Fern Mc Costigan: July 2017

Monday, July 31, 2017

Jürgen Kloop will make his case in this campaign if he delivers

You never walk alone, is what the faithful at Anfield sing before any match their beloved Reds are about to perform, as this tune can gets into your spirits and for Jürgen Klopp for sure he will need every single word.

As another campaign is set to start and with opening day and many challenges for the German of how he will overcome all of this upcoming campaign challenges he has to confront.

With opening day matches against Watford at Vicarage Park, coming home to face Crystal Palace and Arsenal, three major challenges to tackle as well deliver notable results that will be a much-needed incentive to face off another-contested campaign.

As the preseason has been a bit in the positive for Kloop and his Reds, with a cup win in the Asia Cup celebrated in Honk Kong with matches against Crystal Palace and Leicester City.

Other matches played against Wigan, and Tranmere Rovers and recently beating Hertha Berlin, and with the upcoming Audi Cup that includes a feisty Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Napoli, then closing their preseason against Athletic Bilbao.

So far, this squad preparation for the next campaign looks positive and for sure, they can deliver!

For the upcoming season Jürgen Klopp anticipates a good campaign after finishing fourth in the regular campaign and despite their bad luck, still his Reds managed to deliver a Champion’s position.

Despite the heated competition in the transfers, market so far the arrivals of Mohamed Salah from AS Roma, Dominick Solanke- Chelsea and Andrew Robertson, the Reds by far have struck their targets.

Despite the interest in either Virgil Van Dyjk or Naby Keita, the Liverpool directives still hard at work in delivering a miracle at Anfield with one of these players to reinforce this club backfield.

Maybe we can a player or two in Klopp wish list coming to the Kop.

Very well keeping a careful watch on Phillipe Couthino that he vehemently stated he is not for sale and looking forward to start the campaign with him and his new faces to try their best to deliver the long sought Barclays Shield.

As the Reds Boss motto states that, the completion is good he and his squad must be better.

In addition, another positive of this club spending in the market of just £47.9 in comparison to cross Merseyside nemesis Everton FC that so far has spent a whooping £93.3 million in new players.

A team considered far more popular and with more followers worldwide, this campaign its win or bust for the Liverpool Boys as this squad if it maintains a healthy squad, lookout Premiership and Europe.

Another positive of this man is the current crop of young academy hopefuls looking forward to an opportunity with the big squad as names of the likes of Connor Randall, Sheyi Ojo, Kevin Stewart, Joe Maguire and Tiago Llori.

Sooner than later, all of these lads will make it big and be part of this Liverpool squad.

Still there is a long trek for Jurgen Kloop and his Liverpool Reds on what seems a heavily contested campaign and with many of its rivals reinforcing themselves this campaign has the looks as a difficult but not impossible to bring home the long awaited league shield.

As the preseason by far has delivered many positive results for the German and maybe more in the regular season of the English Premier League, for sure this club will have a fantastic campaign and a superb first place finish.

Photos Credit and Property of © Liverpool Football Club 2017

Photos Credit and Property of © Copyright Premier League. com 2017

Back to business recap in the league of Ireland

After four squads of the League of Ireland done with their European compromises, now it is back to business in this association as well a return to normal activity in their schedule.

No news when we speak about the Rebel Army of Cork City looking forward to put on a perfection of a campaign and playing the one and only squad that put a halt to them and shared the points earlier in the season.

As the Leesiders playing against the Tribesmen of Galway United, City facing a squad that tie them and broke their perfect run, but today in Turners Cross Field this time the Rebel Army did put on a fight.

With an early goal with just six minutes in the game by the visitors looking to pull on a spoiler, Gavan Holohan opened the score for the visitors, but a reaction in the second half by Liam Buckley tied it up in the 54.

However an own goal score by Galway’s Lee Grace in the 67, made the difference in a 2-1 win and John Caulfield and his Cork City gang are still perfect in the campaign going into August and eighteen points lead over Dundalk.

The match that highlighted this weekend was the Dublin Derby between two of its utmost rivals in the Shamrock Rovers hosting their nemesis the Bohemians at Tallaght.

After the Hoops dominance in this matches over the Phibsbourough bunch, at the end the Gypsies got the better half of this match with a one of a kind performances by its Nigerian duo.

With goals from Ismahil Akinade in the 24 and later the Rovers tied it up via David McAllister 29, and then came an opportune and alert Dinny Corcoran to score the go-ahead goal in the 55.

For Keith Long the Bohemians manager with this 2-1 win was an all-around achievement by his side and netting three points of gold in his quest of moving up the overall table.

Going to United Park, were the lads of Drogheda United hosting the likes of Saint Patrick Athletic, for both entities battling the demons of relegation and for both Bosses a point earned was considered valuable alongside a win.

Tonight the Pats came inspired and these deliver with a 1-0 win from Christy Fagan goal in the 14 minute to deliver a fatal blow to the Boynesiders and speed up their journey to the first division.

With the win, the Pats seat in ninth place and moving up with 26 points and the Drogs are solidly stable with eighteen points in the bottom of the table and with no relief in sight.

In Carlisle Grounds the Bray Wanderers receive a battling Finn Harps squad looking forward to its salvation and stay in the top flight of the Airtricity League of Ireland.

With the Seagulls looking forward to turn things around in their troubled campaign that is putting these club players in the edge, after going into many economic troubles, still the Harps delivered the fatal blow.

With three goals in their valuable, win away the Finn Boys beside of delivering three points of gold, the win proved fatal for the effort filled Bray squad that their rally felt short at the end and ended swallowing the loss.

With goals from Eddie Dsane 24, Mark Timlin 44 and Ibrahim Keita 84 these were enough to seal the deal and for Bray the scorers were Aaron Greene 70 and Ryan Brennan 87 for the 3-2 loss.

Lastly the Showgrounds show off how their Bit O’ Red equalized against the defending champions Dundalk FC at one goal apiece and blowing the chances for the Lilywhites to gain some ground on Cork City in the overall table.

Despite the early goal by Niclas Vemmelund in the 10 minute, Dundalk looked poised for the win but an astute Sligo man in Benny Igiehon in the 24 decided the fate of this contest and at the end both squads shared a point to their cause.

With august in the horizon the question arises for Cork City continuance of their positive streak without their leading striker Sean Maguire and Kevin O’ Connor new English adventures.

Will the Dundalk FC catch up and make it interesting if the City lads start a negative skid, very well who will finish in third place with Shamrock Rovers, Derry City, Bray Wanderers and a pushing Bohemian squad.

Now this will be an interesting race between these four for who will occupy the third place and seize the last European spot.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Mauricio Pochettino silence in the transfer’s market

All quiet on the western front for the Tottenham Hotspurs, as this London based club so far in the transfers market has shown no desires of making an all-around move to acquire new players.

With one of the world’s best of managers, having a good eye for players coming out of the academy and knowing how to take advantage of them.

By converting them as all around figures as he did a full initial eleven in Southampton.

Despite the rumors of the Spurs chasing and putting an offer to Leicester City Ryad Mahrez, the desires of this club are not spend a whopping £50 million pounds of this or any player to come and play in the new White Hart Lane.

The arrival of Poche to these parts of London, the Lilywhites have become contenders and making them into a serious and hardened squad not to mess with, ask that to cross town foes Arsenal, West Ham and Chelsea.

Another is that this club last campaign ending in second place and so close of Chelsea in the title stretch, this upcoming campaign the Spurs can win it all in the home front as well in the Champions League.

As the Blues will be busy on Champions play alongside Arsenal in Europa League, so this campaign no club of the so-called giants excluded from international play, but if there is another miracle of the likes of Leicester City in 2015-16.

With the overall knowledge by Poche of entering in this edition of Premiership into another contested one and with his foes armed to the teeth, he knows once again that his Spurs will not have a walk in the park.

However, the motto this club has and will always endure is “To Dare is to do”.

So far the preseason for Tottenham has been successful in the International Champions Cup were they having face off squads of the likes of PSG, Roma and Manchester City and closing the preseason with a friendly against Juventus in Wembley.

This before their start of the campaign against Newcastle United at Saint James Park, then two matches at home in Wembley opening against the defending champions Chelsea FC in their first London Derby and Burnley FC.

With an armada in its initial eleven and with six players in the England National Team, the Spurs are the team to beat and follow closely as the overall favorites to win the Barclays Shield and make a top notch run in Champions League.

Still the silence of this London club in the market is no cause for alarm for its supporters as well its staff and especially its manager who is looking forward to see a player or two making their debut in the course of the campaign.

Ask that to a notable and successful Harry Winks being one of Poches discoveries, so far compared to the likes of Barcelona Iniesta for his audacious and dynamic game making a name for himself and getting the trust from his Boss.

This campaign who knows what surprise will Mauricio Pochettino will deliver in the way of players making their debut with the big team, a trademark for the Argentinian since his days in Southampton were he discovered a whole initial eleven in St. Mary’s.

Now he has to earn an award for his astounding job with a shield or two- as this man deserves the recognition for his grand work at the helm of this important English club.

That since his arrival at White Hart Lane, he has made it a tough client and returning it to Premiership primetime and making a force that Mauricio Pochettino has delivered since taking over Tottenham.

At the end, the Spurs are my overall favorite to win it all, no doubt about it!

Can the Saints make a turn for the better under Pellegrino?

Maybe, for now the aims of the directives here in Saint Mary’s is to see a manager polish up this squad academy considered the best in Premiership as well make it as an all-around contender.

For the amazing Saints after the time of Mauricio Pochettino, the Andean developed it into one of the utmost, prolific of academies, and then promoting them to the big squad.

By catching the attention of many in Premiership in Liverpool and Manu getting some of its players and despite the efforts of many players moving on to other squads, still the number of prospects are cropping on this squad academy.

After the Andean, many faces paraded at the helm in Saint Mary’s with Ronnie Koeman awakening some interest from the Merseyside Boys of Everton, then followed by Claude Puel and sacked after his first year.

For Manuel Pellegrino knowing the class this club has after inheriting it with the label of an utmost fighter, as last campaign the Saints finished on eight-place.

Despite their participation on the Europa League stage groups, the Saints could not compete in this competition and the end succumbed, another notable achievement was reaching the final of the EFL Cup.

After Southampton putting on a fight at the end, they could not equal their foes gameand loss the EFL Cup to a renewed and hardened Manchester United by one goal difference in a 3-2 loss.

The arrival of the Argentinian to these parts of Hampshire renews the optimism of making a squad as tough and competitive in both Premiership and in the international stages, as this young team can deliver a lot.

As the transfers market the Saints have been a bit conservative, with just a lone player signed so far in Polish defender Jan Bednarek from Lech Poznan, the outlook in this club future relies in its youth.

So far, in the preseason and matches already played against Saint Gallen, Brentford and Saint Etienne and netting positive results, the overall impression of this squad for manager Pellegrino is somehow very positive and looking forward to finish among the top.

With squads of the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool targeting their captain and leader of their defensive backfield Virgil Van Dijk, and with players they target already signed with other clubs.

The Saints are not on a shopping rush!

Very well, this South Coast club is very stubborn on its decision of selling Van Dijk and seeing him, return to Saint Mary’s to another campaign.

As I always, state in the start of every campaign in Premiership about this club marching in as the song states, this club is one fighting machine and with desires of being an all-around winner despite its limited budget.

What to expect of this club, I say a lot and maybe being in a cup final or two I will not be surprised of their push and energy that needs to be well directed by newcomer Manuel Pellegrino as the ideal man to deliver.

With the referential of finishing second in the Copa Del Rey in Spain’s La Liga losing to almighty Barcelona, the Argentina man is capable of turning a club like Southampton into a winner and placing it among the league giants.

These Saints will march in once again in a new chapter of the English Premier League with a notable six to seventh place spot finish along with a European spot and maybe a cup shield.

As this squad has all the elements to deliver.