EPL WRAP.....

‘AYEW MAD?’ ASKS MONK
Despite his protests to the contrary, one has to believe that Jurgen Klopp is drawing up a shortlist for his first transfer market in charge of Liverpool this winter. Reports claimed last week that Swansea striker Andre Ayew had emerged as a surprise target alongside Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the manager of the former has moved to dismiss any rumours.
Ayew is a known life-long Liverpool supporter and Klopp twice tried to sign the forward during his time at Dortmund, but, basically, Monk doesn’t care one jot.

“The speculation starts earlier and earlier every year, but I don’t think about it,” said Monk, speaking before Swansea’s clash with Stoke on Monday.
“There is no point in me focusing on things like that, things are not reality. The things I need to concentrate on are the things in front of me that are reality.
“Until anyone comes to me and says anything concrete it is not worth thinking about.
“It is part of the game, players get linked everywhere, every year. That is part of the job and I never focus on that.
“It is not my concern if he is a Liverpool fan or not. I could say there are 1,000 players I admire in the game, but is there any point in that?”

There we go then.

BERAHINO BATTLE IN JANUARY
It’s pretty much accepted that Spurs are likely to renew their interest in West Brom striker Saido Berahino come January, but could they face Premier League competition for the Englishman’s signature. Yes, yes they could.
Well, according to Italian website Tuttomercatoweb. We’re not entirely sure why an Italian website would know anything about two English clubs trying to sign an English player from another English club, but, y’know.
Anyway, Berahino has scored three of West Brom’s seven total league goals this season, a contribution of 42% of the goals to his side’s cause which is bettered by only Odion Ighalo at Watford (83%), Georginio Wijnaldum at Newcastle (50%), Jamie Vardy at Leicester (47%) and Callum Wilson at Bournemouth (45%). As a result, everyone’s (predictably) pretty much forgot he threatened to go on strike just a month ago, and now he is certain to be in-demand come January.
The club to rival Spurs will, according to Tuttomercatoweb, be Manchester United. If Berahino had problems keeping Peace with Jeremy, it really would be quite entertaining to watch his relationship with Louis van Gaal unfold/unravel if they were to work together.

EDEN HAZARD -> REAL MADRID
Eden Hazard was dropped to the bench for Chelsea’s win over Aston Villa. Eden Hazard was then name-checked by Jose Mourinho in his post-match quotes, with the Portuguese telling the Belgian to improve his work-rate. Eden Hazard has now been linked to Real Madrid. Transfer window gossip in a nutshell.
What makes this even worse is that Fichajes.net are the ones accredited with this rumour. We’re spoiling you this morning with the Spanish website alongside Tuttomercatoweb, you lucky sods.
I would usually now turn back to the rumour itself, but there isn’t much to add. Fichajes simply say Hazard is a priority signing for Real next summer, but that he won’t come cheap if Chelsea even want to sell.

MOURINHO ‘SCOUTS’ THREE PLAYERS
…is the gist of what Sky Sports are saying this fine Monday morning. They use quotes from Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu, who claims he spoke to Mourinho and discussed three players who the Chelsea boss has been scouting personally.
The game in question was the European Qualifier between Spain and Ukraine, and the players in question are Yevhen Konoplyanka, Andriy Yarmolenko and, weirdly, Brazilian Alex Teixeira, who his manager seems to have randomly crowbarred into a rumour. In the words of Lucescu himself:

“Mourinho is interested in Yevhen Konoplyanka. I was at Ukraine versus Spain with Mourinho and he is interested in some players.
“Perhaps it is Yarmolenko or Teixeira, if not, then it is Konoplyanka.”

Sky believe Konoplyanka is the man on Mourinho’s wishlist, and considering Yarmolenko has just signed a new contract with his club and Teixeira isn’t exactly of the required standard, they’re probably not far off.

AND THE REST
Radamel Falcao could ask Chelsea to cancel his season-long loan in January…Marseille would like to sign David Ospina should he decide to leave Arsenal…Leicester City are set to up their £8million bid for Sporting Lisbon winger Andre Carillo in January…Bolton boss Neil Lennon is interested in Carlton Cole if Celtic snub him…Fans called for David Moyes’ sacking in English as Real Sociedad suffered another defeat yesterday.

