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Can Real Madrid Spend Their Way To Football Supremacy?

June 15, 2009 – 6:57 pm

There is a price for everything. Sir Alex Ferguson declared indignantly in December that he wouldn’t sell the Real Madrid mob a virus, not to mention his crowning jewel, Cristiano Ronaldo, but when an astronomical £80 million check is waved enticingly, principles can be swayed.

Last week, Real Madrid shocked the football community with their audacious raids in the transfer market. The arrival of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, both winners of Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of The Year, cost a cool £150 million.

Coupled with two other record fees , Luis Figo (a £37m purchase from Barcelona) and Zinedine Zidane (a £47m deal with Juventus), that is £220m on just four players. To put things in perspective, George Gillett and Tom Hicks paid just under that amount for Liverpool FC in a leveraged buyout.

Obscene money which distorts fair play, UEFA President Michel Platini says… but he ain’t see nothing yet. Rumors are rife that another six players (David Villa, David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Maicon, Franck Ribery, Raul Albiol) are on the way and the budget may balloon to more than £262m, easily eclipsing the lavish £217m spree by Roman Abramovich at Chelsea from 2003-2004.

If you developed queasy feelings of deja vu, it is understandable. After all, this is Florentino Perez’s second attempt at creating the Galacticos. Instead of recruiting world-class talents every summer during his first experiment, Perez has fast-tracked his burning ambition to see Madrid’s football recover “their place in the world.”

When Florentino Perez came into power at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2000, Real Madrid had just won the European Cup but not one to settle for mediocrity, he embarked on a breathtaking vision to assemble the best talents the world has ever seen.

This time round, Real Madrid finished nine points behind Barcelona and was eliminated from the Champions League at the first knockout stage for the fifth successive season. The abject failures stood in stark contrast to the fortunes of their arch rival.

Never before has a treble (La Liga, Champions league and Copa del Rey) been achieved in Spanish football, yet Barcelona scaled the pinnacle in Pep Guardiola’s debut managerial season - at Madrid’s expense too after a humiliating 6-2 derby defeat. Real Madrid had no reply to the attacking guile and midfield dominance of Barcelona. Each goal was a stab in the heart and rendered an impressive run of 17 victories in 18 games irrelevant.

What if Barcelona go on to achieve the unprecedented honor of retaining the Champions League title next season? Given the intense political, cultural and football rivalry between both clubs, the echelons of power in this fabled institution cannot stand aside and witness the ultimate glory of Barcelona.

Like any true-blue Real Madrid fan, Florentino Perez is anxious about the decline in the club’s prestige and desires the passion of being a Madridista to return. Soon after his re-election as President of Real Madrid, he set about the familiar task of breaking the bank and recruiting super players to level the playing field. His clarion call for Real Madrid to “do in one year what we would normally do in three,” signals his intention to deliver within a tight schedule.

Florentino Perez has a clear mandate to do the necessary and why not, after all, he is a proven success. You don’t buy a bankrupt construction company, and transform it into a multi-billion conglomerate, ACS, by ignoring project schedules and making empty promises.

Perez is particularly suited to the wheeling and dealing of business and football as he possesses acumen, charisma, political connections, enterprise, and persistence. Unfortunately, these qualities were found to be sorely lacking in his counterpart, Ramon Calderon.

There is little love lost for Ramon Calderon who had been accused of vote buying and skimming money from the vault when players were purchased. He was no slouch in spending money but his signings hardly qualify as the cream of the crop and no Spanish players were purchased.

Calderon’s saving grace was to claim some credit for the purchase of Cristiano Ronaldo. He hinted that the dirty work was done during his time: “Last season United decided not to do it because they thought it was too early and instead everyone agreed to do it this season. He [Ronaldo] wanted to come, he said that many times.”

Now, even if Perez took credit for Calderon’s work, there is no denying his ability to make things happen. His mantra being that money is no object and deficits don’t matter. Los Merengues can feel a twisted sense of pride and satisfaction to outbid Russian mogul Abramovich on all his targets, doing what Manchester City sheiks cannot by buying Kaka while they only have Gareth Barry to show for their ambitions next season, and finally Alex Ferguson, manager of one of the richest club (in terms of revenue), being forced to sell his prized asset.

To be sure, money is not the only consideration. Perez conceded that Real Madrid cannot match the financial prowess of Chelsea and Manchester City as they don’t have rich people to put money into the club. Footballers are attracted like moth to candlelight because of Madrid’s rich tradition of European and domestic triumphs as well as Perez’s personal charms.

You can see Perez’s brilliant mind at work with his creative financing and daring projections of future revenue streams for Real Madrid. Last time he wiped out Real Madrid’s debts in one fell stoke by selling off the club’s training ground for £298m to the city council. He has cash left over from clearing debts and use it to finance transfers.

This time, he managed to secure a credit line with Catalan bank, La Caixa. Against the backdrop of mounting bad loans for Spanish banks and limited access to credit for businesses, one has to marvel that Real Madrid has sponsors lining up to facilitate their transfer orgy.

The fact that Real Madrid is too big to fail certainly helps. The corridors of power in Spain will not risk the social and political fallout from pushing Real Madrid into bankruptcy, thus any banks holding the debts of Real Madrid are relatively safe.

Barcelona’s economic director, Xavier Sala-i-Martin, is baffled by the financial logic behind Perez’s grand Galaticos project. “I do not know where the 300m euros that Florentino Perez thinks he has for signings actually comes from. He says he will recoup it by selling replica shirts and so he will have to sell 30 million of them. That is impossible.”

But Perez saw no need to answer such trivial questions. His gamble on expanding revenue streams were successful in the past. According to the club, Madrid’s annual income had doubled in three years from 2000 to 2003. David Beckham’s four-year stay in Spain boosted sales of shirts and memorabilia by 137%.

More importantly, Real Madrid overtook Manchester United by £32.5m as the richest club in the world in terms of revenue in 2008. They are keen to improve on last year’s “meagre” £102m in commercial revenue and £16.8m for reaching the first knock-out stage of the 2007-08 Champions League. In fact, the arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo have already sent number crunchers into overdrive. A fresh report predicted an additional £107m a season to Madrid in revenue from the pair.

Real Madrid have also benefitted from La Liga’s policy of allowing football clubs to negotiate individual contracts with broadcasters. Clearly, the incentive is for clubs to amass and leverage on world class talents to extract more TV revenue. The club also has the advantage of owning their own stadium and earned £80m in matchday revenue in 2007-08.

It is futile to argue with Perez as statistics have bore out the fact that the Galacticos policy is indeed successful in generating commercial benefits and reviving the marketability of Real Madrid brand.

As Mark Twain once remarked that there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics. So there were few critics when Perez defended the Galacticos policy as a model that feeds itself. He considered “Zidane was a cheap signing as his arrival allowed new commercial deals and new arrivals.”

Moreover, the fans have derived huge entertainment by seeing a dream team in action. Football can be intoxicating when it is played beautifully, with fluid passing, silky dribbles, cheeky back-heels, heart-stopping goalmouth actions and extraordinary goals.

There is little wrong in giving football fans what they desire, solid entertainment for 90 minutes and then leaving the stadium with a smile on their faces. The entertainment value is well worth the money. Ask Sepp Blatter.

However, it is debatable if the Galacticos policy is the right way to attain football supremacy. Or is it another “insane” attempt (where insanity is defined as repeating the same procedures and expecting different results)?

Notwithstanding Real Madrid’s irresistible appeal, I doubt if the influx of galacticos has imbued the team with an aura of invincibility and struck fear into their opponents. We all know how the first version of the Galacticos fared. Let’s do a quick review.

Real Madrid purchased four winners of the Ballon d’Or: Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Michael Owen. However, the awards were not achieved in a Madrid shirt. The implication being that these prima donnas peaked before arriving at Santiago Bernabeu or the concept of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts did not materialize.

Initially, the policy did pay off as Real Madrid won two league titles and one Champions League title. Zidane who had already unleashed his talent as Juventus playmaker, gained a higher profile by orchestrating the Madrid midfield and scoring impossible goals. The Brazilian Ronaldo was a goal scoring machine, terrorizing defences and hitting the back of the net for fun, thanks to the efferverscent Zidane.

Then there was Figo on the right flank, who could leave any defender stranded with his dribbling skills. Roberto Carlos was blazing up and down the left flank tirelessly and scoring 30 yard screamers regularly. Makelele, arguably the best defensive midfielder, also showcased his defensive ability and his short, simple passes to link up the potent strike force.

With Figo and Zidane in Real Madrid’s pulsating midfield, it was easy to see why Real Madrid created chances effortlessly and scored so many goals. Unfortunately, good times don’t last and cracks started to appear.

When another superstar, David Beckham, arrived (he left Manchester United as Alex Ferguson doesn’t appreciate the media circus), jealousy and selfishness abound. The egos in the dressing room were slighted that this pin-up footballer is now the center of attraction. Yes, Beckham serves up accurate long range boomers and swerving free kicks, but he has little else to offer.

Vicente Del Bosque (coach of Real Madrid at that time) was losing control of the Galacticos of Real Madrid because he cannot satisfy everybody all the time. He has to rest certain players in order to refresh the squad or adjust his strategies as circumstances dictate, while an Englishman played more than he deserves due to TV revenue and sponsorships.

