Bizarre Monthly Award Selections Prove Process Must Be Changed

The Barclay’s Premier League monthly awards always spark controversy but none more so than the announcement of this morning’s winners.

Manchester United’s young French striker Anthony Martial was selected by the population as the league’s best player for September along with Tottenham’s Mauritio Pochettino as Manager of the Month.

Martial has been impressive in September bagging 3 goals in 3 appearances for the Red Devils, but Leicester City and the league’s top scorer Jamie Vardy has returned 4 in 3 for his club.

Pochettino’s Tottenham were too, impressive, in September but with the exception of Spurs’ excellent 4-1 victory at home to Manchester City, were not exceptionally better than you would expect of them.

Roberto Martinez’ Everton side beat Chelsea in their September unbeaten run and arguably looked just as good if not better than Tottenham on the field in all of their games.

Andre Ayew of Swansea and Manuel Pellegrini won the August accolades, both of which received stern criticism from fans with Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet both putting in impressive performances along with manager’s Alan Pardew and Claudio Ranieri performing far better than expected.

This leaves the question then; Is the award process flawed?

As the awards are voted for primarily by fans of the Premier League, clubs with larger fan bases find themselves with an easier opportunity to stain the voting procedure with their own club’s preferences.

Both Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool all contain much larger fan bases than any other in the Premier League so is it any surprise that these awards are constantly won by members of these clubs?

Maybe it is time for the awards process to be taken out of solely the fans’ hands?

Kane Must Stay At Spurs

Following recent interest from Manchester United, Tottenham starlet Harry Kane has an important decision on his hands.

After a successful first season breaking through in the Premier League during which he netted 21 times in the league along with a first European hat-trick on the continent, Kane finds himself in high demand.

Now a fully-fledged England international it is vital the 21-year old must remain in North London if he is to fulfil his potential.

Tottenham under owner Daniel Levy have accumulated a strong reputation as a selling club over the past ten years selling off assets like a Thatcher Conservative government of the 1980s.

The likes of Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale have all grown in stardom at Spurs, all of which replaced by their weight in gold in Levy’s tank-sized bank vault.

None of the famous four have suffered as a result of leaving White Hart Lane, in fact all four became better players because of the moves, Modric and Bale now leading lights in Real Madrid’s prestigious midfield, but for Kane the stakes are very different.

After just one season in the top flight Kane’s rise to fame has been one of the fastest in history. Two or three seasons of unparalleled first team football will surely aid him in his development, a development no better suited than at Tottenham.

Like Bale before him, Kane has a team built around him; the main man in a squad full of high-end Premier League players.

A squad built of nearly £200 million worth of talent, an anomaly then that Kane cost his club not a single penny.

It is no doubt that because he is the central figure in Pochettino’s plans his game has improved as a result. Bale’s development became very similar under Harry Redknapp’s stewardship after his exhilarating display against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

Bale exploded onto the global stage at the San Siro, something Harry Kane has been doing all season.

If Kane was to move to Manchester United this summer, he goes from being a big fish in a decent sized pond, to an average sized fish in a massive pond.

His game must not only improve first before making the big step up to one of the giants in world football, but he must also learn how to deal with the pressures of coping with expectation.

Both attributes he can achieve without too much trouble at White Hart Lane. His ability, with Christian Eriksen pulling the strings behind him, can reach new levels.

It is true that playing with Wayne Rooney week in week out at Old Trafford, Kane’s England career will benefit, but at United there is no guarantee he will play. At Spurs, Soldado and Adebayor are fading lights, he is the only man Pochettino has to lead the Tottenham attack.

To stay in North London means that Kane can follow in Gareth Bale’s footsteps and became a global phenomenon one day. For now, he must bide his time, play consistently and learn from those around him.

Raheem Sterling would have been advised to do something similar, but unlike Sterling, Kane seems to have his head screwed on the right way and be motivated purely by football; he wants to stay, and that should go a long way in Levy’s thinking.

If United or any other major footballing force were to lodge a big bid for Kane, Levy must resist the temptation to sell. It is true that he may not live up to the expectation that last season has given him but Levy must take that gamble.

For Tottenham to succeed in their goals of becoming one of the biggest forces in English football, fighting for titles and cup competitions, then Daniel Levy must cut a tradition of a lifetime and stop selling his prize tomatoes.

Kane is clever, he knows where his immediate future must lie and he owes Tottenham that at the very least. Levy must do the same, resist the draw of paper in his back pocket, and ensure Harry Kane is the biggest tomato he has ever grown.

7 Finals That Shook the World

With the 2014/15 Champions League soon upon us, the pre-match buzz is beginning to build.

