Everton: Top Dogs in Liverpool? And What Now?

2012/2013 Season Review:

                One of the most stable sides in the country, with consistent top 8 finishes for the last 5 years, Everton began the season looking for further consolidation, and to perhaps achieve what Newcastle had managed the previous campaign: to challenge for the Champions League. With signings such as Kevin Mirallas from Olympiakos, they simply added speed to their growing list of talents, managing to hold on to all of their key names from the previous season. Everton, being perennial slow starters, wanted to find more consistency and good performances from the very start of the season. Beating Manchester United on the opening weekend is certainly a good way to start! With Marouane Fellaini in exceptional form for the first month of the season, Everton won 4 of their opening 6 league games. Despite a disappointing Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Championship side Leeds United, Everton maintained their strong League form throughout September.

                Often the quiet side that sneaks up into the top six, Everton were once again fulfilling those expectations. Unspectacularly but critically amassing the points, whilst steering clear of significant controversies like at Chelsea, Everton looked in a strong position going into October. Four straight league draws slowed the Toffee’s bandwagon slightly. If we were to be pessimistic, we could say that Everton won 2 of 11 matches between October and mid-December, but on the other hand, only 2 league defeats in 15 matches sounds considerably better. To state the first statistic does Everton’s performances during this period a disservice, in my opinion, but you could certainly argue that it was during this part of the season where they lost the potential to challenge for a Champions League spot.

                Everton’s consistent form continued into the new year, where once again draws were relatively common, but defeats were impressively infrequent. If we go back to my earlier unbeaten stat and extend it further, we can see that Everton only lost 3 games in 23 between October and mid-February. Translate some of those draws to victories and we see a team highly capable of not only challenging for Champions League football, but being on the outskirts of the title shake-up. Progression to the Sixth Round of the FA Cup, albeit with a little Matt Smith inspired hiccup at Oldham, gives further indication that Everton can compete for multiple honours in the same season. There they met Wigan at home, leaving Everton strong favourites to progress to yet another Wembley Semi Final. Instead, three goals in 4 first half minutes propelled Wigan down to Wembley, and left Goodison Park stunned. The only performance all season where Everton were abject, but what an occasion to have it in!

                The latter part of Everton’s season was equally uneventful. With 6^th place virtually in the bag, and with it a guarantee to finish above Liverpool in the table once again, Everton could attempt to challenge Tottenham for the Europa League spot. An impressive 2-0 victory at home to Manchester City strengthened these aspirations, but as all too often, too many draws cost the Liverpudlians a shot at European qualification through the league. Chelsea’s Europa League victory has gifted a place in next year’s competition to Everton, and based on the vast majority of their performances this season, this is thoroughly deserved.

                The only significant talking point in Everton’s relatively uncontroversial season came in the last few weeks, with the announcement that David Moyes would be taking the reigns at Manchester United, after Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down after 26 years in charge. Moyes’s departure leaves arguably as large a hole at Everton as Fergie’s departure at United. After 11 years of fantastic and loyal service, Moyes gets the chance to manage a title-winning side, an opportunity he richly deserves. As for Everton, Roberto Martinez and Michael Laudrup have both been sounded out as potential replacements, but Moyes’s are big shoes to fill. He left this club top of its city and with European qualification. With the funds available to them, I wonder if the next manager will achieve that?

 

Player of the Season: Leighton Baines – A tough one between Baines and Fellaini, but I’m going to go for Baines. Fellaini, despite his fantastic start, became less effective as the season went on. In contrast, Baines remained consistently good throughout. He is the epitome of Everton’s season: highly successful but often unnoticed.

 

Game of the Season: Everton 2-0 Manchester City – This was never going to be either of the rather drap Merseyside derbies! The game in which I was most impressed with Everton, both as an attacking and defensive force, was in their victory over Man City in March. Despite having 10 men for half an hour, Everton dominated this game, and whilst they may have been lucky to survive a late handball appeal, they thoroughly deserved this win.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (Who I Think They Need): Firstly, replacing David Moyes is inevitably going to be of utmost importance. Roberto Martinez, especially after his years of heroics with Wigan, and his recent FA Cup giantkilling, seems to me the most likely candidate. Secondly, it depends on who David Moyes attempts to take with him, as I cannot see many turning down the opportunity to play at United. If no-one else leaves, I think very little in the way of alterations needs making, and given Bill Kenwright’s budget, that will suit him just fine! Perhaps just the addition of the impressive Callum McManaman, especially likely if Martinez becomes the manager, will give a bit extra pace and width to this Everton side.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Luis Pedro Cavanda (Lazio, LB), Andreas Cornelius (Copenhagen, CM), Callum McManaman (Wigan Athletic, RW), Michael Laudrup (Swansea City, Manager), Roberto Martinez (Wigan Athletic, Manager)

Out:

David Moyes (Manchester United, Manager), Nikica Jelavic (West Ham United, ST), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United, CAM), Leighton Baines (Manchester United, LB)

Chelsea: ‘European’ Champions under the ‘Interim’ Manager

2012/2013 Season Review:

                After a euphoric end to the previous season, winning both the FA Cup, and the Champions League, Roman Abramovic decided to keep the popular Roberto di Matteo as manager for the start of this season. With the traditional influx of expensive foreign talent, such as Eden Hazard (Lille) and Oscar (Internacional), Chelsea started the year looking like potential title contenders. Despite losing the traditional curtain opener of the Community Shield to Manchester City, Chelsea began the season under di Matteo well, winning their opening three league games. An emphatic 1-4 defeat by a rampant Atletico Madrid side, and in particular, Radamel Falcao, in the European Super Cup, jolted Chelsea back to ground. Despite a minor loss of form, they recovered well, winning games against Arsenal and Tottenham to firmly establish themselves towards the top of the Premier League.

                Two periods of two games had a significant impact on the dismissal of di Matteo in November. Firstly, consecutive defeats at the back end of October, firstly away to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, and then at home to Manchester United in the Premier League, put the defence of their European title in jeopardy, and gave an indication of their position relative to the Manchester clubs. The final straw(s) came in consecutive defeats once again. Firstly, away at West Brom, ironically the ground on which Andre Villas Boas had lost his job the year previously, and then against Juventus in Turin, which practically ended the defence of Chelsea’s European crown. Abramovic decided that enough was enough at this point, removing di Matteo, and replacing him with ‘Interim Manager’ Rafael Benitez, in an almost universally unpopular move. Benitez’s history with Chelsea is patchy at best, with him having several high profile spats with the club during his time at Liverpool.

