All posts by h79snht.top

On May 26 1982, Peter Withe wrote his name in the Aston Villa record books by scoring the only goal in a tightly contested European Cup final against Bayern Munich in Rotterdam: Villa’s greatest day in its illustrious, trophy-laden history.

The previous year they had won their seventh first division title, then a few months after that night in Rotterdam they beat Barcelona 3-1 on aggregate to lift the Super Cup. The early 1980s were the glory years for Villa, they were the kings of Europe.

But that was then and this is now. Now they are a struggling, misunderstood giant of English football playing out their existence in the second tier of English football. Their last piece of notable silverware was the League Cup 20 years ago.

Since then they’ve had 11 different managers who have mostly all tried and failed, with Martin O’Neill the only manager to have experienced any success; three consecutive 6th placed finishes in the Premier League and a couple of seasons competing in the UEFA Cup.

Managerial giants like Gerard Houllier, Alex McLeish, Tim Sherwood and Roberto Di Matteo have tried and failed in the wake of O’Neill’s departure in August 2010. It’s time for someone new to come, grab the club by the scruff of the neck and drag it back kicking and screaming to what it’s best known for, which is being rather good at winning things.

This is where I come in. Inspired by the fantastic story of Iain Macintosh’s journey with Everton on CM01/02 and his new project with a modern day Toffees side on Football Manager 2017, I now dream of being Aston Villa’s very own Macintosh. Villa seem like the best team to take on, too.

They do have some money, thanks to new owner Tony Xia, and their squad has the potential to compete in the Premier League let alone the Championship. This doesn’t mean it’ll be easy, but it’s an attractive project. Who doesn’t want to be Villa’s next Tony Barton or Martin O’Neill?

In real life, Steve Bruce has just been tasked with taking Villa back to the Premier League. He’s a worthy candidate to do so and will no doubt succeed, whether that be this season or next. That’s real life, though, and god knows Football Manager isn’t real life, even if it’s getting very very close to being so.

So step aside, Brucey baby, there’s a new guy in town…

Tony Xia greets me warmly and tells me all the current backroom staff will accept a mutual termination of their contract should I find them unworthy of being part of my new revolution. That won’t be necessary, though. I’m the kind of guy who likes to give people the chance to be my friend first, colleague second. I’ll meet with them shortly.

Before I begin meeting my backroom staff and the players, I need to sort tactics out.

If my previous Football Manager career says anything at all about my tactical nous, it’s that I’m completely and utterly rubbish at the game. I’m tactically inept. So much so that every tactic I’ve ever made from scratch has never won me anything other than a few friendlies (I may be over exaggerating here, but not much.)

Suddenly it dawns on me that this is going to be harder than I expected. What would Macintosh do? 4-4-2 it is then, but with a twist.

I’m going with wing backs, two defensive midfielders and two false nines. Play out from the back, shorter passing, low tempo and the instruction to control possession and to get the ball in the box whenever possible. I expect this to fail but I have pre-season to get it right so I’m not worried just yet.

Now on to pre-season training and having been relegated the previous season, morale is understandably low. So I initially ignore the opportunity to train the players to get used to my prefered tactic and instead have them focus on team cohesion. Tactical work can come later once I see a few smiles on faces again.

My coach Steve Clemence has asked me if I want to set up an intra-squad friendly. I decline – I don’t care for these matches, I tell him, I’d rather judge my players on how they do against opposition players….

I’m promptly handed a full report of the club, which is a huge eye-opener to what’s happening behind the scenes and the quality of my squad. It turns out the overall passing quality of the squad is disappointing and Mile Jedinak is pretty much the only player in the squad capable of playing as a defensive midfielder to a good standard. I’ve opted for two defensive midfielders. Shit.

On a more positive note, I’m told my players are hard working, willing to put in the required effort and I have an aggressive and committed squad at my disposal. So the players might be feeling down but they’re all committed to putting things right again – a good start.

Before I meet my hungry and committed players for the first time I’m quickly told that former West Ham and Charlton Athletic man Diego Poyet is a free agent and would add much needed depth to my midfield.

He’s ambitious, has a good technique and is an accomplished passer of the ball. Perfect for what I’m looking for, so I offer him a contract.

I pick my squad for the upcoming pre-season tour to France. I’m happy with that destination – not much travelling involved but still far enough to get away from the disappointment of relegation for for a while.

