Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has admitted that it would be disastrous if his side were to blow their title chances, after being top of the Premier League for the majority of this campaign.
The Etihad Stadium outfit take on fellow challengers Tottenham at home on Sunday, with cross-town rivals Manchester United lurking three points from the top.
The England winger is hopeful of success this season, but knows it will be a difficult task for Roberto Mancini’s men.
“I’d be devastated if we didn’t win it now,” he stated to Mirror Football.
“Everyone knows we deserve to be where we are and to throw it away would definitely be a disaster.
“Obviously, with the position we’ve got ourselves in now, it’s for us to give it away.
“We’re top of the league by three points and it’s up to us not to make mistakes. But none of the lads want to think about that, nor does anyone else at the club.
“Tottenham are the team who have nothing to lose and all the pressure is supposedly on us and United.
“But the pressure is on whoever is up there to sustain it. If Tottenham do that, there will be massive pressure on them. In the last four or five games, when things are still tight, that is when we can see who will hold their nerve.
“If we win the title, we will have deserved it. We have top-class players but we have to play 38 games.
“We have to try and win every one. Hopefully in May I will be saying that we did it,” he concluded.
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Arsenal’s 4-0 humbling at the hands of AC Milan just further emphasised the dawning realisation about just how far off this current Arsenal side are in terms of quality when compared to the old Arsenal teams of yesteryear. But when it comes to the issue of the manager, and whether the club should continue to back him or politely thank him for his services and usher him out the back door quietly, it appears that the club’s supporters are split.
Every single time Arsenal are dealt a thrashing these days, we have to go through the inevitable rigmarole of listening to the Wenger Out bridge. It’s a divisive topic that’s for certain, but has Wenger taken the club as far as he can go?
The two camps now take completely polar views with concerns to Wenger’s future position at the club. There are those that still trust Wenger’s judgement to deliver and hail the job that he’s doing at the club with comparibly small finances to his nearest rivals.
On the other hand we have those that decry everything Arsenal have come to represent. This is, after all, a team formed very much in the image of its manager. The power that he has over recruitment at the club is nearly unparalleled in the english game. It is in Wenger’s judgement that players like Djourou, Walcott and Rosicky are up to the task, when at the highest level, the evidence just continues to mount that they are patently not.
From an outsiders perspective at least, I find it simply amazing the sheer amount of bile-based rhrotic that is sent Wenger’s way. It’s disrespectful and ignorant of the superb job that he’s done at the club. Arsenal wouldn’t be where they are today without him, it’s as simple as that.
He didn’t reinvent the wheel when it came to dietary requirements as it’s often made out to seem. He isn’t the first manager to appreciate that pasta instead of chips and a pint are better for a professional athlete’s body and diet.
Nor is he in anyway professioral in style apart from being French and quite posh looking . He isn’t a master tactican and the malaise in terms of playing style and squad depth is almost entirely of his own making.
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These false myths built up around him at the height of his success appear to be the very things hindering him most now. He isn’t all of a sudden a complete dunce, but at the same time, the personality cult based around the principle of ‘Wenger knows’ is equally just as ridiculous a notion.
Against AC Milan, his face had the look of a beaten man already resigned to his team’s fate. He is continually let down by a group of players that he has emplaced so much belief in. He lauds their ‘mental resilience’ at every turn and to what effect? They were out-played, out-fought and out-thought.
Is it simply that Wenger has raised expectations so high by over-performing in the past that he is now unable to meet them with an inferior squad? Or is it more to do with the modern-day football fan and their penchant for knee-jerk reactions and drama?
Of course, as is often the way with issues as complex as this, the truth lies somewhere in between. To criticise Wenger, as his supporters often complain, is not to completely disregard the job that he has done in the past. His successes in the past grant him a degree of freedom, a measure of credit if you will, but it’s worth noting that he is becoming in increasing danger of fully cashing that in now.
