Kevin De Bruyne, the Forgotten Transfer

All stats are accurate as of the 20th December 2012 (before the games against Aston Villa and Norwich).
Chelsea spent copiously during the summer transfer window, with the likes of Hazard, Oscar and Moses adding to the Chelsea ranks. With such eye catching signings coupled with the continued saga surrounding Torres, and the revelation that Mata has been since his arrival, one player signed last year in January has somewhat slipped beneath the radar. This player is the 21 year old Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. He is a talented and versatile midfielder capable of playing in the centre of midfield as well as in more advanced roles behind the striker. He has been sensational this season playing in a midfield role, putting in man of the match performances and being one of the standout performers for his current side Werder Bremen. His relative obscurity in this county is a shame, but given his recent performances he could well be just what Chelsea need going forward.

Kevin De Bruyne was signed from Genk for a reported £7 Million. He was brought in in January during AVBs fated spell in charge but to very little fanfare; AVB admitted that he was not involved in the transfer and that ‘He [De Bruyne] is a player the club have scouted for some time and I am a manager who respects club policy.’ Although signed in January he was immediately loaned back to Genk to play out the rest of the season in Belgium. He made his debut for Chelsea in the summer pre-season tour of America but was swiftly moved out on loan to Bremen and is therefore yet to make a competitive debut for the Londoners. His recent form for Bremen however suggests that maybe Chelsea should have kept hold of the talented young midfielder.

Chelsea have been in indifferent form recently – their inability to create and take chances against the likes of Fulham, Corinthians and West Ham have cost them dearly, and while not the only factor surely injuries and suspensions to midfielders like Romeu, Obi, Ramires and most importantly Lampard have been a major factor. Lampard’s absence specifically has caused problems as he is the stand out midfielder in terms of moving the ball effectively, goal scoring and goal creation. A midfield duo lacking Lampard’s presence, while physically stronger and more athletic, is less technically proficient and less able to effectively offer a threat from the middle of the park. An indication of this was seen in the recent victory against Leeds. Lampard played the full 90 minutes and in that time forced two smart saves from Ashdown, both from range, and laid on Chelsea’s second with a teasing corner. His threat was apparent throughout, and this is a threat much missed during his absence. The technical ability and goal threat that Lampard brings could well be something that De Bruyne himself could bring to the team. Kevin De Bruyne has thus far managed five assists and four goals in all competitions this season; this is more than Lampard, Ramires and Mikel have managed combined, with both Ramires and Mikel raking up more appearances than the young Belgian. De Bruyne also manages over two key passes a game, far more than the 0.5 managed by both Mikel and Ramires and the 0.6 managed by Lampard.

Although De Bruyne is still young I would suggest that Chelsea’s decision to allow the Belgian to stay on loan for the season was rather short sighted, not least because the aging Frank Lampard has been touted as the latest member of the ‘old guard’ to be allowed to leave on a free come the end of the season. Given this surely it would have been prudent to begin introducing a player who clearly offers an offensive threat that is more akin to Lampard’s, rather than relying on players such as Mikel, Ramires and Romeu who between them have failed to lay on a single goal for their teammates this campaign, and have only managed three goals scored between them.

The January transfer window is upon us again and there seems to be a feeling from certain Chelsea supporters that one area that needs investment is in the middle of the park, and it is hard to argue with this. Lampard’s prolonged absence has highlighted the deficiencies the Chelsea midfield has, and with his departure from the club potentially imminent a successor needs to be found. I would, however, put forward that a successor has already been found. De Bruyne has proved that he offers a considerable threat from a midfield position and could well be the ideal player to slot into the current Chelsea set up. It is a shame that he was not given the opportunity to prove himself at his parent club this season, but come next year surely the Belgian will be strutting his stuff for the Premier league outfit, and could well be the newest Belgian to light up the BPL.

Why We Should All Love the League Cup.

I began writing this article on Monday, obviously prior to the games on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I started it after listening to a conversation about just how little people cared about the League Cup (Capital One Cup), and was thinking to myself that really there was a lot to love about it. Following the games this week I am certain that there are more people than ever enamoured by the competition however there are still plenty who dismiss it without a thought, so here are some reasons why we should love the League Cup.

 

The League Cup matches are fantastic occasions for so many reasons; the first is simply the structure of the games. Whereas the FA Cup has a replay system where a draw leads to the teams playing again, the League Cup is an instant knockout; a draw leads to extra time which can then lead to penalties. This can be exhilarating and frantic, with the ultimate conclusion of penalties something that the majority of fans will under usual circumstances never experience. I myself have only experienced one shoot out live which was after a draw in the League Cup; the stadium was packed and the fans greeted every ripple of the net or dramatic save with raucous applause or groans of despair, responding to the dramatic denouement with gusto and aplomb. The games between Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal and Reading were two of the most dramatic games of football you are likely to see, and they were made more enthralling because they headed into extra time. There is nothing like a last second goal to send a game into added time, and the tension in the final thirty minutes is palpable; when goals fly in, as they did this weekend, the response from the crowed is nothing short of euphoric. League Cup nights often throw up these games and in my opinion they can make for some of the best nights of football a club will see all season, so why dismiss them? If there is a chance that you could witness 120 minutes of enthralling, end to end football then you should grab it. And this is not to mention the surprises that crop up, and we have had plenty this week. Both Leeds and Middlesbrough successfully ousted Premier League opposition while Bradford v Wigan was one of the biggest surprises thus far. The game was a fantastic occasion for Bradford fans, knocking out Premier league opposition is a huge achievement for the League Two side, and they have another chance against Arsenal in the next round to again eliminate a more illustrious foe. This game was another that headed into extra time, but unlike the others this went all the way, penalties the deciding factor. I can only imagine the jubilation when Matt Duke saved from Jordi Gomes, and I am certain that any Bradford fan that passed up the chance to travel to Wigan will be rueing that decision now. The pure theatre of a penalty shootout is something that few experience in person, but an experience that the League Cup can offer far more readily than other competitions.

