Where Do Chelsea Go From Here?

After Monday night's loss to Leicester City, Chelsea's flirtation with relegation and the troubles of Jose Mourinho in the Premier League has been given a lot of media attention. 

What is wrong with Chelsea? This is a question many have grappled with. But the answer to this question is not as straight forward as Chelsea supporters would like.

Many pundits in the British media have had their say as to what needs to be done for things to improve at Stamford Bridge. Some are of the opinion that certain players need to be shown the exit door while others like Jamie Carragher feel Mourinho's time is up.

Others such as Frank Lampard feel that Mourinho, although, needs time to turn things around, appears not to know what to do since this is the first time in his career he has had to deal with what seems to be a relegation dogfight.

In his post match interview after the defeat to Leicester, Mourinho appealed  to the Chelsea board and Roman Abramovich to stand by him because he intends to remain as manager and fix the problems with the squad's performances.

But how long Abramovich will heed this call is anybody's guess. He is not one to be too patient with failure as Roberto Di Matteo and Luis Felipe Scolari can attest. They were kicked out in situations that would be considered bliss now. Apparently, Mourinho's popularity, track record and reputation is what's keeping the "Special One" in a job.

With Chelsea lying 16th on the league table after 9 defeats, should Chelsea allow Mourinho to remain as manager so that he can oversee a change in the club's fortunes? Does he deserve it? If Roman Abramovich decides to pull the trigger on Mourinho's time at the club, who is out there that could galvanise the team? Is  Chelsea's predicament solely down to the actions or lack thereof  of Mourinho?

Some analysts are of the opinion that Chelsea's problems is more than just Mourinho not doing his job properly and the players under performing. It stretches up to the very top as far as Technical Director, Michael Emenalo. 

Looking at Chelsea's transfer policy since Mourinho's second coming, it is clear that there is some sort of disconnect between Mourinho and Emenalo. Players like Felipe Luis, Mohammed Salah, Juan Cuadrado, Papy, and others seem not to be the type of players Mourinho likes to deploy. And as a consequence, Mourinho hardly gives them much playing time.

This has led to the sales of the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku to other clubs. Then the policy of loaning out bit part players have also played a role in Chelsea's struggles as there seems to be no back up for injured and fatigued players. Players like Victor Moses who are in good form would have offered an alternative to Mourinho as Hazard struggles to reenact last season's form. Chelsea surely, could do with the attacking threat of the likes of Moses.

And speaking of players, Chelsea have serious issues with their current playing staff. Whether it is a coincidence that all Mourinho's trusted 'Generals' in the likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill,Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa are out of form at the same time will only be confirmed in the coming weeks if their form improves dramatically or Mourinho is fired (it is inconceivable to think that Roman Abramovich will not act decisively if the current meltdown continues).

But many critics are of the opinion that the under performing stars plight might be a combination of age catching up with  some of them like John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic and/or a mutiny is well and truly in progress in the dressing room. This is not out of the realms of possibility but what could cause a team to turn against their manager? 

Some have spuriously suggested that Mourinho lost the players support the moment he fell out with Dr Eva Carneiro. But this seems a bit too simplistic. Yes, some players might have been upset at how Dr Eva was treated but this happened in August. Come on, who holds a grudge that long because of a third party who was being made a scapegoat?

A more credible explanation for the poor form of key Chelsea players is that which has been alluded to Mourinho's methods which is physically draining to the players. The problems of Chelsea can be traced to last season when they managed to crawl over the line to win the league as they laboured to win games or held on for draws in their last 8 or 9 matches.

The warning signs were there, nobody heeded them. Now, it has led to a crisis and a fall that is more than anyone anywhere could have envisaged. Perhaps this is the reason why Mourinho after the Leicester City game made a damning statement that his players betrayed him because he brought them to the level  where they could compete and win trophies but were unable to repeat same this season.

How would Mourinho's men react to his criticism? Would they continue to struggle for form or will they raise their game to the levels we know they can? Whatever it is their response turns out to be, Mourinho has to act fast and tweak his squad so that they can claim maximum points in their next two home games against Sunderland and Watford.

But where does he need to make changes? John Terry may have to accept the fact that he is past his sell by date. He can't play games anymore at the level we know he used to. He needs to be dropped. Matic has to be motivated to regain his form of last season or anything close to it. John Obi Mikel does not look like a solution. Fabregas is no longer assisting unlike last season that he racked up assists such that he threatened to set a record. He has since faded as usual but has failed to come back this season. Mourinho may need to look at options on the bench to bring energy and creativity in midfield.

Diego Costa and Eden Hazard between them last season contributed 40 goals as Chelsea marched all the way to the title. But this season, only 4 goals have been scored between both forwards. A stat which shows the extent at which Chelsea has fallen this season. Diego needs competition which he at the moment isn't getting because Falcao and Remy have been out of their 

depth. Costa has been all aggression this season but no substance and has even drawn criticism from Mourinho himself. Had his form been okay, things might have been better. 

Eden Hazard on the other hand needs to rediscover his form quickly or Mourinho may need to give Kennedy a run in the team. But with reports suggesting Hazard and Mourinho already have a fractious relationship then someone has to eat humble pie for the benefit of the team.

The verdict though is that Chelsea's fortunes can be turned around by Jose himself if given time. Any other manager can as well because the Chelsea squad is a good one. This is based on the premise that the players are under performing not out of a desire to frustrate the manager but because of other variables already discussed. But will things get worse before they get better? Time will tell.

Can LVG Salvage Man United's Season?

After Manchester United's embarrassing exit from the Champions League at the hands of Wolfsburg in Germany, questions about Louis Van Gaal's tactics and methods have been brought to the fore again by analysts.

A group featuring the likes of Wolfsburg, PSV Eindhoven, and CSKA Moscow who are hardly European heavy weights is one a team of the status and calibre of United  should successfully negotiate through. This brutal failure to get past this stage is a huge wake up call to both deluded fans and the powers that be at Old Trafford.

How did Man United get to this sorry mess? LVG who was given a mandate to restore Man United into the Champions League after the ill fated David Moyes reign, achieved the goal but the club's sharp exit at the group stages is not what anyone with any ties with United had in mind.

The team's performance against Wolfsburg may have been valiant, but ultimately, they came up far below the standards required to progress further than the first round. This United team is regarded as a dull and boring side with a lack of pace and pedestrian movement. Many fans and critics alike have rightly pointed at LVG's system or philosophy as the reason for this style which contrived to produce a goalless draw against PSV which with the benefit of hindsight proved to be the game that sealed United's fate in the Champions League this season.

As Paul Scholes said, you wouldn't expect Wolfsburg or PSV to get past the round of 16. Yet, these are the teams (not Barcelona, not  Bayern Munich, not Real Madrid but Wolfsburg!) that eliminated Man United. What Scholes forgot to add is that on the evidence of that display in Germany, that United team would also not progress beyond the second round.

Michael Owen buttressed this fact when he said that LVG's transfer policy should be called into question when he said that the players that have been pushed out for those brought in would defeat Wolfsburg. He mentioned the likes of Vidic, Evra, Chicarito, Evans, Van Persie etc would defeat Wolfsburg easily if they were in his squad. 

Former Wales striker, John Hartson, believes that there hasn't been any significant progress with LVG in charge from the Moyes era. A transfer policy and squad management where Wayne Rooney is the only recognisable striker has to be slated. 

Javier Hernandez whom LVG sold to Bayer Leverkusen meanwhile has at this point scored 14 goals in 19 games for Leverkusen. How desperate would LVG be for such firepower now?

Wayne Rooney has come in for criticism for his performances this season but the performance against Wolfsburg shows that United's problems in attack is not down to Rooney alone. He may be past his best but LVG should receive a large share of the blame for the bluntness of United's attack. No one foresaw the scale of Rooney's regression even though the signs have been there a few years. But the fact that LVG only signed an unproven 19 year old from Monaco and let experienced strikers like Van Persie and Chicarito leave has to be a serious mistake on his part, one deserving of the sack were LVG a nonentity.

In LVG's defence, it has to be said that he hasn't had much luck with injuries. Luke Shaw's double fracture against PSV in the first leg started a run of injuries that has swept Valencia, Jones, Herrera, Rooney, Schnerderln, and now Darmian and Smalling.

These injuries though, reveal the hollowness in the squad. A lack of depth which is surprising considering the amount spent on the squad. Another minus for Van Gaal. 

What next for LVG now? Can he turn United's fortunes around? Should the top brass start thinking seriously about the direction United will be going after Van Gaal?

LVG can turn the fortunes of United if he wants to. However, as former United captain, Roy Keane said, it appears LVG has seen something many United fans don't want to admit: that the players, good they might be, aren't good enough for a club like Manchester United. And as a result, LVG has taken the safe option of making his team compact and difficult to breakdown so that the weakness in the squad won't be exposed. But the strategy has led to a sacrifice of a more fluid and dynamic style. 

As things stand, he has to raid the transfer market in January in the hopes of getting a dependable striker, particularly if Wayne Rooney's poor form continues. Perhaps, his current system could yet work if United had a dependable striker who will bury the few chances they create. 

United are only 3 points off league leaders Leicester City. The Premier League is quite open and with Chelsea out of the picture in the title race and also with Leicester City expected to falter as the title race begins to hot up, United have a good chance of winning the league if they can get a decent striker. A feat which will more than compensate for the early champions league ouster.

