West Ham United v Stoke City Preview | Odds, Stats & Team News

West Ham United welcome Stoke City to Upton Park this weekend, as both teams look for their second win of the season.

The Hammers defeated newcomers Cardiff City on the opening day of the season but could only manage a draw against Newcastle United last week. Home form has always been a strong point for Sam Allardyce’s side and they will be hoping to benefit from that on Saturday.

Stoke are heading to London on the back of a win over Crystal Palace at the Britannia stadium last weekend, and will be looking for that second win that will ease the pressure on new manager Mark Hughes. The Potters will be hoping for a better showing against West Ham this time round, as they failed to beat them in both fixtures last season.

If you are looking to put some money on the match then you can look at odds provided by Pinnacle Sports where West Ham are favourites to win at 2.010 on a 1×2 bet.

Team News

West Ham is still without summer signing Andy Carroll up front, but otherwise have a healthy squad available for this game.

Stoke City have added Liverpool’s Oussama Assaidi to their ranks on a season long loan, and the winger could be available to make his debut against West Ham on Saturday.

Interesting Statistics

Eurosport have some interesting statistics for this match:

West Ham have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four Premier League games at home.

Stoke have only won one of their last 12 away games in the Premier League.

There have been just nine goals in the last five league games between the two sides.

West Ham have won two and drawn two in their last four league games against Stoke.

Key Players

West Ham – Kevin Nolan

Kevin Nolan has been hugely influential for the Hammers since his move from Newcastle and will be one of the main players that Stoke will have to stop on Saturday. The captain has scored one goal from five shots in two games so far this season, and against Newcastle he completed 20 passes from 26, giving him a 77% accuracy rating. Of these passes, 35% went forward with only 19% going back, showing his ability to get West Ham’s attack moving. If Stoke can keep Nolan’s presence limited, then West Ham could find it hard to get going.

Stoke – Jon Walters

Jon Walters is undoubtedly one of, if not Stoke’s best hope in attack. The Irishman did well in the final third for the club last season, and has been making his presence felt in the two games against Liverpool and Crystal Palace this season. He’s taken five shots in total so far with only one going off target. Two of those shots were actually blocked by the keeper in the game against Crystal Palace, and he had a 100% shooting accuracy against Liverpool at Anfield. He has created one chance for his team-mates in each game, resulting in an assist in the game last weekend against Palace. While Walters is not Stoke’s only attacking threat, he’s a big part of how they play and West Ham will have to pay particular attention to him.

Prediction

Neither team is known for exciting football but West Ham have a bit more about them going forward. As stated before, they have a good record at home and I think this will continue in their match against Stoke. Ultimately, it will be a fairly tight game in my opinion and end 1-0 to West Ham.

West Ham, as favourites, on odds of 2.010. Stoke are less favourable at 4.290, with a draw being more likely than a Stoke win at odds of 3.450.

FEATURE: The making of Everton and England's new star Ross Barkley

ROSS BARKLEY made the Premier League sit up and take notice of his blossoming talent on the opening weekend of the season with a stunning goal for Everton, and continued his rise by being named in Roy Hodgson’s England squad this week.

First earmarked by the Daily Express in September 2010 as one to watch, his ascent has not been straightforward. Here Paul Joyce talks to those who have seen his development at first hand to give an insight into the precocious 19-year-old.

Alby Heywood, president of Barkley’s first club Ash Celtic, of the Belle Vale Junior League

Ross was with one of his mates in a place called Mystery Park in Wavertree just kicking a ball around when I first noticed him. I watched him for a minute or two and he looked a natural. Nice on the ball, strong, good control and passing.

He was eight when he joined in training with us and he has never looked back. He’d play for two different age groups (Under-10s and Under-11s) on a Sunday because he was so enthusiastic and that good a player. It wasn’t long before Sid Benson, the Everton scout, took him in to them.

I always thought his best position would be centre-half back then, but I had no doubts he would make it. My wife will tell you I used to bore her to death going on about Ross all the time.

What is good is that he is still in touch now. I saw him about a month ago at one of Ash Celtic’s games. He’ll do a presentation for the club if we need one.

Ricky Heywod, son of Alby and secretary of Ash Celtic

My dad used to say, ‘See that lad, he’ll captain England one day’. We went on a couple of tours to Europe and were in Belgium for a tournament once when word spread about Ross. All the parents there came over to watch Ross play. You knew he was going to be a player.

Alan Stubbs, Everton Under-21s manager

We’re lucky at Everton to have had the best this country has produced in recent times in Wayne Rooney, and that gave us a guideline on Ross.

I’m not saying for one minute he is the same player as Wayne, but his enthusiasm for football is equal to Wayne. He just wants to be out on the pitch.

When he was 17, he had 18 months of injuries that really knocked him; a double hernia, a double leg fracture and a broken metatarsal. There were times I felt like crying for the lad because you could see the disappointment in his face. You’d see his shoulders sink and he’d be like, ‘Not again. Why me?’

But Ross showed incredible courage and mental strength to come back from that because a lot of kids could have gone under.

He is probably at the point now we thought he would be last season, but when you are pushing for the top six or the Champions League it can be difficult to give youngsters a game.

There’s a lot more to come from him, but he deserves everything he is getting.

Andy Holden, former senior development coach at Everton

One of the things we worked on with Ross was him giving the ball away too easily and receiving a pass with his back to his opponent.

When you do that you need a trick to get away from your marker. It was a case of sitting through some videos with him and trying to make sure he got the ball in the right position. You never saw Paul Scholes get tackled when he received the ball.

Due to the injuries he had, he probably missed 50 to 60 games of his apprenticeship when you learn how to play the game and what positions to take up.

We sent him to two of the hardest clubs to learn at: Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds. If you give the ball away at Hillsborough, the crowd will let you know. If you give the ball away at Leeds, the same. It tests you as a player.

Chris Kirkland, Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper

I didn’t know too much about him when he came to us on loan last season. I’d heard rumours about how he was someone to watch out for, but he came on in a game against Brighton and the more games he played, the better he got.

It can be hard for a young lad to leave home and come into a dressing room he doesn’t know, but it didn’t faze Ross.

What struck me was he was always the first out at training and he would listen to things. There are a lot of young kids who you speak to and it goes in one ear, out the other and they don’t take it on board, but Ross wants to listen. He wants to get better.

Peter Taylor, England Under-20s coach

It doesn’t surprise me that he scored for the U21s against Scotland and then for Everton because he is capable of scoring from anywhere. The only thing I tried to do with him for the Under-20s in the summer was keep him away from our goal and as high up the pitch as possible.

