Wigan came from behind twice to snatch a late win over West Brom at the Hawthorns to boost their Premier League survival hopes.
Steve Clarke post-match…”We have conceded three goals and we have to look at that. Two of the goals came from crosses and normally our defending from crosses is very good. We played an attacking line-up, I chose to go with that so I have to be the one that carries the can for this.”
Roberto Martinez post-match…”We showed our character and never accepted defeat. To come back twice from behind at a place as difficult as this is huge. To score three goals in open play here is very pleasing and I don’t think anyone else has done that this season.”
Good day for…Callum McManaman: Amidst all the controversy that surrounds McManaman he is developing into a fine footballer. Another match winning display saw him steal a priceless victory for Wigan and then clear off the line at the death to preserve the scoreline and boost his sides chances of survival.
Bad day for…Paul Scharner: Just an awful day all round for the Wigan defender. Sacrificed possession in the lead-up to West Brom’s open goal and gave away the free kick that led to their second.
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Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley wants to bring Brighton manager Gus Poyet to St James’ Park this summer if and when Alan Pardew feels he cannot work with newly appointed director of football Joe Kinnear, according to the Sunday Mirror.
Kinnear’s arrival has caused uproar in the North East as fans do not want the brash, opinionated, former manager at their club again.
Pardew is just one year into his eight year contract and so Newcastle will not be sacking the former West Ham and Southampton boss any time soon due to the mega compensation package he will require.
Kinnear has hit back at fans who don’t want him there in a number of interviews this week, none more so than on talkSPORT where he claimed the fans were not intelligent enough to want him at the club.
Poyet is currently suspended by Brighton after an incident during the play-offs against rivals Crystal Palace and is not expected to return to the job, leaving him open to fill Pardew’s shoes should he walk.
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Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge of Manchester City has started off with an interesting twist to what most fans predicted.
While they continue to run riot at the Etihad, humiliating every team that visits, City look indecisive away from home, with just one Premier League win on the road so far this campaign and an extra-time victory over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park in Round 4 of the Capital One Cup.
Losses to Aston Villa, Sunderland, Cardiff City and Chelsea have prevented them from topping the division and mounting a serious challenge to bring the league title back to the blue half of Manchester.
Pellegrini’s side looks devastating at home, scoring 35 goals at the Etihad already, which is more than any other top-flight team have managed both home and away all season. But they’ve managed to find the net on just 12 occasions on the road, which will be big cause for concern for Pellegrini.
Added to the pressure of improving away results, Pellegrini is expected to win at least one piece of silverware in his first Etihad season. The Capital One Cup provides City with the perfect opportunity to do just that, especially as they have avoided rivals United and Chelsea by drawing Championship side Leicester City.
However, if they had been drawn at home you could have bet your house on them progressing through to the semi-finals with ease, but a trip to the King Power Stadium doesn’t appear to be as straight forward considering how their season has gone so far.
Promotion hopefuls Leicester saw off Premier League Fulham in Round 4 and will believe that they can cause arguably the upset of Round 5 by disposing of travelsick City. The Foxes’ form at the King Power Stadium is also pretty strong, with just one loss in the Championship so far this season.
Despite this, though, City have to put an end to their away day woes sooner rather than later and it’s all but certain that, as soon as they regain their confidence away from the Etihad, their season will be notched up a gear and they’ll be there-or-there-abouts in all the competitions in which they’re competing for this season.
The prospect of a Capital One Cup semi-final will be an attractive one for Pellegrini, and the strength in depth he has at his disposal suggests he can perhaps be confident that the Citizens can get the job done.
The most important thing for the Chilean boss, though, is to become more consistent away from home, and a trip to Leicester in the Capital One Cup could be the perfect place to start.
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England may only have one manager, but ahead of every World Cup, every fan has his or her own opinion on who should, and shouldn’t be on the plane with the real gaffer. The squad selection is one of the most important decisions for an international manager. Determining who deserves the right to represent their country on the biggest of stages. Whilst every nation has a few stars that are guaranteed their flight ticket, for others there’s a much more nervous wait.
So what about those players fighting for their place on the plane? The inclusion of Theo Walcott in 2006 or Emile Heskey in 2010 shows that no matter old or young, there’s always a chance for a late phone call. Here are 5 players that, with a bit of form and good luck, could shock the pundits and fight their way into World Cup squad, a feat difficult to imagine 12 months ago. It’s not likely, but then again it wouldn’t be a World Cup squad without a surprise inclusion.
Luke Shaw
The Southampton defender is only 18 years-old and yet has already been linked with big money moves to Chelsea and Manchester United. Shaw has missed just two Premier League matches this season, starting all 14 of his games as he’s helped the Saints to have the joint best defence in the Premier League. But his pace, attacking threat and ability to read the game has led to Shaw being one of the country’s hottest youngsters, earning himself three caps for the Under-21 team since September.
He’s not a very experienced player to be suggested and playing for England in the biggest tournament in World football, but he could be called upon should injuries hit the senior side. Leighton Baines and Ashley Cole are set to continue their battle for the number 1 spot in the side over the remainder of the season, both looking to convince Hodgson that they are the best left-back in the country. But should one of the two be dealt the bitter blow of getting injured for the tournament, suddenly Shaw could be the back-up full-back.
Ravel Morrison
Andros Townsend has been a hit for both Spurs and England this season with his direct, attacking style of football. With a determination to beat defenders, the Tottenham winger has become one of the North London club’s most creative players this campaign. Ravel Morrison is another one of these players. With a statement to make after being sold from Manchester United, Morrison has started to make a name for himself at Upton Park, scoring 3 goals for the Hammers, including a stunning individual effort at White Hart Lane.
His goal scoring ability has been displayed on the Under-21 stage too. As well as scoring two goals against Lithuania Under-21s in October, Morrison was caught on camera scoring an audacious backheel volley during training for the youth side. England have often lacked players with a drive to take on defenders, but with Townsend and Morrison on the pitch, suddenly defenders will fear England’s style of play. Able to play out wide or in the centre of midfield, Morrison could add more flair and drive to Hodgson’s campaign.
Steven Caulker
The 21-year-old has done nearly everything right so far in his brief football career. After joining Spurs from a young age, Caulker was sent on loan to Yeovil, Bristol City and Swansea, to gain vital match experience. It worked too, earning him a place in England’s Under-19 and Under-21 teams, as well as playing all 5 of Great Britain’s Olympic matches in 2012. But after a year of fighting Jan Vertonghen, Michael Dawson and William Gallas for a place in Tottenham’s first team last season, the youngster moved to Cardiff City in the summer, in the pursuit of regular first team football.
Ever since Rio Ferdinand and John Terry’s retirement from international football, the Three Lions have been left with a lack of depth at centre-back. Cahill and Jagielka are expected to be Hodgson’s starting duo, with Joleon Lescott, Chris Smalling and the injury prone Phil Jones left as England’s only other options. Motivated by playing matches and not earning money for Spurs’ reserves, Caulker has shown his desire to become one of the best centre-backs in England, and could argue his case to get in the World Cup squad should there be a late withdrawals.
Jordan Henderson
The midfielder had a tough time when he first moved to Liverpool, for a surprising £16million fee. But after a long, difficult season, the former Sunderland youngster has turned his performances around over the summer. At first he was winning over a small pocket of Kopites due to his work rate, and persistence to cover every blade of grass. But as the weeks have progressed, more and more fans are starting to like the 23-year-old.
He still has a long way to go to win over all of Liverpool’s faithful, let alone the general public, but the midfielder is definitely showing improvement. His terrific performance during the Reds’ 5-0 win at Spurs, where he stepped in for the injured Steven Gerrard, earned him the man of the match award, and maybe a few more fans. Hodgson has to decide between taking 7 or 8 midfielders to Brazil, but if he continues to shown this much improvement, Henderson could earn himself a plane ticket. A tough task, with Barkley, Wilshere, Lampard, Carrick and Cleverly all fighting to sit with skipper Steven Gerrard in the midfield.
Callum McManaman
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It feels like a long time since the 22-year-old was handed the man of the match award after Wigan’s FA Cup success over Manchester City in May. The attacker scored 3 goals in the Latics’ surprisingly successful campaign, and soon after the press linked him with a move to Everton. But since Wigan got relegated, the Merseyside-born winger has somewhat fallen off everyone’s radar.
Not according to Hodgson himself though, who spoke in November about the chances of McManaman making the trip to Brazil: “We’ve got a few on the fringes who we look at, like Callum McManaman for instance, who could make the squad. We were talking about him the other day. He was flying for Wigan at the end of last season and then he got that unfortunate injury, so he’s one we’ll have a look at. We have been following his progress. There are certain players like that who aren’t out of our radar.” It would be one of the biggest squad surprises for years, but according to the England manager, not impossible.
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Arsenal won’t win the Premier League title, or any piece of silverware for that matter, playing the way they did at White Hart Lane.
By the end of the game, it was Arsenal’s back line, predominantly Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Bacary Sagna, who earned the entire team their three points. But away from the final result, it was a worrying attacking performance ahead of a couple defining games over the coming weeks.
It was a laborious watch. Arsenal were so un-Arsenal that you had to question what went wrong. Why was a team who had shipped seven in their previous two and only scored once allowed to look as threatening as Tottenham did on Sunday afternoon? This isn’t the Arsenal of last season, where their backs were truly against the wall in a fight for fourth place; they’re now a team very much in the mix for two trophies, and it’s the middle of March.
Had it not been for Mertesacker and Koscielny’s heroics, Arsenal would have certainly lost or at the very least drawn against Spurs. The defensive duo’s collective effort in blocking Nacer Chadli’s effort when Wojciech Szczesny was thrown out of position should be commended: another example of how far the two individuals have come and how safe Arsenal’s defence finally is.
In attack, the contrast was alarming. Players like Santi Cazorla failed to retain possession; Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had shown such coolness and calm in front of goal in recent times, squandered three excellent chances to further Arsenal’s goal tally; and Olivier Giroud simply looked exhausted and incapable of offering the kind of cutting edge we saw earlier in the day from Liverpool’s attack.
If this criticism appears overly and perhaps undeservedly harsh, it’s because the expectation for Arsenal is now so high. They may have been without Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey, three players who have defined certain periods of this season, but their displays and impact on the club helped to set a marker for where Arsenal believe they should be come May: with at least one trophy in hand. With Arsenal’s attack on the day failing to motivate themselves beyond a few chances early on in a North London Derby, you have to wonder what is in store against better opposition in Chelsea and Manchester City.
In this bizarre Premier League season, Arsenal’s win at Tottenham was the kind of result that will leave the other three teams in the top four with a sense of relief. What Arsenal have done is eliminated the fifth-place team from the race for a Champions League spot, creating clear daylight between them and Manchester City, currently occupying fourth.
It’s also a win that should, in theory, give Arsenal the impetus to go out and get a good result at Chelsea, who will be without two key players following Ramires and Willian’s sending off against Aston Villa.
Arsenal were very good against Bayern Munich last week, showing they can hold their own against a team who are currently considered the best attacking unit in Europe. There is momentum going into the next few league fixtures.
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What is absolutely vital, though, is that Arsene Wenger dusts off whatever problems halted Arsenal from playing their own attacking and possession game to good effect against Spurs. With the setting and ultimate prize in mind, two of the next three league opponents won’t be as forgiving.
Bastian Schweinsteiger isn’t the first Bayern Munich midfielder to be linked with a move to Manchester United this summer.
The back end of last season saw a level of uncertainty raised about Toni Kroos’ future with the Bavarians that United were looking to capitalise on. The 24-year-old has been a regular in the Bayern team over the last two years, winning the treble under Jupp Heynckes and the domestic double with Pep Guardiola. Kroos’ contributions, talent, links to the club’s academy, and potential to be a future leader within the team – despite his overly relaxed nature – looked to merit a pay increase to match the other top earners with the club.
