The European Through Ball Vol. 4

On this edition, some reflections on an entertaining day of football in Europe. Everton put in a thorough performance at St. Mary's, Spurs do what Spurs usually do, Stephen Ireland turns back the clock, Thomas Tuchel has a dream start in the battle of the Borussia's and Lyon get a lucky break to beat Guingamp.

Southampton 0 Everton 3

• An excellent display by the Toffees was underpinned by a couple of factors. Ross Barkley was excellent running with the ball in dangerous areas, threading accurate passes through to the forwards and topping it off with a composed finish for Everton's third goal. More importantly for the Blues, it's been a while since Romelu Lukaku has looked at his best. Roberto Martinez must realize that using Lukaku out wide might be effective as a surprise tactic every now and then, but ultimately the Belgian is in the team to deliver goals. With Lukaku playing in the centre, all he had to focus on was finishing, which is what he did with two different goals. The first, a good sideways header to finish Arouna Kone's excellent cross and the second, a confident left-footed strike after a good through ball by Ross Barkley. Not many forwards are going to score a brace away to Southampton and if Lukaku can replicate this level of performance consistently, Everton may still finish in the top seven.
• Arouna Kone has had a frustrating time since joining Everton two years ago. Now free of his injury troubles and a full pre-season behind him, the Ivorian might just have a crucial role to play in the Toffees season. Having scored on the opening day of the season after coming off the bench, Kone put in another impressive performance. He dovetailed effectively with Lukaku and managed to find good spaces to run into, always providing a good outlet for Everton's midfielders. Kone may not get the headlines, but his unheralded work-rate could prove to be effective if Everton are to win more games against the better teams. 
• As good as Everton were, Southampton were poor on many different counts. The fact that Saints have already conceded five goals in two games is a worry. It's clear to see that being partnered next to Maya Yoshida in stead of Toby Alderweireld has had a negative impact on Jose Fonte. Southampton are now back to the original pairing of centre-backs they had when they first got promoted back to the Premier League. The partnership wasn't good enough then and it isn't now. Saints fans will hope that the signing of Virgil Van Dijk from Celtic is completed sooner rather than later or it could be hard to replicate last season's success let alone build on it. Meanwhile, the play up front was also pedestrian for the most part. Though Saints had more possession than Everton they were unable to do anything meaningful with the ball, relying excessively on right-back Cedric and Dusan Tadic to cross the ball into the box. Jordy Clasie was signed as Morgan Schneiderlin's replacement and the hope must be that once the Dutch international returns from injury, Southampton will revert to a more composed style of play rather than the harum-scarum style witnessed during the home opener at St. Mary's.

Tottenham 2 Stoke 2

• In keeping with the game, let's start with Tottenham's positives. The interplay between Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli was excellent. The trio created chances for each other with some fantastic passes and the only pity was that Spurs didn't score more when they were in the ascendancy. Furthermore, the trio pressed from the front once again, ensuring Spurs more of the ball in dangerous areas. It must be comforting for new signing Clinton Njie that he will have the opportunity to settle into an attack that is already creating chances. With the talented Cameroonian now in his ranks, at least Mauricio Pochettino has a failsafe if he feels the need to change one of his front three, rather than the complete unravelling that took place against Stoke after the substitution of Kane.
• It feels like eons ago when Stephen Ireland was actually the most creative midfielder at Manchester City. Today's performance coming off the bench was a reminder of the talent that Ireland possesses. Ireland's passing changed the complexion of the match completely. Passing with 95% accuracy, Ireland enabled Stoke to completely bypass Tottenham's midfield. He created a couple of great chances culminating in the assist for the equalizer and could have possibly headed in a winning goal as well. It's hard to believe that Ireland is still only 28. If Mark Hughes can coax such performances more regularly, Ireland could well be a better choice than Charlie Adam in midfield as his pass and move style is best suited to a continental style that the manager is trying to implement at Stoke.
• While Ireland and Stoke walk away with the plaudits, it must concern Pochettino that his side were so easily overturned in the last half an hour of a match at home. White Hart Lane has to be a banker for Spurs if they want to improve on last season, but it's hard to see Spurs succeeding with the options they currently have in central midfield. Eric Dier, Ryan Mason and Nabil Bentaleb may all turn out to be mainstays in the club's future, but dominating central midfielders they are not. Playing one of the trio is not unreasonable, but Spurs are in serious need of a top-notch orchestrator to take make them more solid in the centre of the park. As things stand, neither is the Spurs midfield acting as a base for attack nor as a shield for the defence.

Borussia Dortmund 4 Borussia Monchengladbach 0

• In a league that is guaranteed to be won by Bayern Munich, the greatest curiosity around the opening week of the season was centred on how Thomas Tuchel's reign at the Signal Iduna Park would start. Would Tuchel be able to inspire Borussia Dortmund after the iconic reign of Jurgen Klopp? On first impressions, the answer is a resounding yes. While the pressing was reminiscent of Klopp's team at their best, the passing was more accurate and the control of the game seemed less frantic. Every single player performed exceptionally. Marco Reus led from the front, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won almost every sprint, Henrik Mkhitaryan picked up great positions, Ilkay Gundogan looked like he is finally over his injury troubles and the 19-year old Julian Weigl was so calm while distributing the ball from the base of midfield. Tougher challenges await Tuchel, but a positive start after the nightmares of last season was crucial. The new manager can be pleased with the performance of his stars.
• After this performance it would be hard to believe that Borussia Monchengladbach finished third last season and are looking forward to the group stages of the Champions League. Lucien Favre's men, usually so organized and hard to break down, were overrun from the first minute to the final whistle. The experienced Swiss manager will certainly convince his players that this was a one-off and not every team in the Bundesliga will match the firepower of Dortmund. The bigger challenge that Favre faces is how to build on last season's achievements.  The Foals are going to need more than just discipline and organization to compete on two fronts. Realistically Gladbach are not competing for trophies, but the aim has to be a consistent top four place along with incremental success in Europe. To ensure that takes place, the club have to add some stardust to the squad.
• It would be natural for fans of Dortmund to take this season one step at a time. Yet, if the club is honest with itself, an immediate return to the Champions League spots has to be the aim. In addition to the stars in the starting eleven today, Dortmund had Sven Bender, Gonzalo Castro, Adrian Ramos and Kevin Kampl on the bench, while Nuri Sahin and Neven Subotic are a few weeks away from full fitness. It doesn't have the depth of Bayern Munich, but Dortmund's squad is easily good enough to come second in the league while going on a deep run in the Europa League. An exciting season at the Signal Iduna awaits.

Guingamp 0 Lyon 1

• Lyon welcomed back Maxime Gonalons in the centre of midfield after his suspension. However, it was another welcome that grabbed the headlines. Mathieu Valbuena has returned to France by joining the runners-up. The experienced attacking midfielder is a great addition to the squad and his experience and skill will come in handy as Lyon compete on two fronts. Valbuena looked at home just behind Alexandre Lacazette and once he is more settled we can expect plenty of thrills from this exciting attack.
• Guingamp were excellent, playing with the spirit and verve that has become the hallmark of this exciting team. Regardless of the calibre of their opponents, Jocelyn Gourvennec's men always like to play on the front foot. They posed Lyon plenty of problems and were unfortunate to not get at least a point. Nicolas Benezet troubled both Jeremy Morel and Rafael on the flanks and sent in several teasing balls that troubled Samuel Umtiti and Milan Bisevac. What Gourvennec wouldn't have given for last season's top scorer Claudio Beauvue to be on the end of those crosses? In a cruel twist of fate it was Beauvue who ended up scoring the winner for Lyon against his former club. It's tempting to be downbeat about Guingamp's chances this season, but this club have a habit of fighting against the odds. Expect another season of survival for the Northwestern team.
• Lyon's young attacking talents had another frustrating afternoon. While Messrs Fekir, Lacazette, Ferri and Tolisso get up to speed, Lyon have been saved from defeat by the excellence of their centre-backs and goalkeeper. Umtiti put in another solid performance and with the addition of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Lyon could conceivably have a long-term partnership between two French international centre-backs. However, the star in this match was Anthony Lopes. The 24-year old goalkeeper was excellent with some close-range blocks, topping it off with a superb save in stoppage time to ensure Lyon left with the three points. Lopes is the kind of solid goalkeeper who will probably will win Lyon many more points this season when the forwards draw a blank. The battle for the No.1 spot in France's Euro 2016 squad could shape up to be very interesting between Lopes and Hugo Lloris.

