Everton had a period of positivity following Sam Allardyce’s arrival as manager.
The team went on a seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier League once the experienced coach became Ronald Koeman’s permanent successor in November.
Now, though, it is a different story as the team have lost their last three top-flight matches.
In that spell, the team conceded eight goals, and four of them were struck by Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s thumping at Wembley.
Allardyce has attempted to address the lack of firepower issue by bringing in Cenk Tosun from Besiktas.
The former Crystal Palace boss has also confirmed that talks are underway to sign Theo Walcott from Arsenal.
One area that the fans are desperate for Allardyce to strengthen is at left-back.
Leighton Baines is no closer to returning to action, while Cuco Martina has had mixed reviews since his arrival from Southampton last summer.
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Given that Baines is on the wrong side of 30 – 33 – the fans think that buying a new left-back should be a priority.
Back in the summer, we witnessed Arsene Wenger break the habit of a lifetime when he launched a last-minute swoop for Real Madrid’s Mesut Ozil. In sharp contrast to a club that held the £13million acquisition of Sylvain Wiltord in 2000 as their record transfer fee for the next eight-and-a-half years, Arsenal splashed out an unprecedented £42.5million on the German international.
The move broke almost every rule in Wenger’s transfer rule-book; big bucks on an already established player that undoubtedly morphed the Emirates’ rigid wage structure too. So twenty games into his Premier League career, it’s time to give the first analysis on whether Ozil has justified the Gunners gaffer’s transfer agenda-bending, and that eye-watering £42.5million fee.
I’m sure you will have noticed that this article has coincided with the North London side’s shock 5-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend. The result’s aftermath has seen the 25 year-old bare the brunt of criticism from fans, pundits and BT Sport’s Michael Owen.
I do not intend to venture down the road of hyperbolas rant – one performance does not define a player, especially a player with such proven pedigree as Arsenal’s summer signing. Owen’s judgement that Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho is ‘more influential when it counts’, was unjustified, unnecessary, and unfounded in fact.
But let’s not commit to the other extreme of ignoring Ozil’s dismal Anfield display in its entirety – it did illustrate many criticisms one could have of the Germany midfielder.
Firstly, as the retired Kop Icon also pointed out, Ozil does have a tendency to go rather absent in the big games. His Champions League showing against Napoli, grabbing a goal and an assist in Naples, was certainly impressive, and an indicator of what the former Werder Bremen playmaker is truly capable of.
But on the Premier League scene, the midfielder has found just one goal and two assists thus far against top seven opposition. Although Arsenal have decisively crumbled against the likes of Chelsea, City, United and Liverpool this season, and therefore the entirety of the blame for Ozil’s performances against the bigger clubs can’t be attributed to him as an individual, this is essentially where you’d expect your £42.5million signing to stand up and be counted.
Following on, it also demonstrates how despite the enormous fee spent on Ozil in the summer, he hasn’t been by any stretch of the imagination Arsenal’s most defining player this season – the one that will come to symbolise everything good about the campaign in the minds of the fans. That title most likely belongs to Aaron Ramsey, who was dominating the Premier League in terms of goals, assists and tackles from midfield before his recent injury bout, or the club’s top scorer this year, Olivier Giroud.
But as previously stated, let’s not get over-influenced by what we’ve learned from one Premier League performance out of twenty, and let’s not ignore what we already knew about Mesut Ozil before he arrived in England.
The German may still have some way to go in his last 13 Premier League games to match the nine goals and eleven assists he found in La Liga last season, but there’s no doubt Ozil’s four goals and eight assists this term have been pivotal to the Gunners cause. Comparatively, the twelve goals the attacking midfielder has been in some way responsible for is only bettered in the Emirates squad by Aaron Ramsey (eight goals, six assists) and Olivier Giroud (ten goals, six assists).
And in the Premier League throughout, his eight assists is trumped by just Wayne Rooney with nine, whilst his average of 2.8 key passes per match – a statistic which essentially summaries the core reason Arsene Wenger was willing to part with £42million for Ozil’s services – is only overshadowed by David Silva (3.9) and Luis Suarez (2.9).
