Tony Pulis does not have the best track record when it comes to flair based attacking players, but the acquisition of Pritchard could be a sign that Pulis has accepted the need for some creativity in his West Brom side.
The Baggies, as with all Pulis teams, have had a season of meeting the bare requirements and sit cosily in mid-table alongside other clubs whose fans are wondering why they have not shown greater ambition to push on for a top half finish in this bizarre season.
A loan signing in January can often be a good way to avoid the longer-term risk of signing a player on a permanent deal and it is hard to see how the Baggies can lose out from bringing in a promising youngster on a short loan.
Pulis, who can’t see to make his mind up about Berahino, could be about to make Pritchard’s career, or, more likely, ruin it.
Here are FIVE things you didn’t know about the Spurs youngster..
Next Gen grad
Pritchard initially impressed at Tottenham as part of the briefly successful Next Gen series.
This was the youngster’s first taste of football on a European level and he caught the eye of many.
Diminutive wide man..
Pritchard stands at only 171 centimetres tall and doesn’t quite fit in with the big powerful narrative associated with Pulis’ sides.
He’s no Jonathan Walters, but Pritchard makes up for his lack of power with close control and pace.
Anti-Pulis
Pulis loves a big, strong man (not like that), but Pritchard doesn’t fit the usual fetish of the ex-Stoke boss.
The Spurs winger is more likely to be seen in a Pep Guardiola side than Pulis’ and it is an odd choice of loan move for both the player and Spurs.
Square peg, square hole
Versatility is key for the managers with smaller squads and Pritchard can play on either wing comfortably.
Pulis will need to play him occasionally, we would hope, at least.
England man
Pritchard has represented England at both U20 and U21 levels.
A dramatic last minute penalty secured all three points for Liverpool as they ended their Selhurst Park hoodoo at long last.
Though the game was end to end at times, it was largely a drab affair that highlighted a distinct lack of top quality in crucial areas of both teams.
Still, the much marginalised Christian Benteke proved decisive in the end after the towering Belgian first earned, then dispatched a last minute spot-kick.
For a player so often criticised, it was a welcome reprieve from the negativity that has engulfed the early stages of his Anfield career.
However, as so often is the case in the mad world of Premier League football, controversy is never too far.
Debates over whether the 25-year old dived in order to win the penalty in the first place have erupted on Twitter.
Palace defender Damien Delaney was perhaps rash in his decision to go to ground when trailing the former Aston Villa marksman, though many seem to believe minimal contact was made.
On the other hand, other supporters have taken to the social media outlet in order to leap to the defence of Benteke, who they believe was caught by Delaney’s knee.
Whatever camp you place yourself in, it is quite unfortunate that the incident is likely to overshadow the Belgian international’s contribution in the closing stages.
Whether he conned the referee or not, he did well to get himself into such a position in the first place, as well as ever so coolly slot home when the pressure was on.
There’s always been something sinister about the thought of a European Super League. You get the feeling that the idea is the kind of thing floated around in Uefa’s headquarters / lead-plated bunker / lair by a lot of men who are at best slimy and corrupt,Âand at worst literally evil.Bringing together the best teams in European football to play a competition together is a great idea. It’s also a money-spinning one. And it already exists – the Champions League. And we all love it, it’s true.Yet today, when the Premier League’s biggest behemoths met together in secret, reportedly to talk about the European Super League, and how England’s biggest clubs could, presumably, make money out of it.
But at a time when Leicester City are top of the league, Tottenham Hotspur – who weren’t included in today’s alleged talks – could go top with a win tonight, and with Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea all struggling to varying degrees, the idea of making European competition into a members’ club cabal with entry strictly via invitation only seems to flatten the notion that football is about competition rather than money.
With this Premier League season one of the most open seasons ever, and with small teams all over Europe looking to get into the mid-week inter-national action, talking about this now looks impolite if not an utterly brazen money-grabbing ploy.
Caen, Nice, Nantes and Rennes from Ligue 1 and Mainz and Hertha Berlin from the Bundesliga are all hugely unfancied teams who are within striking distance of a Champions League spot for next season. Leicester City look to be a certainty to be in the Champions League next season, and even West Ham United aren’t too far away from a spot.
This is the first season in footballing history that a Milan club is not involved in either the Champions League / European Cup, the Europa League / UEFA Cup / Fairs Cup or the Cup Winners’ Cup. But that’s the nature of competition and squarely the fault of those clubs. It’s not something to lament.
