Tottenham choosing to hand Tim Sherwood the reins was greeted with surprise in some quarters, but the novice coach has revitalised the side. Spurs now look set to challenge for a top four spot with Sherwood loving life at White Hart Lane.
West Ham are embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle and desperately need to strengthen their squad to avoid the drop. And survival has never been so crucial with a move to the Olympic Stadium looming.
The opening of the January transfer window means that English football’s elite Premier League teams can now seek to add to their squads. Each have clear needs and a number of players have been placed under consideration.
The MLS has gone from strength to strength in 2013, with Sporting Kansas City unfashionable but deserved winners of the MLS Cup. With new teams set to join the league and crowds pouring into games, the MLS can look to a bright future.
The World Cup has always provided the platform for the biggest stars in the game to shine. However, some players, no matter how talented, never receive the opportunity. We look at the top players never to have played at a World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur were not expected to struggle to score goals this season, especially not with an expensively assembled array of attacking players, including Roberto Soldado. But Andre Villas-Boas’ men are finding breaching backlines tough.
Javier Zanetti might not be a strictly a one-club man in the same way as Ryan Giggs and Paolo Maldini, but the Argentine is equally a legend at his chosen side. The Inter man is still playing at the age of 40 and worthy of the highest praise.
Liverpool have raced out of the Premier League blocks and Luis Suarez appears to have returned to action at just the right time. However, the striker’s continued stay at Anfield is still in doubt, even as the club fight in what is a vital campaign.
Roma have burst out of the blocks in Serie A, winning all seven of their opening seven games to sit top of the table. New coach Rudi Garcia has bought wisely and with Francesco Totti in form, the Giallorossi are now considered genuine title contenders.
Southampton’s decision to replace Nigel Adkins with Mauricio Pochettino was a major shock and saw the club criticised from all quarters. But the former Espanyol coach is working wonders at St Mary’s and the sky looks well and truly the limit.
