A Football Report

By Andy Jones, London

With the international break just gone I am still struggling to see a bright future for this England team. I have no predictions for the Premier League weekend ahead, they’ll come this Firday. Last week I think I only got one result exactly right, the Arsenal vs Everton result, while getting the winner and loser right in a few others, but all in all, I did quite badly, how about you guys?

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Predictions by Andy Jones, writing from London

Firstly let me apologise to all of AFR’s readers for not starting my weekly posts that I did last season on time, as the delay has been due to internet problems. However, it’s all good now!

As you can see above I’ve got my weekly predictions, I don’t see too many draws this weekend, especially with even the more defensive teams opening up and attempting to play football rather than parking the bus. But do you guys agree with my predictions?

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By Andy Jones, writing from London

This season, in the Premier League, we see the introduction of the new Home Grown regulation, which all teams must adhere to. For those of you that haven’t read them or aren’t quite clear on them, here’s a brief explanation:

Every club will have to name a first-team squad of no more than 25, of which a maximum of 17 may not be home-grown players.

The Premier League defines a home-grown player as a player who “irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Welsh Football Association for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).”

For some clubs this is no problem, as they have sufficient home grown players, however, for one club in particular this brings in a whole new problem, deciding which players, who aren’t under 21, don’t make the final 25-man squad. This club is, of course, free spending and player vacuum Manchester City who have a total of 38 first team players (currently listed on their website) and don’t forget, more players may still be arriving!

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By Andy Jones, writing from London after a trip to the Emirates

For many Jack Wilshere was the best youngster on show at the Emirates Cup this past weekend, and I think, offensively, he definitely was. He seems much more composed, having that extra yard of pace to get away from someone and his cracking left foot is even better. However, in my opinion, the best youngster was Emmanuel Frimpong, who was playing in the defensive mid position just in front of the back four.

I thought he did his job extremely well. He was strong in the tackle, didn’t let himself get intimidated by any big names, and had no qualms in sticking his feet in and getting the ball as well as the man. It was good to see a no nonsense player giving the others the creative freedom to go forwards, just as Song normally does.

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By Andy Jones, writing from London

After Sunday’s trouncing at the hands, or feet I should say, of a German team brimming with talent, technique and teamwork, it is not only the current national side that must go back to the drawing board, but every team in the country, ranging from the top clubs in the Premier League to the Sunday league teams for 6 and 7 year olds which start the players’ journeys into becoming professionals.

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By Andy Jones, a distraught Arsenal supporter writing from London

What can I say, as an Arsenal fan this is definitely some of the worst news we can hear, Fabregas wanting to leave. He is our heartbeat, the definition of modern day Arsenal, sleek, sublime, the greatest passer we have, and, of course, our Captain.

The fact that only this season he was handed a new contract, with some of the highest wages the club has ever paid out along with the fact that Wenger choose to give him the arm band ahead of say van Persie, the team being built around him, from the way we moved him further up the pitch and have a holding midfielder to give him freedom on the pitch and the fact the fans completely loved him (this has changed for some), makes his asking to be sold, for me personally, a hurt wrenching insult to the club and us fans. Yes, he has the right to be happy and to go back to his boyhood club, but after signing a new contract so recently and knowing full well that this summer the club has the financial power to buy players of his calibre to balance out the team, his moment to say he wants to leave is selfish.

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By Andy Jones, writing from London

A league and FA Cup in Carlo Ancelotti’s first season and Chelsea’s first league and Cup double is something truly special, for any team. Some say the game was a thrilling encounter, the woodwork keeping it down to a low scoring game, despite being hit five times. Perhaps the highlight of all of them was Kalou missing from a couple of yards out and hitting the bar! All this put together with with one saved penalty, Cech not letting Kevin Prince Boateng put Pompey ahead and one put wide by a certain Lamps, lead to a game that could have had a historic scoreline!

Portsmouth could of defied the odds today; a second cup FA cup in 3 years for a team about to drop down into the Championship and with a team full of players who could all be shipped and sold off this summer. It’s a testament to Grant that, with a little bit more luck, Pompey could of won.

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