Perhaps the idea of a European Super League may have at least made vague competitive sense five or ten years ago, but to bring it up now is as brazen as it gets. All-out evil is kind of what we expect from international footballing admin, but we expect better from our domestic footballing overlords.
Newcastle United are a club that have lurched from one farcical story to another in recent years – from Joe Kinnear’s comical radio interview, to Alan Pardew’s various touchline-boxing shenanigans. From players to board members, we’re never far from drama, comedy or downright ridiculousness at St James’ Park.
This season has been an unmitigated disaster on the pitch, I think it’s fair to say, but they’ve certainly attempted to out-do themselves off the pitch with a blunder that could ending up costing them millions of pounds. For in their desperation to tie up the signings of both Jonjo Shelvey and Andros Townsend in January, they overlooked one small detail – a relegation wage drop.
Now anyone that’s played Championship/Football Manager over the years will tell you that this kind of clause is regularly written into contracts, especially at struggling teams. Whether it was arrogance on the club’s behalf – believing that they wouldn’t go down – or merely a catastrophic oversight amid the desperation to sign the players they thought would help them fend off relegation, the contractual cock-up will see one, if not both, those players shipped out at a loss should they go down.
And currently it’s looking very likely they will go down. So what next for the two young Englishmen signed just three short months ago? Their contracts amount to over £7m a year, a sum that a club in the Championship simply cannot hope to maintain. Whether either would take a pay-cut is unknown, but of the two, Shelvey would probably be their choice to keep, and the player himself has in fact stated his desire to stay at St James’ Park no matter what.
This may leave Townsend without a home. It’s an unfortunate situation for a player who not that long ago was among the next great hopes at international level, a favourite of Roy Hodgson during in the run-up to the last World Cup and during the early games in EURO 2016 qualifying. But the pacey winger’s rejection by Pochettino at Spurs, and subsequent sale to Newcastle, has seen his form suffer and chances with England disappear.
So what are the options for the talented, if slightly mercurial youngster? (24 is still relatively young) What sort of clubs are going to want to invest their money in a player who has generally underwhelmed in recent times – a one-trick pony some would say, but who has age, experience and plenty of pace on his side? Unlikely to be picked up by any of the top seven or eight clubs, the best fit would potentially be one of last year’s promoted sides.
Both Bournemouth and Watford play a predominantly 4-4-2 system, one that suits Townsend’s ability and position. You could see him fitting in well at both those sides, the Cherries particularly. Eddie Howe has a good collection of young English talent on the South Coast and Townsend would likely be a welcome addition to his side. Despite their relatively small size, Bournemouth have plenty of financial clout behind them so the price-tag wouldn’t be an issue – around £8m is practically a snip in Premier League terms anyway.
I can certainly see Townsend resurrecting his career at a young, energetic side like Bournemouth and hopefully he will. He’s got the talent, he just needs belief in him and a good run of games. Elsewhere, clubs like Swansea of even Crystal Palace (should they lose Yannick Bolasie) could do a lot worse than acquire his services, even one or two of the promoted sides – none of whom I’m going to speculate on just yet!
Townsend shouldn’t be short of suitors if the Magpies do decide to cut their losses and move him on, if/when they get relegated. The skills that led the North East side to bring him to the club are likely to be attractive to a number of clubs looking to bolster their squads. Whether or not a move will be enough to push him back into reckoning for the England set-up remains to be seen, but that looks a long way off for now.
In the meantime all he can hope for is a move to a good club that suits his style of play and gives him game time. Find that and the Andros Townsend that we saw flying down the Wembley sidelines just a couple of years ago might come back.
At the beginning the 2015/2016 Premier League season, Spurs were priced at 100/1 to win the league after finishing 5th in the 2014/15 season. Finishing six points behind Manchester United, who finished fourth in the previous season, left Spurs with a lot of work to do heading into their new campaign if they were going to mount a serious title challenge.
Fall of Big Teams:
Spurs benefited somewhat in the 2015/16 season from having no real competition around them from the ‘big’ clubs. Both Manchester sides were inconsistent, and “horny” football really was not providing the goods for Louis van Gaal’s United. An injury to star striker Sergio Aguero, and the mid season appointment of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad for the 2016/17 season, left the dressing room rather unsettled at City. Liverpool had every right to be in the top four, but couldn’t string together results under new manager Jurgen Klopp. Arsenal were their usual self – putting in outstanding performances once every so often, but inconsistency and not having the drive to take the league by the scruff of the neck proved their downfall. Chelsea were relegation candidates early on, and finished in 10th, again providing no real worry for the fans at White Heart Lane. If Spurs were ever going to win the league, this would have to be the year.