It was a tough act to follow and a recipe for disaster. Players like Zidane and Figo consider it an affront to sit on the bench and disliked being played out of position. But that is what the squad had to do to accommodate David Beckham. To fit in all the Galacticos, the versatile players usually bear the brunt of the changes.

Figo is a right winger while Zidane, playing in the middle, is the soul of the team. With Beckham alternatively given the center or right midfielder role, you can imagine the hostile feelings being bottled by the existing Galacticos when their favorite spots are up for grabs.

Perez was oblivious to the simmering discontent and continued to buy attacking, attractive players who had little defensive talents and that led to a porous backline for Real Madrid. The Galacticos policy saw its greatest irony in 2003 when Real Madrid plumped for David Beckham rather than Ronaldinho because the former is more appealing while the face of buck-toothed Ronaldinho was deemed as a laughing stock and may degrade Real Madrid’s brand.

Well, we all know what an attacking talent Ronaldinho was. He proved his mettle by leading the resurgence of Barcelona to two straight La Liga titles and a Champions League Title as well as humiliating England in the World Cup. David Beckham can sell shirts but an attacking talent he is not. Period.

Unfortunately, the joke on Florentino Perez doesn’t end with the Ronaldinho saga. Sameul Eto’o was a Real Madrid player, but Perez sold him to Mallorca, who then profited by selling Eto’o to Barcelona where he would go on and become the top striker in the world. Just imagine what will happen if Eto’o had joined Raul and Ronaldo in a triumvirate of strikers much like the current Barcelona front line.

The attacking talents which Perez let slip from under his nose because he yearns for established stars, was not the biggest failing of the Galacticos policy though. I will say Perez’s reluctance to pay world-class defensive players high salaries was the foremost reason which eventually lead to the destruction of the team.

When Claude Makelele demanded an improved contract after David Beckham came in and disrupted the wage structure, Perez showed him the door, together with Vicente Del Bosque. The arrival of Beckham and the departure of Makelele to Chelsea marked the downfall of the Galacticos.

After the sacking of Del Bosque, the internal strife in Real Madrid worsen and they could barely function as a footballing unit. Although Real Madrid still had the best attacking players in the world, they lacked solid lacked defensive cover and even if David Beckham did not slag off his defensive duties, he has his limits.

The many frustrations eventually saw Luis Figo left the club to join Inter Milan after he was not given a two years contract by Real Madrid which he wanted. Michael Owen also left in the same season (2004-2005).

Things finally came to a boil and Perez realized that the Galacticos policy was not paying off. After his beloved club sank to an all time low in the 2005-2006 season, exiting in the UEFA Champions League to Arsenal F.C. in the round of 16 without scoring a goal in either leg, he stepped down as the President.

Lessons must surely have been learnt from the failure of the original Galacticos, even if Florentino Perez will only admit his mistake as having walked away from the mess. Does Perez now realize that it is more important to build a balanced team with attack and defense, and not just to sign players because they have mass appeal or that they had won football awards in the past? The best could be behind these players and that is why their former clubs release them.

To be sure, the city of Madrid loves both superstar signings Perez had made. Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo were the souls and inspiration of their former teams. The ‘golden boy’ of AC Milan was the perennial crowd favourite and it seemed that Milan is now on a slippery slope of decline with the sale of Kaka.

Cristiano Ronaldo was the ultimate entertainer at Manchester United and boy, did he play with panache and creativity. Like his predecessor, David Beckham, Ronaldo combined athletic prowess with a bad-boy appeal to create a unique brand in its own right.

In terms of sheer talent and technical ability, both are surely amongst the best players in the world who can change a game in one moment of brilliance. Being technically gifted players, they are expected to thrive in La Liga. Serie A is too stifling and Premier League clubs are often too physical and love their long balls.

However, Real Madrid had to contend with injuries to their prized assets. Two seasons ago, Ronaldo scored an exceptional 42 goals in all competitions - no mean feat for a winger. While nobody expected him to repeat the feat, he had a late surge in form in April and May to end his season on a high. Niggling injuries led to a slight dip in Ronaldo’s form and it is uncertain how the player will recover from his sports hernia.

As for Kaka, he suffered his own bout with injury and had struggled to find consistency on the pitch, although, just like Ronaldo, he did finish the campaign strongly. With injuries in mind, Kaka’s age (27 years) does present an added concern, but even in his late twenties, the Brazilian is one of the most skilful players in the sport, especially when running with the ball at his feet.

Ronaldo is stronger and street-wise than Kaka after thriving in the Premier League. Depending upon how Real Madrid manager Manuel Paellegrini aligns them, they could play in very close proximity, with Ronaldo playing high up on the wings or functioning as a fox in the hole while Kaka plays as an attacking midfielder.

The Brazilian national side is not devoid of strikers but Kaka was often deployed behind Robinho, and it worked to superb effect. Real Madrid fans will salivate at how the the Brazilian will pair with Cristiano Ronaldo. But there is the pertinent question of whether Kaka and Ronaldo can work together seamlessly?

Already, Cristiano Ronaldo refuses to share the limelight with Kaka and wants a separate occasion to be unveiled as a Real Madrid player. He also demanded outrageously higher wages to distinguish himself from Kaka. Ronaldo will earn a flat wage of £6.8m a year plus substantial add-ons and image-rights payments.

Kaka’s agent (his father) cannot be described as subtle when it comes to asking for money, so you can expect the wage structure in Real Madrid to be tested like never before, especially when Kaka outperform Ronaldo in the first season.

If both superstars are more interested in pursuing individual glories rather than team success, Manuel Paellegrini will have a very short career as Real Madrid manager. I doubt he will be given a full season to prove himself, especially if Real Madrid are languishing in mid-table by December.

Pep Guardiola was so successful in his first season because he cleared off the deadwood and surrounded himself with players with the right attitude - those who are willing to fight for him and adhere to his work ethics and strategies. More importantly, the unwavering support of the Barcelona board who sides with the manager instead of the players.

Real Madrid have also not bolstered their defensive midfield spots and the lack of another quality goalkeeper to replace Iker Casillas should he get injured are potential trouble spots. Xabi Alonso would be a great addition - because he is disciplined and can run a game from deep. Playing him next to Lassana should be a natural choice for Pellegrini, provided Liverpool are willing to sell.

Right now, Real Madrid have an attacking midfield of Robben, Kaka, and Ronaldo but you will be hard pressed to see any of these players making a tackle.

While Real Madrid adopts a system of being the richest bidder who pluck the blossoming fruit off the mother tree, Barcelona is on a totally different plane as they painstakingly cultivate their own seedlings.

When it comes to building a team, I believe Barcelona win hands down. They won the treble, inspired by Guardiola’s philosophy of attacking possession football and with a largely homegrown squad in which 7 players of the starting 11 were products of their youth system (Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Sergi Busquets, and Lionel Messi).

If I were to choose between building up players from youth teams or buying the end products, without a doubt, Barcelona’s system is the best and should be the model for all football clubs. I keep my fingers crossed on whether Real Madrid can spend its way to football supremacy.

Much has also been made on the tectonic shift in power to Spanish football. There is no doubt about Spain’s standing as as one of the finest team in international football. In the Champions League, Barcelona demolished former champion, Manchester United, in Rome, which was a further proof of the quality of Spanish football.

For the past few seasons, Premier League teams have proceeded beyond the quarter-finals and ensured a strong English presence in the semi-finals and finals. The Premier League also basked in the glory of being the most watched league among Asian TV viewers.

However, the transfer moves by Perez could severely disrupt the mass appeal of the Premier League. We will know the answer soon if the Champions Leauge will feature another four Premier League clubs or the world’s attention will just revolve around Barcelona and Real Madrid.

In any case, next season will promise lots of fireworks. Stay tuned for more updates.

JohnST | Ballon d'Or, Barcelona, Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga, Real Madrid | Comments (0)

Carlos Tevez Contract: Worth The Trouble?

May 16, 2009 – 4:33 am

Regardless of how football pundits dissect Alex Ferguson’s managerial achievements as compared to the likes of Matt Busby or Bill Shankly, there is a begrudging admiration for the manner in which he fulfilled his promise to knock Liverpool “right off their fucking perch.”

That was an ambitious gauntlet thrown by a budding manager who had just taken over the reins at Manchester United while Liverpool were dominant and had established a stranglehold on the titles. But apparently, Alex Ferguson is not given to frivolous claims.

Today, he is a point away from matching Liverpool’s 18 titles and savoring the prospect of winning even more trophies. Alex Ferguson has a perfect opportunity to accomplish the record equaling feat in style by lifting the Premier League title at Old Trafford and dealing another blow to Arsenal’s pride in the process.

Manchester United have to guard against complacency though as the Gunners are expected to unleash a violent backlash. Arsene Wenger will not tolerate three defeats in a row and with only one point needed, I believe Alex Ferguson will shun an open game of attacking football. Instead, he will rely on counter-attacks and disruptions to Arsenal’s beautiful passing game.

To be sure, Alex Ferguson has built a solid foundation to obliterate Liverpool’s triumphs but success can change overnight. As it is, the current squad is up for some shake-up.

Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, having spent most of their career at Old Trafford, exemplified the spirit of Manchester United and are the guiding beacons for aspiring youngsters. But the trio could be retiring soon and I am hard pressed to name other role models who share the same passion, work ethics and off-pitch discipline.