The No10, floating forward, role is his best. You don’t want him picking the ball up off the back four because the distance is too great to the other goal. Get him 30 to 40 yards out and he has the pace and strength to beat people.

There was a lot of flak flying about England’s junior teams during the summer, but playing for the Under-20s has helped Ross become even sharper ahead of the new season.

Champions League: Arsenal vs Fenerbahce Preview & Prediction (27th August)

Arsenal vs Fenerbahce
Football : Champions League : Qualifying
Tuesday 27th August - Kickoff 7:45pm

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Arsenal

The Gunners have bounced back incredibly well from 10 days ago. Having lost their opening game of the season, they won in Istanbul (0-3) as well as beating Fulham at Craven Cottage a few days later.

On Tuesday night they have an almost unassailable lead. 3 away goals to their name and now at home it's no shock to see bookies quoting odds of 1.01 for Arsenal to make the Group Stages once again.

Team news ahead of this one is that Wilshere should start whilst Koscielny should start after his head injury in last week's first leg. Vermaelen, Diaby, Arteta and Oxlade-Chamberlain are missing but they missed last week's first leg too.

At the Emirates in the Champions League, Arsenal are very strong. They have lost 2 of their last 3 games both to German opposition (Schalke 0-2 and last year's winners Bayern 1-3) but they are the only losses in 19 games going back to 2009, of which 14 ended in home wins.

Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce have it all to do in London on Tuesday night and Yanal's side will be attacking from the off. A 0-3 away win only takes it to extra time and if Arsenal score they need 4 and so forth so it looks incredibly bleak for the Istanbul based side.

At the weekend Fenerbahce responded to the loss agaisnt Arsenal by beating Eskişehirspor 1-0. The win is their first this season having lost the Turkish Super Cup to Galatasaray and then 3-2 to Konyaspor despite leading 0-2 at half time.

The Turks were the cause of their own downfall at times in the first leg with the left back Kadlec guilty of a clumsy barge on Walcott for the penalty. Whilst the keeper Demirel fumbled a tame Ramsey shot for the second into his net. All in all it's hard to see how this side has the confidence or form to come to London and not only win but win by a huge margin as the Europa League lurks for this side.

Betting Verdict

Arsenal drew with Fenerbahce 0-0 at home back in 2008 but as we saw last week, Arsenal won't be afraid of their opponents. In Turkey Arsenal had 16 shots to the Turks 9, 56% possession as well as more corners so a thoroughly dominating performance.

Looking at the weekend results it's again advantage Arsenal, playing in the early kick off in a London Derby after playing in Turkey and scoring 3 goals was excellent. Meanwhile Fenerbahce were labouring to a win at home against lowly opposition.

I like Arsenal to win this leg and ultimately the tie so I will take them via the AH line. Arsenal have won by 2 goals or more in their last 3 Champions League home wins and you can't help but feel as the visitors attack Arsenal will simply pick them off on the break. Arsenal by a couple is the play for me.

Good Luck

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Arsenal 3-1 Fenerbahce

Preview & Prediction: Manchester United v Chelsea (Monday 26th August)

Manchester United v Chelsea
Football : English : Premier League
Monday 26th August - Kickoff 8:00pm

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Manchester United

Manchester United were given a tough opening day fixture at Swansea at the weekend but they thumped last season's surprise package 1-4. On Monday they host Chelsea and this could be a huge game come the end of the season.

Moyes has to decide whether we wants to play Rooney in this one. I suspect that the doesn't play him given Chelsea's interest and the state of his player. Other doubts remain over Evans, Young, Rafael, Hernandez and Nani and it wouldn't surprise me if we saw the same lineup that started at Swansea for Monday's game.

Against Swansea United had just 46% possession and also gave up 17 shots to their 14. Yet the result was never in doubt as Van Persie was excellent netting a brace as did Wellbeck. Rooney came on in that game and set up 2 goals so going forward United as ever look a strong force.

Chelsea

It has been a good week for Chelsea and returning coach Mourinho. 2 wins from 2 and the Blues are top of the tree ahead of this huge game at Old Trafford.

Chelsea raced to a 2-0 lead over Hull at the weekend and then went into cruise control. Against Villa they once again started excellently taking an early lead only to concede and then labour to a 2-1. Still 6 points from 6 is what the doctor ordered and Chelsea will be confident ahead of their trip up North.

In 2 games so far Chelsea have had 60% ball possession on average which matches up well to United's sub 50% figure at the weekend. They are also averaging 19 shots a game which is a huge figure, Swansea peppered the goal at the Liberty but still lost 1-4 so Chelsea definitely needs a better end product to win this game.

Luiz has missed the first 2 games whilst Mata has been used sparingly himself. Both are in contention to start this game but with plenty of options I expect a very strong looking Chelsea side to take the field.

Betting Verdict

Chelsea have a good record at Old Trafford winning 2 of the last 4 here. Manchester United despite their impressive win at the weekend may be vulnerable in this one. It's Moyes's first home game and up against Mourinho the pressure will be on.

The stats as ever look great for the hosts 14 wins from their last 16 at home in the league but Chelsea won here last season 0-1. Another sign of their strength at home is that in 8 of the last 10 league games United have led at half time and full time.

Chelsea have some nice stats of their own, scoring at least 2 goals in 9 of their last 10 league games overall. It's no shock to then see overs land in 8 of the last 10 away games and I expect an open game on Monday.

I don't like betting on my team in these big games but Chelsea +1/4 ball is my pick. I feel Mourinho has the edge over Moyes, his squad and starting 11 looks stronger plus the Chelsea side is united, we can't say the same for the hosts with the Rooney saga looming. Given the odds I'm happy to take the Blues to avoid defeat first and foremost and hopefully push on to take all 3 points.

Good Luck

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea

Preview & Prediction: FULHAM v ARSENAL (24th August 2013)

FULHAM v ARSENAL
Football : England : Premier League
Saturday, 24th August 2013 - Kickoff 12:45pm GMT

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BETTING PREVIEW

It's become clear after the Fenerbahce match that people just love to slag off, bitch and moan about Arsenal. When good stuff happens, it actually annoys them because it means their bitching doesn't seem all that justified. F*ck 'em.

Yes, there are a boatload of injuries but this Arsenal side bounced back in style in midweek, thumping Fenerbahce 3-0 in their own yard. A clean sheet there is not to be sniffed at, because this Arsenal defence is missing a whole bunch of first choices through injuries and suspensions. Still, they did the job, with the keeper especially good following his poor outing against Villa. Expect him to play his heart out again in West London.

Fulham managed a shock win at Sunderland, edging it 1-0, but they return home to play a side that have beaten them 16 times, just 1 less than Manchester United, who have beaten them the most. Last year, Arsenal won 19 points from London derbies, more than anyone else. And still we see the oddsmaker giving us high prices on Arsenal to get a win here.

I know I have a biased opinion with Arsenal, being a fan and all, but if you're looking for value, then look no further. The best time to take Arsenal is when they're taking sh*t in the media for "crises", because that's when they get overpriced as everyone expects disaster and then what? They win. It happened last season in Munich, and in the last 10 games of the season, and it happened in midweek, when I got high prices on the away win along with my correct goalscorer bet.

And speaking of goalscorer, Giroud is on a serious tear, netting in both games this season, giving us winners. It carries on from a preseason full of goals for the Frenchie playing his 2nd season, where he is proving much improved. He's bursting with confidence, and it really helps that he is getting fantastic support from the likes of Cazorla, Ramsey, Wilshere and especially Walcott. Have you seen the prices on him to score at any time? Silly.

THE BETTING VERDICT

No need to get off the gravy train. Giroud to score, again.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Fulham 1-2 Arsenal

Neymar rescues Barcelona as injured Lionel Messi limps off against Atletico

In Messi's absence, Neymar was the man to rescue the Spanish champions as he came off the bench to head home Dani Alves' cross 25 minutes from time.

Neymar scored his first goal for Barcelona as the Catalans were held 1-1 by Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, but there was another injury worry for Lionel Messi as he was forced off at half-time.

David Villa had given the hosts the perfect start when he netted against his old side in spectacular fashion after just 12 minutes.

Barca then struggled to find their rhythm against a dogged Atletico side and were dealt a huge blow when Messi failed to reappear for the second-half due to a hamstring injury.

However, in his absence, Neymar was the man to rescue the Spanish champions as he came off the bench to head home Dani Alves' cross 25 minutes from time.

"He had a knock and then a muscle problem so we will do the required examinations to see how serious it is," Barca boss Gerardo Martino said of Messi's injury afterwards.

"It didn't make sense to keep him on the field if he couldn't move comfortably."

Having thrashed Levante 7-0 Martino's first competitive match in charge on Sunday, Barca started confidently and had the first clear opening of the game when Pedro's scuffed effort was palmed away by Thibaut Courtois on 11 minutes.

Within 60 seconds though Atleti were ahead though thanks to a fantastic piece of counter-attacking play as Villa fed Arda Turan on the left then burst into the box to meet the Turk's cross flush on the volley to power the ball past Victor Valdes.

Moments later the Spanish international nearly punished his former teammates again as he and Diego Costa combined perfectly but this time Gerard Pique recovered just in time to block Villa's effort.

The game then settled down with Barca patiently probing without ever opening up a well-organised Atleti side before the break.

And Martino was quick to praise Atletico's energetic first-half performance that restricted the visitors to very few opportunities.

"It was very difficult for us to find space to receive the ball. We couldn't find space between the lines, they were very compact and it was difficult to break through.

"To fix this we need to have more movement and precision. It is not easy, but we were better in the second-half."

Despite losing Messi at half-time, Barca improved after the break as they twice went close through Alexis Sanchez and Messi's replacement Cesc Fabregas.

Neymar was next to be introduced by Martino and it didn't take the Brazilian long to net his first Barca goal as he charged in at the back post to nod home Dani Alves' hanging cross.

Valdes had to be alert to deny Villa restoring Atleti's lead moments later before Xavi fired a free-kick just over for Barca as the game became increasingly stretched.

Courtois was forced to come to Atleti's rescue once more to deny Sanchez with a brave block from point-blank range 16 minutes from time.

However, there was to be no winner on the night, meaning the tie is still very much alive heading to the Camp Nou for the second leg on Wednesday.

Chelsea v Aston Villa preview and prediction (Wed, August 21)

Chelsea v Aston Villa
Football: English Premier League
Wednesday 21 August 2013 - Kick Off 7:45pm

Chelsea

The Jose Mourinho second era at Stamford Bridge started off very brightly as Chelsea scored a couple of early goals and were creating chances at will against Hull City on Sunday. The game kind of settled down in the second half, but that could have been down to that being the first game of the season for the Blues and they play this game early as Chelsea are in European Super Cup action the week after next.

It was a strong start for Chelsea who could also afford to miss a penalty in their win over Hull and they will be expected to make it maximum points ahead of the game at Old Trafford next Monday. Chelsea were strong at Stamford Bridge last season and Mourinho isn't used to losing in this stadium which could bode well to their chances of winning the Premier League this season.

Chelsea have now won 10 of their last 12 home games in all competitions going back to last season and the fans were fully behind the team and the manager, a big contrast to the atmosphere at the Bridge under Rafa Benitez.

Juan Mata didn't play on Sunday as he had been away with Spain in Ecuador, but he could be restored to the first team in this one. David Luiz is another that could be involved having missed the first game of the season and there are other options for Mourinho if he feels he wants to rotate his squad.

Aston Villa

The biggest surprise result from the first weekend in the Premier League was Aston Villa's impressive 1-3 win at Arsenal. Paul Lambert helped Villa escape relegation last season with a late run and he will be hoping his methods are recognised to get the best out of his team in the coming season. David Moyes may have been complaining about Manchester United's start to the new season, but Aston Villa would also feel disappointed as they play at Arsenal, at Chelsea and host Liverpool within seven days.

Aston Villa ended a strong pre-season with that win at Arsenal and that should give them plenty of confidence ahead of this trip back to Stamford Bridge where they were hit 8-0 last season. Last season, Villa struggled against the sides that finished in the top six, losing 10 of 12 games and failing to win any game, but they have snapped that in impressive style and the fans will be hoping a big season is in the offing.

Keeping Christian Benteke proved to be a masterstroke for Paul Lambert as he responded with two goals on the opening day. Aston Villa have only lost 1 of their last 6 away games in the Premier League and the side have won 4 of those games.

Yacouba Sylla and Charles N'Zogbia are expected to miss out for the away side, but there are no new injury worries from the team that started on Saturday.

Head to Head

Chelsea did the double over Aston Villa last season, including that 8-0 win at Stamford Bridge, and the Blues have won 3 in a row against Villa.

Chelsea have only won 4 of their last 8 home games in the Premier League against Aston Villa and they had failed to win their previous 2 at the Bridge against them before last season.

Prediction

Chelsea looked very strong on Sunday as they created chance after chance in the first half against Hull City, but Jose Mourinho wanted more from his side in the second half which was much more slowed down.

The expectation will be that Chelsea will roll through Aston Villa, but the away side will want to show a much more resilient side to themselves after their heavy, embarrassing loss here last season.

