Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben’s goals ensured Bayern Munich a 2-1 Champions League final victory against Borussia Dortmund.
In a closely-fought affair at Wembley Stadium the first all-German final had to wait until the hour mark for its opening goal with Mandzukic converting.
Ilkay Gundogan levelled up from the penalty spot before Robben won the match late on to give Bayern their first Champions League win since 2001 and made up for their 2010 defeat to Inter Milan and last year’s penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Chelsea.
Dortmund pressed Bayern from the off and their prolific marksman Robert Lewandowski had the first attempt in the 14th minute with his rising strike from outside the area tipped over by Manuel Neuer.
A minute later Jakub Blaszczykowski met a ball in from the right with a first-time effort which Neuer did well to turn round his near post.
On 19 minutes Marco Reus was sent clear by Kevin Grosskreutz and his effort from outside the area was pushed out for a corner by Neuer.
Sven Bender was picked out in the box by Grosskreutz three minutes later but his effort lacked any real power to beat Neuer.
Bayern finally woke up and almost scored on 26 minutes when Franck Ribery’s great left-wing cross found the head of Mandzukic who forced a good save from Roman Weidenfeller.
Robben then went clear down the right of the Dortmund area but Weidenfeller raced out to narrow the angle and blocked his effort.
Dortmund had another opportunity on 35 minutes as Lewandowski turned Jerome Boateng in the area but his low strike was saved by Neuer’s feet.
Robben had the final chance of the half when the ball fell to him just inside the Dortmund area but Weiudenfeller thwarted his attempted chip with his face.
Bayern took the lead on 60 minutes when Ribery played in Robben down the left side of the area and he teed up Mandzukic for a simple tap-in.
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The lead only lasted eight minutes as Dante’s clumsy tackle on Reus in the area saw Dortmund handed a penalty which Gundogan converted as he sent Neuer the wrong way.
Neven Subotic did brilliantly well to slide in and cleared Thomas Muller’s angled effort off the line on 72 minutes with Robben also looking to get in and force the ball home at the back post.
Lewandowski fired in a brilliant dipping volley from outside the area for Dortmund but the referee had blew up for a free kick, while at the other end Weidenfeller did well to parry away a David Alaba strike. Bastian Schweinsteiger then forced a good save from the Dortmund custodian with just three minutes left on the clock.
But in the final minute of normal time Ribery’s back-heel played in Robben who went past a couple of defenders before flicking the ball into the net past Weidenfeller to claim Bayern’s fifth European crown.
Everton are in talks with former Liverpool midfielder Momo Sissoko, reports the Daily Mail.
The 28-year-old is available on a free transfer, and could move to Goodison Park as Roberto Martinez looks to bring in a new defensive midfielder.
Sissoko, who could have joined Everton in 2005, moved to Anfield instead, and spent 3 seasons with the Reds. But Martinez wants the former Red to play on the other side of Stanley Park, and is ready to meet his £70,000-a-week wage demands. The Toffees boss will need to move quickly to, as Cardiff City are also interested in the Mali midfielder.
Everton had been heavily linked with Gareth Barry, is free to leave Manchester City as he enters the final year of his contract at the Etihad. But the Englishman is reluctant to move to Everton, leading to the former Wigan boss to look at Sissoko.
As well as looking for new players, Martinez is focusing on keeping Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini at his new club. The pair were the subject of a joint bid from Manchester United, and Martinez wants to ensure that the duo reject the interest from their former boss David Moyes.
Everton have until September 2nd to secure a move for Sissoko, as the transfer deadline day fast approaches.
Would Everton fans welcome Sissoko? Do they need a defensive midfielder?
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If Arsene Wenger can be criticised for one thing, it’s his neglect for the modern history of Arsenal, allowing the great players to leave and to stay well away.
Dennis Bergkamp, however, has recently said that he intends to return to Arsenal one day, citing his relationship with the club as one similar to that of Joan Cruyff and Barcelona.
