All posts by h79snht.top

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has given Crewe a pleasant side-track to a promising return to League One football this season and on Tuesday night, the lower league competition saw Gresty Road stage the northern section semi-final with Bradford City. The Bantams sit just outside the play-off places in League Two and have beaten Wigan, Arsenal and Aston Villa of the Premier League in a remarkable League Cup journey that has them ninety minutes, and a 3-1 lead over the Villians, away from Wembley.

After last week’s heroics over Villa, Bradford were back in the more modest surroundings of a below-freezing night in Crewe but Phil Parkinson’s side travelled down with a cup pedigree that promised to make this a very tough tie even with the squad changes, eight in total, that is likely to land the Yorkshire club a FA fine. Parkinson has bigger occasions possibly awaiting on the horizon however, the chance to enter themselves in League Cup folklore likely to only be secondary to the quest to climb out of the fourth tier, something their long-suffering fans have waited five years to achieve. The JPT was arguably third on their list of priorities and Parkinson rang the changes logically despite an awaiting financial penalty.

Crewe manager Steve Davis also made changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Leyton Orient. In came Ajay Leitch-Smith and Harry Davis for Max Clayton and Mark Ellis, whilst in goal Alan Martin replaced Steve Phillips whose error contributed to Orient’s opener at Brisbane Road on Saturday. That Lee Cook strike was all the Londoners had to show for an opening 35 minutes of domination however and Crewe managed to draw level through Byron Moore just before half-time. The second period, in which the visitors could have stole victory as Ellis, Clayton and Bradden Inman all had chances, saw improvement though the overriding feeling was the Alex had been lucky to escape from the capital with a point when a second successive defeat, after the substandard display against Stevenage the week before, seemed likely in the opening stages.

Despite a steady run of results, it is still only two defeats in nine league games, the standard of performances has began to suffer and the JPT, with it being secondary to domestic form, gave Davis a chance to tweak the side in order to arrest the slide that had been creeping in. Bradford’s heavily rotated team started the game very well however, obviously instructed by their manager to press and unsettle Crewe’s habit of moving the ball on the ground. The match became tight and fragmented as a result, the home side were making mistakes on a frosty pitch and Kyel Reid sent a long range effort fizzing through goalkeeper Alan Martin to give the away side the lead. In a match where chances were sparse, it was a goal that predictably came from nothing.

It was hard to see, from a Crewe point of view, where an equaliser would come from. Leitch-Smith appeared rusty in making his first start since the start of October after a long injury absence, Mathias Pogba struggled alongside him and the midfield of Luke Murphy and Abdul Osman were failing to cope with Bradford’s close attention of the duo in order to prevent their regular passing game. The disjointed performance was worrying until Byron Moore was allowed to run at an isolated Ryan Dickson on the right to loop a strike over goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin via a Nathan Doyle deflection. Pogba and Inman went close immediately after as Crewe finished a poor first half strongly, but the interval was welcome with the scoreline level.

The break seemed to galvanise the home side as they emerged brightly. Inman, continuing to impress on loan from Newcastle, broke free on the left to hit a shot that McLaughlin tipped over before Doyle and Dickinson combined to deny first Matt Tootle and then Moore with two desperate blocks. Despite the Crewe pressure, Bradford always had a threat on the counter-attack with the constant running of Blair Turgott and goalscorer Reid. Parkinson brought on highly rated striker Nakhi Wells and winger Zavon Hines as he tried to relieve some of the pressure building on his team. Davis responded by withdrawing Leitch-Smith and Pogba for Max Clayton and Chuks Aneke.

Those substitutions proved to be the catalyst for Crewe’s eventual victory as Aneke and Clayton combined for a move that culminated in the latter meeting a cross from the superb Byron Moore to direct a diving header past the helpless McLaughlin. From then it was one-way traffic; Inman was denied again by Bradford’s busy ‘keeper, Clayton had another diving header disallowed for offside just after Aneke sent a shot narrowly wide. The impact of the Arsenal loanee, so often frustratingly lethargic and ineffective, was game-changing and he sent Inman racing away to finally mark his influential display with a cool finish. Aneke finished things off with an emphatic half volley after a neat lay-off by Clayton.

The late goal glut made the score more one-sided than the game itself however and there will be still some concern about the standard of Crewe performance before Davis turned to his bench. The impact made by Aneke and Clayton however, plus the decent contribution maid by Leitch-Smith as he continues his rehabilitation from injury, will give the manager a lot of options as he prepares for the visit of MK Dons on Saturday. Coventry lie in wait in the northern area final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy but that tie will wait until February as the league will reclaim the focus in the meantime, one hopes that Davis will take the momentum gained from the competition in order to get Crewe back on track in League One.

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You can follow me on Twitter @AdamGray1250

The cries of “he’s just too good for you” were once reserved solely for Adel Taarabt, but now these words are inspired by a young star at Crystal Palace, whose recent performances have seen him tear through Championship defences as the club surges up the table.

Wilfried Zaha is the latest extraordinary talent to have emerged from the exceptional youth academy at Crystal Palace. At just 19 years of age he has already made a home for himself in the heart of the supporters with the pace, flair and eye for goal that define football as one of the most breathtaking and entertaining sports in the world.

His newfound prolific nature in front of goal has all but confirmed suspicions that he possesses all the attributes required to succeed at the highest level but while a move to the Premier League may be inevitable, it might not be as forthcoming as the nation’s tabloids would have you believe.

Crystal Palace may not be able to boast the same history, stature or financial arsenal as rival teams around the country but the club beautifully illustrate the benefits of promoting a family atmosphere and the local community. As a result the fans share a genuine sense of belonging and in a strange way the process of administration has been a blessing in disguise. How many clubs in English football can claim they’re happy or even inspired by their current manager and chairman combination?

The current youth set-up is littered with ‘local lads’ that are well aware of a realistic path to the first-team, especially now the club is renowned for providing a stage for young players to flourish. The new financial regulations of the EPPP will see the Premier League vultures become a prominent feature at clubs like Crystal Palace and so it’s vital that they maintain this ethos and continue to enhance their positive learning environment.

In 2010 Bromley-born centre-back Ryan Inniss rose to fame when he captained the England U’16’s to victory in both the Victory Shield and the Montaigu Tournament in France. However, despite a concrete offer from Manchester City, Inniss turned down a bumper pay pocket in favour of signing a professional contract at Crystal Palace. His decision highlights a refreshing display of maturity and one that will hopefully be replicated in the future.

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In the case of Wilfried Zaha, both he and manager Dougie Freedman have worked closely in various capacities over the past five years. Zaha recently revealed that he misses South London when he’s away on international duty, an admission that not only highlights his affinity with club but also the fact he’s not quite ready for the next stage in his career. Freedman’s legendary status at the club coupled with his playing career as a striker means he is the prime candidate to help Zaha fulfil his potential. An opinion Freedman also appears to share:

“The arrangement I’ve got with the club is that I will let Wilfried and his family know when I can’t develop him any longer – and I will also let them know which club for him to go to.” (Croydon Today)

On the outside this statement may be perceived as the customary stubborn and ignorant attempts to hold onto the club’s prized asset, but it’s clear that there is a mutual respect and affection between the key trio of club, manager and the player. The modern sacking culture in football means such long-term and rewarding relationships are an increasing rarity, which is perhaps the reason why so many players are easily lured away with financial incentives and misleading promises.

In recent times we’ve witnessed promising strikers Marvin Sordell and Connor Wickham struggle to adapt to life in the top flight after seemingly outgrowing the Championship. The pressure and expectation of such high-profile moves coupled with a drastically reduced playing time means their development has been bought to a rapid halt.

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To put their respective downfalls into perspective, Sordell managed just three substitute appearances in the second half of Bolton’s relegation season and has notched up just one goal this year in the Championship. Wickham has also only managed a solitary goal for his new club but has yet to clock up a single minute under Martin O’Neill this season, which is remarkable considering their demoralising stats in front of goal.

Zaha need only be reminded of former academy graduates John Bostock, Tom Soares and even Wayne Routledge to understand the perils of moving on too soon. He should look to learn from Nathaniel Clyne, who agreed to sign for Southampton last summer despite reported interest from Newcastle and Manchester United. Clyne is now playing first-team football for a team in the Premier League that endorses an attractive brand of football. As a result he has continued to prosper and has surely established the perfect platform for him to achieve the next step-up.

I hope that the future transfer of Wilfried Zaha provides a turning point that sees youngsters trust their club with the timing, fee and destination of any potential move onwards and upwards. It’s imperative that they join a team with a similar playing philosophy that can offer a regular first-team role rather than a few extra zeros on their wage packet. If the next generation of stars are to fulfil their potential then it remains clear that they should keep their eye on the ball rather than their bank balance.

