Rooney and Gerrard Set for Anfield Showdown

It has long been credited as the biggest fixture of the Premiership calendar and at Saturday lunchtime the sparks are set to fly once again as Manchester United visit Anfield.

United have started the season in blistering form but lately have come off the tracks slightly, however they have still done enough to occupy the joint top position of the Premier League. The red side of Merseyside are arguably the most improved side in the past 12 months, and under Kenny Dalglish that improvement can only continue.

It has to be noted that Manchester United have not won at Anfield in the last four years and have also  struggled against their fierce rivals at Old Trafford also. Sir Alex’s side will not have been aided by the recent negative press surrounding Wayne Rooney and his father, which obviously got under the striker’s skin in Montenegro. Rooney’s actions in the English shirt during the week, is a prime example of the negative power the British media have over their high profile players.  

The decision by UEFA to hand Rooney a three game ban will add further misery to the striker and whether or not he wants to admit it; Sir Alex will have the striker’s mental state going into Saturday’s clash in the back of his mind.It could go either way for the united talisman i.e. he could come out all guns blazing and put in the performances we’ve seen so far this season or he could come out kicking and play right into the Kop’s hands. Either way the Liverpool fans will be waiting for Rooney on Saturday and it will be a stern test of his mental state of mind.

On the other hand, United have other players in top form that can make the difference for them at Anfield. Ashley Young, Nani and Welbeck, are all on top form, while Hernandez and Owen always have a goal in them. Sir Alex also has his first choice defensive pairing available in Ferdinand and Vidic, while he also has Phil Jones currently in excellent form to deploy at right back.

But Liverpool fans have also a case for optimism heading into Saturday's crunch encounter. Steven Gerrard is set to start for the first time this season and Kenny Dalglish has stated the Liverpool captain is as fit as ever. The Scotsman has taken his time in bringing the Liverpool legend back into action, and one can only imagine that this game has been earmarked for Gerrard’s return for some time.

Similar to United, Liverpool is no one man team and has players in fine form. Charlie Adam has slotted into the midfield with ease and could form a formidable link playing behind the influential Gerrard. Stewart Downing and Lucas have also been impressive for Liverpool in midfield, while Suarez has been in prolific form so far this season. Andy Carroll’s goal two weekends ago will have done him the world of good and don’t be surprised if he troubles United’s back four should he be called upon.

It will be interesting to see the team selections by both Scottish managers in particular the approach they take from kick off. It would not be surprising to see both teams start with a 4-4-1-1 formation and cancel each other out from the start. On the other hand, the fixture also has the potential to be a fiery atmosphere which could lead to mistakes at the back for both sides and provide us with plenty of goals.

With the negative publicity and current animosity surrounding Wayne Rooney, the United man was always going to take centre stage at Anfield, as will the returning Gerrard. The Liverpool captain has been out of the limelight for some time and he will be out to remind Liverpool fans and a certain Fabio Capello of what he is all about. 


One thing's for sure; we can expect a fiery atmosphere at Anfield this Saturday, as Rooney's UEFA ban comes to surface and with Liverpool and the KOP end smelling blood. 

Make or Break for Trap’s Irish Army

So Ireland is once again heading into the final group game of a qualifying campaign needing a result to guarantee a playoff position. Here we go again? Surely not.

Ireland are a neutral country, always have been always will be. We are the nation everyone loves to love and a country many claim to ascend from. Unfortunately, we are also a country whose subconscious mind dreads two words – a playoff.

It’s been over two years since Ireland were controversially denied a place in the World Cup by Thierry Henry’s infamous handball, and yes we have accepted that it is time to move on. However, the heartache for the Irish soccer team stretches back a lot further than a cheating French man.

The glory days of Jack Charlton are a fond and distant memory, as are the not so shabby days under (love him or hate him) Mick McCarthy. This situation is familiar as Ireland has been in this predicament before i.e. enduring a hard fought out campaign in which they should have done better, but cannot be faulted on effort.

It is this kind of mentality that got under the skin of a certain Roy Keane and although his approach and behaviour was wrong in Saipan, the United legend does have a point. Ireland lack a killer mentality and that is the biggest worry heading into next Tuesday’s make or break clash with Armenia.

An even bigger worry is that following Russia’s victory away to Slovakia; a draw is all Ireland need to qualify for the playoff stages of Euro 2012. Trapattoni has been quick to reiterate that Ireland will not play for a draw as he never sets his team out to play in that matter. While this may be somewhat true in the back of the Italian’s mind, his number one intention is always to avoid defeat.

And who are we to complain with Ireland boasting an impressive eight consecutive clean sheets and currently one point away from the qualifying stages of a major tournament. We would have taken that at the start of the campaign right, or is this the exact mentality that has prevented us from topping the group? Ask Eamon Dunphy and I am sure his answer would be yes. The simple matter of fact is we are where we are, and we must get on with it.

