Reports yesterday revealed that Manchester United are considering repairing their leaking backline with a sunning £40m move for Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi. There’s no doubt that Louis van Gaal needs to do something about his rearguard in January, with week in/week out presence of Tyler Blackett testament to the lack of top quality options at the heart of his defence.

So, is Otamendi the right man? Well he’s a solid and dependable enforcer who has impressed with Porto, winning league titles and European honours. But let’s delve below the surface and find out a few things you may not know about the South American…

[ffc-gallery]

CLICK ON THE MAN HIMSELF TO REVEAL THE SIX THINGS

[/ffc-gallery]

It could be worse Nando, you could be one of these guys…

[ffcvideo file=”TopFiveVideosoftheWeek” type=”mp4″]

He’s a Football Manager icon

If you don’t already know the name and you played Football Manager from 2010 onwards then your scouting has been below par! The Argentine is an absolute beast on the legendary PC game, with his defensive attributes and low cost (£5m-£10m if you were lucky in FM 2010) making him a quick fix for any moderately sized club.

It seems the makers of the fiendishly addictive disk were spot on once again, with Otamendi having lived up to the hype in real life.

He can play at right-back

Although a centre-back by trade, Otamendi has proven in the past that’s he’s able to shift across the backline and fill in on the right flank. He may not be a dynamic wing-back, but his robust frame and reading of the game mean he could be an upgrade on the often naïve Rafael.

He can also function well as a member of a defensive three – which may be of use to Louis van Gaal – while there has been talk of fielding Otamendi in a defensive midfield role, where he would offer more of a shield than Daley Blind.

Chelsea & Man City are interested

It’s not just Manchester United who are watching Otamendi, with reports having been circulating since last year that both City and Chelsea are interested. The Londoners are thought to have been scouting him for some time, with rumours having suggested that Jose Mourinho’s close ties with Porto – whom he used to play for – had set up a first option deal. City were also tracking the South American at the same time, but with the purchase of Elaiquim Mangala their desire to land him is now unknown.

He’s a full Argentine international

Argentina is a country known for its production line of decent defenders, which bodes well for Otamendi. The 26-year-old made his full debut in 2009 and has since won 16 caps, with the competition levels within the squad having limited his chances.

The rugged enforcer missed out on a spot in the 2014 World Cup squad, but he was present four years earlier in South Africa, where he put in a noteworthy performance against Greece.

He’s a little bit like David Luiz…

Well, he’s more of, to keep the Chelsea link going, a Luiz / Branislav Ivanovic hybrid. Otamendi is very much a front foot defender, and a player who loves to charge into tackles and move forward. Naturally this style can leave him exposed at times, which could be an issue which will surface now he’s away from Portugal – he’s only been at Valencia for a short time.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Unlike Luiz, Otamendi is fairly defensively responsible, making him a solid and dependable option at the back when on form.

He cost Porto just £3.5m

//www.youtube.com/embed/PklPJIH8hVo

With United thinking of triggering his £40m release clause, it’s interesting to note that Porto paid just £3.5m for Otamendi in 2010. The Portuguese giants’ scouting network is known for producing results, and the sale of the Argentine on the back three league titles and Europa League success for £10m was yet another piece of great business.

After being heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford all summer, Angel di Maria is finally a Manchester United player.

United fans are already boasting that they’ve signed one of the world’s best players, and they aren’t wrong.

Di Maria had 17 assists in La Liga last season, more than any other player in Europe’s top leagues. He can score, create, and dribble past opponents with ease… but at £59.7million, is he worth it?

Will Di Maria be similar to Mesut Ozil for Arsenal? The Gunners paid £42million for the German’s services and although acknowledged as a great player, has he really lived up to the hype?

With that in mind, here are SIX REASONS Angel di Maria is a waste of money.

[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON THE ARGENTINE TO SEE THE FULL LIST!

