Football

Ronaldo has a sly dig at the Premier League

2009-07-07T05:52:00.000-07:00

Real Madrid’s new signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, has had a sly dig at the Premier League by saying that Spain’s La Liga will reach heights that English football cannot get near. Ronaldo recently left Manchester United to join the Spanish giants for a world record transfer fee of £80 million and he could not resist having a little stab as he made his exit.

Ronaldo should not forget that the English game is where he made his name and the amount of money being spent and that is available to Spanish clubs can only mean that more high quality players will go there. You would be hard pushed to find an English club that would spend the same level of money on a single player and because of this they will never join Manchester United or Chelsea.

Ronaldo never really had that many people who adored him while he was playing here, other than United fans, and now that he has left he has probably just lost the respect of a few of that group too. A lot of players bow out of a league and pay it tribute, they certainly do not turn round and have a sly stab backwards.

Ronaldo said: “The Premier League is a very good competition, but I think that the Spanish league is going to have a little more quality because of the players that are arriving. Both leagues are going to be very good, but I think that with Florentino Perez's signings the Spanish league is superior to the English.”

“It's going to be a magnificent competition in Spain. All the players have a lot of quality and the referees protect the players more. To win the Champions League in our stadium would be a great dream. It's possible with all the players we have. However, you need to recognise that Barcelona had a great season and played very well. They have a great team and a magnificent coach. It's going to be a very important duel for Spanish and European football.”

Well he does have a point when it comes to the money that Real Madrid are spending. If Ronaldo chose to look into the subject a little more than he would find that English clubs can’t really call on the government for a ridiculous level of money at any time that decide. Therefore English clubs can’t afford to pay over £130 million and two players and monopolise the best of the talent that is left in the transfer market.

It is only a suggesstion but maybe the main reason that so many players want to go to Madrid is due to the new found wealth they have found. Many players are not stupid and will quickly realise that if they go there, they will be paid more than a player has ever been paid and they will have a better chance of success because everyone else is going there.

However, moving back to the original argument at hand. There are a lot of differences between the Spanish and English leagues and both have their unique qualities and differences. One of the main reasons that the Spanish national side has done so well is the fact that the Spanish game is so much more technical and the players are so gifted on the ball. This gives them so much time and space to play killer passes and develop play that makes it virtually impossible for a team to defend.

These are things that not a lot of English sides can do and they are the main defintions of the Spanish game. Hence why when you watch a Spanish game it is easy to mark the quality against the English leagues as you very rarely see a scrappy goal in a Spanish league match.

On the other hand the English game is built a lot more on the physical approach as opposed to the technical. A lot of players both past and present said they hate playing against Engliosh defenders because they know they will get kicked in the air and will not be able to settle at all during a game. This is why so many foreign fans view the English game as thuggish but this is why we love it so much in this country. How many of us all cheered when ever Ronaldo got kicked in a United shirt?

The Premier League probably also has a greater pace and a stronger element of the counter attacking game. A lot of teams soak up pressure during English games because of the physical and aggressive nature of some attacking sides, this means that when they get a chance they have to bomb it to the other end of the pitch to counter attack. This makes for very end to end exciting football.

Officials have even got so used to the physical nature of English football that in the Premier League you can get away with more than you can in any other league across Europe. In a lot of European games involving English sides, so many tackles that are second nature to some players are penalised because the officials are not used to what they are seeing.

So both leagues are very different and it would be silly to try and define one as better than the other. For the purist, Spanish football would be better because it is a lot easier on the eye but for people that want a genuinely exciting game that can throw up an unpredicted result then English football will never be substituted.

Ronaldo is quite within his rights to have his say on our game because he has spent a large part of his career playing football in England, this is after all, the country where he made his name. However, it will be interesting to see next season if Real Madrid play Chelsea or Manchester United, if Ronaldo has forgotten about how physical the game can be here. I’m sure a few mistimed elbows and sliding tackles will be aimed in his direction and if he continues to come out with comments such as this then there will be a lot more people cheering as opposed to calling for the referees whistle.

Maybe now Newcastle can finally move on.

2009-07-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

The time has come where Newcastle United may finally be able to move on from the saga that has made them the laughing stock of football over the last few months. Two groups have come up with the cash and matched Mike Ashley’s £100 million value for the club he has spent over £135m on since he arrived as owner only a couple of years ago.

The news means that the completion of a sale for the football club may only be a few days away and it would allow Newcastle to move forward, putting the past behind them and giving the club the best possible chance of getting back into the Premier League.

It is no secret that the lack of progress that Newcastle have been able to make during the summer transfer window is down to the fact that ownership is about to change hands. Therefore it would have been impossible to make important decisions such as structuring a budget and appointing Alan Shearer as permanent manager. Newcastle are set to lose a lot of players in the next two or three weeks and had this whole affair been sorted out then these players may have been persuaded to stay.

This will all come as welcome news to the fans as well who just want to get back some of the respect that they eagerly want to display and hold for their own football club. A lot of fans were falling out of love with the side because of the way the club was being run and now that there is the prospect of new ownership and a new start, it could mean that the smiles appear back on the faces of Newcastle fans.

However, everyone connected with the club should proceed with caution because the identity of the potential new owners is being kept a secret. A Singapore based group is said to have made a bid and although this may end up being financially lucrative, Newcastle will have new owners with no experience of the English game and a group of people that appear on the surface as intent on maximising the business side of the football club.

On the other hand the most realistic option seems to be former chairman, Freddy Shepherd. If it is this bid, which is the most successful, then Toon fans will shudder because a lot of them put the club’s failings down to this very man. He was the top dog when Newcastle were making progress in the Kevin Keegan era some years ago but he never showed the ambition or want for Newcastle to move forward and secure that first Premier League crown, which probably would have kept them out of the current position they are in.

Dress it up in any fashion, the main point is that Newcastle should not find themselves where they currently are and this would be a massive step forward because it means an end to the regime that got them relegated. The options for the future would then be very simple as the new owners would clearly have a sole goal of getting the club back into the top-flight and where it belongs.

They would do well to appoint Alan Shearer straight away for the simple reason that he is a very underrated manager. This is not even mentioning how much he loves the club and it would be a sensible move for all parties. Shearer would be able to create a respectful and honest club that would work tirelessly to banish the memories of the laughs and jokes that have constantly been aimed at Newcastle this year. This would have hurt and he will be intent on doing something about it.

New owners would probably be able to come in and nicely settle the finances of the club. The cost of relegation in the modern game runs into tens of millions of pounds and you do need someone in charge who has a bit of business prowess in order for the club to not run further into financial ruin. In this sense it would make sense to have owners that new how to run a large business. The limitations of what and who is available could be laid out and allow the club to perform to their maximums.

For Newcastle to have any chance of getting back into the Premier League, they need to keep the large part of their playing squad together. The Championship is a very competitive league and you need to have a strong squad that is full of quality in order to compete. Now that new owners seem to have been able to establish contact, it means that the club can focus on playing and coach staff as opposed to needless administrative tasks that should not even be contemplated.

The most important step that new owners would allow the club to take is putting a smile back on the face of every Newcastle fan in the country. For so long they have had to put up with this club being in the news for all of the wrong reasons and they must all be sick and tired of having fun made out of them and their club on an almost daily basis. If some of Newcastle’s reputation can be reinstalled that the club can come out flying at the start of next season and take to the Championship like a duck to water.

A lot of fans from football clubs up and down the country would chat to you all day long about how much they love their side but not one of them would display the same passion and affection as a Newcastle supporter. Newcastle are too big to be in their current predicament and it is encouraging that finally, after so long, someone seems to have come up with the money and is about to do something about it. One thing is for sure, the lessons that have not already been learnt certainly will be by the time all of the action kicks off again, if they aren’t then a lot of people are going to lose the sympathy and respect they still hold for this football club.

Turncoat Owen at it again

2009-07-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

So, Michael Owen is on the verge of sealing a shock switch to Old Trafford and as a Liverpool fan, I have to admit that I’m bitterly disappointed in him.

The potential move brings up this issue of player loyalty or rather the lack of it in today’s football world. In Italy, France and in lesser cases Spain, it’s fairly common for players of Owen’s stature to switch allegiances between the country’s top clubs. But in England, with the exception of serial-mover Nicolas Anelka, it’s a rare occasion.

Owen will become the first player since Paul Ince to play for both Manchester United and Liverpool and for both players the feat was done via a spell abroad sandwiched in between. Ince, who had an indifferent experience with Inter Milan, left Old Trafford on bad terms with Alex Ferguson and was all too willing to return to the Premier League with rivals Liverpool.

Having spent 8 seasons at Anfield, the club that nurtured his talent as a youngster, Owen first turned his back on Liverpool in the summer of 2004 when he forced a move to Real Madrid.

Rafael Benitez had barely sat down at his new desk at the club before his star striker came pushing for a move. The Spaniard was powerless to stop Owen leaving and the fans were left devastated at the departure.

Some were bitter, others wished him well and didn’t blame him for leaving a club whose future was up in the air. As it happens, Owen failed to light up the Bernabeu, missed out on Champions League glory and subsequently ended up at the doomed Newcastle United after just once season in Spain.

Now, with his contract at relegated Newcastle expired, Owen was expected to decide on offers from the likes of Hull and Stoke but late this week it emerged at Premier League champions Manchester United were shock contenders.

Owen is reportedly only a medical away from completing the remarkable turnaround, but it is likely to start a hate campaign led by Liverpool fans aggrieved at Owen’s lack of loyalty and respect for his former club.

Alas, I can see the logic in the move, it makes sense for both player and club, but even Liverpudlians would prefer to see him in an Everton shirt. Owen’s loyalty to his parent club has to be questioned. Look at Carlos Tevez, a model professional who is a great example to younger players in today’s game.

Tevez spent just two years at Man Utd and will no longer play for the club after rejecting a new deal after some shabby treatment. However, the Argentine immediately refuted interest from Liverpool saying he would not play for the club out of respect for Manchester United fans.

That was after two years, Owen spent eight years at Anfield, winning many cups while always being first choice striker, something which Tevez rarely was at United. Respect must go out to Tevez for his loyalty, but should Owen betray his former Liverpool fans for a second time, then he will permanently lose a lot of Anfield hearts.

England under 21s lose in final

2009-06-30T04:16:00.000-07:00

England’s old adversaries Germany had the last laugh as they handed out a comprehensive thrashing in the under-21s European Championship finals. The team had done us proud to get this far under coach Stuart Pearce but put in a lack-lustre performance.

Fans had been hoping for a better display and, for the first time in years, there was actually as much interest in the UEFA European Under-21 Football as for the full squad or World Cup. It’s just a pity that the rights to show the match fell to Sky which meant millions of would-be viewers missed out. Good job too, some will be saying, considering Germany put away four goals and England just failed to fire. But let’s share the attitude of Pearce who revealed after the match that he has signed another two year contract to continue his great work as the England under-21 manager.

Some might have expected passionate Pearce to blast his young players but he was more philosophic. “Hats off to Germany,” he commented. “You have to be humble but it hurts. But we have to learn from this. It’s a learning curve for the players. They must stick together and be humble and support each other.” It’s difficult to inspire your team for the future with the memory of a crushing 4-0 score line very much on their minds. But we must all remember this was the first time in 25 years that England have reached a major tournament final and the under-21s should be commended, not criticised, for their achievement.

The team was, of course, without some key players due to injury and suspensions, including keeper Joe Hart and Gabriel Agbonlaher. However, Pearce is very much a 23-squad man and believes all-round strength is what it takes to win silverware. Some of the young players will certainly be wondering what the future holds for them, not least after hearing this comment from the manager: “Half of this group can go on again.” So which half has a future with England and which half doesn’t? There are certainly question marks over Theo Walcott who has failed to sparkle so far. He’s got the talent, the pace and the ability so Pearce will need to find his key.

Germany put on a really slick display and Scott Loach in goal tried his best but would Hart have kept the deficit down a bit? England went 1-0 down in 23 minutes but at least kept the half-time score line to a respectable level. But three goals in the second half from Mesot Ozil and Sandro Wagner (2) showed the German under-21 side are a force to be reckoned with and could eventually revitalise the senior squad. England’s Lee Cattermole nearly made his mark by hitting the bar but there was to be no consolation goal. Pearce, 47, who joined England in 2007, confessed that losing did chew him up but also inspired him to become a better coach and manager. Let’s hope players adopt the same ethos.

Certainly, Pearce has absolutely no intention of walking away. He loves the job and is optimistic for the future. So let’s share his ethos and applaud the under-21s for a great all-round performance in the 2009 European Championships. It might not have the happy ending we had all hoped for but there’s always next time.

England make the finals

2009-06-28T23:58:00.000-07:00

At last, England are in the finals! It might not be the senior squad but the under-21s have done us proud in the European Under-21 Championships. And who are they to meet on Monday, June 29? None other than their old adversaries, Germany.

Is is going to be repeat of the 1966 World Cup finals with England coming out victorious? Let’s hope so. England at least have one secret weapon. Manager Stuart Pearce. Just who would want to mess with him as the boss? England certainly did it the hard way when they squared up to Sweden in the semi-finals. At half-time, they were 3-0 up and it looked as though they were coasting to victory. But do England ever do it the easy way?

England opened the scoring within the first minute when Martin Cranie volleyed home from just inside the box. Then, on 27 minutes, a corner from rising star James Milner set up Nedumonuoha to fire home England’s second and a mistake by Sweden’s Mattias Bjarsmyr saw him slice Lee Cattermole’s centre into his own net. The second half saw Sweden stage a miraculous comeback, with goals on 68 minutes from Marcus Berg and a great free kick on 75 by Olan Tolvonen. Six minutes later, Berg volleyed home the third to force extra time and another heart-stopping conclusion for England who really believe in doing it the hard way.

Berg very nearly sealed the match just one minute from the end of extra time but his shot hit the crossbar. Not surprisingly, Pearce was absolutely furious but only the day before had revealed that he had made the players practise their penalty kicks. There was no way England would go out this way, he promised. What foresight!

However, it started badly for England when Milner hit his penalty wide. Was history going to repeat itself yet again for England? No, luck finally proved on our side, with England finally winning 5-4 on penalties to set up the mouth-watering final against Germany who beat Italy 1-0.

England players won’t be taking any chances to infuriate their manager, that’s for sure. He blasted the youngsters for resting on their laurels and letting others do the work whilst having one eye on the final. “I was disappointed at how we chucked away the lead,” said Pearce afterwards.However, to his credit, he praised the players’ character for fighting back. Life would just not have been worth living had they not succeeded. Pearce is hungry for success and only the very best of efforts will do.

Keeper Joe Hart sadly misses the historic final after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. An appeal is unlikely to succeed unless England prove mistaken identity! Gabriel Agbonlaher is also banned for his second yellow and Frazier Campbell was sent off in extra-time.

Neverthless, England can put out a strong team full of confidence after a great run of games and will be full of determination to beat Germany. With Stuart Pearce jumping up and down on the touchline, dare they lose!

Rich in history, rich in fortunes

2009-06-25T04:13:00.000-07:00

How fortunes have changed for Manchester City, now considered the richest club in the world. Today, under the ownership of members of the Abu Dhabi ruling family, dreams are becoming a reality. Manager Mark Hughes is slowly building a squad with the aim of bringing in silverware for the first time in more than three decades. Seldom a day goes past without Manchester City hitting the headlines, either being linked to a new star purchase or snapping up players like Roque Santa Cruz or Robinho.

Manchester City intends going places and has the money to make ambitions come true. It’s all a very far cry from humble beginnings in the 19th century when a former player put in his own cash to stop the club from going bust and postponing his wedding for three years as a result! Like many of our modern day clubs, Manchester City can trace its roots back to church days and cricket. The club used to be called St Mark’s West Gorton, a district in east Manchester, and was formed by three stalwarts, including two church wardens. The team evolved from an avid group of cricketers and the first known competitive football match was played in November of 1880. The youngest player was 15, the oldest 20.

St Mark’s became Ardwick AFC in 1887 and then Manchester City FC in 1894 in a bid to create a club which represented the whole of Manchester. Manchester City have won the League Championship twice, the FA Cup four times, the League Cup twice and the European Cup Winners’ Cup once. It has had periods of success and times of failure and notched up many a record, some of them held with pride, the others not so.

The club’s most successful period was in the late 1960s and early 1970s when it won several major trophies under Joe Mercer and his assistant Malcolm Allison but there have been no glittering honours for 33 years. Under the new ownership, the intention is for all that to change and the future is looking bright. Manchester City have spent most of their history in the top flight but, in the 1990s, had to endure relegation twice in three years and also spent a year in the third tier. Today, failure is not considered an option.

There are fans throughout the UK – the latest statistics suggest some 886,000 – and in excess of two million throughout the world. That’s a large fan base considering the lack of competitive success. Manchester City first won the FA Cup in 1904 but was later dogged by financial irregularities which, in 1906, culminated in the suspension of 17 players. In 1920, fire destroyed the Hyde Road main stand and the club moved to Maine Road in 1923.

The highlight of the 1930s was two consecutive FA Cup finals, one lost to Everton in 1933 and then a victory against Portsmouth in 1934. City won the First Division title for the first time in 1937 but could not avoid relegation the next season. The club was to reach the FA Cup finals again in 1955 and 1956, repeating the pattern of before – losing the first, winning the second. The 1956 final against Birmingham was a memorable affair, not least because City goalie Bert Trautmann continued to play, oblivious of the fact that he had a broken neck. In 1963, City were relegated to the Second Division but fortunes began to turn in 1965 with the appointment of Mercer and Allinson. In their first season, they won the league title, promotion, then the League Cup in 1967-68, the FA Cup in 1969 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970, as well as the League Cup.

Manchester City became only the second European team to win a European trophy and a domestic trophy in one season but notched up another record too. They were the only club to have won the European Cup Winners’ Cup and to be relegated to the Third Division. The club was relegated in 1983 and 1987, bouncing back each time, and then became founder members of the Premier League in 1992. However, they were relegated again in 1996 and then to the Third Division two seasons later.

More upheavals were to follow, with promotions and relegations until the Kevin Keegan era when they became Division One champions in 2001-2002, breaking the record for the number of points gained and goals scored in one season. The season of 2002-2003 proved the last at Maine Road with the move to the City of Manchester Stadium. Stuart Pearce took over in 2005 but there was a disappointing 15th place finish in 2005-2006 and another record – just ten home goals, the fewest ever scored by a club.

Many a top manager has been at the helm, including Sven-Goran Erikssohn in July 2007. His reign started well but he was sacked in June 2008 amid a public outcry from the fans. Nothing could save him and Mark Hughes became manager in June 2008. The last season saw the club finishing tenth in the Premiership and reaching the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup. On the way, another record was notched up with the signing of Real Madrid star Robinho for a then British record-breaking fee of 32.5 million pounds. It was seen as a massive coup and just one of many to come.

Playing in sky blue and white, Manchester City has the most loyal of fans and was once voted in third in a loyalty poll to Liverpool and Portsmouth. It’s reported that the buy-out by the Abu Dhabi United Group was worth around 200 million pounds, money which could help to build a team Manchester City has always aspired to be. Manchester, and the rest of the world, awaits action and success on the field with huge anticipation as would their ancestors of over a century ago.

Pearce shrugs off talk over future position.

2009-06-22T04:17:00.000-07:00

England Under 21 manager, Stuart Pearce, has shrugged off suggestions that he could follow Fabio Capello as boss of the senior side, when the Italian decides he has had enough. Pearce’s Under 21 side sit on the verge of greatness after securing a semi-final spot in the European Under 21 Championships.

However, Pearce insists that he is not even close to the calibre and experience that Capello currently possesses and wants to focus on his current role for now. This is fair enough when you consider that his time at Manchester City did not go perfectly and his international career is still in its infancy.

It is a typically English trait to get carried away whenever something goes right at the highest level of sport for the national side. Pearce is a very simple and realistic man and although he may enjoy the limelight in a smug kind of way, he knows that he needs to get a lot more experience from sitting next to Capello during matches than he currently has right now.

Pearce said: “I'm a manager that has been in control of a team for maybe 150 matches over a four-year period. That is ridiculously lightly raced as a manager. Very lightly experienced. I've got a long-term plan that I keep to myself. The one thing I can tell you is that today I haven't got enough experience by any means. The England manager's job is the pinnacle of anyone's career. When I look at Fabio every day and watch him work, I realise how inept I am as a manager.”

“It's how fickle we are in football, that maybe two years ago as Manchester City manager I was written off. Two years down the line I'm written back on again. If I lose the semi-final I'll be written back off again.”

It is actually quite refreshing to see someone who could be so temperamental as a player adopting such a black and white outlook to the current situation that he finds himself in. Pearce knows all of his limitations and he knows the things that he can do very well. He seems as though he wants to learn all of the time and get better with every day that passes.

It is quite a nice potential story being laid out before us. Pearce was an England legend who was not afraid to kick a player up in the air and take a booking if the match justified doing so. He suffered heartbreak and glory in the natioanl side and even though he never won a mjaor competition with his country, he knows all of the positives and negatives that can come with every day life in international football.

We would also like to see an Englishman follow Capello at the top because it would mean an end to foreign managers having a go on the England machine. How successful Capello turns out to be remains to be seen and we all hope he can carry us to success in South Africa next year but regardless of the progress Capello has made, there are still people that want someone English to be in charge.

Hull could offer Owen a last Premier League chance.

2009-06-22T03:41:00.000-07:00

Hull City could be set to offer Michael Owen his only chance to make a Premier League switch from Newcastle United. Owen was Newcastle’s highest paid player and was said to be growing increasingly frustrated by his failure to secure a move away from St James’ Park.

Well the 34-page document that was released about himself seems to not have been a bad move as Phil Brown is interested in signing him. Hull will be looking to add both experience and calibre to their squad as the narrowly avoided relegation last season at the expense of Owen’s current employers.

They will want to do everything they possibly can to eradicate the chance of this happening again and a fit and healthy Michael Owen would be a fantastic signing for one of the smaller Premier League sides. This is the key though as Owen so often gets injured or picks up little niggles that mean he misses a set of games.

The financial side of any deal could be the thing that stops the move altogether. Owen will want a large chunk of the plus £100,000 per week that he was on at Newcastle. He surely understands now that he needs to take a pay cut to get back to the Premier League but it is highly unlikely that Hull can get any where near these sort of wages demands. It could mean that Owen goes elsewhere or chooses to stay at Newcastle for the financial benefits.

Phil Brown said: “He has a proven track record as a goal scorer and that’s an area that we are keen to strengthen. It would have to be on the right terms. It’s been sounded out as a possibility but there has been no offer put to him.”

As already mentioned in a number of stories over the last couple of weeks, Owen will want to try and get back into the England side under Fabio Capello. Capello was the manager when Owen was playing at Real Madrid and he did not impress the Italian then and will want another chance. There is no way he will get this chance if he stays at Newcastle and cannot get himself fit on a regular basis.

Owen does not appear to be an egotistic sort of individual and never has done during any point in his career. Therefore he could fit in well with what Hull City are all about. A small community run club that likes hard working and honest players who will sweat blood for the side every time they run out onto the pitch. It could be the perfect chance for Owen to revitalise his career and make sure people remember him for all the right reasons instead of staying at Newcastle just for the money and having no ambition.

He is one of the very few players that is accessible to Hull who could make a real difference in the current side and take the club forward. They will not break the bank for him and a sensible move for all parties concerned needs to be worked out before he decides something else.

Valencia do a u-turn on their best player.

2009-06-20T03:35:00.000-07:00

Valencia have performed a u-turn over the decision to sell their best player, David Villa. The Spanish Football club now look like they have taken down the ‘for sale’ sign that had attracted the interest of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool. It seems that Valencia want to try and keep their most dangerous weapon regardless of the financial problems that have forced the club to sell off a number of main assets.

Villa was on the verge of going to Real Madrid for roughly £45 million however Valencia have pulled out of the deal at the last minute, which will come as a welcome relief to a number of the club’s fans. Villa would have probably not wanted a move but accepted it as an eventuality so the news could well please him.

It will also mean some revitalised hope for Liverpool, the only English club that Villa has said he would join, who were not able to match the financial power of any of the clubs that were set to be interested in Villa. The Merseyside club can now sit back and reassess the situation before deciding if they want to be the first club that goes back to Valencia and asks if they want to have a change of mind again.

Villa’s agent said: “Valencia have changed their minds and they are telling us they don't want to sell the player after, as everyone knows, having talks with three of the four top clubs. They have put us through a situation that is, sadly, very unpleasant because this is no good for anyone.”

Villa is one of the most highly rated strikers in Europe and forms Spain’s strike force with Fernando Torres, which basically propelled the country to European glory last summer. If Valencia want to have any hope of being able to get through their current problems and push out on the other side then this is the precise player that they need to keep.

Villa seems to love Valencia as a club and it is where he made his name as one of the best attacking players in the world. There is nothing the other clubs can do if Valencia want to box him back up again and you would have thought that if all parties were happy with the way things were going then a deal would have already been struck by now.

The failure to secure this deal may be down to the player’s own dissatisfaction. He may have a specific club in mind that he wants to join and it may not necessairly be Real Madrid or Barcelona. This makes things very difficult when the clubs that are trying to sign someone are not the actual clubs that the player may want to join. Therefore it is pointless trying to do a deal over a player who will turn out unhappy and will not justify the millions that would ultimate changes hands on his sale.

No doubt the clubs will keep nagging away to try and sign him but the decision to keep him now looks set in stone and unless the player throws his weight around to get a move it seems that him and Valencia are both happy.

Support our England under-21s

2009-06-19T04:04:00.000-07:00

You may not realise it but English Football really has something to shout about. Our England under-21 squad have reached the semi finals of the UEFA European U21 Championships. What an achievement for the team and for manager Stuart Pearce. But is the whole country applauding them? Well, they would if the good news was being shared a bit more.

If England’s first team had reached the semi finals of such a big tournament, it would be splashed all over the newspapers and the bunting would already be out. Union Jack sales would have soared through the roof and we would all be pouring over our diaries to make sure we were free for both the semi final clash and the finals. There are, of course, die-hard fans who have been supporting the under-21s in their quest to lift the European U21 crown, a prospect which is looking more and more likely.

But this is our England side of the future we are talking about. Stars like Theo Walcott and James Milner. There should be more publicity and more support. All football fans should be behind them and wishing them well. Moreover, the matches should be on terrestrial TV. Let’s face it, until Fabio Capello took over as England manager, watching the under 21 squad was often more entertaining than watching their elders. They certainly put in a scintillating performance against Spain to reach the semi finals with a convincing 2-0 win in Gothenburg.

A huge surprise was Pearce’s decision to leave out Theo Walcott from the starting line up. Reading between the lines, he obviously wanted to give Walcott a test of character and it must have been quite a shock when his name went down as a sub on the board.
But as Pearce later explained, he treats every player the same and gives no one special treatment, no matter what their ability. His tactic seemed to work. Pearce was delighted with Walcott’s reaction. He wanted him to come out and fight for his place and he did. “I saw what he was about as a man and a player,” said Pearce.

Walcott came on in the second half as part of a double substitution with Frazer Campbell. England had played well in the first half but Spain could have taken the lead but for Neduon Onuoha over-hitting a back pass which had to be cleared off the line by Joe Hart. Milner then opted to take his own penalty after being fouled in the box but goalkeeper Sergie Aseyo went the right way.

The Newcastle merry go round continues to spin.

2009-06-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

If Newcastle United fans were waking up in the hope that their club may finally announce a little bit of good news then they will be disappointed today. The take over at the club from current owner, Mike Ashley, will not be completed until the end of this month, meaning the search for a manager goes on and there will be less time for the club to restructure playing staff ahead of the new season.

As soon as the club were relegated from the Premier League, Ashley put the for sale sign up again after failing to find a buyer for the broken machine earlier in the season. The identity of the people buying the club is at the moment unknown and for some reason being kept a secret.

So the fans do not know what their club is heading for and they do not know who will be in charge. Someone at Newcastle better act pretty quickly as there are links appearing on a daily basis that say Alan Shearer is going elsewhere due to the joke way that his appointment at Newcastle has been handled.

It is senseless why he has not been allowed into the club to talk to the very few players that the side may actually be able to keep. He has no control over the players that are talking to various agents and the further delays in this take over deal mean he will have to wait a bit longer to find out if he still has a job.

You have to admire his passion and love for once club because a lot of people would have become tired and fed up by now and just moved on from the whole scenario altogether. You would have thought that being relegated from the top-flight of English football would have been the kick up the backside the club needs in order to start making decisions more efficiently but this is Newcastle United we are talking about.

There are a core group of maybe three or four players that Shearer wanted to keep if he was going to stay on as boss but two of this group are already in negotiations with other Premier League sides and it could mean that Shearer has to create a team from scratch within a month if the take over is completed on schedule and every thing else goes to plan.

If there are any more delays and Shearer has even less time to get things right then it could mean the immediate future of the club is dented for the next few years. Some pundits have already written off the club and are saying that they won’t get back into the Premier League within the next decade.

The fans will be hoping that this new owner is some form of Arabian oil billionaire who will come in and save the blushes. However, for the low people who are actually enjoying Newcastle’s demise, it would pain them to see the club propelled back to greatness when they have provided us all with laughs on a regular basis for a long time.

Huge costs up at City so far.

2009-06-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Manchester City have added almost £160 million in bills since Mark Hughes has been working under the financial backing of new owners. It is a staggering amount when you consider that the only real high profile star that City have drafted in is Robinho.

The wage bill has almost doubled and the news may very well come as a shock to many as it proves just how easily a massive football club can spend cash if there are not strict regulations in place to stem the amount of expenditure.

This figure will rockets City are bound to make a number of summer signings and have already added Gareth Barry to the squad for a £12 million fee. No player at the club in the first team earns less than £44,000 per week, which may seem small in comparison to other clubs, but when bigger signings are likely to arrive, the number of contract upgrades that will be demanded is slightly worrying.

However, City insist that they are a well run business like club that likes to boast value for money on all fronts. Chief Executive, Gary Cook said: “The story is completely without foundation. Robinho has always been a highly valued member of our team and that continues to be the case. Reports suggesting that he will leave the football club, either on loan or on a permanent deal, are absolutely untrue.”

Robinho himself earns ten per cent of the entire City wage bill each year and many pundits criticised him for joining City because they saw it as a purely financially motivated move. They believe that now City have proven to not be as good as the Brazilian would have hoped, that he is trying to jump ship in order to save his own career and maintain his international chances of becoming a Brazilian legend.

The point is that City’s figures are already quite high, especially for a club that is not in the top six. How much they are likely to increase again depends a lot on the manager and the freedom that the chairman and owners will give him to make better signings. However, it will increase to heights that the club would have never thought were possible.

The job for City is trying to make sure that the club can still offer value for money to its players and its fans. The only reason Robinho is on such high wages is because it was probably the only thing that would have got him to switch to City from a move to Chelsea. So long as the club is run efficiently, there is no reason why the finances of the side and everything else to do with the club cannot be managed in a productive way.

They also need to echo the chairman’s comments from earlier in the week and make sure that they are not taken advantage of as a club. If they allow this to happen then it is likely that the number of subclauses in player contracts will see wages and bonuses rocketing to epic proportions, which could be the downfall of the club.

Drogba to face a whopping five-match ban.

2009-06-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

Chelsea will lose the services of striker Didier Drogba, after it is likely to be confirmed that he will be banned for five matches when the Champions League starts next season. Drogba came under a UEFA investigation following his antics after the semi-final loss to Barcelona last season.

Drogba, quite literally, went mad and started swearing and screaming at television cameras as well as the referee for that game, Tom Henning Ovrebo. Drogba had been upset that during the important match against Barca, the referee quite blatantly refused to give the London side a penalty on more than one occasion.

His frustration was shared because some of the appeals were quite obviously justified but the way he dealt with the proceeding situation was not admirable and now means that Chelsea will be without one of their best players when the biggest competition in European football starts up again in a few months time.

There will be a further meeting today to see whether or not a number of other Chelsea players should be fined or banned. Defender, Jose Bosingwa, could also be out for a couple of matches after the referee reported that he had been called a ‘thief’ by the Portuguese star.

Chelsea could also pick up a rather substantial fine for not being able to control their players during a match and even though the frustration was widespread and justified on the part of the players, they still had responsibilities and had they seen out the match it would not have been a problem. However, any financial punishment dealt out to the club is unlikely to be that great and they would be able to pay a fine with little difficulty.

Chelsea will just want the whole matter to be over. It clearly is not something they were proud of and it would have embarrassed a lot of their playing staff and coaches. Furthermore, Carlo Ancelotti will want to start a fresh and create a new regime of discipline and strictness that means Chelsea would be the last side you would associate with such goings on if there was ever a repeat incident in the future.

Drogba did not cover himself in glory on that occasion and should be looking to make amends for his actions when his ban is over or lifted. Chelsea could appeal against the likely decision but it would be pointless. One of the biggest principles that UEFA hold their guidelines on is the respect that is shown to fellow players and referees. On this occasion it was breached in epic proportions and the club should not risk annoying the officials who have the power to make the situation a lot worse than it already is.

That evening was a very strange occasion when the football ended up not being the main talking point. Chelsea have learnt their lesson and everyone should move on from the whole affair. If Drogba wants to eradicate the embarrassment then he should keep his head down and under the radar although this is not in his nature.

Fernando Torres says something that we have all heard before.

2009-06-16T04:46:00.000-07:00

Fernando Torres has come out with an ‘I will never join them statement’ in the light of the news that Sir Alex Ferguson has been preparing a mega bid for the Liverpool star. It may be just a rumour but it is a strong one and it has been said that United will be willing to risk up to £60 million of the Cristiano Ronaldo money in order to get the Spanish international.

It is also further evidence that Carlos Tevez is on his way out of the club but Torres seems to insist that he would never join one of Liverpool’s main rivals. It would be one of the biggest coups in football if the move came off but it will be difficult to achieve as Liverpool probably won’t listen and the player doesn’t seem to have any intention of going anywhere.

Torres said: “I don't know anything about United, just that it has been in the newspapers. Listen, my team is Liverpool and this is very clear to me. This club has it all - the history, the prestige, the organisation. Liverpool Football Club is a phenomenon, with millions of fans who totally identify with everything the club stands for.”

“It's a big responsibility to give the fans here the success they desire, but the challenge is always exhilarating and this is why I was delighted to sign a new contract. We need to win the big trophies and we can trust Rafa Benitez to keep the momentum going for us. [He] makes the signings and I’m sure those who coming will improve us - if it were me I would bring David Villa but that may not be possible.”

There is also the added point of this very contract that Torres talks about. It would seem senseless for Liverpool to waste so much money on the contract if the player was suceptible to a move away from the club. They clearly don’t want to sell him and he clearly doesn’t want to go anywhere.

However, Cristiano Ronaldo said before the Champions League final that he would be a Manchester United player next season and he is on the verge of completing a move to Real Madrid. Sol Campbell said he would never move to Arsenal and he did and Wayne Rooney said he would always bea n Everton player and now he is at United.

The point is that for all of the loyalty and words that are spoken in football, money can so often talk in much greater volumes. United would not get an idea of how stubborn both parties were likely to be until they made some form of offer for the striker. It would also be likely that the club could raise a large sum of money at short notice which could substantiate any advantage taking that Liverpool may deploy.

For example, they may have a silly idea in mind that United may just be willing to pay. They need someone who is going to come in and make good the influence of the player they have just let walk through the exit door and Torres is clearly one of those people. He has taken to the Premier League like a duck to water and in the right side he could quite clearly become the league’s best scorer on a season after season basis.

Ronaldo offered the highest wages of all time.

2009-06-15T00:54:00.000-07:00

New Real Madrid signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been offered the highest wages in history for any single player. Ronaldo is set to earn roughly £106 million over a six year period with wages of over half a million pounds per week at the peak of the deal.

He actually starts on the staggering sum of £183,000 per week, which easily surpasses the £160,000 that Robinho is currently on at Manchester City. The news simply acts as further proof that Real Madrid are looking to invest their way back to the top.

No doubt the news will anger thousands owing to the fact that Ronaldo will be earning £50 minute and over £3,000 per hour. These are stupid sums of money and will not win the Portuguese star any admirers. It would be difficult to find any other club in the world that would be willing to pour so much money into one player. It also creates a huge pressure and risk and maybe actually does justify the calls from some Manchester United fans that he is not worth that level of investment.

It is difficult when you listen to Ronaldo talking about Madrid to understand how he feels it is a better proposition than playing at Manchester United, the club where he made his name and the club where he has had all of his success. It is very easy for people that do not admire him too much to say that he has simply moved to Spain in order to increase his already substantial wealth and fortune.

If the latter is the case then football is declining as a game and it just goes to show that even the best players can be swayed from venture to venture via the nature of their bank balance. However, none of us would blame him. If anyone else were offered such huge sums of money to go and play football in an appealing part of the world it would take a dishonest man to say he wouldn’t be interested.

The whole affair puts to the back of the line the criticism that David Beckham received when he joined LA Galaxy for roughly half of what Ronaldo will be earning. The news of the wages should also act as an incentive UEFA and FIFA to work quickly in proposing a type of budget system in football that would mute these massive financial influences. What Ronaldo will earn in a week could buy a brand new squad for a League One or League Two side in this country.

The mind boggles at how Madrid can keep this financial push going as they seem to have more money at the moment than sense or the government of a small country. Kaka will be on a good deal, as will David Villa if he completes his move from Valencia. Madrid should be very wary, these amounts of money could make an ego that is already quite large, one of epic proportions and there could come a case where Ronaldo feels he is the main man at the club and the person who should run the show.

For once Platini says something we can all agree on.

2009-06-13T04:35:00.000-07:00

For once UEFA president, Michel Platini has come out with a statement that we can all agree on as opposed to an unrealistic erratic view of something in the game. Platini is not happy about the amount of money that Real Madrid are spending and is prompting the suggestion that something should be done about it.

Madrid have spent over £130 million on two players in the past week, which has led to outcry from all sections of the football community. It has also been taken as insult by a number of world charities that are working tirelessly day after day to eradicate the real problems in the world.

The worry is that these excessive amounts of money floating around in the game will virtually buy top clubs a place in the top divisions forever. The gap between the best and the rest is already wide enough and the recent transfer activity has sparked suggestions that a budget system should be introduced to stop this gap between first and second tier clubs from getting any bigger.

Platini said: “These excessive transfers are happening almost every day. They represent a serious challenge to the idea of fair play and the concept of financial balance in our competitions. UEFA is working hard with clubs to establish a new set of rules as soon as is possible to clean up the system and give it a more solid and more transparent base. That is our top priority.”

Platini created a lot of controversy in this country when it emerged earlier in the year that he wanted to change the Champions League system in order to stop so many English sides doing well. Some people may not have been expecting the common sense that he has just come out with and it creates hope that something can be seriously done to stop Madrid in their tracks.

Until a capping system is introduced into the top of the game all over Europe and the world then the clubs can go about doing as they please, tapping up whoever they like until they ultimately get the transfer that they desire. How a football club, especially, in this day and age can fork out £80 million for one player is a joke.

That amount of money could probably pay for one or two more new wings in a hospital somewhere but instead it is being used to trade someone whose ego gets in the way of him actually seeing reality for what it is. It’s fair to say right now that the world record fee for Ronaldo will exist forever because now that Platini has got his teeth into the whole affair it is unlikely to be broken ever again.

So the advice to football clubs at the moment would be get your spending in before the official rules are put in place, because if they aren’t then football will descend into anarchy, run by a small number of clubs that make it impossible for anyone else to break their position at the summit.

The mickey takers continue to target Newcastle

2009-06-13T04:27:00.000-07:00

Those having a good giggle at the expense of Newcastle United can carry on laughing as it has emerged a £150 million deal to takeover the club was nothing more than a joke. A deal that was meant to buy the club for £90 million, install Alan Shearer as manager and allow £30 million for transfers appears to be a hoax as the merry go round on Tyneside continues to spin.

Newcastle’s current owner, Mike Ashley, has put the club up for sale with a price tag of £100 million. After inviting even more criticism for attracting abusive e-mails from Sunderland fans to club officials, as well as snubbing Alan Shearer in any decisions being made, Ashley continues to make a mockery out of the club.

The mystery group citied an investment banking group as the people who would fund the project and although this group is in negotiations over a possible bid, nothing has been made concrete. Therefore it appears that the press release relating to the deal was nothing more than a wind up and Newcastle fans may as well get back under the duvet as they may well have to hide for a little bit longer while things blow over.

It is blatantly obvious that Newcastle United need stability. This is why reported negotiations over a deal for the club is good news. However, they seem to be the subject of everyone’s jokes at present and this news is no different. It couldn’t really happen to any other club than Newcastle and things seem to be going from bad to worse.

How the most important officials at the club have not just handed in their notice and left is remarkable. After anyone was just invited to e-mail the club about players and buying the side itself, no one would have blamed an employee for walking away after receiving abuse and threats in their personal inbox form some Sunderland fans.

It makes you scratch your head and wonder what is actually going on at the club on a daily basis. There must be someone in an office somewhere at St James’ Park that has the ability to use a bit of logic and common sense in order to stop things from spiralling out of control.

The next moves are quite simple. Get the takeover and ownership of the club sorted as quickly as possible, done in a way that will make employees want to stay not jump ship. This will allow the club to appoint a permanent manager a lot more quickly and hence he can get to work on building a side for next season and keeping some of the club’s best players.

It will be a hard campaign for Newcastle when the Championship starts. They are likely to get a lot of abuse at every ground they go to and it needs a hard line management and playing staff to be able to take it all on the chin. However, if things do not improve quickly then they will be stuck visiting these grounds and not playing back in the big time.

Manchester City boss is expecting a busy summer.

2009-06-12T03:37:00.000-07:00

Manchester City manager, Mark Hughes, is expecting a lot of transfer activity this summer as the big clubs have already started to flex their financial muscles. Real Madrid have already spent just under £140 million on two players and City themselves spend over £10 million on Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry.

Chelsea are also reported to be lining up a couple of big deals with Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o the top of Carlo Ancelotti’s shopping list over the next three months. Hughes for one sees all the activity as healthy competition and thinks it will all make for an interesting transfer market.

He said: “There is a lot of money out there now, with some big clubs eager to spend it. It should make for an interesting market.”

City themselves have by far and away the biggest financial purse in the game but the problem for Hughes is that he may not be able to attract the high calibre players that he wants to. When there are other clubs with a lot of cash publicly looking for players then it will mean that agents are not able to direct traffic in City’s direction.

For example Manchester United will obviously be looking to make good the loss of Cristiano Ronaldo and if City approach the same players as their city counterparts then they will be more likely to miss out. Fair enough they did manage to poach Aston Villa’s best player from underneath the nose of Liverpool but this is unlikely to happen again during the transfer window.

It is probably more exciting for the fans that get to watch all of the drama at clubs unfolding. The fact that players can be traded so easily makes for interesting topics on rumours and speculation. It is even better if your club is involved and going for one of the best players in the country or in Europe.

However, there is a point that all of the money is bad for the game and there is good reason for people that hold this view to speak up in this particular area. The amount of cash that Real Madrid can spend on two people will quite frankly sicken certain people. Especially so when you consider the economic climate we are currently in and the growing number of health concerns across the world.

A big summer spending spree across a range of clubs could prompt FIFA into some sort of action whereby they impose a budget cap next season. This would stop so much money floating around and would enable smaller clubs to make good on the gap, which is currently developing between the top and everyone else.

So there are good and bad sides to big summer spending. Hughes is clearly of the camp that likes it, which is fair enough when he has the money to spend himself. However, there is a clear case for those that despise it, this group of people may eventually get their way and the £80 million fee for one player could remain as the world record for a very long time.

Robinho ruffles Manchester City feathers.

2009-06-11T04:14:00.000-07:00

Manchester City star, Robinho, has ruffled a few feathers by hinting at his dream transfer to Spanish champions, Barcelona. The commitment of the Brazilian has constantly been in question ever since he joined City last summer in a massive financial deal.

This led to calls from all sections of the game that Robinho had only joined City as a stepping stone between big clubs as they were willing to offer him more money than he had ever had to sign a big contract. The same day that he joined City he created controversy by saying he was happy to be joining Chelsea in the middle of an interview.

This news is likely to annoy many City fans and even manager, Mark Hughes, who was hoping that the services of the player would be enough to attract more high calibre stars to the club. If they let him leave then it could be a lot harder for City to attract players of a similar calibre and it could be a long time before the stars start walking through the gates at Eastlands.

Robinho said: “So far, there have only been speculations. There is nothing concrete and I haven't received any offers. The only thing I can say is that Barcelona are a great team and everybody would love to play for them.”

Many football fans will scratch their head at Robinho’s career as he possesses everything necessary to turn himself into one of the greatest players to have ever played the game. His temperament and nature prevented him from making a big impression at Real Madrid, which ultimately led to his sale last year.

Ever since he moved to City a lot of people have been saying that he does not look like he truly wants to be wearing the Manchester City colours and despite a fairly good first season in English football a lot of fans have come to question his desire and attitude.

The next move for City is quite simple, make sure the player is happy where he is and do everything possible to make sure he stays at the club. The big financial backers that have just taken over the club clearly have big ambitions but these cannot be fulfilled unless the best players stay at City.

With a lot of speculation already floating around City’s best defender, Richard Dunne, then it is vitally important that they quash the rumours surrounding their best attacking force. Mark Hughes is a smart enough manager to know how to handle the situation and Robinho would be well advised to keep his head down for a while as the sags unfolds.

If and only if Barca eventually do make bid for him can colour start being put on the picture, however the fact is that you would question why they would want him when they clearly have the best side in Europe. There are other areas of the Barcelona squad that could do with a lot more work as the attacking flair they already have is more than adequate.

Ronaldo saga finally ends.

2009-06-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

The Cristiano Ronaldo saga is finally over as it has emerged Manchester United have accepted an £80 million bid from Real Madrid for his services. The news comes after Real had pursued Ronaldo for well over a year and United have granted the two parties permission to talk in a deal that looks all but done.

It seems that United probably got a bit tired of the whole affair and once again Sir Alex Ferguson has proved that no one player is bigger than his football club. The amount United will get also breaks the new world record fee that Real created only days ago.

They will be able to use that vast sum of money to bring in maybe two or three high quality players to replace the Portuguese ace. Many will be glad to see the back of him but there will be United fans who will be upset after Ferguson stated he would rather let Ronaldo rot in the stands than sell him to the vultures at Madrid.

A statement from United read: “Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80 million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid. At Cristiano's request - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice.”

The news is sure to anger many that will hate the fact that a football club such as Real Madrid can spend up to £140 million on two players considering the current economic crisis in the world. However, as it has always been seen, money matters little in football and it was only a matter of time before Real managed to get their foot through the door.

This news should also prompt the people at Fifa to work a bit harder to think up some sort of budget cap system to be introduced into the game. £80 million for one player is a stupid amount of money and personifies everything that is becoming wrong with football.

Needless to say Ronaldo will probably be offered a silly amount of money to play each week for Madrid, which could make the deal even more lucrative than it already is. How much money Real have left to spend is unknown but it had been thought that Kaka was the early replacement for Ronaldo, however this was not the case.

Madrid’s president, Florentino Perez, seems as though he is making good on all the promises he made in the run up to his election but there will be many hard feelings created towards him with this news.

United should not be down that they have let their best player go. Ferguson attracted a lot of criticism when he let the likes of David Beckham and Ruud Van Nistelrooy leave, both of whom also went to Real Madrid. The Scot is likely to use the cash to rebuild key areas and United will probably feel relieved that Ronaldo has finally gone.

Croatian would be a brilliant coup for Portsmouth.

2009-06-10T22:57:00.000-07:00

If Portsmouth can persuade Slaven Bilic to become their next manager then it would be a fantastic arrival to the club that could propel it to new heights. Pompey have only just under gone a financial transition between owners and are now looking for someone to come in and guide the team into the top six of the Premier League.

For the first time in the club’s history, Pompey now have a bit of financial muscle to flex as they are owned by the same person that spear headed the take over of Manchester City. The financial benefits of that take over have been fully seen and a similar effect could be had down on the South coast if Bilic is appointed as boss.

Bilic’s agent said today: “Slaven is open to offers and there is interest from Portsmouth. There are different clubs who want him but he is very interested. Portsmouth have tried to get in touch, but there is no concrete offer at this stage. But the idea of working with and building the club would excite him.”

“There are a lot of different clubs who want him and he is considering those options. There are big teams in Germany interested and other teams in England have shown an interest, as well as Celtic.”

To begin with Bilic does not currently earn anything like the amount of money that Premier League managers are on and hence he would happily listen to a lucrative contract if it were put in front of him. Although money isn’t every thing in the modern game it would mean that Bilic would possibly have no qualms in dropping the current commitments he has in order to move on.

He clearly has some managerial ability as his tenure in charge of Croatia saw them qualify for last summer’s European Championships at the expense of a poor England side. So if Pompey want someone who knows what he is doing and has the ability to tactically change a game very quickly then Bilic could be there man.

Furthermore Croatia’s current World Cup qualifying campaign has not gone exactly according to plan it may have been a matter of time before the powers that be in Croatia would have looked for an alternative option anyway.

A lot of people also know a lot about him in this country. He spent a large part of his playing career with the West Ham United shirt on and earned a reputation as a no nonsense type of player who demanded the best from himself and everyone else. These could be virtues that work very well for Pompey as they will need a strict regime to stop players getting carried away with the new financial luxury that has just hit the club.

It is not possible to be able to read Bilic’s next move but it would be hard for him to turn down the chance to work in the Premier League. He also knows the country and the language so it would be easier for him to settle down in Portsmouth than it would be in a part of another country.

Liverpool boss is satisfied with summer budget.

2009-06-10T22:50:00.000-07:00

Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, says he is happy with the budget he has been given for this summer as Liverpool look to close the gap on current champions, Manchester United.

Liverpool have already missed out on signing Gareth Barry, a player who they had been tracking for well over a year. However, the boss insists that Liverpool’s failure to capture Barry was not down to not having enough money. Liverpool have spent a large sum in making sure that important players stay at the club this summer and are ready to play for next season.

Fernando Torres for example is the club’s best striker and was offered a lucrative new deal that will keep him in the side until roughly 2012/2013. It is important that Liverpool keep the spine of their side in place as one or two key players have been linked with moves away from the club e.g. Xabi Alonso’s possible move to Real Madrid.

Speaking today, Benitez said: “We spent some money to guarantee the extension of those contracts. Now we need to improve a little bit because we are in a very good position. We knew it would be difficult, especially as there is a [financial] crisis all around the world.”

“But when I decided to sign a five-year extension to my contract, I knew in my own mind that Liverpool is more than just a club, it is the heart of the city. It means so much to a lot of people. We want to keep our best players and Xabi has done really well for us. He has three years left on his contract so he is not for sale.”

This is all positive news for Liverpool fans who may have been wondering why the club had not put up a better fight in order to make sure that Barry was wearing the red shirt next season on not the light blue one. However, it is clear that Liverpool were not willing to pay over the odds for a player in the same way that City were and they seem content to work hard this summer to make sure that all arrivals are correct.

The worry is that with a reported limited budget, Benitez will have to focus on one or two players when he would have liked to have bought three or four. Top of the list si sure to be David Villa of Valencia, who no doubt will want the chance to play in th Premier League under a manager he already knows and with a striker than he is best friends with. There is also the added benefit that quite a few people at Liverpool speak Spanish.

Benitez seems smart enough to make sure Liverpool get things right in the transfer window and he is probably still hurting from being shown up by United in the latter part of the season that has just finished. There will be names on a list that he is but the selection of the correct ones will determine how close Liverpool can get next year.

TV giant about to fall down quickly.

2009-06-09T04:28:00.000-07:00

TV giant, Setanta, is about to fall flat on its face as the company faces administration. Setanta owes the Premier League roughly £30 million and will plummet from business unless financial backers can stump up the cash to save the station.

Setanta has come in for a lot of criticism for its handling of certain TV rights and the fact that it deprives a mainstream audience from being able to watch a lot of big games, which are only viewable to a small number that have subscribed to the station.

The broadcaster also owes money to the Scottish Premier League, which is roughly ten times less than it owes to the English version. Therefore it seems highly unlikely that unless something is drastically done Setanta will drop like a fly from providing us with top-flight entertainment.

Setanta also has rights to show live cricket matches and golf tournaments but the revenue generated from 1.2 million subscribers is clearly not enough to stamp out the growing debts that it is building up on a daily basis.

No doubt the news will be a welcome relief to Setanta’s competitors. In the recent battle for rights to show live sports next season Sky virtually swept the board. This will please a lot of people that never really saw the point in a small broadcaster showing high quality matches that only a small number actually paid to watch.

It will also be good news for many in the current economic climate as a lot of people may already have Sky and for this reason they will not have to renew or sign up for a Setanta subscription in order to prevent them from missing out on a lot of entertainment in the months to come.

The news just acts as proof that the lucrative world of global sport is expensive and requires a lot of funds, time and attention in order to provide a high quality service. This is something Sky have consistently done since the Premier League was formed in 1993 and is something they now look like they will be unrivalled in doing.

TV rights to show Premier League football are getting more expensive as each season passes. Due to this Setanta now looks like it will go the same way as ITV Digital did in 2003 after it was reported that they were unable to pay the full amount of £105 million for the rights they had acquired to show Premier League football and highlights.

So for now the broadcaster has a lot of work to do but the whole scenario just goes to show that you should never try and punch your weight against a competitor that has everything. Sky have the reputation and the reliability of service to be able to consistently deliver and what many people thought would happen is finally unfolding.

Deloitte will step in and run the company should administration finally kick in however, fortunately for Setanta they won’t be facing any ten-point penalties that could dent their future for a long time to come.

Friendship a dangerous game

2009-06-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Managers in top flight football have a very clear choice. Their managership style.

Some choose to be pals with the players, others prefer to keep their distance. Fabio Capello has obviously chosen the latter. So what does he get? Criticism about being dour and not having a relationship with his squad.Fortunately, the rather acid attack has come not from the England team but from new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti who claims the Italian was surly when in charge of AC Milan in the early 1990s.

In his biography, Ancelotti alleges that Capello had no dialogue with his players, an allegation that has totally baffled the England manager. In fact, he says he doesn’t recognise himself from the description.

Neither will England fans. Since arriving, Fabio Capello might not have been a bundle of laughs or a man who jokes, eats and plays with his team. Unfortunately, other England managers have done just that over the years and looked where that got them and the side? Capello might not dance up and down the touchlines or slap his squad on the back every time they secure a win. But it’s obvious to all that he is the thinking man’s manager who demands respect and gets it.

Managers who become close to their players are dicing with a dangerous game. It’s always said there is no room for sentiment in business and the same applies to football. Managers are there to make tough decisions and the old pals act with the squad just won’t wash. Friendships between managers and players can only lead to trouble, jealously, recriminations and back-stabbing.

So far, Capello has managed to avoid all of this and conducted himself in the most upright of manners.Okay, he didn’t go out to dinner with the players at AC Milan or, perhaps even more crucially, with the journalists either. No leaks, no sneaky headlines in the press, no public arguments. If Ancelotti wants to regard this as being dour, that’s his perogative. Let’s see what sort of relationship he strikes up with Chelsea and where that will lead him if and when the going gets tough.

Capello is doing a great job for England and has lifted spirits. He also has a record second to none. A former professional footballer, he won the domestic league title with every club he has managed, namely Milan, Juventus, Real Madrid and Roma.

During his managerial career, Capello has become known as a disciplinarian and has no hesitation in clamping down on even his star players if he feels they are not pulling their weight. Given headlines in the past about England teams – from eating unhealthy breakfasts to playing cards and falling out of nightclubs at the crack of dawn – it’s just what we needed.

Capello gets a lot of money to do his job and he is earning it. He’s no stranger to public fallings-out as David Beckham found to his cost when at Real Madrid and that too sounds a warning to the England team. No player is too big to be brought down to size. Capello isn’t afraid to admit when he is wrong too and to bring players back into the team when he feels the time is right. Did Beckham ever believe he would get back into the Real Madrid team or even captain England again?

Capello may well have been touched with controversy during his career and made some ill-advised public comments but he remains unblemished and a family man. He deserves our respect alone for mastering the English language so quickly. Oh but for us Brits to speak Italian fluently!

Fabio Capello has already indicated that managership of England will be his last role and he intends to go out on a high. There would be few who would bet against it.

England vs Kazakhstan

2009-06-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

Can England expect?

This is it folks! England are one step nearer to the 2010 World Cup finals and dare we think about searching out our St George’s flags and dusting down our car banners?

If there’s one thing guaranteed to lift the nation, it’s success in football and moods would certainly be lifted once we know our team is guaranteed a place in next year’s tournament.

It’s certainly looking good. England have now won six straight victories in six successive World Cup qualifiers. Just who would have thought it? Just a year ago, fans were turning off the television in droves because of the dire state of English football. Why put ourselves through such torture, we were asking ourselves.

Then along came a magic wand, courtesy of Fabio Capello. Seems the Italian maestro can do no wrong and England are once again flying high. Talk is even turning to England actually winning the 2010 World Cup. Now that is ambitious!

As usual, England put us through the grinder as they got off to a shaky start against Kazakhstan in Almaty. Striker Sergey Ostapenko nearly gave supporters a heart attack as he missed a clear chance on 19 seconds and then had a goal ruled off-side.

But Gareth Barry answered his critics after a week of controversy over his move from Aston Villa to Manchester City. Ironically, his opening goal on 41 minutes followed a link-up with Steven Gerrard, the man he might well have partnered if he had gone to Liverpool last year.

Stalwart Emile Heskey showed that his resurgence in the squad was no fluke when he made it 2-0 on 45 minutes, giving England fans the chance to get out their 2010 diaries and book their holidays from work.

Rooney got on the score sheet again on 73 minutes with a spectacular overhead kick after a rebound. This was his eighth goal in six internationals, surely one of the keys to Capello’s success. Frank Lampard then slotted home goal number four with a penalty on 78 minutes to secure a convincing win for England and a competent second half performance.

England now top the Group 6 table with a straight 18 points from six matches and an impressive 20 goals scored and just four away. One of their biggest rivals, Spain also top their Group 5 table, having netted 13 goals and conceded just two.
England are playing down qualification hopes by saying they are taking it a game at a time and Capello refuses to get carried away. Obtaining 21 points by mid-week would, he says, be good but not conclusive.

Captain John Terry shares the view and believes there is still plenty of improvement to come. He is concerned about hitting form a year too early but surely England need to send out a clear signal to their competitors ie watch out for us, we are a force to be reckoned with. Certainly, Terry believes England can match Spain for performance and few would disagree, provided we can get over our wobbly starts and not concede any silly early goals.

In any event, a 100 per cent World Cup qualification record is something to be proud of and to shout about. It’s a long time since England could boast such a feat and the achievement shouldn’t be under-estimated or played down. For once, it’s a great feeling to be able to put on an England shirt and wear it with pride rather than out of duty.

Splashing the cash for Barry

2009-06-03T04:17:00.000-07:00

Money really does talk when it comes to football.

Manchester City have become the latest high-fliers, splashing out 12 million pounds on Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry. The 28-year-old has reportedly signed a five year deal which will bring him in around 80,000 pounds a week. Not a bad pay cheque which obviously had to be a huge attraction for Barry.

Villa fans are obviously bitterly disappointed that he will not be part of their campaign next season and are blaming cash as the incentive. Aston Villa are going great guns, having finished a very creditable fifth under Martin O’Neill to Arsenal and very nearly pipping them for fourth place. But a place in the Europa League and the prospect of challenging the big four in the Premiership – Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal – obviously wasn’t enough to keep Barry at Villa Park, if indeed he had any choice in the matter.

Manchester City supporters are, of course, thrilled and they believe they are the team to watch next season. Other big signings are expected as Mark Hughes bids to strengthen his squad now money appears to be little object. He has praised Barry’s flexibility in being able to play according to tactics and believes his experience and determination will count for everything. Barry is certainly one of the best midfielders in the country today. He played more than 400 games for Villa, scoring 52 goals and has won 29 caps for England, a number which arguably should already have been substantially more. Capello might well be putting that right in due course.

Barry says he feels real potential with Manchester City, said to have been the only club to put forward a bid. Liverpool obviously took the huff following last year’s debacle when protracted negotiations to buy Barry failed. The price tag of 18 million pounds was considered just too high. Liverpool won’t be wasting any time crying over spilled milk, that’s for sure.

Barry had been offered a lucrative deal to stay on at Villa after his contract ended next season but at least his departure should open the way for new arrivals and Liverppol have their sights set elsewhere too. Manchester City finished the season tenth but only 12 points behind Aston Villa, not a huge margin and one Barry will obviously be helping to bridge. Let’s see if money really can build a team. It worked originally for Chelsea and if Manchester City can splash the cash, why not go for it.

In any event, Barry’s signing fee pales into insignificance with all the talk about where Kaka is going to land up – Chelsea or Real Madrid. Real are said to be negotiating a deal which would cost them a staggering 65 million euros though AC Milan have denied the reports and both the club and Kaka say he is staying put. Now that really would be a huge purchase on your credit card bill!

Can Ancelotti build the dream?

2009-06-02T03:24:00.000-07:00

Is money already talking under the new regime of Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti? The former AC Milan manager is making no secret of the fact that European glory is his main aim. He pledges that Chelsea will lift the Champions League crown within the next three years and who would bet against them doing it in his first season in charge?

Ancelotti knows European football inside and out and has a pedigree of success. He guided AC Milan to victory in 2003 and then again in 2007 and won the trophy twice as a player. He describes success in the tournament as “beautiful” and the pay cheque isn’t too bad either. Might that have something to do with his ambition?

Certainly, Chelsea fans will be hungry for success after reaching five semi-finals in six years. The taste of being beaten by Manchester United on penalties in the 2008 final is still bitter and players will relish the challenge. Ancelotti also promises to retain the feel-good factor at Stamford Bridge following the club’s victory in the FA Cup. The team and supporters are relishing their first bit of silverware in two years, thanks to outgoing boss Guus Hiddink who delivered the perfect leaving present.

But club faithfuls are already asking whether European glory should be Ancelotti’s main target. What about the Premiership or is this going to take second fiddle to the Champions League? If so, it will spell great news for both Manchester United and Liverpool who will be battling it out for top spot. Perhaps it might have been more diplomatic for Ancelotti to target as much success as possible, including the Champions League. Building a dream on the continent is commendable but performing on the stage at home in front of a crowd who pay good money to see their club has to be a top priority as well.

Chelsea fans will also be interested to see what type of play Ancelotti will favour. Will he encourage the free-flowing style the Blues are used to or adopt the AC Milan more stifled approach? One player who insists he won’t be following his former boss to Stamford Bridge is ace forward Kaka. Both Real Madrid and Chelsea are rumoured to be interested in signing him but Kaka says he has no intentions whatsoever of leaving Milan, full spot. That means he will be signing for Chelsea before the end of June then.

Though Chelsea fans will be relishing Ancelotti’s obvious ambition, he’s got a hard act to follow in the footsteps of Jose Mounrinho and Hiddink who became firm favourites. Ancelotti does have a good track record and says he is very much a people’s person, likes to work together and be close to the players. He also speaks very highly of Chelsea and their teamwork. Ancelotti certainly talks the talk, now let’s see what he can deliver on the field, whether for home tournaments, the Premier League or Europe. He wants to build a dream and Chelsea will want him to deliver.

Liverpool secure future of their best player.

2009-06-01T03:13:00.000-07:00

Liverpool have secured the future of their best player with the news that Fernando Torres has signed a new contract. Torres is now contracted to the Anfield club until 2013 with the option of an extra year if desired.

It will be welcome news to Rafael Benitez who will want to create a team that will win the Premier League next year. The length and depth of his feud with Sir Alex Ferguson has been shown on many occasions this season with the odd rant or two but Rafa will know that this is the first building block to success.

Torres joined Liverpool from Athletico Madrid for £20 million in July 2007. Since this point he has become one of the best strikers in Europe and probably doubled in value making him one of Liverpool’s most potent attacking threats and one of the most feared strikers in Europe.

The combination of Torres and Steven Gerrard has been more than enough to break through the defences of many teams and the news of a lengthened contract shows the ambition that is building inside Liverpool’s Spanish gaffer.

Benitez said: “We’ve made huge progress this season and now we need to take the next step. We are building something special here and securing such important players as Fernando on long-term deals means we can move forward with confidence. He has shown how much he wants to achieve success at Liverpool by committing his future to the club. He’s a special talent, but still has the hunger to improve his game.”

Liverpool have just hard arguably their best season since the Premier League started in 1993. Benitez puts a lot of the fact they didn’t push Manchester United closer down to the fact that for a lot of games Torres was not fully fit and could not play a part.

Well with his future secured and with his fitness now properly sorted it out it is likely that Torres could well end up as the best striker in the Premier League next season. A lot depends on the work that Benitez does in the transfer window as he will need to bring in some big names as well as improving the fringes of the squad.

It was the depth of Liverpool’s squad that cost them at crucial times last season. Most notably was the 4-4 draw the developed against Arsenal at Anfield, a match that Liverpool should probably have won at a canter.

However, the spine of the side is very good. The keeper and the defence have played together for a long time and Liverpool have one of the best midfield players in the world making things tick in the middle of the pitch. Rafa would do well to mould the rest of the team around Gerrard and Torres and now he has no excuses for not propelling Liverpool to success.

Torres really needs a high class player beside him in the attack and if Liverpool make reality of the David Villa from Valencia rumours then they could give anyone a run for their money next season.

Team England 2012?

2009-05-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

So, England are likely to field a GB soccer team in the 2012 Olympics. About time too.

But what on earth has been going on behind the scenes and can Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales really justify their decision not to be part of the venture?

Isn’t everyone supposed to be proud to be British? And when it comes to the Olympic Games, shouldn’t standing under the banner of the Union Jack be enough to unite us all?

Obviously not. At least Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have raised no objections to England putting in a team and let’s hope this becomes a reality.

All sorts of sports are now included on the Olympic agenda and England participating in the football tournament would substantially raise the game of soccer. Star players like John Terry, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard have already been touted as the senior players likely to make the squad, with the stage given over to the younger emerging talent. It would be a difficult decision for any footballer to opt out of the chance to win a coveted Olympic medal and England would stand every chance of going for gold. A player could win every trophy under the sun, whether an FA Cup medal or the Champions League, but the honour of owning an Olympic gold, silver or bronze must surely be the highest possible accolade.

FIFA has yet to decide the way ahead and there will be big questions to ask about how the team will actually be selected and what nationality they should be. Will it simply be players born in England who can play for Team GB or could stars who have one English parent and another from Scotland or Wales or Northern Ireland also be eligible?

The other big question is would we want them to be included? If there countries make the choice not to participate, then surely that sets the rules? It seems a great shame that in these days of so-called equality, huge divides still exist between England and our neighbours. There continues to be antagonism and the days of one country’s fans cheering on another, despite all coming under the umbrella of Great Britain, are a long way off.

It would be nice to think that a GB soccer team would be just that – a team representing the whole of Great Britain. But it won’t and the only fans cheering them on to victory will be predominantly English. If they win, then everyone behind the venture would be well justified for celebrating an English victory, not one for GB as a whole.
Just one final thought. The man who could make all this a possibility? Would you bet against David Beckham having a major involvement? And after England, sorry Team GB, win the gold at the 2012 Olympics, will it eventually be Arise, Sir David?

English dominance will continue.

2009-05-28T02:12:00.000-07:00

English dominance in the Champions League will not end after Manchester United’s bitter final defeat last night. Although it was a Spanish club that eventually won the competition it was still England that produced the most clubs who reached the final stages.

Not one of the other English sides who played in this season’s competition would have got even close to Barcelona last night but the point is that it is English football that creates the opportunities and clearly something is going right in the Premier League.

This final was the fifth year in a row that an English side had made it to the final. It was also about the umpteenth time that Chelsea and Liverpool met each other in European competition and there are no signs why all of the English sides won’t carry on dominating Europe’s biggest prize.

All of the English teams play high quality and good standard football. The difference between them and the Spanish league is that Barcelona are clearly much better than anyone else they currently play against. They beat everyone they play off the park but the English sides are always much closer.

This is why when the Champions League starts each year the English sides fly through the early stages and into the final stages with little more than a trip along the way. Domestically there is little to choose between them and they can all get one over on each other every time they meet. Not many people bear in mind that even though United won the Premier League, they had one of the worst records in recent years for playing the other big teams.

The standard of quality over an extended period of time is so much better. The Premier League is a lot more physical and entertaining and although the Spanish style of play is a lot prettier to watch, we do kind of enjoy seeing teams kick each other up in the air in this country.

If Mr. Platini has his way then English dominance will end and it will be a crying shame that the best sides in Europe on a consistent basis are restricted from playing each other and reaching the later stages just because they have proved they play better football more often than any other country in Europe.

There is nothing quite like a European night when two English sides go up against each other for the prize of going onto play other great teams like Barcelona. If this magic is dispelled then the Champions League will lose a lot of its appeal and glamour and the window for the best league in Europe will be shut because of one man.

English dominance of the Champions League will continue because the Premier League is the highest standard of league in Europe. All of the teams are closer and test each other on a weekly basis, which means that when it is time for mid-week Champions League games they would have already played against a high quality team just days before.

Hull boss promised the funds to consolidate.

2009-05-26T05:36:00.000-07:00

Hull City manager, Phil Brown, has been promised funds to make sure his side consolidate and stay in the Premier League. Hull managed to scrape through the last day drama at the expense of Newcastle United who will be playing Championship football next season.

To ensure that the club do not find themselves in the same position next season, Hull’s chairman, Paul Duffen, has promised there will be money available to buy bigger named players when the transfer window opens this summer.

He said: “What we lacked in outright quality we had to make up for in blood, guts and commitment and I'm immensely proud that they got across the line. We go into next year with the squad we've got today and then we can improve on that. That's a huge difference to having to assemble an entire Premier League squad from scratch.”

“We're based on a very good work ethic and you need to add a bit of quality to that. It was difficult. I could give you all the platitudes like 'it's the points you get after 38 games' and 'we got a point more than Newcastle and we deserved to be there', but obviously it was heart-in-mouth stuff.”

“We limped across the line rather than burst though the tape. But we did it and now we've got the chance to learn from our first Premier League campaign, strengthen in the summer, and go forward next year a lot wiser.”

It was a very strange season for Hull who stunned everyone early on when they were beating the likes of Arsenal and Spurs with little trouble at their own grounds. However, a dip in this form saw them win only one match out of their last 22 games and there is no doubt that if they continue this abysmal form next season then they will drop out of the Premier League.

They will fancy their chances of a good mid-table finish though as the calibre of clubs coming up, bar Birmingham City, is not massive. There will be tremendous pressure on Burnley as well as one or two other clubs, which could provide Hull with an opportunity to improve and consolidate. They will surely be delighted with any finish that has them nowhere near the relegation scrap they have just gone through.

Hull now know the specific areas that they are weakest in and have the chance to improve. They are backed by a manager who clearly open minded and has a lot of ambition. Other chairmen could well have said you are not getting a penny and will have to improve this club with the players that got us into the mess this season in the first place.

For now the club should enjoy the feeling of staying up and lap up the partying over the next week or so. However, the time for hard graft will rapidly come round again and no one at Hull will want to go through what they have just experienced ever again.

Relegation day

2009-05-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Tears and cheers

You would have needed a very thick skin not to have been moved by the tears at St James Park as Newcastle lost their Premiership relegation battle.

One point was all the Geordies needed to survive but, once again, fate stepped in to change their history.Seeing the anguish on the faces of supporters as the final whistle blew tugged at the heart-strings. Chaps like these probably never even cry at their child’s school play or at their daughter’s wedding but then football is a very different kettle of fish.

Caretaker manager Alan Shearer remains a hero, of course, and there were immediate calls for him to stay on, take the team by the scruff of its neck and head the Championship table next season.

Let’s face it, it’s going to take an awful lot of work. There was so much talk on relegation day about why such a great team like Newcastle have under-achieved and why they were unable to stay up. Shearer summed it up simply. They were just not good enough.

Shearer’s sensible talk is one of the reasons why he has endeared himself to the nation. No back-sniping. No whinges. No bitching.Shearer always had faith that Alex Ferguson would put out a Manchester United squad which could beat Hull. He did and they did. But that defeat was no good unless Newcastle achieved at least a point against Aston Villa.

How cruel is fate. Damian Duff could have put Newcastle ahead and in the driving seat within the first ten minutes. Instead, as Villa took a strike on goal, the ball took a cruel deflection off Duff whose name went down on the own goal list.

Every script-writer in the land was praying for Michael Owen to come on and score the winner in injury time. It was not to be. Owen hardly had a touch of the ball and looked a pale shadow of his former self. There was only one person who could have come on and saved the game and that would have been Shearer himself. As a player, he never ever gave up, always leading from the front, always going for every ball and never giving up until that last whistle blew.

Of course, it was probably an impossible task for Shearer to save Newcastle, having been brought in with just eight games to go. The damage had already been done with a succession of managers and a team which just didn’t know which way it was going.

Sadly, that direction is down but at least Newcastle can make their mark on the Championship and surely must be promotion contenders even at this stage.Sunderland meanwhile were celebrating staying in the Premiership to the cost of their biggest rivals. But how unsavoury was the reaction of some of their fans?

Before the game, Alan Shearer had the guts to wish them luck, although not too much, he had added with a wry smile.How did the Sunderland supporters respond? With placards asking everyone to laugh at Newcastle’s plight. Ha ha ha.

Come on Sunderland. That’s not just British. Better to follow the example of some of your colleagues who chose humour instead. Who is going to be your next saviour, they asked? Ant or Dec? Hopefully, the answer will be Alan Shearer himself.

England injury list gets longer

2009-05-25T05:20:00.000-07:00

Fabio Capello’s injury headache seems to be getting worse by the day with Shaun Wright-Phillips the latest high calibre player to join the injury list. Capello already faces a dilemma in the goalkeeper and defensive positions for England’s big summer qualifiers for the World Cup next year.

The big first choice players all look like they will take part without any problems but the worry is that without much back up then if a Gerrard or Lampard gets injured, there is very little to come in and replace them. It is a thorn in the side for the Italian because he will be hoping that England can secure qualification with six points from their next two qualifying matches.

The depth of the problem is highlighted by the fact that Capello has handed a call-up to veteran right back, Gary Neville of Manchester United. He may also be joined by Nedum Onuoha of Manchester City and the manager of the latter, Mark Hughes, says Onuoha would be the better pick: “''He has really come on this season. He has always been viewed as a kid with huge potential. As an athlete he had the tools to be a top-rate player.”

“If he did get in the full England squad it wouldn't faze him. He is a very level-headed guy.”

England should not have any problems with this current qualifying campaign. They look a lot stronger and tougher than the days of failure to qualify for Euro 2008. The injury news could be pounced upon by a number of players wanting to make an impression. This could well end up lifting the spirit of the side and turn out to be quite refreshing for all concerned.

Opportunities are starting to arise that would otherwise have not been available and whoever gets given the nod by Capello will want to prove to him and all England fans that they are good enough to be able to warrant a regular place in the side. These players will want to make sure that we are all crammed into pubs by midday next summer hoping to cheer success in our thousands.

There is still the massive Champions League final to be played on Wednesday night and no doubt Capello will have one eye on proceedings hoping that no more of his high profile stars goes off with a little niggling injury that keeps them out of any international plans.

However, England should not be down at the injury problems they are facing. It was not too long ago that we took a side over to Germany that was heavily unfavoured by everyone before promptly beating the old enemy with a brilliant display of guts and determination.

This could be the opening of a door for a lot of players, a massive chance to be seized upon and the opportunity for individuals to never look back. It is unlikely that this could happen in any position other than with one of the goalkeepers, but there are a lot of hungry English players and they won’t care who the opposition is if they are given a start.

Ticket prices

2009-05-23T02:59:00.000-07:00

Cuts are just the ticket

At last! Premiership football clubs are finally getting the message that ticket prices are just too high. Top outfits like Blackburn Rovers and Bolton are leading the way where others now need to follow.

Clubs in lesser divisions have known it for years. You can’t expect full stadiums if you charge the earth to get in. Even the most die-hard fans are having to take a look at their hard-pressed finances during this prolonged economic recession and it’s not just the cost of the ticket. You have to take into account everything from travelling to the game, whether by car or on public transport, food and drink and, in some cases, overnight accommodation too.

Top clubs who continue to charge vast amounts for tickets need to come down a peg or two. No-one can afford to be conceited any more and think their star players or a great performance on the pitch is enough to secure the fans.

In any event, reduced ticket prices are a way of repaying the loyalty of supporters and breeding new fans amongst the young. There’s nothing so disheartening as seeing a half-full stadium and, conversely, nothing so cheering as a full one.

Of course, sceptics say clubs like Bolton are only reducing their prices because they can’t fill their seats because of their performance. If or when they became highly successful, ticket prices would soon soar.

This is, however, the fourth straight season that Wanderers have either frozen or reduced their prices. For the 2009/2010 campaign, the cost of an adult season ticket goes down by eleven per cent. Tickets for supporters under the age of 21 will be slashed by 39 per cent and those over 65 benefit from a reduction of 22 per cent.

Chairman Phil Gartside says the reductions are a direct result of consultation with fans and a way of saying thank you for their support, as well as encouraging families in these challenging times. Let’s take that as gospel. If the truth is they can’t fill their stadiums, there is no reason not to admit it, regardless of whether it’s because of the recession or the appeal of the club.

Financial incentives like this are vital to keep the game alive. Take my home side, Swindon Town FC for example. Last summer, one of their initiatives was to invite early applications for season tickets. If enough materialised – and the target in this case was 4,000 – then supporters would benefit from a substantial saving. All you had to do was pay half up front which also helped the club’s cash flow.

Unfortunately, the target fell short but it was a great idea which will probably work better the second time round. Everywhere you go at the moment, there are special offers in the shops and stores. Buy one, get one free. Huge discounts. Money back offers. Buy now, pay later.

Football clubs might also like to invest in some good marketing companies to come up with new ideas. That would be money well worth spent and produce a benefit to all.

Trying selling tickets for a good home game at ten pounds, for instance, and let’s see how the stands fill up. If they don’t, at least it won’t be through lack of effort.

Surprise star voted best player.

2009-05-21T02:11:00.000-07:00

Manchester City midfielder, Stephen Ireland, has been named the club’s player of the year beating a whole host of bigger names to the club’s highest accolade. Ireland has developed tremendously as a player this season and the award is just what he deserves for having the ability to break through a growing squad filled with bigger names than himself.

City are improving as a club all the time and the financial power the club holds is now public knowledge. The point is that taking this all into account makes what Ireland has done even more impressive. Robinho arrived at the club for big money and Ireland, a youth product, has been deemed as a better player over this season.

However, the good news also brings with it a heavy element of bad news. Ireland’s representatives have so far been unable to strike a deal with the club over a new contract for their best player. The terms of what can’t be agreed on are not known but this is a player that the club need to get to commit if they are going to develop further.

Ireland’s demands are apparently relatively modest considering the wealth of the club and if his requested wages is the main issue then the club need to stop stalling and offer a ‘whatever you like’ type agreement or risk losing a player that has held together a side that has been consistently uncertain of itself this year.

Ireland has the same character as Steven Gerrard of Liverpool. He can drop off and link up with the defence, play off the front man and create space for other players or play out wide and cause headaches to opposition left backs. He also runs his socks off for entire games and never complains when something negative is written about him or when the manager unduly subs him off of the pitch.

The fact that the players in second and third place for player of the yea are both defenders shows that City need much more of an attacking emphasis next season. No doubt this will be reflected in the way they act in the transfer market, but goals, goals and more goals are the only way City will progress and start winning things.

It is also a valid point to make that until they do actually start winning things, they will not actually be able to attract the high calibre players they would like. Although Robinho joined for lucrative wages, the club have failed in a bid to sign Kaka from AC Milan and Barcelona wouldn’t even talk about Lionel Messi, they probably thought it was an insult.

So praise where praise is due, well done to Ireland for a successful season in which he has shown what he can do. City need to bear in mind that sometimes they will have to look a lot closer to home in order to find the players that are going to make a real impact. It is refreshing to see someone who hasn’t been bought for millions or swayed to the club by cash as the person who is getting their biggest award of the year.

Cannavaro makes the move back home.

2009-05-20T03:27:00.000-07:00

Fabio Cannavaro has left Spanish giants Real Madrid to return home to Italy and play for his old side, Juventus. The Italian club has signed a one year contract for the side he left in 2006, after Juve were relegated automatically to the second division of Italian football.

This earnt him a massive amount of criticism at the time for effectively jumping ship on a team he was meant to completely represent. However, hopefully these feelings can be eradicated by the fact he has returned and will most likely retire at the club where he played his best football.

The move probably comes at the right time for both teams as well. Madrid will be looking to make big changes this summer and as Cannavaro is getting on in age, a valuable space in the playing squad has been created. Juve have just sacked their manager and look like they will be facing Champions League qualifiers in August.

The Italian side probably needed a lift after all of the negative news that has been coming out of the club over the last week and this could well be the signing that ignites inspiration from within. Whatever has happened in his absence, Cannavaro will want to walk straight back into Juventus and put things straight.

His return carries with it an additional pressure. Due to the way Cannavaro actually left the club, a lot of people will be looking in his direction when it comes to big games. Fans may think this is virtually his club but whether he still has the hunger and desire is questionable.

Speaking in the Italian media, Cannavaro seems relatively happy. He said: “I am happy to be back in Turin and to have the opportunity to again wear the black and white jersey.”

In his short spell at Madrid a lot of Cannavaro’s frailties were exposed. It was quite clear that he was unable to cope with the technical and high paced football, exposed even further by Liverpool when Madrid lost 4-1 at Anfield. The much more relaxed style of the Italian game should suit him better, after all this is where he was brought up and learnt his art.

The decision may well further his career by a couple of seasons. The lack of physicality in Italian football is one of the main reasons Paolo Maldini has probably been able to play for so long. If it were another highly rated and fast paced European league he had moved to then his body would have told him a lot more quickly that it was time to pack it in.

However, for every Juve supporter across Europe, for now they should rejoice in this news. It is a small positive to a club that has been struggling to make strides this season and a club that has all too often under achieved. Although Cannavaro is clearly not as good as he once was, there can be no doubt around the fact that he will kick the club into shape.

Milan rivals join the race to sign Adebayor

2009-05-19T04:24:00.000-07:00

AC Milan’s great rivals, Inter Milan, have reportedly joined the race to sign Arsenal forward, Emanuel Adebayor. Adebayor has been linked constantly with a move to AC Milan over the last few days but new reports are appearing in the Italian media that Inter are poised to make a surprise bid to poach him from under the noses of their city rivals.

Jose Mourinho is thought to want Adebayor to link up with Zlatan Ibrahimovich in the Inter front line and create a striking partnership that could penetrate the defence of any team in Europe. Adebayor has been taunted by his own fans in the last couple of games that Arsenal have played, a lack of support that has resulted from all the reports emerging about his future.

It is unlikely that Arsene Wenger would want Adebayor to go to either side but this summer could well be the time for him to move on. Inter seem the better proposition, they are the best team in Italy and have proved they have a lot of fight for the European game. However, AC have been interested for a lot longer and are unlikely to miss out on a target they may have been preparing a bid for over a long stretch of time.

AC also have the added advantage of previous contact with Arsenal, they had an offer for Adebayor turned down last summer before an actual deal could be struck. It could simply be a case of picking up where both sides left the situation. Considering that Mourinho does not want to pay as much as AC Milan have already offered suggests that Arsenal could only be looking in one direction.

However, stranger things have happened in football and when you take into account the fact that Adriano has left Inter to go back to Brazil, it could push the Inter boss into forking out as much as is necessary in order to get his man.

From Arsenal’s point of view all they really have to do is sit back and wait. Wenger is happy to keep Adebayor who has flourished under his management and on the other hand they will quite happily let a bidding war develop between the two Italian clubs.

AC are just starting to get back the momentum they lost a couple of seasons ago when the corruption in Italian football was exposed and high calibre clubs were severely punished. The fact that Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly about to leave the managerial position there could risk the bid for Arsenal’s main striker. However, they will fight, as a number of other people involved in the original bid for him will still be at the club.

Arsenal would do well not to let Adebayor go anywhere. It is clear how far the club are from being as good as they once were and this is precisely the sort of player they need to hang onto if they are going to get back to the golden days. The booing by fans does not help and could well be one of the things that pushes this under rated striker out of the door.

Italian giants let Ranieri go

2009-05-19T04:12:00.000-07:00

Italian giants Juventus have sacked their manager, Claudio Ranieri, after a poor run of results saw them make little progress in Serie A. Youth team coach Ciro Ferrara will replace him for the foreseeable future.

Ranieri will be known to most lovers of English football for the stint he spent in charge of Chelsea. It was in West London that he built his reputation as a great tactician and a character that many people found it hard not to fall in love with.

Juventus are fourth in the Italian league, which means the prospect of having to play Champions League qualifiers. The reason that so many teams are dreading the prospect of this is because the rules have been changed to create an open field.

Basically Juventus could get anyone from an established team like Arsenal to a not so established team from elsewhere in Europe. This decision proves the pressure that modern day managers are under in order to go and get high profile results on a consistent basis.

No doubt Ranieri will now have a spell out of the game to regroup all of his energy and passion in order to return better than ever before. There will be a host of clubs chasing his signature and one or two from the Premier League could make an enquiry as he does have the experience of the fast paced English game.

He also has a wealth of experience in European football and showed when his side met Chelsea in the Champions League that despite any gulf between the two sides in terms of quality, he could still work and inspire a team to give anyone a run for their money.

It is a shame he has been given the sack because many people in Italy would probably be the first to admit that he is the exact sort of person you could go for a friendly chat or drink with, without even knowing him. The decision has been made based on purely football reasons only and in a strange way this is a compliment to the Italians character.

Ranieri clearly got on well with the club, there were no rumours flying around for months before hand that he disagreed with the board or the powers at be at the club. All parties concerned just felt that the football was not moving forwards any more and for this reason the manager had to change. He had a good run but could not fulfil the ambitions of the club.

Ranieri will not be the sort of person that would want his next side to meet Juventus in a competition and stuff them out of sight, however satisfying this may be. He would want to meet them and display the gracious character for which he is so admired, proving that they were wrong to let him go and proving that he still has fire inside him to keep him fighting in a game that all so often throws up various injustices. Good luck to him wherever he now goes.

United wrap up the title with goalless draw

2009-05-18T00:21:00.000-07:00

Manchester United have wrapped up their third Premier League title on the bounce after a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford. It becomes the first time since 1999 that United have clinched the title in front of their own fans and caps off yet another efficient league campaign.

In a strange match, it was actually Arsenal who were the more dominant and probably should have spoilt the party. However, United appeared determined to not be broken down and saw out the match, which was met with mad scenes at the final whistle.

United have now drawn level with Liverpool’s domestic record of 18 league crowns and Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping to gain 19 by this time next year. The side will enjoy the next few days but will have the Champions League final against Barcelona in the back of their minds as well as the fact they owe to the rest in the relegation scrap to compete against Hull City on the final day.

Ferguson said: “The great challenge now is to try and win it next year because that would be something special. A 19th league title would give us a special place in the club’s history.”

Minds will have already started thinking about next season and the drama that is unlikely to unfold over the summer. The two main tasks for the United boss is to make sure that two of his best players, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, are both wearing the shirt of Manchester United at the start of next season.

Tevez’s substitution yesterday was met with a chorus of boos around Old Trafford and the scenes of Tevez waving to every corner of the ground as he trundled off could well tell a subconscious story.

This was shortly forgotten however, as club captain Gary Neville hoisted the trophy into the air. Neville said: “The best thing about this season is that you can’t name our best side. The whole squad contributed, whether they played enough games to win a medal or not.”

“Liverpool have finished in title-winning form but we have not panicked, we have fought hard and had to show some guts to win it this time.”

United’s rivals will now know just how hungry the manager still is and they will all have to improve if they are to stop United creating history next year. This is clearly the best United squad in history and if it can be kept together then the thoughts of what the side is actually capable of is frightening. The prospect of three titles in a row as well as back-to-back European Cups is truly majestic.

It makes the mind boggle as to what actually keeps Sir Alex going. He has achieved everything he can in football but he will not lie down and retire until he has set a new title record. For as long as his health allows him he will continue to manager the football club and based on this season, they will continue to win things.

Rafa puts the difference down to cash

2009-05-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, says the main reason that Manchester United are ahead of his side in the Premier League table is the amount of cash they have to spend. Benitez continues to rattle off the words and excuses as it now seems all but certain that United will wrap up another league crown later today.

Benitez’s point is that every single player in the United squad carries a price tag and capital of a big sum of money, making the side a lot further away from the other teams that many think. However, it is a hard point to believe or go into when you consider the fact that Liverpool spent big money on Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane, the latter of which was sold back to Tottenham at an £8 million loss.

This in irony is one of the reasons United are financially more savvy than Liverpool. You very rarely see Sir Alex Ferguson going and spending £20 million on a player who he then decides he doesn’t like half a year later and then sells him off at a loss.

It is also important to remember that Ferguson built the success of United without the big money that he is now able to spend and it is this original success that attracted the better players and the bigger sponsors.

Liverpool have not had this success and although they may appear lucrative to sponsor because of the stature of the club and the history, in terms of modern success they are a little way off other clubs.

Speaking today, Benitez said: “When you talk about United, you are talking about a side that spends big, big money on every single player, every season. For me that is the main difference between the teams.”

Well arguably United now stand as the third richest club in England when it comes to funds available for transfers, behind the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. The point is that it is not the amount of money that breeds the success, it is how it is used.

Take the example of Everton who have been one of the only teams in the last few years to break into the top four and this is without lavish spending and working on a shoe string budget. It proves that there is still room for hard work in football and although Benitez may believe that money is the main difference, this just seems like the Spaniard grabbing at an excuse as his side’s title challenge has now failed.

Furthermore United have proved that they have a wealth of gifted youngsters at the club, all ready to step into the first team and have a big future as professionals. These are all young men that have not been bought at the peak of their career from another club. It proves that the United academy is functioning well and shows that efficient coaching is another reason for the success.

No doubt Liverpool will spend big this summer, they have to, in order to get closer to United. The point is that it is how Benitez spends the money, not the quantity. This is what sets aside the teams.

Leeds United and play offs

2009-05-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

Watch the body language

Who would have predicted it? The Coca Cola Division One play-off at Wembley on May 24 will be between Scunthorpe and Millwall. Hardened punters would have put their money on MK Dons and Leeds United and, let’s face it, they are the two teams which should really be there.

Both played their hearts out during the season, only to be denied at the final hurdle. Scunthorpe and Millwall might well produce a thrilling match but Leeds versus MK Dons would really have lifted the roof. Ironically, it was penalties which played a major role in both Scunthorpe’s success and the failure of Leeds.

A thrilling encounter between Scunthorpe and MK Dons ended without goals after 120 minutes of non-stop action, with the Dons eventually losing out 7-6 in the shoot-out. Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins said afterwards “I enjoyed it” but he must have been the only one. Fans on both sides had no nails left by the end of it.

However, Adkins perhaps provided the clue to their success by revealing his players regularly practise their penalties and their body language and the latter is often the difference between slotting home between the posts or hitting over the bar. “They all looked as though they meant business,” he said.

Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy was certainly on fine form and was hailed the hero of the match. Not surprisingly, MK Dons were bitterly disappointed, with manager Roberto Di Matteo believing they deserved to go up after a long hard-fought season and few would disagree. But, as Nigel Adkins conceded, it’s all a bit of a lottery.

Leeds meantime are still counting the cost of a missed penalty by star striker Jermaine Beckford who had been so instrumental in Leeds’ push for the top. His missed spot-kick was incredibly the fifth time Leeds had failed from the penalty spot this season.

Leeds have now failed to make the play-off final for the third time in four years and face a third season in the third tier. A bitter pill to swallow given they had lost only two of their last 17 matches.

Interestingly, manager Simon Grayson and chairman Ken Bates had apparently already made plans for both Championship and League One football next season before the play-offs. A wise move given the previous financial history of Leeds, with the club at least knowing in advance where it stands with players and budgets. It does beg the question, however, of whether there was any tiny element of disbelief that Leeds would be unable to clinch the prize? Just like body language with penalties, can body language be detected amongst club officials too?

One thing is for sure. MK Dons and Leeds will both be gunning for automatic promotion next season and will be leaving nothing to chance. Perhaps fitting in a few more penalty training sessions might be advisable just in case.

Owen on the brink of quitting Newcastle United

2009-05-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

Michael Owen is on the verge of quitting Newcastle United at the end of the season as the club continues to be scarred by the prospect of relegation from the Premier League.

Owen is arguably the most high profile player contracted to Newcastle and despite Alan Shearer dismissing the speculation it could well be the case that Owen will start to look for a move elsewhere in order to save his football career and chances of playing for England.

Owen is not a player carrying an ego, everyone on the game, professionals and pundits alike, would admit that Owen is one of the most decent individuals around and his apparent decision is just a case of him doing something he has to do.

It should not attract him negative press or a bad reception from Newcastle fans. All he is doing is trying to adapt to the situation Newcastle find themselves in and if they do go down then a bid of a high amount will have to be taken to help Newcastle cope with the financial impact Championship football would have.

Speaking today, Shearer said: “Michael is a big name player and sometimes you attract headlines. I’m 100% sure he will be playing in the Premier League. Whether that is here or anywhere else, that’s for a discussion at the end of the season.”

Although Mark Viduka and Joey Barton have already publicly promised their commitment to the club you really would not blame Owen from trying to get a move. The days where he was tearing apart defences and ripping into the heart of the Argentina national side now seem long dead.

The point is that Owen still has it in him to play at the highest level and if Newcastle do manage to stay up then there is no doubt that he will stay at the Toon and try to help them consolidate to make sure the current situation never happens again.

He needs to be playing in the top flight and he needs to be playing at a club that has big ambitions both domestically and on the European scene. Many would have seen Owen as an England regular for years to come but injury and circumstance has seen him lose his place that he must be itching to get back.

If he has to leave Newcastle then he is not being selfish and leaving the club high and dry. He is just making the most logical decision at his disposal and you can’t really blame him for not wanting to stay at a club that would mean him simply take another step backwards in his career.

He still has it in him to score over 20 Premier League goals each season but we have just been kept from seeing it for such a long time that his career is starting to suffer. However, while he is wearing the black and white shirt of Newcastle it is pretty obvious that he will sweat blood for the team, but how much longer he is there for is unknown.

Arsenal fans must give Arsene Wenger patience

2009-05-15T05:04:00.000-07:00

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has asked the fans to give him the time and space needed for him to rebuild the Arsenal side of his golden age. Fair enough the fans would be quite within their rights to kick up a fuss.

After all it has been four years since Arsenal last won a major honour but the point is that the inadequacies that have recently been shown up in the Arsenal side will not be fixed over night.

The current crop of players that Wenger has been nurturing is just not good enough, besides from one or two names. The current philosophy at Arsenal is a good one, but it is one that needs work with clever activity in the transfer market, as well as clever tactics and faith from the fans.

The side is very talented but it is lacking the special something that links everyone together in the way that Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry did in their spells at the club. Once this is found then it will be the football and only the football that everyone is talking about.

The current pressure on modern football for instant success is very high but if Arsenal want to create a side that demands such respect on a weekly basis then they will have to be patient with the manager, who will be under intense pressure to improve things at the Emirates quickly.

Wenger said: “If we do not deliver in the next one or two years then I will be responsible. It is the most important moment in the life of this club and we have to be strong now and support this team.”

He is right. The side can easily go one of two ways. The first is down a path that will lead to success, but this will only come if Wenger buys right this summer and gets some experience into the side that for all too long has been evidently missing. The other is down a path of doom that will see the current side be overcome by the developing quality in the Premier League.

It is unlikely that Wenger will allow the second of those possibilities to become a reality, as he obviously knows what he is doing in terms of setting the standards of good football. The point is that everyone connected with the club is losing patience having to wait for the first option to happen again.

Wenger knows how to deal with the set backs of football and there is no one better suited to guide Arsenal through this summer than the Frenchman. He knows there is a lot of pressure on him but he also knows that spending money at random will not solve Arsenal’s problems.

If he is given the time, space and respect that he will start turning wrong decisions into right ones then Arsenal will slowly improve. If he can start buying some higher calibre players instead of signing 15 and 16 year olds from established clubs, then Arsenal will slowly improve.

Over all Arsenal are going to slowly improve and it is just the case of whether the board and the fans have the patience to wait for something that could be majestic again.

Manchester United and Real Madrid battle it out for Wigan winger

2009-05-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

Manchester United and Real Madrid will battle it out to get the signature of Wigan Athletic winger, Luis Antonio Valencia, at the end of the season. The news could well mean an end to the pursuit of Spurs’ Aaron Lennon by United, as Sir Alex Ferguson seeks a cheaper and more versatile option.

It is also no secret that Madrid are planning a big change of playing staff during the summer and it is thought that Valencia will fit into the La Liga style of play very well. It is much less physically demanding than the Premier League, which could be a big factor when Valencia has to make his decision.

Wigan manager, Steve Bruce, has all but given up on attempts to try and keep Valencia, now admitting he is likely to move. He said today: “It is inevitable Antonio will leave, but where to I am not quite sure. There have been no deals done so far, I keep reading the story but nothing has been done so far.”

So it seems that all parties involved may be waiting for the official end of season or the opening of the transfer window to happen before any action is made. It is a well known point in football that at this point in the year the rumour mill is normally in full flow and this may just be a case of a story getting way out of hand.

However, it is important and necessary to look at where would be best for Valencia if there are some elements of truth. United have proved themselves to be by far and away the strongest team in Europe over the last two seasons and there is no where better for the prospect of success than at Old Trafford.

Valencia also has first hand experience of how good United are and is already settled in England. He is likely to have already learnt the basics of English and if United make a bid then there is little doubt that he would snap the hand off of whoever makes the offer.

However, the history and calibre of Spanish football and Real Madrid is also very lucrative. Valencia is not a big person and he may suit the more gentle style of Spanish football, no doubt the quality would not be the same over the course of the season but he may well be up for the challenge.

Although Bruce is unlikely to disfavour United, having once played for them, he may prefer a bid from Spain as he would not want to see one of his main assets leave to go and play for another English club.

A move to Spain would also move Valencia back to a more familiar setting as it would feel closer to his South American roots despite the geographical gulf. This is a factor that money can’t buy and something United can do nothing about if this is what Valencia is looking for.

Where he ends up is right now a complete mystery. Wigan will have to take the offer that is right for the player and right for the club. United will probably be favourites but the solidity of their interest is unknown.

Carlo Ancelotti close to Chelsea switch.

2009-05-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

Chelsea are close to securing a replacement for Guus Hiddink as further reports have emerged that AC Milan’s, Carlo Ancelotti, will step into the Stamford Bridge role at the end of the season.

Ancelotti is rumoured to be increasingly unsettled at Milan and with Hiddink poised to return to his full time post with the Russian national side, Chelsea have been forced to rapidly seek alternatives for the managerial role.

According to English newspaper reports today Ancelotti has agreed a deal in principal to become Chelsea boss when the current season finishes. The problem is that Milan insist their man is going no where and appear likely to be as uncooperative as possible if Chelsea try to force the move through.

Speaking in the Italian media, Milan’s head, Silvio Berlusconi, said: “After Inter drew with Chievo on Sunday I thought we had been given another chance, but Juventus's equaliser against us has blown our chances.”

“It's all Ancelotti's fault. With the players we have we could easily go head to head with Inter. Lots of times this season we have made tactical mistakes. We should have used Ronaldinho more. Too often we gave away goals in the last few minutes of the match. If we lose the Scudetto then it is all down to Ancelotti.”

Ancelotti would be a very high calibre replacement for Hiddink and one that does not know the English game at all well. However, he obviously has a gifted eye in terms of transfers and the European game. He made the move of Ronaldinho to Milan a reality and has been in charge of one of the only teams to break English dominance in the Champions League in recent years.

The most probable reason as to why possible negotiations are cauisng so much unrest at Milan is the simple fact that the season has not finished yet and Milan still have important games to play for. The gap between themselves and their city rivals, Inter, has been huge this season and many blame this on Ancelotti’s constant distractions.

Whether or not he is the best man to take charge of Chelsea is debateable. They would do well tp negotiate with the Russian FA and try to get Hiddink to stay on in a permanent role. This is for the simple reason that yet another new manager would otherwise come in and change things around yet again.

This seems pointless when Chelsea seem to have setled under a simple system and under a manager who does not appear to have a big head. Given the choice Hiddink would probably like to stay there if his Russian ties were taken away. After all England is one of the few countries he hasn’t made it in yet and the players all seem to like him.

The introduction of Ancelotti could turn out to be a master stroke but it could also turn out to be disastrous. There seems no point in throwing away a gifted boss without a fight and destroying what has become a settled team. The fact that Chelsea missed out on the Champions League final by seconds should not be something that is factored in.

Sheffield United secure their place in the £30 million match

2009-05-12T02:31:00.000-07:00

Sheffield United have secured their place in the Championship play-off final after beating Preston North End 1-0 last night and 2-1 on aggregate. A bullet header from Greg Halford in the second half was enough to see United through a feisty encounter that never seemed to stop from start to finish.

Both sides were quite rightly going for it and Preston must be praised for soaking up so much pressure and doing themselves and their fans a massive amount of good. However, wave after wave of United attack was too much to hold out and the result probably justified the performance of United over the two ties.

Despite the victory however, one or two problems were highlighted in the game that Reading and Burnley would do well to pay attention to. The defence, lead by veteran Chris Morgan, looked slow and vulnerable to someone with real pace. Also, as always with Sheffield United, they looked a bit lacking in the personal discipline department as on more than one occasion players getting riled was more than evident.

These are areas they will have to sort out ahead of the final because teams are obviously going to look to exploit them. Kevin Blackwell was quite rightly over joyed and feels the promotion would be justice for the club’s debatable relegation from the league in 2007. He said: “A lot of people have contacted the club. They feel it would right a wrong. I don’t think that sits well in English football.”

Well the point is whether you love them or loathe them United are a side with a lot of ambition, but they do need to curb this rearing ugly head that lets them down so many times in terms of arrogance and player discipline. If they don’t then whoever finds themselves in the final beside United will bring a lot more riled fans, ready to make a lot more noise and give their side the extra added push they will undoubtedly need.

Preston can take pride from the fact they got into the play-offs in the first place from an unlikely position. They should not feel down about the defeat but inspired to push on next season and make sure they are promoted automatically in a league that is bound to have a couple more big names coming down.

Alan Irvine has shown himself to be one of the modest and gifted managers in the football league and there is no doubt that he is destined to be at the helm of greater things, if not with Preston then with another big side.

At the moment United probably won’t care who they play in the final but the point is that it is going to be a tougher test than they have just had. Reading will want revenge for the 1-0 United defeat the recently suffered and this is all new territory for Burnley which could mean they have stronger feelings than anyone in the United side. Bring on the final.

Everton and Spurs linked with Welsh winger

2009-05-11T06:05:00.000-07:00

Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Welsh winger, Joe Ledley, of Cardiff. Ledley has not signed a new contract for Cardiff and looks to be seeking a move to the Premier League after his current side missed out on a play-off spot.

Everton and Spurs have been reported today as leading the running to sign Ledley if he chooses to leave Cardiff ahead of next season. David Moyes could well get his signature as this is a classic example of his club operating on a shoe string budget and dipping into the Championship to poach the best talent that could easily play at a higher level.

The theory behind a Spurs bid however, is a lot more interesting. Ledley is a player who can operate on either the left or the right flank, in a similar vein to Aaron Lennon. This could be the first signs of a strong hint the Lennon could be on his way out of the club, with Manchester United reportedly ready to make a big bid for him.

An insider at Cardiff has said: “We offered Joe a contract that included a get-out clause which would allow him to leave for a Premier League club but he did not want to know. There is no way we would let him walk away for nothing.”

This is the very problem that Cardiff are faced with. If Ledley sees out the length of his current contract and does not sign anything else which ties him down, then the only bid another club would have to make would be over personal terms as he would become a free agent.

Cardiff quite rightly must try everything they can to make sure that one of their best players does not leave the club for free. Ledley should see sense and make sure that Cardiff are able to net a decent amount of money from his move but it is unlikely that he will want to relinquish any personal virtues that would come his way.

If he does leave then realistically Everton would be his best choice. Spurs will be going for a Champions League spot next season and are much more likely to bring on high profile and better calibre players than Ledley. This would mean if he went to Spurs that he would be sitting on the bench for a large part of his early Premier League career.

Regardless of any amount of personal wealth there is nothing a professional football player hates more than having to sit on the bench and not play. Therefore Everton would offer him a better chance, as they are not at their strongest in the flanking positions.

He would also compliment the Merseyside club’s style of football, which likes to blend experienced players with raw talent and flair. There is no doubt that Ledley will one day get a Premier League move, but let’s hope the personal issues that surround Cardiff are quickly dealt with so both parties can move onto a better future.

Late penalty gives Burnley the edge

2009-05-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

A dramatic late penalty gave Burnley the edge in their Championship play-off tie as they secured a 1-0 victory at Turf Moor. Graham Alexander stepped up to score from the spot for Burnley after Reading defender, Andre Bikey, had hauled down Steven Thompson.

The goal gives Burnley a slender lead going into the second leg in what was an otherwise lacklustre match. Reading played out of their skins and probably should have won the game at a canter. The Royals dominated large periods of possession but could never seem to find the cutting edge in the final third.

To make things even worse for Reading Bikey was then later sent to the showers early after he was sent off for a stamp on Robbie Blake. The frustration was all to clear to see on Reading faces as they battled so hard but could not quite get their noses in front. Combined with the inability last week to secure an automatic promotion spot, Steve Coppell’s men now have their work cut out if they are going to make the play-off final at Wembley.

This match was similar to the Preston North End v Sheffield United encounter in the respect that it was so obvious what was at stake for both sides. As these stakes are so high neither team wants to go out flying and virtually secure the match in the first leg and due to this we are treated to not as great football.

Reading’s new system of 4-3-3 didn’t seem to work. It narrowed the side, as the two players supporting the main striker did not drop off enough to make the team a lot wider. They will have to play more freely in the return leg at the Madejski stadium if they are to overturn this difference and run away with the tie.

The score line really did not reflect the match but now Burnley have a chance to regroup and reorganise to make sure they are a lot more compact. Reading played a good game but it is likely to be even better on their own ground, meaning that Burnley will have to be doubly disciplined to make sure they do not throw away their early advantage.

So far there has been a marked difference between the play-offs this year and the play-offs last year. Last year it seemed that the sides were a lot more willing to play expansive and attacking football in order to get a big advantage moving into a second game. The stakes are similar to last year, if not slightly bigger, so there is a slight understanding for more caution this time round.

However, both Championship play-offs are fascinatingly poised. It really is difficult to call at this stage but it would not be a surprise in the slightest if the finalists for this season are decided by the medium of extra time or penalties. Burnley will be happier of the pair so far but Reading are by no means out of it and showed how dangerous they can be at key times.

Reading begin their bid to get back into the top flight of English football

2009-05-09T04:24:00.000-07:00

Reading will begin their bid to get back into the Premier League later this afternoon as they meet Burnley in the second of the Championship play-off matches. Burnley by no means must be counted out and will provide an interesting match to the determination that Reading are sure to display.

After missing out on automatic promotion last weekend at the hands of Birmingham City, Reading will be doubling their efforts to make sure that they do not miss out on promotion at the first attempt. Burnley arrive at the match on a fantastic run of form and will be looking to cause the bookmakers an upset.

Burnley will also have the home advantage for the first leg and will be looking to stamp their authority on the tie before the two teams travel back to the Madejski stadium in Reading. Rhys Williams, who has been in top form for 6th placed Burnley, will not feature as his loan deal from Middlesbrough has expired.

They will also have two players facing late fitness tests but otherwise they go into the match at virtually full strength. Former Burnley player, Glen Little, could well feature in the match and will look to cause a big upset to his former side.

Kevin Doyle is likely to replace Dave Kitson after the latter’s poor performance against Birmingham last weekend, but Steve Coppell has no other major injury concerns ahead of the game.

It is a tie that will have big financial benefits and will offer a place in the Premier League to play against England and Europe’s best. Whoever comes out on top over the 180 minutes will have to have played majestically and will be inspired on from their success.

For Reading they will not want another crack at life in the Championship. After the bitter heartbreak of relegation from the Premier League last season they will want nothing more than to set the record straight. Although Burnley shouldn’t feel the under dogs they may feel just this way and approach the game as though they have nothing to lose.

This is a dangerous attitude to adopt but one that could easily turn the first leg of the tie into a massive advantage. If they go out all guns blazing then they could get a one or two goal led, which ultimately could be enough considering Reading’s poor home form of late.

It is a game that guarantees magnificent and passionate football. The stakes are high and both sets of fans will be up for it. The players will either experience sheer ecstasy or the worst feeling a professional football player can probably feel.

A lot depends on the other tie between Sheffield United and Burnley but for now these two will want to take care of their own business and approach the second leg and a possible day out at Wembley in great form. They won’t like the fact that they have to go for it through the play-offs but if it all comes off then what a prize they have waiting at the end of the tunnel.

The race for the biggest prize in football is about to start

2009-05-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

The race for the biggest and most lucrative prize in football will start tonight as Preston North End take on Sheffield United in the Championship play-offs. The eventual winners of the final will receive a place in the Premier League, which brings with it nearly £30 million to compliment the endless glitz and glamour.

Sheffield United will be slight favourites for the match, they finished in third place in the normal league table and just missed out on an automatic slot. Preston on the other hand will be buoyed by the fact they managed to sneak into the play-offs from a near impossible position just a couple of weeks ago, something that could well see them through.

Preston will have the home advantage in the first leg and will welcome back winger, Ross Wallace, after a one game suspension. Richard Chaplow and Michael Hart are the only absentees through injury. Sheffield United are missing two players through injury but are otherwise at full strength.

Neither team can afford to sit back and either of the semi-final legs and it will be a classic cup tie atmosphere with the likely winner being the club that just wants it more. A day out at Wembley is not the prize that will be though of, the chance of playing against the best teams in Europe will be.

Drama, passion and excitement are all guaranteed and after the League Two play-offs kicked off last night, the Championship games will move onto the centre stage.

United’s strength in squad depth could see them get an edge after this game. They have the good combination of talent and experience, but the unpredictable nature of manager, Kevin Blackwell, sometimes shoots the club in the foot and hopefully for them this will not be such an occasion.

Preston will do everything they can to get through the tie. The support they have received from the local community could have an impact on the match, in a similar fashion that has been happening at Stoke in the Premier League. Preston have also been at the head of some of the most dominant performances in the Championship this season and there is no doubt that if they are on song then it could be a long night for Blackwell’s men.

Obviously goal advantage is handy but in a match like this it is more necessary not to fall too far behind. The players raise themselves for a big second leg performance so a one or two goal advantage can easily be over turned as the history of the play-offs has shown.

From a neutral perspective many will want Preston to win over the 180 minutes to see yet another new side having a chance at Premier League glory but United have the added advantage of having been there before and no doubt the players that suffered their previous Premier League relegation will not want to let it happen again.

So the advice is sit back and watch the drama unfold, if you have your team to support then get right behind them. For the winners after the two games, their future looks very good.

Arsenal set to offer manager a new contract

2009-05-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

Arsenal are set to offer manager, Arsene Wenger, a brand new contract as he continues his search for the formula that means perfect football. Arsenal have now gone a number of seasons without winning a trophy but the club have not forgotten how lucky they are to have one of the best managers in the game in charge.

Wenger’s football philosophy is a brilliant one that makes his Arsenal side one of the most attractive to watch in the modern game. Wenger was in charge of a team that once went a whole league season in the Premier League without losing one game and the club clearly still see something in him to show faith.

The club’s chairman, Peter Hill-Wood said: “Arsene's future is not in question, although I am sure there will be people who have nothing better to do trying to suggest it is. He has another season left on his contract and if he was to ask for an extension we would be delighted. But he hasn't discussed it with us and we haven't discussed it with him. There are other things to think about.”

The news is accompanied by the chairman’s promise to release any funds that Wenger desires this season to improve the squad of Arsenal, whether it be an established big name or yet another up and coming star. This is obviously an area in the club that needs to be addressed after the gulf in class between them and Manchester United was displayed for everyone to see the other night.

Wenger is a good tactician and has a very good football brain. There will be no issues associated with the new contract or stipulations that the Frenchman has to adhere to. He still has it in him to win trophies and he is still passionate to win his first European Cup.

Arsenal would find it very difficult to replace Wenger if the club let his contract run down and decided not to offer him a new one. It is for this reason that they want to secure his services for future seasons as Wenger is constantly being linked with moves to Spain, Italy and other European countries.

Arsenal is very much his club and he is the reason for all of their modern success. He can recreate this, his curent side and development just needs a few tweaks to become better and turn the poor results thay have had in the last couple of seasons into stunning victories.

With everything that Arsenal were winning just a few seasons back, neutrals could not help but hold their hands up and admire the way Arsenal were playing football. Wenger knows what he is doing and a healthy and lucrative contract would be the show of faith that he may look for shortly.

It would also give him and the club confidence to push on and challenge again when fans may start to be thinking that the golden age may never be recreated. Arsenal could do a lot worse.

Manchester City are already planning United’s down fall for this weekend

2009-05-06T03:17:00.000-07:00

Manchester City’s players are already planning Manchester United’s down fall for this Sunday’s Manchester derby. City’s staff are planning to cash in on United’s Champions League euphoria and steal three points from under the noses of their city rivals, offering Liverpool fans every where a glint of hope.

City’s players are reportedly intent of getting some glory for their fans in what has been an other wise disappointing season. United are likely to rest several key players ahead of the game so a win for the blue half of Manchester is a real possibility.

It is likely that United heads will still be in the clouds after their rampant 4-1 victory over Arsenal and City defender, Vincent Kompany, insists his side are perfectly poised to cause an upset. He said: “Thanks to our four wins in a row, you couldn't build any more confidence ahead of a big game like the derby.”

“We have proved we are a good side. We have been well organised, got forward quickly and scored goals. I hope we can win our last three games but hopefully six or seven points will be enough to claim seventh place.”

Sir Alex Ferguson could field a number of fringe players for the game, creating an opportunity for City to win one of the biggest derbies in world football. Mark Hughes is under pressure to deliver at City considering the financial backing the club now has.

He will be under big pressure to win games such as this one and it is a match that City will have to play out of their skins in, if they are to get any where near, arguably, the greatest ever United side. It is also unlikely that whichever eleven walks out for United will take the game lightly. The atmosphere surrounding a derby automatically lifts the players.

This can eradicate any amount of fatigue that may have crept into the United side. They will want to assert their dominance over their rivals, despite City players being virtually certain that this time they have got United’s number.

Old Trafford has been something of a fortress this season and only Liverpool have gone there and completely taken apart United, who seem to score at will in the majority of games they play.

City’s hope that United will still be in a European frame of mind could also back fire. Players such as Cristiano Ronaldo could well be spurred on by the ample success they had over Arsenal and there is nothing like success to breed more success.

No doubt City will get stuck in and could have been planning for the game for weeks before hand, but no amount of preparation can compensate for a moment of individual brilliance, something that United have no end of.

If City’s big players do not turn up then it could well be another bad weekend and a humiliating one for City fans as they go back to work on Monday. United are likely to come out and try to mute City’s main influences e.g. Stephen Ireland and Robinho. The bookies are backing United and the majority are probably with them.

Sami Hyypia to leave Liverpool

2009-05-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

Liverpool is to lose a grand servant in the form of Sami Hyypia.

Just a week ago, he was declaring his undivided loyalty to Liverpool, regardless of whether his contract was extended in the summer.

The Big Finn wanted to stay on at Anfield into his retirement, being involved with the game but not necessarily in management. He had no particular reason to go back to Finland, he said, and he and his family loved living in Liverpool.

Now, those dreams have been shattered. Hyypia, now 35, is off to the Bundesliga side Bayerleverkusen in the summer on a two year deal.

It will be a sad loss for both Merseyside and Liverpoool Football Club

The centre-back made more than 450 Liverpool appearances since 1999 and though he committed some howlers, he usually stood steadfast for Liverpool with his cool aloof manner and the characteristic shrug of the shoulders. Even he admitted he was not known for his speed but his strong positional play made him a firm favourite with the Kop.

Even losing his place to younger players could not draw criticism, with Hyypia once telling the Liverpool FC website: "I know I'm getting older now and maybe my best days are gone. It's very important younger players are coming through."

It's modesty like that which has helped to make Hyypia a legend as far as Liverpool is concerned. Standing 6ft 4ins tall, he always seemed to be in the right position but popped in some vital goals too, scoring 35 goals during his career with the Reds.

He also notched up 97 international caps and scored five international goals, being crowned football of the year seven times in his homeland (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008).

His transfer fee from Dutch side Willem II in May 1999 was just £2.5 million, a total bargain when you consider the decade of service and loyalty he has given to Liverpool. He wore the captain's armband on several occasions and jointly lifted both the UEFA and FA Cups. Under Gerard Houllier, he became the permanent captain before Steven Gerrard took over.

Hyypia scored one of the most memorable goals en route to Istanbul, an unstoppable volley to open the scoring against Juve in the quarter-finals.

Incredibly, he played every minute of 57 consecutive European games for the Reds from November 2001 to February 2006.

Perhaps because of his shrewdness, Hyypia would have known the writing was on the wall and there can be no greater accolade when another team wants you on the pitch. His Liverpool playing days were obviously numbered with the arrival of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger.

Hyypia was being tipped for a move to Wolvs if he didn’t stay at Liverpool so his decision to join Bayerleverkusen comes as somewhat of a surprise. But the German team wanted him and made no bones about it, perhaps something Liverpool did not do loud enough. Bayer’s sporting director, Rudi Voller rightly says Hyppia will bring experience and presence to their young squad which is ironic given it’s new blood which has probably led to his Liverpool departure.

Liverpool’s loss is undoubtedly Bayerleverkusen’s gain but he goes to Germany with his head held high and the greatest of respect from all the fans he has made at Anfield over the last decade.

Barcelona edge closer to yet another La Liga title after emphatic win

2009-05-04T22:38:00.000-07:00

Barcelona warmed up for their Champions League semi-final second leg this week with an emphatic win over their closest rivals, Real Madrid. Barca notched up six goals in the Bernabeau stadium as they won the important match 6-2 to virtually secure another league title.

In an intense and entertaining game it was Madrid who went ahead through Gonzalo Higuain only for Theirry Henry to equalise soon after before Barcelona skipper, Carlos Puyol, put the Catalans ahead.

Barca chose to field their strongest 11 for the game in a surprising move considering the imminence of their European encounter with Chelsea on Wednesday. Henry knocked in another and Argentine, Lionel Messi, bagged a brace, before Gerard Pique scored Barca’s sixth, rendering Sergio Ramos’ goal irrelevant.

Barca sent out a start warning to Chelsea by proving that they are in top form and their best team is playing completely in sync. The match proves just how well the West London side played last week as Madrid became completely over run and despite rapid substitutions by Juande Ramos, the capital city side didn’t look as though they had any answers.

The only bad news to come out of the match were concerns that Henry had picked up a slight knock as he appeared to hobble around the pitch for roughly 20 minutes before being taken off. Barca will also have to mix around the defence against Chelsea, meaning that one of the full backs may have to move into the middle to partner Pique or Puyol.

In this match Barca were able to show just what power they possess. They made a Madrid side look completely sub standard and in their own stadium. The scenes of trenches of Real fans leaving up to 15 minutes before the end of the game would have put delight on the faces of every Barca fan around Spain. As Puyol put it before the match: “It seems to be the Catalans against the rest of Spain.”

Even if you did not want Barca to win this match before hand, you cannot help but sit back and admire just what they did and what the performance means ahead of such a vital European game. If Guardiola had named a much weaker side and Barca lost the match marginally then no one would have been surprised, but the fact that there is hardly anyone who was expecting such a performance makes the result doubly significant.

However, if Barca have suffered in getting such a great victory then it could break up what is their best side. Henry, Samuel Eto’o and Messi are arguably the best front system in the world and with the defence set up to look slightly make shift it could let in a more efficient Chelsea system.

Barca now have the league secure, which was the aim of this game. It would take a catastrophic run of results for Madrid to get back in with a chance with such a short period of the season left. The next week could make their season.

Football Managers

2009-05-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

Football managers! Don’t you just love them!

Hardly a day goes by without someone having a go at one another, whether it’s to do with matters on or off the pitch. Their tactics are wrong, he’s chosen the wrong striker, they play boring football, they killed the game. The insults fly thick and fast.

So should football managers just shut up? Would we all be better off if managers kept their opinions to themselves and concentrated on the job in hand? Of course not! How boring would that be!

Football managers having a right good go at one another is all part of the game. And, in this context, a game is the right one. It’s all about tactics. Stir them up and produce a bit of controversy. What could be better in order to ensure ultimate competitiveness on the field?

Two recent examples show not everyone shares that opinion. New Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia gave ex-manager Roy Keane a real tongue-lashing for commenting about the Black Cats’ plight.

Keane, of course, is now in charge of Ipswich but apparently still has Sunderland very much on his mind. He has spoken about Sunderland’s lack of confidence as they battled to avoid the drop. And why not indeed? Keane probably still holds Sunderland close to his heart and is entitled to his opinion.

Sbragia does not agree. He has told Keane to mind his own business and concentrate on Ipswich. According to Sbragia, all Keane wants is the publicity but he should be talking about Ipswich, not Sunderland.

“He has left the club. He is not here and we don’t talk about him,” he says. Right, we believe that one. Is Sbragia telling us that not one Sunderland player ever mentions the word “Keane”. Well, not in the dressing room perhaps.

Sbragia says he is baffled as to why Keane keeps on talking about Sunderland and suggests that perhaps he is bored and has nothing to do and therefore chooses to have a go at Sunderland.

“He’s back in football. He should enjoy it,” says Sbragia. But that’s the very point. Talking about or criticising another team is all part of the fun, especially when it is your former club.

Take Manchester City boss, Mark Hughes, for example. He’s been warning his former club Blackpool that relegation would be a disaster for them and his choice of words was probably more controversial than Sbragia’s.

Rovers slumped following Hughes’ departure in the summer and he makes no bones about the fact that it probably had a lot to do with his exit.

“They were an established top ten club when I was there and this year, they have not been able to hit those heights,” he says. There’s confidence for you!

Hughes said in public that he knew Blackpool “from top to bottom” and warned it would be a disaster if they left the Premier League.

Now, if Sbragia was to follow the same theme, he would also accuse Hughes of putting his nose in when it was not wanted and commenting on a team no longer in his control.

Perhaps it’s Sbragia who is in the wrong in all this? Yes, managers do make comments but they are meant to stir controversy. If you don’t like them or the concept, it’s simple. Just don’t answer back. There are some managers who like to air their views in public and some who don’t.

Hughes did at least add words of praise for the new Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce, saying he was helping the squad to get points on the board.

Football is all about sparring and the pitch is like a giant boxing ring. Managers can spout off as much hot air as they want but it’s the performance on the field which has the loudest voice.

2009-05-02T07:25:00.000-07:00

There would have been many surprised football fans when it was recently announced that former Sunderland boss, Roy Keane, was taking charge of Ipswich Town in preparation for a stab at promotion next season.

The former Manchester United skipper left Sunderland in January having had a brief spell on Tyneside in which he attracted a lot of praise for his no nonsense approach to coaching and man management.

This really is a football coup. The arrival of Keane at Ipswich has propelled the Portman Road club to the front of clubs trying to get promotion to the Premier League next year. It has created the virtues of excitement, hope and enthusiasm, which in football no amount of money can buy.

Keane is likely to draw on all the resources he established at Sunderland and maybe even persuade one or two of the players to drop down a division and move south to take part in what promises to be an exciting adventure for everything associated to Ipswich.

Newspaper reports have revealed today that Ipswich have already been linked with Sunderland players; Daryl Murphy, Carlos Edwards, Dean Whitehead and Nyron Nosworthy. However, as is the way in football, actually persuading the players to move is the real test. These players will take some persuading to leave Premier League football behind to venture on what is really a gamble way down south.

Keane is not naïve, he is a realist and a passionate individual. Ipswich look likely to finish 9th in the Championship table this season and Keane has already mustered his disappointment at the fact he was not able to walk into a side with the play-off matches just around the corner. A lot of work has to be done and quickly, including improvement of the club and its staff.

He will also identify all of the weaknesses that Ipswich currently have before making any big transfer decisions. With Premier League clubs still to come down and the financial prospects of Queens Park Rangers looking good for next season, Ipswich will have to play out of their skins if they are to get an automatic promotion spot in the next campaign.

The future is bright though, every single Ipswich Town fan should have a smile on their face. The club have all of a sudden rediscovered their Premier League ambitions when many had accepted that they might not resurface for a number of years. Many will have now put to bed the memories of 9-0 thrashings at the hands of Manchester United.

The one reason for success at Stoke City in the Premier League was, as their manager Tony Pulis put it: “a community spirit.” The arrival of Keane could have the same effect on the town. If Ipswich fill their ground and create an intimidating atmosphere all year long then it could be a difficult place to go for even the most established of teams. Fortress Portman Road will be pivotal to any success if Keane is to do the unthinkable and take Ipswich into the top flight of English football from virtually out of no where.

2009-05-02T07:01:00.000-07:00

Arsenal’s star midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, has brushed off any threat of suspension from the FA over a misconduct incident against Hull City, saying that he believes his conscience is clear.

Fabregas was accused of spitting at a Hull City coach in a match at the Emirates stadium in March. Fabregas will be suspended if he is found guilty of the incident but persists in his claims that he has done nothing wrong to warrant such criticism and attention.

Fabregas said today: “I don't really know what I've been charged with. Eight players were on the pitch as well, so then everyone should be suspended. If I'm suspended for spitting, my heart and mind will be well because I did nothing wrong.”

The point is that Fabregas is attracting undue attention for an incident when he should really face up to his responsibilities and carry out his duties as the club’s captain and as a role model to thousands of people all over the world.

Suspension would be justified due to the way he has handled everything to do with the incident since. It has dragged on far too long when simple words and actions at the time would have been enough to stop hours of trawling through video tapes andtestimonies for FA individuals.

Any imminent decision could have a potential on Arsenal’s Premier League run in, although it is likely suspension will cover the Gunners European campaign, which now will be the sole focus of their season. Fabregas should be worried about this, he is very lucky in the respect that domestically Arsenal’s position is not a lot more important.

Fabregas would do well to learn a lesson from a couple of individuals at Manchester United. Players such as Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes who stay well and truly under the radar and have nothing to do with outside media attention or opposition staff once a match is finished.

A lot of words have been written since the incident and if Fabregas is cleared then the whole thing will be put to bed and forgotten about. If the FA find him guilty then we are likely to read a lot more stories in the media about the issue as the player and Arsenal’s manager, Arsene Wenger, are clearly going to have somethin g to say.

Fabregas is one of the most talented players currently playing in the Premier League. He is admired and respected by a whole host of other clubs so he needs to conform to his comments and get on with football, not talking about the incident again.

Ity is time we only read about such gifted players in how great they have been during a match and not how they have been acting on the pitch when they have not even been involved in the match squad. The high profile football stars of the modern game easily forget about their responsibilites of football, all we ask is that they curb their attention and focus their efforts into something good and not derogatory.

Franck Ribery looks set to get a transfer from Bayern Munich

2009-04-30T05:27:00.000-07:00

With each day that passes the future of gifted Bayern Munich star, Franck Ribery, looks more and more set in stone. For a long time reports from all over Europe have been popping out with rumours of reported bids and planned coups to take the Frenchman into the squad of another massive club.

Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Lyon and Real Madrid among others have all said to be interested in his services and fresher strong rumours have emerged this morning that he will move to Italy when the transfer window opens this summer.

Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan is said to be intensely frustrated at his side’s failure to make vast steps in Europe this season and Ribery has been targeted to secure UEFA Champions League success for next year.

Inter are supposedly ready to offer 40 million Euros plus a possible player exchange in order to make the move a reality, but Ribery’s future is still greatly unclear. A number of other clubs would be willing to match or even better this price.

Ribery has consistently said in Germany that he is satisfied and happy to be playing in Munich. He has been instrumental in the progress they have made this season and despite a European thrashing at the hands of Barcelona, Munich have been noted as a rapidly developing side.

He has made just fewer than 30 appearances for Munich this season scoring 11goals and not to mention has become one of the first names to go down on the French international team list every time a France game comes around. Many England fans will remember he scored in their victory over the English in Fabio Capello’s second game in charge.

If Ribery moves to Inter this summer then he would look set to form an attacking partnership with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and possibly Diego Milito as well who has also been linked with the Italian outfit. Inter are a side packed with no end of talent and experience but they are missing a piece in the jigsaw.

It is unlikely that Munich will let him leave with out a fight. For any club who are faced with the prospect of having to sell one of their best players the option is quite simple; if you are going to let him go then you sell him to the highest bidder.

Real Madrid have cash in the bank as their Ronaldo quest seems to have stopped so the fire power that could come from elsewhere, besides Inter, could be enough to sway the German club to listen to other offers. Especially considering Madrid’s European fragility this year.

Munich would do very well to Get Ribery signed on for even longer than his current contract runs for. They have regular European football guaranteed and Ribery has settled in the country. Munich have a strong case for persuading him to stay but it is likely that the glitz and glamour of moving to a bigger European club may be too hard to say no to.

The future of this Portsmouth star is unclear

2009-04-30T05:16:00.000-07:00

The future of Portsmouth defender, Glen Johnson, is very unclear, as reports have emerged that Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa have expressed an interest in signing him at the end of the season.

Johnson has secured a starting place in the Pompey side this year and has even impressed Fabio Capello to earn regular call-ups to the international side. However, his future at Fratton Park is uncertain, as the former Chelsea right back has expressed an interest to move on to a bigger club.

Portsmouth have put a price tag of £16 million on Johnson, which seems a little bit too high. However, in the modern climate of world football it would not be a surprise to anyone if any of the clubs interested fork out the amount of cash for a player who is clearly improving every time he plays.

Johnson has made 27 appearances for Portsmouth this season, scoring three times in his 2422 minutes on the pitch. What makes him such a valuable asset to Portsmouth is his endless energy displayed up and down the right flank, he is just as capable of getting forward in the same way that Patrice Evra does at Manchester United and Ashley Cole at Chelsea.

Liverpool would probably be the most likely club to get Johnson’s signature, as they don’t currently have an out and out right back, although Spurs could be a popular choice as the geographical move from Portsmouth would not be too problematic.

This does not even take into account the impressive progress that Villa have made this season under Martin O’Neill and Johnson wouldn’t be blamed by anyone if he chose to join a budding side on the verge of securing a Champions League spot.

If Johnson were allowed to leave then it would be very hard for Portsmouth to replace him. The club have not had the best of seasons and have relied on players like Johnson to save them on regular occasions. Allowing their best assets to leave can surely only end in more problems as opposed to saving them.

Portsmouth lose only 5 per cent of games when Johnson plays and have not lost when he has managed to get to the other end of the pitch and knock in a goal. Although his discipline is still questionable, no amount of enthusiasm and passion can be sacrificed for the greater good of finances and Pompey having greater ability to ease their financial worries.

His international career is still very much in the infancy stages and a move away from Southern England could see this transform into regularity. Chelsea obviously saw something in him when they signed him from West Ham United, but the inconsistency was too much to cope with.

Now that this consistency is settling down, Johnson is starting to show the potential and talent that everyone has known he possesses for a very long time. Whether it’s Liverpool, Spurs, Villa or Pompey he is turning out for nest year, whoever has his services has one of the most gifted right backs in the game.

Manchester United take a slight advantage into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Arsenal

2009-04-30T04:28:00.000-07:00

Manchester United will go into the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with a one-goal advantage, following their victory over Arsenal last night.

John O’Shea struck from a Michael Carrick cross to give the current European Football champions the most fragile of first leg leads as Sir Alex Ferguson expressed his disappointment at not killing off the tie last night.

United will be disappointed as they dominated the game from start to finish. Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez both had good chances to score but the brilliance of Arsenal goalkeeper, Manuel Almunia, meant Arsenal are still in with a fighting chance.

Football took the centre stage in this match as opposed to the aggression and passion we saw in Tuesday’s encounter between Barcelona and Chelsea. Both sides looked a little tentative and the match up did not really produce what all of the previews were predicting.

Arsenal’s inexperience in defence was plain and it could have been a different story if Cesc Fabregas had the ability to put the ball into the corner of the goal as opposed to along the ground and into Edwin Van Der Saar’s arms.

Ferguson said in his reaction, as reported in The Times: “We had good chances and their goalkeeper has had some fantastic saves, our performance level was very good and we have given ourselves a very good chance, but the tie is not over, of course.”

Carlos Tevez did himself no harm with a splendid performance. The Argentine never stopped running from the first whistle and shook his head in obvious disappointment when he was replaced in the second half. The Old Trafford crowd shouted consistently the familiar chants of ‘Argentina,’ and Tevez can be pleased.

The only set back for United is an injury to defender, Rio Ferdinand. Ferdinand left the pitch holding his ribs and despite apparent enthusiasm to return to the field of battle he was promptly sent for an x-ray to determine the severity of the damage to his cracked ribs.

For Arsenal the mood must be fairly bouyant. They could easily have left this tie at a three or four goal disadvantage but were able to stay relatively compact and concede just the one.

At the Emirates Arsenal are capable of doing just about anything so it will be interesting to see how they play and risk the chance of an away United goal in going for the win.

Wenger said: “They started stronger than us and in terms of clear-cut chances they were on top. But I am convinced you will see a very different Arsenal team at the Emirates and I am convinced we can reverse this result. We have the quality to do it and we believe at home we can do that.”

It all makes for a mouth watering clash on Tuesday but both teams have important Premier League duties to take care of before hand. These cannot be overlooked as the Champions League story for this season turns one page closer to its ending.

UEFA Champions League

2009-04-29T21:57:00.000-07:00

It’s going to be quite a clash when Barcelona visit Stamford Bridge on May 6 for the second and decisive return leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Chelsea’s performance at the Nou Camp has been hailed as “fantastic” and “magnificent” after they became the first team this season to prevent the Spanish league leaders from scoring.

Football pundits, the manager and the players themselves were all giving themselves a pat on the back for frustrating Barcelona into a 0-0 draw which defied all the odds.

But the morning after, Barcelona did not exactly agree. Chelsea were accused of deliberately stagnating play and failing to play the game. It’s now not a question of who was right but who will have the last laugh. Chelsea or Barcelona?

Certainly, if the small Chelsea crowd at the Nou Camp game were intimidated by the stadium’s magnificent atmosphere, Barcelona supporters are in for a similar shock when they come to Stamford Bridge। Some 95,000 fans packed into the incredible Nou Camp arena which really is amongst the very best in the world.The Chelsea fans who made the journey to Spain, about 3,000 of them, were herded into a top corner where they could be seen but not particularly heard. But who was laughing the loudest once the final whistle blew? Certainly, there was not one gloomy face amongst the travelling fans as they waited for the stadium to clear. They were well pleased with the job and deservedly so.

Okay, Chelsea didn’t exactly play flowing football and squandered their best chances, not least Didier Drogba who could have been the hero of the night. But holding Barcelona to a 0-0 draw was a massive achievement which should be under-estimated, no matter what the content of Barcelona taunts.

Playing in yellow, Chelsea’s back four made it impossible for the Barcelona strikers, despite a late flurry of urgency as the clock ticked away in the second half.

Previous clashes between these two teams have always been tight and Chelsea just hung on by their finger-tips. Ballack, Henry, Alves, Hleb, Eto’o – they were all lining up for misses.

Chelsea captain, John Terry revealed afterwards that they had closely studied a video of Barcelona’s play and so had done their homework, achieving full marks. He considered the draw a fantastic result and warned that their fans would be right behind them on May 6 for the return leg. Yes, he conceded, the Nou Camp was an intimidating place but back home at the Bridge, they would have home advantage and a fully fit team again.

“The only thing missing was an away goal,” he said.

Unfortunately, that’s just the point. Upbeat Barcelona feel they can and will score at Stamford Bridge and will take the tie.

Statistics actually say otherwise. In the last three knock-out encounters at this stage of the UEFA Champions’ League, it has been the team playing at home which has taken the honours. Can that record be maintained at Stamford Bridge?
Both sides obviously have the appetite to win and it should be a frantic 90 minutes – plus more, if need be.

Certainly, Chelsea appear to have a secret weapon already armed and waiting to fire. In the recent match against Liverpool, Chelsea goal-keeper Petr Cech came under fire for some interesting goal-keeping. Against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, he was simply magnificent and kept his side in the game on more than one occasion. He had that look about him, standing big and radiating the message: “You can’t beat me!” He was outstanding and back to his best.

It was, however, a huge team effort and no-one should under-estimate the superb tactics of the Chelsea manager। Yes, the visitors rode their luck but the approach worked and Barcelona, who usually put the goals away on home soil, just could not hit the back of the net. Chelsea were focused, positive and determined.

Chelsea manager, Guus Hiddink isn’t convinced that home advantage will count but was pleased with the draw.

“It’s quite an achievement against a team that plays beautiful football which we saw tonight,” he said, picking out Bosingwa and Malouda for special praise but describing Terry as “inspiring” and “an example to the rest of the team”.
Barcelona coach, Pep Guardida was not so complimentary। He accused Chelsea of being unwilling to play football and committing foul after foul just to interrupt play. He believes a very different Chelsea will have to take to the pitch on May 6.

Barcelona will be without two key players for the return leg; Puyol who is suspended following a booking and Rafael Marquez who is out for the rest of the season after being injured. This, says Guardida, will be no excuse for the final and they intend to be the victors.

There’s going to be an awful lot of sparring off the field in the run-up to May 6 but there’s only one place where the action will make any difference – and that’s on the pitch. Let battle commence!