Meanwhile, Poyet gladly accepts my contract offer but it turns out the club won’t part with his £16k signing on fee, which means I have to tell him we can’t go ahead. Now I know how Macintosh felt when he came so close to signing Cristiano Ronaldo with Everton in February 2003 on CM01/02. Thought it turns out I disabled the transfer budget, which means I can’t sign anyone until January. It’s a learning process.

I’m already feeling bleak about the challenge ahead, despite nothing bad really happening. So when Jordan Ayew is ruled out for 5-6 weeks with a hernia I decide I have every right to feel anxious. Micah Richards is also out for a week or so with a bruised thigh, which could be a sign of things to come.

I haven’t even met the players yet. I hope they like me…

Click here for Episode Two >>

It’s become quite a theme of their season. Whenever Southampton have picked up a positive result, they seem to have followed it up with a disappointing one.

The Saints were hugely impressive in their 1-0 win against Everton at St Mary’s, before a much-changed side beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium last Wednesday to advance to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.

The players and the supporters were certainly in high spirits thereafter, and a trip to face a Crystal Palace side, who had lost their last six Premier League matches, seemed the perfect fixture on the weekend.

However, Claude Puel’s side were beaten 3-0 – their heaviest defeat since August 2015 – and the Frenchman will surely now be considering bringing in some reinforcements during the upcoming January transfer window if his side are to come close to matching their sixth-placed league finish last term.

Here are FIVE players that should be on Puel’s Xmas list…

CB: Ruben Semedo

The Saints could find themselves in a bit of a pickle at centre-back if the rumour mill is to be believed, and it is a position that Puel and the club will surely be looking at as a priority right now.

Following a string of brilliant performances, Virgil van Dijk is being linked with a host of top clubs – including Liverpool – while his partner Jose Fonte is still said to be a target for Jose Mourinho at Manchester United after interest in the summer.

The club was linked with Sporting Lisbon centre-back Ruben Semedo earlier this year and the impressive 22-year-old, who can also play in defensive midfield, will continue to be closely monitored by the Saints’ successful black box system.

AM: Yunus Malli

Southampton’s failure to score against Crystal Palace at the weekend means they have netted just 13 goals in 14 Premier League matches this season.

The team has really struggled with getting goals from midfield with James Ward-Prowse and Dusan Tadic the only players to score from those positions, and both efforts came in the same match – a 3-0 success at West Ham.

Puel will know that he needs more goals from midfield and one player that is said to have caught his eye is Mainz star Malli, who has scored eight goals and provided seven assists in 20 appearances for the German outfit this term – impressive stats from the Turkey international.

ST: Sebastien Haller

With Jay Rodriguez and Shane Long struggling to fire, and Nathan Redmond still adapting to his new role through the middle, Claude Puel’s number one priority in January will surely be to bring a striker into the club.

Frenchman Haller is one that Southampton have long been linked with, and the south coast outfit could just make their move for the 22-year-old in January.

The Utrecht attacker has scored ten goals in 19 appearances for the Eredivisie side this season, and his presence in the penalty area – he is 6ft. 2” tall – and finishing ability could really help to change the fortunes of a Saints team that is struggling find any sort of consistent form in the Premier League.

ST: Saido Berahino

Last season, the Saints signed current top marksman Charlie Austin during the winter transfer window, and if they are looking to strengthen their attacking options with a player who has Premier League experience again in January, they could do a lot worse than to take a look at Berahino.

While he may not have the desired attitude – from the outside at least – the fact that his West Brom contract runs out next summer means that he could be available for a relatively low fee, while a deal that includes Rodriguez could also be an option, with the former Burnley man coming close to joining the Baggies on loan in the summer.

ST: Daniel Sturridge

You may have seen a pattern emerging here… The Saints need goals, and if they could somehow pull off the coup of bringing Sturridge to St Mary’s in January, that problem would almost certainly be solved.

The 27-year-old has scored 43 goals in 77 top flight appearances for Liverpool but he has struggled for first-team football under Jurgen Klopp this season because of the fine form of the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, meaning he could look for a move away from Anfield for regular football during the upcoming transfer window.

However, reports linking the England international with a move south suggest that Sturridge would come at a high price of around £28m if he was to move on a permanent basis, which would smash Southampton’s current transfer record of £16m.

Certainly one to keep an eye on.

It seems as though Lucas Leiva’s time at Liverpool could be coming to an end. Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he will not stand in the Brazil international’s way should offers come in for him during the January transfer window, and Inter Milan are believed to be leading the race to earn his signature.

It is believed that the 2010 Champions League winners would be looking to sign Lucas on an initial loan deal until the end of the season with the move being made permanent in the summer.

