Bundesliga bad boy to Stoke City technician

"My ideal woman? Tattoos and silicone..."

Marko Arnautovic might not have had a 2013 to remember, with Werder Bremen and Stoke City failing to win a game this year when the Austrian has started, but the forwards performances for the Potters have illuminated a club still emerging from the dark ages installed under Tony Pulis.

Signed for a cut-price £2 million in the summer, the 24-year-old, has dazzled in his first few appearances in the Premier League. Mark Hughes even went so far as to suggest that the Austrian's enforced substitution at Old Trafford cost them a chance of returning with any share  of the points, in what was to be a narrow 3-2 defeat.

Arnautvic played for six different youth clubs during his teens before settling at FC Twente, where he went on to make 44 appearances, netting a respectable 12 league goals from his favoured number 10 role. He was managed by Steve McLaren, during his first Dutch odyssey, who admitted that the Austrian was the hardest player he has ever worked with.

A (dismissed) allegation of racial abuse followed soon after, in March 2009, and that summer Arnautovic and his agent engineered a lucrative loan switch to Inter Milan under Jose Mourinho, in what would prove to be the Italian sides treble winning campaign. Injuries and off field drama limited the forward to making just three appearances for the Nerazzurri in his loan spell. This disappointment on field did not prevent the player from returning to his parent club with 'Champions League winner' stitched into his boots, despite failing to make a single European appearance in Inter's remarkable run.

Ask Jose Mourinho about his year managing Arnautovic and the Portuguese regretfully mused that he was a "fantastic person with the attitude of a child." In fact, his stay in Italy was more famous for the time when he borrowed Samuel Eto'o's car, left it outside a restaurant and returned to find that the Bentley had been stolen.

After unsurprisingly failing to secure a permanent move to the Italian giants, Arnautovic was signed by Bremen for a considerable fee of £6.5 million in 2010. Here, his record of generating attention off field continued. He courted controversy before even playing a game, earning the ire of Werder Bremen captain, Torsten Frings, who labelled the young Austrian "arrogant" after a pre season training 'incident'.

His rap sheet continues as such: suffering knee ligament damage after playing with his dog, being caught speeding with team mate Elarijo Elia and suspended by the club, responding to being stopped by the police with the infamous "Shut up, I earn so much I can buy your life", a training ground punch-up with Sokratis Papastathapolous and describing the port city of Bremen as a "dump".

The German tabloids must have rued his switch to the Premier League, but so far the Austrian has kept out of the papers and has been given a free role by Mark Hughes. His ability to court attention on and off the pitch has led to comparisons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Indeed, both are not typically 'quick' forwards but are psychical specimens with enormous technical capability. His off field activities may not be the most endearing, but if he continues to bring his showmanship to the Britannia you won't hear many fans complaining at the £2 million outlay.

Dortmund shed hipster tag

Dortmund exploded onto the mainstream football vocabulary last week, casting doubt on their role as the hipster team of choice for discerning football fans.

A standing section that holds fans for as little as €12 a game, an eccentric and loyal young manager, constant suppression by a more financially powerful rival, young and local players, fluid and attractive football and playing in the world’s most happening league means Dortmund were quite rightly the most obvious (and successful) hipster team of choice over the last five seasons.

Dortmund have won two Bundesliga titles in the last three years and also claimed two German cups in this time. Of the team that beat Real last week, the two oldest outfield players, Łukasz Piszczek and Jakub Błaszczykowski  are 27 years of age, suggesting that this team can progress and become even more expansive.

However, the demolition of Real Madrid at the Westfalenstadion last Wednesday, has thrust Dortmund into the conscious of the mainstream media (especially Jamie Redknapp) and in the eternal hipster paradox, once something becomes popular, it is surely time to move on. Under-performing should be a pre-requisite of any hipster football team, and it is clear that Dortmund have been over-indulging in footballing success.

It is easy to forget that 12 years previously Dortmund were as guilty as Bayern are now in splashing the cash to compete in the German league. The Borussians spent €28.6 million on Nicolas Amoroso in 2001, a move which won them the title, but almost bankrupted the club by 2003. In fact Dortmund were reliant on a €2 million loan from Bayern to fund their own payroll, the financial situation was so dire.

It is hard to know whether almost bankrupting your club to achieve success is an attractive trait for football hipster fans (Portsmouth are just about hip, less so Leeds and Man City) but here is a list of  football clubs, that are likely to become and then be discarded by transient football hipsters in the next few years.

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Staying in Germany, the Bundesliga’s other Borussia outfit lay claim to several of the conditions needed to be football hipster material: a young squad, a cult hero in Juan Arango, a feeling of injustice (after Dortmund exploited a release clause to take Marco Reus back) and with a nickname of Die Fohlen, they will always have their indie fans. Lucien Favre has assembled a precocious set of players; Granit Xhaka, Luuk de Jong and Barcelona target, Marc-André ter Stegen, who all look set for a fantastic future. After finishing fourth last year, Gladbach have had a fairly tepid 2012-13, ensuring hipsters can continue to back them.

Getafe

Atletico Madrid often get a raw deal as Madrid’s second club, but few fans in England will even realise Getafe are based just outside of Madrid. Michael Laudrup continued his Spanish odyssey at Getafe for a solitary season, reaching the Copa del Rey final after thumping Barcelona 4-0 en route and only being beaten by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup in 2008. Michael Laudrup, being oppressed by illustrious rivals and previously being sponsored by Burger King make Getafe hipster cat-nip.

Rayo Vallecano

Rayo were briefly thrust into the mainstream focus last summer after Michu introduced himself to the Premier league with a debut brace and people remembered he cost just £2 million. Thankfully this season the club have drifted back into the left-field, although that might change as clubs fight it out for this year’s top-scorer, Piti, who has 15 goals from midfield. Vallecano are another Madrid based club but unlike Real, who had strong ties with Franco’s governance, have a proud anarchist supporter group.

Fiorentina

Rather than going for lowly and leftie Livorno, Fiorentina are clearly the hipster team of choice for students of calcio. Going bankrupt in 2002, some 33 years after their last Serie A title, the club began their re-ascent with captain, Angelo Di Livio, who chose to stay with the fledgling club. Fiorentina have won a remarkable six Coppa Italia’s and current Italy boss, Cesare Prandelli cut his teeth at the Viola. Politics are important in football hipster affiliation, but any club who wears bright purple and boasts Gabriel Batistuta as a former player is impossible to resist.

Malmo

Fashion matters to football hipsters. Being able to pull-off a vintage jersey of your hipster team of choice is an important consideration. So if you’re going to go for one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s former teams, Malmo are the least mainstream offering. Zlatan played for Malmo for two years, wearing the below shirt as they were relegated, before firing them back up in his second year at the club. Ajax, Roma and Arsenal came sniffing that summer, with the egotistical machine moving to the Arena. Ajax director, Leo Beenhakker, got the deal done for €8 million and famously remarked: “Give me 11 arseholes like him and we’ll be champions.”

