Saturday, 16 August 2014

Van Gaal: Still time for signings

14:39

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Van Gaal: Still time for signings

Van Gaal: Still time for signings

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 05:39 PM PDT

United have failed to add to their arrivals of Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera, despite repeated links with Artuto Vidal, Mats Hummels, Daley Blind, Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo. While United have been slow in their attempts to reinforce their squad, Premier League rivals Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have splashed the cash. However, Van Gaal insisted there is still plenty of time to complete deals before the transfer window closes on September 1. I wanted to assess my team. I can judge only when I am the coach and I transfer my philosophy and know how they perform, the Dutchman told reporters on the eve of Uniteds Premier League opener at home to Swansea City on Saturday. So thats what I am doing. I think that is honest. We have to wait and see, because you can buy a player in 24 hours, believe me. Thats not a problem. Van Gaal also reiterated his calls for patience as he attempts to overhaul the club. The former Netherlands boss has overseen a change of formation, with a 3-5-2 system adopted throughout an unbeaten pre-season. Van Gaals tactics seem to have worked wonders up until this point but the 62-year-old warned there could be hiccups along the way. I cannot change everything [straight away], he said. I have to adapt to the culture. Its a process and we have to make steps. Sometimes you fall and you have to make another big step. Thats the process but you are not champion in October. You are champion in May. I have another philosophy. I have another way of dealing with players to normal coaches. Im not concerned where we might be [if we have a slow start] and Ive said that in my meetings with [Ed] Woodward and the Glazers.

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United keen to atone for last season - Herrera

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:58 PM PDT

After finishing seventhin the Premier League last season, Unitedare embarking on a campaign without European football for the first time since 1989-90. And Herrera insists Louis van Gaalssquad are determined to ensure they only suffera single season without continental football. The Spanish midfielder arrived at Old Trafford from Athletic Bilbao in June, 12 months after first being linked with a move to the Premier League during David Moyes reign. Moyes was unable to complete the deal but, when United came calling for a second time, the 25-year-old could not resist the lure of restoring the club to its former glories. I would never have left Athletic if it hadnt been for a club like United, Herreratold The Guardian. United is an opportunity you cant turn down. I left a different, unique club, with a special philosophy and incredible people. Its a club that few of us have had the privilege of playing for and, who knows, but for United I might have been there 10 years. But this is the biggest club in England, a new project, new players and a new coach. [There is] desire too: its been 25 years and the players are conscious of that. Theyre determined to put United back where it belongs. Herrera is set to make his Premier League debut against Swansea City at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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Why Van Gaals back three will make Manchester United vulnerable – but exciting

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:45 AM PDT

This season Louis van Gaal will attempt what no manager has achieved in living memory: to win the English league playing a back three. The Dutchman's 3-5-2 system helped his home country to the World Cup semi-finals. Now it will also be seen at Old Trafford. The decision is intriguing. Nobody can predict what will happen, but the Dutch World Cup campaign may offer some clues. Van Gaal is a renowned 'system manager' and, bar a couple of tweaks to accommodate individual traits, the 3-5-2 seen in Brazil will be largely the same as the one used in Manchester. Particularly interesting are its prospective clashes with more common systems, such as 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3. These strategic battles may throw up numerical advantages and disadvantages that could become key talking points throughout the season. Playing out from the back The chief reason for Van Gaal's decision appears to be the profiles of his key players. The 3-5-2 puts Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata in their natural positions. Other factors may be the lack of top-class wingers and the squad's array of attacking midfielders. But as a system, the 3-5-2 offers more. It boosts the side's ability to play out from the back – a defining feature of Van Gaal's philosophy. Facing a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, it requires the opposition team to commit three players to close down the centre-backs. Even if the striker and the two wingers press, the wing-backs can come deep and provide two more options. Additionally, Van Gaal will drop a central midfielder back to support the defence (Ander Herrera). In essence, this involves six players plus the goalkeeper in the ball recycling process. If the opposition does commit five or six players to press, this leaves huge gaps upfield for the attacking trio to move into. One precise forward pass and the move is on. Indeed, a vital part of Van Gaal's build-up strategy is to launch passes into the feet of the strikers, who can then combine or lay it off to the more creative attacking midfielder. The conditions for this are improved by the positioning of the back three. Stretching across the pitch, they have more angles to play forward passes than the centre-backs in a back four. In particular, the defenders on the outside get more opportunities to direct passes inwards to forwards in an advanced position. This increases the involvement of the forward trio, whose fluent movement and ability to combine in central areas is fundamental to the system's attacking plan. It also explains why Van Gaal wants a left-footed defender. Defensive worries When his side is without the ball, Van Gaal has tended to prefer a high defensive line and a pressure that starts halfway up the opponent's half. Facing a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, he often chooses to be brave: his wing-backs move high up to close down the opposition full-backs. This preference leaves three centre-backs up against three attackers. With many teams favouring wingers who roam constantly and drop deep, this can in turn drag the outside centre-backs far up the pitch. This was sometimes the case with the Netherlands at the World Cup, as exemplified by the two regulars, Stefan de Vrij and Bruno Martins Indi, against Brazil. There are further consequences. With the wing-backs pushing up, space is left for wingers to exploit. Agile and tricky players can set up one-on-ones against outside centre-backs better suited to defending the penalty area. This forces central defenders out of their comfort zone to commit challenges in wide areas. While De Vrij and Martins Indi were well-drilled having using the system at Feyenoord, similar scenarios pose challenges for Jonny Evans and Phil Jones. The demands placed on mobility and speed are significant. One warning of what may lie in store came through Raheem Sterling's display against Jones during pre-season, the winger creating constant danger by speeding into the vast gaps gifted to him. Van Gaal himself appears to have recognised this as a notable chink in the 3-5-2 system's armour. Facing Costa Rica at the World Cup – a team whose use of three centre-backs was well-documented – he switched to 3-4-3 and played Arjen Robben and Memphis Depay as pure wingers either side of Van Persie. He wanted to threaten the spaces out wide. These zones may well be what opposition managers will target when facing Manchester United. Yet Van Gaal will be aware of the havoc his attackers can create if his machinery clicks into gear. Many tactical battles lie ahead. It promises to be intriguing.

