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In the past year, massive protests have rocked several of Brazil’s major cities, calling for less corruption and more investment in public services. On Tuesday, as teams from around the world descended on cities around the country for the World Cup, Pew Research published a poll revealing the national mood in Brazil remains grim ahead of the $11 billion sporting event that many Brazilians claim comes at the expense of more pressing needs.

Since June 2013, when protests began, the number of Brazilians who are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the country has climbed 17 percent, up to 72 percent of the population. Public opinion about the health of Brazil’s economy has changed even more drastically. In 2013, two-thirds of the population believed the country was in good shape economically. Now, those figures are reversed. Two-thirds of Brazilians say the economy is in bad shape.

A majority of the population — 61 percent — is against hosting the World Cup, as they believe it detracts from spending on crucial social services like schools and healthcare. Rising prices, Brazil’s significant rich poor gap, and lack of employment were all described as very big problems. A much smaller 34 percent believe the Cup will create jobs that will boost the economy. Disapproval of president Dilma Rousseff’s handling of preparation for the Cup stands at a high 67 percent. However, discontent over the government’s performance on many issues has not boosted support for candidates running against Rousseff in the upcoming October election.

The police were especially hard hit in the recent poll, with just 33 percent of Brazilians reporting that the police have a good influence on the country, down from 53 percent in 2010. Protests are met with a harsh response from police in Brazil, where the structure of the police force is a hold over from the country’s authoritarian past. The police are divided into a civil division, in charge of investigating crimes, and a military division, in charge of clearing the streets. Every year, the police are responsible for causing 2,000 deaths, virtually always with impunity, and tear gas, rubber bullets, and beatings are regularly directed against demonstrators.

As a result of shifting resources towards building new stadiums, the government has virtually stopped all work on much needed improvements to public works. Earlier this week, president Rousseff referred to the delays as “the cost of our democracy.” However, many Brazilians see the current distribution of resources as anything but democratic. Frustration is building over Rousseff’s empty promises that the cup would usher in an economic boom, which so far has failed to materialize. Of the $11.3 billion invested in preparation for the upcoming games, a third has gone to stadiums while promised public infrastructure projects have been scrapped, such as designs for a bullet train between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

Last year’s demonstrations against the World Cup saw over one million protesters take to the streets. While the past week’s protests have remained small by comparison, Sao Palo public transit workers’ move to go on strike Thursday is paralyzing the mega-city of 20 million just days ahead of the soccer matches that are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of fans. With a 125 mile traffic jam choking Sao Palo’s main highway and one third of the subway system down, police unleashed tear gas on protesters blocking access to transit stations on Friday. So far, FIFA has yet to comment on what it plans to do about the massive strike as the event prepares to kick-off.

The spirit of goalkeeper Andrés Palop, who scored a famous late goal en route to Sevilla FC's 2006/07 UEFA Cup triumph, helped the current side make their way past Valencia CF to the UEFA Europa League final according to coach Unai Emery, whose celebrations following Stéphane Mbia's decisive stoppage-time strike will live long in the memory. Jorge Jesus showed more restraint after a 0-0 draw at Juventus clinched a return to Turin for his SL Benfica team, who he felt had secured their just deserts.

We don't care who we play in the final. We have to enjoy it. We are going to have to beat a good side – they beat Juve, who are a fine team. It's going to be a great night. This type of feeling has to be enjoyed. Having said that, I wish Valencia every success.

©AFP/Getty Images

Jorge Jesus urges Benfica on

Jorge Jesus, Benfica coach

In the first leg Benfica were better and got the win. Today, we pressed high in the first half and did not let their three central defenders organise the game from the back, like they usually do. In the second half, Juventus had more possession, but could not find a way to goal. We deserve to be in the final because we were better than Juventus overall.

To get to the final, you need to know how to battle. We knew we would play a semi-final against a very strong team, and we managed to do what we had to do. In five years, we have got to two UEFA Europa League finals and one semi-final – it is a record that no one can take away from us. We are in the final on merit. In this competition, we are yet to lose a game and we deserve everything that is coming to us.

We will be without three important players in the final [Lazar Marković, Enzo Pérez and Eduardo Salvio are suspended], but for now the important thing is for the team to recover, because we still have two other finals to play [the Portuguese Cup and Portuguese League Cup deciders, both against Rio Ave FC].

When Footballers Get Fat’ is a typical Football Ramble Forum thread. Started by Sadface a mere thirty-six hours ago, it is academic in function - examining the trend for football players to gain weight after their playing career is over, using photography as its principle medium.

Already, the likes Alan Brazil, Micky Quinn and Neil Shipperley have been cited as examples of this phenomenon, but it’s only when attention turns to Luton’s Player of the Season, Steve McNulty, that the true nature of the Rambler is revealed.

Join Adrian and the team at Stamford Bridge to see if Jose Mourinho's Chelsea can overturn a 3-1 deficit to Paris St Germain.

The Parisian outfit thrashed the Blues last week - but Eden Hazard's penalty gave Chelsea a vital away goal and a two-nil win would see them through to the semi-final.

Mourinho's men will be buoyed by the absence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic for the visitors, but still have to contain the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.

Watch the match LIVE on ITV and online here from 7:30pm.

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Long term Manchester United target Ezequiel Garay was named in Benfica’s starting side to face Tottenham Hotspur last night and if David Moyes was watching, he would have been impressed with what he saw.

Garay has been linked with several moves away from the Portuguese side and there were strong rumours that he could have left for Zenit St Petersburg before the close of the last Russian transfer window.

As things stand, his contract expires at the end of next season and there’s unlikely to be any movement over a new deal or a potential summer sale until after the World Cup in Brazil.

Garay was extremely effective last night when it came to dealing with the danger that Tottenham presented producing nine effective clearances during the game and winning one offside decision.

He also had a higher passing success rate than anyone in Benfica’s team and only one of his teammates made more passes over the course of the game. He won three aerial challenges over the course of the game showing he can deal with threats on the floor as well as in the air.

The fact he didn’t give away a single foul during the game is a tribute to his timing when it comes to tackling and he also showed initiative to stay in an attacking position after a set piece with two shots.

The key strengths of his game seem to be based around speed and making clear, concise and gutsy decisions at the right moments, which make him a very difficult centre back to get the better of.

In terms of a potential Nemanja Vidic replacement, United would lose nothing in terms of experience as Garay has played consistently in Portugal’s top division and has also experienced Champions League football with his current employers.

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has backed Jose Mourinho's claim that Manchester City are favourites for the Premier League title.

Rodgers' side are currently second, trailing Chelsea by seven points. City are a further two points back but have two games in hand on Liverpool and three on the leaders.

Mourinho has regularly insisted that Manuel Pellegrini's men are favourites, even going as far to say he would rather have the games in hand than the points on the board.

Sorry Jose, Chelsea are as good as champions

If Mourinho takes a clear view, he might change his tune about Chelsea's prospects © Getty Images

Jose Mourinho has protested too much and Brendan Rodgers hasn't been much better. But the words of the Chelsea and Liverpool managers have more than a hint of weasel, writes Alex Perry.

Click here to find out why

While urging his players to maintain their focus as they head for a key game against Manchester United on Sunday, Rodgers also stood by his former mentor with the title race entering its final phase.

"Jose is right," Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo. "City have the power in terms of their squad.

"If they win their three games in hand they will go to the top and you would expect them to win those.

"I have never made a big push publicly about us winning the title. For me it's not about playing down expectations or mind games, it's really about taking a humble approach to the season.

"We have been letting our actions on the pitch do the talking and remaining dignified in our approach to everything. We've been looking to improve our performance levels and that's been getting better all the time.

"This is a club with huge expectations. It's not until you arrive here and you realise the sheer scale of the club.

"My job was to come in and build on the brilliant job Kenny Dalglish did and it's great to hear people talking about our style of football, winning games and our aggressive attitude in games.

"We want to continue on that road. There's still a long way to go but hopefully we're on course to put the club back where it should be. This is a club with big ambitions both domestically and in Europe."

Liverpool face arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday and victory at Old Trafford will go a long way to cementing the Reds' position as title contenders.

"They are a very focused group," Rodgers said of his players. "They are very keen and very ambitious for the club to do well. I see that in their work every day. They are brilliant professionals.

"We have been terrific for the last 14 months or so and the club is on a real high. That's big credit to the players and all the staff, who are working tirelessly every day.

"Sunday is a game we are really looking forward to. For us it's about retaining the focus. We know it's a big game but we've done well in a lot of the big games this season."

I’m sure that Arsenal fans are watching Robin Van Persie’s situation over at Manchester United with great interest. After all, he was the man who broke their collective heart two summers ago, when he left the Emirates in search of silverware.

Having spent much of his career warming the Gunners’ bench, the Dutchman opted to run down his contract and force a move away from the club after a single good season.

The means by which he did this were particularly galling. His ‘letter to the fans’ revealed his egoism and the fact that he was willing to move to a direct rival hurt even more.

As a result, most Arsenal fans hoped that he would flop at Manchester United. Unfortunately for them, he excelled, scoring 30 goals in 48 games and leading the club to the Premier League title. The fact that Arsenal themselves struggled for the majority of last season rubbed further salt in the wound.

But those who remain bitter must be enjoying this season. Yes, the Dutchman has scored 14 goals in 20 games, but he’s also been a part of a team that has been falling apart at the seams.

Sir Alex Ferguson has left and David Moyes does not look like a worthy replacement. His tactics are overly cautious, his transfer policies look misguided and the players look like they’ve had all the belief sapped out of them.

They’re currently sixth in the Premier League season and have no chance of competing for the title. They’re down and out in Europe and they’re out of the Cup competitions. What’s left to play for?

United’s poor form has been a source of great frustration for Robin Van Persie. If he’s not complaining about other players being in his zones, he’s showing his discontentment at being substituted in the middle of his club’s easy win over West Brom.

At 30-years-old, RVP resembles more of a stroppy child than a well adjusted professional footballer. This has all led to The Metro claiming that the Dutchman is keen on a move back to Arsenal in the summer. The source even quotes that the Emirates is ‘his first-choice destination’.

Things sure change quickly in football, don’t they? This would be one of the most remarkable turnarounds in living memory.

Whether Arsenal fans would be happy to have him back is uncertain, but it’s clear that he could provide the Gunners with some much needed firepower. He’s still an unstoppable force in front of goal and could help fire Arsene Wenger’s side to Premier League glory next season.

Arsenal signing Robin Van Persie would also weaken Manchester United, a fact that may provide motivation for Arsene Wenger. Either way, it’ll be fascinating to see this situation play out.

Is Southampton’s season over?

Written by @Will_Turner71

APATHY has been an incredibly rare emotion in my following of Southampton Football Club over the years however it has began to pop its head up as the current season has drawn on.

When Jay Rodriguez rolled home against Crystal Palace to give Saints the lead I cheered loudly and punched the air but for no more than the fact that my team were winning.

FA Cup

Nothing rode on the goal and the eventual win, I don’t hate Palace too much to enjoy turning them over and keeping in touch with Newcastle in the battle for 8th hardly gets the juices flowing.

But this is what our season has boiled down to after limping out of the FA Cup to Sunderland, a result that continues to frustrate when looking at the calibre of teams who have reached the semi finals.

Perhaps I should be more grateful, at the beginning of this campaign most Saints fans would have bitten your hand off for a solid mid table finish, myself included, but the ease in achieving this is making for a rather dull finish.

Early results were good

Early results and performances promised far more from this year as Saints ran out quickly to occupy a Champions League spot with the tightest defensive record in the league.

Victory at Anfield and a dramatic last minute equaliser at Old Trafford saw pundits lord the work being done at St Mary’s under the eye of Mauricio Pochettino.

Again, with the departure of Chairman Nicola Cortese thrown into the mix I might be encouraged to take stock and cherish safety rather than bemoan what could have been.

No cup competitions

With no cups to compete in and little to fight for in terms of league standing all that is really left to cheer and hope for is a strong finish from our international hopefuls to book their places on flights to Brazil this summer.

Escaping any injuries it would seem that Adam Lallana should have his passport ready but question marks still remain for Rickie Lambert, Luke Shaw and Jay Rodriguez as to whether they will represent England.

Roll on next season

Lambert’s form has certainly tailed off while Shaw and Rodriguez have been consistently impressive and will provide Roy Hodgson with a severe headache should their form continue.

After racing out of the blocks and talk of European football, a missed opportunity in the FA Cup and a yawn jerking mid table finish left the footballing appetite wanting.

Roll on next season.

If there’s one area of the pitch where Liverpool are weak, it’s their defence. Luckily, Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have been scoring enough goals to overcome their team’s frailty at the back.

Since moving to Anfield in the summer as part of a £15m move, Mamadou Sahko has made just 13 appearances. There’s been enough evidence to suggest that he could go on to become a Liverpool legend if he’s given a real shot, but he’s still adapting to a new league and new surroundings. At 24-years-old, I expect that there’s a lot more to come from him.

The same can’t be said of Kolo Toure, who’s now 32-years-old (according to his Wikipedia profile) and beginning to show signs of wear and tear. When he’s been called upon this season, he’s made a costly mistakes and gifted the opposition goals. In other words, he’s not a player that can be counted on.

Whilst Daniel Agger is still performing to a decent standard, he too will be in his 30s before this year is out, as will Liverpool mainstay, Martin Skrtel. I can’t help but feel that Brendan Rodgers needs a long-term plan for the future of his defence.

It certainly looks like he’s on top of things. According to The Mirror, Liverpool are keeping a watchful eye on Red Bull Salzburg’s promising young centre-back, Martin Hinteregger. The source even claims that the Reds ‘dispatched a scout’ to watch the 21-year-old in action for Austria against Uruguay.

The Liverpool scout would have seen an imposing figure, who’s tall, physically fit and strong in the air. Whilst he’s a little gangly, he’s also pretty sprightly, covers a lot of ground, works hard and reads the game well. I’m sure the scout would have been impressed by the way that he managed to keep Luis Suarez quiet for much of last week’s international friendly.

With Champions League football on the way (potentially), Brendan Rodgers needs to make sure that he and his squad are well prepared. Signing a promising young defensive talent like this is a smart step in the right direction. Let’s see if Brendan can pull off yet another bargain.

What’s your take? Is Martin Hinteregger a good option for The Reds?

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Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has again apologised for head-butting Hull City’s David Meyler, and has accepted the punishment he received for the offence on Tuesday, reports the Daily Express.

Alan Pardew

The clash between Pardew and Mayler took place on March 1 at the KC Stadium, with the Magpies boss shoving his head into the face of the Irishman. After the game, which Newcastle won 4-1, Pardew apologised for his actions, while he was fined £100,000 by his club.

However, that did not prevent the Premier League from imposing its first ever stadium ban since its inception in 1992. Pardew will now be banned from entering the stadium for each of Newcastle’s next three matches, beginning at Fulham on Saturday. When his stadium ban is complete, he will be forced to watch the following four games in the stands, meaning that he will not be able to return to the dugout until the final weeks of the season.

Upon hearing the verdict, Pardew said: “As I have made clear, I deeply regret the incident and again wholeheartedly apologise to all parties for my conduct, which I understand was not acceptable.

“I will accept the punishment handed down by the Football Association today. My focus now turns to preparing the team for this weekend’s game against Fulham and finishing the season as strongly as possible.”

See what the expert tipsters at OLBG are tipping on Fulham v Newcastle

It is a relatively quiet morning in terms of Manchester United-related news. But ESPN have picked up on an interview Wayne Rooney gave to Inside United, in which the striker spoke about what it was like to watch the club’s rivals do so well in light of their own struggles.

“To see City doing well, and particularly Liverpool, is really difficult,” Rooney said.

“It’s not nice when we know we are capable of being up there challenging and we haven’t been doing that this season.

“However, it means we have to step up and get back up there, because the feeling we’ve had this season is not a nice feeling at all to have.”

Rooney has been one of United’s few shining lights in what has been an otherwise disappointing campaign. But the side are starting to pick up some form having won their last two league matches, both away from Old Trafford.

Now it is time to turn their ground into a fortress again, and what better time to start than when Liverpool come to town this weekend.

Do you think it will now get much better for United in the months and years to come?

James Beattie: Accrington boss says survival key for Stanley

James Beattie says achieving League Two safety would constitute a successful season for Accrington, but believes Stanley can finish higher in the table.

Stanley are 22nd, six points above the relegation zone, with 12 games to play.

"With the financial constraints that the club faces, survival is the main key," Beattie told BBC Late Kick Off.

"But as I've said to the players, they're a talented bunch. The more hard work they put in, the more results they'll get."

Saturday's 3-1 home win against leaders Chesterfield strengthened their survival chances, and ahead of Tuesday's visit of Hartlepool, Stanley are just three points below Cheltenham in 12th.

The 36-year-old, whose side failed to win any of their first 12 league games, continued: "If we'd have had any sort of start whatsoever, we would have been there or thereabouts near the play-offs.

"Tremendous credit to the boys - it's their hard work and perseverance, and them believing in what I'm saying."

Barcelona and Spanish playmaker Andres Iniesta has thanked the fans for the support he and his wife, Anna Ortiz, have been receiving since the loss their baby. Iniesta and his wife had lost their unborn child due to miscarriage and the two have been mourning their loss in privacy. Iniesta missed Barcelona's last game due to the loss and has admitted he took time off to be with his family but was gratfeull for the love he received from the fans.

In his post on his Facebook account, Iniesta says: "we can't thank you enough for all of your support and affection over these last several days. My family and I are overwhelmed and are infinitely grateful to all of you. There are difficult times and we thank you for respecting our privacy. We're certain that for up above, the little one will help us...Big hus fr everyone."

To say that Marcelo is smiling once again would be a lie, as the Brazilian never ceases to do so – one aspect in which he certainly resembles Roberto Carlos. But one thing that can be said is that his performances have returned to the level they were at under Mourinho – the Brazilian's number-one fan. "I love Marcelo", the Portuguese said in his first season at the club.

The Brazilian full-back has been at his best for several games, making him a decisive and essential player for the in-form Real. In games like the win over Levante, he can be unstoppable, a real tormentor, who is the BBC's deadliest accomplice. He participated in 57 attacks, played nine crosses into the box, won three corners, played 58 accurate passes, scored a goal and played a part in the third – statistics any winger would be proud of.

Marcelo's sublime form is welcome news for Real Madrid and Ancelotti, who had his doubts about the Brazilian's level of performance. The Italian is now under no doubt that an in-form Marcelo is light years ahead of Coentrao – who had been used in the position when available. But Marcelo's fine performance against Levante seems to make it clear.

Marcelo has finally come back from his foot injury sustained in 2012, after what has been a tough period for the Brazilian.

David Moyes and Manchester United have apparently confirmed they are ready to make Southampton left back Luke Shaw the most expensive teenager in the English game.  Shaw has made a huge name for himself playing up and down the left flank for the Saints which deservedly honoured him his first England cap in a recent 1-0 victory over Denmark at Wembley. 

The search for a gifted left back is a difficult position to fill, with Manchester United looking for a long term replacement for the aging Patrice Evra.  Chelsea are also said to be on the hunt to replace Ashley Cole, whose game time has been limited this season. 

Further interest has seen Tottenham Hotspur making enquiries but it seems the tussle for the south-west London born teen may be too hot for the Lilywhites to handle.

Since his first senior performance for Southampton in 2012, the 18-year-old has made fifty appearances for the south coast club, making a swift promotion from the youth-side which has produced some of most talented players the country has ever seen.  Matt Le Tissier, Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana just to name a few.

At 16, Shaw was already attracting interest from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City when Southampton featured in the Championship.  His value of £4 million in 2012 will substantially increase in the summer, should clubs line up in demand for the youngster who is expected to compete against Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines for their spots in Roy Hodgson's 23-man World Cup squad flying to Brazil. 

Chelsea remained in the running in 2013 with reported outside chance move for around £10 million which was rejected by the Saints.  A £15 million offer was allegedly put on the table by Tottenham Hotspur shortly after but Shaw decided to pledge his loyalty to the club his has played for since the age of eight.

Manchester United are unlikely to make a return bid for Everton left back Leighton Baines following successive rejections from David Moyes former employers.  However, Shaw's emergence has seen gross interest from the Premier League champions as they look to spend their £100 million plus transfer kitty this summer.  Shaw has been added as a prime target for the Red Devils as Moyes will look to shore up his leaky defence.

Southampton have managed to tie Shaw down on a long-term five-year deal but the Hampshire based side are renowned to be a selling club.  Supposedly this is how a club that plays the game correctly and develops from within, eventually has to give in due the larger businesses willing to pay the money for Southampton's high performers. 

Shaw will probably now cost in excess of £20-25 million, whilst his wages will considerably increase beyond the Saints weekly bill.  The youngster is likely to be targeted alongside a number of Southampton players this summer with Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Jay Rodriguez all being followed by scouts across the top seven teams.

His style of play has most notably caught the eye.  In defence he is a strong tackler and tends not to lose his man but on the left hand side his tendency sees him darting down the wing in an attacking format, recalling the attributes of Real Madrid's Gareth Bale with his searing pace and willing to swing a cross in.  Particular focus has also been put on his movement, decision making and dribbling, whilst being strong in defence; his intelligence and maturity demonstrate a strong individual who is likely to go onto bigger and better things, hence a transfer to one of his admirers.

Current Spurs boss Tim Sherwood was not happy after the 4-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday and made his feelings very clear – both in his post match interview with Sky Sports and in the post match press conference.

On Monday morning, new quotes have appeared, suggesting Sherwood questioned Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy as well.

Matt Law in the Daily Telegraph details a question and answer session after the Chelsea rout, where Sherwood discussed potentially being number 2 under Louis van Gaal next season.

On whether Levy would appoint a new manager for season 2014/2015, Sherwood said: “The silence is deafening, isn’t it? It’s up to Daniel.”

Sherwood added on continuing as Tottenham manager: “It’s up to the club to make that decision. One thing I guarantee people is that there is no one who cares more than me. I want the team to do very well and it hurts me when they don’t. I need people to be hurting like I’m hurting.”

And on being an assistant to van Gaal, Frank De Boer, who whoever ends up as Tottenham boss: “I never want to be a No2. I feel like I can do the No1 job. I don’t think I’d be good at No2. I’m too opinionated. I wouldn’t want to do the No2 job.”

But, Sherwood, who has an 18 month contract did open the door a little to remaining at White Hart Lane: “I do think there is a place for a technical director. I’m someone who sees the club from the bottom to the top on the training field. There’s a definite place for that. A lot of clubs need to have a person like that, otherwise you get no continuity, you just end up buying seven or 10 players every window and your turnover of players is far too great.”

Undoubtedly, the next three games could well decide Tim Sherwood’s future at Spurs, a two-legged tie versus Benfica in the Europa League with the small matter of the north London derby against Arsenal on Sunday.

1. This was the weekend of the dodgy headed backpass. Crystal Palace’s Jason Puncheon and Tottenham’s Kyle Walker both cost their teams goals with crazy headers.

2. Following on from that, we can conclude that there were plenty of ill-advised nods of the head even though Alan Pardew’s Newcastle didn’t have a game.

3. Steven Caulker loves scoring against Fulham. His two goals on Saturday will be massive if Cardiff are to get themselves out of the relegation zone.

4. Pepe Mel and Felix Magath continued to add weight to the argument that West Brom and Fulham’s problems might have extended beyond their form managers.

5. After months of being told he is one of football’s hottest talents, Adnan Januzaj has finally settled on Diego Maradona.

Three days ago, Neymar gave yet another goalscoring masterclass when he scored a hat-trick against South Africa in Johannesburg. The Brazilian once again shone for his country... but he appeared to have left his scoring boots behind in South Africa for this weekend's La Liga fixture. The Barça man put in a lacklustre performance away to Valladolid and was not the attacking force he has been in other games.

In Valladolid, Neymar was one of Barça's main trump cards to beating Real Valladolid, but Tata Martino ended up replacing him 28 minutes into the second half with Tello. He contributed little to his team's game, although he had a great chance to level the game after the break. The ball came to him completely unmarked, but he shot high into the stands at the José Zorrilla.

The Barça coach had opted to start both Neymar and Messi, but his two stars did not link up well on the day. The Argentine led Barcelona's attack, but more was expected of Neymar, who put in a poor performance against a Real Valladolid side that took Tata Martino's men by surprise (1-0).

Read more: Neymar leaves his scoring boots in South Africa - MARCA.com (English version)

Manchester United may have come out on top in today’s 0-3 win at West Brom, but there were still a few areas of concern very much apparent.

David Moyes’ side have had a lot of problems recently and when Juan Mata was bought to add creativity, he came with his own liability to the side.

Granted, he is one of best playmakers in the world but only when deployed in the central position. Moyes currently favours Wayne Rooney for that role and Mata has too much quality – and too big a price tag – to sit on the bench.

So, he is slotted in on the right. It has its perks going forward, of course, but there is a defensive worry there.

Mata lacks the athleticism to close-in on an attacking full-back or the pace to keep up when tracking back. There were a couple of moments where West Brom could have easily cashed in because of that.

Da Silva lining

Fortunately, the solution could be nearby.

Rafael is a worry every time he plays. He is so committed, and it usually pays off for him, but sometimes he pays for it. He is just coming back from an injury where he landed awkwardly after a committed challenge against Olivier Giroud when Manchester United visited Arsenal in February.

He has a desire that has been rare in a Manchester United shirt this season. No West Brom player got past him in this game, yet he made intelligent runs forward.

In the 33rd minute, he made a clever cut inside and was fouled by Chris Brunt. United scored from the resulting free kick.

The Brazilian also picked an accurate cross for Rooney’s goal. He was here, there and everywhere.

Unlike Smalling, who can defend well as a covering right back but lacks piercing runs and accurate crosses, Rafael also add natural width going forward.

Midfield worries

Then there are the well-documented problems in the middle of the park. When United play Tom Cleverley alongside Michael Carrick in central midfield, the young Englishman is accused of lacking a box-to-box threat.

Marouane Fellaini seems to be taking that to that to the other extreme; he bombed forward too much today and when United lost the ball he was slow to recover. This leaves Carrick exposed, especially if there are several runners. Yaya Toure is sometimes guilty of the same sin but he offers much more going forward to more than make up for it.

There are some chronic problems like the urgency with which they move the ball. No doubt Moyes is working on but there are also a couple of areas they can improve on.

With more work, Mata’s lack of pace can be helped by Rafael’s urge to go forward. The main worry for Moyes should be Fellaini and getting him to find the right balance in his game.

Former Manchester United striker Owen has been talking about the difficulties David Moyes may face in the summer transfer window.

Manchester United will be seeking to considerably strengthen their squad this summer. Depending on which report you believe, they are looking for four, or five, or six new players. Or it might actually be eight following the claims of one story last week.

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But however many new faces manager David Moyes feels he needs to get his side firing again, it was never going to be easy to sign the right ones. Not when any potential selling-club is well aware of United’s need, and when the best of the best are already playing for, well, the best of the best.

And now former United player Michael Owen has had his say on the situation in an interview with the Daily Star.

“I can imagine David Moyes wants to make a lot of changes in terms of playing staff,” Owen is quoted as saying.

“When you’re Manchester United manager everyone thinks it’s very easy to bring in players.

“It’s alright having the money and it’s alright wanting to do it, but there’s only an elite few players they could bring in to improve their chances.

“I’m sure David Moyes wants to buy, but whether he can get the right people for the right money and enough of them will be his biggest challenge.”

That is something that should not be underestimated.

There is a sense, at least in terms of the constant gossip that gathers around a club like United, that if enough money is spent the right players will inevitably arrive. But Owen is absolutely correct.

Considering the number of players currently in the game, you are looking at a very small proportion who Moyes would consider right for his club, and most importantly, better than those he already has.

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So yes, the money and the intention may both be there, but as Moyes found in his failed pursuit of the likes of Cesc Fabregas last summer, it is not enough to have a shopping list and a chequebook. Those targets have to want to come to you as much as you want to sign them.

It will be interesting if those two points marry-up when United enter arguably their biggest transfer window in over two decades.

Do you think Moyes will get it right this summer in terms of new recruits?