[/ffc-gallery]

[ad_pod id=’footballfancast’ align=’center’]

He doesn’t fit Van Gaal’s 3-5-2 system

All the talk during Manchester United’s pre-season was the Dutch manager’s intent on playing the successful 3-5-2 system that resulted in the Netherlands making it to the World Cup semi-finals.

And although United’s first two league games didn’t go as planned, it is very likely Van Gaal will stick with the formation for the time being.

This brings into question how the coaching staff will utilize Angel di Maria, who (as a winger) is too attack minded of a player to play wing-back. At Real Madrid he was deployed as a central midfielder to great effect, but Real had the composure and tenacity of Xabi Alonso and Luka Modric behind him.

If he does play in the middle with two other central midfielders supporting him, then there will be a problem for…

Juan Mata may be forced out to accommodate Di Maria

Juan Mata was United’s record signing just seven months ago, but may now be facing competition from one of the world’s best attacking players in Di Maria.

If Van Gaal is looking to stick with two strikers, then it would be impossible to accommodate Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Juan Mata, and Angel di Maria in the same front line. Unless Di Maria plays wing-back (decreasing his effectiveness), the player most likely to be dropped is the £37.1million Spaniard.

And rationally speaking if Mata is the one cut, then the Red Devils may not be wasting Di Maria’s £59.7million fee, but the former Chelsea star’s £37.1million instead.

If Mata isn’t dropped, then someone else will be

It has been reported recently that Louis van Gaal could change his formation to accommodate his new signing.

The best other option is to go with a 4-2-3-1, with Di Maria on one of the flanks and Mata sitting ‘in the hole’ behind a striker. But who will that striker be?

With Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, Van Gaal has at his disposal two world class strikers that are too talented to be on the bench.

One of them will have to make way to full make use of Di Maria’s abilities, or the United boss can revert to a solution both David Moyes and Alex Ferguson used in the past without much success…

To use all four stars, Rooney must play midfield… again

Wayne Rooney is undoubtedly one of the most gifted and passionate footballers on the planet.

He is willing to play anywhere for his team, but his performances and statistics show that the England captain is most effective when deployed as a striker.

Not only does he produce more, but it is quite easily recognizable when Rooney is unsatisfied playing further down the pitch.

The team-sheet would be one of the scariest on paper, but without a strong spine to support this attacking line-up it will just end in further disappointment for United fans.

Di Maria is not the player United need

What is going on in the Manchester United boardroom is bewildering.

They’ve known since February that club captain and defensive stalwart Nemanja Vidic was heading to Inter Milan, and that they would not be renewing long-serving veteran Rio Ferdinand.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

They also realized that Marouane Fellaini wasn’t the answer to their struggling midfield, as well as having a whole season to see that Tom Cleverley and Anderson were way below par for United’s standards.

While they did fill the vacancy left by Patrice Evra with Luke Shaw and partly fixed their midfield deficiency with Ander Herrera, they have not managed to purchase a world class defender and an all action defensive midfielder.

Basically there are so many options better than signing a winger/attacking midfielder, which happen to be cheaper on the market.

There were cheaper/better options than Di Maria

Angel di Maria for £59.7million tore the British transfer record, held by (you’ve guessed it) Fernando Torres for £50million.

Manchester United have quite frankly overspent on players all summer. Luke Shaw was a £30million buy from Southampton… £30million! Chelsea paid only £2million more for Diego Costa, who has already scored two goals in two games… while Luke Shaw is struggling with fitness at his new club.

Even with less than £30million, Bayern Munich bought one of the best defenders in the world in Mehdi Benatia (also targeted by Man United) from Roma… for £24million.

Players that would be perfect for United are moving all over Europe at lower costs, but instead they spend a massive sum on a player they do not need.

Di Maria would definitely make them a better team, but unless Van Gaal can integrate him effectively, it won’t be enough to even challenge for fourth.

They say there’s no such thing as standing still in the Premier League; you either keep up with the pace on the pitch and in the transfer market or inevitably fall behind.