Harry Kane:
There is no doubt in my mind that Harry Kane is the best English striker around. Worries of second ‘season syndrome’ were just that – worries. Kane not only continued his exceptional form from the previous season, but finished with 25 goals, winning the Golden Boot. Kane’s clinical finishing in front of goal, with his work rate and composure, dragged Spurs to a title push late on.
Dele Alli:
Another young English prodigy, Alli had a standout season for a 19/20 year old, netting 10 times and providing assists on nine occasions. His heart in the centre of Tottenham’s midfield brought a young, fresh feel to this vibrant team. With the likes of Eric Dier, Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela, and Kane all playing in midfield/attack, the future looks bright for Spurs. Winning the PFA Young Player of the Year solidifies Alli’s status as one of the best young players going around.
Toby Alderweireld:
Toby had an outstanding season at the back for Spurs, and was a crucial part of a Spurs defensive unit that was the second best in the league, behind only Van Gaal’s United. Paired with the experienced Jan Vertonghen, Alderweireld had a debut season at a club of the highest order. A ball playing defender, Alderweirald’s accurate balls from the back, combined with his defensive capabilities, provided for a winning combo. His acquisition from Atletico Madrid for £11.5m proved to be a steal.
Catch Up:
Leicester’s dominance at the top of the league left Tottenham often playing catch up through out the season. Dropping crucial points away to Liverpool and at home to West Brom late on in the campaign did themselves no favours, and they eventually finished 3rd after losing 5-1 away at St. James Park. This allowed bitter rivals Arsenal bragging rights for the 21st consecutive year, as they leapfrogged them into second place with a 4-0 win over Villa.
Looking Forward:
Having secured Champions League football, the future looks bright for Spurs. They have a young core of the team, which will only continue to grow stronger. Mauricio Pochettino is one of the best young managers around, and is bound to attract top quality players to White Heart Lane, should he decide to strengthen the squad. If they hang on to the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Toby Alderweirald and Hugo Lloris, they can become a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League for years to come.
This article was submitted via our new Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and make sure you follow @FFC_WFU on Twitter for #RealOpinions…
I was always going to do this article, but I didn’t envisage myself writing it quite this early. But without further ado, here is a player by player breakdown of Roy Hodgson’s EURO 2016 England squad:
Joe Hart – Error prone. He has bailed out by Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy against Wales, but had no such luck against Iceland. There will be calls for him to be dropped when the new manager takes charge, but you get the feeling he will still be No.1 come September.
Fraser Forster – Didn’t feature due to Hodgson’s undying loyalty to Hart.
Tom Heaton – If Forster had no chance, then we may as well have just taken two goalkeepers to France.
Kyle Walker – I thought he was excellent against Wales, at times playing as an auxiliary winger, but that was about as good as it got for the Tottenham full-back. He was, at least partly, at fault for the first Icelandic goal and that mistake wipes out any credit he built up previously.
Danny Rose – Another of the Tottenham players who really failed to impress in this tournament. He had the perfect opportunity to make the left-back slot his own, but you get the feeling that the door could be left wide open for Luke Shaw once back from injury.
Chris Smalling – He was hardly even tested in the first three games, but was an anonymous figure in the Iceland game. The fact he is young and there are so few centre-backs who could even lay a claim to taking his spot means he’ll start again come September.
Gary Cahill – Almost the same as Smalling, the only thing that differs is the fact he is 30. I don’t think he’s quite on the international scrapheap, but when we’re going from the likes of John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell to Cahill, you can see the drop off in quality.
Nathaniel Clyne – The Liverpool man only had one game to show what he was worth. He did a decent job, but Slovakia didn’t want to attack that night. He could be given the chance to show his wares in the first World Cup qualifier.
Ryan Betrand – He also had one game to show what he was all about and was poor. Bertrand almost ran the risk of getting a red card due to flailing arms. There are many options at left-back and you get the feeling that his place in the squad is in danger.
John Stones – On the periphery, but he surely has to be starting for England alongside Smalling going forward. England need to build a centre-back partnership that can be a platform for years to come, and, like it or not, it will involve Stones.
