Window-Shopping: Potential Premier League signings who could set the Premier League alight if given a change of scenery this January

Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez are two examples of players who excelled after arriving in the Premier League in January

As the Gregorian calendar begins anew so too does the mass hysteria which greets each and every Premier League club as fans and management alike ponder who can improve the playing rosters of their beloved clubs. The January transfer window is a time for clubs to evaluate their starts to the season, determine who is pulling their weight and who isn’t, who has earned their money and who will be deemed surplus to requirements, but most of all, it is a time where fans and pundits argue endlessly as to who should be signed to fix that problem area. Newspapers spurt out a seemingly uninterrupted stream of mostly nonsensical rumours which help to further fuel speculation as to who will arrive at and depart from Europe’s top clubs. As players do eventually join, the question must be asked, who will succeed and who will fail?

The following players have all been linked in some capacity to one of the Premier League’s 20 teams and all have the ability to become an immediate success at whichever club they arrive.

Juan Mata

Chelsea’s player of the year for the past two consecutive seasons has cut a forlorn figure on the many benches of grounds around the Premier League. Mata has gone from one of the league’s most electric playmakers to one of its most expensive seat-fillers in the space of less than a season. Simply put, Jose Mourinho clearly failed to view a single Chelsea game in the previous two seasons to returning to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid. For if he had, Mata would be occupying a spot atop the assist chart alongside Mesut Ozil rather than a seat on the sidelines. There is no doubt that clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool would be monitoring Mata’s situation at Chelsea, licking their lips at the thought of the Spaniard joining their ranks in January. Rest assured, if a move for Mata materialises for any of these clubs he will return to his devastating best and Mourinho will be left ruing the day he let the diminutive world cup winning winger leave the books of Chelsea.

Chelsea fans are well aware of what Mata can offer when given a bit of playing time.

Tom Ince

Ex-Liverpool academy player Ince was heavily linked with a return to Anfield in August but no move materialised. As a result, he continued to ply his trade with Blackpool in the Championship, displaying the type of skill, pace and determination which could make him a fruitful move for a Premier League club in January. As of late, he has been linked with moves to Swansea, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Everton, the majority of which is pure speculation on the part of tabloids aiming to coax unsuspecting readers into believing drivel in order to boost sales. However, if a move for Ince foes eventually come to fruition he could be money well spent as his playing style is sure to contribute goals and/or assists for whomever acquires his services.

Wilfried Zaha

When Zaha arrived at Manchester United at the beginning of this season he was fresh off leading Crystal Palace to promotion from the Championship and was considered by many as one of the brightest talents in England. However, his opportunities with the Red Devils have been almost non-existent and like Mata he has spent much of this season on bench, if even picked for that honour by David Moyes. Zaha is the kind of player fans love and opposition teams hate, a tricky winger with bags of pace who is not afraid to take a player on. If sent out on loan by United he could make all the difference for a side looking to avoid relegation. The perfect signing for a side like Fulham or Crystal Palace who lack a cutting edge. If he does leave United, the Premier League will soon take note of his immense talent.

That is the Rosey Wrap on the English stars who would benefit from a January move,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

Ashes: Frailty of usual destroyers Swann and Cook represents the crux of England’s woeful form.

Mentality is everything in sport. Without the will to win, there is no win. The English cricket side have arrived in Australia thinking that they are facing the same Australian team who they comprehensively outplayed 3-0 in the last Ashes series in England. However, this is not the case, the Australian team have been re-energised, revamped and have taken to the pitch more confident than ever thanks largely to the impact of Coach Darren Lehmann. Lehmann, affectionately known as ‘Boof,’ took over from the controversially ousted Mickey Arthur and has injected a level of Australian fight and spirit into the dressing room. Australia’s displays in Adelaide and at the Gabba have been characterised by the exact elements which saw them careen down the world rankings under the guidance of Arthur. Grit, passion, determination and team work have all been on show, hidden of course amongst the heroics of individual milestones such as Mitchell Johnson’s wonderful showings of fast bowling and the ability of Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin to steady the ship and grind their way to magnificent centuries.

