Manchester City’s resolve to keep Sergio Aguero could be tested this summer, if Real Madrid offer Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain in exchange.
Aguero has been linked with a return to Spain for some time and is thought to be a top target for Real in the summer.
So far this term, the former Atletico Madrid star has regularly failed to hit the heights he displayed in his first season at City as he helped them to the Premier League title, although he remains a world-class talent on his day.
City do not want to sell the Argentinian, who cost around £35million in 2011, but an offer from Real, with either Higuain or Benzema thrown in, may be tempting when they reassess things this summer following a disappointing campaign.
Any potential transfer deal between the two clubs could depend on managerial changes at both clubs over the close season. Speculation is growing that Roberto Mancini could leave the Etihad, and Jose Mourinho’s position as Real coach looks even less secure.
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Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has certainly come under some fierce criticism from his own supporters in the wake of his side’s 3-0 humiliation at the hands of local rivals Sunderland last Sunday afternoon.
The 49,000 home supporters inside St. James’s Park appeared stunned at their side’s lack of fight and desire. The usually sure fire ingredient to derby day success of bringing on Shola Ameobi even failed to have the necessary impact. The Magpies were forced to see just how much of a lift bringing in a new manager can have on a team. Paolo Di Canio’s warriors simply outclassed those in black and white.
It has left some to question whether the grass is greener away from their current boss and if Alan Pardew is still the man to lead Newcastle United into battle.
The argument that Pardew is following the regular demise pattern he has throughout his managerial career is one which his detractors have now thrown into his face. They insist the board should press the panic button and sack their manager before the damage becomes unrectifiable. The initial bubble which left him nearly untouchable last season has well and truly burst and the skills of the Englishman, once touted for the national team, have firmly been put under the spotlight.
Is assuming he is destined to fail too simplistic? Does it not seem crazy to simply throw in the towel on a project that has shown real positive glimpses of success in the last two seasons?
Alan Pardew has been criticised for the reason that he has not made his own moves in the transfer market, but did anyone believe AVB signed Hugo Lloris in the summer? or that Roberto Di Matteo had any say in signing Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge before he was appointed?
It may seem bizarre to supporters who assume that the transfer market works exactly like it does on Football Manager, but several managers have a very limited say in player acquisitions in the real world.
Mike Ashley may have made many ill-advised decisions during his tenure as Newcastle United owner, but ensuring the club has a clear business model at all times, as a priority, has been one of his finest moves.
The players that arrive have to be assured of having sell on value when they leave the Magpies and need to fit in with the current wage structure. You can’t fault it.
It is common sense too to employ a man in the form of Graham Carr to make the transfer decisions. It leaves Pardew to fulfil the role he was employed to do which is motivating his players on the training ground and on match day to results. The notion that managers need to have the ultimate say on transfers is naïve. After all football is a team sport so just as one individual simply can’t be expected to always produce heroics on the pitch, the same argument applies off it too.
Under Freddy Shepherd there seemed to be numerous big name flops who would just come to Tyneside to pick up a handsome payday cheque, the likes of Jean Alain Boumsong, Albert Luque and…. Michael Owen. These times have past and no Newcastle United supporter wishes for them back.
Pardew seems to have played his role in dispelling a lot of the negative atmosphere that used to be directed towards the Newcastle ownership, which was becoming toxic . He is a superb mediator and whilst his post-match press conferences can provide a nauseating amount of buzz words and clichés, his confidence that the club will ultimately succeed has rubbed off on the supporters during his tenure.
The deluded tag that used to follow Newcastle around, with supporters expecting the earth, has now evaporated as Pardew has installed a realistic approach to affairs.
The failure to succeed this campaign should come as no surprise to anyone. Pardew learnt that last season surfaced over the cracks with the weakness of the squad exposed.
Despite this Pardew managed to attain a more than respectable position within the Europa League of a quarter final place.
The Premier League has suffered as a consequence but there was a huge leap last season which was always going to cause a decline. Newcastle went from fielding Shefti Kuqi and Peter Lovernkrands upfront to nearly achieving the Champions League in the space of 12 months.
