EPL CRYSTAL BALL
Sepp Blatter is mulling over the possibility of moving the African Cup of Nations into June or July from 2016 onwards. And when one sees the affect that the tournament has on leagues all over the globe, the raison d’être is a no-brainer. If one team has a more influential core of African players, or even a single player who has talismanic influence over the squad; losing them for a month could take the wheels off a smoothly driven season. This could give an unwarranted advantage to the rivals of the aforementioned team, who are vying for the same position in the league. Considering the possible repercussions for EPL sides, here’s a look ahead to the aftereffects of the African tournament on the top seven of the English Premier League.
MANCHESTER CITY League leaders City are set to lose the Toure brothers. While Kolo has been a bit part player this season, since Lescott and Kompany have formed a formidable center-back duo, an injury or even a small niggle, to either one of the two could leave City short at the back. Yaya Toure has been the midfield engine for City this season, and it’s his loss that is going to impact them with the most severity. In his absence, City would most probably line up Milner alongside Barry; but De Jong and Hargreaves (if he even unstitches himself from the treatment table) are other options as well. MANCHESTER UNITED Defending Champions United wouldn’t be losing out on any of their contingent; but they should be on the lookout if City suffer a setback of two in Yaya’s absence. United have been on a conspicuous downward spiral off late, with back to back losses to Blackburn and Newcastle, and they need to get their act together before their season disintegrates.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Like United, Spurs won’t be losing out on any of their influential players. Since Cameroon and Togo did not qualify, Bassong, Assou Ekotto and most significantly Emmanuel Adabayor would be staying with Spurs. Spurs are on the coattails of the two Manchesters; trailing United by three points, with a game in hand, they should up the ante and give the title a real go – as expounded in this space a couple of weeks back.
CHELSEA Customarily it’s Chelsea that has to bear the brunt of the African Cup of Nations in the past. This year round, Drogba, Kalou and Mikel would be off to Africa; and while none of the trio is exactly the backbone of the London club this year, with games coming thick and fast Andre Villas-Boas would have wanted his full deck of cards to play with. Mikel hasn’t been in the Portuguese’s plans recently, with Romeu supplanting the Nigerian; however with Drogba and Kalou leaving, Chelsea would only have Sturridge, Lukaku and Torres in attack. This could be an opportunity sent in from footballing gods for the latter, who can eradicate the miseries of an abysmal 2011 by a strong start in 2012.
ARSENAL Arsenal would be breathing a collective sigh of relief knowing that Alex Song wouldn’t be off to Africa this month since Cameroon did not qualify. Arsenal would, however, be without Frimpong and Gervinho. The former has been touted as a future star, but hasn’t been playing regularly enough to massively affect Arsenal’s January. The latter, nevertheless, has been a great signing for Arsenal this season; and his service on the left wing could be sorely missed. Arshavin or Oxlade Chamberlain should be called upon to hog the left wing in Gervinho’s absence.
LIVERPOOL Liverpool losing out on Suarez is the equivalent of missing a player whose team goes all the way to the final of the African Cup of Nations. With the Uruguayan’s eight-game ban underway, he’d be missing the entire month of January. Dalglish has recently peddled the desire to be ‘more clinical’ in front of goal – a noise that has been clamoured in Anfield for months – and even though Suarez wasn’t exactly banging in goals, his attacking impetus would be severely missed in January. The good news for Liverpool though is that Stevie G is back. And his return is always a symbol of buoyant optimism for Liverpudlians – if nothing else.
NEWCASTLE UNITED Possibly the most hard-done by side in the league, Newcastle would be losing out on indubitably their two most influential players in Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba. Tiote’s midfield dynamism and his industrious work in the center of the park – that allows Cabaye to weave his magic – will be a gargantuan hole at St. James’ Park. Couple this with Ba’s goal scoring prowess; and the hope of a veritable surge towards the top four – in the aftermath of a groundbreaking win over United – could slowly evaporate. Vuckic – who impressed in his first start a couple of weeks back – should partner Cabaye meanwhile; but Alan Pardew might need to unknot his purse strings, if he wants to make up for Ba’s goals upfront.