While the rumors surrounding Gareth Bale have died down in recent weeks, Manchester United continue to make headlines with Ed Woodward’s desire to bring in a “galatico.” A big name player like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Neymar might bring further global attention to the club, but they are all players with whom Louis van Gaal cannot be trusted.

I understand the likelihood of these players going to United is slim to none, but the point is that there is a massive disconnect at the club. Woodward seems to be running transfers as if he is playing a game of FIFA, while van Gaal is determined to grind this team into a dour squad of defensive-minded drones. World-class caliber players look at what van Gaal did to Angel Di Maria and realize they are better off going somewhere their dynamic talents will be better appreciated.

SEE MORE: Manchester United 2016/17 home jersey leaked – photos.

Anyone who watched Di Maria at United last season saw a player who was gradually forced into a role that led to his sale this summer. The differences for Di Maria can be seen in the statistics. Here are some of his offensive totals over the past three seasons:

Statistics courtesy of Squawka.com

Di Maria’s year at United saw regression across every key offensive statistical metric. In looking at how he bounced back this season for PSG, it is easy to point the finger at van Gaal and his insistence on pragmatism and retaining possession above all else.  Di Maria is not that kind of player. He fits in well with the type of free-flowing attacking lineup that Manchester United fans crave.

As it stands, I don’t think any United supporter would want another “galatico” at the club under van Gaal, since we all believe he will only destroy the creativity that makes those players so great. It is also my belief that the Red Devils don’t need a world class player. While I agree that Marouane Fellaini is not an ideal Manchester United player, that has more to do with his style of play and constantly played out of position rather than not being a big name player.

Every winning team needs to have players who are willing to go out there, do their job and do it well. Ashley Young has become the kind of United player that this team is crying out for. It’s not just that he is quick and versatile, but he’s also willing to fight for his place in the team week in and week out, even if it’s not at his preferred position.

SEE MORE: United’s Champions League hopes on a knife’s edge under van Gaal.

At this point, I don’t trust van Gaal for any player that might come in. It would be great to bring in a striker, but would they even get playing time? It would be fantastic to have a proven goal scorer like Romelu Lukaku or even Odion Ighalo, but with van Gaal’s love of Wayne Rooney playing up front, they probably wouldn’t even get into the team. Even adding a pacey winger like Sadio Mane seems a moot point when the likes of Adnan Januzaj, Memphis Depay, and Jesse Lingard can’t even be used effectively.

This Manchester United team just looks like they are completely deprived of the ability to go out and enjoy themselves. Even van Gaal’s statements in regard to the dressing room atmosphere being too good point to his thoughts on players being able to truly express themselves the way they would like.

The current standing of Manchester United as one of the elite clubs in the world is gradually slipping despite being the third highest earning football club. While much of this can be placed at the feet of Louis van Gaal and his boring brand of football, supporters must not forget who hired him (Ed Woodward) and the Glazer family, whose takeover has brought about this steady decline.

With the recent reports that van Gaal offered to resign as manager, it begs the question as to when he will be gone. While these are only rumored reports, it does say a lot about the state of the club that 1) such things are being leaked, and 2) the board must have some idea of how the fans actually feel about van Gaal being the manager. It seems that the Iron Tulip does not have such an iron grip on the running of this club, and with powerful United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton still on the board of directors, the politics within the club have led to what many perceive as a divide.

If a divide does, in fact, exist, it only strengthens the idea that there is a massive disconnect within the club, as well as the growing disconnect between the club and its fans. What fans want to see from United is a return to winning ways. Supporters might moan about stule, but it is the lack of winning that has led to the most complaints. The fact that Woodward continues to make statements about van Gaal’s “attacking football” only adds salt to the wounds. It is becoming more and more apparent that the fans and their opinions do not matter to the club.

This is a club that has been built on a tradition of a specific brand of football as well as a mentality of loyalty and trust. What this ownership has done is to completely erode this trust. Manchester United supporters are not known for turning on their manager or their team, and yet, that is where this has led.

This should be the time to point fingers at the Glazers and Woodward more than van Gaal, as there is little good that can be done in terms of changing managers at this point. The only viable option is Jose Mourinho, whose managerial style is so toxic that it can resonate for years after he leaves a club. For now, the only answers for Manchester United lie in Louis van Gaal and whether he can make the changes necessary to bring about attacking, winning football.

Whether you agree or disagree with my assertions, please get involved with your comments here as well as contacting me on Twitter.

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Wayne Rooney has long been a scapegoat. He can always be counted on to eventually let us all down. There are certainly millions, if not billions, of words written about Wayne Rooney since he first began playing. It’s easy to forget that Rooney is still only 29 years old. It’s even easier to forget that he has been playing in the Premier League for well over a decade now, following his debut at just 16 all the way back in 2002. This is supposed to be the peak of his career by anybody else’s standards, but this is Rooney that we are talking about.

Not only did he break into the Premier League early, but he also became England’s youngest capped player and youngest goal scorer at 17 years of age. He has already featured in three World Cups and two UEFA Euro Championships.

This is a player that has been hyped up for so long that anything less than being at the very top means he is a failure. I can’t help but think of the Star Wars III line when Obi Wan Kenobi (played by the incomparable Ewan McGregor) screams at Anakin Skywalker, “You were supposed to be the chosen one!”

Through all of this Rooney has copped the brunt of criticism from fans and journalists alike. Certainly there has been plenty of criticism that has been warranted considering some of his actions and poor play over the years, and yet he continues on and has done very well to largely ignore the critics.

I do believe that the biggest problem with Rooney has been the expectations placed upon him. Since he first came up with Everton everyone has expected him to become a world-class superstar. The expectation was for him to become the next Bobby Charlton (not just break his records) or Alan Shearer and be in the running for the Ballon d’Or. Instead he has become a very good, high quality player who does whatever is needed for his team.

Say what you want about Rooney and his ability or his desire, but he has always been a player who wants to play. Even last season he was willing to play in a deeper role for Louis van Gaal, despite this limiting much of his ability to be an attacking threat. He has gone so far as to push himself to play for England, despite barely recovering from injury. He has always wanted to play soccer and will continue to want this.

He’s certainly at the tail end of his career and won’t be the kind of player challenging for the Ballon d’Or anymore, but this is the reason for my previous Star Wars III reference. England and Manchester United fans still have this mindset that he was supposed to be “the chosen one”. He was supposed to be the one to break all of the records and lead his team to the promised land. He was supposed to win England’s first World Cup since 1966. He was supposed to be the loyal servant to Manchester United without ever complaining. Instead what we have is what has always made for a great movie, but never seems to work in real life.

He is our flawed hero seeking redemption.

The progression of his career is the thing of great stories. The glory of being the young hero, the climax of winning the Champions League, followed by the injuries and the falling out with the United supporters and even Sir Alex Ferguson. What we have reached now is the redemption story.

Last season he was given the captain’s armband with all new expectations have been set for him. While this role did not begin well, he has since proven that he can be a leader with this team. Yes, there are still problems, but every hero has adversity to overcome.

This season he has already set his sights high and there is no way to know what his true motivations are. Does he want to disprove everyone and exceed those expectations placed on him by others or is he working to meet his own high standards? He still has the desire to play and wants to prove himself as a world-class striker and exceed his previous goal scoring tally of 34 goals.

No matter how you look at his career Rooney is a player who has spent a very long time playing soccer. He is no longer as quick as he once was and it has been several seasons since he was last played as a striker, let alone as the main striker in any attacking formation.

He has spent at least the past four seasons being played in about five different positions across a myriad of formations. Sure, he’s a professional, but anyone who has played a sport knows that the more you are put in a specific role, the more accustomed to it you become.

In addition to his role being shifted he is now being used in a formation that relies on pragmatism and slow build up with possession and passing being a key. One can only assume that if he is not making runs in behind the defense, then this is by design.

Van Gaal may believe he is a tactical genius, but he does not always seem to be getting the most out of the players that he has, Rooney included. He is stubborn and far too often waits to make a change that we fans believe should have been made three matches previous (i.e. playing Mata in the middle with Januzaj and Depay on the wings).

Now, don’t get me wrong, he still has much to prove and I have also been one to believe that he has not fulfilled his potential to his fullest. His first touch has been poor for years now and he doesn’t seem to be able to find space to get in good shooting positions. Perhaps he needs a partner to truly excel or maybe he needs to adjust to the new formation and the players around, either way, he’s not getting much in the way of service and has done even less with the little bit he has gotten.

Against Aston Villa he managed 43 touches which resulted in loss of possession five times, zero shots, and zero dribbles. The positive side is that he had 37 passes with two key passes, but 20 of those passes came in the middle third.

It is ever more apparent that he is dropping deeper to pick up the ball rather than making runs forward. The question is whether this is intentional on van Gaal’s part, or is it Rooney’s decision in an attempt to involve himself more in the play. While he may be saying that he will score goals again, the fact remains that he has not scored since April 4. The good news is that Manchester United face Newcastle United this weekend – a team which Rooney has scored 12 goals against in his career.

