Brendan Rodgers has called on Liverpool fans to be patient with £20m summer arrival Lazar Markovic.
The Serbian winger arrived from Benfica over the summer with a reputation as one of European football’s best young players after helping the Lisbon giants to secure the league title last term.
But after six appearances for the Reds, the 20-year-old has made a minimal impact at Anfield.
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Some sections of the Merseysiders’ supporters have begun to question the decision to pay big for the starlet, but Rodgers insists that he will come good if given time and patience:
“With young Markovic it’s taking time with him,” he is quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
“He’s in a new country and he’s getting used to a new way of life and he’s just getting accustomed to the physicality of this league having come from Portugal where it’s totally different.”
Rodgers however was far more positive about Adam Lallana, who is likely to re-called to the Liverpool XI for today’s home encounter with West Brom after missing on a spot in the starting team against Basel in the midweek Champions League defeat:
“If you look at Adam Lallana his performance in the derby showed that he is going to be a very good player, the supporters are going to love him,” he added.
“I’ve got confidence in them both. That’s why we brought them in.
“We’re certainly not disregarding any of the players we’ve brought in.
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“These are players who we believe will be outstanding players here but sometimes you can hit the ground running and sometimes it takes a wee bit of time.”
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Arsene Wenger has already revealed that he will play the same players that proved victorious in the 3-0 win over Burnley at the weekend as he hopes to edge closer to qualification. Arsenal’s injury list continues to grow with Jack Wilshere the latest addition to miss out with an illness following his return from a knee injury. Wojciech Szczesny completed his suspension and is set to return to the starting line up with Emiliano Martinez returning to the bench. The injury to Laurent Koscielny means left back Nacho Monreal will once against start in the central defence.
Besnik Hasi will likely field the same line up that were so close to overcoming Arsenal in their previous meeting despite losing two last minute goals. Bram Nuytinck is the only doubt, but will possibly be deemed fit enough to start alongside Chancel Mbemba Mangulu at the heart of the Anderlecht defence. Matias Suarez, Steven Defour, and Fabrice N’Sakala will all not future as they trio are still carrying injuries. With Defour picking up a knock in the 1-1 draw with Lokeren, Dennis Praet is tipped to replace him in central midfield.
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It was a sensation last few minutes for Arsenal in their previous Champions League meeting as they overcame a 1-0 deficit against Anderlecht by scoring two goals in two minutes, one in the 89th minute with the second coming in the 90th.
Fresh from a £150 million summer binge, Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has insisted that he doesn’t plan to make any signings during the January transfer window, declaring himself happy with the progress his current squad has made during the first few months of the season.
Let’s see how far he is willing to go to stick to his promise as the Premier League club have informed the Dutchman that another bulging transfer budget is available to him in the new year. Van Gaal will have to display levels of abstinence unheard of in the modern game if the substantial pot of gold shimmering seductively before his eyes is to remain untouched. Given that this is the man who splashed out £60m on Angel di Maria, such a display of fiscal conservatism somehow seems unlikely, and it should not come as a great surprise if the Red Devils do indeed indulge in another expensive shopping spree in January. Here are five players the club should target:
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1. Kevin Strootman
Football – Nottingham Forest v PSV Eindhoven – Pre Season Friendly – The City Ground – 11/12 , 27/7/11Kevin Strootman – PSV Eindhoven Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton
Louis van Gaal has been a long-time admirer of his compatriot, who currently plies his trade in Italy with AS Roma. Strootman was a regular fixture in the Dutch national side while van Gaal was in charge, and the 24 year-old would have been one of the first names on the squad list for the summer’s World Cup in Brazil were it not for a serious injury suffered in March which ruled him out for eight months. Although van Gaal left his role as head coach of Der Oranje for the managerial hot-seat at Old Trafford following the World Cup, the esteem he holds for Strootman remains undimmed. A strong, mobile defensive midfielder with an eye for the occasional goal, Strootman would be a welcome addition to an area of the Manchester United side that is relatively weak and short on options. The news that Strootman has recently returned from injury will have encouraged van Gaal, who would relish the opportunity to work with the Roma man again. Expect this midfield maestro to be one of United’s main transfer targets.
2. Mats Hummels
The commonly-held view of United’s summer transfer policy is that exciting, star-studded attacking signings had come at the expense of much-needed reinforcement in defence. With the preferred centre-back pairing of Phil Jones and Jonny Evans reliably injury-prone and Chris Smalling still failing to convince, there is a worry that United’s threadbare defence will prove to be their downfall this season. They could do worse than to enquire about the availability of Mats Hummels, who has been frequently linked with a move to the Premier League. The Borussia Dortmund defender – who is a World Cup and two-time Bundesliga winner – is an excellent reader of the game and would add valuable experience to the United backline. Although the 25-year-old’s lack of pace has often been cited as one of his main weaknesses, he would still represent an upgrade on the current crop at Old Trafford, and with Dortmund struggling in Bundesliga at the moment, he may be tempted by a move.
3. İlkay Gündoğan
Another highly-rated Dortmund player, Gündoğan is a central midfielder who would bring greater mobility and creativity to the United side. The 24-year-old could form an effective partnership with Strootman in the middle of the park, with the former linking play with the attack while the latter assumes a more defensive role. Like in defence, United are crying out for quality options in this area of the team. Van Gaal remains unconvinced by Marouane Fellaini, while at 33 and 30 years of age respectively, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher are showing the inevitable signs of decline. Gündoğan has youth on his side, has tasted success at Dortmund and has experience of playing at the highest level of the game (it was he who scored the German side’s goal in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 2013). The fact that United were willing to let Shinji Kagawa return to Dortmund in the summer could make the Bundesliga outfit more inclined to sell.
4. Nathaniel Clyne
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Having already raided Southampton for left-back Luke Shaw in June, doing so again for a player impressing on the opposite flank of the Saints’ defence would be a bit cheeky. Nevertheless, United would be hard-pressed to find a more promising right-back than Nathaniel Clyne. Only 23, he has already made a combined total of more than 200 first-team appearances for his old club Crystal Palace and his current employers Southampton. This indicates that the youngster does not have a tendency to succumb to injuries – which immediately stands him in good stead for holding down a regular berth in the United back four – and the fact that he has made such an excellent start to the season in a wonderful Saints side should obviously not go unnoticed either. A modern, attacking full-back, Clyne would fit seamlessly into the United team, and offers greater defensive solidity than Rafael da Silva, the current incumbent at the right side of the Red Devils’ back line.
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5. Jan Vertonghen
The centre-back has fallen out of favour at Tottenham Hotspur, which makes him a realistic and affordable option for Louis van Gaal. His links to Ajax – with whom he spent six seasons between 2006 and 2012 – means that an understanding of the Dutchman’s philosophy should come easy, and his two seasons of prior experience in the Premier League with Spurs is clearly a plus. The 27 year-old Belgian is a versatile, technically assured defender who can play in a number of positions and his continued exclusion from Tottenham’s starting eleven is strange. Manchester United would be wise to take full advantage of his situation in January.
Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Liverpool embarrassingly drew 2-2 to Ludogorets midweek in the Champions League and despite this, their manager Brendan Rodgers said his side showed “real character”.
Unfortunately, real character does not win trophies and silverware. Winning games does. This is something which the Reds are not doing in Europe, or in the Premier League, where they currently reside in 12th place.
If the Merseyside club wishes to change its fortunes, one answer could be to remove the Scotsman from the club. Another could be to bring in some new faces.
Here are FIVE players Liverpool should sign in January:
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Petr Cech
Quite simply, Simon Mignolet has not been good enough for Liverpool this season across all competitions. He has only managed to keep two clean sheets and has conceded 18 goals across 12 league games. If he carries on at this rate, he is predicted to concede 57 goals in total in the league, more than what he let in last season. Competition needs to be brought in to improve or replace Mignolet, and one option is Petr Cech. The Czech Republic international is a proven and world-class goalkeeper who may be difficult to obtain, but would be worth almost any price tag Chelsea places upon him if they choose to sell him.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
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Rodgers is a fan of Ezequiel Lavezzi and the Argentine would certainly bolster their squad. His current club PSG could be looking to cash in on the forward if he doesn’t sign a new contract. His current deal expires in 2016, so the French giants could part ways with him in January to earn a good return on him. Lavezzi would add good competition to the wings and to the forwards, providing assists and goals, but his age of 29 means he isn’t a permanent solution.
