After a season that failed to match expectations, it’s become well established that there will be a number of players joining and leaving Arsenal this summer. The question of who will be leaving tends to drag up the same names: Denilson, Emmanuel Eboue, Gael Clichy and Nicklas Bendtner. Another name that appears more often than not is that of their little Russian, Andrey Arshavin . Has he really not done enough to justify at least another season with the club?
Arshavin was the Gunner who made the most appearances last season: 51 in total. In that time he contributed 10 goals and a number of assists. In statistical terms, Andrey Arshavin has kept producing even when his performances have appeared to be below the high standard that Arsenal players must meet.
It’s fair to say that his performances have suffered this season. Whilst at the best of times he looks tired, he has on the occasion looked completely unfit. His lack of mobility often means that his fullback is constantly exposed, confounding Arsenal’s defensive problems. His laid-back body language and casual work-ethic have, it seems, finally got to the fans, many of whom are ready to see the back of the Russian international.
With players like Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott already holding down the flanks, would Arsenal really miss him were he to go?
For all his faults, Arshavin can offer Arsenal something many other players simply can’t: a mercurial ability to produce a moment of magic out of nowhere. When Arsenal are struggling to break down a team or simply need to grab a goal, Arshavin is a useful player to have on the bench. He’s the kind of player that can create a goal against the run of play, or find his way through a sturdy, tough to break down defence.
It’s my feeling that it would be foolish for Arsenal to send Arshavin packing this summer. When you consider that they have both Carlos Vela and Tomas Rosicky on the books – two of the most ineffective wingers in world football – I would suggest that given the fact that Arshavin is more than capable of producing the goods, he’s worth keeping hold of.
What’s more if his defensive performance against Manchester United in the final weeks of last season is anything to go by, he’s more than capable of working hard when he’s motivated to do so. Perhaps it’s merely a case of Wenger instilling the right mentality into Arshavin? With the right mindset, Arshavin may well turn out to be a key figure in next year’s campaign.
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We’ve all heard and seen it before within club football. Players using smaller teams as a stepping-stone to give them regular first team football and put themselves in the big boys shop window. However it seems like this disgusting exploitation of clubs has now stretched over into international football.
Last week Paul Scholes let his opinions be heard and claimed that the England team is full of self-centered players only interested in showing off to bigger clubs or securing a more lucrative contract. The recently retired midfielder quit the England scene in 2004 and many thought it was a combination of being played out of position and a hunger to further his club career that were the main reasons behind his decision to walk away from the three lions. Despite the efforts of Steve McClaren and Fabio Capello, who both tried to coax him out of international retirement, Scholes resisted their overtures.
Only now has this new reasoning behind Scholes’ international exile come to light and his words could prove to be disastrous for an England side already under heaps of pressure to bounce back from last years World Cup horror in South Africa. However what he says does make sense and resonates with a feeling I’ve had for years about new players coming into the England side. There is evidence to prove that players are using England caps for their own personal gain and that reaching the pinnacle of footballing recognition just doesn’t mean as much as it did in the past.
Scholes explained his feelings to the Daily Telegraph: “I always felt when I first started going away with England, players — especially players at clubs like your Aston Villas’s — try to use England as a way to get to a top club. Which, I don’t know, you feel: are they there for the right reason? I think they are very selfish people.
“It happened in my day, I think they are all there to get their bit of glory, their headlines, to think, ‘Oh, I will get a move from this’. That is the biggest problem with English players: that most of them are just too selfish”
Whilst I do partly agree with what Scholes is saying my opinion on the matter is that it’s the fault of the clubs for this sudden surge in one cap wonder signings. Both Andy Carroll and Jordan Henderson made their England debut last season in the defeat to France. Carroll was praised for his performance up front alone whilst Henderson slipped by the wayside after his abysmal showing. Despite the two contrasting performances both earned big money moves to two of the leagues top clubs despite their lack of experience at Premier League level. Even the likes of Michael Ricketts, Shaun Wright Phillips and Emile Heskey have made moves to bigger clubs in the wake of international recognition.
