It has been a season of two Arsenal’s in the 2013/14 campaign and the recent form of the squad suggests it could a permanent worry for the Gunners.
Everton are still favourites to make it into the top four this season, meaning Arsenal would miss out on the Champions League for the first time since 1997.
Arsene Wenger has come under massive pressure, and even a penalty shoot-out victory over Wigan on Saturday the fans are still split over whether the Frenchman should stay.
Here is why we believe Arsenal may be set for a tough battle to get back into the top European competition if they miss out this season.
Lack of strength in depth
Injuries. A classic cry from supporters and pundits when things get tough. Every team gets them.
Some can deal with them, just look at Man City who have been without the likes of David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero for large parts of the campaign.
Arsenal have a real lack of depth to their squad which has been evident in recent weeks and is one issue that has to be addressed. Soon.
Teams below them will definitely improve
Having been outclassed by Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool this season – Arsenal have spent the majority of their time since Christmas looking over their shoulders.
Everton will be desperate to make their current form stick, by adding key players to their permanent squad.
Also, Manchester United and Tottenham will only get better when new signing come in and gel (and in the case of Spurs, they get the knowledge of a top boss this summer.)
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Wenger’s stubborn transfer approach
When Chelsea desperately needed to improve, they spent some cash and duly improved.
Liverpool and Manchester City have done exactly the same, leaving Arsenal drifting behind with Everton, Tottenham and United all closing the gap on them.
Wenger surely can’t claim that Mesut Ozil’s signing was anything but a one off – maybe with three or four more of those big money deals in the bag, Arsenal can become the force they once were.
Following two relatively stable Premier League finishes, Sam Allardyce has been charged with the challenge of propelling West Ham into the top half of the table next season.
That would certainly impress the disillusioned Upton Park punters, who have fallen out of love with Big Sam’s trademark brand of attritional football.
But why not take it one step further? Why not aim for European contention in the form of the Europa League – a competition that would truly affirm that the Hammers are back in the big-time.
Just to prove it can be done, we at Football Fancast have conjured up a list of SIX signings that could see the East London club qualify for Europe.
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MAROUANE FELLAINI
Following a catastrophic first season with Manchester United, summed up perfectly in the below vine…
…it’s unlikely £27million flop Marouane Fellaini will survive the change in regime at Old Trafford this summer.
But it wasn’t long ago the Belgian lankster was regarded as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders for his mixture of physical dominance and netting prowess.
Just in case you need reminding, here’s the highlights from his 11-goal-five-assist 2012/13 campaign at former club Everton…
//www.youtube.com/embed/-3Q_lYpsBOk
And he netted this vital header for Belgium against Algeria last week:
Furthermore, measuring in at 6 foot 4 and renowned for his confrontation, physically assertive style, the Belgium international would be an ideal fit for the Hammers’ direct brand of football.
And the Express believe he could be available for around £15million this summer…
WILFRIED BONY
If West Ham are to propel themselves into the European standings next season, signing a dependable goal scorer this summer is a must for Sam Allardyce.
Fitting the Hammers’ unique brand of attritional football perfectly is Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony.
Since joining the Welsh side from Vitesse last summer, where he had previously claimed 37 goals in his ultimate season, the 25 year-old has found 16 goals and four assists in 34 league outings. Here are some of the highlights from his inaugural Premier League campaign;
//www.youtube.com/embed/L_zt5akDKGs?autoplay=1
The Ivory Coast international also netted this ferocious header against Japan last Sunday…
…but struggled to have the same impact against Colombia…
The powerful 6 foot striker is rated at around £20million by the British tabloids, and an Upton Park switch has been mooted before.
But due to Bony’s sensational form last season, summer suitors are hardly in short supply…
MIRKO VUCINIC
//www.youtube.com/embed/Sa-NA7hHgzI
Another ‘marquee’ forward option the East Londoners should be strongly considering is Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic.
Having made just four starts in Serie A, the 30 year-old is widely expected to leave the Old Lady this summer, and it’s believed he could be available for just £6.5million.