That being said, the Die Mannschaft star is still yet to produce performances of playmaking dominance that parallel the efforts we’ve seen from the likes of Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, David Silva or Eden Hazard over the last few years, or match the kind of prolific form we witnessed from a then 21 year-old at the 2010 World Cup for Germany.
That could come with time however; let’s not forget that this is Ozil’s first campaign in England, and Arsenal purchased the player with the view to have his services for the next five years. A stat-filled article on Kickoff.co.uk has pointed out that the midfielder’s return from his inaugural Premier League season is very much in line with those of David Silva’s, Oscar’s and Juan Mata’s. The only criticism of that however would be that all three arrived in the English top flight for between half and two-thirds of the Gunners’ £42.5million investment.
One should also consider the positive psychological lift the 25 year-old’s summer arrival has had on the Emirates camp this season, in what has been dubbed by many as the ‘Ozil effect’. In a nutshell, who Arsenal splashed the cash on in the summer window didn’t really matter, rather, it was simply a case of a club breaking their dormancy at the top end of the transfer market by bringing in an already established world-class talent. It proved to the Arsenal faithful and the roster that the North London outfit can still be considered a major club, capable of attracting major players.
The benefits have been obvious; Arsenal are back in the title race for the first time in nearly a decade, and although Ozil’s overall influence in their rise to the Premier League’s summit is still open to debate, there are few who argue the Gunners would be in the same position had they not spent so uncharacteristically boldly back in the summer.
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Should the German international’s £42.5million capture prove to be a watershed moment in Arsenal’s future transfer endeavours, acting as an appetising beacon for other high-quality targets to be attracted to, it will undoubtedly be viewed as money well spent in the years to come, and a positive reason to deviate from the Gunners’ transfer norm.
But the ultimate litmus test of whether Arsenal have invested wisely will undoubtedly be whether Ozil can take them to the next level during his time at the Emirates, which in my opinion can only be determined by silverware. The Gunners’ eight-year trophy drought is beginning to venture upon the absurd, and if their summer signing wishes to truly prove he’s worth the £42.5million fee, he needs to be a major contributor in bringing the baron run to an end.
Failing to do so, and Arsene Wenger may as well have spent the money on another four Mikel Artetas.
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When you say the name Craig Bellamy, certain things come into mind – his footballing ability and his mouthing off ability perhaps being the most prominent of these things, but for a man who took a pay cut to join boyhood club Cardiff City, there has to be more than meets the eye. The reaction and grief Bellamy showed in the aftermath of the tragic death of mentor Gary Speed further served to enhance the belief that what you see on the field is not exactly the man off it.
Whilst most footballers are involved in charity work – or at the very least claim to be – Bellamy is one of the most understated in this area yet one who actually puts in a huge amount of time, effort and money towards his personal foundation – the Craig Bellamy Foundation – after a visit to Sierra Leone and personally witnessing the plight of the children there on a visit to a friend.
Whilst we may know the ‘blood diamond’ reference to Sierra Leone, the actual scale of poverty and violence is unparalleled and upon his visit Bellamy felt compelled to do something and chose to use his livelihood as a way to do this. Handing out footballs and playing with kids in the street was the first step on a long road to establishing the CBF which is now a non–profit organisation paired with UNICEF in order to create academies for children and allow them to hone their skills with a ball in a way they would never have the chance to do otherwise.
This may sound simple and as though it is geared towards children who just wish to become footballers, but in reality Bellamy is using his foundation and thus academies to inspire social change and provide some semblance of security and education to the children who without this would have nothing. Of course in such a country things cannot be changed overnight, and the Welsh player is fully aware of this, yet there has to be a starting point somewhere and Bellamy is doing a great deal more than some in his position of wealth who host a charity auction once a year and then forget all about poverty.
