All posts by h79snht.top

Virgil van Dijk may have only joined the Celtic ranks last summer, but following a season which saw him net five times in 36 Scottish Premiership appearances, claim the Scottish title and help the Bhoys’ defence go a record-breaking 1,215 minutes without conceding, potential suitors for the Dutch centre-back are hardly in short supply.

Indeed, 23 years of age, a 6 foot 4 beast boasting considerable technical ability, van Dijk looks set to become the latest Celtic player to swap Parkhead for the Premier League. Swansea have been linked by the Daily Mail and Southampton by TheMag, but Arsenal, Spurs and Newcastle are said to be interested too.

With that in mind and the Scottish champions seemingly facing a losing battle, here’s FIVE replacements for the highly-rated centre-back for Ronny Deila to consider.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON VAN DIJK TO REVEAL

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Harry Maguire

Having claimed the Player of the Year award for three seasons in a row at Bramall Lane and featured in the League One Team of the Year for 2012,2013 and 2014, Sheffield United’s Harry Maguire is considered to be one of the best English defenders outside of the Premiership.

He’s a good goalscorer too, with eleven for the Blades over the last two seasons. Here’s a look at some of Maguire’s strikes:

Resultantly however, the 21 year-old has recently revealed his intentions to leave South Yorkshire this summer:

A Premier League move has been mooted for the 6 foot 4 centre-back, once allegedly on the radars of Manchester United and Liverpool, with Hull City reportedly the most interested party:

But The Express claim Celtic are also interested, and valued at around £2million, the Englishman could prove to be a real coup. Likewise, the prospect of Champions League football will certainly excite Maguire.

However, Bhoys fans will be hoping he leaves this kind of thing in League One:

JOSH MEEKINGS

When Josh Meekings joined Inverness from Ipswich Town in summer 2011, he was very much a diamond in the rough. But over the last few seasons the Bury-born defender has come on leaps and bounds, and is now regarded as one of the SPL’s hottest centre-back prospects.

The Scotsman describes him as “Quick, athletic, good in the air and a demon in the tackle,” and also praised his orchestrating performance at the heart of defence in the League Cup final against Aberdeen.

He also scored this heroic goal, running the full length of the pitch, in a friendly against Charlton Athletic last season:

There are certainly more complete and matured defenders in the Scottish top flight, but Meekings’ potential for further growth is enormous. Furthermore, there’s only one year left on his current Inverness contract, making this summer the ideal opportunity for Celtic to buy.

Every centre-back has a token unfortunate own-goal that causes them embarrasment in the years to come. This is Josh Meekings’:

RHYS WILLIAMS

When Neil Lennon was on the prowl for an added centre-back in January, it’s alleged his priority target was Middlesbrough star Rhys Williams:

Capable of playing at centre-back, right-back or even in midfield, the Aussie international would be a more than acceptable replacement for Virgil van Dijk, sharing the Dutchman’s technical quality. He was in good form for Boro last season too, as detailed below…

Here’s the highlights from the 25 year-old’s 2011/12 campaign, where Williams won the Player of the Year award at the Riverside Stadium…

It’s believed Williams could be available for around £1.5million, but after suffering an Achilles injury at the end of last season, it remains to be seen if Ronny Deila will be prepared to maintain his predecessor’s interest in the defender.

MARTIN CRANIE

A more versatile option for Ronny Deila to consider is Barnsley’s Martin Cranie.

With the Tykes failing to beat the drop last season, the Yorkshire side have admitted their plans to cash-in on the 6 foot defender:

And despite his club plummeting into League One, the 27 year-old was in good form last season to claim four Man of the Match awards. His vitals for the campaign are detailed below…

The former Southampton and Portsmouth youngster has never quite realised his full potential, having once amassed 39 caps for England at junior level.

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But capable of playing at left-back, right-back or centre-half, Cranie has a lot to offer the Celtic defence. Just check out this stylish clearance from two seasons ago:

Cranie’s value remains unclear, but having moved to Oakwell from Coventry City on a free transfer in 2012, it’s unlikely his potential Parkhead arrival would exceed the £1million mark.