 

For the fans it is not only the dramatic late night theatre that appeals, there is also a financial incentive. Reports recently show the soaring cost of live football; with ticket prices reaching record highs, supporters are finding it harder and harder to watch their clubs week in week out. The League Cup however is always priced far below the norm – in some cases tickets can be bought for less than half the sale price of a standard weekend league game. This means that the audience at League Cup games is far more diverse, families take the opportunity to take day trips to visit the ground, parents take their children to experience their first taste of live football, and those who cannot afford normal prices are given the opportunity to support their teams in person, for some this is something that occurs only once or twice a season.

 

I believe this is fantastic, football should be accessible to all and it is a shame that so often fans feel excluded by financial restraints. The League Cup is a brilliant opportunity to visit the ground, see the players in person, and experience a live football match, the atmosphere of which can be like nothing experienced before.

 

Another fantastic reason to visit the ground on League Cup night is that it often gives the fans the opportunity to watch the young stars of the future; so far we have seen the likes of Razak and Suarez (Manchester City), Piazon (Chelsea), Keane, Vermijl and Wootton (Manchester United), Tavernier (Newcastle United), Miquel (Arsenal), Yesil (Liverpool) and many others who are unlikely to get game time in the senior team without the League Cup as a platform. There are some who argue that this is a reason not to go, they suggest that using the youngsters is proof that the management do not take the competition seriously, and while I concede that it is hard to argue that Di Matteo and Ferguson, with the inclusion of Keane, Wootton and Piazon, are more determined to win in the League Cup than in the League I am not sure this should diminish the supporters enjoyment. Personally I love seeing players given a chance to show what they can do, but even if this is something you are not interested in I don’t believe your support for your team should depend on who starts the games, whether it is Piazon or Hazard, Wootton or Ferdinand every game is important.

 

The League Cup is a competition much maligned and disregarded but it should be celebrated and enjoyed, a chance to see your team strut their stuff for far more affordable prices, with late night dramatics, giant killing and penalty shoot outs, not to mention the chance to see the next Aguero, Scholes or Bale making their senior bow. League Cup nights can be some of the best nights of football you will experience, and to think, so many ignore it as ‘pointless and boring’.

Premier League 11

A slightly different article from me but I thought that it might be interesting to look at who, in my opinion, have been the outstanding players of the season, in the form of a Premier League 11. I have selected the fashionable 4-2-3-1 formation, roughly used by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United; any opinions are welcome and I am sure there will be a few people who disagree with my selection.

 

GK: Petr Cech.

A tricky position to fill with no goalkeeper really standing out thus far, but with four clean sheets, the highest in the league this season, and with a total of six conceded, the joint fewest with Arsenal, Cech is certainly doing his part for Chelsea. Although he has made the odd mistake a number of outstanding saves notably against Tottenham at the weekend and also against Arsenal have helped his side see off their local rivals, and stand clear at the summit of the league.

LB: Leighton Baines.

A no brainer for me, Baines has been one of the stand out performers in the league this season, and has been influential in the early good form of Everton. With two goals and two assists in seven games he matches the output of Santi Cazorla, and has produced more than the likes of Bale, Gerrard and Dembele. It is therefore no surprise that 46% of Everton’s attacks have come down the left hand side, no other team focuses its attacks more on one area than Everton.

 

RB: Branislav Ivanovic.

A more difficult decision for who should occupy the RB position. That is not to say that Ivanovic has not been fantastic for Chelsea this season; he has produced some sturdy performances, made more impressive by the fact that he has been without the protection of a winger in front of him. He does however seem to have picked up the less than desirable habit of falling very easily under little or no contact which is why I am reluctant to include him, however three goals thus far makes him the highest goal scoring defender in the league, and with an assist to add to that it is hard to argue with results.

Rafael has to be given a mention, some great performances from the young RB have seen him widely praised, however defensively he is often lacking which is why I have not included him.

 

CB: Jan Vertonghen.

Although he has been deployed as a left back in recent games he is more naturally a centre back and played in the more central position in Tottenham’s early fixtures. Some fantastic performances as both centre back and left back have made him not only one of the best transfers this season but also one of the standout defensive performers in the league. An important and well taken goal against Manchester United and a fantastic last ditch challenge on Torres at the weekend have been particular highlights, but it is his strong defensive performances against Reading and QPR that have marked him out as one of Tottenham’s most important players.  

 

CB: Michael Williamson

A strange choice yes, and one which will cause controversy, however it is one that can be justified. Williamson put in a man of the match performance against Norwich earlier in the season; this has been followed by hugely impressive performances against Sunderland and Reading. These strong performances are based on a strong grasp of the fundamental aspects of a centre back’s game. In his five appearances he has managed to win 7 aerial duels per game, second only to Peter Crouch. Williamson has also managed a league high 16.4 clearances per game, 5 clearances per game more than second placed Rio Ferdinand. 1.4 blocked shots per game and a goal line clearance paints the picture of a centre back who can be in the right place at the right time, while firmly protecting his keeper. Newcastle have had a troubled start to the season but in Williamson they have a centre back in fine form.