Bergkamp stayed loyal even when Wenger was ruthless with his policy of one-year contracts for those over the age of thirty. Following his retirement, Bergkamp disappeared from the game, only to return in 2011 to join Frank de Boer at Ajax as an assistant manager.
The former Arsenal forward has stated, however, that management is not an interest of is and that he’d prefer to remain a coach. Ajax, also, is seen as a stepping stone to Arsenal, where it seems as though he intends to see out the majority of his post-playing career.
A problem at Arsenal is that there is arguably a lack of identity and a lack of leadership and drive towards the values of the club. It’s worth mentioning Ajax, who clearly stepped away from their traditional playing style and even went seven years without a league title until de Boer returned as manager and sought to return the club to its roots. The same is true for Bayern Munich, who have a host of former players among the club’s hierarchy, and of course Barcelona.
Arsenal need to follow a similar path. The club, at present, only have one noticeable link to the past, and that’s true Wenger. The arrival of Stan Kroenke, Ivan Gazidis and others hasn’t put the club’s values under threat by any means, but there needs to be a continuous link to the past. Robert Pires, training with the club and taking up an ambassadorial role alongside Freddie Ljungberg, is a positive start, but it needs to be far more emphatic and sweeping. Steve Bould’s addition to the dugout has also been a good appointment.
Bergkamp, of course, isn’t the only name to profess an interest in returning to Arsenal. Thierry Henry will eventually return to the Emirates in some capacity, and you’d certainly feel that in time one of the players who took up a role in one of Wenger’s teams could play an important part in the club’s boardroom. Following Peter Hill-Wood’s decision to step down, the logical successor as chairman would have been Bob Wilson. Moving forward, however, the club need to be younger and forward-thinking.
Wenger may extend his stay beyond this season, and many fans are hoping that will be the case. But at 63, that very well could be his last contract with the club. It should be down to the manager, therefore, to appoint old faces in key positions. Bergkamp has said that he intends to stay at Ajax for “at least another three or five years,” but you can never tell in football. That bond that he holds with the club could sway his decision and see him arrive much earlier.
Should Wenger go all out to bring Bergkamp back to Arsenal?
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Marouane Fellaini’s deadline day move to Manchester United was the champion’s standout bit of transfer business during the summer window. It was a summer plagued by near misses and undue disappointment for the Premier League club whose capture of the Belgian midfielder came as something of a relief in the end.
As of now it has been a season to forget for United, lacklustre displays have dogged the new era at the club and David Moyes will be as keen as anyone to ensure that Fellaini along with his teammates can galvanise the United revival.
It is easy to forget though how much of a saga the Fellaini deal actually was, at a point United were able to purchase the midfielder for around £5m less than they eventually did owing to a release clause in his contract. United were never that decisive, a characteristic that shaped their summer as a whole, so when Fellaini did eventually move it was to the undoubted disappointment of a number of other top clubs.
Indeed Fellaini himself has spoken of a particular interest from Arsenal, a club always notoriously keen to bolster their midfield options. The Belgian has had the following to say after the dust has begun to settle on his summer move:
“I don’t want to tell you everything what happened during the transfer,” he said to beIN Sport. “This was done at the last minute.”
“In a transfer window, there is always a list of players, you never know if it’s true or not. But for me, I knew [Moyes] was interested in me.”
“Chelsea? No comment. Arsenal? It’s true, they were interested, but Manchester United convinced me to sign for them.”
It seems a reunion with David Moyes was not something to be passed up, but did the Belgian really make the right decision?
Arsenal are flying high in the league, and whilst it may be a little lazy and short-sighted to say he made the wrong move based on league standing, there is a clear gulf emerging between the two sides. Arsenal are playing some mesmerising football, even by their own high standards, whereas United are a side grappling for any semblance of the form that made them such a footballing power.