Similarly to Kroos, Schweinsteiger’s future isn’t clear-cut, but for entirely different reasons. Schweinsteiger’s hero-status with the club’s supporters is undoubted. His maturing into one of the best midfielders in Europe since moving into the centre of the pitch from inconsistent and at times underwhelming performances on the flank has been evident; he’s been an integral part of Bayern’s successes over the years since Louis van Gaal re-positioned him to the centre. Schweinsteiger has been to three European Cup finals and won three Bundesliga titles since 2010. He’s 29, often seen as a more vocal leader than Philipp Lahm and someone whose talent in various roles in the midfield would see him walk into most teams in Europe.
But reports are indicating that Pep Guardiola isn’t completely at ease with Schweinsteiger in his starting XI. The German international can play the holding role, dictate play in the middle of the park or push further forward to have an influence nearer the opposition goal. But Bayern have three players who do each of those jobs as well, if not better, than Schweinsteiger, in Javi Martinez, Kroos and Thiago Alcantara. It’s not to say Schweinsteiger isn’t valued, it’s simply that he has been singled out as one of the few who have struggled to adapt to Guardiola’s system; not quite the full-blown tiki-taka of his Barcelona days, but a variation of it.
Schweinsteiger is said to slow the game down and make Bayern’s attacks too predictable – which was a problem in their defeat in both legs of the Champions League semi-final to Real Madrid.
In the past with Heynckes in charge, Bayern would steamroll opponents. The midfield duo of Martinez and Schweinsteiger was the best in Europe at the time. Criticism of Guardiola was in his deviation – in personnel and formation – from that, breaking up an effective partnership in order to accommodate Lahm in the midfield and reach for greater possession above all else.
Guardiola is said to be in the market for another midfielder this summer, another to go along with the acquisitions of Thiago and Mario Goetze last summer, which would then pave the way for one from the current squad to depart.
While it’s extremely difficult to rationalise the sale of either Schweinsteiger or Kroos, the latter makes more sense, especially now with Real Madrid said to be interested.
Kroos’ contract is up next season, which means he can either leverage a new, higher-paid deal with the Bavarians, or run down his contract and earn something in excess of what Bayern would be willing to pay.
As for Schweinsteiger, he may be 29 but his sale would force the loss of a level of leadership that Kroos may never acquire. It goes without saying what it would mean for the club to lose someone who is already considered a legend among supporters, and Guardiola would be doing himself no favours by giving the green light on such a deal.
But there are drawbacks to Schweinsteiger’s game that could ease a potential sale to Manchester United. Adaptability aside, Schweinsteiger has struggled with injuries over the past two years, to such an extent that doubts have emerged as to whether he’ll ever been the ever-present in the team he once was. He’s yet to hit his thirtieth birthday, but there may be an argument to say he’s already peaked as a player.
That shouldn’t be enough to facilitate a sale, though. Even with injury problems this season, Schweinsteiger still started 22 games for Bayern. He’s an influential figure in the dressing room and on the pitch, certainly, but the team have such a wealth of midfield talent that they can afford to comfortably get by without the club vice-captain.
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If reports are to be believed that Toni Kroos is in advanced negotiations with Real Madrid, then there should be no further contemplation of a sale for Schweinsteiger. There can be no excuse for the self-inflicted wound of selling two high-profile academy players in one go.
Louis van Gaal would of course relish the prospect of pairing up with Schweinsteiger again, especially as it was the Dutchman who set the midfielder on a different path that led to such glory and prestige. But letting go of a celebrated figure like Schweinsteiger simply doesn’t make sense for a club who put so much importance into looking after and retaining their own.
New York City FC was only founded 15 months ago and isn’t set to join the MLS until the 2015/2016 season. The football club is 20% owned by Yankee Global Enterprises and 80% owned by City Football Group, who also own Manchester City.