I’m 50-50 with Scholes and I am going to dispute his views even though he was actually a part of the England but I do disagree with his opinion that players use the national side as a stepping stone, it’s impossible. I do agree with the sentiment that playing for your country doesn’t mean what it used too. Players do expect the limelight to be on them when they’re thought to be good enough to represent their country. However I think it is the fault of the clubs who seem to want to snap up anyone who gets within a whisker of an England cap never mind trotting out onto the Wembley turf and actually performing.
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I honestly think it’s ridiculous to say that players are using England as a vehicle to a better career. It’s even more ludicrous to blame this as the reason why we’ve failed miserably when it comes to the World Cup and European Championships. I’d like to believe him but the truth is that some of the players that have played and are playing for England aren’t good enough to perform against the worlds best. The last 10 years have shown that Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard can’t play together for example. The squad never has any consistency unlike the Spainiards, who he mentioned all play for each other, with too many squad changes every game.
Frankly there are times when players in the England team look like they are playing for themselves but I don’t think it’s a deliberate ploy to garner interest from bigger clubs. Scholes’ insinuation that playing for your country isn’t as important as it used to be is 100% correct but to imply that players are stepping out with the three lions on their chest in an attempt to earn more pound coins is absurd. Sorry but those are the words of a bitter man.
Under the ownership of NESV and John Henry, Liverpool have undertaken a massive and expensive rebuilding programme. The club are certainly on the up at the minute and Kenny Dalglish’s return to management after an 11-year absence from the game has gone as well as could be hoped by this point. However, in a recent interview, owner John Henry alluded to the fact that the club may have overpaid for some its talent – is this a theory that holds up upon closer inspection?
The genial Henry argued: “There was a lot of criticism in Boston that we weren’t going to spend money on the Red Sox after we did the LFC transaction. We spent something like $300m in the off-season in Boston, and then there was the fear we wouldn’t spend in Liverpool. It is really surprising, ironic, to be now accused of overspending. Usually owners are accused of the opposite.”
Of course, he was referring as much to the Boston Red Sox’s expenditure as Liverpool’s, but the creeping suspicion that the owner may feel that the club have failed to achieve value for money is something that has seeped through to the terraces.
Since January last season the club have spent £112.8m on transfers while recouping £77.95m, giving a net spend (for all you Rafa Benitez fans out there) of just £34.85m. It’s difficult to argue against the fact that the quality of the squad has increased. There is more strength in depth and competition for places. The result has seen Liverpool slowly but surely climb up the table and become a force to be reckoned with once again.
A lot has been made of Sporting Director Damien Comolli’s role at the club and his preference for the Moneyball system of using statistics to back up the club’s scouting network system with regards to purchasing players.
The big elephant in the room with this theory has been the poor performances of Andy Carroll who cost the princely sum of £35m. Comolli stated that Carroll’s price was somewhat irrelevant as the club were always prepared to pay £15m less than whatever Torres was eventually sold to Chelsea for. However, this does seem a tad disingenuous, because if Liverpool had sold Torres, for say, £25m, Newcastle would have flat out refused to sell Carroll for £10m.
Comolli argues that: “The whole principle is about creating value, and managing to find a player in the market who is underestimated financially compared to his stats.”
Taking a look at Liverpool’s purchases since this policy was implemented and it is fair to say that there is a mish-mash of bargains, gambles on future potential and those that appear to be justifying their price tag. About par with any other football club, then. Let’s take a closer look at the individuals.
Jose Enrique has solved Liverpool’s long-running problem at left-back since the departure of John Arne Riise at a cost of just £6m and Luis Suarez has been magnificent since his £22.8m move from Ajax – making a mockery of the those that questioned whether he’d be able to make the transition from the Eredvisie to the Premier League smoothly.
Charlie Adam looks to be a decent squad member and at £8m, he certainly delivers an end product in terms of goals and assists, but with just one-year left on his deal and at a relegated club, you’d have hoped Liverpool could have got him for fractionally cheaper. Still, while people, myself included, may have their reservations on whether he has the sufficient quality to take Liverpool forward, he looks to be a favourite of Dalglish’s in his new-look Liverpool side this season.
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Stewart Downing is simply not worth £20m, though. There’s no other way around it. He lacks the pace to truly trouble a top quality full-back and his delivery can range from the fantastic to the feeble. Liverpool have certainly overpaid with him, but to be fair, Villa’s price estimation was driven up largely because of the earlier departure of Ashley Young in the same transfer window – a player Liverpool are said to have prioritised over Downing and subsequently missed out on.
Jordan Henderson remains a player that divides the opinion of not only Liverpool fans but even those with just a casual interest in football. He’s cost £16m up front with potential add-ons of £4m. For a 21 year-old that’s versatile, pacy and intelligent, that doesn’t appear to be too far off the mark.
Henderson is hampered not by his price tag, but of other people’s preconceptions about him. He’s a subtle player with great vision and decent distribution. When you factor in the English premium, the price, while obviously over the top considering his relative inexperience, isn’t as far as, say, Downing’s is for me personally. He’s simply not the match-winning mini-Gerrard the media have often made him out to be, but that shouldn’t detract from the player he currently is and could be.
Carroll is the truly troubling one, though. Admittedly, he has been hampered by injuries since his arrival, but the side are in danger of leaving him behind. In his absence, Luis Suarez has struck up a good understanding with the rest of his new team mates and they appear to operate best in a fluid 4-5-1 formation without the Geordie front man.
While it is still far too early to label Carroll a flop, considering the circumstances, he does look to be rather leggy and a lot easier to bully off the ball than he did in his Newcastle pomp. He represents a pressing concern, particularly given the huge outlay on him, but there is still plenty of time for him to come good.
Sebastien Coates arrives with a burgeoning reputation within the game following his exploits with Uruguay in their successful bid to win the Copa America. He will take time to settle and adjust to the pace of the league, but so long as people are patient with him, at £6m, his potential is enormous.
Craig Bellamy could just prove to be the bargain of the entire transfer window. Adaptable to several different roles and formations, his spirit and pace are a great asset to have in the armoury.
John Henry is indeed correct, it is strange for a club to be criticised for over-spending. No other club in the Premier League would ever be accused of something so cynical. When you analyse the team’s squad since the NESV came into ownership of the club, then it has without question improved significantly.
On the issue of whether the club has overpaid, purely on a transfer by transfer basis, like any club, they have for some players and haven’t for others. Carroll and Downing remain the two players that I’d personally be keeping an eye on although others will contest Henderson should be in there too.
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Buying players based on solely on potential is an inherently risky business. With the new rules coming into force about the number of home-grown and English players eligible for each Premier League club’s 25-man squad, the change in emphasis is understandable.
NESV have a long-term ambition for the club, which includes speculating on potential. Not every transfer will come off and they will overpay for some in the process, just like they have done so already. But as with every rebuilding process, mistakes will be made, but what is most important is patience and the belief that they’ll get more things right than wrong. So far, Comolli and Dalglish appear to have subscribed to this view.
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This season’s Championship promises to be one of the most exciting and competitive for many years. Across the league there are a number of big names, teams of former glories that are desperate to get back to the top. But with that desire to return to the top division comes an enormous pressure on the managers who have been given the job to get them back to the Premier League.
The 24 teams that make up the second tier include Southampton, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham, West Ham and Leeds. These are just some of the clubs that will be fighting for only three promotion spots come the end of the season. Some will undoubtedly miss out and for the managers that don’t guide their teams to the top or even make good starts to their campaigns, the chop may loom. The increased competition in the league should prove to be an amazing spectacle for fans but for managers, the pressures and headaches will only be greater. Those big clubs will not face an easy task getting back to the Premier League as the standard of England’s second tier continues to increase year on year.
Two of the league’s big teams and favourites for promotion are West Ham and Leicester City. The Hammers have appointed Sam Allardyce to lead them this season and the demand for success and an immediate return to the Premier League means the pressure will be on Allardyce from the start. A bad run could easily see the former Blackburn boss shown the door.
Another manager who sees himself in a similar position is Sven-Goran Eriksson at Leicester. The incredible spending at the club means that the manager will face the expectation of success this season and missing out on promotion could easily spell the end for Sven. In previous years the likes of Leicester and West Ham could have run away with the league but whilst they are still favourites, both face intense competition for the promotion places in a league that could realistically include at least half the teams chasing automatic promotion.
Nottingham Forest’s decision to appoint Steve McClaren as their new boss looks like a great move on paper. The former England manager is experienced and hungry to return to the Premier League. But his experience within the game and the club’s tradition means he has everything to prove again with Forest. McClaren faces the challenge of returning them to the top after years away and this will be no easy task despite his experience and obvious skills as a boss. It is often said that the Championship is the hardest league to get out of and managers (including McClaren) will have to step up to the challenge and prove they can guide their team straight up if most want to stay in their jobs come May next year.
The opening weekend of fixtures didn’t disappoint and the prospect of a whole season of enthralling Championship action is mouthwatering. But the managers of those big clubs will all face an uphill battle and huge pressure to get their teams out of the second tier and back where they belong.
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Which Championship manager do you think is under the most pressure? If you want to read more of my bite size, 140 character views and thoughts follow me on Twitter @jennyk5
I can see it now; Redknapp preparing speeches on his admiration of everyone else’s players, Pep Guardiola writing his wish list of Arsenal players to Santa “Rosell” Claus, Liverpool preparing £20m cheques for players that aren’t worth five and the media spend hours practicing writing phrases like ‘splash-out’, ‘Man City to pay £200m’ and ‘reported to have agreed’. Yes you guessed it; it’s the January ‘football media circus’ sales. City fans rub their hands together gleefully at the thought of more expensive players to sit on the bench and Arsene Wenger prepares his double bluff about not being interested in new signings. Is he going to sign somebody? Isn’t he? No he isn’t; but that doesn’t matter to the papers who hype themselves and the fans up into a frenzy that resembles the pre Christmas American tradition of Black Friday.
What is it about transfers that we love so much? Sometimes it even seems that fans are more interested reading about which players their team are going to sign rather than actually watching them play. I remember reading a piece about Arseblog in which he revealed that more people visited his site during the summer transfer window than any other period. A sad indictment of football fans perhaps. I’m not saying that I’m not guilty of being caught up in the furor of it all though. I enjoy the idea of going to watch newly bought stars week in week out just as much as the next fan. Who wouldn’t? No team in the league is perfect, even Man City have their flaws. Although it is doubtful that spending more money would particularly help their problems, unless they fancy buying the rights for the Europa League from Channel 5 and giving them to the BBC or Sky just so they don’t have to endure the punditry on arguably Britain’s worst TV channel.
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The best sorts of stories are the ambiguous player-for-sale stories. Take Fernando Torres for example. The rumour that he is available for £20m has got every fan in the world whose club has a spare £20m in the bank thinking this could be their man. It is just too easy for journalists. Where did this rumour come from? Andre Villas-Boas stringently denies this suggestion and like 99% of transfer rumours out there it was probably just some tabloid journalist trying to work out, off the top of his head, what a reasonable price would be for the Spaniard and then pairing that estimation up with the fact that Torres spends quit a bit of time on the bench. Logical yes, truthful no.
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The problem with this sort of behaviour in England is that there are laws protecting the sources that journalists use. They do not have to declare them if they don’t want to and what this leads to is the fabrication of sources, and in turn stories. However, that doesn’t mean that all stories are false. Who knows, maybe Torres does have a 60% off tag tied around his neck.
Every January it seems that we break the record for the amount spent collectively as a league. Last January clubs in the Premier League spent £225m, which was a record. However if you consider that £50m alone was spent on Torres and £35m was spent on Carroll then it seems unlikely we’ll reach those heights again. Maybe I’ll be proved wrong though. I heard from a ‘source’ that Liverpool are interested in signing Jermain Defoe for £25m and then selling him back to Spurs in six months time for half that amount. Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? That’s because I made it up, although it does fit with established formula of looking at a club’s recent transfer dealings and adding to it the sensationalist’s solution to a club’s problems. Maybe making up transfer rumours could be my new job, I think I could get the hang of it.
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Chelsea skipper John Terry has held his tongue over the controversial missed penalty against Manchester United for fear of UEFA punishment.The Blues were incensed that a late appeal for a penalty went begging in their 1-0 Champions League loss at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Midfielder Ramires was cut down by United’s Patrice Evra in the final moments of stoppage time, in what appeared to be a clear-cut decision, but referee Alberto Undiano was unmoved.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said afterward it was a penalty and Terry agreed, though he stopped short of offering more to avoid being rubbed out for the return leg at Old Trafford.
“It was clear. Even from 50 or 60 yards away I could see Ramires got the first touch,” Terry said.