We all know players are often driven by trophies and considering the histories of both clubs it is difficult at this stage to say whether he has made the right choice on these lines. Arsenal’s trophy drought is well documented, and regardless of how they play there is always that nagging question as to whether culture of success is really there? Contrast this to a United side who know how to win things even when they may not be playing at their very best. The jury for me is out on this one until May.
For his pure footballing development though I think Fellaini made exactly the right move. In David Moyes he has a manager he knows and trusts, at a club where there is a genuine desire to build the midfield around him. Arsenal may well be readymade for him in terms of style and form but personally perseverance with the Moyes’ project may well pay dividends.
This collapse in form won’t last forever, and if United can revive their fortunes I can see someone like Fellaini being the one to lead the charge. At his age with his international aspirations he needs to be at a big club playing week in week out. Both the clubs mentioned are juggernauts, but can you honestly say Fellaini would get into that Arsenal midfield regularly.
Flamini is looking every bit the midfield enforcer that they needed, and the revival in form of Ramsey amongst other leaves the competition for midfield places incredibly fierce.
This isn’t to say Fellaini made the right move though lack of ambition, more so with a degree of prudence and forward thinking. I don’t think you ever move to a club with the stature of a Manchester United by resting on your laurels.
Hindsight may be a wonderful thing, but in my view the jury is still out on the immediate successes of both United and Arsenal. Regardless of this, Fellaini if he has the degree of patience necessary may well be onto a winner at United. The focal point of their midfield, at one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, the future is a lot brighter for the Belgian than a lot may think.
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Emmanuel Adebayor has been in menacing form since his return from footballing exile at the turn of the year. The Togolese frontman now has eight goals from just 11 Premier League appearances; a feat that has made him by far Tottenham’s most potent marksman.
His imperious form has catapulted Tim Sherwood’s side back into the Champions League reckoning, and has left a number of the league’s finest defenders cowering in fear.
The comparison between Emmanuel Adebayor and the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, is perhaps a tenuous one. Yet this hasn’t stopped a recent mock-up of Adebayor as the Wall St trader from going viral; the striker himself was in fact so impressed that he posted the image on his Instagram account.
Maybe there are some parallels; Belfort was cast adrift following financial collapse and was left to re-imagine himself as a self made man trading in penny stocks and securities. Adebayor to my knowledge hasn’t had such flirtations with the dark side of banking, but he is definitely a man that has seen a total reversal in his fortunes.
Adebayor has always been a difficult character; his punctuated history of clubs is suggestive of a man that just never quite managed to fit in. His football abilities are undoubted, and even his staunchest critics would be hard pressed to argue that he doesn’t have the innate talent of a world class centre forward. At Spurs he is putting together a run that is starting to emphasise this ability once more. His brace against Newcastle in a recent 4-0 win not only showed his clinical ability in front of goal, but also was suggestive of a man willing to bring his teammates into play. On the pitch Adebayor isn’t the man that many like to argue is in it for himself, he is fast becoming a focal point, a man that other can play off of.
But is this just another false dawn?
We’ve been here before with Adebayor. Even at Spurs he has put together months of decent form only to descend back into lethargy and disinterest. Much like his Hollywood counterpart Belfort, he seems to drift from moments of ecstasy to the verge of professional ruin.
It is difficult to gauge the revival given how impressive he has been in recent weeks, prophesising the future is hard at the best of times but given Adebayor’s inconsistencies it is even harder. For me the true test will be when things invariably start to go awry. If Soldado wins his place back and starts firing, will Adebayor have the strength of mind to work hard to win his place back? If Spurs hit a rut will he be the man to galvanise the side or will he simply be the first to throw in the towel?
Spurs’ relationship with Adebayor is less like dealing with a New York stockbroker, more like dealing with an overgrown child. He craves attention and thrives off it; he actually appears to need it. The problem for Spurs is that Adebayor is in fact a wonderfully gifted footballer and one that if treated properly can fire the club to even the loftiest of footballing ambitions. A lot will depend on whether Sherwood can keep the centre forward motivated, and whether the man himself can negotiate the ups and downs of Premier League football.
