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As the new season creeps ever closer, a lot of attention is directed at the transfer market and which new players will be lining up in various clubs’ shirts for the new season.

But when the pictures of your teams new goalscoring prodigy or defensive rock are taken we soon remember that it will be a fresh strip that they will be taking to the field in.

Gone are the days when clubs wore the same kit for season upon season, with the ever-increasing football merchandise market meaning that new shirts, shorts and even socks will be hoovered up by fans, despite the sky-rocketing prices.

There are, obviously, plenty of new designs and colours on show, so here the ten that we at FFC towers think are the best of the bunch…

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Manchester United

A new era at Old Trafford really does need a completely fresh start, and that may have contributed to the club’s 2013/14 home kit. The Red Devils’ effort is emblazoned with new sponsor, Chevrolet, and comes complete with nice detailing on the sleeve and smart button-up collar. Slick stuff, even Wayne Rooney may look dapper in this!

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West Ham

There are similarities between West Ham’s 1986 home shirt and this season’s instalment, which is fine by us. The Irons have gone for the simple claret broken up with horizontal pinstripes – which are a little more pronounced than the retro edition – coupled with sky blue piping on the ends of the sleeves. Very nice, lads.

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Bayern Munich

With this kit anyone would think Pep Guardiola was going to real lengths to bring his Barcelona success to Munich! All joking aside, the blue and red stripes with white details take some inspiration from the Bavarian flag and make a nice change from last season’s relatively plain effort.

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QPR

Hooped kits aren’t commonplace in English football nowadays, so QPR’s strip makes a nice change from the norm. The R’s are now a member of the Nike family, ensuring that their kit looks a little more ‘big time’ than some previous incarnations.

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AS Roma (Away)

Italians know style, and that is especially clear with Roma’s latest away kit. The off white of the body of the shirt is broken up by a diagonal gold and red stripe that incorporates a retro badge. Words don’t do this one justice, so just take it in for yourself.

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AS Monaco

The glamorous backdrop of Monte Carlo needs a slick kit for the area’s football club, and Monaco have really delivered. The principality outfit always have a unique shirt due to their diagonal half and half tradition, but this year’s effort may just be the best ever. Simple and elegant, players may not just be after the wages at the Stade Louis II anymore!

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Liverpool (Away)

Liverpool’s new away kit may not be the nicest around, but in the spirit of upgrades it’s a million miles better than last year’s effort. Instead of looking like a jumper your Nan may knit you for Christmas, this season’s instalment is a bright and imposing yellow with red detailing. Suarez may not be around, but at least the colours may distract fans. After all, yellow is a cheery shade.

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Wolfsburg (Away)

X marks the spot. That seems to be some sort of inspiration for Wolfsburg’s away kit for the coming camping, and it’s fair to say it looks pretty snappy. The bright green is broken up by two white diagonal stripes that meet between the Volkswagen logo on the Kappa shirt. Good stuff!

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Inter Milan

Beautiful. Further proof that Italy really is the hub of style comes courtesy of Inter Milan’s new home shirt. A simple black with blue pinstripe really is a smart set-up, and one that could be used to usher in a whole new era for the Nerazzurri.

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Chelsea (Away)

Chelsea’s away kit last term was a little uninspiring, but this edition really is an attention grabber! Bright yellow with blue detailing is a little… erm… Brazil. Maybe Jose will employ the samba style rather than his pragmatic approach next season…

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A minority of teams that have experienced the thrill and excitement of playing in the Premier League are now plying their trade in the lower leagues of English football. Some of them because they lack the quality, but mostly because of financial constraints that has led to disappointment. The likes of Coventry City and Portsmouth immediately spring to mind.

However, one notable club that has fallen from grace in recent years is Leeds United. They are currently battling to remain in the second tier of English football, a position they should never have been in. After suffering the financial curse which has previously seen them drop into League One, the Elland Road outfit now have to contend with a certain Italian called Massimo Cellino.

