History suggests that Van Persie will leave

Another season has come to an end and yet again Arsenal are facing the prospect of losing their best player. Their captain and talisman Robin van Persie has one year remaining on his current contract and as expected the vultures are circling for his signature.

Initial reports suggest that he is contemplating a move away from the Emirates this summer after talks ended in stalemate last week. Having witnessed his great friend Cesc Fabregas leave the club last summer few could blame the Dutch striker for wanting to leave North London.

Unfortunately for Arsenal their lack of success in recent seasons has seen many of their top stars leave the club to seek silverware elsewhere. Interestingly most of the better players have gone on to win various trophies at their next club and this is something that will not escape RVP’s attention (or his agent’s). Even though Barcelona have failed to win La Liga or the European Champions League this season Fabregas has still already won three trophies this season (and should compete for their fourth against Athletic Bilbao on Friday).

There were of course another two high profile departures last summer with Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri deciding that Manchester City offered a more realistic chance of silverware than Arsenal. After considerable criticism from the fans both players were vindicated with City’s Premier League triumph this season. It is easy to see why many of the Arsenal players view the club as a stepping stone to future success.

If you go back even further there are even more examples. Thierry Henry enjoyed initial success at Arsenal but when the club began to stagnate he left for Barcelona where he won seven major titles as a player in three seasons. Of course there is then one of the chief protagonists in the Van Persie saga; Patrick Vieira.

After years of transfer rumours Vieira finally departed Arsenal for Juventus in 2005 after scoring their decisive penalty kick against Manchester United in the FA Cup, which was their last trophy. He enjoyed considerable success in Italy where he won six titles during his spells with Inter Milan and Juve. He is of course now working at Manchester City and will be involved heavily with attempting to lure Van Persie to the newly crowned Premier League champions.

This situation must be incredibly frustrating for Arsenal fans and everyone associated with the club. However, it is a situation they seem to continually find themselves in every year and when you look back at history it suggests RVP will leave for pastures new this summer. 

Will Mancini last the summer?

There is no way to avoid it, Manchester City have literally fallen to pieces in recent weeks. The disastrous performance at the Emirates on Sunday summed up their fortunes since Christmas; there was no significant goal threat, their passing was laboured in midfield and without Yaya Toure (who was injured early on) or David Silva there was no thrust to their play. The side was screaming out for width and for their manager to make a tactical change that could have hurt Arsenal, neither happened and they lost.

Whilst much of the criticism has centred on Mario Balotelli’s controversial behaviour (yet again) a sizeable percentage of the blame must lie at Roberto Mancini’s door. A manager, it must be remembered, who enjoyed most of his managerial success in an almost unopposed Serie A following the Calciopoli scandal. There is nothing worse than a knee jerk reaction to sporting outcomes and Mancini is certainly a competent manager but there must now be serious doubts about his ability to revive City for next seasons’ challenges.

It has not been a straightforward season for the Italian manager; firstly he has had to deal with want away striker Carlos Tevez and then in recent weeks has attempted to control the troubled Mario Balotelli. I seemed to be one of the few people that genuinely believed the Tevez saga benefited Mancini and City; he had been outstanding the season before and at points had lead the club single-handedly to qualify for Champions League football. However, the rumblings of his unhappiness in Manchester etc had not gone away and it seemed almost inevitable that something would come to a head at some point. The situation would also help Mancini to deal with Balotelli who you could see snarling on the bench at the start of the season. With one striker less he was then able to play them all enough to ensure they remained content at the club.

However, dealing with Balotelli has proved to be one step too far for Mancini. He has an unbelievable knack of grabbing headlines for both the right and wrong reasons but it seems his luck has finally run out. With the threat of a long ban looming it may prove to be more beneficial for City to cut their losses and let Mario return to Italy; just imagine a front line at AC Milan of Balotelli, Cassano and Ibrahimovic – that would be worth watching and would certainly keep Massimiliano Allegri on his toes!

In all seriousness though these situations have been undermining Mancini and have resulted in Manchester City falling apart so dramatically. The early season form of David Silva has disappeared and the Spaniard has looked absolutely shattered in recent weeks and didn’t play at Arsenal on Sunday. He was sublime at the start of the season but Mancini did not protect him enough and also underplayed Samir Nasri which has slowed up his progression at his new club. When Nasri made the move last summer he appeared the obvious choice to step in for Silva if tired/injured but when you consider he has only started 21 league games this season the picture becomes clearer.

The loss of Yaya Toure to the African Cup of Nations and the injury/suspension to Vincent Kompany have also been key factors in City’s decline. However, the key decisions have still been with Mancini and it is why it seems unlikely he will be in charge next season. Some of his tactical decisions and game strategies have been puzzling to say the least; going to the Emirates for a point when Arsenal are there for the taking was foolish and underlined his negativity, his overuse of two defensive midfielders at various stages again this season has stifled the side and some of his substitutions have been simply odd; bringing on Kolarov to sure up the left was fine but why were his attacking options only introduced with minutes remaining. The game had been crying out for Tevez to make his introduction against an Arsenal defence that still gifts the opposition several clear cut chances a game but it came too late again.

