Are Southampton The "New West Ham"?

This summer we could see the beginning off the end for Southampton as they've sold most of their star players in Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, and Luke Shaw. Not to mention teenage prodigy Calum Chambers whose officially gone to Arsenal and will be unvieled. Southampton dubbed the "New West Ham" for producing a talented crop of British in recent years who have and are going to have promising futures in the game. Let's not forget the past players that they've had under their wings such as Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale and Alex Oxalade Chamberlain. But could they face the same daunting implications as being relegated this season, for selling their best players and talents that have come up through the youth ranks like West Ham did in 2003?

Just like Southampton a decade ago West Ham who were also known for playing attractive football and producing the English players of the future and stars that will dominate the Premiership for years to come. Such as Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Glen Johnson and Frank Lampard. But when they too sold most of their spine of the team were relegated. We all know that these days compared to the past it's hard to replace one quality player let alone most of the team. Southampton will find it hard like West Ham did and will certainly be relegation candidates fighting to stay in the league this season.  New boss Ronald Koeman has works on his hands if his team are to play Premiership football come next year.

The days of selling and replacing players are becoming more harder for a small team like the Southampton's of this world as I've previously mentioned. If Koeman doesn't think fast and start buying not only will he have a small squad that's generated 89 million in these past weeks. it will expose the lack of quality and depth that they had last season. And we all know what happens in the Premier League when you don't have quality and depth in your squad. Yh your finished! I wouldn't want to be in the director, scouts or the chairman's shoes right now, late nights, stress days and immense pressure, because I would've shot my self if it was me in their shoes.

Gerrad The Great Or Another English Flop?

Liverpool captain  Steven Gerrard announced his retirement from international duty yesterday after a poor World Cup with England this summer. He cited he wanted to look after his body due to his age and  wants to be in the right shape for the Champions League and all domestic fronts for the Kop next season. Gerrard will go down as one of the English greats and one of the most all rounded center midfielders off this generation even though he could never replicate his Liverpool magic to the international front.

It will be sad to see a player of his quality and leadership leave the England fold but what is England's loss is Liverpool's gain.  Gerrard can leave the pressures of England duty behind and go back to being one of the most dominating center mid's in European football bar his age. We may not have seen the swashbuckling and gung ho attacking Steven Gerrard in the all red Liverpool shirt in an England shirt but. We cannot deny his passion and work rate he gave in a 3 Lions shirt.  He changed his game, sacrificed his style of play to accommodate Frank Lampard whose also had a disappointing England career minus his exploits for Chelsea. Both he and Gerrard are similar players but Lampard was more offensive and were tipped to be big game players for England but both failed to shine an England shirt even though they were promised to be world beaters at the international stage. Not many players of today are willing to change their preferred position and game for fellow team mates and managers so lets tip our hats off to the Gerrard for that and was a shield for England in that midfield.  Lets not forget the assists and attacks he's started off and how crucial he was to England qualifying in major tournaments during his 14 year stint. He may not have been effective like he has been for Liverpool. But the 114 cap legend did have a part to play in England's best results in the past decade and England qualifying in this years World Cup.

Steven Gerrard one of the best players ever to play in his position. Captain Marvel who played with his heart on his sleeve like a battling soldier. The modern day English player with the mind and passion of an old style English player who wants to win and be the best where money and fame is not his priorities like most English players of today. The stigma will always be there of him not playing at his best levels just like he's done at Anfield season in and season out. But we can say that about Thierry Henry in a France shirt, Lionel Messi for Argentina and even ex Liverpool great John Barnes but even he is still applauded as one of the best wingers ever to play the beautiful game in this country. But what ever he has or hasn't done in an England shirt is that his kind and character as a player are a few or extinct in the English game and his quality will be missed all hail King Stevie G.

What A World Cup

I've been following football for the past 12 years and in those great, sad, stressful wonderful years I've seen my beloved Arsenal win the league unbeaten, I've witnessed great players like Messi, Zidane, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho grace the footballing stage and players bite other players (I wonder if Barca will put a muzzle on Suarez next season?). But nothing compares to what a great spectacle the 2014 World Cup has been. 2006, 2010 were poor tournaments but 2014 gave us entertainment, shocks, twist and turns and highs & lows that a Hollywood script writer couldn't pan out.