The European Through Ball Vol. 3

In today's edition of the European Through Ball, United win again without breaking into third gear, Bayern start the Bundesliga in typically dominant fashion and Monaco have a lucky escape against Lille.

Aston Villa 0 Manchester United 1

• Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj were the two most technical players on the pitch. They posses the innate ability to do something extra with the ball at their feet, marrying it with a lightness of touch and vision that brings finesse to their team's play. The only moment of true inspiration in the game came when the two combined for United's winning goal. With the Red Devils creating options to overlap on the left wing, Mata picked Januzaj in the box with an exquisite pass that flummoxed the home defence. The young Belgian then sidestepped Micah Richards with a clever turn before finishing via a deflection. It wasn't synonymous with the rest of the game, but it was a winning moment worthy of a bigger match.
• There is a sense amongst the British press that despite his tactical deficiencies Tim Sherwood will at least make Aston Villa fun to watch after the mundane reign of Paul Lambert. On the evidence of their first two matches though it seems we won't see much different from the Villains. For someone who advocated entertaining football in his stints as a pundit, Sherwood didn't seem to have any ideas to breach United's defence. The only player who caused any moments of anxiety for the visiting defence was left-back Jordan Amavi, when he galloped forward to create some attacking forays down the left. The centre of the park had wilful running and endeavour but little in the sense of penetration or possession. With time running out, Villa resorted to lumping the ball into the box to utilize Rudy Gestede's aerial prowess. This hit-and-hope philosophy clearly posed no challenges to Chris Smalling and Danny Blind. Sherwood might say a variety of things to curry favour with the press, but for neutrals and fans alike it seems Villa Park will once again be home to perspiration rather than inspiration.
• So how did United's new signings do in their second game? Memphis Depay looked like he was slowly developing an understanding with Luke Shaw down the left, but didn't do much otherwise. He could have opened his account for United but missed a good chance after Mata found him with a through ball. Morgan Schneiderlin wasn't exceptional but seems to be adjusting to the rhythm of his new teammates, while Bastian Schweinsteiger was more at ease in the centre of the park compared to the outing against Spurs. Matteo Darmian and Sergio Romero were once again solid without the need for anything spectacular against Villa's average attack. Sterner tests lie ahead before we can start making some concrete judgements on Van Gaal's new buys.

Bayern Munich 5 Hamburg 0

• That Bayern Munich opened their defence of the Bundesliga with a comprehensive win at home is hardly a surprise. That Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller would create and score was hardly a surprise. So the only intrigue about Bayern's season opener was how new signings Arturo Vidal and Douglas Costa would fit into Pep Guardiola's tactical scheme. The Chilean was his usual energetic self providing an extra option in the box when Bayern had the ball while relentlessly pressing and tackling without it. It was Costa who caught the eye though. Comfortable on either wing, the Brazilian consistently beat his marker with pace and trickery. His comprehensive attacking display was highlighted by a beautiful curling cross with the outside of his left foot to assist Muller as well as a nice curling finish to get a goal of his own. Costa will have tougher assignments, but it seems Bayern finally have a decent backup option in case Ribery or Robben get injured when it comes to crunch time in the season.
• Meanwhile Hamburg look like they are in for another season of strife. Surviving by the skin of their teeth last time around, Bruno Labbadia faces a tough task even if he just wants to have a slightly better season. Albin Ekdal will bring some goals from midfield and the Swede might well have more of an impact against other teams in the Bundesliga. Ideally a fully match-fit Marcelo Diaz along with Ekdal should at least ensure Labbadia gets some much-needed tenacity in the middle of the park. However, the signing of Emir Spahic to partner the erratic Johan Djourou at the back doesn't bode well, nor is the arrival of Sven Schipplock the most ideal solution to the goalscoring problems the team faced last season. It seems like staying in the league is the only realistic ambition for this proud club.

Monaco 0 Lille 0

• Leonardo Jardim might well be right to prioritize next week's crucial Champions League playoff against Valencia. After all, it's the club's only shot of getting to the group stages of Europe's premier competition whereas the league provides plenty of opportunities to catch up. However, it was still a strange decision to start neither Stephan El Shaarawy nor Anthony Martial in the home opener after both played well in the victory at Nice. In stead the unproven Guido Carillo started, depriving Monaco of a genuine attacking threat in the box. As well as the Portuguese trio of Joao Moutinho, Bernando Silva and Ivan Cavaleiro played in midfield, they just weren't able to trouble the brilliant Vincent Enyeama in Lille's goal. By the time Martial and El Shaarawy came on, Monaco simply didn't have any rhythm to trouble Lille's defence. Tipped by many to be PSG's closest challengers this season, Jardim can't afford such selection errors too many times if Monaco are to repeat the successes of last year's campaigns in Ligue 1 and Europe.
• You won't get a tougher start to the season than playing the champions at home and then the third place team away in your first two league fixtures. That has been Lille's lot this campaign, but the Northerners can be happy with the performances if not the points. Herve Renard's men were unfortunate to lose against PSG in the season opener and had their fair share of chances to win comfortably against Monaco. Goalscoring is clearly going to be a problem that Renard will have to grapple with for most of the season, but the dual Cup of Nations winner has at least got Lille playing with verve and intensity that was missing for the majority of last season. Lille should have a comfortable season in mid-table, but if Renard can inspire his men to perform consistently, a Europa League spot may not be out of the equation.

The European Through Ball Vol. 2

In today's edition of the European Through Ball, thoughts on Arsenal's poor loss at home to West Ham, Liverpool's stuttering win at the Britannia, Lyon's young guns draw a blank and City start their season well.

Arsenal 0 West Ham 2

• In the build up to the start of the league season, Arsene Wenger talked about how Arsenal don't necessarily need a striker, rather emphasizing the need for the team to contribute more goals from midfield. It could well be that this was a ploy for Wenger to reduce the price of a target he has in mind (Karim Benzema seems to be everyone's guess). However, if Wenger genuinely believes he doesn't need a forward to launch a title challenge, then the evidence of this match should give him food for thought. Olivier Giroud's statistics of 41 goals in 97 matches make him seem like a decent striker. However, this is slightly misleading. Arsenal are such a creative side in midfield that 25 goals a season should be the bare minimum for a striker in this team. Giroud gives the impression of being accomplished due to his penchant for flicks and tricks when linking with midfielders but in reality his poor finishing is a big handicap for the Gunners. His inconsistency and lack of composure in front of goal was on display against West Ham when he missed some presentable chances. It's also noticeable that Giroud has very rarely scored and contributed against the toughest teams. If Arsenal do somehow win the league again, it won't be with Giroud as the starting striker in the team.
• Next up, a signing that Arsenal actually have made. Petr Cech's signing was deemed a masterstroke by most experts. The former Chelsea stalwart is an upgrade over David Ospina and Wojciech Szczesny, though those of a short-term persuasion might disagree after his first official outing. Cech didn't cover himself in glory with either goal. However, I still think Cech will good come for Arsenal. Those who have watched Cech for the past four years will know that he is no longer amongst the very best. The simple truth is that if he was, Jose Mourinho would not bench him in favour of Thibaut Courtois. Where Cech still excels is in his ability to make the crucial save in pressure situations and making himself big in one-on-one situations. In a game where the stakes are high, Cech should be able to help Arsenal overcome their mental fragility. Cech himself admitted his mistakes and its possible there may be a few more before the end of the season. However, over the course of 38 games, there is every chance Cech will have won more points for Arsenal to make up for his errors.

