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Zwardy
Two weeks is a very long time in football.
Being a die-hard Ipswich Town fan, I got the train to Bristol on the first day of the season. After a summer with no football, the expectation and excitement of the new campaign kicking off was at an all time high.
A Michael Chopra brace and Lee Martin strike helped Ipswich beat Bristol City 3-0, putting the Tractor Boys on top of the pile after week one.
However, it hasn’t quite been plain sailing since.
A cup defeat at the hands of League 2 Northampton Town on our own patch; a home defeat to Hull 1-0, followed by a 5-2 demolition at Portman Road by newly promoted Southampton.
And the icing on the cake was two weeks ago, a shambolic and gutless performance, resulting in a 7-1 hammering, away at Peterborough.
To make it worse, that crushing defeat was broadcast to the country on Sky Sports.
The final part of our series leads us to Jordan Henderson. 21 year old Henderson joined Liverpool for a fee rumoured to be £16 million at the start of this summer’s transfer window.
Born in Sunderland, Henderson was loaned out to Championship outfit Coventry during the 2008/09 season before breaking into the Black Cats first team.
Liverpool have a plethora of central midfield options; Gerrard, Lucas, Meireles, Spearing, Shelvey, Adam and Spearing. However, with the rumoured departures of Poulson and Meireles, and potential loaning of Shelvey to gain some first team experience, Henderson will have an increased chance of making his mark at Anfield.
Despite having a personally poor tournament at the U21 European Championships this summer, the former Sunderland man has proved in the last two seasons that he can play at the highest level.
Having represented the national side at U19, U20 and U21 level, Henderson made his debut for the national side in 2010, playing alongside Steven Gerrard in central midfield in the 1-0 defeat to France.
While searching through YouTube and filtering through the masses upon masses of football highlights that users have uploaded, you often come across a moment, a goal or a match which reminds you why you watch and love the beautiful game.
This clip, titled ‘crazy Bergkamp skill’ is a moment of pure genius, and demonstrates the natural talent that Dennis Bergkamp possessed.
It was Arsenal against Juventus in a Champions League group stage match, during the 2001/02 season. Arsenal ran out the victors 3-1 at Highbury, with goals from Henry, and a brace from Ljungberg. A Stuart Taylor own goal proved only a consolation for the Italian giants.
But it was the second goal from Ljungberg, so beautifully provided by Bergkamp, which really epitomised the genius and flair that the Dutchman gave to the Gunners during his illustrious tenure there.
Having an Ipswich season ticket allowed me to see one of the most promising young English players develop over the past three seasons in the Championship – Connor Wickham…
An initial £8.1 million fee, potentially rising to above £12 million prised Wickham away from Portman Road to become one of nine new signings at the Stadium of Light.
Gifted with height, strength and a delicate touch, the 18-year-old made 60 appearances for the Tractor Boys, scoring 12 goals. His most memorable came last season against Sheffield United, picking the ball up in his own half, dribbling around three players and slotting past the keeper.
Following the 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final win over Arsenal in January, Wickham was utilised in a wide left or right role for the remainder of the season.
An England U17 and U21 international, he also scored his first professional hat trick at the age of 17 away at Doncaster, in a 6-0 rout for Ipswich last season.
The third in our series of moves that will benefit the England national team is Phil Jones’ move to league-champions Manchester United for £16 million…
Making his debut in 2009, the Lancashire born centre-half made 35 appearances for Rovers before his transfer to Manchester.
Jones has also been utilised as a holding midfielder.
Playing all three games for the England U21’s European Championship campaign, the defender transferred for £20 million to Manchester United in June. Although there is much competition at Manchester United; Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling and Evans, with so many games in the season, he should see some considerable game time, including some valuable European experience.
Much like Smalling, he looks calm, composed and collected at this level, despite his young age. A potential partnership at Manchester United in years to come of Smalling and Jones could become the partnership at World Cups for England in the not too distant future.
Stewart Downing is the second in our series of transfers that will benefit the England national team and here is why…
By adding another string to his bow in recent times by playing a more central role, Downing has enjoyed good form during his tenure at Aston Villa.
The Middlesbrough born England international joined Liverpool for £20 million in July, adding to the ever-growing English contingent being assembled by Kenny Dalglish.
An effective wide man for many years for home club Middlesbrough, he perhaps never got the recognition he deserved; he has now amassed 27 caps for the England side.
The transfer gives Dalglish more options out wide; Suarez, Cole, Kuyt, Maxi provide a potent attacking force on the flanks for the Reds, and will join fellow British signings Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson at Liverpool this summer.
With a month of the transfer window left to run, many sides in the Premier League have strengthened their squads with the big kick-off approaching. One highlight of this summer’s dealings is the amount of English talent moving onto big clubs- which can only be good for the national side.
After impressing with Watford, and more recently with Aston Villa, the exciting Young has won himself a move to the 19 times champions, Manchester United. At £17 million, it is a very good price for a player with pace, vision, and great deliveries from set pieces. Scoring 30 goals in 157 appearances for the Villains, Young has also gone on to win 15 England caps.
Being able to play in so many positions will be of huge benefit to Sir Alex, and Capello. By playing in either wide position he can provide for the likes of Berbatov, Rooney and Hernandez from crosses. He could also be the perfect partner in the hole behind Rooney.
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