Eric Botteghin

Celtic acquired Virgil van Dijk from Dutch side FC Groningen last summer, so should the 23 year-old depart this summer, why not try the same trick again?

That may seem silly, but since moving to Euroborg in summer 2013 as van Dijk’s direct replacement, Brazilian-born centre-back Eric Botteghin has thoroughly excelled. Just take a look at his stats from last term:

And in case you need further evidence, some nut-bag has made a 14 minute videos of the 26 year-old’s highlights at former club FC Zwolle. Believe it or not, this is part one of three:

How highly Groningen rate the Brazilian remains unclear, but valued at a mere £1.3million by transfermarkt.com, he could prove to be yet another Eredivisie coup for the Bhoys.

Liverpool and Stoke played out a 0-0 draw at Anfield on Sunday.

Neither side could break the deadlock, with the visitors putting in a stern defensive display to deny Brendan Rodgers’ men.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis criticised Reds forward Luis Suarez after the game for what he perceived as a dive by the Uruguayan international in an attempt to win a penalty.

“You have got Suarez falling over in the box second half which was really, really disappointing,” Pulis told Sky Sports.

“I think that should be highlighted, as I have said before.”

However, the Potters’ trainer did praise Glen Johnson for his attitude and reaction to a Jonathan Walters challenge.

“There was a challenge in the first half in front of us, Jon Walters and Glen Johnson both went up for a header, it was a proper old-fashioned challenge.

“Glen Johnson did absolutely fantastic, just bounced back up on got with the game, it was a proper, proper challenge.

“I went over to him and said ‘well done, brilliant’ – not only did he play exceptionally well but his behaviour was fabulous,” Pulis concluded.

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The result leaves Liverpool with one solitary win this season, down in 14th place.

It should have been business as usual for Manchester United when they faced Arsenal last weekend, and in some ways it was. All United really had to do was turn up to face the team they demolished 8-2 last season, and there should really have been no fear for the visitors as Arsenal haven’t been a genuine threat at Old Trafford for around five or six years. The win was a given for the home side, but it did nothing to reinforce their position as title favourites this season.

Many Arsenal fans haven’t taken too kindly to the comments from the United camp and others in football that the home side should have scored at least five or six, going a decent way to replicating the embarrassment dished out last season. But was it the lack of threat from Arsenal that forced United to remain in second gear throughout the game, or did it tell something more of their own quality?

So far this season, Manchester United have been tested by Fulham, Tottenham, Stoke, Galatasaray, and Braga at home. Fortunately for Alex Ferguson’s side, they’ve managed to come out on top in each of those games except against Tottenham. That tired line of the ‘form of champions’ to come from behind to grab all three points is incredibly wide of the mark.

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Yes, United are the name you associate with Premier League football because of their success, but why should history have any relevance on how poor they sometimes can be? Should a Manchester United team—and this one really aren’t as bad as has been suggested—really be going behind to these teams or using the ropes to prop them up?

Maybe Robin van Persie was willing to show his merciful side against his old club on the weekend, converting only one of his handful of chances during the game. Wouldn’t a devastating score line have said a lot more about where United are and should be this season?

It could be a psychological issue. It would seem a waste to go down the road of suggesting the overriding factor of this United team is that many aren’t good enough, because as mentioned that’s not the case for most of the squad. Why is it then that they can continue to concede in the manner they do, why can they not hold a team like Galatasaray—who really have not impressed in Europe this season—to more than just a one-goal win? The story in Braga this week could have been so different were it not for their goalkeeper deciding to go for a walkabout and Javier Hernandez benefiting from a scramble on the Braga goal line.

The fact of this season is that United have been stretched in almost every game, losing against good opposition at home and relying heavily on one player when they really shouldn’t. How long will it be before Jonny Evans gets a straight red for one of his reckless challenges, the type that is sometimes missed because there was a story from the player on the other end?

The win against Chelsea gave us some evidence that there is a good team in there who can go away to one of the more impressive sides in the league and start much more brightly, although the win wasn’t entirely of their own doing. But that game wasn’t one of many, rather it acted as one of the exceptions.

