Spanish superstar Raul returns home on Tuesday when his Schalke side visit Valencia in a Champions League round of 16 first-leg match.
The 33-year-old has scored 10 goals for Schalke this season to help them into 10th place in the Bundesliga after ending a 16-year love affair with Real Madrid last July, and said he was looking forward to heading home.
“This game is special for me, because it is the first time that I have returned to Spain in eight months since I moved to Germany,” he said.
“I am delighted with the reception, and the fans have shown me a lot of love. I thank them for that.”
“A Champions League knockout game is always special, and this one is against a great team in Valencia and with a fantastic atmosphere. I am really up for this game, and I hope that we get a good result and are able to seal the tie in two weeks time.”
“I’m here to play a great game, and to play in a great stadium. I will try to do the best I can for Schalke and enjoy the game.”
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“I hope that everything goes well, and that we are able to score a lot of goals. I think that the tie is very even.”
“I am confident that we can hurt them, and the objective is to win and score goals to set up the second leg.”
Sunderland’s preparations for the new season appear to have hit a wall as the club struggle to attract quality players to justify their lofty ambitions. A new chairman, manager and kit sponsor seemed to signal the beginning of a new era at the Stadium of Light but if their efforts so far this summer are an indication of things to come then mid-table mediocrity may be the most likely outcome. For a team that has only recently shaken off their yo-yo tag to establish themselves as a regular part of the Premier League, such reserved targets are not what the terraces want to hear but given the pitfalls suffered by the red and white part of North East in recent seasons, there are plenty of tough realities to be faced if the club is to move forward.
Curb expectation
Every year Sunderland fans embark on a new Premier League campaign with renewed vigour but every season is deemed a disappointment when the team doesn’t qualify for Europe. While fans have every right to demand the very best from their team, it’s clear to onlookers that the Blacks Cats do not yet have a good enough squad to compete with the top flight’s established European challengers. The appointment of Martin O’Neill as manager has supporters dreaming that he will repeat the success he enjoyed at Aston Villa and while that’s a reasonable target, the reality is the Mackems are still a long way of finishing in the top 6 and envious glares at rivals Newcastle United will make any future respectable league finishes seem like an underachievement.
Don’t focus so much on Newcastle
Many a season at the Stadium of Light has been ruined by a failure to overcome the archenemy and such is the importance placed on the Tyne-Wear derby that managers have often seen their careers in the North East judged on how they fared against the Geordies. Ex manager Steve Bruce even cited his local roots and derby struggles as the main catalyst of his demise but while the Corbridge born former defender struggled against Newcastle, he was given a fair crack of the whip by the majority of fans. Still the comparison between the sides was there for all to see last season and seeing their bitter rivals punch above their weight in the Premier League only heightened fans desperation for improvements on the pitch. Had any other team overachieved as Newcastle did last time out then Sunderland fans would have been less inclined to write off their manager and his new players but such is the hatred between fans that they turned on the management and booed the team. Rightly or wrongly, such impatience cannot be repeated next season for if Martin O’Neill is considered to be their messiah then he must be allowed time to mould his team together. New signings are expected but fans must not expect instant miracles, even if Newcastle fans are gloating because they’re playing in Europe.
Stop buying players from relegated teams
As O’Neill slowly stamps his authority on the team during his first full summer in charge, fans are debating the procrastinatory nature of his transfer dealings and wondering how much money there is to spend and who he’s thinking of spending it on. The usual scenario for Sunderland is they have roughly £20m-£30m to spend but often need 5 or more signings and end up bring in a selection of cheap squad players instead of investing in one or two genuine talents. This has led to them snapping up the star performers from previously relegated sides and while players like Sebastian Larsson, David Vaughan and Craig Gardner all represent excellent value for money, they’re not the quality of player needed to take the club to the next level. This summer has seen Steven Fletcher, Matt Jarvis, Steven N’Zonzi and Martin Olsson linked with the club but these players need to be avoided if they harbour any hopes of moving away from the mid-table pack.
