With Darko Milanic now in place and Leeds looking for some much-needed stability, the January transfer window could be vital for the Whites. The Slovenian gaffer is likely to want to get a few players he knows through the door at Elland Road, but in order to do so he may have to trim the numbers in order to both increase the funds available and free up space.
With this in mind, here are FIVE players Leeds could axe in January…
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CLICK ON STEVE MORISON TO REVEAL THE FIVE
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Steve Morison
With competition for a starting berth in attack high at Elland Road, Morison’s presence is not really critical to success for the Whites. In his handful of appearances so far this term the Welshman has been far from impressive, suggesting that he may be one for the chop.
A relatively successful loan stint at Millwall last term proves that Morison can still do a job in a team tailored towards his talents, so a suitor could be found.
Noel Hunt
Goals have been hard to come by for Hunt since his 2013 move to Leeds from Reading, and, as with Morison, competition for playing time high, he may no longer be needed. Darko Milanic is likely to want his own names on board in January, so the 31-year-old could make way. He may have to drop down the Football League ladder a little, but Hunt still has the talent to succeed.
Michael Tonge
With Tommaso Bianchi looking to be the future of Leeds’ midfield, Tonge’s days could be numbered. The journeyman was once highly rated, but his career has never quite been the success many predicted it would be when Liverpool were sniffing around him back in his Sheffield United days. With experience at almost every level, there are likely to be clubs out there for Tonge.
Sam Byram
Now give this one a chance. Byram is supremely talented and young, but his performances have been a little off of the pace this term. Despite this, his stock among Premier League clubs remains high, so chances are a decent fee could be brought in for the 21-year-old, which could then be invested in new players to boost Darko Milanic’s chances of success.
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Chris Dawson
This one is now axing in the traditional sense, but a January loan move could be the best option for young Dawson. The midfielder has already confessed that he may have to make a short-term move when he gets the chance, and Leeds could well bow to his wishes and send him to either a low end Championship team or a side in League One.
The 20-year-old has been earning rave reviews for his performances in the reserve and youth teams, and is tipped for a bight future.
You always want to get back to your best. A time when you were at the top of your field, feeling invincible, is a time that we all strive to reclaim. This is no more prevalent than at Arsenal, where a trophyless cloud has gathered above the Emirates, waiting for better times to return.
It has been almost a decade since the Gunners achieved a feat that many thought impossible in the modern game; going through an entire season unbeaten. With a squad to rival any team in the world and a manager adored by countless fans at the now extinct Highbury, all was well for the North London club. However, a fast forward into 2013, shows a team unrecognisable from the aforementioned ‘invincibles’. Different stadium, different squad, different issues. While the man at the helm remains the same, Arsene Wenger’s job status has transformed from ‘untouchable’ to ‘insecure’. You have to sympathise with Arsenal fans given the current climate at the Emirates; condemned for not supporting the great Wenger but never seeing the expected results on the pitch; it is an unenviable situation to be in. What Wenger and fans alike must not do, is rely on their past successes to justify their status as a big club. The old guard are long gone, playing in far off lands or providing derisory commentary for various football networks. The fresh faces at the Emirates must create a history of their own to validate the stature of the club, or risk sinking Arsenal into comparative anonymity.
There is no question that the achievements of Arsenal and Arsene Wenger in the early years of this millennia will never be forgotten. Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira among countless others will be considered Premier League legends indefinitely. However, should the current crop of Gunners continue to remain trophyless for the next few seasons, these legendary players will not be the lasting memory of the club in the future. The ‘almost’ men will be the legacy of the North London club, a tag that no Arsenal fan will want lingering around. It is absolutely essential that the club wins a trophy in the next 2 or 3 years. The danger is visible; lower league finishes, no longer considered a European elite, failing to attract the necessary talent. Liverpool are following a similar path since the heady heights of Champions League victory in 2005. Both teams are no longer considered as much of a threat to the Premier League. While financial developments at both Chelsea and Man City have certainly not helped the cause, the simple fact is that the Gunners can no longer classify themselves as they used to. While it may be easy to say that dismissing Arsene Wenger would bring a breath of fresh air to a club in desperate need of silverware, who is to say that the situation will prevail with any other manager. It is the mentality that needs to change. Forget the past, it is an ever distant memory. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott are the steadfast future of the club and they need to show what they are capable of and announce Arsenal as a ‘big club’ once again through their own achievements.
