Welbeck 'That Guy?'

England put doubts to rest about the state of their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a satisfying 2-0 win over Switzerland tonight.  A nation still suffering the after effects of a horrendous performance in Brazil, England can rest easy that their Three Lions are headed in the right direction.  

Jack Wilshere, albeit not in his best performance, gave a glimpse of what life after Steven Gerrard could be like for England.  Jordan Henderson, tireless as ever, filled his usual quota of long runs and defensive cover.  Often the whip of English fans’ criticisms, Wayne Rooney also turned in a good shift.

The star of the show was Danny Welbeck though.  Arsenal’s latest addition spurned a glorious chance in the first half, but atoned for his lack of opportunism with two goals to secure a winning start in qualifying.  

When he returns to London Colney tomorrow, Welbeck will get his first chance to train with his new Arsenal teammates, culminating in a weekend showdown with holders Manchester City.  It’s almost a guarantee that Welbeck will start at the tip of the Arsenal attack on saturday, today’s performance indicative of what he is capable of.  

Like Olivier Giroud, he brings more to the game than scoring goals, as evident in his excellent passing numbers and ability to interchange with his teammates.  However unlike the Frenchman, Welbeck has the pace to make runs in behind the defense.  This will suit Arsenal’s midfield, which is adept at finding pacing runs in the final third.

What he showed today though, is that he can deliver when trusted in the middle.  Welbeck’s qualities are not that of an ruthless goalscorer like Diego Costa or Falcao, but his all-around game will compliment those who line up next to him.  

At Real Madrid, Mesut Ozil led Europe in assists, thanks in large-part to the pace of Angel Di Maria, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s runs.  In the absence of Theo Walcott and the inclusion of Alexis last season, Arsenal were stagnant, often playing a midfielder on the wing and the less-than-quick Giroud up top.  

Welbeck brings another dimension to the forward position; he has the pace that Giroud will never have, and the size that Alexis needs to be more consistent in the #9 role.  The biggest thing to take from today was his ability to take chances, and there will be plenty of chances at Arsenal.

It’s imperative that Welbeck integrates himself with the side in the days leading up to saturday.  If Arsene Wenger can see this transition through, Danny Welbeck’s impact at the Emirates will be very positive. 

Premier League Hurts the Three Lions

Football is on the rise in the United States.  Interest in the World Cup was at record highs, with a hefty handful of American Outlaws making the trip to Brazil, the rest of us opting for a rowdy viewing party or the comfort of our own couches (I opted for option b to avoid such crowds).  

Meanwhile across the Atlantic Ocean, England are in dire need of some new blood and a reinvigorated spirit.  Being outperformed by the Americans in the last two World Cups is not only embarrassing, it just plain shouldn’t happen.  

People looking at such failures instinctively point their fingers at the less-than-energetic Roy Hodgson.  Hodgson, stubbornly unwilling to deviate from his favored 4-4-2 formation, is not entirely to blame for these failures.  

The problem with the Three Lions lies in the premier league.  As Hodgson pointed out on Tuesday, Danny Welbeck’s move to Arsenal is not only good for the player but also for the national team.  As I wrote yesterday, Welbeck will feature centrally for Arsenal, his preferred position that he seldom was placed at in his tenure at Manchester United.  

Against Norway, Welbeck replaced new captain Wayne Rooney and changed the game for the final 20 minutes.  His pace and work rate were impressive, while a player with his mobility and skill set could be deadly at the tip of an attack.  

Hodgson also argued that young English players aren’t getting the proper chances and exposure they deserve.  This summer, 530 million pounds was spent on foreign players joining the league, and it’s hard to argue with the manager in this case.  

The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, and Southampton have laid a rather slim platform for England, but it's better than nothing.  Jack Wilshere and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are established members of the squad, as are Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson.  More recently, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers, and John Stones have also joined the fray.  

Players like Theo Walcott and Ross Barkley are unavailable because of injury.  England surely miss them, but what they should miss more is the presence of an English core at the other big clubs in the league.

Clubs who consistently spend the most money on foreign players are doing absolutely nothing for the national team.  Manchester City only have two England internationals in Joe Hart and James Milner, neither of whom have been particularly excellent for the Three Lions, nor will they have a major impact on the future of the team.  

Of the six players Manchester United bought this year for a kings ransom, just one of them is English in Shaw.  However, he will not feature at Old Trafford as much as he did for a very good Saints squad with the presence of fellow left-siders Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo in the fray.  

Players like James Wilson, Reece James, and Tyler Blackett are options for the Red Devils, but it’s not likely than any of them will see significant playing time from here on out with the arrivals of the new signings.  Phil Jones was granted a start, but his performances with Manchester United have been inconsistent to say the least.  

The aforementioned Rooney has the support of his teammates in his new captain's role, but his exclusion late in the game signaled a change in which England were far more dangerous with Sterling in the middle.  

