Goalkeeper Gloves and Football Kit News

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.

With just under two weeks of the transfer window already passed, the activity has been slow to get started as clubs look to strengthen their sides for the second-half of the league campaign. Here, Zapkam take a look at some of today’s activity.

Darron Gibson (Manchester United to Everton)

This one looks like a done deal, with an announcement expected on Friday to confirm the completion of the £1.5 million deal. The Republic of Ireland international came close to a departure in the summer, but could not agree terms with Sunderland to finalise a joint-deal with John O’Shea and Wes Brown. Six months down the line, with few first-team opportunities, it seems like Darron Gibson has played his last game in a Manchester United shirt.

Carlos Tevez (Man City to Milan) and Alexandre Pato (Milan to PSG)

At one point during the day, all the latest reports suggested that both deals could be completed before sundown, but the information proved to be false as both deals broke down later in the day. Firstly, both AC Milan and Pato himself came out to deny that a move to Paris Saint-Germain had been agreed and the player made abundantly clear of his wish to remain in Milan. The knock-on effect was that there has been a temporary break-down in the Milanese talks over taking Carlos Tevez to the San Siro. Reports suggest the Milan side bid €20 million for the Argentine striker’s services, but the offer was not yet up to the Citizens’ valuation of the player.

Josh McEachran (Chelsea to Swansea)

Swansea took another step towards strengthening their midfield, with the agreement in principal to sign Josh McEachran on loan from Chelsea for the remainder of the season. Manager Brendan Rodgers who served as a youth team coach at Chelsea before commencing on a managerial career looks set to utilise his links once more and bring in one of the most highly rated young midfield talents in England. Gylfi Sigurdsson has already arrived in South Wales this window and it appears that Swansea are looking to further add depth to the squad that has impressed so far this campaign.

Andy Johnson (Fulham to Blackburn)

With the Fulham striker’s contract expiring in the summer, Blackburn attempted this Thursday to prize the player away from West London. The bid has been turned away as not being sufficient for a player of Johnson’s pedigree, but with Blackburn known to be one of a few teams looking at the speedy forward, it may not be long until Fulham’s resolve is cracked. It appears as though former-Manager Mark Hughes is the main contender to Steve Kean, with the Welshman hoping to bring Johnson to Loftus Road.

There still remains nineteen days for people to swap football kits and turn out for a new team by the start of February and no doubt the bigger moves of the winter are still to come. However, today was the first sign of life sparking into a thus-far placid transfer window.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

It is a sad event in football when any manager loses their job. However, when it is looked at objectively, it is easy to comprehend why the chairmen who have invested so much money in a club become a bit skittish when their prized asset is threatened with relegation, which means both devaluation and the wrath of disappointed supporters.

This week, to the outcry of many, it was the turn of Neil Warnock to face the axe at Queen’s Park Rangers, with the R’s loitering perilously close to the drop-zone. QPR have this season undoubtedly produced some fine performances, but they have failed to pull-off results to match and at the same time have produced some memorably poor performances in between times.

The next two months are crucial for QPR, who finish the season playing eight of the top ten sides in their final ten games and thus, must ensure that the minimum number of points are required for survival in advance of these fixtures. This is undoubtedly why Tony Fernandes has chosen to act at this precise moment; the new manager needs as much time as possible to explore his options in the transfer market and QPR have little time to play with to ensure survival.

Over the course of the season, QPR’s problems have been two-fold; they have struggled to score goals and at the same time, leaked goals when in control of games. As a first-team, they are a credible Premier League outfit, but one or two injuries sees players brought into the first-team who were not assured regular games in the Championship. This weakness is particularly prevalent in defence.

Neil Warnock will have seen these frailties from the start of the season and was unfortunate to only have one week to reinforce his squad in the summer, but there is now a valid case that he has not used the players available as well as he could have. This is ultimately what has cost him his position at Loftus Road.

Mark Hughes now arrives with priorities firmly fixed on bringing in the quality of player capable of ensuring Rangers’ survival, a situation made even more pressing with the announcement that star midfielder Alejandro Faurlín has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season.

With time ticking away quickly, Hughes is unlikely to gamble on unknowns and will instead look to those he is familiar with and is confident can help the Super Hoops escape relegation. Top of the list if we are to believe the papers are Christopher Samba, Andy Johnson and Clint Dempsey – though how realistic those three signings are is another question.

