Callum Chambers has backed former club Southampton to bounce back from their recent transfer set-backs following his move to Arsenal.
The 19-year-old defender became the fifth player to leave St Mary’s Stadium this summer as he completed a £16m switch to the Gunners last week, following club captain Adam Lallana, top scorer Rickie Lambert, defensive star Dejan Lovren and fellow teenage prodigy Luke Shaw.
The Saints have long been palsied for their academy set-up with Gareth Bale – the most expensive footballer on the planet – having originated from the Hampshire outfit’s ranks, while now Arsenal stars Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also players to have rolled off of the conveyor belt of talent on the South Coast.
WANT MORE? >> Arsenal transfer news | Southampton transfer news
With the bulk of the team that did so well last season having gone there is a feeling of pessimism surrounding Southampton at the moment, but Chambers feels that his old side will recover and produce even more top class stars:
“They have a great youth system, they’ll produce more players,” he is quoted by The Independent.
Chambers went on to say that, despite his young age, he feels ready to be at a big club like Arsenal:
“It has been a bit of a whirlwind for me. From under-21s to first-team football is such a big step. I think it is more mentally than physically challenging.
“I have managed to keep my feet on the ground and worked hard.
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“Every experience I got was such a good feeling to go out there and play against players of such quality. I just want to keep doing it more and more.”
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Former Liverpool chief Roy Evans is concerned that Mario Balotelli’s playing style may be having a negative impact on his team-mates.
The Reds swooped to land the enigmatic Italian in a £16m deal towards the end of the last transfer window as Brendan Rodgers looked to boost his attacking options after the sale of Luis Suarez.
Balotelli arrived with a reputation for his divisive nature off of the pitch and a perceived lack of effort on it, with many questioning the decision to bring him to Anfield.
WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news
After six games in the red shirt, the 24-year-old has just one goal to his name – which came against Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets Razgrad – and has been a key member of the Merseysiders’ underperforming first-team.
Now Evans has told talkSPORT that Balotelli’s languid style may be rubbing off on his team-mates:
“He has a way about him on the pitch that doesn’t exactly endear himself to everybody.” he said.
“Suarez was the opposite. He could light the game up and he could bring everybody along with him and they would put the same effort in as Suarez did.
“His [Balotelli’s] style of play and the way he lumbers though a game, maybe that is catching.”
Evans went on to say that Liverpool – who have seven points from their opening six Premier League fixtures – must buck up quickly to make this season a success:
“It is not just about last night’s game. It has been the same for more or less all season, except maybe for the Tottenham game and the Everton game at the weekend,
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“They have got to improve somewhere or it is going to be a poor season for them.”
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Manchester United fans will undoubtedly be left with a feeling of underwhelming bemusement after watching their side capitulate against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon, an eight-goal thriller which quickly demonstrated the flaws in Louis van Gaal’s summer transfer policy.
Indeed, the Red Devils found themselves two goals ahead with just 30 minutes remaining, but in one of the most sensational comebacks in recent Premier League history, they left the Walkers Stadium empty-handed as the home side recorded a stunning 5-3 victory.
United’s immense array of attacking talent was left bare for all to see. Radamal Falcao goalless but his quality intoxicating, Robin van Persie as clinical as ever, Wayne Rooney in close support and club-record signing Angel di Maria, who bagged United’s second after 16 minutes, running the show from midfield.
Yet, equally prevalent was their defensive frailties – a department that van Gaal struggled to strengthen during the summer.
New signing Marcos Rojo looked overwhelmed by pace and power of the Premier League, rookie Tyler Blackett, the eventual recipient of a red card, lacked the commanding velour and physical dominance expected of a 6 foot 2 top flight centre-back, whilst Chris Smalling, Johnny Evans (substituted after half an hour due to injury) and Rafael, despite their Premiership experience and prevailing longevity from past United regimes, all suffered similarly problematic afternoons.
Six competitive fixtures following a summer in which Louis van Gaal spent £150million on new players, including two hefty defeats to the Foxes and MK Dons, is it time to question the Dutchman’s attack-centric transfer policy?
Ever since his official ascension to the Old Trafford throne earlier this summer, the United boss has berated any journalist willing to listen regarding the importance of his philosophy. We already knew from his spells at Barcelona, Ajax and Bayern Munich that attacking football was a central pillar of the van Gaal ideology, and in that sense, the signings he’s made this summer have been the right ones.
They’ve certainly improved the Red Devils’ quality going forward, especially in midfield, by a drastic scale and although the Leicester City defeat is a worrying forbearer for the rest of the campaign, clearly surrendering results in that manner won’t happen on a weekly basis – United’s sharpness at the other end of the pitch however, boasting potent goal-scorers throughout the attack and midfield, will be a recurring theme.
