All posts by h79snht.top

Dwindling crowds, financial difficulties, year upon year of crushing predictability – the recently retitled Scottish Premiership has not been in a healthy state for a long time, and things are unlikely to get better anytime soon. Trapped in a kind of football league purgatory – too small to be considered a major league like its English counterpart, yet too large to be relegated to the same status as the Welsh and Northern Irish Premier Leagues – the Scottish game has long been on a quest for its true worth. Yet with the recent absence of Rangers removing any credible competition from the Celtic-led monopoly of the Scottish Premiership, the league has become something of a joke, dismissed as nothing more than a Mickey Mouse competition where one can expect the same team to lift the trophy at the end of every season.

Though a separate Scottish league should certainly remain in place, consisting of the teams plying their trade in the lower reaches of the country’s football pyramid (meaning the Scottish Championship and below), it’s about time the Scottish Premiership called it a day, with its teams joining the English football league system instead. The upcoming Scottish independence referendum may make this proposal a tad difficult to realise; nevertheless, here are five reasons why an act of footballing union would be a good idea:

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CLICK ON CELTIC PARK TO REVEAL THE FIVE REASONS

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1. Merging would improve the quality of Scottish clubs immeasurably

At first glance, one can’t help but be impressed by Celtic’s constant success in Scotland – winning the title every season, going far in both domestic cup competitions, and boasting an impressive stadium in Celtic Park. However it is European football that exploits the glaring weaknesses of Scotland’s best side, and therefore of Scottish football itself as a whole. Despite being drubbed 6-1 on aggregate by lowly Legia Warsaw in a recent Champions League qualifier, the team from Glasgow were sheepishly reinstated into the competition due to the Polish side’s disqualification, only to be ignominiously knocked out again by Slovenian side NK Maribor, thus failing to make it to the group stages. In the long term, participating in the English football league against the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool on a regular basis would see Scottish football sides become far more competitive, and as a consequence, stronger.

2. The national side would benefit

As the clubs become stronger and more competitive, so do their Scottish players. Most clubs still retain a prominent Scottish identity amongst their playing staff, and if these players are given the opportunity to play in one of the best leagues in the world on a regular basis, that can only help the chances of the national side to qualify for major international tournaments. One could argue that Wales haven’t benefitted from their two main clubs playing in English football, having failed to qualify for a tournament since 1958. However Scotland possesses a significantly greater number of medium-sized football clubs than Wales. If these clubs were to keep their Scottish identities, there would be an influx of Scottish players in the English league, giving the Scotland national set-up a wealth of players with experience of high-level professional football.

3. Financial issues would become less pronounced

With the possibility of Premier League football for Scottish clubs who make the trek down south comes the irresistible attraction of playing in a league awash with money. Record-breaking TV deals and increased exposure through association with a global ‘brand’ such as the Barclays Premier League would not guarantee permanent financial stability, but would certainly ensure that difficulties such as those experienced by Rangers and Hearts in recent times would be less severe.

4. The end of sectarianism?

The advent of Sky and the English Premier League in 1992 may have had unsavoury effects on the state of the game – the dominance of money, business coming before sport and a lack of mobility to name but a few. However it has also contributed to the modernisation of the sport, which has seen racism, homophobia and hooliganism become less and less pronounced, making matchday experiences generally more pleasant for the spectator. By incorporating Rangers and Celtic – Scotland’s two biggest clubs – into English football, there would be added pressure on both sides to deal with the sectarian violence which so often dominates Old Firm derbies. It may not eradicate it completely, but exposure to a global audience would force the Glaswegian clubs to address the problem more effectively.

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5. Dull football is no more

Most importantly, combining Scottish and English football would lead to the end of the derisory claims that the game north of the border is more boring than beautiful. The Old Firm may not come close to winning the Barclays Premier League; they may even struggle to stay in the top tier. But at least their fans would be guaranteed entertainment and unpredictability every season. Because being bored of victory, as some Celtic and (once upon a time) Rangers fans surely were, is evidence enough that the game is up in Scotland.

For many top flight clubs, having an expensive striker at your disposal sitting on the bench isn’t unusual. Just look at the likes of Radamel Falcao and Stefan Jovetic, who are struggling to hold down a starting spot at Manchester United and Manchester City respectively, despite a hefty price tag to both strikers’ names. Very rarely do you see a mid-table side with a £15m price tag on his head, ready to come on for the last 15-20 minutes of the match to make a difference. Playing the whole 90 minutes is exactly what everyone expects.

