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.

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.

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.

Why Alan Pardew Should Be Sacked

Rewind back to the summer of 2012 when the magpies defied all expectations and finished 5th, fans were going into that transfer window full of expectations. The lure of Europa League and a team full of young ambitious players gave Newcastle the perfect platform to kick on and buy some players who could take the team to the next level. However, the club found themselves fighting for their Premier League status until the 37th game of the season when they beat an already relegated QPR side. 

Here we try and argue why Alan Pardew should be fired as manager:

Fredy Guarin - Scout Report

At the time of writing, Tottenham have just been linked with Inter Milan's Fredy Guarin and as he isn't too well known by many, I've decided to put together another scout report for fans to find out a bit more about him.

Guarin is a Colombian midfielder currently plying his trade over in Italy for Inter Milan, however he started off at Colombian side Envigado. After enjoying loan spells at Boca Juniors and Saint  Etienne, he joined French club Saint Etienne permanently in 2007. He forced his way into the team and before long was moving again, this time to Portuguese side FC Porto. He stayed at Porto for 4 years, becoming an especially prominent figure in his final season there. After making 63 league appearances for Porto he went on loan to Inter Milan before joining permanently in May 2012. Since joining Inter he's impressed many and has been a regular in the squad ever since. 

La Liga Team of the Season - 2012/2013

As an enormous La Liga enthusiast, I (@TheTacticsRoom on Twitter) have thoroughly enjoyed the league season. Some of the world’s finest players ply their trade in Spain, and this is my selection of the players who have impressed me the most over the course of the year.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Scout Report

After lengthy speculation over a move to Liverpool, Mkhitaryan has decided to join Champions League and Bundesliga runners-up, Borussia Dortmund, so here's a quick scout report on their newest signing.

At 24, Mkhitaryan is currently contracted to Shakhtar Donetsk but he began at Armenian side, Pyunik FC, making his debut there at the age of just 17. In his last season at the club he notched 11 goals in 10 games. This record caught the eye of Ukranian side Metalurh Donetsk at the end of the 2009 season. It was quite a successful move for him as he scored 14 goals in his first season and this tally included a debut strike. His next club would be Ukranian giants Shakhtar Donestk who he joined in 2010 for around 5.7m euros. This season he managed the top scorers award in the league and has attracted interest from a number of clubs around Europe.

Premier League Review 2012/2013 (Part 2)

Whilst it may not have been as exciting as last year, I'm sure you'll all agree that this season has still been extremely entertaining. Although there wasn't a huge amount of final day drama, there were some big scores throughout the season, one which won't be remembered for good defending! In this article I'll be going through the next 5 teams in the league with the following ones coming in the next instalments. I've also managed to get a few comments from a fan of the respective clubs to see what they thought.

Liverpool
If you were to sum up Liverpool's season in one word then in my opinion it should definitely be 'inconsistent'. At times, Liverpool have looked extremely impressive and brushed teams aside with ease such as Swansea and Fulham. However, for as many times as they've been able to do that, they've also succumbed to a really disappointing result against a lesser team, putting in a very mediocre performance. 

Rodgers was left short-changed at the start of the season when he put all his eggs in one basket to sign Fulham's Clint Dempsey and the American snubbed him for Spurs. This left him with a lack of attacking options and when Borini sustained an injury, the only striker they had was Suarez. The situation was made most evident when they travelled to Upton Park and because Luis Suarez was suspended, had to play Jonjo Shelvey up front due to having no recognised strikers available!

Premier League Review 2012/2013 (Part 1)

Whilst it may not have been as exciting as last year, I'm sure you'll all agree that this season has still been extremely entertaining. Although there wasn't a huge amount of final day drama, there were some big scores throughout the season, one which won't be remembered for good defending! In this article I'll go through the first 5 teams in the league with the following ones coming in the next instalments. I've also managed to get a few comments from a fan of the respective clubs to see what they thought.

