McClaren Arrives At Newcastle

Newcastle United have a new manager and his name is Steve McClaren. Yes, the wally with the brolly is now in charge of my team. Happy Days. 

Now is it the inspirational appointment I was hoping for...well no. For me McClaren has plenty to prove and this is without doubt his last chance in the top flight. Does he deserve this chance? I would argue no, but then when we appointed Alan Pardew he had just be sacked by Southampton who were at the time in League One so we have such a precedent of bringing managers in from lower league clubs. Obviously, the powers that be think that McClaren is the man however I know that many fans will be sceptical and will, as I do, see him as a cheap option. Having said that I will give him my full backing to begin with and hope he has learnt from his failed time with England as well as his experiences at Twente, Wolfsburg, Nottingham Forest and Derby County. 

It appears he will be backed in the transfer market however I just hope they sign proven players. Yes, I am delighted that it appears the club is willing to spend £10million + on a player but he has to be the right player and I am certainly sceptical of spending such money on players from the Dutch, Belgian and French league. The problem at Newcastle at the moment is that we do not have time nor the luxury for players to 'settle' or 'find their feet'. We need players who will hit the ground running given the state of the squad. That is why for me Charlie Austin is a must. He fits the bill perfectly for exactly what we are looking for. 

For now though, I will be eagerly watching Newcastle's transfer activity as well as who McClaren brings into his backroom team. Hopefully the combination of the two will inspire positively and bring a feel good factor back to the club. I know it sounds a long shot but one can but hope. 

The start of the season is going to be vital. He needs a good start or he really will find himself in trouble and possibly out of a job by Christmas. The fans will back him and any new players at the start but patience has worn thin given the last few seasons and they will turn very quickly if they do not see the desired effort from the players. 

Hope springs eternal they say, well all I say is that they don't support Newcastle United. 

Newcastle United Face Judgement Day

As I prepare to sit and suffer through Survival Sunday, I am left disconsolate. The demise of Newcastle United over the past 4/5 months has been startling. I feared for them long before now, I citing back in February on twitter I thought they would be lucky to pick up anymore points. 

Now Survival Sunday is here and its brings with it the very real possibility that Newcastle United will be relegated form he Premier League. It is even with a sense of sadness that if they do survive today the fact that I will be celebrating such an achievement goes to show the current state of affairs at the club. 

How Mike Ashley has allowed John Carver to stay in this role for so long and oversee such results I will never know. He never should have been given the job yet alone allowed to stay this long. The fans are castigated by the national press over their treatment of Alan Pardew however upon his departure they wanted a genuine replacement, a new start, not to just have Pardew's backroom staff take over. The club needs to clear out all of the backroom staff and start a fresh in the summer no matter what todays result may be. 

I know the players are poor however there are a couple of very talented players and Carver's inability to motivate or organise them just shows his ineptitude even further. Players inability fans can stomach to an extend but lack of fitness, effort and commitment is unacceptable. As the banner read :

'We don't demand a team that wins, we demand a club that tries'

Nothing could better sums up the overriding feeling of all Newcastle united fans to the club from boardroom to boot-room. 

My hope is that this will happen and Ashley will show some ambition in getting a manager of some pedigree to take the club forward and give him the money to spend on proven players. There is no question the squad is woefully inadequate in many areas and I hope that this is addressed in the summer. Not that I believe that will happen for a second but we can live in hope. 

The following short poem sums up my current feeling towards Newcastle United. Inspired from the proverb - For want of a Nail. There are so many options of how to write this but as of this moment the biggest problem is the management and as such I have dedicated it to that. 

For want of a manager the ambition was lost;

For want of ambition the team was lost;

For want of a team the spirit were lost;

For want of spirit the points were lost;

For want of points, Premier League status is almost lost;

And all for the want of an manager.

Hits or Misses - Was I Right?

At the beginning of the season I picked out some transfers that I believed would be Hits and others that would be Misses. As the season now draws to a close it time to assess my predictions. 

Predicted Hits:

1. Diego Costa 

Now their is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Jose Mourinho and Chelsea have had the best summer window. Diego Costa is a wonderful signing and at only £32 million, given the market, I think they have got extremely good value. I am a massive fan of this player having watched him a lot last season at Atletico Madrid. He is big, powerful and a clinical finisher - essentially everything Fernando Torres was not in the last few seasons. He is going to be a nightmare to handle for all other Premier League teams this season and fully expect him to fire Chelsea to the title.

The only man I can see preventing him winning the Golden boot is Sergio Aguero.

OUTCOME :  HIT

I believe I got this one spot on. He has struggled with injury in the second part of the season however the title was effectively won by christmas.

2. Alexis Sanchez 

Ever since I saw this man take England apart at Wembley I have been a huge fan. I must admit when I saw him at Barcelona a few years ago I could not stand his constant diving however having seen him lately this has hugely reduced. Unlike Mesut Ozil this man is built for the job. He looks physically capable of withstanding the physicality of a full Premier League season. Add to this his magnificence ability and goalscoring prowess and you have a terrific signing. I am going to go out on a limb and say he is the best signing Arsenal have made for over 10 years. This is big claim and may make me look stupid in time but I honestly believe it.

Personally I fear for Arsenal this season however with this man in the team I think he will act as Suarez did for Liverpool last season. He will not be enough to win Arsenal the league but he will get them a top four finish. 

OUTCOME : HIT

This one I also got right. No question that Sanchez carried Arsenal for the first half of the season and without him their top four place could have been in danger. He is a wonderful player who I expect to continue performing in seasons to come. 

