Goalkeeper Gloves and Football Kit News

As the old expression goes, ‘the league table doesn’t lie’. We are now in February, more than halfway through the season and Tottenham lie in 3rd place in the Premier League.

It would be easy to say that this is only a temporary, elevated status for Harry Redknapp’s side, but in all honesty few can argue with their current position. Spurs are the third best team in the country and by a distance.

Seven points clear of Chelsea, eleven points clear of Liverpool and twelve points clear of fierce rivals Arsenal, these are not margins formed by luck at this stage in the season. Tottenham are only five points off the summit of the league and whether you count them as title contenders or not, they are still closer to the top two than they are to fourth placed Chelsea. Impressive stuff.

Yet, over the course of the next month, their claims to a top three spot will truly be tested. Away trips to Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United lie in wait for the North Londoners, before a visit to Chelsea at the end of March. These are the trips that will decide Tottenham’s ultimate league position.

Earlier in the season, Tottenham annihilated Liverpool 4-0 at White Hart Lane, with the visitors reduced to nine-men in the face of the Spurs onslaught. It was perhaps the lowest point of Liverpool’s season on-the-pitch, that being until last month’s 3-1 collapse away at Bolton.

Kenny Dalglish’s side have been unpredictable this campaign, ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. But, more often than not, they have been no better than mediocre – a worrying sign for the Anfield faithful. This season’s lavish signings have not lived up to their price-tags and the side has appeared disjointed, particularly in the absence of Luis Suárez, who they welcome back on Monday.

The match represents an opportunity for Tottenham to silence the doubters. If there was ever a time to really take Liverpool on at Anfield it is now, with the Reds only winning four of eleven home matches this season (although none have been lost). A win and it is almost inconceivable Liverpool can catch them this season; a defeat and it is back on the table.

It will be in midfield that the match is won and lost, an area where Tottenham have all the necessary assets to really take on those in red football kits. With Lucas Leiva still absent, it is an area of vulnerability for the home-side if the likes of Scott Parker, Luka Modric and Rafael Van der Vaart can dictate play, as they did so successfully at White Hart Lane.

It is in games like this that the best teams lay down a marker, particularly ahead of a tough run of fixtures in the coming weeks. Tottenham wish to be treated as title contenders and their league position justifies their claims, but now they must go out and back them up on Monday night.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

Tuesday marked the end of the January transfer window for another year and the usual candidates were out in force looking for the last-minute deals that could turn their seasons around. Love it or hate it, the transfer deadline enthrals football lovers across the country, glued to their computer screens or TV channels as inimitable Jim White guides them through the last minute surprises that emerge each time around, in a twice yearly display of unrivalled brinkmanship.

One of the features of deadline day is undoubtedly Harry Redknapp, who never ceases to amaze with the candid nature in which he informs reporters of his transfer targets, his views on others’ targets and seemingly any player who pops into his head. His favourite method of interview is undoubtedly the in-car piece to camera, which of course was totally off-the-cuff as he drives home with all the prospective deals dead-in-the-water, or so we are meant to think.

This year we thought we would be disappointed, with an ongoing court case and Tottenham’s evening fixture meaning there would be no in-car interviews this year. But, Harry is not a man to disappoint when there is a camera around and post-match delivered one of his trademark honest interviews, where Tottenham’s transfer plans were laid bare.

As ever, it was an entertaining last hour for Spurs, who seem unable to grasp that they have a whole month in which they are able to make their desired moves in the transfer market. In fact, this month’s activity was perhaps the most bemusing in their recent history – a case of finalising deals for the sake of finalising deals. In the final hours of the window, Roman Pavlyuchenko headed for the exit door, only for Louis Saha to meet him on the way in, with the same applying for the departing Sebastian Bassong, who was immediately replaced by Ryan Nelson. Steven Pienaar also made a late dash to Everton on-loan to round-off Tottenham’s activity, which appears to be an exercise in cost-cutting ahead of potential summer activity.

