Decide his first XI

As it stands, there are still positions, personnel and formations to be decided. Having shifted Bale and Modric to different positions towards the back end of last season, Redknapp must decide who and how his best eleven lay out. Throughout his managerial career Redknapp has preferred to play 442, and his time at Tottenham has been little different. However, games in the Champions League, and the increase in the amount of games Spurs will play, mean that he may have to be more flexible in the system that he deploys. Despite this, it is important for any club to know their best starting team; competition for places makes this difficult for Spurs and it will take time, but ultimately it has to happen.

Give Gio a chance

As I explained yesterday, the lack of transfer activity at White Hart Lane can be eased with the re-introduction of Giovani Dos Santos. The Mexican winger has been in the wilderness since his time in England, and this may be the season to resurrect his career. Still young, having turned 21 at the end of last season, past attitude problems must be put down to inexperience and his pre-season form, plus an impressive World Cup, should be enough for him to earn at least a few starts. Should he then impress in the games he plays, Redknapp will be quick to give him a decent run in the team.

Pick a leader

While Ledley King still manages to defy modern science in churning out decent performances despite the virtual non-existence of training and conditioning, those performances are not frequent enough, for Redknapp or Spurs. When King is absent, his armband should be passed on to Michael Dawson. Robbie Keane has captained Spurs on many occasions, but I am a firm believer that a team’s captain should be guaranteed of their starting position, something the Irishman is not, and his commitment to the club is dubious. With Jonathan Woodgate struggling to even make the registered 25 such is his injury problems, Dawson is King’s partner in the back four. Dawson excelled last term and the captaincy would allow him to continue to grow into a top-class centre-back.

Balance competitions

Not just the first time in the Champions League for Spurs, but also for Redknapp. Although there is European experience at the club, the premier club competition in the world is in another class altogether. To do well in the Champions League (assuming they qualify, which I will), as well as finish in the top four again will be a mammoth task. Spurs are capable of it, but they may have to sacrifice domestic cups to achieve it. As much as teams love a cup run, and with eight wins in the competition, the FA Cup history at White Hart Lane is as good as most, it may be beneficial to put it, along with the Carling Cup, to the bottom of their agenda. Tottenham do not yet have the squad to compete in four competitions, and with the exception of Chelsea and Manchester United, and even they can struggle with it, few do. Qualification for the Champions League for a second successive season would cement Tottenham’s place amongst the top four/five in the country, and that is far more important than lifting the Carling Cup trophy.

Employ a witchdoctor

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Nothing else has worked with the perennial physio room visitors Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King. Why stop with a witchdoctor; hypnotherapists, psychics, astronomers, anything that can get those two players fit would be a colossal boost for their club – just have chanting spells, sitting somewhere behind Clive Allen and Tim Sherwood. This may contradict the Michael Dawson point from above, but if Woodgate and King are fit and playing well they are as good as any centre-back pairing in the league. King managed twenty games last season, an impressive return for someone with such chronic problems. Woodgate managed just three, and could be potentially be absent till January. Four fit centre-backs (with Dawson and Bassong) would stop Redknapp having to dip into the transfer market.

What do you think? What else does Redknapp need to do?

Get updates on my articles and follow me on twitter.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson dispensed with the services of three of his fringe first-team players on transfer deadline day.

Emiliano Insua joined Galatasaray on loan for the rest of the season, Damien Plessis moved to Panathinaikos for an undisclosed fee and Nabil El Zhar sealed a loan switch to PAOK.

Argentina international Insua moved to Anfield from Boca Juniors three years ago. The 21-year-old, who was on the verge of joining Fiorentina earlier in the summer, has made 62 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.

Frenchman Plessis was signed by former boss Rafa Benitez from Lyon in the summer of 2007 but scored just one goal in eight appearances for the first team.

Finally, Morocco international El Zhar has been with gthe Reds for the last four years following his arrival from St Etienne in 2006 but has scored just one goal in five starts and 27 substitute appearances for the club.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Hodgson has been busy culling his squad since his arrival at Anfield with Alberto Aquilani, Yossi Benayoun, Diego Cavalieri, Philipp Degen, Javier Mascherano and Albert Riera also leaving Merseyside since the end of last season.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Much to Arsenal’s fans relief over the summer, Arsene Wenger brought in two centre backs in the hope of strengthening what has been a problematic position for the Gunners in recent seasons. The first signing was Laurent Koscielny, a little known French defender who played for unfashionable Ligue One outfit Lorient. Understandably Arsenal fans were not entirely sure what to make of the transfer, but most trusted Wenger’s judgement and in the early stages of the season, it looked like that trust was well founded.

Sebastien Squillaci, another Frenchman, is a far more experienced player than Koscielny, and with the departure of William Gallas, Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre in the summer, Wenger obviously deemed it necessary to bring in a centre back with experience in an otherwise youthful backline. Again the early signs were good, but it was this new pairing in central defence that was torn apart by unfancied West Brom at the weekend, so will Gunners fans be reviewing the wisdom of these signings? And will it turn out to be money well spent?

If you’d asked Premier League supporters who Laurent Koscielny was before he came to England, none but the most avid of Football Manager fans would have been able to give you an answer. But when he was brought to the club, the familiar mantra of ‘Arsene Knows’, was seen in full effect as the transfer was largely welcomed by the club’s fans. Indeed early signs were good; Koscielny looked calm and composed after being thrown in at the deep end at Anfield, and had the pace needed to deal with Fernando Torres. His career at Arsenal is still in its infancy, but in the game against West Brom he did look suspect. This match could well prove to be an aberration for the squad however, and I think that the £8.5 million spent on Koscielny will prove to be a good deal in the long run.

Koscielny’s defensive partner in the game against West Brom was Sebastien Squillaci, and like his compatriot he looked shaky in the match. I am hesitant to judge the duo too harshly in this game though, because it was a bad day at the office for the whole team and it might well just be a one off this season. At 30 years of age Squillaci is an experienced head in what is a young backline, and his maturity could prove crucial for the club this season. Squillaci cost around £3.5 million, and the majority of his performances so far have suggested it will be another good deal by Wenger. Like Koscielny, I am predicting that Squillaci will have a successful season and will certainly be money well spent.

In an attacking team such as Arsenal, the defence is always going to come under pressure and therefore it is no surprise when the odd goal creeps in. In the modern game it is up to virtually the whole team to defend, and instead of blaming Arsenal’s centre-backs, I would be looking at Wenger’s tactics and the set-up of the team rather than individual players. After all, many centre-backs have suffered the same fate of leaking goals at Arsenal in recent years.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Their performances over the weekend may not have been the greatest of their careers, but Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci have already looked strong in Arsenal’s backline. The game was an aberration by the whole squad, and as a result the defenders came under the spotlight, fairly or unfairly. Arsene Wenger rarely gets things wrong in the transfer market, and in my opinion, Koscielny and Squillaci will not buck this trend.

If you liked this article please follow me on Twitter. Subscribe to my RSS feed.

West Bromwich Albion assistant manager Eddie Newton has praised summer signing Pablo Ibanez for the way he has quickly adjusted to life in the Premier League.

The 29-year-old Spain international opted to leave Atletico Madrid for the Baggies and has since shown up well in his formative weeks at The Hawthorns.

Newton told the club's official website:"I think Pablo has been fantastic since he's been here – his humility, his professionalism, his ability to adjust to life in England, which he's done.

"He's been positive and he's picked up the language very quickly – we're very pleased with him.

"His CV is amazing, but you can see why it's so good.

"Sometimes you can get a player with that quality come in and, when you try to coach them, they simply don't want to know or they think they know everything because of where they've been – but not him.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"He wants to learn and achieve good things with us. He's been into our office and talked fantastically.

"He told us he's here for the long stay, that we make our decision accordingly and that we do what we need to do."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

As Liverpool fans capped a breathless week, packed full with twists and turns that a takeover can bring – the confirmation that England Sports Ventures have completed a £300 million deal for the club means a much needed sigh of relief will disseminate across the red side of Mersey.

It offers the chance of recovery and restoration of a wonderful club tarnished by the sheer greed of previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett who plunged the club deeper and deeper into debt whilst showing a distinct lack of appreciation for the supporters and the history of it in the process. This is perhaps exemplified by their comments during such a frenetic week in the High Court where Tom Hicks said:

“I’m shocked, devastated, frustrated. We are being very careful to make sure we follow the High Court rules but I’m very disappointed. It’s hurt my family tremendously. This very valuable asset has been swindled away me in an epic swindle. I’m very angry about it.”

The stark reality is quite on the contrary. The only swindle was the detrimental way in which they ran the club and just how dreadful their custodianship was at Anfield. Hicks and Gillett said back in April that they were prepared to sell Liverpool, but their desire to make a return on their investment, as well as the huge debt they have loaded onto the club deterred potential bidders.

Borrowing huge amounts of money then saddling the responsibility of repayments onto the acquisition of the club brought about the “Spirit of Shankly” campaign who grew tired of seeing their beloved Reds gradually being destroyed.