In closing, I find myself wishing more and more that he had never been given the captain’s armband. With this bit of cloth strapped to his arm he has now become indispensable to the team regardless of how poorly he is playing or if he fits into van Gaal’s system or now. The system will now be required to fit him in, even if he is becoming more and more of a square peg in a round hole.

The center-back position at Manchester United has never been the same following the decline of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. While Sir Alex seemingly bolstered the central defensive ranks by purchasing young players like Phil Jones and Chris Smalling and having Jonny Evans come up through the academy, none of these have yet to fully grow into the role.

Last season these three were joined by Marcos Rojo, Paddy McNair and Tyler Blackett in various matches due to a cycle of injuries throughout the campaign. The question at the moment is what will the central defensive pairing be to start the season (not to mention, how many will stay healthy).

Recent reports have stated that Sergio Ramos has been named Real Madrid captain and is off the table, leaving United supporters feeling played again as yet another player postures for a move to get what he wants from his current team. Still, this could be seen as somewhat encouraging since it most likely keeps David De Gea at Manchester United for another season.

What this means for the United squad now is that they have currently made only one change at the back with the much needed addition of Matteo Darmian at right-back. We are now left with the same central defensive pairing(s) as last season. Is this enough to win?

With a return to the Champions League, Manchester United is, once again, vying for trophies on all fronts. Bringing through the likes of McNair and Blackett last season is absolutely crucial to proceeding in these tournaments. These two will likely be used in the early rounds of competitions like the Capital One Cup and even the FA Cup, giving much needed breaks for regulars like Jones, Smalling and Rojo.

You will notice that I left out Evans. The Northern Irish defender made just 13 appearances all season, only two more than Blackett and three fewer than McNair. It is possible that he will be on his way out, but even if he’s not, it doesn’t look like he is fitting into van Gaal’s plans.

Data Analysis

Out of all of their defenders Smalling was the best fantasy defender for United in the official game, but 37th overall. This is not very good for any team, but especially terrible for a big team like Manchester United.

Smalling is also the defender who played the most minutes and matches with 21 starts and four sub appearances for a total of 1880 minutes. Jones was just behind him with 22 starts and 1879 minutes, while Rojo started 20 times with two substitutions and 1765 minutes.

What did this playing time get the United defenders? Remarkably enough they did not have a single error that lead to a goal, although we all know that this is because of David De Gea. Evans and Rojo each had four defensive errors with Smalling adding two more and Jones having zero; although that crawling header against Arsenal probably prevented what would have been a defensive error leading to a goal.

Using Squawka.com and their comparison matrix we can make some comparisons between the defenders. As a point of reference I chose John Terry who not only started all 38 matches of the season, but he also picked up 17 clean sheets and had the second highest points amongst defenders in fantasy Premier League (behind teammate Branislav Ivanovic).

For the stats, I chose to go with an average per game considering that Terry played in 38 matches while Evans was on the low end with just 14 games. There is a slight shift if the metrics are changed to per 90 minutes, but I do believe that match time contributes to just how useful the player has been.

There are a lot of numbers in there, but to break it down, Manchester United defenders, on the whole, made more interceptions, clearances, tackles, passes, and committed more fouls while also losing more tackles. While much of this data looks good overall it is indicative of something else entirely, namely the lack of cover in front of their defense combined with an inconsistent defensive line.

Without diving into too much more data, suffice it to say that Manchester United’s lack of cohesion in defense was the cause for the majority of their problems throughout the season. In looking at Chelsea’s defense, they had a solid back line that rarely changed as well as one of the best defensive midfielders in the league just in front of them in Nemanja Matic. Combine that with Mourinho’s often defensive tactics and this was a team that simply didn’t give away goals.

That midfield of Chelsea’s was the difference maker for a team that often lacked mobility at the back. With the new crop of United midfielders being brought in, this current lineup of United defenders are going to be given the chance to blossom and grow.

Even with all of the difficulties last season, United still managed to allow the fourth fewest goals in the league last season (37). This was achieved with six central defenders that have an average age of 23.5, including regular starters of Jones and Smalling at 23 and 25 respectively. Having so many young defenders provides room for growth and improvement along with a solid foundation for the future.

The Future

With the transfer of Sergio Ramos in doubt and Mats Hummels having already committed himself to Borussia Dortmund, there is only one other defender in the rumor mill at the moment. Nicolas Otamendi is reported to be pushing for a move to Old Trafford from Valencia, but the high price tag may deter United from digging too deep.

There is a very good reason for this: United have quality defenders in the team already. I know that is a bold statement, and one that the majority of supporters would call me out on, but I’m going to stick by it. I believe that this group of United defenders can win the title and push far into the Champions League competition. If they can add a striker I dare say they have a very good chance at the Premier League and Champions League double.

Last season was not a disaster, despite the numerous changes in formations, squad rotations, and injuries. It was a season for these players to learn van Gaal’s methods and adjust to them. These defenders are still young players that have potential to fill and if you add Luke Shaw and Darmian, then there are two more young, talented players to mix in.

With this summer’s tour being a shortened one, the focus will be on getting this team to work together towards van Gaal’s ideal setup. I do believe that the most important keys in the team’s success this season are in midfield.

So much of Manchester United’s issues last season came from their midfield. The defense has already been trained to play the ball out from the back and having the cushion of two very good defensive midfielders in front of them means they should have more confidence.

In watching the pairing of Jones and Smalling towards the end of the season you could see them starting to grow in confidence, particularly Chris Smalling. If he can continue to pick up games this season and build his confidence he has the chance to become a great defender who can lead from the back, something desperately needed. The same can be said of Jones, although his age and demeanor have often seen him take a lesser role in the team.

There is also Rojo who has now had time to see what it is like to play in the Premier League. If he is joined by Argentinian teammate Nicolas Otamendi, there is the chance for another solid central defense pairing, possibly more suited to the continental style of the Champions League. While Rojo will most likely start the season being rested there is a very good chance that he will quickly become a regular starter alongside Smalling.

Evans once had a lot of potential, but has largely become a laughing stock for United supporters. It is unfortunate, but something clearly has not clicked for him under van Gaal and he is likely to sit on the bench for much of the season if he isn’t shipped out.

The futures of Blackett and McNair are still bright with both of them being included in United’s US Tour squad. For this season they will presumably pick up matches occasionally if needed (filling in for injuries or Cup matches), but there is a lot of promise with both of them. The fact that they can also be used as fullbacks gives them a versatility to provide cover through the season.

The Verdict

Overall, I am very hopeful about United’s young defenders, across the board. Continuing to stick with them is a risk, but one that they can afford. This gamble can be lessened even more if they can pick up a world class striker like Robert Lewandowski or Edinson Cavani while also keeping De Gea.

With the current lineup of midfield talent in front of them, this group of United defenders has the chance to become a dominant force in the league for years to come. It is time for them to step up and fulfill the potential they have been carrying for the past several years.

With Morgan Schneiderlin joining Bastian Schweinsteiger at Manchester United there are growing questions about where these two will fit into a central midfield that is already packed. This is just the thing that United supporters have been craving for years, but has now created a conundrum of where to stick them all.

If they keep Angel Di Maria then he will likely start on the right wing with Memphis Depay playing on the left while Rooney plays alone up front. This leaves three midfield positions to be filled by seven possible candidates: Juan Mata, Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini, Daley Blind, Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger.

Out of those seven there are five that could be classified in a defensive midfielder category with Schneiderlin, Schweinsteiger, Herrera, Blind and Carrick all capable of this role. While Fellaini may have fancied himself as a DMF, his best position has been further up the pitch. Mata is almost certainly United’s best No. 10, while also being capable of playing out wide, meaning that Di Maria and Mata could easily be swapped for one another or even interchange throughout a match.

All of this talk of midfielders still leaves the likes of Ashley Young, Antonio Valencia and Adnan Januzaj on the bench. With these three suited more as wide midfielders or wingers they can be integrated in with Di Maria and Depay as backups out wide.

Central midfield has been the big problem for United for a very long time. In reality there has never been a replacement for Roy Keane, following his departure in 2005. The signing of Carrick in 2006 was a fantastic purchase, but he was never going to replace Keane as a defensive midfielder. His role has always been more as a holding midfielder providing cover in the form of tracking players and interceptions, while directing the attack from a deep position. An entire article could be written on Carrick and what he has provided to United over the years, along with the split in opinion over his importance.

Anderson and Owen Hargreaves joined the club in 2007 and both were considered to be possible replacements to provide that solid cover for the defense that was so very needed. Instead Hargreaves spent the season (and the rest of his career) injured and Anderson became the poster boy for unfulfilled potential.

It is telling that these two players were the last defensive midfielders bought by Sir Alex Ferguson and even more telling that he managed to convince Paul Scholes to come out of retirement to play for the second half of the 2011/12 season. The final central midfielder that Ferguson brought into the club was Shinji Kagawa, who was never really played in his preferred position and spent much of his time at United being invisible.

David Moyes was also unable to address the concerns in midfield. Instead of seeking out a quality defensive midfielder he went out and bought Fellaini and Mata in positions that were already being filled by Carrick, Rooney and Kagawa (occasionally). While these two weren’t exactly terrible purchases, neither one was every played in their best positions, which seems to be a recurring theme.

While Louis van Gaal also spent a year without a real defensive midfielder he at least began to design his blueprint for what he wanted in the team. With Herrera he got a scrappy midfielder who showed his ability all over the pitch. Despite his slight frame he became one of the best tacklers last season with an average of 3.5 tackles per 90 minutes, good enough for seventh best among players with at least 25 appearances (Schneiderlin was first with an average of 3.9 per 90). In addition to this he was third highest in average passes per 90 minutes with 74.8 and an average of 63 accurate short passes.

One should not forget Blind, who averaged 3.24 interceptions per game and 2.76 tackles per game over his 25 appearances. Blind also averaged the most passes and successful passes per game for Manchester United with 61.88 and 54.16.

What van Gaal is left with now is a glut of central midfielders basically vying for three positions in the team. In Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger he now has one quality DM and one world-class DM. With Herrera and Carrick he has youth and an ageing veteran. Carrick may be 34 years old now, but if he can stay healthy, he has the talent to continue to provide support for this United squad both on and off the pitch. Blind is young and talented and he has the ability to provide a supporting role for this burgeoning central midfield.

What Manchester United has now is a team filled with midfielders all capable of providing van Gaal with the balance he has been craving since the start of last season. With that said, there is still the problem of finding a top end center-back and striker, however, Premier League matches are being won and lost more often in midfield nowadays and United now have a midfield capable of competing for the title.

Adding Schweinsteiger alone was a coup intended to show their intent for the 2015/16 season. Adding the likes of Depay and Schneiderlin only solidify their chances of pushing Chelsea. What Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin really add is a depth to United’s ability to protect the back four, while also pushing the attack.

If either, or both, of these two are played in deep-lying roles it gives their midfield counterparts more time and space to operate further up the pitch. This addition means that any of the creative midfielders should thrive, whether that is Mata or Herrera playing in the third midfield role or Depay and Di Maria out wide.

With all of this taken into account I believe that the ideal team currently puts Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger in deep lying roles, most likely alternating the roles of defensive midfield sitting deep and a second holding midfielder capable of pushing further up the pitch. Ahead of these two would be Mata as the attacking playmaker, while Depay and Di Maria play wide on the wings. Alternatively Mata could play wide if Di Maria is sold while Herrera would fit in well in place of Mata. Up front would currently be Rooney, but if Cavani is brought in Rooney could drop deeper in place of Herrera or Mata.

No matter how you look at it, the signings of Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin have completely changed the title race for this season. With rumors surrounding additional transfers this summer the future is looking very bright for United supporters.

Speculation is high that Morgan Schneiderlin is set to sign for Manchester United this summer, with a possible transfer occurring as early as this week in a deal worth somewhere in the range of $37 million. Schneiderlin’s contract at Southampton expires in June 2017, and they don’t necessarily have to sell him yet, however, he has already made statements of his intent to leave. More recent reports have shown that Southampton are reluctant to let him leave and could stretch this saga well into the summer.

The 25-year-old French midfielder has been with Southampton since 2008, after beginning his career with Strasbourg. He has become a mainstay of this Saints squad since his arrival, which included back-to-back promotions from League One to the Championship and now the Premier League.

Despite this, Schneiderlin has yet to establish himself in the France national team and has just nine international caps, including one appearance in last summer’s 2014 World Cup. At this point in his career he is hoping to make a move to a big club, like Manchester United, to showcase his abilities and improve his chances of becoming a regular part of the French national squad. He has already made it clear that he wants to leave Southampton for a club with Champions League soccer.

This all leads to the question of where Schneiderlin would fit in with the current Manchester United squad. With United returning to play in the Champions League next season Schneiderlin should get chances to prove his worth, particularly with veternan Michael Carrick’s injury woes.

At the moment Carrick is the only true competition for Schneiderlin’s role as defensive midfielder. On a side note, it’s an interesting fact that United’s only loss last season with Carrick playing was against Schneiderlin’s Southampton.

The problem for Carrick has been his increasing difficulties with injuries. Last season Carrick played in just 18 matches for a total of 1457 minutes. This is the fewest he has played in a red shirt. By comparison Schneiderlin played in 26 games for a total of 2186 minutes. It should be noted that he also struggled with injuries during last season and missed 12 matches due to a recurring groin and knee complaints.

The addition of Schneiderlin provides additional cover for Carrick, which would be almost a necessity considering that United will now be playing in all competitions. During last season players like Wayne Rooney, Marouane Fellaini, Daley Blind, and Ander Herrera were tried out in the defensive midfield position, but none are nearly as capable as either Carrick or Schneiderlin.

The French enforcer is a dominating presence in midfield and could easily replace Carrick as their holding midfielder. Since neither player played a full 38 mathces last season it is better to look at stats in terms of per 90 minutes rather than totals for the season.

All stats come courtesy of Squawka.com:

Both players were prolific passers with Schneiderlin completing 89% of his passes and averaging 57 passes per 90 minutes, compared to Carrick at 90% and 59 passes per 90. However, Schneiderlin looks better as an offensive threat with almost one chance created per game and 0.8 key passes per 90. Carrick, on the other hand created 0.5 chances with 0.4 key passes per 90.

Where Schneiderlin really steps up and shows his value is in defense. It has been a long time since Manchester United have had a strong defensive minded midfielder and Schneiderlin would be a big step towards adding this. He averaged 3.25 tackles and 2.59 interceptions per 90 minutes. Michael Carrick won 1.17 tackles and 1.91 interceptions.

This is the area which divides opinion amongst United supporters. There are many who love to see Carrick spraying the ball around the pitch, but bemoan his lack of strength when closed down as well as his inability to put in a strong defensive effort. Having a player like Schneiderlin in the team would be a massive boost as a buffer in midfield. His ability to attack, with four goals last season, means that he is a threat going forward.

There are still many questions about how this Manchester United side would line up if they are able to land Schneiderlin. Having added Memphis Depay this team is looking bloated in midfield, particularly in the area of attacking midfielders.

If Louis van Gaal decides to revert to his preferred 4-3-3 formation, Depay could be played as a left attacking midfielder with Wayne Rooney in the middle of the attack and Angel Di Maria on the right. The remaining three midfielders could be any combination of Herrera, Juan Mata, Carrick or Schneiderlin.

Adding a player like Schneiderlin to this mix means that there is a stronger defensive presence in midfield to both provide support for the defense as well as allowing the likes of Mata, Herrera or Carrick to express themselves further forward.

Regardless of whether Manchester United can push this transfer through, this is an area of the pitch that sorely needs attention.

This summer of 2015 Manchester United look set to play in a short three-match tour of America. This summer’s trip to the United States looks likely to take place on the East Coast with possible targets in Atlanta, Ohio, and New Jersey.

While talks are still continuing on settling on specific destinations this is a step that should please both fans and Louis van Gaal. While last summer’s tour in the USA was something of a success with several young players getting playing time and winning the International Champions Cup, it was also spread out over five matches in 12 days and included travel all across the country. There is also the little matter of van Gaal fuming over the length of this tour which has impacted the current decision making process.

Van Gaal’s style of managing means that he wants as much control as possible. A three-match shortened tour of the U.S. seems to be something of a compromise for the Dutch manager.  Of course, everyone knows that these tours are all about the money and not so much about getting players match fit.

Pre-season is primarily about getting the players fit and ready for the season, but these tours that have become so popular among fans and players focus more on providing fans around the world with a chance to catch their favorite team play. It also provides clubs with a massive source of income and the ability to spread their brand globally, thereby further increasing income.

While these tours are great for us as fans, I can definitely see how this is a problem for the managers. This past summer was an absolute nightmare with preseason tours falling immediately after the end of the World Cup.

The 2015 tour should most likely include Manchester United’s full squad of superstars, even with van Gaal saying he is planning to bring more youngsters again and give them a shot at playing time.

In looking at the potential destinations the most likely stadiums to hold the matches in Ohio would be Cleveland’s FirstEnergy Stadium at a capacity of 73,200. This compares to the Columbus Crew Stadium at 20,145, which is significantly smaller and should rule that out as a venue.

New Jersey has the MetLife Stadium at the Meadowlands which holds 82,566 and has been a host for previous tour matches.

If Atlanta is the third location the most likely stadium would be Turner Field, home of baseball’s Braves. Its capacity is 49,586 and MLB teams have already shown that they can host a soccer match. The other option would be the Falcons’ Georgia Dome, though I doubt van Gaal would be too keen on playing in a dome with artificial turf.

There is also the chance that they could play matches in either Philadelphia or Washington D.C., both of which have been venues for Manchester United pre-season matches in the past. The great thing about all of these destinations is that none are more than a two-hour flight away. A far cry from the cross country hopping  they did last year.

While there are plenty of complaints to be had about the problems of doing summer tours for these teams, the positives will outweigh the negatives for any fan.

I do hope that they decide to open up at least one training session per venue to give fans a chance to watch behind the scenes and perhaps even a shot at getting autographs. That was one of the great things from their tour way back in the summer of 2003.

I had the opportunity to attend their training prior to playing in New York and even picked up signatures of players like Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Tim Howard. If teams are going to go to the effort of traveling over for the fans, I believe they should provide more events like this in which there is access to the players.

I am excited by the prospects of Manchester United returning to the States and especially staying on the east coast where they are much more accessible for me. A trip to New York is definitely doable, but the problem for myself, and many others, is the exorbitant prices that these games now command.

While I would love to go see United play live and in person, it is a much different atmosphere and team in the pre-season. Spending several hundred dollars for a trip to see a weakened side from the “nosebleeds” doesn’t really appeal to me. For me, I would much rather continue saving my money for a real match played at Old Trafford, however, these games are always a big draw and I expect this summer’s tour to be a tremendous success. It should also be something that van Gaal can get behind if it does indeed stay at three matches played on the east coast.

The last time that these two teams met at Turf Moor was in the 2009 Premier League season, with Burnley coming away as 1-0 winners. The Premier League newcomers were hoping to produce another shocking result, even if it comes against a struggling Manchester United team still trying to find their feet.

The first half was a flat 0 – 0 with both teams just trying not to concede more than anything else. Still, Burnley looked the more dangerous team and needed only to be tidy and compact in the central and attacking areas.

United offered very little in the final third and the only real danger came from Angel Di Maria who looked like he was still adjusting to his teammates. The first half saw United get off just one shot (at least it was on target), compared to Burnley’s six shots with two on target and one off the bar.

While my own Premier League predictions put this at a 1-1 draw, I must say that I was still expecting more out of this match than what was on show. The match finished somewhat livelier with Manchester United starting to create more chances. They should have had a penalty from a Matthew Taylor handball, but, despite good positioning, Chris Foy decided against giving it.

Still, this was a match result that Burnley fully deserved and it’s hard to say that Manchester United deserved to even get the point. While United did finally step up towards the end of the game Burnley still created more, and better, chances with three of their nine shots on target.

This compares to Manchester United who managed just seven shots with two of those on target. Not much point in having 64% possession if you’re not going to do anything with it. It was another match in which Manchester United focused on crossing with 30 sent in and only 3 connecting (Burnley had 10 with 4 completed).

Burnley (4-4-2)

Tom Heaton – Good save against van Persie in the first half, but had very little to do all match long with just two shots on target. Rating: 7/10

Ben Mee – Didn’t have a whole to do in the first half with Valencia no longer the same danger he once was. He did do well to push Valencia to close off most of the crosses. Rating: 7/10

Jason Shackell – Composed enough and did his job to keep United’s forwards under wraps. He did benefit from United’s long ball game with his heading ability. Rating: 8/10

Michael Duff – Like Shackell, played composed and compact with his partner in keeping United’s forwards quiet. 8/10

Kieran Trippier – Got forward often and made it difficult for Young at both ends of the pitch, which is what his job was for the game. Rating: 7/10

Matthew Taylor – Rather quiet and probably should have done more on the left side against Valencia. Was lucky not to have been penalized for a clear handball in the box. Rating: 6/10

David Jones – Was the primary catalyst for Burnley’s midfield and had the best chances for Burnley in the first half. Rating: 7/10

Dean Marney – One of the more quiet Burnley players. Mostly stuck to the center of the pitch to distribute and close down routes through the center, which was basically what his job was. Played primarily as a defensive midfielder. Rating: 7/10

Scott Arfield – Caused problems for Young on the flanks and looked dynamic at times. Created one of the better first half chances for Burnley and provided two key passes. Rating: 7/10

Danny Ings – Looked lively enough closing down the United defenders, but really did little else. Was subbed off in the 78th minute for Ashley Barnes. Rating: 5/10

Lukas Jutkiewicz – Was dangerous at times and caused a real headache for United’s defense in the first half and start to the second. Became more isolated as the second half wore on, though this was hardly his fault. Rating: 7/10

Subs:
Ashley Barnes – By the time Barnes came on United was pushing for a goal and Burnley were sitting back meaning he had very little to do. Rating: 5/10

Steven Reid – Only had a few minutes on the pitch which were unremarkable except for a yellow card. Rating: 5/10

Manchester United (3-5-2)

David De Gea – Did well early on with his defenders leaving him with much to do. Made the saves he needed to and bailed out the defense more than once. Rating: 7/10

Tyler Blackett – Continues to be one of the more composed defenders for United. His youth can let him down at times, but is learning more rapidly than some of his more veteran compatriots. Rating: 8/10

Phil Jones – Has started to show signs of adapting to playing 3 at the back and was probably the best player for United on the day, which says a lot for the way they played. Rating: 8/10

Jonny Evans – Still looks very uncomfortable in the 3 back system. His poor passing and lack of composure were apparent all match long. Rating: 5/10

Ashley Young – His defensive wing back duties look to have sapped him of the confidence to take on players, however, as the game progressed he did seem to grow into it and worked to create a few chances. Rating: 7/10

Darren Fletcher – Has become very adapt at the back pass. Really knows how to find his defenders with a crisp pass. He did do a job defensively. Rating: 6/10

Antonio Valencia – Seems to have lost the ability to dribble past players or put in a decent cross. Still, he is a better defensive winger than Young. Rating: 6/10

Angel Di Maria – Handled early pressure well, looked as though he was adjusting to his teammates still. United’s best chances were worked through Di Maria who was by far their best attacking player. Came off in the 70th minute for Anderson. Rating: 7/10

Juan Mata – There was so little contribution from Mata that I’m not even sure what to say. In the 86 minutes he was on the pitch he had 46 touches with 39 passes and not a single key pass. Rating: 3/10

Robin van Persie – Had one good early chance, but put it too close to the keeper. Like Rooney he was too often used as a target man with long balls being hit towards him. RvP still doesn’t look fully match fit and his first touch let him down far too much, but he also had very little in the way of decent service, especially considering how much he prefers the ball at his feet. Rating: 4/10

Wayne Rooney – Seemed to drift in and out early. Mostly stayed up front waiting for a pass and far too often was used almost as a target man. Should have done better. Rating: 5/10

Subs:
Anderson – Like Mata it was hard to tell if he was even on the pitch despite getting a full 30 minutes to get into the match. Rating: 4/10

Danny Welbeck – Continues to be pacey, but disappointing at times with his first touch. Rating: 5/10

Adnan Januzaj – The youngster had very little time to contribute having come on in only the 87.’ Rating: 5/10

It was largely a very disappointing match without much in the way of true highlights.

Team Ratings:

Burnley: 8/10 – As a newly promoted team earning a 0-0 draw against a team with this much attacking firepower is a massive result.

Manchester United: 5/10 – Much more is expected of this team and today’s result is not at all good enough for a team like this.

What did you think of the match? Agree or disagree with my ratings in the comments below and feel free to share your views on what changes can be made for both sides.

This World Cup has been one of the best in recent memory, despite all of the concerns with the tournament being held in Brazil. There have been some fantastic goals and amazing matches.

Of course, any World Cup will have its talking points and controversies. Referees will always be blamed for any manner of “wrong” decisions while fans will infinitely debate plays and calls. The focus inevitably shifts to these dramas. They are the top headlines; the stories that everyone wants to read about and analyze.

In addition to feeding into the drama, it’s also very easy for us as fans to either dehumanize or glorify the players. It makes it easier for us to take a side and throw our full support and passion behind one team. After all, sports are a tradition of ritual tribalism and in no sporting event is this more evident than in the World Cup, where it’s a nation vs. nation competition.

Despite this, or maybe because of it, one of the most memorable moments for me in the 2014 World Cup, was a moment of compassion that Kevin de Bruyne spared for Jermaine Jones. In 120 minutes of drama surrounding the Belgium vs USA round of 16 match, this brief exchange was virtually overlooked.

For those who don’t know or don’t remember it, here is what happened. Jermaine Jones had attempted to trap a high ball in the right corner of Belgium’s third. His touch was poor and it allowed Kevin de Bruyne to rush in and clear the ball. Instead of having it cleared out of bounds, the ball smashed into Jones’ face and sent him to the ground. There was no malice in it and play went on, but what de Bruyne did next was unusual.

He immediately bent down, with a look of genuine concern, and put both hands on Jones. He signaled to the referee. He was willing to stop play to make sure that Jones was okay.

No, this isn’t revolutionary in the soccer world. In fact, there are probably many similar occurrences throughout this World Cup alone, but for me the look on de Bruyne’s face was something I’ll always remember from this World Cup.

Please join the conversation below and add your own memories from this 2014 World Cup.

It is somewhat incredible to think that the Netherlands World Cup run has become something of a surprise. After all, they were in the final of the 2010 World Cup and only narrowly lost in extra time.

Their 2012 Euro campaign was beyond disappointing after they lost all three of their group stage matches, but they blazed through the qualifying rounds to become the first European team to qualify. Even so, the Dutch people had very little hope that this team could do anything in the World Cup.

However, this 2014 World Cup team has progressed and generally done so by playing as team that wants to win. Arjen Robben especially looks like a player with a point to prove and he will do whatever he can to lead this team to victory.

A return to the World Cup final means they first need to get past Costa Rica then face the winner of Argentina v Belgium and this will not be a simple task by any means.

Costa Rica

There have been some similarities between these two teams, both of which play with 5 defenders, the big difference being that the Oranje use wingbacks while the Ticos use fullbacks. This is a match that the Dutch will need to go out and attack from the start. Costa Rica will not make it easy on them, but the Dutch cannot sit back and let them dictate the play in the same way Mexico was allowed to.

Tactically speaking, Louis van Gaal got half his strategy right against Mexico, but also benefited greatly from the Mexicans own tactical errors. On the other side of the pitch, Jorge Luis Pinto has done quite well managing his own tactics, which is much of the reason why they have made it to the quarterfinals.

The key for the Netherlands in this match is going to be in breaking down Costa Rica’s strong back line and hopefully exploiting the loss of Oscar Duarte in the center. They will need to do this while also being careful to avoid Costa Rica’s quick counterattack, particularly with the quality of Joel Campbell and Bryan Ruiz up front.

I see the Netherlands having enough firepower up front as well as the defensive ability to shut down Costa Rica. A 2-1 win in normal time is my prediction.

Semi-Finals: Argentina or Belgium?

Neither Argentina nor Belgium has fully impressed this tournament, but then again, who has? Argentina has had to rely heavily on Lionel Messi to carry them this far while Belgium has put in solid team performances, but both have often left it late to get a winner.

With the tactical nous of van Gaal, it is a toss-up as to which team the Dutch would prefer to face. Both teams are full of attacking threats, but also have weaknesses to exploit. Neither one stands out as a truly fearful or even a truly weak team. It might be a better match-up if they were able to get Belgium considering Marc Wilmots sometimes lack of tactical intelligence, at least compared to others in this tournament.

The Final

My own World Cup prediction at this point is that the Netherlands will land their first ever World Cup victory. I know it is a long shot. There are still far too many question marks and weaknesses in this team, but I would argue that the same can be said for every one of these quarter-finalists.

There has not been a team that has set themselves apart and many of these teams have already played extra-time matches, which is one thing the Netherlands has avoided. They also have a manager who has not been afraid to make changes and whose changes have been so positive in creating positive outcomes.

When you look at this team there hasn’t been one great performance, aside from the second half of that group stage match against Spain. If you like clichés you can take this and note that championship teams will always find a way to win, even when they are not playing well.

Perhaps my analysis is blinded by my fandom, but I certainly hope not. This is a team that I have grown to enjoy watching and they always seem to bring something unexpected. The Dutch are a team full of hope at this point, but they are also just one match away from becoming another disappointing statistic.

I hope that they do not turn into just another Holland team for the Dutch people to say, “I told you so.” Even more than that, I do hope this is a team for the Dutch to feel proud of, much the way we Americans can feel proud of our own team’s performance.

With the Netherlands taking on Spain in their first group match this Friday, the main headline has been to depict this as a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final. I, however, disagree with this.

Both of these teams are in different places from where they were four years ago. Holland’s squad has been a near overhaul as there are only 5 returning players in this year’s team that played in the final, compared to 11 in Spain’s squad.

My focus here is to lay out how the Netherlands will be approaching this match from a tactical standpoint in their bid to beat Spain and top Group B.

Spain has mostly stuck with their 4-3-3 high possession, tika-taka game plan and knowing this, Louis van Gaal will be looking to form a counter tactic. Louis van Gaal is very familiar with this style of play since he was one of the catalysts in its development at Barcelona. In fact, most of the Dutch qualifying matches have featured a 4-3-3 with high possession and quick passing, though in a somewhat more attacking style than the passenacio of Spain. This is the match where van Gaal has looked to make his tactical change.

In the Netherlands’ build-up to the World Cup they have been playing with a much different setup. In most of their matches van Gaal has gone with a 5-3-2 of sorts, which is mainly down to the loss of Kevin Strootman in midfield. Regardless of the reasons, this lineup is almost certainly going to be used as both a counter to Spain and as a way to incorporate the youth of this team with the increased numbers at the back being used to, hopefully, limit mistakes.

Whatever you want to call this tactic, 3-5-2, 5-3-2, 3-4-1-2, or 5-2-1-2, it is basically 3 central defenders, 2 wing-backs, 2 defensive central midfielders, 1 attacking midfielder, and 2 forwards. In using this setup Holland will be looking to both squeeze and stretch the pitch. Defensively the 5 defenders with 2 midfielders sitting in front will try to shrink their own half and do their best to pinch Spain’s midfielders, pushing them to the middle, and filling up the space. The idea of using the wing-backs will be both to push Spain’s wide midfielders more centrally and to provide an outlet for a quick break, thus stretching Spain’s defense on the counter-attack.

The Dutch attack has plenty of veteran talent between Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie. With Sneijder playing as their attacking midfielder, van Persie will be pushed up front and Robben given a bit more leeway to move about where he can find space. Robben and van Persie both have great off the ball movement and can be highly technically skilled passers of the ball, meaning they will be a nightmare for defenders.

The real battle for this match will be waged in the middle of the field. The key pairing in Holland’s lineup will be their central/defensive midfielders. This will most likely be Nigel de Jong as the more defensive of the two, along with Jonathan de Guzman, who will be more of a typical central midfielder being used to get the ball forward.  There is also the possibility of using Leroy Fer or Jordy Clasie in this role, but De Guzman has slightly more experience than the other two. The job for these two will be to shut down Spain’s passing game and become the catalysts for Holland’s counter attack.

However, the key in this match will be with the wing-back, most likely Daley Blind and Daryl Janmaat. In their friendly warm-up against Ghana, Blind had 3 tackles, 3 interceptions and 7 clearances, while on offense he provided 1 key pass and had a 91% pass completion rate from 63 touches. On the other wing, Janmaat had 7 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 clearances while also adding 1 key pass and 86% pass completion from 53 touches. Overall, this compares very favorably with the rest of the team which had an 80% pass completion rate from 51% possession. In the match they also used 78% of their possession in attacking down the wings with only 22% down the middle. This friendly warm-up match against Ghana is probably the closest to what should be expected on Friday afternoon. The Netherlands came through 1-0 winners from a Robin van Persie goal and the tactical set up is something much more likely to be set out by van Gaal.

This team full of young, up and coming players should have an advantage over a mostly aging Spanish team. Some have said that this Netherlands team is the most fit at the tournament, and they will certainly be tested against Spain. At the same time, they are young and there is still the chance for a mistake, a mistake that a star-studded, veteran, Spain side will pounce on in a second.

Perhaps I am over-hyping this team, but I feel that they have real potential. With van Gaal leading them and reports of there being a more positive locker room this year, this team could surprise a lot of people. There is a very good chance that this young Dutch team can come through this with a result and even a win, which would give them an excellent shot at topping the group. Then again, it is the Dutch, and this feeling of youth filled potential at the World Cup has been seen before.

Probable starting lineup – 3-5-2: Cillessen; Indi, Vlaar, de Vrij; Blind, de Jong, de Guzman, Janmaat; Sneijder; Robben, van Persie

The Netherlands takes on Spain on June 13 with kickoff at 3pm ET taking place at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador. The match will be aired live in the United States on ESPN and Univision.

The Oranje. The Royal Netherlands Football Team (KNVB), aka Netherlands or Holland, is a team well known for its moments of brilliance, but so often eclipsed by moments of madness. Their fans can always be seen wildly cheering on their team decked out in orange with a smattering of red, white, and blue. Well known for their raucous celebrations, but also for their ability to recognize and appreciate good soccer.

A Brief History Lesson

The Netherlands is a country that is well known for its open society and acceptance of others, yet there is still an arrogance and patriotism that is embodied by the national team. The country itself is known as the Netherlands, yet they are willing to allow their national team to be referred to as Holland. In actuality, Holland is just a portion of the country itself with North Holland and South Holland being two of the provinces within the country of the Netherlands.

The color orange, which they are so famously associated with, comes from the royal line of Orange-Nassau going back to William I of Orange in 1544. This remains prominent in the country with their current King, Willem-Alexander, carrying on the Orange-Nassau lineage.

In continuing with the history lesson, the Dutch national team has become something of an enigma. The Netherlands is a small, but densely populated country, but has managed to produce some of the world’s greatest players and teams. They have played some of the most beautiful soccer, yet so often they seem to implode and fall short, particularly in the World Cup. Three times they have finished as runners-up (the most for any team that has not won the World Cup), yet their failings with some of the greatest players in the world is what has defined them ever since the days of Johan Cruyff and Total Football in the 70’s.