Another club in the action were Queens Park Rangers who provided the biggest stories of the deadline day, in the captures of Bobby Zamora and Djibril Cissé. Having already splashed out on Taye Taiwo, Samba Diakité and Nedum Onuoha, the R’s have really spent some cash this transfer window in an attempt to assure Premier League survival after a worrying end to the first half of the season. Now Rangers fans have a new much-hyped strike partnership to cheer in the hope of ending the clubs woes in-front of goal.

Everton fans also finished the day in high spirits with Steven Pienaar’s addition compounded by the arrival of Rangers’ much discussed goal-scorer Nikica Jelovic. With the club able to keep hold of their prized assets, it represents a better month of activity than most recent transfer windows for those in blue football kits. For once they even outspent Manchester City, whose only activity was the loan signing of Chilean David Pizarro, in an attempt to add creativity from deep in the midfield.

For many sides, it was more a question of investing in the future. Manchester United brought in Swiss defender Frederic Veseli from neighbours City, whilst Chelsea looked to Belgium for £7 million midfielder Kevin de Bruyne.

Arsenal followed a route used by the likes of Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge in loaning young Japanese prospect Ryo Miyaichi to Bolton, where he will be joined by £3 million youngster Marvin Sordell who joins from Watford.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

Manchester United fans were dealt both disappointment and pleasure in equal measures this evening, with the news that Ravel Morrison and Paul Pogba appear to have come to decisions on their immediate futures.

Morrison and Pogba, both 18, have both been in discussions with the Red Devils leadership over the past few months, with neither player putting pen to paper on a new deal for differing reasons.

When it comes to Morrison, there is little that can be said that has not been previously written and over-analysed about the youngster. It is hard to remember any other English player having received as much attention at such an early stage in their development, a fact that is testament both to the player’s ability to amaze on-and-off the pitch.

Now, it would appear that the attacking midfielder is set to sign for West Ham on a permanent deal that sees the end of Manchester United’s ordeal with the youngster. There is little doubt that based upon talent alone the club would have loved to have kept Morrison on board, but their came a point just last month when Morrison was informed that Manchester United would not be offering a new deal due to his off-the-field attitude and indiscretions.

Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been linked with a move for the  Manchester-raised academy product, yet it seems that the lure of instant first-team football in the Championship has been enough to turn Morrison’s head towards East London in a deal that should be completed on deadline day.

It is unusual for a team like Manchester United to suffer the disappointment of losing one of their most highly rated prospects, yet there may be a twist to the story that will please the Old Trafford faithful. It is now being reported that the deal to take Morrison to West Ham may in fact include a buy-back option, which would allow the champions to re-sign their youngster for a fixed price in the future.

More bright news followed shortly after for United, with reports suggesting that midfield prospect Paul Pogba is edging closer to signing a new deal. There has been a significant delay in signing from the youngster, with his agent believed to be asking for an increase on the offered salary, but it seems the dispute is coming to an end and Pogba may be seen in a red football kit for years to come.

In fact, a league debut could come on Tuesday night, with the same reports suggesting that Pogba will start his integration into first-team plans in the deadline day encounter.

Losing a talented player like Ravel Morrison will hurt many Manchester United supporters in the short-term, but as the old saying goes: ‘no one person is bigger than the club’. Morrison may well succeed as a Premier League footballer, but will there come a da when he rues his early indiscipline?

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

Ghana cemented their position at the top of Group D in the Africa Cup of Nations 2012 on Saturday with a convincing 2-0 victory over Mali.

It was not straight-forward for Ghana initially, as Mali proved to be a tough nut to crack with their organisation and discipline negating the flair of the Ghanaian forward line.

Seydou Keita was influential from midfield in the opening exchanges, carrying Mali forward as they threatened to crack the weakened Ghanaian defence, but as the game progressed the Black Stars upped their game to take command of the central area, with Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu excelling.

With the score 0-0 at the break, Ghana really stole the initiative in the second-half, finally able to feed the ball the ball to those in white football kits higher up the field.

