West Ham have completed the signing of Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £7million.
The 24-year-old Senegal international has put pen-to-paper on a four-year deal and becomes the Hammers’ second summer recruit following the arrival of Argentine forward Mauro Zarate.
And the centre-half, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, admits he is delighted to have the chance to perform in the Premier League.
He told the club’s official website: “I am very happy, because today West Ham have given me the chance to play in the Premier League.
“So I’m very happy to join such a club and that gives me great pleasure. For my part, I’m going to try to do great things here and try to improve further still as a player.”
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Kouyate also had special thanks for Irons boss Sam Allardyce, who he believes is the main reason why he decided to join the club instead of a number of other interested parties, including Arsenal and Valencia.
“That I’m here now is thanks to the manager, because he went out of his way, leaving his holiday for me, so he has done everything he could for me to join the club.” he added.
“He, my advisers and agents helped me make the right decision and said West Ham was the ideal club for me, because as a kid I dreamed of playing in the Premier League and now it’s here that my dream has been realised.”
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Kouyate also learned today that he could make his West Ham debut against arch-rivals Tottenham after it was revealed the two clubs will meet at the Boleyn Ground on the opening day of the 2014/2015 season.
Tottenham’s Premier League season kicks off with an absolute corker as they face London rivals West Ham on Saturday – a fixture they lost quite ridiculously, three times during the 2013/14 campaign.But with a new manager at the helm and a handful of summer signings, the Lilywhites will believe their chances of beating the Hammers this weekend will have significantly improved.A few more acquisitions by Friday night wouldn’t go amiss either. Spurs are known to be on the verge of signing a small but impressive collection of summer targets, so with that in mind, here’s a look at Tottenham’sÂ’Dream XI’ to face the Irons.
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GOALKEEPER – HUGO LLORIS
Commonly regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League and having recently extended his White Hart Lane contract by five years, Hugo Lloris’ name is now cemented into the Tottenham team-sheet.
The France international had a strong World Cup and has now been officially handed the No.1 jersey by Spurs, following Heurelho Gomes’ departure to Championship side Watford.
There will be added competition for his spot between the sticks however, with Michel Vorm arriving from Swansea City.
Here’s a look at Lloris’ highlights from last season:
//www.youtube.com/embed/lcPQqqxtIy8?rel=0
RIGHT BACK – DeAndre Yedlin
Kyle Walker is set to miss out on Tottenham’s opener against West Ham this weekend as he continues to recover from the pelvic injury that saw him absent from the World Cup.
So it’s a good job the Lillywhites have been targeting Team USA defender DeAndre Yedlin, who looked a real prospect at Brazil 2014:
The 21 year-old’s World Cup campaign was brief but impressive, coming on as a substitute against Belgium and finishing the match with the most successful dribbles and key passes of any USA player, as detailed below:
And last term, the Seattle Sounders right-back became the first player since 2005 to make it into the MLS All-Star team in his rookie season.
Here’s a look at Yedlin in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/dGWL_MJkgLE?rel=0
Rather fortuitously, speculation suggests the seven-cap international could arrive at White Hart Lane just in time to resolve Tottenham’s injury issues at No.2 and take on the Hammers:
CENTRE-BACK – MATEO MUSACCHIO
After suffering a multitude of defensive capitulations last season, Tottenham are closing in on Villarreal centre-back Mateo Muscacchio, with issues over third-party ownership seemingly the only barrier to completing the £17million deal:
The 23 year-old comes highly rated, having played a major factor in the Yellow Submarine recording a surprise sixth-place finish in La Liga last season.
Muscacchio’s individual displays were equally impressive, the vitals of which are detailed below:
Here’s a short clip of the Argentina international in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/2rH0XuHban8?rel=0
And recent speculation suggests the signing of Valencia defender Victor Ruiz at El Madrigal should push Muscacchio even closer to a Spurs switch:
CENTRE-BACK – JAN VERTONGHEN
Likewise to Hugo Lloris, news that Jan Vertonghen is on the verge of signing a new deal at White Hart Lane will be music to the ears of Lilywhites fans.
The Belgium international appeared subdued at times last season but his inaugural Premier League campaign heralded a spot in the PFA Team of the Year.
That was in no small part due to Vertonghen’s commitment to venture forward and join the attack, illustrated perfectly in the below video:
//www.youtube.com/embed/LVgHB_IGKpk?rel=0
And as viewable below, his stats from the 2012/13 campaign are incredibly impressive:
Wanted by Manchester United and Barcelona to name a few, getting the 27 year-old to agree new terms could well be Tottenham’s best business of the summer.