How long can this team continue to rely on van Persie (yes, in exactly the same way Arsenal did last season) and how long can people continue to say ‘United always find a way to make it through’? They’ve been fortunate that the Champions League group stage has been somewhat kind to them this year and it shouldn’t be looked at as a case of them conquering the group in the way you’d expect. Every other English team is struggling at the moment and there is a very real possibility that all of them may not join United in the knockout phase.

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It doesn’t just amount to a leaky defence owed to a lack of consistent personnel. There doesn’t seem to be the same drive to go and take control of games in a manner in which they should be able to.

Again, even with a limp, lifeless and uninspired Arsenal as the opposition last weekend, United helped to create a score line that many may look back at in the future as something of a close game. It wasn’t, but that was because of the lifeless visiting team.

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Manchester United have started their 2012-13 season with a defeat, as Everton triumphed over the title hopefuls 1-0 at Goodison Park on Monday night.

Sir Alex Ferguson gave a Premier League debut to Shinji Kagawa, and also brought Robin van Persie off the bench with 20 minutes remaining, but a Marouane Fellaini strike on 57 minutes decided the fixture in the favour of the hosts.

David Moyes hailed the impact on his Belgian midfielder after the victory, and was delighted with the result.

“Fellaini was excellent tonight but we know he’s capable of that,” the Scottish boss told Sky Sports.

“He can play in that position, he can play in the centre of the park. He’s a really talented footballer.

“It was hard for them. Manchester United, you have to remember, were without some central defenders tonight. But I did think Fellaini caused them problems.

“Manchester United are a big threat. If you lose concentration for a minute or turn off, they’re liable to punish you.

“But I thought we defended really well when we had to tonight, and I think we caused them some problems when we had the ball.

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“I thought Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin, all the defenders, did a great job in making sure we didn’t concede a goal,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

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Dark, ominous clouds have become a permanent fixture at Villa Park in recent times, as evident from the club’s recent kit launch. The aftermath of Martin O’Neill’s resignation coupled with huge financial losses and the departure of key players has seen the club plummet towards the foot of the table. Even the appointment of promising manager Paul Lambert has failed to lift the spirits of fans still reeling from the soul-destroying reign of Alex McLeish.

The recent activity from the summer transfer window offered more questions than answers, as the club steered clear of experienced Premier League professionals and instead decided to supplement their already significant number of promising youngsters. However, the return of striker Gabriel Agbonlahor – without wanting to endorse an overused cliché – will feel like a new signing.

Agbonlahor can no longer hide behind his tag as ‘a star in the making’, instead the onus will be on the 25-year-old to act as a talisman as Lambert begins his rejuvenation process. Incredibly, this will be his eighth season as a member of the Villans first-team but few could argue that he has reached his full potential. His lightning speed is his best and sometimes only positive attribute, with many supporters acknowledging that a vast improvement is needed if he is to torment the league’s best defenders.

In recent weeks, the former England international has voiced his desire to play a central role in the heart of Villa’s attack. In order to fashion these claims into a reality he must first match or perhaps better the strike-rate of team-mate Darren Bent, a tall order for a player who struggles to nudge his goal tally into double figures. Furthermore he will have to fend off the challenge of Andreas Weimann and new signing Jordan Bowery, who have replaced Agbonlahor as the talented youngsters trying to infiltrate the starting XI.

The fortunes of Aston Villa will rely heavily on Lambert’s ability to coax the very best out of his players, especially as the squad is littered with individuals desperately clinging onto former glories or struggling to fulfil their much-publicised promise. The former Norwich manager is also renowned for his love of big, burly target men as evident from his affection towards Grant Holt and Steve Morison. This may also highlight why he decided to spend £7m on Genk’s 6 foot 6 inch behemoth Christian Benteke on transfer deadline day.

Whereas Darren Bent harbours the capability to be deployed as a lone striker, I can’t see Agbonlahor effectively shielding the ball away from the physically more dominant defenders. Despite his reluctance to do so, he may have to give up the limelight and begin reinventing himself as winger who can also operate as an inside forward. He may currently lack the creative flair to conjure up an inch perfect cross but his pace and trickery is far more likely to be effective up against a lone full-back. It’s no secret that Villa have failed to replace the attacking wide players of Ashley Young or Stewart Downing and even with the emergence of Marc Albrighton, there is still a vacant role on the flanks waiting to be filled.

