Transfer Rumors

So I know to most people, transfer rumors are just things of fiction that bloggers write about in hopes that players come to that team, but that is not my intention in writing this (although I do hope there are some players that do come to Liverpool!). Here are just a number of players who are being chased by the big clubs and with the list of teams in the order I think the player is currently considering or where I think he is most likely to go:

Eden Hazard (RW, Lille OSC)

At age 19, this Belgian international is not out of favor at Lille, but ratherseen as though his time to hit it big is now. Lets just not hope he ends up like Marouane Fellaini, however...

Where he could end up: Arsenal, Man U, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Tottenham, Chelsea,.

He is strongly linked to Arsenal, though I believe they have been ruled out because of a previous Arsene Wenger comment

Romelu Lukaku (ST, Anderlecht)

This 17 year old, is catching the eyes of all European scouts, though I have yet to see his worth in a tougher competition. A large transfer fee for such a young player is also a huge risk to take, confirming my belief that a team with a huge transfer wallet will most likely snatch him up.

Where he could end up: Real Madrid, Tottenham, Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal.

I know this is almost the same list of teams, but I don't think Chelsea will have much pull with this player, even if he wishes to take Drogba's role, were he to move back to Olympique Marseille soon.

Connor Wickham (ST, Ipswich Town)

Another 17 year old, this goal threat would be a valuable asset to any team looking to have a superstar on their roster, especially with the homegrown players rule now in place. With Ipswich set to face Arsenal in the Carling Cup Semi-Finals, and Wickham getting only 3 starts and 11 bench appearances with no goals this season, this is another player showing potential with no real bite yet.

Where he could end up: Liverpool, Arsenal.

These two teams are the only two seriously looking at the player, as Wenger has a legendary ability to work well with young players and Connor being quoted as saying his idol is Fernando Torres. I give my Reds the edge here though, as newly appointed Damien Comolli has been monitoring this player for some time. Comolli could add Wickham to the list that includes bringing flashy left-mid Gareth Bale to Tottenham.

Something (Anything?!) Left to be Said about El Clasico?

Well, I can't say many people expected the 5-0 score line yesterday, with Jose Mourinho being the most surprised!

I thought with Madrid's starters, they would at least manage one goal in the first half, but although the score suggests an offensive occasion at Camp Nou, it was really down to the teams back four:

Madrid: (starters) RB - Sergio Ramos, CB - Pepe, CB - Carvalho, LB - Marcelo

Barcelona (starters) RB - Dani Alves, CB - Pique, CB - Puyol, LB - Abidal

The real (no pun intended) problem with Mourinho's lineup here is overall weakness. Their back four don't know how to stop the pass. I also dislike the subbing out of a defender, unless injured, as a means of stopping an offense. This shows that the coach did not do his homework. Marcelo gave too much room to Pedro on the first goal to get ahead of him, but even worse was the room the size of the nation of Spain that Sergio Ramos gave to David Villa (of all players with the ball at his feet)!

In Real's first dropping of points this season at Levante, one could imagine Levante's Luis Garcia watching Mourinho's Inter in any given game last season shut down an offensive team. Many critics would say that Real Madrid played too defensively against Barca, but I believe that they just allowed too much room all across the pitch. Had Mourinho implemented catenaccio as he had with Inter, he would have stood a better chance at winning, or avoided the 5-0 pummeling and press ridicule.

I knew Mourinho would not do this somehow, as he basically bounces around to clubs without a universal approach to turning the team around, but, more or less, uses that team's stereotype of the way they play. Combine this with getting the most out of his veteran players and his exquisite ability to turn players that didn't really fit under the old regime into above par workhorses.

This mentality going into the coaching position of Real Madrid enabled him to purchase Di Maria, Ozil and Khedira, when he should've looked at his back four. Though Carvalho was a great signing, those other three starters might could make it into Lyon's starting line-up, with the exception of Ramos. I am also very confused as to why the very talented Raul Albiol did not start. He is perhaps too young for Mourinho, and has yet to really prove himself, but expect this talent to leave the capital city if he is not given chances during the rest of this La Liga season. This is a player who is on the national team, but behind two world class center backs: Puyol and Pique.

Valencia is next for Madrid, where they hope to cash in on this low confidence team, with little to no quality in defending.