All posts by h79snht.top

Last weekend saw that most wonderful of Premier League cliches trotted out again: the stuff of Champions – they played badly and ground out that win.

In many ways, it’s very true. In many other ways it’s totally misleading. Just because Arsenal and Manchester City manage to win whilst playing badly, it doesn’t mean they’re going to win the league.

It might be a quality that champions often have, but this is a season like no other. Arsenal and City just seem to be coping with that better than most this season. They’re not quite as neck and neck as City and Chelsea were last season around this stage – they had identical records on New Year’s Day – but they’re still pretty close.

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It’s too early to discount Leicester and Spurs, of course. Being only two points behind Arsenal, Leicester have every chance of winning the league if they can keep up their form – all they have to do is match Arsenal’s results and beat them in that one game when they play each other. That’s if Arsenal are the ones setting the pace. Spurs, on the other hand, are the team on solid form, they just keep getting results and look hard to beat.

But the reasons neither of these teams look like challenging City and Arsenal are the strength in depth they have, and the lack of top-of-the-table experience these sides have. This season has made every football writer look like a complete idiot, but perhaps naively I’m sticking to my guns – I’d love to be wrong, how great would that feel? Watching Wes Morgan lift the crowned trophy would be a moment when everyone would remember where they were. A clip shown in every Premier League montage from that moment on until the end of time.

But surely it’s all about Arsenal and City, the two teams who ground out the victory this weekend.

Arsenal have the ability to beat any team in the division, looking at how they’ve played this season. Their rise has been coupled with some sort of newly-found spine in their team, capable of keeping the other team out, capable of limiting counter-attacks and staying solid at the back. In many ways, that’s why they’ve climbed up the table – even if all their stars seem to be in their attack.

City, on the other hand, are a similar paradox, but in reverse. It’s City’s attack that looks incredibly strong – surely the strongest in the league on paper – but losing their captain Vincent Kompany has made them hugely vulnerable in defence. For all of City’s powerhouse attackers, it’s a man they signed for £6m under Mark Hughes who keeps the team winning football matches.

WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Man City transfer news

But he will come back. As will David Silva and Sergio Aguero – already back on the pitch, but still not back to full strength and sharpness. And when City have those players back, not only are they a formidable team, but they have something that only one Arsenal player has: experience of winning the Premier League.

And that’s the kind of know-how that might sway the title race. Even though Arsenal have the ability to be champions, and it’s clear that City have the inconsistency to make Arsenal champions, it could just be the fact that City know how to grind it out that matters.

And that’s where there’s truth to the cliche. Because it’s all well and good grinding out a win when you play badly, but what’s more important is grinding out title wins. The fact that the champions are usually able to grind out more of the unfashionable wins than other teams makes sure that they’re able to grind out entire title wins.

Just because Arsenal beat Newcastle doesn’t mean that they have what it takes to be champions – it’s the fact that their squad is so good that means they have what it takes. But with all their experience, it’s a quality that stands out in their team more.

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Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has hailed praise on star goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who made no less than 10 saves to keep Arsenal at bay in their 0-0 draw, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

For much of the game at the Emirates, the Gunners were on the front foot but were unable to break the deadlock, with Forster in fine form to keep the game goalless for 90 minutes.

The result has left Arsene Wenger’s men trailing league leaders Leicester City by five points, with the Foxes beating Liverpool 2-0 at the King Power Stadium while Manchester City also pushed ahead with their win over Sunderland.

And Koeman had nothing but praise for his goalkeeper, who was the one to thank for gaining them a point.

Koeman said: “Not in one-and-a-half years managing Southampton has a team created what Arsenal created in opportunities today. You need to be lucky, first, and you need to have a goalkeeper who is saving everything.

“Normally it is more difficult for opponents to create those kind of chances against us. We didn’t play well, but we fight unbelievable, we had an unbelievable spirit today.

“Arsenal are so good defensively with a lot of creativity and that’s difficult then, of course, you need a keeper that’s magic and he is magic tonight.

“He is with the [England] national team and he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and maybe in Europe.”

Wenger also congratulated the Englishman, but admitted his frustration at his side being unable to finish their opportunities.

