More Future Premier Leaguers

Koke

Just as Ander Herrera is showing in preseason for Manchester United, Koke probably should have featured more heavily in Brazil this summer.  Luckily for him, he was granted playing time in the last game and a half, but only when Spain were already eliminated.  His versatile dynamism would have given Spain another edge in the tournament and his youthful edge theoretically gave him an advantage in the heat.  

In La Liga last season, Koke created more chances and completed more key passes than Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, and Fabregas.  His attacking versatility across the midfield makes him highly adaptable, and in my opinion is one of the most unique players in Europe.  Manchester United were linked with him in the past few transfer windows, but any serious move to England has yet to materialize.  It’s a long shot, especially considering he just signed a new five year contract in June, but seeing Koke in the premier league would be a treat for everyone.  

Paul Pogba

Since he left Manchester United rather controversially, Paul Pogba has experienced a meteoric rise in exposure and form at Juventus.  In just three years, Pogba has gone from being left on the bench to watch Park Ji-Sung and Rafael play in midfield, to being named the finest young player in the World Cup.  Pogbas rise in form cowers in the shadow of his popularity and transfer stock however.  

Pogba is the kind of player who could one day be the most expensive player in history, but he has yet to prove himself in the premier league.  In Brazil he was outstanding for France, bossing the midfield at just 21.  His speed, power, agility, vision, and tackling ability make him a star, but his flair for the dramatic and the odd goal that makes you wonder “what am I doing with my life?” make him world class.  At a similar age, Pogba is gaining rockstar status as Cristiano Ronaldo did at Manchester United. 

Marco Verratti

From league to league, formations and positions have their own unique niches and prototypical players.  Marco Verratti, considered by some to be the heir to Andrew Pirlo, plays a deep-lying playmaker role.  In England, deep-lying midfielders are more often than not physical and combative (think Matic, Fernandinho, Barry, Diaby, and now Emre Can).  Verratti, like Pirlo, prefers to sit in front of the defense and pull the strings from deep, something we don’t see a lot of in England.  

This is rare in the English game, but if he were paired with a commanding defensive midfielder, Verratti could be a revelation in the premier league.  It’s highly unlikely Verratti would ask for a move to England, and it’s even more unlikely he won’t be snapped up by a Spanish or Italian club.  Premier League clubs would never meet the valuation for Verratti, especially since his position is so obsolete and undervalued in England.  For me however, I like to imagine these situations and am fascinated by the idea of having a player with such unique qualities adapt to different leagues.  

Serge Aurier 

Aurier was involved in some of the earliest transfer sagas that graced the summer window with Arsenal.  In Brazil, the Ivorian teenager was arguably the most influential right back in the group stages.  Aurier can absolutely fly down the wing, and showed his crossing ability against Japan with two assists.  PSG did well to snap up the youngster who has settled well in France, but there is a long future ahead for this bright young star.  

Premier league sides have an affinity for attacking fullbacks these days, a practice that was started in the 1980’s with Arsenal’s famous English back four; Nigel Winterburn and Lee Dixon were the original marauding defenders in England.  Aurier is a prototype for these type of players, as he has a rare combination of size and speed.  At just 21, Aurier has room for improvement, and if anything he needs to stay more disciplined defensively.  Then again, Gareth Bale was once a fullback with the same problem, and is a testament to the most simple ways of solving a problem; just move him to winger…  In a solid system with disciplined central midfielders, Aurier could be devastating in England.

What to Make of the Community Shield

Revenge is normally not served best in a friendly, but Arsenal’s 3-0 triumph at Wembley over Manchester City had to feel good.  Arsenal looked more like defending premier league champions today than City did, and although it is just a glorified friendly, blowing out a rival in Wembley stadium will always lift spirits at a club.  

While Arsenal appeared deeper than usual, Manchester City looked worryingly thin.  Matija Nastasic was awful for pretty much the entire match, while Fernando had an embarrassing introduction to English football when none other than the actual ball notched a crunching open-field tackle on the blues’ number six.  However, with eight first-team players not suiting up, this can hardly be an accurate judgement for the reigning premier league champions.  Then again, Arsenal are still without Ozil, Mertesacker, Podolski, Walcott, and Koscielny has only just made his preseason debut.  

