Professor Champions League - All Comments

re: The boy who never learned to bend it like Rivelino

MrTips — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:33:54 GMT

Amazing article, thank you!

Things you didn't know you didn't know about last season

Stats Zone — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:33:15 GMT

It's not long now until FourFourTwo's Stats Zone app, powered by data from Opta, is available

re: Marquee Messi, Wembley woes for Presidents & 1978's best manager

Codorniu — Sat, 28 May 2011 14:07:19 GMT

Happel is quiet the Dutch hero!

Respect from Holland.

Weekender: Tonkings, the ex and bad manners (shorter)

FourFourTwo's Inside Track — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:38:26 GMT

1. Bolton should expect a tonking at Villa …and not just because Gary Cahill has joined Jussi Jaaskelainen

Weekender: Tonkings, the ex and bad manners

FourFourTwo's Inside Track — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:35:41 GMT

1. Bolton should expect a tonking at Villa …and not just because Gary Cahill has joined Jussi Jaaskelainen

re: Tall Poppies & Chris Waddle: The necessary ordeal of Thomas Muller

logz90 — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 12:48:08 GMT

i agree, the media put to much pressure on, for instance, wayne rooney scores a wondergoal on his debut against arsenal, he is now the best striker in the world the hope of england, and he is 16. he needs time to develop still.

same with walcott, bursts on the scene at 16, world cup, signs for a top 4 team, then suddenly he is not good enough. his path has not followed a gentle curve it has rocketed. again he needed time to build himself physically, get used to the pressure of a top 4 team etc. and he should not have gone to the world cup at 16, yes it must have been great for the experience but it would have put so much pressure on someone who could still, at the time, have been at school.

and don't get me started on his defiencies. he is englands most dangerous attacker even if his finishing, crossing etc isn't that great. the most dangerous weapon in football is pace. teams can mark technical players tightly but if u cant run as fast as someone then there is little you can do about it.

re: Dyspeptic Pep, Arshavin's missing gloves & toys without batteries

Yorugua — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:37:39 GMT

Wenger's insertion of Bendter was influencial as well, especially with the second goal, watch the 2nd goal again, the Barcelona defense & GK are keeping an eye on Bendter the whole time, fearing a header.

re: Lenny Kravitz, suicide & Wenger: The Champions League draw analysed

nurspec — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 03:35:15 GMT

Barcelona for the second time had a lead against arsenal and could do nothing o stop them from taking that back. Last time it was goals and a draw this time it was 1 goal and a win. All this talk of how supreme Barcelona are is based on what ? their form in the weak la liga where the possibility for anyone outside of real madrid and barca winning is laughable at best. This hooplah is definitely not based on last years Champions league form ,because they limped out of that with so much as a whimper against a team Spurs ripped to shreds. We can admire their demolition of habitual European losers Real Madrid ,we can admire Messi four goals against an arsenal team missing at least 5 starters ,but far to many times people get lost in a fantasy world created by the press and forget Performances against rubin Kazan,Inter, and on and on. I was actually disappointed by Arsenal's perormance last night as i had them winning 3-1 ,but i'll take 2-1 to camp nou and add 3 more to that,because there is no way Barca win that game. The way they looked in that 2nd half was the look of a boxer that had just hit his opponent with his best shot ,and the opponent looking straight back at him unfazed. Barca were a beaten team ,they had no gas ,they umped on arsenal again this time we were ready and just let them run around with the ball for 20 minutes doing absolutely nothing but tiring themselves out. They can't change anything in thier game ,we can and that is the key.

re: Lenny Kravitz, suicide & Wenger: The Champions League draw analysed

evertonshome — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 04:00:20 GMT

i love your mag!

re: What is the purpose of Chelsea Football Club?

Socceroo — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:07:28 GMT

I like Millwall

re: Andy Carroll, Watergate and England’s national emergency

Codorniu — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:03:50 GMT

''I just believe we’re far better off not falling for all the hype. Carroll may be a useful makeshift, a striker of last resort... And only a media desperate to convince us that a) England have a real chance in 2012 ...''

Really you nailed it there. English Media is just going from hype to hype, shifting between 'England are the best team in the world' to 'We're absolute rubbish for the next decade'.

Also, about Redknapp, no-one gets quiet as many 'predictions' wrong as he does. I started to notice at the world cup he always predicted something I didn't fancy happening, and ended up with one correct prediction for the entire tournament. He seems to continue his fine form the EPL season.

re: Are tactics ruining Rooney's dreams?

Gorgon Banks — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 04:52:14 GMT

I had no idea the "Kaiser" was so perceptive or that he had such developed opinions about Gascoine. Fascinating stuff.

Well written Simpson!

re: Are tactics ruining Rooney's dreams?

Gorayfe — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:47:33 GMT

I'm sorry but I don't get the connection between Rooney's problems and tactics. You say Rooney has to be given the freedom to use his brain, and tactics is looking at football from a more intellectual level. I don't see the conflict between the two ideas that you're positing.

Megson, Blanchflower and Presley

Professor Champions League — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:44:26 GMT

The eight-point guide to this week's UEFA Champions League action... 1 Take it away Lionel! The goal

re: Jugglers, copycats and Sepp's dodgy knee

kevking — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:02:23 GMT

'a ghost goal' - yes but Chelsea should have had Cech sent off and a penalty. They also progressed against Barca in the previous round thanks to John Terry's rugby tackle on Victor Valdez. So it's more like lucky to have done so well.

re: My Perfect 10: Vladimir Petrovic

derick — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 11:59:04 GMT

thank u alot

re: My Perfect 10: Vladimir Petrovic

RobFrumkin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:26:32 GMT

Lovely article - I hazily recall Vlad, being around 10 at the time and more interested in the chocolate on offer from my Dad, than the football. But my Dad still recalls those days and other mercurial playmakers we occasionally had, but got rid off before they could infect our team! Steve Williams was probably the best of the bunch, but Vlad showed us the promised land long before Bergkamp, Fabregas et al showed us what football was really all about.

re: Galacticos, urchins and why CR7 let United down

Pandora — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:18:30 GMT

The fact that Ashley’s club, <a href="www.cheaptr.com/">cheap true religion jeans</a>Newcastle, is apparently now worth only slightly more than Cristiano Ronaldo is an appropriately bizarre footnote to a surreal, rambunctious season of European <a href="www.cheaptr.com/">discount true religion jeans</a>football which has ultimately degenerated into freakonomics and deserved to have as its headline sponsor Charles Dickens, Irwin Shaw (author of Rich Man Poor Man) or<a href="www.cheaptr.com/">true religion jeans for women</a> Andre Breton who, as leader of the Surrealist movement, had the most difficult managerial job imaginable.

re: Who’s brainwashing who?

Ninja Death Star — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 20:03:29 GMT

Talking sense Mr. Simpson.

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

Thetruefootball — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:02:44 GMT

Oops, perhaps my link in the above comment didn't work out because I don't fully understand this interknots thing. Here it is in full form.

www.thetruefootball.com/.../soccer-in-america-series-2010-response.html

Enjoy.

www.thetruefootball.com

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

Thetruefootball — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:26:15 GMT

My response became too long to be a comment so, like a caterpillar into a moth, it has metamorphosed into <a href="www.thetruefootball.com/.../soccer-in-america-series-2010-response.html">this article</a>.

I was disappointed in a number of the devices used to marginalize American sporting culture. Suffice to say: Mr. Simpson, we usually respect your work, which is why we landed on this article in the first place. However, we would appreciate your support rather than your antiquated disparagement. If this is not a reasonable request, then maybe it's best then that the magazine remain entitled 4-4-2, as opposed to the more contemporary 4-2-3-1.

www.thetruefootball.com

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

Sovereign7 — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 23:23:03 GMT

Yorugua - Your opinions about Basketball being horrible for 8 years?! Many would disagree. Hockey the ugly step child? -- You haven't been watching Ovechkin or Crosby...or you simply can't skate and therefore outcast the game with the typical outsiders point of view as a goon sport. Hockey is an amazing game.

The attraction with American Football is strongly linked to gambling -- it's perfectly designed for marketing with continuous breaks in play --- the build up each week for games with an abundance of time for the media to search for stories and pre-game drama.

Football(Soccer) has about the same historical significance to Americans as Tea and strumpets -- It's not something you strive for as a child based on the idea that your father's-father never kicked the ball growing up.. Never passing on their childhood memories to the following generation. The ONLY way 'soccer' will grow is if major moneybag enthusiasts bring money to Major League Soccer. That said, MLS would then have to raise the salary cap --- bring over big name players and then build a strong youth program with American born players. It all starts from a generation --- a generation that grows up aspiring to be the next...Landon Donovan rather than Payton Manning.

It's all based on GRASSROOTS -- (no pun intended )

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

logz90 — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:03:26 GMT

I have to say I enjoyed this article, and the comments left.

It seems, from my position anyway, that America favours the athletic rather than the skill based sports. Perhaps a reason why the national team is very fit but lacks that bit of quality to make them a recognised big team. Also having played an American football team (on tour in a 1 half rugby the other american football) and a soccer team this is the case. The players are fit as anything but when it comes to the more technical aspects they are let down.

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

footballtotheend — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 07:03:16 GMT

This article is not too far off base, although it is fact that football is growing here. During the World Cup, one of the right leaning shows complained that too many immigrants played for the national teams, even though only two (Feilhaber, Holden) were born outside the U.S,

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

bkgunter — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:17:32 GMT

Americans---like most primates have an aversion to change that transcends political philosophy. Even something as non-threatening as support for a "different" sport only comes about slowly. And you conservatives should be more reluctant to ID yourselves as "right wingers." The right wing is a fringe philosophy that includes Palin/Liddy/Limbaugh/Scarboro/O'Reilly, etc, and does not represent the more moderate conservative ideals of low taxes, limited government, and strong defense. The right wing HATES SOCCER. The fact that you like it is another sign that you're not right wing. Unfortunately limited government is usually code for: "I want the government to do less of something specific that benefits someone in particular." But no one considers limited government regarding the government benefits they enjoy EVERY DAY like clean water, well built and maintained roads, fire and rescue, police, telephone/internet/electrical grid reliability, child welfare, schools, restaurant inspections, etc... ALL GOVERNMENT. Limiting government led directly to the BP oil spill. Too many true "right wingers" just mean "I hate poor people" when they want government limited.

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

InMoyesWeTrust — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:02:00 GMT

I too am one those "right wingers," that is, Constitutionalists. Football is my only sport.

As for this article, yikes. For a second I was thinking that 442 might be able to (partially) fill the void in an American media deficient and illiterate when it comes to the beautiful game. In turn, this guy Paul Simpson is the standard, two-bit American hack who chose a variant of journalism as his/her "profession."

Bush was not even close to a "right winger" as his spending habits were much more in line with leftists; supporters of big government. Also, leftists hate football and sports in general. After all, who else would condemn the "obscene profits" that Beckham (5 million) and Donovan (2 million) make each year. :)

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

kevking — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:46:54 GMT

You just copied this from the New Yorker

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

Karlsruhe — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 09:18:47 GMT

To yoroguas list of distractions I would add college football. I am a 44 year old American who has loved soccer since childhood. I do hear "soccer is boring" a lot which is ironic as baseball is like watching paint peel. Unfortunately a recurring comment heard over and over from open minded friends trying to like soccer is "what is up with the diving and play acting?" this aspect has to go, as it is simply not sporting. Trying to win free kicks penalties and cards against the other side through chicanery really turns people off. I think the sport will gain popularity here. There will always be an uniformed reaction to this "foreign" sport as the article says but a pure product will enjoy limited status beneath "bigger USA " sports. Love 442.

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

WEWONITFIVETIMES — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:37:16 GMT

I am an American right winger. To me this means that I favor small government, low taxes and strong national defense. It doesn't mean, as left leaning journalists intimate, racism, xenophobia or homophobia. As a lover of the United States and football(soccer) I must honestly recognize the flaws in American Culture. One flaw is the need to be the best, to win, to dominate. Most Americans could never understand Accrington Stanley or Exeter City supporters. Victory trumps loyalty. Therefore, since America will never be a nation truly capable of world football dominance, the default position becomes dismissal of football altogether. We can't win a World Cup so we'll invent a sport ("American Football") in which chubby genetic mutants belly-buck and declare the best team "World Champions". The fact that the rest of the world doesn't participate is irrelevant. Soccer is ridiculed as boring or feminine. This is beginning to change. The Champions League Final was on network TV in the states this year and the World Cup final drew strong ratings. Legions of soccer-mad youths are now armed with the internet, FSC and Gol TV. Life long affiliations are being formed. Within a generation the old, provincial, dismissive American anti-soccer cave-dwellers will be (to reference famous Right-Winger Ronald Reagan) relegated to the dust bin of history.

re: Why (some) Americans loathe soccer

Yorugua — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:14:04 GMT

The G.Gordon Liddy explanation is probably referring to the Mayans having invented "Soccer." Over here in the states, Mexico has a strong foot-hold in our preconcieved notions of the sport. That a slight xenophobia towards Mexico due to a byproduct of political-social exchanges, exists, is only natural. Bare in mind, the USA absorbs 20% of Mexico's disfranchised people, Mexico fails to provide for their own poor and are happy that they just "go away" to the US. I don't agree with the statement that the sport is a socialist tool, the problem to me is that football (lets stop calling it soccer) is the one sport the US has failed to put its own spin on it... The NFL derives from Rugby, but is now so alien to the original source inspiration that no rugby player would want to play it, the same is true of baseball which derives from cricket. Even NASCAR to a certain extent is some "redneck" re-interpretation of Formula One racing which we do have in this country (Indy 500) but it's NASCAR that has become the rage over here. Even Tennis, we seem to value power (Sampras) & Egotistical Me Generation athletes (McEnroe, Agazzi, William Sisters) over any type of clean-cut by the book professional tennis player.

America loves rebels, football however is a sport that is honest, there's not a lot of room for braggarts like Kobe Bryant or Lebron James... America would have loved Diego Maradona (circa '86) had the sport been already entrenched in this country, but back then America was still loving their baseball ('86 Mets) and basketball which was beginning its decade long dominance with the Celtics, Lakers and the Jordan-led Bulls. Maradona's Argentina came at the wrong time... had Maradona surfaced around the time of the NASL (NY Cosmos and the such) who knows? Maybe Football would have captured more "hearts and minds."

To me though, all this European barnstorming, with all these European clubs coming over here to play the still inferior MLS league teams is not really working. The time to maybe make a dent in American sports is now, the NBA has been horrible for the past 8 years... the product has been diluted to the point that an actual NBA game is unwatchable since it skirts all the rules set in place to watch a contest, Boxing has not recovered from the losses of De La Hoya, Tyson, Gatti... Hockey is still the ugly stepchild nobody wants. The only real competitors in this country are Baseball and the NFL, but the NFL is a beast unto itself, no sport in this country can compete with it, everything about it is near perfect, from the 16 game season to the playoff format to the actual Superbowl... Football(Soccer) could provide a nice alternative to baseball, but you would need a really aggressive push in terms of marketing. Americans will start watching more when we can sign the Rooneys & Henrys in thier prime and not when they're in their mid-thirties crossing over the pond for one last quick paycheck. Soccer hasn't made it yet, it might one day, maybe in another 15 years.

re: The men who made Brian Clough

Scott7070 — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:42:29 GMT

Alan Brown is my Fiance's grandad! Nice piece Paul.

re: Why Maradona is Elvis to Messi’s Beatles and United’s defeat is Peter Drury’s fault

Yorugua — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:29:58 GMT

Regarding the World Cup, Messi has to learn to crawl before he can walk, what I mean by this is that didn't Pele get the stuffings kicked out of him in '66, the same thing happened to Maradona in '82... In the last World Cup, nobody even laid a finger on Messi... hopefully every World Cup defender will be gunning to kick Messi in the shins, maybe by 2014 Messi will win the World Cup singe-handily.

re: Why Maradona is Elvis to Messi’s Beatles and United’s defeat is Peter Drury’s fault

Alex666 — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:25:51 GMT

The Gazzetta looked at Herrera because, like Mourinho, he too was a foreign coach. Actually Internazionale (wonder if it's to do with the name, eh?) always do better in Europe with a foreign coach - last time they had a semi berth in champ league was under Cuper, wasn't it? And didn't Hodgson take them to the final of the UEFA cup? Seems the omens are indeed on Inter's side. Then you add Sneijder's wish to return to Madrid - in a team that (should it have defeated Barca and arrived for the final facing either of the other 2 semi-finalists this year) will surely be the favoured, and you have more of an omen. Add to that Mourinho's already-accomplished mission of biting the hand that once fed him in London, and his desire to humiliate the team that insist on calling him a simple 'interpreter', and you have omens and motivations aplenty.

For sure the real final this season is inter-barca - barring a bad alignment of the planets, I can't see either Lyon or Bayern even getting a sniff against either of these teams in the final.

Mourinho was be sorely tempted to win the domestic double, and the champ league - before leaving for Real. It makes perfect sense, and considering Real will be on the look-out for a new coach come Sunday when they get hammered in the classico, this all seems like a prophesy.

re: Why Maradona is Elvis to Messi’s Beatles and United’s defeat is Peter Drury’s fault

Emerson — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:31:38 GMT

A friend of mine said that Christino Ronaldo is best represented by cocaine - brash, confident, perhaps selfish, even. Messi, on the other hand is like LSD, opening doors to worlds that people can't quite understand.

re: Why Maradona is Elvis to Messi’s Beatles and United’s defeat is Peter Drury’s fault

Huw Davies — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 11:19:07 GMT

Also from Drury in that game, before Robben scored: "No one's enjoying this any more. It's just excruciating now, that's all."

Well, I was enjoying it.

re: Quarter-final frolics: Ducks, ankles and egos

Suivaloom — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:15:43 GMT

'Manchester United’s familiar frailty – a mysterious inability to keep the ball...'

Or more like Michael Carrick's ever-present frailty. Or Park Ji Sung's. And perhaps Darren Fletcher's. Which is basically the whole Manchester United midfield.

I wonder how good the Mancs would be with a technical and mobile passer in the middle. It would take their game up another level if they find the right player. I think that should be the priority in the summer. But not if the debt has forced them to sell Old Trafford of course.

re: Quarter-final frolics: Ducks, ankles and egos

The Brain — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:39:58 GMT

It's surely tastes and Yoruga seems like the kind who likes methodical, tactcial encounters - with a bit of pause in between. Barca and Arsenal was probably too blurry for him - great passing from the Catalan's but Arsenal then owned the last 30 minutes.

re: Quarter-final frolics: Ducks, ankles and egos

dane — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:36:11 GMT

How can you say either of those matches were a bore, are you insane? I'm a diehard Arsenal fan and watching Barcalona in that first half was nothing short of amazing. It was the best 45 minutes of football i've seen in a long, long time. That tie was an amazing 90 minutes of football.......

The Bayern / United contest was also a rather entertaining event.... Sure, there wasn't a goal for over an hour, however, both Bayern & United were very entertaining to watch......

re: Quarter-final frolics: Ducks, ankles and egos

Turpin2009 — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:24:56 GMT

The Arsenal - Barcelona match 'a bore'?

That's wrong, just plain wrong.

re: Quarter-final frolics: Ducks, ankles and egos

Yorugua — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:41:11 GMT

The Lyon/Bordeaux match was the best... the Man U/Bayern match a bore, ditto for the Arsenal/Barcelona match... the Inter/CSKA match was OK but nothing to write home about.

re: Moronic Inferno engulfs English managers

kat — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:18:45 GMT

The reason zeman is unemployed is because he criticised Italian football as corrupt as much as his coaching methods. If he was a great coach he would be able to inculcate his methods, maybe he isn't that great?

And as for claiming Hodgson's win over an abysmal Juve make him a supercoach, he didn't look that super against spurs did he? And his methods are as traditional english as it's possible to be.

Yes there's an arrogance and insularity about a lot of english coaching, but to proclaim everything foreign as automatically superior is as dumb as the obverse.

re: Moronic Inferno engulfs English managers

Suivaloom — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:54:15 GMT

Excellent.

I am genuinely quite ashamed at the mentality of the vast majority of British managers at the top end of the game. I am convinced that the style of play of such teams as Blackburn, Birmingham, even Aston Villa and Everton is out-dated and old-fashioned. Moreso it does not work, especially when you pit it up against the modern, continental style in Europe.

Just look at Everton, their a-typical blood and thunder 'English style' of football produced results such as their 5-0 destruction at the hands of Benfica or their 3-0 hammering by Sporting this season (deviating from the point slightly but has anyone else notice how Everton, Aston Villa et al seem to play without a midfield? Look at Hodgson's Fulham. There is a team that uses the centre of the park for intelligent, passing football, not the ultra-direct and brainless, low technique style prevalent in England, and of course it pays off which their results in Europe are testament to).

I am deviating from Mr. Simpson's point slightly, but it all comes back to British managers being stuck in their outdated ways and philosophy, when the rest of the world has moved on.

This is like a personal crusade of mine - to see an English football revolution, where our whole ugly and terminally unsuccessful style of today is consigned to the history books. Spain had a revolution during the 1980s, similarly France and Germany have also transformed their football more recently and it is about bloody time England did the same.

The evidence is so blatant it is laughable and infuriating we are not changing: one final since 1966.

re: Ronaldinho, Kaka and Arshavin set to go on trial

Giovanni — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:44:54 GMT

Great piece of writing!

re: Vilification of 'rat' king Cole has gone too far

Van Teajay — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:20:46 GMT

Rat cashly Cole,J.Terry,Rio,G.Johnson.what a tragedy for three Lion.hmmmmm.......!

re: Vilification of 'rat' king Cole has gone too far

Fabrecass — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:22:59 GMT

I wish football was still about football.

re: Vilification of 'rat' king Cole has gone too far

Codorniu — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:57:05 GMT

I'm pretty sure English chances of winning the World Cup are way lower than Labour winning the election! ;-)

re: The least predictable game... and Inter-Chelsea

Shake your goatie at this Benitez — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:43:10 GMT

Suberb article Paul, isnt it a shame (or fantastic however you look at it) you do not write for some of papers that are not worth mentioning because of your incisive views!!!

I'm particularly fretting(being a Chelsea fan) because make no mistake about it,Mourinho will use every 'dirty' trick in the book to get one over us! Without a recognised left back,a shaky back four, i will really be over the moon with a non score draw or even a 1-1 (if we manage to breach their back four). Cant call it either.

re: The least predictable game... and Inter-Chelsea

Olugboye — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:25:31 GMT

If ancellot boys utiliz any opportunity comes there way, they can win morino boys at san siro.

re: Magic numbers, bubbly & Brandreth

gt607 — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:42:20 GMT

Yes - *those* are the words I've been looking for to describe Gyles Brandreth - "smugly spreading insufferable boredom throughout the land".

re: Magic numbers, bubbly & Brandreth

Marrsio — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:19:12 GMT

I love those things to... x was in the charts, y won the league and z party won the General Election so England will win.

You know it'll come soon enough!

RCM

leftbackinthechangingroom.blogspot.com

re: The men who made Brian Clough

Gorgon Banks — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:16:43 GMT

@ Yoruga, thanks. Pity though, because it seems fascinating.

re: The men who made Brian Clough

Yorugua — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:05:20 GMT

Gorgon Banks... I was looking for that myself, I think its only available in Italian , the title of the book is "Tacalabala" written by Fiora Gandolfi.

re: The men who made Brian Clough

Gorgon Banks — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:31:24 GMT

Speaking of near impossible to find books, Mr. Simpson - pray tell, where may we pick up a copy of Herrera's "Football Diary"? I'd gone to his wife's website but found no ordering information!

re: The men who made Brian Clough

The Brain — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:48:14 GMT

Great post.

Just to say something on Peter Taylor. I've always felt, as you've eluded to that he has been always an underrated part of Clough's success. When people name the best manager's ever, they put Clough very high up because of his achievements.

Man-management he was great but tactically he seemed very simple, as displayed by his punditry on TV for England. And he never took part in any training sessions!!

How much did he owe to Peter Taylor in that regard? He was without him at Leeds - maybe if Taylor was there, he would have been the voice of reason and kept Leeds playing the delightful football that Clough so tried to dismantle unintentionally.

re: The men who made Brian Clough

Gary Parkinson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:09:05 GMT

Rossco - it's 29 bucks including postage on <http://www.thenile.com.au> - might be cheaper (but slower?) shipping from Amazon. Well worth a read.

Thanks for joining in.

Gary Parkinson, Editor, FFT.com

re: The men who made Brian Clough

Rossco — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:44:20 GMT

A great piece Paul. You've certainly made me want to go right out and buy the book. That's if I can find it in the football backwater that is often my beloved Australia!

Brian Clough is one of my English football heroes.

Keep up the good work!

Ross

re: Herrera's creative engine room: God, Freud and Yoga

Yorugua — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:46:39 GMT

Great article, maybe, just maybe this book on Herrera will obtain the cult-status and pretentious reverence that "Notes On Cinematography" written by French film-maker Robert Bresson has achieved?

re: The revolutionary legacy of Philippe Albert

tomwfootball — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:41:50 GMT

Step forward Micah Richards...

www.101greatgoals.com/.../4436886

tomwfootball.wordpress.com

re: The revolutionary legacy of Philippe Albert

Gorgon Banks — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:03:06 GMT

Yet another five-star blog by the Paul Simpson - fantastic thought and insight onto an interesting topic. I agree with much of what's been said so far and would only like to humbly throw one other name into the ring for consideration - that of one DANIEL VAN BUYTEN. As this blog was evidently inspired by the decisive playmaking of a Belgian center back of a bygone era, its a bit ironic that the "Big Belgian" hasn't been mentioned. Lucio and Pique aside, he's probably the best goal scorer in the world at his position, with the aptitude and intelligence for progressing the ball up the field at the right time. Granted most of his goals do come from set plays (headers, numerically), but he has has an incredibly high attacking IQ in general. Everytime I see him play I think to myself - wow - Byern Munchen is squandering something really special here. This is a man that should be allowed to rove at will, reinvigorating the moribund stopper position. Byern are kind of weak in the middle anyway (Temuchuck - pardon the spelling) isn't getting the job done. With Van Buyten coming forward to support on his own intuition - Byern would have a sure fire formula to disrupt most any defense in Europe me thinks.

re: The revolutionary legacy of Philippe Albert

The Brain — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:22:13 GMT

Advancing centre backs I would call them. I am skeptical of the resurgence of the libero (sweeper) because it relies on extraordinary mental abilities. Like a Fabregas who can defend.

Rather I see with the increased universality of players, defenders will be more athletic and better technique and will alternate in their moments to get forward.

re: The revolutionary legacy of Philippe Albert

Suivaloom — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:19:44 GMT

Interesting article.

The players that could be classed as 'modern-sweepers' today are Lucio, Pique, Vermaelen and perhaps Agger.

Out of all those, Lucio is the most adept. Pique was never trained to play that way at Man Utd, only since he has been with Guardiola. Vermaelen I must see more of to judge. Agger is also adept although with Johnson in the team now he may lose some of his license to roam forward.

re: A Dickens of a year

The Brain — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 17:30:15 GMT

Great piece.

re: David, Goliath and revolution

Suivaloom — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:20:19 GMT

I'm not so sure that on paper, Chelsea's squad is stronger than Inter's.

Julio Cesar is, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world, and certainly puts the nervous Cech to shame.

Maicon is a better right-back than Ivanovic or Bosingwa for certain.

Eto'o is a match for any striker in the world.

And it could be argued that Chivu and Samuel match Terry and Carvalho for pure defensive ability, although both lack the leadership of Chelsea's captain.

re: Are Ronaldo & Rooney the new Di Stefano & Puskas?

bankace1 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:04:19 GMT

paprikaparty.org/index-3.html

re: The Colonials who upstage Liverpool

psdiggs — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:14:09 GMT

The sense of entitlement Liverpool fans have which has blinded them to the truth that they are no longer a top tier club. Dont get me wrong they are still a big name but currently they occupy the second level in both England and Europe. They won a european cup with a lot of luck in what was a poor period in the compitition. Its time they accept the fact that any team that goes 20 years without their League title are nothing more than an average team with a history.

re: The Colonials who upstage Liverpool

silva — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:28:50 GMT

GET OUT HICKS AND GILLETT YOUR KILLING OUR CLUB GET GET GET OUT

re: The Colonials who upstage Liverpool

silva — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:28:07 GMT

as soon as the owners start behaving like human beings and start doing what they have said they would and build liverpool a ground with some better players in the club then and only then will rafa grow this club and results will be more easy to come buy, ask yourself why david silva did not sign,,, go and ask hicks what happend to this deal,,, joke,, rafa has had to sell and exchange to buy, that isnt what you call squad building is it,, f***ing joke these two pair of yankie C****.

re: Life’s a pitch and then you dye

psdiggs — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:27:51 GMT

I had assumed Souness had grown the moustache as part of the movember charity thing(unsure of the proper name) but if its some enjoyable punditry your after you cant beat RTE's line up of Dunphy, Giles and Souness(who had a full beard on the show a couple of weeks ago!) on CL games. If you haven't seen them I recommend a quick trip to Youtube now.

re: Reinventing Juventus

shevacl — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:22:08 GMT

juven's midfield is a defect

re: Sex, drugs & mountain goats

Gary Parkinson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:07:54 GMT

N.e.j.c. - Correct, and our apologies. Now corrected above.

Yorugua - Pingbacks are left when blog aggregators link through to our posts (and so they should). We try to delete them – they're not very interesting to read – but we can't be everywhere at once...

re: Sex, drugs & mountain goats

Yorugua — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:54:24 GMT

I may sound ignorant for even asking but what the hell is a "pingback"?

re: Sex, drugs & mountain goats

N.e.j.c. — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 10:50:26 GMT

"The first target for Miroslav Blazevic, who led Croatia to the semis in 1998..."

Erm... Blazevic is the current manager of Bosnia...

Matjaz Kek is the Slovenian manager.

But I do agree about our world cup hopes. We seem to do well at home (at times), but away from home... Even on a neutral ground we seem to represent the away team.

re: The greatest half-times ever

BoroKnight — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:56:08 GMT

I just wanted to share something,it isnt from football but considering its inspirational half time moments here...

remember when australia scored 434 the highest ODI total ever, well the South Africans were sitting dejected in the dressing room when Jacques Kallis walked in and said "looks like their 15 runs short guys"

I can imagine how that must've lifted spirits and it made them go berserk,didnt it and win probably one of the best ODI's of all times.

Takes one line...

re: The greatest half-times ever

zedzdead — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:49:20 GMT

It doesn't just have to be half-times. My dad tells me that Bill Shankley would famously berate his winning players after playing fantastically well to win a match. On a rare occaision, Liverpool were outplayed and soundly beaten 3-0. The players trooped off expecting the mother of all backlashes.

Instead Bill walked into the dressing room with a face like thunder and shouted "Have you ever seen 3 luckier goals in your life!" By the end of the post-match, post-mortem, he even had the players believing that they should've won the game, and so started the psychological build-up in the players minds that they were still the best in the world, in readiness for the next game.

So my dad sez.

re: The greatest half-times ever

BoroKnight — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:02:37 GMT

brilliant, just brilliant!! hats off professor!!

re: The greatest half-times ever

Fabrecass — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:18:01 GMT

excellent read, thoroughly enjoyed it.

re: Reds, Real, Rubin & rubbish

JimmySpankhands — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:04:39 GMT

I too was surprised by Matt Dickinson's article in the Times and have never heard any Liverpool fans talking about Kenny as stepping into the Manager's seat- even in the most rabidly anti-Rafa of forums.

In fact, one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the concerted media-led "Benitez Out" campaign is the lack of viable alternatives as manager. Who else in football would want the infighting owners, financial shortcomings, and media deification of rival managers (Ferguson, Wenger) that Benitez has to contend with? And objectively, who could do a better job with the current squad caused by Liverpool consistently spending less than their rivals?

re: The question that should haunt Capello

The Brain — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:40:34 GMT

No matter how much of a disciplarian Capello may seem, he is getting better out of England in terms of tactical nous which of they had a limited amount.

Bilic felt England may lose a bit of their identity before the Croatia match but they successfully fused a bit of patience and control with real dynamism. If they succeed in the come the World Cup they got a real chance.

I don't think Joe Cole is as good in the hole as Rooney but the latter should look to be more efficient in his zone to become a better player.

My gripes are if they could they continue to try and bore others to death when it may put too much strain at the back, can they actually win the ball back and if Gerrard can play with more understanding on the left and play more like Modric instead of a spoilt boy.

re: The question that should haunt Capello

Suivaloom — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:12:16 GMT

The media and public would be foolish to rest their England hopes on Wayne Rooney, which is popular tendency amongst fans.

Let's get this right and judge Rooney on the biggest stages in his career thus far and you will find he has failed spectacularly.

*2006 World Cup Quarter-final - Completely lost his mind, sent off after violent rage spilled out of control.

*2008 Champions League final - Very poor and nervous performance, taken off before the end of match.

*2009 Champions League final - Absolutely terrible display. One of the worst displays by a so-called world-class player I have ever seen in a CL final.

I am astounded how the media fail to question Rooney's performances on the biggest stages. He seems incapable of delivering.

You may add his age as an excuse, but Messi was 21 when he breached Man Utd in Rome, Messi was younger when he won Olympic Gold in an inspired performance - and let's not forget, Messi is the type of player that the sometimes clueless English sport media like to compare Rooney with.

He is not even in the same class. The performance in Rome by Rooney really was THAT bad it really hit home: he has a mental weakness. So bad was he, that Capello questioned his performance as "incredible" but for all the wrong reasons.

I'd rather rest my hopes on J.Cole in a WC semi-final/final playing in Rooney's position if Rooney decides to boil over in anger and lose his mind/hide inside his own shirt in fear the next time we need inspiration.

re: The question that should haunt Capello

Yorugua — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:44:51 GMT

I don't think Capello's tour of duty as English NT coach will be anything remarkable... Lets remember that Capello won with Juventus back when the Calciopoli scandal was in full gear, he defected out of the Serie-A faster than it takes Beckham to change his hairstyle.

I also think the "robotic" approach employed by Marcello Lippi in the last World Cup is probably an indication of how much the game of football has changed... I think you need a combination of the two, you certainly need players and you need a brilliant tactician coach. Lippi dumped Totti, Pirlo & Del Piero on the pitch at the same time in matches leading up to the Final, even though they play the same position.

I think Beckham is probably the most gifted and experienced veteran on this English Squad but the question that should really haunt Capello is: "will it be enough for England to get over the hump?" --- I doubt it, Beckham has chased money and glory but not necessarily winning. He's made a lot of money but will this be the World Cup where he'll put everything on the line? Unless England's group matches consists of South American teams not named Brazil, England's over reliance on a player like Beckham is desperate gambling... Beckham has to want it, I have yet to see that kind of National Team ambition in the guy, set piece kicks aside (like the one he scored against Ecuador in the last World Cup) I can't see the World Cup Final coming down to a Golden Balls free-kick special. England needs to play for the same goal and not individual glories.

re: The fuss that Jack built

daitanaka — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:26:39 GMT

The only reason why the WC should be hosted in USA or Mexico is because CONCACAF have not been hosting a WC in 15 years. Although Australia would be another option.

re: The fuss that Jack built

Yorugua — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:52:32 GMT

Jack Warner sounds like the proverbial "Ugly American" big-business jerk, America is known for producing. My question is other than the money involved, why does the US want to host the World Cup again? To show that the sport has grown in the US? Not really... this is still a country that's dominated by the NFL, Baseball, NASCAR & Basketball... Football places a very distant sixth, right behind hockey which has a built-in fan base, not one imported from Mexico.

The American MLS doesn't know if it wants to emulate the premiership or the Mexican League... the football product is inferior and unexciting.

Should England host the World Cup? While I think England is one of the few countries that could host the World Cup every time it comes around, beautiful stadiums and knowledgeable fans, I also think its been done to death, the whole "repeat World Cup" thing, I'm talking about France & Germany... how many more repeat World Cups will there be? And please no more World Cups in Mexico.

There are plenty of countries that should get a first crack before even considering England again, what about Australia or Denmark? What about Portugal? They did a great job of hosting the Euros? Lets explore new terrains before predictably going back to the same tired venues.

re: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

timzink — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:15:57 GMT

how do you rate mesut ozil of werder bremen

re: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

timzink — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 13:14:35 GMT

how do you rate muller of baern munich, and oezil of werder?

re: Matchday 2: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

Yorugua — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:56:38 GMT

Icelandic Messi? I'm still waiting for the Fijian Messi to emerge...

re: Matchday 2: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

Fabrecass — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:24:00 GMT

What a pointless blog, why are people so obsessed with 'the next whoever'?! Grow up and deliver something worth reading.

re: Matchday 2: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

Vergilius — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:51:12 GMT

Scandinavia houses few midgets, so we'll probably never get a Messi here - unless its an immigrant, of course.

re: Matchday 2: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

The Brain — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:02:40 GMT

The English Messi? Why, Jack Wilshere of course. And I was convinced Hleb was going to become our current Messi at Arsenal before he left to scrub Messi's boots at Barca. Shame.

re: Matchday 2: Will the Icelandic Messi please stand up?

antiopap — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:50:05 GMT

It's amazing that you know Koutsianikoulis :) Bravo from Greece

<a href="http://www.antiopap.com">pame stoixima</a>

re: Jazz, dinosaurs, bulls and binmen

Gorgon Banks — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:29:40 GMT

Paul Simon, you are a brilliant brilliant man.

re: The greatest pub cliché of all

Yorugua — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:09:17 GMT

I think this phenomenon extends beyond the football realm... I remember Magic Johnson being a lousy coach in the NBA as well.

re: The greatest pub cliché of all

Vergilius — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:08:03 GMT

I would add Guardiola as an example of a fine player who have gone on to make a great manager - even if he has only completed one season as a top-flight coach. He's won almost everything already. I guess the truth of the matter is that the components that make a great coach are no more or less neccessarily present in great players than in anyone else - indeed why would they be?

re: The greatest pub cliché of all

Yorugua — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:28:19 GMT

I was with you... I was with you... and then the article went on too long.

Almost a good piece...

Regarding Maradona, the only thing he ever "coached" was his dealers to meet him in the bathroom... Bilardo is the "secret" Argentina Coach despite Maradona's camera mugging.

re: Fabio Capello, Johan Cruyff and Robert Redford

Yorugua — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:01:35 GMT

Thank you so much for mentioning the Uruguay match, yes I agree with you that the Forlan pass to Sebastian Eguren was sublime, I screamed my lungs out. Here's my complete reaction to the game... www.lacelesteblog.com

Uruguayan football is not appreciated anymore due to the explosion of Brazilian & Argentinean football and in this regard due to financial considerations & the horrible state of the Uruguayan football league, Uruguayan football has lacked behind the two biggest countries in the continent. Although I doubt that Uruguay will qualify to the World Cup, the match between Uruguay and Colombia was entertaining to say the least.

Bravo on the piece and the Blog in general.

re: How Barca are looking to improve on perfection

psdiggs — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:09:58 GMT

Eto'o was in the last year of his contract, been pushing all summer for a move away from the Camp Nou and by all accounts was an unsettling character in the team. It is a safe to assume that if he didnt leave come January his workrate would be non exsistant as he began to speak to other clubs. Now while many (including myself) dont believe the hype that surrounds Ibrahimovic, Guardiola does and with after winning the treble deserves to right and sign who he believes to be right for the club.

re: How Barca are looking to improve on perfection

MikeySupersonic — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:15:00 GMT

I agree, a very interesting piece.

At first I thought the swapping of Eto'o for Ibrahimovic seemed like a good deal, until I heard Barca were also paying €40m for the privilage! But should the plan of Ibrahimovic dropping deep pay off then the risk will be probably be seen as being worth it. But personally I think Barca will have paid a very high price to do so. They would surely be better off paying a high price like that for a striker with more consistency in their game.

re: How Barca are looking to improve on perfection

BallyshannonBhoy — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:06:17 GMT

Very interesting piece here. It's important to keep in mind that Guardiola is very much a Cruyff protegé so the reference to Total Football is very apt.

I'd like to expand on the role Ibrahimovic is expected to play. I for one was baffled by the decision to swap him (and €40m!) for Eto'o, who is a far superior player. Eto'o scores lots of goals and at important times whereas Ibra has often been criticised (rightly, IMO) for not doing it when it counts. Also, Eto'o works hard, presses high up the pitch and can interchange with the other forwards - as he did with Messi against Utd in the CL final. All these are key to Guardiola's gameplan.

As I see it, Ibrahimovic does none of this so I have been wondering why on earth Guardiola signed him and how he intends to use him (if he wanted to replace Eto'o like-for-like then maybe Benzema would have been better). Your explanation about Ibra dropping deep to draw out defenders is interesting but Iniesta and (especially) Xavi are not really Gerrard-type midfielders who will get beyond the forwards, are they? That's not a criticism, it's just an observation on their game. Will Messi and Henry play more narrow then? Will the fullbacks be expected to attack even more than last season?

It's an interesting question. It was hard to see how Barca could improve on last season in an attacking sense (defensively, I agree that signing Chyngrysnkiy is a good move), other than breaking down stubborn defences like Chelsea and Shakhtar. Is Ibrahimovic really the answer?

re: JT, Zlatan, Maldini & Ms Vinegar

phantompong — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:13:09 GMT

I'd just like to point out the last team in Group H (Arsenal's group) is Standard Liege, not Stuttgart, who are in Group G with Rangers.

re: JT, Zlatan, Maldini and Ms Vinegar

BigWelshDefender — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:12:05 GMT

Platini was rather chuffed wasn't he! "Can you believe this guy played against me" was another good quote. I bet they have had that plaque thing for Paolo hidden behind the desk for 3 or 4 years, only for him to turn up and tell them he's going to carry on playing. I'm also glad Xavi got the best midfielder vote and not Steven 'Xabi Alonso made me look good' Gerrard...

re: Egil Olsen’s ugly little secret

StevesieZissou — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:43:07 GMT

Paul, you're probably right that it's good to switch things up every once in a while, especially for a team that just can't accomplish what a Barca or Arsenal (speaking of teams that see midfield play as the ends and not the means!) does. Still, I can't imagine that you didn't read Jonathan Wilson's "Inverting the Pyramid," in which he lays waste to Reep's statistical theories, showing that Reep's conclusions were based on almost farcically bad analysis of his data. Sure, some teams with the exact right parts find success with this method, but to encourage play based on Reep's theories is not just to encourage ugly football, but also to encourage a less effective (on average) path to success.

re: Egil Olsen’s ugly little secret

logz90 — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:28:48 GMT

olsen uses what he has available. the point about the short passing game. al bet few people liked watching greece but at the end of the day they one the competition. i reckon most fans would rather win the competition by playing long balls than not win playing amazing football.

re: Review: Romance, redemption & Didier Drogba

Reuben gafa — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 03:42:47 GMT

Lets face the future champion league

re: The Donna, Phil, Roman & Lenny show

psdiggs — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:59:32 GMT

"the Ukrainian coach has led Ventspils to three Latvian titles in a row, the kind of domestic monopoly once enjoyed by the club he admires most (Manchester United)."

Haven't Man Utd just won three in a row themselves?

re: In praise of Sir Bobby Robson

Suivaloom — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 20:22:46 GMT

Football needs more men like Robson, what a great man.

re: In praise of Sir Bobby Robson

temjin — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:39:22 GMT

It seems a bit unfair to call "shambolic" to a side that featured players like Yugoslav internationals Ivkovic and Vujacic, dutch international Valkx, bulgarian international Balakov and several portuguese internationals like Cadete (who went to score 30 goals in only 37 league matches for Celtic) and a guy called Figo.

However Bobby Robson's sacking was one of the most unpopular decisions in the the club's history. The fact that he went on to coach one of SCP's rival clubs and managed to still remain widely respected by the Sporting supporters only testifies Sir Bobby's greatness.

re: Icarus allsorts

Suivaloom — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 13:12:26 GMT

Timao - why do Arsenal lose world class players?

Because Wenger sells them and thinks 19/20 year old's can replace these world class stars without any loss of strength to the team.

It is slowly becoming apparent that perhaps Wenger has totally lost his marbles, in a spectacular way.

The only reason he has not been found out yet is because he appears too intelligent a man and too brave in his conviction to be questioned.

This could spell disaster for Arsenal.

re: Icarus allsorts

Timao — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:45:17 GMT

do really have to resort to greek myth to work out that a team gets worse if it loses two or three of the world's best players?

also ibra-who-ovic is utterly stupid to slate a team that is better than the one he plays in. of course he is, thick as a plank.

wenger's forwards have never been that selfish in front of goal - witness the penalty debacle between pires and henry against man city.

your whole half-baked icarus theory boils down to the fact that arsenal never adequately replaced Patrick Vieira - who, to be fair, is a tought act to follow.

re: Icarus allsorts

ronanok — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:24:59 GMT

Hi Paul, really enjoyed your article. I wrote about Arsenal's demise in much the same vain after their semi final defeat in the Champions League.

Hope you'll take the time to read it here. ronanok.wordpress.com/.../is-arsene-the-emperor-wenger-wearing-new-clothes

All the best,

Ronan O'Keeffe

re: Super trooper

psdiggs — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:25:15 GMT

I don't know, Inter in 14th place vs 12th placed Lyon in a Monday night game six weeks before the end of the season with nothing to play for sure sounds Super to me!

re: Why Real Madrid haven't got Kaka’s number

phantompong — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:58:20 GMT

8 is the biblical number of Jesus, and I assumed that was why he picked it - besides the fact, of course, he didn't want the responsibility of being the new Zidane. (5, after all, is the biblical number of grace and favour - not too shabby.)

If it's true that Kaka wanted 18 , though, then it's slightly annoying RM didn't give it to him. Terry wears 26 for Chelsea, after all, *and* 18 was available (it was de la Red's number, and he's out for another season). Now Gago has 5, and I'm not sure how I feel about that - I'd rather Albiol wear that number.

re: Why Real Madrid haven't got Kaka’s number

djw1992 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:29:28 GMT

What about Ibrahimovic and Gerrard? Two great players who wear the number 8 for their club.

re: Betamax, Best & Buzz

rwitzig — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:35:22 GMT

Love the NOLA comments (New Orleans, Louisiana).

Simpson appears to be one of the few European football writers that take the USA soccer (British word) scene and history seriously. What about the Confed Cup, when was the last time England spanked Spain?

Great book out of New Orleans is

The Global Art of Soccer/Football, www.theglobalartoffootball.com

re: Betamax, Best & Buzz

Suivaloom — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:00:57 GMT

Good piece.

"the 1968 European Cup final was the point when, George Best felt, Bacchus replaced Busby as his mentor."

Ha ha ha

re: Matt, Macca & Johnny Foreigner

Suivaloom — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:08:03 GMT

Excellent and so very true.

I find it astounding how little English football has adapted and evolved in comparison to other nations such as Spain or Italy.

I MUST be recognised by the FA that the English method and style of playing football has been inadequate for over 40 years. Since 1966 England has never got to another final and that means something is drastically wrong. The style of football we play here needs to change to focus more on technique and less on power and pace.

Look how Spain have progressed in leaps and bounds since 1966. Spain coach Del Bosque gave an interview last week where he said Spain used to 'play the English style' but that is long in the past and the gulf between the Spanish footballing philosophy and the English is plain to see whether in club football or International.

Spain have adapted, evolved, taken ideas from other nations and now have a way of playing football which is the new model for the world to envy.

Why can't more people realise English football - the way English players play not the imports - is in drastic need of evolution if we are to ever have any success?

re: Matt, Macca & Johnny Foreigner

mrplow2000 — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:40:44 GMT

It was a critism i had of Sam Allardyce when he was sacked from Newcastle. He felt he had been unfairly treated in being passed over for the England job, but, with zero experience of the European game, how could he have been a serious contender in the first place? He had an opportunity to work aboard and never bothered, waiting for the next opportunity in England. As more and more educated and experienced polygot European players and coaches continue to master football, the English contribution will continue to fall away.

re: Matt, Macca & Johnny Foreigner

jfg — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:18:45 GMT

Jon nicholson on the website football365.com said more or less the same thing a month ago....

re: Cristiano, Alf & the world’s most expensive racehorse

Suivaloom — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:56:10 GMT

Excellent post as always.

C.Ronaldo now carries a massive burden, something which Zidane acknowledged previously as the most expensive player in the world.

What I would like to know is where the hell did the money come to swoop for both Kaka and Ronaldo in one summer? £100+ million with further reinforcements due without Madrid offloading any players first? Does anyone know where Los Merengues get their money for transfer??

re: Rebels or robots: Which would you prefer?

Jai Bans — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:49:44 GMT

This is inevitable in the modern game- there is gawping chasm for missing cration, intuition and initiative which translated itself into moments of inspiration like Zizou volley at Hampden park.

It can be said that ever since 2006 we have been devoid of such imagination by the constrictive and prescriptive nature of the managerial bureaucracy who seek to create formulas of assurance. Benitez is one, Pellegrini another whilst the king of the game Mourinho is very much in demand.

Zidane was an epitome of this champagne style he was awarded with so much autonomy and independence on a football pitch from which he created the illusion of 'finding space'. Ronaldinho at Barca also showed moments of absolute brilliance via liberty.

However since then football was undoubtedly changed, there is a lengthy explanation of this which can be basically summarised by the pressure put on managers to deliver results or be sacked which has led to their own fiddling through increasing levels of player binding.

re: Rebels or robots: Which would you prefer?

hum4ndyn4mo — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:22:06 GMT

Great post, a really poignant summary of the way that efficiency and organisation comes with quite significant downsides.

Hopefully, so long as the game is played by human beings, we will continue to see great moments of inspiration and individuality, even if if they are limited by the pursuit of robotic functionality.

re: The perfect man to coach Chelsea

Swedish Bastard — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 22:09:29 GMT

Good article, and one thing is certain that Ancelotti is not the man. Coming from that pedestrian catenacci league in Italy it will be a big step up for him coming to the Premier League. A leauge where every game is tough and a league where you can't bribe your way to the top. As he was used to in Milan.

Another thing he can't bring with him is the Milan laboratory. No more injection with anti-depressives as is so frequently used in Italy.

re: The perfect man to coach Chelsea

Suivaloom — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:20:38 GMT

Excellent but one thing: It was in fact Leonardo who bequethed Pato to Ancelotti, not the other way around, as Leonardo, being a former Milan technical director, has deep knowledge of the talents in Brazil and orchestrated Pato's move to Serie A.

Sorry to be pedantic.

re: What Tony Pulis could teach Pep Guardiola...

Suivaloom — Wed, 27 May 2009 10:24:57 GMT

That Marca article is from their chief football writer?? Shows why Marca is the most embarrassing publication in the world.

re: The European Cup final that sparked a revolution

BoroKnight — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:17:14 GMT

good stuff

you sir are a word-weaver!

re: Will Hiddink play one at the back?

sammydead — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:36:59 GMT

The author was merely giving his view prior to the game and in doing so is there to be shot down.Hindsight is a wonderful thing, shame you didn't share your tactical knowledge BEFORE the game.

re: Are Ronaldo & Rooney the new Di Stefano & Puskas?

Suivaloom — Wed, 06 May 2009 16:42:39 GMT

Excellent article, although I thought the Italians called the deep-lying forward a trequartista. I'm certain Puskas is famously one of these in Italy, as is Del Pierro.

re: Will Hiddink play one at the back?

Snyde — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:41:20 GMT

You made a prediction and got it wrong...

"Hiddink won’t ask Chelsea to sit back as United did against Barca". :P

re: Will Hiddink play one at the back?

Suivaloom — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:09:37 GMT

I absolutely cannot wait to see how good this Barcelona 'dream team' really is.

I've watched them steam-roll everyone, but surely Chelsea is the strongest side they've encountered thus far this season.

re: Review: Romance, redemption & Didier Drogba

sammydead — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:15:14 GMT

I'd say that YoYo being the only player capable of trying to outmuscle a powerful rotating midfield exposes the physical weakness Barca must concede in a crucial part of the pitch.Hiddink will have Chelsea set up to take advantage of any Barca slip up and if he employs his usual tactics I very much doubt it will be from a defensive standpoint.

If Barca are in the mood then Chelsea may have no option but to concede ground but rather than shamelesslly soak up pressure as United were happy to do last year, Chelsea under Hiddink will be more ambitious and look to take at least one of the chances that will come their way.

re: Review: Romance, redemption & Didier Drogba

kbones — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 10:16:55 GMT

it's increasingly annoying to read every English blog trying to play down Barca's quality. You say their job in La Liga has been far too easy... and on the other hand, you come close to praising Arsenal, who are just fourth. United seem really below-par to me at the moment.

Chelsea are surely an opponent not to be taken lightly, but neither were Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal back in fall. They have their weak spots as well, and Yaya has enough muscle to keep Ballack or Lampard marked. I hope we will see something more from The Blues on Camp Nou than just stonewalling.

re: Jari's game: How did Litmanen fade away?

ehjaz — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:52:49 GMT

Litmanen has always been a world class player...the first signs Hollier was losing the plot at LFC was when he did not play him in every game...the majority of LFC fans loved Litmanan and wanted him in the team every week he was a player in the true Liverpool mould..I only wish he had played for us under a different manager and in his prime...but even so we still recogonise the class act that he was a truely world class player with game intelligence to use a Rafa Benetiz term.

re: Confessions of a league table addict

Sebastian — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:20:51 GMT

Nice article and a difficult confession to make! haha!

I would like to add that one year before the Hungarians were playing their shoot-outs, we, in Argentina, had a similar system that also ran for only one season (1988/1989).

www.rsssf.com/.../arg89.html

The outstanding thing about it? Racing Club and Argentinos Juniors were engaged in a penalty shoot-out that finished with a score of 20-19 to Argentinos Juniors. I was at the game and we were all thinking: "When is this going to end? How will we get back home? When???" We couldn't care about which team would win it! It was no surprise either when they decided to change the system again.

Thanks again, Paul, for such a nice read. All the best.

re: The dullest European Cup winners of all time

zedzdead — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:28:09 GMT

Just 2 years after Milan's 2003 Champions League win, they thought they'd "done enough" in the Ataturk Stadium, Istanbul, going in 3-0 at half time.

re: 1970: The definitive World Cup...

Ric_Braz — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:14:05 GMT

I was also 9 in 1970 but feel it was all to easy to pick that one. Brazil were brilliant in their golden shirts in the bright Mexican sun and it was colour television for the first time but there were too many poor games. Group 2 was the dullest there has ever been and to be honest England were very poor against Rumania and the Czechs.

My favourite was Argentine 8 years later. Incredible passion and so much drama. Group 1 was outstanding and Scotland's group so dramatic in a comic sense of course.Yes Peru losing 6-0 was not very satisfactory especially as they were a good side but there was so much good football and I think it is often overlooked. Having been fortunate to have gone to 6 tournaments I have to say in person my favourite was 1986 despite having to endure Argentina convincingly beat us. A very passionate country witha side who could give anyone a game but unlikely to win it themselves.

re: 1970: The definitive World Cup...

Gary Parkinson — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:47:44 GMT

I was eight for Espana 82 and can recall little beyond my dad's tremulous indignation that England could be knocked out undefeated. And my sister supporting Italy against Brazil because she fancied Paolo Rossi, watching alone in her room on the black and white portable while me and dad supported the doomed Brazilians in the living room.

There was also more than a little disbelief at Keegan's Miss. (He was, at the time, my favourite player, despite not playing for my favourite team, second-favourite team or even a team I could accurately place on a map.)

I'd have to go for Mexico 86. The sunshiiiiiine. The history lessons beforehand ("Why've they gone back to Mexico again after only 16 years, dad?" "Buggered if I know, son. But that was a tournament..."). The preposterous Scotland shorts. The pantomime villainry of the Uruguayans trying to kick the Scots back home. Ray Wilkins cracking up, Bryan Robson breaking down, England suddenly breaking into form to the audible delight of Jimmy Hill in the commentary box. Growing belief followed by crushing defeat against a better team. Yeah, I'd say that's the England experience.

re: England expects – but is it wise to do so?

Fergal — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:26:10 GMT

I've never heard of this Custis guy but even if I did I would never take the opinion of some clown who works for an abysmal rag like the sun seriously. Only fools pay heed to people like him. I Follow Italian football closely and would be the first to admit it behind the Premier league at the moment.But I also know that these things change gradually and the EPL will fall away eventually and be overtaken by other leagues.This is not me hoping,this is just the way things are.Nothing lasts forever.The cracks are already showing in the huge debts that these English sides are carrying.

re: England expects – but is it wise to do so?

Suivaloom — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:52:22 GMT

IF an English team wins the Champions League this season again, THEN we can start saying our clubs dominate European competition.

I must say though that Custis and co were quite shameful in their disrespect towards Italian football in that discussion. Yes, we may be better now, but why insult and gloat? It is insulting to any intelligent football fans.

re: Bigmouth strikes again: Cloughie, Ali and Carry On

Zonman — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:11:00 GMT

"For much of his career – at Hartlepools (as he called it)..."

Mr Pedant here...

en.wikipedia.org/.../History_of_Hartlepool_United_F.C

Everyone called it "Hartlepools" because that was its offical name!! LOL

Know your facts! ;-)

re: The spotters guide to the first knockout round

Mikas — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:32:07 GMT

I'm not Mr Mexes will be all that keen on the recognition that will be coming from that perfomance yesterday.

re: Curses, wallies & the return of the Russian linesman

louis — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:06:44 GMT

'Argentine coaches have, since the 1960s heyday of Helenio Herrera, had a marginal influence on European football.' I suppose it's what you define as a marginal influence, so i'm not disagreeing, but surely Hector Cuper at Valencia had quite some impact?

re: What Chelsea need most... (and it isn’t a quick fix)

malcolmmerritt — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:42:49 GMT

do you honestly think chelsea will get anywhere near to rome so who replaces hiddink when he fails who will be in control come august lets watch this space and see

re: What Chelsea need most... (and it isn’t a quick fix)

malcolmmerritt — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 10:42:46 GMT

do you honestly think chelsea will get anywhere near to rome so who replaces hiddink when he fails who will be in control come august lets watch this space and see

re: How do you solve a problem like Spain?

gusfmartins — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:09:09 GMT

Jorginho and Branco, the weakest pair? I really don`t think so, Jorginho is way better than Cafu, who only stayed that much in Seleção because there was not any real competition between 98 and 06. Jorginho is labbeled as the second best Brazilian right full back ever, only after Leandro, from the great 80's Flamengo. He was great in Leverkussen.

About the currents full-backs the problem is on the left side. Marcelo is great attacking but he can't mark. And the others players Dunga used in that position did very badly. I think Dunga should think about Liverpool's Fabio Aurelio.

re: How do you solve a problem like Spain?

Suivaloom — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:01:40 GMT

Another interesting and insightful post Simpson, this and the other day's on Chelsea were particularly excellent.

On the comment below: I think in the long run, Richard's can be England's first choice right-back. But I never subscribed to the hype about the lad; he is big and strong but lacks technical and tactical qualities. A trait that is the disease of English football. 40 years on and still no-one seems to notice or care about addressing the problem.

re: How do you solve a problem like Spain?

Fletcher_Defender — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 11:27:54 GMT

Micah Richards in my opinion isn't the best English right back. His positioning (and most blues will agree with me on this) at times,this season has been woeful.

re: Blizzards, bursting bubbles & barmy Benitez

Manc Red — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:49:14 GMT

The Premier League bubble about to burst? See January transfer window 2009 amount spent by Premier League clubs.

re: Blizzards, bursting bubbles & barmy Benitez

rachelcl — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 14:32:21 GMT

I think Benitez was barmy to sell Crouch.

Kanchelskis did well at Man United, if I remember correctly. I'd love to see Arshavin do well at Arsenal 'cos I think he and Messi are the best outfield players in the world.

re: Every wannabe football tycoon needs a history lesson

Fletcher_Defender — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:43:49 GMT

except for the majority of your fans it seems.

re: Every wannabe football tycoon needs a history lesson

manchester is blue — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:22:05 GMT

What's your point apart from reiterating what everyone already knows?

re: Oi Kaka, fancy becoming the new Denilson?

Petir — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:00:22 GMT

Sorry Paul, but your arguments comparing the prices to be paid for Kaka and for CR7 are close to ridiculous. Come on, Kaka isn't the number 4 payer in the world. You know it, I know it and everyone else in the world who knows a little about football knows it. Otherwise he wouldn't be in te center of all this talk. He simply was voted number 4 because he barely played last season due to countless injuries. The guy's a superb player and that was proved over CR7, by the way, on their Champions League clash the season before. CR7 was the best of 2008. No doubt about it. Actually he displayed several weaknesses on a few decisive Champions League moments and on almost all matches of Euro 08. Kaka and Messi are better than him. Messi is injuries free this season and is proving it easily. Come on man, this talk of how much CR7 is worth considering that Kaka was voted number 4 and CR7 number 1 is typical of people who know very little about football. What a poor argument that was!

re: Ibra, Best and a Boxing Day bonanza

futbal — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:25:38 GMT

Paul,

You have a point when you suggest that maybe, Zlat isn't up to Ronaldo's level in general but don't use dodgy Champions League goal tallies to make the case.

While Ronaldo has scored 11, Zlatan has actually scored 15 goals - including 6 for Ajax.

Regards

Colm

euro.futbal.org/EC1.scorers.php

Why omit Ib's 6 Champions League goals for Ajax in your tally of 9?

euro.futbal.org/EC1.scorers.php

re: The struggle for sanity: football, depression, OCD

rinaanim — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 11:50:39 GMT

It is really sad that alot of people don't know about OCD and how badly it can affect suffers and their close ones. The first time I heard about OCD was when David Beckham came out of the open about his OCD. At that time, I felt that a few friends of mind where suffering from OCD, so I got interested in the subject.

And after researching further into OCD, I realised that David Beckham's case was not really that serious, as well as my friends'. I read testimonials on people suffering from OCD on a charity called OCD Action's website and how serious it sets back their lives. It is only after that I can really relate to what OCD sufferers go are going through.

The sad thing is that people suffering from OCD cannot come out in the open about it and suffer in silence as they perceive their condition to be tabboo. It is about time to make OCD well-known among the general public so OCD affected people don't have to suffer in silence.

I read on OCD Action's website that they are holding a OCD Conference (www.ocdconference.org.uk) on 22 November 2008 which will help create OCD awareness among the public and sufferers and, thereby, increasing understanding on the condition.

I really feel that it's fair enough for OCD to be well-know just like all other conditions. And events like the OCD Conference are a step closer to making people understand how serious OCD is.

re: Matchday 3: Trains, ship's whistles and Jeremy Beadle

Manc Red — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:23:09 GMT

I'd hate to have a train go past if I was taking a penalty!

re: Johnny Haynes: Fulham's big headed pass master

BoroKnight — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:33:40 GMT

Dear Mr. Simpson,

I'm an Indian boy living in Nepal and support Boro(suprise suprise!)

I just wanted to say that your words carry such contagious nostalgia that every time i read your posts

i just imagine those times and somehow being among the crowd watching the player(no i'm not on medication, thanks for asking)

I dont know much about the english football history, but this site is a great benefactor, and i feel i'm in good hands.

Thank you Sir and do keep'em coming!!

re: Dictators, Scolari and Rio the statesman

benfawkes — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:17:40 GMT

This is a good impression of Benitez, along with impressios of Owen, Crouch, Carragher and Gerrard. Its absolute quality:

uk.youtube.com/watch

http://www.footballfilter.com

re: Dictators, Scolari and Rio the statesman

Manc Red — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:22:25 GMT

The Gerrard/Lampard boreathon is a much more appropriate way of putting it than debate.

re: Smells like team spirit at Bayern

Manc Red — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:44:40 GMT

I do hope Celtic's drought continues a little while longer. Villareal look like they could provide a few surprises. A dark horse in my eyes.

re: Minnows 2 Elitists 0

PrinceOfWhiteTower — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:02:22 GMT

I'll keep two things from this match day of cl.

The first is the display of Shakhtar against barcelona.

I believed that the good days of the Ukrainian side were over but it seems after this performance that i was mistaken. The second is the roma squad. A line up that after many years isn't waiting the goal from just a player or two. For me the best middle field line at the moment.

re: Cowards, loony Toons and lucky Luciano

Redstar — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:54:49 GMT

You should check out the most popular thread on the forum - Newcastle is Deluded.

re: Why are footballers so unfit?

Fletcher_Defender — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:14:08 GMT

easy formula for me

more games + faster pace = more aches and injuries.

people wonder why Michael Owen is knackered but he played FAR too many games, in all competitions for Liverpool and England at a young age.

re: Why are footballers so unfit?

BigWelshDefender — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:54:58 GMT

I heard a quote from a sports scientist who works with footballers most of the time and it went a little like this: "It is not a lack of fitness that causes injuries but the fact that these players are so fit that they are on the edge". And this does make sense! You compare the amount of injuries in Ligue 1 compared to the premiership? Well lets compare other things; the constant frenetic pace, aggression and plain hard work involved in the premiership easily over shadows Ligue 1 and most if not every other league - particulary in Europe - in the world. The footballers in the premiership are the fittest in the game and, concentrating on one area in particular - midfield this is easy to see. Now central midfield players can run thousands and even tens of thousands of metres during a football game, and in the premieship most of these metres are taken at high speed and yet these players do this 2 sometimes 3 times a week?! Marathons are only held every now and again for a reason - the body cannot take it and the fact that these players run these distances all the time and even in training is remarkable. So I disagree totally with this article and i would say that the reason players (especially in the EPL) get injured so often is not because they are unfit but because they are so fit that they are on 'the edge'. Their hamstrings and groins and knee ligaments and metatarsals are so finely tuned that the slightest of knocks can damage it perpetualy. Going back to your drummer example, you tell me what would happen to the sound or tone of a drum if the skin was tightened just the tiniest amount? It would need to be re-tuned, which depending on the damage, can be quite a lengthy process. And that is just a drum skin. A human body is a million times more complicated.

re: Why are footballers so unfit?

ian cruise — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:41:08 GMT

People go on and on about how much football there is. Remember, in the 60's, 70's and 80's, clubs won leagues with fewer than 16 players. Liverpool did it. Villa also in 1981. The same small squads of players also played in league cups, FA cups and European cups. These new fangled training methods and diets are killing our footballers. Just look at capello's England. Bring back the 39 pint and curry weekends

re: Why are footballers so unfit?

PrinceOfWhiteTower — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:03:16 GMT

Nice article. I really enjoyed it cause its just the second that i read in a month that doesn't sums up that the most players use illegal ways to keep fit. Its really frustating when you listen people telling "how can they play 50-60 games per season and do not exhausted?" well they simply can't!

re: The good, the bad and the Eredivisie

BigWelshDefender — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:30:41 GMT

I enjoy a match with several goals. The other day i watched gleefully as Leeds hammered home five past a hapless Paul Butler led Chester - who themselves hit 2. But i also have to admit that i get bored of loads of goals all the time. A 6/7/8 goal drubbing every now and again is special but if it happens every week it must surely get tedious. Goals do not equal entertainment and the standard of FOOTBALL in the Eredivise is poor. Even below Ligue 1. And that is saying something. So yes the Premier League is the most most entertaining in the world because it is the fastest, hardest, tackles flying in and pure adreniline pumped sport that we know and love. So you can keep your bag fulls of goals, i would rather see an end to end nil-nil, with red cards and a last gasp winner for the underdog thanks!

re: How to win the Champions League

benfawkes — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:34:34 GMT

At first I wasn't sure I agreed with you Zizou but then looking back on how Barcelona won the Champs league and it will only be a matter of time before a Spanish club ween a few new world class players into their starting 11 I imagine - thats the big difference between the Premiership these days - when was the last time a player came through the ranks and became a consistent first team player? We will see about Nani and Anderson but I can't think of other at the moment.

http://www.footballfilter.com

re: How to win the Champions League

Zizou — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 22:30:25 GMT

The solution for the other powerhouses in Europe is not to restort to english style of play which is high tempo and physcial play along with alot of tactics.

Champions league in the recent years has been dominated by teams that have been boring,defensive and pragmatic.

For the italians this isnt far from the normal tactics. but Spain has to keep true to its style. Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown it can be done with a beautiful style that will provide a spectacle that has been much needed in the last many years of boring CL football.

re: How to fix a World Cup

Yer righ horse — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:53:29 GMT

In 66 me old dad told me Rattin the Argentinian captain was sent off because he was the best player on the pitch...the 78 final Peru alledgedly threw it for some debt cancellation and wheat delivery. South Korea in 2002 well everyone knows the script.

re: How to fix a World Cup

terry999 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:19:16 GMT

BBC a few years ago showed some of this world cup games (whole matches). Don't believe the final was fixed.

"he was marked out of the match, mostly legally, by Nobby Stiles." absolutely false.

Styles kicked him contantly, even back then (no tackle from behind rule) - he was doing it with impunity Euesbio didn't even have the ball and he would be kicked so hard his feet lost contact with the ground.

Credit to the Eng FA - they were so disgusted with him that told Ramsey to leave him out of next game - Ramsey threatened to resign.

The Ratin sending off - I just didn't understand for what? must of been for something he said. But then again he was the best Arg. player.

So was the final fixed? no don't think so Eng just got Host's luck. But Port/Arg games are v.dodgy..

re: How to fix a World Cup

gal-lad@hotmail.com — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:21:50 GMT

Well i dont know about the 2 WC's mentioned here but i can tell you of a strange experience that happened to me which makes me think from time to time.

Australia vs Uruguay 2001 return leg, uruguay need a win, i was in england watching live and my wife was in australia visiting family, we are on phone while the build up stuff is on TV then up pops score screen, 3-0 to Uruguay, i mentioned this to wife, she says no sign on any score screen showing on their feed, i comment if uruguay win 3 -0 this is fixed, and yes as u know they did win 3-0, now i dont remember ever having visions of winning scorelines ESP kinda stuff in life or i would gamble a whole lot more then i do,lol.

in short, i dont know about all international matches but some are quite obviously fixed in my mind after this incident, and if this is the case surely england have got enough money to be paying the right people to win something or does the rest of world hate us sooooo much they wont accept our money, lol

re: How to fix a World Cup

kat — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:12:01 GMT

My only comment to our Brazilian friend is: a thief thinks everyone steals.

re: How to fix a World Cup

Fabio B — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:06:50 GMT

Havelange is quite right when he sad that England won only because of referees...the final against Germany is the great proof of his arguments. And Paul Simpson, as a football journalist, you should have known how to write 1974 brazilian defender name: it is LUIS PEREIRA! By the way, he is considered among the greatest brazilian players of all times.

re: A season through the looking glass

Suivaloom — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:53:10 GMT

Man Utd have a chance to do the Champions League double by winning it again next season. I feel Arsenal, Real Madrid and Internazionale will be their main competitors, as the rest are either rebuilding, pre-occupied by other things or in dis-array. Or in some cases all of those things together. *cough* Barcelona.

re: Jubilation and despair on mission to Moscow

Socrates — Sun, 25 May 2008 20:06:24 GMT

To push Manchester United right to the very end was a superb achievement for Avram Grant and would be so for any manager. After all, Sir Alex Ferguson is the manager of managers!

I can't help but think that Avram should be praised whilst John Terry should be the Chelsea criminal in all this. Also, Nicolas Anelka - a £15m striker with penalty taking experience who refused to take a penalty because he claimed to have come on as a right-back. Julian Belletti certainly didn't complain. He willing took and scored his penalty, has scored more goals than Anelka this season and cost a fifth of the price!

re: Ignore the pundits... nobody knows anything!

Beast — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:49:18 GMT

"you can hear and read pundits scratching around for precedents, omens, rationales to justify every possible outcome."

actually there is.. ever since Real won the UCL in 2002 any team who beat the team that take out Real wins the Champions league..

2003 Juve Beat Real , Milan beat Juve and win

2004 Monaco beat Real , Porto beat Monaco and win

2005 Juve beat Real , Liverpool beat Juve & win

2006 Arsenal beat Real , Barca beat Arsenal and win

2007 B Munich beat Real, Milan beat B Munich & win

2008 Roma beat Real, Man U beat Roma and ..... they will win it

its the Famous Real Madrid jinx which will only be taken once Real win the title again

re: Why Belgian football's gone rubbish

Zeppos — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:56:52 GMT

You talk about two different issues in your blog. 1) You have the Belgian clubs who fail to compete in the Champions League, and 2) you have the Belgian national team who fails to qualify for international tournaments.

1) Belgian clubs have the same difficulties as clubs like Ajax Amsterdam, Benfica, Sparta Prague, Dynamo Kiev, Rosenborg etc. The reasons that they fail to compete are the same as in those other countries. So it has nothing to do with Belgium, but with money, small competition etc.

2) The Belgian national team simply lacked talent during the past 8 years because of poor youth management in Belgium. Youth management used to be all about fysical qualities and teamplay. This will ring a bell in England. Youth management in Belgium now is all about technique and individual training at clubs like Standard Liège, Germinal Beerschot, Racing Genk, RSC Anderlecht,... Also a lot of the Belgian talents move abroad at young age now, joining clubs like PSV Eindhoven, Ajax Amsterdam, Lille OSC and Racing Lens. This has resulted in a whole new young Belgian generation that even qualified for the Olympic games in China. Talented players are Steven Defour, Vincent Kompany, Anthony Vanden Borre, Maarten Martens, Moussa Dembele, Tom De Mul, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Jonathan Blondel, Sébastien Pocognoli, Logan Bailly, Yves Ma-kalambay, Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas, Stijn De Smet, Roland Lamah, etc.

However, the generation that has to qualify for the Olympics in London seems to me the biggest example of the revolution in Belgian youth football with huge talents like Eden Hazard, Funso Ojo, Vadis Odjidja Ofoe, Axel Witsel, Geoffrey Mujangi-Bia, Quentin Pottiez, Paul-José Mpoku, Maxime Lestienne, Bruno Baras, etc.

So you could conlude that in four years the Belgian national team will compete again, but the clubs problably will have the same difficulties in Europe, like most clubs in small competitions have.

re: Why Belgian football's gone rubbish

Union — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:58:09 GMT

Not so Ive. I saw Antwerp against Union St Gilloise recently and they fielded two stringy United youngsters. I think they have four on their books, who all look like they could use some stoemp and rabbit stew. I did wonder, though, whether integrating them did more harm than good for Antwerp, who seemed to lack rythymn.

Good piece, especially the wonderful photo. incidentally, Standard did take the title under Michel ***'homme, the goalie of the great 80s Belgian team. But i doubt they'll trouble anyone in the Champions League. With Jupiler league tickets between 13 and 30 euro its easy to see why the clubs can't compete with English ones, but the passion of the fans is priceless.

re: White hankies, Elvis and Zico

shell2008 — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:53:17 GMT

Messi has trained with the Barça squad twice now, and says he is ready to play now, although I expect they won't play him for a week or maybe more, but he should be ready to feature against Man U I would think...I also think if he is playing in that match, it may be a totally different Barça than that which Man U are expecting to face right now. He definitely gives the whole team confidence from just being on the pitch, let's hope for 'the beautiful games' sake that he's fit and on the pitch for the Champions League tie, as it would most likely make the match even more entertaining!

re: White hankies, Elvis and Zico

benfawkes — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:00:23 GMT

Barcelona were poor but to say Schalke deserved anything from that game is not right. They were also totally poor and did do a lot of hacking and late tackles, and Abidal did not 'wrestle' whoever it was to the ground, thats an exaggeration. Henry was painful to watch last night tho while Bojan was absolute class, using the simplest of skills and his speed to great effect. Man U should breeze past Barca. It will be interesting to see if Messi gets back in time tho - anyone know if he will be fit by then?

http://www.footballfilter.com

re: What Lenny Kravitz can teach Man United

thescout — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:37:27 GMT

Great post. It might not be as big an ask for Roma now that both Ferdinand and Vidic are out. Vucinic should have an easier time against less stellar defending. It should be an exciting finish.

re: Why Belgian football's gone rubbish

Ive — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:25:59 GMT

Beveren is no longer involved with Arsenal since Jean-Marc Guillou left the club along with his Ivorians. Maybe the agreement has not been terminated officially, but there haven't been any Arsenal youngsters in recent seasons and Lierse are now trying to set up an agreement with the Gunners

to loan some B-squad players.

Manchester United has no players at Antwerp at the moment either actually. They sent a lot of youngsters over last season (Evans, Simpson, Gibson, Campbell, Dong, ...) hoping to promote to the first divison. Antwerp were in the running at the winter break, but then United called back most of them and the team's push for promotion derailed badly.

Ow, and btw, everybody knows Henri as Rik Coppens here in Belgium ;)

re: How the Bundesliga can make England cool again

candidfootball.com — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 12:52:40 GMT

For years I've tried and failed to explain to people why Die Bundesliga offers the best value for money by far. But apparently football doesn't exist outside England...

re: Ajax and Newcastle seek solace from legends

benfawkes — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:41:36 GMT

Great piece, wasn't really aware Ajax had slipped up so much over the last years. Keegan however is on a slippery slope, he's not the man for the job and i don't think he has the right style or mind set to be a manager in the premiership anymore. He's just too bloody emotional! I can only see it getting worse for him.

http://www.footballfilter.com

re: Ajax and Newcastle seek solace from legends

Snyde — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:29:28 GMT

Really good article! Quite surprised to see you mentioning both the ajax-usa and ajaxtalk.nl sites, I frequent both but never thought they were so popular.

The good thing with Ajax at the moment is they've taken a long and hard look at themselves and found the areas they are truly lacking in. Such as their scouting and transfer policies, also buying older and not-so-good players instead of giving their youth a chance. They've also seen the mistakes at the staff level such as poor youth coaches despite a very good setup.

Recognizing the mistakes is huge step forward specially for a club living in the past. Hiring Cruyff to basically get better people for handling the club is another. It will be interesting to see where it all leads.

For those interested, here's another really good article taking a critical look at the going-ons in Ajax:

netherlands.worldcupblog.org/.../ajax-lazy-easy-and-spending-big.html

re: Ajax and Newcastle seek solace from legends

ads — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:53:30 GMT

Sad to see Keegan return, its destined to end in tears, my only hope is that it doesn't end in relegation too.

So much has changed since his last stint, and tactically, I just don't think he's up to the task.

re: How the Bundesliga can make England cool again

benfawkes — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:21:30 GMT

This is spot on, I can't agree more. I have been a Chelsea fan since 1997, I'm 24 and I have seen them once! Admittedly my parents and I did move country for about 8 years and I only returned for university, but still. The Bundesliga seem to be going in the right direction but it will never happen in the premiership. The whole membership thing is a very American way of dealing with tickets. In American Football the ads for buying tickets aren't 'buy a ticket', it's 'get on the list to buy a ticket'. Ridiculous.

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