Everton Evolution?

A manager famed for his forward-thinking and tactical freedom- but will Everton really play much differently to last season?  

After the 11 year reign of David Moyes, the appointment of any manager would undoubtedly bring about changes at Everton. The capture of former Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, however, immediately signalled alterations of a fairly drastic kind. On a coaching level, the 39-year-old Spaniard had to fill the gap left by United-bound assistant Steve Round, and coaches Jimmy Lumsden and Chris Woods. Martinez sought familiar faces - the likes of Graeme Jones, Inaki Bergara and Kevin Reeves - whom he had worked with not only at Wigan, but also at Swansea,where he was credited with starting the revolution in playing style which evolved under Brendan Rodgers and Michael Laudrup, and ultimately led to Premier League football, a platform far away from the position Swansea City found themselves in when Martinez was appointed manager. But it was not merely the coaching staff that Martinez found himself visiting his old club for. Although tags such as 'Everton Athletic' are not only infuriating but also inaccurate (Martinez has only bought one player from Wigan - Arouna Kone), it is true that Martinez has worked with 3 of  his 4 signings (at the time of writing) before Everton. So even before a ball had been kicked it seemed evident that Martinez was not shirking from imposing his own stamp and philosophy on the club.

Gerard Deulofeu, an exciting addition, and a loan swung by Martinez's presence. 

Following Premier League games against Norwich and West Brom, many pundits could be found proclaiming the sizeable change in playing style in the brief interlude between the Moyes departure and the full time whistle in the first two games of the season. It is true, Everton could be found perching proudly at the summit of passing statistics (be it quantity or quality), but had the team actually evolved?

Of the four players signed none of them made the starting XI in either match (Arouna Kone featured as a substitute twice - for a combined total of about 30 minutes). In both games a 4-2-3-1 formation was preferred - the only difference in selection to last season was the starting of wonderkid Ross Barkley and the role of Marouane Fellaini (a deeper role, which the Belgian himself has gone on the record saying he prefers). I was at Goodison Park for the West Brom match, and it was clear that Phil Jagielka and Sylvain Distin had been instructed to *pun* Play From the Back. This was obviously causing the reliable duo some difficulty, and after the first 10 minutes or so were spent with Everton's back four in possession of the ball, an ever-so-slightly more direct approach was preferred. In formation, then, there was no visible change. But in playing style there was an alteration, albeit fairly slight. 

Ross Barkley, set to flourish under Martinez. 

Many people will claim David Moyes' Everton teams were hard-working, gritty teams who fought to win games. This perception was true up to a point. Midfields containing players such as Lee Carsley, Simon Davies and Zinedine Kilbane were always going to be slightly more industrial than mesmerising. However, the introduction of the more stylish Mikel Arteta, Steven Pienaar, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (yes, really), and more recently Kevin Mirallas, has provided Everton with a flair they perhaps previously lacked. It would certainly be harsh to say Everton did not play fantastic football at times last season. The 3-0 win at Swansea, the Fulham away tie and the 2-0 win against West Ham (Moyes' last home game as manager) spring to mind as examples where Everton passed the ball fluidly and precisely. However, it is true that at times Phil Jagielka had a tendency to lump the ball forward to a battling Marouane Fellaini in an advanced role, and as Nikica Jelavic's goals dried up, the 'physical' Victor Anichebe was often preferred as a striking option. 

My point is, for all the (probably justified) furore concerning Roberto Martinez and his style of play (its ultra-attacking nature and three man defence), perhaps, judging on the first two league games, the changes won't be so pronounced. I stress judging on the first two league games, but I don't believe that Everton's attacking play so far has been any more impressive or fluid than it was at times last season. Perhaps the difference between Martinez and Moyes is that Moyes was happy to play pretty football against lesser opponents, but often reverted to a more rigid style against better teams, whereas Martinez will persist with his ideology at all times against all teams. What will be more effective remains to be seen - both have pros and cons, and both have experienced varying results. For example, Everton beat Manchester United 1-0 in a game where Fellaini's strength was used to its full, and United's makeshift defence was targeted time after time. However, Moyes' seemingly negative style resulted in a staggering 0 wins at Old Trafford, Anfield, The Emirates and Stamford Bridge in the entirety of his reign. On the other hand, Martinez succeeded in some great triumphs with lowly Wigan - winning at the Emirates, routing Everton themselves at Goodison Park, and outplaying Manchester City to seal a magnificent FA Cup win. However, there were the crushing defeats - the 9-1 Spurs loss, the 5-0 at Old Trafford in 2011, or the 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal - there are many to draw upon. 

Amid interest from United, will Kenwright remain vigilant, or succumb to the charms of his best-mate Moyes? 

It would be fair to expect that Everton players would be quicker to adapt to a new system than Wigan players, but after 11 years minimal changes can be magnified. Whether Martinez will have the boldness or even resources to change the style and formation more significantly remains to be seen, but if the first two games are anything to go by, it won't be too much too soon. And don't forget, Everton weren't half bad under Moyes at times last season too.

Whatever Martinez eventually decides upon in terms of formation and style, he must be given time and patience by Everton fans who have rightly come to expect much, but must also realise they are punching above their weight - not in stature (Everton is the 4th most successful team and has been in the top-flight the longest out of any club), but in finance - and although David James' prediction of 16th is ludicrous, it might be realistic to suggest a couple of years of mid-table are in the offing, at least while Martinez is not allowed to spend accordingly. 