Football Still Remains A Uniting Sport

England and France yesterday went ahead with their international friendly match at Wembley after the deadly Paris terrorists attacks that claimed the lives of 129 people and injured hundreds more last Friday in a show of defiance, unity and respect between both nations.

The game ended 2-0 in favour of England with goals from Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur and Wayne Rooney of Manchester United. But it was a game where the score line or the performance was secondary.

It was a show of support by the English for their French rivals who were suffering at this time from the devastation of the attacks. 

England fans joined the French supporters in singing the national anthem. Flowers were laid by Prince William, French Manager Didier Deschamps, and Roy Hodgson.

The stadium was filled to capacity with 70,000 fans turning up to show support for the French. The game was attended by prime minister David Cameron, the Duke of Cambridge, the London Mayor and other dignitaries.

There was of course, the outpouring of emotion by some fans who could not hold back the tears and even the players' resolve would have been tested to the limits by the occasion. A moment's silence was held before kick off with the players and match officials having joint photographs taken in a show of solidarity with the French.

The game in which the French FA turned down a request by the English to be called off turned out to be a spectacle not on the field of play but in the display of unity, love, respect and in its message to the world and the terrorists particularly- Terrorism will not win. Good will always triumph over evil.

Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra, lost his cousin in the attacks and was given a standing ovation when he came on for Yohan Cabaye. Athletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann was also applauded after his sister narrowly escaped being murdered by the extremists at the Bataclan concert were most of the massacre occurred.

In Germany, the friendly between Germany and the Netherlands was called off an hour before kick off due to bomb threats to the Hannover stadium where the game was supposed to be played. Police searched through the stadium for explosives but none has been found yet. 

The friendly between Belgium and Spain was also called off due to security concerns since some of the suspects were Belgian nationals. 

So far, investigations and raids are ongoing in France, Belgium and Germany with different levels of success. However, it is important to note that what has happened in France occurs on a regular basis in the Middle East, Asia and in Africa. And there has been debates concerning the degree of coverage by the media of the Paris attacks when compared to the attacks in other third world countries which may not get near as much coverage as the one in France.

This post is not meant for taking sides or adding to the debate that is currently raging especially on social media over the  media's failure to report extensively or show sympathy or empathy to other atrocities else where. 

I will however say this, the media should learn to as much as possible, give due and balanced reporting to atrocities done all over the world. As I write, there are reports of a terrorist activity here in Yola, Nigeria were a bomb went off and killed over 30 people at a Tipper Garage. It is not getting any serious coverage as it should on world media.

All in all, football has shown once again that it can unite people of different race, creed, belief and religion no matter the circumstance. It also has the power to send a strong message to those opposed to peace and liberty. The game between France and England last night is a testament to that fact.

Moving On From The Drama In Brussels

The Super Eagles on Sunday defeated arch rivals Cameroun emphatically in Brussels and in some ways, the result will bring some calm and belief to the team after the whole fiasco which erupted between Vincent Enyeama and coach Sunday Oliseh and which in retrospect, may have impacted negatively on the team in their first outing against Congo DRC.

It was an encouraging performance which was aided by the rashness of the Cameroun skipper, Stephane Mbia. There were positives to be taken from the performance on the field of play and there is obviously still room for improvement both on it and off it.

The emergence of Leon Balogun in a central role, the energy and verve of Moses Simon, the assured confidence of John Obi Mikel, the movement of Sylvester Igbonu, and the confidence of Odion Ighalo whose purple patch at Watford continued here are some of the positives to be taken out of the game.

There was without doubt some negatives. The most glaring of which was the handling of the Vincent Enyeama situation. A lot has been said about what transpired in the media and since there has been a lot of unconfirmed statements , I prefer not to draw any conclusions from what has been said.

However, it is clear for all to see that Oliseh showed his managerial inexperience in the handling of the situation and going by what he tweeted recently, there is still a long way to go for him. 

Even though there is nothing wrong with being on social media, I find it extra ordinary that Oliseh is on twitter tweeting statements that could be misconstrued by his followers. I'm not aware of any 'top' manager of any team having a twitter account and tweeting thanks to fans and supporters and insinuating some Nigerians are 'true' while others are 'false' or 'liars'.

I doubt you would find a Mourinho, Wenger, Guardiola, Ancelotti and so on using twitter to thank the fans or passing any remarks about anything concerning their teams. It is what press conferences and post match interviews are meant for. 

Oliseh may seem a modern Nigerian coach, UEFA certified and a former FIFA instructor or something, but a bit of wisdom is always required when using social media.

