Monday, March 10, 2014

Off The Post

---

• Man Utd target Kevin Strootman out for nine months with serious knee injury
• Time for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger to take the FA Cup seriously
• Video: Man Utd target Toni Kroos says Premier League move ‘is a possibility’ ahead of Arsenal clash
• Captain Fantastic: Steven Gerrard – the quiet force behind Liverpool’s resurgence
• Man City duo Samir Nasri and Martin Demichelis not up to scratch for Manuel Pellegrini
• Why Jose Mourinho will not let Chelsea starlet Oscar join PSG
• Manchester United ‘agree to sign’ Dimitri Oberlin Mfomo from FC Zurich
• Thibaut Courtois to ‘run down Chelsea contract’ ahead of Real Madrid move
• Top 10 conclusions: Premier League weekend, 8-9 March
• GIF It: Man Utd team-mates playing in Robin Van Persie’s zones
• Spurs boss Tim Sherwood and the curious case of the missing ‘s’
• Man Utd prepare £30m raid on Southampton for Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana
• Manuel Pellegrini: Lack of pace handed Wigan victory vs Man City
• Photo: Man Utd boss David Moyes spotted at Blackburn vs Burnley
• Tactical Review: Manchester City 1-2 Wigan Athletic
• Man Utd ‘have not yet bid’ for Fenerbahce’s Salih Ucan
• Man Utd must finish sixth or higher to qualify for Europe
• Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino ‘wanted by Liverpool and Man Utd’
• Video: Hull’s David Meyler mock Newcastle boss Alan Pardew with corner flag headbutt
• GIF It: Phil Dowd trolls Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud over affair allegations

Man Utd target Kevin Strootman out for nine months with serious knee injury Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:36 AM PDT Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman has been ruled out for nine months with a serious knee injury, meaning he will miss this summer’s World Cup. The Holland international picked up the injury in the 7th minute of yesterday’s game against Napoli. The 24-year-old is a long-term Manchester United target and as recently as last month was […]

Time for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger to take the FA Cup seriously Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:30 AM PDT When Roberto Mancini joined Manchester City, he initially targeted a domestic cup, preferably the FA Cup, and a top four finish. He felt that a bit of silverware would make an assault on the Premier League title easier the next season. The Citizens won the FA cup and finished third in his maiden season then […]

Video: Man Utd target Toni Kroos says Premier League move ‘is a possibility’ ahead of Arsenal clash Posted: 10 Mar 2014 07:06 AM PDT Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos says it is “no secret” that a move to the Premier League could be on the cards for him. The Germany international’s contract talks with the European champions are currently at a standstill and he has been widely linked with a move to Manchester United. Ahead of his side’s Champions […]

Captain Fantastic: Steven Gerrard – the quiet force behind Liverpool’s resurgence Posted: 10 Mar 2014 06:39 AM PDT Steven Gerrard initially broke into the senior team at Liverpool as a right-back and then a holding midfield. He spent his best years as a second striker or an attacking midfielder. He was very effective in the role as he spread the ball well, used his great passing range to provide a lot of assists […]

Man City duo Samir Nasri and Martin Demichelis not up to scratch for Manuel Pellegrini Posted: 10 Mar 2014 05:19 AM PDT There are a couple of things that Manuel Pellegrini needs to take from yesterday’s defeat to Wigan in the FA Cup. Martin Demichelis and Samir Nasri are players he must either improve or improve upon. There are certain flaws that a manger cannot improve in a player, for instance, the lack of pace when a […]

Why Jose Mourinho will not let Chelsea starlet Oscar join PSG Posted: 10 Mar 2014 04:36 AM PDT Reports over the weekend suggested that Chelsea midfielder Oscar could be on his way to Paris Saint-Germain in a £40m deal. That’s not going to happen. As most teams insist on possession based systems, most successful playmakers are similar. They are usually more efficient in limited spaces – think Andres Iniesta, David Silva and Mario […]

Manchester United ‘agree to sign’ Dimitri Oberlin Mfomo from FC Zurich Posted: 10 Mar 2014 04:10 AM PDT Manchester United have won the race to sign Swiss wonderkid Dimitri Oberlin Mfomo, according to media reports. The 16-year-old attacking midfielder has decided to join United this summer when his FC Zurich contract expires, claims the Sunday People. At that stage, Mfomo will be able to move for a small compensation package. United will reportedly […]

Thibaut Courtois to ‘run down Chelsea contract’ ahead of Real Madrid move Posted: 10 Mar 2014 04:00 AM PDT Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois plans to run down his Chelsea contract before moving to Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain. The Belgium international has spent that last three seasons on loan at Real’s city rivals Atletico Madrid. But he is set to become the first-choice keeper at the Bernabeu in 2016. Courtois is highly […]