The biggest area of concern lies with Nastasic.  He fell asleep and was beaten by Alexis on a couple occasions, and was bullied off the ball by Sanogo too easily in the buildup to the second goal.  Martin Demichelis will be 34 in December, while Eliaquim Mangala is untested and inexperienced.  Thus, Nastasic could have a huge role this season in Manchester.  Once considered one of the finer young players in the world, Nastasic’ stock has dropped significantly in the last year.

Similarly, Calum Chambers performed well today, but for me he doesn’t look like the answer at center back.  He has played three games in eight days at center back and looked soled in all of those appearances, but physically he won’t keep up with premier league forwards regularly.  Edin Dzeko beat him down the line too easily and at times looked outmuscled by opposing forwards.

Keep in mind that Chambers boasts a versatility that allows him to play three positions, center back being his least-talked about attribute leading up to his first few appearances.  A year or two from now Chambers could be a first choice center back, but for now Arsenal need a more physical deputy at the back.  With that being said, it should be interesting to see how Chambers does in defensive midfield, and if Arsene Wenger adds a center back, which he essentially must at this point.

Recently the gunners have been linked with Mats Hummels, who would undoubtedly thrust Arsenal into the title conversation even in Michael Owen’s mind (probably not, but maybe!).  For Manchester City, they can’t be too concerned with a loss like this seeing as how there’s nothing to lose.  For Arsenal however, they’ve gained much more than City have lost. 

Arsenal new boy Alexis Sanchez is still regaining fitness, as evident by his halftime substitution.  The  with Sanchez’ outing though was his constant habit of finding space and getting in dangerous positions.  He was outran and outmuscled by Yaya Toure on a few occasions, and it was clear his legs aren’t back yet.  Then again, barring an even worse season in fitness terms, Arsenal should be much deeper than in years past. 

Jack Wilshere looked the fittest I’ve seen him since the Barcelona home game in 2011, and Aaron Ramsey looks poised to start back up right where he left off in May.  Ramsey, scorer of the second Arsenal goal, was involved in all moves going forward, setting up Giroud’s thunderous strike and appearing dangerous whenever the ball was at his feet.  Critics were wondering if Ramsey could sustain such form long-term, but if anything he has looked even better thus far.  

Morally, the supporters have to be pleased with this friendly result as a change of scenery from the occasional beating they took at the hands of the top four last season.  For the players, I can tell you now as a former collegiate athlete that a result like this, even in a friendly, can do wonders for confidence.  

Arsene Wenger, so heavily criticized over the years for not ‘going for it’ in the transfer market, appears to have picked the right time to start spending money.  Between the clubs three sizable signings in the last 12 months and the stride that a lot of home-grown youngsters are hitting simultaneously, Arsenal fans will hope their club is gunning for greener pastures in the post-trophy drought era.  

Arsenals Title Chances

Arsene Wengers quietest bit of business amidst the Arsenal spending spree this summer was signing Shad Forsythe.  Forsythe recently returned from holiday and celebrating Germany’s World Cup victory; he was their head trainer for the last ten years, originally recruited by Jurgen Klinsmann.  Arsene Wenger made it clear to his staff after the past season when Arsenal were hit with the injury bug in huge quantities.  This is a clever bit from Arsene Wenger, who is showing he's doing everything he can to surround his team with the best individuals and continue to look for world class talent.   

Thus, Arsenal have yet to address the defensive midfielder role, a role that was overrun against Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea on three occasions last year.  Nemanja Matic is an outstanding player for Chelsea, while the partnership between Fernandinho and Yaya Toure holds that team together.  Arsenal need someone in the mold of that, like William Carvalho.  In reality, we haven’t a clue what Wenger is thinking in the transfer market but that’s the nature of the business.  

Calum Chambers was a pleasant surprise.  He looks like he could be that safety blanket over the cracks that Arsenal didn’t consistently have last season.  He has experience at right back in the premier league, and captained England’s U-19 team as a central defender.  Wenger liked Chambers as a “player for the future,” but given his poise and control on the ball he showed last weekend, don’t be surprised if he makes a big impact on the squad this year, both in training and in games.  

If Arsenal want to win the league, they must off, acquire an established defensive midfielder.  It may not be one we were linked with days before, but that’s the nature of Arsene when he “maybe has a good surprise for you”.  Not having that enforcer cost the Gunners not just in landslide defeats to the title contenders, but also in games against mid to low-table clubs.  

Arsenal were overrun by Southampton, outplayed for most of a game against Everton, and teams like Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Swansea caught Arsenal playing indisciplined, not tracking back, and missing brass in the defensive midfield.  Mesut Ozil was a different player in the latter stages of the World Cup; he was pressing high, tracking back to help Lahm, and even going in for the occasional tackle.  Arsenal fans watching can only hope this 1-2 week trip to Vegas he's taken with his girlfriend to Las Vegas won't affect him on the field!

Joel Campbell has a high work rate and offers pace on the counter, and Yaya Sanogo doesn’t have to convince Arsenal fans of his work rate.  For that matter, if Sanogo continues to show signs he showed against Benfica, the second striker Wenger was supposed to be looking for was signed for free last summer.  Aaron Ramsey has to re-capture his form of last season, and the defensive partnership of Mertesacker and Koscielny must remain sturdy and have good reinforcements in case of injury or loss of form.  

Lastly, Arsenal have to compete better against the top teams.  Last season against City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, Arsenal only took 5 points out of 18.  Arsenal have the mentality and definitely the talent to fend off the lower clubs, but that’s only half the battle to be Champions.  Arsenal dominated the first half of the season thanks to some excellent form from just about everyone, but their depth was exposed as player after player got hurt.  The likes of Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil, and Santi Cazorla have to step up their games against the top clubs.  

On a final note, I cannot wait to see what Alexis Sanchez can do in the premier league, and I would feel that way about him if he played for any other club.  His goals from Barcelona come in all shapes and sizes, and proved to the world how intelligent of a player he is.  I don’t expect Alexis to make the transition easily, it just depends on how long he takes to learn the way of the league.  Erik Lamela failed to do so last season, and is having an excellent preseason.  However, premier league games are tough and it takes time to adapt.

Manchester United's Title Chances

After nearly three decades of dominance both in Europe and the premier league, Manchester United did not know what was in store for them the year following Sir Alex Fergusons retirement.  What they got was a 7th place finish and several embarrassing losses with David Moyes in charge, who was ultimately sacked with a few weeks left in the season.  Coming off that disappointing season, newly appointed manager Louis Van Gaal has quite the task at hand.  

I’ve mentioned before that I think very highly of Van Gaal as a manager after Hollands performance in the World Cup.  With that being said, he still has a ton of work to do with this squad.  He has started well, winning the International Cup of Champions here in the United States with some impressive performances.  King Louis however, was not impressed.  Sure, it was a good start and he knows that, but the mentality he has brought to Old Trafford won’t settle for just being good.  Van Gaal surely considers United title contenders, as do a lot of people.  A lot needs to happen in order for that to become a reality.  

Ander Herrera looks like he has a promising career in the premier league ahead of him, and Wayne Rooney showed class in the American tour.  David De Gea is as good as ever, while Antonio Valencia is fitting into the wingback role nicely.  There are several weaknesses in this squad that need to be addressed though.  United have been linked with Arturo Vidal for what seems like the whole summer, but there are questions to be answered about the state of his knee.  Like Arsenal, United are thin at the defensive midfield slot, and would be wise to try and hijack the Gunners’ alleged bid for William Carvalho.  Recently, there were reports that Van Gaal was trying to bring Nigel De Jong to Manchester, which would be an interesting signing.  

Luke Shaw may be the most expensive teenager of all time, but it’s not a sure thing that he can perform for Manchester United.  Personally I think he is skilled and mature way beyond his years, but you never know with such young talent on the biggest of stages.  Furthermore, past Luke Shaw there isn’t much cover at left back.  Daley Blind (who can also play defensive midfield quite well) could be an option, as could Marcos Rojo who would fill the left wingback role excellently and provide nice competition for Shaw.  

Players like Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Tom Cleverly, and Marouane Fellaini have yet to truly impress Van Gaal, and keep in mind these were consistent contributors to United’s cause (with the exception of Fellaini) under Ferguson.  Furthermore, United need help at center back.  I thought Van Gaal would make a play for Stefan De Vrij but this last month could ass him bring in another center back.  At the moment, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, and Jonny Evans are the starting three in Van Gaals 3-5-2 formation.  Adding Thomas Vermaelen is realistic, signing Mats Hummels is a reach but you never know.  

Finally, the winning mentality needs to return for Manchester United in the competitive fixtures to start the season.  Last season was a nightmare under Moyes.  The players and the fans both need a strong start so that the Ferguson era-like mentality can slowly re-awaken at Old Trafford.  Van Gaal doesn’t think he’s the man to do it, he knows he’s the man to do it.  This is the thought process the entire club needs to have in a season like this.  Given his history in first seasons with clubs as a manager Van Gaal doesn’t necessarily deliver immediate results.  Finishing in the top four would be a great achievement for United this year, but for the foreseeable future King Louis will be in charge and he won’t consider losing an option for the Red Devils.  

Chelsea's Title Chances

If Manchester City are title favorites, Chelsea aren’t far behind at all.  With Thibault Courtois returning to his parent club and the arrivals of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas, Felipe Luis, and Kurt Zouma, Chelsea look very strong going into the season.  The only major loss was David Luiz, but as I made clear, that may have been the sale of the decade by Jose Mourinho.  

I have already said how impressed I am with Mourinho’s transfer dealings thus far.  The latest news from Stamford Bridge however, is that Andre Schurrle could be on his way out for a whopping 30 million pounds.  I’m not inclined to believe these rumors to be true, but 30 million pounds for Schurrle would be an excellent sale for the East Londoners.  Schurrle is a fantastic player, but he is not worth 30 million pounds in this market.  

As a supporter of a rival club, it’s hard to complain about Chelsea’s dealings this summer because of the sale of Luiz and possible sale of Schurrle.  FIFA is finally cracking down on financial fair play restrictions, and Chelsea are doing themselves some favors in sending big names out of the club while newer big names come in (keep in mind they sold Juan Mata in January too).  

For Chelsea to win the title however, they must open up their game and find the keys to the bus that has been parked in front of their goal for close to a year now.  On occasion we saw Chelsea dismantle an opponent offensively, but for the most part Jose Mourinho adopted a defensive tactical approach.  Liverpool and Manchester City alike were more willing to roll the dice tactically, sending more players forward while risking giving up a sudden counter attack.  

Sure, it didn’t work out well for Liverpool, but it sure did for Manchester City.  With Nemanja Matic patrolling the defensive midfield, I don’t see any reason for Mourinho to use these same methods this season.  Matic is the prototypical defensive midfielder for the premier league, and for me was the signing of the January window.  Thus, I expect Chelsea to have a higher goal output than last season.  

The tactics that Jose Mourinho employed last season may work to challenge for a title, but I would argue that if he let his players play a little more, especially in the big games, they would have a much better chance of winning in my book.  Chelsea are way, way too talented to be parking the bus in every big game, with the likes of Willian, Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, and now Diego Costa in the attack, and a very strong midfield to back them up.  

One area of concern for Chelsea is the age of defenders.  Currently, Chelsea’s first three choices at center back are most likely John Terry, Gary Cahill, and the versatile Branislav Ivanovic.  Terry is 33, while Ivanovic is now on the wrong side of 30.  I believe Kurt Zouma to be a future star in this league, but not this season.  Thus, this aging back line must rotate effectively in order to maintain fitness throughout the season.  I expect Chelsea to challenge for the title, and ultimately finish second.  

Liverpool's Title Chances

Liverpool are entering a new era with the rise of so many exciting young players in the ranks.  Steven Gerrard is 34, Pepe Reina’s Anfield career looks numbered, and Luis Suarez is no longer around.  Thus, Liverpool are my biggest wildcard for next season.  The Reds showed at times last season that they can attack with devastating effect, but also showed they can defend like schoolboys at times.  First and foremost, someone has to step up and emerge as a new leader.  

The traditional SAS pairing is no more.  Luis Suarez has bitten his way out of the premier league and joined Barcelona, giving Liverpool a plethora of riches to spend in the transfer market.  If Liverpool want to challenge once again for the title, the new SAS of Sturridge and Sterling must step to great effect.  Sterling has improved every season since joining the first team.  His pace is unquestionable, but last season and in Brazil he proved he can make surging midfield runs with the ball as well.  I expect Sterling to be even better this upcoming season.  

Sturridge needs Sterling more than ever right now.  Suarez and Sturridge had a meteoric relationship in the goals/assists department, and it remains to be seen if Sturridge can be as good without his Uruguayan pal next to him.  Other attackers will be involved too.  Lazar Markovic and Adam Lallana will need to make big contributions in the attack, and Rickie Lambert must contribute productive minutes off the bench.  The fact that Lallana is injured for the foreseeable future puts even more pressure on the new boys who don’t have the premier league experience the former Southampton skipper does.  

Like Manchester City, Liverpool struggled last season giving up goals and dropping points away from home.  Dejan Lovren should be a big contributor, especially considering his price tag, and as I wrote this week Emre Can is a man child in the defensive midfield.  Defensively, the Reds cannot be complacent with the lead as they were last season.  Too many times were two goal leads squandered, while the three goal lead they squandered in the final 12 minutes to Crystal Palace will not be soon forgotten.

Liverpool won’t be like Tottenham were last season in the wake of a major sale, but it remains to be seen who will replace Suarez’s goal output.  Then again, if all goes according to plan the Reds will be a much more balanced and consistent squad next year.  The defense is heavily reinforced, Javier Manquillo just joining today, while Alberto Moreno could still yet join Liverpool.  With Champions League football, a young squad, and the absence of Luis Suarez, a top four finish with a run through the group stages in Europe would spell a productive season.  Staying in the Champions League is essential for Liverpool, who in order to attract more world class talent must prove they can be consistent from year to year.  

Manchester City's Title Chances

As defending champions, Manchester City are my pick to win the premier league this season.  Where the squad was looking weak, they added reinforcements in Willy Caballero, Eliaquim Mangala, and Fernando.  Caballero will challenge Joe Hart for the starting role, something Costel Pantilimon couldn’t do when Hart was on his game.  Mangala and Fernando alike sure up City’s defense, while second year Citizen Stefan Jovetic has thoroughly impressed so far in preseason.  

Retaining James Milner makes the team stronger than they would be without him, while Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, and Alvaro Negredo have a full premier league season under their belts now.  As good as they were last season, Manchester City could yet improve.  Manuel Pellegrini even took a page out of Arsene Wengers book in picking up Bacary Sagna on a free transfer and Frank Lampard on a loan deal.  

Sagna will only push Pablo Zabaleta to be better, and will deputize with great effect to give the Argentine a rest here and there.  Lampard, on the other hand, probably will not feature too regularly with City.  The main reason he will be there is to keep his fitness up until the start of the 2015 MLS season with the hope that he can pitch in here and there.  

In order for Manchester City to defend their premier league crown, they must pick up points more consistently away from the Etihad stadium.  They unleashed some flurries of goals in home games against the top five, yet couldn’t seem to figure out how to regularly win on the road.  Winning away from home is never easy, but one would expect City to have more success than they had last season.  

