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Monday, 8 September 2014

Manchester United To Return With £47m Bid For Midfielder

Manchester United look set to return in January with a bid for Arturo Vidal.

The Juve midfielder was the subject of sustained interest from Manchester United during the summer but the deal didn't come to fruition.

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The deal was weighed down after it appeared that Vidal was carrying a niggling knee injury. It is thought that United will press ahead with the deal, providing Vidal can prove he has shaken off this injury.

The move could result in United paying a hefty fee, although the Daily Star are reporting today that the deal could involve some sort of swap with Spaniard Juan Mata.

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Sunday, 7 September 2014

Liverpool Set To Sign Champions League Winning Keeper

Rumours are flying around that Liverpool have agreed terms with Victor Valdes and he will sign, subject to a medical. [Source: Metro]

Valdes left Barcelona at the end of last season as his contract ran out. He was set to join Monaco during the summer however this move broke down.

Valdes could go straight into the team but will have to prove his fitness after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury back in March - an injury that kept him out the World Cup in Brazil this year.

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Brendan Rodgers had intially looked at Reading's Alex McCarthy and Swansea's Michel Vorm, however the pair went on to join QPR and Tottenham respectively. After missing out on the two, Rodgers is likely to press ahead with the signing.

Do you think Valdes should be Liverpool's new number 1 or should they stick with Simon Mignolet?

Tuesday, 26 August 2014

The Balotelli Gamble

After Liverpool successfully secured the signing of Mario Balotelli shortly before their clash with the impressive Manchester City, we thought we'd take a look at whether this was a genius move or whether Liverpool were doomed. Please feel free to add comments with your opinions, I'd love to know what others think!

I won't bore you with Balotelli's past, who he played for when he was 11, how many goals he scored for them, what his favourite colour as as a child etc., what I want to talk about is his impact on the Liverpool team.

Liverpool nabbed Balotelli for a fee reported to be around £16m (BBC Sports) and I think this is a pretty good price. If you go on twitter you'll see all the comparisons like the fact that Balotelli only cost Liverpool £5m more than Fulham paid for Ross Mcormack and if you look at it like that then it probably is good value. However, don't forget, Milan were trying to sell him and I can imagine it's incredibly difficult to push the price up with someone who has a history like Mario does. I think only time will tell if it was good value for money but he definitely represents a huge risk.

When Balotelli was at City, I was never a huge fan. I appreciated that he had a few moments of brilliance but they were very few and far between. If I'm honest, I thought he was overrated and every time I'd seen him, he seemed to be sulking and ineffective. However this doesn't seem to be the player that Milan signed. I think Milan was a great move for him, he left the English media behind and had a chance to start again in his home country. He also had a big reputation and this excited the Milan fans and this seemed to encourage him. Balotelli made a huge impact scoring 12 goals in 13 appearances and looked to be threatening to show some of his talent. He almost became Milan's talisman and in my opinion he benefitted from being a big fish in a comparatively smaller pond than City's.

Next season Balotelli grabbed 18 in 41 in all comps, a pretty decent return, however what I noticed is his removal from the headlines, he really seems to have found a way to get stuck in.

I was really impressed with Balotelli's performance against England in the World Cup too. It was a mature performance, not just because he scored the winning goal but he seemed a genuine threat.

Despite all this, his agent was right, it was Balotelli's last chance for a move to a big club, his last chance to reignite his career and reach his potential. I believe Liverpool and Rodgers are a good choice. Balotelli will bring support for Sturridge who I don't think is quite ready to take the entire burden up front. Rodgers will be able to mentor Balotelli well, however I'm not so convinced he'll prevent his antics, especially after he effectively failed to do so with Suarez. Although, this all depends on Balotelli himself, perhaps he really is a changed man.

On paper, Balotelli and Sturridge for attacking options sounds pretty lethal, but do I think he'll turn into one of the best strikers in the world? No. Do I think he'll do well at Liverpool? Yes. In short I'm almost sitting in the middle, I don't think he'll ever reach this astronomical potential that most seem convinced he possesses as quite frankly I don't think he does. However, I do think he's a decent player and can definitely get quite a few goals a season for Liverpool. So, in my opinion, don't expect fireworks (apart from off the pitch) or a future Ballon d'Or, but expect a raw talent who can be coached into a very good striker.