Arsenal
Arsenal enjoyed a very happy final day and somehow they just managed to sneak into the Champions League yet again. Despite this, I know a number of Arsenal fans who have been underwhelmed by how their season went. Many have been calling for Wenger's head (and I'm not just talking about Piers Morgan!), claiming that he is running out of ideas and Arsenal need a change. 

They didn't enjoy a particularly strong start to the season and it was their excellent end of season form that brought them home in the end with some inconsistency wedged in between. Goals were not a problem however as they managed to hit 5 goals or more 7 times! There were also low points however and they came especially in the form of cup defeats after they were knocked out by Bradford and Blackburn.

Iago Aspas - Scout Report

Rumours are currently flying around that Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Celta Vigo forward Iago Aspas, however amongst most English fans he is little known. So here's a brief overview of what to expect, should he arrive at Anfield.

Aspas is a 25-year-old Spanish forward who currently plays for Spanish outfit Celta Vigo. He worked his way into the Celta first team after making his debut for Celta B in 2006. His record for the Celta first team is currently 50 goals in 153 games, not too bad considering it is only in recent seasons he has hit form. 

Last season was an especially good one for him as he hit 25 goals in 38 games, however this was in the Spanish second division and that may concern some Liverpool fans. He has enjoyed a good season this campaign and has notched 12 goals in 36 games. That figure may seem a little underwhelming but in my opinion it is a good return for a striker in his first season in a top league as he is still adapting. 

Francesco Totti: Still Got It

Even as a 36-year old appearing to be coming to the end of his days in the beautiful game, Francesco Totty is still going strong and continuing to deliver us magical moments. Just the sight of him with a ball at his phenomenal feet leaves us in awe. To many, he is just one of those players you can't help but admire, the way he trots around with such elegance and flamboyance and the manner in which he plays his football.

There are many reasons why fans and players alike develop an admiration for such a classy footballer like Totti, but one of the main reasons is due to the loyalty and devotion he has shown to Roma. The mercurial Italian has stuck by his side in tough times and all the honours and achievements he has won with the Giallrossi have been well deserved. Recently The Gladiator revealed that he once snubbed a massive move to Real Madrid in 2004; Madrid were quite possibly the biggest club in the world, but Totti continued to serve his beloved Roma and still continues to do so. You simply cannot question his commitment and loyalty; he is Roma through and through.

The Hottest Prospects in Football (Part 5)

With young talent being so sought after in the modern game, we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects in football at the moment. I've put together a number of different reports from a variety of different sources to give you a wide range of writing. Make sure you check out some of the writers as this is only a flavour of their work! I'm not claiming this is a fully comprehensive list of all young talent, simply a selection! I've also included an edited picture of each player, hope you like them!


Lorenzo Insigne (21)

At just 5'4", Lorenzo Insigne is one of the smallest players you'll see, however what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in talent. After a number of loan spells, this season has been Insigne's breakthrough one as he has sought to replace a certain Ezequiel Lavezzi.

Romelu Lukaku vs Christian Benteke

In our latest article we compare the two Belgians who have taken the Premier League by storm this season in Christian Benteke and Romelu Lukaku.

The Hottest Prospects in Football (Part 4)

With young talent being so sought after in the modern game, we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects in football at the moment. I've put together a number of different reports from a variety of different sources to give you a wide range of writing. Make sure you check out some of the writers as this is only a flavour of their work! I'm not claiming this is a fully comprehensive list of all young talent, simply a selection! I've also included an edited picture of each player, hope you like them!

Mario Gotze (20)


Mario Gotze seems to have been around for a while now but when watching him play, it is often very easy to forget he is only 20-years-old. Couple this with the fact that at this age he already has a staggering 22 caps for the national side and you can see how much potential Gotze possesses. 

Gotze is most known for his ability on the ball and his creativity. Normally employed as an attacking midfielder, he can also play out wide if he needs to. After working his way through the Dortmun youth system he has now become a regular in the side and forged a formidable partnership with fellow German, Marco Reus. Together the two of them have been a thorn in many a side this season, building an impressive understanding of each other.With his phenomenal vision and excellent vision, Gotze is quite a player. One of his main assets is his composure on the ball, something rare in players his age. Not afraid to take people on, he glides through players, making sure he holds on to the ball before playing the killer through ball. 

The Hottest Prospects in Football (Part 3)

With young talent being so sought after in the modern game, we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects in football at the moment. I've put together a number of different reports from a variety of different sources to give you a wide range of writing. Make sure you check out some of the writers as this is only a flavour of their work! I'm not claiming this is a fully comprehensive list of all young talent, simply a selection! I've also included an edited picture of each player, hope you like them!

Thiago Alacantara (21)

Thiago Alcântara is perhaps one of the best Spanish young players around who, in game time terms, under the radar. He plays for Barcelona, so it is understandable as to why he struggles for first-team games – not because he doesn’t have that ability (he most certainly does) but because of the midfielders ahead of him.

The Hottest Prospects in Football (Part 2)

With young talent being so sought after in the modern game, we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects in football at the moment. I've put together a number of different reports from a variety of different sources to give you a wide range of writing. Make sure you check out some of the writers as this is only a flavour of their work! I'm not claiming this is a fully comprehensive list of all young talent, simply a selection! I've also included an edited picture of each player, hope you like them!

Erik Lamela (21)


Erik Lamela is one of the most promising young talents in the world; at the age of 21 we have already seen many moments of brilliance from this technically gifted Argentine. Lamela began his footballing journey at River Plate; one of the most popular clubs in Argentina and has since moved on to Serie A outfit Roma, where he has well and truly excelled. Argentina have been host to some wonderful footballers, namely Lionel Messi, Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Maradona, and it would be right to say that this highly-rated playmaker could be their next big thing.

The Hottest Prospects in Football (Part 1)

With young talent being so sought after in the modern game, we take a look at some of the hottest young prospects in football at the moment. I've put together a number of different reports from a variety of different sources to give you a wide range of writing. Make sure you check out some of the writers as this is only a flavour of their work! I've also included an edited picture of each player, hope you like them!

Stephan El-Shaarawy (20)

El-Shaarawy likes to play from the left into the centre, quick on his feet and spontaneous, he can be stubborn on when and where he wants the ball. Defence-wise he is fairly weak but he blends well with team mates on counter attacks and has a good execution rate with his deadly finishes, he only needs one chance to convert. He is a forward who likes to terrorise his opponents.

Mario's Milan Adventure

Mario “Barwuah” Balotelli. I only have to say his name and I bet you’re imagining the mischief he caused at Manchester City. His camouflage car, the famous ‘bib incident’, and of course the firework he let off in his own house. The list goes on and on and on, (and even more on). However, the controversial striker recently made a $20 million move to the Rossoneri and has somewhat been outstanding for them. Have Manchester City just lost out on a potential world class player? Or have Milan been handed a bad case of Balotelli?

Why It Could Be a Crazy Summer Transfer Window

After reading the title you might be thinking - where has he got all this from? Well, here I was sitting on twitter reading all the latest rumours and gossip and I began to consider what could happen this Summer in the transfer window. It then dawned on me that it could easily be one of the most exciting we've ever had. Not just in terms of the amount spent but also the amount of deals, it's all set up beautifully to be an enticing Summer and a well needed replacement for the weekly fixtures!

Well, where to begin? Where better than arguably the best league of them all, the English Premier League. I think the Premier League will be the hub of activity and the catalyst for the madness that might ensue. Why do I think this I hear you cry! My answer? The way this season has panned out so far. With Manchester United rampant at the top of league as I write, I think there will be a massive response from their neighbours, City. They have been outclassed in every way possible this season by United and have come out an easy second best to their arch rivals. With billionaire owners on board you've got to expect them to spend and spend big. They won't be happy with the season and will be looking for a way of fixing it for the next one. City will undoubtedly want to blow United out the water and regain their crown next season and I think they'll do this by throwing their money around. Don't be surprised if they attempt to break the world transfer record! 

Manager Madness

Southampton, in their first season back in the Premiership, are sitting quite comfortably in 15th place in the table. They are playing good football; they are winning matches. All is rosy. Indeed, they even manage to come back from 2 goals behind to draw with Chelsea – at Stamford Bridge too. There is an excellent squad harmony, and a belief around St Mary’s stadium that this Southampton team could go places. So how should they proceed?

I’ll tell you what they shouldn’t do: sack Adkins. And I’ll tell you what they did do: sack Adkins.

The Torres Effect

What happened to Fernando Torres, where did the once prolific forward go? He has been at Stamford Bridge long enough to have sorted himself out but still he remains a joke to most football fans. Here, we have a look at the Spaniard's demise and what it is that might have gone wrong.

Since joining Chelsea Torres has been one of the biggest flops in history, the laughing stock of the Premier League in many respects, especially after the infamous open goal miss against Manchester United! He began his Premier League life at Liverpool when he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2007. It's fair to say that he had a blistering start to his career in England. He racked up an astonishing 33 goals in 46 games in all competitions in his debut season. A great achievement for his first season in England and Liverpool looked to have found a new hero. He continued to impress and built up a fearsome partnership with Steven Gerrard however in the 2010-2011 season struggled with injury and could only manage 9 league goals.

The FIFA Financial Fair Play Rules

The latest financial figures posted from QPR have been nothing short of astonishing - announcing losses of nearly £90 million in just the last year. Alongside breaking their record transfer twice within the January window, the club has seen their wage bill rocket from £27million to £56million. Despite this substantial outlay on players since promotion, they still find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.


With the FIFA financial fair play rules widely expected to be introduced in time for the 2013/14 season, fans up and down the country are waiting with bated breath to see if the much mangled governing body can implement their rules effectively.

Well, if the fiasco over the World Cup bribes is anything to go by, then football fans may be waiting for a long time.

According to the UEFA website, their "football family" have agreed on the following:

• To introduce more discipline and rationality in club football finances 
• To decrease pressure on salaries and transfer fees and limit inflationary effect 
• To encourage clubs to compete with(in) their revenues 
• To encourage long-term investments in the youth sector and infrastructure 
• To protect the long-term viability of European club football 
• To ensure clubs settle their liabilities on a timely basis.

Juan Mata vs David Silva vs Santi Cazorla

Juan Mata, David Silva and Santi Cazorla are all considered to be amongst the best in their position in the Premier League and even in the world. All are undoubtedly extremely talented but we're going to take a look at what happens when they're compared.

Why Chelsea Should Keep Frank Lampard

Frank Lampard has become a Blues' legend in his playing time as he built up a reputation of the typical goalscoring midfielder but rumours are rife that the London club won't be offering him a new contract in the Summer. Many have criticised the club for this and jumped to Frank's defence so here's why Chelsea should keep him!

Lampard started his career at West Ham, joining the West Ham youth team in 1994. He came through the ranks and established himself in the first team in the years following. Eventually his Father, Frank Lampard Snr was sacked as assistant manager and Frank decided to leave for Chelsea in a deal woth £11m. Since joining Chelsea, Lampard has worked his way into the fans' hearts, becoming a club legend.  Lampard spent the majority of his career as a box to box midfielder, although played in a slightly more attacking role than his midfield teammates. 

The Relegation Battle [Guest Article]

QPR seem to be cut adrift at the bottom of the table; whilst Saints’ fans will argue that they are safe already. But it truly is anyone’s guess as to who will survive as the battle to stay up reaches breaking point with 3 spots to be avoided.

West Ham

They looked like certain survivors at the end of November but since then they have really struggled. The highlight so far has been a 3-1 win against London rivals Chelsea however they suffered a devastating loss to Spurs on Monday, conceding the winner in the 90th minute via Gareth Bale. Although most say their squad is too good to go down, they aren't safe just yet. Their remaining fixtures are very difficult with Stoke (A), Chelsea (A), West Brom (H), Liverpool (A), Southampton (A), Wigan (H), Manchester City (A) being just a few of them, they've also got a re-arranged game at home to Manchester United to play too. Whilst their home form has been generally very good, their away form has been dreadful and is definitely a cause for concern. 

Key to survival: Fixing away form

Chances of survival: 85%

Is Money Ruining Football?

