“Just throw some money at it…” – Fixing a problem the Manchester United Way

This transfer window proved an interesting caper for the red side for Manchester, as their onfield results continued to underwhelm in an eerily similar fashion to last season’s failed David Moyes experiment, new manager and purported saviour Louis Van Gaal adopted a problem solving method never before seen in the hallowed halls of Manchester United Football Club… “Just throw some money at it.” On paper, United’s window as a whole is flawless, they have brought in some truly world class talent, I don’t think anyone is really arguing that the likes of Angel Di Maria and Falcao can improve the squad of any football club. However, in United’s case they have had a window wherein they have employed Real Madrid’s tactics of generally ignoring the areas of their squad which actually needed strengthening and instead purchased a couple of supposed ‘galacticos.’

Analysing United’s squad at the beginning of the season and indeed watching them play last season yielded the knowledge that reinforcements were in fact needed, and following the departures of Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand over the summer defence should always have been the priority. They began on the right track with the purchase of Luke Shaw, a now 19 year old left back with undoubted potential to become the Premier League’s best in his position, however paying 30 million pounds for a player of this age and inexperience is a seriously risky proposition. As the window progressed, United did manage to strengthen their defence further, with the acquisitions of World Cup Finalist Marcos Rojo and Netherlands International Daley Blind. I would perhaps suggest that Van Gaal had forgotten about the signing of Shaw and felt he still needed to plug the gap left by the departures of Patrice Evra and Alex Buttner and thus signed two more! Otherwise there is simply no logic behind spending over 50 million pounds on left backs in one window… especially when you have been sending your team out in 3-5-2! Judging on the beginning few matches this season, albeit without these three signings, United will struggle to fill a sizable gap at centre back this season, and depending on Jonny Evans certainly won’t get them anywhere… although it does seem as though Van Gaal will have to shelve his beloved 3-5-2 for now in lieu of a formation where he can field perhaps field one or even two of his three new left backs!

United have been aware of the need for midfield reinforcements since the Sir Alex Ferguson era, Moyes attempted to plug the hole with vastly overpriced Marouane Fellaini and we all know how that wen, Van Gaal seems to have fared slightly better signing Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria for a combined total of 88 million pounds. However, whilst Di Maria is undoubtedly world class, he occupies a position (Left Wing/Midfield) in which United already possess the likes of Juan Mata, Ashley Young, Adnan Januzaj and until recently Danny Welbeck and spending 59 million pounds in a position your squad does not really need to strengthen cannot exactly be considered smart business. In Herrera’s case I believe he is a signing United truly needed, their squad has been crying out for a midfielder who will control position and will dictate play for a few seasons now and I believe they have finally found one. A look at their current squad shows that they continue to be light in central midfield, boasting 5 central midfielders, namely Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Anderson, Herrera and Fellaini, however many of whom United fans would not trust to ply their trade in the first team following their recent showings.

Up front United have never had a problem, last season Robin Van Persie and Wayne Rooney managed 12 goals in 21 games and 17 goals in 29 games respectively, an unbelievably efficient return, and they were ably supported by Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez. However, both have since departed the club, to Arsenal and Real Madrid respectively, and United have welcomed the addition of Monaco striker Radamel Falcao on a season long loan to a star-studded forward line. United now boast three world class strikers, but it will take some brilliant man management skills from Van Gaal to get the best out of all thee. Falcao is a signing that will be judged on one thing; goals. Van Gaal has taken a big gamble on the Colombian who has a history of injuries and the Dutchman, alongside anyone who affiliates themselves with the Red Devils, will be hoping that he can stay fit, adapt to the English game and deliver for the 20 times premier league winners.

Essentially, this United team has been bolstered on paper through the tenacious, cashed-up approach of Louis Van Gaal and Ed Woodward, but what will really matter in the end is the ability of Van Gaal to get the best out of his playing group and the speed at which he manages to do so. Expect United to start slow but come home strong. Hang in there United fans, there are better times ahead.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on Manchester United’s transfer window,

Thanks for reading,

Jake Rosengarten

Liverpool turn back the clock with stunningly average loss against inferior Hull City

The Reds’ display at the KC Stadium would have felt all too familiar for Liverpool fans who have become all too familiarised with their side being ludicrously inconsistent and would be in no way surprised to see them lose to a distinctly inferior side. It certainly felt like the Liverpool of old who managed to dominate possession and large stretches of the match against Hull City but simply failed to convert what few chances they created and then proceeded to leak goals and in turn three points. If it weren’t for Steven Gerrard’s magnificent free kick, the score line would have been even more embarrassing for Liverpool, who had previously never lost to Hull City in any competitive fixture.

Liverpool were of course without the prolific Daniel Sturridge, something they will have to get used to, as it was confirmed the striker will miss up to 8 weeks with ankle ligament damage. The next month or so is crucial for Liverpool as they face the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, if they play like they did against Hull, they could find themselves on the end of a shellacking similar to what City inflicted upon Tottenham just a week ago. If Liverpool are to achieve Champions League football for next season, consistency is key. They simply cannot afford to lose games at inferior opponents.

From the outset, Liverpool had looked a shadow of the team that they have been for the opening 12 fixtures. Possession was sloppy, chances were few and far between and the likes of Victor Moses and Glen Johnson were made to look simply inept by Hull City players. A performance like this should serve as a wakeup call to Brendan Rodgers and his side. Liverpool were mediocre at best, and multiple players simply failed to contribute to the cause in any way. If Liverpool are to return to the summit of English and world football, they must build a squad with depth. It seems as though without Daniel Sturridge and Jose Enrique it could collapse all too easily.

Hull City's David Meyler uses his arms to measure his excitement at his first Premier League goal.

The formation employed by Rodgers at Hull was certainly not the problem, it was rather the players who failed to fulfil their roles. Victor Moses was simply useless, he provided not one chance going forward and practically gifted Hull their opener with sloppy dribbling out of the back, albeit the goal came from a deflection, but nonetheless the ball should have been cleared by Moses rather than fluffing around in his own half. Moses should not be playing against Norwich in midweek, the only adequate, yet harsh, word to describe his performance is ‘useless.’

The midfield was not exactly the problem, with Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson and Lucas patrolling the centre admirably and controlling possession for large stretches of the game. However, as a team, Liverpool were unbelievably sloppy in possession, something you cannot afford to be in the Premier League, if you lose the ball, teams will punish you, it is that simple. Words never rang more true yesterday as Liverpool conceded three goals after failing to secure possession and not clearing their lines. 

The defence was an absolute shambles, Glen Johnson seemed as though he was going on a Sunday Morning walk every time he gained possession, simply wandering in field and being disposed a huge number of times. Jon Flanagan was better in possession but his passing was wayward and he played in to the feet of Moses repeatedly despite the fact that the Nigerian was being closely marked, the equivalent of simply handing over possession, for Premier League quality fullbacks, that is like taking candy from a baby. Kolo Toure did not look assured, he took too long on the ball and whilst his centre back partner Martin Skrtel may have been an imposing presence neither did enough to stop any of the soft goals Liverpool conceded.

In conclusion, yesterday’s match showed Liverpool the danger of underestimating an opponent, they cannot afford to lose their consistency now, and they Rodgers must figure out how to get his side winning without Daniel Sturridge or it could be a long 8 weeks for Reds fans. Further, defence is a big problem for the Reds and January must see the purchase of a first team quality left back, one or possibly two wingers, and a creative midfielder if they are to gain some consistency in the New Year.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on Liverpool vs. Hull City,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

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

Same, same but different: Why Liverpool taking three points against Stoke signifies a big change at the Reds.

Let me set the scene, Liverpool dominate possession, have over 20 attempts on goal against a lesser opposition and still somehow manage to not take 3 premiership points, sound familiar? It was almost the case once more at Anfield as the Reds almost managed to stifle what should have been a routine victory against Stoke City. It has been the thing that has separated Manchester United from any other side in the premier league in recent seasons, they simply know how to win. Even when perhaps they shouldn't take the points or they find themselves almost going down to lesser oppositions they always seem to miraculously take full points back to Old Trafford.

Jokes like this have become the pet peeve of every Liverpool fan.

It has been the scourge of every Liverpool supporter’s existence in recent years; their side dominates but simply cannot finish off the opposition. Yes, the Anfield side nearly did this against the Potters yesterday, with a Daniel Agger handball in the 89^th minute all but gifting Jonathan Walters an equalizer from the spot. However, Liverpool’s Belgian summer signing stood tall between the sticks and kept out what was, let’s face it, a rather lacklustre effort from the spot from Walters. The most important thing to take away from this is the fact that Liverpool secured full points. In years gone by, they would perhaps have lowered their heads, expected to hear the opposing fans celebrate and chalk it up as a point, but not this time, as the passionate Reds players rushed to celebrate with the jubilant Mignolet.

The question must now be asked, have Liverpool finally learnt how to win? The answer is complicated, whilst I don’t claim that one gritty win represents an omnipotent change in the mindset of the players, this will surely give them confidence in future fixtures and could perhaps be a turning point for Brendan Rodgers and his side. This season every point is crucial as the Reds look to regain a champions league spot or better after last season’s sub-par performance yielded them 7^th place and a second consecutive finish behind fierce cross town rivals Everton. Top 4 is the target and if they are to achieve this they must establish a winning formula in which they secure every possible point and do not drop points in games which they should be winning.

Liverpool players embrace Mignolet after his penalty save

A good start is essential in a campaign like this one, the top places will be as competitive as ever before and it is important that Liverpool capitalise on the lack of form shown by fellow top 4 aspirants Arsenal, who went down 3-1 to Aston Villa yesterday.

Overall, the season is played over 38 rounds, and one win cannot possibly act as some sort of divine sign that Liverpool are destined to achieve their goals and continue winning, however this win is a step in the right direction and the players will be eager to chalk up a couple of wins in the early rounds. Psychology is a big thing in sport, if teams do not think they can win, then they will not win, simple as that. Sure, Liverpool’s performance was not as good as it could have been yesterday, but they showed a winning mentality which is a big change from what they have displayed in the past.

That’s the Rosey Wrap on the importance of Liverpool’s win at Stoke,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

No Froome for anyone else at the top, Lisicki capitulates on Wimbledon’s biggest stage, and the Lions roar once again on a great night for British sport

As team sky asserted their dominance on stage 8 of the world’s most famous bike race it seems as though it is almost good night and thanks for coming to the rest of the races big guns. Chris Froome, Richie Porte and Peter Kennaugh set an astounding pace through the Pyrenees as they reeled in Movistar’s 23 year old Columbian rider and new white jersey holder Nairo Quintana. The ease with which Quintana scaled the peaks was mind boggling as some of the races main contenders struggled to keep the pace with the likes of Alberto Contador, Cadel Evans and Andy Schleck all finishing minutes back from last year’s runner up and this stage’s winner Kenyan born Brit Chris Froome.

Pierre Rolland retained the polka dot jersey on the back of a very attacking display, staying level with Froome on 31 points. Froome secured the yellow jersey as he and his teammate Australia’s own Richie Porte grabbed the one-two on the stage as well as on the individual leader board as other teams ponder how they can possibly stop the powerhouse that is team sky.

Meanwhile on Wimbledon’s centre court the women’s singles title was being fought out between German 23^rd seed Sabine Lisicki and France’s 15^th seed Marion Bartoli. It was not the result that most predicted as Lisicki was unable to curb her emotions in a display which did not do her brilliant tournament justice. Bartoli was calm and calculated as she took advantage of Lisicki’s slow and nervy start to take the first set 6-1. 

Lisicki was clearly rattled but still looking to get the match back on track. She had little luck as Bartoli raced out to 5-1 in the second set. The German woman rallied briefly as she brought it back to 5-4, with the crowd clearly on her side it seemed as though Lisicki might be able to take it to a third, but it wasn’t to be as Bartoli held serve with ease in the next game to take her first grand slam title. The 28 year old sealed the title without dropping a set in a bizarre tournament which saw the top 14 seeds fail to make the final.

Meanwhile in Australia, the British and Irish Lions lined up against the wallabies at Sydney’s ANZ stadium. The mood for the night was set as the Lions capitalized on Will Genia’s dropping of the kickoff to go up 7-0 care of a Corbisiero try and a Leigh Halfpenny conversion within 90 seconds. The wallabies were sloppy in their play as the Lions made their way to an easy 19-10 lead at half time. The right boot of Christian Leali’ifano kept the Wallabies in the match as he struck two penalty goals to take the score to 19-16. It looked as though the wallabies may be within striking distance of back to back series victories over the Lions but just as easily as the Wallabies came back into the match they were swept out of it thanks to the brilliance of the Lions ball players. Tries were scored by fly half Jonny Sexton, winger George North, centre Jamie Roberts as well as player of the series fullback Halfpenny.