The rumbles on the terraces are growing and Wenger looks to be running out of answers. Is fresh impetus needed? Most definitely, but that doesn’t neccessarily mean a change in management, it could simply mean a new coach or two, perhaps even a new assistant manager instead of Pat Rice; but most importantly, someone with new ideas willing to challenge Wenger’s all-encompassing authority.
Wenger can be criticised for a lot of things – a near constant obsession with planning for the future, a failure to spend money in positions that require reinforcements and the failure of the experimentation with club’s change in playing style.
However, should the club banish a manager after so many years of distinguished service after one and a half seasons of indifferent form? We are often told that no one person is bigger than the club, but when it comes to Arsenal, that just simply doesn’t apply or ring true.
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Arsene Wenger is Arsenal. If the club’s fans think that a change in manager will supply a quick fix to a team and infrastructure formed completely in Wenger’s image, then they have another coming. Any decision to remove Wenger could have wider-held implications to the club than we cannot possibly fully envisage at the moment. This is not the time for snap decisions based on a bad performance or two.
It’s easy to criticise the manager when performances go south, and Wenger certainly deserves a lot of the flak that goes his way, but the influence of the manager is often overstated in today’s game. The players simply aren’t holding their end of the bargain up.
Results are the managers perogrative, performances are the players. So far, against the odds, Arsenal are on course to secure Champions League qualification for the 12th successive season, which in itself is tantamount to a title win at the moment; a salient point worth remembering for Arsenal fans everywhere in the aftermath of a what will ultimately go down as a deeply humiliating evening for the club.
For many people the Premier League is deemed the best league in the world, given its competitive nature and the quality of players that have plied their trade on these shores.
Whether it be a Jurgen Klinsmann, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Gianfranco Zola, or in more recent times Cristiano Ronaldo; few can deny that the Premier League hasn’t had its fair share of talents to grace the pitches around the country. It is also important to recognise that it has also had to witness some absolute shockers as well, with the likes of Mido, Boogers, Prunier and Cheyrou still etched on the minds of Premier League supporters up and down the country.
The Premier League has always seen a mixed bag of players and I, for one, always welcome witnessing a mismatch on the field whether it is Ramon Vega looking to mark Dennis Bergkamp; Tony Hibbert attempting to shackle Cristiano Ronaldo, or simply Gregorsz Rasiak attempting to take on any Premier League defence. The bad will always play a major part in adding to the excitement of the league.
This current Premier League season has been no different and this is the FIRST PART of my look into, who I consider to be, arguably the worst players plying their trade in the league at present.
Click on Stefan Savic to unveil the top 10
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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has stated that he is confident that his team will still win the Premier League title, despite dropping to second in the standings.
A 1-0 defeat against Swansea sees the Etihad Stadium outfit fall from top spot, with Manchester United opening up a four-point gap at the summit.
City can close the gap when they host Chelsea on Wednesday night, and the Italian manager is in confident mood.
“We will win the title, we will win. We will do everything to win the title. We need to think positive, always,” he stated at a press conference, reported by Sky Sports.
“Until now we have had a fantastic Premier League, we need to continue like this.
“It is better to stay on the top – always – but I said a month ago it could be that we will go into the second position. This can happen.
“We had difficult fixtures, different from United, but it has not changed. We have everything in our hands.
“There is one game difference – potentially we are one point behind.
“Maybe if we win the next two games we go two points up. We need to go our way, we can’t think about United,” he confessed.
Mancini went on to admit that Carlos Tevez may well feature, but is not yet fit enough to play a full match.
“There is a possibility,” he stated when questioned on the Argentine’s involvement.
“He is getting better but I don’t think Carlo can have more than 25-30 minutes. A player like Carlo needs to play but for 90 minutes it is impossible.
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“But if he can play 30 minutes, after 45, then in three or four games he could have 90 minutes, easily.
“Tomorrow we will decide. We want to know the situation with the players,” he concluded.
Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has applauded the club’s squad for competing for the title in his absence, and feels that depth in Sir Alex Ferguson’s options is the reason for their current league position.
The Red Devils are five points ahead of rivals Manchester City in the race for first, and the injured Serbian centre half feels this is due to the quality of players at Old Trafford.
“It doesn’t matter who is out, Manchester United never depend on one player. When I’ve been out I had the belief from the beginning we would still win the title,” Vidic told Mirror Football.
“And, if you look at the schedule of the games we have left to play now, we are the favourites.
“If you look at the past, players have left or been out and fans have been worried, but we still win titles and trophies.
“That is why Manchester United are special. That is why the manager is the best at replacing players and finding young players. He showed that over the years.
“I always believed we would challenge for the title. We changed some players last season and others went, but no problem.
“We got some young players. We didn’t expect the young players would play that many games and would have so much influence on the team. This is a great plus for the club.
“Obviously we have had some injuries over the past year, which is another difficult thing we have gone through. We have had so many players get injured at different times. But we have coped and been very competitive with Manchester City.
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“Now we are at the top of the league and have a big chance to win it,” he concluded.
As the Premier League draws to a close, it’s time for some alternative statistics on each Premier League club ahead of the final game of the season!
Manchester City
Going into their game with QPR, Manchester City have averaged over three goals per game at the Etihad against bottom half opposition. Roberto Mancini’s side also know should they beat the Londoners, they’ll end the season as the most in-form team in the division which is perhaps apt as they look to be crowned Champions.
Manchester United
As far as their away form goes, it’s been all change for Manchester United this season. They’ve gone from having the fifth best away record to having the best in the division, something United are assured of regardless of Sunday’s result. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have also only conceded three goals in their nine away games against bottom half teams – a record which might daunt Sunderland ahead of Sunday.
Arsenal
Games involving Arsenal on the road have produced the second most goals in the division. The Gunners though are the most in-form away side in the league, winning four of their last six games. If they can continue this form at West Brom, they’ll retain their place in the Champions League.
Spurs
Harry Redknapp’s side have the chance this weekend to finish above Arsenal, if the Gunners drop points at West Brom and Spurs beat Fulham. Previous encounters suggest the latter will happen – Spurs haven’t lost a home game against a fellow London club since they lost to Arsenal in September 2007. What’s more the North Londoners have the third best home record this season.
Newcastle United
Of late, with the help of Papiss Demba Cissé, the Toon have won seven of their last nine league games. However, Newcastle haven’t done the double over a top half team since they beat the side above them, Spurs, in 2006-2007. If they’re to have a chance of Champions League qualification, then this record will have to change against Everton.
Chelsea
It’s been an odd season at Stamford Bridge. The Blues will finish outside the top four for the first time since 2001-2002. This coincides with the last time all three promoted sides survived in the Premier League – something which is on course to happen. If Roberto Di Matteo’s team suffer defeat to relegated Blackburn, then it’ll mean Chelsea have lost five home games for the first time since 1996.
Everton
The Merseysiders have done well in the second half of the season which is shown in the fact they’ve only lost two of their last 17 games in the Premier League. However, in terms of the amount of goals their games produce, Everton have been the third worst in the division. It’s something David Moyes won’t care about should the Toffees continue to hold their position above Liverpool. After all, they have the third best defence in the league, something they share with their rivals.
Liverpool
Whilst the Reds may have a good defence throughout the, Kenny Dalglish’s side have only kept one clean sheet in their last nine. Their poor home form this season has been well highlighted with Liverpool winning just two Premier League games at Anfield in 2012. The Reds will be desperate to climb into 7th this weekend; otherwise it will be their lowest league flight finish in 18 years.
Fulham
It’s been a fruitful season for the Cottagers, remaining unbeaten against Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in the Premier League. Their away form is usually deplorable but under Martin Jol, Fulham have recorded their most league away wins since 2005. For a show of how bad it’s been in recent years, the total of four for this campaign equals the amount earned in the previous two seasons.
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West Bromwich Albion
Roy Hodgson may be departing the Hawthorns this summer but he’s led the Baggies to new heights in the Premier League. West Brom have gained the most points away from home outside the top five. It’s also the club’s most wins on the road since 1979. Most importantly though, the West Midlands side survival means they’ll be spending more than two consecutive seasons in the top flight for the first time since the 1980s.
Sunderland
The Mackems have fallen a little bit flat recently after the initial boost under Martin O’Neill. They haven’t won in their last seven and have only scored three in their last six games. However, should Sunderland upset the odds and beat Manchester United, it’ll be the Black Cats best points tally in the Premier League since 2001.
Swansea City
The Swans have been an excellent addition to the Premier League this season. Lately their high defensive standards have dipped, letting in 17 in their last eight. They have also appeared slightly more fragile in 2012 – Brendan Rodgers side have not won in the last nine league games where the opposition has scored. That said, having achieved survival, their lapse in form is understandable.
Norwich City
When the Canaries were last relegated from the Premier League, their away form was rightly criticised with Nigel Worthington’s side failing to win a game on the road. However, they’ve chalked up five with Paul Lambert although they managed to not keep a clean sheet away from Carrow Road. In Grant Holt though, they have the second highest scoring Englishman in the division, after Wayne Rooney – not bad for a striker playing in League Two in 2009.
Stoke City
The Potters forwards have somewhat misfired with Stoke City holding the worst attacking record in the division (34 goals). However, they have played in the Europa League which looks to have taken a lot out of the squad. What’s more Tony Pulis can be proud of how Stoke have only lost to one top six side at home, that being Newcastle. However, his side are on their longest run without a clean sheet since they arrived in the Premier League in 2008 (10 games).
Aston Villa
So why have Villa fans been quite so irate with Alex McCleish this season? Look on the bright side – they haven’t suffered an away defeat to a club outside the division’s top five. However, one stat puts it into perspective. If they fail to beat Norwich, this season will be their lowest tally of wins in a league season since 1891. Ouch.
Wigan Athletic
The Latics have perked up in the last few months as they mounted another relegation escape. This included their first ever league wins at Arsenal and Liverpool – an achievement which cannot be underestimated. On the other hand, they need to beat Wolves on Sunday if they’re to avoid recording their lowest number of home wins in the Premier League.
QPR
Queens Park Rangers form has been schizophrenic to say the least. Whilst they’ve done exceedingly well to win their last five home games, their away form means Mark Hughes’s team are on the cusp of relegation. On the road, QPR have lost 10 of their last 12 away games in the Premier League. Add to this the second worst defence in the division away from home and Sunday looks like it could be a nervy one for Hoops fans.
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Bolton Wanderers
It’s one of football’s cruel ironies that in the season where all three promoted sides might survive for the first time in ten years, two of the last teams to do it are in the relegation zone going into the final day (Bolton and Blackburn). For Owen Coyle, it’s been a dismal season at the Reebok, with the Trotters having their worst home record in the Premier League tenure. What will give fans confidence for Sunday’s encounter at Stoke is that Bolton have had their best away record in the league since 2006-2007 – they’ll need to extend it to survive another season too.
Blackburn Rovers
It’s no wonder Steve Kean and Venky’s are unpopular looking at Rovers statistics this season. Should they suffer defeat at Stamford Bridge at the weekend, it will ensure their worst away record in the Premier League. What’s more, they have been poor at Ewood Park losing 12 home games. The last time they lost that amount was in 1966, when they were actually defeated on 14 occasions. It’s no real surprise then that Blackburn are entering the second tier of English football for the first time since 2001.
Wolves
Support Wolves? Look away now – in their last 23 league games, the Black Country club have won just once. They have statistically the worst defence in the division despite Wayne Hennessey, who’s missed the last three games, making the most saves in the Premier League (167). It won’t fill fans with confidence that new manager Stale Solbakken’s Cologne finished up with the worst defence in the Bundesliga this season. Before Wolves look to next season though, they play Wigan on Sunday. Unless they win on Sunday, it will be their worst points total in a league season since 1906 – the less said, the better.
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Hopefully, the season will produce an entertaining climax on Sunday and judging by the way the rest of the 2011-2012 season has been, it would be surprising if it wasn’t!