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Man City dashing, Spurs sharp and stylish - Fashion writer Hadley Freeman on the Premier Leagues new kits

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:30 AM PDT

Arsenal Here's a fascinating story for all FourFourTwo readers: I recently moved down the road from the Emirates Stadium. And here's an even more fascinating story: it was months before I figured out why there seemed to be so many fans of Emirates airlines in my neighbourhood. There's a fun little insight for all of you into the head of an American person who knows nothing about football. I'm presumably like an exotic species to you lot. A very annoying, stupid exotic species. Obviously, I am now a MASSIVE supporter of my local team but I can't say I'm much of a fan of their red and white colours. It's all a bit Where's Waldo on my local high street every Saturday, except Waldo is EVERYWHERE. The team has switched to Puma this season (hold the front page!) but my favourite thing about the kit is the rather retro yellow and blue away uniform, especially the sharp blue shorts. Sadly, because I live next to the bloody stadium, I'll only ever see the Where's Waldo one. Good to see everyone's still loving Emirates airlines. I wouldn't know I was at my Tube stop if I didn't see protestations of love for the Emirates. Aston Villa See, this is a bit more interesting. Red and blue – or, as Aston Villa fans seem to insist, claret and blue – is a more flattering combination than bald white and red, and I like how they've broken up the red on the shirts with some blue pin stripes. Someone, somewhere has thought about what looks flattering close up as well as far away. The away kit is a bit grimmer – it's looks a bit Barmy Army to me, or maybe I shouldn't say such things on a football website – and the ugliness of the Dafabet logo is put into sharper focus against the white. But hey, you can't have everything. And seeing as Aston Villa fans mainly come from Birmingham, according to Google, they presumably are used to looking on the bright side of things. Burnley Well, obviously the sponsorship logo across the front is disgusting, but moving on from that atrocity, the rest of the kit isn't a disaster. The collar is rather fetching with its little v-neck cut and the colours, while a wee bit boring, are perfectly flattering. The shorts are so freaking dull I'm not sure why they're even bothering with them. The team might as well run around in their pants, quite frankly, because these shorts do absolutely nothing. Still, the home kit is much preferable to the away kit which is shapeless, tedious and looks more like a referee's outfit than that of a player. B for Burnley, C for effort. Chelsea Come on, Abramovich - you got the roubles - I want to see something that makes me think: Ahh, St Petersburg at dusk, the Bolshoi, Red Square. This just makes me think, Hmm, Fulham Broadway Tube stop, Saturday night. The blue shorts are fine, but the top is horrible with all those weird stripes, like a TV test pattern gone wrong. The away kit is a bit jazzier – yellow and blue is pleasingly retro – although it is rather bafflingly similar to the old Brazil kit, isn't it? Seriously, Abramovich, could you really not afford to pay someone to come up with something original? Crystal Palace This is what we in the fashion business call 'A Bold Look' or, if anyone really hates it, 'A Strong Look'. I'm trying to think of a single person I know who would suit a tight top with wide red and blue stripes, let alone a tight yellow top, and am failing, sadly. But then, I must confess to being ignorant of who plays for Crystal Palace, so perhaps those south Londoners are possessed of a magical complexion that somehow works with these hideous shirts. Everton Now THIS, this I like. How can anyone NOT like a top that features the pleasingly elephantine logo for Chang beer? The only logo that would make me happier would be one for Andrex loo roll with the Golden Labrador puppies, but I guess that would probably get the Everton players less cred. The blue is a nice rich shade and the collar in a darker tone is an excellent style touch. And while I'm in a good mood here, can we have a moment of appreciation for the length of football shorts these days? It's just perfect, flattering to both players and fans alike. And can we now have a moment of silence as we all offer up a silent prayer of thanks that footballers' shorts aren't as short as they were in the 70s, or even 80s? Hull City What do you get if you cross a character from the Beano with Halloween? The Hull City kit! Yes, that's right, it IS hilarious because this kit is so ugly it actually made me laugh out loud at my computer. Shapeless top, meh neckline, mofo HIDEOUS orange and black stripes all down the front. But unlike some kits, which are just plain 'meh', Hull City is full-on ugly, and this makes me actually like it. It's like a dog that is so ugly that it passes the point of repulsion and becomes actually endearing. So what I'm saying is, Hull City is the pug of football kits. And look how popular pugs are now! Hull City, this is your year. Leicester City "King Power", eh? Bold claim there, Leicester, for a team that's only just moved up to the Premier