As a football fan, it is not a pleasant experience to watch a team, who you have seen at such highs, experience such comparative lows. With or without Wenger, the club must push forward and erase their predecessor’s glory if they are to remain as one of the most respected, feared and, most importantly, successful football clubs in the world.
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Tottenham were by no means anonymous in the transfer market this summer, with the North London club spending around £32million on six new recruits.
But Mauricio Pochettino’s planned philosophical revolution – moving away from Tim Sherwood’s more traditional tactics and towards the high-octane, technically-demanding brand of football we saw at Southampton – isn’t quite completed just yet.
The Lilywhites need a few more signings and it’s believed their new manager still has around £18million to spend in January.
And with everybody at Football Fancast already looking forward to the next transfer window, here’s FIVE signings to complete Pochettino’s revolution at White Hart Lane.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR TO REVEAL
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Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Tottenham desperately need an in-form front-man.Their current strikeforce or Roberto Soldado, Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane have found just twenty goals between them since the start of last season.
The issue is allegedly seen as so vital in north London that it could cost Franco Baldini his job, having let Spurs’ gasp on Danny Welbeck slip on summer deadline day.
And one rumoured target that’s emerged in the tabloids over the last few days is Schalke assassin Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
Admittedly, the 31 year-old doesn’t offer much to open play, as shown through his uninspiring passing statistics from last season:
That doesn’t make the Netherlands international a natural choice for Mauricio Pochettino, who preferred old-fashioned playmaking centre-forwards, such as Rickie Lambert and Dani Osvaldo, at Southampton.
There’s no doubting his ability to finish however – Huntelaar’s netted 91 goals in 139 appearances for the Miners and also boasts a healthy return of 35 goals in 65 outings for Oranje. Here’s a look at the striker’s Top Ten goals:
//www.youtube.com/embed/EBGEdveNuY4?rel=0
Huntelaar’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and although Schalke want him to sign a new deal, he’ll have to take a considerable wage cut.
That makes a January move seem all-the-more likely, but there are a plethora of Premier League sides baying for Huntelaar’s prolific services.
JONAS
Another striker that’s reportedly tickled Tottenham’s transfer fancy is occasional Brazil international Jonas Goncalves, currently a free agent:
The South American may be without a club but he found a respectable 51 goals in 139 appearances at former club Valencia before leaving them this summer, and was linked with a White Hart Lane switch way back in January 2013.
The 30 year-old measures at 6 foot and blends physicality with technical flair. He’s also a former team-mate of Roberto Soldado, which is seen as a major plus. Here’s a look at Jonas in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/loudtV0K8CM?rel=0
Despite being a free agent however, he won’t actually be allowed to play for Spurs until the January window opens.Tottenham have already filled their non-homegrown quota this season.
Either way, the Lilywhites will have to act quickly, with the former Santos youngster reportedly on the verge of joining Benfica:
JAY RODRIGUEZ
There seems something almost unnatural about Mauricio Pochettino applying his high-pressing, technically-demanding football to White Hart Lane without actually bringing a Southampton player with him.
Many of the south coast outfit’s top talents have already left this summer, but due to an ACL injury that saw him miss the World Cup, Jay Rodriguez remains firmly on Tottenham’s radar:
As previously discussed, the Lilywhites were targeting Danny Welbeck on deadline day and Rodriguez would be a more than effective alternative, with Roy Hodgson comparing the England internationals as like-for-likes before.
In parallel of the now-Arsenal star, the Saints forward, who measures in at 6 foot 2, can play as a centre-forward or in the wide-left role – two areas of the Tottenham squad that require drastic bolstering.
He was in sensational form last season too, with 15 goals making him the third-top scoring Englishman in the Premiership after Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney. Here’s a look at Rodriguez’ highlights from last term:
//www.youtube.com/embed/e3adfleiWiE?rel=0
But Spurs face intense competition for the winger-forward’s signature, with Liverpool and Manchester City both allegedly keen on a January swoop:
ANDRE AYEW
Another winger-forward that should be attracting attention from White Hart Lane is Marseille star Andre Ayew.
