Doing a Leicester - The Hole

Jamie VarDDDDDYY!! MahrEEEZ!!! Those were usual names bellowed by commentators as Leicester City FC downed teams on their unprecedented march to being crowned English Premier League champions in the 2015/2016 season. Both players combined to score 41 goals (out of the club's 68) and assisted a further 17 goals. These key stats show that their poor form throughout the 2016/2017 EPL season might be the cause of Leicesters' dreadful run in the league (though they've been superb in the Champions League up till the point of this article) and quite possibly, eventual relegation from the league. However, I'd like to point out that the MAJOR problem the team has had is the loss (ironic due to the fact that a huge financial profit was made in his sale) of N'golo Kante - The Hole.

OK, I wasn't going to be cliche (is that even the right word?) but here it goes; when you remove the engine of a car would it move? Would it even start? At least if you had no fuel in the tank and an engine in place the car might attempt to start. Right? *Don't disprove me, it's my blog!*. I had a gut feeling, after hearing of his transfer to Chelsea, that Leicester won't be the same team. In this present age of football, where goal scorers are the only respected players, it would be difficult for one to understand the importance of a "non-stop maniac-esque marauding" midfielder. And yeah, why would such pesky midfielders be appreciated when all they do is destroy beautiful "tiki-taka" football? The answer is simple; to allow the "glossy" attackers actually get forward (not trying to defend against the opponent) and maybe score a goal. Oh! and i forget, they help the centre backs when their team is defending. Kante wanted to leave immediately the offer from Chelsea came in, or at least that's what we all thought. So Leicester can't be blamed of selling off their best players to the highest bidder *coughs* Arsenal *coughs*. However, the club was pretty slow to react, they probably thought it wouldn't be a biggie.

Getting a player in the mold of Kante would be either very difficult or extremely expensive. Like it or yes (no mistake made here), Kante is the best defensive midfielder in the world presently (again, as at the time of posting this article). Ranieri tried using a couple of players in that role, Amartey and King, which ultimatley failed. He then lived up to his name, the "thinker-man" and kept changing the team formation, none of which really improved their fortunes. In the winter transfer window, Wilfred Ndidi was purchased from Genk to try and fill "The Hole". So far much has not changed but there seems to be some glimmer of hope from his displays. Would this be enough to get Leicester "started" and out of a relegation dog fight, which they seem to be in already? Come May 2017 we shall see if Leicester can do a Leeds (1992/93 season) or create a new phrase by "doing a Leicester".

Resurgent Wigan

Tonight's win against Football's Team (Arsenal) has seen Wigan climb up to 16th in the league three points ahead of QPR in 17th. They have beaten two top three sides away now something which few would believe could happen especially at Old Trafford with Man United edging closer to a league win.

Personally i believe Wigan are not of Premiership standards and should have been regulated last season. The club just has a way of leaving the best for the last. Survival looked bleak for Wigan Athletic some months ago but now there is this desire and willingness to stay in the league.

Would Wigan survive relegation again? Please drop your comments

el Spanish dominion de Europe

Mind my poor Spanish (the title). Tonight saw all the Spanish side in the Europa league qualify for the semi's. Also last two day in the Champions league we witnessed the same dominance. What has propelled Spanish teams into so much success this season, a league which is constantly and rightly said to be dominated by two teams has seen other clubs in the league performing well in Europe.

Athletic Bilbao crushed Manchester United which was supposedly a contender for the cup on their way to the semi's resoundingly. They took apart a resilient Schalke side also in what was to me the fixture of the round over both legs.
Valencia and Athletico Madrid have also impressed in this competition and would now battle each other out in the next round.

Could it be that the Spanish league is becoming the strongest in the world? Emmm I like the EPL and would argue about the competitiveness among the teams in it but in Europe they have failed to perform. This season could very like see an all Spanish finals in both the Europa league and Champions league. Also on the back of being world champions it is quite clear that Spain is taking the world of football by storm.

Runaway Champions?