The “mad” Italian, who took over the reins at the Yorkshire club this year, has made notable changes to the club, angering fans in the process. Cellino, who formerly owned Italian outfit Cagliari, has already refused to stay at the team’s hotel because it’s purple, and reportedly released goalkeeper Paddy Kenny because his birthday is on the 17th, a number Cellino considers to be unlucky. He also hired David Hockaday, whose only previous managerial experience was with non-league side Forest Green Rovers, and sacked him after only six games in charge.  Currently under a tax evasion investigation, the Italian could be forced to sell his shares in the Yorkshire if found guilty.

Many have said what is wrong with the club. However, it’s not the club itself to blame, it’s the Football League. One of the questions that has to be asked is what is the fit and proper persons test? Because it certainly doesn’t meet the criteria of Mr Cellino, so why is he the owner of this prestigious and traditional football club? The test will check a person’s background for any criminal convictions who are wishing to own 30% or more of a football club. This is intended to protect clubs not ‘fit’ or ‘proper’ to run a football club. One other problem is the Premier League and Football League test are slightly different, with the Premier League’s being stronger. Anyone who wants to own more than 10% of a football club must make the name public, whereas the Football League does not. This leaves one important factor of any football club in the dark of who owns their club; the fans.

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The fans are the lifeblood of any football club, especially Leeds. Football in Yorkshire is huge and for the fans to be left unsure about what is going on with their club is unacceptable. This is a club that was in the Champions League semi-final 13 years ago with players like Mark Viduka, Rio Ferdinand and Robbie Fowler on their books. Currently looking for a manager, some former big name stars have put their name forward for the vacancy with the likes of Fowler and former striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank eager for the post. Peter Risdale and Ken Bates are also previous owners that have managed to disgruntle fans in the past, and it’s time Leeds United, a club who have had legends such as Don Revie, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, Paul Reaney and Norman Hunter play and manage the club, deserve better.

Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been falsely reported to have caught Ebola by Twitter user @YuryAlkaev.

An online Nigerian news portal known as NGR were hit with tweets from @YuryAlkaev claiming that the now AC Milan ace has contracted the infamous disease.

The hoaxed story spread quickly through the social networks, forcing AC Milan to quickly deny the reports with Essien himself replying: “No truth in internet rumours that I have contracted Ebola. I’m very well & I’m doing very good & will be training as usual tomorrow. #falsenews

This is a cruel attack on the Ghanaian, and we hope that the person behind @YuryAlkaev – who pretended to be a reporter – will get what he deserves for such inconsiderate behaviour.

Over 8,000 people have been infected by the disease, with more than half dying.

LoadingI’m very fit and very healthy,No truth in the internet rumours that I have contracted Ebola.im well & will be training as usual tomorrow.The Ebola virus is a very serious issue and people shouldn’t joke about it.Whoever wrote this article is very unprofessional and insensitive…!!!#Jahbless✌️ View on Instagram

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Fresh from an, erm…. convincing win away at QPR, Liverpool are set to take on Real Madrid in Champions League action in just a few hours. It’s fair to say that if a disjointed performance, like the one at Loftus Road, is produced again, a heavy defeat at the hands of the continent’s reigning champions is an inevitability.

We’re sure that Brendan Rodgers has a few plans up his sleeve ahead of the Anfield clash, but here are FIVE things we at FFC Towers would be looking to do if we were everyone’s favourite white-toothed Northern Irishman.

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CLICK ON THE FAMOUS SCOREBOARD TO REVEAL THE FIVE

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DEFEND!!!!!

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It may be obvious, but Liverpool will have to produce their best performance in their own third this season if they’re to get anything against Real Madrid. The Reds’ woeful work at the back saw Bobby Zamora – yeah the ‘sat in row Z and the ball hits your head’ striker – look like a genuinely world class forward at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel – whom are likely to start alongside one another again – are by no means bad defenders, but lapses in concentration have cost them in recent times. The pair have what it takes to shackle either Javier Hernandez or Karim Benzema – depending on the latter’s fitness – so all is not yet lost for Liverpool.

Get a performance out of Mario Balotelli

Mario Lol-otelli gave his haters ample chance to wield their knives on Sunday as he produced a lethargic performance to cap what’s been a difficult opening few months to his Anfield career. The Italian missed an open goal and was caught on camera facing the wrong way when the Reds took the free-kick which gave them their their opening goal, leading some to suggest he must be dropped against Real.

But Brendan Rodgers is likely to stick with his “calculated risk” as he looks to get him firing. While ‘Balo’ has his critics, he’s actually the sort of player to come to the fore on the big occasions, so it would be fitting for the 24-year-old to really announce himself tonight. To get the best from Balotelli Liverpool will have to get support to him quickly, so Sterling in a central role may be key.

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Give Johnson some help against Ronaldo

Although a team littered with threats all over the pitch, Real Madrid’s main danger comes in the shape of Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo. Usually deployed from the left, dealing with ‘Ronny’ will be a job for Glen Johnson – presuming he keeps Javier Manquillo out of the XI – and it will be a tough one for the Englishman.

Leaving a full-back one on one with the winger could be suicide, so Brendan Rodgers may want to consider deploying his right winger in a slightly more reserved role in order to get around the Portuguese ace and cut down his time and space on the ball.

Make Sure Gerrard is not exposed

Steven Gerrard is practically guaranteed to start against Real even though he’s been a regular in the Reds’ XI at the age of 34 this season. The ‘No. 10’ experiment at QPR failed, so it’s likely that the skipper will be used in his deep role against Real in a bid to ensure that Liverpool have some possession.

With the likes of Ronaldo, Isco and Toni Kroos all major threats, the Merseysiders will need to ensure that their talisman is not left overly exposed. The running of Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson could be vital, with the pair possessing the energy needed to make up for the veteran’s lack of mobility.

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Bring in Allen

Leading on from the last point, the inclusion of Allen would be wise. Although not as glamorous as Philippe Coutinho or as much of an exciting talent at Emre Can, the Welshman is an extremely effective midfielder. Allen’s forte is keeping the ball and playing the simple pass, which Liverpool may need to do tonight if they’re to have enough possession in key areas to hurt Real.

The former Swansea star came on and impressed against QPR on Sunday and is known to have the bravery in possession Rodgers craves from his players.

Believe

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The last time Real Madrid visited Anfield this happened! Plus there’s the inspiration of that night in Istanbul and the club’s wonderful European history…

With Man City soon to be entering the most crucial part of the season, the need for another option up front has become vital. City only have three senior strikers at the club in Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic. However, Aguero is now out until possibly February and Dzeko is also facing time on the sidelines.

18-year-old forward Jose Pozo was called upon against Leicester but the Citizens certainly need a striker with more experience in January. Whilst financial fair play has restricted City’s transfer budget this season, there still should be enough for one top quality striker. Here are four strikers City should target in January:

Wilfried Bony

Swansea striker Wilfried Bony has been an excellent acquisition since singing for the Welsh side in 2013. He cost the Swans a record £12 million but has been worth every penny so far. Bony netted 16 times in the league last season and has added eight so far this season. He is big and strong who always looks a threat and a nuisance to opposing defenders. He has the ability to finish calmly under pressure or score from outside the box which makes him an asset. While he would miss around three weeks in mid-January playing in the African Nations, at just 26 he can be a long-term option for Man City. You can never know how much a player is worth in today’s market, but Bony should be available for around £20 million which would make him a viable target and solution for Man City.

Edinson Cavani

PSG hitman Edinson Cavani would be a more expensive option, but a player who would guarantee goals. The 27-year-old Uruguay striker is said to be unhappy at the French champions due to having to play second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He cost the French side over £50 million in 2013 and has managed 23 league goals in 47 appearances. Despite this dip in form, Cavani is still an excellent striker who works hard, has tremendous pace but most importantly of all is a natural finisher. He would obviously be a great option to partner Aguero in the years to come but we will have to wait and see if City would be prepared to pay the substantial fee Cavani would demand.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Another PSG striker makes this list, this time it is the legendary Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. He is still going strong at 33 banging in the goals in the French League and in Europe. Since joining in 2012, Ibrahimovic has scored a staggering 64 league goals in just 77 matches and 88 goals in total. He still has a goalscoring pedigree, something that he has had throughout his whole career. While he might not start every week for Man City, he certainly provides another quality option and is someone that will get you goals. Also at 33-years-old, he would probably cost between £10-15 million and the lure of ending his career in the Premier League might be something he just couldn’t turn down.

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Saido Berahino

A more long-term option would be West Brom’s 21-year-old striker, Saido Berahino; the young striker has impressed a lot of people with his performances this season, scoring seven Premier League goals in 16 outings this season. Whilst his scoring has dried up as of late, Berahino is still young and learning his trade but has the potential to be a top quality striker. He looks like a natural goalscorer with tremendous finishing abilities vital to any striker. He has shown he still has a way to go but if Man City tried to sign him in January, it could save them a lot of money because his price could have doubled by this time next year.

When Polish-born Miroslav Klose scored his first goal of the 2002 World Cup, for the Germans against a hapless Saudi Arabia side, the world hardly knew that they had a real star in the making on their hands.

Fast forward to January 2015, and whilst the veteran striker has now solidly made a name for himself, both on the domestic and international scene, Lazio’s no. 11 still hasn’t fully amassed the true credit he deserves.

Despite coming home from Brazil this summer as a World Cup winner for the only time in his career, Miroslav Klose has seemingly ruled out any deal linking him with a move away from the Stadio Olympico in January. There are, however, some persistent rumours circulating that suggest a surprise move to the Premier League could be on the cards for this famed striker.

First and foremost, despite the near global preference for Brazil’s main man over Germany’s recently retired goal machine, Miroslav Klose has categorically overtaken Ronaldo as the all-time World Cup goal scorer, with an impressive 16 attempts netted throughout his career.

Whilst the now 36-year-old has never been one for the glitz and glamour that come with being a modern day footballer, the Lazio veteran was the proud winner of GQ’s Sporting Man of the Year in Berlin last November. He simply deserves to be recognised as one of football’s definitive greats since achieving the ultimate goal in the sport during last summer’s tournament.

Even with Lazio in Serie A, the supposed final swansong for the ex-Bayern hit-man to see out the rest of his career in relative calmness, Miroslav Klose bagged eight goals for the Rome based club last season, and an impressive 16 the season before. He may not be the most sought after, talked about, or emulated player in Europe, but in tune with the likes of Gerd Muller before him, Klose is a modern day master of being at the right place, at the right time.

His performances for Lazio have even led Francesco Totti, arch nemeses and leader of neighbours Roma, to describe the Germany star as a ‘true professional and a great player.’

With the January transfer window now upon us, some surprising reports have suggested that Miroslav Klose could be involved in a shock move to the Emirates this month. He is believed to be the player capable of finishing off Arsene Wenger’s squad, but at the grand old age of 36-years-old, people won’t believe in this deal unless they physically see it happen.

The ageing talent has reportedly been told by Lazio that he will not receive a contract extension when his deal finishes in the summer however, so Klose could potentially speak to the Gunners regarding pre-contract terms, should the opportunity arise.

Any deal on the table was thought to be on a loan basis only, but since the chance to pick up the all-time World Cup goal scorer for free in the summer could in-fact be a realistic aim, several of the Premier League’s other big names have reportedly expressed an interest. Klose, who was previously said to be on the radar of Newcastle United in their attempts to become more prolific in front of goal, has seemingly been touted by the likes of Aston Villa in recent months.

Paul Lambert’s side have been anything but impressive so far this campaign, so with a reliable, no-nonsense finisher available to crown off their attacks, Villa could certainly be improved with a player such as Klose on board for the rest of the season.

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Despite feeling like ‘an old table thrown in the cellar’ due to his recent lack of game time at Lazio, Miroslav Klose has categorically poured cold water over any move linking him away from Rome this January. When asked whether he will be on his way in early 2015, the former Bundesliga hero stated – ‘No, absolutely not. I spoke to the coach and he knows what I want.’

Whilst this may be the reality, perhaps one last gallivant in the Premier League could provide the World Cup hero with an exciting final climax to his already stunning career.

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Ligue 1 has one of the most exciting title races in Europe this season as PSG are being fought all the way by a youthful Lyon side who just refuse to lie down. They are a team who could teach Arsenal a thing or two about challenging for titles with promising youngsters.

Before the season started, Monaco’s financial troubles meant they had to let go of Falcao go to Man United and James Rodriguez to Real, and PSG were tipped to simply run away with the league. The club from the principality were allegedly left in monetary trouble after the divorce of their billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, who was ordered to pay his wife an eye-watering £2.6bn in the settlement.

Although Monaco haven’t been able to compete with PSG’s billions, the Parisians haven’t run away with the league. And it’s not that PSG have been awful, it’s just that Lyon have matched them. PSG have lost only three times in all competitions this season, and one was at the Nou Camp in the Champions League group stages. They haven’t been totally convincing until the last few games, but now they are starting to come to form. Yet they are still being held-off by leaders Lyon.

Lyon are a team chock-full of academy graduates, the average age of the squad is just over 24 years of age, and yet they still manage to maintain a team charging for the title against a team with the riches and squad depth of PSG. A team for whom defeat in the Champions League last 16 to Chelsea would have been a disappointment.

Players like Anthony Lopes, Samuel Umtiti, Corentin Tolisso, Nabil Fekir and of course one of the hottest properties in Europe this season, Alexandre Lacazette have starred for Les Gones this season, and all of these players have come through Lyon’s youth academy. Umtiti has been linked with Real Madrid by Goal.com, Fekir with Arsenal by the Daily Mail, and Lacazette with just about any club with a chequebook.

They shockingly crashed out of Europe in the Europa League qualifying round, but this now seems like teething problems that manager Hubert Fournier had at the start. Without the strains of Europe on the young side, they have notched up more wins than anyone else.

The Lyonnais are also a team who are linked very often with Arsenal. The brightest of the Lyon young players are usually linked with the Gunners, and former Arsenal defender Remi Garde was Lyon manager until last year. He was tipped to take over from Arsene Wenger by The Independent, especially at points when Wenger was under pressure last season.

Arsenal are known as a club that likes to nurture youth. Players like Fabregas, Walcott and now Oxlade-Chamberlain have come through the ranks to become top Premier League players. Arsene Wenger spends millions of pounds every year to bring in the best talent from around the world – the latest two being Gabriel Paulista and Krystian Bielik – but add the three I mentioned earlier to that list and you start to get the picture: Arsenal deserve credit for bringing these young players through and nurturing them in the way that they have.

For the last few years the Arsenal team has been made up of these young players. In fact, it has almost been used as an excuse for failure as the club asks the fans to be patient until they can pay off the stadium debt and get back to a solid financial footing.

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Yet there should be no need for excuses. Young players can play with a confidence and a fearlessness that you don’t see in established first-teamers. The academy graduates who have made it to the first team have been the best players in their age groups all their lives, and so they play with confidence. They are also young and trying to force their way into the team, and so they don’t show any fear as they try to impress.

Arsenal have plenty of players like this, but they sometimes seem overawed on the big occasions, as though the fear of the moment of truth has consumed them.

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The lesson Arsenal can learn from Lyon is not about giving youth a chance – Arsenal are very good at themselves. It is about letting the youngsters go and play without fear. In cliche-speak, we would say that they should be allowed ‘go out onto the pitch and express themselves’. But I actually think that this is an apt phrase this time. It is, after all, about freedom.

The youth of Lyon play with this freedom – freedom from fear. And this is how they have held off PSG for this long. Whether they continue to do so or not, Lyon have had a wonderful season and they can be rightly proud of their youth academy.

The way they play should serve as an example to every team in world football – if you have the youth in your squad, give them a chance to play without pressure. And if, like at Arsenal, the youth is good enough, you might find that they can do something special.

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The Manchester derby returns this weekend, and in a fixture that rarely disappoints we look set for another cracking encounter as the battle for second place intensifies.

It was hard to envisage United going into this game ahead of City in the table just a few weeks ago, but after three away defeats on the spin the defending champions have not only seen their title hopes end, but are now involved in a scrap just to ensure a top-four finish.

Meanwhile, a resurgent Manchester United have enjoyed impressive victories over Liverpool and Tottenham in recent weeks, ensuring they head into their latest clash as slight favourites to continue their winning run it what promises to be an intriguing encounter.

And if it’s anything like some of their previous matches, we really could be in for a treat. Here are five memorable derby moments from Premier League encounters that will wet the appetite ahead of their crucial clash on Sunday…

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April 2001 – Roy’s revenge

Four years after being accused of feigning injury by Alf-Inge Haaland in a game against Leeds, Roy Keane got his revenge with a horror tackle on the Norwegian when the pair came head to head once more in the Manchester derby.

Keane had in fact injured his cruciate ligament that day at Elland Road, and the reaction of Haaland began a long-standing feud between the pair.

The United skipper made sure he got his own back in April 2001 with a knee-high tackle that duly earned him a red card and the satisfactory opportunity to stand over the City man shouting abuse at him. The tables had turned.

Keane received a hefty fine and five-match ban following revelations he made about the incident in his book and says he has no regrets about the incident and admitted wanting to hurt his opponent.

While Haaland never completed another full game again and was forced to retire in July 2003, it was problems with his other knee that put an end to his career.

As for the game itself, United still managed a 1-1 draw with Paul Scholes also missing a penalty.

September 2009 – Owen becomes a United hero

One of the best Manchester derby’s in the Premier League era saw former Liverpool man Michael Owen become a United hero with an injury time winner as the sides played out a dramatic encounter.

The meeting centred around Carlos Tevez after the Argentine had made the switch from Old Trafford to the Etihad in the summer. And having come from behind three times in the game, it appeared that Craig Bellamy’s 90th minute equaliser was enough to earn the noisy neighbours a share of the spoils.

But Ferdinand’s blushes were spared when Ryan Giggs picked out Owen with a wonderful pass, which the striker duly despatched to give his side a priceless victory.

February 2011 – Wayne’s wonder goal

United’s 2-1 victory in the derby back in 2011 will be remembered for one outstanding goal from Wayne Rooney that will live long in the memory.

Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that it was the best goal of managerial reign at Old Trafford and it’s hard to argue against him.

Nani had given the home side the lead, before David Silva equalised with a deflected effort. But Rooney’s moment of magic won the game as his superb overhead kick found its way into the top corner much to the delight of the home crowd.

Arguably the greatest derby goal ever scored and one that helped secure another league title for the Red Devils.

October 2011 – Why always me?

Manchester City inflicted United’s worst home defeat since way back in February 1955 when they ran riot at Old Trafford pulling off a shock 6-1 victory.

Two goals from Mario Balotelli either side of half-time set them on their way, before a late collapse from the hosts saw them ship three goals beyond the 90th minute after Johnny Evans had earlier been sent off.

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The most poignant image of the day belong to Balotelli who revealed a message under his shirt reading “why always me?” after make in the news prior to the game for setting his house on fire with fireworks.

The victory helped City in their quest for a maiden Premier League crown, and first league title since 1968.

December 2012 – RVP has the final word

Having beat City to the signing of Robin van Persie the previous summer, United rubbed further salt into the wound when they left the Etihad with a 3-2 victory thanks to an injury time winner from the man himself.

A couple of early goals had given the visitors a 2-0 lead but further strikes from Yaya Toure and then Pablo Zabaleta in the 86th minute looked to have rescued a point for the defending Premier League champions.

However typical of his season, RVP had the final say by scoring the winner thanks to a deflected free-kick that found it’s way into the corner of the net past the helpless Joe Hart.

United went on to win the title once more with Van Persie instrumental to their success that season.

As the end of the 2014/15 season slowly looms, it’s time to consider what some Premier League clubs might get up to in the summer transfer window.

And according to reports from The Express this morning, one of Manchester United and Arsenal’s first ports of call will be attempting to prize Argentine prodigy Paulo Dybala away from current club Palermo.

In fact, the 21 year-old looks set to be one of the summer window’s most sought-after players after an incredible campaign with Rosanero, as the tabloids link a host of the continent’s top clubs to his signature.

Unless you’re retro enough to know the ins and outs of Serie A however – or better yet, hipster enough to be well-acquainted with second-tier Argentinian football – you might not know too much about this young prospect causing such a wave throughout Europe.

Fear not, however, for Football Fancast is here to help. We’ve listed the FIVE things you need to know about Paulo Dybala, so have a quick read before heading for the pub to impress your mates with your new-found knowledge.

BEGINNINGS

Paulo Dybala began his career in the humble surroundings of Cordoba-based second-tier club Instituto and was quick to make a lasting impression.

After making his debut aged 17 back in 2011, he became the youngest goalscorer in the club’s history – beating a record previously held by 1978 World Cup winner Mario Kempes, who also claimed the tournament’s Golden Boot and Golden Glove that year.

Soon after, the striker became the youngest player to make 38 consecutive appearances for Instituto, their first ever player to score two hat-tricks in the same season and their first player to score in six consecutive games.

Still a teenager at this point, despite boasting 17 goals in 40 games for Instituto, those record-breaking feats caught the attention of Palermo, who have quite the scouting operation in South America.

Comparisons

The moniker that’s mostly stuck with Dybala throughout his Palermo career is ‘the next Sergio Aguero’, coined by club President Maurizio Zamparini upon his official signing in April 2012.

He does share many traits with the Manchester City striker; particularly their creativity and mobility, rendering Dybala equally effective in attacking midfield and wide roles as well as being an out-and-out centre-forward.

But some have dubbed him ‘the new Messi’ for obvious reason – like his Ballon d’Or winning compatriot, the 21 year-old’s close control and ability to take on defenders is nothing short of phenomenal.

Personally, however, I view him somewhat closer to Barcelona star Luis Suarez. In parody of the former Liverpool talisman, he’s tenacious, feisty and hard-working – famed for his defensive contribution and tackle-breaking dribbles.

In truth, Dybala probably lies somewhere between all three. So perhaps the prevailing point, overall, is that he’s already a very complete, well-rounded forward with a plethora of diverse qualities.

STATS

Paulo Dybala’s 13 goals in 27 Serie A appearances might not seem so spectacular, but that makes him directly responsible for 33% of Palermo’s league goals this season – the fourth-highest contribution of a single player in the Italian top flight. When combined with his seven assists, that figure jumps up to over 50%

There’s also some other very promising stats regarding the young Argentine – particularly his 1.5 chances created, 3.6 shots and 2.7 successful dribbles per match. That might not make much sense on its own, so here’s the striker’s season in numbers compared to some of Europe’s best:

He doesn’t come out on top in any category, but for a 21 year-old playing in a somewhat unexceptional Palermo side, he’s certainly holding his own.

PARTNERSHIP WITH VAZQUEZ

It would be a horrendous disservice to Franco Vazquez if I let the Argentine midfielder somehow go unmentioned in this article.

Although Paulo Dybala’s prodigious performances have been enthralling to watch this season, Vazquez’s role as the 21 year-old’s predominant supplier has verged upon intrinsic, notching up nine assists in 27 Serie A appearances – in addition to seven goals.

The Argentine duo complement each other so well that some sources, such as the Manchester Evening News, claim potential suitors will attempt to sign both this summer instead of breaking up the prolific partnership.

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Then again, it’s often said footballing partnerships are made of one great player and one in the right place at the right time – take Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton or Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, for example.

Although Vazquez, aged 26, is a talented footballer, it’s Dybala who firmly belongs in the former category.

HIGH DEMAND

You won’t have reached the final page of this article without realising Paulo Dybala is one of Europe’s most in-demand strikers right now, just as the summer transfer window slowly starts looming in.

But it’s worth pointing out just how in demand and highly-rated the Argentine is throughout the continent.

You might not have known, for example, he was allegedly on the radars of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Inter Milan and AC Milan before he signed up with Palermo in 2012, and earlier this season was linked with Southampton, Wolfsburg and Benfica – as reported by Here Is The City.

More recently, Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini has claimed no less than six of Europe’s top clubs want to sign the 21 year-old this summer – namely, PSG, Juventus, Arsenal, Barcelona, Manchester City and Chelsea – as reported by ESPN – whilst The Daily Star have put Manchester United, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund firmly in the mix too.

Zamparini has confirmed Dybala will be sold this summer, rating the striker at €40million (courtesy of ESPN once again). So one way or another, he will move on in the coming window – but where he ends up, right now, is anybody’s guess.

It’s not often that professional footballers treat scoring a hat-trick as a bittersweet moment, yet Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could have been forgiven for doing just that after grabbing his first international treble during Argentina’s recent 5-0 mauling of Bolivia.

As pleased as Aguero would have been at ticking off another personal achievement, it is surely not lost on him that his excellent display came in what was ultimately a meaningless warm-up game ahead of the 2015 Copa America.

Indeed, while Aguero was scoring goals for fun in a game of zero significance on Sunday, just a day earlier his compatriots Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano were celebrating in the famous blaugrana of Barcelona having beaten Juventus in the UEFA Champions League final – one of the most prestigious games in world football.

The contrast in the stature of the two matches, and the fact that any praise for a superb international hat-trick has been completely – and rightly – overshadowed by discussion and analysis of club football’s biggest and most important game should serve as a warning to Aguero that time is running out if he is to join in with the likes of Messi and Mascherano and actually compete in these iconic, career-defining matches for himself, rather than continue to watch the spectacle from afar, his own club’s continental campaign having fizzled out to a disappointingly premature end yet again.

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After all, the Man City hitman is one of the finest, deadliest and most brilliant strikers of his generation. Ever since he broke into Argentine club Independiente’s first team at the age of 15, he has been scoring goals by the bucketload. Since joining City in 2011, he has gone on to become the player with the highest goals-per-minute ratio in the history of the Premier League, and his 32 goals in all appearances last season was his most prolific return in a single campaign for the Eastlands outfit, suggesting his best is yet to come.

However, it is time ‘Kun’ realised that his best should be saved for another club. He is a most magnificent talent, and such players should be given the opportunity to dazzle and delight on the biggest stage. This is something he simply will not be able to achieve at Manchester City.

For as long as Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the City Football Group retain a sufficient degree of interest, Manuel Pellegrini’s side will always remain a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League, but compared to Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, they are nothing more than a second-tier team, despite their enviable riches.

Time and again the Citizens have been found out in Europe’s continental competition, and this is not merely limited to the performances of the players on the pitch; Champions League nights at the Etihad Stadium are often strangely subdued and lacking in any kind of atmosphere, giving us the impression that while on the surface they have all the features of a super-rich modern football club, City in truth just aren’t big enough to make a mark at the highest level of the sport.

Sergio Aguero deserves better than this. At 27 years of age, he is unlikely to match Messi’s four Champions League triumphs, however so supreme are his talents that a move to the right club will surely see him lift the big-eared trophy at least once before he calls time on his career. Stick with City, and he may one day look back at his playing years with regret, rather than pride.

There are plenty of wonderful footballers over the years who, for one reason or another, have never managed to win the Champions League; Aguero must make sure that he does not become the most famous of them all.

What do you think? Follow me on Twitter @GruffuddOwen

FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast. Subscribe FootballFanCast General Stay ahead in the world of football analysis, commentary, and fan insights with FootballFancast.

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