The foundation is of course in some part geared towards furthering football skills, but much more than that it is about raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the foul conditions and utter lack of education that the children growing up in West Africa are facing, with a morality rate in the young that would bring tears to your eyes.
In the aftermath of a country in civil war, the CBF is a ray of light for youngsters – introducing discipline and a sense of community, banning children from playing in matches if they skip school or do not help in community related projects – attendance of which has risen whilst the school truancy rates have dropped.
What makes this case rare is not only the passion Bellamy shows for the project or the time and funds he has invested, but the country in which he has chosen to make a difference and the way he became effected by the sights he witnessed. It is common for a player from a war torn nation to want to go home and help – Drogba is a prime example of this, but Bellamy had no personal ties to Sierra Leone just a deep seated need to help.
Bellamy credits the foundation for changing him as a person and whilst he is adamant the only recognition he requires is because of the need for sponsors and to keep the interest of partners who provide said donations, he is quick to state that he would do it all again and is fully prepared to give whatever he can and keep funding the academy – getting far more satisfaction from seeing the difference he is making than buying a holiday home or a flashy new car.
The foundation has a number of partners including UNICEF who provide a huge amount of funds, and help the CBF enormously. Bellamy receives no money or indeed acclaim for the work he does – only drawing attention to his work when the necessary publicity is required. In fact the player has become about as well versed in the politics and history of the country as it is possible to be in such a short space of time.
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Whilst most would be content with lending their name to a foundation and allowing others to run it for them, Bellamy is pro- active to say the least, carrying on from his first trip to the country handing out balls and joining in the fun, going as far as signing a deal last summer to become the Warrior’s ambassador – the first one of its kind – and all in order to use the sponsorship fee he receives as funds for the CBF calling it ‘the most important part of the deal.’
Called an enigma by The Guardian yet known as a loud mouth and trouble maker by a huge amount of football fans is certainly something to ponder, yet the way someone behaves on the field may be totally different to their actual personalities off it – Mourinho often states this, and Bellamy is a perfect example.
Yes he may have been a little too enthusiastic with a golf club once upon a time and is no stranger to trouble, but to have the president of Sierra Leone order ministers to ‘jump’ to his every command is not something to be taken lightly – nor is the heart and passion the striker puts into the CBF something which makes him a hell of a lot better than players who write a hefty cheque and leave it at that. He might be considered hard work but in this case, the boy has most certainly done good.
According to reports in The Telegraph, Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is one of the preferred candidates for the vacant West Ham United job after they announced on Wednesday that David Moyes would be leaving the club following the expiry of his contract.
The east London outfit came close to appointing the Spaniard three years ago before he made a last-minute u-turn and joined Real Madrid instead, and now they want him again after Moyes failed to impress the fans and the board enough for them to keep him on.
Meanwhile, the former Liverpool boss enjoyed a fine campaign with the Magpies after leading them to a 10th-place finish in their first season back in the Premier League, but his relationship with owner Mike Ashley continues to be fractious and unless he gets the backing he wants, he could easily walk away.
The 58-year-old may well decide that enough is enough and a move to London to link up with the Hammers, whose fans on Twitter are loving a link to another 45-year-old candidate, could be tempting, and he would likely want to take some of his top flight heroes from this term with him down south if he did get the gig.
Here are three Newcastle stars Benitez should bring to West Ham with him, if he is appointed…
One of the new West Ham manager’s priorities this summer is almost certainly going to be bringing a new centre-back to the club, with Jose Fonte leaving for China in February, James Collins set to leave when his contract expires next month and Winston Reid being hampered by injuries.
The east London outfit ideally need at least one – and probably two – central defenders this summer with an upgrade for Reid top of the agenda, and there is no doubt that if Rafa does arrive at the London Stadium that he should make every effort to bring his captain at St James’ Park – Lascelles – with him.
The 24-year-old was brilliant throughout the campaign and showed his leadership skills in the backline, and he will probably count himself unlucky to have not made England’s World Cup squad.
