In what was expected to be an extremely tight affair as hosts Brazil faced Germany in the World Cup semi-final, the Europeans totally annihilated their opponents 7-1 in the biggest semi-final win in the competition’s history.
Brazil were without their two star players – with Neymar forced out through injury and Thiago Silva suspended – and it showed as the Germans scored early and decisively and were already 5-0 up by the 29th minute.
The ‘Brazilian Dream’ by then was well and truly over, before Chelsea’s Andre Schurrle added two more to put a the icing over a truly impressive German display.
And the shocked world has reacted to the result on Twitter.
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In perhaps the most inevitable sacking of all time, manager David Hockaday was fired yesterday evening after just 70 days in charge at Leeds United.He saw only six fixtures as Elland Road boss but his credentials were questioned from the off, in no small part due a rather uninspiring win-rate of 34% at ConferenceÂside Forest Green Rovers.Hockaday failed to gain the faith of the players, the fans or Leeds owner Massimo Cellino, who relinquished with the 56 year-old’s services after the Whites were knocked out of the Capital One Cup by local rivals Bradford City.The Yorkshire outfit suffered four losses, picked up four red cards, conceded eleven goals and only scored four times with Hockaday at the helm.But the past is the past and Massimo Cellino now has the task of finding the next Leeds manager as soon as possible. With that in mind, here’s a list of SIX men who could go on to succeed Hockaday at Elland Road.
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EAMONN DOLAN
Reading Academy boss Eamonn Dolan was firmly in the frame for the Elland Road gig earlier this summer before Massimo Cellino fell in love with the idea of David Hockaday.
The 46 year-old’s managerial experience at senior level is relatively limited; he stepped in briefly as Royals caretaker after Brian McDermott was sacked in 2013, and also boasts an impressive campaign with Exeter City – the club he ended his playing days with – in 2003/04, steadying the ship after coming in as caretaker the year previous to narrowly miss out on a play-off spot in the Conference league.
But the former Republic of Ireland junior has been at the heart of Reading’s academy since 2004 and in that time the Madjeski outfit have produced a number of impressive talents, including Shane Long, Alex Pearce, James Henry, Jem Karacan, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Jordan Obita, Alex McCarthy, Hal-Robson-Kanu and Ben Hamer – all of whom are now regulars at either Championship or Premiership level. Click here to view the full list of academy graduates.
Dolan’s overall track-record is impressive and perhaps most importantly to Cellino, he’s a coach – rather than a manager – who has worked under the a Director of Football before. Reading employ one, as did Exeter back in 2004.
But Reading were incredibly reluctant to see him leave earlier this summer, with Director of Football Nicky Hammond describing Dolan as “an integral part of our club”. Relinquishing the Irishman from the Madjeski would take a £400,000 compensation fee, which proved too rich for Cellino’s blood just a matter of months ago.
NEIL REDFEARN
Neil Redfearn has taken the Leeds hotseat temporarily twice before – in fact, he’s been appointed caretaker manager for the Whites, Halifax Town and York City on a combined six occasions since 2001 – and finds himself in that familiar role once again after David Hockaday’s abrupt departure:
Could this be the former Barnsley, Charlton and Oldham midfielder’s time to take the Elland Road job permanently?
Prior spells as manager of Scarborough and Northwich Victoria didn’t go too well. In fact, the Vics claimed just one point from nine games with Redfearn at the helm. But he did win twice in four matches with Leeds in February 2012 between the reigns of Simon Grayson and Neil Warnock.
He’s highly thought-of within the Leeds set up too, currently combining the roles of Development squad manager and Academy manager, and also worked with the first team under Brian McDermott.
Massimo Cellino will undoubtedly be considering other options but Redfearn has the advantage of opportunities to impress, as he prepares Leeds for their home clash with Bolton tomorrow afternoon.
ROLANDO MARAN
This article would bear no clout without the discussion of at least a few Italian managers, considering Leeds are now owned by an Italian who has added no less than seven players from the Italian leagues to the Elland Road squad this summer.
And according to the International Business Times, Rolando Maran has emerged as the favourite to replace David Hockaday.
The 51 year-old has spent most of his management career in the Italian lower tiers, with spells at Cittadella, Brescia, Bari, Triestina, Vicenza and Varese, earning himself a reputation as one of the best managers outside of the top flight.
But his defining moment came in the 2012/13 season with Catania, guiding the side to an incredible eighth-place in Serie A, breaking their record for the number of home wins in a top flight campaign.
Maran was then sacked, rehired and sacked again by Catania last season, quite ridiculously, and has been out of the job since April. The bookies feel fairly certain of his chances at Elland Road, with odds of 11/10.
GIANLUCA FESTA
Football – Nationwide Division 1 , Preston North End v Portsmouth , 22/3/03Gianluca Festa – Portsmouth in action against Preston North EndMandatory Credit:Action Images / Stuart Crump
Another Italian manager believed to be in the running for the Whites post, albeit at odds of 25/1, is former Middlesbrough defender Gianluca Festa.
The 45 year-old is by no means the most qualified candidate on this list – his only experience as a head coach thus far has come during a short-lived spell at third-tier Italian side Lumezzane.
But he knows Massimo Cellino well, having worked as assistant manager and reserve team coach at Cagliari, and was brought in by the Leeds owner to take over from Brian McDermott on the now infamous ‘Mad Friday’.
He took charge of the Whites squad for just a matter of hours before McDermott was quickly reinstated, demoted to the position of translator for loan signing Andrea Tabanelli.
The midfielder’s deal was cancelled by the Football League a week later and he, along with Festa, disappeared from the Yorkshire scene rather abruptly, until the ex-Pompey man was linked with the Leeds gig once again in the summer, before it was given to David Hockaday.
But Festa fits Cellino’s management structure well, has enjoyed a brief taste of Elland Road life and is currently unemployed, which could convince the Whites owner to give him another go.
Here’s the Italian netting the winning goal against Everton on New Years’ Day 2002, during his Riverside spell:
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Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister will be a name more recognisable to the Elland Road faithful. Not only did the former Scotland international make nearly 300 appearances for Leeds in the 1990s, he also managed the Yorkshire club for 50 games in 2008.
McAllister’s short period in the Leeds dugout started well, securing them a play-off spot in League One after taking over from Dennis Wise. It ended on a drab note however, losing to Histon in the FA Cup and MK Dons in the league. Yet, his overall win-rate for Leeds stands at a respectable 50%.
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The 49 year-old is a favourite of the Yorkshire fanbase and was linked with the Whites hotseat in the summer. He and Massimo Cellino are alleged to have met up on several occasions, but the Italian denies holding formal interviews with McAllister.
The former Leicester, Leeds, Coventry and Liverpool midfielder was quite the footballer during his playing days, making it into the 1993/94 PFA Team of the Year and winning the Man of the Match award in the 2001 UEFA Cup final. Here’s a look at some of his best goals:
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STEVE CLARKE
Of all the managers currently looking for employment, Steve Clarke is unquestionably one of the most popular and proven.
After working as assistant manager at Newcastle, Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham, the Scot was named West Brom boss in 2012. With the assistance of Romelu Lukaku, he guided the Baggies to an 8th-place finish in the top flight, breaking the club record for Premier League wins and equalling their strongest campaign since 1981. The season was marked by an incredible 5-5 draw against Manchester United on the final day:
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The 51 year-old was given his marching orders in December 2013 however after a run of four straight defeats, a decision viewed by many as exceptionally harsh.
Clarke was then placed on gardening leave until May 2014, and surprisingly missed out on the recently-vacated Crystal Palace job to Neil Warnock.
The Scotland international may feel the need to prove himself again at Championship level, and he’s certainly the most impressive candidate on this list. But whether Massimo Cellino would be able to meet his wage demands remains to be seen.
Forced to publicly apologise for fleeing Anfield early on Saturday afternoon, having failed to make Liverpool’s match day squad as they took on Everton, it’s safe to say Mamadou Sakho hasn’t quite lived up to expectations since swapping PSG for Merseyside last summer.
Indeed, initially purchased for £18million, making him the most expensive signing of Brendan Rodgers’ tenure at the time, and labelled by Ian Ayre as the ‘marquee signing’ fans had demanded for several transfer windows prior, despite often showing great promise, the centre-back is yet to justify his transfer fee or the Liverpool director’s billing.
Critics are not hard to come by, perhaps the most prevalent being Jamie Carragher; the Liverpool legend whom Sakho essentially replaced upon his retirement in summer 2013. If there’s one way for a centre-back to guarantee the Anfield faithful turning against him, it’s unquestionably running afoul of the greatest defender in recent Liverpool history, the Reds’ predominant representative on Sky Sports, capable of making even Lionel Messi look like a League One player through the powers of the studio whiteboard.