“What is a club in any case? Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it. It’s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.

It’s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.

It’s a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the very first time, gripping his father’s hand, gawping at that hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love.” - Sir Bobby Robson

What a beautiful quote from one of football's greats. It sums up everything important about the beautiful game. A club is not about the players, it's about the people who are part of it, the fans. In an age where a family day out at a match can break the bank, we take a look at the effect of money on football.

The Race for the Champions League [Guest Article]

2/3 of the way into another gripping Premier League season and it’s all to play for to grab a Champions League place, with 5 teams going for 2 places to join Europe’s elite next season. Currently, Chelsea and Spurs sit in pole position to nab these places but Arsenal, Everton and arguably even Liverpool still remain in the running for a top 4 berth. Below is a team-by-team guide to the contenders, rating their chances and analysing what has to go right for them to stand a chance of top 4.

Chelsea

There’s no doubt that Chelsea are in the driving seat to yet again secure Champions League football; but it hasn’t been confirmed yet. They are a mere 5 points clear of Arsenal in 5^th, and still have to play the two Manchester clubs and Spurs. A lot will depend on the continued form of their attacking midfield trio, of Oscar, Hazard and Mata: if they perform well, then it is hard to look past Chelsea for one of the Champions League berths.

Key to success: The Midfield Trio                              

Chances of top 4: 85%

Why the ‘Race for the Title’ Is Still a Race [Guest Article]

Many pundits, fans and players seem to have it etched into their minds that Manchester United have already won the Premier League this season. But whilst it is mathematically possible, there is still the chance that they may slip up. A variety of factors could yet work against Manchester United to allow Manchester City to prevail in their place. 

Form

There’s a famous first half to a phrase that states “form is temporary”. And that is the exact reason why City could yet catch up with United. 12 points is ‘only’ 4 wins, and if United hit a dry spell and draw and lose a couple, then a rampant City could be ready to pounce. The 2 sides still have to meet at Old Trafford at the start of April, and if City win there and sit between 4 and 6 points behind United, then they will fancy their chances of spoiling the Reds’ party.

Jack Wilshere Vs Tom Cleverley

Many football fans have recently been making the comparison between Jack Wilshere and Tom Cleverley due to them both being young, up and coming central midfielders. Both look extremely promising and possess huge potential but we're going to take a look at who comes out on top when they're compared. 

Is Rio Ferdinand's Absence From The National Team Deserved?

Rio Ferdinand has not played for his country since June 2011 but even at the age of 34 many are still calling for his recall. Roy Hodgson has repeatedly played down the situation and claimed that the snubs have been down to 'footballing reasons'. As the once England captain has regained his place as one of the first names on the Manchester United, we ponder the question - Does he deserve to be left out the National team?


Recently Ferdinand stated that he would love a return to the England team, claiming that he loves playing for them. His most recent snub was the squad to face Brazil in a friendly at Wembley and it doesn't look like he'll be returning any time soon as Hodgson stated his irritation at the constant barrage of questions surrounding the United defender. Hodgson said

 "I am not prepared, every time we play, to keep revisiting something which I have revisited at every single press conference for the last 10 months."

The Story of the Transfer Window - Part 2

So the January transfer window of 2013 has come to an end and £127.8m has been spent. It wasn't so frantic, however, plenty happened over the course of the month and the final part will take a look at all that went on, including the infamous 'Deadline Day'.

There was a slight lull in events during mid-January as the window calmed down a bit. This was before Newcastle decided to raid France in order to turn around their season. They had been chasing Frenchman Loic Remy of Marseille and he looked destined for St. James', however QPR swooped and offered mega-bucks, luring him to West London. This seemed to spark some rage as they went on the offensive, signing a further 4 French players, on top of Debuchy in a foreign raid. First up was Montpellier's central defender, Mapou Yanga-M'Biwa for a fee believed to be around £6.7m. The big man was to be just the first player to cross the channel for football in the upcoming days. In between all this was the move of Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder. The midfield maestro had fallen out with Inter Milan months ago and hadn't really featured this season, leading to him wanting a move away from the club. The club he chose was Turkish giants, Galatasaray and they managed to pick him up for an incredible £8.4m! This was an absolute coup in my opinion for a world class player who was one of the only players who performed for the Netherland at EURO 2012. Many football fans were disappointed that he chose to go to Turkey as they wanted a chance to see him in the Premier League. For some time it had seemed like that might just happen after he was linked with Liverpool, however it just wasn't to be.

