Much More Than Money

January transfers usually hold more significance than those settled during the summer months. As is often the case a team is either in desperate need of reinforcements, missing the last piece of the jigsaw or has a brand new owner with money begging to be used. Yet Robert Lewandowski's pre-agreement earlier in the month to leave Borussia Dortmund for Bayern Munich this summer has far wider ramifications.

Bayern are not in desperate need of the striker's services and this makes the deal much more ominous. Bayern are buying the competition around them and this cannot be healthy for the well received Bundesliga, which is in danger of becoming a one horse race. Potential transfers elsewhere this January will speak volumes about clubs and individuals if they go ahead, not least Juventus's Paul Pogba.

Pogba has been the subject of intense speculation since the beginning of January and should the Frenchman leave it will undoubtedly signal the continued decline of Italian football. Since the all Italian 2003 Champions League Final when a star studded Milan beat an equally talented Juventus on penalties, Italian football has been on a slow, downward spiral with a few notable successes papering up the cracks. Inter are still picking up the pieces post-Mourinho, Juventus's marquee summer signing was a player deemed surplus to requirements at Manchester City and Kaka sloped back to Milan last September a shadow of his former self.

One of the Italy's shining lights, Pogba is now being linked to the majority of Europe's finest clubs and this is cause for concern. What's more it's been insinuated by the media that Juventus, Serie A champions and supposed European giants will have little say on the matter if the price is right. Pogba will be a fine player in time, the sort France built their next generation of superstars around. But if the dominant force in Serie A cannot hold on to him or satisfy his aspirations then Italian football has fallen more seriously then perhaps first realised.

Any Pogba deal could also set off a chain of events leading to the dismantling of Roma's exciting young squad too. Skillful Bosnian Miralem Pjanic may be bought to replace Pogba and if not he'll be next on the rest of Europe's lists if and when Pogba comes off the market. Put simply, if Juventus can be forced into selling Pogba Roma stand little chance of keeping their best performers.

Times are even tougher at the San Siro. Sulley Muntari is apparently mulling over a move from Milan to Hull, so things must be pretty bad. Unsurprisingly Mario Balotelli is starting to get restless too. Still, the choice to install Clarence Seedorf at the Milan helm could be both Milan and Serie A's most important signing. Seedorf's winning mentality coupled with a tactical astuteness well beyond his years could get Milan back where they need to be whilst giving Juventus the challenge they need. The Old Lady's alarming exit from the Champions League at the group stages is likely a consequence of a drop in competitiveness back home.

Juventus selling what has probably become their most valuable asset in Pogba would send out a particularly defeatist message. It can lead to a situation like Arsenal's where it became acceptable for the rest of Europe to drop by the Emirates every summer and take their pick. In truth the North Londoners are only now just reversing that trend and should Wenger decide to seriously dip into his pockets once more, especially in January, it will symbolise the return of Arsenal as a serious force.

Arsenal really should have brought Gonzalo Higuain last summer but it's never that simple with the Frenchman in charge. That the Argentine is in the gossip column every weekend having only signed for Napoli in the summer further suggests the rest of Europe are increasingly viewing Italy as a bidding ground where they can get what they want, whenever they want. Arsenal's options are now limited to three or four main targets. Alvaro Morata would be a shrewd bit of business on loan or Jackson Martinez of Porto to add strength and speed to Arsenal's attacking force. Diego Costa would be the real catch if Arsenal can pull it off. A diamond in the rough he is the sort of player Wenger relishes the task of improving.

Wenger's reservations about signing players in January is backed up by past deals but Arsenal may not get a better chance than this to push for the title. At once stage it looked like they might need another defender but Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker have improved hugely so all the focus should rightly be on securing a forward. Where David Moyes buying now suggests panic it will be a real show of confidence if Wenger spends big. Why? Because if Wenger didn't think Arsenal can go all the way this year he is the sort to leave off and buy another time.

Meanwhile Juan Mata's transfer to Manchester United is imminent. Whether he is worth the amount of money Man United are offering is debatable. Whether he would be a success is beyond doubt. A player that good can adapt to any system regardless of what Mourinho says. Mata will be itching to play and even more desperate to be on the plane to Brazil with Spain. United should get the playmaker now and with the returning Rooney and Van Persie crying out for some intelligent link up play Mata can inspire United to a top four finish.

It would be a momentous transfer for the club as a whole. Breaking their record signing under a manager who has been in the job barely six months would be a huge show of faith. That United are even considering to play ball with a rival side and cough up around £40 million pounds shows how desperate their situation has become. Spending that kind of money in January is a risk Alex Ferguson would never have taken, or needed to take for that matter.

The Half-Time Quiz 2 - Football General Knowledge

Here's another quiz for you football folk to get your teeth into, ranging from football celebrations to FIFA front covers.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Who were Yaya Toure's previous two clubs before he signed for Manchester City?

2. Until Paolo Di Canio's recent sacking who was the last manager in the Premier League to be dismissed?

3. What nationality is John Carew?

4. Which two players missed Manchester United's Champions League winning final due to suspension?

5. Can you name five teams Obafami Martins has played for?

6. What is Joe Hart's actual first name?

7. Can you name the four different scorers in Spain's 4 - 0 Euro 2012 triumph against Italy?

8. Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle...what comes next?

9. Who sponsored the iconic Napoli kit Diego Maradona played in?

10. Can you name the five African internationals currently on Chelsea's books?

11. When was the last time Wales qualified for a World Cup?

12. Who was Sir Alex Ferguson's last signing as Manchester United manager?

13. Which former PFA Premier League player of the year is currently assistant manager at Ajax?

14. What colours do Real Sociedad play in?

15. What are the three nationalities of the three different scorers in last season's Champions League final?

16. Which two Newcastle players famously fought on the football pitch?

17. In which major European league has Carlo Ancelotti not managed?

18. Who made famous the 'rocking the baby' celebration?

19. What do Steven Gerrard, Francesco Totti and Xavi have in common?

20. Where did Malky Mackay end his playing career? 

21. Which players graced the cover of the FIFA 12 UK edition?

22. Who is the chairman of Aston Villa?

1. Barcelona, Monaco 

2. Roberto Mancini

3. Norwegian 

4. Paul Scholes, Roy Keane

5. Any of - Inter Milan, Levante, Seattle Sounders, Newcastle, Birmingham, Rubin Kazan, Wolfsburg 

6. Charles 

7. Torres, Mata, Alba, Silva 

8. Kevin Keegan, next England manager 

9. Mars bars

10. Victor Moses, Mikel, Samuel Eto'o, Michael Essien, Demba Ba

11. 1958

12. Wilfred Zaha

13. Dennis Bergkamp 

14. White and blue

15. Croatian/Mario Mandzukic, Netherlands/Robben, German/Gundogan

16. Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer

17. Germany

18. Brazilian international Bebeto

19. They have all only played for one club

20. Watford

21. Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshire 

22. Randy Lerner

Parma's Nearly Moment

It's May 1997 - Carlo Ancelotti, in his first managerial season at the club where his playing career first begun, has fallen three points short of delivering Parma their first Scudetto. 

Taking on a talented Juventus outfit at the top of Serie A, Parma's nearly moment had all the right ingredients. Bankrolled by Parmalat, the ambitious though ultimately fraudulent company owned by Calisto Tanzi, Ancelotti rebuilt an already successful Parma squad to suit his vision.

High profile names such as Fernando Couto and Hristo Stoichkov were sold to Barcelona to make way for new recruits - most notably the signing of a young Hernan Crespo from River Plate. Crespo would waste no time in showcasing his ability, chiming up a strong relationship with Enrico Chiesa in the absence of Gianfranco Zola, sold to Chelsea midway through the season. At the back Fabio Cannavaro and Lilian Thuram were showing signs that they would become two of the best central defenders in the world whilst in goal Gianluigi Buffon emerged as the latest in a string of fine Italian goalkeepers.

Parma would seldom have a better opportunity at the title; AC Milan were in disarray having seen influential manager Fabio Capello leave for Real Madrid, eventually finishing a lowly 11th, whilst Inter, who would sign Ronaldo the following summer as a gesture of their intent, were not yet capable of challenging at the very top. A 3-0 home win over Napoli on the opening day of the season set Parma's campaign in motion.

Hernan Crespo - Parma's skillful Argentine. 

What followed was a run of patchy results. Wins against the likes of Cagliari and Reggina were overshadowed by an inability to beat stronger opposition and defeats to Lazio and Inter Milan took the wind out of Parma's early season sails. But with the new signings starting to gel Parma secured back to back 1-0 wins against AC Milan and Juventus, highlighting their credentials as serious title contenders.

Chiesa would eventually finish up with 14 goals for the season, Crespo 12, but the rest of the side struggled to contribute goals; Mario Stanic was the next highest scorer on three. Juventus were hardly prolific themselves though they had a number of players spreading the goals around - Alessandro Del Piero, Michele Padavano and Christian Vieri all chipped in throughout the season with eight a piece. Juventus's strength in depth would prove to be the key factor over the course of the season.

Lilian Thuram and a fresh faced Gigi Buffon.

The sale of Zola in November hurt Parma in terms of attacking options at Ancelotti's disposal and the decision to sell Filippo Inzaghi the previous summer was a bad error of judgement. Sold to Atlanta he finished top scorer in Serie A that very season with 24 goals - goals that would have won Parma the title. Ancelotti would later come to value Inzaghi highly during his spells at Juventus and AC Milan.

But even the loan signing of Leeds flop Thomas Brolin in January could not derail Parma's surge towards the title. I Crociati overturned their early season defeats to Lazio and Inter Milan, 2-0 and 1-0 respectively, as their performances reached a peak. But a home loss to Udinese and failure to beat AC Milan meant Parma's end of season showdown with Juventus would be crucial in deciding where the title would end up.

Winning the UEFA CUP.

Parma welcomed Juventus to Il Tardini on the 18th of May 1997. Zinedine Zidane, a revelation since his move from Bordeaux, scored on own goal on 29 minutes and Parma dared to dream. But Juventus responded before half-time, Nicola Amoruso scoring a particularly dubious penalty, as he would five years later against Celtic in the Champions League. Parma needed the win whilst Juventus could afford to draw in the knowledge that anything but a loss against Atlanta the following week would be enough to win them the title. Parma won their following game 1-0 at home to Bologna but Juventus kept their side of the deal as the Old Lady secured title number 24.

Though the Scudetto alluded Parma, the 90s would be their most successful spell to date with the side going on to win the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia in 1998. After which the Italian superpowers came calling and Parma's exciting young squad was disbanded in a short space of time; Juventus signed Buffon and Thuram, Inter Cannavaro whilst Lazio spend big on Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron. Unable to bring Parma any closer to a Scudetto and anticipating the sale of key players Ancelotti moved on to Juventus in 1999.

Why Older Grounds Still Matter

In an age in which it's seemingly every clubs ambition to built a new state of the art stadium, this previous weekends fixtures served as a welcome reminder that older, more atmospheric grounds have their advantages.

Home wins at Anfield, Selhurst Park, and Carrow Road saw Liverpool record their best start to a Premier League season since 1994, Crystal Palace get their first points on the board and Norwich hit back after an uninspiring start to the campaign. Each clubs set of supporters played a huge part in these significant victories. 

Anfield's infrastructure is perhaps a little dated compared to the teams they're looking to mix it with this season but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Whilst Arsenal secured an impressive win against Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday you could hear the substantial difference in noise on the TV sets between the two games. Anfield is intimate, its intimating, its the kind of ground which you rarely come across these days that can completely destabilise the opposition  and strike fear into the most accomplished of teams. You could see in the final ten minutes how Liverpool fed off the crowd - with their backs to the wall they cleared every United attack and never looked like conceding. Anfield makes its players feel invincible in the famous red shirt. The Emirates meanwhile is the loneliest of places when the chips are down - think Swansea at home last season. 

