Tagged: The Telegraph
FA Cup Final 2016: Crystal Palace’s family values help heal Wilfried Zaha’s Manchester United wounds
FA Cup Final 2016: Crystal Palace’s family values help heal Wilfried Zaha’s Manchester United wounds
Wilfried Zaha may not end up being the world-class player that was touted but he could have been if things had gone differently at Manchester United. Both sides played their part in that but he may just get another crack at a top club if he improves in certain aspects at Crystal Palace.
Frank Lampard is the worst signing in MLS history – he must call it quits at New York City FC
Frank Lampard is the worst signing in MLS history – he must call it quits at New York City FC 4
At 37 years old, there isn’t much else that Lampard can offer and his injury problems won’t go away. So, yeah, probably not too harsh to consider the worst if not one of the worst signings in MLS history.
Daniel Levy faces battle to control Tottenham wage bill this summer
Daniel Levy faces battle to control Tottenham wage bill this summer
I don’t think Levy would play hardball in negotiations with the players who’ve gotten them to this point. The likes of Batshuayi would be in line for pay in the £80,000 bracket even if the higher earners get an increase. He still has much to prove in his career for Levy to just offer him wages for the sake of adding much-needed depth. Tottenham’s wage bill will have to rise howeve Levy looks at it.
The numbers don’t lie: why football clubs place such importance on analytics
The numbers don’t lie: why football clubs place such importance on analytics
Great read here. You can see the increased usage and importance of analytics having a bigger impact on football as time goes on. Glad that there’s the acknowledgement that you still need to see the player and it can’t all be data driven.
Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho: An imaginary WhatsApp chat between the great out-of-work managerial minds – Telegraph
By far the funniest Whats App convo, as far as football goes.
Premier League big boys put off by financial opportunities and transfer window palaver – Manchester City aside – Telegraph
Some good points about the distraction of the transfer window but I don’t agree wholeheartedly. If clubs got their business done early then there would be no need for posturing, or players looking over their shoulder and underperforming etc. Case in point, Chelsea did just that last season and look what it brought them. Mourinho’s unwillingness to rotate and defensive mentality in the second half of the season aside, they could have done even better than just the Premier League.
It is good to see some of the “smaller” clubs hold unto their stars this time around though. Makes things more interesting.
Weekly Arsenal Chatter
Another week, another Arsenal loss, another big coming up. Fun, fun. We’ll continue the Arsenal theme to start this Saturday morning with the usual Arsenal chatter. Manchester United away tomorrow should be interesting.
Why Ashley Williams Would Not Be a Great Signing for Arsenal
I like how he snuck in Calum Chambers as a center back at the end of the article there. He should be playing there so let’s hope it happens.
Who Is Aliko Dangote, and Is His Interest in Arsenal Realistic?
Eh
Another Aaron Ramsey case? Write off Arsenal’s Theo Walcott at your peril
Well, apparently Arsene Wenger wants to keep him and I think that makes sense. I’m not a fan of a swap deal for Raheem Sterling as we already have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. If Walcott can regain his confidence he can be an asset for Arsenal.
Was Arsenal’s identical selection simply too much of a good thing?
Okay. Well. No. We still should have won. Swansea’s gameplan was good, and maybe Wenger should have made a change or two to start but we simply still should have won.
Swansea loss reveals Arsenal still have a way to go to catch European elite
Agreed. Didn’t read this til last night but it’s funny that it’s on a somewhat similar, but more optimistic, viewpoint as my piece.
How Jack Wilshere Can Prove He’s an Ace in the Pack for Arsenal Once More
Stay fit would be the first thing I’d say. Figure out his best position or style as the author said is one I’d agree on.
Is Gundogan the answer for Arsenal’s midfield?
I mean, if he came alongside a defensive midfielder I’d be fine. If he alone comes and we rely on Francis Coquelin, solid as he’s shown himself to be, then no. The author does make some good points though.
Arsenal’s transfer policy has been too weak – they need to get ruthless
Well said.
Summer Transfers Who Would Fit Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal Style
Only one of these, Benteke, is needed. Maybe we could turn James Milner into a defensive midfielder though? Probably not.
Arsenal should not waver in their approach for Man United clash
Well, I didn’t realize that we faced these two back-to-back last time. We’re already 0-1 the second time around. Doesn’t look to good. Obviously, this is a big test as a loss puts us right back in familiar surroundings.
New Premier League TV Deal Provides Plenty of Talking Points
The new Premier League TV deal has brought about so much commentary in the last few days it’s almost annoying to talk about already. Rather than stretch it out and put out multiple posts about the issue, I’ve just gathered what I’ve read throughout the web. They are all good reads but they all pretty much say the same thing anyways.
Which is that the new deal is good for the clubs, players and the Premier League and bad for everyone else.(Unless the clubs decide not to make it so)
If the Premier League and the clubs involved really want to make an impact then some of their billions, not millions, should go to grassroots efforts throughout the UK along with filtering down to the clubs in the Championship and so forth. Add on to that our previous post concerning the Premier League clubs not paying the living wage for the worker bees who run around on match day or keep things humming along on a day-to-day basis. Only one club, Chelsea, has committed to doing that and it’s disappointing that a club like Arsenal can consider allowing Arsene Wenger to give Abou Diaby a new deal when they can’t even pay minimum wage for the man/woman who cleans up his crap after a day of Deejaying(I mean rehab) in the club fitness room.
Then there’s the fans who may have to pay Sky Sports and BT Sports exorbitant prices just to watch the wonders of Sunderland etc in the comfort of their own home.
Guess we’ll see how it all pans out but here are the articles.
Always Thinking Football 