Consider the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign for example. Oranje’s defence was amongst the most ordinary in the tournament but their 15 goals scored saw them reach the third-place play-off and was only bettered by Germany, gifted with the added courtesy of a 7-1 win over hosts Brazil. Van Gaal’s Netherlands side were also the highest-scoring country in the European qualifying rounds. Clearly, possessing teams with the capacity to provide a goal a minute, and from any area of the pitch, is essential to the United manager.
But there is an old adage in English football that teams must be built from the back rather than the front, and never has this rung more true at Old Trafford than in summer 2014.
The Red Devils parted with three defenders in the off-season that forged the bulk of their defence for the majority of the last decade. Between them, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Eva amassed 1134 appearances for Manchester United, claiming a collective 16 Premier League titles and 13 places in PFA Teams of the Season. That’s a monolithic amount of quality and experience to lose in the space of a single transfer window, and although I don’t necessarily believe it was the wrong decision to part company with any three of the ageing defenders, it’s left an enormous hole in United’s starting Xi that’s yet to be adequately filled.
Indeed, despite recording the second-most lucrative transfer window from any club in the history of football, only £46million of Louis van Gaal’s £150million spent this summer was devoted to defenders, a £30million swoop for Luke Shaw that appeared to be in place before the Dutchman turned up at Old Trafford and a £16million move for World Cup finalist Marcos Rojo. Even utility man Daley Blind, who won the Player of the Year award at Ajax last season for his performances in defensive midfield, looked dangerously progressive in that role against Leicester on Sunday.
David Moyes struggled to find a consistent partnership at centre-half last season and none of van Gaal’s signings have brough resolution. The Scot used six different players at centre-back last season, including Michael Carrick, and his successor has already given the nod to five, including two novices in Tyler Blackett and Michael Keane.
Consistency and understanding remain key issues; as any centre-back would willingly explain, only regular game-time together can bring the best out of partnerships. But the underlying, integral problem is a lack of leadership and organisation. The fact that Johnny Evans, just 26 and hardly considered a world-class centre-half, is now by far the oldest, most decorated and seasoned defender in United’s squad tells its own story.
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Louis van Gaal’s pursuit of Borussia Dortmund captain and World Cup winner Mats Hummels this summer was no hushed secret, and after failing to lure the German international to Old Trafford, clearly the United boss didn’t want to rush into deciding upon an alternative.
But that could soon prove incredibly costly. Although hefty defeats to the Premier League’s more rank and file sides, such as Leicester, are likely to remain largely anomalous, the likes of Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, who all face United before the end of December, will already be relishing the prospect of exposing their obvious defensive frailties.
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Argentina coach Gerardo Martino has blasted Manchester United’s struggling season as the reason behind Angel di Maria’s poor form, Express reports.
The winger was showing some impressive displays after his £59.7million move from Real Madrid but has been disappointing recently, even being criticized by United manager Louis van Gaal for holding on to the ball rather than going for an easy pass.
WANT MORE? >> Manchester United Transfer News | Latest Transfer News
However Martino claims that Di Maria’s dipping form is due to the player adapting to a new football environment as well as an entirely different country.
“Angel is one of the very top players in world football and when you don’t understand the league in which he is playing in, it is hard to make an opinion,” Martino said.
“I think his start was exceptional but the fact is that when players go to a new club and have to get used to a new league, new club, team mates, different style, the form he is showing now is more typical of [a player] going to a new club than his start when he did so well.
“The general level of the team’s performance can also have something to do with an individual’s performance.”
The ex-Barcelona boss went on to add that Di Maria’s versatility in attack will eventually make him an extremely important player for United in the near future.
“Angel is a player who can play in a number of different roles equally expertly,” he added.
“You only have to look a few seasons back when he played on the right wing for Real Madrid while last season he featured more at inside left and in a slightly freer role.
“Then in the World Cup he did very well when he played wide left. So position-wise, he is the type who can adapt to whatever you ask him to play.”
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Di Maria will be on international duty with a friendly against old team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo when Portugal meet Argentina at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Christmas day has come and gone and now we’re all focusing on the New Year – a time for parties, over-intoxication and of course, Premier League football.
But before we usher in 2015, it’s time to reminisce over the last twelve months. And what better way to regurgitate the footballing memories than mulling over some of the best goals of 2014?
This article takes a look at Liverpool and their most memorable strikes of the calender year, featuring the likes of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez to name a few.