Manchester United have wasted little time this summer, completing two major deals for Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera in the past week. It’s been a complete contrast to the shambles of last year’s transfer period, which only Marouane Fellaini arrive before the deadline.

It’s a massive step in the right direction for the club, even if the size of the transfer fees cause a little discomfort. Both Herrera and Shaw are considered among the most talented in their respective positions and United are set to benefit from both for the next decade at least.

But the recruitment isn’t done yet, with a couple of other areas of the pitch in desperate need of attention. There’s still plenty of cash left in this summer’s budget, which started at £200 million.

Following the capture of Shaw and Herrera, here are five players who could follow them to United.

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Arturo Vidal

Manchester United have reportedly kicked the tires on a deal for Arturo Vidal, with Juventus said to have placed a price tag of over £40 million on the Chilean international.

United were recently linked with a move for Bastian Schweinsteiger, but Vidal would make much more sense at this stage. Both players are equally versatile, able to carry out multiple roles in the midfield. But Schweinsteiger has a recent history of injury problems and, being 29, doesn’t have as long a Vidal at the top of the game.

Vidal is exactly what United need in the midfield to complement new signing Ander Herrera. Even with the signings of the former Bilbao midfielder and Luke Shaw, there should be more than enough left to make a serious move for the Juventus midfielder.

Thomas Vermaelen

There are conflicting reports on this one, but logic suggests Thomas Vermaelen will play for Manchester United next season.

The Arsenal captain has struggled for games at the Emirates and sees a move to Old Trafford as an opportunity to kick start his career. United could possibly buy two centre-backs this summer, with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling struggling with both inconsistency and injury. Vermaelen, in that event, would be seen as the cheaper, experienced addition.

If he can get back to his best, the Belgian international would be a very good signing for United.

Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba to Manchester United seems hugely unlikely after the events of his departure in 2012, but you never know in football.

The French international is reportedly wanted by clubs throughout Europe, with two fantastic seasons with Juventus behind him and a World Cup which he’s been one of the stars. Pogba very much looks set to become one of the modern greats of the game, able to do it all in the midfield.

Juventus reportedly want £60 million for the young Frenchman, a mammoth fee considering United allowed him to walk for nothing. But the upside is clear, and £60 million for one of Europe’s absolute best must be tempting for a club in United’s position.

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Kevin Strootman

Kevin Strootman has been forced to miss out on the World Cup with the Netherlands due to injury, but he’s certainly not away from the transfer mill, with Manchester United still said to be eyeing a move for the Roma midfielder.

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Strootman is one of the few midfielders in Europe who would be seen as the perfect signing after United’s acquisition of Ander Herrera. The two would appear to be the perfect tandem in the centre of the pitch.

But Roma are putting up a fight, knowing full well the worth of their player and that the best is yet to come. United made a sizeable mistake in passing on Strootman last summer, and any transfer this year will be far more costly than the £14 million PSV received from Roma.

William Carvalho

Sporting’s William Carvalho remains a target for Manchester United, with officials said to be on the continent in order to negotiate a deal for the midfielder.

Carvalho has attracted attention from across Europe, but United’s need is obvious, with the Portuguese international touted as one of the brightest defensive midfielders in the game.

He’d come at a high price, though, with Sporting placing a price of £37 million on the youngster. But United have the means to get this deal done, and under the guidance of Louis van Gaal, Carvalho could become a star at Old Trafford.

Liverpool look set to clinch the signing of Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge just as soon as the January transfer window reopens, but given the question marks over his temperament, his fluctuating form recently and the size of the fee required to secure his signature, are the club taking a big risk on the England international?

Brendan Rodgers moved to deny the suggestion that any move for Sturridge was hinging on the condition that the 23-year-old be assured of a central striking role in the side, and with Luis Suarez doing so well there at the minute, while there is an obvious need for more strength in depth up top and out wide, the starting eleven is doing reasonably well without him at the moment.

The reports linking Sturridge with such ludicrous demands are part and parcel of the game, especially at this time of the year when the preamble to January leaves the media with little in the way of concrete news to report on with regards to transfers, but the fact that it was believed by some just serves to highlight the reputation that the player has garnered for himself in recent times.