 

Centre Mid: Mikel Arteta.

Arteta has flown slightly under the radar this season, with the likes of Cazorla, Podolski, Oxlade Chamberlain and even Wilshire receiving more press time than the Spaniard, however his performances on the park have been second to none from the slightly deeper midfield position. Statistically Arteta is unbelievable, 93.7% pass success rate, second in the league only to Rio Ferdinand but with more than twice as many passes as the English defender. An average of 95.5 passes per game amounts to 764 passes in total, almost one hundred passes more than the second highest passer Yaya Toure. 1.4 key passes per game is a strong contribution but for a player whose role it is to dictate the game, and keep possession safely in the hands of his team he is by far the strongest performer in the league, outperforming the likes of Joe Allen, Mikel and Paul Scholes. He is not just a strong passer – his 4.3 tackles per game is the fourth highest in the league, and with 2.3 interceptions per game his contribution defensively is significant.

 

Centre Mid: Michu.

A blistering start to the season in which he scored four goals in three games was curtailed slightly with Swansea’s three defeats; however a recent return to form has seen him bag two goals in his last two games, and one man of the match performance in the victory over Wigan at the weekend. A revelation for Swansea this season, and one of the bargains of the transfer window, he certainly deserves his place in the side, and although he has played in a more advanced position on three occasions four of his goals have come from his time in the middle suggesting that this is where he is most effective.

 

Attacking Mid: Marouane Fellaini.

Fellaini is a player who has had fantastic potential for a number of seasons, and is now starting to show what a threat he can be. The opening game to the season saw him outmuscle and outplay his more revered opposition (Manchester United) and this form has hardly faltered; goals against Swansea and Aston Villa mark his most obvious contributions but with fantastic efforts also against Southampton and Newcastle he stands out in a very strong Everton team.  

 

Attacking Mid: Santi Cazorla.

Arguably the most impressive player in the league, from the first game to the last he has driven Arsenal forward with some exciting football. Two goals and two assists is a solid contribution, but more impressive is his ability to retain possession while remaining a threat. A 90% pass success rate coupled with 3.8 key passes a game (a total of 30 key passes) is a devastating combination which is made more impressive by the sheer quantity of passes he completes. An average of 71 passes per game is significantly higher than the likes of Nasri, Mata, Bale and Silva, with only Nasri managing a higher pass success rate within those players who have managed more than two key passes per game. If Arsenal are to have any success this season Santi will surely be at the heart of it.

 

Attacking Mid: Juan Mata.

With three goals and a league high five assists in seven games Mata has been the star performer for the league leaders thus far, and his performance against Tottenham has to be one of the best individual performances at this early stage in the season. His movement and passing alongside his much discussed teammates Oscar and Hazard is beginning to click, and opposition are finding it harder and harder to deal with the triumvirate; however Mata continues to outshine and I am sure that the cheers of “there is only Juan” will continue to ring out at Stamford Bridge for the continuation of the season.

 

ST: Robin Van Persie.

Arguably an easy and obvious selection, however with the likes of Fletcher, Defoe, Ba, Dzeko, and Torres all performing well and scoring goals the decision was not as easy as you would think. With six goals he leads the scoring charts, along with Ba and Michu, however what really makes RVP stand out is his three assists and pass success rate of 82%, showing that the Dutchman is not only a threat in front of goal, but he is also a fantastic asset to the team on the whole.

Is Mikel Underrated?

Is John Obi Mikel Underrated?

John Obi Mikel (25) moved to English football in 2006 in a storm of controversy – did he sign for Manchester United under duress? Did Chelsea kidnap him? There was also a question surrounding the £16m fee that Chelsea eventually paid – was a teenager playing in the Norwegian league worth this much? In more recent times the question has been re-ignited, was he worth all the effort, and does he have the quality to play at a club like Chelsea?

There has always been a niggling criticism of Mikel, suggestions that his passing was restricted to simple sideways passes, and never anything more adventurous. There were also suggestions that his mobility was inadequate, and that he was both clumsy and excessively aggressive, which was supported by the four red cards he received in his first two seasons at Chelsea. His behaviour early in his Chelsea career was less than professional; he was regularly late for training, and his attitude was questioned. He was eventually dropped for over a month during his first season.

Recently criticism has reached a peak; this is due to his performance in the 2-2 draw against Juventus in the Champions League. Mikel was sloppy with possession late in the game and gave the ball away in his own half, not a cardinal sin by any means, but his lack of desire to track back and atone for his misplaced pass was not well received by supporters or football analysts, who all condemned his sluggishness. This act was for many the final straw; there have been murmurings amongst supporters that Mikel is not at the level that Chelsea need, there is a frustration surrounding his passing, which for many is too often negative and unadventurous, and suggestions that he slows the tempo with his ponderous play.

Just how justified is this criticism though? Di Matteo immediately jumped to his defence, commenting that “I don’t know why he’s underrated by the fans — he’s very rated by us in the group.” While the praise is virtually inevitable coming from his manager his actions in starting Mikel in all but two of Chelsea’s games so far this season suggest that RDM sees him as a vital piece of the puzzle.