• Slaven Bilic couldn't have asked for a better debut as a Premier League manager. The Croat had his team organized superbly, with 16-year old Reece Oxford winning many plaudits for his composure. Belying his tender years, Oxford was excellent in protecting his back four. However, this observer was most impressed and excited by what Dimitri Payet bought to the West Ham team. The Frenchman was a constant menace with his pace and trickery, which crucially was also allied with excellent control. Payet's skill set gives West Ham another dimension, and on song he is the kind of player that will enable the Hammers to cause more upsets against the bigger sides. Another fascinating addition to the Premier League.

• While West Ham deservedly get the plaudits, Arsene Wenger has to take the brunt of the blame for this loss. Opening a season at home against a team that hasn't beaten you in the last seven meetings should provide the ideal platform to start the campaign. It must be infuriating for Arsenal fans to approach the season with so much optimism and then witness a performance like this. The sad reality is that this kind of result has come to typify Arsenal under Arsene Wenger. Give Arsenal the same fixture in February when they are out of a title race and they will purr their way to a convincing win. However, when there is expectation and hope, no club drops sloppy points like Arsenal. The inability to sustain focus is ultimately the biggest reason why Arsenal's name is unlikely to be on the Premier Leage trophy regardless of whether they get Karim Benzema.

Stoke 0 Liverpool 1

• Two successive summers featuring more than five new signings would leave even the best managers confused. Brendan Rodgers isn't one of the best so it's no surprise that there is no clear tactical identity in this Liverpool team. Rodgers has run the whole gamut in his time with the Reds. In his first season, it was possession at all costs. Season 2 saw relentless pressing from the front and fast counterattacks in a kamikaze style that almost won the league. Last season was a return to a more prosaic style in order to limit the damage of a porous defence. You get the impression that this season even Rodgers himself is unclear on how he wants the team to play. The popular opinion seems to suggest that if Christian Benteke is to succeed, Liverpool are going to have to develop into a crossing team. Let's indulge this theory with the personnel available. Philippe Coutinho is not going to hug the touchline and cross balls into the box. Considering the money spent on Roberto Firmino, it's likely that he will play in the first team. Is he a regular crosser? No. Neither is Adam Lallana, provided he keeps up the 60-minute outings that have been synonymous with his Liverpool career. Liverpool's two best crossers are James Milner and Jordan Henderson. Which would be fine, except for the fact that both are playing in the centre of the park. So despite what the punditocracy is saying, Rodgers must believe that Benteke is going to be adept at interchanging quick passes with his midfielders in the box. The challenge now becomes how do you maintain defensive solidity as neither Henderson nor Milner are traditionally deep midfielders. Its become pretty clear that Rodgers has no time for Lucas Leiva. It seems the best solution would be for Rodgers to get Emre Can to play alongside Milner and Henderson in a 4-3-2-1 rather than deploying three attackers behind Benteke. Which only leaves the conundrum of fitting Daniel Sturridge when he returns to full fitness? All this only further serves to highlight how poorly thought out Liverpool's transfer strategy has been for so long. Short term solutions have been sought at considerable expense which ironically have cost Liverpool a lot more in the long term.

• Stoke would be right to consider the result harsh. Mark Hughes' men played well for the most part, even if they were lacking true moments of inspiration. Their defence was barely troubled and the midfield had some decent spells of possession. It's clear to see that Mark Hughes is building a team that will take the attack to most opponents. The sight of Ibrahim Afellay running the channels must have been a surreal sight for most Stoke fans let alone neutrals. To think they are now on the cusp of finally signing Xherdan Shaqiri is remarkable. Afellay, Bojan and Shaqiri. Who would ever have imagined the three of them together at the Britannia?! Exciting times in the Potteries.

Lyon 0 Lorient 0

• The problem with unexpected title challenges is following up in the next campaign. This is the question that faces Hubert Fournier and his exciting young team at Lyon. Stutter this time around and everyone says last season was a fluke. Finish in the top 3 again and the "developing a team for the future" argument holds some water. The problem with young teams coming close without winning is that they don't have the experience and maturity to brush off such seasons from their memory. Lyon approached their first game of the season as they were already feeling the pressure of chasing PSG. A lot of their play was at break-neck pace, when a little more patience and calmness with the ball would have resulted in a routine victory. This is a team that is definitely going to thrill the neutrals, but they still have a lot of learning to do in order to sustain a serious title challenge and a good run in the Champions League.

• The excitement around Lyon's team is based around the attacking talents of Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fakir. While Lacazette didn't really have his finest game, Fakir was Lyon's most creative threat throughout the game, making chances with cute passes and easily beating defenders on the run. However, the best youngster on display was centre-back Samuel Umtiti. Calm with his distribution and at ease physically, the centre-back made one of the best clearances of the nascent season to keep out Raphael Guerreiro's goal bound effort with keeper Anthony Lopes stranded. Compared to the rest of Europe, France seems to have the best crop of young centre-backs, and Umtiti is surely one of those in the running for a starting spot for the home team at Euro 2016.

• Another youngster who is bound to be seen at Euro 2016 is Portugues left-back Raphael Guerreiro. Blessed with pace and technical ability to boot, it's hard to see Guerrero remaining a left-back for his whole career. Despite his position, he is clearly Lorient's most potent attacking threat now that Jordan Ayew has left for Aston Villa. Lorient will have to do everything in their power to ward off interest before selling him in the summer because Guerreiro is their best bet against relegation.

West Brom 0 Manchester City 3

• Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero and the newly arrived Raheem Sterling may get all the headlines. However, what's often overlooked is that if David Silva has a good game it usually means Manchester City win. The left-footed Spaniard put on one of his magical displays running the Blues season opener with guile, deftness of touch and audacious ball control. He formed a great understanding with Sterling, his smart passes always finding the youngster in space to run at defenders. With Silva on song, the rest of City's stars will have chances galore regardless of how well-organized the opposing defence may be. Manuel Pellegrini has to ensure this happens often enough. An involved Silva, a fit Aguero and a motivated Yaya Toure would make for an irresistible City irrespective of the exciting new signings.

• Tony Pulis has deservedly won admirers for his work in saving a few different teams from relegation. However, one has to question such a defensive and negative approach on the very first day of the season. Of course, nobody expects the Baggies to go toe-to-toe with City. Yet, having ten men behind the ball from the very first minute in your home opener is a depressing sight. Pulis should have had it in him to keep the team defensively compact while having attacking outlets to expose City's defensive frailties. In stead, it seemed the only plan was to prevent City scoring at all costs and pray for a lucky break on the counter. In a league where greater financial resources are resulting in some exciting players arriving at mid-table clubs, Pulis' style of play and modus operandi will quickly alienate the neutrals.

The European Through Ball Vol. 1

This entry starts a new feature on the blog. "The European Through Ball" will be my reflections on the matches I watch across the continent. In the first edition, some thoughts on Manchester United's scrappy win over Tottenham, Everton and Chelsea drawing at home to start the season in entertaining fashion, a Derby de la Côte d'Azur that had everything and new season, same old Marseille.

