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".

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.

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.

England.. player problem or manager problem

England managed to beat Andorra by just two goals last evening in a match many predicted would end in 5, 6, 7 -0. Managers have come and gone over the years for England with no success in achieving what many expect a nation of this statue should achieve. Football analyst and fans sometimes blame the players, others blame the managers...who is really to blame.

I feel that the managers are not really to blame and that the main blame should be on the fact that England don't produce enough flair player who have the skill and "ginger" to have those "moment of brilliance" normally since by the Argentinean , Brazilian, French and other teams. The only such flair player in the squad is Joe Cole, who incidentally got both goals in the match. Gerrard and Lampard are both great players but don't have the skill and charisma to move the team forward as they do with their respective clubs.

That is my reason, i would like to hear what you readers think, the players or the manager who is to blame?