Rather miraculously, however, Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal are the rare exception to that rule.

In the last nine years, whilst Chelsea have won their first three Premier League titles, Tottenham have reached the top four twice, Manchester City have risen from mid-table to mediocrity to the table’s summit and Liverpool have dropped out of the Champions League before eventually returning to it last summer, Arsenal have finished fourth six times and third thrice.

Arsenal’s Champions League status has never come under serious threat, a feat Arsene Wenger is annually praised for. Equally, however, they’ve never been a genuine factor in the Premier League title race since their last crowning in 2004. It’s like the north Londoners are in a league of their own – a one-club league, with no titles, promotions or relegation zones, where nothing ever actually happens.

Even last season, whilst the Gunners held pole position for 128 days, the most of any Premier League side, an underlying fear of the campaign imploding persisted and eventually proved true, as Arsenal dropped from first to fourth in the space of five springtime fixtures amid defeats to Liverpool, Stoke City and Chelsea.

History is once again repeating itself like a Sci-Fi B-movie. Already twelve points behind league leaders Chelsea, Arsenal’s planned title charge – inspired by the momentum gained from last season’s FA Cup, combined with the summer addition of world-class forward Alexis Sanchez – is over before it’s started. After a shock 2-1 defeat to Swansea City, in which the Gunners squandered a one-nil lead, Wenger’s conceded the title is all but Chelsea’s – in November, after just eleven games.

Once again, Arsenal fans will likely have to settle for the unrecognised, unofficial and non-existent 4th place title. A more cynical, accurate description would be the title race’s wooden spoon.

The ultimate question marks circulate Arsene Wenger, and whether he’s failed to move with the times. Upon his Premier League arrival in 1997, the Frenchman was viewed as an innovator, Le Professeur of modern management, transforming views on discipline, health, fitness and investment in young players from abroad.

No one can doubt his initial successes; to this day, Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson are the only managers to win three (or more) Premier League titles. But whereas Fergie, a prolific adopter of developing Premier League trends, won his final league crown in 2013, Wenger hasn’t bagged a Premier League title for over a decade.

Arsenal’s training particularly, used to be revolutionary. The likes of Patrick Vieira and Theirry Henry have claimed Wenger’s intense sessions – in tandem with his strict diet plan – extended their careers by a good five or six years. But that was the early 2000s; a decade later, and opinions on Arsenal’s training sessions are far more divided. Stand-in skipper Per Mertesacker claims the players aren’t working hard enough, whilst fitness guru and former Wales assistant manager Raymond Verheijen blames the Gunners’ relentless injury problems on Wenger’s inability to modernise his practices – even labelling the Frenchman pre-historic.

One can question the validity of both, but clearly, Arsenal’s training sessions aren’t as encapsulating, convincing or innovative as they once were.

Tactically, too, the Premier League had never witnessed an attacking side quite like Arsenal’s Invincibles, who went 49 games undefeated to win the Gunners’ last Premier League title. The predominant change from a tactical perspective was the role of Arsenal’s full-backs, with Wenger swapping the more orthodox Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn in 2000 for Cameroon international Lauren, a midfielder at former club Mallorca, and Ashley Cole, a then-forward in the Arsenal youth ranks.

They both provided the north Londoners with far greater quality, and subsequently control, in possession. Over the years however, the entrenched philosophy of attacking-orientated, pushed-up full-backs has made Arsenal far too predictable.

Sir Alex Ferguson, for example, dedicated an entire chapter of his autobiography to discussing the challenges of facing Wenger’s side, highlighting how the progressive roles of Arsenal’s No.2 and No.3 leaves them at their most vulnerable in possession. A well-anticipated interception in the middle of the park is all that’s required to punish the Gunners on the counter, attacking the inevitable space on the flanks.

Ferguson worked this out years ago, as Arsenal’s influence in the Premier League began to wane. Jose Mourinho’s had it figured from day one too – if he and Wenger were in a league of their own, the Portuguese would have 26 points, compared to the Frenchman’s five.