La Liga 2012-13 season review

Barcelona equalled Real Madrid's record points total in a single season.

It was another crazy season in La Liga, which on the one hand provided us with non-stop entertainment, but on the other did little to address the duopoly in Spanish football, whilst the Spanish sides' humiliating exits at the semi-final stage of the Champions League prompted many to prematurely label this as the end of an era for Spanish football. It was a season filled with excitement, from Atletico finally ending their 14-year hoodoo by beating an exasperated Real Madrid side in the Copa Del Rey final, to last-minute equalisers, a grouchy Portuguese coach imitating Neville Chamberlain, and plenty of inventive scorelines. All in all, this was a season to remember for Spanish football.

At the top, Barcelona stormed to the league title by reaching 100 points despite losing their manager Tito Vilanova halfway through the season because of cancer treatment. Some statistics suggest that Vilanova's Barca are better than Guardiola's, but, as is often the case, these can be misleading, and the season was marred by an underwhelming semi-final exit against Bayern and a collapse in the second half of the season which had a lot to do with the loss of the player that Barça have relied on for so long: Leo Messi.

  Whilst Barcelona have taken a significant step away from Messidependencia by signing the much-coveted Neymar, there was very little done by Vilanova this season to ease the pressure on the world's best player, who often had to play with a knock; for instance, to come off the bench against PSG, and grab the goal which settled the tie, or against Athletic Bilbao. Barça have other problems too. Neymar is undoubtedly an exciting signing, but many feel that signing a world-class defender such as Thiago Silva is more important if Barca are to shake off the allegations of a 'changing of the guard' in the Champions League. Puyol is injury-prone and the squad is thin, so signing a Mats Hummels or a Thiago Silva is a major priority. Although some would point to promising youngsters such as Marc Bartra and Martín Montoya, it is clear that they still require time to settle into the first team, however much talent they possess. 

Jose Mourinho's tenure at Real Madrid came to a bitter end as city rivals Atletico finally managed to beat Real in a historic Copa Del Rey final. Mourinho clearly didn't enjoy his time in the Spanish capital, failing to gain the backing of older players and encountering some huge egos in the squad. The high point came last season when he managed to topple Barcelona with a record points total, but this season was a very different story. Key players such as Iker Casillas were alienated as others just failed to perform. Mou's abrasive style with the media did him no favours, but some of his points were valid. It is true that some players and indeed the press have far too much influence at the Bernabéu. It is also true that Iker Casillas was on a downward spiral due to a lack of competition, and that players should be picked for their efforts, not their status. During the brief spell in which Mourinho was forced to play the Spanish captain, he looked far more focussed from the kick up the backside that the Portuguese coach had given him by playing Adán as first-choice. Of course, that was the moment when Casillas was sidelined for three months, and Diego López was brought in to cover during his absence. López has been outstanding, especially considering the pressure that he has had to endure in replacing San Iker, a Madrid darling, perhaps vindicating Mourinho's decision to replace Casillas in the first place. Ultimately Real Madrid got lucky in snatching a second-place finish despite an awful away record. However, the problems in the dressing room could not be masked in the Champions League, as Madrid bowed out in the semi-finals having been humbled by Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the clash.

   

The Copa Del Rey win and the banishing of an old ghost capped an impressive season for Atlético Madrid. However, it must be dispiriting for Atlético to finish nine points behind their closest rivals having looked as if they would finish above Real Madrid in second place for most of the season, and with Los Blancos having produced such a mediocre campaign compared to their neighbours. Losing Radamel Falcao to Monaco will be a blow for Los Colchoneros, but losing world-class 'keeper Thibaut Courtois or Atleti legend Diego Simeone would have bigger implications, and the general consensus among fans is that Falcao moving to a 'bigger' club (or in this case an incredibly wealthy one run by a Russian oligarch with the promise of big money and a tax haven) was inevitable. The former, on loan from Chelsea, was instrumental last season and had an incredible game in the cup final. He looks set to displace Petr Cech at Chelsea in the long term, but recently agreed to stay another year at the Vicente Calderon, where he will be guaranteed more playing time and further development under charismatic coach Diego Simeone. The manager's record speaks for itself. The Argentine has now won three trophies for Atlético (1 Copa Del Rey, 1 Europa League and 1 UEFA Supercup) in his one-and-a-half-year spell at the club, equal to Mourinho's haul during three years at Real Madrid. 

Real Sociedad have been magnificent this season. 

Last year it was Levante, and this year it was Real Sociedad, the team from San Sebastián, who were La Liga's success story. In fact, La Real have surpassed Levante's efforts, implementing a much more attractive style of football whilst also achieving a 4th placed finish and Champions League football in the process.

