Which Premier League club needs Huntelaar the most?

It’s safe to say Klass-Jan Huntelaar guarantee’s goals!

The Dutch forward is the personification of a ‘fox in the box’ and has scored wherever he has been. After falling out of favour at A.C Milan, Schalke brought Huntelaar and since his arrival he's not stopped doing what he does best!

Huntelaar has scored 67 goals in 94 Schalke matches

With his contract at the German club coming to an end in July, surely Huntelaar has a Premier League move in him.

His build up play might not be the best, but at the end of the day goals win games, and the Dutchman does the business in that department. Here is an assessment of what Premier league sides need him most.

Liverpool

Everyone saw Liverpool coming right? Since the departure of Fernando Torres the Merseyside club have been crying out for a 20 goal a season manager, and at Anfield Huntelaar would do that and some.

The amount of chances that came and went last year was ridiculous and there is only so long you can say 'at least they are creating chances', they've got to be put away.

Huntelaar is far from the stereotypical Brendan Rodgers player, but Fabio Borini is, and that's hardly worked for them. I know its easy to say it, Huntelaar would score loads for Liverpool, but he would, and Rodgers should jump at the chance to sign him.

Most of the Premier League have at some point been linked with Huntelaar

Chelsea

After getting rid of their old guard, Chelsea have only found themselves with one out and out striker at the club, Fernando Torres. Despite the Spaniard scoring more goals, he's still not re-found the form that made him the best striker in the world, and the addition of Huntelaar would mean they could rotate their forwards around, and take the pressure of Torres.

Chelsea will always create chances with the likes of Juan Mata, Edin Hazard and Oscar in the side, and they just need a preditor in the penalty area to convert them, which Huntelaar would do.

Arsenal

How many times have we heard, if only Arsenal have a fox in the box! Well, Arsene Wenger has no excuse not to look at Huntelaar, especially after the Dutchman helped Schalke to a win at the Emirates on Wednesday.

Granted Wenger doesn't go usually chase a player whose gone 27, but after a slow start, they need someone to replace Robin Van Persie, which so far Olivier Giroud is yet to do.

The Premier League sack race

Even though the Premier League season is just four games old, you won’t be surprised to hear that the odds for the first managerialcausality are already out!

Despite back to back promotions Southampton’s Nigel Adkins is the 7/4 favourite to be out of a job before anyone else! Incredibly harsh, yes; however the relatively new chairman Nicola Cortese isn’t the most popular with the St Mary’s faithful and dismissing the likeable Adkins would go someway to ensure that popularity nosedives further!

Successive promotions won't save you from the sack!

Andre Villas-Boas has only been at the club five minutes; however he is joint second favourite in the sack race following an indifferent start to Tottenham’s Premier League campaign. It won’t happen overnight and hopefully Daniel Levy will give the former Chelsea manager time, and despite picking up just five points from four games, the players appear to be on side and have frequently defended Villas-Boas.

Along with Villas-Boas at 7/1 is QPR’s Mark Hughes. A very good transfer window for the club has ensured that expectations at Loftus Road will be high; however a start that has included the away trips to Manchester City and Spurs, as well as the recent visit from the European Champions, is far from ideal, and come the half-way stage QPR will be in and around the middle of the Barclays Premier League, and Hughes will still be a job.

Both Brendan Rodgers and Sam Allardyce are at 10’s and for me neither will be the first out of a job as one is there for the long-term whilst the other will keep his side away from trouble!

For me the two who I’ve yet to mention who are at long odds but are very much in the ‘sack-race’ are Roberto Di Matteo and Alan Pardew who are 25/1 and 33/1 respectively. Two words sum up why these two are even considered and they are ‘Crazy Owners'! Both Roman Abramovich and Mike Ashley have previous when it comes to dismissing managers, and as crazy as it sounds, if either Di Matteo or Pardew were sacked, it wouldn’t surprise me. Very little in football does nowadays.

Ashley stunned the football world when he sacked Chris Hughton in 2010

Rooney's first half strike enough for United

A disjointed Manchester United edged out Fulham 1-0 thanks to a Wayne Rooney goal in the first half.

Despite not ever reaching top gear, Manchester United extended their lead to three points at the top of the table; however in typical United fashion they won without being brilliant.