One factor that may help Mancini is that Sir Alex Ferguson has been his counterpart; very few have got the better of him initially. He has seen off every manager the Premier League has thrown at him (apart from Jose Mourinho – but one feels that battle could restart in the not too distant future) in his 20 odd years at Old Trafford and his experience and nous is what will win United the title this time round. Despite what the inventors of modern day football (Sky) tell us this Premier league season has been unbelievably poor at points and City being unable to raise the bar has been a big letdown. It would be refreshing to see Mancini given time to correct his errors this year but it seems hard to believe at this stage.

How good are Spurs?

This season must be the most enjoyable Tottenham Hotspur fans have had in recent memory; they lie third in the Premier League and look set to be involved in the European Champions League again next season, for only the second time. Having spent many years investing in youth the fruit of their labors is finally there to be enjoyed and the style of their football has probably been the best in the league so far this season.

During the summer they added the experience of Brad Friedel in goal, the rugged determination of Scott Parker in midfield and the much maligned Emmanuel Adebayor up front. All three signings have been integral to their success this season and playing alongside the likes of Gareth Bale, Ledley King and Luka Modric the club appears to be going from strength to strength. After a sluggish start to the season they then went on a ten game unbeaten run which was only ended by Stoke City in December. In January they strengthened their attacking options with the loan signing of Louis Saha from Everton.

Some of their attacking play in particular has been breath-taking; with Bale and Lennon on either wing and Adebayor proving to be an immense spear head the goals have come thick and fast but it has been the manor of them that has really made people sit up and take notice. Bale has been a revelation this season and has given them the balance on each wing that they have been striving for. The wingers have also enabled Spurs to allow Modric to truly express himself in the centre where the addition of Scott Parker has taken defensive duties away from the playmaker and allowed him to flourish.

However, the Premier League is an odd place this season with at least three of the supposed top sides going through somewhat of a transition. There is no doubt that Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are not at the level expected of them and there is even enough doubt to suggest that the current Manchester United team is not as strong as those we have seen in the past. At the start of the season Spurs lost convincingly to both sides from Manchester and are about to enter the crucial stage of their season. By the end of March they will have played Arsenal, Chelsea and United in the return games.

There is no doubting that Spurs are a side in the ascendance and thus are a rare commodity in the Premier League. Indeed, if it weren’t for Manchester City I genuinely believe Spurs could have won the title, as it is they look likely to cement third place in the coming weeks. However, there are several things they have to improve on if they are to mount a title challenge next season.

Both of their first choice strikers are on loan from parent clubs which means they could leave at the end of the season and not return. With Jose Mourinho expected to reappear in the Premier League next season Adebayor’s future could be in doubt after the two worked successfully at Madrid last year. It has made such a difference having a focal point who can hold play up and play in the likes of Bale, Lennon and Modric and having finally acquired it they don’t want to lose it.

It is imperative that someone tells Gareth Bale to remain on the left wing! Every time I have seen Spurs recently he is playing through the middle and it is not his area. He is at his best when he is steaming up the left wing and whipping a ball across the six yard box. There is a feeling he is being advised to play more centrally to score more goals but for the meantime it is detrimental for the team (and yes I did see the Norwich goal).

I do not intend to be disparaging about Spurs; they have been a breath of fresh air this season and it will be fascinating to see how they get on in the coming months. A couple of key signings in the summer could well see them established as one of the regular top four and with a new ground on the horizon the future looks bright for Spurs. It is however difficult to assess just how good they are at this moment in time.

Valencia provides the spark

In the last seven days there have been glimpses that Manchester United are beginning to approach their best form. Their second half performances at Stamford Bridge and this afternoon at Old Trafford have been noticeable for the goals of Wayne Rooney; however, it is Antonio Valencia who is providing the creative spark the United talisman has been craving all season.

The top sides this season have been really struggling for creativity and it has been refreshing to see Valencia returning to his best form. He is tremendously quick and is built perfectly for modern day football; he is strong and slight whilst remaining incredibly fleet of foot which makes him very difficult to play against. The Ecuadorian winger is predominantly found hugging the right touchline where his crossing ability can be demonstrated to full effect.

What makes Valencia so integral to United’s current set up is his understanding with Rooney. A couple of seasons ago the winger was responsible for assisting many of the striker’s goals and their understanding is clear for everyone to see. More than once this afternoon Rooney drove one of his trademark passes out to the right touchline where Valencia would control the ball, beat a defender and then find his teammate in the area with a delightful cross. His assist for Rooney’s second was his ninth of the season and it looks like more are on their way.

Many of the Premier League’s other strikers would kill for the service Valencia provides. What separates him from many of his counterparts is his fantastic selflessness which enables his strikers to score so many goals. One of the biggest problems that Fernando Torres has is that many of Chelsea’s players will do something themselves after creating an opening rather than play in the Spaniard. At United once Valencia has an opening he usually finds a red shirt to score the goal. This unerring selflessness is one of the defining features of this current United side and is one of the key factors in their success.

This is his third year at United after an injury ravaged second season and he is proving once again that he is one of the best wingers around. In a recent interview Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola actually stated he believed he was currently the best winger in the world; if his form continues like this until the end of the season he could well be proved right.

It appears that the title will be remaining in Manchester this season but its exact location will remain a mystery for the next few months. It must worry Manchester City and their manager Roberto Mancini that United are beginning to crank up through the gears as the title race enters the final stages. Few would back against United if the gap remains small until the later stages and with Antonio Valencia in this kind of form goals are not going to be hard to find.

United just keep rolling on

At this time of year the one thing we all seem used to and need is familiarity and the feeling of expectation being met. Whether it is that pair of socks from a relative or a sibling rolling in drunk after Christmas celebrations, we are all accustomed to it and expect it somewhat. In terms of football it has become almost guaranteed that we find Manchester United approaching their peak at the midway point of the Premier League season.

Since United began to dominate domestic football almost two decades ago it is now commonly accepted that the side get better as the season continues. After a sluggish autumn period for the reigning champions they sit joint top of the English Premier League with their new title challenges Manchester City. Although we are still yet to reach the halfway stage it appears that the title battle will be between the two teams from Manchester.

Although United dominate rich lists and are not exactly short on funds it is clear that the club are not as affluent as they once were. There have been less big money purchases in recent seasons as Ferguson continues to buy promising young players. When compared with their City rivals United almost appear to be frugal in comparison but yet find themselves level at the summit of the Premier League.

The start of the season had promised much after a scintillating pre-season had prompted comparisons with Barcelona. Some of the one touch football between the attacking players was extremely good and it appeared that Ferguson had once again constructed a side that would compete for all major honours. However, the club then failed to qualify for the knock out stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2005 and suffered the humiliation of losing 6-1 to Manchester City at Old Trafford. It appeared the early season praise had been very premature.

There appear to be several holes in the current Manchester United squad that needed to be addressed. The lack of a quality central midfield is the main element missing; Michael Carrick has not been good enough for a long time and despite some sporadic displays of promise his consistency at United has not been good enough for many years. The fact that after a handful of games United fans were missing Tom Cleverly showed how ineffective their engine room has been for the last few seasons. There has also been no real improvement from Anderson who has stagnated at the club since his early promise. The Champions League final last season demonstrated that United need to find someone to protect the back four and then someone to begin their attacks; playing Rooney in there a few weeks ago highlighted their shortage in that position.

Another huge problem is the injury to Nemanja Vidic who will now miss the remainder of the season. His partner Rio Ferdinand lacks the authority and composure he used to have and his body simply doesn’t look capable of surviving until May. There have however been huge positives in the emergence of Phil Jones and Chris Smalling who will surely be the future pairing once the current set move on.

These facts allied with City’s dominant displays appeared to suggest that United may have lost their status as the country’s leading club. However, if you doubt Ferguson he has a habit of coming back and proving you wrong again. Their recent run now sees them level on points with City and approaching their historically best part of the season. I for one thought it was City’s to lose a month or so ago but with United now level few would back against them. The experience and know how to win the league simply cannot be bought and Ferguson has that in abundance. It is still December and there are far more twists and turns to come but it is beginning to look a little ominous for Roberto Mancini and his side and I am sure they are thinking that too.

Lampard delivers final blow

Manchester City’s unbeaten domestic run has finally come to an end this evening at Stamford Bridge. On a wet and breezy night in South West London the Premier League has once again come to life.

The game had started so positively for the visitors when Mario Balotelli rounded Petr Cech to give the league leaders the advantage in the second minute. After comfortable wins against Manchester United and Tottenham already this season it appeared that Chelsea were to be next on City’s title march. The most criticised defence in recent weeks was shaking and seemingly dropping deeper and deeper as the opening stages continued.

It almost appeared too easy for City as their midfield dictated the pace of the game and kept the ball from Chelsea with consummate ease. Against the run of play Daniel Sturridge dummied Clichy and got to the by-line, his right footed cross was turned in by Raul Meireles and suddenly the game was all square. With one side being so dominant it seemed almost inconceivable that the game should be level again, but it was.

The equaliser instantly injected the home side with more drive and purpose; the manager Andre Villas-Boas also instructed the team to play deeper which stopped City’s dominance of possession. Their early pressing had enabled the opposition to manoeuvre the ball around at will and once the manager had adjusted his tactics which suddenly brought his side into the game.

One major difference for Chelsea was the impact of Oriol Romeu who was fantastic in front of his defence. Not only is he technically gifted, he also the ability to compete physically with the likes of Yaya Toure and Mario Balotelli which made the Chelsea centre backs job far easier.

The home side began brightly in the second half with Juan Mata looking particularly impressive. The Spaniard appears to be far more effective when he moves into central positions and one such run against Vincent Kompany left the Manchester City captain on his backside. In the 58^th minute the game changed on its head with Clichy’s sending off; suddenly it was Chelsea who had to take the game to City and the remaining half hour would see the visitors sit deeper and deeper.

It took until the 73^rd minute for Villas-Boas to call on Frank Lampard and it seemed almost inevitable that he would be instrumental in a Chelsea win, if there was to be one. The moment duly came in the 82^nd minute when a penalty was awarded after Lescott handled in the penalty area. The much maligned Lampard smashed the resulting penalty straight down the middle of the goal.

This victory for Chelsea could prove to be pivotal in this season’s race for the Premier League title. It has shown that the home side are still very much in the title race and more importantly it shows that City are vulnerable and not quite undefeatable….just yet.

City should remain positive

After last nights defeat in Naples Manchester City appear likely to be playing Europa League football in early 2012. It is not what Sheikh Mansour and company expected and wanted but could prove to be crucial for their development as a force in World football.