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For Spurs I really hope this one doesn’t end in tears, but given his track record you wouldn’t put it past him following his Hollywood counterpart to an ignominious end.
A lot of Ipswich fans (me included) had given up hope of the team making the play-offs and for most of the season the Tractor Boys have been not quite good enough to make the top six.
However, I have to admit that after seeing back to back wins over Brighton and Derby I can’t help but feel I was wrong to completely write off a top six finish.
Whilst it has been great for the fans to just enjoy those recent wins it is also interesting to delve deeper and look at why these positive results have started to occur.
It became apparent at the end of last season that Mick McCarthy was not the type of manager to get nervous, in fact he seemed to relish the intensity of those high pressure games. Additionally, the Ipswich boss has repeatedly shown his distaste for non-competitive football which furthers the theory that he enjoys high stake games. As you can imagine that attitude will naturally help a manager get good results over these last few games much like what happened at the end of last season.
Furthermore McCarthy has another factor that gives him an edge against a lot of his fellow managers at this time of the season. His Ipswich side are and always were underdogs this season, plus he can safely assume that he won’t be sacked any time soon which is a pleasure that few managers can enjoy at any point nowadays.
Marcus Evans has built up a reputation for being a patient owner after persisting with Paul Jewell and Roy Keane far longer than the fans wanted. Whilst some may criticise that approach it does have some very strong advantages as any future managers won’t start to feel under any unnecessary pressure.
Other managers around the top six may find themselves having a few sleepless nights, questioning their tactics after an unlucky defeat and making poor decisions as a result. McCarthy certainly won’t be having these worries as he knows full well that even if he doesn’t make the top six he won’t lose his job and he will have still done a great job this season.
This obviously showed on Tuesday night as the teams currently in 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th all lost and most of them played the divisions weaker sides. If that were to continue to happen from now until the end of the season then Ipswich would have no problem in making the top six.
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The next few days will be huge for the Suffolk side though as they have a crucial game against Nottingham Forest and they will find out whether or not they will be extending Jonny Williams’ loan until the end of the season.
The on loan Crystal Palace player has added a spark of creativity and pace to the Ipswich side that was desperately needed and in my opinion losing him would be a huge blow to the Tractor Boys promotion push. Williams has said himself that he would love to stay but it all hinges on whether Tony Pulis will want to bring him back to Palace to help with their relegation dog fight.
Following a Premier League campaign in which West Ham averaged just 1.3 goals per match at home, equating to a rather shocking £25 per goal for the punters, Sam Allardyce will be entering a baptism of fire next season unless he uses the summer transfer window as an opportunity to evolve the Hammers’ disturbingly attritional style.
A sedated Premier League victory over a 10-man Hull City back in March was met by a rapture of jeering angst around Upton Park, whilst co-chairman David Gold has reportedly charged the under-fire Hammers boss with the task using a £20million summer warchest to bring in players that will appease the fans by transforming the East Londoners’ philosophy into something more commendable.
The Boleyn boo-boys will have little faith in Allardyce meeting their demands for a higher quality of football. After all, the 59 year-old has continuously championed his war-like tactics throughout spells at Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn, and despite three years of continuous uproar from the West Ham fan base regarding their club’s playing style, they are yet to receive any evidence that Allardyce has actually listened to their growing concerns. Rather, any open discussion on the subject is met with the traditional stonewall response of results taking priority.
Yet, amid all this justified grievance towards the West Ham gaffer, it’s been long forgotten that he is indeed one of the transfer market’s undisputed masters. That characteristic hasn’t been quite so prevalent during Allardyce’s East London tenure, but it was a hallmark of his eight-year stay at Bolton Wanderers.
And in my opinion, that career-defining spell at the Reebok produces enough evidence to suggest that, despite Allardyce’s obvious ideological alliance to route-one football, he is still the right man to bring West Ham’s ’19th Century Football’ up to date with the rest of the Premier League.
When Big Sam took the Wanderers to the top flight in 2001, his first task was to make them as defensively mean as possible. But the Bolton side that recorded a 6th-place Premier League finish and simultaneously reached a League Cup final four years later contained such aesthetic talents as Ivan Campo, Jay-Jay Okocha, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Fernando Hierro, all of whom brought international class to the Reebok stadium. That summer, Hidetoshi Nakata, the greatest technical talent Asia had to offer at the time, also joined the Bolton ranks, and a year later Nicolas Anelka followed suit.
WANT MORE? >> West Ham transfer news | Latest transfer news
To say Allardyce’s Bolton were football purists or tica-taca forbearers would be untrue, but to claim long-ball football was the only weapon in their armoury would be an equal fallacy. Rather, the Reebok outfit’s blend of quality footballers, mean athletes and accomplished defenders made them a multi-dimensional side that could play in a variety of ways. The fans were happy and results were exceptional.
What took place at the Reebok was a slow yet steady evolution, with its driving force Allardyce’s ambition and astuteness in the transfer market. Once the solid basis of a Premier League side was established, Big Sam began to pepper it with established names boasting natural pedigree and great technical quality.
There is no reason why the Hammers boss can’t replicate that process at Upton Park – Mark Hughes’ successful transition at Stoke City this season, even improving the Potters’ league position despite prior concerns that changing their Tony Pulis-inspired mentality would inevitably result in relegation, is further evidence that players of Premier League quality can adapt and change to new demands.
After all, the fans do not desire unnecessary upheaval that could eventually cost the club it’s Premier League status – they just want evidence of long-term planning and a greater ambition than simply top flight safety. In two years time, West Ham will move to a new ground that gives them the fifth-largest capacity in the Premier League, yet, as the current philosophical situation stands, the Olympic Stadium will be home to a brand of football more acquainted with League One.
Furthermore, it’s not as if the current West Ham squad requires a drastic overhaul in order to meet the fans’ wishes. Ravel Morrison, Mark Noble Stewart Downing and Matt Jarvis are all talented footballers capable of playing in a more attractive, fluid style, whilst their backline remains one of the most impressive defensive units outside of the Premier League’s top four.
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The confirmed signing of quick and versatile forward Mauro Zarate, boasting netting prowess and stereotypical South American flair, is already a step in the right direction. And of course, the Hammers couldn’t ask for a better or more popular attacking coach than fan favourite Teddy Sheringham, who was officially appointed with the role last month.
If Sam Allardyce can use the summer window and his £20million budget to bring West Ham a step closer to what he eventually achieved at Bolton, then the chorus of discontent surrounding Upton Park will be brought to an end. The fans do not expect their club to be transformed into the next Barcelona overnight, but they do – and quite rightly so – demand progress.
Allardyce’s Bolton tenure proves he’s the right man to evolve the Hammers style, and the fact no manager knows the club better than him remains an intrinsic advantage. Should the 59 year-old fail or refuse to do so however, he only has himself to blame for the inevitable consequences.
In a predictably drab affair in front of a record-low crowd, England limped their way to a 1-0 victory over Norway, ranked 53th in the world by FIFA, yesterday evening.This Norway side – much like England – has been dubbed the worst for generations, yet it took a converted penalty from Wayne Rooney to secure the Three Lions a win.Improvement will be needed before Roy Hodgson’s side take on Switzerland next Monday, in their first European Championship qualifier of the new international season.And just in case the under-fire England gaffer needs some foundations to start from, here’s a look at the FIVE things we learned from the national team’s subdued win over the Norwegians.
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PUBLIC APATHY IS AN ISSUE
Yesterday evening, Wembley played host to just over 40,000 England fans, making it the worst crowd since England’s stadium was rebuilt in 2007, whilst the ITV coverage received nearly half the viewers of BBC cooking show The Great British Bake Off.