But now under new leadership, I for one hope that John Henry and his team justify their statement that they “want to win” by doing so following such gross mistreatment of a club that has won a joint-record 18 league titles, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups as well as five Champions League’s. It is also owed to their excellent supporters for NESV to drag them from the mediocrity that current shrouds them aside from the world-class talents of Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Pepe Reina.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

People will watch proceedings at Anfield through attentive eyes and whatever the new owners do, they must promise what they can actually deliver. The Hicks and Gillett reign will have Liverpool fans in a celebratory but cautious mood.

Hicks and Gillett Reign Over

Tottenham Hotspur have revealed they have reached a pre-contract agreement with SuperSport United for the transfer of Bongani Khumalo.

The South Africa international defender had a trial at the north London club in September and will join, subject to a work permit being granted, in January.

"We are delighted to announce that we have reached a pre-contract agreement with SuperSport United for the transfer of Bongani Khumalo to the Club in January 2011, subject to a work permit being granted," read a club statement.

SuperSport United are one of Tottenham's partner clubs and recently won a third straight South African Premier League title.

Khumalo was part of South Africa's World Cup squad and scored the winning goal in their group stage victory over France.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has struggled to send out a settled defence this season with Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Dawson sidelined with long-term injuries and Ledley King plagued by a chronic knee problem.Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

Before we begin with the gratuitous insults, we’ve got to tell you about the fantastic Money-Back Special Paddy Power are running for this game. If there are more than 4 goals in the match, they’ll refund all losing 1st goalscorer, last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast bets on the match.

“Pah! Well more than 4 goals is 5,” you might scoff in response to our transparent and ill-conceived choice of language, “there won’t be 5 goals in this game.” In response to that cynicism we’d say then you clearly haven’t seen either of these teams try to defend this season.

Whilst Tottenham have generally been able to cover up their defensive shortcomings by scoring more goals then their opponents, Liverpool have struggled in the goalscoring department. And the defending department.

A trouncing of West Ham has helped, but the reality is that Liverpool are still no where near their best. If Gareth Bale was able to destroy alleged best right-back in the world, Maicon, think what he’s going to do to poor Glenn Johnson – a man who’s defending is suspect at the best of times!

If that paints a picture gloomier than a Goth in art class, then there is hope for the Reds. Midweek matches have had a significant impact on Spurs Premier League campaign to the point where they’ve suffered some shock defeats and dropped valuable points. In their six games following European action so far this season they’ve picked up 10 points out of a possible 18. It’s hardly a disaster, but it suggests a potential weakness. Liverpool’s players have spent the week taking it easy and saying ill-advised things on Twitter and their freshness should give Tottenham else to think about.

When trying to pick out a result, you could make a case for virtually any of them. Spurs are clearly good enough to claim a straightforward win @ 11/10. Liverpool could improve their general performance levels and possibly claim at least a point and if not all three points. We’ll be indecisive about our indecision and nail our colours to the mast of the draw @ 23/10.

[divider]

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

One bet that we’ve been watching closely for the last number of weeks if Raul Meireles to get one the scoresheet at any stage in the match. Throughout his career he’s chipped in with goals for Porto and Portugal and he seems to be finding his range a bit more as he settles in to the Liverpool side. It’s only a matter of time before he opens his account and the 6/1 for that to happen this Sunday is tempting. If you’re that way inclined, then the option of Meireles to be 1st Goalscorer @ 16/1 may also appeal.

For Spurs, there’s such a wide variety of goalscoring options it’s difficult to single out one. Incredibly, Spurs have had 11 different goalscorers in all competitions this season and with less than half the season gone, 4 players are already in the foothills of notching up 10 goals. As we mentioned before, Bale could get his fair share of joy out of Johnson, but with Liverpool unlikely to commit when forward, it’s likely he’ll then provide the assist for a team-mate. Against one of his many former employers, Peter Crouch may have extra motivation to score and 13/2 for his to open the scoring looks like value.

***Click HERE for a FREE £20 Bet for New Customers***

Have a bet on the Football FanCast specials, including Kranjcar to join Liverpool in the 2011 January Transfer Window at 11/2!

Arsene Wenger has stressed to his players that they should not fear meeting Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Gunners booked their spot in the last 16 with a 3-1 victory over Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday night, with Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri on target to ensure Arsenal's progression.

However, Arsenal qualified for the next round in second place as Shakhtar Donetsk secured a 2-0 victory over Braga on Wednesday and the Gunners now face the possibility of a tricky last 16 showdown.

Spanish giants Barcelona are the current favourites to take the Champions League title and Arsenal could be handed the task of facing Pep Guardiola's men in the next round, with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Schalke the other possible opponents for the Gunners.

