Manchester United out of title race!

by Simon Sparrowhawk

Manchester United are already out of the Premier League title race after a sensational announcement from boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Sir Alex Ferguson has announced that his World Cup players will not resume training with the club until a month after they leave South Africa.

That means Patrice Evra, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Nani, Michael Carrick, new signing Javier Hernandez, Park Ji-Sung, Zoran Tosic and Wayne Rooney could all miss the start of the new season. If a United player reaches the semi-finals they will not be back at the club until 9 August – at the earliest. That is just a week before the new season begins. In fact, the Community Shield would already have taken place.

There is no way they could be ready for the start of the Premier League campaign a week later after a month off. It could take until early September for them to be ready to start matches, by which time the Red Devils could be out of the title race. A bad start to the season would leave them chasing the leaders until May. They may never catch up and the season would be wasted.

Imagine the reaction of the irrepressible Rooney when he sees Chelsea lifting the Premier League trophy and realises that two losses at the start of August cost him the chance to life the same trophy. Can you see him being impressed? No chance! That Real Madrid offer would suddenly become very tempting to United’s true jewel in the crown.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti must be rubbing his hands with glee. He could already be guaranteed a headstart in the race for title next season.

The problem for United fans is, that Fergie has good reason for this ‘crazy’ scheme. Last season was blighted by injury after injury. Rooney ended the season totally burned out and bereft of energy. Rio Ferdinand was never truly fit. At one stage every senior defender, with the exception of Evra, was injured and the Scottish boss does not want a repeat of that scandal.

Fergie wants his players rested. He wants them ready when the business end of the season comes around in April and May. And nobody can argue with him on that point.

But at what cost? If his gamble backfires then United’s season could be over before it even begins!

Two Experienced Players That Can Easily Replace Fabregas That No One Is Talking About

It is not yet official but except a miracle happens, Fabregas will be leaving Arsenal meaning someone has to be brought in to replace him as all Arsenal fans will agree that although Nasri can replace him, he is not one to be relied upon.

Ramsey is also someone who can replace him but who knows how well he will do as he will be coming from a long term injury – Eduardo anyone?

Many names have been suggested. From Yoan Gourcuff, Ander Hearrea, Rud Van Der Vaart, Mesut Ozil, M.Bastos J.Navas, David Silva, Mikel Arteta, Joao Moutinho and the likes. Some have even suggested that Wenger should buy Hazard and move Nasri to the middle.

All of these players are good, they are players any one would want to have in their teams. I like Yoann Gourcuff and won’t mind having him in the team but the price as we all know will discourage Wenger from making a bid.

I mean, we have just gotten Chamakh from Bordeaux without paying a dime for him and we want to go back there for Yoann Gourcuff?

I am very sure the price alone is enough to discourage Wenger but there are two players that I think Wenger should consider buying to replace Fabregas.

Both are experienced and will most likely come at a cheap price. These two players are Juve’s Diego and Ac Milan’s Ronaldinho.

Diego has not been in top form since he joined Juve and the fans are already wanting him out which means he may be available for a cheap price.

Will Juve want to Sell?

My thinking is, Juve will soon have to choose betwen Sebastian Giovinco and Diego. Giovinco has stated he wants to leave but Juve will never want him to leave as he is seen as one of their own and base on the form of Diego, they may prefer to stick with Giovinco especially if someone offers to take Diego away from them.

Methink Wenger should be able to sign Diego for anything between 15 to 20 million and that if you ask me is a good price. One other thing that may make him want to join Arsenal is the fact that the Gunners will be playing in the champions league next season but Juve will not.

Considering his age, he will not be around for too long and that means he will not be impairing the chances of Ramsey who is seen as the long term replacement for Fabregas.

Ronaldinho

I want him and won’t mind if Wenger goes for him. He has the experience, he has the skill, his style suits Arsenal and will not be too expensive.

Milan may not want to release him but what can a club do if a player wants to leave?

I sincerely believe he will be tempted to jump ship if Wenger shows interest.

Will any one want to leave AC Milan for Arsenal?

In the past, it will make no sense for any one in their right senses to leave Milan to join Arsenal but not any more.

But we all know that Milan is now a team in decline, they now struggle to get into the champions league spot which is something that may play into Arsenal’s hand.

Another thing is, Milan is a defensive team which doesn’t really suit Ronaldinho considering his style and skills.