World Cup 2014 Squad

This 2014 team is not short on star power, but there are a number of lesser known, younger players that round out this squad. Most fans know about Robin van Persie (30), Arjen Robben (30), Wesley Sneijder (29), as well as Rafael van der Vaart (31). These four, along with Dirk Kuyt (33), are the veteran players that make up the core of the team. They are joined by several younger players like Jeremain Lens (26), Daryl Janmaat (24), Patrick van Aanholt (23), Jordy Clasie (22), and even Terence Kongolo (20) and Tonny Vilhena (19). This is a squad that has a large contingent from the Dutch Eredivisie, with 16 players from the league including 7 from Feyenoord.

In Louis van Gaal’s first stint as the Dutch coach, from 2000-02, his hard-headed, no nonsense, direct approach led to rebellion and poor results from a group of individually talented players who just couldn’t play as a team. As a result they failed to even qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

This year’s squad is much more of a team built by van Gaal, for van Gaal. They are mostly young and impressionable, meaning that he can be the teacher he prefers to be and guide them as their coach and leader. It has certainly helped that this is a team whose captain, Robin van Persie, has a very close relationship with van Gaal.

In qualifying for the World Cup, the Netherlands dominated their group with a 9-1-0 record while scoring 34 goals and allowing just 5. They have played a rather tactically fluid style of play similar to the total football of their past. Holland has often set up with something like a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, but it seems likely that he will go with more of a 5-3-2 in the World Cup that can transition into a 3-5-2 in attack. Being without Kevin Strootman in the middle of the pitch is one of the main reasons why van Gaal may make the switch to a 5-3-2. His presence will be missed, but the hope is that bringing in quick midfielders and defenders on the wings can be beneficial in spreading the play out wide. In his place, Nijel de Jong will have to take control of the midfield. He should have learned much since his mistakes in 2010.

The players at van Gaal’s disposal point to the possibility of setting up to adapt to their opponents style of play. They have the players, and talent, to play a possession based game with high tempo passing and moving as well as being able to shift to a more pragmatic and defensive approach of soaking up pressure then pushing for a quick counter attack.

All in all, this is a young team full of both raw talent and experienced veterans going out one last time. While they could turn some heads, they were given a very difficult group to progress through. They should be able to finish as runners-up, but all this will really lead to is a second round meeting with Brazil. This is my World Cup prediction for them, but does require them to get past both Chile and Australia, which will not be an easy task (you can also fill out a free printable World Cup bracket to make your own predictions).

The lack of pressure on this Netherlands squad could mean that they really surprise and go far. I believe that in the end this should be a good World Cup for the Netherlands, but will ultimately end with them being dumped out in the knockout stages.

Strengths

Attack. The spine of this team is filled with mostly veteran players, and is especially strong up front with attacking options including Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Weaknesses

Inexperience. There are a large number of players who will be experiencing their first World Cup as well as 21 players who have less than 15 caps.

Possible Starting Lineup

GK: Tim Krul;

Defenders: Bruno Martins Indi, Daryl Janmaat, Ron Vlaar, Daley Blind, Terence Kongolo;

Midfielders: Wesley Sneijder, Arjen Robben, Nigel de Jong;

Forwards: Jeremain Lens, Robin van Persie

Southampton has become the biggest surprise of this Premier League season. After being promoted just last year, they have catapulted themselves into third place after the first 11 matches. Even more amazing, they have the chance to go top of the league this Saturday if results go their way between Liverpool-Everton, and against Arsenal.

In looking back over last season, Southampton finished in a respectable 14th place with 41 points. Their -11 goal difference came from allowing 60 goals and scoring 49. What is interesting is that when they sacked Nigel Adkins they were in 15th place with a 5-7-10 record and 22 points. With Mauricio Pochettino in charge they finished the season going 4-7-5. This included finishing the season through April and May going 1-4-2. It didn’t look like much of a difference at the time.

I bring all of this up because the trend in Southampton seemed to be leading to them dwelling in lower table mediocrity. The Saints looked like a team that could possibly build into a middle of the table side in a few years, but probably a team that would need to fight to stay in the Premier League for another season or two.

Now that the 2013-14 season is 11/38 in, Southampton has shocked us all. My own preseason EPL predictions had them finishing in the bottom half and spending at least part of the season worrying about relegation.

In looking over statistics (thanks to WhoScored? as well as Barclays Premier League official website) the team isn’t dominating any particular area (except defensively), but seems to have put together a quality squad that knows how to play as a team and get results.

As a comparison between last season and this, we can look at the results they managed from the same set of eleven teams they have faced so far this year. Since Crystal Palace and Hull City are newly promoted sides, I used QPR and Reading as similar teams from last season (with both being promoted last year along with Southampton).

As you can see, they went 1-5-5 while scoring 10 goals and allowing 15, along with two clean sheets. In this same set of fixtures this season they are now 6-4-1 scoring 15 and allowing five, with six clean sheets.

Through eleven matches in the 2012-13 campaign, they had a 1-2-8 record and only five points while giving up 29 goals and scoring 15 (as many as they have scored this year). They ended up finishing the season with a 9-14-15 record and 41 points.

Defense Makes the Difference

Southampton’s biggest change this season has been its defense. They really could have at least seven clean sheets if not for the wind assisted goal from Stoke City’s goalkeeper, Asmir Begovic, but will be more than happy with the six they have. Artur Boruc has done well this season, with 26 saves to go with the clean sheets, but he has really benefited from the defense in front of him.

Again, Southampton aren’t beating any records, but merely being a solid team. They have averaged a tenth best 13.3 interceptions per game, 20 tackles, two blocked shots, and 9.6 shots allowed (third best). Where they do lead the league is in the most fouls per game (tied with Stoke) with 13.6.

The interceptions and tackles, especially from midfield, are what have led this team. Morgan Schneiderlin is among the best in the league this year where he has an average of 2 interceptions and 3.9 tackles per game (sixth best). Behind him he has Dejan Lovren with 2.2 tackles per game and 2.5 interceptions (17th best in EPL) as well as Jose Fonte with 2 interceptions and 1.4 tackles per game.

While Victor Wanyama has made mistakes (like Hull City’s goal), his partnership with Schneiderlin has benefited them both in the center of the pitch. Wanyama has averaged 1.6 interceptions and 2.7 tackles per game. He also has a team high 2.6 fouls per game, which is enough to put him second in the league.

They do, however, only have 13 yellow cards and zero red cards. This does put them third in the discipline table (behind Cardiff and Norwich).

Offense Doing Enough

Offensively Southampton is doing enough, but does need to kick it up a notch, especially if they intend to challenge for a top four, or even top six. While they have averaged 13.6 shots per game as well as being sixth in possession percentage with an average of 56.9% they have scored 15 goals. This is somewhat deceiving considering that they put four past Hull City last weekend. Prior to last weekend they had scored more than one goal only three other times, all in home matches, against Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Fulham.

On offense, Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez have made their claims to a spot on the England team by scoring four, three, and three goals respectively. Lambert has averaged 3.1 shots per game and has added three assists while Lallana has set up two assists and Rodriguez adding an assist.

Lallana has been the offensive catalyst for the team with an average of 1.7 shots per game resulting in a 15% goal conversion rate. Additionally he has added an 81.4% pass success rate as well as averaging 1.8 key passes per game (20 on the season and 19th best in the league).

So What? Statistics Can Be Misleading

Yes, statistics are fun to look at. So, I’m going to throw out a few more. Last season West Brom began the season quite hot and at week 11 were in fifth place. At this point of the season they had a 6-2-3 record by scoring 17 and allowing 12 to give them 20 points.  By Christmas they had dropped down to seventh with 33 points (10-3-6). They would continue to drift from that point and finished the season in eighth place with a 14-7-17 record, a -4 goal difference, and 49 points. This is an excellent finish for them, but this was still 12 points behind Liverpool in seventh place and 23 points behind Tottenham in the final Europa League place.

This is where the big questions come. Can Southampton really sustain this form? Statistics can only show so much. There comes a point where teams need to be able to buy into a manager’s tactics and be able to put them into effect on the pitch. This is what Southampton has been able to do. They don’t go out and dominate. They go out and get the job done. They work hard, they press, they press some more, and they force teams to make mistakes while limiting the amount that they make. That is how you win games. My college volleyball coach used to say that it’s the team that makes the fewest mistakes that wins. We used to work on becoming mistake free and that is what I feel this Southampton team has been doing.

Coming up they have their biggest tests of the season. Following the international break are two away trips to London to face Arsenal then Chelsea. Southampton do manage to go home to take on Aston Villa (eyeing three points I’m sure) followed by Manchester City. December is filled with even more difficult matches for them including Tottenham at home just before Christmas, then Cardiff City in Wales on Boxing Day and Everton away. Just for fun, they get to start 2014 with a match on New Year’s Day against Chelsea.