The Story of the Transfer Window - Part 1

So the January transfer window of 2013 has come to an end and £127.8m has been spent. It wasn't so frantic, however, plenty happened over the course of the month and part 1 of 2 will dissect all the events that went on in the early stages.

The window got off to a flyer with a big money £12m deal taking place on just the second day of January. The deal involved Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge moving to the North and Liverpool FC. It had been a deal talked about for a while as it had been publicly known that Sturridge was unhappy at Chelsea and Liverpool were desperate for a forward to support Suarez. Sturridge managed to get off to a flyer too, scoring on his league and cup debut. He's now bagged 3 in his first 5 games, now that's what you call hitting the ground running!

Transfers XI

Now that the January transfer window has reached it's climax, I thought I'd put together a team of players who have switched clubs in the window. Here's what I came up with! 

Obviously it was extremely difficult to narrow down the choices as there were so many options, especially in attack with just 2 free slots! 

Why Britain Needs More Footballers Like Alan Hutton

Alan Hutton recently signed for Spanish side RCD Mallorca so guest blogger 'The Game On Paper' decided to evaluate - Why Britain Needs More Footballers Like Alan Hutton.

Lineker, Beckham, Owen, Woodgate, Carson, Mancienne - and now Alan Hutton can join that list. If you haven’t figured it out yet, it’s a list of British players who have played abroad. Of course there are more than that, in fact at this moment in time there are 302 English players who are playing for foreign clubs (note that this includes people playing for Swansea and Cardiff as well due to them technically being Welsh). Out of those 302 English players, 130 of them play in the Welsh Premier League, the SPL, or the Scottish 1^st Division. Of the remaining pack, there is one player in the Bundesliga (Michael Mancienne), one in Ligue 1 (Joey Barton) and well, as for players in the major foreign leagues, that’s as far as it goes. Two players playing in a standard considered high enough to be in the running for the national team. 2.

Best signing of Summer 2012

This year has been a busy one in terms of transfers and they have a massive effect on the Premier League. The season is into it's second half now and the famous 'Honeymoon periods' are well and truly over. I've decided to make a shortlist of who I think the best signing of Summer 2012 has been this season. 

Benteke

Benteke has been pretty explosive since signing for the Villains. His powerful forward played has scared many a defence and he has also been banging on some goals too. This is quite an achievement considering the team that are playing around him as he's got 11 goals in all competitions this season. That is not a bad return for someone who is just 22 years of age and is playing in the Premier League for the first time in his career. Villa paid £7m for the Belgian powerhouse and whilst not a bargain, it's not a bad price considering that many top clubs are monitoring him. 

Who Does Your Team Need This January Transfer Window?

As we hit the all important mid season window and clubs are panicking after a worrying start to the season - we ask - who does your team need this January transfer window? A quick look at each Premier League team's necessities!


Arsenal
I think Arsenal could do with a solid centre back, one that turns in performances week in week out. Perhaps a move for Manchester City's Joleon Lescott who seems to be out of favour at the Etihad recently and is linked with a move away. He is an England international and when given a run of games is a good defender. If he was to be partnered with Vermaelen then I think that could be a great partnership. A rather unlikely solution would be Daniel Agger who I feel would definitely tighten up the gunners' defence however a transfer is extremely unlikely.

Premier League Mid Season Review - Part 5

With the Premier League season more than well and truly underway, it is time to have a look at each club and how they're doing and where they're on (or off!) course to finish.

Tottenham
At the time of writing, Spurs sit in 4th place, 3 points above 5th placed Everton after a dull 0-0 draw away at QPR. Tottenham's main objective has to be Champions League football and obviously so far they have left themselves in a good position to achieve this. The one thing I would point out however is that they were in a very similar position this time last year and fell away slightly, albeit with some unfortunate luck that Chelsea winning the Champions League meant they fell just short. 

