Do England have a team challenging for the Champions League?
Hello! Welcome back, to My Premier League Thoughts and this week we will be discussing the action from the Premier League weekend, Manchester United and if they have unleashed a gem which has seen them get back on track. Cristiano Ronaldo's recent controversial comments as well as debating whether or not there is a team from the English Premier League that is well rounded enough to see the Champions League come to England and finally my new blog series on my Football Manager career.
Thank you for all the recent support, its truly incredible, I hope you enjoy this post.
Premier League Weekend -
Manchester United 3 v 2 Arsenal
Quite possibly the biggest game of the weekend, in the Premier League, saw 2 English giant teams lock horns at Old Trafford. Manchester United v Arsenal, a long time rivalry stretching back years. With both teams needing a win coming into the game, I hadn't a clue what the outcome would be. 3 points for Arsenal would keep them within a shout for the title whereas Man United were hoping they could secure top 4 come the end of the season.
This game, between these teams is a game I relish as a Manchester United fan, this along with the games against Man City and Liverpool are the greatest to watch. Over recent seasons we've seen Man United demolish Arsenal 8-2, a personal favourite. Ex-Gunner Robin Van Persie return to Arsenal and score but likewise ex-United man Danny Welbeck, put a goal in against us to knock Man United out of the FA cup. Manchester United vs. Arsenal is simply, a game to watch and one I was defiantly looking forward to.
On paper, the United team looked weaker than Arsenal's, and it looked a concern. With youngsters galore and Carrick filling in at the centre back role, things didn't look too promising. As for Arsenal, Walcott replaced Giroud in striker and the magnificent Mesut Ozil started, a player who can determine a game at any moment.
2 goals in 3 minutes from Manchester United, was wonderful. Marcus Rashford, a man... a boy not many people will know much about, but one thing Marcus knows, is how to find the net. 2 games, 4 goals at Manchester so far. The kid has talent and the fact that Arsenal didn't faze him was amazing. His first goal, a powerful shot inside the area showed he knew where to position himself, and the header he angled past Cech, proved this youngster has something special and potentially could be a great player in the future. I think Van Gaal should consider starting him alongside Martial, when he recovers, as Martial is a player who has the ability to beat a defender and look to square it into the box where Marcus Rashford would be waiting due to his fantastic awareness to place himself in the right place.
Welbeck got Arsenal back into the game not long before half-time, rather against the run of play but Man United failed to keep their concentration and Arsenal made them pay so credit to them.
Ander Herrera, got United back to 2 goals ahead when he curled a shot from the edge of the box, which struck Koscielny and found its way into the top corner. But Ozil got himself on the scoresheet with the last goal of the game when Man United failed to clear properly and the German mishit a volley, bouncing up off the ground and luckily for him into the top corner.
After, 3-2 Manchester United, just seemed to tighten up and finish the game off. They wrapped up a much dissevered win and put pressure on Arsenal, who went 3rd in the table, where Manchester City have a game in hand. The traditional Arsenal effect, where the season tappers off and Arsenal find themselves back home in 4th looks like its becoming reality again. Oh dear Arsenal fans!
Leicester City 1 v 0 Norwich
What a fairy-tale season this continues to be for Leicester City. Another win putting them 2 points clear at the top of the league. Mighty Ulloa, the super sub, came off the bench to put the goal in.
It looked as though it would never come, they pressed and pressed but a resilient Norwich defence kept Leicester at bay. As the season entered its final 10 countdown, Leicester have managed to keep up their fantastic form and keep the 3 points coming. Norwich themselves, were desperate for the points because of their fight to avoid the drop, and as I expected this game was decided by the team who showed most desire and passion.
Cameron Jerome will have been kicking himself at full time when he looked back on the chance he had in the first half when his header was guided wide from close range.
Leicester City fans have every right to be jubilant and ecstatic as their team consistently delivers and shows why they deserve to be situated where they are in the Premier League.
Despite Leicester bagging the 3 points, Norwich deserve tons of credit for containing Leicester and giving the game a go, playing well and handling the pressure put on them.
I love how this season is going and would really like to see Leicester lift the title on the final day, they fully deserve it and every single player in the team has played with passion and are committed to their fans, a credit that is very visible in the way they play unlike some of the bigger teams. Leicester City players want the do well, you can see it in the way they play and the atmosphere in the stadium is incredible, they look a team who want to win the league not just one who are expected to. Its a fantastic achievement and hopefully they can see it out for the final 9 games.
Ronaldo; Did he really say that?!