If Agbonlahor is gifted his chance to operate as Villa’s fixed point of attack, he must reproduce the sort of displays that previously raised fans to their feet. If his shooting boots desert him then he must continue to hound the opposition with tenacious displays, even if it means letting someone else hog all the goal-scoring headlines. In the absence of Stilian Petrov, the club has lost its influential leader and who better to take up the mantle than a local lad and lifelong fan of the club.

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I still believe there’s a world-class footballer desperate to break free from within Gabriel Agbonlahor; I just hope this is the season we finally get to see him.

Join me on Twitter @theunusedsub 

Last night was a painful experience for fans of Tottenham; not only were they beaten but a rampant Manchester City side demolished them. Spurs may well have been on the wrong end of a number of key decisions, but the gulf in class was marked and fans have a genuine reason to be concerned.

It would be wrong to treat this result in isolation, it is just one amongst a number of calamities for Spurs this season, both on and off the pitch. It is sometimes easy to forget that the people that run this Premier League club are some of the brightest commercial minds, but clearly business acumen and an eye for running a successful football club do not go hand in hand.

The way the club has been run this year has been nothing short of bizarre, and the countless errors in judgement and footballing oversights are continually catching them up. More worryingly perhaps is that we have been here before with Spurs, the last 10 years are a testament to their inability to have any long-term direction or strategy.

Managerial wise there have been two definite themes; the classic English simplistic approach favoured by both Redknapp and Sherwood and the thorough more professional continental guise of a Ramos or AVB. Rather than focus on one and back it to the hilt, Levy seems intent on flitting between both schools on a whim; his long-term vision appears non-existent and his loyalty to manager’s somewhat questionable.  The Ramos case is different, but Redknapp was sacked after a 4th placed finish and AVB with the best win percentage of any Spurs manager ever; surely something is wrong here?

Narrow minded short-termism is for the fans that pay their money and have an unwavering emotional attachment to their respective clubs; the blinkered approach should not extend to the boardroom as well. The appointment of Sherwood simply illustrated how poor the planning is at the club; with no clear replacement available post AVB they had to settle for 3rd or 4th choice on a pretty drab shortlist.

Then we have the Baldini debacle, which forms another part of Levy’s struggle with the continental management structure; anyone remember Arnesen and Comolli? With Baldini over the summer it was as if Levy gave him free reign over the Bale millions, opened up the Football Manager database and said go on being us in the best you can find, regardless of who they are or where they play.

The miscommunication between Baldini, AVB and Levy is stark. By mid August AVB had what looked like a new team, with a collection of talented recruits all expected to slot in with apparent ease. It isn’t the fact that these players aren’t good, in fact I actually think they all represent significant quality, but it is as if Spurs have been playing a Video Game. Sure a few may have been on AVB’s wish list, but 7 new players is clearly ridiculous. Did AVB ever want Chadli, was Capoue ever part of the long term ‘project? I somehow doubt it.

I don’t have anything against a continental management structure; it can often work very well. But when there is clear miscommunication and misdirection, you are setting yourself up to fail almost immediately. In fact a break down in relations between Baldini and AVB was largely what apparently triggered the eventual collapse of his tenure.

Levy seems unable to learn his lesson, maybe he is too stubborn by half but surely an intelligent mind like his can see the problems. For an international footballing institution, the show run by Spurs is amateurish at best.

Football is a results based business of course, but constant change and upheaval is never going to be the answer. Levy needs to work out what he wants and the best way of achieving it, and once he has done that he needs to back them with the kind of support and loyalty that he has been given whilst Chairman of Tottenham.

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At the moment Spurs are fast becoming a laughing stock, and I don’t think Joe Lewis and ENIC foresaw this as being the ultimate aim. A goal difference of -1 and a place still in the running for 4th underlines what a crazy season it has been, and in my opinion the club really haven’t helped themselves in the slightest.

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Love them or hate them, the Gunners have to be respected and admired, largely down to their manager Arsene Wenger who has always maintained a good footballing philosophy in both style and blooding promising youngsters who later went on to be massive stars in the football world.