League. I have to admit that my only association with Leicester is Adrian Mole and King Power sounds very much like the porn name Adrian would coin for himself and, I'm not going to lie to you, this pleases me enormously. Anyway, the home kit is fine, if slightly odd. I'm not sure what's going on with the extra seams across and down the shoulders, that collar is bafflingly high and tight around the neck, and all those sponsorship logos are giving me a headache. But the rich blue colour is nice and I rather like the gold accents. The away kit looks like something bad guys in an 80s film would wear and, the more I think about it that way, the less I dislike it. Liverpool I'm totally fine with this, and it's certainly an improvement on the previous kit, which was, to use the American fashionista term, fugly. I'm intrigued by the wavy body-shaping side seams which give the illusion of smaller waists. This sort of body-shaping was very popular in womenswear last year after Stella McCartney included them in her show. Are Liverpool players as sensitive about their bodyshape as McCartney's customers? Perhaps this sensitivity was behind Luis Suarez's anger problems? Frankly, the potential readings here are endless. Manchester City Now this is rather dashing, isn't it? You can't really go wrong with sky blue on a man, and the dark blue contrast on the sleeves and collar is even more flattering. Even the logo across the front manages to not be too offensive, seeing as it stays in the same blue colourway. The away kit is a bit more full-on: it rather reminds me of something from Iron Man, with its layers and vague sense of menace, and that's probably no bad thing in a football team. The little pennant inside the shirt announcing "We are City" has to be the last word in pointless naff, but, hey, what's football for if not to allow men to indulge in misplaced displays of emotion? Manchester United Hmm, Manchester United. I think I've heard of them. They're quite a big team, aren't they? Well, they're certainly big in the fashion stakes (see what I did there? Hashtag bantz!) because this kit is rather smart. I'm just going to ignore the hideous Chevrolet logo slapped in the middle of the shirts because it's upsetting (and pointless, surely. Don't Manchester United make enough money without having to prostrate themselves to Chevrolet? Apparently not) and focus instead on the good things. The black and white piping around the little collar and cuffs is positively Gallic – no, it really is, being decidedly reminiscent of France's kit at the last World Cup, and that is no bad thing. I love the single button at the neck, too. Very hipster. Who knew Manchester United was full of hipsters? I don't really understand why they got rid of all those cool details for the away kit, but then there's a lot about football I don't understand. Newcastle United Jesus H Christ, what can you say about this? That it's horrible? Offensive? Morally and aesthetically reprehensible? Yes, yes and yes. First and foremost there's the whacking great Wonga advert slapped across the chest. Is Newcastle United really so in need of money that they've had to sell out to this kind of high-interest pay day loan company? I don't know anything about football, but I've been following Wonga for a few years now and I remember when it was announced back in 2012 that Newcastle had signed a four year deal with Wonga for £24 million, various people spoke of their disgust, people such as Newcastle MPs and the Football Supporters Federation. And did Newcastle United listen to them? Did they heck. As one Newcastle MP put it at the time, "Some of the richest young men in Newcastle [will] wear shirts calling on the poorest to go to a legal loan shark." It's just gross. Even grosser than the horrible black and white stripes on the home kit and miserable grey on the away one. With all that Wonga money you'd have thought Newcastle United could have hired Karl bleeding Lagerfeld to design better kits. All in all, grim. Queens Park Rangers Ooh la la, this is 10 tonnes of awesome! I love a Breton top and now I really love a football team that has Breton tops for their kit. So Frrrrrrench, so camp, so very, very pleasing. The only things that would make it even better is if they all had to wear little berets and sport necklaces of garlic about their person. Surely Francophile Joey Barton would back me up on that one? I lived down the road from QPR for most of my adult life and it's only now that I've moved closer to Arsenal that I learn I was living in spitting distance from the best clad football team on the planet. As Des'ree would say, 'oh life'. The away kit, however, is hideous and depressing and should be burned at the stake. Southampton I'm not sure who in Football Kit Land thinks that fat garish stripes are a good idea, but they should be disabused of this notion, pronto. In all honesty, I mind these stripes a lot less than I've minded some of the others (side eye Newcastle United) but, let's be honest, they do make all the players look like giant candy canes. Which is sweet, and all, but is that really the look those rough and tough Southampton players want to go for? The away kit, unusually, is actually much nicer. In fact, I'd go so far as to