TRANSFER DEALINGS! WHAT DO THEY MAKE YOU?

A SCALAR OR VECTOR

LIVERPOOL

In the second edition of this series I take a look at Liverpool in the transfer and whether these transfers will take Brendan Rodgers and his men ( and new men) forward or backwards. The Reds have been by far, the most active English side on the market. A direction Brendan Rodgers and the Liverpool board must take after a topsy-turvy season. Brendan Rodgers has seemingly gotten his men for the positions the team was lacking in last season. 

Brendan Rodgers started his summer dealings early allowing him to avoid bidding wars with rivals and give most of his signings a sufficient bedding in period to get used to the team. Players who took part in post season tournaments for their nations were were given the opportunity to know their futures as early as possible and gives them the chance to prepare themselves mentally while recharging physically after their exploits. Also Rodger's preference for young and upcoming players as seen in the signing of Joe Gomez shows his plans for the team's future. Liverpool's dealings this summer are full fledged internationals for their various nations. The signings also have a mix of experience in the Premier League  as well as youthfulness, a perfect mix for the long and tough season ahead.

The Red's activity this summer not only includes arrivals but much needed exits. It would come as a relief to various fans that the Raheem Sterling saga was not allowed to drag on which could have been a potential source of unrest in the dressing room. Also, the timing would be beneficial to the club as it gives them sufficient time to find a suitable replacement. Also the departure of club legend, Steven Gerrard allows the other players a chance to step up in his stead and show how they can be better versions of him. The potential exits of Rickie Lambert, Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini would be beneficial to the team as it will free some much needed space in an otherwise bloated attack not forgetting the space that will be freed on the wage bill. Youngsters who will have little or no chances in the team should be sent on loan but Mr. Rodgers should keep in mind the longevity of the season and prevent leaving himself understaffed at the business end of the season.

These arrivals and returnees added to his already existing squad give Brendan Rodgers a flexible squad to allow for tinkering before the season starts. The staff at Anfield should look at keeping key players fit as well as high general fitness standards. Team psychologists need to assess the psyche of various players and maintain a high level of motivation all season to allow Liverpool challenge on all fronts. With a seemingly all round and versatile squad at his disposal, anything worse than being more successful than last season could cost Rodgers his job come the end of the season.

The summer activities might slow down but an experienced defender or two should be on the cards to help maintain an assault on all fronts for the Reds next season. With all this activity, Liverpool seems to be making "vector" signings rather than "scalar" ones which bodes well for the Red Army but we are quite a long way from the season so let's wait and see.

TRANSFER DEALINGS! WHAT DO THEY MAKE YOU?

 A SCALAR OR A VECTOR?

MANCHESTER UNITED 

At the end of last season, most Louis Van Gaal and most United fans all over the world breathed a sigh of relief. That sound represented the end of a grueling, and challenging season. A sound that gave them the chance to regroup and improve their side. To assess the results £153 million gave them. To add quality and weed out those in the side to make up the numbers.

Van Gaal was ahead of us in this aspect as he made an astute signing before the season's end in the Dutch Eredivisie top scorer Memphis Depay. Just when we thought the spending would subside, Ed Woodward sanctioned the deals for German and Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger and French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin for a combined £39.4 million. The double signing looks to solve the glaring central midfield problem even the great Sir Alex Ferguson sufficiently failed to fix since the departure of Roy Keane. The signing of Italian utility man Matteo Darmian allows Van Gaal to go about his frequent tinkering with more belief now as Darmian is a proven quantity. Also the signing of Depay gives Van Gaal an added dimension to his often blunt attack last season. The added bonus of keeping Spanish shot stopper David De Gea for another season in spite of the fact they could lose him for nothing next season to Real Madrid. 

During every transfer season, there are arrivals and departures and United's departures this summer include Robin Van Persie and Luis Nani. Though often surplus to requirements last season, their presence might have been beneficial to the team as the season promises to be long starting from August. The potential exit of Argentine winger will be a big loss to the team as with these signings he would be free to display the form that compelled Ed Woodward to shell out £ 59.7 million. Also the potential exits of Javier Hernandez and Johnny Evans could leave the team short staffed at the business end of a long season.

The team is far from finished as  Van Gaal said earlier, the team should make a few more deals before the end of the summer. A striker or two as well as defenders are needed to make United competitive again and the pursuit of Sergio Ramos, Nicolas Otamendi, Edinson Cavani and other players shows that United are serious about regaining their status as England's top club. 

Some quarters within the United fanbase are worried about some of the summer dealings so far with respect to their experience on the big stage with the exception of Bastian Schweinsteiger. Also, the issue of adapting to pace and quality of the Premier League as seen with Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao.

The summer business so far seems good and the potential deals are also looking good but suitable replacements are needed for the exits and potential departures are needed to make United the juggernaut they once were in the Ferguson Era.

Just as the old saying goes, "You are what you eat" but this summer I say, "You are who you buy" and I'd like to know if you think Manchester United's business dealings will make them a "vector team" with direction and quality or another  "scalar team" with a bloated squad of summer disappointments in the comments section.