First of all let's say congrats to Germany who won the global showpiece on Sunday. There great defending, immense team work and mesmerizing attacking play that won them the tournament after 12 years of pain of going two finals and two semi-finals of tournament football. The Germans have produced great talents through their systems and from great work from the German FA and Bundesliga in making sure Bundesliga teams play their youth players and given them a chance. Gratitude and props must be shown to Low and Klinsman who have raised this team since 2004. If only Gregg Dyke could take note but that's for another blog. Germany have produced top talents and will be the new Spain and will be a force to reckon with  in world football.

Like every tournament there's always the stand out player just like in 1982 we had Italian striker Paolo Rossi who had controversy surrounding him before the summer tournament. As he came back from a two year ban because of a betting scandal. We can never forget about Ronaldo who came out on top in 2002 where he lead the once mighty Brazil to their filth and last World Cup victory. But this years stand out player was Monaco's Colombian ace James Rodriguez who won goal of the tournament and the golden boot award which took Columbia to the quarter finals. It's a shame he didn't win player of the tournament which undeservedly went to Messi. This tournament was about attacking play and goals and many attacking players having great World Cups that contributed to that such as Robben, Musa, Joel Cambell and Neymar.

With every World Cup there always that moment of controversy that scars the tournament. Maradonna being sent home in 1990 for drugs use, Roy Keane's spat with Mick Mcarthy that ended his World Cup in 2002. This year we had Luis Suarez biting Italian defender Chiellini and earning him a 4 month ban from all contents of football. But the real downsides of every World Cup is the best players under performing Ronaldo being the most shocking I give him effort for playing through injury, even though it could've been career threatening. But most neutrals, would have liked to see a fit Ronaldo destroying his opposition at will like he does for Madrid week in, week out. Messi's magical runs and scoring 2, 3 even 4 goals a game and Ozil showing why he was the star man in 2010. But it's impossible to see the top 10 best players in the world all play there best in a World Cup minus that it was a great show piece and just showed why football is the beautiful game of two halves.  

   

New Era, New Arsenal Squad

Winning the FA Cup has brought a new era and sense of calm to the Emirates. Nine depressing years of no trophy finally came to end over two months ago. And if Wenger want's his team to make a serious title challenge and be a force in Europe next season he needs to do what his rivals have been doing for the last 20 years of this Premiership Era, and that is buying big. He cannot be stubborn, like he has been in previous seasons by investing in youth who are not ready for the demands of English football and not replacing the star players that have come and gone at Arsenal.

The Professor has already signed Matthew Debuchy from Newcastle which has showed signs that the Arsenal tactician is ready to spend and buy established quality players. Debuchy is Frances 1st choice right back and the 25 capped right back is no stranger to the Premiership as he has established himself as one of the most accomplished players in the league. Arsenal could be sorting out their striker crisis with Sanchez reportedly flying to the capital to have talks with the North London club as he has already snubbed Liverpool and chosen the red and white of London as his preferred destination. Balotelli and Remy more main targets that Arsenal would love to purchase. As Wenger looks to bolster the front line to claim back their reign as one of the the top teams in English football. Wenger also needs to add one or two quality midfielders that come in and do a job for the team, as last season Arsenal fell when top players such as Chamberlain and Ramsey were injured Arsenal didn't have anyone that can step into their shoes.   

This could be a summer where Arsenal can take advantage and sign quality players of their rivals. Man City with the UEFA regulations can only spend on a limit, Man United could struggle to buy players as they are not involved in any European competition next season. And I doubt any one would wanna go to Chelsea and earn their wages on the bench or let Mourinho destroy their careers just ask Shaun Wright Phillips and Juan Mata what I'm talking about. Arsenal can really take the bull by the horns in the transfer market and hit next season running if Monsuer Wenger plays his cards right. Or it's just another season where the Gunners are linked with everyone but get no one (No offense to Giroud or Ozil they haven't represented great buys, have they now?) or they buy one or 2 players and bring in freebie who are past their careers.