He said what?! Reading the comments made by Ronaldo shocked me and I couldn't believe that what I was reading was actually what Ronaldo meant. Surely, he couldn't have actually meant the rest of his team were terrible players, because they couldn't be. 'If everyone was at my level perhaps we would be top' is the actual comment Ronaldo said after Real Madrid lost to Atletico Madrid in the La Liga.
I admit that Ronaldo has often been labelled as 'big-headed' and 'arrogant' which could leave people seeing the comments as harsh and nasty towards the rest of his team but was it really meant how the press made it sound?
Many players stood up for Ronaldo, defending his comments. Sergio Ramos claimed Ronaldo didn't mean to upset anybody and it has also been said that Ronaldo was criticizing the physicality of the players not their ability.
I find myself agreeing with Ronaldo however, on the fact that the players at Real Madrid, are not at his level, when realistically they should be some where near. For arguments sake lets say he was talking about the ability of the players, would he have been in the wrong to suggest they were not performing at their best, no, because Benzema has been failing to score and Bale, should be more consistent in goals and assists but for the Real Madrid superstars the goals and assists all seem to come in a flurry during 1 game! Which makes Ronaldo correct in what he is saying, Ronaldo is consistent, he will decide a game with a goal but he is not a 'one man team' nobody can be expected to carry a team, no matter how great they are. The other Spanish giants, Barcelona, have Messi, Ronaldo's main competitor for best player on the planet, but Messi doesn't carry Barcelona to the top of the league. He has Suarez and Neymar who put in just as much effort and commitment as Messi and this is what makes them so successful and great at being a team!
Ronaldo may have just given Real Madrid the reality check they needed, one that will help them to drive on and do well in the Champions League and fight for the title. Its frustrating for the Portuguese man whose goals contribute so much to the success of his team, but he needs help, and maybe his comments may ignite a fire that see's Real step up a gear.
Which English team will win the Champions League?
Can you answer this question? When a friend asked me, I found it hard to come up with my answer. Realistically, who in England has enough depth, enough quality players, enough passion to want to or be able to win the most sort after club competition.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City entered the competition this season, and all progressed through the group. But I don't think any of the English teams have enough firepower or world-class players available to see off some of the best teams in Europe.
The teams that win the Champions League, particularly over the recent years have had players who can literally determine a game single handily. Barcelona and Real Madrid have a team full of wonders not to mention Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo! Bayern Munich have Arjen Robben who has proved through his signature cut inside and curling effort off his left foot that he can score goals which will win games for them. As for English teams, there are stand out players but do they stand out enough to prove they can win their teams the Champions League.
Chelsea, maybe Eden Hazard, but this season he has lost his form and doesn't look like he could grab a goal or provide some magical skill to grab a win for his team. Diego Costa, hardly copes with the physicality of the Premier League defenders never mind the tough tacklers of Champions Leagues teams. However, as it stands Chelsea aren't even making the Champions League next season so how will they challenge?
Manchester City, I admit have the strongest side to challenge for the trophy. With a quality goalkeeper in Joe Hart, strong Vincent Kompany in the heart of defence possessing strong leadership and passion. Yaya Toure and David Silva can control and dictate any game with their abilities and vision to create a chance and Sergio Aguero being the best striker in the world at the moment,
Man city have to greatest team to challenge for the Champions League but could they realistically do it? Personally, and not because of being a United fan, I don't think they have enough passion or experience to defeat Barcelona and lift the trophy.
So, do you think an English team can mount the fight to be champions of Europe or do we leave that to the Spanish and German teams?
Football Manager blog.
I have been thinking about this concept long and hard over the previous week. It is something I am looking forward to doing as it allows me to get more personal with my readers and I can interact with you, which I love to do.
Who to manage, is something I have considered very much. I thought about doing a team away from the Premier League but that wouldn't seem right. I thought about the goals we want to aim for from the career and ultimately I think we had to go for the historical treble, of the League, FA cup and Champions League. I took into consideration that Manchester United may be a good option because it would allow my readers to see what I would do given the chance to manage my favourite team. However, the team I am going to take over and manage is... Arsenal!
Simply because I think they are realistic to pursue the goal set and have a squad where they have quality players but provide the opportunity for me and you to bring in some players who can help us to achieve greatness.
Let me know who'd you would like me to bring into the side, which formation is best to use with the players I have available and which players need to leave. Because this is a career I want to involve my readers in as much as possible.
The Football Manager post will be released Friday night, English time and I cant wait to hear the suggestions on what to do as the manager.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed my views and thoughts. Let me know if there is anything you disagree with or agree with, and also about our Arsenal football manager career.
You provide me with fantastic opportunities and its overwhelming at how much support you give to me., and until the next one, goodbye for now!
Lee Harwood
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