The company line is that if Sturridge was half as good as he thinks he is then he would be some player, but question marks are often raised concerning his mentality, with many quick to write him off solely down to his character. As far as I can tell, while he is clearly far too selfish at times in certain situations, there’s little evidence of this so-called debilitating arrogance that many use as a stick to beat him with. Of course, that is not to say that he isn’t arrogant, but show me a centre-forward that isn’t.

So far, the deal which looks pretty much complete and will see the Merseyside club fork out the best part of £12m for their man having already completed a medical in advance of the window, even if the switch has been met with a lukewarm response by fans. The general feeling is that while he can occasionally be a dangerous player, that he lacks consistency and that the fee is somewhat inflated due to his status as an Englishman with a bit of talent.

His ego has routinely been cited as a reason for his lack of effectiveness under Roberto Di Matteo and Carlo Ancelotti at Stamford Bridge, but there are just as many reasons to be optimistic that his move could be a success at Anfield and just the ticket for Rodgers young and hungry side.

His six-month loan spell at Bolton back in 2010-11 saw Sturridge torment defenders with his pace and ability to beat a man in a one-on-one situation to the tune of eight goals in 12 appearances, all largely coming from a central position, further backing up his protestations that much like Theo Walcott, while he is capable of playing out wide on the wing, he’s best utilised through the middle.

His return to Stamford Bridge saw him flourish in a wide left position as part of a front three under Andre Villas-Boas, but his form tailed off due to a lack of a clearly defined role under Di Matteo and he became more and more marginalised, eventually missing out on England’s Euro 2012 squad, something which seemed extremely unlikely just a few short months earlier. His two goals for Team GB at this summer’s Olympic Games, though, gave further proof that there is clearly something there in Sturridge worth pursuing.

It’s no coincidence that the two times that Sturridge has been afforded an assured first-team place and a regular starting berth in the top flight that he’s performed very well and been consistent, if a little frustrating at times in front of goal. While allegations of his arrogance may be lazily flung in his direction, there is clearly an element of self-doubt in him that in order to perform to the best of his abilities, that he needs to be made to feel loved. He will no doubt get both at Liverpool.

That is not to say that he’s been unfairly treated at Chelsea, for his performances since the turn of the year haven’t really merited anything other than a bit-part role, but nobody seemed to suffer more from Villas-Boas’ sacking than him, with Di Matteo returning to the tried and tested old guard to see the club through a difficult period at the tunr of the year.

There’s been a considerable lack of progress from Sturridge in the last few months and his career has stalled in a similar way to that of Adam Johnson while he was at Manchester City, but a move to Sunderland looks to be slowly but surely changing that. He still has plenty left to prove despite having already played for two of the last three Premier League champions in his short career so far.

He has been casually labelled an egotist and it’s a tag that’s stuck much to his detriment, but Rodgers’ 4-3-3 system depends heavily on everyone in the side working hard off the ball to close down space and win it back quickly; any lack of effort in the second half of the season will likely earn him a stinging rebuke from his new boss just as it did with Stewart Downing earlier this season.

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His decision-making in the final third can at times be questionable, while there was a reason why Rodgers only wanted him on loan in the summer, with the size of the fee something of a gamble, but needs must and the lack of dependable striking talent in Liverpool’s threadbare squad necessitates a move for someone of Sturridge’s ilk; he is young, direct, versatile and pacy and he would appear to suit the formation and style of play well.

Moving to Anfield is hardly a pressure-free environment, but with expectations being dampened to such an extent that a top-eight finish will be seen as a decent achievement for the club this term, then the timing could suit Sturridge and there would be considerably less pressure on him to it the ground running right from the start, given his lack of playing time so far this season. He has it all still to prove, and while he’s undoubtedly a little on the pricey side, there is certainly a reason to suspect that he could prove a good purchase for Liverpool in both the long and short-term.

Manchester United kept their place at the top of the league last night after a scrappy 1-0 win over West Ham at Old Trafford, but they’ve struggled to get out of second gear for the most part this campaign and two of the main reasons responsible are the heavy rotation policy currently being used by Sir Alex Ferguson, along with the constant switches in formation, which are stopping the side from gaining any momentum.

Rotation is an essential tool in the modern game and when you can rest players to make sure they are at their optimum for future, more difficult challenges, you most certainly should, but there’s also an argument to be made that a settled side is more conducive to success.