I’m far more fond of the Frenchman than many of his contemporaries. Whilst Martin Skrtel remains a throwback to more rugged, thuggish Premier League years and Dejan Lovren boasts the anticipation, intelligence and quality in possession of a modern defender, Sakho compliments both through his robustness and athleticism.
His pace in particular should be a key asset for Liverpool, whom through their rip-roaring, breakneck attacking style, have inevitably become one of the Premier League’s most susceptible to counter-attacking football; both Aston Villa and West Ham have claimed wins over the Reds this season despite recording less than 40% possession.
Sakho’s ball-playing qualities are often criticised, yet I see the situation rather differently. Looking remarkably uncomfortable in possession is a recurring theme of the 24 year-old, but in terms of using the ball productively, he boasted a higher pass completion rate, 92%, more passes per match, 50.17, and more accurate forward passes per match, 38.78, than any of his centre-back partners last season.
The defender creates good angles to move the ball forward; whereas the rest of the defence appear content to shift the ball around the back four, he attempts direct, horizontal passes. Perhaps the legacy of occasional displays in defensive midfield for PSG.
These are Sakho’s predominant strengths that in my opinion, combined with his height and power, suggest all the makings of a top defender. It’s incredibly telling that he earned Didier Deschamps’ faith for the World Cup in Brazil, starting every fixture at centre-back in a France squad that included Rafael Varane, Eliaquim Mangala and Laurent Koscielny – hardly lightweights amongst world football’s centre-half elite.
That being said, Sakho hasn’t been able to influence Liverpool’s habitually pedestrian defending as much as expected since moving to Anfield just over twelve months ago.
Last season, a campaign which saw him make 18 appearances in the top flight, Liverpool conceded 50 times, giving them the second-worst defensive record in the Premier League’s top eight after Tottenham. Conclusively, just one of the Reds’ ten clean sheets last year were in Sakho’s presence. A 5-0 win over – no prizes for guessing – Tottenham.
The situation is paralleled this season, and exacerbated further by the departure of Luis Suarez, reducing Liverpool’s firepower considerably. Liverpool have already recorded three losses after just six fixtures, haemorrhaging on average 1.5 goals per match. Sakho was at the heart of both defeats to Aston Villa and West Ham, in the latter fixture directly contributing to a Hammers goal through an individual error.
And I’m sure we all remember, as Jamie Carragher was quick to point out post-match, the Frenchman’s role in Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace in May that essentially cost the Merseysiders any chance of claiming the Premier League title on the final day of last season. Images of Sakho negatively shifting his body back towards his own goal, echoing the famous ‘back and to the left’ scene from JFK, still probably flicker on Carragher’s eye lids late at night.
Positioning and pressure could well be Sakho’s biggest weaknesses. A regular flaw of athletically-blessed centre-halves, the Liverpool defender often relies upon his physique, rather his intelligence or reading of the game, to rescue him from difficult situations. Likewise, although any player of PSG will be no stranger to the pressures of European football, nothing quite matches the consistent, relentless intensity of the English top flight.
Yet, these are recurring trends amongst Ligue 1 defenders. Laurent Koscielny for example initially bore the brunt of huge criticism when Arsenal snapped him up from Lorient in 2010, but after adapting his game to Premier League requisites, the 29 year-old is now considered to be one of the division’s top centre-backs. Similarly, it took well over twelve months for Mathieu Debuchy to reproduce the form from his Lille days at Newcastle, but, at least by Arsene Wenger’s reckoning, he’s now a £12million-rated No.2.
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There’s no debate that Sakho is yet to justify his £18million price-tag. So far in his Liverpool career, the Frenchman has struggled to outweigh the good performances with the bad – a situation further amplified by his exclusion from the match-day squad and subsequent Anfield walk-out on Saturday afternoon.
We are talking about a 24 year-old defender however, who has currently registered just 21 Premier League appearances and amongst them, shown signs on slender occasions of better times ahead. Brendan Rodgers purchased Sakho with the next decade in mind; he certainly possesses the potential to remain in the Anfield first team for that long, but further performances to suggest this will have to come sooner rather than later.
With his professionalism and commitment now as questionable as his form in a Liverpool jersey, eyes will now be firmly on the French stopper.
It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…
Roy Hodgson seems to be doing more damage to England than good at the moment, and it revolves around his selection policy.
