One of the best options for these clubs to bring quality into their squad is by means of loaning players from clubs having much bigger aspirations, having young talent amongst the ranks whom they cannot risk to blood in competitions worth millions. Then there are others who are either disgruntled with their teams or the other way round and of course there are those who decide to test the waters of the Premier League before making a call on their long-term future.

Some find a new home and a better surrounding in which they can flourish.  While some come to England for the first time perform miserably, failing to adapt to the raw physicality and pace of the game, others take to it like a fish to water.

Here are 5 of the best signings to have taken place in this year’s Premier League:

5) Andy Carroll

The 35 million signing was thrown to the deep end of things upon the arrival of Brendan Rodgers at Anfield. The ex-Swansea manager made his mind up early on the forward’s future at Liverpool as he looked to offload the striker who he was deemed unsuited to the style of play he wanted to bring to the club. The English forward found West Ham manager Sam Allardyce willing to take him on for the year on loan with a further interest to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

Carroll seems to have found his feet again for the Hammers after a dismal one and a half years at Melwood. The striker found the back of the net 7 times in the Premier League for the Londoners in the league while also being recalled for national team duties. He has revelled when made the focal point of the attack and has been instrumental to West Ham finishing comfortably in mid-table.

4) Sascha Riether

Martin Jol has worked under the radar to build a team that is full of guile and creativity. Using his depth of knowledge of the Bundesliga, the Dutchman has strengthened his squad after having three key players in the form of Danny Murphy, Clint Dempsey and Mousa Dembele leave in the early parts of the season.

Sascha Reither signed from 1. FC Köln in the summer on a loan deal has been one of the best if not the best performer for the Cottagers this season. The German has made the right-back position his own and has gone on to win the player’s player of the year this season for Fulham. While others around him have lacked consistency throughout the season, Reither put in a series of impressive displays for which he has been duly recognized.

3) Danny Rose

Rose has been one bright light for Sunderland in a season that has been blighted by mediocrity and under-achievement. The team has under-performed while talent throughout the ranks have failed to live to their billing. Rose however has been an exception at Wearside where he has had a dazzling season.

The young left-back has transformed himself into one of the stalwarts in the Sunderland side and his performances have caught the notice of his parent club Tottenham who want him back for next season. The Black Cats would do well to hold on to the enigmatic Englishman.

2) Jonathan de Guzmán

In a year of changes at Swansea, de Guzman took over the role of midfield general from Joe Allen who joined the departed Brendan Rodgers at Anfield. Since arriving from Spanish outfit Villareal in the summer. The Dutchman has been the orchestrator in chief for Michael Laudrup in his first season in England, guiding the Welsh side to a comfortable mid-table finish, whilst also leading their charge in their victorious campaign in the League Cup. The trophy was the club’s first major piece of silverware in their 100 year history, making de Guzman an instant hero at the Liberty Stadium.

1) Romelo Lukaku

Lukaku was offloaded to West Bromwich Albion at the beginning of the season by Chelsea after the teenage striker was unable to push his way into the scheme of things at Stamford Bridge. And what a year it had proved to be for the teenage prodigy. The Belgian has looked every bit the player for whom Roman Abramovich had to shell out £10 million (which can rise £17 million in add-ons) couple of seasons ago.

Blessed with immense athletic ability, pace and power the Belgian wonder kid has repaid the faith that Steve Clarke. The 20-year-old has scored 14 goals in 34 games for the Baggies and certainly would have put a smile on the faces at the hierarchy at Chelsea who opened up the bank accounts to bring the talented lad from Anderlecht.

It’s also the home of a number of over-rated stars. An over-embellishment of their talents and an exaggeration of their impact have led to teams furnishing out millions of dollars for their services which would have better served elsewhere.

Here’s a list of 5 most over-rated players in the IPL.

Andre Russell

The West Indian all-rounder was snapped by the Delhi Daredevils in 2012 for $450,000. Russell entered the IPL with the tag of a match-winner who could do it all; whether it was with the bat or the ball. Combine that with freakish athleticism and you may think you have your perfect player for the shortest version of the game.

That’s where it starts and, sadly, ends for the athletic Jamaican. In two years in the IPL, Russell has managed to have an economy rate brushing 10 (9.95 to be exact) and a batting average of 14.5 with a highest score of 31. Andre Russell epitomizes the phrase “jack of all trades but master of none”. The Jamaican may have been blessed with immense physical talent but his performances with the bat or the ball leave much to be desired. More of an entertainer than a dominator.

Shaun Tait

The “next Jeff Thompson” they said, when the South Australian speedster burst onto the scene. These days nobody in their right mind would even dare try to compare him to the Australian legend of the 70s and 80s. Tait had and still has pace aplenty, but the problem has been that it’s all he has had throughout his career. When it comes to the subcontinent, he has failed miserably and his experiences in the IPL have not been any different.

The difference between being a good pace bowler and just a fast one is a rather large one and Tait falls flat on his face into the latter category. You can’t deny the match-winning abilities of the pacey Redback, but his directional sense is plain ugly and his reputation is falsely bloated by a few brilliant performances that can be best described as sporadic.

Dan Christian

Christian was tagged as the “next big thing” of Australian cricket. All that remains of that tag is the word “next”, while having an opinion on him. The Deccan Chargers shelled out a cool $900,000 for the services of the man who was supposed to take IPL by storm. However, the big Australian never quite lived up to his reputation with a strike rate of only 116 and not many runs to accompany his big-hitting prowess.

Regarded as a death bowling specialist, Christian often succumbed to the pressures at the tail end, whether it be for South Australia against the RCB on October 5, 2011 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium or for the Chargers against the Mumbai Indians in Game 9 of IPL 5 at the ACA-VDCA Stadium. He wasn’t able to defend 14 and 18 runs respectively for his side.

At the end, he was never the unstoppable force everyone envisioned him to be with the willow, scoring ‘zero’ half-centuries, and neither was he a top dog with the ball in his hands.

Angelo Mathews

Mathews is what I would describe as a “false star”. Angelo Mathews is another utility player who can fill holes in many ways for a team but never is the kind of match winner he is made out to be in many circles. Bestowed with the responsibility to lead the Pune Warriors this season, the Sri Lankan fell apart under the pressure and ultimately had to give away his place in the side itself to try and get Pune off and running.

142 runs and 2 wickets from 8 games in this year’s IPL serve as testament to the withering off of the Sri Lankan this year. Mathews can be called a good all-round cricketer capable of doing it all, but nothing comes with an exclamation mark. His strike-rate of 123 is decent but that isn’t coupled by big many scoring innings. He is a decent finisher but never the big hitter that can take hold of a game and turn it on its head. He sure has skills but is neither an efficient cricketer nor is a name that is an “absolutely must” on the team list.

Yusuf Pathan

The saying goes like this “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys”. The Knight Riders paid $2.1 million and got Yusuf Pathan. In no way am I calling Yusuf Pathan a monkey because as of now, I am unaware of any brand of peanuts costing $2.1 million.

Yusuf Pathan may be a very under-rated player when the field of trichology comes into play, but his cricketing career and, for most parts, his time in the IPL is going to end up as an extremely over-rated one. The so called hard-hitting batsman was surely a sight to behold during his days in the blue of the Rajasthan Royals. The elder of the Pathan brothers sparkled for the Royals, walloping his way into the record books by virute of scoring the fastest half-century against the Deccan Chargers and bringing up a hundred in just 37 balls against Mumbai while sending 11 consecutive balls to the fence.

He cultivated a strike rate nearing 160 while averaging a respectable 26.35. But those few games have forever reformed his legacy. Stats are a tricky customer and the numbers belie his not so great potential. He has never matched those numbers either for India or for Kolkata, scoring a grand total of “zero” half-centuries in the three seasons he has called Eden Gardens his home. For every time the Bengali crowd expected Pathan to finish off an innings or guide them home, Pathan, except on a couple of occasions, has let them down miserably. Even a change in kit number hasn’t come to his rescue. He has become the “False 9” (999 to be exact) of the team.

