Tottenham midfielder Mousa Dembele is adamant that his side should not alter their attacking approach despite the humbling 3-0 weekend loss at Manchester United, and that getting into the top four remains their target.
The Lilywhites’ defeat at Old Trafford, allied to wins for Arsenal and Liverpool, leaves them six points off the Champions League qualification spots, and has led many to suggest that their hopes of getting back into Europe’s biggest competition are fading.
And with a relatively inferior goal difference – the Londoners have shipped 42 – their chances will be reduced further should they fail to get a result against Leicester City in their next fixture.
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But Dembele believes that rather than change the playing style brought in by Mauricio Pochettino, Tottenham must keep going and believing:
“We didn’t do it at Old Trafford and that game was different from what we are used to, but we are playing well. We have shown this season what we can do against the big sides.” He is quoted by the London Evening Standard.
“We want to end the season in a good rhythm. Has our chance of a top-four finish gone? We don’t need to think like that otherwise we could become demotivated. Let’s try to win all our remaining games and see where we end.
“We didn’t do it at Old Trafford and that game was different from what we are used to, but we are playing well. We have shown this season what we can do against the big sides.
“We want to end the season in a good rhythm. Has our chance of a top-four finish gone? We don’t need to think like that otherwise we could become demotivated. Let’s try to win all our remaining games and see where we end.
“We have three more full days before the Leicester game to concentrate. We have a good group and a good mentality so I hope we bounce back at the right moment.”
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Spurs have impressed with their swashbuckling style for much of the campaign, with their memorable 5-3 victory against Chelsea over the winter period one of the standout results of the 2014/15 season.
Chelsea midfielder Gael Kakuta has expressed his concern at the number of midfielders the Blues have and that he hopes to leave permanently in the summer.
Kakuta is currently on loan at Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem and has been a major part of their first team throughout the season.
The French under-21 international is not happy that the West London club continue to buy expensive midfield players when they have talented youngsters coming through.
The Blues signed Eden Hazard, Marko Marin, Victor Moses and Oscar this summer that has left Kakuta with no alternative but to find a new club.
Chelsea were given a hefty fine and a transfer embargo after illegally tempting Kakuta to Stamford Bridge in 2007 but six league appearances and four loan spells later it appears his time at the Blues is up.
Kakuta has admitted that he has given up on making it at Chelsea.
“I don’t dream about Chelsea anymore – I used to, now I know better,” Kakuta told The Sun.
“I hope I can join a club like Vitesse next season, where I can play every week.
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“Chelsea have far too many players. At my age I need to play regularly but if I go back I’ll just get 10 minutes a month and I don’t want that.”
As reported by The Sun, Manchester United are on the verge of securing goalkeeper David De Gea on a new long-term contract, ending speculation he will move away from the club back to La Liga.
What’s the story?
The paper reckon the shot-stopper is wanted by Real Madrid this summer, but United are convinced he is poised to sign a new deal after initial discussions earlier this season.
The details are now set to be hammered out before the player leaves for the World Cup at the end of the season.
The report says that he will earn a whopping £350k-a-week should he sign, making him the second highest earner in the club’s history behind Alexis Sanchez.
Is he worth that kind of cash?
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How important is he?
De Gea is regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world and week-to-week he’s made countless important saves for the Red Devils whether against less illustrious competition or in big European ties and derbies.
Replacing him is almost unthinkable, which is likely why the club are ready to invest so heavily in a new contract for the player.
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At 27 years of age, the player likely has close to another decade of elite level goalkeeping left in him and ensuring the majority of that time is spent at United is a major boost to their trophy ambitions.
Securing his future, even at £350k-a-week, would be a fantastic bit of business by the club.
Arsenal’s victory over Newcastle last weekend was the classic example of a game of two halves. Having dominated the opening 45 minutes, the Gunners were seemingly cruising to victory thanks to Olivier Giroud’s brace, sending them in two nil up at the break. But a much improved second-half performance from the home side saw them run out unfortunate losers as Arsenal held on to win 2-1.
Despite the initial sense of relief at having made the victory hard work for themselves, there was much to pleased about for Arsenal fans. Playing their fourth game in two weeks, and third away from home, it was refreshing to see the Londoners once again dig in and show their battling qualities to hang on and claim victory.
Recent weeks have shown a new resilient side to Arsene Wenger’s side, something he was quick to praise following their latest victory. Having won at Old Trafford to book their place in another FA Cup semi-final, they were unfortunate not to progress in the Champions League, narrowly losing out on away goals to Monaco, despite looking the better side across the two legs.