Youngsters like Danny Welbeck, Rafael da Silva and Federico Macheda are able and banging hard at the doors of the senior squad but their experience at the big stage is threadbare.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a potential Golden Boot winner for two consecutive seasons, could be on the transfer market at the right price. Manchester United are debt laden to their eyeballs and cannot refuse an attractive offer for a player who has already repaid his dues and is constantly flirting with Real Madrid in the off-season.

Coupled with the imminent departure of Carlos Tevez, the current all-conquering Manchester United squad could be severely crippled. While Alex Ferguson will stand in the way of any transfer for Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez enjoys no such privilege at Old Trafford.

In fact, the Argentinian could be the first player from this golden generation of Fergie’s babes to depart. Carlos Tevez gave a controversial interview weeks ago during which he said he no longer felt wanted at United. Frustrated by a lack of playing time in major games, he said: “It’s goodbye. I’m leaving and I do so with my head held high.”

Indeed, he can hold his head high as he played with the same professionalism and hunger. Carlos Tevez enthralled the fans by burying City with the second goal of the Manchester derby and equalizing with a brilliantly cheeky backheel against Wigan Athletic.

These recent performances have underscored his value to Alex Ferguson’s plans and strengthened the case for an end to months of feet-dragging in making his contract permanent. I believe Tevez’s outpouring of emotions with a hands-behind-the-ears gesture in front of the United chief executive, David Gill, was heart-felt.

I don’t see Carlos Tevez’s gesture as a challenge as it is understandable that his patience and affinity for Manchester United have been tested to the limits. Not to forget, it is the World Cup Finals next year and the Argentinian needs to play regularly to ensure his position in the competitive starting XI of his country.

However, David Gill does not hold the key to Tevez’s future as the CEO will ultimately bow to Alex Ferguson’s wishes on players’ matters. Ferguson may not be convinced that the exorbitant fee, increase in wages and possible conflict over money within the squad, represent a worthwhile investment.

The fans are shouting “sign him up, sign him up,” in every match to pressure Manchester United to reach a quick resolution but Alex Ferguson’s non-committal response was, “The fans love a trier. That’s the great thing about football. A lad who tries a lot can be forgiven for a lot of things.”

The “things which have been forgiven” are not elaborated but Carlos Tevez must have grown weary of Ferguson’s indifferent attitude. He confided in Argentina head coach Diego Maradona, “That old man doesn’t like me. He’s not playing me and he’s lowering my value.”

I believe such revelations have done Carlos Tevez more harm than good as Alex Ferguson never likes his players to wash dirty linen in public. To be fair, Alex Ferguson is not blind to Carlos Tevez’s talents, else he will not have gone to great lengths in bringing him to Old Trafford.

On his day, Carlos Tevez can rip defenses apart with his power, pace, ball control and agility. More importantly, he has a winner’s mentality to go with his exceptional gifts, a crucial ingredient for delivering results when the chips are down.

Tevez has also shown admirable restraint and magnanimity in his relegation to the third striker by training hard and fighting for the team during his limited displays. Not surprisingly, Manchester United fans are grateful and love him deeply for his tireless work rate, a sharp contrast to Berbatov’s languid style.

If one reviews the history of Carlos Tevez’s career, it is no coincidence that he has been appreciated by the fans in every club he has gone to, winning trophies along the way when he has opportunities to perform to his full potential.

Carlos Tevez’s precocious talents were spotted as early as 8 years old where he played football on the streets. Boca Juniors gained first mover’s advantage by recruiting him into their youth squad when he was 13 years old. The lad improved quickly and before long, staked his place in the senior squad.

In 2003, Boca Juniors enjoyed an extremely successful year by clinching the Argentine Championship and the Copa Libertadores (South American Champions League). Boca Juniors then beat AC Milan in the Intercontinental Cup to put the icing on the cake.

In December 2004, Carlos Tevez transferred to Corinthians which exceeded $20 million, following the Brazilian club’s deal with Media Sports Investment (MSI). This was a transfer record in South American football and immediately caused intense debate in the Brazilian football community.

How absurd to have an Argentinian make waves in the land of samba football? You can just imagine the resentment and cultural clash in the dressing room by having an Argentinian come to a predominantly Brazilian squad and smashing their wage structure.

Well, Carlos Tevez defied traditions by captaining Corinthians to the 2005 Campeonato Brasileiro, and he was named the league’s best player by the Brazilian Football Confederation, becoming the first non-Brazilian player to win the award since 1976.

Notwithstanding footballing skills and success, Carlos Tevez has a difficult streak which can be hard to rein in. His fight with Brazilian team mate Marquinos was shown in a public video. On August 2006, Sky Sports reported that Tevez was refusing to play for Corinthians.

It was announced soon after that both Tevez and Mascherano were signing for West Ham United on permanent deals for £12 million each. Not the kind of exemplary behavior or loyalty expected of a fan’s favorite.

At West Ham, he criticized Alan Pardew’s strategies and threw a mini tantrum by leaving the ground early after being substituted against Sheffield United. His season was salvaged when Alan Curbishley came on board and in a late season rally, Tevez rescued West Ham from the brink of relegation by scoring crucial goals.

Despite his penchant for attracting controversies, there is no doubt any club which recruit Carlos Tevez will benefit immensely. Manchester United have paid about £10m during his two year “loan” at Old Trafford, and they have to make up the rest of his £32m valuation to conclude the deal. So why don’t United pay Joorabchian £22m and be done with it? Why is Alex Ferguson behaving indecisively?

After all, if Manchester United sold off Carlos Tevez and purchase another superstar like Frank Ribery or Karim Benzema, the deals will not come cheaply. It make more cents and sense to secure the services of an established star. However, the biggest obstacle remains the onerous terms of the contract which leave football clubs at a huge disadvantage while benefiting MSI. Such contracts are unfortunately common in impoverished South America.

Tevez’s agent Kia Joorabchian, owns the player’s economic rights exclusively and absolutely through MSI of which he is both founder and President. Under the terms, Tevez is not allowed to agree to anything without their consent and only MSI possess unilateral right to terminate the contract.

While Tevez saved West Ham from demotion, the Hammers are now paying a heavy price for the brief fling with talents that they could never attract or afford under normal circumstances. If a deal is too good to be true, it often is.

West Ham paid a £5.5m fine for the unprecedented irregularities within the contract whereby the players’ economic rights belonged to MSI while the club held the players’ registration. Sheffield United made a successful case that West Ham should have points deducted instead of being fined.

This would lead to West Ham being relegated instead Sheffield United. In an out of court settlement, West Ham agree to foot £20m compensation to Sheffield United for their demise. Didn’t the players or MSI have any responsibilities in this debacle? Unfortunately, they got away scot-free, leaving West Ham to rue their misfortune.

You can understand why Alex Ferguson does not want Manchester United to be in a position where their competitors can question the achievements of the club in the same manner like West Ham, if Carlos Tevez were to play a pivotal role as a permanent player.

When Manchester United tabled the loan deal for Carlos Tevez, the Premier League originally objected by insisting that “any deal for Carlos Tévez has to be done directly with West Ham”. Kia Joorabchian then issued West Ham with a High Court writ “…to compel West Ham to release the registration of Carlos Tévez in accordance with contracts entered into between the parties.”

An agreement was finally reached between West Ham and MSI, with the approval of the Premier League, whereby MSI would pay a paltry £2 million to West Ham, who would then release Tevez from his registration with them.

Alex Ferguson is all too familiar with the wiles of Joorabchian and the agent may pull the same tricks over Manchester United when he wants  Carlos Tevez to move on to another rich club. Carlos Tevez can simply “stop playing” again to force United to accept a nominal fee.

Before Tevez and Mascherano arrived at West Ham United, reports surfaced that many clubs had turned down the offers. They were wary of the third party ownership of Tevez and reluctant to make a move. Thus, Manchester United have the luxury of time to work out a suitable contract in this case.

Also, with the exception of Barcelona, Manchester United are currently the most exciting team in Europe. For any ambitious footballer in terms of winning domestic honors and possibly more European trophies, they will not be in a hurry to leave.

Conversely, Real Madrid which declare itself the most prestigious football club look helpless in their recent 6-2 humiliation by Barcelona. Other suitors like Manchester City may be good on the money but are not serious title contenders. As for Liverpool, Tevez can reunite with Mascherano but I doubt if Tevez will enjoy Liverpool’s playing style.

While Tevez’s situation at Old Trafford has changed for the better in recent days with Alex Ferguson’s insistence that United would like the striker to remain at the club and they have held cordial discussions, Tevez’s representatives were quick to stress that no offer was placed on the table.

In the latest twist to Carlos Tevez’s contract saga, the Argentinian forward have rejected Real Madrid’s $40 million overture. Kia Joorabchian insists that his client’s decision to reject a move to Real is proof that money is no incentive when it involves his career.

“Carlos will decide on his future,” Joorabchian said. “Carlos Tevez will decide where Carlos Tevez will play. This is not about money it’s about where Carlos wants to play and his family.”

Now, if Carlos Tevez is really eager to play for Manchester United, there are get out clauses available to him. Only he can decide what is best for his career, much like how David Beckham sacrificed money (literally) to play at AC Milan.

Carlos Tevez can challenge his owners based on European Law. East Midlands MEP Chris Heaton-Harris said: “Under European law he [Tevez] has the right to break this contract. If he went to the European Commission and said he wanted out he would get support. You can’t keep a person to a contract that he doesn’t want to continue in.”

Manchester United are also said to have been investigating how the Bosman rule might be applied to Tevez’s case in the belief that the contract he has with his owners could violate European labor rules.

Under the Bosman ruling, any third party (ie a club) which governs the movement of a player between jobs is a restraint on trade. MSI may be a company, but they are also a third party, and therefore his freedom under the Treaty of Rome is being violated if he is not allowed to move on to where he pleases.

The legal sticking point is likely to be the fact MSI signed their contract with Tevez in South America (ie outside of EU jurisdiction), but since he wants to play in Europe, his contract is arguably open to challenge within the EU.

Manchester United have made it clear they are not interested in paying the full £32m, which suggest a landmark legal case to challenge the third party ownership. There can be little question that any further transfers would not entail the agent continuing to retain “ownership” of the player.

I believe Alex Ferguson will made the right decision for Manchester United. In any case, he has successfully reduced Carlos Tevez’s impact on Manchester United’s dominance and they will be none the worse in terms of challenging for titles even if Tevez depart.

Thus if Alex Ferguson finally arrives at the conclusion that Carlos Tevez’s contract is just too much of a trouble which will compromise the club’s interest, the fans should accept the decision and move on.

JohnST | Manchester United, Premiere League | Comments (0)

Will Pep Guardiola’s Debut Managerial Season End Up In Tears?

May 1, 2009 – 3:41 am

Barcelona are on track for a Spanish treble but of late, the euphoria surrounding this scintillating team has fizzled out and they have looked less than invincible. Not to take anything away from the Blaugrana, they remain the most thrilling team in Europe on their day.

However, consistency has suffered from the demanding match fixtures. Barcelona stuttered in February and March when they drew with Real Betis and then lost to city rivals Espanyol and Atletico Madrid. More recently, a 2-2 draw to Valencia has whittled their once unassailable 12 point lead to a tentative 4-point gap over closest rival Real Madrid.

While Barcelona stumbled, Real Madrid came back from a goal down in a gritty 4-2 victory over third-placed Sevilla. It has bolstered their confidence and injected new life into the title race. Indeed, the Los Merengues today is a different side from the one which succumbed 2-0 at the Nou Camp in December. That was a deplorable league debut for Juande Ramos as Real Madrid’s manager but they have not looked back since with an awesome run of 17 wins and one draw in 18 La Liga matches.

Considering Chelsea’s neutralization of Barcelona’s threat in the Champions League semi-final, one cannot help but feel wistful that a year of commendable efforts from Pep Guardiola’s Dream Boys may end up in misery when it matters. Even today, the Catalans are struggling to explain their toothless display against Chelsea.

Pep Guardiola Barcelona manager

How could they fail to find the net? After all, the much vaunted strike force comprising Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o have scored more goals between them than the entire Chelsea side. At their current rate, Barca could rewrite the record of 107 league goals set by John Toshack’s Real Madrid in 1989-90.

The short and simple truth for Chelsea’s success in stopping the finest front line football has known (where so many others failed) is an ultra-defensive strategy. At times, Barcelona had to wade through three defensive shields in front of hero Petr Cech who showed no signs of vulnerability, like those embarrassing blunders he committed in the Premier League.

The midfield helped out by kicking and haranguing Xavi and Iniesta, barging Messi off the ball, and crowding him out. Cech was pleased with those in front of him and particularly grateful to the magnificent Jose Bosingwa who was playing in the left back position due to Ashley Cole’s absence. The Portuguese effectively shackled Lionel Messi which shows that right-footed players are the perfect foil in dealing with the tricky winger. Messi was also cut down to size by Phillip Lahm in Bayern Munich’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona.

It is within Barcelona’s right to decry Chelsea’s negative tactics or a biased referee but the obsession is unhealthy. For all their talents, they should rise above all these whinging and analyse how to overcome this hurdle. The referee may have allowed Chelsea to break up play with aggressive tackles, fouls and time wasting.

To be frank, I prefer scintillating football any day over this kind of ruthlessly effective but boring style. However, let’s not forget that Guus Hiddink’s tactics are legitimate. There is nothing in the books which suggest that Chelsea have to join Barcelona in being the poster boys of football to achieve their objectives.

Barcelona were unable to dictate the pace but a successful team must learn to adapt to different circumstances. When fluidity and artistry are curtailed because your opponent fought for all the balls and left little space and supply for Lionel Messi and his teammates, Pep Guardiola must have alternative tactics ready to deal with such obdurate defenses.

Sometimes, instead of applying suffocating pressure, letting go of possession and luring Chelsea to counter-attack may be a better approach as it allows Barcelona to exploit gaps at the back. Barcelona should also not dwell too much on a possible penalty which the referee denied Thierry Henry. The Blaugrana had sufficient chances to win the game, only if they had been more accurate with their shots.

Though Chelsea prefer an inelegant destroyer role, it will be a folly for Pep Guardiola to assume Chelsea only know how to defend and will be a sitting duck at Stamford Bridge. While Guardiola refused to veer from his principle of “attack being the best form of defense,” the 62 year old Hiddink has seen enough in his lifetime to be flexible in his strageties as circumstances dictate.

The implication being that the Blues could very well take the game to Barcelona by attacking in waves since the odds are now in their favor. Let’s not forget that Guus Hiddink was schooled in the art of Total Football and is no stranger to a stylish, open, attacking play.

He led Holland into the semi finals of the 1998 World Cup and they were one of the most exciting teams on display. South Korea in the 2002 World Cup took the football community by storm with its cohesiveness, slick passing, and work ethics where the players maintain a high tempo of tireless running while their opponents slagged off in the final moments. The mastermind who lifted the Koreans to unimaginable heights of a World Cup: Guus Hiddink.

The Dutch maestro then took his magic to Australia and Russia and improved both teams substantially in fitness, discipline, confidence and purpose. Hiddink knows how to extract the best from limited and ordinary resources and getting them to function as a team.

Though Hiddink can count his blessings that Michael Essien returned from long-term injury to add muscle and technical ability to Chelsea’s midfield, it is the way he motivated underachiever Didier Drogba and polished a condemned player Florent Malouda into competence that made a huge difference.

Hiddink will also revel in the knowledge that Guardiola has to replace two central defensive stalwarts, Rafael Marquez and Carles Puyol, for the second leg due to injury and suspension respectively. Keeping things tight will be especially challenging if Chelsea decide to stamp their aerial superiority by pumping balls towards the marauding Didier Drogba.

I believe Pep Guardiola has a bright future ahead of him but it will be a tall order for him to outwit Guus Hiddink’s experience and tactical shrewdness. In fairness, Pep has already exceeded expectations in his debut managerial season. He won respect from friends and foes alike for his brand of attacking, possession and high-paced football that bordered on the obsessive.

To be sure, Pep Guardiola has his work cut out for him with a squad featuring Thierry Henry, Samuel Eto’o, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta and Alves. Henry is Arsenal’s leading scorer, Eto’o Spain’s top scorer over the past five years, and Messi contributed cosistently his fair share of assists and goals by tormenting defenses. You can’t go wrong with these lads, right?

Well, not too long ago, all three were in the team that finished 18 points behind Real Madrid last season. Eto’o was in the headlines for public spats with Ronaldinho while Henry lamented his role as a left wing water carrier. Nevertheless, the dark clouds dissipated and all three have outdone themselves under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola has molded and motivated the massive egos into the second version of Cryuff’s Dream Team, with better organisation, passing, control, team spirit and a hunger for goals. He is an intelligent and perceptive person and being a former player at the highest level, he knows how how and what the prima donnas think.

Despite all the accolades, Guardiola has kept his feet firmly on the ground by constantly reminding supporters that his team has not won anything. He is right to temper unrealistic expectations and prepare for the worst in case everything unravels after a taxing encounter with Real Madrid in one of football’s most anticipated match known as El Clasico, followed by a do-or-die mission to Stamford Bridge to progress into Champions League finals.

Pep Guardialo is currently facing two camps of thought and I doubt he relishes this fine balancing act. Is El Clasico more important than the Champions League? His best players in the front line and midfield are at his disposal but there is a need to rest, refresh and rotate the squad. Lack of clinical strikes, dimming creativity as well as tiredness are starting to creep in; however, the first XI could be weakened considerably by any tinkering.

Losing the El Clasico is unimaginable to the true blue Catalans, of which Guardiola is a staunch member, having featured prominently in Cruyff’s Dream Team during his prime and is well-loved by Barcelona fans. He understands the mystique behind El Clasico first hand. To the die-hards, El Clasico is more than just the normal club rivalries, it is a derby scarred by decades of politics, hatred, oppression and cultural clashes.

Juande Ramos will have an easier decision to make. In fact, El Clasico could not have come at a better time for Real Madrid. Real’s elimination from the Champions League and the King’s Cup has allowed them to concentrate fully on the Primera Liga. Juande Ramos has done credibly in keeping pace with the league leader and to breathe down their neck relentlessly.

Real Madrid are in the driver’s seat in terms of momentum and they have a home ground advantage at the imposing Santiago Bernabeu - the bitter battlefield when Barcelona suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat last year and had to applaud Real on to the pitch in the traditional tribute to the newly-crowned league champions.

In terms of injuries and suspensions, neither team has clear advantages. Barcelona defender Rafael Marquez is out with a troubling knee injury and the loss of his expertise in building up attacks from the back will be felt keenly. Real defender Pepe has been banned for 10 matches following his sending off against Getafe. Real will also be without midfielder Guti (ankle injury), and it is unclear whether winger Arjen Robben and midfielder Wesley Sneijder will recover from muscle strains in time to feature.

This title race could go right to the wire if Real Madrid emerge with a victory. With four matches left and the title race separated by a wafer thin one point gap, Barcelona may crack under the intense pressure and bid farewell to their first league title in three years.

Conversely, if Barcelona eliminate the Men In White, the La Liga title is virtually theirs for the taking. With three home games coming up and no team has stopped Barcelona from scoring at Camp Nou this season (except for Chelsea), the points are more or less secure. They will also be able to face Chelsea in a more relaxed manner and progress to the Champions League Finals.

After the El Clasico, Barcelona have four days to recuperate and dismantle the Chelsea defense and then face Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. In view of the hectic schedule, there is a high chance that Pep Guardiola’s debut managerial season may up in tears.

True champions emerge from trying circumstances so if Guardiola succeeds in negotiating all the hurdles, this baptism of fire will only strengthen his resolve and add to his experience. We could very well be witnessing a new era of dominance by the Blaugrana.

Even if Guardiola fails to deliver, he can give himself a pat on the back as the ground is sweet for a second assualt on the Treble next season, provided the same team and management are kept intact.

JohnST | Barcelona, Chelsea, La Liga, Real Madrid | Comments (0)

Didier Drogba Propels Chelsea Into FA Cup Final

April 19, 2009 – 8:04 am

Chelsea and Arsenal, two distinguished clubs in FA Cup history, went head to head in a hugely anticipated semi-final encounter on Saturday. With both teams peaking and no clear advantage to either team, it was always going to be a battle of wits which goes right to the wire.

As further testimony to Chelsea manager Guss Hiddink’s positive vibes, the Blues prevailed in a 2-1 victory and kept on track for the Treble. Arsenal were no pushovers though. The Gunners started the match brightly and their movement and passing were eye candy to football fans.

In the 18th minute, Theo Walcott put the Gunners ahead. Emmanuel Adebayor started the move on the left and passed to Kieran Gibbs who crossed for an unmarked Walcott at the far post. The latter hit a soft volley which took a deflection off Ashley Cole and left Petr Cech stranded.

However, Arsenal’s happiness was short-lived as Florent Malouda drew level in the 32nd minute. Frank Lampard delivered a superb pass to Malouda who trapped the ball nicely and fired accurately into the net. Arsenal had narrowly escaped earlier when Malouda blasted a shot that skimmed under goalkeeper Lukazs Fabianski before flashing across goal.

Having equalized, Chelsea grew in confidence. Nicolas Anelka struck the far post with a fine left-footed shot. Abou Diaby was to blame for the slack defending when he gave the ball away on the edge of the box and could only appeal vainly for a foul.

Arsenal’s front line was not pulling their weight either. Robin van Persie, one of the crown jewels in Wenger’s ensemble, failed to turn up any magic. He wasted a crucial opportunity when an acrobatic clearance by Alex denied Walcott, but the ball fell nicely for him… only to be blasted disappointingly into no man’s land.

Didier Drogba Propels Chelsea Into FA Cup Final

Though Arsenal outplayed Chelsea with a more fluid game in midfield, they presented little threat in the opponent’s goal box due to the tight marking and poor link-up to Adebayor, who holds the key in Wenger’s 4-2-3-1 formation. While Chelsea’s backline was at least functioning, Arsenal’s incompetent defense made Chelsea appear menacing and likely to score whenever they pressed forward.

Indeed, Fabianski was kept extremely busy by the relentless Chelsea bombardment. Anelka missed a header narrowly, before Lampard volleyed an excellent chance wide from Drogba’s cross. Drogba then screamed for a penalty when Mikaël Silvestre held him and handled the ball. It is a wonder the scoreline was kept respectable for so long.

With the match drawing to a close, the epic battle was still locked in a stalemate. However, Didier Drogba changed the script single-handedly in the final six minutes. Frank Lampard lobbed the ball from deep in his own half and Drogba latched on quickly by shrugging off Mikael Silvestre. The Ivorian exemplified exquisite balance and control by skipping past the on-rushing Fabianski before steering the ball into the empty net.

Arsene Wenger factored in a sub-standard Wembley pitch for a defeat which destroyed their most realistic hope of a trophy. “Building a stadium with that kind of money and having no pitch is laughable,” he said. But that is no excuse as the pitch affect both teams equally.

And Arsenal had no reason for feeling jaded as Chelsea had eliminated Liverpool 4-4 in a gruelling Champions League quarter-finals (7-5 agg) while the Gunners cruised past Villarreal in a 3-0 victory (4-1 agg).

Keeper Fabianski did not have a memorable birthday as nobody were in the mood for celebrations after he gift-wrapped presents for his opponents. He was a constant bundle of nerves, yet he shows a propensity for charging out of the box when the danger should normally be cleared by defenders. While I don’t think he is engaged in showboating, I am still perplexed by his heroics.

If Fabianski wants to take on the striker, he has to win the ball in a strong and decisive manner, instead of attempting half-hearted challenges, else it will be a safer bet to just defend his line. To be fair to the shaken Fabianski, Manuel Almunia did not perform any better in dealing with Didier Drogba, though the Spaniard has shown better judgment and composure in big games.

Fabianski was unable to settle down even when Arsenal went ahead. I don’t blame him as the defense often left him exposed. The main culprits were Emmanuel Eboue and Michel Sivestre who felt like strangers and and were too slow to react.

Due to injuries to William Gallas and Johan Djourou, Wenger took a risk by placing Silvestre in the center of defence but it didn’t pay off as Silvestre’s best days are clearly behind him. The lack of first choice full backs will persist for a while and Wenger has to solve this porous defense soon, else there will be more “cheap goals” to come.

Mindful of the defensive malaise, Wenger said: “It was a game where any mistake in the end could be costly. It is disappointing because we had a good start and after we dropped off. The game looked as through it would finish as a draw - I felt we gave two cheap goals away.”

Arsene Wenger have also tweaked the side which demolished Villlarreal, dropping Alex Song and Samir Nasri to the bench and playing Denilson and Abou Diaby alongside Casc Fabregas in the centre of midfield, with Robin van Persie moving out to the left flank.

It may be wise to field fresh legs in the face of a hectic schedule but one cannot afford to take chances against a rejuventated Drogba and the best team must play. I believe Wenger erred by leaving Arshavin out of the starting XI. By the time Arshavin came on for van Persie, he could not influence the outcome, though his late effort which was deflected to safety by Alex was commendable.

This FA Cup defeat may have far-reaching implications for Arsenal in terms of filling the cabinet with silverware this season. Arsenal’s winning streak has ended and it usually takes time for Wenger to nurse the team’s fragile confidence and steer the ship back on course.

This disruption in momentum could be a boon for Manchester United in the Champions League. Already, wresting the Premier League title is highly unlikely unless all three top teams collapse in unison, and given Arsenal’s dismal track record in the European competition, the Gunners have lost their most realistic chance of a trophy.

The bright spark for Arsenal was Theo Walcott. He was the live-wire in this match and Arsenal looked dangerous whenever he charged down the flanks with the ball. The England winger has been excellent since his return from his latest injury and enjoyed a compelling duel with Cole all game. His goal was well deserved.

As for Guss Hiddink, it is no surprise he is a happy and contented man these days. He said: “It’s very nice to work with these guys. They always deliver.” Hiddink has repeatedly stressed that he is in charge until the end of the season, after which he remains as full-time coach of Russia’s national team.

Nevertheless, if he achieves the Treble, I believe Abramovich will impose his will and sign him on a long term contract. It will be a great folly to release a manger who can win trophies and more importantly, galvanize the players into a solid team which respond and execute his strategies.

Player politics is a major distraction in Chelsea’s dressing room and if Didier Drogba, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to leave Chelsea, is now rallying the troops forward, you know the manager has ironed out major differences, injected faith and gained mutual respect with his footballing philosophy.

In this match, I will say Frank Lampard was not at his dominant best in midfield. But once again, he proved his worth by supplying two crucial long range passes which led to the goals. I prefer to rate Droga and Essien highly for Chelsea’s revival.

Much has been made about the battle of midfield between Essien and Fabregas. Both are midfield inspirations and have returned from long injuries but they possess different characteristics. Essien is more physical and powerful than Fabregas but the latter has greater technique, wider range of passes and is tactically better.

Fabregas only come into the Arsenal side on April 4 after three and a half months out. But his match fitness was not compromised - setting up a string of goals for his resurgent side. Similarly, Essien has been Chelsea’s driving force since returning from a cruciate injury.

However, with Cesc Fabregas failing to stamp his class, it was Essien whose effervescent energy and brutal power shone brightest. Fabregas can seek solace that Steven Gerrard also lost the midfield battle to Essien. That is the danger of teams which rely heavily on a single playmaker, who no matter how talented, can be a burden to the team when their creative spark fizzles out.

Up front, there is also a determined hunter in Didier Drogba who steps up a gear whenever he is pitted against the Gunners. Drogba loves to score against Arsenal and his brace in the bad-tempered Carling Cup 2007 final must still be fresh in Arsenal fans’ memories.

Before the match, Wenger highlighted that the key to stopping Chelsea was preventing Drogba getting up a full head of steam. He is right on the money by pinpointing Arsenal’s Achilles heel as the powerful Ivorian is on song since Guus Hiddink’s arrival. For the record, Drogba has now racked up his eighth goal in nine games against Arsenal.

Already a nightmare for the first choice Arsenal defence, the makeshift defense clearly has no chance against Drogba’s potent strength and pace. Wenger said: “We made it a little bit too easy for him at times, and that was true of the winning goal.”

Chelsea are on a roll after eliminating Liverpool and Arsenal. Hiddink has applied the right strategy in a physical and intimidating play - Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Ballack were both cautioned for aggressive tackles, the first on Van Persie, the second on Fabregas. Arsenal were lulled into complacency with uninterupted quick passes while the Blues search, destroy and strike where it matters.

I believe Hiddink will continue with the midfield triumvirate of Lampard-Essien-Ballack which has been in slumber at times but effective when given a jolt in the dressing room. His biggest worry must be Petr Cech. Having conceded seven goals in its last two games, Cech’s blunders have contributed to the team’s struggle to beat Bolton 4-3 and the pulsating 4-4 draw with Liverpool.

Without fail, Petr Cech conceded yet another goal, though in dubious circumstances. Deflections are always tricky and Ashely Cole could have done a better job of shackling Walcott and preventing the shot. The Cech of three years ago might have coped adequately, but when confidence is low, schoolboy errors start to crop up.

Chelsea are looking stable in a 4-3-3 formation but in the Champions League, they may find Barcelona to be a different proposition. Theo Walcott has pace and but not much creativity, yet Ashley Cole struggled to contain the youngster. The intelligent and technically gifted Lionel Messi who has been terrorizing defenses in La Liga for fun will relish giving Ashley Cole a few more footballing lessons.

Chelsea are now into the final, where they will meet either Manchester United or Everton on May 30. This may turn out to be a grand showdown for the Treble which features two of the most successful Premier League teams in recent years. Stay tuned.

JohnST | Arsenal, Champions League, Chelsea, FA Cup, Premiere League | Comments (0)

Alan Shearer And Newcastle United: Marriage Made In Heaven?

April 4, 2009 – 10:34 pm

Alan Shearer is back with the Toon Army. To many Newcastle United fans, this fact has not yet sunk in, and coming hours before April Fool’s day, there was a sense of surrealism to it. We will know if this is a marriage made in heaven in 8 matches but the romance will be good while it lasted, regardless of whether Newcastle are relegated.

On Saturday, Shearer led his charges into battle against Chelsea as his managerial debut. This was an epic mismatch as Shearer is a greenhorn who has passed most coaching badges but not received a FIFA Pro License. Conversely, Chelsea’s coach, Guus Hiddink, has six Dutch league titles and two fourth-place finishes at the World Cup under his belt.

Based on form, even though Chelsea suffered a 1-0 defeat in their last game away to Tottenham Hotspur, they boast the best away record in the top flight. Chelsea are also motivated to win to maintain a shot at the Premier League title.

Nevertheless, romanticists held out the hope of an upset as Shearer was very much of a bogey-man for Hiddink, having humiliated the Dutchman twice as a player in Euro 96 and the Uefa Cup. Five years ago, Alan Shearer also netted his 173rd goal for Newcastle United as they won against Chelsea 2-1 to edge closer to a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Alas, it was not to be. Chelsea strolled to a comfortable 2-0 victory and closed the gap with Premier League leaders Manchester United to a single point while Newcastle slipped deeper into relegation trouble. That is already a hat-trick of gift-wrapped points to top teams, including Manchester United and Arsenal in recent weeks.

Alan Shearer And Newcastle United: Marriage Made In Heaven?

A crowd of 52,112 had turned out to see if the much anticipated Shearer effect can overpower the superior quality and fluency of Guus Hiddink’s men. Perhaps it was fitting that expectations were brought to a realistic level. While the fans were not disappointed by the team’s fighting spirit, the result made it clear that staying afloat will be an immense challenge. Willpower or enthusiasm alone will not cut it, a strong element of luck will also be needed.

Chelsea were not flustered by Newcastle’s physical approach and they applied steady pressure from the start. Newcastle were forced to backpedal, and could only attempt to hit their opponent on the break. It was their best bet considering Chelsea’s upper hand in possession and menace in the final third of the pitch.

Though Newcastle’s defense held up with goal mouth scrambles and goalkeeper Steve Harper made several fine saves, the castle finally fell in the 56th minute. Coloccini’s clearance was blocked and the ball ran to Lampard, who passed to Anelka. The Frenchman chipped a shot over Harper which hit the woodwork, and Lampard gladly headed the rebound into the empty net. In the 65th minute, Anelka flicked on Cech’s clearance and Lampard slid the ball into the path of Malouda, who despatched a left-foot shot across Harper and into the net.

The Magpies could have forced the game into a frantic finale and hopefully overturned the tables, had Michael Owen’s deflected shot been counted as a goal in the 73rd minute. Ashley Cole hooked over the ball away but relays suggest the ball has crossed the line. Obafemi Martins also wasted a glit edged chance when he stabbed the ball just wide of the post with his knee. Jonas might have done better when he headed substitute Damien Duff’s cross straight at Petr Cech.

Overall, it is a fair result and Alan Shearer is richer for the experience. He has no honeymoon period and there is a lot on his plate - Newcastle were insipid along the flanks and could not create sufficient width, the front line could not capitalize on the handful of chances and the defense was a shambles.

Given that Alan Shearer has refused Newcastle’s overture and an England coaching job previously, critics have questioned his abrupt decision to forsake the comfortable BBC sofa in exchange for a hot seat at Tyneside. Can the untested Alan Shearer manage this very football club which the original Messiah, Kevin Keegan, ended up wringing his hands in despair on his second coming? If Shearer wanted to get his toes wet, why not start with a clean slate or even with a smaller club?

Kevin Keegan is understood to have told Mike Ashley, Newcastle United’s owner, that he cannot offer him any assurances that the club will avoid relegation from the Premier League during his first season. Since succeeding Sam Allardyce, Keegan presided over seven games but no wins.

When asked for guarantees that relegation will be avoided, Keegan is believed to have told him that none could be offered -and cited three reasons why. The first was Ashley’s failure to strengthen Newcastle’s squad during the January transfer window, the second reflected Keegan’s concern that he inherited a group of players whose collective confidence remains rock bottom and the third is the team’s tricky fixture list.

By then, the writing was on the wall that Mike Ashley has lost faith in Kevin Keegan and it was a matter of time before the Messiah was dismissed. If Mike Ashley expects miracles while neglecting the realities of his club, I must say he is the biggest hazard for Newcastle’s emergence as a football powerhouse.

Ashley is certainly concerned about the decline of the club, but I suspect his anxiety is motivated by the erosion in value of his investment. A trip down to Division One will not only lower Newcastle’s stature in the eyes of investors, the club stands to lose 50 million pounds in TV money.

Despite Ashley’s penchant for wearing an oversized black and white stripped replica kit and claiming to be the No.1 fan at St James Park, he doesn’t understand the nature of football and is a mere businessman, and not too successful at that either. The “Great Recession” has hit this retail magnate hard and when he realized that football can be a particularly sapping endeavor in terms of cash flow, he wanted to offload Newcastle United at a profit, unfortunately, there were no takers. It is clear where his interests and priorities lie, there is no love lost for the club.

In Kevin Keegan, Ashley already has on his hand, one of the most established and successful managers in Newcastle’s history. Here was a manager with an average of 55% win in 183 games and Newcastle came in third, sixth, second and fourth respectively in his four seasons. I mean, if Mike Ashley intends to hire Carlo Ancelotti, Arsene Wenger or Jose Mourinho, it is a different matter but the subsequent candidates which came in after Kevin Keegan were not inspiring.

Mike Ashley doesn’t trust anybody sufficiently to run a football club successfully. Neither does he possess the patience and foresight.  Else he will not have engaged Dennis Wise and Tony Jimenez to undermine Kevin Keegan’s authority. Never mind the salary paid to two figure heads who do not necessarily possess more knowledge of the Premier League or transfer market than Kevin Keegan.

Ashley is also not into spending huge amount of money unless you “guarantee” him return on investments. Why purchase a football club as a sugar daddy if you talk up title ambitions but can only afford half-baked solutions?

Unlike Sir John Hall who bends over backwards to placate Shearer and ensures his untouchable position in team matters, the emotional Mike Ashley is a different proposition which Shearer has to contend with. However, Shearer has strengthened his hand by demanding that Dennis Wise depart. As a manager, he wants to make all the decisions and he will succeed or fail, on his own terms, together with his appointed assistant, Iain Dowie.

No doubt, Shearer runs the risks of tarnishing his reputation as a Newcastle United legend if this experiment with management turn out to be disaster. Shearer seems prepared or even nonchalant when he said: “How this job will affect my own reputation is a question I’d like to stay away from. I must stress this is about Newcastle United and not Alan Shearer. I had a reputation as a player and now that’s gone.”

Nevertheless, if Shearer has been working his cool, calculating mind and never being one to exercise rash decisions, I believe this is a well-considered gambit to prepare for his foray into top-level management. He may have hung up his boots but age has not blunted his timing and positioning, two important qualities of a clinical striker. In this instance, Shearer has shown immaculate timing in stepping up to this role - Newcastle are in dire straits and there is a void in capable leadership - few Geordies will vilify Alan Shearer for incompetence if he fails to deliver.

Joe Kinnear, is recuperating from heart surgery and is not expected to make a hasty return to the pressure-cooker environment any time soon. Temporary manager Chris Hughton had little success in steering the ship back on course. Newcastle are currently lying 18th in the league table, two points from safety, and with just one win in their last 12 games.

We are told Shearer’s appointment is not about money, even though the reward for keeping Newcastle in the Premier League is a cool 1.8 million pounds. He once remarked that after football, he goes home to creosote the garden fence. Well, nobody doubts Shearer’s affection or loyalty to the club. He is a true Geordie, born and raised in Tyne.

After a hugely successful stint at Blackburn Rovers, he refused to join Manchester United where he will certainly be a vital cog during their dominance of the domestic scene in the 90s. Instead, he headed to Newcastle United and gave 10 years of stellar service. Despite troubling knee and ankle injuries, he retired as the all-time leading goalscorer with an impressive 206 goals in 404 games.

Shearer has also expressed a willingness to learn the ropes quickly, saying: “I don’t have the experience but I’ll have to learn pretty quickly. I’ll speak to Kevin (Keegan), I’ll speak to Kenny (Dalglish), I’ll speak to Bobby (Robson), I’ll speak to Terry (Venables) and speak to Glenn Hoddle and then we’ll see after that. I think it’s important I tap into all the experience I can. I’m going to need it.”

I believe any practical advise from these managers will be beneficial for Alan Shearer. Bobby Robson enjoyed a credible record at Newcastle, falling just behind Kevin Keegan and will be an excellent mentor. Jose Mourinho’s progression from a translator to a title winning manager was shaped by up-close observations of two world class managers in action at Barcelona and Porto - Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal.

However, I doubt if the duo are on talking terms. Shearer has a crucial part to play in the acrimonius dismissal of Robson. Relations have turned frosty when it dawned on Robson that his captain actually holds sway over squad selection. Robson revealed in an interview:

“I didn’t know how tricky it would be, handling Shearer. I was a strong and experienced manager used to dealing with famous players like Romario and Ronaldo, Figo and Nadal. But Sheaarer occupies a special position in Newcastle. I think he’s a good guy but I was a little disappointed by his reaction when I left him out. Still, at the same time I understood he wanted to play every game. I think he’s changed his attitude but then he didn’t appreciate the need to be rested.”

To be sure, Alan Shearer is a huge personality and his imposing presence in the dressing room is legendary. He never shies away from standing up to anyone who crosses his path. Consider the difficult and wayward characters in the Newcastle squad during Shearer’s time as captain - Craig Bellamy, Lee Bowyer, Kieron Dyer and Laurent Robert read like a roll call in a juvenile detention centre but they always know who is the boss on the pitch.

Souness and Robson’s reign were severely compromised by the squalid Newcastle soap opera which cosnsists of indiscipline, in-fighting, rape and drink-driving charges; yet, Alan Shearer kept himself above the raging controversies and his authority went unchallenged. Shearer’s best assets as a captain lies in his man-management skills. He always demanded the best of himself and those around him and they were willing to follow his instructions.

Another factor in Shearer’s advantage is the support of the Geordies. They are like the 12th player on the pitch with their vociferous support. It is easy to fall in love with the Toon Army. They live and breathe football and love their club passionately. There is a waiting list for the 52000 season tickets out of a small population of 270,000.

And there is nothing better for the Geordies than having one of their own at the helm. Alan Shearer can expect rapturous sold out crowds for all of his eight-matches and that extra push may just make the difference. If he can win just two or three games, Newcastle’s season is salvaged.

Shearer also has knowledge of the game from his time as a pundit on BBC’s Match of the Day and coupled with his playing experience and close monitoring of Newcastle’s perilous situation, he must know about his options and the players at his disposal. As he confessed, he is going in with  his eyes wide open.

It’s too late for reinforcements now as the transfer window has closed. Alan Shearer has to work with the existing squad which may be a lost cause in fighting for titles but it is certainly good enough to stay in the Premier League. There are several experienced internationals and extraordinary talents like Michael Owen and Damien Duff who have been unlucky with injuries. If the players regain their confidence, Newcastle should be able to give top teams a run for their money.

Good players may not make good managers, like what we have seen of Tony Adams, Bryan Robson, Paul Ince and Lothar Matthaus. This point was again driven home by Diego Maradona, coach of Argentina, whose team was recently pummeled by Bolivia 6-1, a defeat not seen in the last 51 years.

Shearer may end up following their footsteps but I am inclined to believe that he will galvanize the dressing-room and lead the team out of the current malaise. What the future holds, in terms of winning trophies, will depend on the support of Mike Ashley and Shearer’s own ability to learn and transform his team into a more organized outfit on the pitch.

Stay tuned for more updates.

JohnST | Chelsea, Kevin Keegan, Newcastle United, Premiere League | Comments (0)

Solved A Teething Wordpress Problem

March 28, 2009 – 5:04 pm

Well, am I glad that a teething wordpress problem which plagued SoccerNet Live has been solved.

Over the last week, an error message appeared on my site which says:

Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /home/content/j/o/h/johnsoccernet/html/wp-includes/classes.php on line 92

Though the home page is functioning, all my other pages could not load properly and the link (http://www.soccernetlive.com) is not working.

For more than one year, Wordpress has been working fine for me and I cannot fathom why this problem occurred all of a sudden. I have not installed any plugin or tampered with the codes.

And just when I was beginning to think that Wordpress is such a stable platform and everything is under control, a technical glitch threw everything into disarray. I realized there is so much more to mastering Wordpress if one has to troubleshoot the scripts.

In any case, I proceeded to check with my web hosting company, godaddy, and they simply replied that this error was due to the scripting of the WordPress application while they only handled the installation.

The next thing I did was to announce my arrival in the Wordpress forum with a plea for help but it was not a particularly engaging place as nobody came to my assistance.

I tried searching for help on the net and found that this problem was actually quite common (see here and here). Unfortunately, I was never the sharpest tool around when it comes to php - the explanations essentially made no sense to me. I figured by the time I grasp the topic, it could be weeks which is not acceptable. Neither could I ask for help in this blog as I could not post any articles.

Desperate, I finally embarked on the drastic step of reinstalling the entire wordpress application. It was extremely tedious but thankfully, everything worked perfectly.

Just to let my faithful readers know, SoccerNet Live is back and thanks for sticking around.

Have a nice day!

JohnST | Web Hosting | Comments (0)

Michel Platini Crusade Against Evils Of Money In Football

March 28, 2009 – 6:30 am

Money has changed the face of football, allowing Premier League clubs to attract world class talents and gain a pre-eminent position in Europe as well as increasing TV viewersips around the world.

Nevertheless, as seen on the laissez-faire Wall Street where frothy assets are created and distributed at will, too much of a good thing can be self-defeating and money’s perverse influences have to be kept in check by an effective regulator. As they say, money is the root of all evil.

UEFA President Michel Platini has clearly taken this inconvenient truth to heart and is determined to eradicate football’s bigggest scrouges - corruption and match-fixing. In a long overdue but nonetheless dramatic move, UEFA will launch a gambling investigating unit next season featuring experts who will review suspected irregularities in 27,000 matches in the first and second division of 53 UEFA members.

Michel Platini Crusade Against Evils Of Money In Football

Michel Platini is prone to fatuous outbursts like his personal attack on Arsene Wenger but this time, he chose his battleground wisely by calling match fixing “a serious risk to football.” He said: “I’ll be extremely firm with those who cheat. I don’t accept players who cheat and will suspend them from any activity in football.”

UEFA has started the ball rolling by cutting its regulatory teeth on two obscure football clubs. President of Macedonian football club Pobeda Prilep, Alexander Zabrcanec and former team captain Nikolche Zdraveski - were accused of manipulating the final score of a Champions League qualification match against Armenian side Pyunik Yerevan, on July 13 2004 for their own benefit.

To be sure, match-fixing is an old story being rehashed. The image of English football was devastated in 1965 when 10 players, including the Sheffield Wednesday stars Tony Kay, Peter Swan and David Layne, were imprisoned for match-fixing.

In recent times, Italian football was severely shaken by a corruption scandal, known as Calciopoli, in Serie A and Serie B. The corruption was exposed when Italian police intercepted telephone calls which revealed an intricate network between team managers and referee organisations. Juventus (Serie A champions at that time), Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Reggina were subsequently charged with rigging games by selecting favourable referees.

The onerous effects of match-fixing are obvious. In fact, I rate illegal gambling and match-fixing as bigger threats to football than doping or violence. It destroys the integrity of the beautiful game because of the perception it leaves in the minds of the public, not to mention hurting the wallets of punters.

People will be less enthusiastic for the sport when they realized the web of deceit. It is no longer justifiable to pay money to watch 11 men on each team fighting over a ball for 90 minutes, since the results have long been decided. Neither is it acceptable to learn that referees have received kickbacks for making “honest mistakes.”

I believe a concerted clampdown by UEFA will go a long way towards establishing a clean and fair sport. Since greed knows no boundaries, drafting a specific cross-border match-fixing law in Europe will provide investigators the muscles to bring criminals to justice.

The regulation divisions within each UEFA member also needs to be beefed up. Usually, match-fixing is handled by the same thinly staffed department which are also swamped with other concerns, including discipline, drug testing, illegal transfer dealings and contracts.

Besides match-fixing, we cannot ignore excessive debts in the messy relationship between football and money. Last week, the Guardian reported that senior debts of £425m secured on Old Trafford, the Carrington training ground, the gilded players, season tickets, commercial contracts, etc. have been sold in the City of London at discounted prices of 70p in the pound.

A further £90m of unseucred loans are being sold for 50p in the pound, while the rest of the £667m – £152m “payment in kind” debt, loaned originally by hedge funds at an attractive 14.25%.

I believe the credit crunch may have forced banks, hedge funds and private equity speculators in accepting a haircut on their investments. Deprived of capital and battered by redemptions, they have little choice but to discard prime assets to shore up their balance sheets.

Manchester United’s debts do not quaify as “distressed” unless they are being traded at less than 20% of face value. Lenders will have already given up hopes of payments, ala toxic subprime mortgage based securities. At 70%, this is in line with marked-to-market valuation of most leveraged buyout debts.

Since the lenders are just replenishing their capital base, raising alarm bells on Manchester United’s impending financial crisis seems premature. Notwithstanding the harshest economic crisis since the Great Depression, it makes no difference who is the debt-holder, as long as United can service their interest payments.

If the past year is any indication, Manchester United remain a solid franchise. The money raked in from winning last season’s Premier and Champions Leagues, gate receipts from a 75000-seater in Old Trafford, and sales of merchandise (replica kits, caps, scarfs, posters, etc) ensured record turnover and profits.

However, turning a blind eye to the fact that debts are shaking the foundations of the club’s profitability structure is dangerous. Manchester United’s 2007 net earnings was decimated by an interest payment of £81m (surpassing its operating expenses of £74m which should be the main outflow in most football clubs) and this year, they can expect higher interest with more debts piled up from the acquisition of players, including the £30m signing of Dimitar Berbatov.

Currently, the Red Devils are surviving by meeting their debt obligations, but if they have to start amortising their debts without viable refinancing options, I wonder where they are going to get the extra money. Something has to give, either the Glazers top up the shortfall (highly unlikely) or capital expenditures to improve branding and buying of players to win competitions are sacrificed.

This Glazer deal leaves Manchester United little room for failure - in fact, they have to capture more fans and post revenue growth every year. In this recession, achieveing the same turnover with lesser cash-rich sponsors is a massive challenge. The rising unemployed terminating their subscriptions will cause TV revenue to stagnate. Ticket and merchandise sales are also expected to suffer from lesser discretionary income.

Coupled with the fact that things can spiral down slowly but all at once when United lose the winning touch for titles or worse, flirt with relegation. Confidence crisis affects the best of teams, illustrated by Manchester United’s recent stumble in chasing a Quadruple. The money men may have little patience for team rebuilding at the expense of missed payments.

United’s spokesman, Phil Townsend, must have imbibed some Kool-aid when he enthused about Manchester United’s financial prospects. “With our turnover, we can meet the obligations on our loans and debts, and still buy world-class footballers and provide first-class facilities at Old Trafford and Carrington,” he said.

Phil has the hallmarks of a great investment banker, even if I don’t share his optimism. As a matter of fact, I do not discount the possibility that United’s debts could end up in the hands of merciless sharks and vultures who would jump at the chance to strip the club of all assets at the slightest hint of trouble.

It will indeed be a sad day that Manchester United, one of England’s most prestigious, well-run and popular clubs, with generations of working class and footballing legends contributing selflessly to its rich history, may be brought to its knees by the fair-weathered credit market who has no affection for the sport except making money from money.

I dread to see the current winning formula of bright young talents, veterans and Alex Ferguson being offloaded to pay down the debts and relieve the wage expenses. This will only cause Manchester United to slide further into annoymity as fans will be hard-pressed to support a team filled with fringe players as well as the youth team.

A lot of fans cannot comprehend why Manchester United were able to bankroll Alex Ferguson’s ambitions and rebuilt Old Trafford with cash, yet they loaded up £667m of debt, solely to pay for the Glazer family to take over the club.

To be sure, this arrangement contains murky details, and most will not come to light until financial catastrophe occurs. It begs the question of accountability and transparency. While “leveraged buyouts” are legal, do such financial wizardry make Premier League clubs stronger or even sustainable in the long run?

Another pertinent question is whether football should be treated as a business. If yes, the owners of football clubs should expect a return on their investment - not some kind of charitable donation. So long as the club achieves success, even in the short term, all members deserve to be richly rewarded.

As business entities, the end justifies the means. Leeds’ strategy of short term financing failed spectacularly as it was based on future consistant Champions League earnings which did not materialize. That is not to say other clubs cannot use this strategy if they want to have a brief fling with success.

Whether a club should adopt a shareholder’s business model or operate as a single owner loading the club with debts is a moot point though. A lender’s first consideration is to ensure that principal and interests are being paid. They are not interested in delayed gratification just to indulge your dreams of world dominance in the not so distant future. If you default on payments, they will liquidate your assets.

However, shareholders may not be superior as they can still take out dividends while neglecting club facilities and stadium. Having debtors rather than shareholders forces the management to be ultra-efficient as they are dealing with someone else’s money rather than their own.

Conversely, if football is not a business, regulators have a duty to scrutinize unhealthy levels of debt being ladled on to clubs to prevent their eventual failure to the detriment of heartbroken fans. Football clubs should not compromise the cultural identity by resorting to arcane financial deals promoted by foreign mercenaries.

Michel Platini’s agenda to recognise ‘the specificity of sport’ - that sport holds a special cultural and social significance and cannot be run along the same economic lines as other forms of business/employment is laudable. To this end, he has campaigned actively with the EU to issue a legally-binding directive to recognise sport’s special status.

Platini is also heading for a show-down with football clubs which bet the house to win titles. He is keen to establish a financial criteria which would qualify clubs and allow them to participate in the Champions League and UEFA Cup.

He said: “We need to find the means, with the European Club Association, to help clubs to solve their problems. Defeat should not be a financial disaster. The goal is not to win titles but [to make] money to pay off debts. Look at the debts of Chelsea and Manchester United. Fifa and Uefa owe it to themselves to fight this.”

“We’re starting to work on it, but I am very concerned by clubs being bought by foreigners. I don’t see why Americans come to invest in these clubs, if not to turn them into products. It’s a never-ending gold rush.”

The focus of the revamped rules will be operational profitability, to tie transfer fees and wages to clubs’ turnover. This won’t necessarily cap high transfer fees but it could have a knock-on effect on controlling wages offered to players.

The Premier League is also planning to introduce a “going concern” test aimed at ensuring its clubs are not laden with dangerous levels of debt. The test will work out if debts are manageable by assessing a club’s financial health, including its turnover and cashflow.

Where time and the economy are kind, the number crunching, charts, financial ratios created by investment bankers worked out to a tee and everybody involved in the buyout deal are happy. If not, it is just a tragic story of another football club biting the dust. The banks earn their commission and move on to promote the next target of acquisition.

The failure of Iceland is sobering and Britain could be heading for a bailout of its own by begging for billions of dollars in international aid. It is high time for football authorities to take a holistic assessment of its relationship with money.

I support UEFA’s measures to force clubs to tighten their belts and be more financially prudent. However, all clubs must be subjected to the same rules, else it will simply result in an exodus of talents. That underlines the importance of getting the major European clubs involved.

I am apprehensive though about any plans to restrict the number of foreign players in each club and to regulate ticket prices that each club can charge. What do you guys think of Michel Platini’s crusade against evils of money in football?

JohnST | Champions League, Manchester United, Premiere League, Serie A | Comments (0)

Andrei Arshavin Adds Sparkle To Arsenal’s Play

March 16, 2009 – 5:10 am

Andrei Arshavin Adds Sparkle To Arsenal’s Play

The following was guest blogged by Nick Walsh from Betfair.

There’s a well-worn maxim that behind every good man is a good woman and January signing Andrei Arshavin was quick to single out his better half after he finally announced himself as an Arsenal player in the 4-0 mauling of Blackburn at the Emirates on Saturday.

The enigmatic Russian, who was cup-tied for the sudden death victory against Roma in the Champions League, recovered from a deep wound in his foot that required stitches at half-time to turn this game on its head with a mixture of craft and commitment.

The 27-year-old, a winter arrival from Zenit St Petersburg, unnerved Andre Ooijer into putting through his own net after just two minutes and was a bag of tricks for most parts before he finally got his reward after the restart.

Arshavin left Danny Simpson in knots before drilling the ball past Paul Robinson to set Arsenal on their way to a one-sided victory against Sam Allardyce’s decimated squad.

Blackburn’s miserable afternoon was compounded when the much-maligned Emmanuel Eboue, on as an 83rd-minute substitute, scored two late goals, including a penalty.

This was Arsenal back to their free-flowing best with players sweeping forward from all angles.

Yet for all the positives, Arsenal supporters continued to show their disdain for Nicklas Bendtner, who wasted five clear-cut chances to make the scoreline more emphatic.

Arsene Wenger insisted the Dane will win over his detractors and was pleased Arshavin grabbed his first goal in Arsenal colours, adding that the Russian international could have a significant impact in the race for Champions League qualification.

He said: “Arshavin has lots of talent - his intelligence, vision and finishing are top quality.”

The boss added: “We were convincing and this team goes from strength to strength.”

JohnST | Arsenal, Blackburn, Premiere League | Comments (0)