Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Is the King about to return?




Shearer to swoop in and save the Geordies season

Eight games to go in the Premier League and Newcastle are sitting not so pretty. Relegation battles are not what Geordie fans expect for their loyal and unwaning support. The supporters however are not the only people associated with the club who have suffered heartache on the back of their shambolic performances; JFK suffered a stroke at the sight of his teams defending and stand in manager Chris Hughton is having little effect. Newcastle have tried everything; even recruiting the services of a Shay Given look alike to stand in nets but to no avail. So what are the Geordies going to do? My guess is that Newcastle’s greatest ever export is going to be swooped in to save the season. That’s right Alan Shearer (not Cheryl Cole) will be swooped in to save Newcastle from Championship obscurity. He tried a bit of punditry before everyone realised he’s one of the most boring men alive and now he’ll get to stick his finger in the football management pie. Expect lots of uninspiring team talks and post match interviews but plenty of imaginative one armed celebrations should Newcastle miraculously survive the drop. You heard it here first….

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posted by Shane @ 9:45 PM   2 Comments

Monday, March 30, 2009

So close yet so far....

Another night of mediocrity for the Irish football team

On reflection, last night’s performance from Ireland can be described as nothing more than dire continuing on from our previous dire performance, the smash and grab 2-1 win against Georgia. Last night we took a very early lead and after that were dominated by the Bulgarians in terms of possession and class, you really would’ve thought the team in white were the home team. So as Trapp faces his biggest test yet against the Italians on Wednesday I feel there are huge issues that need to be resolved otherwise this promises to be yet another doomed campaign:

Why can’t Ireland win a game comfortably?

So far this campaign Ireland have drawn twice and have won three games, all of those three games were won by the narrowest margin of one goal, usually with tense endings with us camped in our own box. It is the usual story with Ireland, you nick a goal and then you sit on it and hope to God the other team don’t have enough quality to score. Why is it that when Ireland goes a goal up they can’t go for the jugular and get a second goal, allowing them and the fans to relax? After Irelands early goal last night they didn’t do a single thing in the first half, Bulgaria surged at them and had four good chances with Given called into action. The second half continued in the same vein, the sense of impending doom realised when Bulgaria got their goal and you couldn’t say the bastards didn’t deserve it. In the 96 minutes of football that was played last night Ireland had no sustained pressure, not even ten minutes camped in the opposition half, chances were scarce and the fans were left to cheer for corners and throw ins high up the pitch. There is an attitude problem that seems to run through Irish teams, when Bulgaria scored their equaliser the urgency returned to Ireland briefly but why wasn’t this urgency there when we were 1-0 up and could’ve killed the game and secured a vital three points.

Are Kilbane and Mc Shane really our best fullbacks?

I have a lot of time for Kevin Kilbane, he’s as honest as they come and has been very loyal to the Irish cause. Likewise Paul Mc Shane is a brave defender with a big heart BUT the bottom line is these guys are really shit footballers. These days’ full backs are becoming more and more important to a team; good fullbacks will be seen overlapping wingers high up the pitch and also remain solid in defence. Our Hull City duo cannot offer us that and we need to find somebody who can. Usually you can at least say Mc Shane is solid but last night he was nut megged, skinned down the line and beaten for pace with ease. Every time Mc Shane got the ball he shirked responsibility and looked to give it to someone else, that meant going backwards a lot of the time. When he did get into advanced positions and McGeady gave him the ball in a couple of yards space instead of getting a cross in the box he looked to give it straight back to McGeady, at international standard you can’t afford to have a guy so uncomfortable on the ball. Kilbane will of course be remembered in this game for calmly slotting Petrov’s centre passed a hapless Given but I wouldn’t really blame him for that. What I would blame him for is a lack of ambition, I never saw him in the opposition half and every time he got the ball he simply pasted it as hard as he could up to Keane and Doyle, it wasn’t good enough.

Why the fuck doesn’t Trapparoni make substitutions?

