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Manchester United Football Club is enduring a testing and win less time that is strange and alien to them. They are now further adrift of the top of the league than they were ahead at the end of last season, and have gone four games without victory. Poor David Moyes is sure to have understood the scope of his challenge at Old Trafford. Sir Alex Ferguson left him with an aged squad short of quality midfielders.

The current state of things have naturally lead people to doubt Man United will even qualify for the Champions League. Moyes offered some explanation on Saturday, saying his side is in transitional period. There’s little doubt there are issues to address at Old Trafford, and I believe things will get worse before they get better. The mighty United might be looking at one or two trophyless seasons before they reassemble their strike force, something I think most fans are bracing themselves for. Former United manager Ron Atkinson, however, thinks that’s not an option.

Fergie’s predecessor has rubbished Moyes’s excuse that the team is going through a transition, saying that he can’t afford that as Manchester United manager. Atkinson even stated that the minimum requirement every season is a Champions League spot – something I think we all can agree on – and a trophy, the latter of which seems unfair on Moyes, as Fergie had the odd trophyless season himself.

But at the centre of Atkinson’s argument, we find his claims that Man United cannot afford to go through a transitional phase. Real Madrid and Barcelona never go through transitions, why should United?

Now, for the sake of the argument I’m going to pretend Barcelona didn’t go six years without winning a trophy between 1999 and 2005, because it seems like Mr Atkinson has chosen a similar approach.

Although United should consider themselves on level with Barca and Real Madrid in terms of international influence and size, it is near impossible to ever compete with the Spanish club’s pulling power. Especially in recent years the two clubs have displayed their merit by attracting the biggest names away from the Premier League.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale’s departures to the Spanish capital illustrates the prestige Real Madrid enjoy around the globe. Manchester United themselves have struggled to attract big name-signings ahead of the the south European giants before. It seems that few clubs can really challenge them. As an example, United were in a prime position to sign Alexis Sanchez in 2011. The deal was all but done, until Barca hijacked the deal at the last second. Alexis barely blinked, his choice was that easy. The same thing that happened with Ronaldinho in 2003.

Man United doesn’t even boast superior pulling power over fellow English clubs. The likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and arguably Liverpool will all compete on level ground in the transfer market. Despite their massive dominance the last twenty years, the Red Devils will probably never enjoy the infamous stature of the two Spanish teams.

And now back to the point about Moyes not being allowed to go through a transition. Most Man United fans are clever enough to accept that the period immediately succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson – the man who took the team from mediocrity to immensity, built  a new club virtually with his bare hands and established reign of power that spanned  across three decades – might prove to be slightly less fruitful. The fact that the entire entire back room staff is replaced as well will only further prolong the process.

Even Fergie himself experienced a transition in the mid 00’s. After three seasons without a trophy between 2004 and 2007, Ronaldo and Rooney suddenly released their ability upon the world. The reward for having patience with Ferguson back then was four league titles and a Champions League win.

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Manchester United are in the middle of a transitional period. The board knows it, David Moyes knows it and the fans know it. As with every transition, it will be unpredictable, and things might seem worse at times than they actually are.

No Ron, Manchester United have no choice but to endure the transition. We will just all have to be patient.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reiterated that youngster Jack Wilshere will not be rushed back into the first-team after spending 14 months on the sidelines with injury, according to The Daily Mail.

Wenger had dismissed speculation that the Arsenal ace could be in line for a return against Chelsea on Saturday and says Wilshere will play for the Gunners’ under-21 side against West Brom on Monday.

The Frenchman believes that Monday’s game is another important step in the recovery from the 20-year-old’s persistent ankle problems, “It is another important step, but he has not played for 14 months so we have to calm your impatience a little bit.”

Wenger says that he is personally delighted that Wilshere is on the mend, “It is fantastic for him, especially for him.” Wenger also remarked that it had taken a lot of mental strength for Wilshere to recover from his injury woes which subsequently saw the midfielder miss the whole of last season and Euro 2012, “When you are that age and are out for such a long time, that is absolutely massive to take.”

With the international break forthcoming, England have a double-header in which Wenger is reluctant to let Wilshere partake in. The Gunners boss joked that whilst he would have reservations letting his starlet feature in the Poland match, he would happily let him play in the Three Lions’ World Cup qualifier, “I think that will be too early for him. He has not played for 14 months. Who does England play, San Marino? I think he can play in that game.”

The return of Wilshere will certainly come as a welcome addition for Arsenal. Now 20, the talented Wilshere is the youngest ever league debutant for the Gunners after making  his debut aged 16 at Blackburn, and is also only the fifth sixteen-year-old to play in a Champions League game.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal boss has received further injury boosts this week after confirming that captain Thomas Vermaelen will return for the Chelsea game after missing last Sunday’s draw at Manchester City due to illness.

Additionally, dogged midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong came off the bench in Arsenal’s 6-1 victory over Coventry last night following a serious knee injury he sustained whilst on loan at Championship outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers last season. He is expected to once again start from the bench for the arrival of the European champions.

Despite this, Saturday’s London derby will come too soon for Frenchman Bacary Sagna, who like Wilshere, is back in full training.

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Cardiff secured their 2nd place finish in the Championship on the final day of the season after a 0-0 draw with Reading, assuring the Bluebirds of Premier League football next season.

Neil Warnock’s side pipped third placed Fulham to the final automatic promotion spot after Fulham lost their final fixture 3-1 to Birmingham.

There were jubilant scenes at Cardiff City Stadium at the final whistle as ecstatic fans invading the pitch to  celebrate with the players.

The club have arranged a celebratory open-top bus parade this Sunday to mark their return to England’s top division.

And to put the cherry on the cake for Bluebirds supporters, just a few days after Cardiff secured their place in the Premier League, their local rivals Swansea City all but guaranteed their relegation to the Championship, with their home defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton.

Barring a 10 goal swing in the final fixture, Swansea will play in the Championship next season much to the delight of Bluebird fans who were quick to celebrate the Swan’s demise on social media.

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We summarised the best of the reaction here.

Ronald Koeman did not leave Southampton on the best of terms with the fans.

The Dutchman was seemingly settled at St Mary’s and his impact at the club was a positive one given that he guided the team to their best Premier League finish in his second season.

The coastal outfit secured sixth place and qualified for the Europa League, but in the summer of 2016, Koeman opted to walk away from the club.

The 54-year-old took over from Roberto Martinez at Everton, but lasted just one full season as he was sacked in October following a dismal run of results.

Koeman remains out of work, but Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes that Southampton would be open to re-hiring him, despite his previous decision to quit.

Mauricio Pellegrino is currently the man in charge at St Mary’s, but after a winless run of nine games in the top flight, fans are growing weary.

Nicholas has suggested that this weekend’s FA Cup third-round tie against Fulham could spell the end for the Argentine.

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The Scotsman told Sky Sports:

“I think this could be the final game for Mauricio Pellegrino. The only player he’s lost is Virgil van Dijk so there are no real excuses for how disappointing Southampton have been.

“Manolo Gabbiadini doesn’t look like he knows what the manager wants from him and I think they’d take Ronald Koeman back in a heartbeat, although I’m not sure the fans would be happy with that.”

Is this David Moyes’ first great conquest? To retain Wayne Rooney and prove that he can change the inconsistent ways of the striker? As the new manager spoke out once again that the England international is going nowhere, you have to wonder whether he’s openly revealing the behind-the-scenes plot or whether he’s trying to convince himself.

Rooney, however, seems beyond convincing. The striker has reportedly already told his Manchester United teammates that he’s leaving for Chelsea, while it seems no bridge is big enough to cover the water of this failing/failed relationship between player and manager.

Moyes’ intentions were already misconstrued, though in the right context, you can understand why he’d want to retain Rooney. United are huge club, and it will take more than the retirement of Alex Ferguson to take that away. But the lack of options (or the growing number of options for players around Europe) means United will really have to pull their weight to get what they need in terms of replacements. Wayne Rooney relieving a free-scoring Robin van Persie at various stages of the season is a lot better than blindly going into the night, but you really do get the sense, as tedious as it is, that this saga is a lost cause for Moyes.

Rooney is clearly bored with life at Old Trafford. There aren’t any direct quotes, but we don’t really need any, do we? A new challenge will offer the injection of life that the player needs, ridding him of the tag of “the other guy,” regardless of how good he can be. At Chelsea, Rooney will force the other two or three strikers to take a back seat in the way he did following van Persie’s arrival at Old Trafford last summer.

Jose Mourinho has already stoked the fires by bringing up the issue of the World Cup. Such is England’s lack of options that Rooney, if fit, would get selected no matter what his status is at club level. From a personal point of view, a reinvigorated Rooney could lead the way for his first major showing at a World Cup Finals in his career. Good for player, good for England.

And then you have to ask what is left for Rooney at Manchester United. Titles have been won, from domestic trophies to the European Cup. There is obvious friction between the striker and his teammates, with some said to be unhappy over his actions and no-show of this preseason. It’s not beyond repair, but what’s the point?

It’s the same case with a couple of other Premier League clubs; why keep an unhappy player. Is there a point to prove? Yeah, sure. But how does it benefit you in the long run?

Moyes and Manchester United have been shockingly quiet in the market this summer. Maybe there’s a major signing being put together behind the scenes. I doubt it. With Rooney on board into next season, United sort of have an excuse for their lack of business, if they fail to make any signings, of course. It’s a safety net in more ways than one, but such is the player’s confidence of getting his move, coupled with Chelsea apparently looking no further than Rooney, possibly highlighting their own confidence in the matter, that Moyes and United should just move on and do what they can with the transfer funds over the remaining three weeks.

Should Moyes continue to fight the Rooney transfer saga, or just call it a day?

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West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke has urged his players not to get carried away despite their impressive start to the 2012/13 Premier League season.

The Baggies are currently third in the league table with seven points from three matches, just two points behind leaders Chelsea. This has been West Brom’s best start to the English top flight for 34 years, but Clarke wants everyone at the club to keep their feet firmly on the ground. He told the club’s official website:

“I think everybody is pleased with the start. What’s good, though, is that even though the players are pleased with the start, nobody is getting carried away. We understand there are many tough games to come. We’re just focused on the next game and trying to get a positive result down at Craven Cottage. The good thing about it here is that it’s a good experienced squad. All the experienced players understand how difficult the Premier League is. Their feet are firmly on the ground.”

The Baggies have recorded two clean sheets and conceded only one goal in their opening three Premier League fixtures, with Arsenal the only side in the Football League who have yet to concede. Clarke has taken time out to praise Gareth McAuley, whose impressive performances alongside Jonas Olsson at the heart of defence have helped improve the Baggies’ defensive record since joining on a Bosman 14 months ago. He continued:

“Gareth has really stepped up to the mark.  He’s risen to the challenge, which is something that comes better with experience. He understands and respects the fact he’s got a talent in football. There’s a lot of players like that, who just come in, do their job and try to do the best they can everyday in training and everytime they are picked to play in a match. It’s a great gift. It’s also fantastic for me as a head coach when you’ve got players like that.”

West Brom travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday.

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As reported by The Guardian, Liverpool have emerged as the leading contenders to sign Porto defensive prospect Diogo Leite this summer.

What’s the story?

Liverpool are on a definite high right now after reaching the UEFA Champions League final, but in order to progress under Jurgen Klopp they need to ensure they have another strong transfer window ahead of next season.

Key to their strategy will be signing established players who can immediately improve the first team, but it’s clear that Klopp is also planning for the long-term at Anfield and bringing young talents who can one day reach the elite level is also part of his masterplan.

One such player could be Diogo Leite, according to The Guardian, who say Liverpool is the likeliest destination for the player this summer, with the defender having a £13.2m release clause in his contract.

The paper reckon if they get the deal done they’ll be sending him out on loan to get first team experience next season.

Who is he?

Still just 19 years of age, Leite has yet to make a senior appearance for the Portuguese side, but is a regular for their B-side in the country’s second-tier, making 27 appearances this season.

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With U19 caps for his country too, it’s clear he has big potential and getting in early on that to develop him at Anfield would be a sound bit of business from the Reds.

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Some say things happen for a reason, others blame mysterious ways. Some jump to conclusions prematurely, while others just shrug their shoulders. The sacking of Nigel Pearson is an example of this sort of bewilderment – pundits and fans expressed shock that a manager could keep his team up in almost impossible circumstances and still be sacked. But sacked he has been.

And yet I can’t help feeling that this is all so reminiscent of Malky Mackay’s dismissal at Cardiff. Everyone thought Vincent Tan was nuts, but it turned out that Mackay was in the wrong, and not the sort of character Tan wanted at the helm of his club. When the text messages and racism allegations came out there was a collective ‘ohhh – I see’. The ‘ohhh’ moment here might just happen soon, and it will probably have something to do with a sex tape.

But it feels a little late to sack Pearson because of a tape that surfaced a month ago of a group of Leicester players in a fairly distasteful position. The fact that Pearson’s son was involved might point to guilt by association, but if the board think that’s real guilt and if they think that’s a sackable offence then they’re charmlessly deluded.

But even if they are that deluded, why wouldn’t they sack him it straight away? That suggests they weren’t going to blame the father for the sins of the son in the first place, so it’s strange to hear that the tape may have had some bearing on the decision.

So what happened in the meantime?

Speculation is futile, really. It doesn’t help us get to the bottom of the issue because we’ll never know until they tell us. But it’s worth doing it as a cautionary tale for others. It shows us that the Leicester board have either got this really right, or they’ve got it really wrong.

So if the tape is to blame, the most obvious conclusion is that Pearson has been less than contrite in his actions over this. Maybe he tried to stand up for his son and been sacked because of something he said.

That would seem to make sense given the Leicester City statement claims ‘differences in perspective’ were what forced the decision and given what the media have reported about fact it might have something to do with the tape.

Surely the board knew Pearson would stick up for his son? You can’t sack him for loving his family.

But why sack him at all if it wasn’t about this incident?

The answer might have something to do with Pearson’s personality. He doesn’t come across as a very nice guy, but then all we have to go on is his attitude towards the media.

The board, for their part, might see him as brash, crass and maybe unsavoury. And that’s not the image they want for their club. The sex tape perhaps reinforced that in their minds.

But if that’s the case, why not sack him months ago when he seemed to go mental on the touchline, swearing at fans and attacking players? What about when he called a journalist an ostrich? And they had a footballing reason to sack him then, too – they were bottom of the table and looked like going down. And that just makes his success all the more impressive.

And that’s why it looks like Pearson wasn’t just sacked for his son’s crime. What his son did was indefensible, but the father didn’t do it. If it was because he stood up for his son, then you have to wonder what the board expected him to do. Any father who loves his son would want to protect him.

In fact, that’s one of Pearson’s best qualities as a manager – the reason he attacked fans and journalists last season was because he was sticking up for his players. Whether that makes sense to us or not, that’s how Pearson saw it. And the fact that all the spotlight was on the manager definitely took the pressure off the players.

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So surely Leicester didn’t just sack Pearson because of that one incident. Surely they sacked him because that was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

And in some ways that makes it worse. Because if they didn’t like him anyway, they should’ve sacked him when he’d done something wrong, not when his son did. If they hated their manager anyway they should’ve sacked him earlier – if that’s the case, the very best we can call them is cowards.

This is not to say that the revelations about what happened won’t be favourable to the board and explain their decision. After all, I’m speculating here. And I’m speculating because I’m so baffled by the decision. There must be an ‘ohhh’ moment at some point that completely vindicates this decision because right now it still looks like a harsh one. But now is not the time for assigning blame, because we just don’t know the facts.

Maybe in the next few weeks we’ll hear the whole story, and then we can decide who’s right and wrong. For now, the story is a cautionary tale for managers to be nicer in the way they handle the press and the situations that arise during the season, because it might well contribute to your downfall over an incident you had literally nothing to do with. For owners and chairmen, it shows that if you stick by a manager then you need to do it because you actually think he’s the man to lead your team, because if you hate him already then you’ll just end up sacking him later, even when he’s done nothing wrong.

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Emmanuel Adebayor has been a failure everywhere he’s been. Not because he’s a terrible footballer, but because the early promise shown at each of his clubs quickly fizzed out into nothing but a fair bit of frustration and plenty of derision.

He doesn’t really care, though, and maybe that’s the problem. Adebayor gets on with his job as a modern day athlete with that mischievous grin on his face – and not in a good way – while his advisors, who do their own job rather poorly, pull the strings on his turbulent career.

Adebayor had all the makings of one of the best strikers in the Premier League, perhaps even in Europe. It’s that hybrid of pace, unmatchable strength and scoring ability from a whole host of angles that so many clubs are looking for. He was close to unstoppable in 2007-08 when Arsenal finished third in the Premier League, dropping out of the title race at the final hurdle.

Following that, the influence of those around him came to the fore, as Adebayor demanded something more for what he had done for only one season – either a new contract or a move to AC Milan. It would set the trend for the rest of his career in the bigger leagues of European football, with that chapter likely coming to a close as Besiktas move in to take him off Tottenham’s hands.

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Though even at Spurs, his first good season spent at White Hart Lane on loan was an act to secure himself a contract for the following season. His second year with the club mirrored that of his “second” year with Arsenal following the 30-goal campaign. He did very, very little, only to later confirm his ability to conjure something brilliant when there were doubts as to whether he still had life left in him: the goal against Villarreal in the Champions League and the performance at Stamford Bridge.

He should have been the next in line to carry on from what Didier Drogba set at Chelsea. Both very similar in terms of build and athleticism, while on his day Adebayor was unplayable, ironically much like Drogba was when playing against Arsenal.

But we shouldn’t be so surprised. The sports world is littered with athletes who could have been so much more but chose an alternate route. It’s a combination of the money in the game and the ease at which players can force moves elsewhere if they’re not happy for one reason or another. In the specific case of Adebayor, it’s the player’s reluctance to learn from previous mistakes. He’s never truly had a club he could call home, as during his spell with Manchester City, he went on loan to Real Madrid for six months – a period in his career that is easily forgettable. Sure, he did ok, but to what end? He got the short-term security he was looking for with Tottenham the following season, and then decided – or was advised – that something a little more concrete was needed for the season after that.

What is slightly amusing, though, is the player’s belief that he still warrants high-end wages, something akin to a star player at a Champions League club. Again, he hasn’t been a Champions League calibre player for many seasons, and it has nothing to do with lack of ability. If Besiktas have the funds to push through on this deal then fine, it’s a good deal for both parties. Incidentally, Adebayor may bemoan the lack of European football next season due to Besiktas’ participation in a match-fixing scandal, but that’s the bed he’s made for himself. Plus I don’t really think he’s too bothered.

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Is Adebayor deserving of his current position in football, having failed to maintain a high level in the game?

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Sometimes in life, we all go through spells craving something that we simply cannot live without. Be that money, beer or a certain someone, there is always something that makes us tick a little bit better than without it. But in the case of these gentleman, that comes in the form of a, err, profesional footballer.

Indeed, whether Brendan Rodgers craved Joe Allen for his midfield dynamism or simply someone to knock back a few glasses of Rioja with on the River Mersey, he decided he simply had to pay £15million to get him to move from Swansea with him. But he is by no means the first, or likely the last manager, to crave one of his old boys.

Here are ten, player-manager relationships that were so good, they simply couldn’t wait to seek each other out in an orgy of transfer fee based excitement. Some have tasted success together, others have tasted long-standing mediocrity together and some find life so hard without the other, they sign them four times and counting in their career.

Click on Joe Allen below, and feel the love for yourself

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Are you not feeling the love with any of these top ten picks? Or are you a supporter of a club who paid over-the-odds for one of their chums to come to your club? Tell me what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and get involved with the talk. 

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