Get Well Soon Muamba

I urge everyone to pray for Fabrice Muamba. Here are some videos I have searched up that give you a taste of how good this player is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAnrLdwpjD4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlxAJxCvuik&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPQJiQCDz_4&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NbytAO7LyA

Why United will not win the Premier League 11/12

Manchester United fell victim to a Bilbao side which in my opinion will win the Eauropa League this season. Fernando Llorente is an outstanding talent and Javi Martinez is a huge summer transfer headline waiting to happen. Pep Guardiola stated he thought Bilbao were one of his toughest challenges this season so this week’s defeat to the Spanish side should not be too disheartening. My issue with Manchester United currently lies with one player,  Wayne Rooney.

Whilst Manchester City’s team is based around the exile of one man, Carlos Tevez, Manchester United’s team is based around the efforts of Rooney. This was apparent last night. Rooney has always been a hard working player. He runs the length of the pitch over and over again switching from his striking position to midfield and defence to bolster their efforts at any point in the game.  But why should he need to do that?

Manchester United’s defence this season has been leaking goals left, right and centre. De Gea has rarely looked impressive this season and Lindergaard doesn’t look like he is ready for the challenge of a club like United. As for the Back four they have been disastrous on many occasion. Last season Vidic and Ferdinand were unbeatable and Evra and the Da-Silva Brothers were attacking threats as well as unpassable defenders. This season Vidic  has lost out to injury but with an exceptional youngster like Chris Smalling waiting in the wings why Is this such an issue. I must admit now I am not a fan of Evans and don’t think I ever will be but if the issue is injury then buy a better defender. In a 25 man squad all 25 players should be able to start a game without a crowd or commentator stating their doubt in the teams abilities. For me the United defence have looked lack lustre in defence and fallen asleep one too many times. Ferdinand has looked tired this season and evra has not lived up to his usual self. This needs to be resolved urgently as I do not doubt either of these footballers lack the ability to play in the Red Devils starting side.

United’s Midfield has looked no better to me. Cleverly has been out injured recently and is just beginning to make his return which will be a boost to United’s title chances . Scholes and Giggs are past the times they could play 90 minutes and now look more like 30 minute bench stars although I congratulate them on their recent goals in Giggs’ 900^th appearance. Ashley Young has just found some form recently but his lack of movement when the opposing team have possession makes him a liability. Park Ji Sung is still one of my all-time favourite United players and is insanely underrated.  I believe United need to start involving him more in starting line ups.

Rooney’ striking partners are no less to blame for United’s troubles. Berbatov has not performed at all this season and looks set to leave in the summer as for Hernandez he has impressed me. He has scored 10 goals in 30 games and at the age of 23 he still has plenty of potential to become an equal alongside Rooney. Hernandez currently however takes too much time on the ball in the final third especially in the 6 yard box where United could be putting away countless invaluable goals. Owen is currently out injured but his return could be a good sign for united, scoring three in four games this season.

Rooney is United’s packhorse but surely at some time this will backfire into game of Buckaroo. Rooney has scored 27 goals in 32 appearances this season which translates as he almost scores in every game he plays. But he cannot carry the United team. I thought the commentator last night put it correctly when he said that you would prefer Rooney to be on the end of a midfield pass, not the one making it. Rooney would probably run back to play in goal if it was allowed! Rooney cannot carry the team for much longer and with Manchester United out of all competitions but the league. They need to up the overall team performances to allow Rooney to thrive upfront, the position he is supposed to play in.

So why can’t they win?

United can’t overwork Rooney. They need him to be fit as he is their main source of goals. They do not have the luxury budget strikers of Manchester City. They have 3 strikers (possibly four if Tevez returned) in the form of Aguero, Dzeko and Balotelli. They are all seasoned internationals and fantastic players in their own right. They do not have the pressure of running City’s team as there are three of them and they are supported by a ridiculously large squad bought by the Sky Blues’ wealthy owner and his unlimited wallet. For me this is why they will falter nearer the end of the season. Now they have overtaken the Citizens, United supporters believe the title is theirs already because they have a kind run in but if you look in detail the run in is far from easy.

Wolves are always a thorn in United’s side, their defenders are deadly from set pieces. United’s first major problem however will be Blackburn who beat the devils 3-2 earliar in the season at Old Trafford. This will be a big test. Shortly after that they face Wigan away who have drawn with both Chelsea and Liverpool earlier in the season.  After Villa play an inevitably losing match United enter the danger zone. The next 4 games will probably decide United’s season. Everton at home will be an opening test as Moyes’ side are formidable wherever they go. Then comes the biggest test,  City will aim to derail the Red’s title bid, 6-1 earlier in the season has to say something about their abilities. Swansea at home will still be testing, they were the team that caused City to lose their 2 point lead. Sunderland follow that game and who knows what could happen there!