The final score was 41-16 as the Lions and their fans celebrated long into the night whilst the Wallabies were left ruing a simply awful performance in what was billed as one of the biggest games of the year for them.

That’s Rosey’s Wrap on what was a busy Saturday night in sport,

Thanks for Reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

Code flopping? Are Israel Folau and the code hoppers good for Australian sport?

Israel Folau is the only man in the history of Australian sport who has featured at the top level in each of rugby league, rugby union and AFL, whilst this is quite a feat and something which some would feel is commendable, it calls into question the value of loyalty in sport and also showcases the fact that sports clubs and codes are now businesses.

Folau, now 24, has already featured for the Melbourne Storm, the Brisbane Broncos as well as the Kangaroos in league, for Greater Western Sydney in the AFL as well as for the waratahs and is on the verge of making his wallabies debut in the coming weeks.  This impressive résumé reflects to his brilliant skills on a football field whilst also alluding to a certain lack of loyalty and commitment. Folau debuted in the NRL in 2007 and was an instant hit, securing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous backs in the following years until his decision to quit league at the end of the 2010 season. He was lured to GWS with a huge pay packet and lasted only one season in the NEAFL and one in the AFL before he decided to change codes once more. His AFL stint can only be considered a failure, whilst he drew increased publicity for the giants; he can only be considered a substandard AFL footballer, a testament to the fact that rugby league and AFL players need very different skills to excel in their respective sports.

Folau joined the NSW Waratahs at the beginning of the 2013 season and has been an unmitigated success in rugby union, forcing his way into the wallabies squad for the upcoming game against the British and Irish Lions on 22 June in Brisbane.  Folau was the tied top try scorer in this year’s super rugby competition with 8 tries, which is a testament to just how well he found his feet in his first season in the competition. However, this rise to union stardom has not led to him committing to another season with the tahs; reports coming out of Canterbury suggest that Folau has been in discussions over a contract starting next season at the bulldogs, which would make him the only player ever to play three different codes in three seasons.

Code hopping is not a new thing between rugby league and rugby union, and vice versa, with quite a few players becoming dual internationals in recent years, the likes of Matt Rogers, Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor spring to mind. However, Folau’s swiftness in code change and the enormity of the pay packets he is picking up and the marketing he is generating suggest that sport has simply become another money making venture rather than something filled with passion and loyalty. This can be seen as a very bad thing for Australian sport as Folau could well pave the way for more and more players making the switch between codes, cheapening the image of the game, and suggesting that players do not care about fans or clubs rather just about driving around in sports cars and banking their multi-million dollar cheques.

Big money transfers to rival clubs are not rare in many other sports, including NFL, MLB and world football, and when these things do happen, it breeds an image of selfishness and a lack of loyalty for the player in question. A recent example of such a thing is Robin Van Persie’s £24 million move to Manchester United from Arsenal in August 2012, a move which saddened Arsenal fans and even led to the burning of Van Persie jerseys outside the Emirates Stadium. Sporting fans are not a hard bunch to please, they simply ask for tactfulness, honesty and loyalty, all traits that code hopping does not breed. As an overarching statement, code hopping is a terrible thing for Australian sport as well as fans of Australian sport who wish to see players who love and respect the clubs which they feel the same way for.

Thats the rosey wrap on code hopping in Australian sport,

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

Merseyside Derby Preview: In form Liverpool side attempt to close the gap on their neighbours from across the park.

For Liverpool supporters, there are two fixtures which they immediately search the premier league fixtures list for upon its release every season. The first is against recently crowned premier league champions of 2012/13, Manchester United, and the other is against cross town rivals Everton. This game reserves particular importance and always proves to be one of the most entertaining fixtures of the season.

This season has been a tough one for Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool side who have been very erratic with their form throughout the campaign, however they will see Sunday's fixture as one in which they attempt to gain bragging rights over their neighbours whilst simultaneously moving within two points of leap-frogging their opponents into sixth spot on the table. For Everton, a victory in this match at Anfield will surely see them secure sixth spot on the table, and well and truly post themselves as the most successful Merseyside club of this campaign, much to the discontent of Liverpool supporters everywhere.