His age should also be another factor. He is aging but very experience and should not impair the growth of the young players that Wenger may be expecting to take over from Fabregas.

A bid in the region of 20 million should be enough to get him from Ac Milan.

What do you think?

The List of England’s Seven Possible Fall Out Players

England has the final list of the players who surely will play in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Fabio Capello kept his lips sealed until he is ready to announce the seven fall outs from the team who will be sent home and have to fight another day.

Although, some of the England fans may be disappointed because their favorite players may be one of the seven players who will not be able to play the World Cup, they have to accept it because Fabio Capello will never send them home for no valid reason. The two friendly games against Mexico and Japan would the games that Capello would be basing his judgment in choosing the worthy 23 players to give a shot for England in the World Cup 2010.

Until England’s manager announces the final 23-man World Cup squad, people are left to speculate who are the seven players to be just watching the games from the comfort of their homes. One of the players who recently emerged and boost his reputation is Jamie Carragher who wholeheartedly played his role as right-back and center back during the friendly games. He underlined his caliber being the best and most experienced “utility man” of England.

Without further adieu, here are the seven possible players who may not be able to give their shot at World Cup;

#1. Michael Carrick – obviously, he failed to convince Capello that he is worthy to be on the plane to South Africa during the friendly match against Mexico. As evidence, he was never given a play time during the game against Japan.

#2. Darren Bent – Capello may prefer to pick the more experienced and the well-known battering-ram Emile Heskey who has been tried and tested during the last 20 minutes of their game against Japan. Bent failed the test of Capello.

#3. Adam Johnson – he performed well during their game against Mexico. However, Joe Cole has had an impressive game and played hand in hand with their goalie during their game against Japan. Johnson may be able to miss out this year’s World Cup.

#4. Michael Dawson – this Spurs defender may not be given the opportunity to give his shot at the WC. His defensive partners Jamie Carragher and Ledley King completed the four center-backs he needed.

#5. Matthew Upson – he had two nervy moments with England’s system of play and even though he had been the regular player for England since 2008, his poor performances at West Ham may cost him his seat at World Cup.

#6. Stephen Warnock – he is one of the players who have struggled enough to play for England. However, being at the bench during their game against Japan suggests that he is a player that Capello can live without in the World Cup.

#7. Scott Parker – this West Ham midfielder was given a chance to fill the space left by the injured Gareth Barry, however Capello seemed to try Tom Huddlestone out who did the best he can to force his way to be included in the list of the 23-man squad.

Are the Glazers really all bad?

by Simon Sparrowhawk

I know this could be highly controversial, but are the Glazers really that bad for Manchester United? 

A quick scan through the morning newspapers provides you with any number of different angles and views on the infamous American owners of the world’s biggest football club. United are £700million in debt. They can’t buy anyone. The money has run out. Sponsorship is up. Revenue is up. Turnover is up. Success is up too. It’s a minefield of spin and subjective reporting. If you like them everything is rosy, if you don’t, it’s all gone wrong.

Everyone knows about the ‘Green and Gold’ protest that has taken the Old Trafford faithful by storm lately. But do they all know what they are protesting about? And are those who do protesting with the real facts?

It seems that the Glazer family are able to announce a new sponsorship deal every week, it may seem very small but it all adds up. The new shirt deal with ‘A-on’ is worth £20million a season for five seasons. That is £100million. Not bad for a club being dragged into decline.

Sir Alex Ferguson asked for £40million to spend on Nani and Anderson. He asked for £20million to spend on an injured Owen Hargreaves. He wanted £30million to spend on Dimitar Berbatov. He wanted £35million to bring Karim Benzema to Old Trafford. Did he get it? You bet he did. Ferguson has always got what he asked for at Old Trafford, if he didn’t he would walk. His dignity and power would be brought into question and Sir Alex would never allow that to happen. It’s not his nature.

Just because those “noisy neighbours” are willing to spend over £40million (yes, £40m) on Carlos Tevez, £25m on Emmanuel Adebayor, £26m on Joleon Lescott and another £18m on Roque Santa Cruz does not mean Fergie has to. If the best manager who has ever lived believes he will get better value from free signing Michael Owen then that is his choice. Owen outscored Santa Cruz this season for starters.

Granted, Tevez scored a lot of goals for Manchester City, nobody will argue with that. But, Wayne Rooney scored more. With Tevez in the side, would Rooney have scored nearly 40 goals? I doubt it! I also won’t argue that Dimitar Berbatov has failed to live up to his price tag so far, but if Sir Alex believes in the Bulgarian then I am willing to give him another chance.

Football is like life, money is not everything. Tevez, Adebayor and Toure may have a bigger pay cheque now, but they won’t have Champions League football next season. Money can buy you a lot, but it can’t buy you happiness. Chelsea proved as much. Roman Abramovich came in and spent an outrageous amount for Claudio Ranieri, but Chelsea did not win the league. Only when Jose Mourinho arrived did they become serious challengers. They may have been accused of buying the league, but there was more to it than that.

Now, I’m not going to argue that being over £700m in debt is a good thing for Manchester United Football Club. It’s not possible. However, I am also not going to accept that it is all bad. The Glazers could be better, yes. They could also be worse, Messrs Hicks and Gillett take a bow.

Oh and did I mention that Sir Alex himself called them “great owners” this week? Now I’m not going to call the great man a liar, are you?

The future is now Professor

By Simon Sparrowhawk

Could it be time for Arsene Wenger to scrap his youth policy in favour of a more extravagant approach to the transfer market?

After a another season that threatened to promise much, before eventually petering out into another ‘trophyless’ campaign, in which the same old flaws reared their ugly heads, Arsene Wenger needs to alter his approach. The Gunners boss has earned the respect of everyone in the game for his attempts to win the biggest prizes without spending big money, but his hard work continues to unravel in front of his very eyes.

For much of the 2009/2010 campaign the Gunners remained in the title race, without Robin Van Persie, but when the season reached its climax they were comfortably out of the running. The crushing Champions League quarter-final defeat in Barcelona was a major factor in Arsenal’s season ending without a flourish. They were torn apart by Lionel Messi, ironically a Barcelona youth graduate, but he was not the first. Manchester United and Chelsea outplayed the Gunners at the Emirates last season.

The Barcelona game alone could have had a major impact on Cesc Fabregas’ decision to seek a move away from North London. ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’, you could say. Without Fabregas there would be serious doubts about the Gunners chances of competing for trophies next term. In fact, they could even drop out of the Champions League if Manchester City, and even worse, Spurs continue on their current upward curve.

This summer could mark a major tipping point in Arsenal’s fortunes. If Fabregas leaves and is replaced effectively, while other weaknesses are also addressed, starting with the goalkeeper, the future could be very bright. But, Wenger needs to spend money to make this dream a reality. A new goalkeeper, centre-back, defensive midfielder, Fabregas replacement and striker could cost as much as £100million, but it’s a price worth paying for the success the Emirates fans demand. But will the French manager pay it? It will cost not only money, but also his pride.

Fabregas is leaving because he cannot achieve what he wants with Wenger’s men. Andrey Arshavin hinted upon his arrival, 18 months ago, that more world class players were needed. If Wenger does not invest now, who will be next to jump ship? Van Persie? Arshavin? Theo Walcott?

There can be no doubt that Manchester City and Tottenham are huge threats to Arsenal’s position in the top four of English football. Liverpool’s comprehensive demotion by Spurs, City and Aston Villa could open the floodgates. Could the Gunners be next to fall?

The time is now for Arsene Wenger to dust off his chequebook and rebuild the shattered spine of his side. Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Yaya Toure, Mikel Arteta and Karim Benzema could all be available for hire this summer, and the Arsenal side would take on a far more menacing look with them in the side.

Thanks for conducting your experiment Professor Wenger, but sadly, it has failed to deliver results. Consequently it is time for a change, it is time to spend or time to ship out.

Long Term Arsenal Target Now Available For The Gunners

Italian Newspaper Tuttosport is reporting that long term Arsenal target, Juve’s starlet Sebastian Giovinco is frustrated about constantly sitting on the bench at Juve and wants out as soon as possible.

The player was quoted to have said “If the club do not want me, what would I be staying here for?

“After two seasons I won’t be spending another year languishing on the bench, it wouldn’t make any sense.

“I don’t even think I deserve the bench. Better yet, I’m sure of it.

“I want to play consistently, that’s the only thing I’m demanding.”

“Would it mean I have failed if I quit Juve? Not at all,” he said.

“If anything, it would be a failure for the club, who have not believed in me. In the long run I think I will prove them wrong. I am more than convinced they will regret it…”

The player who came through the Juve youth team was reportedly being tracked by Arsenal manager Arsenal Wenger ( yes, Arsenal Wenger not Arsene Wenger ) but a deal never came though but with the player now frustrated and ready to move on, won’t this be Wenger’s opportunity to pick him up at a cheap price?

What do you think?

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How should we replace Fabregas and stay positive?

HI, this is my first post on Soccerfanbase.com/blog. I look forward to posting here more and more as time goes on. You can subscribe to the feeds if you want to read more from me in the future, hope you enjoy!

by Timba Bimont

As I am writing this I am almost admitting defeat. It feels like I am 10 years old and I was just handed a beating of my life by the schoolyard bully on the playground. Every day this fat, smelly and disgusting piece of s*** just walks over to me and punches me in the face. And all I can do is walk the other way and hope he doesn’t come back. Who is this bully? The answer is, FC Barcelona. It is almost like we as Arsenal fans have come to accept that almost every day this “club” taps-up one of our players. I HATE Barcelona, I HATE their presidential election, I HATE their players and I HATE their disgusting song that they play at the end of their games. I understand that the Cesc story is different, at the end of the day he wants to return home and be close to his family, so again we have to accept it.

The question for us now is, How do we replace him? We have seen what not properly replacing a player has left us in the cases of Vieira, Henry etc. The answer is another trophy less season and more frustration from our fans, which at this point we do not need. It would not be fair to promote from within this time, the only player I see could play the Cesc role is Ramsey. But only god knows how he will come back from his injury, and letting Nasri run the ship until then is unfair. Don’t get me wrong Nasri is a great player, but nowhere near Cesc in my opinion and I suppose most Gooners would agree with me on that. So how do we replace the best midfielder in the Premier League? Do we spend the money on a couple of players and make them share the work load, or do we buy a like for like player that will come in an contribute right away? I am more for buying a pure play-maker that can spray balls around and ship in with goals. I’m not sure we will get the amount that Cesc gave us, but we can always hope. However, we should try to check more boxes this time. If we can’t get the player we need or in Barca terms, the player that has the same DNA as Cesc (I hate myself for saying that) then we should try to correct a few more aspects of our game along the way. And what do I mean by that? LET’S GAIN SOME HEIGHT!!

We all know that we concede far to many goals in the air, and also that we are to small. By adding some height to our team without loosing skill, should be something to think about. There are not alot of playmakers that are good in the air, and that is not what I am trying to imply. But for anyone that has ever played football you know that while going up for a corner you would prefer a smaller player defending you, a taller guy causes more of a problem which in the end makes it harder to go up against while the ball is in the air. Guys don’t read into this to hard now and take everything word by word, but you understand where I am going with this. And for me the player I want to see replace Cesc is Yoann Gourcuff. You can say what you want about him, but in my opinion he is a good option. Full international, experience, good vision and seems to be a good lad. What do you guys think? am I far off on this one?

Stay Positive!

What in gods name is wrong with you? every blog I read, all I see is negative comments and posts. Our own fans are blasting our players and trash-talking the organization, management and even the the physio. Are you guys serious.. The physio? Do you guys really think that the physio have anything to do with the injuries we have? Is he somehow related to Chiellini and Shawcross. Chamakh has not even had time to find a home in London, and you guys are already saying that he is not good enough. We are being linked with Hangeland and all you have to say is that he is a clumsy footballer. Just a tall piece of wood with no skill blablabla. At the same time you are reminiscing on the good old days when we had Adams, Keown and Bould. I didn’t know that those three where known for their flair and great vision. All we are asking for this year, not only me but all Arsenal fans is good proper support. Let’s get behind the lads and stop worrying about what is going on in the boardroom. Let’s wear our red and white and sing for the guys and make them feel loved and comfortable.

By the way, next time that bully comes around, let’s punch him square in the face!

Comments are welcome

Can Arsenal replace Fabregas?

by Simon Sparrowhawk

Cesc Fabregas’ move to Barcelona is edging closer and closer by the day and Arsenal need to find his replacement sooner rather than later.

The Gunners are expected to receive around £40million for their talismanic skipper and a large portion of that will have to be spent on a direct replacement.

Samir Nasri impressed, on occasion, filling in for Fabregas at the tail end of last season but cannot play regularly as part of a two man partnership, while the unfortunate Aaron Ramsey is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a horrific broken leg.

There have been countless names thrown about in the press regarding who Wenger should set his sights on, but who would be the ideal candidate?

Mikel Arteta: Everton’s creative mastermind is attracting admiring glances from many of the country’s leading managers. Rumours have surfaced about prospective bids from Manchester City, Manchester United and the Gunners, even Chelsea have been namechecked. The Spaniard would cost in the region of £20million, a small price to pay for a man of Arteta’s talents. However, could Wenger net the former Barcelona and Rangers midfielder? With City and United both in the race, the Gunners are an outside bet.

David Silva: No surprise that another Spanish magician is in the running, the World Cup favourites are spoilt for choice in that area. Valencia midfielder Silva has been close to leaving the Mestalla for as long as I can remember, due to the club’s huge financial problems. Silva has everything Wenger looks for in a player. He is short, quick and brimming with technical ability. However, that could be the problem. Silva plays a more advanced role with Valencia and would be a more suitable replacement for Andrey Arshavin or Samir Nasri. At £25million, he could be an expensive risk.

James Milner: Aston Villa midfield man Milner is wanted by almost everyone in the upper reaches of the Premier League. Man City, Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been mentioned but it is Wenger who needs him most. Milner is an all action operator and although his technical ability does not match that of Arteta or Silva he is stronger in other areas. Milner is not afraid to put his foot in or chase down lost causes and if Wenger can convince him to swap Villa Park for the Emirates it would be an astute capture.

Joao Moutinho: Sporting Lisbon’s star man has been on every club in Europe’s radar for what seems like an eternity. Moutinho was highly thought of before Cristiano Ronaldo or Nani had emerged from the Lisbon Academy but he remains in the Portuguese captital. It is surely only a matter of time before somebody takes the plunge and snaps him up. Moutinho plays in a similar style to Deco but with a more aggressive edge to his game and, although Lisbon would want a sizeable sum to part with their star asset, he would be the cheapest option so far.

Bastian Schweinsteiger: The Bayern Munich academy graduate has been linked with Chelsea and Liverpool but both have other priorities this summer. Arsenal could steal in under the radar and grab the German international from under their noses. Schweinsteiger would cost in the region of £15million and, similar to Milner, would give the Gunners midfield a more combative edge. He provides a goal threat from the middle of the park but tracks back too. A potential World Cup star, Schweinsteiger’s stock will only rise in South Africa 

The news of Fabregas’ impending departure will have devastated the Emirates faithful but if they replace him properly then it could be a real turning point for the Gunners.

Arsene Wenger has a huge decision to make, for the sake of the Gunners, he must make the correct one.

Fernando Torres: will he or won’t he?

by Simon Sparrowhawk

Fernando Torres goes into next month’s World Cup with his head spinning after a torrid season at Liverpool. Rumour has it he wants away from Anfield this summer, but where will he end up?

Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona are all known to be admirers of El Nino but more will try their luck if the Spaniard becomes available.

Liverpool will be in a strong position should their star man follow Cesc Fabregas’ path and request a move. Rafa Benitez will be able to start a bidding war. So, let’s assess the major contenders for his signature.

Chelsea: The Blues are allegedly at the front of the queue for Torres and they could certainly compete should a likely bidding war ensue. Backed by Roman Abramovich’s billions Carlo Ancelotti would fancy his chances of netting arguably the world’s finest striker. But, do Chelsea need him? They do have Didier Drogba after all. Drogba won the Golden Boot this season and Torres is highly susceptible to injury. He could cost upwards of £70million, surely Chelsea would be better served refreshing their team in other areas.

Manchester City: Torres is widely speculated to be Roberto Mancini’s number one target. Wages? Whatever Torres wants. Fee? Whatever Liverpool want. Money is not a problem for City, but they have one big problem and it’s called the Champions League. The primary reason for Torres leaving Anfield would be the lure of Champions League football, something the Eastlands outfit cannot offer. The former Atletico Madrid captain is motivated by success, not his bank balance, so a move to City does not make sense.

Barcelona: The prospect is mouthwatering. Lionel Messi, David Villa and Fernando Torres as a three-pronged forward line would be unstoppable. With Xavi, Andres Iniesta and, in all likelihood, Fabregas the supply line would be constant and deadly. But, can Barcelona afford him? And, do they even need him? They have Zlatan Ibrahimovic too and he wants to prove himself at the Camp Nou. Having already spent £40million on Villa and £60million last year on Ibrahimovic, can they justify £70million on Torres. Pep Guardiola knows what he is doing and Torres, Messi and Villa seems too good to be true…it probably is.

