Football Matters

Topple the Pyramid

2012-02-06T22:49:00.001Z

English football is famed for itsexcitement, pace and most recently: inconsistency, particularly in terms ofrefereeing decisions. It seems to be one rule for one player and a differentrule for another. Is this a feature of referees, though, or is it a dispute thattranscends the various hierarchies of modern-day football?

John Terry’s initial tenure of the Englandcaptaincy was terminated by manager Fabio Capello in February 2010, whoindicated that his decision was based purely on footballing reasons rather thanmoral ones. Terry has since become embroiled in a fiercely-contested race rowafter allegations he racially abused Queens Park Rangers’ Anton Ferdinand,which has resulted in the Football Association stripping him of the rank for asecond time. Capello has been particularly outspoken on the matter, saying thathe disagrees with the FA’s decision, “I thought it fair that John Terry keeps the captain'sarmband.” The fact remains, the FA has taken matters into its own hands.

John Terry has twice been stripped of his rank as England captain.

The law says that an individual accused ofcriminality is innocent until proven guilty. John Terry’s case, however, couldand probably should be treated differently. The potential disharmony caused bythe inclusion of Terry in the England squad would be far more damaging to theFA than the ignominy of admitting they made a mistake in getting involved. TheFA now finds itself in a position whereby any previous reputable stature theybuilt up has been reduced to shreds because of the inconsistency and irregularityintrinsic in the current set-up.

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez was foundguilty of similar counts and the FA had no qualms in immediately banning theUruguayan for an incredible 8 Premier League matches. As soon as the Englandcaptain is accused of the same, however, especially with the UEFA EuropeanChampionships just around the corner, the crime is suddenly very different. Onerule for one player and a different rule for another, all because of theimpacts any decisions may have on England’s chances at a major internationalcompetition. The mere fact that Capello has been so transparent in hisdisagreement with the FA goes to show how disjointed and changeable theauthorities can be. To those who complain about the lack of cohesion and commonsense in football, to those who feel that referees ought to be kept on atighter leash, you need look no further than the FA.

Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, has himself been accused of racism.

It wasn’t so long ago that former Vice Presidentof FIFA and President of CONCACAF Jack Warner accused FIFA President SeppBlatter of “megalomania, covert racism and discrimination.” Wannabe FIFAPresidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam was banned from football for life forclaims that he attempted to buy votes for the election. There are childishaccusations, outlandish claims and incidents of wildly inappropriate behaviourright at the top tier of football’s governing body. Inconsistency is rife inthe so-called ‘beautiful game’. Toaddress any of the problematic features of football means making wholesalechanges to the framework from the top down. For example, it seems trivial thatgoal-line technology, as a minimum, should be implemented to aid thedecision-making of match officials. The movement of this project seems to havedissipated thanks to the obvious inefficiency of the authorities.

Chelsea vs. Manchester United

2012-02-05T15:33:00.003Z

In recent seasons this fixture has been the pinnacle of English football: two of the most illustrious and successful clubs pitted against each other in a battle for the Barclays Premier League. The winner usually to gain position and bragging rights, the loser to fall by the wayside in the title race. Whatever the outcome, this football match has directly impacted on the direction of silverware come the end of the season. Chelsea have seemingly been ruled out of title contention this time around and for the first time in the modern era, Manchester United are not competing directly with Chelsea for the title. Under Andre Villas-Boas Chelsea have shown flashes of brilliance - most notably becoming the first team to beat frontrunners Manchester City this season - but no consistent brilliance. United however, have come to define consistency in football and are grinding out the results game after game. Football Matters previews the clash between two of Englands greatest clubs and examines whether or not it impacts as much on the title race compared to previous seasons.The last 4 times these teams have met have all resulted in a Manchester United victory. There's no denying that these teams have dominated English football in recent memory but Manchester United have invested in youth effectively and have implemented new strategies to cope with the ever-changing game. Sir Alex Ferguson's sides are renowned for transcending age groups to produce the same outstanding quality week-in and week-out. Roman Abramovich is only now rejuvenating his squad with a youthful outlook and this delay is beginning to take its toll. The assignment of a manager like AVB should have been commissioned years ago. Instead the players are ageing and with them their talents waning. Ultimately, Abramovich's obsession with instant gratification in terms of the UEFA Champions League may be beginning to claim the lifeblood of Chelsea's Premier League ambitions. We all know that building a football team takes time and it seems as though Villas-Boas has been given that mantle but this may mean a few years before Chelsea can realistically challenge at the top of the league once more.

Don't get me wrong however, this fixture will have vast implications on the Premier League both in terms of the title and Champions League qualification. Chelsea undeniably have the ability to trouble United, having troubled their great rivals City immensely. And United are acutely aware that any slip up against the Blues could cause irreparable damage in their hunt for a 20th title. Indeed, given the right circumstances, a positive result for Chelsea could reignite their ambitions on the division but this is a longshot now. Their top priority must be to avoid defeat at the hands of the most decorated and widely popular club in the world. Manchester City's upcoming fixtures are relatively kind in that, on previous evidence, they are ALL winnable. Not only this, they are 3 points clear at the top having played a game more. United now embark on a run of incredibly contestable fixtures, beginning with the tie at Stamford Bridge.

United are without key figures in Wayne Rooney, Ashley Young, Nemanja Vidic, Tom Cleverly and so on. There is never a 'good' time to play the Red Devils but this is as good as ever. Chelsea need to see this as an opportunity to reassert their position in the table. Liverpool, Arsenal and rightly so Newcastle are all challenging ferociously for a 4th-placed finish and if they continue to concede at an alarming rate, they may find themselves in the Europa League come next season. This is a big, big game, as ever. Tune into Sky Sports 1 at 4pm, as I will be, to witness another deeply revealing match at the highest level of English football.

Progression or Regression?

2012-01-14T19:49:00.000Z

When André Villas-Boas became manager of Chelsea in the Summer it seemed as though a fresh, new policy was being put into place. Having won the UEFA Europa League with F.C. Porto in his only season in charge, here was one of Europe's brightest managerial prospects leading an average team to a prestigious trophy. It was anticipated that he would have an equally impressive impact on the Barclay's Premier League, particularly with the wealth of talent at his disposal. Chelsea, though, find themselves skulking in fourth place - eight points behind third-placed Spurs. Football Matters examines the impact of André Villas-Boas on Chelsea Football Club.
At this same stage in the 2009/10 season, which Chelsea went onto win under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, the Blues were at the top of the table and with a game in hand over their closest rivals. It's a well-known fact that Roman Abramovich's primary goal is to win the Champions League but so far, has Villas-Boas proven to be the man to realise that dream?

Even at his tender age (thirty-four), his credentials are impressive. He is the youngest manager ever to win a European competition. In his only season with F.C. Porto, not only did he claim the Europa League, he also won the Primeira Liga, the Portuguese Supercup and the Portuguese Cup. Four titles in one season. I don't care whichever team you manage, that is extraordinary.

He has learnt from the best, too. When José Mourinho was manager of F.C. Porto himself, Villas-Boas was his assistant coach. When Mourinho left Porto for Chelsea and then Internazionale, his understudy followed. He spent years shadowing Mourinho and learning his trade; something Abramovich undoubtedly credited. Upon taking charge of Chelsea, Villas-Boas himself was touted as "The New Special One". When looking at this information, it is plain to see why Chelsea's billionaire owner put so much faith in him. Wouldn't you?

How then do we explain Chelsea's lack of form? Firstly I would argue that André Villas-Boas has yet to ascertain full power. If you look at the great managers of the modern day, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, José Mourinho (and even Ancelotti to a certain extent), they have created this aura about them; a noble sense of respect. You do not cross Sir Alex, otherwise you are out of the club. This is something you cannot just learn - it is something you have to experience and it takes time. Players should fear their manager. After all, no one stands above manager at a Football club. We could feasibly put this down to Villas-Boas' age. At thirty-four, he is controlling players in and around his own age group. Generally speaking you look up to those older than yourself. I would wager that Sir Alex Ferguson would not be the man he is today if he took control of Manchester United when he was thirty-four years old.

Rumours have emerged, in recent weeks, of rifts between some of the more senior players at the club, namely Frank Lampard. If some bloke about your age walks into the club for whom you have been proudly playing for a decade and decides not to start you - you'd get a cob on, wouldn't you? Senior figures command higher levels of respect and I think this is becoming increasingly evident, especially in light of recent reports. It seems ironic that whenever Villas-Boas brings Lampard on, he invariably scores the winner. This may be an enormously outlandish viewpoint, but is this Portuguese manager really old enough to control such a big club? You could understand Porto being a stepping-stone to greatness but has Villas-Boas done enough to achieve said greatness?

Let us assume that it is not through any fault of the manager but merely the changing nature of the Premier League. Two seasons ago we were talking about the possibility of Tottenham breaking into the top four. Last season transformed again as even third place was up for grabs. It used to be the top four; now it's the top six. Extrapolating this trend would lead us to believe that, in a few years time, maybe any one of the twenty teams in the league stands a decent enough chance of winning. Has Villas-Boas inherited a Chelsea squad that will find it more difficult to exert a monopoly compared to previous years? I think so, and this must be taken into consideration when questioning the man's ability.

Roman Abramovich has clearly employed a 'youth' policy and this started with AVB. It would not surprise me to see a host of shiny, new shoes on Stamford Bridge turf over the coming years - along with the departure of those more worn. Chelsea have an ageing squad and while there is still an abundance of ability in their ranks, the age is starting to have an effect. Drogba, Terry and Lampard aren't the players they used to be and for Chelsea fans that may be difficult to take. In order to compete with those around them AVB needs new blood. He needs to be given enough time to create his own squad at the Bridge. Then, and only then, will we see how good a manager he really is. Common decency would lead us to hope he remains in the job long enough to find out, but Football is fickle enough to disappoint.

Special One Mk.II? We'll see.

With or Without Roo

2011-10-14T14:42:00.001+01:00

Following the news that UEFA has suspended Wayne Rooney for the entire group stage of next summer's EURO 2012 championship, I'm thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of putting him on the plane. I guess this is not a 'PL' topic but...football matters, right?

Big names like Alan Shearer and Harry Redknapp (most likely the future England manager) have already urged Capello to include the temperamental frontman in his squad, but I can guarantee there will be a lot of people more keen on giving someone else a chance, rather than essentially wasting a squad-place for what will end up being half the tournament.

The FA will of course appeal against UEFA's decision but in all honesty it looks unlikely to succeed, given the nature of Rooney's 'challenge'. A clear message has been sent by European football's governing body: we will not tolerate any foul play, whatever the degree, and punishments will be dished out accordingly. It feels as though this sort of stern management has been a long time coming and I fully advocate it's use but it's just such a shame that, in this case, the punishment does not fit the crime. A two match suspension might have been pushing it, but obviously us English are kicking up a fuss because it's our star player we've lost. There is no denying that if Theo Walcott or Jack Wilshere received the same treatment then we wouldn't be so riled.

So do we take him? I vote yes, but I can see why people may think he should not be included. For instance, it gives more-than-deserving players like Danny Sturridge their chance to shine. If you were to introduce Rooney in the first game of the knockout phase (making a big assumption here, I know) it may lead to a lack of harmony in the squad.

I think Rooney's raw quality will be enough to earn a seat on the plane but there's no doubt Capello will be choosing between what HE considers are the lesser of two evils.

Resumption of hostilities.

2011-10-11T20:10:00.001+01:00

Players return to their club teams this weekend after what has been a frenetic international break. England secured their spot in next summer's Euro 2012 championship with a 2-2 draw away at Montenegro but will be without Wayne Rooney for at least the first match following his red card. This may be problematic, but may not given his tendency to lose form during the big competitions. That however, is another blog.

The Premier League returns with a flourish this weekend, kicking off with Liverpool vs. Manchester United at Anfield. In recent seasons, King Kenny's men have been very successful against United. You may remember Kuyt's comical hat-trick last year. I think the combined distance of each of his goals came to something like 7metres? Nonetheless, this particular encounter always serves to entertain. After the Merseyside derby, United vs. Liverpool has seen the second highest red card count of any PL fixture with 13 red cards shown. A perfect example of backing up a statement with statistical analysis! It's a bloody good way of kicking off the weekend.

Here's a list of the other games this weekend:

Saturday...

Man City - Aston Villa
Norwich - Sawnsea
QPR - Blackburn
Stoke - Fulham
Wigan - Bolton
Chelsea - Everton

Sunday...

West Brom - Wolves
Arsenal - Sunderland
Newcastle - Tottenham

Some meaty clashes there, no use denying it. Man City look to keep pace with United in a potentially very tricky tie against Villa, particularly with Gabby Agbonlahor's recent resurgence.

I must admit I'm starting to lose faith that I'm going to win this season's fantasy football - it happens around this time every year. I think they should introduce Champions League fantasy football. It's shorter, therefore you won't get bored as easily AND you get the bonus of buying some of the world's greatest players (non-PL) - your Ronaldos and Messis.

Friday at 4pm is my LSR sport timeslot for this week so please do tune in for some banterous sporting discussion.

Later x

So far, so good.

2011-09-26T20:15:00.000+01:00

This year's edition of the Barclay's Premier League has practically still got its cellophane packaging on, but already we can tell it's going to be a good'n. I guess everyone always says that - "OMG, this HAS to be the best season ever" - but is that because it genuinely is becoming more and more exciting? Yep, think so.

I've just returned from seeing Spurs win away at Wigan's DW Stadium and frankly, 2 years ago I wouldn't have considered going to that game, but here I am spending £25 on a day out to a town where the McDonald's across the road is the high-point. Football is on the up and there is no proof to the contrary.

So what does the table look like right now? It looks like Manchester. Come the end of the season, one half of that city is going to be much, much happier than the other. The Londoners may have hit a little blip, but I'm sure they will be up there eventually!

So the outstanding players so far? Rooney and Aguero and probably Silva. I really want to put a bet on who will finish top scorer this season but I really can't decide. Please place your own thoughts in the comments section, I will base my bet on the majority decision.

On a side note, I will be contributing to my University's radio sports show (4-5pm Thursdays and Fridays) from next week so be sure to look out for that. Here is the link to listen online! http://lsrfm.com/listen/

The blogz will be coming thick and fast from now on so be prepared to do some background reading.

In a bit guys. J.

Run-In Round-Up

2011-02-24T17:44:00.000Z

It happens every damn year doesn't it...but it never gets boring. We're beginning to speculate over the season-ending positions of each team. Who's gonna win it? Who's gonna get UEFA Champions League/Europa League? Who will get stuck mid-table? And perhaps most radically, in terms of the Premier League, which 3 teams will end the season as our doorstops?

Last season earnt the title of "The most exciting Premier League season ever". In my vastly inexperienced opinion, I think each season is getting better. Unpredictability is undoubtedly to blame here. Curse you, unpredictability! You sneaky little weasel. Some of the biggest teams have lost against the smallest.

Take Blackpool, for example. Ian Holloway's stars had amassed 25 points at the turn of the year and sat in an extremely impressive 8th place - one off European qualification. Their performances were just as luminous, if not more so, as their home kit. Since then, however, the 'Tangerine Dream' has curtailed somewhat and the Seasiders remain only 2 points above the drop-zone...which brings me onto my next topic...how neat.

I made that myself...I hate Photoshop.

The 3 teams currently occupying a 'drop spot' are...

18. Wigan
19. West Ham
20. Wolves

Worrying. I Wonder Why these teams are Wasting their chances. What's going on? I'm making a terrible joke...that's What's going on. Certainly not the season for the W's so far, then!

Having said that though, there are only 6 points separating the relegation places and 10th place. Nobody is out of the woods just yet...

I predict that Blackpool, Wigan & Wolves will be the teams to lose the relegation dogfight...though I'm not sure in which order. We'll see how that one pans out. There are still some momentous bottom-of-the-table scraps to come.

I don't hate Photoshop so much.

How the Europa League places stand at the moment...

5. Chelsea

6. Liverpool

7. Sunderland

There are fewer jokes I can make here...so I'm going to analyse professionally.

Chelsea have recently acquired the services of Fernando Torres for a few million quid...50 to be exact...and David Luiz, the 22-year old Brazilian central defender. Chelsea's owner, Mr. Abramovich, has made a real statement of intent with these 2 signings. Not only is Torres one of the most prolific strikers in the world, he might very well be the best...but I add the caveat - when he is on his game. If Chelsea manage to get the best out of Torres, the Blues will be on course for title winning seasons once more...doubtless.

The gap between Chelsea and Liverpool is too great and I think the best Kenny Dalglish can hope for is a Europa league spot.

1. Manchester United

2. Arsenal

3. Manchester City

4. Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs are sitting fourth and had the chance on Tuesday night to move 3rd with a victory over Blackpool. In stunning Spurs fashion, they slumped to an embarassing 3-1 defeat - embarassing because we missed approximately 653 open goals - give or take. Thanks to that loss, Spurs have now given Chelsea the chance to move back into fourth (given they have a game in hand over Spurs).

General consensus tells me that Spurs have lots of average strikers, but no great ones. Contrast that with teams around them: City have Tevez and now Dzeko, United have Rooney, Arsenal have Van Persie, Chelsea have Torres and Drogba. Spurs have Defoe, Crouch and Pavlyuchenko - to me that just doesn't compute. I'm not sure Spurs will be able to hold onto that fourth spot, especially if Torres starts firing.

The defining picture of this years Barclay's Premier League?

I love Photoshop!!!

The title is Man Utd's to lose. "It's as simple as that" (in true Mike Summerbee fashion). If Arsenal keep nipping at the heels of United, there's a chance of a slip-up. It's worth mentioning that Arsene Wenger's -used-to-be young team' are now delivering the goods and have a genuine shout at winning this years championship. Man City, for me, are now too far adrift to steal the title.

Being a Spurs fan, it pains me to say this...this is my prediction nonetheless.

1. Manchester United

2. Arsenal

3. Manchester City

4. Chelsea

5. Tottenham Hotspur

6. Liverpool

7. Newcastle

Ouch.

Time Management

2011-01-25T16:57:00.001Z

Written by James Burford

It seems trivial but life can change from one minute to the next. Never has it been more apparent than in today’s Barclay’s Premier League. English football is famed for its being fast-paced, dynamic and unexpected and over the last few years, it appears as though these characteristics have found their way from the pitch into the boardroom.

10 years ago, overall club stability and faith in a manager was the name of the game but this current crop of Premier League managers seems to be hired and fired more frequently than players are signed and sold. I guess managerial sackings are not confined to the boundaries of a transfer window, though I wouldn’t put it past the powers that be to create one for managerial trade-offs, too. Sure, if they’re not doing their job properly then kick them out! But what if it’s got nothing to do with that? What if it’s because they’re not being given enough time?

They may be classic examples but Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, having been in the job for so long, both exude an air of stability and therein lies confidence and faith. Let us not forget, it took Ferguson 6 years at the helm of Manchester United to claim his first Premier League title. Perhaps, then, it has next-to-nothing to do with the appropriateness of the manager and everything to do with the managerial stability of the club.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Having tasted Premier League glory in the 1992-93 season, Ferguson has since gone on to become possibly the most decorated manager the game has ever seen, winning a whole host of titles including the Uefa Champions League (2 times), the FA Cup )5 times) and the Premier League (11 times). Of course he is very skilled in terms of man-management and getting the best out of his players, but I think his success is largely down to his being in the job for so long and in turn: his knowledge of the club, his knowledge of its players, his knowledge of its fan-base and so on.

Should a manager be judged on instantaneous success, though, ala Carlo Ancelotti? His first season in charge of Chelsea was a double title-winning one, claiming both the FA Cup and the Premier League. After an impressive start to this, the 2010-2011 season, he has seen his side slump dramatically in form. As I write this, Chelsea has just thumped Bolton by 4 goals to nil at the Reebok Stadium, but let’s ignore that. Prior to this pesky little Bolton match, the Londoners had only taken 10 points from their last 10 Premier League games; a poor return for a title-winning team, especially when you consider that 20 points have been missed out on. Should Ancelotti retain his command of Chelsea long-term, I daresay he’d be far more prepared to deal with a slump in form than he was this time over.

In a season that has so far seen us lose 3 talented English managers in Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and Chris Hughton, you have to wonder: were they in charge long enough to inspire confidence?

Wolves vs. Liverpool - Match Report

2011-01-22T15:19:00.000Z

Liverpool dispatch poor Wolves

Written by James Burford

Team mates celebrate Raul Meireles' screaming volley.

Kenny Dalglish earned his first win since regaining control of Liverpool with a 3-0 win against Wolves at Molineux. Fernando Torres tapped in from a Meireles pass, Meireles himself scored with a 25-yard volley and Torres secured the points late on with a thumping finish.

The victory comes on the back of 5 straight away defeats for the Reds, whose confident performance will go some way to restoring the winning mentality in the Anfield camp.

Early signs showed that Mick McCarthy’s side would employ the same tenacious tactics as they did against Manchester City: to deny the Reds as much space as possible. Wolves started the stronger of the two teams, enjoying more possession and winning the 50-50’s but lacking any cutting edge in the final third to create any clear-cut chances.

Dalglish’s Liverpool settled into the game soon, though, and started to angle their own shots on goal with Torres hitting straight at Hennessey and Raul Meireles sliding a volley wide of the left post.

On 36 minutes, Poulsen slid a great ball through to the unmarked Meireles who unselfishly squared it to Torres, with the Spaniard tapping in from 8 yards.

The goal seemed to shake Wolves up, with McCarthy’s side proceeding to enforce their own pressure in the latter stages of the first half. Much passing around the Liverpool box alas came to nothing and the players went in for the half-time team talks.

5 minutes into the second half and Liverpool had doubled their lead with a wonderful goal from Portuguese international, Raul Meireles. A long Liverpool free-kick bounced out to Meireles who hit a deliciously-dipping, first-time volley into the top corner past Wayne Hennessey.

The introduction of new signing Adam Hammil gave Wolves an extra dimension with added width and the 23-year old whipped in a couple of perfectly timed crosses that were there to be hit but the frontmen failed to connect.

Liverpool regained control of the ball for long periods and seemed content to see the game out. Raul Meireles, as he had done all afternoon, drifted into space on the right and lofted a ball to Jonjo Shelvey, who probably should have scored but planted the ball over the crossbar.

In the 91^st minute, Dirk Kuyt was released down the left of the Wolves penalty area and took the shot on himself, with Torres square. Fortunately the ball dribbled loose at the feet of the Spaniard, who proceeded to hammer the ball into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Having gone six games without a clean sheet, King Kenny will be very pleased with his team’s performance against a Wolves side that really didn’t play up to their potential today.

Leeds vs. Arsenal - Match Report

2011-01-20T01:05:00.000Z

Clinical Arsenal defeat Leeds in FA Cup.

Nasri celebrates scoring the opening goal at Elland Road.

Written by James Burford

Arsenal ended a run of lacklustre cup performances with a confident display against a resilient Leeds United side. The gunners ran out 3-1 winners with goals from Samir Nasri, Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie, ensuring their passage to the 4^th round of the FA Cup.

Arsenal’s dominance probably warranted a more flattering score-line, but manager Arsene Wenger will undoubtedly be pleased with his side’s assured display over the 90 minutes.

Nasri broke the deadlock early on. Having been sent through on goal by Andrei Arshavin’s slotted pass, the Frenchman slid the ball past the advancing Casper Schmeichel.

Long periods of controlled Arsenal football continued to pose threats to Simon Grayson’s side as Schmeichel saved brilliantly from a close-range Chamakh header and again from an 18-yard Arshavin drive.

On 35 minutes, Sagna doubled Arsenal’s lead following a poor clearance. Picking it up on the right of the Leeds box, the right-back advanced a few metres before rifling a shot through the fingertips of Casper Schmeichel.

Before Arsenal could kill off the tie, Jonny Howson laid the ball off to Bradley Johnson, whose thunderous left-foot shot found the top right corner from 35 yards out.

Simon Grayson’s half-time team talk must have inspired the Leeds players at half time, as they started the sharper of the two sides after the break. Billy Paynter failed to put a crucial touch on a Max Gradel cross and barely minutes later, substitute Somma contrived to miss from 8 yards following a Snodgrass centre.

Arsenal introduced more experience into their side, bringing on Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie with 20 minutes remaining. The change quickly paid off when Fabregas found Nicklas Bendtner on the right, whose arrowed cross found the head of van Persie at the far post.

The final few minutes saw Arsenal control the ball well, frustrate the Leeds players and ensure a final score of 3-1.

Tottenham's Title Credentials

2011-01-17T11:16:00.000Z

I'll make no secret of it. I'm a Lilywhite. I'm a Yid. I'm a Spurs fan. I live and breathe Tottenham Hotspur.

Last season, we saw Spurs end the campaign in 4th position - their highest ever finish since the inception of the Barclay's Premier League - thus qualifying them to play Champions League football for the first time. For years Tottenham fans have had to endure watching their team never quite manage to enter Europe's top competition. But not anymore. It's my belief that this Tottenham team, forged under the stewardship of the shrewd Harry Redknapp, is the greatest Tottenham team yet. We've had some cracking players, yes - Gascoigne, Lineker, Klinsmann, Ginola, Sheringham - all football greats, but I think this current crop of players has the potential to outshine them all.

Let me create a hypothetical team sheet for you. The name I am of course writing down first is Gareth Bale. He has revolutionised Tottenham's attacking threat. His pace, energy, eye for goal and sheer skill is enough, in my opinion, to warrant his inclusion in any team on the planet. For me, there is no better left winger in the world right now.

Bale celebrates scoring against Arsenal.

Little Luka Modric. This little Croatian trickster seems to float past challenges and has the useful knack of keeping things simple.

Rafael van der Vaart. His presence seems to encourage those around him to push forward. Without his goals this season, I fear as though Tottenham would be struggling to push for a second consecutive Champions League Spot.

Aaron Lennon. This electric little winger will, more often than not, get the better of his opponent and whip in a cross. He is without a doubt the fastest player in the premier league and an absolute dream for any centre forward.

Tom Huddlestone. What he lacks in pace, he makes up for in raw, evil power. This guy is the cleanest striker of a ball without jumping in the shower. 60-yard passes and 35-yard rockets are common place.

Jermain Defoe. If you want to improve your movement in front of goal, watch this guy. His shifting, twisting, turning, rolling, swivelling runs cause havoc for opposition defences. Packs one hell of a shot, too.

William Gallas. A proven centre-back at the highest level.

Michael Dawson. A strong, iron-headed leader and Mr. Tottenham himself.

Alan Hutton. A wing-back with no fear of going forward. A solid crosser of the ball and knows when to track back to cover his defensive duties.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto. I've always been suspect of his talent but he is so cool in treacherous situations. In the past his overly confident approach to defending has raised eyebrows but this season, Benoit has been reliable - has earned assists on numerous occasions, also.

Heurelho Gomes. His first season as a Spurs player conjures up some almost comic memories but he has since established himself as one of the Premier League's top goalkeepers.

I would suggest that this is the team Harry Redknapp would invariably pick as his starting XI, provided he has no injuries or suspensions to contend with. What strikes me about this team is how young it is. Bale is 21 years old, Lennon 23, Modric 25, Huddlestone 24. That entire midfield quartet have got their better footballing days ahead of them! At the beginning of the season it was bandied around that Tottenham, following their entry into the Champions League, have the potential to win the Premier League. The cynic in me has to disagree. As much as it would thrill me to see, I don't believe this Tottenham squad can win the league - not yet anyway. Harry Redknapp has said he feels as though Spurs are 2 big-name signings away from establishing themselves as serious title contenders.

Celebrations of van der Vaart's first goal against Aston Villa, December 2010.

But what makes a title contender? You just have to observe Manchester United and Chelsea over the last few seasons.

Obviously, goal scoring ability is a given. We look at players like Rooney, Ronaldo and Drogba. If you don't have proven goal scorers in your team, feel free to write off your chances at a league title. So, do Tottenham have goal scorers? Yes, they do. Bale, van der Vaart, Defoe, Pavlyuchenko, and Crouch have all got good credentials in terms of goal scoring.

Secondly, and in my opinion more importantly, a resilient defence. Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho are constantly shutting out forwards, denying the opposition space and winning aerial battles. Goal differences depend largely on the amount of goals scored, yes, but it is always forgotten that goal differences depend on goals conceded, too. The goal differences of Manchester United and Chelsea have always been so good because they concede far fewer goals than other teams in the league. Defence is paramount. Have Tottenham got a strong defence? Yes they have. Last season, Tottenham had the best defensive home record in the division.

What else is required in a title winning team? Comeback-ability. Tottenham has always been a team to crash and burn upon conceding - but not anymore, it would seem. This season, Spurs have gone on to earn 16 points from losing positions. Going 1-0 or 2-0 down doesn't seem to affect the Tottenham mentality as negatively as it once did.

Overall team quality: there is no denying, Spurs have all the ingredients to become a title winning team, I just feel as though they don't have as many ingredients as the Man Utd's or the Chelsea's or even now the Man City's of this world. Perhaps in a few years time we can be conceiving of a title-winning Tottenham team, but for now I have to let the pessimist in me to take control - otherwise disappointment will consume me.

Premier League Pays the Penalty

2011-01-12T00:59:00.001Z

The Barclay's Premier League is suffering from a serious head injury in the penalty department. There have been more missed penalties by premier league players this season than in other major league. Does this mean our players are rubbish? The words "Yes" and "Absolutely" spring to mind.

What worries me is not the amount of penalties that are being missed (that's a total lie - it is quite worrying) but the people who are missing them. We're talking about a list of seriously high-profile names...the Fabregas's, the Rooneys, the Gerrards...

I've included a clip showing Gerrard's horrendous penalty miss in the 3-1 defeat to Blackburn at Ewood Park, for mere comedy value.

Steven Gerrard, England's captain throughout the shameful 2010 World Cup in South Africa, reportedly earns somewhere in the region of £140,000 a week at Liverpool. Using intense mathematical prowess and cunning resourcefulness, I've worked out that if Steven Gerrard was so inclined, he could afford 225,947 standard-sized goal frames, going at a very friendly rate of £32.22 each, RRP. I wonder if that would be enough room. If we're being very, very kind to Steven, we would say "Go practice taking a penalty, mate". If we're not feeling so kind...well...what would you say? I have something in mind. It goes along the lines of... "Oi, Stevie, you're about as useful as a fart in a spacesuit, aren't you mate!" Don't fart in your spacesuit Steven.

Okay so, people miss penalties. It's normal. Well, not when you're earning the equivalent of a god-damn Ferrari 458 each week, but we'll let that go. Time to let me blow you away with some statistics.

In the 2008/2009 season, 83 penalties were awarded and of those 83, 16 were missed. 19% of penalties were missed.
In the 2009/2010 season, 111 penalties were awarded and of those 111, 25 were missed. 23% of penalties were missed.
So far in the 2010/2011 season, 52 penalties have been awarded and of those 52, 15 have been missed. 29% of penalties have been missed so far this season.

We're getting worse at taking pens, aren't we. You know what Germany, we won't even bother turning up next time so don't worry about it. Danke.

Hopefully, my stats didn't blow you too far away.
That's my bit, I will talk aimlessly again soon.

The January Sales

2011-01-06T16:57:00.001Z

As we pass into the new year we focus our attention on the January transfer window. The festivities of Christmas have long since passed and many of us are now becoming frustrated by the cold weather, the seemingly endless layers of clothes with which we must adorn ourselves in the hope of survival, and the length of time we're spending indoors. Let's be honest, it's getting to our heads.

I've started on a very high, happy note. G# perhaps.

Fast becoming known as the 'Silly Season', the January transfer window has a reputation for provoking the most far-fetched, unbelievable transfer stories you're likely to read. Who could forget Manchester City's ridiculous €100 million pursuit of Kaka' in Silly Season '09. Whatever you want to call it, be it rumour, gossip or even idle chitchat to name but a few, it is really good fun to read.

The latest crop of goods arriving from the rumour mill seems to focus around the illustrious Tottenham Hotspur and their determination to be linked with every single decent player in the world.

Despite Harry Redknapp stating that he yet again predicts a quiet transfer window,

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/9330931.stm) we're frequently seeing the club linked with a list of high-profile individuals. Spurs never fail to ignite the SEGA Football Manager in all of us. I wouldn't be surprised if soon we were reading this from the BBC Sport gossip column...

'Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp plans sensational double swoop for Real's Ronaldo and Barca's Messi.'

A silly season indeed.

If that ever happens, I promise you my hat will already be decomposing in the acids of my stomach. Ironically, Spurs do generally end up having quiet JanTran windows.

I recently tweeted about the incredible possibility that THE Ronaldinho - ya know the one, the 2004 & 2005 World Player of the Year, the title-winning, toothy, talented...yeah him - yeah well the incredible possibility that THE Ronaldinho might transfer to Blackburn Rovers, having fallen off the pecking order in Milan. Of all the footballing teams in the world, you'd think that someone, somewhere would be interested in acquiring the services of surely one of the greatest players to have kicked a ball. No, not you Blackburn - put your hand down!

What a story that would have been. As it turns out, Ronaldinho has opted to return to his native Brazil, to continue to ply his trade on more familiar ground. This just underlines the lack of creditability most of these stories possess and how unnecessarily excitable we all are to the smallest snippets of a juicy rumour. Ronaldinho might never have heard of Blackburn Rovers, for all we know. His response may have been along the lines of "Onde está Blackburn?"

Ronaldinho: surplus to requirements at Milan.

Much is being made of David Beckham's proposed loan move to Spurs (of course) from MLS outfit LA Galaxy. I have to say, however ridiculous this rumour may have appeared at first, I've got a funny feeling it will actually happen.

Perhaps the biggest message I'm trying to convey is that a relatively sizeable 99.99% of rumours will be false - we've got the Transfer Rumour Mill at The Sun to thank for that. It doesn't half make for interesting reading, though.