In this case, West Ham’s Andy Carroll finds himself in exactly the same situation. Costing a mind blowing £15m, in a poll conducted by BBC Sport, Carroll was voted the worst signing in Premier League history when he moved from Liverpool to the Hammers. After failing to impress on Merseyside, surprisingly Carroll now finds himself struggling to get in the starting line up at Upton Park. It’s well known that manager Sam Allardyce is a huge fan of the striker, as Big Sam always likes to set up his teams with a quality target man in his starting XI, and Carroll fits the bill perfectly.

Granted, had it not been for the former Newcastle United’s torrid injury record, then it’s certain Carroll will be playing week in, week out. Now back after a six month lay off with an ankle injury he suffered during pre-season, another obstacle is in place for Carroll to climb. The form of new signings Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho has surprisingly been excellent, as both them of them are offering something different to a changed West Ham side. The sharpness and work rate of Valencia, and incredible goal scoring ability of Sakho is hard to watch for Carroll, considering he was a regular starter for the England squad just two years ago. With Argentine, Mauro Zarate at the club aswell, showing signs of his class in spells of games, Carroll’s minutes on the pitch look to have been limited. Using Carroll as a impact substitution looks more realistic.

In the recent 0-0 stalemate against Aston Villa, the striker showed how much of an impact he can make in a short space of time. After a lengthy spell in the treatment room, Carroll caused problems to the Villa defence, and had two glorious opportunities to grab a late winner in just the five minutes he was on for. Carroll also got engaged to his girlfriend last week. You may think that this might be ridiculous and pointless to mention, but this could improve his game massively. Carroll has always been known to enjoy himself off the pitch. Get hitched will make him more mature, and more focused on how he can improve as a player. This is why a lot of managers like their players to get married.

Using Carroll in the last 15 minutes of games could prove to be vital, and selling him would be a big mistake. As so called ‘second strikers’ go to use a a ‘Plan B’, Carroll is probably one of the best in the league in doing so.   

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You have to wonder if, somewhere along the line, that infamous team selection against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – the decision to drop Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Glen Johnson, Mario Balotelli and Dejan Lovren – comes back to haunt Brendan Rodgers.

Without context, in the vacuum of a single fixture, the Liverpool boss didn’t really do a lot wrong. After all, previously, Los Blancos had recorded eleven straight wins, including a 3-0 thumping at Anfield and a 3-1 victory over Barcelona, whilst the Reds’ had won just four in eleven, three of which, against Ludogorets, Swansea and QPR, had come via stoppage-time winners.

So the decision to rest Liverpool’s faltering stars for the more industrial members of the squad, such as Adam Lallana, Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen, Emre Can and Fabio Borini, to prevent an embarrassment similar to the one on Merseyside just a fortnight earlier is certainly understandable – more on that later.

Yet, when combined with Liverpool’s poor start to the season – a defeat to Chelsea last weekend seeing them drop to eleventh in the Premier League table – and recent criticisms over Rodgers’ spending strategy, with little above-ordinary to show for the £212million transfer outlay since he became Anfield boss in 2012, the controversial Bernabeu line-up forms another piece of kindling on the edge of a simmering fire.

Not to suggest Liverpool fans are currently over-miffed about it. Not to suggest Brendan Rodgers is about to lose his job because of it. But like an argument with a soon-to-be-ex-girlfriend, it’s the kind of issue that gets thrown up in spite, all-the-more distorted by time and events since. “Yeah, and remember how he set us up to lose against Real Madrid?” you can imagine a typically militant Reds supporter muttering at Anfield if Liverpool’s poor run continues much longer.

Perhaps that hypothetical fan has a point – although no manager actively puts out teams to lose, Rodgers hardly set the Reds up to win either. They could’ve played Real Madrid for a fortnight and probably wouldn’t have got past Iker Casillas, barring an unforced error – they simply didn’t have enough quality on the pitch to hurt the European Champions.

That being said, you have to admire Brendan Rodgers’ bravery in his commitment to pragmatism over Liverpudlian nostalgia.

After all, that probably constituted Steven Gerrard’s last chance to play on the immaculate Bernabeu pitch before retiring, and based on Liverpool’s current league form, that could be their last truly memorable Champions League fixture against star-studded opposition for at least another season. The fans and the Reds’ captain fantastic would’ve undoubtedly preferred to have gone out with a bang rather than a tacit surrender, and Rodgers must have known there would be a media-backlash as soon as the teams were announced; virtually the entirety of British punditry is formed by hot-headed, trophy-laden former Reds.