When he was first handed the job he promised he would be looking at form rather than reputation when selecting who to call up to the squad. Reputation and who you play for seem to have been the biggest deciding factors if you are to earn a call up to the squad, with form being on the back burner in a complete u-turn on what he stated he was all about.
There is no doubting the England manager’s credentials as a football coach, his track record in domestic football leading up to his England duties spoke for itself.
A lot of articles have leaped to the defence of Hodgson after such a shambles of a World Cup saying that there is no one out there that could have done a better job than him given the players that were available to him for selection, that the poor offering of talented youth to step up to the big holes left behind by the older generation of stars who have hung up their boots for their country is a far wider spread problem that cannot be pinned on the manager.
Granted, from grass roots to senior level, England have got a very big problem on their hands at the moment with a big percentage of the star talent in the EPL currently being foreign and clubs choosing to look abroad to bring in their transfers rather than at a club’s own academy, there is a severe shortage of promising young English players who are being given the right type of opportunity to break into the senior squad of their own team let alone the England set up. If you take this into account then the future of English international football looks bleak at best, and will inevitably get worse before it gets better.
Nevertheless, Hodgson has a lot more talent at his disposal than the dross he has chosen to call up and he is not using the best that he currently has at his disposal, which begs the question why are people so quick to leap to his defence when it comes to player selection, or have the fans feeling a little bit more optimistic of the team’s chances of doing something other than looking second rate when competing against stronger opposition than that faced during qualifying rounds?
The England squad announcements always seem to have players from top reputation clubs, mainly Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. There are certain clubs who play a greater majority of English than foreign players who seem to get overlooked a lot when it comes to selection. Despite the fact that Swansea’s Jonjo Shelvey has been selected, it still looks like there are a lot of players being called up that are second rate compared to the likes who are being left out. Shelvey, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshire and Adam Lallana are all in the squad for the upcoming qualifiers against San Marino and Estonia yet, if you look at the present form and statistics of the likes of Stewart Downing, Mark Noble and Nathan Dyer, all look like better options who are in better form and can provide a cutting edge in the England midfield.
Not that these two games are anything to worry about, nor is the rest of the qualifying round. It is once we arrive at the competition proper in 2016 that the persistence to continually pick players based on reputation rather than form that will go a long way to further damage England’s chances of competing against sterner opposition, and making some sort of progress in the rankings and competitions.
The youth system and over use of foreign players at the domestic level will continue to cause issues at the international level if something is not done about it and fast, but when current selection revolves around the top clubs or players who have a reputation but are not playing to form compared to the wasted talent being left back at home then the manager is to blame for England’s continual slip down the FIFA rankings and poor performance on the world stage.
The tactics are also quite predictable and one dimensional, which makes it that little bit harder for different players to come in and make a difference when it is needed. Hodgson’s stubbornness with selection and tactics is making it hard to make the right changes to improve the situation. When he does make changes or bring somebody new in to the squad it seems that it is someone who isn’t really as deserving of an opportunity as somebody more capable.
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The excuses are starting to wear thin now and Hodgson cannot keep hiding behind lack of players to select any longer. The job needs to go to someone who will truly push reputation and stature to one side and pick a team more deserving and capable of competing at the top level.
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What a difference 12 months makes. Last Christmas Manchester United were very much in the middle of the table – resembling a turkey in more ways than one – with the David Moyes reign on the verge of reaching its lowest ebb. But, now Louis van Gaal is in charge, exciting football is a regular occurrence at Old Trafford and a somewhat unlikely title charge is being talked about in the stands.
However, even though things are looking rosier than Sir Alex Ferguson’s cheeks on a cold December afternoon, LVG could do with a few lovely little gifts under his Christmas tree… and here are FIVE that could well be on his list to Mr Claus…
Fit defenders
The above list shows all of the injuries Louis van Gaal has had to contend with since taking over at Man United. Ouch. A large chunk of these fitness blows have been for defenders, with the likes of Marcos Rojo, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling having all spent time on the sidelines, preventing the Dutchman from fielding a consistent back two or three.
The perfect present for Van Gaal would be a guarantee that at least a handful of his centre-backs and full-backs can remain clear of injury.
Kevin Strootman and Mats Hummels
The two major areas of concern in the United squad seem to be at centre-back and in holding midfield. Of the £150m spent during the summer, the majority was used for attacking additions, and while goals have been forthcoming of late at Old Trafford, conceding at the other end is an issue. Strootman of Roma and Dortmund’s Hummels are widely seen as the two players to solve the issues, with the Dutch midfielder and German defender two of the best players in Europe in their respective positions.
A new knee for Radamel Falcao
The headlines when he arrived from Monaco in a summer deadline day loan deal are about the only ones the Colombian has grabbed so far. Falcao was tipped to be a massive success regardless of his knee injury, but United’s gamble has, so far, failed to pay off. The 28-year-old has notched just two goals and has made most of his appearances for the Red Devils from the bench, with injuries having been a worry. A calf problem has been the latest issue, but the ACL injury suffered back in January looks to be the major worry. Once an explosive force in the final third, the troublesome joint appears to have robbed Falcao of a yard of pace.
Guarantee that rivals will continue to stutter
United have been by no means impressive this season. A recent run of six wins on the bounce repaired the damage of early losses at the hands of Swansea and Leicester, but the Red Devils’ third place slot owes much to the issues at clubs around them. Arsenal cannot hold a lead, Liverpool cannot score and Spurs cannot be non-Spursey, leaving West Ham and Southampton, who are tipped to fall away, as major rivals. If the chasing pack continue to stutter, United are in a great position to qualify for the Champions League
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Michael Carrick in midfield
Injury issues have forced LVG to deploy Carrick as a centre-back of late. Although admirably secure in the role, the midfielder’s true talents lay in building attacks, which he is often too deep to do when used in a back three. Van Gaal would surely love to be able to use the veteran playmaker in his preferred role, but he will need some luck with injuries before that’s an option.
Since first signing for the Blues back in January 2012, Gary Cahill has enjoyed several strong seasons at Stamford Bridge, picking up a Champions League winners medal for his efforts, and successfully establishing himself as a nailed-on England international.
The 29-year-old centre-back hasn’t exactly received unanimous support for his recent exploits however. The former Bolton man seemingly has the ability to split opinion down at the Bridge, with some outlining him as one of the best in the country, but others seeing the defender as a liability and even going as far as labelling him ‘Calamity Cahill.’
While Gary Cahill himself, who has already achieved and experienced enough in the game to be considered a success, will surely brush off any critics that come his way, the not-so-distant retirement of John Terry will soon be approaching for Chelsea and the Stamford Bridge faithful.
Without the guidance and organisation of Mourinho’s beloved captain, an important question is raised as the spotlight falls on Chelsea’s no. 24 – will Gary Cahill step-up to the plate in the absence of John Terry, or will his career simply falter as a result?
So far in 2014/15, the Gary Cahill/John Terry partnership has seemingly worked wonders for Chelsea. They bring with them some truly tough tackling, resolute organisation at the back, and a brave preference to get their bodies in the way and block out the opposition at all costs.
However, Mourinho’s highly praised partnership may have seen their side rise to the top of the Premier League table with only 19 goals conceded so far this campaign, but when you look at Southampton and their even better defensive record, the furore that surrounds Gary Cahill and John Terry starts to slip ever so slightly.
Recent outings just haven’t produced the same performances from the former Bolton man in particular. Yes – he is currently first choice for both club and country, but as the recent display against Bradford City in the FA Cup clearly outlines, all is not quite as perfect as it may seem in West London.
Obviously one match is simply not enough to judge a player’s complete game and all-round ability on the pitch, but similar warning signs have in fact been present for Gary Cahill the whole time he has been a regular Chelsea and England starter. He just isn’t agile enough to be labelled one of the world’s top defenders – his lack of pace is often a worry, and while his strength and bravery in the air cannot really be argued with, Cahill’s footballing ability with the ball at his feet leaves a lot to be desired.
If Chelsea want to consider themselves one of Europe’s most valued gems and front runners to win the Champions League with every passing year, leaving Gary Cahill to fill the boots of John Terry when he retires just isn’t the perfect move. While many may disagree entirely on the matter, the former Bolton man needs to make the step up from a traditional English blocker, to a well-crafted defensive footballer who can be trusted with the ball.
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Keeping clean sheets against Premier League strugglers may look impressive at this stage in the campaign, but Cahill’s real test has been in Europe against a class of team that is scarcely found in the domestic game. While one winners medal may seemingly put that argument to bed already, without John Terry on board to keep things tight, Chelsea’s £7million man may just find himself out of his depth in future Champions League outings.