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Sunday, 24 August 2014

10 Things We Learned From Chelsea vs Leicester

After Chelsea defeated Leicester 2-0 at Stamford Bridge we took a look at what this game was able to tell us about both teams. Here's 10 things we picked up!

1. Diego Costa is exactly what Chelsea need

This is probably the most obvious one of all so we'll get it out the way first but you can't deny that Chelsea have been crying out for someone like Costa for ages. Not only did they desperately need a classy striker but Costa fits the bill perfectly. At risk of repeating Alan Shearer on MOTD (who was right by the way), Costa has more to his game than goals and his hold up play will be very useful as it allows others to run in behind and with Fabregas' quality final ball, chances should be abundant. Also, Costa is a natural goalscorer, a poacher, as shown by his first two goals.

2. Leicester aren't as easy to beat as most thought they would be
Leicester have given a very decent account of themselves in their opening games and have surprised many. Although their fixture list seems to have given them a baptism of fire, they look like they could be a good side when they get out the other side of it. Following an excellent comeback against a strong Everton side, they produced an admirable display against Chelsea. Any team thinking they're an easy three points should think again!

3. Courtois looks like an excellent keeper
After an accomplished debut against Burnley, Courtois caught the eye against Leicester with a string of saves including a highly impressive one from Nugent who was one-on-one. Courtois is a big presence in the box, looks relaxed and like a keeper who is going to live up to the hype.

4.Kasper Schmeichel looks to be a brilliant young keeper
Not quite on Courtois' level but definitely showing some of his Father's talent. Schmeichel was outstanding against Chelsea and unlucky to concede two goals, the second of which taking a deflection. He'll have to be on top form for Leicester to survive.

5. Leicester are very dangerous on the counter attack
Something that caught my eye in Leicester's opening games was the speed at which they counter attack. You may remember Jeffrey Schlupp's hilarious effort after being one-on-one with Howard last week where he almost cleared the stadium. However, Leicester conjured another lightning quick counter against Chelsea, with Nugent failing to score, and the pace at which they do so is impressive. Teams will have to keep an eye out for this!

6. Ivanovic is one of the best defenders in the league
Branislav Ivanovic is a massively underrated player in my opinion. You may forget that he initially began as a central defender but he has managed to adapt his game brilliantly to fit the right-back role. This is incredibly impressive for such a big, bullish defender and his ability to attack at the same time is a huge boost for a team, his goals are vital. After a rampaging performance against Leicester, Ivanovic looks on top form once again!

7. Eden Hazard can be Chelsea's secret weapon this season

You may think this sounds slightly ridiculous but until he scored yesterday, I'd almost forgotten Hazard even played for Chelsea. With the frenzy of excitement over Costa, Fabregas and Courtois, it's easy to forget Chelsea already had a world class player in Hazard. With teams focusing on the aforementioned trio, Hazard may be able to sneak under the radar. If he doesn't then at worst he could combine to deadly effect with Costa and Fabregas!

8. Oscar is incredibly unlucky!
Since he signed for Chelsea, no other Chelsea player has hit the woodwork more times than Oscar with 4 hits! Small margins Oscar, small margins!

9. Leicester must learn quick
This point has already been touched upon by a number of pundits but it certainly rings true. Leicester can't sit there feeling sorry for themselves over their fixture list and near win against Everton, they must learn quickly and take their chances. David Nugent's one-on-one being a prime example. You'll be punished if you pass up those chances.

10. Chelsea need to kill games off quicker
Whilst they came away with the three points, Chelsea need to get going earlier on. It took them until the 77th minute to take the game away from Leicester with Hazard's goal. In that time, Leicester had a few chances and had only one of them gone in it could have been an entirely different game. Chelsea should be careful, against better opposition they will be punished for a mediocre performance like that.

So that concludes our list of the 10 things we learned from Chelsea vs Leicester, feel free to add any comments. Any feedback would also be greatly appreciated.

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Thursday, 15 August 2013

Premier League 2013/2014 Preview

The fever of the Premier League is finally returning after three months. Without a shadow of a doubt this season will be different. How big can a change get when you realise that there will be no Sir Alex to lead out the Manchester United side, and also, the inevitable return of the Special One – Jose Mourinho. With massive changes at Chelsea, United, City etc. It will be a feisty encounter and fascinating no doubt, to see who takes the glory this time around.