All eyes will turn to Berlin on Saturday night as Italian champions Juventus face La Liga winners Barcelona for the first time in Champions League final history.

Europe’s greatest competition has yielded a vast array of great finals in years gone by ensuring Messi, Suarez, Pirlo and co. have a lot to live up to…

7. The Drogba Final: Bayern Munich 1-1 Chelsea – 19^th May 2012.

German champions Bayern Munich were on home soil with the final taking place at the Allianz Arena. Having won the trophy four times facing a side who in Chelsea had yet to taste success, Bayern were clear favourites.

Both teams progressed to the knockout stages by finishing top of their group. Bayern then beat Basel, Marseille and Real Madrid to reach the final, while Chelsea knocked out Napoli, Benfica and defending champions Barcelona.

Bayern took the lead late in the second half through Thomas Müller, but Didier Drogba, in his final (first stint) appearance for Chelsea, equalized five minutes later to take the game to extra time.

Former Blues star Arjen Robben missed a penalty keeping the scores level at 1–1 and the match went to a penalty shoot-out.

After one of the most defensive displays ever seen in a Champions League final, underdogs Chelsea won 4–3 to clinch their first Champions League title. In doing so, they became the first London club to win the tournament, the fifth English club and 22nd overall.

6. The Zidane Final: Bayer Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid – 15^th May 2002.

The 2002 Champions League final went down in history as one of the greatest due to one of the finest goals in the competition’s history.

Real Madrid were regarded as clear favourites before the match at Hampden Park in Scotland, possessing one of the greatest teams to ever grace the game.

The Galacticos took the lead after just eight minutes with a brilliantly worked goal from Spanish striker Raul. Leverkusen defender Lucio equalised five minutes later but the winner was one of exceptional class.

Roberto Carlos burst away down the left-wing, lofted it high to the edge of the box where Zinedine Zidane struck the ball first time on the volley into the top corner. It was a goal worthy of winning the trophy and he did just that. For that reason, the Zidane final is one of the greatest ever.

 

 

5. The Special One: Porto 3-0 Monaco – 26^th May 2004.

The 2004 final saw the battle of the underdogs as Portugease side Porto took on French club Monaco. Both teams were viewed as outsiders for the trophy until they emerged as front runners in the latter stages.

Before 2004, Porto’s last triumph in the competition had been in 1987 – although they had won the UEFA Cup the previous season – while Monaco were playing in their first ever Champions League final.

Both teams started their UEFA Champions League campaigns in the group stage and defeated former European champions on their way to the final. Porto beat 1968 and 1999 winners Manchester United, famous for then relatively unknown Jose Mourinho’s touchline sprint at the end of the game, while Monaco defeated nine-time champions Real Madrid.

A man-of-the-match performance from Deco in Gelsenkirchen saw Porto ease to victory with goals from Carlos Alberto, Dmitri Alenichev and Deco himself enough to separate the sides.

Neither team have made the final since and Mourinho left Porto to become Chelsea manager shortly after. Undoubtedly though, this game announced him on the global stage.

4. The Best Tribute: Manchester United 4-1 Benfica – 29^th May 1968.

Ten years after the devastation of the Munich Air Disaster, Manchester United returned to the latter stages of the European Cup with a mission.

The final, staged at Wembley, gave them home advantage and United’s performance was filled with passion and determination to honour the memories of the eight players who lost their lives on an icy Munich runway in 1958.

Under surviving Coach Sir Matt Busby and Captain Bobby Charlton, the Red’s took to the Wembley turf after ten long years of rebuilding against a Benfica side spearheaded by the sensational Eusebio.

Charlton opened the scoring early in the second half with a rare headed goal before midfielder Jaime Graca equalised for the Portugease side.

Benfica nearly won it at the end of normal time but goalkeeper Alex Stepney made a terrific save to deny Eusebio one-on-one, a save applauded by the talismanic star.

As the match ticked into extra-time however, it was clear there was only going to be one winner. Three minutes in George Best took the game into his own hands picking up the ball 25 yards from goal breaking into the penalty area, dribbling round the goalkeeper and rolling the ball into the empty net.

One of the greatest cup final goals ever recorded, was followed up with a third for United from Brian Kidd just a minute later before Charlton rounded the game off before 100 minutes had been played.

United became the first English team to win the trophy and the memory of the Busby Babes lived on in a new breed of young British talent.

 

3. The Year of the Underdog: AC Milan 4-0 Barcelona: 18^th May 1994.

The 1994 Champions League final in Athens was one of the most surprising results in the tournament’s history.

