Wesley Sneijder has issued a ‘come and get me’ plea to the Manchester clubs. The Dutch playmaker who scored a spectacular goal against rivals Milan at the weekend claimed that Inter needed the money and if the right offer came in then he will be sold. It remains the be seen if either Fergie or Mancini will raise to the bait and sign one of Europe’s most talented footballers.
Elsewhere in the papers Daniel Levy has condemned the weekend violence in Tottenham and vowed to help to reunite the community in any way possible; Alan Pardew vows to fight to keep Enrique at Tyneside, while Wenger insists that Jack Wilshere will not play for England.
*
United gave City a lesson in football, claims Rooney – Guardian
Riots cause concern for chairman Levy – Guardian
Tevez returns to training with City – Guardian
Wenger: Wilshere will not play for England – Daily Telegraph
Arsenal target Cahill after Vermaelen gives Wenger more worries – Daily Mail
Spurs’ striker search could be over as Redknapp targets Twente forward Ruiz – Daily Mail
Sneijder in Manchester plea – Sun
Pards will battle to keep Jose – Sun
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Barton: I can prove to Capello I am good enough – Mirror
Mancini defends Balotelli after he is branded an ’embarrassment’ – Mirror
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a good dose of Premier League football for us footy fans to tuck into and hopefully if the weather holds up we’ll be in for a Boxing Day treat. There is a whole load of football on TV over the xmas period and fantasy football managers will be manically trying to organise their team into a winning one! On Boxing Day Tottenham travel to Aston Villa, Newcastle host Manchester City and Sunderland face Manchester United. However the big one is on the 27th, as Chelsea play Arsenal at The Emirates and Didier Drogba will be looking to terrorise the Gunners’ defence yet again.
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Football Writers’ Association Predictions – Week 19 (26/12-27/12)
Patrick Barclay (The Times)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
H
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
D
Blackburn
V
Stoke
D
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
A
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
D
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
D
Wolves
V
Wigan
H
Sheff United
V
Hull City
A
Arsenal v Chelsea: A must-win if Arsenal are to maintain title challenge
Des Kelly (Daily Mail)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
D
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
A
Blackburn
V
Stoke
A
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
D
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
H
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
D
Wolves
V
Wigan
D
Sheff United
V
Hull City
H
Blackburn V Stoke: Not an attractive fixture on paper, and unlikely to be much better in reality. But Stoke have stability, method and purpose and should be too organised for managerless Blackburn.
Shaun Custis (The Sun)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
D
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
A
Blackburn
V
Stoke
A
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
D
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
H
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
D
Wolves
V
Wigan
H
Sheff United
V
Hull City
D
Aston Villa v Spurs: Aston Villa are not in great form and there are tales of dressing room unrest which should allow Spurs to capitalise.
Continue to PAGE TWO for more predictions…
Andy Dunn (News of the World)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
A
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
A
Blackburn
V
Stoke
A
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
A
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
D
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
D
Wolves
V
Wigan
H
Sheff United
V
Hull City
H
Man United v Sunderland: Steve Bruce’s team might have the most clean sheets in the Premier League but they won’t be adding to that tally at Old Trafford. Fergie does his old boys few favours – expect a resounding home win.
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Martin Lipton (The Mirror)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
A
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
D
Blackburn
V
Stoke
D
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
A
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
H
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
A
Wolves
V
Wigan
H
Sheff United
V
Hull City
H
Blackpool v Liverpool: Losing at home to the Seasiders left Roy Hodgson on the ropes; losing at Bloomfield Road might cut them. But he won’t. Liverpool to win
Steve Bates (The People)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
H
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
D
Blackburn
V
Stoke
A
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
A
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
H
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
A
Wolves
V
Wigan
A
Sheff United
V
Hull City
H
Bolton v West Brom: Bolton are proving themselves a formidable team at The Reebok with four wins in their last six games while West Brom have one away win in their last six on their travels so I’m tipping Owen Coyle’s stars to nick it.