The Montenegro international isn’t the most dependable goal scorer, with returns of 21 goals in 72 Serie A outings for Juve and 46 in 147 at former club Roma.
But Vucinic better famed for his aesthetic style and long-range finishing, as demonstrated in the video below…
But there will be a wealth of competition for his signature this summer…
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG
Rather surprisingly, despite netting 16 times in his debut season at Westfalen, including this stunning free-kick against Mainz…
…Borussia Dortmund are reportedly prepared to sell Gabon international Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.
Often dubbed “The African Neymar”, the 25 year-old boasts a mixture of pace, trickery and netting prowess, as shown in the video below…
//www.youtube.com/embed/pHCGF7MYIQw
Rumours of a £6million release clause only make Aubameyang a more relishing prospect from West Ham’s point of view.
But any interest from Upton Park could be eclipsed by the likes of Chelsea and Roma, whom along with Newcastle have both been linked to the former St. Etienne forward.
Yevhen Konolpyanka
Hot off the press this morning, the Hammers have been linked with an audacious bid for Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester United target Yevhen Konolpyanka.
The three-time Ukrainian Player of the Year has been in sensational form for Dnipro this season, especially in the Europa League…
…and also netted this wonder strike against England at Wembley back in 2012:
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The 24 year-old winger comes with a £12million release clause and would certainly rectify the blunted efforts of West Ham’s current widemen.
And although many of his summer suitors can offer European football, bringing Konoplyanka to East London would show huge ambition on Sam Allardyce’s part.
MATHEIU VALBUENA
Measuring in at just 5 foot 6…
France international Mathieu Valbuena isn’t what you’d describe as a natural fit to West Ham’s attritional style of football.
But the Marseille midfielder is a great technical talent, as shown in the video below…
//www.youtube.com/embed/yU18ZQi5KaA
And having publicly stated the desire for a new challenge, is widely expected to leave Stade Velodrome this summer…
He’s valued at around £10million by the tabloids, but a number of European clubs will be interested in the 29 year-old’s services.
Sixty nine minutes in and things were looking bleak for Newcastle United and Alan Pardew. Two nil down against Hull City at home, the Magpies manager knew that unless his side could display some quality that had been lacking throughout the beginning of the Premier League season, they would end the weekend in the same position as where they started it – moored to the bottom of the table.
More urgently, however, the final 20 minutes of the game presented Pardew with possibly his final chance to prove his worth as a Newcastle manager; ridiculed, lambasted and embattled since the start of the year which has seen the Magpies win only five league games, the Londoner has for a long time been a strong favourite for the sack, and another anaemic defeat may just have been enough to placate the placard-wielding ‘Sack Pardew’ brigade, whose presence at St James’ Park – though less visible than expected – was nonetheless prominent.
Yet a crucial, if somewhat desperate substitution saw Newcastle’s knight in black and white armour return from the wilderness and save the Magpies, as well as Pardew’s job for another week at least. Papiss Cissé’s introduction in the 69th minute – his first appearance for the club since April due to injury – rejuvenated a Newcastle side on the brink, and after pulling a goal back within four minutes of entering the fray, Cissé doubled his tally and completed a brilliant Newcastle fightback with three minutes remaining.
With his superb cameo appearance, Cissé rescued his manager from almost certain defeat and doom, and it may very well be the case that Pardew will have to call upon the Senegalese to help him out again in the future. Though the 2-2 draw must have felt like a victory to many Newcastle fans, there is still a strongly hostile, mutinous air around St James’ Park. Pardew remains in the last chance saloon, with most members of the Toon Army furious that Mike Ashley, the resident landlord, hasn’t thrown him out already.
Cissé’s return to full fitness could not have come at a better time for Pardew. Despite being unusually busy in the transfer window, the Magpies failed to address a glaring lack of quality in attack, and Siem de Jong’s recent injury served only to further weaken Newcastle’s already toothless strikeforce.