He might have the full support of the NFF in these early days but he needs to remember that in football, things can change very quickly. If he is in doubt, let him ask Brendan Rodgers or even the 'Special One' himself, Jose Mourinho how swiftly things can change.

No doubt Oliseh is the boss now even though his lack of managerial experience should raise questions about his suitability for the job. And as such, he needs the backing of the NFF and Nigerians so that there will be no excuses if he fails. However, he needs to learn how to manage the egos of himself and the key players in the team.

The harsh reality of football is, when things get ugly, the manager usually gets shown the exit door while the players usually remain or return. Enyeama and John Obi Mikel have survived different Super Eagles coaches in the likes of Festus Onigbinde, Christian Chukwu, Berti Vogts, Amodu Shuaibu, Austin Eguavoen, Lars Lagerback, Samson Siasia and recently Stephen Keshi but they are still key players for the Super Eagles under Oliseh.

The manner in which Oliseh has gone about in stripping Enyeama of the captaincy and the fact that Enyeama was even considered for selection in a friendly not minding his psychological state shows Oliseh needs to brush up in his man management skills. The mere fact that Enyeama might be grieving the loss of a close family member was enough grounds to excuse him from a meaningless friendly in the first place. If he had done that, perhaps, Enyeama's forced retirement might have been averted. 

The NFF chairman, Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the NFF intend to organise a testimonial for Enyeama. As a result, he may have been persuaded to reverse his rather hasty decision to quit the national team. Going forward though, Oliseh needs to show why he is the boss by doing what top managers do in potentially tricky situations and thus, avoid a repeat of the farce that occurred in Belgium. Respect after all begets respect. 

This is not to say Enyeama should not shoulder some of the responsibility for the mess, but the coach is the one in charge and he should be able to handle conflict in a manner that will not affect the unity of the squad. Whether he likes it or not, player power is still very much in the Super Eagles like in many teams all over the world.

The Super Eagles will next month start their World Cup qualifiers campaign against Swaziland or Djibouti. Let's hope the problems in Belgium both on and off the pitch are resolved before they show up in the crucial games which if they do, may spell doom for the nation. Nigeria cannot afford to miss out on the African Cup of Nations back to back and possibly the World Cup all because of pride.

Does Mourinho Actually Suffer From The 'Third Season Syndrome'?

With results in the Premier League going south, Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho has been under pressure to turn results around quickly and arrest the slump that is Chelsea's worst since 1986. 

The hitherto rock solid defence of Chelsea is leaking goals like a fishing net. Thibaut Courtois could be out for a few months with a knee injury and Cesc Fabregas seems to have continued from where he left off last season with his poor form. This is not forgetting that Diego Costa has not been able to hit a barn door of late with just 1 goal all season.

Even Chelsea's transfer dealings this season have been suspect as unheralded players who are a gamble at best have been signed up to strengthen the squad. Falcao, Rahman, Begovic, Pedro and Papy were signed at the last transfer window but only Pedro and Begovic seem to be quality signings on paper. 

And as Chelsea languishes at the 17th position on the league table, many fans and the media are beginning to speculate whether this is not another case of a 'third season syndrome' that Mourinho is prone to with the teams he has managed in the past.

A journalist with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) was bold enough to suggest to Mourinho if the third season syndrome was the reason for Chelsea's uncharacteristic poor performance this season. The journalist got an angry response but  he also got an answer which for me settles this third season syndrome  argument.

According to Jose, there was no third season at FC Porto and Inter Milan as he didn't stay that long. In his first spell as Chelsea manager, he won the League Cup, the FA Cup and also led Chelsea to 2nd place in the league. At Real Madrid, he won the Spanish Super Cup, lost the Copa Del Rey final and also led Real Madrid to the runners up position.

These achievements are great by any standard. Teams like Man Utd, Liverpool or even Arsenal on current form will consider their season as very successful if they could achieve what Mourinho's teams have achieved in his problematic third seasons.

This is not to say that there are no merits in the argument for the third season syndrome. Mourinho's first spell with Chelsea was not turmoil free in his third season as his falling out with Roman Abramovich led to speculation whether he would remain the manager at the end of that season. 

He did remain the manager though but the seeds had already been sown. It was only a matter of time before Chelsea and Mourinho ended their relationship and after an indifferent start to the following season, Mourinho and Chelsea parted ways by mutual consent.

The Real Madrid experience was even more dramatic. In Mourinho's 3rd and last season at Real Madrid, he demoted Iker Casillas, lost control of the dressing room as a result of it as Madrid players sided with Casillas, and he then became a pariah with sections of Madrid fans for the toxic relationship he was having with iconic players of the club. 

Based on these two case studies, it is clear for even a blind man to see that Mourinho has had stormy third seasons and there is a precedent for what he is experiencing now. He has already fallen out with first team doctor Eva Carneiro after she and the physio ran into the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in Chelsea's opening league fixture with Swansea in the dying moments when Chelsea were hanging on. He publicly accused Dr Eva of not understanding the game.

There have been speculations in the British media that Chelsea players are getting disillusioned with Jose and the handling of the Carneiro saga. Substituting John Terry at half time in the Man City league fixture has also been pointed out as a sign of the cracks already in the squad. So, going by Mourinho's record of having fractious relationships in his third season, this is obviously a good pointer to the existence  of a third season syndrome.

However, when people make references to the third season syndrome, most people look at it from the perspective of Mourinho's results on the pitch and not his problems off it. With this in mind, it is safe to say, based on results which is what really counts, that the third season syndrome is a myth. Therefore, there needs to be an accurate definition of what this third season syndrome is when referring to Mourinho. I believe the answer is apparent.

Oliseh's First Game Is One To Forget

Sunday Oliseh began his reign as Super Eagles manager on a mediocre note as the Super Eagles played out a drab goalless draw with the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Daresalaam.

It was a game the Super Eagles were clearly second best. Oliseh had debutante, Carl Ikeme, to thank for the score line as he made a couple of excellent saves that stopped Tanzania from getting a victory that could have condemned Oliseh to a defeat in only his first game in charge.

If Oliseh did not realise the enormity of the task he had inherited when he took over from Stephen Keshi, he would now after watching this performance. The Eagles were quite painful to watch. 

The same old problems remain for the Super Eagles. A lack of creative midfielders, bang average forwards and a shaky back line. These areas remain a conundrum for the Nigerian national team managers. The most glaring weakness of the team is the midfield which is key to many a successful team. 

The Super Eagles midfielders who were on the field of play in Dare salaam failed to make a case for their continued inclusion in the national team as their performance was not up to scratch. Obiorah Nwankwo who is a defensive midfielder, failed to provide the protection the defence needed to contain the Taifa Stars who were able to breach the Super Eagles defence easily.

Haruna Lukman who was a surprise call up in the first place, failed woefully to justify his recall to the squad with a performance so dire that Oliseh felt he had seen enough after 35 minutes and quickly hooked him off and replaced him with Sylvester Igboun.

The attack fared slightly better than the midfield with some attempts on goal through Emmanuel Emenike, although, I can't recall Tanzania goal keeper, Ally Mustapha,making any save of note as most of the attempts on goal either went wide or were blocked by a well organised Tanzania defence. A poor midfield didn't help matters as they were unable to unlock a resolute Tanzania defence.

The defence came out of this game unscathed for a second game in a row. This however, cannot be said to be as a result of the excellent performance of the back line but a combination of good fortune, poor marksmanship and world class goalkeeping from our goal keepers. When the Super Eagles lock horns with the Pharaohs of Egypt in their next two games, they should not expect them to be as generous as the Tanzanians.

The midfield failed to provide adequate cover for the defence and so the defence was easily breached. But the Tanzanians ran into an inspired and an in form Ikeme who ensured that the absence of first choice, Vincent Enyeama, who had to be excused due to a family bereavement was not missed.

So what positives can we take out of this game? The one positive that can be taken out of this game is the performance of Carl Ikeme. Ikeme who is currently the goal keeping number 2 at English club Wolverhampton Wanderers, showed that he is more than a capable deputy to Vincent Enyeama and should probably go on to be his successor after Enyeama hangs his gloves after the 2017 African Cup of Nations in Gabon (if Nigeria qualifies of course).

The other positive is that the Super Eagles have not conceded yet. And when you don't concede, you can't lose. But if you don't score, you can't win either...

A draw has to go down as a positive result for Oliseh if the display in Daresalaam is anything to go by because frankly, the Super Eagles deserved to get beat. A repeat of such a show against Egypt especially in Cairo could spell an embarrassing defeat. 

What does Coach Sunday Oliseh have to do to keep the Super Eagles on track? He should be having Ogenyi Onazi back from suspension in the next game. His presence should bring some solidity and threat from the midfield. John Obi Mikel's presence in midfield remains influential until we find another flair player of his calibre or if the likes of Joel Obi become available.

The defence is decent enough. With good protection from the defensive midfield the defenders should be able to cope with the likes of Mohammed Salah and company. The right back position which has been a problematic area for the Super Eagles has not been fully sorted even though the team appears to be gradually reaching a long term solution for that position. Solomon Kwambe had a decent performance but the jury is still out on him after all, he only played because Leon Balogun (a centre back by trade) pulled out because of injury.

As for the forwards, a swift recall for the likes of Victor Moses and Sone Aluko is imperative. Since the attacking/creative midfield jigsaw puzzle defies solution at this point in time, we need the trickery and threat of these two wingers to score goals. Oliseh should also try and test the resolve of Jordan Ibe and Victor Anichebe and see if he can convince them to play for Nigeria. 

If the likes of Lukman Haruna can earn a call up to the Super Eagles, I don't see any reason why these players including players such as Kelechi Iheanacho ( who surely, can't do any worse than Haruna) can't have invitations extended to them.

Manchester United Starting To Shape Up Nicely

Manchester United Striker, Wayne Rooney ended his 10 game goal drought by scoring a hat trick in Manchester United's Champions League second leg play off fixture with Belgian side, Club Brugge in Brussels to send Manchester United to the lucrative Champions League group stages. 

Rooney had prior to this game, come in for intense flak from critics for his poor form in front of goal for both club and country with suggestions that he was past his sell by date and needed to either be pushed into a midfield role or axed from the first team squad. But his performance in Belgium reminded the critics what he is capable of and United will hope that Rooney's season will kick off from here.

In as much as Rooney's performance against Club Brugge was impressive, this game needs to be seen from the perspective of a team practically in tatters. Club Brugge was a team that already knew the game was over even before a ball was kicked. 8 of their first team squad players were out due to injury and Club Brugge manager, Michel Preud'Homme stated earlier that they needed a miracle to scale through to the group phase of the Champions League. This was a team that was just going through the motions.

Be that as it may, you can only beat what is in front of you. Besides, United have struggled to beat inferior opposition already this season, no disrespect to the likes of Newcastle, Aston Villa or Totenham Hotspurs. However, Manchester United manager, Louis Van Gaal can be relieved that his first choice striker is beginning to find his scoring touch again.

Which brings us to the logical question of what happens if Rooney's goal drought returns with a vengeance in the non distant future or if he sustains a serious injury. After back up striker, Javier Hernandez's profligacy in front of goal against Club Brugge, will LVG change his mind about signing another striker? Will he still give Javier Hernandez a chance?

The look LVG gave his assistant, Ryan Giggs after Hernandez missed his penalty smacks of someone who didn't want Hernandez coming on initially but was persuaded by Giggs to give the player a run out to prove himself. It appears that look at Giggs was one of vindication after Hernandez's howler. 

Hernandez didn't cover himself with glory later on after he blasted over the bar from 6 yards with the goal at his mercy when he was fed a low cross by Ashley Young. The wastefulness aside, Hernandez got into good scoring positions. What was lacking was the elusive goal which will come if these opportunities keep presenting themselves and as long as he gets picked.

It is clear that Hernandez is a little short on confidence and LVG needs to assure him that he has a future with United. Looking at Hernandez facial expression, you see a man looking unhappy and lacking confidence. This has to be addressed. Apart from the failure  to score goals, he looked a capable deputy for Wayne Rooney. As LVG has kept faith with Rooney, he needs to have faith in Hernandez.

Inspite of this, LVG needs to make up his mind if he hasn't already, if he needs another dependable striker. Even though it's still early days yet, it appears that the two top strikers United have, will have days when things won't go right in front of goal for them and so there needs to be someone who LVG can count on to deliver the goods.

That person is not James Wilson. In the long term, that person will not be Marouane Fellaini as LVG would want us to believe unless he goes on a scoring run that defies what we've seen from him over the years. Definitely, James  Wilson is one for the future but we've not seen anything that suggests Wilson can do a 'Harry Kane'. LVG needs to be sure he knows what he is doing. 

More sterner tests await Manchester United. They travel to Swansea on Sunday. LVG will probably find out if he has gotten the perfect central defence pairing when they come up against Bafetimbi Gomis and Andre Ayew. Chris Smalling and Daley Blind have been solid at the centre of defence and have only conceded only once in 5 games in all competitions but Swansea is a different prospect. Irrespective of the outcome of that game, one thing is sure, Smalling is a sure starter for the United first team. It appears he has come of age and is starting to fulfill the potential Sir Alex Ferguson saw when he signed him from Fulham.

Midfielder, Ander Herrera should be given a run of games in attacking midfield. He was great in the second half against Brugge when the introduction of Bastian Schweinsteiger gave him the freedom to attack.

If United are to succeed this season, LVG must use this second half performance against Brugge using the  personnel and tactics involved as a template on which to build on.

Has Mourinho Gone Too Far?

There seems to be more trouble for Chelsea first team doctor, Eva Caneiro, as Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho, has elected to limit Eva Caneiro's influence on the squad after Mourinho publicly criticised her for rushing into the pitch to treat Eden Hazard who went down seemingly injured while Chelsea were hanging on in their premier league game opener against Swansea.

According to reports, Dr Eva's job description will be modified. She will no longer attend training sessions, be in the team's hotel nor be on the bench on match day. She however, will retain her post as first team doctor.

Mourinho was visibly upset with Dr Eva as her treatment of Hazard on the pitch caused Chelsea to be temporarily left with only 8 outfield players as Thibaut Courtois had been sent off earlier for a professional foul on Bafetimbi Gomis. And as the rules state, a player who has to be treated by his team's medical staff has to be taken off the pitch in order to curtail deliberate time wasting by players.

After the game, Mourinho criticised his medical staff for their failure to understand the game and categorically stated that Hazard was not injured but merely exhausted and should have not been treated.

If the reports of the Daily Telegraph, who broke the story about the shake up in the Chelsea medical department, are to be believed then it is a shake up gone too far. Dr Eva's rescue mission firstly, was not the reason Chelsea failed to beat Swansea and her intervention did not lead to Chelsea conceding a third goal.

One can only imagine Mourinho's reaction had Chelsea fallen behind because of the incident. And even if she had not intruded, there is no guarantee  that Hazard in his tired state would have changed the outcome of the match had he remained on the pitch.

Is Mourinho's reform in the Chelsea medical department a coincidence? It has to be said that last season, Mourinho clamoured for improvement from his medical team. But it appears the Swansea fiasco has become the catalyst Mourinho needed to speed up the improvement he wants.

But is Mourinho's handling of the situation okay? Will there be repercussions that could affect the team?  Are Dr Eva Caneiro's days with Chelsea numbered?

The handling of the situation has been far from okay even though Jose Mourinho could be forgiven for losing his cool and showing his frustrations at the manner in which the game was panning out and thus, take his frustrations out on his medical staff. He however, regained his composure quickly and deflected attention from Chelsea's poor showing to Dr Eva's 'mistake'.

It is unclear for now how Mourinho will structure the match day medical staff but it has to be said that his medical staff have been excellent in keeping a large number of his players fit, most especially the key members of the squad. And axing Dr Eva for an action which wasn't totally her fault (Hazard should share some of the blame too for acting like he needed medical attention) is tantamount to looking for a scape goat. 

Dr Eva's primary responsibility is to provide medical attention to the players and that is exactly what she did. The Daily Telegraph also reported that Hazard actually signalled the medical staff to come to his aid. Therefore, Mourinho should have reserved his criticism for Hazard whose attempt at creating an injury break backfired.

Mourinho wants his staff to understand the gamesmanship that go on in a football match but this re-organisation of his medical staff looks more punitive rather than educational.

With Dr Eva's role change taking effect immediately, will she leave the club? Mourinho most likely must have tendered an apology to Dr Eva privately for the public dressing down but will Dr Eva not feel undermined by her boss and as a result leave if not now but in the future? Only time will tell.

Is Man United Right To Let Di Maria Leave?

Argentine winger, Angel Di Maria, has finally gotten his 'dream move' to French champions, Paris Saint Germain, after a difficult season at Old Trafford. PSG announced on twitter his move to the Paris club for a reported £44.4 million pounds. Manchester United as a result, will be making a loss of roughly £15 million pounds after they made him their record signing when they signed him from Real Madrid for £59 million pounds last season.

His move to PSG brings to an end a somewhat embarrassing situation for Louis Van Gaal who has had to face the media and answer questions about Di Maria's whereabouts after he failed to join his team mates in their United States pre-season tour.

Di Maria was expected to join the Manchester United squad after being given an extended break due to his exploits with Argentina at the Copa America in late July but he refused to board a flight to America and went 'AWOL'. His absence was criticised in several quarters as unprofessional and an attempt to engineer the PSG move which has ultimately succeeded.

But should United have let Di Maria go so soon? With his talent, track record and the transfer fee Man United had to pay for his signature from Real Madrid, surely,he is worth another crack of the whip? One could argue that there isn't any point in keeping an unhappy player as his refusal to join up with his team mates show. No doubt, Angel Di Maria is one of the genuine world class players around. His initial promise last season when he scored against Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City shows that he is one who could have been given another chance if his situation was handled better.

Critics will however point out that this potential that we saw early last season and how his performances began to drop is what makes him an expensive flop. 

History shows us that several South Americans have struggled at Manchester United. Sadly, Di Maria has not only joined that list, he has become the biggest flop of them all. Other players who failed to make a solid impression at Old Trafford include Argentine midfielder, Juan Sebastian Veron, Brazil's Kleberson, Uruguay's Diego Forlan, and Brazil's Anderson. However, Di Maria's talent gave the average Manchester United follower belief that he would not end up the same way as his predecessors. Surprisingly, he was the quickest to be shown the exit door.

It is also very likely now that he has finally left for PSG, that many Manchester United supporters will be wondering what might have been had he clicked last season. Or at least, had put more effort on the pitch when he played than what he displayed for United last season in order for LVG to give him another bite at the cherry.

His performances and body language however, is being pointed out by his detractors as the reason why it is the right decision for United to let him go. Certainly, the pre-season no show is a pointer to what has been going through his mind for several months.

Many times last season when he was not injured, he looked disinterested and unmotivated. He ended up being subbed regularly by LVG and at some point lost his place to Ashley Young who seemed motivated to keep Di Maria out of the starting line up.

What could have been the reason for his poor attitude? Many have argued that LVG  switching him in different positions immensely contributed to his poor performances. It has also been argued that the attempted break in by burglars at his home greatly unsettled him and his family and may have also contributed to his loss of form. These explanations, though valid, do not excuse a player for not giving 100%.

True, LVG experimented a lot last season while trying to get the right balance, best formation and first choice line up but Di Maria for all the money he is worth and with the hefty salary he drew, ought to know that more was expected from him than what he was willing to showcase. No matter how difficult a league's playing style may be, it is a player's job to adapt to the rigours of playing in any league. 

Diego Costa and Alexis Sanchez both came from La Liga after having excellent seasons with their clubs and were able to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League and went ahead to flourish. Di Maria also joined United on the back of another excellent season with Madrid but failed to live up to the great expectations fans and neutrals had of him. 

Granted, not all players excel from the out set when they join a new club especially in a different country and culture. But Angel Di Maria is a world class professional and ought to have stayed the course and try to redeem a reputation that was badly damaged last season but it appears he decided to take the easy option.

The easy option being Paris Saint Germain, who as rumours would have us believe was his preferred destination all along. It is being speculated that he would have joined PSG from Madrid and snubbed Manchester United had the Financial Fair Play hammer not been on PSG. 

What is left now for United is to hope that their decision to let a player whose dedication to the United course which was questionable leave, becomes one of the smartest decisions they have taken since the post Ferguson era.

Will This Be Arsenal's Year?

After 11 years and 14 attempts, it's 14th time lucky for Arsene Wenger as his Arsenal side on Sunday defeated arch rivals, Chelsea 1-0 in the Community Shield at Wembley with the solitary goal coming from the boots of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain.

The no love lost relationship between Wenger and his opposite number Jose Mourinho which had been on display between both parties in the build up to the game continued after the final whistle when Wenger failed to acknowledge Mourinho by avoiding the traditional handshake between managers.

It was hardly a stroll in the park for Arsenal as they were made to work hard for their victory with a dogged and resilient defensive performance especially in the second half when Chelsea were desperate for an equaliser.

One thing is certain, a psychological barrier has been crossed by Arsenal and their fans can look forward to the new season with genuine belief that they can challenge for the title.

But can they?

Arsenal easily defeated Manchester City 3-0 last season in the Community Shield but they still ultimately came up short in the title race. Is there any reason for Arsenal fans to believe that this could be their year?

One thing is certainly different, they have a genuine world class keeper in Petr Cech. His efforts in the game against Chelsea showed what Arsenal have been missing since David Seaman and Jens Lehmann quit the Gunners. Roman Abramovich and Jose Mourinho must now be wondering why they let Cech join a direct rival, sentiment or not.

It is already clear that at key moments during the premier league season, Cech is going to come to Arsenal's rescue just like David De Gea did for Manchester United last season and salvage a victory or two which could be pivotal to their title hopes.

If pre-season form is anything to go by, Chelsea looks like the only stumbling block to Arsenal's title ambitions. Manchester City does not look like a team that will stop Arsene Wenger's side with the quality of their transfer business so far while Liverpool and Manchester United have invested heavily again this season. An air of unpredictability of what to expect from both teams exists. Quite difficult to judge whether the new signings will pay off or back fire spectacularly.

On the other hand, if we look at what history has taught us, it is too soon to judge if Arsenal based on this performance, will actually become serious title challengers come start of the season. Arsenal claimed a few scalps last season when they faced the big boys but were undone by embarrassing losses to the likes of Stoke, Southampton and Swansea.

Wenger and every Arsenal supporter out there knows that their rivals have strengthened and will still strengthen. They need to find an excellent partner for Laurent Koscielny and a decent back up for Francis Coquelin because like it or not, Mourinho's team and other members of the big 6 will improve as the season progresses.

The challenge for Arsenal undoubtedly is to replicate Wembley's performance for 38 league matches and also in Europe. It is appears that Wenger after going trophy less for 9 years has learned some tough lessons and one of them is, there is no shame in playing dirty or rugged when you play an equally strong or stubborn opponent when necessary. At the end of the day, it is the result that really matters.