But Liverpool’s continuation in the Champions League was never dependent upon recording underdog wins against the La Liga giants, especially away from home. Group B opponents Basel and Ludogrets should hardly be obstacles for a club that came second in the Premier League last season; that’s where the Reds’ European campaign will be lost and won.

Some common ground could’ve been found between the ‘B team’ that faced Real and the Liverpool side that lost to Newcastle United the weekend previous. Jordan Henderson for example, through his work-rate and determination, is the perfect midfielder for a gritty, backs-against-the-wall performance. Likewise, £20million signing Lazar Markovic offered nothing Raheem Sterling couldn’t on the right-hand side and Mario Balotelli, for all his indiscretions this season, is the kind of player that comes alive when he knows the world is watching.

But why should Rodgers have fielded his regular stars? Why should Steven Gerrard be undropable? None are performing anywhere near the levels of last season and the absence of Luis Suarez has become a tedious excuse for Liverpool’s form. Yes, he gave the Reds cutting edge and world-class industry, but that amplified Liverpool’s ethos last season, not constituted it entirely.

Therefore, why not give Lallana, Kolo Toure, Can et al their chance? They’ve been waiting all season to have an impact whilst the established stars have faltered and absolutely none of them, not even Fabio Borini, who was effectively told to leave Merseyside during the summer, let Rodgers down. The Liverpool boss spent a club-record sum during the off-season specifically to expand the depth available to him, so why not utilise it in a tournament and fixture nobody expected Liverpool to win?

There were more important things to think about than the whimsical notion of Liverpool performing beyond their means, without key striker Daniel Sturridge and amid a patch of stale form, to record a historic victory against Real Madrid. The odds of that happening, according to the bookies pre-kick-off, were 10/1.

A win against Chelsea in the subsequent fixture would’ve had a far greater impact on Liverpool’s season. It seems almost nobody will claim more than a point off the league leaders this season – doing so is attaining points that the divisional rivals won’t. Furthermore, although the Reds lost 2-1, they at least entered the Anfield clash with the right attitude; some players filled with confidence from the Bernabeu performance, others with a point to prove after being left out.

There aren’t too many clubs in world football with unique pressures like Liverpool’s. It’s far from the powerhouse of the 1980s, or for that matter, the early 2000s, yet through prestige and reputation alone, fans, pundits and neutrals alike expect the Reds to still be competitive against the biggest teams in Europe.

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Rodgers ruled that essentially impossible against what is probably the best team in world football and with that in mind, created other positives to take out of it. What could have the Merseysiders taken out of another 3-0 defeat, for example?

With the backlash inevitable and one that will potentially repeat on Rodgers, you have to admire his bravery.

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After a fairly slow start by Manchester City’s standards, they are starting to play like a team that can contend on a number of fronts this season. City have won eight in a row – six coming in the Premier League. Wins over Bayern Munich and Roma saw the club turnaround a poor Champions League campaign to qualify for the last 16.

Their Premier League form has now put them in real contention for the title, levelling with Chelsea on points with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace yesterday. With a squad having the amount of quality City posses and the team starting to play like a champion side, the possibilities should be endless to what the club can achieve this season.

Injury has hit them hard at the wrong time of the season. Top scorer Sergio Aguero will be out until at least January, and captain Vincent Kompany is also expected to miss the Christmas period. Striker Edin Dzeko is a doubt for the coming weeks but as they proved against Leicester, they are capable of grinding out results without key players. And with their next three fixtures all against bottom six sides, you would still expect City to continue their winning form right across the busy festive period.

With a fully fit squad to choose from, Manuel Pellegrini usually opts for a 4-4-2 system, with Samir Nasri and David Silva as the wide players. But with two first choice strikers missing, this has and will have to change in the coming weeks. We have seen before how David Silva and Yay Toure possess more of a creative and attacking threat behind the striker, something Pellegrini will have to consider to get the best out of them. Also, Samir Nasri is fully capable of playing in this role as shown against Roma, so there are still plenty of attacking options without having to buy a replacement striker in January.

But one area that continues to be a weakness for City is in the centre of defence. Without Kompany for the coming weeks, they really could be exposed in this area. Eliaquim Mangala was brought in from Porto this past summer for a fee over £30million, and has not yet lived up to this price tag. Whilst he started well to life in the Premier League, including an impressive display against Chelsea, he has since looked venerable and prone to a mistake or two.

