In a match where victory was essential for either side to have a realistic chance of progressing from Group B, Mexico prevailed 1-0. Oribe Peralta delivered the only goal in the 61st< minute, finishing an easy chance from a rebound off a Giovanni Dos Santos strike. The first half saw Mexico attack freely down the flanks with the two wingbacks terrorising the Cameroon defense. Unfortunately, the real story of the opening 45 minutes was the officiating. On two occasions Dos Santos was denied a goal by an incorrect offside decision. Both teams lacked sharpness in the opening period and the defending did not inspire confidence, although, Hector Moreno made several vital interventions for the CONCACAF giants.

The second half continued in a similar fashion. Cameroon could not sustain possession in attack and Mexico continued to probe and penetrate effectively. Once Mexico had the lead Cameroon faded like the referee’s white spray in the Natal rain. Stephane Mbia was close to the only exception, as he was not only powerful but distributed the ball intelligently. The closest Cameroon came to hitting the back of the net was from a deflected free kick from Benoit Assou Ekotto which just drifted wide of the right post.

Tactically, Mexico operated with a back three system with the two wingbacks pushing forward.  Using a back three against a quick strike side like Cameroon seemed risky. However, the African side failed to transition quickly from defense to attack, allowing the wingbacks to recover and make the back 3 a back 5. In attack, Samuel Eto’o was essentially a lone ranger. The Cameroon heat map demonstrates this quite vividly. Eto’o is no longer equipped to forage alone upfront and if Cameroon is to have any chance against Brazil and Croatia they will have to find a way to link the midfield with their talisman.

Cameroon will feel that their tournament is close to finished after just 90 minutes. It was an uninspired effort from a team capable of more. In contrast, Mexico put a turbulent qualifying campaign behind them with performance that ranged from functional to inspired. The final score could have been 3-0 which would have been a result with greater shine. In any event, The Mexicans are now well positioned in what will likely be a battle for 2nd place with Croatia.

Man of the match: Giovani Dos Santos. The former Tottenham player could have had a more memorable game if key decisions had gone differently. He played with pace and made incisive runs behind the Cameroon defense. With Dos Santos, Peralta and Javier Hernandez, ‘El Tri’ do not want for options in attack.

Money can by many things and it certainly has for Roman Abramovich. Ironically, all the money he has spent on managers has come at a cost. He will never be able to recruit a manager who demands complete control of a club or one who has ambitions to build for the future. Most importantly, it will be difficult to attract a manager who wants security to complete his vision. In other words, Pep Guardiola will never be the manager at Chelsea.

If all the stories are to be believed, he is the man Abramovich is targeting to be the next permanent manager at Stamford Bridge. Surely Guardiola will have no interest given the club’s recent history of firing managers on a whim. Guardiola walked out of Barcelona to rest and regenerate, and to wait for the perfect opportunity to present itself. That opportunity is not a short stint and a big payday in West London.

There are two positions in the Premier League that would attract the Spaniard; Manchester City and Manchester United. However, with regard to both clubs there is the question of timing. It is hard to imagine Sheikh Mansour firing Roberto Mancini having just extended his contract for 5 years, even with his financial resources. Mansour seems to admire the structure Sir Alex Ferguson created at United, and he is attempting to build a similar dynasty. Moreover, the owner has invested in a plethora of behind the scenes projects and clearly has faith in Mancini to oversee the process. Nevertheless, that could all change if Guardiola indicated a desire to come to the club. In addition, a failure to win the league coupled with further embarrassment in Europe could lead to serious internal inquiries.

With regard to United, Guardiola is unquestionably the preferred man to replace Ferguson. His vision is similar to Ferguson’s in terms of team building and thinking about the long-term. It is evident that Guardiola wants to think in terms of years, not months. The fit is there, but so is Ferguson. Unless this is to be Ferguson’s last year in charge, Guardiola will have to accept a position elsewhere. One wonders if it might be the right time for Ferguson to step down. It could very well be the final season for Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand. If Guardiola wanted the job, Ferguson could step aside with his trusted servants and let him take over. Guardiola would have the opportunity to inject new blood, and take United in a new direction.

