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Thursday, 7 June 2012
Sunday, 3 June 2012
Friendly wins leave unanswered questions for England
England's 1-0 win on Saturday against a Belgium side set to rattle a few cages over the next decade will have given manager Roy Hodgson much to consider. Arguably the two friendly wins have posed more questions than answers - 18 players started over the two games and a total of 11 substitutions were made by the new boss.
The starting line up against Belgium is what I would expect to be much closer to the preferred selection for the Euro 12 France opener in just over a week's time. Even then though it is hard to say with great certainty who will take the field.
The defence is fairly well set, and depending on the injury news on Cahill and Terry, looks likely to be: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Terry, Cole. In Ashley Cole England probably have the best left back in the world, whilst Joe Hart looks to be the man between the sticks for many years to come. Glen Johnson worries me, particularly given the imminent threat of Franck Ribery, but the squad doesn't really have anyone screaming out to make the position their own. Cahill and Terry have been increasingly solid for Chelsea, Cahill in particular growing into the role during the Champions League heroics. Despite this however I would really rather see Terry far, far from the team. Ignoring my own personal dislike of the man, the player is no longer at the peak of his powers, and can be made to look foolish when confronted with pace and trickery.
Up front, the reliance on Wayne Rooney is well established - his cameo against Belgium showed the fact that he is the outstanding attacking talent that Hodgson has at his disposal. Both Carroll and Welbeck have arguably done their chances no harm however, and I find it hard to pick between them. If Carroll started the France game and made one or two decent touches early on, won a couple of headers and ruffled the French defence, there is just that chance that he could unleash the beast within that terrorised Chelsea to within a fraction of extra time in the FA Cup final. Shank one off his shin mind you and he could be the useless carthorse that has stunk out Anfield on numerous occasions over the past year or so. Welbeck similarly has bags of potential if he can bring it on the day...his chip finish for the winning goal on Saturday was sheer quality and his interplay with Ashley Young, honed over the last year at Carrington, is exciting. If England can go into the last game of the group still in with a chance of qualification, the introduction of Wayne Rooney could bring a real boost, he is the one player in England's squad that all other teams will be fearful of.
It's midfield though where the majority of the questions and problems lie. Injuries have led to the withdrawal of Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard. Both men would have been strong candidates to sit alongside Scott Parker and help to dictate play and provide some guile to complement Parker's tenacity. Lampard showed in the Champions League that he could be set to 'do a Scholes' and reinvent his role, by sitting deep, picking up the ball and using it intelligently. No longer looking to be the box to box man, Lampard's new role might have been ideal for England in a tournament where they can expect to be scrapping for possession rather than dominating games. Barry meanwhile has his detractors but has just won the league playing a key role in Manchester City's superstar squad. He will not be going to Euro 2012 however which probably means for both Barry and Lampard their England tournament careers ended in Bloemfontein with that German mauling.
They are out, which means James Milner and (shudder) Jordan Henderson are the most likely candidates to join Parker. Neither can look back on the past season and reflect on a myriad of personal highlights...and neither will be setting the world alight at the Euro's either. If the ball comes to you chaps just try your level best to give it to someone else in the same shirt - I fear that's all we can expect or ask.
Further forward, Hodgson needs to pick a selection of attacking midfielders from a decent list: Gerrard, Young, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Downing. Finding the right combination and setting them out with the correct approach should be the biggest headache for the England manager right now. To help him with that particular migraine, I'd suggest using Gerrard, Young and Walcott with a remit of relative flexibility, and an encouragement to support the lone front man and look to overlap/interlink with each other as much as possible, is probably the way to go. The Ox provides an x factor (ox factor?) to be used from the bench, whilst Downing should be used in only the most dire of scenarios.
I previously wrote about the fact that Roy's squad should serve to manage expectations amongst England fans, so often the victims of crazy hyperbole mixed with that evil glimmer of hope. The injuries to Lampard and Barry will have hurt the chances of keeping it tight in the middle; the suspension to Rooney forces a Plan B in attack; and the calibre of opposition means England have to be realistic about what they might achieve. These two friendly wins have done little to change any of that; but both games were won, Roy Hodgson needed that. He will now have a slightly better understanding of the challenges facing his men, but with the questions that remain unanswered he must need help.
Help is at hand Roy (having tweaked my previous suggestion given the injuries)...from one Croydon born football nice guy to another, for the starting 11 against France simply see below:
Hart
Jones, Cahill, Lescott, Cole
Milner, Parker
Walcott, Gerrard, Young
Carroll
You're welcome.
The starting line up against Belgium is what I would expect to be much closer to the preferred selection for the Euro 12 France opener in just over a week's time. Even then though it is hard to say with great certainty who will take the field.
The defence is fairly well set, and depending on the injury news on Cahill and Terry, looks likely to be: Hart; Johnson, Cahill, Terry, Cole. In Ashley Cole England probably have the best left back in the world, whilst Joe Hart looks to be the man between the sticks for many years to come. Glen Johnson worries me, particularly given the imminent threat of Franck Ribery, but the squad doesn't really have anyone screaming out to make the position their own. Cahill and Terry have been increasingly solid for Chelsea, Cahill in particular growing into the role during the Champions League heroics. Despite this however I would really rather see Terry far, far from the team. Ignoring my own personal dislike of the man, the player is no longer at the peak of his powers, and can be made to look foolish when confronted with pace and trickery.
Up front, the reliance on Wayne Rooney is well established - his cameo against Belgium showed the fact that he is the outstanding attacking talent that Hodgson has at his disposal. Both Carroll and Welbeck have arguably done their chances no harm however, and I find it hard to pick between them. If Carroll started the France game and made one or two decent touches early on, won a couple of headers and ruffled the French defence, there is just that chance that he could unleash the beast within that terrorised Chelsea to within a fraction of extra time in the FA Cup final. Shank one off his shin mind you and he could be the useless carthorse that has stunk out Anfield on numerous occasions over the past year or so. Welbeck similarly has bags of potential if he can bring it on the day...his chip finish for the winning goal on Saturday was sheer quality and his interplay with Ashley Young, honed over the last year at Carrington, is exciting. If England can go into the last game of the group still in with a chance of qualification, the introduction of Wayne Rooney could bring a real boost, he is the one player in England's squad that all other teams will be fearful of.
It's midfield though where the majority of the questions and problems lie. Injuries have led to the withdrawal of Gareth Barry and Frank Lampard. Both men would have been strong candidates to sit alongside Scott Parker and help to dictate play and provide some guile to complement Parker's tenacity. Lampard showed in the Champions League that he could be set to 'do a Scholes' and reinvent his role, by sitting deep, picking up the ball and using it intelligently. No longer looking to be the box to box man, Lampard's new role might have been ideal for England in a tournament where they can expect to be scrapping for possession rather than dominating games. Barry meanwhile has his detractors but has just won the league playing a key role in Manchester City's superstar squad. He will not be going to Euro 2012 however which probably means for both Barry and Lampard their England tournament careers ended in Bloemfontein with that German mauling.
They are out, which means James Milner and (shudder) Jordan Henderson are the most likely candidates to join Parker. Neither can look back on the past season and reflect on a myriad of personal highlights...and neither will be setting the world alight at the Euro's either. If the ball comes to you chaps just try your level best to give it to someone else in the same shirt - I fear that's all we can expect or ask.
Further forward, Hodgson needs to pick a selection of attacking midfielders from a decent list: Gerrard, Young, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Downing. Finding the right combination and setting them out with the correct approach should be the biggest headache for the England manager right now. To help him with that particular migraine, I'd suggest using Gerrard, Young and Walcott with a remit of relative flexibility, and an encouragement to support the lone front man and look to overlap/interlink with each other as much as possible, is probably the way to go. The Ox provides an x factor (ox factor?) to be used from the bench, whilst Downing should be used in only the most dire of scenarios.
I previously wrote about the fact that Roy's squad should serve to manage expectations amongst England fans, so often the victims of crazy hyperbole mixed with that evil glimmer of hope. The injuries to Lampard and Barry will have hurt the chances of keeping it tight in the middle; the suspension to Rooney forces a Plan B in attack; and the calibre of opposition means England have to be realistic about what they might achieve. These two friendly wins have done little to change any of that; but both games were won, Roy Hodgson needed that. He will now have a slightly better understanding of the challenges facing his men, but with the questions that remain unanswered he must need help.
Help is at hand Roy (having tweaked my previous suggestion given the injuries)...from one Croydon born football nice guy to another, for the starting 11 against France simply see below:
Hart
Jones, Cahill, Lescott, Cole
Milner, Parker
Walcott, Gerrard, Young
Carroll
You're welcome.
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
All those oh so nears
With Euro 2012 just around the corner, it's inevitable to think back to previous editions of the tournament. On doing so I realise that actually, by and large, the European Championships has not been too kind to me as an England fan. Too young to remember Euro 88 in real detail (although the words Van Basten and Gullit did enter my limited vocabulary at the time), Euro 92 brought my first taste of raging at a TV screen due to the footballing disaster unfolding upon it. My rage then was in seeing Gary Lineker, my absolute hero at the time, being substituted, knowing full well I'd never see him again in an England shirt. Did I not like that.
Euro 2000 contained a win against the Germans, but even that was fairly insipid, and the group stage exit for England with 2 defeats in 3 was a disappointment in what was otherwise an excellent tournament. In 2004 England's campaign had a bit more drama, including the explosive emergence of Wayne Rooney, but ultimately ended in the usual hard luck stories and penalty heartbreak. As for Euro 2008, well, England didn't even qualify for that one thanks to the ineptitude of Steve McLaren.
You'll notice however that I've left one out...
Euro 96 was for me probably the best football tournament of my life, certainly if we're just talking Euros it's the one that I've enjoyed more than any other before or since. Being able to watch so much football was a joy, religiously maintaining my wallchart, discovering new players that at the time I had never heard of or knew little about - the likes of Karel Poborsky, Davor Suker, Hristo Stoitchkov, Gheorghe Hagi and even Zinedine Zidane. What really made the tournament so special though was of course the success enjoyed by Terry Venables' England.
Reaching the semi finals in Italia 90 was for me at age 6 a series of being allowed to stay up and watch games featuring Gary Lineker, who I used to get told at the time I resembled, which filled me with happiness until I realised it was simply a slur on my big ears. I knew that England were doing well and I knew that the Belgium, Cameroon and Germany games were exciting - but I was too young to understand the context and magnitude of it all. By 96 however, my universe consisted of football and nothing else - being too young for the vices of later life the only thing that mattered was this.
England, looking back, had a very strong team in that tournament - in stalwarts like Adams, Pearce and Ince there was the steel and determination; Steve McManaman, Paul Gascoigne and Teddy Sheringham provided guile and creativity; whilst in Alan Shearer leading the line we had the world's best attacking player at that time. They started slowly with the draw against Switzerland, but from there on in it was golden moment after golden moment. Neville cross for Shearer to boom in the header...Seaman penalty save...Gascoigne dentist chair...Holland destruction...Pearce penalty. Memories I'll never ever forget.
Of course the ending was not what we wanted, not what seemed destined to happen. With 'Football's Coming Home' seemingly omnipresent during those heady weeks it felt like England were going to go all the way, until they found that the South Gate was indeed the quickest way out of Wembley.
At the time I felt sorry for Gareth Southgate, still do, and blame for the defeat as far as I was concerned went to Paul Gascoigne. Had he not hesitated for a split second, he would have reached the cross rolling so tantalisingly across the face of the goal, tapped into the empty net, and put us into the final. Were it Shearer on the end of the cross instead of being the provider, there is no doubt it would have been a goal.
That game marked the beginning of the end of Gazza's reign as England's Clown Prince. His omission from the 1998 World Cup squad settled it, and who knows what might have been for him if those studs had been an inch or two longer. I recently saw an interview with Gascoigne for Umbro, talking about his experiences as an England player. It's quite poignant actually, firstly to see the emotion with which he looks back on his pride at wearing the Three Lions...but also to see the state of the man now. Hearing him talk in his shuffling, slightly incoherent manner, he could be eighty years old reminiscing on a bygone era.
He is not an old man though, and it is clear that the effects of his lifestyle have taken a heavy toll on him. Although I'll probably never be able to watch that clip of him sliding in and missing it without a tinge of hope followed by annoyance that he missed it yet again, I think that for a man who gave so much to England fans to be in such a sorry way is a tragic state of affairs. The tabloids have provided no help whatsoever (little surprise there) and no doubt have the obituaries drafted already a la Winehouse. He's never been good at avoiding controversy, and has lurched from one problem to another, but the same can be said for many many others. I think though, rather than laugh at him, ignore him or pity him, the footballing authorities and us England fans should be looking to help Gazza.
After all, for that glorious spell in June 16 years ago, think of what he gave us; along with the rest of that excellent England team that came oh so agonisingly close.
Euro 2000 contained a win against the Germans, but even that was fairly insipid, and the group stage exit for England with 2 defeats in 3 was a disappointment in what was otherwise an excellent tournament. In 2004 England's campaign had a bit more drama, including the explosive emergence of Wayne Rooney, but ultimately ended in the usual hard luck stories and penalty heartbreak. As for Euro 2008, well, England didn't even qualify for that one thanks to the ineptitude of Steve McLaren.
You'll notice however that I've left one out...
Euro 96 was for me probably the best football tournament of my life, certainly if we're just talking Euros it's the one that I've enjoyed more than any other before or since. Being able to watch so much football was a joy, religiously maintaining my wallchart, discovering new players that at the time I had never heard of or knew little about - the likes of Karel Poborsky, Davor Suker, Hristo Stoitchkov, Gheorghe Hagi and even Zinedine Zidane. What really made the tournament so special though was of course the success enjoyed by Terry Venables' England.
Reaching the semi finals in Italia 90 was for me at age 6 a series of being allowed to stay up and watch games featuring Gary Lineker, who I used to get told at the time I resembled, which filled me with happiness until I realised it was simply a slur on my big ears. I knew that England were doing well and I knew that the Belgium, Cameroon and Germany games were exciting - but I was too young to understand the context and magnitude of it all. By 96 however, my universe consisted of football and nothing else - being too young for the vices of later life the only thing that mattered was this.
England, looking back, had a very strong team in that tournament - in stalwarts like Adams, Pearce and Ince there was the steel and determination; Steve McManaman, Paul Gascoigne and Teddy Sheringham provided guile and creativity; whilst in Alan Shearer leading the line we had the world's best attacking player at that time. They started slowly with the draw against Switzerland, but from there on in it was golden moment after golden moment. Neville cross for Shearer to boom in the header...Seaman penalty save...Gascoigne dentist chair...Holland destruction...Pearce penalty. Memories I'll never ever forget.
Of course the ending was not what we wanted, not what seemed destined to happen. With 'Football's Coming Home' seemingly omnipresent during those heady weeks it felt like England were going to go all the way, until they found that the South Gate was indeed the quickest way out of Wembley.
At the time I felt sorry for Gareth Southgate, still do, and blame for the defeat as far as I was concerned went to Paul Gascoigne. Had he not hesitated for a split second, he would have reached the cross rolling so tantalisingly across the face of the goal, tapped into the empty net, and put us into the final. Were it Shearer on the end of the cross instead of being the provider, there is no doubt it would have been a goal.
That game marked the beginning of the end of Gazza's reign as England's Clown Prince. His omission from the 1998 World Cup squad settled it, and who knows what might have been for him if those studs had been an inch or two longer. I recently saw an interview with Gascoigne for Umbro, talking about his experiences as an England player. It's quite poignant actually, firstly to see the emotion with which he looks back on his pride at wearing the Three Lions...but also to see the state of the man now. Hearing him talk in his shuffling, slightly incoherent manner, he could be eighty years old reminiscing on a bygone era.
He is not an old man though, and it is clear that the effects of his lifestyle have taken a heavy toll on him. Although I'll probably never be able to watch that clip of him sliding in and missing it without a tinge of hope followed by annoyance that he missed it yet again, I think that for a man who gave so much to England fans to be in such a sorry way is a tragic state of affairs. The tabloids have provided no help whatsoever (little surprise there) and no doubt have the obituaries drafted already a la Winehouse. He's never been good at avoiding controversy, and has lurched from one problem to another, but the same can be said for many many others. I think though, rather than laugh at him, ignore him or pity him, the footballing authorities and us England fans should be looking to help Gazza.
After all, for that glorious spell in June 16 years ago, think of what he gave us; along with the rest of that excellent England team that came oh so agonisingly close.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
The Subbies 2011/12
The Oscars, the Nobel Prize, the Dundies, the Booker Prize, the Rear of the Year...there are some prestigious awards ceremonies around, make no mistake. The Subbies however are rightly regarded as the peak of achievement in any field. Ask anyone who has ever received any of the aformentioned gongs and they'll doubtless tell you that, whilst that recognition was nice, the Subbie is the one award they really want.
So it is then that we move into this years ceremony, reflecting on what was a truly remarkable year in the world of football. Brand new names on the two biggest trophies available, crazy scorelines everywhere you looked, the emergence of some new stars, the re-emergence of some old ones, and no shortage of scandal and controversy throughout. Without further ado, let us begin the 2011-12 Sub Please Awards...
Goal of the Season:
Some exceptionally strong candidates this year and for me what was most pleasing was that of the stand-out short list, there were a trio that were sufficiently different from the norm. There have been some stunning goals such as Van Persie v Everton, Ben Arfa v Bolton and both Rooney and Young v Arsenal...but they were goals we had seen ebfore. Van Persie did a Bartlett, Ben Arfa did a Dalian Atkinson and so on. There were three for me though that had that bit of something different. Luis Suarez's hat-trick clincher against Norwich has been done before, sure, by some bloke who's name I forget back in 96...but at such pace and with such venom on the ball, his vision and execution was superb. Speaking of vision and execution, Peter Crouch's ludicrous volley against Man City of all people was a thing of spindly awkward beauty. The set up touch was key for this goal as it showed his intention prior to the actual strike...if this had been instinctive it may have been easier to dismiss as fluke. A great goal from a player who does not get the recognition he deserves in terms of his technical ability. The final goal, and the one which takes home the Subbie, is Papiss Cisse's outrageous strike at Stamford Bridge to put the seal on a 2-0 victory. The only way I can think to describe it is as an absolute bitch slap of a goal. Slashing across the ball with such power and, crucially, swerve carried with it such glorious disdain for his opponents, for the situation, and for the sheer laws of physics. The movement on the volley is unlike anything I can remember in Premier League history, starting outside the near post and lobbing the keeper before ending up in the side netting of the far, utterly unsaveable and one which deserves to take it's place among the pantheon of great strikes.
Match of the Season:
Another field here in which we have even truly spoilt with some excellent candidates. The early part of the season produced some unbelievable score lines, games that will be remembered for many years. City crushing Tottenham 5-1 at WHL, on the same day as United incredibly smashed 8 goals past a helpless Arsenal, will live long in the memory as a day when all logic and reason flew out of the window. City went one better on their travels in late October, famously inflicting the heaviest defeat of Alex Ferguson's reign as United manager by winning 6-1 at Old Trafford - how important that goal deluge was in the end of the season reckoning. City again were involved in one of the most remarkable finishes to a game ever seen (more on that later) but the game that overall I felt was the most enjoyable all year was Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal. No one-sided thumping, this game seesawed back and forth between the two London rivals until eventually Arsenal came out on top with some excellent Robin Van Persie finishing and of course the amusing spectacle of John Terry slipping and falling on his stupid face. This game truly showcased the Premier League at it's hyperactive, unpredictable and downright entertaining best.
Moment of the Season:
Absolutely and unequivocally no contest here. The moment of the season 2011-12 is quite possibly the moment of the Premier League so far. Never in the 20 seasons of Premier League football, and pretty much never in the entire history of top flight English football before it has there been a moment of such incredible excitement and drama.
There was a video that someone made for YouTube which simultaneously showed the footage from the Stadium of Light and the Etihad, from 90mins onwards. Split screen, in real time, side by side. The final whistle goes for Untied at which point they are champions, meanwhile in Manchester Nigel de Jong picks up the ball and feeds Sergio Aguero. His slick interchange with Balotelli followed by a first touch of unbelievable composure and a second touch finish of sheer power and precision sparked scenes of celebration like nothing else that has been since. It meant so much, if City had failed at the final hurdle then questions could easily have been raised about their bottle, and whether they will ever be Mancunian top dogs. The fact they turned it round could mean the beginning of a new era for the Premier League. The last 5 minutes of Man City v QPR is without a shadow of a doubt the moment of the season, and I (along with Martin Tyler) question if we'll ever see anything like it again.
Player of the Season:
Again we have a few candidates here - cases could easily be made for Wayne Rooney, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and also moving down the table the likes of Clint Dempsey, Yohan Cabaye, Grant Holt and Stewart Downing (ahem). For me though, although all of the above listed players were excellent for the majority of the time, none of them were as singularly important to their team as the winner. Robin Van Persie, finally benefitting from an injury free season, scored so many vital goals and often posed the only threat in the Arsenal line up. To carry the ailing team to a 3rd place finish is one hell of an achievement, and whilst it remains to be seen where RVP will be lining up come August, for now he can look back on a season of almost constant brilliance.
Villain of the Season:
A new award introduced as it was impossible to ignore the fact that, sadly, this season contained no small amount of controversy. Villains of various types were to be found. Ask Blackburn and Villa fans if they could nominate anyone and you'll very quickly hear the names of Steve Kean, Venky's, and Alex McLeish spat venomously back at you. Joey Barton continued his stupid antics, and for his idiocy on the last day will now not be seen in the Premier League until November at the earliest. A minority of Chelsea fans booing a minute's silence for the Hillsborough fans will presumably not be well regarded by most right minded people. Unfortunately though it was racism which reared it's ugly head again too often this season. It remains to be seen whether John Terry did in fact (in the eyes of the law) say "I never called you a" before being caught on camera bellowing "f***ing black c***" at Anton Ferdinand. Either way, not a good look at all. Speaking of which, fashion faux pas of the century surely goes to the Liverpool FC squad for their spectacularly misguided Suarez 7 t-shirts, in support of their colleague who was convicted by the FA of racially abusing Patrice Evra. The phantom handshake was a nonsense, and whilst I don't want to get into the shitstorm that is Suarez v Evra (again) I know how I felt at the time seeing Luis Suarez refuse to shake Evra's hand, so he receives the first ever Subbie for Villain of the Year.
Signing of the Season:
If Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were conjoined twins, it would cause serious headaches not just for the kit man at Newcastle but also for the Sub Please Award Committee. Ba was electric for the first half of the season but failed to shine after his ANC trip, when Cisse picked up the mantle and took the league by storm thereafter. Another Newcastle Newbie, Yohan Cabaye, had an excellent season and was signed for a relative snip - you can imagine Ligue 1 chairmen will be ramping up their prices for any English clubs this year, given the flood of interest that Newcastle's successful recruitment drive will have generated. The player who scored in the Champion's first and last games of the season however gets the nod for me. Sergio Aguero has had an instant impact on the Premier League, taking no time at all to settle in and has been a torment to defences throughout. The fact that it was he to score what will surely go down as the most famous goal ever scored in the Sky Blue of City is reason enough alone to give him it, but for his excellent play and tremendous scoring record, Sergio Aguero was worth every penny.
Flop of the Season:
For this award it is tempting to look no further than Anfield. Further afield fingers could be pointed at Fernando Torres who I for one expected to deliver more than the paltry number of goals that he managed, also bigger things were surely expected of some of Arsenal's imports. Liverpool spent a lot of money in the Summer though and for that it is questionable whether they have received much value at all. Jordan Henderson's woeful FA Cup Final display was symptomatic of a season big on effort but low on achievement. Charlie Adam started brightly but will be expected to improve if he is to demand a place in the team, while Andy Carroll's late season revival is papering over the cracks of what was a poor season for the burly front man. Stewart Downing however will be haunted by the infamous '0 goals, 0 assists' record which presumably hangs as heavy on his shoulders as those of the Anfield hierarchy who are only too aware of the investment. Downing's inclusion in the Euro 2012 squad has the potential to make or break him I feel; a good few displays for England and he could return to his club with a new lease of life - anything less and it could be curtains. Flop.
Manager of the Season:
We've mentioned a few Newcastle players here for various awards but the one thing that really shone through about the Toon Army was the cohesion and balance they displayed as a team. A unity, a focus, and a strength in almost every position defied the erstwhile image of Newcastle United as a dysfunctional mess of a club. All credit for this has to go to the man in charge, and Alan Pardew is rightly receiving the recognition that the incredible 5th place finish deserves. A Subbie to go with his League Manager of the Season award, he'll be delighted. Honourable mentions for Roberto Mancini in keeping a highly paid squad of superstars happy and focussed even when all seemed lost, and to the fantastic season enjoyed by the two newly promoted clubs Norwich and Swansea - Paul Lambert and Brendan Rogers can look back on a job very well done.
Fair Play Award:
As mentioned last year this award traditionally goes to the fat no hoper who always turns up to training but is sub every week unless some kind of zombie apocalypse has struck. This year's candidate found himself thrust into a position that we would all accept, but that we may not be qualified or ready for. Terry O'Connor undoubtedly gave his best as Wolves manager, unfortunately his best was nowhere near good enough. What earns him the fair play Subbie though is the fact that you could see how much he cared, how much this hurt hi, and how much the poor man must have been struggling to sleep with every passing defeat. Clearly a nice, likeable man; clearly not cut out for Premier League management.
And Finally Award:
As per every news broadcast ever, we like to finish on a light note, inject a bit of humour to the awards before the tables get moved aside and the DJ drops a bit of S Club 7. This season saw many things to point and laugh at...Arsenal's defending at Old Trafford; A sour-faced old Glaswegian in a Luis Suarez T-shirt; a chicken in a Blackburn Rovers cape; numerous inexplicable facial expressions from United's Phil Jones; John Terry falling over and of course the split second when those poor United fans heard the earth-shattering news. For sheer comedy though we need look no further than the moment Gary Neville enjoyed Fernando Torres' goal against Barcelona, just that little but more than is strictly professional. Take a bow Gary, tek a boo.
So it is then that we move into this years ceremony, reflecting on what was a truly remarkable year in the world of football. Brand new names on the two biggest trophies available, crazy scorelines everywhere you looked, the emergence of some new stars, the re-emergence of some old ones, and no shortage of scandal and controversy throughout. Without further ado, let us begin the 2011-12 Sub Please Awards...
Goal of the Season:
Some exceptionally strong candidates this year and for me what was most pleasing was that of the stand-out short list, there were a trio that were sufficiently different from the norm. There have been some stunning goals such as Van Persie v Everton, Ben Arfa v Bolton and both Rooney and Young v Arsenal...but they were goals we had seen ebfore. Van Persie did a Bartlett, Ben Arfa did a Dalian Atkinson and so on. There were three for me though that had that bit of something different. Luis Suarez's hat-trick clincher against Norwich has been done before, sure, by some bloke who's name I forget back in 96...but at such pace and with such venom on the ball, his vision and execution was superb. Speaking of vision and execution, Peter Crouch's ludicrous volley against Man City of all people was a thing of spindly awkward beauty. The set up touch was key for this goal as it showed his intention prior to the actual strike...if this had been instinctive it may have been easier to dismiss as fluke. A great goal from a player who does not get the recognition he deserves in terms of his technical ability. The final goal, and the one which takes home the Subbie, is Papiss Cisse's outrageous strike at Stamford Bridge to put the seal on a 2-0 victory. The only way I can think to describe it is as an absolute bitch slap of a goal. Slashing across the ball with such power and, crucially, swerve carried with it such glorious disdain for his opponents, for the situation, and for the sheer laws of physics. The movement on the volley is unlike anything I can remember in Premier League history, starting outside the near post and lobbing the keeper before ending up in the side netting of the far, utterly unsaveable and one which deserves to take it's place among the pantheon of great strikes.
Match of the Season:
Another field here in which we have even truly spoilt with some excellent candidates. The early part of the season produced some unbelievable score lines, games that will be remembered for many years. City crushing Tottenham 5-1 at WHL, on the same day as United incredibly smashed 8 goals past a helpless Arsenal, will live long in the memory as a day when all logic and reason flew out of the window. City went one better on their travels in late October, famously inflicting the heaviest defeat of Alex Ferguson's reign as United manager by winning 6-1 at Old Trafford - how important that goal deluge was in the end of the season reckoning. City again were involved in one of the most remarkable finishes to a game ever seen (more on that later) but the game that overall I felt was the most enjoyable all year was Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal. No one-sided thumping, this game seesawed back and forth between the two London rivals until eventually Arsenal came out on top with some excellent Robin Van Persie finishing and of course the amusing spectacle of John Terry slipping and falling on his stupid face. This game truly showcased the Premier League at it's hyperactive, unpredictable and downright entertaining best.
Moment of the Season:
Absolutely and unequivocally no contest here. The moment of the season 2011-12 is quite possibly the moment of the Premier League so far. Never in the 20 seasons of Premier League football, and pretty much never in the entire history of top flight English football before it has there been a moment of such incredible excitement and drama.
There was a video that someone made for YouTube which simultaneously showed the footage from the Stadium of Light and the Etihad, from 90mins onwards. Split screen, in real time, side by side. The final whistle goes for Untied at which point they are champions, meanwhile in Manchester Nigel de Jong picks up the ball and feeds Sergio Aguero. His slick interchange with Balotelli followed by a first touch of unbelievable composure and a second touch finish of sheer power and precision sparked scenes of celebration like nothing else that has been since. It meant so much, if City had failed at the final hurdle then questions could easily have been raised about their bottle, and whether they will ever be Mancunian top dogs. The fact they turned it round could mean the beginning of a new era for the Premier League. The last 5 minutes of Man City v QPR is without a shadow of a doubt the moment of the season, and I (along with Martin Tyler) question if we'll ever see anything like it again.
Player of the Season:
Again we have a few candidates here - cases could easily be made for Wayne Rooney, David Silva, Vincent Kompany, Yaya Toure and also moving down the table the likes of Clint Dempsey, Yohan Cabaye, Grant Holt and Stewart Downing (ahem). For me though, although all of the above listed players were excellent for the majority of the time, none of them were as singularly important to their team as the winner. Robin Van Persie, finally benefitting from an injury free season, scored so many vital goals and often posed the only threat in the Arsenal line up. To carry the ailing team to a 3rd place finish is one hell of an achievement, and whilst it remains to be seen where RVP will be lining up come August, for now he can look back on a season of almost constant brilliance.
Villain of the Season:
A new award introduced as it was impossible to ignore the fact that, sadly, this season contained no small amount of controversy. Villains of various types were to be found. Ask Blackburn and Villa fans if they could nominate anyone and you'll very quickly hear the names of Steve Kean, Venky's, and Alex McLeish spat venomously back at you. Joey Barton continued his stupid antics, and for his idiocy on the last day will now not be seen in the Premier League until November at the earliest. A minority of Chelsea fans booing a minute's silence for the Hillsborough fans will presumably not be well regarded by most right minded people. Unfortunately though it was racism which reared it's ugly head again too often this season. It remains to be seen whether John Terry did in fact (in the eyes of the law) say "I never called you a" before being caught on camera bellowing "f***ing black c***" at Anton Ferdinand. Either way, not a good look at all. Speaking of which, fashion faux pas of the century surely goes to the Liverpool FC squad for their spectacularly misguided Suarez 7 t-shirts, in support of their colleague who was convicted by the FA of racially abusing Patrice Evra. The phantom handshake was a nonsense, and whilst I don't want to get into the shitstorm that is Suarez v Evra (again) I know how I felt at the time seeing Luis Suarez refuse to shake Evra's hand, so he receives the first ever Subbie for Villain of the Year.
Signing of the Season:
If Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse were conjoined twins, it would cause serious headaches not just for the kit man at Newcastle but also for the Sub Please Award Committee. Ba was electric for the first half of the season but failed to shine after his ANC trip, when Cisse picked up the mantle and took the league by storm thereafter. Another Newcastle Newbie, Yohan Cabaye, had an excellent season and was signed for a relative snip - you can imagine Ligue 1 chairmen will be ramping up their prices for any English clubs this year, given the flood of interest that Newcastle's successful recruitment drive will have generated. The player who scored in the Champion's first and last games of the season however gets the nod for me. Sergio Aguero has had an instant impact on the Premier League, taking no time at all to settle in and has been a torment to defences throughout. The fact that it was he to score what will surely go down as the most famous goal ever scored in the Sky Blue of City is reason enough alone to give him it, but for his excellent play and tremendous scoring record, Sergio Aguero was worth every penny.
Flop of the Season:
For this award it is tempting to look no further than Anfield. Further afield fingers could be pointed at Fernando Torres who I for one expected to deliver more than the paltry number of goals that he managed, also bigger things were surely expected of some of Arsenal's imports. Liverpool spent a lot of money in the Summer though and for that it is questionable whether they have received much value at all. Jordan Henderson's woeful FA Cup Final display was symptomatic of a season big on effort but low on achievement. Charlie Adam started brightly but will be expected to improve if he is to demand a place in the team, while Andy Carroll's late season revival is papering over the cracks of what was a poor season for the burly front man. Stewart Downing however will be haunted by the infamous '0 goals, 0 assists' record which presumably hangs as heavy on his shoulders as those of the Anfield hierarchy who are only too aware of the investment. Downing's inclusion in the Euro 2012 squad has the potential to make or break him I feel; a good few displays for England and he could return to his club with a new lease of life - anything less and it could be curtains. Flop.
Manager of the Season:
We've mentioned a few Newcastle players here for various awards but the one thing that really shone through about the Toon Army was the cohesion and balance they displayed as a team. A unity, a focus, and a strength in almost every position defied the erstwhile image of Newcastle United as a dysfunctional mess of a club. All credit for this has to go to the man in charge, and Alan Pardew is rightly receiving the recognition that the incredible 5th place finish deserves. A Subbie to go with his League Manager of the Season award, he'll be delighted. Honourable mentions for Roberto Mancini in keeping a highly paid squad of superstars happy and focussed even when all seemed lost, and to the fantastic season enjoyed by the two newly promoted clubs Norwich and Swansea - Paul Lambert and Brendan Rogers can look back on a job very well done.
Fair Play Award:
As mentioned last year this award traditionally goes to the fat no hoper who always turns up to training but is sub every week unless some kind of zombie apocalypse has struck. This year's candidate found himself thrust into a position that we would all accept, but that we may not be qualified or ready for. Terry O'Connor undoubtedly gave his best as Wolves manager, unfortunately his best was nowhere near good enough. What earns him the fair play Subbie though is the fact that you could see how much he cared, how much this hurt hi, and how much the poor man must have been struggling to sleep with every passing defeat. Clearly a nice, likeable man; clearly not cut out for Premier League management.
And Finally Award:
As per every news broadcast ever, we like to finish on a light note, inject a bit of humour to the awards before the tables get moved aside and the DJ drops a bit of S Club 7. This season saw many things to point and laugh at...Arsenal's defending at Old Trafford; A sour-faced old Glaswegian in a Luis Suarez T-shirt; a chicken in a Blackburn Rovers cape; numerous inexplicable facial expressions from United's Phil Jones; John Terry falling over and of course the split second when those poor United fans heard the earth-shattering news. For sheer comedy though we need look no further than the moment Gary Neville enjoyed Fernando Torres' goal against Barcelona, just that little but more than is strictly professional. Take a bow Gary, tek a boo.
Sunday, 20 May 2012
Moneyball
Yesterday two games of football were played that have possibly never had more riding on them from a purely financial point of view. West Ham's play-off final vs Blackpool and Chelsea's Champions League showpiece against Bayern Munich were worth comfortably over 100 Million GBP between them, due to what was at stake for both sides.
Promotion to the Premier League is well documented in terms of the financial windfall it brings. West Ham had spent big last Summer in order to secure an instant return following their relegation in 2011. With a squad packed with international experience and Premier League stars, there was a sense from many that they had gone all in, gambled the house, and would be facing up to some kind of oblivion if the promotion was not secured.
Meanwhile, across London, Chelsea found themselves in a situation that the only way they could gain entry into the Champions League 2012/13 would be by defeating Bayern Munich in their own backyard, the magnificent Allianz Arena. Having finished 6th in the League, failure to complete in UEFA's pride and joy would perhaps not be a disaster for Roberto Di Matteo's men, but it would certainly represent a significant financial blow and a challenge to keep up with the pack ahead of them.
West Ham have Ricardo Vaz Te to thank once again, the striker purchased in January has popped up with a number of late goals for the Hammers, none more valuable than this 87th minute winner. Having finished third and within touching distance of the top two, it's hard to argue against Sam Allardyce's men deserving their reward. I'm not happy though. From a Southampton point of view, I wanted Blackpool to come up as the (perhaps unfair) assumption would have been that they would be more likely to struggle than West Ham. Furthermore, West Ham have more financial clout than we do and will presumably be a bigger lure to the types of players that we might otherwise have gone in for...certainly I see this as a minor blow to the Saints' prospects next season. That aside, I think it's fair to say that the Hammers have not won many friends this season - the brand of football they play (hardly surprising given Sam Allardyce is in charge) is far from easy on the eye and even their own fans have spoken out against it. They have carried a sense of superiority, of assumption, and I would not have been alone in enjoying a bit of schadenfreude had the Seasiders performed their own bouncebackability routine.
West Ham have done it though and can look forward to renewing hostilities with old friends Chelsea next season...European Champions Chelsea. It's quite a phenomenal achievement - certainly at the semi-final draw I think the Blues would have been outsiders for the trophy; and even more so way back at the half-way stage of their clash with Napoli following a 3-1 defeat that looked to be the end. It was the end for Andre Villas-Boas, and whilst it rankles with me to see the improved performances from the same set of players (can't help thinking they engineered his exit by being so shite), plaudits have to go to Roberto Di Matteo for delivering a double including the holy grail, Old Big Ears himself, for the first time in the club's history.
The fact of the matter is that for the last 300 minutes of Champions League football, Chelsea have parked the bus. They looked to defend, showed very little attacking intent, but crucially took the few chances that came their way. It was an approach that triumphed over a profligate Barcelona, who will presumably know exactly how Bayern are feeling right now. "How did we lose that?" The Bavarian giants had numerous chances to win this game in relative comfort, but their finishing was just inept. Mario Gomez does not fool me with his 40-odd goals record - he is nowhere near the class that such illustrious stats would imply. You can see how he scores a lot of goals, his positioning and movement are clever, he is strong and will unsettle many defences, plus he enjoys service from the likes of Robben, Ribery, Lahm and Schweinsteiger. At the elite end of the game though he is not quite up to what is required.
Didier Drogba on the other hand showed yet again that when you reach the business part of the season, he is the man to rely on. First of all with a bullet header to rescue Chelsea when all seemed lost, it was fitting that it was Drogba who rolled home the winning penalty. He nearly went from hero to zero mind you with his clumsy challenge on Franck Ribery (French fans will nervously await the injury news there) but I never for a second thought that Arjen Robben was going to score from the resultant penalty.
I found it odd that Chelsea reverted to their negative approach in extra time, having snatched the game away from Bayern they had their opponent on the ropes, and having made an attacking substitution in introducing Fernando Torres, they could have wrapped it up within the 120. Playing for penalties against a German side with a 3 and 0 record seemed foolhardy, but they needn't have worried.
Despite the initial miss from Mata, Petr Cech was again colossal for Chelsea and saved extremely well from first Ivica Olic and then Bastian Schweinsteiger; it was fitting to see Drogba run straight to Cech once victory was confirmed. I'm pleased for Chelsea, or at least I was until I started to watch the celebrations.
I'll try not to go too overboard here, but have you ever witnessed a more self-obsessed, limelight hogging, mercenary bunch of complete and utter absolute scum than that? When the captain is going up to receive the trophy...GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY. The likes of Jose 'Dear Christ use a pair of tweezers' Bosingwa, David Luiz and laughably even Paulo fucking Ferreira insisting on standing right in the way boiled my blood. Twats. I appreciate the desire to get your hands on the trophy and to celebrate, but this just seemed to be all about them with no appreciation for their place in the scheme of things or the pecking order at the club. They struck me as the kind of pricks who you'd have to block from your facebook feed as they would constantly be posting about themselves. Running around snatching the trophy off each other, bundling in to every photo just to be front and centre...Pathetic. And as for that scumbag JT, three things: 1) why the fucking hell was he dressed in football kit given he played no part in the final, was never going to, and arguably did more than any of his colleagues to prevent them from getting there; 2) how does he have no sense of self-awareness of irony to be so vociferous and self-aggrandising in his celebration, despite having sat and watched like the rest of us; 3) please can something, anything, happen to prevent him from being part of the England set-up ever again. An understated, humble, embarrassed raising of the trophy while dressed in a suit was the way to go John. A despicable man.
It's not fair to tarnish the rest of the squad with that brush though and the simple fact remains that England again has a Champion of Europe, which is a great thing. Players like Frank Lampard (who was excellent in a composed and withdrawn role) Ashley Cole (leading left back in the world, yes...prick, yes) Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and of course Ryan Bertrand have worked hard for years and years towards this goal and I don't begrudge them anything. Chelsea fans witnessed the wrong side of penalties in 2008 so it's good for them to get the right outcome this time. And for all of us watching, it's yet another bit of drama to remember from this remarkable season.
Oh, and finally: unlucky 'Arry...lol.
Promotion to the Premier League is well documented in terms of the financial windfall it brings. West Ham had spent big last Summer in order to secure an instant return following their relegation in 2011. With a squad packed with international experience and Premier League stars, there was a sense from many that they had gone all in, gambled the house, and would be facing up to some kind of oblivion if the promotion was not secured.
Meanwhile, across London, Chelsea found themselves in a situation that the only way they could gain entry into the Champions League 2012/13 would be by defeating Bayern Munich in their own backyard, the magnificent Allianz Arena. Having finished 6th in the League, failure to complete in UEFA's pride and joy would perhaps not be a disaster for Roberto Di Matteo's men, but it would certainly represent a significant financial blow and a challenge to keep up with the pack ahead of them.
West Ham have Ricardo Vaz Te to thank once again, the striker purchased in January has popped up with a number of late goals for the Hammers, none more valuable than this 87th minute winner. Having finished third and within touching distance of the top two, it's hard to argue against Sam Allardyce's men deserving their reward. I'm not happy though. From a Southampton point of view, I wanted Blackpool to come up as the (perhaps unfair) assumption would have been that they would be more likely to struggle than West Ham. Furthermore, West Ham have more financial clout than we do and will presumably be a bigger lure to the types of players that we might otherwise have gone in for...certainly I see this as a minor blow to the Saints' prospects next season. That aside, I think it's fair to say that the Hammers have not won many friends this season - the brand of football they play (hardly surprising given Sam Allardyce is in charge) is far from easy on the eye and even their own fans have spoken out against it. They have carried a sense of superiority, of assumption, and I would not have been alone in enjoying a bit of schadenfreude had the Seasiders performed their own bouncebackability routine.
West Ham have done it though and can look forward to renewing hostilities with old friends Chelsea next season...European Champions Chelsea. It's quite a phenomenal achievement - certainly at the semi-final draw I think the Blues would have been outsiders for the trophy; and even more so way back at the half-way stage of their clash with Napoli following a 3-1 defeat that looked to be the end. It was the end for Andre Villas-Boas, and whilst it rankles with me to see the improved performances from the same set of players (can't help thinking they engineered his exit by being so shite), plaudits have to go to Roberto Di Matteo for delivering a double including the holy grail, Old Big Ears himself, for the first time in the club's history.
The fact of the matter is that for the last 300 minutes of Champions League football, Chelsea have parked the bus. They looked to defend, showed very little attacking intent, but crucially took the few chances that came their way. It was an approach that triumphed over a profligate Barcelona, who will presumably know exactly how Bayern are feeling right now. "How did we lose that?" The Bavarian giants had numerous chances to win this game in relative comfort, but their finishing was just inept. Mario Gomez does not fool me with his 40-odd goals record - he is nowhere near the class that such illustrious stats would imply. You can see how he scores a lot of goals, his positioning and movement are clever, he is strong and will unsettle many defences, plus he enjoys service from the likes of Robben, Ribery, Lahm and Schweinsteiger. At the elite end of the game though he is not quite up to what is required.
Didier Drogba on the other hand showed yet again that when you reach the business part of the season, he is the man to rely on. First of all with a bullet header to rescue Chelsea when all seemed lost, it was fitting that it was Drogba who rolled home the winning penalty. He nearly went from hero to zero mind you with his clumsy challenge on Franck Ribery (French fans will nervously await the injury news there) but I never for a second thought that Arjen Robben was going to score from the resultant penalty.
I found it odd that Chelsea reverted to their negative approach in extra time, having snatched the game away from Bayern they had their opponent on the ropes, and having made an attacking substitution in introducing Fernando Torres, they could have wrapped it up within the 120. Playing for penalties against a German side with a 3 and 0 record seemed foolhardy, but they needn't have worried.
Despite the initial miss from Mata, Petr Cech was again colossal for Chelsea and saved extremely well from first Ivica Olic and then Bastian Schweinsteiger; it was fitting to see Drogba run straight to Cech once victory was confirmed. I'm pleased for Chelsea, or at least I was until I started to watch the celebrations.
I'll try not to go too overboard here, but have you ever witnessed a more self-obsessed, limelight hogging, mercenary bunch of complete and utter absolute scum than that? When the captain is going up to receive the trophy...GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE FUCKING WAY. The likes of Jose 'Dear Christ use a pair of tweezers' Bosingwa, David Luiz and laughably even Paulo fucking Ferreira insisting on standing right in the way boiled my blood. Twats. I appreciate the desire to get your hands on the trophy and to celebrate, but this just seemed to be all about them with no appreciation for their place in the scheme of things or the pecking order at the club. They struck me as the kind of pricks who you'd have to block from your facebook feed as they would constantly be posting about themselves. Running around snatching the trophy off each other, bundling in to every photo just to be front and centre...Pathetic. And as for that scumbag JT, three things: 1) why the fucking hell was he dressed in football kit given he played no part in the final, was never going to, and arguably did more than any of his colleagues to prevent them from getting there; 2) how does he have no sense of self-awareness of irony to be so vociferous and self-aggrandising in his celebration, despite having sat and watched like the rest of us; 3) please can something, anything, happen to prevent him from being part of the England set-up ever again. An understated, humble, embarrassed raising of the trophy while dressed in a suit was the way to go John. A despicable man.
It's not fair to tarnish the rest of the squad with that brush though and the simple fact remains that England again has a Champion of Europe, which is a great thing. Players like Frank Lampard (who was excellent in a composed and withdrawn role) Ashley Cole (leading left back in the world, yes...prick, yes) Didier Drogba, Petr Cech and of course Ryan Bertrand have worked hard for years and years towards this goal and I don't begrudge them anything. Chelsea fans witnessed the wrong side of penalties in 2008 so it's good for them to get the right outcome this time. And for all of us watching, it's yet another bit of drama to remember from this remarkable season.
Oh, and finally: unlucky 'Arry...lol.
Thursday, 17 May 2012
Roy's Boys don't offer much to be excited about
Roy Hodgson has named his England squad and I can't be alone in going through the names and then coming to the end with something of a feeling of deflation. Is that the best we can do? Erm, yeah, actually.
Hart, Green, Ruddy Hell it's Softcell
Baines, Cahill, Cole, Johnson, Jones, Lescott, Terry (boo)
Barry, Downing, Gerrard (c), Lampard, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Parker, Walcott, Young
Caroll, Defoe, Rooney, Welbeck
As I say, not exactly the most stellar cast ever assembled. However this is absolutely not a criticism of Roy Hodgson at all, the sad fact of the matter is that I think England had a real dearth of options going into this tournament.
Looking through that squad I'd say you would only really pick out Joe Hart, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney as leading players in their positions. They for me would be the only three English players that any of the other participants in Euro 2012 would slot into their team without too much in the way of hesitation.
Based on that 23, and given the fact that Rooney the idiot is unavailable through his own stupidity (it really winds me up that, for once he approaches a tournament not injured and his hotheaded idiocy has cost him and us, dickhead) I would plump for the following starting 11 for the France game:
Ruddy (as if, it's Hart)
Jones, Cahill, Terry (I know, I know) Cole
Parker, Barry
Walcott, Gerrard, Young
Carroll.
Again, it's not the most awe-inspiring team that England have ever set out, but my real takeaway from this whole thing is that actually this is healthy.
It's refreshing to see that pundits are coming out with the view that I fully agree with - to qualify from their group will be an achievement for England here. We face strong opposition plus a host nation who should always be handled with care. We are missing our best player and biggest goal threat until it may be too late. We have a series of players who have either passed their peak and are sliding into irrelevance, or are yet to hit the heights that their careers may produce.
Too often England go into tournaments with unreasonable expectations, nay, demands, that they will win the thing. Only twice in my life have we ever made the semi final, and the last one of those got me a Year 7 after school detention for my language the next day.
This time, anyone with any knowledge will understand that we don't have the greatest of options, we are in transition, and we probably need to build for the future rather than worrying too much about the present.
Nowhere is this made more starkly obvious than in relation to our striking options. Carroll got good in the FA Cup Final, so we all seem to be forgetting the previous 12 months of calamity. Welbeck may well become a fine player for his country but that seems too big of an ask right now, and Defoe has rarely played for his club in recent months. Other options that have been rejected didn't exactly set the heart fluttering either - a far cry from the days when we could leave out the likes of Robbie Fowler, Ian Wright and Andy Cole.
As I say though I don't find it too tragic, this is the squad we have, it's deemed the best we've got and with a few possible arguments (Adam Johnson instead of Downing, Rio instead of Tosspot, Rickie Lambert just because) there is not really much that anyone would change. Consider the omission of Gazza (and Le Tiss) in 98; there is no-one really screaming out to be included this time in my opinion.
Now that the squad has been chosen, the next job is simple: get behind them. Let's take the fact that we have shed the golden generation tosh as a positive, here's a decent enough team that are probably going to struggle so more than ever they need strong support. The divisive tabloids have had it out for Roy since Day One, and I have no doubt they will pounce on anything as soon as they can - but if they can point to a better choice then I'd love to hear it. I wouldn't actually, I despise them all and all who sail within them, but that's beside the point.
There is less than a month until England kick off their Euro 2012 campaign against France, and now that the squad is out there, it's time to look forward. As understated as our chances might be, it's impossible not to get a bit excited, so I'll just throw out one ridiculous prediction...The Ox to be the breakthrough star of the tournament, leading us to a semi final walloping from Ze Germans.
Come on England!
Hart, Green, Ruddy Hell it's Softcell
Baines, Cahill, Cole, Johnson, Jones, Lescott, Terry (boo)
Barry, Downing, Gerrard (c), Lampard, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Parker, Walcott, Young
Caroll, Defoe, Rooney, Welbeck
As I say, not exactly the most stellar cast ever assembled. However this is absolutely not a criticism of Roy Hodgson at all, the sad fact of the matter is that I think England had a real dearth of options going into this tournament.
Looking through that squad I'd say you would only really pick out Joe Hart, Ashley Cole and Wayne Rooney as leading players in their positions. They for me would be the only three English players that any of the other participants in Euro 2012 would slot into their team without too much in the way of hesitation.
Based on that 23, and given the fact that Rooney the idiot is unavailable through his own stupidity (it really winds me up that, for once he approaches a tournament not injured and his hotheaded idiocy has cost him and us, dickhead) I would plump for the following starting 11 for the France game:
Ruddy (as if, it's Hart)
Jones, Cahill, Terry (I know, I know) Cole
Parker, Barry
Walcott, Gerrard, Young
Carroll.
Again, it's not the most awe-inspiring team that England have ever set out, but my real takeaway from this whole thing is that actually this is healthy.
It's refreshing to see that pundits are coming out with the view that I fully agree with - to qualify from their group will be an achievement for England here. We face strong opposition plus a host nation who should always be handled with care. We are missing our best player and biggest goal threat until it may be too late. We have a series of players who have either passed their peak and are sliding into irrelevance, or are yet to hit the heights that their careers may produce.
Too often England go into tournaments with unreasonable expectations, nay, demands, that they will win the thing. Only twice in my life have we ever made the semi final, and the last one of those got me a Year 7 after school detention for my language the next day.
This time, anyone with any knowledge will understand that we don't have the greatest of options, we are in transition, and we probably need to build for the future rather than worrying too much about the present.
Nowhere is this made more starkly obvious than in relation to our striking options. Carroll got good in the FA Cup Final, so we all seem to be forgetting the previous 12 months of calamity. Welbeck may well become a fine player for his country but that seems too big of an ask right now, and Defoe has rarely played for his club in recent months. Other options that have been rejected didn't exactly set the heart fluttering either - a far cry from the days when we could leave out the likes of Robbie Fowler, Ian Wright and Andy Cole.
As I say though I don't find it too tragic, this is the squad we have, it's deemed the best we've got and with a few possible arguments (Adam Johnson instead of Downing, Rio instead of Tosspot, Rickie Lambert just because) there is not really much that anyone would change. Consider the omission of Gazza (and Le Tiss) in 98; there is no-one really screaming out to be included this time in my opinion.
Now that the squad has been chosen, the next job is simple: get behind them. Let's take the fact that we have shed the golden generation tosh as a positive, here's a decent enough team that are probably going to struggle so more than ever they need strong support. The divisive tabloids have had it out for Roy since Day One, and I have no doubt they will pounce on anything as soon as they can - but if they can point to a better choice then I'd love to hear it. I wouldn't actually, I despise them all and all who sail within them, but that's beside the point.
There is less than a month until England kick off their Euro 2012 campaign against France, and now that the squad is out there, it's time to look forward. As understated as our chances might be, it's impossible not to get a bit excited, so I'll just throw out one ridiculous prediction...The Ox to be the breakthrough star of the tournament, leading us to a semi final walloping from Ze Germans.
Come on England!
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
The 90%
Some people consider the story of Jesus to be the Greatest Story Ever Told. Fair play to them, that's all well and good, and they are entitled to their beliefs. From my point of view, turning water into wine is one thing...but having the composure to take a touch in a packed penalty area and then finish to cap an injury time turnaround and seal the entire League for the first time in your club's history...now that is a miracle. Thus it is that with all the excitement of the new, accept no imitations, REAL Greatest Story Ever Told at the Etihad on Sunday everything else in football got somewhat overlooked.
Apologies for the casual blasphemy there but what I'm getting at is that City's remarkable victory from the jaws of despair has, rightly, hogged the attention from Sunday's final day drama. They were by far not the only ones to provide a talking point however on Sunday's feast of football, a day of high excitement yet again in this remarkable season. Incidentally that final day has pretty much done Sky Sports marketing for them for next year's subscriptions.
First off, Arsenal just clinching third in what has to go down as one of the most unlikely and perhaps commendable achievements of Wenger's tenure. After the horrible start they endured - who can forget the 8-2 mauling which actually served to spark their transfer dealings into life - they found theselves miles off the pace in the Autumn. A thoroughly enjoyable 5-3 away win against Chelsea showed signs that the potential was there, but even come late January they were still a long way off their North London rivals Tottenham in the hunt for a Champions League spot. The capitulation of Spurs has been frankly shameful, but nevertheless Arsenal have been excellent in their relentless pursuit and third place with it's guaranteed Champions League spot is a deserved reward for the efforts of Robin Van Persie FC.
A team that until recently had Champions League aspirations of their own - in fact more than aspirations, expectations, is Liverpool. Their 1-0 defeat to Swansea was largely buried amongst the other issues of the day, and arguably the team in 11th beating the team in 8th at home is no big reason to get excited. But this represented Liverpool's 14th defeat of the campaign...14...that is just so far from being acceptable it is almost indecent. Huge question marks hang over Anfield this Summer concerning the role of manager Kenny Dalglish, will he move 'upstairs', will he step aside, will the owners even go so far as to remove this great legend of the club? Any other manager having delivered the utter dross that Liverpool have served up this season would be done for - this is a team that used to qualify for the Champions League routinely and have every other club in Europe fearing their name being drawn from the hat. Now, what fear do they inspire? Not enough, that's what.
Another fallen giant to suffer a humiliating defeat that was largely overlooked was Aston Villa. Alex McLeish deserved the sack, without a doubt. His results were nowhere near good enough, by rights with a mere 38 points Villa should have been relegated. More than this though is the negativity, oh lord the negativity. I'm not necessarily of the mindset that football is purely an entertainment choice alongside going to the cinema or bowling...I go to football to support the team first and foremost...but I also don't blame any single one of those Villa fans for demonstrating their unhappiness having sat through a season of that tripe.
At least Villa avoided relegation, which is more than can be said for Bolton Wanderers. The Sergio Aguero goal heard around the M62 would have been cheered just as loudly a bit further north in Bolton, if Owen Coyle's men had managed to defeat Stoke City. The referee did them no favours in that game, and their 2-2 draw was not enough to overhaul QPR. It's a shame for Bolton, a club that I like and one which I feel does bring something to the Premier League - they have been there long enough now to be something of a mainstay, but what this shows is that no club can ever afford to feel safe in this division. I hope the reports of financial woes are overblown and the Trotters can come straight back up next season.
Two other results that I feel are worthy of comment but received little are the Everton defeat of Newcastle, and Wigan's win over Wolves. Newcastle finishing on a low note is a real shame, as they deserve so many plaudits for the outstanding season they have had. Mixing it up with the elite right from the off, I was not alone in predicting at the start that they would struggle...and then dismissing their early form as never going to last. Last it did, almost right to the end, and to finish ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool is a quite fantastic achievement, even being in with a shot of 3rd right up until the final game. Alan Pardew thoroughly deserves his award as Manager of the Year and it will be interesting to see what the Toon Army do over the summer with regard to the inevitable offers that will come in for their great and good.
Wigan as well deserve immense credit, their late season form has been nothing short of miraculous. I have stated before my annoyance at their continued Premier League status - if their own fans don't care enough to turn up, why the hell should any the rest of us give a shit - but the dramatic run of their's demands recognition. They live to fight another day and in my household the clashes with Southampton next year are going to be instant argument-makers.
All in all it's been one hell of a season, surely one of the most enjoyable and incident packed that the Premier League has ever served up. It's a shame it's over but the fun does not stop on SubPlease...Later this week I'll be revealing the winners of the 2011/12 Subbies, so we can reflect back on some of the finest moments, goals, controversies, players and, yes, animal pitch invaders.
Apologies for the casual blasphemy there but what I'm getting at is that City's remarkable victory from the jaws of despair has, rightly, hogged the attention from Sunday's final day drama. They were by far not the only ones to provide a talking point however on Sunday's feast of football, a day of high excitement yet again in this remarkable season. Incidentally that final day has pretty much done Sky Sports marketing for them for next year's subscriptions.
First off, Arsenal just clinching third in what has to go down as one of the most unlikely and perhaps commendable achievements of Wenger's tenure. After the horrible start they endured - who can forget the 8-2 mauling which actually served to spark their transfer dealings into life - they found theselves miles off the pace in the Autumn. A thoroughly enjoyable 5-3 away win against Chelsea showed signs that the potential was there, but even come late January they were still a long way off their North London rivals Tottenham in the hunt for a Champions League spot. The capitulation of Spurs has been frankly shameful, but nevertheless Arsenal have been excellent in their relentless pursuit and third place with it's guaranteed Champions League spot is a deserved reward for the efforts of Robin Van Persie FC.
A team that until recently had Champions League aspirations of their own - in fact more than aspirations, expectations, is Liverpool. Their 1-0 defeat to Swansea was largely buried amongst the other issues of the day, and arguably the team in 11th beating the team in 8th at home is no big reason to get excited. But this represented Liverpool's 14th defeat of the campaign...14...that is just so far from being acceptable it is almost indecent. Huge question marks hang over Anfield this Summer concerning the role of manager Kenny Dalglish, will he move 'upstairs', will he step aside, will the owners even go so far as to remove this great legend of the club? Any other manager having delivered the utter dross that Liverpool have served up this season would be done for - this is a team that used to qualify for the Champions League routinely and have every other club in Europe fearing their name being drawn from the hat. Now, what fear do they inspire? Not enough, that's what.
Another fallen giant to suffer a humiliating defeat that was largely overlooked was Aston Villa. Alex McLeish deserved the sack, without a doubt. His results were nowhere near good enough, by rights with a mere 38 points Villa should have been relegated. More than this though is the negativity, oh lord the negativity. I'm not necessarily of the mindset that football is purely an entertainment choice alongside going to the cinema or bowling...I go to football to support the team first and foremost...but I also don't blame any single one of those Villa fans for demonstrating their unhappiness having sat through a season of that tripe.
At least Villa avoided relegation, which is more than can be said for Bolton Wanderers. The Sergio Aguero goal heard around the M62 would have been cheered just as loudly a bit further north in Bolton, if Owen Coyle's men had managed to defeat Stoke City. The referee did them no favours in that game, and their 2-2 draw was not enough to overhaul QPR. It's a shame for Bolton, a club that I like and one which I feel does bring something to the Premier League - they have been there long enough now to be something of a mainstay, but what this shows is that no club can ever afford to feel safe in this division. I hope the reports of financial woes are overblown and the Trotters can come straight back up next season.
Two other results that I feel are worthy of comment but received little are the Everton defeat of Newcastle, and Wigan's win over Wolves. Newcastle finishing on a low note is a real shame, as they deserve so many plaudits for the outstanding season they have had. Mixing it up with the elite right from the off, I was not alone in predicting at the start that they would struggle...and then dismissing their early form as never going to last. Last it did, almost right to the end, and to finish ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool is a quite fantastic achievement, even being in with a shot of 3rd right up until the final game. Alan Pardew thoroughly deserves his award as Manager of the Year and it will be interesting to see what the Toon Army do over the summer with regard to the inevitable offers that will come in for their great and good.
Wigan as well deserve immense credit, their late season form has been nothing short of miraculous. I have stated before my annoyance at their continued Premier League status - if their own fans don't care enough to turn up, why the hell should any the rest of us give a shit - but the dramatic run of their's demands recognition. They live to fight another day and in my household the clashes with Southampton next year are going to be instant argument-makers.
All in all it's been one hell of a season, surely one of the most enjoyable and incident packed that the Premier League has ever served up. It's a shame it's over but the fun does not stop on SubPlease...Later this week I'll be revealing the winners of the 2011/12 Subbies, so we can reflect back on some of the finest moments, goals, controversies, players and, yes, animal pitch invaders.
Monday, 14 May 2012
"It's up for grabs now!!"
Un - be - fricking - lievable.
I know as an estemmed journalist of such fine wordsmithery I should be able to conjure up something better than that, but in circumstances of such ridiculous drama and incredible theatre, I don't think overdoing it with fancy language is required. Alex Ferguson summed it up best all those years ago when Manchester United staged their own miracle: "Football...bloody hell"
United it was this time (no doubt to the schadenfreude-laden delight of many a Bayern Munich fan) who were the ones to feel the pain of having something cruelly snatched away, when it was so firmly in your grasp that to lose it was almost unthinkable. Going into the game they knew that with City's formidable home record and QPR's rancid form on the road, there was every chance that any hope of League Title Number 20 would be extinguished by half time.
City don't tend to do things the easy way though, they never have, but even by their madcap tragicomic standards this was just phenomenal.
As if you don't know I'll recap the facts: City and United both led at the interval, but only by a single goal each. A botched clearance from Joleon Lescott allowed Djibril Cisse in to level things up - advantage the Red Devils. On 66 minutes a breakaway goal from QPR's Jamie Mackie had the red ribbons being laid out in preparation, and by the time 90 minutes were up they were practically on the spare just-in-case trophy at the Stadium of Light.
What followed will never, ever be forgotten. First Edin Dzeko rose above some statuesque defending from a corner to head home and provide some hope - it looked a simple goal but in the circumstances the excellent delivery should not be overlooked, what pressure. This had everyone on tenterhooks - one more goal and the title would be City's, but injury time was already well under way. Sergio Aguero picked up the ball, exchanged passes with Mario Balotelli on the edge and - displaying miraculous composure to let the ball run past the outstretched leg of the despairing defender - slammed an unstoppable shot home at the near post to spark utter Blue Bedlam.
The scenes of celebration were fantastic to witness - seriously, what else in life can give this kind of drama and elicit this kind of mass hysteria in grown men and women? I love seeing goals celebrated like that, when the entire world and all within it ceases to have any logic or meaning and you just go utterly apeshit, jumping up and down and screaming without having any control over it or ability to stop. Brilliant, just brilliant.
The final whistle went soon after and it confirmed that Manchester City are the Premier League Champions - the first championship for their club since 1968 and the first new name on the trophy since Chelsea in 2005. They are only the fifth team to win the Premier League and the first to do it in such incredible fashion.
The title I've used here refers to the last time things were settled in such dramatic style - 1988/89 famously saw Arsenal's Michael Thomas snatch the title with a late goal at Anfield that allowed Arsenal to leapfrog Liverpool by virtue of goals alone. That was something that I had always assumed would never be repeated in my lifetime, and yet last night provided arguably an even more thrilling and unbelievable finale. To score twice in injury time, the last two goals of the entire season, to win the entire thing after 38 games, wow. Wow.
The fact that on 90 minutes Man City looked to have blown it just seemed, although unthinkable before kick off, so apt...so City. Their recent past is littered with examples of being second fiddle in their city and you felt for them that yet again United are going to be top dog. Like the scrappy little brother who always has a go but is just not strong enough to take on his older sibling, City used to get slapped around and sometimes taunted with the fact that they might be about to win just one fight, only for United to lay down some brutal reminder of who is on top around those parts. Even in winning the FA Cup last year, City were arguably overshadowed by Untied clinching the League Record 19th victory that same day.
Now though it is different. City didn't blow it, this was not typical City - sure, in the drama stakes it was, but this time they came through, they dug into those expensively acquired reserves and they pulled out just what was required even when it seemed impossible. I think the rest of the league should be downright terrified frankly - if they can do it even under that kind of pressure, think how easy it could be for them to repeat it time and time again.
Certainly in leaders like Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure they have the personnel in place to instil a winning mentality; and the rest of the squad do not lack in creativity and ability to blitz most that come before them. This could be the start of a dynasty for City, but no matter what follows, nothing will ever surpass the thrill of this first Premier League title.
For now though what follows is not important - I'm pleased for City, their fans deserve to enjoy this moment and I'm sure they will. They will probably never get a better moment in football (injury time Champions League winning hat-trick notwithstanding) and whatever your views about the influence of the money (clearly the key, no doubt), I am pleased to see so many people so happy. The sight of a miserable United manager doesn't hurt either. Congratulations to City, what a moment.
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Australia's a great place to live. Often though, when games happen at midnight on Sunday, the trek to the City to watch it only to get home at 4am with work in a few hours is a sufficient deterrent to avoid watching games live. No big deal, small price to pay. When faced therefore with an obvious formality such as the team with the incredible home record against the useless travellers, we can all see it is going to be a roll-over and so why not get an early night, great plan.
The only non-United supporting people who feel more disappointed than me about missing that finale live are the City 'fans' who left at 1-2.
FML.
I know as an estemmed journalist of such fine wordsmithery I should be able to conjure up something better than that, but in circumstances of such ridiculous drama and incredible theatre, I don't think overdoing it with fancy language is required. Alex Ferguson summed it up best all those years ago when Manchester United staged their own miracle: "Football...bloody hell"
United it was this time (no doubt to the schadenfreude-laden delight of many a Bayern Munich fan) who were the ones to feel the pain of having something cruelly snatched away, when it was so firmly in your grasp that to lose it was almost unthinkable. Going into the game they knew that with City's formidable home record and QPR's rancid form on the road, there was every chance that any hope of League Title Number 20 would be extinguished by half time.
City don't tend to do things the easy way though, they never have, but even by their madcap tragicomic standards this was just phenomenal.
As if you don't know I'll recap the facts: City and United both led at the interval, but only by a single goal each. A botched clearance from Joleon Lescott allowed Djibril Cisse in to level things up - advantage the Red Devils. On 66 minutes a breakaway goal from QPR's Jamie Mackie had the red ribbons being laid out in preparation, and by the time 90 minutes were up they were practically on the spare just-in-case trophy at the Stadium of Light.
What followed will never, ever be forgotten. First Edin Dzeko rose above some statuesque defending from a corner to head home and provide some hope - it looked a simple goal but in the circumstances the excellent delivery should not be overlooked, what pressure. This had everyone on tenterhooks - one more goal and the title would be City's, but injury time was already well under way. Sergio Aguero picked up the ball, exchanged passes with Mario Balotelli on the edge and - displaying miraculous composure to let the ball run past the outstretched leg of the despairing defender - slammed an unstoppable shot home at the near post to spark utter Blue Bedlam.
The scenes of celebration were fantastic to witness - seriously, what else in life can give this kind of drama and elicit this kind of mass hysteria in grown men and women? I love seeing goals celebrated like that, when the entire world and all within it ceases to have any logic or meaning and you just go utterly apeshit, jumping up and down and screaming without having any control over it or ability to stop. Brilliant, just brilliant.
The final whistle went soon after and it confirmed that Manchester City are the Premier League Champions - the first championship for their club since 1968 and the first new name on the trophy since Chelsea in 2005. They are only the fifth team to win the Premier League and the first to do it in such incredible fashion.
The title I've used here refers to the last time things were settled in such dramatic style - 1988/89 famously saw Arsenal's Michael Thomas snatch the title with a late goal at Anfield that allowed Arsenal to leapfrog Liverpool by virtue of goals alone. That was something that I had always assumed would never be repeated in my lifetime, and yet last night provided arguably an even more thrilling and unbelievable finale. To score twice in injury time, the last two goals of the entire season, to win the entire thing after 38 games, wow. Wow.
The fact that on 90 minutes Man City looked to have blown it just seemed, although unthinkable before kick off, so apt...so City. Their recent past is littered with examples of being second fiddle in their city and you felt for them that yet again United are going to be top dog. Like the scrappy little brother who always has a go but is just not strong enough to take on his older sibling, City used to get slapped around and sometimes taunted with the fact that they might be about to win just one fight, only for United to lay down some brutal reminder of who is on top around those parts. Even in winning the FA Cup last year, City were arguably overshadowed by Untied clinching the League Record 19th victory that same day.
Now though it is different. City didn't blow it, this was not typical City - sure, in the drama stakes it was, but this time they came through, they dug into those expensively acquired reserves and they pulled out just what was required even when it seemed impossible. I think the rest of the league should be downright terrified frankly - if they can do it even under that kind of pressure, think how easy it could be for them to repeat it time and time again.
Certainly in leaders like Joe Hart, Vincent Kompany and Yaya Toure they have the personnel in place to instil a winning mentality; and the rest of the squad do not lack in creativity and ability to blitz most that come before them. This could be the start of a dynasty for City, but no matter what follows, nothing will ever surpass the thrill of this first Premier League title.
For now though what follows is not important - I'm pleased for City, their fans deserve to enjoy this moment and I'm sure they will. They will probably never get a better moment in football (injury time Champions League winning hat-trick notwithstanding) and whatever your views about the influence of the money (clearly the key, no doubt), I am pleased to see so many people so happy. The sight of a miserable United manager doesn't hurt either. Congratulations to City, what a moment.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australia's a great place to live. Often though, when games happen at midnight on Sunday, the trek to the City to watch it only to get home at 4am with work in a few hours is a sufficient deterrent to avoid watching games live. No big deal, small price to pay. When faced therefore with an obvious formality such as the team with the incredible home record against the useless travellers, we can all see it is going to be a roll-over and so why not get an early night, great plan.
The only non-United supporting people who feel more disappointed than me about missing that finale live are the City 'fans' who left at 1-2.
FML.
Thursday, 10 May 2012
Happy Blogday to me
Party Rings, Iced Gems and sausage rolls; streamers and balloons; a bouncy castle complete with Sammy Snake, it can mean only one thing...Sub Please is having a party.
The reason is that as of today I've been blogging away like nobody's business for 2 years, 2 whole years! 186 posts, with around 10'000 views in total and with followers from almost every corner of the globe (South America is yet to catch on to the craze, but give them time)
The beautiful thing about writing a football blog is that (with the exception of every other July), football tends to provide you with an endless stream of things to write about. In fact the challenge is finding time to post all of my thoughts and sadly there is a high number of posts that were thought out but never made it to reality due to something else blogworthy cropping up before I had a chance to blog on the first thing. Often it's tricky to find the time to post an update but it's something I still enjoy doing and a failing career is therefore a small price to pay, right?
Looking back over the archive it really does show how much happens in football - and it is crazy how things change and move on all the time. Early posts on this site featured Roy Hodgson taking Fulham to the Europa League final; Diego Milito firing Inter to Campions League glory; Fabio Capello dropping the bombshell on Theo Walcott and also who can forget my forays into the creative arts with Gallery Corner.
The 2010 World Cup represented the busiest traffic time for the site, since there is something big to write about on a daily basis. My aim is to report daily on Euro 2012, which could well descend into the ramblings of a lunatic madman given the sleep deprivation that lies in wait.
This time of celebration of the two years that have past is also a good time to announce the plans for the future. Currently under development is the all-new super duper Sub Please.co.uk. That's right, I'm revamping the blog and launching it in time for the Euro's; with a new look, improved functionality, different sections (including some exciting top secret areas that my legal department are losing sleep over) and also much more interactivity, so it'll be easier to post comments, tweet posts you like etc.
That is a work in progress but for now I'd just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has read any of my posts over the past two years. Please keep visiting the site, use the Facebook page, pass it on to your friends, get in touch if there are things you'd like to hear my views on and just generally keep doing what you've been doing! It's a very rewarding feeling to think that the tosh I put out actually gets seen by people and from time to time strikes a chord. As for what the future might hold for Sub Please, who knows, but the only thing I can say is that when I started this blog, Southampton were in League One and Portsmouth in the Premier League. Given the way things have gone since, I don't see any way that I can stop for a long time yet!
Thanks very much, enjoy the party, try the punch, don't forget to take a party bag.
Chris
The reason is that as of today I've been blogging away like nobody's business for 2 years, 2 whole years! 186 posts, with around 10'000 views in total and with followers from almost every corner of the globe (South America is yet to catch on to the craze, but give them time)
The beautiful thing about writing a football blog is that (with the exception of every other July), football tends to provide you with an endless stream of things to write about. In fact the challenge is finding time to post all of my thoughts and sadly there is a high number of posts that were thought out but never made it to reality due to something else blogworthy cropping up before I had a chance to blog on the first thing. Often it's tricky to find the time to post an update but it's something I still enjoy doing and a failing career is therefore a small price to pay, right?
Looking back over the archive it really does show how much happens in football - and it is crazy how things change and move on all the time. Early posts on this site featured Roy Hodgson taking Fulham to the Europa League final; Diego Milito firing Inter to Campions League glory; Fabio Capello dropping the bombshell on Theo Walcott and also who can forget my forays into the creative arts with Gallery Corner.
The 2010 World Cup represented the busiest traffic time for the site, since there is something big to write about on a daily basis. My aim is to report daily on Euro 2012, which could well descend into the ramblings of a lunatic madman given the sleep deprivation that lies in wait.
This time of celebration of the two years that have past is also a good time to announce the plans for the future. Currently under development is the all-new super duper Sub Please.co.uk. That's right, I'm revamping the blog and launching it in time for the Euro's; with a new look, improved functionality, different sections (including some exciting top secret areas that my legal department are losing sleep over) and also much more interactivity, so it'll be easier to post comments, tweet posts you like etc.
That is a work in progress but for now I'd just like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has read any of my posts over the past two years. Please keep visiting the site, use the Facebook page, pass it on to your friends, get in touch if there are things you'd like to hear my views on and just generally keep doing what you've been doing! It's a very rewarding feeling to think that the tosh I put out actually gets seen by people and from time to time strikes a chord. As for what the future might hold for Sub Please, who knows, but the only thing I can say is that when I started this blog, Southampton were in League One and Portsmouth in the Premier League. Given the way things have gone since, I don't see any way that I can stop for a long time yet!
Thanks very much, enjoy the party, try the punch, don't forget to take a party bag.
Chris
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner
Football365 runs a regular feature once the dust has settled each weekend called 'Winners and Losers'. It's one of the flagship sections of the site and always generates massive debate and interesting response. Rather than rip off this format entirely I simply want to reflect on the fact that this weekend there were quite clearly two very big winners.
First off, Chelsea. In defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley Stadium, Chelsea claimed their fourth FA Cup since the Roman Abramovich takeover in 2003. As with the other three victories, Didier Drogba scored in the final, this one turning out to be the winner just as in 2007 and 2010. The win was deserved even though Chelsea did rather little to earn it, but the bottom line is they didn't need to.
Liverpool staged a late rally, spearheaded by Andy Carroll, but the simple fact of the matter is they did not display any urgency or attacking intent for the first hour of the match. Had Cech not pulled off his impressive goal-line save in the closing moments then the Reds may have forced extra time, but it would have been more than most of them deserved.
If I was a Liverpool fan I think I'd be pretty miserable right now. This has truly been a dismal season for them: 9th place with just two games left...20 home goals scored in 18 games...9 defeats on the road...only 5 League wins at Anfield. Pathetic, disgraceful, not good enough. The Carling Cup victory and repeat Wembley trips are some mitigation for those who view the world in a more optimistic way than I do; but for a club of Liverpool's stature this is surely a disaster. Only a couple of years ago, Rafa Benitez lost his job after guaranteeing that Liverpool would finish fourth, but then failing to deliver on his promise. At the time it seemed crazy to think that they would not be competing in the Champions League, a competition that for a few dizzy years they became the team everyone wanted to avoid.
Their signings have been by and large inadequate, their results have been unacceptable, and surely things need to change in some way for the Merseyside giants to get back on track. But this post was supposed to be about winners, although given the somewhat distracted Chelsea celebrations maybe it is understandable why my focus has drifted from them.
The Blues players and fans all seemed to have one eye firmly on the Champions League final, you sense they would happily trade this FA Cup for the big one. Sure it's good to win another trophy, and it always feels better to win than to lose, but if they don't view it as a priority then why the hell should I. In truth it annoyed me a bit to see the blasé fans who have been spoilt with FA Cup success in recent years, just standing their passively rather than generating the party atmosphere that should have just happened.
For proper meaningful lunatic celebrations, our attention turns to the other big weekend winners. Manchester City have been immense of late, and this hard fought and well deserved win away at Newcastle now has them within one win of their first ever Premier League title, and first top flight championship in over 40 years. Yaya Toure, who by some miracle was not cast in the Avengers to play the Hulk, has been an absolute colossus for City and did the business again. His late brace sent the travelling supporters into the type of hysterics that I love to see from football fans.
It doesn't happen all the time, but every now and then a goal will be scored of such importance that you just completely and utterly lose your shit and go mental. I remember, moments after Grezgorz Rasiak's late goal in the play-off's at Derby, trying to ensure I landed either side of the plastic seat threatening to castrate me having been bundled about 6 rows forward in the absolute yellow mayhem...and I treasure that memory. The images of the City fans just not knowing what to do with themselves shows what it really means to them, and one can only imagine the scenes if they do their job next weekend.
Roberto Mancini's men have one final hurdle to overcome - how they will pray for an early goal to make their task that much easier - but even without it you still feel they should have enough. If they do cling on their it will be a remarkable achievement, having overturned an 8 point deficit to Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in just 4 weeks. It is not over yet, their may be a further twist to this tale, but I feel that City have shown over the past couple of weeks that they really are winners.
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Final word of the weekend regarding winners goes to Gina of 'what women think about football' fame. For her, the real winners in football are the animals that get onto the pitch. In fairness this is about the only thing in football that holds any interest to her, David Beckham aside. This has already been a vintage season with the Anfield Cat, but now that things have escalated to the point where animals get on to the pitch wearing clothes, truly the sport has reached it's peak. A satirical protest figure without knowing it; a cape-wearing style guru; a legend in his own right, all hail the Blackburn Chicken.
First off, Chelsea. In defeating Liverpool 2-1 at Wembley Stadium, Chelsea claimed their fourth FA Cup since the Roman Abramovich takeover in 2003. As with the other three victories, Didier Drogba scored in the final, this one turning out to be the winner just as in 2007 and 2010. The win was deserved even though Chelsea did rather little to earn it, but the bottom line is they didn't need to.
Liverpool staged a late rally, spearheaded by Andy Carroll, but the simple fact of the matter is they did not display any urgency or attacking intent for the first hour of the match. Had Cech not pulled off his impressive goal-line save in the closing moments then the Reds may have forced extra time, but it would have been more than most of them deserved.
If I was a Liverpool fan I think I'd be pretty miserable right now. This has truly been a dismal season for them: 9th place with just two games left...20 home goals scored in 18 games...9 defeats on the road...only 5 League wins at Anfield. Pathetic, disgraceful, not good enough. The Carling Cup victory and repeat Wembley trips are some mitigation for those who view the world in a more optimistic way than I do; but for a club of Liverpool's stature this is surely a disaster. Only a couple of years ago, Rafa Benitez lost his job after guaranteeing that Liverpool would finish fourth, but then failing to deliver on his promise. At the time it seemed crazy to think that they would not be competing in the Champions League, a competition that for a few dizzy years they became the team everyone wanted to avoid.
Their signings have been by and large inadequate, their results have been unacceptable, and surely things need to change in some way for the Merseyside giants to get back on track. But this post was supposed to be about winners, although given the somewhat distracted Chelsea celebrations maybe it is understandable why my focus has drifted from them.
The Blues players and fans all seemed to have one eye firmly on the Champions League final, you sense they would happily trade this FA Cup for the big one. Sure it's good to win another trophy, and it always feels better to win than to lose, but if they don't view it as a priority then why the hell should I. In truth it annoyed me a bit to see the blasé fans who have been spoilt with FA Cup success in recent years, just standing their passively rather than generating the party atmosphere that should have just happened.
For proper meaningful lunatic celebrations, our attention turns to the other big weekend winners. Manchester City have been immense of late, and this hard fought and well deserved win away at Newcastle now has them within one win of their first ever Premier League title, and first top flight championship in over 40 years. Yaya Toure, who by some miracle was not cast in the Avengers to play the Hulk, has been an absolute colossus for City and did the business again. His late brace sent the travelling supporters into the type of hysterics that I love to see from football fans.
It doesn't happen all the time, but every now and then a goal will be scored of such importance that you just completely and utterly lose your shit and go mental. I remember, moments after Grezgorz Rasiak's late goal in the play-off's at Derby, trying to ensure I landed either side of the plastic seat threatening to castrate me having been bundled about 6 rows forward in the absolute yellow mayhem...and I treasure that memory. The images of the City fans just not knowing what to do with themselves shows what it really means to them, and one can only imagine the scenes if they do their job next weekend.
Roberto Mancini's men have one final hurdle to overcome - how they will pray for an early goal to make their task that much easier - but even without it you still feel they should have enough. If they do cling on their it will be a remarkable achievement, having overturned an 8 point deficit to Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in just 4 weeks. It is not over yet, their may be a further twist to this tale, but I feel that City have shown over the past couple of weeks that they really are winners.
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Final word of the weekend regarding winners goes to Gina of 'what women think about football' fame. For her, the real winners in football are the animals that get onto the pitch. In fairness this is about the only thing in football that holds any interest to her, David Beckham aside. This has already been a vintage season with the Anfield Cat, but now that things have escalated to the point where animals get on to the pitch wearing clothes, truly the sport has reached it's peak. A satirical protest figure without knowing it; a cape-wearing style guru; a legend in his own right, all hail the Blackburn Chicken.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Now for the tricky part...
A few weeks ago I was not alone in writing Manchester City off, and handing the title to United. With an 8 point lead I simply could see no way that an Alex Ferguson side were going to do anything other than see out the remaining games and clinch yet another title. Indeed, at that point in time, I'd have put a lot of money on United winning it at the Etihad of all places.
The subsequent events show that firstly I should never be trusted with any kind of financial investment (but my stupidly fixed rate mortgage was proof enough of that) but also that with football you just never know.
As it turned out, United managed to drop 5 of their next 9 available points, meaning ahead of last night's derby, City could draw level on points with a victory - closing up the 8 point gap entirely and even reclaiming the lead on goal difference.
Their 1-0 victory, fully deserved, has indeed seen them overhaul United and regain their place right on top of the pile. The victory is cause enough for celebration - I'd argue also that Alex Ferguson's approach and selection is another notch for City. Very rarely has Ferguson ever set out a team with deference to his opponent, very rarely has the game plan been to all but park the bus. I'm thinking of Barcelona, AC Milan in Kaka's prime...maybe once or twice against Arsenal - but always United have had a swagger and approach that suggested they back themselves to go toe to toe with whoever they face, to score goals and to compete. A couple of years ago it is unthinkable that Fergie would have paid such heed to the threat posed by City, lowly City, and he would simply have taken his usual game plan and trusted it to be enough.
The attempted containment was understandable of course, a draw would have seen United firmly in the driving seat...and it almost worked. City had by far the better of the game and created numerous opportunities, but in the end it was only Vincent Kompany's towering header that separated the two.
A deserved victory for the Citizens, no doubt, and one which I am sure was celebrated long into the Manchester night. And so it should be, it's not every day you get to do the double over your fiercest rivals and it is probably never that it has been in such pivotal circumstances. However, I'd urge a note of caution and restraint to the City fans and players who may have gotten a little carried away last night.
This was a huge game to win, without the victory they could forget about the title. So they have achieved something massive; but they have also achieved nothing at all, yet. The title is awarded after 38 games only...and City have a mammoth task ahead of them to still be there in 180 minutes time.
Newcastle away, chasing Champions League football; followed by QPR at home, fighting relegation. Not quite the mid-table already on holiday pushovers that you would want, and indeed that United are up against in Swansea and Sunderland. They won't face easy games then, but that is only a part of the challenge.
For me, by far the biggest hurdle for City to overcome now is within themselves. Chasing down what may seem like a hopeless cause is one thing. There is pressure, sure, but not of the most intense kind - when 8 points back from United they could play with the abandon that comes from knowing it is probably futile so we may as well just play our normal game and hope for the best. They have been excellent and clinical in that chase, but now they are running to stay ahead, not to catch up.
Usain Bolt will probably set another world record in London...but he will face a better chance of doing so if his rivals can push him to the line. It's natural once you get ahead to ease up - nothing but clear track in front of you does not provide the same spur or incentive as the heels of your competitor.
City now must retain the intensity, the focus, and the level of performance knowing that they are not chasing anyone...but they are chasing glory itself. 2 wins will see them as champions. Anything less and they will most likely be forced to settle for second best, which would be horrible having taken control so near to the finish line. The fear of how close you have come, and how painful it would be to throw away can have such a crippling effect - quite the opposite from the carefree approach to a football match in which your fate is seen to be out of your hands.
To borrow a line from the infamous Wernham Hogg kettle throwing challenge..."This is the real quiz." Manchester City may think they've done the hard bit, but getting there is one thing. Staying there for the next two games of football, that's the real challenge.
If City do go on and win it now, taking all 6 of their remaining points, they will be without doubt worthy champions. What's more, they'll have demonstrated the mental strength and winning resolve that would surely have them installed as favourites for many years to come.
The subsequent events show that firstly I should never be trusted with any kind of financial investment (but my stupidly fixed rate mortgage was proof enough of that) but also that with football you just never know.
As it turned out, United managed to drop 5 of their next 9 available points, meaning ahead of last night's derby, City could draw level on points with a victory - closing up the 8 point gap entirely and even reclaiming the lead on goal difference.
Their 1-0 victory, fully deserved, has indeed seen them overhaul United and regain their place right on top of the pile. The victory is cause enough for celebration - I'd argue also that Alex Ferguson's approach and selection is another notch for City. Very rarely has Ferguson ever set out a team with deference to his opponent, very rarely has the game plan been to all but park the bus. I'm thinking of Barcelona, AC Milan in Kaka's prime...maybe once or twice against Arsenal - but always United have had a swagger and approach that suggested they back themselves to go toe to toe with whoever they face, to score goals and to compete. A couple of years ago it is unthinkable that Fergie would have paid such heed to the threat posed by City, lowly City, and he would simply have taken his usual game plan and trusted it to be enough.
The attempted containment was understandable of course, a draw would have seen United firmly in the driving seat...and it almost worked. City had by far the better of the game and created numerous opportunities, but in the end it was only Vincent Kompany's towering header that separated the two.
A deserved victory for the Citizens, no doubt, and one which I am sure was celebrated long into the Manchester night. And so it should be, it's not every day you get to do the double over your fiercest rivals and it is probably never that it has been in such pivotal circumstances. However, I'd urge a note of caution and restraint to the City fans and players who may have gotten a little carried away last night.
This was a huge game to win, without the victory they could forget about the title. So they have achieved something massive; but they have also achieved nothing at all, yet. The title is awarded after 38 games only...and City have a mammoth task ahead of them to still be there in 180 minutes time.
Newcastle away, chasing Champions League football; followed by QPR at home, fighting relegation. Not quite the mid-table already on holiday pushovers that you would want, and indeed that United are up against in Swansea and Sunderland. They won't face easy games then, but that is only a part of the challenge.
For me, by far the biggest hurdle for City to overcome now is within themselves. Chasing down what may seem like a hopeless cause is one thing. There is pressure, sure, but not of the most intense kind - when 8 points back from United they could play with the abandon that comes from knowing it is probably futile so we may as well just play our normal game and hope for the best. They have been excellent and clinical in that chase, but now they are running to stay ahead, not to catch up.
Usain Bolt will probably set another world record in London...but he will face a better chance of doing so if his rivals can push him to the line. It's natural once you get ahead to ease up - nothing but clear track in front of you does not provide the same spur or incentive as the heels of your competitor.
City now must retain the intensity, the focus, and the level of performance knowing that they are not chasing anyone...but they are chasing glory itself. 2 wins will see them as champions. Anything less and they will most likely be forced to settle for second best, which would be horrible having taken control so near to the finish line. The fear of how close you have come, and how painful it would be to throw away can have such a crippling effect - quite the opposite from the carefree approach to a football match in which your fate is seen to be out of your hands.
To borrow a line from the infamous Wernham Hogg kettle throwing challenge..."This is the real quiz." Manchester City may think they've done the hard bit, but getting there is one thing. Staying there for the next two games of football, that's the real challenge.
If City do go on and win it now, taking all 6 of their remaining points, they will be without doubt worthy champions. What's more, they'll have demonstrated the mental strength and winning resolve that would surely have them installed as favourites for many years to come.
Sunday, 29 April 2012
Seven Years in Tibet
On Sunday 15th May 2005 I sat in a pub in a Wigan and watched the entire world fall apart. Southampton, having made a bright start, saw it all turn to ruins in the space of a minute, and the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United sealed their fate. Relegated to the Championship for the first time in my life, it is not a memory that I look back on fondly.
In the subsequent years, Saints have been to the absolute brink. One decent year in the Championship, falling only on penalties to Derby County in the play off semi finals, proved to be a false dawn and in 2009 Southampton were placed into administration, and suffered the pain of a second relegation. That summer, the search for salvation seemed fruitless and by all accounts the club were staring ever further down the barrel of liquidation. The thought of not even having a club to support was equal parts bemusing, anger-inducing, and downright sad. Being honest, the thought of playing in the third tier of English football was not much better.
Then things changed.
Markus Liebherr, the Swiss businessman behind Liebherr construction (next time you walk past a building site look for the name on the big cranes, may well be Liebherr) purchased the club, saving it from the imminent death that seemed so likely. Markus, along with his Chairman Nicola Cortese, set out an ambitious plan for the club, initially to sort out the business side of things but also to provide the modest investment (but significant at that level) to bolster the playing side of things as well.
Saints had struggled by with a constantly transitional squad of loanees, youth team products and journeymen but were now able to set to building a squad with one goal: promotion. The ten point deduction took it's toll but also it seemed to be a while before Saints were able to adjust to life in League One. We finished that season just outside the play-offs, but with the huge consolation of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Mickey Mouse, sure, but it gave 45'000 Saints fans (and one Swiss businessman) a fantastic day out at Wembley, and a reason to celebrate. The cathartic feeling I remember from that day was one that seemed to suggest that we were heading in the right direction, the dark days were behind us, and better times were coming.
The following season proved this to be true. Hit by the shattering blow of Markus Liebherr's sad and untimely death just before the start of the season, Saints seemed to be galvanised and driven to realise the dream that Liebherr and Cortese had set out to achieve. Nigel Adkins was brought in as manager after a disappointing start, and immediately the results improved. From 22nd in September, Saints roared up the table and by the half way mark were looking a good bet for promotion. An incredible run of 13 wins in their last 15 games of the season saw the Saints finish narrow runners up behind Brighton, but crucially they had ticked off the first part of the plan.
This season in the Championship has been just unreal. From the opening day, with an energetic and positive display to defeat Leeds United, Saints have been excellent. Literally never outside the top two for the entire season, and having scored more goals than any other side, no-one can deny that Southampton deserve this remarkable achievement of two successive promotions. Eventually we have finished just a point behind Reading, but their form since Christmas has been out of this world, and they deserve to be Champions. The main thing was always to achieve promotion and the fact that Southampton have done this at the first time of asking is phenomenal for everyone involved.
From a fan's point of view I feel I've learned a lot through the last 7 years.
First thing: there is life outside the Premier League, and it's not all bad. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a season as much as I have this one - 2002/03 was exceptional but to look at a league table and see Southampton at the top is something we just won't get in the big league.
In the lower leagues it's true that you get less of the histrionics and, frankly, bullshit that is all too prevalent in the Prem. Granted, the football is of much lower quality, but it does tend to feel more like real football. Turning up on the day, paying at the gate, visiting crappy old grounds that you previously would have struggled to name - there is for sure a certain charm about the football league.
All of that being said however, there is no doubt in my mind that the Premier League is the place to be. It's started to sink in that we are back, being able to plan trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and the like - not just to go to the stadium but actually to watch the team, my team competing as equals. Being on Match of the Day rather than the well-intentioned but blatantly inferior Football League show. Being in the Merlin sticker book (presume they stopped making them many years ago?) Yep we may well struggle, certainly we're going to have to learn a few lessons and I fully expect we'll take a few batterings...but this is where we belong.
Last night my main emotions were joy, sure, but also massive amounts of relief. It's a unique type of pressure, having led for so long and then looking like we might be able to throw it away - the result was emphatic however and gave plenty of time to reflect on what an incredible season it has been.
The last 7 years spent in exile have been one hell of a roller coaster. Taken down to the very depths of despair; watching us lose at home to Rochdale in the league in a half empty stadium with players I could barely name...through to playing some of the best football I've ever seen, going almost a year winning every game at home, topping the table for probably 85% of the season. There is a little part of me however that thinks this was all worth it, in a 'learning to appreciate the good things' kind of a way. Next season will be a challenge, but for now it's just exciting.
To Rickie Lambert, Kelvin Davis, Adam Lallana, Billy Sharp, and every single player who has contributed over these last couple of years. To Nigel Adkins and his entire staff. To Nicola Cortese; and most of all to Markus Liebherr: thank you.
Thank you for what you have worked so hard to achieve, thank you for getting our club back to where it belongs, and thank you for two and a half years of great times. Now, bring on the big time!
In the subsequent years, Saints have been to the absolute brink. One decent year in the Championship, falling only on penalties to Derby County in the play off semi finals, proved to be a false dawn and in 2009 Southampton were placed into administration, and suffered the pain of a second relegation. That summer, the search for salvation seemed fruitless and by all accounts the club were staring ever further down the barrel of liquidation. The thought of not even having a club to support was equal parts bemusing, anger-inducing, and downright sad. Being honest, the thought of playing in the third tier of English football was not much better.
Then things changed.
Markus Liebherr, the Swiss businessman behind Liebherr construction (next time you walk past a building site look for the name on the big cranes, may well be Liebherr) purchased the club, saving it from the imminent death that seemed so likely. Markus, along with his Chairman Nicola Cortese, set out an ambitious plan for the club, initially to sort out the business side of things but also to provide the modest investment (but significant at that level) to bolster the playing side of things as well.
Saints had struggled by with a constantly transitional squad of loanees, youth team products and journeymen but were now able to set to building a squad with one goal: promotion. The ten point deduction took it's toll but also it seemed to be a while before Saints were able to adjust to life in League One. We finished that season just outside the play-offs, but with the huge consolation of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Mickey Mouse, sure, but it gave 45'000 Saints fans (and one Swiss businessman) a fantastic day out at Wembley, and a reason to celebrate. The cathartic feeling I remember from that day was one that seemed to suggest that we were heading in the right direction, the dark days were behind us, and better times were coming.
The following season proved this to be true. Hit by the shattering blow of Markus Liebherr's sad and untimely death just before the start of the season, Saints seemed to be galvanised and driven to realise the dream that Liebherr and Cortese had set out to achieve. Nigel Adkins was brought in as manager after a disappointing start, and immediately the results improved. From 22nd in September, Saints roared up the table and by the half way mark were looking a good bet for promotion. An incredible run of 13 wins in their last 15 games of the season saw the Saints finish narrow runners up behind Brighton, but crucially they had ticked off the first part of the plan.
This season in the Championship has been just unreal. From the opening day, with an energetic and positive display to defeat Leeds United, Saints have been excellent. Literally never outside the top two for the entire season, and having scored more goals than any other side, no-one can deny that Southampton deserve this remarkable achievement of two successive promotions. Eventually we have finished just a point behind Reading, but their form since Christmas has been out of this world, and they deserve to be Champions. The main thing was always to achieve promotion and the fact that Southampton have done this at the first time of asking is phenomenal for everyone involved.
From a fan's point of view I feel I've learned a lot through the last 7 years.
First thing: there is life outside the Premier League, and it's not all bad. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a season as much as I have this one - 2002/03 was exceptional but to look at a league table and see Southampton at the top is something we just won't get in the big league.
In the lower leagues it's true that you get less of the histrionics and, frankly, bullshit that is all too prevalent in the Prem. Granted, the football is of much lower quality, but it does tend to feel more like real football. Turning up on the day, paying at the gate, visiting crappy old grounds that you previously would have struggled to name - there is for sure a certain charm about the football league.
All of that being said however, there is no doubt in my mind that the Premier League is the place to be. It's started to sink in that we are back, being able to plan trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and the like - not just to go to the stadium but actually to watch the team, my team competing as equals. Being on Match of the Day rather than the well-intentioned but blatantly inferior Football League show. Being in the Merlin sticker book (presume they stopped making them many years ago?) Yep we may well struggle, certainly we're going to have to learn a few lessons and I fully expect we'll take a few batterings...but this is where we belong.
Last night my main emotions were joy, sure, but also massive amounts of relief. It's a unique type of pressure, having led for so long and then looking like we might be able to throw it away - the result was emphatic however and gave plenty of time to reflect on what an incredible season it has been.
The last 7 years spent in exile have been one hell of a roller coaster. Taken down to the very depths of despair; watching us lose at home to Rochdale in the league in a half empty stadium with players I could barely name...through to playing some of the best football I've ever seen, going almost a year winning every game at home, topping the table for probably 85% of the season. There is a little part of me however that thinks this was all worth it, in a 'learning to appreciate the good things' kind of a way. Next season will be a challenge, but for now it's just exciting.
To Rickie Lambert, Kelvin Davis, Adam Lallana, Billy Sharp, and every single player who has contributed over these last couple of years. To Nigel Adkins and his entire staff. To Nicola Cortese; and most of all to Markus Liebherr: thank you.
Thank you for what you have worked so hard to achieve, thank you for getting our club back to where it belongs, and thank you for two and a half years of great times. Now, bring on the big time!
Thursday, 26 April 2012
El Classic...Oh!
Pretty much everything in life can be related back to the Simpsons in some way. The latest Champions League events remind me of a moment in the classic 'Homie the Clown' episode. Homer: "That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college!" He runs out leaving the rest of the family sat at the table perplexed, when Bart delivers the excellent line: "I don't think any of us expected him to say that." Brilliant, and very much applicable to recent results.
The Champions League Final will be contested between Chelsea and (playing on their own patch) Bayern Munich. Prior to these semi-final ties, surely the vast majority of people would have had Real Madrid and, even more so, Barcelona as favourites to progress and set up the Classico to end all Classico's. Instead we're left with the final that should be dubbed 'El Classic..Oh!?!'. Or maybe, to continue the Simpsons theme and to more accurately reflect the view of the moneymakers who would have loved an ultimate showpiece, 'El Classic...D'Oh!'
I think it will be an excellent final, certainly it's intriguing, and for the record I think both teams thoroughly deserve their place. If the final matches the quality and excitement of the games before it, we're in for a treat. Nearer the time we will get into previews and predictions etc but for now the time is right to reflect on those epic semi final contests.
Chelsea's titanic effort was, fortunately for them, allied to a pair of Barcelona performances rare in their profligacy and bluntness. Had Alexis Sanchez's shot within the first ten minutes at Stamford Bridge dropped underneath the bar, things could have been different. Also, the last three games have been the most ineffective and frustrating that Lionel Messi has endured for absolutely years. Certainly Chelsea benefitted from the odd slice of fortune, but I refuse to take anything whatsoever away from them. Over two legs their resolve in defence was simply stunning. Sure they parked the bus (the sight of Drogba and then Torres at deep full back was hilarious) but consider this - how many times during the tie did you think a Barcelona goal is imminent? Clearly Barca had a lot of pressure, and in particular the two late shots in either leg which came back off the right hand post were the results of sustained pressure; but I don't think this result was miraculous, mind-boggling and/or inexplicable. Between Barcelona's second and third goals in last year's Champions League Final, they were tearing Man United to shreds. It was an irresisitble onslaught that had United completely beaten, and the third goal was an inevitability - had they continued they would have scored 6 or 7. At no stage during this tie did they do this to Chelsea - the possession and passing was there but the Wall of Blue/White stood firm.
Added to the defensive masterclass were two performances that should be hyperlinked in a dictionary under 'clinical'. Three chances in 180 minutes, and three goals. The only other real opening was when the immense Drogba muscled his way through and hit the side netting, but to be so effective in front of goal - particularly when you know how crucial every chance is - was remarkable. Ramires' finish was just sublime, Messi-esque (and that is a huge compliment, poor form or no) and as for Fernando Torres, what an important goal this one could prove to be in terms of his recovery. With the time to think about the enormity of his task, panic, stuff it up; Torres simply did what he used to do so routinely, and I won't be alone in being delighted for him.
The final word of this one has to go to the idiot Chelsea Captain. For me, and I reckon many, many others, it is hilarious that John Terry will miss the final; particularly given it is his own fault for his own stupid actions. I'm sure he has done that type of stuff in pretty much every game of his career - it's standard nasty Centre Back tricks, the pinches, stamps, dead legs - but Terry was caught bang to rights and I for one love the fact that he has robbed himself of the chance for redemption. A good friend and Chelsea fan summed it up neatly in a text: "JT...Captain, Leader, Wanker".
Either of Chelsea's opponents going into the second leg had reason to be optimistic, as well as reason to believe destiny was theirs. Real Madrid knew that their manager has always and will always had a deep connection to Chelsea, his former employer and a club over whom he continues to cast a long, handsome shadow. Bayern Munich on the other hand were playing for the chance to become only the third ever team to contest the European Cup Final on their own turf, and the first in 28 years since Roma succumbed to the Grobelaar spaghetti legs. The 2-1 first leg score gave both teams a real chance of progression.
It's Bayern who have fulfilled their destiny, although just as Chelsea before them, there was a time in the second leg when it looked like that dream had died. To pick themselves up from the hammer blow of two early Madrid goals and equalise was an immense effort; from there both sides had chances to win it. As with so often though when penalties roll around, it was the Germans who came out on top.
I was a bit disappointed to see the bulk of the initial celebration focussing on Bastian Schweinsteiger. An excellent player, don't get me wrong, and of course the guy who's penalty sent them home...but Manuel Neuer deserves all the credit. Excellently saving the first two penalties laid the foundations for Bayern to progress, even when they missed two of their own. A minor gripe I know but I always think it is good/right when the scorer runs straight to the keeper. In this case Bayern had a myriad of heroes.
Throughout the tie they matched Madrid, always threatening and dealing just about with the frightening weapons at Mourniho's disposal. Madrid themselves are an excellent team now, and will no doubt go at least this far in next year's competition. Not this year though.
Bayern have every right to contest this final, just as Chelsea do. They were not favourites, either of them, but over 180+ minutes of football both teams showed they have the quality, the determination and the sheer desire to be worthy Champions of Europe.
Now, if UEFA can just hastily arrange a 3rd/4th place final maybe everyone will be happy...
The Champions League Final will be contested between Chelsea and (playing on their own patch) Bayern Munich. Prior to these semi-final ties, surely the vast majority of people would have had Real Madrid and, even more so, Barcelona as favourites to progress and set up the Classico to end all Classico's. Instead we're left with the final that should be dubbed 'El Classic..Oh!?!'. Or maybe, to continue the Simpsons theme and to more accurately reflect the view of the moneymakers who would have loved an ultimate showpiece, 'El Classic...D'Oh!'
I think it will be an excellent final, certainly it's intriguing, and for the record I think both teams thoroughly deserve their place. If the final matches the quality and excitement of the games before it, we're in for a treat. Nearer the time we will get into previews and predictions etc but for now the time is right to reflect on those epic semi final contests.
Chelsea's titanic effort was, fortunately for them, allied to a pair of Barcelona performances rare in their profligacy and bluntness. Had Alexis Sanchez's shot within the first ten minutes at Stamford Bridge dropped underneath the bar, things could have been different. Also, the last three games have been the most ineffective and frustrating that Lionel Messi has endured for absolutely years. Certainly Chelsea benefitted from the odd slice of fortune, but I refuse to take anything whatsoever away from them. Over two legs their resolve in defence was simply stunning. Sure they parked the bus (the sight of Drogba and then Torres at deep full back was hilarious) but consider this - how many times during the tie did you think a Barcelona goal is imminent? Clearly Barca had a lot of pressure, and in particular the two late shots in either leg which came back off the right hand post were the results of sustained pressure; but I don't think this result was miraculous, mind-boggling and/or inexplicable. Between Barcelona's second and third goals in last year's Champions League Final, they were tearing Man United to shreds. It was an irresisitble onslaught that had United completely beaten, and the third goal was an inevitability - had they continued they would have scored 6 or 7. At no stage during this tie did they do this to Chelsea - the possession and passing was there but the Wall of Blue/White stood firm.
Added to the defensive masterclass were two performances that should be hyperlinked in a dictionary under 'clinical'. Three chances in 180 minutes, and three goals. The only other real opening was when the immense Drogba muscled his way through and hit the side netting, but to be so effective in front of goal - particularly when you know how crucial every chance is - was remarkable. Ramires' finish was just sublime, Messi-esque (and that is a huge compliment, poor form or no) and as for Fernando Torres, what an important goal this one could prove to be in terms of his recovery. With the time to think about the enormity of his task, panic, stuff it up; Torres simply did what he used to do so routinely, and I won't be alone in being delighted for him.
The final word of this one has to go to the idiot Chelsea Captain. For me, and I reckon many, many others, it is hilarious that John Terry will miss the final; particularly given it is his own fault for his own stupid actions. I'm sure he has done that type of stuff in pretty much every game of his career - it's standard nasty Centre Back tricks, the pinches, stamps, dead legs - but Terry was caught bang to rights and I for one love the fact that he has robbed himself of the chance for redemption. A good friend and Chelsea fan summed it up neatly in a text: "JT...Captain, Leader, Wanker".
Either of Chelsea's opponents going into the second leg had reason to be optimistic, as well as reason to believe destiny was theirs. Real Madrid knew that their manager has always and will always had a deep connection to Chelsea, his former employer and a club over whom he continues to cast a long, handsome shadow. Bayern Munich on the other hand were playing for the chance to become only the third ever team to contest the European Cup Final on their own turf, and the first in 28 years since Roma succumbed to the Grobelaar spaghetti legs. The 2-1 first leg score gave both teams a real chance of progression.
It's Bayern who have fulfilled their destiny, although just as Chelsea before them, there was a time in the second leg when it looked like that dream had died. To pick themselves up from the hammer blow of two early Madrid goals and equalise was an immense effort; from there both sides had chances to win it. As with so often though when penalties roll around, it was the Germans who came out on top.
I was a bit disappointed to see the bulk of the initial celebration focussing on Bastian Schweinsteiger. An excellent player, don't get me wrong, and of course the guy who's penalty sent them home...but Manuel Neuer deserves all the credit. Excellently saving the first two penalties laid the foundations for Bayern to progress, even when they missed two of their own. A minor gripe I know but I always think it is good/right when the scorer runs straight to the keeper. In this case Bayern had a myriad of heroes.
Throughout the tie they matched Madrid, always threatening and dealing just about with the frightening weapons at Mourniho's disposal. Madrid themselves are an excellent team now, and will no doubt go at least this far in next year's competition. Not this year though.
Bayern have every right to contest this final, just as Chelsea do. They were not favourites, either of them, but over 180+ minutes of football both teams showed they have the quality, the determination and the sheer desire to be worthy Champions of Europe.
Now, if UEFA can just hastily arrange a 3rd/4th place final maybe everyone will be happy...
Monday, 23 April 2012
The Premier League All-Stars
The official website for the Premier League is a great place to waste a bit of online time in between the amusing cats or leaked celebrity phone photos or whatever else you sick twisted weirdos are in to. Never more so than at the moment, since the site is running a vote for a number of different areas to commemorate 20 seasons of 'EPL' action.
Video shortlists for the best goal, save, match and celebration are excellent, (Le Tiss, Gordon, that 4-3 and Bullard) but what today's post is focussing on is the vote for the all-time greatest team. It gives you a selection of players for each position, all you need to do is drag and drop to form the best 11 that the twenty years have produced.
Let's walk through my selection:
Goalkeeper.
For me there is really just one choice here that stands just that little bit above the rest. Friedel and Given have been excellent for a very long time, Seaman, Cech and James all were superb. The greatest goalkeeper that I have ever seen however remains Peter Schmeichel. His presence alone was enough to put an element of self-doubt into even the deadliest striker - even in a one-on-one clean through situation you still fancied Schmeichel to make the save. His iconic starfish jump has been mimicked but never bettered, and some of his saves were breathtaking. Add to this his invaluable contribution as an organiser of defences (through basically terrorising them into playing well) and also as a potent attacking weapon with his excellent distribution; and for me there's none better than the Great Dane
Right Back:
Another fairly easy choice. Nowadays the best pundit around, putting the rest to shame, and for a long time the best right back around as well. Gary Neville was consistently solid in a position that just requires you to be consistently solid. A great foil for David Beckham, solid enough to allow Ronaldo free rein, capable of excellent delivery from the touchline and above all with a commitment to the cause that could never be questioned.
Centre Backs:
This is tougher, there are some excellent candidates on this shortlist so picking just two is not easy. Adams, McGrath and Bruce only played for a relatively short time in the Premier League so although both superb I'm ruling them out. Desailly was ever so slightly past his prime when he came to our shores so again he goes. Carragher and Terry are both outstanding exponents of the last ditch, but I'd prefer defenders in my team that don't need to rely on the last ditch; plus I want players who can bring it out of defence. For that reason my first pick is Rio Ferdinand - skilful, strong, quick and elegant - for a time around 2002-2005 Rio was rightfully viewed as one of he best centre backs in the world. My second choice is the colossus, Jaap Stam. He was ditched in what Alex Ferguson considers one of his few mistakes, but at the peak of his powers in an outstanding United team he was fearsome, ruthless and ever so slightly unhinged. You shall not pass.
Left Back:
This team is getting a bit 'best of Man United' but the left back slot mixes things up. One of relatively very few players to be an outstanding winner for two of the Sky Four Premier League clubs, Ashley Cole emerged as a quick, tenacious and dynamic young player at Arsenal where he went on to establish himself as the league's finest. His acrimonious move to Chelsea has delivered more silverware and although he is disliked by many, few would question his inclusion in this team. His epic battles with C-Ron were great to watch, and his general consistency throughout his career is one of the reasons why his place in the England team has been relatively nailed on for the best part of a decade.
Right Midfield:
Ideally I'd like to go for a 4-3-3 but the site only allows for a 4-4-2 and rules are rules. That does throw up the first real dilemma here. David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo? Ronaldo is a machine, an athlete that arrived on the scene looking like a show pony and left it as a thoroughbred racehorse operating at a level that no-one else in the country was even close to. His subsequent stats at Real Madrid just confirm his position as best footballer on the planet (in an alternate universe where Lionel Messi doesn't exist.) In this team, however, the role is going to Beckham. Why? When you see who we have up front, you'll understand. The best deliverer of a set piece in the entire game, D-Beck crosses will be a constant source of goals in this team.
Centre Midfield:
OK let's just cut straight to it... Le Tissier is in.
I know he won't do the work required in a two man midfield, I know he doesn't have the engine of some of the other options, I know he has a fat arse. But even in such illustrious company the fact of the matter is Matthew Le Tissier can do things with a football that most of the others would not even think of trying. Consider that he performed miracles on a weekly basis surrounded by the likes of Neil Shipperley, Jim Magilton, Neil Heaney and Egil Ostenstad; he was not able to rely on team-mates that United or Arsenal players could do. A one-man highlights reel, Le God is in.
The second spot requires someone willing and able to cover a hell of a lot of ground, provide some steel, tough in the tackle and with a drive and leadership befitting the crucial role he'll play in the team. It's a straight fight between two Premier League legends between whom the ongoing battle was one of the most definitive features of the league for a few years. Roy Keane vs Patrick Vieira. Both have hero status at their clubs and rightly so. I never liked Keane though, I thought he was little more than a despicable thug (a view presumably a certain Norwegian shares) and although a great player, not for me. Paddy V goes in and, at his irrepressible 98-03 best, he will do the business.
Left Midield:
A strong field, this one. With the possible exception of John Barnes who was in the twilight of his career at the birth of the Prem, every one of these players has been excellent. In fact I'd say every one of them has had a spell as arguably the best player in the league at one point in time. Only one of them has been basically excellent from the very outset though: Ryan Giggs is a Premier League institution and having redefined himself he continues to play a key role in Alex Ferguson's plans even at a ripe old age. I'm going for the flying winger of the 90's, the first Premier League superstar - flair, pace, incisiveness and a great counterbalance to the right sided threat of his club mate Beckham. Giggsy has clearly damaged his legacy with all the tabloid nonsense, but from a purely footballing viewpoint I'd argue his cause against anyone.
Forwards:
Les Ferdinand. Teddy Sheringham. Ole Solskjaer. Dwight Yorke. Michael Owen. None of these strikers has been included on the shortlist which says a lot - we are really dealing with the uber-elite here. My first pick is someone who was quite simply unstoppable for a long time. Super Alan Shearer took no time at all settling into his role at Blackburn Rovers and scored shedloads of goals there, before a world record move to boyhood club Newcastle United. The honours did not follow, and the nagging thought will always be what could have been if he had gone to Old Trafford (utter domination even more than they already had is the answer) but there is no questioning the brutality with which Shearer operated. Powerful, strong, but with no shortage of pure footballing ability, the man was a goal machine - and will finally fulfil the dreams of all Saints fans who always wonder what could have been if he and Le Tiss could have played together for a few more years.
Now, the final slot to make up my all time Premier League Eleven.
Take your pick, the remaining nine are all outstanding players. Goal factories like Cole, Fowler and Wright. Skilful visionary artists Bergkamp and Zola. Unhinged lunatics Rooney and King Eric. One of them however combines the lot (excepted the lunacy, always seems fairly switched on to be fair).
Thierry Henry spent a good few years playing with an almost embarrassing ease; he was so far above the rest of the division and it looked unfair at times. The classic debate was always Van Nistelrooy or Henry - my answer was always the Frenchman as he was so much more than just a finisher. Able to conjure a goal out of nothing and with a swagger and style to his play that was always so good to watch, he's a hell of an addition to this side.
The Great Dane
G Nev, Rio, Big Jaap, Cashley
D Beck, Le God, Paddy V, Giggsy
Super Al, Tezza
What a team.
There you have it then. It's good fun to do and generates a lot of great pub debate. No doubt you'll have a different opinion, so don't keep it to yourself...let the debate begin!
Video shortlists for the best goal, save, match and celebration are excellent, (Le Tiss, Gordon, that 4-3 and Bullard) but what today's post is focussing on is the vote for the all-time greatest team. It gives you a selection of players for each position, all you need to do is drag and drop to form the best 11 that the twenty years have produced.
Let's walk through my selection:
Goalkeeper.
For me there is really just one choice here that stands just that little bit above the rest. Friedel and Given have been excellent for a very long time, Seaman, Cech and James all were superb. The greatest goalkeeper that I have ever seen however remains Peter Schmeichel. His presence alone was enough to put an element of self-doubt into even the deadliest striker - even in a one-on-one clean through situation you still fancied Schmeichel to make the save. His iconic starfish jump has been mimicked but never bettered, and some of his saves were breathtaking. Add to this his invaluable contribution as an organiser of defences (through basically terrorising them into playing well) and also as a potent attacking weapon with his excellent distribution; and for me there's none better than the Great Dane
Right Back:
Another fairly easy choice. Nowadays the best pundit around, putting the rest to shame, and for a long time the best right back around as well. Gary Neville was consistently solid in a position that just requires you to be consistently solid. A great foil for David Beckham, solid enough to allow Ronaldo free rein, capable of excellent delivery from the touchline and above all with a commitment to the cause that could never be questioned.
Centre Backs:
This is tougher, there are some excellent candidates on this shortlist so picking just two is not easy. Adams, McGrath and Bruce only played for a relatively short time in the Premier League so although both superb I'm ruling them out. Desailly was ever so slightly past his prime when he came to our shores so again he goes. Carragher and Terry are both outstanding exponents of the last ditch, but I'd prefer defenders in my team that don't need to rely on the last ditch; plus I want players who can bring it out of defence. For that reason my first pick is Rio Ferdinand - skilful, strong, quick and elegant - for a time around 2002-2005 Rio was rightfully viewed as one of he best centre backs in the world. My second choice is the colossus, Jaap Stam. He was ditched in what Alex Ferguson considers one of his few mistakes, but at the peak of his powers in an outstanding United team he was fearsome, ruthless and ever so slightly unhinged. You shall not pass.
Left Back:
This team is getting a bit 'best of Man United' but the left back slot mixes things up. One of relatively very few players to be an outstanding winner for two of the Sky Four Premier League clubs, Ashley Cole emerged as a quick, tenacious and dynamic young player at Arsenal where he went on to establish himself as the league's finest. His acrimonious move to Chelsea has delivered more silverware and although he is disliked by many, few would question his inclusion in this team. His epic battles with C-Ron were great to watch, and his general consistency throughout his career is one of the reasons why his place in the England team has been relatively nailed on for the best part of a decade.
Right Midfield:
Ideally I'd like to go for a 4-3-3 but the site only allows for a 4-4-2 and rules are rules. That does throw up the first real dilemma here. David Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo? Ronaldo is a machine, an athlete that arrived on the scene looking like a show pony and left it as a thoroughbred racehorse operating at a level that no-one else in the country was even close to. His subsequent stats at Real Madrid just confirm his position as best footballer on the planet (in an alternate universe where Lionel Messi doesn't exist.) In this team, however, the role is going to Beckham. Why? When you see who we have up front, you'll understand. The best deliverer of a set piece in the entire game, D-Beck crosses will be a constant source of goals in this team.
Centre Midfield:
OK let's just cut straight to it... Le Tissier is in.
I know he won't do the work required in a two man midfield, I know he doesn't have the engine of some of the other options, I know he has a fat arse. But even in such illustrious company the fact of the matter is Matthew Le Tissier can do things with a football that most of the others would not even think of trying. Consider that he performed miracles on a weekly basis surrounded by the likes of Neil Shipperley, Jim Magilton, Neil Heaney and Egil Ostenstad; he was not able to rely on team-mates that United or Arsenal players could do. A one-man highlights reel, Le God is in.
The second spot requires someone willing and able to cover a hell of a lot of ground, provide some steel, tough in the tackle and with a drive and leadership befitting the crucial role he'll play in the team. It's a straight fight between two Premier League legends between whom the ongoing battle was one of the most definitive features of the league for a few years. Roy Keane vs Patrick Vieira. Both have hero status at their clubs and rightly so. I never liked Keane though, I thought he was little more than a despicable thug (a view presumably a certain Norwegian shares) and although a great player, not for me. Paddy V goes in and, at his irrepressible 98-03 best, he will do the business.
Left Midield:
A strong field, this one. With the possible exception of John Barnes who was in the twilight of his career at the birth of the Prem, every one of these players has been excellent. In fact I'd say every one of them has had a spell as arguably the best player in the league at one point in time. Only one of them has been basically excellent from the very outset though: Ryan Giggs is a Premier League institution and having redefined himself he continues to play a key role in Alex Ferguson's plans even at a ripe old age. I'm going for the flying winger of the 90's, the first Premier League superstar - flair, pace, incisiveness and a great counterbalance to the right sided threat of his club mate Beckham. Giggsy has clearly damaged his legacy with all the tabloid nonsense, but from a purely footballing viewpoint I'd argue his cause against anyone.
Forwards:
Les Ferdinand. Teddy Sheringham. Ole Solskjaer. Dwight Yorke. Michael Owen. None of these strikers has been included on the shortlist which says a lot - we are really dealing with the uber-elite here. My first pick is someone who was quite simply unstoppable for a long time. Super Alan Shearer took no time at all settling into his role at Blackburn Rovers and scored shedloads of goals there, before a world record move to boyhood club Newcastle United. The honours did not follow, and the nagging thought will always be what could have been if he had gone to Old Trafford (utter domination even more than they already had is the answer) but there is no questioning the brutality with which Shearer operated. Powerful, strong, but with no shortage of pure footballing ability, the man was a goal machine - and will finally fulfil the dreams of all Saints fans who always wonder what could have been if he and Le Tiss could have played together for a few more years.
Now, the final slot to make up my all time Premier League Eleven.
Take your pick, the remaining nine are all outstanding players. Goal factories like Cole, Fowler and Wright. Skilful visionary artists Bergkamp and Zola. Unhinged lunatics Rooney and King Eric. One of them however combines the lot (excepted the lunacy, always seems fairly switched on to be fair).
Thierry Henry spent a good few years playing with an almost embarrassing ease; he was so far above the rest of the division and it looked unfair at times. The classic debate was always Van Nistelrooy or Henry - my answer was always the Frenchman as he was so much more than just a finisher. Able to conjure a goal out of nothing and with a swagger and style to his play that was always so good to watch, he's a hell of an addition to this side.
The Great Dane
G Nev, Rio, Big Jaap, Cashley
D Beck, Le God, Paddy V, Giggsy
Super Al, Tezza
What a team.
There you have it then. It's good fun to do and generates a lot of great pub debate. No doubt you'll have a different opinion, so don't keep it to yourself...let the debate begin!
Late drama gives Brisbane the Glory
Brisbane Roar have once again been crowned the A-League winners* following a second grand final in as many years; becoming the first team ever to go back-to-back.
The Roar have a real taste for the dramatic, and this 2-1 victory over Perth Glory was no different. Last year the Roar came back from 2-0 down with 118' on the clock, scoring twice to force a penalty shoot-out.
The little white spot 12 yards out was once more the source of their triumph, except this time they managed to do it before extra time. Mind you, with 7 minutes to play they were once again staring down the barrel of defeat. Shane Smeltz had been in red-hot form in the post season and although Perth's opener was in fact an own goal, it was one of those 'too busy worrying about the presence of a lethal striker to react when the ball hits you' type of oggies. Albanian striker Besart Berisha knows where the goal is himself though, and displayed good movement to meet a cross and steer it home for the Roar to set up the grandstand finish.
The drama of last year was perhaps even surpassed by the finale of this one though. Berisha again latched onto a ball on the edge of the box, and slalomed through a crowd of defenders. He went down with a huge air swipe, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot...only for replays to suggest that in fact he was not touched at all and just lost his footing. Now cast as a villain on the West Coast, Berisha did not dive as such so I don't think can be blamed. It would have taken an almost unprecedented act of sportsmanship to ask the referee to overturn the decision, so fair enough to the Albanian striker for slotting the ball home. The time on the clock was 90+7, Perth Glory had no time to come back, and once again it's Brisbane who get the end of season plaudits.
*So, why the asterisk? Well, the match we've just discussed was the grand final. To explain for the uninitiated, here in Australia they play the league campaign just like everybody else. For some reason however, this does not do the job for Aussies, and they insist on having a ridiculously convoluted post season. The top two play each other over two legs, meanwhile 3-6 have straight knock out games. The loser in the top two match gets another go, the winner goes to the final, it all gets very muddled and confusing and leads up to a Grand Final which potentially could be played between the teams who finish in 2nd and 6th.
The Central Coast Mariners finished top of the league and leave with the not even consolation prize of being "Minor Premiers". No-one seems to give a toss about that award though and it certainly does not get the recognition it deserves. If you win the league, you've proven yourself to be the best over the full 6 months of the season - have one off day and the glory goes elsewhere. I feel sorry for Central Coast, they deserved better, and for me that is one of the big failings of this system.
The second is the mockery it makes of the league season. Sure, the structure gives you an advantage based on where you finish - it's theoretically easier if you come second than, say 5th, but it still boils down to one off games. Also, in a league of only ten teams, the top 6 qualify. 60% of the competition makes it to the finals. Apply that to the Premier League and there would be little between the achievement of Man City and Sunderland. Tosh, clearly. They love the format over here however, it is deeply ingrained in the system for the Super Rugby, the AFL and the NRL - so the A-League follows suit.
I've written recently about the shambles that the A-League threatens to become with the meddling of the FFA, and the constant chopping and changing of clubs. I don't think this format helps the 'product' either. If they went for a regular league format but threw in a cup competition they could still get their big final, without undermining and devaluing the entire league in the process. Next season has many unanswered questions to be addressed before it commences in October.
The Roar have a real taste for the dramatic, and this 2-1 victory over Perth Glory was no different. Last year the Roar came back from 2-0 down with 118' on the clock, scoring twice to force a penalty shoot-out.
The little white spot 12 yards out was once more the source of their triumph, except this time they managed to do it before extra time. Mind you, with 7 minutes to play they were once again staring down the barrel of defeat. Shane Smeltz had been in red-hot form in the post season and although Perth's opener was in fact an own goal, it was one of those 'too busy worrying about the presence of a lethal striker to react when the ball hits you' type of oggies. Albanian striker Besart Berisha knows where the goal is himself though, and displayed good movement to meet a cross and steer it home for the Roar to set up the grandstand finish.
The drama of last year was perhaps even surpassed by the finale of this one though. Berisha again latched onto a ball on the edge of the box, and slalomed through a crowd of defenders. He went down with a huge air swipe, and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot...only for replays to suggest that in fact he was not touched at all and just lost his footing. Now cast as a villain on the West Coast, Berisha did not dive as such so I don't think can be blamed. It would have taken an almost unprecedented act of sportsmanship to ask the referee to overturn the decision, so fair enough to the Albanian striker for slotting the ball home. The time on the clock was 90+7, Perth Glory had no time to come back, and once again it's Brisbane who get the end of season plaudits.
*So, why the asterisk? Well, the match we've just discussed was the grand final. To explain for the uninitiated, here in Australia they play the league campaign just like everybody else. For some reason however, this does not do the job for Aussies, and they insist on having a ridiculously convoluted post season. The top two play each other over two legs, meanwhile 3-6 have straight knock out games. The loser in the top two match gets another go, the winner goes to the final, it all gets very muddled and confusing and leads up to a Grand Final which potentially could be played between the teams who finish in 2nd and 6th.
The Central Coast Mariners finished top of the league and leave with the not even consolation prize of being "Minor Premiers". No-one seems to give a toss about that award though and it certainly does not get the recognition it deserves. If you win the league, you've proven yourself to be the best over the full 6 months of the season - have one off day and the glory goes elsewhere. I feel sorry for Central Coast, they deserved better, and for me that is one of the big failings of this system.
The second is the mockery it makes of the league season. Sure, the structure gives you an advantage based on where you finish - it's theoretically easier if you come second than, say 5th, but it still boils down to one off games. Also, in a league of only ten teams, the top 6 qualify. 60% of the competition makes it to the finals. Apply that to the Premier League and there would be little between the achievement of Man City and Sunderland. Tosh, clearly. They love the format over here however, it is deeply ingrained in the system for the Super Rugby, the AFL and the NRL - so the A-League follows suit.
I've written recently about the shambles that the A-League threatens to become with the meddling of the FFA, and the constant chopping and changing of clubs. I don't think this format helps the 'product' either. If they went for a regular league format but threw in a cup competition they could still get their big final, without undermining and devaluing the entire league in the process. Next season has many unanswered questions to be addressed before it commences in October.
Monday, 16 April 2012
The Weekend from Hell
Anyone who thinks life is fair is kidding themselves. As a kid if I used to moan about some perceived injustice (usually to do with bedtimes or vegetables) being "unfair" I'd more often than not be responded to with the simple but difficult to argue with: "Life's not fair".
Ever since day one of Southampton's rise to the Championship, I've been loving the fact that the team has been playing well, scoring goals and winning games; but always with a sense of 'it's too good to be true.'
The longer the season went on and we continued to excel, the closer we all came to believing. Last weekend however served up an absolute nightmare combination of results which threatens to be the turning point for when things do actually turn nasty. The Saints were beaten at home by a Reading side on the most incredible run of form that has catapulted them from nowhere in November to top of the Championship and within touching distance of the Premier League. Southampton had the better of the game and dominated possession and chances, but Reading defended with the resilience that they have displayed throughout this remarkable winning streak; and were ruthlessly affective and clinical when attacking on the break. Fair play to them, it was a deserved victory, even though it was extremely hard to take given the feeling that Saints, having equalised, could go on and win it themselves.
Then came the real sickener. With West Ham lurking back in third, six points behind, Saints were praying for a favour from fellow Southerners Brighton. After 10 minutes with 3 goals conceded it was fairly clear no such favour would be forthcoming. The pathetic capitulation, which finished 6-0, made for an 8 goal swing reducing the goal difference advantage to just three. The 'extra point' that Saints could rely on has all but evaporated now.
The final kicker was the unbelievable jamminess of Portsmouth, who with 90 minutes on the clock at the Keepmoat Stadium were being defeated 3-2 and relegated to League One. Two more lucky and dubious injury time goals and they still survive, at their host's expense. I value success for Southampton far more than failure for Portsmouth, I'm not quite in the camp of some Saints fans who cheer a Pompey defeat almost as much as a Saints win - but by Christ it would have been some small comfort to see them banished to where they belong, the cheats.
Ignoring Pompey who most likely will still drop, the most important thing to emerge from this nightmarish weekend was that, for now, Southampton remain in the automatic spots. It would seem a formality now that Reading will go on and clinch the title, something of a disappointment given that we had led for so long, but the objective has always been promotion. If it transpires that Southampton drop out of the automatic slots with only 2, 1 or even 0 games remaining, I don't think I will be able to cope with the sheer unfairness of it all.
Since an opening day defeat of Leeds United, Saints have never been outside the top two. To fall in at the death will be horrendous, and is surely a blow that will be impossible to recover from in time to regroup and perform in the play-offs. The momentum of the team that clinches sixth will be far more powerful a thing to call on than the abject disappointment of the team that fell at the final hurdle.
I'm trying to console myself with the knowledge that we still have it in our own hands - indeed, a win on Tuesday night coupled with West Ham failing to take three points against Bristol City, and things may look much brighter. Also, there is the knowledge that Saints never, ever do things the easy way and so we should have known all along that this would happen. I just can't help but fear the worst though, and I don't know what I'll do.
After the 94th minute Portsmouth equaliser a couple of weeks ago I threw an apple out of the window at 2am, as far as I could, just from the need to destroy something. God only knows what mental breakdown awaits if we don't get second.
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Sharing my view that life is not fair over here are fans of Central Coast Mariners, who this weekend were beaten in a penalty shootout by Perth Glory, who will go on to the Grand Final next week against Brisbane Roar.
Central Coast were denied despite having won the league - over here the team that finishes top after the regular season is deemed the 'Minor Premiers' whereas the real glory goes to the Grand Final winner. For my money it is a stupid system not befitting football - around the world league formats are simple, play everyone else and whoever ends up with the most points has proven themselves to be the best team. Central Coast will be forgotten about, and that's not fair.
Well... "life's not fair".
Friday, 13 April 2012
Rudderless England sailing too close to the rocks
In less than two month's time, England's Euro 2012 campaign gets underway with the opening fixture against France.
With all the excitement and intrigue being served up in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, it seems that this situation is being glossed over somewhat. The prospect of England going into the tournament without a manager however looms ever larger, and is something that the FA surely need to address in the fairly immediate term, to avoid an utter shambles.
They have had over two months to act already since Fabio Capello quite understandably reached the end of his tether, and yet from the outside it seems the England team is no nearer to a solution than it was back in February.
The mitigant that the FA can fall back on is the fact that the season is moving into it's critical phase, and many of the possible candidates are currently incumbent in a managerial role with a Premier League club. Fair enough, their preferred candidates may be otherwise engaged at present, but to my mind that is cause enough to rule them out.
The Premier League season does not finish until May 13th, at which point there will be just four weeks until that testing opener avec Les Bleus. Even if they were able to get, say, Harry Redknapp to state on May 14th that he is leaving Spurs to become the England manager, what kind of preparation will he be able to do in that short space of time? Indeed, it's actually rather less than 4 weeks given the deadline for squads to be named is May 29. Effectively he'd have two weeks in which to assemble a squad, spend time working with them, assess the fitness, form and mentality of the entire group; decide on a strategy, identify the right players to complement that strategy, and then set to work getting that across to the players.
All the new man has in terms of actual football prior to the tournament are two friendlies, against Norway and then Belgium - although the game against the Belgians comes after the squad deadline anyway.
I'll not make any bones about my dislike of Harry Redknapp, I openly admit that I don't think he's the right man for the England job, and I don't want him to get it. But all of the problems listed above are not just problems that are exclusive to Redknapp - any other candidate currently managing a club has the same constraints. Alan Pardew has been touted by some due to his incredible season with Newcastle; Roy Hodgson is another seen as a possible candidate even if just in a caretaker capacity. Neither of them would be able to give the role the necessary focus and attention until they were finished with their club duties however, and that is why I would rule out anyone currently involved in club management.
All the noises from the FA, and the media clamour following Capello's exit, suggest that the next boss will without doubt be English. This therefore rules out Rafa Benitez, currently out of work, or Marcelo Lippi - who in fairness is probably finished with management now, and would be seen as far too close to Capello anyhow.
Glenn Hoddle recently announced his willingness to be considered, which is something I find interesting. Hoddle produced some exciting football from England and had us in seemingly good shape before his ill-advised (and in my opinion space cadet mental) views on reincarnation cost him the high profile position. I won't ever forgive him for the omission of Matthew Le Tissier from the France 98 squad, but I think he is tactically astute and capable of putting out an England side with intention to play attractive football. Reappointing Hoddle may carry too much potential PR baggage and could well be a can of worms that the FA would not want to open. In spite of this, he is available, eager, and could start his preparations now without delay.
None of these candidates come without their faults though. Whether it be through prior obligations to their clubs, dodgy past or even the wrong passport, there is no clear candidate. Well, not quite...there is one.
Stuart Pearce took caretaker charge of the England team when Fabio Capello left, he presided over the Holland friendly a couple of weeks later. His managerial career is not the most stellar, granted, but he is in there right now. He knows the set-up, he knows the players, he knows the score. His 'Psycho' image from his playing days will appeal to the Ingerlund brigade who want nothing more than passion. Indeed, in my lifetime I can think of no more hair-on-the-neck-raising iconic moment to demonstrate love for the shirt and pride for the country than Pearce's celebration after his penalty against Spain in Euro 96.
His calibre as a player is without question - one of the few candidates who can look at every player in the England squad and tell them I know what it is like to play in the World Cup and European Championship semi finals for England. None of them have achieved that, and perhaps the egotistical old guard may do well to have a bit of a reality check from a manager who has done it, and done it better than them.
Pearce's detractors will rightly point to the sometimes disappointing displays from his Under 21's side when they reach major tournaments, but I'd argue that third place and runner up is not half bad, a damn sight better than anything the senior team has served up since Pearce himself was in the team. Furthermore his at times dismal record in charge of Manchester City does not inspire massive confidence. Finally, he has signed up for the role of coach of the Great Britain Olympic football team, a possible sticking point given the proximity of the two tournaments.
I don't think that Stuart Pearce is necessarily the best possible long term candidate for the England job - but I think he is by far the outstanding choice to lead us into Euro 2012. The FA should act now, announce that Pearce will be in charge for the tournament, and leave the longer term decision until after that. No 4 year contract nonsense, give him the role until the day England are eliminated, and then review it from scratch.
The longer the FA delay the decision, the more harm it is doing to England's prospects, and the greater the potential for the Three Lions to suffer another disaster of WC2010 proportions.
With all the excitement and intrigue being served up in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, it seems that this situation is being glossed over somewhat. The prospect of England going into the tournament without a manager however looms ever larger, and is something that the FA surely need to address in the fairly immediate term, to avoid an utter shambles.
They have had over two months to act already since Fabio Capello quite understandably reached the end of his tether, and yet from the outside it seems the England team is no nearer to a solution than it was back in February.
The mitigant that the FA can fall back on is the fact that the season is moving into it's critical phase, and many of the possible candidates are currently incumbent in a managerial role with a Premier League club. Fair enough, their preferred candidates may be otherwise engaged at present, but to my mind that is cause enough to rule them out.
The Premier League season does not finish until May 13th, at which point there will be just four weeks until that testing opener avec Les Bleus. Even if they were able to get, say, Harry Redknapp to state on May 14th that he is leaving Spurs to become the England manager, what kind of preparation will he be able to do in that short space of time? Indeed, it's actually rather less than 4 weeks given the deadline for squads to be named is May 29. Effectively he'd have two weeks in which to assemble a squad, spend time working with them, assess the fitness, form and mentality of the entire group; decide on a strategy, identify the right players to complement that strategy, and then set to work getting that across to the players.
All the new man has in terms of actual football prior to the tournament are two friendlies, against Norway and then Belgium - although the game against the Belgians comes after the squad deadline anyway.
I'll not make any bones about my dislike of Harry Redknapp, I openly admit that I don't think he's the right man for the England job, and I don't want him to get it. But all of the problems listed above are not just problems that are exclusive to Redknapp - any other candidate currently managing a club has the same constraints. Alan Pardew has been touted by some due to his incredible season with Newcastle; Roy Hodgson is another seen as a possible candidate even if just in a caretaker capacity. Neither of them would be able to give the role the necessary focus and attention until they were finished with their club duties however, and that is why I would rule out anyone currently involved in club management.
All the noises from the FA, and the media clamour following Capello's exit, suggest that the next boss will without doubt be English. This therefore rules out Rafa Benitez, currently out of work, or Marcelo Lippi - who in fairness is probably finished with management now, and would be seen as far too close to Capello anyhow.
Glenn Hoddle recently announced his willingness to be considered, which is something I find interesting. Hoddle produced some exciting football from England and had us in seemingly good shape before his ill-advised (and in my opinion space cadet mental) views on reincarnation cost him the high profile position. I won't ever forgive him for the omission of Matthew Le Tissier from the France 98 squad, but I think he is tactically astute and capable of putting out an England side with intention to play attractive football. Reappointing Hoddle may carry too much potential PR baggage and could well be a can of worms that the FA would not want to open. In spite of this, he is available, eager, and could start his preparations now without delay.
None of these candidates come without their faults though. Whether it be through prior obligations to their clubs, dodgy past or even the wrong passport, there is no clear candidate. Well, not quite...there is one.
Stuart Pearce took caretaker charge of the England team when Fabio Capello left, he presided over the Holland friendly a couple of weeks later. His managerial career is not the most stellar, granted, but he is in there right now. He knows the set-up, he knows the players, he knows the score. His 'Psycho' image from his playing days will appeal to the Ingerlund brigade who want nothing more than passion. Indeed, in my lifetime I can think of no more hair-on-the-neck-raising iconic moment to demonstrate love for the shirt and pride for the country than Pearce's celebration after his penalty against Spain in Euro 96.
His calibre as a player is without question - one of the few candidates who can look at every player in the England squad and tell them I know what it is like to play in the World Cup and European Championship semi finals for England. None of them have achieved that, and perhaps the egotistical old guard may do well to have a bit of a reality check from a manager who has done it, and done it better than them.
Pearce's detractors will rightly point to the sometimes disappointing displays from his Under 21's side when they reach major tournaments, but I'd argue that third place and runner up is not half bad, a damn sight better than anything the senior team has served up since Pearce himself was in the team. Furthermore his at times dismal record in charge of Manchester City does not inspire massive confidence. Finally, he has signed up for the role of coach of the Great Britain Olympic football team, a possible sticking point given the proximity of the two tournaments.
I don't think that Stuart Pearce is necessarily the best possible long term candidate for the England job - but I think he is by far the outstanding choice to lead us into Euro 2012. The FA should act now, announce that Pearce will be in charge for the tournament, and leave the longer term decision until after that. No 4 year contract nonsense, give him the role until the day England are eliminated, and then review it from scratch.
The longer the FA delay the decision, the more harm it is doing to England's prospects, and the greater the potential for the Three Lions to suffer another disaster of WC2010 proportions.
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