The Best Premier League Matches Of The Festive Season

For football fans, one of the best things about the holiday season is that matches continue without interruption in the major European leagues. This means we can all spend some of our time away from work taking in the matches and getting a nice look at how the teams look heading into 2015 and soon the second half of the league campaigns. So with that in mind, here's a glance at some of the top Premier League fixtures to keep your eye on this festive period.

Aston Villa v. Manchester United (December 20)

Much has been made of Man Utd.'s recent hot streak, which has propelled them all the way up to third place in the league tables. Following the club's recent 3-0 dismantling of Liverpool at Old Trafford, the Daily Mail even went so far as to declare the EPL a three-horse title race (with many still assuming it'll come down to Chelsea and Manchester City). But Aston Villa can be a tricky club when playing at home, so this is an interesting match to watch. If there's a game that could trip up Man Utd. before 2015, this is probably it.

Liverpool v. Arsenal (December 21)

Liverpool is having a disastrous go of it thus far, and the aforementioned 3-0 loss at Man Utd. didn't help matters. Now, a December 21 fixture in which the club hosts Arsenal is beginning to resemble a make-or-break contest. Bet Fair analyst Luke Moore wrote about Liverpool's outlook standing as one of the EPL stories to watch in the coming weeks. He even went so far as to suggest that Brendan Rodgers may be coaching for his job. Meanwhile, Arsenal is hoping to gain some momentum.

Chelsea v. West Ham (December 26)

Chelsea will likely go into this match as the strong favourite, and justifiably so. But a cross-town rivalry in London yields no sure results, and West Ham has been stronger than most anyone anticipated this season. This should be one of the most intriguing fixtures of the season.

Manchester United v. Newcastle (December 26)

As mentioned, Man Utd. has come on strong of late, but Newcastle has had a fairly impressive campaign as well. Its claim to fame is becoming the first club to beat Chelsea in a league match this season, as Newcastle won their Week 15 contest 2-1. But Newcastle then followed up that result by taking a 4-1 clobbering from Arsenal. Man Utd. will be favoured, but it shouldn't overlook a Newcastle squad that's trying to get back on track.

Southampton v. Chelsea (December 28)

There aren't many fixtures that one can point at and label as a chance that Chelsea may lose, but this is one of them. The Atlantic posted an interesting piece at the beginning of December that gives sound reasoning for Southampton's improbably hot start to likely meet an end—and they're probably right. But this has nevertheless been one of the EPL's most impressive teams thus far, and one never knows what may come up with hosting Chelsea in December.

West Ham v. Arsenal (December 28)

If Arsenal can handle Liverpool in the previously highlighted match, it will have generated some very positive momentum heading toward the second half of the season, with a top-four finish in its sights. West Ham will then become a very intriguing obstacle, and as noted when discussing the Chelsea v. West Ham fixture on December 26, cross-London rivalries make for extra intrigue. This will also be a great opportunity for Arsenal, in that West Ham will only have one day of rest between the matches.

Any EPL match holds the potential to entertain, but if you're looking for a few fixtures to highlight for holiday season viewing, these look to be the best of the bunch!
 
 

A New Manager, New Players, Same Struggle

Louis Van Gaal - Manchester United new manager

The newly appointed Dutch manager was acclaimed by fans and pundits alike to be a great, wonderful manager, and I am with them on this occasion.

However, with opening results (losing to Swansea 1-2 and drawing with Sunderland 1-1) suggesting that he may not be as special as he has been made out to be.

Obviously it is very early on in the Dutchman's Manchester United managerial career, but van Gaal is yet to utilize much of his transfer budget, every man and his dog knows and recognizes that United need at least one, maybe even two world class centre backs. LVG seems to have also realised this, but is Marcos Rojo really world class?

The Red Devils linked with players such as Benatia and Mats Hummels, have turned to a very much unproven Argentinian centre back, who has been playing in a much weaker league to the Premier League (no disrespect to the Portuguese league). I believe this is an area that they (Manchester United) largely need to improve on, especially with them playing in van Gaal's world renowned 3-5-2 / 5-3-2.

Argentinian midfielder Angel Di Maria joins United

 Although, the ex-Dutch national coach has been active in the transfer market signing Luke Shaw (left back) and Angel Di Maria (attacking midfielder) for around £30,000,000 and £59,700,000 respectively.

Back to tactics, I firmly do not believe that Manchester United's squad, as of yet, is tactically adept enough to play in LVG's favoured 3-5-2 / 5-3-2 formation. The formation requires three good quality centre backs, which United still do not have. Two wing backs which will track back and forth, and no, Ashley Young is not good enough to play wing back for a club like Manchester United. Two central midfielders, one preferably ball winning and one as a sort of deep lying playmaker, the Xavi/Gerrard role. One or two attacking midfielders that can create opportunities, Mata, Kagawa, Januzaj and Di Maria, all can cover this role. Then up front, one or two quality strikers, which they have in Rooney and van Gaal's fellow countryman Van Persie.

3-5-2 when attacking and 5-3-2 when defending

In my opinion, United have 8 or 9 out off the 11 roles covered. LVG has to strengthen as soon as possible, otherwise by January prices will have inflated and an average player might cost them what a good player would of cost in summer.

In conclusion, I think all van Gaal needs is time, and a few more decent signings. Whether that be in the form of Daley Blind or Mats Hummels, that is all they need.

Utd & City Crash Out Of Champion's League

Watching Man Utd crash out of the Champion's League Group stage has helped me get over Liverpool's defeat to Fulham no end. It is great to see our fiercest rivals lose at any time but to lose such an important match is terrific.

Basel beat Utd 2-1 with Streller and Frei scoring for the Swiss side while Jones added a consolation on 89 mins.

I have no axe to grind with Man City yet but their billionaire owners must be counting their dollar-spend after they too crashed out of the Champion's League despite beating Bayern Munich 2-0.

Read full article at Friends Of Liverpool FC blog

Manchester United V Newcastle United

Overview
Finally it's back to writing about my favourite club Manchester United. I have been writing a lot about Newcastle  lately because of their surprising form which puts them 3rd in the English Premier League. Their real opponent starts last week with Manchester City and this week Manchester United followed by Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson's side are not looking sharp at the moment after the 1-6 defeat against Manchester City at Old Trafford. They have only scraped out three 1-0 victories in their last 3 English Premier League matches. They do not lack the fire power but have they lost their morale?

The Magpies have not won at Old Trafford for the last 10 years, with 2 draws and 8 defeats, conceding 26 goals and scoring just 6. Wayne Rooney had scored 9 goals against Newcastle and I expect him to score again on Match Day.

Read full article here.

That Sinking Feeling!

 

I predict a riot! With the start of the season only a few days away its all kicking off! The amount of money spent has reached upwards of £269,075,000!


With all this dosh being spent by 'The Big Boys' The other teams located up and down the country have been looting other clubs for any freebees they can get their hands on! Stoke snapping up former England international Jonathan Woodgate from Spurs, Sunderland have taken Westwood, Larsson & David Vaughan without even spending a penny! The QPR management team have also been @ it! Walking out of Upton Park with Welshman Danny Gabbidon & Kieron Dyer under their arms! While Neil Warnock was photographed taking Jay Bothroyd for a spin in his new bright pink Bugatti Veyron, next thing you know Bothroyd's pictured in the QPR team photo!

Read More....

Soccer in the Deep South

United and Liverpool fans winding each other up in Tennessee; 1,200 mile round trips for an amateur league game; and, 1 professional team spread over 250,000 square miles.

Those lovely people at In Bed With Maradona are hosting my latest work, a look at emerging football culture in the Deep South, USA.

Read more: Soccer in the Deep South.

Am I a Football Mongrel - are you?

You didn’t read the title wrong…I’m asking if any of you would admit to being a football mongrel. That is to say that you have, for whatever reason not just supported the team you support now or have other teams that you ‘keep your eye out’ for either domestically or internationally. We’ve all admitted to supporting Cameroon in the 1994 World Cup (yeah, cheers Turnip head!), or wanting plucky AFC Wimbledon to rise through the leagues as they have - but have you ever taken it a bit further than that?

I have. I do.

Read more...