Like Lascelles, the midfielder will feel hard done by that he wasn’t considered to be part of Gareth Southgate’s squad following the World Cup announcement on Wednesday, following a fine season in the middle of the park for the Magpies.
It didn’t look as though it was going to well when the 26-year-old was sent off on the opening day of the campaign against Tottenham Hotspur, but he bounced back well and quickly gained the trust of Benitez again.
There is no doubt that the former Liverpool man would add a new dimension to the Irons in the middle of the park, and he would be a great addition for them with Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate both enduring difficult years.
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Joao Mario is looking unlikely to return to the London Stadium on a permanent basis following his loan spell from Inter Milan in the second-half of the season, and while he was certainly neat and tidy he probably didn’t make the required impact in terms of goals and assists – he got two goals and one assist in 14 appearances in all competitions.
If Rafa does take on the West Ham job, he could look to bring Ayoze Perez with him to play in the role behind the centre-forward for the east London outfit.
The Spaniard was a regular this term despite struggling for form at some points, but he ended the campaign with six goals and an assist in his side’s final eight Premier League matches, showing the quality he has in his locker.
Under Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman, Southampton gradually got better.
Finishes of eighth, then seventh, then sixth showed that the Saints were back in business as a truly exciting Premier League outfit, the living proof of which is the sacking of Claude Puel after a League Cup final appearance and another eighth place finish.
The harshness of the sacking can be debated, but the fact the St Mary’s outfit decided to part company with their manager based on style rather than substance tells you what you need to know about Southampton’s ambitions: they want to do things the right way at the very least.
That’s why it must be a severe kick in the teeth for Saints fans to look at the league table right now and see their club just a point and a place above the relegation zone.
This weekend it gets no easier as Tottenham Hotspur come to town, with the visitors aiming to close the gap on the top four and set themselves up for a momentum building second half of the season. Indeed, it’s just a few short weeks since Southampton visited north London to face Spurs, and came away with a 5-2 thumping on a dismal Boxing Day.
Biggest goal threat
The return of Mauricio Pochettino to St Mary’s this weekend brings with it a sense of foreboding. On Boxing day the question posed to the current manager Mauricio Pellegrino was how to set up a team for the counter-attack when your striking options are Manolo Gabbiadini – who lacks pace and is off form – and Shane Long who hadn’t scored in months.
Since then Long has managed to find the net, but it mattered little – Saints are without a win in 10 league games and find themselves in the same position they were in on Boxing day with regards new signings. Having seen their interest in Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge fail to materialise.
That means the pace of Nathan Redmond or Sofiane Boufal would be the Saints’ most potent threat on paper, but neither are in good form and both seem out of favour with the manager. Indeed, the boss seems reluctant to play both at the same time.
Last week away at Watford, James Ward-Prowse started on the right wing and scored two goals whilst making more tackles than any other Saints player. He is probably the most likely threat to Pochettino’s side this weekend, but that says much about the position his former club are in at the moment.
Biggest fear
Tottenham are in fifth place in the Premier League at the moment, but the congestion between Manchester United in second and themselves is marked, with only six points between them.
Three points behind the top four, and having scored 15 goals in their last five league games, Spurs are clearly a team on fire, and Harry Kane seems to be a source of constant, industrial grade fuel for it. The forward has scored ten goals in his last five starts, including two hat tricks.
When he scores, he seems to do it multiple times these days. The last time the England man scored just one goal in a game was November.
Kane is on 20 Premier League goals already this season, whilst Saints have scored just 23 as a team, but perhaps they’ll fear Dele Alli even more: in just four games against Southampton in his fledgling Spurs career, the attacking midfielder has scored five times and assisted a further four.
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It could be a long afternoon.
Most likely formation
4-2-3-1 seems to be the formation of choice for Pellegrino, with Oriol Romeu partnered in midfield by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and playing behind Dusan Tadic in each of the last four games.
The last time that changed, though, was against Tottenham on Boxing day when the manager opted for a three-man midfield with Mario Lemina joining Romeu and Hojbjerg. That might have hinted tantalisingly at a tactical switch to get more men in the middle this week if it weren’t for the fact that it failed so miserably last time.