The club’s expectations have been realistic considering the huge sums of money invested in the club. They have accepted steady progress and playing in Europe’s lesser tournament will stand them in good stead for another assault on the continents most sought after competition next season. The club are making a mockery of the Premier League at this current moment but have not managed to replicate this in Europe, this time.

In time it could prove to be a blessing in disguise as it will give them the platform to learn how to approach big European ties next time around. Last season’s FA Cup triumph appears to have given the squad and the manager more belief in the project and a possible Premier League title will only further this. To go straight into the Champions League only to be drawn against Bayern Munich, Napoli and Villarreal was unlucky but will have taught them much.

It seems unlikely to me that any of the other British sides would have emerged from this group and for a neutral it has actually made the tedium of the group stages watchable. Whilst glancing at the group leaders last week it was immensely predictable and also rather dull. This group has been fascinating and could yet still change in a fortnight with the final round of games.

The manner in which City are dominating the English Premier League this season is quite staggering and alarming for the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United. However, they have struggled away from home in Europe; the caveat however being that I don’t think many sides will travel to the Allianz Arena or the Stadio San Paulo and come away with anything. We have seen in previous seasons when expectations were sky high that the club have dealt remarkably well with short-term setbacks and I cannot see any difference with this scenario.

If Manchester City win the Premier League this season and have a successful run in the Europa Cup they will be able to attract almost anyone to the club. The defence is still the weak part for me and will prove to be so once the stakes are raised next year. However, every season the club have strengthened suitably during the summer months to be in a position to tackle the next hurdle the following year.

Although everyone associated with Manchester City may be feeling a little despondent this morning there is still so much reason for joy. The club have progressed at an incredible rate and they will be back stronger, hungrier and more determined next season, which is worrying for everyone.

David Silva – best player in the Premiership?

The Premier League has only just begun but already the leading candidate for player of the season has emerged at Manchester City, David Silva. The Spaniard, who is only starting his second season in England, is emerging as one of the best players not just in the league but in the whole of Europe.

The diminutive midfielder has been the most outstanding player thus far in my mind. Although his team-mate Sergio Aguero has stolen many of the headlines it is Silva, whose guile and technical ability is really something to behold. He is not a new player to have suddenly been unearthed though; his talent and ability has been honed and encouraged at Valencia where he played since he was 14. He became a first team regular in 2007 and it is almost unbelievable that Barcelona or Real Madrid did not sign him.

Thankfully for fans of Manchester City and the Premier League we will get to see him and his phenomenal left foot for the foreseeable future. He has the remarkable ability that many of the current Spanish players appear to have innately – the ability to find space. The way he glides around opponent’s penalty areas must give opposition managers heart failure as he drifts into yet another opening. He struggled initially with the physical demands of the league but is now fully acclimatised.

It is staggering that he is still not a regular starter for Spain but when you consider his rivals in those positions it suddenly becomes more apparent. However, a couple of years ago there was a case for suggesting that he was inferior to Fabregas, Iniesta and Xavi but now the gap is nowhere near as big. He would walk into any team in the world on current form and that includes the current Barcelona squad; he is simply too good not to pick.

Last season he became too isolated with Mancini opting to play too many defensive midfielders. He and Carlos Tevez had to create most of the chances and finish them; however, this season, with the new signings the side are playing with far more freedom. Indeed, last season Silva created 75% more chances for City than any other player at the club. The relationship between City’s front players is something to admire already and will only continue to improve. The likes of Aguero, Dzeko, Johnson, Nasri and Tevez just make the side so dangerous and with class like that they don’t need many chances.

It appeared that the Premier League was in a little trouble when it lost two of its World Class players to La Liga in recent years – Cristiano Ronaldo and Fabregas – but with Silva around the quality remains. Everyone is waiting for City to slip up and implode but with Silva in this form anything is possible this season. They begin their Champions League journey tomorrow night and it will be fascinating to see how they get on.

Premier League Preview – the contenders

The long summer is almost at an end which means only one thing, the start of the football season is upon us. Every football fan worldwide has been getting more excited by the day about the return of the Premier League. It has been a long three months but at 3pm on Saturday the wait is finally over.

It has been an interesting summer in terms of transfers for the leading sides in the Premier League. With 20 days to go in this transfer window there is still a way to go and the expectation is that several high level deals are still remaining. Whilst the three Northern sides, Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City have acquired several new additions the London teams, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have stuttered. Indeed the London clubs have spent most of the summer either trying to keep their best players or adjusting to a new manager.

Manchester United began the spending early this summer by signing David de Gea, Phil Jones and Ashley Young. All three additions are young and should form the core of the United team for the foreseeable future. This writer’s pick of signings would have to be Jones. At 19 he is already at ease in the Premier League and playing in the Champions League will only improve him as player. Whilst de Gea endured some misplaced criticism after the Community Shield he is still the second most expensive goalkeeper in history and will be between the posts at United for the next 15 years. Whilst there is some doubt over Young’s arrival from Aston Villa he has certainly gone to the best place if he is to hone his natural ability and fulfil his potential.

Manchester City have bought well and will be serious title challengers against their city rivals. The addition of Sergio Aguero from Athletico Madrid is excellent and it will be fascinating to see how he progresses in England. Only two years ago he was being likened to Lionel Messi and the general consensus is that he is ideally suited to the demands of this league. They also picked up Gael Clichy from Arsenal who will offer more pace than Aleksandar Kolorov and should prove a decent buy. Almost all summer the side have been linked with signing Samir Nasri from Arsenal but in David Silva they have one of the players I believe could be player of the year. After having an initial year to adapt he should be ready to show his class this season.