Holland's Got Talent

The race for the title looks to be all but wrapped up in Europe's 'big' five leagues: Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France by late March, but the battle for the Eredivisie is incredibly close.

Man United sit 15 clear, Barcelona are 13 points ahead, Bayern are six points away from winning the Bundesliga, after a wobble Juventus are now nine points clear and thanks to a combination of their own wealth of experience and the implosion of any challengers, PSG look likely to hold onto their five point advantage. 

By contrast, the top four teams in the Eredivisie are separated by three points, with seven left to play.

PSV exploded out of the blocks and by early December looked on course to beat the previous goal-scoring record in the Netherlands, held by Ajax from the 1966-67 season who scored 122 times. Their form and rate of scoring has dropped off  in the new year and recent mistakes have allowed Ajax to climb to the summit of the Eredivise, at the most crucial part of the season.

Managed by Dick Advocaat and led on the pitch by returning talisman, Mark Van Bommel, PSV have played some fantastic football, a goal difference of +54 is indicative of this. The lack of an obvious striker has been disguised by the goal-scoring form of Belgian, Dries Mertens, who with 13 league goals looks set for a summer move to one of Europe's elite sides. 

Kevin Strootman is a ready-made Premier League player. The 22-year-old is famous for his coverage on the pitch and at 22 he is an established part of Louis Van Gaal's young national team, along with 25-year-old Jeremain Lens. 

Despite only conceding two more goals than Ajax, when any defence contains Wilfried Bouma, who looked past it at Villa two seasons ago, this area could well be where PSV lose the title. Bouma is only playing due to injury to former Newcastle target, Erik Pieters, who lost virtually all season to injury before being sent off and punching a glass partition on his eventual return.

By contrast Ajax have been the quietly efficient challengers who now lead the pack of four in Holland. Frank de Boer has assembled a squad of young technicians who, if kept together, could be destined for great success nationally and on the continent. Manchester City were left chasing shadows when they played Ajax in Europe this season, and with another years experience (and a more favourable group) de Boer could revive the 1995 Champions League winners in European competition.

Christian Poulsen (yes Liverpool fans, that one) anchors the midfield and allows Christian Eriksen and Siem De Jong to pull the strings in midfield, with the likely full-backs of the Dutch national team for the next ten years, Daley Blind and Ricardo van Rhijn creating passing channels. Swedish winger Tobias Sana was the star last season, but Denmark’s Viktor Fischer has had a phenomenal breakthrough this year. 

The 18-year-old scored five goals in his first 10 appearances for the club; a better return than Marco Van Basten or Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He made his Champions League debut against City and in the space of three months has established himself as an integral part of the Ajax starting XI. 

Feyenoord are level on points with PSV in third place as Ronald Koeman looks to steer them to their first title since 1999. The goals of Italian target-man, Graziano Pelle, have fired Feyenoord to this heady position, but the young trio of Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij and midfielder Jordy Clasie have grabbed equal headlines. 

All three have been capped by van Gaal in his most recent squads, with de Vrij expected to become a mainstay of the defence for years to come. The 21-year-old captains his club and has already been scouted by Brendan Rodgers. Clasie has gathered interest from around Europe, with Fiorentina known to have submitted an official bid, and the diminutive midfielder has been compared to Xavi and compatriots like Wesley Sneijder. 

One man has grabbed the headlines for Vitesse this season and the Ivory Coast look to have found a new talismanic striker in Wilfried Bony, who has grabbed 26 goals in 24 Eredivise games. Prolific goal-scorers in the Dutch league should always be treated with caution: think Mateja Kezman or Alfonso Alves, but likewise there are also Robin Van Persie's or Ruud Van Nistelrooy's ready to test themselves in a more competitive league. 

After flirting with administration in 2003, Vitesse are now owned by Georgian businessman, Merab Jordania, making them the first foreign-owned team in the Netherlands. The purchase attracted a lot of controversy in Holland at the time, but the traditional minnows are competing with the established clubs this season. Alongside Bony, Marco van Ginkel was called up to the latest Dutch squad, a sign that the investment in youth at Vitesse is reaching fruition.

The Dutch have been going about it quietly, and they will continue to slip further down the UEFA coefficient, but the Eredivisie has been slowly been assembling a pool of talented youngsters. How long these clubs will be able to hang on to these players remains to be seen, but the league and its fans are enjoying the spectacle while it can.

Pep 'snubs' the Premier League for Germany

Less than 24 hours after the Football Association delivered their remarkable coup (getting Pep to say something nice about English football) Josep Guardiola was named as the permanent manager of Bayern Munich from this summer, on a three year contract.

Cue outrage from the more easily agitated red-tops in Britain, who deemed this a snub towards the English game and bewilderment from The Sun, who had reported the week before that Pep was “100%” set to take over at Manchester City. Why the games most desirable manager would choose to work for City or Chelsea, hardly an example of sporting stability, is scarcely discussed. The thought that there could be a more attractive league or club in world football is not in the lexicon of the English tabloid media, although the FifPro World XI and later UEFA XI teams of 2012, without a single representative from the Premier League, should have been an indicator of the leagues standing outside of the UK.

PEP GUARDIOLA (as the FA were keen to label him on their 150^th anniversary gala) instead decided to ply his trade in the most financially secure leagues in football, signing a three year deal, a more significant deal then he ever signed at Barcelona, where 12 month contracts were the norm. Bayern Munich may be the most financially affluent club in the Bundesliga, but their unrivalled position as the largest club in Germany and subsequent turnover means they can afford the yearly extravagance.

With Financial Fair-Play coming into effect from 2013-14, Germany’s position as an economic powerhouse, with clubs which are majority fan-owned (Wolfsburg, Leverkusen and Hoffenheim aside), will become even more advantageous.

Bayern may have a team of expensively assembled stars: Arjen Robben, Mario Gomez, Manuel Neuer, Franck Ribery and Javi Martinez all cost €30 million plus, but the club has unearthed several youth team stars in club-captains Phillip Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Thomas Muller is an academy of the reserve side and Toni Kroos has been the Bavarian’s best midfielder this season, playing in a number 10 role that is fast becoming his in the national set-up.

Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng and David Alaba complete a back four which has an average age of just 24. Swiss pocket dynamo, Xherdan Shaqiri, was an excellent acquisition last summer and at just 21 is the long-term successor to Ribery or Robben, while further evidence of a flourishing academy is the progress of Emre Can, already billed as "the midfielder of the future and a jewel for Bayern Munich" by chairman Uli Hoeness.

Compared to Chelsea, whose last academy graduate to establish himself at Stamford Bridge was John Terry, you can see why the fiercely proud Catalan has opted for the Bundesliga runner-up. Guardiola is likely to want to implement the Barcelona badge of football in Germany, which could be problematic for several of the existing players. Kroos has been Bayern’s best player this season, but his position at number 10 would become obsolete in a Barcelona style 4-3-3. Mario Gomez and Mario Mandžukić likewise are not suited to a possession heavy approach and would struggle to play as a ‘false 9’ like Messi.