Statistically Mikel is an impressive performer, with a pass success rate of 90.5% in his six league appearances he is within the top 25 players and amongst the top 10 midfielders in the league. With more than 300 successful passes made there are only 4 players who have made more passes while retaining at least a 90% success rate; Arteta, Cazorla, Scholes and Joe Allen, an illustrious group of talented passers. These passing stats are impressive, and made more so by the fact that he has only been dispossessed 0.7 times a game, or four times in six games. This places him within the top 20 midfielders in the league for holding on to the ball, a group that includes the likes of Scholes, Gerrard and Lampard. Looking at both of these statistics there is only one midfielder in the league more likely to hold on to the ball, and ensure it’s safe delivery to a team mate than John Obi Mikel, and that is Paul Scholes, a midfielder Zidane once called the best player he has ever played against.

Now I am not attempting to say that Mikel is the second best midfielder in the league, that would be a bold, and potentially absurd declaration, I am simply attempting to highlight why Mikel is so important to Chelsea. When Jose brought Mikel to the club many suggested that he would be the answer to the question, “who will replace Makélelé?” A player pivotal to Chelsea’s success under Mourinho.

Claude Makélelé was allowed to leave Real Madrid and join Chelsea in 2003, a move that the club president Florentino Pérez infamously commented on by pouring scorn on Makélelé’s footballing abilities and proclaimed that Makélelé would not be missed: “His technique is average, he lacks the speed and skill to take the ball past opponents, and ninety per cent of his distribution either goes backwards or sideways. He wasn’t a header of the ball and he rarely passed the ball more than three metres.” This comment was immediately leapt upon by the great and the good of the footballing world; Zidane called Makélelé the “entire engine” of the team, while the captain Hierro commented that “Claude has this kind of gift – he’s been the best player in the team for years but people just don’t notice him, don’t notice what he does. But you ask anyone at Real Madrid during the years we were talking about and they will tell you he was the best player at Real. We all knew, the players all knew he was the most important.” Makélelé became an integral part of the new look Chelsea squad helping Jose Mourinho’s team to numerous titles and trophies and in September 2005, he was selected as a member of the World XI at the FIFPro awards, an accolade richly deserved for his contribution to a hugely successful squad.

Replacing Makélelé was always going to be a monumental task, he was a player who for so long defined the role he played, so much so that people began referring to the position as “the Makélelé role”. I believe it is now slightly ironic that a player (Mikel) who was brought in to distribute the ball cleanly and effectively while disrupting the opposition’s attacks, in the same way Makélelé used to do, is being criticised by many for the same reasons that Perez cited when he moronically criticised Makélelé. The current Chelsea squad displays some of the world’s best attacking players, and much like the Galacticos of Zidane and Figo it needs a player to be the “engine” of the team, someone who can keep hold of the ball and move it calmly and effectively, while offering a dominant physical presence in the middle of the pitch. Again I find myself comparing Mikel to one of the greatest midfielders of all time, and again I do not intend to say that Mikel is as effective as Makélelé, but I do believe that in comparing him to his predecessor we are able to gain perspective about the role Mikel is attempting to perform, and the duties of that role.

In concluding this piece I am caught in two minds, on the one hand it would be simple to condemn all of those lazy critics who think that goals and assists are all that define a player, and that as a result Mikel is not up to scratch, but on the other hand I am conscious that despite all of the positives that Mikel’s game brings to Chelsea he does have flaws that prevent him from being considered as one of the most effective midfielders in world football. While his distribution is clean and generally crisp he can often linger for too long on the ball, slowing the pace of the game and preventing Chelsea building quick breaks. Mikel can also be clumsy in the tackle, and overly physical, and while he has improved this area of his game drastically since his arrival into the Premier League, it could still improve. As a final thought I will suggest that the world’s best teams all have a player who “does the dirty work” (as RDM said of Mikel), Barcelona and Spain have Busquets, Juventus have Vidal, Manchester City have Toure, Garcia or Rodwell, Bayern have Gustavo and Chelsea have John Obi Mikel.

Could this be Arsenal’s Year?

Man City have slipped up twice already, and Man United have shown a certain degree of fallibility conceding five goals, and losing one. Chelsea are in the strongest position having picked up 10 points but there have been question marks about the performances, not least against Wigan and Reading. Other potential contenders in Liverpool and Tottenham both look as though they will struggle with new regimes, Liverpool more so than Spurs on recent showings.

So could this be the year Arsenal sneak through to take their first piece of silverware in seven years? I recently wrote an article about the best signings so far. Santi Cazorla was on top of that list, and I firmly believe that no one player has contributed more to a team than Cazorla has to Arsenal; unfortunately despite fantastic performances against Sunderland and Stoke his teammates were not quite on the same level and two 0-0 draws followed. However there were some very encouraging signs, Diaby was especially impressive and carried this form to his national team gaining praise from Jeremy Menez, Didier Deschamps, and L’Equipe magazine. Young fullback Jenkinson has also started well, along with Arteta and Vermaelen who have all contributed to a team that have kept three clean sheets in their first three games. In a league where goals have flowed conceding only one in four games is a fantastic achievement, something the much fancied Manchester clubs can only dream about on current form.