Whilst things have been all smiles in the Aussie camp, the Englishmen simply don’t know what has hit them, and one could forgive them for asking if this is the same Australian side they came up against in England. The English thought that they would retain the Ashes without breaking a sweat, some were even predicting a 5-0 whitewash in favour of the visitors, but it was in fact this innate level of cockiness and sense of dominance which has cost the English in the opening two tests. When Australia came out and found themselves at 5/100 on the opening day of the series, fans were beginning to think “here we go again,” and England were licking their lips in thought of the same sentiment. However it was certainly not what the English batsmen expected out in the middle as they were humbled by a graceful display of fast bowling from the likes of Ryan Harris and Johnson on their way to a dismal total of 136. This was a rather rude awakening for the Poms, which has continued into the Second test in Adelaide, with England reaching 200 for the first time in the series in their fourth innings.

In fact, it has been England’s most experienced and previously reliable players who have been in the worst veins of form. Captain Alastair Cook has been simply woeful at the crease, other than his solid 65 in the 2^nd innings at the Gabba, and his dismissal in the second innings in Adelaide was symbolic of what an absolute shambles this England side have become. Cook strides out to the middle aware of the fact England must survive two full days of batting to save this test match, and what does he do? He attempts to hook a short pitched ball straight to one of two fieldsmen placed in the fine leg region for that exact shot, shocking captaincy which represents the frailty of England’s mindset, a man who will play his 100^th test next week at the WACA fell for the sucker ball. If England are to get back into this series which, let’s face it, is unlikely then Cook must find some form, and more importantly, gain some self-confidence which will allow him to negotiate the bowling of Mitchell Johnson. In the bowling department, Stuart Broad has been rather handy, as much as it pains me to say it, but the ‘world’s best spinner’ Graeme Swann has been absolutely slaughtered in some shocking displays of bowling which have showcased the fact that he simply cannot adjust to Australian conditions. Swann was the leading wicket taker in the previous Ashes series, this series he is simply England’s leading run getter, with batsman notching up 317 runs off him in two tests, with a return of just 4 wickets.

At the conclusion of the Adelaide test, Michael Clarke iterated Australia’s ambitions in world cricket, stating that

"There's a lot of work for us to do to get back to being the number one team in the world and that's our goal."

Australia are brimming with confidence and England must surely be down in the dumps after two consecutive losses by huge margins, but it is paramount that the English show some fight back in the third test if they are to avoid a genuine crisis. If England are to win the third test and stay in the series then they must achieve the following things:

1. Learn how to face Mitchell Johnson
2. Discover what their ideal batting order looks like
3. Have someone make a century
4. Get David Warner out early

If the Poms can gain victory in Perth then this series will be well and truly alive, but this cannot happen unless they resurrect their mentality and stop taking success as a given.

RLWC showcases where Union has the edge over League

Last night’s massively one sided quarter final encounter between Australia and the USA which ended with a ridiculous 62-0 score line, acted as a manifestation of the foibles of the 13 man game in comparison to the 15. The Rugby League World Cup brings together the world’s best rugby league nations with the aim of determining who is top of the heap, inevitably either Australia, New Zealand or England are the victors. It is the predictable nature of this tournament and the complete lack of ability of every other nation other than these three heavyweights which suggests that the global outreach of rugby league is slim to nil. If the Rugby Union World Cup was to feature a quarter final in which one side was absolutely outclassed, and destroyed by a margin of 60 or more points, there would be an outcry, that there is something wrong with the game on an international level. However, in the RLWC this is simply the norm, as minnows repeatedly make it to the knockout phases only to be humbled by the likes of the favourites whose sides feature the world’s best players such as Greg Inglis, Sonny Bill Williams and Sam Burgess. It is simply not good for the game to see such a gap in talent between sides at such an advanced stage of the competition, and rugby league officials must recognise this and take steps to developing the game in other countries in order to make this competition competitive in the future.

Hat-trick hero Jarryd Hayne casually shrugs off USA's Matt Peterson in last night's one sided encounter.