Manuel Neuer has fantastic football technique for a goalkeeper, so should be under little pressure and the young defence is comfortable playing out from the back, though someone of Matt Hummels passing ability would enhance the unit. Convincing Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery to track and hunt possession like a La Masia graduate could be Gurdiola’s biggest challenge. Both are characters in the dressing room, and I would not be surprised to see one of the pair leave in the summer of 2013.

Guardiola already has Javi Martinez at his disposal (a player Barcelona tried to sign last summer) who lacks the soft feet of Xavi or Iniesta, but is a player who has been part of the Spain national squad for the past four years. Sergio Busquets has been inspirational for Barcelona this campaign, and you wonder whether Guardiola will attempt to convince the player he coached with the B team with him to Germany.

On a personal level I would have enjoyed seeing Guardiola take on the challenge of re-building Milan. After a heavy exodus in the last 18 months, Milan are putting faith in several youngsters: Stephan El Shaarawy, who has been excellent, left-back Mattia De Sciglio and Kevin Prince Boateng.

The three year deal in Germany seemingly coincides with Ferguson’s likely exit, and despite expressing surprise at Pep’s move to Germany, Ferguson is good friends with the 42-year-old and is likely to express support, should Guardiola wish to test himself at Old Trafford and finally indulge the FA and British media in further hyperbole.

Best league in the world?

There was a time, four years ago, when you could argue that the Premier League was the most competitive league in football.

England supplied three Champions League semi-finalists in 2007/2008, with Arsenal also competing in the quarter finals before an all English final in Moscow was settled by penalties in favour of Manchester United.

Fast forward to 2012 and the much fabled 'best league in the world' only has two representatives in the last 16 of the Champions League. Manchester United and Arsenal scraped through their respective groups, despite few convincing performances in Europe and in the coming years England's second coefficient spot could come under threat from the financially regulated might of the Bundesliga.

Whilst third place still allows four sides to compete in the Champions League, of greater concern are the performances English sides have produced when faced with foreign opposition. I can't recall any games from this campaign where a Premier League side has convincingly dominated and won a game.

Arsenal were extremely fortunate to take one point from Schalke, who topped the group, and faced some nervous moments against Montpellier, who have just six wins this season and Olympiakos, who finished just a point behind Arsenal.

Manchester United were handed one of the 'Europa League groups' that Jose Mourinho complained off, in comparison to his own teams group of death, and topped the group despite playing very poorly. United conceded first in five of their group games and generally defending terribly, but the combined fire-power of Robin Van Persie and Javier Hernandez disguised these wobbly performances.

Even the most jingoistic football fans would not suggest that English sides have a divine right to top their group, but it is the ease with which Premier League sides have been unable to match other teams in terms of ball retention and tactical acumen, which is the real indicator.

The Premier League is technically deficient compared to Serie A and La Liga, there is no question of that. Even the Bundesliga, which is the closest in terms of style of play, has several teams which are far more proficient with the ball. All three German sides topped their Champions League groups, and with Hannover, Leverkusen, Stuttgart and Monchengladbach progressing in the Europa League, the Bundesliga has an impressive seven representatives in the latter stages of European football.

Roy Hodgson and his side were outplayed by every team at Euro 2012, a 30 minute spell in the Sweden game aside, and the physical and speed focused aspects of the Premier League are starting to seriously hamper it's chances internationally.

English football has produced some incredible results over the last 12 months: United winning 8-2 over Arsenal, City scoring six at Old Trafford, Chelsea losing 5-3 to Arsenal and commentators are right to label this brand of football exciting. But exciting does not translate as effective and European sides are increasingly able to take advantage of the defensive errors that were incumbent in the previously mentioned goal-fests.

The Premier League tops the big five leagues, in terms of goals conceded as a result of individual errors, which suggests that teams are tactically stronger in La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and the Ligue 1 as individuals are not exposed as frequently. This stat can be found here, via whoscored.com, and is further indication that the Premier League is far from the strongest. Fans want to see well construed goals, not defensive errors which lead to efforts.

Italy occupy fourth place in the UEFA coefficients, but I would argue that the strength of their league is greater than the Premier League. A hypothetical top six of Juventus, Inter, Milan, Roma, Fiorentina and Napoli would beat a supposed top six of United, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle from England

The tactical dominance of Serie A was displayed in Turin three weeks ago, as Juventus romped to a 3-0 scoreline, which flattered Chelsea in truth. Roberto Di Matteo was sacked the next day, but there was very little any side could have done to stop Juventus that evening. Their fluid 3-5-2 saw the Old Lady dominate all areas of the pitch, with numerical superiority in defence and midfield.

Manchester United emerged as 3-2 winners in the hectic Manchester derby this afternoon but the 4-2 between Roma and Fiorentina in Italy on the same weekend featured the better football, from teams that are likely to fight it out for fourth place.

The Roy of the Rovers style of the Premier League may be exciting to some, but football purists and fans will appreciate the technical dominance exercised by the rest of Europe and hope that theses teams won't escape further into the distance before the English game tries to catch up.

Some Totti genius.

Why the Demba Ba switch could be good business for both parties (and agents)

Demba Ba looks set to swap St James' Park for West London today, completing a £7.5 million move to Chelsea.

Newcastle's prolific striker is the first of the Graham Carr signings to have enhanced their reputation at Newcastle before moving on, and as long as the Magpies can keep their other main stars they should creep away from the bottom of the table.

After another defensive batting collapse, the 2-1 reverse to Everton, Pardew admitted what most of us could see: the Ba and Cisse combination was one that never worked.

Last season Ba was shifted right to accommodate the red-hot form of Cisse and this campaign it was Ba with the Midas touch, with Cisse shifted wide.

Given that Ba actually played as a wide midfielder for Hoffenheim, Pardew's deference to him must have been an, ultimately fruitless, ploy to convince the striker to commit to the club.

The Chelsea switch is beneficial for all parties: Ba's goals and form helped fire Newcastle to fifth last year and in doing so has earned himself a move to the European champions. A free-signing in a pay-as-you-play deal, Ba represents excellent value for money for Newcastle.

£5 million of that return looks to be signing Matthieu Debuchy from Lille, one of the few highlights from France's Euro 2012 campaign. Mike Ashley needs to back Pardew's eight year deal in the transfer market, with Newcastle needing at least another two defenders and now cover up front.

It can be no coincidence that Cisse scored in the first game since Ba's exit was all but confirmed, and if Davide Santon had glanced across the box the Newcastle number nine ought to have drawn the game level.

This graphic from whoscored.com is an excellent indicator of why I think Newcastle will be better off with Cisse up front on his own, without a team set up around Ba.

Ba has a fantastic goal-scoring record since moving to the Premier League, but his tally of 0 assists for Newcastle is a reminder of his limitations as a striker.

Newcastle's game plan this season has involved hitting it long to Ba, who in turn tries his luck from about 30-35 yards. Remember any go in? His inability to involve team mates can't have helped the team perform as a unit and is a polar opposite to his new striking rival at Chelsea.