Hughes may not be everybody’s idea of a top manager, but he has a track record of reasonable success and the ability to attract players who may not have been enticed to join a Neil Warnock side. He must now set to work on bringing the right players in to pull on a QPR football shirt. Firstly, he can look to get more out of some who are already at the club, with Adel Taarabt and Joey Barton two of those who should look at their own performances. Get these two firing and a couple of new recruits and the R’s should have a side well-capable of a shift up the table.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

The ‘Introducing…’ series returns with Part Four of Brazilian talents tipped to head to European shores in the years and months to come. This time we meet Dedé (Vasco), Diego Maurício (Flamengo) and Paulinho (Corinthians).

Dedé, Centre-Back, Vasco da Gama, 23 years

Neymar won the majority of the awards, but to many Dedé was indeed the star of the 2011 Brasileirão campaign. The recognition ‘O Mito’, or ‘the myth’, received were a startling indication of the progress made by a player who was on the verge of being released by his club eighteen months ago. Tall, quick and surprisingly elegant on the ball, Dedé has all the attributes required to be a top class defender in any of the European leagues. In his early days, he was error-prone and clumsy, in-part due to not having grown into his own physical development, but now the Vasco man is one of the most assured defensive presences on the continent. You need only to read the glowing praise dished out by his colleague Neymar to realise the regard in which Dedé is held. A nigh-on certainty for the 2014 World Cup squad if this form continues.

Diego Maurício, Forward, Flamengo, 20 years

Diego Maurício is an intriguing case, especially given the fact he had a very poor 2011 season. Yet ‘Drogbazinho’, or ‘Little Drogba’, still has all the attributes required to reach the very top of the game in Brazil or beyond. Tall and immensely strong, the Flamengo striker possesses a powerful shot and no small amount of technical ability, but has one major weakness – himself. For all his natural talent, there are many accusations circling in the Brazilian press concerning his lack of work-rate and effort, both in training and on the field. At his tender age, the striker has already shown glimpses of a beast waiting to explode, but another season like the one just finished would see many lose faith. An offer of €5 million from Valencia is believed to have been rejected, with Shakhtar already turned away last summer, as Flamengo show they have not given up hope on Diego Maurício in a red-and-black football kit…yet.

Paulinho, Centre-midfield, Corinthians, 23 years

Alongside Dedé, Paulinho was selected in the ‘Team of the Year 2011′ for his role in driving Corinthians to a historic Brazilian league title. The Timão won the league with a well-drilled team that were not as relient on individual stars as their competitors, yet if there was one key member of the side, it was Paulinho. Alongside Ralf, who played the destroyer role at the base of midfield, the Pão de Açúcar academy graduate was responsible for distributing the ball from deep and ensuring the transition from defence to attack ran smoothly and effectively. A decent tackler, Paulinho possesses excellent passing skills and an impressive calmness under pressure. Besides that, the Corinthians man was also second top-scorer for his club in the league, an astounding feat for a volante – a position not normally associated with goalscoring. Heavily linked with a move to Milan, it now seems to be sealed that Paulinho will remain in Brazil for at least the next six months.

Previous Editions

• Part 1 – Rafael, Elkeson, Neymar
• Part 2 – Oscar, Manoel, Leandro
• Part 3 – Lucas Moura, Diego Renan, Rômulo

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.

A last gasp Frank Lampard goal sealed a 2-1 victory over Wolves for under-pressure André Villas Boas and his side, but once more the Blues’ boss will feel more questions have been raised than answered.

The transfer window is now upon us once more and given the repeated frailties that have reared their head this campaign, it is only to be expected that the Portuguese manager and indeed, Roman Abramovich, will delve into the transfer market for rectification.

Gary Cahill

It has been revealed this week that Chelsea have had an offer accepted for Bolton Wanderers and England defender Gary Cahill. The centre-back, who has not enjoyed the best of seasons in the North-West so far, will then arrive to link up with international colleague John Terry.

Given Gary Cahill’s attributes, combined with those of John Terry, it would therefore seem unlikely that Chelsea would persist with a high defensive line if the the pair were to link-up. That said, in a deeper lying defence, Terry and Cahill have looked an effective partnership in England shirts, with Terry’s style very much complemented by the graceful Cahill.

Cahill would not provide the speedy transition into midfield that David Luiz excels in, but  is still an assured presence with the ball at his feet, a good passer of the ball and currently must be considered to have better positional awareness than his Brazilian colleague.

Lack of Width

One of Chelsea’s biggest issues this season has been a lack of width, with Daniel Sturridge and Juan Mata both inclined to head infield from their starting positions on either side of the lone centre-forward.

In this system, the width is thus expected to be supplied by the full-backs, Ashley Cole and Bosingwa. The problem here lies in the composition of the rest of the side. If Cole and Bosingwa are expected to get forward, the centre-back pairing and, indeed, the defensive midfielder must be disciplined enough to provide protection at all times.