Brought to Merseyside by Rafa Benitez back in 2007, it has been a steady stint at the club for Lucas. Over a nine year spell he has only managed to pick up one piece of silverware, which was the 2012 League Cup success when Liverpool  beat Cardiff on penalties. Leiva did not feature in the final due to injury picked up in quarter-final of the competition, which left him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

And critics would argue that he has never quite been the same player since that return. That’s not to be harsh to Lucas, but many players are rarely the same after suffering an injury of such magnitude. That said, he was still trusted with over 70 Premier League appearances over the next three seasons under the helm of both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp.

But this season his route to the first team looks to be have been somewhat curtailed, with the Brazilian falling down the pecking order. He has made just eight Premier League appearances, five of which have come as a substitute.

It’s here where Jurgen Klopp has decided to be honourable enough not to stand in Lucas’ way should an offer come in for him. In light of his lengthy years of service it seems as though his time is now coming to a natural conclusion with an amicable parting of ways.

With Lucas turning 30 at the start of next year, he is now at the age where he may feel he should be playing regular first team football and not have to be competing with a now diminished squad role.

First team football is something that Inter Milan can definitely offer. The Italian giants have gone through some turmoil this season after sacking Frank De Boer but there is no doubting the size of the club and a move here will offer Lucas a new challenge after such a long period of time in England.

With Jurgen Klopp’s squad being a continual work in progress it still is not quite what the former Borussia Dortmund manager would call his own group of players and this means that Lucas is another of the unfortunate ones that is shown the Anfield exit door.

Liverpool fans will certainly not forget the service that Lucas has given them in nearly a decade on Merseyside but unfortunately for him, he seems to be the forgotten man under Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool bid for a first league title since 1990.

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Wayne Rooney has done the incredible at Old Trafford and equalled Manchester United’s longstanding goal scoring record set by Sir Bobby Charlton.

He scored Manchester United’s opener against Reading, netting within 10 minutes to score his 249th goal for the club. Incredibly he’s achieved the same total as Charlton in more than 200 fewer games, as this stat from Squawka shows.

It’s added a touch of history to Saturday’s FA Cup action. The Red Devils are now in full control of the tie against the Royals and look good to progress to the next round after Anthony Martial doubled their lead soon after.

We wouldn’t even bet against Wayne Rooney going on to break the record this afternoon such is the one-sided nature of the game so far.

It was of course a moment that United fans adored, they’ve been waiting a while for him to equal the record. Rooney scored his 248th goal way back in November.

United fans took to Twitter to share their joy and congratulate their legendary forward…

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West Ham United are considering tabling an improved offer for Toulouse captain Martin Braithwaite, according to Sky Sports.

What’s the latest?

The Hammers have been busy in the market looking for a new attacking player due to their lacklustre options up front.

Loan signing Simone Zaza has failed to make the cut, while Diafra Sakho has spent most of the season injured.

Andy Carroll provided a boost to the team last weekend by scoring a brilliant scissor kick in a 3-0 victory over Swansea City, but additions need to be made.

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Sky Sports claim that West Ham had an £8.5m offer for Braithwaite knocked back last month by the Ligue 1 club, who are believed to be holding out for £10m or more.

The broadcaster adds that a number of European clubs are interested in the Toulouse captain, suggesting that West Ham need to act fast if they want to seal his signature.

Is Braithwaite the right option for West Ham?

The East London outfit have scored 26 goals in 21 Premier League matches this season, and Michail Antonio is the club’s top scorer with eight in 20 appearances.

The graphic below shows that Braithwaite would be a welcome addition to the attack given that he has struck seven times in 17 outings for Toulouse.

The 25-year-old Dane has also provided three assists in Ligue 1 and produced an impressive 52 shots, which shows his thirst for goal.

Braithwaite is known to cut inside when on the attack, and show swift movement with short passing play.

The forward has also proven that he can handle pressure having helped steer Toulouse to safety during last season’s relegation battle.

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What a year it has been for birthday boy Cristiano Ronaldo, 32 today.

It began with his and Real Madrid’s Champions League success at the end of last term, where for the second time in three years, Los Blancos came out victorious against their city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Next was the big one: The European Championship. In a Portugal side that has underperformed dramatically on numerous occasions over the past decade, Ronaldo helped to achieve the unthinkable… lifting the trophy in France. It was his country’s first ever major honour and guaranteed him legend status.

Thirdly, his fourth Ballon d’Or and the inaugural Best FIFA Men’s Player award.

To top it off, Real currently sit top of La Liga, four points clear with a game in hand.