The atmosphere was subdued but England have suffered more uncomfortable nights before – like when Wayne Rooney was booed off and subsequently ranted into a television camera after the Three Lions drew with Algeria at the 2010 World Cup:
//www.youtube.com/embed/QJSUWOTTHaI?rel=0
But in a sense, this response was considerably worse – it wasn’t one of disappointment or anger, more simply and more dangerously, a complete lack of interest. Roy Hodgson admitted public apathy was a major issue before the Norway friendly and the uninspiring result, combined with a stale performance, certainly won’t have improved matters.
RAHEEM STERLING IS THE FUTURE
The most detrimental characteristic of the British press is the inability to remain realistic whenever the England team is graced by an impressive performance from a young player.
A couple of years ago, Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was dubbed the future of the national side, but top quality performances for club and country have been hard to come by since. And I’m sure we all remember the sudden rise, followed by the inevitable fall, of Spurs winger Andros Townsend, after netting this belter against Montenegro in a World Cup qualifier:
//www.youtube.com/embed/BAkOjFq1_Tc?rel=0
But overlooking the impeccable form of Raheem Sterling would be an equally fatal crime. The Liverpool youngster emerged as a vital player for his club at the end of last season, netting ten times in all competitions and playing a crucial role at the tip of midfield in the Reds’ 15-game unbeaten run.
And after leaving the World Cup as arguably the only England player with his reputation enhanced, Sterling has carried his performances into the current Premier League campaign. He stole the show from Liverpool debutant Mario Balotelli against Tottenham at the weekend, as shown below:
Here’s a look at Sterling’s highlights from the White Hart Lane clash:
//www.youtube.com/embed/RuI-qb0WoNo?rel=0
In almost identical fashion, despite Wayne Rooney claiming the only goal against Norway in his first outing as permanent captain, it was the teenager who once again grabbed the limelight from more established names, making a near-incredible seven key passes:
There was plenty of young talent on display for England last night – the average age of the starting XI was just 22 – but it was Sterling who stood out, head and shoulders above the rest, despite being the joint-youngest player in the entire squad at age 19.
If Roy Hodgson is serious about reinventing the Three Lions from the ground up, the team must be centred around Sterling. His consistency, output and improvement has been remarkable over the last 18 months and he appears ready for more responsibility in the national side.
The identity crisis continues
What kind of team are England? Are we a counter-attacking side? A high-pressing side? A defensive side? An attacking side? A clinical side?
In the past England had a clear identity – direct yet precise going forward, dogged defensively and potent from set pieces, echoing many of the core characteristics of the Premier League.
Yet, throughout the Hodgson era, the Three Lions have perpetually struggled to find a philosophy that suits them best. First we attempted to reinvent ourselves as Spain, and now there are calls to follow the German model as closely as possible.
Well, the Norway result provided no clear answers – in fact, it threw up a few more questions. As viewable below, the Three Lions lined up in a 4-4-2, a formation you’d expect the majority of our players to feel incredibly comfortable in:
But once again, it felt unfamiliar and clear-cut goalscoring opportunities were hard to come by. As shown below, we finished the friendly with just two shots on target:
And it’s equally telling that England’s only goal of the evening came from the penalty spot.
4-2-3-1 failed spectacularly at the World Cup and 4-4-2 produced little positives against the Norwegians, so where does Hodgson turn from here?
JORDAN HENDERSON IS MISUNDERSTOOD BY HODGSON
With England centurions Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard now retired from the international scene, it seems more than likely Jordan Henderson will be at the heart of the national team’s midfield for the many years to come. Make of that what you will.
But thus far in his 14-game Three Lions career, the Liverpool star has been worryingly misused by Roy Hodgson. At Brazil 2014, he was the dog on a leash next to Steven Gerrard, putting in work-rate and energy but rarely contributing on the ball.