The way United have played recently I can’t see this season being theirs!

Weekend Predictions: League Two

AFC Wimbledon 2 Dagenham Redbridge 0
Bradford 0 Oxford United 1
Gillingham 2 Crewe 1
Macclesfield 1 Crawley 3
Morecambe 0 Hereford 0
Northampton 2 Aldershot 1
Port Vale 1 Barnet 2
Rotherham 1 Plymouth 1
Shrewsbury 2 Burton 1
Southend 2 Accrington 0
Swindon 2 Cheltenham 1
Torquay 1 Bristol Rovers 0

Weekend Predictions: League One

Brentford 1 Sheff Utd 2
Carlisle 1 Bury 1
Charlton 3 Notts County 2
Huddersfield 4 Rochdale 1
MK Dons 2 Exeter City 1
Oldham 0 Yeovil 0
Preston 1 Scunthorpe 0
Sheff Wed 2 Bournemouth 2
Stevenage 1 Chesterfield 0
Tranmere 0 Leyton Orient 0
Walsall 0 Hartlepool 2
Wycombe 3 Colchester 4

Josh McEachran Part 2

http://joshuajameshodgson.blogspot.com/2011/10/chelsea-youth-academy-part-1-josh.html

Above is the first part of this article. Now I want to take a look at McEachran's progress at Swansea. Since joining Swansea he has made three apperances, a small amount considering the claims I made in my last article. McEachran has yet tp make an impact at Swansea although I may revisit that statement depending how this weekend's game against Manchester City goes. However I have revisited this article because I wondered why hadn't he been taken into consideration at Chelsea.

Obviously it isn't breaking news that Andre Villas Boas is no longer Chelsea manager. What is confusing for me is that he did not use McEachran even though Villas Boas rejected his original proposed loan move to Wigan. I understand his current loan move is ideal working under former Chelsea reserves coach Brendan Rogers but all McEachran wanted was game time. My issue would be that Villas Boas claimed he had first team plans for McEachran and that he would play players in the right matches. Apparently in his 3-1 loss to Napoli he did not need Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard or Micheal Essien as well as droppin gan out of form Torres who can be unpredictable. Even if i do not slate his decision to do this in the first place why did he use out of position and under perfroming players when he could have added a youthful spark such as Ryan Bertrand or if he had not sent McEachran on loan he could have used his skills to suprise Napoli and take a worthwhile risk opposed to the miserable attempt he made that night.

Hopefully whoever next manages Chelsea will take note of this fantastic young talent!

Ones to Watch This Weekend

Wycombe vs Colchester

Wycombe have lost 7 and won 4 of their last 11 games. More intresting though is their average goals per game during this period is 4.54. In their last three they have scored an average of three goals a game. In Colchester's last 6 there have been an average of 2.5 goals per game. As such this game has the potential high scoring game and a very good one for neutrals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30LzuFyv_IE&feature=related (BBC Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ylo_jxA-UrQ&feature=related (SuperPhilHall Youtube)

Pavel Pogrebnyak
Fulham
28

Pavel joined from VfB Stuttgart in January. Since making this move he has scored 5 goals in 3 appearances for 'The Cottagers' including a Hat Trick against Wolves. My money is on him to score against a leakey Villa defense this weekend. Ladbrokes offer 7/4 to score anytime (Correct as of 12.15 09/03/2012)

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5uJ3e7svdY&feature=related

Global

FC Twente
Next Game: NEC (A) 11/03/12
Odd: 4-6 (Correct as of 12.15 09/03/2012)

FC Twente are on a 6 game winning streak. They have scored 14 goals during this streak while only conceding 3. If we seperate this and just look at their away form during this run they have scored 11 and conceded 3, not much difference to their overall form. They have scored most of their goals away from home and expect no less against NEC. NEC have W1 D1 L4 in their last 6 and FC Twente beat them 2-0 earlier in the season. This ones a banker!

Weekend Predictions: Championship

Coventry 1 Birmingham 2
Brighton 2 Portsmouth 0
Burnley 1 Crystal Palace 1
Derby 1 Watford 0
Hull 1 Ipswich 1
Nottigham Forest 2 Millwall 1
Peterborough 1 Blackpool 3
Reading 1 Leicester 1
Southampton 3 Barnsley 0
West Ham 4 Doncaster 1
Bristol City 0 Cardiff 1
Middlesborough 0 Leeds 0