The players raised their level against all the odds in the 2011/12 season and when they were expected to achieve it twice a week the burden became too huge to carry.
The Board missed out on a huge opportunity to capitalise last August and ever since Pardew’s hands have been tied. If he fails to demand that those upstairs deliver the goods in the summer this time round he will be to blame. It appears though that for now he needs to be given the benefit of the doubt, should his charges, as expected, escape the relegation battle.
Those looking in from the outside point to the signings in January as proof that Pardew can’t succeed even with a strong squad. This myth needs to be eradicated. The squad was bolstered but not as significantly as some in the press would have you believe. There still needs to be at least three or four more bodies for Newcastle to have a squad to compete.
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Yoan Gouffran is no better than Obertan in terms of talent, even if his workrate is appreciated. Haidara did not improve on Santon. Moussa Sissoko is an auxiliary striker and not an out and out forward the side have been crying for. Debuchy is a clear improvement on Danny Simpson, but has yet to fully settle, despite being first choice. Yanga Mbiwa too is a first team regular but has simply added what was desperately needed in central defence with Taylor and Coloccini both regularly out of the side for one reason or another.
The Newcastle boss has also been without arguably his most influential attacking player Hatem Ben Arfa too. He has rarely been fit for the second half of the campaign and no notable striker apart from Cisse is currently available to lead the line. Pardew can’t simply wave his wand of genius and wield magic. The effect the team has had has been nullified as a result.
The side has suffered from its perennial problem of Newcastle being short up front which has been there ever since their return to the top flight.
Even when Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were in the Newcastle front line firing them into Europe, several believed they were one striker short even then.
Pardew’s ability to challenge Ashley is up for debate. This though should not cloud people’s judgement that he is not capable of rallying his side to victory. The Derby day defeat hurt but it should not cause snap decisions, just look what happened to Wolves when they removed Mick McCarthy after a similarly painful defeat to West Brom.
Alan Pardew may be a yes man to some extent but if he is given a chance to get a few strikers over the line in the summer, with the help of his scouting team, why can’t he prove he is worth the 8 year contract his owner is so sure he can fulfil?
As Real Betis gradually slip further away from a top four spot in La Liga, the talk surrounding the transfer of Benat has quietened down – although not as a suggestion that he has lost his spark as a draw for the bigger clubs around Europe.
It was never wide of the mark to suggest Benat may become the next Spanish star to pack his bags and move on to financially “safer” destinations in European football. Of course, it’s been the case for a number of years now, with Juan Mata, David Silva and Santi Cazorla, among others, moving abroad when the first option in either Barcelona or Real Madrid wasn’t immediately available. Going into this summer and with the Premier League title race over, expect to see Benat’s name linked with a number of clubs in England.
The Basque-born midfielder fits the bill for what many are looking for in the Premier League. Benat operates best in the position just between the forwards and the holding midfielder, with all the attributes to take on a variety of roles. His stock was highest towards the end of 2012, having scored the winner against Real Madrid and having his name brought up in discussions as a possible replacement for Javi Martinez at Athletic Bilbao. For all his talents, Benat would not have prevented the disappointing slump Bilbao has felt this season.
That’s not to say he wouldn’t be an excellent buy for leading Premier League clubs. You’re instantly drawn to the situation currently at Chelsea with regards to Frank Lampard and the uncertainty surrounding his future. Even if the midfielder remains at Stamford Bridge into next season, the club will need to address the issue of his long-term replacement. As suggested, Benat has goals in him, and more so than an unnecessary addition on the flanks, the Betis midfielder would fill an obvious need almost immediately.
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While at Betis, Benat is unlikely to be under great consideration for a regular spot in the Spanish national team. Incidentally, with Real Madrid looking for a replacement for the ageing Xabi Alonso, Benat is a player in a similar mould to the former Liverpool man, one who can take on the required duties of a top level deep-lying playmaker – more than a hint that he would excel in the Premier League. He dictates the play well, is excellent from range and specifically from free-kicks, and would fit in seamlessly among Chelsea’s current group of attackers.
