Europe's top sides eyes are on two of Europe's best forwards
The Champions League rests for a few months allowing us to focus on the domestic leagues over the festive period. However with the draw for next round taking place today the excitement and anticipation is high. Getting past the knock-out stages and into the quarter finals is huge
for the clubs and their chances of success and that is why today's draw means so much to the clubs. There is an
argument however that the sides left in genuinely wish to progress further, and
look to win the competition (and also their own domestic league) then they need
to do some January shopping.
Right now the Premier League is extremely open and intriguing.
Arsenal have been in superb form on the back of signing Ozil (highlighting what
buying world class talent can bring). Chelsea are stuttering and struggling for
form, Man City are almost like Jekyll and Hyde with their near domination and
class at home and the awkward performances away. All three of these sides
however would fancy their chances of winning the title.
United’s season however
has been difficult for the players, fans and those watching. Laboured
performances lacking intensity, drive and desire have occurred far too often.
Chances of the title are almost non-existent now. They need a spark, something
they failed to ignite in the summer with their catastrophic transfer business.
January could change that.
The most difficult route to the final
The Champions League this season can be argued to be as
challenging as it has been for years. With the way the winners of the group has
worked out it is conceivable to see the final eight sides being arguably the
best sides in Europe.
It does not always happen this way, yet based on the
second placed sides quality it is more than likely to happen this time around. The second placed sides such as Man City and Arsenal will be anticipating some difficult draws for certain, whereas Chelsea and United, arguably the two poorest of the English clubs, may be fortunate to draw some of the lesser sides left in the competition.
It
means that the route to final and winning the tournament will not be easy for
any team, which is what the competition should be like. It is also means that
the top sides around Europe should consider enhancing their teams before the
next round begins.
Shopping in January is deemed by many to be desperate and over-priced. It is often a sign of poor work the previous summer.
Yet when there is a chance to win the league or succeed in Europe and when the
opportunity to buy a player who can make that happen is there, should clubs not
consider it an investment? This is the situation this January.
The Mendes connection
There are
two players who should be on the list of the top clubs all around Europe;
Radamel Falcao and Luis Suarez.
It’s always the case that forwards become the favourite
target of clubs and managers. Goals are what many enjoy watching and want and although,
as this blog believes that a strong defence is what truly matters to succeed,
clubs cannot resist going for attacking talent to bolster their team. The most available
and delicious of prospects are not cup-tied in Europe and are seemingly
available for the right price.
Falcao’s move to Monaco screamed of corruption and of Jorge Mendes (his agent) simply pocketing a pretty penny from the deal. Add in where the
deal took place and a Russian owner and you cannot help but think cynically of
the whole situation. Throw in Rodriquez and Moutinho, also Mendes' ‘clients’ and the total £120m deal is truly shocking.
It was always viewed as a money deal rather
than a football one and it was clear that in a years time some or all of these
players would be moving again (helping to line the pockets of Mendes’ agency
once more).
Start piecing the links together and you cannot help but associate
two clubs with Falcao; Chelsea and Madrid. At Chelsea you have a Russian owner
whose relations with Mendes go back to when Mourinho arrived. His ties with the
Russian government and Gazprom should be continually questioned and
investigated and if they do move for Falcao the evidence is clear.
As for Madrid and
their President Perez, well they have similar dealings with Mendes’ players as well as
Mourinho. They could not move for Falcao last summer as their relations with
Atletico and the direct movement of players between simply does not happen.
Therefore a third party move was necessary. It all stinks of corruption and
possible money laundering yet it also makes sense in a football perspective.
Falcao may actually be 29 years old (not the believed 27) and
£60m may be steep, yet there is no doubting his talents, even if he is simply a
pawn in a bigger financial game. His quality has made his owners very wealthy
and also his clubs successful. As fans it is a shame that he has not performed
regularly in Europe’s top competition because of where he has moved. This may
be his chance as a player to finally play on the big stage and become one of
Europe’s bests forwards (officially).
It is a waste of his talent to be in
Monaco and there is little doubt he will enhance both Madrid and Chelsea’s
forward line. Both have aspirations to win their domestic leagues yet probably
more importantly are desperate to succeed in Europe; Madrid want that 10th
crown and Mourinho wants to make history winning it with three different sides.
Falcao can make that happen, and with Mendes pulling the strings it would not
be a surprise to see it happen in January.
Desperate for attacking talent
Falcao may be more attainable than Luis Suarez yet there is
no doubting how important a purchase the Uruguayan could be for some of sides
left in the Champions League. A £40m bid was not enough to secure him in the
summer, and it may now require something near £60m to prise him away from
Anfield before the summer.
This blog believes that Suarez is playing beneathhimself at Liverpool and deserves to be playing for one of Europe’s best sides
(Liverpool are a big club yet not one of the best at this time). He is proving on a
weekly basis his quality and has been since he arrived. He is a special talent who
although volatile and prone to moments of madness is also a genius of afootballer. Suarez can help take a side to European success.
Therefore sides
like Arsenal should seriously consider bringing in Suarez in January. Chelsea
should also, as Suarez is a better option than Rooney and perhaps even Falcao.
United would benefit greatly from Suarez yet it is inconceivable to think he
would make the switch. Across Europe
Madrid may consider a move for him too, PSG have the means yet perhaps not the
need, or even Zenit who have been proven to make big money moves for players.
Yet ultimately it is the English clubs who should be considering bringing in
these two world class forwards.
English clubs need to bolster
Both Chelsea and Arsenal would greatly benefit from either
player both domestically and in Europe. United would benefit for sure yet it
looks unlikely. And what about City? Well City have the best XI and squad out
of the English sides and yet would they still consider a move for one of these
players?
With Dzeko looking a near certainty to exit they may be in the market
for another forward. One wonders whether they can fit one of these in based on
the form of Aguero and Negredo, would Pellegrini alter his formation? At this time City may
be fine in the attacking line yet perhaps moving for Lewandowski on a
free next summer would be a smarter move, this is where United should be
looking also and doing everything possible to land him.
Although the attainment of a centre forward delights the
fans and makes an ‘impression’ the need of all four English sides is actually
in defensive areas. Chelsea and United are looking old and creaky at the back,
Arsenal look an injury away from being porous again and City look lost without
Kompany. All four sides would do better to bolster their defence. However the
fans don’t see the flair or statement that brings. However if they do want
to succeed and win trophies this season spending money on their defensive line
may be more important than buying a forward.
The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address
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