Football To You

Four Premier League Bargain Strikers Signed this Summer

2013-08-20T00:24:00.003+00:00

Last season was certainly the year for newly-signed strikers to shine playing for their respective new Premier League sides, but who are the bargain contenders for the 2013/14 season?

Nicolas Anelka - West Brom

The Midlands side have a gem in Nicolas Anelka. Known as ‘le sulk’ by many for his legendary tantrums in the media, but it’s his goalscoring prowess which gets him the most attention.

After the Midlands side lost top-scorer Romelu Lukaku who returned to his parent club Chelsea this summer, many were worried they couldn’t find a player who can boast as good a goalscoring record next season. For a free transfer, who better to sign than Nicolas Anelka?

The 34-year old has played for Paris Saint-Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Fenerbahce, Bolton, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, and Juventus - scoring over 200 goals in total.

Manager Steve Clarke was at Chelsea during Anelka’s spell with the London side, and knows exactly what the Frenchman brings to the table. Despite his advancing age, he will prove to be a bargain buy for West Brom, and still has the fitness to be a regular in the starting lineup.

He’s already made an instant impact on the side, as Anelka grabbed a brace in West Brom’s 3-0 victory against Puskas FC. Fans will be hoping there’s more to come.

Gary Hooper - Norwich City

Celtic’s prolific striker has been linked with every Premier League side outside of the top-7 for the last two years, and it’s not hard to see why.

A born-goalscorer to say the very least about Gary Hooper, and Norwich really have a steal at £5M. Many clubs have enquired since Hooper has been making a name for himself in Scotland, and it was Chris Hughton who persuaded him after weeks of negotiations.

In his three years for Scottish Premier League side Celtic, he’s scored 82 goals in 138 games. Named Celtic’s top goalscorer for every season he’s been playing for the Bhoys, he joins the Canaries in the form of his life, and will prove to be one of the bargains of the season. Certainly a potential contender for top English Premier League goalscorer for 2013/14.

Nicklas Helenius - Aston Villa

Thrify Aston Villa found a gem in Belgium striker Christian Benteke last summer, and it would appear manager Paul Lambert has done it again with the signing of Danish international Nicklas Helenius.

Costing a meagre £1.2M, the 22-year old striker has scored 39 goals in 100 games for former side Aalborg BK. He’s even got among the goals in a couple of Aston Villa’s pre-season friendlies.

Despite being 6 foot 5, Helenius isn’t a target man. His aerial ability is surprisingly one of the weakest parts of his game, but he‘s still a threat from set pieces nevertheless. The Dane prefers playing with the ball at his feet, and possesses great technical ability for a man of his size.

While he faces stiff competition with Gabriel Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann, and Christian Benteke all vying for the forward places, manager Paul Lambert will give him opportunities this season to prove himself. For £1.2M , Helenius is value for money, and last season Danish Player of the Year could enjoy a very successful season with the Villains.

Arouna Kone - Everton

Everton fans haven’t had too much to shout about this summer after losing long-serving manager David Moyes, but his replacement, Roberto Martinez, has certainly spent well procuring the signature of ex-Wigan striker Arouna Kone.

The Ivorian international, now 29, has enjoyed two prolific seasons in the Premier League. Scoring 11 goals in 34 games last season, and 15 in 34 the season previous, Kone is a proven goalscorer and will provide a new dimension for Everton next season.

Almost a hybrid of Everton’s two best strikers last season, Kone is strong and fast like Victor Anichebe, while possessing great off the ball movement and being a clinical finisher like Nikica Jelavic. A game-changer in his own right.

Costing £6M, he can make an instant impact for the Toffees. Now in his prime, the Ivorian will make the difference for Everton in what could be a testing first season for new manager Roberto Martinez.

The Champions League myth about the Premier League

2013-03-14T12:58:00.003+00:00

Arsene Wenger (Arsenal), Roberto Mancini (Man City), Rafael Benitez (Chelsea), and Sir Alex Ferguson (Man Utd)

For the first time since 1996, There will not be an English representative in the Champions League quarter finals. As expected, the media are using this opportunity to highlight the short-comings of the Premier League. Quite frankly, it's untrue and unfounded. It's a myth. English football has not depleted, regardless of what's being said about it. Look at the finalists for the last 8 seasons - only one season fails to feature an English club (09/10). Four different English clubs have made the final during this spell too (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Man Utd). The rest of Europe haven't enjoyed as much representation as England have. Spain (1), Germany (1) and Italy (2) are the amount of sides the rest in Europe have mustered for the past 8 seasons. They say Europe is catching up with the Premier League. It doesn't appear like it.

Not only are English clubs, as a whole, very consistent in reaching the latter stages of the Champions League, they are dominating it. Chelsea won the Champions League last season, despite finishing outside of a Champions League place in their domestic league. Some may say, the focus switched to Europe after the title race was out of their reach, but for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United to all make finals in recent years shows how strong the Premier League really is.

The common myth is how the Premier League are behind the Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga in terms of quality. Barcelona are the only Spanish representative to reach a Champions League final in over 10 years. Bayern Munich have Germany's only representative in Champions League finals for over 10 years, and they have lost both finals they were in.

The media speak of a common trend of failings for the English sides in Europe, but one look at the records would suggest the only trend is there promises to be an English club in the final more often than not.

I'm at a loss to explain why these myths about the Premier League keep appearing. Look at the last three winners of the Premier League - Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. The two latter sides have both won the Champions League in the last 5 years. What more evidence do people want?

This season, any favourable ties alluded the English sides for the last-16. Arsenal faced top of the Bundesliga Bayern Munich, while Manchester United faced current La Liga holders Real Madrid. Is it any surprise both were eliminated?

There isn't a panic about English side's strength in Europe, regardless of what the media want you to believe. The fact is, the Premier League are enjoying their best period of English contingents going far in Europe season after season.

Don't believe in the myth.

Arsenal Face The Impossible

2013-03-12T16:57:00.002+00:00

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

On Wednesday the 13th of March, Arsenal travel to Germany for the second leg of their Champions League clash. They find themselves 3-1 down from the first leg and this season's FA Cup run was cut short by Blackburn in the 5th round.

In the Premier League, they are currently in 5th place, five points adrift of Chelsea in 4th. Their entire season rides on finishing in the top-four and extending Arsene Wenger's incredible record of 15 consecutive years of reaching the Champions League to 16 years. If they fail in this mission, not only will the fans be calling for Wenger's head, they will also question the club's long-term ambition in vociferous protests.

From the outside, Arsenal appear to be a club in decline. Low on lady luck and running out of excuses for continually failing on the big stage, Arsene Wenger's men are also coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat of North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. There’s a lot of pressure on their shoulders as they face the biggest test to stay in the Champions League this season.

Bayern Munich blew the London side away in the first leg. Boasting a domestic defensive record bettered by no other side in Europe, they appear on course to break the Gunners' hearts and condemn them to elimination. Arsenal will also be missing Jack Wilshere through injury, which will only make their task harder.

With a defence as resolute as Bayern Munich's this season, the chances of Arsenal clawing back a 3-1 deficit seems unlikely. Even the most optimistic of Arsenal fans will say it's a bridge too far. If Arsenal did fail to finish in the top-four this season, Arsene Wenger will surely again be subject to torrents of abuse and media speculation about his future.

While it appears Arsene Wenger is committed to stick with his beloved Arsenal through thick and thin, can he motivate his current crop of players to give the performance of their careers and make an unlikely comeback against the Bundesliga high-flyers? We will find out.

Paul Gascoigne's Relapse

2013-02-04T12:24:00.002+00:00

Picture of Paul Gascoigne during his speech. Taken from the Daily Mirror.

It has recently been reported that former England international Paul Gascoigne is drinking again. A man who has had problems with alcoholism throughout his football career and after it. A man who graced the football field with his sublime talent in his feet, but in his eyes told the story of a man troubled and seeking help.

It was at the Park Inn hotel in Northampton that prompted concern. Paul Gascoigne gave a speech in which his hand was seen trembling to the point where he failed to keep the microphone close to his mouth. Repeatedly swearing, stuttering and slurring his words. The speech was caught on camera and has stunned many. Gascoigne was even seen crying at times. It appeared to be a cry for help, but what help can be given for a man who can't shake an ongoing problem with alcohol?

Gasgoine has made no secret of his drink problems, and he's been pictured by paparazzi on many an occasion in a drunken state. He's had copious amounts of therapy and rehabilitation treatments, but he still relapses back to his old self. It appears the alcohol has also damaged him permanently as his speech sounds
completely altered and at times incoherent. His face has the look of a much older man than his age suggests. For decades, Paul Gascoigne has been unable to quit the drink for good. It ruined his marriage and shattered his relationship with his kids. He's been offered help in the past and the present, but it seems willpower is what Gascoigne really needs.

Arrested for drink-driving on more than one occasion. Arrested for possession of cocaine, and his ex-wife was subject to beatings from Gascoigne in his drunken fits of rage before they divorced. When will it end? He's had operations due to a stomach ulcer, and he's even had to be revived multiple times because of his heart stopping. Most would say Paul Gascoigne will go the way of George Best, and not many would disagree.

Most recently, his agent Terry Baker told BBC 5 Live that Gascoigne had once again relapsed. Something it appears Gascoigne himself wanted to keep quiet about, but it's clear everyone's previous efforts to help the man have failed. What can be done to help a man who cannot help himself? Surely if Gascoigne wasn't a former footballer, the amount of help received wouldn't have been there in the first place. He is lucky that so many people have made the effort to turn his life around as others wouldn't be so fortunate.

It has also been said that Gascoigne is frequently spotted daily buying cans of beer from a local newsagents in Bournemouth and drinking them before heading to a pub. Throwing cans out of a taxi and urinating off his balcony also paint the picture of a man in desperate need.

Despite all his previous problems, Gascoigne is still beloved by the majority of the football community. Does he deserve their help? Probably not. Will he ever quit the drink for good? Probably not either. The fact is, people are now more concerned than ever that the next they hear about Paul Gascoigne will be in an obituary.

What a waste.

The Capital One Cup Semi Final

2012-12-19T22:19:00.000+00:00

Already there have been many shocks and surprises in the Capital One Cup. After the drama in the quarter-finals, it's Bradford City, Swansea City, Aston Villa, and Chelsea that have sealed their spot in the final four. Now the semi-final draw has been conducted, here are the fixtures:

Chelsea vs Swansea
Bradford vs Aston Villa

My own predictions are for Chelsea and Aston Villa to meet in the final. Proverbially speaking, my money is on Chelsea to lift the trophy by virtue of Rafael Benitez being desperate to atone for their recent World Club Cup final defeat. I also think the Chelsea attacking quartet will prove too strong for the remaining sides, and they will have what it takes to outscore any of their opponents when called upon. However, as we've previously seen with Arsenal, the pre-game favourites can often struggle in the final. Aston Villa have been saving their best form for the Capital One Cup and find themselves in great form currently, so perhaps it's not a foregone conclusion. Here are the players to watch out for in the semi-finals. In the Premier League, Swansea find themselves in good form, and they are playing even better football so Chelsea will be in for a game over two legs. Most recently, Bradford deservedly beat Arsenal in a thrilling quarter final match so they too shouldn't be written off against Aston Villa. Below are the players to watch out for in the semi-finals:

Bradford's Nahki Wells has 15 goals and 3 assists in all domestic competitions.
Swansea's Michu has 13 goals and 2 assists in all domestic competitions.
Aston Villa's Christian Benteke has 8 goals and 6 assists in all domestic competitions.
Chelsea's Juan Mata has 8 goals and 10 assists in all domestic competitions.

What are your predictions for the Capital One Cup? Which teams inclusion in the semi-final has surprised you the most? Who will make the final? Who will lift the cup? Have your say using the "comments" tab, or on Twitter using my name @Crippy4Villa.

QPR's patience finally wears out for Mark Hughes

2012-11-23T18:17:00.002+00:00

Sacked manager Mark Hughes (left) and Harry Redknapp (right) who's the favourite to succeed him.

Announced today, Mark Hughes lost his battle to keep his job as QPR manager. It comes as no surprise as QPR sit afoot of the Premier League without a win all season. The only shock is the timing of his departure with QPR facing Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon having their assistant manager and coach take charge for the short-term.

Everything seems nailed on for Harry Redknapp to become the next manager. Unconfirmed sources say that Redknapp is currently having talks with the QPR owners and he should be unveiled as manager in the next 24 hours. Should Redknapp become the next manager, QPR will have much more of an identity on the pitch with Redknapp prone to playing a very expansive attacking game (like we saw at Spurs), and fans should expect them to win their first game of the season very soon.

The big question is if Tony Fernandes will allow their next manager any spending money. They have coughed up a lot this summer to secure the acquisition of overseas players on high wages. He may feel that the squad is good enough to stay up without having to dig in to his pockets again for the January transfer window. We all know Redknapp has a penchant to spend, so that will be taken heavily into consideration while he and the board are having talks.

To discuss this story and more, use the "comments" tab on the website, or follow me on Twitter @Crippy4Villa

Fernando Torres. The ongoing enigma.

2012-11-18T14:25:00.000+00:00

Where do I start with Fernando Torres? Worshipped at Liverpool, now continuously looking bereft of confidence at Chelsea.

"El Nino" set the Premier League alight for Liverpool following his £20M move from Athletico Madrid, and in his time he became the best striker in the Premier League, amassing an impressive 81 goals in 142 games in all competitions. It was during the tail-end of the 2009/10 Premier League campaign that was inarguably the chief contributor for Torres' long-term slump in form.

Announced on the 18th of April 2010, Fernando Torres was to undergo knee surgery, sidelining him for two months. With the 2010 World Cup approaching, Vicente Del Bosque named an injured Torres in his World Cup squad for Spain. Torres' performances during the group stages were labelled as below-par, and he eventually lost his starting place in the latter stages. His poor campaign was topped off by being named on the bench in the final (which Spain won 1-0 aet), only to be brought on in the 105th minute.

The following 2010-11 season in the Premier League, Torres never fully recaptured his form. He showed occasional glimpses of what once was, but only a mere shadow of his former self by comparison. In January 2011, Fernando Torres sealed a £50M deal to Chelsea from Liverpool (which set the record fee for a British transfer). In his debut season, Torres went on a run of 903 minutes without scoring before breaking his duck and netting his first Chelsea goal against West Ham United on the 23rd of April 2011. That was to be the only league goal he scored that season.

The following term, in the 2011-12 season, Torres scored only 6 goals in 20 Premier League games for Chelsea. Looking flat-footed, disinterested, and spurning chances he'd once previously score, it was clear Torres had failed to regain his form since the injury.

The 2012-13 season started well for Fernando and Chelsea, but he's since found himself in the headlines for bad performances rather than good. He's currently on a 5 game drought without scoring, and with the January transfer window on the way, is it time for Chelsea to sign a replacement?

To discuss this story and more, post your comments on the website and follow me on Twitter @Crippy4Villa

Overachieving? Or are they the real deal?

2012-11-16T14:48:00.001+00:00

Look at the Premier League table. Take a second and just look at it. We are eleven games in to the season for most sides in the Premier League, and there are three clubs that instantly catch my eye for how high they're currently sitting. They say the table never lies, but I deem that as a statement only partly true. Have West Brom & West Ham really been the 5th & 6th best football clubs in the Premier League so far this season? It's hard to say. Their own fans will disagree of course, but any impartial follower of football would admit the next dozen games will no doubt lead to a slightly different looking 4th-6th place, with Tottenham, Arsenal, Newcastle & Liverpool breathing down their necks.

Taken from the BBC Sport website

To state their cases of not only whether they belong in the top-6 so far, but whether they can maintain their league position come the end of the season, I've rounded up a fan from Everton, West Brom & West Ham. What better way to gain a real insight into each club?

@darrencronin66 is our Everton supporter, @WestBrom1996 is our West Brom supporter, and @jakeelatimer is our West Ham supporter. The aforementioned trio have also seen every away game this season.

Q: What formation(s) & style(s) of football does your manager have your side playing this season?

@darrencronin66: "4-4-1-1 we have played in the most games this season. It really suits our players"

@WestBrom1996: "We're playing a 4-2-3-1"

@jakeelatimer: "It's a mixture of 4-5-1/4-4-2, with Carroll and Nolan supplying that no.10 role. We're keeping it on the floor and utilising big Andy up top. We play a system that brings the midfielders into the game as Diame's prone to go on a bulldozing run into the box, so the likes of Benayoun and Jarvis are ready to help out and over-lap"

Q: Based on this season's performances, what's been your best starting XI?

@darrencronin66: "Howard, Baines, Jagielka, Distin, Coleman, Pienaar, Osman, Gibson, Mirallas, Fellaini and Jelavic"

@WestBrom1996: "Foster, Ridgewell, Olsson, Mcauley, Jones, Mulumbu, Yacob, Odemwingie, Morrison, Gera and Long"

@jakeelatimer: "Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, McCartney, Benayoun, Noble, Diame, Jarvis, Nolan and Carroll"

Q: Who have been your most consistent performers on the pitch this season?

@darrencronin66: "Baines as usual, although Fellaini has been awesome"

@WestBrom1996: "Shane Long, Jonas Olsson & Claudio Yacob"

@jakeelatimer: "Kevin Nolan, our top scorer, seems to be there when we're looking for a goal. Winston Reid's thriving at centre half. Like Vidic, he's great in the tackle, heads it away, and a threat from set pieces. Diame's been strong and powerful in midfield with bursts into the opposition's half. He has everything. Passing, shooting, pacey, strong, and a good tackler"

Q: What differences in playing style have you seen from your team in comparison to last season?

@darrencronin66: "We are actually trying to win every game this season instead of sitting back away from home"

@WestBrom1996: "This season we seem to be much more attacking regardless of the opponent we're facing"

@jakeelatimer: "We were very inconsistent last year and our style of play at times was very rusty. We rotated a big man striker up top and Cole, Carew and Piquionne were terrible. This season we're playing it on the floor with freedom, intimidating the opponents and getting decent results"

Q: In which game did you see the best performance from your side this season?

@darrencronin66: "The best performance has to be the opening day 1-0 victory against Man United at Goodison without a doubt.

@WestBrom1996: "Everton at home"

@jakeelatimer: "Our 3-0 victory against Fulham at home. We scored three in the first 45, and it was the most one-sided first half to a game I've ever seen. A brilliant performance and showed we meant business"

Q: In which game did you see the worst performance from your side this season?

@darrencronin66: "West Brom (away). We just never got started. We were overpowered which is so unlike us"

@WestBrom1996: "Fulham (away)"

@jakeelatimer: "Swansea (away). It was the second game of the season and we lost 3-0. We couldn't score in a brothel and each goal we gave away was just pathetic"

Q: With the January transfer window approaching, who would you like to see sign for you?

@darrencronin66: "If money was no object, Demba Ba without a doubt"

@WestBrom1996: "Marin Olsson, or another left back"

@jakeelatimer: "There's no real need for any new faces. I would like to see a new long-term keeper come in, so maybe Jack Butland. Perhaps another left back, but otherwise we're sorted"

Q: What's been your biggest flaw or achilles heel this season?

@darrencronin66: "Our biggest flaw has been starting games slowly"

@WestBrom1996: "Keeping up the levels of consistency throughout the entire game"

@jakeelatimer: "Andy Carroll getting injured and subsequently missing the next four games hampered us"

Q: Where do you think you'll finish at the end of the season?

@darrencronin66: "I think we will finish 5th, but I'm hoping for 4th"

@WestBrom1996: "Around mid-table, so about 9th or 10th"

@jakeelatimer: "At this rate, 8th. I'd be more than happy if we snuck into a Europa League spot"

Q: Who's been your most improved player this season?

@darrencronin66: "Seamus Coleman. He was poor last season, but seems to have knuckled down in pre-season and is getting better every game"

@WestBrom1996: "James Morrison or Zoltan Gera"

@jakeelatimer: "Winston Reid, without a doubt"

Despite the three sides obvious differences, they do have one similarity. They all have a manager from the UK. Coincidence? I don't think so. Whether or not they can maintain their high league position will remain to be seen. I'll leave it for you to decide. Thanks to: @darrencronin66, @WestBrom1996 and @jakeelatimer for their help.

To discuss this story and more, leave your comments on the website and follow me on Twitter @Crippy4Villa

Who will be the first managerial casualty in the Premier League?

2012-11-14T01:12:00.001+00:00

At the time that I'm writing this piece, it's 14/11/12 and we are eleven games into the season for most of the teams in the Premier League. As any manager will tell you, this is the time when the table will start to take shape. Surprisingly enough, no manager has lost his job in the Premier League this season as of yet, so I thought we should look into the managers that are in potential danger. I've shortlisted them in order of severity.

#5 Brendan Rodgers. Liverpool Manager. 13th in the Premier League

Since leaving Swansea to become the manager of Liverpool in the summer, Brendan Rodgers has inherited an obvious problem. We remember the style of football Swansea played under him last season in the Premier League, but therein lies the difficult task of trying to integrate his philosophy into an already established side. It's fair to say, despite a lot of promising performances, Liverpool have fallen short this season in regard to their league position. Despite the Liverpool owners buying into his style and long-term plan for the club, if Rodgers fails to show any improvement in form before Christmas, his job could well be under consideration.

#4 Chris Hughton. Norwich Manager. 15th in the Premier League

Chris Hughton must have wished he could've turned the clocks back 12 months at the start of October. Last season, he led Birmingham City to the playoffs, only to lose to Blackpool in the semi-finals. This season, after leaving Birmingham to be the manager of Norwich in the summer, his new club were in sitting in 19th place with three points following the defeat to Chelsea on the 6th of October. Despite their poor start, Norwich are now currently unbeaten from their last five games in all competitions, including their narrow victory against Arsenal last month. Hughton knows how quickly the fan's opinion of him can change, and with their next two matches of Man United (home) & Everton (away), Norwich will have their work cut out. Norwich find themselves in a decent enough position in the Premier League, but it doesn't take many games to slip back into the drop zone where Chris Hughton's job will be on the line should that happen.

#3 Brian McDermott. Reading Manager. 18th in the Premier League

Brian McDermott, the lovable figure, was always going to be in for a rough season with Reading. They haven't invested heavily in new signings this summer and find themselves 18th in the Premier League, winless after ten games. With a thin squad and limited funds at their disposal, should Reading's board show loyalty to the man who won them promotion in the previous season? Would Reading even be better off should McDermott lose his job? Regardless, Brian McDermott will feel a lot of pressure on his shoulders if Reading fail to pull themselves out of the relegation zone soon, especially if the fans become restless.

#2 Nigel Adkins. Southampton Manager. 19th in the Premier League

Regarding Southampton's fixture list, the start to their season back in the Premier League could have been kinder, but Southampton are in big trouble. They've lost every game on their travels this season and are already four points from safety. Manager Adkins admitted on Match of the Day that he would expect himself to be the bookies favourite to lose his job with the club sitting in the relegation zone. Despite his usual positive demeanor and optimism to the media, Adkins is under no allusions that his job may become vacant if Southampton are still in the relegation zone in a month's time.

#1. Mark Hughes. QPR Manager. 20th in the Premier League

Mark Hughes was the bookies favourite, before and after the season started. He's splashed out a lot of money on a lot of players this summer in a bold attempt to keep QPR out of relegation. His gamble couldn't have gone any worse this season with QPR lying in 20th place and without a victory. Despite chairman Tony Fernandes publicly stating his commitment to Mark Hughes, his opinion my change if QPR fail to lift themselves from the bottom of the Premier League with enough time to save themselves from relegation. Hughes possesses a lot of players with individual talent, but it's defensive errors costing QPR points. For a man usually well-known for organising a strong, watertight defence, QPR continue to leak goals. Can he save them? I don't think so. With the January transfer window slowly approaching, it wouldn't surprise me to see QPR looking for a new manager with a lucrative transfer kitty to spend from in order to save them from relegation.

To discuss this story and more, follow me on Twitter (@Crippy4Villa)

The decline of Aston Villa.

2012-11-11T20:33:00.000+00:00

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert

I have chosen to write a piece for the people that ask: "What's happened to Aston Villa in recent seasons?" The answer is this, they've lost their entire midfield in the space of two years without replacing them with players anywhere near their quality or playing style. Not only did Aston Villa lose Martin O'Neill, they lost Gareth Barry
(1 year before O'Neill left the club), James Milner, Ashley Young & Stewart Downing. The aforementioned being four of England's finest midfielders (at the time), who all were playing fantastically under O'Neill. Post 09/10, Stephen Warnock's form took a battering with constant defensive errors leading to cheap goals. Alan Hutton has been a poor signing for the Villains, looking a shadow of the player we saw at Tottenham. Richard Dunne has been showing his age and had a dreadful last campaign by his standards too. He's set to return from injury soon, but I don't think he'll heavily feature. They signed N'Zogbia to replace Young and he's failed to live up to expectations after near single-handedly keeping Wigan in the Premier League the previous season. He's now warming the bench. Ireland has been a monumental failure for Aston Villa since signing and hasn't shown why he was player of the season in 2008 for Man City. Marc Albrighton, who replaced Downing effectively, had a great debut season, but he's been average for the club ever since. Coupled with the influx of managerial changes leading to different philosophies and styles, their entire starting eleven has changed in such a short space of time, so is it any wonder Aston Villa are in the situation they find themselves?

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Joey Barton. Misunderstood?

2012-05-14T17:50:00.000+00:00

Man City 3-2 QPR was an eventful game to say the least. Manchester City won their first Premier League title in almost 40 years, but the game will also be remembered for the actions of a former Man City player. Joey Barton, who left the club in 2007, has been an ongoing problem his whole career. There's no doubt that Barton is a talented midfielder with a terrific range of passing combined with the work rate and determination that every captain should possess, but his temperament has never improved with age.

Joey Barton being dragged away after being given a straight red card for an off-the-ball challenge on Tevez.

In the last game of QPR's season, they knew a victory against Man City would guarantee their Premier League status for another year regardless of other results. Joey Barton was named captain for what was the most important game of QPR's campaign. An off-the-ball altercation with Carlos Tevez saw the club captain given a straight red card in the 55th minute. Replays showed Barton initially elbowing Tevez and kicking Aguero after being sent off. He even appeared to headbutt Kompany in the melee before being dragged off in disgrace. QPR fans were feeling the worst, they had been let down again by the ill-discipline of their club captain. They lost the game 3-2 but managed to avoid relegation due to Bolton not capitalizing on their defeat. The blame was squarely aimed at Barton by fans alike. Whether or not QPR would've have lost with Barton on the pitch was irrelevant, the fact is they were let down by a player who holds himself in the highest regard. Barton's actions were later condemned on Match of the Day by the football pundits. Instead of apologising for his actions Barton launched a scathing attack on the pundits using Twitter while showing no remorse for his behaviour that led to his red card.

Barton's outspoken and aggressive nature have always thwarted him becoming the great player we have seen small glimpses of throughout his career. Despite these setbacks, Barton still feels he's badly treated by the media and that his indiscretions are blown out of proportion. He was sold by Man City because of his reputation and later released by Newcastle for his comments on Twitter criticising the manager and the chairman's transfer policy. So, with Joey Barton in the headlines yet again for the wrong reasons, is he really misunderstood? Or is he destined for a career of mediocrity because he fails to learn from his mistakes?

To discuss this story and more, use the comments tab below, or follow me on Twitter using my name @Crippy4Villa.

Where do Aston Villa go from here?

2012-05-14T12:48:00.000+00:00

With Alex Mccleish out of the picture now, the search to find a suitable managerial candidate goes on. Aston Villa failed in their pursuit of Roberto Martinez last season and from evidence of Wigan's form in the 2nd half of the season it would seem that he was a big loss. So who do the Aston Villa board have on their shortlist?

Paul Lambert
He's had a fine season with Norwich after securing unlikely back to back promotions to reach the Premier League. Seemingly the media and the fans favourite to get the job and with a great track record he appears to be the perfect choice.

Steve Bruce
Sacked by Sunderland this season before Martin O'Neill changed their fortunes around but has been in management for 13 years. Experienced manager who won promotion with bitter rivals Birmingham but will still be a possible choice for the Villa faithful.

Neil Lennon

Won the SPL this season in style with Celtic and will surely be looking for a fresh start at a club after all the abuse he has faced over the last 12 months. Tough-talking Lennon might be the man Villa need to kickstart their campaign next season and he may bring some of his Celtic stars with him.

Gus Poyet
He led Brighton to promotion last season and has had a terrific campaign in his first season in the Championship. Led Brighton to a respectable 10th placed position this year and won the award for outstanding managerial achievement.

Those were the favourites but here's a list of the other possible candidates the media has touted:

Gianfranco Zola
Roy Keane
Roberto Di Matteo
Brian Mcdermott
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Mick McCarthy
Bob Bradley
Steve McClaren
Brendan Rodgers
Marco Bielsa
Lee Clark
Dave Jones
Didier Descamps
Slaven Bilic
Chris Hughton
Gareth Southgate
Fabio Capello

So who would you like?

To discuss this story and more follow us on Twitter (@footballtoyou) (@Crippy4Villa) and use #f2y

Why do English players warrant such inflated transfer fees?

2012-05-12T11:37:00.000+00:00

Liverpool have been the biggest culprits when it comes to spending over the value for English talent this season. With the new homegrown rules firmly in place it seems the chase for England's hottest up-and-coming prospects is set to continue, or will it encourage more teams to gamble with their own youth setup? Aston Villa have been great pioneers of their youth system in past seasons and this year currently have 13 players in the squad all products of the academy.

So with England consistently underachieving in major tournaments as a nation, why do clubs spend so much money on signing English players? Here's 10 reasons why English players make better fits than foreigners.

There is no language barrier.
They can handle the pressure of the media.
They can already play to the style of English football.
There's no chance of them getting homesick.
There's (usually) no cheating, diving or foul play.
They conduct themselves in a professional manner.
They have a high work rate and determination.
They are more loyal and not swayed by lucrative offers.
They are more passionate and put in 100% every game.
They retire a lot later than foreign players do.
Fans love to see our clubs starring more homegrown players.
English clubs have a responsibility to nurture in the development of our brightest talents.

Andy Carroll was signed by Liverpool
for £35M in 2011.

Andy Carroll has been under scrutiny all season for his poor form and lack of goals since signing for Liverpool. However, he's started to pick up his performances in the last couple of games and seems on course to make the England squad for the Euro's this summer. There's no doubt that he will become an important player for both club and country but why was he so expensive?

As a striker myself I have chosen to focus my argument on our domestic goalscorers. Here's a list of the top-10 goal ratios of strikers this season.

English

1st - Wayne Rooney (26 goals from 33 games) = 78%

2nd - Jermain Defoe (10 goals from 24 games) = 41%

3rd - Darren Bent (9 goals from 22 games) = 40.9%

4th - Grant Holt (14 goals from 35 games) = 40%

5th - Daniel Sturridge (11goals from 29 games) = 38%

6th - Steven Fletcher (11 goals from 31 games) = 35%

7th - Danny Graham (11 goals from 35 games) = 31.4%

8th - Peter Crouch (10 goals from 32 games) = 31.2%

9th - Danny Welbeck (9 goals from 30 games) = 30%

10th - Steve Morrison (9 goals from 33 games) = 27%

Foreign

1st - Papiss Cisse (13 goals from 13 games) = 100%

2nd - Robin Van Persie (30 goals from 37 games) = 81%

3rd - Sergio Aguero (22 goals from 33 games) = 66%

4th - Mario Balotelli (13 goals from 22 games) = 59%

5th - Yakubu Aiyegbeni (16 goals from 29 games) = 55%

6th - Emmanuel Adebayor (16 goals from 32 games) = 50%

7th - Demba Ba (16 goals from 33 games) = 48%

8th - Edin Dzeko (13 goals from 29 games) = 44.8%

9th - Luiz Suarez (11 goals from 30 games) = 36%

10th - Peter Odemwingie (10 goals from 29 games) = 34%

Stats can be misleading but there's no doubt that (apart from Rooney) our English strikers haven't been as prolific as the foreign imports this season. I'm very much an advocate of homegrown players in the English game but you can see why some clubs are still preferring to sign talent abroad. Surely club value for strikers is based on the amount of goals they score, their overall worth to the club in the present and future and NOT their nationality. Downing, Carroll, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Young, Henderson, Crouch, Milner, Bent, Adam Johnson & Wickham have cost more than £170M for their respective clubs this season and last. I leave it to you to make up your own mind whether or not our English players really do warrant such extravagant transfer valuations.

To discuss this story and more follow us on Twitter (@footballtoyou) (@Crippy4Villa) and use #f2y.

Once wanted by Moyes, now wanting a club. What's next for Christian Ribeiro?

2012-05-10T11:57:00.001+00:00

Signing his professional contract in December 2006, the world was at the young Welshman's feet. Having lightning fast pace, great stamina and positional awareness put Ribeiro's name on the radar for the bigger clubs such as Everton. Ribeiro opted to stay at Ashton Gate stating: ''I felt I had a better chance of playing regular football for Bristol City at the time'' Only making 14 appearances due to an injury-hit 5 seasons at Ashton Gate saw his contract finally terminated by City this summer. Once a Welsh international, he's now seen his name drop down the pecking order to Adam Matthews & Chris Gunter.

Despite these setbacks, spending the last 4 months of this season on loan to Scunthorpe United has seen a return to form and fitness for Ribeiro and has left the defender positive about his future. He's already been linked with a move to Brighton, Charlton and Birmingham this summer but it's a long way from the heights of the Premier League. So what's in store for the Welsh international that once showed such promise?

To discuss this story and more follow us on Twitter (@footballtoyou) (@Crippy4Villa) and use #f2y

Holloway's Premiership Dream Continues.

2012-05-09T22:30:00.004+00:00

Ian Holloway's dream of an immediate return to the Premier League was given a massive boost tonight as his side emerged victorious from the Championship play-off semi finals. A 2-2 draw away against Chris Hughton's Birmingham was enough to secure a Wembley date with West Ham. With an entertaining style of football, a romantic back story and a manager whom it is hard not to love many fans of football will be keen to see Blackpool return to the top flight. Last season saw a valiant side relegated on the last day of the season despite a brave showing at Old Trafford which saw Holloway's men lead for a brief period.

Having taken a two goal lead at St. Andrews it seemed as if the tie was settled but the dramatic nature of the richest games in football was soon to rear its head. Two goals from Nicola Zigic and then Curtis Davies quickly cancelled out Blackpool's commanding lead but the Seasiders held onto to the result and with it their dream of an immediate return remains in tact.

To discuss this story and more follow us on Twitter (@FootballToYou) and use #f2y.

We leave you with an unforgettable Ollie interview, of which we hope there are more to come in the Premier League next season.

Falcao grabs the Headlines yet again

2012-05-09T21:42:00.001+00:00

The hitman Falcao will be on the back of every newspaper tomorrow morning after his man of the match display in the Europa League final. The Colombian Striker netted a brace to ensure his side lifted the trophy, eventually overcoming Athletico Bilbao 3-0 in front of 52,000 in Amsterdam.

Please follow on Twitter (@FootballToYou) for more of the latest news and use #f2y to discuss this and more.

World Cup Watch 2010 - Spain

2010-06-02T17:20:00.009+00:00

Less than two weeks. That's how little time there is before the greatest spectacle in football kicks off. I can't put into words just how excited I am for this years World Cup. Right now I'm dividing my time equally between slavishly trying to lead Netherlands Antilles to glory in the FIFA World Cup game on Xbox, reading up on every single piece of information I can gather from Johannesburg and just generally drinking myself into a stupor to numb the emotions and while away the time. Kind of like Uncle Lenny after his third divorce.

I wanted to do a couple of pieces on the dangerman of the World Cup, the usual suspects; The Torres, the Ronaldos and the Sneijders. But that's been done to death and you don't exactly need me to tell you that Lionel Messi is actually half decent (He is, by the way). So instead, I thought I'd write about the overlooked aspects of the team, the potential keys to their success. Today, we'll be looking at almost everyone's second side, European Champions Spain.

Spain

Every generation gets to see a couple of footballing nations during their 'golden era', where the players have impossible potential, reach unprecedented success and are laboured with a heavy weight of expectation on their shoulders; Holland in the 70's, Bulgaria in the 90's. Surely Spain are the closest team to experiencing their golden era of football right now? Riding high on their success from 2008, Spain are the second favourites only to Brazil in most people's eyes. And rightly so, as they are as close to a complete team as possible.

Every part of the squad is strong; there is presence and physicality across the back, technique and vision in the midfield, and two of the best strikers in world football to spearhead the attack. In truth, the key to their success is not held by any single player, but in the performance of the whole team. We know just how good they are, all that needs to happen is for them to work well as a team on the pitch. Unfortunately for those of us clinging onto the dying embers of any hope England ever had of winning, Spain usually look utterly at ease playing with each other. They had a slightly clumsy performance in their recent friendly against Saudi Arabia, only winning 3-2, but one would assume this sluggishness will disappear once the tournament starts.

Obviously, Spain will need performances from their abundance of talent, they need Xavi and Iniesta fit and at the heart of everything, and we can probably bank on Torres and Villa getting goals, whilst Puyol will have to organise a sturdy defence to build from. But in my eyes, they will be depending on goalkeeper Iker Casillas more than they'd perhaps hope.

Key Man - Iker Casillas

Why they need him - In these big tournaments, experience and confidence are absolutely key. Most people would agree that Joe Hart has been the best English goalkeeper this season, but there is a reason why he won't be starting games at the World Cup. Experience is vital, and Casillas has it in abundance, being an ever-present in the Spain side since breaking into the team due to an injury to Canizares in 2004. Defences need to be able to rely on their goalkeeper, a safe pair of hands radiates confidence throughout the side. Spain clearly have the talent to win the competition, so what their chances of success depend upon is organisation, and that starts at the back. They need a solid defence to build on, and any inexperienced players coming into the side, or the attack minded full backs, will look to the likes of Puyol and Casillas to organise that. They need Casillas to shake off any bad form he might be having, he made an uncharacteristic error against Saudi Arabia which has caused some panic amongst the domestic press, and he needs to iron that out and be the dependable goalkeeper we're used to seeing between the sticks.

Why we should fear him - Casillas has long been one of the most highly regarded goalkeepers in the world, second perhaps only to the ageing Buffon. His record at club and international level speaks for itself, and teammates always laud his abilities, even garnering praise from Gordon Banks for a sensational save in the league this season. His biggest asset may well be his reflexes, he seems to be able to read the intentions of the striker before they even know themselves what they intend. This might be the reason he's one of the best shot stoppers in the world today.

Why we shouldn't fear him - Not so much a reason not to fear him personally, but a reason why his absence wouldn't exactly cripple the Spain squad. Their reserves. Waiting in the wings they have Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina, two goalkeepers also recognised as being some of the best in the world. Let me repeat their three goalkeeping choices. Iker Casillas. Victor Valdes. Pepe Reina... Shits on Martyn, Flowers and Seaman any day.

Oh, and also, it's customary for me here to dole out the old European goalkeeping stereotype of them flapping and needing to punch at any thing that even remotely resembles a cross-field ball.

Prediction - Runners-up

John Terry vs Wayne Bridge

2010-02-28T01:40:00.004+00:00

Ladies and gentleman, like a phoenix from the flames, the Football To You blog rises from the ashes of apathy and abjectivity once more. Marvel at it's glorious transformation from infrequently updated, random outbursts to rarely maintained, illogical ramblings. Hopefully this renewed enthusiasm will continue, just be sure to 'enjoy' it while it lasts as best you can. So, what better story to return to than a nice, juicy scandal...

We shall start with a bombshell; John Terry doesn't seem like a very nice bloke.

I'm just throwing that one out there.

Seriously though, are many of us that surprised that John Terry turned out to be a bit of a bad apple? Anyone who is fined for mocking grieving American tourists days after the September 11th tragedy is probably a bit lacking in the morals department. Sure, that might be a bit of a sweeping judgement for me to make from this pedestal, but I'm not a role model children look up to. And if moral crusader Craig Bellamy comes out and labels you a bit of a wrongun', you know you're not in good shape.

So much has been made of this scandal that it's difficult to seperate fact from fiction. We know tabloids tend to run with anything that might sell, but it would seem to all intents and purposes that Wayne Bridge wasn't with the girl at the time, and that Terry wasn't the first to hit the back of the net so to speak. I apologise, I'm not proud of that pun. (I'm lying... I'm totally proud of it.)

It would be so easy to point the finger of blame at John Terry, but he wasn't the first footballer to act questionably in their private life, and he most certainly won't be the last. The sad truth is that the modern footballer has so much power that this sort of thing is an inevitability. Everything is given to them on a plate, they enjoy all the luxuries of life and are treated as being above the laws and rules that apply to the rest of us; is it really that shocking that they then act as though this were the case in their personal life? If we build them up to a position where everything comes so easy, can we really be outraged when they stray from showing restraint and honouring their responsibilities?

Of course, it would be wrong to say that this wasn't a situation Mr. Terry didn't get himself into. He did after all sleep with the mother of his friend and teammate's child. Not to mention, more importantly, he has a wife and children of his own. No matter what angle you look at it, that is abhorrent behaviour. Especially considering this man is in a position where almost every young boy in the country looks up to him as a role model; as an example of what they might one day aspire to be. Fabio Capello made an example of him as far as he could, but Terry didn't seem to be a changed man when he had Bridge referred to as a 'bottler' in the media days later.

John Terry hasn't displayed the respect and honour that the England captaincy, or even the privilege of representing your country at all, deserves. On the opposing side, I feel Wayne Bridge was a very sympathetic figure until today. I'm genuinely shocked that he's been labelled a 'wimp' and 'impassionate' for his withdrawal from the World Cup squad. I think the opposite is more accurate; every footballer dreams of playing at the World Cup. However, as long as the two are in the squad, it will be a circus. Not to mention the rifts it may cause in the training camp. By withdrawing himself, Bridge recognises this and removes the problem, perhaps even acknowledging that Terry is more valuable to the England cause than he is, like it or not.

Until today, when he refused to shake Terry's hand when Chelsea met Manchester City, he came across very well. Personally, I felt the snub seemed somewhat childish - surely he could force himself to partake in a somewhat meaningless, ceremonial handshake? It doesn't draw a line under the issue, but it would have shown a commendable sense of dignity. Still, snubbing a handshake is the very least I would have done had I been in his shoes, so he deserves credit for that.

Perhaps after today, the story will die down. Unfortunately, I don't think it will. It will continue to resurface for months, and as long as Terry continues to act with negligible grace and respect we won't have heard the last of it. And even if we do, it won't be long before the next overpaid, over-pampered footballer will come along and place himself above our supposed moral standards. And as long as we continue to build them up in such a way that they believe their own sense of entitlement, it won't ever stop.

Oh, and he should probably return his 'Dad of the Year' award to the competitions runner-up, Josef Fritzl.

Be sure to leave your comments on such a controversial issue. Cheers.

Ireland in shock after World Cup proposal denied

2009-12-01T16:04:00.003+00:00

The whole nation of Ireland was stunned today when FIFA rejected their request to be the additional and 33rd team participating in next summer's World Cup. Football enthusiasts were shaken to their very core by the surprising news. It's almost as if FIFA don't want the second most prestigious athletic competition in human history, behind the Olympics, being compromised. Who'd have thunk it?

In all seriousness, we're not exactly sure what the Irish FA expected. While we all know how blatant the now infamous Henry handball was, the sad fact is that once the decision was made, there is nothing that could be done. In initially requesting a replay, they were clasping at straws to begin with - the very notion that Ireland would have allowed a replay with the roles reversed is laughable. It was a poor reffereeing decision. But there are errors made every week that cost teams games. Human error is part of the beautiful game, and I for one am dismayed by the idea of the proposed system of five referees as this will naturally eliminate some of the drama these mistakes create, both elation and fury, that is part of the very nature and appeal of football. If we start reversing decisions beyond wrongful suspensions to individuals, we are then on a slippery slope that invites all manner of requests. Alex Ferguson will be the first in the queue requesting a replay from November 23rd 1995 where Sheffield Wednesday were wrongly awarded a penalty, and so on and so forth.

In related news, the Irish now plan to request to be named 'Honourary World Cup Winners' and have a new trophy set up in their name reflecting the fair play they so unflinchingly support, win or lose. Or maybe just lose.

Is Roy Hodgson the best English manager in football?

2009-11-27T17:02:00.003+00:00

It's Friday afternoon and that can only mean a vast majority of things. One of which is that I'm avoiding work and instead intend to fill you with a nice belly full of football facts and opinion. I hope you're ready.

While traditionalists (and BNP voters) might be sickened by the sight of a foreign national coaching the England team, and three of the 'Big Four' clubs in the Premier League managed by Europeans, slowly English managers are starting to claw back some degree of respect. For a start we have Harry Redknapp transforming Tottenham from perennial under-achievers to a genuine threat to the composition of the top four clubs of the Premiership. Steve Bruce has taken Sunderland from being a yo-yo club to a top half European contender. Sam Allardyce is doing his usual thing of grinding out Premiership survival whilst shouting from the rooftops that he could manage any club and is one of the best managers alive today, amongst other similarly credible claims such as 'I invented sliced bread' and 'El Hadji Diouf deserves the Nobel peace prize'. Even Gary Megson has somehow turned Bolton from a side that deep down would rather have been playing rugby or just kicking people in the street, to a club that can actually play some incisive attacking football.

Now, normally that would be reason enough for the manager of the year award, but today the spotlight falls elsewhere, on the dignified shoulders of Roy Hodgson. On December 28th 2007, when Hodgson took the Fulham job, he did so to repair his reputation. He had recently declined a contract extension to his post as Finland coach after failing to qualify for Euro 2008, despite the Finns still having a realistic chance of qualification in the final game - something which is usually unheard of. This 'failure' was a blemish on Hodgson's managerial record, where his proficient defensive organisation had led Switzerland to their first World Cup qualification since 1966, Inter Milan to a UEFA Cup Final, and Blackburn Rovers to qualify for the UEFA Cup after a season of mid table mediocrity.

Still highly regarded for his mercurial managing past, he found himself taking the helm of a Fulham side deep in crisis. Rooted in the relegation zone, propping up every club but the hapless Derby County, they were favourites to be making a swift exit from Premier League football. Previous manager Lawrie Sanchez had made bad forays into the transfer market, with deals that never paid off for the club and left their better players frustrated and discontented both on and off field. Fulham fans were more hopeful than expectant of Hodgson steering the club away from relegation, as many were underwhelmed by his appointment; most outsiders (including myself) failed to see it as the awe-inspiring turnaround Fulham so desperately needed. And then the magic happened. It turns out it was one of the best decisions Al Fayed would ever make as chairman (when he didn't find himself ousting conspiracy theories...).

It's fitting that Hodgson took over on 28th December, just days before the opening of the January transfer window, as many say that it was his activity in that first month that kept Fulham up. Some of his purchases included influential players such as Eddie Johnson and Erik Nevland. However his best purchase, and perhaps the best made by any club in that month, was the signing of Brede Hangeland for an undisclosed fee from FC Copenhagen in Hodgson's home away from home, Scandanavia. Hangeland has gone on to be the first name on the team sheet, and until agreeing a new four year contract today, attracted interest from some of the biggest clubs across Europe. While Hodgson suffered a poor string of results to begin with, a strong end to the season left them able to achieve Premiership survival on the last day of the season, in what many described as 'The Great Escape.'

Fulham then went from strength to strength under the nomadic Hodgson. In the off season they captured the signing of Mark Schwarzer, who has become a big player for them, and a new look front line in Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson. Zolton Gera and John Pantsil also found themselves playing their football at Craven Cottage, which was no longer a place where teams could pick up an easy three points, but a ground to be feared. They finished the season in a record high 7th place, qualifying for the newly formed Europa League.

These dizzying heights are perhaps only the start for the London club. Hodgson has maintained their status as a top half club, with Fulham sat in 10th place and with a realistic chance of successive Europa League qualifications, and they might yet find themselves advancing from the group stages of that very competition given the right results in the final two games. Frankly, his turnaround of this struggling club has been nothing short of sensational, and given proper backing could really improve on his current squad. Instead of hoping for a Christmas miracle in the form of Premiership survival this December, Fulham fans will only find themselves hoping that he finally puts pen to paper on a new contract.

As always, leave any comments on today's article.

Cheers

Dyer set to return (again) for West Ham

2009-11-27T15:41:00.003+00:00

It's that time of year again. Three months since his last appearance, Kieron Dyer is set to make his bi-annual return from injury to 'full fitness'. The explosive midfielder returned to reserve action this week, scoring two goals against Stoke. While Dyer's quality has never been in question, his injury record makes painful reading for fans of the former Newcastle and England midfielder.

Since joining West Ham for £6 million in August 2007, Dyer has made only four starts. The injury plagued midfielder suffered the misfortune of a broken leg just 10 days after his full Hammers debut, and was out for a lengthy 17 month spell on the sidelines. There were initially fears that his career may have ended right there, but he overcame that setback much like his once persistent shin-splints problem, and most recently a recurring hamstring injury.

While unlikely to start, West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola may opt to include Dyer on the bench against Burnley this Saturday. With his team in need of a boost, we look forward to seeing a fully fit and dangerous Kieron Dyer recapturing the form that once made him a fan favourite on Tyneside and a genuine England hopeful.

El Clásico

2009-11-27T00:12:00.007+00:00

Forget Everton v Liverpool or Arsenal v Chelsea, there is only one fixture that is the must watch this weekend, Spanish footballs uncivil war, FC Barcelona v Real Madrid CF. A derby where the two teams are not even from the same city or region and where pigs’ heads are showered to welcome former players. This has REAL history.

Sparks will be flying at Camp Nou this Sunday evening as Real lead the Catalonian at the top of La Liga by one point, but this rivalry goes much deeper than twenty two men on a pitch, of which two thirds aren't even Spanish!

It all dates back to the Spanish Civil Wars and the 1920’s when Madrid got the ‘Real’ (Royal) label and the disharmony soon got worse when Francisco Franco came to power. The Dictator tried changing Spanish ways including language,culture and fashion which had usually entered Madrid via Catalonia. The final insult was that Catalan could only be spoken freely within the walls of Camp Nou without Police Interfering, Real Madrid were now the favoured Club among Spanish hierarchy.

Simon Kuper summed up perfectly how the people of Barcelona felt with "The Catalans feel Catalan first and Spanish second, and to prove it they have fought wars and made revolts against Madrid” (Football against the enemy)

Enough of the Political History lesson. Many believe this to be the most Important meeting of the two adversaries since the 2002 champions league semi-final,which Madrid consequently won. Last season Barcelona done the double over Real including a 6-2 thrashing and along with the Catalans doing the Spanish Treble, it prompted a change at the Bernabeau. In come former president of the ‘Galacticos’ era Florentino Perez and a €270 million spending spree has now give the Los Blancos another Star Studded Line-Up. Ronaldo,Kaka,Alonso,Benzema the list goes on. Are these current ‘Galacticos’ ready for the mighty force of the Catalonians? We all know the talent Pep Guardiola has at his disposal.

One things for sure i'm savouring another meeting between undoubtedly the worlds two best players. Ronaldo Vs. Messi. Its almost like a personal boxing Match, and at the moment I have Messi up one round from the Champions league final. Yes it will probably be Ronaldos first start for six weeks or so but I have no doubt he had this game firmly in his sights, and there will be no better way of justifying his huge price tag then conducting a win over the infamous enemy.

Personally I have this one down as a thriller, but can’t really pick a winner as both haven’t been firing on all cylinders in Spain or Europe. No doubt this will change 6 p.m. Sunday and I can not wait!

What do you think the outcome of this colossal match will be?

The race for South Africa 2010 - Who should Fabio take?

2009-11-26T17:35:00.004+00:00

For those of you English football fans (sorry Ireland), the return to a competitive international tournament is drawing closer. After the 'Wally-with-a-brolly' debacle, Italian mastermind Fabio Capello has done what poor old Steve McClaren couldn't - guide a supremely talented group of footballers through a seemingly harmless group to a major international competition. Kudos.

Sarcasm aside, I actually think Capello has done a wonderful job of instilling confidence and discipline into a once lifeless England side, which played with zero passion and commitment. The manner in which we qualified was more impressive than qualification itself - to not reach successive international tournaments would be nothing short of a disgrace. However, the question now comes of who will find themselves sat on a plane ready to play in the greatest showcase of football in the world, and who will be in Barbados having a page-3 lovely rubbing them down with lotion.

Today, we're going to look at striking options. Most coaches will opt to take 5 strikers in their squad, but there has been speculation that Mr Capello will only be taking 4. A fit Wayne Rooney is a certainty, which means that the likes of Peter Crouch, Jermaine Defoe, Michael Owen, Darren Bent, Carlton Cole, Emile Heskey and Gabby Agbonlahor all have to finish the season well to squeeze their way into the squad.

Let's start with the most puzzling choice in my opinion, Emile Heskey. We know we're not taking Emile for his goalscoring record, at club level or international level, but Fabio seems to see something we're all missing in the boy. Sure, he is a handful for defenders to deal with, providing a physical presence that can cause a back line trouble. But is he really good enough to play against the likes of Spain or Italy - can you ever imagine hearing the words 'And Emile Heskey demands the ball from Steven Gerrard, he takes the ball into feet and with the deftest of turns he's past the baffled Carlos Puyol, he's got Wayne Rooney to his left and plays a pinpoint ball into the path of Rooney for a goal!'

... I think not.

If Fabio insists on taking a striker specifically with the intention of creating space for Wayne Rooney, I'd much rather it be Carlton Cole than Emile. While not prolific, Cole is in the form of his life at a top level, playing for a club which aren't going to create many chances. He offers a lot more of a goal threat, and is an equal physical presence. He feels like more of a brute that would scare defenders, I just feel like Emile would lead in with his elbows and then go and admit this to the referee when the shame spiral got to much for him. A January move for Cole, to a top club like Liverpool as has been rumoured, would only help solidify his chances of going to South Africa.

An alternative to this would be the people's hero Peter Crouch. Now, me and Crouchy never exactly got on well. I always thought of him as one of the more overrated strikers to play in an England shirt, and likeable though he is, I never really saw him as a legititimate threat. For a lad his size, he never really won enough headers to justify calling him a 'target man', and whenever you said 'He has a good touch...' you always had to qualify it with '...for a big man.' However, his record in an England shirt has been nothing short of spectacular. Fair play to him, he's made me eat my words on almost every occasion. He makes intelligent movements, and is more of a threat in the air now. One criticism is that he only scores against minnow international sides, but he really hasn't had an oppurtunity to play against the better sides at international level - all he can do is score in the games he plays. He just needs to stop with those damned bicycle kicks... I don't care if they all fly in the top corner, it just looks unnatural when his frame twists in the air like that.

Next, we have Gabby Agbonlahor. He would provide an alternative to all the other strikers on that list, with deadly pace and a tendency to attack the full backs. He'll be a constant menace to defenders, and is more than capable of being shifted to the wings if necessary. His form hasn't been as incredible as last season, where he launched himself onto the scene with an impressive partnership with Ashley Young. However, he has played well and if he can stay injury free he may be a useful addition to the squad. His experience remains in question, as does his performances against top class stoppers, but as an impact sub he could really make a difference.

Finally, we move on to the natural goalscorrers. The boys you want on the pitch with the ball at their feet when you're behind in the 90th minute. This could turn into quite a rant, because I've said it for years; Darren Bent is the most underrated striker this country has right now. Since he was single-handedly trying to keep Charlton in the Premier League, getting goals out of a team that frankly had none in them, I've followed him closely and I cannot believe with his performances this season he is not a certainty for the squad. I will say this against him first however; he may turn Rooney into less of a goal-threat. Bent thrives on the space created by his striking partner, and while his game is about making intelligent runs and drawing defenders out, he is always looking to get on the end of that final ball, not to make it for someone else. His partnership with Kenywe Jones is a handful, and while Jones is maybe not the best natural finisher, his goal rate will continue to be dwarfed by Bent's the way that they both play.

Bent offers strength on the ball that Jermaine Defoe simply doesn't. Defoe's game is to play off the shoulder of the last defender, and kill him for pace once he's beyond him. Don't get me wrong, he's a deadly finisher, but before his incredible 5 goal display at Wigan, he only bagged 6 goals to Bent's 9, and 3 of those came from his demolition job where he got another hat trick against Hull. If we temporarily ignore those spectacular performances, the impressive 11 goals in 11 games doesn't look quite as good next to 3 from 9. His goals from shots percentage is now 31% to Darren Bent's 24%, however before this weekend Bent would have had a dominant edge there. Does Jermaine even get many goals against the bigger clubs? I can only remember him scoring once against United, and once against Chelsea. I can't say I've ever seen him make the difference against a top four side. Look at Darren Bent, playing for a side worse than Tottenham, and he's already scored against all teams in the big four this season, something I'd wager no other striker has done. Now, that is impressive. His performances in an England shirt haven't been, no-one can deny that, but a fit and confident Darren Bent will get you goals.

Oh, and I refuse to even accept Michael Owen as a possibility until he plays more. Don't suggest that's because I'm biased as a Newcastle fan, I just like to see my international forwards, I don't know, playing games. But I'm a traditionalist.

Here's my team for the World Cup if we take 5; Rooney, Cole, Bent, Defoe, Agbonlahor

If we take four, I'd leave Gabby back in England enjoying an extended summer.

Thanks for reading if you made it this far, be sure to comment on your opinions.

Everton and Liverpool Ground Share.

2009-11-26T16:26:00.004+00:00

Having had plans for a new stadium at Kirkby rejected Everton are said to be considering a ground share with fierce rivals Liverpool. Toffees chief executive Robert Elstone has stated that the club would now have to consider if it was financially viable. In a move that may disturb fans of both Merseyside clubs it would appear that the situation is being seriously considered. Liverpool deputy executive director Paul Shaw has however stated that the plans are not currently on the clubs agenda. Any deal that would see two of the biggest rivals in world football playing under the same roof seems frankly ridiculous. As ever we are interested to get the opinions of the fans. So please leave comments below. :)

Grant Installed as new Pompey Boss

2009-11-26T15:56:00.003+00:00

Avram Grant who has been working in a director of football roll at Portsmouth has been handed the managerial post following the departure earlier in the week of Paul Hart. Grant had been the bookies favourite all week and the confirmation today had seemed inevitable. Grant has Premier League experience of course having managed Chelsea during the 07/08 season and in the process guided his team to the Uefa Champions League final where if it had not been for John Terry's penalty miss his side would have been named Champions of Europe. Grant takes over the helm at a time of great instability at Fratton Park with the club dogged by, not only financial, but on the pitch troubles, they currently sit rock bottom of the Premiership with just 7 points from 13 games. Grant faces an uphill struggle if he is to maintain Portsmouth's Premier League status but many feel that the Israeli is the right man for the job.