Barcelona were clear favourites to win their second European Cup in three years, having just won La Liga for the fourth year in a row.

Milan’s preparation for the final was in disarray; Legendary striker Marco van Basten and £13 million sensation Gianluigi Lentini (then the world’s most expensive footballer) were out with injuries, sweeper and captain Franco Baresi was suspended, as was defender Alessandro Costacurta; and UEFA regulations at the time that limited teams to fielding a maximum of three non-nationals meant that coach Fabio Capello was forced to leave out Florin Răducioiu, Jean-Pierre Papin and Brian Laudrup.

Surprisingly however, Milan dominated early and were rewarded when Dejan Savićević ran down the right flank and passed to Daniele Massaro, who tapped the ball into an empty net.

Massaro netted his second just before half-time to make it 2–0 after a solo run by Roberto Donadoni down the left wing and Milan were flying.

Shortly after the break Savićević capitalised on a defensive error by Miguel Ángel Nadal to lob goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta for the third and eight minutes later, after Savićević had hit a post Milan defender Marcel Desailly beat the offside trap to make it 4–0.

Milan had completed a rout over the much fancied Catalans.

Desailly became the first player to win the trophy in consecutive years with different clubs having won it in 1993 with Marseille.

The result was one of the greatest performances in Champions League history.

2. The Discovery of Fergie Time: Manchester United 2-1 Bayern Munich – 26^th May 1999.

The second greatest final in history, taking place at the Camp Nou in Barcelona, saw Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United incredibly score two injury-time goals to win the treble.

In a game the Red Devils had trailed for 85 minutes of, the result is seen as one of the best turnarounds in football history.

United had won the Premier League and the FA Cup earlier that month and Bayern were playing for a treble themselves having won the Bundesliga and earned a place in the DFB-Pokal final (which they went on to lose).

The two sides had faced each other in the group stage drawing both games, but it was Bayern who qualified top of the group. United went on to beat Inter Milan and Juventus in the knockout stages whilst Bayern saw off Kaiserslautern and Dynamo Kiev.

Bayern took the lead after just six minutes through a brilliantly swerved free-kick from striker Mario Basler. Despite David Beckham’s tireless running, United appeared to be deeply missing suspended midfield duo Roy Keane and Paul Scholes.

In a game which saw Basler threaten the United goal on numerous occasions, goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel under heavy bombardment, United seemed to be clinging on.

German midfielder Mehmet Scholl hit the post with fifteen minutes remaining and another miss from Basler prompted Ferguson to introduce Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the game with ten minutes left.

With the clock ticking into injury-time the match turned on its’ head.

United won a corner which prompted Schmeichel ventured up to Bayern’s penalty area. Beckham flighted the corner in just over Schmeichel’s head, Dwight Yorke put the ball back towards the crowded area, and after Thorsten Fink failed to clear, the ball arrived at the feet of Ryan Giggs on the edge of the area.

His right-footed snap-shot was weak and poorly struck, but it went straight to another substitute Teddy Sheringham who swiped at the shot with his right foot and nestled the ball in the bottom corner of the net.

The goal was timed at 90:36. It looked as if, having been behind for most of the match, United had forced extra time.

Less than 30 seconds after the subsequent kick-off, drama. United forced another corner, but Schmeichel stayed in his penalty area this time. Beckham again swung the corner in, finding the head of Sheringham, who nodded the ball down across the face of goal. Solskjær reacted fastest, shot out a foot and poked the ball into the roof of the Bayern goal for United to take the lead.

The goal was timed at 92:17. Solskjær celebrated by sliding on his knees, mimicking Basler’s earlier celebration, before quickly being mobbed by the United players, substitutes and coaching staff. Schmeichel cartwheeled with glee.

Bayern were in utter despair. In a game they thought they had won just moments before the players needed the assistance of referee Pierluigi Collina to get up and continue. Celebratory flares had already been set off in the Bayern stands and Bayern ribbons were already being tied to the trophy.

Collina described the news from the United end as like a “lions roar” at the end quoting it as his favorite game in officiating. It was just the second time Manchester United had won the famous trophy.

1. The Simply Unbelievable: Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan – 25^th May 2005

For drama and excitement the 1999 final went down in history as the greatest comeback in Champions League memory. Little did we know that just six years later, United’s long time bitter rivals would eclipse them three times over.

In fact, there are finals, and then there’s Istanbul.

Liverpool, who had won the competition four times, were appearing in their sixth final, and their first since 1985. Milan, who had won the competition six times, were appearing in their second final in three years and tenth overall.

Liverpool finished second in their group behind 2004 runners-up AS Monaco and subsequently beat Bayer Leverkusen, Juventus and Chelsea to progress to the final.

Milan won their group ahead of Barcelona and faced Manchester United, Inter Milan and PSV Eindhoven before reaching the final.

The Italian side were regarded as favorites before the match and took the lead with just a single minute on the clock through Captain Paolo Maldini.

Argentine Hernan Crespo added two more goals before the break to make it 3-0 and Liverpool seemed dead and buried with over half the game left to play.

Some Liverpool fans swarmed to the exits; an hour later, those that did must have wished they hadn’t.

In the most dramatic six-minute spell in football history, Liverpool launched an incomprehensible comeback scoring three goals to level the game at 3-3.

A brilliant uncharacteristic header from Captain and man-of-the-match Steven Gerrard got Liverpool back in the game before Vladimir Smicer smashed home a second.

Xabi Alonso missed a penalty moments later but was quickest to react and stabbed home the rebound to level the game sending the travelling Reds’ fans into raptures in the stands.

The game became tight and edgy for the remainder of normal time with Clarence Seedorf and John Arne Riise both having chances to win the game but squandering them forcing the game to extra time.

Milan had the better of the chances Shevchenko wasting a one-on-one, twice shooting and twice being denied by the tremendous Jerzy Dudek in the Liverpool goal. As penalties came there was only one winner.

Milan missed their first two penalties through Serginho and Andrea Pirlo whilst Liverpool scored theirs with Dietmar Hamann, struggling with a broken toe, and Djibril Cisse.

Jon-Dahl Tomasson and Kaka both scored theirs and Riise missed for Liverpool tying the shootout at 2-2. When Smicer scored however, it became sudden death.

Legendary Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko stepped up to face Dudek once again after losing out to the Pole all game. Shevchenko should have known then it wasn’t going to be his night.

Dudek saved the resulting penalty and Liverpool won the trophy. An emphatic night for Liverpool and English football in final now nicknamed “The Miracle of Istanbul.”

Cambiasso Up For Monthly Accolade

Veteran Leicester City midfielder Esteban Cambiasso has been nominated for the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month Award for April.

The 34 year-old Argentine has been influential for the Foxes guiding them to four straight wins out of five matches this month.

Nominated alongside Aston Villa’s Christian Benteke, Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolasie, Manchester United’s Ander Herrera, Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and recently voted Premier League Player of the Season, Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, Cambiasso will face stiff competition to scoop the award.

Cambiasso’s performances have not gone unnoticed and the most decorated player in Argentina’s history capped a fine month last night with an impressive leading performance during Leicester’s 3-1 defeat at home to league leaders Chelsea.

Adding four goals to his tireless work ethic this term for Nigel Pearson’s men, Cambiasso’s quality shows no sign of letting up despite his advancing years.

Designed to give fans a strong voice in the game, the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month award is endorsed by the players and their clubs.

Each month, one lucky fan will get the chance to meet the winning player and present the award pitch side before the following game.

Fans can vote for their favourite player at 90min.com with voting closing at midnight tonight (April 30), with the winner to be announced tomorrow.

 

The Battle of Britain

With just hours to go until the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season opens its gates, the race for the title is heating up.

Over the summer, an unprecedented amount of managerial change has taken place amongst the top end of the league.

Champions Manchester United saw club icon and manager of 26 years Sir Alex Ferguson retire beckoning a new era for the club. His replacement, handpicked as Everton’s David Moyes.

Neighbours Manchester City sacked prominent Italian Roberto Mancini after failing to win a trophy last season and replaced him with Malaga’s Manuel Pellegrini, whilst Chelsea replaced outgoing Interim Manager with former manager, and Blues hero Jose Mourinho from Real Madrid.

As the dust settles from the manager merry go round, there is one thing that unites these three clubs. Each and every one of them must spend to enhance their squads before the transfer window closes in a couple of weeks’ time, whilst embarking on another long domestic season.

Add Arsenal and Tottenham to that trio, clubs who stayed loyal to their respective managers, and you have two equally strong squads that must continue to spend to enable them to step up a level from European Top 4 contenders to potential league winners.

Manchester United have perhaps been the most active so far this summer. Despite only making one signing to date in the form of youngster Guillermo Varela from Uruguayan club Atletico Penarol, Moyes’ side have been linked with the most upheaval.

With top-rated players such as Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale being lined up for high profile moves to Old Trafford, the annual Cristiano Ronaldo rumours as well as Moyes’ former player Leighton Baines have been touted as reported targets.

Moyes knows he must sign one, if not two or three high profile players if he is to retain the Premier League title with others guaranteed to strengthen their squads. Thus we could see a couple of those names make the move to Manchester in the coming weeks.