Although he is only young, Man City might need to address this problem next month. They also have Martin Demichelis and, although he has improved greatly from the start of last season, the thought of a Demichelis and Mangala pairing together is not something that is going to worry opposing strikers. There are other centre defenders available in Dedryck Boyata and Matija Nastasic, but both youngsters have had very little game time and could quite frankly do with a loan move to build up experience and gain valuable minutes.

The Barcelona tie in the Champions League will obviously be a real test for City but one to see really where the team are at. Barcelona aren’t as good as they once were but still have the likes of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar. A full strength Man City are certainly capable of beating Barcelona over two legs and will want to desperately progress past this stage, something they failed to achieved in the past. In terms of the league, they have been in a worse off position in the past and still managed to pull off a title victory – on two occasions.

Things are a little different this season with Chelsea playing magnificently. Despite this, hopefully City have already got the mandatory season blip out of the way after defeats to Stoke and West Ham earlier in the season. In all honesty, they are going to have to hope for a few more Chelsea defeats like the recent one against Newcastle, but if City keep on winning like they should with upcoming fixtures and keep the pressure on Chelsea then you never know what might happen.

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Manuel Pellegrini might need either a Premier League or Champions League title to keep his job for next season, and while the latter looks unlikely, a third Premier League crown in four seasons is certainly not out of the question.

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Now that January has flown by, it’s time to look forward to the summer transfer window – one Manchester United are allegedly already making astronomical plans for.

It will be hard for the Red Devils to outdo their £150million spending spree last summer, but their rumoured record-breaking £120million bid for Gareth Bale, currently in the pipeline, would certainly put them on the right track.

It goes without saying that the former Tottenham Hotspur star is one of the world’s best in his position – but does that alone justify his incredible price-tag?

Being the stingy bunch we are at Football Fancast, we think the Old Trafford side could find better value for money on the current market. And just to prove it, here’s FIVE cheaper alternatives to Gareth Bale United should be considering.

MARCO REUS

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Age:25

Positions: Winger, No.10, Striker

Height: 5 foot 11

Teams: Rot Weiss Ahlen, Borussia Monchengladbach, Borussia Dortmund, Germany

Interested clubs: Real Madrid, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, according to The Daily Star

Likely transfer fee: £20million release clause

THE LOWDOWN

The most convincing suggestion on this list by quite some way, despite being widely considered as one of the top attacking talents in world football, boasting incredible 47 goals and 29 assists in his last 99 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, not to mention the German Footballer of the Year for 2012 and the Bundesliga Player of the Year award for the 2013/14 campaign, Marco Reus will be available for just £20million next summer due to a release clause.

Capable of operating on either flank, as a No.10 or as a pacey poacher, there’s a plethora of roles Manchester United could deploy the supremely talented 25 year-old in, being equally adept in the duties of goal-scorer and provider.

Resultantly however, the German international’s list of potential suitors has no end. Every major club in Europe will be baying for his signature when the transfer market reopens, so the Red Devils should expect seismic competition when pursuing Bundesliga star.

ROBERTO FIRMINO

Age: 23

Height: 5 foot 11

Position: Attacking midfielder, Winger, Striker

Teams: Figueriense, Hoffenheim, Brazil

Honours: Bundesliga Breakthrough Player of the Season 2013/14

Interested clubs: Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, according to The Express

Likely transfer fee: £20million, per The Express once again

THE LOWDOWN

Another Bundesliga talent Manchester United should be strongly considering as an alternative to Gareth Bale, Roberto Firmino has set the German top flight alight over the last 18 months with 16 goals and 21 assists in his last 53 league appearances, consequentially earning him a spot in the Brazil national team fold.

The 23 year-old is blessed with prolific pace, top-class dribbling ability and potency in front of goal, but blends it with fluid creativity and a fantastic work ethic, averaging 2.2 chances created and 2.9 successful tackles per match this term respectively.

Whether he’s quite up to Manchester United’s standard just yet remains open to debate. But after four campaigns of continuous individual success at Hoffenheim, accompanied by an obvious pattern of development, the South American is certainly upon the peripheries of Europe’s wideman elite.

Firmino could be well worth the punt if the Old Trafford outfit can attain his services for around the £15million-£20million mark.

KOKE

Age: 23

Height: 5 foot 10

Position: central midfield, winger, No.10

Teams: Atletico Madrid, Spain

Honours: Europa League 2011/12, Copa del Rey 2013, La Liga, 2013/14, Champions League runner-up 2014

Interested clubs: Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, according to The Express

Likely transfer fee: £48million release clause

THE LOWDOWN

Not an out-and-out winger but certainly a talent that would improve the quality of United’s squad, Koke has been mooted as Xavi’s successor in the Spanish national team by the Barcelona icon himself and played a major role in Atletico Madrid’s incredible haul of trophies under Diego Simeone.