And aside from their defensive naivety in the first leg of that tie, there seems to be a growing consistency regarding their ability to see out a game when in the lead. There have been plenty of examples in recent years where Arsenal have succumbed to poor errors at the back, which has ultimately cost them points as they failed to hold on to victory. At times, particularly away from home, there was almost an inevitability that no matter how well they were playing, they would do something to let themselves down and throw the game away. A prime example we all remember being their ability to squander a four-goal lead at St James’ Park a few years back.
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However, slowly but surely they appear to be developing into a side that has the ability to protect a lead in a resilient and determined fashion. Their victory at the Etihad earlier this season highlighted this perfectly in what many described as their best away performance in years. Having conceded six times in the same fixture the previous season, Wenger set his side up in a far more defensive system, with Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin flourishing in the centre of the pitch.
The way in which they were able to see out the game with apparent ease against the defending champions was hugely encouraging for the club, and something that improves their chances of competing against the very best clubs if they can repeat it.
And although visibly tired from their midweek exertions in France, they were able to show this resilient side once again on Saturday when their backs were against the wall as they hung on to remain third in the table and cement their bid for a top-four spot.
There were times when an Arsenal team would have failed to see out a game like this, but nowadays they appear much more capable at churning out results, even when they aren’t on top in the match. With the likes of Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and new signing Gabriel Paulista, they certainly have the personnel to defend a lead effectively, as proved at Newcastle.
There’s no doubting they are a joy to watch at times, and they continue to be considered the best passing team in the country. But an attractive style of football alone is not enough to win you trophies and ensure a push for the title year in year out. If they can continue to combine their qualities with the ball with the new-found resilience and defensive solidarity that has been on show at times this season, then there is no reason they cannot begin to challenge the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City and become genuine title contenders once again in seasons to come.
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St Etienne forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed that he will decide his long-term future at the end of the season.
The Gabon international has been heavily linked with a number of Premier League sides in recent months, including the likes of Manchester City, Newcastle and Aston Villa.
His fine form this term has alerted multiple potential suitors, with his season’s goal tally already up to 15.
St Etienne are currently fourth in Ligue 1, just one place outside of the Champions League qualification places.
Aubameyang says that booking a spot at the top table of European football will make it difficult to leave, but that no decision has been made yet:
“I am happy with my form again. Scoring is important for a striker and I am on a good run at the moment,” he is quoted by Sky Sports.
“I would love to finish the season strongly for my team and put us in a strong position to fight for a Champions League place.
“If we qualify for that competition it would be difficult for me to leave the club. But my future will be decided at the end of the season.”
St Etienne are by no means desperate to sell the 23-year-old, but it is thought that a bid in region of £10m could be too good for tem to turn down.
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Capped 27 times for his home nation, the attacker began his career with Serie A giants AC Milan.
After struggling to force his way into the first-team, he was loaned out to Lille, Monaco and Dijon before making a permanent move to Saint-Etienne.
Toni Kroos has been linked with a move away from Real Madrid in recent months and Manchester United are one of the interested parties.
Jose Mourinho reportedly faces a battle with old adversary Pep Guardiola in the race to sign the 28-year-old midfielder, who is valued at £72m by Transfermarkt.
If the German did make the move to Old Trafford, it would be likely that he would slot into a 4-3-3 formation alongside Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, adding the balance between midfield and attack that has been lacking under Mourinho.
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Yet, after another dominant performance as Madrid swept aside last season’s finalists Juventus 3-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final clash last night, it was clear that he could well put Pogba in the shade if he made the move to Old Trafford.
Under the most intense of pressure, he had 107 touches – the most of any Madrid player – and ran the game from the deep playmaker role. Pogba is yet to do similar in a United shirt, and there is no doubt that is what he has been brought in to do.
That included 98 passes, with 96 per cent pass accuracy as he yet again proved his ability to dominate proceedings in the most refined company.
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Two key passes and four tackles shows that he is making an impact at both ends as well; he is not just a playmaker who doesn’t impact play.
Even at 28, he is the real deal and he should show Pogba that he is on the next level to him if he arrived at Old Trafford.
There’s so much to admire about Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany. Tall, lean, powerful, organised, intelligent and inspiring. On his day, he’s an almighty figure to have with you, and up until the end of the 2011/2012 season he deserved the accolades he received in being labelled one of the finest defenders in the world.