The manager’s position at Chelsea has changed yet again and they begin this season with Portuguese sensation Andre Villas-Boas. It is not the first time Chelsea have hired a successful coach from Porto and the fans will be hoping they have unearthed another football genius. The only real business Chelsea have done thus far is adding Oriol Romeu from Barcelona. It looks like being a positive signing as most La Masia graduates are remarkably good technically and physically. It is understood that they remain in the market to sign a creative midfielder and Luka Modric has been consistently linked.

I have written about these clubs in the order I believe they will finish this season. The signings United have made will enable them to easily manoeuvre the new players into the existing set up which will make them formidable. The recent speculation surrounding the possible signing of Wesley Sneijder from Inter would only make the league more of a formality if he signs.

The closest challengers I believe will be Manchester City. Now they are competing in the Champions League they are able to attract the next level of player which has made them significantly stronger than last season. The addition of Aguero should hopefully make them open up a little and we may finally see an attaching City side, although it is still relatively unlikely under Roberto Mancini. One feels that he has to deliver this season after another hefty outlay this summer.

Unlike many other pundits I generally feel Chelsea do have a chance in this title race but it is all depends on getting the best out of Fernando Torres. There are several key players at the wrong end of their careers at Stamford Bridge and if Villas-Boas can get el nino firing again they could be the surprise package in the top three. Defensively you would expect them to be sound but they have to buy another creative central midfielder if they are to get the best out of Torres.

This season promises much already and I will review the contenders for that elusive fourth place tomorrow. It is a position that will be the most sought after ever this season with Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs are fighting to qualify for the Champions League.

City to be serious title challengers

It has taken a little longer than Sheikh Mansour may have envisaged but Manchester City will begin this season as one of the clear favourites for the Premier League. Having won the FA Cup last season everyone associated with the club will be determined to lift more silverware this season.

The club has assembled an incredible squad due to their limitless financial resources but have begun to purchase more wisely than they did initially. The addition of Sergio Aguero should take them onto the next level; no matter whether Carlos Tevez remains a City player or not. He is exactly the type of player they needed to attract to cement their status as one of the biggest teams in Europe. Although it has come about through a lack of financial restraints the manager Roberto Mancini deserves a lot of credit.

However, this season will prove to be pivotal for the Italian manager. For too long last season his side were far too defensive and were over reliant on Tevez for most of their goals. The purchase of David Silva only really began to bear fruit towards the end of the season; he ended up producing nearly every attacking opportunity City created. He needs to be utilised in a far more effective way this season in a midfield that should boast such talents as Yaya Toure, James Milner, Adam Johnson, Nigel de Jong amongst others.

Last season the side was set up too often with two defensive holding players which meant the side lacked any real attacking cohesion. The new addition Yaya Toure was often played as the creative midfielder which is not really his strongest attribute. If City can adapt to playing with one player in that position it will free up their more creative players to ply Aguero, Balotelli and Dzeko with the service they flourish on. One player I have intentionally not mentioned is Gareth Barry. There is a good reason for this as he stifles their play too frequently to remain a part of the regular first team. He is not a bad player but offers little, apart from five yard passes. I can appreciate the need to have a player you can depend on sitting in front of the defence but with their array of talent there has to be someone more capable than him.

There is still another four weeks remaining in this transfer window and much will hinge upon Tevez’s future. It certainly appears that he will be on the move and City could do with adding another couple of players on order to consolidate their position as title challengers. It seems highly likely that whoever they will buy will already be a well-known player in world football. They could do with another commanding centre back to play alongside Vincent Kompany, who was outstanding last season.

Manchester City have not been domestic champions since 1967-68 but this season could be the one they regain their place at the summit of English football. The Beatles once sung that money can’t buy you love, it can however buy you a winning football team, I’m sure the Manchester City fans are not complaining.

Transfer window looks set to be eventful

We are only eight days into the transfer window and already the whole football world seems to have gone a little crazy. With rumours circulating left right and centre the ability to tell fact from fiction is almost impossible. With the Premier League’s top six sides all set to spend heavily the domino effect will surely come; one big transfer will have knock on effects throughout the game.

Bizarrely the quietest side so far appears to be Manchester City who will surely spend huge sums again this summer after qualifying for the Champions League. It appears that Liverpool could be the first to splash the cash with Sunderland’s Jordan Henderson apparently very close to agreeing a deal. The rumour has the deal at £20 million which is staggering but after signing Andy Carroll for £35 million anything is possible.

Every window Spurs are linked with almost every possible player in world football and it certainly appears the case again. From Rossi to Lavezzi to Lassana Diarra all within eight days is the norm for the North London club. The club generally end up doing their business in the final hours of the window but maybe their Chairman Daniel Levy has changed his approach.

For the second summer in a row the issue at Arsenal appears to be who will be leaving. Their young French playmaker Samir Nasri is stalling on a new contract and some of Europe’s biggest clubs are rumoured to be hovering. However, it does appear to be more of a Rooney approach rather than a real desire to leave the club. The reports have stated that he has asked for the same money as the club captain Cesc Fabregas which is not unreasonable in my opinion. He was sublime in the initial months of last season having not featured in the World Cup and must remain at Arsenal if they are to challenge next season.