The breakthrough came just after the hour mark from the most likely of sources, star striker Asamoah Gyan. The Sunderland-owned striker had been well monitored throughout by the Malian defence, but they could not mark him from a free-kick 30-yards out which the Ghanaian idol stepped up to curl into the top corner. The relief was tangible for the Black Stars and the quality of play increased as they were able to relax following the breakthrough.

Just ten minutes later and the lead was doubled, as Asamoah Gyan combined tidily with André Ayew to buy the latter some time in the box. A quick swivel in-and-out, followed by a snap-shot at the near-post and Ayew had added the second for his side, a goal of top quality from both involved.

With Guinea having brushed aside Botswana 6-1 in Saturday’s earlier encounter, victory over Mali has eased the pressure on the Ghanaian side, but has yet to ensure qualification for the latter stages.

On Wednesday it will be Ghana’s turn to take on Guinea and fortunately for the favourites they can welcome back first-choice central defensive pairing of John Mensah and Isaac Vorsah for the final group game. A draw will mean that the Ghanaians top the group, ahead of either Mali, Guinea or Botswana, who can all still mathematically qualify.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam

There has been a lot of talk in the British newspapers recently about Roberto Mancini as a man-manager, following high-profile fall-outs with some of the biggest names to have played for Manchester City under his tenure. Craig Bellamy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Wayne Bridge and Carlos Tevez are amongst those to have come to have an acrimonious relationship with the fiery Italian, costing the club a lot of money in wasted transfer-fees and agents over the past 18-months.

Today’s latest attack came from Kia Joorabchian, agent of Carlos Tevez, who was keen to point out the Italian coach’s role in his client’s difficulties at the Manchester club. The allegations themselves can be taken with a pinch of salt, considering the objectiveness of the source concerned, but it does seem to be a recurring theme with Mancini that he is unable to control some of his bigger name players. However, with Manchester City caring little about financial control, what does it matter how much money is wasted to achieve success? That is, assuming success will come.

Manchester City won the FA Cup last season, which was seen by many as their first step on the road to success, yet after three years of major expenditure, it was not quick in coming. They currently sit atop the English Premier League heading into February, that must also be weighed in their favour. Yet, the League Cup, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League have already passed the club by in a season they were expected to challenge on all fronts.

If the Champions League has shown one thing this year, it is that the top-four of the Premier League are not as strong as they have been in previous years. Manchester United and Chelsea are going through somewhat of a transitional phase, Arsenal are increasingly lightweight, Tottenham have little experience of success and Liverpool are disappointing considering their outlay. Yet, Manchester City’s ‘grip’ on English football is far from as convincing as some early season displays suggested it could become.

According to transfermarkt.co.uk figures, since 2008 Manchester City have spent £510 million on new players, in a bid to bring success to those in sky blue football shirts. Admittedly, Roberto Mancini is not responsible for all this outlay, but the Italian himself has spent approximately £300 million to reinforce a team that was already the product of mass spending.

To spend such amounts, with such little success is beyond wasteful. Manchester City fans would no doubt point to the club’s low starting point, but there comes a point where Roberto Mancini must be judged on his achievements, based solely on what has occurred during his time in charge. It is not to say they will not win the Premier League this season, but that maybe more could have been achieved by someone else.

Teams are not built overnight, but the vast majority of this Manchester City side have now been together for some time. A failure to capture the Premier League title would mean a trophy-less season for the Citizens, something which cannot justifiably be blamed on the team needing time to gel.

We will know by May whether Manchester City can clinch a first Premier League title and thus, have a better position from which to judge the Italian’s time in charge. This article has been deliberately harsh on Mancini and the results of his two years in charge, yet one thing is for certain. If Manchester City fail to emerge as league champions this year, there is little doubt that it will be judged as an almighty failure by the Eastlands side.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam

One of the pre-tournament favourites to be crowned African champions of 2012, Senegal crashed out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the first hurdle after two consecutive defeats in the group stage.

After an opening day 2-1 defeat to Zambia, the theory was that it could only get better for the Lions of Taranga, playing against Equatorial Guinea, the lowest ranked of all the sides in the tournament.

Yet, against all expert opinion, the host nation produced the shock of the tournament so far to pull-off an unlikely 2-1 victory. Randy had put the home side in front after 62 minutes, only for Lille hitman Moussa Sow to level just a minute from time – a result which would have kept Senegalese hopes alive into the final group-game.

Alas, it was not meant to be, as in the fourth minute of injury time, Spanish third division-based defender Kily turned the ball home to send the host city into raptures. The full-time whistle brought tears and jubilation for the team in red football kits as they celebrated reaching the Quarter-Finals in their first ever Cup of Nations.

Captain of Equatorial Guinea, Juvenal said post-match: “We were a little lucky to score the second goal in the last few seconds! It’s fantastic for us and our supporters. We’re very hopeful for the future.

“Now we want to beat Zambia in our last match because we want to finish top of the group.”

The biggest club competition in South America kicks-off this week, as twelve clubs take part in the first-stage in an attempt to qualify for the group phase. Amongst the sides in contention will be Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, who take on Real Potosi in Bolivia. Flamengo are Brazil’s best-supported club, a true giant of the South American game, yet there have been chaotic scenes at the club in recent times that threaten to destroy the club’s chances this season before it has begun.

The 2011 season was a mixed-bag for the Rubro-Negro, with patches of almost irresistible form swamped by insipid performances that saw them crash out of the Copa Sudamericana and struggle to keep pace with the top teams in the league, having made a promising start. The results would have been unremarkable for most sides, but this was a Flamengo side containing the likes of international stars Ronaldinho and Thiago Neves.

However, the summer has not been kind to Flamenguistas, with little good news emerging from the confines of the club’s Gavea training ground. The club’s first priority for the off-season was to arrange permanent deals for loanees Felipe and Thiago Neves. The deals could have been sorted last season, but the board were conspicuously slow off the mark in making any progress, eventually sealing a deal for Felipe in routine fashion, but failing to meet a pre-arranged value for Thiago Neves from Saudi side Al-Hilal.

The saga rumbled on for weeks, with the player’s owners refusing to on their valuation and Flamengo lacking any urgency to get a deal done. There was a complacency shown by the Carioca side, as if signing Thiago Neves was their divine right, despite the fact that the exclusive buy-out clause of his loan deal had already expired. However, their confidence was misplaced as come January, with little progress made, Thiago Neves signed for his former club Fluminense – Fla’s fierce rivals.

The loss of Thiago Neves was devastating for Flamengo fans, with little sign of further reinforcements in the immediate future, yet it was about to get worse.

Over the last twelve months, Flamengo have played to the tune of Ronaldinho, both on-and-off the pitch. The idea of a former-World Player of the Year in your side is of course an attractive one, yet when it comes to Ronaldinho it is never that simple. The former-Barcelona man started his second-spell in Brazil poorly, receiving much criticism for a lack of commitment to the cause. A renaissance ensued, with the pony-tailed superstar enjoying a purple patch of games mid-season that saw a return to the national team set-up. Yet, the trip to London for an encounter with Ghana was almost the catalyst for his collapse, as the form he had shown for a period of a dozen mid-season games subsided, as did Flamengo’s title-challenge.

Off-the pitch it was no better. It is now five months since Ronaldinho received his payment in full, after Flamengo and investors Traffic fell-out over the terms of the star’s deal. With his pay reduced, so has the striker’s commitment, causing conflict with the club’s strict manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Just last week, the former-Real Madrid boss and Ronaldinho’s relationship came to a new low, after the manager caught the star having a woman in his room overnight at a training camp. Luxemburgo was justifiably incensed, leaving Ronaldinho with his ego hurt. What has happened since threatens to divide the club, with the star midfielder effectively stating that the club must choose between himself and the boss, aware of his importance to the club’s marketing strategy.

Flamengo has proved too small for the two sizeable egos and once the first-leg of the crucial Libertadores tie in Bolivia is completed, there may well be a decisive outcome. Ronaldinho is not the only major figure to prove hard-to-manage for the club, with key defender Alex Silva also on his way out after skipping training. Ill-discipline was a major issue at Flamengo last campaign and it appears to be continuing into 2012, with the poor attitude alarmingly prevelent amongst the most senior players, including the captain, Ronaldinho.

The last few days have provided some optimism for the fans, with a convincing State Championships victory to celebrate, including a goal for 17-year old starlet Adryan, wearing a Flamengo football kit for the first time at senior level. Universidad de Chile defender Marcos González has also signed for the club, having been voted the best defender in South America in 2011, whilst a deal for fan favourite Vagner Love is getting closer. But, there is still a shadow hanging over the club and until the ‘Ronaldinho problem’ is solved, there may continue to be.

In Europe, it would be a simple case of moving on a failing former-star who is proving little use to the club on the pitch and threatening to tear it apart off it. Yet, this is Brazil, where manager’s are dispensable and star players are the currency in which team presidents trade. Something must be done, but it remains to be seen if the inevitable departure of Vanderlei Luxemburgo is the catalyst for improvement. It is tempting to believe that until the Flamengo board look past an unerring blindness to Ronaldinho’s faults, little will improve for the Rio giants.

When Sir Alex Ferguson brought in Antonio Valencia in 2009 as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, eyebrows were raised at what many considered an inadequate replacement for the Portuguese.

Yet, although the 26-year-old Ecuadorian cannot match the goal-tally of his predecessor, he has proved to be an invaluable asset to a Manchester United side that are no longer as dependent on a moment of brilliance from an attacking player for goals.

Valencia’s game is one of pace and power, with a common accusation being that ‘he always does the same thing’ in putting the ball past the defender, running onto it and crossing to the onrushing strikers. He may well do, but it works time-after-time as defenders are simply unable to deal with his physical attributes.

This season, the former-Wigan man has appeared in 14 league games for the Red Devils, supplying eight assists and two goals from the right flank. Yet, it is also worth noting that five of these appearances have been from the unusual position of right full-back, making the strike-rate even more profound.

In Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Wayne Rooney, Manchester United have three of the best goal-poachers in the English game and they are currently profiting regularly from the wing-play of Valencia. Nani may be more of a goal threat, whilst Ashley Young is more versatile, but neither player can match the consistent delivery that the Ecuadorian offers. Ferguson’s Manchester United have a tradition of fine wing-play and Valencia is amongst the finest proponents of the art that the Scot has managed.

Valencia can almost be considered the prototype Ferguson wide-man, in that he offers a considerable attacking threat, whilst also remaining responsible when it comes to his defensive duties. It is this responsibility that sees the dynamic wide-man trusted on the biggest occasions and considered to fill-in at right-back if necessary.

From Ryan Giggs, through David Beckham, to Nani, the Manchester United boss has always expected his wingers to contribute to the defensive effort at all times. Indded, the only player to be given any leeway on this expectation was indeed Valencia’s predecessor Cristiano Ronaldo.

In a world of glitz and glamour, the humble Ecuadorian offers somewhat of a contrast to your typical top-flight footballer. Valencia grew up in an industrial city in North-Eastern Equador, helping his mother sell drinks outside Lago Agrio’s Carlos Vernaza stadium and collecting bottles for his dad to sell-on in Quito. Aged just 16, the youngster left home against his father’s will to move to the capital and play football for El Nacional, on the insistance of the rest of his family. It is these tough beginnings that has shaped the attitude and commitment of the winger that is so visible in his play to this day.

Paul Jewell, the manager who brought Valencia to England admits this attitude was visible from the start: “He could easily have buckled but there was no moping in a hotel. Antonio, though his English was minimal, quickly got a house and a car. That self-reliance, which can be rare, impressed me.”

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan was equally as positive about his young starlet, even upon departure from the club: “If every footballer was like Antonio, life would be wonderful. He is a quiet, clean-living, well-mannered young gentleman. Real Madrid offered us more money but I advised him to go to United because I knew Sir Alex would look after him.”

Valencia has now been in the UK for five and a half years, making a positive impression on all those he has dealt with, on and off the pitch. Going to Manchester United to replace an £80 million pound icon is a tough challenge, but the winger has bedded in with ease and a calm demeanour that belies the pressure of the task. Coming back from a serious injury, the wide-man has shown determination and resilience to regain his first-team slot from tough opponents. Indeed, his biggest challenge in the past five years has been with the English language, which is little surprise considering he was unable to even write Spanish on his arrival in Europe.

At the start of this campaign, there were some who doubted Valencia’s future in a Manchester United football kit, following a broken leg and the arrival of Ashley Young. How misplaced those doubts now seem, with Valencia a key-figure in many of the club’s best performances, excelling up against the likes of Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy. Alex Ferguson’s side is far from perfect and he may well strengthen again this year, but it would be a major surprise to see the Ecuadorian outside of the first-team anytime soon.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

The Black Stars of Ghana will go into this month’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament as firm favourites, alongside the Elephants of Ivory Coast. The Ghanaians have led the way for Africa in the last two World Cups and have exported talent Europe-wide in their rise to the top of the African game over the last ten years, but something is still missing.

The Cup of Nations may be seen as a massive inconvenience to many European managers, but to those involved it is a matter of huge pride and importance. Understandably so. Some of the players involved may have left their countries at a young age, or even have been born elsewhere, but the passion of representing one’s country of origin must never be doubted or criticised.

It is this passion that has been clear to see from those pulling on Ghanaian football shirts in recent years and this enthusiasm has translated into countless new fans worldwide. Yet, for all the fine footballers and vocal support, it is now thirty years since Ghana’s last Africa Cup of Nations triumph, in which time the side have lost two finals and fans have had to watch Egypt and Cameroon dominate for long periods.

However, this time there is no Egypt, no Cameroon, no Algeria, no South Africa and most pleasingly for Ghanaian fans, there is no Nigeria. The 2012 Cup of Nations threatens to be wide open, simply for the fact many of the pre-qualification favourites have failed to make the competition. The prize is there for the taking and the likes of Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Morocco will all be picturing joyous celebrations come Febuary 12th.

Their challengers are strong, but now is the chance for Ghana to end the years of hurt and confirm their status as Africa’s leading footballing nation. Whereas rivals can bost quality in certain areas of the pitch, Ghana have strength throughout the side and a good blend of youth and experience.

The star of the show is lively wide-man André Ayew, who has been at the top his game for Marseille for the past eighteen months. The son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele, it is sometimes a challenge for Black Stars fans not to overplay the youngsters talents, but Ayew has that rare ability to turn a match in moments and could be crucial when the side come up against the tournament’s top defences.

Up-front, the mantle will fall upon Sunderland-owned striker Asamoah Gyan to finish the chances, just as he did to such effect in South Africa eighteen-months ago. Gyan is not in the top bracket of strikers in the world game by any means, but he is a mercurial talent who can also win games for the side with one piece of sublime skill.

It does not always work out for the forward, but as Premier League observers will note, even when not scoring, Gyan’s work-rate is a massive bonus for the side. The striker has been struggling with injury in recent weeks, which would give an opportunity for André’s younger brother Jordan Ayew to come in and stake a claim for a regular starting berth. Just 19, the starlet is one to watch for those unfamiliar with his name and at such a tender age, is already proving his talent as a regular for club and country.

Ghana’s defence may have only conceded two goals in six qualification games, but it is the fiercely competitive midfield that makes this possible. In the centre of the park, the World Cup quarter-finallists combine both skill and endeavour to form a formidable unit.

Whilst Fulham-target Derek Boateng sits in front of the back-four, spreading the play with his excellent passing skills, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu alongside him brings doggedness, stamina and determination to the midfield. The Udinese youngster has enjoyed a startling rise to prominence in Serie A since the 2010 World Cup and will line-up alongside club-mate Kwadro Asamoah and Inter Milan’s Sulley Muntari. Asamoah will be the most attacking of the midfield quartet, with the side hoping to tap into his creative talents, whilst Muntari will also be tasked to push on and support the attack.

