Fans' Eye View

Michael Owen's bizarre year at Madrid

Guest Writer — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:47:00 GMT

Michael Owen only lasted a year at Real Madrid, so some say he was a flop. Christian Brown begs to differ...

When Michael Owen left Liverpool for sunny Madrid in 2004, it wasn’t a decision that baffled many. After all, he’d just joined the biggest club in the world. Who wouldn’t turn Madrid down? A few bitter Liverpool fans were up in arms, but that was to be expected.

Leaving Anfield may have been tough, but to do so in order to play alongside Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos as well as England teammate David Beckham – how could you refuse that? Reality is you couldn’t – so off he went to the Bernabeu for £8m.

While it didn’t work out and he ended up back in England after one season, it was harsh that he was perceived as a ‘flop’ after his stint in Spain. Bearing in mind he had the near-impossible task of dislodging either club talisman Raul or phenomenon Ronaldo, he still managed 19 goals in 43 games.

When you take into account the off-field events at Madrid, where the hierarchy led by Florentino Perez decided to go through three managers that season, it makes his record even more remarkable.

It’s also worth noting that of his 35 league appearances, 15 were from the subs bench. In his 20 starts he scored 13 goals, including strikes against rivals Barcelona and Valencia. Despite predominantly being a substitute, Owen had the best strike rate in Spain: a goal every 110 minutes. By contrast, Raul had four goals in 17 starts, which equated to one goal every 344 minutes.

"Give me a chance… and I'll score"

Come August 2005 though, Owen decided he needed to be starting more games if he was to hold down his England place for the 2006 World Cup. Wayne Rooney was becoming England's main striker and Owen, who at Euro 2004 had become the first England player to score in four international tournaments, couldn't face more bench-time.

With Robinho incoming, Madrid duly granted him permission to leave, and he was sold to Newcastle United for £16.8m – double what Madrid had paid.

Flop? Nah – urban myth. Hit? Most definitely.

Laudrup refines an ethos that Swansea must keep hold of – even if they lose key personnel

Guest Writer — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:25:00 GMT

As Swansea await their first ever major final – and possible European qualification – Christopher Davies looks back on a remarkable decade for the Swans...

It's a situation Swansea fans are only too familiar with. Having watched their side evolve and thrive, they will be well aware that attractive, successful football comes at a cost: risking the loss of the key men who drive that success.

While the Swans enjoy their comfortable mid-table position and first major domestic cup final, could the unsavoury side-effects of success spoil what has arguably been the greatest era in the club’s history?

Kenny Jackett founded a basis on which to grow, with promotion from the bottom tier just in time for their 2005 move to the Liberty Stadium, followed by a Football League Trophy victory. Roberto Martinez then brought League One title success and an impressive Championship run.

But these triumphs led to various players leaving for more money at bigger clubs, while Martinez headed to Premier League Wigan Athletic, taking four coaching staff with him.

"Nice place, innit?" Martinez greets Laudrup at Swansea

Asked to build on that legacy, Paulo Sousa may have sacrificed some of Martinez’s attacking flair for defensive solidity, but Swansea finished the season in their highest league position for 27 years.

Brendan Rodgers followed to complete the fairytale, which saw the Swans promoted to the top flight via a thrilling play-off final against Reading. Their debut Premier League campaign served only to highlight the panache, impressing one and all with an admirable 11th-placed finish.

The reason why this backstory is so important is to show what was passed down to Laudrup. This is not to do him a disservice, but the evidence of Swansea’s emphatic rise is clear to see.

Laudrup inherited a squad that was more than capable of holding its own in the Premier League. However, with several players disappointed at Rodgers’ exit to Liverpool and the likes of Steven Caulker, Joe Allen and Scott Sinclair moving on, the Dane must be applauded for continuing the good work – and arguably improving it: the Swans sit in eighth, six places higher than they did at the end of last February, with that League Cup Final to come.

Among the new faces to the fore this season are unflappable centre-back Chico Flores, loan signing Jonathan de Guzman, academy product Ben Davies and goal-getting Michu (so good they named him, erm, once).

Michu and De Guzman celebrate the latter's semi-final opener with friends

This is very much Laudrup’s team but his appointment, the way the club have gone about their business and their style of football dates back to those initial foundations laid almost a decade ago.

However, if history is anything to go by then the Swans will once again have to make some difficult decisions. Interest in their star players and desirable manager is likely to increase from the football heavyweights.

If Laudrup were to leave, the difficulty for Swansea is deciding which direction to take. They can follow the same route as before: find a man who believes in their style of play and hope he connects with the players, staff and fans. Swansea’s track record with managerial choices is strong, after all.

But if they chose a different course, appointing a more established manager and signing big-name players in order to increase the club’s stature, their integral ethos and spirit could be lost. This problem may also present itself to Laudrup in his own transfer policy, although his time at Brøndby seems to suggest he prefers young attacking talents to bigger, more worldly-wise names.

One hopes this is pure conjecture. Lauded by players, coaches and peers as one of football's gentlemen, Laudrup may not be swayed by the temptation of a bigger project, regardless of his hotfooting history (he's on his fifth managerial job in a decade, having barely lasted a year in any of his last three positions).

Star man Michu and notable team-mates, including Ashley Williams and Michel Vorm, have signed contracts and committed their futures to the club. But this time last year, Rodgers did the very same thing – and now rumours are linking the Anfield boss with a move for Swans skipper Williams.

Sigurdsson and Allen have gone: who's next?

With the huge opportunity to claim Swansea’s first-ever major silverware – and qualify for Europe – Laudrup must know he is onto a good thing. But can they sustain it?

That old adage of good players not making good managers may not be true for this former midfield maestro. Now it is up to Swansea to convince their greatest summer acquisition to stay and continue his fine work. History has surely taught Laudrup that chasing bigger and better prematurely is not always the right choice – but it has also taught Swansea not to panic when a manager does leave.

A Southampton fan speaks: No, we don't get it, either

Chris Cox — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:49:00 GMT

In a shock announcement, Nigel Adkins has been sacked by Southampton Football Club.

But you already knew that.

You already knew that because up and down the country fans, journalists and pundits are all using their voices to express their disbelief, shock and disgust at the decision. Their voices are deafening.

A typical Twitter reaction from outside Southampton

Had the average football fan been in hibernation since October, anticipating what is rapidly turning into a harsh winter, then the sacking of Nigel Adkins – a popular figure in Southampton – might not have been a surprise.

However, for the rest of us following the Saints' improving fortunes and continuing good form, this is an embarrassing decision and one that has the potential to put the club back in time by several months. It has just as much potential to put the club back an entire division.

Southampton’s threat of relegation is still far too realistic for comfort. Despite beating Aston Villa and getting unthinkable points at Stoke and Chelsea, Southampton remain three points above the bottom three, which says a lot about their fight for survival.

Even with the likes of QPR and Reading spending the majority of this season looking desperate, they are not out of sight. Results this weekend could be damaging.

Nigel Adkins’ tenure as Southampton manager looked under threat as early as October 7th, when his team were 2-1 down to Fulham at St. Mary’s. Barely weeks before, Saints had been on the end of a 6-1 mauling at Arsenal, but home wins against teams like Fulham can keep teams up – or not.

Adkins directs operations against Fulham

With minutes to go, an equaliser was found, turning a devastating defeat into a valuable point. Adkins was spared but he was still in danger. More so when Saints lost 4-1 to West Ham and 3-0 to Leeds, teams they had bettered just months before with a weaker squad.

He hung on, and the club’s hierarchy were rewarded for what seemed like their sense of faith. Southampton have lost just twice in the past 12 games, and proved they have enough about them to remain in the Premier League.

In recent weeks, Saints have beaten Newcastle, Reading, Aston Villa and QPR – four of the five teams currently below them. Points off those teams are precious. Then there were creditable draws with Arsenal, Fulham and Swansea. For a newly promoted team, one that was in League One not so long ago, 15th place is a fine achievement.

So not only is this a baffling decision, but it has all the indications of a club that has gone mad.

Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese wraps up warm

Many Southampton fans have felt that, should the worst happen and the club get relegated from the Premier League after a single season, Nigel Adkins should be retained. Why? Because he knows the Championship very well: after all, he masterminded the club’s escape from it.

So why has a manager who has worked with this set of players for months, got good results out of them – earned two promotions out of some of them – been replaced by Argentine manager Mauricio Pochettino, who has a poor track record, little knowledge of English football and does not even speak English?

Insanity is too weak a word.

The powers that be at Southampton Football Club have already polarised supporters, despite the club’s return to the Premier League and the providing of funds for exciting players.

There have been strange decisions – banning photographers, banning newspapers, sacking programme sellers – but this could prove to be the final nail in the coffin of the relationship between club and fan.

Let us not forget, it was the same decision-makers who sacked Alan Pardew, risking it all to replace him with Adkins, at the time a relative unknown. Pardew had just overseen a 4-0 win away from home, and Adkins was managing Scunthorpe.

So, farewell then...

Adkins should still be the Southampton manager. There should not have even been a question over his position, and the team should have been preparing for the Everton match on Monday with confidence.

Instead, years of hard work has been undone, and the rest of the season looks at best challenging. Perhaps a thought should be spared for Pochettino, who faces an impossible task to win over a fan-base united in its torment.

Relegation would be disastrous. Players on high wages and brought in for high transfer fees could bring the club to its knees once again. Pochettino could well be in charge of the club’s very existence.

Southampton Airport is closed today due to poor weather. Whoever made this decision has no escape. Unfortunately, given the unwarranted ruthlessness with which Adkins was sacked this morning, they probably aren’t that bothered.

Thank you, Nigel Adkins, for all your efforts: they will never be forgotten.

Eddie Howe: The South Coast Special One

Guest Writer — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Back at his beloved Bournemouth, Eddie Howe is making waves on the South Coast, notes a besotted Thomas Bennett

Howe’s that for starters? It’s now 13 games unbeaten since the return of Eddie Howe to the south coast, where his impact has instantaneously transformed AFC Bournemouth from a side hovering marginally above the relegation zone into a side rocketing up the table faster than... well, even faster than they did it last time he graced Dean Court.

"He’s got the 'magic' to manage England," says Cherries chairman Eddie Mitchell. “I have put the maximum on him to be an England manager at some stage – that's how confident I am in him,” he explains.

How things have changed on the Dorset coastline. For a long period at the start of the season, the ear-piercing boos would ring out around Dean Court – and one side doesn’t even have a stand. The seats whose embarrassing red seemed to scream of anger have changed to a more heart-warming shade of love.

For AFC Bournemouth the season started with such promise. The big-name signings of Lee Barnard, Josh McQuoid, Tommy Elphick and even former England goalkeeper David James made for a teamsheet to make any League One manager envious.

By the end of September, the allure had faded. A miserable 3-1 defeat at Crawley finally concluded Paul Groves’ time at the helm. Fifth from bottom with only one win from 11 games, Bournemouth had seen dreams of promotion turn to nightmares of demotion.

There was only one solution. A league-beating squad was already in place but needed someone to engender a winning team spirit. There was only one man that could congregate the voices of all support into a choir of encouragement, reliability and virtue.

For the south-coast faithful, Howe is addictive. He could be chain-smoked for months upon end. Upon Groves’ dismissal, there was only one name the fans wanted to sing. Despite Harry Redknapp joining the club as advisor and being mentioned as a managerial possibility, they only wanted Howe.

Howe and the boys celebrate their 2010 promotion

He’s only 35. He is the son of AFC Bournemouth and the fans are the proud parents. He’s been nurtured through the ranks in Dorset. Allowed to explore the world as a player at Portsmouth after nearly 250 games for the Cherries, he was back two years later, the fans clubbing together to pledge the transfer fee.

As a manager, the glamour of glory pulled him up north to experience humanity further at second-tier Burnley, but he’d be back within 21 months.

Chairman Mitchell couldn't be happier: “I think Eddie’s managerial skills are second to none. I think he has got that aura about him. I think he has got all the ingredients it takes [to become England manager] – his manner and his dedication to the game – and he has got that bit of magic that it needs to be successful.”

Howe won promotion in 2010 as Cherries boss, taking them into League One. His impact at the higher level was instrumental. That tuneful presence saw the Cherries dominate the early stages of the campaign and sit in third place when Burnley came knocking in January 2011.

It was his time to leave. No bad feelings and all that: he’d given the Cherries a new life and a new chance to match the optimism in the stands with their optimism on the pitch.

Howe’s successor, Lee Bradbury, started respectably. Although he couldn’t build on Howe’s enchantment, he steered his side into sixth place and was guttingly defeated on penalties in the play-off semi finals against Huddersfield Town.

Bradbury couldn’t live up to the legacy that Howe had left behind. He departed in late March 2012 and left Paul Groves and Shaun Brooks in charge. They also faltered. Seven months later, Howe was back. The following month, he was Manager of the Month.

Today the Cherries are climbing higher up the table every week. Before Howe's appointment, they were in 21st place; in all competitions, they had played 13, winning one and losing five. Since his return they've gone 13 unbeaten, winning 10, including completely outplaying top-of-the-table Tranmere and winning at fellow promotion hopefuls Doncaster.

He’s also guided them to the FA Cup Third Round, in which they’ll test themselves at Premier League Wigan – a deserved day out for the staff, the players and the supporters, who haven’t been praised to the extent they deserve since the return of the ‘special one’.

The cliché ‘watch this space’ has seldom been more applicable. Even if you're Roy Hodgson...

Have Tottenham already found the heir to the White Hart Lane throne?

Guest Writer — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 14:17:00 GMT

Spurs fan, blogger and FourFourTwo contributor Ben McAleer on Tottenham's most promising defensive product of a generation

Put simply, Ledley King is a Tottenham Hotspur legend. Ask any fan to name the player closest to their hearts and the Bow-born defender will be one of the first names on their lips.

Thierry Henry once labelled him the best defender he’d ever played against; Harry Redknapp described him as a ‘Rolls Royce’ player, while Martin Jol said he was a “freak” for being able to perform to such a high standard despite being prevented from training thanks to his chronic knee injury.

The 31-year-old was responsible for the quickest goal ever scored in the Premier League (the opener at Bradford City in 2000 after just 10 seconds) and one of the greatest tackles ever seen, recovering to dispossess Chelsea’s Arjen Robben in the first half of a narrow 2-1 victory in 2006.

As last season drew to a close, many of the Spurs faithful had suspected it was the beginning of the end for King, who had devoted 16 years of his life to the North London side.

Nevertheless, once the news broke in July, sadness swept N17, with supporters well aware the club had lost its most naturally gifted defender since Sol Campbell became the eighth player to cross the great divide from Spurs to Arsenal. While Campbell’s departure in 2001 was a hugely bitter one, had he stuck with Spurs, King may never have been presented with that chance to shine. A similar story may be about to develop at White Hart Lane.

Just as King did 11 years ago, 20-year-old Steven Caulker has come through the ranks at Tottenham just as the club’s most talented defender has departed.

Having cut his teeth during loan spells with Yeovil Town, Bristol City and most notably Swansea City, the young defender’s rise to prominence has been steady rather than rapid, yet he is being hotly tipped to reach the very top.

He returned to North London this summer and made his Premier League debut for Tottenham in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers.

Caulker only made his first appearance under Andre Villas-Boas in last Thursday’s Europa League draw with Lazio, but his pivotal role in the turnaround against QPR on Sunday, combined with injuries to Younes Kaboul and Benoit Assou-Ekotto, could see him feature more regularly in the coming weeks and months.

Those who saw Caulker during his early spells with Yeovil and Bristol City, where he was voted Young Player of the Year despite sitting out the final six weeks of the 2010/11 season, bore witness to a blossoming talent. The youngster has shown he has all the attributes required to fill King’s boots, although that does include missing substantial chunks of the last two seasons with knee cartilage injuries.

Away from the knee problems, Caulker boasts a similar physical stature to King, while his playing capabilities all but mirror the Spurs great. Both have adopted a continental approach to defending, opting to play the ball out from the back rather than punt it 80 yards to a big striker.

Caulker is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet as he looks to initiate attacks from the back, a talent he honed during a year-long spell with a Swansea side famed for their patient probing.

His performances with Team GB during the London Olympics turned yet more heads, and now the bandwagon is starting to creak. Telegraph columnist Henry Winter tweeted on Monday evening that “If English centre-halves were a stock market, it would be worth buying shares in Steven Caulker”.

Spurs fans have been keenly monitoring the Feltham-born stopper from a far for a couple of years now, and will have been encouraged by what they have seen at closer quarters in the last week.
While he has a long way to go before hitting the same heights as King, there’s no doubting Caulker has all the tools required to be the best player to come through the youth ranks at Spurs since.

Six transfers that need to happen this week (but might not)

Gerard Brand — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 06:30:00 GMT

With the closing of the window approaching in horror-film slow motion, Ged Brand looks at half a dozen transfers which should take place before Friday's 11pm deadline...

Cheick Tiote – Newcastle United to Arsenal
With Alex Song in convoy with Robin van Persie on the one-way road away from another trophyless season, Arsene Wenger will surely be looking for a straight replacement in central midfield. Tiote is an enforcer, and would provide cover to a vulnerable back four who can often turn into a disaster zone.

He can break up opposition play, as well as contributing to forward moves, one of the few players in this league capable of playmaking while remaining a brute force. Perfect for Arsenal, you’d think, but he won’t be given away easily. If not in this window, expect a Tiote transfer if Newcastle don’t improve on last season’s heroics.

Marouane Fellaini – Everton to Man United
Yes, there were plenty of knee-jerk reactions to Everton’s defeat of Manchester United on the opening weekend of the season, and Fellaini being the ‘new’ Yaya Toure was one of them. The fact is Fellaini has been ‘good enough’ for Manchester United for a few years, not in an all-round world-beating sense, but in the sense that he would do the proverbial job. One look at United’s midfield told us what they are missing – they are cultured and progressive, but often leave the recycling box unticked.

Fellaini would provide a solution, while also being a colossal force in the bombardment of both penalty areas, something United often face and are faced with. With Scholes still unable to time a tackle against the most inanimate of objects, as well as a clear lack of a brick wall in central midfield, the big furry-haired Belgian might just do the trick.

Igor Akinfeev – CSKA Moscow to Chelsea
True, Roberto Di Matteo is unlikely to throw Petr Cech a monumental curve-ball, partly because Cech would struggle to catch it, but also because maintaining squad harmony is imperative to the Italian. This doesn’t mean it shouldn’t happen, however, with the Czech goalkeeper showing over the past few years that for every world-class stop and string of clean sheets, he does continue to cost the club goals and shows little sign of stopping any time soon.

Besides, if RDM is to have his feet under the desk for any length of time, he'll have to start replacing some ageing stars (cough cough) and Cech might be a good way to start, especially if it's with a compatriot of Roman Abramovich. Chelsea have watched CSKA’s Akinfeev in the past, and with plenty of experience behind him (338 appearances for CSKA and 52 caps for Russia), an enquiry at some point makes sense.

John Guidetti – Manchester City to Everton
Only one Everton player has hit more than 20 goals in a season since 1992 – Yakubu in 2007/2008 – while only a few have even come close to the mark. This isn’t to say what David Moyes produces in an attacking sense isn’t effective, but one can only imagine how it would improve with an out-and-out goalscorer alongside Nikica Jelavic, whose second touch is usually a celebration.

Manchester City’s Guidetti, who scored 20 goals in 23 Eredivisie appearances on loan at Feyenoord last term, would cost around £8 million, with the Swede unlikely to get much playing time outside of the cup competitions at the Etihad this season.

Ezequiel Cirigliano – River Plate to Man City
It’s hard to convince many people that Man City need to improve, particularly in midfield, and there has been justifiable praise for both Gareth Barry and Nigel de Jong in the past few seasons. However, with half of the footballing world’s funds in your bank account and a need to balance retaining the Premier League with a proper attempt at the Champions League, City could use a dogged central midfielder with huge room for development.

Yah yah, City have Yaya, and yes, he will not be shifted (in more ways than one). But River Plate’s Cirigliano, a tough-tackling central midfielder who can play a bit too, would fit in to the Argentine society very well at the Etihad. Jack Rodwell wouldn’t be too happy, mind.

Danny Rose – Tottenham Hotspur to Aston Villa
For the two years since Martin O’Neill calmly ran away from Aston Villa, the club have been among the Premier League’s most disjointed. Emile Heskey playing in goal, Stephen Warnock as a lone striker, Charles Nzogbia as sweeper – nobody can keep up with the situation. Paul Lambert has at least brought some stability, but they still lack in wide areas both in defence and attack.

Enter Danny Rose: perhaps not a move on everyone’s minds, but a loan seems reasonable for the Spurs winger, with cover for the hit-and-mostly-miss Nzogbia a necessity and the left-back position a toss-up between youngsters Nathan Baker and Eric Lichaj, with Warnock looking to be shifted (in the nicest possible way). At 22, Rose needs regular first-team football, and it remains to be seen whether he will fits into the re-turfing plans of new Spurs custodian Andy House-Snake.

Bad-boy football in the dog-house while we're wooed by Olympians

Ben Welch — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 14:55:00 GMT

Footballers are all idiots and Olympians are all ideal, right? FFT's Ben Welch isn't so sure...

Right now, football is in the bad books. Like a cheating lover, it’s on its knees begging for forgiveness from us, the loyal partner who has stuck by it through thick and thin, but grown tired of it taking us for granted.

We even resorted to standing football up, as was evident in the number of empty seats at Villa Park for the Community Shield.

We, the fans, have had our heads turned by a new man. A loyal, brave and selfless knight in shining armour: The Olympics.

As Team GB won the hearts and minds of the nation with their heroics during the London 2012 Games, we’ve all started to question why we’re so attracted to the self-centred, egotistical pig that is football.

But in truth, we’ve all been duped. Seduced by the feelgood wave sweeping over the nation, we’ve turned a blind eye to the misdemeanours of some athletes and turned on our childhood sweetheart.

Yes, the incredible achievements of Mo Farah & Co. deserve all the plaudits they get. They trained hard, sacrificed a lot and delivered under pressure. It was inspiring. The peerless performances and showmanship of Usain Bolt were enrapturing. He’s just the sort of cheeky chappy with genuine charisma that football is crying out for.

But did we forget about Belarusian shot putter Nadzeya Ostapchuk, who was stripped of her gold medal after failing a drugs test? What about the eight badminton players who were disqualified for throwing games? And the 75-minute strop thrown by South Korean fencer Shin A-lam when she lost her semi-final?

"You must try harder. No, really; you must."

While the public sympathised with her, they were quick to brand William Gallas a petulant brat when he sat disconsolately on the turf at Birmingham after a stoppage-time penalty dented Arsenal’s title hopes in 2010.

Don’t forget Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi, who was ejected from the Olympics for not trying in the 800m so he could concentrate on the 1500m final. Consider the footballing equivalent. When Wolves fielded a below-strength side in their match against Manchester United at Old Trafford two years ago they were hit with a £25,000 suspended fine.

And just like footballers, Olympians love a good bit of filth. According to one report in a national newspaper, those two glorious weeks in August were full of “Womanising sprinters at strip clubs, kinky foursomes and female athletes begging for sex”. Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the gold medal-winning American women's football team, said: “I’ve seen people having sex out in the open, getting down and dirty on the grass between buildings.”

I’m fully aware there are plenty of stories of footballers failing drugs tests, shagging just about anything with a pulse (including grannies) and taking bungs, but when you look at the vast number of professionals playing the game across the globe, it’s a small minority that are tarnishing the game. The same also goes for the Olympic athletes, but their accomplishments and failures get seen through a different prism of morality – as does their dedication to training and self-improvement.

The gruelling training regimes and sacrifices endured by the athletes has been celebrated and admired by the journalists and fans alike, prompting an evaluation of how hard footballers graft for their vast wages.

You can’t compare the two worlds. Footballers train for two 90-minute games per week; if we want them to churn out the 120 miles Mo Farah runs a week, we can expect to be see more injuries and less ability. Elite athletes train smart, with the mechanics of their respective sports in mind.

Last season Leo Messi played 60 games for club and country. He is expected to deliver on the highest stage, week-in week-out. Athletics’ box office star Bolt may run 10 times a season during a non-championship year and his races last between 10 and 20 seconds. I’m not undermining his achievements – he’s one of the greatest athletes of all time – but you can’t say he or anyone else works harder than a footballer, they just work differently.

Worthless, workshy, etc

I’m not saying footballers are innocent, I know some of them have been very naughty boys, but Olympians are by no means the Messiahs. We have to put things into context.

Owing to their celebrity status, footballers are fair game for the front and back pages of the national press. The season lasts nine months and then the cameras follow them abroad, making sure they catch them indulging in sun-kissed debauchery.

Olympians don't come under such scrutiny. Before he won gold in the long jump, who knew who Greg Rutherford was? The ‘Ginger Wizard’ could have walked down Oxford Street a month ago and no one would have batted an eyelid. We don’t know what he or any other athlete was up to, because quite frankly no one cared until the Olympics came along.

We also have to consider the mood of the nation. After another dreary display at a major championship, England fans were left feeling empty and frustrated.

In this mindset, we were susceptible to the advances of another suitor. In swept the Olympics, and in a change to the usual routine of high hopes being dashed, we found low expectations being exceeded enormously, with Team GB delivering on the biggest stage. Like a gold-digger, we were hypnotised by shiny medals dangling from the necks of our athletes.

It's not even real gold... well, 98.66% of it isn't

Recession? Pah! Unemployment? Bothered! Feral teenagers running wild on the streets of London? Oh, they’re just cheeky little so-and-sos. Everything was rosy again.

Heartwarming stories of athletes overcoming adversity to win gold in front of a home crowd tugged at the heart-strings. They were billed as one of us. We could relate to them, they were ordinary people achieving extraordinary things. As Seb Coe roared “When our time came – Britain, we did it right. Thank you!" at the closing ceremony, we were made to feel part of the success.

By contrast, we’re just observers, looking in on football’s bubble. Fast cars, fast women and eye-watering wages draw a huge line between us and those whose reputations have been further tarnished by the high-profile misconduct cases of John Terry and Luis Suarez. With this in mind, FA chairman David Bernstein called on the players to clean up their act and pay heed to the shining example set up the Olympians.

Sure, footballers could do with stepping out of their privileged worlds, rising above the hangers-on who indulge their every need, and adopting the same grace, humility and class that many of the Olympians displayed. But we should remember that not all footballers are dastardly villains, and not all Olympians are super-heroes.

As with every relationship, there are times when our partner lets us down, but the grass isn’t always greener and we should consider this before we have an ill-judged affair. And let’s be honest: don't we all love a bad boy?

Arsenal fans must respect Van Persie's decision and move on

Ben Welch — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:07:00 GMT

FourFourTwo's Ben Welch on the fall-out from Robin van Persie's imminent switch from Arsenal to Manchester United

As another superstar walks out of Arsenal and into the arms of a rival club, it’s easy to understand why the fans are furious. But their anger is directed at the wrong person, for the wrong reasons.

Robin van Persie is being labelled a disloyal, money-grabbing mercenary for hopping off Arsenal’s Millennium Falcon, bound by a code of morality and justice, to step aboard the Death Star to join Darth Ferguson’s quest for world domination.

It doesn’t help when the high-profile fans like Piers Morgan spew hateful tweets such as: “Funny, I really thought @Persie_Official was different. But he turned out to be just another mercenary, heartless, selfish little s**t.”

Followed by another pragmatic gem: “What a sickening betrayal of Wenger too - the man who stood so loyally behind @Persie_Official through years of injury. #VanPursestrings”

What a plonker. Illogical, irrational, senseless tripe. Do Arsenal’s fans really think the club should be rewarded for not casting him aside during a spell on the sidelines? Surely that’s their duty as his employer?

He was a business asset. They were paying his wages. It was in their interests to nurse him back to fitness. Hardly a selfless act.

Let’s not forget he would’ve worked hard during his rehabilitation and when he was fully fit, he banged in a hatful of goals for the club. Last season he scored 30 in 37 Premier League games, racking up nine assists, meaning he was directly involved in 53 per cent of Arsenal’s goals. Not bad for a heartless gun-for-hire.

Football is a tribal sport, often invoking extreme emotional reactions, but why does it transform seemingly intelligent, logical people into mindless idiots?

Firstly, the fans make the mistake of gorging on an all-you-can-eat buffet of rumour and speculation served up by newspapers, websites, forums and social networking sites, all of which profess to have insider knowledge.

Sure, a well-informed journalist might know a few people behind the scenes, but they’re not there during the negotiations and they don’t always know the player well enough to know what they’re thinking or understand their family situation.

They generally get subjected to the same smokescreen press conferences and fluffy official statements the fans do, all of which come from the PR machine designed to paint a pretty picture.

We forget players are human. In reality we don’t know what factors have gone into their decisions, so why do we suddenly think we can castigate them when we know so little?

Think about it logically. Football is their job. If you were unhappy at your place of work and another more successful company came along and offered you more money and better prospects would you seize the opportunity? It’s a no brainer. The same reasoning applies to footballers.

In the past seven years Arsenal have won absolutely nothing. During the same period Manchester United have won four Premier League titles, one Champions League, three League Cups and one FIFA World Club Cup.

Put yourself in Van Persie’s shoes. You’ve been with the club for eight years, given your absolute all, but you’re 29 and you want to win more trophies before your short career comes to an end. One of the biggest clubs in the world, if not the biggest, comes calling. What would you do?

While Arsene Wenger has done an amazing job to keep Arsenal competitive, despite spending very little in comparison to their rivals, the Gunners are a selling club and the Dutchman knows this.

Ok, so this summer has been different, with the likes of Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud being bought, but Van Persie has become accustomed to seeing former team-mates lifting trophies in the colours of other clubs – between them, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas have won 14 trophies since leaving the Gunners.

Maybe Van Persie just wants to a new challenge – what’s wrong with that? Do we not all feel like that sometimes?

There is also no suggestion he ever demanded a transfer, he just stated he didn’t want to sign a new contract because he disagreed with Wenger on how the club should move forward. Surely, he’s entitled to his opinion? Just because he played for Arsenal doesn’t mean he’s forever in the club’s debt.

Besides, it’s not like it came out of the blue. At the end of last season he said: “I have been playing here for eight years and I love this club. Whatever happens that will never change. We'll sit down next week. Arsenal is a massive club, whatever happens I'll always love this club.”

He hasn’t been misleading, he’s been candid. And true to his word he sat down with the club and he wasn’t happy he decided he wanted to move on. Fair enough, no?

It’s funny that the same Arsenal fans who are furious with Van Persie for leaving the Gunners to join a bigger club, are totally fine with Podolski departing his boyhood club FC Koln for the same reasons.

The German international said: "I have made this decision not against FC Köln but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.

“This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Köln, our fans and the city are something special for me. I will always carry FC Köln in my heart.”

Although the sugar coating of his statement was a little thicker than Van Persie’s, the sentiment was the same.

At least the Dutchman was up front and frank with the club and fans when he said: ”I think it’s fair for you guys to know what’s really going on at the moment.”

Last summer Fabregas did nothing of the sort, he kept quiet and played innocent, yet he’s still loved. Surely, Van Perise’s honesty is more admirable?

While some fans have vented frustration at the club for allowing such a situation to develop, I don’t think you can disagree it’s a good bit of business - £24 million for a 29-year-old with one full and consistently great season to his name. He has no further sell-on value and United don’t really need him. Trying to fit him into their system alongside Wayne Rooney may prove more of a hindrance than a help.

What is perhaps a more understandable gripe is that he has been sold to Manchester United. Traditionally Arsenal have sold their stars to foreign suitors (Nasri aside), which makes sense as they will not be direct rivals domestically. But this transfer could directly damage any chances the Gunners have of winning the title in the two or three seasons.

While Arsenal have shown more ambition this summer than in recent transfer windows, it is still hugely disappointing to lose another player to a bigger club. Arsenal are looking more and more like a finishing school for talented young players, rather than genuine contenders for the game’s major honours.

But fans should keep things in perspective, Arsenal may have sold their talismanic captain, but they have also brought in three very good players and have the cash to add further to their squad and overall the club’s transfer dealings make financial sense.

I just hope Sky Sports don’t find a baseball cap-wearing moron trudging around The Emirates armed with a lighter and a Van Persie shirt. That will prompt an overwhelming feeling of cringe and shame.

Before we start to point the finger, we should remember that while van Persie has been blessed with a super human talent, he is just a bloke that plays football for a living.

From Super Bowl to Super-Mare AFC: An American's love affair with the lower leagues

Guest Writer — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:36:00 GMT

American television producer Andy Elrick explains how he grew to love the lesser lights of English football...

I’m not sure what constitutes the average British person’s image of the Super Bowl, but I bet it doesn’t include shampoo or Kidderminster Harriers.

After producing sports programs on US television and radio for close to 15 years, this February I got the chance to cover my first Super Bowl. It turned out to be an important milestone in my career, as well as a reminder of how far I’ve strayed from the obsessed youth who chose to make his living in sports media.

Our show was broadcasting from what is commonly known as “radio row”, which isn’t really a row so much as a giant hotel ballroom where every local sports-talk station in the country worth its salt sets up temporary shop for the week leading up to the big game. They descend on the Super Bowl every year like locusts. On this occasion their host was Indianapolis, where the New England Patriots would face off against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI (that’s 46 to you and me).

You don’t have to know much about American sport to know that the Super Bowl is far and away the most important and closely watched sporting event in the country. That’s why every B list celebrity and American football legend with something to sell was in the room. They moved from table to table, trailed by publicists distributing “one sheets” listing all of the products and events you had to plug if you wanted their client on your show.

Among the many sporting pitchmen that sat down at our table was Clay Matthews, a 6’4” 255 pound linebacker for the legendary Green Bay Packers. He carried with him his god-given coiffure and a plastic bottle of Suave brand shampoo. That was his product, shampoo.

As silly as it might sound this was a highlight of my career. Not getting Clay Matthews to talk about how he manages such a healthy shine mind you, but just getting to be at the Super Bowl. It’s true that it’s become an almost farcical exercise in product placement and an excuse for Madonna to re-ignite her career more than a game, but it remains the mobile Mecca of American sport, bringing to the host city the kind of exposure and civic pride that money just can’t buy.

The 2012 incarnation pulled in 111 million television viewers in America alone. It’s the big time for sure. Which is why I probably should have been more focused on Matthews and his shampoo and less on fiddling with my iPhone, but you see the Wi-Fi in the hotel was spotty and I was only half way done downloading the Non-League Football Show from BBC London.

The Super Bowl - a little more glossy than Conference South, but no better

The story of how I became obsessed with the lower tiers of English football isn’t all that complicated or surprising, when you think about it.

After over a decade living and breathing American sport (and relying on it for a paycheck) I found that my passion faded a bit with every late night in the studio, every surly and entitled athlete and every concession made to a big money sponsor.

Don’t get me wrong, what I do is fun, and I would never be so obtuse as to suggest that watching games for a living is anything but a privilege. Still, my career choice compels me to be interested in every trivial goings on at every franchise across the country. It has dominated my life at times, and that takes a toll on the part of me that’s a fan.

Football on the other hand demands nothing of me. I can engage it almost entirely on my own terms.

I have never received a scathing email about my shows lack of coverage of Shrewsbury’s run at an automatic promotion spot or Leyton Orient’s late season swoon. Thankfully, I’ve never had to ring up the press officer for Port Vale to badger him about their manager giving our camera crew access to a closed practice. I just enjoy watching or reading about it and if I were to make the choice to stop doing so, that would be the end of it.

My obsession began innocently enough as I perused the typically sparse soccer section at my local bookstore, and stumbled on something called The Rough Guide to English Football. It claimed to be an exhaustive guide to all 92 English Premier League and Football Association clubs. By the end of the weekend the book was dog eared, I was hooked, and without the constraint of personal history or geography, I went about choosing a favorite team out of thin air.

That team was Queens Park Rangers, who fulfilled several key criteria.

Firstly they were in London, which meant that I had fairly easy access to them from my home near New York. At the time, flights were cheap and Loftus Road was a relatively reasonable five-hour plane ride away. Getting to Everton, Hull or Portsmouth would have been considerably more expensive and complicated.

Secondly, they had a fun British sounding name that was completely foreign to the ear of any fan of American sport. Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest all had appeal, but lost out due to their aforementioned remoteness and lack of royal prefix. What could be more British than her majesty after all?

Lastly, they seemed to offer the promise of greatness without actually being great. At the time, QPR was a medium sized club from the capital who found themselves in the old Division Two after finishing fifth in the Premier League just a decade earlier. It seemed reasonable to hope for top-flight football at some point, but it was by no means assured.

At a minimum, I would have to live through two seasons in the Football League, which worked for me because I wanted to earn my stripes. Rooting for a Manchester United or an Arsenal would have been too easy. I needed a team that would make me suffer a little bit (or a lot as it happened). That’s how a real fan is forged.

QPR celebrate promotion from League One in 2004

In April of 2005 I traveled to England for the first time, thanks to a discount plane ticket that took me through Detroit and an establishment on Argyle Square near Kings Cross which liberally referred to itself as a ‘hotel’, but seemed to have just forgotten an ‘s’.

I intended to visit all the places any first timer in London would: Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and, of course, Griffin Park. I was there to watch as much football as possible, and that meant the Football League.

Some quick math told me that I could afford one ticket to an Arsenal game or three to see lower league teams, including my Rangers, which had me ending up in the kinds of places not featured prominently in Lonely Planet.

Brentford, for instance, is not a place tourists flock to, but I found it to be charming if only for their ground’s abundance of watering holes. It is in fact, as Brentford fans should be proud to point out, the only stadium in England with a pub at each corner.

I chose to have a few pints at The Griffin before taking my place on the terrace, where I tried my best not to stare at a young man who looked to be no older than 11, sucking down Marlboro Reds like they were being outlawed, which I suspect they were already, for him at least.

Brentford's Michael Turner - just don't ask how he scored...

The crowd was less than imposing as I remember it, though the game was a top of the table clash against Tranmere. The Bees, fighting for an automatic promotion spot, won the game 1-0 on a Michael Turner goal in the 69th minute. I don’t remember any of the specifics of how it was scored. This is going to be a theme.

Two days later I left London altogether, and jumped on a train to Essex where Leyton Orient were to take on Southend United in a League Two clash.

The Shrimpers were in the middle of an automatic promotion push themselves, but didn’t have it on this night falling to the O’s 1-0 on a John Mackie goal. It was cold and rainy. My seat was below pitch level. The club shop was in a temporary trailer. There was a good fish and chips spot on the way from the train station. I have no idea how the goal was scored.

The next day was Saturday and QPR were facing legendary Leeds United at Loftus Road. Both teams were stuck in or around mid-table.

I had a couple of pre-game pints at The Springbok, bought a scarf at the team store, sat next to a man in his 80’s who had been coming to Loftus Road for most of his life. Kevin Gallen scored an equalizer in the 85th minute. Don’t even ask, I have no idea.

It was just hard to concentrate on the games themselves when they were surrounded by so many new and interesting cultural contrasts. I was fascinated by everything - not just what was going on between the white lines. Something as seemingly insignificant as a definite article made me giddy.

An American would support the Queens Park Rangers, while a Brit supports just Queens Park Rangers, no definite article, a part of speech that had never been so enthralling. My team played at the weekend or on the weekend instead of just boring old this weekend. A uniform was a kit. A field was a pitch. A team was a side. There was something so intoxicating about being a complete neophyte after decades playing the expert, or some would say, the savant.

Queens Park Rangers' side take to the pitch in their kits...

In 2007 I moved to mainland Europe, got myself a British girlfriend, and the once beguiling distinctions between British and America grammar began to slowly fade. It had no effect, however, on my interest in League and Non-League football.

Last June I moved back to the States permanently to produce a television show which spends the vast majority of it’s time covering American college sports. Still, while my work-life took me to places like Tuscaloosa and Ann Arbor, my sporting heart was still drawn to Darlington and Torquay.

Six months later I have a subscription to the Football League Paper. My favorite days of the week are Monday and Thursday because that’s when the We Are Going Up! And Npower Football League Podcasts (respectively) are released. I have developed a harmless crush on BBC Non-League Football Show host Caroline Barker.

I know, as a matter of course, that Lincoln City play their home games at Sincil Bank Stadium, Bradford City at Valley Parade and Dagenham and Redbridge at Victoria Road.

I have Football Manager for my iPhone and am currently marching, wait for it….York City towards the Conference title.

A few months ago when the Mega Millions lottery jackpot here soared to $656 million dollars I bought a ticket and dreamed of saving Plymouth from their financial woes.

Spending your lottery winnings on a football team wracked with debt and in danger of dropping out of the Football League must be the definition of insanity, but it’s the kind of insanity I can live with, the kind I’ve missed to be honest.

After largely abandoning the sports of my native land on anything other than a professional basis, I’ve found a game I can be passionate about again. It’s a game I can’t watch on a regular basis, a game that gets zero coverage in my local newspaper, and a game the tactics of which still elude me at times, but that hardly seems the point.

All that matters is that it’s mine, it’s all mine.

Andy Elrick is the producer of the Tim Brando Show, which can be seen from 10AM to 1PM ET, Monday-Friday on CBS Sports Network. Click here to like it on Facebook, and here to follow Tim on Twitter.

Rangers and the SPL head for messy but necessary divorce

Craig Anderson — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:11:00 GMT

As each SPL member club in turn listens to its fans and decides to vote against allowing a ‘newco’ Rangers into the league, the fact the issue was even up for debate demonstrates all that’s wrong with football in Scotland.

The SPL have, for a long time, been accused of being a law unto themselves and have often bent rules to suit those chairmen out for short-term financial gain at the expense of long-term investment and growth.

This time, fan power was the winner, with supporters talking of boycotting if the 'new' Rangers are allowed back into the top flight without question.

But why was the issue even up for debate in the first place when in any other country or league, a club that’s gone out of business have to start at the very beginning? Only in Scotland would there be the chance of shooing the 'newco' in.

As St Johnstone and Aberdeen publicly announced they wouldn’t support a ‘newco’ in the SPL, joining Hibernian, Hearts, Inverness and Dundee United – no Celtic, you’ll note, who have been rather quiet in the whole issue – it pretty much ended the fallen giants’ hopes of a Dallas-style comeback, in which the last 18 months would be nothing but a nasty dream.

The money that Rangers bring in, from their hefty support to their status as one of the Old Firm, attracts some serious TV money. From a short-term viewpoint, you can see why clubs would be reluctant to see them go.

Far be it for me to tell anyone how to run a business, but is it not a little risky to put all your eggs in the Old Firm basket, given other clubs’ warning of possible administration for themselves?

Let’s not forget that when there was plenty of talk of Rangers and Celtic joining the English Premier League, those other clubs said little about impending financial doom, instead salivating at the thought of a more competitive SPL.

As for Rangers, it leaves them in limbo with Third Division football a real possibility as their SPL peers ram metaphorical stakes through their hearts with every statement.

It leaves new owner Charles Green with a huge problem, especially as players such as Scotland internationals Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker have left the club, not happy that their contracts were transferred over to the ‘newco’ apparently without proper consultation.

Charles Green (r) arrives on the scene

Many feel a new Rangers is not the Rangers they’ve spent their lives supporting, but would get behind a new team, such is the emotional detachment. As someone who has spent almost 35 years following the Gers, this correspondent doesn’t see it the same way.

The Rangers I supported have won 54 titles, competed in four European finals, won countless Scottish Cups and League Cups and be one of the continent’s most successful club sides in terms of silverware.

This new outfit starts with nothing. Zero titles, zero European nights, zero trophies. The only link will be the shirt colours, the fact the club plays at Ibrox and Ally McCoist, who should be manager, barring a major change of heart.

Plus there’s the intentions of Charles Green, who has inherited a mess, which is fast becoming a major nightmare. Rangers fans hoping he would be the man to lift the Ibrox club from its depression were soon warned by fans of Sheffield United, where he was reviled in the 1990s.

The worry is that Green is a wheeler-dealer trying to squirm the club into a place they’ve no place being, with big soundbites and little to show for it. Right now, as much as Ibrox fans might not like the comparison to the man who turned Celtic from near-bankrupts to financially sound champions, Rangers need a Fergus McCann. They don’t need an Arthur Daley.

But, as a fan, what astounds me more than anything is the complete lack of humility from anyone associated with the club throughout this whole episode, from Sir David Murray and Craig Whyte onwards, as they continue to pass the buck. Not one of them has actually held his hands up and accepted responsibility for the mess.

Meanwhile others are happy to play the victim card, claiming that the club are the subject of an agenda from not only the Scottish footballing authorities, but Her Majesty’s Government itself.

The bottom line is: you break the rules, you deserved to be punished. Fans happy to peddle the line that it was all that dastardly Craig Whyte’s fault, as he sits in his Highland castle laughing at the supporters he’s swindled, need to realise the current mess is not simply one man's fault.

Finger-pointing has to stop and realise the SPL (and, for all their faults, their members) are actually doing the right thing. This could be a watershed for Scottish football as a whole to get its house in order – not only for Rangers, who should be a little more humble and embarrassed.

Perversely it could be the best thing to happen to Scottish football. Others however just refuse to see the bigger picture that way.

Stats don't lie: McLeish was awful – and getting worse

Alex Keble — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:00 GMT

Aston Villa's lacklustre league form was getting ever worse under Alex McLeish. His dismissal was a necessary step if Villa are to avoid relegation next season, says Alex Keble

Alex McLeish's tenure as Aston Villa manager was plagued by fan and media unrest from the outset. Criticism has been hurled in his direction ever since owner Randy Lerner decided to appoint the man who not only managed arch rivals Birmingham City, but relegated them twice in three years.

Unfortunately for McLeish, the cries of dissent only increased as the season progressed. No wonder: Villa slumped to 16th in the table, recording their lowest points tally in more than 20 years and emerging victorious from Villa Park on only four occasions; the lowest in the club's 138-year history. On Monday, Lerner sacked McLeish, less than 12 months after making the controversial appointment.

Villa fans remain adamant that their antipathy towards the manager was not fuelled by his links with the blue half of Birmingham, but by an aversion to the defensive style and desperate lack of quality that characterised both his Villa and his Birmingham sides.

After the lacklustre display in Villa's final match at Norwich, McLeish called for more time; it comes as no surprise that he has not been given it. Stats Zone shows that his Villa side were getting progressively worse, not better. What's more, their mind-numbingly tedious football was beginning to show an alarming resemblance to the drab Birmingham City side that skulked out of the league 12 months ago.

Traditionally, managers are given time to instigate their brand of football in the first year; fans and media alike ignore unspectacular results, recognising that creating a team that blends requires patience and diligence. Witness the first Villa Park seasons of both Martin O'Neill and Gerard Houllier. So why hasn't McLeish been given more leeway?

Well, the 'rebuilding' year does not mean that performances should be ignored. Under the previous two Villa managers there were numerous signs that players were learning, styles were emerging, and the manager was moulding the club to his own unique philosophy. In direct contrast to this, McLeish's reign was directionless and entirely unsuccessful from beginning to end.

Gabby Agbonlahor, who has committed himself for life to his boyhood team, described the 2011/12 campaign as "one of those seasons you want to get out of the way and get through"; Villa's talisman hardly seemed optimistic about a future under McLeish. Who can blame him? The statistics speak for themselves.

The Stats – Villa declining
Only Stoke City have scored fewer goals this season than Aston Villa. Only Wolves have won fewer matches. No team has drawn more games. It doesn't need a close statistical scrutiny of the evidence is not required to reach the conclusion that Villa are a boring side to watch.

What's more pertinent is the overall decline in form as the season has progressed. There persists a feeling of aimlessness, as low morale (characterised by Agbonlahor's comments) threatened to submerge Villa in another relegation fight next season if McLeish was allowed to continue.

Aston Villa recorded an average of 11 shots per game this season, the 19th worst in the division. This, coupled with averages of 72% pass completion and a measly 43.2% possession, make for difficult reading. These figures are even more compelling when comparing the final 13 games of the season to the first 25.

The statistical evidence strongly suggests that Villa became progressively worse as the season wore on. If we break down Villa's season into three equal parts, this trend becomes even clearer.

What is most interesting about this chart is the increasing rate of deterioration between each third: a small decrease between the first and second sections is followed by a sharp decline for the final segment. As the previous bar charts showed, Villa's form has dropped off significantly towards the back end of the season.

Observers claiming McLeish would have "come good" (as his old manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested), or that he simply required more time to implement his style upon the squad, should take note of the trend. Improvements were not being made. By the end of the campaign, the club was hurtling towards relegation, producing performances – and results – indicative of a team devoid of confidence and simply unable to perform under the current system.

In a mid-season report addressed to fans, McLeish hit out against accusations that his sides play defensive football, declaring he believes in "attacking, winning football". However, Stats Zone's records of individual performances quite firmly contradict this claim.

A common critique of his tactical approach is that McLeish's emphasis on defensive solidity inhibits his teams from posing a significant attacking threat. The statistics evaluated above add substantial weight to this claim, but further evidence can be found in the attacking regression of two of Villa's key performers from last season: Mark Albrighton and Darren Bent.

Here we can see two key attacking players, both achieving less in the final third than in the 2010/11 season. Defensive football primarily requires maintaining shape and taking few risks; Albrighton's decline in take-ons and chances created strongly suggests an unwillingness to commit to attack or risk losing possession via a dribble or inventive pass. Bent's inferior goalscoring prowess only consolidates this theory.

Indeed, examining the Stats Zone screenshares of Bent's final three games before injury paints a haunting picture of a lonely figure. The striker accumulated just four shots on goal, contributing little else to build-up play.

With these figures in mind, is it not possible that McLeish was simply failing to motivate his team and give them the confidence to score goals, rather than intentionally implementing negative football? Sadly not. Comparisons to Birmingham City last year have been made countless times during the season and, once again, the statistics seem to correlate with the general consensus: it's a style of football that McLeish chooses to instil in his players.

Birmingham's pass completion statistics for the 2010/11 campaign are very similar to Villa's this term (71.6% avg to 72% avg) and their possession stats are actually better than Villa's (47.2% avg to 43.2% avg). If this wasn't alarming enough, the most compelling piece of evidence when comparing the two clubs' fortunes is the number of shots taken per game: Birmingham City, finishing with fewer goals than any other team last season (37), averaged 10.6 goals per game; Villa have averaged 11.0 this term.

Under McLeish, Aston Villa were descending increasingly swiftly with no real sign of their fortunes changing, given their alarming similarity to the Birmingham side McLeish relegated twice. All evidence rejects the worth of the tactics employed over a long and arduous campaign that produced forgettable performances.

The ever-growing voices of dissent were finally answered, and Villa must now begin restoring their pride from square one. McLeish leaves B6 with one of the worst managerial records in the club's history.

Four’s a crowd for Man City, Roberto Mancini and Carlos Tevez

Guest Writer — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:08:00 GMT

Man City fan Tom Wilkins wonders whether his club need the returning Argentinian at all – this season or next…

It might not have quite been what he had in mind, but this week Carlos Tevez got his wish to return to action for Manchester City. However, having turned his nose up at the opportunity to run out at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Tevez instead had to make do this time with a slightly less glamorous appearance for the reserves against Preston at Carrington.

Although his 45-minute display was goalless, more significantly it represents a return to the forefront of Roberto Mancini’s thoughts. Can he really afford to ignore a striker of Tevez’s quality at such a crunch time of the season?

Carlos Tevez has never been a master of timing, whether openly musing in the press about his impending retirement, or singing the praises of Giggs, Scholes and Ferguson before his return to City. It remains to be seen whether his actions are born out of malice, greed or mere stupidity. True to form, Tevez might just have returned to City at just the wrong time.

City’s Blackburn Rovers walkover last weekend was important for a number of reasons. It represented another three points, another clean sheet and another three goals to add to the spiralling goal difference. But crucially, it was brought about with beautiful symmetry by Manchester City’s three-pronged strike force.

A flash of opportunism from Mario Balotelli’s left foot, a strike of pure technique from Sergio Aguero’s right and a textbook thumping header from Edin Dzeko brought about the most perfect of hat-tricks for Roberto Mancini. Just as the going gets tough, his strikers appear to be getting going.

The club can look back from a safe distance at a sorry January. Bookended by league defeats at Sunderland and Everton, the month had witnessed City exit two cups with home losses to north-west rivals.

But what a difference a month makes: since that grim Tuesday evening on Merseyside City have won five straight games, conceding just one goal and scoring 13. A return to those balmy, early-season days when we didn’t have a care in the world and goals flowed like Sheikh Mansour’s cash.

Throughout the season, Sergio Aguero, alongside David Silva, has been an ever-present delight. While Silva took half a season (OK, maybe less) to find his Premiership feet, Aguero hit the pitch running on his debut against Swansea, scoring two and creating one – as a substitute. City hadn’t seen a debut like Aguero’s since Ali Bernabia brought joy to a club hopelessly floundering in the wrong division.

Since that slick start, Aguero has kicked on and justified not only the hype but also his price tag. Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll continue to wear their pricetags around their necks, yet Aguero spirits around the pitch without a care in the world: he's already contributed a staggering 21 goals and six assists.

Edin Dzeko hasn't had such an easy time of it. After a blistering start to the campaign, including a 'perfect' hat-trick (left foot, right foot, header) against Spurs, Dzeko has occasionally seemed to regress. He's the archetypal confidence player: when things are going well for him and the club, the goals will come, but conversely, his will be one of the first heads to drop when his touch starts to let him down.

Recent goals against Wigan, Fulham and Blackburn will hopefully see Dzeko’s form return to the sparkling heights of August when he was able to waltz past all challenges put in front of him. Dzeko seems to be a well-liked part of the club, and his boyish enthusiasm on scoring is infectious – he’s just the sort of person you want to do well.

The final prong of City's striking trident needs no introduction. Surely no other player in the country can have received more column inches – back-page and front – this year than Mario Balotelli. The Italian may well be the most infuriating player I've ever watched. Balotelli is absurdly comfortable on the ball and couldn’t be more confident of his own abilities.

He's one of a select few players in the league who can change a game from absolutely nothing – a lightning burst of pace or an impossible finish made easy, all the while without any celebration, of course. Unfortunately, his ability to change a game isn’t always for the better and cards of both colours keep coming.

Balotelli’s omission from the Italy squad this week hints at the dilemma facing managers with the young striker. While others lose patience and cast the youngster adrift, Mancini continues to put his faith in Balotelli. Sadly that faith is not always repaid. As the season draws to a close and Mario’s suspensions rack up, it’s probably about time that Balotelli settled down (as much as he can) and translated that potential into ability. On his day, he can be the most fearsome striker in the league; he just needs to make it his day more often.

So what then for Carlos Tevez? Historically, league-winning sides have tended to rotate four strikers over the course of the season, although that implies a system with a front two and Mancini has more often selected a 4-2-3-1 using attacking midfielders like Silva, Samir Nasri, Adam Johnson and Yaya Touré.

As the season progresses, there can really be no other place for Carlos Tevez than fourth place in the pecking order. Injuries, suspensions or a horrific loss of form aside, can Tevez’s reintroduction to the first team really generate anything other than disharmony among the players who have got us this far?

Looking ahead even further and the future for Tevez at Manchester City after the summer looks even bleaker. It’s not just our strikers back home who have been scoring. John Guidetti has been the most prolific of the lot, albeit in the Dutch League: during February he scored hat-tricks in three successive games, and is averaging more than a goal a game for Feyenoord.

It will be fascinating to see whether the teenager, who made his full Sweden debut this week, is given the chance to prove himself in England. They could have their next great striker – and a readymade solution to the Carlos Tevez situation, without having to approach the likes of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani who are apparently on the club’s radar.

The future looks bright up top for City – both this season and next. Even without the troublesome Argentine, City already have the most fearsome strikeforce in England, if not the whole of Europe. Having said all that, there will be a lot of soul searching to do if Carlos Tevez scores the goal to win Manchester City the Premier League title. Now then, how’s your timing Carlos?

Yesterday’s man is right for England’s future

Guest Writer — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:43:00 GMT

As the English press go gaga, Mark Robinson explains why Harry Redknapp really is the man to lead the national team...

As one chapter ends, another begins. Just hours after being cleared of tax evasion charges at Southwark Crown Court – dispelling accusations of financial skulduggery which have shadowed him for five years – Harry Redknapp stands alone as the outstanding candidate for the recently vacated England hot seat.

Even for a man well used to the emotional rollercoaster that is football management, the events of Wednesday will have had the 64-year-old Tottenham boss pinching himself. From potential disgrace in a court of law to being within touching distance of a job often referred to as the second most important in the country, all in the space of a single afternoon. It trumps anything he has experienced in close to 50 years in the game

The relegation battles, the crossing of bitter divides and those last-minute transfer deals which have nourished his reputation as a ‘wheeler dealer’ are etched across Redknapp’s face and are explicit in his character, which invokes nostalgia for a bygone age.

At a time when football clubs are being increasingly dominated by statistical analysts, nutritionists and psychologists, here is a man cut from a vintage English cloth. A throwback to an age where men in camel coats and fedoras puffed on cigars in dugouts across the country, in between devising deals to swap players for lawnmowers or vice versa.

The major factor in Redknapp’s success has been the force of his endearing and shrewd personality, a by-product of which is his ability as a manager of men and as a master motivator.

The perception of Redknapp as something of a ‘wide boy’ should not detract from his credentials for the biggest job in English football. The nurturing of several future England internationals during his spell in charge of West Ham, which also included a fifth placed finish in the Premier League in 1999, first served notice of his managerial talents. FA Cup success with Portsmouth in 2008 followed, but it has been his work with Tottenham Hotspur in recent seasons that has seen him earn broader praise at both home and abroad.

He took over a grand old club in crisis and at the foot of the Premier League at the end of 2008, and by the end of the following campaign – his first full season in charge of the club – had guided Spurs into the Champions League. This season, his team has outshone Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool by producing the only sustained challenge over the first half of the season to the hegemony of the Manchester clubs in the Premier League title race.

Redknapp has built his Tottenham side on the principles of versatile attacking football, able to benefit from the flexibility of both patience and directness. He has nurtured and developed the abilities of Gareth Bale and Luka Modric and has added the contrasting qualities of Scott Parker and Rafael Van Der Vaart to a midfield that, at its best, can be mentioned in the same sentence as Barcelona’s without provoking derision.

His effective handling of the hugely talented but notoriously combustible Emmanuel Adebayor, a task seemingly beyond the capabilities of even Jose Mourinho, illustrates Redknapp’s genius in a nutshell.

Given the baggage he has carried around for so long, proven or unproven, whether the naturally cautious Football Association have the courage to appoint him remains to be seen, but the outcome of his trial removes a significant obstacle.

The institution’s reluctance to bow to public pressure in the 1970s and employ the controversial but brilliant Brian Clough sets a worrying precedent for Redknapp’s backers. So does its failure to back Terry Venables, himself plagued by rumours of financial wrongdoing, following England’s unfortunate exit at the semi-finals of Euro 96.

The similarities between Venables and Redknapp are pointed. Both are men that have spent their careers trading on their ability to extract the maximum from the players at their disposal, and both are men you are more likely to encounter at an East End greyhound track than at a UEFA coaching convention.

In Venables’ case, that very English mixture made him the England manager that has come closest to glory at a major tournament over the last 16 years. After years of failed experimentation with foreign coaches and fashionable methods, it is time to give yesterday’s man another shot.

The draw of home: Why Chelsea could face losing Oriol Romeu

Gareth McKnight — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:49:00 GMT

Freelance football writer Gareth McKnight ponders whether Chelsea may have difficulty holding onto their new Spanish starlet further down the line...

With Spanish football on an all-time high, there is no wonder that Premier League clubs are eager to bring players from La Liga to England.

With Pepe Reina’s current and Xabi Alonso’s past importance to Liverpool, Juan Mata’s immediate impact at Chelsea, Cesc Fabregas’ legendary status in North London and David Silva leading Manchester City’s title charge, the English top flight has been blessed with incredible talent from Spain in recent times.

However, seemingly more than any other nation, Spanish players yearn for home and have left English teams at the peak of their individual abilities.

An emerging talent at Stamford Bridge is quickly proving his worth and may well one day be added to the impressive list of world-beating Spanish players that have graced British shores.

Oriol Romeu joined Chelsea from Barcelona last summer, and despite only making one solitary substitute appearance for the Catalan giants before departing, he has become a crucial member of Andre Villas Boas’ squad almost instantly. Jon Obi Mikel, Ramires and even Frank Lampard have seen their time on the pitch impacted this season by the Portuguese coach’s use of the youngster, and Romeu is already one of a host of players that Andre Villas Boas is building a new-look Chelsea team around.

Romeu has a great blend of the traditional Spanish qualities, and a battling nature that has suited the pace and aggression of the Premier League. Technically gifted with the ball at his feet, Romeu has an eye for a pass and calmness when in possession that is uniquely distilled through the ranks at La Masia. Add to this his ability to read the game, a keenness to put in a tackle and excellent positional play and Romeu is already at 20 years old an accomplished defensive midfielder.

However, just like in the case of Fabregas and Alonso, the draw of his homeland may hamper Chelsea’s long-term ambitions and plans for the Ulldecona-born man. Reports have emerged that Barcelona have a buy-back option integrated in Romeu’s contract, which can be implemented at the Camp Nou outfit’s request in the summer of 2012 or 2013.

With the abundance of midfield talent currently at Pep Guardiola’s disposal it is unlikely that the European champions will opt to bring Romeu ‘home’ this summer, but given another season of Premier League and European football and it may well be deemed that the starlet could be an asset in the Catalan senior squad.

With Xavi and Andres Iniesta currently at the peak of their powers, Sergio Busquets filling the defensive midfield slot, Fabregas being deployed as a second striker and Thiago Alcantara an impressive back-up, Guardiola’s options in the centre of the park are simply salivating.

However, given another 18 months, the two current dominant playmakers in Catalunya may well be starting to feel their age, and with Busquets gradually making the transition to central defence, Romeu could be summoned.

This would be a big blow for a team like Chelsea, who are not accustomed to losing key players; anyone who leaves Stamford Bridge is generally surplus to requirements. With Roman Abramovich’s billions, an ambitious young coach in place and an exciting team being built around the Spaniard, surely Romeu would be tempted to knock back Barcelona’s potential advances?

Not very likely. The draw of La Liga’s top sides is huge, not least to those who have witnessed their allure up close. The fact Romeu is a Barca youth product means he has been instilled with the mindset that playing for the Blaugrana is the Holy Grail since the age of 13, and Chelsea now have a problem.

One only has to look at the demise of Liverpool since the sale of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid to see the potential effect of losing a Spanish midfield general. Cesc Fabregas openly admitted to ‘feeling English’ during his time in North London and frequently spouted his love for the Emirates outfit.

He was part of a team unbeaten for an entire season in England, played in a Champions League final and had the adoration of one of the most respected coaches in world football, his fellow players and fans. Nevertheless, he could not resist the appeal of home.

An equally concerning thought that Chelsea will need to keep in mind revolves around Juan Mata, and like his countrymen, whether or not he would be able to resist either Barcelona or Real Madrid’s charms in a year or two’s time.

Mata is a Madrid youth player who again did not make the first team, and was later farmed out to Valencia. One feels there may be unfinished business at the Santiago Bernabeu for the attacker. Finally, even Sheik Mansour’s unlimited financial resources would probably not stop David Silva doing all in his power to forge a move away from Manchester City if one of Spain’s big two came knocking.

Spain’s World Cup-winning golden generation is currently the best crop of players in the game, with the country’s top two domestic teams the biggest clubs on the planet. For an English side to snag a leading Spanish player must be seen as a massive coup, however it should be advised that over-reliance on this superstar may end in tears; only time will tell in the case of Romeu.

Not just for the love of money: Tottenham's most fascinating man

Guest Writer — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:15:00 GMT

Phil Gillen of TheSeatsFaceThePitch.com on the always-entertaining Assou-Ekotto

Benoit Assou-Ekotto doesn't score many goals, but his effort against Everton cemented his place in Tottenham Hotspur's apparent resurgence and into the white hearts of the N17 faithful.

Not often in these glamorous, hedonistic days does a player emerge to stand out from the crowd of prima donnas. Not often would you expect to see a player topping up his Oyster card at a London Underground station. Not often would you see a professional footballer so laid back he was almost horizontal. Assou-Ekotto bucks the trend.

Signed in the summer of 2006, he was lauded as one of the brightest young stars in French football. As impressive as that label sounds, similar titles seem to accompany every foreign player arriving on these shores, so judgement was rightly reserved.

Given the promise that heralded his arrival, Assou-Ekotto made a faltering start to his Tottenham career. First impressions were that he was merely a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the Thimothee Atouba school of ‘Own Penalty Area Step-overs’ due to his lackadaisical defending. His every touch was greeted not by raucous applause but the sound of 30,000 palpitating Lilywhite hearts.

His first season was blighted by a series of injuries that scuppered his attempts to unseat Lee Young-Pyo as Spurs’ first choice left-back. After a serious knee injury, he only featured twice in the 2007-08 season. Talk of not settling in England led to rumours of a move back to France.

The Cameroonian had, to that point, maintained a seemingly blasé attitude toward his chosen career. His well-documented comments admitting that he merely played football to make money were refreshing in their honesty, if a little unsettling for the Spurs faithful. The distance between passionate fan and well-paid player seemed to be once again widened.

However, given his injury problems, Assou-Ekotto admitted that he now appreciated his career more – it was still a job, but one that he shouldn’t take for granted. And in the following season, as Juande Ramos's side gained two points from their first eight games, Assou-Ekotto stepped up his game. He featured heavily after the appointment of Harry Redknapp, playing – like the team – with a new lease of life. He was slowly becoming an integral part of the Spurs line-up.

Still, he was stigmatised for his laid-back style and previously publicised comments; despite his growing prowess on the field a somewhat myopic view of Assou-Ekotto had already been formed. Notable television pundits continued to highlight his apparent lack of concentration and commitment, not to mention his over-ambitious heart-stopping defensive trickery. It wasn’t until he masterfully contained Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2009 League Cup Final that he finally started to receive the recognition he deserved.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto’s first Tottenham goal was a rather poignant and instructive moment in the club’s modern history. Starting the 2009/10 season afresh under Redknapp’s tutelage and eager to finally banish the memory of the club’s worst start for a century the year before, Tottenham were handed a tricky home tie against the eternally title-tipped Liverpool. Some focus was on how Tottenham would start the new season, but most was on this surely being “Liverpool’s year”.

Tottenham started the game brightly, and were marginally the better team for the first half. In the 44th minute, Tom Huddlestone’s disappointing free kick rebounded to the nearby Assou-Ekotto who surprisingly unleashed a wicked half-volley past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. That goal seemed to instil a tangible belief into the team, evident when Spurs overcame a second-half Liverpool equaliser to win 2-1.

A confident Spurs went on to qualify for the Champions League. Assou-Ekotto’s goal in the first week was by no means the defining reason for Spurs’ qualification into the supposed “Promised Land”, but an important part of the thousand-piece jigsaw it surely was. It was a signal of a team coming of age, typified by the individual’s newfound vigour and purpose.

A number of candid interviews have shown Assou-Ekotto to be more down to earth than his previous comments might have suggested. Football is his job, but that doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy himself or indeed be able to relate to the fans. His admission that he will happily travel to London on the underground like the rest of the great unwashed started to show glimpses of the character behind the on-field nonchalance and wild hairstyles.

There have been questions asked of Assou-Ekotto’s decision to play international football for Cameroon rather than the country of his birth, France. One suggestion levelled was that he merely wanted to play at the World Cup. In a May 2010 interview with the Guardian, Assou-Ekotto concisely retorted.

“Me playing for Cameroon was a natural and normal thing," he explained. "I have no feeling for the France national team; it just doesn't exist. When people ask of my generation in France 'Where are you from?’ they will reply Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon or wherever. But what has amazed me in England is that when I ask the same question of people like [Aaron] Lennon and [Jermain] Defoe, they'll say: 'I'm English.' That's one of the things that I love about life here.”

The 2011 riots in Tottenham struck a chord with Assou-Ekotto – eventually. While everyone else in the country was glued to rolling news coverage, in typically detached fashion he was unaware of the troubles until a friend from France sent him a text. Assou-Ekotto took to the Tottenham streets to meet the locals and amongst the burnt-out buildings and ransacked shops he got his hair done, as he had for the last five years.

"People are nice here," he insisted. "They ask about the next game or the last game, but now the streets are very quiet, it's like a ghost city”. He called on football to assist with the problems rife in communities across the country. Many players appear at charity events, raising the profiles of worthy causes, but they are often put up to it by clubs or agents. Not to be critical of any player's work for charity, but Assou-Ekotto’s genuine concern for the Tottenham High Road community came from the heart.

Whereas it would seem there are more than a few football dignitaries yet to fully appreciate Assou-Ekotto’s languid style of play, Tottenham fans certainly realise the real benefit he brings to the club, both on and off the pitch. Although his rise in stature has coincided with the opposition's right flank focusing less on attacking than containing Gareth Bale, to suggest Assou-Ekotto has an easy time of it is doing him a great disservice.

Many of Spurs’ attacks stem from the left-back's coolness on the ball in tight areas, working space for Bale or Luka Modric to exploit. It's worth noting that Bale’s emergence as the talent he is today wasn't all down to the Welshman impressing in training; it was an injury to the in-form Assou-Ekotto that somewhat forced Redknapp's hand and opened the door for Bale, initially at left back.

Redknapp recently praised Assou-Ekotto’s commitment, when in the past even he had been at a loss to explain why the player wouldn’t know who Spurs’ next opponents were. When illness prevented him from travelling to Wigan with the squad, Assou-Ekotto received a call from Redknapp the night before the game asking if he might be able to feature in the game in anyway. At 7am Assou-Ekotto took a taxi to Wigan and played the whole match, helping Spurs to a 2-1 win. It was hinted that he only made the journey because he didn’t know how far Wigan was, but he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Some fans feel that players should also live and breathe the club. When a player wants to move to apparent 'bigger things' it's an affront that evokes a bilious rage in many a passionate fan. Gone are the days of the ‘one-club men’ who share the fans' affinity for the institutions where they ply their trade. The rewards of jumping ship at the soonest moment far outweigh the relative incremental wage increases of renewing a current contract. Before we cry foul and beat our sweaty palms on the ground in rage, any of us in a similar situation would do the same.

For a man initially painted as a mere mercenary, Assou-Ekotto has unassumingly begun to dispel that image. He's not interested in the over-dramatised side of the game, the supposed star names or their reputations. When asked which big-name player he would like Spurs to sign he replied “Look, Darth Vader could come to Spurs. I don’t care. If he does his job well I am happy for Spurs.”

Summarising on the Spurs-Villa game, Danny Murphy commented that “You can’t take Benoit seriously with that hair” after the player trotted onto the pitch with a wild afro that would have made Carlos Valderrama blush. But that's part of “Disco Benny’s” allure to Spurs fans. Football is taken too seriously and with the profession is in dire need of lampooning, Assou-Ekotto is happy to oblige.

"The whole problem with football players is that they really take themselves seriously," he acknowledges. "We kick a ball around and we earn 100,000, 200,000 or even 300,000 Euros a week. We don't improve the world. It's not like we invented hot water. We just kick a ball.”

With rumours of the newly-minted PSG making eyes at the full-back, hopefully Spurs can persuade him to continue to “kick a ball around” in London for a little while longer.

FourFourTwo.com readers' Premier League XIs

Guest Writer — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:31:00 GMT

Following on from FourFourTwo.com's Premier League XI and Tim Stannard's La Liga XI, here are a few English top flight suggestions from you, our dear readers...

Even FourFourTwo Performance's Ben Welch got in on the act...

A few responses provided highly unworkable formations, of which this is the most mental...

Here are the best of the rest...

ligamedanfpl @ligamedanfpl
Vorm; Walker, Coloccini, Jagielka, Enrique; Nani, Silva, Mata; Holt, Hoilett, Van Persie.

Will Forrest @WF_APEX
Given; L.Young, Cahill, Hangeland, Cole; Modric, Wilshere; Nani, Sessegnon, Silva; Suarez

Glyn Phillips @glyn_phillips
Vorm, Johnson, Vidic, Shawcross, Baines, Barton, Tiote, Silva, Lampard, Bale, Van Persie.

James Peter Smith @PesPete91
Reina; Rangel, Vidic, Hangeland, Baines; Mata, Modric, Cabaye, Silva; Bent, Van Persie.

Aaron Cobb @acobb403
Krul; O'Shea, Shawcross, Jageilka, Riise; Jarvis, Lampard, Sinclair, Bale; Rooney, Van Persie.

Chris Gladwin @chrisgladwin
Vorm; Walker, Dunne, Gabbidon, Enrique; Nani, Fellaini, Ramires; Aguero, Van Persie, Yakubu.

Pepper @Chrispepper06
Schwarzer; Hutton, Vidic, Cahill, Baines; Adam, Tiote; Sturridge, Silva, Bale; Van Persie.

Liam Jones @liamjefc
Ruddy; Walker, Cahill, Coloccini, Baines; Nani, Romeu, Lucas, Silva; Van Persie, Suarez.

Alex McGowan @AlexScouse13
Cech; Walker, Cahill, Taylor, Baines; Silva, Barton, Pilkington; Rooney, Van Persie, Suarez.

Chris Selway @Selway826
Jaaskelainen; Rangel, N.Vidic, C.Samba, J.Enrique; D.Silva, Barton, Lampard, Bale; Van Persie, Bent.

Jonny Phillpotts @FGuerrilla
Vorm; Walker, Jagielka, Cahill, Enrique; P.Jones, Silva, Mata; Ba, Van Persie, Rooney

Alistair Wong @AlistairWong13
Vorm; Walker, Woodgate, Coloccini, Cole; Lucas, Silva, Pilkington; Agbonlahor, Rooney, Van Persie.

TPiMBW @TPiMBW
Vorm; Simpson, Vidic, R.Johnson, Baines; Mata, Y.Toure, Dempsey, Bale; Suarez, Van Persie.

Adam Shannas @Shannas87
Given; Johnson, Samba, Cahill, Baines; Silva, Barton, Lampard, Bale; Rooney, Van Persie.

Paul Gayton @pgato80
Given; R.Taylor, King, Woodgate, Baines; Ramires, Silva, Gerrard; Van Persie, Rooney, Holt.

Joseph @jmarlow10
Krul; Huth, Vidic, Jagielka, Enrique; Silva, Modric, Mata; Dembele, Van Persie, S.Fletcher.

Redknapp should think long and hard before taking management's biggest gamble

Liam Twomey — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:36:00 GMT

When it comes to the England job, there are many who believe Harry Redknapp’s widely-touted appointment to succeed Fabio Capello after next summer’s Euro 2012 finals to be a mere formality.

In light of this, it’s understandable that the words of Daniel Levy - Redknapp’s chairman at Tottenham – at the club’s annual general meeting last Tuesday were greeted with a measure of surprise in the media.

"Harry has 18 months left on his contract," Levy stated.

"We have had a conversation where it was said that, as far as Harry's concerned, he's very happy here and that he doesn't particularly want to consider England at the present time.

"We will worry about that situation if it arises in the summer."

Levy’s comments were generally portrayed as casting doubt on the common assertion that Redknapp to England is a ‘done deal’ – as indeed it probably is not yet – but in reality what he said was nothing new or even unexpected.

For his words constituted no more than a confirmation of Redknapp’s unwavering focus on the task in hand at White Hart Lane, albeit with the rather telling acknowledgment that the Spurs boss’ long-term future may well have to be assessed at the end of the season.

Primarily, Levy’s address aimed to reassure the club’s board, staff and fans that the on-the-field progress evident in Tottenham’s highly promising start to the campaign won’t be derailed by any off-the-field speculation – whether about Redknapp or prized assets Luka Modric and Gareth Bale, who he was also at pains to state will not be leaving in January.

In spite of these latest comments, it remains highly likely that Redknapp will be chosen as Capello’s replacement next summer, and that he will jump at the chance offered.

After all, there is reportedly a real appetite within the FA to ‘go native’ again with their choice after the expense and unpopularity of the stony-faced Italian, and Redknapp is widely considered the outstanding English candidate in terms of style and achievements.

Moreover, the former West Ham boss is, and always has been, fiercely patriotic. Having described the England job on numerous occasions as the "pinnacle" of a domestic manager’s career, it seems almost inconceivable that he would reject the chance to scale new heights.

That said, a man in Redknapp’s current situation would be entitled to have doubts about drinking from one of the most poisonous chalices in football.

Managing the Three Lions has been the making of few Englishmen over the years, and the undoing of many – just ask Graham Taylor, Kevin Keegan or Steve McClaren.

Taking the England job has become the biggest gamble a manager can take, and Redknapp has more to lose than most.

After beginning with relatively humble resources at Bournemouth and enduring 28 long, hard years in the unforgiving world of football management, he is finally in charge of a club capable of competing for top domestic honours on a consistent basis.

For Tottenham, fuelled by the spectacularly productive if not always entirely harmonious partnership of Levy and Redknapp, are most definitely a club on the rise.

The arrivals of Scott Parker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Brad Friedel have added real substance to a squad already among the most stylish in the land, and now a club which last season enjoyed a maiden Champions League campaign is beginning to dream of greater success this term, with Redknapp refusing to rule out a title challenge.

And it’s easy to see why. Spurs currently lie third in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Manchester City with a game in hand. Last Sunday’s defeat away to Stoke ended a run of 11 league matches unbeaten and six consecutive league victories.

More impressive still is the manner in which this form has been achieved. Redknapp’s young and dynamic side have overrun most opponents with pace, guile and relentless attacking intent, gaining legions of neutral admirers in the process.

Spurs’ prospects this season look good and, if Levy’s determination to keep the club’s top stars remains steadfast, their longer term future is even more promising.

Now 64 and with an FA Cup triumph with Portsmouth in 2008 the only top level trophy to his name, Redknapp would be forgiven for wanting to stick around in north London long enough to enjoy the full fruits of his labour.

Such a refusal would be a hammer blow to an FA desperately seeking to regain some credibility after England’s calamitous showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the farcical nature of the failed bid to host the 2018 tournament.

But while the remarkable balance Redknapp appears to have struck between entertainment and results at Spurs is what has put him in pole position to become the next England manager, it also happens to be what may ultimately convince him to pass up the opportunity.

Regardless of his intentions, Harry will be hoping the FA knock on his door next July. Tottenham or England? Whatever the answer, it’s clear there are worse questions in life.

Why Chelsea have to stick with Andre Villas-Boas

Declan Warrington — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 16:41:00 GMT

Amidst Roman Abramovich’s empire there exists a collection of irrefutable truths.

A squad that once boasted unparalleled riches, hunger and potential now reeks of decline and complacency. Like a vintage car trying to relive past glories but forever failing to do so without an entire engine overhaul, Chelsea are in need and Abramovich must face up to the investment and patience that’s required.

That Chelsea have delayed the inevitable for so long highlights the tenacity of their squad leaders. Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba have provided the spine of a side that has consistently been among the best in Europe since 2004, but for no longer can they be relied upon in every game: their ageing bodies simply can't carry their undercontributing team-mates.

In 2009 Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as manager for two specific reasons: he had achieved Champions League success with AC Milan, and he had achieved it with an ageing squad. If the Italian could somehow transfer some of the Milanello methodology to Chelsea's Cobham, he could yet fan the dying embers of a once-great side long enough for one final trophy haul.

Exactly that was done, but it was taken for granted that the feat could be prolonged and Chelsea’s squad – now bereft of the constant commitment of Ricardo Carvalho, as well as assistant manager Ray Wilkins – finally fell into the grave that had long been dug and earmarked: it was time to rebuild, to recover.

With Andre Villas-Boas, as with all club-building managers, comes a new policy – one that cannot simply be adopted overnight. He was the man chosen to be the club’s first long-term manager since Jose Mourinho (who himself lasted little over three seasons), and he should be backed to gradually bring success.

The distinct feeling is that if Abramovich cannot bring himself to persevere with Villas-Boas and give him the time to sculpt his own side, no manager ever will.

The decline of the Chelsea first-team was evident last season, but focus was diverted by Fernando Torres’ impotent finishing. In reality, Chelsea had already embarked on a revealing run before Torres joined and the warning signs were there for all to see. That they weren’t acknowledged is damning on the club’s decision makers alone.

Barcelona’s La Masia is an example that is highlighted as often as it is ignored. Patience is rewarded; success will come.

The benefit of signing replacements prematurely and giving them time to develop is a reliable practice and one that Chelsea haven’t adopted early enough. Demanding instant gratification when replacing Michael Ballack with Ramires provides no guarantee of warding off nostalgia and predictably the irresistible drive Chelsea once had has ground to a complete halt.

A team that is still Mourinho’s lacks the leadership of its master, the power of its prime to revisit those heights. Luiz Felipe Scolari was prevented from developing his own vision before it had even begun (signing Robinho may have made a huge difference), while Avram Grant, Guus Hiddink and even Ancelotti were merely temping in the role.

Abramovich – whose interference has yet to prove profitable after removing Wilkins and signing Andriy Shevchenko, Yuri Zhirkov and Torres – is at an unmistakeable crossroads in his club ownership.

Continuing as he has – making self-indulgent decisions on whims, being intolerant to imperfection – may provide brief triumphs, but he has it within his power to bide his time and encourage Chelsea to finally become a working, fluid model, free of the weight he places upon it.

Villas-Boas is a capable manager. His use of Torres, David Luiz – both of whom will improve – Juan Mata and Daniel Sturridge is a clear sign he is creating a side ready to provide the brand of football Abramovich has craved. A team that has known one thing for so long cannot change overnight, a transitional period is inescapable.

In 2005, Chelsea’s title-winning side scored 72 goals, conceded just 15 and accumulated a record 95 points. In a one-off season they were the best team the Premier League has ever known – ruthless, consistent, unstoppable.

The juxtaposition of that Chelsea being a team of the future against the current, ageing collection is as obvious as it is damaging. The fault lies with Abramovich – too much good work has been undone, too much progress hampered.

Abramovich’s wealth has made an undoubted impact at Chelsea, as Sheikh Mansour’s has at Manchester City. The latter is being rewarded for his patience in what hasn’t been a seamless spell as the former continues to look elsewhere, ignoring the obvious truth that registers to others.

Great things were once predicted of Chelsea, Terry, Drogba and Lampard. Their time is near an end, but Villas-Boas has the authority and ability to look beyond winning next week and to mould another side, one to compete for years.

History shows that Abramovich will by now be unnerved, that he’ll revert to type and to what he knows best. Chelsea will continue to lose ground and, as is commonplace for a club bereft of stability, their identity may follow.

Villas-Boas is a manager with a long-term vision, an outstanding work ethic and a desire to learn and improve beyond the norm. Chelsea’s patience in him will be rewarded, while failure to do so brings nothing.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s uncertain start at Manchester United is now as popular a tale as any in football folklore.

For a very different reason, Abramovich’s impatience could yet become another.

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Bruce left facing an uncertain future after 'inevitable' sacking

Kris Heneage — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 11:50:00 GMT

After two and a half years on Wearside, Steve Bruce’s tenure at Sunderland came to an end last week. Following a home defeat to Wigan nine days ago courtesy of Franco di Santo’s late goal, it’s fair to say his departure was somewhat inevitable.

A crescendo of boos echoed around the Stadium Of Light at full time, the natives were rightly displeased at their side's lackluster performance. The animosity towards Bruce was not an overnight creation, it had been brewing for some time. The calamitous fashion in which three points became one and then none was breaking point for the Sunderland fans.

Malcolm Robinson, Editor of Seventy3 Fanzine believes it was an unfortunate but necessary dismissal. “I did think that it was time to go for Mr Bruce," Robinson said. "Not only were his tactics and motivation not working, luck was also against him. Sometimes I think you have to hold your hands up and admit things were not meant to be.”

Those sentiments were echoed by former Sunderland and Manchester City winger Nicky Summerbee, who these days plies his trade as a pundit. “I do think it was right to get rid of him. I’m not knocking Bruce, but you’re looking at a season where everyone was excited before kicking a ball and it hasn’t worked out. It’s a bit doom and gloom there and something needs to happen. Sometimes when a new manager comes in it kick starts things. It’s not that Steve Bruce is a bad manager, they just needed a change.”

As well as grievances with his tactical approach, Bruce’s transfer policy had also come under scrutiny, despite a modest net spend. His inability to secure a natural left back since arriving in 2009 had been a major gripe with some fans, with his attempts to rectify the issue by shoehorning Phil Bardsley and at times Kieran Richardson into the position doing little to dampen the criticism, despite some solid performances from the latter.

NEWS: Sunderland sack manager Bruce

It should be said, however, that there were positives. A tenth place finish last season - the highlight of which was a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge - was the Black Cats' highest in a decade, while the acquisition of players like Darren Bent, Lorik Cana and Asamoah Gyan proved Sunderland could now attract a better calibre of player than they had done under Roy Keane. Unfortunately, of the aforementioned names only Gyan remains with the club, and whether his current loan deal with Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates will be made permanent is still unclear.

Of more pressing concern though is how and why those players left. Albanian midfielder Cana cited a desire to be close to his family, only to move to Galatasary in Turkey before switching to Lazio this summer. Bent, despite being the focal point of the club's attack, had expressed a wish to relocate six months prior to his eventual January switch to Aston Villa, which leaves only Gyan. Bruce believed the striker had been influenced by those closest to him. After publicly stating he would stay at Sunderland, he departed for the middle east a day later.

Summerbee also believes Bruce has struggled since losing such key players. “He’s lost Gyan, he’s lost Bent, those are big players. To replace someone that scores 20 goals a season can be hard, players like that are worth their weight in gold.”

With three home wins in 2011, Bruce’s time was running out. Having started the season with a draw away to Liverpool, his first test came at home to Newcastle. With the 5-1 result of the previous season still etched in the memory, Bruce had sought revenge ever since. In what was a tighter affair than the Halloween fixture of the previous year, Newcastle still came out on top thanks to a Ryan Taylor freekick.

This time, however, rather than lament a poor performance, the fans vented frustration at Bruce’s selection. With five of his new additions on the bench, including £6 million midfielder Craig Gardner, his resistance to change and persistence with players like Lee Cattermole left many disappointed.

Preferring to let assistant Eric Black take training, Bruce’s approach could best be described as dated. A belief that motivation was the key, his mantra seems fitting to a man much older than Bruce’s fifty years.

Often warm and even quite humorous at press conferences, his post match interviews started to become littered with excuses. Disgruntled members of the club's support even set up a website to highlight how unwilling Bruce was to shoulder the responsibility.

The pressure only intensified when Bruce turned the spotlight onto the fans, citing their lofty expectations as being too grand for a club of Sunderland's size. It seemed a somewhat ironic claim considering he had proliferated the idea himself with talk of pushing for the top eight. One wonders if in hindsight he wished he had kept his thoughts on the matter to himself. With the fans chanting for him to leave and only two wins in thirteen games, it was clear his position had become untenable.

Defiant till the end, Bruce maintained he would not quit, leaving owner Ellis Short with little option but to take matters into his own hands, axing Bruce Wednesday evening and replacing him with Martin O'Neill by Saturday afternoon.

Quite where Bruce goes from here is unclear, his time at Sunderland has done little to enhance his reputation and the speed with which the fans at the Stadium of Light turned on him will do little to convince

In his program notes prior to the Wigan game, Bruce said he should be judged at the end of the season. In the wake of the result he was asked if he thought he would be granted that much time. With a deep intake of breathe and a look that suggested he knew it was unlikely he replied; “I certainly hope so.”

NEWS: Sunderland appoint O'Neill as manager

Evolution Ferguson's ultimate strength in 25 years of greatness

Declan Warrington — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:30:00 GMT

It was once said of England’s rugby World Cup winning coach, Sir Clive Woodward, that he became aware of the impressive job he was doing.

That he and his coaching team began to believe there was little – if anything – they could learn from others.

That they stopped trying to improve, that they simply assumed their methods could not be topped.

Given that it’s universally accepted that Woodward did a superb job when in charge of England, it’s a true mark of the man Sir Alex Ferguson – celebrating an incredible 25 years managing Manchester United – is, given that perhaps his greatest strength is that he continues to learn from the role.

The modus operandi Ferguson has employed over that quarter of a century, under continually changing conditions, to counter a vast variety of opposition and challenges, has been one of steady yet certain evolution and one that reflects the transformation of English and European football during that time.

Ferguson has had unparalleled vision. He has learned from his mistakes, taken gambles when necessary and consistently sought to improve a winning side.

That he has had such a solid grasp upon reality, such concrete control over how a football club should be run and how the sport should be played adds further qualities to his portfolio as the greatest football club manager of all time. Bob Paisley, Brian Clough and others may have argued otherwise, but Ferguson’s longevity – his inexhaustible drive and desire for greater success – truly sets him apart from even those managerial greats.

Before winning his first European Cup he said in his autobiography: “After giving the last of my preparatory team-talks for the 1999 [Champions League] final at lunchtime on the Wednesday, I found myself sitting on the veranda of my hotel room in Sitges, looking out over the sea and wondering if perhaps this was one piece of silver destined to stay forever beyond my reach. If it did, I would still have reason to be satisfied with a career in management that had begun 25 years earlier.”

"Satisfied" at his trophy haul. Not overjoyed, delighted or ecstatic. Mere satisfaction – like not burning one’s toast or catching the early train home. Satisfied with, to that point, 21 major trophies – more if you include the then Charity Shield or European Super Cup – in 25 years, a total many would be thrilled at after a century of management let alone a fraction of that time.

It is this insatiable desire for success, this mentality from which the greatest part of United’s success has stemmed. The winning mentalities of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane are rightly lauded but it was from Ferguson’s that theirs originally grew.

If the greatest challenge to a club as successful as United is to avoid the complacency that comes with such regular triumph, then it can be safely assumed that, for Ferguson, climbing Mount Everest would be akin to an afternoon amble.

One of his greatest – perhaps the greatest – signings of Ferguson’s career was the goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel. Herein, however, was also one of the manager’s greatest challenges – replacing him. Schmeichel was outstanding but, upon his departure in 1999, it took six years for Ferguson to truly replace him in the form of Edwin van der Sar.

Having learned from that previous error, and knowing Van der Sar’s career was coming to a close, Ferguson – if anything, prematurely – sought to replace him. Ben Foster was brought in in the hope was that he’d succeed Van der Sar and that he showed he hadn’t the mentality or temperament to be United’s goalkeeper was ultimately irrelevant. Ferguson, in acting at such speed, still had enough time to prepare another.

An entire season, if not more, was spent monitoring David de Gea, Manuel Neuer and Hugo Lloris – possibly others – before deciding that De Gea was the most suitable replacement.

Similarly – another mistake Ferguson has admitted to was not having a suitable replacement for Jaap Stam when he was sold to Lazio in 2001 – he’s now brought in Phil Jones and Chris Smalling so that they can be the long-term replacements for Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic. Nani, too, was bought a full two years before Cristiano Ronaldo’s eventual departure.

Gone are the days of simply having good back up, such as Henning Berg once being suitable cover for Stam and Ronny Johnsen. Ferguson – as is often overlooked – with Dwight Yorke, Andrew Cole, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham, was the first to truly introduce the rotation policy culture, a mark of extreme prudence and masterful man-management.

The art has been mastered of knowing the right time to sell players and balancing it with a need to keep them to allow others more time to develop. David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy, huge contributors to Ferguson’s success, were considered to be having a detrimental effect upon the team and were sold, for good returns, shortly before they began to decline as players. Neville and Scholes, conversely, were kept as long as possible in order to pass on their wisdom and mentality to the younger members of the squad.

That balance, between keeping a squad fresh and motivated while not overhauling it to the point of inhibiting progress or continuity, has been so finely struck at United it makes the cutlery section at Harrods look like that at a children’s tea party.

In his years at Old Trafford, Ferguson has had to overcome the challenges posed by club politics, fierce managerial competitors, wealthy foreign owners – internally and externally – the age of celebrity players and motivating decorated multi-millionaire modern day footballers.

That he continues to learn, to conquer these challenges and to adapt within the ever-changing nature of the game is one of the many marks of his greatness.

Others come and go, they peak and they threaten. Ferguson’s desire for success – as a teenager, he once didn’t speak to his Dad for several months because of a row stemming from his footballing aspirations – means he alone remains at the very top. As things stand, he’ll stay there for a while longer.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Agbonlahor answers all the questions – including Capello's

Ian Woodcock — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:18:00 GMT

This time last season Gabriel Agbonlahor cut a disconsolate figure at Villa Park. Unwanted and seemingly unrated by the coaching staff, he was close to crossing that indefinable line at which players start being referred to as ‘the former England man’.

Fans and pundits alike were beginning to wonder whether the pacy striker might just be a one-trick pony; many wondered whether he was spending too much time in the gym and not enough on the training field. At 24 he looked like he might be joining a list of Villa strikers including Darius Vassell and Luke Moore in falling away when his best years should still have been ahead of him.

Twelve months is a long time in football and Agbonlahor’s call-up to the England squad for the money spinners/friendlies with Spain and Sweden is the ultimate reward for his blistering start to the season. Five goals and numerous assists make it easy to see why Fabio Capello is keen to take another look at a player who has been wandering in the international wilderness since his third cap in the game against Belarus in October 2009.

It’s pretty simple to see what has brought the transformation about. Villa’s disastrous spell under Gerard Houllier can almost be summed up by looking at the Birmingham-born forward's pitiful stats from last season: five goals from 32 appearances does not make an England striker of anyone (except perhaps Emile Heskey).

The Frenchman publicly questioned Agbonlahor’s work-rate and cast him into an unfamiliar wide role in a team completely lacking direction. In response Agbonlahor stalked the pitch looking off the pace, out of shape and disinterested. Had Houllier’s health not failed him (and assuming owner Randy Lerner would have kept faith with the former Liverpool boss) then there is every chance the youth academy graduate would have been moved on in the summer.

"Get off!"

Incoming manager Alex McLeish has given the striker a fresh start – and a new lease of life. His goal in the first home game of the season against Blackburn showed the Holte End faithful that their favourite son was back and he meant business. Ghosting in off the left wing, he unleashed an unstoppable curling effort beyond a stranded Paul Robinson for a goal he has since called his best yet.

More goals have followed – as, perhaps more impressively, have several assists. His pace and directness has best been felt by strike partner and international colleague Darren Bent: Agbonlahor has assisted four of Bent’s five league goals this season, if you include winning the penalty against West Brom.

McLeish’s appointment is one of the most unpopular in the club’s history but Agbonlahor must feel like he has won the lottery. Where Houllier lambasted, McLeish has had nothing but praise. While he is still often not operating as an out-and-out striker, he is being given far more responsibility – due in part to the departures of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young and the poor form of new signing Charles N’Zogbia – and thus seeing more of the ball than he has ever done, even under Martin O’Neill.

Where then does he fit in for England? Capello, castigated last year for being so rigid in his 4-4-2 formation, has shown a new-found willingness to accommodate new systems – and yet it is in a 4-4-2 where Agbonlahor could flourish for the Three Lions.

"Going anywhere nice this summer?" "Hope not"

With Wayne Rooney out of the first three matches of Euro 2012, Jermain Defoe struggling for game time and Andy Carroll misfiring, the Italian could do worse than look at a Bent-Agbonlahor partnership against the World Cup holders on Saturday. The understanding the two have built up could certainly boost a side with a propensity to play like 11 strangers.

If Agbonlahor can keep up his current form then he is, if not worth a place in the starting XI, then at least a spot on the plane to Poland and Ukraine. His new-found mental toughness and composure set him apart from the potentially brilliant but inexperienced Daniel Sturridge and the equally quick but all too erratic Theo Walcott. Never heralded as the brightest of players, Agbonlahor must surely now realise that his success rests squarely on his own shoulders.

Rejuvenated Cole could yet be the man to fill Capello's Rooney-shaped hole

Liam Twomey — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:03:00 GMT

As Fabio Capello and the Football Association weigh up whether to launch an almost-inevitably futile appeal against Wayne Rooney’s three-match Euro 2012 ban, Joe Cole is trying to prove they need not bother.

Two months, three goals and four assists into his surprise loan spell with French champions Lille, England’s forgotten man is showing signs of getting back to his brilliant best.

Brought to the north of France to help fill the creative void left by the Arsenal-bound Gervinho, Cole’s dazzling combinations with striker Moussa Sow and superstar winger Eden Hazard have helped Rudi Garcia’s side overcome a lacklustre start to the season and get themselves back into the Ligue 1 title hunt.

Moreover, without him, Lille can occasionally look devoid of imagination in attack, even with the classy Hazard. It is perhaps no coincidence that Sunday’s lacklustre goalless draw with Valencienne was achieved with Cole only afforded a 13 minute cameo from the bench.

“So Joe Cole is playing well again,” I hear you say. “Why does that make you think he can fill Wayne Rooney’s considerable boots at Euro 2012?”

With the last three seasons of his career having been ravaged by injury, it is easy to forget just how brilliant Cole’s best was. But it is also worth remembering.

West Ham captain at the tender age of 21, the young playmaker’s prodigious talent secured him a place among the first wave of signings of Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea revolution in 2003.

At Stamford Bridge the boy wonder became a consistently top class performer, playing a starring role in the second of two Premier League titles won under Jose Mourinho.

England also reaped the benefits, as Cole filled the ‘problem position’ on the left flank with assurance and flair. He shone at the World Cup in 2006, scoring one of the goals of the tournament with a sensational 30 yard volley against Sweden.

After that, serious knee problems began to take their toll, and many were quick to write off Cole’s ability to continue at the highest level.

Chelsea lost patience with him last year, and an attempt to quietly rediscover his form at Liverpool was waylaid by overblown hype at his arrival – skipper Steven Gerrard infamously labeled his new teammate ‘better than Messi’ – as well as the turmoil generated by the bitter death throes of the Hicks and Gillett regime.

Included in England’s 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa on the basis of reputation rather than form, Cole made only two anonymous substitute appearances as the Three Lions limped shamefully out of the tournament.

But now, across the Channel and out of the spotlight, Cole finally appears to be finding his feet again.

The jinking runs, impudent flicks, pinpoint passes and eye for goal which once marked him out as the most flamboyantly gifted Englishman of his generation are all returning, along with much needed confidence and fitness.

Of course, Cole’s current purple patch may ultimately prove nothing more than the Indian summer of a career which has been on a downward trajectory for some time now.

Or alternatively, it could herald the beginning of a genuine revival. With Cole still only 29, there remains ample time for this to be the case.

Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: if Cole is still delivering the goods come next May, Capello simply must take him to Poland and Ukraine.

Under a host of different managers over the past decade, England have repeatedly been derided as pedestrian, plodding and, above all, predictable.

While this country has produced a wealth of technically accomplished midfielders in recent times, the much-vaunted ‘golden generation’ has yielded little in the way of flair.

It is for this reason that Wayne Rooney remains, for better or for worse, the outstanding English footballer of his era. He combines exquisite technical skills with the ability to find space when it is in short supply and, most crucially, to create something from nothing.

In his absence, Fabio Capello will need someone else to shoulder the creative burden in the final third. In Cole, the most skillful midfielder England has produced since Paul Gascoigne, he has the perfect man for the job.

His unique brand of anarchic genius could be exactly what the Three Lions need to finally shake off their ‘boring’ tag, as well as being crucial in finding a way through the massed ranks of the organized defences they are likely to face in the group stages of Euro 2012.

First, of course, Cole must ensure he gets Fabio Capello’s attention by continuing to light up Ligue 1. But the man himself has not given up hope of an international recall.

"I miss playing for my country,” he told the Guardian earlier this month. “I was a regular in the squad for 10 years and perhaps took it for granted I would always be there.

"Not having been picked for a year, turning 30 next month and with the young players having come in and done well, you start to wonder, 'Are they still looking at me?'.

"I hope I will be noticed. A lot of people in England questioned why I came over to France and maybe wrote me off. Perhaps they're now thinking I'm not finished after all.”

From the looks of things Cole is far from finished, and it is Lille’s fitness coaches rather than UEFA’s disciplinary panel towards whom Capello should be directing his prayers.

Curly captain Coloccini leading Newcastle to success

Kris Heneage — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:01:00 GMT

According to the old joke on Tyneside, Alan Shearer was so beloved that if you came home to find him in bed with your missus you’d offer him a cup of tea. With Shearer’s retirement in 2006, a vacancy opened in the hearts of Newcastle fans.

It seems that Fabricio Coloccini may have filled that void. Visitors to St James' Park this season have been treated to a verse of the Argentine’s song, a version of the Andy Williams crooner Can't Take My Eyes Off You in which Newcastle fans profess their love for Coloccini and his curly hair, even offering their wives for him to sleep with.

For his part, the Argentine admits to understanding the song even stating that he is flattered by their offer. But it’s worth noting however that his career with Newcastle hasn’t always been so light-hearted.

Signed by Kevin Keegan in August 2008 for just over £10m from Deportivo la Coruña, he made his debut at Old Trafford and a solid performance from player and team left fans optimistic for the year ahead. But within a month Keegan was gone, and by the end of the season Newcastle were relegated.

Daunting debut at Old Trafford

Few Newcastle players came out of that season with any credibility. Consistency was a rarity as the team played under four different managers (Keegan being followed by Chris Hughton, Joe Kinnear and Alan Shearer).

Coloccini wasn’t helped by a smattering of costly mistakes. Struggling with the physicality of the league, he quickly became associated with former calamitous Newcastle defenders like Jean Alain-Boumsong, Marcelinho and David Rozehnal.

Upon Newcastle's relegation, Coloccini headed a list of players expected to leave. Sevilla, Atletico Madrid and clubs in his homeland were credited with an interest, but nothing came to fruition. The second-tier season was the making of the man. As he became more confident and settled in the new style of football, the cultured side to his game shone through.

And when Newcastle established themselves back in the top flight last season, he may not have been the media focus but he was a vital figure. It was no surprise that when Kevin Nolan left for West Ham last summer, Alan Pardew appointed the Argentine as his captain.

Two weeks into the season, Coloccini led the team to Sunderland. Derbies are a tempestuous affair at the best of times, requiring a cool head; the result was fantastic for those in black and white, and their captain came through unscathed despite a nasty challenge by Phil Bardsley.

Newcastle can never quite stay problem-free, and Coloccini’s contract is the elephant in the room. He's a high earner in an age of parsimony, and you wonder if Mike Ashley would be willing to afford him the kind of contract he didn't see fit for the departed Nolan and Joey Barton.

Taking care of business with Steven Taylor

Coloccini's current form deserves a deal fit for a key Premier League player. With Steven Taylor also excellent alongside the captain, Newcastle currently posses the country's sternest defence. Credit must also go to Pardew: by apparently simple concepts like providing his defenders with extra sessions and being meticulous in his methodology, he has quickly enhanced Newcastle’s backline.

Not known for giving interviews, the captain must now do so by proxy. He speaks winningly of his love for Newcastle, and fans are further enamoured to hear that his daughter speaks with a Geordie accent – meaning she isn't always understood by her father.

On the pitch he has European ambitions for Newcastle. What may have seemed to border on fantasy two seasons ago now seems realistic. No wonder the fans are enjoying their curly-haired captain leading from the back.

Momentum could take Adkins and Saints marching back to the top

Guest Writer — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:47:00 GMT

Journalist and Southampton fan Chris Cox explains how Southampton's surprising decision to axe Alan Pardew last August has boosted the Hampshire side...

It has been just over a year since football in the red and white part of Hampshire was turned well and truly on its head, and we’re not talking about Sholing FC’s Southern League Division One South & West play-off final loss to Frome Town.

Having beaten Bristol Rovers 4–0 at the Memorial Stadium, the Italian Stallion knocked out the Wimbledon Warrior. Southampton Chairman Nicola Cortese sacked Manager Alan Pardew in a move that caused a mixture of panic, confusion and shock.

Personally I was a bit miffed as it meant that our entire pre-season’s activity counted for more or less nothing. Pardew had brought in Fraser Richardson, Danny Butterfield, Ryan Dickson and ‘Guly’ do Prado, his own players to put his own stamp on the team.

Not only that, he had established his own backroom team, featuring Dean Wilkins, Wally Downes and Stuart Murdoch - the latter two followed Pardew out of the emergency exit. It made no sense to sack the man after a handful of games into the new season, ripping it up to start all over again. There was no guarantee that his successor would do any different, let alone any better…

The contenders for the post Pardew had vacated ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. I personally was guilty of mentioning that it was either Alan Shearer or the eventual winner Nigel Adkins, though on the plus side I gained a few new followers on Twitter for it. Martin O’Neill was said to be looking at a flat in nearby Winchester (which seems to be part of the vetting process for prospective new Southampton players and managers) and Eddie Howe was apparently interviewed three times.

My own personal choice was Sean O’Driscoll, then of Doncaster Rovers. He’d taken a team of also-rans, taught them how to play good football and put them in the Championship. What do I know though – he wasn’t even mentioned. Anyway, Nigel Adkins was certainly not a universal choice.

How wrong we were though, and what a decision by Nicola Cortese. An exciting brand of passing football was introduced, the talismanic Rickie Lambert returned to form after appearing to have had a bad pre-season and all was looking pretty damn rosy.

The league table spoke for itself and after a season visiting lovely destinations like Huish Park, The Victoria Ground and Spotland, Southampton had averaged more than two points per game. It’s incredible to think Huddersfield, in the full throes of their ongoing Football League unbeaten record, were forced to settle for the play-offs while the Saints marched into second place.

I’m of the belief that had Nigel Adkins been in place from the beginning of the season, Brighton would have had a serious challenge for the League One title. But according to Gus Poyet, we played like Dagenham & Redbridge and the fixture list was rigged in our favour. Never mind eh?

A few weeks ago I stood only a few feet away from Nigel as he conducted his post-match interview after a 4–1 mauling of Birmingham City. I know from a year of watching his work from afar that he wouldn’t be absolutely ecstatic about beating the freshly relegated Carling Cup holders. He was… Himself. Nigel Adkins is the manager that takes a unique approach to football and the rare breed that actually delivers with that unique approach.

He was asked how he felt about his 100th win in football management, or rather he was told about his 100th win in management, his answer to the question was that he was unaware of this achievement. Personally I’d question that statistic, as I assume it doesn’t involve his spells at Renbad Rovers and Bangor City. He then went on to talk about how good the stadium concourse is and how good a job the match day people at St. Mary’s do. Classic Nigel.

But the past 12 months have really been a tale of two men, and not just the endlessly positive and ever so chatty Nigel Adkins. Our chairman, Nicola Cortese, has contributed a lot.

For me personally, it became a matter of trust. Could I really put my faith into someone who had so ruthlessly swung the axe at the man who had won us our first trophy since 1976? The man who had reintroduced the concept of winning away games - and winning them well? The man who when all said and done, was perhaps a big fish in a small pond. A Premier League manager in the bottom half of League One. Almost ashamedly, I started doubting the man that had essentially guaranteed the club a future.

I, like many other Southampton fans, was in a state of shock when our owner, Markus Liebherr, tragically died last year. Well Markus, it looks as if your dream is living on.

Southampton sit top of the Championship, and deservedly so. Expectations for the season ranged from fighting to keep our heads above water due to concerns over our new transfer policy (i.e. keeping quiet about any deals and making sure they’re well thought out) to play-offs at best.

Few believed it was possible to go into this week’s international break and be clear by two points at the top. The real question is, will it last? Well, given the hope I have invested in me from the past year or two’s events, I am inclined to believe it can.

Keep an eye on Saints this month – with West Ham and Middlesbrough, both promotion rivals, among the teams they will face in the coming weeks…

Where next after Worthington for Northern Ireland?

Guest Writer — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:06:00 GMT

With Northern Ireland's qualification campaign ending in embarrassment and acrimony, Nigel Worthington has stepped down as manager. Ralph Hewitt examines the evidence

So Nigel Worthington has finally jumped before he was pushed, calling it a day as Northern Ireland manager. Cue the rumours for the lucky person who will try to lead our wee country to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Former Northern Ireland internationals Jim Magilton and Iain Dowie have already thrown their names into the hat, while former manager Sammy McIlroy claims he would “crawl on hands and knees” to manage his country for a second time. Fellow former boss Lawrie Sanchez didn't even wait for Worthington to walk, having already articulated his desire to return, saying last month that "the writing was on the wall" for the then current boss.

Among the other names to have popped up are Linfield manager David Jeffrey and former Republic of Ireland international Roy Keane. I love rumours.

As for Worthington’s ill-fated tenure as boss, I personally feel he has been hard done by during his time at the helm. Especially with some of the abuse he was getting towards the end by the supposed best fans in the world.

Thank you and goodnight: Worthington leaves the job

OK, I know that we've only won two out of our last 23 international games, but 11 of those have been friendles and we all know how our best players love to pull out of those games. Also, look at the qualifying defeats to Serbia and Estonia: they came down to individual mistakes by players, which was hardly Worthington’s fault.

Young players switching their allegiance to the Republic is killing us. Having come through the Northern Ireland youth teams, Manchester United’s Darron Gibson, Stoke’s Marc Wilson, Everton's Shane Duffy and most recently Sunderland’s James McClean have all switched their allegiance to the Republic.

The unusual ability to switch nations dates back to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. Designed to bring peace to Northern Ireland, the agreement allows those born in the north to choose their sporting allegiance. With FIFA claiming powerlessness due to the agreement's entrenchment in the country's political system, the IFA have taken the issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport – but the problem remains.

In a bid to stop this, Worthington spent an amazing amount of time – especially compared to Lawrie Sanchez – working with the under-age squads. Northern Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong was even appointed the IFA’s elite player mentor to try and stem the flow of players switching to the other side.

We do have the quality, at least in our starting XI, to qualify for a major tournament – or at least do better than finish fifth in the qualifying group. It has to be said that Worthington adopted some very questionable tactics during his time as manager.

Steve Davis is by far Rangers’ best player. Chris Baird, Chris Brunt and Jonny Evans play every week in the English Premier League. Craig Cathcart has a season in the top flight under his belt with Blackpool and Kyle Lafferty is finally starting to look like a half-decent striker. This is a team that is most definitely capable of finishing more than one place above the Faroe Islands.

Is this first XI good enough to qualify?

In all honesty I'd have been happy enough if Worthington had stayed on – and took a massive pay cut. However, once he lost the support of the majority of supporters he was always on a slippery slope. As for the miniscule minority of supporters who made it personal: they need to wise up – he tried his best.

Time to look forward now. Who will take on one of the hardest international posts in the world? And why is it one of the hardest? The expectation by the fans is unfairly huge, the majority of the players he has to choose from aren’t great, the Republic will continue to poach whoever they want and the fact is, it's Northern Ireland.

Dowie, Magilton, Keane, Jeffrey and McIlroy have all been mentioned. I'd have liked the IFA to approach Martin O’Neill, although his wages would probably be way too much and the former Celtic manager quickly indicated he was waiting to get back into club management.

Martin O'Neill was always less likely than Michael O’Neill, the 33-cap international now managing Shamrock Rovers with Magilton as his assistant. That partnership is considered a dream team by many Northern Ireland fans and would certainly be popular among the players but would it work? They have enjoyed moderate success at Shamrock by qualifying for the Europa League; whether they could step up to the international scene as a double act remains to be seen, and it would certainly be a risk by the IFA.

As for Armstrong, he decided he would love to manage his country but only on a part-time basis. To be fair, so would I, especially if I lived in Spain.

Pat Rice and Brian Kerr have been whispered. Rice would certainly have the experience after working at Arsenal for all those years, while Kerr knows all about surprise results, having led the Faroes to a 1-1 draw with, erm, Northern Ireland.

I’ll throw at you some more names mentioned on betting websites: Walter Smith, Paul Ince, Alan Curbishley, Ronnie McFall, Alan McDonald, Brendan Rodgers and David Healy. Have fun picking your way through them.

IFA President Jim Shaw has said that the next manager will be from Northern Ireland but I feel Shaw should appoint the right man for the job, regardless of background.

It's the players who have let us down in the past, either through pull-outs or poor performances. Maik Taylor blasted team-mates who pulled out of the game against Italy: “There is a sense of resentment among the lads who do turn up and put their necks on the line for the country.” If that’s the case, then the new man will have to deal with these players who continually pull out if we are ever to mount a strong qualifying campaign.

As for the young players coming through, it all looks positive. I saw Josh Carson and Ryan McLaughlin play in the Under-19 tournament last week and they were fantastic. And at the highest level, despite losing 3-0 to Italy, the young guys who actually bothered to turn up for the senior squad did well.

The IFA have said they will wait until after December to make their decision on who will take over. A friend asked at the weekend if I thought Nigel Worthington could lead us to Brazil. I replied that I thought not – but I don’t think anyone else can either. Hopefully the new manager will prove a few people wrong.

Needy Tevez can't accept his disposability

Declan Warrington — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 13:41:00 GMT

Some folk can't cope with not being the centre of attention, says Declan Warrington

It has become one of football’s greatest clichés to compare every competent attacking Argentinian to Diego Maradona. In recent years, Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi are just three of those to be cast under the intimidating, looming shadow created by Argentina’s favourite son.

But where the comparison has always been intended as complimentary – an acknowledgement of the skill of the individual concerned, of the passion and purpose involved in playing El Diego’s favourite game – Tevez has evoked memories of Maradona for all the wrong reasons. Where he was once admired for his professionalism, tenacity and industry, he’ll now be remembered for being a petulant, self-centred egomaniac.

The mark of a genuinely class act is to let his feet do the talking, regardless of how unhappy he may be. When Fabio Capello masterminded Roma’s Serie A title triumph in 2001, he regularly used the free-scoring Vincenzo Montella as a substitute who, despite his unhappiness at this and his ability to score with the few chances Capello afforded him, became Roma’s ‘super-sub’ and one of the key components of a side that topped what was then the world’s finest league. Unsurprisingly, he was a fans’ favourite during his time in the Italian capital.

The decline of David Beckham’s relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson became so severe in 2003 that Ferguson overlooked him – perhaps at his peak – and left him on the bench for a Champions League quarter-final clash at home to Real Madrid. At 3-1 down, Ferguson brought on Beckham, who scored twice and inspired a comeback that saw United win 4-3. It wasn’t enough to see United through to the next stage but his point, unquestionably, had been made.

If Tevez really wanted to show Roberto Mancini he deserved a starting place, he would have had 35 minutes against Bayern Munich to have the kind of impact his rival strikers failed to achieve. To apparently refuse to play – and to continue to collect £286,000 a week – is unforgivable.

For a player whose on-field vision rivals that of the very best, his off-field awareness suggests he struggles to see beyond the tip of his nose. His conduct shows a lack of respect for the City fans that idolised him, the owners that so healthily remunerate him, the team-mates whose talent he’s discernibly overlooking and the manager who has given him unjustified patience.

Since replacing Mark Hughes, Roberto Mancini – himself a quality international striker in his day – has overlooked the merits of Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Robinho and Roque Santa Cruz, around £89m worth of talent – to make Tevez the focal point of his side. Such was Mancini’s faith in him, he regularly played a 4-5-1 with Tevez as the lone striker, setting City up to accommodate his talents.

There have been a multitude of times when a manager has overlooked an obviously talented played based on a pre-conception or a personal dislike. When Hector Cuper was Inter Milan’s manager, Ronaldo was so regularly overlooked it was clearly never anything but. When Michael Owen remained on Real Madrid’s bench despite having the best goals-per-minutes ratio in Spain’s La Liga, it was because of concerns about the politics entailed in dropping Raul.

Tevez being benched has no comparison. He’s vying with Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko; two world-class talents and a quality goalscorer (who could yet prove himself world-class). Beside Lionel Messi, if there’s a forward with the right to command instant preference over those, he’s yet to be discovered.

After two transfer requests in six months were rewarded with a pay-rise, expecting Tevez to behave gracefully is the minimum requirement. In reaching the stage where an exit looks inevitable, many players wouldn’t be welcome back. Tevez, after Corinthians’ interest, was.

Such behaviour highlights a clear neediness within the Tevez persona. His need for love and to be the star of the show portrays him as the ultimate prima donna, comparable to the jilted model who’s bitter at being replaced by her younger, fresher rival and unable to see any future for herself.

At his happiest, he was the solitary standout performer, spearheading West Ham’s relegation battle in 2007, a stark contrast to his time at Manchester United, of which Tevez said “I need continuity in selection to be at my best,” and also complained “I know that Ferguson did not respect me as a player.”

Sir Alex Ferguson may decline to publicly admit it, but there’s no doubt he respects Tevez’s ability. The problem is he quite rightly rated the Cristiano Ronaldo-Wayne Rooney-Dimitar Berbatov triumvirate even higher.

Like Maradona, who once said he’d rather join a smaller club he could drive on instead of a team already competing in the upper echelons of the game, Tevez needs specific conditions to be at his best.

A player of the highest quality he may be, but Tevez now comes laced with the baggage of his needs. Nicolas Anelka once wasted what should have been his prime by failing to acknowledge his role within the bigger picture of a team game. A career that could have been spent at Europe’s biggest clubs took several underwhelming turns before finally gaining some focus when the peak of his powers had already passed.

Tevez may or may not have already experienced his prime, but what’s not in doubt is he’s just ended his chances of a fitting dénouement to his time in England.

Not being respected as a player? Not any more, not after that.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter

Quinn continues to drift away from Sunderland fans

Kris Heneage — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:23:00 GMT

Niall Quinn's decision this week to step aside as Sunderland chairman surprised many in the North-East. His association with the club goes back 15 years as player, coach, manager, public face of a takeover consortium and chairman. As Quinn put in his autobiography: "I learned my trade at Arsenal, became a footballer at Manchester City, but Sunderland got under my skin. I love Sunderland."

The feeling has been reciprocal. As half of a lethal strikeforce with Kevin Philips at the turn of the century, Quinn prompted fans to sing about his "Disco Pants". It was with this bond that Quinn became the public face of the mainly Irish Drumaville consortium which, in summer 2006, brokered a deal to take over the club from the 20-year reign of Bob Murray. Cheered from the stands, Quinn was installed as chairman.

He was also appointed as manager for a short and not very sweet spell. Under Quinn's management Sunderland lost their first four league games and a Carling Cup tie at Bury. Quinn vowed to hire a manager and turned to Roy Keane, under whose management Sunderland returned to the top flight in 2007, kept them up in 2008 and beat Newcastle the following season – their first home Tyne-Wear derby win in 28 years.

"Enjoy one of football's true greats": Quinn introduces Keane

By that time, Irish-American businessman Ellis Short had appeared as an investor, initially purchasing 30% of Drumaville's stake. Quiet by nature, Short rarely if ever speaks to the media. However, it is believed that after a mere two months he played a key part in the dismissal of Roy Keane.

By May 2009, Short owned the Black Cats outright but chose to keep Quinn as chairman; after all, removing the popular incumbent wasn't in anyone's best interest. On the pitch, fortunes were mixed: Sunderland now seemed a stable Premier League side, but while some of Keane’s gambles – most notably Kenwyne Jones – had paid off, many had not.

The underlying problem is the wage bill, which required extensive trimming. Quinn’s support of Keane in the transfer market was now costing the club dearly. This didn't stop Steve Bruce, who took over as manager in summer 2009, garnering a similar level of support – presumably on Quinn's advice. At Wigan Bruce had gained a reputation for bargain signings but in his first transfer window Sunderland spent close to £30m on Darren Bent (£10m), Lee Cattermole (£6m), Michael Turner (£4m), Fraizer Campbell (£3.5m) and Lorik Cana (£5m).

Quinn hires Bruce (chequebook not pictured)

As Bruce’s second season began, he looked to diversify his attacking options with the purchase of Asamoah Gyan for £13m. The season started well with draws against Liverpool and Manchester United in their first eight games. With fans wanting to see both Gyan and Bent together, Bruce maintained his stance of allowing his Ghanaian striker time to settle in England slowly.

October 2010 proved to be a difficult month. Before the local derby against Newcastle Sunderland appeared a solid set-up with two draws and a victory. But at St James' Park the home side ran out 5-1 winners against a demoralised Sunderland.

Quinn was quick to apologise to fans; a former derby hero himself, he well knew the importance of the game in the context of North-East football. In a weird turn of events the performance actually appeared to spark the club into life. Come the return fixture in January Sunderland occupied sixth position in the league and had even taken three points from Stamford Bridge – albeit against a somewhat depleted Chelsea side.

Once again, however, Newcastle proved a difficult adversary. They seemed all set to record the double over Sunderland when in the dying seconds a parried shot hit Gyan’s thigh and bounced in. Bruce had saved face.

Yet a mere 24 hours later Darren Bent had submitted a transfer request amidst a reported bid of £18m from Aston Villa. The Midlands club had to raise their bid structure to a potential £24m but eventually got their man. It was a harsh lesson in loyalty for Sunderland fans who had seen Bent express his love for the club.

"And where do you think you're going?"

Bent's sale is also where most pinpoint Sunderland’s descent. They were sixth when he left but a string of poor results – one win from late January to late April – ended the dream of European football. A late rally to finish 10th (notably above Newcastle) gave the fans something to smile about, but it had still been a tough season.

Within a fortnight of selling Bent, Quinn was having PR problems. Using language he later claimed was purposefully chosen to create controversy and reverse falling attendances, Quinn announced that he "despises" fans who stayed away from the Stadium of Light to watch games in pubs showing foreign satellite coverage of the Premier League. It was far from a popular choice of words.

By summer 2011 Bruce’s squad consisted of five loan players, and permanent replacements were sought. First, Jordan Henderson was sold to Liverpool amid a mixed reaction from fans: some believed they had sold off a bright talent, with others feeling he was only worth half Liverpool’s valuation.

Chequebook in hand, Bruce busied himself signing several players including Birmingham's Sebastian Larsson and Craig Gardner, Ipswich's Connor Wickham, Blackpool's David Vaughan and Manchester United defenders Wes Brown and John O’Shea. All the signs seemed positive, especially after an impressive opening-day draw away to Liverpool.

The next fixture was Newcastle at home: Bruce’s third big chance to endear himself to Sunderland fans. Those hopes were shattered when Ryan Taylor’s free-kick looped over Simon Mignolet in the 62nd minute. Meanwhile, Asamoah Gyan's sluggish performances and rumoured desire to leave the club gave Sunderland fans deja-vu: was this Bent all over again?

The end of the English transfer window seemed to quash that speculation, and a week later Steve Bruce assured fans Gyan would stay. Within 48 hours the Ghanaian joined Al-Alin on loan. The striker had clearly engineered his exit and Quinn was quick to highlight the financial benefits of the deal, but this business-first approach seemed a long way from the man who first took over at Sunderland: from much-loved striker to shrewd money-spinner, Quinn had definitely changed.

Short, Quinn and Bruce: How do you solve a problem like Asamoah?

It would seem a curious time for Quinn to step aside. With one win in their first seven league games – not to mention another cup exit to a lower-league club – pressure continues to mount on Steve Bruce. Often seen as the smiling face of Sunderland serving as link between fans and owners, Quinn will now head up the club's international development – predominantly in Asia.

Following the arrival of Ji Dong-Won, the club website is now available in Korean. It's further proof that Sunderland are attempting to establish themselves globally, but Quinn faces a difficult task in an already crowded marketplace. After all, what's the Chinese for "Disco Pants"?

Hunger the key for managers working to a budget

Declan Warrington — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:58:00 GMT

The former Liverpool manager, Graeme Souness, once despaired at the lack of desire shown by signings he had made during his time in charge of the club.

He'd succeeded Kenny Dalglish and gambled on an array of new signings in the hope that they would form the base of the next great Liverpool side. Unfortunately for them – and for Souness – what looked like an inspired managerial appointment turned into a spectacular failure, largely due to the lack of success enjoyed by those signings.

As a man who won numerous league and cup medals during a distinguished playing career, Souness knows a thing or two about desire. But in the day of average journeymen players becoming millionaires and making hunger and desire increasingly rare qualities, the transfer policies of three men show the value of an educated eye.

David Moyes, Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce have mastered the art of steady club building, despite not having budgets in any way comparable to those of the top sides. All three have specialised in securing the signatures of players with a point to prove, and so far this season are yet again being rewarded for doing so.

It's no secret Moyes is one of the Premier League's best; with the pressure constantly mounting at Everton and the ongoing need to slash running costs, it's a superb achievement to even have them in contention for the top 10.

His most recent signing, on-loan Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe, has looked like another exceptional addition to Everton's emaciated squad. Drenthe was once the subject of a transfer tussle between Chelsea, who wanted him in 2007 to replace the outgoing Arjen Robben, and Real.

Yet to make the grade at the Bernabeu, he was sent on loan to Hercules last season where he impressed before rowing with them over unpaid wages. Still not wanted by Mourinho at Madrid, Moyes signed him in the transfer window and it'd be no surprise if this wounded animal proves to be one of the season's best signings.

Tim Howard has been another admirable acquisition for Everton. After making several high profile errors at Manchester United, the assumption was that Howard wasn’t up to the task yet, since 2006, he’s been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in England.

It's an approach that’s worked for Moyes before – with the signings of Louis Saha, Phil Neville, Mikel Arteta and others – and it's one that he's likely to continue to use, regardless of the finances at his disposal.

Pulis, meanwhile, may have greater funds with which to play, but not to the extent of the Premier League's top six and it's a right he's no doubt earned - when he was first given the Stoke City manager's job they looked destined for relegation to what was then Division Two. Now competing in the Europa League, Jermaine Pennant, Matthew Etherington and Jonathan Woodgate are key to his plans.

A classy winger once hailed as David Beckham's successor in the England team and one of the outstanding natural talents of his era, Pennant’s never fulfilled his potential.

Problems on and off the pitch and his failure to make the grade at Arsenal or Liverpool meant Pennant was widely thought to be a negative influence. Pulis saw past that. He gave him a chance and now has one of the most consistent supplies of crosses anywhere in England.

On the opposite wing is Etherington, the self-confessed gambling addict believed to have lost around £1.5m on greyhounds, horses and poker. He arrived from West Ham – where he’d been failing to impress for some time – and slotted straight in to help inspire Stoke’s Premier League survival in 2009.

That he’s once again a respected footballer is no formality: Etherington owes Pulis much. A former team-mate of his at West Ham, Roy Carroll, knows how difficult it can be to get a second chance in this most ruthless of businesses.

“It has pretty much ruined my career, the drink thing. Managers keep bringing it up – drink – and it is so frustrating,” he told the Sun in February. “Since then, whenever something bad has happened or I made a mistake, it has been ‘Roy Carroll has a bad attitude – he drinks and gambles’.”

Pulis, Moyes and Allardyce break this trend. Woodgate is another of Pulis’s signings. Possibly the most talented defender of his generation, his career has been ruined by injury. Where no-one else felt prepared to chance it, Stoke signed him and could now have one of the league’s best defenders at their disposal.

Allardyce achieved such success he took Bolton from Division One into Europe. He invested time and money into reputed rogues such as Nicolas Anelka and El Hadji Diouf, and signed several free agents, all with hunger.

Kevin Davies was a big-money failure at Blackburn and languishing in Southampton’s reserves. Last year, for the first time, he represented England – it was Allardyce that gave him his chance.

Now at West Ham, Allardyce has signed David Bentley and Kevin Nolan, unwanted at Tottenham and Newcastle respectively, and now key components of a side looking destined for promotion.

To be able to identify those with a genuine desire to make an impact from those seeking a final payday is a scarce skill; it’s not nearly as simple a process as finding a player with talent who’s simply deemed to be a risk. For every Kevin Davies or Danny Murphy (a bargain signing for Fulham from Tottenham Hotspur), there’s a Francis Jeffers or a Benni McCarthy, a mercenary content to live off past promise and receive a substantial wage in exchange for a negligible return.

The words of the now notorious Winston Bogarde, once of Chelsea, serve as a warning to those doubting the danger of supposed ‘steals’: “This world is about money, so when you are offered those millions you take them. Few people will ever earn so many. I am one of the few fortunates who do. I may be one of the worst buys in the history of the Premiership, but I don’t care.”

Bogarde’s not the first, and nor will he be the last to adopt such an attitude.

Moyes, Pulis and Allardyce specialise in reviving individuals in the nadir of their careers - those who can seriously contribute to the cause of a team with no room for passengers, those who’d rather play at a reduced fee than sit out a season like Wayne Bridge has decided to do at Manchester City, no doubt consoled by every single one of the 90,000 pounds that boost his bank balance on a weekly basis.

Football will always have underachievers like Bridge, playboys like Jeffers and leeches like Bogarde. Their talents are theirs to waste but a club’s money is not, at least until a short-sighted manager or director of football monumentally misjudges their intensions and, by extension, wages.

Certain clubs have to make the right signings or their progress is halted. Everton, Stoke and West Ham are amongst those – they can’t afford to get it wrong.

Fortunately for them, their managers rarely do.

Follow Declan on Twitter @decwarrington

Newcastle hoping Cabaye can fill Barton void

Guest Writer — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:34:00 GMT

Our man in the North East Kris Heneage thinks the Magpies may already have the man to replace the midfielder-come-philosopher

The King is dead, long live the King’- could be the best idiom to sum up the current mood at Newcastle United.

Since January, the core that is credited with the club's revival has slowly been dissected and then sold off. First it was club captain Kevin Nolan, then Spanish fullback Jose Enrique. Most recently midfielder-come-philosopher Joey Barton departed, meaning it’s all change this season at St James'.

Sitting in the stands at the DW Stadium, Barton had a perfect view of his new Queens Park Rangers teammates and the task that lay ahead. His departure from Newcastle was somewhat protracted if not inevitable. Despite stating his commitment to the cause, his indecision at the move gave connotations he had hoped for more, both from Newcastle and rival Premier League clubs.

After all, last season he was a vital cog in the Newcastle side. Having put his off-field problems behind him, his performances in the early part of August last year had many, including Barton suggesting an international call up.

However in November his dark side reared its ugly head. A jab to the stomach of Morten Gamst Pedersen saw a three game ban and castigation from the media come his way. Any hopes of representing his country were definitively dashed, perhaps with good reason. December saw Chris Hughton relieved of his duties, making it a winter of discontent for Barton.

When he appeared to be at his lowest ebb he rose up to show his quality. Liverpool at home in the wake of Alan Pardew’s appointment had all the hallmarks of an away win and further misery for Newcastle. Instead it stirred the passions in Barton and, with the player for once channeling them in the correct way, Newcastle emerged victorious by three goals to one, with Barton gaining a goal an assist and much of the praise.

Come August however, his time with the club was coming to an end. A warning from those in charge regarding his outspokenness on club affairs was disregarded. Financial penalties were enforced but they did little to stop his ranting, instead only appearing to enhance his desire to share. A player keen on orchestrating the media, he told over 400,000 Twitter ‘followers’ that a 4pm announcement was to be made regarding his future, only for Newcastle to trump him minutes prior with the news that he was free to leave the club.

As speculation mounted over who would offer him a contract first, his agent Willie McKay began fueling the flames of conjecture. Claims of contact from the mysterious sounding ‘continent’, as well as a host of clubs from home, left many wondering if Barton may even tread the rare path of Englishman abroad.

However it quickly became apparent that those deals were unlikely to come to fruition. Thus when QPR made a late move for him it appeared to be not so much an option, but the option.

Unable to play against Wigan, Barton’s first display in a hooped shirt would come against his former employers. Irrespective of what happened in the game, all eyes were on Barton, something you’d imagine he secretly loved. Given the captaincy and most likely reciting Rudyard Kipling's 'If' in the tunnel, he took to the field.

Sadly the game ended goalless, QPR had most if not all the real chances of note, but poor finishing from the likes of Jay Bothroyd and Danny Gabbidon meant Barton would begin his QPR career with a solitary point.

With Leon Best’s shirt hanging from his shorts he applauded the fans he had built up such a recent rapport with. While he may now seem the fallen hero or mop haired martyr, it must be remembered that for three of his four years at Newcastle, Barton really offered little more than court troubles and newspaper scandal. The convoluted story regarding his contract negotiations also make it difficult to truly decipher where the blame lies.

Newcastle as a club though have little time to sit and sulk over the loss of their scouse philosopher. His first goal for QPR Saturday was juxtaposed minutes later with Newcastle conceding away at Aston Villa. They would eventually draw level through Leon Best, of more importance to the fans however is the emergence of a potential new conductor in Black and White.

With his designer stubble and paintbush like technique, it’s hard not to develop a man-crush on Yohan Cabaye. His dipping shot crashed against the bar in the build up to Best’s equalizer and was one of a number of chances that tested former Magpies custodian Shay Given.

Of course, there were high hopes for Cabaye long before the departure of Barton. A recent double winner in France he was perceived as the centre piece of Alan Pardew’s central midfielder alongside the imposing Cheike Tiote. His manager has described him as the type of player who can help the Magpies control games, something that seemed evident at Villa Park. While not all of his performances have been as impressive, his first Tyne & Wear derby proved Cabaye has no qualms about providing the tough tackling that made Barton a useful asset.

With so much of the season to go, numerous things could change. While many will cite that Barton’s departure as a loss (irrespective of Cabaye’s emergence), fans of Newcastle should at least be thankful they have a man in Cabaye who looks ready to be a focal point. Lacking the vocal leadership of Barton perhaps, his more refined approach seems a fair makeweight when you consider how much he tested the Villa goal on Saturday, something Barton struggled to do with consistent regularity.

Cabaye even joined the realms of Twitter, albeit briefly. With no postings about Jean Jaques Rosseau or other political thinkers, he lacks Barton’s philosophical edge, not that fans will care if he manages to notch double figures over the course of the next 12 months.

Was Fernando Torres ever really that great?

Declan Warrington — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:35:00 GMT

“Fernando Torres has never been a great player. Some players are overrated and I don’t think Torres has ever been a great player. That’s just my opinion."
- Lou Macari; September 18, 2011

The former Scotland and Manchester United player was speaking prior to United’s 3-1 victory over Chelsea on Sunday - a game in which the decorated Spanish striker scored a goal of the highest quality before wasting an opportunity that will surely go down as the miss of the season, even at this early stage.

Whether Torres is still capable of being a great player is a question that naturally divides opinion. His move to Chelsea has thus far been a disaster and at times he has looked like a man who believes his career to be in a dystopian condition.

Of greatest concern is that his problems may not be exclusively mental, but physical, too. His troublesome knee has finally robbed him of his predatory pace and mobility and consequently, this once elite striker is destined to play out the rest of his career like the small-hall heavyweight boxer who once challenged for the world title before squandering his fortune on drugs, alcohol and material possessions.

The counter argument is that Torres is simply suffering from a severe crisis of confidence and playing in a team that struggles to give him the service he needs to succeed, a situation in which he is not alone.

The common denominator behind each school of thought is that Torres was once a striker of the very highest calibre, possibly the best in the world.

For Macari to dismiss Torres in such a way is senseless. He displayed all the hallmarks of a man blinded by nostalgia and consequently unable to contemplate the possibility that something or someone from the modern era could even hope to compete with the finest his had to offer. Perhaps Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry – players whose best days are firmly behind them - were never great, either.

Raise the subject of who's 'overrated', and one expects to hear the names Miroslav Klose, Mauro Camoranesi - perhaps Franck Ribery, but not Torres. There are countless players that were simply good, not 'great'. Nicky Butt is in that bracket, as is Gus Poyet, or Kevin Phillips.

There's no shame in rubbing shoulders with such professionals, but it’s always disappointing to see true quality being taken for granted. At a time when England's lack of striking options have seen Jay Bothroyd receive a cap, it's not unreasonable to expect a man working within British football to recognise true quality when it is there for all to see.

To put Macari's poor judgment down to his United loyalty is also far too simplistic and harsh on a man who has praised the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Emlyn Hughes and Graeme Souness in the past. That being the case, it makes his declaration - which was delivered without a hint of uncertainty - all the more mystifying.

In the modern era, Diego Forlan, Hernan Crespo, Mateja Kezman, Andrei Shevchenko and Djibril Cisse have all arrived in England with reputations as some of the most prolific strikers in the world before failing to succeed and departing to rediscover their goalscoring touch.

In three full seasons at Liverpool – none of which were without injury – Torres scored 66 goals in 111 appearances (including 14 as a substitute). He dispelled the argument that Liverpool were a one man team, was one-half of the partnership (along with David Villa) that consigned the Spanish great Raul’s international career to the past and won both European Championship and World Cup winners’ medals.

While Torres predominantly featured as a substitute in the 2010 World Cup, Spain’s incredible strength-in-depth is often overlooked, so for him to have been a key player in Euro 2008 is not to be dismissed. Players of the quality of Pepe Reina and Cesc Fabregas failed to earn regular starts in either competition, while Xabi Alonso and Pedro only managed it in the latter.

That he was lionised by Liverpool's fans is also significant. While they're known for loyally supporting their side, there are few who achieve true 'hero' status at Anfield.

Talents like Michael Owen and Steve McManaman were there for several years without ever truly joining the pantheon of greats that features Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and - at least until he left to join Chelsea - Torres. He spent little over three years at the club but had such an impact that he was deemed to have earned parity with the club's favourite sons.

Where some prolific goalscorers save their best form for weaker sides, Torres produced his finest work when it mattered.

Regularly destroying the ruthless Nemanja Vidic in a way that hasn’t been seen before or since mattered. Scoring the only goal in the Euro 2008 final to end decades of international underachievement mattered. Finding a late winner at Portsmouth to keep Liverpool’s title dream alive mattered, as did the most exquisite and explosive of finishes against Arsenal in a finely balanced Champions League quarter-final.

Every so often a player comes along whose ability is so exceptional that even the most shamelessly partisan judge finds it difficult to discredit him. Regardless of what the future holds, Torres was one of those.

“Fernando Torres has never been a great player. Some players are overrated and I don’t think Torres has ever been a great player. That’s just my opinion.”

Next time, Lou, keep it to yourself.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Don’t scold Mourinho, enjoy him - warts and all

Declan Warrington — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:30:00 GMT

For most, the prospect of international football providing a timely distraction when the world’s disapproving gaze is negatively focused upon your behaviour would be, at the very least, a stroke of good fortune.

The latest cries of dissatisfaction surrounding FIFA’s questionable rankings, the diminishing entertainment supplied by the international game or racist abuse directed at another high-profile player has a way of drawing that very same gaze and reducing the pressure on the individual previously concerned.

And if you were that individual, you’re most likely to be grateful for that intervention and vow to take advantage of it by not repeating the same mistakes. Somehow, it seems highly unlikely Jose Mourinho will do the same.

Real Madrid started the season with an impressive and purposeful 6-0 victory over Real Zaragoza, but focus had remained upon Mourinho’s petulance against Barcelona, when he prodded the eye of Barca coach Tito Vilanova.

Speculation grew that he was set to resign as Real’s manager, that he had lost the backing of the club’s board and that his distasteful conduct warranted severe punishment.

For now he remains at Real but Mourinho’s persona means the chances of him conforming to suit the masses are almost non-existent and it’s unlikely to be long before he sparks yet another controversy.

"Hey Leo, why don't you come over here and have a closer look at my finger...?"

But while there are a myriad of arguments against such behaviour – in fact, if it were Joey Barton doing the same, the demand for justice would be greater still – Mourinho brings substantial entertainment to a sport that claims to provide “the greatest show on earth.”

To let the incident pass without consequence would unquestionably be wrong and set a dangerous precedent, but to hound one of football’s best managers away from one of the world’s biggest clubs and the sport’s most intense rivalry would be equally nonsensical.

Mourinho’s antics – whether immoral or otherwise – rarely go unnoticed because of his stature and the amusement they provide. This is a man who, at different times, had intense rivalries within the English game with Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez. His description of Wenger as a “voyeur” and his accusation that Jacques Santini’s Tottenham had ‘parked the bus’ in front of their goal at Stamford Bridge will not soon be forgotten, while his success in recent years is almost unparalleled.

Elite players such as Michael Owen have been criticised for being boring in the past, while Sven-Goran Eriksson suffered to an even greater extent for seemingly lacking passion. This being the case, is it fair to chastise Mourinho when he is so clearly neither of these things – at what point is satisfaction achieved?

When Mario Balotelli is accused of being disrespectful for attempting to perform what could have been an admirable back-heel in a pre-season friendly, when Frank Lampard’s demotion to the England bench is seen as something to gloat at, when not even Mourinho’s mind games can be enjoyed, has football not come to the stage where it takes itself too seriously?

For all that football is a sport, there are aspects of it that resemble a badly scripted soap opera - yet it is this that has helped it to evolve into the prosperous business it has become.

The hideously titled “WAG culture” that attached itself to the 2006 World Cup marked a low point for the English game, when such distractions provided nothing to the fundamentals of competition on which any sport is built, and for this there is no room.

Mind games, however, whether controversial or predictable in nature, can be justified as a way of attempting to gain a competitive edge. In the eternal quest for sports entertainment, Mourinho’s nerve is there to be admired and appreciated.

Who could hate a man with this good a taste in flowers?

When as entertaining and talented a side as Barcelona threatens to continue to win every domestic and European competition in which it is involved, it’s encouraging for the neutral to know that Mourinho genuinely harbours the ambition of challenging them instead of resorting to the damage limitation tactics that understandably tend to be favoured.

Even for the purist who simply feels grateful to regularly witness Barca’s mesmeric manner, Mourinho’s hunger is to be commended, if for no other reason than the fact that it means Pep Guardiola’s side can’t become complacent and allow their standards to drop.

If being a pantomime villain is truly Mourinho’s greatest crime, it’s about time his critics diverted their attention onto football’s true enemies: greedy, lazy, mercenary players and the corrupt corporation that continues to make a mockery out of the game’s spirit: FIFA.

Mourinho the manager, the winner who forces his closest rivals to raise their standards and attempts to win every competition bar none is a force for the good of the game.

Imagine a world without him, where every press conference is conducted in the monotonous tones of Glenn Roeder, Chris Hutchings, or Howard Wilkinson. Every defeat is accepted with the utmost grace, while refereeing decisions are half-heartedly criticised.

The balance of power at the top remains constant, and success is defined as coming close, not necessarily crossing the finishing line. It’s bland, repetitive, and it’s tedious.

He may be arrogant and curt, and he can be devious, but Mourinho’s one of the best and he doesn’t care who he upsets in his bid for success. It’s time to appreciate him, warts and all.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Why it’s wrong to take pleasure in Lampard’s decline

Declan Warrington — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 11:37:00 GMT

On Friday, hours before England’s 3-0 victory over Bulgaria, one of the English game’s best servants of recent times was dropped from Fabio Capello’s starting line-up.

It was refreshing, to some extent, to be reminded that the Italian doesn’t pick players solely on reputation. It was even a cause for optimism that England appeared to be evolving after a decade or more of rigid, uninspiring football, to briefly hold the belief that there’s more on offer than Frank Lampard, and that something more potent may be about to emerge.

Some of the best managers in the game – Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Capello (albeit not for England) – repeatedly show that there is no room for sentiment in the ruthless pursuit of success.

To see Rio Ferdinand left out of the squad, and for Chris Smalling to play, Gary Cahill to score, and for Phil Jones to also be involved was also promising. Lampard shouldn’t be included unless he earns the right, but it’s difficult to understand exactly why news of him being dropped was met with such glee.

Over the last decade, Lampard has been one of the best English players in the game. For a period of over five years he was a truly world-class midfielder who was crucial to a side that won back-to-back Premier League titles and reached a Champions League final.

The mere fact Lampard was regarded as world-class is a great achievement. Other elite midfielders during this era – Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes, Michael Ballack, Xavi, numerous others – dwarfed his natural talent and appeared destined for the very top the moment they started playing first-team football. Despite looking like a very good player for West Ham, the same can’t be said for Lampard.

Instead he grafted, staying after training and practicing when the others had finished, gradually and steadily improving. He then improved his fitness to a level whereby he came to be considered a box-to-box midfielder and an almost permanent fixture in the Premier League. Lampard once managed 164 consecutive Premier League appearances and, in the 2006-2007 season, played 62 times for Chelsea in all competitions.

The player that had once been overlooked for an England cap in favour of Lee Hendrie by no less a football purist than Glenn Hoddle worked so hard, and improved so much, that he forced Sven-Goran Eriksson to change his formation and switch Paul Scholes to the left wing in order to accommodate him on the eve of Euro 2004.

In an era when others are rightly criticised for wasting their talents and not fulfilling their potential, Lampard’s desire should be admired.

Jermaine Pennant, Wayne Routledge and David Bentley are among those once hailed as key to England’s future, but have all lacked the application or mental strength to reach the top. Lampard has already achieved more than all three ever will.

His critics are right to point out that a midfield partnership with Gerrard failed to ever reach a level close to that which it should have done, and they’re also right to recognise that Lampard played a role in some of England’s biggest disappointments, but it’d be far too simplistic to dismiss him so easily.

Those disappointments – World Cup 2006, the failure to reach Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 – were not solely Lampard’s fault.

Wayne Rooney aside, Lampard was England’s best player at Euro 2004. He was the only member of that star-studded midfield not to tire in the defeat to Portugal and he even scored the equaliser that took the game to penalties when all had seemed lost.

The 2006 and 2010 World Cups failed to see anyone regularly perform to their potential for England, while Steve McClaren’s incompetence was largely to blame for the failure to reach Euro 2008.

Regardless, it’s disappointing that such a dedicated player has been dismissed with such delight. Since 2008, Capello has been criticised for so callously treating David Beckham and Michael Owen, two great England players, and rightly so.

Before that, Alan Shearer and David Seaman were criticised for their contributions to the national team, though both would walk straight into the current side and are rightly highly regarded for their contributions.

The calls for Lampard to be dropped from the England side have, until now, never made sense. The emergence of Jack Wilshere and, with age, the decline of Lampard’s abilities mean it is right that he won’t always make the starting line-up, but his discernible status as a public enemy to England’s fans is unfair and wrong.

There’s a reason why three England managers have selected him so regularly. There’s a reason why Chelsea have so frequently challenged at the very top, and there’s a reason why Lampard has seen off the threats posed to his club position by the illustrious trio of Juan Sebastien Veron, Ballack, and Deco.

The mental strength shown by Lampard to be such a consistent performer, to so memorably return from the death of his mother in 2008, even to score a penalty at the third attempt despite the pressure piled on him in a fixture against West Ham after continually being ordered to re-take it is rare in the modern game, especially amongst English players.

If the hostility towards him stems from the fact that he is vastly overpaid, then the majority of footballers should be receiving the same treatment.

The example set by Lampard on the field and training pitch is unrivaled. He is one of the most decorated English players of the modern era, and he continues to dedicate himself to staying at the top of the game.

Unlike so many others – Emile Heskey, Ben Foster and Wes Brown included – Lampard wants to play for England, and will refuse to take the easy route of international retirement.

He is declining, of that there is no question. But if his time with England is coming to an end, it should be a cause for concern of where his replacement will come from, not a time for schadenfreude.

Twice Jose Mourinho attempted to take Lampard from Chelsea, to both Inter Milan and Real Madrid, and twice his loyalty ensured he remained.

A model professional, a prolific midfielder and a proud international, perhaps Lampard will only be appreciated once he’s gone.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Manchester City's defence could be the undoing of title bid

Declan Warrington — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:48:00 GMT

Legend has it that, upon being appointed Real Madrid’s manager, Carlos Queiroz told his bosses of the negative impact selling Claude Makelele to Chelsea would have on the club.

Queiroz feared that despite having David Beckham, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Raul and Ronaldo to lead his attack, they would struggle without the stability Makelele gave them in midfield.

Regardless, the Frenchman was sold to the Londoners and, rather predictably, Real’s season collapsed, Makelele became a key man for Chelsea, and Queiroz was sacked. It’s a lesson Real had to learn the hard way, even if others continue to ignore the obvious example it set.

Manchester City have started the season with the swagger of a side that believe their time has come to break the Manchester United-Chelsea Premier League duopoly. Deep in the bowels of the Etihad Stadium, there’s an inner conviction that hasn’t existed at the club before, a confidence that suggests City will have the temerity to go to Old Trafford and play without fear, to evolve from pretenders into winners.

If there were any lingering doubts surrounding City’s intentions, Samir Nasri quelled them when he said on his arrival: “I prefer to make history with a club, rather than be just one player among the rest. I spoke with Patrick Vieira at City - they are the club of the future.”

While it’s obvious the prospect of a staggering salary swayed Nasri's mind when it came to joining City, he wouldn’t have said the same thing had he just joined a side battling against relegation. He said it because he, like the rest of the club, believes City are on the cusp of perhaps the most successful era they’ve ever known.

Ambition is to be admired, of course, provided it doesn’t prove to be their downfall in the way that it did with Portsmouth. But - while the belief may be there - for now, at least, City simply don’t have the right balance to mount a sustained title challenge.

Goals win football matches, and City unquestionably have enough of those in their side but, if a last minute equaliser is conceded, or a tight game is lost in its closing stages, all effort up to that point has been futile.

This is a fate that was suffered regularly by the Newcastle United and Liverpool sides of the 1990s. Newcastle, managed by Kevin Keegan, played hugely entertaining football and scored numerous goals with Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Faustino Asprilla, Peter Beardsley and David Ginola spearheading their attack. Their defence, however, was comprised of Philippe Albert and the deplorable Darren Peacock so, as a team unit, they lacked the solidity and strength to win a trophy.

Liverpool, equally, had Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler, Stan Collymore and Jamie Redknapp to rely upon for goals, and they rarely came up short. However, with Phil Babb and Neil Ruddock at the back, they simply failed to keep enough clean sheets to seriously challenge.

All of the great Premier League sides have scored lots of goals, but they had an equally effective defence to rely upon when it really mattered.

The Arsenal ‘invincibles’ team had Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and Gilberto Silva - all at their peak - sitting back every time the rest of the side attacked. Years before, they had Tony Adams, Martin Keown and David Seaman.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea were also a delight to watch – there were fewer greater sights in English football at the time than Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and Eidur Gudjohnsen attacking in tandem, but they did so with the tightest of defences behind them; Petr Cech, Ricardo Carvalho, John Terry and Makelele ensured only 15 goals were conceded from 38 league games in 2004/05.

For Manchester United, there’s been Edwin van der Sar, Peter Schmeichel, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Gary Neville, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and many more.

Even the current Barcelona side – perhaps the greatest ever – have Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Sergio Busquets giving the others a license to attack.

Since becoming the world’s wealthiest team, one of the most painful memories for any City fan will have been the last gasp derby defeat at Old Trafford, when Michael Owen masterfully finished deep into stoppage time to give United a 4-3 win. Now, despite having Edin Dzeko, Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero and Mario Balotelli as their four strikers, the quality of their defence is still questionable and it isn’t inconceivable that a similar scenario could develop.

It’s quite possible to envisage any two of those strikers, supported by any three of David Silva, Samir Nasri, Adam Johnson and Yaya Toure, leaving Owen Hargreaves or Nigel De Jong to protect the back four. De Jong never has been, while Hargreaves is no longer, on a par with a Makelele, Javier Mascherano or Busquets.

With that being the case, Roberto Mancini needs to make sure his back five is exceptional.

Joe Hart shows promise in abundance, but is untested at the highest level. Micah Richards appears to have declined somewhat and there remains no guarantee he will fulfill his unquestionable potential, while Gael Clichy once looked world class at Arsenal but needs to prove that he can reach that level again.

Joleon Lescott never has and never will be a £24 million defender – of all the money City have spent on transfers in recent years, this is perhaps the greatest waste. While Robinho and Emmanuel Adebayor at least had the talent to be elite players - if not the desire - Lescott has neither.

That leaves Vincent Kompany. He’s been superb for City, but he alone isn’t enough – even the imperious Vidic has struggled in the past without Rio Ferdinand alongside him in Manchester United’s back line.

Last season, Blackpool scored enough goals to survive, but their defence was woefully inadequate and now they’re in the Championship. By way of contrast, City didn’t win enough games despite having one of the best selections of offensive players in Europe. Their football simply wasn’t productive enough because their defence needed to be anchored by De Jong, Toure and Gareth Barry, often together

This season, Mancini appears to have encouraged City to be more attack-minded and they’ll be amongst the highest scorers in the league – but unless they can strike the right balance, there’s little point in expecting any more from them.

If attacking options guaranteed success, then Real Madrid’s Galacticos and Sven Goran Eriksson’s Lazio would have won a handful of domestic and European titles. Argentina - with Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria and Diego Milito joining Aguero and Tevez - and not Spain would have won the 2010 World Cup. Each side was infamously talented but equally unbalanced.

There comes a stage in the development of a side when one individual can prove the catalyst for a substantial period of success. Eric Cantona joining United in 1992 was exactly that, as was Mourinho for Chelsea in 2004.

Edgar Davids, upon joining Barcelona on loan in the 2003/2004 season, helped propel the side up the table, give them the necessary balance and then the confidence to become a truly great side thereafter under Frank Riijkard. Ronaldinho was the star man, but few inside the club overlook the impact Davids made during his brief stay in Catalonia.

City are closer than they’ve ever been, but that last step is the hardest to take. There is more than enough creativity in the side, there are enough goals, and there’s also an array of options. But what they lack is something that is becoming an increasingly rare and expensive commodity in the modern game - a genuinely strong core throughout the side.

Few midfields have more flair than City’s, few strikers have more finesse. But they’re missing a player or two to string everything together, to make that transition from a talented collection of individuals into an effective unit and, ultimately, that could make the difference.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Arsenal must continue to trust Wenger, a victim of his own success

Declan Warrington — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:01:00 GMT

There's a banner that regularly appears at the Emirates Stadium.

It reads: "In Arsene we trust".

It's a banner that's emblematic of the respect that exists for one of the world's best managers. An acknowledgement of the transformation of an entire club, of the admiration for the one man responsible for that transformation.

It's a banner that underlines gratitude for an individual who had a vision for a footballing Utopia and who dared to make that vision a reality.

A man who took less than two seasons to turn a stale, underperforming club into Premier League champions, change the culture of English football and thereafter raise the bar for those targeting domestic success.

Since being appointed Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger has succeeded in every conceivable way. That he is now under greater pressure than he has been at any stage of his time at the club is a total travesty.

It seems that Premier League titles, FA Cup wins, European finals, a highly successful transfer policy and the most entertaining brand of football in the country aren't enough to justify patience in a man who is revered around the world as one of the best in the business.

That Wenger has overseen the development of a sensational new stadium, exceptional training facilities, one of the world's best youth systems and is an outstanding nurturer of talent is seemingly irrelevant. That he has rejected the advances of Real Madrid on several occasions, displaying an all too rare loyalty in the modern game and a dedication to his work beyond the norm is being taken for granted.

The cliché is as inevitable as it is appropriate: if ever there was an instance of someone being a victim of their own success, this was it.

Arsenal have just secured qualification for the Champions League again. It’s an achievement that means they’ve now spent over a decade in football’s elite competition, something not even Barcelona can claim to have done. If Roman Abramovich's decision to sack Carlo Ancelotti was callous and unfair, Wenger's current lack of support compares to a life sentence in prison for breaking the speed limit.

Of course, he has flaws - there's not a manager in the game who doesn't. He has yet to develop a side with an impressive disciplinary record and appears to have a blind spot for the central defensive-goalkeeping triumvirate. But even with those weaknesses, Wenger still instinctively knew when to dispense of David Seaman's services and was able to discover two quality central defenders in Thomas Vermaelen and Kolo Toure before making an incredible profit (over £20m) on the latter, a recurring theme under his management.

Cesc Fabregas yielded a profit of over £30 million, Samir Nasri will bring a further £15m. Add that to the fact that Arsenal made over £10m on each of Emmanuel Adebayor, Patrick Vieira and Ashley Cole, while Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka both brought in an extra £20m each, and the occasional underwhelming defensive acquisition suddenly seems excusable.

When Wenger first joined, John Hartson was a typical Arsenal signing. He now couldn't be further away from the type of player expected to sign for a club whose strikers have since included Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robin Van Persie, Jose Antonio Reyes and Eduardo. A reputation for dour football had stayed with Arsenal since the 1980s and Wenger has since succeeded in consigning that reputation to the past.

Perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to Wenger is that whenever the time comes for Sir Alex Ferguson to retire, he’ll be remembered as Ferguson’s greatest rival. The antipathy between the two may have lessened over recent years, but the mutual respect is as strong as ever.

Ferguson’s never been someone to shy away from an argument or to publicly take someone on. Even when he’s lost in the short-term, he’s found a way to eventually come out on top. Since the introduction of the Premier League, Ferguson has seen off Kevin Keegan, Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez – all men regarded, at the time, as serious threats to Ferguson’s hopes of success – Wenger, however, remains.

In fact, the last time a manager was unfairly under a similar amount of pressure was Ferguson back in 2005. By this stage, he’d already won that historic treble and a multitude of other titles and trophies. But due to the strength of Mourinho’s Chelsea side another league title looked highly unlikely and, with United having just been knocked out at the Champions League group stages by Benfica, there was a growing school of thought that Ferguson’s best days were behind him.

Indeed, the general consensus seemed to be that at the end of the 2005/06 season Ferguson should either resign or get the sack as a result of his shortcomings. He was yesterday’s man, had lost his touch and there was little point in clinging onto past glories.

Yet Ferguson remained. And the following season he led United to another league title, beating Mourinho’s expensively assembled Chelsea into second place. That wouldn’t have happened if Ferguson had left the previous summer. Nor would the 2008 league and Champions League double, two more Champions League finals or winning a record breaking 19th league.

In hindsight, the very suggestion that Ferguson wasn’t fit to remain in the job seems like utter lunacy, the ramblings of a mad man. But that then - as is now the case for Wenger - was a shocking reality.

Football never ceases to surprise, but if one thing is predictable it is that those Arsenal fans who currently want Wenger out will eventually regret doing so if it comes to pass.

There is no finer example than that of Charlton Athletic. Their fans had become restless with Alan Curbishley’s management and wanted him to be replaced. It took less than a year for them to suffer relegation from the Premier League following his departure, and they’re now in League One, dreaming of a return to the Championship. Unsurprisingly, the return of Curbishley appeals greatly to the club’s fans, but the damage is done.

It’s difficult to shake the sense of injustice surrounding Wenger’s plight. This is a man who publicly supported both Steve McClaren, when at England, and Benitez at Liverpool when both were under similar strain.

While his magnum opus, the 2003/04 season - when Arsenal went the entire campaign without a solitary league defeat – is now like a distant memory, this alone should justify continued faith in Wenger. One of the world’s best managers doesn’t just lose his touch over night.

If Wenger’s biggest sins are to persevere with a beautiful brand of football, to selflessly manage the club’s budget and to look at the bigger picture instead of mindlessly spending for short-term gain, then a sense of perspective is needed by all.

Wenger can and will deliver – defeating Udinese with an injury-hit squad and the stakes so high proves this. He deserves greater respect for the job he has done and is entitled to even more patience.

Football’s fans and club’s boards are proving increasingly impatient when it comes to demanding results. Let’s hope Arsenal’s know better.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Nasri and Fabregas: Two very different tales

Declan Warrington — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:30:00 GMT

Just as night still follows day and the youth of the nation still feel thoroughly marginalised, it seems many top-level footballers still lack any sense of loyalty or obligation beyond the realms of their own ego-driven, selfish desires.

The general belief around the rumbling transfer sagas at Arsenal this summer is that it is Cesc Fabregas, and not Samir Nasri, who is indebted to Arsene Wenger and should stay put to repay Arsenal's managerial mastermind.

Those who decried the Spaniard’s return to Barcelona assert that the now former Gunners skipper owed Wenger more for plucking him from Barcelona's youth set-up - where he apparently would have eventually festered behind Andres Iniesta and Xavi in the pecking order - and turning him into a world class talent at one of the world's leading clubs.

By way of contrast, Nasri was already a first-team regular at Marseille and, as the heir apparent to Zinedine Zidane's throne as the King of French football, was destined for the very top regardless of which club he played for.

Wenger was unquestionably a significant influence on Fabregas' development, but it would be folly to overlook his natural talent and the fact that he most likely would have succeeded anywhere.

Yes, he would have been, and indeed still is, far from certain to be selected over Iniesta and Xavi, but Barcelona's manager Pep Guardiola has already shown a propensity to promote youth players if they're good enough. Sergio Busquets and Pedro, key to Barcelona's unprecedented trophy haul under Guardiola and members of Spain's triumphant 2010 World Cup team, are testament to this. There is no reason to suggest Fabregas won’t be afforded plenty of game time.

One of Guardiola's biggest concerns is that he is rarely able to rest key men such as Iniesta, Xavi and Lionel Messi, and that they could suffer from burnout as a result. Signing Fabregas helps allay those fears - even Messi could benefit from a rest, should Guardiola decide to use Iniesta as part of a front three and deploy Fabregas in midfield.

This summer's conclusion to one of football's longest-running transfer sagas is the culmination of what has been an incredibly aggressive tug of war. A fee of around £35 million for a player who cost Arsenal a six-figure sum represents a marvelous piece of business for the London club, regardless of the importance of the asset sold.

In an era when many players adopt an unashamedly diva-like, self-indulgent demeanor until their wishes are satisfied, squeezing the last two or three seasons out of Fabregas reflects well, not only on Wenger, but also the player himself.

With that under consideration, it's fair to say that Fabregas has repaid Wenger's faith and vision, something Nasri is still a long way from doing.

Nasri has long been heralded as the successor to Zidane but, despite a considerable reputation and obvious ability, Wenger was the first coach willing to take him to one of European football's major leagues and nurture that raw talent.

After an indifferent first season in London, he has clearly improved as a player, but has yet to dominate an entire game - let alone season - in the way that one would expect of someone drawing comparisons with a phenomenon like Zidane.

Make no mistake, Nasri's goal against Fulham was one of the highlights of the 2010/11 season and showed a delicate technical ability and balance on a par with some of the world's best. But that's as good as it's got for him. At the moment, Nasri's far more Robinho than Zidane, more Ribery than Ballack. He is not - and indeed exhibits no sign of - being the next Zidane.

If he had any sense, he'd stay at Arsenal, become a key player for them and continue to improve under Wenger's tutelage in the same way Patrick Vieira, Theirry Henry and Cesc Fabregas all did before him.

At Manchester City, he'll face the fiercest imaginable competion for a first team berth, with Carlos Tevez, Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli, Adam Johnson, David Silva, Shaun Wright-Phillips and James Milner all likely to be competing for two or three positions.

Beyond the obvious financial benefits of moving to Manchester City, there is realistically little else that can seriously appeal to him. The opportunity to work with Roberto Mancini can surely not match the appeal of working with Wenger, a man universally regarded as one of the game’s elite managers.

Despite their wealth and an FA Cup win, there is no guarantee City are about to embark on some kind of Barcelona-like trophy winning spree. Don't be fooled, this is a player who's had his head turned by the promise of big money.

In leaving Arsenal at the first opportunity presented to him, Nasri will have underlined exactly how he has taken Wenger's support for granted. It seems that a manager who spent big money on him, stuck with him despite his frustrating inconsistency and improved him deserves no loyalty. Unlike Fabregas, Nasri hasn't rewarded Wenger's patience and hasn't attempted to repay him.

Zidane was a big game player, a winner, a model professional and a balletic, elegant individual. For the man supposedly ready to succeed Zizou, these appear elusive qualities.

While Nasri may substantially increase his personal wealth, he’s at serious risk of becoming another expendable commodity in a gargantuan squad of superstars.

Like Zidane, Wenger will go down in the annals of history as a man who had a genuine, lasting impact upon football and who'll forever have a place in the hearts of myriad fans.

Nasri? Just another mercenary who believed his own hype.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington

Pass masters Swansea quietly confident back in the big time

Owain Jones — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:26:00 GMT

Swansea are back in the top flight for the first time in a generation. Owain Jones remembers the last time clearly...

To put into context how long Swansea City have been out of English football’s top flight you have to delve into the annals of history.

When the Swans dismantled Leeds United 5-1 on the opening day of the 1981/82 season, Britain was still basking in warm glow of a Royal Wedding which the nation had taken as welcome relief from the economic and social strife, with violent disturbances on the streets of London and a deep recession that had brought the UK to its knees. OK, so much like 2011, then.

And if history has a way of repeating itself, the portents are positive for the Swans, who finished their inaugural season in the First Division in a highly creditable sixth position.

Back to that opener in 1981. It was viewed through the eyes of a football-mad youngster, a week shy of his eighth birthday. Yep, yours truly.

Recollections are sketchy, but I recall struggling to keep up with fans chattering excitedly on the approach to the Vetch Field and for much of the match sitting on my father’s shoulders. I’m told Swansea-born Jeremy Charles ghosted in to score the opener, ‘Big’ Bob Latchford netted a hat-trick and Alan Curtis finished a glorious day in the sun with a goal of individual brilliance. Most vivid of all, however, was ‘Come on you Swans’ being belted out and reverberating around the Vetch. It was as heady a start to First Division life as any supporters could have dreamt.

Swans fans (including Owain?) see Leeds leathered

For fans from the footballing heartlands of Liverpool, Manchester, the Midlands and London, who understandably took First Division football for granted, they have to remember how little top-quality football fans from South Wales had been exposed to. The closest ground to my Cardiff home was Villa Park, 125 miles away: quite a trek for anyone, let alone a young kid.

So to have the likes of Kevin Keegan, Bryan Robson and Kenny Dalglish travelling to Wales in the flesh and not just adorning Panini stickers in playgrounds all over South Wales was a big deal. And not just for Wales’ second city.

Thirty years on and the Swans are back in the big time. While so much has changed in the intervening three decades – the modern Liberty Stadium has replaced the decaying Vetch, while the copper-trading docks have been replaced with gleaming yachts in the marina – there are striking similarities between Tosh’ Class of ’81 and Rodgers’ Class of 2011.

Toshack’s team rose from Fourth to First Division in four years, while the current crop made it in six. Both sides are heavily unfancied and being merrily written off by sections of the football press.

Despite Swansea's cosmetic makeover, the city will always be viewed as (in Dylan Thomas’ words) an "ugly, lovely town", perennially unfashionable to the Premier League’s billionaires club. Yet you sense that for Rodgers, a down-to-earth, affable Northern Irishman, that tag suits him just fine.

The mood around the city is still disbelieving for fans, still on the crest of the Wembley wave, a fact borne out by more Swansea shirts being sold at 2011/12’s kit launch than during the entire Championship season last year. Speaking to locals, they talk of a ‘buzz’ about the place, and most conversations invariably turn to the Swans before long.

Correspondingly, the word closer to the training ground is that for the manager and players, it’s very much business as usual. While the fans are strapping themselves in for an emotional rollercoaster, the squad are concentrating on the job at hand. After all, focus and determination are the characteristics that catapulted them into the Premier League in the first place.

Their unrivalled passing game is no longer a secret and has been picked up east of the Severn Bridge, where covetous glances have been cast at Swansea’s raison d’etre. Last season’s statistics almost demand a double-take. Passing and possession alone will not guarantee safety, but at 526 passes a game the Swans were nearly 100 ahead of Arsenal’s feted passing game with 428, and light years ahead of Stoke City’s 163.

Their comfort on the ball also saw them average 61% possession, a figure that was matched only by Arsenal in the entire league. On their own turf, you’d be hard pressed to see them changing their style for anybody.

One comparison that needs to be quashed is that Swansea are an identikit of Blackpool last season. They’re not. Swansea are a lot cuter: they finished 10 points higher than the Tangerines in the Championship and play an altogether more sophisticated brand of football.

Certainly the Swans have accepted that squad reinforcements are required, but the reaction has been measured, not hysterical. Brendan Rogers – who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro days after getting promoted – reinforced his ‘always on’ mentality by setting the wheels in motion for Danny Graham's £3.5m signing from Watford just hours after sealing promotion. His attitude has been to get on with it rather than bask in (over?)achievement.

Rodgers' summer transfer dealings have been mixed. It was always going to be a big ask for Euro 2008 winner Marcos Senna to swap Villareal for the Gower, and so it proved because the Swans were unwilling to smash their wage structure for an ageing 35-year-old, even if he was a proven thoroughbred.

There is an economic realism in this part of the country. They know they can’t compete with the Premier League elite, and they’re not going to try. Under chairman Huw Jenkins, they accept they have to crank up wages, but it has to be within pragmatic economic parameters. They already have players who know their jobs intimately and will slot into systems seamlessly; they won't buy players just for the sake of it.

Last August Blackpool panicked and bought five players in three days. However, when last-minute buys failed to live up to expectations, they reverted to the players who’d got them up in the first place, like Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher. Those lessons appear to have been heeded down West.

Swansea have generally bought in the £1m to £3m bracket, picking up the likes of Leroy Lita, stopper Michael Vorm and £2m signing Wayne Routledge. They may yet dip into the market for another winger, as width is integral to how they operate, but it is restrained window-shopping.

Lita gets a pat on the back from the boss

With their opening Premier League fixture against Manchester City just days away, there will be many David and Goliath comparisons. Man City's owners could afford to buy Wales, several times over. On the field, a more pertinent indicator of the wealth gap is that Sergio Aguero’s rumoured £8m annual salary is said to be more than Swansea paid their entire squad last season.

The Swans will have the lowest Premier League wage-bill by a considerable margin. In 2009/10 financial minnows Wolves were bankrolled to the tune of £29m by Steve Morgan, almost double the probable Swans' yearly wage-bill.

Travels to Manchester United and Arsenal will follow City in quick succession, but Rodgers knows visits to Old Trafford and the Emirates are unlikely to yield the points needed to avoid the drop. Early home games against Wigan, Sunderland and West Brom will set the tone for the season as Rodgers attempts to turn the Liberty into a fortress and succeed where teams like Blackpool and Burnley (one season) and Hull (two seasons) have fallen.

Even the most one-eyed of Swansea supporters will be expecting a few painful lessons along the way, but there’s a quiet confidence. Being written off is nothing new. Brendan Rodgers used to joke about the footballing press never making it past Cardiff and his team are happy being underdogs. Dismissing them off-hand would be foolhardy. Blackpool were a breath of fresh air for many reasons, but Swansea will bring a more sophisticated brand of football that should translate better to the top level.

As for playing personnel, expect Ashley Williams to prove himself as a centre-back of Premier League quality, Scott Sinclair to have a point to prove and Dutchman Ferrie Bodde, once fit, to start winning plaudits for his vision and class. Also keep an eye out for homegrown talent Joe Allen, another with the ability and temperament to thrive in the dizzying heights of the Premier League.

One man who knows the Swansea set-up better than most is Media Wales' football correspondent Chris Wathan, who has seen first-hand what Premier League status means to a club which eight years ago couldn't even guarantee survival.

“I was on the open-top bus tour and got a real sense of what promotion means to the city," says Wathan. "I saw an old boy, in his shirt and tie, watching the scenes with tears running down his face. That’s when you realise the magnitude of what they’ve achieved. It won’t hit home until the Swans are on Match of the Day and that novelty will not disappear for a long, long time.”

Barton business smacks of impending catastrophe at Toon

Guest Writer — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:09:00 GMT

Joey Barton is to leave Newcastle United, and Josh Robbins ain't too surprised...

This week’s episode of the Newcastle United soap opera has seen another of their best players pushed out of the club.

After taking to Twitter to air his grievances, Joey Barton has had the embarrassing “£0” price tag put on his head by the already unpopular owner Mike Ashley and managing director Derek Llambias.

The midfielder was in the form of his life last season, playing a key role in steering Newcastle to a mid-table league position and ending the campaign by being named Fans’ Player of the Year.

With 12 months left on his contract, renewal negotiations had repeatedly stalled. Having seen his most talented team-mates sold or linked with other clubs, Barton felt the need on Sunday to tell his Twitter followers how he felt, referring to the club's previous decision to fine Jose Enrique for a tweet accusing the club of lacking ambition.

“If only we could tell the fans exactly how it is, without them above fining us lots of money. There will be a time and a place.

"It wouldn't effect team morale and cause unrest within the dressing room, am certain Jose's comments would be the tip of the iceberg...

"And again it would be left to those magnificent fans to pick up the remnants of their once great football club. #hadenoughofcertainpeople"

The next day, he was told his St James’ Park career was over. But surely his comments are nothing less than you would expect from a man who shows his passion for the club even as he divides opinion amongst football fans?

Barton arrives for solo training on Tuesday

It's clear that he wants to play for Newcastle and a few extra quid would see him influencing many a game in the black-and-white stripes again next season. But this is Newcastle, where they wrote the book on how not to run a football club.

As the midfielder tweeted that he would make a 4pm announcement, the club released a statement saying “Newcastle United can confirm that Joey Barton has been placed on the transfer list today. The player has been advised he can leave on a free transfer.”

Barton responded by tweeting: “Somewhere in those high echelons of NUFC, they have decided, I am persona non grata.

“I am on a free but the honour of wearing those B+W stripes, surpasses that.

“One day the board might realise, what the shirt signifies. HONOUR and PRIDE. Thanks for your continued support……… #toonarmy.”

Once the dust settles, Joey Barton will come out of this stronger than ever. He was clearly committed to the Newcastle cause and his good attitude and great performances have made him a cult hero, with this week’s events doing nothing to tarnish that.

Although he will forever be known as football’s bad boy, his response to the club’s decision suggests he has turned over a new leaf. While there are still signs of the old Barton, such as him punching Morten Gamst Pedersen during a game at Ewood Park last season, he has been making more headlines for his football.

After his stunning second-half performance in the four-goal comeback at home to Arsenal last season – during which his commitment to the cause got Abou Diaby red-carded, saw him score two goals and deliver a teasing free-kick that led to Cheik Tiote’s equaliser – many of the top clubs have been monitoring Barton as they plan to take him to the level he deserves to be at.

And now he should join a team challenging for Europe, who will no longer have to argue over a transfer fee. The big question is where will he go. He has been linked with Everton and Aston Villa, as well as Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester United.

He would be a good signing for the champions as they look to replace Paul Scholes; he has good vision, passing and commitment similar to the United legend. However, he is sure to clash with Ferguson and Rooney, while he may well struggle to be accepted by the fans.

Aston Villa would be a move sideways for him and joining Tottenham would surely limit his first-team chances as he competes with Sandro, Rafael van der Vaart, Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and more for a place.

So that leaves two. Everton are his boyhood team and he played in their academy before moving to Eastlands so it would see his career quite fittingly go full-circle. The Toffees should also be able to afford him now there’s no transfer fee – but it's doubtful that their ambitions would match his, and the consequences of that are all too clear.

On the other hand, a move to the Emirates would see him compete for trophies and fill the hole that has caused Arsene Wenger’s ship to sink season after season. His tough tackling would shore up the midfield, his passing would fit in with the Arsenal ethos and as a free signing even the spendthrift Wenger can hardly complain.

Joey and Jack: potential team-mates

Meanwhile, he will be leaving a club full of problems. Firstly, for a self-made millionaire, Ashley’s decision to let one of his prized assets go for nothing is bad business. While Barton wouldn't fetch a huge fee because he only has a year left on his contract, there was still money to be made by selling him, which worryingly suggests the Cockney’s ego is behind these destructive decisions.

On top of that, Barton’s commitment is hard to replace, but a player will be needed to fill the chasm.

What’s more worrying is the obvious lack of control at St James’ Park. The players seem to disregard the constant warnings to be careful on Twitter. Besides Enrique's critique of the transfer policy, Nile Ranger has attacked the club for not playing him in a pre-season game and now Barton’s numerous, highly public comments signal that players are ruling the roost.

And with all this turmoil before the season has already kicked off, it could be catastrophic come May.

Roberto Mancini: A slow-burning love affair

Mark Booth — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:07:00 GMT

It wasn't love at first sight, but like many a Man City fan Mark Booth is now hopelesly besotted with Bobby Manc...

First impressions only last if reinforced by subsequent behaviour. The friends who endure often make dreadful introductions and slowly whittle away at preconceptions to take their places in the pantheon. So it is, it seems, with football managers.

When Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes at Manchester City, the nature of the appointment – just two hours after a 4-3 win over Sunderland – turned fans’ stomachs. On that very day, 19 December 2009, Mancini was apparently in the stands to witness the final game in an 18-month tenure that looked doomed from the moment Robinho signed on the dotted line.

As is obvious from this notably saga-laden transfer window, no football deal takes two hours to go through, so it’s hardly idle conspiracy to suggest that Mancini had been lined up in advance.

"Ah, Signor Mancini… I've been expecting you"

The Arab owners wanted a more glamorous alternative to the dour Welshman, a man with a winning pedigree who could usher a new power into world football. However, the results were much less immediate than the appointment.

Hughes’ time at Blackburn cemented a reputation for aggressive, results-based football: a British interpretation of catenaccio with rigid banks of four, long balls aimed at a target man intended to hold the ball up to bring the wingers into play behind the opposition full-backs.

At City, under pressure to combine results with attractive football, Hughes terminally compromised his ideals as he was forced to accommodate a luxury player. Robinho's £32.5m arrival had little to do with Hughes, bringing a strangely easy on the eye, but not wholly effective brand of football.

After a strong start to the 2009-2010 season City quickly fell away from the challengers, an inability to close out games from winning positions characterising Hughes’ stewardship. Although City were in sixth place at the time of his departure, they had won just two of their last 11 matches, drawing four others they had led in to drop eight points and three places.

At a club almost synonymous with being in flux, inconsistent performances were blamed on successive seasons of massive recruitment drives. After spending £70m in summer 2008, £50m in January 2009 and another £70m in summer 2009 Hughes was under immense pressure and shortly after the Sunderland game he was sacked – to nobody's great surprise: that morning's papers had all but confirmed the impending axe.

Standing alone: as City beat Sunderland, Hughes awaits the inevitable

Hughes left City in sixth place, well in contention for the promised land of the Champions League, but the itchy trigger fingers of the Arab bank-rollers won out and Mancini was brought in from a self-imposed 18-month break since being sacked by Internazionale in May 2008.

His winning mentality was obvious in his CV: three consecutive Serie A titles with Inter and a string of Coppa Italia victories stretching back to his time at Lazio. Even so, the trophy-starved City faithful were less than enthusiastic, with the common rhetoric being that Hughes deserved more time to finish what he’d started.

Despite having a reputation as a charming, articulate and intelligent man, Mancini has something of the cool, unreadable poker player about him. His press conferences are largely by-the-numbers affairs; he’s not a man for emotional speeches or public meltdowns – he’s a calculator, a plotter. A serious man. His only concession to whimsy is the ever-present sky blue and white scarf.

"Hmm… I'm gonna new a new neck-warmer"

The 2009-2010 season concluded with City a Peter Crouch header away from the Champions League, but they finished in fifth, the minimum improvement on their position at the time of Hughes’ termination.

With Mancini under criticism for his perceived negative approach, the rumour mill began turning – could he be shown the door for failing to deliver Europe’s premier club competition to the City of Manchester Stadium?

As it was, Mancini remained in charge and began work on yet another £100m+ recruitment drive, bringing in Mario Balotelli, David Silva, James Milner, Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure and Aleksander Kolorov. Finally, Mancini was building his own vision of Manchester City and the fans’ icy feelings towards the Italian began to thaw.

If truth be told, City remained inconsistent in the 2010-2011 campaign, just ever so slightly less so than in previous times, and in a league with no one outstanding team. Knives were sharpened externally after a dire 0-0 draw at Arsenal as goal-fattened neutrals voiced disgust at Mancini’s “anti-football”.

Not that the man by now nicknamed “Bobby Manc” by the City fans seemed to notice. He knew that Arsenal away (still months away from League Cup Final meltdown) was one of three matches where he’d bite off your hand for a point. City were under no obligation to entertain the rest of the league; Mancini remembered above all that he would get Champions League qualification or the boot.

Opposites attract: Wenger and Mancini do the honourable thing

But what is a top–four finish with City fans so trophy starved? A stuttering FA Cup campaign, littered with awkward replays against Notts County and Leicester City, was primarily used to give expensive reserves a run-out, only appearing on Mancini’s radar of priorities as his side spluttered to a semi-final date with neighbours United.

A 1-0 win in the Wembley derby booked a final date with Stoke City. This was where something seemed to click: the inconsistency that had dogged City's previous campaigns seemed to evaporate, and they were finally on a roll.

FAN'S EYE VIEW, Thu 21 Apr: Why City should concentrate on the Cup
FAN'S EYE VIEW, Thu 21 Apr: Why City should concentrate on the League

What followed was six weeks that no long-suffering City fan would ever forget, even if it were all to end tomorrow with the Arabs taking their money elsewhere. A few images from those heady weeks are burned into every laser-blue retina.

The first was a vital late Edin Dzeko goal that sealed a 1-0 win at Blackburn. The expensive import was probably spared scrutiny due to a misfiring Fernando Torres but this goal, in context, was worth its weight in gold.

Another was Peter Crouch’s own goal, ironically in exactly the same spot he’d ended City’s Champions League aspirations the previous season.
The final, most enduring one was Yaya Toure steaming in at Wembley, 18 yards out, lashing the ball past a helpless Thomas Sorenson to end the 35-year trophy drought.

Somewhere under there is a goalscorer

Bobby Manc’s name rang out from the stands at Wembley long after the final whistle. For good measure, after a clinical end to the season Mancini even finished joint-second, behind Chelsea on goal difference. A slow burning will-they-won’t-they romance had become a love story.

Still, Mancini’s greatest challenges are yet to come. For the first time City will have to juggle the Premier League and Champions League. Central to those plans will be the potential departure of Carlos Tevez and the procurement of a suitable alternative.

All of this, under the most intense media scrutiny of any Premier League club and with a squad more than capable of spontaneously combusting, means that Mancini’s next 12 months will be nothing if not fascinating. His withdrawal of Mario Balotelli for showboating in a friendly with LA Galaxy shed more light on Mancini's vision. To build a side in his own image. Plotters. Calculators. Serious men.

His status in the club history books and in the hearts of the City faithful is no longer pending approval; it’s now a question of how far he can go. First impressions are a b*tch.

Fabregas, Modric, Tevez and the neverending transfer story

Mark Booth — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:13:00 GMT

There's something rotten this summer that goes right to the top of the nation's media. Something ugly; something that provokes a breed of contempt reserved for only the most reprehensible behaviour; something the world and his squeeze feels it must say something about.

Yes, folks, it’s the Great British summer tradition: the transfer saga. And no, Murdoch, your hands aren’t clean on this one, either.

Ladies and gentlemen, this year's runners and riders...

Weighing in at 11st 8lb, devoted father and the world's itchiest feet, Carlos ‘Wherever I lay my hat’ Tevez.

Next up, kidnapping victim and Spanish (friendly) international, Cesc ‘The Sufferer’ Fabregas.

Then there's a poor little Croatian for whom the prospect of another campaign under Harry “It's not about tactics; it's about players” Redknapp is just too much to bear.

"Enjoying life in London, Carlos?"

Their names' narcoleptic qualities render counting sheep positively archaic. The lullaby? Cliché! Nytol? superfluous. These players’ monikers, repeatedly endlessly in moderately different contexts, are all you need to sleep a thousand sleeps.

Throw Samir Nasri, Alexis Sanchez and Neymar into this unhappy pot and you have your sporting headlines going into August. Aren't we lucky to have such curious and imaginative sports journalists on Fleet Street?

In this summer's latest (admittedly less significant) failure to gauge public interest, the newspapers splash these headlines across the back pages claiming to have some insider knowledge or at least, Heaven forbid, new information.

“FABREGAS’ FUTURE TO BE DECIDED BY TUESDAY,” they scream.

“TEVEZ WILL DEPART FOR JUVENTUS IN £35m/£40m/£50m DEAL,” they cry.

“MODRIC WILL HAND IN WRITTEN TRANSFER REQUEST TODAY,” they wail.

"I prefer Manchester – how about you, Luka?"

Back in June, the Manchester Evening News launched a petition to keep Carlos Tevez at Manchester City. It was greeted with widespread ridicule, primarily from Manchester City supporters of the same mindset: ‘Thanks, Carlos, it’s been great – but you’re more trouble than you’re worth.’

In a survey posted on the same paper's website this weekend, 85 per cent of City fans have stated a preference for another Argentine, Sergio Aguero, to carry the lion's share of City's attacking charge in the next campaign.

Arsenal fans, slightly more grudgingly, have accepted Fabregas' inevitable departure and are already looking to Aaron Ramsey or A. N. Other to fill the void. Is he gone yet? Just tell us when he's gone.

Modric's departure is arguably the only one of the three that looks less than a formality, but with transfers' increasingly clandestine, red tape-ensnared nature, there's clearly nothing to report. When these deals are actually negotiated, Andy Burton and his ilk are, funnily enough, not on the invite list. Garry Cook isn't texting your average hack over Tevez's shoulder as he hugs him goodbye. There are no DMs being sent from Fabregas' anodyne Twitter account to Phil McNulty.

Still, the ink. The tweets. Shots of expressionless footballers driving cars. Photoshopped pictures of players in other team's shirts. And always, always, Sky Sports understands...

"I couldn't possibly comment, Cesc"

These stories become daily sagas as deadlocks are reported as fresh news. To say things progress at the speed of a tortoise would be generous; more, that of a housebound eating machine inching inexorably towards the finish line – a joyless money shot of “This is a dream move” press conferences.

“GOT HIM,” the same papers will bellow, presumably to wake up anybody who is still interested.

So this is my message to those dastardly news-hounds: we love football – truly we do. But we also accept that it stops for a bit. It's OK. Anticipation is one seductive little sausage, and hey, if you must fill the back page with football, you could do it with, y'know, actual football that's happening, like, now.

The Copa America, for example. Argentina got knocked out – Tevez missed a penner. Yeah? No. Corinthians are on the brink of clinching a £39m deal for him – could be sorted by tomorrow, it says here...

And on, and on, and on and Ariston...

Who's the greatest: Keane or Vieira?

Declan Warrington — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:34:00 GMT

With Paddy V swapping boots for suits, both the tussling titans of yesteryear have retired from playing. Rather unfairly, we asked Declan Warrington who would win in a (football) fight...

Mayweather or Pacquiao? McCaw or Carter? Federer or Nadal? The sporting world is littered with comparisons and debates about who is the best in their respective field, who had the best career and, ultimately, who was the defining talent of any given era.

The Premier League is about to enter its 20th season but in all those years no rivalry for supremacy has divided opinion in the same way as that between Arsenal's Patrick Vieira and Manchester United's Roy Keane. Any such discourse is received with greater assimilation given the added benefit of hindsight and, perhaps more significantly, without the issue being clouded by the passions of the present.

However, Vieira’s decision last week to end a glittering career naturally prompts the ideal time with which to revisit this greatest of debates and to finally crown one or the other as the superior talent.

His decision to leave Arsenal in the summer of 2005, followed five months later by Keane’s departure from Manchester United to Celtic, brought a dramatic change in the landscape of the Premier League. Two titans had moved on and, despite some unquestionably superb central midfielders taking their place, there’s been no such rivalry since.

Those who claim Vieira is the more pivotal player could note that Arsenal have failed to win a single trophy since his departure, while United have claimed several in the post-Keane era. But it would be far too simplistic to suggest that that is entirely down to either player’s contribution.

It would be equally disingenuous to boast that Vieira won a World Cup and a European Championship. His international team-mates included Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram and Fabien Barthez; the Republic of Ireland team Keane captained failed to qualify for either of the tournaments France won, perhaps because they featured the likes of Mark Kennedy, Tony Cascarino and Steve Staunton – good professionals, but unlikely world champions.

By the same train of thought, it would be unfair to dismiss Vieira because of his inability to win a Champions League medal. Keane – whilst undoubtedly the team's heartbeat – lined up in a midfield alongside David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs for most of that campaign. Had Vieira replaced Keane, a similar triumph would be perfectly conceivable.

Whomp! Charity Shield, August 1998

There are 10 Premier League title triumphs – and many other medals – between the two. And while the balance of honours sways convincingly in Keane’s favour, it is as individuals that each man is best judged.

Keane and Vieira were unquestionably the most revered box-to-box central midfielders the Premier League has witnessed. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have good reason to object, but Gerrard’s frequent deployment in other roles – with notable success – means he cannot easily be bracketed in that particular position. Lampard, conversely, falls ever so slightly short on true quality.

Between Keane and Vieira, the Frenchman had the physical advantage. He was the more natural athlete: taller (by almost six inches), stronger and faster. On paper, it would have been unfair to ask Keane to compete with him for 90 minutes – but that’s exactly what Sir Alex Ferguson always did and exactly what Keane succeeded in doing.

Keane’s winning mentality, his irresistible desire – akin to a Gladiator in a Roman colosseum, fighting for his life – saw him succeed in even the most unlikely of circumstances. And if there is to be a dividing factor surrounding the two, it is perhaps that which gave him the edge over Vieira as the better footballer.

The Irishman’s finest hour came in Turin, with the Manchester United side he captained two goals down and facing elimination in the 1999 Champions League semi-final. Keane's early yellow card would rule him out of the final even if the team got there.

Lesser men would have shrunk, licked the wounds of their battered pride and accepted the inevitability of defeat. Not Keane. He drove his team on, scoring the first goal in their fightback, and dominated the midfield against Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte, Angelo di Livio and Edgar Davids. Thanks to Keane, United reached the final because, without him, they wouldn’t have done so.

Whack! Premiership, August 1999

Therein lies a crucial difference between the two; where Vieira played an influential role in victories, he was less likely to raise his game (and those of his team-mates) by that extra level in the clutches of defeat. All of the greats have a consistently high level, but there are special players who can occasionally become immortal for the duration of the game, propelling their tired legs and stealing the show like Keane did that night against Juventus, or Gerrard did for Liverpool against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final.

Vieira advocates will say that the Frenchman schooled Gerrard in the 2001 FA Cup Final, but that was a battle Vieira should have won: he was, at that time, the superior player and playing in a superior side, who lost that day against the underdogs.

That Keane suffered a career-threatening cruciate ligament injury in the 1997/98 season underlines what a great player he really was. The likes of Ronaldo and Paul Gascoigne were never quite the same after suffering the same injury, yet Keane had it in him to bounce back and produce possibly his finest ever season immediately after.

Where Vieira’s reliance on his athleticism saw a rather dramatic decline towards the end of his career, Keane remained an important player – first to United, then Celtic – until the day he retired. Vieira has, for some time, been treading water: returning with Juventus in 2006, he was ruthlessly exposed by an 18-year-old Cesc Fabregas.

More recently, he has been behind the likes of Gareth Barry in Manchester City’s pecking order, something that would never have happened to Keane. That’s not to say Vieira wasn’t skilled technically – he was more than just an athlete – just that he didn’t adapt to his ageing body in the same way that Ryan Giggs recently did.

Clong! Premiership, September 2003

Recent Arsenal-United clashes in some ways serve as a microcosm of the Vieira versus Keane debate. United have in many ways been outplayed by Arsenal, yet generally succeed in getting a grip on the game and have enough tenacity and drive to grind out a win. In that same way, Vieira occasionally looked the more cultured player but Keane retained his propensity to find the edge.

It is often overlooked how difficult it could be to play alongside Paul Scholes. A superb player, yet one with a unique style; his best was rarely on display for England and that’s because the chemistry was rarely entirely right for him to perform. Keane found the right balance, and he avoided sacrificing himself in the process. He also had another, equally rare talent: no matter the opposition, no matter the stage and no matter the pressure, he always looked as though he had time on the ball and was peerless in that respect.

Sir Alex Ferguson described him as “a great warrior”, while John Giles said he was “a great footballer, by any standards”. Vieira may have been a quality player, but he didn’t have that extra gear, he didn’t have an overwhelming drive and he didn’t overcome the odds against the very best.

Granted, Keane was surrounded by better players than Vieira was, but it was as an individual that his greatest qualities were underlined. To be widely considered Arsene Wenger’s greatest signing shows how highly Vieira could actually perform. There’s no doubting his class; it’s just that Keane was narrowly better.

An image is firmly set in the mind: that of Keane racing 30-40 yards to dispossess Vieira in another of their titanic tussles. Vieira looks typically composed, spearheading another Arsenal attack, yet Keane manages to summon that inner drive, aggression and energy to lead by example, cover the necessary ground and make an inch-perfect tackle to dispossess his rival.

There could be no more appropriate image. Vieira, every inch the quality player and superior to almost any opponent, just losing out to Keane, the tormented soul and fierce competitor who always found a way to come out on top.

Top-heavy Tottenham heading for trouble

Declan Warrington — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:48:00 GMT

New writer Declan Warrington worries that Harry Redknapp may have set his own bar too high

Beyond any shadow of a doubt, last season was one of the most memorable in Tottenham's recent history.

Not since the fabled days of Ossie Ardiles' 'famous five' have Tottenham played such a swashbuckling brand of football. Not since those days have they featured so many players with so much ability. Not since those days has Tottenham's squad list been the subject of so many envious glances.

Not since those days have Tottenham promised so much, yet potentially been on the verge of a downward spiral of such epic proportions.

Back in 1994, Tottenham's squad featured Jurgen Klinsmann, Nick Barmby, Darren Anderton, Ilie Dumitrescu, Sol Campbell and Teddy Sheringham. Hopes were high, but Ardiles was soon sacked and it took until 1999 – after two further managerial departures and a serious flirtation with relegation – before the club won a trophy.

In reality, it wasn't until Harry Redknapp joined that Tottenham regularly provided anything greater than promise. The wrongfully unheralded Martin Jol suffered when food poisoning crippled a team on the cusp of the Champions League, but while the likes of David Ginola, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and Ledley King have been the envy of others, it wasn't until recently that Spurs have had such a talented collection of players.

For Klinsmann, Barmby, Anderton, Dumitrescu and Sheringham – 1994's Famous Five – read Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Sandro and Ledley King, five individuals fit to grace any current squad outside of the Premier League's top two.

"Yay! What could possibly go wrong?"

If one of the biggest challenges faced by a football club in the modern age is to sign the best players without paying over-inflated transfer fees, then Tottenham have succeeded on several occasions. Sandro, Bale, Modric and Aaron Lennon would unquestionably each command more than double the transfer fees initially paid for them if they were to be sold this summer.

The figures (real outgoings and potential incomings) compare favourably against the transfer dealings of Tottenham’s rivals: Liverpool have paid £55 million for Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll; Manchester City spent, among much else, £42 million on Joleon Lescott and Roque Santa Cruz.

Besides knowing a good player, Redknapp is also a great motivator and extremely bold: few would attempt to play Modric, Lennon, Bale and Van der Vaart in the same midfield. However, his transfer policy is far from spendthrift and Tottenham look set to suffer as a result.

When a manager says “Possibly it's a case where we have to have to sell before we can buy,” it can be safely estimated that his financial clout has been severely weakened. In Redknapp's case, it is by the very thing that kept Spurs strong last season: that strong squad.

STRENGTH IN DEPTH OR WASTED RESOURCES?
In addition to Carlo Cudicini, there are two international goalkeepers in Tottenham’s squad. That’s three top-level goalkeepers and seven international centre-backs: 10 players to cover three positions when Premier League rules state a squad cannot exceed 25 players. Many clubs wouldn’t allow such indulgence in the Champions League; with Tottenham relegated to the Europa League this season, it’s an approach that borders upon lunacy.

Amongst the big earners that aren’t first-team regulars are Robbie Keane, David Bentley, Giovani dos Santos, Wilson Palacios, Niko Kranjcar, Jermaine Jenas and Sebastien Bassong. Six months ago, the likes of Fernando Llorente and Giuseppe Rossi were possible transfer targets; now, neither man is likely to be interested and, given their current value, those seven big earners would all have to be sold to fund such a move.

"'Scuse me lads, some of us have jobs to do"

It would appear that Redknapp is being asked to re-qualify for the Champions League with a weaker squad, a smaller budget, free-spending rivals – and now wantaway players, with Modric seemingly intent on departure. And although Daniel Levy may try to force the Croat to stay, unsettled players frequently get their way.

Javier Mascherano, Fernando Torres, Darren Bent and James Milner are just four players who managed to force through transfers in the last 12 months; Wayne Rooney may not have got a transfer last season, but he got a much-improved contract, Manchester United are a rare case and Sir Alex Ferguson is even rarer. Given that Luka Modric has had his head turned by Chelsea, he’s likely to join them.

Whether or not Bale has the temerity to follow through with his threat to leave if Modric is sold is for now incidental. Modric is Tottenham’s main man and orchestrates their play, as Redknapp himself admits: “Other teams want him but we love him and we are trying to build a team, not tear it to pieces”.

It's almost unthinkable that any replacement – Joe Cole has been linked – will be an improvement and even more unlikely that Spurs will manage a serious challenge for the top four. Those fans who blasted Redknapp after their Champions League quarter-final defeat to Real Madrid could be in for a serious reality check: given the current market, a team no longer spending is a team going backwards.

REGROUP AND REJUVENATE
It takes a truly exceptional player to influence a team to consistently punch above its weight – Steven Gerrard comes to mind, but few others do. Even if Modric and Bale stay, the top four still seems out of reach given the strength of Tottenham’s rivals.

Trying to compete against Manchester City without Sheikh Mansour's money, it would be folly for Spurs to continue to pay players like Bentley and Keane who clearly no longer have a future there.

Tempting though it may be for Redknapp to keep his talented squad together, it’s unquestionably in Tottenham’s best interests to create a younger, cheaper and hungrier squad. That means promoting the likes of Kyle Walker and Danny Rose – players who genuinely want to be involved – and culling those content to collect cash without troubling the first team.

Walker and Rose: The future?

It may be a damning verdict upon the role of money in the Premier League, but sobering as it may be for Tottenham, that means an adjustment in ambition. Even if Levy were to open the purse-strings, it would be unsustainable, with Leeds and Portsmouth among the clubs haunted by the effects of overspending.

Unromantic as it is, within English football success is now defined by the ability to avoid a relegation battle, perhaps a top-10 finish or – for a handful – a sustained challenge for the top six. With the vultures circling and Modric twitching, the emphasis has to be on damage limitation and regrouping.

Last summer, as a Champions League side with (potential) Champions League income and a Champions League squad, Tottenham were thought to be ready for a genuine title challenge. This year, with a top-heavy squad unsupported by the riches of the premier continental competition, Europa League success is a more realistic goal.

Success at White Hart Lane? As Redknapp said at the start of the year, “it’s very hard to compete in the transfer market, wages, or anything else”. Anything else will have to do.

Henderson's Liverpool move good business for all parties

FourFourTwo Team — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:52:00 GMT

As Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson moves closer to a big money transfer to Liverpool, Kris Heneage ponders which party has the best of the deal

Not for the first time, the football clubs of the North East are selling off their prized silver. In the 1980s it was Paul Gascoigne, Chris Waddle, and Peter Beardsley flying the nest. This time around it’s Adam Johnson, Andy Carroll and now Jordan Henderson winging their way towards the North West.

Adam Johnson moved to Manchester City in January 2010 for a reported £8 million. Had he not been in the final year of his Middlesbrough contract, that price may have been somewhere nearer those charged for Henderson & Carroll.

Carroll’s move to Liverpool was arguably the most surprising. Having completed just under six months of his first season as a Premier League regular, and with one England cap to his name, he moved for a record breaking £35 million on the final day of the January transfer window. Given he had played so little top flight football, the move appeared a risky one.

In contrast, Jordan Henderson has established himself in the English top flight over the past two years, playing 70 Premier League matches for the Black Cats in two seasons - almost as many as Carroll and Johnson had mustered between them prior to their big moves. While he may not quite have grabbed as many headlines on and off the pitch, he has been a key player for the Stadium of Light side and will arrive at Anfield with a decent degree of experience under his belt and an England cap - won in a friendly against France last autumn - to his name.

So what will Henderson bring to Liverpool’s midfield should he get the chance? Good passing for one. As recently as Sunday, when England U21’s faced Norway at St Mary's, he impressed with his range of long and short passing, with a delightful chipped pass to Ryan Bertrand helping to create England’s opener. He can also cross the ball, which proved particularly useful on the occasions Steve Bruce deployed him in a wider position on the right of midfield.

Take, for example, Asamoah Gyan’s first goal for the Black Cats away at Wigan back in September. While the Ghanian's finish was superb, the goal was all about Henderson's pin-point cross from deep on the right, over the head of Wigan defender Steve Gohouri and in to the middle of the penalty area.

A solid work ethic and impressive fitness levels mean he does not tire easily, although while he is always willing to 'put in a shift', his inability to tackle has been somewhat of a sore point for many Sunderland fans.

His lack of goals has been a concern for both fans and manager alike. However that criticism can be leveled at his team-mates in the middle of the park just as readily. Four goals in two seasons over fifty appearances is not the form of a World Class midfielder, but that’s not what Liverpool are buying just yet. They are buying potential in the same way they did when they splashed out on Andy Carrol.

After all, Henderson is only 20 years old. Few players are the finished article at such a tender age, and Henderson will need to continue working hard to reach the levels many are touting him for. His decision making at times leaves a lot to be desired, his set pieces are indifferent and he can go missing in games.

In many ways this looks like being good business for both parties. Liverpool gain a gifted and hard-working young midfielder with the potential to develop further and become a key member of their side for a decade to come.

The player himself moves to a club with senior players of a far higher quality, especially in midfield. Henderson will benefit from working closely with the likes of Steven Gerrard, Raul Meireles, and to a lesser extent Lucas Leiva, from whom he can continue to learn his trade as he attempts to maximise his early potential and promise. He'll also be under the tutelage of Kenny Dalglish, who in just six months back in the Anfield dugout has helped several young players find their feet in the Premier League, and will fancy his chances of taking Henderson to the next level.

One would also imagine the move will do his international prospects little harm. Fabio Capello’s claims that Darren Bent’s move to Aston Villa enhanced his England prospects won’t have gone unnoticed by Henderson and his representatives.

From Sunderland's point of view, should the money be spent wisely, this could ultimately prove a very shrewd piece of business from the club. The impending cash injection looks likely to help them add some much needed experience and defensive reinforcements to, what is by Premier League standards quite a small squad, while the loss of Henderson looks likely to be less damaging than January’s sale of Darren Bent. The transfer also goes some way to highlight the impressive work at the Academy Of Light that holds both Henderson and Jack Colback as exciting recent midfield graduates.

So now for Sunderland fans begins the most agonizing part of a good player leaving, waiting to see who will replace him.

Chelsea reach crossroads with Ancelotti sacking

Guest Writer — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:49:00 GMT

Guest writer and Blues supporter Charlie Skillen explains why the dismissal of Carlo Ancelotti leaves Chelsea short of options...

The sacking of Carlo Ancelotti gave further proof, if any were needed, that Chelsea FC is descending into farce. The shabby treatment of a good manager and a good man is unfortunately what we have come to expect.

A manager who presided over the club’s most successful season just 12 months ago has been shown an incredible lack of respect, which came to a head moments after the final whistle at Everton, when Ancelotti was reportedly sacked in the Goodison Park tunnel after a drab final match.

Ancelotti has his faults: my personal gripes are his apparent reluctance to change a game when necessary, and his unwavering support for underperforming big names rather than young talent. However, he is only one of a myriad of reasons why Chelsea have failed to impress this term.

Ray Wilkins’ dismissal irrevocably undermined Ancelotti at a crucial stage in the season, and as Chelsea’s worst run in 15 years stretched out for a further three months, the decision became harder and harder to ignore as a cause. The arrival of Fernando Torres, welcomed at the time, only caused an almighty ‘square peg’ situation for a Chelsea team with a 4-3-3 formation set in stone.

Now, despite finishing in second place when many were tipping them to miss out on a Champions League spot, Ancelotti has been fired and Chelsea seek their seventh manager in the eight years since Roman Abramovich took control of the club.

Absurdly, the winner in this situation is possibly Ancelotti himself. With the media very firmly on his side and his reputation far from tarnished, the Italian should be able to walk into any job in the summer.

Arrivederci, Carlo...

For Chelsea, however, going through managers like Abramovich goes through bottles of champagne is surely not the answer to his ever-changing question of what success entails. The one constant in requirements, it seems, is the Champions League, which was the reason for Ancelotti’s appointment in 2009, having won it twice as a player and twice as a manager.

Chelsea have now exhausted all possible options: the ‘Special One’ (Mourinho), the owner’s buddy (Grant), the fiery international manager (Scolari) and now the Champions League winner. Where to now? Does Abramovich go for the experienced, or the youthful? And exactly how many of the ‘experienced’ category has he already used up, or will be loathe to move to a club under such an owner?

A quick glance over the bookies’ favourites reveals potential problems with each candidate. Guus Hiddink is popular with Chelsea fans, having steadied the ship after Phil Scolari’s disastrous reign came to an end, winning the FA Cup in the process. Yet Hiddink has an undeniably poorer managerial CV than Ancelotti, and his desire to come back into club management after underwhelming spells with Russia and Turkey, whom he still manages, is under question. More likely, it seems, is that Hiddink will return in a Director of Football role, advising a manager.

Marco Van Basten’s agent must be a sharp cookie, as the Dutchman is touted for any top job that comes up – unsurprising given his glittering managerial history of taking Holland to a disappointing Euro 2008 campaign, failing miserably at Ajax the following season, and of course… oh wait, that’s it.

Van Basten: potentially a below-par appointment (sorry)

The curveball option that has been touted is Harry Redknapp. Abramovich reportedly admires the man, who would be the first English manager at Chelsea since Glenn Hoddle. But, with Redknapp currently at London rivals Tottenham and having won one trophy in 347 years of management, as well as reportedly being lined up to succeed Fabio Capello in the England job, would Chelsea fans really welcome him?

Andre Villas-Boas has taken the Portuguese league by storm, and has worked at Chelsea before under his mentor Mourinho. Surely, though, rather than hoping for Mourinho Mk. II, Abramovich might as well break the rather large bank and get, well, Mourinho Mk. I. Villas-Boas is undeniably impressive, but at 33 he is the same age as Lampard and Drogba, who may not respond well to a manager younger than them who also never played professionally.

Therein lies the problem at Chelsea. For his faults, Alex Ferguson has always had great ability at getting rid of players. He knew he could sell the prolific Ruud van Nistelrooy and make his team even better. If this had been at Chelsea, Van Nistelrooy would still be upfront now.

Having the same core of players for such a long period sees them become untouchable. The crux of the matter becomes that it is actually irrelevant who the Chelsea manager is, because the club’s fortunes lie in the form of the never-changing, ever-ageing spine of the team. Lampard, Drogba, Terry, Cech, Anelka, Malouda, Essien – the names roll off the tongue as easily as they did three years ago. While I’m not suggesting for a minute Chelsea get rid of all of these players – Cech and Terry have been the two best performers this season – the squad needs a massive overhaul.

Lampard has a chance now to become Chelsea’s Ryan Giggs, taking a back seat yet adding experience and undeniable prescence and ability to tricky ties where he may be required. As it is, he plays in excess of 50 games a season, and fans grow restless with a man turning up in the midfield every week regardless of form or opposition.

This is true of a number of players. Michael Essien has been a shadow of his former self this season, yet constantly gets picked, despite fans calling out for Ramires or Josh McEachran.

The sale of Drogba would facilitate a new system and more effective integration of a certain Spanish striker. There is no shame in this: the Ivorian is 33 and has been a fantastic player for Chelsea, but life goes on and the club has to move forward. Chelsea fans loved Kerry Dixon, but you won’t find many of them calling for the 49-year-old to spearhead the attack. Until Chelsea start to change the ethos of the club, from the shamless actions of the board to the tired-looking playing staff, the desired success will never arrive.

The big-name players have to be part of a fully functioning squad or sacrificed, and the cliché of the managerial merry-go-round rings true. Chelsea have run out of experienced managers to appoint, and will a young boss really get the time required to build a new team? If he doesn’t win the league in his first season, then the form book says no.

Newcastle hero Solano reignites his love affair with the North East.

Guest Writer — Wed, 18 May 2011 15:26:00 GMT

As the Newcastle favourite prepares to return to the North East, Kristan Heneage looks back on exactly why Nolberto Solano is so popular in the region

When the news broke last week that Nolberto Solano would be spending next season with League One side Hartlepool United, a fair few in the North East will have raised a wry smile.

‘Nobby’, as he is affectionately known, has joined Pools on a one year deal after turning down an extension with Hull City, reigniting his love affair with the North East of England.

Signed in 1998 by Kenny Dalglish from Boca Juniors for £2.5 million, he was one of the most technically gifted players to grace St James’ Park in recent times. Originally wearing the No.24 with his jet black hair combed back, he displayed a lethal aptitude from free-kicks.

His first goal for the club came at home to the artist formerly known as Wimbledon, a neat chest control before volleying through a crowded penalty box. He was one of a host of South American imports to St James’ in the late 90s but he was by far the best. As he began to settle into life in England his performances improved, and he went onto became a vital cog of Sir Bobby’s side of 2001/02 that qualified for the Champions League.

Laurent Robert on the left and Solano on the right provided a fantastic supply line for an aging Alan Shearer. The Peruvian would also chip in with the odd goal, including a fantastic late winner at Elland Road in December 2001. Newcastle had found themselves behind 3-1 early in the second half before a rousing comeback and lung busting late run from Solano sparked a jig of delight from the then 68-year-old Sir Bobby Robson.

But tensions between the keen trumpet player and the man who helped him flourish on Tyneside began to surface when the Peruvian continually insisted on playing for his national side. The long flights and midweek trips took their toll on Solano and Sir Bobby feared for the player’s match fitness.

In January 2004 he was surprisingly sold to Aston Villa for the paltry sum of £1.5 million - a decision many fans still lament to this day. During his spell in the West Midlands Solano clocked up nigh on 50 appearances for Villa. He would win Player of the Season in his one full campaign with the club - 2004/05, topping the club’s scoring charts with nine goals including a memorable acrobatic bicycle kick that sealed a 1-0 win over Tottenham.

A swift return to the Magpies in the summer of 2005 saw Solano welcomed ’home’ with open arms by Newcastle fans as the terrace favourite quickly clicked back into gear. Despite having hit 30 and lost half-a-yard of pace, Solano’s football-brain and technique appeared sharper than ever.

Dropping deeper to occasionally fill in at right back the wise head once managed to nullify a certain Portuguese winger now plying his trade in the white of Madrid, but that would not be the crowning moment of his second spell with Newcastle.

That would come instead late one Saturday evening at home to Everton in 2005. The second of two goals that night summed-up why Boca Juniors teammate Maradona nicknamed him ‘Maestrito’. It was a wet night on Tyneside making the pitch slippery and greasy, so when he received the ball just outside the penalty box his first touch to take him inside the defender was clever.

What happened next was a moment of brilliance. Instead of hitting it with the end of his foot he proceeded to use the outside of his right boot in a technique known as ‘Trivela’. The ball began curling before nestling every so precisely in the bottom corner. As he wheeled away signing the cross on his chest the crowd roared in delight at a moment of magic from a player they had taken to their hearts.

He would end his time at Newcastle the season after but he left with some fantastic memories, including a winner against arch rivals Sunderland from the penalty spot. After leaving Tyneside he moved to West Ham for a season to be closer to his family in London. From there a nomadic period ensued during which he spent time with Larissa in Greece, Universitario in his homeland before returning to England with Leicester City in 2010. He would go onto follow his manager at The Foxes Nigel Pearson to Hull where he managed just under a dozen appearances last term.

His most recent move may seem weird to some but not those who know him. He still owns a house in the North East and is very much enamoured with the people and the area, a feeling that is most definitely mutual with fans of those in Black & White.

The deal at Hartlepool reflects Solano’s advancing years and offers him a player coach role. It means he is unlikely to feature often for the club on the pitch, however if he is able to pass on his experience to team-mates then it could prove to be a fantastic coup for manager Mick Wadsworth and a real trump(et) card.

Why Man City should concentrate on the league

Guest Writer — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:57:00 GMT

It's been a great week for Man City. After 35 trophyless years, they've reached the FA Cup final – and Spurs being held by Arsenal strengthens their chance of finishing in the fourth Champions League slot. But which is more important: winning a cup or reaching the Champions League? MCFCForum.com regular Paul Wheatcroft knows which he'd prefer…

‘Daaa-da-da-da…The Champions!’ Never has a piece of schmaltzy mock-classical music sounded so enticing to a City fan. I want to hear it at a game. I want to have that funny chocolate-football design all over the ground. I want to be sponsored by Continental tyres even though I can never afford to put them on my car. I want six officials and I even want half-time analysis by Souness. Champions League: I can smell it.

Only a handful of games to go. Play our best team in the away games against Bolton, Blackburn and Everton; scuff wins against Spurs and Stoke; try and beat West Ham whilst still leaving them with some dignity – and that’s pretty much that.

There’s only one thing standing in the way: the bl**dy FA Cup Final.

You see, I don’t really care if we win the Cup or not. "Call yourself a City fan?," I hear you say. I’m no prawn sandwich muncher – I’ve been a season ticket holder since the mid-eighties, so I’ve been there most of the 35 years we’ve been trophyless. But the current fuss doesn’t impress me.

Cups are great: ask anyone who witnessed Dennis Tueart’s miraculous overhead kick which dispatched Supermac’s Newcastle in 1976, or the sadly departed Neil Young’s winner against Leicester in 1969. Yes, I get it, winning a cup is a great feat. Especially after 35 years. A cause for local civic pride: roll out the open-top buses, bunting and street parties replete with Watney’s Party 7 and sausages on sticks.

But what are we going to do once we’ve won it – assuming we do? A few T-shirt sellers on Wythenshawe market might make a few quid, but time moves on and by the time the Charity Shield is over, if we’re facing a new season having to go to Dukla Prague in the Preliminary Pre-qualification Round 1 of the Europa League – so what?

You see, whatever they do, Mancini’s current team is never going to emulate the feats of the legendary City team of Lee, Summerbee et al, because that team won other things. Then, the FA Cup wasn’t the Holy Grail it has now become to success-starved City fans; it was just one of several trophies that cemented the reputation of a great football team – a team built over many years, whose legacy and influence were also felt over many years. It’s something – I hate to say – that United fans apply instinctively to their own teams.

It seems to me that for many who support City the Cup is primarily important because it’s the best way we can end the carping of the Stretford End. These are the same people who’d presumably be happy if we went down, as long as we beat United in the same season. Grow up.

What are we going to do after the Cup is won (assuming we do, and remember Stoke have rolled us over many times recently)? Will our rumoured transfer targets – Wilshere, Kaka, Maicon etc – come because we won the FA Cup? No. Will it advance us as a club? No – not if we then go and take our eye off the ball and let Spurs into fourth slot, as we could easily do.

Look at the recent Liverpool game (or should I say debacle): Sky’s view on that was that Mancini had played a weakened team so we would stand a better chance in the Semi-Final. If that defeat made the difference between fourth and fifth I wouldn’t give a toss if the Cup were made of pure gold. We’d have blown our chances of becoming a football powerhouse on a sentimental whim. As Jim Bowen might have put it on 70s game show Bullseye: ‘Roberto: look what you could have won.’

"At least you've got your bus fare home..."

I want to finish fourth in the league and I would hope any right-minded City fans wants to do the same. Let’s build a team like United do – keep our best players and attract new ones on the back of CL qualification. That’s the only way we are ever going to give Fergie a truly meaningful challenge. If we think the world’s top players will sign for us on the back of an FA Cup win, with no meaningful European football, then we are sadly mistaken.

The best thing to come out of the semi-final was that Mancini hit upon a line up that could get us into the Champions League: an attack-minded 4-3-3, or 4-2-3-1 when we don’t have the ball. Now, message to Roberto: stick with a winning team, regardless of whether it’s league or Cup Final. And please, no more playing weakened teams in games we think we can win but end up losing (like Liverpool) – just for the sake of the one-off emotional high of winning the FA Cup. Spurs are breathing down our necks, and Harry’s been eating a lot of garlic recently.

Disagree? So does Mark's fellow City fan Mark Booth. Read his thoughts here...

Why Man City should concentrate on the Cup

Mark Booth — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:52:00 GMT

It's been a great week for Man City. After 35 trophyless years, they've reached the FA Cup final – and Spurs being held by Arsenal strengthens their chance of finishing in the fourth Champions League slot. But which is more important: winning a cup or reaching the Champions League? FFT backroom legend Mark Booth knows which he'd prefer…

Call me an idealist, but no-one in my school playground was recreating goals scored in a fourth-place play-off. Even if that's what the forthcoming Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur game effectively becomes, it's not what football should be about.

Football should be all about semi-final Manchester derby showdowns, about Wembley finals, about trophies as opposed to the Champions League’s economic temptations. Again, maybe it's a romantic notion, but I'd prefer City to actually be champions of something, or at least contenders, before contesting a Champions League match.

I know that not everybody shares my view. Roberto Mancini would probably have accepted defeat to Manchester United at Wembley for a guaranteed Champions League berth in next season's competition. To me, this logic is at best showing an alarming lack of perspective.

City are no strangers to staring enviously over the garden fence at United's recent embarrassment of silverware. The arrival of Sheikh Mansour and his riches looked finally to have redressed the balance and was set to usher in the dawn of a genuine golden age in City's history.

But it's not been as simple as that. Despite sticking closely to the Roman Abramovich model of signing a blend of established Premiership steel and continental flair, City have seen their fair share of off-field trouble bleeding onto the pitch. Some rudderless showings have jeopardised a Champions League spot that seemed in the bag for much of the campaign. Typical City, one might say.

Without being too cynical, the club’s owners are all too aware that there will be a cluster of ageing world superstars keeping half an eye on the Premier League – and particularly the battle between City and Spurs for fourth place. If City were to capture the position, players would find themselves free to take that final payday in north-west England without accusations of greed or lack of ambition.

Would an FA Cup win alone be enough to tempt those players to City? Probably not. Would it do the team any favours to start mixing more big egos into a dressing room already struggling for headspace? Probably not.

City's last Cup win: We didn't make the pic black and white, honest

It had seemed that the FA Cup was little more than an afterthought for City this season, a chance to satisfy the squad's fringe with rare outings to stake their claims for more regular inclusions. Few stepped up to the plate. In truth, City had hobbled to Saturday's semi-final, with replays required against Leicester and League One Notts County as well as an unconvincing 1-0 win over Reading.

Then in the second half of Saturday’s semi-final it was as if something clicked: the trophy-starved energy from City's support seemed to transfer to the pitch and all of a sudden City were a pack of wild sun-baked dogs first to every ball, a faint scent of silverware in collective nostrils.

On more than one occasion Jose Mourinho has referred to Chelsea’s League Cup triumph in 2005 as being the catalyst for his success at the club. City could experience a similar effect should they emerge victorious against Stoke on May 14. City have undoubtedly put together a squad brimming with quality – but with the relatively young average age and the fact that they’ve won nothing together before, that all-important winning mentality is clearly missing.

There’s no doubt that the Champions League experience would be of benefit to this freshly assembled squad – and there’s every chance they could have their cakes and eat them – but too often fourth place seems paramount. Sadly, it seems Mancini would choose the league every time.

The enigmatic Mario Balotelli's late play for headlines couldn't take away from it being very much City's day on Saturday. Forget the opposition, the scenes at the final whistle from the thousands of weary, mangle-savaged Blues in the crowd would have been almost as frenzied given a 1-0 win over Bolton on the same occasion.

Try telling one of those fans on Saturday, in the throes of an unfamiliar euphoria, that finishing as the fourth best team in a league would beat the sight of the indomitable Vincent Kompany lifting that famous old trophy come May.

That said, definitely don't rule out a 1-0 Stoke win from a 93rd-minute Rory Delap throw. Just look out for the wry smile on the face of the first City fan the camera cuts to.

Disagree? So does Mark's fellow City fan Paul Wheatcroft. Read his thoughts here...

Fabio Capello needs to realise that it's not grim up north (east)

Guest Writer — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:01:00 GMT

Proud North East-based England fan Kristan Heneage ponders whether the England manager has something against clubs from the North East...

A recent study showed that Newcastle and Sunderland are the two clubs who have used the highest percentage of English players in the Premier League. Quite an impressive stat, yet a glance at the latest England squad shows not one player permanently registered with either club. Surprising when you consider both of the aforementioned teams find themselves in the top half, are their small percentage of foreigners carrying their respective sides?

Put simply England’s World Cup campaign was a shambles. Even if you put Germany’s demolition of Fabio Capello’s side in the Last 16 to one side, the lack of goals against the likes of Slovenia and Algeria was disgraceful. In recent interviews Fabio Capello has said he wishes he had taken Theo Walcott to South Africa, but what bout Darren Bent?

For a coach who claimed to pick players on form rather than reputation, excluding Bent seemed to be the ultimate contradiction. Twenty four goals yet Heskey and Defoe were both deemed better players.

Yet again the problem rears it’s ugly head. Bent’s admission that Capello had told him moving to Aston Villa has improved his England chances would all but suggest a prejudice towards the North East clubs, given Sunderland are currently five points and league positions better off than Aston Villa.

Joey Barton has regularly talked up his England credentials, and up until this season it was laughable to even consider him. However he has been one of the standout performers for an over-achieving Newcastle side this season. With four goals and six assists to his name, the former Manchester City midfielder has every right to feel aggrieved at not even being considered for inclusion.

After all, in both fixtures against West Ham this season Barton has had the better of Scott Parker - a player currently in the England set-up but who himself struggled for international caps during his time with Newcastle. His cross for Carroll at Upton Park was the kind of delivery another English No. 7 currently playing for LA Galaxy would have been proud of.

And what of Nedum Onouha on loan at Sunderland? You’ll struggle to find a Black Cats fan who doesn’t want to sign the defender permanently from Manchester City. His superb solo-effort against Chelsea has so far been the crowning moment on what has been a good season, yet to Capello Aston Villa’s Kyle Walker was deemed the better choice for last month’s friendly in Denmark after only three Premier League appearances.

That decision could be one he regrets. After all Onouha also qualifies to represent Nigeria and it is reported he is beginning to entertain the idea of committing to the Super Eagles due to the sheer lack of opportunities with the country of his birth.

The need for change in the England side became greater after the tepid home draw with Montenegro. Yet the token selection of Kevin Davies when a fit Andy Carroll was waiting in the wings seemed almost identical to the situation Bent found himself in only months previously.

Known for being stubborn and with his reputation already cemented it almost seems as though Capello doesn’t care. His remark to Darren Bent was just one of several media slip-ups. The Italian didn’t seem prepared for the heavy media intrusion and after his public outburst with photographers in South Africa you wonder if his distain for the press means he almost goes against whatever they suggest.

My issue with Capello’s comments is that, while this may be the first season in a while in which Aston Villa have found themselves behind Sunderland, Bent wasn’t in poor form at The Stadium Of Light, quite the opposite. His career had stalled at Tottenham and the move North reignited his Premier League career after early promise at Charlton.

The notion that Capello picks players on form is becoming less and less believable as each squad is announced. So why say it? It may have appeased fans and the media at the time but ultimately he instantly made a rod for his own back.

Kevin Nolan typifies that situation. The modern lurking, goal-poaching midfielder, his ten goals have helped Newcastle into a mid table position in their first season back in the Premier league - yet still he is not mentioned in the context of an England call-up, not even for friendlies. While international caps shouldn't be handed out to every English professional like a scene from Mike Bassett England anager, the poor performances of late should spark a rethink.

Many have suggested Capello break from tradition by picking a squad of players that best fit his system. After the debacle that was the World Cup demolition by Germany, that ‘system’ required an overhaul similar to the one Germany underwent with the development of young players being the focus.

Yet if you look at Tuesday’s likely line up it seems very little has changed. Glen Johnson still inhabits the right back slot despite being generally considered weak defensively, while the pedestrian Gareth Barry will once again play in midfield despite being over-run by Germany’s counter attacking play last year. At least Scott Parker - a player who has always struggled for international recognition - started against Wales on Saturday.

The inclusion of Ashley Young and Jack Wilshire did bring some positives from the games against Denmark and Wales. However the other new additions, Kyle Walker and David Stockdale, remained on the bench in Copenhagen. The inclusion in training is one thing, but we know what to expect from Joe Hart and Glen Johnson - a mid-season friendly should be used for the blooding of new players like Walker and Stockdale, not a run out for established players.

The Darren Bent saga will have all but vindicated Andy Carroll’s decision to join Liverpool. He also made his international debut in November and most likely would have played in Denmark were it not for injury. He benefits from the fact England lack the target man with his aerial prowess - despite the height of Peter Crouch.

It’s not as if the North East hasn’t produced English internationals. Adam Johnson and Stewart Downing are in the current England squad and going further back the likes of Shearer, Beardsley, Gascoigne and Waddle all made significant contributions to the national team.

In all honesty Capello’s comments display a real naivety and narrow mindedness when approaching his England selection. What he may have perceived as a throw away comment has turned into a damming suggestion that the club you play for will dictate your England chances.

More importantly, what message does that send to young Jordan Henderson? Born and raised in Sunderland, he made his England debut in November against France yet wasn’t selected for the latest squad.

How long before either his agent or the player himself see Bent’s move and believe the same is needed to progress internationally? It was perhaps not a surprise to see Steve Bruce fume at the Italian’s dismissive comments. After all, the Sunderland manager was born in Corbridge, Northumberland and despite a trio of league titles with Man United was never selected to play for his country...

Capello's Catch 22 – and his greatest gift

Mark Booth — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:09:00 GMT

FFT writer Mark Booth criticises Capello's critics – and spies a welcome potential legacy

Fabio Capello’s announcement that he will send out a second-string side against Ghana has been met with yet more criticism for the under-fire Italian. After sending practically all of England’s Champions League contesting players back to their clubs for a break, Capello has once again faced the wrath of the English media and supporters’ groups, though it’s difficult to see why.

Dropping a shoulder and dummying the nonsensical timing of the friendly at the business end of an increasingly hectic club season, perhaps it’s about time Capello gained some credit for showing perspective and common sense in his approach. What more can we learn about Terry, Lampard, Cole, Rooney and even Dawson?

A functional and largely dominant display against Wales on Saturday offered few thrills but some satisfaction for England as international experience and guile won out against a poor Wales side. Much of the criticism has been directed at both Capello and the FA, fans expecting to see England’s first XI in exchange for hefty ticket prices, though it can be argued that this school of thought is missing the point.

In the fall-out from a poor South African campaign with the World Cup's oldest squad, large sections of the nation’s support demanded revolution – out with the tried and tested and in with the new dawn. Capello’s evolution has been characteristically gradual, less a revolution than a slow and steady changing of the guard. Jack Wilshere and Joe Hart are currently the sole symbols of New England, with Adam Johnson, Andy Carroll and Kyle Walker looking to follow.
Capello's critics have gone from demanding the demolition of the so-called “golden generation” to a insisting upon continuity in a meaningless friendly – a sticking with the same players universally deemed not good enough last summer.

Walcott, Cahill and Young: A New England?

It strikes as a little bit Catch-22 for a beleaguered coach facing lazy objection from allcomers. Should England’s priorities whimsically shift away from development of the first team to providing value for money? Should a convincing win over admittedly below-average opposition be forgotten just because the armband has been passed to Gareth Barry, the most experienced remaining member of the squad?

Obviously there's an agenda at hand. In England, as opposed to most other European nations, the fault for underperformance lies all but exclusively at the manager’s door. England underperformed in South Africa and there’s no doubt Capello deserves a portion of blame for for the inflexibility in his setup – for not gambling on more exciting, game-changing players like Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson.

However, few found fault with the man pre-tournament. It’s tempting to claim prior knowledge when hindsight grants you the opportunity to criticise, but the rigid, disciplined approach Capello took in reaching those finals won nothing but praise from all quarters. In England, a pitchfork can be an instrument of real seduction.

Capello has reportedly loosened up a little, allowing the players to play golf to stave off boredom post-training – a luxury not granted during last summer’s ill-fated campaign. I don’t believe the man is “phoning it in”, as the usually faultless James Richardson posited. I believe there is evidence of growth, of a re-evaluation of the man’s ideals and a flexibility in approach to a job he’s perhaps finally getting fully to grips with. Whisper it quietly, but is there even evidence of an improved command of the English language?

Of course, you won’t hear this commented on: it’s off-message.

The Italian’s greatest gift to English football may well be yet to come, though not with silverware. Unless there is an enormous shift in public feeling, the country won’t deck their homes and Ford Fiesta wing mirrors with the crosses of St George proclaiming that “this is our year”, Terry Venables won’t croon “please let my dream come true…” during every advert break for Poland/Ukraine 2012. A tapering back in expectation. Perspective.

That can be no bad thing.

Villa's annus horribilis could yet get much worse

Guest Writer — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:24:00 GMT

Your sympathy, please, for AVFC fan and FFT contributor Ian Woodcock. It's all gone very wrong...

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago fans and pundits alike enthused about Aston Villa’s perceived cavalier approach to modern football. With the leaping Ulsterman Martin O'Neill on the sidelines and overlapping waves of quick wingers, an even quicker centre-forward and a midfield that made the Energizer Bunny look like Dimitar Berbatov after six mugs of Horlicks, the self-appointed ‘pride of Birmingham’ were liked, respected and most importantly feared.

Fast forward 12 months and the picture is about as different as it possibly could be. Villa sit three points off the bottom of the Premier League table with just eight games to play. A crisis club where a spa retreat ends in the club’s two first-choice centre-halves being fined two weeks' wages for a drunken fracas. In a season where the magic survival number is unlikely to be as few as 40 points, a huge question mark now hangs over the club. Could they be going down?

Martin O’Neill’s departure just five days before the start of the season left open wounds that show no apparent signs of healing more than seven months later. His replacement Gerard Houllier is massively unpopular with many fans and, it would seem, players. There have been high profile bust-ups with the likes of Richard Dunne – who has gone from Player Of The Year to total liability, Stephen Warnock – England World Cup squad member now training with the youth team, and John Carew – now on loan at Stoke, from where he is unlikely to return.

The damning chorus of boos that rang out from the Holte End after Saturday’s humiliating home defeat to neighbours Wolves was a reminder of the dark days of David O’Leary’s ‘babies’. Even if Villa do avoid the dreaded drop, many fans will still demand a regime change.

"What the flip is going on?"

While there should still be an abundance of pace in the team, the galloping flair of the last two seasons is gone. Ashley Young, now deployed in a central role, wears the look of a man expecting to move on sooner rather than later: the silence that has fallen over the player's contract negotiations has long been deafening. Although Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton have been nothing if not consistent – indeed Albrighton has had as good a breakthrough season as any Villa academy player in years – their endeavour and crosses have all too often come to nothing.

The fanfare which greeted the arrival of Darren Bent was a mixture of awe and bemusement. Bent was at a club higher in the league (indeed they had just completed the double over Villa) and with a stable manager who had the backing of his club's fans and board. Though many in the game and in the stands expressed horror that a man who offers little outside the penalty area was deemed worthy of a club record £24 million fee, Villa fans were unconcerned: finally, they had the goalscorer they had craved.

Although three goals in eight games is not a disastrous return, it masks the fact that Bent has simply not done enough overall for the team. Little wonder: surely he must be thinking he has made a mistake.

"Where did it all go wrong?"

As for Villa’s other England striker Gabby Agbonlahor, what can be said? The first name on the team sheet under O’Neill has been transformed into a bit-part winger by Houllier. He cuts an exasperated figure playing in a foreign position, frustrated by his own mistakes, fuming at team-mates who no longer trust him with the ball.

Agbonlahor too looks destined for the Villa Park exit door – a door through which James Milner passed in August after a protracted transfer which cost the club not only one of the best players they have had in years but also one of the best managers.

Perhaps it was only the straw that broke the camel’s back, but either way O’Neill was unhappy enough to leave the club in the lurch as the transfer hung in the balance. Milner ultimately left a week later; his intended replacement, Stephen Ireland, was ultimately a complete disaster. Not match-fit, he debuted in the 6-0 away defeat to Newcastle and things only got worse from there. He fell out with the management, the fans fell out with him and in January he was shipped to St James' Park on loan, just to get him out of the way.

"Taxi to Birmingham New Street, please"

Houllier brought in Robert Pires in a desperate bid to add some flair to a lacklustre central midfield. Two good performances against a poor Blackburn Rovers aside, Pires has looked what he is – an ageing creator whose legs can not do what the brain asks of them.

Villa’s destiny will be decided in three games against fellow bottom-dwellers – West Ham and West Brom away and Wigan at home. Seven points should almost be enough to ensure survival.

However, Villa have recorded just two away league wins all season: it's a huge ask to go undefeated. The spectre of relegation is very real and it haunts Villa Park. A return to the second tier of English football for the first time in over 20 years could leave Villa, whose accounts have already begun to look creaky, in financial and footballing oblivion.

It feels like a long time since the days of challenging for the Champions League; the club's next destination looks far more likely to be the Championship.

Ian Woodcock is a freelance journalist for hire, and a steadfast Villan for his sins.

We need marriage counselling

FourFourTwo Team — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 18:57:00 GMT

FourFourTwo's resident Gooner Ben Welch looks ahead to Arsenal’s visit to Villa Park on Saturday....

This week has left me questioning why I do it to myself. I feel like I’ve been going through a rough patch with a girlfriend and I’m questioning the relationship.

Emotionally drained, saddened with how things have turned out and tempted by something new and exciting I want to part company with my long term commitment.

My head is telling me it’s time to cut my ties and move on, but my heart and deep seeded love have convinced me to listen to the words of Stevie Wonder – ‘We can work it out.’

Sadly no girlfriend, but there’s a marriage I just can’t take to the divorce courts – my one with Arsenal Football Club.

It’s been a miserable week. Last Saturday’s demoralising defeat to North London rivals Tottenham was like finding out your wife has been cheating on you with your best mate.

The misery continued with a mid-week defeat to Braga in the Champions League, compounded by Spurs’ qualification for the next round following a 3-0 victory at home to Werder Bremen.

At lunchtime on Saturday we have a chance to bounce back away to Aston Villa. Owing to an unforgiving work schedule I haven’t been able to keep up-to-date with the latest team news coming out of Emirates Stadium, but I have been dipping in and out of the ESPN Goals app on my X10 android phone.

One of the news stories revealed Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted there’s a mental weakness about his team, but insists he will “give every drop of blood” to turn them into winners. I hope the players are generous donors because I feel like Dracula coming off a vegetarian diet.

I’m not going to be able to wait to watch Match of the Day – but if the ball hits the net at Villa Park I’m going be watching it within minutes of it happening with the ESPN Goals app.

This app enables fans to see all the goals and highlights from the Barclays Premier League over the next three seasons – moments after they’ve happened.

And having purchased the X10 before November 26 I’m in with a shot to spend it like Beckham. By trying to pick talkSPORT's winning goal of the week I’ve registered my phone into the draw for a £100,000 winfall.

The festive period might just define our season – every fist punching, teeth clenching moment of joy won’t be missed because I downloaded the app this month and have it free for the next three months.

Sadly, so will every lip quivering moment of despair, but I’m a glutton for punishment and this is life I’ve chosen – this is the life of a football fan.

Monday morning is going to be hell

FourFourTwo Team — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 17:41:00 GMT

FourFourTwo's resident Gooner Ben Welch looks back on a dramatic North London derby...

From ecstasy to complete and utter misery. I hate Arsenal. I hate football. There I was on the train to Manchester dancing a little jig as Arsenal went 2-0 up in the North London derby.

Samir Nasri's angle-defying first goal and Marouane Chamakh's well orchestrated second were gleefully enjoyed at my seat with the ESPN Goals app on my X10.

This app gives me the luxury of watching videos of all the goals and highlights from all Barclays Premier League matches over the next three seasons – within minutes of the action on the pitch.

Banter was flying around on Facebook and Twitter – I was reveling in the pain of the Tottenham faithful.

At this point I was ready to turn to Christianity because my Friday night prayer appeared to have worked.

Being an Arsenal fan there was always doubt in my mind – we have become synonymous with throwing leads away in big games.

But we were so dominant I was convinced that we would hold on to this lead, maybe even add further salt in the wounds.

Sadly, my concerns were justified as we predictably crumbled and gifted Spurs a dramatic win.

After watching Gareth Bale, Rafael van der Vaart and Younes Kaboul turn the game around I prepared myself for the ensuing stick from my Tottenham-supporting mates. It was unrelenting, merciless and brutal.

At least I won't have to relive the misery on Match of the Day, having seen the goals already.

Thankfully I know I'll be able to enjoy happier moments and Arsenal goals with the ESPN Goals app later in the season.

Having bought the X10 android phone this month I have the app free for the next three months.

God didn't answer my prayers, but the Devil was listening in and he made sure I received capital punishment.

Please God answer my derby day prayers

FourFourTwo Team — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:58:00 GMT

FourFourTwo's resident Gooner Ben Welch looks ahead to Saturday's North London derby...

I’m not a religious man, but tonight I’m going to get down on my knees, clasp my hands together, close my eyes and ask God to help my dearly loved Arsenal annihilate El Diablo’s army tomorrow afternoon. After all, there are no atheists in foxholes.

At 12.45pm on Saturday the agents of hell - Tottenham - will invade the Emirates for an epic battle between good versus evil.

Local pride, bragging rights and most importantly three Barclays Premier League points are at stake. There’s one agent provocateur I fear – Tottenham’s brilliant conductor - Dutchman Rafael van der Vaart.

Will Van der Vaart be the man to ruin our man's weekend?

According to the ESPN Goals app on the X10, Van der Vaart’s Dutch team-mate and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie urged Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to bring the new White Hart Lane hero to the Emirates. Instead of having him in our armoury, he may now be the man that brings us down.

Van der Vaart has been hailing the influence of Tottenham’s manager Harry Redknapp – I just hope the both of then get it wrong tomorrow.

Unfortunately I’ll be on a train to Manchester so I won’t be able to catch the game, but I’ll be able to keep up-to-date with the action on my ESPN Goals app, which allows me to watch videos of all the goals and highlights from all Barclays Premier League matches over the next three seasons – within minutes of the action on the pitch.

Rather than having to relive the misery of defeat on Match of the Day I can watch the drama unfold on my phone – that’s if we lose of course.

If we win I’ll be able to bask in the glory over and over again – and it won’t cost me a dime because the ESPN Goals app is free for the next three months because I bought the X10 android phone this month

I just hope God lends me his ear tonight.

Black Cats, Super Swedes and a force of nature

FourFourTwo Team — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:08:00 GMT

Monday morning's office chat centres around David Haye's annihilation of Audley Harrison aka A-Farce, sorry A-Force.

“Where'd you watch the fight?” my boss asks me.

“In central London... ended up being a pretty messy night,” I reply still feeling the effects of Saturday night's love affair with Jack Daniels.

“So you missed Match of the Day then? There were some great goals this weekend. Johan Elmander scored an incredible goal for Bolton.”

“I missed MOTD, but I've seen the goals.”

“Record it?”

“No, watched the goals on my phone.”

His face contorts with puzzlement. “What?” he says.

I swivel round to his desk and show him EPSN Goals on my Sony Ericsson XPERIA smartphone and explain how this app allows me to watch videos of all the goals and highlights from all Barclays Premier League matches over the next three seasons – within minutes of the action on the pitch.

“I bet this costs a few quid though?” he says in a bid to find a flaw.

“Nope – it's free for the next three months because I bought the Sony Ericsson XPERIA smartphone this month.”

There's a moment's silence before we start waxing lyrical about Elmander's pirouette past a squadron of dumbstruck Wolves defenders and precision finish.

It doesn't take long for my boss to start bemoaning West Ham's goalless draw with Blackpool, which leaves them propping up the table.

I quickly move the conversation onto my beloved Arsenal and their 2-1 at Goodison Park against Everton.

“Did you watch the game yesterday?” he asks.

“Nah, had to go to my nan's,” I say.

“Shame. Did you miss Chelsea getting spanked by Sunderland as well? Nedum Onuoha scored an amazing goal.”

“Missed the game, but I've seen the goals from both games. Onuoha's was sick,” I say, before realising I just spoke like a 16-year-old rude boy.

He opens his mouth to ask how, but slaps the head brake on before he can make a fool of himself. I hold up my phone.

“ESPN Goals?”, he asks.

“Yeah, watched the goals in the toilet.”

Super Sunday

FourFourTwo Team — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 14:52:00 GMT

"What you doing in there?" my nan shouts at me from outside the toilet. "Have you got an upset stomach?"

"Yes - it's really bad," I reply with no sense of guilt that I've told her a complete lie. As she totters off to the kitchen to finish cooking lunch I load the ESPN Goals app on my Sony Ericsson XPERIA smartphone.

After failing to convince my dad to let me skip this family get-together so I could watch Everton v Arsenal on TV, I'm determined to keep up with the latest from Goodison Park. I've been feigning illness in the toilet for 10 minutes, eagerly reading every comment from the live update feed.

The words "GOAL Song puts Arsenal in front!" flashes up on my screen. "YYYEEEESSS!!!" I shout. Luckily my nan wouldn't hear a brass band if it marched into her lounge. She watches EastEnders with subtitles.

"Lunch is ready," my nan yells. I make a miraculous recovery and head straight for the dinner table where I take up my seat next to my cousin. "What have you been doing in the toilet? I know there's nothing wrong with you," he asks.

"I've been keeping up-to-date with the football on my phone - Arsenal are winning 1-0," I boast with the glee for a fan in the know. "Get in! Shame I won't be able to see the goals tonight on Match of the Day 2 - I've got to go to my girlfriends and she'll never let me watch it."

"Fear not. With the ESPN Goals app you can see videos of all the goals and highlights from all Barclays Premier League matches over the next three seasons – within minutes of the action on the pitch. I’ve managed to blag this app for free for the next three months by buying my XPERIA in November. After lunch we'll watch the goals."

"Result!"

After inhaling our Sunday roast we scurry out to the shed claiming we're going to look for some tools to fix the leaky tap in my nan's bathroom - another complete lie.

By this time Cesc Fabregas has doubled Arsenal's lead and we excitedly jump and down as we watch the goals on my Sony Ericsson XPERIA smartphone.

I waste no time getting straight on Facebook and Twitter to express my unhealthy man love for the swashbuckling midfielder. My cousin receives a text - he looks at his current phone with a tinge of disappointment - it's his girlfriend.

"Can we watch Sex in the City 2 tonight x" It reads. A devilish smile cracks across his face.

"She doesn't know I've seen the goals. I can pretend I'm sacrificing MOTD 2 to watch her soppy film - that means massive brownie points. This app is genius," he beams.