Article originally written at Gone With The Rhind
All statistics researched by GWTR – Source: Statto.com
For more Premier League musings on Twitter, follow @archiert1
Everton’s Belgian international Marouane Fellaini is subject to a £20 million bid from Chelsea, according to the Daily Mirror .
The 24 year old midfielder is the latest to be liked with a move to Stamford Bridge, as Roman Abramovich looks to continue to strengthen his Champions League winning side.
Having joined Everton in 2008 from Standard Liege, Fellaini has impressed with the Toffees, appearing 137 times and scoring 20 goals from defensive midfield.
Chelsea are believed to be searching for a replacement for Michael Essien, whose last two seasons at the club have been injury ridden. Fellaini is just the player Abramovich will hope can add some defensive cover to his midfield, following the £32 million signing of attacking midfielder Eden Hazard last week.
It is believed that Everton would sell their Belgian midfielder on the condition they can make a significant profit on the £15 million they paid Standard Liege four years ago.
The signing of Fellaini would mark something of a midfield overhaul for The Blues. Following the signings of Hazard and also Werder Bremen’s Marko Marin, who will join the Champions League holders when the transfer window officially opens on 1st July.
Abramovich seems eager to strengthen the side immediately, with new signings in place before the arrival of a new manager at Stamford Bridge.
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No Venezuelan has ever played in the Premier League. However, drastic improvements in the country’s performances on the international stage have increased the awareness of the talent they possess. At the heart of this is Malaga’s Salomon Rondon who has shown his ability to compete at the highest levels of the game. Chelsea’s reported interest in him serves to highlight the vast improvement of the national game and the rapidly increasing number of young and exciting talents they possess.
Rondon is a big, powerful striker who at 22-years-old ended last season as Malaga’s highest scorer with 11 goals. Whilst not being prolific it was only his second his season in European top-flight football and the season before he had netted 14 goals. Now he looks set to compete in the Champions League for the first time and even if he does not make the move to England this season, a series of impressive performances would only serve to enhance his reputation.
At international level he has been the spearhead in attack as Venezuela have taken a more competitive role in South America. Despite the nation’s first sport being baseball, after a hugely impressive Copa America campaign last year that only saw them defeated at the semi-finals on penalties by Paraguay the strides taken by the country have been astronomical.
The Vinotinto now sit fifth in the continent’s World Cup qualifying table, a position that holds a berth in the intercontinental play-off. With a young coach in charge of the side in Cesar Farias they play pragmatic football and look to restrict their opponents’ chances and score on the counterattack. This was evident as they achieved a 1-1 draw with Uruguay in Montevideo earlier this month with Rondon netting a late equaliser as well as a 1-0 win over Argentina back in October.
The defensive solidity owes much to the improved strength in depth in recent months provided by repatriated European-based players. The nation’s impressive performances have encouraged uncapped players with links to the country to wear the Vinotinto shirt. Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Amorebieta has become a fixture in the heart of defence while another two young European-based defenders in Rolf Feltscher of Parma and Young Boys’ Alexander Gonzalez look promising. Twente right-back Roberto Rosales however was born in the country and he has performed excellently for his country. After leaving Caracas at 19 years of age he has proved to be consistent in both the Belgian and Dutch leagues and continues to improve at Steve McClaren’s side.
The experienced Juan Arango could now get the chance to display his talent on the major European stage after playing an integral part in Borussia Monchengladbach’s fourth-placed Bundesliga finish. Yet it is another Germany-based star who, whilst performing frequently for his nation, is yet to make his mark at club level.
Wolfsburg’s Yohandry Orozco has made just five appearances since signing for the club in January 2011. Nicknamed ‘La Perla’ or The Pearl, he loves to have the ball at his feet and is eager to run at defenders. His potential is huge but he is most likely struggling for playing time in the Bundesliga due to his selfishness in possession and his poor decision making. Yet once he improves upon his these factors, as well as his composure and passing, he could well become an influential player in Europe’s third league.