The only problem seemed to be scoring; the press sharpened their quills and began feverishly bemoaning the loss of RVP, who was already scoring for fun against Southampton, while also piling the pressure on Giroud who after some unconvincing performances, is still finding his feet. However a fantastic team performance against Liverpool saw Arsene’s men secure their first three points, and although Liverpool are still adjusting to the new boss, leaving Anfield with three points is never easy. The game was also pleasing because of the interplay between Cazorla and Podolski, which caused Liverpool problems from the off. Podolski had not played fantastically up to this point, but some clever passes, strong running, and a good finish certainly laid to bed some of the concerns over Arsenal’s ability to replace RVP.

This weekend saw the most emphatic suggestion that Arsenal can be real contenders. Many will say that the recently promoted side should be no barometer for success, they are a team that should be cannon fodder for the likes of Arsenal; however strong performances against both Manchester clubs suggest Southampton will be a tough team to play this season whoever you are. Fantastic performances from virtually the entire team saw a completely helpless Southampton put to the sword, and with the likes of Gervinho, Podolski and Arteta all arguably outshining the still impressive Cazorla it is clear that the team will not need to be reliant on the sensational Spaniard this season. What is more promising, if just in an ironic way, is that Man U needed RVP to save them against Southampton where as the RVP-less Arsenal comfortably romped to victory. If I were an Arsenal fan the chant of “one man team” would be flung Old Trafford’s way without a moment’s hesitation.

Although the season is still young there are some very positive signs for Arsenal fans; the sturdiest defence in the league, the most impressive individual in Cazorla, and a sign that the memories of Song and RVP could soon be extinguished by the impressive Diaby and Podolski. This is coupled with a general improvement in the way the team is defending, which could be attributed to the input of Steve Bould, or could just be because the team is more settled than last season.

There are possibly some areas for concern however – conceding one goal in four games is by no means a problem, but the manner in which the goal was conceded will raise an eyebrow or two. Szczensy’s blunder can be overlooked in a game where six goals went the other way, but an error like that in a tighter game will receive much harsher criticism. On his day he can be brilliant, but he is prone to errors and there could be a few nervous moments this season. Despite scoring eight in the last two games I do think there will be weekends where Arsene will rue missed chances. Giroud will score goals for Arsenal and Podolski is already well off the mark, but with players like Walcott and Gervinho, who have been criticised in the past for some inconsistent performances in front of goal, I can see Arsenal fans being frustrated more than once this season.

I believe that Arsenal will be in contention in the League this season, I am unsure if they have the squad to go all the way but they should certainly consider themselves one of the contenders. Where I think Arsenal will really shine is in the cups. An organised defence and an intelligent attack could see them beating anyone, and they could even be a dark horse in the Champions league if they can maintain the high standard set in defence.

Is Di Matteo’s Reluctance to Introduce New Faces Slowing the Club Down?

Top of the table, three wins from four and no losses, you can’t really argue with that can you? However if you scratch beneath the surface there are signs that Di Matteo may not be quite the messiah that the press has recently been suggesting. Do not get me wrong, taking 10 points from four games is exactly what the doctor ordered, but there have been signs that all is not rosy, not least the 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Atletico Madrid.

The end of May saw a stunning denouement to the season, the first Champions league trophy won by a London club and an FA cup that included a fantastic performance in the semi-final against Tottenham. However the premier league was rather less impressive, the much derided ‘AVB’ ordered the coffin and Di Matteo well and truly buried the season, which saw the club finish in the lowest position since Roman Abramovich took over, well outside of the top four. When Di Matteo took over the club was in 4^th, at the end of the season Chelsea were in 6^th. All of this has been over looked because of the trophy haul, which put a silver lining on what was a very worrying season for Chelsea fans, and clearly the ‘behind closed doors’ men were also worried as they felt they had to invest £90 million over the summer. Clearly the season is still fresh, only four games in, so it is difficult to tell how things are panning out, and as I have mentioned Chelsea are sitting pretty on the top of the table, but the performances do not totally merit this. The first game against Wigan saw an explosive opening, but a rather un-sensational middle and end, in which Chelsea were lucky to come away with a win. A second win against Reading was blighted with an offside goal, and the 4-2 score line was flattering considering the 3^rd was offside and the 4^th was an easy finish into a net left vacated by a goalkeeper eager to score an equalising goal. A solid win against Newcastle was a shining light, not least because Torres grabbed the man of the match award, but a 0-0 daw against QPR, in uninspiring fashion was closer to a return to recent form. 

It could be suggested that a reluctance to introduce the new blood is a reason for this; a team that was criticised heavily last season for a lack of penetration upfront is by and large unchanged. Bertrand is preferred to the likes of Moses, Oscar and Sturridge, and Ramires the same. In all of Chelsea’s five games this season only one new face has started, Hazard. Against QPR new additions Oscar (£25m) Moses (£9m) and Azpilicueta (£7m) were all left out, despite Mata being unfit to play and Marin (another new signing) being injured. Ramires (a central midfielder) and Bertrand (a left back) were both preferred to Moses and Oscar in the creative wide areas, despite the new signings being more adventurous attacking players. Cesar Azpilicueta, a natural RB, was left out for Ivanovic, a centre back by trade and one who had played two internationals midweek, compared to Cesar’s zero. 

This reluctance to introduce fresh faces is a stark contrast to the attitudes of other managers. Mancini immediately put Rodwell into the fray, and then Garcia after he was signed late on deadline day. Kagawa and RVP were both involved as soon as was possible, and even Buttner was given a full start at the weekend and repaid the faith with a fantastic performance. Arsene has used all of his new signings with relish, Cazorla playing every minute so far and Giroud and Podolski not too far behind. I am not for an instant saying that the best approach is to rush players in as soon as you can, players obviously need time to settle and gel with teammates, but there is also a time when new faces are needed. Given the shift that everyone expected to happen at Chelsea, a move from the physical to the more subtle, it is a bit surprising how reluctant Di Matteo is to actually introduce the more subtle, which has been brought in at much expense.