He said: “He had a brilliant game, but you expect that. We produced quite a good performance, especially in the second-half, where we created 10 good chances and we came out with no goal.

“I believe it the performance we wanted to produce was there but we cannot be happy with the way we finished our chances. What is the most disappointing was that some players missed some chances that they usually take.

“Our finishing is very bad at the moment, we have now played three games without scoring a goal.

“It is maximum frustrating because when your team puts in the energy and when you come out and think there was much more in the game like that, when you have our ambitions, it is frustrating.”

Arsenal travel to Dean Court to face Bournemouth in their next fixture, while the Saints host West Ham United who are a point above them on Saturday.

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Perhaps the major criticism levelled at Leicester City amid their title challenge is the fact few, if any, of the players have been in a similar position before.

Even their manager, Claudio Ranieri, is widely regarded to be one of football’s perennial ‘nearly men’.

Still, unless you’ve been living under a rock for the vast majority of this season, you’ll be well aware that the Foxes are firmly in the mix to lift the Premier League title at the season’s end.

Sure, it’s easy to write them off and the pressure looked as if it had taken its toll last time out, losing to Arsenal.

But if you thought that their title challenge would derail following that result, you clearly don’t know a lot about Leicester. Or this season on a whole.

Good teams churn out results when perhaps they are not at their rampant best. Title winning teams do so.

A frustrating clash with Norwich City, fighting for their lives, looked to be heading for a goalless draw.

Until Leonardo Ulloa nodded a last gasp winner to keep the feel-good dream alive, opening up a five point gap at the summit.

Today, Leicester proved their title credentials. Much to the annoyance of North London, with both Arsenal and Tottenham fans left gutted.

It took Norwich City to concede in the last minute at Leicester to briefly unite North London into venting their frustration at the East Anglia outfit.

Football, eh?

Oh, we should also mention the buzz created by the Foxes. Twitter appears to behind them all the way now, for the most part anyway.

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“You mention Bryan Robson: that’s the player I’d like to think he could become” were the words used by England manager Roy Hodgson before his side’s emphatic 3-2 win over Germany last weekend.

Who was he talking about? Dele Alli of course, the youngster that has taken both the Premier League and world by storm in his debut season for Tottenham Hotspur.

He helped England to a famous 3-2 victory over Germany last weekend and his displays have been part of Spurs’ rise to second in the league, with the title still in sight.

His rapid development has been extraordinary. He has gone from playing in front of 12,000 at MK Dons to the bookmakers’ favourite for this year’s PFA Young Player of the Year award. He’s gone from a holding midfielder to being able to play wide, or in a more attacking berth, which has led some to dispute where his best position actually is. Versatility is fantastic at such a young age.

He could perhaps be that box-to-box midfielder England have missed for years, but it’s unquestionable that he has all-round ability. He’s got good vision and can score goals too, an extremely desirable asset for a midfielder in this day and age. He’s only 19, too.

For Spurs, Champions League qualification looks on the cards and that is a major plus point when the inevitable transfer rumours begin in the summer. Make no mistake about it, Europe’s big guns will be on the prowl.

Four Spurs players made the cut for the England game against Germany, and with the quartet performing so strongly, it seems like the ideal environment for Alli to continue nurturing his game. It’s nothing but an advantage for England if they can carry on playing so well in the league – the form will surely translate to the national team.

People must remember that Alli is only a teenager and that he’s only been in the ‘big-time’ for one season. He needs to continue his development in as calm a way as possible and in the future, England can turn him into the big player that many expect him to be.

He has another four of five years of growing physically and mentally as a player, but he needs to mature quickly. Being thrown onto football’s biggest stage at such an early stage in your career can be either extremely positive or very destructive. There are many players that get to Alli’s stage and end up throwing it away because they believe in their own hype.

Alli needs to be a footballer that realises his potential and genuine quality, but also understands that hard work and what happens on the pitch will be what takes him forward.

Both Spurs and England have a long way to go with the youngster. But it’s extremely clear that he can be an asset to both in years to come.

Keep your head down Dele, and good things will happen.

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What can you say about Arsenal’s season? Unlucky or just plain predictable?

We are approaching the last weeks of the season and Arsenal are in the battle for top four rather than the title… as it’s usually been in the second half of Arsene Wenger’s reign. Three Premier League titles, six FA Cups paints a picture of success, but the latter competition has lost the importance of yesteryear, while the last success in the former was over a decade ago.

The league and Champions League are where elite clubs are measured, and the last time Arsenal approached April and May as serious contenders was in 2004, when they went unbeaten. Since 2006, there has been a move towards a less physical, more technical style of play in hope that the rest of the league would follow suit.

However, this season has shown physicality is needed more than ever, with Arsenal’s north London rivals displaying a more aggressive, pressing style which is attracting admirers. 4-2-3-1 is slowly being phased out with a more progressive 2-3-5 system slowly coming into the Premier League with Guardiola being a fan of this system at Bayern.

So where does this leave Wenger? Does he adapt with the times or hope that his system bears fruit come next season? This should worry Arsenal fans:

“The physical levels of teams has gone up and tactical knowledge of defending has gone up. Players who do not contribute to team work are kicked out everywhere.

“Then you go two ways: you say look that doesn’t work any more so we have to change our style, and I wish you good luck when you kick the ball anywhere after people have seen good football for 10-15 years, or you say we have analysed well where we are not efficient enough and we do better with the style we play”.

Next year will be so competitive, with top managers such as Guardiola, Antonio Conte and possibly even Jose Mourinho coming into the league, while the new TV money will give clubs like Leicester, West Ham and Tottenham a fighting chance to progress, so top four will not be a given next year for the Gunners, let alone the title.

Mark my words, this is a turning point for Wenger. Will he let perhaps his final year as Arsenal boss be remembered for the first half of his reign or second? Unless he adapts to the new surroundings it seems unlikely to change.

This article was submitted via our new Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and make sure you follow @FFC_WFU on Twitter for #RealOpinions…

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1996-2005: 1st/2nd

2006-present: 3rd/4th

So what are you complaining about Arsenal fans? We get into the Champions League every year and we had to pay off the bills for our new stadium in that time. That’s the official line from the club and Arsene Wenger who blamed the fans for creating a “difficult climate” during home games. Well Arsene, I hate to be the person to tell you this, but the majority of fans are fed up with the usual jam.

Saturday’s match against Norwich was the sideshow to a mass protest conducted by RedAction, the Arsenal Supporter’s Trust and the Black Scarf Movement over the glorious failure of this season and how obvious lessons are not being learnt.

The same issues surrounding the squad in 2008 are in this team presently – the lack of leaders, naivety and indiscipline, and what’s worse is the probability that these same issues are unaddressed next season while Wenger’s still at the helm. There seems to be a reluctance to bring big characters into the dressing room from Wenger, who seems content with ‘nice guy’ players that all get along, but when it’s time to battle they’re not up to the fight. The game against Leicester City at home this season epitomises the character of this team, as a last minute Danny Welbeck winner signalled celebrations of a World Cup triumph. The players then rushed to the crowd to enjoy the jubilation and ended the night with a customary selfie. That victory didn’t put Arsenal 10 or 20 points in front by the way, it only put them two points behind the leaders.

Flash forward two months and Arsenal have been dumped out of the FA Cup at home to Watford and thrashed home and away by Barcelona – who both got eliminated in the next round of their respective competitions. Their title charge ended after an uninspiring 0-0 draw with Sunderland and the pressure is really on Wenger. How can he justify losing the title to Leicester? By blaming everyone else obviously, “we are accused the most, but we beat Leicester twice”. So the other 18 teams should take a long, hard look at themselves for handing the title to Leicester, forgetting the fact that Arsenal have been beaten seven times this season.

The fans’ reaction to the inevitability of this season’s outcome should worry the Arsenal board as the sentiment towards Arsenal’s most successful manager is weakening day-by-day. Across Twitter, the vile comments written about him are shocking and there is a growing number of supporters wanting a change of approach. After every defeat, there is a meltdown on all social media platforms and radio stations with fans increasingly frustrated. From the outside looking in it looks over the top, but once you speak with them you can see the lack of trust they have with the manager and how some even expect repetitive failures to occur.