Aston Villa will also have some space to exploit on the counter-attack and they do have a team with plenty of pace that could expose Chelsea in those positions. Hull City created a couple of half chances in the second half against Chelsea on Sunday and Villa could certainly trouble the scoreboard in this one.

Villa did fail to score at 4 of the top 5 last season, but they look a stronger side this time around and will have chances to grab something here. Both teams to score is an even money shot and I will back that on Wednesday night.

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Chelsea 2-1 Aston Villa

Is Cristiano Ronaldo v Lionel Messi a popularity or talent contest?

European journalists will choose from Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Frank Ribery for the best European club player of 2012/13.

The winner will be announced on August 29, and despite Ronaldo's astonishing performances with Real Madrid, scoring 12 goals in their Uefa Champions League run to the semi-finals and winning the Golden Boot, he is not expected to win and neither is Frank Ribery.

For the past four years, Ronaldo was on the podium for the Fifa Ballon d'Or and Uefa Best European Player awards.

Despite performing at a very high level in all his four seasons with Madrid, he surprisingly or, rather, suspiciously lost to Messi on all four occasions.

The results bring into focus a pressing question: are voters honouring the best player or the most popular?

If it is indeed the measure of an individual season, then perhaps the teams' overall performance and winning major trophies should hold less weight, and Ronaldo should have won the Ballon d'Or twice in the past four years.

The fact that neither Wesley Sneijder nor Didier Drogba won it during their run to Champions League glory with Inter Milan and Chelsea, in 2010 and 2012, respectively, suggests voters are more interested in popularity than the ultimate trophy.

Captains and coaches of the world's national teams vote, alongside a selection of journalists from across the planet.

They chose their top three, and just like the former Fifa award that preceded it, now merged with France Football's Ballon d'Or, the vote is public. We know exactly who everyone voted for. What you don't know is why. And the why matters, or seems to.

If you examine the votes of the past two years, the German manager voted for a German, the Italian for an Italian, the Spanish for Spaniards. Messi could not vote for himself and he did not vote for Ronaldo, choosing Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Aguero, instead. Tactical voting, perhaps?

Some media members suggest Ronaldo is "arrogant". As a result, some of the journalists who represent the voting panel said they voted for Messi because they "like" him. Not the football, but the image.

If being serious on the pitch, and showing passion to win every game, even a friendly, or being honest and direct is arrogant, then something is wrong in the world of football. This begs the question: is Cristiano Ronaldo losing votes, for major awards, for non-football reasons?

In 2010/11, when Ronaldo lost to Messi, Ronaldo's critics said his team failed to win a major trophy, making Messi a worthy winner. In 2011/12, Ronaldo out-performed Messi throughout the season. He took Portugal to the last four of Euro 2012, where they lost on penalties. Real Madrid won the league with a record 100 points.

But, again, the Ballon d'Or was awarded to Messi. It is fair to wonder, as Ronaldo certainly must have, what must he do to win for the first time since 2008?

Messi grew up in Barca's youth set-up and plays with the teammates who grew up together, with arguably the best midfield in the world, in Xavi and Iniesta.

On the other hand, Ronaldo had a comparatively rougher ride coming from England to a Madrid team, in 2009, that was under construction and not even seeded in the Champions League, a Madrid team that at the time was regularly beaten by Barcelona.

Messi plays as a centre forward, with less defensive work, and Ronaldo is a winger. It is an incredible feat that a winger can score nearly as many goals as a centre forward, and Ronaldo nearly has, over the past three seasons - 114 in the Primera Liga, 168 in all competitions, to Messi's 127 and 186.

Ronaldo also is tasked with defensive work in dead-ball situations in his defensive area; if Messi assumes a defensive role, it is by accident.

Messi is pampered at Barcelona, but at Madrid, Ronaldo was promised a new contract in January; it is yet to become a reality. Ronaldo is arguably the greatest player in Madrid's history, but treated with such indifference and shown no love and little respect from the fans, media and the directors of Madrid.

It is much harder to be Ronaldo than it is to be Messi. On the pitch and at elections.

Fifa needs to ensure, and make the message clear to the voting panel's members, that an objective evaluation of a player's season takes priority, including the circumstances in which players performed, and how important they were in big or decisive games and how important they were during key moments of the season.

For two seasons, Ronaldo has been better than Messi, or for that matter, any player in the world, when it comes to performing in big matches and being a decisive presence for his team.

Roberto Martinez & Everton (vs. Norwich) | Tactical Analysis

Roberto Martinez’s Everton debut in the Premier League saw Marouane Fellaini take centre stage as he was often the trigger for Everton’s change of tempo, either through Fellaini himself dictating the tempo by keeping in line with the play with his lung-bursting running around the pitch or through the Belgian giant’s advanced positioning that would lead to a “fast-transitional” pass (not seen by Martinez as a long ball) being played into Fellaini that would come under his control regardless of how the ball was played into him – Fellaini made the joint second most number of passes this weekend with 88 passes (joint with Steven Gerrard, behind only Aaron Ramsey) and had a staggering 106 touches during the course of the game (a touch of the ball every 51 seconds).

With the help of one of Martinez’s former colleagues at Wigan, a whole chapter has been written in my upcoming book about the of possession philosophy of Martinez and an article was written on EPLindex about his philosophy over the summer. As a result we can confirm that the former-Wigan tactician is a man of two elements of play when in possession: creating overloads and isolating the opponent’s full-backs into one vs. one scenarios, regardless of formation. Martinez’s view on football is essentially one that views the spaces on a field through a very specific and clear pair of lenses.

Martinez’s perception of space on a football field is certainly relevant to the English Premier League and the following diagram details the rationale for this simplistic view of the spaces on a football field

Everton's Formation With The Ball

Everton's Formation Without The Ball

So when Norwich lined up to defend in a 4-4-1-1 deep defensive block regardless of where the ball was positioned, Norwich were doing so to protect key spaces – those that 63% of all goals are assisted from (remembering that 25% of all goals are either unassisted or assisted from set pieces).

Therefore by setting up as Norwich did so, defending set pieces well and riding their luck, they would have a fair chance at cancelling out 88% of all the assisting locations on a football field in the Premier League. Even with all this protection of space, Ross Barkley’s goal was able to get through a season of nine bodies – the deep defensive block simply won’t hold all the time.

The Canaries would also cancel out any consistent overloads through the system with their attacking midfielder dropping back to mark the spaces centrally and through their disciplined defensive method of doubling up on the Wigan wingers – resulting in Everton throwing two or three men onto the wings and lacking in numbers to meet the cross inside the box. Thus, Martinez’s debut was always going to be a difficult one.

While Everton were allowed to build up from the back as Norwich would quickly fall back into their defensive set up (with Van Wolfswinkel pressurising momentarily to delay the ball coming forward), they struggled to achieve any central overload or the ability to isolate Norwich’s full backs consistently (as Callum McManaman had done so well against Clichy in the FA Cup Final 2012).

You may conclude from this game that Norwich had set up perfectly to counter any threats that Everton would provide and that Hughton and his back-room staff had done their work, however for Norwich to win with this method it would require a lot of luck given the shortage of chances that the Canaries would be able to create using this method (Norwich had just two shots on target for the whole game and 23.75 minutes per shot; inferior to Everton’s 6.3 minutes per shot and 13.57 minutes per shot on target). By no means am I bringing this 2-2 draw down to Norwich’s luck, but you only have to look at both the goals scored to make a considered case for Whittaker’s lucky cards.

Having said that, Martinez and his back-room staff will be pleased with the quick implementation of the Spaniard’s philosophy and required style of play (with 67.5% possession) and it would be dangerous for you to conclude that Martinez has shown all that he has to offer in terms of how he can achieve his central overloads and one vs. one moments. On countless occasions while at Wigan he surprised the pundits by playing with lop-sided systems, liberos and two men at top without possession – all of that however is still to come.

Juego de posición (Positional Play) is Martinez’s game and I have no doubt he will over the course of the season have time to implement a plan b and a plan c for such problems faced at Norwich.

What is Different His Time for Martinez?

• Fellaini’s power and ability to player from his triggered movement
• Barkley to consistently hit shots through those who set up as Norwich did so
• Pressing to win the ball as well as to delay (sparingly used with Fellaini vs. Norwich)
• Quality of players in key areas to implement the overloads and one vs. one’s
• Discuss…

Arsenal Vs Aston Villa Preview | Stats, Odds & Key Players: Cazorla & Benteke

On Saturday August 17th, Aston Villa will head to the Emirates to kick off the 2013-2014 season vs Arsenal.  Arsenal will be opening their season at home for the second season in a row after opening last season versus Sunderland.  Arsenal have not won any of their last three season openers with draws against Sunderland in 2012, Newcastle in 2011, and Liverpool in 2010.  Villa have one win one draw and one loss in their last three openers with a loss to West Ham last year, a draw against Fulham in 2011, and a win against Newcastle in 2010.

Team News

At this point in the year, most team news is about transfers.  These two teams have gone at the transfer window in two totally opposite ways.  Arsenal have only signed one player so far, that player being 19 year old Yaya Sanogo, and are still waiting to make their moves in the transfer market.  Villa on the other hand, made all four of their signings on July 1st, the first day the window was open, are mostly settled and got their new players a full pre season to gel.  On the injury front, Arsenal will definitely be missing Captain Thomas Vermaelen and left back Nacho Monreal, who are both out with long term injuries.  Aaron Ramsey has been ruled out for the Wales Republic of Ireland game on the 14th but some are wondering if this is an actual injury or if it is a way to get the player out of a poorly timed friendly between the two nations.  Theo Walcott has picked up an ankle injury in training with the England squad and he may have to miss the game because of that.  Walcott could be a big blow, as he was Arsenal’s leading goal scorer last season,while Ramsey will hope to play and continue his fantastic pre-season form.

Aston Villa have both Charles N’Zogbia and Chris Herd on the injury list with neither having a set date to return, according to physioroom.com.  Herd is recovering from a foot injury he picked up last season and N’Zogbia is recovering from an achilles injury, that required surgery. N’Zogbia hurt himself while on vacation in Miami, has had his number 10 shirt taken and been switched to 36, and last year started only 11 Premier League games last year, despite making a big money move of 9.5m two summers ago from Wigan, and could worry for his future at Aston Villa.  Herd was a bit part player for Lambert last year making only nine Premier League appearances.

Interesting Statistics

In the last 10 meetings between the two sides, Arsenal have won five and, had three draws and Villa have won the other two meetings.  In the last five meetings at the Emirates, Arsenal have won three and Villa have won two.  Arsenal beat Villa in the game at the Emirates 2-1 between the two this year on the strength of two  Santi Cazorla goals, the last time Villa won at the Emirates was in May of 2011 in a 2-1 win on the back of a Darren Bent brace, but Arsenal did finish 32 points higher than Villa last year.  Olivier Giroud will hope to carry his preseason form, where he has scored eight goals, the most preseason goals by an Arsenal player since Dennis Bergkamp in 1995, into the new season and improve in his second season in the league.

Key Players

Some of the more important players in this game will be Andres Weimann, Christian Benteke, Aaron Ramsey, if fit, and Santi Cazorla.  Cazorla, Ramsey and Weimann all created the five chances in the games against each over last season, more than anyone else.  Cazorla was Arsenal’s best player last season created the third most chances in the Premier League making him key in every Arsenal game and a thorn in the side of every defence he faces.  Benteke scored 40% of Aston Villa’s goals last year and a 26% conversion rate many would argue he is the reason they were able to stay up.  Villa signing Benteke to a new contract after he handed in a transfer request, rumoured to be trying to force a move to either Arsenal or Tottenham, was a huge coup this off season for Villa.

Odds

Arsenal will need a good start to keep their fans at bay, they booed them off after a poor first half in a pre-season game, who are deeply frustrated after a lack of signings this off season and Villa will need a strong season to keep Christian Benteke happy to try to retain him after this season.  Arsenal are definitely the favourites at 1.417 to win as opposed to Villa who are 8.3 to win but Villa would probably be happy to come out of the Emirates with a point, which they are 5.15 to do.  The Premier league will be back so let’s all take a moment to appreciate and enjoy that and enjoy the football.  I will try to stay unbiased with my prediction, even though I am an Arsenal fan, I think the final score will be 3-1 to Arsenal.

Final Wrap

Injuries: Chris Herd (out), Charles N’Zogbia (out), Thomas Vermaelen (out), Nacho Monreal (out), Aaron Ramsey (Game Time Decision), Theo Walcott( Game Time decision).

Prediction: 3-1 to Arsenal

For more odds kindly visit Betstations

EPL 2013/14: 5 Predictions To Make You Stop And Think

With the 2013/14 Premier League knocking at our door, waiting desperately for us to open up, I’ll take a look at a few predictions that could make some smile, while others may completely disagree. Whether you agree or not, they may make you think, or you may just jump on board.

It’s time for some EPL ladies and gents — let’s get it started

I Score When I Want

There is a lot of offensive talent in the Premier League, so putting your finger on one particular player to lead the pack isn't always that easy. But, since it’s prediction time, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Alvaro Negredo takes the title. I know you’re wondering why considering this is his first season at the club. This guy has an eye for goal, he has an incredible amount of talent around him, and Pellegrini likes an offensive style of football. His pace will also allow him to create a lot of chances for himself, something Dzeko doesn’t have.

Don’t Let The Door Hit You On The Way Out

Managers and players come and go, but the club always remains. In the EPL, the pressure is very high, and if you aren't fighting to claim the title, you are battling hard to stay in the Premier League. After failing to impress with Fulham, QPR and even Manchester City, Mark Hughes doesn't look like he’s going to have an easier task ahead of him.

When he resigned from his position at Fulham, former owner of the Cottagers Mohamed Al-Fayed said Hughes was strange, a flop and he rescued him from being a forgotten man after getting sacked by Manchester City. Hate to say it, but I think Stoke City will not benefit from Hughes and he could find himself unemployed yet again before the end of the season.

The Champs Are Here

Just like two seasons ago, I think Manchester City will claim the silverware. Yes I know Chelsea signed Jose Mourinho, but as Ronaldo said after Portugal’s draw against Holland, I don’t feel the need to talk about him. Pellegrini’s style is much more offensive than that of Roberto Mancini, and if you want to talk about depth, these guys got it. With a question mark or two in the back, and owners with never-ending pockets, City should be able paint Manchester blue once again.

What A Pleasant Surprise

Swansea City was impressive last season thanks to Michael Laudrup and a man who is known as Michu. If you don’t know him, he cost the club all of £2m, and the Swans really benefited from his presence. With the signing of a few more players, and Wilfried Bony to use his endless energy hassling defenders, the Welsh club could once again be in for another positive season. They finished 9th last season, but this time around, I'm going to predict a top 7 finish.

What A Bloody Meltdown

Alright guys and gals — are you ready for this one? With the post Alex Ferguson era set to kick off, David Moyes is in for one hell of a challenge. A winning percentage of 42 that he brings with him from Everton will not cut it at Old Trafford, and when you add up the pressure, the Rooney saga and the bigger spotlight, the 50-year-old could struggle. I'm not saying he will get sacked — I mean if he sucks more than I expect, he might, but realistically, I'm going to say Manchester United doesn't finish in the top three.

International Friendly: Mexico 4 Ivory Coast 1

Mexico have recorded a comfortable 4-1 win over the Ivory Coast in their international friendly in New Jersey on Wednesday.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-finalists scored three times in the first half to claim the impressive victory at the MetLife Stadium.

Jose Manuel de la Torre's men capitalised on two defensive mistakes by the Ivory Coast in the first half.

Arthur Boka scored an own goal and Oribe Peralta netted a brace before a much-improved Ivory Coast pulled a goal back through Didier Drogba on the hour mark.

Angel Reyna added to the scoreline with a late effort.

It was good preparation for Mexico, who face Honduras and the United States in vital World Cup qualifiers in September.

Mexico sit third in the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying and can cement their spot in the top three with two wins.

After a strong start, they were handed the opener by the Ivory Coast in the 11th minute.

Boka gave Boubacar Barry no chance as he diverted a cross past his own goalkeeper and into the bottom corner.

Peralta scored the first of his two goals on 28 minutes after a dreadful back pass from Jean-Jacques Gosso.

Gosso's pass lacked power and was well read by Peralta, whose first-time effort went into the roof of the net from just inside the area.

When he completed his brace in first-half added time, the result was decided.

After a neat team move, Giovani dos Santos crossed for Peralta to head in from close range and make it 3-0.

Drogba, who came on at half-time, pulled a goal back for the Ivory Coast on 62 minutes, sending Jose de Jesus Corona the wrong way from the penalty spot.

But Mexico sealed an impressive win in additional time as Reyna clinically finished into the bottom corner.

Preview: England v Scotland

England take on Scotland in an international friendly at Wembley on Wednesday evening with Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney’s fitness dominating the build-up to the game.

The 27-year-old, who is a transfer target for Chelsea this summer, missed United’s 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield on Sunday with his club claiming he is suffering with a shoulder injury.

Rooney, however, appeared to be in fine shape during England’s training session on Monday and Three Lions manager Roy Hodgson has said the frontman is in contention to start the game against the Auld Enemy.

Southampton forward Rickie Lambert could also start the game for England and in doing so would earn his first international cap.

The 31-year-old netted 15 times for the Saints last season and was handed his first England call-up by Hodgson last week after finishing last term as the Premier League’s top English marksman.

Elsewhere, Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha has been promoted from the Under-21 side and could win his second cap should he feature in the clash against the Scots.

Meanwhile, Scotland manager Gordon Strachan is without captain Darren Fletcher as he continues his recovery from bowel surgery.

Celtic’s Scott Brown, Charlie Mulgrew and James Forrest are back in the squad along with veteran striker Kenny Miller, who now plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Indisputable proof that Cristiano Ronaldo is returning to Manchester United (or not)

"I'm going back to Manchester and this is totally a real quote!"

Though Manchester United fans' crowdfunding campaign to raise the money necessary to pay Cristiano Ronaldo's ginormous transfer fee and bring him back to his old club was shut down last month, the fervent desire to see him return has not dissipated. As a result, rumors and scraps of out of context information are melded together and blindly repeated in the hopes that he can be willed back onto the team.

Here's the latest proof that Cristiano Ronaldo is definitely returning to Man United, if only in the minds of the forlorn journalists and supporters he left behind.

-Prior to Manchester United's 2-0 win against Wigan in the Community Shield, Antonio Valencia decided to relinquish the No. 7 shirt and go back to wearing No. 25. Obviously, he could have only done this because Ronaldo is rejoining the squad and his old number needs to be thoroughly cleaned and made ready for him.

-On Monday, Paddy Crerand claimed on MUTV that Ronaldo was spotted in Manchester. This quickly spread to Twitter, where pictures of him at the airport were used to confirm the rumor. Pictures like this one...

Nevermind the fact that this picture was taken four years ago in Portugal as he made his way to Madrid. That's not important. All that matters is that prayers are being answered and Ronaldo is going to Manchester.

-After returning from a lengthy preseason tour of the United States, Ronaldo and Real Madrid teammates Pepe and Fabio Coentrao were granted permission to join the Portuguese national team a day late ahead of their friendly against the Netherlands on Wednesday. Fenerbahce's Bruno Alves, who played in the Turkish Super Cup the day before, was also given permission to arrive a day late. This can only mean that Man United are signing all four players with the help of the Portuguese football federation. This goes all the way to the top.

-FIFA organized this international date just before the start of the season (and the end of the transfer window) specifically to give Ronaldo a chance to sneak off and finalize the deal. Few people know this, but Ronaldo and FIFA president Sepp Blatter play online poker together every Thursday night.

-In June, Ronaldo put his Madrid house up for sale. The buyer? GARETH BALE.

-Sergio Ramos dyed his hair blond specifically to drive Cristiano Ronaldo out of the club. Ronaldo always said that if Ramos did that or if Iker Casillas ever bought a cat, he would leave.

-Manchester United manager David Moyes publicly went after Cesc Fabregas, a player he knew he could not sign, as a diversion for the top secret Ronaldo negotiations. Meanwhile, the only thing keeping Real Madrid from giving Spurs €250 million for Bale is the fact that Moyes initially had trouble convincing Valencia to surrender his shirt number.

-Wayne Rooney wants to leave Man United because he knows Ronaldo is coming back and he's jealous. A parody Twitter account claiming to be his son Kai said so (parody means "super real").

-In July, Jose Mourinho, who coached Ronaldo at Real Madrid said, ''I know Ronaldo loves Manchester United and I know he loves the Premier League..."* Like Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, Ronaldo will do anything for his love.

So there you have it. You can't argue any of these facts because they are all true and/or completely made up. Just accept that Ronaldo is going back to Man United whether he's actually going to or not and everything will be fine.

Chelsea strike pair targeted by La Liga elite

La Liga side Valencia are looking to sign either Romelu Lukaku or Demba Ba on loan from Chelsea, according to the Daily Mail.

The Spaniards had previously targeted Fernando Torres, but will now look to sign one of Lukaku and Ba as Chelsea may not guarantee the pair first team football.

Loanees

Valencia have already loaned defensive midfielder Oriol Romeu from Chelsea and are looking to make another signing after Tottenham signed star striker Roberto Soldado.

The 21 year old has struggled with injury and will spend a season at the Vicente Calderon to gain some first team experience.

Another Chelsea player plying his trade in La Liga this coming season is Marko Marin, who has joined Sevilla.

Chelsea have also sent young Brazilian right back Wallace out on loan to Inter Milan, while Lucas Piazon has joined Vitesse Arnhem for 2013/14.

Fringe

Ba and Lukaku are subject to serious interest from Valencia, who believe that Jose Mourinho does not consider the pair first team players.

The Senegalese striker has struggled to settle in London after a £7 million move from Newcastle and may be open to a short-term move away.

Lukaku has already turned down loan moves this summer to West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion, who he scored 17 goals for in a loan spell last season.

However, Valencia may hope to tempt the Belgian with the promise of regular first team football.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea: Preview and Projected Line-ups

It didn't take long for newly arrived Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho to find a means to have a rematch with former employer, Real Madrid. The Guinness International Champions Cup has had a hand in seeing that the Portuguese leader gets his chance.

Real Madrid’s focus has been mainly on the rumours around both Gareth Bale’s arrival and the contract saga involving Cristiano Ronaldo. The two equally are sure to be sorted out in the remaining part of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile at Stamford Bridge, Mourinho has been busy buying up all the talented young players he can find. The arrivals of players such as Andre Schurrle have strengthened the club even further this summer.

Madrid are a worthy test for Chelsea, and the two clubs are certain to give the fans a show in Miami as they close out the summer pre season tournament and prepare for their return to Europe.

Ronaldo is expected to be in the first team and will likely get a massive reception from the crowd as Mourinho is expected to give young Romelu Lukaku yet another chance to continue to prove himself worthy of fighting for a first team place his year.

Projected Madrid Starting XI: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema.

Projected Chelsea Starting XI: Cech; Cole, Ivanovic, Luiz, Azpilicueta; Van Ginkel, Mikel; De Bruyne, Oscar, Hazard; Lukaku.

Neymar will adapt quickly at Barcelona, says Iniesta

The Spain star has backed his Brazilian team-mate to be a success at the Catalan side during his first season and regards Cesc Fabregas as a crucial part of the squad

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta feels Neymar is "one of the best" and therefore will adapt quickly to his new surroundings at Camp Nou.

The forward completed a switch from Santos in a deal worth €57 million during the summer transfer window but, following his arrival in Spain, critics have questioned his ability to perform at the top level in Europe.

However, his experienced team-mate is certain the Brazil star, who Barca revealed suffers from anaemia, will be an instant success at the club.

"I don't think he will need much time to adjust," he told reporters in Bangkok, where Barca have arrived following their Peace Tour. 

"When you're the best and you get to our team, you adapt quickly. Despite coming from another league, he will contribute much.

"His signing only brings positive things to us."

Iniesta also commented on Cesc Fabregas and his standing in the team, as the midfielder looks set to stay at Camp Nou with Manchester United having seemingly given up on the Spaniard.

"For me, he [Fabregas] is undisputed in this club," he continued.

"My team-mates are always the best and the important thing is that competition makes us all better, because ultimately the team are winning the titles, not the individuals.

"He is a key player for us, he always performed at the highest level and will continue to do so."

Sports Betting - Some Basics About Sports Betting

Sports betting one of the few forms of gambling where skill can largely outweigh the benefits of luck. For this reason sports betting has become one of the most popular forms of gambling in the United States and around the world. Add in the passion many people have for their favourite sports and it's easy to see why just Americans gambled 12.3 billion dollars in 2010 on horse race betting alone. Add in all the other sports that can be bet on and it's easy to see that sports betting is a favourite past-time for many people around the world.

Betting On Your Favourite Sports Team

Each year people gamble billions of dollars on sports teams. These bets can be between friends (which is often illegal), through office pools (again often illegal), and through legally established online and brick-and-mortar gambling houses. The exact terms of the bet have to be examined on a case-by-case basis but there are some basic principles that are followed, especially for legal gambling houses.

Sports teams are not all created equally. Often, the likely winner of a game is known before the game is even played. Let's consider the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team, one of college football's most dominant teams. And let's assume that they are playing against the University of Toledo Rockets football team, which hails from a much smaller and less established school. The Crimson Tide would almost certainly win. Should the Toledo Rockets pull off an upset it would be a major event, likely garnering national headlines.

Most people thus wouldn't bet on the Toledo Rockets to win in a straight-up match. The odds would be extremely slim. Instead, bets makers set an over/under score which dictates that the Alabama Crimson Tide must win by a certain score in order for gamblers supporting the Crimson Tide to collect their money. So let's say the Crimson Tide are given a score of (-14). This means they must beat the Rockets by more than 14 points in order to "beat the odds."

Betting On Horse Races

If you're not into team sports but still want to enjoy the thrill of sports betting, a day at the races is just the thing for you. Gambling on horse races counts among the oldest and most prestigious forms of gambling and is enjoyed across the United States, Middle East, Australia, and Europe. Certain horse races, such as the Kentucky Derby, rank among the most iconic sporting events in the world.