3. Enner Valancia 

Again similar to Sanchez, Valancia looks a player who has the physical ability to cope in the Premier League. I am personally looking forward to seeing him in the league. He has pace, power and is both strong in the air and on the ground. He looked very strong in the World Cup and I know they say you should never buy a player of the back of a good World Cup however I do think in this case West Ham were right to do so.

I think he will be a crucial player for West Ham this season and will play a major part in keeping them in the division. 

OUTCOME : HIT/MISS

This one could be argued either way. I think he had a good season and made a positive impact but did he make the impact that I was expecting...well no. In fact it was Aaron Cresswell who was without doubt West Ham's signing of the season.  

4. Angel Di Maria 

Another world class arrival to the Premier League. Is he the calibre of a Bale or Ronaldo? No. But he will certainty bring an obvious improvement to Manchester United. He has proved over a number of years just how good he is and can see him adapting well to the Premier League. He will get a very prominent role in the Manchester United side and am expecting him to contribute plenty to the side in the form of both goals and assists.

He looks similar to Mesut Ozil is statue however having seen him play I am sure he will relish the challenge of the increased physically whilst his game will also benefit from the increase in pace, unlike Ozil. 

He will play a major role in getting Manchester United in the top four.

OUTCOME : MISS

This I got wrong. You could blame LVG but at the end of the day Di Maria simply hasn't performed. There were glimpses but never a sustained period of brilliance. I expect him to leave United this summer and he will go down in many people eyes as a flop.

5. Siem De Jong

This one is maybe more in hope then anything else. I am very hopeful that De Jong can be a sort of Dennis Bergkamp style player for Newcastle. A player of real brain and thought who will add quality to the side. Hopefully he can strike up a good partnership with one of the forwards and lead Newcastle to having a good season.

Although his injury record does worry me.

OUTCOME : MISS

This one was always more in hope than genuine expectation. I was worried about his injury record and as it turns out I was right on that front. Missed most of the season and therefore had very little impact. 

Predicted Misses:

1. Mario Balotelli

Personally I have absolutely no idea why Brendan Rodgers has signed this man. He is a massive gamble and at £16 million, an expensive one at that. I can foresee him only having a negative impact this season on the team. For all Suarez's misdemeanours he was a clinical finisher with a fantastic work rate. Balotelli brings neither of these on-field traits but plenty of problems off-field. The board at AC Milan must have thought it was a joke when Liverpool bid £16 million. Hardly excelled in his short time at Milan and to see all the Liverpool fans celebrating his arrival is comical. It seems some football fans have totally forgotten his time at Manchester City.  

Can see Liverpool becoming very frustrated with him very quickly and would not be surprised to see him gone in January. 

I will be the first to admit I was wrong if Balotelli performs well however just cannot see it happening.

The man for me who Liverpool should have got was Wilfred Bony from Swansea. He is a genuine world-class player who deserves to play at a top team and in the Champions League. He has also proved how effective he can be in the Premier League. 

OUTCOME : MISS

Have to say I got this one spot on. Balotelli will leave this summer for sure, the  only question is will Rodgers be leaving with him?

2. Georgios Samaras

Now I must admit I did actually laugh out loud when I saw this transfer go through. Similar to when I saw David N'Gog sign for Swansea in January, it was just surreal.  Georgios Samaras must have one of the best agents going to get him back into the Premier League. This is a man who was a flop at Manchester City and who has not even really shone at Celtic. Now when you are playing for the best team in a Scotland league which is very poor that says it all. He will be lucky to get 2 goals all season. 

A truely awful signing who will be up front with Balotelli come May when they announce the flop XI of the season. 

OUTCOME : MISS

Another spot on prediction. Samaras certainly in the flop XI. 

3.  Rio Ferdinand

Quite honestly why Rio Ferdinand has signed for QPR I do not know. The obvious answer is money however surely the man is not that greedy? Well this is for sure his last payday so I suppose I cannot blame him. However I do feel this is an awful transfer. He looked awful last season. A man well past his best and this season he is playing in a side who will be on the back foot most weeks. It will not be like his many years at Manchester United when United had 65%+ possession everyweek and quality players ahead and around him. Last season he looked very uncomfortable doing just about anything. If you are a QPR fan you should be worried although given Ferdinand injury record I cannot see him playing 20 games. 

Expect him to be continually caught out this season - leading to his retirement at the end of it.

OUTCOME : MISS

3/3 so far on the as Rio Ferdinand proved me right that he should have hung his boots up at the end of last season. 

4.  Leonardo Ulloa

I feel that Ulloa is really going to struggle. As I said in my prediction post, his lack of pace for me is a major concern at this level. He played very well with a very average Championship side in Brighton and was a constant threat however I fear at Leicester he simply will not get the supply or chances to really show his worth. He deserves his chance at this level and of all the signings I am predicting to be misses I hope Ulloa proves me wrong. 

I honestly feel Leicester will go down however on his day Ulloa can be a real handful.  

OUTCOME : HIT/MISS

Have to say that Ulloa performed better than I expected and his goals defiantly played their part in Leicester's survival however whether he was a HIT or MISS is arguable. Not sure he will be with the club for the start of next season. 

5. Jack Rodwell

Firstly the reason why I have put Rodwell on this list is his injury record. He may claim to be fit however only time will really tell if his body can stand up to a whole season. Secondly given his woeful fitness record, the fact that Sunderland have laid out £10 million is astonishing. This figure is wildly over the mark. He may prove to be a great signing in time however at this moment in time he does not demand such a fee. 

Expect an injury hit season and so a limited impact. 

OUTCOME : MISS

His overall impact at Sunderland was very poor and even though he did pitch in with a few goals his contribution didn't match that 10 million price tag.

Overall I do not think I did badly. Angel Di Maria was the biggest disappointment.  

Djokovic Downs Murray As He Begins Quest For Calendar Slam

There was something all to familiar about the Australian Open final.

For the third time in five years Murray and Djokovic faced off in the Final and for the third time it was Djokovic was victorious.

After a highly competitive first two sets Murray was eventually beaten 7-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0. However there was controversy this year after Djokovic was accused by some of faking injury as he appeared to be struggling before taking the third set and then steam rolling Murray in the fourth. There is no question in my mind that the 'gamesmanship'  of Djokovic certainly affected Murray as he appeared to lose his concentration handing Djokovic the fourth set and with it the match.

It was clear that some in the crowd also thought Djokovic's behaviour was unsporting however we didn't see scenes like in last years final after Nadal called for the trainer against Wawrinka .

However this interruption and Murray reaction to it showed again the metal weakness Murray has in his game at the moment, especially when  facing Djokovic. Mentally there is no question the Serb has the edge over Murray (as he does over most in the tennis world) and in these key matches that is what gets him over the line. Murray capitulation in the fourth set was tough to see and made for an unfitting end to what had been a terrific first two sets.

With regards to the rest of the year, there are plenty of positives for Murray - back in a Grand Slam final for the first time since Wimbledon 2013 and he looks as if he is going to be in the later stages of all the Grand Slams this year. Now given his tough 2014, this is a great sign for Murray, his fans and Great Britain's Davis Cup hopes. I expect Murray to have a solid year finishing in back in the top 3 in the rankings.

As for Djokovic the Calendar Slam is very much on. There is no doubt that at this moment in time he is dominant in the five-set format against any opponent. Looking ahead to Roland Garros, even though Nadal has won it a staggering 9 times and is the current Champion there is no doubt in my mind that he will falter this year. Djokovic will beat Rafa Nadal if they meet I am sure of that. Looking at who could beat him on that surface, I can only see someone like Wawrinka (who beat him in AUS 2013) being able to do it and even then he is going to have to have the game of his life.

With regards to Wimbledon and the US Open, Murray and Roger Federer present the realistic challenges. Federer bowed out early in Australia but expect he to be back and these are two of his most successful tournaments however the biggest problem for Federer against Djokovic is the 5 set format.

As a result I think at 3/1 Djokovic is a very good bet to achieve the Calendar Slam this year. He is consistently performing and expect to see him in at least the semi-finals, if not the finals, at all three remaining slams.

My prediction for the remainder of the year that Djokovic will win both Roland Garros and the US Open but Federer will win Wimbledon.

It promises to be a very exciting year and one that as a huge tennis fan I cannot wait to watch unfold.

Four Nations leads the way to future success for Rugby League in 2015

It has been a hugely impressive Four Nations tournament. Six out of the seven matches were very competitive from the beginning to end and before the tournament no one would have predicted that. An average of 40 points scored per match and 7 tries per match made for a very entertaining and pulsating tournament. New Zealand throughly deserved their victory and despite the notable absentees I do not think the tournament suffered too much.  I honestly feel that there were plenty of positives to take from the tournament.

Firstly, the performance of the Samoan team was incredible and I just hope the momentum can be maintained and Australia/New Zealand do not poach their best players. Along with the other Pacific Island nations they need regular International matches to improve and grow the game. There is a fantastic opportunity for Rugby League in the region to really stamp its authority and make itself the game. Rugby Union is not particular strong and there is no doubt that the players are more suited to Rugby League. It is now up to the authorities to create clear pathways and structure for these nations so that they can all develop and close the gap on the top 3. There is no doubt the quality of players that come from the Islands and no reason why these nations can not be a major force in International Rugby League.  I know the NRL have launched their Pacific Islands Strategy and I really hope that this is a success. 

Secondly, I am very happy that New Zealand won the final. They are a quality side who has improved massively over the past 10 years having now won 4 major International tournaments in that time. Also given the fact that Australia did not have a full strength side it would have been awful for the game had they won the tournament. Their interest in the International game would certainly have suffered further and led to further ridicule of its state.  At least now Australia know they need to be at full strength to win international tournaments - something that has not been the case in the past. 

A negative for me was the performance of the England team. Yet again they played the role of the 'nearly men'. It was incredibly frustrating for fans to again see opportunities missed. The loss of Sam Burgess was huge but whether his presence would have changed matters we will never know. For me Steve McNamara is a problem and should be replaced. He is the Steve McClaren of Rugby League. We do have some terrific players like James Graham however other 'stars' like Sam Tomkins were disappointing. I was looking for an improvement in his game after a year in the NRL but I did not see one.  He looks far too light and still vulnerable under the high ball. I do still live in hope that one year I will see England win a major International tournament. 

Another sad sight was some of the crowds however I am aware that some of the matches were played in 'non Rugby League areas' and so it is understandable. Although having said that an average gate of 20,000 per game is 'good' for Rugby League. Hopefully this will also improve in the years to come specifically looking at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Also the news of a second New Zealand side possibly joining the NRL in 2018 is positive and will spread the game outside of Auckland. 

Going forward I am hoping that the new International calendar from 2018 will be announced soon. This 12 year calendar will hopefully provide a clear structure and schedule that will benefit all nations so we do not find ourselves in a situation where nations go years without a match. This is totally unacceptable and I am praying this will soon be a thing of the past. 

Next year New Zealand are touring England and this is fantastic news. Hopefully we will see three awesome test matches in front of full houses. The sooner the dates and venues are announced the better. I hope they do it early and really market it. The Rugby Union World Cup will be on a similar time so they will need to work overtime to get it noticed nationally. I have little faith they will but one does live in hope. I know the Rugby Union World Cup will be everywhere and more than likely just to rub it in the likes of Kyle Eastmond and Sam Burgess will be poster boys. However the Rugby Union World Cup final is on the 31st of October. Now hopefully the League tests can be scheduled to go into early November. The Super league Grand Final is on October the 10th so at least two/three weeks off before Internationals will mean they should not face direct competition from the Union. 

With regards to other off-season internationals for the emerging nations I am not aware of ANY that are currently scheduled.  This cannot stay this way. 

For example - My idea: 

 -       Scotland should be playing Samoa in a three match series

 -       France should be playing Fiji in a three match test series

 -       Ireland should be playing Tonga in a three match test series 

 -       Wales should be playing Papau New Guinea in a three match test series

and possibly Italy should be playing the Cook Islands in a three match series.

Also they need to think outside the box. I would advocate having Australia go to emerging Canada/USA to help drive interest, similar to New Zealand in the Rugby Union earlier this year going to the USA.  They want a year off - fine - but make them do something positive. Having recently read of Canadian ambitions they would surely welcome such a visit. Also it would be a nice build up for the 2017 World Cup for both USA and Canada who hope to qualify. Just an idea but one that people should be talking about.  

Now ideally the 3 match test series would take place in the European nations however I would not mind them going to Pacific Islands if they are able to accommodate them. 

This I think would be a great off-season International schedule. All of these sides need regular international matches and by playing their southern hemisphere counterparts. I am sure it would make for great viewing. A three match test series could also gather media attention and will have a greater impact than a one off test match. Get the venues right and the ticket prices right and hopefully we can get some very exciting matches played in front of full houses. 

Samoa would have the chance to maintain momentum and to 'go on tour' which is an experience that all ex-internationals be them English, Australian or a New Zealander enjoy. I really think this is a culture that should be endorsed. We saw how good it was in local communities when these sides arrived at the Rugby League World Cup last year.  While there they can visit schools, local clubs etc and help spread the game in Scotland. All of the sides could easily do this in those nations. This would also get media attention. 

Also for Scotland they face a Four Nations in 2016 and need matches and who better to play than Samoa. A side that have just performed so well in the 2014 Four Nations. It also helps to generate local interest a year out from the tournament and gives them a chance to test venues and attract new fans. Scotland will probably be out of the Rugby Union World Cup by then and as long as the tickets are marketed properly and reasonably priced people will come. There is also a real chance for coverage on the Scottish BBC channels. Avenues I hope would be explored.  Honestly this tour would be a win-win for all concerned.

It is a great dream of mine that this will happen despite having little hope it will happen. It is a fantastic chance that can not be allowed to pass. All of the nations will benefit hugely.   

I am also an advocate of a mid-season international break where home nations can play each other. This would need to be worked into the already full schedule but I feel given the restructuring of the League this is a possibility.  

I am positive looking forward for the game in 2015 and beyond. There is no doubt it faces major challenges but for probably the first time in my life the game is going forward. The right questions are being asked and ideas are being offered that will help the game both domestically and internationally. Losing the likes of Sam Burgess, Sonny Bill Williams and Jarred Hayne is tough for the game but the reaction is the key now and I feel that the game is getting stronger every year - maybe not at the rate I would hope but it is improving. Hearing of 7,000 people watching Canada play the USA in Canada is positive for the game. I just hope that countries like Canada who are clearly making huge progress and are very ambitious are helped. I also recently read of their ambition for having a side in Championship 1. Without doubt there is a huge market in that region. It should be explored to the max which for me brings in another issue of TV coverage of NRL / State of Origin and Super League being given to emerging nations to help drive support. Just another idea that needs to be addressed. I want the State of Origin series to be accessible all over the world. What better series to introduce a new audience to then that?  Also having South Africa, a Rugby Union dominated country, interested in hosted a World Cup is great. Their bid came completely out of left-field but should be welcomed. In the long term I would love to see it. Maybe in 2025/2029. The plan should be to award it 8 years in advance so that a serious 8 year strategy can be put into place. I also believe that the revival of GB Lions will come and that will only be positive for the game.  So there is plenty to be positive about despite many in Rugby League only ever wanting to be negative about the future. 

Personally I am going into the new domestic season looking forward to the new league structure and the expanded World Club Series. Just now hoping for an announcement of the post-season Internationals.....but will it come?

Best And Worst Transfers Of The Summer

As the window firmly slammed shut last night fans can now sit back and look at the squad their managers have assembled over the summer months and decide if it was a good window or not and whether they are now looking forward to the rest of the season. As a Newcastle fan I must say I am apprehensive to say they least and am very unsure as to the season that is about to unfold for my team.

Although in this piece I have picked out some of the notable transfers that I believe will hits and misses.

Hits

1. Diego Costa 

Now their is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Jose Mourinho and Chelsea have had the best summer window. Diego Costa is a wonderful signing and at only £32 million, given the market, I think they have got extremely good value. I am a massive fan of this player having watched him a lot last season at Atletico Madrid. He is big, powerful and a clinical finisher - essentially everything Fernando Torres was not in the last few seasons. He is going to be a nightmare to handle for all other Premier League teams this season and fully expect him to fire Chelsea to the title.

The only man I can see preventing him winning the Golden boot is Sergio Aguero.

2. Alexis Sanchez 

Ever since I saw this man take England apart at Wembley I have been a huge fan. I must admit when I saw him at Barcelona a few years ago I could not stand his constant diving however having seen him lately this has hugely reduced. Unlike Mesut Ozil this man is built for the job. He looks physically capable of withstanding the physicality of a full Premier League season. Add to this his magnificence ability and goalscoring prowess and you have a terrific signing. I am going to go out on a limb and say he is the best signing Arsenal have made for over 10 years. This is big claim and may make me look stupid in time but I honestly believe it.

Personally I fear for Arsenal this season however with this man in the team I think he will act as Suarez did for Liverpool last season. He will not be enough to win Arsenal the league but he will get them a top four finish.

3. Enner Valancia 

Again similar to Sanchez, Valancia looks a player who has the physical ability to cope in the Premier League. I am personally looking forward to seeing him in the league. He has pace, power and is both strong in the air and on the ground. He looked very strong in the World Cup and I know they say you should never buy a player of the back of a good World Cup however I do think in this case West Ham were right to so.

I think he will be a crucial player for West Ham this season and will play a major part in keeping them in the division.

4. Angel Di Maria 

Another world class arrival to the Premier League. Is he the calibre of a Bale or Ronaldo? No. But he will certainty bring an obvious improvement to Manchester United. He has proved over a number of years just how good he is and can see him adapting well to the Premier League. He will get a very prominent role in the Manchester United side and I am expecting him to contribute plenty to the side in the form of both goals and assists.

He looks similar to Mesut Ozil is statue however having seen him play I am sure he will relish the challenge of the increased physically whilst his game will also benefit from the increase in pace unlike Ozil.

He will play a major role in getting Manchester United in the top four.

5. Siem De Jong

This one is maybe more in hope then anything else. I am very hopeful that De Jong can be a sort of Dennis Bergkamp style player for Newcastle. A player of real brain and thought who will add quality to the side. Hopefully he can strike up a good partnership with one of the forwards and lead Newcastle to having a good season.

Although his injury record does worry me.

Other notable mentions:

Cesc Fabregas - Was a hit first time round and see no reason why he will not be again.

Gylfi Sigurdsson - Will benefit hugely from regular football again. One for the Fantasy Football team for sure

Misses 

1. Mario Balotelli

Personally I have absolutely no idea why Brendan Rodgers has signed this man. He is a massive gamble and at £16 million, an expensive one at that. I can foresee him only having a negative impact this season on the team. For all Suarez's misdemeanours he was a clinical finisher with a fantastic work rate. Balotelli brings neither of these on-field traits but plenty of problems off-field. The board at AC Milan must have thought it was a joke when Liverpool bid £16 million. Hardly excelled in his short time at Milan and to see all the Liverpool fans celebrating his arrival is comical. It seems some football fans have totally forgotten his time at Manchester City.  

Can see Liverpool becoming very frustrated with him very quickly and would not be surprised to see him gone in January. 

I will be the first to admit I was wrong if Balotelli performs well however just cannot see it happening.

The man for me who Liverpool should have got was Wilfred Bony from Swansea. He is a genuine world-class player who deserves to play at a top team and in the Champions League. He has also proved how effective he can be in the Premier League. 

2. Georgios Samaras

Now I must admit I did actually laugh out loud when I saw this transfer go through. Similar to when I saw David N'Gog sign for Swansea in January, it was just sureal.  Georgios Samaras must have one of the best agents going to get him back into the Premier League. This is a man who was a flop at Manchester City and who has not even really shone at Celtic. Now when you are playing for the best team in a Scotland league which is very poor that says it all. He will be lucky to get 2 goals all season. 

A truely awful signing who will be up front with Balotelli come May when they announce the flop XI of the season. 

3.  Rio Ferdinand

Quite honestly why Rio Ferdinand has signed for QPR I do not know. The obvious answer is money however surely the man is not that greedy? Well this is for sure his last payday so I suppose I cannot blame him. However I do feel this is an awful transfer. He looked awful last season. A man well past his best and this season he is playing in a side who will be on the back foot most weeks. It will not be like his many years at Manchester United when United had 65%+ possession everyweek and quality players ahead and around him. Last season he looked very uncomfortable doing just about anything. If you are a QPR fan you should be worried although given Ferdinand injury record I cannot see him playing 20 games. 

Expect him to be continually caught out this season - leading to his retirement at the end of it.

4.  Leonardo Ulloa

I feel that Ulloa is really going to struggle. As I said in my prediction post, his lack of pace for me is a major concern at this level. He played very well with a very average Championship side in Brighton and was a constant threat however I fear at Leicester he simply will not get the supply or chances to really show his worth. He deserves his chance at this level and of all the signings I am predicting to be misses I hope Ulloa proves me wrong. 

I honestly feel Leicester will go down however on his day Ulloa can be a real handful.  

5. Jack Rodwell

Firstly the reason why I have put Rodwell on this list is his injury record. He may claim to be fit however only time will really tell if his body can stand up to a whole season. Secondly given his woeful fitness record the fact that Sunderland have laid out £10 million is astonishing. This figure is wildly over the mark. He may prove to be a great signing in time however at this moment in time he does not demand such a fee. 

Expect an injury hit season and so a limited impact. 

Only time will tell if I have been proved right or made to eat humble pie. 

Premier League Predictions

Who will be celebrating come May?

The Premier League season is now only a day away and after all of the changes this summer it looks like another fantastic season is on its way. Jose Mourinho finished trophy-less last season - surely it cannot happen two years in a row? Can Manchester City become the first team since Manchester United in the 2008/09 season to retain the title? How will Liverpool adapt without Suarez? Will Louis Van Gaal be a success? and will Arsenal finally buy a quality striker and defensive midfielder? 

The battle for the top four begins with both North-London and Merseyside clubs eyeing four spot. How will the newly promoted sides do? Who's staying up and who's going down?

Time for me to predict the season as I feel it would turn out should the current squads still be the same come September 1st.

TITLE - CHELSEA 

Personally I do feel the winner will be Chelsea. I tipped them last season but Mourinho's failure to sort out the midfield as well as the lack of a world class front man played its part.

The latter of which has now been taken care of with the arrival of Diego Costa. Now I am a huge fan of this player. I really believe he will be a hit in the Premier League. He's big, powerful and a genuine goal scorer. I honestly expect 20+ goals in the Premier League this season from him.

Costa to fire Chelsea to the title

My concern is the midfield. For me Mourinho last season put his faith in the wrong players too often. Oscar is a classic example of this. Players like Schurrle should have been in that starting team every week. I also feel Kevin De Burnye got some rough treatment as I was impressed with his performances.

Now this season Fabregas is the main man. Huge season for the former gunner. He will get plenty of game time and will be crucial if Chelsea are to regain the Premier League crown.

It is difficult to see where the weaknesses are as they seem so strong all over the field. Also unlike Manchester City I do not think their attitude and application week in week out will be an issue. 

2ND - MANCHESTER CITY 
Title holders Manchester City have kept the main bulk of the squad from last season without too many stand-out first-team additions. Caballero, Sagna and Fernando will add to the already impressive squad depth and provide further competition for the likes of Hart, Zabaleta and Fernandinho.

The main area that needed addressing was the centre of defence. City have for years been searching for someone decent to partner Kompany. Eliaquim Mangala is the latest man to try and fill this void. £32 million is a huge price tag for a defender but he comes with a very good reputation. Personally I have not seen him play so will reserve judgement at this time.

The main problem with City is as I said last year. It is the attitude of the players. I watched them last year throw away points away at sides like Aston Villa and Cardiff. Luckily for them in the end it did not matter as many of the other teams were doing the same. This year though it will cost them. Manuel Pellegrini has a job on to keep them focused week in week out. One of the problem is that the team is so strong that most weeks they know they are far superior to the opposition however this can make them lazy. Instead of getting 2/3 up they too often sit on a 1-0 lead and then end up in a needlessly precarious position towards the end of the game. Last season this cost them numerous points. If I were a fan this would frustrate me hugely.

Having said this they have a formidable front line and the ability to hit nearly any team in the league for six. 

On paper they are extremely strong and will be in and around the top 2/3 for the whole season. They will without doubt be a major threat in all competitions again this season. 

3RD- ARSENAL 
Yet again Arsene Wenger managed to get Arsenal into the top four last season despite not addressing key issues with the team. For the first half of last season Arsenal were flying. Top of the table and Aaron Ramsey could do no wrong. However as ever with Arsenal injuries to key personnel played a key role in destroying the fans dreams of a league title. Ramsey, Wilshire, Gibbs and Walcott were just some of the casualties who headed to the treatment room.

Predicting Sanchez to be a hit

They also capitulated in key games being hammered by both Chelsea and Liverpool in embarrassing circumstances. For me the same problems have persisted for years and Wenger has ignored them. Arsenal are too easily bullied by the bigger sides all over the field. This is still and problem and I expect it to happen again this season as it still has not been addressed. In midfield they have a number of fantastically skilled players but they are all very lightweight and they seem only a light tackle away from a lengthy lay off.

They still ended the season top four and with an FA Cup win much to the fans delight as it is hoped this will be the springboard for more honours to come.  Last weeks Community Shield victory against a sub-stanadrd Manchester City team should also provide them with the confidence to push on this season.

Wenger has recruited some top players this summer. Alexis Sanchez is a great player who I think will adapt to the Premier League quicker and more successfully than Mesut Ozil. Matheiu Debuchy will also add a competitive edge at right back. Personally I see this as an upgrade on Sagna. Also the signing of youngster Callum Chambers from Southampton is an interesting one. No doubt the lad has potential and I look forward to seeing him develop hopefully into a England player.

No main goalscorer and no midfield leader are the main issues for me. I am at a complete loss as to why they have not tried harder to sign Loic Remy. He would be ideal, cheap in comparison to others and would fit right into the team.

Oliver Giroud and Yaya Sanogo will not fire Arsenal to the title.

4TH - LIVERPOOL
The loss of Luis Suarez is sure to have a huge impact on Liverpool. Despite my own personal dislike of the man, his contribution in making Liverpool title contenders last season was there for all to see. Personally I do think they were right to get rid and considering his indiscretions the offer was too good to turn down. I expect a major star-studdied signing from Liverpool is the next few weeks to replace Suarez. Falcao and Balotelli have both been linked and of the two Falcao would be the preferred option. Balotelli is high risk both on and off the field. He would also not bring the consistency to make them title winners this year.

For me a striker is a must. Lambert will be useful in the squad given the number of games they will have to play this season but he is not your main man. Daniel Sturridge is far too inconsistent for me, as I have said on numerous occasions and proved at the World Cup. He will get goals again this season because he gets so many chances in the league given the quality of the midfield supplying him however in those big games, maybe even in the Champions League, I would have no faith in him burying his maybe only chance.

Brendan Rogers has brought in Lovren, which in theory will be a good signing if he can replicate his Southampton form, even if £20 million was a tad overpriced. However one signing is simply not enough in this area. For me both full-backs are weaknesses, especially Glen Johnson at right-back. This man is a liability at the top level and will cost Liverpool numerous points this season.

I think the midfield area is strong again, with the introduction of both Adam Lallana and Emre Can only improving squad depth. Raheem Stirling will be the star again and I would expect 15 league goals at least from him.

I think Liverpool will struggle with the schedule of being back in the Champions League but do still expect a top four finish.

5TH - MANCHESTER UNITED

Tough first season for LVG ahead

A new era at Manchester United has begun. New manager, new captain and maybe a new lease of life. Louis Van Gaal is in and looks like he means business. I expect a vast improvement on last season from United however if they are to finish in the top four or challenge for the title then signings are required. The current squad is not good enough for me to challenge for the title. They still lack a midfield powerhouse and defensive leaders. The back four or three depending on if he plays his favoured 3-5-2 looks weak. It is a massive season for Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Johnny Evans. For me all three will be out the door this time next year should they fail. These are not three defenders I would trust given the performances I have seen from them. Also at full-back Luke Shaw is a great talent but is he ready? and Rafael has for me has always been a weak link/liability. I always feel the man is a red card waiting to happen. There seems far too many weaknesses in the defence and squad depth also appears an issue in this area.

Wayne Rooney has been given the armband and much is expected from him this season - they hope in leading United back to the top. He was woeful in the World Cup (as always) but expect a good season from him for United. I also expect Juan Mata to have a good year and start to stand out in United's matches.

Personally if the defensive area is not addressed LVG will not make them title contenders. They will be in a top four scrap and the weak defence means they will just miss out. 

6TH - TOTTENHAM

Last season Tottenham were a disaster. The Bale money was not used in the wisest way and the team suffered. As I predicted last season centre-back was going to be a major weakness and it was with Spurs shipping far to many goals. Defensively I still think they are weak but the signing of young Englishmen Eric Dier could improve things.  

I expect an improvement from new man Maurico Pochettino who did a great job at Southampton. It will take a while to maybe see the improvement but I expect that by the end of the season we will have seen a change in Spurs' play. Players such as Christian Erikson and forgotten man Eric Lamela will be the key to their successes this season.

Personally I can not see them getting in the top four.

7TH - EVERTON

Roberto Martinez did a great job last season and the permanent signings of Lukaku and Barry will aid their top four ambitions this season. For me they will fall short due to squad depth and like Hull City are contending with the Europa League. I expect a good season from Everton and probably a good run in the Europa League but their domestic form will suffer and end their dreams of the top four for this season at least.

I am interested to also see how Ross Barkley continues to develop and if Seamus Coleman can have another quality season.

8TH - SWANSEA

Last season the Europa League had a major affect of Swansea's season. The squad was not strong enough the deal with it. Add to this the loss of Michu and Swansea were in trouble. However in Wilfried Bony they had a top striker and one who kept them in the league. Bony was hugely impressive and it is surprising he is still at Swansea. It will be interesting to see how he gets on in his second season - will it be second season syndrome like maybe Benteke suffered from or will he go from strength to strength?

Gary Monk has recruited well with Bafetimbi Gomis looking like he is going to be a handful. Also the return of Gylfi Sigurdsson is a great signing and I expect him to return to form this season finishing the season with about 10 goals.

Good season for Swansea and I wouldn't rule out as an outsider for the FA Cup.

9TH - NEWCASTLE

Much expected of talented Cabella this season

Now where to start. Newcastle have recruited 7 players into the first team squad this summer and as a fan I am still reeling. It needed to be done however I had no faith it would be. The signings are promising with Siem De Jong and Remy Cabella the eye-catchers. 

Another one I am interested to see is young left winger Rolando Aarons. He has looked fantastic in pre-season and for a me he must be pushing starting XI.

Major concern is still the defence - and as a fan this has been the case my entire life. Also with Loic Remy gone they desperately need new boy Emmanuel Rivere is step up. The lad has looked useful in pre-season and I am hoping for good things.  Loic Remy and Yohan Cabaye contributed 20 goals last season and looking at the squad at the moment it is difficult to see them finding those goals from elsewhere. That is the big question with Newcastle, where are the goals coming from? 

I am going to be positive and hope the new players do live up to or even surpass expectations leading to a good year for Newcastle. 

Another dream in a good cup run. 

Here's hoping that Pardew can get it right and the new players settle in quickly. 

10TH - STOKE

I admit last season I got it wrong. I thought Mark Hughes would be a disaster and Stoke would go down. In fact they did extremely well finishing just inside the top half. Credit where credit is due he did a great job. This season the fans will be expecting as he has now had a year to 'change the style' as well as three transfer windows to improve the side.

The stand out capture is that of Bojan. The ex-Barcelona man is a great talent and one that many Stoke fans as well as neutrals are eager to see in the Premier League. He has been in top form in pre-season and I think could be the star of the season.

Expect Stoke to build on last season with a solid defensive record but Bojan will provide more attacking potency . 

11TH -  SOUTHAMPTON
It has been a tough summer for Saints fans having lost many of their star players. Lallana, Shaw and Lambert were all key components to their success last year and will be sorely missed. Losing your best players is bad enough but losing your manager also really is a disaster.