It’s been over a decade since the Special One first took the Premier League, and indeed Wenger, by storm, yet Arsenal are continually cursed by that same intrinsic flaw. Against Swansea yesterday afternoon, the Welsh side’s first goal – a stunning Gylfi Sigurdsson free kick – was the direct result of a turnover in the middle of the park, forcing Keiran Gibbs to bring down the Icelander. The second strike in the 2-1 victory – Jefferson Montero finding himself in an abundance of space out wide.

Think back to the batterings by Chelsea and Liverpool last season – the majority of the eleven combined goals came from centre-backs Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny finding themselves without support as Arsenal’s only defenders behind the ball.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Some will admire Wenger’s consistency, especially those in Arsenal’s boardroom. After all, he’s safeguarded the club’s financial stability amid the essential building of the Emirates stadium by steering the Gunners clear of relegation from the European elite. They could be Spurs or Liverpool right now, or even Manchester United, with their Champions League status seemingly eternally uncertain.

But if fans at Old Trafford, Anfield, Stamford Bridge, the Etihad and White Hart Lane have endured a rollercoaster over the last nine years, featuring as many lows as highs, supporting Arsenal is like being on the teacups; reliable, tedious in patches, enjoyable in others, but never anything close to exhilarating.

Spinning around aimlessly between 3rd and 4th, it’s time Arsenal fans requested a change in ride.

[ad_pod id=’footballfancast’ align=’center’]

[ffc-quiz ]

Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool target Mateo Kovacic has been made available by Inter Milan for the price of only £10million, Express reports.

The Croatian was a £12million purchase from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2013, and Kovacic has lived up to the reputation as one of football’s brightest prospects.

WANT MORE? >> Manchester United Transfer News | Arsenal Transfer News

However it seems that despite already making 70 appearances for the Nerrazurri, the 20-year-old is expected to leave the club after being unable to agree on a new contract.

European powerhouse Real Madrid has been monitoring Kovacic’s progress at Inter, but the La Liga side will have competition from the Premier League with United, Arsenal, and Liverpool all keen on his services.

The Italian club are extremely hesitant to let the youngster leave the San Siro, but if Kovacic does not extend his contract, then Inter will allow him to depart for just £10million in order to fund a move for a possible replacement.

Kovacic has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring five goals.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

He’s back. In typical fashion, scouring the touchline like an agitated terrier in his baseball cap, Tony Pulis looks set to implement his famous rugged approach upon West Brom.

Since the heights of Steve Clarke’s first season, where the Baggies were comfortably in the top half, there’s been a very apparent decline. Pepe Mel, Clarke’s successor, had a system and style that was not conducive to ‘the counter attacking’ principles that were embedded within the team, and he departed on neutral terms when he kept them up.

Alan Irvine, handpicked to be a head coach of the highest calibre, was deemed inept at progressing the West Brom project last month (perhaps unfairly), and Pulis has been granted a greater authority to insert his philosophies on this West Brom squad.

Pulis’ teams play in a very distinctive manner. It’s become a cliche to talk of how Lionel Messi would fair on wet, cold, Tuesday evening at the Britannia purely because of the way Pulis set up his Stoke side. Dogged, physical, organised, hardworking and aggressive. Anti-football.

They press relentlessly without the ball while maintaining a very compact and organised midfield shape. Their front men lead that press on the front foot, working themselves to the limit to give the side a ferocious edge. Due to the lack of creative freedom that he affords of his hardworking players, set pieces become an integral method of scoring, as shown by Saido Berahino’s winner at the weekend.

Expect a return to a 4-4-2-ish shape, with Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans, their usual attacking wingers, pulled back alongside a midfield pair. Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob, loyal servants in the West Brom machine, will prosper in the middle with their rugged styles.