This is a very EPL centric view of Guardiola’s options. Other big European clubs, particularly in Italy, will definitely be tabling offers. Chelsea will be among the suitors but for all of their success during the Russian regime there does not seem to be the required philosophical compatibility. Apart from the right fit, timing is everything. Whether that will prohibit the Manchester clubs from signing the greatest free agent manager remains to be seen.

Traditionally, November’s first week is an important one for the English Premier League. Managers new and old are being evaluated, having overseen approximately 10 matches for which credit or blame must be assigned. Every year managers at the foot of the table are under pressure, although, the manager under the most scrutiny this season is probably Brendan Rodgers. There is nothing more enjoyable than the analysis of a manager who is so fond of analyzing himself. About a quarter of the way through the season, it is time for an interim report card on the ‘Liverpool Project’.

In total, the Northern Irishman has guided his team through 18 competitive fixtures, with a record of 8W-5D-5L. This is respectable, although less so if one discards Europa League qualifying fixtures against the almighty FC Gomel and Hearts. Looking at the Premier League alone, Liverpool is ranked 12^th (2-4-3) with a goal differential of -2. Based purely on results, Liverpool has performed less than satisfactorily in domestic competition.

It is unfair to claim Liverpool has faired poorly in the EPL without looking beyond the results column. By breaking down their record into 3 sections, a more accurate depiction of how Liverpool has competed can be established. Firstly, Liverpool has played 3 matches against the top four sides from last season (the Manchester clubs and Arsenal). They took one point from those matches, a draw against City where they could have won if not for a defensive error. They lost to United via a penalty when they were already down to 10 men. Only the 2-0 home loss to Arsenal could be considered poor.

Secondly, in matches against second tier teams (West Bromwich, Stoke City, Everton) Liverpool has 2 draws and a loss. Liverpool was denied a victory against their local rivals due to an incorrect offside call. An away draw against Stoke was respectable, however, the 3-0 reversal at The Hawthorns was substandard.

Thirdly, Liverpool has faced three teams who will likely struggle this season (Sunderland, Norwich, Reading). In this segment, the Reds have an impressive 2-1-0 record. The question remains, what can we deduce from this breakdown?

If it is assumed that Liverpool is a second tier team, less assumption than fact in this writer’s opinion, they have faired as expected. Against the strongest sides Liverpool have generally performed well but failed to get results. Versus second tier teams they need to improve. Lastly, Liverpool has excelled against the also-rans.

Twelfth place is not a satisfactory position for the club, even with the expectation Liverpool will not ultimately finish in the top 6. However, if each fixture is evaluated individually, Liverpool has competed at a respectable level on the field under Rodger’s leadership.

In the transfer market, Brendon Rodgers has again performed adequately. Joe Allen, for example, has seamlessly fit into the team. It may be early days for Fabio Borini, but £11.7 seems a steep price. 2 shots on target in 5 games is not the best of starts. In general, judgement on the other recruits will have to wait as they are mostly prospects.  On the transfer front Rodgers is already an upgrade on the man he replaced, but with the purse strings tightened he has a difficult task.

Evaluating Rodgers depends entirely on your expectations of his squad. Advancing to the next round in Europe and an 8^th place finish in the EPL would meet most reasonable expectations. Given a lack of quality depth or a true front man, this is a team with considerable limitations. Rodgers will need to invest, but soundly, to strengthen his squad.  Investing soundly is not a historical trait of the January transfer window, but it will be an important period for Rodgers. Failure to secure squad depth soon will derail his progress.

So far, a C+ grade seems a fair evaluation. The results have been underwhelming, but the level of performance has been solid. The completion of the Being: Liverpool documentary should relieve some media pressure, particularly for Rodgers who starred but erred on screen. Hopefully he will have some silverware to place next to his beloved self-portrait upon the completion of his project.

