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Having lost Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the summer, things were looking bleak for Liverpool as the Anfield side struggled to replicate last term’s extraordinary form in the first half of this season.

With Mario Balotelli and a host of other summer signings seemingly not fitting the bill, the Reds exited the Champions League after several underwhelming performances, and were off the pace in the battle for the Premier League’s top four.

However, Liverpool have looked like a new team of late and are right back in Champions League qualification contention after an impressive run of form. Sunday’s 2-1 victory over champions Manchester City was reminiscent of the devastating attacking play that captured the imagination last term and the Reds are now a much more daunting proposition.

Despite a number of the side’s key players stepping up of late, the major credit for the Merseyside outfit’s revival must lie with manager Brendan Rodgers.

Under extreme pressure in the first half of the campaign, the Northern Irish coach has made some brave decisions that have reaped rewards – here are THREE of his best:

A change in formation to get best out of players

With Liverpool clearly not playing to their potential, Rodgers opted to switch to a back three in the 3-0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Despite the scoreline and defeat to the Reds’ rivals, signs were there that the Merseyside outfit were more comfortable in his bespoke 3-4-2-1 system.

Since that game in Manchester, Rodgers’ side have gone on a winning streak, are more solid at the back, and most importantly; have got the best out of the supreme attacking talent in their squad. Credit where it is due – since the change in formation Liverpool’s season has been rejuvenated.

Recalling Jordon Ibe

Following the success of Raheem Sterling in breaking into the starting XI, Jordon Ibe has been touted as the next homegrown hero to make the breakthrough. This season the youngster was farmed out to Derby County, with common logic indicating that regular first-team football would prepare the winger for Premier League action next season.

However, with right wing-back being the only area where the club lacked comprehensive options, Rodgers recognised Ibe’s development and brought him back to Merseyside early. Rodgers recognised the fact that the youngster was ready to star in the Liverpool side and it’s a decision that has paid dividends already.

Moving Can to centre-half

When Germany under-21 star Emre Can was brought to Anfield, the former Bayer Leverkusen star was being lined up as a potential replacement for Steven Gerrard, and another option for Rodgers in the centre of the park. However, with the switch to a three man defence, Can has been deployed in a deeper role – a move which so far has proved to be a masterstroke.

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Not only has the German looked assured as a defender, but his range of passing and confidence on the ball means that Can has started Liverpool attacks from deep. When he steps out of defence in possession it also pulls members of the opposition out of position to deal with his threat, which creates space for the Reds.

In the long run Can may well be seen as a sweeper or defensive general, but Rodgers must be given the kudos for getting the best from the cultured and versatile German.

QPR’s great escape is well and truly on after their 2-1 win at Southampton took them within just four points from safety.

Harry Redknapp and the QPR faithful may now believe the miracle can happen after they were pretty much written off as relegated at Christmas.

Sunderland let a two goal lead slip at home to Fulham last weekend and they won’t want to pass up the opportunity to bounce back against the division’s basement club and the chance to create a nine point gap between them and the Premier League’s bottom three.

Here’s how the sides will line-up today:

QPR: Green, Bosingwa, Samba, Hill, Fabio, Townsend, Park, Mbia, Hoilett, Zamora, Remy.

Subs: Murphy, Wright-Phillips, Mackie, Granero, Onuoha, Jenas, Bothroyd.

Sunderland: Mignolet, N’Diaye, Larsson, Gardner, Graham, Colback, O’Shea, Bramble, Johnson, Fletcher, Sessegnon.

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Subs: Bardsley, Rose, Kilgallon, Vaughan, Mangane, Cuellar, Westwood.

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Tottenham Hotspur will look to cement their top-four spot in the Premier League and increase the gap between them and fifth-place Chelsea when they face the Blues at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Four straight top flight wins have launched the north London outfit into the Champions League qualification spots, with a 4-1 win against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium previously coming despite the fact that they fell 1-0 behind and lost star man Harry Kane to injury in the first half.

The success kept them in fourth position and five points above their opponents this weekend, and they will be hoping to stretch that advantage to eight points with a win in west London, and they will be determined to do so given how they were knocked out Europe’s elite club competition at the last 16 stage by Juventus last month.

