The new faces of African Football

This year's African Nations Cup (ANC) qualifiers threw up some shockers as a few of the continent's "stronger" sides failed to qualify. Topping the list are former winners; Egypt, Cameroun, Nigeria and South Africa. It is difficult to tell if this is a temporary blip or a changing of the guard. The latter three countries also failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup but did return for the 2010 event (for Egypt the World Cup has been a bridge too far since their last appearance in 1990).

I like to think of this as the emergence of a new breed of countries ready to shake up the existing paradigm. With Botswana and Niger making their debuts the stage is set for new stars to be born and maybe, just maybe it could be the year of the "Underdog". Add to the debutants, returnees Libya and Sudan to complete the list of unlikely qualifiers. This promises to be an emotional tournament for Libya after the recent turmoil in the country. It is left to be seen if they can reenact Iraq's feat of winning their continental championship in 2007 on the wave of the country's emotions after their going through war and turmoil.

Co-host Equatorial Guinea make a first appearance as well but it is Gabon, the other co-host who excite me currently. They recently won the African U-23 Olympic qualifiers for the London Olympics and can boast of the Aubameyang brothers who bring a Milan influence with Pierre-Emerick currently on loan to St Etienne from Milan and Willy having played in the Milan youth teams.

So what is in the way of stopping a "fresh face" from lifting the cup? The tournament still has a few of the "old guard". Ghana, Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Morocco as past winners will be looking at some of the less fancied names and licking their lips. It all leads to an entertaining fiesta of continental football to look forward to. With no Nigeria, yours truly may be able to sit back and watch with no false expectations or disappointments.

Unlucky Lucas and the case for Jonjo..

Lucas is out for the season

The red's comeback kid - Lucas, the once derided but now celebrated midfielder has been ruled out for the rest of the season. It's an unlucky break for Lucas who has been having a break out season. Opta stats show he leads the Prem in "tackles attempted" and "tackles won". He's been the first name on KD's team sheet and has been a "monster" in the middle of the park this season. So how do you replace him? It's strange to think that his injury worries me more then Stevie G's (remember him?). Whoever comes in - Spearing or Henderson has big boots to fill.

So young Jonjo has scored more goals in the Championship this season than Suarez, Carroll (really all the 'Pool strikers) in the Prem. What does this tell us?    
The Championship is not as strong as the Prem, loans are good for young players, Blackpool are a good fit?
Maybe all of the above. All being said, I like the lad. He's 19 and already spots a bald look (Zidane-like) and seems to play with maturity. I think he could be a long term replacement for Stevie G when the Captain retires.
Rafa did well by bringing Jonjo in (don't you just love that name - Jon-jo). His loan has been cut short with Lucas' injury and maybe we will get a chance to see what he's made of. In my book any player who scores a hat-trick from midfield irrespective of the division has "quality". An earlier post had mentioned my preference for five in the midfield and Jonjo would be a good fit as the attacking/creative fulcrum of the three in the middle.

Shining on Loan

Incidentally the other central midfielders on loan; Joe Cole and Alberto Aquilani have looked good for Lille and Milan respectively. It's a puzzler to think "Aquaman" has got into Juve and Milan teams in the last two seasons but been deemed unworthy of being a Red. Go figure! Arguably on current form we probably could have done with one or both of these players. They could have provided the missing link especially with Stevie G being injured for so long.

I'm particularly happy for Cole as he's getting a run in in the Lille team, scoring goals and looking like a really decent player again. Maybe it's time to let him go, if we aren't going to get the best of him we should let him go to a team that isn't competing with us for the league.