Shambolic is the only way to describe Liverpool’s season so far. Admittedly, they have won a trophy and adding the F.A. Cup in May is a distinct possibility. Silverware is never a bad thing, but a 7th place finish in the Premier League would be. For a club with its resources and history, it is an embarrassment. With the money Kenny Dalglish has invested in the transfer market, Liverpool should be doing better. While there is a litany of excuses to placate the fans, from off-field distractions to this being a “transitional” season, there really is only one genuine problem with the club. Namely, the majority of players purchased within the last two years are simply not good enough for a club with winning ambitions.

Players including but not limited to Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Charlie Adam are not capable of pushing Liverpool to the summit of the Premier League. They are Premiership quality players, but they do not have the requisite skills to challenge perennially for the big trophies. Despite this considerable problem, and the clear struggles the manager is having with his squad and the media, Liverpool will be back on track in no time.

If you consider the fact Liverpool has dominated the majority of their matches, there is reason for optimism. The most recent fixtures notwithstanding, Liverpool has generally outplayed and out chanced their opposition, only to be punished for their flagrancy in front of goal. If a quality striker or two can be brought in to supplement Luis Suarez’s play-making, this problem should be solved.

On the defensive side of things, Liverpool has conceded the fewest goals in the league outside of the Manchester clubs. Their backline should not undergo significant change this summer, so more of the same can be expected in the next campaign.

With regard to youth, Liverpool appears to have one of the deeper pools of talented prospects. Jay Spearing, John Flanagan, Martin Kelly, and Jonjo Shelvey are all very promising. Some of these players are already making a positive impact with the first team, and they only represent a few of the elite youngsters in the club’s ranks.

As such, it would be very surprising if Liverpool struggled again next season. Amidst the gloom of a pair of reversals against lowly QPR (lost 2-3) and Wigan (lost 1-2) it might be difficult to see, but the future looks bright. If Liverpool can end this season with some positive results in the league and another trophy, the uneasiness amongst the Kop may disperse. However, even if Liverpool maintains current form, the club is only a quality player or two away from competing with the top 4 once again.

The managerial merry-go-round is one of the unpleasant facets of Premier League football. Too often, the board members of clubs are quick to sack a manager due to a string of poor results or because of outside pressure. The objective of dismissing a manager is, of course, to effect change. Immediate results are often improved, but the song generally remains the same. Conversely, there are the untouchables; the managers who are rated so highly or have achieved so much that they will never have to take a trip to the gallows. This is not a new problem, but one that has become more apparent in recent times. Two men that highlight this interesting state of affairs are Arsene Wenger and Kenny Dalglish.

With regard to Wenger, it is hard to argue that Arsenal should begin the search for a new manager, and this is not an attempt to advocate that course of action. He is an excellent manager that has worked wonders for his club — once upon a time, at least. Arsenal has not improved in recent years while clubs around them have. Arsenal and Manchester United used to represent the upper echelon of the Premier League. Systematically, Chelsea, Manchester City and now Tottenham have replaced Arsenal as a top 4 side. Wenger has said that a Champions League place is his target. At this point, it looks unlikely.

The frustration for Arsenal fans, and supporters of the Wenger football ethos, is that the same problems have persisted at the club for upwards of five seasons. Namely, a lack of veteran know-how, little graft in midfield, little quality on the bench, and inconsistent defending. At some point he must be held accountable for either being unable or unwilling to change. However, despite the fans’ and Robin van Persie’s reaction to a substitution this past weekend, Wenger remains untouchable.  “In Arsene we Trust” is a slogan in limbo, lost somewhere between a statement in faith and a joke.

Dalglish’s situation is different because he has not been the manager of Liverpool for a long period of time. However, he has managed long enough to be evaluated. Clearly, Liverpool has improved under Dalglish. The club’s record under him has been measurably better than the Roy Hodgson era. However, the degree of improvement, when compared with money spent, has been substandard. Hodgson spent approximately $37 million, and obtained a winning percentage of 42% in 31 games. Dalglish has spent $179 million, and achieved a winning percentage of 51% in 51 games. A more telling stat, is that Liverpool’s winning percentage this season is 40%. Given the resources at his disposal, Dalglish’s tenure has not been overly successful. Dalglish was supposed to restore the glory and the aura at Liverpool. Yet the club has been plagued by inconsistent play on the field and controversy of it. There are no cries for his dismissal. Would that be the case if he was not an Anfield legend?