LEFT-BACK – BEN DAVIES
Tottenham’s opener against West Ham at the weekend could witness a league debut for summer signing Ben Davies.
The 21 year-old made the No.3 slot his own at former club Swansea, thrown in at the deep end to replace the injured Neil Taylor at the start of the 2012/13 campaign but holding down the position for club and country ever since.
He was in good form last season too, as detailed below:
Spurs spent last season without a resident left-back but the Wales international’s stability in the starting line-up should see their defensive record considerably improve. Here’s a look at Davies in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/n5fuKohbkuY?rel=0
CENTRAL MIDFIELD – ETIENNE CAPOUE
This is perhaps the most debatable spot in the whole starting XI, not least because Tottenham are privy to a plethora of like-minded talent in central midfield, including Paulinho, Sandro, Moussa Dembele and Nabil Bentaleb.
But France international Etienne Capoue has featured regularly during Tottenham’s pre-season tour and reportedly impressed throughout, despite prior rumours of an abrupt departure amid a disappointing inaugural Premier League campaign:
Furthermore, midfield anchors were an integral part of Mauricio Pochettino’s game plan at Southampton and in that regard the 6 foot 3 former Toulouse star, also capable of playing at centre-back, fits the bill perfectly.
His physicality could prove vital against the Hammers and although Capoue featured just twelve times in the league last season there’s no debate over his pedigree – just take a look at the highlights from the Frenchman’s final term in Ligue 1:
//www.youtube.com/embed/o7nXtm3TDy4?rel=0
CENTRAL MIDFIELD – LEWIS HOLTBY
Lewis Holtby’s Tottenham career thus far has been rather underwhelming.
He was mooted as a future star after arriving in North London for a mere £1million in January 2013, boasting a preceding reputation from his time at Schalke, but after netting just once in 24 league appearances found himself out on loan to Fulham last season.
The 23 year-old produced decent form for the Cottagers however despite their relegation, as detailed below:
And interestingly enough, he’s been incredibly prominent in Tottenham’s pre-season, netting against the Seattle Sounders:
And Celtic:
Resultantly, many have alleged that the Germany international could feature regularly next season. His industriousness and high-energy certainly fits with Mauricio Pochettinho’s high-pressing philosophy:
RIGHT WING – ERIK LAMELA
Football – Chicago Fire v Tottenham Hotspur – Pre Season Friendly – Toyota Park, Bridgeview, United States of America – 14/15 – 26/7/14Erik Lamela – Tottenham Hotspur Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Robin AlamEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
There have been rumours that Erik Lamela could be returned to Serie A this summer after failing to find the net in an inaugural Premier League campaign plighted by fitness problems:
But no doubt, the 22 year-old is a sensational talent. Just take a look at his top five goals for Giallorossi:
//www.youtube.com/embed/1TXT-wPwC2c?rel=0
The Lilywhites appear unprepared to cash in just yet on their club record signing and Mauricio Pochettino will be keen to get the best out of his countryman.
The Argentina international has been in good form during pre-season, finding the net against Celtic:
ATTACKING MIDFIELD – CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN
Danish wonder-kid Christian Eriksen was used in a plethora of positions by Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood last season.
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But if Mauricio Pochettino wants to get full value out of the 22 year-old playmaker, he must be given a central role that allows him to dictate traffic and get regular sight of goal.
As you can see below, the Danish international was in strong form last term and has transitioned well to the Premier League since leaving Ajax last summer:
For £11million, the former Eredivise star has proved to be a real coup. Here’s his highlights for the Lilywhites:
//www.youtube.com/embed/1Es1YXxI_Us?rel=0
After setting well in north London, now is the time for Tottenham to start building a team around Eriksen.
LEFT WING – MEMPHIS DEPAY
The left side of attack was a real problem for Spurs last season, with Aaron Lennon, Nacer Chadli, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Andros Townsend and Christian Eriksen all struggling to make the role their own.
But that could be remedied by the weekend if Tottenham strike a deal to sign rumoured target Memphis Depay:
The 20 year-old PSV star destroyed the Dutch top flight last season, as seen below:
The Ghana-born attacker had a solid World Cup too, claiming two goals and one assist for Oranje in a cameo role, including this far-post finish against Chile:
But whether Depay can be signed before the West Ham clash remains to be seen. PSV boss Phillip Cocu is planning to offer him a new contract.