Chelsea have done little to contribute to the national team, but this is probably not very high on Jose Mourinho’s list of priorities.  With the exits of Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, John Terry and Gary Cahill are the lone Englishmen left in the first team, neither of whom contribute to England’s brave new world.  

Cahill will be 32 by the next World Cup, and Leighton Baines will be 33.  In the short term, Hodgson needs these players, but will eventually need to cut ties with his loyal deputies in favor of a fresher team.

John Stones and Calum Chambers have impressed for their clubs at center back, giving promise to the future of the back line that could also feature Shaw, Kieran Gibbs, Steven Caulker, and Jon Flanagan, Gibbs being the oldest at 24.  

Arsene Wenger has taken it upon himself to implement a strong English core at the Emirates.  Roberto Martinez has locked down Ross Barkley in a long-term deal, and will be integral in the rise of both him and Stones.  Brendan Rodgers prioritized Adam Lallana in the transfer market, and has mainstays in the lineup in Daniel Sturridge, Sterling, and Henderson.  

If Hodgson wants to see results with the national team, he has to find it in himself to grant Sterling a position in the middle, but more importantly he has to pray that the pool for English players gets deeper amongst the big clubs in England.  It’s rare for a young English player to get a chance to play at a big club, part of the reason Welbeck’s move to Arsenal will benefit England.  

It’s a flawed system, in which an imported player with a big price tag is more likely to see the field then an academy player who has been with the club since boyhood.  The premier league is considered by many to be the toughest league in Europe from top to bottom, but the strengthening of the league has an equally negative effect on the performance of the Three Lions.  

Di Maria Shows Promise, Tactical Questions For United

Manchester United will have to wait a bit longer for their first premier league win in the new campaign.  The Red Devils drew 0-0 to an organized Burnley side at Turf Moor today, bringing their tally to just two points from three relatively easy games.  

The man of the moment was Angel Di Maria who made his Manchester United debut wearing the club's beloved #7 shirt.  Di Maria impressed for the most part in the first half.  Many speculated he would play in an advanced wide role, but the Argentine started deep and delivered some fantastic long balls over the top.  

He created three good scoring chances for Manchester United in a central role during the first half, then moved to a more advanced position after halftime.  Di Maria’s movement off the ball was excellent, offering an outlet for the under-pressure defensive line.  

His willingness to drop deep along with his exceptional vision make him a viable option in central midfield.  His work rate is impressive, but was certainly a little out of his depth in the overwhelming speed and physicality of the league.  He will adapt, as all great players do.  

In Louis Van Gaal’s new system, everyone is still acclimating to both the tactics and more importantly each other.  It remains to be seen if he will change his formation, but regardless United must get on a better wavelength.  

Burnley captain Jason Shackell was outstanding in defense, making several key interventions and all the while keeping the back unit tightly knit.  Danny Ings impressed too, harassing Phil Jones and Jonny Evans into a few early mistakes.  

Again, all three center backs for United were guilty of making errors which could have easily led to a concession.  The first two minutes alone saw Jones and Evans make two glaring errors, making a case for Van Gaal to go with four in the back.  The arrivals of Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind will aid either formation.  

Both players are extremely versatile, and fill needs at multiple positions.  Blind made the left wingback role his own in Brazil and was Erividise player of the season as a defensive midfielder last year.  Rojo, as I’ve mentioned before, can play both center back and left back with athleticism and stamina.

In terms of fitness, The Red Devils’ substitutions were indicative of where their star player are at physically.  Di Maria was running on fumes by the 60th minute, while Robin Van Persie and Juan Mata were also looked tired as they left the pitch.  

A point away to a hungry bottom-feeder team isn’t the worst thing to happen, but United still have a long way to go.  After four games, Van Gaal is still in search of his first win and is still answering tough questions every day.  I do believe, however, that a healthier and more cohesive Manchester United team will look much, much better.  

Weekend Preview: United Badly Need This One

Under-fire manager Louis Van Gaal is not finding life simple in England.  After the 4-0 defeat to MK Dons in the Capital One Cup this week, one would assert that things couldn’t get any worse for the Dutchman and Manchester United.

Well, cheer up Louis, because even though it’s away from home, you’ve got Burnley this weekend, a side who also suffered defeat to a lower-division side in the Capital One Cup this week.  However, anything less than three points would mean the support calling for your head and probably another awkward meeting with Ed Woodward. 

It could be worse for United in that they are lucky they don’t play a nightmare fixture following two already rather lenient games to start the season.  Manchester United have to take it one match at a time, and regardless of their recent form, should take care of business at Turf Moor on Saturday.  

As I mentioned earlier, Burnley were stunned by Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup in front of a lackluster crowd at Turf Moor.  Even thought it was just a cup game, you would think the supporters would turn up to support their side.  On Saturday, don’t expect a half-empty stadium, but know that the support for the recently-promoted club is not what it should be.  