Over the last three seasons, he’s claimed ten goals and 30 assists in 89 La Liga appearances, also creating an astronomical 184 chances at goal for his team-mates. Combine that creativity with the incredible industry Simeone demands from all his players and the flexibility to adopt any position in the middle of the park, and it’s easy to see why Koke is receiving such widespread acclaim.

The 15-cap Spaniard is starting to outgrow Vincente Calderon and his £48million release clause, although a lofty figure, represents fantastic value for money in the long-term. His passion for the Mattress Makers remains undoubted however, so Koke may be unwilling to move on just yet.

PEDRO

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Age: 27

Position: Winger-forward

Teams: FC Barcelona, Spanish national team

Honours: Four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey titles, two Champions League titles, World Cup 2010, European Championship 2012

Interested clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, according to The Express

Likely transfer fee: £25million, according to The Metro

THE LOWDOWN

Under a transfer embargo until 2016, convincing Barcelona to part with any of their first team personnel between now and then will be a rather tall order.

Yet, one player they might be forced to say goodbye to in the coming summer is winger Pedro, having slumped behind the likes of Neymar and Luis Suarez in the Nou Camp pecking order to make just ten La Liga starts this season.

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He boasts an impressive return of 94 goals in 290 appearances for the Catalans, as well as 16 in 47 for Spain, and in addition to the 27 year-old’s famed netting prowess, he offers fantastic stamina and relentless industry – having served as Lionel Messi’s unofficial work-horse for the best part of eight years.

Equally adept on either flank or as an out-and-out striker, he’d hugely increase the depth of United’s options in the final third, and offer a more athletic, penetrative kind of service to their current forward options.

Former team-mate Alexis Sanchez has exploded onto the Premier League stage and Pedro possesses the quality and mentality to do the same. Once again however, the biggest obstacle the Red Devils face is convincing Barca to sell.

RAHEEM STERLING

Age: 20

Height: 5 foot 7

Position: Winger, No.10, Striker

Teams: Liverpool, England

Honours: Liverpool Young Player of the Year 2014, European Golden Boy 2014

Interested clubs: Real Madrid and Chelsea, according to The Express, Manchester City according to Manchester Evening News

Likely transfer fee: £35million, according to Mirror Football

THE LOWDOWN

A Manchester United swoop for Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling would likely be remembered as one of the most controversial transfers in Premier League history. The last player to move between the two Northern giants was Phil Chisnall way back in 1967, and their historic rivalry has further intensified since.

Yet, there are some crucial facts to remember here; namely that the Three Lions prodigy was born in Jamaica, raised in London and is originally a product of QPR’s academy, so his loyalty to the Anfield outfit is certainly lesser than the likes of Steven Gerrard or Jamie Carragher for example.

Furthermore, the attacking-midfielder-cum-centre-forward is continually delaying on extending his current contract past 2017, so if negotiations drag on until the summer, a sizeable offer could convince the Reds to sell.

That may seem like a long shot and would certainly ruffle a lot of feathers on Merseyside. But the England international’s immense quality is undoubted and his importance to Liverpool has already reached talisman status at just 20 years of age.

Anointed as Europe’s Golden Boy and boasting 16 goals and twelve assists from his first 82 Premier League appearances, an audacious swoop for the Anfield star could resolve United’s winger problems for the next decade.

Even though Olivier Giroud has been in impressive form of late and Danny Welbeck only arrived last summer, Arsenal appear to be keen on landing a new central striker, with rumours having suggested that they’re chasing a range of targets ahead of the looming transfer window for some time.

The latest name to have cropped up is Anderlecht’s impressive Serbian Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is quite a player. The 20-year-old has been earning rave reviews for his performances in Belgian football with Anderlecht, where he’s already considered to be one of the top tier’s best players, despite his tender age.

However, chances are many Gunners may not know the full story when it comes to Mitrovic, so here are FIVE things to get you by!

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He’s scored more goals than any Arsenal player this season

Arsenal top scorer across all competitions this season is Alexis Sanchez with a tally of 18… Mitrovic has 21 in all competitions. Okay, the difference in quality between the Belgian top tier and the Premier League and the Champions League and Europa League is clear, but the Serbian is still finding the net, which is the hardest part of football at any level.

As the video below shows, he can score all sorts of goals, too!