The player’s release clause currently stands at €20 million, but with his contract running out next season, it’s likely he could be had for less. It’s the first time in many years that Betis have found themselves up among those fighting for European football, and for that it’s understandable that the levels of excitement might not reach the heights associated with Mata or Silva. But at 26, the midfielder is currently ready for the step up ahead of moving into his prime years as a player. The “snub” from Bilbao last year was more to do with Marcelo Bielsa’s personal preference than the player’s ability. It won’t matter, though. Benat is destined for the big time in European football, and there’s no reason why even Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham shouldn’t be attracted to his qualities.
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The notable lack of conversation about his future over recent months is indicative of the business end of the season – and that’s the way it should be. Benat, however, will comfortably fall into the category of outstanding Spanish midfielders currently dazzling the Premier League. Benat is about as Spanish as you’ll get in terms of playing style, but with the added grit and tenacity to be a hit in England.
As much as Alvaro Negredo needs and probably deserves a move away from Sevilla, it is strange to see him linked with one of the vacant striker roles at Manchester City.
The striker owes it to himself to move on from the damaging atmosphere inside the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. For yet another season, Sevilla have once again been the architects of their own downfall in failing to land Champions League football. Where once the club were lauded for their ability to turn bargain signings, unknown South Americans and youth team graduates into sustained success across numerous trophy fronts, the Andalusians have tumbled out of the top four in La Liga and appear to be quite a distance from regaining their previous footing.
Negredo and Roberto Soldado were two of the big names outside of the top two in Spain who have been linked with transfers away this summer; both, as usual, battling for supremacy over one another. The final showdown came in the final game of last season, as Sevilla beat Valencia 4-3 with Negredo scoring four (Soldado scored two). It was an excellent display of Negredo’s quality in front of goal, but it also allowed for the Spaniard’s name to become even more prominent in the striker merry-go-round discussion. Negredo had now outdone his adversary at the Mestalla and finished the season as the highest scoring Spaniard in the league.
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A move to England always made sense for Negredo. He’s powerful, strong in the air, finished with 31 goals last season, and is currently walking that line between very good and world class. The thing is, he isn’t world class just yet, and at 27-years-old, that timeframe for him to make the leap is diminishing.
Manuel Pellegrini is known to make the best of those who have seemingly fallen by the wayside. The Chilean allowed Martin Demichelis to rediscover his form and become an integral part of Malaga’s squad last season, while the turnaround of Borja Valero remains one of Pellegrini’s best stories following the midfielder’s forgettable spell in English football. For that, the new Manchester City manager may have another opportunity to further enhance his managerial credentials if the club do follow through on their interest in Negredo. The question is whether Negredo would totally appease City considering their immense spending power.
Negredo himself would cost anyone somewhere in the region of £25 million, or so that’s what President Jose Maria del Nido states. That kind of price tag on most players would signal the arrival of a world-class signing, either for the future or for now. How much will that perceived lack of reputation hinder Negredo if he does turn out for City next season? I have no doubt about Pellegrini and his ability to get the most out of the Sevilla forward, but it’s another matter of how much flexibility and time the City board will offer their new manager.
Negredo is a very good striker who will make the difference at most clubs. His lack of recent Champions League experience shouldn’t count against him too much. After all, the hostile crowd at the Sanchez Pizjuan is more than enough to force a player to strengthen and then reinforce his mentality. Negredo is a natural goal scorer who will be an asset to Manchester City. Pairing up with David Silva and former teammate Jesus Navas will only do wonders for each player’s claim for a spot in Vicente del Bosque’s World Cup squad.
The change of surroundings will do Negredo a world of good, too. Like most fans in England and unlike those in Spain, Manchester City supporters will immediately take to the Spaniard and treat him like one of their own. The striker is not shy from putting in a shift, and combined with his consistently good record in front of goal, he’ll quickly endear himself to the crowd.
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Arsenal’s tightly-wound PR machine appears to cover all bases, except of course for what the manager lets slip during his press conferences or post-match interviews.
