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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Liverpool In-fighting Rumbles On

April 18, 2008 – 9:59 pm

Despite the boardroom soap opera hogging the headlines again, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is adamant about staying on at Anfield, saying: “At this moment I have two years on my contract. I am really happy here and want to stay.”

The petty bickering between Hicks and Gillett, both owning 50-50 share in Liverpool as a result of their 219 million pounds take over in February 2007, was meant to be a timebomb. Both are businessmen, united by the desire for profits, but their styles are as different as chalk and cheese. Hicks favors an abrasive approach and has no qualms about ruffling feathers while Gillett prefers to work behind the scene. I cannot say who is the angel here because the way I look at it, there are none. Given half a chance, they will strip anything which can be termed as an asset in no time at all.

The troubles seem to have abated for a while after Hicks rejected the 400 million pound takeover by Dubai International Capital (DIC) last month. However, old wounds were opened out of the blue when Hicks rehashed the Jurgen Klinsman meeting and called for Liverpool’s chief executive Rick Parry to be sacked.

Hicks insisted he was not behind the approach to Klinsmann that unsettled Benitez. On that infamous meeting, he said: “George became good friends with Klinsmann a year ago. He and Rick set up the meeting in New York. I did go to the meeting along with my son Tom. Rick had already met with Jurgen alone for a couple of hours when we arrived.”

I believe all the parties who have no financial interests in the deal have become pawns for the Americans to get more money out of any possible takeover deals and each wants to gobble up the other’s share to maximize profit. Look at the other maneuvers from Hicks. He wants to buy out Gillett and extend Rafa’s contract (to align him as an ally). He is aiming for a debt-free club and will seek more money from investors to buy players and build a new stadium. He also claims that DIC is destabilizing the club through the media and Parry is a “disaster.”

The charges leveled against Parry are as follows: a communication breakdown with Benitez, slow dealings in the transfer market, mediocrity at attracting sponsorship, investment and merchandising deals. According to Hicks, Liverpool cannot compete commercially with the Premier League rivals in Asia where they have a large fan base and the new stadium should have been built three years ago.

Hicks also took a fresh swipe at Gillett, warning that the stalemate over the club’s future will continue until he agrees to sell his stake. The former admitted their relationship has now completely broken down. He disliked the “difficult” 50-50 business proposition because nothing can be done without the other’s approval.

In return, Gillett responded by backing Parry and added to the mudslinging by launching an attack on Hicks. He said: “Tom needs to understand that I will not sell my shares to him and we need to find a way forward that is truly in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club. I am saddened at this latest outburst from Tom Hicks.”

“If Tom wanted a serious discussion on the issues to help the club move forward, he should bring his views to the board and not to Sky Sports. Here we are, a few days away from a vital Champions League semi-final match and Tom has once again created turmoil. Tom should stop. He knows that Rick Parry has my support.”

It is clear that both owners will not walk away from this mess empty-handed. Destroying Liverpool in the process is of no concern to them. In fact, I have to salute them for closing a great business deal - a 40-50 million dollar profit in each of their pockets for doing nothing except laying on more debts for the club and squabbling.

Of the duo who have no passion in soccer, I will prefer to see Gillet remaining as the lesser of two evils. He manages his NFL club in much the same way as what he is doing now, staying in the background and not fueling the media’s obsession on critical club issues. Hicks, on the other hand, washes dirty linen in public and loves to work the media; for good or bad, the club can do without such attention.

Currently, the board consists of 6 members, it is impossible for Hicks to veto a sale of Gillett’s stake to DIC. Though Hicks does not have enough money to buy out Gillett, it is immaterial since the latter doesn’t want to sell to his partner. If Parry and David Moores are forced out, the situation will turn in favor of Hicks (though the power is still finely balanced) as DIC’s attempt to barge in is held at bay.

I believe there is little love lost between Parry and Liverpool fans and nobody will shed tears if Parry is removed tomorrow. Not because it pleases Hicks but Parry deserves the treatment since he invited the Americans to bid for Liverpool, convincing all and sundry that this is good for the club. So far, the “attractive investment” has only given the club a bad reputation and excessive liabilities.

It is unfortunate that the latest war of words has to come when Liverpool is preparing to face Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final. But at least, it may deflect some attention away from Benitez’s team selection for Saturday’s Premier League game at Fulham. A win for Liverpool would kill off Everton’s hopes of qualifying for Champions League but Benitez may consider resting key players with Tuesday’s Champions League game in mind. Steven Gerrard is not likely to play.

A year ago, Benitez sent out second-stringers a for the penultimate game of the season as he rested most of his first XI ahead of the Champions League final against AC Milan. They were beaten 1-0 by a Fulham side that stayed afloat from this victory but Sheffield United were relegated eight days later.

Nevertheless, I believe Benitez is keen to gun for a victory to secure fourth spot as soon as possible. They will be eight points ahead of Everton and one more point will close the issue of Champions League qualification. Benitez said: “I want to win against Fulham, I know everyone is talking about other things, but I am a professional and I want to concentrate on football.

Though Benitez has downplayed the distractions, mentally, there is bound to have some effect on the players. In this instance, I have to credit Benitez for turning adversity into strength. His players are playing with confidence and professionalism; despite occasional humps, they are showing an amazing resilience.

Coming out unbeaten in the triple header against Arsenal is not an easy task and being the bogey man for Chelsea, reaching the finals of the Champions League should not be a problem. Character-wise, Liverpool still weave their magic with regularity whenever the odds are stacked against them. No matter how we belittle Benitez’s role in Liverpool’s success, we cannot ignore the fact that Liverpool had not been as ruthless in Europe for a long time, that is, not until the Spaniard came in.

Liverpool need to sign a few more quality players and they have made Gareth Barry their no. 1 target. Barry is likely to choose Liverpool over Chelsea, unless of course, the salary offered by Roman Abramovich is enough to compensate the undesirable thought of playing for Avram Grant.

There is a strong bond between Gerrard and Barry, having known each other for over a decade. They complement each other well, Gerrard is freed from his defensive duties and he is free to run at defenders and get into scoring positions, besides supplying killer passes to Torres. Barry is strong and composed as a holding midfielder and his versatility allows him to double up as a left back. Though his forte is not in scoring goals, he reads the game well and his distribution, as well as pinpoint deliveries of set-pieces, are an asset to any team.

They have forged a stable partnership in the England set-up and it is likely to continue for future campaigns. Playing for the same club would further reinforce their mutual understanding. Though Liverpool and Chelsea can offer Barry the chance to compete for multiple titles, a move to Stamford Bridge smacks of money while there is a more positive feeling of self development when joining Benitez.

I am also in favor of Benitez bolstering the squad with more wingers like Ribery and Bentley and signing another striker to support Torres. This is to prevent an over-dependence on the Torres-Gerrard partnership which can derail their challenge when either player is incapacitated for several months.

If Benitez gets his way and sign the players he desires (more of Torres and Mascherano’s calibre), there is no reason why the Premier League title cannot come back to Anfield. But let’s not be too optimistic as the promise of transfer funds is most likely a smoke-screen. The signing of Mascherano was dragged for a long time, not surprising, considering there is little money in the coffers.

We also cannot be sure who will be at the helm next season. Because of the loans arrangement, Benitez may even have to sell off Torres and Babel if the banks forced such a move next season when the payments are due and not forthcoming. I wouldn’t count on the situation improving for next season until Liverpool gets their house in order.

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Real Madrid Close In On La Liga Title

April 14, 2008 – 7:45 am

Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard says his team needs to start killing teams off, if they hope to lift the Spanish title this season. I can’t agree more, after watching how Recreativo Huelva shared the spoils despite falling behind twice.

The title is almost out of reach for Barcelona now but the careless manner in which points were dropped is disgraceful. The Catalans have won only once in its past seven league matches and time is running out with six games left. Heads will roll at the end of the season since Rijkaard has no excuses given the amount of talents at his disposal.

In this 2-2 draw against Recreativo Huelva, Barcelona rested Bojan Krkic, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta due to injuries while Ronaldinho was absent amid reports that he will be playing for AC Milan next season. However, Barcelona welcomed the return of Lionel Messi and their class showed in the way they pressed forward aggressively right from the start.

Barcelona established one-goal cushion on two occasions, thanks to Samuel Eto’o and created enough chances to win the game comfortably. But a shaky defense proved to be their undoing. Similar to last month encounter against Real Betis, where a 2-1 second-half lead reversed into a 3-2 defeat, Barcelona’s defensive lapses proved costly again.

I was impressed with Recreativo Huelva’s fighting spirit and work-rate. They were not cowed by Barcelona’s reputation and every ball was chased down. In the end, their efforts in besieging the Catalans were rewarded as Marco Ruben took advantage of a defensive mess to equalize with a 71st-minute header. Ruben had made it 1-1 in the 41st minute with another header. It was controversial as replays showed the ball had not crossed the line.

Mathematically, Barcelona are not out of contention for the La Liga yet. They have to clear Espanyol, Valencia, Mallorca, Deportivo, Murcia and, most importantly, Real Madrid. It is a tricky path to maneuver and more points may be dropped against Valencia and Deportivo. And not to forget, the small matter of Barcelona not tasting victory against Madrid since November 2005 — a run of four matches.

Even if Barcelona win the remaining matches, Real Madrid still retain control over its own destiny and a calamity of three losses is needed for Barcelona to revive their hopes. In Europe, the situation for the 2006 Champions League winner is getting tedious. Though undefeated, they will face off with Manchester United (also unbeaten) in the semi-finals. The Red Devils are in sterling form currently and they will demolish Barcelona’s porous defense.

Meanwhile, the ball is in Real Madrid’s court. Though their 1-0 victory over Real Murcia wasn’t a high-quality display, it was enough for them to surge nine points clear of Barcelona and ten of Villarreal. Madrid exhibited their championship qualities by grinding out a win despite playing with ten men for nearly 70 minutes.

Murcia started with a 4-5-1 formation to stifle the midfield and Schuster responded with Robinho and Arjen Robben on the flanks to supply lone striker Raul. But Schuster’s strategy was ruined in the 19th minute when Miguel Torres was given a red card for stepping on the heel of a Murcia player.

Murcia, second from bottom in the table, made their numerical superiority count at times but their lack of finesse in front of goal, reflected in their deplorable statistic of less than a goal per game, saved Madrid.

At the end of the first half, Real Madrid were jeered by their demanding home fans as they had expected their team to dispatch such a lowly opponent by now. Fortunately, in the 59th minute, Sneijder scored with his only shot, making it his eighth goal in league play.

A throw-in from the right saw Murcia missing two chances to clear the ball before Sneijder latched on in the penalty area. He did not waste time in firing the ball into the upper right corner. Madrid grew more confident and they continued their plunder for a second goal, their pressure yielded about three times as many shots as Murcia when the final whistle blew.

This victory certainly smoothen Real Madrid’s route to their second consecutive La Liga title. Schuster was impressed with the way his players coped with Torres’ early dismissal. He has been criticised this season for Madrid’s boring style of play - speculation persists about his long-term future at the club - and he admitted Sunday’s win was another case of substance over style.

He said: “It was harder to find spaces in which to attack. I think there is a lot of merit in this victory, but I would have liked the game to be different. The only important thing is to take each game at a time and to try to win every single one. That’s what we are working on.”

I believe Real Madrid will clinch the title but I am not confident that Schuster will remain as manager for another term. Real Madrid have a penchant for sacking successful managers. Fabio Capello, much criticized during his second spell at Real Madrid for neglecting David Beckham and Ronaldo, secured the domestic title on the last day by pipping Barcelona.

The euphoria of filling the trophy cabinet, after several years of under-achievement, was unfortunately, short-lived. Real Madrid’s president, Ramón Calderón showed Capello the door soon after.

Another successful Real Madrid manager in recent history, Vincente del Bosque, also suffered the same fate just a day after he won the club its 29th League title. In both cases, the managers have illustrious records - Capello winning titles at every club he managed and del Bosque, over four seasons in charge, steered the club to two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, a Spanish Supercup, a European Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup.

Apparently, winning titles do not ensure survivability of managers at Real Madrid. And when we consider that Schuster barely fulfilled the promise of replacing Fabio Capello with more entertainment, his position at the club is shaky.

Schuster did not transform Real Madrid’s playing style substantially; shades of Capello can still be seen in the team as they preferred to win in a tight and efficient manner rather than a swashbuckling approach. Failing to progress in the Champions League also put Schuster in a precarious position.

It is not unusual to yearn for changes when we are at the pinnacle. After discarding the galacticos approach and seeing positive results, the board is itching to return to their old ways. Real Madrid could not hide their adulation for Cristiano Ronaldo and they are preparing to break the bank to lure him over.

However, money is only part of the equation. Under Schuster, Real Madrid are not playing the kind of attractive football which will allow Ronaldo to showcase his full array of skills. A coach with stronger attacking credentials may be a different story though and Ronaldo may then be tempted to contemplate a lucrative transfer.

For the time being, I am not sure who will replace Schuster or if he will be replaced at all, but in Real Madrid, sentimentality counts for little. The last day of the season is always a dreadful moment for managers, successful or not.

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JohnST | Barcelona, Champions League, La Liga, Real Madrid | Comments (1)

Thierry Henry To Prepare For Ignominous Exit From Barcelona

April 12, 2008 – 5:50 am

Barcelona are poised for a lip-smacking showdown with Manchester United in the Champions League semi-finals. The entertaining football will be value for money and I am sure the Red Devils will relish this encounter after fond memories of clearing the Catalan hurdle en-route to lifting the Champions League crown in 1999.

For Barcelona, there may be less cheer and they are certainly not in the right frame of mind to face a rampaging United. Not that the Red Devils are infallible, as Middlesbrough had brought them to their knees, but I am not convinced that this Barcelona team can grind out results when the going gets tough.

Due to the dismal manner of the 1-0 win (2-0 aggregate) over Schalke 04, Barcelona fans were, understandably, livid. The brickbats were, however, directed towards Thierry Henry, instead of the entire squad. Certainly, Henry cannot shirk his responsibility in this match after an insipid display and wastefulness in front of goal but the fact is, even if Henry is benched from now till the end of the season, there is no guarantee Barcelona can live up to their promises.

Becoming the fall guy for Barcelona’s nondescript season is no fun and in view of the hostile environment, it is not surprising that questions are raised about the striker’s future at the club. Rumors are already swirling in the vine that Barcelona are prepared to off-load him at a discount. With Lionel Messi recovering from his injury and Giovanni Dos Santos waiting in the wings, Henry’s presence on the bench may even be a waste of space.

The Spanish media were keen to expedite the transfer as they did not reserve any kind words for Henry. La Vanguardia, a mainstream newspaper, gave its withering assessment of the former Arsenal striker’s contribution to Barcelona’s victory: “Until the 49th minute, if someone had said he was actually in London, you would have believed them. Then he had a clear chance but sent it over. After that there were complaints, protests but little more.”

Who will have thought such a comment will be made of Henry when he first joined Barcelona? The original idea calls for the creation of the “Fantastic Four” alongside Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o and to bring back the glory days of the club. Instead, what is left of the hubris today are the jeering whenever Henry took to the pitch.

Putting ourselves in Henry’s shoes, it is not difficult to imagine that his morale must be in the doldrums right now. The entire Barcelona adventure has become a nightmare and he must have wished his Arsenal stint was not ended so hastily.

Over there, he has nothing left to prove, having already established himself as the lynchpin and their always dependable trump card when the chips are down. His younger colleagues hold his class and technical abilities in awe but alas, he desired a Champions League medal. And I don’t fault him for jumping ship because Arsenal have shown they cannot win anything in Europe. This season was no different.

Barcelona are, of course, a safer bet for the Champions League crown but Henry failed to acknowledge the risks in joining a team chock full of talents. Chances are, if he even made it into the first XI, he will be played out of position and thus reducing his effectiveness, instead of him displacing established strikers like Eto’o.

Henry did himself no favors too when he took a long time to to acclimatise. When the team is ravaged by injuries and the African Nations Cup, he has the opportunity to show his true worth but his injuries took their toil and he passed up on the chance to impress the fans with a series of forgettable performances.

Henry admitted that his form has been poor and his scoring instincts dulled by playing on the left wing instead of centre forward at Barcelona. He said: “Honestly, it can be a problem. When France played in Spain in February, I was lost up front, I didn’t know where to run. My reflexes in front of goal are not what they used to be.”

I don’t think his slump in form will affect his position as Domenech’s first choice for the Euro 2008 finals, given that he is France’s all-time top scorer with 44 goals in 98 internationals. That could change though, during the competition if he is upstaged by Benzema or a resurgent Anelka.

I am actually amazed that Barcelona bought Henry over to play him out of position. Back when he was at Juventus, it was already proven that Henry is uncomfortable as as a left winger and his potential to cause damage is severely restricted. Arsene Wenger’s keen eyes spotted a distressed talent and he snapped him up for a few cents on the dollar. Then, Wenger made a bold switch by deploying him as a center-forward, and the story, as we all know, is the birth of a goal machine.

Barca’s tactic of short passing and tendency to use the left-wing as a fetch and carry role has tired him out. He disliked the idea of “running 60 metres from goal” and he has “never run so much in my whole career.” I really can’t blame him if he has not much firepower left when presented with chances after all the physical exertions.

Besides on-pitch problems, Henry also claims of unhappiness in his personal life. He has not seen his daughter Tea since his divorce from English model Claire Merry in September 2007. The high-profile divorce coincided with his move to Barcelona.

From a financial perspective, if the Barcelona board are impatient and refuse to let Henry’s contract run out till 2011, there are of course some benefits to be reaped. Barcelona paid 23.5 million euros to Arsenal last summer but given Henry’s wobbly form, the board will be hard pressed to find suitors offering the same amount of money. A cut-price deal will allow them to recoup their losses.

If Barcelona wait longer, and Henry is already 30 years old, there may be little left. More importantly, they save on the operating expenses as Henry’s salary is astronomical. Earlier this week, France Football assessed that Henry was the fifth biggest earning player in world football with a current income of 16.8 million euros, approximately half of which would come from his Barca salary.

The next question then for Henry is where to go if Barcelona are no longer interested in his service. Last month, he ruled out a return to England, but I believe his heart is still there. If he goes back to France, perennial champions Lyon is most likely to sign him but his current salary will test their resolve.

Italy may be a viable destination but Henry wasn’t particularly successful there so I will take Henry’s words of not returning with a pinch of salt, after all, he pledged his long-term allegiance to Arsenal in the summer of 2006, but still he departed.

Of those who have made their overtures, Chelsea believe that they are the forerunners for Henry’s signature. They have the advantage of a strong financial backing in Roman Abramovich and the club is London based. Henry could be swayed by the desire to see his daughter and that alone is a key push factor.

Add to that, their ability to qualify for Champions League consistently is still intact. But player politics in Chelsea is the decisive factor. If you are sitting on the wrong side of the fence, prepare for a harsh time out in the wilderness. And the manager, Avram Grant, is not a tactical genius nor a motivator.

Grant may be a lucky man and can ensure Chelsea win the majority of games but he is not able to control the dressing room strife. Henry is likely to take on a second-stringer role - the fate of Shevchenko and Ballack in not securing a first team spot should be a clear reminder. And considering Drogba’s desire to be main and only striker, that leaves Henry fighting for a supporting cast with Anelka.

The other club to have voiced their interest is Newcastle. Kevin Keegan was asked on a radio show this week who he would most like to sign this summer and he said without a hint of laughter: “I’d fetch Thierry Henry back to England. I know who I want. Mr Ashley said he wanted to win something in three-and-a-half years. When we sit down in the next few weeks, we’ll see how desperate he is to win.”

For the price of £16m, Keegan believes he can get Newcastle chairman Chris Mort and owner Mike Ashley to table an offer. This seems to be a better choice as Henry is suffering from a loss in confidence. When a striker does not believe in his own abilities, it is the worst thing that can happen; just ask Michael Owen, nothing goes right for him previously.

Keeping faith in a player is important and when his momentum returns, there is no stopping him again. A super-motivator like Kevin Keegan can do wonders to Henry’s confidence but Keegan has a lack of tactical nous and pays too little attention to defense to wrest the Premier League title, not to mention the Champions League which is the ultimate aim for Henry.

I believe the best choice for Henry, if he is keen to return to England, is to join Liverpool who have made the Champions League their own competition. But the Reds have remained passive on this issue. Whether they want Henry in their ranks is doubtful. But I will not discount such a possibility, Henry is still in frequent contact with Steven Gerrard over the phone, so keep your fingers crossed.

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JohnST | Barcelona, Champions League, Chelsea, La Liga, Liverpool, Newcastle United | Comments (2)