The manager seems to determined to see out his contract, as he has always done throughout his career, but with every passing moment those early achievements from 1998-2005 are being eroded by this feeling of perennial failure. I put it to you, Gooners, which Arsene Wenger will you remember? The trophy-hunter from 1998-2005? Or the stubborn Wenger from 2006 onwards? Sadly I know my answer.

This article was submitted via our new Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and make sure you follow @FFC_WFU on Twitter for #RealOpinions…

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The loss of Ronald Koeman, despite his wonderful period at the club, is just a drop in the ocean for Southampton.

A club that has sadly become accustomed to losing managers, players and even club heroes as soon as they begin to build a bond will surely bounce on from this setback as they did from the losses of Pochettino, Lallana and Schneiderlin.

A magnificently run football club, Southampton are an excellent example to the rest of European football and tend to get their recruitment, of both coaching and playing staff, absolutely spot on.

The new manager is going to have some task when he arrives, mind. Ronald Koeman will likely be sniffing around to sign his former players, even before some of the clubs with the token of European football begin to lure some of Saints’ stars away.

Summer is not always a dream for Southampton, the poor folks on the south coast.

Whatever happens, they must keep these FIVE…

Virgil van Dijk

Van Dijk was one of the supreme central defenders last season, as he displayed the full array of defensive skills out of possession and proved himself as a gifted ball-player when on the ball.

A certain upgrade on Dejan Lovren, Van Dijk will be a target for many clubs this summer and it’s easy to understand.

Any player who can play the simple defensive parts of the game as well as spray the ball across the pitch is going to be much-desired in modern football.

Sadio Mane

Mane scored 11 goals last season, but his continued inconsistencies in form, often associated with transfer windows it seems, are a concern.

Southampton, depending on who is named the new manager, might just be open to selling on the forward if they can generate a fee sizeable enough to sign a quality replacement.

His terrifying pace makes him a constant threat and nicely complements Pelle.

Ryan Bertrand

Bertrand is, for a lot of people, very unlucky not to be starting for England at this summer’s European Championships.

Often playing as a third centre-back this season, Bertrand is a reliable defender in the defensive third and can provide intelligent movement in the attacking third.

English players are always demanded by the top Premier League clubs and Bertrand could be subject to a few offers for that very reason.

Victor Wanyama

Wanyama is often reported to be a target for other Premier League clubs but it looks as though Tottenham are going to make serious moves for the Kenyan.

Although a move now looks very likely to go through, one would hope that it is still possible to stunt a possible transfer and retain the defensive midfielder for next season.

Often the lynch pin of the side, Wanyama completed more tackles per 90 than any other Saints player last season.

Graziano Pelle

The club’s joint-top scorer last season, Pelle is sure to attract some attention next season.

Having boosted his career in Eredivisie, Pelle is at risk of doing the same with the Italian national team as he continues to star for them at this summer’s Euros.

The limitations in his game have to be accepted, of course, but that won’t necessarily restrict the interest in the towering centre forward.

It’s been a summer of real change at Anfield and for the first time since his arrival at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has had the chance to bring in the players he wishes to work with as the season gets underway this summer.

He hasn’t hesitated either and has made some huge statements going forward, suggesting that his side aren’t just here to make up the numbers in the Premier League this season.

But standing in Liverpool’s way to start with is Arsenal, and it is set to be a tough game for both sides, who will want strong starts.

So with so many new players at the club, who will start the game for the Reds? Will it be a case of relying on the old, or throwing the new in at the deep end?

With all this in mind, here’s our Liverpool starting XI that could beat Arsenal in their Premier League opener, lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation…

GK: Loris Karius

A tough choice to get things underway as there will be a real battle for the goalkeeping jersey this season.

New signing Loris Karius is likely to get the nod ahead of Simon Mignolet, quite simply because he is a Jurgen Klopp signing. It will be interesting to see how the former Bundesliga defender gets on in the Premier League, compared to in his native Germany.

RB: Nathaiel Clyne

A pretty easy option for this slot and we expect Nathaniel Clyne to fill it for the majority of the season as long as injuries stay away.

He’s proved himself to be one of the most attacking full-backs in the Premier League and he gives Liverpool a real outlet going down the right hand side. Expect another strong season from the former Southampton man.