call it "properly nice." Here the stripes are done much more subtly, which is how stripes should be done, and the dark blue with yellow piping is far more flattering that any red and white nonsense. The nice blue shorts in the away kit are also much better than the boring-as-mud black ones for the home kit. Maybe the two kits were designed by two entirely different people? Like, a proper designer did the away one and a blond one did the home one? Ahh, the mysteries of football. Stoke City God, what is there to say, really? Maybe just "hideous"? Will that do? Apparently not. Well, this is like a mix of some of my most hated things about the most recently described kits. Here we have the red and white stripes of Southampton, but even worse (that swooping around the shoulders and arms is like one of those annoying Magic Eye drawings) along with an advert for a company I personally dislike. The away kit is marginally better, if only in terms of colour, but it still looks like it was designed by a 14-year-old with a design app on his phone. Sorry Stoke. I don't know you, but I feel certain you deserve better than this. Sunderland God, more red and white stripes! Is this a thing in football? Or is it just that football kit designers only possess about three ideas at a time. This one's probably the best of the lot, mind, as the stripes aren't too wide (like at Southampton) or swoopy (like at Stoke), and there does seem to have been some actual thought that went into the design, with the nice contrast with the adidas stripes on the shoulders. The away kit is undoubtedly nicer, having wisely jettisoned the big stripes. Look, I know I'm probably insulting loads of football fans with my anti-stripes prejudice, and for all I know there's some beautiful football/stripes tradition. But I'm here to provide the style commentary so I can only be honest because, quite frankly, I'm a fashion bitch. Swansea City What a very bizarre looking kit. I admire the low-key style of it, sticking just to the club's black and white colours. But it's hard to know what to make of the giant gold logo for GWFX slapped across the front. It's sort of like hanging up a massive chandelier in a minimalist Swedish apartment. It just doesn't quite gel. But fine, I'm glad that Swansea is getting some money, and not from Wonga or an online betting company, so I'll try not to snipe too much about corporate sponsorship. I'm not a communist, you know (although I do work at the Guardian so, really, I am). The away kit is just strange, with the bifurication of the shirt between the red and the black. But the red and black do go better with the gold logo. In fact, there is something downright Chinese in the mix of the three colours, which might not have been what Swansea were going for, but it's what they got. Tottenham Hotspur Whoa, Tottenham's kit is kind of awesome! I love the yellow piping around the collar and cuffs, and the way it continues down over the collarbones. The blue stripe is nicely understated and the logos aren't too hideous and in your face. In fact, if someone told me that one of these kits was designed by a proper fashion designer, I would guess it to be this one. This kit rocks, and the dark blue shorts with yellow trim will look good on even the weediest of Tottenham fans. The away kit is a lot less interesting, but I can't really snipe at it, seeing as it is in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Bill Nicholson's death. I have to admit, I don't actually know who Bill Nicholson was, but I bet he was a lovely bloke. So, a sharp and stylish home kit and a respectful away kit. Well played, Tottenham. Well played. West Bromwich Albion You know, this isn't too bad, really. This is quite a clever way to do stripes – limiting the big ones to the sleeves, working in the adidas ones on the shoulders and then keeping them pin narrow down the front – without looking too, you know, stripey. Too "Hey! I'm wearing STRIPES." So well done to West Brom there. Admittedly, West Brom do have an advantage with me because I really love their little birdie logo, and I'm also rather charmed that they're all advertising accounting software across their shirts. How sweetly wholesome, how charmingly English. The goalkeeper's kit is, admittedly, atrocious, but even that has a sweetness to it. It's hard not to smile indulgently at a club that thought mustard yellow and purple would make a good combination. Bless you, West Brom. Bless you and your sweet birdie and possibly colour blind ways. West Ham United These are fine. That's sort of all that can be said about them: the claret red is fine, the sky blue details are fine, the blue shorts with red adidas stripes are fine in a retro sort of way, I'm not sure what the point is of the stripes on the shirt but they're not too offensive. I'm rather more taken with the away kit, which makes the wearer look like he's wearing a Miss America-style sash across his chest, plus the dark blue shorts are infinitely more satisfying. I don't know anything about football (have I mentioned that already?) but I get the impression that this kit reflects the team: inoffensive, perfectly acceptable, fine. And really, that's pretty much the most anyone can ask of a Premier League team these days.