And before this argument expands too much further, that should be emphasised. On his day, Kompany is an outstanding player, and more so, a fantastic captain. But since City’s first Premier League title in 2012, those good days have been few and far between.
And this is what confuses. Kompany is still renowned in most media circles as the best centre back in England – the Guardian’s ‘top 100’ of players ranked him the 28th best player in the world in December, while in-depth tactics magazine FourFourTwo put him 38th, and the only Premier League defender in their ranks. Why is England so blind to his shortcomings?
The penny finally dropped in City’s 3-2 defeat to Liverpool at the back end of last season. Re-watch that game and Kompany was directly responsible for all of Liverpool’s goals in an appalling fashion. His one saving grace is that he was only returning from injury at the time, but it’s hard to imagine Martin Demichelis getting off this easily. It went under the radar completely because City went onto clinch the title in wake of Liverpool’s collapse, but that shouldn’t mask Kompany’s weaknesses.
What actually confuses most is his tendency to come hurling up the pitch into challenges to leave his defenders exposed to counter attacks. Gary Neville assassinated David Luiz in his early Chelsea days by likening him to being controlled by a twelve year on a game’s console for doing just that- but ultimately there’s little difference between Luiz and Kompany in this regard.
When Kompany abandons those around him in such a positionally naive way, he risks placing his team in all kinds of trouble. Francsesco Totti’s equalising goal in Roma’s draw at the Etihad earlier on this year was the finest example of that. Kompany was about 30 yards up the pitch when the 39-year-old slotted past Joe Hart in the space he should have been covering. Granted, he may be a converted holding midfielder, but that doesn’t really justify such irrational movements into that zone.
It should be a concern because he keeps doing it, which serves to question whether Manuel Pellegrini is completely ignorant to it, or more worryingly, Kompany just ignores his manager’s instructions.
But it seems especially unfair on Demichelis too, who had an atrociously bad start to his England career. It’s a basic tactical observation, but your sweeping defender, the one who drops deeper out of the pair when fielding attacks, should be your fasted, not your slowest, because he’ll be more susceptible to pace in behind. Re-watch last weekend’s action and you’ll see how Laurent Koscienly followed Sergio Aguero into deep positions to prevent Per Mertesacker’s lack of pace from being exposed.
Interestingly, it should also be noted that Kompany’s hardly fielded a partnership with anyone. Joleon Lescott formed City’s best defensive duo with him in that first season, but since then Lescott, Stefan Savic, Martin Demichelis and Majata Nastasic have all been deemed inferior to him. Eliaquim Mangala is next in line to take up the burden of operating with him, and it will be interesting to see how he settles after an inconsistent start.
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In all, the Belgian seems totally immune to a change in reputation or perception – seemingly he can get away with anything and City’s shortcomings will be blamed on someone else. This weekend, after all, he clumsily gifted Arsenal a penalty and should have been sent off for a late challenge on Alexis Sanchez.
The question now is twofold. Firstly, will Kompany continue in this inconsistent form, a far-cry from the world class player he was two years ago, or regain that aura once made him so good.
The more interesting question is that if he goes down the path of the former, how much longer will he continue to deceive the public. Only time will tell.
Mike Ashley has stood by his manager and facilitated the arrival of five new first-team players to St James’ Park this January. But Newcastle aren’t out of the woods yet. While it’s always exciting to see a wave of new names through the door and the hope they may bring for something a little brighter in the immediate future, these next few months until the end of the season are absolutely crucial for the stability of the club moving forward.
There was never any excuse for Mike Ashley not to significantly strengthen the squad last summer, unless, of course, he was more than happy with the fifth place Premier League finish last season and was content to sit back on it. Even if it’s a myth, the dreaded ‘second season syndrome,’ relatively speaking, was looming and about to hit Newcastle and Alan Pardew hard. The injuries didn’t help either, but the squad needed freshening up in a big way.
The problem with all these new arrivals is that you’re normally accustomed to seeing such an obvious change during the summer, not in January when a team are so precariously placed. Newcastle may go down, and it’s certainly not impossible, but unlike others who are in or around the relegation scrap, Newcastle do have the means to make a convincing escape.
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But how much of an impact can the new signings make? None of them are Premier League experienced, and despite being players of sufficient quality to help Newcastle in the long-term, the priority will be to get them well up to speed with what’s expected of them in English football. Moreover, such a swing in playing personnel is likely to affect both the newcomers and those already in Newcastle shirts.
