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!
posted by Oz @ 9:49 PM
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