Armenia is similar to Ireland; they are no great side but they have proved in this campaign that they have a lot of heart. They have also proved that can play football and get a result. They are faster, fitter and they are a proud nation who will give everything in Dublin on Tuesday night. But so is Ireland and like or loathe his approach, Trapattoni has given us a winning mentality and belief that has been missing for years gone by.

There is no point in hoping for a last minute enthusiastic attacking midfield approach because it just will not happen. Ireland will go out with the same mentality on Tuesday night; hard to break down, defensively solid and attacking on the counter attack in particular on the wings. It has got us this far and there is no point changing it now.

If everyone plays to the best of their ability on Tuesday night then Ireland will be in the draw for the playoffs. If the big players such as O’Shea, Dunne, McGeady, Keane etc, do not play to their standards then Ireland will be in trouble. It is imperative that Ireland start brightly and treat the game as an away fixture as that is when they play their best.

Trap’s army must put Armenia under pressure and not allow them to play their game. Andorra came to the Aviva and scored, which suggests that Armenia definitely have a goal in them. It is therefore important that Ireland score first, preferably early to avoid nerves. The bench may have a significant role to play Tuesday night with the likes of Hunt, Long, McCarthy and Walters offering attacking options to call upon.

There will be a tense atmosphere in the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night, and once again it is make or break for Ireland.

We’ve heard this song before; hopefully this time it will consist of Ole Ole Ole.

Tevez Snub is Mancini’s Blessing in Disguise

The refusal from Carlos Tevez to come on and play for Manchester City against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, is exactly the same as an ordinary worker refusing to get out of bed and go to work. We all have those days and the vast majority of us just get on with it and earn an honest living.

Carlos Tevez most certainly does not fit in to this category and quite frankly he is an embarrassment to himself and an embarrassment to football. One man he is not an embarrassment to however is Roberto Mancini, who now has a reason to stand up to the sulky Argentine and let him rot in the reserves before shipping him off in January.

It’s hard to believe the fall from grace that Tevez has endured in the past few months. This time last season he was the hero at City and without his goals and work rate Mancini’s men would most certainly not be in Europe. But in the midst of all this Tevez decided he wanted to take his ball and go home. He blamed family reasons for not being happy in Manchester and as reluctant as they were in letting him go, Manchester City agreed to let him leave, solely for family reasons.

The arrival of Sergio Aguero in the summer provided clear evidence that Mancini was planning for life without Tevez. However, when the Argentine’s summer transfer dealings broke down, Mancini was left with the striker at City. But things were not all doom and gloom as Tevez appeared to have a smile on his face once again and his family had now joined him in Manchester.

The feeling among City fans and the media was that Edin Dzeko was keeping Tevez’s position warm until he was fully fit and could form a formidable partnership with his fellow Argentine team mate Aguero. The blistering start City has made this season with Tevez on the bench is frightening to say the least, and there was talk of them being genuine contenders for the Champions League.

However, with one point from their opening Champions League games and Tevez now certain to leave the club, it looks all that more of an uphill challenge now for Mancini’s men. On the other hand, the actions of the Manchester City manager following Tevez’s snub, shows that he is firmly in control of what goes on at the club. This whole saga will only make Mancini stronger particularly in the aftermath of Gary Cook’s departure from the club.

Tevez is one of the greatest strikers and footballers in the world at the moment and there is absolutely nothing he can’t achieve. However, he is not a one man club and he is certainly not a loyal player. Everyone asked questions when Sir Alex opted not to sign the striker on a permanent basis and just one year after he signed for the blue side of Manchester the cracks were already beginning to show. He is now in his third season and look at the mess he has caused.

It’s hard to believe that this man was also captain of the club. Manchester City and Mancini can together grow stronger from the Tevez saga, in particular the latter who needs to show that he is the boss and no player is bigger than the club. There is life after Tevez for City, particularly with Sergio Aguero up front and also an unlimited check book.

United Too Good While Europe Halts City Progress

Following the opening fixtures of this year’s Champions League, all eyes were on Manchester City to see how they would respond to playing midweek against Napoli. A 2-2 draw away to Fulham this past Sunday will bring the City fans back down to earth a little bit.

It is too early to say whether or not Mancini’s men will struggle every time they play after Europe, but the manner in which they threw away two goals against Fulham to drop two points, could have a psychological impact on the team.

Arsenal went down 4-3 away from home to Blackburn and it looks as though they will continue to struggle in their fixtures after playing midweek games in Europe. The same cannot be said however for Manchester United who eased past Chelsea this past Sunday.

They were a different class against Chelsea and they never really looked like they got out of second gear. After scoring early in the game, United did not create too many chances and it was Chelsea who had the more attempts on goal. However, after soaking up a bit of Chelsea pressure, United out of nowhere found themselves 3-0 up at half time and left everyone wondering whether Rooney would fire home another hat-trick.