Xherdan Shaqiri
Xherdan Shaqiri has been out of favour so far this season at Bayern Munich. From 12 league games this season, Shaqiri has only appeared in eight games, and started in three. Whilst the Swiss international might not be quick to leave the German champions just yet, he could leave on loan to play some more regular football. Liverpool would be a good option as they have shown interest in him in the past.
Jackson Martinez
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The Merseyside club are desperate for a forward to score them some goals. Rickie Lambert might be scoring goals as of late, but at the age of 32 he isn’t a long-term solution. Mario Balotelli seems to be edging ever closer to an exit just after arriving due to his attitude and lack of goals, and Daniel Sturridge can’t be relied upon due to his injury record. Enter Jackson Martinez. The Porto forward, who has also been linked with Tottenham, has scored seven goals from 10 league appearances so far this season would be an ideal candidate. He has shown he can score in the Champions League as well, with five goals from five games.
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Mauro Icardi
Another solution to Liverpool’s forward problems could be Mauro Icardi. The Inter Milan forward has been one of the top strikers in Serie A this season, scoring seven goals from 12 games. Competition for the 21-year-old’s signature is dense as Chelsea and Tottenham are keen on signing the young Argentine as well. If Icardi were to move to Liverpool, he would be available for the Champions League as well, unlike Jackson Martinez.
The quality of the African Cup of Nations may not parallel that of the European Championship or the Copa America just yet, but with so many stars from the continent now plying their trade in Europe, there’s still plenty of interesting talent on display.
So with the tournament finally drawing to a close, the Ivory Coast lifting the trophy after goalkeeper Boubacar Barry scored the winner in a 9-8 penalty shoot-out, Football Fancast have decided to take a look at some of it’s stand-out performers.
Or more specifically, the AFCON stars that could do a job for Premier League side Tottenham, who are expected to have a bit of an overhaul this summer and remodel their squad closer to Mauricio Pochettino’s hard-working, high-intensity image.
So without further ado, here’s the FIVE African Cup of Nations stars that could improve Spurs.
ANDRE AYEW
Ghana star Andre Ayew finished the African Cup of Nations with the joint-most goals of any player, three, the second-most assists, two, and from the perspective of any potential suitor, strikes a perfect equilibrium between age, quality, price-tag and availability.
In fact, the Marseille winger-forward, who boasts 53 goals in 181 appearances for the Ligue 1 title challengers, will be available for free this summer unless he pens new terms between now and May.
A powerful and versatile attacker however, blessed with unusual dominance in the air for a 5 foot 9 forward, there’s plenty of interest in the 25 year-old right now – his prominent AFCON performances only increasing appeal. According to Inside Futbol, Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle and Borussia Dortmund are keen to offer him a pre-contract deal.
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
Another African Cup of Nations winger-forward that should be attracting Tottenham’s transfer attention is Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, currently contracted to Borussia Dortmund, who finished the tournament with one goal and five chances created in three appearances.
The 25 year-old, once dubbed ‘The African Neymar’ for his blend of skill, pace and netting prowess, boasts healthy returns of 29 goals in 76 appearances for the Black-Yellows – including 13 in 27 this season – and 41 strikes in 96 outings for former club St.Etienne, where he originally rose to continental acclaim.
With Dortmund currently rock bottom of the Bundesliga table however, stars like Aubameyang could exodus Westfalen at the end of the campaign if they slump into the German second tier. Even if they don’t, drastic changes to the squad are likely to be made and the Gabon forward could be fingered as a scapegoat for the club’s poor form.
Should that be the case, Tottenham would be wise to pounce on the former Ligue 1 star. According to summer reports from The Express, his release clause is currently set at just £6million.
CHANCEL MBEMBA MANGULU
Chancel Mbemba Mangulu, dubbed ‘the next Vincent Kompany’ for his similarly imposing physique and ability to play anywhere down the spine, was highlighted by The Guardian as one of the stand-out players at this year’s African Cup of Nations.
He may be just 20 years of age but the Congo centre-back-come-midfielder has already produced some impressive performances at the highest level of the game, averaging an impressive 2.5 tackles, 3.3 interceptions and 1.7 successful dribbles per match in six Champions League outings for Anderlecht earlier this term, in addition to 3.5 tackles per match during his AFCON appearances.
He’s still young and raw, but already looks well equipped physically for the Premier League. Although Mbemba may not be ready for a regular starting role at White Hart Lane, he would be a promising, long-term addition to Tottenham’s squad.