The state of inertia which seems to have gripped the squad so far can be dated back to just after the 3-1 away win over Braga in the Champions League, and while certainly not at their best again, United qualified for the next round with four wins from four games as they established an unassailable lead at the top of the group.

In the very next game against Norwich, courtesy of an outstanding performance from John Ruddy in the home goal, United slumped to an embarrassing and somewhat avoidable 1-0 defeat, their third in the league already so far this campaign. The midfield pairing of Michael Carrick and Ryan Giggs kept the ball but moved it far too slowly to cause the organised Canaries any undue problems, while Javier Hernandez lacked both service and support up top to have any sort of impact.

The very next game, Hernandez was brought off the bench and involved in all three goals against Aston Villa as the side came back to win 3-2, a result which always had a certain air of inevitability about it, and bringing on the Mexican striker was hailed as some sort of masterstroke and the topic of ‘super subs’ once dominated the week’s news along with Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko, completely ignoring that Ferguson has mismanaged him two games on the bounce. Meanwhile, the constant chopping and changing between Anders Lindegaard and David De Gea in goal is truly baffling and isn’t helping either player’s form or confidence.

The main problem that the side have had this season is going behind early in games, something they have suffered in 13 of their 21 matches across all competitions so far to date. They’ve also kept just three clean sheets in their 14 league outings, the third of which came courtesy of a fine defensive performance against West Ham, with both Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans superb.

Nevertheless, that is the exception rather than the rule this term and both of their title rivals – Manchester City and Chelsea – have kept six clean sheets in the league. The amount of times that they can continue to be bailed out be a fantastic and diverse forward line is not infinite and they must learn from their mistakes and where they keep going wrong.

The lack of form of several players in key areas right through the side appears to have been a motivating factor in the constant switches from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 formation, while the midfield diamond system keeps making an appearance every so often, which all just helps to cover up the fact that United have an unbalanced, top-heavy squad, with very few central midfielders of genuine quality, so much so that it’s taking them three or four to control a game these days.

That Brazilian midfielder Anderson has been hailed in many quarters as enjoying something of a revival, off the back of a 15-minute cameo against QPR and a admittedly good display against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup defeat at Stamford Bridge says it all. He, along with Carrick and Tom Cleverley (does he have an actual position yet?) started against West Ham and by and large controlled the midfield, but they offered little in attack and while they shielded the back four well at times, Ferguson is still finding it tricky to compensate and get the right balance.

Of course, the switch to a 4-3-3 can be seen as little more than an admittance of the fact that the side have only one genuinely consistent winger in Antonio Valencia. Both Ashley Young and Nani are capable of producing moments of magic, the latter has made a career out of said ‘moments’, but from one game to the next, Ferguson has literally no idea what sort of performance he’s going to get from them and the answer has been to play three in the middle apparently, which has seen Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney come deep in search of the ball and occupying very similar areas, meaning the side carries less threat when playing three up top should mean more.

Against QPR, Ferguson simply got it wrong again and starting Danny Welbeck in an auxiliary left wing berth with Fletcher and Scholes in the middle and Young on he right left them short of inspiration and unable to make their possession count. The eight-minute spell aside, where they plundered three goals, neatly displaying what the side are capable with the right formula in the process, they were far from their best. A better and more confident team than the side currently found propping up the table would have made them pay, and they’ve struggled to produce a performance across the entire 90 minutes all season domestically.

We all know that United are traditionally slow-starters, and their success has allowed a degree of leniency towards this accepted fact, but why has nobody really asked ‘why does it keep happening, though?’ Their rivals, City haven’t been at their fluent best either yet, which is what makes it them so frustrating that they’re not cashing in when the teams that can challenge them are struggling.

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Ferguson seems incapable of addressing the problems in the side at the moment and in search of the answers, the needless tweaks to the side are doing more harm than good. There’s a hint of complacency about United this term, they don’t look nor feel like a team that can be champions, yet they sit at the top of the table, only serving to highlight that in terms of quality, the league is not at its strongest at the moment and that above all else, it’s really there for the taking if they can start to string some good displays together in sequence.

The 70-year-old Scot needs to find his best side, because at the moment I’m not entirely sure he knows what it is nor which formation they fit, and he needs to do it quickly, otherwise their stop-start nature around the busy festive period could come back to haunt them in May.

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Given his declaration that Manchester United can cope without a specialist defensive midfielder this season, there’s a sense that Sir Alex Ferguson is now eating his own words.

As the world awaited their first glimpse of Robin Van Persie in a United shirt on the first Monday Night Football of the season, the need for a new defensive shield became all the more evident on an eye opening night at Goodison Park.

Van Persie’s £24 million switch to Old Trafford has unquestionably captured the imagination of United fans desperate for their team to regain the supremacy relinquished to rivals Manchester City last season. But there are question marks over whether the money used to acquire the Holland striker should have been reinvested in impoverished areas of the squad considering the abundance of attacking talent already present at the club.

On the face of it, Ferguson’s decision to sign van Persie appears rash and a reaction to City’s last ditch Premier  League title triumph in May. There’s a feeling that the 70-year-old has overlooked a paucity in midfield and impulsively splurged a chunk of his budget on a player he believes will re-establish them as the dominant force in English football

That notion is strengthened given the unexpected revamp of United’s shape. With football still in the midst of a tactical evolution, prompted by Barcelona’s tiki-taka philosophy, Ferguson acted in accordance adopting a fashionable 4-2-3-1 as opposed to the trusted 4-4-2 that has brought him unprecedented success during 25 years at the Old Trafford reins.

The result of that deviation left an imbalance in the United midfield that the Red Devils’ chief has struggled to correct given his limited options and eagerness to accommodate new signing Shinji Kagawa into the starting eleven. His desire to mimic Barca’s methodology came at a cost though as his midfield were ruthlessly crushed by a vibrant Everton performance led by the imperious Marouane Fellaini.

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If the alarm bells weren’t already ringing in Ferguson’s ears by the time the Belgian had headed the Toffees into a second half lead, they should have been blaring at the final whistle. Having found himself forced to partner Michael Carrick alongside Nemanja Vidic (who was returning from a nine-month injury lay-off) in central defence on account of a crippling injury crisis, you’d imagine the inclusion of an anchor man would be an obvious pre-requisite.

But without the means of installing a layer of protection in front of the back four, Carrick and Vidic were terrorised by David Moyes’ men, in particular Fellaini, as they exploited the space afforded to them in and around the penalty area to great effect. It was an oversight on Ferguson’s part not to recognise that danger and take the necessary measures in sheltering Carrick and Vidic from a Merseyside pummelling with subsequent games against Southampton and Fulham only serving to emphasise the need for a specialist defensive midfielder.

Much was said about Ferguson’s decision to bring Paul Scholes out of retirement in January to fill a creative void in the midfield following his failed pursuit of Wesley Sneijder last summer. It appears as if history has repeated itself this year only although it’s highly unlikely the United boss will be sending an urgent SOS to Roy Keane like he did Scholes. But in prioritising the signing of van Persie he has overlooked a fatal flaw in his team that could have grave long-term ramifications.

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In a 4-4-2 he could get away without deploying a defensive midfielder but the change to a Barca style 4-2-3-1 necessitates the implementation of an anchor. Yet Ferguson continues to turn a blind eye opting for his central trio to be geared towards a possessional based game working from the mantra of ‘why win the ball back when we can keep it?’ In a similar strategy to the one applied by the Catalan giants, that sees Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi collectively share the ball-winning duties, Carrick, Scholes and Cleverley function as deep lying playmakers with the focus on utilising their keen reading of the game and intelligent positional play.

Although it could be argued that La Liga is an entirely different environment to the robust setting of the Premier League, several of the Red Devils’ rival clubs, including City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham, operate with a comparable framework accommodating both a tough tackling anchor man and a player competent in retaining possession. Needless to say you can’t hold it against Ferguson for attempting to instil a flexibility to his side through the use of modern tactical concepts as the game continues to evolve. However, against stronger opponents he will endure a greater punishment for deliberately ignoring the kink in his side that could prove to be the deciding factor in the pursuit of their top-flight crown.

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has stressed that veteran defender Jamie Carragher still has an important part to play in the club’s future.

The ageing centre-half has fallen behind Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in the Reds’ backline, but with the Dane and Martin Kelly struggling with injuries could be used by the Northern Irish coach more frequently.

Rodgers has reconfirmed the defender’s importance both on and off the pitch.

“He’s critical. The likes of Andre Wisdom look up so much to guys like Jamie Carragher,” Mirror Football quote Rodgers as saying.