Eric Dier – Arguably one of the only few players to come out the tournament with any credit in the bank – certainly the only Tottenham one. His free kick against Russia was one of the very few highlights for England.
Dele Alli – Alli has so much promise, but offered so little. You can’t blame it on fatigue as he had a month off at the end of the season through suspension. He, like Dier, will be in the England team for years to come and we will certainly see more of his talents on the world stage.
Adam Lallana – Usually a solid six out of 10 player and hauled off after 65 minutes, but I thought he was one of if not the best in the England squad. That may be damning him with faint praise but he was hardworking and industrious and you wonder why he can’t do that more for Liverpool.
Raheem Sterling – Where to start. Again blind loyalty by Hodgson has been his undoing here. The Manchester City winger’s confidence is shot to pieces. He has no end product and you get the feeling that Pep Guardiola is going to have to put an arm round him.
Wayne Rooney – How do you solve a problem like Wayne? Put him in midfield and create another one. The captain was shoehorned into midfield and the experiment didn’t work. More importantly where was the leadership when it was required against Iceland?
Jack Wilshire – Unfit and how he played not once but twice for England in this tournament is absolutely unfathomable. He should be nowhere near an England squad until he has a long run of games under his belt.
Jordan Henderson – Once again he failed to impress in an England squad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him have a decent game with the Three Lions on his chest. If you can remember then please let me know.
Ross Barkley – Didn’t even get a minute, so what was the point of taking him when we had so many similar players to the Everton midfielder? How often was a game crying out for the width and pace of Andros Townsend? The answer is too often.
James Milner – Came on as one of the ill-fated substitutes in the draw against Russia. Mr Utility for England could now be looking for another job as you would imagine his time in the England fold is coming to an end.
Harry Kane – Once again you can file under Tottenham disappointments. The poor bloke looked knackered, but that doesn’t excuse his poor set piece taking. Then again you do have to ask why he was on set pieces in the first place.
Jamie Vardy – Had to play second fiddle to Kane for the majority of the time but still managed to do what Kane didn’t… score. The fact that the opposition sat so deep didn’t allow Vardy to utilise his pace over the top.
Daniel Sturridge – The hero against Wale,s but absolutely useless against Slovakia and Iceland. Why take one touch when you can take four? Everything he did was telegraphed as he looked devoid of ideas, but then again so did the whole team.
Marcus Rashford – Two fleeting substitute appearances when a goal was needed but after that three minute cameo against Iceland, when he did more than the rest of the side put together, you had to wonder why he wasn’t chucked on earlier. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more of him in the years to come.
Roy Hodgson – A tactical dinosaur that needs to be made extinct.
This article was submitted via our Write For Us feature. Think you can do better? Submit your own article via the link below, and give yourself the chance of winning monthly cash prizes…
On Thursday, Manchester United reportedly met the exorbitant terms of Juventus’ request regarding star midfielder Paul Pogba.
The club’s asking price has augmented to £120million, which would shatter Gareth Bale’s transfer record of £100million when he joined Real Madrid in 2013.
United’s desire to acquire a player of Pogba’s caliber is understandable. He is only 23-years-old, has won domestic titles with Juventus and reached the 2016 EURO final with France. He is sublime with the ball at his feet and he won the Golden Boy award in 2013. He is likely the most accomplished player in the world at his age.
But £120million? As much promise as the Frenchman has shown, only the likes of Messi and Ronaldo can warrant that kind of fee – Pogba simply hasn’t reached that level yet.
Factoring in his role in an already congested attacking core for United makes the club’s thirst for him a bit more perplexing. Jose Mourinho has long been maligned for his reluctance to build teams starting with the young prospects of the club. He would rather find success via the transfer market.
But in the end, it’s extremely difficult to justify £120million for one player.
United’s unmitigated interest in the star midfielder could lead to disaster in Mourinho’s first year with the club.
Here are FIVE reasons why Pogba could be United’s worst ever transfer…
Monumental expectations
With exorbitant offers come monumental expectations to perform. Pogba will only justify earning £120million if he wins multiple Premier League titles and Player of the Year awards.
That’s a lot to ask for a 23-year-old. Granted, Pogba’s precocious experience and success prepare him for the high-pressure situation in Manchester, but he’s never seen expectations like the ones that await him in Old Trafford.