Although Chelsea were stronger in the second half and Fernando Torres finally looks like he is finally getting somewhere near being back to his best, the London side still look nowhere near as strong as Manchester United. Sir Alex’s men travel to Elland Road to face old rivals Leeds United tonight and the Scotsman has an embarrassing array of unused talent to call upon.

Berbatov, Owen, Giggs, Carrick, Valencia – these are just a few of the names of players who need some much needed game time after struggling to break into Ferguson’s squad so far this season. This is where United most definitely have the edge over Chelsea and Arsenal, while it remains to be seen whether or not the City squad will be strong enough to compete on all fronts this season.

Mancini is already pointing to his lack of central midfield options as he has as couple of injuries in that department. But Mancini is the only man to blame for this as he had an open check book all summer. It is therefore that I believe Owen Hargreaves may prove to be an important signing for City after all. 

Mancini has stated that Hargreaves will play 45 minutes in the Carling Cup this week, should he come through unscathed, he may find himself thrown right into the mix of things at Manchester City. Heaven knows he deserves a break.

The games are starting to come thick and fast and this is where the squad depth of the top four teams will be tested to the max. The Carling Cup will provide much needed game time for the players struggling to fit into the top teams in the Premiership. However, it is hard to see any squad outside of Manchester not struggling to cope with the upcoming fixture list.

Torres Comments Could Signify Beginning of the End

Following the apparent recent criticism by Fernando Torres of his Chelsea team mates, we could be seeing the beginning of the Spanish striker's attempts to end his nightmare spell at Chelsea. 

Although the Spaniard has not set Chelsea alight, nowhere near in fact, it was surprising to see him as an unused substitute against Sunderland this past weekend. With Didier Drogba ruled out through injury the onus would have been on Torres to finally step up and make his mark at Chelsea. 

The feeling around Stamford Bridge at the beginning of the season was that this season would see the striker find his scoring touch once again. After all he looked incredibly sharp and back to his old ways against Stoke on the opening day of the season, and how a goal against the Potters would have helped him now. 

Andres Villa Boas's main concern when he came to Chelsea was always going to be the Torres and Drogba saga. However, his ageing squad and lack of pace in the Chelsea side is also a major issue. Villa Boas has gone some way in rectifying this; the introduction of Josh Mceachran and most recently Daniel Sturridge into the first team shows the manager is willing to give youth a try. 

The decision by Villas Boas to choose Sturridge ahead of Torres against Sunderland payed off and the young English man scored a wonderful back heeled goal against Steve Bruce's men. Then came the allegations of Torres referring to his team mates as 'old and slow' in a Spanish interview. This is no surprise following Torres's nightmare spell at Chelsea. 

Something has gone drastically wrong for the Spaniard at Chelsea; he has lost his confidence and self belief. He has also lost his touch and positioning abilities which are what made him the player he was at Liverpool. Whether or not this is down to the Chelsea personnel and type of play is debatable, one thing thats for sure is his time at Chelsea is entering a penultimate stage. 

This is it for Torres; he has been dropped from the first team and he has criticized his team mates, the fans have been patient enough as have the managers and the owner. On the eve of Chelsea's Champions League opener at home to Dortmund, Villa Boas has a massive decision on this hands. Does he start Torres in the hope of a reaction or does he go with Sturridge who was in fine form at the weekend?

A European game may suit Torres better than Sturridge and it may allow Chelsea fans to finally see a reaction from the disinterested looking Spaniard. Villa Boas knew he would be thrown in at the deep end at some stage; it’s now time for him to show off his 'Special' qualities. Torres on the other hand is running out of time and this may be his last chance. 

Irish Draw in Russia looks all the More Sweeter After Slovakia Slip Up

The 0-0 draw by Trapattoni’s team against Russia in Moscow might not have been the prettiest performance in the world, but following the Slovakian’s 4-0 thumping at home to Armenia, the outlook is now a lot more positive for the green army.

Following Ireland’s lacklustre performance against Slovakia in Dublin Friday night, expectations were not too high going into Ireland’s make or break clash with the Russians. The game in Moscow was pretty similar to that in Dublin, with Russia dominating possession and putting Ireland under pressure.

However, the Russians put Ireland under a lot more severe pressure than the Slovak’s, and if it wasn’t for two absolute master class performances from Shay Given and Richard Dunne, then Ireland would not have left Russia with a valuable point.

Given and Dunne have been putting in monumental performances in the green shirt for a long time, with their performances against Russia up there with their best. If Ireland is to qualify for Euro 2012, which now looks a lot more possible following Armenia’s 4-0 demolition of Slovakia, then it will be because of the Aston Villa pair.