The current Champions Manchester United have already stated that they will bring in three players this summer. It is understood that the deal to bring David de Gea to the club has already been completed and they will surely look to strengthen their central midfield that was so exposed in the Champions League final. Their main rivals Chelsea must first address who will be manager next season; Guus Hiddink appears to be the obvious candidate and would represent a great addition to the club. However, they need youthful reinforcements for an ageing squad and most of that will depend on how deep Mr Abramovich wants to delve.

One thing is guaranteed; it will be an eventful summer.

United set to spend big this summer

This summer looks set to be one of the most active in recent memory as the top sides look to consolidate and prepare for next season. With Manchester City having finally won a trophy and qualifying for the Champions League they will definitely bring in some expensive stars. Meanwhile, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Spurs will also be spending big.

There are some key re-enforcement’s needed at United next season due to retirement. The goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is set to hang up his boots which will leave a huge hole in the United defence. Since his move from Fulham in 2005 he has been phenomenal; having already played at Ajax and Juventus his career was considered over when he went to Fulham but he has now become one of the stand out keepers in world football.

There has been much speculation surrounding David de Gea, the Athletico Madrid keeper. Although only 20 he has been identified as the successor and few would be surprised to see him turn up at Old Trafford this summer. He maybe young but has impressed Sir Alex Ferguson’s scouts on many occasions. After making some errors in replacing Peter Schmeichel he will not make the same mistake again.

Elsewhere midfield is certainly an area they are lacking in. There is no secret in Ferguson’s admiration for Wesley Sneijder of Inter Milan who the press certainly feel will be brought in this summer. The creativity from central midfield is not what it was at United and this is probably the biggest signing. Whoever it is will have to replace Paul Scholes which will certainly not be an easy task.

One player who I feel maybe a United player next season however is Andre Ayew who plays for Marseille. He was one of the few players Ferguson spoke of very highly this season and has had a good season domestically and in Europe.

Having won the Premier League and possibly the Champions League United are in an incredibly strong position this summer. Whilst they have won trophies this year there remains a feeling that this side need something more. With Ferguson still in charge there is no doubt that the squad will be strengthened. It looks set to be an intriguing summer.

Arsenal must strengthen this summer

Here we are again, the end of another season where Arsenal have promised so much and failed yet again to deliver. Last night’s victory for Manchester City means that Arsenal are now looking at 4^th place and having to qualify for the Champions League; Arsenal’s quest for silverware continues.

It is now six years since Arsenal lifted any silverware and Wenger appears to me no closer to finding a winning formula. Their performance against Barcelona at the Emirates was magnificent but they have come nowhere near replicating that since. Yes they play pretty football, yes they have some decent players but the attitude and hunger is simply not there. Most football fans are slightly deluded but the majority of their fans are now as oblivious as Wenger to their flaws.

The goalkeeping position is still highly suspect; the new hope Wojciech Szczesny is three or four years away from being a decent keeper. The attitude and confidence is all well and good but the countless errors he has already made suggest they have another dud on their hands. There were reports recently that Wenger did make bids for Pepe Reina of Liverpool last summer but this problem has been there for years and he still has not dealt with it. At Manchester United Ferguson realised the error of his ways relatively quickly and strengthened after Schmeichel’s departure – why hasn’t Wenger?

The defence remains a key issue. They have missed Vermaelen for the majority of the season and welcoming him back will be a huge relief. However, he is not a proven player at the highest level and looked very suspect at the end of last season after initially impressing. Again, simply look at the record Ferdinand and Vidic have at United; this season they have conceded 0.67 goals a game when they have played together against 1.4 when not.

The emergence of Jack Wilshire and the re-introduction of Aaron Ramsey will be a huge boost next season. Whether Cesc Fabregas stays or not they should have enough going forward but they still need a top class defensive midfielder. The stand in at the moment is Alex Song who spends most of his time walking around the pitch rather than breaking up the opposition attacks. He is a decent player and is liked by the fans but this is the problem; if Arsenal are to improve and win things they need good/excellent players rather than mediocre/decent players which they have at the moment.

Yet again van Persie has missed the majority of the season but has still scored enough in the second half of the season to ensure he remains the number one striker. On his day he is an excellent player but they have to add more depth in this position. Their new addition Chamakh simply isn’t good enough; he is Emile Heskey but a little more skilful. He gives them options against a Blackburn or Stoke but lacks the quality to hurt good teams. Although Theo Walcott has improved this season he still has very little to offer besides pace. His final ball is either ok or awful however his link up play with van Persie recently has been much better.

It is getting tedious and tiresome commenting on Arsenal. It must be incredibly frustrating for everyone associated with the club but the only one who can really change things is Wenger. From what I can gather many of the fans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with his stubbornness and willingness to change his ideology. They have demonstrated in patches that they can compete with the very best but they are too inconsistent. If they can bring in four or five players with experience and quality they will do well next season. If they don’t I imagine I will be writing something very similar next season. Over to you Mr Wenger.

Fascinating summer ahead for Manchester City

It has been a long wait but Manchester City have finally won a trophy and have qualified for next seasons Champions League. This is where their owner Sheikh Mansour intends them to remain after injecting a fortune into the club. However, as Tottenham have found, it is one thing qualifying for the tournament, it is another thing staying in it for many years.