But signing Pogba launches massive expectation on more than just him. Mourinho will be fully expected to win the title in his first season, and all of the big name players, including recent newbies Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, must dominate the league.
United’s sudden propensity to find success by using their excess of money in the transfer market will direct the spotlight to the club. United must win, and all players, Pogba especially, must perform.
Overload of attacking players
No one in United’s squad has the current success and simultaneous potential as Pogba. But Mourinho has a barrage of stars—young and old— that would start for just about any other side in the Premier League.
Anthony Martial had 11 goals last season and is only 20-years-old. The youngster Marcus Rashford absolutely exploded in the latter stages of the Premier League season, scoring five goals in just 11 games, and both are shaped to headline the United attack for years to come.
Factor in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, an attacking midfielder who led the Bundesliga in assists last term, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, then United suddenly have an overload of worthy attacking players in the mix.
Juan Mata and Bastian Schweinsteiger are two veterans with a few quality years left in their careers as well. Evidently, every team would love to have United’s problem of having too many options. But Pogba’s arrival could impede the progression of the club’s young stars, and potentially move Mkhitaryan from his natural position.
Mourinho also indicated in his first United press conference that he sees Rooney in an attacking role, rather than in a deep midfield spot.
The ‘Special One’ will be hard-pressed to find everyone time on the pitch.
Progression of young stars
The growth of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford will be hindered if Pogba joins United.
Martial, 20, and Rashford, 18, showed what they were capable of last year. Similar to Pogba, Martial is also a Golden Boy victor, having won the 2015 rendition of the award. He shined this season for an otherwise dormant United attack with 11 goals, more than Pogba’s total in Serie A.
Rashford splashed onto the scene in the latter stages of the season. He scored five goals in 11 games, providing the club with a massive boost and a glimpse of the future.
But Pogba could take up one of the attacking midfield spots. He would likely move Mkhitaryan out wide, and with Ibrahimovic as the striker, Martial and Rashford’s inclusion on the pitch could be limited. Rooney’s role must be factored in as well.
Advancing the progress of Martial and Rashford will only come with playing time, which will be hard to distribute due to the excess of quality United attackers.
United could find similar quality for cheaper value
Pogba is a world class player, but there are several other options United could find to serve a similar purpose.
For example, players such as Dimitri Payet, Blaise Matuidi or Moussa Sissoko serve a similar purpose. All three are French midfielders who shined at the EUROs when Pogba was rather unimpressive.
Payet has emerged as one of the best attackers in Europe His sublime campaign with West Ham, followed up with a brilliant EUROs performance, should have clubs salivating.
Meanwhile, Matuidi has shown his quality over a sustained period of time both with PSG and France. He may not have the same creativity and intuition in the attacking third as Pogba or Payet, but Matuidi is a versatile option in the midfield.
Meanwhile, Sissoko shined brightest of all French players in the EURO final.
All three aforementioned names could serve as a dangerous midfielder capable of creating a goal at any touch.
The Pogba craze has grown to insurmountable heights. When compared with his French counterparts, the 23-year-old blended in more than standing out. He constantly played right in front of the backline and merely chipped diagonal balls into wide areas, rather than joining the attack fully.
His excellence shouldn’t be understated, but quality of performances from lesser-renowned names have been overlooked.
He is not worth the money
Football – FC Barcelona v Juventus – UEFA Champions League Final – Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany – 6/6/15Juventus’ Paul Pogba looks dejected at the end of the matchReuters / Dylan Martinez
Pogba is simply not worth £120million.
In order for a player’s name to be etched alongside the biggest transfer fee ever, he must be the top player or two in the world, and Pogba isn’t.
Such an exorbitant price could be associated with Gareth Bale, Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez or Ronaldo. All of them produce consistently, and it shows.
Pogba recorded a mediocre eight goals last season with Juventus. He led Serie A with 12 assists, which was the lowest out off all the collective best outputs from the top five leagues.
In the EUROs, he was the featured player on the side that was favoured to win the tournament. His quality didn’t warrant the hype, as he scored one goals, failed to record an assist and lost to a Ronaldo-less Portugal squad in France.
His performances certainly didn’t justify a £120million contract.
United may use Pogba in a defensive midfield role, which would be a massive mistake. The Frenchman is a mediocre defender. He is much more adept in the attacking sense, but Mourinho has already stated he sees Rooney in an attacking role, which could relegate Pogba deeper into the midfield in a defensive role.
Does it really make sense to pay £120million for a defensive midfielder?
Pogba has a brilliant career ahead of him, but until he leaps into the top tier of three or four best players in the world, he doesn’t deserve the most lucrative deal in football history.
Sam Allardyce begins his career at the helm of England national team on Sunday as his side take on Slovakia in their opening World Cup qualification fixture.
The game is the first since England’s dismal exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of the tournament’s surprise package Iceland, which led to the almost immediate resignation of former manager Roy Hodgson after four years in charge.
Those four years have been tough watching for the home nation and its fans, as England continually flattered deceive through Hodgson’s tenure – comfortably dominating their qualifying campaigns and pre-tournament friendly but ultimately becoming a no-show on the big stage.
Not only was it tough to watch, but the figures left behind by Hodgson and his team don’t exactly read well either. 11 games, three wins, five draws and three losses with an overall win percentage of 27.3% stands the former West Brom and Liverpool manager’s record – hardly the stuff of potential World Cup winners.
As for England under Allardyce, the only way seems to be up. Fans will be hoping that the former West Ham man can bring the team spirit and never say die attitude so many of his former clubs have possessed with him onto the world stage – something the side lacked in the past three major tournaments.
Big Sam named his first squad ahead of the fixture on Sunday, most of which came as no shock except the inclusion of in-form West Ham winger Michail Antonio and the exclusion of Bournemouth’s new man Jack Wilshere.
A big result is vital for England in their first game under new management, but how should Allardyce and co. line-up this weekend?
We think this would be the perfect starting XI …..
GK – Joe Hart
Time for Joe Hart to step up and prove himself. A major set back in his Manchester City career saw him move on loan to Torino for the season in search of first team football/better weather. Hart needs to make Pep Guardiola realise he may have made a mistake.
RB – Nathaniel Clyne
How Kyle Walker makes the starting XI over this lad continues to bemuse me, and anyone that says the pair are ‘near enough the same player’ obviously have never watched either of them play.
Clyne is better defensively, and has a far superior end product going forward. Under-rated.
CB – John Stones
£50million is hefty price tag to have on your shoulders, especially at the ripe old age of 22.
Stones has began his Manchester City career in fantastic fashion however, putting in some solid performances as Pep Guardiola continues his 100% start to his career at the Etihad.
CB – Gary Cahill
Cahill struggled for form last season in what was a dismal campaign for Chelsea as they finished a lowly 10th in the Premier League. The former Bolton man looks to be approaching his best again under new Blues boss Antonio Conte.
LB – Danny Rose
Football – Tottenham Hotspur v Queens Park Rangers – Barclays Premier League – White Hart Lane – 14/15 – 24/8/14 Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose in action against Queens Park Rangers Loic Remy Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienEDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Pleas
Fantastic for Tottenham last season in their club record breaking campaign, Rose was dynamic, aggressive, collective and positionally sound throughout – all the qualities you want from your right back.
He struggled for England at Euro 2016, but cannot be to blame as he was thrown into a half-sharp side for his big tournament debut.
CDM – Eric Dier
Many England fans would have voted for Eric Dier has their player of the tournament at Euro 2016, and they wouldn’t have been wrong. The Tottenham midfielder played with an assurance and confidence far beyond his years and experience. One of the first names on the team sheet.
CDM – Danny Drinkwater
Finally.
Big Sam has seen the light – something that Roy Hodgson failed to do. Drinkwater has been the most consistent midfielder in the Premier League over the past season and a bit, continuing his fine form into the beginning of the new campaign. Deserves his chance to shine and show what he can do.
LM – Raheem Sterling
A man re-born so it seems this year, Sterling has had an almost unimaginable start to the new season considering his efforts last time out and for England during the summer.
The City winger was a scapegoat for England’s awful performances, but has shown he has the ability to perform when filled with confidence. Hopefully Allardyce can do exactly as Guradiola has done at City.
RM – Michail Antonio
Why not give the new boy a chance? I dare anybody to name an English winger who has been in better form over the last nine months than Michail Antonio.
The West Ham winger’s endeavour and ability have carried him all the way from non-league to a Premier League goal scorer and now potential England debutant. Plays with a smile on his face and always gives 100%, could teach some of the others likewise.
CAM – Adam Lallana
Argue if you will, but Lallana for me is one of, if not the most talented player England have produced since Wayne Rooney.
Yes he may not have a killer instinct in the box, but the Liverpool midfielder posses mesmeric footwork, brilliant movement and an ability to make things happen by finding spaces that don’t exist on the pitch.
Lallana would be more highly rated if he played on the continent.
ST – Jamie Vardy
Picking your in-form players is vital, and also picking your players that will work together as a team is also key.
England kept the ball so well at the Euro’s but ultimately failed to create any chances, so why not try a different, more direct approach this time around.
With Danny Drinkwater in the squad and two out-and-out wingers, Vardy could thrive running in behind.
Arsenal’s summer transfer window went from disaster to pretty darn good over the course of the last few days.
Going into the final week the Gunners looked to be on their way to a second successive off-season with only one notable addition in the shape of Granit Xhaka – Petr Cech was their man of 2015 – but a late splurge, brought on by injuries, saw Lucas Perez and Shkodran Mustafi signed for just over £50m in total.
The pair are of undoubted quality and will slot straight into Arsene Wenger’s plans for the coming weeks, adding depth in north London. But, have the capital club really got enough options to compete for an ever-elusive title?
The above question started a debate in FFC Towers, and we’re not quite sure Arsenal have enough. To back this up, let’s look at each department and who could be getting game time across the 2016/17 season…
Goalkeeper
Petr Cech – The standout No.1, Cech will play at least 90% of Arsenal’s league games, barring injury, this season, and will surely be called upon in the bigger cup matches.
David Ospina – The Colombian remains a Gunners player despite widespread rumours for well over 12 months and could be used in cup matches and the Champions League.
Emiliano Martinez – The Argentine youngster is around to make up the numbers, but might get game time in an injury crisis or early cup matches.
Right-back
Hector Bellerin – The Spaniard has made the right-back berth his own over the past 18 months or so, with his blistering pace on the flank a hallmark of the Gunners’ game, both in an attacking sense and defensively.
Mathieu Debuchy – The Frenchman is currently nursing an injury that prevented him from leaving London on Deadline Day, but he’s an experienced player and might get minutes later in the season when Bellerin needs to be rested.
Carl Jenkinson – The England international’s ACL injury forced him back early from a loan spell at West Ham last season, but if he can recover he could get matches come 2017.
Centre-back
Laurent Koscielny – The France international is Arsenal’s key defender and should be back to full fitness by the coming weekend after being eased back in after the EUROs by Wenger.
Shkodran Mustafi – The £35m German is likely to slot straight into Wenger’s XI, and will be looked to to transfer the mixture of technique and brute force that win him so much praise in La Liga to the Premier League.
Rob Holding – With Mertesacker and Gabriel both injured, Holding is already a first-team regular at Arsenal. His game time is likely to dip now that the above pair are available, but Holding can expect to play in cup matches over the coming months.
Per Mertesacker – The big German will be back around the winter period and will be of vital importance when the games are coming thick and fast.
Gabriel Paulista – how much of a future the Brazilian has at Arsenal remains up in the air after an underwhelming start to life in the north of London, but his absence has been noticed due to injuries of late.
Left-back
Nacho Monreal – The Spaniard has been reborn over the past 12 – 18 months and is now the runaway starter at left-back. He’s more defensively responsible than Bellerin on the opposite flank, making for a nice balance.
Kieran Gibbs – the England international will get matches by virtue of a lack of options and could yet prove himself at the Emirates Stadium.
Central midfield
Granit Xhaka – Signed for £30m+, the robust Swiss midfielder was phenomenal against Watford and is likely to be the bedrock of Wenger’s midfield. His all-energy playing style and combativeness are what many fans and pundits have been calling for.
Santi Cazorla – The silky Spaniard has moved back into a more reserved role over the course of the last year and has shown how effective he can be at dictating the tempo of the game through his neat passing.
Aaron Ramsey – The Welshman is currently out of action with a hamstring injury but is likely to edge back into the team over the coming few weeks. Ramsey and Xhaka look to be the pairing of choice for Wenger going forward.
Francis Coquelin – The tough-tackling Frenchman is the closest thing Arsenal have to an actual holding midfielder, so he’s sure to get game time against the bigger sides in European and domestic football, and will often be used from the bench to see out matches.
Mohamed Elneny – The Egyptian is neat on the ball and can win back possession, but he seems like 7/10 player in all aspects. He’ll get minutes on the pitch, but he’s by no means a key man.