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Van Gaal yet to meet with Ferguson

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:10 AM PDT

Ferguson spent a trophy-laden 27 years in chargeat Old Trafford beforesuccessor David Moyes lasted just10months in the job as United headed for a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last term - their lowest in the competitionshistory. Ferguson has remained a regular at United in his roles as director and club ambassador, but has not yet at the chance to meet the latest man to lead the club. Van Gaal told reporters on Friday:No, until this moment I have not found the time to do that [meet with Ferguson]but I do not know if he is at home. It was in the planning that I would see him in the US [during pre-season tour] but he called off and I have also been very busy with a lot of things. Manchester United begin the new season with a home fixture against Swansea City on Saturday.

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The players, managers and clubs you love and loathe: FFTs pre-season fans poll

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 09:05 AM PDT

Players admired 1Vincent Kompany 20% 2=Yaya Toure 10% 2= David Silva 10% 2= Alexis Sanchez 10% Also admired: Aaron Ramsey,Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain,Ben Davies,Juan Mata,Leighton Baines,Eden Hazard,Gary Cahill,Vito Mannone,Frank Lampard,Ross Barkley The most loved player was Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, who got 20% of the vote, half of which came from the two Merseyside clubs. "In a time where footballers are often viewed in a negative light, he comes across as both a consummate professional and a thoroughly likable guy," said Sunderland fan Chris Weatherspoon. City must be doing something right PR-wise, because Yaya Toure and David Silva both got 10% of the vote, while Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez also got 10%, despite having not actually played a Premier League game yet. There was a lot of love for former players, with shouts for Ben Davies from Swansea, Vito Mannone from Arsenal and Gary Cahill from Burnley. There was even one from a prospective future club: "Ross Barkley is a quality player and hopefully he'll be playing for Chelsea one day," said Blues fan Asa Clark. Players hated 1John Terry 20% 2= Ashley Young 10% 2= Kevin Nolan 10% 2= Joey Barton 10% Also hated: Didier Drogba,Lee Cattermole,Charlie Adam,Frank Lampard,Peter Odemwingie,Jonny Evans,Ramires,Wayne Rooney,Ryan Shawcross,Jack Wilshere Somewhat less popular is Chelsea skipper John Terry - surprise, surprise - who was voted the most hated player by 20% of the fans polled. "Fantastic player, but horrendous human being", says Hull fan Greg Whitaker, although Palace fan Kevin Gunner insists that "good defenders don't do 'last ditch'." Manchester United's Ashley Young ("He's always been a diver and that won't change" - Ed Mackey, Leicester), West Ham's Kevin Nolan ("I've seen that stupid chicken dance far too often" - Sam Dobson, Southampton) and Twitter's Joey Barton were all Public Enemy No.1 with 10% of our fan panel. Other villains included Lee Cattermole, Wayne Rooney and Charlie Adam ("A nasty piece of work on the pitch. Let's get Sandro after him this season" - Mike Wynn, Tottenham). Clubs admired 1Everton 35% 2Southampton 20% 3Arsenal 15% Everton are clearly (almost) everybody's new second favourite team, as a whopping 45% of our panel voted for them as the rival Premier League side they most admire. "Everton have managed to remain a well-run, likeable club with less of the unpleasant 'brand' awareness of the other top teams in the division," says Stoke fan Rob Doolan. "At this rate I may as well get my season ticket for the Lower Gwladys, paint my room blue and get Baines on the back of an Everton home kit," adds Aston Villa fan Ryan Walmsley. Also popular among the neutrals were Southampton ("I'd like them to regroup and do well this season after they've been raided over the summer," said Spurs man Mike Wynn); Arsenal ("Great ground, consistent decision making and not just been pumped with money from an owner" - Rob Fisher, Everton) and Crystal Palace ("Amazing what they did last season" - Asa Clark, Chelsea). Clubs hated 1. Manchester United 25% 2= Tottenham 15% 2= Aston Villa 15% 3= Man City 10% 3=Chelsea 10% Despite their struggles last season, it seems few rival fans have taken pity on Manchester United. The Red Devils led the way in our most hated club poll, with 20% of the vote. "They were like the Empire from Star Wars when I was growing up," says Palace fan Kevin Gunner. "Cheating b*stards," adds Hull fan Greg Whitaker, more succinctly. Also clearly unpopular with 15% were Tottenham ("Their fans are eternally deluded" - Daniel Harrod, QPR) and Aston Villa ("I found it difficult to get through Aston Villa games last season when watching as a neutral" - Mike Wynn, Tottenham). Mega-rich Manchester City ("Simply because of the arrogance shown over the FFP issue" - Tony Attwood, Arsenal) and Chelsea ("I'm not a fan of their tactics and Mourinho's antics when they fail to win" - Matt Phillips, Swansea) didn't get much love either, with both getting 10% of the vote. Managers admired 1Roberto Martinez 40% 2= Brendan Rodgers 15% 2= Jose Mourinho 15% 3= Sean Dyche 10% 3= Arsene Wenger 10% When it came to naming the top flight's favourite dugout dweller, there really was no competition. With 40% of the votes, smiley Spaniard Roberto Martinez earned our fans' affections after guiding Everton to fifth, and putting the frighteners up Arsene Wenger Co. "He worked wonders last season – and he's a lovely guy," noted besotted Hull fan Greg Whitaker, while Man United nut Bryan Waters lamented: "Wish we'd picked him and kept David Moyes at Everton." Bah. Messrs Rodgers and Mourinho shared 15% of the votes each, though the latter is more hated than loved, apparently (more on that shortly). Newbie Sean Dyche sidled up to Arsene Wenger with 10%, with Stoke fan Rob Doolan hailing the former as "surely some kind of necromancer" after guiding Burnley to promotion. Managers hated 1Harry Redknapp 25% 2Jose Mourinho 20% 3Alan Pardew 15% And so, to the Premier League's most detestable chief. With a healthy 25% of votes, the tabloid press might be surprised to hear that FFT's fans have welcomed back QPR boss Harry Redknapp with folded arms. "The car-window interviews, Sky Sports News fawning over him, describing every player as 'triffic' and doing an utterly terrible job at QPR but getting away with it in the play-off final. I could go on," fumes Villa's Ryan Walmsley, stopping short of showing us his personalised dart board. He's not alone, mind. "The manager for people who don't know football," says Kevin Gunner of Crystal Palace. Not far behind was that man Mou with 20% of the share, our mob happily pointing to the Portuguese prince being a "cry baby", "crass, classless" and "infuriating". Alan Pardew was unpopular (even with his own club's fan), and Liverpool boss Rodgers afforded some special words from Man City fan Daniel Burke. "Somewhere, a provincial Tesco Extra is missing its smooth-talking, self-aggrandising store manager," he mused. Token votes were reserved for Alan Irvine (Burnley), Sam Allardyce and even Nigel Pearson (Hull, if you're wondering). Your 2014/15 Premier League table If your team hasn't done well, don't blame us... 1Chelsea 2Manchester City 3Arsenal 4Manchester United 5Liverpool 6Everton 7Tottenham 8Newcastle 9Stoke 10Crystal Palace 11West Ham 12Sunderland 13Southampton 14Hull 15Swansea 16QPR 17Leicester 18Aston Villa 19West Brom 20Burnley So there you have it. Agree? Disagree? Let us know over at @FourFourTwo.

