverpool have finished 7th, 6th and 8th in the same time period, and last year finished a massive 17 points behind Tottenham in 4th place.
Yes, the money would have been a factor in Sigurdsson’s decision, but even so you can understand his reasons for opting for a move to White Hart Lane based on Liverpool’s recent run. Liverpool fans will tell you they would never expect to see a player choose Tottenham over their famous club, but the current truth is that Tottenham have been a better side than Liverpool for the past three years.
For me, the problems began in the summer of 2009. Rafa Benitez had guided the Reds to their best ever Premier League season, which saw them narrowly pipped to the title by Manchester United. The following summer would prove crucial in determining whether they would be able to take the next step.
Benitez was not backed in the transfer market at the most crucial time of his tenure by former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillette. Alonso left for Real Madrid, a crocked Alberto Aquilani was bought in alongside Glen Johnson, Liverpool’s only major signing.
They finished 7th that season, Benitez was axed, Hodgson was bought in and the rest is history. Liverpool have been out of the top four ever since, and been underwhelmed with the transfer business done by first Hodgson, and then Kenny Dalglish.
It is a depressing thought for Liverpool fans, that only three years ago top players like Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres were gracing the Anfield pitch. All three have now moved on, and countless names have been drafted in on the cheap as Liverpool have looked to re-establish themselves in Europe’s elite competition. The likes of Christian Poulsen, Milan Jovanavic and Joe Cole have all arrived with huge salaries and made little to no impact during their time at Anfield.
Kenny Dalglish was given plenty of cash in a bid to get Liverpool back as quickly as possible, but was let down by the likes of Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll. Rodgers is now paying the price with a limited transfer budget.
It has been a remarkably quick decline for Liverpool, and one Rodgers is tasked with halting. The lack of Champions League football is making this task far more difficult then he perhaps envisaged.
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Sahin now looks set to join Sigurdsson on Rodgers list of failed transfer targets. Cristian Tello of Barcelona is another thought to not fancy the move to Merseyside, whereas Liverpool have failed to meet Fulhams valuation of Clint Dempsey. You would have thought a 29-year-old in the final year of his contract should not be a particularly hard deal to tie up?
Rodgers has made some decent signings with the likes of Borini and Allen bought in, but faces a tough task during the final few days of the transfer window to convince players Liverpool is still a top club, despite the lack of Champions League football. In all honesty, he is not the biggest of managerial names. Whereas before players would join Liverpool saying ‘I want to play under Benitez’ or ‘I want to play under Dalglish.’ Last season apart, Rodgers is something of an unknown quantity.
Rodgers has bought in players he already knows and worked with before, and is hoping to sell his philosophy of football to potential new signings. Whether this is enough to attract the top players remains to be seen. This transfer window has proved the lack of Champions League football is making his task all the more difficult.
Liverpool star Mohamed Salah has stolen headlines this season, and for very good reasons due to his consistently strong displays in front of goal.
The Egyptian international has scored 43 goals in all competitions, and was voted PFA Player of the Year ahead of Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Given that Salah has achieved all of this in just his first season at the club following a switch from Roma last summer makes it that much more impressive.
However, there is another player in Jurgen Klopp’s ranks that deserves a huge amount of credit for the team’s scintillating attack.
Roberto Firmino has not always been recognised publicly for the influence that he has on this Liverpool team, but the statistics do not lie.
The Brazilian – valued at £45m by Transfermarkt – has scored 26 goals and created 13 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions while perfecting the false 9 role.
As well as his attacking ability, Firmino has proven that he is not afraid to do the dirty work by dropping back and tackling to win the ball.
The former Hoffenheim star has regularly dispossessed opponents, proving that he has strength as well as flair.
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As a reward for his impressive form, Liverpool have offered Firmino a new long-term contract, which is hugely positive news ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Even though Salah has been drawing most of the attention, it should be noted that Firmino is an integral component of the team, but is he more important?
I’m all for a returning hero. Thierry Henry’s goal against Leeds in the FA Cup, Jose Mourinho’s successful season this time around at Chelsea, Shaun Wright-Phillips returning to Manchester City….