Staying healthy is another key factor in a strong title challenge, as Arsenal proved last season.  They have outstanding depth at every position, but that doesn’t necessarily mean an injury to a key player isn’t a big deal.  Sergio Aguero is a huge X factor in the attack, as is Jesus Navas who combines with Zabaleta as well as any right side in the league. 

Losing either of those players could narrow City’s attack, as other players in those positions don’t possess as much pace to penetrate strong defenses from wide positions.  Again, look to Arsenal’s last season as an example; when Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were both injured, teams packed the middle of the pitch and neutralized the gunners’ attack with ease.  

On a final note, Manchester City can greatly improve morale at the club if they can make some kind of run in the Champions League this year.  In the past three seasons, City have only advanced from the group stages once, and lost to a subpar Barcelona team (for their standards) in their only trip to the knockout rounds.  Personally, I don’t know any City fans so I can’t say the fans are disappointed with the team’s European performances, but one can only imagine…

The Best Fit For Vidal

The name most synonymous with the 2014 summer transfer window has undoubtedly been Arturo Vidal.  The Chilean midfielder who shined at the World Cup while still carrying an injury has been subject of a long-talked about move to Old Trafford.  We’ve heard everything there is to hear about this, everything except the breaking news that he will join Manchester United.  Vidal is reportedly an admirer of the club, and this has given pundits and fans alike a reason to believe he may be headed to United.

On the other hand, who in their right mind would come out and say Manchester United isn’t an admirable club?  Recently, Louis Van Gaal hinted that he could be finished in the market for the summer, while Arsene Wenger has essentially promised that Arsenal are not finished in the transfer market.  Furthermore, United have already signed a player in the exact same mold of Vidal in Ander Herrera.  Am I saying Vidal will shock the world and join Arsenal this summer?  Absolutely not.  Am I saying it’s possible?  Yes, and here’s why.  

Vidal was quoted as saying he has a “beautiful friendship” with Alexis Sanchez.  Both Chileans have expressed a strong desire for the other to join Barcelona or Juventus, and since the speedy winger won’t be joining Juventus anytime soon, this could be their only shot to play together at the club level.  One of the reasons Calum Chambers joined Arsenal was the strong friendship he holds with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while Mesut Ozil came to the Emirates partly because Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker convinced him it was the best place for him.  

Arsenal are in the market for a top class defensive midfielder, but also have the financial firepower to make a deal like this happen.  Vidal, who makes only 60,000 pounds a week right now, will demand Champions League football, something Manchester United cannot offer and cannot guarantee a year from now.  Arsenal can.  Furthermore, Vidal would be part of an ongoing project started by Louis Van Gaal in Manchester, while Arsene Wenger has recently adopted a “win now” strategy, and is prepared to shell out cash on the right players.

Tactically, Vidal would be a better fit for Arsenal than Sami Khedira, and brings a more established pedigree to the Emirates than William Carvalho.  After three seasons in Madrid, Khedira has developed a hungrier desire to get forward and has lost some of the midfield discipline that saw him burst onto the scene in 2010 in South Africa.  Carvalho is raw and showed it in the World Cup, as Miguel Veloso and Raul Meireles were favored in central midfield over him.  Vidal, on the other hand, brings the rarest of combinations in a midfielder; the ability to tackle relentlessly but also to get forward when the time is right, possessing the experience and quality to flourish on the biggest of stages.  

The biggest wild card in this hypothetical situation is Arsene Wenger himself.  Wenger has the uncanny ability to draw world-class talent, and only in the last 18 months have Arsenal given him the monetary tools to make his assessments of players worth making.  Wenger has an excellent squad right now, but his squad’s biggest deficiency is in the deep-lying midfield.  

Vidal likes to get forward and attack, but given Arsenal’s style of play, Wenger would likely deploy him deeper.  In the World Cup, while carrying an injury, Vidal played in the middle third of the pitch and dictated the speed of play with his passing and positioning.  With that being said, Wenger would give Vidal all the assurances in the world that he would be the top dog to occupy that area of the pitch, and likely making him the highest paid player at the club in the process.  