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Van Gaal: Van Persie has no chance of playing

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 07:36 AM PDT

The striker returned to pre-season training late after reaching the World Cup semi-finals, under Van Gaal, with the Netherlands. And, asked whether Van Persie might be fit enough to play on Saturday, Van Gaal said:"No chance.He has to train." The comments echo the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach's statement from earlier this month, when he predicted Van Persie would not be ready. "Robin wants to play every game, I know that, but so do the other 30 players in the squad," he said at the time."But players have to train and Robin needs a full training regime behind him before he can play again," Big-money signing Luke Shaw will also miss out on Saturday after picking up a hamstring injury, but Van Gaal is confident of filling the gap left by the teenager. "We played in the USA [pre-season tour] with Reece James andAshley Young in that position [left wing-back]," he reminded reporters."I'm not worried." Sam Johnstone, Antonio Valencia, Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck all join Shaw in being unavailable for the Premier League curtain-raiser through injury.

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Thrashings, scraps and sacking after sacking after sacking: How the 2014/15 Premier League will unfold

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 04:30 AM PDT

August In what can only be described as a flying start to the season, Arsenal set the early pace in August, top after three games with a 100% record, 43 goals scored, 13 goal of the season contenders and 76 self-satisfied selfies posted online. Despite being a clever man who's been here before, Arsene announces this could be the start of something special. "This could be the start of something special," he announces. West Brom hit early problems when the Premier League neglect to send a referee to their home game with Sunderland, having forgotten they exist. "This was a regrettable error and we have written to apologise to the manager whose name temporarily escapes me," says Richard Scudamore. "This will not happen again." Less happy goings on at Turf Moor, where new boys Burnley react to the 3-1 home defeat to Chelsea in their opening game of the season by sacking manager Sean Dyche. "We'd like to express our gratitude to Sean for helping us reach the Premier League against all odds and every expectation," reads a statement. "But now we are here we understand that this is the sort of nonsensical knee-jerk reaction we should be making." They replace him with some costly foreign cat we've never heard of. Aware that the transfer window closes at the end of the month, Manchester City's Yaya Toure complains again that his club has been neglecting him. "Would a few statues of me be too much to ask," he harrumphs to Paris-based periodical Le Football. "I am but a slave on my £250,000 a week net plus generous bonus scheme." And having failed to land Edinson Cavani from PSG, Chelsea sign Ricky van Wolfswinkel on loan from Saint-Etienne, where he is on loan from Norwich. September Three games into the new season is long enough for the knees of power-crazed plutocrat owners to start trembling, but with more than half the managers teetering on the brink, it's hard to know who gets chopped next. The shadowy Far Eastern syndicates' money is on West Ham's Sam Allardyce and Aston Villa's Paul Lambert, with the miserable Scot a shoo-in if Randy Lerner offloads the club to a rich man who dreams of mid-table mediocrity. But nobody's safe and unless Newcastle's Alan Pardew, Southampton's Ronald Koeman, Swansea's Garry Monk and whoever's managing West Brom this season make convincing starts to the season, and all evidence suggests they won't, then they too can expect the big brown box before September's out. Meanwhile, Yaya Toure turns out for Manchester City's game against Arsenal in a Paris Saint Germain shirt, Frank Lampard neither scores nor even plays in the Manchester City-Chelsea game because it was only ever a muscle-flexing publicity stunt, and on the back of a six-game unbeaten start to the season, Louis van Gaal erects a large statue of himself to stand out front at Old Trafford. It features a lucky groin that glows gold when polished. Over at The Hawthorns, West Brom's game with Crystal Palace is called off when the referee fails to show. Richard Scudamore promises this won't happen again but admits there's a lot of the season still to go. October Manchester United's impressive start to the season ends with a muscular dismantling by Chelsea, who leapfrog Everton and Liverpool at the top of the table and likely stay there for the rest of the season. The Louis van Gaal statue is swiftly dismantled and for the first time this season, the auld ghost of Mr Ferguson appears back in the stands. Elsewhere, with this being October, Arsenal's treatment table will be filling up nicely by this point, which will derail their title charge. Not entirely unconnected, Arsenal possibly lose 6-1 at Chelsea this month. And Yaya Toure turns out for Manchester City's home game against Tottenham with a heavy ball and chain on his ankle. "My agent says it's a metaphor but I don't know what a metaphor is " he shrugs, before scoring four times in a 5-0 