On the one hand it is great that the so called top four has been broken up, but on the other it highlights the fact that success can simply be bought. The monopoly that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have enjoyed has ensured that their wealth far outweighs any of their counterparts. However, with City and their bottomless pit of cash anything is now possible.

They have struggled to attract the top level players as they have lacked a Champions League place. With this now assured the spending could be astronomical this summer. In 2009 they had a £100 million offer accepted by Milan for Kaka only to be rejected by the player as he felt City was a step down. Following the outcome of this season anything is possible.

There have already been links to several of the World’s top players although some seem very far-fetched; Iniesta and Xavi for instance. But, one article I did read suggested that some of these players might want one last pay day and they can pretty much name their fee at City. Football has been a business for a long time now but even with UEFA’s new rules coming in the clubs will still act as they please.

City have made massive strides this season but the true test will come next year. It will be fascinating to see what they do over the summer; one assumes it’s going to be busy.

Arsenal and Spurs produce another classic

On a night that featured a north London derby and the 2^nd instalment of the el Clasico triple bill few would have anticipated the Premier League game would outshine the Copa del Rey final.

The game at White Hart Lane this evening was breathtaking. The speed, intensity and quality of football on display tonight was something to behold. Whilst some of the defending left plenty to imagine the attacking potency from both sides produced a wonderful game.

The start of the game was electric, Arsenal were 2-1 up after 11 minutes through Walcott and Nasri. Playing on the Arsenal right Theo Walcott looked determined and hungry and was visibly worrying the Spurs defence every time he attacked. Meanwhile Spurs, who were the inferior side in the opening exchanges, seemed to be creating opportunities at will.

It was Arsenal who scored next through Robin van Persie to make it 3-1. Then, a few minutes before half time Tom Huddlestone produced an unbelievable bit of magic. Following a corner on the Spurs right hand side the ball fell to the midfielder 25 yards out. After being cleared by the Arsenal defence the ball fell to him and he hit it on the half volley perfectly into the left hand side of the net. Although he lacks pace his ball striking ability is something to behold.

The second half was not quite as free flowing as the first. The game was predominantly played in the Arsenal half with Spurs pushing for the equaliser. The introduction of Aaron Lennon at half-time for Gareth Bale proved to be very effective. Every time he ran at Sagna he looked like he had the beating of him. Indeed, it was Lennon who forced the Arsenal keeper Szczesny to bring him down in the penalty area when he broke free on the left hand side.

The subsequent penalty was dispatched by Rafael van der Vaart for his 2^nd of the game. Once Spurs had equalised the game began to flow as it had done in the first half, albeit with less intensity. There were a couple of chances at both ends with Fabregas forcing a fine save with a fierce drive from 20 yards.

All in all the draw was a fair result this evening. However, with Chelsea winning and Spurs falling slightly further behind Manchester City the result doesn’t help either side. Arsenal now find themselves 3^rd after Chelsea beat Birmingham and Spurs remain 5^th.

Arsenal’s title hopes all but gone

Justice was done this afternoon at the Emirates stadium where Arsenal conceded a last second penalty to deny them victory over Liverpool. The home side had huffed and puffed but failed to offer anything convincing until Spearing brought down Fabregas in added time.

The converted penalty by Robin van Persie was their first league goal at the Emirates since 23^rd February. It is ironic that as their away form has improved, their home form has fallen to pieces. Currently they lie six points behind Manchester United in the table which is exactly how many points they have dropped at home in the last three games.

Nothing should be taken away from Liverpool though who battled and contested throughout. There was real danger on the break from Dalglish’s team who look full of confidence after their impressive victory over Manchester City last Monday. Their new look striker partnership looks as though it cause defences a lot of problems next season. The impressive Jay Spearing cleaned up everything in central midfield and Lucas, who was highly criticised under Hodgson, was magnificent.

There were too many average performances from the Arsenal side this afternoon. Their captain, Cesc Fabregas had a poor game for someone of his ability. Their central midfield three of Diaby, Fabregas and Wilshire were completely overrun by Liverpool until Wenger put Wilshire at the base of the three. The Frenchman Abou Diaby simply looked terrible; for someone so big and athletic he moves around the pitch too slowly and offers nothing defensively or offensively.

The real let down again was Theo Walcott. Time and again Arsenal fans have said how much better he is this season; I just cannot see it. He was screamed at by van Persie in the first half when he smashed his cross straight at Reina rather than passing to the Dutchman. Being a winger can be tricky on occasions; you are told to put the ball into the area of uncertainty for the defence (between the penalty spot and the six yard box) if there is no obvious ball. Something Walcott has done this season is follow that, but, unfortunately he does it all the time now. I have said before he lacks vision and a basic football brain and unfortunately both of these traits were on display today.

Unless something dramatic happens at Manchester United it is now 6 years since Arsenal won the a trophy, the question is now, what does Stan Kroenke do next??

Spurs go out but can hold heads high

The inevitable happened last night; Spurs went out of the Champions League to Real Madrid after failing to overcome a 4 goal deficit from the first leg. Whilst they huffed and puffed they failed to break down the Madrid defence and conceded a sloppy goal to Cristiano Ronaldo which effectively ended the contest.