He’s another African star on the Newcastle radar however according to Winner Sports, who also rate the Congo prospect at around £6million, so competition for his signature should be expected.
ERIC MAXIM CHOUPO-MOTING
Despite the recent heroics of Harry Kane, Tottenham’s forward line lacks depth in terms of dependable goalscorers, and one African-Cup-of-Nations-inspired answer comes in the form of Schalke’s Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Although he failed to score at the tournament as his country plummeted out of the group stages without a win, the Cameroon international has been in lethal form domestically this term, amassing nine goals and four assists in 20 Bundesliga outings, whilst also averaging 1.7 tackles, 3 aerial duels and 4.1 successful dribbles per match.
He can operate on either flank or as a No.10, but the 25 year-old’s impact is best felt as an out-and-out centre-forward, where he can bully defenders with his powerful 6 foot 3 frame or leave their legs in knots via his uniquely direct dribbling style.
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Choupo-Moting only moved to the Veltins Arena last summer, so Schalke are under no obligation to sell. But having signed him from Mainz on a free contract, where he’d scored 20 times in 74 league outings, a decent profit around the £5million-£10million mark could convince them to sell.
AFRIYIE ACQUAH
Afriyie Acquah’s domestic form hasn’t been the best this year. In fact, Whoscored.com have awarded him a rating of just 6.35 from his 14 appearances for Serie A strugglers Parma, who are currently bottom of the Italian table.
Interestingly however, when deployed in his natural position of defensive midfield, his Whoscored rating jumps up considerably to 7.2, and it wasn’t long ago the Ghana enforcer was linked with a move to Arsenal, with some comparing him to Michael Essien.
He produced a string of strong performances at AFCON 2015 too, averaging an impressive 2.3 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per match.
With Paulinho, Moussa Dembele and Etienne Capoue all struggling for game-time since Mauricio Pochettino’s summer arrival at White Hart Lane, we could see a drastic overhaul of their midfield personnel at the end of the campaign – aged just 23, strong, mobile and laden with potential, Acquah could be worth the punt.
Parent club Hoffenheim are yet to issue him a Bundesliga start, despite officially signing him 18 months ago. So logic suggests they would be prepared to sell.
Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen has praised Brendan Rodgers for turning the Reds season around, after what he described as a ‘shocking’ start to the season, reports Sky Sports.
Allen is set to return to former club Swansea on Monday night, having recently delivered arguably the finest performance of his Liverpool career in the recent 2-1 win over Manchester City.
The Reds are the form team in the Premier League at present, having won nine of their last 12, without losing a match since December 14.
Brendan Rodgers side now sit just two points outside the Champions League places, with the manager having played a key part in the revival with the switch to a bold 3-4-3 formation.
And Allen believes his boss deserves credit for making the brave decision that has revived the Reds season, after a dreadful start to the campaign which saw them sitting four points above the relegation zone in early November.
“The manager took quite a big risk in changing the system so drastically,” said Allen. “We needed something new and some sort of change and that has been one of the biggest things.
“We knew there would be a tough spell at some point. Losing a player like (Luis) Suarez and having someone like (Daniel) Sturridge out injured for so long was going to have an effect. How long it lasted was probably what shocked everyone and us.
“A lot of people have forgotten how young we are and the beauty of our squad is we have hit form now and a lot of the players are getting better and developing.
“If we can keep this group of players together, keep working hard then it will be an exciting future. We have good characters, people that want to work hard and get better and players that have ambitions. It is a good blend to have.”
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Tottenham’s chances of a top four finish seem to be getting slimmer by the week. It’s looking likely that Mauricio Pochettino’s men will find themselves playing in the Europa League next season, but this may be more of a hindrance than anything else.
Europa League matches are played on Thursdays, often in hard to reach places, and leave little time to travel back home to train for a weekend domestic fixture.
Managers often cite fatigue from playing these Thursday games as the reason why they’ve ultimately underperformed in the league which has to be a clubs main focus. After all there is no point in making it say to the semi finals of the Europa League but then face relegation come May.
Everton were close to having this problem when a good European run seemed to correlate with the Toffees dropping precious league points this season. They seem likely to avoid the drop as fortunately there are several teams having a worse season than them, but there have been scares along the way.
