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Welcome to the Jungle, Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker was one of the so-called panic buys from Wenger at the very end of the summer transfer window. He was seen as the ideal signing to ease Arsenal’s defensive issues, issues that have plagued them for many years now – they were easily beaten by physical challenges at the back. They couldn’t rely on The Verminator due to injury concerns. So in came the big German for £10m.

So, how has the big German settled in to the Premier League? In truth it’s been a mixed bag, with the player showing signs of class but also getting caught out on several occasions. His reading of the game is tremendous, but his lack of pace is frightening. Its not he is not mobile, because he is, but he is not fast by any stretch of the imagination. This allied to Wenger’s preference for a high line have made Per appear worse than he actually is – 75 caps for Germany is testament to the man’s class. I believe that next season he will prove even better, having aclimatised to the way Arsenal play – he will be able to make allowances for their cavalier attitude to defending as a team. As it stands at the minute he is out for the season, but is expected to make it back for the Euros which, given Germany are among the favourites, should boost his morale after a season ending injury. He cannot magically increase his pace, but his experience this season should make him even better prepared for next season.

So, I say, welcome to the jungle, Per Mertesacker. The big German with high expectations for next season.

Welcome to the Jungle; Number Juan.

20 Dec

Diminutive is the buzzword doing the rounds to describe small, skilful players. The Juan ‘and only’ Mata easily fits into this category. This special talent had a number of suitors over the summer, with Arsenal reportedly being very close to signing him at one point. He eventually joined Chelsea, for the not inconsiderable sum of £23.5m, from the Spanish club Valencia.

Now onto the point of this blog series, just how has Mata settled in the jungle that is the Premier League? Well, a number of clichés spring to mind, ‘like a duck to water’, ‘like he’s played here all his life’ and so forth, but I shan’t mention them. He has been tremendous for Le Blues, already proving pivotal to how the team plays. If it weren’t for his fellow Spaniard that is lacking in stature, David Silva, then Mata would be being talked of as a player of the year contender.

Mata is slight of figure, being only 5 ft 7in tall – little bigger than a newborn child. But he has strength that belies this, being able to shrug off challenges and just get on with playing football. He has proven to be influential for Chelsea in the Premier League, being involved directly in 10 goals in 12 appearances. He brings a wasp-like quality to Chelsea’s attack, with great movement and energy, both on and off the ball. He has everything that an attacking midfielder needs, his only weakness being an over-reliance on his left foot. He can pick a pass and provide killer crosses, as evidenced by his seven assists in the 14 games he has played in the Premier League thus far. And boy, can he shoot. Himself and Sturridge have fast become key to Chelsea’s attacking fluency, with both players buzzing about across the pitch, swapping positions at will. You can see a marked difference in Chelsea’s play when he’s not on the pitch, but especially when he is subsituted. He is an outlet for them, possibly their best. In five months he has become key for Chelsea, and that shows the measure of the man. ….

So, with this I say welcome to the jungle, Juan Mata. It’s like he’s always been here, and that in itself is saying something.

1 Comment

Posted by talkingspheres on December 20, 2011 in Football

Tags: buzz, Chelsea, diminutive, Football, Juan Mata, Premier League, Sports, wasp

Welcome to the Jungle: A Series.

15 Dec

Over the last week or so I’ve been racking my brain about blog topics – it’s hard to choose ones that are unique or haven’t been extensively covered by the press/media. And then it dawned on me, I am going to look at players who have come in to the Premier League this season. I will look at the impact they have had, both on the league and the team they play for.

Over the next few weeks there will be pieces on Mata, Gervinho, De Gea and so forth. I had intended on starting this series a few weeks ago, but ‘real life’ got in the way. But the timing seems better now, as we’re coming towards the halfway point in the season.

Actually, scrap that. I meant to do this series over the coming weeks.

Anyways, that’s that. Time to research the Juan that Matas. Dear god, that’s terrible. What’s the mata with me?

Devils v Hobgoblins

04 Nov

Tomorrow, the 5^th of November no less, Guy Fawke’s day/night, sees the coming together of two mythical creatures. These creatures take the form of 22 grown men, battling it out at The Theatre of Dreams, or Old Trafford as it’s also known. The Devils are Manchester Utd, of course, whilst the Hobgoblins are Sunderland – please note that Sunderland fans are not actually hobgoblins or known as such, but I have used artistic license here. Devils v Mackems, as Sunderland are known, just doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?

Utd come into this match in mixed form, they are winning matches after the derby debacle but not with the panache that we seen prior to that humiliation. Now one could choose to roll out an oft used cliché here, but not me, no sir. They are missing several players, including Giggs, Cleverley and Young, the latter two proving key to the team’s early momentum. The only positive for Utd of late is the defense, which has kept three clean sheets in a row. Yes, one came against Aldershot, but that would still instil some confidence – momentum is a great commodity in football. And the defensive unit has some momentum. We could see Carrick start his first league game of the season, unless Fergie decides to continue with Rooney in a central midfield role. Its hard to guess which two will start up top, with the only certainty being that two will start up top. Nemanja Vidic, Utd captain, is available again after missing the drabness that was the game against Otelul through suspension. He should come back in at centre back, possibly partnering Rio….

The Hobgoblins are missing ex-Utd defender O’Shea and their goalkeeper, Mignolet, after the latter suffered a broken nose last weekend. They’ll have Keiren Westwood, a Premiership debutant, between the sticks. Will it prove to be a baptism of fire?

Doubtful is the answer. It will most likely prove a test of attrition for the home side. Possibly another 1-0 win, about time too. Utd need to find the devil within themselves, that spark that’s been missing for a few weeks. But any win will do.

TalkingSpheres

Tag Archives: Sports

Welcome to the Jungle, Per Mertesacker

Welcome to the Jungle; Number Juan.

Welcome to the Jungle: A Series.

Devils v Hobgoblins

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