                The title of ‘Interim Manager’ also caused considerable controversy. It implies a kind of caretaker role, suggesting that Benitez was never likely to last more than half a season at best. Whilst we all may have assumed this, it may hurt morale to practically tell everyone through a thinly veiled euphemism. Regardless of his title, he did little to endear himself to the Chelsea fans initially, with two 0-0 stalemates, followed by a 3-1 defeat at Upton Park. This period of the season was characterised by a period of applause and chanting of di Matteo’s name in the 16^th minute of every game, representing his shirt number for the club, in an attempt to illustrate the fans dissatisfaction with his dismissal. A further defeat in the Club World Cup Final heaped more pressure onto Benitez’s shoulders, who before Christmas responded. Chelsea went on a run of four straight victories, including an 8-0 thumping of Aston Villa, with 7 different scorers.

                Nevertheless, trouble was never far from Benitez’s Chelsea. January’s home defeat to QPR, swiftly followed by a Capital One Cup Semi Final exit at the hands of Swansea, and polished off by subsequent 2-2 draws with Southampton, Reading and Brentford, put Benitez right back under pressure. Once again, he and his players responded, progressing to the Semi Finals of both the Europa League and the FA Cup, eliminating Manchester United in the latter after earning a battling draw from 2-0 down at Old Trafford. They also performed much better in the league during this period, dropping points only away at Manchester City and Southampton. A controversial FA Cup Semi Final defeat to Manchester City followed, with Chelsea believing they deserved a penalty, and that Sergio Aguero was lucky to remain on the pitch after a nasty stamp on David Luiz. Two victories in the legs of the Europa League Semi against Basle set up an intriguing encounter in Amsterdam against Benfica, where an added time Branislav Ivanovic goal clinched a 2-1 victory for the Blues. On home soil, Chelsea were still competing for a place in the top four, a target achieved when they beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park on the penultimate matchday, the highlight of which was Frank Lampard finally being offered a contract extension after he broke Bobby Tamling’s record 202 club goals.

                Overall, whilst Roberto di Matteo can consider himself highly unfortunate to have been relieved of his duties, Rafael Benitez, after a slow start, can surely be considered as a relatively successful manager. A European Cup, though not as prestigious as last year’s, and a 3^rd place finish, giving Chelsea an automatic route into the Champions League group stages next year. Whilst Chelsea fans may never wholly warm to him, the banner displayed on the last day of the season at Stamford Bridge speaks volumes: ‘Thank You Rafa, Job Done’.

 

Player of the Season: Juan Mata – A sublime talent, the diminutive Spaniard possesses incredible vision, creativity and flair. Finishing top of the creator charts, and earning a deserved place on the PFA Player of the Year shortlist, perfectly finishes Mata’s most successful season as a Chelsea player.

 

Game of the Season: Benfica 1-2 Chelsea – The drama of the Munich penalty shootout from May 2012 it was not, but a European cup final is a European cup final. Chelsea left it typically late to snatch the win, with the consistently impressive Branislav Ivanovic conjuring up the vital winner.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (Who I Think They Need): Chelsea’s squad of world superstars still appears too incohesive to be true title contenders. So therefore, what I truly believe Chelsea need most is a consistent manager. The return of ‘The Special One’ has been the worst kept secret in football for the last few months, and with him in Chelsea’s dugout once more, I wouldn’t put much past the Blues next year, especially if targets like Radamel Falcao and Xabi Alonso follow Mourinho from their opposite ends of Madrid.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Jose Mourinho (Real Madrid, Manager), Radamel Falcao (Atletico Madrid, ST), Neymar (Santos, ST), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid, CDM), Edinson Cavani (Napoli, ST)

Out:

Rafael Benitez (???, Manager), David Luiz (Barcelona, CDM), Yossi Benayoun (???,CM)

Aston Villa: Youngsters Back From The Brink

2012/2013 Season Review:

                With the departure of the largely unpopular Alex McLeish at the end of the previous year, and the arrival of new boss Paul Lambert from Norwich, Villa started the season in positive, albeit nervous mood. With a number of unproven recruits from the lower leagues of English football, and a big Belgian by the name of Christian Benteke, Villa started the season rather worryingly, accruing only one point from their opening three matches. This inconsistent form continued, and whilst Villa did have highs, such as the victory in the Capital One Cup at the Etihad over Manchester City, who had previously gone unbeaten there for the best part of two years, the opening part of the season was one largely of frustration for the Villa fans.

                Of particular frustration for Villa fans at the beginning of the season was Paul Lambert’s seemingly nonsensical decision to leave Darren Bent, a proven Premier League goalscorer on the sidelines for the new signing Benteke. Lambert’s philosophy was clearly one of bringing the youngsters to the fore, and slowly phasing out the old guard. Players such as Carl Baker, Matt Lowton, Fabien Delph, Andreas Weimann and Benteke all received the opportunity to prove themselves on the big stage. For the majority of the season, it appeared as though this decision would backfire on the manager, as his side rarely escaped the clutches of the bottom three throughout most of 2012. Whilst performances were generally impressive, such as the 2-3 defeat at home to Manchester United in November, the lack of experience often led to mistakes, which inevitably cost the Villains points.

                However, as the season progressed, one player began to stand out. Christian Benteke’s power, touch and goalscoring ability soon vindicated Lambert’s decision to leave Darren Bent out. Benteke announced himself on the Premier League stage during the 3-1 victory at Anfield. Two goals, and an outrageous backheel to create the third illustrated exactly why Lambert spent £7 million on him from Genk in the summer. After the euphoria of the Anfield win, typically Villa were brought back to earth with a bump, being hammered in their next outing 8-0 at Stamford Bridge. An appalling run of form during January saw Villa slip into the bottom three once again, battling for survival became their primary aim. A shame after the early season enthusiasm, but foreseeable with the lack of experience at their disposal. No win in 7 League games, coupled with a shambolic exit in the Capital One Cup Semi Final to Bradford over two legs, and a poor defeat to Millwall in the FA Cup Fourth Round, extinguished all hope of a trophy, and placed their survival hopes in the balance.