Newcastle are sitting in 15th place and have a very difficult tie at home to Chelsea on the weekend, followed by Tottenham away. Between now and May, it isn’t about finishing as high as possible, it’s very much about remaining in the Premier League and having this new squad prepared for a strong season beginning in August.
The lack of notable buys in the summer has made this season a write-off, but that’s football. You can’t expect to bring similar results in back-to-back campaigns after very little spend while everyone else is making noticeable improvements to their squad. That view applies to one or two others in the league as well, but this should be seen as a learning curve for Newcastle and Mike Ashley especially. He’s done a good job of digging himself out of a hole when all the good work of last season was looking to be undone. Yes the club finished fifth last season and above Chelsea, but what good is it if the following season sees shredded nerves, the high probability of relegation and near total capitulation?
It’s also worth pointing out that selling clubs are not ‘catching onto’ Newcastle’s prudent but effective ways in the transfer market, as has been suggested in the past. Yes, a lot of clubs around Europe might have noticed Newcastle’s smart approach in recent windows, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t always been and will continue to be bargains available. Moussa Sissoko and Mathieu Debuchy are just a couple of names who would have done very well at clubs further up the table in the Premier League, and yet Newcastle picked them up for next to nothing. They’ll undoubtedly improve the squad and give the club the option to make profits via the sale of others.
It’s all down to Alan Pardew now, however. He’s been given the tools, albeit a bit late in the day, and now has to create a working atmosphere between the growing French contingent and the rest of his players.
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If survival can be ensured, this could prove to be a very threatening and attractive Newcastle side next season. A team with quality all over the pitch and who are ready to launch out of the gates in August, as opposed to sometime down the line when the alarm bells ring.
With the season reaching the closing stages, attention has begun to turn to this summer’s transfer window.
West Ham United’s main priority is to remain in the Premier League as they currently sit two points above the relegation zone.
However, they are also likely to be drawing up transfer plans, and according to The Sun, Newcastle United captain Jamaal Lascelles is on their radar.
The publication claims that the East London outfit are pondering a £15m swoop for the defender, who the newspaper claims could be tempted by a transfer if a decent deal is on offer.
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The Sun also claims that Lascelles’s agent is close to West Ham officials, but in the end, any transfer will be down to fee and wages.
The 24-year-old has been consistently strong for the Magpies this season and has played in 25 top-flight fixtures so far.
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He did, though, miss out on a spot in Gareth Southgate’s latest England squad ahead of the World Cup in Russia this summer.
After news emerged of West Ham’s reported interest in Lascelles, fans of the London club have been tweeting their verdicts.
How Arsenal entered the current season with one less defender than last year is quite frankly beyond me – but there’s no looking back now and at least Arsene Wenger is looking to rectify the situation, with news that he’ll be on the hunt for a new centre-half in January.
Of course, the winter window is never the ideal opportunity to buy so a star-studded addition of the Mats Hummels variety unfortunately seems unlikely.
There are some options out there however, so just in case the Gunners gaffer is short on ideas, here’s FIVE centre-backs the Premier League outfit could realistically sign in the New Year.
MATIJA NASTASIC
//www.youtube.com/embed/LxnfKoOWmWE
Age: 21
Height: 6 foot 2
Positions: Centre-back only
Teams: Partizan Belgrade, Fiorentina, Manchester City, Serbian national team
Honours: Premier League title 2013/14, League Cup 2013/14, Manchester City Young Player of the Year 2012/13
Linked clubs: Arsenal, AC Milan, Schalke
Likely transfer fee: £10million, according to The Express
What’s the dealio daddio?
A forgotten man at the Etihad, Matija Nastasic’s last competitive outing for Manchester City was in the 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal at the start of the season. A few days later, Manuel Pellegrini coughed up a whopping £32million for France centre-half Eliaquim Mangala.
Nastasic once forged an impressive centre-back partnership with Vincent Kompany however – his reading of the game and quality on the ball particularly standing out for a player so young.
Injuries have peppered the 16-cap Serbian’s City tenure somewhat and he’s rather slight for a Premier League centre-back. Clearly talented however with great pedigree, moving to a club that offers regular football will quickly kick-start Nastasic’s stuttering career.