rout. Sergio Aguero adds a fifth but breaks both legs and in the process and is ruled out for the next six months. November Purely out of habit, by November Daniel Levy has sacked Mauricio Pochettino, despite the Tottenham boss making steady progress rebuilding a squad ruined by AVB's largesse last summer. Mr Levy later admits he did it pure for the buzz, man, or words to that effect, and drafts in QPR first team coach Glenn Hoddle and Top Of The Popssidekick Chris Waddle to see it through to the season's end. Meanwhile, overseas, Barcelona's dangerous new striker Luis Suarez finally makes his long awaited debut against Almeria in La Liga and scores 12 times. "This is the best league in the world," he lies, "and I belong here, la." December In his second game, Barcelona's dangerous new striker Luis Suarez bites the referee's ear off during the defeat to Sevilla, then falls to the floor holding his hamstring. He's stretchered off to the mad house. In better news: Woop woop! It's the official Christmas party season for the Premier League's finest, and at the official Manchester United XXX-mas Bash, professional party planner Chris Smalling plays host once again. Fancy dress is again the theme, but Smalling leaves his hilarious suicide bomber outfit in the closet and comes dressed as a footballer instead. Giggsy arrives dressed as his brother, Wayne Rooney as an overgrown baby and Louis van Gaal turns up late, dressed as himself and with steam billowing from both ears. Party – and indeed season – over. Also this month, in football, Arsenal possibly lose 6-1 at Liverpool. January New year, same old story. At the behest of Sky Sports News 4D HD, QPR boss Harry Redknapp spends most of the month 'doing a David Pleat' – i.e. crawling along in his car with his window wound down (younger readers, ask your dad, but don't let your mum hear). "I ain't got no plans to sign no-one or nuffink in the window, y'know, cor blimey guvnor," barks Arry's marf. "Fellas I'd tell you if I did, dontchaknow, gorblimey 'er indoors and so on." Meanwhile, as the transfer drawbridge slowly lowers, Southampton sell every member of their squad and replace them with their under-16s. Peter Odemwingie drives Yaya Toure to Paris to sign for PSG, but nobody answers the door so he drives him home again. As part of his radical rebranding of Stoke City, Mark Hughes swaps Peter Crouch for Lionel Messi. And at the stroke of midnight it's confirmed that QPR swooped late to sign 27 new faces, including 12 players they sold last January. "Just to freshen fings up, y'know," says Arry. Also this month, in football, Arsenal possibly lose 6-1 at Manchester City. February During another emergency board meeting to discuss a tail-off in performances, Alan Pardew accidentally tells Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley to "shut your noise you f****** old c***", then accidentally headbutts him to the ground. "I did not mean any damage to the guy," he shrugs, rearranging his quiff. "I tried to push him away with my head but I should not have done that. I apologise to everyone. I should not have got involved." March To the business end of the season, and the month starts with Arsenal winning yet another piece of premium silver – this time the Capital One Cup, with Arsene's men coming from 3-0 down to beat Shrewsbury on penalties. Arsene is beaming. "This could be the start of an exciting new future for this club," he says, pausing only to suck on one of Jack Wilshere's crafty snouts. We fully expect Chelsea to have officially sewn the league title up around now, with Ricky van Wolfswinkel scoring 38 times. Sealing the title away at Liverpool on March 21 would be fitting, purely to witness Jose Mourinho running down the touchline in his underpants at the final whistle. Elsewhere, in Europe, the Champions League is cancelled at the quarter-final stage and the trophy sent to Real Madrid, just to save time. Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini is therefore sacked for having officially failed, but Sven makes it known he's available. April Meanwhile, back in the Premier League, and after a long and tasteless legal battle, Hull City owner Assem Allam is declared free to change the club's name to whatever he fancies. So he changes it to Hull Tigers, then in the dead of night changes it again to Assem Allam AFC, accompanied by a new club crest depicting Allam wrestling the tiger with his top off. May West Ham's Andy Carroll is finally declared fit in time for the final game of the season, a meaningless time-filler away to Newcastle United, but his return lasts all of six minutes – a dislocated pony tail ruling him out until December. The final Premier League table is confirmed, with an impressive Everton finishing second behind Chelsea despite Romelu Lukaku scoring no goals all season. Manchester City finish third and Liverpool steal the last Champions League place ahead of Arsenal and Manchester United – at which point, Louis van Gaal announces he can no longer be arsed at his time of life, but Sven makes it known he's available. At the bottom, Burnley, West Brom and Leicester are all relegated. Or Burnley, West Brom and Swansea. Or possibly Burnley, Swansea and Aston Villa. Or QPR. Definitely Burnley, you have to fear, and probably Swansea. And Yaya Toure is rewarded for his loyalty with a new 12-year deal at Manchester City. Probably.