This summer, all the top five from last season have strengthened their squads, and even the Gunners have surprised most and splashed the cash, bringing in some great new additions to the squad, which many could argue has not been seen much in recent years at The Emirates.

So what do they have that can bring them the title this year having failed to do so for many years on the trot? First of all they have the momentum of winning some silverware last season with the FA Cup, which has given the club some much needed belief in themselves again, after suffering a severe mental block for so long. Even the most professional of players will find that when confidence is low you struggle to win and find yourself feeling the weight of pressure and expectation.

That monkey is no longer on their backs and they can come into this season knowing that they are capable of winning and are capable of carrying that mentality into every game they play this season, making sure they compete for every point and every place available in all competitions.

The money they have spent will also be a big factor in how well they can do this season; as I mentioned already, the north Londoners have not been known to spend money willingly in recent seasons, leaving them short in areas they needed cover for at times and lacking the strength in depth that is so famously needed to win anything at the top level.

QUIZ: Can you name Arsenal’s top 20 Premier League goal scorers of all time?

Arsene Wenger has decided to buck this trend, starting by splashing £33million on marquee signing Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean international who signed from Barcelona makes a statement of intent and willingness to succeed and also provides cover in other areas of the pitch, as he can not only play upfront but also cover on the wing, giving Arsenal a more dynamic attacking front from the start. Apart from Sanchez, they have covered most areas of the squad and finally have the depth to not only offer cover but bring some vital competition to each position, which is important when keeping top players performing at their best.

They also started the season before most with the Champions League qualifiers, and the extra game time has given the Gunners a head start over most teams in the Premiership. They also hit the ground running in the season curtain raiser against Manchester City, lifting the Community Shield; coming out the blocks quickly gives them further momentum to push forward and try and get a run together.

It remains to be seen whether or not the combination of a good transfer window, last season’s silverware and an earlier start to the season will  be enough for the once mighty Arsenal to win the Premier League again this season, especially considering the strength of teams like Chelsea and Man City, but rest assured that they will certainly be among the front runners come the final game in May.

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And, like last season, they will be giving a lot of us plenty to talk about in the title race!

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Stoke defender Andy Wilkinson has been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an incident with Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli.

Wilkinson is alleged to have elbowed Balotelli during Stoke’s 1-1 draw with champions Manchester City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. The incident was missed by the match officials, but after reviewing television footage the FA has decided to charge Wilkinson, who has until 6pm on Wednesday to respond to the charge.

If he is found guilty Wilkinson is likely to be handed a three-match ban. The FA’s statement read:

“Stoke City’s Andy Wilkinson has been charged by The FA with violent conduct following an incident in his side’s game against Manchester City on Saturday 15 September 2012.

“Wilkinson was involved in an incident with City’s Mario Balotelli, which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video. Wilkinson has until 6pm on Wednesday 19 September 2012 to respond to the charge.”

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Stoke face a tough fixture at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and Tony Pulis will need his defenders fully focused against an in form Chelsea side.

Manchester United fan groups have backed Fergie’s decision to omit Wayne Rooney for their Champions League clash against Real Madrid this week.

Wayne Rooney was on the bench for the defeat at Old Trafford fuelling speculation that he could depart for another club in the summer. He has sparked interest from Barcelona, PSG, Manchester City and Real Madrid but whether they will be willing to pay his weekly wages of £300,000 remains to be seen.

The supporters group feel that the striker is no longer a necessary player within the team and they would be behind manager Ferguson if he decided to sell the star in the summer.

Duncan Drasgo, head of the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) was asked whether they would support the sale of Wayne Rooney and he assured The Guardian that Ferguson would have their full support.

“Everyone recognises Rooney’s talent, although perhaps there is some frustration that he hasn’t quite pushed on and developed in the way people may have thought he was going to,” he said.

“We always back Sir Alex Ferguson’s judgment in the end and, if he did decide to let him go, then that’s probably the right decision in the best interest of the club.

“It was such a big match for Ferguson – it could be his last season for all we know. I don’t think he would have picked a side for any other reason than it was the best side that might get the best result.