United take the journey safe to London this afternoon to play newly promoted Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park looking to start their season with a win.

Manchester City wasted no time in picking up highly rated Brazilian Fernandinho along with talented Spanish winger Jesus Navas for big money in the close season.

As usual with the Sky Blues, it is unlikely that the spending will end there as their hungry owners have pinpointed that Mancini’s lack of spending was one deciding factor in his downfall last season.

City begin their campaign on Monday evening at home to Newcastle.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are many people’s favourites for the title. With a squad which under the right leadership is capable of big things in the league, despite winning the Champions League and Europa League in previous years.

The league title has evaded them in recent years, so spending is viewed as a necessity at Stamford Bridge. There is doubt about record signing Fernando Torres’ future at the Bridge, and there is increasing speculation that Jose is keen to make a big money approach for England and United’s own unsettled striker Wayne Rooney.

If Mourinho manages to turn the club’s domestic fortunes around along with making a few big signings of his own, Chelsea could well be in the mix of things come May.

Chelsea begin their pursuit of the title at home to Hull, a club it has a rich history of performing well against at SW3.

Arsenal have kept with stability under Arsene Wenger. They know they must spend to drag the club back towards the top two of the division amongst unrest in the Emirates faithful with no trophy since 2005.

Rumours hit the press surrounding the £22 million signing of Real Madrid’s renowned goal poacher Gonzalo Higuain, who was allegedly on the brink of signing for Wenger. A goal scoring striker is one of the few things missing in the Frenchman’s master plan of style and elegance at Arsenal.

As it worked out, Arsenal missed out on his signature, leaving Wenger basking in a bed of uncertainty on transfer targets of his own.

With developments in the right places, stability and quality could be the boost that Arsenal have needed for the past 8 years.

Facing Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa at the Emirates this afternoon should be a formality for the Gunners but as ever with these two clubs, you can never quite tell.

North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur’s fortunes rely heavily on keeping hold of star Welsh winger Gareth Bale.

The speculation has surrounded Bale all season and has heightened in the past few weeks with interest reported by Real Madrid reported to be looking at spending a world record in excess of £100 million on the Welsh winger.

Spurs have signed Brazilian midfielder Paulinho and Spanish striker Roberto Soldado in recent weeks. Attacking flare is what has been missing for them so these two additions in the shape of the talented Brazilian and the Spanish international could be the key Tottenham have been searching for.

Should Andre Villas-Boas keep hold of Bale, Spurs could finally break their bad luck of previous years and get ever closer to challenging the top of the table.

The destination of this season’s trophy is anyone guess. With so much upheaval and unrest, anything could literally happen.

Here at Hold and Cover, we believe that come May, Chelsea are most likely to come away with the title with a combination of the strong squad they possess and the ever irresistible Jose Mourinho could prove the difference.

After a poor pre-season, Manchester United are many people’s tip for sliding down the table this season. However, we believe they will be much closer to the title than you would think. Alex Ferguson’s judgement hasn’t let him down before, and David Moyes is an incredibly talented manager who is capable of retaining the title for the Red Devils.

Manchester City are likely to be fighting it out for 2^nd with neighbours United, despite signing big over the summer, it feels like they will need a little bit of time to get used to the Pellegrini way of playing and perhaps this season might come slightly too early for the Blue Moon to rise.

We believe Spurs will beat Arsenal to fourth place this season after falling at the last hurdle last year. Their new signings, and keeping hold of Bale, for now, could be the extra fire power they need.

The Europa League spots are anyone’s guess. We feel the usual suspects of Liverpool, Everton, Swansea and West Brom are likely to fight for these places, with surprise package Norwich being lurking in the shadows after their highly fruitful summer of business.

Finally, the relegation places we consider to be a dogfight between five clubs. The three promoted teams, Cardiff, Reading and Hull are certain to struggle this season, but likewise so are last season’s strugglers Aston Villa and Sunderland, with Newcastle stabilising themselves at last.

If you had to choose a bottom three, we would suggest the three promoted teams will be favourites to go straight back down to the rough and tumble of the Championship next season.

But of course, nothing is certain, and the World’s greatest league is always a great debate around dinner tables and in pubs and parks up and down the country.

So grab your seatbelts, buckle up, and brace yourselves for another 9 months of twists and turns, ups and downs, and ins and outs of the beautiful game right on your doorstep.

Who do you think will win the league?

Who will seal that illustrious fourth spot?

Who is destined for Europa League football in 2014?

And who do you feel is certain to face the Premier League’s trap door square in the face?

Let me know your 2013/14 Premier League predictions.