As Per usual, Trap’s men went out on the defensive and were totally outplayed in the midfield. With John O’ Shea and St Ledger ruled out of the tie, Stephen Kelly and Darren O’Dea were drafted in as replacements, with the latter putting in a fine performance alongside Dunne. Ireland failed to carve out a clear cut chance in the game, with the team set up once again favouring Ireland away from home.

Two inspirational off the line saves by Given and Dunne, made sure that Ireland returned home with a point that could now see them advance to at least the play-off stages of the competition. Following the folding of the Slovak’s against Armenia at home, Ireland now have a genuine chance to win the group, with qualifying for the play-offs at least in their own hands now.

Slovakia hosts the Russians in the next set of fixtures and they will have to go for a win to remain in the running for at least second place in the group. This could see Ireland leap frog Russia at the top of the group should they beat minnows Andorra away from home. Ireland then finish up their group fixtures with a now crucial encounter at home to Armenia.

It doesn’t often happen but it looks as though Ireland have been thrown a lifeline in a qualifying campaign. The task is simple now, win our remaining two fixtures and we will be guaranteed at least a play-off spot. On the other hand, should Russia drop points against Slovakia and Ireland claim all six points in their remaining games; Ireland will then win the group.

However, if history is anything to go by, Ireland never do things the simple way. On the other hand, it was all doom and gloom after the Slovakia game, it just goes to show what a few days and a couple of results can do. Trapattoni and Ireland have been given a lifeline; can Ireland take that lifeline and run with it now? Only time and a major improvement in fitness and game time for the players will tell. 

Irish Nerves Got the Better of Trapattoni’s Team

It was built as a must win game, and following an impressive run of results which saw Ireland defeat Italy in their own back garden, the Irish public were genuinely confident of a victory against the Slovakians. However, the dire first half performance against the Slovaks brought the Aviva stadium crashing back down to earth with a bang. 

Trapattoni has long been criticised for his negative type of football, particularly his continued trust in the pairing of Glen Whelan and Keith Andrews in central midfield.The decision by the experienced tactician to omit the highly rated James McCarthy from the squad altogether, came as a huge surprise considering the lack of creativity Ireland possess in the middle of the park.The lacklustre showing by the Irish in the opening 45 minutes is a direct result of the Irish team lacking a player to take the game by the scruff off the neck. 

This is where Whelan and Andrews failed dramatically, and not only in this department.Trapattoni is a classic Italian tactician and likes his central midfielders to be defensive, which in turn allows his wingers to get forward and be creative. The Irish public have grown accustomed to this, however, Whelan and Andrews did not even do their defensive duties on Friday night.Whelan will struggle to get into the Stoke team this season, and Andrews who has been shipped off by Blackburn of all teams to Ipswich on loan, had all the signs of a Championship player on Friday night.

Their roles are quite simple, break up the play of the opposition and give the ball to the Irish players who can actually play football. For this to happen, it would entail either of them looking for the ball from the Irish defence, and spreading it out to one of the wingers or the front two, neither of them did this and therefore Ireland were stuck with long balls from the defence. Andrews and Whelan might have been forgiven of this had they put in a good defensive display, although this was most certainly not the case. Both of these players did not press the Slovakian midfield, and they did not attempt to win the ball back; they merely stood off their opponents and let them play the ball around and dominate possession.

This kind of performance from the midfield duo will be punished in Russia should it happen again. On the other hand, Ireland’s second half improvement should not be overlooked, particularly the performances of Damien Duff and the work rate of McGeady, Ward, St Ledger and Dunne. Duff presented Robbie Keane with a sensational cross in the second half, and all the La Galaxy man had to do was direct the ball into the net from five yards. However, the Tallaght man must have been thinking of Hollywood, as he could only direct his header over the bar.

To the dismay of many Irish people, Keane is not to blame for the result, as Richard Dunne also missed a clear cut header in the dieing seconds of the game. The overall performance was not good enough and the team selection must be come under evaluation, in particular O’Shea and Andrews, who did not look fit and had their worst performances in a green shirt to date.However, all is not lost and per usual Ireland have the chance to go out on Tuesday night with their backs to the wall and put in a excellent away performance against the Russians in Moscow. 

Ireland play their best football away from home, and Russia are not exactly a super power in world football at the moment.Trapattoni will need to dust his side down, and instil a winning mentality within the Irish side. Ireland’s style of play could work in their favour Tuesday night, and it would not be a surprise should they come away from Moscow with a result.

On the other hand, the harsh reality for Irish fans is should  Ireland not get three points against the Russians, then they find themselves in third place with a tricky tie against Armenia to come also. It’s all down to Italian tactician now to prepare his Ireland side as best he can, just like he did against Italy and France in the previous campaign. All the Irish public can do is hope for a repeat performance of those ties, and three points to go with it. 

It may be otugh, but try and look at the glass half full; it could taste nice on Tuesday night. 