STRIKER – WILFRIED BONY
It remains to be seen just how Mauricio Pochettino will handle the striker situation at White Hart Lane. Emmanuel Adebayor found eleven goals last season but his rebellious streak is well-known, whilst £27million signing Roberto Soldado netted just twice in open play but his all-round contribution was positive.
It could see Spurs delve into the transfer market once again, with Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony mooted as one of their potential summer targets:
Since joining the Welsh side from Vitesse last summer, where he had previously claimed 37 goals in his ultimate season, the 25 year-old has found 16 goals and four assists in 34 league outings. Here are some of the highlights from his inaugural Premier League campaign;
//www.youtube.com/embed/L_zt5akDKGs
A big-n-burley, old-school centre-forward who likes to hold up play, the Ivory Coast international would be perfect for Tottenham’s lone striking role. Furthermore, recent speculation suggets the Swans are willing to scrap Bony’s release clause:
It remains unlikely however that a deal will be struck before Spurs take on West Ham at the weekend.
For West Ham, this summer transfer window has been one of the most exciting for many years. Often associated with bringing through young talent and then selling them to a larger club for astronomical fees, the Hammers have brought in no less than nine players in total this time around.
However, in terms of the outgoings, there hasn’t been a lot of activity and as a result Big Sam now has strength in depth to cope with the demands of the Premier League. On the subject of demands, Allardyce was told to play a more attacking and attractive style of football this season, compare to the one dimensional, uninventive style he has a reputation for.
But whilst he has signed a number of players who have the ability to compliment a new style of play at the Boleyn Ground, there was one significant departure that can change a game in an instant – Mohamed Diame.
Signed on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic in 2012, the powerful midfielder went on to pastures new on transfer deadline day for £3.5m to Hull City. Considering that the Hammers got him on a free transfer, and exceeding £25m in player recruitment, a tidy profit was made for a player that has served the Upton Park outfit with great distinction.
The 27- year-old scored seven goals in 71 appearances for West Ham, where his most impressive performance was coming off the bench against Chelsea in his first season and putting the Hammers in the lead in a 3-1 victory at Upton Park. Now he is no longer at the club, it was inevitable that Diame would score on his Tigers debut against his former employers, and the goal showed what kind of player Diame is; powerful, strong, quick, and composed when in front of goal.
Yes, he did dip in form at the end of last season and was also quoted saying one day he would like to join a top six club. Therefore it was never in doubt that Allardyce will use these two excuses, aswell as making a profit on the player, in order to offload the Senegalese international.
The African Cup of Nations is slowly approaching in January, and maybe the former Bolton Wanderers gaffer couldn’t afford to lose a player for a month of the season. However, Allardyce replaced him with Alex Song, who will be jetting off to Morocco for four weeks at the turn of the year. Aswell as Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho joining Song for the tournement, it’s back to square one.
On and off the pitch, the former Wigan Athletic powerhouse has a presence about him, and whenever he has the ball at his feet, you know something is going to happen. Selling one of your own players who can make a difference in a matter of seconds is baffling. If West Ham were to have sold the likes of Joey O’Brien, Ricardo Vaz Te and even unpopular captain Kevin Nolan, surely you would have got more than the £3.5m you sold Diame for?
In the lead up to the much anticipated stadium move to Stratford, selling Diame could become costly. The Hammers have perfect replacements in the shape of Kouyate and Song, aswell as the ever present Mark Noble, but most fans would have liked to have seen more fringe players off the books than Diame, who could quite easily make a significant impact, not just for West Ham and Hull, but for any club.
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Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski is set to play himself in a new comedy film called ‘Macho Man’ which is coming out next year, but the current amount of playing time he’s receiving with the Gunners is no laughing matter.
The 29 year old has only made four substitute appearances for Arsenal in the league, and has only been started once in all competitions – the League Cup loss against Southampton.
Podolski has hinted in the past that he will leave the club if he isn’t given enough playing time and if the German midfielder wants more action, he’s probably going to have to do so because of how dense Arsenal’s midfield is.