It is difficult to say whether either club would benefit from a managerial change. Especially Liverpool where Dalglish deserves more time. Dalglish will probably be afforded that privilege so rarely given to managers, because he is untouchable. In a results oriented business, when you are a manager of a top club, you have to be at least challenging for a top four finish. If that is the bar by which Dalglish and Wenger are to be evaluated, they are failing. Interestingly, Andre Villas-Boas is the most maligned manager of a top team. Villas-Boas has his club sitting in fourth, five points ahead of Arsenal in his first season as manager. How he must envy Dalglish and Wenger.

For the managers of Ireland and England, all problems are relative. After England secured a place in the European Championships with a draw away to Montenegro, one might have expected a reprieve for Fabio Capello and his men. An undefeated qualifying campaign is usually grounds for celebration, or at least contentment. Instead, England is under more scrutiny now than before the campaign began. How Giovanni Trapattoni would love to have such problems. While Capello faces questions surrounding team selection and formation, the only questions directed toward Trapattoni revolve around qualification itself.

Tuesday, the Republic of Ireland must at least draw Armenia in Dublin to keep their qualification hopes alive. An Armenian victory would see the Irish crash out and the former would secure a spot in the playoffs. However, a draw or win for the Republic would see them finish second in Group B behind Russia. Finishing first place is a possibility, albeit a remote one. A Russian loss at home to minnows Andorra, coupled with an Irish win, would see Trapattoni’s men top the group. Regardless of the outcome in Moscow, Ireland and Trapattoni are under immense pressure to at least make the playoffs.

Unfortunately for Ireland, securing a point against Armenia is far from a formality. In qualifying, Armenia has already drawn Russia, defeated Slovakia 4-1 in Zilina, and pushed the Irish all the way in a 1-0 home defeat. If Ireland’s victory against Armenia is any indication, the match at the Aviva Stadium will be intense.

The Armenians are enjoying a rich vein of form, riding three consecutive victories into Dublin. Ireland’s recent results look good on paper as well, having registered four consecutive clean sheets. However, the performances have not been awe-inspiring and therein lies the problem for Trapattoni. In the Irish press, Trapattoni has been consistently criticized for omitting technically gifted footballers in favour of those willing to play in his defensive system. One can assume caution will be the watchword for the Irish Monday night. Trapattoni built a squad that is difficult to beat, but also one that plays a dour brand of football. In a result oriented business that’s fine, as long as the results are there. If Ireland fails to do the minimum against Armenia, the desire of the press to oust the Italian will rise from a background noise to a crescendo.

At the beginning of qualification, if Ireland were offered their present scenario they would have undoubtedly accepted it. Yet, everything is poised for a classic Irish collapse, especially with the news that captain Robbie Keane will be out due to injury. The tension will be palpable Tuesday night, and all the focus will be on Trapattoni. Neutrals will be hoping for an Irish win, eyeing the possibility of a playoff rematch against Les Blues. Capello may be hoping for this development as well, if for no other reason than to have another storyline taking up inches in the sports column.

There hasn’t been a dull moment at Queens Park Rangers yet, but that was bound to be the case wasn’t it? With a manager more than willing to share his thoughts in front of a microphone and Joey Barton willing to do the same through social media, the excitement surrounding QPR should not be a shock. When you factor in the last minute signings Neil Warnock managed to secure, it was almost a given that the goings-on at Loftus Road would be interesting.

On the pitch, QPR have had mixed results thus far. Sitting eleventh in the table with two wins, two draws and three loses, QPR have to be happy with their return to the Premier League to this point. They have recorded a pair of impressive wins on the road to Everton and Bolton. However with most things associated with QPR this season, there is a flip side. They were thrashed by Bolton on opening day, albeit with a much different squad than they now possess, and were thrashed 6-0 at Craven Cottage on Sunday.  Considering that the Hoops are a newly promoted side and have gone through significant squad turnover, a mixture of positive and negative results is not calamitous.