                The beginning of March saw a dramatic upturn in form and results, as Villa began to believe they could escape trouble. Roared on by the 12^th man in the Holt End at Villa Park, Villa narrowly lost to Man City, but then proceeded to earn back to back victories against two relegation rivals in Reading and QPR. An incredibly valuable time to earn the first back to back victories of the season. These results put Villa on the cusp of escaping relegation. Two further relegation ‘six-pointers’ were to occur before what seemed the inevitable relegation playoff between Wigan and Villa at the DW Stadium on the final day. Firstly, a trip to the Britannia to face Stoke. An outstanding performance that once again threatened to produce only one point instead of three until the 86^th minute. Then, step forward Matthew Lowton, with an absolute stunner from 30 yards into the top corner, to leave the Villa fans dreaming of survival. Even more astonishing was Villa’s 6-1 demolition of Paolo di Canio’s in form Sunderland. A result no-one saw coming, and one that practically guaranteed Villa’s place in the Premier League for next season, rendering the ‘last day showdown’ with Wigan irrelevant.

                Aston Villa, considering the lack of experience within their ranks, have performed well to escape relegation. Having watched them several times this season, they have never produced performances worthy of going down. They have lacked luck and experience, something which Paul Lambert may need to address. However, they showed signs towards the end of the season that they were beginning to gel, something which bodes well for the next campaign.

 

Player of the Season: Christian Benteke – The big Belgian has been a revelation at Villa Park this year. His goals have almost single-handedly got Villa out of trouble and his bullishness and strength on the ball have earned him many plaudits at home and abroad. That £7 million is looking a snip now!

 

Game of the Season: Aston Villa 6-1 Sunderland – Undoubtedly the most unbelievable result and performance from the Villa players, arguably the culmination of all of Lambert’s hard work to gel such an inexperienced team. Headed by hat-trick hero Benteke, this is the Villa side the claret and blue army from Birmingham want to see more of next season.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (Who I Think They Need): Keeping hold of Benteke is an absolute must for the Villians, as they appear resigned to lose Darren Bent this summer, after several months of bench-warming duty. A little more steel and experience in the midfield would be useful, in order to replace the retiring Stilian Petrov, who has served the club admirably, and on a personal note, it was wonderful to see the club and the fans honour him with the minutes applause every home game. In terms of signings, perhaps someone like Wigan’s James McCarthy, or Stoke’s Dean Whitehead to sure up the midfield. Other than that, the progression of the youngsters should allow Lambert to challenge for a top 10 berth next year.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Dwight Gayle (Peterborough, CM)

 

Out:

Darren Bent (Fulham, ST), Christian Benteke (Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, ST)

Arsenal: Arsene Delivers Europe Under Pressure

2012/2013 Season Review:

Despite losing their talismanic striker Robin van Persie to rivals Manchester United at the start of the campaign, Arsenal had a very positive start to the league season, not conceding in their opening 3 games. This led people to believe that they, with the help of new defensive coach Steve Bould, had turned a corner defensively. Unfortunately, as has so often been the case for Arsenal in recent years, they had a sudden and dramatic dip in form. Between mid-October to early December, apart from an emphatic victory at home to their great rivals Tottenham, Arsenal were regularly performing below expectations, culminating in a dire performance in a defeat on penalties to League 2’s Bradford City in the Capital One Cup.

Having been taken out of the title race altogether by the turn of the year, and having suffered a humiliating cup defeat to a side three divisions below them, Arsene Wenger’s position at the football club began to be called into question. Despite this, from the turn of the year, Arsenal’s form began to improve gradually, progressing to the FA Cup Fifth Round and the Champions League Round of 16, and beginning to get back into the hunt for a top 4 spot in the League. However, a treble of results in February and early March gave a hammer blow to two of those aspirations, and put a severe dent in the third. Firstly, Arsenal suffered a shock defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup, with a mishit Colin Kazim-Richards shot condemning Arsene Wenger to his first exit in the FA Cup to a team outside of the Premier League. Just 3 days later, in form Bayern Munich came to town in the Champions League, and gave Arsenal a footballing lesson on their own ground. The match finished only 1-3, but it could have been so many more. Then, to cap a miserable fortnight, Arsenal lost to Tottenham in the reverse fixture in the League, in a game vital in the race for the final Champions League space.

After three woeful performances, Arsenal seemed to respond well, and were incredibly unlucky to miss out on the Champions League Quarter Finals, after an enthralling 2-0 win on the night in Munich. Unfortunately, away goals dumped Arsenal out of the competition, leaving them without any possibility of a trophy for the 8^th year in a row, heaping further pressure upon Arsene Wenger to deliver Champions League football the following season. Knowing that this was their final goal, Arsenal responded magnificently, going on an impressive run of 10 games unbeaten after the defeat at White Hart Lane. A nervy final day over the final Champions League place ensued, with Arsenal knowing that a win over Newcastle would be sufficient to hand Wenger his 16^th consecutive year of Champions League football. Win they did, but only just, with a narrow 1-0 victory to keep Arsenal fans on the edge of their seats.

Overall, a typical season for Arsenal based on the last 5 years or so, uncompetitive as far as trophies go, but consistent enough in the League to qualify for Europe. Whether fans will accept this role for much longer, having been used to the ‘Invincibles’ steamrollering the competition, remains to be seen. Arsene Wenger deserves at least another year in the job, but I certainly understand the fans dissatisfaction at seeing their team below where they think they deserve.

 

Player of the Season: Santi Cazorla – the skilful little Spaniard has been an excellent buy for Arsenal this season. Creative, pacy and full of flair, he has created plenty of chances and goals for the Gunners this campaign. Without his injuries, perhaps Jack Wilshere would have been competing for this award, however.

 

Game of the Season: Reading 5-7 Arsenal, and Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle (joint): Whilst I know Arsenal fans will point to the 5-2 demolition job of Tottenham at the Emirates in November, the two games I remember most this season have to be these. The Capital One Cup game against Reading in late October is a prime example of Arsenal’s turbulence this season. 4-0 up and cruising, Reading conceded a Theo Walcott goal in first half stoppage time. Cue the Arsenal fightback, eventually taking the game into extra time with a hotly debated ‘offside goal’ in second half stoppage time. 5-5 until the closing stages in extra time, before two quick fire Arsenal goals sent their fans into raptures. Equally, the game at home to Newcastle in the league was particularly incredible. 1-0 after 51 minutes, I remember thinking ‘Arsenal will probably end up comfortable 2/3-0 winners’, turning off the TV in the process. How I regret that. An unbelievable second half performance from Arsenal, who utterly destroyed a weary Newcastle.

 

Summer Transfer Targets (Who I Think They Need): For Arsenal, the problem this season has been mostly defensively. Whilst I believe they could possibly do with another striker, although Theo Walcott has performed well since his switch to the centre, most of their transfer targets should revolve around the back four and the goalkeeper. I understand that Arsenal are reluctant to spend big on transfers, and therefore realistic targets could possibly be Ashley Williams from Swansea, or Torino’s Angelo Ogbonna. For goalkeeper, though Rene Adler has apparently distanced himself from a move, QPR’s Julio Cesar or Borussia Monchengladbach’s ter Stegen would be adequate choices.

 

Transfer Gossip Links:

In:

Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton, CM), David Villa (Barcelona, ST), Geoffrey Kondogbia (Genoa, CM), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, ST), Max Gonalons (Lyon, CM), Loic Remy (QPR), Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe, RM), Miralem Pjanic (Roma, CM), Sven Ullreich (Stuttgart, GK), Ashley Williams (Swansea, CB), Julio Cesar (QPR, GK), Yaya Sanogo (Auxerre, ST)

Out:

Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray, ST), Gervinho (Galatasaray, LW), Bakary Sagna (PSG, AS Monaco, RB)

Tis’ the Season to Retire: David Beckham Retires from Football

             The news yesterday that David Beckham has retired from professional football will seem to many as a long time in coming. Ever since his ‘mid-football-life crisis’ move to LA Galaxy in 2007, it appeared that Beckham had been put out to pasture. Despite this, he returned to top level football with firstly AC Milan, and then more recently Paris Saint Germain, proving that he does have what it takes to perform at the highest level. Beckham’s CV covers almost every honour it is possible to receive, as he was at the heart of Fergie’s Manchester United ‘golden years’. The only thing missing is international success with England.

 

                My first memory of David Beckham is also part of my first World Cup memory. As a 7 year old, I remember my family all gathering round, eagerly watching the England vs Argentina round of 16 game in the 1998 World Cup. Any England fan will undoubtedly remember the story. The pre-match hype about the Maradona ‘Hand of God’ goal, and the fact that this was the first time England had met the Argentineans in the World Cup since then. Cue Michael Owen’s wonder-goal, and then the Beckham’s moment of madness, albeit provoked by Diego Simeone. England’s inevitable defeat on penalties soon followed. A nice introduction to English World Cup football, as I learnt from an early age not to expect too much. This appears to be Beckham’s solitary negative point, in a career of so many highs. I suppose it is good he got it out of the way early!

 

                I have nothing but bad memories of David Beckham as a Manchester United player, perhaps because he was always so instrumental in their success whilst I was growing up a Blue! My dislike of his club did nothing to stop me willing him on whenever he put the white jersey of England, however. My favourite, and most lasting memory of David Beckham will always be the injury time, 30 yard free kick against Greece at Old Trafford to send England to the 2002 World Cup. From absolute despair to elation in the kick of a football. I never thought I would experience such emotion again, but Sergio Aguero put paid to that last May. A dead ball and long ball specialist, Beckham’s abilities have been sorely missed from the England team since his move to the US, as the phrase ‘Beckham range’ has not since been adequately transferred to another- ‘Gerrard range’ or ‘Lampard range’ just sound weird, and ‘Oxlade-Chamberlain range’ sounds like a mathematical hypothesis!

 

                Whilst Beckham has also been all over the papers as a ‘style guru’, whatever that means, we must not forget he has also had some spectacular failures. His early ‘skinhead’ look, where we could have been forgiven for thinking he had just come from auditions for ‘This is England’. His bleached blonde shaggy look, during which he looked like the lighter version of an emo. My personal favourite has to be the quite ridiculous Mohawk, however. I have never seen so many 12 year olds look so similar, and so stupid at the same time. Not quite as disastrous as the Ronaldo clump from the same period, but pretty close. Since leaving United, he seems to have mellowed on the style front, and with Wayne Rooney’s recent hair transplant, it bears asking the question, why does Sir Alex Ferguson like ridiculous hair styles on his star English players? Nevertheless, his adverts for underwear, which oddly appear in women’s magazines more than men’s (and women claim men’s magazines are shallow?!), have given many women a poster for their bedrooms over the years, and will undoubtedly be sorely missed.

 

                As for the title of this post, it seems as though it has recently become fashionable to retire. Firstly, Sir Alex Ferguson calls time on his career, then Scholes, and now Beckham. Perhaps Beckham was always looking over his shoulder after the ‘boot to the face’ incident with Ferguson in 2003, and seeing as Ferguson has finally retired, he now feels safe...? An alternative hypothesis, and one that I quite like the sound of, is that Manchester United officials and players appear to be on a trend of retiring, and they appear to be getting younger and younger. Sir Alex, at a grand old age of 71, Scholes, a fellow member of the ‘golden years’ at United, recently retired at the age of 38 (albeit for the second time), and now ‘Golden Balls’ himself, a slightly younger 38. As a City fan, long may this trend continue! What we need to see now is the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Robin van Persie prematurely retire as part of this fashion...

 

                Alas, I fear that this is all the retirements we will see from United this season. Ryan Giggs soldiers on, apparently indestructible. The game has lost three iconic figures over recent weeks. Ferguson’s managerial presence will always leave a void, Scholes will also be missed (but mostly because I found it easiest to pick him out when watching a game!), but the loss of Beckham represents the end of a significant chapter in English football. ‘Captain Fantastic’ led England’s ‘Golden Generation’ to little success, but he will remain one of the most popular players to play for the Three Lions.  

Jumping the Gun? Manchester City Manager Roberto Mancini is Sacked

             Today’s announcement that Roberto Mancini has been relieved of his Manchester City managerial duties comes as no surprise to anyone who has been following sports news over the weekend, and especially after the events of Saturday evening. I must admit, when the news of his ‘imminent sacking’ hit the headlines on Saturday morning, I thought it could have been a ploy by Wigan and Manchester United fans to de-stabilise the team before the cup final. If it was, it worked, and in the most spectacular fashion. Not only did City lose the FA Cup final, they proceeded to sack Mancini two days later! That explanation now appears to be a tad too coincidental for me. When we consider the earlier, unexplained, meetings with Malaga officials, and the reluctance of the Manchester City board to deny the rumours after the news broke, Mancini’s sacking should come as no great surprise.

 

                However, the reasons behind Mancini’s sacking are not particularly usual. It was recently confirmed what I had previously considered to be true: that Mancini was not sacked for his lack of results. An FA Cup and a Premier League title is hardly a poor return for a side that had not seen the like for 3 decades previously. And yes, some fans may be saying, with the amount of money he had to spend it is unsurprising, but as I mentioned in the United title-winning blog, the trick is to gel players, not merely to buy them. The very fact that Mancini prevented Mario Balotelli from killing anyone during his tumultuous 3 years at City is impressive in itself! It is also worth noting that both Sven Goran Eriksson (under Thaksin Shinawatra’s ownership) and Mark Hughes (under both Shinawatra’s and Sheikh Mansoor’s ownership) had failed to provide any glimmer of a trophy whilst at City. His overall statistics also provide further ammunition for those claiming he was hard done by. In his 133 Premier League matches as City boss, he had a win percentage of 61.65%, a rate only bettered by Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti. A rather illustrious group to be involved in, I think most would agree. However, there is one area where he has seen to have failed: Europe. Whilst I would argue that I cannot recall a pair of groups harder than the ones City have faced in their two years in the competition (bearing in mind that City have certainly had at least one winner and one runner up in the last two years, no matter who the winner of the final), the results this season in the Champions League have been poor. To not get out of the group last year with 10 points was understandable but highly unfortunate, but the abject displays this season, especially against Ajax, have clearly played on the board’s collective minds. Success in Europe seems everything these days, and that is why it is unsurprising Mancini has gone.

 

                I do not believe that was the primary reason, however. Mancini has had a rather unfortunate habit of criticising board members, and even the owner himself, particularly this season. His comments immediately after the Wigan game may only have been the final nail in the coffin, as he has complained on more than one occasion of the board not being quick enough to secure his transfer targets. This is especially true of the missed signings of Robin van Persie and Eden Hazard last summer, both of whom were top of his summer shopping list. However, complaining about a man who has recently invested over a billion pounds in the squad, training grounds and the community surrounding Manchester City is probably ill-advised, especially when you consider that City were a top 10 team at best before his investment. You can hardly accuse the owner of not ‘putting his money where his mouth is’! Also, with regard to my title, I believe that Mancini has also been given plenty of time to achieve results by the owners, especially when comparing City to recently taken-over clubs like Chelsea (3 managers in 2 seasons) and Blackburn (4 managers in 1 season). Whilst, as a City fan, I believe his results are sufficient, even with the cup final aberration, to keep him in a job, his outspoken comments about the owner and the board is probably justification for his dismissal.

 

                As for his replacement, much has been said about current Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini. His European pedigree is certainly something that will attract the Manchester City board, and I wouldn’t be too surprised to hear about his appointment at some point in the next few days. However, his recent comments claiming that he has no agreement with City and he has an agreement with Malaga not to talk to other clubs, whilst it makes Malaga look like the equivalent of a controlling spouse, certainly throws doubt onto the appointment. As I said with Ferguson’s retirement, it has come too late to secure the services of Pep Guardiola, and quite possibly too late to secure Jose Mourinho, as he appears certain to return to his spiritual home of Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp, the other man linked with United, certainly has sufficient European pedigree to attract the City board, with his Dortmund team in this season’s final. However, his recent comments that he will not be leaving Dortmund appear to close that particular door. It seems as though City have picked a rather inconvenient time to sack their manager, as most of the talent around Europe appear to have been snapped up. Other than those mentioned above, inexperienced but talented managers such as Roberto Martinez and Michael Laudrup are alternative options, though I believe they will be considered too inexperienced to take the helm. I still believe that one of these two will fill the recently vacant spot at Everton. As for City, Pellegrini looks the preferred option, but his recent comments suggest that a deal is far from being complete.

 

                Roberto Mancini, based solely on domestic results, can certainly consider himself highly unfortunate to have been sacked. His FA Cup victory in 2011, followed by the League title 12 months later, have led Mancini to be guaranteed a place in Manchester City folklore, and the fans will continue to love him and sing his name heartily at games for many months to come. Whether he will be so revered by fans only because he delivered City’s first trophies in decades, and therefore would not have been had City been more accustomed to winning, is impossible to tell. Based on Mancini’s European results, and his outspokenness, he should not be surprised to have been relieved of his duties. Whoever follows Mancini will have to deliver in both domestic and European competition, and quickly. Otherwise I fear that City may be scouring the job applications again fairly soon.  

Gateway to Europe: The 2013 Spanish Grand Prix

            After the four ‘flyaway’ Grand Prix around the Middle East and Asia, Formula 1 returned to Europe in the form of the Spanish Grand Prix today. The return to Europe certainly has its advantages for those watching in Britain, as finally qualifying and race times remain fairly stable. Getting up in the early hours of the morning to watch a race is never as pleasant as enjoying it over lunch! The 2013 championship remains incredibly open, with Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull looking the early favourites to take their fourth successive title, but Ferrari, Mercedes and Lotus believe they have a realistic chance. The Spanish Grand Prix certainly puts the most pressure on the Ferrari driver of Fernando Alonso, being his home Grand Prix. The vast majority of the 95,000 fans that arrived at the Catalunya circuit were undoubtedly supporting their home man. However, in qualifying, fans that had come supporting the Ferraris were left disappointed.

 

                Qualifying has very much been Mercedes forte so far this season, and so it proved again yesterday. A front row lockout for the German team, with Nico Rosberg leading Lewis Hamilton by a couple of tenths. A second successive pole for the German, who would have hoped to perform better in the race this time, having finished 9^th after starting from pole in Bahrain. Nevertheless, after qualifying, both Rosberg and Hamilton made statements to the press claiming that they were not confident about race pace. Vettel was once again successful in qualifying, finishing in 3^rd place and giving himself a great chance for his third successive race win. Home favourite Alonso, however, had to settle for 5^th place, behind Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen. British drivers, apart from Lewis Hamilton, had a relatively poor qualifying session, with Paul di Resta top in 10^th place. Fellow Brit Jenson Button had a poor qualifying campaign, finishing in 14^th place, a full 6 places behind his McLaren rookie teammate Sergio Perez.

 

                The early talk pre-race was all about pit stops and how many each team would do, with much debate over three or perhaps even four stops. As soon as Mark Webber pitted on lap 7, the decision appeared to have been made for four pit stops. With the developments Mercedes have brought to this Grand Prix, there was also much discussion over whether the Mercedes drivers would be capable of keeping the pack behind them. This was particularly important after the dismal performance of the Mercedes from pole last time out. The start of the race was certainly better for Rosberg from pole than Bahrain, as he led away for the first few laps. Hamilton, on the other hand, was instantly swamped by both Vettel and Alonso, falling back behind the pair of them by the end of the first sector. Whilst Rosberg may have led, he was certainly not pulling away from the lead group, causing a six car queue for the early laps. The first round of pit stops reshuffled the order slightly, with Rosberg maintaining the lead after a tight battle with Vettel, only for Alonso to split the pair of them after his stop. Alonso then went on to take the lead a few laps later, causing Rosberg to lose a further two places on the same lap. The indication was very much that the Mercedes were once again struggling to compete for race pace. This was illustrated by Lewis Hamilton, who at one point was fighting for 15^th place with a Williams, causing several exasperated exchanges on the radio. He continued to have a disappointing afternoon, finishing 12^th.

                In the second half of the race, both Ferraris and the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen appeared to get stronger as the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel and the Mercedes faded. Raikkonen’s claim to the race win was strengthened once it was realised that he planned on stopping one fewer times than the Ferraris, forcing Alonso to push harder to attempt to widen the gap. Felipe Massa, having a rather undramatic but successful race, had managed to get himself from his qualifying spot of 9^th, to 2^nd, by the end of the 2^nd stops. Whilst he had to relinquish his 2^nd place to Raikkonen after the final stops, a strong 3^rd place is certainly something he would have settled for at the beginning. Home boy Alonso, however, could not be touched, eventually opening up a gap of 12 seconds to the rest of the field, and comfortably taking the victory at the Spanish Grand Prix. As with Bahrain, the crowd were treated to a final few laps battle, this time between Rosberg and Paul di Resta, for the 6^th spot, which Rosberg eventually took. An incredibly disappointing end to a promising day for the Mercedes team, who will have to seriously re-think their race approach for Monaco.

 

                Alonso’s win at the Spanish Grand Prix has re-ignited the title chase this year, after a mini-period of Vettel and Red Bull dominance. Whilst this race was neither as controversial, nor as eventful as the Bahrain Grand Prix, there was much within it that implied that we have an incredibly competitive championship this year. With the ultimate drivers’ circuit of Monaco up next, there is much more than just pride for the protagonists this season to fight for.

The Romance of the Cup: Wigan Athletic Win the FA Cup

            As a Manchester City fan, I had been hoping to do a comfortable, slightly gloating post about yesterday’s events. However, this was not to be. Congratulations must go to Wigan Athletic, and especially Roberto Martinez, as I believe that he and his tactics were a key reason for the Latics claiming their first piece of silverware in their 81 year history. I am also especially pleased for Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, as his story is particularly moving. A Blackburn Rovers player in 1960, Whelan went to Wembley to play in a cup final, only to suffer a horrendous leg fracture in the 43^rd minute. After this, he never got another chance to play at Wembley. An exemplary chairman of a football club, especially in today’s environment of hire and fire at will, Whelan has retained faith in Martinez for the last four years, enabling Wigan to beat the drop repeatedly. I am glad the FA allowed Whelan to lead his side out yesterday, as it is highly unlikely he will ever get another chance to do so.

 

                Pre-match, the team selection from Manchester City prompted much derision from those on Twitter, with City’s ‘cup goalkeeper’ Costel Pantilimon being dropped in favour of Joe Hart. After conceding only one goal in the entire cup run to this point, some believed it to be highly unfair that he would be replaced for the final. Personally, whilst I would have liked to have seen Pantilimon start, as his performances this season have deserved it, I can certainly understand the argument against. Hart is undoubtedly City’s number 1 goalkeeper, and in games such as these, you would want to play your best side. Equally, the big Romanian will not have done himself any favours in the past week, as he made it very clear that he will be leaving City in the summer to pursue regular first team football. This could quite easily be interpreted as the excuse that Roberto Mancini required to drop Pantilimon, as an apparent lack of loyalty to the club can certainly justify replacing the player.

 

                During the previous week, I had been telling friends ‘if City score early, it could be 3 or 4 nil.’ I also added that ‘if no-one has scored before half time, I suspect another replay of City vs Stoke final in 2011, with a 1-0 win.’ In the first half, City started relatively quickly, getting an early free kick and testing Wigan goalkeeper Joel Robles in the first 4 minutes. The big chance for City, and for my first prediction, in the first half fell to Carlos Tevez in the 25^th minute. A shot across the goalkeeper after some neat work in the box drew a fantastic last-ditch save with his legs by Joel. Other than that, Wigan had the vast majority of the play, with Callum McManaman looking a constant threat, creating several good chances for his team. Winning every second ball, and looking generally like the side who wanted the result more, Wigan defended stoutly and broke quickly, with Roberto Martinez’s tactics set up perfectly to stifle the usually creative City. By half-time, my City-supporting mum and I were suitable exasperated by their performance, and I hoped that Roberto Mancini really got stuck into them in the second half, prompting a higher tempo.

 

                Unfortunately for me, the second half remained vastly the same as the first. Whilst City retained possession slightly better for the first twenty minutes of the second half, there was little to indicate that they would score. Despite being 9/1 long shots at kick-off, Wigan continued to look dangerous on the break, with McManaman and James McCarthy driving the Latics forward. By 60 minutes, my pessimistic side was beginning to see the inevitable defeat that I have become so accustomed to when watching Manchester City. This was confirmed to me when Pablo Zabaleta, having already been booked, scythed down McManaman and received his marching orders in the 81^st minute. After this, Ben Watson’s winner in the first minute of injury time was completely foreseeable and deserved.

 

                Roberto Martinez may be moving on at the end of the season, with Everton a supposed destination, but if that was one of his final games for Wigan, then what a way to go out. His tactics for this game were unquestionable, and he has done his career no harm whatsoever with that victory. There are also several Wigan players that have played themselves into either a much more lucrative contract, or a move to a more high profile club. McManaman, McCarthy and Joel in particular stood out, but each and every one of the Wigan players had their part to play in the most momentous day in their history. I have to say, I would much prefer to lose to a side like Wigan than one like Chelsea, Arsenal and the like. This is simply because for the top sides, these finals happen relatively regularly, and therefore each win is less significant. The pride emblazoned upon every Wigan face as the final whistle was blown, and the celebrations on the touchlines and the stands clearly illustrate exactly how massive an achievement this was for this team, and how important is was to all.

 

Whilst the defeat felt like a dagger to my heart, I cannot deny that Wigan were by far the better side on the day, and encapsulated everything the FA Cup stands for. A true David vs Goliath encounter, with the underdog triumphing against all odds. A fantastic advertisement for the modern FA Cup, showing that it hasn’t lost any of its charm. Wigan were, on the day, thoroughly deserving victors. I now hope that they carry this momentum forward to avoid relegation. Otherwise, I fear that they will lose many of their cup-winning stars, and their inaugural season in European competition will fizzle out quickly next year.

 

Picture from Google Images

Sir Alex Ferguson Retires: An End of An Era

             The phrase I use in my title is certainly clichéd, but in this case I think there can be no doubt it is correct. Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the most controversial and successful managers of all time, has announced he is to retire at the end of this season, after a magnificent career spanning nearly 40 years. Such an announcement does not come as a surprise, especially when I heard he was planning to have hip surgery at the end of the season. From the humble beginnings of lowly East Stirling in 1974, Ferguson’s career has been on a seemingly never-ending incline, leading to him being the longest serving top flight manager and most decorated manager in the history of English football. With 38 trophies at Manchester United, a place on the Board of Directors, and a stand at Old Trafford named in his honour, Ferguson’s place in the history of both Manchester United and the English game is assured.

 

                Sir Alex Ferguson’s career is a long list of honours, both on and off the pitch, and during his 26 years in charge of Manchester United, he has seen many significant high points. Such examples would include the first title for the Red Devils in 26 years, collected in 1993, the first English team to complete the treble, achieved in 1999, and the surpassing of the previously considered unbeatable Liverpool record of 18 top flight titles, back in 2011. As Manchester United manager, he has seen and experienced it all in the English game, and has had many memorable battles along the way. Initially, his lack of success at United that put him on the brink of the sack. A calculated risk by the United board to allow him to continue, and one that has paid off in the most spectacular fashion. His rivalries on the pitch are also well documented, and none you can say with any certainty he has comprehensively lost. Firstly, the battles in the mid-90s with Newcastle United and Kevin Keegan in particular, prompting the famous ‘love it’ lines. Secondly, his late-90s and early 2000’s spats with Arsene Wenger. Whilst Arsenal did win three titles, most famously the ‘Invincibles’ season, United and Ferguson remained top dog around those years. And who was there to end the ‘Invincibles’ winning run? Manchester United of course. Arguably his most famous personal spat was with Rafa Benitez during his stint at Liverpool, whose infamous ‘fact’ rant saw him lose significant credibility. The only battle that could be argued Ferguson has lost during his career is versus Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea. Statistics favour Mourinho in this department, with him winning more games than the Scot when the two have come face-to-face. He also oversaw two relatively runaway back-to-back title victories, a feat which no other manager has achieved against Sir Alex. Nevertheless, once Mourinho departed for Inter Milan, Ferguson reclaimed the top spot. More recently, the threat coming from Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City has forced Ferguson into action once more, and, after narrowly losing the 2012 title, he eased to his 13^th league title this year.

 

                There has also been a more controversial side to Sir Alex during his years in charge. Whilst these may be no more than the jealous mutterings of those fans who have been on the receiving end of his success, they still bear consideration. His all too regular berating of officials has seen him accumulate several FA punishments, fines and bans, and for some, these punishments and charges have not occurred regularly enough. They have also often led to specific referees being given fewer Manchester United matches, leaving favoured refs, such as Howard Webb, to referee the majority of Old Trafford fixtures. This has been argued to go some way to explaining the accumulation of penalty awards in favour of the home side. His infamous 2003 Beckham-boot incident led to subsequent revelations about his temper. This temper has also led him at times to exaggerate and over-dramatise situations when things have failed to go his way. Such examples have occurred this season, both when he claimed Robin van Persie could have been killed after receiving a ball to the head at Swansea, and when he neglected his press duties after defeat in the Champions League to Real Madrid, the latter smacking of ‘control freakery’ when his players seemed to do the same. However, a certain amount of needle is essential in being a successful manager, and his sometimes overdramatic antics simply make for good television. Without him, phrases such as ‘squeaky bum time’ would not have been created, and we wouldn’t get to see his dreadful, strange, double arm waving goal celebrations! Being passionate is not necessarily a bad thing, and whilst some of his actions over the years may have been misguided, they merely go to show that he is, in fact, human.

 

                His retirement undoubtedly leaves a chasm which Manchester United seem unable to adequately fill. Whilst bookmakers have placed Jose Mourinho as firm favourite to succeed Fergie, I have my doubts. His ‘where I am loved’ comments after Madrid’s Champions League semi-final exit last week are more indicative of Chelsea, not United. Hints made by both Mourinho and Chelsea interim manager Rafa Benitez support this conclusion. If not Mourinho, who else? Ferguson’s retirement announcement has come too late to secure the services of Pep Guardiola, who is now contracted to Bayern Munich. Whilst the rumour mill will ensure that many names will be thrown into consideration, serious contenders that have come into the frame are Everton’s David Moyes, and Borussia Dortmund’s Jurgen Klopp. In my opinion, Moyes’s inexperience in guiding a title-challenging club fatally harms his chances. Whilst his knowledge of the English game and his eye for a bargain is unquestionable, he lacks the necessary experience to win titles. Klopp, on paper at least, appears a better fit. However, there is no guarantee that he will have the ability to manage in the English game. There is also no guarantee that anyone who is brought in to replace Ferguson will have his tactical abilities and his ability to gel squads.

 

                Sir Alex Ferguson is the iconic manager when discussing English football, and his achievements, in my opinion, will never be surpassed. Almost certainly, we will never again see a reign at a club as long as his. Manchester United have a herculean task to replace him, and I fear for his successor, as the pressure placed upon him will be almost unbearable. As for the club itself, I believe that this end of an era will take a toll. Whether they can recover sufficiently to challenge for future glory remains to be seen. If they fail to, this merely reinforces my assertion that Sir Alex Ferguson is irreplaceable, and that he is, or was, the driving force behind many of the 13 titles and 38 trophies he won at United.

 

Image from Google Images

A Passing of the Guard? Germany 11-3 Spain

            The recent domination of Spain in European football has arguably come to a shuddering halt over the last 2 weeks. The demolition of firstly Barcelona, and then Real Madrid, in the Champions League Semi Final first legs could individually have been considered flukes, but collectively imply a distinct pattern. Whilst Real Madrid fought valiantly last night, providing Borussia Dortmund with an incredibly panicky and tense final few moments, tonight’s Barcelona performance is perhaps indicative of a seismic shift in European football. Barcelona, considered one of the greatest teams ever, exited the competition with a whimper, and the Nou Camp, once an impregnable fortress, was left stunned into silence. This brings into question Spain’s status as the dominant force in European football, and with Barcelona’s abject performances, raises questions over whether ‘tiki taka’ football is dead.

 

                Whilst I will reserve judgement on whether Spain as a national side have lost their world and European number 1 status until after at least the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, if not the 2016 European Championship. However, if subsequent national competitions follow the recent shift in power from Spain to German in club contests, I foresee a rather different outcome to that in 2008, 2010 and 2012. This is not a shift that has occurred overnight. Whilst the events of the last two weeks have forced the issue into the spotlight, arguments can be made that this has been on the cards over the last couple of years. Germany have had at least semi finalists in each of the last 4 seasons, with Bayern Munich being involved in 3 of the last 4 finals. Whilst the ‘El Clasico’ pair have both been regularly involved in Champions League semi finals over the last decade, the fact that Bayern have beaten firstly Madrid, and then Barcelona in the last two semi finals shows that German football, and especially Bayern Munich, have been on the rise in the last few years.

 

                The first all-German Champions League final is seemingly the end of a gradual evolution towards German domination in European club football over the last five or so years. Despite this, it would be foolish to suggest that the two great Spanish giants are now irrelevant. There will always be there or there about, and with two of the best footballers in the world amongst their ranks, they have the potential to turn any match on its head. The argument against these two weeks being indicative of a seismic shift in European football is that Bayern Munich have had a record-breaking season this year, sweeping aside all in their path, both domestically and continentally. This season could therefore be seen as a ‘flash in the pan’, as their title winning campaign this year has broken two years of Dortmund domination. This is certainly supported when we look at how Bayern have performed in their previous two campaigns, finishing 2^nd (2012) and 3^rd (2011), 8 and 10 points behind the eventual champions. Considering these statistics, this record-breaking season cannot have been predicted, and therefore does not suggest that German football, and Bayern in particular, were becoming more prominent in European football. The argument against Dortmund’s presence in this year’s final being indicative of a shift is that they are simply this year’s Chelsea. Whilst they qualified top of arguably the most difficult group, they were within moments of elimination against Malaga in the quarter finals. Relying on a Manchester City-esque double salvo in added time, they were highly fortunate to progress to this point. Personally, I disagree with these arguments. Having experienced Borussia Dortmund first hand in the group stages, they are fully deserving of their place in the final. This is further illustrated by their performance at home to Madrid last week. Bayern, whilst this season may have come out of the blue, have been riding a wave of momentum, and have deservedly demolished Barcelona both home and away this year, having beaten Madrid last. This appears too significant to ignore, suggesting that German football is beginning to usurp their Spanish counterparts.

 

                All of this, along with the emphatic defeat of Barcelona, leads me to question whether the iconic Catalan ‘tiki taka’ style is effective. It may well be the case that they no longer have the element of surprise, and therefore teams may now be able to counter it more effectively. Perhaps the loss of Pep Guardiola at the end of last season has had some significant loss to the philosophy. Whatever the reason, it certainly appears that ‘tiki taka’ football is no longer a match for Bayern’s disciplined, fluid, attacking football. This suggests that certain revisions to the tactic are required.  Whether that is simply the removal of the over-reliance on one man (Lionel Messi), or something slightly more detailed, it is clear that Barcelona can no longer rely on their trademark style to steamroller the top teams, as was the case a few years ago. I wouldn’t go as far to say that ‘tiki taka’ is dead, but it now requires greater sophistication to be effective against disciplined opposition.

                  As for whether German football has overtaken the Spanish game, I remain sceptical. It is hard to argue with that combined scoreline, but Barcelona and Real Madrid both remain consistent on reaching Champions League semi finals, with Barca reaching the last 6 consecutively. Until multiple teams from the German league can say the same, I refuse to accept that they have de-throned the Spanish giants. German football has had a phenomenal season this year, and Bayern Munich can certainly make a case to have deposed the two Spanish clubs as Europe’s best club if they win on the 25^th May, but for German football to have overtaken the Spanish on the course of two weeks is short-sighted. Give them a few years, a World Cup, and a couple of Champions Leagues, and then we can reassess.