Of course, Liverpool will be lacking their top scorer Luis Suarez who was banned for 10 matches last week by the FA after his infamous bite on Branislav Ivanovic. However, Liverpool showed with a 6-0 away thrashing at Newcastle in their last match that they are by no means a one man team and can find the net without talisman Suarez. Young Brazilian Philippe Coutinho will be looked to as play-maker in the final third as he looks to continue his exciting recent form. Daniel Sturridge will be the key man up front for the reds, most probably deployed as a lone striker, as he looks to add to his impressive tally of 8 goals in 13 games for Liverpool since joining in the January transfer window.

For Everton, there are many danger men when it comes to finding the back of the net, the likes of Nikica Jelavic, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Pienaar and Kevin Mirallas have all been in good form this season, contributing to the scoreboard frequently. Both teams will be hoping for a solid showing in this match as they attempt to maintain form for the final two games of the Barclays premier league season which for Liverpool are away at Fulham (13/5) and welcoming QPR to Anfield (20/5); and for Everton, at home to West Ham (13/5) and away at champions league hopefuls Chelsea (20/5).

Strength at the back will be key for both sides as they attempt to gain a hold on this match. For Liverpool, the back line seemingly picks itself, with Glen Johnson and Jose Enrique unchallenged for their spots at fullback. Whilst Daniel Agger should partner the man with two games left in his illustrious Liverpool career, Jamie Carragher. For Everton, the likes of Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Dystin will be expected to retain their spots at centre back. Whilst Seamus Coleman and the impressive Leighton Baines should start in the fullback positions for the Toffees.

This fixture tends to bring about the best in legends for both clubs, and they don’t come much more legendary than Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard who will attempt to further add to his remarkable goal tally against this opposition. Gerrard has been incredibly important for the Reds this season, playing every minute of the season up until he was finally substituted for the first time last week at Newcastle.

Form generally goes out the window for this fixture, and making a prediction generally shapes up as a random stab in the dark, but here goes nothing:

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Everton.

That’s Rosey’s preview of Liverpool vs Everton.

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

What to do with human headline Luis Suarez?

The big dilemma which came out of the match against Chelsea was that of how to deal with the erratic Luis Suarez. Surely, Liverpool’s best player as well as their, and the premier leagues, top scorer with 23 goals, Suarez clinical finishing has been a revelation this season. However, football players don’t come much more controversial than Luis Suarez; in his career he has been involved in a huge number of incidents on the field. Including his handball in the world cup for his native Uruguay, his alleged racial abuse of Patrice Evra last season, a bite on PSV’s Otman Bakkal whilst playing for Ajax in the Eredivisie, and the latest altercation, another biting incident, this time  with Chelsea centre back Branislav Ivanovic.

A player of Suarez’s skill and stature would get a game at any club in the world; however there comes a point where the pros of having a player’s on field abilities are outweighed by the cons of the controversies and bad PR which he brings to the club. This could well be the final straw for Luis Suarez, another high profile incident and a probable multi-match ban could see him sold in the summer by Brendan Rodgers who may deem him a liability.

On the field, even with Suarez, Liverpool have struggled for scoring form and could well sink further into impotence without the clinical Uruguayan. However, if Suarez leaves for a significant fee then Liverpool could well bring in another top class striker from elsewhere to share the load with the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Steven Gerrard. The question must then be asked, who else in world football can do what Luis Suarez does? The answer is not many people, and Brendan Rodgers will have to scour the ranks of world football to find another player who can score as freely as Suarez can; a talent like that will not come cheap.

It seems Brendan Rodgers will have little choice as to whether Suarez stays, with Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, extremely pre-occupied with public relations; Suarez could well be shown the door regardless of whether or not Rodgers wishes this to be the case. If Suarez is put on the market, Liverpool must be shrewd in finding the best deal in order to maximize funds for new signings and a much needed replacement for Suarez.

Assessing the conundrum of Luis Suarez will very much be a case of pros and cons, and Brendan Rodgers could well spend long hours at Melwood mulling over whether or not to sell his prized asset. This will be a big test of his managerial skills and if he makes the wrong choice he may well find himself out of a job in the not so distant future.