Possibly more surprising is that Chelsea desperately needed width and creativity last season, and now Di Matteo has it, he won’t use it. The lack of creativity and pace hurt Chelsea at the weekend, evidenced by how much more effective they were once Moses was brought on, and when in trouble against Atletico Madrid and Reading Oscar was brought on (at half time against Madrid, and after 57 minutes against Reading). It seems Di Matteo is more comfortable being reactive, taking a risk on more offensive players only when necessary. Is this really a good approach? The game was already lost at half time against Madrid, no change was likely to make a difference, but would it have made a difference to be more active from the start? It is impossible to tell, but against Reading it would be a far safer bet to suggest that a more pro-active approach from the start would have paid dividends, not least because when attacked this season they have buckled, just ask Man City and Swansea.

As a final thought it will always prove impossible to predict the outcome of games based on different decisions and selections, and hindsight is a wonderful thing, but at some stage Di Matteo will surely have to come out of his shell and take a chance, not least because a desire to hold on to the tactics of last season will surely not wash with one Roman Abramovich. Wednesday night will be a fascinating one; how will Chelsea’s line up change for the visit of Juventus, and how will Di Matteo go about scoring against a defence that went a whole season without a loss?

Forced to Play in the Reserves

Not happy.

Stories have been fervently cobbled together in the past week about how unhappy Malouda is at Chelsea; this follows his Twitter comment about how he has been asked to train with the reserves rather than with the senior squad. How new a phenomenon is this though? Manchester City have been shovelling star talent into the reserves for some time now, and it has always been accepted that in order to regain match fitness a run out or two for the reserves is just the ticket. Granted playing a game or two for the reserves to regain fitness after an injury is very different from being exiled, but it does show that it is not the end of the world if you can show the youth a thing or two once in a while.

The most recent incarnation of this story came from the Daily Mail on 08/09/12, in an article which stated that the relationship between Chelsea and two players (Ferreira and Malouda) had broken down due to both being asked to play a friendly against the Charlton Reserves. First things first, this story cannot be completely relied upon; Malouda did not actually play in that friendly (at least according to the Chelsea match report), but new signing Azpilicueta did, suggesting this was more of a run out for those not on international duty, rather than a sign of who is being forced out. However the general thrust of the piece seems largely accurate – Malouda is not happy at being forced from the first team set up, and really who can blame him. Chelsea have justified this in the past when both Anelka and Alex were moved to the reserves by saying that players who are imminently leaving would disrupt the first teams joie de vivre. A sensible thought possibly, but certainly not one that will comfort the recently relegated individuals.

As stated, moving players to the reserves is no new thing, Man City have been culprits of this for a few years now. Major recipients of the exile treatment include Roque Santa Cruz, Adebayor, Bellamy and Tevez, although there were legitimate grounds for punishing Tevez. Alex and Anelka both moved soon after being sent down to train away from the main team, and it may well be the case that Malouda moves in January, but if he does not there is a strong argument that being mistreated by the club will cause the player to stagnate, and become a less attractive prospect for a permanent transfer elsewhere. We have seen this with both Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz, who have both struggled to sever ties with City years after being told they were not needed. Anleka himself spoke out in an interview after leaving Chelsea, stating that “Ever since I was punished they put me with the youngsters…I was left to rot,” strong words that really get to the sharp end of the issue. Footballers need stability and game time.

Roque has just been told the City have signed another striker.

Santa Cruz was bought for £17.5 million in 2009, an extraordinary sum of money given he moved to the premier league for £3.5 million two seasons earlier. At 28 he should have been in a prime position to make the most of his talents at a Man City team eager to make the most of the recent investment. However after falling out of favour after only twenty games, he was moved to train with the younger ‘Citizens’ for half a season before beginning what must seem like a never ending list of loan moves. Blackburn, Betis and Malaga have all tried their luck with the Paraguayan, and many other clubs (QPR, Newell’s Old Boys, Colón de Santa Fé and Primera División Paraguayan club Olimpia Asunción) have tried to sign him, but due to a combination of Man City attempting to recoup the vast sum paid, and of the Paraguayan’s own over blown wages, a move has never materialised. There is an argument to suggest that time spent in the reserves dulls ones abilities; Roque’s move to City came after scoring 23 goals in 57 games for Blackburn, a very solid contribution, but for City he only managed 3 in 20 – surely a product of not only coming in and out of the side, but also in and out of 1^st team training. A loan back to Blackburn in January (after spending the first half of the season in the reserves) saw him score 0 from 9, and this form continued into the next season; after failing to secure a permanent move away he managed only 7 from 33 for Betis. This current season has seen a loan move to Malaga, where he is yet to make an appearance.

Similar treatment was bestowed upon Emmanuel Adebayor; despite a transfer fee of £25 Million in 2009 and a successful start to his City career this was halted in 2011 when he was told that he was no longer needed and that he could leave. A well publicised falling out followed in which Adebayor spent his time with the reserves before loans to Real Madrid and Tottenham. Despite a fractious existence comparable to Santa Cruz, Adebayor managed to continue scoring and has secured a permanent move away, although not without some serious issues. It will be interesting to see how well he can perform now he is more settled.