Since the creation of the football club, New York City FC have acquired six players, with two of their most notable players being Englishman Frank Lampard and Spaniard David Villa. With the money available for the football club thanks to their wealthy owners and the quality of the players they have already brought in, New York City FC will be looking to have an immediate impact on the MLS and possibly change the landscape of the league. Some people may say thanks to their wealth, they have already bought an MLS title.
Until New York City FC joins the MLS for its inaugural season in March 2015, Lampard has gone on loan to Manchester City whilst Villa has gone on loan to Melbourne City FC, also owned by the City Football Group. The Australian side is yet to begin their season but the Spaniard is predicted to set the league alight. On the other hand, Lampard has already demonstrated he is still a quality player after scoring the equalizer in City’s 1-1 home draw against his former club, Chelsea, in the Premier League.
If that isn’t enough to satisfy you, maybe you should know that Lampard is the highest scoring midfielder in the Premier League from the 2009/10 onwards with a total of 65 goals. These goals would have mostly occurred thanks to Lampard’s characteristics of taking long shots and being excellent at direct free kicks. Lampard averaged 40.2 passes per game and also had a pass success percentage of 82.4% during his last season at Chelsea. He also averaged 1.3 key passes per game. New York City FC manager Jason Kreis will be hoping Lampard can replicate or increase these statistics in the MLS.
Villa finished last season as Atletico Madrid’s second top scorer, with 13 goals from 36 La Liga games. He was outshone by attacking partner and fellow Spaniard Diego Costa, who is now at Chelsea, but Villa’s contribution shouldn’t be understated. He averaged around 2.1 shots per game and has the characteristics of being a good finisher and playing through balls. He has won basically every top competition available including the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, La Liga, and the Copa Del Rey, and he is also Spain national team’s all-time leading top goal scorer with 56 goals.
Villa should have a similar impact to the MLS as Robbie Keane. In his first full season (2012) following the Irishman’s moved from Tottenham Hotspur to LA Galaxy in 2011, Keane scored 16 goals from 28 league games. Villa is a much better finishing than Keane as proven by the goals he scored last season in La Liga for Atletico Madrid. Villa is still good enough to play for many European teams.
Could we see more clubs in the Premier League owning or partly owning teams in the MLS in the future? The MLS is fast developing into a league for older players to continue to play, but also as a league that is producing some great players, so I think we will see more clubs in the Premier League owning or partly owning teams in the MLS in the future for that reason.
Some people, such as Arsenal manager Arsene Wegner, have questioned if the loan of Lampard to City is in line with Financial Fair Play rules. Some believe they have bent the rules to meet the five home grown players they are required to have in their restricted 21-man Champions League squad. UEFA rules state Lampard’s loan move falls inside the Financial Fair Play rules provided City pay the midfielder’s wages, which they insist they do. Although Manchester City, New York City and Melbourne City are all owned by City Football Group, they are run as standalone businesses but some believe New York City FC is helping City by loaning out Lampard to them and bending the rules.
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We could therefore also see more Premier League clubs owning or partly owning teams in the MLS in the future in order to try to get around the Financial Fair Play rules.
At the present time, Manchester United do not have a concrete backline and even with everyone back to full fitness, Louis van Gaal will then need to decide who his first four choices are.
If they can finally land Ron Vlaar in January, it could open up a host of other defensive candidates hoping to earn a first team spot at Old Trafford, and in turn a spending spree to plug the holes in the Red Devils back four.
Whoever it may be, here are FIVE players that could well follow Ron Vlaar to United come January.
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Angelo Ogbonna
Name: Angelo Ogbonna
Age: 26
Position: Centre-Back
Nationality: Italy
Club: Juventus
Price: £16 million (asking price)
Angelo Ogbonna could be a great candidate for a Manchester United move mainly because of his versatility in the back line. He can play on both centre-back sides and is even used to a back three with Juventus, opening up the option Louis van Gaal to try out his 3-5-2 formation once more.
Considering their midfield presence, the club should move away from efforts to sign Arturo Vidal and lure away Ogbonna to join Ron Vlaar at the back.