That was the same role he took up against Norway yesterday evening, with the more creative work going to Jack Wilshere. That’s more than understandable, considering both players’ individual strengths and the need to find balance in midfield.
But the 24 year-old is not a holding midfielder – he’s a box-to-box and should be used in that capacity. Take a look at his statistics from last season:
Equally proficient, if not more so, in attack as in defence, and overlooking Henderson’s dynamic athleticism for the sake of greater protection at the back is wasting his greatest attributes as a footballer.
If he’s to remain in England’s midfield for the next decade, we may as well start playing to the Liverpool hot-shot’s strengths now. Hodgson needs to fine-tune Henderson’s role to get the best out of him.
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WAYNE ROONEY STILL ISN’T ENGLAND’S TALISMAN
It was meant to be a great night for Wayne Rooney, leading his country out for the first time as official England captain. And indeed, having scored the only goal of the evening, the immediate assumption would be that the Manchester United forward put in a solid performance.
But in truth, the 28 year-old was largely ineffective throughout, his link play with Daniel Sturridge leaving a lot to be desired and overshadowed by the striker’s more fruitful combination with Liverpool team-mate Raheem Sterling.
This moment should have defined Rooney’s ninety minutes:
But it was better portrayed by this inexcusable pass:
As my Sunday League manager used to say; Who was that pass to? Capser the friendly ghost?
As you can see below, his attacking statistics against Norway, despite netting the deciding goal, were exceptionally poor:
And his heat-map didn’t produce too much to shout about either:
There have already been some calls to drop Wayne Rooney despite his captaincy. That may seem rather short sighted, but England’s skipper needs an improved performance against Switzerland on Monday night or there will be immense pressure on Roy Hodgson.
Yesterday afternoon, Leeds United officially announced the signing of former Southampton striker Billy Sharp.
The 28 year-old played a crucial role in the Saints’ promotion to the Premier League in 2012, but he struggled for game-time in the top flight, spending the last two years on loan to Nottingham Forest, Reading and former club Doncaster.
Sharp’s goalscoring credentials at Championship level are undoubted however, and following the departure of talismanic forward Ross McCormack, Whites fans will hope the former Sheffield United youngster can replace the Scot’s netting prowess.
So in honour of his move to Elland Road, here’s FIVE things Billy Sharp will bring to Leeds United.
[ffc-gallery]CLICK ON LEEDS’ NEW SIGNING TO REVEAL
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GOALS
It goes without saying that Leeds have saved Billy Sharp from his Southampton nightmare to fill the goalscoring void left behind by the £11million departure of Ross McCormack to Fulham.
Indeed, the 28 year-old may have struggled to impact in the Premier League but his quality at second-tier level has never been in doubt.
He’s netted 65 times in his last 158 Championship appearances throughout spells with Doncaster, Nottingham Forest, Reading and Southampton, boasting a strike-rate of one-in-two during his two-and-a-half campaigns at the Keepmoat stadium.
If David Hockaday can set up a steady supply, the former Sheffield United youngster will undoubtedly find the net. Here’s a look at all of the striker’s goals for Donny:
VARIETY
Billy Sharp is often dubbed as a ‘fox in the box’, suggesting he does little more than turn up in the right place at the right time to knock the ball in.
But in truth, the former Southampton and Doncaster striker is capable of putting away a variety of chances. As viewable below, he can finish with both feet and exceptionally lethal in the penalty area:
But he’s good with his head too for a 5 foot 9 striker, take this goal against former club Scunthorpe for example:
Or this effort against another former club, Doncaster:
And I’m sure Leeds fans remember this goal, demonstrating Sharp’s ability to maintain concentration amid a 28-pass move:
He’s also scored a few worldies from long-range too, but we’ll get onto that later.
MATCH-WINNER
Far from simply being a striker who racks up a decent tally each season purely for the sake of statistical enjoyment, Sharp scores goals that matter. Resultantly, he has the potential to be a real match-winner for Leeds.