That’s the Rosey roundup on the Luis Suarez conundrum,

By 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

Match Report - Liverpool vs Reading (14/4/13)

0-0. A score line very familiar to Liverpool fans of late. On a rainy afternoon at the Madejski stadium, a fantastic display from Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, which Brendan Rodgers described as “arguably the best goalkeeping performance [he has] ever seen,” kept Liverpool scoreless for the full 90 minutes. As far as nil all draws go, this match certainly did not disappoint, with a combined total of 20 shots on target and countless attacking opportunities for both sides.

The first real chance of the match fell to Luis Suarez in the 13^th minute after a defence splitting ball from Philippe Coutinho, Suarez succeeded in chipping the keeper but had his effort cleared off the line by Chris Gunter. Liverpool piled on relentless pressure for the first half hour maintaining 60% possession and winning no less than 4 corners, it seemed as though it was just a matter of time until they broke the deadlock and secured a victory. However a story reminiscent of seasons past transpired, with a Liverpool side being unable to secure full points at a side placed well below them on the table.

Reading were kept in the game by keeper McCarthy who was forced to make 4 important saves in the first 35 minutes to deny Liverpool’s attacking force comprising of Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.  Frustration soon became visible in Liverpool’s attacking play with Sturridge resorting to a half way strike, a la Luis Suarez last season at Norwich, which sailed wide and resulted in jeers from a pleased Reading crowd. The first half came to a close with the score board unchanged as Liverpool were left wondering what it was they had to do to beat this keeper and break their duck.

In the first 4 minutes of the second half, Liverpool had the ball in the net as Gerrard found Coutinho whose neat flick beat the goalkeeper only to be ruled offside by the linesman. Liverpool introduced their first substitute on the hour mark as Stewart Downing replaced Jordan Henderson in an attempt by Brendan Rodgers to add some width to his team.

As the second half continued, Reading managed to hold onto some possession as players like ex-Liverpool man Danny Guthrie, striker Noel Hunt and speedy winger Jobi Mcanuff attempted to manufacture a goal which they hoped would provide Reading with an upset victory. It might have been in their grasp had Hunt not been denied by Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina from a good chance in the 66^th minute.  Reina was forced to tip over just 10 minutes later as Mcanuff tested from inside the box.

Luis Suarez came tantalisingly close to giving Liverpool the lead in the 79^th minute as his long range free kick whistled inches past McCarthy’s far post. The last 10 minutes saw a barrage of shots on goal for Liverpool and subsequent saves to deny them by the brilliant McCarthy, strikes from Gerrard, Suarez and Gerrard were all denied in the space of approximately two minutes. As the match entered stoppage time, Liverpool continued to search for an opener with more strikes from the likes of Sturridge (90th), Suarez (92nd) and Gerrard (94^th) which prompted more brilliant glove work from clear man of the match McCarthy as the game drew to a close with the scorers unbothered.

Reading, whose defence is the worst in the league having already conceded 63 goals this campaign, managed to notch up their first clean sheet of 2013 and only their fourth of the season. Liverpool were left licking their wounds as their attacking impotence cost them once more, in a match which has surely cost them any chance which remained of European qualification for next season. With a game against Chelsea at Anfield next Sunday in the offing, Brendan Rodgers will be well aware of the need to make changes to his side if he wishes to secure points in this game.

Brendan Rodgers’ system did not take shape in this match, seen in a distinct lack of wing play, with 65% of their attacking coming down the middle of the pitch. Perhaps, the re-introduction of Raheem Sterling into the side could fix this issue as well as providing more pace and skill in the final third. In regards to their goal scoring issues, perhaps a higher role for Sturridge with Suarez playing off him could provide more space for Suarez and shooting opportunities for the usually clinical Sturridge.

That’s Rosey’s roundup on Liverpool vs Reading,

Thanks for reading,

By Jake Rosengarten

An Analysis of Liverpool's tactical failings - Liverpool vs West Ham (7/4/13)

While watching Liverpool and more specifically Luis Suarez struggle at the hands of lowly West Ham, who may I add haven’t won a match at Anfield for the past 50 years, I realized something. The fact is, that Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool are unbelievably hit and miss, and this is exactly the reason why they are languishing in 7^th place in the Barclays Premier League.