As a game, Rugby Union has digressed into an often boring mix of field goals, drop goals and the rare line break in which teams make their way into the oppositions half only to draw a penalty, slot the three points and do it all again. Rugby Union is its own worst enemy; a simple tweaking of the rules of the game could see it return to its rightful place as an exciting loved sport all around the world. The unintelligible rules surrounding scrums, rucks and mauls make understanding the decisions of referees a laborious process, and in addition to this, if teams were discouraged from simply kicking the ball through the uprights at every opportunity then running rugby would return and fans would return in flocks. Union has something that league perhaps never will, a game which has spread to the far reaches of the globe and is played at high levels in leagues worldwide. There are a huge number of nations capable of fielding decent sides for the Rugby World Cup and this turns it into a spectacle in which national pride is on the line and results are important. This is not the case in the RLWC where Australian viewers can simply take no pride from shellacking a poor United States side that could not even put up a fight.

In Australia, the widespread reach of Rugby Union has been quelled by two very important and somewhat fixable factors. Firstly, the shocking performances of the Wallabies as they have been humbled time and time again by the All Blacks, South Africa and the English, matches in which pride is on the line. Moreover, the unwillingness of the organizers of the Super Rugby competition to televise it on free to air television, has meant that viewers without pay TV are simply alienated and unable to tune into the game’s premier competition other than international Rugby. It is practically the equivalent of Rugby League’s much loved State of Origin not finding a home on free to air TV, something which is simply unthinkable as it takes its place as one of Australia’s most loved sporting series. If Rugby Union is to return to the forefront of sporting disciplines in Australia, it must first fix its points system, lessening the value of both field and penalty goals, revisit rules referring scrums, rucks and mauls, they must televise Super Rugby to a wider audience and finally they must restore national pride in the Wallabies, whose terrible form is quickly giving the game a bad name down under.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the issues surrounding Rugby League and Rugby Union,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

Six and in: the players whose Sheffield Shield form could earn them the number 6 spot for Australia

With this morning heralding the beginning of the Sheffield Shield for another year and the first Ashes test against England clearly in sight; it seems apt to consider the players for whom this Shield competition could be the most important of their career. I am of course referring to those players who are in the frame to earn a baggy green at some point in the Ashes series which begins on 21 November at the Gabba. With England’s recent comprehensive series victory on home soil, changes to the Australian side are inevitable, with the number 6 position in the batting line up the subject of unmatched media attention. Without further ado, I present the candidates whose Shield form could earn them selection…

Matthew Wade

The Victorian captain’s stunning form with the bat in the recent Ryobi Cup competition has many calling for him to be installed as a specialist batsman in the contentious number 6 position in the order, of course foregoing the gloves to Brad Haddin. The shortish 170cm left hand batsman and possessor of a test average of a shave under 35 is certainly well and truly in the mix for the first test, assuming his shield performance is satisfactory.

David Warner

Is there a more destructive force at the top of a batting order than Dave Warner? A man who just about single-handedly led the NSW Blues to the Ryobi Cup final on the back of consecutive hundreds, including an extraordinary 197 against Victoria in the semi-final. Warner lost his test spot a matter of months ago due to behavioural issues and until recently was written off in the hunt for reclaiming his baggy green. However, his stunning recent form has prompted a call for his reinstatement to an Aussie side which could use a game changer, which he certainly represents. If Warner can continue his impressive form in the Sheffield Shield he could find himself atop the order at the Gabba.

Usman Khawaja (QLD) 

Another player who has been a shining light for his side in the limited overs competition, Khawaja has already tasted test cricket, however his batting average stands at a less than encouraging 25. He will feature in the recently announced Australia A side who will face England at Bellerive Oval on November 6. This is somewhat of an audition for the ex-NSW batsman who will be looking to earn a spot in the first test and not relinquish it. The selectors will certainly have their eye on him.

Michael Klinger (SA)

Has there been a more consistent performer in Australian one day domestic cricket in the past decade than Michael Klinger? A mainstay in the Australia A side, it is a wonder that Klinger has never managed to crack into the test side. However, a good run of substantial innings in this year’s Shield competition could finally see him notch the baggy green which he has so dearly craved. Usually an opener, there is no doubt that Klinger would happily take up number 6 in the order if he were tasked with it.

George Bailey (TAS)

The standout performer and captain of Australia’s recent One Day International series in India, Bailey represents an option who has exceled in the shorter formats of the game but has largely been ineffective in the 4 and 5 day forms. The 31 year old averages 38 in first class cricket has firmed as favourite for the number six spot after convincing selectors of his aptitude with the bat despite a largely unimpressive Shield past. As things stand, Bailey will line up for Australia in the first test at the Gabba, and could even find himself captain should Michael Clarke’s back injury force him out of the match. Only time will tell if Bailey can cut it at the highest level, he is certainly not getting any younger and this could represent his final chance to break into the test team.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the contenders for Australia’s number six position in the batting order,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten 

It’s time to put away FIFA 13; the real deal returns: 5 Predictions for the Upcoming Premier League Season

1. Chelsea to lead after 6 rounds
   
   
   As the self-proclaimed ‘special one’ returns to the helm at the Blues after a 6 year hiatus he will be eager to send the message forth throughout the league… “I’m back.” José Mourinho never was one for modesty, and I believe that his star studded Chelsea side will ultimately be very hard to stop. They begin the season with matches against Hull City, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton, Fulham and Tottenham. This is no easy draw, facing three of last season’s top six within the opening six rounds. However, a side which possesses the likes of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard, both members of last year’s PFA team of the season, alongside new signing Andre Schurrle and the always dangerous Romelu Lukaku, can never be underestimated.
   
   

   I predict that Chelsea will burst out of the blocks, in a Usain Bolt-esque metaphorical first 100m of the Premier League season, despite these tough matches and sit atop the ladder after the first 6 rounds. Albeit, I do believe that Chelsea will, as per usual, run out of steam, and find themselves in their usual scrap for third or fourth by next April/May. If Mourinho is to scale the heights as Chelsea and work his magic once more he must keep hold of Barcelona target David Luiz and find a way to effectively rotate his strike force, which includes former football joke of the year Fernando Torres and the injury plagued Demba Ba. Roman Abramovich is not one to play the waiting game, trophies or its back to Spain with you José.
   
2. No Luck for Promotees
   
   
   The lucky Championship sides who earned themselves a berth in the premier league for this season are Cardiff, Hull City and Crystal Palace, whether they will consider themselves lucky when they are sitting on a lowly sub-35 point score come the end of next season is a different story. This is more directed at the quite under strength squads possessed by Hull and Palace  rather than a Cardiff side which boasts former Liverpool and Manchester City player Craig Bellamy and impressive new Chilean signing Gary Medel. I believe that Cardiff will hold their own and avoid relegation this season, whilst the other two promotees will not be quite as lucky. Put simply, I am rather skeptical of whether either of these two sides possesses the raw talent to win more than the odd game in a very competitive premier league competition.
   
   
   Thinking back to the struggles of Aston Villa last season, as well as the relegation of Community Shield 2013/14 participants Wigan Athletic, I can confidently say that the promotees will struggle as their sides are simply not up to the standards of even these struggling sides of yesteryear. Put simply, their managers must beef up their squads with some premier league quality additions or they will be back in the Championship quicker than ex-Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha signed his Manchester United contract.
   
   
3. Swansea to Challenge the Top 7
   
   
   A bold prediction I know, but I believe that Swansea really do have the squad that it takes to challenge the previously relatively stable top 7 sides of the competition. Led by Michael Laudrup, the Swans, who feature the talents of Spanish bargain Michu and new boy former Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, will be a tough proposition for any team who come up against them. Liberty Stadium saw a trophy last year and will see European football this season, and there is absolutely no reason why they can’t secure it again for next season perhaps even through qualification from league places.
   
   
   

   If last season is anything to go by, the swans will be a force to reckon with, and no one will fancy a trip to their backyard, not even their opening round opponents and last year’s champions Sir Alex Ferguson-less Manchester United. Mark my words; do not underestimate Swansea this season.
   
