Monday 24 January 2011
What Could Have Been...Chelsea
Recently there has been much discussion about how Chelsea's title charge has been hindered by their ageing squad. So here's a look at how their team could have looked if things had gone differently in the transfer market.
Thursday 20 January 2011
Thursday 6 January 2011
Free For All
With the January transfer window on everybody's minds, people tend to forget that this is an important time for the summer window too. Players whose contracts expire in the summer are now free to talk with other clubs and consider their next move. With that in mind, I have decided to pick a team of the best players around Europe available for nothing who the English clubs should be tracking.
GOALKEEPER
Igor Akinfeev - CSKA MOSCOW
OK so some sources say his deal runs until 2013 but numerous others have stated that he will be out of contract at the end of the year. What isn't in doubt is the fact that if available, all the top clubs would be circling. Most heavily linked with Arsenal and Manchester United in recent years, he has proven his ability from a young age. In fact he is still just 24 years old and already has 46 international caps as well as being captain of his club.
DEFENCE
Carlos Diogo - REAL ZARAGOZA
As an ex Real Madrid fullback, Carlos Diogo clearly has attacking ability which would excite fans. Coupled with defending that would have Alan Hansen in a rage and his ability to make a fight look more ridiculous than I thought possible http://bit.ly/4ouEFQ , who wouldn't want him in their side?
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Andrea Barzagli - WOLFSBURG
A centre-back who promised so much as a young player at smaller clubs, Barzagli made the strange move to Wolfsburg along with team mate Cristian Zaccardo in 2008. Many saw it as a sideways step considering he was at Palermo at the time and the top Italian sides were reportedly interested. However he has developed in a title winning team and perhaps will return to Italy a stronger player.
Philippe Mexes - ROMA
A fine defender who has regained his place in the capital this season after Nicolas Burdisso had taken it for much of the last campaign. In a time when his less talented former colleague Jean-Alain Boumsong has accrued 27 caps it is a travesty that Mexes has only got 18 to his name, although he seems to be getting an opportunity under Laurent Blanc.
Taye Taiwo - OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE
Think Roberto Carlos but big. Not quite in the same league as the Brazilian legend but his shot is just as ferocious and his free-kicks are more deadly. http://bit.ly/fsr0FM The Nigerian seems to have been linked with every English club over the last few seasons but a move has never materialised with many being put off by the potentially high transfer fee. With that obstacle out of the way fans can look forward to even more frenzied speculation - probably followed by him signing a new contract with the French champions.
MIDFIELD
Valter Birsa - AUXERRE
The 24 year old was the star of Slovenia's World Cup campaign which ended so cruelly with Landon Donovan's late goal for the USA. Spent his formative years in Slovenia before moving to France with Sochaux. Heavily linked with Liverpool in recent months although it seems they have gone for another contender for this spot Sylvain Marveaux.
'
Mark Van Bommel - BAYERN MUNICH
Dirty. Dirty. Dirty. It's all you can say when you first think of the Dutchman. Watching him demolish various central midfielders/strikers at the World Cup - it seemed hard to imagine that he once represented Barcelona alongside the maestro Xavi. Having said that, his drive and will to win would be greatly appreciated at a number of clubs. Maybe he could be the man to take Manchester City to that next level of belief. Although the thought of him and Nigel de Jong playing together week-in week-out is quite frightening!
Ivan Rakitic - SCHALKE
Croatian playmakers have made a big impact on the Premier League in recent years in the form of Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric. Swiss-born Rakitic is of similar mould but he is much more versatile. Generally deployed on the wing with licence to cut inside, his progress has stalled slightly in the last 12 months. However he remains one of the brightest talents in Germany at the moment and a move to one of the European powerhouses seems inevitable.
Urby Emanuelson - AJAX
Emanuelson has been a regular down the left-hand side of the Ajax team for a good five years now without ever making the transition to the top level. His 11 caps for the Dutch national side don't tell the full story of his quality.In truth the main problem was pinpointing whether he should be a defender who could attack, or a winger who could defend. Since the latter was chosen as the best way forward he has come on in leaps and bounds and added goals to his armoury.
ATTACK
Miroslav Klose - BAYERN
If you were talking players you'd pay to see, the German wouldn't be high up the list, but if your team needed a goal - he'd be somewhere around the top. An enigma in the sense that he doesn't have that much natural ability yet always seems to bag crucial goals. Has always performed better on the international stage (58 goals in 105 games) although not in the 'Die Mannschaft or bust' way of Lukas Podolski.