The Ghana international has emerged as Ligue 1’s most potent wideman over the last few seasons, amassing an impressive 49 goals and 16 assists in 164 appearances for L’OM. He was in good form at the World Cup too, as detailed below:
Ayew isn’t the most conventional winger but he’s strong defensively, versatile and a real threat in the final third. As viewable in the below video, he’s also outrageously good at heading:
//www.youtube.com/embed/0gIZogfsorU?rel=0
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Rather miraculously, despite the 24 year-old’s proficient reputation and his contract entering its final year at Stade Velodrome, a move failed to materialise for Ayew this summer. He was however, linked strongly to Hull City on deadline day.
That could see him leave in January for a nominal fee, but according The Express, Louis van Gaal is eying Ayew as a potential addition at Manchester United.
FREDY GUARIN
Spurs are by no means light on central midfielders and further strengthened that department on deadline day with the signing of Benjamin Stambouli.
But according to the Daily Star, after losing out on Morgan Schneiderlin, the north Londoners are preparing a January swoop for Inter Milan star Fredy Guarin:
Boasting incredible athleticism, a robust frame and an eye for goal, the 28 year-old has often been linked with a move to the Premier League and was allegedly on the verge of joining Chelsea last January.
Indeed, some of the Colombian international’s strikes throughout the years have been absolute worldies – take this effort for example:
//www.youtube.com/embed/2WwRNyZTwOM?rel=0
Guarin has enjoyed spells with Porto, St.Etinne and Inter playing in a variety of roles. Here’s another look at the midfielder in action:
//www.youtube.com/embed/QaLh1SmCXeg?rel=0
But Guarin’s agent has sought to deny claims he could be on the move, with three years remaining on his San Siro contract:
David Moyes reserved plenty of praise for Seamus Coleman after Everton’s 0-0 draw at home to Swansea on Saturday.
The Republic of Ireland international has started the last two matches after a three-week absence through injury over the festive period.
With Tony Hibbert, the club’s only other recognised right-back, also following calf surgery, Moyes had been forced into shifting vice-captain Phil Jagielka to the right side of his defence.
But with Coleman now back available, Moyes believes there is more of a natural balance in the Everton side, while the 24-year-old also offers an extra attacking threat down the right side.
“Obviously Seamus offers one or two different things when he plays right-back. We’re glad to get him back,” Moyes told the club’s official website.
“He’s a very good player and he is improving. He is a young boy as far as football goes because he is pretty new into the professional scene.
“He learnt a little bit of his trade as a wide attacking player, albeit he has always been a full-back.
“He provided one or two opportunities for us [against Swansea] and maybe we should have attacked them a bit more.”
Coleman has made 87 appearances for the Toffees since arriving from Irish club Sligo Rovers for a £150,000 fee in 2009, scoring seven goals.
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After an impressive 2010-11 season the player was nominated for the 2011 PFA Young Player of the Year Award.
Coleman signed a new five-and-a-half year contract with the Goodison Park club at the end of last month.
Over the last two transfer windows, Celtic boss Neil Lennon has helplessly witnessed his side’s key players swap Parkhead for the Premier League. In the summer, he lost Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper to Southampton and Norwich City respectively, while during January, Crystal Palace took advantage of Joe Ledley’s contract situation to lure the midfielder to South London for a rather insignificant fee, believed to be around £800,000.
But this summer, it could be the Northern Irishman’s turn to leave his Scottish Premiership days behind him in favour of its English equivalent. The Canaries, amongst others, have come calling at various points throughout the current campaign, and following three seasons of repetitive success with the Bhoys, one has to ask whether Lennon has achieved all he can with the Glasgow side.
When the 42-year-old took the Celtic gig back in 2010, it was undoubtedly an exciting challenge, the kind of post that balanced out great ambition with room for error, being the first job of the former midfielder’s post-playing career. The eternal Glasgow-based battle for silverware was in full swing, the Old Firm derbies televised globally every season, and of course, the divine reward was experience in the Champions League, a must for any managerial CV, creating some unforgettable European nights in the process.
But Rangers’ financial implosion and subsequent exit from the Scottish Football League drastically changed the landscape of the top flight. Unsurprisingly, in the absence of their only genuine title rivals, Celtic have walked away with the Scottish crown for the past two seasons, three including the last SPL campaign Rangers were involved in.