“It’s crazy to think that he would snub a player by not playing him in a match like that. In the cases of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jaap Stam and David Beckham it was more difficult to see the tactical argument for dropping them but I think people could see it in this case. As supporters, though, I don’t think many would like to see Rooney go.”

The MUST are not alone in their opinion of Wayne Rooney and other fan groups have been discussing the player’s recent form and whether he has contributed enough to hang onto him. Barney Chilton, editor of Red News also agreed with Fergie’s decision.

“For parts of his career if Rooney didn’t perform, United didn’t – and this season that has changed,” he said.

“The dynamics changed in one swoop for Robin van Persie – Rooney was no longer the player we overly relied on.

“It feels like history is repeating itself, minus a boot scar, with David Beckham – eliminated by Madrid and intense speculation. Rooney’s form has been of concern – especially his passing – and while I would have hoped for more stardust by now he can still turn a game United’s way.

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“There have been concerns over match fitness for some time now and it could be argued that missing Blackburn last season [when Rooney was dropped following an alleged night out] was crucial to how the season ended. So this could be brinkmanship as he’s given another chance to get properly sorted.”

Regardless of the fact that he made a great start to his career at Old Trafford, Rooney has failed live up to the expectations and hasn’t been the player he was promised to be. Ferguson has shocked fans in the past by selling David Beckham, Ruud Nistelrooy and Jaap Stam, but the question remains whether Rooney will be the next big name to fall by the wayside.

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Barcelona’s 4-2 win at home to Real Betis last Sunday will be remembered for two reasons. The first being that Lionel Messi came off the bench just before the hour-mark and put forward one of his most spectacular performances this season. Were it not for Betis keeper Adrian – and I will point the finger at him for ruining what could have been an incredible 30-minute cameo – Messi could have rounded off his performance with a hat-trick.

The other story of note to take from that game was the wayward shooting of David Villa. The great Spanish striker (and I’m careful not to use the past tense when talking about him) was offered multiple scoring opportunities, missing all in the first-half with each more and more ridiculous than the previous. Villa did eventually get his goal, his last touch in the game before being replaced by Messi. But it’s been the story of Villa for much of the season, and plenty of it has been to do with his sporadic appearances in the first XI.

Emerging this week have been reports linking Villa with a move to Tottenham, with Spurs joining the hunt alongside Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.

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On the face of it, Villa is exactly what Tottenham need. Again, I refrain from referring to Villa as a once great striker; he still has all the qualities needed to be one of Europe’s very best in front of goal. The 31-year-old has a wealth of experience, notably in the Champions League, and Spurs will be keen to properly prepare for next season should they finish in the top four. But on this occasion, the cons outweigh the pros, and Villa should be overlooked by a team who are attempting to revamp their attack.

The thing about David Villa coming to England is that he’d be an excellent choice as an alternative to share the load. His age hasn’t taken too much out of him, but it’s the matter that a veteran striker will need to acclimatise to a league of which he has no previous experience.

The talk about a move to England has been one where the Spaniard would enhance Arsenal’s strike force or replace Mario Balotelli at Manchester City, for example. Neither of those teams were looking to bring Villa in as the first-choice attacker. For Arsenal especially, you can see how much faith Arsene Wenger has in Olivier Giroud, and with goals needed from the flanks, Villa would have been an excellent option to play from the left as well as rotating with the Frenchman. For Tottenham, they need to focus fully on bringing in a first-choice striker with plenty left in him for a long-term stay in their starting XI.

It was recently revealed that Spurs were looking at Roberto Soldado, and despite not having a profile equal to that of Villa, the Valencia striker fits the bill much better than the Barcelona forward. Soldado has been a 20-goal-a-season striker for four consecutive years and is very much at the top of his game. There is much more confidence about Soldado now, and the transition to Tottenham would be far easier than if Spurs were to put all their hope into Villa.

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Tottenham’s budget this summer and recent history of wanting to remain sensible in the market simply do not allow for gambles to be taken on players who are not in it for the long term. Villa would be an excellent professional to have at White Hart Lane, but such is the building project that is set to continue this summer, Spurs are better off looking for younger alternatives with much less in the way of wage demands.

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