Lets talk a bit about who will be facing who on the opening day of the Premier League 2013-14 season. Here are my thoughts on the possible outcomes and what players can make a name for themselves over the course of the new season.

Liverpool vs. Stoke

Stoke have done extremely well in the past couple of years to stay up and become a side which most of the teams fear because of how they play but that might change this year with a shift in the managerial position. Is it possibly the last chance for Mark Hughes to really make a name for himself? On the other hand, the real task for Liverpool would be to retain the services of the Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez. Rogers has done well to bring in good, solid young players and they can play a good role in the progress of the team. If Suarez stays, surely Champions League spot is not out of reach for them?

Prediction for the fixture: 2-0 to Liverpool.

Arsenal vs. Aston Villa

Aston Villa will need to come good this season. However, they did look to be enjoying their football towards the end of last season but they need a better start this time around. With Benteke staying for another year, it is a real advantage for them. Arsenal really need to break their bank in the remaining days of the transfer window as they have a real chance of making into the top-three this year. If they don’t, I see a real possibility of them them losing out on the fourth spot to Villas Boas’s Tottenham.

Prediction for the fixture: 2-1 to Arsenal.

Norwich vs. Everton

Everton had a very decent season last year, like they have had under Moyes most of the years but would a change in manager affect them? It remains yet to be seen. Martinez had a very odd season with the Latics but he did manage to win a trophy which was absolute crucial for him in landing the Everton job before seeing his side get relegated from the Premier League. Kone for them would be a player to watch out for as he will have better support at Goodison Park. Norwich on the other hand have done extremely well in the transfer market thus far and look like real competition. With the likes of Gary Hooper, Leroy Fer, and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel joining, I see them finishing in the top half of the table.

Prediction for this fixture: 2-1 to Norwich.

Sunderland vs. Fulham

Di Canio played an important role last season for the Black Cats in their quest to stay up. Under him, Sunderland looked like a better side. The wins against Newcastle and Tottenham boosted Di Canio’s reputation and fans started getting behind him even more. There is no doubt that he is looking like a fans favorite which is a good thing for the club after such a dodgy spell under Martin O’Neil. Fulham have a change in the ownership which can bring in massive overhaul hence it is difficult to analysis how they will perform but they have been, as expected, rather slow in the transfer market which will see them struggle this season as well. They need to get their away form back on track if they want a higher finish in the table.

Prediction for this fixture: 1-0 to Di Canio’s men.

West Brom vs. Southampton

Both teams are good competitors for this season but West Brom will suffer from the loss of Romelu Lukaku, who played a vital role in most their games and is now back at Stamford Bridge. Steve Clarke has done well thus far bringing in Nicolas Anelka, a former Premier League star, to play alongside Shane Long. Both combined can give trouble to the Saints' defense. Southampton are another team who are looking strong. They managed to renew the contract of Luke Shaw and in Rickie Lambert combining with Jay Rodriguez, they have good strength upfront. Gaston Ramirez was another unsung hero last year and he will also come good this time around. Expect good finish from both the sides when the season ends.

Prediction for this fixture: 2-2 draw.

West Ham vs. Cardiff

It is always difficult for any team to get promoted and cope with the calibre of the Premier League. It will be a very tough battle

for them this season to stay up. They are doing very well in the transfer market and recently they confirmed the signing of England international, Steven Caulker. West Ham on the other hand still have players who will look to be making a massive impact on the side, especially Jarvis and Carroll. The Hammers have also signed Stewart Downing, with his inclusion the fight for the top half will become even more interesting. As far as this fixture is concerned, Hammers will have the advantage of home soil and they will just nick it, in my opinion.

Prediction for this fixture: 2-1 to West Ham.

Swansea vs. Manchester United

Everybody assumed that Swansea wouldn't be able to cope after Brendan Rogers walked out the door but they proved everyone wrong and performed even better. They played lovely football which was pleasing on the eye, precise. They keep the possession incredibly well and they showed they are good enough to take on any team when they beat Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. With Michu sticking around and the likes of Wilfred Bony coming in, they look like a very decent side capable of great things. It’ll be interesting to see them play in Europe as well. Manchester United however look puzzled at the moment. Their transfer window has been a disaster thus far. If they really are looking to buy someone, they should act quickly but also make sure that they don’t lose out on Rooney, especially to Chelsea.

Prediction for the game: 2-2 draw.

Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham

When you gain promotion, you look to make instant statement and Crystal Palace would be looking to do the same but I believe they won’t have enough attacking power to upset the Tottenham side who look incredibly strong especially with the inclusion of Paulinho and Soldado. Villas Boas has made the right moves in the transfer window and when the season kicks off, he’ll be picking up all the rewards. They have a realistic chance of finishing fourth this season and I am tipping them off to do so if Wenger’s side fails to bring in quality players like Gustavo or Suarez.

Prediction for the game: 3-1 to Tottenham.

Chelsea vs. Hull City

Chelsea have done well against Hull City in recent years and it looks very unlikely for a Jose Mourinho side to surrender to a newly promoted team in his first home game. With Lukaku coming back to strengthen the forward line for Mourinho and the likes of Mata, Hazard and Oscar settling in, it looks all set for the Special One to work his charm and regain the title back. The inclusion of Schurrle and Van Ginkel will give the bench a stronger look, something which it has lacked in previous seasons.

Prediction for the game: 4-0 for the Blues.

Manchester City vs. Newcastle

After many additions to the Newcastle side last season, they still looked disjointed. Perhaps this is the season where Alan Pardew makes sure that his side gets off to a good start and replicate what they did two seasons back. Manchester City, with the managerial change and lots of spending look in good shape. They have brought in some quality players in the shape of Jovetic and Negredo who can go on and make a name for themselves. City will surely be fighting for the title with the squad they have. Dzeko and Negredo are the ones to watch in their side this season.

Prediction for the game: 2-1 to Manchester City.

There you have it people. Those were the opening fixtures of the Premier League 2013-14. I personally cannot wait till the season kicks off. It is going to be a fantastic one, impossible to call whoever is going to win the title and who is going down.

Written By: @1on1chance

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Summer 2013: Transfer Bargains

Forget the extortionately priced players, here's some players that clubs should really think about buying as they're available for very reasonable prices! The list is dominated by Premier League players with the exception of the Brazilian, Fred. Of course, we all have opinions and mine is just one of them so tell me in the comments below if you think anyone should be added to this list, or if you can think of any foreign players who deserve a place there!

Tomas Rosicky

Rosicky has been at Arsenal a while now and although has failed to grab many headlines, he has caught the eye at times. His time at Arsenal has been extremely disjointed due to many factors, mainly injury. However, Rosicky showed in his excellent performance away at West Brom last season that he still has something to offer. I think Rosicky could massively benefit from a different environment and he could improve a number of teams in the Premier League. He could be available at a very reasonable price too, probably less than £5m.

Andi Weimann

Weimann had a good season last time out and impressed many. Whilst slightly overshadowed by the heroics of Christian Benteke, Weimann did manage 12 goals in all comps. Although Villa would, I imagine, be quite reluctant to sell him, I think he would be a good option for a few clubs. Being just 21, he has plenty of time to improve and he definitely has potential. Based on this, I think he could be a good buy for a number of teams, especially considering he could probably be lured with a fee under £9m.

Marc Albrighton

Albrighton has been rather quiet since breaking onto the scene a few seasons ago. His progress has been hampered by injury and some poor form, however I still think he'd be a good purchase for quite a few teams. Still young, at the age of 23, Albrighton has potential and his crossing ability is excellent. Combined with the fact that he is somewhat slightly out of favour at Villa, he could be available for a very good price.

Fred

After an impressive Confederations Cup campaign with Brazil, Fred was given some considerable media spotlight and it came to light that he has a £1.7m release clause in his contract. He joined Fluminese in 2009 and has netted 59 goals in 87 appearances, a rather prolific record, even though it is in the Brazilian league. However, he has also performed on the international stage with 16 goals in 29 games. Although 29 years old, at £1.7m, Fred could be an excellent buy.

Momo Diame

Diame joined West Ham last summer on a free transfer from Wigan, a move that didn't really receive much attention, however since joining Diame has been brilliant for the Hammers and this led to a number of clubs chasing the midfielder. News then came about that there is a £3.5m release clause in his contract, making him available at a great price. Diame would be a player very useful for most teams.