Ghana have shown in recent years that they are an organised and well-balanced outfit, with a good work-ethic and a positive attitude towards the game. They have the players to succeed and a coach who truly believes in his team’s hopes of success. With many of Africa’s superpowers absent, now is truly the golden opportunity for this Ghana side to excel.

Last year, Nigeria-boss Samson Siasia labelled Ghana ‘the best team in Africa’ – praise indeed from the coach of their historical rivals. The Black Stars have lapped-up the praise and adoration of their loyal fans, now they must go out and earn it.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam

Goalkeepers: Adam Kwarasey (Stromsgodset, Norway), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals, Ghana), Ernest Sowah (Berekum Chelsea, Ghana)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Dnipro, Ukraine), John Paintsil (Leicester City, England), Daniel Opare (Standard Liege, Belgium), Masawudu Alhassan (Genoa, Italy), Lee Addy (Dalian Aerbim, China), John Boye (Rennes, France), John Mensah (Lyon, France), Jonathan Mensah (Evian, France), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim, Germany)

Midfielders: Charles Takyi (St Pauli, Germany), Emmanuel Agyemang Badu (Udinese, Italy), Derek Boateng (Dnipro, Ukraine), Anthony Annan (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Mohammed Abu (Stromsgodset, Norway), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese, Italy), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan, Italy), Andre Ayew (Marseille, France)

Forwards: Prince Tagoe (Bursaspor, Turkey), Asamoah Gyan (Al Ain, UAE), Jordan Ayew (Marseille, France)

It has been announced on this chilly Monday afternoon that Chelsea have completed the capture of Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £7 million.

Cahill, 26, has seven international caps for his country and joins a Chelsea side looking to rejuvenate, after a period of stagnation. Cahill will fit into the squad at centre-back alongside John Terry, David Luiz and Branislav Ivanovic, meaning that competition for places will be fierce going into the later months of the season.

The art of keeping a clean sheet has escaped Chelsea at times this season and the hope will be that Cahill can come in and help to rectify this problem, more than likely in tandem with his international colleague John Terry, with David Luiz making way for the new arrival. There was a considerable delay in the deal’s completion as the defender sought assurances on game-time ahead of EURO 2012 and it must be assumed this was guaranteed.

The good news for Chelsea fans is that although Cahill’s form at Bolton this season has been questioned by some areas of the media, his performances alongside John Terry for England have been much more impressive. The pair appear to have struck-up an understanding which can only help Villas-Boas’ side and with Rio Ferdinand out in the cold, may well be utilised by England in Ukraine this summer.

In the long-term, David Luiz and Gary Cahill have been marked down as the defensive rock on which Chelsea’s new team will be based, with John Terry’s injury record suggesting his career will not be as prolonged as some in the modern game. There is also the small matter of the outstanding court case the England defender faces regarding a charge of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand in October last year, which could see the England captain unable to pull on a Chelsea football kit for some time.

There is often a case to argue that the presence of the likes of Terry and Frank Lampard is more of hinderance to a new manager than a help, especially when their powers on a football pitch are no longer at their peak. Thus, it is no surprise that André Villas-Boas has already brought-in a potential John Terry replacement, with Lampard having been linked with the exit doors already this season.

The Portuguese manager would like to build a new Chelsea, based on the high-possession, high-pressing football that he has come to be known for during his time in Portugal. Unfortunately for the 33-year-old, it has not proved easy to impose this system on Chelsea’s current ageing ranks and concessions have had to be made.

Yet, there can be little doubt that this is the long-term aim of the Portuguese and that Cahill is seen as part of these plans. The other advantage that Gary Cahill offers, as opposed to many of Europe’s top young defenders, is that he is available for selection in the Champions League, as well as the FA Cup. With Chelsea still in the competition and league form unimpressive, this was no doubt a consideration when looking at potential January signings.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.