Speaking of mixed fortunes, and indeed calamity, the player personnel at QPR is an interesting group. Toward the end of the transfer window, Warnock acquired several quality players including Shaun Wright-Phillips, Luke Young, Anton Ferdinand and Armand Traoré. All of these players have Premier league experience and can help the club remain in the top flight. In Wright-Phillips, QPR have a player that could be a match winner if he can return to form. Traoré, though, has been an adventure. On his debut against Wolverhampton, he had a terrific match and created two goals. In a more recent match against Aston Villa he was sent off for a reckless challenge, which Warnock criticized publicly.

Of course, the acquisition that encapsulates QPR at this moment and time is that of Joey Barton. His off-field antics, specifically on Twitter, have been farcical. His play on the field has been solid and influential. Again, this should not be a surprise to anyone. QPR knew what they were getting in Barton, and so far the good has outweighed the bad. His relationship with his equally outspoken manager will be an intriguing dynamic. It may even be a significant factor in deciding where QPR sit in the table at the end of the season.

After all of the transfer activity, and through the media circus, the Hoops have to let their play on the field do the talking. Results have been a mixed bag so far, with plenty of goals and controversy. Given the cast of characters in west London, expect more of the same.

After the 90 minutes had been played, no one was surprised at the result. More than anything, that defines the new era in the North London derby. Tottenham’s 2-1 victory over Arsenal at White Hart Lane was not simply three points in the standings and a vanquishing of a rival. It was a microcosm of the no longer changing, but completely reversed, North London derby.

Arsenal are now, if they were not already, indisputably inferior to their neighbors. While Arsenal have acquired another batch of promising young footballers, they do not have the ability to field a team that can consistently win in the Premiership. Apart from Jack Wilshire and Robin van Persie, Arsenal does not have any top-class players. They have several youngsters who may become stars down the road, but that is a never-ending labyrinth at Arsenal. They always have so much promise, but when that promise blossoms it is snipped by another club. To make matters even worse, Bacary Sagna is now out for three months after suffering a broken leg against Spurs.

Conversely, Tottenham have shown an ability to fend off suitors from their most prized assets. The Luka Modric transfer saga being the most recent example. If Modric had been at Arsenal, it is hard to argue that Wenger and the Arsenal board could have convinced him to stay. Gareth Bale is another star that Tottenham managed to keep, despite rumours linking him to clubs such as Inter Milan.

By keeping their elite players and acquiring depth and youth, Tottenham have assembled a very strong squad. Their starting midfield on Sunday was comprised of Rafael van der Vaart, Modric, Scott Parker and Bale. The Gunners’ midfield lineup was Coquelin, Arteta, Ramsey and Walcott. There is a significant gulf in class between those sets of four, which typifies the gap between the two clubs.

Tottenham are a team on the rise. By having a quality manager, keeping important players and emanating an aura confidence and desire to win, they are an attractive club. Arsenal is no longer that club. In a season when both North London clubs began with top four ambitions, only one of them has a realistic chance of reaching that goal. Unfortunately, without the lure of Champions League football, Arsenal may fall deeper into the mire.

Now that the dust has settled on the first month of his Premier League career, it’s time for the first meaningful analysis of David De Gea’s start at Manchester United. In De Gea’s case, a common sense approach needs to be adopted to dissect his play at United thus far. Forget the hyperbole associated with his move and the subsequent transfer fee. Try and qualify the sometimes accurate, but more often exaggerated, criticism of his abilities. For at United, since the departure of Peter Schmeichel, no player has been scrutinized more than the man wearing the number one jersey.

Statistically speaking, De Gea’s start at United has been very good. After six league games, he has conceded four goals, made 32 saves, recorded two clean sheets, and saved a penalty. All of these stats are more than respectable. The statistic that stands out is the amount of saves he has made, which is more than any other goalkeeper in the top flight. However, it’s a figure that asks more questions than it answers. Given his uncertain start to the season, most notably the Community Shield and United’s first league match away to West Bromwich Albion, a logical argument has arisen that teams are simply taking more low percentage shots in hopes of stealing a cheap goal. To a certain extent, this is true. However, given the free-flowing nature of United’s games this season, they have been giving quality chances to their opponents with regularity. One need look no further than the United-Chelsea match, where the result could have been much different if not for Chelsea’s profligacy in front of goal.