Top 10 conclusions: Premier League weekend, 8-9 March Posted: 10 Mar 2014 02:17 AM PDT 1. This was the weekend of the dodgy headed backpass. Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker both cost their teams goals with crazy headers. 2. Following on from that, we can conclude that there were plenty of ill-advised nods of the head even though Alan Pardew’s Newcastle didn’t have a game. 3. Steven […]

GIF It: Man Utd team-mates playing in Robin Van Persie’s zones Posted: 10 Mar 2014 01:45 AM PDT Hot on the heels of Robin Van Persie’s suggestion that his Manchester United team-mates get in his way comes this compelling evidence. Wayne Rooney is the guilty party on this occasion, showing flagrant disregard for the sanctity of Van Persie’s zones by standing in the penalty area. The inevitable collision takes place. After last month’s […]

Spurs boss Tim Sherwood and the curious case of the missing ‘s’ Posted: 10 Mar 2014 01:32 AM PDT There’s little doubt that Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood showed a bit too much of his hand after Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea. Unless his post-match rant was a calculated measure to provoke a response from his team in next week’s north London derby, he might be reflecting at this stage that it would have been better […]

Man Utd prepare £30m raid on Southampton for Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana Posted: 10 Mar 2014 01:06 AM PDT Manchester United are planning a double-swoop on Southampton to sign Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana, according to reports. United boss David Moyes is ready to offer £30m for the England duo, claims the Daily Express. Given that Saints have been quoting that price for Shaw alone when his various suitors have enquired about his availability, […]

Manuel Pellegrini: Lack of pace handed Wigan victory vs Man City Posted: 10 Mar 2014 12:59 AM PDT Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini cited his team’s sluggish pace for the first 46 minutes as the reason for yesterday’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Championship side Wigan. The Chilean says his side only reacted when the Latics scored their second goal shortly after half-time. He said: “I think we had two games in the […]

Photo: Man Utd boss David Moyes spotted at Blackburn vs Burnley Posted: 10 Mar 2014 12:46 AM PDT For all the criticism he has received, you can’t argue that David Moyes has been watching a lot of football as he plans for a summer rebuild at Manchester United. One of his own players appears to be the target of his latest scouting mission. The United boss was at Ewood Park yesterday to watch […]

Tactical Review: Manchester City 1-2 Wigan Athletic Posted: 09 Mar 2014 12:46 PM PDT It is not easy to come up with tactics that can neutralise Manchester City at the Etihad. Many teams better on paper than Wigan have left with heavy losses this season. But Latics boss Uwe Rosler did just that and quickly realised his side could do better than just try to keep the side they […]

Man Utd ‘have not yet bid’ for Fenerbahce’s Salih Ucan Posted: 09 Mar 2014 10:22 AM PDT Manchester United are yet to make an offer for Fenerbahce youngster Salih Ucan despite their reported interest in him, according to his agent. Recent media reports have linked David Moyes’ side with the 20-year-old midfielder. Agent Omer Koray Uzun says only Italain side Roma have launched a firm offer for his client so far, but […]

Man Utd must finish sixth or higher to qualify for Europe Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:55 AM PDT Manchester United must finish sixth or higher in the Premier League this season if they want to play in Europe next term. This afternoon’s FA Cup semi-final draw guaranteed either Hull City or Sheffield United a place in the FA Cup final. A final between nailed-on Champions League qualifiers Arsenal or Manchester City would have […]

Hoffenheim’s Roberto Firmino ‘wanted by Liverpool and Man Utd’ Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:45 AM PDT Hoffenheim midfielder Roberto Firmino is a possible summer signing for Manchester United and Liverpool, according to media reports. The Sunday People claims that both Premier League sides are scouting the 22-year-old Brazilian. But they will face competition from Italian side Inter Milan, who are also said to be interested in Firmino. The former Figueirense youngster […]

Video: Hull’s David Meyler mock Newcastle boss Alan Pardew with corner flag headbutt Posted: 09 Mar 2014 09:27 AM PDT Hull midfielder David Meyler poked fun at Newcastle manager Alan Pardew with a corner flag headbutting goal celebration during today’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Sunderand. Meyler was on the receiving end of Pardew’s headbutt last weekend. Having kept his cool quite well at the time, he took his frustrations out on an innocent corner […]

GIF It: Phil Dowd trolls Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud over affair allegations Posted: 09 Mar 2014 08:35 AM PDT Fourth official Phil Dowd couldn’t resist this cheap shot at Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud during yesterday’s FA Cup win over Everton. Going through pre-substitution bureaucracy, Dowd asks the Frenchman whether he is wearing a wedding ring. Giroud confirms he’s not before Dowd twitches his eyebrows and shoots him a look that says: “I dare say […]

You are subscribed to email updates from Off The Post To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610