He’s the ‘new Zlatan Ibrahimovic’

Due to his spiky character, physical stature – he stands at 6ft 3” – and silky skills, Mitrovic has been likened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Although accused of being a ‘big game bottler’ by some lazy fans, ‘Ibra’ is one of the most gifted players in the modern era, who has won league titles in Spain, Italy, France and the Netherlands. He must have been doing something right!

He’s a real hot-head

Last season Mitrovic was sent off twice for Anderlecht – he was a teenager at the time – and has also been punished for his feisty nature at international level – he missed a big chunk of the EURO U-19 championships in 2012 after being sent off in his side’s opener against France.

Arsenal have wanted him for some time…

Mitrovic is by no means a ‘new kid on the block’ for Arsenal’s scouts, who have been assessing him since 2013, when he was playing for Partizan Belgrade. At the time, he was likened to Nicklas Bendtner (Ouch!), but that shouldn’t put off Gunners fans, with the 20-year-old a supremely talented footballer who has come on leaps and bounds in the past few years.

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Jose Mourinho loves him…

“Mitrovic was the best player on the pitch. He managed to keep the ball well and that was the key.

“That boy has everything to be a European star.”

Chances are most Arsenal fans dislike Jose Mourinho. However, it’s hard to argue that the Portuguese coach doesn’t know what he’s on about when it comes to the beautiful game, making his praise (above) of Mitrovic after he netted his first international goal for Serbia against Croatia back in 2013 particularly interesting.

Brendan Rodgers has been Liverpool’s manager for the past three years and as this chaotic season wraps up you can’t help but wonder if the Irishman is still the right man to take the club forward.

Liverpool have always had big ambitions, so it is unfortunate that in this last season the Reds have found themselves out of the running for every trophy going with five games still to play.

The case was similar in his first year in charge, in which the Reds only placed as high as seventh. It was a slight improvement on their previous one and as Rodgers was getting accustomed to a new environment and new challenges it was perhaps not a true reflection of his ability to manage the high profile club.

However, the fact that Liverpool, a club which was once respected across Europe, took a chance on Rodgers was actually quite surprising considering that he’d only had one year’s experience of the Premier League before taking the job.

Rodgers’ sound work with Swansea City – leading them up from the Championship and then an 11th place finish in their maiden top-flight campaign – made him an interesting prospect.

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You can understand why the club thought he had the potential to turn around a struggling team, but with no European experience perhaps the appointment was rather short-sighted.

The only season in which Rodgers has shown anything more than potential at Liverpool was the last.

The Reds started the campaign in a determined fashion winning, all three of their initial league games and thus secured Rodgers the Manager of the Month award for August. A second award followed in March leaving no doubt that Rodgers was having the best managerial season of his life. But the real stars were on the pitch.

Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling were an effective and formidable unit breaking through everything in their path. Only Manchester City had a better campaign, ultimately claiming the top spot with Liverpool just two points behind. But with success came unwanted attention and Suarez’s 31 goals made him a prime target for the best teams in Europe.

Now that the Uruguayan has left Merseyside, perhaps we are seeing what Rodgers is really capable of. Obviously a decent manager but he seems destined to struggle to break into the top four if he doesn’t have a truly world class striker to fire him to glory.

Liverpool knew Suarez was probably going to leave last year and yet the best replacement they could muster was Mario Balotelli. Now the Italian has always shown potential along his travels but was unlikely to ever be a good enough alternative to the ridiculously prolific Suarez.

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It is unlikely that Liverpool will get the chance to sign a player of Suarez’s quality in the upcoming summer transfer window as the top players want Champions League football, and that doesn’t seem possible failing a catastrophic implosion by one of the Manchester clubs.

So Rodgers is likely to struggle once again next season and supporters will continue to question if he has what it takes to elevate the club back into being one of England’s dominant top four teams.

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Seven losses on the bounce paints a sorry picture for Newcastle United.

It is clear that the current man in charge John Carver is out of his depth, and it would be no surprise if he did not last past the end of the season. Then it’s just a case of who could replace him: or who would, more to the point. Who would want to manage a team with such a massive uphill battle?

Obviously they will not be looking to the likes of a Pep or even a Klopp. But there are a fair few candidates who could be up to the challenge of turning things around for the Magpies.

Brendan Rodgers may not be enjoying the same successes he had last year. He almost lead his Liverpool side to a Premier League title, falling at the final hurdle.

They may not have lifted the title they so desperately want, but it is the best attempt they have had for many years. And of course, Rodgers was appointed as Liverpool manager on the basis of the work he had done at Swansea.