Ronaldo’s birthday cake will taste all the sweeter today, then.

The boy signed by Sir Alex Ferguson from Sporting Lisbon has turned out to be one of the most talented players in history, and that promise certainly showed during his days at Old Trafford.

Here are Ronaldo’s TEN best Manchester United goals…

Vs. Portsmouth, 03/04

Maybe not the greatest goal of Ronaldo’s United era, but nonetheless an important one. Possibly fortunate it bent into the corner with it having more than likely been intended as a cross into the box, Ronaldo’s inaugural goal for the Red Devils signalled the beginning of a great era.

Vs. Southampton, 04/05

Another strike from early in Ronaldo’s Manchester United career. First of all, can we just admire that run from Wayne Rooney? It’s easy to forget that the striker was once one of the biggest talents in world football over a decade ago. The finish, though, sublime. Flicked up with one foot and volleyed with the other, quite brilliantly done.

Vs. Arsenal, 08/09

A goal that shows the qualities of Ronaldo that people are too often quick to forget. Grit, determination and desire. Laying the ball off well within his own half, Ronaldo then sprinted almost the entire length of the pitch at lightening speed to finish the move he started.

Vs. Roma, 07/08

Trademark Ronaldo. The commentary sums up pretty everything you can and will say about Ronaldo at that point his career. The leap, the execution, and desire to get his head to that ball first is exemplary. Is Ronaldo the best header of the ball the world of football has ever seen?

Vs. Portsmouth, 05/06

It’s fair to say the Portuguese star enjoyed playing against Portsmouth, and this is just another example of how he, on many occasions, did what he does best against the boys in blue. Usually famed for his rocket right foot, Ronaldo showed he is just as good on his left with this thunderous strike.

Vs. Aston Villa, 07/08

It looks a scrappy goal upon first viewing with the camera bearing down from a high angle. But upon second inspection, the quality is easy and clear to see. The audacity with which Ronaldo simply back heels the ball past the Villa defence and goalkeeper to catch them all off guard is simply astonishing.

Vs. Arsenal, 08/09

Another strike against rivals Arsenal, but this one was as important as it was great. The winger had no right to score from that angle, however Ronaldo managed to put the ball in basically the one and only spot Manuel Almunia in goal wouldn’t be able to reach. The goal put United 2-0 up in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, and all but sealed the victory for the Red Devils.

Vs. Fulham, 06/07

A fine solo effort. Ronaldo picked the ball up well within his own half, before ghosting past three Fulham defenders and slamming it into the bottom corner to give the Red Devils a 2-1 lead and all three points. The now Real Madrid star has made solo goals such as that his trademark since moving to the Bernabeu, but he certainly still had it in his locker whilst at Old Trafford.

Vs. Porto, 08/09

Erm… we’re not quite sure what he was thinking hitting it from there, but boy did it work. A solid 35 yards out (at least), Ronaldo struck the ball like a cannon in trademark fashion as he slammed it directly into the top corner with laser precision to break Porto hearts.

Vs. Portsmouth, 07/08

The most iconic free kick of the Premier League era for more than one reason. Not only was it the best free kick, but it was a signal to the evolution of free-kicks since. While the ‘punching’ technique Ronaldo displayed had been used by others, the Portuguese ace performed it better than all others.

As reported by The Daily Mirror, Spurs are tracking Anthony Martial’s situation at Manchester United and could make a summer move for the French attacker.

What’s the story?

With Martial not exactly getting a regular start under Jose Mourinho, there are now questions about whether he has a long term future at Old Trafford or not.

The Mirror reckon those questions have have alerted Mauricio Pochettino and Tottenham Hotspur, who were keen on landing the 21 year old back when he was still at Monaco.

The report states Spurs are in the market for a forward with pace and the ability to beat a man and as we’ve seen with Martial over the last 20 months, he certainly has that.

His current role at United

Anthony Martial played a starring role for the Red Devils at the weekend, setting up one and scoring the other in a 2-0 victory over Watford.

However, it was his first Premier League start in nearly a month and it’s proving difficult for the French international to force his way into Mourinho’s first-choice XI. He’s completed just one full 90 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Given his undoubted ability and quality, he’s the kind of player that should be leading a team week-to-week, not making up the numbers.

He’s also a player that could take a club like Spur to the next level, perhaps the missing piece of Pochettino’s attack that already boasts the likes of Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.

Whether the reported move comes off or not remains to be seen, but at the very least it’s a tantalising prospect for Spurs fans.