Don’t buy Manchester United cast-offs
Another pitfall of previous Sunderland managers has been to wash Sir Alex Ferguson’s hands of his unwanted Old Trafford talent and with little reward. Currently Phil Bardsley, John O’Shea, Wes Brown, Kieran Richardson and Fraizer Campbell fill the quota more than capably but a brief skim down the history books shows a plethora of ex Red Devils brought in by former bosses Bruce and Roy Keane. The stark reality is that while these players may have seemed like they had decent pedigree and to a certain extent they satisfied the needs of an aspiring club on the rise from the Championship, the fact is they couldn’t make the Manchester United first team and are therefore not good enough if Sunderland want to push on to the next level.
Give the lads a chance!
Neutrals peering in on Sunderland’s situation often wonder why supporters demand so much of them given their underwhelming record in recent years. It’s been over a decade since Peter Reid’s side claimed back to back 7th place finishes and the Black Cats have little European pedigree to justify such lofty expectations. This may be true but Mackem fans know the club has a proud history and see their complaints more as constructive criticism then unwarranted condemnation. There are two sets of fans, the group with unrealistic expectations who demand success and the group with a realistic assessment of where the team is but are deemed to lack ambition. These fans needs to find some middle ground and let the team blossom without demanding too much from a side that are clearly worse off on paper than the League’s top teams and will need all the support they can get if their are to progress.
Supporting a so called lesser side is often a hiding to nothing as fans’ aspirations to improve are hampered by the reality of their mid-table predicament. If the Sunderland faithful have learned anything going into next season it should be not to expect success but rather enjoy it, if and when it comes along.
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Should Sunderland fans have more realistic expectations or should they have loftier ambitions ahead of next season?
Let me know your views and opinions by following me on Twitter – Tweet me @Alex_Churcher
As the dust has finally settled, after a huge summer of transfer spending supporters are left to reflect on their club’s performance in the summer months. Peter Storey came out this morning and suggested that Arsene Wenger had lost the plot and his last minute transfer activity was merely papering over the cracks at the Emirates. Whether that is true or not remains to be seen, but to the neutral it does appear that Arsenal made some decent signings on deadline day.
A whopping €521.95m was spent by Premier League clubs this summer and I have set out what I see to be the most significant 10 signings of the summer. I haven’t included loan signings or free transfers within my list, as they hardly represent much of a financial gamble.
Click on Yohan Cabaye to unveil the list
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List compiled by Escapini at the excllent Transfer Tavern
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Tadanari Lee always believed he would be the hero for his side after scoring the winning goal in Japan’s 1-0 win over Australia in the Asian Cup final.
The Blue Samurai needed extra-time on Saturday to claim Asia’s most coveted soccer trophy for a record fourth time courtesy of Lee’s superb volley in the 109th minute.
And the 25-year-old could not hide his delight at his dream coming true to lift his side to victory after being substituted on.
“I feel super. I could not play for such a long time and I had to keep on waiting, believing that there would be a chance for me,” Lee said.
“I could score a goal in the end and I’m really happy. I kept talking to myself, saying ‘I’ll be a hero. I’ll be a hero’ before I went onto the pitch.”
“I’m really happy that I was able to stand on this pitch. I really want to thank everyone. We’ll have to work hard as the Asian champions and I want you, the fans, all to support the Japanese national team.”
Winning manager Alberto Zaccheroni said he had always backed his substitutes to lift the side when they needed it most.
“I knew he (Lee) would do it. What is great about this team is that players, who started on the bench, could produce results on the pitch,” the Italian said.
Australia coach Holger Osieck admitted a number of gilt-edged chances, including opportunities for stars Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill, needed to be converted if they were to leave the Khalifa Stadium with the Asian Cup.
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“We had our opportunities and what is always encouraging is the way we play and we create opportunities,” Osieck said.
“However, it is crucial to convert them and later on in the game it backfired and that is a problem. We had to be more clinical in our finishing and it’s not enough to win a game if you don’t score.”
“We have seen a very exciting game between two very good teams. You can imagine we are disappointed, we definitely had our opportunities but unfortunately we couldn’t convert.”