Semih Senturk - FENERBAHCE
A goalscorer who has been inconsistent throughout his career, the Turk has hit top form this season after his prolonged hangover from Euro 2008. A mature player, he is vice-captain of the Turkish giants and wears the number nine for the national side - following in the footsteps of the legendary Hakan Sukur. Probably needs to move now or he might never get the chance again. Plus who can forget this moment (the commentator certainly won't!) http://bit.ly/feBjlc
GOALKEEPER
Igor Akinfeev - CSKA MOSCOW
OK so some sources say his deal runs until 2013 but numerous others have stated that he will be out of contract at the end of the year. What isn't in doubt is the fact that if available, all the top clubs would be circling. Most heavily linked with Arsenal and Manchester United in recent years, he has proven his ability from a young age. In fact he is still just 24 years old and already has 46 international caps as well as being captain of his club.
DEFENCE
Carlos Diogo - REAL ZARAGOZA
As an ex Real Madrid fullback, Carlos Diogo clearly has attacking ability which would excite fans. Coupled with defending that would have Alan Hansen in a rage and his ability to make a fight look more ridiculous than I thought possible http://bit.ly/4ouEFQ , who wouldn't want him in their side?
Andrea Barzagli - WOLFSBURG
A centre-back who promised so much as a young player at smaller clubs, Barzagli made the strange move to Wolfsburg along with team mate Cristian Zaccardo in 2008. Many saw it as a sideways step considering he was at Palermo at the time and the top Italian sides were reportedly interested. However he has developed in a title winning team and perhaps will return to Italy a stronger player.
Philippe Mexes - ROMA
A fine defender who has regained his place in the capital this season after Nicolas Burdisso had taken it for much of the last campaign. In a time when his less talented former colleague Jean-Alain Boumsong has accrued 27 caps it is a travesty that Mexes has only got 18 to his name, although he seems to be getting an opportunity under Laurent Blanc.
Taye Taiwo - OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE
Think Roberto Carlos but big. Not quite in the same league as the Brazilian legend but his shot is just as ferocious and his free-kicks are more deadly. http://bit.ly/fsr0FM The Nigerian seems to have been linked with every English club over the last few seasons but a move has never materialised with many being put off by the potentially high transfer fee. With that obstacle out of the way fans can look forward to even more frenzied speculation - probably followed by him signing a new contract with the French champions.
MIDFIELD
Valter Birsa - AUXERRE
The 24 year old was the star of Slovenia's World Cup campaign which ended so cruelly with Landon Donovan's late goal for the USA. Spent his formative years in Slovenia before moving to France with Sochaux. Heavily linked with Liverpool in recent months although it seems they have gone for another contender for this spot Sylvain Marveaux.
'Mark Van Bommel - BAYERN MUNICH
Dirty. Dirty. Dirty. It's all you can say when you first think of the Dutchman. Watching him demolish various central midfielders/strikers at the World Cup - it seemed hard to imagine that he once represented Barcelona alongside the maestro Xavi. Having said that, his drive and will to win would be greatly appreciated at a number of clubs. Maybe he could be the man to take Manchester City to that next level of belief. Although the thought of him and Nigel de Jong playing together week-in week-out is quite frightening!
Ivan Rakitic - SCHALKE
Croatian playmakers have made a big impact on the Premier League in recent years in the form of Niko Kranjcar and Luka Modric. Swiss-born Rakitic is of similar mould but he is much more versatile. Generally deployed on the wing with licence to cut inside, his progress has stalled slightly in the last 12 months. However he remains one of the brightest talents in Germany at the moment and a move to one of the European powerhouses seems inevitable.
Urby Emanuelson - AJAX
Emanuelson has been a regular down the left-hand side of the Ajax team for a good five years now without ever making the transition to the top level. His 11 caps for the Dutch national side don't tell the full story of his quality.In truth the main problem was pinpointing whether he should be a defender who could attack, or a winger who could defend. Since the latter was chosen as the best way forward he has come on in leaps and bounds and added goals to his armoury.
ATTACK
Miroslav Klose - BAYERN
If you were talking players you'd pay to see, the German wouldn't be high up the list, but if your team needed a goal - he'd be somewhere around the top. An enigma in the sense that he doesn't have that much natural ability yet always seems to bag crucial goals. Has always performed better on the international stage (58 goals in 105 games) although not in the 'Die Mannschaft or bust' way of Lukas Podolski.
Semih Senturk - FENERBAHCE
A goalscorer who has been inconsistent throughout his career, the Turk has hit top form this season after his prolonged hangover from Euro 2008. A mature player, he is vice-captain of the Turkish giants and wears the number nine for the national side - following in the footsteps of the legendary Hakan Sukur. Probably needs to move now or he might never get the chance again. Plus who can forget this moment (the commentator certainly won't!) http://bit.ly/feBjlc
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