It is highly unlikely Vidal would join Arsenal, but if he did, it would make total sense.  I suspect the reason Manchester United (or any other team for that matter) is holding off on making a move for Vidal, who just returned from holiday, until his fitness and injury troubles that plagued him in Brazil are clearer.  Last summer, I told a friend that the idea of my favorite player Mesut Ozil joining Arsenal was a “pipe dream at best,” and oh did Arsene prove me wrong.  Similarly, I rubbished the Alexis Sanchez rumors, being so accustomed to Arsenal being linked to Solomon Kalou every summer.  Once again, I was wrong, and given these two big money signings, Arsenal fans shouldn’t rule out seeing just about anyone play at the Emirates.   

One of Arsene Wenger’s trademark qualities in the transfer market is keeping what he does quiet and discreet.  Even after the fact, Arsenal rarely disclose any of their transfer fees once deals are done.  In no way, shape, nor form am I declaring Arturo Vidal the next Arsenal star, but one has to believe that moving to North London makes a hell of a lot more sense than moving to Manchester United at the crossroads of this world class midfielders career.

Emre Can: Liverpool's Newest Enforcer

Steven Gerrard admitted last week that the last three months have been the worst of his long and distinguished career.  Between an ill-timed slip against Chelsea and a whimper of an exit from Brazil with the national team, the now former England skipper hasn’t had much to smile about this summer.  Looking forward though, Gerrard’s ship is headed for smoother waters with the arrival of Emre Can at Anfield.

Amongst all the purchases Liverpool have made thus far, one of the smaller moves not many paid much attention to was the acquisition of 20 year old Can.  His 10 million pound move from Bayer Leverkusen was a lovely piece of business from Rodgers, and was on his way to Merseyside regardless of what trouble Luis Suarez was liable to instigate in Brazil.  It’s clear that Liverpool had Can in their plans regardless, and here’s why.

To start, Can is a specimen of a person, his 6’1 height doing his physical power no justice, whatsoever.  Kyle Martino, reporting for NBC sports at Fenway Park during Liverpool’s 0-1 loss to Roma, said it best; ‘this here, is a big boy.’  At just 20 years of age, Can already has the body of a player in his prime.  He has showed he can compete with Europe’s best, evident from his display at Old Trafford in the Champions League for Bayer Leverkusen.  

In a world where German players are being unearthed left and right as the stars of the future, it can be assumed Can’s heritage only adds to the potential.  Similar to Mesut Ozil, Can is a Turkish-born German who has always held loyalty to the German National Team, and for good reason.  He has been a mainstay in the German youth setup and looks primed to compete for a spot at the 2016 Euro and 2018 World Cup.  With Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira set to be on the wrong side of 30 by the next World Cup, Can should almost be penciled into Die Mannschaft’s plans for Russia and 2018.

The big question surrounding Can’s departure from Bayern Munich a year ago was what’s wrong with this guy if they don’t want him?  The notion that Bayern don’t want him is completely false, and letting him go was simply because he was surplus to requirements.  Initially he was loaned to Leverkusen with a buy-back clause, but has since been let go altogether by the Bavarians.  However, it’s hard to feel sorry for Bayern when it comes to personnel decisions...

All that aside, his appearances so far in Liverpool’s preseason tour of the United States have been spectacular.  Can brings a much-needed physical edge to the Liverpool midfield, one that Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, and Lucas cannot match. Can also adds much-needed depth; he suspension of Jordan Henderson late in the season hurt the Reds, and Champions League football beckons a longer schedule.  Just two days ago, Can earned the respect of every Liverpool fan in the world after he bullied Mario Balotelli off the ball seemingly with zero effort, took a touch, and delivered a cutting pass into the final third to spring Liverpool’s attack free.  

This ability to turn defense into attack was perhaps Manchester City’s greatest strength last year; solidarity in the defensive midfield leads to this, and City have arguably the best pairing in the league in Fernandinho and Yaya Toure.  Can’s runs into the attacking half are mirror images of a young Gerrard, while he has shown to have exceptional vision and passing ability.  

