Well I’m glad that’s over…

A quick summary of the main players this season…

1.  Julian Speroni – Another good season from arguably the best ‘keeper in the Championship. Didn’t hit the heights in terms of form as other season, but still seemed to pop up with a world class save every other game.

2. Nathaniel Clyne – His season was limited by injury which restricted him to 28 league games. Continued to look like an impressive young right back. Having run down his contract, a summer move to the Premier League is almost a certainty, although those that have championed the Palace academy will be hoping it is a move to a Manchester United rather than a Bolton.

3. David Wright – Anchored the midfield in the early, more successful part of the season, including in the victory at Old Trafford, injury has restricted him since December but he seems to be a Freedman favourite and his versatility and experience  should be enough to see him retained over the summer.

4. Jonathan Parr – Something of an unknown quantity when he arrived in the summer, the Norway international started slowly, but really grew into the team and looked more comfortable at left back than as a wide midfielder. He’ll need a good rest over the summer as he’s effectively played 2 seasons without a break.

5. Paddy McCarthy – I’m a fan of the big Irishman, whilst sometimes he lacks technical ability and pace, he is a strong and courageous defender that has grown into the role of captain.

6. Anthony Gardner – If McCarthy’s the brawn, then Gardner’s then brains. My player of the season. He was a real rock at the back and showed his international pedigree. Prone to the odd gaffe last season, he seems to have ironed this out of his game. twenty clean sheets this season is testament to all the defenders.

7. Darren Ambrose – I wrote at length about Ambrose in my first blog, and he frustrates and delight, in not quite equal measures. That said, the attacking midfielder did finish top scorer.

8. Kagisho Dikgacoi – Made 31 appearances and bagged a couple of goals, but KG has not really lived up to his loan spell from last season. He’s been carrying some extra weight towards the end of the season. Freedman has mentioned there are a few players that he’s not happy with and the South African international could be one of them.

10. Owen Garvan – It feels like Garvan had fairly limited opportunities to showcase his midfield wares, and 23 appearance backs this up. He did get three goals, but never really got a decent run in the team and could well be on his way in the summer. The boy definitely has some talent, but probably is not the all round midfielder that is needed in the hustle of the Championship.

11. Sean Scannell – This season promised to be a big one for the dreadlocked forward. Initially employed as a striker alongside Murray, many Palace fans feel this is his best position, but spent most of season operating wide in a front three. He only managed a return of 4 goals which really isn’t enough for a forward. Unless he gets a proper run in the team down the middle, I’d expect him to move on before too long.

15. Mile Jedinak – A complete unknown quantity when he arrived, Jedi took time to adapt to the pace of the English game, but emerged as a contender for Player of the Season by the end. He’s strong in the tackle and the air, and has a decent pass on him too. A great free transfer and will look to have a big impact next term.

16. Wilfred Zaha – The Palace academy has churned out another gem. Only Paddy McCarthy played more games for the Eagles this season and Zaha showed frequent flashes of his undoubted potential. Usually employed wide, Zaha still finished as second top scorer, scoring on the final day to take his tally to nine. If Palace can hold onto the boy over the summer, expect him to kick on again next season.

17. Glenn Murray – Murray arrived with a splash last summer, probably Palace’s biggest signing. He took a while to secure his place in the side, but towards the end of September he scored 3 goals in 4 games and it looked like his season was ready to explode. But it didn’t quite happen for him, finishing the season on seven goals. However, two of those goals will be remembered for decades, the winner at Old Trafford and sealing victory against rivals and his former club Br*ghton. Murray!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz94prjruuI

19. Jermaine Easter – Easter was Freedman’s first signing last January and hasn’t really achieved much. He finished with 6 goals, and it will be interesting to see what happens to him over the summer.

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20. Jonathan Williams – Joniesta burst onto the scene before Christmas, being given run outs in Palace’s thrilling Carling Cup run. A heart breaking leg fracture stunted his development, but he was back before the end of the season before getting injured again. Could be an important player next season if he can stay injury free.

21. Dean Moxey – Another  injury prone player, Moxey only made 28 appearances but looked good when active. Ended the season covering for all the other injured centrebacks. Might struggle to get into the team ahead of Parr next season.

28. Stuart O’Keefe – Used sparingly, O’Keefe struggled to oust KG, Jedinak and Wright from the centre of the midfield, but when he did he impressed and was often voted MOM. The pinnacle was his outstanding performance at Old Trafford.

34. Lewis Price – made 10 appearance in Speroni’s place and always looked impressive. He was given a run out in the cups, and covered on the odd occasion when Jules was injured. Can’t be too many championship teams with an international keeper on the bench.  Palace might struggle to satisfy his needs if he doesn’t get more appearances next season.

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Schalke are set to win the race to sign out-of-contract Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou, according to Mirror Football.

The Ivory Coast international was largely a bit-part player at the west London club in 2011-12, but did get more chances to play once Roberto Di Matteo took over from Andre Villas Boas.

Despite this, with the Blues on a recruitment drive to bring in a host of new young players to Stamford Bridge this summer, Kalou has seemingly been overlooked and has not been offered a new deal.

A number of Premier League sides have been speculated as having an interest in the African attacker, whilst a move back to former club Feyenoord has also been rumoured to be on the cards.

However, Schalke are thought to have negotiated terms with Kalou, who will move to the Bundesliga club once the transfer window opens.

The Gelsenkirchen club are looking to bolster their attack after seeing legendary Spanish forward Raul leave the club this summer.

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By Gareth McKnight

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France moved to within a point of qualifying for the last eight of Euro 2012 beating co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk after an electrical storm threatened to abandon the game.

Dutch Bjorn Kuipers was forced to bring a halt to proceedings in the fourth minute as a torrential downpour and lightening pounded the Donbass Arena and the pitch soon became unplayable amid concerns over the safety of  the players and fans. Play resumed an hour later but it took until the second half for France to make the breakthrough as Jeremy Menez scored from close range on 53 minutes before Yohan Cabaye sealed the win three minutes later with a neat finish. It was harsh on Ukraine who had chances of their own but paid the price for poor defending on both goals and must home England are held by Sweden to keep their hopes of progressing to the quarter finals ahead of their meeting with Roy Hodgson’s men on Tuesday.

Once the weather had calmed and the game was able to get underway but the delay didn’t seem to effect Laurent Blanc’s side as Karim Benzema tested Andriy Pyatov. Menez then thought he’d opened the scoring in the 16th minute after converting Frank Ribery’s pass but had strayed into an offside position before blasting over after being teed up by Ribery again before. A third chance came Menez’s way mid-way through the half as Ribery seized upon Anatoliy Tymoshchuk’s weak backpass and crossed for the winger who could only shoot straight at Pyatov’s legs.

Ukraine’s first clear sight of goal came in the 34th minute but Andriy Shevchenko couldn’t repeat his heroics of the win against Sweden lashing a half volley straight at Hugo Lloris after stealing in behind Adel Rami. Pyatov then ensured they would go in at halftime on level terms keeping out Phillipe Mexes’ header from Samir Nasri’s free kick. But he was beaten eight minutes after the break as Menez latched onto Benezema pass, drifted inside Yevhen Selin on the right and lashed a low effort inside the near post to give France the lead. That was doubled just three minutes later and Benzema was again the provider playing in Cabaye and the Newcastle man kept his composure to strike a low shot across Pyatov and into the bottom corner.

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A wonderful spell of fluid passing and movement ended with Cabaye cracking a fierce right footed volley off the post whilst Ukraine posed little threat to Les Bleus’ lead to win their first game in nine at a major tournament and put them in pole position to qualify from Group D ahead of their game with Sweden on Tuesday.

Aston Villa have announced that they have completed a deal to bring Morocco international Karim El Ahmadi to the club from Feyenoord.

The midfielder becomes new Villa boss Paul Lambert’s first signing at the Birmingham-based club, and has put pen to paper on a year-year contract.

The 27-year-old has spoken of his delight at moving to the Premier League and is looking forward to competing for Villa.

“I’m very excited about coming here to a massive club and I’m looking forward to playing here,” El Ahmadi told the club’s official website.

“I’m very happy that the manager wants me and that the club wants me and I’m looking forward to starting training again.

“It’s nice that I am the manager’s first transfer and I am looking forward to doing good things with the team and with the club this year.

“This club should be competing in the top half of the table and I am looking forward to achieving that with the team.

“I came to this club and spoke to the people here and they gave me great confidence in what we can do this year, so I have chosen to come.

“As a player, I always want to have the ball and that is my main quality. I always want the ball and to dictate the game. That’s what I did at Feyenoord and hopefully I can show the fans, the club and the manager my quality,” he concluded.

Lambert is also glad to have made his first purchase as Villa boss, and has stated that the new man will bring competition for places and extra quality to the squad.

“Karim will help the team, I have no doubt about that.

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“He’s a really good footballer and he’s played well in a good team, a big team, and I’m looking forward to working with him.

“In fact, I’m really looking forward to getting things going on Thursday when the lads will report back for pre-season,” he revealed.

By Gareth McKnight

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For someone who has provided us with two consecutive summer transfer sagas, you would think most Madridistas would be preparing to welcome Luka Modric with open arms, however you would be about as right as when Ronaldo decided to be penalty taker number five in the Euros.

After watching yet another pre-season game involving Real Madrid, and yet again being impressed with the performance Kaka produced – despite being told he is not wanted, the linking of Luka Modric to Real Madrid  is stronger than ever, with Mourinho stating that the Spurs player is the only one he wants this summer, and will happily get rid of Kaka to enable this.

It makes you wonder if Mourinho has been drinking too much fine wine – or not so fine if you take Fergie’s account of the stuff Jose drinks – over the summer, because it seems strange that Jose should want Modric so much when he has a player who is a great deal better in Ozil and one who is about the same in Kaka – if you had a Ferrari, it is perhaps understandable to buy a Range Rover in case the Ferarri breaks down, but why would you do that if you already had a BMW X5 sitting in the garage?

Luka ‘tug of love’ Modric is no stranger to these summer fights for his affection and time – even Cesc Fabregas must think Luka has a hard time in the summer months, and we all know how the battle between Arsenal and Barcelona took its toll on his health, so perhaps if Modric is so in demand – being the top of Jose’s wish list no less – he is better than I am giving him credit for.

Now do not get me wrong, I have not been on the wine, I know Modric is a brilliant player, and can make a difference in games, certainly against the lesser teams in the league, but it is hard to see the point of luring a player for so much money when you already have a couple who can do the same if not better.

Obviously there must be something in the playmaker that Mourinho feels could add something to his side and help them not only retain the title but also get that Champions League trophy, yet in 159 appearances for Spurs the player has managed 15 goals – if Real Madrid want goals clearly Modric is not the man to go for, and it seems strange they want someone who will provide assists, but not as many as Ozil or Di Maria.

Modric has provided 24 assists in 159 games with last season being a stellar one producing 5 goals and 6 assists– Ozil alone produced 8 goals and 21 assists last season. Kaka, with his paltry amount of games produced 8 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last season. Even Di Maria with all his injury issues produced 9 goals and 16 assists alone. This is not even considering the Castilla boys such as Morata and Jese who have been so prolific pre-season, or Callejon who had a brilliant season last time out and will be fully expected to build on this.

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For the money Real Madrid are offering it seems surprising Spurs are trying to hang on to such a want away player who has now resorted to training on his own, and if Levy had any sense he would be packing both Luka’s bags and the player on a one way flight to Madrid, which seems the most likely outcome to the saga, and I more than anyone would love to be proved wrong in thinking that whilst Modric could be a star at United or Chelsea, even AC Milan, Real Madrid simply do not need him.

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Liverpool are set to announce the loan signing of Real Madrid star Nuri Sahin on Thursday, according to Mirror Football.

The Turkey international has not made an impact in the Spanish capital since moving to the Santiago Bernabeu from Borussia Dortmund last summer, making only four appearances for Los Blancos last season.

With Luka Modric seemingly on his way to Jose Mourinho’s men, opportunities for Sahin are thought to be non-existent, and the Portuguese trainer has admitted that the playmaker can leave the club.

With Brendan Rodgers eager to instil a footballing mentality to his inherited squad, a move for Sahin is set to be completed, with the creative midfielder moving to Anfield on a year-long deal.

However, the Merseysiders have been thwarted in their attempts to sign Barcelona youngster Cristian Tello.

Liverpool made an approach for the young Camp Nou attacker, but the player has opted to stay and fight for a place in the Catalan side.

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By Gareth McKnight

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As the ink now dries on Jack Rodwell’s newly signed Manchester City contract, the obituaries are already being written in some quarters for the 21-year-old’s immediate career prospects. A move to the Etihad brings with it a serious roadblock of world-class talent to the now ex-Evertonian’s development. No one expected Rodwell to turn down the overtures of Roberto Mancini. But the task ahead now involves trying to displace the likes of Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure and Nigel de Jong in the City engine room. Welcome to Manchester, Jack.

As Roy Hodgson announced the likelihood of having to pick players for the national team that weren’t necessarily club regulars, you couldn’t help but wonder quite what the England boss made of Rodwell’s summer switch. His comments of course weren’t aimed at Rodwell in particular, but it seems as if a concerning trend is making an emergence. Jack Rodwell has certainly placed himself on the cusp of being part of it.

Roberto Mancini’s feelings about his central midfield haven’t been of any secret to anyone. The Italian has craved investment in his side all summer and he’s been pining for a central midfielder in particular. The challenge for a team defending the title is to improve on what you’ve got and for Mancini, it was thought he could purchase an upgrade on Nigel de Jong and someone to push Barry and Toure in the engine room.

Whom Mancini really wanted and craved more than any other, were the services of dynamic Roma enforcer, Daniele de Rossi. He ended up with Jack Rodwell. To fall short of the quality of a payer such as De Rossi is by no means a shameful thing but however David Platt may like to frame it, Rodwell is a compromise. Albeit a highly talented and very young one, but he’s a compromise, nonetheless. No one can necessarily dispute the City hierarchy’s decision to reign in the spending and Mancini must live with the realities. Signing Jack Rodwell is one of them.

And there’s nothing to say that Rodwell can’t have an impact next season. If Mancini really is keen on getting rid of De Jong, then instantly Rodwell’s first team chances have increased. He will likely feature prominently in the cup competitions, maybe even the Champions League and if Barry’s injury woe continues, then he will get his chance to prove himself for City in the Premier League.  But more pressing questions lie ahead.

At the age of 21, there is no denying that there is still plenty of time for development and nurturing in Rodwell’s game. Under the likes of Mancini and especially Platt, Rodwell is only going to improve playing with the galaxy of talent that abides within the City ranks. But the onus for Manini at the moment, is on the present. He’s here to defend a league championship. And any chance that Rodwell gets in the first team isn’t going to be in some developmental environment where the pressure’s off. He will be coming into a side where he is expected to play well and win. There’s no time for complacency and rookie error when you’re part of a well oiled machine.

The question is, is Rodwell up to it? This is, so to speak, the £12millin question. Not a lot in City’s world, but if you consider the silverware that they’re chasing, it could prove to be quite a lot. The answer to such a question is difficult to negate. Rodwell suffered a frustrating season last term with injury and he was restricted to making only 14 league appearances for the Toffees. But since he burst onto the scene in his breakthrough term of 2008, he hasn’t quite lived up to all the heady expectation put upon him.

Jack Rodwell has all the technical tools to survive in this Manchester City team, but he needs to have a bit more about him. Because at the moment, it’s difficult to define where his real stand-out assets lie in central midfield. He’s very adaptable and solid in his positioning plus he can string a sequence of good passes together too. But he never massively imposed himself when he played for Everton. He always participated with plenty of neat work in midfield but it’s difficult to recall a string of games where he’s come out and really left his mark on the occasion.

At this stage of his career, he doesn’t seem to possess any real, standout eye for goal and his nine goals in 109 appearances for Everton seem to back this up. His passing is very neat and accurate, but he doesn’t possess a hugely eclectic range. And again, his tackling and positioning is relatively faultless but you wouldn’t imagine opponents find him outlandishly imposing. He needs to add a little spice to his game and create a niche for himself in the Premier League. The thing is, it feels hard to perceive that Manchester City is the best place for him to do that.

One thing’s for certain, the last thing Rodwell needs at his age is to spend half a season sitting on the bench. The need for game time isn’t just vital to his development but after enduring such a stop-start season as he did last term, he is desperate for a long run of games to get his Premier League sharpness in order. He’s going to make mistakes along the way. But whilst the pressure of playing in front of the masses at Goodison Park is one thing, doing it for the champions of England is quite another. Everything Rodwell does will be under the microscope and every mistake will be magnified in column inches. It’s an awful lot to ask for a player in his position.

Mancini is no mug and whilst it may have been Brian Marwood who struck a deal for the youngster, the Italian must have seen something that has caught his eye. Rodwell has some of the attributes that remind you of the old-school mould of Italian footballer; technically primed, tactically faultless and defensively minded. If he can craft Rodwell into anything resembling that sort of player, City could be onto a winner. But it will take a lot of time and time isn’t something you get a lot of at the top.

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It’s foolish to write off Jack Rodwell’s chances in this Manchester City team. He has the skillset to flourish at this level and that isn’t really in any doubt. Whether Manchester City is the platform where he can achieve his goals, only time will tell.

How do you feel about Jack Rodwell’s prospects at Manchester City? Destined for the top or a terrible career move? Let me know how you view it on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me your views. 

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According to Sky Sports, Liverpool defender Daniel Agger believes that the Liverpool supporters cannot afford to lose faith in the club after suffering their worst start to a Premier League season in half a century.

Defeats away to West Bromwich Albion and at home to Arsenal have left Brendan Rodgers’ side with just a solitary point (picked up against the champions Manchester City) going into the international break.

However, Agger, who was linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer, believes that the players are simply taking their time to adjust to the attractive style of football that manager Rodgers wants them to play: “Nothing is easy to fix- not in football and not in life – but we are working on the manager’s ideas everyday, so hopefully we can get better and better during the course of the season.”

To add to the discontent at Anfield, the Liverpool manager allowed £35 million striker Andy Carroll to leave the club on a season long loan to West Ham United, subsequently leaving the Reds bereft of strikers after failing to replace the 23-year-old.

Agger admits that the lack of squad members at Liverpool isn’t ideal but still remains positive. “We are trying everything we can and we have to get the best out of the squad we have,” he said.

The two frontline strikers Liverpool do have at the club – Fabio Borini and Luis Suarez – have come in for some criticism following their inability to convert some clear-cut chances in their first three Premier League games.

Although Agger argued that the onus should not always be on Borini and Suarez to net Liverpool’s goals this season, he admitted that the chances were there and him and his team mates  “all need to start taking them.”

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The fixture generator hasn’t been exactly kind to Rodgers and his Liverpool side at the beginning of this campaign. After the international break the Merseyside club travel to the Stadium of Light to face an improved Sunderland outfit, followed by the visit of fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his are becoming genuine title contenders following an impressive 1-1 draw away at Manchester City yesterday, according to The Sun.

The Gunners maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign with a hard-fought point at the Etihad thanks to an 82nd minute equaliser by Frenchman Laurent Koscielny.

Wenger reckons that yesterday’s result can give the players hope that they can compete with the league’s elite, “We believe it but it’s down to consistency. What happened here should strengthen our belief. “

However, the Arsenal boss accepts that there is a lot of work still to be done if his side are to take the title of Manchester City this season, “We are not the perfect team yet, we have room for improvement. If we focus on that, we have a chance.”

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Arsenal have surprised most critics with an impressive brand of football this season despite the departures of Robin van Persie to Manchester United and Alex Song to Barcelona – two players who were so instrumental for the north London club last season. Wenger believes that the draw at City should spur them on and make them realise their credentials, “Overall I hope the game reassured us about our potential in this league.”

Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has admitted that he would “have liked to have played better for England.”

Rooney may have 76 caps for his national side, but he has underperformed at many tournaments.

Rooney, who was impressive for against Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday, is keen to stress that he feels he has given his all in England’s matches but wishes he could have had better performances.

He said: “I’d have liked to have played better for England but, for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened. I’d like to know why, but I can hold my head up high and say I’ve always worked hard, given everything and will continue to do that.

“Sometimes it happens where you don’t play well, but you have tried. It just happens. I always feel I have given everything, whether I have played well or badly. But, looking back I know I can do better. But I wouldn’t let the previous tournaments distract me going forward.”

However, he believes that the whole team has to take responsibility to perform better.

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“It’s still a great honour to play for my country and I know I haven’t played at my best but, being honest, as a team we can do better. I am not going to win a tournament on my own,” he added.

It is rumoured that Friday’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino could be Rooney’s first ever match as England captain. England will be hoping to improve, after their disappointing performance in the draw against Ukraine in their last game.