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There are some out there who have already declared Manchester United EFL Cup champions. Jose Mourinho’s side are massive favourites ahead of Sunday’s final clash at Wembley against Southampton, after all.

It could be a significant landmark for the club, too. Securing silverware would make it official that Mourinho’s reign at Old Trafford is heading in the right direction, while it is one of three trophies they can still potentially lift this season.

Claude Puel’s men will have something to say about that, though. Southampton are hoping to lift their first major honour since 1976 and their first ever League Cup.

It won’t be an easy task, Man United have only lost one match in their last 25 in all competitions and appear to be able to do whatever it takes to get results.

However, it may not all go their own way.

Here are THREE stats that point to a potential upset at Wembley on Sunday…

Southampton haven’t conceded any goals in the EFL Cup

The main reason Southampton have made it to Sunday’s Wembley final is their ability not to concede goals. They have in fact reached this stage without letting in any, which is a quite remarkable feat considering they played four Premier League sides on their way to the final and had to take on a free-scoring Liverpool side twice.

While Maya Yoshida won’t have his regular defensive partners Virgil van Dijk or Jose Fonte to call upon, it’s a stat that must fill the whole squad with massive confidence heading into Sunday’s showpiece. Keep one more clean sheet and the chances of lifting the trophy are massive.

To do that they’ll have to counter Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s march towards 30 goals for the season, though – the Swede is currently on 24, and that’s no mean feat.

Six goals in five games for Gabbiadini

Manolo Gabbiadini is in electric form and has shown in his two appearances for Southampton that he could be the calibre of striker they’ve been waiting on to add an attacking threat to their defensive prowess.

The Italian has scored three times in those two matches but before he made his move to the English Premier League he scored three in his last three for Napoli, including one in a Coppa Italia match.

That’s goalscoring form that can impact cup finals and something Manchester United will have to be extremely wary of on Sunday.

Man United have conceded just one goal in their last six matches, but Danny Graham of Blackburn Rovers showed last week that they can be vulnerable, a slither of hope that Southampton must bring into the game.

Man United haven’t won half of the last six head-to-head

Manchester United’s recent form against Southampton is actually pretty patchy and that may be the biggest cause for confidence in the Saints camp.

Stretching back six games to 2014, Man United have won three of the last six fixtures with Southampton losing two and the other of course being a draw.

Perhaps crucially, both of Southampton’s wins have come at Old Trafford where Manchester United were considered massive favourites. Perhaps that will play a factor psychologically for some players heading into the Wembley final.

If Saints can produce a performance similar to the one at Old Trafford just over a year ago when a Charlie Austin striker gave them a win then it could be a famous day in the history of Southampton.

James Milner and Dirk Kuyt are very much kindred spirits, famously unsung yet important figures in the recent history of Liverpool Football Club.

Just a matter of weeks after arriving from Manchester City on a free transfer, the midfielder was already wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Jordan Henderson. The equally industrious forward, meanwhile, made almost 300 appearances for the Reds and won the League Cup in 2012 – the defining moment of his Liverpool career being an equaliser against Cardiff City in the final, before converting in the penalty shootout.

Both players are epitomised by their servitude, their professionalism, their working appetite and of course, their undoubted talent – four characteristics Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke will be hoping they bring to the England and Rest of the World teams respectively at ICONS of Football 2017 this summer, hosted at The Belfry.

But how do these two Anfield icons compare when stacked against each other? Well, Kuyt leads the way in terms of trophies, Premier League goals and international caps – although Milner has two English top flight titles to his name, unlike the Dutchman – but it’s the former Three Lions man who seemingly has the advantage on the golf course, with his -5 handicap almost half that of his ROTW counterpart.

Tickets for Icons of Football 2017 are available now at icons-series.com

West Ham’s hopes of a top half finish in the English Premier League suffered a blow on Saturday after falling to a 3-2 defeat away to Bournemouth.

Michail Antonio typically gave the Hammers the perfect start to the match with the opening goal after just 10 minutes. Bournemouth worked their way back to a 2-1 lead before Andre Ayew appeared to win a point for Slaven Bilic’s side with an equaliser just seven minutes from time.

However, Joshua King completed his hat-trick in the final minute of the game, a cruel end to the game for the Irons who saw their goalkeeper Darren Randolph save two penalties across the 90 minutes.

It moves the Cherries to within just three points of West Ham who are now looking at the teams behind them rather than the teams in front.

Understandably it was a result that left Irons supporters absolutely furious, many feeling that their season has gone completely off the rails having not won a game since 4th February.

They took to Twitter to share their thoughts on it all…

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