headermask image

header image

Capello To Ponder On Team Selection After USA Friendly Win

May 30, 2008 – 6:33 pm

While the rest of Europe prepare in earnest for the upcoming European Championships, the English are wondering what activities to indulge themselves as they licked their wounded pride. England failed to qualify so it is hard to foresee a nation gripped by football fever.

Amid this depression, nobody paid much attention to to Fabio Capello’s friendly match against United States at Wembley. For the record, England won 2-0. John Terry had been given a new lease of life when Capello appointed him as captain and the “crybaby,” (as mocked by some quarters), showed that he fully deserved the pacifier by scoring the opener. It will take more than a win over USA before Terry recovers from his Champions League misery but it was the right response for me.

A few days ago, I was rather touched to see an open letter published on Chelsea official site where Terry expressed his regret over the embarrassing penalty miss. His image as a pompous and ill-disciplined character has stuck in our minds but I am sure the fans were more than willing to forgive him after he accepted full responsibility and declared his deep loyalty to the club. To a large extent, a spitting incident on Carlos Tevez was mitigated.

For this match, I must say that those who did not watch the proceedings were lucky. The scoreline may suggest a comfortable victory, which is true given the ample possession and the none too adventurous nature of the Americans, but in terms of entertainment value, this could well have been the handiwork of Steve McClaren. Fact is, old habits die hard, loping the ball into the air after stringing a couple of passes seems to be written into the DNA of this team.

The forgettable performance could be due to fatigue as those involved in the Champions League finals were struggling to stamp their class and maintain a high tempo. The sharpness (or lack of) in front of goal could prove decisive against stronger opponents.

David Beckham continued his pursuit of records after attaining his centenary against France. Having scored a spectacular 70-yard injury-time shot in the LA Galaxy’s 3-1 win over the Kansas City Wizards last Saturday, he was sharp and fit enough to warrant a starting place. Indeed, Beckham did not disappoint with an energetic display. He was first to create a goal threat with a free-kick that whistled past the post, and he crafted another scoring opportunity for Gerrard from a clever set-piece, but the latter’s shot was blocked by Clint Dempsey.

The thing about Beckham, regardless of whatever misgivings one may have, is that once he put his mind to something, he is able to prove his sternest critics wrong. Even Capello, with little love lost at the start of Real Madrid’s campaign, owed Beckham a debt of gratitude for a late rally to the La Liga title. However, Beckham is not known for consistency and his form is likely to fizzle out. Capello will be judging whether he can inspire LA Galaxy to the title or at least emerge from an entire Major League Soccer season unscathed.

After the break, Blackburn winger David Bentley replaced Beckham and while he expressed lofty ambitions to displace Golden Balls, I believe he is a long way off from world-class quality. Many aspects of his game, especially distribution of the ball and keeping possession can be improved. The success Bentley craves has to come from hours of practice, just ask Cristiano Ronaldo whose 42 goals in this season was no coincidence, being the result of relentless training to perfect his skills and a deep desire to be the best in the world.

There was much intrigue in the telepathic understanding between Gareth Barry and Steven Gerrard. Capello exhibited great faith in Barry, having selected him for all his three matches in charge. This time round, Owen Hargreaves, playing the entire 90 minutes, was favored in the holding midfielder role after recovering from tendinitis. Barry came on for Frank Lampard in the 57th minute and within minutes, he struck a confident pass that sent Gerrard through for England’s second goal.

Clearly, the pair complement each other and Liverpool should do their utmost to secure the services of Barry, if they desire the Premier League title. An expensive signing which can fit and contribute to the team immediately as in the case of Fernando Torres is better than buying several unknown talents. The seamless partnership between Gerrard and Barry forces the awkward issue of accommodating Frank Lampard. This conundrum will be non-existent if Lampard has not been so indispensable for Chelsea with his crucial goals and assists driving the team when the chips are down but yet, he is a misfit for England.

Lampard’s contribution to the front line in terms of defense-splitting passes is poor, he cannot dribble and neither is he good at tracking back to defend. He will have been a mere shadow if not for the fact he balloons half-chances instead of feeding the ball to a better positioned striker. Capello can continue to fit a square peg into a round hole by changing formations or fielding other players out of position as what previous coaches had done. However, I would prefer him to explore other possibilities in midfield and there are many.

As for the rearguard comprising Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ashley Cole, it looks sturdy but we do not expect defensive frailties to be exposed by a team of USA caliber in the first place. Competition for the captain’s armband is keen - Terry’s goal and overall performance provides Capello with a pleasant headache on this issue. Ferdinand was in ascendancy but now a spanner has been thrown into the works.

So far, Capello has used three skippers - Terry, Ferdinand and Gerrard. Barry and Rooney are also worthy of being groomed in such a capacity but right now, they are behind the pecking order. Capello is shrewd in keeping his choice for the permanent captain close too his heart. In this way, everybody is kept on their toes and nobody can question the final choice given that it is based on merit after watching what each candidate can do while wearing the armband.

With the defense more or less settled, the strikeforce is still anybody’s guess. It has yet to take shape even if Capello has tried, and hopefully, not exhausted different options. There is no doubt Wayne Rooney is the first choice; he has a great attitude in training, holds the ball up well and can link up play with intelligent passes. In short, he functions as an excellent conduit when penetrating enemy’s territories. Despite a short fuse on the pitch and not scoring enough goals, no coach in his right mind will leave Rooney out of his plan.

The problem is to find him a partner, someone in the mold of Carlos Tevez will be a godsend. The last time, Gerrard was pushed upfront as a second striker but the result was not really desired in that Rooney ended up supporting Gerrard (and he sure fluffed a lot of chances) instead of the other way round.

If Tevez’s close control of the ball, energy and persistence cannot be found, at least there are youngsters with his pace, such as Theo Walcott and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Unfortunately, Capello takes references from stellar club performances, thus he is unlikely to utilize them in the World Cup until they get a solid run in their individual clubs.

Peter Crouch is a viable option but he cannot command a regular spot at Anfield and is even on his way out. Under such circumstances, I will hesitate to choose Crouch until he proves his worth. Instead of wasting time on the bench, Crouch should consider a transfer, even to a lesser club who can promise him a regular berth as the main striker. Certainly, Capello will not be willing to gamble on Defoe if he had remained at Tottenham where he is condemned by Ramos.

Dean Ashton, under the guidance of Harry Redknapp at West Ham, is blossoming into an excellent striker. His aerial prowess, strength and great eye for goal are attractive qualities. However, he is injury prone and lacks accelearation. Ashton may get a chance on Sunday as Defoe has already been given a chance to showcase his abilities. Too bad, he didn’t really turn up to be counted.

The Portsmouth forward had not the presence of mind to finish off several opportunities, especially a glint-edged chance started by a neat move involving Gerrard and Rooney but he sidefooted past the post in front of goal. Hopefully, Defoe has not killed his chance of featuring in future England matches with this performance. Michael Owen, who rediscovered his confidence and scoring touch at Newcastle, is once again back in contention as the firm favorite.

The USA team mustered little in attack and pressure, thus it is a pity that England cannot rack up more goals to account for their superior possession. The team is still a work in progress, while Capello has resources at his disposal, merging them into a compact and incisive team takes time. The front line enigma must be solved before the World Cup qualifiers but he can afford to experiment further on Sunday, especially since several players who appeared in the Champions League final may not travel for that encounter.

Victory means nothing in friendlies, but it is not a holiday camp or a mass gathering either. Capello has to gain a better understanding of his formation and his players as well as get his message across to them during this short period of bonding. He will now round off Sunday’s friendly against Trinidad and Tobago and the clash with the Czech Republic at Wembley in August, before the start of the World Cup qualifying campaign against Andorra.

The test starts in earnest for Capello with the game against Croatia in Zagreb on September 10. At the rate the team is forming up, Capello is still on track to deliver the FA’s targets but his remarks on wanting to be the most successful England coach ever seems a bit far-fetched.

Popularity: 46% [?]

JohnST | David Beckham, England, European Championships, World Cup | Comments (0)

Wherehence for Cristiano Ronaldo?

May 22, 2008 – 8:23 am

There is no smoke without a fire. Amid the celebrations of Manchester United’s third Champions League success, rumors of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure for the sunny climate of Madrid intensified. Could this be the fanatical English media at work, fanning the flames just to keep our interest, especially now that football season has ended, or there is an element of truth, serious enough for Alex Ferguson to consider a replacement in the near future?

The player himself refused to give a firm commitment on his future, lending credence to the speculations. The rumor mill went into overdrive when Ronaldo revealed, while picking up the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award, that he harbors ambitions to play in Spain.

United were quick to set the record straight by insisting that the decision is theirs to make, given that Ronaldo has four years remaining on a five-year contract worth £120,000 a week. David Gill, the chief executive, also announced that Ronaldo is not for sale and it makes “no sense” to sell him, even for a world-record fee in excess of £50 million.

Manchester United fans can be forgiven for feeling uncertain about the Portuguese’s future since a palpable shift in his tone. Where once it was an unequivocal stance of long-term commitment to the Premier League champions, Ronaldo has left a question mark by saying: “I would love to play in Spain, but it’s one thing to dream and another thing for it to be reality. I don’t know the club, but I know that they like my game. I am feeling calm and happy here, but in the future I don’t know.”

Indeed, it seems that Spain will make Ronaldo even happier. Real Madrid insiders had actually placed “Project Ronaldo” on the backburner until at least 2009, but the flirtatious comments by the man himself, his agent Jorge Mendes, and those close to him, were an encouragement that Madrid could yet snag their biggest prize in recent history.

Another crucial element in their favor was the link-up of Ronaldo with Nereida Gallardo, a model based in Spain. Apparently, the Portuguese is so smitten by Gallardo that he had showered her with expensive gifts and marriage is even in the pipeline. If both intend to settle down soon, Gallardo may prefer Ronaldo to choose a club closer to where she works. Ferguson will of course has something to say about that. The last time a player (Beckham) was “led astray” by his spouse, the parting of ways was bitter and even bloody.

For now, we cannot determine the effect of Gallardo on Ronaldo’s career but Ferguson is committed to keeping his prized asset by showing his sincerity. While basking in the glory of his second Champions League title, he made special mention that Ronaldo is a vital component of his plans for European domination. He said: “Real think they can ride roughshod over everyone, but they won’t do it with us. We only sold them Ruud van Nistelrooy and David Beckham because we wanted to.”

Real president Ramon Calderon said that United trying to hold on to Ronaldo against his will is akin to slavery. Spanish sports daily Marca claimed earlier this week that the winger has already expressed his wish to join Madrid, obliging United to hold transfer negotiations.

Ferguson immediately lambasted Calderon and Schuster for using the Spanish media to unsettle players. “You get used to the way Madrid perform in these things. Calderon makes that great statement that slavery was abolished many, many years ago. Did they tell Franco that? Give me a break.”

Obviously, he is less than impressed with the unwanted attention of Madrid and their heavy-handed tactics. He believes that Queiroz’s first-hand experience of life at the Bernabeu could prove decisive in keeping Ronaldo at Old Trafford. His torrid time of only ten months at Madrid is a reminder to Ronaldo that failing to settle in and abiding by the rules of certain players can have dire consequences.

Queiroz, a strong candidate to replace Ferguson should the latter retire has been largely credited as Ronaldo’s mentor since his return to Old Trafford in 2004, a year after the winger’s arrival from Sporting Lisbon. He is also expected to form a similar bond with fellow Portuguese Nani. His words will carry sufficient weight to give Ronaldo food for thought about moving on.

I believe that a new deal is definitely in the making, possibly a £150,000 a week contract. Ferguson promised earlier to increase Ronaldo’s wages should he better his previous goalscoring record. He is also aware that his youthful team is subject to temptations and in order to keep them together, United has to follow the market trend. Suppressing wages, as what Arsenal are attempting to do, will be futile.

He said: “It doesn’t matter which player it is, the ones you want to keep you have to work hard to keep. In the modern day, that is a fact. It’s not lost on Manchester United and it’s not lost on Real Madrid either. We will not be moving anyone out.”

Actually, I don’t blame Ronaldo for looking for fresh challenges. After all, in his five years at Old Trafford, Ronaldo has won a Champions League and 2 Premiership titles, and he may want to try his luck with other clubs. When a player is young and he feels he has the world at this feet, he believes that anything is possible.

Rio Ferdinand is a good case in point. In his youth, he distinguished himself as one of the premier defenders in the country and Manchester United broke the transfer record in order to sign him. Nevertheless, his ambitions were not satiated and he wanted a stint in Spain or Italy. Well, forward to four weeks ago, we saw him committing the remainder of his career to United by signing a new five-year contract. His salary is worth in excess of £100,000 a week and he is next in line to be United’s captain.

Ronaldo also need not look further than the unsuccessful migration of Thierry Henry to Barcelona. While at Arsenal, King Henry has everything, except a Champions League medal. He left the sanctuary which made him into a legend and enter the Nou Camp cauldron. Played out of position and being relegated to a runner than a main striker, he was clearly unhappy and his form, morale and confidence hit an all-time low. It is doubtful if he can be the same talismanic player, full of trickery and pace, even if he returns back to Emirates Stadium.

If Ronaldo thinks Manchester United cannot win without him, he is seriously wrong. United are in a position now where they can dominate their peers for years to come and those who remain can collect plenty of titles to become legends. His departure will only hasten the development of other talents like Nani and Anderson who are waiting impatiently in the wings. The smart thing for Ronaldo is to stay at United, at least until Sir Alex retires.

Can Ronaldo’s game survive in La Liga? In the first place, he still needs to improve in a few areas. For dead-ball situations, I believe Ronaldo is up there among the best with his composure, technique and accuracy but goals in open-play came at the expense of his assists. This season, he has become selfish and more interested in self-promotion but so long as the team is winning, nobody cares.

The story will be different if his goals dried up and he still persists in taking the chances at the expense of better positioned players. The team’s interests is sacrificed just to placate his vanity and thirst for individual glories. No manager will welcome such a player who has grown too big for his shoes, certainly not Alex Ferguson. Thus, Ronaldo cannot rest on his laurels and must work equally hard for himself and his team-mates if he wants to stay on top of his game.

Football is a collective effort and every member is important. In Ronaldo’s penalty miss against Chelsea at the Champions League finals, it shows that he is only human and if the other members of the squad did not pull their weight, the title is as good as lost. Being a dead-ball specialist and a potential Fifa Footballer of The Year winner, Ronaldo cannot shirk his responsiblity for having cold feet and being labelled as a failure at the big stage.

Real Madrid have developed a taste of collecting United’s discards after their signing of Beckham, Nistelrooy, and Heinze. Hopefully, Ronaldo doesn’t make himself so unwelcome that United puts him on the blacklist. Alex Ferguson is not a man of sentiment and if push comes to shove, he will be the first to show Ronaldo to the door. From a business point of view, the sale of Ronaldo will allow United to buy another striker and an attacking midfielder and still have a healthy surplus left. Their ability to challenge for titles on all front will be barely dented too.

It is clear that Madrid is more interested in Ronaldo for commercial reasons than to develop him as a world-class player. The improved entertainment on the pitch will increase gate receipts, broadcasting revenue and merchandise sales. Since the departure of David Beckham, their bottom line was affected and so is their diminishing worldwide appeal, despite winning La Liga twice in a row.

They are not interested whether Ronaldo’s style will fit into the current team. Ronaldo loves to flash his skills instead of making short, direct passes and this desire to hog the limelight may not be tolerated by the team. Especially Ruud van Nistelrooy who previously got into a scuffle with the Portuguese in a training session at Old Trafford over issues of showmanship and not feeding him enough passes.

Ronaldo is just starting on the road to greatness and if he leaves the guidance of Alex Ferguson to join other clubs, I am not sure if he will be able to fulfill his full potential. It will be better that he stays for the next few seasons at Old Trafford, until such time when he has matured not only in skills but also in his outlook that he ventures overboard. By then, he may be 27-28, still in his prime, and United fans should not begrudge his departure after serving the club dutifully for nearly ten years.

Popularity: 46% [?]

JohnST | Champions League, Cristiano Ronaldo, La Liga, Manchester United, Premiere League, Real Madrid | Comments (3)

Can Manchester United Retain Their Superiority?

May 16, 2008 – 10:12 pm

Last Saturday, Manchester United pipped Chelsea to clinch their 17th Premier League title with a 2-0 victory at Wigan. Chelsea let themselves down in a 1-1 draw with Bolton, adding more cheer for the Red Devils as they are seen as legitimate winners, in the sense that goal difference was not the decisive factor.

Avram Grant accused them of winning due to benevolent referees and certain clubs who conspired to deliver the title to United’s doorstep. Well, from what I have seen, Wigan were professional in their approach and the comfortable scoreline belies the highly strung atmosphere in JJB Stadium - as late as the 80th minute, United fans were sitting on the edge of the seats as Wigan refuse to accept defeat.

Grant further clamored for a personal duel if points were equal but he was the one who failed to rise to the occasion. There is actually little incentive for clubs to favor Man United since money and pride are at stake, so if Grant had kept his own counsel, I will have given him a pat on the back for his achievements but now, he seems to be a sore loser who screwed up his mind games.

Abramovich recognized that Mourinho’s negative football will not win Chelsea much fans nor merchandise sales. It is his wish to transplant Barcelona’s or United’s attacking football to Stamford Bridge. Thus, notwithstanding the outstanding achievements of the Special One, he has no qualms about substituting him with an untested manager who is willing to carry out his orders and change the stifling style.

However, it appears that his appointment, Avram Grant, did not score too well in the entertainment aspect either, sure he racked up victories but we don’t need him to do that, Mourinho will suffice. In fact, the latter has trophies to boot. Grant’s primary job is to loosen the team from their inhibitions and play the beautiful game by attacking the opponents with flair. He made a half-hearted attempt at the start but discarded such an approach as the battle heats up. I will comment more on his report card after the Champions League.

For Man United, this back to back title may not spell a new era of superiority. Certainly, they have the talents to make it happen but the Premier League challenge can only get tighter, and it won’t just be a two-horse race. The gap between the Big Four is close and with mid-tier clubs jostling to improve their positions with better management and players, Man United will find it harder to replicate their success as compared to the ’90s.

Ferguson is not one to rest on his laurels but I am not sure if he can avoid the pitfalls which plagued his team when they scaled the pinnacle, as in the 1999 prestigious treble. Expectations were high that European dominance has shifted to Old Trafford, however that euphoric moment resulted in Sir Alex losing the plot. Subsequent campaigns floundered on a series of poor signings, experiments in formations and tactics, and injuries taking their toil.

Those were the days when clubs were happy to possess players on Manchester United’s wishlist. The likes of Abramovich have not arrived and United were the rare few who had the financial muscle, thanks to their record profits. Valuations of players invariably shoot up when United came calling and during this period, more than 150 million pounds were spent without much success in extending their ruthless monopoly of major titles.

Some of the flops included Djemba-Djemba, Fortune, Kleberson, Veron, Tim Howard, Bellion, Miller, and Alan Smith. There were hits, of course, namely, van Nistelrooy, Park, van der Sar, Rooney, Ronaldo, Evra, Vidic, Hargreaves, Carrick, Tevez, Anderson and Nani. Amid the trial and error in forming the perfect team, the club experienced one of their worst morale and confidence crisis at the start of 2006-2007 season.

The once richest club was laden with debts after the Glazers takeover, Beckham’s departure hurting their bottom line, sale of van Nistelrooy resulted in a lightweight frontline, Chelsea’s well-entrenched position as leader, and United were unable to attract world-class players with their waning appeal as a championship team.

The only signing they managed was Michael Carrick for 18.6 million pounds from Tottenham Hotspur. Fortunately, Paul Scholes came back from a mysterious eye illness and Ronaldo’s service was retained - the wisdom of which was severely questioned since he was England’s public enemy after causing their downfall in the World Cup.

Circumstances forced a period of consolidation for United as they once again turn to their old guards who had garnered much success for the club. The veterans geared up for what could be their last battle (if United end up trophyless again), and surprisingly, United pulled off the impossible task of breaking Chelsea’s stranglehold on the league title. In truth, Ferguson was also helped by the internal disharmony in Chelsea’s ranks from the purchase of Shevchenko and Ballack.

This season, the Red Devils were punished by early injuries which resulted in a malfunctioning front line but they kept in contention by winning on the odd goals and Tevez was deployed as a striker. He gave a satisfactory account of himself considering he has barely settled down at Old Trafford. Ronaldo’s form was less than impressive, following the European Championship qualifications, it seems that last year’s achievements may be a flash in the pan.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese responded by bettering his previous record and United ended up as champions with the most goals scored (a third coming from his exploits) and least goals conceded. It is a new defensive record (22 goals) for the club and last year, they repeated their previous best of 27 goals which was set in 1998.

In a matter of two years, Ferguson had righted his previous mistakes and created a team of sufficient depth and quality to last the ordeals of a 38-match season, the League Cup, FA cup and the Champions League. He has the luxury of rotation to ensure freshness and lower risk of burnouts while other teams were ravaged by injuries and suspensions.

I believe Mourinho’s reign has taught an old dog some new tricks. Ferguson grudgingly admitted after Mourinho won his first title that “Chelsea have raised the bar.” A surge in the second half of the season was no longer a guarantee of success. The job has to done from day one as Chelsea almost attained maximum points in a season.

Ferguson wasted no time in redefining United’s strategy and gone were the days of all out attacks while leaving gaps at the back for opponents to exploit. Players were drilled in getting behind the ball and winning it back once possession is lost. However, he is shrewd enough to realize that a complete makeover into the effective but boring team Mourinho has styled will not be tolerated by the fans - stringency must not come at the expense of entertainment.

His preference for a single outfield striker is compensated by talented midfielders who can capitalize quickly on turnovers and hit opponents in a flash. Cristiano Ronaldo epitomizes this spirit. He can drop back deeply to collect the ball and start running at defenders. His license to roam and a deep desire to improve his array of skills to be the world’s best allowed him to notch 31 league goals, putting conventional strikers to shame. Rooney and Carlos Tevez have also contributed with vital goals.

I am constantly amazed by Ferguson’s adaptability and knack of breaking up a successful but aging team and creating another in its place. He has changed the core of the Red Devils thrice already and handling each transition phase is easier said than done but he does it better than most, Wenger, Mourinho and Benitez do not posssess his track record, trophies wise.

I believe his longevity stems from a voracious appetite and an overpowering winner’s mentality. Manchester United remain in the top four even in their barren years and Sir Alex’s self belief never wavered even as persistent rumors of his replacement cropped up in the media. He deserves respect for being a great manager who can extract the best out of “difficult” players like Paul Ince, Roy Keane, Eric Cantona and Rooney.

No mercy was shown to those who overstepped the line and player politics is almost unheard of during his reign. His decisions are final and that shows how much respect he commands over the big egos in United’s camp. Ferguson is also an expert at galvanizing players and fans into thinking they are the team that everybody loves to hate and are jealous of their successes.

The siege mentality is powerful but I will stop short of saying his mind games extends to intimidation of referees to gain success. Yes, he gets more publicity than managers in smaller clubs but it beggars belief that referees have to be terrified of his post match vitriol.

There is no reason for referees to give way to him if they are doing the right things. If a few words can destroy a referee’s career by putting their professionalism into doubt, then every club should turn to the mafia for help. Video evidences don’t lie and discerning fans can tell if honest mistake are made or if the referees are blatantly siding with one team. Managers who constantly twist the facts only risk losing their own credibility.

For those who claim that Ferguson virtually bought the title with excessive spending, I have to say that money is not the omnipotent solution - Leeds and Newcastle are testimony to this fact. Having invested in the stadium and their brand over the years, Ferguson is entitled to spend, so long as he delivers results and enhance United’s global reach.

While Ferguson may not be as astute as Wenger in uncovering cheap talents, he is no fool in the transfer market either. They had a transfer surplus from selling players like Ruud, Beckham, and Obi Mikel. The buying of Anderson, Nani, Hargreaves and Tevez were on performance related transfer fees, meaning the figures could be lower if the team does not win any titles.

It is a poignant feeling whenever we witness the end of the career for a legend. At Old Trafford, we will be seeing an entire generation of United greats hanging up their boots soon. Gary Neville has a recurring ankle injury which has kept him off the pitch since March 2007. Edwin van der Sar, at age 37, may retire after winning the Champions League medal and I have not seen a suitable candidate yet - this could be United’s Archilles heel. Scholes and Giggs are not scoring as much goals but their composure is still critical - the former scoring a solitary goal against Barcelona and the latter’s winner against Wigan to calm United’s nerves.

Slowly but surely, Fergie’s new team is taking shape and we will certainly be seeing a passing of the torch to the next generation of United superstars next season. Fringe players are already itching to break into the senior squad. Pique, Foster, Nani and Anderson will want their share of 20 - 30 games next season. And with more players expected to arrive in summer, Silvestre, Fletcher, O’Shea and Saha may find the bench even more congested, not to mention getting into the first XI.

Alex Ferguson has come a long way from his early days at East Stirlingshire to Aberdeen, to his present reign at Manchester United stretching for more than two decades. Having worked his way up, his experience is invaluable as he understands the hardship of getting to the top and working with limited resources.

The verdict for being the greatest team and manager ever can only be affirmed after Man United achieved more Champions League titles but so long as Fergie is as hungry as ever and the team stays together, it is a safe bet that records will be rewritten.

Popularity: 43% [?]

JohnST | Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United, Premiere League | Comments (1)

Will Wenger Loosen Up After Flamini’s Departure?

May 10, 2008 – 12:52 am

Mathieu Flaimini’s decision to seek greener pastures at AC Milan has caused a massive upheaval for the Gunners. Despite forging a formidable midfield partnership with Cesc Fabregas, Flamini chose to forsake his blossoming career by cashing in on his status as a free agent.

Is he right to do so? I will say yes, considering how he has not been given due respect for his contributions. Being a French player of Italian origin, he is simply moving to the country of his parents, adapting to a new environment should not be a problem.

Arsenal fans are now questioning the wisdom of their boss in the wake of Flamini’s departure, Alexander Hleb’s imminent transfer to Inter Milan, and Fabregas’s possible move to Real Madrid. Jens Lehmann is already on his way out and the club is not keen to keep Gilberto and Philippe Senderos.

Wenger’s reluctance to countenance top quality signings and high wages to challenge other elite clubs has left fans and shareholders highly skeptical in their hunt for silverware. Compared to Manchester United’s policy of securing players 18 months in advance of their expiring contracts, Arsenal system for identifying and starting critical contract negotiations seems to be lacking.

So far, only Fabregas is tied down with an attractive long term deal stretching to 2012 and he is expected to stay for the time being, but Hleb, at age 27, needs a retirement nest. The Belarusian may invoke the Fifa rule which allows players to leave a club after three years of a long-term contract, provided they do not move to a club in the same country.

Wenger had miscalculated the fallout from Flamini’s transfer. What is most painful from this botched negotiation is the club gets nothing in return for a talent which they had cultivated. Some view Flamini as a traitor and a money grabber for walking out on the Gunners. The fans had accepted him as one of their own but yet he rejected Arsenal’s final contract offer of £55,000 a week and defect to AC Milan on a free transfer… for just £10,000 more.

What prompted him to do it? As a free agent, he should command more since Milan already saved a huge chunk of the transfer fees. I suspect the push factor is not merely about money even if it is a strong motivation. Being in a capitalist society, any player who claims with a straight face that he just loves to play football and don’t care two hoots about money is being unrealistic.

But capitalism is no excuse for the deplorable behavior of players who yearn for money so much that they desert their morals and loyalty to a club readily. The throwback to the acrimonious parting of ways between “Cashley Cole” and Arsenal is still vivid in my mind. Has Flamini become Fla-money and are we to expect a book from him in the near future depicting his miserable underpaid service to the Gunners?

I certainly hope not. It will be a travesty of justice, after all, Wenger developed Flamini into what he is today. Not world class but nevertheless a reliable player who is headhunted by several clubs today. Flamini was a nobody when he arrived from Marseille four years ago. During this period, he “survived” on a £8,000 a week deal, small change when it comes to wages in the Premier League.

Due to a lack of first team opportunities, he stated his desire to leave. However, he still maintained a positive attitude, whenever chances came his way due to injuries or suspensions of team mates, he rose to the occasions. Knowing what he can achieve, he desired a new contract to reflect increasing value and responsibilities. Good old Wenger stuck by his guns and said no.

Instead, a new six year contract extension worth £50,000 a week was hammered out with Fabregas who was just barely into his original contract. Flamini was disappointed and wanted to buy out his remaining contract but Wenger convinced him to stay and prove his worth. Another reason for keeping Flamini, who was not yet a crucial member in Arsenal squad, was that Birmingham City were the only club to come in for him.

This season, Flamini came to the fore, thanks to Gilberto Silva’s loss in form after the Copa America. He shone brilliantly and became the major driver of Arsenal’s midfield engine. In view of his exceptional performances, there is no more excuse for delaying a lucrative contract.

However, Wenger left it late till January to table a firm offer which by then, Flamini’s contract has run down and he was already in a position to negotiate with any club he wishes. Better late than never, you say. Sadly, Arsenal refuse to meet Flamini’s request of £55,000 a week; they dragged their feet over £5,000 which shows how insincere they were about securing Flamini’s future.

While Flamini held on to his stand, he continues to serve Arsenal in a professional manner and his efforts on the pitch was unaffected. When Wenger finally realized that a host of clubs were hot on the heels of Flamini’s signature, he put up his final offer of £55,000 a week, refusing to match any of the suitors.

Deep down, Flamini must be feeling like an outcast, he put in the same amount of effort as Fabregas. In fact, he does most of the dirty work in tackling and is the water carrier in midfield, while his colleague only needs to show flashes of brilliance to claim all the awards and financial rewards. Flamini desires that his salary is commensurate with his performances and pegged to the market, I can’t argue with this reasoning.

I am disappointed that Wenger did little to reverse the situation simply because he did not want to break the club’s wage structure for any player. But that is exactly what he did when he offered Thierry Henry £100,000 a week in 2005. The soon to be concluded deal with Fabregas (£70,000 a week) also reflects badly on his double standards.

The crux of the problem does not lie in a shortage of cash. It is Wenger’s self-imposed financial discipline and no wonder, the owner, Peter Hill-wood loves him so much. Wenger mentioned his hands are tied from the construction of the Emirates Stadium which left the club £300 million in long term mortgage debt. That is why he adopts a conservative fiscal policy where the club can survive without buying too much.

Wenger insists the Gunners must respect their tight wage structure or “go bust” and rely on external resources, like Chelsea. Indeed, no player at the club commands the six-figure weekly salaries of Michael Ballack, Andrei Shevchenko, Frank Lampard and John Terry. He said: “I feel always when we make a decision in the club, the same decision is valid in 10 years. We want to respect what is planned. When we have paid our debt back, we work with higher resources.”

Hill-wood confirmed the transfer war chest is available and that Wenger has “never been denied a penny.” He is pleased with Wenger’s reign (rightfully so) and remains confident in Wenger’s judgment of talents, saying: “We are very happy with him and I think he is with us. It is laughable to think he doesn’t have the support of the board. ”

Wenger is keeping his fingers crossed that his current squad can stay together on the basis of integrity and honor, despite tempting offers aboard and empty-handedness for consecutive seasons. He said: “It is a problem - the salaries on offer - but we did not master this situation with Flamini because when a player is out of contract he can sign where he wants. I am disappointed but legally he can do it. But I hope that the core of the team, says ‘come on, we have only just lost’.”

Actually, Arsenal did not “just lost.” Against Manchester United in the FA Cup and in the trilogy with Liverpool, they were outplayed and in several matches, they scraped through, thanks to character and errors from the opponents. Arsenal were not able to gain any advantage against teams who were prepared to rough them up and destroy their fluid passing game. In the past couple of months, Cesc Fabregas’s goals and midfield wizardry dried up and Adebayor was misfiring badly too.

I believe the original intention for Wenger is to add just one or two players and build on the existing team, instead of making a grand show of ambition with a shopping extravaganza. But with the squad falling apart, he needs heavy reinforcements in several positions, else youngsters like Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner have to improve drastically and turn in consistent performances.

I expect William Gallas to wear the captain’s armband once again after Wenger’s staunch vote of confidence. It is fair to say that the Gunners collapse is not due to Gallas’s petulant behavior but as a leader on the pitch, he has to be conscious of the influence he wields over his team mates in times of crisis.

Lending support instead of public shows of contempt when they made mistakes is crucial in fostering camaraderie. I don’t think he gained allies in the Arsenal camp either when he commented that his best friends were in Chelsea, ie. Lampard and Terry. Gallas will learn though, given that he is only one year into the captaincy.

As for injuries, Arsenal had been unlucky with Eduardo and Robin van Persie hurting themselves so badly. I believe Wenger should sign more strikers or attacking midfielders to increase their options in difficult away games and keep Adebayor and Fabregas fresh for the championships run-in. Alex Hleb must be retained at all cost, at least for one more season, when Wenger has found another candidate to take over the reins.

On the possible incoming players, Arsenal are targeting Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who had an outstanding season for Portsmouth and is set to be one of the stars of Euro 2008. Gennaro Gattuso, a Champions League and World Cup winner, may be leaving AC Milan to join Arsenal. He has often expressed his desire to play in the Premier League and he is now at the “right age” where Arsenal’s wage structure seem attractive.

So it is not all doom and gloom. Due to his ability to unearth and polish raw diamonds on a shoestring budget, his handsome achievements in the past and the classy football his team dished out (only Manchester United produce such winning, attractive football but they have spent much more), Wenger enjoys some leeway but Arsenal will not be permitted too many trophyless seasons.

My advice for Wenger is this, loosen up a bit… another barren season may raise the specter of him being sacked and his prudence in keeping so much cash may result in the next manager squandering it all away.

Popularity: 43% [?]

JohnST | Arsenal, Champions League, Premiere League | Comments (3)

Is Eriksson Good Enough For Another Season?

May 6, 2008 – 6:28 am

While Manchester United celebrated their progress in the Champions League finals and have one hand on the Premier League title, their derby rival Manchester City are following in Liverpool’s footsteps by snatching headlines on internal conflicts. Rumors of the imminent departure of manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, gain traction by the day.

Ever since owner Thaksin Shinawatra indicated publicly his unhappiness with City’s poor form and wanted change, Sven’s future has become the subject of intense debate. Is Sven a victim of his own early success? After all, City got off to a flying start, and they even manage to ride roughshod over Manchester United twice this season with dominant performances.

Such overwhelming form deserted City since the turn of the year and they have slipped down the rankings due to a series of sputtering displays. Their recent 1-0 loss to Liverpool ensure they are still stuck in ninth spot with one game left.

So far, no firm indication has come from Thaksin’s camp as we are told only about his ambitions - City to qualify for Champions League football within the next two years by signing top quality, internationally recognized players. Nevertheless, fans can read between the lines that Sven is deemed only as a half-way house by Thaksin and not the right candidate to lead City into their golden era.

It could be the remnants of mediocrity from the England stint that I have little sympathy for Sven. When we consider the highly successful reign of Jose Mourinho at Chelsea can be undone by a rocky relationship with the owner, what is there to stop Thaksin from removing Eriksson whose title winning record in the Premier League is as yet unproven. By the way, Abramovich will be having the last laugh if his chum, Avram Grant defies all odds and clinch the prestigious double.

Eriksson conceded that Manchester City fans’ mass show of support for him in the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool will not be enough to prevent owner Thaksin Shinawatra from sacking him. The fans are desperate to cling on to their most successful manager in recent years, evident from their loud slogans and banners of “Hey Thaksin, Leave our Sven alone,” in the stadium. Similar scenes can be seen at Anfield where the fans are simmering with hostility towards the American owners.

Losing to Liverpool was expected but Eriksson did himself no favors when he lost to relegation-bound Fulham 2-3 last week. A victory will have secured an European spot and strengthened his hand in negotiations with Thaksin over transfer budget, new signings, as well as his own future.

Asked if the Swede would still be at the helm next season, Eriksson’s agent Athole Still said: “It’s looking odds against. If Dr Shinawatra was going to give a ringing message of support, I think we would have heard it.” Still added Eriksson was unhappy that Thaksin had aired his displeasure with the team’s performance so publicly before communicating with each other first.

Currently, the major factor in Eriksson’s favor is his popularity as most of the supporters feel this season has already been excellent. It is only phase 1 of the makeover and key targets have already been met - a commendable effort as nobody expected them to be champions. Indeed, a win next week at Middlesbrough would give City its highest Premier League points tally. When Sven was appointed after the England debacle and his indiscreet romances, it was assumed that his magic touch has vaporized and he does not have the panache to mold a championship team.

I believe Eriksson should be given another season before hanging him out to dry. Consistency does not happen by coincidence, money and patience are needed to lay a solid foundation. Blackburn, Aston Villa, Everton or Portsmouth are starting to see results by placing faith in their managers.

However, there are questions regarding Eriksson’s desire to extricate the team out of its slump. City has declined into a clueless and nervy team and the cumulative effects from insipid displays against Everton, Wigan, Reading, Derby and in the FA Cup elimination by Sheffield United have killed a promising season. In fact, City will be in the relegation zone if they started off on this form.

Moving on to Eriksson’s purchases, it is not reassuring as there are more misses than hits. Rolando Bianchi came for the price tag of £8.8m, a club record signing. Those who have watched him at Portsmouth will agree he is a decent striker; before his arrival at City, he took over a season before hitting a purple patch for Portsmouth. His brilliant form must have caught the eyes of City’s scouts and an aggressive bid was mounted.

I am sure Redknapp is laughing all the way to the bank as players like Bianchi are a dozen a dime for a shrewd recruiter like him. Eriksson prefers a cautious style of play and launching counter-attacks so it is not surprising that Bianchi finds it even harder to excel in such an environment. Spending so much money but lacking the confidence to keep faith in Bianchi smacks of bad management. Eriksson must make extra efforts to help Bianchi achieve success instead of hoping for miracles from a bench-warmer.

Elano and Martin Petrov have shown their talents in flashes but they should be shouldering carrying more of the club’s expectations given their sublime skills. City received lots of plaudits when Elano was creating and scoring goals freely. His loss in form is a major reason for City’s poor poor play in 2008. Eriksson also needs to examine if dead wood like Dickov, Corradi, Samaras, Danny Mills and Mpenza can be better utilized.

Sadly, the foundation of City’s success belongs to players whom Eriksson inherited, such as Richard Dunne and Micah Richards. Castillo and Caicedo are worth keeping but they are a long way off from being world-class players, that is if they even develop under Eriksson. The silver lining is Eriksson’s latest pursuit of Jo may indicate that he finally realizes what a quality striker looks like.

Sven has made a mistake by signing too many new players in such a short time frame. I know the money is free-flowing and he does not feel the pinch but the influx of players can disrupt the stability of a team and gives the manager more headaches. Established players take months to assimilate into the system or club culture while young talents take even longer to blossom.

When this process is interrupted and discontent boils over, the manager ends up with more on his plate than he can handle. Another of Sven’s flaw, as with England, is his dependence on the best players for his first XI, cast them in their preferred roles and allow them to weave the magic. With several injuries down the road, the missing key players spoiled his plan A and he doesn’t know what to do without a feasible plan B.

In truth, the investments City have made on new players is paltry compared to the other Premier League clubs, especially when seen in the context of a 3-5 year plan to conquer Europe and the Premier League. City will probably need another half a dozen first team players to stand a chance of competing with the Big Four.

Despite spending more than 40 million pounds, Thaksin is aware of the buying spree needed when he said: “We have to sell some players and buy some new ones. We need some defenders, midfielders… midfielders are the key.” This statement is certainly debatable as strikers should be the main priority, unless he is talking about attacking midfielders in the mold of Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaka.

It is not surprising that City experience fatigue after Christmas as the hectic schedule exposes their lack of depth. In addition, teams are able to grasp and counter Eriksson’s inflexible tactics after the first round. But City should not recklessly loosen the purse strings and implement a comprehensive overhaul of the rank and file. If Thaksin suddenly gives up on the club or disappears tomorrow, the fans will have another Leeds United ready to implode on the back of deep deficits.

Thaksin is right to expect returns in the long run, after forking out the initial investments. This is the only way for the club to be self-sufficient and less dependent on a sugar daddy’s money for survival.

I believe getting rid of Sven may set City back as the appointment of a new manager spells a new regime and the players have to adjust all over again. However, if Thaksin has made the decision to sack Sven, I can only hope that the post is filled by another experienced manager, not the likes of say, Steve McClaren.

Popularity: 37% [?]

JohnST | Champions League, Manchester City, Premiere League | Comments (0)

Chelsea Meets Manchester United In Champions League Finals

May 1, 2008 – 9:37 am

The moment of truth will be out soon for the Special One. Even if Avram Grant wins nothing, he has already gone one up over his predecessor, Jose Mourinho, by getting the better of Liverpool. Chelsea finally gained sweet revenge for three disappointments in four years.

Grant just about deserved the plaudits in this pulsating outing, after all, nobody expected him to come so far. He made two changes to the team that started the first leg at Anfield - Michael Essien and Salomon Kalou were fielded to add more bite to the attacks. Indeed, Chelsea were determined to seize the intitiative and Drogba forced the first save of the night in the 6th minute with a long range effort which keeper Reina was alert in saving on the bounce.

Liverpool, wary of the unbeaten Stamford Bridge fortress, preferred a patient approach. Their game plan lies in soaking up pressure and then delivering the ball to Torres at the first opportunity. It almost worked when the Spaniard raced onto Gerrard’s fine pass four minutes later, only for Petr Cech to block his shot.

This was Liverpool’s only shot on target in a first half where Chelsea dictated possession and created more chances. Drogba - so impressive in the weekend win over Manchester United - was again in the thick of action but he spurned a glorious chance by clipping wide after an incisive through pass by Lampard.

Ballack tried his luck with a long range effort but it was punched away by Reina. Liverpool were unfortunate to lose Martin Skrtel to a knee injury, and things got worse when Chelsea broke Liverpool’s resistance on 33 minutes. Kalou slipped through the offside trap.. barely, and latched onto Lampard’s sublime pass. Reina made a diving stop but he did not recover in time to stop Drogba from drilling in the rebound.

The one-way traffic continued as Ballack struck a superb free-kick which just missed the mark by inches in the 42nd minute. Liverpool were relieved to go into the break with the score just 1-0. Right after the interval, an ineffective Gerrard who had been restricted by Makelele, showed his mettle by delivering a sublime free-kick which found Kuyt. The latter forced Cech to make a one-handed parry but Liverpool failed to kill off the stray ball.

As the match progressed, Benítez decided to make significant changes - Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso were instructed to venture forward and Gerrard was pushed further up to support Torres. Benayoun and Kuyt switched flanks, and slowly but surely, a more lively Liverpool emerged.

It was Chelsea’s turn to sit deeply and their rhythm all but vanished; their lack of concentration was exposed when Benayoun crafted an assist for Torres who swiveled and lashed in the ball with aplomb. It was Liverpool’s first goal at Stamford Bridge in nine matches, and extra time was destined based on the level terms.

The extra period was not short of drama and controversy. Essien’s drive from 22 yards flew into the net, but the goal did not stand four Chelsea players were offside. The Blues protested that they were not interfering, to no avail. Their efforts were rewarded when seconds later, Sami Hyypia felled Ballack. The referee pointed to the spot and Lampard, with remarkable poise and nerves, converted brilliantly.

At this critical juncture, Torres was taken off and in came Ryan Babel. In the 105th min, Chelsea went two goals clear when Drogba swept home Anelka’s pass from six yards. Then, Hyypia stumbled in the box but no penalty was given. In the 117th min, Cech made an elementary blunder when he failed to stop Babel’s 35-yarder.

It set up a nail-biting finale but Chelsea persevered to seal a tie with Manchester United in Moscow. The home fans were in raptures and they could yet become the first London club to lift the most prestigious prize in Europe. Chelsea captain John Terry felt his side deserved their place in the Champions League final. He said: “It’s fantastic. I think we’ve fully deserved it over the years.”

Terry expressed admiration for Lampard’s character after his mother died last week. This event not only spurred Lampard to put in exemplary efforts for the club but has also united his team mates to create history for themselves. Grant also paid tribute to what the midfielder has done, considering the emotional distress.

Grant was proud to have achieved something which Mourinho had never managed to do with Chelsea. He joked: “There’s only one ’special one’.” But this was special against Liverpool. They are a fantastic team and Rafa played tactically. You need to be clever against him but we did it. We have created history and I am very proud we did it my way.”

The emphasis on the word “my way” must have grated on Mourinho’s ears; knowing his competitive nature in provocative situations, I wonder what he has to say about that. For now, Roman Abramovich must be a happy man. Victory is especially sweet for him if he gets to conquer Europe in Moscow.

His decision to sack Mourinho seems to be vindicated and achieving a Grand Slam of trophies justifies all the money spent thus far. There is no reason for the bankrolling to stop if desired results are achieved so the fans can expect more top quality signings in the summer and they will be Grant’s men.

I say Grant’s men because I believe a mass exodus of players is not far away. Despite the wild celebrations now (yeah, the applauds, embraces, back-patting and dancing are all good), but end of the day, a large section of the fans and players do not love Grant and neither will they give him credit for anything.

A lot of the old guards still hold Grant in contempt and every judgmental error he made is magnified. Wenger can afford to throw away a comfortable lead and lose so many points in the last couple of months, without as much as a whimper from the fans or media, but if that happens to Grant, I believe he will skinned alive.

My candidate for the man of the match has to be Drogba. While his loyalty to Chelsea is still debatable, there is no doubting his passion and commitment last night. Is Drogba selfish and big headed? I will say yes, his spate with Ballack over a free kick in the previous match against Manchester United suggests he has an enormous ego, but when he is in such stellar form, the fans are ready to forgive him. So long as he puts his goal-scoring ability to use and gets the job done, he will continue to feature prominently as the main striker.

Drogba is passionate but do not be mistaken that he is fighting for the club’s honor or for Grant. He is putting in his best efforts to clinch the Premier League and Champions League medals to add to his resume. Nothing wrong with that and it serves the club’s purpose anyway. But expecting him to stay because it is Grant’s wish, even with the most attractive salary and benefits, is highly unlikely.

It is clear Drogba is still emotionally attached to his former boss, Mourinho, and with the latter’s arrival at Inter Milan next season, fresh speculation is sparked on the future of Drogba and Lampard. Italian newspapers have reported that Inter are preparing a £35 million bid for the pair. Mourinho signed Drogba for a club-record £24 million in 2004 from Marseilles and Lampard is highly regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world.

Next season will be interesting as I missed the melodrama and whines from the Special One. Trust me, Mourinho can’t wait to clash with his former club in the Champions League and put Grant to the sword, proving once and for all, who is the real McCoy.

As for Liverpool, I believe Benitez made a fatal mistake in infuriating Drogba before such a critical match. The Ivorian purposely slided towards Liverpool bench to celebrate in front of Benitez who has accused him earlier of being a diver and mentioned about a dossier of the striker’s antics.

Under Grant, Chelsea have shown a tendency to self-destruct and issuing such statements only serves to unite the players. Liverpool are a club with glorious achievements and the lesson for Benitez in another barren season is to focus on the domestic competition instead of just doing well in the Champions League.

The trophy cabinet cannot be empty for too long, especially the Premier League title. While getting to the semis of the Champions League can temporarily paper over weaknesses, the ambitions of players like Gerrard and Torres will not be satiated with only a top-four finish every season.

Benitez can take heart though as the team once again came very close to the Champions League crown with sufficient chances to eliminate Chelsea in both legs. The squad is still young and will develop given time. In view of the destabilizing factors and Benitez’s precarious position at times, he has done an amazing job of steadying the ship and preventing his players from being distracted. If Liverpool desire success, they have to stop the bickering among the owners and give Benitez a strong vote of confidence. Handing him a war chest to bolster the squad is also necessary, at least for another season.

Manchester United will be clashing with Chelsea again and both are still in contention for a double. United’s shaky form makes them liable to drop points again in the Premier League. Against Barcelona, a team not famed for suffocating defenses, United got a break and capitalized on it through Paul Scholes. However, it is a different ball game against Chelsea as the players are well drilled in the art of defense since Mourinho’s era. United fans can seek solace though that Ronaldo and Tevez were not in the first XI so Chelsea are not infallible in the finals.

The entire season has now condensed into the results of another three more matches. For many outstanding players in both clubs, they are upon the threshold of greatness and it is up to them to prove their place in history.

Popularity: 49% [?]

JohnST | Champions League, Chelsea, Liverpool, Premiere League | Comments (8)

Penalty Decides Manchester United vs Chelsea Showdown

April 27, 2008 – 5:38 am

The Premier League title race was blown wide open by Chelsea who mustered a dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester United. The latter’s surge towards their second consecutive title (10th in 16 seasons) has faded in recent weeks after draws against Middlesbrough and Blackburn. All is not lost yet with the latest defeat but there is already a palpable shift in power.

Nobody expected an easy match considering Chelsea’s undefeated stature at Stamford Bridge stretching over 80 matches in four years. Nevertheless, Alex Ferguson chose to rest Cristiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves. The impending Champions League 2nd leg encounter against Barcelona must have played on his mind but when you underestimate your opponent, you lose more than three points. Momentum is hard to pick up when it is derailed as seen in the meltdown of Arsenal’s challenge.

Chelsea started the match on a high tempo and were clearly the better side with their possession and menacing attacks. The Red Devils continued their midweek catenaccio approach but they didn’t quite pull it off at Stamford Bridge. Indeed, they survived the onslaught through a combination of luck and harried defending.

The loss of Vidic who was stretchered off after catching Drogba’s knee in his face may have disrupted a stable United backline. United reshuffled their defense, which saw Owen Hargreaves coming on at right-back and Wes Brown moved to centre-back. Yes, you saw correctly, Brown in the heart of defense! This is a tactical error which has reared its ugly head in the past but Alex Ferguson chose to tempt fate by casting Brown in that role again.

Resting Ronaldo and Tevez wasn’t so bad as United can still play for a draw and be in the driver’s seat. Being deprived of the duo’s creativity and penetration can be compensated with a sturdy defense. When you place a barely competent defender in front of the keeper, there is no recourse. Alex Ferguson said it earlier: “There is no other club for Wes Brown.” I am sure he meant it literally.

The awaited disaster didn’t take long to materialize. In the 21st minute, Joe Cole saw his volley bounce back off the bar. Then, in the first half’s stoppage time, Ballack broke the stalemate when he was allowed to slip in unmarked at the far post to head Didier Drogba’s cross into the net. A world-class finish which left a fully stretched van der Sar punching air.

After the goal, Terry brought out a jersey that read “Pat Lampard R.I.P.” and other players proceeded to hold it up in the memory of the death of Frank Lampard’s mother. This interlude was special, not only for Chelsea but I guess for opposing fans around the world too.

During the break, I am sure Ferguson delivered one of his harshest lectures and his charges came out revitalized. They began to push in earnest and within 12 minutes of the second half, United were level, courtesy of a horrendous error by Ricardo Carvalho. His misjudged pass presented Rooney with a clear run on goal.

The striker cut across John Terry before beating Petr Cech from the edge of the area with a low drive that went in off the post. It proved to be Rooney’s last contribution as he went off injured with a hip problem to be replaced by Ronaldo. Regardless, United were now firmly in control.

Instead of closing ranks, Chelsea came apart at the seams. This was highlighted by a petty argument between Ballack and Drogba over who should take a free kick towards the end of the match. The Ivorian eventually took it and forced a good save from van der Sar, though he continued the row with Ballack and even had words with assistant coach Steve Clarke. Ballack showed great self-restraint to proceed with his drink at the sideline rather than to engage in a public show of disunity.

A draw seemed the most likely result but in the 87th minute, Michael Essien’s cross from the right struck Michael Carrick on the arm, prompting the referee to point to the spot. A hand-ball decision was made but it is contentious as the ball hit Carrick’s hand rather than the other way round. Anyway, Ballack stepped up coolly and converted the penalty.

It was the first penalty United had conceded in the league all season but it was certainly decisive. United did not give up and charged forward with abandonment. Their efforts, coming from Cristiano Ronaldo and then Darren Fletcher, were denied by goal-line clearances from Ashley Cole and Andriy Shevchenko.

In this match, I am impressed with Michael Essien’s deep running and his distribution was excellent. He was a constant thorn for United’s rearguard with his passes and hard tackling in midfield. United had no answer in the first half to Drogba’s strength, Essien’s work rate and Cole’s trickery.

Though United revived in the second half and right winger Nani was full of energy, he failed to make any impact as Chelsea snuffed out supplies to Rooney handily. Being marshaled superbly, a listless Rooney was isolated up front for long periods and it was obvious that he missed his partners Ronaldo and Tevez to divert some attention away from Chelsea’s defenders.

When Ronaldo did enter the fray, it was a bit too late and he did not take the match by the scruff of its neck. No magic was conjured this time and in view of his missed penalty against Barcelona, questions were naturally raised on whether Ronaldo can perform in big matches.

However, United cannot blame the Portuguese for a lack of killer instinct as they already owe him a huge debt of gratitude for scoring an incredible 28 league goals this season. If United end up empty-handed, this will be a personal setback for Ronaldo, given the exacting standards he set for himself and his ultimate wish to be FIFA Player of the Year will also vanish in thin air.

United and Chelsea are now level on points but the title remains Manchester United’s to lose as they have a superior goal difference which can only be overcome if Chelsea go goal-crazy. The Red Devils can no longer afford to slip up in their remaining two matches at home to West Ham and away at Wigan. On the other hand, Chelsea face off with a revitalized Newcastle United and relegation-threatened Bolton Wanderers.

The bizarre situation is that Arsenal can still pip them to the Premier League title. Hoping for both teams to crack under the enormous pressure in their remaining matches is a long shot but I do not want to discount such a possibility as allocation of resources for the Champions League can be tricky. Both teams could meet again next month in the Champions League finals after eliminating their respective opponents.

Before the showdown, Jose Mourinho expressed his confidence in Manchester United to retain their title. He will be disappointed to see his successor, Avram Grant, trumping the Red Devils and staying on course for the Premier League and Champions League crowns. Mourinho’s achievements will be eclipsed by a man who has never graced the big stage of football - that of course makes the Special One less special than we thought.

To close this article, I want to credit Avram Grant, as of late, he has fielded a Chelsea team imbued with such character and confidence even Jose Mourinho will be proud of. If Chelsea continue in this sterling form, I certainly owe Grant an apology but the job is far from done yet.

Popularity: 100% [?]

JohnST | Champions League, Chelsea, Manchester United, Premiere League | Comments (1)

Chelsea Snatched A Champions League Lifeline

April 23, 2008 – 9:50 am

Liverpool were given a taste of their own medicine as they ended the Champions League semi-final first leg vexed - John Arne Riise scored a last-gasp own goal to hand Chelsea the advantage in a 1-1 draw.

The match was clouded by security concerns because of the arrival of an unwelcome man, Tom Hicks. There was no telling if fans’ displeasure at the power struggle and the debt-ridden status of their club will turn into violence. However, Hicks defiantly showed up in the Anfield directors box, paying scant regard to personal safety.

Rick Parry was relegated to the back of the seats by Hick’s entourage. Gillett did not make the trip but invited a DIC consortium comprising their chief executive and negotiator. Fortunately, the political sideshow matters little to the vociferous Anfield crowd who were engrossed on the pitch action.

Both teams began in cautious fashion and given their penchant for winning “efficiently,” goals were expected to be a rare occurrence. As the minutes ticked away, it was Liverpool who got into the groove with a confident and enterprising display. They dominated proceedings and were rewarded with a goal before half time.

Unfortunately, Liverpool did not press home their advantage despite further clear-cut chances. Eventually, Chelsea made the Reds pay for the profligacy. Grant had to thank Riise for gift-wrapping the away goal and Petr Cech who produced amazing saves to deny an embarrassing scoreline. I am impressed with Cech’s tenacity as he had suffered severe injuries to his skull and recently had stitches inserted in his face following a training ground incident but his composure and sharpness were still intact.

Dirk Kuyt launched Liverpool’s first real threat when he raced onto Alonso’s long pass but his poor chest control allowed Carvalho and Cech to clear the danger. Swimming against the tide, Chelsea nearly broke the duck as Frank Lampard picked out Joe Cole with a sublime chip in the penalty area but Cole could only muster a weak volley.

In the 29th minute, Didier charged towards a through ball and Carragher was left to chase him down. At the final moment, just when the Ivorian appeared ready to pull the trigger, Carragher struck his foot out and both tumbled outside the penalty box. Drogba instinctively clamored for a penalty but referee Konrad Plautz dismissed the protests.

This was actually the second blatant foul by Carragher. As early as the 2nd minute, Drogba’s raw pace and power had already pushed Carragher to the limits. Drogba bullied his way through and the only way to stop him was to commit a foul, rather than affording him a sitter. I do not blame Carragher as Drogba is a defender’s nightmare when he is on song, just ask Arsenal’s rearguard who was torn apart ruthlessly.

In the 31st minute, the Gerrard-Torres partnership spun into action. Gerrard who was shackled tightly by Makelele till then, managed to carve out a defence-splitting pass to put Torres clean through. However, hopes of securing an early lead were doomed when Cech made a superb stop to frustrate “El Nino.”

Liverpool were not discouraged, their relentless forays yielded a goal after 43 minutes. Kuyt robbed Lampard outside the box and a neat exchange between Alonso and Mascherano saw the Argentine loping a speculative pass a few yards away from Cech. A mix up between Makelele and Ashley Cole allowed Kuyt to pounce, sliding his shot under Cech.

Chelsea were punished for their carelessness but what is disappointing is their reaction after half-time. Instead of firing on all cylinders to make up for lost ground, they were equally lackluster. Grant has apparently not done a proper job of pumping up his men’s morale in the dressing room.

Liverpool continued to pursue a second goal as Ryan Babel caused chaos in Chelsea’s defense by surging past Paulo Ferreira and whipping in a low cross that led to a blocked Torres shot. Babel remained a constant danger and went close again in the 60th minute with a dipping half-volley.

Chelsea finally awoke from their slumber when Michael Ballack met Lampard’s free-kick with a glancing header which Jose Reina held well. Florent Malouda then took Lampard’s pass and cut inside Alvaro Arbeloa. Just as Malouda was about to shoot, Mascherano slid in with a crucial block.

In the closing minutes, Gerrard forced a brilliant one-handed tip-over from Cech as Liverpool sought to close the match. Cech then denied Torres with another fine stop at his near post. Unfortunately, out of the blue (as Chelsea were still pegged back by the Reds till the final minute), the match was turned on its head.

With virtually the last kick of the game, Salomon Kalou swung in a cross from the left and Riise, diving to head clear, succeeded only in diverting the ball into his own net. Anfield fell silent as Liverpool were left to rue what might have been if they had taken their chances well.

Benitez was understandably devastated by the late goal. He was critical of the referee for the amount of added time, but had sympathy for Norwegian defender Riise. He said: “These situations are difficult. You can’t blame the player. Those kind of balls when they bounce are difficult to deal with. We are all very disappointed to concede an own goal so late in the match.”

“But we had three clear chances and in games like these it is hard to create chances. We needed to take them. We have to go to Stamford Bridge and win now. It will be difficult but we have enough confidence in ourselves to do that.”

As for Grant, his tenure has not been convincing even as Chelsea maintained their lofty second place in the Premier League. He believes that the fans and Abramovich will be pleased to be presented with a Champions League final in Moscow but the main issue for them is to fill the trophy cabinets, not fighting all the way to be second best; so far nothing has been won.

Grant was glad to gain the advantage, especially after Benitez had subtly “insulted” his abilities in pre-match interviews. He said: “We want to be in the final. We took a big step today. Drawing 1-1 away from home is always a good advantage. It will be tough in the second game though.

Grant also did not forget to pay tribute to his own tactical brilliance, saying: “When they scored we made some changes. We knew for an away game it was important to score so we used Nicolas (Anelka) and Kalou and changed the midfield and it was a good result for us.”

I feel Torres is not his clinical self in this match. He took too long and too many touches to line up his shot and that gave Cech sufficient time to prepare and to close down his angle. Babel and Kuyt put in the mileage and assists down the flanks well so I had little complaints there.

The turning point for Liverpool was when Fabio Aurelio had to be stretched off and replaced with Riise. Up to this point, Liverpool’s defense was holding up well and fended off Chelsea’s attacks competently.

On the other hand, Chelsea were beset with a malfunctioning midfield. Frank Lampard was too careless in possession and Joe Cole lost his usual trickery and mobility. Michael Ballack was a pedestrian and did not help the team gain possession nor opened up the opponent’s defense. As such, Drogba was deprived of service for long periods to cause any serious damage.

Chelsea love the direct approach, aiming for long balls and hoping for the best. If Drogba can pounce on mistakes, then great, if not, wait for the opponent to attack and then get the defenders to kick the ball up in the air again. Even after Liverpool took the lead, Chelsea looked more interested in doing damage control.

It is clear Grant is relying solely on his players’ qualities to win games. Unlike Mourinho’s era where the team knew what to do and were highly organized, the players were now running the show themselves, without Grant’s direction or advice.

I believe Chelsea are feeling upbeat, not because of the slight advantage but rather they felt that Lady Luck was finally on their side. After suffering semi-final exits at Anfield in two of the last three seasons (Luis Garcia’s ‘phantom goal’ in 2005 and penalty shootouts last season), Grant has a chance to outdo his predecessor, avenge those bitter memories and most importantly, to achieve history for Chelsea FC.

However, it is too early to count the chickens. Though Chelsea have the upper hand, their resources will be stretched thin with a colossal match against Manchester United on Saturday and then a few days after, to face Liverpool again in the second leg. The players will be tired and they are expected to give their all since Chelsea still retain a chance of becoming Premier League champions.

Liverpool can prepare a nice surprise for them with plenty of time on their side as their Premier League fourth spot is almost secured, it will be folly for Chelsea to write off Liverpool.

Popularity: 33% [?]

JohnST | Champions League, Chelsea, Liverpool, Premiere League | Comments (0)