Both defenders, regardless of the concerns over Gary Cahill and his long-term future with the Blues, have somewhat proved their worth for Mourinho however, and will certainly not be fazed by reports such as this one. It remains a common belief nevertheless, that while Cahill may be able to do a job for Chelsea in their current quest for more silverware, he’s simply no John Terry.
Arsenal look odds on to finish in the top four this season, having turned their Premier League form around since a damaging defeat to Southampton on New Years Day.
Arsene Wenger’s men have lost just once since then – although that was to a Harry Kane inspired Tottenham at White Hart Lane – and now have their sights set on a Premier League runners up spot.
It has not been the ideal season for the Gunners however, with a title challenge doomed by October, and a shock Champions League exit at the hands of Monaco earlier in the month.
Arsenal still look a long way off the standards they set more than a decade ago, when they became the only season to manage a Premier League season unbeaten.
We have a feeling that few of the stars of that season may well pop up in the best Arsenal XI of the 21st century.
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Click on Arsene Wenger to reveal the best Arsenal XI of the 21st century
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Jens Lehmann
The German goalkeeper is often remembered for his childish antics on the pitch, so it is easy to forget just how good he was for Arsenal.
Lehmann was the man in goal for that historic unbeaten season in 2003-04, whilst his performances during 2005-06 were particularly outstanding as Arsenal made the Champions League final.
He was unfortunate to be harshly sent off against Barcelona in that final in Paris, but his penalty save in stoppage time against Villarreal in the semi final is what got the Gunners to that position in the first place.
Lauren
Football – Stock 04/05 , 26/12/04Lauren – Arsenal Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Andrew Couldridge
Signed as a midfielder originally in the summer of 2000, Cameroon star Lauren would go on to become a key player for the Gunners in the successful years that followed.
He made his home debut in crunch clash with Liverpool at Highbury, where it took less than 10 minutes for him to open his account as the Gunners went on to a 2-0 victory.
Lauren eventually ended up at right back, where he was a fixture in the Arsenal side that won the double in 2001/02 and the ‘Invincibles’ team of 2003/04.
A crucial match winning penalty against Tottenham will also be remembered as one of his Arsenal highlights.
Sol Campbell
Football – Arsenal v FC Barcelona – UEFA Champions League Final – Stade de France, St Denis – 05/06 – 17/5/06Arsenal’s Sol Campbell celebrates after scoring the first goal with team mates Emmanuel Eboue and Ashley ColeMandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton
In his prime, Sol Campbell was considered the first defender on the team sheet for both club and country.
Commanding, physical and a leader, it could be argued the Gunners have not had a centre back to replace him sufficiently since he left the club.
A key member of two title winning sides under Arsene Wenger – including the invincible side of 2003-04 – Campbell was also just minutes away from writing his name into Arsenal history with what would have been a winning goal against Barcelona in a Champions League final, had the Catalan’s not managed a late turnaround in the 2006 final in Paris.
Kolo Toure
Another player originally signed as a midfielder by Arsene Wenger, Kolo Toure endeared himself to Gunners supporters with a goal against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge during his first season.
He would go on to form an excellent centre back partnership with Sol Campbell, and become one of the most popular players at the club with his consistent and passionate displays, as well as his infectious personality.
Toure also earnt the club some big money with his transfer to Manchester City in 2009, having made over 200 Premier League appearances during seven years in north London.
Ashley Cole
No doubt an unpopular choice given the way in which Cole departed Arsenal for bitter rivals Chelsea.
Never-the-less, the former England international was exceptional during the time in which he played for the Gunners, and was a key player during the 2003-04 invincibles season.
Arsenal have not had a better right back since his departure.
Robert Pires
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The Frenchman was one of the top wingers in the game for a few years before injuries took their toll.
His pace and trickery down the flanks were crucial to Arsenal’s style of play in the early 2000’s, whilst he had a habit of scoring plenty of important goals – some of which were spectacular.
He will surely be remembered as one of the bargains of the Premier League era, with Arsene Wenger paying just £6million to secure his services.
Patrick Vieira
The French midfielder will be considered one of the best foreign imports the Premier League has ever seen.
Captain of the invincibles in 2003/04, Vieira typified everything the modern day midfielder should be.
A natural leader in the middle of the park, Arsenal have not had a player quite like him since he left for Juventus in the summer of 2005.