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Liverpool fans seem divided over whether they still want him at Anfied, yet he thinks he’s the best man for the job. Could it be time for a new challenge, to redeem himself as a manager?

The MLS may be up and coming, but it will never be a match for the Premier League. Which is why Mike Ashley should try to lure Owen Coyle out of his managerial post at Houston Dynamo to restore the former glory of Newcastle United.

Coyle has only been in his current job for four months, but he has experience in the Premier League which could prove invaluable. He had a good run with Burnley and while things may not have been as peachy at Bolton, but he could step up to the plate.

Paul Lambert’s final few months at Aston Villa may not have been what everyone had hoped, but what better way to prove himself than by making a return to the Premier League? With the right additions to the team, and having the summer to assess his squad, Lambert could just be the man for Newcastle.

It would take a lot to lure Eddie Howe out of his job at Bournemouth, who will be playing in the Premier League next season. But Newcastle need to try. The job he has done with his side this season is nothing short of spectacular. Could he be the hero they need on the Tyne?

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Regardless of Carver’s successor, he needs to be chosen fast. Things are not looking good coming up to the closing stages of the season, and realistically, a replacement needs to be lined up to take over from July. Whoever is brave enough to take it on has their work cut out for them.

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It’s been something of a disappointing season for Tottenham.

After the excitement surrounding new boss Mauricio Pochettino last summer, Spurs have simply made no improvement on their previous few seasons whatsoever. They’re on course for another place in next season’s Europa League, thought both Southampton and Swansea are hot their heels as we approach the final two games of the weekend.

Pochettino inherited a squad that was largely littered with the rubbish bought in with the Gareth Bale money by Andre Villas-Boas, so you could argue he deserves a full summer of activity ahead of next summer before the former Saints manager can be judged.

He’s expected to do a lot of business this summer, but will undoubtedly need to scrap a lot of the dead wood in his White Hart Lane squad before bringing in any reinforcements.

So we asked Tottenham fans who they wanted to see the back of most this summer, and gave the chance to up/down vote the current members of the Spurs squad.

We closed the voting after a few days and were pretty surprised with the top five players set for the White Hart Lane exit door this summer. They’re not wanted by the fans, and probably by the club, too.

430 Spurs fans took part in the poll – here are the five players they want to see the back of this summer…

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5. Roberto Soldado

No surprise here.

The Spaniard has endured a torrid time in north London since arriving from Valencia for £26.4million in 2013, netting just seven times in 50 Premier League appearances.

The 29-year-old’s confidence has clearly been affected by his struggles to adapt to life in the Premie League and he’s fast become known as one of the divisions biggest ever flops.

But strangely enough the White Hart Lane faithful have grown to love him over the last couple of seasons. But that doesn’t mean they’d like him to stay at the club – 267 fans want him out of the door this summer, as opposed to the 81 who’d like to see him given one more chance to get it right.

4. Vlad Chiricheș

Another arrival on the back of the ‘Bale Money,’ and the Romanian centre-half hasn’t exactly set the world alight since arriving for £8.3million from Steaua Bucharest in 2013.

He’s struggled to establish himself as a first team regular since then, making just 27 Premier League appearances over two seasons. His unconvincing performances have led to him being linked with a move away from White Hart Lane in the summer, and the Spurs fans appear to be looking forward to seeing the back of him.

281 Spurs fans voted for him to be sold at the end of the current campaign, with just 63 supporters appearing keen on him staying with them for a little longer.

3. Etienne Capoue

The French midfielder arrived from Toulouse in a £9.6million deal in 2013 but has since made just 24 Premier League appearances, scoring one goal.

The 26-year-old is another one who was signed in the summer of 2013, only to become something of a White Hart Lane flop very quickly after arriving. New boss Mauricio Pochettino has his sights set on a big money replacement this summer, which means Capoue is expected to be one of many on his way out of north London.

And it seems like the Spurs faithful would be pretty pleased with that – 297 voted for him to be sold this summer.

2. Younes Kaboul

Now in his second spell at White Hart Lane, Kaboul was made club captain by Pochettino last summer.

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But he’s since been a huge disappointment for Spurs this season and looks set to leave the club for a second time once the current campaign finishes. He’s only appeared 11 times in the Premier League this season, which shows you just how little the club captain features in the manager’s plans.

And the 29-year-old hasn’t earned any sympathy from the supporters as 342 fans voted for him to be axed by the club this summer.

1. Emmanuel Adebayor

Spurs fans were getting excited back in January when Adebyaor came ever so close to joining West Ham on loan until the end of the season. But Daniel Levy pulled the plug on that deal at the very last minute, which meant the 31-year-old was set to remain at Spurs for the foreseeable future.