Glenn Moore (The Independent)
Home Team
Away Team
Arsenal
V
Chelsea
D
Aston Villa
V
Tottenham
D
Blackburn
V
Stoke
D
Blackpool
V
Liverpool
D
Bolton
V
West Brom
H
Everton
V
Birmingham
H
Man United
V
Sunderland
H
Newcastle
V
Man City
A
Wolves
V
Wigan
H
Sheff United
V
Hull City
H
Everton v Birmingham: Everton are finally running into form and, as long as they are not complacent, should win
After an impressive 5th place finish in the Premier League, Newcastle United fans are looking ahead to next season with renewed vigour. Years of inept owners and dodgy transfer dealings gave the Magpies a calamitous reputation but having reclaimed their place near the summit of English football with some excellent foreign signings, can Newcastle genuinely sustain their transfer policy?
Geordie supporters have certainly suffered through a number of shocking transfers so it’s refreshing to see so many unknown quantities enjoying their football at the Sports Direct Arena. Transfer market horror shows like Marcelino and Jean-Alain Boumsong have been consigned to the history books by cut price success stories such as Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote. It’s a process that initially seemed to possess an ulterior motive amidst chairman Mike Ashley’s controversial cost cutting schemes but the club have found a method that benefits them on the field as well as financially.
Having been criticised for selling stars of their promotion side like Kevin Nolan, Jose Enrique and Joey Barton, Newcastle have managed to improve on their best former players and turn a profit at the same time. Selling Andy Carroll for £35 million and replacing him with a more prolific free transfer in Demba Ba was a particularly astute piece of business and while no fan is naive enough to expect such a financial windfall from every transfer, it still highlights the strides being made by Ashley & Co to streamline Newcastle as a profitable business. Naturally it’ll become more difficult to maintain the same level of success every time a generation of player is moved on but it still sets a strong precedent that has been sorely lacking in previous Magpie regimes.
The improvements made to their recruitment drive form an excellent blueprint for success. Buy low, sell high seems fairly straightforward as a policy but there are no guarantees on how players will adapt to their new surroundings. This is where unsung heroes like Graham Carr earn their crust and the club’s Head Scout has enjoyed so much success in the transfer market that he’s recently signed a new 8-year deal. It was Carr who recommended players such as Tiote and Cabaye to Alan Pardew while also spotting the goal scoring potential in Papiss Demba Cisse and he will continue to advise the manager on potentially well priced targets. Carr told the BBC:
“What we try to look at is players who are playing first-team football at quite a young age.
“I first saw Papiss Cisse playing for Metz, he was on a Senegalese training camp they had there but he didn’t have the passport to come in. I saw Yohan Cabaye in the France Under-19s, I saw Tiote playing for Roda, before he went to FC Twente.
“We followed these players, they’ve been on the radar for a long time.”
Having spent most of his time in northern Europe with the majority of signings coming from France and the Netherlands, Carr has found an approach which has clearly reaped rewards. Tiote, Cabaye and Cisse have already proved their worth by helping the club qualify for Europe and Newcastle are set to continue this trend having recently announced the signing of another unknown in Romain Amalfitano from Stade Reims.
Their latest unheard of French signing could either follow in the footsteps of Hatem Ben Arfa or Sylvain Marveaux but that’s one of professional football’s unpredictable qualities. Whatever his future, Newcastle are still snapping up the best talent from across Europe and this will help re-establish them near the top of the Premier League. Whether or not fans are completely happy with Ashley’s overall contribution to the club, Carr told BBC Newcastle that his involvement will lead to more new signings.
“Mike has committed himself to the club and there will be money available to buy players.
“As we speak we are in the market for players to improve the squad.”
After so many years of uncertainty it’s remarkable to think Ashley has progressed from being the public hate figure that sacked Chris Hughton and sold their best players to his current role as a thrifty businessman with sensible investment strategies. His commitment to the cause is currently being well received and it would appear Newcastle have finally found the perfect blend of recruitment and investment.
Critics will insist the Magpies lucked out when signing so many unproven professionals. The current crop will not be replaced as easily and their reputation for a bargain will lead to selling clubs demanding more money. These are genuine concerns but after so many years of frustration Newcastle have finally found a way to improve both their team and their finances. There will always be negative connotations from battle worn fans trying pre-empt potential heartbreak and while it may turn out to be Ashley’s clever use of smoke and mirrors, any team that kills two birds with one fairly inexpensive stone deserves to attract envious stares from their rivals.
Do you think Newcastle can sustain their progress? Would you be happy if your club followed the same method? Should Ashley be given the benefit of the doubt?
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Liverpool Director of Football Damien Comolli was asked whether the Reds would be signing anymore players after the sealing the signature of Stewart Downing :
“In terms of players coming in, it’s difficult to say. I think we are going to sit down, look at the situation, see where we are, see who might leave and then we will reassess later. But we have done most of what we wanted to do.”
Considering I feel the Reds are still in need of a left back, I hope this is just a bit of smoke and mirrors from Comolli. After spending over £40million this summer already, it wouldn’t unsurprising if the Reds had exhausted their resources, but I feel if the squad is left as it is at the moment, we would not be fully prepared for an assault on the top four next season.
I think one of the reasons behind Comolli’s hesitancy about any more new signings is because of the number of players that the Reds still need to offload. I would be in the wholehearted agreement with Comolli if the focus is now put on shipping out a number of players, as he intimates in his interview with Liverpoolfc.tv:
“I’m sure there will be players going out because some players would like to play more and have more minutes. We will probably have a few loans as well, players who we would like them to develop, into the Championship or the leagues abroad.”
Certainly, the squad as it stands looks pretty unbalanced and I have seen many comments on this site jokingly suggesting that we should play 1-8-1 next season because of the amount of midfielders we have at the club. I am hopeful that come 1st September, the squad will be on the more manageable side again.
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Still, you have to find buyers for your misfits, and this is more easily said than done. Milan Jovanovic has even been authorised by Liverpool to look for another club, and I would suspect that the likes of Philipp Degen, Brad Jones, Nabil El Zhar and perhaps Christian Poulsen will be given the same sort of authorisation over the next month too.
Question marks still remain over the futures of Alberto Aquilani , Raul Meireles , Emiliano Insua and David Ngog too, but I think it is likely the club will hang on to them until a buyer comes along with a realistic offer, unless Kenny feels he can fit them into his first team plans. Insua’s agent stated over the weekend that they are uncertain over the Reds’ plans for the Argentine, and they have been similar statements from Aquilani’s and Poulsen’s agents suggesting that Comolli and Dalglish still need to sit down and decide on some of these player’s situations.
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Once these have been sorted though, I still think that a left back and perhaps a centre half are needed. Considering the Reds have made offers for Gael Clichy, Phil Jones and Connor Wickham already this summer, it suggests that Liverpool’s spending is not done yet, but if Comolli’s comments are anything to go by, offloading players is the priority for the immediate future.
Jordan booked a place in the Asian Cup quarter-finals with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Syria in Doha on Monday.With Syria needing a victory to progress to the knockout stage, they made the perfect start when Mohamed Al Zeno put them ahead but an own goal to Ali Diab levelled proceedings at half-time before Odai Al Saifi’s second-half strike sent Jordan into the last eight.
Jordan boss Adnan Hamad was happy with the side that beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 last time out, making no changes while Syria manager Valeriu Tia called upon Sanharib Malki to replace the suspended Nadim Sabagh.
The match began at a frenetic pace with Syria on top in the early stages and regularly testing Jordan goalkeeper Amer Sabah, and their early dominance paid off when Al Zeno gave them the lead after 15 minutes.
Malki made a promising run down the right side of the pitch and after getting close to the by-line, shot at Sabah, who could only parry the strike.
The rebound fell invitingly for Al Zeno who was on hand to tap the ball in and give Syria the early edge.
Syria had opportunities to go further in front but Al Zeno and Jehad Al Hussain missed free headers from inside the penalty box while Feras Esmaeel fired wide.
Almost completely against the run of play, Jordan found an equaliser.
Syria goalkeeper Mosab Balhous decided to come for a cross from the left but could not get through a crowd of bodies, with the ball finding the head of Diab who could only manage to put the ball in the back of the net.
The goal highlighted the lack of communication between the Syrian defence and goalkeeper and it was something Jordan would make the most of later in the match.
Referee Abdulrahman Mohammed dished out several yellow cards in the early stages of the second half including one to Balhous, who charged out of his box to clatter Hassan Abdel Fattah.
But Syria continued to attack and could have taken the lead if it were not for a smart save by Sabah who tipped Belal Abduldaim’s free-kick and from the resultant corner Sabah had to react well to save a left-foot rocket from Samer Awad.
Syria piled on the pressure in search of a goal, but Malki and Esmaeel wasted headers before once again a long ball split the Syrian defence open.
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Al Saifi slipped in behind the defensive line and despite the best efforts of Diab, who tried to shield the ball from the Jordan man, he tapped home the all-important second goal.
It was a clever finish from Al Saifi who hooked the ball over the oncoming keeper but the defending was comical and the goal allowed Jordan, who only needed a point to progress, to sit back and defend their lead.
Jordan’s victory sets up an exciting quarter-final clash with Group A winners Uzbekistan.
Leeds’ season officially ended on Saturday, though you could say it never really got started. Going down 2-1 to Leicester at home meant that we didn’t even go out on a high, but the game itself did at least throw up a few interesting developments involving Jermaine Beckford.
Jermaine received a good reception from the fans and after his goalscoring exploits whilst in the white shirt it’s easy to understand why, but it was nice, if not a little surprising, to see Beckford acknowledge the fans with the Leeds salute. In fact, so obvious was his affection to the Leeds fans that Nigel Pearson opted to sub him at half time to prevent him receiving an ovation from the fans as he left the field of play.
After the game, Jermaine was more than happy to sign pictures for the Leeds fans that had stayed behind to see him. To one person he even stated how the only shirt he’d ever be scoring in again at Elland Road would be a Leeds one. Strong words for the centre forward of another team, in the same division.
Ken Bates has admitted a few times how he’s been offered the services of Beckford on more than one occasion, opting not to resign the striker as he felt it was ”best to move on” which roughly translates to ‘would cost too much’, but with Beckfords obvious admiration for the club and the fans, perhaps it would be worth giving this relationship one more try. Rumours in Leicester are that Beckford to Leeds is already a done deal, which is a tad premature to say the least, but with a few of the current squad reportedly telling the fans at the end of season party that Neil Warnock has already signed three players it’s hard not to at least hold a little hope that we might be chanting Beckfords name once again next season.
Another old boy that could be making a move is Alan Smith, who has been linked to Leeds in every transfer window in recent memory. Smith has recently been speaking about potentially taking up a coaching role at Newcastle United, but with Newcastle flying high in the Premier League it’s hard to imagine where he’d fit in.
This transfer window could actually be the one in which Smith returns, with Neil Warnock telling the fans how the dressing room next season will only contain players that can handle playing for Leeds. Nevertheless, putting memories and the potential problems with wages to one side, it’d be hard to imagine Smith back in the white shirt. While he would undoubtedly bring passion, he would struggle to bring any real quality to the team with his best days seemingly behind him. Despite this, unless Smith has his future cleared up quickly you can be sure that this is a story that will last the whole summer, even if the fans have heard it all before.
One player that is certainly not ex-Leeds is El Hadji Diouf, who has been strongly linked with a move to Elland Road. Diouf went on record to state how he’d love to help Leeds win promotion and how any past problems with Neil Warnock were forgotten.
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Warnock himself was asked specifically about Diouf whilst being interviewed by TalkSport, Warnock insisted that his line was breaking up, then put the phone down. The very same routine he played out when TalkSport asked Warnock whether he’d be taking the Leeds job, and we all now how that turned out.
Whether Beckford, Smith or Diouf do find themselves at Elland Road come the start of the new season is anyones guess, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I’m keeping my fingers crossed over one in particular, bruv.
Brazil were once a class apart, they delighted us with their stunning finishes and beautiful free flowing passing, but gone are the days of the Ronaldo’s, Ronaldinho’s and Rivaldo’s of the world. Brazilian football today is a shadow of the past, going through a transitional period, with new stars who are yet to set the world on fire.
The 2011 Copa America was the first real hurdle for this new look Brazil side and unfortunately they failed to get over it. They went out of the tournament in the quarter final to Paraguay, after a calamitous penalty shoot out, where they missed all four of their penalties. Their overall record in the tournament was less than impressive, with three draws alongside a flattering 4-2 win over Ecuador. The young and mostly inexperienced side seemed to struggle to understand how to play together as a team.
Of course winning the Copa America was never the main goal for Brazil, their focus is 100% on building up to the 2014 World Cup on home soil. However, with a lack of matches now ahead-as hosts, their only competitive matches will be in the Confederation’s Cup in 2013-times are worrying for fans of the samba nation.
The transitional period for Brazilian football, which began under Dunga, has seen them lose their glorious flair, in favour of a more industrious kind of play, with an emphasis on team play and defense. This style of play lacks the sparkle that Brazilian teams have shown in the past, and they still seem to be struggling to regain that characteristic flair that has always defined them. The fact that most of their best current players are defenders seems to say it all.
New coach Mano Menezes seems fully aware of the job in hand, to get this team at their peak for the World Cup. He has put his faith in the ability of young players, and has used the Copa America to blood youngsters like Pato and Neymar, giving them vital experience at this level before the World Cup, a move which may pay off well in the long run. However, like his predecessor Dunga, Menezes, has also placed heavy emphasis on the defensive aspect of the game, with his side based around two defensive midfielders, Lucas and Ramires, at the expense of any sort of creative spark, or talismanic figure that can push them forward.
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Brazil have three years to prepare for the World Cup, so there is certainly time for youngsters like Neymar and Ganso to develop and build on their early promise, but the lack of competitive matches before then is a concern if they are to knit together as a team.
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Come 2014, Brazil will be under the highest pressure imaginable. Anything other than a World Cup victory will be a catastrophic failure for the home nation. The home fans will be expecting glory and they will be expecting it in a style of play that they have become accustomed to. Brazil need to break away from the defensive style they seem stuck in and rediscover their traditional flamboyant football, if they are to challenge for, let alone win, the 2014 World Cup.
Let me know your thoughts on the current state of the Brazilian national team. Comment below or follow me on Twitter @LaurenRutter.
Manchester City look the favourites to land Benfica defender David Luiz. David Luiz is considered one the brightest talents in European football at the moment and Roberto Mancini is said to be very keen to tie up the deal this January.
Benfica rejected a £32m bid by Manchester City in the summer but after their failure to reach the second round of the Champions League, it seems that the Portuguese club are now ready to part with their prized asset.
The Sun reported last week that a Benfica insider said: “Going out of the Champions League affected our financial plans. We want to re-evaluate the situation.”
The defender would be an invaluable asset for Manchester City due to his versatility. He can double up a left back if needed – something Roberto Mancini looks for in his defenders.
Portuguese newspaper Record reports that Luiz was unhappy when Benfica rejected a bid from Manchester City in the summer, but sold Ramires to Chelsea and Angel di Maria to Real Madrid.
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Manchester City will face stiff opposition from Chelsea and Inter Milan for his signature but Manchester City are in pole position for the defenders signature – RATE THE RUMOUR
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AC Milan are set to renew their interest in Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez, and will sell Robinho to raise funds to make a move for the Argentine, according to Mirror Football.
The South American attacker has had a rollercoaster season; firstly he refused to enter the field of play against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, then went AWOL for three months, only to return to City’s line-up and help them to the Premier League title.
Despite all this, Tevez’s future is unclear as yet and the Italian side are eager to bring him to the San Siro after seeing attempts thwarted in January.
The Rossoneri lost their Serie A title to Juventus this term, and as such as having a revamp of their squad in the summer, with older heads Alessandro Nesta, Rino Gattuso, Filippo Inzaghi, Gianluca Zambrotta, Mark van Bommel and Clarence Seedorf all on their way out.
Robinho, who has been on the fringes of the Milan starting line-up, may also make way in the summer clearout.
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Football is constantly changing and evolving. 1981 saw the introduction of three points, instead of two, in the English football league. This immediately increased the value of a win and stands today as one of the most successful and simple changes ever made o the game. All-seater stadiums were made compulsory in the Premier League from as recently as the 1994-95 season, while this term has seen the introduction of the home-grown rule aimed at protecting the national game.
Despite FIFA’s reluctance to discuss goal-line technology, the international governing body of football, alongside the Premier League and UEFA, are prepared to make changes when deemed necessary. So what changes are we likely to see in the future? Find out below….
A debt free Premier League?
UEFA has made tackling the enormous debt threatening to engulf European football their number one priority after approving new spending plans in May. By 2012 clubs must start to at least break even at the end of each financial year and a failure to do so will lead to UEFA imposed sanctions, the most severe being exclusion from European football.
The new spending regulations will have major implications on the Premier League. Portsmouth became the first club in Premier League history to go into administration, while a recent report showed that England’s top-flight clubs owe an astonishing 56% of Europe’s total debt.
Clubs will now have to spend wisely and work tirelessly to move away from the red and this can only be positive for the financial stability of English football. It could have a major impact on the transfer market over the next few years and the influence of foreign ownership and other benefactors. A debt free Premier League may be too ambitious but the initial steps taken will help protect the future of the game for years to come.
A breakaway super league?
Despite UEFA’s honest intentions for reducing debt, their severe stance on lending and borrowing could back-fire. Nine of the last ten Champions League winners are also amongst the top ten clubs in European football carrying the most debt. Manchester United are top of this list with a total debt standing at £727m, although they are closely followed by the likes of AC Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid.
UEFA rely on these major clubs to attract viewers, sponsorship and revenue and they are realistically too important to the competition to ban completely. UEFA would be left with a glorified Europa League. These clubs may also make the decision for UEFA and decide they do not need the Champions League and enter into discussions to form a breakaway league, something which has been discussed in the past between members of the now defunct elite G-14 unit.
Robotic linesmen and further rule changes?
Linesmen up and down the country will be pleased to hear that they could be replaced in the future by robots. A university in South Africa has created a programme which can learn human behavior, something which could be developed further and used to make decisions on matchday. Although, we are still undecided if they will be able to get their head around the interfering with play rule.
Goal-line technology remains the obvious potential change, however FIFA are refusing to discuss the matter and rejected a proposal from the Italian Football Federation to trail run the technology in a pre-season friendly. Global positioning systems could also be implemented to give the referee instantaneous live feedback on players and the position of the ball on the field, helping eradicate human error. A ten-minute sin-bin rule for a yellow card offence has also been discussed in a bid to deter sides from repetitive fouling.
Genetic superhuman athletes?
Players would wear their own bespoke kit designed to replace the vital fluids lost through sweating during a game. Such minerals could be incorporated into the fabric of a football kit.
Training would also be revolutionised so club’s can asses a player’s nervous system capabilities throughout a session, as well as electronic equipment which could adapt instantaneously to ensure an optimum workout. This, and other advances, will lead to players being able to cover 50% more ground than today’s Premier League players and increase speed of movement by 15%. Recovery times will also be increased by 300% through cryotherapy and magnetic therapy. Individualised pre-match drinks will also release nutrients at specific times during a game, meaning fatigue will be a thing of the past.
Stadium living and an interactive live match experience?
Newly built stadiums will be complete with villages, residential areas and retail complexes. Fans will be able to live in a campus-style compound around the ground in their own little community, for the ultimate supporter’s experience.
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The match day experience will also be revolutionised with miniature monitors placed in each seat with varying camera angles and in-seat services. Food and drink will also be able to be ordered over the internet and brought to your seat. Vibrating seats could also be optional.
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