Why the title race is not over

The title race has widely been considered over in the past few weeks because of Chelsea’s good form and big lead at the top, but with a shock 2-1 loss to relegation fighters Crystal Palace, I think Tottenham have a big chance of winning the league, and here are some reasons why:

Firstly, Chelsea have been cruising to victories for most of the season, and have recorded some thrashings, so a loss against Palace will definitely knock the confidence of their players and coaches and could end their good form that we saw before the loss on Saturday.

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Under Conte in 2016/17, Chelsea have been excellent, but this loss is a big wobble in their title hopes.

Secondly, teams like Chelsea have been in a dominant position at the top of the table, but then thrown away the league. Most memorably in 2012, when Manchester United gained an eight point lead at the top with six games to go, but then went on some horrendous form and ended up gifting the title to City due to complacency, and that could happen to Chelsea.

Moving on, Tottenham have been brilliant this season, and for the first twelve games they were unbeaten, and are now on a five game winning streak – which means that Chelsea will have to win games because Tottenham don’t look like they’re going to lose again in this 2016/17 season.

For those reasons I think Tottenham have a chance of winning the title, but in my opinion Chelsea will just manage to win the league.

Five big Premier League games coming up

Liverpool vs Everton

On Saturday Liverpool take on Everton in one of England’s greatest rivalries. This fixture has sparked eleven goal thrillers, red cards and wondergoals, but we never know what to expect from a Merseyside derby. A win for Liverpool would take them above Manchester City and level with 2nd placed Tottenham for at least twenty-four hours and would give them a boost in their quest to finish in the top four.

Swansea vs Middlesbrough

This is a massive relegation six pointer for both clubs. Swansea lie in 17th, two positions and five points above Middlesbrough, but if Boro win then it would increase their chances of staying up. The big team news for Swansea is that Martin Olsson is returning after missing their defeat against Bournemouth. Olsson has been a vital player in the games that he’s been fit for and since his move to Swansea in January, he’s scored two goals in the Premier League – which is not bad for a left back.

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Olsson is fit and ready for Swansea.

Arsenal vs Manchester City 

Amid speculation over Wenger’s future at Arsenal, the Gunners take on City in one of their biggest matches this season. Arsenal sit seven points below Manchester City with one game in hand and a win is much needed so they can maintain their excellent record in finishing in the top four. Ozil is in contention for a starting place in the team, while De Bruyne is a doubt.

Leicester vs Sunderland

Sunderland will have to start winning games to have any hope of staying in the Premier League for a 10th successive year and they’re going to have to start winning games now. However, beating Leicester is a hard thing to do under the reign of Craig Shakespeare and  on-form Vardy and Mahrez.

Chelsea vs Manchester City

Sitting ten points ahead of second placed Tottenham, Chelsea look to have wrapped up the league already. But they can’t just lose concentration and be thinking about the trophy ceremony, otherwise there’s a chance Spurs could catch them.                                                                                                With Pep being at City, a destined top four finish would be considered disappointing in the eyes of much of the public. Despite that, they can only think about their important clash with Chelsea and build for next season.

Why I think Kante is the Premier League’s best midfielder

“Who is the Premier League’s best midfielder?” is a common debate among pundits and the public who are interested in football. I think the best is Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante. Here are some reasons why.

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Kante has made many Premier League attackers look silly with his tackling.

Firstly, Kante is an exceptional tackler and has made the second most tackles this season and the most last season and his tackle success is 65% in 2016/2017, which may not seem like a lot, but it’s actually excellent. Kante has also produced great tackling displays against Liverpool and Chelsea which show that he can deliver in big matches.

Furthermore, Kante is a worker on the field and as Steve Walsh famously and accurately described the Leicester midfield last season: “We’ve got Drinkwater in the middle and Kante either side of him,” referring to Kante’s work rate.

In addition, the Frenchman’s passing is top notch, and his ability to spray a 40 yard pass across the pitch is incredible and his long balls from a deep lying centre midfield position have started many of Chelsea’s successful attacks.

Lastly, when Kante was at Leicester he won the Premier League and looks to be winning English’s most important trophy once more with Chelsea, which brings a good omen for the club he goes to next that they will win the league.

Should Jermain Defoe be in the World Cup 2018?

Following Defoe’s goal against Lithuania, Southgate has got a big question to face- Should he pick Defoe in his World Cup 2018 squad?

Why Defoe should go: Defoe has saved Sunderland from relegation for the past two seasons with his goals. Surely his fighting spirit at the bottom of the table will carry on at the World Cup if he’s picked.

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Without Defoe, Sunderland would probably be in the Championship right now.

Also, Defoe has proved he can make it at the top level internationally in past years and he’s already scored at a World Cup before which is hard to do in a hot country in front of the world stage.

Lastly, Defoe is on a vegan diet and has ice baths regularly. These things will get him in shape and make him have the edge over some other England strikers.

Why Defoe should not go: The Sunderland striker is past his best days at 34 and although he used to be good for England, his age has made aspects of his game worse.

Moving on, because of all the money going into the Chinese clubs, Defoe’s good form has probably turned some heads at Chinese clubs and a big money move may tempt Defoe into a transfer. If that happens, Defoe will not be playing at a high quality and he will be surprised if he plays in the World Cup by the quality of the defenders there.

Verdict: If Defoe continues his good form at Sunderland I think he should go to Russia for the World Cup and play with Harry Kane in a pairing upfront.

The European World Cup qualifiers round up

After a 2-0 loss to Bulgaria, Netherlands head coach, Danny Blind, was sacked from his position. Netherlands are fourth in group A and are looking like they’re going to miss out on a second successive major tournament. Also in the group, France produced a dominant victory over Luxembourg where Giroud scored twice.

Moving on, Switzerland pulled off a far from convincing 1-0 win over Latvia, having had many chances they finally broke the deadlock with a header from substitute Josip Drmic. But despite Switzerland having a perfect record in their group, Portugal are still chasing them down and are three points behind them.

Furthermore, Republic of Ireland’s match with Wales in group D really heated up and their were tackles flying in all over the pitch, but just one red card was given- to Neil Taylor – for his leg breaking tackle on Seamus Coleman, who is estimated to be out of action for a few months. Ireland are now level on points with Serbia at the top of the table, while Wales sit behind them in 3rd place.

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Taylor’s tackle on Coleman brought him a red card and Coleman a leg break.

In group F, England maintained their unbeaten record in the group with a 2-0 win over Lithuania. Jermain Defoe scored after twenty one minutes and the goal was one of his just four touches in the first half. Vardy was England’s other scorer in the game, and he bagged his goal after replacing Defoe. Vardy was playing with a black eye throughout the game, which he has said was from the contact of a ball – but many people including me don’t believe him.

Could Syria qualify for the World Cup?

Despite all the controversy and fighting in Syria, the national football team is thriving in their World Cup qualifying group and lie one point off the play off position and two points behind automatic qualification to the World Cup after a historic win over China and draws with Korea and Iran.

The team got a very important win against Uzbekistan on Thursday which was goalless until the 91st minute until Omar Kharbin tucked away a paneka penalty and the few fans that were there went wild.

Kharbin kept cool to seal Syria’s victory, here are some of the team after the goal.

The game was played in Malaysia’s Hang Jebat stadium not in Syria for safety reasons, and because they have to play there, they have to travel 4,500 miles for supposed home games.

Syria’s coach, Ayman Hakeem, fell into tears of happiness, pride and disbelief after their win over Uzbekistan. Hakeem has managed Syria since September, 2010.

The team’s next task is to defeat Korea, which will be hard because Korea are a good team and have some top Premier League players.

What we learnt from Germany’s victory over England

Germany 1-0 England

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  • Podolski retired from international football last night, and even though he’s not a very high profile name, Germany will miss him.
  • Although England lost, Gareth Southgate is the right man to take the Three Lions forward because they did do well and kept the scoreline down to one against a strong German team.
  • England need to play Vardy upfront with someone else.
  • Bertrand is not worthy of being England’s first choice left back.
  • Livermore should not start in England’s next game with Lithuania because he wasn’t that great against Germany.
  • Guardiola’s decision to send Joe Hart on loan because he wasn’t good with his feet was proved wrong last night with his Cruyff turn to beat Timo Werner in his own penalty box.
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Podolski bowed out of international football in style last night.

Who could get promotion from the Championship?

Here are some of the clubs fighting to get promotion to the Premier League.

Newcastle

Newcastle look well on track to getting an automatic promotion straight back to the Premier League – with all the great players that they managed to keep from last season and the ones that they bought and an incredible tactical genius in Rafa Benitez.

Verdict: Promotion

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Newcastle are very lucky to have Benitez as their manager because he’s a very good tactitian and has managed at some top clubs.

Brighton

Along with Newcastle, Brighton are running away at the top of the Championship and they look like they’re going to get promotion easily unless they go on some horrendous form. And if they do go up then I think they thoroughly deserve it because they only just missed out on automatic promotion last season from goal difference and they lost to Sheffield Wednesday in the play offs, who they finished fifteen points above.

Verdict: Promotion

Huddersfield

David Wagner has worked miracles at Huddersfield this season, getting them up to 3rd place currently, a whole sixteen positions higher than their 2015/2016 campaign. Also, the loan signing of Elias Kachunga has helped Huddersfield a lot because Kachunga is a real goal machine and he’s their top scorer.

Verdict: Promotion

Leeds

Leeds have improved a lot this season under Garry Monk and are 3rd in the table. They also have Chris Wood who is top scorer in the Championship and supplies for most of their goals.

Verdict: No Promotion

Reading

Under Jaap Staam, Reading have been a disciplined team and a force to be reckoned with in the Championship. Furthermore, they have a good defence which consists off young prodigy, Tyler Blackett; Wales regular, Chris Gunter; ex Hull player, Paul McShane and the Nigerian, Jordan Obita

Verdict: Promotion

Sheffield Wednesday

Since Carlos Carvahal has come in as Wednesday boss, he has improved their league finish and very nearly got them promoted last season. Despite having a good midfield, Sheffield Wednesday have also got an incredible attack and have a large luxury in picking players to play at the striker.

 

Verdict: No Promotion

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Carvahal has done a good job at Sheffield Wednesday.

Fulham

After getting relegated from the Premier League in 2014, Fulham have threatened to go down another division which was unexpected, but now things are finally looking up at Craven Cottage and promotion could be a possibility.

Verdict: No Promotion