So without further ado, sit back and remember 2014 through the Reds’ top SIX goals!
LUIS SUAREZ VS HULL CITY (JANUARY)
Certainly not the best goal of Luis Suarez’ Liverpool career but nonetheless a fantastic demonstration of the Uruguayan striker’s world class quality. This list just wouldn’t have felt right without including a Suarez goal somewhere and rather fittingly, the now-Barcelona star netted this stunning free kick against Hull City on New Year’s Day 2014.
DANIEL STURRIDGE VS EVERTON (JANUARY)
The second half of the SAS followed up with this beautiful lob just a couple of weeks later. Perhaps most importantly, Daniel Sturridge’s goal came in a 4-0 thumping of local rivals Everton at Anfield.
PHILIPPE COUTINHO VS MANCHESTER CITY (APRIL)
In arguably the most memorable match of the 2013/14 Premier League season, both in terms of importance and quality, Liverpool beat title rivals Manchester City in a 3-2 Anfield thriller – all the more poignantly in the same week as the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. All the goals were of a fantastic calibre but from a Reds perspective, Philippe Coutinho’s winner particularly stood out.
RAHEEM STERLING VS NORWICH CITY (APRIL)
The following weekend, Raheem Sterling, Liverpool’s emerging star of the 2013/14 campaign, produced an incredible Man of the Match performance in a 3-2 away win over Norwich City, continuing the Mersey outfit’s momentum in the title race. The England international – now Europe’s official Golden Boy for 2014 – capped off the display with this absolute belter.
ALBERTO MORENO VS TOTTENHAM (AUGUST)
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Left-back Alberto Moreno arrived at Anfield this summer in a wave of glistening anticipation after winning the 2014 Europa League title with Sevilla. The 22 year-old’s proved to be one of the few positive acquisitions from Liverpool’s £110million spending spree and announced his arrival on the Premier League scene with this powerful solo run, followed by a clinical finish, against Tottenham in August. The 3-0 victory at White Hart Lane remains the Reds’ most convincing performance of the season thus far.
STEVEN GERRARD VS FC BASEL (DECEMBER)
A disappointing night for Liverpool as they crashed out of the Champions League’s Group Stages to Swiss side FC Basel. But if there was one memorable moment to take from the 1-1 Anfield draw, it dame in the form of Steven Gerrard’s late free kick to prevent an outright defeat. Liverpool’s Captain Fantastic had to be represented on this list somewhere, so with the vast majority of his goals over the last twelve months coming from the penalty spot, we’ve given this effort the nod.
If Liverpool do not successfully negotiate a new contract with Raheem Sterling they’ll be taking one massive step backwards in the club’s development.
The young forward has been a shining light in a Liverpool team that has struggled in an attacking sense in the Premier League this season. Players such as Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert have failed to deliver the goals to compensate for Luis Suarez’s departure in the summer.
It is in this particular position that Raheem Sterling has shown exactly why Liverpool need to keep hold of the teenager. He has played a centre forward’s role in recent matches, becoming Liverpool’s out-and-out striker. It is this positional flexibility that makes Sterling a very useful player for Brendan Rodgers and his sheer talent makes him one of the most exciting young prospects in European football.
Fans will be desperate to see the 20-year-old put pen to paper on a new deal as they won’t want to lose another star this summer. Sterling’s contract expires in 2017 but Rodgers has suggested that the England international is close to agreeing a new deal, as reported in the Daily Mail.
Sterling has received no shortage of interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs since he exploded onto the scene a couple of seasons ago. Although interest from good teams is always positive for a player, it would be the wrong decision if Sterling chose to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
For example, if the player moved to a side like Real Madrid, the likelihood of Sterling playing regular first team football is immediately reduced due to the fact that Real boast some of the finest attacking players in world football. It would also spell bad news for England, as Sterling needs to be playing regularly if he is to develop into a better player. If he stays at Liverpool, there is no doubt that the England midfielder will be at the forefront of the club’s plans to develop.
As well as Sterling’s personal interests, Liverpool will also want to secure his services due to his sheer talent. They let Luis Suarez depart the club in the summer and wasted the money on players that simply haven’t replaced the Uruguayan. The last thing they would want is a repetition of this with Sterling departing in the summer window. If they decide to let Sterling depart, it is sending out the completely wrong message to fans of the club and would display a lack of ambition.
Although many Liverpool fans will be worried about the prospect of losing yet another quality player, it appears as if Sterling will commit to the club. The former Queens Park Rangers youth player will feel that he still needs to develop into a better player and he has the best chance of doing that at Liverpool.