“After the game, we watched it on the video like everyone else. It was a clear penalty. Anywhere else in the world – at the Camp Nou, Old Trafford, San Bernabeu – it’s a penalty.”
“I think the most frustrating thing for the players is that we can’t come out here and be honest about it.”
“We would face possible bans. We’re seeing players receiving bans left, right and centre for speaking honestly after games.”
“You guys lose out, the players can’t be honest and we end up walking on eggshells. Unfortunately I can’t say more about it.”
The 30-year-old acknowledged Chelsea had performed below their best in the quarter-final but remained steadfast in his belief his side can turn around the aggregate next Tuesday.
“Being the home tie you would have expected a little bit more from us,” he said.
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“But it’s clearly not over, we’re not giving up and by no means are the lads getting their heads down.”
“We are still right in the tie; we can do what they’ve done tonight. As the manager said, ‘it’s not over, it’s half-time’.”
“We did it last year, we went up there and beat them 2-1 when nobody expected us to. So we are capable of going up there and winning.”
With the “golden generation” coming to the end of their playing careers there have been a number of emerging youngsters in the Premier League over the last two seasons. This season has the seen the likes of Gareth Bale and Jack Wilshere grab headlines with their outstanding performances for Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively, and there is no doubt that they will be two key players to watch next season and for many years to come.
But there are also a number of other emerging talents in the next generation of footballers who we will start to see making headlines. Whilst the internet has seen an increase in hype around players with potential compared to recent decades, the following list of top ten players for the future are names that could become first-team regulars for their clubs in the Premier League.
Although there will be some omissions from the following list, these are definitely ten players at the very least to keep an eye out for towards the end of the current season when managers decide to give youngsters a run out, or during the pre-season in the summer. The 2011-2012 year could be the season for this generation of highly skilled players, so let’s get the ball rolling and have a look at these wonder kids…
Click on Ignasi Miquel below to see the Top TEN
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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was ecstatic as his side moved to the brink of a historic 19th Premier League title on Sunday.A goal from Javier Hernandez after 36 seconds and a first-half header from Nemanja Vidic set United on their way to a 2-1 win of reigning champions Chelsea at Old Trafford on Sunday.
They extended their lead at the top of the English Premier League to six points with two games remaining despite Frank Lampard pulling a goal back in the 69th minute.
United only need a point to guarantee the title and with games against struggling Blackburn and Blackpool to come, they are odds-on to claim their 19th crown and surpass Liverpool as the most successful club in English football.
“It’s fantastic to be the most successful team in the country,” Ferguson told Sky Sports.
“The minute we won that first title in 1992 the door opened and we’ve been involved in the first two all throughout that period. It’s a fantastic achievement.”
“For the last 17 or 18 years, it’s been Arsenal and Chelsea as our nearest challengers and the last few years it’s been Chelsea. Arsenal made a great attempt this year, but them losing today has finalised it.”
“We deserve the title and hopefully we’ll get that point now.”
Ferguson said United could have scored more with striker Wayne Rooney particularly unlucky.
“We could’ve scored six in the second half, but we expected a tough game and we got a tough game,” he said.
“We were brilliant. We got a great start, but (Petr) Cech made some fantastic saves.”
“When we gave the ball away for their goal, we were a bit nervy but the fans helped us. We kept making chances and Rooney could’ve scored six today.”
Carlo Ancelotti admitted Manchester United deserved to win the title after beating his Chelsea side 2-1, but re-iterated his desire to keep his job.
Ancelotti, who has only one year left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, is due for talks with owner Roman Abramovich later this month and is widely tipped to be facing the sack after Chelsea ended the season without a trophy. But the Italian does not want to go.
He said: “You know my position, I have another year of contract and I would like to stay. But I have to accept the decision of the club; they will take a decision at the end of the season so we wait and see.”
“Manchester United played better than us and deserved to win and deserved to win the title this year.”
“Manchester United has a possibility now to take a point that they need to win the title. We have another two games and we want to finish the season well.”
Everton FC have once again joined forces with Football Aid allowing football fans the opportunity to play on the hallowed turf at Goodison Park in 2012, while raising vital funds for charity at the same time.
Football Aid offers fans the opportunity to Live the Dream of an authentic match day experience; to gain exclusive access to the pitch and tunnel areas, pull on their own personalised shirt in the official changing rooms, walk down the tunnel to the sound of a cheering crowd and ultimately to step out onto their Field of Dreams and represent their club in a never to be forgotten 90 minute match.