Against West Ham, Liverpool controlled 65% of possession, and were still unable to find the net despite unleashing 20 shots on goal. It dawned on me in this match that Liverpool are far too over reliant on the flashy tricks and flicks of Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho; they lack a striker who can command time and attention from opposition centre backs in order to allow Luis Suarez to roam the area and shark as many goals as he wishes. Sure, Daniel Sturridge was a welcome addition to the Liverpool strike force, but he simply does not add anything, aside from a slightly better conversion rate, than that of what Suarez and Coutinho already bring. This is why I believe that if Andy Carroll can maintain some sort of form and touch he could be exactly what is needed for Brendan Rodgers’ system to take Liverpool to the summit of English football. A big body, who can hold up the ball, add aerial prowess for the likes of Stewart Downing to find in the box and at times someone who can storm through a defence and strike when needed, as he did twice for West Ham against West Brom last week. Yes, Carroll doesn’t necessarily fit the Rodgers system but what he does do is add an extra dimension to the system, he would give time to the wide men, tie up a centre back and provide an extra target.

Another thing that I noticed was the ineffectiveness of Lucas Leiva playing in the holding midfield role; he simply hasn’t been up to par in the last few matches. If Liverpool are to win big matches, and for that matter matches against mid-table opponents like West Ham, they must stop leaking goals and they must have someone who can provide physicality in the midfield, without committing needless fouls like Lucas has been guilty of in recent times. It may just be a poor patch of form for Lucas, but one thing is for sure, Rodgers must provide competition for him in the squad and think long and hard about dropping him if he wishes for an improvement in results. A look at Liverpool’s current squad provides the reason why Lucas has been an almost ever present figure in the side since returning from injury. The other players capable of filling a holding role in midfield in the squad are Steven Gerrard, who is far too valuable further up the pitch to play in this role, and Jordan Henderson, who I would like to see in this role but is currently preferred in a more advanced role alongside Gerrard.

Liverpool are a side who have struggled against top opponents this season, something that they hadn’t been guilty of under the likes of Kenny Dalglish. I put this down to a simple lack of consistency as well as a leaky defence who have conceded cheap goals far too often this season. Albeit, against West Ham they managed a clean sheet but they almost managed to gift West Ham a goal when Lucas Leiva coughed the ball up to Carlton Cole and Daniel Agger managed to save the day with an outstanding block.  Against the current premier league top 6, Liverpool have managed one victory against Tottenham just a few weeks ago. Why is it that a side of the calibre of Liverpool simply hasn’t managed victories in these games? The answer is simply consistency. The current system employed by Brendan Rodgers has far too much of a reliance of Luis Suarez who can be stifled by a very strong or very skilled central defender. There is quite simply no plan B. Luis Suarez is always the target and thus good teams are fully aware that if they stop Suarez, they stop Liverpool.

Overall, Liverpool lack two things. A physical holding midfield presence, similar to the likes of Mohamed Diamé for West Ham, and a strong centre forward, the likes of Andy Carroll conveniently or Christian Benteke. If Rodgers hopes for a top four finish or better next season he must sure up these areas of his squad in the upcoming transfer window and add an extra dimension to his sides attacking play that doesn’t revolve around Luis Suarez’ fancy footwork.

That's Rosey's roundup on Liverpool vs West Ham, 

By Jake Rosengarten

The Purpose of this Blog

Hello and welcome to the first post of the Rosey Wrap!

If you are reading this you have stumbled onto a gold mine of sports journalistic articles, which I implore you to read and comment on. My name is Jake Rosengarten, I am a 17 year old from Sydney, Australia in my last year of high school and my aspirations after completing my final year of school (finally) are to become a sports journalist. 

On this blog, I will be posting articles which cover a wide range of sporting topics, including, but not limited to: English premier league football, cricket, and AFL. I will attempt to write an article every two to three days but this will not always be possible, because as most people are aware the life of a year 12 student is an overwhelmingly hectic one.

I am very passionate about sport, and often have trouble juggling the many teams I support in numerous sports. I am a massive supporter of Liverpool Football Club (EPL) as well as maintaining a following of the Sydney Swans (AFL) , the Sydney Roosters (NRL) and the Australian cricket team.

This is my first attempt at writing serious articles and any feedback is greatly appreciated. I vow to take on any advice given to me (within reason) and am keen to improve my writing as much as possible so that I can one day, hopefully in the not so distant future, secure a job as a professional sports journalist.

Thank you for your support,

Jake Rosengarten