“For them to be on the same field as him, and to learn from his experience and leadership qualities is very, very important.

“Sometimes as a coach, you can coach players, you can talk with them, you can educate them, but when they go out onto the field, if they’ve got top players around them that can also help them manage the game from the inside.

“Guys like Carra are top class at that and, for me, your young players are only as good as your senior players,” he concluded.

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Liverpool take on West Brom in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday night.

By Gareth McKnight

Blackburn Rovers, Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Wigan Athletic. These are all the teams from Lancashire and Merseyside, who have played in the Premier League in the last ten years. Hull City, Leeds United and Sheffield United. By contrast, these are the select few teams from Yorkshire and Humber who have played in the Premier League in the last ten years.

This is staggering on two counts. Firstly, it is staggering when you consider that Yorkshire, by area at least, is the biggest county in England. So large in fact, that it has subsequently been broken up into sub-counties as a result. Secondly, it is also incredible because in Leeds and Sheffield, Yorkshire has two of the biggest cities in England by population.

All this has led me to ponder, what has and is going wrong with football in Yorkshire? In deliberating this question I asked a friend. To which he retorted, ‘it’s easy, Yorkshire has more rugby teams like Leeds Rhinos and Bradford Bulls.’ It was then I reeled off Wigan, St Helens, Widnes, Warrington etc.

And just to note this article is not an anti-Lancashire piece by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it is admirable that within the last ten years, so many Premier League teams have come from the north-west. But, as a Yorkshireman, it seems puzzling to me how in such a big county, especially a county that loves it football, how we have had such feeble representation when it comes to backing a top flight team.

This article seeks to simply consider some of the possibilities. The first one is this. It has been well documented that there are certain players in the Premier League, most notably London-based players, who are reluctant to leave their clubs, even though they are surplus to requirements at that club. For example, do players such as Sebastian Squillaci at Arsenal and Paulo Ferreira at Chelsea remain unwanted at their respective clubs for fear of leaving London? I would argue yes. And this made me wonder, do players simply not want to play in Yorkshire? Do players find the prospect of living in Barnsley, Leeds or Sheffield untenable? By comparison do cities such as Liverpool and Manchester represent a hub of activity for the top flight players?

Or, instead on focusing on what Yorkshire is doing wrong, maybe we can look to the north-west and be in ore of what they are doing right. I think there are two teams to thank in particular for the success of football in the north-west, Liverpool and Manchester United. And it boils down to the notion that success breeds success. It is so true. Both Liverpool and United, have pretty much monopolised the Premier League title honours for the past thirty years now. Within this period, the north-west has produced quality players such as Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard Jamie Carragher, the list goes on, of players who have all turned out to be legends at their respective clubs.

I think most people reading this article will remember the famous scene when adoring Leeds fans swarmed round Alan Smith, praising his loyalty to a failing cause. Smith was a Yorkshireman with great potential. He ultimately found the lure of Manchester United too great. Within this period Leeds produced two other fine young talents in Aaron Lennon and James Milner. They both have sought pastures new in London and Manchester.

One bitter and perhaps misguided argument would be to say that in the top four divisions in England, there are more teams from Lancashire and Merseyside, 17, than there are in Yorkshire and Humber, 10, and therefore the likelihood of having Premier League representation is greater. What a terrible argument people may think. What realistic chance do teams such as, and with all respect, Fleetwood, Morecambe and Rochdale have of playing in the top flight? Well the 1996-1997 campaign is a great example of how teams can make a meteoric rise through the leagues, as Wigan Athletic beat Fulham to the Division Three title that season, whilst Swansea City finished fifth.

A major indicator to success or failure in football is financial backing. The demise of Leeds United, invariably Yorkshire’s biggest club, occurred due to a complete over expenditure which led to the club in financial ruin. With the risk of picking on Wigan Athletic, they have shown over the past seven years that with sound financial backing, small teams can survive in the Premier League. Football Fancast’s Thomas Hallett wrote an article on ‘Do football fans really matter anymore’? For all that Leeds are a hugely supported club, because of their lack of major investment in the past ten years, they still lie a division below the likes of Wigan and Swansea.

Finally, maybe Yorkshire just hasn’t had that bit of luck. Sheffield United fans would argue that if it wasn’t for the Carlos Tevez affair, the following five years may have been so different.