Tottenham saw plenty of possession but created little.
That description could be applied to a number of games over the season so far, particularly the last two Premier League games against Hull and Everton.
The early-season hope has been extinguished – and if it hasn’t, it should. The top four isn’t beyond Spurs, but the league title is. It doesn’t matter who you are, titles aren’t won off the back of one transfer window.
But it was easy to see why there was so much excitement generated at White Hart Lane. The majority of Spurs’ acquisitions this summer had been attack-minded players, each looking to play their own part in replacing the output of Gareth Bale. And why not? How often is one better than four or five?
Spurs, however, haven’t struck a balance yet. It may be all well and good to talk up the team’s current position in the league table. With 20 points, they’re currently one ahead of free-spending Manchester City, albeit with a greatly inferior goal difference. Though that is obviously owed to City’s hammering of Norwich on the weekend.
The point is, Tottenham still have some way to go. If other teams are sitting in a precarious position, whether it be due to a lack of depth or an inexperienced manager, why does the same rule of thinking not apply to Tottenham’s inability to convert possession into goals?
[cat_link cat=”tottenham” type=”list”]
It’s November. I, like many I’m sure, explored the reasons for Erik Lamela’s omission from the starting XI in the past. The Argentinean is yet to start a Premier League game, despite being the club’s record transfer. Soldado, too, needed some defence for the fact that only one of his Premier League goals didn’t come from the penalty spot. But as I said, it’s November; how much longer do the excuses wash?
Tottenham’s inability to create isn’t a problem that stretches into the realm of the tactically fluent. Quite simply Spurs don’t have a playmaker. In the absence of one last season, namely Luka Modric, Gareth Bale became the difference maker. This time, we’re struggling to see anything similar.
Against Everton, Lamela and Christian Eriksen remained on the bench. Prior to the reintroduction of Aaron Lennon, it was questioned whether he’d replace Andros Townsend on the right flank. Instead, Andre Villas-Boas opted for both, fielding two wingers who would now look to cut inside onto their favoured foot instead of providing needed width. If Everton was seen as too much of a tricky away tie to field a creative outlet over one of the two wingers, then what exactly is the point of a double-pivot in Sandro and Paulinho?
Bayern Munich formed a double-pivot with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez last season, allowing them to capture the treble. But both of those players offered far more than Tottenham’s duo, whoever it may be.
There’s no bridge from the midfield to the attack. Isn’t it slightly odd that Jan Vertonghen, a defender, offered some of Tottenham’s best moments in front of goal? As for Lewis Holtby: he’s good, he offers another option and a more than capable body, but he’s not the midfielder who will dictate play and carve out chances for forwards.
Villas-Boas has been praised numerous times for being tactically progressive. He’ll tinker with the team’s setup far more than his predecessor. But why is there such a reluctance to go for the win? On the two recent league games alone, Tottenham scored once, and that came extremely late in a game via a penalty. You simply can’t get by with that mentality. Tottenham may be defensively disciplined, but others will outscore them, whether it’s in a game or on the league table.
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Some may say that this is just the beginning and when it falls into place Spurs will kick on. Well that’s the point of this: when do they find that balance and kick on?
Lamela is the most gifted attacker in the Tottenham squad. If he had remained at Roma, he’d be one of Rudi Garcia’s integral pieces and a regular starter. There is no reason, from a tactical perspective, to keep him out of the team. Above all, he’ll offer a good deal of excitement to what has been a handful of tedious games.
Tottenham won their first game under Andre Villas-Boas with Jermaine Defoe scoring twice as they comfortably saw off Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.
Despite being just three games into his reign as Spurs boss the pressure was already mounting on Villas-Boas to deliver maximum points against the newly promoted Royal’s who struggled to shake off the rust from a 25 day interval since their last Premier League fixture against Chelsea on 22 August.