So before hell freezes over and Podolski moves to Tottenham Hotspur, Here are FIVE possible destinations for him…
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CLICK ON PODOLSKI TO REVEAL THE FIVE
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1. Schalke 04
Football – Chelsea v FC Schalke – UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday One Group G – Stamford Bridge, London, England – 14/15 – 17/9/14Tranquillo Barnetta – Schalke Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
A move back to Germany might be of interest for Podolski and one of the clubs that might be interested in him is Schalke. The Miners attacking midfielders Sidney Sam and Julian Draxler are drawing a lot of interest from several European clubs, so a spot may open up in the squad if either or both of these players decide to move. Podolski would be able to fill this role as he can play as an attacking midfielder and as a forward.
2. Borussia Monchengladbach
Football – Celtic v Borussia Monchengladbach – Pre Season Friendly – Celtic Park – 27/7/13Celtic’s Dylan McGeouch (L) in action with Borussia Monchengladbach’s Branimir HrgotaMandatory Credit: Action Images / Graham StuartLivepic
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Max Kruse is also being watched closely by many big European sides, so a move might be imminent for him. If a move does materialise, the Germans will need to replace him with someone to help maintain their 2nd place position currently in the Bundesliga, and their aspirations of playing Champions League football next season. Podolski would be a good choice.
3. Borussia Dortmund
Football – Borussia Dortmund v Arsenal – UEFA Champions League Group Stage Matchday One Group D – Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany – 14/15 , 16/9/14Kevin Grosskreutz – Borussia Dortmund Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew BoyersEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
With the side currently sitting in 15th in the Bundesliga and several players on the verge of leaving the club, Borussia Dortmund could soon be hitting the panic button. Marcos Reus, one of their best players, is likely to leave and would need to be replaced. If they want to avoid any kind of disaster, they need to bring in new players and Podolski would be a fine addition to the squad. They still haven’t found a proper replacement for Robert Lewandowski who left for Bayern Munich last summer, and Podolski could fill that role too as he has scored 29 goals in 75 games for Arsenal.
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4. Juventus
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Podolski has also been linked with a move to Serie A champions Juventus. Juventus’ Fernando Llorente has struggled to find goals so far this season, only scoring one. They may therefore be looking to find a replacement for him up front, whether that be a loan or permanent deal. Podolski could be their guy to partner up with their top goal scorer Carlos Tevez.
5. Inter Milan
Football – Inter Milan v Manchester United – Guinness International Champions Cup – Pre Season Friendly Tournament – FedExField, Washington D.C, United States of America – 14/15 , 29/7/14Ezequiel Schelotto – Inter Milan Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Adam HoltEDITORIAL USE ONLY.
The German was linked with the Italian side Inter, as they wish to go head-to-head with Juventus for his signature, but also bring in fellow Arsenal player Joel Campbell as they like his youth and versatility. The Italian side currently sit in 8th place in Serie A but they would love to be back in European contention. Podolski would likely replace Joel Obi in midfield, as they are already sorted up front with Mauro Icardi and Pablo Osvaldo.
Last weekend, Brendan Rodgers elected to bench Steven Gerrard against Stoke City on the 16th anniversary of his Liverpool debut.
The immediate assumption was that the Reds boss wished to portray the image of a manager unconcerned with such sentimentalities, but revealed after the 1-0 victory that he was actually oblivious to the unique occasion. “I felt quite bad, there are about 20 pictures of him and I’ve put him on the bench. At least he came on for 20 minutes or so at the end,” Rodgers informed reporters.
Yet, whether by coincidence or design, dropping Gerrard for his own festivities sent out an important, symbolic message that Liverpool’s Captain Fantastic must now be selected as wisely as possible.
Sacrilege to some segments of the Anfield faithful – especially after Gerrard officially ended his England career after the World Cup so that he could participate proficiently in the follow-up campaign to Liverpool’s second-place finish last season – particularly in the Champions League.
But the Liverpool icon is now 34 years of age, and although debates can be had whether it’s his form or Liverpool’s that’s taken the more significant hit this season, with the Reds currently lying in eighth place in the Premier League table, clearly time is beginning to catch up with him.
Gerrard’s the type of character who wants to play every week. Like Chelsea’s John Terry, he’s played through niggling injury after niggling injury for the majority of his career. Yet the simple paradox is that the less demanded of the England centurion now, in terms of game-time, the more his Anfield tenure can be prolonged.