   Under the tutelage of dynamic young manager Phillipe Montanier, the squad has been transformed. Defenders Carlos and Iñigo Martínez (completely unrelated) have blossomed. Carlos Martínez was one of the most underrated players and was also the best right-back in La Liga last season while centre-back Iñigo Martínez continues to attract the interest of Spain's top two clubs and many others with his excellent reading of the game and aerial ability (as well as a fierce long shot) despite his lack of pace. In defensive midfield, Asier Illarramendi has been superb, and, whilst it is sometimes short-sighted to refer to a player as the 'next' so-and-so, he genuinely looks as if he will take up the mantle from Xabi Alonso on an international level. Up front, the attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Carlos Vela and the talismanic Xabi Prieto have flourished. That is without even mentioning Imanol Agirretxe, the towering striker who has arguably been the unsung hero of this team. At first glance the burly Basque does not look as if he would fit into such a stylish outfit, but his delightful, ice-cool chip against Valencia and much-improved goal tally (14 goals this season in La Liga as opposed to 10 last season) suggest otherwise. 

   It is fair to say that no Real Sociedad game has been boring this season, the highlight being the 5-4 win over Barcelona, one of only two losses in La Liga for the eventual league champions. The 4-star UEFA rated Anoeta stadium, whilst sometimes lacking in atmosphere due to the athletics track which surrounds the pitch,  will be welcome in the Champions League group stages next season if the team from San Sebastian can make it past the qualifying rounds. Remember gooners, if you're drawn against the Txuri-Urdin, we did warn you.  

Real Sociedad's 4th placed finish came at the cost of Valencia, for whom the drop to the Europa League could have disastrous financial implications. Los Che already have a huge debt, and Champions League football was a necessity if this deficit was to be kept at bay. Now, with the summer transfer window already well underway, it seems as if Valencia will have to sell some key players. The name being mentioned in every gossip column is that of Roberto Soldado, who narrowly missed out on the Zarra trophy this season for the top Spanish goalscorer and is a target for Spurs. The club are keen to hold onto him, but a £25 million bid from Tottenham could test their resolve, and, at 28, Soldado is unlikely to have many more opportunities to play in the Premier League. Hopefully this campaign will serve as a reality check for Valencia, whose philosophy as a 'selling club' means they have not threatened in the Champions League despite qualifying most years. 
  The same can be said for Sevilla, who have built up a similar reputation in recent years. The crucial difference, being, of course, that despite having a squad which really should be challenging for those places, Sevilla have failed to qualify for Europe's premier competition for the last three years. However, with the absurd management of both clubs at boardroom level, expect next season to be depressingly similar. 
  Málaga had an impressive season given their financial problems, and were rallied around by the now-Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who inspired his team to a 6th placed finish despite a gutting Champions League exit at the hands of Dortmund. Paco Jémez had a similarly galvanising effect on Rayo Vallecano, combining youngsters and journeymen seamlessly on a very tight budget. Rayo are arguably the only other team that could challenge Sociedad for surprise package of the season. Unfortunately both Málaga and Rayo Vallecano failed to make it into Europe despite finishing in what would ordinarily be European places. Malaga were banned from European football for two years after failing to pay player's wages and tax bills on time, and Rayo Vallecano were denied a UEFA license. 

The relegation places were decided on a frantic last day, as Mallorca, Deportivo and Zaragoza all went down. It was a shock to see the Giovianni Dos Santos-inspired Mallorca go down, especially after such a strong start to the season. For Deportivo, a late resurgence due to the appointment of Fernando Vazquez (the manager brilliantly dubbed as 'Harry Potter' by the Spanish media- you might see why, although it seems as if the Spanish media have never seen somebody wearing glasses before) wasn't enough to save the plucky team from La Segunda, while Zaragoza suffered a torrid run in the second half of the season which condemned them to relegation.

No, not really. 

It was an exciting La Liga season, and next year we can expect more of the same, despite high-profile exits such as those of Jose Mourinho, Radamel Falcao and Jesus Navas. Admittedly, La Liga may not be the best league in the world, and it is currently dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid, but the philosophies implemented by many teams near the top and bottom are what make it such a fun and vibrant league to watch. Whilst it may not live up to its slogan of 'la liga que mueve al mundo' (the league that makes the world go round) it is still captivating, and Spain U21's triumph in the European Championships proved that this isn't the 'end of an era'. Who knows? Maybe, just maybe, next season will be the year when the duopoly is broken. 

Serie A 2012-13 season review

Juventus had a stellar season. 

The 84th Serie A season signified the progression of a footballing dynasty, as Juventus clinched their second successive title under Antonio Conte. After leaving Siena, Conte guided Juve from 7th to 1st in his first season, and la vecchia signora strengthened almost immediately last summer to ensure this domestic success was maintained. The promising Frenchman Paul Pogba was 'stolen' from Manchester United, highly rated midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah was signed from Udinese (Asamoah was surprisingly, but effectively deployed at Left Wing Back this season), alongside his teammate Mauricio Isla (although this move proved to be unsuccessful),  and, er, Nicklas Bendtner (or Simon le Bon as some Tifosi nicknamed him) was loaned from Arsenal. Despite these signings though, it appeared Juve had missed out on their desired frontman (rumoured to be van Persie or Jovetic), and the signing of Bendtner (plus the fact that Conte was suspended from the touchline for his involvement in a match-fixing scandal) did send some fans into mumblings of discontent. However, Juve started the season in imperious form and continued for the rest of the season in that manner - bar the occasional blip (most notably a 3-1 home defeat to Inter which ended their 49 game unbeaten streak) - winning the title 9 points ahead of second placed Napoli. The league was another triumph for Juve, although the same couldn't be said for the Champions League, where they were roundly beaten by eventual Champions Bayern. Europe is the next frontier that must be conquered.

