Can Dembele, Dejagah and Dzeko Propel Team "D" Up the League?

Throughout the series so far, teams have tended to line up with either a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 system, so team D is certainly a first, with a 4-5-1 system seeming like the best option given the availability of players under this “D” category. Let’s have a look.

Goalkeeper: De Gea (Man Utd)

Defenders: Debuchy (Newcastle Utd), Michael Dawson (Spurs), Ben Davies (Swansea City), Demichelis (Man City)

Midfielders: Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur), David Luiz (Chelsea), De Guzman (Swansea City), Downing (West Ham Utd), Dejagah (Fulham)

Forwards: Dzeko (Man City)

Squad Players/Reserves: Dummet (Newcastle), Delph (Aston Villa), Demel, Diame & Diarra (West Ham), Curtis Davies (Hull City), Dann, Delaney & Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace) Do Prado (Southampton), Duff (Fulham), Deulofeu (Everton)

As with team “C”, David de Gea is really the only available choice in the goalkeeping position and I am not going to complain, despite Manchester United’s poor form this season, de Gea has certainly now established himself as number one at Old Trafford and at still only 23 is becoming a very capable goalkeeper.

In the full back positions, we have the highly rated Debuchy of Newcastle and the equally highly rated Ben Davies of Swansea. In the centre we have the steady Michael Dawson and perhaps the most controversial choice in this team, Demichelis of Man City. Others may opt for Demel or Curtis Davies but I stick by my choice.

Now then, the 5 midfielders in this 4-5-1. Dembele would probably walk into at least 18 of the Premier League midfield units, so is a strong choice here. Perhaps the same could be said of David Luiz, although some might prefer to play him as a defender. Stewart Downing on his day (although he does seem to be having fewer of them) can be terrific and can supply a steady stream of crosses into the box. De Guzman is also creative and gets from box to box well, while Dejagah has been one of the few bright lights for struggling Fulham this season. Dejagah is also possibly the only Iranian international to be playing regular Premier League football.

The lone striker then is Edin Dzeko. I would imagine that Dzeko has one of the best Premier League strike rates (goals per game time) in recent years. He has 38 goals in 98 league appearances for Man City with many of those appearances being as a late substitute. One goal in every 2.5 matches is relatively decent in normal circumstances but taking his game time into account, it’s nothing short of prolific. Dzeko is probably the only out and out striker in the team “D” squad with perhaps only Deulofeu offering any challenge for the position.

I think that this team pretty much picks itself, what do you think?

Football Alphabet - Managers Moyes, Mourinho, Meulensteen and Mackay do Battle

The battles at the top and bottom of the Premier League are starting to take shape now that we are 15 games into the current season and I have picked out a quartet of managers with names beginning with "M" that may well be contesting some of those vital league positions.

Moyes versus Mourinho

This battle may yet develop into the close contest many thought it would be at the start of the season but thanks to Manchester United’s dreadful (by their own standards) start to the season, David Moyes is struggling a bit and United are already playing catch up. Jose Mourinho, despite a much healthier league position and return of points, hasn't had it all his own way either. Just when Chelsea look like they are really hitting their stride and playing great football, they throw in a lazy draw or unlikely defeat and at the time of writing, remain 5 points behind early pacesetters Arsenal.

However, there is still plenty of time for the Moyes v Mourinho battle to take shape, if not this season, then over the coming seasons. Both managers are adapting to a new environment (albeit Mourinho is a little more familiar with his) and really have their hands full in attempting to deliver silverware for their expectant supporters this year. Most pundits believe that the league season is already over for Man United (who sit 13 points off the top of the table) and although there is an almighty gap to make up, history tells that they don’t often “get going” until January anyway. Most pundits also believe that they need to buy 3 or 4 world class players in the January transfer window.

Mackay versus Meulensteen

At the time of writing there is only 1 point and 2 league positions separating Fulham and Cardiff City (1 point better off), so although new Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen is fresh to the fray, this battle is already in full swing. Fulham, frankly have had a dreadful start to the campaign and although many believe Martin Jol is a highly competent manager, the body language from both him and his team had been very, very poor in the month prior to Jol’s unfortunate but inevitable sacking. Fulham have already shown considerably more fight in Meulensteen’s first 2 games in charge and are perhaps unlucky to only have 3 points to show for their efforts.

Cardiff City have only 1 win in their last 9 games and despite some impressive performances (a win against Man City and a draw with Man United), the Welsh team now seem to be finding the Premier League as tough as they might have expected when they got promoted. Malky Malkay (perfect initials for this episode) hasn't just had to contend with getting his team to perform on the pitch but also issues behind the scenes, with a chairman who although undoubtedly has put money into the club, very much has his own way of doing things.

On paper at least, Fulham seem to have the more creative squad and are perhaps better equipped to survive, but Cardiff will battle, make no mistake about that and the Mackay v Meulensteen battle may well turn out to be a more interesting contest than the one involving Moyes and Mourinho.

Premier League Football Alphabet - The "K" Team

After the relatively successful experiment last time out of compiling a functional team of current premier league football players whose last names begin with the letter “J”, I thought I would try it again with the letter “K”. Off the top of my head, I was struggling but I think I found enough players to probably form a better team than team “J”.

Think of the past and names such as Keegan, Kennedy, Klinsmann, Keane, King, Kanu and Kuyt have all graced the top flight of English football, but what of the current “K” team?

How they line up:

Goalkeeper – Krul (Newcastle United)

Defenders – Koscielny (Arsenal), Kompany (Man City), Kolorov (Man City), Kaboul (Spurs)

Midfield – Kasami (Fulham), Kagawa (Man Utd), Karagounis (Fulham), Kacaniklic (Fulham)

Forwards – Kone (Everton), Kozak (Aston Villa)

Subs: Kane, Kim, Ki, Kebe

There wasn't much in the way of available substitutes for team “J” but the “K” team has strength in depth for starters.

This defensive unit is truly impressive although one of those centre backs is going to have fill in at right back in order to play a flat back four. You could play a 3 at the back and push Kolorov into midfield so there is flexibility too.

The midfield is perhaps a little but Fulham heavy – so perhaps Kebe (Crystal Palace) in for Karagounis (since he is getting on a bit) might work a bit better. An in form (his Borussia Dortmund days) Kagawa adds a touch of class to a team that is full of seasoned internationals but is perhaps erring on the side of solid rather than spectacular.

The front two perhaps indicate that the long, aerial ball might better suit this team but you could probably swap out the currently injured Kone for Tottenham’s Harry Kane if you wanted a bit more guile.

I personally thing that this “K” team could certainly hold its own in the Premier League with plenty of 1-0 victories and draws away from home. Put them head to head against team “J” and there is only one winner – what do you think?

Premier League Football Alphabet – F for Fulham, Fellaini, Fletcher and Fernandinho

Fulham have started the new season in typical Fulham style – unpredictable and inconsistent with signs of both promise and concern. 4 games in, they have 2 defeats, a victory and a draw.

Comparing the new squad to last season’s you would certainly say it’s looking stronger this time out, with Scott Parker and Adel Taraabt added to the midfield offering both defensive and attacking options. Up front, Darren Bent has been added to the already useful Berbatov, Ruiz and Rodellega but the challenge will be to get Bent on the pitch for long enough to strike up what could be a very useful partnership with the skilful Berbatov. If Fulham can get that duo firing on all cylinders, there could be plenty of goals to follow.

New goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg, should prove to be a useful replacement for the now departed Mark Schwarzer but he was injured on his debut and hasn’t featured since. Elsad Zverotic and Fernando Amborebieta have been brought in to add some more experience and cover to an already experienced (ageing?) defensive unit. Overall, however, the new signings look promising and if manager Martin Jol can encourage the best out of them, then Fulham should have a relatively comfortable season – but a lot will depend on this team “gelling”.

Fellaini – Marouane Fellaini secured his much expected move to Old Trafford on deadline day and became Manchester United’s sole summer signing and there are great expectations from the 25 year old Belgian who cost the Red Devils in excess of £27 million. His last 2 seasons at Everton were probably the player’s best and if he can take that sort of form to his new club then United might finally have that dynamic midfielder they have been craving.

Fletcher – Steven Fletcher, from early season evidence, will have a real struggle on his hands this year along with the rest of his Sunderland team. Granted, it’s far too early to make sweeping judgements but manager Paolo Di Canio doesn’t yet seem to have a grip on this radically altered Black Cats squad. With just 1 point from 4 games it already looks like a long, hard season ahead. Fletcher’s goals (if he gets enough game time) will be just as crucial as they were last season.

Fernandinho (or Fernando Luiz Rosa) started the first 3 league games for Manchester City this season but was left out of the starting 11 for their 0-0 draw with Stoke City. In Negredo, Navas, Jovetic and Demichelis, there are plenty of potential new stars in the City squad and it might be difficult for Fernandinho to make an impact. At 28, the Brazilian only has 5 international caps, which suggests there are a whole host of Brazilian midfielders ahead of him in the cue for a place in the World Cup 2014 squad in Rio. With Yaya Toure, Nasri, Navas and David Silva all laying claims to a starting position, perhaps the Brazilian (who cost City £30 million by the way) might be more of a “cup” player this season.