We could hash out how these matches all went last season, but while history can always teach us something, this is a case where it’s best to forget the past and focus on the future. Southampton seem to be taking this approach and will continue to push their luck.

In making predictions for the Premier League, teams like Southampton make it very difficult. This is the most dangerous type of team to come up against since they are now a threat to every team in the league and have proven that they will challenge.

Where the Saints are right now, they know that other teams will not be taking them for granted. It is going to become a matter of how much they want it and if they can maintain their mental strength for the duration of the season, especially with the rush of holiday matches coming up.

The big question this Premier League season has become: Is Southampton for real? Or will they flounder and sink to the middle of the table? My own prediction is that Southampton will taper off and finish in the top ten, possibly pushing for the Europa League, but coming up short.

Editor’s note: For the latest Saints news, analysis and opinion, visit our Southampton team page.

As it the Premier League table stands at the moment, Manchester United are looking set to snatch back the trophy from the blue half of Manchester. Twelve points clear with 12 matches to play is a rather large hurdle, but in the immortal words of Yogi Berra, “It ain’t over till it’s over.” This is certainly true of positions 2-6 and who will get the Champions League/Europa League places.

What has made the top of the table so interesting this year is the continued form of both Tottenham Hotspur and Everton as well as the relative inconsistency of Manchester City and Chelsea. Tottenham are currently sitting in 4th place on 48 points followed by Chelsea with 49 points in third and City in second place with 53 points. That is only a 5 point lead for Manchester City with Tottenham set to play Chelsea on the road and City at home while Chelsea will also have to travel to Man City on Feb 24th.

These matches could lead to some interesting developments in the top four positions. Add to this the inclusion of Arsenal (44 points) and Everton (42) and the battle for European places gets very exciting indeed. Everton has already gotten their fixture with Manchester United out of the way and are set to play Arsenal (A), Manchester City (H), Tottenham (A) and then wrap up the season away to Chelsea. Meanwhile Arsenal have Tottenham (A), Everton (H), and Manchester United (H) yet to play. From the looks of it Arsenal might have an easier go of it.

Each team has the standard mid table and bottom of the table matches as well which could always lead to a slip-up. There is still plenty to play for in the middle of the table as well for spoilers like Liverpool, Swansea City, West Brom, and Stoke City so nobody is going to be able to relax.

Another thing to remember is that Arsenal is still involved in both the Champions League and FA Cup which could turn their heads and cause some tiredness (Arsene has already played this card earlier in the season). Everton has the FA Cup, but this could do more to give them confidence than anything in my opinion. The same is true of Manchester City. Tottenham may not have the FA Cup, but they are still in the Europa League, which could lead to some interesting team selections and form in the coming weeks. Chelsea could have it the worst off being involved in both the FA Cup and Europa League. Their FA Cup run could hinder them more than anything. Being dumped out by League One Brentford would not be helpful at all and could hurt their morale. Progressing would just add another match to an already busy fixture list.

Several of these teams are going to have some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks in terms of focus. I would say that Chelsea is going to have it the roughest which could open the door for Everton and Arsenal to battle for the fourth position. Tottenham will also need to decide if they are going to make a push in Europe this year, or make the push for a Champions League place. Manchester City seems likely to make a push for the FA Cup this year, but will this come at the expense of getting second?

The way I see it, the top four spots are wide open. This is going to be a crucial time for teams to make their push. If any team starts to slip, the others need to be ready to step up. I do not see Manchester City with a lock on second, nor do I see Chelsea with a lock on third. I would not be at all surprised by Tottenham and Everton moving up the table. City and Chelsea really need to cut out the mistakes if they want to maintain the status quo at the top.

What do you think? Will Manchester City hold the others off to maintain second? Perhaps Arsenal will make a push to claim a Champions League spot, or better yet, Everton?

As an American, when I was first introduced to the Premier League I was intrigued by the idea of relegation to a lower league along with lower tier teams moving up. I will admit that it took me a bit to truly grasp this. Since then I have enjoyed this aspect of the EPL and watching the battle at the bottom.

In this year’s relegation battle it seems that no team in the bottom half of the table is truly safe. There are currently 12 matches remaining which leaves plenty of time for teams to make their move. As the table stands at the moment I see these teams in the battle: Queens Park Rangers (17 points), Wigan Athletic (21), Reading (23), Aston Villa (24), Newcastle United (27), and Southampton (27). There are also several teams just on the periphery that could be sucked in if they hit a bad patch: Norwich City (29), Sunderland (29), Fulham (29), and West Ham United (30).

Of these teams Newcastle United and Southampton have been gradually getting results and looking better while Reading is also trying to dig themselves out of a pretty big hole. West Ham, Fulham and Sunderland are the farthest from the drop zone and have managed to get results throughout the season, but all three have shown inconsistency. Norwich City is a team that has mostly been riding their early season success and relying on draws in the past few matches, and it is always possible for them to get pulled down even farther.

The bottom four teams are perhaps in the direst of straits. Last season at this time the bottom three were Wigan Athletic (20 points), Bolton Wanderers (20) and Blackburn Rovers (21). Just above them were QPR (21) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (22).  By the end of the season Wigan had pulled away to finish with 43 points in 15^th place while Wolves ended up getting only 3 draws to finish bottom at 25. Meanwhile Blackburn and Bolton were also relegated with 31 and 36 points respectively. QPR finished just one point above Bolton with Aston Villa just a point above them in 16^th place on 38 points.

All of this is to say that the battle at the bottom of the table is far from over. Many of these fights at the end of the season come down to a healthy amount of luck and a lot of reliance on other team’s results. I know the old cliché is that each team has to focus on getting their own wins and their own points, but the fact is that every team at the bottom is going to drop points. This means that every team is most likely going to get their chance to climb up the table. Which teams will take advantage and which teams will end up dropping off? The most important thing for all of these teams will be trying to string together several wins and mixing in draws for tough match-ups.

Each of the bottom four teams has to play each other before the end of the season which could lead to crucial points for some and devastating defeats for others. Perhaps the final day of the season (May 19^th) will be as dramatic as last with Wigan Athletic at home to Aston Villa and Reading having to travel to West Ham United. As the table stands now the bottom four teams look the most likely to be battling to stay up and right now QPR’s away trip to Liverpool on the last day looks like it will mean more to Liverpool’s finish than Redknapp’s Rangers.

This year’s EPL season has been fantastic for teams in the middle of the table and there are still plenty of places up for grabs, including the bottom 3. I think the bottom half of the table is going to be every bit as competitive as the rest. The spread of points across places 10-17 is certainly close enough to make it a very exciting end to the season. Who will end up getting the drop? Can QPR claw their way out, or are they doomed? Will any of the three recently promoted teams be returned to the Championship? Can Reading and Wigan make their late runs to escape? This is definitely going to be an interesting finish, so just remember: It ain’t over ’til it’s over.

The amount of hostility that David De Gea receives each week is somewhat bemusing to me. I know he’s made mistakes, but so have many other world class goalkeepers. In a way, it is part of the job, and especially so in the EPL where punishing mistakes is a big part of the game. The speed and intensity of matches is what makes watching the Premier League so much fun, but it also causes teams (and goalkeepers) to make errors.

I suppose the reason that De Gea gets a disproportionate amount of criticism is a by-product of playing for Manchester United. Any goalkeeper will be playing in the shadow of the great Peter Schmeichel and will always be compared to him. This is certainly not fair, but it is a fact. Playing for Manchester United also means that the stakes are higher and the expectations even more so. Perhaps the last big reason for all the flak he gets is due to the price tag. £19 million is quite a hefty transfer fee for such a young and largely unproven player. I am not saying that he doesn’t make mistakes or that he shouldn’t be criticized at all, but that criticism leveled against him is often harsher than against other keepers out there. I know he has flaws and he has weaknesses he needs to work on, but this is more about why the ranting and raving is a bit overboard and why I believe Sir Alex and Manchester United should hang on to him.

Here are 3 reasons why I believe Sir Alex Ferguson should keep David De Gea at Manchester United:

1.) At only 22 years old he is still very young. It is well known that keepers play longer than outfield players and that they peak at much later ages. Their past two great keepers, Edwin van der Sar and Peter Schmeichel, were much older during their time at Manchester United. Peter Schmeichel played for United from 1991-1999 and was 28-36 during that time. Edwin van der Sar played from 2005-2011 and was 35-41.  It is well documented that the brain does not stop developing until age 25, which could be part of why goalkeepers tend to peak later in their career, considering that the goalkeeper position requires more thinking: it requires foresight, constant decision making along with rapid reflexes. By keeping him at United he will be able to develop within the confines of the United setup. The more games he gets with the team, the more experience he gets. Which leads to the second point…

2) He is still learning the English game. This is only his second full season in EPL and he has only recently begun to play regular first team football. Coming from Atletico Madrid and the La Liga style of play is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the Premier League. I have noticed differences in how he plays and that he is starting to command his box more. Sure, there is still work to be done and he does need to step it up and really dominate the area, but he is learning. Getting in the weight room more will certainly help him out, but so will playing regularly. I think he needs the game time to increase his consistency as well as his confidence. Remember, he is still young and he is still susceptible to becoming insecure and losing poise. The more time he plays with the team and develops in the EPL the better he will get.