Manager Brian McDermott handed a top-flight debut to goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after first choice Adam Federici was ruled out with injury whilst Villas-Boas kept faith with 41-year-old Brad Friedel between the sticks opting to leave new signing Hugo Lloris on the substitutes bench.
And it was the Reading shot stopper who was busiest during the first half making early double save to deny Gareth Bale and then Jan Vertonghen. Spurs dominated the opening exchanges and their supremacy was rewarded in the 18th minute as Defoe swept home Aaron Lennon’s low drag back after he was played in down the right by Gylfi Sigurdsson.
McCarthy was called into action again to keep out Sigurdsson’s vicious long range strike before Defoe poked wide from a good position after showing excellent control and poise to take a long ball into his stride. Spurs took their foot off the gas after the break as they once again looked unable to close a game out from a dominant position.
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It wasn’t until the 71st minute that they could breathe easy when Gareth Bale doubled their advantage scuffing home from 12-yards after good work from Kyle Walker before Defoe made sure of the points three minutes later with a superb solo goal. Reading did manage a consolation in stoppage time with Hal Robson-Kanu stretching to turn Adam Le Fondre’s deep cross into an empty net.
You have to be pretty good to make the Spain squad.
Indeed, the quality that was left out of La Roja’s squad for the 2018 World Cup was staggering, and it goes to show the difference between the likes of Spain and England.
Chelsea forward Alvaro Morata was amongst those to be left out of the Spain squad for this summer’s tournament in Russia, but there was a position at the back for Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal.
Monreal was arguably Arsenal’s most consistent player during what was a disappointing 2017-18 campaign for the Gunners, and the left-back will have the chance to add to his 21 Spain caps this summer.
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That said, Barcelona’s Jordi Alba would probably have to get injured for Monreal to feature.
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The Arsenal fans showed their love for Monreal throughout the 2017-18 season, and the club’s supporters were delighted that the 32-year-old was handed a spot in his international squad for the 2018 World Cup.
A selection of the Twitter reaction can be seen below:
According to French outlet L’Equipe (via SportWitness), both Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion have enquired about the availability of Angres’ striker, Karl Toko Ekambi.
The 25-year-old has been in impressive form for the French side this season having scored a commendable total of nine goals in 18 games, while also providing a decent sum of three assists.
What’s the story?
It is being reported that the Cameroonian striker is interested in a move to the Premier League, however that interest is dependent on the forward’s contractual demands. Apparently, the former Sochaux player is insisting on receiving a wage around £50,000-a-week.
Is he worth it?
Angres’ number seven is regarded highly at his club, in part to his wealth of attacking qualities. Ekambi has demonstrated his refined finishing ability throughout his career, and he also exhibits the capacity to shoot from distance.
He is also renowned for his impressive passing ability, in addition to his capability to hold up play if necessary.
While areas of his game do require greater refinement, at his age, it is plausible to suggest that the world has yet to see the best of his abilities.
Who needs him the most?
While considering that Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their previous seven league games and that they currently occupy 14th place in the Premier League table, it isn’t implausible to argue that West Brom are the ones most in need of attacking reinforcement.
West Brom are currently languishing in 19th position, and aside from bottom club Swansea City, no team has scored fewer goals than the Baggies in England’s top flight this term. Truthfully, a total of 13 goals in 18 league games is a pitiful record, and it is evident that West Brom need to address their attacking woes.
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It was a milestone moment in Coventry City’s season as they wiped out their 10 point deduction after just six matches.
A 2-0 win over Colchester was enough to lift them off the bottom of the table and city can now finally begin to look upwards. especially as the young players begin to sign new contracts with defender Jordan Willis being the first to do so and Callum Wilson
It was a match that Coventry were favourites to win and duly delivered with what can only be described as close to the perfect all round performance as Coventry have managed in a very long time.
From the very start it was clear that Stephen Pressley’s team were intent on taking the game to Colchester. It wasn’t long before we began to create a multitude of chances and Leon Clarke was the one at the forefront of this. It would turn out to be a frustrating day on a personal note for Clarke though as chances came and went. Colchester’s keeper and the woodwork would thwart Clarke throughout the game so it was left up to our other striker Callum Wilson to grab the goals to win us the game.