Last night as in other games, a change was desperately needed. Bringing on Andy Keogh on the 90th minute is absolutely useless. Why not do it twenty minutes earlier. McGeady was ineffective the whole game, what’s there to lose? I get the impression there is a very cautious approach from Trappatoni that probably also explains why Ireland don’t win games by more than one goal, but if ever there was a game that needed a shake it was last night. Granted our bench wouldn’t strike much fear into any team but some of the players on the pitch were spent and fresh legs could’ve brought some urgency to our performance.

Where is the creativity going to come from?

Last night we really missed Duff, who has been our most creative player this campaign. So in his absence it all lay on the shoulders of Aiden Mc Geady who once again had a stinker in an Ireland shirt. Hunt was willing and did well for Ireland’s goal but for all his running and enthusiasm often very little come from it. The gruesome twosome in the centre of the park can’t open teams up. Who else can we turn to? Stephen Ireland would be what’s needed but he won’t play so it’s back to the most overplayed argument in Irish football, bring back fat Andy Reid, the only Irish player who can pass the ball with conviction.

Was Glenn Whelan on the pitch?

Good oul’ Glenn Whelan, ‘the invisible man’ I hear his Stoke team mates affectionately call him and if they don’t they should. His central midfield partner Andrews wasn’t a whole lot better but at times he did show some adventure with a chip just over hit to Kevin Doyle and his cross to the same player in the last minute. He also got a few tackles in. To put it simply Whelan is just not up for the job, not good enough. I watched about twenty minutes of England last night and you see Lampard and Gerrard on the ball so often, they WANT the ball, they show for it, they pass it and they move. Glenn Whelan on the other hand managed to go the whole game without getting his name mentioned. The purpose of a midfield player is to link the backs with the strikers, pick up ball and pass it off. If you have an invisible man in centre midfield your only option is what happened repeatedly last night, long ball after long ball was lumped up field, by-passing the midfield and being easily dealt with by the ‘Bulgar’ defence. It’s an insult to Andy Reid that this man is accumulating caps at his expense and we can’t afford to have invisible men when we play the World Champions on Wednesday night.

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posted by Shane @ 12:06 AM   0 Comments

Monday, March 23, 2009

Ibracadabra




The only thing more unbelievable than some of Ibrahimovic's skills is the refusal of the British and Irish public to accept him as a world class footballer...

Every now and again a footballing opinion spreads like wildfire, is adopted as gospel, and is repeated amongst those that worship at the television as some kind of footballing mantra. There have been many sporting opinions I have disagreed with over the years, but arguably the one that grates the most is the idea that Zlatan Ibrahimovic is no more than an average footballer.

I do feel I have to declare some baggage at customs. Being born in Sweden, there is a slight bias that could be levelled at me, particularly ever since his magical backheel against the Azzurri at Euro 2004, but I am always careful to put aside any of this when writing in any capacity. Strangely, his performances at Euro 2004 are always overlooked when it comes to the opinion of the average football fan in the emerald isle, but the gospel is preached all the same; Ibrahimovic has never performed on the big stage, in the champions league, the world cup or the European championships.

This does him a grave injustice. However, before dealing with these accusations let's look at the positive. Ibrahimovic has an exquisite touch, and an exquisite footballing brain. Those in the know at Inter have compared him with Dennis Bergkamp, a personal footballing hero of mine and one of the finest I have ever seen play the game. In ways this is accurate; those who saw his sumptious backheeled pass against Bologna this season would no doubt agree. What Ibragoal has that Bergkamp never did however is pace and power. He is deceptively quick, and his lanky frame belies a strength that is perfectly in sync with what his manager, Jose Mourinho likes in a frontman. His goal record while patchier in his early years, has been straight out of the top drawer at Inter; 53 goals in 86 starts. This is comparable with Fernando Torres strike rate at Liverpool to put this into perspective, and in a league where it is arguably more difficult for a striker to score lots of goals given the tactical mindset.