Take Frank Lampard for example – a veteran midfielder whose career has mirrored Gerrard’s with almost miraculous similarity. Two seasons ago, aged 34, his game-time gradually reduced, dropping from 49 appearances across all competitions in 2011-12 to 40 in his final season at Chelsea. Had the former England man been pushed to continue making the 55+ appearances of his late twenties, its unlikely Lampard would still be playing at Premier League level today, forging a vital part of Manchester City’s title defence in a free-scoring cameo role.
Gerrard’s more than capable of doing the same, especially in the more advanced capacity, similar to Lampard’s, that worked to great effect against Leicester City in midweek, but only if his fixture schedule is managed correctly.
Rodgers hasn’t always got it right this season; I still believe the midfielder could and should have started against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, in what may have constituted the last major European occasion of his career.
But Stoke City, through their battle-hardened tenacity, especially in midfield, is the kind of team you should be protecting a 34 year-old veteran from, and Rodgers’ decision to bench Gerrard against the Potters was vindicated by the subsequent 3-1 victory at the King Power stadium.
Moving the Liverpool captain further forward undoubtedly had an influence, but Gerrard looked fresher, fitter and sharper than many of his performances this season. His passing, creativity and crossing was vital to the Reds’ win and he capped it off by finding net in open play for the first time in his last 18 Premier League goals.
It’s no coincidence that we saw a revitalised Gerrard against Leicester following his first league benching of the campaign, whereas he’d previously amassed the most minutes of any Liverpool player in the Premiership this season, barring Simon Mignolet.
Gerrard’s absence is an important experience for the rest of the Liverpool team too. He’s been at the heart of it for over a decade – the inspirational figurehead, the ultimate leader. That can create an unhealthy sense of dependency, the subliminal idea that the rest of the starting Xi can let responsibility lie with him or that they require Gerrard to put in a top performance, but retirement is now on the horizon for the 34 year-old.
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The players need time to adapt their mindsets – other likewise leaders must be allowed to emerge – just as the club overall requires a transition period to successfully cope with their captain’s eventual departure. It’s not only Gerrard who will benefit from him being rested on certain occasions.
Of course, the dilemma is that Gerrard is still Liverpool’s best midfielder, in any role, by quite a significant distance. Keeping him on the sidelines is a test of Brendan Rodgers patience, as much as it is the Anfield skipper’s.
But with Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson both emerging as integral stars for club and country, the time feels right for a gentle, almost unnoticeable passing of the reins. Likewise, having a weakened, less active Gerrard spend another four years at Anfield, compared to two of more fruitful participation, can only benefit Liverpool’s first team and the club as a whole.
It has been a somewhat indifferent season for the Gunners in their quest to restore the glory days back in North London.
They have been a side who have looked seemingly unplayable on their day, but as ‘their day’ hasn’t come around as often as it might have in previous seasons, the Emirates faithful have been in partial limbo as to what direction their beloved club is heading in.
Now with the return of both Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil, who were each out for eleven and three months respectively, Arsene Wenger now has a great deal more options to explore in setting out his perfect starting XI.
It seems a shame that Gunners fans had to wait this long to see two of the greatest stars back in action, but seeing as their return is better late than never, how will their presence impact Arsenal in the second portion of the Premier League season?
Whilst fifth place is no mean feat for a side that have had their first team ravaged by injury, it is a position that will likely be deemed not good enough among the hard-core Emirates faithful. Arsenal clearly want to be winning titles, and although this season has not been an overall disappointment, largely due to the goal scoring exploits of one Alexis Sanchez, the Gunners have been far wide of challenging the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City for that Premier League top spot.
Wenger has also had to pay witness to the likes of Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey fall victim to injury, but now with an almost full contingency of players to select from in the coming weeks, Arsenal could really start to see their form improve, as well as their results. You only need to look to last weekend’s triumph over Brighton in the FA Cup to see what an affect Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil had – they not only proved that they could score goals, but they also made the likes of Tomas Rosicky look fresh and rejuvenated in their approach to the match, even if Arsenal’s defence remained a bit shaky.
Theo Walcott, for all the doubters he has somehow amassed whilst playing for England and in the Premier League, is a player who can simply win games for his side. His pace is not matched among his counterparts, his desire to make a difference is always positive, and although some pundits have claimed he lacks a real ‘footballing brain’, Walcott’s nature in front of goal is more than deadly.
When played as a second striker, instead of a winger which he simply is not, that is when the ex-Southampton man really comes into his stride and is able to show the world what he is really about. Too often he has been left isolated on the wing, away from the danger areas that we all know he can be so effective in.
Mesut Ozil, on the other hand, has a completely different style to his game. The German World Cup winner lacks the pace and direct nature of Theo Walcott, but his composure on the ball and vision across the pitch is almost second to none. No one could accuse Ozil of not having a footballing brain, even if his relaxed style just isn’t quite the perfect fit for the English game.
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With both players back on board for Arsene Wenger, Arsenal could really play out the rest of the 2014/15 campaign in true style. Even if no illustrious silverware is picked up at the end of the season, the proposed link-up play between Walcott, Ozil, and of course Sanchez, will likely prove more than entertaining for fans of the Gunners, and the Premier League in general.
Harry Redknapp manfully tried to battle on with his duties at QPR. Through the agony of knee injury he led his team till his body could take no more. Chris Ramsey is the now man charged with keeping the Hoops up.
Or so the media would have you believe. Old ‘Arry jumped before he was pushed. Make no mistake about it.
Redknapp has wisely built his career as a media darling; he is a man who is perfect for a journalist. He is always willing to give a quote, always to happy his wind his window down. If he was asked who he thought should win X-Factor, he would probably be able to fill his Sun column on it. Therefore, he has been given an easy ride and if Rangers are to be relegated, it will go down as Ramsey not being good enough to keep his side up.
The former manager subjected his fans to 11 straight away defeats, record breaking ineptitude. Funnily enough the ‘useless Ramsey’ managed to secure all three points on his first road trip.
Harry adopted a side who were in a mess and two years later, left them in a mess.
A job well done.
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The 52-year-old Ramsey could have scarcely picked a more difficult first assignment in the world of football management. Picking up the pieces left by the whirlwind of Redknapp.
An 18% win percentage was all he could muster in his Premier League tenure at Loftus Road, nine measly victories.
Noises coming out of the west London club are nothing but positive under the new man. Nedum Onuoha has revealed how finally, the whole squad feel like they have chance to get involved. Without the insistence of playing his old favourites and his notoriety for ignoring youth, every member of the playing staff feel like they have a chance.
“One of the differences from the previous manager to this one (Ramsey) is more people feel involved. The consequence is more competition for places and I think a few months ago a few people didn’t stand a chance.”
QPR have four points to make up and eight games to go, Ramsey is refusing to give up the ghost, his positive attitude is a refreshing antidote to the defeated one his predecessor was showing.
‘I had seven months at home watching Frasier, Jeremy Kyle and Homes Under The Hammer! Of course I would rather be here in this situation than be out of work and worrying where the next job or paycheque is going to come from.’
Ramsey is a man who is relishing the opportunity rather than believed he is owed one.
Although the new man in charge has by no means arrested the slide that QPR find themselves on, they are almost certainties for relegation. But it is a good bet that when the inevitable does occur, Redknapp’s time will be overlooked.
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Is anyone better at getting teams out of the situation QPR find themselves in?
With Chelsea’s disappointing elimination from the Champions League in midweek to Paris Saint-Germain, it is guaranteed that Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho will be even more motivated to be crowned European champions next season.
To achieve this, summer expenditure seems likely, but keeping the current star-studded Blues squad together will also be critical to the West London club’s chances of success.
Given the amount of money that Chelsea’s stars are paid and the likelihood of the Premier League title this term, seeing a first-team player leave seems unlikely.
However, the only real concern surrounds Branislav Ivanovic and his expiring contract.
The Serbian defender’s current deal culminates in the summer of 2016, with reports in the press that he has been offered an extension to take him up to the following summer.
There is no doubting Ivanovic’s importance to the Blues; versatile enough to play at either full-back or centre-back, powerful and determined, he is arguably the Premier League’s best defender.
However, an internal policy of offering players over the age of 30 a mere one-year extension could well isolate Ivanovic and play a negative part in ongoing contract negotiations.
The likes of Didier Drogba and Ashley Cole have left Stamford Bridge in the past, turning down 12-month extension options from the Blues in the process, and the last thing that Chelsea want is to enter a similar situation with Ivanovic.
The Serbian is seemingly confident enough at securing a new deal that he does not even need to employ an agent for assistance, but it would be somewhat surprising if the star is satisfied with extending his current contract for only one more year.
With the likes of Real Madrid accredited with a reported interest and a vast number of suitors surely available if Ivanovic did consider leaving Stamford Bridge, the 31-year-old could practically pick his next employers if he so wished.