Neven Subotic
//www.youtube.com/embed/YV1uB16MEgQ
Name: Neven Subotic
Age: 25
Position: Centre-Back
Nationality: Serbia
Club: Borussia Dortmund
Price: £15 – £18 million
If Manchester United cannot land Mats Hummels, they have already considered signing his defensive partner Neven Subotic instead. Borussia Dortmund recently picked up another loss as they are yet to replicate their form from the past few seasons.
With this in mind, he should consider a fresh start at the heart of United’s back line as all spots are currently up for grabs. Louis van Gaal may turn to his academy players now, but when they are expected to get results, he may need some big game experienced players instead.
Kevin Strootman
//www.youtube.com/embed/3uGwjCVfeJ4
Name: Kevin Strootman
Age: 24
Position: Centre Midfield
Nationality: Netherlands
Club: AS Roma
Price: £80 million (asking price)
Kevin Strootman is currently Manchester United’s top target and being part of the Netherland’s setup, along with Louis van Gaal and Ron Vlaar, they possibility of convincing him to make the switch is highly likely.
Although he has been nursing an injury, his quality is known and could be open to a move if Roma and United can work out a reasonable fee. He is currently priced at £80 million, a number that looks to be too high for Van Gaal, considering he just spent around £150 million during the summer.
Nigel De Jong
//www.youtube.com/embed/BX-yKu6Gm7Q
Name: Nigel De Jong
Age: 29
Position: Defensive Midfield
Nationality: Netherlands
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Club: AC Milan
Price: £8 – £13 million
Nigel De Jong is a much cheaper alternative to the likes of both Arturo Vidal and Kevin Strootman and can easily build a defensive Dutch trio with Daley Blind and Ron Vlaar. Having worked together as well as under Louis van Gaal, there won’t be too much room to fit in.
Given the fact he has also played for Manchester City, adapting to the English game will be simple for him. Vlaar and De Jong could be the key to Van Gaal finally being able to showcase much talked about 3-5-2 formation.
Matteo Darmian
//www.youtube.com/embed/HJL_kYf83aI
Name: Matteo Darmian
Age: 24
Position: Right / Left Back
Nationality: Italy
Club: Torino
Price: £16 million (asking price)
Matteo Darmian is already being scouted by Manchester United as it seems that Louis van Gaal will be targeting a defensive overhaul given he has already built a strong enough midfield. Although centre-back is still a problem, Rafael is seen as the only right back in the squad, meaning another one for the role is needed.
Being quite young, the club may be able to save some money on his wages rather than splash on yet another high profile signing as Van Gaal may give time for him to grow into the role behind Rafael. His addition will give the squad a much needed wing back boost as he can play on either sides of the back four.
Many believed Diego Costa would still feature for Chelsea against Manchester United today, despite manager Jose Mourinho hinting that he’d probably miss out through illness and/or injury.It was seen to be mind games from Mourinho, but it has since been confirmed that Diego Costa has indeed NOT travelled to Old Trafford for this afternoon’s huge Premier League clash.And the same goes for Man United’s Radamel Falcao, who hasn’t been named in the hosts match day squad either. And here’s how Man United and Chelsea fans reacted to the news on Twitter…
The Premier League’s uniquely demanding winter schedule is part of what makes it the best top flight in world football, and it’s thrown up a classic fixture on Sunday in Everton’s visit to St. James’s Park.
It’s been a tough start to the campaign for the Toffees with second-season syndrome clearly kicking-in for Roberto Martinez; instead of affirming themselves as Champions League contenders, they’re currently battling to make it into the Premier League’s top half.
Meanwhile, it’s been a predictably turbulent season for Newcastle, but they’ll fancy their chances at St. James’s. Everton have been losing at both half-time and full-time in their last three Premier League away visits, whilst the Magpies have lost just twice at home since the summer.
Matches of such festive feistiness are often decided by who dominates the key battles however, so with that in mind, here’s FIVE that could eventually determine the outcome.
