Some random mid-week musings on the Premier League…
Ozil a major boost for Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger finally made a move in the transfer market, after standing still all summer, by signing German international Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a reported $66.15-million fee before Monday’s deadline.
This was the kind of marquee signing that long-suffering Gunner fans had been crying out for, although some question the logic of securing a midfielder when they have roster holes elsewhere on the pitch – another forward and defensive reinforcements would have been nice.
But Ozil is a world-class player, a midfield maestro and one of the best creators and playmakers in the game. He also makes those around him infinitely better, and the German will become the fulcrum of the Arsenal attack – just watch as Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott feast on his sublime service, and how he links up with Santi Cazorla.
Ozil doesn’t address Arsenal’s pressing problem, but he does make them a much better side, and the German would have been an ideal pickup for a Manchester United team in need of midfield creativity. Securing Ozil’s services was a MAJOR coup for Wenger.
Bale transfer saga is over – Thank goodness
Has there been a transfer soap opera that has been as anti-climatic as Gareth Bale’s move to Real Madrid? There was an annoying inevitability to the entire saga — that Bale would bail on Tottenham — making the flood of daily updates all the more agonizing and excruciating to endure.
Two points here.
One, Real Madrid doesn’t need him. The Welshman makes Los Blancos better, but it’s not like they were hurting to begin with. Real Madrid is all about flashy play, and style over substance, so it hardly comes as a surprise that they would break the bank to sign another attacking player instead of, say, a defensive or holding midfielder, or a stay-at-home centre back.
Two, well done to Spurs. They paid Southampton seven million pounds for Bale in 2007. Six years later they sold him on for 85.3 million pounds – an incredible profit margin. That they were able to fleece Real Madrid for an astronomical fee (Bale is an excellent player, but he’s not worth that amount of money, nor should he be the most expensive player in history) speaks not only to the Spaniards’ propensity to overpay, but also to Tottenham’s astuteness in the transfer market, buying players cheap and selling them when their market value hits a peak.
Weekend review: Did you miss any Premier League action this weekend? Fear not! Read John Molinaro’s comprehensive weekend in review blog, with video highlights from all nine matches.
Liverpool goes from strength to strength
A perfect 3-0 record to start the season and an impressive win at Anfield over Manchester United, all accomplished while Luis Suarez continues to serve out his suspension. Not bad, Liverpool. Not bad at all.
What’s been most impressive about Liverpool’s run (Daniel Sturridge’s fine form, notwithstanding) is that their performances have improved each time. Somewhat flat against Stoke on opening week, the Reds were decidedly better away to Aston Villa and were full value for the win over David Moyes’ United side.
Banking a full nine points after three weeks is a major boost for the Reds and their hopes of a top-four finish – it gives them some leeway and room for error, while also forcing the usual title favourites to chase them for a bit.
Not content to sit on their laurels, Liverpool completed three separate deals before Monday’s transfer deadline that bolstered their roster.
Victor Moses (on loan) gives the Reds more options up front and takes some of the pressure off of Sturridge and Suarez, while the permanent signings of youngsters Thiago Ilori and Mamadou Sakho shows that Liverpool is thinking long-term, while at the same time adding some much-needed defensive cover.
Selection headaches ahead for Mourinho
No doubt Brazilian midfielder Willian is a wonderfully-talented footballer, and worth every bit of the $50 million US transfer fee that Chelsea paid to lure him away from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala. But was this a signing that Jose Mourinho really had to make in order to strengthen his side?
The Special One already had a plethora of attacking options in midfield (Lampard, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, van Ginkel and De Bruyne), to say nothing of the fact that German international André Schürrle (another summer signing) can play on the wing of behind the main striker, just like Willian.
Mourinho will be hard-pressed to accommodate all of these star players and keep them happy, especially in a World Cup year when they will be desperately trying to impress their respective national team bosses.
Surely, that the cash they splashed on Willian would have been better invested in strengthening the centre of defence or signing another striker who isn’t named Samuel Eto’o?
European Football Weekly: Sportsnet 590 The FAN’s Dan Riccio, Derrick Brandao and Gord Brunt take an in-depth look at the beautiful game on the European Football Weekly podcast. For more details and to listen to past shows, CLICK HERE
Fellaini vs. Herrera
So, Manchester United spent the better part of this summer pursuing Cesc Fabregas, Thiago Alcântara and Ander Herrera, only to end up with Marouane Fellaini. What’s worse the Red Devils paid Everton 27.5 million pounds for Fellaini, four million pounds more than his expired buyout clause.
So United had to pay extra for Fellaini after their first choice (Herrera) fell through. Wise piece of business, that.
If David Moyes was looking for a subtle midfield talent who could pull the creative strings in the mould of Fabregas or Alcântara, then they would have been much better off with Herrera. Nothing against Fellaini. The Belgian is a box-to-box midfielder who gives United plenty of power and dynamic play in midfield.
But Herrera is the better creative option, possessing great technical skills and is magnificent in possession. The Spaniard also isn’t afraid to mix it up, and is known for his fearlessness in the tackle and helps break up the play of opposing teams.
Herrera was among the most fouled players in La Liga last season, a testament to his deftness with the ball at his feet, and his flexibility and quick thinking allows him to thrive even when under pressure, thus opening up valuable space for teammates.