Unlike competing in the Champions League, where you may get the chance to play opposite high quality stars of the game like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, the Europa League is just a distraction unless you win it. No one boasts about making it to the quarter finals or semis of the competition.
The Europa League is a good first taste of european football and would suit an emerging team like Southampton, but Spurs have been there before. They gain very little from these fixtures considering that by now they should be breaking into the top four consistently.
But being down in seventh with five games to go means they’ll probably miss out for yet another year.
Pochettino is likely to rebuild his squad in the summer, with numerous players said to be on their way out of White Hart Lane, so with the right acquisitions Spurs may prove to be contenders next season. And while their new signings are settling in it would probably help to not have to deal with meaningless Europa League matches.
It may look like a failure for the club to finish lower than they did last season, but Spurs should take notice of Manchester United’s resurgence.
Last season the Red Devils finished in seventh, just missing out on the Europa League, and it looks to have hugely benefited them. They have had fewer fixtures and less travelling, meaning they have been able to concentrate on their domestic campaign. Just 12 months after that embarrassing finish United look to have regained their spot in the top four.
Spurs are unlikely to start throwing matches even though they would be better off staying where they are. And with both Liverpool and Southampton currently occupying fifth and sixth respectively, they might force Tottenham out anyway, leaving everyone happy.
Except perhaps Liverpool.
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Homegrown Liverpool players have been capturing the headlines over recent months for reasons both positive and negative, while one such star has been largely forgotten.
While Steven Gerrard is set to leave Anfield after a career as a Red, Raheem Sterling has seemingly no intention of committing to the Merseyside outfit like his current skipper has.
The emergence of Jordon Ibe suggests that the historic club have another youth product turned superstar on their hands also.
However, arguably the most likely to play a significant role in the club’s chances of challenging for silverware consistently for the next five-to-ten years is Jon Flanagan.
The versatile defender has not played one single minute of Premier League action this season due to a serious knee injury but is reportedly on the mend and on the verge of a first-team return.
The local right-back has been on the Kop’s radar for a number of years but had his breakthrough campaign last season, starting 23 league games in Liverpool’s quest for the title.
Despite the presence of an array of international stars in the Anfield set-up, Flanagan quickly became a fans’ favourite within the Reds supporters.
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His tireless work-rate, commitment and never-say-die attitude captured the imagination at the club, with the youngster applying himself with gusto every time he was afforded an opportunity to play.
Interestingly, with the tactical tweaks Brendan Rodgers has made this campaign and the personnel at the Northern Irish manager’s disposal, Flanagan looks like a player that could play a prominent part in the Reds’ 2015-16 campaign.
The bespoke 3-4-3 formation that the Merseysiders have most often deployed in recent times calls for virtuous wing-backs, with the right flank a selection issue for Rodgers.
As Glen Johnson prepares to leave the club this summer and other candidates for the role are better suited to other positions, there is no reason why Flanagan cannot become first-choice in the team next term.
Although the homegrown star still has development to make with the ball at his feet and from an attacking perspective, having Flanagan at right wing-back would certainly solidify the team from a defensive viewpoint.
The youngster has the work-rate and required effort in his locker to successfully fill the role, while he has proven at full-back that he has a good reading of the game and positional sense.
While the contract situations of Sterling and Jordan Henderson may well fill newspaper columns, not many lines have been afforded to the future of Flanagan.
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The 22-year-old is out of contract this summer, but will surely pen a new deal at Anfield if physically fit to play.
This unassuming and down-to-earth character is a desirable personality in a sport that is increasingly dominated by unpleasant, greedy and ego-based individuals.
With Liverpool losing stalwarts such as Jamie Carragher and Gerrard in recent years, Flanagan, not Sterling, looks like a unique player in the fact that he could be a Red for the foreseeable future.
Unless results go their way on the final day of the season, Manchester United will end their first campaign under Louis van Gaal’s stewardship in fourth place. A return to Champions League football is all that was truly expected of the Dutchman’s first season in charge. However, looking towards next season, what constitutes a good second term for Van Gaal?
Following the debacle of David Moyes’ time in Manchester any positive movements that were made in this campaign would be rightly lauded. Although they have returned to European football’s premier competition it has not gone without a hitch and it certainly has not been a cheap return.