Manchester United 1 Tottenham 0

• When United signed Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin in the summer many hailed it as the long overdue reconstruction of their central midfield. With the German national captain still not completely match fit, it was Scheiderlin who was first on the hot seat alongside Michael Carrick. In theory, it's a pairing that should enable United to hold on to possession and dictate the flow of the game. In actuality it was anything but, as the duo were consistently hustled off the ball by Spurs effective pressing. If anything, the Red Devils ceded even more control when Schweinsteiger came on for Carrick, with his only contribution being a rash foul that resulted in a yellow card. Until everyone is up to speed, it might just be wise for Louis Van Gaal to build his midfield around Ander Herrera. The Spaniard's fluidity will at least provide better options when linking with the front three.

• Meanwhile Spurs started with a midfield pivot of Nabil Bentaleb and Eric Dier. Playing Dier as a defensive midfielder may have been a corrective measure by Mauricio Pochettino. The Englishman was often beaten for pace when playing in the back four last season. Dier was tidy without being spectacular, but Bentaleb was disappointing. The Algerian rarely provided the right balls for Spurs attacking quartet and it was his woeful pass that led to United breaking away for the winning goal. Pochettino will likely provide the duo with more chances, but the feeling remains that Spurs could do with a central midfielder of a higher level than Bentaleb.

• Both teams have problems to sort out as far as firepower is concerned. Wayne Rooney barely touched the ball at Old Trafford but he was hardly at fault. There wasn't much in terms of creativity behind him. Juan Mata was the only United player who looked capable of creating opportunities. Memphis Depay struggled on his first start in the league and there were few if any flashes of dribbling or acceleration by the new signing. Outside of the assist for the winning goal, Ashley Young showed little to justify his recently signed contract extension.

• On the other hand, Spurs' front four were actually creative but failed to capitalize on their chances. To their credit, Harry Kane, Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli and Moussa Dembele all pressed really well throughout the match. However, Spurs really have to bolster their attack with a player that can share the goalscoring burden with Kane. All the pressing in the world will be futile if Spurs can't finish their chances.

• There was a debutant in defence for each side. Matteo Darmian fitted in seamlessly on his first start for United. The Italian national right-back was comfortable on the ball and was a constant attacking outlet on the right. He also tracked back well and was rarely beaten in a one-on-one situation. In fact, it was noticeable that Spurs attacked down United's left but switched to the right as soon as Antonia Valencia came on for Darmian. Despite it being only one game, Darmian looks a step up on the recently departed Rafael as well as the makeshift options of Chris Smalling and Phil Jones.

• As good as Darmian was,the best debutant on display was Toby Alderweireld. It might have been a messy transfer including a lot of wrangling with Southampton, but on the evidence of his first start, Spurs will consider all the hassle worth it. After seeing Jan Vertonghen paired with the likes of Michael Dawson, Younes Kaboul and Vlad Chiriches, Spurs fans will be delighted to finally see another international centre back in the team. Alderweireld and Vortenghen had a natural understanding together in the heart of defence. Not only were they barely troubled by United's forwards, but also launched several good diagonal balls and passes, contributing to the attacking side of the game. If Alderweireld sustains the form he showed last season for Southampton, Spurs can expect to have a more sustainable challenge for a top four spot this season.

Everton 2 Watford 2

• Everton came back from behind twice in the match, however the result can't be disguised as anything other than a disappointment. Starting the season at home against a newly promoted team provided Everton the opportunity to get their campaign off on a positive note. In stead, it was a Toffees performance that was laboured for the most part. The squad needs investment and refreshment and that, just to make the top ten. A repeat of the heroics in 2013/14 already look a world away for this team.

• For all the hype around Ross Barkley he still hasn't produced a whole season of consistent performances. Barkley struggled for most of the match, misplacing simple passes along with attempting some outrageous shots. His goal was a long overdue moment of inspiration. One hopes that it kickstarts a season of consistent excellence for the talented midfielder.

• Watford gave an excellent account of themselves on their return to the Premier League. A point at Goodison is not to be scoffed at. Quique Sanchez Flores' teams are always organized and hard to beat, but are also tactically aware to expose their opponents weaknesses. They showed excellent awareness and opportunism in scoring their goals. Flores has a squad with a good mix of physicality and finesse. Etienne Capoue, Sebastian Prodl, Valon Behrami and Jose Holebas are more than up for a scrap, while Jose Jurado, Almen Abdi, Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney provide the guile and goals. With the Pozzo family in charge, Flores can also count on strengthening in January if needed. All signs point to a good season at Vicarage Road.

• Welcome back Heurelho Gomes! The Brazilian goalkeeper may well be remembered for his eccentricities and mistakes from his time at Spurs, but it can't be denied that Gomes is pure box office. There aren't many who do spectacular saves like Gomes. He pulled off some really good stops to deny Everton and couldn't have done anything to prevent either goal. He did provide footballing theatre when he came for crosses, fumbling a few here, parrying a few there. There might well be some dropped points thanks to Gomes, but in this observer's eyes, his entertainment value to the league is a welcome boost.

Chelsea 2 Swansea 2

• There will be a lot of debate (most of which will be created by Jose Mourinho himself) around Thibaut Courtois' sending off and penalty, but the truth is that this was the same Chelsea seen in the second half of last season. Even before going a man down, Swansea played the better football and only the extremely partisan fan wouldn't admit that the Blues were lucky to be ahead. Chelsea may well be the team to beat this season, but it certainly isn't because they play the most dominating football. It's hard to see anything other than another season of pragmatic football at the Bridge.

• There is no clearer argument about Chelsea's pragmatism than the continued selection of Willian. The Brazilian is almost universally praised for his work rate, speed and defensive qualities, but how much has he actually contributed in attack? 6 goals and 6 assists in 61 games are not statistics of an excellent attacking player. It's hard to see Chelsea being more entertaining or troubling the best teams with Willian remaining in the side.

• While neutrals and supporters will always debate Chelsea's style of play, Swansea continue to play in a fashion that wins admirers. The Swans took the game to the Champions from the get go. Jefferson Montero consistently beat Bratislava Ivanovic with pace and trickery, while Andre Ayew and Bafetimbi Gomis ensured John Terry and Gary Cahill were always on their toes with their dangerous movement. Even in midfield, Jonjo Shelvey was executing some delightful through balls for his forwards. The only regret Garry Monk may have is that after playing against 10 men for half an hour, Swansea were unable to conjure a rare away win at Stamford Bridge.

• Mourinho often spews rubbish but his claim that teams throughout the league are now signing better players is accurate. With a front three of Ayew, Gomis and Montero, Swansea can feel confident of upsetting any big team whether it be home or away. There are a few other teams who are also assembling similar levels of firepower. It certainly makes for a more exciting league, but importantly one hopes that it enables managers to be enterprising rather than keeping the standard mentality of keeping ten men behind the ball against the big teams.

Nice 1 Monaco 2

• Where does one start in a match that had everything? 4 substitutions in the first half, a red card, chances galore, Hatem Ben Arfa, Stephan El Shaarawy, great finishes, scrappy goals and on and on. This match simply had it all. The derby of the French Riviera was a fantastic watch, a reminder that great football can be witnessed in any of Europe's top leagues.

• Leonardo Jardim did a fantastic job at Monaco last season after a rocky start. In addition to reaching the quarterfinals in the Champions League, Monaco had a great second half to the season culminating in a third place finish they had no right to at the beginning of January. Key behind the renaissance was the flourishing understanding between Anthony Martial and Bernardo Silva. The duo were at it again as they combined beautifully for a well-worked equalizer. After impressing for Portugal at the U-21 Euros and continuing his fine domestic form, it's hard to see Silva staying at Monaco for too long. If the young Portuguese helps his team past Valencia in the Champions League playoff, expect Monaco to make a huge profit on the skilful playmaker.