Real Madrid Comment: Discard Carlo And Madrid Is Doomed

The beginning of 2015 was supposed to be a period that mark fresh starts into new endeavors as well as renewed strength, passion and emotion for already existing projects. Real Madrid were matching toward La Liga with a comfortable lead over Barcelona as well as heading toward a record winning streak. It all looked rosy till Valencia showed up and handed them their first defeat in 22 competitive games. Blame started to be thrown around and a certain Welshman bore the brunt of it. The trip to Atletico did not help matters as the Madrid ship started to sink. The blame game became a regular feature since the turn of the year as Real's patchy form dragged on. Florentino Perez became a worried man and sought to find out what was happening to his beloved Madrid and who was to blame. Press reports seemed to have pointed Carlo Ancelotti as the cause and rumors swiftly started to circulate in the media. The media conveniently forgot to hit on the injuries that it the team. It is undoubtedly known that Madrid is a team that seeks beauty and efficiency, something that Ancelotti has been able to achieve. Also, he has delivered all but two trophies he has competed in his two years at Madrid. His ability to manage egos and maintain an air of calm while maintaining player happiness and satisfaction is an attribute that is desperately needed at Madrid and which he has been able to adequately provide. 

It is therefore baffling to logical Real Madrid fans as well as football purists to hear of the rumors in relation to his managerial position. He like any other human has his failings but overall, he is the kind of manager needed in the Real Madrid dugout. Florentino Perez's and the Madrid board's inability to publicly back him is not helping matters hence making the instability of the position one of the worst kept secrets in recent footballing history.
His proposed replacements are either partially suited for the job or totally unsuited. Taking a candidate like Andre Villas Boas will be a step backward for Madrid rather than a step forward as his inability to withstand pressure at big clubs was a feature in his tenure at Chelsea and Tottenham. He is more suited to calmer conditions and low pressure conditions as witnessed in his Porto and Zenit St. Petersburg jobs. The conditions and ability needed to succeed at a side like Madrid are absent and it will take a few more years of experience to be ready for the job. Reports circulating in Spain and Portugal indicate that Porto tactician Julen Lopetegui is also a candidate for the position. He has an upper hand over his Portuguese counterpart as he has a relatively better working knowledge of the workings of the club as he played there from 1988 to 199. Also, he was the manager for Real Madrid's B team. His little history makes him a suitable candidate as does his nationality and relative knowledge of the Spanish game, but his relative youth and inexperience at a higher level makes him unsuited to take charge at Madrid. Also, the word in Italy suggests Napoli boss Rafael Benitez is the leading candidate to take over as Carlo's replacement. He is a perennial candidate for the Madrid hot seat whenever it becomes available. This may be as a result of being Spanish as well as his relative successes in England with Liverpool and Chelsea. Also, his knowledge of the Spanish terrain puts him above his rivals but his failure to bring the best out of most of the big names he has managed as well as his inability to maintain a sustained period of success makes his chances of getting the job faint. Finally, Jurgen Klopp has also been slated for the job at hand. His ability to break the Bayern monopoly between 2010 and 2013 could do him a great deal of good as Barcelona seem to be on the path to a period of dominance in Spain again  . Also, his ability to get the best out of his players is a plus for him but his style of play does not suit Madrid all too well as his is similar to Jose Mourinho's counterattacking style employed while at Madrid. Madrid's demand for beauty and results will conflict with his style. Also his inability to maintain a sustained period of success rules him out of the job.

It is evident that Ancelotti and Madrid are a match made in heaven as he embodies what all these managers lack. His only failing lies in his haul of league championships. But with the materials at his disposal and his demeanor, he can undoubtedly raise Madrid from the ashes of this season's failure as seen by the team's resurgence after a poor start to the season. PAY HEED FLORENTINO! KEEP CARLO AND YOUR SHIP SAILS SMOOTHLY, LET HIM GO AND YOU DOOM YOUR SHIP AND IT'S CREW!

FIFPro World XI 2014: A Flawed Selection

With the naming of the FIFA Balon D'Or winners and the FIFPro XI, a major flaw in FIFA's criteria for nomination and voting was exposed. The FIFPro XI was more contentious than the Balon D'Or (which was won by a more than deserving Cristiano Ronaldo) with the inclusion of some undeserving players while excluding some more deserving candidates. The inability of FIFPro to provide criteria for player nominations as well as act as a guide for voting makes the selection process flawed which leads to voting based on personal preferences rather than voting for deserving players.

When the FIFPro XI was announced, public reaction was one of general shock, disbelief, anger, disappointment among many other reactions. The presence and absence of some players from the final list was just too hard to swallow for some football fans. One shock was the inclusion of Brazilian defender David Luiz. It was very shocking as David Luiz had a relatively poor year than last year. A trophyless campaign with Chelsea in which he wasn't a consistent performer. A horror showing at the World Cup didn't do him any favours though he was able to secure a move to PSG where he hasn't been able to replicate the form that he's usually known for. A more suitable replacement would have been Bayern Munich and Germany defender Jerome Boateng. His performances over the past year helped him break records with Bayern and also win the domestic double. Also more assured performances in Brazil helped Germany return to Berlin. Achievements which are surely worthy of a FIFPro XI selection.

