Thanks Emile : Now let's give Carlton a chance
Imagine Cristiano Ronaldo playing for Brighton & Hove Albion. He'd just get in the way.
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Rooney
The underrated players of the Barclays Premier League
The Barclays Premier league has some of the most recognised and superstar names of the modern game. Rooney, Torres, Robinho, Drogba, Terry to name but a few. It is often these players that get the adoration of the press, often lifted up on high after a match winning performance or a goal out of nothing.The thing that I always found as a amateur player was a brilliant performance can often go unrecognised if it was just a case of performing your role perfectly. The guy who broke up play to create the chance is forgotton for the man who tucked it away from the edge of the box. This pattern is true throughout the game with most of the big teams having players who are crucial to their team, but who often miss out on the adoration of the media and most fans.I am not saying forget the guy who scores the goal, but just to take a step back when thinking about your favourite players.Here are a few names I think don't get the credit they deserve;Darren Fletcher, Manchester United
An excellent footballer who is now in pole position to be the leader of United's midfield. He was the player they missed most in the UEFA Champions League final to break up Barcelona and turn defence into attack. He is an intelligent player who takes up some great positions, he runs all day, can pick a pass and is also cabable of big goals. I expect him to grow into a permanent fixture for United over the next couple of years and hopefully step more into people's attention.
Jussi Jääskeläinen, Bolton wanderers
A goalkeeper always left out of the 'best in the league' debate. A consistent performer (he has been at Bolton for 12 years), great shot-stopper and a player that if it were not for the team he plays for would be right up there and considered one of the greats. A goalkeeper is a harsh position - all glory or despair - but for his consistency over such a long period of time should be commended.Gareth Barry, Manchester CityA strange choice maybe considering he is an established England international and has recently made a multi-million pound move to Manchester City. However, the fact that Barry moved for the same price as Michael Turner from Hull City is a joke. He would have added to any of the top four teams and provides great balance to a side, especially one looking to attack. Reliable, able to set the pace of a game and comfortable with the ball at his feet - and a great penalty taker. I think Rafa might end up regretting this one.
Phil Neville, EvertonOkay, so I am shooting myself in the foot here (think Romania in UEFA Euro 2000), but it should be acknowledged that Phil Neville made his debut for Manchester United 15 years ago, has 59 England caps and is still captain of a top Barclays Premier League team. Disciplined, professional and a great leader for the Toffees.
Bobby Zamora, Fulham FCThis is not a pure sign of loyalty to Brighton & Hove Albion (Zamora scored 76 goals in 126 appearances) but Zamora is a player in my opinion. Okay, he does not bang the goals in but his strength and hold up play can make the difference. At West Ham United he showed glimpses of his ability (playoffs 2004/2005 season;) and Fulham could really benefit from sticking by him this summer. He is strong, and when confident a brilliant finisher, I expect more people to be talking about him come the end of the season
An excellent footballer who is now in pole position to be the leader of United's midfield. He was the player they missed most in the UEFA Champions League final to break up Barcelona and turn defence into attack. He is an intelligent player who takes up some great positions, he runs all day, can pick a pass and is also cabable of big goals. I expect him to grow into a permanent fixture for United over the next couple of years and hopefully step more into people's attention.
Jussi Jääskeläinen, Bolton wanderers
A goalkeeper always left out of the 'best in the league' debate. A consistent performer (he has been at Bolton for 12 years), great shot-stopper and a player that if it were not for the team he plays for would be right up there and considered one of the greats. A goalkeeper is a harsh position - all glory or despair - but for his consistency over such a long period of time should be commended.Gareth Barry, Manchester CityA strange choice maybe considering he is an established England international and has recently made a multi-million pound move to Manchester City. However, the fact that Barry moved for the same price as Michael Turner from Hull City is a joke. He would have added to any of the top four teams and provides great balance to a side, especially one looking to attack. Reliable, able to set the pace of a game and comfortable with the ball at his feet - and a great penalty taker. I think Rafa might end up regretting this one.
Phil Neville, EvertonOkay, so I am shooting myself in the foot here (think Romania in UEFA Euro 2000), but it should be acknowledged that Phil Neville made his debut for Manchester United 15 years ago, has 59 England caps and is still captain of a top Barclays Premier League team. Disciplined, professional and a great leader for the Toffees.
Bobby Zamora, Fulham FCThis is not a pure sign of loyalty to Brighton & Hove Albion (Zamora scored 76 goals in 126 appearances) but Zamora is a player in my opinion. Okay, he does not bang the goals in but his strength and hold up play can make the difference. At West Ham United he showed glimpses of his ability (playoffs 2004/2005 season;) and Fulham could really benefit from sticking by him this summer. He is strong, and when confident a brilliant finisher, I expect more people to be talking about him come the end of the season
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Michael Owen: Has Fergie lost his marbles?
Manchester United are on the verge of signing Michael Owen on a free transfer from Newcastle United.
Just weeks after announcing that they would only sign young talent, Sir Alex seems set to take a gamble on Owen. Has he lost his marbles?
Yes this is the player who has a record of 40 goals from 89 England caps - but he is also the player who was dropped last season by manager Alan Shearer (and even by caretaker boss Chris Hughton) when his team were desperate for goals. He has only managed about 30 odd appearances a season across the last two years and was even rumoured to be looking at retirement.
His career seemed to be set for bit of a nose-dive, his advisors sent out a glossy brochure of his talents and marketing appeal but only a potential offer of a 'dream' move to Hull City or Stoke materialised - hardly what Michael is used to from his days with Liverpool and Madrid.
Yet out of nowhere come the reports that he is to undergo a medical at Manchester United. Now Fergie is obviously confident in Owen's mentality and believes that if he can get the boy fit then he will guarantee goals. But it is very unlike Ferguson to sign injury prone players. Only once before has he taken such a gamble with the signing of Owen Hargreaves......who is currently out for 24 months undergoing a leg replacement operation.
It seems like a huge risk, and is one that not even Blackburn Rovers are willing to take.
However, I can see the logic. When you look at what Ferguson has lost from Ronaldo - Pace, width and goals - he needs to reshape his squad. Ideally he wanted Ribery and Benzema but it seems that no French players are allowed to sign for anybody other than Real Madrid since Zidane was appointed chief scout. That has meant that Fergie needs to get creative in the market.
The recent signing of Valencia will provide the pace and the width on the right flank, but the Equadorian is unlikely to reach double figures on the scoresheet. The massive hole for United to try and fill comes from the goals Ronaldo brought to the team. Okay, Wayne Rooney is an unbelievable talent but he is not a goalscorer. Not of the type that United's success has been built on. He is not a Cole, Yorke, Van Nistelrooy or Ronaldo. United need goals, and Ferguson obviously sees Owen as the answer.
If Owen stays fit for the season he will easily score goals at United. He will have two great incentives, one will be the obvious clause related contract he will be on, and the other will be the FIFA World Cup. If he plays well for United, scores goals and builds an effective partnership with Rooney then Capello will not ignore him, and maybe he can repeat his epic performance from 1998.
Only time will tell if Fergie has lost his marbles, but I have a feeling he likes the odds of this bet..
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The real fan, the real loser
The RMT strike that has effected London's Underground network yesterday/today/tomorrow has created a knock-on to the poor old real fan. England are playing their final FIFA World Cup Qualifier tonight against Andorra at the £850M planned and 8th wonder of the world Wembley Stadium, and with the transport issues not only will the FA lose more than £1M, but the real fan will be the one losing out.
It is still a tough ask to get a ticket to an England match, especially the big ones that come along. Andorra at home gave a opportunity for kids who might never get to a competitive England game to go with their families and experience an England game live, without there being 55 substitutions.
I remember as a lad going to Wembley to watch England play, it was always a real treat, something special and amazing - the home of football, where we won the World Cup - and even though I have never experienced England actually winning anything those early memories have always been the foundation to my passion for football. Across the country today families will be accepting the bullet - and killing kids dreams - by getting a refund from the FA and giving up the chance to see Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard and Co. All this because a small % of Union Officials are not fully satisfied and have a threat of redundancies - imagine if this approach was taken by everyone, the country, the world would fully shutdown.
It is great that the FA are refunding tickets, but I don't understand the set-up. So the tubes are down, but the trains are not even stopping at Wembley tonight, there are no extra bus services or parking options. I understand that they want to make a protest, but surely they can see that they are hurting the general punter, not the Government.
I am still going to go, and will have to walk, bus, train, walk to get there to cheer on the 3 Lions - ill be amazed if there are more than 30,000 there, but want to be there and not let these few take it away from me. I just think it is a real shame that this is going to have such an impact on the future England fans.
Just imagine if they pull this again during the Summer of 2012......
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