Since their demolition in the North London derby they have gone on a good run and picked up many points. They won all their games in December apart from a loss at Everton which is no embarrassment this season. They won all those games rather comprehensively too, especially the 3-0 win at Fulham. Spurs do however have a really tough run of games coming up soon including Man Utd, a tricky cup tie at Leeds or Birmingham, Norwich who seem to be their bogey team and West Brom. If they can pick up a few points there and remain where they are after those games then that will put them in a really good position to ensure Champions League football come the end of the season.

Premier League Mid Season Review - Part 4

With the Premier League season more than well and truly underway, it is time to have a look at each club and how they're doing and where they're on (or off!) course to finish.

Southampton
Southampton currently sit in 17th place and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference. They do however have a game in hand which could give them a nice little gap between them and the drop. So far this season they haven't done too bad considering they're a newly promoted team. If you look at Reading who are 5 points behind them and don't have a game in hand then you would say they were in a much worse position than the saints. I'm sure that Adkins will be pleased to be keeping up so far as staying out the relegation zone for as long as possible helps, especially for team morale. 

Premier League Mid Season Review - Part 3

With the Premier League season more than well and truly underway, it is time to have a look at each club and how they're doing and where they're on (or off!) course to finish.

Newcastle
Newcastle have had a disastrous first half of their season so far. At the time of writing, they are languishing down in 15th place, a mere 2 points above the relegation zone. This season has been so different from their last campaign it's almost laughable as they have plummeted from Champions League contenders to relegation candidates if they don't sort it out! In my opinion, apart from Demba Ba, none of their best players from last season have shone anywhere near as much as they did last season. This was evident in the fact that Ba got an offer from Chelsea which he took with open arms as he probably felt Newcastle were sinking and wanted to abandon ship.

Premier League Mid Season Review - Part 2

With the Premier League season more than well and truly underway, it is time to have a look at each club and how they're doing and where they're on (or off!) course to finish.

Fulham
Fulham have been consolidating their position in the Premier League for a number of seasons now and tend to finish mid table and comfortably stay up. This season is a little different however, they have been all over the place and sit in 13th place at the time of writing. In my opinion, they have been underperforming all season and without Dimitar Berbatov's heroics, could be in a bit of bother. They are only 6 points above the relegation zone and that is by no means a huge margin at all. I think Martin Jol and his men will be nervously looking over their shoulder in the coming weeks as they hope to avoid slipping further down the league. 

Premier League Mid Season Review - Part 1

With the Premier League season more than well and truly underway, it is time to have a look at each club and how they're doing and where they're on (or off!) course to finish.

Arsenal
It's been a strange season so far for Arsene Wenger's men, there have been numerous ups and downs throughout. They're hanging around just below the Champions League spots currently and if you go by the table then they have seen a big improvement in recent times. Before their draw with Southampton on New Years Day they had won their last 4 games in a row and were looking good, scoring an abundance of goals. Scoring goals has certainly not been a problem for them with 16 in their last 5 games.

However, 35% of Arsenal's goals have been scored or assisted by Theo Walcott and rumours are rife that he isn't going to be there much longer after stalling in his contract talks. Arsene Wenger seems to have finally unleashed him and let him begin to reach his full potential after allowing him to play the more central role in the team. I think so far this season he has been the key to their successful runs like this recent one. Before their good run of form they've had recently barring the Southampton game they were languishing down in 10th position at one point which is unthinkable for a club of their stature. During this rather gloomy period that contained a 2-0 loss at home to Swansea and an embarrassing defeat to lowly Bradford in the League Cup, Walcott wasn't really firing or playing well and this is what they missed. Cazorla seemed to be their only consistent performer however he looked lonely at times and struggled to carry the whole team on his back, he needed help. The return of Wilshere was also a massive boost and whilst he defends robustly, he also has much to offer going forward and combines with Cazorla brilliantly.