The Last Word - Sports Blog (Sean Simara)

Goalkeepers Joe Hart (Man City) John Ruddy (Norwich) Fraser Forster (Celtic) Defenders Kyle Walker (Tottenham) Glen Johnson (Liverpool) Phil Jones (Man Utd) Chris Smalling (Man Utd) Gary Cahill (Chelsea) Phil Jagielka (Everton) Ashley Cole (Chelsea) Leighton Baines (Everton) Midfielders Michael Carrick (Man Utd) Andros Townsend (Tottenham) Theo Walcott (Arsenal) Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Tom Cleverley (Man Utd) Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) Ross Barkley (Everton). Forwards Danny Welbeck (Man Utd) Wayne Rooney (Man Utd) Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) Rickie Lambert (Southampton) Jermain Defoe (Tottenham) Could Go: Rob Green World Cup experience, even though it didn’t go that well he has been in form this season, if it continues his experience could play a roll with a lot of young keepers around him. Andy Carroll How he comes back from injury will be vital, he’s better then Lambert but if not fit there’s no point bringing him. Ravel Morrison Impressive start to th...

QPR have had the best start they could have wished for in the Championship, after the debacle of last season the Super Hoops are joint top, undefeated in the league and have kept 8 clean sheets in a row. A club record for Rob Green, they now have a ‘team’ not just ‘individuals’. Charlie Austin is now finding the net. Hoilett scares defenders in this league with his pace and Barton has not put a foot wrong so far this season. Danny Simpson and Richard Dunne have been sensational at the back & we have seen the usual solid performances from Hill too. If Harry can keep QPR in the top 4 up in till Christmas I’m sure they will spend wisely again in January and it could be an instant return to the top flight.

  As were in the International break each team in the Premier League has played 7 games and it makes pleasant reading for Arsenal fans. It could be the signing of Ozil, it could be Wenger still ‘has it’, or it could be Arsenal have been the best of a average bunch so far this season. Aaron Ramsey is playing out of his skin and as Giroud has not been injured the one striker they do have has been doing the business. Can it last? It could, as Arsenal have players with injuries to come back. They have some harder games coming up which will see where they are, but beating Napoli with ease in the Champions League shows the Gunners could be back.  Liverpool have had an impressive start to the season, Sturridge has been in fine form and now Suarez has returned surely this means good things? Three at the back seems to be working for Rodgers, I do feel they will slip down eventually but this fast start gives their hopes for top 4 a boost. Chelsea are in third without a decent striker a...

Roy Hodgson takes his England side to Ukraine tonight knowing avoiding defeat would put at least one foot for England in Rio next summer. With Danny Welbeck out suspended he now has to shake up the forward line. England already have a mass amount of injuries in that position, but tonight I can imagine he will bring in James Milner to the starting line up. Not the most inspiring selection but he seems to be Hodgson's go to guy when things get tricky. It tells a lot when you have the Spurs duo Townsend & Defoe who would be far more exciting and more of a goal scoring threat sitting on the bench. Don't be surprised if Tom Cleverley makes an appearance too as he is one of Roy's favourites. Lambert will start down the middle with Walcott on the right I say.  Frank Lampard will get his 100th cap, Gerrard will start so will Wilshere, so that means no place in the starting line up for Carrick. He has been the most consistent English player for the past 18 months for his club...

QPR have done some very good business this summer they managed to shift out most of the big wages and players that let them down so badly last season. Harry has brought some terrific players (as he would say) Charlie Austin proven goals at this level. Danny Simpson and Richard Dunne have improved the defence. Karl Henry does the dirty work but Joey Barton has been brilliant so far and the fact he is still at the club is a massive bonus. Matt Phillips has not kicked a ball yet but again a very good player at this level. On the last day of the window QPR brought in Nico Krancjar, Tom Carroll and Benoit Assou-Ekotto on loans deals. Harry has worked with them all before and they are clearly the right sort of player. Carroll is a is future England player, Krancjar can bring creativity and goals. B.O.E is just like Simpson on the other flank, he loves to get forward. It could be a very exciting season for QP R with the business they have done.

 Now the transfer window has closed I look back at some of the last deals that went through and who have had a nightmare.  Arsenal finally spent some cash and on a world class player, Wenger did pull this out the bag, after a frustrating summer for the Gooners they now have a new hero, Mesut Ozil. This transfer came out of the blue for many reasons, one Arsenal spending such a large amount of cash. Secondly the fact Arsenal didn't really need a player in his position but if you get the chance to bring in class you do it. The £42m pound deal puts some much needed excitement at the Emirates. The deal has been compared to when Arsenal brought in Dennis Bergkamp he defiantly can have the same impact.  The other side of north London did the most business, Tottenham brought in 7 new faces for over £100 million. However they did lose Bale, but the squad itself has improved with some real talent Eriksen, Lamela and Saldado look exciting but how quickly will it take for the new fa...

Arsenal If ever a season Arsene Wenger had to deliver it's now. The other top sides have changed their manager, he has the experience, they have the cash, debt free so what will Arsenal do this year? Not a lot I think. As of writing they don’t have Suarez they missed out on Higuian and have done nothing but get players out. If they do bring in a big name striker they could be knocking on the door of the title from a distance but I see another empty season for the Gunners & Wenger's reign could be done and dusted, like their trophy cabinet. Key Man - Santi Cazorla - He started last year pretty well, even some comparing him to Mata, some Gunners even thought he was better. He isn’t but he is a very creative player and if Arsenal do anything this year I imagine he will pull the strings. Aston Villa The Villa stayed up with ease in the end, it did look very ropey at times but Benteke's goals virtually kept them in the Premier League. Lambe...

Championship In one of the toughest leagues in the world to get out of, it looks like a burial ground of ex Premier League clubs. 18 of the 24 sides have played in the top flight and will be looking to get back to the promise land. The favourites, the richest and the ones that will be looking for an instant jump back is QPR. After gambling on the big names, big money deals and wages Rangers 2 year stay in the top flight ended in humiliating fashion last year. They need to go up first time of asking, as a lot of players are on silly money with years to go on their contracts. They can’t get them all out so promotion is the number one target for the west London money bags, no matter what the chairman says. They have done well to shift some of them out the door but a lot of players who let QPR down last year will still be around come kick off. A strong start will be vital so they can sake off the negative energy of last season. I expect Reading to be up near the top of the table, ther...

Alan McGregor -  Besiktas to Hull after one season in Turkey he can test himself in the Premier League, was good across the boarder and will be busy this season as Hull still have a weak defence. Jesus Navas Sevilla to Man City this nippy winger will add a new dimension to City’s attack, now fully over his homesickness issues in his younger day’s English football could suit the Spanish international. Victor Wanyama Celtic to Southampton one of the deals of the summer so far, I feel he could have gone to a higher Premier League side but maybe they didn't want to gamble on a SPL star just yet, he should do the business for the Saints though. Emanuele Giaccherini Juventus to Sunderland the Black Cats are looking to have a revamp of their squad. Di Canio made it clear what he wants from his side & the signing of this man from Italy could be one of the better ones. QPR After the trip to Austria with two games under the belt, one win and one d...

The transfer window hasn't quite hit full pace yet with some of the big four waiting for the other to blink first and with the striker merry-go round lurking round the corner, some are waiting for the right man to pop up or if they might already have the right man at the club already. Some of the deals so far that catch my eye are: Andreas Cornelius - Copenhagen to Cardiff, smashing their transfer record for a 20 year-old is a gamble for the Premier League new boys. Andre Schurrle - Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea fresh off the German production line, he is Jose first major signing upon his return. Dwight Gayle - Peterborough to Palace £8.5 million shelled out on a man who has not played top flight football with no Zaha & Murray he will have to hit the ground running. Simon Mignolet - Sunderland to Liverpool he had a very good season in a average Sunderland side the Belgium will want to play game in a World Cup year and I think Reina's replacement. Fer...

What a surprise Chris Samba is heading back to Russia after he said that money is not everything. Well he was half fit, not really interested in the fight and just collected his £100k for 6 months. He didn't appear towards the end of the season which speaks volumes of where his head was at. However the fact Anhzi are stupid enough to pay the £12m back to QPR is pretty good business from the owners at Loftus Road. The singing of Danny Simpson shows QPR might just be taking it seriously in getting promoted right away. He is a reliable defender, will work hard and is under 30 years-old which is a rare thing for a QPR signing. He is probably getting decent cash though. They have weeded out some of the cling-ons in the squad but there's a long way to go still.   Bringing Steve McClaren back into football as a coach on a short term deal concerns me. Now it's interesting that QPR would get a manager who is actively looking for work, added the fact Redknapp could sound off and le...

Champions League Final As we come to an end of another exciting season, the main event on Saturday night (before the boxing) is the Champions League final at the home of football, Wembley Stadium. Two German sides mixing it up on English soil will be a must see event. I have been backing Dortmund for a while so I have to stick with them. Borussia Dortmund   Key man Gotze is out, but he is on his way to Munich in the summer so how ‘up for it’ would be a real issue. They do have other real quality players that can shine at Wembley. Robert Lewandowski is a brilliant striker who is gaining attention form the giants of European football. This will probably be his last game in the yellow of Dortmund and he will want to go out on a high. Gundogan, Bender and Kehl as a midfield unit are one of the best. I feel the real star on the night could be Reus, he will take Gotze role and this youngster I feel will rise to the occasion. Bayern Munich After the heartbreak of last year bottling i...

Man United United won their 20th Premier League title with ease in the end. Finishes 11 points clear of Man City it was a worthy end to a fantastic career for Sir Alex. He left United where he would have wanted as champions. Van Persie’s signing proved key but United has players like Giggs, Carrick Ferdinand and De Gea all had great seasons that lead to this title. Man City A poor season from them, failed in the Champions League, never looked like they would retain their title at all. The FA cup debacle was a step too far for the owners. Mancini went and we will probably see a big turn around player wise at City this summer. However they did get second so some credit for that. Chelsea Europa League winners and 3rd in the league a good season? I would say yes, Rafa came in after Di Matteo got the boot and under massive pressure from fans who didn’t want him there, he did a pretty good job. Winning the trophy will be good for him but for the club the top 4 finish was vital. Looks like he...