The midfield will be the key. How they screen their defence, which will become narrow and compact, will define how difficult to break down they are. Be it Mulumbu and Yacob or the preferred Craig Gardner and James Morrision, that midfield four will slide across the pitch laterally in unison, preventing any form of penetration into danger areas.

That commitment will owe much to Pulis’ training ground warm up exercise, which he outlined in an issue of the Elite Soccer coaching magazine last year. In a relatively simple drill that takes place in 20x15m area, there’s essentially (in no uncertain terms) a glorified game of ‘piggy in the middle.’ Imagine a tri-colour flag with a quartet of players operating each colour. The outside quartets have to get the ball to the other side, penetrating the middle four, who are drilled relentlessly, covering gaps, screening space.

If the defensive team carries out the drill successfully, Pulis explains, then opposition attackers only have one way through, and that’s to play the ball out wide and attack the flanks. Pulis clearly wants that to translate on the pitch, to channel attacking streams out wide, and then rely on his centre backs to deal with any crosses into the box. In this case the reliable Craig Dawson and Joleon Lescott will be expected to form a solid relationship, although Gareth McAuley was preferred at the weekend.

Many coaches probably use similar approaches, but Pulis’ skill as a manager relays in his ability to make his players adhere to it religiously. Mile Jedinak had an outstanding season conforming to that formula at Palace last season.

The only variations that you’ll really expect to see is up front, that’s where there’s some room for variations. At Stoke and Palace, Cameron Jerome (now at Norwich) has led from the front, an indefatigable unit who’s off the ball work rate and hold up player has been perfect for Pulis’ ideals.

The interesting facet at Palace was the use of Marouane Chamakh in a supporting role. He would sit on opposition midfield playmakers, and act as a target man for long balls. How Berahino and Stephane Sessegnon will cope with those changes is difficult to know.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

On the surface, neither are really Pulis players. Whether they could be ostracised in favour of a more physical and dynamic type remains to be seen. But with continuous rumours that Berahino could depart for around £24m, there could be a convenient out option for Pulis to trade pace for power.

“I think we need to add in that position (up front),” Pulis stated after the Hull game.

Overall, expect a profound strategic change in defence and midfield along with a change of personnel up front. They’re the parameters relevant for Pulis to make the changes that he so zealously believes in.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

Roy Hodgson’s initial England squad for the current international fixtures has faced some changes since his initial announcement. Injuries have plagued his team already, and with players withdrawing you have to ask; has he made the right choices?

One comment that has been flagged is that Hodgson seems to pick his sides based on the teams they play for – the bigger the team, the more likely you are to be chosen. Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City all have had players chosen for England. But the argument has been, is it the name of the club that is the influence rather than the quality of the player?

Ryan Mason’s belated call up has sparked some debate in itself. Mason looked somewhat of a ‘last resort’ when he was included in the squad, as Adam Lallana had to withdraw his services due to injury. Although Mason is elated to be included in the England squad, as it is a dream to play for his country, is it not a bit of a kick in the teeth to be only a back up option?

Finally, Roy Hodgson has seen sense and included Michael Carrick in his squad. The midfielder is definitely on form for his club, and his inclusion is justified. Carrick has been massively overlooked in recent years which even Paul Scholes has shed light on. Carrick will show the England side exactly what they have been missing with his exclusion in international competitions.

[ffc-gal cat=”premier-league” no=”5″]

Leaving out Charlie Austin and Danny Ings is tricky. There is plenty of competition up front, but look at the season all three are having. Without any disrespect, Harry Kane does deserve to be in the squad ahead of all three. But being overlooked for England selection does not retract from the form they are currently in.

Roy Hodgson has got it spot on for calling up Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane. Harry Kane has had an exceptional season, and is one of the players filling column inches – and that was proven when he nodded in his first England just 89 seconds after coming on for his debut against Lithuania. Kane is joint top goalscorer this season, with Chelsea’s Diego Costa, and Spurs of course signed him up for a five-and-a-half-year deal. He is only the fourth player to win back to back Player of The Month awards, so it’s a no brainer that Roy called up the 21-year-old, who will be hoping the prolific goalscorer will be as important for his country.