The current term has been most telling of the SPL’s limited competitiveness; the Hoops have claimed 89 points out of a possible 102 with a goal difference of +66, enduring just one league defeat all season, whilst second-place Aberdeen lay some way off with 64 points – hardly what you’d describe as a genuine threat to Celtic’s dominance. Along the way, goalkeeper Fraser Forster set a record of eleven consecutive clean sheets.
When the Parkhead side claimed the title again this year, the third consecutive one of Lennon’s dugout tenure, the triumph was met with a pitch invasion, but in truth, the celebrations could have started as early as August. Celtic’s title fate was already wrapped up before a ball was struck this season.
The Bhoys boss has taken the lion’s share of the credit for his ability to meet expectations in the league despite the absence of competitive motivation and rightly so, yet the feeling that any manager of adequate credentials could record the same feats under the circumstances – three titles, two Scottish Cups and two SFWA Manager of the Year awards – must be overwhelming.
In the interests of fairness, it’s worth pointing out that without the smooth ride domestically, Lennon probably wouldn’t have had the freedom to mastermind Celtic’s noteworthy triumphs in the Champions League, with by far the most significant being his side’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Nou Camp in November 2012.
The allure of top European football has undoubtedly kept Lennon keen on the Celtic post. It’s a competition only four Premier League managers are privy to per season, and amid the continual glut of the SPL, it’s become the Craigavon man’s only real barometer of success, where he can boast drastic overachievement in terms of finance, resources and the quality of player available to him.
But having plummeted out of the CL’s group stages this season, with the squad intrinsically weaker than the year previous, it appears that even Celtic’s European aims are beginning to saturate. Frankly, they can’t compete with the continental elite, and even if the Bhoys were to drop into the Europa League next season, the chances of silverware remain particularly unlikely, considering its most recent winners have included Porto, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea – two of which are now facing each other in this season’s Champions League semi-final.
Due to Lennon’s ability to source bargain-bought starlets and develop them into sought-after talents in the space of a few seasons, in addition to Celtic’s regular attendance in the Champions League proper, a study revealed earlier this year that the Scottish champions were amongst the top 40 earners in world football, generating £75.8million in revenues from the 2012-13 campaign.
That in itself is a sensational testament to what Lennon has achieved with finite resources at Parkhead, but impressive financial overheads aren’t what the history books will eventually judge you upon. Likewise, the retired midfielder will be well aware that the January study into football finances also revealed that the Bhoys will never venture into the world’s top 20 earners without a significant increase in revenues from SPL TV rights, suggesting Celtic’s current trend of feeding the Premier League whilst defying the odds in Europe is unlikely to change for the better any time soon.
Perhaps I’ve been rather dismissive of Celtic in this article, but what is there left for Lennon to achieve at Parkhead? Another domestic double? Another upset in Europe? Another Manager of the Year award? Barring a treble and European silverware, or the rather tedious task of ensuring an undefeated league campaign, something Celtic are more than capable of doing, the Northern Irishman has already done it all. Meanwhile, his transfer budget continues to slim, as does the calibre of player available to him, whilst the added incentive of the Old Firm derby and the much-needed competition it would provide in the Scottish Premiership is still at least two years away.
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Not that trophies would be on tap in the Premier League. In fact, many have speculated that Lennon would have to undergo a stint in the Championship first in order to prove his top flight credentials – a glaring insinuation of the lack of adequate challenge at Celtic Park.
But the Bhoys boss has reached his maxim with the Hoops and it can only go downhill from here. I’m not anticipating Celtic’s spectacular fall from grace, but to paraphrase Charlton Athletic’s Alan Curbishley, it’s better to be clapped out of the front door before you’re booted out the back.
This summer gives Lennon and the club the opportunity to part company on a high, the Hoops enjoying another title and the Northern Irishman leaving for a higher calling on good terms, having achieved all he can with the Scottish Champions. Whether his five trophies in three seasons is enough to secure a Premier League appointment however, remains to be seen.
Set the scene, Millwall winning 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.
A game that not many thought we’d get anything from. So Millwall would survive the onslaught and come back to South East London with 3 points right?
Wrong.