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Mata eyes perfect No.10 role with Man United

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 03:15 AM PDT

The Spaniard made 15 appearances for United, scoring six goals, after a £37.1 million move from Premier League rivals Chelsea in January. Often deployed in a wide role by David Moyes last term, Mata has spent much of pre-season operating in the hole behind Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney as Louis van Gaal implements a 3-4-1-2 formation at Old Trafford. And Mata hopes a return to his natural position will bring the best out of him as United look to get among the upper echelons of the league table. "I hope it will be perfect for me," he told the Daily Mail. "I feel comfortable in that position. I can play as a midfielder defensively or as a striker offensively if that's what I have to do. "But my mission is to assist and score. I can do that from this position and I hope I can have a great season. But more importantly it has to be a great season for the team. "This system is difficult and it's difficult to adapt. You have to be very fit, for example. "You have to be focused but, if you manage to master it, you can put lots of pressure on the opponent and you can hurt them with the ball. "I think everyone knows that Dutch football likes to play a good way, a way I like to play and watch. This manager wants passing and movement and triangles. It's how I play my best." United will get the Premier League season under way in Saturday's early kick-off game against Swansea City.

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The FourFourTwo Preview: Man United vs Swansea

Posted: 15 Aug 2014 02:01 AM PDT

Billed as The beginning of the mend: can LVG succeed where Moyes failed? The lowdown And so it begins. United's fans have mourned the 2013/14 season in which silverware became an impossible dream; they've seethed as hated rivals found both success (City) and acclaim (Liverpool). Now the club steps into a new era. Enter King Louis: a tactically-robust and mentally-indomitable figure with all the credentials to be a hit. This, then, is LVG's first test, and boy, are there questions to be answered. The first is whether he can motivate an under-performing squad into a force capable of challenging for titles. Pre-seasons hardly lend themselves to cast iron predictions, but several encouraging performances - twinned with whispers on one or two exciting potential transfers - already hint at an improvement on United's Annus Mareus. The reality is this, though: the title is between City and Chelsea; United are a long way off. If only Swansea shared the same problems. Having secured safety from the drop last year, rookie manager Garry Monk has since endured the headaches brought on by struggle, not to mention a transfer window in which his players have actively thrust themselves into the marketplace. Lob Swansea's defensive frailties into the mix and this season could be another peek towards the abyss. Defender Ben Davies and goalkeeper Michel Vorm have already jumped ship to Spurs (the latter replaced by Arsenal benchwarmer Lukasz Fabianski); striker Michu has gone out on loan. Meanwhile, striker Wilfried Bony used his World Cup playing hours to pique the interest of any suitors currently looking to strengthen their attacking power. Should he stay, Bony's working relationship with impressive Colombian winger Jefferson Montero will prove decisive in Swansea's effectiveness this season, and that, sadly, will determine the security of Monk's position. Team news Much of the chatter surrounding United's pre-season fixtures have focused on personnel and formations under the new manager. Van Gaal is likely to stick with a 3-5-2 shape that has featured Phil Jones and Chris Smalling at the back, though new signing Luke Shaw has been ruled out for a month. Meanwhile, captain Wayne Rooney has looked hungry despite his underwhelming World Cup. But with Robin van Persie having only returned to training, the job could fall on Danny Welbeck to partner him, despite being left out of United's last pre-season game through minor injury. It's clear that Monk is intent on strengthening Swansea's back-line this summer, having spoken to Napoli about their highly-rated Argentinean centre-back Federico Fernandez. The good news, should this deal be completed, is that Fernandez holds an Italian passport and will sidestep any work permit issues. The bad is that he's only recently returned to training. Ashley Williams will line up alongside either Kyle Bartley or Jordi Amat in the middle. Midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson, newly signed from Spurs, will add some creative thrust. Key battle: Wayne Rooney vs Ashley Williams History suggests Van Gaal's a manager who's open to bringing former heroes in from the cold. His willingness to invest in Van Persie (having dropped him in his first match as Holland manager) later paid dividends. And so it could be again with Rooney, where working with a trusting manager will bring the best out of him. Williams, meanwhile, will have to be at his industrious best to lock down United's attacking pivot. Swansea's rearguard is weak; weaker following the departures of Davies and Vorm. Should Rooney and his team-mates arrive at this game in effervescent mood, Swansea's defences will be breached. The managers Interesting times for Monk, these. Having been brought in from the playing personnel to save Swansea from the drop, his successes have been rewarded with a stint at the helm for another season. Problem is, times are tough on Swansea and their easy-on-the-eye football wilted under the air miles of Europa League football last year. It's up to Monk to develop some steel and style within his squad if they're to avoid another fraught campaign. Where to begin with LVG's task? Prickly enough to cow a media pack and shrug away the external pressures that seemed to weigh heavily on David Moyes, his job is now to remould United into a major player - both at home and abroad. He has the smarts for sure, though it's safe to assume Van Gaal's ambitions will be in the long term: 2014/15 is a platform on which to build; next year is where his work will be best judged. Still, someone might need to warn Old Trafford's Twitterati. Facts and figures United have won 6 of their last 9 on the opening weekend of the Premier League season (D2 L1). Danny Welbeck has scored 3 times in his last 2 league games against Swansea. Swansea ended last season with a goal difference of zero, only the fifth time a Premier League club has done this (1992-2014). More FFT Stats Zone facts FourFourTwo prediction LVG and Rooney to get off to a flier. 3-0. Man United vs Swansea LIVE ANALYSIS with Stats Zone document.getElementById('tag20140815122117').innerHTML = returnText_tag20140815122117();

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