Cavs defend the land

The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated a motivated Boston Celtics squad 102-99, which initially looked rattled after losing forward Gordon Hayward to and injury just over five minutes into the game. LeBron James was one assist short of a triple-double with 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine assists, Kevin Love had a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, Derrick Rose had 14 points and four rebounds, and Jae Crowder 11 points and five rebounds.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points and six rebounds, Kyrie Irving had a 22-point, 10-assist double-double, rookie Jayson Tatum also had a double-double in his maiden regular season NBA game with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Marcus Smart had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Rockets strike Warriors

The defending champions Golden State Warriors were beaten by the Houston Rockets in a closely contested game that ended 122-121. James Harden had a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double, Eric Gordon had 24 points, PJ Tucker had 20 points and six rebounds, Cameroonian forward Luc Mbah a Moute 14 points and four rebounds, Congolese/Angolan-Swiss center Clint Capela put up 12 points and grabbed four boards, while Ryan Anderson finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.

The Warriors were led by Nick Young with 23 points, Stephen Curry had 22 points, five rebounds and four assists, Kevin Durant had 20 points, five rebounds, seven assists and four blocks, Klay Thompson had 16 points and six rebounds, and Draymond Green was a point short of a triple double with nine points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

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Source: NBA

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The scrutiny was intense. Nobody was allowed to slacken off for a second. If they did, he would issue a stern rebuke or send assistant Albert Stuivenburg to do it for him.

Push up: Van Gaal makes a point as the players perform one-handed press-ups using basketballs

When the players were granted a pause in the sticky Florida evening they looked knackered.

Test of strength: Striker Javier Hernandez gets to grips with the weights during the training session. The Mexican scored United’s third goal in their 3-1 win over Real Madrid on Saturday

It has become clear on United’s American tour that van Gaal is not only trying to instil a new tactical awareness in his players but also make them the fittest and strongest in the Premier League.

He had no problem with publicly embarrassing new signing Luke Shaw by saying he wasn’t fit enough and made him train on his own to catch up. It doesn’t matter if you’re the new £30m signing.

Strongman: Wayne Rooney takes his turn to lift the weights as pre-season training continues apace

Barking the orders: Van Gaal watches on as his assistant Albert Stuivenberg issues instructions 

Hard work, lads? The players certainly looked as if they’d been put through a hard session 

Van Gaal certainly looked every inch the PE teacher he had trained to become as he put his Manchester United squad through their paces ahead of Monday night’s International Champions Cup final with Liverpool.

The Sun Life Stadium in Miami resembled a ‘Boot Camp’ as the players were put through a gruelling session of circuit training.

Good start: United have won all four matches under van Gaal’s stewardship so far, against the LA Galaxy, Roma, Inter Milan and Real Madrid

Stung: New signing Luke Shaw was publicly criticised by van Gaal for not being fit enough 

Tied up: The United players had elastic bands attached to their waists for some resistance training

Best foot forward: Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone at the end of a rope held by Shinji Kagawa

Hold on: Keepers Sam Johnstone (left), Anders Lindegaard (middle) and David de Gea take part in the resistance training part of the circuit 

Roll with it: The players also used medicine balls and barbells during the circuit 

Weighed down: Javier Hernandez smiles as he carries a weight

Slalom: Sam Johnstone steps through the cones as Kagawa waits for his turn behind

 Quick step: Kagawa, who set up Hernandez’s goal against Real, gets his feet moving

Jog on: Wayne Rooney and Tom Cleverley take part in the warm-up 

Return: Darren Fletcher is enjoying his first pre-season in two years following struggles with illness

Get moving: The players size up the circuit as training gets underway in Miami 

Even striker Robin van Persie, the ‘teacher’s pet’, has been told to prove his fitness before being allowed anywhere near the team.

Instructions are short and sharp, delivered in an authoritative tone. He’s not looking for a discussion, this is what’s going to happen.

His biographer Maarten Meijer captures this ‘schoolmasterly’ approach well in his recent book on van Gaal’s life.

‘The experience of daily interacting with often unmotivated or emotionally troubled youths at school has given these trainers a cutting edge,’ he writes.

In form: Ashley Young has scored four times on the American tour as he bids for a first team spot 

Thoughtful: Assistant manager Ryan Giggs watches on as the squad train

‘This skills can be recognised in the way they deal with their adult charges – pro players – who can be just as testy and demanding as high school boys, and who intermittently require patient understanding and tough discipline.

‘Van Gaal’s critics are perturbed by what they consider the coach’s schoolmasterly style and tone.

‘In their view he is still the high school teacher: ever the smart-aleck, autocratic, comfortably convinced of the superiority of his own opinions, and no one should dare to criticise master van Gaal’s methodology.’

Van Gaal has always refuted these PE teacher comparisons but, watching him stood, hands planted on hips with an unchanging, unimpressed expression, as his United players are sent round the circuit, it’s hard to believe him.

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Source: Dailymail

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Speaking in Michigan, where United are preparing to face Real Madrid on Saturday, the 28-year-old admits he is happy with the role he has been asked to play under the Dutchman.

Since taking over at Old Trafford, Van Gaal has employed a 3-5-2 formation, using wingbacks against LA Galaxy, Roma and Inter Milan.

Rooney, who has netted four times in three games on their pre-season trip to the United States, said: “The manager has come in and we are playing a different system.

“It’s been great, even at my age, to learn a new system and try to get better with the team. We have to and, over the next few weeks, I am sure we will do.

“In the few games so far I have enjoyed the role I have played. The closer you are to the goal, the more chance you have of scoring.”

As for the match against the La Liga giants and reigning European champions, Rooney added: “We want to win the game and end the group as leaders.

“I’m sure it will be a great spectacle and, with 110,000 fans here, it will be a great experience.”

However, there are concerns about the newly laid playing surface that will greet the two teams at the Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, with Rooney adding: “The pitch is very soft. The ball does not roll as well as you would like it to.

“There is nothing we can do about that, we have to adapt to the conditions and do the best we can.”

Van Gaal was less diplomatic, saying: “It’s a bad pitch with the ball not rolling properly.

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Source: Sky Sports

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The Dutchman used a 3-4-1-2 formation in tour games against Los Angeles Galaxy and Roma and has said the squad in its current state “is not balanced”.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Van Gaal said: “I have to choose this system.”

But the 62-year-old warned: “I don’t buy players for buying players. I buy players to improve my selection.”

One of Van Gaal’s challenges in his new role is to get the best out of Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Robin van Persie, three players seen as crucial to their hopes of improving on last season’s seventh-place Premier League finish under former manager David Moyes.

“That is one argument why I chose this system. I can play them all – that is important,” Van Gaal added. “With the quality of the squad I choose this system.

“But don’t forget all the others. Javier Hernandez can play in the striker’s position, Danny Welbeck can, maybe Will Keane also. He can develop himself.

“Rooney can play at 10 and nine. He said to me he can also play seven and 11. But I like him more at nine or 10.”

In the 3-4-1-2 formation, two strikers are supported by an attacking midfielder, with a two-man central midfield flanked by two wing-backs ahead of a three-man central defence.

Van Gaal used the same tactic at the 2014 Fifa World Cup to steer Netherlands to third place in Brazil.

In the 7-0 win over Galaxy the wing-back roles were occupied by Antonio Valencia and new signing Luke Shaw, with Rafael and Reece James coming on for the pair after the break. Against Roma, Ashley Young was employed on the right after coming on for Valencia, while James and Shaw again shared the berth on the left.

Van Gaal is prepared to give his existing players a chance in the new system but admitted new additions could be brought in were they to bring greater balance to the side.

Van Gaal has already spent £56m on full-back Shaw and midfielder Ander Herrera since becoming United’s manager in the summer.

But Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice-chairman, says there is more money available.

Van Gaal added: “We have to see if the selection is in balance and how we can improve it. Not only by training but also transfers.

“I am always looking first to my players because the players are the most important thing in the club.”

Van Gaal’s strong start at United has been in start contrast to the ill-fated Moyes reign, but the former Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss rejected the suggestion he was benefitting from following in the wake of Moyes rather than Sir Alex Ferguson.

He said: “I don’t agree. I had to follow Bobby Robson at Barcelona. In that year he won three titles. I had to succeed him. I don’t think that is a problem.

“When there is success you also have a very good squad. Now I have to follow and the squad was broken, I think. It is not in balance, I have already said that.

“It is more difficult to succeed in a difficult situation than a fantastic situation.”

Van Gaal added that whoever he chooses as his captain “more or less needs to have the same philosophy” as himself, adding “it’s not so simple to choose and that’s why I need time to do that”.

He also admitted the decision to join United was “not an instant yes”.

He added: “At that time I had other offers also. I had to think about it but at the end I chose Manchester.”

In a wide-ranging interview, Van Gaal also revealed that the mind games employed by some managers in the Premier League will not be of concern to him when the season begins.

“For me, it is not so interesting,” he said. “I have to manage my club. That is already difficult enough. I am not concerned with other clubs or other managers.”

He added: “I am a human being who loves football. I have always looked to matches in England. I like the atmosphere of the English games. Because of that it is a challenge for me.

“That I can work for the biggest club in England and the world makes it more of a challenge for me.”

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Source: BBC Sport

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England left-back Shaw, a summer signing from Southampton, returned late to club training after spending the summer with Roy Hodgson’s squad at the World Cup in Brazil.

Shaw trained on his own at FedEx Field in Washington on Monday as Van Gaal oversaw preparations for the friendly clash with Inter Milan on Tuesday.

His England team-mates Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones all trained with the rest of the squad.

“I am always a trainer who sees the individuals and what each player needs,” Van Gaal said.

“Luke needs to be fit and he’s not very fit and can’t perform how I want. He needs to be fit and to train individually.

“I can’t judge why. I see what I see. I have spoken with him and we have made a programme with him.

“He has agreed. We will have to see how long it takes. I don’t know. I have heard good messages from Tony Strudwick the fitness coach.”

Van Gaal also confirmed he will give Wilfried Zaha the chance to impress as a striker against Inter, where he will be the last member of United’s squad to get a run-out.

The Dutchman has told the England Under-21 international he will have to focus on playing more centrally as he does not fit in elsewhere in his proposed 3-5-2 formation.

Van Gaal added: “He will have to play as a striker as he can’t play the other positions in the system.

“Ashley Young can play as a wing-back. Zaha cannot do that so he will be a striker.

“I have spoken with him and I think he can do it. We will see.  He will play the second 45 minutes of this game and will play as a striker.”

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Source: Sky Sports

The post Shaw told to train alone by LVG to improve fitness appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

United play Los Angeles Galaxy in Pasadena on Wednesday, before games in Denver, Washington and Detroit.

Dutchman Van Gaal, 62, blamed “commercial activities” for the amount of travel.

“You have to travel distances, you have to fly a lot, you also have jetlag – that is not very positive for a good preparation,” he said.

His statement contradicted the words of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward 24 hours earlier, when he insisted the tour – which will see United travel almost 13,500 miles if they reach the final of the International Champions Cup – did not disrupt preparation.

Van Gaal, who met his players for the first time last week after leading the Netherlands to third place at the World Cup, said he was already making his presence felt at the club.

“The tour was already arranged so I have to adapt – and Manchester United shall do everything to adapt to my rules for good preparation,” he said.

The 20-mile trip from the team hotel in Beverly Hills to Pasadena took in excess of an hour despite the assistance of a police escort, and Van Gaal apologised for his late arrival at a news conference to preview the encounter with LA Galaxy.

Asked if he would prefer a shorter tour next year he said: “Yeah, I hope that. And I am very confident that it shall be.”

Tours have tended to become more long-haul as United’s commercial operation has widened.

Not since 2002 have the club remained in Europe for an entire pre-season and last year they travelled in excess of 23,000 miles on a trip that included a week in Australia.

“The Premier League has been very clear in saying America is the number one developing market,” said Woodward on Monday.

“This is a very good country from a potential sponsorship perspective.”

After leading his team onto the pitch at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl stadium in Tuesday’s training session with a wave to the 2,500 spectators, Van Gaal then stood back and analysed as his coaches put the players through their paces.

Chris Smalling and Darren Fletcher were singled out when Van Gaal demanded to know why the pair had not looked at the ball during a shooting drill.

When Wayne Rooney completed the task to his new manager’s satisfaction, Van Gaal made sure Smalling and Fletcher knew about it.

New signings Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw could make their debuts against La Galaxy in a game expected to attract a crowd in excess of 70,000.

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Source: BBC Sport

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Louis Van Gaal  wants his new stars to dream of Manchester United in their sleep – at the club’s high-tech training complex and is behind new ­individual sleep pods that have been installed at the Old Trafford giants’ Carrington ­training ground as he embarks on a massive behind-the-scenes shake-up, writes Sam Bates of the Sunday People.

The sleep pods, complete with ­privacy partitions and lockers, are ­designed to give the players maximum comfort and rest time between sessions when they are training.

And they could become vital ­components for the players as Van Gaal restructures the training schedules which may even include NIGHT sessions as the evenings get darker.

Van Gaal wants all his stars to spend more time at the training ground while he tutors them in his way of working.

As well as sleep pods, the former Holland chief has already authorised major changes which include:

● Installing floodlights on the main training pitch at Carrington.

● Ripping up the pitch to install the same grass system as at Old Trafford.

● Only working with a squad of 22.

● Telling his stars they MUST adapt to his way of working.

● Ordering his players to eat together at Carrington.

CHRIS NEILL/MAVERICK

Van Gaal is a stickler for detail and straight after breezing into Old Trafford he was ordering diggers and earth ­ movers be brought in to put up more of a wind break at the training ground.

“Wind is not always the friend of the players,” he said. “It’s not always the friend of the ball and so we have to do something about that. But the facilities are fantastic.”

Even before his arrival his long-term lieutenant Albert Stuivenberg was implementing key changes to the way stars like Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and new boys Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw will work.

Stuivenberg, assistant coach ­alongside Ryan Giggs in the new ­set-up, presented his boss with a detailed breakdown of working conditions at Carrington as soon as he arrived.

The facility is rated one of the best in Europe with a state-of-the-art medical wing, ­gymnasium packed with scientific ­equipment and a hydrotherapy pool for rehabilitation of injuries, but Van Gaal still wants some areas tweaked.

The 62-year-old coach, who guided Holland to third place at the World Cup and has won league titles at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, has a clear strategy for success.

Temporary floodlights will give way to permanent structures over the main show pitch at Carrington, with Van Gaal wanting the option to run training sessions later in the day and even at night.

John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images

That will be a dramatic departure from the 10am starts under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes.

Before he took formal charge, Van Gaal had Giggs and Stuivenberg taking afternoon sessions – the second of the day – at almost 5pm to get ­players used to more changes to come.

Van Gaal likes to work with only 22 players in training, believing a bigger group hinders his work which can often be hands-on with certain players.

Moyes implemented a raft of ­changes to the club’s academy and scouting set-up, believing he would be at United long-term to carry out his plans.

But Van Gaal will not make that same mistake.

He will take a keen ­interest in the players coming through the youth system, but he has made it clear to the coaching staff that his ­priority is to get the first team ­winning again – and fast. He ­intends to ­concentrate on developing his playing pattern and will demand the full co-operation of the players to carry out his instructions on the pitch.

Anyone not buying into his way will be quickly isolated. But beneath his no-nonsense, brusque exterior, lies a human touch that has taken workers at Carrington by surprise.

And Van Gaal’s arrival has already been hailed as a step ­forward from the dark struggles under Moyes last term.

One training-ground source told People Sport: “The atmosphere is ­entirely different. There has been a noticeable bounce about the place. Van Gaal is clearly someone who demands total dedication from those he works with and he knows what he wants.

“But there is a genuine warmth about him, too, and he has clearly bought into the family-style ­atmosphere behind the scenes.

“I saw him ­talking to someone who has been ­working at the club as a ­foot soldier for over 20 years.

“He was as interested to talk to him as he was with Giggs – it was nice to see and that has gone down well with all the ­ordinary people at Carrington.”

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Source: Mirror

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As the club’s new manager faced the media for the first time at Old Trafford, Van Gaal said he has realised within two days the magnitude of the club and the size of the task ahead of him.

The 62-year-old said: “I will do my utmost in my first season – that’s what I can give.

“This is the biggest club in the world. Within two days I know already how important Manchester United is, but also how important the supporters are.

“It’s the biggest club known worldwide, but in sport you are never the biggest club because every season you have to prove that and last season we were seventh.

“I cannot give predictions because you never know. No one predicted the Dutch team would come so far at the World Cup. Nobody predicted German would beat Brazil 7-1, or that the Dutch would beat them 3-0.

“I have to work, I have to prepare a team and adapt to this big club. It will not be easy but I will do my best. When you see my career, what I have won, that is as much as I can say. The future shall show if I can do that again.

“The owners and the CEO have a lot of confidence in me. It was because of this that they have come to me, and I explained my philosophy which made them excited.

“There is a lot of expectation both from them but also the fans, who are very important, but also because of that this is a great challenge, and that is why I chose this club. I hope I shall fulfil the expectation, but it shall be difficult.”

Van Gaal, who took Netherlands to a third place finish at the World Cup this summer, dismissed the idea of a break to take immediate charge at Old Trafford.

He arrived in Manchester on Wednesday, just four days after his Dutch side beat Brazil 3-0 in Brasilia, and oversaw the second half of a double training session before taking the first-team through their paces in earnest on Thursday.

Van Gaal was shown around Old Trafford by Sir Bobby Charlton and the former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Ajax boss spoke of his pride at being lead through his first steps by United’s most revered former player.

“I want to thank Sir Bobby Charlton – it was a great honour to come into this stadium and to be guided  through my first steps as head coach by him.

“I was very proud to do that with Sir Bobby. I have the age to have seen him play so I know what he means for the club and English football.”

–

Source: Sky Sports

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Defender Ron Vlaar stepped up but Sergio Romero – a player who was “taught how to stop penalties” by Van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar – saved his kick.

Argentina won the shootout 4-2 and will face Germany in Sunday’s final.

“I asked two players to take the first ball before ending up with Vlaar,” said new Manchester United boss Van Gaal.

“I thought he was the best player on the pitch so should have confidence.”

Van Gaal was also left to rue the intervention of goalkeeper Romero, who he signed for AZ from Buenos Aires-based Racing Club in 2007.

The Argentine spent two years working under Van Gaal before the 62-year-old departed for Bayern Munich.

“I taught Romero how to stop penalties, so that hurts,” Van Gaal said. “We were the club to bring him to Europe.

“He was a big talent, and someone who has the qualities to do that.”

Romero sought out his former manager at the end of the match.

“I went to the dressing room to thank him,” he said. “He is someone who helped me a lot when I arrived in the Netherlands, in a completely different country, with different customs.

“At the beginning I didn’t speak a word, and he spoke Spanish and he helped me a lot.”

The last-four tie in Sao Paulo was decided by penalties following a goalless draw where both sides barely threatened in an uninspiring 120 minutes.

The Dutch scored all four of their spot-kicks to beat Costa Rica in the quarter-final shootout when captain Robin van Persie converted their first effort.

But with the Manchester United striker substituted in extra-time, Van Gaal was forced to turn to Aston Villa centre-back Vlaar.

His low effort was stopped by Romero, who then denied Wesley Sneijder as the Dutch missed two of their four penalties.

“It just goes to show it’s not easy scoring in a shootout,” said Van Gaal. “It’s the most terrible scenario, to lose on penalties. At the very least we were equal with them, if not the better team. It’s a big disappointment.

“Winning on penalties in your previous match should give you confidence. We took those penalties in an incredible way against Costa Rica,”

Van Gaal’s side now face Brazil in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Brasilia but the Dutchman said: “In a tournament you shouldn’t have players play a match for third or fourth place.

“There’s only one award that counts, and that’s being world champion.”

Against Costa Rica, Van Gaal brought on substitute goalkeeper Tim Krul in place of Jasper Cillessen for the shootout – a tactic which worked as Krul saved two spot-kicks.

But he was unable to call on the Newcastle player again, having already made his three substitutions after withdrawing Van Persie in favour of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

“If I had had the opportunity to substitute Jasper I would have done that but I had already used three substitutes so I couldn’t,” Van Gaal said.

“I thought it was necessary to get Van Persie out because he was on his last legs. My feeling was that Huntelaar would make the goal.”

–

Source: BBC Sport

The post No one wanted first penalty – Louis van Gaal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

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Citi Sports editor Gary Al-Smith believes though Ghana did not field a first-string starting XI or anything close to it for the entire duration of the Netherlands friendly, there are problems. And some notable points as well.

1. Gyan is almost irreplaceable

If this were a bout, Asamoah Gyan’s perceived importance to the Black Stars would have been given a unanimous victory.

Voted only weeks ago as the 2013 Footballer of the Year by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana, there still remains a section of people who believe Gyan’s dominance of the UAE league does not make him good enough to be world class.

But even they cannot dispute the vacuum created when he is absent.

Against the Dutch, Jordan Ayew started up front. It was quickly clear that he was heavily reliant on balls from the midfield. Caught in that situation, Gyan – on the contrary – would drop and try to get the ball himself. He did that a lot during the qualifiers.

In a game where Ghana also recorded no shots on target, it is clear Gyan’s precociousness with long shots was missed.

Easily the Black Stars best striker in their last six tournaments, the former Sunderland man scored 45 goals in 42 games in the UAE this season and was joint-top scorer in the African World Cup qualifiers, together with Egypt’s Mohammed Aboutreika.

He’s still Ghana’s undisputed champion.

2. Schlupp gives Ghana hope at left-back. Accam too

The country woke up on Sunday morning to the news that Leicester City’s Jeffery Schlupp and Helsingborg’s David Accam had been axed from the team, with a horrible ankle injury forcing defender Jerry Akaminko to miss the flight to Brazil as well.

But in Schlupp, Ghana truly have a hope that the left-back problem that has worried the team for almost a decade, will be sorted out soon.

His display against the Netherlands may have been uninspiring, but Schlupp’s potential to be a starter for Ghana in the next year is there for all to see.

Having been consistent with his club and helping them on to promotion for next season’s English Premier League, the German-born player should get regular playing time in one of the world’s best leagues before Ghana’s next major tournament in January.

David Accam is a luxury at this point in time. There are players in the current team who easily beat him to a place in the team based on pragmatism alone.

They can do what Accam does – and they have experience to boot. He was competing for a place with Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu and Kwadwo Asamoah.

Tough luck.

3. Afriyie Acquah’s emphatic statement

Accam’s tough luck involved having some of Ghana’s best players to contend with. But with Michael Essien waning in power and durability, Afriyie Acquah (Parma, Italy) has come into the Ghana team at a time he will be badly needed.

Michael Essien’s career problems at national level are well documented, and you get the feeling that Kwesi Appiah wants to give the Bison a proper crack at a World Cup before he says farewell to the tournament.

But it’s difficult to see Essien playing consistent 90 minute games in Brazil.

Normally, Rabiu Mohammed (Kuban Krasnodar, Russia) would have been a naturally replacement. Unfortunately, he is also only recently coming back from injury and as evidenced against the Dutch, needs a few games to get into the groove.

Afriyie Acquah is red and ready, on the back of a strong season for Parma and looking very much like a 24-year old Michael Essien.

4. Kwarasey over Fatau Dauda, please

Any arguments about who should be in goal for Ghana must have been settled by now. Adam Larsen Kwarasey’s biggest problem has been a consistent lack of big game temperament.

Against the World Cup runners-up from the last time, he was sharp.

“If it wasn’t for their very good goalkeeper and our own carelessness, Ghana should have been down 3-0 at half time,” noted Louis van Gaal after the game.

Having not seen Kwarasey at such a level in a while, it was refreshing to see that he has added “the Schmeichel save” to his repertoire. Distribution has always been a strong point of his, as has reaction from long balls.

Ghana’s first choice until now has been South-Africa based Fatau Dauda, but his severe lack of games will make it hard to justify benching the Norway-based Kwarasey in Brazil.

5. The defence is a mess

The best known secret in Ghanaian football was blown to bits on Saturday night: the defensive situation borders on critical now.

Inexperience, lack of composure, lack of communication and general leadership problems highlighted the way the Stars played.

Even with Akaminko around, his partnership with Rashid Sumaila was exposed by the fluid Dutch attack.

Now that Jerry is out, what gives? Sumaila-Jonathan Mensah at center-back? A John Boye and Jonathan Mensah combo looks most likely, but that looks brittle against the kind of barrage likely to meet them against USA, Portugal and Germany.

Which takes us to the next point.

6. The Michael Essien issue

The 31-year old may have just reached a point in his career where he has to reinvent himself one final time.

When Jose Mourinho asked him to play at right back for Real Madrid, Ess immediately agreed and was fairly decent. Not close to sterling, but fairly decent.

This time, Michael will be needed as a center-back. Indeed, this option has been heavily discussed in the past month by local media and now it looks like a necessity.

His preferred defensive midfield role can be handled by a combination of either or all of Afriyie Acquah, Rabiu Mohammed and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.

Kwesi Appiah has told a few confidantes that he is seriously considering Essien as a center-half (what is traditionally called ‘a number four’), so that Jonathan Mensah or John Boye features as a center-back (‘number five’).

With Jerry Akaminko out due to injury, sources say this is now an almost dead certainty and will happen in at least one of the Ghana games in Brazil.

7. Albert Adomah was poor, but he will work

At first glance, it’s hard to see why Adomah is loved by the boss.

He seems like just a mechanical version of Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, but without the excess stopovers. Adomah is very English in his play down the flanks.

But his timing, concentration and work-rate against the Netherlands were horrible. So why is he going to Brazil?

Simply because against Holland, he had an off day. I struggle to recall when the Middlesbrough player has not played to instruction in a Ghana shirt, and that’s why he is on that plane.

I’ve interviewed Kwesi Appiah enough times to know that – like all coaches – anyone who does exactly as he says will be a favorite. A pastor calls this trait “obedience”. The football man calls it “tactical discipline.”

8. Kwadwo must take his place

You buy a Ferrari. You sit inside. You turn on the ignition. You expect a powerful, heart-pleasing roar from the engine’s bowels.

What you get is a meow.

That is Ghana’s situation with Kwadwo Asamoah. His tactical disposition is up there with the best of them, but he must know that great players are those who stand up to be counted in murky situations.

Kwadwo Asamoah has speed in abundance. He has creativity in ounces. He has power in that left-foot to deliver at least five long rangers a game.

But he chooses to simply run and down the wings, link up and do an efficient job.

It is even embarrassing to remember that a few years ago, Asamoah was offered the legendary number ten shirt as heir to Stephen Appiah and let it go because of the pressure associated with it.

If Ghana should go far in Brazil, certain players must fulfill the destiny their immense talent requires. The Juventus man is on top of that list.

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by: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

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