The matches have also been supported by a host of Toffees’ legends down the years, with the likes of Anders Limpar, Matthew Jackson and Football Aid Ambassadors Pat Nevin and Stuart Barlow all lending their valuable experience in recent years, by playing alongside supporters in the hugely enjoyable matches at Goodison Park.
Booking your position couldn’t be easier, just visit www.footballaid.com and choose your club, then you’ll have two ways to secure your Fixed Price position: Option 1: ‘Buy Now’ – Our quickest and most popular option, or Option 2: ‘Sponsored to Play’ – Pay a non-refundable £100 deposit to secure your position and then simply pay off the remaining balance anytime before 13th December.
So if you’re keen to secure your place on your Field of Dreams early this season, why not visit www.footballaid.com today to make sure you’re ahead of the crowd! Alternatively if you’d like any additional information, you can call Football Aid on 0131 220 5999 or email [email protected].
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Football Aid celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2010 and have allowed over 12,225 football fans the chance to Live the Dream in more than 460 matches. They are a groundbreaking organisation which generates funds annually by hosting charity football matches at iconic stadiums all over the UK. The unique concept was the brainchild of businessman and Football Aid Chairman Craig Paterson and funds raised from the event will benefit the work of a charitable project nominated by the club, as well as projects nominated by Football Aid’s parent charity Field of Dreams.
Rejuvenated Bolton go in search of consecutives wins for the first time this season against a Newcastle side who are one defeat away from a full blow crisis.
Owen Coyle’s side gave themselves a major confidence boost ahead of their Boxing Day date with the Magpies after they came out on top against fellow strugglers Blackburn on Tuesday night. The Trotters’ fourth victory of the season was arguably their most important as they beat their North West rivals to move off the bottom of the table and give themselves a real chance of beating the drop. Supporters will be hoping that their side have finally turned a corner and can now string a positive run of results together after seeing their three previous ones followed by a succession of defeats. There were a number of positives from the win at Ewood Park with summer signing Nigel Reo-Coker putting in his best performance in a Wanderers shirt since his move from Aston Villa. Mark Davies has also emerged as a key player in recent weeks and Coyle will be expecting the duo to keep their form up going into the New Year.
Newcastle are also desperate for a win after seeing their strong start to the season unravel in the last month and a half. The Magpies haven’t recorded a victory in six games and with boss Alan Pardew seeing injuries and suspensions take their toll on his paper-thin squad. Defeat at home to West Brom on Wednesday night means the Geordies have taken just one point from their last three games against the Baggies, Swansea and Norwich. Despite still sitting seventh in the table after racking up 27 points there is massive room for improvement and Pardew will be expecting that at the Reebok Stadium. With 13-goal top scorer Demba Ba in the side Newcastle are always a threat but with their attack being proving to be frustratingly predictable in the last few games Pardew may opt to rejig his side in an effort to ensure his side are celebrating a win on Boxing Day.
Bolton 19th : 12 points
Team news: Summer signing David N’Gog could miss out after picking up a knock and joins eight other first team players in the treatment room.
Key Player: Mark Davies
The young midfielder has become a key player for the Trotters in recent weeks and it was goal and all round performance at Blackburn on Tuesday that provided a base for victory. He’ll be expected to be the playmaker once again against Newcastle.
Newcastle 7th : 27 points
Team news: Davide Santon misses the trip to the Reebok after limping off against West Brom with a knee injury. Yohan Cabaye will return though after completing his one match suspension whilst Mike Williamson could also start.
Key Player: Demba Ba
There will be a host of Premier League clubs ruing the day they passed over the chance to sign the Senegal forward. Ba has been a revelation since his free transfer move from West Ham and his two stunning goals on Wednesday took him to 13 for the season. He’ll be a massive miss for Newcastle when he leaves for the African Nations Cup in January.
PREDICTION
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Bolton will bet full of confidence after their win against Blackburn but are still not safe yet but they have a good home record against Newcstle. The Magpies are determined to halt their slide and know defeat at the Reebok Stadium will see them go from blip to crisis mode. However with Demba Ba up front they will be favourites for this one.