On Sunday night Galatasaray confirmed that Wesley Sneijder had signed from Inter Milan. For some, he’s gone to a corner of the footballing world to die, or less dramatically, to retire. For me, it’s just a bullet dodged for most in the Premier League.

I’m not suggesting that Sneijder is a bad player or incapable of bringing a great deal to most in English football. What I am suggesting is that any acts of significant quality would likely only come next season.

The player is 28, was on big money at Inter and kept his wage demands high for anyone willing to offer him a way out of Italy. The game in Turkey is said to be less intense, but were Sneijder to have arrived in England this January, much of the next few months would have been his preseason. With the uncertainty and unpredictability of the Premier League, how many clubs can afford to take that gamble?

And there’s another major point in this Sneijder debate. Liverpool were said to be in for him, but even with his wages at Galatasaray reported to be at 4 million euros—for a player who should be in his prime—why did so many big clubs across England and the continent decide to avoid him?

Does the player represent a figure who would slot into any side in England and make a major impact off the bat? That obviously puts to one side the need for him to regain fitness. Any player of his calibre needs the rest of the team to be built around him. Considering the makeup of many top teams in the Premier League, how many would have been likely to do that? Does that equate Sneijder being a luxury purchase? Maybe not entirely, but at this stage close enough.

[post_link url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/just-why-arent-the-premier-league-top-clubs-interested-in-signing-him,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/arsenal/arsenal-plotting-double-swoop-for-gourcuff-and-wanyama,https://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/tottenham/rennes-chief-admits-club-are-braced-for-mvila-exit” target=”_blank” type=”tower”]

Another factor is the decline in production from Sneijder over the past couple of seasons. During Inter’s treble-winning season, the Dutch midfielder was one of the very best in Europe. That season he was the hub of an hugely impressive Inter Milan side and a player who likely would have won the Ballon d’Or had Lionel Messi and a couple of Spanish midfielders not been around.

The performances have waned, yes, and it could simply be a case of the player needing a move to reignite his game. But it remains a gamble, and it might not make as much sense as bringing in a younger, cheaper alternative. Galatasaray have plenty to offer besides wages—lets not forget that they are a Champions League team. The Dutchman has won league titles, the biggest competition in club football and played spectacularly in a World Cup in which he reached the final.

In Turkey, he may have been given guarantees that he will be the star of the team, he will be given the opportunity to regain his form in a high-pressure situation but not as close to the spotlight as in recent years. Despite what many may say, Sneijder has still gone to a big club in Europe with fantastic support. The player is nowhere near to the end of his career, but what would it do for his confidence if he does become a star once more? The obvious leader of a team with plenty of hope, both old and new following his arrival.

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In England, the risk would have been too great. Every move would have been overanalysed. The interested would have raised even further as to why Manchester United were linked with him so heavily in the past, and if the weight of pressure became too heavy, it very well could have spelt the end of Sneijder’s career in a major European league.

This is a player who was once great, and evidently the appeal of a star name is still there for many fans in England. But there are many players in Europe who would provide far more guarantees than Sneijder at this time.

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If ever there was a time for the Gunners to display their psychological fortitude it was against Villa on Saturday. On the back of a torrid week, in which Arsene Wenger was chewed up and spat out by the football media, his players stepped up to the plate when he needed them most. Although it wasn’t the routinely polished performance we’ve come to expect from the Gunners it did highlight their resilience and strength of character. Even when Santi Cazorla’s opening goal was cancelled out in the second half they didn’t lose faith and the Spaniard eventually conjured the all important winner to relieve the pressure on Wenger’s shoulders and send a wave of relief around the Emirates Stadium. The North London club may have endured some gruelling trials in recent months, no more than in the last seven days, but this could be considered a major turning point in their season. It’s now up to Wenger to keep rebuilding the blocks.

This week on FFC can Wenger lead the Gunners out of their current rut and which Brazilian star could be heading to North London in the summer?

[divider]

Best of FFC

Time to have a serious discussion over Arsene Wenger?

Arsenal fans certainly have justification this time around

Can Arsenal ever get out of this current mindset?

The FIVE ideal replacements for Arsene Wenger

Can he really do better than signing for Tottenham or Arsenal?

Too little too late for Arsenal fans?

A genuine fear facing Arsenal FC?

Why Arsenal ace cannot continue to hide behind future prospects

A realistic transfer target for Arsenal anymore?

Arsenal In transfer Pursuit Of Chelsea starlet

Arsenal weighing up summer move for Brazilian

Arsenal keep tabs on Lyon ace ahead of a possible summer move

[divider]


Best of WEB

[divider]

Roots And Branches Sway In The Money Tree – A Cultured Left Foot

Do Arsenal really need to spend ‘£200M to stay in the top four’? – Gunnersphere

The Criminal Neglect of Tomas Rosicky – Online Gooner

Can you honestly see Wenger doing this? – Gunnersphere

Cereal offender – Arseblog

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What would your short term fixes look like? | Arsene reckons it’s belief… simple – Le Grove

As the dust settles, let’s go and chase down third spot…… – Highbury House

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Quote of the Week

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“Man City is not out of reach. It could be a tight fight until the end. I’m not sure it will only be a fight with Tottenham,” he said of a potential battle for fourth place. “I’m not sure the other places are not reachable. Chelsea are just ahead and even Manchester City is not out of reach. It could be a tight fight until the end.” Arsene Wenger is adamant a second place finish isn’t beyond Arsenal this season

Upon news in the summer that Nuri Sahin would be moving to Liverpool on a season-long loan, I began to foam at the mouth. Although I hadn’t witnessed much of the Turkish international first hand,  rare glimpses of his abilities had come my way during his time at Borussia Dortmund, and furthermore, his reputation of being an exceptional passer and a dead-ball specialist precedes him.

Similarly, with the Real Madrid man set to join Liverpool, a team that are all-in-all on the decline and lacking in true star quality, excluding Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez, I was most likely not the only one who expected Sahin to excel upon becoming a big fish in a slightly smaller pond compared to the situation at the Bernabeu.

But six months down the line, and it appeared something had gone horribly wrong. Sahin was sent packing, most likely to relieve pressure on the bursting wage bill at Anfield and free up some funds for new signings Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho. In his time on Merseyside, the midfielder ended up making just 12 appearances for the Reds, seven of them coming in the Premier League, with his most successful outing being his brace against West Brom in the League Cup.

Of course, sometimes, transfers quite simply just don’t work out. It can be due to a whole host of factors; the style of play, a lack of time to adapt, the coaches, the manager, injuries, the other players or even a simple twist of fate getting in the way. I remember a particularly woeful performance against Everton in the first Merseyside derby of the season, in which Sahin was hauled off at half time with a rather dismal statistic of a 52% pass completion rate to his name. It was clear that something wasn’t right; the midfield maestro was yet to firmly settle at Anfield, and perhaps was not a player who could naturally acclimatise to the English game.

Yet my football sense was tingling. It seemed unusual that a former Bundesliga title winner, whom finished up with six goals and eight assists in his last season with Borussia Dortmund, would appear to be such a spent force whilst in a Liverpool jersey. Upon his departure from England, Sahin had his own explanation for his lack of form; “Brendan Rodgers wanted me to play as a 10 but I do not play behind the forwards. I spoke with him and asked him why I was playing there. It is not my real position. The boss could not answer me… still, I am not sorry about it. To play in the red jersey and be in Anfield is something marvellous. Maybe if I had not gone there I would not have been able to return to Borussia Dortmund. For that, I am happy. But I have left Brendan Rodgers, thanks be to God.”

I find the final sentence rather ridiculous, and more than anything it seemed that Sahin was passing the buck for his below par performances onto his adoptive manager. But it does raise an interesting point, especially considering upon the Turkish international’s return to Borussia Dortmund, to complete his season-long exile from the Bernabeu, he scored twice and provided an assist in his second starting appearance for his old club.

So, was his uninspiring tenure in England simply due to Brendan Rodgers being unable to get the best out of him, and will it be looked back upon as an opportunity missed in years to come?

I have little doubt it remained a factor. The capture of Sahin at the time appeared a transfer coup and whether  it was the Liverpool gaffer’s decision or not wasn’t really an issue considering his pedigree. But considering the make-up of the Anfield squad, Rodgers found it difficult to find room for the Turk. It’s no secret that he favours youth prospects, and indeed, I am certainly not criticising his philosophy of giving younger players first-team experience as a means of turning around Liverpool’s fortunes in the long run. But in the process of giving Jordan Henderson, Jonjo Shelvey, and new signing Joe Allen, opportunities in the starting XI, the Northern Irishman essentially overlooked his second-most talented midfielder after Steven Gerrard. Perhaps this is why Rodgers suggested the attacking midfield role to Sahin, however the decision clearly didn’t sit well with the Dortmund loanee. Also, with dead balls being one of his biggest assets, one strength of his game was taken away by Steven Gerrard, who has a monopoly over set pieces at Liverpool.

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Similarly, I don’t wish to have a dig at Rodgers, as I think, all things considered, he has done a great job of getting the Anfield house in order, but in the grand scheme of things he is still relatively inexperienced and this is his first season managing top class players. Whilst he is clearly gifted in getting the best out of youngsters and bringing them through, encouraging, motivating and interacting with an already accomplished elite player, who on top of that is a new arrival on Merseyside, is an entirely different task. Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez may also fill much of that criteria, but unlike Sahin are firmly settled at the club, and their devotion, allegiance and determination has never needed to be questioned.

But I believe simply blaming Rodgers, or condemning him in the manner in which Sahin has done upon his departure is rather short-sighted. The 24 year old struggled with injury upon moving to Real Madrid, and as Jose Mourinho favoured to sticking with the players he knows best last season as a means of prioritising security over risk throughout the La Liga title race, Nuri Sahin failed to get going, making just 10 appearances in total for his parent club. Of course, it should not have diminished his natural quality, but it would be safe to say the midfielder had to shake off some ring-rust whilst at Liverpool, which is perhaps why he never played a full 90 minutes under Brendan Rodgers.

Furthermore, although managers clearly have an impact on the performance of every player, a lot of the responsibility for Sahin’s performances has to be down to him. His poor showing against Everton was unacceptable, and similarly, you’d expect more than eight chances created in seven league appearances and an average of just one shot per game from the talented midfielder.

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I believe in the years to come, Sahin’s short tenure at Liverpool will be looked back upon as an opportunity missed. Although I see little point in playing the blame game, and the 24 year old’s negative comments lacked class, Brendan Rodgers certainly failed to take advantage of having such a high pedigree player at his disposal, during what was a difficult teething period for the Anfield club at the start of the season.

But that’s football; sometimes it just doesn’t work out. The Northern Irishman had a lot of priorities to balance out and consider, and perhaps in the long-run, choosing his young bucks, whom will no doubt be a part of the club’s future, over a temporary player, will prove to be the right decision.

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It’s Groundhog Day yet again for Wolves. But who would have thought that Wolves would be in their current predicament in the Championship? You may not have picked Wolves to be a relegation contender this season. From the Solbakken experiment to the Saunders Continuum, there have been many factors as to why Wolves may have overwhelmingly under-performed. It may require a university style dissertation to break it all down.

Like last season, despite looking down the barrel of another relegation and being potentially the first team to drop from the Premier League to League One in consecutive seasons, there have been some notable performances which need to be praised.

Now in its third year, The Wolves FanCast pundits have put their heads together and come up with a shortlist of players who they feel you need to consider for this award. Previous winners have been Matt Jarvis and Steven Fletcher and we have been lucky enough to present the award to the players in person. Hopefully this tradition will continue.

Notable mentions need to be given to youngsters Matt Doherty and loanee Jack Robinson for their performances in the last half of this season. Their ‘never say die’ attitude on the pitch has re-invigorated the defence and they have given themselves a good case to be the permanent full backs for next season.

Bakary Sako, an unknown entity from St Etienne, has been a revelation on the wings. Wolves fans feared whether they would get a suitable replacement after the sale of Matt Jarvis to West Ham. But they may have found someone better. Not only can he provide the pin point crosses, but also the goals. One of Wolves highest goal scorers this season, Sako’s bolt of a left and right foot has helped in some tight situations.

Roger Johnson had probably one of the worse seasons of his career last year. Being relinquished of the captains armband has given Johnson a new lease of life. Despite his form dipping in recent games, he has provided a couple of crucial late goals to help Wolves secure points in the bank.

A consistent run of games for Sylvan Ebanks Blake has helped him become the teams top scorer this season. Ebanks-Blake was hitting form late on but a broken leg against Birmingham away a few weeks ago ended his season.

Carl Ikeme, a player who has been away more from the Wolves squad then in it due to loan’s, got his chance this season. Usually being the third choice goalkeeper, he was able to step into the gloves following Wayne Hennessey’s injury late last season and was preferred as first choice over Dorus De Vries. Ikeme hasn’t shied away from the role and has produced a string of fine saves, notably against Blackpool away just before Christmas. Sadly, his season ended a few weeks ago after frustration got the better of him. After conceding an embarrassing own goal at home against Bristol City, Ikeme reportedly broke his hand after punching a tactics board at half time.

Following a notable mention last season, David Davis has stepped up to the plate. His vibrant and energetic performances have won over the Wolves faithful, with many fans thinking he should be starting ahead of captain Karl Henry in midfield.

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Kevin Doyle’s late season goals and new signing Bjorn Sigurdarson’s performances have helped them secure a nomination in this years awards.

So, now it’s over to you. Use the poll below to vote for the Wolves FanCast Player of the Season award.

[poll ]

Electronic Arts Inc. today unveiled innovations to the greatest sports game on the planet that will enable fans to experience the emotion of scoring great goals when playing EA SPORTS™ FIFA 14.

Innovations to the franchise’s award-winning gameplay will make FIFA 14 the complete matchday experience, introducing features that inspire fans to build play through midfield, dictate the tempo of a match and create rewarding opportunities.

Great football matches are achieved through measured build up and incredible finishing. A new feature in FIFA 14 called Pure Shot and a brand-new ball physics system will transform shooting, making every shot attempt feel real, and when players connect with the perfect strike, feel exhilarating.

“FIFA 14 will play the way great football matches are contested with build up through midfield, tension throughout the match as chances are created, and incredible finishing,” said David Rutter, Executive Producer for FIFA 14.

“Opportunities in FIFA 14 will be rewarding and great goals will look stunning.”

Finishing has been transformed with Pure Shot so players have the intelligence to adjust their stride and approach angle to find the best position for hitting the back of the net. Well-hit balls feel more exhilarating and rewarding. New shot types include pure strikes, as well as off-balance and rushed shots. Plus, Real Ball Physics now determines the trajectories of balls, enabling players to kick the ball with force from distance, drill low rising shots with accuracy, and blast dipping or turbulent shots, just like real footballers.

Click here for more FIFA 14 images

Fans will be able to create rewarding build up to opportunities and have the tools to dictate the tempo of a match through four new features. Protect The Ball will enable players to fend-off and block defenders from the ball while dribbling at any speed, or out-muscle opponents for position before receiving the pass, then turn defenders to carve out opportunities.

Teammate Intelligence has been improved on both sides of the ball. New decision-making logic delivers tighter, smarter marking and improved run tracking where defenders recognize opportunities to provide support and win back possession, while attacking players have new ways to outsmart their opponents by creating space for themselves, running along the backline and checking their pace. Major changes to ball control add new tools to win the midfield battles.

Sprint Dribble Turns enable players to turn in every direction at sprint speed while preserving momentum, delivering the control and confidence to take on defenders one-on-one. Variable Dribble Touches introduces variety on touches when sprinting. Skilled players will have better touch and more control when sprinting with the ball.

In addition to innovations to gameplay, FIFA 14 is introducing a game-changing new way to play Career Mode. The Global Scouting Network brings the world of professional scouting to life. Players now develop and refine a scouting network and search for talent year-round. Scouts can evaluate footballers all over the world to uncover the attributes and traits of every player in the game, in preparation for the transfer windows. Plus, a new hub delivers easy navigation, fewer interruptions and live scouting reports.

FIFA 14 will deliver engaging online features and live services that connect fans to the heartbeat of the sport—and to each other—through EA SPORTS Football Club, making FIFA 14 football’s social network, where fans connect, compete and share with millions of others around the world. The game will also feature:

• Changes to the wildly popular FIFA Ultimate Team

• A new online Mode that will encourage social competition

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• Multiple new features and benefits to EA SPORTS Football Club, the live service that is the heartbeat of FIFA

• Complete authenticity with more than 500 officially licensed clubs.

FIFA 14 is in development at EA Canada and will be available in stores world-wide this autumn.

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David Cameron believes a lot of things. David Cameron believes we are all Thatcherites now. David Cameron believes dismantling the Welfare State is compassionate. In 1989 David Cameron believed Nelson Mandela was a terrorist. Now David Cameron believes there is no one more deserving of a knighthood in the United Kingdom than Andy Murray.

Leaving aside the fact that Cameron is simply using Murray as a political tool (ironically, David Cameron is a political tool) and the sad reality that today’s honours system is less slaying dragons and rescuing princesses and more being famous, alive and not under suspicion by Operation Yewtree, there’s nevertheless been an increasing rise in opinion that the most coveted of British titles should be awarded instantly to every sportsman and woman who succeed at the thing they’re supposed to succeed at.

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Ever since Chris Hoy was propelled into the company of Arthurian legends by being the best of the hundred or so people who cycle round and round in a circle for a living, any Briton who is good enough at the sport they do to win a thing is immediately propelled forward as a prime candidate for knighthood.

When Steve Redgrave was knighted in 2001 for becoming Britain’s greatest ever Olympian, he at least did so at the end of his career, having retired from his epic knight-worthy quest of paddling backwards in a small boat at the sportingly pensioned age of 40. It was a gold watch, a sprinkle of cinnamon, the cherry on the cake of his career.

Andy Murray is 26. He is in the prime of his ‘tennising’ and will continue to play for many years to come. Unless he’s forced to enter every court on horseback to the sound of trumpet fare while a parade of minstrels frolic in his wake singing the tale of his progress through the tournament, what’s the point? How utterly smalltime is it to foist this already quite ludicrous honour on one so young merely to curry knee-jerk public favour while we’re all a bit giddy?

And so we come to football. A sport whose status as the nation’s favourite already make it an obligatory point scoring stop off for any politician, from war-mongering Newcastle United fan Tony Blair to painted egg Aston Villa die hard David Cameron. And yet surprisingly football largely eschews this type of reactionary nonsense, perhaps because team sports are harder to apportion credit, or perhaps because football already exists in a state of perpetual over-celebration that it doesn’t need any more back slapping. Whatever the reason, football has sensibly managed to limit its knights to retired legends and Alex Ferguson. Even Geoff Hurst, a man who’s lived off one good game for a lifetime, currently enjoying his obligatory three year hibernation in time for Brazil’s lucrative gathering season in 2014, had to wait 32 years to receive his grandiose prefix.

But if the current rationale of winning the biggest thing you can win in the thing you do is to be applied sport-wide, then any push for Murray would surely be a slap in the face for many of Britain’s heavily decorated football players? Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Neville, A.Cole, Lampard and Terry have all won everything their domestic careers could afford them and done so with copious national service to boot. A good case could also be made for Steven Gerrard, while the Liverpool faithful already feel slapped in the face by the snubbing of their three British European Cup winning managers.

Of those players listed only three (Beckham, Giggs & Gerrard) have any honours at all, and those are largely for charity endeavors. Beckham will inevitably get a KBE tattooed onto whatever miniscule part of his body is left at some point as the most visible ambassador for English sport, culture and pants over the last decade. He’ll do so retired though, unable to step onto increasingly irrelevant pitches as Sir David of Leytonstone, minstrels in tow.

Giggs, who like Murray has already reached the penultimate level of OBE, will likely follow him before his half-century is out, and also like his fellow periphery Brit has already been championed for it pre-retirement for his dedicated services to anti-ageing.

Gerrard, a ladder rung lower on an MBE – allowing me to legitimately call him a member in print – could feasibly get one too, in time. Though if he were to be honoured before his fellow LFC member Kenny Dalglish, any lingering questions of its dubious meritocracy would be thrown further out the window than their current precarious ledge hanging position.

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Frank Lampard, who’s A* in Latin makes him the prime candidate to interrogate a Roman priest over the whereabouts of the Holy Grail, seems criminally ignored by her Majesty’s cultural guardians, but is unlikely to escape a similar clamour upon announcing his retirement, if only from Chelsea fans, notoriously the most nationalist of England’s high end football teams.

But at least these erstwhile candidates will get to enjoy their cake after they’ve finished the meat and potatoes of their playing careers. Because when it comes down to it, sport isn’t that significant, and if David Cameron truly believes there is no one more deserving of a sword on their shoulder within its celebrated confines than Andy Murray, let alone outside of it, then he believes even more rubbish than usual.

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Liverpool will have to see off interest from Galatasaray if they are to secure a January deal for Anzhi Makhachkala striker Lacina Traore, according to reports from The Express.

The Reds were linked with a move for the powerful Ivorian over the summer after he was transfer listed by the now cash-strapped Russian giants.

A deal failed to come to fruition but it is likely that Traore will leave Dagestan this winter.

This has alerted Gala, who are keen to offer the 6ft. 8” front-man an escape route.

Liverpool are thought to be long-term admirers of the 23-year-old, so the Turkish giants’ interest could come as a blow to Brendan Rodgers.

The Reds have enjoyed a fine opening four games of the Premier League season, and currently top the table.

However, Rodgers has hinted at investing further in his squad, with Traore having been mooted as a potential target.

As it stands they may not have the financial capability to fight with Gala, but If Luis Suarez leaves in January the funds, and need for a striker, could push them into making a serious move.

Traore only moved to Anzhi last year, but is said to be willing to leave already as a part of the club’s efforts to offload high earning players.

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Should Liverpool make a serious effort for Lacina Traore?

Have your say below!

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Fulham are interested in signing Clint Dempsey on loan, according to the Daily Star.

The American left the Premier League for Seattle Sounders in the summer, but will have a 3 month break between December and March during the MLS off-season.

And former club Fulham, where Dempsey spent 6 seasons, want to bring the striker back to Craven Cottage on a loan deal. Similar moves have happened with MLS players in the past, with Robbie Keane, David Beckham and Thierry Henry all spending the off-season on loan at European clubs in the past.

Dempsey scored 50 league goals for the Whites during his time in England, before joining Tottenham on the 2012 summer transfer deadline day. The American looked set to move to Liverpool, only for Spurs to have a higher bid accepted by Fulham.

But with Martin Jol’s side struggling to win games in the Premier League, after losing their 6th game of the season already, 3-1 at home to Manchester United, the London club could look to bring the USA international back to the Cottage to try and boost their side.

The two time Fulham player of the season turned 30 earlier this year, and could join an already experienced Fulham squad that are struggling to earn points in the league this season. But the return of a fans favourite could boost the team, and supporters’ moods.

Would you want to see Dempsey back in a Fulham shirt? 

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Share your opinion below!

Manchester City striker Alvaro Negredo is confident that Manuel Pellegrini will stick to his attacking guns in the Champions League last 16, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The Citizens face Barcelona in what is the tie of the round, but the Spaniard says City won’t change their gameplan whoever the opposition is.

“I do not think the coach will change the system against Barca,” Negredo said.

“In all of our matches, apart from when we played Bayern on their own pitch, he [Pellegrini] has played with two strikers. We want to win, and score goals to take with us to the Camp Nou where it will be more difficult.”

The player also revealed that his side are not at all daunted by the task at hand, and were rather happy to draw the Catalans, adding that he would rather draw Barca than their bitter rivals Real Madrid.

“We were happy when the tie came out. Actually, we would now choose Barcelona ahead of Madrid.”

“Looking at the history, for the numbers of titles they have, Barcelona is the favourite. It is true that now they are not as good as in previous years but Barca are always Barca and you have to be very careful with them.

“We must have the courage to face them.“We have a good squad, quality and anything can happen if we do things right.”

Negredo also conceded that Chelsea were the better team in their Premier League clash last Monday, and hopes to fully recover from the shoulder problem than hindered him against the Blues.

“It was not 100 per cent,” he admitted. “I tried to give my best, but now I have to recover and pick up the pace.

“We have to work and forget this game. I think it was not our best game, but it is best to forget it as soon as possible.”

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“Chelsea were good, more effective and in the end that’s what is most important.”

Click below to see the Capital One Cup final in style!

Having drawn at Old Trafford in the Champions League last week, Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich slumped to a shock defeat in the Bavarian derby at minnows Augsburg. Despite having already wrapped up the title, the 1-0 loss marked a surprising end to the Germans’ staggering 53 match unbeaten run in the Bundesliga.

Although many will point to Bayern’s much-changed XI and their publicly stated focus on the return European fixture, other football fans were quick to cite the real reason behind the defeat.

One Sunderland fan optimisitcally argued that it was the effect of another “high-profile” individual in the sport.

Having recently made the headlines for the wrong reasons in England, Ji Dong-Won has netted once since joining Augsburg permanently in January.

However, Bayern weren’t the only surprise sporting victims from the weekend. Football fans noted the influence of the “Moyes Effect” on the grandest stage of them all.

Having previously defeated WWE Legends such as Triple H and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania, surely it can’t be a coincidence that the Undertaker’s incredible streak ended during Moyes’ first full season in charge at Manchester United? In the aftermath of the Deadman’s shock defeat, to Brock Lesnar of all people, many took to Twitter to express their disbelief.

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On a more serious footballing note, United fans will hope that Augsburg’s victory will have deflated Bayern’s aura of invincibility for their clash at the Allianz tonight. By the same token, the Undertaker may be praying for Sir Alex Ferguson’s return sooner rather than later.

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