Fernando Torres has surfaced from his dearth of confidence, but he still seems unwilling to try percentage shots, preferring a simple pass to a team mate which isn't always the best option.

Ba's shoot on sight policy at Newcastle is unlikely to be welcome at Stamford Bridge, but his selfish running and movement could be the perfect tonic for Chelsea's midfielders.

Ba's exit gives Alan Pardew an opportunity to start again at Newcastle. Cisse proved he can score for fun last season and with Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye returning to fitness, Newcastle fans should be quietly confident that their team edges up the table.

Sylvain Marveaux might have taken twelve months to recover from injury and settle at St James' Park, but he has been outstanding in recent games and a front three of Cisse, Ben Arfa and Marveaux will trouble defences in the Premier League. The absence of Ba, results in a more fluid triumvirate up front and Newcastle will no longer be able to rely on the long-ball.

Pardew was able to call upon the same back five in the first fourteen fixtures of 2011/2012, but a succession of injuries have meant his defensive unit and midfield has been in flux this season. Injury to Cabaye and Ben Arfa, Newcastle's best midfielders and the best  Frenchmen in England, has been a big loss and Cheick Tiote has had a disappointing 2012.

Newcastle's squad is of the calibre to be competing for a top ten finish. Mike Ashley must back Pardew in the transfer window and with a little more luck over injuries, Newcastle should ease away from danger in 2013.

Premier League window shopping

Daniel Sturridge looks set to be the first high-profile of the January transfer window, so here is my look at where and how clubs might strengthen in January.

Manchester United

Who they need: a defensive midfielder/enforcer type.

Who I would sign: Arturo Vidal would be the dream signing. Cheick Tiote or Gokhan Inler good alternatives.

Who they will actually sign: No one.

Manchester City

Who they need: defenders who can play a 3-5-2, wingers other than Scott Sinclair

Who I would sign: Giorgio Chiellini, Stefan de Vrij, David Villa, Pato could be available.

Who they will actually sign: Daniele De Rossi.

Arsenal

Who they need: two full-backs and a striker.

Who I would sign: Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze, David Alaba, Davide Santon.

Who they will actually sign: Fernando Llorente and Wilfried Zaha.

Everton

Who they need: an extra defender to cover at centre-back.

Who I would sign: Douglas from FC Twente.

Who they will actually sign: Rhys Williams

Tottenham

Who they need: a number 10

Who I would sign: Wesley Sneijder might be wishful thinking. Willian, Mezut Ozil, Ikay Gundagan.

Who they will actually sign: Willian or Joao Moutinho.

West Brom

Who they need: cover at full-back.

Who I would sign: Jetro Willems.

Who they will actually sign: Alan Hutton.

Chelsea

Who they need: a striker if Sturridge goes. A better sitting midfielder.

Who I would sign: Radamel Falcao, Vidal.

Who they will actually sign: Falcao, Pato, Robinho.

Liverpool

Who they need: a striker and goal-scoring midfielder

Who I would sign: Daniel Sturridge, Jonathan De Guzman.

Who they will actually sign: Sturridge.

Stoke

Who they need: set-piece maestro.

Who I would sign: Juan Arango.

Who they will actually sign: David Beckham.

Norwich

Who they need: at 31, Grant Holt will need replacing soon.

Who I would sign: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Who they will actually sign: Adam Le Fondre.

Swansea

Who they need: Wayne Routledge's hot streak will end soon.

Who I would sign: David Villa, Tobias Sana.

Who they will actually sign: Derk Boerrigter

West Ham

Who they need: a right-winger.

Who I would sign: Stefan Aigner, Alan. Diego Capel.

Who they will actually sign: Gareth McCleary, David Beckham.

Fulham

Who they need: central midfielders aged less than 30.

Who I would sign: James McCarthy, Fernando Gago.

Who they will actually sign: Douglas, Momo Sissoko.

Newcastle

Who they need: a centre-back.

Who I would sign: Douglas, Toby Alderweireld.

Who they will actually sign: Adam Lallana, Michael Dawson.

Sunderland

Who they need: two full-backs and defenders who aren't free transfers.

Who I would sign: Joleon Lescott, Martin Kelly, Matthieu Debuchy.

Who they will actually sign: Nicholas Anelka, John Heitinga.

Aston Villa

Who they need: a left wing-back.

Who I would sign: Sime Vrsaljiko, Juan Zuniga.

Who they will actually sign: William Kvist.

Wigan

Who they need: a more clinical striker.

Who I would sign: Joel Campbell, Dirk Kuyt.

Who they will actually sign: Marouane Chamakh.

QPR

Who they need: younger players with a point to prove.

Who I would sign: Demba Ba, Michael Dawson, Dries Mertens.

Who they will actually sign: Nicholas Anelka, Lucio.

Reading

Who they need: Premiership quality players.

Who I would sign: Stoppila Sunzu, Alan Hutton, Darren Bent.

Who they will actually sign: Nigel Quashie.

Michu value

Miguel Pérez Cuesta, known to the Premier League as Michu, coolly took his tally to thirteen goals for the season this weekend and the Spaniard is fast becoming the signing of the season.

The £2 million summer signing for Swansea City is only four gaols shy of matching his remarkable tally from last season, hitting seventeen goals for relegation threatened Rayo Vallecano, which made him the top scoring Spanish midfielder in La Liga in 2012.

2011/2012 was Michu’s only experience of the top flight in Spanish football, but his goal-scoring exploits for Swansea have banished any fears that last year was a flash in the pan. Aged 26, his chance in the premier divisions has come relatively late, and despite scoring seventeen last season he only hit double figures on one other occasion, in a nine year spell in and around Spain’s second tier.

Players who make their breakthrough late are often more appreciative of where they have come from and Michu’s languidness and composure around the pitch are indicative of a man who has a great understanding of the game.

His brace against Arsenal was a lesson in finishing and composure. The first was a beautifully shaped left foot finish, before seeming to take too long when played in but the Asturias native was the coolest man in the pitch as Arsenal players came back at him, only to roll it past a flailing Wojciech Szczęsny.

If many Arsenal fans were still in the Emirates to observe Michu’s second celebration they would have noticed the 26-year-old drop to his knees and performing a dual rendition of his trademark ear flick. Penned to silence Granada fans who booed Michu after missing a penalty in 2010, Michu responded with a penalty of his own for Vallecano in 2011 and was ready with his riposte.

Michu seems to glide around the football pitch, much like Dimitar Berbatov, never seemingly in full sprint, but incredibly efficient with his movement and seemingly in the right position to finish of Swansea attacks.

Signed as a replacement for Gylfi Sigurdsson, Mich started the season playing just behind Danny Graham, though over the course of the season Swansea’s number 9 has been deployed as the forward, responding with a remarkable return of goals.

That Michu has no caps for Spain will come as a surprise to casual observers in England. These are likely to be the same observers who took no interest in Miguel Pérez Cuesta when he was touted round Europe over the summer.

Rayo Vallecano was financially destitute and needed to cash in on their best player over the summer. Michu was rumoured to have been offered to every club in the Premier League club for a fee of £2 million and after a return of thirteen goals in sixteen matches, Swansea will be fending off Champions League clubs in the January transfer window.

Managers are quick to bemoan that there is a lack of value in the transfer market, especially on English players. The fees spent on Andy Carroll, Adam Johnson, Jordan Henderson and company are enough to make managers think twice before signing any player, but Michu proves that the financial clout of the English game dominates all but the big two in Spain.

The television revenues that the English Premier League accrue allow English sides to pay wages that are far better than La Liga sides. A side like Stoke are financially flush compared to Serie A and La Liga and the depressing truth for football purists, is that they could buy the best player from a Valencia or Fiorentina.

Michu was far from a gamble, anyone with an internet connection could tell you that there is a better than good chance that the top-scoring midfielder in the world’s then second best league, would do well in the Premier League.*

Interest is inevitable after his start to the season, but Michu declared he is happy at Swansea for the foreseeable future, and being the focal point of a Michael Laudrup side is an enjoyable role.

Michu is also a man of principle. He turned down a move to Sporting Gijon, then in the Primera Division, because he is a boyhood Real Oviedo fan and the two clubs are fierce rivals from Northern Spain. Swansea will struggle to keep hold of Michu for much longer, but he is not the kind of player to force through a move.

At £2 million the Spaniard is undoubtedly the signing of this season and is proof that there is value in an age of financial doping in football.  

(Would just like to point out I had Michu in my Fantasy Football team from week one. I should be a manager.)

Abramovich or Berlusconi - footballs worst sugar daddy

Rafa Benitez endured a less than hospitable welcome to Stamford Bridge at the weekend and the decision by hierarchy to explicitly call him out as the "interim first team coach" won't endure him to Chelsea fans any time soon. 

Trizia Fiorellino, chair of Chelsea Supporters' Group, has bizarrely maintained that the crowd will continue to boo Benitez for the rest of the season, obviously a psychic and a spokeswoman. After the 0-0 draw on Sunday, Fiorellino added that: “The fans don't expect to pick and choose the managers but it was pretty evident there were only two people that were not acceptable in this case - Benitez and Avram Grant.”

It is ironic that Chelsea fans are unable to look past a throwaway comment made in 2007 about fans waving flags, when their fans are quite happy to boo one man for daring to report racial abuse and maintaining unwavering support for the man found guilty of such an offence by the Football Association.

To borrow a phrase from the 52-year-old: Rafa Benitez is a better tactician than Roberto Di Matteo. Fact.

Chelsea fans who are unable to appreciate the two league titles won by Valencia, an extraordinary Champions League win and a dramatic FA Cup in 2006 are blinkered. Di Matteo transformed AVB’s squad into the side that defended their way to glory in Munich and lucked out against a poor Liverpool side at Wembley, but this is a man who was sacked by West Brom the previous season.

Getting a team to park the bus, as Chelsea effectively did in their run to the Champions League final, requires very little tactical nous. Chelsea failed to even defend effectively; Napoli squandered several chances before being eliminated and penalties were conceded to both Bayern and Barcelona that would have swung the ties in their favour if converted.

Di Matteo being moved on after barely a handful of disappointing results should be no surprise to Chelsea fans. That Abramovich did so after a result that effectively eliminated the defending Champions League holders at the group stages, was a more surprising decision. Surely it would have made sense to bring a new man in when their progression was still in their hands?

Chelsea fans might protest at the predisposition to chop and change managers, but Abramovich has bought success to the club, winning their first league title for 40 years.

Those who criticize the Russian should take note of another billionaire sugar daddy, who owns an equally elite football club, Silvio Berlusconi at AC Milan.

Despite a one year jail sentence hanging over the retired Italian Prime Minister, his involvement with Milan has increased over the last two weeks, and accordingly results have picked up for the 2011 scudetto winners.

His helicopter visits to Milanello, Milan's training ground, have increased in frequency following the Rossoneri’s alarming slump towards the bottom of Serie A and some indifferent performances in Europe. An intervention last week included recommending that top scorer and Italian sensation Stephan El Shaarawy have a haircut, prior to a crucial game against Anderlecht, which was subsequently won 3-1 (El Shaarawy scoring the opener).

Keen to improve the clubs domestic form the 76-year-old media tycoon then paid a visit to the players last week with a number of suggestions. Most noticeably was the claim that he wanted to replace Massimo Allegri with Pep Guardiola, should the opportunity arise, and that this possibility had even been mooted to the current manager.

"Guardiola? Who wouldn't want him? We have even spoken about it with Allegri," Berlusconi said. "If [appointing Guardiola] was possible we would look into it. Anyone would try to do so if they were presented with such an opportunity … For now we have Allegri. [But] for the future we are having a look."

Abramovich is clearly infatuated with the idea of ‘Barcelona in blue shirts’ and Guardiola taking charge at Stamford Bridge, but even the oil oligarch has stopped short of discussing the idea with a existing manager.

Berlusconi is keen to take a hands on approach at Milan and was insistent that Kevin-Prince Boateng be deployed as a false nine against Juventus at the weekend. Under such pressure Allegri was in no position to resist and the Ghanaian was positioned at the front of a 4-3-3, interchanging with Robinho during the scrappy 1-0 victory, some rebellion from the manager at least.

Further form includes advising Milan forward Alexandre Pato that unless he stops getting injured he'll be sold and also requesting that Allegri combed his hair before media duties. 

Both Berlusconi and Abramovich have enjoyed morally dubious careers outside of football. Abramovich started by smuggling contraband goods, before purchasing Sibneft for $100 million. The Russian clearly bought the oil company at below its market value, as the company was sold to Gazprom for $13 billion in 2005 and has dined out on this capital since.

Berlusconi has courted controversy for decade: whispers of Mafia links refuse to stick, being sentenced to four years in jail for tax fraud, monopolising press freedom in Italy and allegations of sex with a minor in the ‘bunga bunga’ scandal.

Both men have lavished millions on their football clubs and bought varying levels of success with them. Chelsea fans who are unhappy with Roman Abramovich should take note of the crisis unfolding in the red half of Milan. They might be better off with their Russian billionaire. 

Will England ever produce a Pirlo?

A late raft of injuries and withdrawals mean England travel to Sweden with an inexperienced squad, and opportunities have presented themselves to two uncapped wingers, Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Zaha.

Both players have had brilliant seasons thus far and warrant their place in the full national squad, but an appearance on Wednesday is no guarantee that their long time allegiance lies with England. Roy Hodgson indicated in his Tuesday presser, that he was confident both players wanted to represent England at full international level, and expressed the naive and archaic notion that because both players have under-19 and under-21 caps, they would feel obliged to progress to full international status.

With Jack Wilshire’s progression stunted by over 12 months, these two players are the next big hope for the national set-up. Sterling has progressed from QPR trainee to an established Premier League star in three years and looks incredibly assured for a 17-year-old. Zaha, meanwhile, has lit up the Championship this season, after threatening to do so last campaign, at times looking unplayable in the English second division.