Take his short stay at Southampton for example. The Saints are now flying high in the Premier League with many of their (now former) stars representing England at the World Cup.
But they wouldn’t have got there without the 28 year-old going on a run of nine-in-fifteen at the end of the 2011/12 campaign, netting vital braces against Peterborough, Portsmouth and Doncaster to earn Southampton a vital seven points effectively single-handedly.
Here’s a look at his nine-goal run for the south coast outfit:
MOVEMENT IN THE FINAL THIRD
It’s no secret that Billy Sharp isn’t the most athletic striker. He measures in at 5 foot 9, isn’t quick or particularly powerful, and that is the underlying reason why he’s never met the standards of the Premier League.
But for what the 28 year-old lacks in natural physicality, he makes up for in intelligent movement and determination. To directly quote Lincoln City goalkeeper David Preece, who has played against Sharp before, “It’s his movement that gives defenders their biggest headache, particularly inside the penalty area. As soon as the defender focuses his attention away from him and on to the ball coming in, Sharp makes his move and pulls away from his marker to give him that precious yard or two of space.
“Outside of the box, Sharp will willingly use his bullish physique to hold up balls played into him or offer himself to a more positive pass down the outside of central defenders by using the same movement of pulling away diagonal from them for the ball slipped in behind.“
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Leeds have height and strength in Matt Smith and Steve Morison, experience in Noel Hunt and pace in Dominic Poleon, but none come close to matching Sharp’s immense positional awareness and persistent movement in the final third.
A modern day cult hero
In the modern game where the size of the wage packet appears to rule all, there aren’t too many cult heroes remaining.
But Billy Sharp bucks that trend, not least because he has the name of a footballer from the 1920s. Furthermore, he’s a player determined to make up for his aforementioned lack of physicality with sheer effort, desire, determination and technical skill, which in the current climate is exceptionally refreshing.
Premier League fans may never truly appreciate him, but all loyal followers of the Championship certainly do.
And that in part is due to perhaps one of the most touching moments ever witnessed in second tier football. Days after the death of his two year-old son, the striker produced this sensational strike and touching tribute celebration:
The 28 year-old now runs the Luey Jacob Sharp Foundation, a charity to raise money for research into gastroschisis.
For his passion, his bravery, and his dedication, in Billy Sharp, Leeds truly have one of the rare few genuine cult heroes in the English game today.
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Rafael, Carrick, McNair, Shaw, Fellaini, Blind, Januzaj, Rooney, Di Maria, Van Persie
Manchester United will be aiming to get their first win in three games after drawing two and losing one of their previous three fixtures. Louis van Gaal currently has a full blown defensive crisis on his hands with the latest red card to Chris Smalling at the weekend. In addition to him missing out, he is joined by a host of injured centre-backs with Phil Jones, Jonny Evans, and Marcos Rojo all unavailable. United could be forced to play Michael Carrick alongside a young Paddy McNair in defence. Elsewhere, the injury to Radamel Falcao means Robin Van Persie should start up top with Wayne Rooney playing the number 10 role.
Similar to Manchester United, Crystal Palace are yet to record a victory in their last four games, picking up one draw and three losses. The biggest blow to Neil Warnock is that he will be without club captain Miles Jedinak who picked up a red card against Sunderland, as well as on-loan Wilfried Zaha who will be ineligible for the trip to Old Trafford as he cannot play against his parent club. Other than the pair missing out, Palace have a fully fit team when they play United and could exploit their shaky defence in hopes of picking up a point or even going for the win. Frazier Campbell is likely to play the lone striker up top as he hopes to score against his former club.
What the fans are saying…
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//www.youtube.com/embed/T1e7qSksUoE
Last season, when Manchester United hosted Crystal Palace, it was one of the better games under David Moyes after they came out victorious in a 2-0 win over their opponents. Both Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney scored in the match and will surely be looking to add to that tally.