The first step of a long journey for Newcastle

“Whoever’s brought the players in that’s what they need to look (at). He (McClaren) hasn’t brought them players in. It’s about time they started looking to bring in some British players as well. It’s a club full of, it seems to be a French club almost. They (the players) seem to come from everywhere but here.”

One must wonder just what Harry Redknapp was thinking watching those foreigns that Steve McClaren definitely didn’t sign on Sunday evening. Rob Elliot, Paul Dummett and Jack Colback represented Newcastle’s only British players against a Norwich side featuring seven from the start, and yet, somehow, it didn’t matter whatsoever.
Instead, it was the likes of Dutch international Georginio Wijnaldum and Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic who led Newcastle to their first Premier League win of the season. While one stroll does not make a summer transfer window, it was a much-needed victory for both club and manager at St James’ Park.
Newcastle had endured a long wait of eight games for their first victory since the final day of last season, but for McClaren himself it must have felt an eternity. The former England boss had won just two league games in his last 21 – against now-relegated Blackpool and Wigan – as his terrible run of form in the dying embers of his tenure at Derby threatened to engulf his return to the Premier League. That two of his summer purchases were at the forefront is merely an added bonus.
Newcastle have resembled a top-flight side on only three-and-a-half occasions so far this season. Against Manchester United, where they showed grit and determination to secure a draw. Against Arsenal, where they attempted to same but narrowly and valiantly fell short. Against Chelsea, where they were unlucky to squander a deserved two-goal lead. Against Manchester City, where for one half of football they at least matched their opponents. The tag of ‘game-raisers’ is a difficult one to shake off, but a comprehensive four-goal victory over a difficult newly-promoted side will help.
For four-goal hero Wijnaldum, little had changed. Newcastle’s third-most expensive ever signing has been comfortably their best player this season, but when your team-mates perform it merely improves your game. With Mitrovic, Ayoze Perez and Moussa Sissoko finally showing evidence of a cumulative £20million worth of talent, Newcastle finally looked like a side capable of achieving their lofty ambitions.

It was almost as if the aforementioned quartet had set out to rubbish the claims Redknapp had made this weekend. Newcastle’s biggest ever transfer window splurge was supposed to signal a new era at St James’ Park, and that Ivan Toney of Northampton was their only British signing was no mistake. Regardless of nationality, Mike Ashley was finally willing to spend big on players whose talent rang out louder than their accent.
Finally, after eight long and disappointing games, McClaren and the Newcastle faithful were able to reap the benefits. Wijnaldum was irresistible in becoming only the second Magpie to score four or more in a Premier League game after a certain Alan Shearer, while Mitrovic continues his rehabilitation following an aggressive start to life in England.
Of course, the 6-2 scoreline more than flatters Newcastle. Twice Norwich pegged them back, and early in the second half the Canaries almost drew level, with Wijnaldum the saviour on the line. Twice Alex Neil’s men hit the post, and when the dust settles and the relief subsides, McClaren must ask questions of Sissoko. The Frenchamn assisted three goals in a sumptuous attacking performance, but twice failed to track his man, leading to both of Norwich’s goals.

“I’m pleased for the players because it’s been tough and hard. We showed our strengths of what we are good at but we showed weaknesses by conceding two. Individuals stepped up – that was the key thing. The front four were excellent, especially Gini Wijnaldum. Moussa Sissoko showed strength and power and he showed why he is coveted by the top four. I thought the score could have been anything. We rode our luck and defended quite well. On the break we were terrific.”

McClaren has been (rightfully) derided for many of his comments in the press throughout Newcastle’s struggle, but the above is a fair and frank assessment.
But this is more a period of long overdue celebration for the boys in white and black. While the pre-season expectation – in McClaren’s words – of “top eight and to win a trophy” already look far-fetched, this is a significant and encouraging step in the right direction.

The Liverpool test: Who has strongest squad?

