CHELSEA STRIKER CONUNDRUM AGAINST MANCHESTER UNITED AND SOLUTION

With Diego Costa not fit and not sure of featuring against Man Utd. Loic Remy also suffered a groin injury against Maribor and may likely not be fit to start against Man Utd.

Likely solution to Chelsea striker conundrum.

DROGBA AS A OPTION
Drogba may likely lead the attack against Manchester United, but he has lost yard of pace and power since his first spell at Chelsea. He might not be able to hold his upfront alone against Man Utd especially if Chelsea is on the back foot. His hold up play is not up to required standard again.

SCHURRLE AS A FALSE NINE
Andre Schurrle started last season corresponding feature as a false nine, but was anonymous for most of the match. His playing pattern is dominated by intelligent runs and shooting ability. Playing as a none striker doesn’t give space for those runs as the two center backs will always be on his nerve. He tends to be wasteful playing alone upfront as his hold up play is not good enough.

FABREGAS AS A FALSE NINE
Fabregas succeeded as a false nine at Barcelona and Spain, but his quality playing beside Matic cannot be underrated. The quality of the passes he can give playing the striker will be missing if he gets shifted to play as false nine.

SOLUTION
I still think Chelsea will still have to play with a false nine. And I think Willian can do the job very as he tends to shoot very well and can also hold up the ball very well bringing other players into play. He can also interchange position dropping deep to help retain possession.

MAN CITY vs CHELSEA (6 key battles)

AGUERO vs TERRY: No doubt Aguero with all his injury worries is one of the most prolific striker in the EPL. And with Chelsea defence particularly susceptible this season. The mantle is on Terry, to marshal his defence, to cage the marauding runs of Sergio Aguero. Caging Aguero might just be the way, to go in stopping Man City.

SILVA vs MATIC: Silva is most likely to be played behind Aguero, and his passes might be dangerous, the onus will be on Matic to neutralise every effect Silva will hope to have on the game.

TOURE vs RAMIRES: Toure has look disinterested this season at most, but he his a dangerous player on his day. Mourinho his most likely to utilise a 3 man midfield with Ramires acting as the box to box midfielder. If he can manage to track the movement of Toure which could be dangerous then Chelsea as an advantage.

FABREGAS vs FERNANDINHO: Fabregas has assisted 6 goals already this season and played 17 key passes. With Fernando out injured the onus is on Fernandinho to stop Fabregas influence on the game.

HAZARD vs ZABALETA: Fabregas and Costa are stealing the limelight this season, but Hazard has completed more dribbles in the league so far this season. And he has also played 15 key passes so far, just 2 behind Fabregas. So he remains a good player still. And Chelsea will rely on his individual brilliance. Zabaleta has got his hands full on this one.

COSTA vs KOMPANY: Costa has started this season strongly, and arguably Kompany is the best defender in the league. Who wins this battle might just win the day for his team.

A STATISTICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN EDEN HAZARD AND ANGEL DI MARIA

Eden Hazard was one of the best player in the English Premier league last season, while Angel Di Maria dazzled for Real Madrid last season.

With Angel Di Maria moving to Manchester United this season, it becomes imperative to compare two player who could fight out for the league’s best player this season.

All stats is for the 2013/2014 season

It is notable that Di Maria is better for the defensive stability of a team making an average tackles of 1.3 compared to Hazard’s 0.7. He is also ahead of Hazard in interception with 0.6 to 0.5.

Hazard assisted 7 goals while Di Maria assisted 14. Hazard also scored 14 goals while Di Maria netted 4 goals.

Hazard is most likely to take a shot when he gets the chance than Di Maria with 2.1 average ahead of Di Maria with 1.9. They both played 2.6 key passes last season. With Hazard creating 92 chances compared to Di Maria 90.

Hazard is most likely to take on a defender with 3.8 ahead of Di Maria’s 1.4. Hazard is also most likely to win a free-kick with 2.5 fouls won/game compared to Di Maria 0.9/game.

Hazard gets dispossessed 2.3 times/game compared to Di Maria 0.8 times/game. Hazard lays on 44 avg passes per game at a rate of 82% success rate, compared to Di Maria 40 at a rate of 82.1% success rate.

There crosses stat shows another difference in playing patterns with Di Maria getting a cross at a rate of 2.1 compared to Hazard 0.3. Di Maria is also most likely to throw a long ball with 3.3. Compared to Hazard 1.6. Why they both played 0.2 through balls per match.

