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.

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 analyze 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 strategies 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.

Guus 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 consistently 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 organization, 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 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 assault on the Treble next season, provided the same team and management are kept intact.

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.

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 uninterrupted 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.

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.

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 Frank 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 acrimonious 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 Shearer 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 center 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.

At the start of the season, Manchester United’s fortunes were draped in a fog as they dropped points carelessly and their star player, Cristiano Ronaldo, seems half-hearted in repeating last season’s glory. Speculation abounds that he prefers the white jerseys of Real Madrid after achieving all possible honors in England and his August public statement of “staying at United for the time being” left the door open for future suitors.

However, their shaky campaign was righted after picking up the Club World Cup last month. The players returned from Japan in ominous form. Their back line was not breached in the Premier League since that defeat at the Emirates, 11 games ago. Slowly but surely, Manchester United’s Quadruple dreams is taking shape and to the consternation of their rivals, this era of absolute dominance may continue for years.

I believe the immediate and realistic goal for Manchester United is to win a third consecutive Premier League title. It is an ultimate test of consistency to finish top after 38 games and they are now in a strong position to do so.

There is an added prestige to maintaining domestic superiority for Manchester United. Winning an 11th crown in 17 seasons would bring them level with Liverpool’s record 18 league titles, and rub shoulders with the all-conquering Anfield sides of the ’70s and ’80s. Fergie’s babes would be well and truly be legends.

The implosion of their closest rivals has also made the work easier for Alex Ferguson. Liverpool ended their short reign at the top of the Premier League on an unhappy note. Successive draws against Stoke, Everton and Wigan compounded Benitez’s misery and sent Liverpool sliding to to third in the Premier League table.

Defeat at home to Chelsea on Sunday could leave Liverpool five points adrift of Manchester United after holding a 10-point advantage over his rival Sir Alex Ferguson in December. The dip in form has coincided with some unexpected outbursts from Beni­tez, who has made public his contract dispute with the club while launching conspiracy theories about Sir Alex Ferguson’s influence over match officials.

Football pundits are now questioning the state of Rafael Benitez’s mind, especially after his “crazy” rant about “uncontrollable events” in the second half against Wigan. Some choice words from Benitz: €œWhat you can’t control, you can’t change and maybe you have to understand it has to be like this for years.”

I don’t blame the players for feeling clueless when the manager is talking in such cryptic terms and being resigned to his fate. The heat of the championship race and Alex Ferguson’ mind games have really affected Benitez badly. When the boss loses the plot, the battle is lost.

As for Arsenal, the players have continued their tradition of being soft in the face of physical challenges, despite Arsene Wenger’s insistence on his team’s resilient character. This season, the Gunners got worse by failing to dish out their fluid passing game consistently and missing crucial chances. These days, it is common to read post match descriptions of Arsenal’s performances like “lack of quality,” “lucky,” “living dangerously,” and “finishing not up to scratch.”

Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Everton was lackluster. Against Cardiff, they only manage to eke out a goalless draw and hence, another meaningless FA Cup replay. Clearly, this batch of Gunners lacked the killer instinct nor the sense of urgency to clinch titles. Wenger has failed to boost Arsenal’s squad sufficiently which left them extremely vulnerable to injuries.

Meanwhile, the same elements causing discontent within the ranks have not been eliminated. Top of the list is William Gallas and there are those who want away because of unhappiness over their wages and contract terms. It is up to Arsene Wenger to stop the rot; if Alex Ferguson can show Roy Keane to the door, I don’t see why Wenger is hesitant in exercising his authority.

Chelsea is another inexplicable disappointment. Scolari coached Brazil to the World Cup crown and also brought Portugal to the threshold of similar glories. Why isn’t he able to achieve the same success at Stamford Bridge, and also failing to outperform Avram Grant, an unqualified manager to boot? I suspect a combination of cultural clash, players politics, technical abilities, language barrier in motivating the players, as well as maladjustment to the attacking strategy/formation and training methods.

In any case, Scolari deserves respect for accepting blame for the poor run of results. After the 3-0 drubbing by Manchester United, Chelsea won unconvincingly against Southend (4-1) and Stoke City (2-1). I don’t care much about the scoreline; against these two clubs, nothing short of clean sheets will suffice.

That used to be something which can be taken for granted during Mourinho’s era, especially at Stamford Bridge. But the home ground is no longer a fortress. Will Chelsea regain their aura of invincibility and threaten Manchester United? From what I have seen so far, the squad is not fully united behind Scolari nor committed to implementing his ideas. Getting rid of Drogba and securing capable replacements will take time, thus, the fans have to be patient with Scolari this season.

In the Carling Cup, Manchester United booked a place in the finals after a taxing tug-of-war against Derby County. United will clash next with Tottenham Hotspur, led by Harry Redknapp (winner of last year’s Carling Cup at Portsmouth). Based on Spurs’s current state of affairs, they are a long way off from getting their house in order.

Harry Redknapp has started on the umpteen Tottenham’s rejuvenation process by calling his old boys up for a gathering. I don’t know how effective that will be because Spurs have been rebuilding for the last ten years and since the buck always stops with the manager prematurely, we may not even see Redknapp next season, whether Tottenham are relegated or not.

By the way, unless Redknapp considers himself master of reverse psychology, he will do well to motivate his team without going to the press and lamenting about individual performances.

The FA Cup is a similar story for Manchester United. They are three matches away from wresting the title. United have enough experience and intelligent players to turn around the games when the chips are down. Their greatest enemy remains themselves, complacency and tired legs notwithstanding, there are few defenses in England which can withstand the firepower of the Red Devils.

Turning to the European scene, the Champions League will present a tougher challenge. In the forthcoming last-16 tie of the Champions League on 25 February, Manchester United will face Inter Milan. Actually, the prospect of clashing with the Italian team is less daunting than confronting the manager, Jose Mourinho.

Alex Ferguson has never got the better of Mourinho, be it psychologically or on the pitch. Porto eliminated Manchester United 3-2 over two encounters and they went on to clinch the Champions League in 2005. In Mourinho’s two seasons at Chelsea, they accumulated 86 unbeaten games at home and Manchester United were not able to hurt Chelsea even when they were struggling with injuries, suspensions and international commitment.

Jose Mourinho is an astute tactician and he knows how to play the intelligent, or rather boring game of football to counter superior opponents despite scarce resources. However, Alex Ferguson can take heart from the way Inter-Milan fell to Atlanta 3-1. It was a disgraceful performance which left Mourinho visibly upset. We shall not revisit his harsh criticisms of the squad here.

Given that Mourinho is not omnipotent in the Champions League (he has never won it with Chelsea), the odds are good that Manchester United can scrape through if Inter Milan perform below par.

Another factor which made Manchester United’s Quadruple dreams not only a distinct possibility but also replicable in the coming years is their strength in depth. United’s squad is now bursting with young talents after a series of shrewd acquisitions. Save for Barcelona, few clubs in Europe pursue youth development with such vigor and patience.

That is not to say that “old men” like Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and Edwin van der Sar are about to become dispensable. They are crucial in imparting their experience and technical skills to the youngsters; more importantly, there is a continuity of the special bonding and Manchester United identity with these veterans around.

The days of Ryan Giggs blazing down the left flank, evading defenders and crossing the ball into the box may be over. In fact, the last couple of seasons, he has been fading into the background, so much that a lot of fans are questioning his value and contribution to the team.

Surprisingly, he is now enjoying a new lease of life with Alex Ferguson placing him in central midfield. He created three assists against West Brom and was devastating against Chelsea. Giggs has been rewarded with a new contract, a rare privilege of eventually retiring with Manchester United as his only club. In fact, he could even win the Footballer of the Year award this season.

Edwin van der Sar is also getting better with age. He has eclipsed Petr Cech’s four-year-old top-flight record by stretching his personal unbeaten run to 1,031 minutes at West Bromwich Albion and the Dutchman could yet approach the Football League milestone of 1,103 minutes, set by Steve Death for Reading during the 1978-79 season.

Even if these veterans were to retire tomorrow, Alex Ferguson need not fret. Rising stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Nani, Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves, Anderson, Carlos Tevez are now holding the fort and have nearly a decade of service left in them… but Alex Ferguson is not contented.

Brazilians Rafael da Silva and his twin brother, Fabio, were spotted during a youth tournament and a deal was tabled immediately. Rafael, only 18-year-old, has such sublime skills that he has kept club captain, Gary Neville, and his understudy, Wes Brown, an England international, in reserve, until his untimely injury.

Alex Ferguson said during his trip to Japan last month: “This boy has come in from Brazil, doesn’t even speak the language that well, but understands the football very well. Gary and Wes Brown are England’s best right backs but they have a little problem because the boy, da Silva, has just taken off.”

Fabio, a talent of even brighter proportions, captained Brazil to the Under-17 World Cup title in 2007. He has not yet featured until the impressive match against Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth round. It is incredible to note that he has not played a competitive match over the past year, yet he is as sure-footed as his team mates. Great ball control, defensive ability and attacking instincts seem to be the trademark of the twins, little wonder that they are slated to be the bedrocks of Manchester United’s defense.

The da Silva brothers are not the sum of United’s youth squad though. Rodrigo Possebon, half a year older than the da Silva twins, is another maturing midfield prospect. And the Serbian revolution is on with the latest acquisitions in January (Zoran Tosic and Adem Ljajicwere) to add to the already established Nemanja Vidic. The strategic purchase of Zoran Tosic provides yet another replacement for the aging Ryan Giggs.

Ferguson has built winning teams around youth before in his 22 seasons in Manchester. He gave youngsters like Neville, Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham their chance at the start of the 1990s and began an era of dominance in the ’90s. The core of these players remain almost two decades on. Given Ferguson’s track record, I will not bet against him starting another renaissance at Old Trafford.

Pre-season, Manchester United were 1000-1 to win all six competitions they entered. That looks like a great investment already since the Red Devils had put two prizes in the cabinet – the Community Shield and the Club World Cup crown. They may well perform an unprecedented clean sweep, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Scolari’s position in Chelsea is increasingly shaky. His attacking style resulted in a vulnerable Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and the Brazilian has to juggle a language barrier, smaller transfer kitty, clash of ideals with Roman Abramovich and player politics to survive.

Chelsea fans have also whetted their appetite for trophies since Jose Mourinho’s reign and will not take kindly to empty-handed seasons. The “unqualified” Avram Grant managed to keep the ship on a steady keel last season so if Scolari falls short of that benchmark, his past glories will mean little in saving his job.

As for Mark Hughes, he is struggling with consistency. Manchester City lost 1-0 to Everton, marking the fifth home league defeat of this season. Despite the signing of £32.5m Brazilian superstar Robinho, Manchester City are looking nothing like championship material. At least Sven put up a fine pretense until Christmas when their title run fell apart.

Though Hughes’s Middle Eastern boss is not in a hurry to sack him, that patience may evaporate when he fail to match their expectations after more money is made available to recruit quality players in January.

But we may at least see the duo until the end of the season. Blackburn’s manager Paul Ince is in a far bigger crisis – his team has gone without a victory since September and he seems helpless in changing the team’s relegation fate. Though Ince survived a board meeting last week, his job is still hanging by a thread, especially after losing the first of “five cup finals.”

On Saturday, Wigan effortlessly blew Blackburn apart in a 3-0 victory, with goals coming from Emile Heskey, Antonio Valencia and Lee Cattermole. Paul Ince took full responsibility for their sixth successive defeat and vowed to carry on as manager.

Blackburn fans are not cheering that decision though. Once Wigan started banging in the goals, choruses of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and “You don’t know what you’re doing” filled the stadium, a clear indication of Ince’s current standing among the fans.

By the 12th minute, any semblance of Blackburn’s resistance was destroyed. Valencia eased past Warnock and delivered a brilliant cross which was met by Heskey for his third goal of the season. Two minutes earlier, Valencia had nutmegged Warnock by slipping the ball between his legs and the live-wire was simply too hot to handle.

Blackburn had barely regained their composure when their defense was breached again in the 14th minute. Paul Robinson took a goal-kick but Mario Melchiot was first to the ball and played it to Valencia, who slotted home stylishly after a free run on goal. Once again, Warnock and Pedersen were negligent in their basic defensive duties.

Just before the break, the match could be sewn up had Cattermole scored from Valencia’s assist but his header hit the underside of the bar. It was finally over in the 77th minute when Valencia’s cross was deflected by Warnock and Cattermole was alert enough to drive the ball into the net.

I must say Rovers defense was extremely sloppy and unrecognizable from the team of spirited fighters crafted by Mark Hughes. It has caused much of their demise today. Not that the midfield performed any better as Blackburn surrendered possession easily and frequently, with Tugay the serial offender.

In the aftermath of this defeat, Paul Ince cut a lonely figure in the Blackburn camp. Fortunately, Wigan’s manager Steve Bruce, stood behind his former team mate in his darkest hour. He urged patience, saying: “I’ve known him for a long, long time and you don’t play for Milan and Liverpool unless you’ve got a bit of bottle. I don’t want to comment on him losing his job and I’m sure he will turn it around.”

Bruce is being kind but Blackburn fans are running out of patience and they will prefer the axe to fall on Paul Ince tomorrow. The question is no longer if but when for these diehard supporters. If Ince flunk the next four games, the inevitable may just happen.

I know it is heartbreaking for the fans to see the deterioration of their club. Blackburn finished 7th last year and have been in the top half of the league for the last 3 seasons. They earned a reputation of being defensively tight and had a manager that was tactically astute and motivated the players well. Now, with gov’nor Paul Ince around, the oomph factor is gone.

However, the fans have to discard the “we want it now” mentality. Developing a mid-table club into perennial title contender requires patience, planning, vision, and if possible, truckloads of cash. Patience is in especially short supply these days but if Hodgson (Fulham), Moyes(Everton) and Megson(Bolton) are still in their jobs after experiencing nasty setbacks, then sacking Paul Ince may be too hasty.

Ince has appealed for more time to grow accustomed to the pressure of managing a Premier League club and I believe it is justified. There is no point in handing Ince another 4-5 games without giving him the whole season. Many managers had escaped the drop right till the last day of the season so why should Ince be deprived of the chance?

Beginners must be given a fair chance at success and in order to have more English managers gaining international recognition, the least we can do is to give them time and space to develop in the Premier League. There will be no Sir Alex Ferguson today if results were expected of him in the first attempt.

To alleviate the stress, Ince had shifted some responsibility back to the Blackburn board when he called upon them to spend. He said: “The cold hard fact is we need investment. You saw Wigan today “lots of pace, power and we need new faces coming in.”

Paul Ince may have a point there. To be a major title contender, you can’t be signing players like Keith Andrews – a 29 year old 3rd division player, or bringing in Robbie Fowler and Matt Jansen for trials.

If these guys are good enough to make the first XI, then other players may not be motivated to perform. Existing players like Tugay has lost the plot and Santa Cruz’s heart is no longer with the club. Coupled with the departure of David Bentley, one of Blackburn’s most promising stars, Ince’s trump cards are limited when the going gets tough.

I wouldn’t blame the board for not getting solid reinforcements though. The club is not exactly flush with cash and the January transfer budget, if any, is expected to be modest. Ince has no choice but to make do with the lack of depth in the squad.

In any case, getting additional quality players is not a process which is achievable overnight. If the board adopts a financially reckless approach, in the worst case scenario that Blackburn are demoted which means considerably less revenue, they may do a Leeds’ United and have to liquidate their best assets.

I believe Paul Ince may be facing lesser criticisms if he has some notable achievements under his belt. Unlike Scolari and Hughes, Paul Ince can only claim to have saved Macclesfield from relegation and took MK Dons to the title and a cup but both clubs are in the lower divisions.

On hindsight, it may be better for Ince to spend a few more years managing these clubs and leading them to titles to build up his reputation and experience before moving up the ladder.

Blackburn were lucky when they took a gamble to appoint Mark Hughes. He did not have much experience (Blackburn was his first club appointment) but things worked out perfectly. Sparky learnt quickly on the job and was able to impose his own presence in the dressing room.

But if Blackburn were hoping for a second time lucky, they were greatly disappointed. Paul Ince’s learning curve turns out to be more eventful and in terms of tactical acumen, organization and encouraging his team, he has lots to catch up.

Nevertheless, not all aspects are negative about Paul Ince’s reign. When we consider Blackburn’s efforts against Liverpool or even against Spurs, Rovers were unorganized but worked hard to frustrate their opponents. After resilient performances characteristic of Ince, Rovers finally succumbed to the meekest of goals.

Blackburn’s next matches are against Stoke, Sunderland and Manchester City – all matches in which they have an even chance of winning. If they picked up full points, jumping out of the relegation zone is not impossible. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Ince can do just that and prove his critics wrong.

There were barely whimpers of protest that a traditional English club fell into the hands of oil sheiks; in fact, most fans were smitten by the wealth of Abu Dhabi royal family… their finest hour of football success is nigh.

Roman Abramovich is also coming to grips with the fact that his money is no longer the decisive factor in luring football superstars. For years, Abramovich reveled in the fantasy football game by making record signings with an unlimited transfer budget but now, he has to contend with participants who are even more liberal with their money.

Despite courting Robinho aggressively, the Brazilian snubbed Chelsea and Abramovich when the Arabs dangled a fatter carrot in front of him. Nevertheless, when the bruised ego is cast aside, at least Abramovich is enjoying the last laugh… for now.

After viewing the mind-boggling zeros in the check and trading hyperboles, it was the same old Manchester City when the battle lines were drawn. Chelsea emerged victorious by hammering 3 goals past City defenses and it was a convincing display despite falling behind to an early goal.

As if the gulf in footballing standards needs to be emphasized, Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari took time out to impress on his Premier League rivals that his team is just warming up. Certain key players (Michael Essien and Michael Ballack) were missing in action and he has yet to pick a settled first XI.

This is indeed a fearful prospect that Chelsea, sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table (six points ahead of reigning champions Manchester United who lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Liverpool) can play much better once they adapted to Scolari’s football philosophy and have a fully fit squad.

In this match, I was particularly interested in Robinho. Was he worth the whopping 32.5 million pounds of transfer fees and the preferential treatment of a private jet? And how long should Mark Hughes indulge this over-hyped Brazilian before showing his disciplinarian side?

To his credit, the fleet-footed Brazilian took only 13 minutes to impress all and sundry as he whipped a free-kick over the Chelsea wall and past Petr Cech. The stadium erupted in wild celebration and City looked to be on their way.

However, City’s happiness was short-lived. In the space of three minutes, the lead was erased when John Terry’s header deflected to Carvalho who thundered home with aplomb. City may have lost part of their English identity but they retain their joker character by throwing away advantages with slack defending. This led Mark Hughes to lament: “If we could have stayed in front for just 10 or 15 minutes it would have helped…”

The scoreline could have been more embarrassing if not for Chelsea’s profligate finishing. Florent Malouda headed against the bar when unchallenged in front of goal and put a second opportunity just wide. In the dying seconds of the first half, City were again spared the blushes when Nicolas Anelka missed from an open goal.

Chelsea hardly looked flustered as they knew it was just a matter of tightening the noose on their captive. Manchester City, for all their ambitions, were given a harsh football lesson by a relentless Chelsea.

Frank Lampard put the Blues ahead on 53 minutes with a fine strike after an incisive pass from Malouda. The game was over when Anelka scored the third goal and Terry’s dismissal for a professional professional foul on Jo proved immaterial.

Besides the first goal, there is nothing lyrical to wax about Robinho. His passes went astray and he added to City’s woes by losing possession easily with flamboyant dribbling. The greatest joke was when Robinho completed four step-overs and then passed straight to Ashley Cole.

To seek positives in Robinho’s abysmal control of the ball, I can only say that he met his team mates on Friday and he is tired from playing for Brazil on Thursday morning. After assimilating into the City setup, we should expect more of the Brazilian.

Mark Hughes was clearly resigned to this defeat, saying: “People have got a little ahead of themselves but we know the level we are at. We are still a very young team and it is not going to happen overnight. You saw a team in Chelsea who know exactly what they are trying to do and that is a consequence of playing and winning together consistently for the last five years.”

Hughes is right that Manchester City have got ahead of themselves and should temper their ambitions. Money alone cannot buy titles, you need a fair element of luck and managerial abilities.

Throughout the week, we heard about City’s plans to become a dominant force in European and domestic football. And to do so, they will spare no expenses to assemble a star-studded championship team which includes Cristiano Ronaldo. No wonder Sir Alex Ferguson was pissed off and dismissed them as nothing but hot air.

However, Mark Hughes is wrong if he thinks he is going to get five years in office. Looking at the case of Chelsea, the manner in which Roman Abramovich splurged his money shows a certain method to his madness.

In less than two years, the backwater Chelsea was established as one of the major title contenders in the Premier League and Champions League. Abramovich was quick to dismiss Claudio Ranieri and appoint Jose Mourinho who had just completed a prestigious Treble with Porto.

Ranieri set the framework for success by buying several exciting players – Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Peter Cech, Joe Cole, Damien Duff, Arjen Robben, Glen Johnson, Wayne Bridge, Geremi, Hernan Crespo, Eidur Gudjohnsen and William Gallas. But it is Jose Mourinho who gets the acclaim for winning the trophies.

Of course, the latter did his fair share of rebuilding by purchasing a mixed bag of flops and winners such as Paulo Fereira, Ricardo Carvalho, Assier Del Horno, Tiago, Michael Essien, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Didier Drogba and Mateja Kezman.

Too often, Ranieri’s role at Chelsea has been belittled unfairly. His last season was trying, and that is an understatement. He added to the sense of dread by proclaiming himself as a “dead man walking” as the club made it clear they would be getting a new coach at the end of the season, without actually sacking him.

Under such circumstances, the Italian turned in a credible report card by leading Chelsea to second in the Premier League and the semi-finals of the Champions League before Mourinho came in to finish the job. And just to complete the story, Jose Mourinho’s fantastic achievements cannot even guarantee his own survival as he was eventually removed under a combination of player politics and stepping on the toes of Abramovich.

Can Mark Hughes outdo Claudio Ranieri? It is a stretch to think he can squeeze into the top four, not to mention a second spot. Yet, Ranieri has no place at Chelsea, so if the ruthlessness of Abramovich is replicated by the Abu Dhabi clan, the situation for Hughes is nothing short of a pressure cooker.

Though I respect Mark Hughes’s management skills and feel that he has a bright future, he is, after all, a dispensable candidate for those with money to burn. It does not bode well that his credentials are bereft of major titles as patience may run out very quickly. In fact, I seriously doubt if Mark Hughes can last an entire season if Manchester City continue to flounder in mediocrity – the club had already lost two of their first four games.

Manchester City’s new bosses will prefer to appoint a world-class manager with a track record of winning titles in his place to go along with their expensively assembled superstars.

While Robinho can bring some glamor and quality into Manchester City, the same cannot be said for other players which Mark Hughes had signed in the close season. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Tal Ben-Haim are not exactly the kind of elites the Arabs have in mind.

Gelling the team and tightening defenses are currently Mark Hughes’s top priorities, rather than to secure any Champions League football. Unfortunately, Chelsea had raised the bar and the new oil money cannot be seen to be doing less. It will require a miracle for Manchester City to displace Liverpool and Arsenal and the huge gulf with Chelsea is already apparent on the basis of this match.

So, after Kevin Keegan’s acrimonious parting of ways with Newcastle last week, the odds are high that Mark Hughes could be the next dead man walking.

As for Chelsea, they have built up strong and enduring qualities as a championship team over the last 5 years and while clubs like Manchester City will try to chip away at their advantage, Stamford Bridge will not fall overnight. In fact, the Chelsea empire will be setting their sights on conquering Europe this season.

However, most superstars in the Premier League have no idea what a recession means. If anything, they will be clamoring for fatter pay packages as investors continue to spend exorbitant amount of money to grab a piece of the Premier League action.

In the recent transfer window, deadline deals break a Premier League transfer record by surpassing the 500 million mark from some 470 million in 2007.

As Paul Rawnsley, director of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, remarked: “This transfer spending is far in excess of other European leagues. English football clubs are proving resilient to the current challenging economic environment.”

Can’t argue with his observation… and no complaints either since this crazy money provides us with great entertainment. Let’s review two of the last minute transfers and see whether this money-inundated night yields any value for the Premier League clubs.

Manchester United

I am glad that Dimitar Berbatov is no longer sulking. A dream move to Manchester United on a four-year contract from Tottenham Hotspur for 30.75 million pounds finally came to fruition, making him the most expensive Bulgarian.

The Premier League and European champions had to fend off an audacious late bid from derby rival, Manchester City, to sign Berbatov. City offered a British record of 32.5 million pounds and higher wages but Alex Ferguson has already courted Berbatov’s heart.

City’s bid serve only to buttress Tottenham’s negotiation terms and to give their arch rival a miserable time by coughing up more cash. Tottenham are not going to give up their crown jewel cheaply, if at all, but the signing of Russian striker Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow for 17 million euros and a season long loan of United’s striker Fraizer Campbell allowed for a more flexible solution.

In any case, this was a deal which Alex Ferguson will not give up easily. With Cristiano Ronaldo sidelined until October after an operation, Louis Saha sold to Everton, that leaves Carlos Tevez and Rooney in Manchester United’s front line.

Most managers will gladly take this partnership which is sufficient to terrorize any defense but in the event of injuries or suspensions, United’s title hopes could be dashed. In fact, even without any mishap, there is an inherent problem, as seen from Cristiano Ronaldo scoring 42 goals last season.

Both Rooney and Tevez love to drop into deep positions, roam freely around the field and supply passes rather than to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities. Ronaldo, as a midfielder, ended up shaming other Premier League strikers as he has little competition in putting away the chances.

Since Ronaldo is out of action and that vain pot seems more happy at Santiago Bernabeu, it is a matter of time before Manchester United run out of patience and place him on the selling list. But until then, the search for a conventional striker must be resolved first.

A point man in the box, much like what Ruud van Nistelrooy used to do is urgently needed, and Dimitar Berbatov fits that role like a glove. Berbatov has a history of slow starts in competitions but once he gets into the groove, he is unstoppable.

Between 2000-2006, Berbatov plied his trade in Bayer Leverkusen and he endured two forgettable seasons before establishing himself as the first-choice forward in the 2002-03 season.

The following year, Berbatov shone by scoring 16 goals in 24 starts and in the next two seasons, he grew from strength to strength, netting 46 goals including five in the Champions League, raising awareness of his prodigious talent throughout Europe.

In 2006, Dimitar Berbatov was lured to Tottenham for a fee of 16 million pounds. He did not disappoint as he ended the 2006-07 season with 12 goals in 33 appearances in the Premier League and 11 assists. That form coincided with one of Spurs’s best showing in the Premier League in recent years.

Despite Tottenham’s shaky start last season, Berbatov still managed 15 league goals (overall of 23 goals in all competitions) and an identical 11 assists.

Considering the ammunition at Berbatov’s disposal from the free-flowing attacks launched by his Manchester United teammates, and this being his third season in the Premier League, I will not be surprised if he score 30 goals, barring injuries.

Manchester City

It was not a bad day for Manchester City despite losing out on Dimitar Berbatov. They secured Robinho’s transfer from Real Madrid for around 32.5 million pounds. Spanish sports daily Marca revealed that Robinho will be paid six million euros per season – about three times what he reportedly earned at Madrid.

Are they trying to paint Robinho as a mercenary? That he left for monetary rather than football reasons? I believe Robinho will not have left Madrid under any circumstances if he was treated with dignity. During Madrid’s hot pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo, they were insensitive to Robinho’s feeling, which hastened his departure. After all, nobody likes to be told they are surplus to requirement.

Manchester City also snapped up defender Vedran Corluka for 8.5 million pounds. City certainly have the cash. Their financial muscles bulged after the club confirmed a memorandum of understanding with an Abu Dhabi investment company for a takeover. Thaksin will remain as a board member but without “administrative duties.”

Robinho’s arrival was definitely a stunner for me as the Brazil forward was all but ready to join manager Luiz Felipe Scolari at Stamford Bridge. In this case, money is secondary because Scolari commands a certain stature among fellow Brazilian players. That reputation came after he led his country to World Cup glory in 2002, from a virtually impossible situation where Brazil was struggling to clear the qualifying rounds.

The fact that City snatched Robinho under the nose of Roman Abramovich indicates that they are now in a position to challenge super-rich Chelsea for players, at any price. At least, United can heave a sigh of relief as City did them a favor by stopping Robinho from bolstering Chelsea squad.

Mark Hughes was delighted, saying: “I have said that in order to compete with the best teams in the Premier League we have to be in the market for players of this calibre, and Robinho is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world. This is a real statement of intent as to the ambitions of Manchester City Football Club.”

Is Robinho value for money? After all, he won the Spanish league for the past two years with Real Madrid and has scored 11 times in 42 caps for Brazil.

In the 2005-2006 season, Robinho made 37 appearances and scored eight goals. The following year, he fell out of favour with new manager Fabio Capello, and was benched for a long spell. He got a break after winter by forcing into the first XI. Last season, he contributed eleven goals and fourteen assists for Real Madrid.

However, I am not sure how much change Robinho can wrought on Manchester City’s fortune as Brazilians are relegated to water-carriers and do not take the Premier League by storm. Robinho is an excellent dribbler but his close control is still inferior to Cristiano Ronaldo or Ronaldinho (at his best).

Mark Hughes may be happy that the City management is fast in handing him the money to make quality signings but he has little time to build his team. Expectations are high and it will be unlike Blackburn where there are little hopes of competing for trophies and Hughes calls the shots without question.

The atmosphere at City will be a pressure cooker, not because of the fans but because of the management. Results will be demanded from him quickly, according to the ambitious plans tabled by Thaksin, else he may be forced to follow Eriksson’s footsteps.

I have a feeling his new Middle East boss will be no less demanding or ruthless than Thaksin when it comes to non-performance.

Call it a sparring match, if you want, just to test the limits of Scolari’s psychological fortress. Kevin Keegan (an endearing but mentally fragile man), succumbed far too easily under pressure, it wasn’t even fun to watch. For those hoping for a juicy rejoinder, they were disappointed as Scolari brushed off Ferguson’s taunts. Rather than being angry, Scolari may even have felt flattered to invite mental barbs so early in the season.

Does Alex Ferguson’s first salvo warrants any merit? To be sure, Chelsea’s ranks are filled by some over-the-hill superstars and most players are approaching their “prime” of 28-30 years old. It is possible that history repeats itself with multiple injuries plaguing Chelsea again during an arduous campaign.

However, let’s not forget that a creaking Chelsea squad still managed to chase the Premier League title till the final day of the season and had the Champions League crown slipped narrowly out of their grasp due to a miscued John Terry’s penalty kick. Thus, the experience from a few breathless “old men” is not such a bad thing.

Ferguson also raised concerns about Scolari’s command of the English language. This is a rather cheap shot because from the way Scolari conducted his first Chelsea media conference, he looks comfortable speaking in English and will certainly improve before his time in England is up.

I believe Ferguson’s taunts will yield the most damage from his comparison of Scolari to Mourinho. Fergie said: “I’m not concerned about Chelsea. There’s no-one who can improve on Mourinho’s record. He won the title two years in a row and beat us in the FA Cup Final. Scolari would have to go beyond Mourinho’s performance to worry us.”

Even Avram Grant, an untested candidate in European football who did not possess a Uefa pro Coaching license, came close to eclipsing the Special One, so it is hard to fathom Scolari achieving less with his glittering international and club credentials.

Expectations are high and Roman Abramovich will not accept another season of being second best. Results have to go Scolari’s way from day one, and it has to be entertaining, that is the pressure cooker environment which the Brazilian has to contend with.

Scolari responded with a “I will do it my way,” but let’s be frank, there is only one way in Chelsea and that is Roman Abramovich’s way. After Jose Mourinho set the golden benchmarks but was removed after a few unsatisfactory games due to a depleted squad and player politics, I will say the situation at Chelsea is more complex than Scolari imagined.

Alex Ferguson is of course not so kind to sound a timely reminder to his foe. It is more likely that he is nursing a grudge against Scolari for offering “fatherly advice” to Cristiano Ronaldo. Speculation is rife that Scolari encouraged Ronaldo to seek greener pastures and purse his childhood dreams at Santiago Bernabeu.

These remarks are unsubstantiated but the timing of Scolari’s resignation as Portugal’s coach and replacing Avram Grant at Chelsea implied that he does have a vested interest in weakening Manchester United’s squad.

Ferguson needs no prompting to seek revenge and it is about time he deflects some attention away from the Ronaldo transfer speculation which is not setting the right atmosphere for team building. Morale should be high after winning the Double last season but the camaraderie in the dressing room is fragmented now.

Carlos Tevez, one of the major contributors to last season’s success, has got in with differing views that Ronaldo should be free to make his own career decisions, rather than the current stand-off based on a binding contract as what Ferguson repeatedly stressed.

Apparently, United players have split into opposing camps as to the whereabouts of Ronaldo. Silence is golden when it comes to such sensitive issues and Tevez has overstepped the boundary by questioning the wisdom of his boss. I doubt if Ferguson is in a hurry to wield the axe but he will certainly have clamped down on further public statements from his players.

With dark clouds hanging over Ronaldo’s future, Alex Ferguson is keen to secure the services of Dimitar Berbatov, who will add a different dimension to their vast array of talents.

Despite United’s scoring prowess, the front line is surprisingly thin as most of the firepower is concentrated in attacking midfielders. A substantial portion of goals scored in the 2007/08 season was accounted by Ronaldo’s 42 goals in all competitions.

If Cristiano Ronaldo is taken out of the equation, Manchester United will be left in a vulnerable position where they struggle to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities. United only have one lethal outfield striker in Wayne Rooney while Carlos Tevez functions in a deeper role.

The other forwards (Louis Saha, Dong Fangzhuo, Frazier Campbell) are best left unmentioned. I have already discounted Saha due to his frequent injuries and if Rooney join him in the treatment room, the season is in jeopardy. Another established striker is of paramount importance with other top teams beefing up for a fresh challenge on the titles.

So far, Chelsea have reinforced their squad with Deco and Jose Bosingwa’s arrival. Robinho is likely to join them if Real Madrid can secure the services of Cristiano Ronaldo. It is doubtful if Deco can improve Chelsea’s squad immensely as he struggled to break into the first team at Barcelona. However, Deco managed to stamp his class at Euro 2008 and with Scolari backing him wholeheartedly, I expect him to feature prominently.

The jury is still out for Jose Bosingwa but Scolari is likely to go slow on a budding talent. There are also rumors of Chelsea digging deeply into their pockets with a 75 million pounds bid for Kaka. Such an audacious raid on AC Milan’s crown jewel will definitely tilt the odds heavily in Chelsea’s favor and at the same time, hasten the departure of a brooding Frank Lampard.

Alex Ferguson’s words could end up helping Scolari as the latter looks at his team objectively and he has sufficient time to prepare his team and strengthen the deficiencies. The Brazilian will relish the challenge in the Premier League and I am sure he will be up to the task, even if he does not have much of a honeymoon period.

The mental games are not over, Scolari will be busy brushing up his English to trade barbs with Alex Ferguson as the season progresses. Yup, can’t wait till the new season begins..