The problem is two-fold. One, Arsene Wenger, like every manager, is the first line of defence (or attack) against the media. We often like to take what he has to say as gospel because he’s the regular line from the club to the fans. The other point is it doesn’t seem as though anyone is telling Wenger what he should and shouldn’t say, as harmless as his words may be. He speaks in riddles and he can often force a rise out of supporters and the media, but then when Arsenal as a whole are quite clearly walking on thin ice, it is hardly the best idea to speak out that he believes the squad can challenge for the Premier League title without additions this summer.
I said it earlier in the summer that I am absolutely convinced Wenger would go into next season with the squad he has if he was allowed to. Amy Lawrence recently spoke with the BBC about the internal tug of war at the club over the matter of spending big, with her inclination being that Wenger is still very much reserved on that front.
The issue is that Arsenal have created problems for themselves when there really didn’t need to be any.
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I’m not for the idea that Ivan Gazidis shouldn’t have spoken about the club’s spending capabilities prior to the summer market opening. It would be easy to underestimate the rest of Europe in situations like that, assuming that the power a club has is only revealed via the media or supporter events. Even if Gazidis had kept quiet about the club’s plans this summer, other clubs in England and on the continent would have quickly caught wind of Arsenal’s new-found position of financial strength. It’s hardly a secret, and something like revealing your cards won’t always put you at a disadvantage.
But it’s that Arsenal are clearly not on the same wavelength with themselves. Half of the board want to spend, while other quarters want to adhere to the traditions set in previous summers. Gazidis had to say something to the supporters, such was the negative atmosphere around the club following another poor season and another captain sold last summer. It was brilliant PR, talking up the club’s ability to spent £250,000 per week on wages if a Wayne Rooney figure became available. But was Wenger consulted? Was the manager buying into this new way of thinking?
On the whole it makes the club look foolish, while the first and second lines of defence (Gazidis being the second) are clashing over what to do this summer. There’s the spin-factor that comes into it, but I don’t think the club are looking to play the supporters like incompetent, mindless disciples who only latch onto what comes out directly via the club. I do believe there was a desire to spend big and to big spend early, but the fact that the strategic plan wasn’t agreed upon prior to Gazidis’ speech only exacerbates the issue and potentially forces the club into purchases they otherwise wouldn’t have made.
It’s got nothing to do with telling the rest of Europe how much money you have; it has everything to do with giving the wrong impression to a group of supporters who are desperate for something different and ambitious.
If Wenger truly believes that his squad is good enough then – not that I’m condoning it – but get that aired out prior to the window opening. It’s a huge PR blunder, even if it is a throwaway interview, for the manager to talk up an unchanged squad who finished fourth and 26 points behind last season’s champions as title contenders, only months after the CEO promised surprises and ambition.
But that’s just another block to the inconsistent structure at the club. Off the pitch, Arsenal can do no wrong. A wave of new revenue streams are helping to elevate the club onto a similar footing as Bayern Munich, Manchester United and a few others around Europe. The on-pitch affairs and everything related to it continue to take a hammering. Supporters absolutely wanted more clarity on what the club meant when they sold Robin van Persie for “footballing reasons,” and the same is very much true for the issues and building direction for this summer.
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Have Arsenal made PR mistakes with their approach to this summer’s market?
Rightly or wrongly it has been a tough couple of weeks for AVB at Tottenham. On the wrong end of a media barrage and widely scrutinised by many within the game, getting back to Premier League action was a must for the manager.
The critics have been silenced, at least in the short term, by a series of ever more impressive displays from the North Londoners. Back to back wins on the road came after a deserved point at home to the defending champions, and things are beginning to look a bit rosier for Spurs’ helmsman.
It would be wrong of me to suggest that everything is suddenly all well and good at Spurs, because it isn’t. But considering how desperate things seemed only a few weeks ago, you have to hand it to AVB for re-righting an ailing ship.
My issue with Spurs so far this season has always been with their tempo. The best Tottenham teams in years gone by have always attacked with great pace and energy, typically counter attacking and always able to hurt opposition with a flash of brilliance.