• Many fans amongst the Monaco faithful were unhappy with the club's decision to loan Valere Germain to Nice. Germain played a big role in helping Monaco gain promotion back to Ligue 1 and many fans identified with him before the big stars arrived at the club. Monaco's loss is Nice's gain. The forward showed his finishing prowess when he sneaked in at the last moment to bury an exquisite strike to give Nice the lead. If it wasn't for Nice being down to 10 men, Germain could have been the match-winner. Nice can certainly build on their 11th place finish last season if Germain keeps scoring. One gets the feeling the striker will enjoy leading the line in less pressured surroundings.

• So, what about two of football's mercurial talents? Hatem Ben Arfa finally got to make his debut for Nice after signing in January. The Frenchman clearly looked rusty albeit much fitter during his time at Newcastle. Other than a few poorly delivered set-pieces Ben Arfa didn't contribute much to the game. It may be a while before he is anything close to his best, but Nice at least feels like the right environment to build up Ben Arfa's confidence. Confidence is not something Stephan El Shaarawy lacks. The young Italian came on in the 40th minute and was constantly involved in Monaco's attacking moves. There was a penchant for overhead kicks at every cross, with one inadvertently becoming an assist for Layvin Kurzawa's match-winning goal. Shaarawy looked energized playing away from the constant pressure of AC Milan and at the very least, he brings another dimension and unpredictability to Monaco's attack. It's going to be interesting to watch how Ben Arfa and Shaarawy's campaigns unfold the rest of the Ligue 1 season.

Marseille 0 Caen 1

• With the departures of Andre-Pierre Gignac, Dmitri Payet and Andrew Ayew in the summer, Marcelo Bielsa lost 43 goals from his Marseille team. The responsibility of filling Gignac's shoes now fall on Michy Batshuayi. So how did the young Belgian do? In fairness, Batshuayi actually played really well. He had two shots on target that were denied by the excellence of Remy Vercoutre (why is he not keeping at a bigger club?) and held the ball up really well while creating space for attacking midfielders. Despite drawing a blank in the season opener, Batshuayi is certain to provide goals as long as others in the team create chances.

• Replacing Ayew and Payet however, may be much trickier for Bielsa. Abdelaziz Barrada and Florian Thauvin have the guile, but lack the speed of Ayew and Payet which was so crucial to Marseille's fast break. To execute Bielsa's tactics the players need to have speed for pressing opponents and creating chances on the counter. In the current setup it's hard to identify players that can replicate the impact of Ayew and Payet.

• Another player that is going to be missed at the Velodrome is Gianelli Imbula. The young Frenchman was the breakout star of Ligue 1 last season and his sale to Porto was a bitter pill to swallow for Marseille fans. Despite Mario Lemina and Alaixys Romao's best efforts, the midfield had neither the thrust nor creativity that Imbula provided last season. Lemina did at least create some chances with some good long-range shots, but throughout the match it seemed like there was a big gaping hole in the home team's midfield.

• One defeat isn't the end of the world. Only last season, Marseille started with one point from their first three games. Bielsa has the ability to turn it around. However, like most of his second seasons, the bigger question is whether Bielsa can adapt? Having seen six first-team regulars depart, the Argentinian's style is not the easiest for new players to immediately switch to. Can he compromise for a slightly slower style with intermittent pressing? It's an intriguing question. The other challenge is squad depth. Will the gambles taken on Abou Diaby and Lassana Diarra pay off when they are match fit? These are the questions on which Marseille's season hang. As always there promises to be drama and intrigue at the Velodrome!

Big scores mark the start of the World Cup

New Zealand and Australia comfortably surpassed 300 in their 50 overs. South Africa lost four wickets before 100 but still comfortably passed 300 once David Miller and JP Duminy got going in the slog overs. Pakistan bowled well with the new ball, but the track looks easy to bat on in Adelaide and it would take a phenomenal effort to restrict India below 300. On the basis of what we have seen so far all talk of two new balls giving the bowling side an advantage is turning out to be a fallacy. Looks like the bowlers are in for a long slog in this tournament. This writer feels its a bit of a travesty as World Cup pitches should have something in them for both bowlers and batsmen. As a fan of global cricket its also not great to see pitches in New Zealand and Australia resemble the flat ODI pitches of the subcontinent where run rates of seven have become common. Let's hope that the pitches erode over a long tournament, though one shouldn't count any chickens as the drop-in pitches are unlikely to deteriorate like natural pitches would. A few pundits have said the team with the best bowling attack will win, but it might come down to controlling the run rate rather than taking wickets. So much for the World Cup promoting aggressive cricket.

Marseille stumble at home as away day foibles catch up

It may seem like the inevitable Marcelo Bielsa stumble is now in full effect. In the early part of the season Marseille were playing some of the best football seen at the Stade Velodrome in years. Bielsa's high octane pressing game was baring excellent results as L'OM stormed to the top of the Ligue 1 table. After 10 rounds, Marseille were already seven points clear of PSG at the top of the table.

Then Bielsa's men visited Lyon on the 26th of October and lost for the first time since the second weekend of the season. Since then Marseille haven't won a single game on the road. It's now two points in the last seven away matches for L'OM. The only solace for the club was that PSG were having an inconsistent season as well, so Marseille remained top of the table for another rounds by virtue of their perfect home record. You can get by with a bad run away from home if your rival is also struggling, but if a third contender emerges then it's hard to get away with inconsistency.

Lyon's sudden emergence and renaissance resulted in the former champions rising up the table and taking top spot from Marseille. As L'OM continue to struggle away from home, it was only a matter of time before a blip occurred at the Velodrome. It came earlier today, when Marseille conceded a last minute equalizer against Reims. The problem with a bad away run means the pressure increases a notch every time you play at home, and if the three points are not secure early enough you're likely concede a late goal as the nerves wrack up towards the end of the match.

It's not hard to see why Marseille have gone off the boil since late October. As many players from other Bielsa teams will testify, it's no good playing beautiful football if the ball doesn't find the back of the net. Droit Au But is the motto of the club - Straight to Goal, but Marseille have been anything but that on the pitch. Chances have been wasted despite complete dominance. It's hard to see Marseille reversing the trend, unless they find their finishing boots soon. Bielsa has to get his players behind Andre-Peirre Gignac to start scoring, or an improving PSG and a Lyon team with the firepower of Alexandre Lacazette and Nabil Fakir might just make Ligue Un a two-horse race with Marseille cut adrift.

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Cricket World Cup starts with exciting clashes

Cricket fans all over the world are counting down the hours to the sport's blue ribbon event - The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Over the tournament this blogger hopes to write about a variety of different aspects, but for now everyone can look forward to three cracking matches on the opening weekend. It all kicks off in Christchurch, where hosts New Zealand take on Sri Lanka. Die hard fans won't have any rest as Ashes rivals Australia and England square off just as the first match nears its conclusion. Then on Sunday, we have the marquee match between India and Pakistan. What a way to whet the appetite for the tournament!

Paul Lambert sacked by Aston Villa

It's been coming. How did it last so long one may ask? 12 goals in 25 games, thats 10 lower than then the next worst team. A team that has played some of the worst football in the last three seasons despite having talented enough players to at least play with some verve. Perhaps its the fact that Aston Villa are finally in the relegation zone that has made the board wake up. Whatever the reason, it is the right decision to. Now, two questions come to mind:

A) Is it too late?
B) Who will replace Paul Lambert?

Premier League signs record TV deal

5 billion pounds! Once again - 5 billion pounds! That's how much the Premier League broadcasting rights from 2016 to 2019 in the UK cost. This doesn't even include all 380 league matches. It obviously means that the clubs involved are going to get a lot more money. In Britain they are already talking about how this should help grassroots football through greater investment and there is also reasonable talk about making match tickets cheaper for the average fan. These are indeed genuine points of discussion. One can only assume the international rights are going to be just as lucrative. As this writer doesn't support illegal streaming, the hope is increased cost of subscription at least bares out in the teams actually playing football with good players and a modicum of ambition. It gets tiring to watch the drudge served up by clubs like Aston Villa, Hull and Sunderland in recent seasons, not to mention the various mediocre teams that have been relegated and promoted since the last television rights deal was signed. Let the quality of football be the ultimate barometer above the marketing of the product.