Who do you think is the better player.

STRONGEST LINE UP MANCHESTER UNITED CAN PLAY THIS SEASON.

With Manchester United spending so big this summer, to strengthen their underachieving squad from last season. The big question that begs answer, is who gets to play regularly, and who gets to sit on the bench.

After taking a curious look at the squad, at Louis Van Gaal disposal, this is my opinion on the strongest squad Van Gaal can play. The big miss out been Juan Mata.

Though LVG favours a 3-5-2 formation, I have to go for a 4-4-2 formation with the quality of players in Manchester United squad.

GOALKEEPER: David De Gea gets the nod here. He took his time to adapt after his move from Atletico Madrid but there is no reason to change the man behind the post.
DAVID DE GEA

RIGHT BACK: they lack real quality here compared to other premier league contenders. Rafael gets the nod, with premier league experience under his bet.
RAFAEL

CENTRAL BACK: Phil Jones is arguably the best of the pick from the central defenders, available for Man Utd before the summer spending spree. And he gets the nod beside new signing Marcos Rojo, who plays at central back for Sporting Lisbon last season.
PHIL JONES AND MARCOS ROJO

LEFT BACK: You don’t spend £30m on a teenager to keep him on the bench. And arguably Luke Shaw is the best Left full back in the EPL last season. So expect him to play when he is fully fit.
LUKE SHAW

DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: This particular position should be of concern to LVG. Let’s hope Daley Blind can adapt quickly for the team sakes. Coupled with the fact that He will be a better destroyer than Michael Carrick or Darren Fletcher
DALEY BLIND

CENTRAL MIDFIELDER: Another new signing gets the nod here beside Daley Blind in the pivot position. Let’s hope he can get passes to the attacking four ahead of him.
ANDER HERRERA

RIGHT MIDFIELDER: Irrespective of his success through the middle for Madrid last season. Angel Di Maria is best utilise on the flank and he can be very dangerous with his pace on the flank.
ANGEL DI MARIA

LEFT MIDFIELDER: Sorry to disappoint but Wayne Rooney is neither a striker nor a play maker. His goal record doesn’t match RVP or Falcao’s own, but his hard work can come handy from the flank.
WAYNE ROONEY

STRIKER: You don’t just amassed that strike force to keep one of them on the bench. And if they can get both Van Persie and Falcao firing teams might been in hell of a trouble facing that strike force.
RVP and FALCAO

Official: Xabi Alonso completes Bayern move

Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Xabi Alonso for an estimated sum of €10m.

The 32 year old has put pen on the paper and his set to replace Toni Kroos in Bayern Munich alongside the injured Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez.

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Luiz Gustavo is set to replace him at Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich confirms Xabi Alonso agreement is in place

Bayern Munich have announced that they have reached an agreement with Real Madrid for the transfer of Xabi Alonso with the Spanish midfielder travelling to Germany on Thursday to undergo medical.

He had made over 200 appearances for Real Madrid but will continue his career with Bayern Munich.

Samuel Eto’o retires from Cameroon duty

Eto’o has retired from international duty with Cameroon after been stripped of the captaincy.

He was replaced as national skipper by Stephan M’Bia on Tuesday, and almost immediately withdraw his services from the national team.

He was the youngest player at the 1998 world cup after been called up by Claude Le Roy at the age of 17.

He won the Olympics in 2000 and 2 nations cup in 2000 and 2002.

Xabi Alonso retires from Spain

Xabi Alonso has announced his retirement from international football after earning 114 caps for Spain.

The Real Madrid midfielder was an important component in the Spanish sides that won 3 consecutive tournaments in 2008, 2010 and 2012.

Official: Tottenham sign Fazio

Tottenham have completed the signing of Federico Fazio from Sevilla after meeting the Argentine defender buyout clause.

The 6’5″ defender moves to White Hart Lane in an £8m deal, signing a four year contract, and becomes Tottenham fifth signing of the summer after Michael Vorm, Ben Davies, Eric Dier and DeAndre Yedlin.

Pocchettino highlighted the defence for recruitment following his arrival.

Official: Everton sign Eto’o

Everton have signed free agent Samuel Eto’o on a two year contract.

The vastly experienced forward has been without a club since leaving Chelsea in June when his one year deal expired.

The Cameroonian international has netted over 250 goals in his club career that has seen him win 3 champions league and la liga each as well as Serie A, Coppa Italia, Club World Cup and Copa del Rey.