Despite the fact either Barcelona or Real Madrid could lie in wait for Arsenal Wenger remains optimistic about his side's chances in the competition.

"Let's be realistic, Barcelona are the super favourite at the moment," Wenger said,"but we take what we get and if it is Barcelona, it is Barcelona.

"It depends whether you have your best players available, whether we have a good level of confidence then.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

"It is very difficult to predict how far you can go.

"In the last 16 it becomes a different competition, a cup competition and that means for 180 minutes you have to be at your top."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email

The on/off transfer of Steve Sidwell has taken another twist with the news that Wolves are looking likely to clinch the player’s signature.

Wolves were the club originally linked with the player before Avram Grant hijacked the move. Sidwell had passed a medical at West Ham before Christmas, but the move has since collapsed and now Wolves look set to complete the deal that they failed with in December.

It was reported that Sidwell was at Molineux for Wolves’ win against Chelsea last night, but that rumour has been neither confirmed nor denied by Mick McCarthy.

About the chance of a possible move, McCarthy said: “I haven’t spoken to him so there’s nothing much I can say,”

“A fee had been agreed with the clubs beforehand.

“And as I’d said before, his family were closer to West Ham and I had no gripe with that at all.

“But if he’s available and we can agree a fee and terms I would take him in a heartbeat.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

“If that’s the case then I would love to sign him.”

It is also thought that Sidwell is keen to reunite with Wolves’ former Reading players Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt and Marcus Hahnemann. The only potential stumbling block in the deal is Sidwell’s £45,000 a-week wages which would exceed Wolves’ tight wage structure.

Manchester United look favourites to win the Premier League in 2011 after climbing to the top of the table with games in hand and having gone the first half of the season unbeaten. Without a doubt it has been a superb turnaround from Sir Alex Ferguson and his men. Many wrote them off after their form in the first few weeks of the season and even more so after Wayne Rooney’s transfer request in October. However, there is something not quite right with this Manchester United squad. They are a team that have continued to go through the motions this seasons, and if they were to win the Premier League, could they ever be classed as a top side?

That is what this article is all about. The way the Premier League has gone this season, there is no reason why Manchester United could not win the league, but would that be because Arsenal or Chelsea have thrown it away at some point? If we look back three years, at what Manchester United had, and what they have now; the strike force consisted of the world’s best player, Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney. Manchester United had a fit Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the defence and Edwin van der Sar, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes were three years younger. The squad has changed considerably in terms of players leaving, but has the quality come through the Old Trafford gates? In terms of promising youngsters it has, but Manchester United didn’t lose promising youngsters. They lost world class players.

In terms of whether this Manchester United side would be the most average side to win the Premier League, I have to lean on the side that it would be. You can’t compare sides from 1995 to now. That is unfair and there is simply no measurement to be accurate. The best way to examine such is to look at the squads of the time. When Blackburn won the Premier League title, Liverpool and Manchester United didn’t have the quality that was on show at Ewood Park. Blackburn had the best players that season, boasting Alan Shearer, Chris Sutton, Tim Flowers and Colin Hendry. All four players would have got into the starting line ups of Liverpool and Manchester United at the time. If we move onto this season, things are much the same. Manchester United do not have the best squad in the Premier League and how many of Manchester United’s players would Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City take above what they have? A fit, on fire Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic I expect.

There is no divine right that Manchester United should have the best squad or win the Premier League. Over the years clubs have caught them up, and that is only good for the Premier League. The point is this. If this Manchester United side, a side that hasn’t hit anything like a hot spell so far this season, wins the Premier League then Arsenal and Chelsea will only have themselves to blame. Manchester United have experience on their side, but Arsene Wenger and Carlo Ancelotti boast the better players. A midfield three of Anderson, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher or Frank Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien. I know what trio I would pick.

One thing that should not be taken away from this Manchester United side is their resolve. They have fought back from a lot already this season and they have a spirit that Manchester United fans expect from their players. They have gone unbeaten, and what a fantastic achievement that has been especially this season. People said it about the Arsenal invincible team. They hadn’t played well in the first half, but were unbeaten. Manchester United could kick on in the second half of the season and win the Premier League at a canter.

The away form mixed with the qualities of both their squad and squads around them suggest that won’t happen. If Manchester United win the Premier League they will deserve it, but the clubs fighting with them will see it as a massive opportunity missed come May.

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

---

Subscribe

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Join in the debate below and follow me on twitter

[divider]

Holy Crap – it’s live fantasy football! Become part of Fulham v WBA and play Picklive for FREE Watch and bet live – spices up any game!