What the Manchester derby told us about the state of the game in Manchester

It was derby time in Manchester last night. I have spent the week in the city looking at the state of the game here and how the future looks for the two clubs. It could be looked at as a game in the middle of a crisis in the footballing city.Going into the game there has been much criticism-

• Manchester United lost 4-0 to Chelsea on Sunday after a poor showing at Liverpool the week before
• Jose Mourinho has spoken about his unhappiness living in the city
• Pep Guardiola's City went into the match on a streak of 5 games without a win
• The old guard of Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero seem to be out of favour

But in and around the city of Manchester you couldn't sense any panic or even much frustration towards the clubs or the players.These are generally proper football fans that love their club, are happy with the success that they have had but don't feel as though they are entitled to it. Contrast that to the glory-hunting Manchester United fan from other parts of the country and the globe. The fact that the United fans were still out-singing the Chelsea home support while being 4-0 down in Sunday shows that these are people who know their football and love their club.

Near the Old Trafford stadium I spoke to Mike, a United fan that sees a future that doesn't look as rosy as the recent past but will still support the club all the same.

"I can see us going down the same route as Liverpool did after their domination. Football goes in cycles and they have not really been near to winning the title again in over 25 years. I'd like to see them up there challenging for titles with us, but losing out to us every time! We have a future where we could go down the same road. I see Mourinho as a manager that could go one way or another. He could stay for 15 years and we could go on a run of winning trophies every year again or he could end up braking the club. It is a bit of a crossroads," said Mike.

The game does move on and it would be difficult to reliably predict what the future holds for the club. The longer they are out of the Champions League then the more they have to spend in wages to attract the big starts and the less likely it is that they will get another Cristiano Ronaldo or even another David De Gea.Mourinho is a gamble that the Glazers thought they just had to make after the failures of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal. Where the club goes from here is in his hands.

On the other side of the divide is the light blue half of Manchester. The game last night ended in defeat so Pep Guardiola is facing probably his worst managerial crisis - six games without a win. After the amazing start to the season not many would have predicted this but it is happening. In the club shop on Market Street they are selling those detested half-and-half scarves and training tops with the Champions League logo alongside merchandise from their sister clubs in New York, Yokohama and Melbourne. This is big business.

But without the players to enact his tactical game, and in possible the wrong league and conditions to do it, Pep is fining managerial life tough for probably the first time. It is not a full-blown crisis and it won't cost him his job but clearly there is work to do.

I spoke to Peter who lives and works in the city. He didn't buy into the Guardiola project but backs the club to get it right, "It will take time. He can't turn all of these Premier League players into La Liga players overnight. It looks like tactically he knows what he wants but the players aren't quite there yet. Maybe in a few months we will look back on this as part of the transition. I certainly hope so."

That was before the match. That was before the defeat in the derby. Although it was 'only' the EFL Cup and there were run outs for some players that were not in the usual first team it will still hurt. Manchester City's owners have bankrolled the club to deliver success and this current run of form and a tame loss to their neighbours isn't part of the blueprint.

What happens next really is down to Pep.

Playing slots is an exciting way to spend your time

It is the excitement of football that draws me towards it. The game is fast-paced and interesting from start to finish. It is why the beautiful game of football is played and loved all over the world. This is why I love football. It is known and loved the world over and you can start a conversation in almost anywhere you travel to about football and find fellow enthusiasts. There is very little that can match that level of excitement but one of the ways in which you can get a similar buzz is by playing slots.

It is a fun way to spend time and can really give you the opportunity to win money while having fun. What other things in life can offer you this combination? Playing slots is a real thrill because you don't know what is going to happen next. And this mirrors the thrill of football because you have an emotional connection with the game but your chances are a little bit in the lap of the gods. But the good slots player can while away several hours and end up making money through their sill and good fortune. How about you?

Playing slots can be all about making the most of the bonuses and offers that are available to the new starter. If you play the game correctly then you can join the right lots sites at the right time to make the most from all of the offers available. This is how you can turn a small win into a real pay out. It maximises your ability to win because you are playing with the money that you have been offered as a bonus by the slots websites. They want you to join and play so get on to the sites and find the best deals you can. Playing slots is an absolute blast for you and your friends so spread the word on how much fun it is and how you can make the most of your money with the bonus offers that can be found if you look in the right places.

Slots are a great idea when you have a little bit of time and a little bit of money on your hands. You can get a real thrill from watching those reels spin to see what you can win next. You could be the next Leicester City. They won big when it wasn’t expected at all and there's nothing to stop this from happening to you. Try your luck and see where it takes you. You never know where it could end and what you could be cashing out! Just think of the people who put a few quid on Leicester at the start of the season – they are now raking it in. You can do the same thing with playing slots if you play things the right way. Get over to the site now and find out what all the fuss is about. Once you have found the right sites that offer you a big incentive to join then you can be a winner all the way. Are you the next Jamie Vardy? A new Riyadh Mahrez? A budding Danny Drinkwater? They all went from nothing to make it really big this season. Is it your turn next?

The taboos over playing slots have been largely washed away over recent years. The fact is that gambling sensibly with your own money as a form of entertainment is an accepted way of spending your time and money in the internet age. Once you have gone out an earned that money then it is down to you to decide what to do with it. Online slots have come a long way and can be fun for anyone whenever they want to have a great time. Personal choice is the way that people want to live their lives rather than be regulated by lawmakers at every turn says the Competitive Enterprise Institute in a study.

Slots are the equivalent of football when it comes to excitement. It's just like watching your favourite team. Sit back and enjoy the ride as the action unfolds. Slots will take you on a roller coaster ride from start to finish. And at the end of it all you could walk away with some big money in your pocket. How about that for a real thrilling way to spend a few minutes or a few hours? I can’t think of a better way to get my kicks. Playing slots is something that you will get into and want to play over and over again. There are so many different slots websites to choose from and then there are many more different games to choose from when you get on the website. The potential for amusement is endless. So give it a go today and see where it takes you. There could be no end to the excitement in store for you.

Louis van Gaal will have some time on his hands now that he has been sacked by Manchester United. He could do a lot worse than spending some of his free time playing slots for fun. There is a lot to be said for playing slots because it is a stimulating way to pass away a few hours when you are at a loose end, just like the former Manchester United manager. There will always be the opportunity for Louis van Gaal to make a bit of money and have a lot of fun with online slots while he is waiting for the phone to ring with another job offer. Some of the best slots will keep you interested and occupied for some time if you want them to so Louis will not get bored this summer! On a serious note through, now that he is unemployed, it would be a good time for him to make the most of the offers and bonuses that are available to all new players when it comes to using the biggest and best online slots games website around. Some of the biggest names such as Heart Bingo, Sun Bingo and Virgin Bingo offer v-great incentives to sign up with them. This is a great time to be playing slots.

Playing slots is a great alternative to placing a bet at the bookmakers it visiting your local racetrack. It is a hugely convenient way to place a bet that is fun and thrilling. You will have a great time from your own living room. You can be playing slots from your smartphone, tablet laptop or desktop computer. This makes it an easy thing to just pick up and play. It is something that is easy to understand so you won't be lost in a sea of rules and regulations. You can just get on with having fun without the fear that you will not understand what is going on. Once you have played for a little while you will be hooked by the fast paced excitement and energy they playing slots has to offer you. The idea behind playing slots is that you can pick it up and only play for a few minutes at a time or if you have longer then you can play for longer. Playing slots is a great way to pass the time when waiting for friends, before going to work or in the evening when you are watching television or even when you are out and about with your mates. It is something that you can do at any time thanks to the advancements of technology and the fact that you can carry the internet around with you wherever you go on your smartphone.

On my blog 'In Off The Post' I like to look at football from all angles. Now that the domestic seasons are over for a while you will need another form of entertainment to tide you over until the Euros or the Copa America. Well slots are a superb way to give you something interesting and exciting to do in this downtime. Don't forget that the football starts again soon but once you've started playing slots I'm sure that you will be hooked and will be playing them for the rest of your life. They can be a great way to have fun, meet others online and can be a fantastic conversation starter with friends and strangers alike. The joy about playing slots is that so many people are doing it and they love to talk about it. This just adds to the excitement of the game and can only make playing slots a bigger and better experience for you and everyone you know. Spread the word!

Give it a go today. You can have great fun from the comfort of your own home. You also stand the chance to make money. There are a variety of different slots games to keep anyone intrigued for hours. You won't regret giving it a go. Playing slots is something that can be done by young and old. It is something that the football fan will enjoy day in and day out. Try playing slots today to make the most of your money. Incentives are out there to be found if you look in the right places. Make sure that you don’t miss out on maximising your money when it comes to your online slots games. Start today and you will wonder why you ever waited. Online slots are the new way that the world has chosen to have fun and win money. It is time you joined in.

Is this now Leicester's title? See the three matches that will decide it.

Could this have been the weekend that changed the title chance in favour of Leicester City. I blogged previously to say that I didn't think Leicester could even finish in the tip four. Those doubts have gone and they have been installed as favourites for the title with some bookmakers. This is a remarkable turnaround for a team that was fighting against relegation at the end of last season.


Much has been written about their star players such as Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez. The manager Claudio Ranieri has also been in the spotlight.







In my blog today I am going to look at the three key games that they gave between now and the end of the season. There are thirteen games left as we stand. All will be "cup finals" for them, but three stand out-


Sunday 14th February - away to Arsenal
In the week after Leicester have notched wins against Liverpool and Manchester City, they face a third massive challenge in three games. If they beat Arsenal and Spurs draw with Man City in the other massive game this weekend then Leicester could finish the week 7 points clear at the top. If Leicester lose and Spurs win then the gap will be only 2 points. Without looking at the opposition you can see what a big game this is. I would say that Leicester have to make sure they don't lose. But they don't seem to play the game that way. I think that Mahrez and Vardy will be going all out to beat the Gunners.


Saturday 30th April - away to Manchester United
It's not that there won;'t be any crucial games in between Arsenal and Man United, it's just that this game could be when Leicester are looking to tie up the league title. If results go as expected then Leicester could be needing a win at Old Trafford to win the league with 2 games to spare. I suspect that by this time we will already know whether United are in the Champions League foe next season ans whether Louis Van Gaal will be be the manager.









After destroying Man U 5-3- last season I would expect that this is another game when Leicester attempt to set Vardy free to torture the opposition.


Sunday 15th May - away to Chelsea
Yes, I've picked 3 away games as those that will decide the fate of Leicester because this will be where they possibly drop some points. To be crowned as champions at the home of the outgoing champions would be a fantastic achievement. The home form of Chelsea this season has been really patchy, so if Leicester come here needing to win I wouldn't back against them. It could be the last game for Guus Hiddink and for John Terry though, so it may not be as easy as they would like.

The pain of queuing for a half-time pie and pint is disappearing. Never miss a 46th minute goal again!

In Off The Post prides itself in looking at football from all angles. I’ve covered Christmas presents, gambling options, football video games and even the best food to go with football. Something I haven’t covered enough of is going to a football match. Today I’m taking a look at something that brings out the joy and the pain in that activity.

I love going to the match, the buzz as you approach the stadium, buying a programme, going through the turnstiles and walking up the steps to view the pitch. It's unrivalled. But there is something that I dread about the whole day. It's one of the perennial downsides of going to the football. It has the potential to spoil the day or make you miss a goal.

It's the half- time queue for the toilets and your food and drink.

I can't do anything for the toilet queue, or at least anything I'd want to do myself. But I've found a solution to the problem of getting your pie, your burger, your pint or your cup of Bovril at half time. It’s called Qjacker. First, you simply choose from one of their venues-

•         Ricoh Arena, for conference and events
•          Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, home of Manchester United
•          The National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
•          St Mary’s Stadium, home of Southampton FC

You then choose your event, let Qjacker know where you are sitting and then it’s time to order your food. Once you’ve placed your order you can walk past the melee that always ensues at half-time in the match to the front of the Qjacker lane and collect your food. No queuing, no searching for change, no messing around and no missing that vital goal that’s scored in the 46^th minute!

The scale of the problem and the solution are highlighted in the following YouTube video-

To get the full experience of Qjacker I followed a fellow fan called John through his experience at St Mary’s Stadium for the Southampton v Crystal Palace, The Emirates FA Cup tie at 3pm on Saturday 9^th January 2016.

I met with John the day before as he downloaded the app onto his smartphone, ready to make use of it and place the order. The app downloaded quickly and was intuitive to use – just click through the options and get to the menu.

• We’re at St Mary’s (one click)
• We’re going to Saints v Palace (2 clicks)
• We’re in the Kingsland Stand (3 clicks)
• And we’re in blocks 27 to 39 (4 clicks)

Only 4 clicks and we’ve got to the menu!

Once you are at the menu page, it’s just like standing in front of the food stand at the ground, but without the queue. You can browse the app in total comfort (lying on your sofa in John’s case) as you put together your food and drink choices. He’s ordering for both of us so we’ve got-

1. .       An All Steak Pie
2. .       A Standup Pasty
3. .       A Saints Ale (I just have to try this!)
4. .       A Sprite (John is driving)
5. .       A packet of Skittles
6. .       A Matchday Magazine

The amount of time it took you to read these 6 bullet points is the amount of time it took to put this order together. The menu is in sections for meal deals, hot food, beers & wines, soft drinks, snacks, hot drinks and the matchday magazine. This means it’s easy to scroll to the area you want. My only (very small) criticism is that I’d like to see hot drinks a little higher up the list when it’s a January FA Cup 3^rd round tie and the weather is tipped to be grey and drizzly. Perhaps a menu that changes order in reflection of the venue, the event and the seasons? Aside from the obligatory payment for your order, this is all you need to do pre-match.

Let’s recap this then. John has downloaded a free app, made only 4 clicks, chosen the food and drink we will consume (and a matchday magazine) and then made a quick and secure payment.

The next step is to get to the ground, savour the atmosphere, watch the match, get our food and hope for a Saints win. This is for two reasons – firstly John is a Saints fan and I don’t want to sit in the car with him after a loss; the second is that I’ve always had an irrational dislike for Crystal Palace, heightened by their hiring of Alan Pardew.

We get to the ground nice and early because it’s somewhere I’ve never visited. The days of the old 92 club are effectively gone but it’s always nice to tick another ground off the list. I make that 42 at first count, but it’s just a quick count from memory and I may need to check the facts when I get home. It reminds me in a lot of ways of my club’s ground, the Stadium of Light but with better players.

We decide to collect the food at half-time to get the full experience of walking past what resembles a rugby scrum at the other counters while we amble up to the Qjacker lane and collect our food with little effort. I can tell you readers – it works! We collect our food, drink and matchday magazine (can’t forget the matchday magazine) and are back in plenty of time to see the second half. It’s always been one of my dreads, paying good money to see a match and missing the vital play – a goal, a penalty, a sending-off, a disallowed goal or anything else that turns a match because I’m still queuing for my food and drink. The ridicule from your friends and family when they find out that you missed the most important play of the game and will have to catch up with the rest of the world on Match of The Day.

Those days appear to have gone at St Marys and Old Trafford. You don’t have to go through this anguish any more. Download Qjacker, make those 4 clicks and get your priority order!

http://uk.qjacker.com/#/step_1/

http://qjackerblog.com/

twitter.com/Qjacker

Where will Guardiola go? My conclusion may surprise you!

Now that Pep Guardiola has confirmed that his next management assignment will be in England, it's time to look at the contenders for his signature. You might be surprised at my conclusion.

Manchester City have long been the front runners, if the press is to be believed. The fact that two of his ex-Barcelona cohorts are in powerful positions at the club is more of a sign that City want to emulate Barça than a sign that the deal is done. I'm sure that City don't see Pellegrini as their long-term manager but this also doesn't automatically mean that Pep is a shoo-in. 

Manchester United are looking seriously at the future direction of the club. The style and results of Louis can Gaal are not what they want from a manager. The points and goals tallies are more akin to David Moyes than Sir Alex Ferguson. There's no doubt that, like City with Pellegrini, they will look elsewhere in the long term. But I believe that Ryan Giggs is pencilled-in as a young manager that knows the club - not unlike what Guardiola himself was to Barcelona. And Zidane to Real Madrid, as has happened this week.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is a long-time admirer of Pep. But I can't help feeling that the admiration is one-way only. The repeated impatience with managers and the seemingly all-powerful dressing room is enough to send Guardiola running in the opposite direction. I'm sure that Chelsea would break the bank to secure his service and provide him with transfer riches, but that won't be enough.

Arsenal are my tip as his surprise destination in England. I think that Arsene Wenger will move upstairs at the end of the season and this is more likely if they win the league. London would surely prove a bigger draw than Manchester - especially if he's looking for new restaurants! His style of football is most suited to Arsenal's squad, above the other potential destinations.

He's currently 8/1 at the bookmakers for this, so it may be worth getting on it now!

See my take on whether Leicester City will make the top 4 this season

After most of the matches have been played this weekend, there's a question that everyone has been asking.

Will Leicester make the top four at the end of the season?

I heard Paul Merson ask it on Gillette Soccer Saturday, Jermain Jenas ask it on Match Of The Day and Martin Keown on MOTD2.

My answer really differs to most of what I've  heard recently. I don't think that they can keep this up. Just watching the intensity of their game against Everton and the amount of fight they had to put in, means for me that they will run out of steam.

An injury or two, a suspension or a player needing a test will put a bigger dent in their squad than any of their rivals. They don't have proven internationals on the bench or young starlets coming through the under-21 league. This means that they will struggle for quality if they hit a bad patch. It currently looks like Leicester will be competing with Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester United for a Champions League spot and all their squads run deeper.

Leicester could have some aces up their sleeves in the January transfer window, though and new signings will be easier to come by than last January when they were bottom of the league. But the pressure will be on Claudio Ranieri to make improvements without breaking the team spirit they have developed.

Whatever happens, it will be an interesting season. Keep watching and keep reading!

See the lowdown on why the Premier League is wide open this season

It feels as though nobody really wants to win the league this year. There's no stand out team that is taking it by the scruff of the neck like Chelsea did last season. With Manchester City losing at the weekend, Chelsea continuing their poor form and Manchester United struggling for goals it came to Leicester City and Arsenal to pick up wins and make their move.

So why are the big teams not firing so far?

Let's have a look-

Man City have suffered more injuries than usual this season. Losing Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero for long spells would harm any team in the world. They've list their captain, their midfield driving force and a large percentage of their goals. Kevin De Bruyne in his first proper Premier League season and a still-young Raheem Sterling can't seem to turn the tide on their own.

Louis Van Gaal has changed the philosophy at Man United. After a season in the doldrums under David Moyes, he probably felt he needed to turn the tide in some way. This way has been to spend (really, really) big and produce a team that keeps clean sheets as their main aim. From there, they hope that Rooney's will, Martial's pace or Mata's guile gets them a goal. It's quite dour to watch but the board thinks it's a great alternative to the Moyes reign.

What can I possible say about Chelsea? They have been awful and Jose Mourinho has not been the great manager we have been led to believe he is. Man management has never looked his strong point and it feels like he has lost the dressing room. A Champions eague exit this week will all but seal his fate. I suspect that Abramovic wants to keep him on but time is definitely running out.

The last of the traditional big four is Arsenal and they have suffered injuries on a similar scale to Man City. They have lost key players at key times but still keep up second place at the moment. The magic of Ozil will have to make do on it's own as Sanchez what looks like a hamstring injury which could keep him out of the side for a while.

The revelation so far have been Leicester City and they currently top the table. Nobody expects them to keep it up but if the other teams mentioned above continue with their problems then Leicester have a chance. In the January transfer window will be much easier to attract players than this time last year when they were in real trouble. With a couple of quality acquisitions they could have a chance of lasting the distance and from there who knows?

My tip for the title as it stands now is Manchester City. I just think that they can't continue to be this unlucky with injuries and they could go out and buy a £50 million player in January if they felt it necessary.

After 12 games of the season it's my part-season progress report

When Arsenal v Tottenham and Liverpool v Crystal Palace finish their games today, we will be at the 12-game mark in this season's Premier League. The international break is next so it's a good time to look at where things are and what might transpire between now and the end of the current campaign. The league table looks like this-

Premier League

Pos.	Team	P	GD	Pts.
1No movement	Man City	12	17	26
2No movement	Arsenal	11	13	25
3No movement	Leicester	12	5	25
4No movement	Man Utd	12	9	24
5No movement	West Ham	12	7	21
6No movement	Tottenham	11	10	20
7No movement	Southampton	12	6	20
8No movement	Everton	12	4	17
9No movement	Liverpool	11	0	17
10No movement	Crystal Palace	11	1	16
11No movement	Watford	12	-1	16
12No movement	Stoke	12	-2	16
13No movement	West Brom	12	-6	14
14No movement	Swansea	12	-4	13
15No movement	Norwich	12	-7	12
16No movement	Chelsea	12	-7	11
17No movement	Newcastle	12	-9	10
18No movement	Bournemouth	12	-13	8
19No movement	Sunderland	12	-13	6
20No movement	Aston Villa	12	-10	5

I'll start here with my awards for so far this season and my predictions for the end of the season.

Over achievers 

This is a close-run thing but I think that by virtue of having four more points, I'll give this to Leicester City over West Ham United. Mahrez and Vardy in particular have been great going forward but the thing that has put Leicester in their lofty position is their spirit. They just don't know when they are beaten.

Under achievers

This isn't a close-run thing at all. To go from comfortable champions to 16th place is terrible. It's never happened before. I put the blame squarely at the manager's feet. He has undermined the staff, upset the players, blamed everyone except for himself and disrupted a team that looked so unified last season.

Player of the (part) season

The exploits of Jamie Vardy have been remarkable but the stand-out player in the matches I've watched has been Dimitri Payet. His skill, running and vision have been a delight to watch and have transformed West Ham from average to very good.

Relegation candidates

I said at the start of the season that I thought Sunderland, Newcastle and Aston Villa would be relegated. I stand by two of these but I think that Newcastle United have shown enough progress under Steve McClaren to survive. Bournemouth have has a rotten run of injuries and I think that losing Callum Wilson is a blow they can't recover from.

Champions (and Champuons League)

I think that there many be a new face in next season's Champions League as I think Spurs can make the top four this year. In my opinion they will be joined by the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal. I think that Chelsea have left themselves too much to do, even at this relatively early stage. My tip for champions is Manchester City again, but I think that Arsenal and Manchester United will run them close and make it a fight right up until the last couple of fixtures. Sergio Aguero remaining fit will be the deciding factor as neither of the other clubs have a goalscorer that can compete with him.

Let's see how things go!