For the most part, Hodgson’s inclusions have been justified. It is unfortunate that Fraser Forster is forced to miss the qualifiers due to injury, as he has 13 clean sheets to his name for Southampton this season. Roy Hodgson has expressed his devastation at Forster’s injury, whilst throwing a sly dig at replacements Rob Green and Jack Butland.

Hodgson must be careful he is not so influenced by the media with his selections: choosing a player based on their club is not always justified. Individual performances must be taken into account. A poor team is not always filled with poor players.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

//embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v7.aspx?Id=1163928&ThemeId=22054

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

“He (Memphis Depay) has the option to leave after this season.” PSV director Toon Gerbrands.

Well, it looks like Manchester United could secure the attacking addition Louis van Gaal is craving, after his weekend comments suggested that, despite spending £150m last summer, he wants to add more goals to his side.

Although to get the ball hitting the back of the net with greater regularity makes an orthodox striker a more tempting option, a move for Depay may remedy the issues at Old Trafford right now… and here are FIVE reasons why…

[interaction ]

Goals, goals, goals

Okay, goals in the Netherlands don’t always travel across the North Sea to England – just ask Middlesbrough and Chelsea who still regret Alfonso Alves and Mateja Kezman’s arrivals – but Depay has been impressive. Despite playing, primarily, from a wide position, the ‘Dutch Ronaldo’ has smashed 18 goals in the Eredvisie and Europa League, showing that he has what it takes when it comes to dispatching the ball, despite being in a position which limits his chances to drive at the net.

LVG knows him well

Few English fans – well, non-FIFA/Football manager playing supporters – knew much about Depay before last summer’s World Cup. But after the group stage had passed he was really attracting attention from Premier League supporters, who had been wowed by his showings for the Oranje. Despite being a bench player under LVG in Brazil, the wide-man notched two goals, and showed that he fits well in the now United gaffer’s set-up. Match made in heaven? Maybe…

Pace!

It seems a little silly to say problems are plentiful at Old Trafford – after all the club are in the top four at the time of writing – but despite their position, the Red Devils haven’t been convincing and are often not much fun to watch. Angel di Maria aside, United seem to lack pace, which can lead to a ponderous way of playing, with Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao not exactly speed demons.

Many supporters of the club will not want to look at Liverpool as a source of inspiration, but since Christmas the Reds have switched from a slow 4-2-3-1 with a static Mario Balotelli or Rickie Lambert up top to a fluid, pacey 3-4-2-1 led by Raheem Sterling, which has coincided with a record of eight wins, three draws and now losses.

Greater balance to the starting XI

From the funny tweets and mock-ups of United’s XI last summer upon Van Gaal’s numerous additions, it became apparent that the Dutchman’s set-up was lacking balance. Numerous left-sided players and attackers were signed, and this lack of depth and options has made the club’s system a little top-heavy, to the extent that Wayne Rooney now often plays in central midfield.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The above XI shows how much more balanced United could be with Depay in a 4-3-3.

Won’t break the bank

Although he signed a new contract late last year, the fact that a move for Depay is already being talked up suggests that PSV Eindhoven will be open to business. The Eredivisie is now no longer completive with the likes of the Premier League in terms of finances, making attractive bids to a side like the Philips Stadion outfit tempting. After all, they have sold key men such as Kevin Strootman in recent times.

“Raheem has been a really big influence,

“He has been helping me and we talk off the pitch and he gives me advice.

“He is a player I look up to. He is a year older than me and it gives me a lot of confidence to try and achieve what he has achieved at such a young age.”

Explains a lot… Jordon Ibe (his words above) has now found his face in the newspapers with the infamous ‘shisha pipe’ alongside his team-mate, Raheem Sterling. The whole saga has a little bit of the younger kid trying to get in with the cool older crowd, with Ibe often thought of as Sterling’s protégé – both in terms of style and playing position.

Could the peer pressure angle have legs? Maybe, after all he claimed that he wants to follow in his footsteps. We’re jesting, of course. And who knows, maybe pictures from the MailOnline actually tell a different story, with Sterling perhaps trying to impress Ibe? He does have his hand on his thigh in a bizarre bromance scented image… Or maybe it’s a kids party in pizza hut? Would explain the fizzy pop and ice cream!

Make your mind up, but here are some of the best reactions from Twitter…

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]

This 2014/15 season has been a learning curve at Manchester United for both players and new manager Louis van Gaal.

Faced with mounting injuries as well as new tactics, the Red Devils have had to quickly learn how to perfect their individual roles while also being ready to play out of position when covering absences.

To make top four after last year’s failure has actually been quite impressive, but once the new campaign starts United will not receive the same kind of praise for just scrapping Champions League qualification.

The club are expected to spend millions once again in order to strengthen the team into potential title winners, but there are a few current players who need to improve further if United want to have any chance of overcoming the mighty Chelsea…

[interaction id=“none”]

Luke Shaw

Crowned the most expensive teenager in the world when he signed for United last summer, Shaw was always going to struggle to live up to that title.

But few would have predicted that his first season could have gone so badly. Injuries and a pre-season criticism from Van Gaal condemning his fitness levels have restricted the 19-year-old from making the positive impact he’d have hoped.

Shaw only made 16 league appearances and finished the campaign with another injury. The defender will need to toughen up next season if he wants to look like anything other than an eye-wateringly expensive flop.

Angel Di Maria

The Argentine winger has only been with United just one season and yet is already embroiled in a potential Old Trafford exit saga.

The 27-year-old started the campaign in fine form, completely living up to the expectations supporters had but over time injuries and a lack of sharpness lead to Di Maria being left on the bench.

He left Real Madrid in search of regular football, so he must feel dismayed that he has not featured as much in his first season as he would have liked. If he does stay, as many United supporters hope, then he’ll need to prove he can maintain form through-out the entirety of the year.

Wayne Rooney

Numerous injuries have seen captain Wayne Rooney at times played deeper than supporters would like so you can’t be too critical of his goal return.

Rooney’s 12 league goals surprisingly make him the club’s top goalscorer but when you compare him to the most prolific player in the division, Sergio Aguero, who found the net an incredible 26 times, you can see where United will need to improve if they want to become genuine title contenders.

The England international has on the whole had a great season for the Red Devils, but a few more goals would be helpful.

Marouane Fellaini

The big Belgian really came into his own this season following last year’s nightmare, but a lack of discipline still lets down his game.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

No United player gave away more fouls (61) than Fellaini, who has spent his career playing a more physical and aggressive game than most. In comparison to someone like Rooney, who conceded 25 less fouls than his team mate despite playing six more games, you realise how much more physical the midfielder is.

Fouls give away possession and gift the opponent free kicks in dangerous areas, not to mention the possibility of a red card, as Fellaini saw on the final game of the season.

Jonny Evans

Evans only has one-year left on his United contract, having joined the club as a youth player back in 2004.

But his performances this season, which have been hampered by injuries, may not have been good enough to get him another renewal. United are in desperate need of defenders so his transfer may depend on whether or not Van Gaal can find a suitable replacement.

If Evans does stay then he’ll need to prove that he is more reliable and solid than he has been this season.

Albert Einstein once defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. And thus, everybody expects the England U21 manager inquisition; that traditional autopsy after every Junior Lions failing at a major tournament, where every selection, tactical decision, team performance and result is dissected and scrutinised.

During summer 2013, Stuart Pearce became the scapegoat for England’s elimination from the U21 Euros in Israel and now Gareth Southgate is sitting at home, hoping the press don’t turn up in a linguistic lynch mob to make him the villain of yet another abysmal campaign.

Not that England’s recurring lack of success at virtually every age group can be put down to the person in the dugout. The seniors’ last – and only trophy – was 49 years ago, and the U21s haven’t lifted the European Championship since the 1980s. Clearly our national game’s problems stem intrinsically deeper.

Yet, after so many years of international ineptness, perhaps it’s time the FA did something they’ve never dared to before – appoint a foreign manager to the U21s.

It’s time to face some cold, hard truths. Firstly, that the current dearth of top class English coaches is arguably a bigger issue than the apparent limits of our players. At the end of last season, just nine Premier League managers were English, three of which were relegated, three of which have since been sacked, and only two of which finished in the top half.

Roy Hodgson was deemed an underwhelming appointment by many but was – and probably still is – the best option available, and the FA picked up Southgate for the U21 gig after spending four years unemployed. Home-grown managers haven’t produced silverware for decades and barring the odd miracle worker like Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe, the current crop is arguably worse than ever before.

Sceptics will argue a foreign manager wouldn’t have enough knowledge of English players or of our national game. But wait a minute… isn’t our national game the problem?

Many lament the overbearing power of the Premier League, the continual dependency on cheap foreign talent, the increasingly high stakes involved and consequentially, the limited opportunities for younger players. Yet, in my opinion, there’s no debate that the way we coach and play football in this country, from U10s to senior level, from Sunday League to the Premier League, is fundamentally wrong.

Basketball-paced, dangerously open top flight games can provide entertainment to the level of no counterpart across the world, but that shared philosophy continually limits England’s capabilities on the international stage.

Even lesser nations like Croatia, Switzerland and Algeria are comfortable keeping possession for lengthy spells; the Three Lions’ attempts to hold onto the ball consists of a series of laboured passes across the backline before someone inevitably whacks the ball 70 yards, in the hope Wayne Rooney suddenly finds the sprint speed of Usain Bolt to stop it going out for a goal kick.

It’s not a question of natural talent; it’s a question of indoctrination and habit. Only recently have the FA stopped U13s from playing eleven a-side games, and indeed, whilst representing my local park side as a young whippersnapper, matches were predominantly centre-backs hoofing the ball to strikers and the rest of us running around like headless chickens on a full sized pitch.

It produced no learning experience in technique or tactics and became a breeding ground with the almost apocalyptic mantra of only the tallest, the quickest or the strongest prevailing. Football Darwinism at its worst. On the few occasions we did face foreign opposition, their seemingly alien approach of letting the ball do all the work always ripped us apart.

So even if it’s for just ten or fifteen games throughout their entire careers or a handful of occasional training camps, England’s U21s will surely benefit from a manager who hasn’t spent his whole career unwittingly contributing to the perpetual cycle of attritional football. Fresh ideas from abroad; a different style of play; alternate methods of coaching, diet and man management; and the overall influence of simply an non-English perspective on the beautiful game.

The likes of Chris Waddle, Glen Hoddle and David Platt have always been bemused by English players’ hesitation to broaden their knowledge of the game by moving to foreign leagues; this approach ends that ignorance by bringing the ideas of the foreign leagues to them.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be some unknown from the Real Betis academy or the footballing guru in the background of Germany’s recent international success. There are copious amounts of managers already in circulation that can bridge the gap between England and abroad, such as former West Ham and Watford boss Gianfranco Zola, by all accounts an exceptional coach but an unexceptional tactician, ex-Barcelona forward Oscar Garcia, who has spent two years overseeing La Masia – the most successful academy in the world – and two spells in the Championship with Brighton and Watford, or former Spurs boss Martin Jol, a well-proven member of the Dutch management master race.

Are those aforementioned names readily available and raring to go? That’s impossible for me to tell. But after so many years of hoof ball and resulting head scratching when we’re eliminated from the group stages of U21 tournaments – which is now three times in a row and five times from the last nine Championships, two of which we failed to qualify for – clearly a drastic, revolutionary change is needed. It’s time for the FA to go foreign.

[ad_pod id=’ffc-video’ align=’center’]