Tuesday 8 July 2014

Wheels begin to turn on Premier League transfer merry-go-round

With the Three Lions having since returned to home shores following their dismal early exit in Brazil, many domestic football fans will now be turning their attention to their club sides as the summer transfer merry-go-round grinds into gear.
One of football’s worst kept secrets was confirmed on Friday with 18-year-old full-back Luke Shaw leaving Southampton and joining Manchester United for a fee of £27m that could potentially rise to £31m depending on appearances.
Ryan Giggs, United's assistant manager, said: "Luke is a very talented young left back with great potential.
"He has developed immensely during his time at Southampton and has all the attributes to become a top player."
Shaw will be joined at Old Trafford by centre-midfielder Ander Herrera who is 24-years-old and has joined from hometown club Athletic Bilbao.
The capture of the young duo clearly indicate new coach Louis Van Gaal’s intentions of building a young and hungry squad in their efforts to return to the summit of English football.
To be once again be crowned Premier League champions United will have to dethrone city rivals Manchester City who have added Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna and Porto’s Fernando to their ranks.
Brazilian midfielder Fernando’s £12m arrival could signify the end of Jack Rodwell’s career at Eastlands and he is being tipped for a potential move back to Everton.
Two more England internationals leaving the south coast are Ricky Lambert and Adam Lallana.
Lambert has already confirmed his £4m to Liverpool and could be in line for more first team duties than previously expected following Luis Suarez’s enforced ban for biting.
The two clubs are also thought to have agreed a £25m fee for Lallana who could move north to complete the deal as early as Tuesday.
There is also expected to be a lot of movement in West London with Chelsea already having sold Brazil centre back David Luiz to oil rich Paris St Germain for a fee of around £40m.
Funds from the sale of Luiz have already been used to bring in former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, with Spanish international teammate Diego Costa set to join him as Jose Mourinho plots another assault on the premier league title.
Fabregas said: "I considered all the other offers very carefully and I firmly believe that Chelsea is the best choice."
Swansea City have also announced the signing of free agent Bafetimbi Gomis after the striker was released by French outfit Lyon.
Gomis is expected to provide competition for Wilfried Bony and Michu as the Welsh side look to build on last season’s 12th place finish.


Brazil 2014

The predictions may have been wildly inaccurate but here's a piece I put together a couple of weeks ago.


The controversy surrounding Luiz Suarez’s chomp from the shoulder of Giorgio Chiellini and the early exit of the Three Lions should not overshadow what has so far been an excellent World Cup.
The group stage of the competition produced a total of 136 goals, which according to FIFA is a new record and with the serious business set to begin it’s hard to pick a favourite to be crowned world champions.
Hosts Brazil have so far laboured, but have been carried by the flamboyance and goals of poster boy Neymar and are still undefeated as we enter the tournament’s second round.
Fears of domestic disturbance have since been dispelled and although they aren’t firing on all cylinders, the fever of the home support is another weapon in Brazil’s armoury as they bid to be crowned winners in the historic Maracana stadium.
It’s a similar story for the Argentina side who haven’t produced the avalanche of goals expected of them when the draw was made.
However, the Argentines do have Lionel Messi who joins Thomas Muller and Neymar at the top of the scoring charts with four goals.
Messi has always been shadowed with doubts over whether he could replicate his club form on an international level, but a breath-taking set of performances in the group stage has got the Argentina hoping that he can carry them to glory just as Diego Maradona did back in 1986.
The rest of the South American contingent are also looking strong with Chile helping knock out reigning champions Spain and becoming the pick of many neutrals with their high intensity pressing game.
Ecuador have since gone home but Colombia qualified for the quarter finals with a 100% record.
Despite the absence of injured talisman Radamel Falcao, the Colombians stormed through the group scoring nine goals in the process, with James Rodriguez catching the eye with a stunning goal against Japan.
France are also missing a main man in Franck Ribery, but looked ruthlessly efficient in the group stage with no signs on the in-fighting that plagued the camp in South Africa four years ago.
It wouldn’t be fair to mention the word efficient without mentioning Germany.
They dismantled Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the opening game before playing out an entertaining draw with Ghana and then edging out USA to secure their place in the second round.
Belgium have so far failed to hit the heights expected of them but enter the second round unbeaten nonetheless.
As always with the World Cup second round, there are a host of underdogs looking to upset the applecart and one bad day could see a team eliminated.
My Predictions
Brazil v Chile – Chile have looked the more impressive of the two sides so far but Brazil urged on by the passionate home support should just do enough.
Brazil 2 – Chile 1
Colombia v Uruguay – Uruguay will undoubtedly be weakened by the ban of Luis Suarez but the team don’t give a lot away at the back as England will testify. Expect a cracking atmosphere due to the large volumes of fans who travelled the relatively short distance into Brazil.
Colombia 3 – Uruguay 1
Netherlands v Mexico – Can’t look past Netherlands here who have so far been inspired by Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben.
Netherlands 2 – Mexico 0
Costa Rica – Greece
Costa Rica are arguably the surprise package of the tournament so far after being tipped as the whipping boys in the group stage. Greece have also shown that there’s more to them than the defensive reputation that plagued them in the past, it’ll be close.
Costa Rica 1 Greece 2
France v Nigeria
Nigeria have looked pacy and dangerous going forward, but vulnerable at the back and I can’t see anything other than a comfortable French victory.
France 3 Nigeria 1
Germany – Algeria
Algeria are another surprise package and have been led by the performances of Valencia man Sofiane Feghouli, but again, I think Germany will be too strong here and if I was a gambling man I’d get a few quid on Thomas Muller to find the net.
Germany 2 – Algeria 0
Argentina v Switzerland
Xherdan Shaqiri’s hat-trick in the 3-0 dismantling of Honduras proved that the Swiss are a force to be reckoned with. The nucleus of the team rose through the ranks together but with Lionel Messi looking at his best after an injury hit season I think Argentina will advance.
Argentina 2 – Switzerland 1
USA v Belgium
USA look well organised under Jurgen Klinsmann and with Belgium not yet living up to the billing I think this will be close.
USA 0 Belgium 0 (USA to win on penalties)