According to Bild, via Tuttomercatoweb, former Manchester United playmaker Shinji Kagawa is a summer target for Everton.
What’s the story?
Fussballeck reported this weekend that Shinji Kagawa is a target for West Ham, and now Bild are claiming the Toffees will rival the Hammers for the Japan international.
Kagawa, currently in his second spell with Borussia Dortmund, has found chances somewhat limited this season, making only 18 league appearances.
The crafty playmaker is known in England for his relatively unsuccessful spell with Manchester United, but his unquestionable talent has made him a Premier League target once again.
Everton have still been short of creativity since splashing out last summer, so a move for Kagawa could be perfect for the Toffees.
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Why move for Kagawa?
Valued at £11.7million by Transfermarkt, Kagawa certainly wouldn’t be a cheap signing, as his contract doesn’t run out until the summer of 2020. However, he would definitely be more bang for Everton’s buck than the enigmatic signing of Davy Klaassen.
The 29 year-old has scored 29 times in 89 appearances for Japan, and has had a decent season despite not being at his best, grabbing six goals and seven assists in all competitions.
While the Premier League move didn’t pay off for Kagawa last time, that was a turbulent time at Old Trafford, and the pressure may have just been too much. A move to Goodison could be perfect, as Sam Allardyce seeks a consistent creative force to supply hotshot Cenk Tosun.
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Kagawa’s physicality, or lack thereof, may be a concern to some fans, but his fantastic passing and quite simply stunning technical ability should more than make up for that.
If the Toffees can find the right balance in midfield to allow Kagawa to partner up with the likes of Theo Walcott, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Cenk Tosun in attack, there could be some serious goals on the blue half of Merseyside next season.
Everton fans, would you like to see a summer swoop for Kagawa? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…
It’s shaping up to be one of the most enticing battles in the Premier League this season. Arsenal, Manchester United, Southampton, Liverpool and Tottenham all remain in the hunt for a Champions League spot, with only four points separating Arsenal in 3rd and Tottenham in 7th place.
Tottenham and Liverpool have recently exited the Europa League and although winning the competition could have been a realistic target for both clubs, this now means that they can focus on their league form, providing further competition for Southampton, Manchester United and Arsenal. Tottenham probably face one of the toughest challenges to secure Champions League football due to their league position.
Although they are only three points away from getting into the top four, the outcome of the League Cup final could make or break Spurs’ season. If they lose to Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday, this could really affect the team’s morale and form. Losing out in two cup competitions in a week would be hard for any team to take. However, if Spurs win the League Cup, confidence will be brewing and they will throw everything they have at a shot of qualifying for the Champions League.
In terms of Liverpool, Brendan Rodgers will be encouraged by the club’s recent form as they are really starting to push up the table at the right stage of the season. Their recent 0-2 victory over Southampton was a huge result for the club as they are now within touching distance of their top four rivals. Gerrard will want to be aiming for the top four in his final season at Anfield and Liverpool have the momentum and ability to qualify for the Champions League for the second season in a row. The Europa League exit was a setback but Rodgers will be quick to amend the issue when Liverpool crucially face Manchester City at Anfield this weekend. If they win this fixture, the cup exit will quickly be forgotten.
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Southampton still remain in the mix at the top of the table despite many expecting them to slip up at some point. The football played at Saint Mary’s has been a breath of fresh air to the Premier League this season and it would be a fantastic story if the Saints qualified for the Champions League against all odds. Ronald Koeman has encouraged Southampton to play attractive, attacking football whilst also maintaining a very strong defensive core.
Their impressive goal difference could be the key to finishing in a Champions League spot and the lack of pressure on the side will encourage them to really upset the apple cart. It looks like a tough challenge ahead for the Saints but they have withstood the demands of a top four chase so far. If Koeman can continue to keep his Southampton side playing in the same manner they have done all season then a top four finish is a very realistic aim.