Wilson managed another brace in the game scoring two good striker’s goals. The first a real poachers goal as Wilson reacted first from a parried shot from Blair Adams. His second was a finish that was coolness personified. He took his time to round the Keeper and confidently slotted home like there was no doubt in his mind that he was going to score.
That is now 8 goals for Wilson who tops not just the clubs scoring chart but the leagues and the country as a whole. Wilson has been a revelation and his partnership with the experienced Clarke has been one of many things that has been positive so far this season.
This result brought the Skyblues off of the bottom of the table for the first time this season as there 10 point deduction has been wiped out in no time at all. It is a chance now to forget about the point’s deduction and look forwards at what this young team may be able to achieve.
Stephen Pressley has moved to quash expectations and suggests there will be set backs along the way and I think if we are all being realistic we know there will be. Pressley along with assistant MacFarlane and club captain Baker attended a fans forum this week where there was some really interesting insight into the clubs footballing policies and beliefs.
There was much focus on the style of play that the team has adopted under Pressley and he was keen to stress the fundamentals behind this style of play.
We all know and appreciate the way Barcelona play and the success that this has brought them and Pressley is a huge admirer of them but not just for their obvious passing style of play. He eluded to an interview given by striker Villa who at the time had been at Barcelona for a year. Asked what he had learned the most since arriving he said how to get the ball back.
Many people may have been surprised to hear this but there is reasoning behind it. In this country we all look at Barcelona in awe sometimes in the way they control matches and we focus on the passing game that they play. Whilst this is vital part of the game and a very attractive part of the game it is missing something when it is deployed on its own. Ex-city manager Andy Thorn tried to bring the passing game to us but we ended up passing side to side and never really dominated teams.
Another good example in English football is that of Martinez’s teams. Wigan despite their clear lack of quality always had a passing game which often allowed them to dominate possession. This is the same since his arrival at Everton who are yet to win a game under his guidance despite having the best possession statistics in the league.
I put this down to what Pressley reiterated in the forum that there is often especially in this country a lack of respect for the football that needs to be played when out of possession of the ball. Going back to Villa’s quote and Barcelona’s ethos isn’t just the passing game it is the hard work that goes into their pressing game in order to retrieve the ball back in advanced areas. It is this pressing game which allows teams like Barcelona to keep possession for long periods.
Coventry’s pressing game has been for me the most notable change at the club since Pressley’s arrival. The players are set up in such a way that when they lose the ball they all seem to know when the right time to press the ball is and they do it as a team which is vital to the success of the pressing game.
Fitness is another key feature to the pressing game and Coventry’s fitness seems to be at a level that we have not had for a long time. Pressley eluded to this fact when he suggested that teams in this country do not train hard enough. Training in any sport is pivotal to the success of the team or individual athlete. Tennis players are the example used by Pressley in that they have managed to train their bodies to a level of fitness which allows them to play gruelling 4 hour and above matches twice in the space of 3 days.
It is the idea that our human bodies can often take a lot more than we give it credit for and we should push a bodies closer to the limit. In this country especially training almost takes a back seat when the season gets underway as players are rested and nursed through so they can play in the match at the weekend.
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Pressley feels and I agree that eventually you end up de training and obviously this is detrimental to any athlete. I think a great example of the work ethic that Pressley has instilled is as baker said that despite what was a fantastic performance against Colchester they were back in training on Monday morning where Pressley and his staff had the players doing box to box running.
There are many of us who don’t think footballers do enough to earn the wages they get paid but it sounds like Pressley is more than making them work for it and it is clearly paying dividends on the pitch as we continue to improve week in week out.
Let’s hope the lads keep it up and in Pressley we have a manger who is still learning his trade but a manager who is more than confident in what he is trying to achieve. In Pressley we can trust and that is something I am becoming more sure of each time I see us play.