Slaven Bilic’s return to East London is somewhere between these categories. Will he be a hailed conquering hero or will his return be another piece of evidence for the old football adage ‘you should never go back’?
Bilic only spent one season at West Ham, so he’s hardly a club legend in the true sense of the word, but he’s certainly highly regarded. The West Ham board had trouble with the fans throughout Sam Allardyce’s tenure, so the appointment of a man thought of with some esteem by the fans is a shrewd move. Bilic will, surely, be given time to ease into life at his new club – just in time for the move to the Olympic Stadium. These really should be exciting times for the Hammers.
But is Bilic a good enough manager to take over at a club that should have lofty ambitions?
Bilic is best known in the managerial world as the manager of Croatia, of course. As Croatia manager he was known as a studious coach, who perused the games of his opponents and set his team up accordingly.
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Under his management, Croatia rose up the World rankings, knocked England out of Euro 2008 and became one of the most feared teams in Europe. Bilic has led his country to three major Championships and lots of praise. It’s not just Bilic’s success at Croatia that make him a good candidate for most jobs these days, it’s his experience too.
But simply having experience and even success doesn’t automatically make you a good fit. Bilic, however, has something that lots of other managers don’t. He’s one of the few managers in football who carry an aura around them. He exudes something, a kind of charisma.
Jose Mourinho has it, when he comes into the club, all eyes are on him and he has something to say. But you also know that he knows what he’s doing. The same goes for Sir Alex Ferguson and Pep Guardiola. Even Jurgen Klopp has something about him. Klopp is probably a good comparison in this regard.
The ‘heavy-metal’ former Dortmund manager exudes the same kind of charisma as Bilic. Less ‘rock’ in his approach to football, his off-field activities give him an image. He’s well known for his interest in music, not only playing in his band Rawbau – it’s not as bad as you probably think – but also suggesting his players find music in order to help the relax.
That’s where the comparison with Klopp comes in of course, the beardy hipster-like manager with an interest in something cool. But Bilic also has a law degree. He’s a hipster with substance.
So there’s just something about Slaven Bilic that seems to make him a great fit for the Premier League. It’s the man himself rather than his style of football or his CV. After Croatia he never really achieved much in club management. But his temperament and his persona, his ability to garner media attention and his obvious intelligence make him someone who will surely thrive in a league that’s so much more ‘box-office’ than Turkey or Russia.
The eyes of the world will be on Bilic, not on his players, and that’s no bad thing. The players will get their space because Bilic will be the name on everyone’s lips.
Bilic may just be the right man at the right time for West ham. They are now established again in the Premier League after their relegation, and their fans were unhappy with the style of play under Allarcye. They have a point, West Ham’s tradition is one of attacking, easy-to-watch football, but even despite the low points of last season it’s something of a luxury to complain about the style of football your team plays. It shows that West Ham aren’t in a terrible position, they just need a manager who fits the club better than Big Sam.
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West Ham should be happy they’re in a good place for the future, and should be excited that, in Bilic, they have a manager who will have the team playing in the style that the fans want to see.
When I was a young boy, and indeed, even into my mid-teens, I often found comical enjoyment out of Tottenham’s roster. The Lilywhites have always had a knack of supplementing a strong starting XI with a wide berth of substandard players from seemingly every corner of the globe, from the likes of Steven Carr and Jose Dominguez in the late 1990s to the Martin Jol era, in which the current Fulham boss had the inane ability to sign players whose name alone suggested incompetence, such as Hossam Ghaly and Grzegorz Rasiak to name a few that are just the tip of the ice berg.
The club’s ability to attract humorously poor Premier League treasures, such as Mido, Erik Edman and Michael Brown appeared to die out during Harry Redknapp’s tenure, in no small part due to the fact he purchased a strong contingent of White Hart Lane rejects whilst Portsmouth manager, in a bid to steer them clear of relegation. But whilst at the helm in North London, the cockney wheeler-dealer managed to shift much of the deadwood out of the club, and during his final year as Spurs gaffer, possessed a side that not only had a consistent first team but also a squad of considerable depth.