Manchester Set to Dominate Premiership Title Race for the Foreseeable Future

Following the whitewash by the two Manchester teams over Arsenal and Spurs this past weekend, it is difficult to see the title leaving the city of Manchester in the near future.There’s an old saying that goes ‘anything you can do, I can do better’, and this is most certainly the case between Manchester United and Manchester City at this moment in time.

Just as little as three years ago, it would have unthinkable to put the blue side of Manchester possessing a team in the same ranks as Barcelona and Real Madrid.  It has to be sad that the same team is now easily placed within the top five teams in the world.

In the aftermath of City’s emphatic 5-1 victory away to Spurs, it would have hard to imagine United topping that result, and Sir Alex would have been more than happy with a solid hard fought 1-0 victory. However, the labouring and ageing United team of last season, now appears to be old news. 

It is no secret that United were not at their best last season, particularly their away form. While everyone huffed and puffed about replacing Paul Scholes with a similar type player, Sir Alex had different intentions.To the untrained eye, Sir Alex began his rebuilding process last season, when he signed Smalling and Hernandez. This past summer he added De Gea, Young and Jones, and these five players have injected  pace and youthfulness that even has Barcelona watching over their shoulders.

This is in contrast to what Manchester City has been up to this past summer, where all the talk was focused on whether or not Carlos Tevez would stay. A few weeks on and now look at the position Manchester City are in. They are top of the league, have two new stars in Aguero and Nasri, are in the Champions League, and Tevez can’t even get a game.

It’s ironic how Sir Alex has always relied on youth and patience over trying to buy success, the resistance in paying over the top for Sneijder highlights this. On the other hand, Manchester City have no problem in buying the title, and the way things are going it may not be long before it happens.

To return to the Sneijder matter, it will be interesting to see if the midfield of United, i.e. Anderson, Cleverley, Fletcher, Carrick and Giggs, will be strong enough to retain the Premiership and over throw Barcelona as European Champions. Sir Alex has signed players in the January transfer window before, and don’t be surprised if he gets out the check book once again come January.

With regards to the rest of the chasing pack, it would not be fair to rule out Chelsea all together from the title race. However, Villas Boas certainly has his hands full in getting the most out of his side, in particular Fernando Torres. The addition of Mata will help Torres as he is a creative attacking player. However, Luka Modric does look like the final piece of the jigsaw, but old timer Harry Redknapp is willing to battle to the death to keep his star man.

Udinese Victory Could Prove to be the Biggest of Wenger’s Career

It’s hard to imagine an Arsenal victory over Udinese as possibly being the most important of Wenger’s career, but this is the situation Arsenal are now in.

When Arsenal went down 1-0 before half time, it really did look like the inevitable for Wenger’s side. However, credit has to be given where credit is due, as it is not easy to come back from a goal down and win away from home, let alone in Europe but also in a game that had so much riding on it.

If United, Chelsea or Manchester City were to get knocked out of the Champions League then they can concentrate on winning the Premiership, this is not the case with Arsenal. Their sole priority this season will be to keep up with the chasing pack, and remain a top four team.

It is easy to jump on the Wenger bandwagon and highlight his faults and possible stubbornness, just listen to Piers Morgan on Twitter. However, this victory over Udinese could be the turning point Arsenal fans have been waiting patiently for season after season. 

The Fabregas saga is finally over and most Arsenal fans would not speak too harshly of him, as he did stay on an extra two seasons after all. The Nasri transfer is different, yes he is a top player, but he is not irreplaceable and if anyone can replace him it is Wenger. 

There are already reports that Wenger has moved for the highly rated Eden Hazard, and that he is also considering a bid for Scott Parker. It is no secret that Arsenal are interested in Scott Dann, while a reported move for Everton’s Tim Cahill has also surfaced. 

It is these types of signings that will make the difference for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger has been thrown a lifeline with this result, and who’s to say that the likes of Walcott, Ramsey, Wilshire, Gervinho and Van Persie, won’t step up to the plate all the time and take games by the scruff of the neck for the Gunners.

One thing is for sure, these players need reinforcements and they need them soon as the transfer window is coming to an end. He may not like it and he may not agree with it, but Arsene Wenger must get the check book out and save Arsenal’s season before it even begins. 

Don’t write the Frenchman off just yet.

Exciting Season Ahead after Premiership Curtain Raise

If the first weekend of the Premiership season is anything to go by, then the season ahead may prove to be the most entertaining yet. In week one, we saw a potentially new Liverpool, the solidness of Chelsea with a sharp Fernando Torres, the return of hair on his head and a goal for Wayne Rooney, and to top it all off, the debut of a new Premiership sensation.

So the Premiership is back and once again our lives can feel fulfilled, as we have plenty to talk and argue about. Jamie Redknapp is back looking as well as ever, and he is joined by his new colleague, the infamous and not so handsome Gary Neville. However, everything is not rosy just yet in the Premiership garden, as wrinkles and grey hairs may be soon be appearing on certain Premiership managers.

One man who does not have to worry about that is Kenny Dalglish. His Liverpool side were very impressive in their first half performance against Sunderland, and it would be foolish to read too much into their tired second half performance, as it is the beginning of the season. Charlie Adam and the impressive Luis Suarez look like excellent signings, however, Liverpool still look a bit short in numbers, particularly in defence. Also, it should not be forgotten that Stephen Gerrard is yet to return to the side.

Chelsea kicked off the Super Sunday action away to Stoke City, which was always going to be a tough place to begin the season with. Tony Pulis is assembling a good side with Stoke; with the returning Jonathan Woodgate looking like an excellent purchase should he stay fit. New Chelsea manager Andres Villas Boas will have had a rude awakening at what the Premiership can muscle up after visiting the Britannia stadium. There are plenty of positives for Chelsea fans to take away from the game, with the sharpness and movement of Fernando Torres up front, being the main talking point. Chelsea has a sleeping giant in their camp, and should he wake, along with the imminent capture of Luka Modric, then they will once again be a force to be reckoned with in the Premiership.

Manchester United showed glimpses of brilliance against West Brom, and in the end it could be argued that they were lucky to come away with all three points. However, they never really looked like they got out of second gear, and they lost both centre halves to injury. Wayne Rooney looks to be nearing his best, while Ashley Young continues to look like he has been in the United squad for years. It looks as though Sir Alex Ferguson is content with his squad, and it remains to be seen whether or not he is correct. Tom Cleverley looks a real talent, and who’s to say he’s not good enough to step up to the plate for the United first team. Anderson also played well against West Brom, and this could finally be the time for the Brazilian to step up to the plate. The ever present Ryan Giggs and the returning Darren Fletcher, have also yet to kick a ball this season.

All eyes were on the Etihad Stadium Monday night, as the big spenders Manchester City got their season underway against the Premiership newcomers Swansea. The game was hyped up to be a real David versus Goliath confrontation, but Swansea played very well up until the hour mark. The resilience of Brendan Rogers’ side was finally broken, as the class of Manchester City proved to be too good for Swansea. However, it was a debutante and super sub that stole the show, as Sergio Auguero made his much anticipated debut for Manchester City. The silky Argentinean came off the bench to score twice, with his second strike an early contender for goal of the season. Before the game, all the talk was about whether or not Carlos Tevez would be staying at the club.The question is now, does Manchester City really need him, and how good will they be if he actually stays? The red half of Manchester must be at least a little bit worried.

To return to the topic of managers under pressure, Arsene Wenger could arguably be facing the biggest two weeks of his career. The Cesc Fabregas saga has finally been put to bed, and it looks likely that Samir Nasri will also be following him out of the club. Wenger has always been one to rely on youth and his patented worldwide scouting system; surely now he is going to splash the cash before the end of the transfer window. His side were lucky to overcome Udinese last night in the Champions League qualifiers, and surely now the Frenchman must be aware that his side is lacking seriously in all departments. Arsenal play Liverpool at the weekend, and if Dalglish’s side play anything like they did in the first half against Sunderland last weekend, then Arsene Wenger may get his wake up call a lot earlier than expected.

There’s an old saying, ‘don’t fix it if it isn’t broken’, this is most certainly not the case at the Emirates Stadium.

Joey Barton & Newcastle - the finger of blame.

It is difficult to figure out who is to blame in the whole Joey Barton saga, as him and his employers are as bad as each other at decision making. Barton’s criticism of the Newcastle hierarchy is not being questioned by anyone, particularly the Newcastle fans. What is questionable however, is the character he is portraying on Twitter.

For once is his career, Barton is on the right side of an argument and as a result could receive an arguably undeserved career boost. Barton has made every mistake under the sun as a person more so than a footballer, however, this could be his chance to make it right and redeem himself if at all possible.

The fact that Newcastle are willing to part with arguably their best player on a free transfer, is as hard to believe as their decision to allow Kevin Nolan to leave for half nothing to West Ham. The fact that Nolan was willing to drop down a division to leave the Magpies is a worrying sign for the faithful Newcastle supporters.

I am not sure if it is something in the water at St James Park but decisions and careers tend to go Hayward for the personnel there. Shearer the Messiah was brought in and that didn’t work, King Kev was brought in that didn’t work, then Chris Houghton stepped up and did an excellent job and what happened, he was sacked. Just when everything seemed stable at Newcastle, Houghton was sacked and replaced by Alan Pardrew. Since Pardrew was brought in, Newcastle have continued to improve, boasting the solid midfield pairing of Nolan and Barton.