Rodgers has shown excellent man management regarding Sterling this season, acknowledging the fact that the player needed a rest in what was a packed winter schedule for the club. If the manager continues to make measured decisions like this, Liverpool and England will get the best out of one of their most encouraging young stars.
The club shouldn’t underestimate the partnership Sterling forms with returning striker Daniel Sturridge. Although Suarez was obviously an excellent option in attack last season, Sturridge and Sterling would often combine well to unlock defences. Sturridge’s return will also mean that Sterling can thrive in his preferred position, a supportive attacking role rather than the lone striker.
He has been Liverpool’s most impressive attacking midfielder in statistical terms. Compared to teammates Adam Lallana, Phillipe Coutinho and Lazar Markovic; Sterling has more assists and key passes in the Premier League this season than the three of those combined. With Sturridge returning, Sterling will find that his creative ability will be used to a greater effect due to the understanding between the two players.
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The appeal to move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs will always be something that can turn the head of a young footballer. However, Sterling is currently plying his trade at a club that has the potential to become part of Europe’s elite. Although signing another player as good as Suarez is easier said than done, Liverpool showed last season that they are not miles away from competing with the very best once again.
Sterling is a big piece in Liverpool’s puzzle of potential development, so the club need to negotiate a deal as soon as possible rather than facing the real possibility of mulling over another one that got away.
Manchester United have been heavily criticised in recent weeks for playing, in the words of Paul Scholes, a ‘miserable’ brand of football. Clearly, United are a shadow of their former, pacey, counter-attacking selves that was so dangerous under Sir Alex Ferguson. David Moyes struggled to emulate the attacking flair that had become so commonplace at Old Trafford under Ferguson and it now looks like Louis Van Gaal is having the same issue with his players.
So will Manchester United continue to opt for more of a direct approach this season? The answer, rather typically, is yes and no. Van Gaal is still trying to mould his side into one that fits his vision for the future of the club. A typical Van Gaal side will play expansive, attacking football that has an abundance of pace and scores a lot of goals. The Dutchman’s preferred playing style is very much an exciting one. Despite the fact that Manchester United have played some good football so far this season, there is still a tendency to switch to a ‘plan B’ when the team cannot break down the opposition. This means, as much as Van Gaal will hate to admit it, Manchester United do opt for more of a long ball approach in order to get the ball into the back of the net.
Although it may not be particularly pleasing on the eye, the system is effective. Marouane Fellaini is a real presence in the air and is very good at winning aerial duels. When the Belgian is played in more of an advanced position, United look towards the former Everton man to win headers in the box, whether they’re knockdowns for fellow teammates of headed efforts at goal. When Fellaini first arrived at Old Trafford, he was deployed in more of a deeper midfield role which was something that really didn’t suit his style of play. Now that Van Gaal opts to play the 27-year-old in more of an advanced position, his influence on games is far more effective.
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Fans may not like to see the direct, ‘boring’ approach to United’s play but at times, it works better than United’s desired playing style. This is because the team does not have enough pace to implement Van Gaal’s system just yet. The team often looks a little lacklustre in its build up play and the front duo of Falcao and Robin van Persie have not provided the pace and movement to regularly unlock defences. Therefore, due to the fact that Manchester United are not quick or ruthless enough in the attacking third, a more direct approach suits the overall make-up of the team at this particular moment in the time.
What will be surprising is if United play a long ball method next season as well. Although it is still a useful option to implement, you would think that Van Gaal would have added a lot more quality to his squad in order for the team to play in the style he wants to see at Old Trafford. At this particular moment in time, Manchester United fans should appreciate the fact that Van Gaal has identified a direct approach as something that works at the club. The football at times is miserable. However, this isn’t a direct relation to the ‘long ball’ play United opt for in latter stages of games. Their slow, laboured build-up play is one of the reasons as to why Van Gaal looks to play more direct football towards the end of the match. Every team wants to play good football but the manager has to know what style his team can use to the best effect. The Dutchman is still experimenting with his side and the football this United team plays should only be seen as a transitional system at the club.
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The addition of fresh blood in the summer will allow Van Gaal to pursue the romantic, attacking football that every United fan wants to see at Old Trafford. However, for now, Paul Scholes may have to put up with more misery before the end of the season as Van Gaal’s revolution is still a work in progress.
Tim Sherwood says he is considering hiring a sports psychologist to help Aston Villa’s ‘scared’ players in their battle against relegation, reports the Daily Mail.
Sherwood watched his side go down to a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke City in his first game in charge, with Victor Moses breaking Villa hearts with a last minute penalty.