I’m convinced that both players will cement themselves as Premier League standard players for years to come and they have the potential to become mainstays of an England national side, but are they the players England need?

They are different players but their speed over the pitch and ability to commit players in one-on-one situations seem to be their main strengths; traits that work perfectly in the rough and tumble of the Premier League, but that are unlikely to transfer success in Europe or on the international stage.

In short pace and individual ability are not integral components of elite football performances, with possession and confidence on the ball now the integral skill for young professionals. Spain are the current trend setters and the history of football indicates that individualistic brilliance is being eroded from the game.

Association Football as pioneered by the British during the mid 1800’s was characterised by individuals who ran directly at opponents, hoping to slalom past them all to score, hence the 2-3-5 formation that existed for almost 100 years. Teams who deduced that a passing game, which utilised the collective of the team, rather than relying on an individual, inevitably started beating the archaic English style of football, and this trend has continued right up to the present day.

Passing was deemed as not being ‘manly’ by early English players and this distrust of possession in favour of a Roy of the Rovers, ‘up and at em’ approach is only just being kicked out of the Premier League. The tempo of the English game is completely unsuited to international fixtures and English teams seldom dominate possession in the Champions League, nor the national side.

Sterling and Zaha are clearly talented players but they are blessed with pace and trickery, not composure on the ball, mental bravery or the spatial awareness to conduct a game from the centre of the pitch. After being reminded of Andrea Pirlo’s brilliance during the summer, a debate briefly arose of whether England could ever produce such a player. Jack Wilshire and Tom Cleverley may be close, Nick Powell and James Ward-Prowse could challenge, but the simple truth is that England are some way from producing a caresser of the football like a Pirlo or Xavi.

Paul Scholes was the closest this country has come to moulding a ‘Pirlo’ and the unwillingness to change mentality away from the break-neck speed of the Premiership and in turn the national team saw Scholes shunted out wide, prompting his retirement from national duty. Glen Hoddle and Matt Le Tissier are another two examples of English technicians who received scandalously few England caps because of this countries distrust of passing.

To those who argue that Pirlo wouldn’t cut it over here, on a cold night in Stoke, consider the comments made by Swansea’s €2 million signing, Michu, after just three games in the Premier League. He articulated that although the game was faster in England the ‘space between the lines’ was far greater than La Liga, allowing him more room and freedom to pick a pass and expose defences. The Premier League’s self styled moniker as ‘best in the world’ takes a further battering by the ease with which Santi Cazorla has adapted to a less than convincing Arsenal team. Imagine what an Iniesta or Pirlo would do?

How many fast and direct wingers do Spain play with? Jesus Navas would walk into most teams in Britain, but hardly gets a kick for Del Bosque’s unit which prides itself on monopolising the ball and in turn the game. Until football is reinvented success will come from passing, the economy of thought and movement. Zaha and Sterling are exciting prospects, but not the template of footballs future. 

Gazzamania returns to Serie A

Serie A hosts one of the continents fiercest derbies this Sunday, as Lazio host their local rivals Roma. This is a derby that has clear political and ideological connotations; the socialist Roma tifosi have clashed with the right-wing leaning Lazio ultras for decades and the return of Roma under Zdenek Zeman, who has had spells with both clubs in the past, promises an explosive derby.

An Englishman will be centre stage at the Stade Olimpico on Sunday, and despite a professionally disappointing two years in Rome, Paul Gascoigne enjoys cult status amongst the Lazio fans. Two self inflicted injuries delayed his move to Italy by a whole 12 months, and after finally working his way back to full fitness, Gazza saw fit to score his first goal in Serie A against Roma in the derby, rescuing a point for Dino Zoff's side.

He only went on to score another five goals for the Biancocelesti, including this solo strike against Pescara, but despite leaving for Rangers, after falling out with now Roma boss Zeman ironically, Gascoigne is still deigned a hero by one side of Rome and the club roll out a banner for the Englishman every Rome derby.

Gazza enjoyed as much success off the pitch in Italy and his notable contributions to  Football Italia on the fledgling Channel Four, with James Richardson, are a hilarious insight into his off the field life. Don't just take my word for it. Here is a documentary from about six years ago, narrated by journalist James Richardson, who was privy to Gazza in Serie A. A great watch.

10 players who cost more than Yohan Cabaye

Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye has had a slow start to the 2012/13 season, but after a Zidane-esque volley against Liverpool the midfielder is starting to show the form from last year that reportedly had Arsenal, United and even Barcelona interested.

At £4.4 million, the 26-year-old is surely Graham Carr's shrewdest signing and you have to ask why Lille let their title winning captain leave for such a modest amount in the summer of 2011. A superb debut season on Tyneside and being arguably the best performer from the doomed France EURO 2012 campaign have further increased his potential value.

With Yann M'Vila suspended by the French football association until after Brazil 2014, and the ensuing absence of Hatem Ben Arfa and Samir Nasri for disciplinarian reasons, Cabaye is fast becoming the first choice midfielder for France under Didier Deschamps.

The midfielder is one of Newcastle's most creative outlets and is one of the most technically gifted players in his position in the Premier League. Just to underline how cheap Cabaye was, here are ten players who cost more than the Frenchman. Are any of them better than Cabaye?

£5 million - Jamie O'Hara

As likeable as Mick McCarthy is, signing O'Hara, who has never looked better than Championship fodder, and Roger Johnson for £7 million are sackable offences. Woeful.

£10 million - Jack Rodwell

Rodwell has made five appearances for City after his surprise switch this summer, and has cost his team a goal on at least two occasions so far. A 40% hit rate.

£6.5 million - Marko Marin 

When Chelsea announced they were signing a young, nimble, technically gifted young German, Marko Marin was probably not the name supporters were hoping for. Commentators in Germany expressed bemusement at the switch and injury has prevented him from proving them right.

£8 million - Charlie Adam

He has a good left peg. But, that is it. £8 million after six good months in a team that was built around you, yet relegated, feel free Liverpool.

£8.5 million - Matt Jarvis

Not strictly the same position as Cabaye, but this is an extortionate amount for a player who's only party piece is running as close to the bye-line and lifting the ball in the box. #englishpremium

£5.8 million - Joey Barton

Pre Graham Carr, Newcastle decided to sell Scott Parker to West Ham for sub £5 million and replace him with Joey Barton. Parker eventually won Football Writers Player of the year. Barton, meanwhile has been farmed out to France.

£20 million - Alberto Aquilani

Aquilani wasn't bad, per se, he just never really got a run of games in England, either because of injury or managers who didn't take a fancy to his lackadaisical Italian stylings.

£12 million - Gareth Barry

Barry earned his move to Manchester City, after nearly replacing Xabi Alonso at Liverpool, on the back of scoring lots of penalties for Aston Villa. His last performance against Ajax, was a reminder of how out of his depth the once 'saviour for England' has fallen.