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Upon the signings of Hugo Lloris, Moussa Dembele, Clint Dempsey, Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson in the summer, the club were further praised for having one of the best rosters throughout the Premier League in terms of widespread quality. But the true test does not come in the first few months of a new season, it comes during the business end of the campaign – where results are crucial and the injury crises have truly set in – and overall, Tottenham have not passed with flying colours as many expected.
It seems the Spurs roster is more reminiscent of a house of cards, with a few key individuals being sidelined, mainly Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale, disrupting Andre Villas-Boas’ simple game plan of speed and width at its foundations, and the backup players failing to do the business for the Lilywhites in the Europa League.
Could it be that Tottenham have once again fallen into their age-old trap of quantity over quality, and is the deadwood piling up at White Hart Lane? Does it stand in the way of the club’s ambitions to skyrocket up the Premier League table, and will it limit their actions in the summer?
The first port of call will surely to be get rid of the epitome of the word ‘deadwood’ in Emmanuel Adebayor. Daniel Levy should have predicted that signing the Togo international on a permanent contract would only lead to a complete u-turn in form from the 17 goals and 11 assists he recorded last season, but nevertheless, the former City forward was brought in on an excessive contract, going on to prove that he in no way has the right attitude to be a professional footballer.
However, having recorded just three goals in twenty Premier League appearances, and more often than not being completely non-existent during matches, will Spurs actually be able to find a potential buyer for their lacklustre forward? He’s certainly scuppered his chances of playing at another elite European club, having failed to make the best out of his opportunities at Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid, rubbing his managers, team-mates and fans up the wrong way in the process.
There have been murmurings of a return to former club AS Monaco, it seems little more than paper-talk considering Adebayor currently sits on a healthy wage package of 100k per week, which does not expire until 2015. With Spurs also light of personnel in the striker department, the 29 year old could easily slip into the background as unwanted but necessary cover, becoming White Hart Lane’s answer to Sebastian Squillaci.
Similarly, the transfers of Gylfi Sigurdsson and Clint Dempsey have been lukewarm at best. Although both have found decent form in patches after unceremonious starts, both have failed in the ultimate test of providing cover for Lennon and Bale, neither being a like-for-like replacement, or donning the pace currently required of a Spurs winger. Similarly, neither of the two are yet to make the position as a supporting striker their own, despite possessing reliable goal records at their previous clubs. Their future at White Hart Lane, in terms of where they slot in position-wise, remains uncertain, and has been further complicated by the acquisition of Lewis Holtby – another new recruit yet to fully shine.
The English-blooded German international could be utilised further back in the Tottenham midfield, however the middle of the park is also an area where lower quality personnel are building up in the Spurs squad. Scott Parker’s tenure in North London appears to be coming to an end, having reached the age of 32, yet you would not be comfortable offering Tom Huddlestone or Jake Livermore a slot in the starting XI, or having them remain in the vision of the club’s near future, with both coming of age but still short in terms of ability of what many expected of them as youngsters.
At the back, there is also potential for a player pile-up. William Gallas is set to depart under the bosman ruling, having played a bit-part role this year and firmly amid his twilight years, but with Younes Kaboul coming back from injury next year, there will be four centre-backs capable of first team football jostling over two positions. Steven Caulker may remain silent over being knocked down the pecking order, but it seems unfair that Michael Dawson will most likely share a similar fate despite playing out of his skin this year, and with the 2014 World Cup now in sight. At least one of their careers will have to be put on the back-burner next season should they all remain at White Hart Lane.
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Furthermore, there are grounds to move on both of the club’s current left-backs, with Benoit Assou-Ekotto reportedly already featuring on borrowed time, whilst Kyle Naughton has not cut the mustard having been given an opportunity to break into the first team at White Hart Lane this season. Meanwhile, Danny Rose, having been farmed out in the summer, has been exceptional for Sunderland on a season-long loan, adding further complications to the mix.