Fulham came to Old Trafford on the back of successive defeats to Aston Villa and Swansea and had every right to feel aggrieved after Danny Murphy appeared to be fouled in the box by Michael Carrick; however Michael Oliver decided it wasn't a foul.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side dominated the early proceedings without ever threatening Mark Schwarzer in the Fulham goal, and in fact it was the visitors who went the closest early on, as twice Clint Dempsey was denied by good saves from David De Gea.

In fact in the first half United never looked like scoring until they actually did get the break through five minutes before half-time. A corner wasn't cleared properly and Young crossed to the back post where Riise failed to clear and Evans found Rooney who scored from a few yards out.

Half time came and went and the impressive Antonio Valencia should've done better after being put through by Ryan Giggs; however his shot was tame and easily dealt with by Schwarzer.

Manchester United stepped it up a notch in the second half and it wasn't long before they created another second chance through Ashley Young. The former Aston Villa winger did brilliantly as he cut inside Stephen Kelly and his curling effort was on target only for Schwarzer to deny him with a top save.

Somehow United didn't go two up as Young was denied brilliantly twice by Schwarzer and the follow up feel to Giggs whose shot was blocked by Brede Hangelaand on route to goal.

With time running out United looked nervous in attempting to hold on for a priceless three points and Dempsey nearly drew Fulham level, however he just couldn't reach a delightful through ball from Moussa Dembele.

As three minutes extra time was announced, Martin Jol's side were left feeling angered as Murphy was fouled by Carrick in the penalty area; however the close decision went in the home sides favour.

The full time whistle was met with palpable relief around Old Trafford as United held on for a massive 1-0 victory to ensure they moved three clear of their city rivals at the top of the Premier League.

A change of manager doesn't always mean survival and it wont for QPR and Wolves

What have QPR and Wolves got in common, yet Wigan, Bolton and Blackburn don't? That's right, they got rid of their manager in the middle (well in Wolves' case towards the end of the season), and because of it they are safe. Oh no sorry, down.

Here's a stat for you. Of all the managerial changes in the history of the Barclays Premier League, of those who have sacked their manager and been in the bottom three of the table at the turn of the year, only ONE in 20 years have survived. And for those interested, it was Bolton Wanderers who achieved survival despite this, when Owen Coyle took over from Gary Megson (whom was appointed manager of Bolton on the 8th January 2010 with the club 18th in the table.)



QPR decided to replace Neil Warnock, who had guided the club to promotion despite taking over the club in a dire stat and with the possibility of relegation to League One a real one, with Mark Hughes. Whilst Wolves, following a 5-1 home defeat to West Brom sacked Mick McCarthy, and after failing to agree terms with Alan Curbishley, opted to appoint McCarthy's assistant Terry Connor.

Both Hughes and Connor have seen their clubs form decrease under their stewardship (with both clubs in the bottom three of the table in league form since the turn of the year). I might have been a tad presumptuous at the start of this piece when I said both QPR and Wolves were down; however I can't see either team surviving.

QPR under Hughes have been an enigma and for every brilliant result there has been three poor ones. A combination of bad luck, indisicpline and poor form in the games against sides in and around them, have ensured that QPR are in the bottom three with easily the hardest run in of any of the relegation threatened sides.

Barton dismissed vs Norwich

Wolves on the other hand were very inconstant under McCarthy; however were capable of going anywhere and getting results (draws away to Tottenham and Arsenal this year, after winning at Anfield last season), and I suppose at least under Connor they've found consistency, I mean they are always losing now. A comeback point away to Newcastle in Connor's first match only papered over the cracks at the club which were oh so heavily exposed in their last four games.

Following a 2-1 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers, many expected Steve Kean to be out of a job after the huge amount of abuse he received; however to his credit since that defeat Blackburn have been superb. 18 points in those 13 games have seen Blackburn rise from the bottom of the league to 16th place and despite a couple of tricky fixtures, they run-in looks favourable.

I'll hold my hands up and admit I felt Blackburn were goners under Kean; however despite recieving a horrific amount of abuse he has handled it superbly, showing an incredible amount of dignity and if he were to lead them to safety then it would rank up there with any other managerial achievement this season in the Premier League. Despite not being the best defensively still, they are certainly a threat at the other end and in Yakubu they've an out and out goalscorer and I now feel they will survive comfortably.

Wigan are another side, who despite being in and around the bottom three for most of the season, have stuck with their manager who in turn has stuck with his attacking principles. Following a 2-0 defeat at home to Swansea, many wrote Wigan off; however five points from their last three games, including a famous 2-1 victory at Anfield, which has boosted their chances of maintaining Premier League status.