This has improved since the introduction of Oriol Romeu into the midfield in November. Yet, too often this season Chelsea have been exposed by a lack of defensive cover when the full-backs and on occasions centre-backs have gone forward and the midfield have not filled the gaps left behind.

One solution to this issue can be taken from Villas Boas’ time at Porto, where the side operated with one natural winger (Varela) and one inverted wide-man (Hulk). At Chelsea, this would require a new role to be found for Mata or Sturridge, but could allow for the use of one wing-back and one far more defensively minded full-back – in a similar manner to which Barcelona utilise Dani Alves and Eric Abidal.

The Midfield

Despite his goal today, it has been pretty clear that Villas-Boas is hesitant to fit Lampard into his first-choice side. With Romeu now pencilled in as the holding player and Ramires shuttling box-to-box as the third man in the centre, the extra position is often filled by Raul Meireles.

This is an area Villas-Boas will look to improve, with Chelsea having failed to stamp their authority on games against far weaker opponents in recent weeks. There is too often a lack of creativity from the centre of the park, with all three players fine footballers but lacking the extra vision that is on occasions required.

Mata, without doubt, is the visionary in the midfield at present, but Villas Boas at Porto showed preference for an additional deep-lying playmaker and thus, it may be the case that he looks to bring in this steadying midfield presence at Stamford Bridge.

Given their close relationship, it is understandable that he will be linked with Porto’s João Moutinho in the weeks to come, but another player who may be considered is Athletic’s Javi Martinez, who could comfortably sit alongside Romeu and orchestrate play for those ahead of him, with Ramires to provide the midfield with legs.

Chelsea is not an easy problem to solve right now, as Villas Boas has discovered since his high profile arrival from Portugal, but the Chelsea boss is an intelligent tactician and will have spent the last few months analysing his squad, in readiness for this moment.

With the departure of Anelka, likely to be followed by Alex and Florent Malouda amongst others, there is a wind of change sweeping through the Blue section of West London. Whoever emerges wearing the famous blue football kit next season will know that there will no longer be an excuse for the same mistakes that have plagued this campaign and indeed, Andre Villas Boas will know that changes must be made sooner, rather than later.

In the hours to come clocks will strike twelve across Europe, heralding the arrival of another year of hopes and expectations for football fans the length and breadth of the continent.

The transfer market will no doubt be the immediate priority for most, with the hope of procuring that one bargain basement signing, or shock loan-deal, that will see their sides improve on the fortunes of the year just passed. For now though, lets take a look at the year to come.

EURO 2012

The big international footballing event of the year will come this June in Poland & Ukraine, where players of sixteen nations will proudly pull on their football kits with dreams of lifting the trophy four weeks later.

Reigning champions Spain will start as favourites, whilst World Cup finalists Holland will be short-odds with most bookmakers. Completing the trio of fancied sides is Germany, hoping to win the European Championships for the first time since 1996, in England.

As for England, qualification from the group stages would see the Three Lions take on probable opponents of either Spain or Italy. The group is no walk in the park for what will potentially be a very young side, but progression should be expected. A tough Quarter-Final awaits. Big opportunities await for the likes of Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck.

Champions League

Once more it seems it is a question of who can stop the mighty force that is FC Barcelona, with the most likely answer being José Mourinho’s Real Madrid side, who look set to challenge on all fronts.

The English sides have not received kind draws for this stage of the tournament, but both are capable of beating their respective Italian opponents and indeed will expect to. Both teams’ league form has been patchy, but they are still in the competition and will hope to reach at least the Semi-Finals.

Premier League

At both ends of the table the balance of power could shift markedly this January, depending on the respective activity of the sides concerned. With both Manchester sides out of the Champions League, all resources will be relocated to the battle for the league title and it is highly likely that the title will return to the city once more.

Unless there is a dramatic improvement in Liverpool’s fortunes, sixth looks set to be the result for the Reds, with Chelsea, Arsenal and the impressive Tottenham battling it out for the two remaining Champions League slots. Will there be Russian tears spilt at Stamford Bridge?

At the bottom, it is anybody’s guess as to who will eventually be relegated, but the fans of Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan and Wolves will be watching over their shoulders already. The January transfer window could change everything and this is particularly true for the three promoted sides.

QPR have the resources to strengthen this month and will hope it is enough to keep them up, despite their terrible recent run of form. Norwich and Swansea on the other hand have started the Premier League season well, but at some point they will no doubt dip in form and confidence. It is only then that they can prove themselves worthy of staying in the top flight.

Christopher Atkins, Zapkam.