Prior to his appointment, Villa had dropped into the bottom three under Paul Lambert – with last Saturday’s defeat to Stoke their sixth consecutive Premier League loss.
Sherwood appeared full of confidence upon his arrival at Villa Park, but reality appears to have set in after just one match in charge.
The former Tottenham boss is not ruling out the prospect of bringing in outside help for his players, as they prepare for a crucial clash with Newcastle this afternoon.
John Carver’s side suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat to Manchester City last time out, and Sherwood is hoping that fact added to a full week on the training ground will stand his side in decent stead to get a positive result.
‘If we’re going to fail, we fail trying and really expressing ourselves,’ he said.
‘If there’s someone out there that I think can help the group, whether that be a coach or sports psychologist, whoever it is, we wouldn’t turn it down. You look at it and say they should be used to it (struggling) but I don’t think you can ever get used to this.
‘We haven’t got a fantastic amount of time so when we’re on the training field, I have to give the boys some key messages. If I flood them with information then it will go to waste.
‘They’re picking it up on the training field. It’s completely different when you transfer your training form to match day. It takes a lot of character and a lot of bravery and confidence to be able to do that.
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‘It’s a psychology job. I really mean it when I say “don’t be scared”. Don’t be scared to lose. Just get out there and give everything. You leave nothing on the pitch.
‘The quality is in the group but there is something in there which we need to dispel. I don’t think there’s any shame getting it out in the open because they’re going to have to dig deep.’
Newcastle fans naively thought getting rid of Alan Pardew would solve their problems.
But in reality, Newcastle United got rid of one of the best managers they’ve had over the past decade. And now Pardew is working wonders at Crystal Palace, and has lead them to Premier League safety.
Newcastle United, on the other hand, are truly struggling in the Premier League – their last win was almost two months ago. They are sitting in 14th, with the league being far from over. But, what now?
It’s clear to see that John Carver is not having the desired effect as the Magpies’ manager. He does not have Premier League winning side, and he has had little time to make his impact.
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Yet we all know, as a manager in the Premier League, you do not have the time to prove yourself: you must be able to change things around almost instantaneously. If their season continues like this, it’ll be no surprise if Carver is out of a job in the summer.
One thing that has hindered Newcastle’s later stages of the season is the ban Papiss Cisse picked up. In Manchester United’s clash with Newcastle, both Jonny Evans and Cisse were disciplined for spitting at each other.
Evans found himself banned for six games, whereas Cisse picked up a ban for seven matches. Cisse is Newcastle’s top scorer for the season, so of course they will be missing the impact he has on their games. Their next highest scorer, Ayoze Perez, has six goals to his name, compared to Cisse’s 11.
Newcastle need to do something and act fast. These continuous losses are cause for concern. There may be a three point gap between Newcastle and Aston Villa, but with Villa’s turn around, that cushion could be gone by next week.
Fan unrest speaks volumes, especially when they are plotting boycotts at home games. It could well be time for Mike Ashley to sell up and move on, as it’s clear things just aren’t working anymore.
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The focus for Newcastle has to be to stay up and utilise their summer in order to strengthen their squad, and ensure they have a long term manager in place.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has threatened a backlash from the Liverpool supporters by claiming that it is only natural that Raheem Sterling wants an Anfield exit.
The England international attacker has spurned a new contract at the Merseyside club and is widely expected to push for a move away from the Reds this summer.
Sterling’s agent has been vocal in the player’s desire to leave Liverpool, while the 20-year-old has admitted that he wants to chase silverware.
With Brendan Rodgers’ men not qualifying for next season’s Champions League, Sterling’s future remains a point of major contention.
Neville has weighed in and stated that Liverpool have lost all their best players over the last generation and Sterling’s desire to leave is nothing surprising.
“Raheem Sterling has been in the eye of a storm this week following the revelation that he wants to leave Liverpool, but while there is a lot to be said about the way the story has developed, the harsh reality for the club is that this situation has been 15 years in the making,” Neville wrote in a column for The Telegraph.
“But has Raheem Sterling really let Liverpool down by suggesting he wants to leave or is he just a kid who wants to play football and win trophies?
“The prospect of losing Sterling will be a major concern for everybody connected to the club, but the uncomfortable truth is that this is nothing new for Liverpool.
“Just look back over the past 10-15 years and count the number of players who have left Anfield to pursue bigger and better things elsewhere.
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“Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez have all gone.”
Sterling is reportedly attracting interest from overseas, while the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal are also keeping a close eye on the situation. Liverpool have expressed their desire to keep the player, who is contracted until 2017, at Anfield.