One player who has been as fortunate not to get a move to across the Atlantic Ocean is Fernando Aristeguieta. He started his career brightly with Caracas in the 2009-10 season contributing six goals to the club’s championship winning campaign but a serious injury ruled him out of much of the next season, and critically their 2011 Copa Libertadores campaign. Now, at 20-years-old, he has returned to form for Los Rojos with 11 goals in 31 appearances. A rangy striker with a clinical finish, if he can avoid injuries having broken into the full international set-up then he will prove capable of competing with the likes of Rondon and Nicolas “Miku” Fedor.
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The performances of 2011 have provided Venezuela with the ability to announce themselves on the international stage and they now look like potential candidates to reach their first ever World Cup 2014. With the marathon qualification continuing well into 2013 it offers these players a realistic chance of earning their place in some of Europe’s top leagues in the coming years. It may not be too long until the Premier League gets its first Venezuelan.
The second tier of English football is less known for it’s foreign exports, more for it’s aggressive and full throttle nature; especially with the likes of Michael Brown, Paul Mckenna, Adam El-Abd and recently promoted Kevin Nolan.
The Championship is an unforgivable league, and having that extra bite can often leave you in hot bother with suspensions or it can leave teams fearing you, the unpredictable nature of being ‘dirty’ is a dish best served risky.
Dirty by name, Dirty by nature, Leeds United have spent the last 40 years labelled ‘Dirty Leeds’ largely down to the famous Don Revie side. However, the trend has continued well into the 21st century, with such players as David Batty, Danny Mills, Vinnie Jones and now Michael Brown all known for the ‘odd’ leg break.
Now with Neil Warnock in charge, the man who once saw his Sheffield United team reduced to 7 men in a game that was inevitably abandoned against WBA, the dirty approach doesn’t look like fading just yet at Elland Road.
They say statistics never lie, as Brighton & Hove Albion officially finished bottom of the Championship Fair Play League last season, notching up 83 yellow cards and a whopping 8 red cards. Gus Poyet’s disciplined footballing style was perhaps lost in translation when it came to the discipline of his players. Adam El-Abd is most certainly the hard hitter in the team, most notably with his skinhead looks and love for shoving the elbow in.
Only one team can shamefully boast the most red cards in the league. That team being Leicester City, acquiring 9 red cards over the course of the last season, they most certainly weren’t listening when they said make the extra man count. A team that is full of talented footballers, overshadowed by the need to put the foot in and becoming last season’s underachievers, the blame game could well lie with seeing red more often than most.
Astonishingly only one red card for Hull City last season, especially with the presence of Andy Dawson, Jack Hobbs and Paul Mckenna. Languishing near the wrong end of the Fair Play League, Hull City certainly have plenty of no nonsense ankle nibblers that are one miss-timed tackle away from an early bath.
From the industrial heart of the North East, Middlesbrough live up to their hard-working and gritty roots. Fair Play relegation fodder last season, the likes of Barry Robson, Julio Arca, Nicky Bailey, Stephen McManus and Matthew Bates are all capable of leaving floating birds around one’s head.
71 yellow cards and 7 red cards later, Middlesbrough have firmly established themselves as one of the dirty players in the Championship, and this season surely will follow suit despite the departure of card happy Barry Robson.
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Newcastle have continued their attempts to sign Twente defender Douglas, and have upped their bid to £4 million according to The Sun.
The Tyneside club are eager to build on their fifth-placed finish last term in the Premier League but have only signed French midfielder Romain Amalfitano so far this summer.
A new defender is on Alan Pardew’s wishlist after seeing injuries decimate his backline last term, and the lofty centre-half is in the Magpies’ cross-hairs.
Douglas is a Brazilian defender, but qualifies for EU citizenship in September, which would mean that he would not have any work permit issues.
With only one year left on his deal at the Eredivisie club, Douglas has already stated that he wants to move to a bigger club and league, with a number of European sides monitoring the situation.
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Newcastle have already failed in a bid of around £3.15 million for the player, and will test the Dutch team’s resolve further by increasing the offering to £4 million.