The incredible 4-4 draw with Arsenal last season showed a team spirit that has been missing in the Toon army for too many seasons now. The fact the two men driving the engine of that team are now going to be playing elsewhere is unthinkable. Joey Barton is not an angel, he is one thing however, a gifted central midfielder who can drive a team on. Should Barton keep his head down and maybe his tweets to himself, he may just find himself at a top Premiership club in the coming weeks. 

The early indications are that Arsenal, Spurs and Stoke are in for midfielder, and Barton may be just what the Arsenal team may need – a fighter and a ball winner. Don’t expect the Barton saga to end without a twist in the tale. Newcastle has remained very tight lipped so far.  

Dalglish's Liverpool closing in on Title Contenders

With just over three weeks until the start of another Premiership campaign, we can expect to see managers becoming more and more active in the transfer market as they look to bolster their squads ahead of the new season. Manchester United have been the most active club so far this summer, but it is the Liverpool squad that has undergone the most recent re-development under Kenny Dalglish. In just over seven months King Kenny has spent big money on the likes of Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam and most recently Stuart Downing. The Merseyside outfit also currently possess two notable returnees in the shape of Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani, who have both looked sharp in pre season. The big money spent on Carroll, Henderson and Downing, shows that Liverpool are not afraid to possibly spend over the top on young English players. Dalglish may be taking a big gamble on Henderson in particular, but at least we know who is now firmly in charge at Anfield. He may have to move a few players on before he can spend again, with Raul Meireles possibly being the victim in a now over crowded midfield.

Alex Ferguson recently stated that he sees Liverpool as genuine title contenders once again; however, Dalglish’s men are still a few signings away from the finished article.

Liverpool arguably now boast a stronger midfield then Manchester United, but it is at the back and possibly up front where they are still lacking personnel. They are in desperate need of a left back and a world class central defender to eventually take over from Jamie Carragher. Gary Cahill, Ryan Shawcross and Leighton Baines are three notable English candidates, while Christopher Samba at Blackburn may also be an option. Up front, Liverpool have a potentially lethal strike force in Carroll, Suarez and Kuyt. However, should any of them suffer an injury throughout the season; it would be difficult for Liverpool fans to accept David Ngog, in a team aiming to claim their 19^th league title. Liverpool have started well on their new journey under the returning Dalglish and the signs are there that he will be provided with further transfer money before the start of the new season. Exciting times may be on the horizon once again for the reds.

Mancini must remain firm over Tevez

So the Manchester City fans have received the inevitable news they have been dreading, Carlos Tevez officially wants to leave Manchester. It was always baffling why Sir Alex Ferguson didn't sign the Argentinian hit man on a permanent basis when he had the chance, while it now appears more clear. As good as Tevez is and he is very good, he isn't a player that has settled at a club. His time in the Premiership has been nothing short of breathtaking, seeing him play a crucial role in West Ham avoiding relegation, winning the Premierhsip and the love of the Stretford End at Old Trafford, while most recently securing Manchester City a Champions League position for the very first time. He was arguably the best striker in England last season and this news will come as a massive blow to Mancini and his plans for the forthcoming season. However, City need to remain firm with Tevez and his advisors or risk jeapordising arguably the most important season in the clubs history.

Sheikh Mansour has invested heavily in the club and has so far seen City make good progress, finishing third in the league and winning the FA Cup last season. However, without the contribution of Tevez it is hard to imagine them being in that position now. Mansour has waisted a lot of money on talent that did not succeed at the club and must now try and make some money back or at least off load them to other clubs. Wayne Bridge, Adebayor, Wright Phillips, Dzeko, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Kolarov, the list is endless. Carloz Tevez represents the single world class player City possess, take him out of the equation and all of a sudden they do not seem that threatening anymore. The singing of Gael Clichy from the sinking ship that appears to be Arsenal, shows that City are finally getting value for money and bringing in players with Premiership experience. However, losing Tevez after singing Clichy will be like taking one step forward and five steps backwards.

Mancini's men struggled when Tevez was missing last season and the Italian manager will be well aware of the daunting task he will face in replacing his star striker. There are not a lot of players as good as Tevez available out there, but with the money City possess they could surely pull something out of the bag, perhaps Giuseppe Rossi from under the nose of Harry Redknapp. Mancini and City fans alike, need only look at the Barcelona and Cesc Fabregas saga and take hope that players are not calling all the shots these days. Harry Redknapp and Spurs may also find themselves in a similar position should Chelsea and possibly Manchester United make improved offers for Luka Modric. City have slapped a £50 million price tag on Tevez and realistically the only clubs that can pay that are Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Unless City get there asking price they will be resilient in leaving there star asset go. Tevez is currently on €200,000 a week at City so life in Manchester can't be that bad. Mancini wont give up without a fight, but should the special one come knocking with an offer plus Benzema, they may find it hard to resist. Watch this space as they say.