Napoli had another enjoyable year under Walter Mazzarri, in what proved to be his final season. Rafael Benitez is taking over the reins at Stadio San Paolo, and he will inherit a team which comfortably qualified for the Champions League and on occasion looked as if it might challenge Juve for the title. Although seemingly on his way out, Edinson Cavani has secured legendary status in Naples, as he again wowed crowds with his skill and goal-scoring prowess- netting 29 league goals and indeed the Capocannoniere award, whilst Lorenzo Insigne filled the void left by PSG-bound Ezequiel Lavezzi. After winning the Coppa Italia last season, Champions League qualification was the realistic demand and this was achieved with ease. Gli Partenopei have much to build on this summer, as hopefully they mount a serious assault next season.

Yes, we've noticed that guy in the background as well...

AC Milan's season seemed to be spiralling out of control early in the season, as all hopes rested on 20-year-old Stephan El Shaarawy. After losing star names (Silva, Ibrahimovic etc.) and the old guard (Seedorf, Gattuso etc.) in the summer, and with the club in shocking debt, things were looking very gloomy for i Rossoneri early on, but, as Massimiliano Allegri impressed again, Milan's fortunes experienced a thankful upturn - alongside the signing of Mario Balotelli. Milan surged up the table in the second half of the season - embarrassing rivals Inter in the process - snatching a 3rd Champions League spot from the clutches of Fiorentina. The future of Milan is far from gloomy now. With Balotelli for a whole season, and youngsters such as de Sciglio and Niang progressing well, I expect Milan to mount a serious title challenge next term.

Agonisingly missing out on the Champions League was the ultimate fate for Fiorentina this season - but they gained many fans and plaudits along the way. Playing an extremely attractive brand of football, Fiorentina shone across the pitch. Borja Valero proved to be a superb signing, as he linked up with the much improved Alberto Aquilani and David Pizarro in an exciting midfield three. Juan Cuadrado enjoyed somewhat of a breakthrough season at Wing-Back joining from relegated Lecce, as Adem Ljajic began 'living up to his hype' and Stevan Jovetic finally managed to stay clear of injury.

Udinese continue to punch above their weight on a minimal budget (Toto di Natale still managed to score 23 league goals at the age of 35) and finished an excellent 5th, whilst the Roman sides battled it out for 6th and 7th (and indeed the Coppa Italia trophy). Lazio won in the final, whilst Roma finished a solitary point ahead in the league. The Zeman experiment failed, Andreazzoli saw out the rest of the season, and Rudi Garcia will take charge next season. Lamela, Marquinhos and Totti stood out on the pitch - the 36-year-old grabbed 12 goals and 12 assists in Serie A this year. Serie A truly is the league for the 30+ forward! - as Lazio themsleves well know - Miroslav Klose scored 15 in 29 games!

Catania, Parma, Cagliari and Chievo all overachieved in mid-table, though the same can't be said for Inter, who finished a torrid season in 9th place. After some baffling recruitment, and a drastic decline in form, poor Stramaccioni has been replaced by Mazzarri. Perhaps some stability and improvement is in the offing. 

Bologna, Atalanta, Torino, Sampdoria and Genoa all stayed up, but Zamparini's Palermo performed well below expectations and the Sicilians will be plying their trade in Serie B next season. The same goes for Siena, and Pescara - I Delfini finished on a painful 22 points. 

Heartbreak for Palermo. 

Although we can look back on a season where the title race was overly-one sided, this was a very interesting Serie A season with fond memories for some (ie. Fiorentina and of course Juve). The same can't be said for the likes of Inter or Palermo- I hope Livorno, Hellas and Sassuolo fare better. The Verona derby is one to watch out for next season - and who knows, donkeys might fly! 

Champions League perfectly poised

The winners of this year's Champions League will be no fluke. 

Just when Europe's top clubs had breathed a sigh of relief after Milan looked to be in cruise control against Barcelona, the inevitable happened. Milan were beaten 4-0 at the Nou Camp and eliminated 4-2 on aggregate, with Barca now favourites to lift the trophy.

But the destiny of the much coveted Champions League title remains very much in the balance. Barcelona's frailties were demonstrated in their 2-0 loss to Milan in the first leg, and in successive defeats against Real Madrid, which left the team looking in a very sorry position. Even they are not invincible.

It is fair to say that the best team in Europe based on form are Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga leaders had been characteristically efficient in dispatching top teams, and, bar the shock defeat to BATE Borisov in the group stages, looked very comfortable in Europe's top competition. They tore apart Arsenal in the first leg of their tie at the Emirates, but not everybody was satisfied, and Bayern's defending of the set-piece from which Arsenal scored was an omen for the second leg. On Wednesday their weaknesses were highlighted again, as they lost 2-0 and looked very much overawed by a second-string Arsenal side including the likes of Fabianski, and without their usual saviour Jack Wilshere. Jupp Heynckes admitted that it had been a poor performance, and this above all demonstrated that the Bundesliga outfit are far from impregnable. On his day goalkeeper Manuel Neuer does indeed, as one German newspaper said, resemble a 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle' in his fluorescent green gloves, but when the side defend as they did yesterday, he is reduced to a mere human. This should be a wake-up call to Bayern.