Apart from Liverpool, who have only sparingly used it, Wigan are the only Premier League side to use three central defenders in a 3-5-2 formation, something that is frequent in Italy and Spain. At home Wigan haven't been brilliant this year; however on their travels they've secured four priceless victories and have one of the better away records and after defying the odds last season to survive, Wigan will want to use their experience to keep them afloat this year.

The fifth and final side who are in trouble are Bolton Wanderers whom I feel will battle Wigan for the second most important place in the table 17th. After a dire start to the season Bolton have picked their form up over recent weeks and like the previous two sides stuck with their manager. The recent terrible incident involving Fabrice Muamba will in awful situation unite the club and they impressed in their first outing since Muamba's cardiac arrest.

Coyle has been brilliant in the loan market with previous additions of Jack Wilshere and Daniel Sturridge working well, with Ryo Miyaichi the third impressive loanee in same amount of years at the Reebok. Bolton have also been hit hard by big injuries, with the likes of Stuart Holden, Lee Chung-Yong and Tyrone Mears missing for the whole season. If them three, in particular the first two players had been available for Bolton for the whole year, then I've no doubts Bolton wouldn't be in a relegation fight.

My bottom five come the end of the season
16th. Blackburn
17th. Bolton
18th. Wigan
19th. QPR
20th. Wolves

Is the 20th title on the horizon?

Following Manchester City’s timely defeat away at Everton on Tuesday evening, I’m going to evaluate if we (if you hadn’t realised from the title, I’m a United fan) can really edge out our city rivals for another Premier League title.

Form, pressure and know how.

How many times are we going to hear it? Manchester United weren’t at their best yet still won. Well minus the first five league games, we haven’t been at our best ALL season. Yet time and time again Sir Alex’s side edge out a victory, a sign of champions.

Taking my red hat off for a minute, I can appreciate how good Manchester City have been this season, I’d even go as far as saying Barca-Esq. But for me their inability to win when having an off day will haunt them. Take this week for the perfect example. We were poor away to Everton earlier on in the season, yet we secured a valuable 1-0 away win against a good Everton side; yet City couldn’t.

For now I’m going to rule the usual candidates of Arsenal and Chelsea out of the title race; they aren’t good enough. But for me their London rivals Spurs are more then in the hunt for the Premier League. Their midfield compares and even betters everything in the league for me! I do feel they will fall short though, a main reason being their lack of players who have been in this position before with only Scott Parker and William Gallas lifting the Barclays Premier League title, both during their time at Chelsea.

Manchester United 9/10

Manchester City 8/10

Tottenham 7/10

The fixture list (written before weekends action)

Looking at the fixture list, the remaining games ensure City are favourites. With the crucial games highlighted below, Roberto Mancini’s side have just three of the ‘big six’ to play, with two of them at the fortress that is Eastlands. In comparison to Manchester United and Tottenham who have four games against the big boys, with three of those on their travels.

Crucial matches

Chelsea vs Manchester United (05/02/12)

Liverpool vs Tottenham (06/02/12)

Manchester United vs Liverpool (11/02/12)

Arsenal vs Tottenham (26/02/12)

Tottenham vs Manchester United (04/03/12)

Manchester City vs Chelsea (19/03/12)

Chelsea vs Tottenham (24/03/12)

Arsenal vs Manchester City (07/04/12)

Manchester City vs Manchester United (28/04/12)

Manchester United 6/10

Manchester City 8/10

Tottenham 6/10

Squads

The departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez for me exposed our lack of a creative midfielder; because with them two plus Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney, usually we wouldn’t need one, because at most times we had four match winners on the field.

Paul Scholes’s return is as inspired as is it desperate. His know how can only be a good thing for the likes of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, who despite his tender age, has been missed in the heart of United’s midfield. All the pluses aside with the move to recall Scholes, I feel Sir Alex recognizes the need to add creativity in the middle of the park. The F.A Cup defeat at Liverpool only highlighted that further, as 65% possession at Anfield wasn’t converted into chances or goals.

City and Spurs both let players go in the January transfer window, which confirmed how good their strength in depth is. City have an incredible array of talent available and their squad is the best of the three (So strong in fact they felt obliged to lend Spurs Emmanuel Adebayor.)  Tottenham’s midfield, like I touched apon before is incredibly strong; however their defence is always liable to concede a goal.

Manchester United 8/10

Manchester City 9/10

Tottenham 8/10

Injuries and suspensions

I’m sure every fan has at least bemoaned their injury list this season; however Manchester United fans can do so with great evidence. Nemanja Vidic, Nani, Rooney, Cleverley, Welbeck, Javier Hernandez, Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones have all at least faced a month of the 2011/12 season on the sidelines.

Manchester City’s real problem has been in the treatment room, more of international duty and suspensions. The Toure brothers have both been away with the Ivory Coast at the current African Cup of Nations whilst Mario Balotelli and Vincent Kompany landed themselves in hot water with four match bans respectively. Spurs have been fortunate on the injury count, because when injuries have occurred they have only been minor ones ruling their players out for only short periods.

Manchester United 7/10

Manchester City 7/10

Tottenham 8/10

Managers

It’s fair to say Sir Alex Ferguson has been there, done it and got the T-Shirt. 12 Premier League Titles is an unbelievable haul, and I feel if he was in charge of any of the top five teams last season he would’ve guided them to Premier League success, that’s how much of a difference he makes. He’s seen off every manager whose challenged him, with the current duo the latest crop of managers to have a go. And if Manchester United are to win the league, he’ll be the reason why!

Roberto Mancini has won three Serie A titles with Inter Milan and has done a very good job with Manchester City. Over recent weeks he has shown signs of crumbling under the pressure (Admitting he thought it would be ‘easier’ to win at Everton just one example) and with the pressure firmly on City for the amount they’ve spent, only time will tell if they crumble.

For Harry Redknapp this is the first time he has been in a Premier League title race and with just one F.A Cup title to his name, his lack of experience in the hunt for the ultimate price can be questioned. Following their 2-0 victory over Everton he came out and stated his side could win the league, which put pressure on his side before their 1-1 home disappointing draw with Wolves, before claiming after the game he’d be ‘over the moon with a top four finish.’ Alex Ferguson is the master at taking the pressure away from his side, something Redknapp failed to do there. However don’t get me wrong, what Redknapp has done at Tottenham rivals anything in the Premier League.

Sir Alex Ferguson 10/10

Roberto Mancini 8/10

Harry Redknapp 7/10

Overall

Manchester United 40/50

Manchester City 40/50

Tottenham 36/50

At this current stage of the season I really can’t call whether we will make it 20 League titles or ‘the noisy neighbours’ will win the league. One thing for sure, I can’t wait to see it’s conclusion.

How would the Premier League look if the big calls were given correctly?

Ever wondered how the league would change if all the big refereeing talking points in games went correctly?

Here is how the league would look if the huge decisions in games were given appropriately.

The red card decisions are given by when they were (i.e David Luiz red card would've been in 3rd minute so unlikely Chelsea would've won all three points with ten men for 87 minutes)

Using this Stoke have been the most fortunate side this season, where as QPR and Liverpool have been the unluckiest.

Some big and incorrect decisions (i.e Gary Cahill red card vs Tottenham), I've not included as in all likely-hood they wouldn't have had an impact on the game.



Biggest movers up
QPR would move into the top half of the table (Three places)
Liverpool would move up one place, but gain four points (One place)
Wigan would be out of the bottom three (Two places)




Biggest fallers
Stoke would fall from 8th down to 12th (Four places)
West Brom would slip into the bottom three (Three places)
Chelsea would fall to sixth (Three places)


Manchester City (+1)

+1 vs. Chelsea- David Silva should have been awarded a penalty when they were leading 1-0.

Manchester United (0)

+2 vs. Newcastle- Demba Ba’s penalty was an incorrect decision.

-2 vs. Chelsea- 2 goals offside.

Chelsea (-3)
-2 vs. Chelsea- David Silva should have been awarded a penalty when Chelsea were trailing 1-0.

-2 vs. Newcastle- David Luiz should’ve seen red at 0-0.

+1 vs. Manchester United- 2 goals offside.

Tottenham (-1)

+1 vs. Stoke- Should’ve had either a goal or penalty at 1-2.

-2 vs. Fulham- Kyle Walker handball should’ve cost them a win.

Arsenal (0)

No point change

Liverpool (+4)

+3 vs. Fulham- Luiz Suarez disallowed goal at 0-0 plus Jay Spearing red card.

-2 vs. Everton- Jack Rodwell red card was wrong and could’ve changed game.

+1 vs. Stoke- Two penalty decisions went against Liverpool.
+2 vs. Sunderland- Kieron Richardson should've been sent off early on, probably wouldn't get a point.

Newcastle (-2)

+1 vs. Chelsea- David Luiz should’ve been sent off after 3 minutes, would’ve changed game.

-1 vs. Manchester United- Demba Ba’s penalty was incorrect decision.

-2 vs. Wolves- Wolves incorrect disallowed goal.

Stoke (-5)

-2 vs. Tottenham- Spurs should have had one goal or a penalty.

-2 vs. Liverpool- Two penalty decisions went against Liverpool.

-1 vs. Norwich- Leon Barnett red card was wrong, meaning Norwich might have held on.

Aston Villa (0)

+1 vs. West Brom- Chris Herd dismissal was wrong.

-1 vs. QPR- Villa’s penalty was an incorrect one.

Norwich (+1)

-1 vs. Blackburn- Incorrect penalty for Norwich in last minute.

+2 vs. Stoke- Leon Barnett red card was never a red card.

Swansea (0)

No point change

Everton (+1)

+1 vs. Liverpool- Jack Rodwell red card was incorrect, could’ve swung game.

QPR (+4)

+2 vs. West Brom- Shaun Wright-Phillips incorrect disallowed goal.

+2 vs. Aston Villa- Villa’s penalty was an incorrect one.

Fulham (-1)

-2 vs. Liverpool- Jay Spearing red card? Luiz Suarez disallowed goal.

+1 vs. Tottenham- Kyle Walker blatant handball at 1-2.

West Brom (-3)

-1 vs. QPR-  Shaun Wright-Phillips incorrect disallowed goal at 0-1.

-2 vs. Aston Villa- Chris Herd red card was never a dismissal at 0-1.

Sunderland (-2)

+1 vs. Wolves- Jamie O’Hara handled the ball before Fletcher scored winner.

-2 vs. Blackburn- Chris Samba disallowed header would’ve made it 0-2.
-1 vs. Liverpool- Richardson should have been sent off, they probably wouldn't get a point.

Wolves (-1)

-2 vs. Sunderland- Jamie O’Hara handled the ball before Fletcher scored winner.

+1 vs. Newcastle- Last minute disallowed goal was incorrect.

Wigan (+2)

+2 vs. Blackburn- Morten Gamst Pedersen corner goal.

Blackburn (+2)

+1 vs. Sunderland- Chris Samba disallowed header would’ve made 2-0.

-1 vs. Wigan- Morten Gamst Pedersen corner goal.

+2 vs. Norwich- Last minute penalty for Norwich was incorrect.

Bolton

No point change

Rooney and co get United back on track

Manchester United put their midweek Champions League exit behind them by easily overcoming Wolves 4-1.

Two goals apiece from Nani and Wayne Rooney ensured the Red Devils closed the gap on their city rivals to two points.

United opened the scoring as Nani scored from outside the area and almost in identical fashion Rooney doubled the lead. Steven Fletcher gave the visitors a lifeline just minutes into the second half, before Antonio Valencia tied up both Nani and Rooney in quick succession, for their doubles and United’s third and fourth goals.

The returning Michael Carrick missed Manchester United’s first chance of the game as he headed over after good work from the impressive Valencia.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side were on top and it wasn’t long before they deservedly opened the scoring. Nani received the ball out wide and cut inside to smash home, beating Wayne Hennessey’s despairing dive.

Shortly after, Rooney scored for the first time in the Premier League since the 3-1 victory at home to Chelsea, way back in September. Rooney’s shot was well placed, with Hennessey’s view unsighted due to a cluster of defenders in his way, meaning the keeper could do nothing to prevent United’s second.

Having comfortably made it to half-time, United let Wolves back into the game early in the second half as Fletcher headed home well from a Matt Jarvis cross.

A chance at levelling the game for the Premier League strugglers never arrived as Valencia teed up two goals in six minutes.

The Ecuadorian winger was too quick for Stephen Ward and his cross was perfect for Nani to stroke home Manchester United’s third.

Again Valencia exposed Ward, as the winger’s turn of pace deceived the full-back before finding Rooney at the back post who finished well as United made it 4-1.

Sub Federico Macheda saw his late shot well saved by Hennessey; however it mattered not as United got back to winning ways in impressive style.