The Senegalese will feel like a new signing for Pardew. Although his record over the past two seasons has been poor, scoring just ten league goals in 60 appearances, Cissé is known to have the quality to succeed in the Premier League. His first 14 games for the club since his arrival in January 2012 saw a highly impressive return of 13 goals, with two stunning strikes against Chelsea – the second of which was awarded the BBC Goal of the Season – being the highlight of a memorable half-season on Tyneside. This suggests that Cissé is very much a confidence player who thrives on quick success, yet struggles if he cannot find the net early on in the season.
Cissé’s brace in his first appearance of the new campaign is therefore promising, and the striker may have the opportunity to add to his tally when Newcastle face Crystal Palace in the League Cup on Wednesday. The London club may field a weaker side given that Premier League survival is the priority, so Cissé – if selected to play by Pardew, of course – will be hoping that a goalscoring cameo against Hull City can turn into the beginnings of a streak against Palace.
The paucity of effective attacking options available to Pardew means that Papiss Cissé has suddenly become one of Newcastle’s most important senior players in their bid to climb up the Premier League table. If the Senegalese can stay fit – and most importantly score goals with regularity, which he has proved that he can do at this level – then Alan Pardew may yet steer the Magpies to stability, which seemed unthinkable just a week ago.
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“Now we have to play against Chelsea and in the Netherlands they say ‘that is another Kuche’, or another ‘biscuit’.”
Okay then, Louis. The weird expression came from the mouth of Manchester United’s very own boss after his side’s West Brom draw, referencing the weekend clash with Chelsea.
With the quotes being… well, odd, we thought we’d have a look back at some more strange managerial utterances.
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Jose’s eggs…
“In the supermarket, you have eggs class one, class two, class three. Some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.”
Jose talking about… wait, we have no idea what he’s talking about!
Rafa talks priests and sugar…
Rafa talks priests and sugar…
“Every single press conference is worse than the last one. Some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar. He doesn’t understand, maybe he has been in the job for not so long.”
After being accused of wasting money by Anfield successor Roy Hodgson, Benitez responded with this wonderfully odd retort.
Eric Cantona and seagulls…
“When the seagulls follow the trawler, it’s because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea. Thank you very much.”
Okay, he’s not a manager, but we couldn’t let this one slip by. It’s of course Cantona speaking to journalists after being hit with a ban for his kung-fu kick.
Holloway makes it in!
“To put it in gentleman’s terms if you’ve been out for a night and you’re looking for a young lady and you pull one, some weeks they’re good looking and some weeks they’re not the best.
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“Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi. She weren’t the best looking lady we ended up taking home but she was very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much, let’s have a coffee.”
The king of the weird managerial speech. Holloway has a decent back catalogue, and this is at the top.
Wenger compares Reyes to Miss World…
Football – Arsenal v Wigan Athletic – FA Barclays Premiership – Highbury Stadium – 05/06 – 7/5/06Arsenal’s Jose Antonio Reyes appeals to the referee after being brought downMandatory Credit: Action Images / Tony O’BrienNO ONLINE/INTERNET USE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE +44 207 298 1656.Tony O’Brien
“It’s like you wanting to marry Miss World and she doesn’t want you, what can I do about it? I can try to help you, but if she does not want to marry you what can I do?”
Wenger defends his inability to keep Jose Reyes happy…
Arsene Wenger has hinted that he will not be bringing anybody to Arsenal in January as long as Laurent Koscielny recovers from his injury woes.
The Gunners have been linked with a host of players in recent months, and Aaron Ramsey’s latest fitness blow has served to accelerate talk that the Frenchman will be forced to bring in a few new names next month.
A series of injury issues have depleted Wenger’s squad already this season, which has contributed with their 13-point gulf from the top of the Premier league table, with big names such as Jack Wilshere, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, as well as Koscielny – who will miss the Newcastle game on Saturday – all having been absent for large spells.
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Even though the north London boss has previously hinted that a new centre-back is a priority, he’s now revealed that he is not desperate to do business if his star defender can shake off his problems:
“If everybody is fit and available, we don’t need to go on the transfer market. But we have to consider that there could be a question mark with Koscielny’s fitness and we have to go out on the transfer market.” He is quoted by the London Evening Standard.
“He has a calf strain, that might be linked with the fact he has maybe overprotected his Achilles, I don’t know. [The inflammation] has not gone completely but on one side it has gone, on the other side not completely. If he did not have a calf strain he could play with his Achilles.
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“There will be very little activity, because all the big clubs want to keep their players, and it will be as usual quiet in the first three weeks and a bit frenetic in the last three or four days.”
It’s hard to dislike Santi Cazorla. The little Spaniard is a magician on the ball, hard working off it, can score goals and looks like a lovable woodland creature in a Disney film. But the classy ‘No. 10’ may not be around for much longer, with Atletico Madrid thought to have all but agreed a move for the pass-master.
The proposed swoop would not kick in until this summer and has not yet been agreed with the Gunners, but we think that, despite Santi’s quality, selling could make sense… and here are FIVE reasons why.
The wrong side of 30…
30 is not really old in the grand scheme of things, but for an attack-minded footballer, anywhere north of this milestone is seen as ‘end of career territory’. Cazorla has been excellent since the turn of 2015, but by the time 2016 rolls around he’ll be 31, and that burst of pace he has over 10 yards now may be slightly reduced, which is vital in the final third. So, getting rid now makes sense for Arsenal.
Take the money and run
Although a fee is likely to be a reduced one, with Santi set to enter the last year of his contract this summer, any income is worthwhile. The Spaniard, 30, will hold very little value if the club look to keep him, with the potential for a free transfer lingering in the background. A fee for Atletico Madrid to pay is, as of yet, unknown, but income is income…
Plenty of other options
With Arsene Wenger’s love of the ‘No. 10’ player, Arsenal have a fair few options for the line of three behind the striker. From pacey wide-men such as Theo Walcott and inside strikers like Danny Welbeck right trough to classy playmakers of Mesut Ozil’s quality and more defensively adept stars in the mould of Aaron Ramsey, the Frenchman has a wealth of options for almost any set of circumstances. Although Cazorla is a top class player, his exit will not cause a seismic shift, nor will it leave Wenger particularly light.
Blocking young players
With Arsenal possessing a good reputation when it comes to bringing youngster through, it comes as little surprise that a number of emerging players are on the edge of the starting XI. Videos over the weekend showed the crazy skills of Chris Willock, while Gedion Zelalem is an option in the attacking midfield line. Alternatively the chance to allow Ramsey to step forward may allow young January addition Krystian Bielik to get some game time.
Chris Willock doing dirty things vs Milan: pic.twitter.com/Np2pSVauPZ
— Danskin (@danskin1886) February 15, 2015
Midfield re-shuffle needed
Even though Arsenal have been impressive in 2015, there is still the feeling that the Gunners’ midfield lacks a little balance. While flair players in the final third can unlock defences, the Londoners lack a true presence in the middle of the park, with Wenger, perhaps, a slave to the sheer level of attacking talent he has. Axing Santi to free up space for an enforcer may make some sense then, and could be an option.
Not again? Afraid so Liverpool fans, Daniel Sturridge is once again set for a spell on the sidelines after being sent home from England’s training camp.
Roy Hodgson cannot be blamed this time, though, with the striker picking up a torn muscle in his hip during the loss at home to Manchester United on Sunday – which may cost the club top four football, and has left them facing three games without Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel.
Initially considered to be minor issue, scans have revealed that Sturridge’s problem could leave him out of action for a month, in which time he will miss vital Premier League and FA Cup games, to add to the five months he’s already sat out this season.
The skilful striker may have hit in excess of 30 goals in just over 50 outing for Liverpool, but is it time for the Merseyside club to think about cutting their losses this summer? Maybe, and here are FIVE reasons why…
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Cannot be relied upon to stay fit
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Since joining Liverpool in January 2013 – just over two years ago – Sturridge has suffered 14 injuries. FOURTEEN. He’s already missed five months of action this term, which put a serious strain on Brendan Rodgers’ squad, and was absent for large chunks of 2013/14 – although Luis Suarez’s eternal fitness covered that well.