For Real Madrid, this Champions League campaign represents everything. After winning La Liga in stunning fashion last season, this year has been an entirely different story, except in the Champions League, where business has largely been as usual. Getting through a tricky group consisting of the champions of England, Germany and the Netherlands was quite an achievement in itself, but this was to be expected of a team of Madrid's calibre. Despite only squeezing past the mighty Manchester United with the help of a dubious Nani red card, Real Madrid were briefly bookmaker's favourites. There is also the sense that this is a mission for the collector Mourinho, who is looking to add another Champions League to his CV, and break another record. It is true that the atmosphere in the Bernabeu dressing-room was toxic at one point, but the coveted 'Decima' might just materialise this year after successive wins against Barcelona and the win at Old Trafford restored confidence in the team.

Dortmund and Juventus seem to have points to prove. Whilst last years German champions Borussia Dortmund have trailed to Bayern domestically, they unnervingly clinched top spot in the 'group of death' containing Madrid, Ajax and Manchester City, to set pundits purring at their superb style of play. After their 2-2 draw against Shakthar in the first leg of their tie, Dortmund stayed focussed and took apart the Ukrainians at home 3-0, no easy task and a testament to their efficient style of play which is also easy on the eye.The Germans seem intent on proving themselves in Europe after a poor showing in last year's competition. Juventus, on the other hand, are back after a brief hiatus, and have nothing to lose. Having dominated Serie A bar a few hiccups, the Italian champions have an impressive team and could go all the way. They will be looking forward to fully testing their mettle against a strong Bayern side after strolling past Celtic in the last 16.

At the moment the two weakest teams look like Galatasaray and Malaga. Having said that, Galatasaray have acquired two European heavyweights in Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder. And, whilst their best years may be behind them, no team will relish having to come up against the veteran duo. Let's not forget the immense fire-power of Turkish front-man Burak Yilmaz, who has largely been overlooked after the signing of Drogba, but who is very much in his prime and was the main reason why the Turkish side progressed during the group stages. Before the knockout stage, Yilmaz was responsible for 6 out of Galatasaray's 7 goals, and the Turkish side's chances of going further in this competition will hinge on the striker.

Malaga are this year's dark horses. Enjoying Champions League football for the first time in their history, the team from the Costa del Sol have had no end to problems off the pitch, including debts and a future one-year ban from the competition, but Manuel Pellegrini has kept his eye on the ball, and has stirred his team to achieve great things on the field. Malaga owe their success to the Chilean manager and the positive atmosphere he has instilled at the club, as well as star man Isco, who has looked increasingly mature as Malaga's most exciting player. This season seems like 'all-or-nothing' for Malaga in Europe, and who knows how far they could go?

So far this year's edition of Europe's top competition has proved that even the likes of Bayern and Barcelona are not invincible. The supposedly weaker teams, Galatasaray and Malaga, should take heart from this, as anybody is capable of causing an upset. The draw for the quarter-finals has been made, and all the ties look tantalising. The closing stages of the Champions League promise to be mouth-watering.

By Tomas

Has the North London tide finally turned?

Has the tide finally turned? 

At the time of writing, Tottenham are currently 7 points ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League (although Arsenal have a game in hand). Although Arsenal are technically still participating in the Champions League, their trip to Allianz Arena looks to be the end of their European season, after a 3-1 defeat at the Emirates. It appears that 2012/13 will be yet another frustrating trophy-less season under Arsene Wenger, after two excruciating cup exits for the Gunners (to Blackburn and Bradford). Meanwhile, at White Hart Lane, there is a positive aura emanating from Arsenal's local rivals. Despite a set-back at Anfield at the weekend, Tottenham are sitting pretty in 3rd place in the league, following a 3-0 triumph over Inter Milan in the Europa League, and a sweet revenge over Arsenal, 2-1. Whilst Tottenham seem a revitalised team on the up under a youthful manager, some may perceive Arsenal to be the opposite. Is this perception really accurate?

Arrivals

TOTTENHAM:

In the past two seasons Tottenham have acquired (amongst others):

Moussa Dembele - £16.75million

Hugo Lloris - £11million

Jan Vertonghen £11million

Gylfi Sigurdsson £8.8 million

Clint Dempsey £6.5 million

Emmanuel Adebayor £5million

Lewis Holtby £1.5million

Scott Parker £5.5 million 

Total: £66.05million

Significant Departures:

Peter Crouch £9million

Wilson Palacios £7million

Roman Pavlyuchenko £7million

Alan Hutton £4million

Robbie Keane £3.3million

Jamie O'Hara £3million

Luka Modric £26million

Rafael van der Vaart £11.4million

Niko Krancjar £6million

Vedran Corluka £6million

Steven Pienaar £5million

Total: £87.7million

Conclusion: Although Tottenham have sold more than they have spent recently, most of the signed players have been impressive, and very astute signings. The stand-out signings are Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen, Moussa Dembele and Lewis Holtby (their fees combined are only a couple of million more than the funds raised by the sales of Modric and van der Vaart). Although Modric and van der Vaart could have left a void in the Tottenham starting XI, Tottenham moved quickly to plug any potential gaps. 