Training with the reserves is not quite as fun.

In all of these cases (Malouda, Anelka, Alex, Adebayor and Roque), the club has been heavily criticised by the press, and I believe this is perfectly justified. The club are toying with the future of professional footballers; Santa Cruz is a perfect example of how it can go wrong, a player who should have been in his prime, but instead has bounced from club to club, uncertain of his future and unable to settle. Anelka and Alex were lucky to move shortly after being moved to the reserves, and Malouda could yet move in January – however if he does not, how many clubs will want a 33 year old who has not played competitive football for a year? As Anelka said player will “rot” in these circumstances. Chelsea’s excuse of not wanting to disrupt the first team is all well and good but what it certainly proves is that the player is unhappy. A happy player would not disrupt a team, and do clubs really have the right to abuse players simply because they can?

Should Neymar stay in Brazil?

Interest in Neymar has been rife among the world’s top clubs for some time now, so it came as no surprise when the Sun reported that Man United had made a deadline day bid for the Brazilian prodigy. Whether you believe the Sun or not it is undeniable that the young Brazilian has been one of the most wanted youngsters in world football for some time now and a move abroad must be imminent, or so you would think.

 

Reports linking the starlet with a move away from native land have, in recent times, been rebuffed – both by Santos, and the player himself, by the assertion that he will remain at the club until the 2014 world cup in Brazil. This is brilliant news for his club Santos, the Brazilian giants will see their brand grow on the global stage if their star player performs as many expect him to. However there are question marks over whether this is a good move for the player himself.

 

At 20 he is hardly old, and by the time the World Cup comes rolling into town he will still only be 22, but at the age of 22 Messi was winning the  Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year, and Cristiano Ronaldo was being made Portugal captain and had won the  PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, the PFA Young Player of the Year and in April he completed the treble by winning the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year. Such honours will come for Neymar, but whereas Ronaldo and Messi had well and truly established themselves at this young age, Neymar will just be introducing himself.

 

In terms of Neymar growing as a footballer there is certainly still room for development at 22, still time to learn and adapt. However with 113 goals in 190 appearances for Santos, and a goal scoring record this season of 33 goals in 35 matches, it is clear that he is simply too good for this level. With all due respect to the Brazilian league, which has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, it is still not at the same level as many of the European leagues. The defences lack the talent that is on display week in week out in leagues like the premier league and La Liga, and with a style of play that is concerned less with pressing the men on the ball, it is easier for Neymar to run at the opposition, and find space. His recent performances at the Olympics were fantastic, attacking with pace and guile, while also tracking back and attempting to win possession for his team mates. A fine example of what Neymar can do came against Belarus when he ran brilliantly with the ball taking two defenders out of the game, before laying off to Oscar to smash home. However in the final against Mexico Neymar was targeted by the opposition; he was closed down fast when he had the ball, and was forced to track back both to defend but also to look for space. This meant that he received the ball deeper than usual, and was less able to influence the game. When he did pick up possession in advanced positions the Mexican midfield and defence did a fantastic job of closing him down, and closing down the space to prevent him from running with the ball. Ultimately in a game that could have been won by Neymar, the ability to close him down, and negate his threat was what won Mexico the tie.

 

The kind of treatment Neymar received against Mexico is the kind of treatment he would expect to receive if he played in any top European league; just look at how Hazard was received by Wigan in the first game of the Premier League season, or how Messi is targeted every time he comes up against Real Madrid. My question then, and really the point of this article, is who benefits from Neymar staying in Brazil. Clearly his club Santos will benefit hugely, having the star of Brazilian football, and potentially one of the stars of world football on your books, especially with the World Cup coming their way will be a huge boost both financially, and in terms of their reputation. Neymar himself surely won’t benefit from staying in Brazil any longer, and more importantly I would argue that the Brazilian national team will not benefit from Neymar staying in Brazil.

 

Neymar is a huge part of how Brazil play, he provides inspiration from the left be it in the form of goals, assists, or simply taking defenders out of the game with his movement and skill. In the coming World Cup he will come up against well organised, and pro active defences who will be targeting Neymar, and stopping him from playing. Any problems he had playing against Mexico will be amplified against stronger opposition and Brazil cannot afford for their star player to be constantly nullified. For this reason it is my opinion that he should leave Brazil, he needs to be playing week in week out against strong defences in order for him to develop the aspect of his game which will help him deal with the kind of attention he will receive in the World Cup. I believe that two more seasons with Santos, while not harmful, will prevent Neymar from being the force that he could be in the upcoming World Cup.

The Best and the Worst of the Transfer Window.

So, what to do with a two weak break…. the obvious answer is to unfairly judge the new signings in the premier league!

Who have been the star turns thus far, who have hit the ground running and who are unfazed by the incredible pressure on new players in this league.

7 Of the Best

Santi Cazorla – A no brainer really, one of the best signings of the summer, and he is already proving to be integral to the Arsenal cause this season. With three appearances under his belt, the single goal and assist in no way truly represent his influence. With 4 key passes per game, the second highest in the league this season (behind Baines), 1.3 accurate through balls per game (the highest in the league thus far) and a pass completion rate of 92.3%, he has found his feet instantly and could well be a player of the year candidate when the season is over.

Santi Cazorla, Getty Images.