Tottenham’s form on the road is certainly one of the reasons why they find themselves where they are – only runaway leaders Manchester City have accrued more than their total of 27 points on their travels this season.

However, the odds are against them when it comes to picking up three points against Antonio Conte’s men when you consider that the last time they won at Stamford Bridge in a league match was in 1990 – two years before the inauguration of the Premier League – while they have only taken one point from a possible 12 on their last four top flight visits there.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino stuck with his trusted 4-2-3-1 system in the 3-0 win against Swansea City in the FA Cup last time out but chose to rest a number of players, and he will be thinking about making more alterations to his XI for this derby in the capital.

Here is how Tottenham must line up against Chelsea, ahead of Hugo Lloris in goal…

Pochettino went with a back five of Michel Vorm, Kieran Trippier, Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen and Ben Davies, and he should only be making one change against Chelsea.

Hugo Lloris, who made our combined XI of the two clubs ahead of Thibaut Courtois, must come back in between the sticks at Stamford Bridge, while Trippier and Davies must start ahead of Serge Aurier and Danny Rose respectively after establishing themselves as the club’s preferred full-back pairing in the Premier League.

Toby Alderweireld will also be fighting for a spot in the XI after playing 90 minutes for Belgium in their 4-0 friendly win against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, but the failed contract negotiations between him and the club is likely to mean he finds starts hard to come by between now and the end of the campaign unless injury strikes.

Pochettino went with a central midfield duo of Eric Dier and Moussa Sissoko at the Liberty Stadium last time out, with Mousa Dembele rested on the substitutes’ bench and Victor Wanyama not being risked at all by being left out of the 18 altogether.

However, it should be all change in that area at Stamford Bridge with Dembele partnering Wanyama in the middle of the park, with the latter marshalling the back four and trying to ensure that the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian don’t have too much of a say in proceedings.

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With Harry Kane facing a late fitness test that will likely only give him a place on the substitutes’ bench if he passes it – which Spurs fans are hoping is the case – Pochettino has some decisions to make as to who will be his front four at Stamford Bridge.

Son Heung-Min got the nod over Fernando Llorente up top against Swansea and with seven goals in the club’s last five matches he must start against Antonio Conte’s men as well.

Behind him, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela both made the XI in south Wales with Dele Alli rested on the bench, but Pochettino should bring the England international back into the side against the Blues, and he should be joined by Christian Eriksen while Lamela should start over Lucas after scoring at the Liberty Stadium.

Do you agree, Spurs fans? Let us know below.

The footballing equivalent of those dreaded celebrity gossip magazines that quote ‘inside sources’ on Kim Kardashian’s alleged argument with her postman, the British tabloids’ constant spewing of fact-less transfer rumours rarely produces a true story.

But every now and then, the odd rumour comes to the surface that appears to have some weight behind it, providing you’re prepared to read between the lines.

And we may be amid the Premier League’s silly season, with the January window now upon us, but there’s a few stories involving Manchester United this month that might actually materialise into something genuine.

Just to prove it, here’s FIVE we at Football Fancast are tipping to be the real McCoy.

VICTOR VALDES

This deal appears to be all but officially confirmed; former Barcelona No.1 Victor Valdes has been training with Manchester United since October and reports this morning claim they’re on the verge of agreeing an eighteen month contract with the Spain international.

The 32 year-old left the Nou Camp during the summer, boasting six La Liga titles, three Champions League titles and five Zamora Trophies (Spain’s goalkeeper of the year award) from his eleven campaigns as the Catalan outfit’s first choice keeper.

Since without a club, there’s no fee involved, and Valdes is seen by many as the ideal understudy to the ever-improving David De Gea.

MATS HUMMELS

A transfer saga that just won’t go away, Manchester United launched several bids for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels during the summer and are expected to follow up their interest this January.

The Red Devils’ desperate need for an established, top-quality centre-half is no secret, with Louis van Gaal forced to depend upon academy centre-back duo Tyler Blackett and Patrick McNair on a combined 17 occasions already this season, out of a possible 20 in the Premier League.

A World Cup winner, famed for his blend of aerial dominance, anticipatory defending and a Franz Beckenbauer-esque ability to join or instigate attacks, the German international fits the bill perfectly.

The 25 year-old denounced United’s interest during the summer, instead accepting the club captaincy at Westfalen. But with the Black-Yellows now joint-bottom of the Bundesliga table after an unprecedented slump in form, Hummels may be reconsidering his options this January.

Italian journalist Gianluigi Longari claimed earlier this week that the Red Devils have already made another offer for the Bundesliga star, and even if this deal doesn’t happen by the end of the month, it will more than likely take place in the summer.

RON VLAAR

Failing that, don’t be too surprised if the Red Devils seek a cheaper alternative in Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar.

The 29 year-old may not be the most talented defender to ever grace Old Trafford but his experience and dependability should bring a new sense of calmness to the chaotic heart of Manchester United’s defence.

Furthermore, the Netherlands international looked like a world-beater under Louis van Gaal’s direction at Brazil 2014, especially as the central figure in a back three – a system the United boss has found himself reverting back to on countless occasions this term.

Most interestingly of all, Vlaar’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season and unless new terms are agreed by the end of the month, Villa will be forced to sell. Speculation this afternoon, courtesy of The Express, claims United are already testing the waters with a £1.5million offer.

KEVIN STROOTMAN

Another transfer target that will be of no secret to Manchester United fans, Louis van Gaal practically admitted his interest in Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman back in July, and had it not been for a World Cup-ending knee injury, he would likely have arrived at Old Trafford during the summer.

The Red Devils desperately need a midfield enforcer and van Gaal knows Strootman well, having worked closely with the 24 year-old through the Oranje set up over the last few years and even issued him the captain’s armband on occasion.

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Referred to as the Dutch Roy Keane and unique in his authoritarian-yet-progressive style, in short, a feast of feisty tackles and goals, the Roma star seems like a natural fit for United.

The only real issue is one of price-tag. Having only moved to the Stadio Olympico 18 months ago, Roma appear in no mood to sell and have rated Strootman as highly as £79million in the past.

DARREN FLETCHER

As reported by the Daily Mail, amongst others, in November, the current transfer window could bring an abrupt end to Darren Fletcher’s Manchester United career.

The Scotland international’s commitment remains undoubted and he has seen a fair bit of action this season – 365 minutes in the Premier League to be precise. But he’s not been the same player since his unfortunate illness and has often looked out of his depth over the last 18 months.

There are reports of interest from Hull City and with his contract entering it’s final six months, the timing feels right for the 30 year-old to move on. He was replaced as vice-captain by Michael Carrick back in December.

Whether his departure takes place this month or in the summer however, will likely depend on United securing another central midfielder first.

Fulham, QPR and West Ham are set to battle for the signature of Newcastle right-back Danny Simpson, according to reports from talkSPORT.

The 26-year-old is thought to be surplus to requirements at St James’ Park, following the arrival of Mathieu Debuchy from Lille, and could be allowed to leave this January.

West Ham are rumoured to be leading the race for his signature, with manager Sam Allardyce being a long-term admirer of the ex-Manchester United man.

However, he may face competition from Fulham, who are keen to strengthen their defensive options, and QPR, who are looking to spend in order to avoid relegation.

A potential stumbling block could be Simpson’s current injury status. The full-back suffered a broken toe in the Magpies’ 7-3 defeat against Arsenal, and is not expected to return to first-team action until late January at the earliest.

Simpson was consistent performer under Alan Pardew last term as Newcastle secured qualification for the Europa League.

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But, the club are believed to be willing to allow him to leave after an underwhelming start to the new campaign.

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The Arsenal fans haven’t had much to talk about in the Transfer Tavern over the weekend due to their side’s break from action until after the international break on April 1st, so they’ve instead turned their attention towards the summer transfer window. 

Arsene Wenger’s side were handed a break from first-team responsibilities last weekend following a hectic few weeks for the club. The Gunners successfully secured their place in the quarter-final of the Europa League last Thursday and were then handed a weekend off due to their lack of representation in the FA Cup. The supporters were keen to assess their rivals who were in action throughout the weekend, especially Manchester United who they are due to face at the end of April.

There wasn’t too much to talk about in the aftermath of United’s clash with Brighton on Saturday night, but our resident Gunners faithful were intrigued by Mourinho’s decision to withdraw Luke Shaw at half-time. In the early stages of 2018 it appeared that the 22-year-old, who is rated at £13.5 million by Transfer Markt, had finally been given an opportunity to prove himself at Old Trafford, but in recent weeks he has found himself playing nothing more than a bit-part role once again.

Shaw’s lack of first-team football will certainly make him a strong candidate to depart United in the summer, especially now that Ashley Young – his main competition for a starting berth – has signed a new contract with The Red Devils according to The Daily Mail. If Shaw does indeed become available, then Arsenal should consider salvaging his career by bringing him to The Emirates to replace Nacho Monreal.

When fit, Monreal has been an ever-present in Arsenal’s defence this year, but at 32-years-of-age it’s only a matter of time before his performances begin to decline. Although he is naturally a left-back, Monreal has played a large portion of the season as a centre-back for the club, which suggests Wenger is already is looking to move him into that position more permanently as his pace begins to decrease.

With that being said, Wenger will need a natural left-back to challenge Kolasinac for a starting berth and to fill the void left by Monreal next season, so he should do everything he can to secure Shaw’s signature. Shaw is crying out for a club who will enable him end his United nightmare and kick-start his stagnating career, and considering the level of potential he possesses, Arsenal would be foolish not to be that club.

Providing fantastic pace, dribbling and energy down the flanks, he’d be the perfect player to join Hector Bellerin on the flanks.

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Arsenal fans – thoughts?

Let us know below!

On the verge of an Anfield exit over the summer, Lucas now, once again, looks to be a vital cog in Liverpool’s starting XI. Two wins on the bounce may not sound all that impressive, but the Reds’ shocking start to the 2014/15 season means that victories against Stoke and Leicester have been gleefully greeted on Merseyside, where the ecstasy of last season is now a fading memory.

Lucas has been back in the team for the vital six-point haul, and it’s fair to say that he’s had a big influence. Not convinced by the Brazilian?

Well here are FIVE reasons he’s as crucial as the likes of Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling or Daniel Sturridge right now…

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CLICK ON THE MAN HIMSELF TO REVEAL THE FIVE

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The stats don’t lie…

Last night Lucas occupied the holding role against Leicester, and Liverpool won. It may sound a bit simplistic, but with the Brazilian in the side this term, results have been better than when he’s absent – which just proves that he’s doing a decent job, even though he’s not the sort of player to earn praise with raking passes or driving runs.

In the 10 games Lucas has played this season, the Reds have won seven and lost just two. Conversely, the 11 in which he has not featured have garnered two wins and seven losses. Okay the stats can be a little misleading as the South American made winning cameos against West Brom and Ludogorets and was taken off while the Southampton game was poised at 1-1, but his impact should not be taken lightly.

A better genuine holding midfielder than Gerrard

Steven Gerrard may be getting a lot of flack recently, but the system being deployed by Brendan Rodgers and the lack of confidence in the side is rather hanging him out to dry. Although a top quality midfielder, ‘Stevie G’ has never been the most defensively responsible player, and with his pace now fading, putting him up against clever attackers is lamb to the slaughter stuff. Last season he got away with it thanks to the high pressing from Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, but with opponents having more of the ball and time against the Merseysiders now, Gerrard is often exposed.

Conversely, Lucas is comfortable sitting in front of his backline, and uses his reading of the game and know-how to cut out through balls and win back possession efficiently.

Frees up Gerrard to push forward

Building on the last point, using Lucas allows Gerrard to be deployed further up the pitch. Although the 34-year-old’s powers are beginning to wane, he is still, arguably, the best finisher in the Reds’ team – aside from the unfit Sturridge – and can pick out the right pass at the right time – as his assist record from last season backs up. A first goal from open play since early 2013 – against Man City – is testament to his reduced powers from deeper, and he’s likely to build on this tally if kept nearer the final third.

Resilient

Lucas’ Liverpool career has been one of peaks and troughs. Signed from Gremio in 2005 as a promising attacking midfielder, his failure to produce ‘samba flair’ on a regular basis led to cries for him to be shipped out to anybody who would take him from an unforgiving crowd. But after reinventing himself as a more defensively minded central player, his stock once again rose to the point that he was named as Liverpool’s Player of the Season in 2010/11.

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Injuries have once again seen his reputation slide recently, but he’s already shown that bouncing back is what he does best.

Keeps it simple

There’s a lot to be said for doing your job effectively and quietly. While Raheem Sterling, Adam Lallana and Gerrard grab the headlines, Lucas was, arguably, the Reds’ best player against Leicester. Four key incepts, six clearances – the joint highest in the game – 59 passes and a host of tackles make for positive reading and ensured that the Foxes only goal came rather fortuitously.

Lucas now leads the stats (in terms of averages) in his own squad for tackles, clearances and incepts, which are all areas in which the Reds have needed to improve after a porous opening to the season. He may not be reinventing the wheel, but sometimes going back to basics is what’s needed.

While most players tend to experience some period of increased turbulence during their careers, Arsenal’s prodigious Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey may like to think he’s had more than his fair share during his time in the game. Considering the Caerphilly-born talent celebrated what was only his 22nd birthday last month, there’s perhaps a lot to be said in that last statement.

Having made his debut for Cardiff City as a 16-year-old, Ramsey went on to become the second-youngest player in history to play in an FA Cup final, before making a high-profile £4.8million move to Arsenal in 2008. Of course, after breaking into the first team and producing a string of superb performances, disaster struck in the form of the now infamous Ryan Shawcross tackle that inflicted Ramsey with a compound fracture of his right leg.

Indeed, merely recovering from an injury of that magnitude to return to the footballing world offers enough of an obstacle to overcome at any point in your career, let alone when you just hit 19. But while the challenge he now faces may feel incomparable to that broken leg, for Aaron Ramsey, the fight to turn his Arsenal career around is now a challenge on a similar plateau of difficulty.

All those connected with the club breathed a collective sigh of relief last season, as Ramsey went on to emphatically reject any lingering worries that may have existed after injury. While loan spells at Nottingham Forest and a brief return to Cardiff City gave a tentative reassurance that Ramsey hadn’t returned from injury as drastically damaged goods, it was his first full season back that was always going to be the barometer of success. And in many respects, he passed that test with flying colours.

Ramsey racked up 44 appearances in all competitions last term, scoring three and setting up eight goals along the way to shatter any murmurs that may have lingered upon his ability to still play at the top level. The Welshman hadn’t lost his effervescent engine, his range of passing and he certainly didn’t back out of many tackles.

The issue of course wasn’t much to do with his ability to play in the Premier League, more of his ability to cut it within this Arsenal team and while his fitness was irrepressible, the performances weren’t perhaps quite there just yet. But given the nature of what Ramsey had overcome and the several glimpses of ability he’d shown throughout the season, the general school of thought was to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Yet half-way through the 2012-13 season, and you can’t help but feel Ramsey’s stuck in something of a Groundhog Day scenario at the Emirates. The feeling from the Gunners’ support has hardly turned toxic towards the former Wales captain, but he’s not given fans much to be particularly optimistic about over the last 12 months. When Arsene Wenger’s given him a chance to shine, he hasn’t necessarily harmed the side’s progress, but perhaps more worryingly, he hasn’t done much to boost their prospects, either.

The looming figures of Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla have certainly offered a sizeable roadblock to Ramsey’s first team prospects and no one should underplay the effect Wenger’s recent penchant for playing him out wide have had upon his performances. For a central midfielder with a generally uninspiring amount of pace, he’s never going to look a million dollars playing out wide.

But the problem for Ramsey doesn’t seem to be one of fitness, consistency or even as some have been keen to suggest, necessarily one of ability. On a far more elementary level, it feels a lot more to be one of confidence.

For all of his troubles toiling out on the wing when Wenger’s asked him to play there, it’s not been his failure to thrive in an alien position that’s drawn heat, more the stray 10-yard passes, the dithering on the ball and the uncertain decision making. Considering these are the bread-and-butter traits of which Ramsey’s game is built around, it’ll be of a massive concern to fans that the fundamentals seem to be going to putty for the Welshman.

Although despite a lack of real standout run of games for the side last year, Ramsey showed enough to dispel lazy observations that injury had robbed him of his ability to play at the top level. Whether he’ll ever become quite the player he looked on course to before he broke his leg, we may never know. But even if injury has robbed him of his chance to become one of Europe’s best, that still doesn’t make him a bad player.

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Ultimately, none of Ramsey’s problems are likely to be solved sitting on the bench or playing out of position and former Wales international John Hartson’s recent suggestion that another loan spell could do Ramsey well, might not be such a bad idea at all. Half a season at a Premier League team going back to basics in a more natural central midfield role could do him the world of good. A spate of cameos coming off to play out of position probably isn’t.

Although whatever the future holds for Ramsey, he needs to find a way to start harnessing some element of forward momentum, because while his career is hardly in regression at the age of 22, it can only go sideways for so long. Both club and manager have stuck by him through both thick and thin but finding a way to get him first team football could be their biggest backing of Aaron Ramsey to date.

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According to Bild, Hamburger SV will look to sell Pierre-Michel Lasogga at the end of the season if the German club are relegated from the Bundesliga.

Hamburg are currently 17th in the Bundesliga table, and have just nine games to try and save their season.

It has been reported that Hamburg will attempt to sell Lasogga, who is valued at £2.3m by transfermarkt.co.uk, if they drop into the second tier, and the German team believe that Premier League clubs would be interested in signing the striker.

Lasogga has managed 10 goals in 23 Championship appearances for Leeds this season, but it would be fair to say that the 26-year-old has divided opinion for the most part.

It is currently unclear whether Leeds have the chance to make the deal permanent in this summer’s transfer window, but the club’s supporters are doubtful whether the Whites will be able to afford Lasogga’s wages, which are believed to be in the region of £50,000 a week at Hamburg.

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A selection of the Twitter reaction can be found below:

Arsenal have always been known for nurturing and producing top quality foreign talent. Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry are just a few names whom enhanced their career while playing under the guidance of Arsene Wenger. However, the Gunners have also unearthed some great English players, whether from their fantastic academy or brought in from another club at a very young age. The likes of Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Ray Parlour, Kieran Gibbs and Theo Walcott spring to mind immediately.

As well as Walcott, Wenger saw great potential on the famous Southampton conveyor belt in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, snapping him up for £10m in 2011. Without even thinking, this signing was better than signing Walcott. Moving from a big club at such a young age can be daunting for some youngsters, and as a result, their footballing careers often take a dramatic downhill spiral and they end up plying their trade in the lower tiers of English football attempting to resurrect their careers. On the other end of the scale, ‘The Ox’ has been a revelation for the North Londoners, and is a role model for any young and aspiring footballer hoping to make it in the professional game.

Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain both signed for Arsenal at a young age and for similar price tags, the difference between the two is versatility. It has been widely known that as well as operating as a winger, Walcott has openly said of his desire to play as an outright striker. In the handful of games he has played as a striker at the Emirates, proof is there that Walcott should stay out on the right wing. Meanwhile Oxlade-Chamberlain, who also plays on the wing, is extremely capable of playing across all positions of the midfield. His strong stature and physique prove that playing in the heart of the midfield is where he could belong.

Despite his unfortunate injury record – which forced him out of the majority of England’s World Cup campaign – the Ox can prove to be vital for both club and country in centre midfield. Last season in the Champions League game against German champions Bayern Munich, Wenger gave the England international a free role. This turned out to be extremely effective for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who completed 10 successful dribbles in the match – the same amount as the whole of the Bayern Munich team in the entire 90 minutes. The young Englishman caused Pep Guardiola’s players headaches on the night, and overshadowed £40m signing Mesut Ozil. Despite Munich taking control, Oxlade-Chamberlain was his usual self by giving 100% in the game, and looked the visitors’ best chance of a surprising comeback in the Allianz Arena.

As well as his domestic duties with Wenger, Three Lions gaffer Roy Hodgson should also take note of Oxlade-Chmberlain’s new found position on the pitch. With the international retirement of Steve Gerrard, the young Arsenal man is the ideal replacement, both in an attacking and defensive aspect, to spearhead England back to the glory days. Hopefully he can achieve something brilliant for both club and country in the centre of the park.

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