   
   
   
4. Controversies Aplenty
   
   
   What is a premier league season without controversy? That’s like Theo Walcott without pace, Raheem Sterling without a stupid haircut, and well… Luis Suarez without controversy… it just doesn’t make sense! So I’m here to tell you don’t take your eyes off that screen because there will be controversies whether anyone likes it or not. In the past few seasons we have been privileged to some awful yet entertaining instances such as the Suarez-Evra racial row, the Suarez-Ivanovic biting incident and others that, I can’t believe it either, didn’t involve Luis Suarez!
   
   
   The controversies will be back in 2013/14, along with Suarez (in round 5), so don’t miss a minute of England’s premier footballing competition! I promise it will be more entertaining than anything non-football related you could possibly be watching, which might consist of, god forbid, something non-sport related whatsoever.
   
   
5. City to win the League
   
   
   I am making the call right now. Manchester City will bring the premier league trophy back to the Etihad Stadium at the end of season 2013/14, but it will by no means be pretty. Having brought in new manager Manuel Pellegrini and made more big money signings including Fernandinho, Jesus Navas, Stevan Jovetić and Alvaro Negredo, the citizens will have a squad unrivalled in depth and talent. Their only problem may well be keeping all the stars happy due to the fact that there simply isn’t enough places in the first team to fit them all in. Just simply looking at their strikers, along with new boys Jovetić and Negredo, they already have Sergio Agüero and last season’s top scorer Bosnian Edin Džeko on their books.
   
   
   With a squad like this, I just don’t see them being beaten, the league is theirs to lose as far as I’m concerned. In my eyes, their main challengers will be Chelsea and perhaps Manchester United if David Moyes can get his act together in time. Manchester City to be champions of 2013/14.
   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   That concludes Rosey’s predictions for the 2013/14 Premier League season,
   
   
   Thanks for reading,
   
   
   Jake Rosengarten

Impacts of the resignation of Sir Alex Ferguson, and the appointment of David Moyes on English football

This week will go down as one of the most eventful in the history of Manchester United as well as the recent history of world football. With the retirement of the man who many believe is the greatest football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson, and the appointment of his successor David Moyes, I think it is time to look at the ramifications that these events will have on the future of world football.

Sir Alex has had great control of the English top flight for much of the last 26 years, since his appointment as manager of Manchester United after leading Aberdeen to a champions league final victory over Real Madrid. Since taking over at United, he has turned them from a middle of the table side into one of the most dominant sides in club football, since being under his control, they have won an unprecedented 13 premier league titles, 5 FA cups, 4 league cups, 10 community shields as well as 2 champions league titles. These stats are simply astonishing, and he as a manger, has won more titles than any other club in England has in their entire history, aside from Liverpool.

His retirement is seen as wonderful news for the supporters of every club except for Manchester United, whose fans were in mourning, with many disappointed with the appointment of David Moyes as his replacement. This shows just how devastatingly good he was, the fans of every other club in England are breathing a sigh of relief as they no longer have to watch United take title after title after title, or at least they hope so.  New United manager David Moyes will be hoping the good times continue and the titles keep on flowing at Untied, after being appointed from Everton with no trophies under his belt. His appointment was swift after United fans were shocked at Sir Alex’s departure, whilst still at the summit of English football, after securing United’s 20^th league title this season.

David Moyes was one of many names tossed around in the press directly after Ferguson’s announcement, others included Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp and even ex-United player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However Moyes emerged as the victor and was greeted by some and immediately untrusted by other United fans, just hours after his appointment #moyesout was trending on twitter. However, something that United fans can agree on is that Ferguson was one of the all-time greats of the club, and this was showcased nicely at Old Trafford on Sunday as they fare welled the man known as ‘Fergie’ after their 2-1 victory over Swansea. The ceremony brought many to tears, as an era ended in English football, the dominance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, Sir Alex was not loved by all, and he had a fair share of controversies during his time in charge at United. He was responsible for the exit of David Beckham amongst other players after falling out with the bad tempered Scotsman. As well as being fined on numerous occasions by the FA for comments made about match officials. Love him or loathe him, the man could make a football team win, and that he did on 895 occasions during his 26 year reign at Manchester United.

That’s rosey’s wrap of Sir Alex’s retirement,

Farewell Sir Alex,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

4 things learnt from Fulham vs Liverpool (12/5/13)

1. Daniel Sturridge can be England’s top striker

On a marvellous afternoon at Craven Cottage, one man outperformed the rest. Lightning quick, ex-Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge stamped his name all over a potentially dull match with a triad of marvelous finishes. Goals in the 36^th, 62nd and 85th minutes - all which showed off all of his best assets, his pace, trickery and finishing, comprised his first ever premier league hat trick. This mercurial performance could well have caught the eye of England national team manager Roy Hodgson. In addition to Sturridge, England have recently used all of the likes of Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Danny Welbeck and Wayne Rooney, but Sturridge will be looking to beat these players to a permanent spot in the first 11.

At the age of 23, if Sturridge were to be given a chance by Hodgson and he added to his current international goal tally of 1, scored in March’s 8-0 demolition of San Marino, then he could potentially set himself up for a long illustrious career at the highest level of the game. However, one thing is for sure, Sturridge certainly has the skills to play at the very highest level and to forge himself a reputation as a consistent goal-threat. His current tally with Liverpool is 11 goals from 15 games, a tally which would be envied by the very best.

2. Fulham desperately need a quality central midfielder

One thing looked certain to me as Liverpool’s midfield dominated the likes of Greek international Giorgos Karagounis and Ajax loanee Eyong Enoh, Fulham could be a very good side if they were to sign a top notch central midfielder. Considering Liverpool were missing their greatest midfield asset Steven Gerrard, this should be an issue of great concern to Fulham manager Martin Jol.

Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva passed the ball around at will, as they played 61 and 67 passes respectively, whilst successfully controlling the midfield battle. Overall, Fulham did not put up a bad fight on the day, carving out a couple of good chances and only finding themselves going down due to a few moments of brilliance from Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho. The midfield was where Fulham lost the match, and had they not been so overwhelmed in this area the match could well have resulted in 3 points for Fulham and not the unwanted record of their first ever 4-game home losing streak.

If Jol were to look to strengthen this aspect of his side then there would be a few options out there for him. One name that leaps to mind is Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who, since arriving on Tyneside has proved himself as one of the top playmakers in the premier league, however he could prove a bit dear for a side like Fulham. Another one to watch could be Wigan Athletic’s James Mccarthy, who could come on the cheap if Wigan are unable to stave off the drop.

3. Liverpool are capable of playing good football without Suarez, Gerrard and Agger.

Liverpool fielded a new look team in this match, employing a 5-3-1-1, with some seemingly odd positional changes, and the absence of key players Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, and obviously, through suspension, Luis Suarez. In doing this, Brendan Rodgers showed his trust in his youth players, such as Jonjo Shelvey and Andre Wisdom who returned to the starting lineup after a long layoff. 

This match also showed just how deep Liverpool’s roster can be, in previous years, without the likes of Gerrard especially, Liverpool have struggled to gain any penetration in midfield. However this was not the case in this match, with Lucas and Henderson providing the influence deep, and Philippe Coutinho supplying the attacking prowess. This showing could prove strong for Rodgers if injury were to strike next season, as he ponders who to trust in the absence of usual starters.

4. Liverpool must sign a centre back if they are to be top four contenders

The scorecard seemingly reflects a reasonably comfortable afternoon for the likes of Jamie Carragher and Sebastian Coates, however this wasn’t the reality. Both Struggled at points to distribute from the back as well as to keep the dangerous Dimitar Berbatov and former Liverpool academy player Alexander Kacaniklic. One incident springs to mind in which, Coates could potentially have received a red card after colliding with Kacaniclic as last man.

This told me one thing, if Liverpool hope to reinstate themselves as one of England’s fabled top four, then they must strengthen the centre back position, especially with the impending retirement of Jamie Carragher. Names that have been rumoured to be on the table are that of Swansea’s Ashley Williams and Feyenoord’s Stefan de Vrij. Only time will tell if Rodgers can emulate his achievements in January’s transfer window by pulling off another coup to the heights of their illustrious past.

That’s Rosey’s wrap on Liverpool vs Fulham,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten