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It is perhaps the clash of ideology between the two managers that will take centre stage at the Emirates as much as what transpires on the pitch for the Capital One Cup tie of Round 4, maybe more.

Since Arsenal last won a trophy, the Special One has totted up 16. Indeed, in 10 seasons of club management Jose has won seven national league titles, in four different countries, as well as the Champions League, twice and the UEFA Cup. And that period includes his eight-month sabbatical in 2007-08.

Neither played football at the highest level, Jose plied his trade in the Portuguese Second Division while the summit of Wenger`s playing career was 11 appearances in three years for Racing Club Strasbourg.

It is a very subjective matter as to how much the lack of a top-flight playing career has influenced and moulded the managerial approach of the two men.

Arsene Wenger has stuck, stoically, to his philosophy of fluent, flowing football in his tenure at Arsenal, now the longest in British football. Conversely, ever the pragmatist, Jose has done what Jose felt was best at any given time and when you take several moments to reel off his glittering CV who could argue that approach does not work.

If football is a results-driven industry then trophy stats take that directive to an even higher level.

The paradox to the argument of purist versus pragmatist is that when Jose tried to impose his philosophy at Real Madrid it backfired spectacularly but, and it is an important but, it fell down spectacularly when it came to the Champions League.

When he first arrived at the Bernabeu, Mourinho promptly guided Real to success in the Copa del Rey, the first time they won that trophy for 18 years and their first trophy of any kind for three seasons. The following season, 2012, Real set all kinds of new records as they won La Liga for the first time in four years and they then won the Super Cup BUT, when it came to the trophy that mattered most, the Champions League, Jose failed.

For a trophy that is regarded by Real Madrid as their own to watch as Barca, particularly, lorded it was too much for the club hierarchy and they and the Special One parted company.

Wenger`s success, in terms of building teams that are easy on the eye, is built on persuasion where as Jose does seem to elbow anyone who doesn`t toe his particular line of pragmatism.

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Arsene seems to accommodate flair and individuality as long as it doesn`t adversely impact on the team ethic which invariably it does not or he doesn`t sign them or keep them. Jose on the other hand insists that his players sublimate their individual approach to that of the team as a whole.

In fact, if you look at it that way, there isn`t too much difference between what the two managers demand of their players, only the ways in which they put it over, which can only enhance expectation of THE tie of Round 4 of the Capital One Cup.

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Finally! At the fourth time of asking Andre Villas-Boas was finally tasting the sweet nectar of victory after his new look Spurs side chalked up their first win of the season to alleviate the pressure mounting on his shoulders. The manner in which the North London club dispatched their opponents last Sunday gave a brief glimpse as to the style and philosophy in which Villas-Boas is still attempting to integrate. Moussa Dembele proved he has the creative talents to make Luka Modric’s name a distant memory at White Hart Lane while Jermaine Defoe continued his excellent start with two goals and another impressive display as a lone frontman. Results were never going to be instant and it was always going to take a few games for the players to acclimatise to Villas-Boas’ master plan. But on the evidence of their performance last Sunday the pieces are finally falling into place.

This week on FFC Jan Vertonghen’s start to life as a Spurs player is put under the microscope and is Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s injury a wake up call?

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Best of FFC

A Tottenham signing that more than softens the Moutinho blow

A fuss over nothing at Tottenham Hotspur

Kyle’s Walker-ing on sunshine but not quite water

Nothing Ver-tongue in cheek about his Tottenham start

Could Europa League be the chance to win over the doubters?

These criticisms of Andre Villas-Boas don’t add up

The wake-up call that this Tottenham player needed?

Tottenham Set To Battle Juventus For Striker

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Best of WEB

Reading between the lines – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2

You Cannot Be Serious?! – Harry Hotspur

Remembering love lost – Dear Mr Levy

Our 5 Sides To Snap Up Demba Ba For Just £7M! – Transfer Tavern

AVB wriggles off the three game hook. – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2

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Did Ryan Mason take a shower? – Dear Mr Levy

We Should Have Hired Rodgers Or Martinez… – Harry Hotspur

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Quote of the Week

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“It does seem a long time since I won it with Porto. A lot of things have happened since then. The memories are still present but at this time I can’t live off the past. In our position we can’t think too much about the past. In this life you constantly have to motivate yourself and put pressure on yourself to win more (trophies). This time it would be wonderful to win it again for Tottenham.” AVB states it would be ‘wonderful’ to win the Europa League with Spurs

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Featured Video

Hadi Sacko has dropped a huge hint that he will leave Leeds this summer, posting on Instagram that he will “never forget” his time at Elland Road.

Hadi Sacko has hardly kicked a ball for Leeds this season, but nonetheless fans are wishing him the best as he prepares for his departure from the club.

The one-cap Mali international signed permanently last summer after a successful loan spell under Garry Monk, but has made just one start this season.

The 24 year-old winger is a bit of a cult hero around Elland Road due to his attitude, and it’s fair to say Paul Heckingbottom could have used a direct pacey winger at times during his tenure.

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Posting on his official Instagram account, Sakho said: “Not the season I expected on personal plan but no matter what you guys always have been great support, through all the ups and downs we faced this year.

“I just wanted to say thank you, I don’t know what the future will be made of but one thing is sure, I’ll never forget my time here.”

It sounds like the winger is on his way out of the club, as Paul Heckingbottom looks to revamp his squad this summer.

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While there may be a few question marks over his quality, there certainly can’t be any qualms over his commitment, and it seems fans are going to miss the 24 year-old.

Some of the best Twitter reactions can be found below…

As we reach the halfway point of the season, Arsene Wenger will be more than aware Friday night’s clash with Liverpool could have a huge say in whether his Arsenal side return to the Premier League’s top four come the end of the campaign.

The Gunners and the Reds are separated by just one point in the Premier League table and while a win at the Emirates Stadium will see them take the visitors’ place in the top six, a defeat or draw would allow them to be leapfrogged by bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur. To ensure his side come out with an all-important victory, Wenger must find the right answers to these three crucial questions…

Is Alexis Sanchez committed enough to start?

Liverpool’s 4-0 defeat at Anfield back in August showed how important it is to have everybody pulling in the same direction against Jurgen Klopp’s side, who pride themselves on the high-pressing energy they inject into games. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was perhaps the biggest culprit that afternoon, the match coming a mere matter of days before he joined Liverpool, but the danger for Friday night is undoubtedly Alexis Sanchez.

He’s still the Gunners’ most potent attacking threat on paper but the Chile international just hasn’t performed to the same levels this season and his form has particularly waned ahead of the January transfer window – something which, when coupled with his contract situation, suggests Sanchez is hoping for a mid-season move. It’s human nature for him to be a little off the boil under such circumstances and Wenger must consider whether a half-committed Sanchez is worth more than a fully committed alternative.

Danny Welbeck took advantage of his first start since October on Wednesday night to find a winner against West Ham and if there’s one thing the England man can never be criticised for in comparison to Sanchez, it’s the industriousness and commitment of his performances. Bearing in mind Liverpool’s high-octane style, that could well make him the better option on the left flank.

What can be learned from the reverse fixture at Anfield?

The 4-0 defeat was an incredibly humbling experience and one Arsenal must learn from. While they may boast home advantage this time around, the dynamics of the match itself won’t be all that different; Klopp’s game-plan for beating Arsenal centred around soaking up pressure before hitting them with pace out wide on the counter-attack and considering how effective it was back in August, Liverpool are likely to set up in a similar manner at the Emirates Stadium this Friday night.

Arsenal can’t simply approach the game in the same way and expect a different outcome – lessons must be taken on board and the team’s tactics must be tweaked accordingly.

That may well require changing personnel to have a more defensive presence in midfield, such as Francis Coquelin or Mohamed El Neny, who have the natural athleticism to stop those counter-attacks before they advance, or potentially even reverting back to Arsenal’s more traditional 4-2-3-1 which would give the Gunners a good chance of cancelling out Klopp’s usual 4-3-3. 3-4-3 certainly didn’t work on Merseyside.

What Liverpool weaknesses can Arsenal take advantage of?

While nobody can doubt Liverpool’s sheer potency going forward, Klopp’s side certainly isn’t without its weaknesses. Their defence perhaps isn’t as bad as often made out in the media – only five Premier League sides have conceded less than them this season – but defending at set pieces remains a key flaw away from home.

Only Leicester and Brighton have let in more goals from those scenarios on the road and Arsenal can likely take advantage of that without making too many changes to their usual set up; in contrast, they’ve scored the joint-most home goals from set pieces of any team in the division.

On top of that, Liverpool have struggled in terms of discipline away from Anfield this season.

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They’ve incurred 16 yellow cards and one red card in nine away games and while Sadio Mane’s sending off against Manchester City certainly divided opinion, it also highlighted what a disadvantage ten men can be against one of the Premier League’s top clubs – especially on the road.

If Arsenal can force Liverpool into bookings and potentially even a sending off, they’ll inevitably put Klopp’s side on the back foot.

Manchester United’s greatest weapon last season wasn’t Robin van Persie, despite the Dutchman leading the scoring charts and comfortably standing out as the club’s best player over the entire campaign. Instead, it was Alex Ferguson. There’s something about the Scot that forces panic and doubt into his foremost adversaries: Kevin Keegan, Rafa Benitez, Roberto Mancini (to name but a few).

Ferguson, like he’s done on so many occasions over the past 26 years, made the difference domestically last season, turning an average-to-good United side into Premier League champions. Van Persie made a difference from the prior season, yes. Rafael had his best campaign to date in English football. David De Gea turned his game around midway through the season when there were external calls for him to be dropped. It’s the kind of title-winning character that stems from the manager and his insatiable desire for more. Such is the house that Ferguson has built at Manchester United that no one will be forgiven for a lack of application; the type of attitude that can turn sides into champions.

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There’s a difference between depth and quality in depth. United have plenty of personnel to plug gaps, act as long-term stand-ins or simply make up the numbers on the bench, but where are the game changers and title deciders above van Persie? The depth is good at United, but the quality was provided from Ferguson’s expertise at winning countless league titles.

David Moyes doesn’t have that. Sure, there are many managers in the game who have risen to success at some stage over the past five years or so. The classic, go-to comparison is still Jurgen Klopp and Borussia Dortmund. There is obviously something special about the way the German takes to management, but there is no denying the incredible quality that runs through the team at Signal Iduna Park.

There are positives for Moyes this season. The fact is that United still have a couple of weeks to work with in strengthening the team, and Shinji Kagawa could and should take on a major role on the second time of asking. But based on what we’ve seen of this season’s Manchester United – which is admittedly very little with only one competitive game – Moyes will need to add quality to the depth he has at Old Trafford.

The frontrunners for the title this season are clearly the teams in Blue. Chelsea have Jose Mourinho, who in all of his previous leagues has offered instant title success, bar Spain. Manchester City, on the other hand, have Manuel Pellegrini, who, despite lacking in any major silverware in Europe, has one of the most enviable attacks in the game. He’s not a bad coach either.

Moyes, unlike his predecessor, doesn’t have the authority in the Premier League to turn losing positions into draws and draws into wins. As much as the football world may joke about Fergie Time, it is a massive bonus for the club to have. He might, though, let’s not get too far away from the possibility of Moyes picking up where Ferguson left off. But reality of the matter is the game has become that little bit harder for Manchester United.

Even in Manchester City’s title-winning season, Ferguson ran the eventual champions right down to the wire, leaving it to the final minutes of the last day to decide the champion. Van Persie played a major part in bringing the title back to Old Trafford, but you also feel that van Persie became a purchase to launch a sustained and successful assault on one more European Cup; Ferguson’s gift to himself when he finally took on the decision to retire.

There are no trophies, metaphorically speaking, for turning over a Championship team in the Community Shield. Manchester United looked tidy while never really hitting top gear. There was a sense of getting the job done but without any of the flair or brutality that should be associated with a title winner. In the face of an impressive and new-look twin challenge from Chelsea and Manchester City, this United side need more, something that gives them a dimension of unpredictability. Teams know where the majority of the goals are going to come from, but added quality throughout the side will give United a new edge. It’s a necessary compensation for the lack of a star-studded name in the dugout.

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Are United lacking the quality throughout the squad to retain the league title this season?

Join the debate below

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Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Norwich at White Hart Lane was alarming, not necessarily for the nature of the result, but for the nature of the performance. As Andre Villas-Boas looks to implement a new system and a reformed style of play, the easing in process was never likely to go without teething problems.

The worry for some supporters is quite how painful those problems are going to be and the short-term damage they may cause. But like all trips to the dentist, we often carry apocalyptic expectations when the realities aren’t quite so sinister at all.

Firstly, it is important to try and dispel some of the urban myths that have currently been floating around Villas-Boas and the already maligned 4-2-3-1 formation that he’s adopted at the club. The fickle tides of change and seemingly unrelenting media agenda against Villas-Boas has seen the events against Chris Houghton’s Canaries on Saturday, represented as an overwhelming motif for the season so far.

That is as unfair as it is unrepresentative.

Tottenham ultimately put in a performance on Saturday that could be described as poor at best. No one is denying that. But those that are already pining for the ‘swashbuckling’ days of the 4-4-1-1 to return, can’t ignore what we’ve already seen. For 45 minutes against both Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion, Spurs employed a generally impressive, composed style of football that dictated those respective halves for long periods.

Norwich was again, not a particularly fantastic barometer, but the cause for genuine concern would be if the team weren’t creating chances as opposed to looking somewhat disjointed. Tottenham have created chances too; maybe not in abundance, but they have been able to harvest opportunities. After hitting both the bar and post at St. James Park, losing to a soft penalty was hard to stomach for supporters. The team, in particular Gareth Bale, fashioned a whole array of early chances against the Baggies at home, but were incapable of finishing anything off – inviting the sort of pressure that seems to have led us to where we are today.

But as the transfer window has slammed shut, Villas-Boas finally has a completed squad to work with and seemingly a set of players that can fit the system. The argument over Daniel Levy’s brinkmanship will rumble on for many months in N17, but however you frame it, Villas-Boas was missing the players to make his new set-up stick for the first three games of the season. It’s not been easy for him and consequently he’s been forced to use several cogs that haven’t fit the machine.

One such example can be found in the holding ‘pair’ that sit in front of the defence but behind the front three. For the first three games this season, Villas-Boas has teamed Sandro with Jake Livermore to relatively mixed reviews. A concept that can be misunderstood with the holding two in this formation is their responsibilities within the team. They’re defensive by name but not necessarily by practice and the formation doesn’t require a couple of archetypal Claude Makelele figures in there to just break up play.

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At least one half of the pair has to be cultivating play and proactive in the instigation of moves; like something of a deep-lying playmaker of sorts. Villas-Boas has had to start Livermore there more through a complete lack of fit/other viable options, but Spurs have suffered in the centre of the park as a result. Neither Livermore or Sandro have looked entirely sure as to who should sit and who should go when the team have the ball and their overwhelmingly defensive instincts have shown. It’s a clichéd observation to make, but Spurs really have missed a Modric figure to keep play ticking over and distribute the ball quickly and effectively.

This is why the acquisition of Mousa Dembele is so vitally important for Villas-Boas’ side. Some have naturally clamored for the Belgian to play closer to goal, but his abilities and influence on the ball can be the game changer if he’s played in the pair. He may have been a striker once upon a time, but his goals record isn’t a million miles away from that of Modric’s. During Fulham’s 5-0 massacre of Norwich the other week, he didn’t get one goal or assist- but that didn’t mean he wasn’t pulling the strings. The whole dynamic of this Tottenham team can change for the better with Dembele in this side.

And this isn’t where it stops for Tottenham. If the immersion of a creative playmaker into this team is important, than the deployment of Emmanuel Adebayor is vital. Jermain Defoe has worked his socks off for the side and his new contract suggests he has a part to play in this Spurs team. But the side need a striker who can lead the line on his own and that man simply isn’t the Englishman and it’s been clear to see, despite his goal against Newcastle, for the past three games. The Togolese striker has a real work on to get match fit for Spurs’ next fixture away to Reading but the international break offers him good time to do it.

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This isn’t to say that Villas-Boas can be bulletproof from all criticism himself. The insistence on playing a wearying William Gallas had logic as he looked to immerse Jan Vertonghen into English football, but he must now look to either Steven Caulker or Michael Dawson to complete the back four. Furthermore, bringing on both Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone in the West Brom and Norwich games respectively, invited pressure on the team. He must hold his nerve.

But now the acquisitions have been made to fit the system and Villas-Boas can now attempt to get the machine working with the adequate parts. And for Spurs fans, that can only be a good thing.

Do you feel that Villas-Boas’ set-up now has the players that it needs to progress? Or do you still harbour serious reservations about the way things are looking? Let me know what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus. 

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Liverpool will embark on their biggest game of the season this evening as they take on Roma in a Champions League semi-final decider at the Stadio Olimpico.Jurgen Klopp’s attacking stars were on top form at Anfield as they ran riot in a 5-2 victory, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane finding the back of the net.However, the final 10 minutes were a slight cause for concern from the Reds’ point of view as they relinquished a 5-0 lead to concede two away goals, giving Roma a slither hope.As it stands, Liverpool have a three-goal lead, but the Italian giants managed to hack down the same deficit to knock Barcelona out of the quarter-finals.https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/klopp-excuses.mp4That will certainly be in the back of Klopp’s mind, but his team have been boosted by the news that Kevin Strootman will not play in the match due to injury.

Roma boss Eusebio Di Francesco confirmed the blow during his pre-match press conference, and even though the midfielder was not on his best form at Anfield, he has been a regular fixture in the team having made 42 appearances in all competitions.

Liverpool fans gave their reaction to the news on Reddit.

Comment from discussion Strootman ruled out for Roma.Comment from discussion Strootman ruled out for Roma.Comment from discussion Strootman ruled out for Roma.Comment from discussion Strootman ruled out for Roma.Comment from discussion Strootman ruled out for Roma.Comment from discussion Strootman ruled out for Roma.

With former club talisman Robin van Persie successfully completing his permanent switch away from Old Trafford this summer, Louis van Gaal now faces going into the 2015/16 Premier League campaign with a distinct lack of striking options at his disposal.

The likes of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez remain the only real first choice forwards at Manchester United ahead of the new season, and whilst young James Wilson may eventually see out his potential with the Red Devils in the upcoming future, the club’s current situation up-top remains far from satisfactory with all things considered.

Whilst a whole host of big name striker targets have supposedly been lined up by the club throughout the summer transfer window, there is one name reportedly still in the hat that could certainly gather a fair amount of attention should the interest in his services be genuine…

Everton’s marquee front-man, Romelu Lukaku, was initially linked with a move to the Red Devils a good few weeks back – leaving the rest of the English footballing community to ponder whether or not the powerful centre-forward would really suit playing at Old Trafford in 2015/16?

Well, if the Goodison Park faithful were to have their say, most would obviously be keen on holding onto their rapidly emerging Belgian star. Although his output in the Premier League has admittedly been far from spectacular since first joining the Toffees for a staggering £28million in 2014, Lukaku nonetheless represents a player with a great deal of potential.

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As well as offering Roberto Martinez a tough asset for defenders to deal with up-top however, it’s easy to forget that this former Anderlecht and Chelsea man still remains a mere 22-years-of-age. He is therefore well within the key development stages of his career – and if he can improve on his all-round reliability in front of goal across the next few seasons – fans of the Premier League could definitely be witnessing a true world beater in Lukaku soon on the horizon.

From being able to bully even the most hardened English defences in the Premier League, to equally providing his respective fan-base with a fair amount of technical prowess in the final third – everything necessary to make it at the very highest level is already present in the up and coming Everton man.

With such a glowing report for Romelu Lukaku in mind then, Manchester United and Louis van Gaal would certainly find themselves in a pretty exciting position if they eventually managed to lure the Belgian front-man away from Goodison Park this summer. Alongside Memphis Depay and Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford – the current Toffees no. 10 would most definitely go a long way in replacing Robin van Persie at the club – and could perhaps even better the Dutchman’s efforts given enough time out on the pitch.

The Red Devils simply need a no-nonsense kind of striker doing the business for their club sooner rather than later, for without such an addition within Louis van Gaal’s squad, Manchester United ultimately remain somewhat flat in the striking department.

Those who have somehow proven keen to discredit the big Belgian front-man throughout his time in the Premier League though, would likely point to Lukaku’s less than successful spell at Stamford Bridge just a few short seasons ago – and how the striker eventually failed to make much of an impact at Chelsea.

However, as a succession of different Blues managers simply never saw fit to give Romelu Lukaku a decent run in the team whilst playing for the club, such criticisms of the centre-forward remain firmly wide of the mark. The Belgian international was a great deal younger whilst operating at Chelsea as well, which also must be fairly taken into consideration.

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Yet despite the clear potential a player like Lukaku would seemingly offer at Old Trafford next term, it ultimately remains too difficult to imagine Everton ever parting ways with their record signing any time soon. If such a deal were to take place this summer, the Goodison Park faithful would simply never forgive their chairman for a agreeing to the move in the first place.

The player himself is also pretty well suited to his current surroundings at Everton. Therefore, although the chance to play with some world class talent at Manchester United will likely tempt the 22-year-old somewhat this summer, it would simply take a very brave man to suggest that Romelu Lukaku will be on his way out of Everton before the 2015 transfer window eventually comes to a close.

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Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has confessed that he is unsure of his future at Craven Cottage.

The Australian international’s contract with the Londoners in set to expire at the end of the month, and he is yet to agree a new deal.

The longer the situation remains at a stalemate, the less likely it appears that the 40-year-old will be staying put, and he has confessed that his future is far from certain:

“There’s no new developments; there’s no new discussions; there’s no nothing,” he is quoted by ESPN.

“I’m confident my club situation will resolve itself one way or another.

“Something will be sorted out – I’ve got no worries about that. I’ve got no idea at this stage where I’m going to be. I’m open to anything.”

Schwarzer signed for Fulham in 2008, and has gone on to make in excess of 150 appearances, becoming a fans’ favourite in the process.

But his future with the club is in serious doubt, with manager Martin Jol said to be keen on bringing Roma stopper Maarten Stekelenberg to Craven Cottage.

Reports suggest that a deal between the two clubs has been all but agreed, which puts the veteran’s place in the squad in serious doubt.

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Fulham have been active in the transfer market already, agreeing deals from Derek Boateng and Fernando Amorebieta.

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According to reliable West Ham news website Claret & Hugh, West Ham United could be ready to sell Aaron Cresswell, rated at £10.8m by Transfermarkt, this summer if they retain their Premier League status.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Claret & Hugh says that the east London outfit believe that the 28-year-old’s defensive game has slipped this year, and he could be moved on at the end of the season even though he is their top assister this term.

Cresswell has often been playing as a left-sided centre-back in a three-man defence in 2018 following injuries to Winston Reid and James Collins – as well as the departure of Jose Fonte to the Chinese Super League in February – but he has struggled to make too much of an impact given the Irons have the worst defensive record in the top flight, with 67 goals conceded.

Claret & Hugh say that while Manchester City and Chelsea have shown an interest in the former Ipswich Town man in the past, they are unlikely to still be interested now following his dip in form – Everton could be a potential destination however, after the Toffees were linked with him last month.

How has Cresswell done this season?

As we mentioned previously, he has struggled from a defensive point of view.

While it is perhaps a little harsh to judge him on his displays at centre-back given it is not his natural position, it isn’t exactly as though he has done well when he has played as a left-back or left wing-back either – as shown in the 4-1 defeat against Man City at the London Stadium this weekend.

That said, the 28-year-old scored his first goal of the campaign against Pep Guardiola’s men with a fine free-kick, while he has seven assists to his name in 33 Premier League appearances during the current campaign, although his crossing and delivery in general still often leaves a lot to be desired.

Should West Ham look to sell him this summer?

It’s difficult to say.

While he has certainly been a great servant for the Irons and has shown that he can be key in the future because of his assists record, the fact that he struggles from a defensive point of view is a huge issue.

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With Arthur Masuaku potentially establishing himself as a first-choice wing-back and the east London outfit likely to bring two new centre-backs in this summer, it could leave the 28-year-old surplus to requirements – especially if they do receive an attractive bid from a potential suitor.

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