The likes of Manchester United and Arsenal would have expected to qualify for the Champions League at the beginning of the season. Arsenal are so consistent when it comes to finishing in the top four and Manchester United spent heavily in the summer in order to get back into the biggest club competition in Europe. Although United currently sit fourth in the table, their performances have been far from convincing in recent weeks. A last-gasp draw against West Ham was far from impressive and United’s recent 2-1 loss to Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium means that Van Gaal still has it all to do if he wants United to finish in the top four.
The Red Devils have been far from convincing for the majority of the season and they could be in trouble if teams like Southampton and Liverpool continue to pick up results, keeping the pressure on Van Gaal’s side. United should have enough to make it but their erratic form this season could suggest otherwise.
Finally, Arsenal will be looking to cement yet another season in the Champions League by finishing in the top four once again. They were abysmal at home to Monaco earlier in the week and look set to exit the Champions League at the last 16 stage yet again.
Although Arsenal fans expect the club to finish in the top four, they will want to see improvement in the Champions League and the Premier League this season. It seems that Arsenal always maintain a certain standard but never overachieve and this will undoubtedly frustrate the Gunners’ support. Although their Champions League qualification is almost a dead-cert, Arsenal fans will not be satisfied if Wenger leads the team through another trophy-less season once again.
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There are a number of teams still competing for the Champions League spots at this stage of the season and hopefully it proves to be one of the most intriguing battles in the league from now until May. No team has shown any signs of backing down just yet but there is still a long way to go for all the clubs in contention.
When we consider just who has been the most pointless signing of all-time in the Premier League this season, one of our punters makes quite a witty quip. They claim that instead of looking just at all clubs and this season, we should consider Chelsea as a whole and compile a top ten list of their most pointless signings alone.
The club of course have more money than they know what to do with and it is exactly this, coupled with an owner who sees a player on a whim and decides to buy him that makes the West London club such easy fodder when it comes to making a few gaffs in the transfer market. Add to that their managerial merry-go-round and you can quite easily see how someone who was coveted by the old regime is seen as totally useless to the new one.
Whilst some clubs really do have to watch the pennies, Chelsea have found themselves criticised more than once for their ritual of picking someone, throwing money at their club and then leaving them on the scrap heap to rot when someone better comes along. From spending £50 million on a total flop to buying a youngster they only plan on loaning out, here are our top 10 ‘most pointless’ Blues signings.
Click on Stamford Bridge to reveal the top 10 ‘most pointless’ Chelsea signings.
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Manchester City’s 3-1 win against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday means that, as has been on the cards for weeks, they have the opportunity to clinch the Premier League title at home to local rivals Manchester United on Saturday.
The dramatic 2012 title win sealed by Sergio Aguero looked at the time as if it could not be topped but for some City fans, beating the Red Devils at the Etihad would surpass even the elation of that day.
It could be a miserable afternoon for Jose Mourinho and his side so he has moved to soften the blow pre-emptively by stating that his side are deservedly second in the Premier League table.
That was likely intended as a jibe at Liverpool and Tottenham, who are below United in the table but are much more feted by the media.
However, United fans are not impressed that finishing second, especially when they are so far behind leaders City, is an achievement these days and we’ve taken a closer look at the best of the reaction…
The time is approaching once again where attention turns to the end of season awards and which players will be rewarded for their contributions to their side during another exciting Premier League campaign.
With the likes of player of the year, young player of the year, and a spot in the team of the year all up for grabs, there are plenty of opportunities for individual accolades over the coming weeks.
But the 2014/15 season has also seen a number of players emerge as key figures in their sides, putting to bed any lingering doubts about their ability to cut it at the highest level. While some have shot to fame out of nowhere it seems others have continued to impress, showing vast levels of improvements and enhancing their reputation in the division.
And with this in mind, here are FIVE of the most improved players in England this season:
Franics Coquelin
Francis Coquelin was surprisingly recalled to the Arsenal squad just over a month into his loan spell at Charlton where he made five appearances for the Championship side. With injuries to the likes of Jack Wilshere and Mikel Arteta, Arsene Wenger was running out of options to fill the central midfield role, but since his return Coquelin has stepped up superbly.
A brilliant couple of months has coincided with Arsenal’s recent good form, and his ability to protect the back four has been most welcome. The Frenchman was a stand out performer alongside Santi Cazorla in their win at the Etihad, highlighting his ability to tackle and break up the play, as well as maintain possession in a neat and tidy fashion.
Arsenal fans have been crying out for someone to fill the defensive midfield role for some time, and it appears they have finally found that man.
Jordan Henderson
Much was expected of Jordan Henderson following his big-money move from Sunderland back in 2011, but the early signs pointed to the prospect that he wouldn’t quite be able to make the grade at Anfield. How times have changed.
The England midfielder has become one the key figures in the Liverpool team, particularly in the absence of club captain Steven Gerrard, and is arguably the league’s most improved player over recent seasons.
His work rate is phenomenal, but the technical side of his game is also improving week in week out. The 24-year-old continues to improve in front of goal having found the net six times this season, and he also leads the team in terms of assists with eight, proving just how important he is to Brendan Rodgers.
Marouane Fellaini
It was hard to see how Marouane Fellaini would fit in the Manchester United under Louis van Gaal, and at first it appeared the odd cameo from the bench when his side were chasing the game was the best he could hope for. However the Belgian has established himself as important member of the first team in recent weeks, playing a vital part in victories over Tottenham and Liverpool.
He’s scored five times so far this season and seems to be thriving in a more advanced role behind Wayne Rooney. Van Gaal has come out and praised the 27-year-old since the Anfield victory, something that will boost his confidence even further as he continues to improve.
Harry Kane
The rise of Tottenham striker Harry Kane this season has been quite remarkable and the young striker has emerged as England’s brightest talent. With Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor struggling to impress new boss Mauricio Pochettino, Harry Kane was given the chance to stake his claim as Tottenham’s leading striker; something the 21-year-old has done to great effect.
After impressing in the Europa League, Kane was then provided with the opportunity to impress in the Premier League. Since netting his first of the campaign at Villa Park in November, Kane has gone from strength to strength. He now leads the scoring charts with 19 alongside Diego Costa, with his overall tally for the season at a hardly credible 29.
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Last weekend’s hat-trick against Leicester City capped a tremendous week for the forward after he received his first senior England call up, and given his great form looks the perfect choice to lead the line for the Three Lions this week.
Eden Hazard
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Chelsea attacker Eden Hazard was already held in high regard as one of the league’s best players and rightly so. But as he continues to take the English game by storm, his consistency over the last year or so has seen him emerge as one of the world’s best players as he looks to rival the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
An impressive return of 16 goals has helped Chelsea cement their place at the top of the division, as well as pick up the League Cup with victory over Tottenham last month. The Belgian’s ability to beat multiple defenders makes him a wonderful asset to the Blues, and along with tremendous pace and terrific shooting and passing ability, he has become the complete player.
His latest goal against Hull City highlighted his ability to produce something out of nothing – a moment of magic that can change the game in an instant – and it’s these types of players that prove themselves match-winners throughout the season.
Jose Mourinho has challenged the 24-year-old to try and reach the outstanding figures achieved by Ronaldo and Messi, something he has responded positively to. The talent and ability is clearly there, and if he can continue to improve and show the level of consistency he has displayed throughout the season, it won’t be long before we see him challenging for the Ballon d’Or.
Everton manager David Moyes revealed last week that he was putting off signing a new contract to extend his stay at Goodison Park until the end of the season, leading to questions surrounding his future amid reported interest from Chelsea, but would the Merseyside-based club be able to recover from his departure if the worst scenario imaginable for most of the supporters came true?
The 49-year-old has presided over 500 games in charge of the club since taking over the reins back in March 2002 and he has not only steadied the ship and gradually moved them away from continual relegation battle but slowly established them as a top eight outfit with European ambitions; he is known to share an excellent relationship with the fans and a close personal bond with chairman Bill Kenwright, but are these emotional ties enough to keep him grounded at Everton for too much longer?