Spurs so far this season have been laboured and pensive, no doubt the root of fans frustrations. They have been comfortable in possession throughout, but seemingly loath to do anything more than retain control of the ball. Game after game Tottenham have dominated statistically, but failed to take control on the score-sheet. Unadventurous horizontal passing with no end result in sight, it isn’t surprising that they have struggled to put opposition away.
The return of Aaron Lennon has begun to change all this. A man that is much maligned for his perceived lack of end product, his reappearance has prompted a much-needed change in tempo at Spurs.
Lennon may appear to some a headless chicken, but few would doubt his pace and running ability. With the Englishman in the side you just cannot play a slow and deliberative passing game, his first thought is always to run at his man and try to beat him. Against Fulham and most notably Sunderland, Lennon was the outball, the go to man to get things moving for Spurs.
Townsend and Lamela are wonderfully gifted players and naturally full of pace, but they prefer to rely on their technical abilities ahead of raw pace. Lennon doesn’t have the abilities of these two, but what he does have is an almost unmatchable burst of pace, something that when applied correctly can unlock any defence.
On Saturday it wasn’t the midfield duo dictating the pace of play, it was Lennon. In fact when Spurs took the foot of the gas and invited Sunderland on to them, it was more because the Englishman was tiring rather than anything else. Paulinho for me has been central to Spurs’ midfield negativity, but on Saturday he was a player transformed. Forced to keep up with the forward thrust offered by Lennon, the whole midfield five looked more dynamic than ever.
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Spurs have needed that kick, someone to bring back the attacking adventure of years past. Balance is crucial in football, and clearly AVB is still grappling for it. The pace of Lennon out wide appears to be a step in the right direction for Spurs, and for me it is something that is gradually bringing them out of an early season rut.
I understand the frustrations that people have with Lennon, but the impetus he has given Spurs in recent weeks shouldn’t be downplayed.
The landscape of this Premier League season has changed, and it will continue to do so until the end of this month’s transfer window.
Arsenal, currently in first, look to hold with what they have and hope for the best. Theo Walcott is out for the rest of the season, but Arsene Wenger is boosted by the returns of Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Pivotal figures in Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta are also on their way back; Nicklas Bendtner, regardless of his detractors, is a useful member of the squad. But with Wenger continuously speaking out against the opening of the market midway through the season, he may cost Arsenal the title if he chooses not to act.
There is chopping and changing with what Arsenal need. In December, even after the result at Manchester City, Arsenal looked good value for the title. They had managed to negotiate their way through the Champions League group stages and past the wealth of City and Chelsea to the top of the league table. They’d done that without two vital scoring components in Podolski and Walcott. With those two back, it looked to be a boost for Wenger’s side’s charge on the league title.
But needs change, and not just because of what happens within your own squad.
Chelsea have strengthened. The sale of Juan Mata won’t be felt within Jose Mourinho’s team. What they really needed was to address the centre of midfield, and they’ve done that now with the re-signing of Nemanja Matic from Benfica. We can take the easy route of criticising Chelsea’s transfer policy, but in terms of what they needed at this time, Matic is an excellent buy. Chelsea have just thrown another log onto their own fire, fuelling their push to the summit of the league table.
Manchester United, though not a direct player in the title race, will have a say in the outcome in May. Their capture of Juan Mata, which at time of writing is yet to be made official, will be seen as a phenomenal boost to their hopes of finishing fourth. With Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie returning in the near future, that game at the Emirates on February 12th has been made that much more difficult with the involvement of Mata.
Chelsea and United are fortunate that the exact players they needed have become available at this point of the season, though many have questioned United’s need for Mata. Arsenal need a striker who is either better than what they have now in terms of out-and-out goal scoring, or a good enough player who will help them over the line and get them to the summer window.
Mirko Vucinic, a good short-term option, looks to be off the table for now. Juventus want a permanent deal but Arsenal are only interested in a loan. Alvaro Morata, Dimitar Berbatov and one or two others around Europe have been touted, but the deal proposed by one party doesn’t suit the other. Arsenal would like to have Morata on loan; Real Madrid are reluctant to let him leave. Even wide players, with Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado linked in the recent past, looks to be a difficult area of the market. The Fiorentina winger would be a good addition at Arsenal, but having just lost Giuseppe Rossi to injury, the Serie A side understandably won’t want to lose key players in the market.
Is this an excuse for Arsenal? Yes and no. You can understand the situation the club are in, but at the same time you wonder if the club themselves understand the position they’re in at this stage.
There are players around Europe who don’t hold the same profile as Mario Mandzukic or Luis Suarez who would nevertheless be a fantastic boost to Arsenal’s title ambitions. They may not initially be the first or second choice, but in situations like this, where others are actively strengthening, compromises need to be made.
But it’s not just the addition of an extra player that will help on the pitch, it’s what they will do for the mentality of those already at the club.
United’s players, those down on confidence, will be boosted by Mata’s arrival. You’d struggle to imagine many of them not wanting to raise their game with the Spaniard in the red of Manchester United. Arsenal need the same. At times important players have looked fatigued, in need of a helping hand and a catalyst to help them find that extra 10 per cent. It can’t be dismissed the importance a new arrival can have in a season like this.
To borrow a phrase from Wenger, Sergio Aguero is like a new signing for Manchester City. And if Manuel Pellegrini decides to include Stevan Jovetic for the remainder of the season, the Montenegrin will also have a say in the title race.
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Arsenal, as good as they’ve been as a unit, could do with an injection of quality like that. Maybe not a £30 million player, but someone who can help to make a difference.
The league season is changing. It’s even less straightforward than it was before. A month ago it seemed OK for Arsenal to let this month go by without any action. Now, amidst the transfer business of others, a lack of action just might cost Arsenal the title.
Click below to see Arsenal, Fulham and Everton in action this weekend!
Tottenham head into their self inflicted mini FA Cup break riding high, going great guns under new man Tim Sherwood and understandably buoyed by their convincing 4-0 Premier League demolition of Newcastle on Wednesday night. Next up is a tricky trip to Ukraine in the first of a two-legged Europa League tie with Dnipro, a club that for many Spurs fans represent something of a relative unknown.
Yet come Thursday week Spurs fans will be welcoming back one of their own to White Hart Lane, in the form of one time manager Juande Ramos. But don’t expect street parties and a marching band, because as many of us know the end of the Ramos era was one that left the club with a now infamous 2 points from 8 games. Things may not have worked out in the end for Ramos and Spurs, but his League Cup triumph in 2008 still makes him the most successful Spurs manager in the last couple of decades and surely a man well placed to give his view on the club.
His recent interview with the Daily Mail proved illuminating; with a lot of the home truths simply reaffirming many of the things fans would have surmised about the club already. In fact many of the things he says chime well with a set of fans that remain unconvinced by the boardroom level leadership, a club that forces fans to make huge personal investments in their club but aren’t willing to match the ambition themselves. Ramos was quick to highlight this economic driven approach when discussing the clubs recent approach to transfers:
‘Spurs sold Gareth Bale in the summer and with the €100million they have signed five or six players. They will see if any of those players take off and then maybe sell them on and reinvest: that’s the business plan,’ said Ramos at the Ukraine side’s winter training camp in Alicante.’
‘It works well but you have to ask the question: what are you trying to achieve? Are you trying to win money or titles? The sporting side is the priority at Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. City sign Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo. They don’t look at the age of the player, they look at the performances. Spurs look at the age, thinking of a future sale.’
‘I advised them to sign Luka Modric. He spent a couple of years developing and started performing well and they sold him.’
Spurs under Levy continue to be a finishing school for players; and it is no wonder that players continue to view the club as a stepping stone to better things. Players are identified with a view to a future sale; even with someone like Erik Lamela last summer there was a clear consideration for his long term potential. How can you ever expect to do battle with the Europe’s best when you continuously shirk footballing success for turning a profit? In terms of financial prudence Spurs are up there with the best, but football should be so much more than about balance sheets, in the end it is the fans that matter and at Spurs this has seemingly long been forgotten.
In effect Spurs under Levy are trying to buy success on the cheap, and it just doesn’t work. Ramos can be written off as a bitter failure as much as you like, but the trend has continued and will do so until something emphatically changes. There have been countless times when Spurs have genuinely been on the cusp of something great, only to find themselves returning to old habits and laying their faith in someone like Darren Bent. Spurs are a business, and the football club is simple forming the frontispiece to Levy’s money-spinning exploits, it is clear why Spurs cannot progress:
Why aren’t Spurs going to win the league? Because they are always a small step below those three or four teams. Economically it works well but in sporting terms it needs a slight tuning. What are you chasing? Titles or economic success?’
‘Then you don’t sack the manager for not always being in the top four,’ he said
For all the money that they have at their disposal, Levy continues to try to buy success on the cheap. Last summer wasn’t even a change in tact, the club broke even on transfers and actually ended up cutting its wage bill, the ambition just isn’t there. The thing that makes it even worse is the fact that Levy wont even take the responsibility, he continues to swerve the issue by sacking manager after manager. You can put a couple of failures down to managerial incompetence, but all of them? Given all this it isn’t really a surprise that Spurs are the great underachievers.
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Ramos may not get the cheers he perhaps deserves when he returns to Spurs, but what he will provide is a stark reminder to fans of the continued lack of ambition at the club.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will continue to focus on young players, despite being given a £100million transfer kitty this summer.
ESPN are reporting that Stan Kroenke will allow the French manager to spend a £100million on new players next season, in a bid to get Arsenal to the top of the Premier League. The Gunners spent the early months of the season at the summit of the table, but are now 7 points adrift of Liverpool in 1st with 6 games remaining.
Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas were all youngsters given a chance by Wenger, and the Frenchman said he intends to find other youngsters who will develop into top players: “They [academy graduates] think the club has given them a chance so they want to give something back as well,” Wenger told the Arsenal website. “It has to work both ways, but we want to be the ones who give a chance.
“It’s one of the values of our club. We want to be very successful without neglecting the need to give a chance to people. I want it to be part of our tradition and I also want to develop a spirit inside the club that makes the young players be faithful to this club.
“It’s a big mental test for the [young] players because you see how they resist stress, how they can deal with the pressure and how they can be committed in a very demanding environment. These kinds of qualities you discover only when you play the players. Of course, it’s an early test that not everybody can take on. Some fail, but the strong ones just feel they belong there.”
Many Arsenal fans were calling for Wenger to be sacked at the start of the season, but the Frenchman has stayed put, and has guided the club to a FA Cup semi-final appearance at Wembley.
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There’s no use crying over spilt milk, but news that Chelsea have completed the signing of former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will leave a rather sour taste in the mouths of the Emirates fanbase.
Indeed, a former fan hero and first team talisman, many Gunners supporters have been left heart-broken by the revelation that Arsene Wenger decided against activating his first refusal option for the ex-Barcelona midfielder, dating back to his original switch from North London to the Nou Camp in summer 2011.
Resultantly, Arsenal fans will be expecting big things from their manager in the coming transfer window to help them overcome the disappointment of witnessing one of their most favoured recent players joining a close Premier League rival.
With that in mind, here’s a list of SIX super-signings that can cure that Fabregas-shaped hole left in the heart of the Gunners’ support.
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JULIAN DRAXLER
Commonly regarded as one of European football’s hottest prodigies, bringing long-term target Julian Draxler to the Emirates this summer would certainly have Arsenal the envy of their domestic and continental rivals.
The 20 year-old’s preceding reputation comes from two strong campaigns with the Schalke seniors, the first producing 13 goals in all competitions and the second finishing with impressive averages of 1.8 shots, 2.3 key passes and 4.1 dribbles per match in the Bundesliga.
The attacking midfielder’s ability to score, create and regularly conjure moments of individual brilliance, combined with an unusually lanky 6 foot 2 frame, has often lead to comparisons with Zinedine Zidane.
The Germany international’s £40million release clause has proved too rich for Arsene Wenger’s blood in the last two transfer windows, but a North London arrival this summer would more than compensate for the loss of Cesc Fabregas.
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KARIM BENZEMA
Amid the Gunners’ absence of star-studded quality in the final third, if Arsene Wenger isn’t interested in re-signing Cesc Fabregas this summer, Arsenal fans will hope it’s due to his transfer funds being solely focused on acquiring a world-renowned centre-forward.