It’s not as such Sturridge’s fault that he picks up these knocks and strains, but there comes a point when Liverpool must realise that he cannot be relied upon to get them through an entire campaign.
Should command a decent fee
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Despite his injury woes, Sturridge is English and still relatively young at 25. These factors mean that he could well attract a decent fee from an interested rival. Chelsea appears to be a no-go after his fruitless spell there, while Manchester City may be a tricky one given that he left them as a youngster.
A move abroad could be an option, with more and more English players testing their skills outside of the Premier League.
Sterling can play the role
Top scorer for Liverpool in the league with six goals – we’re not counting Steven Gerrard’s penalties and free-kicks – Sterling has proven himself capable in a variety of roles. Sturridge’s injury woes saw Rodgers thrust him into a slot as the central striker, and although he lacks the physicality to occupy centre-backs, his movement and pace have come to the fore.
Aside from his run in the ‘No. 10’ last season, Sterling’s best form has come as the focal point of the attack, making it a long-term role to consider, and one that may make him rethink his stance in regard to contract negotiations.
Doesn’t seem suited to the 3-4-2-1
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Sturridge’s return earlier this year saw him thrust into Rodgers’ new system. Recovery may be an issue preventing him from reaching the highs of last term, but the 25-year-old has appeared to be a little off the pace of late, with his movement not quite there. The goals have come, albeit not in a prolific nature, yet his performances haven’t quite been of the level Reds and had hoped for.
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Options out there
As ever, this summer is likely to be a busy one on terms of transfers across Europe. Should Liverpool go shopping for a forward, there will be lots of choice.
Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan looks a decent bet for an side in need of a pacey, tenacious striker, while Palermo’s Paulo Dybala is not dissimilar. Karim Benzema remains a target, and there has even been talk of a shock move for Manchester United’s struggling loanee Radamel Falcao.
When Manchester United striker Robin van Persie left the field against Swansea after picking up an ankle injury, things looked ominous for the Red Devils.
United slumped to a 2-1 defeat in Wales that day, as the Swans recorded a memorable double over Louis van Gaal’s side leaving their hopes of securing Champions League qualification in some doubt.
Still struggling for form and with one of their most influential players out of action, not many could have foreseen the run that United would put together from that moment on, but the turnaround has been incredible.
Six straight league wins has not only put the reds within touching distance of a return to the Champions League but has also seen them leapfrog rivals Manchester City and move to within a point of second place.
And while at first Van Persie’s injury was seen as a blow to United, unfortunately for the striker his spell on the sidelines has actually proved to be a blessing in disguise.
Van Gaal’s side have picked some fantastic results in recent weeks with impressive victories over the likes of Tottenham, Liverpool, Aston Villa and most recently Manchester City. Even more impressive has been their performances in these games with the manner of victory a huge positive given their struggles earlier on in the season.
12 goals in the process have put to bed their problems in front of goal, with United finding a way to cope without the underperforming duo Radamel Falcao and Van Persie.
Prior to his injury Van Persie was considered the main man upfront for the Red Devils, although is form and fitness had been brought into question following some below par displays.
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There were calls for him to be dropped from the side, but luckily for Van Gaal the injury to the Dutchman forced his hand and there was no need to upset one of his star players.
The problem Van Persie now faces however as he nears a return to action, is that their might no longer be a place for him in the side given how well they have coped without him.
Wayne Rooney has taken centre stage in attack leading the line brilliantly and forming a tremendous partnership with the likes of Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young. These four have been pivotal to the club’s success over recent weeks and on current form they can’t be dropped.
Not long ago it would have been unthinkable to say this, but United have actually improved since Van Persie has been out of the side, and as a consequence the future of the United forward is now in some doubt.