A week one defeat to Chelsea was almost a formality, but last weeks fixture against Swansea was hotly contested.  Although Nathan Dyer scored the only goal of the game in the first half, the second period was dominated by the Clarets.

From a Burnley perspective, this fixture could mean a great deal to them.  If they were to grab a point or perhaps stun Manchester United as bottom-feeder clubs are so accustomed to, it could be a springboard for them.  

If they lose, it's far from the end of the World...they're Burnley, not Manchester United after all.  The Clarets will come out and attack, with Danny Ings leading the line against a United side seriously lacking confidence.  

On the other side of the ball, Van Gaal will likely have Argentinian signings Marcos Rojo and record signing Angel Di Maria available for selection, and if that’s not a boost to the club I don’t know what is.  

Di Maria led La Liga by a wide margin with 17 assists last year, and was man of the match in the Champions League final.  His impact for Argentina in the World Cup was immense, while his injury absence from the semifinal and final were noticeable.  

Di Maria’s offensive prowess is well-documented, and people have been comparing his new role to that of Arjen Robben under Van Gaal.  What makes Di Maria better than the Dutchman is his willingness to defend at times, something which earned him starts in the middle of the pitch last season after Gareth Bale was bought from Tottenham.  

As for Rojo, he immediately becomes arguably Manchester United’s best defender.  Rojo starred under Alejandro Sabella in Brazil, also showing he can play on both sides of the ball to devastating effect.  However, he is just one player, and his impact can only be felt at one position.  

Rojo’s versatility will make him an excellent tool in Van Gaal’s constantly changing tactical scheme, but with the recent run of injuries to almost every midfielder at the club, the focus of concern is slurring between defense and the midfield.  

Finally, it remains to be seen how United will line up with their new star player in the fold.  United have a wealth of attacking talent in Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, and now Di Maria.  The key will be integrating Di Maria while maintaining a defensive presence in the back.  

Against MK Dons, Manchester United were made up of either untested academy players or men Van Gaal is phasing out of the club; hardly a side with any motivation or confidence.  

Right now, Van Gaal doesn’t have the luxury of selecting his best players with all the injuries.  It is imperative that the Dutchman instill it in all eleven players on the pitch that laziness or complacency will not be tolerated.  I expect United to take three points from this game, but it will not be easy at all.  United will grab the early lead, Burnley will fight back, but come up just short.  2-1 Red Devils.  

Black Cats Look Forward to United Clash

Gus Poyet has to be licking his chops at the prospect of hosting Manchester United on Sunday.  Sunderland’s win over Manchester United last Spring was a springboard off of which the Black Cats jumped out of the relegation zone and saved their season.  Poyet had a lot to do with the survival, but so did the morale-boosting win over the Red Devils.  

Sunderland were enduring an extremely rough season up until that day, and are surely fired up at the prospect of facing a wounded United side at the weekend.  Lee Cattermole’s tone-setting strike spearheaded a draw against hosts West Brom in week 1, earning a valuable point against a competitive side.  

On the coattails of an impressive draw, Sunderland will be looking to start a streak of their own against Manchester United, who lost 2-1 to Swansea at home on Saturday.  The squad is still thin even considering Marcos Rojo’s arrival earlier today.  However, Louis Van Gaal will likely change his lineup after the home loss to Swansea.

As of now there is no indication as to what formation Van Gaal will go with in week two.  His three-back formation struggled in the first half, while the four-back formation he averted to at halftime proved equally as ineffective.  Most of the problems with Van Gaal’s current squad lie in the middle and defensive thirds, but given our relative unfamiliarity with the Dutchman, there’s no telling how he will alter his squad after one game.

It can be assumed that Rojo will feature regardless of the formation, but what type of tactical approach will Van Gaal employ?  Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney are assured to start, as is Ander Herrera, but other than that it’s hard to predict how and with who Manchester United will line up with.  On the other side of the ball, Sunderland have a group of hungry individuals who are determined to prove their worth.  

Several players have joined Sunderland from much larger clubs such as Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Wes Brown (Manchester United), John O’Shea (Manchester United), Vito Mannone (Arsenal), and Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus).

With that being said, Sunderland are a quietly competitive squad who are guaranteed to put forth a high-octane shift against any opposition.  Given the recent history between the two clubs and the eagerness with which the Stadium of Light patrons will be indulging, United could be in for another long day.  

Louis Van Gaal made it clear that he plans on instilling the ‘one game at a time’ mentality within his squad, which is the right call without a doubt.  Earning a point at the Stadium of Light at this point in the season, especially given the state of the club, wouldn’t be so bad.  Earning three points would be outstanding for the Red Devils, but leaving Sunderland with nothing at all is something they must avoid.