ARSENAL:

(In the past two seasons) Ins (amongst others):

Santi Cazorla £16.7million

Lukas Podolski £10.5 million

Olivier Giroud £10.5million

Nacho Monreal £8million

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain £12million

Gervinho £10.5million

Mikel Arteta £10.5million

Per Mertesacker £9.9million

Andre Santos £6million

Park Chu-Young £5.7 million

Total: £100.3million

Significant Departures:

Robin van Persie £27million

Alex Song £16.7million

Carlos Vela £3.3million

Cesc Fabregas £29.9million

Samir Nasri £24million

Gael Clichy £6.8million

Emmanuel Eboue £3million

Total: £110.7million

For every Santi Cazorla, there's a Gervinho. For every Mikel Arteta, there's an Andre Santos. A slightly hit-and-miss record in recent times for Arsenal, as some genuinely world-class players have been sold, only to be replaced by cheaper players who are not quite on the same level in many cases. Like Tottenham, they have sold more than they have spent, which is extremely frustrating given Arsenal's substantial resources and financial health. There remains noticeable gaps in the Arsenal starting XI, which need to be addressed by signings this summer.

The Managers:

Arsene Wenger:

I believe it would be unfair to suggest the majority of Arsenal fans want "#WengerOut", but more and more Gooners seem to be becoming disenchanted with their club, their board, their excessively priced season tickets, and in some cases, Arsene Wenger. It sometimes appears that Wenger is content with moulding young players into fantastic players, then selling them on - this is worrying for Arsenal fans. Although Wenger has undoubtedly done a lot of good for Arsenal as a club, I don't think his position is beyond questioning. Far from it, in fact. However, I don't believe he should be sacked. It is very possible that the lack of spending is the board's fault and not the manager's, and Arsenal (especially if they are not in the Champions League next season), have no idea who they might attract/appoint as their next manager. Not finishing in the top 4 would be a massive blow, however, and perhaps a change might help the team. 8 years without a trophy is a long time, after all.

Andre Villas-Boas:

Roman Abramovich must be kicking himself. After the enigmatic Portuguese had been paid a mouth-watering compensation fee, 'AVB' found the perfect match in the North of London. Before the season, some wondered if Redknapp's departure would have a negative effect, but Villas-Boas moved swiftly and effectively in the transfer market to quell such rumours. Although some Spurs fans had their doubts early on (perhaps justifiably so, after some baffling substitutions), the vast majority of supporters have now given AVB their full-backing, and it seems that Daniel Levy has finally found a young manager he can share a long-term relationship with.

So has the tide turned? In the short term, yes, but only marginally. It is fairly likely that Tottenham will finish above Arsenal this season, but Tottenham themselves have not won a trophy, and the season is far from over yet. This summer hold the key as to whether or not Tottenham will remain superior in the long term. If Villas-Boas can keep hold of his key players, and sign a quality striker, the future looks bright. Arsenal need to spend some money under Wenger (not excessive amounts) on improving a few areas of the first team, to cement their future in the top 4, and hopefully win them some trophies. This, however, remains to be seen. And who knows, maybe both North London clubs will win trophies next year!

By Alex 

Swansea City: proving the critics wrong

Swansea's unity as a team stems from a fan-based ownership.

At the beginning of this season there was some cause for concern around the Liberty stadium. After an impressive debut in the Premier League playing an attractive style of football (newspapers labelled them 'Swansealona' at one point), things were looking drab. Master tactician Brendan Rodgers had left to replace Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool, unsung midfield genius Joe Allen following him, and the winger Scott Sinclair, who had matured so much during his time in Wales, sold, to Manchester City of all clubs in the opening few weeks of the season. The vital left-back Neil Taylor was confirmed as out for the rest of the season, and things were looking glum. Not only this but the Swans had missed out on Gylfi Sigurdsson's permanent signature after an impressive loan spell in the second half of last term, and however exciting Michel Laudrup may have been as a new managerial appointment, he wasn't known for staying around for long with his clubs. FourFourTwo predicted a 20th placed finish in their pre-season guide. Critics wondered whether this side who had been so impressive in the 2011-12 season could really do it again with their 'lovely', but perhaps not so 'direct' football. Indeed, legitimate questions were being raised over fellow overachievers Norwich City, but both clubs have been proving their mettle this season.

Laudrup worked quickly in the transfer window. Michu, who Sir Alex Ferguson had apparently once searched for on Google by accident (Sun exclusive: Fergie after Rayo Whatsyoumacallit midfielder!) was a bargain at only £2million. Chico was brought in from Genoa as a welcome addition to an already solid defensive line-up and central midfielder Jonathan De Guzman loaned in from recently relegated Villareal in Spain, as well as diligent South Korean midfielder Ki from Celtic. However, the real marquee signing came on the Transfer Deadline Day, when it emerged that Swansea had snapped up tricky Spanish winger Pablo Hernandez from Valencia. A bewildered Swansea coach on his way to work was cornered by Sky Sports News presenters. 'What can we expect from Pablo Hernandez?' they clamoured. 'Well, he's Spanish, so he's small, good at passing... er...' It was clear that the poor man didn't have a clue. However, the diminutive winger was in fact something of a coup from Valencia.

