Costa needs to listen, Rooney should be deaf

The spotlight will be focused on out-of-sorts strikers Diego Costa and Wayne Rooney if they are selected to play for Chelsea and Manchester United tonight. With their respective places under serious threat, TODAY’s EPL analyst Adrian Clarke (sports [at] mediacorp.com.sg) explains what both star forwards must do to revive their dismal form …

COSTA MUST REMEMBER HE iS A TEAM PLAYER

Centre-forwards do not come any more combustible than Diego Costa. We all know the incendiary Spaniard burns brightest when he is embroiled in a spot of pent-up man-to-man confrontation. But the problem this season is that he has taken his personal battles a little too far.

The Chelsea man seems to be focusing harder on how he can wind his marker up, than on how he can find the back of the net. It has led to distracted performances that have been to Chelsea’s detriment.

When axeing him from last weekend’s game against Spurs, Jose Mourinho called on Costa to “read the game better”, and my only surprise at that stance was that it took him so long to take action. The exclusion was well deserved.

But while the champions did just fine without him at White Hart Lane, they cannot afford to ostracise him for long in the absence of another top-class marksman.

In the short term, they need Costa more than he needs Chelsea. So to salvage their shoddy campaign, they must fathom a way of getting a tune out of him quickly.

I suspect Mourinho will remind the bulky front man to channel his aggression in a much less self-indulgent manner.

This means firing himself up to close defenders down properly, to hold off robust challenges from his markers, and to make the right kind of driving runs into the penalty box.

It is those aggressive qualities that made him such a fearsome presence for Atletico Madrid, and it was also a reason he snaffled 21 goals in a superb debut season at Stamford Bridge.

The shoulder slumping, back-chatting, constant bickering and childish sulking all have to go. If he is named on the bench again, there must be no more toys thrown out of the pram. By refusing to warm up and tossing his bib tempestuously in the manager’s direction, he acted like a prima donna — and that is not a style that suits him.

It is time for Costa to calm down, and remember there is no “I” in team. When he uses his energy to fight for the wider cause, he is so much harder to handle.

ROONEY SHOULD GO SOLO

Football is a game of contradictions. While I would advise Costa to listen more intently to his manager’s needs, I think Wayne Rooney would benefit from doing the opposite.

He seems to be hypnotised by Louis van Gaal’s tactical spell and I cannot help but feel the Manchester United captain has lost a splash of magic this season. The spontaneity that has defined Rooney’s career is being stifled by detail.

Preoccupied with where he is supposed to stand, who he is supposed to press, and what his demanding boss wants from him in certain situations, Rooney’s instincts are being blunted. The same could be said of his teammates, too.

Some will argue that age is catching up with him. While I would not disagree that half a yard of pace has been lost, and that Rooney is not quite as sharp as he used to be (who is at 30?), no one can convince me his footballing brain has dimmed.

Almost all of Rooney’s showreel moments can be traced back to flashes of natural impulse, and you do not lose that skill. Playing with the freedom of a kid in a playground, in pressure situations, is a quality that we have lauded ever since he burst on to the scene at 16, and it is sad to see Van Gaal knocking that out of him.

There are stylistic issues too.

United’s slow, conservative brand of possession football would not suit any striker. There is not a forward I know who would prefer that approach to fast-paced moves that allow them to run into spaces behind.

I would love to see Rooney, as captain, take it upon himself to speed things up and inspire a more traditional Manchester United approach, but that is easier said than done in practice. Stringent Dutch taskmaster Van Gaal is not a man to be messed with!

Whether Rooney is up front or in behind the striker, all of this season’s stats point towards a waning influence. He is yet to make a goal, and has scored just two. He is also having fewer touches and shots.

There is not a lot to lose. If Rooney is brave enough to release the handbrake and let his natural gifts take over, what’s the worst that can happen?

THREE IN-FORM FORWARDS TO WATCH

Adrian Clarke highlights three strikers for EPL purists to scrutinise this weekend...

Duncan Watmore (Sunderland)

Last week, Jermain Defoe mentioned Black Cats rookie Duncan Watmore in the same breath as a young Gareth Bale, but I’d label him ‘Vardy-esque’. Another graduate of non-league football, the hungry 21-year-old is a breath of fresh air.

Always on the move, he’s quick-witted enough to beat his man, and fast enough to leave them trailing in his slipstream. Once in the clear, there’s also a cold-blooded striker’s nose.

He is rough around the edges (and not a guaranteed starter) but his raw pace and potential will worry Arsenal tonight.

Junior Stanislas (Bournemouth)

Some players take longer than others to fulfill their potential. At 26, this feels like it’s Stanislas’ window of opportunity to shine in top-flight football.

Since leaving West Ham in 2011 - where he scored six goals in 41 Premier League outings - Stanislas has loitered on the periphery at Burnley and Bournemouth. Now, with injuries forcing Eddie Howe’s hand, he’s been given the starts he has craved.

Direct and full of beans, the winger’s willingness to break into the penalty box from wide areas has given the Cherries a new, fresher dimension. Stanislas scored twice against Everton last weekend. If he continues his scoring streak against Chelsea tonight, his Second Coming will be confirmed.

Romelu Lukaku (Everton)

I don’ t like using the term ‘unplayable’ but when the Belgian’s in this mood, there’s not much that defenders can do to stop him. Scoring six times in as many matches, he’s bullying centre-backs and scoring loads of goals.

Lukaku is grateful to those around him, and rightly so. Arouna Kone, Ross Barkley and Gerard Deulofeu have all delivered fabulous service in recent games.

Crystal Palace must prepare for a major test on Tuesday morning. The chilling prospect of encountering an in-form Lukaku means their weekend will be anything but relaxing.

BIG MATCH PREDICTIONS

Stoke City v Manchester City

Mark Hughes would love to get one over on his old club, but a 4-1 defeat in this fixture last term will make him cautious. The hosts will be delighted with a cagey low-scoring draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Arsenal v Sunderland

Do the Gunners have any players left fit for this game? With so many star men absent, their task hasn’t been made easier. Still, with Mesut Ozil on fire, it’s hard to imagine Sunderland pulling off a clean sheet.

Prediction: 2-0

Man United v West Ham

The Hammers have lost eight in a row at Old Trafford, and with chief goal threats Dimitri Payet and Diafra Sakho sidelined, I expect United to be too strong.

Prediction: 3-1

Swansea v Leicester

All eyes are on Jamie Vardy to see if he can score in a record-breaking 12th match in a row, and with Swansea bereft of confidence, he has to fancy his chances. The form table suggests this will be a straightforward away win. I see a draw.

Prediction: 1-1

Newcastle v Liverpool

Fresh from producing six of the best against Southampton in the League Cup, Klopp’s boys will be gunning for another goal-fest at St James’ Park. If the Magpies turn up half-hearted, they will get torn to shreds.

Prediction: 1-3

TV TIMES

Tonight:

Stoke v Man City (Singtel Ch 102 and Starhub Ch227; 8.45pm)

Arsenal v Sunderland (Ch103 and Ch228; 10.55pm)

Swansea v Leicester (Ch104 and Ch229; 10.55pm)

Watford v Norwich (Ch105 and Ch230; 10.55pm)

West Brom v Tottenham (Ch106 and Ch231; 10.55pm):

Southampton v Aston Villa (Ch107 and Ch232; 10.55pm)

Man Utd v West Ham (Ch102 and Ch227; 11pm)

Sunday:

Chelsea v Bournemouth (Ch102 and Ch227; 1.30am)

Newcastle v Liverpool (Ch102 and Ch227; 11.30pm)

Tuesday:

Everton v Crystal Palace (Ch102 and Ch227; 4.00am)

About the author:

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of the English game. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for many international publications.