Based on this school of thought, De Gea’s 32 saves looks like a diagnosis of the play in front of him, rather than a number used to analyze his play. In De Gea’s defense, this is unfair. Aside from the two poor goals he conceded to Edin Dzeko and Shane Long in his first two matches, De Gea’s shot stopping has been solid. Increasingly it has been brilliant, particularly in his last two matches against Chelsea and Stoke. It would appear that as he has settled in to his surroundings. The quality of play that lured suitors such as United has returned.

When you combine De Gea’s shot stopping ability with his quality footwork and distribution, he has a formidable skill set. Yet, in the Premier League a goalkeepers’ ability to dominate his own 18-yard box is crucial. De Gea has not demonstrated he can add this to his toolbox. Exhibit A would be Peter Crouch’s goal on the weekend. While fingers may point to the ease with which Crouch beat his marker, anytime a corner is headed in from the top of the 6-yard box, questions will be directed toward the goalkeeper.

Given his age and height, De Gea may be able to cut a commanding figure down the road. In order to be successful this season, United need him to be that goalkeeper now. As Ben Foster and Tim Howard can attest, only a very short window for growth is afforded to a goalkeeper at United. Up to this point, De Gea’s errors have not been damaging. While a glaring error at the Hawthorns may not cost United, a similar error would be disastrous at Eastlands. After a month, De Gea’s prospects look better than after a week, but doubt lingers.

Although the red and blue halves of Manchester have burst out of the gates like a Grand National winner, the Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint. Accordingly, it would be the epitome of folly to write off Chelsea’s championship drive at such an early stage. Especially when one considers that they are a mere two points back of the Manchester clubs. Before the season commenced, most pundits listed these three teams as the favorites for the title and after a quartet of games this should not have changed.

What will change in the coming weeks, however, will be the starting 11 that take to the field for each of the title contenders on match day. With the Champions League group phase and domestic cup competitions having begun, squad rotation will begin to dictate the standings at the top of the league. While luck, experience and injuries will play a part in deciding who will lift the trophy come May, the ability of Ferguson, Mancini and Villas-Boas to manage their squads will have a significant impact on ribbon-color at the end of the season.

While it is difficult to argue which of the three teams has the best starting lineup, it is possible to rank the depth of each respective squad. Clearly Manchester City has the most talent at their disposal, given that they boast the likes of Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Adam Johnson and Kolo Touré on their bench. Similarly, United boasts a bench oozing with class and experience, with players such as Ji-Sung Park, Ryan Giggs, Dimitar Berbatov and whoever is left out of the back line on match day. Chelsea does have a strong bench as well, but it lacks the match-winning pedigree that City and United have. Factor in an aging starting 11 and a comparatively inexperienced coach, and Chelsea look disadvantaged in a comparison of squad depth and rotation.

In this context, a comparison of City and United is a difficult one from which to draw definitive conclusions. City has spent more money and has an embarrassment of big names at their disposal. While the positives of having such star-studded depth are obvious, it does create its own set of unique problems. How long will star players collecting splinters do so without a dissenting word or two to the media? Having Tevez, a well paid, proven winner on the bench is very different then having young match-winners like Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck on the bench. Ferguson may run into that problem with Berbatov, but the Bulgarian is the only player that would conceivably be angered by a diminished role for the Red Devils. Michael Owen, if his twitter account is to be believed, has no problem spending match day tending to his horses. Conversely, for every eager youngster Ferguson has on his bench, Mancini has a proven international that expects to play.

In terms of experience, Ferguson has no rival. His ability to keep the United squad fresh despite going deep in most competitions is a tale that has been told. Mancini’s ability to do he same, and quash revolt in the ruthless manner that Ferguson does at United, may very well be a key component of this season’s title race. Ferguson and United have done it before, so they face fewer questions from doubters. Mancini and City haven’t, and therefore more questions will be asked. That does not mean the blue half of Manchester won’t be noisy come spring. Then, of course, there is still a certain West London club that might be there when all is said and done.