Real Madrid: It is no secret that Torres has said he will never play in the white of Real. He is Atletico born and bred, he was their youngest ever captain and is still a legend at the Vicente Calderon. Torres would not sacrifice his reputation, standing and legacy with the Atletico faithful to join Jose Mourinho (as seems almost guaranteed now) at the Santiago Bernabeu. I’m sorry Madridistas this will simply not happen.

Inter Milan: Italian football is back! Inter Milan and Jose Mourinho claimed the Champions League in Madrid this week, so Serie A can consider itself back in the big time. Internazionale are rich enough to stay in the race for Torres but will they be as successful next season? Mourinho is on his way to Spain and Inter cannot guarantee that the new boss will be able to keep them in the hunt for the biggest prizes. Torres wants trophies and, with Mourinho, Inter would stand a great chance. Without the Portuguese, I can’t see Torres moving to Italy.

Manchester United: Contrary to popular belief, the Red Devils could afford Torres’ potentially massive transfer fee. But, and it’s a very sizeable but, Fernando Torres plays for Liverpool. He is not a mercenary, he has morals and he loves the Liverpool fans. He will never move to the other end of the East Lancs Road. Torres to United is a complete non-starter.

So, the big question, where will Fernando Torres start next season? I know where I would be putting my money. Liverpool. He will not go to Real or United. City are not in the Champions League and Inter are about to lose Jose Mourinho. The only real possibilities are Chelsea and Barcelona. However, neither of them need to spend £70million on him.

Whether he likes it or not…El Nino is stuck at Anfield.

The Main Reasons Why Arsenal Failed This Past Season Are :

Another EPL season wrapped up this past weekend and Arsenal are once again wallowing in the pain of not having a trophy. It’s been five years since Arsène Wenger led the squad to a trophy, a 2005 FA Cup penalty shootout win versus Manchester United. Certainly, Wenger must feel it has been longer than that. So what happened this year? If you are a Gunner fan, you can cite any of the following reasons:

1). The Injuries

The list goes on and on. Van Persie out for months really gave Nicklas Bendter the chance to shine as a physical forward, but he was not as dominant as the injured Dutchman. The Fabregas leg fracture means Nasri acted as the playmaker of the team. He just wasn’t ready, despite showing some flashes of brilliance. Thomas Vermaelen and Gallas looked to be coming into a terrific partnership until injuries got the better of them. Sol Campbell was just a shell of his elite self when he came into the squad as insurance for Wenger. Arshavin’s calf strain also made Arsenal’s attack limp along, with the likes of Vela, Walcott, and Bendtner to do most of the attacking at the end of the campaign. And don’t forget Aaron Ramsey’s horrific leg break against Stoke City in February. Overall, the Gunners lost key pieces of a team
that could have been a trophy winner.

2). No Physical Presence in the Midfield.

For longer than I can remember now, Arsenal has prided themselves on playing football the “right way”, and I’ll admit, it looks pretty. But once they lose the ball, very few Gunners have the physical skill set to win the ball back from the opposition. Sure, Fabregas is integral to the functioning of the team, but he’s not exactly the biggest man. Having fast outside wingers like Walcott and Arshavin is also nice, but they get knocked over by a slight breeze. Song is a beast, but he needs to stay in the entire campaign.

Diaby can be physical but he’s so inconsistent, he’s just a liability for the team. The time has come for Wenger to shake things up a bit and potentially adopt a modified version of the “beautiful football” he wants to play so much. Adding a player of the caliber of Michael Essien or Yaya Touré could provide a bit of muscle to the line-up.

3). Lack of an Elite Goalkeeper

Manuel Alumnia can no longer be Wenger’s first choice goalie. His inconsistency was maddening this season. One second, he’d make a world class save, the next, he would miss a stinker shot or make a poor decision. Ideally, French International Hugo Lloris would be a terrific transfer (Wenger loves the Frenchmen on his team), however, England internationals Joe Hart or Robert Green would be good choices, too. Wenger needs to take advantage of a market with great goalkeeping talent.

Wenger is reportedly looking to shake things up this summer and honestly, I think it’s long overdue. Reports say he already is looking into buying a defender and a goalie. Adding an experienced physical presence in the midfield (instead of another talented, young, and speedy midfielder) should also help his side next year. Maybe the drought ends next year? Hopefully, the summer will invigorate the squad.

By Chris Behrens. Chris works at SoccerPro.com where he is forced to stare at Brazil World Cup jerseys and other World Cup jerseys all day long.