Another shocking exclusion was Uruguayan and Atletico Madrid captain and defender, Diego Godin. His imposing presence was evident in defensive and attacking contributions in Atletico's fairytale year . His goal on the final day Of the season against Barcelona helped Atletico to a first La Liga trophy since 1995 and his leadership qualities over the season was testament that he deserved a place in the FIFPro World XI over Brazil captain Thiago Silva. Thiago Silva by his usually high standards was poor over the year . His poor form can be attributed to injuries and inconsistent form. A poor World Cup didn't do him any favors as his form in Europe didn't deserve any honours in Zurich in all honesty.

Finally an inclusion that will shock obviously shock the player himself is that of Barcelona and Spanish midfield maestro Andres Iniesta. His inclusion into the final team was not justified as Iniesta didn't perform as we've come to expect over the year. A disappointing season by his and Barcelona's lofty standards which ended trophyless and a poor World Cup which ended at the group stages makes his inclusion all the more contentious. A more acceptable and suitable replacement would be another midfield maestro in the person of Luka Modric. Modric was highly instrumental in Real Madrid's La Decima and Copa Del Rey triumphs by maintaining balance in an attack minded side while chipping in with some important goals and assists in the course of the season helped his team and his cause. Some might say he had a poor World Cup in Brazil which is why he was omitted. A closer look at the World Cup performances and you'd see that he was influential in Croatia's play. The only reason his team was absent in the knockout stages was as a result of some questionable refereeing decisions and the inspired form of Guillermo Ochoa at the global showpiece but his general performances warranted a place in the final team.

A more suitable and befitting selection of the world's best eleven footballers should be as follows
GK: Neuer
DEF: Lahm- Godin- Boateng- Ramos
MID: Di Maria- Kroos- Modric
FOR: Robben- Messi- Ronaldo

FIFA, FIFPro and all other affiliated institutions and organisations should sufficiently outline the criteria and processes used in player nomination and also act as a guide for voters in making objective selections which will ensure that deserving players are duly acknowledged.

Long Live Football

WHAT ARSENAL MUST DO IN 2015

When the New Year hit, various resolutions and plans were made to change and move us all into the realms of positivity and general well being. Football teams havent been left out with the exception of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal. The French coach may or may not change anything but he's more likely not to change anything. In the event of change, here are a few things some Gooners would like Arsene and the team to consider changing to make 2015 a happier and memorable one.

Modify Training Methods To Improve Fitness Of Players
It appears the training methods employed by Arsene Wenger and his  technical team is taking a negative toll on the players. The persistent injuries to first team players and their replacements is reducing the performance levels of the individual players and the team too in general.

Adopt An Effective Squad Rotation Regime
Arsene Wenger should make use of the fringe players in his squad regularly. Players such as Podolski, Rosicky, Joel Campbell, Zelalem and others should be allowed to play more . In doing so, he will be able to maintain a level of freshness in his squad , take pressure of some first team players while maintaining a level of match fitness of these players. After all Mr Wenger, What's the use of a Plan B if you won't utilise it ?

Reduce The Burden On Alexis Sanchez
At the beginning of this season, Alexis Sanchez was signed to take the team to another level. A job the Chilean is doing with aplomb. So well the team looks lost when he has an off day. His efforts this so far has yielded 10 goals in the league which represents 29.4% of the team's goals in the league and 6 assists; 25% of the total assists made by any Arsenal player. With this contribution, it seems Alexis in doing so well but his teammates are not. Their overdependance and over reliance on him is not healthy as no one seems to step up when he has a bad day. Arsene Wenger must instill confidence and self belief throughout the team to complement the efforts of the brilliant Chilean. After all, the it is Arsenal FC not Alexis FC.

Make Signings To Solve Correct The Team's Deficiencies.
Arsene Wenger has shown in recent years that he's not afraid to break the bank to land his transfer targets which is good news for Gooners all over but there lies one problem. Are the signings appropriate ? The team needs specific players to solve the deficiencies in the team. Positions such as defensive midfield need bolstering as in their most recent game, had to play two defenders in that position. Also, a prolific forward must be signed to convert the chances made by a highly creative midfield.

Players Must Be Played In Their Suited Positions
Arsene Wenger and his technical team must allow the players to play in their natural positions as this allows them to display their maximum potential and ability. In doing so, the team benefits as everyone is playing at maximum ability. Players like Wilshere have come out to publicly to express their preference of position on the field of play. In the game against Southampton, Calum Chambers and Francis Coquelin, who are orthodox defenders were deployed as holding midfielders. Wenger must sign and deploy the players in suitable positions to enable the team go forward in a positive direction.

If Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal management take these factors into consideration as well as other factors, this year will prove to one of resurgence and probably, the famed 4th place  trophy might become a 3rd place finish their highest in a long time.