Ronald Koeman has come in and I think he has recruited ok. The signing of Shane Long will prove vital as this is a man who will get you 10-12 goals.

Heard plenty about Tadic and am looking forward to seeing how he fairs this season. One position that had been crying out for improvement was goalkeeper. I said it last season that the obvious target should be Fraser Forster and low and behold that's exactly who that got. He is a quality keeper and I am delighted to see him get a well deserved chance to impress in the Premier League.

Not as good as last season but a safe and solid season for Southampton.

12TH - HULL CITY

Hull have recruited well by getting Tom Ince, Harry Maguire and Robert Snodgrass. All three will add to an already solid squad. I expect them to be defensively strong again with Curtis Davies having another strong year. 

Concerning that Shane Long has been sold however expect Bruce to splash the cash. Also they have the dreaded Europa League to deal with. It deeply affected Newcastle and Swansea's seasons in recent year with both clubs ending up in relegation fights. Do Hull have the squad to deal with the extra games and the constant Thursday/Sunday schedule and have a good season ? I think no. 

But they will survive.

13TH - QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Mutch was a stand out player for Cardiff last season

Harry Redknapp has been this usual self in the transfer window trying to buy everyone specialising in those past their best and not just on the field after Glen Hoddle joined the coaching staff. Steven Caulker and Rio Ferdinand have been brought in as centre backs which on the face of it is a dream partnership -one young promising and the other with over 10 years of Premier League and International experience. Although given Ferdinand's injury record I cannot see him playing 20 games. Also looking at his performances last season you would be worried. He looked a man way past his best and struggling with almost everything. Expect him to be continually caught out this season - leading to his retirement at the end of it.

Jordan Mutch is a good signing and I think he will impress again just as he did last year with Cardiff. Loic Remy would be a huge asset should he stay and goals would guarantee survival. 

Going to take a gamble and say an up and down season but ultimately staying up as long as Loic Remy stays.

14TH - WEST BROM

Last season was a very tough one for fans of West Bromich Albion. After having a couple of stable years suddenly they were in a relegation dog-fight. The sacking of Steve Clarke for me made this worse and was a woeful decision by the board. Having somehow managed to have scrapped their way to survival this season the fans will be hoping for a more stress-free time. 

Alan Irvine's appointment was not happily received by the fans and this had added more pressure immediately before the season has even started. Jolean Lescott is a good signing and will bring experience with Craig Gardener whilst Brown Ideye is the big money goalscoring hope. 

The core of the squad with the likes of Morrison, Brunt, Dorrans, Foster, Sessegnon and youngster Berahino means they will they will be safe.

15TH - CRYSTAL PALACE

The departure of Tony Pulis is a huge blow to Palace. Before this announcement, despite having a quiet summer transfer window, I was predicting them a safe, solid season finishing 11th. However I am really not sure. The squad does not have the obvious quality to survive and without Pulis' organisation they could be in trouble. 

Fraiser Campbell will provide an added goal-threat and Brede Hangeland will aid the defence.

I am predicting they will survive but without a manger going into opening weekend it is not looking ideal for Palace.

16TH - WEST HAM

Another manager in serious trouble is Sam Alladyce. I am will amazed if he is still in charge come November 1st. West Ham have had a dire pre-season and with the news of Carroll out until Christmas as well as the off-field disagreements with the board it is not difficult to see trouble ahead. 

From what I have seen they are missing a serious goal threat and going forward they have looked very poor indeed. Having said this I am going to take a gamble on Valencia being a hit and helping the hammers to survival - but only just.

17TH - SUNDERLAND

Like for all the sides who I am predicting will be down the bottom the problem is goals. Sunderland are another team who are desperately weak in this area. Now that Poyet has had more time I am sure Sunderland will have more possession however they will have no cutting-edge. This is exactly what he did with Brighton. They played lovely possession football however could not put teams away on a regular basis. I expect a very similar incidence here although unlike the championship they will be punished for this more regularly. 

Borini would be a good signing could they pull it off but he is not the goalscorer they need. Jack Rodwell is another interesting signing but how many games will he play?

Expect many low-scoring games involving Sunderland this season with Sunderland being right at the bottom of the goal-scored chart. 

18TH - LEICESTER CITY

Will Ulloa be a hit in the Premier League?

New boys Leicester like Burnley have not strengthened the squad to what would be perceived as a Premier League standard squad. The addition of Ulloa from Brighton is a gamble given the price tag - £8 million - for a player with only a Championship goal-scoring record. Although he throughly deserves his chance in the top flight. However his lack of pace is a problem in the top league. If Leicester decide to play one up I think Ulloa will really struggle but with a partner I can see him getting 10 goals this season.

I cannot see Leicester having enough to survive. 

Nigel Pearson is another one like Sam Alladyce and Paul Lambert who I think will be sacked before November 1st.

19TH - ASTON VILLA

Surely the time has come for Aston Villa. They have been flirting with relegation for the last few years and as the season approaches they are looking just as vulnerable again this season. Paul Lambert is certainly on borrowed time and personally can not see in still being in charge come November 1st. Roy Keane will likely take over however the squad is poor. I can foresee Villa again being on the end of some hammering this season. 

Another relegation scrap looms but this time they will fall short - Villa fans must be worried. 

20TH - BURNLEY 

It is a very easy to write off Burnley this season. They are thought of as almost certainties to be relegated however after what happened with Crystal Palace last season you never know. Although as of this moment in time looking at the squad, with very few new additions, they do not look as if they have the quality to stay in the division.

Danny Ings is the star man but how many chances will he get?