3) The language barrier is the last reason why he should be kept. At the moment De Gea’s English is far from stellar. He is taking intensive English courses, but English is also one of the most difficult languages to learn. As he is able to better understand the language the better he is going to be able to communicate with those around him on the pitch. Communication is such a massive part of being a goalkeeper. Part of the issue at the moment seems to be an uncertainty amongst players about what is going on at the back. Many times players seem hesitant to pass back or they aren’t sure if they should be going for a ball or leave it for De Gea. As his own communication skills increase, the more comfortable he should feel with directing those around him as well as others responding to him.

I went through a few stats from this season’s Premier League matches to date (week 25). I took all of my stats from match reports off of the official Premier League website. David De Gea has played in 17 EPL matches (1530 minutes) this season and has made 85 saves and allowed 20 goals. This averages out to 1.18 goals allowed per game and an average of about 4.25 saves per match. In this time he has faced a total of 232 shots with 134 on target leading to a rate of 1.58 saves per shot on target (shots on target include any shots that were blocked by defenders). In reviewing other statistics De Gea is fourth in the league in average goals allowed per game (behind Hart, Cech, and Lloris) and according to one statistic he has the second highest save to shots on goal ratio behind Gerhard Tremmel (who has only played 12 matches). De Gea does have only 4 clean sheets this season (down from 13 last season), but he also has a 14-2-1 record with the only loss coming in the 1-0 loss to Everton the first match of the season. This is compared to Anders Lindegaard who is 6-0-2 with 2 clean sheets and 11 goals allowed this 2012-13 season to date.

Yes, David De Gea still has much to learn, and needs to bulk up for certain, but he should be given the time to do so. It is my hope that Manchester United decides to keep him and let him develop into a world class goalkeeper.

“It’s too boring.” “There’s never any scoring.” “They’re all pansies.” “They’re always rolling around on the ground pretending to be hurt.” These seem to be the standard arguments I get from my American football loving friends and acquaintances whenever soccer is brought up, or showing on TV.

I would say that these could be valid opinions if they were founded on actual observations. Instead they take the stereotypical version of what they believe soccer to be. Any attempts to engage them in conversation on the subject ends with sarcastic comments being made about soccer player’s manhood.

The state of the current Premier League is such that suggesting it is boring means that one, they haven’t actually watched any of it, or two, they don’t understand the game (and perhaps they don’t care to). The EPL is perhaps the most exciting league to watch because of its openness and directness of play, and this season the amount of goals being scored adds to the enjoyment of the league. You could include with this the fact that the middle of the table is fairly evenly matched and there is always excitement in the relegation battle drama.

The EPL has toned down some in terms of its physicality, but it still remains a highly competitive contact sport. The interesting thing is that I have heard many English pundits complaining that the physical aspects of the game have been taken away. This flies in the face of what I have heard American football fans suggesting about soccer. The sport itself is highly physical and players “rolling around” do so for 3 reasons: 1.) They are hurt. 2.) They were fouled and need to get the refs attention about it. 3.) They are cheating.

I will agree with any fan that the cheating part needs to stop and is offensive.

I would posit that most of these people who make such statements about soccer are doing so because they are uninformed. Perhaps they don’t care to be informed, but if this is the case, then I suggest they just stay quiet and stop with their snide comments. While I know many readers on here enjoy American football as well as soccer, I have grown bored with the American sport, which could be due to the amount of flak I get from those around me. I always point out that in soccer the clock does not stop and the action only really stops when there is an injury. In American football, the clock may say that the game lasts 60 minutes but with all of the stoppages in play, expect to spend 2.5 to 3 hours of watching what becomes only about 30 minutes of actual gameplay. At any point in time during an EPL game, something is happening and there is always the possibility of a goal being scored.

I will continue to enjoy my Premier League soccer every weekend and will watch my matches despite the sarcastic comments from friends. I do suggest to these fans of American football that they get involved in supporting soccer now while the sport is still growing in America. Then when the NFL is dying, they can say, “I have always loved the EPL and I have supported [insert team name here] for years.”

Are you a fan of American football and soccer. If so, why? Do you ever hear these arguments aimed at you as a soccer fan? What are some of your “favorite” anti-soccer statements?

Todd Shenk can be found at www.PremierSoccerChat.com. 

Pretty much every pundit of the Premier League has bemoaned the lack of defending in the league this season. This may seem like a bad thing for the Premier League, but I’m going to make the case that it doesn’t really matter and, if anything, it’s a good thing.

Yes, defending is important, but it isn’t what defines the sport. In soccer, there always needs to be a balance of scoring and defending. Tactics and formations tend to come and go as far as what is considered to be in vogue, but most people will agree that every great team has a solid defense that drives them. The point being simply that defense tends to win titles. Look at last year’s Champions League final in which Chelsea, as the clear underdogs, sat back and defended well to push the match into penalty kicks where their goalkeeper (last line of defense) kept Bayern Munich from scoring.

There are many fans out there who whine about the style of play that teams like Stoke City, West Ham or Sunderland utilize by sitting back and defending, often hoping to get a long ball counter goal for a 1-0 win. This is seen as being boring and an abomination of the sport, by some. (I for one feel that it is fair game, and not at all easy to pull off.)

This brings me to my point. Most fans of the sport want their team to play “pretty” soccer. They might talk about how soccer is a contact sport and how their team may have “put in a shift,” but most fans want to see their team attacking and scoring and playing nice passes to win. Every fan is jealous of Barcelona and how they play (me included if I really care to admit it). Their possession and passing style of play is quite different from a team like Stoke, where they allow their opponent to control large amounts of time on the ball. In their 3-1 win over Liverpool they had only 38% of the possession. Obviously it’s not how much you have the ball, but what you do with it (they also had 10 shots with 5 of those on goal).

Here are the three main reasons why the so-called lack of defending in the Premier League isn’t really such a big deal:

1. Defending is overrated if you have the players to get you wins. Five teams in the top seven have allowed 21 or more goals this season. These include:

• Manchester United in first place (16-1-3 on 49 points), who also boast 50 goals scored to their 28 allowed for a goal difference of 22
• Tottenham in fourth place (11-3-6 on 36 points), with 36 scored and 26 allowed
• Arsenal in fifth place (9-6-4 on 33 points), with 39 scored and 21 allowed
• Everton in sixth place (8-9-3 on 33 points), with 33 scored and 25 allowed
• West Bromwich Albion in seventh (10-3-7 on 33 points), with 28 scored and 25 allowed.

Allowing goals has not gotten in the way of these clubs’ success so far this year. Of those five teams, Arsenal has the most clean sheets (7) followed by West Brom and Tottenham with 5, Manchester United with 4 and Everton with 2. Interestingly enough Manchester United allowed 33 goals in all of last season, so they are certainly allowing more goals, but they are making up for it by scoring enough to get wins. Each of these five teams falls into that same category. They are able to get wins simply because they go out and score enough to get the win:

2. The Premier League isn’t really conceding that many more goals than any other major league in Europe. I looked through some of the mid-season statistics for the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, and Italian Serie A. The other three leagues have played fewer games so far than the EPL.  La Liga has the highest average amount of goals scored per match week at 28.5. The Premier League is second with 28.35 followed by Serie A at 27.6 and last the Bundesliga’s 26.1. The numbers are close across the board.

Serie A is the league with the most clean sheets, 127, followed by the EPL at 99, La Liga with 93 and the Bundesliga with 77. Serie A has most always been associated with this, so there’s no big surprise there. Clean sheets would probably be the one statistic that really separates the Premier League from their continental rivals, but even there the only league that really stands out is Serie A. The other two leagues are just about on par.

So while defending is seen as a big issue that “needs” to be dealt with in the Premier League, it seems to be as much of an issue in other leagues.

3. Goals make the English Premier League more interesting. The number one reason to stop worrying about the so-called poor defending is that it only adds more drama to the most exciting league in the world. It makes sense that more goals are being scored. The Barclays Premier League is one that is played at near breakneck speed with most matches involving non-stop action. The term “end to end” is applied as a cliché for almost every match.

The Premier League tends to have teams that play very direct, attacking soccer that is fun to watch. If that means that the defending is sacrificed (at least for now) then so be it. I’m going to sit back and enjoy the show. Soccer is an ever-evolving sport and just because teams are less defensive at the moment, does not mean that this will always be the case.

What is being lamented as a lack of defending this season is by no means a crisis.  It only adds to the drama and fast-paced play that set the Premier League apart and make it the most exciting league to watch.

What do you think? Is there truly a lack of defending this season? Is it compromising the quality of the Premier League?

Todd Shenk can be found at www.PremierSoccerChat.com.