Angel Di Maria was clearly the centrepiece of Van Gaal’s first summer transfer policy and along with the expensive loan of Radamel Falcao neither has added a great deal to United and both could be on their way in the coming months. Arguably only Herrera and Blind could be deemed a success from last year’s transfer binge. This time around United must get in right in the transfer market and a repeat of last year’s lapses may not be overlooked so lightly.
With no European competition of any variety this year, their workload has been substantially lighter than any of their competitors; next year’s return to the Champions League will not be seen as a nice day out and their fans will want to see them challenge. That will add a significant amount of work for the squad next year and in order to ensure his team can handle the additional demands, the depth must be improved. Too many times this year they have relied on a small group of players, they have got away with it due to the relative lack of games, next term will prove sufficiently harder.
In terms of cup competitions, this year lengthened their trophy ‘drought’ to two years; they were soundly beaten by third tier MK Dons in the Capital One Cup before a disappointing defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup. Mourinho proved in his first spell at Chelsea how important a cup win can be to begin a reign, Van Gaal should be taking all competitions seriously next year, the fans at Old Trafford demand success and a cup win would please the more pessimistic element of their fanbase.
In terms of league position they have been streets away from the leading pack; they will finish at least 12 points behind Champions Chelsea and that is a gap that must be bridged next year. This year Van Gaal was given quite an easy remit; return United to the top four and all else will take care of itself.
In year two of ‘The Van Gaal Project’ more will be expected of his charges, next year fans and press alike will have heightened expectations of what United can do. If next season pans out as this one has there may be significantly more pressure on the manager than there currently is.
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Next year is a big one for both Manchester United and Louis van Gaal, although this season has been a good start, it is just that, a start. Next year must be better.
As Southampton continue their meteoric rise, with one foot in the door of the Europa League, it is still remarkable to think about just what Ronaldo Koeman and the club have achieved after repeatedly losing their best players. Touted as relegation-fodder last year, the South Coast side enjoyed a fantastic campaign after blending some astute buys and excellent youth prospects into the team. Despite losing Nathaniel Clyne and Toby Alderwield this year, the Saints looked in good shape against Vitesse Arnhem in their European qualifier – they won 3-0.
Rather than placing their hopes for the new season on an incoming transfer, a man who missed all of last season could well have the biggest impact. Jay Rodriguez is closing in on a return to first-team action, having missed the entirety of last season. Cruelly injured with the 2014 World Cup on the horizon, the former Burnley star had only recently broken into the Three Lions camp after a string of stellar performances on the South Coast. During March 2014, he scored five goals in four matches, taking his tally up to 15 with a month and a half of the season left. Then he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Manchester City.
Though he did not play against Vitesse, the goal-getter has looked sharp in pre-season. A brace netted against Red Bull Leipzig, followed by another against Dutch outfit KVV Quick 1920 has led a return of four strikes in four pre-season appearances. Not bad for a player returning from a year out.
Rodriguez himself has expressed his eagerness to pull on a Three Lions shirt once more: “as a player you always want to play at international level”, he told The Mirror, “I want to try and become the player I was.” His steely determination could help create a nice headache for England boss Roy Hodgson, who can currently field a number of different striking options. The Saint, however, is perhaps the most natural wide-forward available to him, a lethal mix of a winger and a front man.
Before pulling on all the all-white of England, the Southampton man must get back to his best Premier League form. Despite an excellent season last year, the Saints tailed off towards the end of the campaign and finished well below the Champions League spots they had thrillingly chased for a prolonged period. Italian star Graziano Pelle, who was excellent for the side, seemed to lose his goal scoring touch after the Christmas pile up and Shane Long failed to provide any real consistency.
Rodriguez offers goals from wide positions, and if he can rekindle the ‘bromance’ he enjoyed with Adam Lallana with current Saints schemer Dusan Tadic, there will be much to cheer on the South Coast. If he can take some of the burden away from his Italian strike partner, perhaps Koeman’s side can sustain a more substantial challenge in their constant quest to improve.
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With Southampton’s foray into Europe, strength in depth becomes vital. New signing Juanmi and last season’s revelation Sadio Mane provide competition in the final third, but ‘J-Rod’ has proven quality. Having recently signed a new deal, reportedly keeping the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham at bay, Jay Rodriguez’could prove to be a ‘lightning rod’ for his side.