£6.5 million - Kleberson

No list of midfield flops would be complete without Kleberson, who infamously won a World Cup with Brazil in 2002. People often forget that he helped knock England out in 2002, but a haul of two goals in 20 games for United was deemed a 'flop'.

Ajax to the future

Ajax rolled back the years with their vintage display against Manchester City in the Champions League, and with a starting XI that boasted seven academy graduates the future looks bright for the four-time European Cup winners.

Frank De Boer's side had an average age of just 24.36 years and boasted little European experience, but tore apart the defending Premier League champions who lurch from one poor showing to another. Mancini might be the domestic cup specialist, winning the Coppa Italia with three clubs as a manager and the FA Cup with City, but his performances in Europe have never lived up to billing.

Despite winning three straight scudettos with Internazionale in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Mancini was sacked by the hard to please Massimo Moratti after failing to impress in Europe and the same infliction seems to hinder Manchester City. They have been slow starters domestically and against the elite of Europe these defensive errors will be punished, as Ajax discovered and who grew in confidence before controlling the game.

Despite the excellent showing, it is unlikely that Ajax will escape Group D, but De Boer and his assistant Dennis Bergkamp will have been delighted with the way their young team out-manoeuvred Manchester City. Manchester City were poor last week and offered little in attack, but against Dortmund and Real, the Dutch champions defence was harshly exposed. Hardly a surprise, when you look at the calibre of defenders who have left the Amsterdam Arean in the last three years; Vermaelen, Vertonghen, Van der Wiel and Anita.

Ajax have retained their offensive-minded players for the last two seasons; Christian Eriksen pulling the strings along with nationalised Dutchman, and captain at just 23, Siem De Jong. The forward interchanged position with Ryan Babel constantly and slammed home the equaliser for Ajax in some style. However, if Ajax continue to flounder in the group stages without progressing to the knock-outs they will be unable to fend of preying clubs who take a shine to their young stars.

The Dutch giants have been unlucky to draw Real Madrid in their group two years running, and wind up in this years 'group of death', but young stars like Eriksen and De Jong are likely to leave for a stronger league in the near future. The Bosman ruling decimated the Louis Van Gaal drilled Champions League winning side of 1994-95 and the growing financial excesses of the Premier League and the big two in Spain will continue to threaten Ajax.

Eriksen has been on the radar of European heavyweights for three years, and despite two failed showings for Denmark on the international stage he is the most attractive prospect in the current set-up. The Dane was actually on trial at Chelsea as a 15-year-old, eventually electing to further his career in the Netherlands but the next young Danish star making headlines for Ajax is 18-year-old, Viktor Fischer.

Fischer burst onto the scene as a result of a hat-trick which eliminated Liverpool from the inaugural NextGen Series, as Ajax made it to the final of the new tournament designed to give under-19s an early taste of continental competition. He finished as top-scorer with nine goals en route to the final, where Ajax were beaten by an Inter Milan side, led by current boss Andrea Stramaccioni, and has started equally well in this years competition, scoring four of the 10 goals that Ajax have smashed home in their first two games.

The teen is more of an out-and-out finisher than his compatriot, Eriksen, and made his first ever appearance for the full team in the 3-3 draw with Hercules last weekend. Manchester United were linked with a £5 million bid for the starlet last summer and if his goal-scoring form continues this season he could find himself negotiating with even more clubs.

A product of the De Toemkest academy, Fischer is yet to make his full debut for the Danish national team, but a record of 20 goals from 30 under-17 games suggest his breakthrough will come soon. De Toemkest literally translates as the future, in Dutch and it is easy to see why it is held in such high regard around the world.

Ajax are enshrined to the 4-3-3 formation and much like La Masia, Toemkest preaches a particular style of football; somewhere between 'Total Football' and tika-taka. General manager, David Endt, reveals the philosophy in place, "We're not developing for other clubs; we're developing for ourselves. This is football how we want to play it."

Statistics have become a integral part football coaching in the last decade and Ajax are ahead of their time with their latest innovation - the miCoach performance centre, adjacent to De Toemkest. Resembling an oversized golf ball, the centre contains pressure plates, high-definition cameras for biomechanical analysis of technique and an artificial pitch to replicate the Amsterdam Arena.

Personality and psychology are also analysed in detail, with head of sports science, Edwin Goedhart, explaining that: "talent is 80%... training is 20%. The rest is what we can add [mental coaching/analysis]. Even if it's only 1% improvement, spread over a team that is 11%."

All students at De Toemkest undertake neuropsychological testing and this is used to quantify why certain players make better in-game decisions than others. Goedhart raises a fascinating point about how these tests could "go a long way to developing more natural Dutch leaders, arguably the one failing of the Ajax system" and to a greater extent the national team.

Ferguson misses the point

Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't misread situations very often. 25 years of perpetual success in Manchester and 12 titles indicate this. But his handling of Rio Ferdinand's Kick It Out boycott perhaps reveal a fallibility of the 70 year old.

This weekend player ratings in the Premier League were pushed to one side as interest focused on whether players would pull on a particular top in warm ups. Ferdinand was the lone United player to go incognito, but he was joined by Jason Roberts and two other Reading players, two from West Ham, and the entire contingent from the Liberty stadium.

Michael Vorm was one of the Swansea players who collectively shunned the t-shirt and he calmly and fairly explained why Swansea chose not to wear them. "Everyone expects the governing bodies to do more... They really have to do something and not just say something on a T-shirt."

Whether Ferguson objected to Ferdinand not backing the campaign or rather took affront to his disregard of his instructions is unclear. Ferguson was highly critical when informed about Robert's planned abstention on Friday and it would follow that the same stretch of thought applied to his own players.

Ferguson seemed to have missed the point on Friday, describing Robert's as "a stray sheep" and insisting that everyone should back the campaign. His comments suggested that dissent was a mistake, but without individuals who are prepared to challenge the existing hegemony progress will slow in all aspects of society, of which racial prejudices are one facet.

Alex Ferguson is clearly his own man and rules United with an iron fist. His comments over the weekend bely his trade union and socialist background and instead seem like totalitarian rhetoric. Why should any player be forced to wear a largely irreverent T-shirt bearing a slogan which they feel doesn't fairly represent them?

The FA, who are happy to spend £20 million soliciting favour from FIFA in the failed World Cup bid, and de facto UEFA, contribute just £300,000 to the organisation tasked with eradicating all discrimination in the game. It's a paltry sum and the shirts that hogged headlines are not subsidised by the clubs; KIO pay for the shirts to be printed and even pay for them to be sent out around the country.

The plight of the organisation is one of key aspects to come from this ill timed Kick It Out week and in fairness the player boycotts have attracted publicity that the own organisation could only dream off.

For refusing to wear a T-shirt which is symbolic of a culture that has failed to adequately defend his brother, Ferdinand is reportedly looking at a two week fine. Coupled with his £40,000 fine from the FA for a retweet, the United defender could end up paying more in fines than John Terry.

Chelsea have kept their own punishment in house and given that any fine greater than two weeks wages needs to be declared to the PFA (it hasn't) the two time former England skipper has got away extremely lightly.

The boycotts of Kick It Out are not necessarily aimed at that specific organisation. The recent scandal in Serbia, the cop out by Chelsea and the lenient punishments for Terry and Suarez have all contributed to a feeling of discontent amongst black players and managers. Who are we, Sir Alex included, to tell them how to protest?

Why are Bielsa's Bilbao imploding?

Last year threatened to be a breakthrough year for Athletic Bilbao and their left-field coach Marcelo Bielsa. However, the start of the 2012-13 season is a harsh reminder that attacking flair requires some defensive discipline and Bielsa’s project looks burnt out, to the point of destruction.

Bilbao made it to two cup finals last season, but were comprehensively swatted aside in both; losing 3-0 to Atletico Madrid in the Europa League final and by the same score line in Guardiola’s final match managing Barcelona in the Copa del Rey. Their swaggering defeat of Manchester United in Europe drew attention to the Basque region and the UK press took notice of the man dubbed El Loco for the first time after years of attacking football in Latin America.

United were beaten 5-3 on aggregate (and the three flattered United) and Bielsa’s uncompromising emphasis on attacking football saw them beat Schalke 6-4 and edge past Sporting Lisbon 4-3 on aggregate. In Fernando Llorente they had one of the form strikers in Europe and most expected a close final in the all Spanish affair.

Atletico had other ideas, and Falcao in particular ripped through the Bilbao defence to score two sensational first half goals, before Diego hit Bilbao on the counter on 86 minutes to condemn Bielsa to a runner up medal. Guardiola has gone on record confirming that Bielsa’s philosophy was an influence on his own playing style as a manager and despite averaging possession for 59% of the Europa League Final, Bilbao looked short of ideas and were ruthlessly exposed by their opponents.

The trend has continued this season and Bilbao only have one victory to their name in the league this season. A tally of 14 goals conceded, the most in La Liga, and eight scored indicate that Bielsa’s high pressing and possession based style is being exposed by other teams. Barcelona may have a 6-0-0 record in La Liga, but they have had to work for those wins and having Lionel Messi in your team helps.

By contrast Bilbao have had to make do with the loss of two of their best players over the summer. Javi Martinez eventually left to Bayern Munich, for a massive €40 million, in a protracted transfer which lasted all summer and Fernando Llorente has frequently expressed a desire to leave and has only played one league game this season. He walked out of a recent training session and ‘The Lion King’ looks set to leave for Juventus in January.

Bielsa went as far as to ask both players whether the problem was him; implying the solution “if it is me, I’ll go”, but after a breakthrough year in Europe which massively enhanced their own reputations is it likely that they both wanted to use 2012 as a platform to move on from. Llorente was considered so burnt out over the summer that Vicent Del Bosque didn't give the 27-year-old any game-time at EURO 2012, and the forward will want to complete a ‘big’ move before his stock fades.

Further controversy engulfed the Argentinean coach over the summer after Bielsa reported himself to the police for insulting and attacking the site manager overseeing renovations to the clubs training base. Bielsa was unhappy about promises not being kept and his reaction is indicative of the man who is famous for his touch-line displays, squatting and turning in exasperation like Andre Villas Boas on speed.

Bielsa has completely revolutionised the clubs identity, style of play and assembled the finest collection of Basque players for decades. When in full-flow Bielsa sides are a joy to watch, but Bilbao of 2012/13 look bereft of confidence and seem to still be reeling from their double 3-0 reversals at the end of last year. Bielsa is a flawed genius and another such genius, Bela Guttmann, lived by the moto ‘the third season is fatal’. Bielsa is leading Athletic into his second season and his own idiosyncratic approach may have proved too volatile for the club.

Busquets bashing

The Champions League is back this week and with it comes one of the games most divisive players; Sergio Busquets.

Ridiculed in the UK and vilified by Internazionale fans after exaggerating contact from Thiago Motta to get the midfielder sent off, the 23-year-olds ability is often lazily dismissed and his contribution to Barcelona and Spain's success are quickly overlooked.

Busquets was not developed in La Masia, and came to the Catalans relatively late in 2005 from Unio Jabac aged 16. He was a mainstay of Pep Guardiola’s B team in the 2007-2008 season and after helping the team win promotion he followed Guardiola in being promoted to the full squad for 2008.

Guardiola’s first season in charge was a revelation; the Catalans won the first ever treble in Spanish history, which included a stunning 2-0 win over Manchester United in the Champions League final. Prima-donna players like Deco and Ronaldinho were moved on and in came a midfield three of Xavi, Andreas Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, one of the first names on the team sheet at 19 years of age.

The tika-taka style which Rijkaard had implemented was refined by Guardiola and with the repositioning of Lionel Messi as a ‘false number 9’, rather than out wide, Barcelona soon became the most impressive club team in football. Busquets was an integral part of the side and his tactical intelligence and constant availability meant Xavi and Iniesta could impose their game higher up the pitch.

In winning the Champions League in his breakthrough season, Busquets also joined an exclusive club of father and son combinations to have both won the Champions League with the same team (the Maldini’s at Milan and Manuel Sanchez Hontiyuelo and Manuel Sanchez Martinez of Real Madrid are the other two). Carles Busquets kept goal for Barcelona in the 90s and was backup during the 1992 European Final at Wembley.

The younger Busquets has gone on to average 48.5 games a season since stepping up to the full squad, more appearances than Iniesta and Pique for instance, but yet he is rarely appreciated as a player outside of Barcelona. He might have exaggerated contact to get Thiago Motta a second yellow card, but in a game of professionals if the other team is reduced to ten men then your side have gained an advantage. It was not Busquets fault that Motta was already on a booking for instance.

As it turned out, the sending off did not swing the tie away from Inter, who defended brilliantly (and rode their luck, Bojan’s goal should have stood) to eliminate Barcelona. Busquets was caught on camera glancing up from his ‘injury’ to the bench and it was this knowing wink that enraged football fans. Didier Drogba has committed far more flagrant dives during his time at Chelsea, yet his reputation is as a bullish goal-scorer rather than a ‘diver’. His reaction in the quarter finals of the Champions League tie versus Napoli (see video below) was appalling, but were largely glossed over by an English media exultant to see an English side progress.

Drogba won the lot during his time at Chelsea and is clearly an excellent striker. By contrast Busquets aged 24 has won the following; thee La Liga’s, two Copa del Rey’s, two Champions League titles, a European Championship  and a World Cup, not bad for what has been a four year career. Busquets deserves at least equal the praise that Drogba earned during his time in England but it seems unlikely that the English media will budge from their lazy stereotype of the Spanish midfielder.

He wasn’t part of the EURO 2008 squad but since coming into the national set-up Spain have dominated the game and I would argue that his presence in midfield is second only to Lionel Messi’s new deployment as the false 9, as the fulcrum behind Barcelona’s form these past four years. It can be no coincidence that since Busquets has come into both sides, they should start to dominate at club and international level and hopefully the rangy midfielder will earn respect from outside of Catalonia. 

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