These are just suggestions. Perhaps it is just complete chance that Yorkshire clubs haven’t been successful in recent years. Or maybe it is just sour grapes from a disappointed Yorkshireman?

Regardless, I would love to read about what people think about this so please leave a comment and give me your suggestions.

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Matt Read

follow me on twitter @Matt_of_the_day

The premier league have re-iterated their desire for Premier League teams to shake hands before a game, according to the Guardian.

This is despite anxieties over certain players refusing to shake hands with one another a succession of games in the Premier League this forthcoming September. The first match of concern is between Chelsea and QPR at Stamford Bridge on September 15th. It is though that Rangers’ defender Antonio Ferdinand will refuse to shake hands with Chelsea captain John Terry after the racist allegations made against Terry which resulted both men being embroiled in a dramatic court case over the summer.

The weekend after the West London derby is a clash between fierce rivals Liverpool and Manchester United. This rivalry was intensified even further at Old Trafford last season when Liverpool striker Luis Suarez refused to shake the hand of United defender Patrice Evra following a race row which resulted in Suarez picking up an eight match ban over the Christmas period.

In addition to this, the match between Chelsea and Manchester United on October 28th may cause even more controversy, when John Terry matches up against United defender and older brother of Anton, Rio Ferdinand. Rio is also thought to be angered by Chelsea defender Ashley Cole’s decision to testify in favour of his teammate Terry in court in July. As a consequence of this, Rio landed himself in hot water so the FA when he labelled Cole as a ‘choc-ice’ on the social networking site Twitter.

The Premier League introduced the handshake for the 2008/09 campaign as a goodwill gesture. However, it first attracted attention during a match between Chelsea and Manchester City in February 2010 when City defender Wayne Bridge refused to shake the hand of John Terry following Terry’s affair with Bridge’s wife.

Before the beginning of the season the Premier League did give its 20 member clubs the option of removing the pre-match ritual of the handshake. However, all clubs were unanimous in agreeing that it should remain.

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With the international break over (cheer or sigh depending your feelings towards the past two weeks) the Premier League roadshow is once again back in town and that means Fantasy Football returns!

The fiendishly addictive game will have us all scrambling for 3G signal while taking a strange interest in Crystal Palace v Burnley as we plot to overhaul our mates or continue the quest for office bragging rights.

Manchester United provide, perhaps, the most interesting challenge heading into the weekend following their transfer activity, and here is how you could take advantage of Louis van Gaal’s dealings…

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CLICK ON RADAMEL FALCAO TO REVEAL

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IN – Angel di Maria

Having broken the British transfer record and shown signs of promise during his debut at Burnley, Di Maria is likely to be a key cog in United’s XI against QPR on Sunday. The Argentine was La Liga’s top assist maker last season with Real Madrid and has shown in the past he knows where the goal is, making a points return feasible.

He may not come cheap, but Di Maria could become the focal point of your side and potential future captain material.

OUT – Juan Mata

With the raft of attacking additions at United it looks like one man could drop out just to ensure that LVG doesn’t have the most top-heavy team in Premier League history. Even though Mata has impressed so far in terms of points, his Dutch manager may be tempted to add more pace to his side and incorporate his own players, which could see the Spaniard drop out.

IN – Marcos Rojo

After finally being granted a work permit, Rojo looks set to slot into United’s backline in a bid to add some form of solidity. The Argentine was decent at the World Cup in a left wing-back role, and he has shown in the past with Sporting Lisbon that he can occupy a centre back position capably – which is where he could be used.

Rojo won’t break the bank and chances of keeping a clean sheet at home to QPR are relatively high.

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OUT – Tyler Blackett

For anyone who has been using Blackett as a cheap way into a big side’s backline, it may be the time to cut the youngster loose. With Rojo in and Jonny Evans back, the academy graduate’s short run in the first-team might be at an end. Blackett picked up a decent return at Burnley, but that may not be enough to keep him in LVG’s XI any longer.

IN – Radamel Falcao

Now back to the fun stuff. Falcao grabbed headlines on deadline day by completing a loan move from Monaco, and LVG may opt to throw him straight into the action on Sunday. If the Colombian’s record is anything to go by he will guarantee goals, with his spells at Atletico Madrid and Porto having garnered a return of nearly a goal a game! You’re looking at a Wayne Rooney or Sergio Aguero style price tag, but the South American may well be worth it.