This is Millwall we’re talking about. By the time Miguel Llera scored in injury time the pessimist side to Millwall fans could sense it coming. Invertible but heartbreaking none the less.
KJ kept the team the same from the deserved win at Peterborough in midweek and the Lions started off well in the game, but Wednesday danger man Jermaine Johnson was always a potent threat and he proved it 20 minutes in.
Diabolical defending by Karleigh Osborne allowed Johnson space to run and hit a thunderbolt from 25 yards, one nil too the steel city boys. This is where previous Millwall teams would collapse, but Kenny Jackett’s team has only lost three away games in 2012. This showed before half time as first James Henry lofted the ball over the Wednesday ‘keeper to make it 1-1 and just before half time Liam Trotter copied that skill, lifting the ball over the onrushing stopper to make it 2-1.
The Lions fast paced passing play was proving effective. At this point Jackett had a choice, be attacking and go for the third to kill the game off or try and defend for 45 mins.
Unfortunately Jacket chose to defend. With the likes of Johnson and Micheal Antonio on the field the lead wasn’t gonna last long. The Lions resulted to long ball tactics which were to put it frank, pointless. This just invited Wednesday to attack even more and they got their equaliser with 20 minutes to go. An almighty goal-mouth scramble and terrible defending from Millwall led to defender Llera to bundle in at the back post.
Going into injury time surely most Lions fans, despite taking the lead, would be happy with a point from Hillsborough. By the end they didn’t even get that.
Another goal-mouth scramble led to Llera bundling home and securing the points for the Owls. The Ex Charlton man scoring twice. I’m sure the transporters down the road got a kick out of that. Poor defending cost the game for the Lions.
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I believe that those goal-mouth scrambles would have been cleared with Paul Robinson at the heart of it. Even Danny Shittu’s presence on the field alone could have helped but he was left on the bench. Yes, players such as Karleigh Osborne had a terrible game, but he’s new to this level, whether he’ll prove good enough we shall see.
But players such as Scott Malone and Josh Wright seem to be improving as this short start to the season goes on. Next Saturday is Middlesborough at home and I can see the Lions coming away with three points. Plus another chance to see the partnership of Henderson and Keogh develop on their 25+ goals partnership last season, let’s hope they do it again.
Roberto Mancini has warned Mario Balotelli of his conduct after the striker stormed down the tunnel following his substitution in the derby defeat at home on Sunday, the Daily Mail reports.
Manchester City suffered their first league defeat of the season at the hands of their bitter rivals Manchester United in a pulsating encounter which finished 3-2 at the Etihad.
The game was unfortunately marred by other incidents. A coin thrown from a City fan which left Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand pouring with blood from a cut above his left eye, while Balotelli also put himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons as he stormed down the tunnel after being withdrawn early in the second half following a below par performance.
“I love Mario but it is important for him to start to think about his job,” said Mancini.
“He has everything to play well but he can’t continue to play like today. We wanted more from him.”
“When you have a player that has Mario’s quality, you cannot understand why he continues to throw it out of the window. It is incredible.”
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The unpredictable Italian striker was surprisingly given the nod ahead of Carlos Tevez for Sundays key game, but it was only when he was eventually replaced by Tevez that City began to launch a comeback.
Balotelli after initially snubbing Mancini, did eventually return to watch the game from the bench only to see a late deflected Robin van Persie free kick seal a 3-2 victory for the Red Devils.
Queens Park Rangers midfielder Samba Diakite has rubbished reports from major news outlets that he is suffering from depression and has returned to France to combat the problem, the Daily Mirror reports.
Diakite joined the West London club permanently in the summer after an impressive loan spell last season, but news was circulating yesterday that the Malian was not well. Diakite was as surprised as everyone else when he saw the newspapers for the first time and gave RMC Sport in France his initial reaction.
“I am going very well. I don’t have any problem, I was just a bit tired in the last few days,” Diakite said.
“My club had authorised me to spend three days in Paris. But I am not depressed!”
“My club is my job, it is my employer, I keep them updated every day.”
“As soon as I woke up this morning, on opening the newspapers I learnt that some were saying that I was depressed. I am now in London and I was at training today, so for me it is unbelievable.”
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“It makes me sad because I received worried phonecalls from my family, everyone asking me if I was OK this morning.”