It is ironic given the physical similarities that along with Francesco Totti, Ibrahimovic is probably the most underappreciated footballer from Serie A amongst English and Irish fans. The accusation that he did not turn up to the 2006 world cup or Euro 2008 is a ridiculous one given the fact he was carrying reasonably serious injuries during both tournaments. While he has not performed to his best during champions league knockout games for whatever reason, his phenomenal performances for a poor Swedish side at Euro 2004 along with some terrific games against the biggest teams in Serie A should be enough to show those of us in the west what a brilliant footballer he is. Jose Mourinho has labelled him as the best player in the world ahead of the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, and one suspects this may be more than hyperbole.

It is in my opinion the sky factor which is holding him back from being anointed with the likes of Torres, Eto'o and Aguero as one of the best strikers in world football. It is sad that Serie A football is no longer available for us to watch without knowing about the sources that exist for football streaming in the depths of the internet. Without the likes of the fantastic James Richardson to host shows like Football Italia, the hidden delights of what is still in the top 3 footballing leagues in the world will remain hidden for a long time yet. While Messi, Robben, Forlan and Navas show off their skills on a weekly basis on our sky boxes, it is one of footballs great tragedies that we are unable to tune in to see Ibracadabra's latest trick for the Nerazzurri at the San Siro.

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posted by Oz @ 10:00 PM   0 Comments

Friday, March 20, 2009

Champions' League Quarter-Final Draw Familiarity Breeds Contempt


Today’s Champion’s League Quarter-final draw in Nyon has thrown up some very exciting ties. It has given football fans the opportunity to relive some of the most memorable matches of recent years.



The draw has thrown Chelsea and Liverpool together for a fifth consecutive year in the Champions League. At this point Chelsea and Liverpool have played so often both domestically and in Europe that they know each others’ strengths and a fierce rivalry has grown. A new chapter will be added to this rivalry on April 8th and April 14th when they compete for a place in the semi-final. The last time these sides met in the Champions League was in the semi-final of last year’s competition. Chelsea eventually prevailed in what was one of the games of the season. The 2008 semi-final had everything: a Riise own goal, a Lampard penalty, extra time, a Babel consolation wonder goal and pre-match remarks from Benitez on Drogba’s diving.

This season’s contest promises to offer the same excitement. Liverpool look a resurgent team since their mauling of Real Madrid in Anfield and a classy show against Manchester United in Old Trafford. Bentiez has signed a new five year deal which will end the sub plot about his future which has often overshadowed the action on the pitch. Liverpool are full of confidence at the moment, they have a great record in Europe and Benitez will make his side very difficult to beat over two legs. Also if Gerrard and Torres can remain fit the Merseysiders will fancy their chances of emulating their performances in 2005 and in 2007 of beating Chelsea on the way to the final.

Chelsea look like a different prospect since the arrival of Guus Hiddink in February. Key players have started to deliver and Chelsea are a different outfit with a fit, motivated Didier Drogba leading the line. Chelsea have been in good form recently and are unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions. Chelsea will also be encouraged to have the second leg in Stamford Bridge, the same format as when they defeated Liverpool last season. Which ever team progresses to the semi-final it promises to be an excellent night of football.

Today’s draw has made the prospect of an all English final for the second year in a row very likely. Arsenal vs. Villarreal is a rematch of the 2006 semi-final which The Gunners won 1-0 on aggregate and Riquelme missed a penalty in the final minutes to send the game to extra time. Manchester United vs. Porto is a rematch of the 2004 quarter-final when the footballing world was introduced to José Mourinho as he sprinted down the touchline with his coat flapping after Costinha scored in the 90th minute. Mourinho’s Porto went on to win the competition that year. Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich has thrown together two of Europe’s most attacking teams. Bayern progressed to the quarter-final stage after inflicting a record 12-1 aggregate defeat on Sporting Lisbon. While Barcelona have scored 78 goals in La Liga this season, so expect goals galore in the Allianz Arena in Munich on April 8th.