After earlier stating back in November that he would decide upon his immediate future in February, when the question was put to Moyes last week, he gave an honest answer tantamount to indecision, telling reporters: “I want to see how we do in the cups, I want to see how we do in the league, and it’s more than likely I won’t make a decision until the end of the season. I’ll give as much as I can, but I’ve said – and I’ve spoken with the chairman – that I want to see how the team does.”
Having previously stated an intention to manage abroad at some point in his career, with Germany and the Bundesliga mentioned as possible future destinations, it appears as if Moyes is starting to get itchy feet and the lack of silverware to validate the undoubted progress the club have made under his superb tenure seem to be grating on him.
This term, the side have branched out to a more expansive style of play at the expense of their customary defensive solidity, but they remain in the running for a Champions League berth still, sitting just six points behind Tottenham in fourth and with 12 league games left to play. For a manager that has done so much, the sense of actual achievement seems remarkably little on a bigger stage and there’s a sense that Moyes is still untested in Europe, which could hold back his claims for future bigger jobs, such as when Sir Alex Ferguson eventually retires at Manchester United.
In a recent poll conducted by the Metro, Moyes came out on top with 22% of Arsenal fans saying they would like him in charge by next season, ahead of Arsene Wenger on 19% and the likes of Michael Laudrup (17%), Jose Mourinho (15%) and Dennis Bergkamp (8%). If anything, that simply provides a snapshot of how respected he is within the game, with the body blow that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was dealt by Pep Guardiola’s decision to take the Bayern Munich job next season leaving a tantalising job up for grabs at Stamford Bridge, with interim head coach Rafa Benitez likely to move on with his face put firmly in the shop window for future reference.
At times, Moyes has appeared irrationally loyal to the cause almost at Everton, but a crossroads is quickly coming up on the horizon and he may jump without any threat of him being pushed in order to seek a platform that can grant him consistently what he so desires, a team capable of challenging for silverware. Had the Toffees pushed on in the manner they expected to in the past few years, he would clearly love to stay and do it at Goodison Park, but there are only so many times he can continue to bang his head against that glass ceiling and the surprise big money January moves for both Leroy Fer and Alvaro Negredo spoke volumes of a manager trying his best to create a lasting legacy acutely aware that his time was running out.
The stadium issue hinders the club’s long-term ambitions because it robs them of the financial security needed to truly compete at the top rather than continuing to represent the plucky underdogs punching above their weight. The model they have is that every summer a player needs to be sold to balance the budget and give Moyes something to work with, and that can be not only morale-sapping, but a tiresome and vicious cycle, with Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines both next in line should they miss out on a top four place this season.
Aside from Ferguson and Wenger at Manchester United and Arsenal, no other manager in the top flight has been at their current club so long; this is a side made in Moyes’ image and from top to bottom it has its ethos coursing through its veins, so a quick exit not only leaves the job of finding a suitable successor to replace the legend that sat in the chair before an impossible task, but the very culture of the club will require tinkering.
Along the way, with managers pleading for more time with their backs to the wall, patience is often trotted out as a guarantee of success, but Ferguson and Wenger both show that time can be bother a overwhelmingly positive force and a negative one. United look likely to stroll to the title this season yet again and mentioning Ferguson in the same breath as any other manager these days means you’re inevitably on a hiding to nothing because he is a freak of nature the sort of which football management is unlikely to see again for quite some time.
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Wenger on the other hand is clawing onto his position precisely because of his past achievements and his presence at the club these past five or so years has only served to do just as much damage as good. Like with every great sporting individual, knowing when to walk away is half the battle. Of course, Moyes isn’t in any danger of having a negative effect yet, but should he continue to hang around with his heart not in it as much as it was in the past, the club and the team will stagnate.
Should Moyes decide he has had enough this season, he can leave Everton with his head held high for what he has done during his 11 years in charge, but replacing someone is only half the battle. We’ve seen with Alan Curbishley and the subsequent fall from grace that Charlton endured that if a steady hand on the tiller leaves that this can have more destructive consequences to the very fabric of a club than even previously assumed. Moyes is Everton, and their fates are closely intertwined, but for the fans sake, while the man in the dugout may be pining for pastures new, they will be hoping they are able to keep hold of him for as long as possible.