After a successful loan spell from Man City, Adebayor signed permanently for Spurs in August 2012, but this season he’s found himself on the periphery of the first-team, particularly with the shock emergence of Harry Kane.

He’s netted twice in just 13 Premier League outings this term and with just a year remaining on his White Hart Lane contract, you’d expect him to flogged on the cheap by the club this summer.

And a host of lacklustre performances over the last 12 months have led the Spurs fans wanting to see the back of him more and more – 351 fans want him out of the club this summer, while just 34 supporters would much rather have him stay at the club and get paid millions for doing absolutely nothing.

The start of the new Premier League season is nearly upon us and whilst most sides are finalising their last bits of transfer business, Tottenham Hotspur still have a lot of work to do before the September 1 deadline.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino is looking to finally stamp his effect on the club he took over as manager last summer.

The focus at White Hart Lane so far has been about removing some of the dead wood in the squad, with a number of fringe players including Vlad Chiriches, Younes Kaboul, Paulinho and Etiene Capoue all moving on this summer.

All these outgoings have left Pochettino’s squad looking very bare and he faces a race against time to add to the early additions of defenders Toby Alderwiereld, Kevin Wimmer and Kieran Trippier.

The side’s task becomes a lot more difficult when you look at the impressive purchases that league rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have already made.

There is no doubting Tottenham need to add several quality players if they want to compete for European football again this season.

Here are four players they should consider to bring the side back in touch with their rivals…

Saido Berahino

Last season Harry Kane was the main striker at Spurs, scoring goals for fun, but there is no doubting he needs a partner to ease some of the pressure.

Berahino is a proven Premier League goalscorer and would be the perfect partner for the young striker.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino has been a long time admirer of the striker and even made a failed attempt to sign the Baggies forward back in January.

Kane and Berahino have already developed a good striking relationship from their time with the England U21 side. The duo link up well together and play to each others strengths.

At 21, Berahino is still learning his trade. However, the player is already an extremely talented individual, his speed and clinical finishing are his best attributes, and he can be a complete nightmare for defenders.

West Brom are likely to put up a fight for their star striker but it is believed a bid close to the region of £20million could change their stance.

Moussa Sissoko

You cannot deny that Spurs’ central midfield needs strengthening. Currently Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb are the first choice pair. Whilst both are talented youngsters with a lot of potential, they should not be first choice for a top six Premier League side.

Moussa Sissoko would certainly offer a step up from the pair. The French midfielder is a very talented individual and has all the best attributes of a box to box midfielder.

He is impressive at both ends of the pitch whether it be trying to regain the ball, or bombing forward in support of the attack.

The 25-year-old has become a vital part of the Newcastle side in recent seasons. His work rate and ability on the ball are amongst his main attributes, the player is a nightmare to get off the ball.

Sissoko will be looking to showcase his talent this season in a bid to impress France manager Didier Deschamps ahead of next year’s European Championships.

Similar to Berahino his side are unlikely to want to part with the play maker but it is thought a bid of about £18million would be enough to secure the powerhouse.

Timo Werner

With the departures of back up strikers Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor imminent, Spurs strike force is looking very depleted ahead of the season start.

One man who would help fill the void is German wonder kid Timo Werner who is currently with VFB Stuttgart.

The 19-year-old is highly thought of in his home land and would be a decent addition to the squad.

The youngster is a very versatile player and is comfortable playing up front or in behind the striker as one of the attacking midfield trio, with his incredible pace and technical ability important qualities of his game.

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The German has a great strike rate at a number of International youth levels, including scoring 18 goals in 16 games for the Germany U17 side.

Available for around £10million, the player would be a relatively cheap long term investment.

Ashley Young

Mauricio Pochettino has never been truly happy with his attacking midfield trio since taking over. The Argentine has tried a number of players including Christian Eriksen, Andros Townsend, Erik Lamela, Nacer Chadli and Moussa Dembele, but has never found his perfect trio.

Only Eriksen and Chadli have shown any kind of consistency, and one man who could complete the trio is Manchester United midfielder Ashley Young.

Young has slipped down the pecking order at United and could be looking for a fresh move to strengthen any chance he has of making the England European Championship Squad next summer.

The winger is a pacey, skilful player with a great delivery on him, and the levels of service he provides could work wonders for Harry Kane.

The England international’s contract runs out at the end of the season meaning Spurs may be able to capitalise on this by securing the player for a discounted fee.