The rumours currently circulating regarding Charlie Adam’s potential move to Liverpool have drawn a wide array of attention. In particular Ian Holloway has suggested that Liverpool’s offer is ‘ridiculous’, ‘derisory’, ‘farcical’, the list goes on, pick your quote.
What I want to discuss here concerns not the transfer fee but the transfer itself. Are Liverpool mad?
Liverpool’s second choice striker is David N’Gog. With 9 goals in 55 Premier League appearances in his Liverpool career he is hardly flattering to deceive. Granted, he has not played many full games but that does not detract from the fact that he is distinctly average. Again I grant that he is only 21 and has potential but again that does not detract from the fact that he is not ready. Not ready for Liverpool’s first team, not ready for the Premiership, and not ready for a team that wants to contend to finish in the top 6, let alone the top 4.
In fact, to my knowledge, David N’Gog is the 52nd best striker in the Premiership.
I do not see the point in spending £30 million on a few decent players that will strengthen a weak squad when one player costing £30 milllion could dramatically improve the state of Liverpool’s predicament. The lack of depth in their midfield pales into insignificance when you analyse just how thin their strike force is.
Further still, a world class striker would allow Gerrard to play the role he is best in. Stevie has made the ‘box-to-box’ midfield role his own in the last ten years. He has only recently been deployed just off the striker. To be fair, he had an excellent season in 2008/9 playing this role but his skills as a midfielder cannot be forgotten. An extra striker would allow him to use these.
If Gerrard played under the best manager in the Premier League (Sir Alex Ferguson), he would play the role that Darren Fletcher currently plays. Ten times out of ten I would choose Gerrard ahead of Fletcher. It would mean playing 4-4-2 and not 4-3-3 and changing from the formation that saw them finish second. Surely Man United must be doing something right?
Instead of looking for another Alonso (a label banded around with Adam) they should look for a genuine partner for Fernando Torres. They should evolve, just as Man Utd have done over the years and adapt to suit what they currently need. Not try and recreate an excellent side of yester year (that did not actually win anything!)
Spending big cash may be a tough financial decision, but if they do not do it now they will lose more money in the long run. Key players like Carragher and Gerrard are getting on now and only have a few years left in them (Carra maybe even less). Crucially though is the question of how long will Fernando Torres continue to be content not playing Champions League football. If they lose their big guns, it is only a matter of time before even more serious financial investment will be needed to compensate for the money they have lost in missing out on European football.
Liverpool need to bite the bullet and splash out on a striker of genuine quality. They do exist (Llorente, Suarez, Aguero, Pazzini are a few off the top of my head). It would send such an exciting message to everyone involved at the club. A club that’s famously supreme morale is in a deep, deep trough.
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And for those who are interested in the 51 Premier League strikers in the league I rate higher than N’Gog, here you are…
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Andre Villas-Boas’ ill-fated spell at Chelsea damaged both the ego and reputation of a young manager whose stock had previously been at an all time high. The 2010/11 season had seen the then Porto manager sweep all before him as his team triumphed in the Europa League and the Portuguese league as well as the Portuguese equivalent of both the Charity Shield and the FA Cup. It was a season that raised the profile of not just the manager but also a number of players within the squad, some of who also earned moves abroad.
33 at the time, Villas-Boas was appointed by Roman Abramovich in an attempt to bring Porto’s slick, attacking football to a Chelsea team burdened by the stereotype of a more rugged, physical approach.
In hindsight, his task at Chelsea was always a difficult one. There were too many strong personalities in the Chelsea dressing room, many of them not a dissimilar age to Villas-Boas himself. The challenge of moving from the Portuguese to English league was a tall order in itself, to take that in his stride whilst revamping a squad full of such established players seemed near enough impossible.
Those lessons, however, will not have gone unlearned. Appointed as Tottenham’s new manager in the wake of Harry Redknapp’s unfortunate demise, there are those who cite his turbulent months as Chelsea as an indication that he is not suited to this league.
How anybody can make that assumption after witnessing Villas-Boas receive less than a year to prove himself is a bit of a mystery. If players and managers were only judged on their first six months then Thierry Henry would have been a complete flop.
The difference in both the attitude and style of Tottenham and Chelsea cannot be underestimated. Tottenham’s squad is young and hungry for success, like their new manager. Harry Redknapp’s brand of football might not mimic that of Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona but these Spurs’ players are used to playing attacking football and a high defensive line, like their new manager.
Tired with short-term fixes and an often-outdated management of the club, Daniel Levy has found, in Villas-Boas, a manager to match his own progressive nature. As Jose Mourinho’s chief scout of opposition at Chelsea, Villas-Boas refined his meticulous approach to games. His moves are calculated, his teams have an ethos and you wouldn’t ever catch him telling one of his players to ‘just f*****g run around a bit’.
Redknapp was undoubtedly a talented man-manager, but football is more than that. When Harry Redknapp won the FA Cup with Portsmouth he said it was the best moment of his career, at 33 years old his Portuguese replacement has already won more trophies. And he did it in one season.
Villas-Boas might not be the most popular choice but he can take Tottenham to a level that Redknapp was unable to. It is the perfect club for Villas-Boas; as long as he can keep hold of his best players for one more season he can begin to mould them in to a team in his image.
He has learned his lessons from Chelsea, there were signs of that even after a few months when he stopped playing with such a high defensive line.
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Moreover, whilst Tottenham already have many of the players that he needs for success the pressure to get results immediately will not be anywhere near as high as it was at Chelsea. The difference between Levy telling you he will support you and Abramovich telling you the same thing could be the difference between success and failure.
Daniel Levy and Tottenham know this. There will have been a host of suitors for the job at Spurs. A richly backed club, based in London with a loyal fan base and a brilliant squad is the perfect recipe for a successful club. All Tottenham needed was the perfect manager. In Andre Villas-Boas they have found that.
Last season was one of the most competitive Premier League seasons despite a rather predictable eventual outcome. After a summer of as yet, unfulfilling transfer sagas, it’s time for the world’s best league in terms of talent, to recommence.
Arsenal – 5th
Before the summer, Arsenal fans sang ‘spend some money’ to Arsene Wenger, albeit in a more coarse manner. So far, there has been no proper defensive reinforcement. The team still lacks experience and an English core to the side. For a side challenging for the title, they need to grind out more wins. This might be the season where the Gunners slip out of the top four, especially if Fabregas and Nasri leave the Emirates.
Aston Villa – 11th
The departure of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing threaten to cripple Villa. The question is can N’Zogbia and Albrighton step up to the plate? Add into the mix the arrival of Alex McCleish, who has a job on his hands to keep expectant Villa fans happy. The defence should be strong under the former Birmingham manager, especially with the arrival of Shay Given, keeping them well out of any trouble.
Blackburn Rovers – 18th
Things don’t quite add up at Ewood Park. Much is said about Venky’s big ambition for the club but the amount spent on new arrivals so far suggests otherwise. Having narrowly avoided relegation last year under Steve Kean, it’s hard to see Rovers improving drastically. They may live to regret sacking Sam Allarydce. Chris Samba needs to stay for survival to be achieved.
Bolton Wanderers – 13th
With Lee and Tyrone Mears both picking up serious injuries in pre-season, Owen Coyle already has a tough task. Add to that the loss of Daniel Sturridge returning to Chelsea and Johan Elmander moving to Turkey, Coyle looks short of options up front. 2011 hasn’t been a great year for Wanderers and although they won’t go down, don’t expect the Trotters to perform miracles this season.
Chelsea – 2nd
Arrigo Sacchi, the former AC Milan manager, once said, “a jockey doesn’t have to have been born a horse.” This certainly applies to André Villas Boas, a manager who never played professionally but hasn’t let this stop him from coaching. He’s tactically astute and needs to find a way to get the best out of Torres soon. Chelsea could do with more strength in depth though.
Everton – 9th
With little transfer activity at Goodison Park, Everton fans shouldn’t be expecting too much next season. Their injury curse appears to have struck again with Seamus Coleman ruled out for a few months. To move Everton to the next level, Moyes needs some money – something in very short supply on the blue half of Merseyside. Another mid table finish beckons.
Fulham – 10th
Another year brings another new manager at Fulham. Martin Jol could do with another striker to give the Whites a bit more firepower up front. In terms of the club’s league finish, it might be beneficial if Fulham bowed out early on from the Europa League. However, the competition is important to the fans after the club’s success in the competition two years ago.
Liverpool – 4th
A few managers (Roberto Mancini and Jupp Heynckes) have recently said, “Strikers win you matches but defenders win you championships.” Apply this to Liverpool. Going forward, they look solid. At the back, even with José Enrique, they’re not exactly impenetrable. This might prevent them from making a title challenge but this year could well be the season when Liverpool return to the Top Four.
Manchester City – 3rd
Although more money has been spent, the Community Shield showed City’s deficiencies and that work is still needed. As a manager, Roberto Mancini must try and take the initiative more. Currently, he is too reactive instead of being proactive. It might help squad morale if Balotelli went to pastures new. Although they will probably miss out on the title, they should still retain their place in the Top Four next season.
Manchester United – 1st
Sir Alex Ferguson has strengthened well, slotting square pegs into the square holes that were in his side. He thought ahead (unlike Arsene Wenger), ensuring he got his targets early on. Wesley Sneijder would complete the jigsaw for United. If Ferguson wants to succeed in Europe for a third time, he needs to work out how to limit Real and Barca. That might be a bridge too far, the Premier League title might not be though
Newcastle United – 15th
Alan Pardew has started to craft his own side this summer which has included a spate of French imports. Yohan Cabaye from French Champions, Lille, looks the most impressive acquisition. Behind the scenes though, trouble seems to be brewing on the Tyne. The Joey Barton saga needs to be sorted quickly or it could affect the atmosphere amongst the squad. Things must be right in house or success on the pitch is nigh on impossible.
Norwich City – 17th
On paper, Norwich City shouldn’t be able to cut it in the Premier League. However, in practice, they have a very good manager in Paul Lambert who can coerce the very best out of his players. The Canaries must develop a different style to that of your archetypal promoted side or they will return from whence they came. Wes Hoolahan and Grant Holt are the men who hold the keys to survival.
QPR – 19th
The ‘R’s season revolves solely around one man – Adel Taarabt. If he fires, then QPR will probably survive. Sounds easier than it will be as he needs to be kept under control and injury free. Loftus Road needs to be a fortress. Some rather unfair murmurs about Neil Warnock’s job over the summer won’t have helped the Hoops cause.
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Stoke City – 12th
Decent at the back and good going forward, Stoke City need more strength in depth, especially to cope with the strains of the Europa League. Beyond a good first team, there isn’t much there. Don’t be fooled. They are experienced, physically strong and you’d be mistaken if you think they’re only threatening from set pieces. Another striker would help pull them in and around the top half.
Sunderland – 7th
The Black Cats have the biggest resources outside the Premier League’s top six and this is illustrated by the 10 signings made over the summer. The feeling on Wearside appears to be that after a few years forming his side, its’ time for Steve Bruce to deliver something back. A top 10 finish will be the minimum requirement and they’re a good shout for a Europa League spot as well.
Swansea City – 20th
As aesthetically pleasing as the Swans maybe, the defence may prove their eventual downfall. A good relationship is required between a back four and the goalkeeper, and Dorus De Vries’ departure could well have a negative effect. They’re not as one dimensional as some of their rivals but they may just simply not be strong enough for Premier League football.
Spurs – 6th
As far as their ambitions of getting back into the top four, they could certainly do without the Europa League. Van Der Vaart needs to stay fit for longer this season and a striker is required if Spurs are to push on. To break into the top four, they need to find a balance between attack and defence, something they weren’t able to do last season, as well as putting away the weaker teams home and away.
West Brom – 8th
Under Roy Hodgson, the Baggies will be a very well disciplined side this season and will comfortably retain their Premier League status. In the past, sides under Hodgson tended to struggle on the road, something he will need to rectify, perhaps with a slightly more attacking brand of football. The Hawthorns won’t be an easy place to visit this season.
Wigan Athletic – 16th
The sheer presence of the Latics in the Premier League shows what can happen if your club is well run. Survival is always good enough for Chairman Dave Whelan and he will be hoping for more of the same. Roberto Martinez showed loyalty by declining Aston Villa’s advances over the summers. He will need to find a way to cope with the departure of Charles N’Zogbia. A relegation scrap will ensue but Martinez has proven his managerial qualities in the past, so they should relish it.
Wolves – 14th
Bringing in Roger Johnson from Birmingham is a terrific coup for Mick McCarthy. Making him Club Captain suggests a new outlook in the West Midlands. Up front they are hard working with the likes of Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher and Johnson will help to shore up what was a leaky defence last year. Jamie O’Hara is a good signing in the middle of the park and this should ensure safety from relegation.
So my final table is as follows.
1. Manchester United
2. Chelsea
3. Man City
4. Liverpool
5. Arsenal
6. Spurs
7. Sunderland
8. West Brom
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9. Everton
10. Fulham
11. Aston Villa
12. Stoke City
13. Bolton Wanderers
14. Wolves
15. Newcastle
16. Wigan
17. Norwich City
18. Blackburn Rovers
19. QPR
20. Swansea City
With a few weeks until the transfer window shuts, there’s still the possibility that signings will be made which change the course of the season. A few clubs in particular still have business to do. It will be interesting to see how the three promoted sides fair with little Premier League experience amongst the three of them. If this season comes close to matching last year in terms of entertainment, fans have an intriguing year of football ahead.
Article courtesy of Archie Rhind-Tutt from his excellent site – Gone With The Rhind
Kick-Off the Premier League season with Football FanCast’s NEW ScoreCast from 2.45pm
Just over two years ago, Tottenham were bottom of the Premier League and facing up to the very real possibility of relegation from the top flight for the first time since the league was created in 1992. Fulham, on the other hand, were eyeing a European place, having made a concerted push up the division under Roy Hodgson.
As 2011 begins, Tottenham find themselves in the midst of a credible title challenge, with one of the most talented squads in the division. Across London, Fulham are nervously edging towards the trap door, with current manager. Mark Hughes, rueing a lack of resources.
Whilst the Cottagers showed some encouraging signs in beating Stoke at the Britannia on Tuesday, pressure from relegation threatened clubs around them refuses to decrease. Hughes will be stressing to his men that for all of Spurs’ threat, they are liable to concede, although the clean sheet they kept against Newcastle this week suggests that Harry Redknapp has hammered home the importance of a watertight defence if the white half of North London are to seriously push for the top domestic honours.
Prediction: 2-1
Click to see the match odds at Paddy Power below
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England goalkeeper Joe Hart has admitted that he aspires to be as good as Gordon Banks one day, and that he will look to be a steady hand for the Three Lions this summer.
Roy Hodgson’s men are in preparation for their Euro 2012 opener against France on Monday, and the Manchester City stopper will be between the sticks for the English side.
Hart has spoken of his heroes growing up, and admitted that Banks, and particularly the save from Pele’s header in the 1970 World Cup, are a source of inspiration.
“When I was growing up it was David Seaman, national keeper and a wonderful player for Arsenal. I always pester Patrick Vieira about him. Also Peter Schmeichel, who took the game by storm and won everything,” he told reporters, published by The Telegraph.
“Banks is spoken of so highly around the world. We all know about the save. I’ve got a long way to go to get anywhere near him. I’m on my journey as a goalkeeper.
“I’ve got 18 caps and I want to improve on that at every opportunity. I’m just looking forward to being that rock that England need. It’s not a case of ‘I’m great, I’m untouchable’. It’s just that I know what I can do, I know what I am required to do and I enjoy doing it. I love improving.
“There have been stages when things haven’t gone great for me like when I was left on the bench when Shay Given came in at City, but there’s no point getting lost in it and doubting yourself,” he concluded.
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Former France international Patrick Vieira has announced his retirement to take up a development role with Manchester City.The 35-year-old, who was listed for a free transfer after City opted against renewing his contract last month, has been named the club’s new football development executive.
“This role is a fantastic new challenge for me and I am very grateful to Manchester City for offering me this opportunity,” Vieira said.
“I have a lot to learn about the non-playing areas of the business but there are many very experienced people here for me to learn from and I am confident that I can make a significant contribution to the club’s ongoing success.”
“I am particularly pleased to be given the opportunity to work with the club’s community scheme.”
“Everyone at Manchester City – the fans, the staff and the players – have made me and my family feel very welcome here over the past two years.”
“I am very happy to have been given the chance to stay and develop my career away from the pitch.”
Viera retires after more than 400 appearances at club level for the likes of Cannes, Arsenal, Juventus, Inter Milan and Manchester City, winning three English Premier League titles and four FA Cups with the Gunners.
He was capped 107 times for France and was part of Les Bleus’ 1998 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000 winning campaigns.
“Whilst it is sad to see Patrick’s playing career come to an end, we are delighted that he has chosen to extend his time with Manchester City in this new capacity,” said City’s chief operations officer Brian Marwood.
“Wherever he goes he commands the respect of his audience and we believe he will make an invaluable contribution to our club as we build on our recent successes.”
Luis Suarez has garnered quite the reputation in the last couple of years and he is now on of Europe’s top striking talents. His days at Ajax are numbered and he looks certain to depart from Holland this season with a move to the Premier League in the offing. His two main suitors are Liverpool and Spurs, both with very different projects on the go at the minute and both in very real need of a player of Suarez’s capabilities, but whose need is greater?
Spurs are enjoying a fantastic season. As I contested in an earlier article of mine this week, they are not too far off truly challenging for the title. Their main obstacle to cementing their place in the elite and proving that last season’s 4th spot wasn’t a one-off but the start of a period of dominance for the North London side, is their comparatively weak strike force compared to the rest of the top four sides.
Luis Suarez could provide the perfect partner for Jermain Defoe in attack and spearhead a concerted effort for the title. The league is wide open this year and with the only inevitable thing in such an unpredictable season being that the top sides around them will drop crucial points again at some stage of the rest of the campaign, Spurs would do well to bolster their front line with a genuinely world class acquisition while they have the chance, otherwise this season could go down as a missed opportunity.
Their strength in depth is excellent all over the pitch apart from up top. Suarez could be the missing ingredient Spurs are looking for. Their midfield is up there with the best in the league and they have creativity in abundance, but they do sometimes lack a cutting edge in front of goal against the best that Suarez could help eradicate. Jermain Defoe has been out for long periods so far this term through injury and suspension, and in his absence Peter Crouch has yet to fully stake his claim with just a solitary effort to his name despite 14 league starts. Pavlyuchenko, again while a decent option, is not committed enough to lead the line for a title challenger and his contribution can sometimes be lacking. In short, Spurs could do with Suarez an awful lot. His work-rate, finishing and pace could be a real asset.
However, I feel Liverpool’s need at the minute is greater than Spurs. Whether that means Suarez will rock up at Anfield any time soon though, I’m not so sure and surely if an offer was put to him as to who he’d rather join out of the aforementioned duo, he’d most definitely plump for the sights and sounds of London over Liverpool.
Liverpool are clearly a club on the wane. The cupboard is bare so to speak. They lack quality in so many key positions and have on over-reliance on so few players, that sometimes the burden can be overbearing on their key players. If Torres, Gerrard and Reina don’t perform for them, they rarely succeed in their endeavours.
Interim manager Kenny Dalglish looks like he’ll be given funds to spend this transfer window, but the confusing state of affairs at Anfield as to the identity of the club’s next full-time manager may put off several potential targets from joining the club, as will their dire league position.
This Liverpool side should be doing better, that much is clear. They are no world beaters and they lack the invention and concentration to put in a quality shift for the full 90 minutes at the minute, but there were signs in the first half against Everton in the Merseyside derby last weekend that there is still enough there to work with, and Dalglish, the talismanic club legend, will be hoping his presence can be used as a catalyst to push them higher up the league.
One of the main problems Dalglish has inherited though, a problem that existed under Hodgson and that he did little to remedy, and one that Hodgson himself was passed on to by Benitez, is that Fernando Torres has no discernable competition up front or a strike partner to share the load with.
David N’Gog has a decent strike rate despite his clear limitations and while he can frustrate at times, he’s not too bad a prospect considering he’s only 21 years old and arrived at the club for just £1.5m in 2008. He’d be handy to have around as the club’s third-choice striker. But let’s just say Torres isn’t having any sleepless nights that N’Gog will be keeping him out of the side any time soon. The lack of pressure on Torres has been a downfall of Liverpool‘s management in recent times.
A move for Suarez, which rather unbelievably is looking increasingly likely by the day should the rumours be believed, should reinvigorate Torres while also making a statement of intent that ambition around Anfield is not quite yet consigned to the past. Mediocrity is not something that the Anfield crowd are used to seeing, but that was all they got during the insipid Hodgson era as a state of inertia set in after consistently turgid displays on the pitch.
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Dalglish looks to have removed that to an extent already and with the club just the four points above the drop zone, the club’s target of a top six finish looks as far away as ever. But, this is a tightly contested league and Liverpool are just 8 points off sixth-placed Sunderland and with a game in hand. Things can change quickly in the league this season, that much is clear, and with a decent run of results Liverpool could be right back in the thick of it.
Suarez may be faced with a choice; join an emerging, youthful and vibrantly attacking outfit on the up, or try to revive a falling giant. Money talks, and he may not get a straight choice between the two, for the choice would surely be a simple one, but Spurs have other options already within their squad that Liverpool simply don’t possess. If he were to sign, Suarez would unquestionably be Liverpool’s best signing since Torres in 2007 and their need looks greater at the minute, purely because they are performing way below expectations and Spurs are just about performing as they should be.
What does everyone else think? Whose need is greater? Would Torres and Suarez link up well? Will Redknapp have the money to move for Suarez this transfer window?
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The importance of supporters in football will never find itself up for debate, with expressions like ‘the 12th man’ and ‘the driving force behind the team’ becoming synonymous with a club’s loyal legion of followers. As a single entity they thrive on creating an intense and intimidating atmosphere, serving to inspire their own team whilst unsettling the opposition. However, this desire or rather lust to prevail on a match day at all costs will unfortunately see fans resort to decadent behaviour. Far too often this season we’ve witnessed obscene gestures and repulsive chanting, which has mutated the beautiful game into an ugly spectacle.
There’s a lot to be said about the battle that occurs off the pitch as well as on it, with two sets of fans vying for bragging rights. A historic rivalry or the return of a former player adds fuel to the fire and ensures a tense mood right from kick-off. Unfortunately I only have to glance at my Twitter timeline on a Saturday afternoon to become aware of the vile songs ringing out on the terraces, which seem to harbour no boundaries on what they can and will reference.
On Sunday Anton Ferdinand was again subject to an unwarranted hostile reception at the Bridge. The QPR defender has spoken out about his difficult past few months claiming,
“Some of it has been very extreme and I’m thinking ‘how can they even be giving me any stick?” (BBC)
I for one cannot understand the reasoning behind it; here is a man who has allegedly been the victim of racial abuse and is yet somehow being criticised for reporting it? Anyone who has witnessed the particularly damning video evidence will know it doesn’t look good for John Terry, but let’s not forget he’s not that ‘type’ of player. Are football fans that devoted to their club that they cannot accept when they’re in the wrong?
Liverpool fans continue to back Luis Suarez and berate Patrice Evra despite the fact the former has already been found guilty of using a racist term. It’s perfectly acceptable to uphold the belief that individuals are innocent until proven guilty, but many seem willing to support their players beyond all realms of logic and reason.
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However if performances on the pitch don’t meet the required standard or match certain expectations, then players can expect to feel the heat from their own set of supporters. The situation at Blackburn is a perfect case in point, as the Rovers faithful grow increasingly tired of the reign of Steve Kean and the Venkys. Lone talisman Yakubu has publicly admitted that he is unsure whether those at Ewood Park are fully behind the team.
“I don’t know if they don’t want us to win or [they want us to] lose, but when we concede goals it’s like they keep calling out against the manager.” (Independent)
The Nigerian’s comments reveal a harsh reality that surely questions whether we can even classify these people as ‘supporters’ in such situations. The relentless chanting isn’t even confined to the 90-minutes on the pitch, as fans continue their constant barrage of abuse on social networking sites. The likes of Micah Richards, Danny Simpson and Kevin Davies have all been forced to close their Twitter accounts whilst Darron Gibson famously shut down his page after just 97 minutes after being inundated with insults.
Last year The Mirror’s Oliver Holt was mortified when he saw a photograph of Fernando Torres being taunted after his glaring miss at Old Trafford. The image (above) didn’t reveal fans enjoying the traditional “whey” or belly chuckle, but a group of individuals red in face screaming profanities at the Spaniard whilst displaying equal measures of delight and anger. Holt hits the nail firmly on the head when he suggests that football fans have adapted the ‘X Factor mentality’, seemingly finding greater pleasure from the misfortune of others rather than their own achievements.
As a dedicated and passionate fan myself, I can fully relate to the emotional experience of watching your team bounce between success and failure. I love the witty remarks fans invent to help inject a bit of humour into an otherwise tense environment, but shudder at the realisation that it always gets taken too far. For a long time I believed such unruly behaviour was only evident on foreign shores but it’s becoming more apparent that it occurs every weekend at grounds up and down the country.
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What kind of example is this setting for our younger generation of football fans? Isn’t it a bit hypocritical of us to complain when our players are abused whilst away on International duty, when it happens so frequently in our domestic leagues?
The FA must act quickly as this hideous mentality of a small group of misguided ‘fans’ continues to spread and infect a growing number of individuals. Only when clubs are hit with significant fines or forced to play behind closed doors will the message hit home that this is unacceptable in modern society.
One thing never goes out of fashion: Retro. This of course can mean absolutely anything that isn’t now, which is precisely why it never goes out of fashion. The new England kits, both suitably dapper and marvelously chic are certainly retro. The home one belongs in the Stanley Matthews era, where football shirts were essentially rugby shirts, before rugby shirts became essentially football shirts. The away one is – of course – an homage to ’66, as indeed almost every away kit ever produced by England since has been in the bizarre assumption that this will somehow help us, despite the fact that neither of our most successful (or least disastrous) attempts to win a trophy since has involved us wearing red away shirts. But never the less, the retro prevails, and the back to basics look endorsed by Umbro for England, has been similarly embraced by Brazil, Argentina and a fair few others. But what other fashion trends could we see making a comeback this World Cup? Or indeed, next season? And more to the point, what’s due a comeback?
Short Shorts – Who wears short shorts?. We wear…oh hold on, no, no one does. Short shorts are long overdue a return. The baggy look was all the rage in the 90s – what with grunge and Brit Pop and Ryan Giggs’ floppy hair – but somewhere around the mid noughties the shirts got tight again. The physically fit metro sexual man liked this. Not so much Barry from Seven Sisters, who found it rather undignifyng to squeeze himself into Spurs’ ultra sexy Kappa Kits. Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal life aside though, the shorts have remained long. Booo. If Diego Maradona remains sane enough long enough to stay in charge of Argentina after the World Cup, you’d hope he would extol the virtues of shorts barely bigger than your pants to his team’s erstwhile kit makers.
Perms – Another staple of the 80s was dodgy barnets. Perms, mullets, you name it, footballers loved it. Despite Cesc Fabregas and Nicklas Bendtner doing their best to restore the mullet at Arsenal and Lionel Messi heartily endorsing the “my mum did it” aesthetic, the closest we’ve got to a perm in the modern era PL is Luis Nani’s Lionel Ritchie Jheri curl. For shame footballers of the 21st century. No one in the England set up (David James aside) has remotely interesting hair. With Beckham out of the picture, it’s surely now up to Rooney to help bring back the funky dos. The Bobby Charlton springs to mind?
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Orange sheepskined Managers – Ever since Big orange Ron slinked off our screens and out of our ears (which is an appalling mental image I apologize for) the bling’d up eccentric manager in the style of Malcolm Allison has gone the way of broadcastable racism. Big fedora’s, sheepskin coats, the old cliché of the managerial spiv has been dead so long it’s no longer really applicable. The new cliché is of a dour track-suited man terrified for his job. The Mourinho/Mancini dapper suited foreigner is the closest we’ve got (though Phil Brown certainly tried his best to reintroduce the tanned pillock look). Bring back smoking cigars on the touchline I say. Though that’s probably illegal now. Broken Britain ey Noel? The world’s gone to hell in a Top Man handcart.
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Lip Rugs – The beautiful football moustache is most certainly a thing of the past. Even die hard aficionados Graeme Souness and David Seamen have shorn theirs off, and they kept them for far too long after the fashion had died anyway. With Wayne Rooney a dedicated practitioner of the moustache’s arch enemy – the moustache-less gnome beard – the future looks bleak for the return of the lip snake. Even David Beckham doesn’t dare touch it, and whilst Gary Neville has probably just about enough all round facial hair to form one decent ‘tash, it seems unlikely he’ll change his ways now he’s so close to reaching his life long goal of growing a semi-respectable beard. No, the moustache is dead, and it’ll take a brave man to bring it back. A hero is waiting to be made.
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Garish eveningwear – Yes Becks has stepped out in some cringe worthy rubbish over the years, but it’s also been just the right side of annoyingly trendy – even the skirt! Where are the modern day Spice Boys? Paul Ince and his Chess board suits? and Kevin Keagan’s open shirted medallion man look? The England suits for South Africa are made by Marks and Spencer. Marks and Spencer for Christ’s sake!! You couldn’t get more conservatively dull if you tried. They should all be made to wear something by Vivienne Westwood if it were up to me. Bring back the garish. Footballers shouldn’t be trendy, they should be lost in a bubble of their own mad eccentricity. Rio Ferdinand remains the key I feel. Come on Rio, we know you can do it!
Chilean midfielder Alexis Sanchez is being strongly linked with a move to the Premier League, and long time admirers Manchester United are said to be heading the queue.
The 21 year old Udinese winger, who has a skilful and eye-catching style of play, has been tracked for some time by Sir Alex Ferguson and can play anywhere across the midfield or in a more advanced position.
Sanchez’s representative, Fabrizio Larini, believes that his player is well equipped to deal with the style of football in England: “The Premier League would be a good destination for Alexis as he is young, strong and very fast, something very important for being able to have success in that league.”
“Manchester United has been following the performances of Alexis since some time ago and it could be a possibility in the future.”
Despite his age, Sanchez has over 150 club appearances to his name during his career in South America and Europe and since making his international debut in 2006 against New Zealand, Sanchez has hit an exemplary 12 goals in 33 games.
Described as ‘the next Cristiano Ronaldo’, Sanchez was named among the ’50 Most Exciting Teenagers in the World Game’ in 2007 by World Football magazine.
Manchester United already have a wealth of tricky wingers in Antonio Valencia, Nani and Anderson, so the arrival of Sanchez could signal the departure of one of the aforementioned players.
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Watch the video below to see some Alexis Sanchez highlights…