Top of that list has to be Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema – quick, tall, powerful and confident on the ball, the 26 year-old would be an ideal fit for the Gunners’ lone striking role.
There’s no doubting his scoring credentials either; since joining Los Blancos from Lyon in summer 2009, the France international has netted 111 times in 235 appearances for the European Champions.
Furthermore, in attacking tandem with former Madridian Mesut Ozil, the duo amassed 20 goals and 25 assists combined in La Liga last season.
It’s believed Benzema is valued at around £30million – but his Bernabeu departure will depend on Real securing an adequate replacement first, with Luis Suarez mooted as the leading candidate.
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MARIO BALOTELLI
Another superstar striking addition that would help Arsene Wenger cure some Fabregas-shaped wounds in north London is AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli.
The former Manchester City badboy can be a disruptive influence but there’s no doubting his quality in front of goal. The 23 year-old contributed a vital twelve goals to the Citizens’ first Premier League title in 2012, and since moving to the San Siro in January 2013 has netted 30 times in 54 appearances.
13 goals in 31 outings for Italy – including a header against England on Saturday evening – isn’t a bad return at international level either, and we are yet to witness anything the 6 foot 2 striker can’t do with the ball at his feet.
AC Milan appear surprisingly keen to sell this summer, with the tabloids quoting fees between £20million-£30million, and Arsenal are widely regarded as his likeliest suitors. But recent speculation suggests their interest could be rivalled by French big-spenders Monaco.
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ALEXIS SANCHEZ
Not every superstar is accompanied by a superstar price-tag, and in that regard Arsene Wenger may find Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez more agreeable with his summer transfer budget whilst also meeting the fans’ desire for a major acquisition.
The winger-forward has just completed his strongest campaign to date for the Catalans with 21 goals and 15 assists across all competitions, including 19 goals in La Liga.
But the feeling is that the Chile international hasn’t progressed as expected following his move from Udinese in summer 2011, and resultantly Barca are reportedly prepared to sell for just £25million as they plan a summer of wholesale changes.
Boasting a mixture of tica-taca technique, netting prowess, natural penetration and positional flexibility, Sanchez has a lot to offer the Gunners in the final third.
But due to his well documented availability, Liverpool, Manchester United and several Serie A sides are all believed to be baying for the South American’s signature this summer.
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LUCAS MOURA
Another star-studded wideman option for Arsene Wenger to consider this summer is PSG’s highly-rated winger Lucas Moura.
The 21 year-old has been in good form this season to record five goals and eleven assists in 36 Ligue 1 appearances, with only half of his league outings coming as starts. But the Brazilian prodigy is better famed for his blistering pace, which has caught attention from Manchester United amongst others in the past.
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Having surprisingly missed out on a spot in Verde-Amarela’s World Cup squad, the tabloids believe Moura could be tempted away from the French capital this summer despite the winger’s public assurances otherwise.
The Red Devils have been linked again, but originally purchased for a ridiculous £42million back in summer 2012, it will take an audacious fee to convince the Parisians to sell.
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PAUL POGBA
It may be a bit of a pipe-dream, but often compared to Arsenal legend Patrick Viera, Gunners fans will continue to fantasise over the notion of Juventus star Paul Pogba joining the Emirates ranks this summer.
Since leaving Manchester United on a bosman move in summer 2012, the 21 year-old midfielder has won consecutive Serie A titles with the Old Lady and also claimed last season’s European Golden Boy award.
The France international has furthermore just completed a stunning campaign, finding seven goals and seven assists in 36 league outings.
The 6 foot 1 central midfielder boasts an eclectic mix of physical dominance and quality on the ball, best represented by averages of 2.3 tackles, 1.3 key passes and 2.1 successful dribbles per match this term.
Pogba’s ability to drive at the opposition from deep would certainly make the Gunners’ more direct and athletically imposing.
But wanted by Manchester City, Real Madrid, PSG and virtually every major club in Europe, the Viera-incarnate is reportedly valued at £60million by Juve.