Maybe the biggest lift the addition of Can brings to Liverpool is the decrease in pressure Steven Gerrard will face in the middle of the park.  The slip against Chelsea was poetic justice for Liverpool (in no way is that a dig at the Liverpool captain), a sign that what they needed to improve on most as a team was their solidarity and physicality in midfield.  Can improves the midfield in every aspect, while Liverpool’s fortunes could very well come back to haunt Bayern Munich.  

All Parties to Blame with Jack Rodwell

All summer long, even in the midst of arguably the most exciting World Cup ever, we have been treated to several transfer sagas that are seemingly endless.  Todays big news in the transfer market, however, is that Jack Rodwell is moving from Manchester City to Sunderland.  

Rodwell, sold to Manchester City by Everton in 2012, was a promising talent not too long ago.  With the physical build of a center back and the technical skills of a central midfielder, Rodwell was touted as one of the next big things in the premier league.  His versatility and first-team experience gave him this reputation, while his manager David Moyes was hailed for turning out such a skilled prospect.

Two years later, it’s safe to say this entire situation has been a failure from all parties, and here’s why.  At the tender age of seven, Rodwell joined Everton’s academy in 1998.  By 2007, he was already in the first team under David Moyes as a teenager.  By 2012, Rodwell was considered one of Englands brightest young talents next to Tom Cleverly and Jack Wilshere (how the times have changed...), and was promptly sold to Manchester City by Moyes.  

Since then, Rodwell has struggled to make any impact at all at Manchester City, and has not appeared for England since March, 2013 when the Three Lions took on Brazil at the Maracana.  He has had his fair share of injury problems, but the problems with Rodwell’s development started with his sale by David Moyes.  The first-team opportunities in Manchester were nothing compared to those on Merseyside, and Rodwell was never been given a chance to prove himself.

Up against the likes of Yaya Toure, James Milner, Fernandinho, and Javi Garcia for selection, Rodwell’s opportunities in Manchester were limited at best.  The case of Morgan Schneiderlin illustrates that moving to bigger clubs give no guarantees of development at all.  In 2008, Schneiderlin was heavily courted by Arsenal, but instead moved to Southampton for the reason of developing his own skills and receiving near-unconditional playing time.  Six years later, Schneiderlin is a hot commodity to say the least, and he has accomplished more with club and country than Rodwell has by a mile.  From this angle, some of the fault must lie with Rodwell himself.

It is always easiest to judge the transfer market in hindsight; at the time, Rodwell’s move to city was promising.  In turn, David Moyes also earned the club a cool 12 million pounds in the process.  Again, Moyes’ made the wrong decision in this case.  Sure, the sale helped set up the future purchases of Gareth Barry and James McCarthy who fill the defensive midfield role for Everton today, but Moyes must look at what Roberto Martinez has done with Ross Barkley as a barometer for future business.  

Barkley could have moved to a bigger club this summer for a massive fee, one that would give Everton more flexibility, but instead signed a new long-term contract.  It’s impossible to say whether or not Rodwell would have blossomed if he had stayed at Everton, but his situation couldn’t be much worse than it has been for the last two years.  Barkley, meanwhile, has committed himself to Everton, but more importantly has committed himself to seeing the field regularly and showcasing his talents much more frequently than he would at a big club.  

Rodwell is also a victim of the cruel system in which premier league teams operate.  This is a case where a move to a big club definitely hurt the players career.  The worst part though, is that the move was exactly what was expected of him, and not the other way around.  The media looks at players who do the opposite of Rodwell and assume that there is something wrong with the player for not wanting a move to a big club, and speculate over and over again about a possible transfer.  

Rodwell is still young and his future is still promising, and he will certainly see the field under Gus Poyet at Sunderland.  When I got up this morning to see that Rodwell had moved away from Manchester City, I smiled.  He needs to see the field more, and it was a nice bit to news to see that City had finally done something to benefit him.