Gary O'Neil
Not a player to grab headlines, but a solid player nonetheless. O'Neil works tirelessly every game chasing down opponents to win the ball back and start attacks. His work often goes unnoticed due to its laborious nature, however after turning down a new contract at West Ham, O'Neil is now a free agent and with vast experience from his time in the game, O'Neil could be perfect for one of the newly promoted teams.

Yossi Benayoun
Benayoun was released by Chelsea this summer and is another free agent available. He enjoyed a short loan spell at West Ham this season and showed glimpses of the natural ability he possesses. Skillful and crafty, Benayoun adds some flair to teams with his creativity. I think he could benefit from settling down at a club and showing what he can do.

Scott Parker
Parker has struggled for games this season through a combination of injuries and competition within the Tottenham squad. As AVB looks to take Spurs to the next level, it is likely that Parker will become surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane and a fee as small as £2m could be enough to bring the former England midfielder to your club. An extremely underrated player in my opinion, Parker still has lots to offer to any team he plays for and I think he could definitely still hold his own in the Premier League.

Loic Remy
Loic Remy was one of the gems in QPR's dire season. His half season goals haul wasn't quite enough to keep the R's up, but his ability was still evident. With the Hoops' relegation, it is likely that Remy could be available for a very reasonable fee as QPR look to offload some of their monumental wage bill. Perhaps not quite the cheapest player on the list, but still good value for money in my opinion.

Adel Taarabt

Taarabt fell rather out of favour at QPR this season but still showed his class when involved in the first team. Taarabt is a tricky player to manage with a questionable attitude, however his ability is far from questionable. Taarabt is always capable of summoning something special and can change games. QPR are said to favour a loan move away from the club for Taarabt but a small fee could tempt the London club to sell outright.

Who else do you think deserves to be on the list? Tell us in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!

Sunday, 7 July 2013

Jozy Altidore - Scout Report

At the time of writing, rumours are rife that Sunderland have completed the signing of 23-year-old striker Jozy Altidore. The Daily Express recently reported that Sunderland had reached an agreement with Altidore's club, AZ Alkmaar and now, Alkmaar have officially confirmed this on their website. With his transfer to Sunderland, fans will undoubtedly be desperate to know more about the young American striker after only seeing him for a short spell during his loan to Hull City.

Jozy Altidore is a 23-year-old American striker who stands at 6 ft 1, whilst boasting 60 caps for the US Mens National Team. He began at New York Red Bulls in 2006 as a 16-year-old before he moved to Spanish side, Villarreal in 2008. It wasn't a particularly productive transfer for Villarreal as Altidore would go on to endure three loan spells for Xerez, Hull City and Bursaspor. Fans may remember him from his loan spell at Hull where he could only notch 1 goal in 28 appearances. After the succession of loan spells, Altidore moved to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar where he has since settled and found goals and first team football in abundance with 38 goals in 67 games. During this rather turbulent period of Altidore's career, he gradually progressed through the various levels of the National Team until he made his debut for the official squad in 2007.

Here's something you probably didn't know about Altidore: He is second cousin to American actor Wayne Brady!

So onto his style of play: Altidore is a powerful forward with a good eye for goal and is someone who links up with his team-mates well. He creates his own chances a lot of the time through combinations with other players and isn't your typical goal poacher, always netting tap-ins. A very composed finisher in front of goal, Altidore is capable of receiving the ball under pressure before calmly slotting home in a confident fashion. Upon watching some footage of Altidore, you'd struggle not to notice that he is very fond of a good old fashioned one-two and this simply underlines his ability to act as an outlet for his team, who can hold the ball up well. This shows he is not just about goals but that he brings a lot more to the team, a valuable asset that many clubs are crying out for as football evolves in the modern day era.

To round off, Altidore looks to be a sound signing for Sunderland and with the Daily Mail reporting the fee to be £6m I think this could be a decent bit of business from Paolo Di Canio. Altidore is still only 23 years of age and I think Di Canio will be able to nurture his talents and turn him into a top striker. Whilst his impact might not be felt immediately, I think once he settles, the goals will come.

Of course, things can change at any time so you shouldn't believe the gossip until you see a picture of him with the shirt!

If you liked this scout report then please do leave a comment below, I'd love some feedback! I'd also like to know what Sunderland fans think about their new signing!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it!