Date published: Sunday 18th October 2015 1:46

The standard of Liverpool’s injury-hit squad came in for significant criticism this week, but how would their Premier League rivals fare with similar injuries to nine players?
Daniel Sturridge, Jordan Rossiter, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Roberto Firmino, Dejan Lovren, Christian Benteke, Jordan Henderson and Jon Flanagan. The list of injury casualties throughout the Liverpool squad ahead of Jurgen Klopp’s first game as manager against Spurs was a daunting one. Nine players who, between them, have made 610 Premier League appearances, ranging from a pair of first-team strikers to reserve players.

Liverpool starting XI and subs against Spurs

Mignolet

Clyne Skrtel Sakho Moreno

Lucas Can

Milner Lallana Coutinho

Origi

Subs: Bogdan, Toure, Allen, Ibe, Sinclair, Teixeira, Randall

I discussed the weakness of Liverpool’s ravaged squad earlier in the week, but it was the standard of Liverpool’s bench in particular which drew criticism. In the words of Daniel Storey:

The impact of injuries on this Liverpool squad can be illustrated by looking at the number of Premier League starts since the beginning of last season by their outfield substitutes: Kolo Toure (7), Jordon Ibe (9), Joe Allen (16. SIXTEEN), Joao Teixeira (0), Jerome Sinclair (0), Connor Randall (0). You don’t need me to tell you that that isn’t a top-four bench.

The question is, how would Liverpool’s direct rivals for the Premier League top four fare under similar restrictions? We have taken last season’s top five and the Reds’ Merseyside rivals Everton (just because) and mirrored Liverpool’s injuries as best we can in order to judge the standard of each side’s squads.

Arsenal
Ruled out
Theo Walcott = Sturridge (starting striker)
Tomas Rosicky = Rossiter (reserve midfielder)
Danny Welbeck = Ings (back-up striker)
Calum Chambers = Gomez (utility defender)
Aaron Ramsey = Firmino (starting midfielder)
Gabriel = Lovren (back-up central defender)
Olivier Giroud = Benteke (starting striker)
Santi Cazorla = Henderson (starting midfielder)
Kieran Gibbs = Flanagan (reserve full-back)

Cech

Bellerin Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal

Coquelin Flamini

Ozil Wilshere Oxlade-Chamberlain

Sanchez

Subs: Ospina, Debuchy, O’Connor, Arteta, Bielik, Iwobi, Campbell

Chelsea
Ruled out
Diego Costa
John Obi Mikel
Radamel Falcao
Papy Djilobodji
Willian
John Terry
Loic Remy
Nemanja Matic
Baba Rahman

Courtois

Ivanovic Cahill Zouma Azpilicueta

Loftus-Cheek Ramires

Hazard Fabregas Oscar

Pedro

Subs: Begovic, Aina, Clarke-Salter, Traore, Musonda, Kenedy, Kiwomya

Everton
Ruled out
Romelu Lukaku
Ryan Ledson
Leandro Rodriguez
Tyias Browning
Kevin Mirallas
Ramiro Funes Mori
Arouna Kone
James McCarthy
Tony Hibbert

Howard

Coleman Stones Jagielka Baines

Barry Besic

Deulofeu Barkley Lennon

Naismith

Subs: Joel, Galloway, Oviedo, Gibson, Cleverley, Osman, Pienaar

Manchester City
Ruled out
Sergio Aguero
Fabian Delph
Kelechi Iheanacho
Martin Demichelis
David Silva
Eliaquim Mangala
Wilfried Bony
Fernandinho
Bacary Sagna

Hart

Zabaleta Kompany Otamendi Clichy

Fernando Toure

Navas De Bruyne Nasri

Sterling

Subs: Caballero, Kolarov, Maffeo, Zuculini, Garcia, Roberts, Ambrose

Manchester United
Ruled out
Wayne Rooney
Marouane Fellaini
James Wilson
Marcos Rojo
Juan Mata
Phil Jones
Anthony Martial
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Guillermo Varela

De Gea

Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw

Schneiderlin Carrick

Young Herrera Lingard

Depay

Subs: Romero, McNair, El Fitouri, Valencia, Pereira, Powell, Mitchell

Tottenham
Harry Kane
Harry Winks
Clinton N’Jie
Kevin Wimmer
Erik Lamela
Federico Fazio
Heung-min Son
Eric Dier
Kieran Trippier