Aymeric Laporte
//www.youtube.com/embed/vXqN7EieWVs
Age: 20
Height: 6 foot 2
Positions: Centre-Back and Left-Back
Teams: Basconia, Bilbao Athletic, Athletic Bilbao, France U21s
Honours: None
Linked clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United
Likely transfer fee: £32million release clause
What’s the low-down D’Lo Brown?
Having emerged as arguably La Liga’s most exciting centre-back prospect over the last few seasons, a plethora of Premier League clubs have been monitoring Aymeric Laporte’s progress for some time. This season, he’s averaged the fifth-most interceptions per match of any player in the Spanish top flight, as detailed below:
With 59 La Liga outings under his belt and having started all but one of Bilbao’s league fixtures this season, the French centre-half is already taking on huge responsibility for a player so young.
That, combined with his obvious talent and the limit of silverware with the Basque side, is the source of Premier League interest in Laporte; a quick, intelligent and versatile defender. He’ll cost big bucks but if develops as expected, also offers huge reward.
TYRONE MINGS
//www.youtube.com/embed/wvyRhxU0cxI
Age: 21
Height: 6 foot 3
Positions: Left Back and Centre-Back
Teams: Yate Town, Chippenham Town, Ipswich Town
Honours: Championship Player of the Month for September 2014
Linked clubs: Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham
Likely transfer fee: £8million, according to the Telegraph and just about everybody
What’s the word, bird?
Arsene Wenger has already admitted his interest in Ipswich prodigy Tyrone Mings so few would bet against Arsenal launching a bid for him in January.
Mick McCarthy once picked up the towering defender for just £20k, and he’s enjoyed a huge breakthrough as the Tractor Boys’ left-back this season with former No.3 Aaron Cresswell moving to West Ham in the summer. Here’s his vitals this season:
Ambitious, agile and effective going forward yet blessed with the powerful, imposing frame of a Premier League centre-half, Mings is the kind of player that could be moulded into anything by the Arsenal’s coaches.
Whether the Gunners need another project at the back right now, however, remains open to debate.
WINSTON REID
Football – West Ham United v Sampdoria – Pre Season Friendly – Upton Park – 14/15 – 9/8/14Winston Reid – West Ham UnitedMandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
Age: 26
Height: 6 foot 3
Positions: Centre-back only
Teams: Midtjylland, West Ham, New Zealand national team
Honours: Championship Playoff winner 2011/12, Hammer of the Year 2012/13
Linked clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs
Likely transfer fee: £6million according to the Daily Mail, £20million according to Sam Allardyce.
What do you say, hombre?
Certainly not the most talented defender to ever grace the Emirates in technical terms, but Winston Reid is a bona fide master of the nuts and bolts of the trade; when it comes to tackles, interceptions, blocks and headers, he’s your man. At the minute, one could argue that’s exactly what Arsenal need – a bit of a Martin Keown figure.
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The New Zealand skipper has made huge progress since first moving to East London after the 2010 World Cup and is now keen to challenge himself at a higher level – with Hammers owner David Sullivan admitting Reid is yet to sign a new contract over the issue of European football.
With his current deal set to expire in the summer, it’s believed Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool – and potentially some clubs from abroad – will try to prize him away in January. Sam Allardyce clearly doesn’t want to sell however and the East Londoners’ current league position of fourth could convince the gritty centre-back to stay on at Upton Park.
FABIAN SCHAR
//www.youtube.com/embed/ZpiVFCUXbz0
Age: 23
Height: 6 foot 1
Positions: Centre-back, but could play at full-back in theory
Teams: FC Wil, FC Basel, Switzerland national team
Honours: Two Swiss Super League titles
Linked clubs: Arsenal, Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan
Likely transfer fee: £5million-£10million, according to The Express
Gimme the crack, Jack!
Statistically speaking, Fabian Schar was the best defender in the Champions League last season, as detailed below:
Indeed, the defender’s form at club, European and international level has been continually impressive over the last 18 months. He also chips in with a fair amount of goals, netting nine in his first two seasons at Basel and four in nine for the Swiss national team.
Resultantly, Schar has been tipped as a future star for some time and Europe’s transfer vultures are now circling closer than ever, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and a new deal looking increasingly unlikely.
The Swiss hotshot boasts an intoxicating front-footed style, similar to Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen, epitomising the in-vogue mould of the modern day centre-back.
A little slender for the Premier League but unquestionably talented, after a season or so to settle and build up his physicality, Schar could emerge as one of the English top flight’s leading defenders.