CB: Mamadou Sakho

Mamadou Sakho will want to put a difficult few months behind him as Liverpool begin their new Premier League season this weekend.

The French defender is probably Liverpool’s most senior and experienced defender ahead of the new campaign and he is expected to play a big role for the Reds this season.

He’s a rock at the back and is an extremely reliable option for Klopp going forward.

CB: Joel Matip

We’ve gone with Joel Matip as Sakho’s opening day defensive partner, which might surprise some Reds supporters.

Ragnar Klavan has also been brought in this summer but we feel that Matip is a more positive and exciting choice than the Estonian international. He’d been a prominent figure for former club Schalke for the past seven seasons and he should be a steady choice at centre-halve.

LB: Alberto Moreno

Perhaps one of the weaker areas of the Liverpool team, Jurgen Klopp will be pretty reliant on a strong start from Alberto Moreno this season. He has few options in this area of the pitch after allowing Jose Enrique to leave earlier this summer so it will be down to Moreno to keep things steady on the left-hand side.

He loves getting forward and did well last year- there could be far worse options for the Reds.

CDM: Emre Can

The German defender-cum-midfielder has been a fantastic addition to the Liverpool side since moving to the side from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2014 and we expect him to hold down this position for the majority of the season.

He’s a powerful, pacy option to have in the middle of the park and he’s only going to get better.

CDM: Jordan Henderson

Another pretty simple choice, Liverpool’s captain Jordan Henderson will start this one alongside Emre Can.

After a solid pre-season which saw the Reds beat Barcelona 4-0, Liverpool fans will have been happy to see Henderson playing well from the off. He’ll be the heartbeat of the team from the middle of the park and as we’ve already seen, he’ll have to lift the team when the going gets tough.

RM/RW: Sadio Mane

One of the biggest signings in the Premier League this summer, Jurgen Klopp will be keen to see his new winger get off to a good start against the Gunners.

The former Southampton man will bring a direct approach to Liverpool’s wing and Reds’ supporters will hope he can start with a bang this weekend.

He’s looked sharp in pre-season and it will be interesting to see what type of player he turns into under Klopp.

CAM/CF: Roberto Firmino

Another pretty standard choice this one as many Reds supporters expect him to be a massive player again for the team this season.

Firmino, who actually struggled to make an impact at the start of his Liverpool career has really come into his own and now carries the team at times, with his creativity and imagination at the heart of the forward line.

If he has another strong season then Liverpool can do well this season.

ST: Daniel Sturridge

A tough choice between Sturridge and Origi but on this occasion we’ve gone with the former Chelsea man. Origi will get his chance after finishing last season so strongly but Sturridge’s experience at this level gives him the advantage this time round.

As we know, when he’s in-form he’s a really tough player to contain and his goals could decide how far Liverpool can go this season.

Needs to stay injury free.

West Ham are currently showing the world how not to move in to a new stadium – poor performances, poor stewarding and trouble in the stands are just about all things you want to avoid when moving to an impressive new arena.

The beginning of 16/17 has been nothing short of a disaster for the Hammers, both on and off the pitch, and Slaven Bilic’s side look a far cry from the one that almost secured a shock top four finish last term.

Granted, they’ve had their injury problems; Aaron Cresswell, Aurthur Masuaku, Andy Carroll and Andre Ayew have all been sidelined long term, which has seriously affected Bilic’s plans thus far.

Having lost five of their opening six games of the new Premier League season, West Ham are in desperate need of a victory and especially in front of their own fans at the London Stadium.

And given recent performances, Slaven Bilic will need to make a few changes to have a better chance of victory against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

So, with three key changes in mind, here’s the XI Bilic should pick to face Aitor Karanka’s men…

Goalkeeper

Adrian was an impressive figure between the sticks for the Hammers last term but such form has not been on display so far this season.

Some would say he kept the score down to just 3-0 when Southampton came to London and ran riot last week, but you can’t hide the fact Adrian has still conceded 11 in the last three games – 16 in total already this term.

Darren Randolph is West Ham’s cup goalkeeper but has been impressive when called upon since signing on a free transfer last summer. Given Adrian’s recent form, it’s fair to say Randolph deserves the gloves moving forward.