Afghanistan with the new ball

Watching India's World Cup warm-up match against Afghanistan right. Its a flat pitch with small boundaries so India are on track to get a big score, but boy was it fun watching the Afghans with the new ball in the first ten overs. There is some serious zip and movement that these boys are generating and if they get better conditions, it wouldn't be a surprise if they skittled out one of the big teams for a small score. Here's hoping Hamid Hassan, Dawlat Zadran and Shapoor Zadran crank it up even more once the World Cup gets underway.

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La Liga title race set to be another thriller

Spain's La Liga arguably had the most thrilling title race and climax amongst all the major European leagues last season. There were three teams in the race on the penultimate weekend. Real Madrid dropped out after a loss to Celta Vigo, leaving Atletico Madrid and Barcelona to duke it out in a title decider at the Camp Nou. The title was on a knife edge, with Atletico needing a draw to win their first title since 1996 while Barcelona needed to win. Alexis Sanchez gave Barcelona the lead, but Atletico stormed back in the second half getting the deserved equalizer and with it the championship after an exciting campaign.

As Real Madrid were breaking all sorts of records during a fantastic winning run earlier this season, it seemed that Los Blancos were going to run away with the title this time around. Barca and Atleti both stuttered while Real were battering every team that came in their way. Since January though, Barcelona and Atletico have been in fine fettle while Real have suffered two defeats and were arguably lucky to scrape a few wins in some recent tricky encounters.

This weekend could end up being a defining one in terms of the title race. First of all, Los Colchoneros thrashed Real 4-0 in the Madrid derby. It was a thorough performance from Diego Simeone's men as they dominated from start to finish. Rare have been the occasions when Carlo Ancelotti has suffered such a comprehensive defeat since he took over the reigns at the Bernabeu. Atletico now have the Indian sign over their city rivals. Since Real's historic win in the Champions League final, the Spanish champions have done the double over their opponents in the league, beat them in the Copa Del Ray as well as the Spanish Super Cup. Such a sequence of results were unthinkable for Atletico before Simeone took charge.

There may be psychological repercussions for Real, but of more immediate concern is the fact that Atleti are now only four points behind them. To add more intrigue into the race, Barcelona went away to Athletic Bilbao and won 5-2 in an excellent display of attacking football. That result means Barcelona - a team meant to be in crisis - are now only a point behind their rivals. Luis Enrique may well have many problems to sort out, but what is evident now is that Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez are on the same wavelength. With an attacking trio of such brilliance, many flaws can be negated against most teams in La Liga.

All this means that fans of La Liga and Spanish football can look forward to another fantastic climax to the season. There is enough brilliance and variety in all three teams for them to come out on top. Will it be Ancelotti's serenity and intelligence, Simeone's fire and passion or Enrique's attacking triangles that will prevail? We'll just have to wait and see. Don't take your eyes off La Liga!

Spurs 2 Arsenal 1

Just finished watching the North London derby. There were parts of the game that were exciting and other parts that were frustrating to watch. Some random thoughts on the match.

1. Considering Arsenal's recent form where their midfielders have dovetailed well with Olivier Giroud, was it necessary for Arsene Wenger to start Danny Welbeck as soon as he came back from injury? It can be argued that Welbeck's pace on the break was crucial in Arsenal scoring the opener, but in attempting to find the Englishman and Giroud quickly, the Gunners kept ceding possession and with it control of the match.
2. With Spurs having 64% possession it felt inevitable that the Arsenal goal would be bombarded in the second half. It was no surprise when Spurs found a equalizer eleven minutes after the restart and then in typical fashion Arsenal allowed their opponents to launch raid after raid on their goal. A second Spurs goal seemed inevitable as Wenger's men kept gifting the ball away amidst a phase of non-stop amateurish defending from the midfield and the back four.
3. David Ospina has been receiving plenty of praise from everyone since he replaced Wojciech Szczesny in goal, but the Colombian international has to take some responsibility for Tottenham's first goal. At first glance it looked like Ospina made a great save from the headed corner, but replays revealed that it was straight at him and any goalie worth his salt should have tipped it over. In stead he directed it back into the danger area and Harry Kane had the easiest of finishes. There were a few more occasions when Ospina's parries were not the most convincing. A few more performances such as these and Szczesny may still have a say in Arsenal's home stretch this season.
4. "That reminds me of Alan Shearer in his pomp." Those were the words of Danny Mills who was doing colour commentary on the Premier League's international feed. Harry Kane has alleviated Spurs goalscoring issues this season with his consistency. As the goal tally increases so does the hyperbole. Finishing of course, is not an easy skill. That being said, comparing him to a different legend every week is premature in the extreme. Kane is good, but this observer is hesitant to consider him even very good, let alone great at this point in time.                                                                                                                                               
   View image | gettyimages.com
5. Christian Eriksen didn't have his best game in Spurs colours. In his stead, Moussa Dembele had one of his better midfield performances in a long time. Michael Cox recently talked about how Dembele's football education was based on succeeding in dribbling first and foremost without much consideration to the end product. Today was one of those days when the Belgian turned it on, taking shots, ghosting past players and setting up his teammates. If Mauricio Pochettino can eke out consistency from his talented midfielder, Spurs may well end up staying in the race for fourth the whole distance this time around.
6. Let's say you are asked to choose a three-a-side team against your best friend. You choose Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla. Your friend chooses Nabil Bentaleb, Ryan Mason and the aforementioned Moussa Dembele. There might be some appreciation for Dembele's technical ability, but you would feel pretty smug about your choice ahead of your friend's. If you were Arsene Wenger though, you would succeed in making your friend's selection the best midfield trio in the history of the game. You could make a case for players taking some responsibility, but whether it was a case of motivation, mental fragility or just plain tactical ineptitude, its a damning indictment on the French men that his technically superior midfield were outplayed by their Spurs counterparts. The old bugbear of physical inferiority could hardly be used as an excuse either. Just another example of weak management in a big game from Le Professor.
7. At the other end of the spectrum, Mauricio Pochettino is ensuring progress at White Hart Lane. Spurs being Spurs, it still wouldn't surprise anyone if they followed it up with a defeat in their next game at Anfield. Still, Pochettino has now masterminded victories over both major London rivals. The Argentinean deserves credit as his pressing philosophy remains effective in particular against big teams, with the results now adding more credence to his management. Another area of encouragement for Pochettino is Spurs' resilience, as his team have now recovered 12 points from losing positions already this season. This was the first instance in three years of Arsenal failing to win a match in which they were leading at half time. The last time Spurs beat Arsenal and Chelsea at White Hart Lane, they qualified for the Champions League. Amongst all the fantastic stats, it is the last fact that Pochettino will want repeated this season as he cements himself in Spurs folklore.

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Fournier stoking the fire

Interesting observations by Lyon coach Hubert Fournier ahead of the top-of-the-table clash in Ligue Un this weekend between Lyon and PSG.

"All the referees in this league get insulted by this person. The referees are not bilingual or trilingual, so they don't understand. In a way, it's better to speak Italian or English to insult refereesI don't want my team to provoke, I don't want us to insult the officials. I hope we remember not to fall for Zlatan's provocations."

I wonder if this is amateur pop-psychology or a genuine attempt to pressurize the referees. Either way it seems clear that there is a lot riding on this clash for both teams. The pressure is on in what has up to this point been the best title race across the major European leagues. Looking forward to a classic between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris St Germain!

Finally! Ivory Coast vs Ghana for the Cup of Nations

They have been the standard bearers for Africa when it comes to their players representing the top clubs in Europe. In recent World Cups, they have been the toughest of opponents for the more fancied nations. Both should have won the African Cup of Nations at least once in the past decade if not more. Finally, one of them will.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana have provided fans with some of the most charismatic and entertaining footballers of recent times. Didier Drogba, Michael Essien, Yaya Toure and Asamoah Gyan are names that can roll of most fans tongues easily. The first two players are not associated with their national teams anymore. In there stead we now see Gervinho, Wilfried Bony, Jordan Ayew and Wakaso Mubarak. It's clear for everyone to see, when it comes to consistency in producing excellent players, these two nations have made Africa proud.

Where they have failed, is in getting those individuals together to deliver tangible success on the international stage. In regards to the World Cup, both teams can claim they have received difficult draws often due to FIFA's bizarre seeding process. Though of course, Ghana were only a missed penalty away from reaching the semis in 2010, while Ivory Coast lost all sense of composure in the 2014 World Cup when they had qualification to the round of 16 all but secured. Yet, most would agree that neither team are in the top tier of World Cup contenders.

The international failure that is most galling for fans of both teams has been the inability to win a Cup of Nations. Since the 2006 edition of the tournament, Ghana and Ivory Coast have always gone into the tournament as favourites, yet they haven't won it.

Both teams were victims of Egypt's phenomenal record, when the Pharaohs won three consecutive tournaments. Losing the 2006 final on penalties in front of a partisan Egyptian crowd was understandable, but when they had the chance to avenge that defeat in 2008, Ivory Coast were spanked 4-1 in the semis against the champions. 2010 was a disaster, but surely 2012 was the time for the Ivorian golden generation to deliver. They made it to the final against the little-fancied Zambians only to inexplicably choke on penalties and lose again.

Ghana messed up in 2006 by losing to Zimbabwe of all teams. Then on home soil in 2008, they lost to Cameroon in a semi they dominated. The players recovered from that horrible defeat to make the final two years later in Luanda, only to come up against a well-drilled Egyptian side who simply had more nous and knew how to win the big matches. Like the Ivorians, Ghana choked against Zambia in the 2012 semis and followed it up with another seismic semifinal meltdown, this time on penalties against Burkina Faso.

Now the two ultimate underachievers of Africa come up against each other in the 2015 AFCON final. It's no surprise to see these two in the final. Perhaps its surprising that's it taken so long for them to meet in the final. Who will win? I can't wait to watch the final.

Liverpool's lucky escape past Bolton

150 minutes of football between Liverpool and Bolton Wanderers produced no goal. It was perhaps this tedium that got the better of referee Roger East as he awarded Bolton a controversial penalty in the 60th minute of this fourth round replay. To most observers the promising Zach Clough dived, but Eidur Gudjohnsen paid little heed to the contentiousness of the situation, scoring the penalty with minimum fuss. The Icelandic legend really should have buried Liverpool when he had a free header ten minutes later, but somehow he contrived to head the ball into the ground.

The Trotters would rue that missed chance as the home side came increasingly under the cosh from the visitors, more so after the dismissal of Neil Danns left Bolton short-handed for the last twenty minutes. Emre Can took control of the game, spreading the ball out wide consistently, then almost scoring with a spectacular hit before releasing Raheem Sterling for the equalizer with a sublime pass. Liverpool immediately went searching the winner to avoid extra time and duly got it thanks to a speculative effort from Philippe Coutinho.

The result continues a decent sequence of results for the Reds, but it must be a source of concern for Brendan Rodgers that after two legs against a Championship team his side needed stoppage time to book their progress into the next round. If Liverpool are to survive a difficult fixture list in February unscathed, Rodgers will have to ensure there are significant improvements in his team's game.

Roma missing their mojo

At the start of the Italian football season hopes were high that AS Roma and Juventus were going to compete in a thrilling race for the title. In fact, some experts even believed Rudi Garcia's men could end Juve's hegemony in Serie A. The thinking went that along with Antonio Conte's resignation, the winning edge would also depart the Old Lady.

In the early months of the season it seemed the prediction of a tight race would indeed be borne out. Many even looked at Juve's narrow and controversial win over Roma in the sixth round of fixtures as a sign that the Giallorossi were neck and neck with the champions. Even in defeat Roma played with verve and passion that has typified Garcia's reign since he came to the Italian capital.

Then came that match against Bayern Munich at the Olimpico. After an impressive start to their Champions League campaign in the group stages, the game against Bayern was to mark Roma's arrival on the European stage. Nobody considered them favourites by any stretch of the imagination, but the general feeling was that they were going to make life difficult for Pep Guardiola's men. 

For the first fifteen minutes Roma came out strong. There was the relentless pressing allied with fast transitions. Manuel Neuer was called into action, making two good saves. Then Bayern broke on the counter and Arjen Robben scored. Roma betrayed their lack of experience as they went hell for leather chasing the equalizer. This played into the Bavarian giant's hands and the match finished 7-1 to the visitors.

It was a chastening experience for club and manager. At the time Garcia said it was a match that they would learn from and adapt different tactics in future games. A good manager learns most from defeat, but Garcia and his men seem to have been struck in neutral since then. They had a respectable outing in the return leg despite losing, not leaving the open spaces for Bayern that they did at home.

Yet, there is a difference in being a bit cautious against a team of Bayern's might and doing it against teams of lesser quality than you. That is exactly how Roma have been playing since November. The speed, possession and directness have deserted the team completely. In an attempt to be defensively solid, Roma have veered too far away from their attacking approach. As a result, for the first time in Garcia's reign there isn't a clear philosophy and style of play. The first eleven isn't consistent, although injuries and suspensions are a natural reason rather than Garcia tinkering.

As a result, Roma are now seven points behind Juve in second place. Of course, such a gap can be overcome, but Juve with their machine-like efficiency are unlikely to drop silly points. There is a ruthlessness and winning mentality that separates the Bianconeri and Giallorossi. Nothing illustrates this more than their home form. 

Roma have thrown away silly points in draws at home against opposition they should be defeating with comfort. If Roma would have won all their home games as they should have, they would now be leading the league. In stead, they are playing with no confidence at the Olimpico, as evidenced in an insipid performance against Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia earlier today.

Losing to La Viola is no disgrace, but home draws in cups should not be fretted away without a fight but that is what happened. Now competing on only two fronts, Garcia has to get his men focused and playing at the high standards they set at the start of the season. Some of the signings made in the winter transfer window may help. 

Roma can still achieve a lot this season. With Juve still in the Coppa and the Champions League, it's conceivable that the Giallorossi can claw back the deficit from Massimiliano Allegri's men. There is also the Europa League in which they have one of the stronger squads amongst those remaining in the competition. Even if Roma don't win silverware, a second consecutive season of direct qualification to the Champions League will be considered a success. For that to happen, Roma need to recover their mojo. Soon.

Junaid's absence adds to Pakistan's bowling woes

Fans of the Pakistani national cricket team often console themselves on the eve of a major tournament on the basis of their bowling attack. The old adage goes that if Pakistan bat first and manage a score between 200 and 250, their bowlers will always give them a chance.

It may not concur with cricketing logic, but when you have had bowlers like Imran Khan, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar you can see why Pakistan has always had faith in its bowling overcoming any batting deficiencies. In recent times the spin trio of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammed Hafeez and Shahid Afridi have won many matches for Pakistan thanks to their wiles with the ball.

Add in Junaid Khan's potency in swinging the ball and the Pakistani think tank could well have believed that their bowling plans for the 2015 World Cup were in place.

A lot has changed in the last six months. First Saeed Ajmal's action was found to be illegal by the ICC's new testing system. Pakistani's were hoping against hope that the world's premier off-spinner would manage to remodel his action in time for the World Cup. It was a hope forlorn as the PCB decided not to risk Ajmal for the World Cup at the expense of his career.

Only a short while later, Mohammed Hafeez's action was also declared illegal. Hafeez may well consider himself a batsman first but one doesn't require hours of analysis to find out that his bowling has played a substantive role for the team. Hafeez's ability to bowl the right length with the new ball in the power play has flummoxed the best batsmen. An economy rate of less than five over the past two years is a testament to his control.

So you lose the world's number one ranked bowler along with a canny operator who keeps the economy in check. Could it get worse? Enter Junaid Khan. Junaid was first injured before the Australia series at home. Many thought he would be fit in time for the New Zealand series, but in stead, his injury has now ruled him out of the World Cup. Those in the know said this wasn't such a surprise, yet the effect of this news so close to the World Cup can only be detrimental to the squad.

As I write this post New Zealand have thrashed Pakistan to all parts of the ground while amassing 369. The combined overs of Mohammed Irfan and Shahid Afridi cost a reasonable 109 runs. The remaining 30 overs were plundered for 260 at an economy rate of almost 8.7. Then again, its not a huge surprise considering the other bowlers were Ehsan Adil, Haris Sohail, Bilawal Bhatti as well as - this is the real kicker - Younis Khan and Ahmed Shehzad!

Maybe the 2015 Cricket World Cup will provide Pakistani fans with a new consolation. This time around, at least the batting was on par with the bowling.

Squad depth gives Napoli control in race for Champions League

The chaff has been separated from the wheat.

Going into the winter break, Serie A arguably had the most competitive race for Champions League qualification in Europe. While Genoa and Sampdoria always felt like long shots - the departure of Manolo Gabbiadani in particular hurting the latter - there seemed genuine reasons to believe that the form of Lazio and Fiorentina could be sustained.

Since the resumption of the league though, Napoli have stolen a march on their rivals. That is, if there were genuine rivals in the first place. It's often forgotten that many predicted the Neopolitan club to be involved in the title race with Juventus and Roma, albeit as outsiders.

The first half of the season was a difficult one for Rafa Benitez's men. Losing the Champions League qualifying playoff to Athletic Bilbao was a bitter pill to swallow. The effects of missing out on Europe's premier competition translated to an inconsistent start to the domestic campaign.

To his credit Benitez stuck to his guns despite growing criticism of the team. With Jose Callejon and Gonzalo Higuain regularly finding the net and the increasingly impressive David Lopez dictating the tempo from the middle of the park, it became clear that Napoli could win against most opposition in the league.

Squad depth has played a crucial role in settling the Gil Azzurri's campaign. Despite the injury-enforced absence of Lorenzo Insigne, Benitez has made the attack click with both Jonathan de Guzman and Dries Mertens contributing in supporting the attacking trio of Higuain, Callejon and captain Marek Hamsik.

At the back, Kalidou Koulibaly has become more consistent as the season has gone on, though the tendency to take unnecessary risks has to be eradicated from his game. The signing of Ivan Strinic adds competition to the left-back slot just as Faouzi Ghoulam returns from Algeria's underwhelming Africa Cup of Nations campaign.

It is upfront though that Napoli have laid a strong marker. The signing of the aforementioned Gabbiadini adds more guile as well as a different angle of attack. The new signing was instrumental in their win at Chievo Verona, using his lethal left foot to get the winner that sends Napoli five points clear in third spot.

With an impressive arsenal of attacking weapons and greater squad depth than the teams below them, it would be no surprise if the gap increased between Napoli and the rest of the league. The fans may well wonder why they couldn't start the league campaign this way, but Champions League qualification is the first priority and as long as Napoli get into the playoffs again there won't be much to complain. Then again, they are only four points behind a stuttering Roma. Maybe, Benitez can guide them straight into the Champions League group stages after all.

Sean Abbott takes six for NSW

A fantastic story! Just over two weeks after delivering the ball that resulted in the unfortunate death of Phillip Hughes, Sean Abbott has taken sensational figures of 6 for 14, helping New South Wales win against Queensland. Not a single fan or expert has laid any blame on the young quick, but the fortitude required to come back to the cricket field so soon after such a tragic accident and then perform to such a high standard cannot be understated. It is unfair in the extreme that Abbott will always be associated with one of the worst moments in the history of cricket, but it shouldn't be forgotten that this is also a young sportsman possessing real talent with no shortage of skill. Provided that Abbott keeps playing at a high level, his legacy could well be defined by his cricketing feats.

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Five thoughts on Genoa 1 AC Milan 0

Genoa climbed to third place in Serie A after an excellent 1–0 win over AC Milan. Here are five thoughts on the match.

Montolivo’s welcome return

After getting injured on the eve of the World Cup, it was great to see Milan captain Riccardo Montolivo start for the first time this season. In a campaign marked by inconsistency, the skipper’s return is an important boost for the Rossoneri. It will take time for the midfielder to return to his best, but in Montolivo and Nigel de Jong, Milan have the basis of a stable midfield partnership that will at least provide the team with a defined identity. The captain was generous in possession by his standards, but as he gets back to match fitness, Montolivo’s passing should result in greater fluency in the team’s play.

Antonelli leads from the front

Luca Antonelli continued his excellent start to the season with another inspired display. Not only did the captain score the match-winning goal, but he was a rock at the back for Genoa. Whether it was the pace of Jeremy Menez or the trickery of Stephan El-Sharaawy, there was no getting past Antonelli on the day. Antonelli made three crucial interceptions and two clearances[1], helping centre-backs Sebastien De Maio and Armando Izzo deal with any threats that Milan had. If Genoa are to maintain their heady start to the season, they can be assured that their captain will lead from the front.

Milan’s corner problems refuse to go away

It was no surprise that once again Milan conceded from a corner. In fact, one could say it was a surprise that they didn’t concede more considering they faced 12 corners. Filippo Inzaghi has to solve this problem if the Rossoneri are to progress this season. Their marking on set pieces is all over the place, as was evident during Antonelli’s match-winning goal where Milan had three opportunities to clear the ball before the goal was scored. Diego Lopez didn’t come out confidently to catch balls, while neither Phillippe Mexes nor Adil Raimi took it upon them to organize the defence. On a technical level its clear that these players have the aptitude to deal with set pieces, but its the tactical organization that is failing the defence right now.

Perrin stops everything that Milan throw at him

One of the key reasons that Genoa have lost only once since the opening day of the season is the sensational form of Mattia Perrin. The young goalkeeper put in another faultless performance to thwart Milan. The excellent whoscored.com suggests that Perrin has no significant weaknesses and it would be hard for any observer to disagree. Perrin dealt with everything Milan threw at him, although it must be said his job was made easier by Jeremy Menez hitting selfish potshots straight at him from outside the box. Genoa face another big test against Roma this coming weekend and Perrin will have to maintain his excellent form if I Rossoblu are to get a positive result.

Genoa in dreamland

The city of Genoa is going through a football renaissance thanks to the outstanding form of its two teams. Genoa sit third in the Serie A table, just one point clear of rivals Sampdoria. The Stadio Luigi Ferraris is home to some inspirational football at the current moment, making it the good news story of Serie A this season. The best thing about Genoa’s win over Milan was that they were the superior team from start to finish. Gian Piero Gasperini now faces the challenge of keeping his men grounded. Most managers will say its harder to stay at the top than get there. I Rossoblu face a stern test against Roma on the weekend. Come out of it with a positive result and Genoa can really start to dream in this most open of Serie A campaigns.

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1. http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/865914/LiveStatistics/Italy-Serie-A–2014–2015-Genoa-AC-Milan  ↩