It has been an exciting campaign for Spurs who have scored 25 goals and conceded 17. They have clearly enjoyed playing in the Champions League and being tested against the best sides in Europe. It makes such a difference to see a team genuinely enjoying their football and the challenge. Their adventures this season remind me very much of Leeds United’s debut season when they reached the semi-finals.

The next hurdle for Real Madrid will be Barcelona who they now face 4 times in 19 days which will effectively decide their season. There was talk from the commentators last night that Mourinho’s mind will now be on Barca; I think he has thought about little else since the final whistle blew in their 5 goal humbling at the Camp Nou in November. Whilst few would back against Barcelona the fact that Madrid now have Mourinho makes a massive difference. In last season’s group stages Inter Milan lost convincingly home and away to Barca but came back to shock them in the semis.

Spurs now only have the Premier League to focus on which is actually just what they need. They have tasted Champions League football and must now ensure they participate next season. With Manchester City stumbling on Monday they have hope again, let us see what they can achieve in the next few weeks.

City must rise to the challenge

The next six days will have huge consequences for Manchester City; the face Liverpool tomorrow night in the Premier League followed by the Manchester derby on Saturday for a place in the FA Cup final. With Spurs getting back to winning ways over the weekend the pressure is back on City to perform at Anfield.

It is not only a huge week for the team; the next two games will also decide Roberto Mancini’s fate. Having spent millions of pounds on his squad the Italian must deliver Champions League football for the club, he simply must. Failure to do so should and surely will result in his departure from the Stadium of Manchester this summer.

The club currently lie in 4^th position and are three points ahead of Tottenham. They still have to play the London club at home on 10^th May which should decide which team will qualify for Europe’s elite club tournament. It is essential that City obtain this lucrative position so they are then able to target the top players from around the world. At present they are capable of paying any figure for any player but lack the resources to offer a serious package.

It is time for City to put their name forward as a growing force in English football. They have had several near misses already and in order to start to convince the players the club is heading in the right direction they must come away with something from Anfield. They will face a tough Liverpool side who have improved significantly under Kenny Dalglish.

Today’s game is based solely around money but it is not always the richest that triumph. Just because City have spent millions assembling a squad of Internationals it doesn’t guarantee them success. If they are to improve then trips like tomorrows will have to be navigated again and again, its time to see whether City really are in for the long haul.

Rangers financial crisis highlights serious problems in football

The announcement today from Alastair Johnson, the Rangers Chairman about the possibility of the club going bust should set alarm bells ringing throughout the football world. Although the majority would have no real concerns about them going out of business it is an incredibly alarming scenario the Scottish champions face.

The club play at Ibrox stadium which seats 51082 supporters at every home game. On the assumption that tickets are £20 it still means they are taking over £1 million gate receipts from every match. It seems staggering that their debt only stands at £22 million when the current Premier League leaders are £800 million in debt. Even though the Scottish club are not quite the side they were it demonstrates the depths this game has fallen to with all the debt issues.

In recent years Fifa have acted to put a stop on huge spending but it seems to have had little impact on the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. Whilst I am no fan of Arsene Wenger or Arsenal he must be applauded for his attitude to the huge spending and salary figures quoted in recent times. The Premier League has become a playground for foreign investors to play their roulette against others equally as rich whilst the little sides slowly go out of business.

There have been issues in Spain this season with many clubs threatening to boycott La Liga as the share of TV money goes almost entirely to Barcelona or Real Madrid. These issues are becoming more and more frequent and in my opinion Fifa and Uefa cannot halt the inevitable implosion in the future.

Whilst I accept that football is now a business where the side with the most money usually win it is ruining the game at other levels. It used to be the lower league sides that would struggle but in the coming years we will see more cases similar to Leeds United. Football initially was about local rivalry and enjoyment; Fifa need to act fast to ensure the beautiful game can survive these financial constraints before it comes to a premature end.

City lack ideas

This evening’s bore draw at the Emirates will benefit Manchester City more than Arsenal but the overall winners tonight were United. Arsenal started well and posed City problems in the initial stages but lacked any real cutting edge throughout. The biggest disappointment of the evening was the lack of attacking intent shown by City; they didn’t even manage one shot on goal!

It will however be considered a good point for City after capitulating in Manchester a few months ago. The main problem remains linking the midfield and the attack. Carlos Tevez remains a frustrated lone front man who has to create everything himself. Whilst City employed similar tactics to those used by Chelsea and United they lack the cutting edge when counter attacking; Adam Johnson was introduced late on but they really missed David Silva. If City are to progress to the next level this is something that has to be address in the summer, if not in January.

Whilst Arsenal did not play badly they lacked the cutting edge in the final third (although had the woodwork not figured so heavily in the first half things could have been different). At the start of the game the commentator mentioned that Van Persie needed one more goal to reach 50 in the league for Arsenal; I realise he has suffered more than his fair share of injuries but that is a poor return! Arsenal would have posed City more problems if Chamakh had started tonight, he attacks crosses whereas Van Persie looks to hang around the penalty spot. They appeared to look solid at the back although they weren’t tested, the midfield looked neat and tidy but the final ball just did not materialise.

Overall the game was rather dull, had Arsenal taken advantage of their early dominance it would have been very different. City will head up north the happier; especially with the imminent arrival of Edin Dzeko.