Selhurst Park has to be a fortress this season and the old fashioned, albeit weary looking ground suits Palace's needs perfectly. Sunderland didn't turn up in the first half and the Palace fans preyed on this, upping the noise, getting on top of every Mackem mistake and urging Palace on in the early stages. Demanding a response from Palace and encouraging the Eagles to press hard succeeded in producing a goal which helped settle the players' nerves after a return of no points from Palace's first two games and provided the platform for an impressive win. The wooden seats and rusty turnstiles are visually unappealing but when the steeply built Homesdale Road stand is in full swing its a hostile end for opposition to attack. 

Norwich City fans have been officially voted the best supporters in the Premier League two seasons in a row and part of the reason for this is Carrow Road. A ground of the old breed, it could certainly do with a lick of paint but you can't knock the relentless noise its supporters generate. With demand for tickets consistently high Carrow Road it crammed full every weekend and the Canary supporters are rarely out sung, willing Norwich on and helping to establish some momentous victories against Arsenal and Manchester United in recent years.

Fulham are a force to be reckoned with on home turf too, whilst often failing to deliver on the road. The idyllic setting by the Thames has been a source of inspiration for the Cottagers since their return to the Premier League and the smaller capacity ground means seats are filled regularly. For foreign players arriving in London a ground like Craven Cottage is immediately appealing. It's homely, close to the supporters and has a recognisable, welcoming DNA.

Now more than ever revenue is an integral part of a clubs immediate future. As a result it's a clubs identity which is at risk of being sacrificed. West Ham are still keen on a move to the Olympic Stadium for financial incentives among others, though you can understand why the die hard Hammers fans are reluctant to leave Upton Park. A host of teams view Upton Park as their 'bogey ground', including Manchester United. To wipe away this psychological advantage and move to a home which was never truly theirs in the first place could effect West Ham more than they expect.

Newer stadiums have a more neutral feel; anyone who says the Emirates comes even close to Highbury for atmosphere and character is deluding themselves. The Emirates has never been described as 'rocking' and though the Etihad has become a difficult place for visiting teams to go every City fan still longs for the gritty nights at Maine Road, where they could really get in the travelling fans faces. There have been a few notable examples of stadiums where home advantage has clearly lost its edge in the past. The Riverside, home to Middlesbrough, was a ghost town during their relegation season and the Reebok Arena and DW Stadium were too frequently half capacity when Bolton and Wigan needed them full. Coventry City meanwhile are now feeling the full force of administration, their move to the Ricoh Arena particularly unnecessary financially, with the days of Premier League football and a sell out Highfield Road a distant memory.

In modern football there are few more depressing sights than a half empty 40,000 seater stadium. It's the Anfield's of football that maintain English football's marvellous heritage and can celebrate Bill Shankly's 100th anniversary in style; enclosed stands reverberating the supporters' raw passion, a passion which is sometimes lost in the tidy modern stadiums lacking in history and memories.

Are England Really Prepared?

Prior to England's victory against Scotland at Wembley earlier this August a newspaper article pointed out that England would fail to make the top seeded sides for the upcoming World Cup if they failed to beat their oldest rivals and win their subsequent four qualifying matches.

This still remains a likely reality. What is of more significant concern is this - if England fail to win at least three of their four final matches they are in serious danger of failing to reach a World Cup for the first time since Graham Taylor's England in 1994.

England will most certainly see off Moldova but the results that follow are likely to see a tight finish in the scramble for qualification. Montenegro are currently in control, two points clear of England at the top of Group H having played one game more. Ukraine can leapfrog England when they meet if results beforehand go as expected whilst Poland are waiting in the wings should anyone slip up.

England will have a tough time navigating their way past a Ukraine side buoyed by home support, determined to claim some revenge for the defeat England inflicted at Euro 2012. Depending on how this result pans out Montenegro could come to Wembley willing to play for a draw. England have struggled in recent years with their possession play and could be easily frustrated by the table toppers if they are required to press and break down this resilient Montenegro side.

But England cannot afford anymore sloppy mistakes or inept attacking displays. They must be clinical in front of goal and tighten up a defence which rarely keeps a clean sheet against tougher opposition nowadays.

The recent friendly against Scotland was littered with ominous signs; signs of where it could all go wrong for England in the coming months. If Kenny Miller was allowed to turn Gary Cahill, set himself up and hammer a low drive to the right of Joe Hart without so much as a challenge you can be sure Robert Lewandowski and Marko Vucinic will do the same if given an invitation.

Man United's draw with Chelsea was hardly a spectacle but if one thing emerged it was that Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are still capable of operating at the top of their game. Phil Jagielka, the most likely candidate to pair up with Cahill, is no John Terry. But whilst alternative options are available Roy Hodgson seems intent on sticking with a partnership which will inevitably leak goals. Michael Dawson is severely underrated and a far better option then Jagielka. His absence from the recently announced squad is perplexing after two excellent clean sheets with Spurs.

Most concerning is Joe Hart's crisis of confidence, which has come at precisely the wrong time. Against Scotland the question marks surfaced once again and he did little to answer his critics against Cardiff on Sunday. Roy Hodgson would do well to sit his keeper down and play him a video of Scott Carson's disastrous mistake against Croatia which signalled the end of Steve McClaren's reign and England's Euro 2012 hopes. Then play Hart the highlights from Man City's Champions League showing against Borussia Dortmund last year to remind the Englishman of his quality and of what is expected from England's No.1.

Higher up the pitch the signs are more encouraging. Wayne Rooney was superb against Chelsea whilst Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck have started the season brightly. Rickie Lambert is a valuable asset coming off the bench too. England have a habit of choosing their starting eleven based on reputation rather than form. Hodgson needs to call it right this time and Sturridge deserves his chance from the outset. England need wins, not draws and so a positive approach is necessary. Playing two dynamic forwards like Sturridge and Welbeck side by side will produce goals. Rooney can take up a similar role to the one given him by Moyes's on Monday night.

The final qualifier against Poland on the 15th of October at Wembley could yet be crucial. England have an unfavourable record against Poland and have lost their nerve a number of times against the backdrop of an edgy Wembley crowd. It's here perhaps where the fearlessness of the Ross Barkley's and Andros Townsend's could go on to make the difference and sheds some light on Hodgson's recent selection choices.

England are in a more precarious position than any fan is willing to admit and Hodgson must rally his side for one final push, otherwise he'll be joining an exclusive list which no England manager wants to be on.

Few and Far Between - Italian's in the Premier League

Italian personnel are few and far between in the Premier League. 

Following Mario Balotelli's move to Milan in January and Roberto Mancini's departure at the end of the last campaign the thin slice of Italian presence has grown even smaller. 

Pablo Osvaldo has become the latest Italian arrival to try and maintain this presence, having finalised his transfer to Southampton on Monday. This comes on top of Paolo Di Canio's purchase of Emanuele Giaccherini from Juventus, an exciting winger who like Osvaldo has international pedigree.

But the fond memories of Gianfranco Zola, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Vialli lighting up the league in the late 90s have been replaced by the perceived failures of Alberto Aquilani, Alessandro Diamanti and Fabio Borini in recent times - buying from Italy is now regarded as somewhat of a gamble. 

With no real success story in the last few years, save Balotelli depending on how you view his stint with Manchester City, Italian players' long standing reluctance to test their talents in the Premier League has continued. It's unlikely Osvaldo would have moved to the South coast had he not played under Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol whilst Di Canio's influence was certainly key in Giaccherini's decision. 

Managers seem equally reluctant to move in for Italian player. Many might have expected Mancini to bring an influx of Italian's to the Etihad on his appointment but this never materialised. Managers want players who can adapt quickly, who can endure the harsh winter months when the games come thick and fast. Clearly the opinion is that Italian players cannot be relied upon to provide this anymore. 

Yet the quality is clearly there - Italy breezed past England last summer, showing far superior technical ability. What's more Aquilani has since revitalised his career with Fiorentina, as has Diamanti at Bologna whilst Giuseppe Rossi has been a success story across Europe. 

The culture change seems to be a determining factor. More must be done to successfully integrate Italian players into English football. The word from players going both ways is that training differs in style between Italian and English clubs. Italian clubs place emphasis on a strict fitness regime, which Di Canio has incorporated at Sunderland. But questions remain whether this is adequate preparation for the more physical demands of English football. Aquilani struggled with endless knocks, Diamanti rarely looked fit and Borini has picked up numerous injuries in his short spell with Liverpool too. 

With most of the major dealings having already been conducted this summer it might be worth Arsene Wenger considering a bid for Daniele De Rossi, one Italian player who certainly is tailor made for the English game. Though having lost out to Wolfsburg for Luis Gustavo it's unlikely Arsenal could tempt De Rossi, who is fiercely loyal to Roma, to the Emirates.    

Moving to a new country in a World Cup season is extremely brave on Osvaldo and Giaccherini's parts, what with the national set up rarely looking further then Serie A to fill the seats on the plane. Sooner or later another Italian import will come good and it's perhaps a case of appreciating the fleeting spells in English football which made the likes of Zola and Di Matteo so revered rather then expecting Italians to flock to our shores like the Spanish or French. 

Everybody Goes Home Happy - Adel Taarabt Loaned To Fulham

When QPR went on record last week in saying that Adel Taraabt’s recently agreed season long loan to fellow Londoners Fulham “suited both parties” no one was inclined to argue.

With the Hoops focused on a quick return to the top flight and Fulham lacking creative depth in midfield the move benefits all involved. Not least Moroccan Taarabt, who had stated a desire to further his career in the Premier League following QPR’s relegation.  A wish which has been duly granted by Harry Redknapp having grown tired of the 24-year-old star’s frequent acts of petulance. The signing of Karl Henry to support Joey Barton in central midfield and Charlie Austin upfront suggests Redknapp is favouring a more direct, hardworking style for the arduous Championship campaign ahead.

Not so long ago Taarabt was terrorising Championship defences on the way to being named Championship Player of The Year in QPR’s 2010/11 promotion season. But that was under Neil Warnock, a manager who loves a maverick and was willing to give Taarabt the captain’s armband if it meant a guaranteed performance every week. Whilst Taarabt’s mazy runs and at times exquisite technique are not in short supply, too often have they made a habit of deserting him on a cold November visit to Barnsley. Redknapp requires a reliable squad, pulling in the same direction; Taarabt has the potential to cause disruption.

A mercurial talent, Taarabt’s unpredictability is perhaps what Fulham need after a season of mediocrity.  Damien Duff, tireless in his approach, has lost a yard of pace in recent years whilst it remains to be seen if Kieran Richardson can consistently perform at the highest level.

Dimitar Berbatov’s body language approaching the end of last season demonstrated his growing frustration at a lack of quality service and Martin Jol, who bought Taarabt to Tottenham as a youngster, has earmarked the playmaker as the man to keep the Bulgarian’s interest levels at an optimum high. Two players who demand the ball, the partnership has the potential to be counter effective. Jol may be best utilising the pair alongside another flair player like Brian Ruiz for Fulham’s home games where the side traditionally pick up the majority of their points whilst using Taarabt sparingly in away fixtures.  

Handed a Premier League lifeline, Fulham supporters will be hoping Taarabt can mature into a long term replacement for Moussa Dembele. Though if Taarabt’s erratic attitude follows him across the Thames he will be about as popular as the Michael Jackson statue outside Craven Cottage.