As the Eastern European shows no signs of ageing and continues to contribute massively to the Blues’ chances of silverware, Chelsea will be tempted to break their one-year policy for over 30s this time round.
The last thing that the club needs is uncertainty and constant media speculation over the future of one of their top performers, similar to the will-he, won’t-he saga that has played out surrounding John Terry and Frank Lampard in recent seasons.
Chelsea will maintain that no single player is more important than the club – and that is true.
However, to keep Ivanovic happy, motivated and playing to his best, offering him a longer-term contract makes sense.
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Replacing the Serbian enforcer with a player of the same stature, physicality, awareness and experience would take some doing, regardless of their Russian owner’s endless financial reserves.
When young players are thrown into the breach the saying ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ is often applied – the same applies here to Chelsea’s integral elder statesman, who deserves a longer term deal as a reward for stellar performances.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes that the Professional Footballers’ Association Team of the Year should have all come from his team, before insisting that the selected squad does not have the capability to win the Premier League, Mirror reports.
Despite having no less than six players – Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, John Terry, Gary Cahill, Branislav Ivanovic, and Nemanja Matic – in the all-star lineup, Mourinho was bewildered that star midfielder Cesc Fabregas was omitted even though the Spaniard made an incredible 16 assists during the campaign.
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‘The Special One’ did admit that he was biased, but when asked whether there should have been more Blues players in the squad, he replied that all of them should have gained the recognition.
He said: “Yes, all. I think so. But I know that this is the Chelsea manager speaking, and obviously I respect every one of the players in that team, and especially everyone that chose.
“The players from the other teams have the right to choose. Obviously great players were in that team, and great players were outside that team.
“But just as an example, the season Fabregas is doing, the number of assists and quality of his game – not to be there is a bit strange.
He then added that the selected team – which included Manchester United’s David De Gea, Southampton ace Ryan Bertrand, Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho, Arsenal winger Alexis Sanchez, and Tottenham’s PFA Young Player of the Year Harry Kane – can’t win the title due to a lack of balance.
“And I think that team wouldn’t win the Premier League. Because that team is four defenders, Matic and only five to attack.
“So it’s a team without any balance. That team is missing a midfield player, and I think that midfield player should be Fabregas.
“But this is not important. I look now as a fan not a manager. It looks like I’m in a pub discussing things that aren’t important, because the important thing is to be champions.”
Chelsea will clinch the title if they manage to beat Leicester City this Wednesday and then Crystal Palace on the weekend.
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West Ham have a rising star in the making as one of their youngsters was made captain of the U17 England team.
Sixteen-year-old Reece Oxford signed a professional contract with the Hammers in January and the defender will lead out the team in Tuesday night’s match against Spain.
The team’s defence of their UEFA European Championship title came to a crashing halt last week after a disappointing 1-0 loss to Russia but their next game is still equally important. It will determine who will qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile later in the year.
Described as a “wonder kid” Oxford has pushed himself close to a long-awaited first team debut for the Hammers and in April he scored a fantastic goal against Manchester United’s U21s side in a 3-2 defeat. The goal pushed him into the West Ham news feed and as he had been regularly training with the first team it was hoped manager Sam Allardyce may give him his debut before the end of the season, but with only one game to go this is looking more unlikely.
Many fans have been calling on Big Sam to use some of the talented youngsters the club has in the run-up to the end of the season. The Hammers have been dropping points all over the place and have won only two games since Christmas, which has seen them plummet to 11th in the Premier League table.
While fans should still be happy with their position it seems a bit of a disappointment compared to the beginning of the season. With very little to play for in the table after it was clear they would not get a Europa League spot (unless through the Financial Fair Play League), many called for Allardyce to bring in some of the young players to give them a chance especially as some of the key players were struggling with form and fatigue.
Allarcye believes that previous attempts to bring in the young squad players a chance have always backfired. He said: “It is always difficult for me.
“If we were in a better position with our results it would have been a good thing to look at the odd player. But the pressure with us at the moment to get results means it would be difficult for me to do.
“If you put a youngster in and lose you get criticised, the youngster might get criticised, so it is difficult.”
While it is unlikely that we will see him in the Premier League for the Hammers. final game against relegation contenders Newcastle, it is certain that fans will see more of him as he develops as a player.
With him already playing international football and showing an impressive leadership quality in his interviews about the European Championships in Bulgaria, it is hard to believe that he is still so young.
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Oxford is one to watch and he may be leading England’s national side out one day.