AYOZE PEREZ VS PHIL JAGIELKA
A contest of Spanish flair against English brawn, striker Ayoze Perez’ battle with Everton skipper Phil Jagielka represents the contrast of two completely different styles.
The young Spaniard reportedly rejected offers from Barcelona and Real Madrid to move to Tyneside this summer and is living up to all the hype with four goals in just eight Premier League starts.
The 21 year-old’s netted just once in his last seven – a consolation in the Magpies’ 4-1 defeat to Arsenal – but he’ll fancy his chances against the Toffees, who currently boast the joint-third worst goals conceded column in the Premier League.
SEAMUS COLEMAN VS SAMMY AMEOBI
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Having made the left-wing slot in Newcastle’s starting XI his own this season and particularly impressed against Sunderland last weekend, it’s likely Sammy Ameobi will retain his spot for the Everton clash on Sunday.
The brother of Shola is hardly the most orthodox winger, measuring in at almost 6 foot 5, but he’s the Magpies second-best creator this season with two assists and their second most proficient dribbler at 1.7 successful take-ons per-match – two stats only bettered by Daryl Janmaat and Moussa Sissoko respectively.
He’ll be up against arguably his toughest test yet in Everton’s Seamus Coleman, who has emerged as the best attacking right-back in the Premier League in the last 18 months, amassing eight goals and three assists in his last 50 league outings.
This battle will be a delicate balancing act for both players. Coleman will bomb forward relentlessly so Ameobi needs to make sure he’s tracking every run, but that intrinsic ploy has become a bit of a dogma for the Toffees this season and it will undoubtedly leave space for the Newcastle winger to exploit on the counter-attack – especially if Everton are caught dwindling on the ball in midfield.
Romelu Lukaku vs Fabricio Coloccini
It’s not been the best of seasons for Romelu Lukaku compared to his usual prolific standards, finding just six goals in 16 Premier League outings.
But let’s not forget what the Belgium international is capable of; he’s a 6 foot 3 battering ram of goalscoring prowess and, perhaps most dangerously of all, comes with the youthful, arrogant swagger of a 21 year-old with the world at his feet.
His physical presence is enormous and Newcastle will have to prepare accordingly. Magpies skipper Fabricio Coloccini will likely be his predominant marker as a battle-hardened, experienced and powerful centre-half, but the Argentine may struggle to nullify Lukaku whilst simultaneously trying to organise Newcastle’s ever-chaotic back four.
MOUSSA SISSOKO VS GARETH BARRY
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Moussa Sissoko’s really beginning to stand out as a focal point of the Newcastle starting XI, excelling in the No.10 role almost as an anti-type, replacing precision passing and trickery with power and pace.
He’s strong defensively and a real handful on the counter-attack, so the task of stopping him will largely fall to Everton’s Gareth Barry.
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The former England international has struggled to replicate the incredible form of his Goodison loan spell this year, but his experience and quality as a Premier League enforcer remains undoubted.
That being said, the 33 year-old gets caught in possession at least a couple of times per match at the moment – Sissoko, through his brawn and tenacity, is the perfect candidate to cause Barry further problems.
ROSS BARKLEY VS CHEICK TIOTE
Just when doubts were beginning to surround Everton prodigy Ross Barkley, he goes and scores this absolute belter against QPR:
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There’s been plenty of talk about his role in the starting Xi recently, and whether the England international’s future lies in central or attacking midfield.
Either way however, his defining gift as a footballer is the power, skill and confidence in which he bursts forward in central channels to run at back fours, usually resulting in a shot at goal or a created chance for one of his team-mates.
Therefore, Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote will have to keep particular eye on the 21 year-old midfielder, especially when he’s bursting through the middle of the park. The Ivory Coast international is arguably the Magpies’ most impressive entity on paper however, so Toon fans will fancy his chances of keeping Barkley quiet.
That being said, Tiote’s ill-discipline could be a real issue against Everton. He averages the second-most fouls per match of any Premier League player:
But the Toffees’ options from set pieces – namely, Leighton Baines, Kevin Mirallas and Ross Barkley – are amongst the most prolific in the Premier League.