He was a key member of the title winning side of 2002 also, whilst his last kick in an Arsenal shirt was the winning penalty against Manchester United in the 2005 FA Cup final – not a bad way to bow out.
Gilberto Silva
The World Cup winner proved to be another piece of inspired transfer business by Arsene Wenger, signing for the Gunners in the summer of 2002, and making an immediate impression with the winner against Liverpool in that summer’s Charity Shield.
Goal-scoring was not the Brazilian’s forte however, as he went on to become an outstanding defensive midfielder for the Gunners.
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Often an unsung hero, Gilberto was highly thought of by teammates, his manager and the supporters, and it could be argued he has never been properly replaced.
Freddie Ljungberg
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The man for the big occasion.
Nobody played a bigger part in Arsenal’s double success of 2002 than the Swedish midfielder, whilst his spectacular goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup final win that season will be remembered as one of his best moments.
His habit of coming up with a crucial goal at a crucial time is what Arsenal have been missing this season, with too many league draws proving costly during the first half of the season, and a lack of big characters producing big moments in tight matches.
Robin van Persie
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Similarly to Ashley Cole, Robin van Persie will not be a popular choice amongst Arsenal fans when you consider the way in which he left the club for Manchester United.
Having signed him in 2004 however, van Persie developed into the best striker in the Premier League during his time with the Gunners, firing 96 goals in 194 league appearances.
He was often the driving force for the Gunners, and captained the side for his final two seasons, before recouping £20million for the club with his switch to Old Trafford.
Thierry Henry
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Saving the best until last.
Surely the greatest striker in Arsenal’s history and perhaps even the Premier League era.
Henry scored all kinds of wonderful goals, helped Arsenal to league titles, FA Cup’s and a Champions League Final and left as their record goal scorer.
Not bad for a player who cost just £12 million from Juventus back in 2000.
Paul Scholes – now working as a TV pundit after eventually calling an end to his time as a player – has become the latest high profile figure to test the nerve of Arsene Wenger, according to reports from the Mirror.
The recently retired Old Trafford midfielder has been one of several this season to aim criticism at current Arsenal and Germany star Mesut Ozil, for his perceived lack of effort in big games for Arsenal this season. Whilst widespread opinion maybe split over the creative play-maker, Paul Scholes has nonetheless made his opinion clear.
The former England international has claimed that; “Since he [Ozil] has been there you cannot doubt his quality but at times he looks like he is going through the motions, however much ground he covers.
“At Real Madrid he had a chance of winning league titles. At Arsenal that is not on the cards.”
In expected defence of his £42 million World Cup winner however, Wenger has been quick to counter-act the former Manchester United man;
“I think a player like Paul Scholes would have loved to play with Mesut Ozil.
“Having said that, I believe about Ozil it’s a wrong statement [from Scholes]. He works very hard and he’s a great player.
“You can be cheated a little bit by his style of play, because he is fluent, easy, subtle and he does not look like he puts the effort in, but he does.”
Such discussion comes in the build up to Arsenal’s dramatic FA Cup tie with Manchester United this Monday – a match that could potentially see the Gunners extent their run in the competition, and maybe even defend their trophy in the process.
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If such a notion does in-fact take place, Mesut Ozil’s critics will largely be silenced to the widespread joy of the Emirates faithful.
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Raheem Sterling has been stalling on his Liverpool contract for quite a while now. It’s a saga that has run and run, and doesn’t look like ending until the summer.
His interview with the BBC is telling in many different ways.
He doesn’t want to be seen as ‘money-grabbing’, he doesn’t talk about cars and houses, and all he wants to do is win trophies.
Fair enough.
But when you’re turning down a £100,000 a week contract, it’s hard not to see it as a little bit money-grabbing.
Let’s look at it from a pure performance point of view, though.
Sterling is only 20 years-old. He has a whole playing career in front of him, and is one of the hottest properties in the Premier League. He still has 2 years left on his £35,000 a week contract at Liverpool, who are very much a club on the up right now.
They haven’t managed to kick on in terms of league position last season, but a poor start as they dealt with the departure of Suarez and the injury to Sturridge looks to have stopped them from claiming a Champions League place for next season again. They lost to Manchester United and a defeat at Arsenal on Saturday would make Champions League qualification very difficult indeed. In fact, it would give Southampton and Tottenham below the chance to pip them to even a Europa League place.
So although Liverpool are starting to gel after buying so many players and having to replace a player of the calibre of Suarez, they look like they still have some climbing to do before they actually get to the top.