There was now genuine cause for optimism as the team completed a 5-0 drubbing of their bogey team QPR in their new red away shirt. Looking like a better Wales, the new signings combined perfectly in their first game. The player who really caught everyone's eye was Michu, the lanky Spaniard, netting two debut goals as an unorthodox centre-forward/midfielder. Still, here was evidence of the team moving in exactly the right direction after Rodgers' departure, still playing that lovely passing football, looking unified and arguably even more attractive than last year. The Swansea fans' mouths were watering.

But then Laudrup's team entered something of a blip after a 3-0 win at West Ham. First there was a 2-2 draw at Sunderland, which wasn't too bad, but this was shortly followed by losses to Aston Villa and Everton, as well as Stoke. In this early stage of the season it didn't look awful, but there was a worry that things could backfire. Michel Laudrup already looked uneasy in his dugout.

The turning point may well have been their 2-1 win against last season's good news outfit Newcastle. Since then there has been a well-earned point against Liverpool and an excellent win vs. the in-form West Brom. On Saturday this run continued as the Swans overcame Arsenal with two fine goals from Michu himself. Although all the focus has been on an anaemic gooner display which resulted in the team being booed off the pitch, Michu and Swansea should also be credited for a well-orchestrated win. For now the team from Wales look set to rise up the table, and one can't help thinking that in the Manchester City dugout at the Etihad, Sinclair is kicking himself for swapping the opportunity to play with this magnificent side for a space on the bench at a 'bigger' club. 

The players that make Swansea City tick

Michel Vorm

Michel Vorm has proved himself as a world-class 'keeper since joining from Utrecht.

It was something of a surprise when the highly-rated Dutch goalkeeper, renowned as a penalty-saving king, left FC Utrecht in Holland to join Brendan Rodgers' newly promoted Swansea, but even then his success was unprecedented at only £1.5 million. He was an instant fit for the club, excellent with his feet and distribution but also equally able with his hands, in the typical mould of a Dutch 'keeper. Many fans already recognised his face from Football Manager, and on numerous occasions the Dutchman saved his team from dropping points, pulling off a number of impressive saves during the season, and becoming an instant hit with the supporters. It tells you a lot that many now rate him as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, and that some journalists would even place him in the top three alongside Joe Hart and Petr Cech. There were rumours that the world-class goalkeeper would follow Rodgers to Liverpool this January, but judging by league position at least, and to a lesser extent team spirit, followers of Swansea should not be overly worried about this possibility. He also recently pledged his future to the club, so supporters can feel at ease.

Ashley Williams

The rock at the heart of the Swansea and Welsh National Team's defence, Ashley Williams is the undisputed captain of this alluring outfit. Not only does he command his defence with ease, but he weighed in with a vital header for Swansea last season, against Manchester City. The defender has proved himself at this level, having been previously released by West Brom as a 16-year old. It is no surprise that the solid centre-back is now being closely watched by Newcastle's Alan Pardew. Unfortunately for him, Williams has already signed a long-term deal, like Vorm.

Michu

Michu has made an excellent start, scoring plenty of goals for the Swans.

The gangly midfielder-cum-striker has made a storming start to life at Swansea City since arriving from Rayo Vallecano, where he helped the side stay up almost single-handedly, and can already be considered the bargain of the season at only £2million. Last season in La Liga he had an excellent scoring record from midfield (perhaps slightly exaggerated by the fact that he plays extremely high up the field for a midfielder) and was apparently being monitored by none other than Manchester United. The club won't have too many regrets at the moment sitting in 1st place, but one of them will surely have been missing out on Michu, already having scored 10 goals for Swansea. The hard-working midfielder from Asturias is enjoying life in Wales despite the weather, and the club can expect the utmost loyalty from him- when offered a deal at first-divison Sporting Gijon whilst at Oviedo, the player rejected a chance to enhance his career because of the teams' strong rivalry (so he won't be moving to Cardiff anytime soon Swans fans). 

Nathan Dyer

Brendan Rodgers was the man who brought the best out of the tricky young winger as the manager realised his potential as a more attacking wide player (prior to Swansea's promotion-winning season, he had played a more defensive role). It is easy to see now why the club splashed out on a then-record transfer fee of £400,000 for the diminutive Englishman, who has been even more crucial this season due to the departure of Scott Sinclair, taking the ball past bigger players with ease, and who is now being hailed as a future England call-up. It comes as no surprise that he came off Southampton's conveyor belt of talent, although his career had waned at St. Mary's prior to joining Swansea, being loaned out on several occasions.

Pablo Hernandez 

Another of Swansea's mouth-watering arrivals in the summer, and another of the club's four amigos, including Chico, Rangel, Michu and himself, Hernandez took some time to acclimatise to the Premier League, having joined from Valencia, but grabbed his first goal in a fine draw against Chelsea, and was instrumental in the dismantling of Liverpool in the Capital One Cup. Although he has had to work hard to adapt to Swansea's style of football, he has all the qualities to succeed in the Premier League, and had previously worked with Laudrup at Getafe. Here's hoping that he will make just as much of an impact as his former Mestella team-mate Juan Mata at Chelsea. 

The sense of team spirit in the Swansea City team is evident from the confidence that the Welsh club plays with, and their run of good form doesn't look likely to end anytime soon, especially with so many key players pledging their futures to the club. 

