No walk in the Park
By Robert Bore
St Jakob Park was the unlikely scene of one of my favourite football memories.
No, not Ruud van Nistelrooy’s two-minute double in a 3-1 Manchester United win on November 26, 2002.
This little gem took place a fortnight before when I had the pleasure of watching 90 minutes of football in the company of a bona fide international manager, while witnessing the demise of Liverpool’s Champions League hopes for the year. Continue reading…
No such great expectations
By Tim Clement
Perennially the head honcho of the elite, Fabio Capello finds himself in an unexpected and unusual position as the leader of an England side cast under the tag of underdogs ahead of their upcoming challenges.
The Italian arrived at the FA headquarters boasting a CV littered with success from spells at Europe’s elite clubs, faced with the challenge of getting the best from England’s underachieving stars.
But as he prepares an under-strength squad for the unenviable task of retaining honour in front of a sell-out Wembley crowd against the world’s best, Spain, in preparation for a tournament which they are largely regarded outsiders for, Capello is having to learn how to cope with a label which is more than likely absent from his modest English vocabulary: underdogs.
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Heart ache for Ronaldo as injuries take their toll
By Tim Clement
It comes as a fitting end to the career which captured the hearts of football lovers around the world that Ronaldo has ended his playing days on Valentines Day 2011.
While many will remember the Brazilian for the sorry end to his career which was tainted his weight and fitness issues, the injuries that have finally taken their toll on his career serve as a reminder to what a remarkable talent he was.
The 34-year-old will be remembered as one of greatest players of his generation despite his persistent problems and leaves behind a string of remarkable records and achievements. Continue reading…
Latest low for McClaren
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By Tim Clement
Steve McClaren’s rollercoaster managerial career hit another low on Monday as his latest European adventure came to an end with Wolfsburg wielding the axe.
Arsene and Cesc sitting in a tree…
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By Tim Clement
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reached a new low in his pandering to the ego of his captain Cesc Fabregas this week by accusing David Moyes of breaking the game’s ‘unwritten rule’ in lambasting the midfielder for his half-time comments during their midweek clash.
The Toffees boss revealed that the 23-year-old had questioned the integrity of an official at half-time, at which point the Gunners were trailing 1-0 due to Louis Saha’s admittedly offside goal, and insisted the Fabregas should of been sent off for his “disgusting” comments.
Wenger predictably defended his skipper with his slightly altered trademark line, claiming he did not hear his player speak with the officials and insisting that it was he had who had spoken with the referee.
To make Wenger’s defence of his star man even more farcical he has played the ‘heat of the moment’ excuse, somewhat hypocritcal given his scathing criticism of players who are overly zealous when tackling against his side.
The French tactician has since gone on to portray the midfielder as a victim of the constant brutality of the Premier League’s mean mobsters.
Dare we suggest that if Wenger’s does care so dearly for Fabregas that he might allow him to return to his home club Barcelona? A place where most opponents are so far off the pace that they normally don’t even get the chance to tackle and officials rarely have the chance to award unjust goals against them.
Or maybe, just maybe, it is all part of Wenger’s plan to father his prize asset into believing that the Emirates is his home and the place where he will alway be defended and loved.
Tarah Torres
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By Tim Clement
When Kenny Dalglish was appointed as Liverpool manager his biggest challenge was to get the most out of Fernando Torres – £50million and a best display of the season from the Reds looks like job done.
The Spaniard may have shown glimpses of his best in his final few games for the Reds, but his contribution over the last year has exposed the bleak one-dimensional nature of a side no longer capable of competing for the sort of honours their name is synonymous with.
Continue reading…
Copa Clasico on the cards
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By Tim Clement
Barcelona will meet Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final for the first time in 21 years having further reinforced their dominance over the rest of Spain.
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Managing expectations
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By Nik Caldwell
In this disposable world, there seems to be few more likely objects to be consigned to the scrap heap than a football manager.
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Leonardo Inter the record books
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By Tim Clement
Just when it looked like the power was shifting back to the red and black side of Milan, one of the Rossoneri’s former stars has delivered the bitterest of blows by leading their great rivals back into the title race.
Leonardo overseen the gap between Inter and AC cut to just six points, with a game in hand, after becoming the Nerazzurri’s first manager to win his opening four league games in charge since Luigi Simoni in 1997.
The former Brazil winger’s attacking potency seems to of had an infectious affect with Inter notching 15 goals in their last five games, including a 3-2 final-16 Coppa Italia win over ambitious Genoa, and has overseen the return of Samuel Eto’o to top form, with the Cameroon international notching five in his last three appearances.
The Rossoneri certainly have good reason to be looking over their shoulder, having won only one of their last fours games, and will very much be relying on the unpredictable talents of Robinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pato to outscore those capable of penetrating their aged backline.
It will be the bitterest of pills to swallow if they seen their neighbours win the Scudetto for a sixth-successive season having held such a strong lead earlier in the season.
They can, however, take some comfort from the fact that Simoni only led Inter to 2nd spot after his winning start 14 years ago.
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