The Dutchman continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the summer, and while this would have unimaginable a few months ago, it’s now a possibility that won’t trouble many United fans who have seen just how well the side can cope in his absence.
It’s clear he is still a world class forward and on his day can prove a match winner. His lack of form and fitness can probably be attributed to a long summer which saw him feature heavily in Holland’s World Cup campaign.
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Given a full pre-season to rest and recuperate it would be no surprise to see him return to his best, an outcome that would surely benefit the team given the extra European games they will need to accommodate in their season.
But while he still has a big part to play at Old Trafford, the last few weeks mean he is not considered as important as he once was and the side have shown they can cope more than adequately without him.
Does a fully fit Van Persie make it into United’s starting 11? On current form you’d have to say it’s unlikely.
So far so good for Louis Van Gaal. He’s achieved what he set out to achieve without really setting the world alight. He’s convinced without ever really being convincing.
But that’s a good thing, and there’s more to come.
Building a football team is a progressive thing. Jose Mourinho came back to Chelsea and worked on the overhaul in the first season and saw the benefits in the second. His first season back was itself a case of convincing without ever really being convincing. Chelsea came third, were kind of in a title race and made it to a Champions League semi-final. It sounds like an impressive season, but there were too many slip ups against the lesser sides – it was close but no cigar. Still, it was progress.
This season Chelsea are back to where Jose Mourinho feels they belong. They’re champions and they’re not going to stop there, they’ll strengthen their side.
And that’s the model Van Gaal will surely follow. One season to steady a rocking ship, add some more quality where he needs it – a striker and a defender should surely be on the list – and then challenge for a title next season. Sounds simple doesn’t it?
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We can be fairly sure that United are going to spend big when the transfer window opens. It’s United’s way of acting like a big club. They’ve worked so hard to build up one of the most lucrative business models in the world – or you can call that billions’ worth of debt if you’re of the jealous type – and now that they are in trouble they can use that money to bail themselves out. So Van Gaal has a considerable war chest to dig into this summer.
Despite the well-publicised defensive failings last season, Louis Van Gaal is probably more worried about his attack than his defence. United’s defensive woes were partly caused by a myriad of factors. Youthful inexperience, individual errors, injuries and maladaptation to Van Gaal’s formation and tactics are all blame-able to various degrees.
Their attacking failures are a little more difficult to pin down. United suffered three consecutive defeats against Chelsea, Everton and West Brom as their season came to a grinding halt. But worse than the defeats was the fact that United didn’t score in any of those games. They had 60%+ of the possession and created a multitude of chances but never rippled the net fabric. For a team that has spent so much on attacking options, that’s simply unacceptable.
The stats don’t lie either. United’s goal difference of +25 is worse than all three teams above them, they scored 62 goals – almost 10 fewer than Chelsea (73) and Arsenal (71), and 21 fewer than Manchester City (83). Defensively, though, it’s a better story. United conceded just five goals more than Chelsea and a goal fewer than City.
In an attacking sense, it’s clear to see that United are struggling. For all of the wonderful possession stats, United’s domination of games has been sterile. They’ve offered a lot of passing around the final third but little penetration, even resorting in the end to lumping it to Fellaini with varying degrees of success.
An interesting stat is that United are 6th in the chances created table. Last season they managed to create 391 chances (interestingly, QPR managed 385), but that’s a whole 141 behind leaders Manchester City. Arsenal and Chelsea managed a similar amount to each other, and are still miles ahead of United.
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And that’s where United need to strengthen. It’s important to score the goals. If the defence looks weak it’s probably because United camp in the opposition half for so much of the game. The whole team is just shifted up the pitch a few yards, so one bad pass allows a counter, and Premier League teams are all adept on the counter. But when you have 60%+ of the ball possession, the opposition doesn’t get many chances to counter.
The progress United need to make is up front, they need to create chances and they need to convert the ones they do make. That’s why Van Gaal seems to be blindly focussed on attackers at the moment. Surely that’s where they’ll strengthen this summer.