By Tomas

The Futures of Chelsea and Roberto Di Matteo

It was game over for Chelsea and Roberto Di Matteo against Juventus. Just months after miraculously winning the Champions League, the blues are faced with an early exit from the same competition.  

The date is 19th May 2012. Chelsea have finally won the elusive Champions League trophy the club and  infamous owner Roman Abramovich had always craved most of all. All is well.

The date is 21st November 2012. Only six months and 2 days have passed since the Champions League final. But Chelsea are 3rd, look set to be dumped unceremoniously out of the Champions League group stage, and Roberto di Matteo is out of a job. So what's changed? And what does the future hold for the London club?

Having enjoyed mixed successes with Milton Keynes Dons and West Brom in his only previous managerial positions, Roberto di Matteo, aged 41 at the time and ex-Chelsea and Italy international, seemed an odd if not intriguing appointment, even if it was only on an interim basis. Andre Villas-Boas was sacked after a disappointing string of games, and having made the transition between the old and the new at a rapid rate. Di Matteo restored the Old Guard to their previous glory, and Didier Drogba was particularly instrumental in Chelsea's trophy wins (both the FA Cup and Champions League). Under immense pressure from the always-dedicated Chelsea fans, Abramovich was almost forced to offer di Matteo a full-term contract, albeit only for two years - no Mike Ashley 8 year contract nonsense with the Russian oligarch. 

    In a glut of summer signings, Chelsea then brought in Cesar Azpilicueta from Marseille, Brazilian starlet Oscar, Wigan wonder Victor Moses, Belgian superstar Eden Hazard, and Werder Bremen's Marko Marin. The season started brilliantly, as Chelsea's fluid midfield excelled whilst both Manchester clubs faltered slightly. Although not successful, it would be very unfair to suggest the Champions League campaign has been disastrous, as Chelsea emphasised their move away from their 'smash and grab' style in Europe last year. However, a bad run of games, leaving Chelsea lying 3rd in the league table, and likely to fall out of the Champions League, resulted in the sacking of di Matteo, and the appointment of ex Valencia, Liverpool and Inter Milan boss, Rafael Benitez. 

    The immediate reaction was that of outcry. With Benitez being Chelsea's 9th manager in 8 years, and with di Matteo having only just won the Champions League and FA Cup, and with the season only roughly a third of the way through, this was completely justified. The interim appointment of Benitez was also an unpopular one, but whether or not it will be a successful one remains to be seen.

Meet Rafa Benitez, the man who made Torres so prolific, ran him to the ground and then ruined Inter Milan. Oh, and he's also Chelsea's new manager. Football, eh? 

5 Reasons why Chelsea are struggling at the moment:

1. Fernando Torres - Abramovich's £50 million pound man looks a waste of money at the moment, but at only £15 million more than Andy Carroll, maybe he was good value for money. Eden Hazard did little against Juventus to show he could play the 'false 9' role well, and Chelsea could really do with an in-form striker, entrenched in a bad spell of form. Torres' bad form is even more underlined by the fact that he has Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar playing behind him. Some newspapers have even attributed di Matteo's sacking to his lack of 'getting the best' out of Torres, and the appointment of Benitez could be linked to the Spanish striker.

2. Roman Abramovich - this may seen contradictory because as the Russian is partly responsible for Chelsea's 'failings', he's also completely responsible for their successes. However, his endless firings and ruthless nature, are undoubtedly having a negative effect on the club. From Avram Grant to AVB, Abramovich seems to struggle to find a manager he can settle down with.

3. Pep Guardiola - it is rumoured that Chelsea moved immediately to approach the ex-Barca maestro when di Matteo was sacked, and judging from the short-term contract award to Benitez, it appears that Abramovich will move for his favoured target as soon as Pep's one-year sabbatical is completed (however, the managerial merry go-round which Chelsea seem to ride every year can't appeal to Guardiola's philosophy of continuity too much). 

4. John Terry, Gary Cahill and David Luiz - ie. Chelsea's centre backs- With the Blues possessing two excellent full backs in Branislav Ivanovic (or even Apilicueta) and Ashley Cole, Chelsea's centre backs are a stark contrast. With John Terry remaining slow and constantly embroiled in scandals, Gary Cahill inconsistent and David Luiz just mental, Benitez will need to act quickly to sure-up Chelsea's leaky defence.

5.  John Obi Mikel - with Chelsea possessing so many attacking-minded midfielders the defensive midfield position is integral to any success Chelsea will have. Although some may disagree, in  my mind, Mikel just simply isn't up to the job, and is the weak point in the team. Hopefully for Chelsea, they will sign a top quality holding midfielder in January.

So what will the future bring for Chelsea? Will Benitez be at the club come the 1st September 2013? Probably not. Will Roman Abramovich finally get the love of his ownership-life in Pep Guardiola? Who knows? As for the short-term, Chelsea will have a very tough game this weekend against Manchester City. Di Matteo will certainly have a fantastic addition to his CV, and I'm sure he will not struggle to find a job in the near future. He might not even have to move from London, with Spurs fairly likely to have a new manager come Summer 2013. Or maybe the Italian might want to stay in Blue, and make the move to Manchester to replace a fellow Italian? Just remember, you heard it first at Play From The Back. 

By Alex