Perhaps not all of the above mentioned players can be categorised as ‘deadwood’, as although Tottenham are often thought of as one of the Premier League’s top clubs, they are yet to actually reach that level, despite the constant feeling of underachievement that appears to surround them. The likes of Tom Huddlestone and Kyle Naughton certainly have enough quality to be playing in the top half of the Premier League, and provide decent cover.
But it is still a lower level of talent in wide numbers throughout the squad that you would not find at the vast majority of Champions League teams, which is where Tottenham wish to be, and furthermore none of the players I’ve mentioned as candidates for the scrap heap have age on their side. Perhaps a summer clearout would be a step too far, and such inconsistency in the transfer market more often than not presents a risk that soon evolves into on-pitch catastrophe, but there is certainly an imbalance within the Tottenham roster which needs to be addressed.
My concern is that with wholesale changes in the summer restricted by available buyers, the business side of the game and essentially the vast amount of the Spurs squad who could be placed on the transfer list, when including those I’ve mentioned with Heurelho Gomez and David Bentley- as it would be near anarchic to move all of them on in the same transfer window – that it will not only limit inward transactions financially, but there will simply be little room for new recruits in Tottenham’s registered 25 man squad. Spurs need to be aggressive in the transfer market in the near future, in order to continue their rapid improvement and planned ascension into the top tier of European football, but the middle-of-the-road footballers, the superficial, overpaid, back up cast could soon stand in their way; just as it did during the days of mid-table mediocrity at White Hart Lane. The issue needs to be addressed quickly and competently, before the Lilywhites fall back into their old ways of quantity over quality, and we witness the second coming of Paul Stalteri.
There’s simply no satisfying some people, is there? Just as Chelsea continue their unremittingly impressive start to the Premier League, it seems as if Roberto Di Matteo’s side are yet to convince the doubters of their championship credentials. But although their superb Eden Hazard-led charge out of the blocks has been superb, they’ve still got a hell of a way to go before they can be taken as any kind of serious challengers to Manchester City’s throne.
The talk at the beginning of the season circled around the buzzword of expectation. The visions of last season’s unprecedented success are all but champagne blurred memories. No one can ever take away Chelsea and Roberto Di Matteo’s amazing cup achievements last term, but this time, things are different. The Italian is now expected to win football matches and expected to challenge for silverware. There will be no plucky atmosphere of underdogs this term.
The scale of this summer’s investment has only cranked up the feeling of expectation, too. When you pay the sort of money that has been shelled out for the likes of Eden Hazard and Oscar amongst others, you would imagine that Roman Abramovich wouldn’t mind seeing some kind of return on that.
Martin Tyler described Didier Drogba’s Champions League winning penalty as the biggest moment in the history of Chelsea Football Club. While the prestige and stature of winning a European Cup ensures that statement is correct, it is still after all, a cup. It has been bleated a thousand times within these articles, but while the best club doesn’t always win the cup, they always win the league. Premier League success is the yardstick amongst what everything else shall always be measured by and the Blues must ensure they are competitive on the domestic front.
Pre-season form suggested that this might not necessarily be quite as cut and dried as some observers predicted. Using the new term’s period of preparation and condition as some form of barometer for their Premier League fortunes has made a mug out of many. Although a string of pre-season defeats didn’t look particularly encouraging, especially after a lackluster 3-1 defeat at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion at the beginning of the month. While Hazard looked a mercurial talent, the rest of the team seemed to have some real work to do as both Di Matteo and Frank Lampard testified.
Some even continued to doubt the Stamford Bridge recruitment policy. Although they were in need of beefing up the attacking side of things, there was even a feeling that things were looking too top-heavy and unbalanced. Hazard’s £32million acquisition was followed by the arrivals of Marko Marin from Werder Bremen and the highly rated Oscar from Internacional. Victor Moses has since also joined but Cesar Azpilicueta has been their only defensive bolster.
So what did Chelsea do amongst the swirl of doubt and whispers of disapproval? Predictably, they’ve gone and won their first three games on the bounce, scoring eight goals in the process and playing some superb attacking football. Eden Hazard has arguably been the man of the match in every game they’ve played and Fernando Torres looks like something of a man reborn, leaving a large smattering of egg on many observers’ faces.
It’s somewhat pointing out the obvious, but you simply cannot look past the performances of Hazard in this early season galvanization of Stamford Bridge. The Belgian gave the impression he bestowed the sort of levels of confidence that veer perilously on the side of arrogance, before his big money switch to the Blues. Some thought that’d be an issue. Instead, it seems to have catalysed the fortunes of both him and his teammates as he’s swaggered around the first three games of the season, clocking up four assists and one goal in the process.
In fairness to Chelsea, the whole team has deserved merit for their superb start to Premier League proceedings. Juan Mata has been equally superb as his attacking colleagues and Ryan Bertrand has also caught the eye in these tentative stages of the season.
But whilst the doubters can hold their hands up in some respects, some certainly feel as if they’re overstepping the mark in these revised predictions for Chelsea’s season. If pre-season fortunes are a poor barometer for a team’s league fortunes, than the opening three games can hardly be taken as gospel. It’s early days at Stamford Bridge and Roberto Di Matteo’s men are yet to be really tested by one of the bigger boys.
You can only beat what is in front of you some will say, and to all intents and purposes, that’s bang on the money. Wins away to Wigan and at home to Reading don’t constitute the most strenuous of tests. Newcastle did of course finish above the Blues last season but without taking anything away from Chelsea’s performance, the Magpies looked jaded after a mid-season trip to Greece in the Europa League.
They have certainly looked more impressive than the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal so far and perhaps with their scale of investment, that is to be expected. Both North London clubs have faced their fair share of problems pre-season but they will improve. Chelsea currently look a step above the pair but that doesn’t mean that will necessarily transcend into some form of title push or even remain the case, as the season continues.
An away win against Wigan came before conceding two goals to the promoted Reading, in a game that they were very lucky to come out with three points. They may have had their fair share of chances, but the truth is that at 2-2, they shouldn’t have beaten the Royals. Chelsea’s third came courtesy of a shocker of an offside decision and the fourth was a sucker punch as Reading sent Adam Federici up for a corner. They might have made a more impressive start than the two Manchester clubs, but they still have to improve.
The 3-2 Community Shield defeat to Manchester City suggested that whilst Chelsea didn’t necessarily get the rub of the green, they have some work to do before they start harbouring title hopes. Branislav Ivanovic’s dismissal harmed the game as a contest, but Chelsea were outplayed and outmanoeuvred for large periods of the game. If Manchester City represent a well-oiled machine, then Chelsea resembled something of a cautious prototype – full of promise, but not quite ready to fire on the production line.
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The next few weeks will tell us all we need to know about just how much promise Roberto Di Matteo’s prototype is showing. Friday’s Uefa Super Cup fixture against Atletico Madird will offer a tough examination, but perhaps the first, big test in the league will come away to Arsenal at the end of the month. You get the feeling that they’re perhaps only one injury to Fernando Torres or Eden Hazard away from a spot of bother. But if they continue their current level of performance, it’ll be exciting to see what this season has in store for them.
Chelsea haven’t committed a crime, but they’re certainly innocent until proven guilty. As opposed to waiting for the team to slip up, perhaps some should appreciate their current level of output for what it is today.
How do you rate Chelsea’s current form? More than just a promising start? Or are some reading too much into their current Premier League form? Tell me what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me all your views.
Arsenal are still without an away point in 2018 after their 2-1 defeat against Newcastle United on Sunday in which Petr Cech did not cover himself in glory.
The Gunners fans were not impressed with the former Chelsea goalkeeper at St James’ Park and that came to the fore again as the club posted a tweet to celebrate the 28th birthday of their former ‘keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
The glovesman – valued at £18m by Transfermarkt – now turns out for Juventus and may well end up as the successor to legendary goalkeeper Gigi Buffon in Turin but the Gunners fans would like him to be the man who takes over the gloves from Cech at the Emirates.
During his time at Arsenal, the Polish stopper never really convinced. But, whether it’s the fact that a huge club like Juve took him on or whether it’s the desire for a younger man between the posts, the Gunners fans want him back…