Attacking midfield
Mesut Ozil – The man that makes Arsenal tick, Ozil is one of the best ‘No.10s’ in the Premier League. Playing just behind the main striker, the German can drift and link up with team-mates, while he’s shown he’s adept at taking chances when they come along.
Alexis Sanchez – Arguably on par with Ozil in the ‘key man’ stakes, Sanchez is all-action and, when things are going well, unplayable. The Chilean has started the season up front due to injuries, but his best position is on the left, where he can cut and use that deadly right foot.
Lucas Perez – Signed as a striker from Deportivo La Coruna, it would be no surprise to see Perez slot in as one of the attacking midfield three. Indeed, the Spaniard spent much of his early career in a deeper role and was one of the most creative players in La Liga last season.
Aaron Ramsey – Ramsey might often be used in a wide attacking midfield role given his delivery and clever movement.
Theo Walcott – Surely now is the time for Walcott to step up? The Englishman has had a few ‘last chances’ at Arsenal, yet this one feels like it could be final, with the right-wing position uncertain in north London.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Like Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain seems to be to be battling for his future this season and looked impressive against Liverpool when he came on in the opening weekend loss. The Englishman has pace, but needs to work on his consistency.
Alex Iwobi – Arsenal’s breakout man of 2015/16 will get matches under his belt this season.
Centre-forward
Olivier Giroud – Like him or loathe him, Giroud is Arsenal’s main centre-forward. The Frenchman clearly appreciated by Wenger, who makes use of his hold-up and link-up play, which can be devastating.
Lucas Perez – The Spanish attacker shone in a relatively poor Deportivo La Coruna team as the main striker last season, and his pacey approach offers a nice alternative to Giroud’s traditional ‘No.9’ style.
Chuba Akpom – Raw, but with speed and power, Akpom has a bright future. He might get games in cup action early this season.
Danny Welbeck – Out until early 2017 with another injury, Welbeck may feel ‘like a new signing’ when he comes back.
Yaya Sanogo – Yep, he’s still an Arsenal player. It’s hard to envisage the Frenchman playing much, if at all, across the season.
It was a good point for Tottenham in the end tonight in the Champions League against German side Bayer Leverkusen.
Despite going into the game in the bottom half of the Bundesliga the German side gave a very good account of themselves as they weathered early Spurs pressure in the first half to force some fine saves from Hugo Lloris in the second half.
Spurs had to play without Toby Alderweireld and Kyle Walker at the back but held firm and could have scored themselves with the unfortunate Vincent Janssen missing a couple of good chances along with Dele Alli.
A tight but decent game, then, and here are five things we learned…
Spurs go all guns blazing
Whilst Spurs came out of the blocks in pretty swift fashion in this game they soon saw themselves flagging in the second half as Bayer Leverkusen grew into the game. In the future Spurs need to make sure they avoid such an issue against the better European sides or they could end up in serious trouble.
A new striker is needed… again
Vincent Janssen just didn’t have the luck with him, again. The Dutch striker tried as hard as he always has this season but saw a goal chalked off for offside before he hit the cross-bar with a header from close-range.
It’s those kind of things you need to go for you when you’re in a rut like Janssen in but Spurs can’t really afford to wait much longer for him.
Decent squad depth on show
Football Soccer – Juventus v Tottenham Hotspur – International Champions Cup – Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia – 16/17 – 26/7/16Tottenham’s Kieran TrippierAction Images via Reuters / David Gray
We knew Toby Alderweireld would be injured for this one but Eric Dier fitted in seamlessly at the back as Spurs had to shuffle their pack around the missing Belgian.
Also, at right back, Kieran Trippier came in for the usual Kyle Walker and performed well in helping Spurs keep a clean sheet. It really made no difference that Spurs did not have their usual defence tonight.
Hugo Lloris is one of the best
The Frenchman was in fine form in this game making a string of crucial saves in the second half. The pick of the bunch has to be the one from Javier Hernandez as he scrambled across his line to keep out a certain goal.
The goal-line technology showed how close it was but ultimately it wasn’t close enough for Leverkusen thanks to the Frenchman.
Spurs well at home at this level
Ultimately, the result is all that matters and Spurs once again showed that they are more than capable of mixing it with more experienced European sides. Although they rode their luck at times the Lilywhites were never under massive pressure and also had chances to win the game themselves. The point leaves them still second in the group after CSKA and Monaco drew too.