Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Australian FourFourTwo

You can follow me or send me a tweet on @KevinAirs442 Even without a World Cup or a European Championship, the European offseason has been and gone in a blink of an eye, thanks to the cavalcade of stars we've seen make the long trek Down Under to play in Australia. Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Roma made the long winter nights fly by – even if some of the perfomances at the MCG were a little pre-season! But with them all back home again now, it's time for everyone to get back down to business...and we've got the definitive guide to the EPL and Europe's key leagues right here. And most importantly, of course, it's time to create your new season EPL Fantasy Footy team! Join…

I knew I’d made it as a player when acknowledged by my peers. The Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) Player’s Player of the Year award would be my greatest personal accolade. I was happiest when I was playing football with my friends. I would always rather play a game of football than watch, except perhaps when I was watching the Socceroos. My hero growing up was my father. He was kind, wise and loving. Playing for South Melbourne at Middle Park gave me a lifetime of cherished memories and forever instilled my love of football. I will always be grateful for those days and the people who made my time at the club so special. My proudest moment on the park was being selected as a Socceroo. It was particularly special…

EVERTON DIDN’T PERFORM AS WELL AS EXPECTED LAST SEASON. WHAT WOULD YOU PUT THAT DOWN TO? Poor individual errors and not being clinical enough – they’re the two major areas where we weren’t good enough last season. We review every game and look at what we’ve done wrong. We know we’ve been individually poor in certain aspects of the game and we’re always trying to work on those things on the training pitch. WHAT ARE YOUR AIMS FOR THE NEW SEASON? We’ve got to get back to what we did the season before last. We showed glimpses last season but there are a few things we’ve got to improve on; just minor tweaks to our game, which will go a long way. I don’t think we should put too much…

This season will be different to last because experiencing the top flight for the first time is going to be very surreal. Our most underrated player is Andrew Surman. He reads the game very well and keeps our possession-based game ticking over, making everything look very easy while everyone else takes the plaudits. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Stephane Zubar, hasn’t played for us since October 2012. We all thought he was finally set to leave this summer but amazingly our promotion to the Premier League triggered a brand new one-year deal in his contract. One change I’d make at our club is a slightly bigger ground – nothing massive; just 16-18,000 so we could get more fans in to enjoy the entertaining football that Eddie…

This season will be different to last because there’ll be no European football. Our most underrated player is James McCarthy – Mr Consistency last year. Keep an eye out for John Stones. It should be his year if he can keep up the end-of-season form. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Arouna Kone. He seems happy to take a camel, too. The best away fans are Leicester’s, who deserve credit for helping keep them up. The best away ground is Upton Park: a good atmosphere and we usually get a result. It’s a shame it’s the last season there. The opposition player I secretly admire is Sergio Aguero. He’s scarily good. One change I’d make at our club is to sort out a ground move to make…

This season will be different to last because with the burden of Financial Fair Play now lifted, City should have enough clout to breathe new life into an ageing squad. Our most underrated player is Sergio Aguero. It might sound silly, but he’s overlooked when individual awards are being handed out. One change I’d make at our club is to have them practising corners, because we were laughably abysmal at them last season. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Fernando. An incredibly underwhelming debut season means he will need to improve drastically. The opposition player I secretly admire is Juan Mata. He comes across as humble, intelligent and articulate and is a stylish player to boot. Keep an eye out for Belgian centre-half Jason Denayer and Nigerian…

This season will be different to last because Alex Neil has brought positivity, optimism and improvement in the way the team plays. Also, most of the squad have Premier League experience. Our most underrated player is Bradley Johnson – outstanding last season. The best away fans are Crystal Palace’s: lots of noise. One change I’d make at our club is ground expansion. I’d love to see more Norwich fans in the ‘Carra’; we constantly sell out, so it is warranted. The opposition player I secretly admire is David Silva. He has real quality and can unlock the tightest defence. Keep an eye out for Conor McGrandles, a 19-year-old no-nonsense midfielder. Norwich fans need to follow either @BigGrantHolt or the legend @ hucks6dh6. Our pantomime villain is Bournemouth’s Tyrone Mings. Now…

This season will be different to last because we’ll have a different style of play, which will hopefully mean we’ll score more goals and win more games. Keep an eye out for Duncan Watmore, a young winger expected to shine. The player I’d happily drive to another club is John O’Shea – a good captain, but his recent performances haven’t been up to standard. One change I’d make at our club is to get rid of some of the seating areas at the Stadium of Light (for safe standing). Sunderland fans need to follow@ConnorWickham10. He’s always good value. The opposition player I secretly admire is Leighton Baines – a top left-back. Our pantomime villain is Chelsea’s Ramires. He seems to have a sinister side. Save the date for October 24,…

This season will be different to last because we’ll be in the Premier League, have another new head coach and plenty of new faces. Oh, and that new kit. Keep an eye out for Matej Vydra. He didn’t do it at West Brom, but he’ll be far better in the Prem with us. One change I’d make at our club is red shorts. Watford fans need to follow @WatfordTalk. The opposition player I secretly admire is Saints’ James Ward-Prowse, a player I think will keep on improving. Save the date for day one at Goodison Park. It’s all we’re thinking about. Our pantomime villain is Brendan Rodgers. He’ll get a lot of stick when we play Liverpool because of the way in which he left our club. He spoke publicly…

WILL THE PRESSURE OF THE LAST SEASON AT UPTON PARK BE TOO MUCH? And so we’ve arrived at West Ham’s final season at their beloved Boleyn Ground. Dipped in a barrel of misery and angst from Labour politicians, taxpayers and Barry Hearn, the club’s much-maligned move to the Olympic Stadium is now just a year away. And what a move it is. The new facility is stellar, but it brings with it an absolute truth for everyone involved at the club: Premier League football is the minimum requirement for the start of the 2016-17 season and beyond. That kind of no-nonsense target can bring its own particular type of primal fear; the type that turns capable players into gibbering “GET RID!” numpties and brings out a stubborn, bloody-minded bunker-mentality in…

WHAT’S NEW? After tossing aside the apparently incompetent Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez flicked to the last remaining name in his managerial Rolodex before he had to start rehiring his previous coaches and coaxing Carlos Queiroz back. Rafael Benitez has quite the to-do list. 1: Get the backing of players and fans who were rather fond of the Italian stallion. 2: Win literally everything. And 3: Lose weight – well, according to scurrilous press reports claiming this was an order from his bosses. Meanwhile, Rafael van der Vaart has rocked up at Real Betis having been named the Bundesliga’s biggest flop by his fellow players, Gael Kakuta has joined Sevilla after eight enriching years at Chelsea and, speaking of dodgy deals, new Barcelona signing Aleix Vidal can have…

WHAT’S NEW? Juventus have swapped Boca-bound Carlos Tevez with the nomadic Mario Mandzukic (at his fourth club in five years since leaving Croatia) in their search for a record-equalling fifth consecutive Scudetto. It won’t be quite so easy in 2015-16, though. Both Milan clubs are trying to show they’re no longer jokes by finding billionaires to bankroll them – early purchases include midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and centre-back Miranda for Inter, and strikers Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano for Milan – while Roma and Lazio both have title ambitions and so do Napoli now they’ve shaken off Rafa Benitez, who needed just two seasons to take the Partenopei from second to fifth while spending $200m. THE GAFFERS Of the league’s 20 managers, 17 are Italian – the joint-highest homegrown ratio in…

GK NIGEL MARTYN Nigel was one of the senior pros I most looked up to when I was a youngster at Leeds. As a goalkeeper, he was reliable with the bread-and-butter stuff, but he pulled off some phenomenal saves, too. RB SERGIO RAMOS At 29, he has won the World Cup, the Euros twice and over 125 caps for Spain. He was in midfield when he joined Real Madrid aged 19; now he’s outstanding at right-back and in central defence. CB RIO FERDINAND Rio was so comfortable on the ball, able to step into midfield with no problem – and he could defend all day long. Nothing flustered him. He was the perfect calming influence in defence. CB LEDLEY KING If it wasn’t for Ledley’s injuries, we’d be talking about…

1 Striker! Sweeper! Defender! Not a literary tribute to Luis Enrique’s versatility, but a trilogy of novels to rival Tolkien – at least if you’re a big Steve Bruce fan, as the three books are so rare they sell for $160-plus. Each. Published in 2000 when Bruce was manager of Huddersfield Town, our hero is Steve Barnes (subtle), manager of Leddersfield Town (less so), who solves murders in his spare time. One Amazon review calls it “one of the most poorly written books I’ve ever read... yet hugely satisfying.” 2 Lasagne-gate in 1939 One of football’s first silver-screen forays, 1939’s The Arsenal Stadium Mystery pitted the Gunners against fictional amateurs the Trojans. When a Trojan drops dead, poisoned, Scotland Yard’s eccentric Detective Inspector Anthony Slade (Leslie Banks) takes…

FACT FILE Full name Gary Alexander Neville Date of birth 18/02/1975 Place of birth Bury, Greater Manchester Height 5ft 11in Position Right-back Club 1992-2011 Manchester United 604 games (7 goals) International career 1995-2007 England 85 (0) Honours Premier League 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009; FA Cup 1996, 1999, 2004; Champions League 1999, 2008; Intercontinental Cup 1999; League Cup 2006, 2010; FIFA Club World Cup 2008 Gary Neville walks into a lift and presses a button marked ‘Heaven’. Old Trafford’s Hotel Football, into which Neville, brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have invested time and money, overlooks Britain’s biggest club ground and ‘Heaven’ is its top floor, with views over the stadium forecourt to one side and the mini-Manhattan of Salford Quays to the other,…

This season will be different to last because of Tim Sherwood. I’m not sold on him yet but, hey, at least it will be exciting. Villa fans need to follow Joe Lolley (@Lolleyj10, right) – Huddersfield forward but a Villa fan. Our most underrated player is Ciaran Clark, although not by Aston Villa supporters. We really missed him towards the back end of the campaign. Our pantomime villain is Jose Mourinho. He plays it so well. One change I’d make at our club is the owner. I said that last year; he’s still here. The best away fans are Manchester United’s: great array of songs, always loud. The best away ground is Goodison. It’s history there which you don’t get at the new-builds. The player I’d happily drive to another…

This season will be different to last because we’re going to have the same manager for the entire season [below]. Our most underrated player is James McArthur. He’s been indispensable in midfield. Keep an eye out for Sullay Kaikai. He made his debut and scored against Newcastle, then went on loan and was voted Cambridge United’s young player of the year and still managed to win the same award at Palace. Our pantomime villain is Jose Mourinho. Nuff said. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Zeki Fryers. Why sign him? Palace fans need to follow Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG). He’s always honest – and puts up some good holiday snaps! The best away fans are Southampton’s – the scarf display last season was memorable. The oppposition player I…

This season will be different to last because we’re going about our transfer business early, preventing ill-advised risks. Keep an eye out for Sheyi Ojo. He looked very lively on loan at Wigan last season. The best away ground is White Hart Lane. I’d go every week considering our last few visits there. Our most underrated player is Adam Lallana. Even with his injuries he still delivered more than most. There’s more to come. Liverpool fans need to follow @TheAnfieldWrap – essential, win or lose. The best away ground grub is Old Trafford; there are good chippies nearby. The opposition player I secretly admire is Ander Herrera. United sorted their season out once Van Gaal started him. Save the date for the immediate return to Stoke. It could be make…

This season will be different to last because we won’t be in a relegation battle on the last day of the season (I hope). The best away ground is The Hawthorns – there’s usually a decent atmosphere there. The best away fans are Manchester United’s. They travel in numbers and make a lot of noise. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Yoan Gouffran. I’d give him a piggy back if I had to. Our most underrated player is Ayoze Perez [right]. He’s got a touch of class. One change I’d make at our club is a standing section in the ground – apart from the obvious change of a new owner. Newcastle fans need to follow@alanshearer. He seems to take the stick well now he’s on Twitter.…

This season will be different to last because we’ll have signed those couple of ‘next level’ players we need to be excellent. The best away ground is Swansea’s Liberty Stadium: great day out, nice ground, great scenery, excellent boozers. The opposition player I secretly admire is Morgan Schneiderlin. He’s everything a holding midfielder should be. One change I’d make at our club is to bin off Happy by Pharrell after home wins. Rotten tune. Our pantomime villain is somewhat bizarrely, Danny Rose. The Spurs man always seems to find a way to wind up Stokies. Our most underrated player is Glenn Whelan, the tigerish, metronomic maestro. Save the date for August 9. Liverpool, vanquished 6-1 on the final weekend of last season, return to the Britannia Stadium to face the…

This season will be different to last because Pochettino has steadied Spurs after a few years of comedy. Fifth place last year is a good place to build from. Our most underrated player is Kieran Trippier. He could prove a great replacement for the injury-prone Kyle Walker. Keep an eye out for Nabil Bentaleb. He had a powerful second half of the season; hopefully this one will be just as good. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Younes Kaboul: way past his best, and nowhere near the first team. The best away ground is Newcastle. One change I’d make at our club is to clear out the players bought with the Bale money that haven’t worked out, and reinvest. Spurs fans need to follow @HotspurRelated for news;…

This season will be different to last because of a new manager and a new style in our final season at the beloved Boleyn. Our most underrated player is Cheikhou Kouyate. He was overshadowed by other new signings, but looked almost frightening at times. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Kevin Nolan. Why was he given such a long-term contract? The best away ground is the Emirates; shame about the lack of atmosphere. West Ham fans need to follow@davidgold. Our co-chairman’s inability to match a player and his photo entertains. The opposition player I secretly admire is Eden Hazard, even if he is a blue. He could dribble a ball through Liverpool Street station at rush hour. Keep an eye out for Reece Oxford – our youngest…

WHAT’S NEW? For the first time in years, it won’t be Borussia Dortmund challenging Bayern Munich, but Wolfsburg. The latter’s fine season – the German Cup winners finished second – is seen as the beginning of a golden age rather than a one-off silver medal. They have access to the deep pockets of car-pushers Volkswagen and have added Gladbach’s Germany international Max Kruse to a frontline featuring the inimitable Lord Bendtner and the inglorious Bas Dost. So, all eyes are on the Wolves – including 18 hawk eyes. The Bundesliga’s new goal-line technology will be Britain’s Hawk-Eye, first used in cricket in 2001. THE GAFFERS It’s amazing what a well-timed sabbatical can do for your reputation. In 2014, when Thomas Tuchel had led Mainz to safety for the fifth season…

Having extended its relationship with A-League club Perth Glory and establishing strong ties at grassroots level, Macron is one of the fastest growing brands in the Australian game. The European sportswear giants have left a lasting impression with Glory, where they’ve helped grow the club’s merchandising revenue and provided unique opportunities for supporters, like the fan-designed third kit for Australia Day and the limited edition custom designed home jersey that’s yet to be released. While already a powerhouse in Europe, where household names like Lazio, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Hajduk Split all wear Macron kits, the Italian company has identified Australia as being a huge emerging market in world football and have established themselves as one of the big players in the Australian football apparel scene. Along with the…

MISSED PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES ON TRANSFER DAY 10% Reading Chekhov’s A Reluctant Tragic Hero 10% Wearing a red and-white checked suit 10% Checking in at Heathrow’s Emirates Airways desk 70% Holding a giant cheque 75 Premier League games without his protective cap; 258 with it 220 Clean sheets at Chelsea STRIKER He only switched to playing in goal after he broke his leg aged 10 TRIPLET Born a triplet with sister Sarka and brother Michal, who sadly died when they were two 5 LANGUAGES Czech, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese 50 How many stitches he needed, from his lip to his chin, after a 2008 training ground clash with Tal Ben Haim 13 Trophies won at Chelsea SEVEN Times Czech player of the year (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).…

SOME SECTIONS OF THE MEDIA SEEMED TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH HOW BADLY CITY DID LAST SEASON. HOW WOULD YOU EVALUATE YOUR CLUB’S 2014-15? We finished second, so it was disappointing – we never want to be second-best. However, you have to look at how many teams have the ambition to be champions – there are quite a few now, and only Chelsea finished above us. What the media say doesn’t matter; when you reach this level, you don’t expect good things to be said when you underachieve. Was it out of proportion? Everything is always out of proportion at this level. If you do well, you’re the best in the world; if you get a few bad results then all of a sudden the whole team is bad. But…

REAWAKEN THE TIGER WITHIN Falcao wasn’t known as El Tigre in his prime for nothing. While the nickname dates from childhood, in his professional life it stuck due to his merciless, predatory efficiency. Sniffing out weaknesses and looking to react quicker than his rivals, the Colombian had unwavering faith in his ability, leading to flawless finishing in the narrowest period of time. Those instincts haven’t disappeared; they’re dormant, and need to be reactivated with confidence. Louis van Gaal is a distant coach who often lacks the soft touch necessary to repair damaged goods, but Jose Mourinho generally likes to have a closer relationship with his squad. The Portuguese knows first-hand how exceptional a talent Falcao really is, having failed to nullify his influence in more than one Madrid derby. He…

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT ARSENAL FROM LAST SEASON, AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO NOW TO PUSH FURTHER? Consistency is key. Chelsea found that throughout last season, and in the end they were by far the best team. That’s what we need to do this season. The form we showed towards the end of last season is the form we need to show throughout the new season if we want to be challenging for the title. Hopefully we can get off to a flyer and maintain that throughout the campaign. Last season we started slowly, lost a few games and then suddenly we were playing catch-up. At the beginning we were struggling with a lot of injuries in key areas, which doesn’t help. It’s hard to build momentum…

This season will be different to last because I am confident referees will be less tolerant of allowing Arsenal players to be kicked to pieces – hence fewer injuries. Our pantomime villain is everyone playing in a Liverpool shirt – we’ve never laughed as much as last term. The best away fans are Crystal Palace by a mile. Save the date for the FA Cup final. The last club to win the Cup three seasons in a row was Blackburn in the 19th century. Our most underrated player is Olivier Giroud. It was Francis Coquelin until the media jumped on the bandwagon. The opposition player I secretly admire is Morgan Schneiderlin. This season we will finish top. The thing that’s held us back are the injuries caused by the ‘you…

This season will be different to last because it’s Mourinho’s third season in charge, and he’s never stayed at one club longer than three seasons. Keep an eye out for Kurt Zouma. He put in some brilliant performances in big games last season. The best away fans are Southampton’s. We were singing: “Champions League, you’ll never win that” so they replied: “Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, you’ll never win that”. Overall, great fun. The player I’d happily drive to another club is John Obi Mikel. We should have let Manchester United keep him. One change I’d make at our club is to expand the Bridge, which might happen. The opposition player I secretly admire is Sergio Aguero. We opted out on him, then went for Torres… Our pantomime villain is Steven Gerrard.…

This season will be different to last because we’ll have a new manager who will bring a different style of play. Our most underrated player is Marcin Wasilewski. He’s quicker than everyone thinks and his tackling is top class. Leicester fans need to follow @GaryLineker, a club legend and never afraid to tweet the honest truth. Save the date for Chelsea away on the last day – title-decider. The best away ground grub is any chicken balti pie. Can’t beat it. Keep an eye out for Andrej Kramaric. He was getting used to English football before. The opposition player I secretly admire is Alexis Sanchez. He didn’t play all that well against us last season, but he is a superb professional. This season we will finish in mid-table because of…

This season will be different to last because Van Gaal seems to have dropped the 3-5-2, and we’ve made reinforcements. Our most underrated player is Michael Carrick, England’s best central midfielder and in the league’s top five. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Jonny Evans. He doesn’t fit the pass-from-the-back tactics. The best away ground is Villa Park, and has been for years – a massive following, and it’s on a Friday night this time. One change I’d make at our club is an end to the constant calls from stewards to sit down after 10 seconds of the game. The opposition player I secretly admire is Alexis Sanchez. His pace and change of direction are frightening. Our pantomime villain is Mario Balotelli, obsessed with shushing our…

This season will be different to last because we’ll lose a few key players and have the added responsibility of Europe. Our pantomime villain is Dejan Lovren. He’s not too popular around these parts. Our most underrated player is Maya Yoshida. An intelligent defender, he rarely lets us down. Keep an eye out for Callum Slattery – only 16, but widely expected to be the next huge star to come through the ranks. The best away fans are Manchester United. There’s originality and variety to their chanting, which most clubs lack. One change I’d make at our club is to give Gaston Ramirez another chance. He’s more than good enough. Southampton fans need to follow our fitness coach @jankluit. Save the date for Bournemouth (left) away on March 1. That…

This season will be different to last because we have more strength in depth. Keep an eye out for Matt Grimes. He was very highly rated at Exeter. Hopefully he’ll get more game time this season. The best away fans are Man United’s and Arsenal’s. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Dwight Tiendalli, either way up the M4. One change I’d make at our club is to make the stadium bigger, but this will hopefully happen soon. Swansea fans need to follow @TheSwanseaWay – always a good account, with Swans updates every day. The opposition player I secretly admire is David Silva – rarely loses the ball and always seems to make things happen. Our pantomime villain is Andy Carroll. He always scores, too. The best away…

This season will be different to last because we will not be involved in a relegation fight, not concede last-minute goals and we’ll hopefully reach a cup final. Keep an eye out for young striker Adil Nabi. He won the Albion Young Player of the Year in May and looks set to feature this season. The best away fans are Newcastle United – incredible support. They’re always loud and proud despite the off-field issues. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Stephane Sessegnon, after his taxi ride from Newcastle back to the West Midlands in May. The best away ground is the Emirates. The free food and drink voucher on the last day swung this decision. Thanks, Arsenal. One change I’d make at our club is to move…

1 Goals, goals, goals! The Eredivisie’s 16 goalless draws in the whole of last season was only seven more than Sunderland alone managed. It also averaged the most goals per game in Europe’s top 42 leagues (believe us, we counted): a whopping 3.07, compared to, say, 2.49 in Ligue 1 and 2.09 in Albania. Don’t go to Albania. 2 Tractor Boys welcome Agriculturists will be pleased to know the 2015-16 campaign will feature not just The Farmers (PSV) and The Cheese Farmers (AZ), but promoted side De Graafschap – a.k.a. The Super Farmers. They triumphed in the play-offs (right) despite finishing sixth, 40 points behind first and 19 shy of runners-up FC Eindhoven. Super indeed. 3 Next off the Ajax youth conveyor belt… Future stars Viktor Fischer (21), Riechedly Bazoer…

DID YOU KNOW? De Silva is only 18 but signed for Perth Glory at 15 before moving to start a five year deal with AS Roma in Serie A this season. He capped that with a a call up to the senior Socceroos squad for the World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan in June. 1 Trust your instincts Stay sharp and let your reflexes do the work “Quick reflexes are so important, because around the box especially, football happens at 100 miles an hour. Everything happens so quickly, it is absolutely vital to always be switched on, and have your body ready to react to any situation or any deflection. If you have fast reflexes then you can get a shot away and maybe get a goal, simply by staying aware…