If they are to get there, Sterling will be crucial to their rise, and that’s why Liverpool are prepared to offer a 20 year-old such an astronomical wage.
But, if we take him at face value, it’s the rise to the top that Sterling is worried about.
He wants to win trophies, and that’s fair enough. Most players do, and to have played with someone like Steven Gerrard who has lifted aloft the Champions League trophy must surely inspire a young player – especially one who is tipped for such big things.
But even if he isn’t ‘money-grabbing’, when he turns down such a big contract he certainly runs the risk of being seen that way.
Liverpool, despite their poor start, look certain to be able to build on this year’s success – this calendar year – in a way that they couldn’t last time. If Sterling wants trophies, he should take the contract and help Liverpool win the FA Cup this season for a start. And if he doesn’t leave the club won’t need to replace another star this summer.
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Liverpool are very much a team looking up the table, and eyeing success everywhere over the next few years. They have a young team, and one that is starting to show just how good it is right now, never mind the potential of the youngsters on display.
If Sterling really does want to win trophies, he could do a lot worse than to stay at Liverpool and help them win a few.
Put in some good performances at a club that doesn’t win trophies and you can guarantee a young player with the skill and potential of Sterling will get a move to a club that does win them, and the big contract will surely follow too. Sterling can have it all, but he needs to keep his head down and play – otherwise he will be tarred as ‘money-grabbing’, and trophies may be harder to come by than they are now.
Manchester United have lost their last three league games. A run of form so poor, not even David Moyes oversaw the like during his tenure.
This downturn has been all the more startling due to the steady progress of Louis van Gaal’s side in the preceding months.
The absence of Michael Carrick from each of the last three fixtures though, suggests we shouldn’t be surprised.
It has long since been the norm that United win more games with Carrick in the side. Perhaps then it’s not just club, but country that has been missing a trick all these years.
Carrick’s England career has seen him amass 33 caps but despite his distinguished club CV, he has never been a preferred fixture in the national team’s midfield.
A host of England managers have preferred the action-hero style of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, who started ahead of the Manchester United man for the best part of a decade.
Granted these two are superb footballers but perhaps their battling qualities saw them get the nod for the national team ahead of the more unassuming Carrick.
They were chosen for their quality yes, but also due to the impassioned traditional view of an English midfielder. Carrick, more of a thinking-man’s footballer, might have and still could be, a clever alternative to carry the hopes of a nation.
Failure by The Three Lions to met expectations during the golden Gerrard/Lampard era led to post-mortem after post-mortem.
It was claimed the two couldn’t play together; Gareth Barry was tried, Scott Parker, none were the ultimate answer or missing piece. The likes of Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson might finally now admit, that it was under their noses the entire time.
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Carrick, who turns 34 this July, might not be as glamorous a pass-master as the likes of Xabi Alonso or Andrea Pirlo but there is no doubt he is in that mould.
Men like these have been arguably the most important fixtures of every successful international side since 2006. It is no co-incidence that the two, now elder statesmen themselves, lined up in Champions League semi-finals this week.
Even at last summer’s World Cup, champions Germany has Bastian Schweinsteiger pulling the strings.
The cry to “give youth a chance” is prominent in the aftermath of every England exit from a major competition.
Even now, Hodgson has turned to the likes of Ross Barkley, Jack Wilshire and Jordan Henderson.
This decision may still prove successful of course but it just seems that a perennial under estimation of Carrick might just have cost England dear. Perhaps giving experience a chance would have been a wiser mantra.
The former Tottenham man represents the ultimate steadying influence and his composure when the pressure is on, is something that would be of great value to any side.
All three managers during his Old Trafford career so far have used him as an emergency centre-back.
This is testament to an awareness and positional sense that have proved crucial for a Red Devils side reeling from the collective loss of an experienced back-line.
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Further forward too though, the 33-year-old can still impact games with his eye for the incisive pass and his enviable ball striking technique.
Interestingly the 6ft 2 midfielder played only one game when he went to Germany under Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006 and England won it, their second round victory over Ecuador.
In 2010 Capello took him to South Africa but he failed to make an appearance.
At both tournaments and continually since the eventual winner deployed someone in the “quarter-back” role.
These players like Carrick continue to flourish in their mid-thirties. Had it been realised before now that there is more to him than simply good pass completion stats, England might not have disappointed quite so much.