There are numerous ways to gamble on horse racing. The most common form is "win" bet in which the gambler simply bets on the winner of the race. Just like sports teams, however, not all horses are created equal. Because of this horses are assigned odds based on how likely they are to win. For example, a heavily favoured horse might be given the odds of 1 to 9, meaning that for every 2 dollars bet, the winner will take home 2.10 dollars. A heavily unfavoured horse, however, might be given odds 50 to 1, meaning that the winner will collect 102 dollars for every two dollar s/he bets. Most horse race tracks place a two dollar minimum on a "win" bet.

There are numerous other types of bets, such as "Trifecta Box" in which you must correctly guess which three horses will finish in first, second, and third (in any order). If you want to learn more about horse betting you should visit your local race track and learn about all the different forms of gambling.

Is It Curtains for Frank Lampard, or Can Jose Mourinho Prolong His Career?

"Don't know when this chance might come again, good times got a way of comin' to an end."

With a back catalog including such hits as "Born to Run" and "Dancing in the Dark" to name just two, it's not the most inventive or insightful chorus you will hear from Bruce Springsteen.

Chelsea fans, however, would have found more meaning last season in the relatively unknown "Let's Be Friends" from the 2002 album The Rising than any other of The Boss' songs.

This personal indulgence in Springsteen's lyrical genius has a point, as for long parts of 2012-13 it seemed Frank Lampard's time was up at Stamford Bridge, with the club appearing adamant he would not receive a new contract at the end of the campaign (via the Guardian).

Good times do indeed have a way of comin' to an end, but for Lampard, a return of 17 goals that saw him surpass Bobby Tambling as the club's all-time goalscorer has prolonged the party somewhat, eventually earning him a reprieve. He signed on for one more year at Stamford Bridge in May.

It was some turnaround, and as Blues fans rejoiced, Lampard himself struggled to hide his delight at being given one more shot at lifting even more silverware at the club he has served for well over a decade.

"Everybody knows I always maintained the dream was to stay at Chelsea," he told ChelseaFC.com. "I love this club, the staff, the players and especially the supporters, who have treated me fantastically since the day I arrived.

"The thought of helping the club to more success in the forthcoming years is all I ever wanted. I couldn't be happier."

How he is feeling now, though, is anyone's guess. For a player once lauded for his fitness and ability to avoid the treatment table, a troublesome Achilles injury during preseason is slowly becoming an alarming sign for Lampard.

He said so himself—this one-year contract isn't a temporary thing, he's looking beyond 2013-14, wanting to bring Chelsea "more success in the forthcoming years."

Will his body allow him to, though?

When Jose Mourinho first arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2004, he was tasked with making Lampard the world's best midfielder. He duly succeeded. Now he has to prolong his career.

In more recent seasons it's been the odd thigh strain here and there that has kept the Englishman away from action, but other niggles are now beginning to raise questions as to his physical ability.

The new season is just a fortnight away, and Lampard is yet to get any serious game time under his belt as he struggles with injury. That's got to be a concern for Mourinho. It will be a concern for Lampard, also.

At 35, suggesting his body is struggling or will struggle to hold up to the Premier League's physical demands is an easy assumption to make, but now more than ever, the questions about Lampard's durability are being asked.

Mourinho remains calm over the situation, saying in the Daily Mail this week that he expects Lampard to return to action soon while the club is on tour in the U.S. for the Guinness International Champions Cup.

"Hopefully he plays [on the tour], I won't say the second match but maybe the third or fourth," he commented.

Perhaps Mourinho knows something we don't. After all, he is the man who helped prolong the career of Javier Zanetti, who at almost 40 years old is still going strong at Inter Milan.

Whatever magic the Portuguese worked with Inter's Argentinean, Lampard knows he's going to need a similar intervention from Mourinho if the curtain isn't going to fall on his Chelsea career this season.

Is Cristiano Ronaldo Overpaid or Underpaid?

Just like most football superstars in the modern game, Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo is handsomely rewarded for his efforts on the field. The Portugal international became one of the richest players in the world upon moving to Spain, earning millions of dollars a year. 

But as rumours mount that Madrid's man is keen to see his salary increase once again to commit his future to the Bernabeu, are his club getting value for money out of him?

Even before any projected pay increase, Cristiano finds himself amongst the richest in the game. A recent study by renowned financial magazine Forbes placed the forward at 31 in their list of the 100 richest celebrities, in the middle of an unlikely sandwich between Donald Trump and Jay-Z. 

According to the magazine, Ronaldo earns a staggering $23m a year from salary and bonuses alone, a figure that rises to a total of $44m when including endorsements and sponsorship. The Sun furthermore reports his current base salary as £200,000-a-week.

Lionel Messi, just out of interest, enters the same list at 39, between David Letterman and Adam Sandler, with an income of just over $41m. 

According to The Sun, however, this amount is not enough for Madrid's star. According to the newspaper, Ronaldo wants a substantial improvements in his terms in order to stay put: 

First up he wants an annual wage of £17m from Madrid, which works out at about £345,000 per week.

But he is also demanding 100 per cent of his image rights contract from the club, which could be worth as much as £15m per year.

But does he merit almost double his current, arguably already inflated salary? Statistics are certainly on his side. Ronaldo has scored over a goal a game for Madrid, a outstanding 201 in just 199 appearances. Such a record outstrips easily anyone on his own side, and on a world level only Messi in recent seasons has been able to compete against such prolific scoring. 

From the rangy winger that began at Sporting, Ronaldo has developed into a strong, lightning quick forward adept at finishing with both feet and his head. His wages may not come cheap, but it is hard to see who, short of a highly improbable move for Ronaldo's Argentine rival, could even come close to such numbers. 

But do the records tell the whole story? In that same four-season spell that has seen his goal totals reach extraordinary heights, Ronaldo has lifted a paltry two major trophies: a Liga title in 2011-12 and the Copa del Rey from the previous season. 

In three of the four years Madrid have been outgunned by Barcelona to the title, while their Champions League quests have never advanced past the semi-finals. The team has been built around the scoring talents of Ronaldo, further exaggerating his ability in front of the net; but could this be what is holding one of the richest, most powerful clubs in the world back from glory?

Ronaldo's latest alleged complaints over remuneration, combined with the furore unleashed last season when he declared himself "sad" and refused to celebrate his goals, as reported by the Telegraph, point to a player who believes himself above the team. His talent is beyond question, but it may be that Madrid now need someone whose first priority is not how many mediocre defences he can destroy in order to boost his own figures. 

It may be that a team figurehead who plays with the team, and for the team, is what is necessary to reverse the last five years of underachievement. And if so, it may be that Ronaldo, more than ever, is becoming an expensive luxury at the Bernabeu.