 

 

Eden Hazard – Three games and three wins for Chelsea, and that has an awful lot to do with the mercurial young Belgian. Unlike in the case of Cazorla, assists and goals do go some way to telling the story; 4 assists and 1 goal in three games is a fantastic contribution, and this does not include the two penalties he has drawn. In terms of Chelsea’s season this means that Hazard has directly influenced 7 of the 8 goals the team has scored.  Hazard also finds himself the joint second most fouled player in the league (10 fouls against, behind Jonas Gutierrez on 12) – coaches had clearly seen him play for Lille and sought to stop him in any way possible. 2.7 key passes per game places him in the top 15 players in the league, an impressive achievement when you consider he is averaging 3 dribbles per game, the highest (by some way) of all players who have equal or more key passes per game. 1.7 interceptions per game is also impressive, but no tackles suggest he could do with getting stuck in a bit more.

Michu– A revelation for Swansea, like Hazard, Michu has been an integral part of his team’s offensive output; with a very impressive 4 goals and 1 assist this means he has scored or assisted 50% of his team’s outstanding 10 league goals so far. With 6 of 6 long balls reaching their target, and a pass completion rate of 82.3% he is already showing that he has the ability to play the ball around, although with no accurate through balls from three attempts he could maybe do with a little more practice with Laudrup! A very impressive debut into the league, made even more impressive by his measly 2mil transfer fee, I am sure the Swans will be hoping for more bits of transfer wizardry from the Boss.

Geoff Cameron– Stokes new American midfielder has already proved to be a hit; although he has only played two games this season he has already managed 15 tackles, averaging 2 more a game than anyone else, and with an impressive 8 interceptions he is already proving to be a fantastic player when it comes to getting the ball back! 3 shots blocked show that when it matters he can be in the right place at the right time. An impressive debut against Arsenal saw him get a Who Scored rating of 7.82, which was only topped by Arteta on 8, helping his team to a 0-0 draw. With another solid performance against Wigan the Potters will be very hopeful that this kind of form continues.

Geoff Cameron (left), Battling with Santi Cazorla

Robin Van Persie – We all know about this guy right….? Good I can be brief, 4 goals from two starts, including a game winning hat-trick against Southampton, shows just why Fergie chased him all summer. Adjusted well to new surroundings, but will probably think twice about taking another pen like that again. A lot has been said about this guy, so I will stop here.

Claudio Yacob – West Brom’s flying start to the season was in no small part thanks to the contribution of new man Yacob, at least according to Gareth McAuley (West Brom defender). The Argentine midfielder has played every minute of West Brom’s bright start to the campaign, two wins and a draw against very strong opposition (Spurs, Liverpool and Everton), and has received praise not just from his team mates but pundits alike.  A pass accuracy of 90.4% is a team high (not including Rosenberg who has 4 from 4). And with 11 tackles, 5 interceptions and 7 clearances he is demonstrating his ability to both defend, and help his team retain possession. A very solid start to the season and one I am sure his manager will be very happy with. He could prove to be a key player if West Brom can keep up this form.

And last but not least…

Ron Vlaar– An odd one I agree, but one who I think deserves a mention. He moved to a team in trouble – last season was a car crash for Villa, with the second fewest wins in the league, and a scrap to stay in the top division meant investment was needed. Vlaar is an experienced player and a good player, injuries have hurt his career but when he has played he has been solid, and this has been shown for Villa despite an indifferent start to the season. A solid debut was followed by a very good performance against Everton, all be it in a 3-1 loss. Another solid performance against Newcastle helped his side to their first point of the campaign. If Villa are to stay in the top flight this season they will need the form of Vlaar to continue.

Some players who are worth a mention, if just to explain why I have kept them out…

Chico – A great name and a fantastic start to his Swansea career, however the blight of that tackle and the high boot which got him a red card means he misses out on my elite list. A pass completion rate of 91.8% and a Who Scored rating of 7.41 thus far shows serious potential, just kick those tackles out! The downside (other than watching too many Jet Li movies) is an aerial duel success rate of only 50%; maybe he should use his time off to practice winning those headers!

Mladen Petric – Dempsy who? Petric exploded onto the scene with a hugely impressive performance in the 5-0 drubbing of Norwich. A bit slow after this, which is why he doesn’t quite make the list. Consistency is key!

Honourable mention has to go to Dembele, possibly the best player so far this season, and a transfer to Spurs does technically mean he could be on the list, but with only one appearance, and that made as a sub for Tottenham he does not quite fall into the category.

“Money back? Go on, I still have the receipt?”

Robert Green – A shocking start to the season, which has included plenty of errors, would not have been helped with news of the legendary Brazilian stopper Cesar arriving at the club. What does the future hold at QPR for the ex England international? We will just have to wait and see, but Hughes will be hoping that Cesar has a significantly better debut.

Rob Green wont want to see this again.

Vurnon Anita – Giving away a penalty against Chelsea on your full debut is never going to endear you to your fans, and with three fouls in the game Anita will surely want to forget this full debut. An indifferent performance against Villa followed, The Magpies will expect more from their summer acquisition, but so far he has been less than impressive.

Gylfi Sigurdsson – All that fuss early on, and for what, three appearances one as a sub, and he has failed to finish 90 mins so far. A fantastic season for Swansea last term, but so far failing to bring any of that to a struggling Tottenham side. The arrival of Dembele could be trouble for Gylfi, who I am sure will be hoping he can regain some of the magic that made him so dangerous for Swansea.

Any comments are welcome, cheers for reading!