Does the appointment of Villas-Boas signify new Abramovich attitude?

Roman Abramovich has invested heavily in Chelsea and as a result, he has achieved success during his time at the club. His appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager was the best managerial coup by a Premiership side since Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. The fact that Sir Alex continues to defy age and remains as hungry as ever, is arguably a result of the job the special one did at Chelsea. Mourinho provided Sir Alex with a challenge he just couldnt resist. The success United have achieved since Mourinho's time in the Premiership, is a direct result of United having no option but to make changes in order to wrestle the title away from Stamford Bridge. Even though Carlo Ancelotti delivered the double to Abramovich two seasons back, it wasn't enough to save him from the axe this season. It was evident that there was clearly trouble at Stamford Bridge, when Ray Wilkins was shown the door half way through last season.

The arrival of Fernando Torres provided a breath of fresh air around Stamford Bridge, however, it wasn't long before the air went stale again.The acquisition of Torres by Chelsea while they still possessed the clinical Didier Drogba, demonstrates a more long term plan being put in place by Abramovich. The appointment of Villas-Boas in favour of Guus Hiddink also provides evidence that Abramovich is realising the need for patiency and development in order to achieve continued success. It has taken two embarrassing Champions League final defeats by Barcelona, for Sir Alex to realise that he has to invest heavily, and Abramovich will have to do the same. Chelsea have been non existant in the transfer market so far and that will change radically in the coming weeks, as it will with the blue side of Manchester. However, it is the appointment of Villas-Boas that could prove to be Chelsea's best acquisition of the summer. The young manager has already shown what he is capable of with Porto last season with little managerial experience. Then you have to take into account, the uncanny resemblance to the appointment of Jose Mourinho once upon a time.

Just like Mourinho, Villa-Boas was mentured by the late great Sir Bobby Robson and even lived in the same appartment block as him. It could be argued that Villa-Boas also received the more broader menturing of the two, as he also had the privilege of working under Mourinho, learning a great deal from him. Villa-Boas worked with the special one at Chelsea and also Inter, highlighting Mourinho's belief in his ability. This will provide Villa-Boas with an a distinct advantage upon arrival at Chelsea and will stand to him incredibly at Stamford Bridge. He knows how Mourinho operated at Chelsea and how he got the best out of his players. Villa-Boas bided his time under Mourinho, before feeling confident enough to leave his comfortable position at Inter to begin his own managerial career. The ingredients are there for Villa-Boas to be successful at Chelsea, but he will need time. He will also need to make some big decisions, starting with the Torres and Drogba scenario. There appears to be a lot of dead wood at Chelsea and a mix up is definately needed if they are to challenge on all fronts again next season. Are we witnessing the birth of the next special one? Only time and money will tell. It will be interesting to see if Villa-Boas gets both.

United must not stop at Young

As Alex Ferguson edges towards his second signing of the summer, it is vital that Manchester United don't stop the midfield recruitment process with Ashley Young. While it looks a foregone conclusion that Athletico Madrid goalkeeper De Gea will be gaurding the sticks at Old Trafford next season,  it is a central attacking midfielder that Sir Alex must make his number one priority. The impending arrival of Ashley Young is a sound move by Sir Alex, as he is arguably the most up and coming attacking English midfielder at the moment. Young also fits the criteria of the new ruling of eight homegrown British players to be included in each teams 25 man squad. However, as Barcelona proved at Wembley this year and also two years ago, United are lacking greatly in the centre of midfield. Surely, any denial Sir Alex was experiencing has all but disappeared after United were played off the pitch once again against Barcelona last month.

The arrival of a creative midfielder to play alongside Fletcher, Anderson or yes Carrick, would represent the final jigsaw in Fergie's team. The usual candidates are circulating the back pages of every tabloid in the UK and Ireland, with Sneijder and Modric being the top two candidates.It doesn't take a genius to see that Sneijder is obviously the perfect replacement for Paul Scholes and why Sir Alex hasn't moved yet is unknown. However, there is a young Danish international by the name of  Christian Eriksen that could prove to be excellent value for money. Eriksen is 19 years of age and has put in some impressive performances against England, which i'm sure Fergie is well aware of. Eriksen is young, quick, skillful, creative and has all the attributes to fit in perfectly at United. The young Dane also represents a younger, more promosing and exciting version of Luka Modric.

In an ideal world, Fergie would sign both Sneijder and Eriksen, and give United a real chance of preventing the Champions League from taking permanent residency at the Nou Camp.However, it would not surprise me to see Sir Alex put the check book away and place his trust once again in his current squad, while also maybe providing Tom Cleverly with a chance to reach his potential. That move may be good enough to secure a 20th Premiership title, depending on what Manchester City and Chelsea do in the summer, however, as Sanchez moves closer to Barcelona from Udinese, United could once again struggle against Europe's elite. Your call Fergie.