Lloris

Walker Alderweireld Vertonghen Davies

Dembele Alli

Chadli Eriksen Townsend

Harrison

Subs: Vorm, Veljkovic, Bentaleb, Carroll, Mason, Pritchard, Onomah

Some conclusions:

• Liverpool’s squad is just as sh*te as everyone else’s would be
• Chelsea would really struggle
• Everton weirdly look like they’d have the strongest, most-rounded squad
• Manchester City are ridiculous (but would have a weak bench)
• Arsenal wouldn’t be far behind in that regard
• Manchester United have spent a lot of money, but ouch
• Spurs better hope they don’t contract a striker virus
• Clubs love 4-2-3-1 nowadays, don’t they?

Stop Arsenal cash reserve nonsense

Date published: Sunday 18th October 2015 11:44

Also, Mamadou Sakho is ruddy brilliant, England should build around Jamie Vardy, and the best chant of the season…
If you have anything to add on any subject, you know what to do – mail theeditor@football365.com

#KloppOut
What?! Liverpool didn’t win the premier league today…. #kloppout
Hehe
Scottish Scott MUFC

Mamadou (not) the chump
Sakho: Imperious, at least I thought he was particularly in the second half. a real leader in the back four and stopped a lot of attacks and then calming coming away with the ball and playing it out too midfield, maybe I missed something in the first 20 minutes (where apparently we were really good) but if he made a mistake early on I didn’t see it … he made a mistake didn’t he? either way after the break Sakho was awesome.
Tyla (should I be embarrassed by the Klopp love in by the media, because I am really embarrassed) Roxburgh, Merseyside, Liverpool

Spurred on
I think the amount of build up that Klopp was getting was always bound to overhype his first game. Frankly I thought that looked a lot like a Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool team performance and frankly I don’t think that’s a terrible thing to say or see given that Klopp has had less than a week to work with the players.
The one deficiency that really glaringly persisted was our bluntness in the final third of the pitch. Today we weren’t helped by a number of poor touches which led to Spurs easily taking back possession but on the whole even when they didn’t tackle us we didn’t look very dangerous. Ings and Sturridge were both meant to solve those issues and sadly both are now back on the treatment table, though Sturridge will hopefully be back soon enough.
Given how many key injuries we currently have (Henderson/Sturridge/Benteke/Flannagan/Ings/Firmino could all make fair claims to be amongst our first XI) I think you’ve got to accept that a point away from home is a good result, especially when you think that Man City got shredded apart at the same ground a few short weeks ago.
Minty, LFC

Shut up, Stewie
I would just like to direct Stewie Griffin and all other Arsenal fans complaining about Arsene Wenger not spending the 200m cash reserve that we have to this article published in September 2014 by Swiss Ramble.
It gives a detailed breakdown of Arsenal’s financial position compared to other clubs, the club’s net spend and why this mythical 200m war chest cannot be spent on just world class players.
”In short, without knowing all of the internal details, it’s a mug’s game trying to predict how much Arsenal genuinely have available to spend. It’s clearly not as much the £200 million in the books, let’s say £40-50 million.”
Malcolm, AFC

Vardy love-in
The Premier League’s top goal scorer adds another two to his tally. Hopefully Roy Hodgson wasn’t paying attention, we wouldn’t want him getting silly ideas about taking a player to France who is actually playing games and scoring goals. Much better to bank on two long-term injured players being fit.
Daniel (big up commenters using their real name and picture) Baguley


Is it time to start thinking about building the England team around him?
James F, BCFC KRO

Steady on
In defence of Matt Stead… Theo, Liverpool you appear to have taken umbrage at a fact-based article commenting on the paucity of realistic options currently fit at Liverpool. The article wasn’t written as an attack against Klopp, merely noting the trial by fire Mr Heavy Metal can expect with the mid-table squad at his disposal.
For the record I love Jurgen Klopp, and hope he does well. As long as its less well than Arsene.
Too tired to write anything else.
Alay (“Since we’re here anyway we might actually play a bit of football”), N15 Gooner