Defenders

It was a surprise to see Sam Byram on the bench against Southampton, with defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit preferred at right-back.

That decision suggests Bilic doesn’t have full faith in Byram but he will have to rethink that against Middlesbrough, following his side’s poor defensive showing in recent weeks.

Alvaro Arbeloa didn’t play badly against Southampton and should continue at left-back this week, while Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna form West Ham’s strongest central defensive partnership.

Midfielders

There have been calls to drop captain Mark Noble this season, which is no surprise given the Hammers’ poor performances.

Some fans have questioned Noble’s ability to lead the team through difficult times, but his relationship with Bilic is strong and there’s just no way he’ll be demoted to the bench. Dropping the captain will do nothing to help improve squad morale and it could make things worse.

Question marks have also been raised over Cheikhou Kouyate. He hasn’t been as dominating in midfield this season but he should be given more licence to go forward against Middlesbrough, allowing Noble to sit and hold.

The three players behind the striker pick themselves. Michail Antonio is currently the Premier League’s highest scorer with five goals, while Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini’s partnership was a crucial part of the Hammers’ success last term.

Striker

Apart from the defence, West Ham’s biggest problem is up front.

Simone Zaza, on loan from Juventus, has done nothing to convince anyone that he is the 20-goal-a-season front man the club were publicly searching for during the summer. Jonathan Calleri is another on loan striker who has disappointed so far.

So while Diafra Sakho and Andy Carroll remain sidelined through injury, youngster Ashley Fletcher should be given a chance up front.

The former Manchester United academy product started in the Hammers’ 3-1 defeat to Manchester City earlier this season and impressed, and he has also looked dangerous in his five other first team appearances.

It’s fair to say Fletcher has done enough to warrant a start against Middlesbrough and that decision might just be the one that turns the club’s season around.

The formation…

http://lineupbuilder.com/350×500/?p=11&a=1&t=&c=700137&1=GK_1%20Randolph_1_388_174&2=DL_5%20Arbeloa_5_317_64&3=DCL_2%20Reid_2_327_138&4=DC_21%20Ogbonna_21_326_212&5=DR_22%20Byram_22_317_284&6=AL_27%20Payet_27_117_74&7=MC_8%20Kouyate_8_226_138&8=MC_16%20Noble%20%28C%29_16_239_200&9=AR_30%20Antonio_30_120_273&10=FC_24%20Fletcher_24_71_173&11=AC_10%20Lanzini_10_140_174&c2=12c0cc&c3=ffffff&output=embed

Slaven Bilic prefers a 4-2-3-1 formation and he’ll no doubt opt to stick with it, even during hard times.

The key is in the personnel changes here. Two changes in what has been a leaky defence – including the ‘keeper – might help prevent the overflow of goals being conceded, while a new striker who is eager to impress could start to get them going in at the other end.

Slaven Bilic said in his pre-match press conference that one win could turn West Ham’s season around – this should be the XI to ensure that happens.

Ross Barkley has stagnated at Everton and should have left the Merseyside club two years ago, according to ex-England international Rodney Marsh.The 22-year-old attacking midfielder established himself as a key member of the starting XI at Goodison ParkÂunder Roberto Martinez and enjoyed a stunning 2013/14 season.WANT MORE? >>ÂEverton Transfer NewsÂ|ÂLatest Transfer NewsThe England international’sÂform dipped a little in 2014/15 and he once again struggled through last season, but he’s featured regularly thus far for fresh managerial appointment Ronald Koeman.However, he was dramatically substituted at half-time during Everton’s 3-0 battering of Sunderland on Monday night, with the scoreline still at 0-0.And commenting on Barkley’s situation, Marsh, who won nine caps as an England player, gave his verdict, claiming the exciting youngster has “lost his wayâ€:“Two years ago Ross Barkley was one of the brightest young stars around. No more…..should have left EFC then.”Lost his way. Spends most of his time in the middle third. Needs to be at the sharp end to do damage…”

Barkley has been a regular in the England squad over the course of the past few years – he was taken to both the 2014 World Cup and EURO 2016 – but Sam Allardyce overlooked the playmaking midfielderÂfor his first game in charge of the Three LionsÂagainst Slovakia earlier this month.

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