My predications, for what they are worth: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Barcelona to progress to the semi-finals. But before I head to the book makers I can contemplate the unspeakable a Manchester United and Liverpool Final in Rome on May 27th.



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posted by Rich @ 4:53 PM   27 Comments

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Redknapp a Symptom of Premiership's Short Sightedness


If Daniel Levy is to prove he has a vision for Spurs, he should sack Harry Redknapp at the end of the season...

I read with interest today that Aaron Lennon believes Tottenham can still qualify for European competition. While morale may be high after their 4-0 win over Middlesbrough last night, his quotes are ill advised given the mirth that they will be greeted with from Arsenal fans, the media at large and the large mob that seems to enjoy Tottenham Hotspur’s failings. They will no doubt annoy Harry Redknapp too, who let us remember has been brought in to guide Spurs to safety and away from the spectre of relegation. While the “Harry Houdini” headlines that have followed his short Tottenham career are inspired more by an overly friendly relationship with Fleet Street than by his actual performance, it is hard to begrudge what has been a decent, if unspectacular job that he has done since his arrival.

Despite this, it is my belief that should he keep Spurs up, Harry Redknapp should be paid off and removed as manager of the club. Controversial? Yes. Necessary? Definitely.

You see, Spurs need more Aaron Lennons at this club, players that are not afraid to aim higher even if it ultimately results in failure. It is something that has resulted in several recent disappointments for the club, most notably the lasagne-gate incident of the 05/06 season, but what is even more gutting for spurs fans is the fact that the massive disappointment of the following season has led to the club losing its license to dream. Daniel Levy is an excellent chairman on the financial side of the spectrum, and under his stewardship Spurs have become one of the best run clubs in Europe, finishing 14th in terms of turnover out of all clubs in the world. This is despite a relatively small stadium which limits their match day revenue and having never appeared in the champions league. His on the pitch decisions haven’t gone quite as well. The manner in which he sacked Martin Jol was reflective of what a bad decision this was, and having to buy out an expensive 5 year deal that he had lured Juande Ramos with was not a positive move either. Redknapp’s appointment was a watershed however – for the first time Levy had appointed someone not on the basis of a vision for the club, but to fight the relegation wildfires that had spread through it. It was shocking to hear of his complaints about a fixture pile up when he should have been pumping his team up to fight on several fronts, and if I was a spurs fan I would have been horrified at his disdain for the UEFA cup given their lack of European football over the years.

Redknapp’s appointment is an illustration of the pandemic of short-termism that appears to have affected English football. When I look at the English top flight, I see other managers whose stay is only likely to be a brief one. Joe Kinnear’s ill advised appointment as Newcastle boss may yet cost them their top flight status, and Ricky Sbragia taking the reins on Wearside is a similar exercise in stupidity. There is quite simply nothing to suggest that these two managers are ever going to take their respective teams to the level of UEFA cup qualification, and this must be heartbreaking for their supporters. Guus Hiddink is a great manager, but if his comments are truthful and he is not going to stay at Chelsea, then his appointment is a shocking indictment of Roman Abramovich’s supposed footballing knowledge. The fact is, football clubs crave stability, and there are countless items of evidence to support this.

I am not going to insult anyone’s intelligence by going on about Alex Ferguson being given the time to succeed, as this has been covered far too often for me to add anything new to the rhetoric. The most recent example of a club with a vision that has brought them success is Aston Villa. For those unfamiliar with the activities of one Randy Lerner, the Aston Villa owner has shown a view forward that messers Gillett and Hicks would do well to take note of. Lerner's history as owner of the Cleveland Browns NFL franchise has given him an excellent grounding in managing a sporting organisation and he has applied his lessons to Aston Villa in earnest. The appointment of a proven manager on a long term contract was the first step, but trusting his new employee to oversee events on the pitch without interference was crucial. Lerner has shown that the differences in sporting culture across the Atlantic are more than bridgeable by involving the fans in the process of change, letting them take part in matters as diverse as the design of the new club crest to the sponsorship of their kit. (The acorns logo that is emblazoned on Villa’s shirt is that of a charity, not a corporation.) Many balked at the £9.5 million price he spent on Ashley Young, but Lerner’s support of O’Neill meant Villa acquired a player who has quite simply been a revelation. It has taken the course of three seasons to see O’Neill lead his team to the Champions League places however, and one wonders what Martin Jol and Juande Ramos could have achieved had they been afforded the same time.

The ultimate reason for the success of Randy Lerner is not rooted either on the pitch or in the boardroom – it is his understanding of both, and knowing when to get involved in each of them that sets him apart from his fellow chairmen. We see the consequences of progress on the pitch without any off it at Liverpool, and those of someone proficient with the numbers but not with sporting prowess at Spurs. The sad thing for Daniel Levy is how close he probably came to emulating Lerner however. Martin Jol and Juande Ramos were both inspired appointments in my opinion, and despite them not working out were the right ones. Harry Redknapp is a significant backward step for Tottenham, and if Daniel Levy is to prove he has not become too afraid of failure to succeed, he should sack him at end of the season.

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posted by Oz @ 7:15 PM   0 Comments

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Chelsea: the future is not so bright...

Mourinho may be loved by the Chelsea fans but he didn't leave them much to cheer about over the long term




When the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League was recently made, it yielded a fixture list that excited every football fan. Probably the most intriguing tie of the round was the showdown between Seria A and the Premiership. Two of world footballs superpowers, Inter Milan and Manchester United, two teams who have dominated their respective leagues in recent years would go head to head over two matches. The winner of this game would probably emerge as strong favourites to make the final at least, perhaps go all the way and lift the trophy.

What made this tie even more interesting was the sub-plot of two of the great managers of the modern game behind these two clubs. Once again Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson would be pitting their talented squads and tactical brains against each other. The relationship between the two seems to be one of admiration and respect, for such rivals they are surprisingly civil and complementary to each other. So far it has been the Portuguese who has had more success when the two men have competed. Mourinho, lost only once to Man United in 10 previous meetings while in charge of Chelsea and of course Mourinho really came to prominence in England when he raced down the touchline under the steely glare of Ferguson as Porto knocked the Red Devils out of the Champions League at Old Trafford in 2004.

However despite Mourinho having the upper hand in the head to head contests so far Ferguson has undoubtedly shown that he has a greater vision for long term sustainable success. Mourinho left West London a Chelsea legend and always will be regarded in the highest esteem at the club as will Sir Alex at United, but if Ferguson had flown the coup on the same day Mourinho did, it would seem that the Scot left his club with better future prospects than the Portugeezer left his. With United’s current squad you can see a number of players coming through the ranks and proving to be up to the challenge.

This season alone we’ve seen Jonny Evans and Raphael Da Silva look incredibly assured in the United first team. Fabio Da Silva, Ben Foster and Danny Welbeck have also impressed when given a run out while although I don’t currently see too much to merit in Darron Gibson, Ferguson holds the Irish international in high regard and will hopefully mould him into a top player. On top of these new comers to the squad there are many other valued members of United's first team under the age of 25 including Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez with Nani and Anderson proving strong players to have in reserve. Even the more experienced members of the squad like Owen Hargreaves, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra aren’t exactly over the hill; all are either 26 or 27. To complement this youth there are the experienced heads of Ryan Giggs, Edwin Van de Sar and Paul Scholes to keep their younger colleagues grounded.

In contrast Chelsea’s first team features very few spring chickens. Key figures like Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Ballack, Frank Lampard, Deco and Didier Drogba are all already beyond their 30th birthdays. Solomon Kalou and John Obi Mikel are the only first team regulars aged 23 or younger and while this may be a team for the here and now it doesn’t bode too well for the future of the blues. While Alex Ferguson was signing Rooney and Ronaldo to build a team around for years to come, Mourinho was acquiring the services of Ballack and Shevchenko, players who were undoubtedly world beaters in their day but also players whose football careers were nearing their twilight.

The second leg of the Champions League showdown promises to be a fascinating game. Fergusons men are much fancied but it is also likely that Mourinho will sting the Scotsman on his own turf again by nicking a crucial away goal. Whatever the result, Ferguson can feel assured that he has a squad and indeed a club that will continue to challenge for every trophy in the years to come, while Mourinho has left a very tricky task for the managers who have so far replaced him. In five years time the vast majority of Man Uniteds current squad could still be with the club, it’s very unlikely that the same can be said for Chelsea. When Ramon Abramovich does find a long term replacement for Big Phil Scholari it’s going to be a huge task for the new man to rebuild a team that are not only capable of winning in the present season but who will continue to challenge for trophies year after year.

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posted by Shane @ 12:45 PM   0 Comments

Monday, March 2, 2009

Monday's European Ramble


Phil Gartside deserves a pat on the back, but the hangover for Valencia will be bad this week...



Good Day

Manchester United

What a couple of weeks for the now champions elect. The Carling Cup final victory may prove to be nothing more than a footnote on what appears to have the makings of an all time great season, but this was a significant weekend in the league as well. Frank Lampard’s late goal for Chelsea is the only thing preventing their third coronation in three years, as the memories of what almost proved to be an implosion last year will be fresh in the mind of Alex Ferguson. The talk will centre on Liverpool, but it is important not to underplay the fact that this is an excellent side who may yet go down in history if the long season doesn’t catch up on them.


The Bolton Wanderers Board

While the ink has not yet been put on paper, it seems according to reports that Gary Megson will be rewarded for an excellent season with a new contract at the Reebok. Still inexplicably detested by the Bolton fans who should be more than used to his brand of football, Megson has quietly done an absolutely fantastic job at Bolton, even after the “Ginger Mourinho” chants have faded. To illustrate the credit due to Phil Gartside, one needs to look no further than the North-East where Newcastle struggle due to constant changes of the management team. Bolton may not make the UEFA cup places, but a mid table finish is an excellent result for a club that many expected to see in the relegation zone this season.


Middlesbrough

Their first win in four months, and another excellent result against the top four for Gareth Southgate’s side.


Real Madrid

The many people who mocked the headlines of the Madrid press a few weeks ago suddenly have a whole lot of egg on their face. Now only four points behind arch rivals Barcelona following their 10th win in a row, the Spanish title race is intriguingly positioned. It should be remembered however that Real have an extremely difficult fixture list remaining, but if they manage to stay in touch, May’s Clasico could well have far more riding on it than was thought possible.


Diego Forlan

It may have been Aguero who grabbed the headlines, but it was Forlan who brought Atleti back into the game with a coolly taken penalty at 3-2 down. The consensus in the rumour mill is that Diego is seeking a move back to England to put his reputation there to bed, and on the past three seasons evidence, the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal could do far worse than to take a punt on the ex Manchester United striker.


Osasuna

The seemingly doomed Pamplona side are somehow on the verge of clawing their way out of the drop zone. The likes of Getafe should be looking over their shoulders extremely nervously.


Mario Balotelli

While I admittedly haven’t seen all that much of this clearly talented young player, the words of Jose Mourinho suggest that he could be a little bit special. "On the pitch Mario doesn't fear anyone and he doesn't respect anyone," said Mourinho afterwards. "I like him this way." A two goal haul in Inter’s 3-3 draw with Roma must surely have piqued the interest of any watching Manchester United fans, as would his frantic middle finger gesturing at the Roma fans.


Giuseppe Mascara

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPYbxw7n184&feature=related


The Bundesliga

Yet another team takes the top spot in a topsy turvy season as Hertha Berlin rise to the summit, inspired by the gloriously pony tailed Andriy Voronin of strikerless Liverpool.



Bad Day


Liverpool

Let the autopsy commence. The only thing worse than seeing the wreckage of Liverpool’s title challenge for their fans must be the fact that they have to look past Chelsea to view it. Rafael Benitez will point to the injuries to Fernando Torres as a big reason for where they stand now, and this should prove to be justification for the exit of Rick Parry. Many fans will turn on Benitez following recent results, but it should be remembered that expectations have been unrealistically high for some time. The champions league will prove to be an important competition this year in the grand scheme of Benitez’s reign, as should an early exit follow their league capitulation, next year’s challenge will be undermined from the start.


Newcastle United

Anyone of the believe that the toon are “too big to go down” need only look at their remaining fixture list. Their next four games include three home ties against Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, with a crucial away trip to Hull sandwiched in between. With no manager at the rudder, and a host of disinterested looking players, Joe Kinnear’s team look heartless. (No pun intended) Newcastle are going to have to lean heavily on their fans over the next month, as without a big result against one of the big 4 sides, they may well find themselves in the relegation zone come April.


Phil Brown

While his efforts this season so far have understandably been lauded, one has to wonder whether Brown is becoming a victim of his own success. Self promotion is one of the less savoury aspects he appears to have inherited from his mentor Sam Allardyce, and his regular appearances on Setanta Sports’ football coverage would appear to be proof of this. His rant at Geovanni, who could well prove to be the difference between premiership football next season or not, was ill advised and bore the hallmarks of a big ego and outdated management methods. Much like his infamous centre circle team talk, it could prove to be a defining moment in the tigers season.


Valencia

For non followers of Spanish football, it is difficult to overstate just how much trouble Valencia are actually in. On the pitch, they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 21 matches, have been knocked out of the UEFA cup and a 2-1 home loss to Valladolid at the weekend means that they fall to 6th place. Champions league football and the funding it brings are necessities for them this year – their squad has not been paid in weeks, the construction of their new stadium has been halted as they have run out of money and they have not found a buyer for the Mestalla in the current economic climate. Having been regulars at the top table of the European game for a number of seasons, the departure of Villa, Silva et al this summer may well herald the end of Valencia as a significant force in Spain.


Anyone who missed Atletico vs Barcelona

An unbelievable match that quite simply was the best game I have seen since Istanbul 2005. Stunning performances from Aguero, Forlan, Messi and Henry, couple with a complete absence of defending made for a mach that will go down as a classic for many years to come.


AC Milan

It has been a very bad week for Milan. After throwing away a 2 goal lead to Claudio Pizarro and Werder Bremen in midweek, they went and lost 2-1 away to Sampdoria on Sunday. Carlo Ancelotti is beginning to come under a lot of pressure for what is now for all intents and purposes going to be a trophyless season yet again, and the presence of a useful Genoa side 4 points behind them in 5th place suggests that another season without champions league football is not unthinkable for the Rossoneri. The David Beckham sideshow that is the most reported aspect here is not the main news in Milan however; Burlusconi’s comments about his “friend” Florentino Perez suggest that should the ex Real president return for a second term, that Kaka will be off in the summer. The Manchester City affair seems to have soured his relationship with the club, and with a restless fan base baying for blood all signs point towards a summer of change at the San Siro, both on and off the pitch.


PSV Eindhoven

An absolutely hopeless season for the dominant force in Dutch football over the past few seasons went from bad to worse as a home loss to Vitesse left them more or less dead in the title race. With the controversial playoff system for champions league qualification scrapped for this season, they also look set for a place in next season’s Europa League at best, with Ajax best placed to catch FC Twente in second. The title looks wrapped up with another comfortable AZ win, but the Eredivisie has a lot of intrigue left in it yet.


My Friday Predictions

One out of eight means I will be hanging up my premiership predicting as soon as someone else is free to do it!

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posted by Oz @ 9:49 PM   0 Comments