Dirty Harry
Is it time we acknowledge Harry Kane is nothing but a half decent player who had one hell of a purple patch last season…
Shreyas (yes, I’m a gooner) Krishna

Dirty ‘Arry
I haven’t read your article on Harry Redknapp but I was just watching the pre-match of Tottenham vs Liverpool on BT and Harry Redknapp just said “…there are plenty of good British managers around but they are not getting the chances at big clubs, top 4 or 5 clubs.” Yes Harry because you didn’t get that chance or David Moyes or Brentan or Schteve McLaren currently?
Oh and Michael “the gift that keeps giving” Owen saying about White Hart Lane “it’s a good stadium, it’s a good football stadium.” Thanks. For. That, Michael.
By the way, this match is quite easily the most boring match I have seen this season. There does not seem to be any desire or passion from anyone on the pitch. No real quality, no one to take the game by the scruff of the neck, nothing. I suppose Klopp would be happy as it’s not a loss and Tottenham are in good form and I think we can already see some of Klopp’s tactics in play such as pressing and defending in numbers.
Amir (hoping the rest of the weekend fixtures are not this boring)

FSG feedback
An excellent letter by Jonny Dance (I assume that’s a surname and not a verb) on ‘A critique of FSG’s Liverpool’
As a Liverpool fan I think cutting the wage bill is a good thing. The club needs to create a sustainable future so going back a step in terms of the wage bill and larger transfer fees to then be able to invest in the ground (which should have happened 20+ years ago) and younger players creates a more solid footing to move forwards and compete.
If you compare our investment (in salaries and transfers) and the return on the pitch over recent years with the likes of Spurs then it’s clear we’ve not been getting a sufficient return and therefore there’s no point in just continuing the same old approach.
FSG represent a hedge fund and their ultimate aim is to make a profit but if they can improve the club, expand the stadium, create a sustainable future (don’t forget we nearly went bust just a few years ago) and then make a profit selling the club then fair play to them.
Owners wanting to make money is not a bad thing. Owners like Oyston at Blackpool are the ones to avoid.
Colin (living in the real world), Hampshire

Jonny (carefully avoided the term ‘net spend’, deliberately used ‘warchest’) Dance, the reason Liverpool are signing young second or third rate players and hoping they develop is because the best young players and already developed first rate players don’t want to come to Liverpool.
That’s not some strange FSG masterplan, it’s actuality. It’ll be the same actuality whoever is the next owner.
Happy to help.
Yours, Reality (Tim Sutton)

Professionalism
Dear f365,
Presumably the ultra-professional Zidane who Guy S includes in his list of players who would never be seen “with a fag in hand” is Zidane the younger, as opposed to his dad Zinedine who was photographed smoking during France’s 2006 world cup campaign.
John, London

ACL TLC
RE; Will (Klopp can have my babies) F
I’m sure you’ll get a few of these – but as a physiotherapist of 10 years experience and also as a player having had an ACL (or cruciate knee injury) myself I feel I am more qualified to comment than most.
ACL injuries are not a death sentence, statistically there is above 95% chance of having successful surgery and around 70-80% of getting back to the same level of play. It is a serious and in some ways devastating injury but players can and do recover from these all the time, as a rule rather than as an exception. Rehab and surgical techniques are getting better all the time, we are even discovering prevention methods which have a small but significant effect.
There are loads of players who have recovered from this injury and gone on to have successful careers. Shearer, Xavi, Del Piero, Van Nistlerooy, Pires, Lahm, Walcott, Vidic all came back bigger and better after this injury. We just remember the ones that didn’t better for some reason. Ronaldo (Brazil) was never quite the same after his but he did win a golden boot at the world cup straight after having had 2 knee reconstructions within a couple of years.
The odds are with Gomez and Ings making full recoveries and continuing their careers for some time to come.
Gavan, THFC, Sydney

Enchanting
I don’t know if this has been brought to the attention of the general public yet, but a couple of Crystal Palace fans have come up with what is surely the best chant of the season. To the tune of Because I Got High by Afroman: