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

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

Match Report - Liverpool vs Chelsea (21/4/13)

Anfield was abuzz for the returns of ex-talisman Fernando Torres and former manager Rafael Benitez whose Chelsea side was eager to take three points and post themselves as firm favourites to secure a champions league spot for next season. For Liverpool, eyes were fixed firmly on Luis Suarez as fans looked on in hope that he would find the back of the net, something Liverpool had failed to do in their previous two fixtures, at Reading and West Ham. Suarez did not disappoint though, he featured heavily in the match and will surely make headlines for his soon to be infamous bite on Branislav Ivanovic in the second half.

The match opened tentatively, with both sides looking to cement their defensive positions and not leak goals early. Chances were few and far between in the first half, with the scoring opened in the 26^th minute as Oscar nodded in at the near post from a Juan Mata corner. Liverpool’s usual creative dynamo, petite Brazilian Philippe Coutinho failed to make his presence known, as he struggled to even get a touch of the ball. Chelsea midfielders Ramires and John Obi Mikel controlled the middle of the park as Liverpool attempted to hold onto some possession in the hope of gaining some penetration in the final third. However, it was not forthcoming, as the first half came to a close Chelsea were firmly favourites to secure three points from this fixture while Liverpool were seemingly struggling to put together anything resembling a foray at goal.

The half time break proved pivotal as Brendan Rodgers made his first substitute of the match, replacing the out-of-sorts Coutinho with ex-Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge. This proved a master stroke for the Reds as Sturridge proceeded to make the lives of the Chelsea defenders a nightmare, hitting the post, playing in Steven Gerrard and finally finding the back of the net, within 7 minutes of his arrival. The goal was expertly manufactured as Stewart Downing controlled a Daniel Agger long ball, finding Luis Suarez who dinked the ball over the head of the defender to Sturridge who found the back of the net in true style. Liverpool well and truly found themselves back in the game, and even with momentum, looking like they could even grab all three points.

Luis Suarez came to the fore once more as a corner in from Juan Mata found Suarez’s hand and referee Kevin Friend had no choice but to point to the spot. Eden Hazard stepped up for the visitors and slotted home past Pepe Reina in the 54^th minute. With Chelsea’s lead restored, Liverpool attempted to step up the tempo and find an equaliser, a challenge which they continued until the final kick of the ball.

The moment which the match will surely be remembered for took place with 20 minutes to play, as Luis Suarez seemed to lunge at and bite Chelsea’s Serbian centre back Branislav Ivanovic. Controversy ensued, as the incident was missed by the officials but certainly not by fans nor by the television cameras. Suarez will surely be in a great deal of trouble with the FA, and could well be handed another multi-match ban. The premier league’s current top scorer may well miss the rest of the season and could even miss some matches next season if he remains with the Merseyside club.

As the match wore on, both Benitez and Rodgers made changes to their sides. For Chelsea, former-Liverpool midfielder Yossi Benayoun replaced Eden Hazard in the 78^th minute, and Nigerian Victor Moses replaced Oscar in the 83^rd. For Liverpool, Jonjo Shelvey replaced Stewart Downing in the 80^th minute, and received a yellow card for catching Oscar just one and a half minutes after his introduction.

Liverpool had many chances to find an equaliser in the final minutes as they again lacked the final product until the 7^th minute of stoppage time when a brilliantly weighted Daniel Sturridge ball from the right found none other than the infamous Luis Suarez whose header beat Petr Cech at the near post to secure a point for Liverpool. Capping off a truly eventful performance from Suarez whose goal is his first in over 400 minutes of premier league football.

Liverpool’s attacking play was the real improvement in this game, as they managed to find the net, thanks largely to Daniel Sturridge who could prove instrumental in the run home if indeed Luis Suarez finds himself on the end of a length ban. Chelsea will be ruing a missed chance to steal a march in the champions league race over against Tottenham and Arsenal, and now find themselves in 4th place, just one point above tottenham and one under Arsenal. Benitez and the blues supporters will be hoping that they can come home strong.

That’s Rosey’s roundup on Liverpool vs. Chelsea!

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten