The Arsenal Legends Return

It’s 2 o’clock on a Saturday afternoon in September. Middle aged men are playing a game of football. So what?

Well try asking this to nearly 60,000 gooners who attended the charity match at the Emirates on Saturday to watch the legends of years gone by.

A charity event organised by the Arsenal foundation saw Arsenal players of yesteryear take on the AC Milan equivalent.

Depsite the disappointing news that neither Bergkamp nor Henry would be able to attend, the fans were treated to a feast of legends of the game.

Robert Pires, Freddie Ljunberg and David Seaman to name a few took to the field for the Arsenal legends teams.

For Milan glorie players like Dida, Christian Vieri and one of the greatest right backs to have played the game in Cafu. Oh and some guy called Paolo Maldini attended as well.

The match itself had the feeling of a charity event, slow pace and at times a little laboured. Of course this was perfectly understandable considering many had been retired for over a decade.

But the sense of fun and enjoyment was captured perfectly throughout.

Kanu’s reluctance to sit on the bench had thankfully caught the attention of eagle eye Howard Webb and noted that Arsenal were a man up on the permitted 11.

Nigel Winterburn and Paolo Di Canio provided the best comedic moment though recreating Di Canio’s infamous shove on referee Paul Alcock back in 1998.

Despite all of the antics there was the serious business of a football match amidst all this. Kanu, when finally subbed onto the pitch grabbed himself a hat trick as Arsenal ran out 4-2 victors.

Kanu began the scoring with this looping header

 

And then completed his hat trick with this simply taken penalty

Arsenal’s 4th and final goal was perhaps the best. Following Kanu’s hat trick, Robert Pires found himself on the end of a wonderful Ljunberg cross. His simple finish was met with huge roars from the crowd who were once so familiar with that deadly combination.

Still a crowd favourite, Pires’ celebration showed it meant just as much to him as it did the fans. There may have been no Henry or Bergkamp, but with 4 goals and plenty of fun, gooners left the ground in high spirits.

The players too seemed delighted with the day’s work.

“To come back and get a reception like that was awesome. So thank you so much” David Seaman

Seaman himself had little to do for the 45 minutes he played, making an excellent instinctive save only to see the rebound headed in by Vieri.

Pantomine Villain Jens Lehman, yes remember him, fared little better in the 2nd half. Despite his best efforts to leap to his right and Save Veiri’s penalty he was unable to stop the same man following up with the rebound.

Lehmann’s save proved in vain

Not that the crowd cared much. This was a day to savour the past. One that for Arsenal was as rich as has ever been.

It’s remarkable to think many of the legends were title winners with Wenger over 10 years ago now. Overmars,  Petit and Winterburn were all integral parts of Wenger’s first double in 1998 whilst Seaman, Keown, Parlour and Kanu were both lucky enough to complete the same feet 4 years later.

Even Kolo Toure, often a victim of heavy criticsm and cycnical remarks from fans, was cheered throughout. In his prime, Toure was a very competent centre back who was a member of the famous invicible team of 2004.

The game was never going to be a great spectacle. The laboured pace with which it was played at was all too apparent after 5 minutes. Anyone who dared to push their retired body too far was punished. Marc Overmars in particular pulling up with a hamstring strain and being forced to leave the field for good.

But the chance to see legends of the game back on the field once again was worth the admission money alone. Arsenal fans will forever be fond of these players. Perhaps more so than ever before after 10+ frustrating years of sparse success.

If anything it highlighted how the fans have lost the love for the players at the club. A lack of success and small history at the still relatively new Emirates stadium means that Arsenal’s identity has become blurred. This is demonstrated with the mixed feelings and views amongst the club’s fans about Wenger and how the club is run.

It may be fickle but legendary status is only achieved in the game with success. As I left the ground at the full time whistle I proposed this scenario to a fellow fan.

If we were to fast forward 10 years from now, who would make the Arsenal legends team?

Its a question we simply couldn’t answer….

Transfer Window Verdict

Yet another summer transfer window has passed by. As usual there were records broken including overall spending from Premier League teams reaching the giddy heights of the £1bn mark. The transfer record for an individual player was broken once again with Paul Pogba’s fee expected to rise beyond the 3 figure mark after add ons.

With the window finally closing yesterday it is still too early to see all of the new players in action for their respective teams. We will have to wait until after the international break to see them unveiled by their new clubs.

Here is a lowdown on the biggest talking points from what we have seen so far.

Winners

Manchester United – Hardly a surprise what with smashing the world record for Paul Pogba but Mourinho has strengthened the spine of the team and already made them title challengers. With Bailly slotting into the Premier League’s physical style like it was a pair of slippers, United look as solid as ever at the back. A certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a free signing of course, has also looked like a great deal with 3 goals in 3 games. Whisper it quietly but they just might be favourites if the new players can stay fit.

Middlesborough – 12 new players have come to the North East and joined Boro. With the deamnds of the Premier League expected to stretch squads to the limit, a bigger squad was crucial for the teesiders. Of course quantity does not mean quality but with the signings of Valdes and Negredo amongst the new players, their is plenty of proven quality not to mention experience. Their steady start to the season suggests they look well equipped to survive the relegation battle.

Liverpool – They finally got rid of Ballotelli – enough said.

Losers

West Brom – With 5 signings through the summer it would seem strange to call it a disappointment for the Midlands outfit. Yet with discontent growing amongst supporters at Tony Pulis’ style, Albion proved just as uninspiring off the pitch. Nacer Chadli proved to be the biggest signing for them and a last ditch move for Wales hero Hal-Robson Kanu will have done little to cheer the fans come 11pm on deadline day. Pulis’ record at staying in the top flight is not to be questioned but with fans demanding more than just survival every year, he has done little to convince them that he shares the same ambition.

Tottenham – Snatching Moussa Sissoko from Everton proved a real coup for Spur’s and their fans. Despite a private jet waiting to take him to Merseyside, Sissoko had other ideas and the lure of Champions League football proved too much. Although some of the signings look like decent additions to the team, Spurs fans will worry what lies ahead. With the added pressure of Champions League football, Tottenham’s squad will be stretched to the max. So far they look short of goals up front and last seasons wonder-boys, Kane and Dele, look like they are still suffering a Euro hangover. The season is still early but with the vision that Levy has for Tottenham the summer transfer window proved a little disappointing for a team that will be looking to fill Wembley for its Champions League home matches this season.

Callum Chambers – slightly under the radar this one but poor old Chambers’ career is at an all time low. All due respect to Middlesborough, Chambers signed from Southampton as a teenage superstar with big things expected under Wenger’s tutelage. But after a tough few years, Chambers saw himself fall even behind 20 year old Rob Holding, a summer signing from Bolton, and was left with no choice but to leave on loan to Boro and seek to rediscover his form and ability.

Surprises

Hart to Torino – Rewind 3 months Joe Hart was both Manchester City and England’s number 1. After a difficult Euro’s Hart, like many international players, was lamented for his sloppiness during the tournament. Calls for new blood got louder with the removal of Roy Hodgson. Little did Hart know however that he was looking over the wrong shoulder and his City career was on the rails. With Cabellero chosen ahead of him and the signing of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, Hart was left with no choice but to move on. It seemed there were plenty of options; Everton and Liverpool seemed likely destinations…. but no. Seria A side Torino signed him on a year long loan. Make of that what you will but I cant see Big Sam making many trips over to Turin through the season. Time will only tell whether Joe seriously believes he can regain his stature in Italy or whether he just fancied a chance to lap up life near the alps.

Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino will be Joe Hart’s new home

 

Wilshere to AFC Bournemouth– Bournemouth fans would have scoffed at the thought of signing Wilshere at the start of the week, let alone at the beginning of the transfer window. Bizarrely though he has joined the Cherries on loan in a move which could prove beneficial to both. A horrid injury record has pushed Wilshere to the back of the queue at Arsenal. If (its a big if) he can stay fit then it will surely only be a matter of time until he can find his form and show fans just how much talent he possesses. This will not only help resurrect his Arsenal/ England career but also help Bournemouth maintain their Premier League status.

David Luiz to Chelsea – Well well well this was perhaps the biggest shock. The man Gary Neville notoriously claimed to play like he was controlled by a ten year old playing on the PlayStation has returned to Stamford Bridge. Its fair to say Chelsea fans aren’t sure if this is good or bad. A cult hero after his first spell at the Bridge, his stats say he has improved since then with PSG where of course he has won numerous domestic trophies. Whether the more competitive Premier League will demonstrate these improved stats are no fluke remains to be seen.

Same old story…..

Arsenal – Pity the gunner’s fans who have gone through yet another torturous transfer window where Wenger has tried to avoid signing players like Jedi resist the ‘Dark Side’. With the early arrival of Xhaka things started promising for Arsenal. Repeated speculation and links to players went by until Wenger finally plucked out Perez and Mustafi. Whilst steady performers, these two are unlikely to be the winning ingredient to take the gunners to the title. Still they should help them secure that beloved fourth spot.

Berahino – Don’t really know if Albion fans were relieved about this or not. Seems like Berahino has spent more time looking for a new club than playing on the pitch for Albion. Bizarrely another window has gone by and he remains in the midlands. Despite his potential, he could still spend a lot of the time on the bench but hey at least he showed real commitment and didn’t threaten to strike this time….

 

Will Champions League Changes Suppress Calls for a Breakaway Super League?

 

Despite an intruiging Champions League draw on Thursday setting up some mouthwatering contests in the group stages, much focus has been on the new changes made by UEFA.

The current system that saw the 4th placed teams from England, Spain and Germany  have to progress through the 3rd qualifying round before entering the draw for the group stages has now been abolished. This now sees all top 4 placed teams automatically qualify instead.

You can read more on the changes and its impact with this informative article by the Telegraph.

These changes have mainly happened due to the growing discontent amongst big European clubs who have failed to qualify for the Champions League. Both Milan giants, AC and Inter, will not be participating this year. Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are also missing from an English perspective.

With limited places available in Europes elite competition it is becoming harder to qualify every year. The latest TV deal for the Premier league has already seen record spending meaning things will be more competitive than ever.

In fact according to sport financial experts Forbes, Champions league revenue or rather lack of is the only blemish on some English teams commercial revenue.

With Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all part of the top 10 richest clubs list, there has been great discontent that they are unable to regularly participate in the Champions League. This is coupled with frustration from Europe’s other leading big clubs at the enviable money from the Premier League.

So whilst the changes will guarantee teams qualify for the competition providing they finish within the top 4 of their domestic league, UEFA’s decision actually offers little change.

With the co-efficient ranking system currently suggesting that England’s 4 places are under threat, big clubs will feel that they still face a struggle to compete in the competition every season.

This of course highlights the magnificent achievements of Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. He has helped the club qualify for Europe’s elite competition 19 successive seasons in a row. This is even more significant considering they have had to pay off debts of £300 million for the building of their Emirates Stadium.

Whether this has been good enough for Arsenal who have failed to win the Premier League since the ‘invincibles’ season of 2003/2004 has split opinion amongst the fans.

But whilst their consistency has helped them prosper financially from Champions League qualification, other clubs with inconsistent records remain annoyed they can’t compete in the competition due to the limited places on offer.

There are currently 6 English teams in the top 10 rich list. With Tottenham and Liverpool increasing stadium capacities (the latter is a redevelopment whilst Tottenham’s is an entirely new stadium) Champions League football is becoming essential for both clubs.

Forbes Richest Clubs May 2016

1. Real Madrid – £2.52bn

2. Barcelona – £2.46bn

3. Man United – £2.3bn

4.Bayern Munich – £1.85bn

5. Arsenal – £1.4bn

6. Man City – £1.33bn

7. Chelsea – £1.15bn

8. Liverpool – £1.07bn

9. Juventus – £900m

10. Tottenham – £704m

However with their inconsistent form over the last few seasons, a top 4 finish is much more difficult when there are 6 teams competing for it.

So these new changes have actually had little impact from an English perspective. What about elsewhere in Europe?

Well for the Italian league and Spanish league it is a boost as some teams have been knocked out of the 3rd qualifying round this season. The biggest casualty being Roma who were defeated by Porto. Automatic qualification now means that they avoid this potential slip up and will reap the rewards of the Champions League group stages.

However for the big clubs, particularly in Spain with Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the changes have little benefit. Their finishing outside the top 3 is rarely in doubt, as is the same with Juventus, PSG and Bayern Munich.

TV deals in these countries whilst fruitful, have yet reached the barmy heights of England’s Premier League.

The Spanish FA’s decision to remove individual TV right deals and install a similar system to England’s means that although the top 2 will not lose money, they will no longer enjoy a vast gap between the other 18 teams in La Liga.

Although lucrative, the Champions league has lost its intruige and struggles to draw the crowds and attention until the latter stages when the big teams finally face off against one another. The new seeding system has helped somewhat, with intruiging ties in the group stages this season – most notably Pep Guardiola’s Man City being drawn with his old club Barcelona.

However these changes to the Champions league seem minor compared to the threat of a breakaway super league. And more importantly its potential.

With big teams playing one another on a regular basis their would doubtless be heightened interest, not to mention increased revenue. It would also offer European teams the chance to enjoy the riches Premier League teams enjoys particularly the TV deals with BskyB (AKA Sky).

The chances of such a league being formed are slim and in reality it is still some way off. In some ways it is a mouth watering prospect seeing the world’s top players play against one another on a weekly basis.

The damage it would do to the overall game though would be insurmountable. The big money would be sucked out of all of the domestic leagues and football clubs leaving them in a vulnerable position. In many ways then, its best not to think too much on what a Super League would mean.

UEFA’s tweaks to its premier competition, if anything, show that they fear this potential idea. Their top clubs rebelling and abandoning them would surely cripple them as well. The latest changes made by UEFA show they are willing to be flexible and recognise the seriousness of a breakaway league.

Whether their changes are significant enough though remains to be seen. Personally I see them having little effect, particularly amongst the big boys. Fundamentally with 6 teams in England having to fit into four places every year, some teams will continue to miss out on a Champions League spot.

This coupled with envious European clubs at the Premier Leagues ever increasing riches means that talks amongst the top teams will continue to bring up the question of a breakaway super league.

Unless UEFA can find a way to accommodate all of them into the Champions League each year and offer financial benefits similar to what the Premier League can provide, then these rumours and discussions of a super league will grow ever louder.

Manchester Splashes Out Ahead of New Season

4 days until the new season! Can you believe it? Where has time gone.

With the Olympics now in full swing and the cricket season entering its final and most interesting stages (some of you will ask does this even exist?) viewers have barely had time to take stock before the Premier League kicks off on Saturday lunchtime with newly promoted (don’t forget manager-less) Hull City hosting champions Leicester City.

Despite the rest of the country bracing itself for financial crises after financial crises, football has continued to defy the panic and break records with the chequebook.

Hardly the biggest shock of all time but Paul Pogba has finally re-signed for Manchester United for £89 million with reports suggesting that add ons could see this figure rise high enough to break into the 3 digit mark. This world record fee has stunned many enough to mask the fact that this might possibly be the worst business deal in history. Let us not forget the Frenchman left for Juventus in the summer of 2012 for free.

If he can help take United to Premier League glory the club will say the money is justified. I can’t help but be sceptical in the mean time that the figure exceeds that paid for Ronaldo or Bale. Despite an abundance of tricks and potential, Pogba is by no means the finished article which begs the question how can a player yet to fulfil his talents be more expensive than one of the greatest players and goalscorers ever to have played the game? Like him or loath him, Ronaldo has demonstrated season after season that he should go down as a great of the game.

Across the city of Manchester news is currently breaking that John Stones will join Guardiola’s revolution for a reported £47.5m. Another never ending transfer story it seems, Stones has been high on Guardiola’s shopping list and with the young English defender tied down, he will feel that he has helped fill the missing piece of the jigsaw.

Whilst not quite in the same category of Pogba’s fee, this will now make Stones not only the most expensive English defender but the most expensive defender ever. Again seen as a man with a bright future, you cant help but wonder how much an established defender would cost these days….

Stones was heavily linked with Chelsea last summer although Everton were able to resist the lure of a big pay-out. This year it seems a change of manager has meant a change of thinking. Everton fans will probably be mixed about the news but from memory Stones hardly had the best season last year with injuries and poor form making it difficult to tie down a regular place in the starting 11. The pressure will now be on from the start to justify this fee and Stones will know only too well that he cannot afford another indifferent season.

This takes City’s spending to roughly £160 million for the summer whilst United’s stands at an estimated £145 million making them top of the list for money spent this summer. Whilst this exceeds the spending of other clubs by some way, the majority of hardly shied away from big money.

West Ham recently broke their record transfer fee for Swansea’s Andre Ayew (£20 mil) which may have disappointed some fans after being linked with the likes of Carlos Bacca and Alexandre Lacazette. The feel good factor will remain however with the new London Stadium officially opened before Sunday’s 3-2 friendly defeat to Juventus.

Plenty of time still remains between now and 31st August for more deals to go through.

Arsenal fans will be keen for Wenger to sign a striker and will be even more desperate for a centre back after the worrying injury suffered by Gabriel in their last pre season game against City. Chelsea fans will also want to see a few more new editions to ensure they have a squad strong enough for a title challenge.

At the other end of the table Hull fans would argue they are in more need than anyone to buy a player. The figure for new arrival’s at Humberside stands at a grand total of zero as they struggle to fill the vacant manger’s position. Fellow promotion newbies Middlesbrough will feel comfortable with their work so far and it will be interesting to see how Alvaro Negredo and Victor Valdes fair up in the North East.

On the South Coast, £15 million Jordan Ibe will look to resurrect his career with Bournemouth with Eddie Howe’s men looking to continue the fairy-tale of last year. Their achievements last season should really have received more attention than they did, as indeed should Watford’s. For Southampton life begins with the unknown quantity Claude Puel taking charge. Many fans will wonder whether he has the calibre to continue Koeman’s work but many though the same of Pochettino when he first arrived and look how he is going now.

Whilst I would never wish to predict what may happen, apart from Arsenal finishing 4th of course, it will be interesting to see if the status quo returns this year with the big boys dominating or will last season’s madness continue. And its last season where I want to end on.

In the context of all this money and inflating transfer fees thanks to the new £ 7 billion TV deal beginning, I think we should remember one thing about Leicester’s fairy-tale. Based on hard work, team spirit and a desire to win, they stunned the world with an incredible run to the title. And how much did this really cost?

Well, as they say, a picture tells a thousand words …..

 

 

Time to Come of Age for Arsenal’s England Trio?

Will this be Oxlade Chamberlain’s breakthrough season?

Earlier this week Arsene Wenger told the press that this was a big season for Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. Goalscorer in the recent 3-1 pre season win, Chamberlain is showing encouraging signs that this could finally be his break through year.

It was interesting how Wenger singled out Chamberlain. The England international joined the club from Southampton back in 2011, just over a year since he had made his professional debut with the South Coast club aged 16.

Whilst showing glimpses of his potential, Chamberlain has been plagued by injuries and has struggled to compete for the limited places on offer at Arsenal. Now aged 22, Wenger clearly feels it is time for him to demonstrate why Arsenal have shown so much faith in him.

“He has it all. That’s why I would like him to get to the level he can go to.” Arsene Wenger on Alex Oxlade Chamberlain

But whilst Wenger has upped the pressure on Chamberlain to preform on a more consistent basis, it would be wrong to ignore the other English players that have flattered to deceive in their time at Arsenal.

Rumours circulating that Jack Wilshere had picked up a knock were indeed true and now means he will miss Arsenal’s final two games of pre season including the final game against Manchester City on Sunday. Although it would be harsh to say Wilshere has yet to show his true potential due to his terrible injury record, it has become a recurring story for Arsenal fans hearing that Wilshere is injured again.

Football fans’ jovial attitude means they can brush of these injuries off as just ‘typical Wilshere’ but as the years roll by, there will be growing concerns that the excitement and promise may never materialise. Wilshere is different to many of the Arsenal players in the sense that he was brought directly through the academy at an early age. Making his debut at 16 there was real hope that he could become a true home grown legend at the club.

Sadly his legacy so far has been centred around time spent with the physio and unwanted press stories regarding his private life. If it proves to be another season of injury misery for Wilshere, he may find that the fans love for him starts to wain.

Whilst Wenger has shown nothing but loyalty to players with abysmal injury records (messrs Diaby and Rosicky spring to mind) it will be hard for him to justify the rumours surrounding Wilshere’s new deal. Currently earning £90,000 a week and with two years left, talk has been circulating that Wenger is keen to tie Wilshere down with an extension and presumably increase his wages in the process. It would be hard to convince anyone this was the right thing to do if the player only participates in a handful of games a season.

But it isn’t just Wilshere that needs to prove his worth. Theo Walcott has recently backtracked on his desire to play as an out and out forward; now asking to revert back to his old position on the wing.

Again another player with a poor injury record, Walcott finally enjoyed a relatively injury free season last year. Sadly this was the only consistency for him as he struggled to secure  a regular starting roll. His poor display at Old Trafford stands out – being substituted after an hour despite facing a makeshift back four and a Manchester United team seemingly in crisis.

Will a return to the wing bring Walcott more luck?

A scapegoat that day, Walcott never recovered and paid the price for his dip in form being left out of Roy Hodgson’s Euro squad. Many including myself believed he would move on this summer however with reports suggesting he will be playing as a winger once again, it is likely he will stay and fight for his place once again.

Walcott appears better suited to the wide role, with his pace offering Arsenal another element to their game which can at times become predictable. With Wenger sticking to the 4-2-3-1 system, it relies on a solitary striker not only with pace but the physical ability to hold up the ball and find themselves on the end of crosses. How fans would love to put Walcott’s best attributes with Giroud’s.

However Walcott will hope he can return to the position where he has shown his best glimpses. The right wing was of course the position he occupied on his most famous night in 2008 where he scored a hat trick in England’s world cup qualifier in Croatia. The fact that this 8 years ago highlights the point that Walcott’s time really is becoming now or never.

Click here to watch Walcott’s stunning hat trick that night.

Walcott’s decision to change position will cause Alex Oxlade Chamberlain a headache. Now that a similar player will be vying for the same spot makes things harder but nothing is healthier for a team than competition for places.

Whether these three men can indeed fulfil their potential remains to be seen but surely their time is now. With Arsenal seemingly making the same mistakes season after season and Wenger’s stubborn transfer policy following the usual trend so far this summer, the need for these three to finally breakthrough as established first team players hasn’t been greater.

First priority for all three will be to stay fit and healthy but they must now match that consistency in fitness with performances on the pitch. They may have once been the future for the club, but now is the present and time for them show Wenger, the fans and the watching world just what they can do. Otherwise they run the risk of joining the infamous list of football’s nearly men.

 

England Turn to Allardyce

It has been just under a month since England’s shambolic defeat to Iceland and the subsequent resignation of boss Roy Hodgson. With a young squad that had promised so much and caused great excitement across the country, it proved to be another familiar feeling of disappointment for many England fans.

Whether you regarded Hodgson’s squad as talented or perhaps overrated will have mattered little after defeat to the Icelandics. Indeed, regardless of whether you think any of England’s previous tournament squads have been good enough to properly challenge is irrelevant when it comes to deciding Hodgson’s reign. Sadly many will conclude that it was an out right failure.

Penalty heartache in the quarter finals of Euro 2012 was as good as it got for Hodgson and from memory the performance that night against Italy was as poor as what was to follow in Brazil two years later. Defeat to lowly Iceland in the recent European Championships provided the third and final proverbial nail in Roy Hodgson’s England coffin.

And so the next man has been lined up and picked to take on arguably the most difficult job in football. Despite this though the new man still claims to have “dreamt about this job”.

The shortlist was hardly eye watering, with rumours about an offer being put forward to Arsene Wenger as interesting as it got. This isn’t to belittle the candidates who were in contention for the job. Both Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce have had wonderful managerial careers and often go under the radar when keeping teams in the Premier League with little resources.

But the mere fact that there was little competition or breadth of choices available shows that the task ahead to rebuild the English national side is far greater than many of us can imagine.

In the end it was Sunderland’s latest version of football’s answer to Houdini, manager Sam Allardyce, a man renowned for his no nonsense style football and the ability to get the most out of a team.

Whether or not Allardyce is ready for the job remains to be seen but there is a belief that his appointment will see England move away from dependence on the ‘talented’ regulars and instead pick players in form. Hardly a revolutionary idea but serious questions have been asked regarding the selection of Wilshere and Henderson for the Euros. We can now hope that players can no longer be picked on ability alone.

Indeed there is a sense that England might be able to finally form an identity under Allardyce. Playing 5 strikers, whilst bold, was never really the solution to difficulties in France. It appeared against Slovakia, Iceland and even Wales that England had forgotten the midfield entirely with Kane, Rooney, Sturridge, Rashford and Vardy all appearing on the pitch together at numerous points.

This was my biggest gripe with England’s poor showing in France. It was not so much the boldness to play 5 strikers at one time but the inability to use them tactically and astutely. It made the team disjointed, demonstrated by the lack of invention. It was almost like the plan was to put them all on and hope for the best rather than working out plan B.

The worry with Allardyce though is that he will produce an England side that is a similar blueprint to his normal sides – physically competitive, defensively sound and relying on a long ball/ set piece approach going forward. This approach has proved successful for him in relegation battles but whether this will please supporters who expect more than just competing remains to be seen.

Some might say that this approach is what cost Allardyce his job at West Ham who have shown that they have greater ambition than playing like relegation fighters.

But one of Allardyce’s priorities (there are many) will be to establish a way of playing that fundamentally gets England to succeed and progress further in major competitions. It’s all very well topping your qualifying group with a 100% record but the big tournaments have found England wanting.

“My job is to get the players in each position and as a team to win in whatever way needs to be done in any particular game.”

Fans will surely excuse an Allardyce style of playing if it means greater spirit and fight in big games. Its fair to say that England and Hodgson were overawed by Iceland taking the lead in the infamous last 16 match. The magnitude of what defeat would mean left the players confused and shocked, something they never really seemed to snap out of.

One would like to think that this wouldn’t happen under Allardyce’s management and if it did, he would find the passion and words (preferably strong ones) during half time to revitalise the players.

The new man has promised to make subtle changes and man-manage the players. He spoke about the need for immediate impact from players on the international scene, hinting that only players with form will be picked in the future. Lets hope this means greater chances for players like Noble and even Drnkwater who was somehow overlooked despite being integral to Leicester’s stunning charge to the Premier League title.

Allardyce’s first assignment will be to right the wrong’s against Slovakia and show that England possess the capability to breakdown their stubborn defence in September’s qualifier. He will know all to well that the pressure is already greater than anything he will have experienced.

Its hard to know how much of his comments were tongue in cheek when he said “I am exceptionally lucky. Or am I exceptionally good?”. But there can be no doubt that his following comment summed it up perfectly – “I suppose that you’ll (the media and fans) decide”. Try as he may to remain calm and grounded, the true factor about his reign will be his record and ultimately, whether he can make this England team great again.

 

 

 

Euro 2016 Review: The Rise of the Underdog

 

“This has been a European Championship with no football innovation and where fear has dictated”

This was the verdict from Sky Sports pundit Guillem Balague on a tournament that had threatened to excite us, perhaps fell flat but still gave us unexpected twists along the way.

It was the first European tournament with 24 teams, an increase of 8 teams from the previous editions. There were many firsts – Albania’s first appearance in a major tournament along with England’s conqueror’s Iceland. Portugal won their first major international trophy and Wales defied the odds to go the furthest in a tournament than they have ever gone before.

Yet despite all of these wonderful firsts, there has been a sense that this was not the spectacle that we know the European Championships can be. The contrast in styles between previous winners Spain and new champions Portugal could not be greater and would resonate with Balague’s claim that the football played lacked innovation.

Some big names within the game, such as Theirry Henry and Mats Hummels, said this was partly down to the precedent set in the group stages. With the chance to qualify in third place on offer to the teams, it meant that 3 draws or one victory would likely secure qualification to the knockout stage.

This enabled the lesser known nations, without superstars to play a more defensive style, meaning that strangely winning wasn’t everything. Indeed eventual winners Portugal profited from qualifying 3rd in their group, failing to win a single group match.

This according to the experts stunted quality and the big names from shining.

But whilst this doesn’t exactly bode well for the tournament’s future (UEFA have announced the new format will be retained for the 2020 tournament),  we should celebrate the achievements of the ‘smaller’ nations. The home nations profited hugely from the expanded tournament, with Northern Ireland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland all joining England not only in going to France, but commencing through to the knockout phase.

It was over 14 years ago that a home nation other than England were in a major competition. That of course was the Republic of Ireland who again made it through to the knockout stages, this time the World Cup.

The brave Icelandic story will forever remain part of this tournaments legacy. Although humiliating, few English fans would begrudge their deserved victory over a floundering England.

A Robson-Kanu inspired Wales’ win over Belgium may well have been one of the games of the tournament – although hardly a shock as they had taken 4 points of the Belgians during qualifying. The official goal of the tournament was from another unlikely source – Hungary and West Brom’s Zoltan Gera’s strike against Portugal in the 3-3 draw during the final group game.

Even the winning goal in the final came not from Ronaldo, Nani, Griezmann or France’s 100 million man Pogba, but instead the unlikely Eder. His unflattering record with Swansea (15 goalless appearances) would have led to raised eyebrows when he came on as a substitute in the 79th minute.

It was hardly the goal or goalscorer that many around Europe expected. In fact with Ronaldo’s eyes swelling up with tears (and a moth) after 25 minutes due to injury, few would have even thought Portugal could come close to winning. What unfolded may have been dull but even then the ending was extraordinary.

These are the moments that football cherishes more though. The unpredictable. The underdog winning when they really shouldn’t. These will always be supported and admired by the neutral. It is why we watch the great game with such excitement and anticipation in the hope that we see the unlikely happen.

Playing in stadiums like these is a chance in a lifetime for some.

 

Some of these players from teams like Albania, Iceland and even Northern Ireland will cherish the memories of this tournament. The opportunity to play in big stadiums and share the field with the best players in the game would have been an experience of a lifetime for some. To see them enjoy and sometimes flourish on the big stage reminds us that the game is all about having fun.

They may not have stylish players that we are used to seeing on our screens. They simply make the most and best of what they’ve got.

It has now become accepted around England and Europe that many club teams will go to the big teams and simply ‘park the bus’. We no longer scowl at this or ridicule it. Instead we admire the tenacity in defence, the bravery to stop the unstoppable big boys.

So lets not dismiss this tournament as poor and boring. In a year where Leicester virtually defied everything other than gravity to win the Premier league title, hope has grown in the game that David can still beat Goliath. This won’t happen in every game. Maybe not even every year. But in an age where money has shaped the game like the devil shapes hell, the prospect of the underdog toppling the superpower is still alive.

This longer tournament has given every team a chance to succeed in their own way and that’s why we should embrace this new format. After all, the onus is for once on the big boys to find a solution to their opposition and until they do we can keep on enjoying the unexpected twists and turns.

Mourinho’s Biggest Challenge

The new Premier League season promises to be the most exciting yet. The new TV deal has begun meaning clubs can splash out on just about anyone (perhaps not Messi or Ronaldo but you get the idea). Competition in the league seems to be at its highest for years and its fair to say we are still pinching ourselves that Leicester City will be looking to defend the Premier League trophy.

However the most intriguing aspect could well be the battle for superiority in Manchester. Old foes Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho face off against one another having spent two years trading blows in Spain with the small matter of El Clasico. At the time Guardiola’s Barcelona were dubbed the team of their generation. Real Madrid had turned to Jose Mourinho, at the time a Champions League winner with Inter Milan, in a bid to upstage the unstoppable Barcelona.

What ensued was two very acrimonious years for Mourinho which at least saw him claim the La Liga title. It was however a case of big club meets big personality.

He was seen as petulant and divisive by the media, freezing out popular galactico, Iker Casillas. Despite rumours suggesting he might return to Madrid earlier this year, Mourinho had learnt there was no returning to the Bernabeu.

In fact Jose’s personality has often been the cause of instant success and then the inevitable implosion that we have seen twice at Chelsea. Mourinho will be desperate to show the world he can be a long term manager.

Whilst the sacking of Van Gaal has split opinion amongst many United fans, the reality that Jose Mourinho is now their manager hit home with his first press conference on Tuesday.

He appeared both calm and measured; a pro at dealing with the adoring English media. He gave out soundbites and headlines for the watching journalists to feast on. The sense though has been this is a wiser Mourinho. One that may have learnt from mistakes of the past.

This is not a dream job…. this is a job that everyone wants and I have it.

There was little emotion from the self-proclaimed ‘Special One’. Gone was his smile and sense of joy we had seen from his first press conference since returning to Chelsea where he claimed to be the ‘Happy One’. Instead, a steely determination was present from a man who saw his hopes for longevity as Chelsea manager collapse dramatically last year – only months after winning the title.

He defended his reputation when challenged on this very issue, pointing out that he had won the Premier League a little under two years ago compared to others who had not one it in 10 years. This suggested that this was not an entirely new Mourinho, his feud with Wenger, who he was surely eluding to, seems to still be simmering nicely.

Make no mistake though, Mourinho will be under pressure from the outset. Despite brushing off his calamitous last few months at Chelsea, he will be nervous to remove those memories as quickly as possible.

Whilst it would be presumptuous to find similarities with his time spent at Real Madrid, Mourinho already faces some scepticism from United fans with the departure of club legend Ryan Giggs. Giggs had been at the club for 29 years and was seen by some supporters as a future manager. He fitted the United mould perfectly – a product of the club rather than learning his trade elsewhere. Mourinho quickly distanced himself from the blame for Giggs’ exit but should it be a difficult start for United then he may find the issue reappear, and with much greater force.

Surely his biggest challenge though will be to re-establish Manchester United as both a Domestic and European superpower of the game.

Whilst United are soon expected to overtake Real Madrid as the richest football club in the world, the board will know that performances on the pitch must meet the requirements of such. Investment is clearly there, shown by the signings of Ibrahimovic, Bailly and Mkhitaryan. However the precedent has been set very clear with the removal of Van Gaal, who himself invested millions into rebuilding the team. The performances must match the size and investment of the club. Failure to do this is simply unnegotiable.

Mourinho has subtly hinted that Champions league football may be the main aim for this season. He stated he was frustrated that United were not participating in Europe’s elite competition and that by July 2017 “the club is where it has to be; the Champions League”.

However after that the pressure and expectation will inevitably grow, and this is where Mourinho’s true test will be. Whether he will have time to implement his style and mentality on the team is unknown. But maybe his biggest challenge will be the one he failed so poorly at Madrid.

Can he curb his personality to help a big club dominate football once again?

 

Diego Costa: ‘King of the Dark Arts’

Picture: Ben Sutherland

Magician, cheat, diver, world class – this rather paradoxical sentence sums up what has been an eventful few days in the Barclays Premier League. Surprisingly (or not), most of these words have been used to describe only one man, and in case you were too engrossed in the Rugby World cup to notice, the man in question is yet again Diego Costa.

Probably discussed about more often than the not, the much maligned Chelsea striker endured another interesting weekend where the topic of conversation was not his lack of goals but instead his style of play and gamesmanship.

His confrontation with Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny on the stroke of half time bizarrely ended up with Gabriel Paulista (I know, how did he get involved!) being sent off for a petulant kick at Costa. Watching at the time it seemed strange that Costa did not join Gabriel down the tunnel but as Match of the Day 2’s Martin Keown noted on Sunday, these dark arts employed by the Chelsea hit-man worked perfectly. An opposition player had been given their marching orders whilst he escaped with only a yellow.

Mourinho hardly helped clear up the matter in what quite frankly was an extraordinary press conference that preceded the game in which Chelsea went on to win 2-0. The majority of the time he spent wittering about badminton and of course the customary dig at his ‘good’ friend Arsene Wenger. Whilst we may at times dub Mourinho a genius, he certainly demonstrates eccentricities that make us wonder whether Nigel Pearson really was onto something when he ranted about Ostriches.

To the rest of us, it was clear to see that Costa had deliberately got Gabriel sent off. Although this is nothing new to the game, it did seem unjust considering Costa’s sins seemed far greater than anything Gabriel had committed.

Whilst it is easy to condemn Costa for his actions, it should be noted that Gabriel was nothing short of stupid for getting sent off. There had been previous between the two from their days in Spain and although Gabriel was admirably standing up for Koscielny, who had been grabbed in the face seconds before the clash, his naivety in reacting to Costa’s provocation more than likely cost his side the game.

Others have criticised Mike Dean for his part in the fracas. Chief of referees Dermot Gallagher told Sky Sports News that Dean should have done more to calm tempers down and was too quick to dismiss Gabriel for what were both cheap yellow cards at best. The referee’s job appears to be getting increasingly more difficult with all of this nonsense happening out of sight. Its fair to say it would be tough on Mike Dean to suggest he was culpable in this situation.

But as the fallout continues over the incident, the spotlight remains firmly on Costa. Perhaps more so now the FA have found him guilty of violent conduct which will now lead to a 3 match suspension. Although he may be a repeat offender, there is no doubt that Chelsea are a better side with Costa in it. Despite a lean start to the season, he plays a key role in most games, perhaps not in the way that many would like but his presence alone can be influential.

This provocative behaviour displayed by the Chelsea striker has become pivotal to the modern game and like him or not, Costa has mastered the skill well. As we wait to see if Chelsea will dispute the suspension given out, debate will continue whether this new element of gamesmanship has crossed the line. The idea of getting an opponent sent off certainly harms the spirit of the game and the play acting that we saw from the weekend was simply embarrassing at times.

So do we want this childish behaviour in the Premier League? No, of course not. However it is fast becoming something that we have to accept; something that is now part of our game and, say it quietly, important to partake in. Perhaps in time these dark arts will be put in the same bracket as time wasting – a well known side of gamesmanship which people now accept as inevitable.

But for now the petulance of it all should be condemned. It may well be a case of teams wising up to this new side of the game and simply being the ‘bigger man’ by ignoring it. Easier said than done in the heat of the moment, but Gabriel showed the highest price that can be paid for becoming involved with these games. Costa has of course got his comeuppance – with a reputation like his it can only shape referee’s perceptions of him in a negative light.

The FA have found him guilty of violent conduct and whilst this appears to be justice on the surface, it will do little to appease Wenger and his team who will feel it is too late. And to compound Wenger’s woes he will know that yet another defeat to Chelsea, albeit controversial, already threatens to derail whatever title aspirations Arsenal had.