After speaking with up to eight clubs at the end of last season, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini intends to see out his five year contract.
Reports suggested that Mancini had come close to signing with French club AS Monaco as it looked like the club would lose out to Manchester United in the title race.
After the incredible turn around on the final day of the season which saw City claim the Premier League title, Mancini signed a new five year deal to remain at Eastlands.
The Italian has not denied reports linking him with the French club and insisted that there were a number of clubs that he was interested in.
“Last year I was very close with seven or eight teams but I prefer to stay here,” he told the Daily Mail.
“I have worked well here for three years. If someone thinks we didn’t do a good job – we won three trophies in two years. I am very happy we worked well.
“Now, the next three or four years will be very important for us.”
Mancini delivered the club’s first top flight trophy in 44 years after they had trailed United by eight points with just six games to go.
“I signed a contract for the next five years because I believe in this squad, because I can work with serious people like the owner and the chairman,” Mancini added.
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“To work with these people is fantastic. In football it is difficult to find people who work well with the manager.
“For me it is a fantastic situation. Now, I think we have time to improve and build a team.”
This week we will be treated to another instalment of the Capital One Cup and with the Premier League’s big six entering at the third round stage, we will finally catch a glimpse of everybody competing in this year’s competition.
The League Cup is now associated with squad rotations, exciting cross-divisional encounters and experimental management. These ingredients pave the way for a competitive knockout regime where we not only gain a sneak preview of the future in terms of younger players being blooded, but also a unique opportunity for top flight clubs to play against a wider array of opponents from the Football League, adding a diversity to the fixture scheduling and in many cases the chance of a potential banana skin for the ‘big’ teams in the country.
Recently, several managers have emphasised the importance of the competition in terms of giving a platform for their younger and utility based players to audition for a more regular berth and this is important in the modern day game.
A lot is made of the congested opportunities for youth to break through in England and refreshingly, the Capital One Cup often throws up unlikely mixed rosters which fans of the respective clubs can go home and think about in an entirely unique fashion.
For example, during West Ham United’s 2-0 victory over League One Crewe Alexandra in round two, Sam Allardyce selected the likes of French Euro 2012 star Alou Diarra in defence with development pair Jordan Spence and Dan Potts also receiving an education alongside the experienced 31-year-old of 44 Les Bleus caps.
In contrast to Diarra’s experience, Potts is just 18, has featured four times from the start of his career for the Hammers and has only just made his breakthrough at England Under-19 level.
If it weren’t for the League Cup, where else would we witness such diversity in a first eleven?
Many Manchester United fans are likely to receive their first sight of late Chilean arrival Angelo Henriquez in the Red Devils third round game against Newcastle this week. There could also be further opportunities for Alexander Buttner, Will Keane and Portuguese talent Bebe who made his initial breakthrough in the competition in September 2010, scoring in a 5-2 victory over Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park and is since back from a loan spell with Besiktas.
In this fashion, the experimental nature of the League Cup is great for fans to receive an invigorated sense of squad depth in their mind but also for managers who may reap the added value of seeing a developmental squad member grasping an opportunity amidst the testing environment of an intimidating lower league venue or stepping out and turning on the flair admirably in front of a well-attended floodlit arena.
These demanding surroundings, as provided by the Capital One Cup, are the ideal setting for managers to truly gain a valid insight as to whether to press the metaphorical rejection button or rise to their feet in applause in true ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ fashion.
Tottenham’s Steven Caulker, who is now receiving more and more chances with the first team under Andre Villas-Boas, made his Spurs debut in the League Cup back in September 2010 and was particularly lambasted for his underwhelming display in a disappointing 4-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Arsenal with defensive lapses proving his unfortunate undoing on the night.
This could have been the end for the now Team GB star but this accelerated blooding forced Harry Redknapp’s hand in loaning him out and he has since successfully negotiated a football education in loan spells at Yeovil, Bristol City and Swansea. He is now considered a fine prospect and a potential heir to Ledley King in the eyes of many punditry panels.
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This is just one example of how experimenting in the League Cup has forged a conclusion and thereafter another choice in the long-term planning of the club management.
We are all set for the third round of this year’s competition and fans can be assured of highly entertaining and unpredictable knockout ties.