It sometimes happens when the icing hides the real flavour of the cake inside or when the glittering cover of a book hides the hollowness of the words inside. Pathan was a good book but the cover made it seem like a really great one. Kolkata fell for it and three years later he has the Kolkata faithful tearing up the pages to find the page where the true value lies. Alas! Just like the hair that disappeared off the top of Pathan’s scalp, they may never find it.

“Yatra pratibha avsara prapnotihi.” (Where talent meets opportunity)

The words inscribed on the IPL trophy do ring true each year, offering a huge platform for unheralded talents to come to the fore and take the Indian and World cricketing scene by storm. Sanju Samson, Manan Vohra and others before have kept this romantic side of the IPL alive ever since its inception.

Then again, there are players that you see taking to the field, getting paid millions and yet somehow they don’t fit in. Some have already peaked, while others just don’t have the technique, guile or the skills to apply themselves in front of the national audience. Their performances have left most flabbergasted and bewildered about the merits upon which their selection took place. The head scratching often ends with people mouthing some vernaculars.

Here is a list of five players who don’t deserve another contract in the IPL:

Ajit Agarkar

As much as it hurts me to include Agarkar at the top of the list, the once talented all-rounder has far exceeded his expiry date. The Mumbai captain has been having another nightmare of a season for the Delhi Daredevils and has never really taken well to the shorter version of the game.

He has already lost more than a yard of pace and seems to have lost a skill or two with the ball. Unlike a certain Rajat Bhatia, Agarkar doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes and has ended up as mince-meat for most batsmen to feast on. Going at over 9 per over for the past two seasons with a paltry haul of 3 wickets to his name in that time, there certainly seems no reason for giving the Mumbai lad another go.

Pradeep Sangwan

When Kolkata bought Sangwan in the second mega IPL auctions, the Knight Riders hierarchy thought they had got their hands on another young prospect whom they could nurture, especially with Wasim Akram at the helm. In the three years that have passed since then, Sangwan carved out a reputation of being a laughing stock whose level of competency has come into question with each delivery he has bowled.

In his last two years, Sangwan has managed to prod his head into the team list on two occasions. In the 6 overs he was afforded, the Delhi lad has managed to concede 76 runs at an average of 12.67 runs per over while claiming a solitary victim.

Sreevats Goswami

The second member of the 2008 U-19 World Cup winning team to be on this list. Thought to be another prodigious talent, the wristy left hander was gobbled up by the Royal Challengers along with Virat Kohli. While the likes of Kohli, Saurabh Tiwary and Jadeja have gone on to fetch prices in millions, Goswami has been a wanderer in his IPL stint.

After scoring a half-century early on in his RCB career, the left-hander-cum-wicket-keeper’s IPL career has fallen flat on his face. A stint back home with the Knight Riders didn’t quite work out and the revolving door saw him quickly shifted off to the Rajasthan Royals. However, he has never lived to his billing and has failed to cement a place at all places he has been. Yet to get a look-in in this year’s IPL, the southpaw doesn’t provide much with a strike rate of 96 and only a solitary 50 in the 23 games played.

Paul Valthaty

“Lightning does not strike twice”. If you are looking for somebody for whom the idiom rings true, look no further than Mr Paul Valthaty. The Kings XI batsman shot into the limelight with a blistering 120 off 63 balls against the Chennai Super Kings. Since then, the lad from Mumbai has looked abject in most innings he has played. His presence on the field doesn’t portray a figure who could have achieved such a feat as he looks totally out his comfort zone facing up to bowlers with a much higher pedigree than what he is used to in the domestic circuit. Then again, his exploits in the domestic scene are nothing much to rave about either.

Sunny Sohal

Many RCB fans aren’t yet aware of the presence of this talent in the ranks of their beloved team. Sohal is yet another batsman who doesn’t seem fit for the big time of the IPL. The only thing of note coming from the willow of the current RCB batsmen was an innings of 62 in his five years in the league. Yet somehow, the Royal Challengers were convinced to give him a contract even after he posted an average of 18.40 during his time with the Chargers. Sohal hasn’t been able to push into the reckoning even though Bangalore have struggled to find an Indian batsman who could at least provide a sheet anchor’s role in the middle or up top. Waste of a contract and resources which could have been used elsewhere.

Wandering through the list of batting options as I previewed the Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign as the defending champions in this year’s IPL, a name struck. It struck and it remained stuck, sometimes even peeking out like a sore thumb. It warranted attention by its reputation but not by performances in the past IPL editions.

With Brendon McCullum’s last hurrah in Kolkata colours coming five years ago, Shakib Al-Hasan’s unavailability and the Indian duo of Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan flattering to deceive on occasions too many, Eoin Morgan’s contribution was certainly going to be a decisive factor in the fortunes of the Knight Riders. In the few games that Kolkata has played so far, it certainly has turned out to be so.

Eoin Morgan’s days of glory in the competition before this year mostly were confined to the day of the auction. Firstly, Bangalore and then Kolkata struck a price in IPL auction a year apart that would seem to be a coup for the ability that Morgan brought to the table. But being silly is what has shaped Morgan’s reputation in the IPL. He certainly looks the part of being a star and has a full repertoire of skills with the willow in his hands to make “silly” out of any bowling attack; but that’s as far it has gone.

With the talent that the Irishman has to offer, it’s mostly been a painstaking process for the teams to unceremoniously bench one of the best finishers in the modern game. Except for a brilliant 66 against the now defunct Kochi Tuskers, the elegant left hander has produced moments that takes fans sky-high with his wristy touches only to be brought back down to earth with a boneheaded decision in the following balls.

Analyzed as a star owing to his glorious international reputation and slammed as a bust, it has become a futile effort for most to understand his failures in the IPL. So, two weeks ago, I waited with bated breath wondering which version of one of my favourite cricketers would turn up this year. Two weeks ago, Morgan had scored 30 runs in an IPL game only once. Two weeks ago, however, he was still hopeful of making a mark and “make a mark” he did.

“He’s a world class player. We wanted to give him more time so that he could play a natural game,” Gautam Gambhir said of the mercurial talent after their recent victory over Hyderabad.

Morgan has certainly looked world class and a vital cog in the machinery that Kolkata have set up to defend their title, becoming the main rudder to guide the KKR ship in the middle overs as well as spitting venom at the end. He has been afforded time and responsibility and instead of crumbling under pressure, Morgan is finally delivering. He has hit 161 runs at an average of 40.25 and played a vital role in both of Kolkata’s wins. Even when the team hasn’t won, Morgan has had a say in the proceeding in most matches and that’s more than most expected out of the stylish left-hander coming into the season.

The questions will still persist. “Is it real this time around?” They have been lurking around for years now, but are finally getting some answers. From failing to put together two consecutive innings of some saying, to people having belief in him to deliver day in and day out are suddenly fathomable.

Morgan seems to be finally the guy that Kolkata considered a coup three years ago. The ice finally seems to be running in his veins as he applies the finishing touches to Kolkata’s efforts, finding a niche in the heart of the batting order. The newly incarnated Morgan is something the people of Kolkata have been waiting for. In the purple and gold of KKR, he doesn’t look half bad.

Bencherifa returned to a Bagan that offered him a chance to steer a ship which had no radar and a tattered sail for a push. In a few months’ time, the officials managed to somehow make it tougher on him by prodding in holes into the hull, following the Kolkata Derby fiasco. From trying to kick-start their faltering season to providing them a semblance of dignity, the task became steeper but the resources available to the Moroccan remained the same: a discombobulated team that lacked both balance and spirit.

Challenged with keeping the club afloat after being stripped of all the points 10 games into the season is not the task that most would relish upon coming back for a second stint. Add to that the pressure of coaching in Kolkata and the expectations of the myriads of fans that have been starved of silverware in the last two years, Bencherifa had a lot to lose after breaking away unceremoniously from the team he had built at Salgaocar. But he sure did have a lot to win as well. Bencherifa never shied away from the challenge though. He took the bull by the horn and has managed to come out of it all with his reputation having received a shot in the arm.

In the course of four months, the Moroccan has been able to break off the negative self-image at Mohun Bagan. In the space of 10 games, he has proved to be the missing rudder, guiding the mariners away from the relegation places while also putting in a credible display in the IFA Shield, only to be knocked out via a penalty shootout. With Bencherifa at the helm, the team has approached games like a new blank slate laid in front of them each time they have walked out on the pitch. 22 players slugging it out for 90 minutes with more often than not Mohun Bagan coming out on top because of Bencherifa’s infusion of tactical nuances, and brilliance of their foreigners in the form of Odafa Okolie, Echezona Anyichie and Tolgay Ozbey.

The team may still be heavily top-loaded; their identity might still linger around the images and exploits of Odafa and Tolgay. But Bencherifa has been able to cook up an effective combination between the two foreign stars and the assortment of Indian talents. Whether it is Denson Devadas playing the defensive shield in front of the back four, C.S. Sabeeth playing in the hole behind the main forward, Biswajit Saha slotting in at in the wing-back slot or Mehraj and Aibor coming to the fore in their defensive scheme of things, Bencherifa has employed his skills to get the most out of a team that was “gathered”, rather than assembled. Even national players like Syed Rahim Nabi, Nirmal Chhetri, Manish Mathani and Jewel Raja, who had been gravely under-performing, have regained their touch.

The attention to detail and the time that he spends with members of the squad with regard to how they employ their skills in the larger scheme of things are evident in the practice sessions where he spends hours in talking to individuals. The biggest beneficiary has been Echezona Anyichie, who has become the stalwart at the back in Bagan’s comeback. The Moroccan’s work has stopped Anyichie from becoming yet another flop recruit like Diamondstar and Daniel Zeleny in the past.

With the duo of Tolgay and Odafa leading the way in their ten game unbeaten streak in the I-League, the Mohun Bagan fans can now see a silver lining in it all – a hope for the future. The silverware may not come this season but the belief that it will come sooner rather than later glows ever brighter, both in the hearts of Mohun Bagan fans and players.

Bencherifa hasn’t let the minutiae of being the pointless club at the bottom of the table get to the players. He certainly hasn’t let the opponents walk over them even when all seemed down. The task is not yet over, but who will bet against them now? Bencherifa expected nothing but a baptism of fire and he has replied with fire. That fire now burns in the hearts of the players crossing the white line wearing the Maroon and Green.

“The team has gone through a lot of stress and we desperately need everyone’s support. We have to also be patient and then the results will come,” Bencherifa said. The overwhelming support wasn’t always there, the seats weren’t always filled; patience was a virtue that was forced upon the fans this season. The gaffer however has delivered on his promises.

Go hard or go home. For Karim Bencherifa’s Mohun Bagan, it has been mostly the former.

While the passion of the city and the club that is Newcastle was on full display, Benfica showcased some tantalizing, slick footballing skills which eventually paid off. In all, it made for one great European tie and should have whetted the appetites of Mike Ashley and Derek Llambias enough to strengthen the squad even further.

Here are 5 talking points from yesterday’s thrilling encounter:

Weird line-ups from both teams

Alan Pardew has made head-scratching decisions all through-out this season and last night was no different. Sylvain Marveaux, like so many times, got the axe despite putting in some impressive shifts in previous games. Going into the game with a virtual mountain to climb against Benfica, Pardew opted to give start to Gael Bigirimana and that too on the right wing. The only reason behind Pardew opting for such a decision was giving cover to Danny Simpson who was up against the enigmatic Nico Gaitan. With the optimal need being that of getting goals however, the decision certainly left even more heads scratching.

On the opposite side, Benfica manager Jorge Jesus certainly didn’t go unnoticed as he opted to leave the dangerous Rodrigo and the club’s highest scorer this season, Óscar Cardozo, on the bench. There was still zip in their passing and movement but they certainly lacked a killer edge in the final third.

Yohan Cabaye fails to take the game by the scruff of its neck

Cometh the hour, cometh the man? For Newcastle, it wasn’t to be so. Cabaye has always been a deciding factor in whether Newcastle play well on the day or not. Sadly for the Magpies, Cabaye was one of the poorest players on the pitch in black and white. Although he was their best tackler in midfield and created a few opportunities with his first time balls, the Frenchman failed to control the tempo of the game and keep possession when they needed it most. His crosses as well as attempts from set pieces certainly left much to be desired. Pardew will have to take a long and hard look at where Cabaye is most effective. While the Frenchman has the passing skills to unlock most defences, there were too many Hollywood balls from the Frenchman which resulted in turnovers. Benfica literally overran Newcastle’s midfield in the first half as the home side failed to settle down and play their game.

It may be primary and simple, but sometimes it’s most effective

With Newcastle unable to impose themselves on the visitors in the first half, Alan Pardew brought on Shola Ameobi to set the cat amongst the pigeons. The introduction of Ameobi changed the complexion of the game almost instantly as Garay and Luisão now had to deal with the big-bodied Nigerian international along with the perennial threat of Papiss Cissé. In today’s footballing world, the order of the proceeding is mostly playing slick passing football which is pleasing to the eye but not always effective if the personnel is lacking. With Ben Arfa, Marveaux and Tiote not involved in the first half, the Tynesiders certainly didn’t play to their strengths.

With Ameobi thrown in the mix at the beginning of the second half, Newcastle now had a target man up front. Balls were soon coming in from the wings as well as lumped forward for Ameobi to attack and flick on. Alan Pardew’s change paid rich dividends as it was Ameobi who set up Cissé for Newcastle’s goal and an enthralling finish.

Benfica still sharp without their top two scorers

Newcastle certainly had the vibe and the passion but it was Benfica who looked more likely to open the scoring in the first half. While Newcastle played in straight lines and looked for the perfect ball, Benfica burned holes in the Newcastle midfield with their intricate passing and ball control as they controlled the proceedings. The Portuguese were able to play the game on their terms and pace as Nemanja Matic, Enzo Perez and Gaitán created little triangles. Their work off the ball was exemplary as well as they pressed high up the midfield, giving little time for the likes of Anita and Cabaye to settle on the ball, leading to a large number of erroneous passes from the home side.

While they may not have scored in the first half, it certainly wasn’t for the lack of creating chances. Lima’s ingenious backheel effort with only three minutes on the clock was an indicator of things to come. Newcastle were made to count there lucky stars on 28 minutes when Massadio Haïdara was there at the right place at the right moment to clear an effort from the goal-line. A Salvio header and a Perez shot from long range were enough indications of which side had more impetus in the game in the first 45 minutes.

Europa League may have a winner from Portugal this year

It really wouldn’t surprise anybody if a team going into the semi-finals goes on to win the whole thing, but if I had to put my money on one side, it would certainly be Benfica. While many pundits may tip the scale in Chelsea‘s favour, the thing that makes me put their name above the Londoners would be their work when not in possession. Both Chelsea and the Portuguese league leaders have players throughout the team that can be match winners on the day, but while Chelsea’s off-the ball work has been exploited by many in the recent past, Benfica are a class above in that respect with players closing down opposition players and spaces with the utmost proficiency. Benfica is a well-drilled team which possesses fire-power in every area of the field and has a record which lies testament to the fact. In 37 games this season, they have been on the losing side only twice, with Barcelona the only team to beat them by more than a goal.

However, it has to be a concerted all-round effort to see this one out, and as we have witnessed in recent games in the Champions League, it’s never over till its over. Here are 5 things that Newcastle need to do to excel tonight at St. James’ Park.

A clinical Cissé

Papiss Cissé is finally firing, and that has really helped the Magpies, since he is now their only real option upfront. The Senegal international has scored 5 in his last 8 games, and once each time in Newcastle’s last four home games. The goals have certainly helped Newcastle in both the domestic as well as the European front, but Cissé has been wasteful as well. If not for the forward managing to hit the post twice at Lisbon a week ago, the tie would have had a completely different complexion. His wastefulness was there for show at the weekend as well, as he managed to hit the post from two yards out, while also failing to set up Sylvain Marveaux when all he had to do was roll the ball across. Cisse will have to be at his best to romp home any advantage that may arise, and going by the game at the Estádio da Luz, there should be plenty for him to feast on.

Involving Sylvain Marveaux

In Sylvain Marveaux, Newcastle can add another X-factor to their side going forward. The Frenchman has been in inspirational form since the turn of the year and his exclusion from the first 11 on many occasions by Alan Pardew has left the Newcastle faithful bewildered. The Frenchman’s creativity will have to come to the fore, like it did against Stoke and in the first leg, if Newcastle hope to come out on top when the final whistle blows.

Shutting down the hole 

Newcastle faced the most trouble when the likes of Rodrigo and Matic found space in between the defensive line and the midfield. Rodrigo especially exploited the space to his full advantage, as he wreaked havoc in the final third with his explosive speed. With Cheikh Tiote and James Perch likely to fill in for the injured Steven Taylor at the back, it will be up to the likes of  Yohan Cabaye and Vurnon Anita to shut down the space for the dangerous Rodrigo and others to operate.

Defensive concentration

A five minute spell of self-destruction from Newcastle was all it took to hand over the impetus to Benfica. A sloppy back pass that was intercepted and scored off by Lima, followed by a dubious Steven Taylor handball, turned the game on its head. If Newcastle are not careful at the back, it won’t matter how much they can throw towards Benfica’s goal. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who himself has been sloppy of late, will have to lead a depleted back-line to keep Newcastle in the tie.

Crank up the atmosphere

Newcastle are blessed with one of the most vibrant, emotional and loyal fans in world football. Newcastle’s home form has been the only thing that has kept their season from falling apart. They come into the game unbeaten in their six last games, having won five of them. Newcastle would look to their fans once again to spur them on in this game. The prospect of playing in front of 50,000 Geordies shouting at the top of their lungs is certainly a daunting prospect for any away team. Newcastle need to feed off the passion of the crowd in their quest to ending their trophy drought, that now exceeds four decades.

Tim Krul reminded us all why he is touted as one of the finest keepers in the league, as he pulled off two excellent saves to keep Newcastle in the game before Papiss Cissé took all the plaudits with yet another last-gasp winner. Firstly, Krul somehow managed to block Stanislav Manolev’s effort from only 2 yards out after the ball had ricocheted to him from a corner. Krul was on hand again in the second half when he pulled off a spectacular save to deny Dimitar Berbatov a goal in five consecutive games. The Bulgarian’s header from a Riise free-kick seemed destined for the top corner of the goal until a brilliant leap from the Dutchman saved the blushes for Newcastle.

DEFENSE

Matthew Lowton’s screamer will be a contender for goal of the season. More importantly for Villa, it was vital in bagging another three points, their third victory in their last 4 games. The young Englishman, who had signed from Sheffield United last summer, has been one of the bright sparks in Villa’s campaign so far, which has seen them field a number of young prospects but not with the greatest of success. Lowton’s screamer totally changed the complexion of the game.

Gael Clichy put in an immense shift yesterday at the left back spot as he smothered out any threat coming from the right wing of the Manchester United attack. The Frenchman put all his experience to work as the front-line of  the home team couldn’t conjure up a single clear-cut opportunity.

James Collins made Luis Suarez totally ineffective as the Hammers went home with a precious away point from Anfield. Neither Sturridge nor the Uruguayan was able to get past the Hammers’ defense as Collins lead the line with timely tackles and blocks to keep the Liverpool offence, which has been in free flow in recent times, at bay.

Laurent Koscielny has quietly become Arsenal‘s best option at the centre-back spot. An intelligent reader of the game and a tenacious tackler, he is far less culpable to the mistakes that his partners Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen have been prone to, and one such mistake left Arsenal a man short for the last 20 minutes of the game at the Hawthorn. But the Frenchman was on hand to shepherd Arsenal to a precious three points which leaves them two points off fourth spot with a game in hand.

MIDFIELD

Of all the star names on show at the centre of the park in the Manchester Derby, few expected James Milner to have the most influence on the game. The England international had the biggest say with his all-action play, with help from Barry and the deep-lying Yaya Toure.

Rosicky on hand to double Arsenal’s lead

Tomas Rosicky gets a mention in this week’s team owing to the brace he scored away at the Hawthorns. The Czech seems to come alive in the latter parts of the season and was crucial to Arsenal’s eventual third-place finish last year, as he seemed to have found a gear which most had thought had ceased to exist. He certainly seems to be ready to give the Gunners another late season the push once again.

While Michu has stolen the limelight as the most prolific signing for the Swans this season, Jonathan de Guzmán hasn’t found quite the same appreciation. The Dutchman has been however, one of the most impressive performers for the Welsh side. His slick passing and manoeuvring in the midfield has been one of the impressive aspects of his game, and it was on show again, as he controlled the tempo in the midfield and set-up a goal to clinch yet another crucial away point for Swansea.

Wingers

Jay Rodriguez scores Southampton’s first against Reading

Jay Rodriguez is showing why Nigel Adkins shelled out £6m for his services from Burnley.  Rodriguez however has benefited from the departure of the erstwhile manager as he seems to have found his place and niche under the tutelage of Mauricio Pochettino. The youngster has benefited from playing a regular role alongside the ever-impressive Rickie Lambert, and has vindicated his manager’s faith in him by scoring goals at will and proving to be a quality player on the left-hand side.

Benett crosses for Norwich’s first

Elliott Bennett is not a name that makes it to the conversations when Team of the Week discussions takes place. The Norwich City wideman however gets into this week’s team as he set up both goals for the home side. Two fine crosses, a to-the-point precise delivery for Snodgrass to head in and then a free-kick curled in for Michael Turner to head in.

FORWARD

Papiss Cisse seems to have found his mojo back, as he is making a nuisance of himself in the final third for defenders. Another goal from Newcastle’s hitman in injury time meant that he has scored after ninety minutes in each of Newcastle’s last three home games. The finishes might not be there yet, but the Senegalese striker has been making some real inroads against opposing defences via exquisitely timed runs. If he finds his finishing boots for last few games of the season, Newcastle will be reaping the rewards both in the EPL as well as in Europe.

Here is how this week’s team looks like:

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/04/09/epl-team-of-the-week-gameweek-32/feed/ 0 06251 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/04/04/strikers-of-the-month-the-nominees-2/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2013/04/04/strikers-of-the-month-the-nominees-2/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:58:37 +0000 Souvik http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=1511141 They say “Forwards win you matches, defenders win you championships”. But without those vital goals from the main man upfront, no team can constitute a run for the championship. Even for a team fighting relegation, those vital goals may mean the difference between staying up or going down the ladder.

Taking stock of the performances from the forwards in the month of March, here are your nominees for Strikers of the Month.

IVICA OLIC (Wolfsburg)

Minutes Played: 450, Goals: 4, Assists: 1

The Croatian has been in stunning form of late. Whether playing up front alone, alongside Helmes or even coming in from the left, Olic has carved out opportunities for his team and helped himself to a goal in each of the league matches played in March. His tally of 5 goals and an assist in 4 Bundesliga games stands out amongst all the big leagues of Europe last month. While others have lost their way, Olic’s strong performances have helped Wolfsburg steer clear of the relegation battle. Even on national duty, he came up trumps as thumped in Croatia’s second of the match as Croatia went on to win the game 2-0.

He seems to have done it all in the month of March. Like over here, scoring an amazing goal against Freiburg via an over head kick:

Minutes: 450, Goals: 6, Assists: 2

As talks of a big money move for the talented Polish striker keep getting intense, he himself is doing no harm to his reputation as one of the best forwards in European football at the moment. The Borussia Dortmund striker thumped in six in 5 games last month as his full set of skills as a player was on display for all to witness and appreciate.

Whether finishing with a precise shot, being there at the opportune moment to slot the ball or taking on defenders on a rampaging run to set up an easy finish, Lewandowski has been a treat for the eyes.

Lewandowski grabbed a brace as well in Poland’s 5-0 win over, with both goals coming from the spot.

MARIO BALOTELLI (AC Milan)

Minutes Played: 245, Goals: 3, Assists: 1

Balotelli seems to have finally found his form, back home at the San Siro. Ever since coming back to Italy from England, Balotelli  has looked an inspiring figure on the field in the red and black of the Rossoneri, scoring 8 in 7 games. His off-field camaraderie with El-Shaarawy and Niang has augured well for his performances on the field and helped him settle down and become a more mature individual. Every time he steps on the pitch, he is expected to deliver nowadays and deliver he has, in each of the game he has played so far back home in Italy.

PIERRE EMERICK-AUBAMEYANG (Saint Etienne)

Minutes played: 342, Goals: 3, Assists: 2

Another sensational month of football gifted by one of the most sought after players in Ligue 1. The Gabonese international is surely making the youth coaches who let him go at AC Milan eat their words with his fleet-footed displays for Saint-Etienne. He has been able to cook up a great partnership with Brandao and their performances remain one of the main reasons that Les Verts (The Greens) are challenging for European honours in the league table.

Except for one off-day against PSG, Aubameyang has been able to impose his influence on games seamlessly, with his bags of trickery to complement his raw pace and an ever growing ability to finish off chances.

Minutes: 388, Goals: 7, Assists 2

The list is never complete without the maestro himself, is it? It’s been another month of breaking records for Lionel Messi as he scored in 19 consecutive league games to add another to the long list of goal-scoring records that he is making a mockery of. Even with all the treasures that Barcelona have in their midfield, Messi’s influence on the fortunes of the club became quite evident when the Argentine wasn’t quite his usual self for a couple of games.

But the beginning of this month saw Barcelona hit their stride again as Messi went about his usual business of making defenders look like mere poles on a training ground, weaving around them with utter ease to set him as well as his team-mates opportunities galore. In 5 games in the month of March, Lionel Messi amassed 7 of Barcelona’s 12 goals for the month while assisting on two others. The games included a Champions League last sixteen game against Milan, in which Messi stamped his authority to silence all doubters as Barcelona annihilated their opponents at the Nou Camp.

Delhi captain Mahela Jayawardene celebrates after scoring 50 during the match between KKR and DD at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 3, 2013. (Photo: IANS)

The only thing that came good from Unmukt Chand’s first ball dismissal for Delhi was that their skipper Mahela Jayawardene found more time to weave his willowy magic on the hallowed turf of the Eden Gardens. The Sri Lankan was elegance personified as he played a classy innings of 66 to give Delhi a fighting chance in the encounter while others around him fell like nine pins in a bowling lane. It was a captain’s knock from Jayawardene, who, unlike his teammates, assessed the situation quickly and played in accordance to what the pitch offered him.

Rajat Bhatia

Whenever the success of Kolkata Knight Riders is analysed, the name of Rajat Bhatia never quite makes it to the surface of the discussions. But the Delhi lad has been one of the biggest catalysts in the Knight Riders’ winning formula for the last couple of years. He may not be as talented as the other Delhiite – Gautam Gambhir – in the side, but he surely knows how to hold his own amongst the big boys. A top-order batsman and an occasional new ball bowler in the domestic circuit, he has been one of the greatest examples of a player adapting to the shorter version of the game and making the most of what he has.

He did a great job of outfoxing the batsmen with his variations in speed as well as cutters to slow the run rate down after Delhi had got off to a brisk start in spite of losing early wickets (44 off the first 6 overs). Finally, the stranglehold that Bhatia was able to build on the Delhi batsman paid off as Johan Botha and Naman Ojha fell to him as they tried to break free from the shackles. Bhatia finished with figures of 2 for 23 in 4 overs.

Lakshmipathy Balaji

Balaji is like a box of chocolates with different centres. You never know which you are going to get when pick one up. For the Kolkata faithful, it was the good Balaji that turned up on the day. He was the accomplice-in-chief for Rajat Bhatia in the middle overs to dry up the runs. His combination of out-swingers, off-cutters and slower as well as quicker bouncers were as effective as accurate. The Delhi batsmen were forced to launch an attack blindly in the latter parts because of their scoring getting stifled in the middle overs. The job for Narine became even more simpler.

Sunil Narine 

The quote “Cometh the hour, cometh the man” would be apt for the magician from Trinidad & Tobago. The IPL has become his favourite playground and once again, he was shining brightly under the floodlights of Eden Gardens. Narine literally toyed with the Daredevils as he helped himself to 4 wickets in his 4-over spell while conceding a mere 13 runs. Combine that with a well-taken catch to dismiss the dangerous Mahela Jayawardene and having the presence of mind to get back to the stumps to force a run out off the last ball of the Delhi innings, and it was as good as it gets for a bowler in T20 cricket.

Gautam Gambhir

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir in action during IPL T-20 match between KKR and DD at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 3, 2013. (Photo: IANS)

The middle order has always been the Achilles heel for Kolkata and they have had to rely heavily on the top order in the past. Knight Rider fans, however, didn’t know what to expect from their skipper and main stalwart of their batting, Gautam Gambhir, after having an indifferent season on the international front and recovering from a bout of jaundice.

The Gambhir they got to see, however, closely resembled the batsman that got sometimes single-handedly dragged them to the finals and came second in the race for the orange cap. He may not have finished the job for the team but certainly brought them to the cusp of victory. A brisk 42 off 29 balls which included 5 fours and a six will certainly give the fans as well as the team more belief going further into the tournament.

Honourable Mention:  Shahbaz Nadeem. The Delhi spinner certainly did make the best use of the conditions and was lucky to get Kallis out on a long hop. However, his fielding left too much to be desired. When you’re defending a paltry score of 128, those mistakes are unpardonable.

David Silva scores for Manchester City against Newcastle United

In their first game at home in 34 days, Manchester city re-acquainted with their fans by thrashing a depleted Newcastle United. In a game that saw the home side completely dominate proceeding from the get go, it was only about when and not how City would get the breakthrough. The citizens had to wait till the 41st minute of the game to open their account but from then on, the floodgates opened as the home side romped to a comfortable win which keeps the gap at the top of the table at 15 points.

Manchester City were on front foot from the get-go and completely dominated the centre of the midfield with Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry in total control of the proceedings. This meant that the triple threat of Silva, Nasri and Tevez could roam about the field as loose cannons, creating havoc in the final third.

However the first real opportunity came Newcastle’s way when Vurnon Anita played a perfectly paced diagonal for Cisse, who hit it first time only to see his effort rattle off the post.

Only a couple of minutes later, City carved out their first opportunity as Nasri outfoxed Gouffran and Gutierrez to cut in a low cross which was blasted over the crossbar by Gareth Barry when it seemed harder to miss, form eight yards out.

Elliot was called into action again on 38 minutes when Gael Clichy found room on the left hand side of the box and fired in on the volley only to see the Irish goalkeeper fist his attempt away.

The French left back was in action again a couple of minutes later as he rolled in a delightful cross across the box which rolled its way to Carlos Tevez at the far post and the Argentine made no mistake to put City in front.

The men in blue were at this point toying with the magpies and a few minutes later, David Silva doubled the lead as he drilled home a shot from the left after some nifty play from Samir Nasri.

The second half saw James Perch come on for the visitors for the ineffective Gabriel Obertan and the visitors showed real intent for the first time in the game in the early minutes. The pressure nearly paid off when Cabaye found himself in space in the penalty box on 48 minutes but saw his effort go a whisker wide of Hart’s goal.

The game was however sealed 7 minutes later when a Gareth Barry shot was neatly deflected in by the returning City skipper Vincent Kompany to make it 3-0.

A further 14 minutes later, the demolition was complete when a surging run from Yaya Toure on the right saw his cross deflect from the boots of the onrushing James Perch and into the back of the net.

A flurry of substitutions followed as both managers came to terms with the score-line and began to pull out their main men.

Newcastle had Elliot to thank as substitute Scott Sinclair looked to make up for times spent on the City bench with a curling effort from the edge of the box. The Republic of Ireland international was however on hand to tip it over.

The victory now gives Manchester City a 5 point gap from Chelsea, who stuttered yet again, this time away at Southampton.

For Newcastle, this won’t be an ideal preparation before their trip to Portugal to face Benfica mid-week in their Europa League clash in the quarter-final stage.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany (c) (Javi Garcia 72′), Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy; Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure; David Silva (Scott Sinclair 81′), Samir Nasri (Sergio Aguero 70′), Carlos Tevez; Edin Dzeko

Subs not used: Costel Pantilmon, Kolo Toure, Aleksandar Kolarov, James Milner.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Danny Simpson, Steven Taylor, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Jonas Gutierrez; Vurnon Anita, Yohan Cabaye (c) (Gael Bigirimana 73′); Gabriel Obertan (James Perch 45′), Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran (Dan Gosling 62′); Papiss Cisse

Subs not used: Steve Harper, Curtis Good, Sylvain Marveaux, Adam Campbell.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

FINAL SCORE:

Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle United (41′ Carlos Tévez, 45+2′ David Silva,  56′ Vincent Kompany, 70′ (OG) James Perch)

Kick-off: 3pm GMT, Saturday

Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Manchester United‘s early kick-off means that Manchester City can go into the game facing an 18-point deficit from the runaway leaders. On Saturday, they go up against Newcastle United, a side that has been decimated in recent weeks by added bodies on the injury list yet again.

Manchester City never kicked into top gear this season with too many players falling short of making an impression when called upon to do so. While their backline have held firm, they have so far struggled mightily going forward. David Silva and Samir Nasri both have had off seasons, while Yaya Toure’s form has dipped from the standard he had set for himself last season.

It will now only take a near-miracle for the blue half of Manchester to launch any sort of title challenge. However, with pride and an automatic qualification spot for next year’s Champions League still up for grabs, there should be no shortage of motivation for the men in blue. This particular tie has been one of City’s favourites and the Citizens should be confident of carving out a win against the Magpies, having won their last 5 meetings and 10 of their past 12 encounters in the Premier League.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have injuries galore. Their paper-thin squad has been stretched this season because of their involvement in the Europa League and the result is a point tally of  33 from 30 games, only good enough for 13th position on the table. Having fielded a total of 31 players throughout the season (highest in the division), the Tynesiders have lacked the consistency and chemistry that saw them finish 5th last season.

However, Newcastle have been on a good run in the league recently with 4 wins in their last 7 games. The new faces brought into the squad in January certainly have had an impact on the results, with the likes Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran, Mathieu Debuchy and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa adding a new dimension to the team. This recent turn of form has seen them steer clear of immediate trouble and helped create a six-point buffer between them and the dreaded relegation zone.

Pardew may have one eye on their midweek Europa league Quarter-Final against Benfica, but no one will blame him if he  chooses to give the EPL games all his attention rather than gunning for European glory. Any point away to Manchester City will provide their cause as well as confidence a shot in the arm heading into the final stretch of games.

Manchester City have dropped eight points in their last six and seven points in their last seven home games. This indifferent form of late has resulted in them dropping out of the championship race.

However, on Saturday they face one of their favourite opponents in the form of Newcastle. They have defeated the Magpies 14 times in the Premier league era and have come out on top on  all four occasions that they have met at the Etihad. A win in this game would certainly go a long way in helping to erase the memories of the 2 goal loss at the hands of Everton a fortnight ago.

Newcastle’s away form has been downright atrocious this season. Their only win away from St. James’ Park came earlier this year in January at Villa Park. However, that was followed by three straight losses in away games at the hands of  Tottenham, Swansea and Wigan. Away luck deserted them last time around at Wigan as well where they fell prey to two bad decisions from Mark Halsey, resulting in them ending up on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline.

Only Reading (5) have claimed fewer points away from home than Newcastle(8) this season. With not much of a history to fall back upon for the Magpies in this fixture, they would happily take back a point home especially considering the long list of players unavailable for the contest.

Manchester City

The biggest concern for City heading into the game is the health of their skipper Vincent Kompany. The Belgian international, who had been out for eight weeks with an injured calf, angered Roberto Mancini when he flew off to represent his national team against the Italian’s wishes. His involvement in this game will be subject to a fitness test prior to the game.

Micah Richards and Jack Rodwell will be unavailable for City while Sergio Aguero will make a return after being out for three weeks with knee trouble.

Newcastle United

Alan Pardew got more harsh news on the injury front with the name of Cheikh Tiote being added to the long list of unavailable players. The Ivory Coast international joins Newcastle’s triplet of wing backs – Mathieu Debuchy, Massadio Haidara and Davide Santon – who were also ruled out for the trip to Etihad earlier in the week.

These three names join the already prolonged list of long-term absentees for Newcastle in the form of Fabricio Coloccini, Tim Krul, Ryan Tayolor, Haris Vuckic and Hatem Ben Arfa.

1- Newcastle have only won one EPL game against Manchester  City (P32 W1 D11 L20) in September 2000 (1-0).

3- Yaya Touré has scored three of City’s last five Premier League goals against Newcastle.

8- Newcastle have lost 8 of their last 10 away matches.

10- The defending champions are 10 points and 20 goals worse off than at the same stage last season.

30- Manchester City have scored only 30 goals from open play this season, just two more than Newcastle.

Kevin Durant did his best to drag his side throughout the contest as he scored 36 on 13-19 shooting but with little help from the Thunder bench wasn’t able to bring down the deficit.

Ricky Rubio #9 of the Minnesota Timberwolves was impressive on the night with 17 points and 7 assists. (Getty Images)

Montenegrin centre Pekovic lead the line for the Wolves recording his 10th 20-10 game of the season with a  22 points,15 rebounds effort. Rikcy Rubio had another impressive game  with 17 points, 7 assists and 4 steals as 5 players from the home team were in double figures.

The teams went into the second quarter tied at 23 a piece, after which the home team showed their recently found offensive prowess, scoring 84 in the last three quarters over the miserly Thunder who pride on their defense. While Rubio excelled in controlling the tempo, Russell Westbrook failed to have much impact in the game as the North-West division leaders looked to Durant to facilitate the offence and create mis-matches on the switch.

While Durant was creating havoc, the Thunder struggled to take care of the ball throughout the game, which was uncharacteristic of them resulting in 16 turnovers. On the other hand, they could only force 10 turnovers from the Wolves. Much lesser than their usual average of 15.

Durant started the night in hot shooting form, hitting 9 of his first 10 shots. But, as the game wore on the defensive switches and plays made by the gritty Dante Cunningham and the veteran Andrei Kirilenko made sure that Durant could make only 4 of his last 9 shots.

With the subdued Westbrook unable to create any offence on his own and Kevin Martin firing blanks, it became too big a task for the scoring leader to do it all on his own.

While Durant was not getting much help from either the bench or the bigs, the Timberwolves flourished as Cunningham’s hustle play disrupted the Thunder plans on both ends of the floor. Chase Budinger came off the bench to score 13 and make Timberwolves a threat from distance, drilling 2 of his 4 attempts from beyond the arc.

Timberwolves went into the half only 5 points ahead but really pulled away in the 4th quarter as they didn’t allowed the Thunder to score a field goal in the first five minutes and limited them to only 16 points that quarter.

The victory was a sweet redemption for the Timberwolves who lost in controversial circumstances only two nights back to the Lakers. For the Thunder, the loss could be vital in their chase to be the top seeds and hence maintain home-court advantage going into the play-offs for Western Conference bracket. The loss now puts them 2.5 games behind the Spurs and nine games to turn it around.

Norwich City have certainly transformed themselves as a club in the last few years. Back to back promotions under Paul Lambert followed by another sterling mid-table finish in their first year in the Premier League showed their intention of sticking alongside the big boys of English Football.

Lambert may have gone to manage a “bigger club”, but under the stewardship of Chris Hughton the Canaries show no intent of stopping in their quest of being a regular fixture in the Premier League. Except for an early season blip, they have largely been untroubled and sit comfortably in 12th place.

Chris Hughton made 4 attempts at bringing Gary Hooper from north of the border in January to join the revolution at Carrow Road, but to no avail. But he seems to have finally got  a versatile hitman with the signing of Dutchman Ricky van Wolfswinkel from Sporting Lisbon on a pre-contract said to be about £8m.

The credit goes to Norwich’s manager Chris Hughton alongside chief executive David McNally, who has proven in recent years to be a shrewd operator in the transfer market, for bringing in a player who has been linked with the likes of Manchester United in recent years.

The buy is a sign of real intent from the Norwich board and adds real quality to the squad which already has a lot of players with real graft and hunger but lack that cutting edge in front of goal.

In a recent interview to Voetbal International, Van Wolfswinkel’s words seemed to be those of a player who really believes in the Norwich philosophy:

“The club is in the middle of the table and very ambitious, this summer they will be debt-free and will get on strong.”

I had a good talk with the manager, Chris Hughton. He was very specific about my qualities and wants to build a strong team. That shows good trust.”

This could prove to be one of bargains of the Premier League next season and help Norwich take the next step in their Premier League ventures.

Kolkata Knight Riders teammates celebrate their victory after they won the IPL Trophy against Chennai Super Kings at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on May 27, 2012. (Getty Images)

If getting to the top from the blatantly grief stricken times of the early years was tough, the task of staying there will be ever more daunting. With wins comes expectations and pressure to perform. They will now have a target on their back as one of the teams to beat in this year’s competition.

Jacques Kallis has been instrumental in lending solidity at one end of the crease so that others in the top order like Gautam Gambhir and  Brendon  McCullum could play with the full freedom and authority that they enjoy.

Gautam Gambhir always likes to lead from the front and would be keen make a point to the selectors. “Form is temporary but class is permanent” isn’t it? Kolkata would wish to see the old Gambhir, who ended up as the second highest scorer in the tournament.

Will the Gautam Gambhir of old return? (Getty Images)

With those two names off the list, its time for soul searching for the Knight Riders. Brendon McCullum has never really triggered any sort of assault worth remembering for KKR ever since the blitzkrieg 158 off 73 balls. The same can be said of Eoin Morgan, whose time in the competition has been a real struggle, with a 66 off 51 balls against the now defunct Kochi Tuskers the only real innings of note.

Will the Knights go back to the old guard of Brad Haddin for some sort of production or will the unpredictable Manvinder Bisla find his niche? With 8 games at Eden Gardens (the lowest scoring ground in the IPL), you may be forgiven for not expecting  fireworks from this top order.

Two Indian batsmen who will play a major influence on the fortunes of the team are Manoj Tiwary and Yusuf Pathan. Both were off colour in last year’s edition and yet the team went on to win it all. Imagine the force Kolkata would be if these two stepped up.

The hard-hitting Baroda lad has been able to conjure up a paltry sum of 477 runs in his 27 innings for Kolkata at a meagre average of  23.85. Tiwary was a wonderful surprise for Kolkata in 2011, where he amassed 359 runs on an average of above 50.

The last of the big names in the middle order brings us to one of the most talented cricketers in the sub-continent: Shakib Al-Hasan. The Bangladesh skipper has been the epitome of inconsistency. Kolkata would certainly enjoy better fortunes if the talented southpaw shows the form that took him top the of the ICC all-rounder rankings.

The likes of Debabrata Das, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Ryan Ten Doeschate and Ryan McLaren are the other options.

Brett Lee spearheaded the Kolkata pace attack last time around but he had only 7 wickets to his name, which left too much for the rest of the bowling attack. With the Aussie taking over the bowling mentor role from Wasim Akram this time around, the chances of seeing the talented James Pattinson in the purple of KKR are high.

Last time around, one department that the Knights struggled to fill in was the Indian pace bowler spot. The often erratic Laxmipathy Balaji was the best answer to the problem. But this time around, they seem to have a genuine prospect on hand in the form of Shami Ahmed, who recently made his bow for the Indian national team.

The all-round talents of last year’s second highest wicket-taker for the team in the form of Jacques Kallis and Ryan McLaren provide further options.

Sunil Narine was the pick of the KKR bowlers last season. (Getty Images)

With Sunil Narine at the forefront, KKR have one of the most potent spin attacks in the tournament. If one mystery spinner was not enough, the defending champions went out and bought Sachithra Senanayake in this year’s auction to double the trouble for their opponents.

If these two aren’t enough, they have Iqbal Abdullah and the spinning talents of Shakib Al-Hasan to call up. Even Yusuf Pathan can chip in from time to time and was the team’s second highest wicket-taker in 2011.

With 6 games to be played on the slow turner of Eden Gardens, the Knights certainly are building a side with home conditions to back it up.

The all-round talent of a number of players in the squad makes the team selection flexible and in accordance with the prevailing match conditions. That was the reason why this team won 7 of its 8 away games last season. With the additions of Ryan McLaren, Sachithra Senanayake and Shami Ahmed to the squad, it should only get better.

With two foreign player slots likely to be occupied by two bowlers, except if Ryan McLaren gets the nod to fill in the seamer slot the third slot is nailed on for Jacques Kallis, which leaves only one slot up for grabs for the rest, which should be Shakib’s to lose. If the Bangladeshi plays to his full potential, it really prompts the team to a new level. If required, Kallis can chip in as the new ball bowler like he did last season to accommodate the likes of Senanayake.

KKR have an extremely balanced team and are odds on to retain their title. (GEtty Images)

At the end of the day, the Knight Riders have one of the, if not the most, balanced teams in the competition and it has been the biggest factor to their successes in the past couple of years. Filled with match winners throughout the line-up, and coupled with some steady heads around the field,  it makes East India’s team one of the favourites.

Coach: Trevor Bayliss (Australia)

Fielding coach: Trevor Penney

Team director: Joy Bhattacharjya

Home Ground: Eden Gardens, Kolkata and JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ranchi

Total no of Players: 23 (12 Indian + 11 Overseas)

Squad: Brad Haddin, Brendon McCullum, Brett Lee, Debabrata Das, Eoin Morgan, Gautam Gambhir (c), Iqbal Abdulla, Jacques Kallis, James Pattinson, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Manoj Tiwary, Manvinder Bisla(wk), Shami Ahmed, Pradeep Sangwan, Rajat Bhatia, Ryan McLaren, Ryan ten Doeschate, Sachithra Senanayake, Sarabjit Singh Ladda , Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine and Yusuf Pathan.

It would have been a knee-jerk reaction and the results surely wouldn’t have been that impressive. The January transfer window this year never quite turned out to be the spending fest that we had witnessed in past seasons. But there were some shrewd buys throughout the Premier League from the teams as they bolstered the depth of their squad while also adding to the quality for the final stretch of games.

LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Loic Remy of Queens Park Rangers scores their first goal past Simon Mignolet of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland at Loftus Road on March 9, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

The Price – 6.5/10

The price of £8m for a player of his quality seems quite apt when taken into account that the asking price was about double the sum only last year. A knee injury that sidelined the Frenchman for early part of the season and an impending free agency dragged the price down for the forward.

But if the fee paid to the Marseilles doesn’t sink a big hole in Tony Fernandes’ pocket, the £75,000-a-week contract surely will. But that’s what they had to pay to lure him from the hands of Newcastle United who had already agreed terms with Marseille. The contract also includes a get out clause if the Rs are relegated. Bottom of the table with the lucrative TV deal set to kick in in the off season, the punt might be just worth the taking.

The Impact – 8/10

A 6’1″ forward with stunning pace and the trickery of a winger, and a French international at that, certainly went about his scoring ways from the game itself. In his 5 starts for Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League, the Londoners have lost just once. Meanwhile, Remy has helped himself to 3 goals to keep the fire of hope burning in the hearts of QPR fans.

Transfer Score: 14.5/20

The Price – 7.5/10

A reported £7 million fee for a promising centre-back who has already been internationally capped by France a couple of times  at the ripe age of 23 represents another sound piece of business by the Magpies in the transfer market. When you take into account that the defender was widely sought after by some of the biggest names in European club football scene and often linked with Arsenal, Newcastle have got themselves a bargain for the man who skippered Montpellier to their maiden Ligue 1 title last season.

The Impact  - 7.5/10

Yanga is quickly making his presence felt ever since hitting English shores. Strong, quick and calm on the ball, the Frenchman is becoming an anchor at the back with the absence of Fabricio Coloccini throwing the Frenchman into the firing line from the get-go. Newcastle have been able to conjure up 4 wins in their last seven Premier League games and are yet to concede  in the knock-out stages of the Europa League.

Transfer Score: 15/20

The Price – 8/10

Someone finally exploited the £7.5 million release clause in Ba’s contract and it was Chelsea who finally made a bargain bin transfer for one the most prolific strikers in the Premier League for the last two seasons. Only Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie have scored more goals during the time Ba has been in England and to get a forward within £10 million is surely a great asking price.

The Impact  - 7.5/10

Ba made an immediate impact as he scored a brace on his first start for the Blues against Southampton. Ba adds a different dimension to the Chelsea team being a willing runner and having the knowledge of where the back of the goal lies. It’s certainly a refreshing change for Chelsea fans who were getting disgruntled with each passing week at the the faltering Fernando Torres. Ba is yet to hit the highs he reached with Newcastle after having a disruptive start to his Chelsea career owing to Benitez’s oft-rotating policies and a brutal facial injury he had on his return to Newcastle.

Transfer Score: 15.5/20

The Price – 7/10

Many would have questioned the £12million price tag that Sturridge had on him but that’s what’s the price of “potential” from a player who has shown that he can stand his own at this level. But the question was whether Liverpool were getting the Sturridge at Bolton a season before when his magnificent skills to get the Trotters away from the danger zone, or the often frustrating snobbish figure that took to the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

The Impact  - 9/10

Sturridge fired his first answer to his critics only 7 minutes into his debut. In his brief Liverpool career, the Englishman seems rejuvenated while working up a great understanding with Luis Suarez as Liverpool’s attack seems sharper than ever. In 7 appearances for the Merseyside club, Sturridge has scored 4 and assisted on 3  occasions while Liverpool have amassed 19 goals in those games.

Transfer Score: 16/20

The Price – 9/10

Newcastle not only scout talented young players, they also have shrewd boardroom skills with Derek Llambias at its head to hammer down a price that suits them. Newcastle are able to find loopholes in the contracts as well keep a tab on the contract situations of their scouted players. With the contract of the massively talented Sissoko expiring at the the end of this season, Newcastle certainly did hit the iron while it was still hot, paying a thrifty price of  £2 million while rewarding the Frenchman with a six-and-a-half year deal.

The Impact – 9/10

It took most people by surprise when Alan Pardew decided to use Sissoko in a more advanced role than most have normally associated with the box-to-box midfielder and it paid off almost immediately. Sissoko has been instant hit in the Premier league with his bolstering runs from midfield creating havoc. He has proved to be a great foil for Papiss Cissé, who never looked quite at ease playing alongside Demba Ba, and has allowed Yohan Cabaye to dictate the game from a more deeper position which has proved to be very fruitful for Newcastle in the recent past.

Alongside Cabaye and Tiote, Sissoko gives Newcastle real quality at the middle of the pitch and the dimension of raw pace to the attack while helping the defensive cause as well. Since his introduction into the team, Newcastle have won 4 of their last seven Premier League games while progressing to the last eight in the Europa League; Sissoko himself has chipped in with 3 goals and 4 assists in his 11 appearances for the Magpies .

The Government’s increased aid of an extra £25m means that West Ham United have secured the right to move into the  London Olympic Stadium. The increased funding from the public treasury takes the total contribution from the government to £60m approx.

However, the deal only went through after West Ham themselves increased their funding for the stadium to  £15m, a £5m increase adding to the £2m that the Hammers will pay as rent every year for the privileges of calling the ground their home.

The club has reportedly signed a 99-year lease with the London Legacy Development Corporation, which will see the seating capacity of the stadium decrease from 80,000 to 60,000 with retractable seating. It would allow the stadium to host athletics meet as well in the future. The stadium will play host to 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships.

The Hammers will move from their current Upton Park ground in east London from August 2016.

FILE PHOTO: Joe Allen during the Wales press conference at St David.

Liverpool‘s 23-year-old Welsh midfielder Joe Allen was earlier today ruled for the rest of the season. The Welshman had to withdraw himself from the Welsh squad on Sunday to sort out a nagging issue with his left shoulder.

Liverpool medics, after having a thorough examination of the shoulder, have advised Allen to go under the knife. Liverpool’s first team doctor Zaif Iqbal said in a statement, “Joe Allen is due to have a left shoulder operation tomorrow morning in Liverpool and will be ready to return to football at the beginning of next season.”

Allen has been Liverpool’s most expensive signing of the year after he followed Brendan Rodgers in the summer from Swansea. He had started the first 17 games of Liverpool Premier League campaign this term but had recently seen himself out favour with Lucas Leiva being preferred to him.

An 80th minute strike from Ranti Martins sealed the fate of the IFA Shield final, as Prayag United etched their name onto the famous trophy. The loss meant that East Bengal missed out on the possibility of a domestic quadruple this season, while the victory resulted in Prayag United (formerly known as United Sports Club) winning their maiden IFA Shield.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the busier of the two keepers throughout the game, and was able to pull off some good saves to keep East Bengal in the game. However, Ranti Martins found an opportune moment to strike, after a Malsawmtluanga split the East Bengal backline into half.

Prayag United came into the final having got five days of rest, while East Bengal were playing their third game within a week, as AFC Cup duties meant that they had to fly in on Thursday before needing to go all the way to penalties to edge out their fierce rivals Mohun Bagan on Sunday. So, in that respect, it was advantage Prayag, as they were the fresher of the two teams.

Trevor Morgan opted to play last game’s hero Andrew Barisic from the start over Chidi Edeh. The match got off to a scrappy start, but the midfield battles were being won by the Prayag duo of Lalkamal Bhowmick and Costa Rican superstar Carlos Hernandez, as they flayed the ball about with panache and nonchalant touches. Ranti Martins found himself as a benefactor from their service, as he was played in by a Hernandez long ball. However, the bumpy turf coupled with a retreating Gurwinder Singh made sure that no real threat arose from the situation.

East Bengal started to get into the game as the time rolled on, and were enjoying some favourable positions and space on the left-hand side. First, Lalrindika Ralte and then Baljit Sahni popped on the the left to whip in crosses, but neither were able to trouble Sangram Mukherjee in the Prayag goal.

The last real attempt of the first period came from the right, as a cross into the box reached Ralte, who had come in from the left, but his curling attempt with the outside of his boot was easily dealt with.

The second half saw Prayag come out with renewed enthusiasm, and Asif tested Gurpreet within the first minute of the half. 5 minutes later, and it was Gurpreet again who came to the rescue, as he used his full 6’5″ frame to palm over a Carlos Hernandez effort that was destined for the top left-hand corner of his goal.

The game was becoming stretched, and if Baljit Sahni had kept his composure, he could have set up an East bengal goal on 52 minutes. With men to his support both on the left and right, Baljit chose the wrong option of attempting a hit from 25 yards out, and only managed to scuff a shot away.

James Singh tried his luck from lang range on 58 minutes, only to be repelled again, as Gurpreet kept his concentration. On the other end, Barisic, who now had Edeh Chidi to play alongside him, was looking the most likely to make things happen for the Red and Gold.

As the match was strolling towards extra time, Martins found the net, with his strike proving be the solitary goal of the evening. The Nigerian came in from the left, making a timely run in behind, and latched onto a perfect through ball from Malsawmtluanga to lash it home. Gurpreet did his best as he got a fingertip to it, but it was all in vain, as the ball trickled into the East Bengal net.

East Bengal committed almost everyone in attack in the final minutes, and it nearly paid off for them, as Edeh Chidi missed a gilt-edged chance on 82 minutes, heading high and handsome from six yards out.

After 4 minutes of stoppage time, when the final whistle blew, history had been made. The IFA Shield would have a new name etched on it, and in the process, Prayag United became the first team from Kolkata to win the trophy outside of the big three of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting.

The so called revolution under Shebby Singh at Blackburn Rovers has claimed its latest victim. Michael Appleton, who was appointed manager of the Lancashire club only two months prior, has been dismissed today from the post following Rovers’ draw at Ewood Park on Sunday against fierce local rivals Burnley, in which they had to mount a fierce come back from a goal down to draw 1-1.

The club had recently been knocked of the FA Cup by fellow Championship club Milwall. Blackburn are currently languishing at the wrong end of the table in 18th position and just four points off the relegation zone. This is the third sacking from the Blackburn board this season, after the sackings of Steve Kean and Henning Berg earlier.