With the victory at Blackburn Manchester united seem to have the title wrapped up (in my view). The point difference between the two Manchester clubs stand at five with the possibility of it been stretched further if City don't get a result against Football club (Arsenal) this weekend.

From my years of watching the EPL I have noticed that Football club keeps doing Man United favours so the league might be done with this season.

Please drop your comments

Life after Nasri and Fabregas

An 8 - 2 drubbing of Arseanal by Manchester United signalled trouble for the Gunners to compete at the highest level after the loss of arguably their best two players. Some signing have tried getting the team by on track and with the current form of van Persie Arsenal fans are getting a bit of hope back. Can they really compete with the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan? The answer is yet to be known....watch this space for updates. Feel free to also drop a comment

The Rise of Jack Wilshere

From the first day i saw Wilshere play i knew he had what it takes to be a first team player. This season 2010/2011 has seen him become an integral part of how Arsenal play. Playing as a central midfielder, he has shown he has the capability to attack and defend well plus his wonderful range of passing.

I feel that the unfortunate and sad injury that occurred to Aaron Ramsey gave him the opportunity of first team football; Ramsey as most true Arsenal fans know is a very talented young player whom was tipped to replace Fabregas if he had left to Barcelona. If not for the horrific injury Arsenal's midfield would most probably have been; Song - Fabregas - Ramsey.

Nevertheless Wilshere has shone he has the talent to handle first team football this season with stunning displays in the Premier League and most recently in the first leg of the champions league clash with Barcelona. Things can only go upwards for this young player and hopefully he would live up to the recent praise and improve more as a footballer.

Major transfers 2010/2011

David Villa to Barcelona
How would this move effect the Barca team? For one Zlatan might just have lost a starting spot in the Barca line-up or Pedro who was on form throughout the 2009/2010 season hitting over 19 goal might be relegated to the bench, Theirry Henry might be leaving the club after falling out of Guardiola's first team plan. Bojan would also be on the bench following this transfer if barca are to line up their traditional 4-3-3 formation. David Villa was a hit for Valencia scoring over a hundred goals during his time at the club and has cost Barca 34 million pounds.


Marouane Chamakh to Arsenal
The Moroccan free transfer to Arsenal has been met with mixed reviews. He helped Bordeaux win the league in the 2008/2009 season scoring 18 goals in all competitions. Arsenal are desperately in need of a fit natural goal scorer and Chamakh might not be the solution but hopes are high that his physical attribute would fit the English Premier league.

Eduardo dive

Arsenal's second leg win over Celtic should stir some controvesy after Eduardo's dive gave Arsenal a first half lead which surely demoralized Celtic players. The question would be what if the penalty wasn't awarded then maybe Celtic would have scored and then comeback to beat Arsenal.

UEFA may ban Eduardo for two matches and Wenger isn't happy about the UEFA ban but ain't it better than Celtic filing an official complain which might cost Arsenal something more.
should Eduardo be ban or not. Please comment.

Life after Ronaldo

The world player of the year, Cristiano Ronaldo, has left Manchester United in a deal worth about £80 million to Real Madrid and now we will see this season who will be capable of replacing him at ManUtd.

Ronaldo came into ManUtd as a relatively unknown player to most of the world but during his stay at Old Trafford helped ManU to two consecutive premeirshio titles and one champions league trophy. He was also their main goal scorer and playmaker for his last two seasons at the club and also became the first player playing in England to win the FIFA world best player. Most of us already know all these i have mentioned but now his gone who will be ManU's main player?

The first name that comes into our minds is Rooney. I respect Rooney because of his intelligence towards the game and technical abililty but can he accomplish ronaldo's feat?

Antonio Valencia the new recruit from Wigan is a player with great speed and strength like that of CR9 but will he be able to replace a player who gave ManU over 50 goals for the last two seasons. I doubt it, Valencia is a good player in his own right but his goal scoring ability is in doubt.

Who do you think can replace Ronaldo? Please leave your comments.