The Beautiful Game

Last night Thierry Henry won the tie for France by gaining an advantage and using his hand to keep the ball in play. Nine times out of ten the referee would see it, award a free-kick and Henry a yellow card. However, last night the referee and assistant missed the key moment and the cat calls from the media this morning have been that Henry is a disgrace and a cheat and should be thrown out of the Finals.

Let's not forget this is the same player who graced the Barclays Premier League and earnt the respect of fans, media and players across England.

Personally, I do not think that Henry is the real cheat - sure he gained an advantage but you can think of hundreds of examples where players instincts have taken over and they have gained an advantage. Think Michael Owen in France '98, think about any Goalkeeper coming off their line on a penalty, think of anytime you may have been the one trying to clear the ball off the line. It happens all the time, sure this was a big moment with World cup Qualification at stake, but I do not believe that any player in that scenario would stop his nation celebrating and announce that he had touched the ball with his hand. That is the referee's job, not the player.

For me the real shame here is that this tie even happened. The Republic of Ireland had an amazing qualification and were easily on a par with France on their qualification performance. The fact that Platini and Blatter created the seeding for these play-offs is the real cheating, it created a bias towards the bigger teams of France and Portugal - and stars such as Henry and Ronaldo - and was not in place until they realised which teams were in the Play-offs and the prospect of France v Portugal.

The Republic played great last night, but instead of looking at Henry as the cheat I think there is another Frenchman who should take the real blame.

Loading mentions Retweet

Ever been tempted to change you fantasy football team on the eve of a big weekend? Certain that Stevie G is due a big match and feeling like Lampard is struggling in the new diamond formation under Ancelotti?

More often then not I look back gutted as the player I put in failed to deliver and the guy subbed out, well he ends up having the game of his life.

Usually this is based on my gut instinct - and I am sure that others who dabble in fantasy football, or even betting do the same - make a call based on instinct or what the chap on BBC Sport is saying.  Even when going down the pub I always want to look out for, and be armed with that killer shout and prediction for the match. I love being right, and especially when it comes to football.

Through Twitter I picked up a notification about the Castrol Rankings, and think I may have found my answer to my friday dilemma. Is Gerrard in form? Should I pick Gareth Barry? Or who is going to make the difference in the UEFA Champions League next week? You can compare players, look up form over the season and also read up on some interesting predictions based on stats and facts (interestingly they even support one of my previous blogs about Manchester City).

Apart from the site being grey - its a pretty interesting resource and if like me you like to tinker with your fantasy team, or look out for that prediction before the game then well worth checking out.. www.castrolfootball.com

Loading mentions Retweet

Poor old Gareth Southgate. He got crucified pretty much week in, week out last season as Boro got relegated from the Barclays Premier League. The media were after him, his players were moaning and the crowds were gutted to be losing their place in the North East elite (made only slightly better by the fact Newcastle were also relegated).

However, there was one bright shining light for Southgate. It was not all doom and gloom. His chairman and champion Steve Gibson was going to back him to bring the young squad back to the top level of English Football. Southgate was determined and spent the summer earning the club cash by selling the likes of Downing and Huth but consolidating his squad and setting his ambitions for the season ahead. If one thing can be said of Middlesbrough they have a great local spirit and have always had loyalty in their managers.

It had been a bit of an up-and-down start to the campaign. A couple of miserable home defeats were alongside some decent away performances and after beating Derby County 2-0 on Tuesday Southgate's team were sitting pretty in fourth place in the league looking in good shape in what will always be an erratic league. Then came the axe. Game over for Gareth Southgate.

It just does not make any sense to me. I could understand it if he was Roy Keane at Ipswich and his team was still looking for their first win, but in team playing pretty well overall and up near the top-end of the league?

If you were going to sack him, why not do it after the team had been relegated? A new manager will not be able to buy any players till January and will take crucial time to get to know his players and how to get the best out of them. I can't say I am the biggest fan of Southgate but I can't help but feel like he has been merked by Steve Gibson.

Loading mentions Retweet

As the qualification process winds down and more and more countries learn their fate ahead of the World Cup draw in Durban on December 4^th – a true nightmare is potentially going to happen for FIFA.

We are not talking about riots, or issues with South Africa’s infrastructure – we are talking about the potential for the two best players on the planet not being present next summer. That very outcome is hanging over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Not only is this a massive issue for FIFA’s PR and Marketing team, but it is also a massive blow to all those who love the game.

Firstly, Ronaldo’s Portugal have struggled throughout their Qualification Group and look like sneaking into the Play-offs at the expense of Sweden. However, that will mean immense pressure and some very strong teams in the Play-offs - potentially the winker might not get the chance to play on the greatest stage of all when in the form of his life. He may be arrogant, he may fall to the ground easily but he is an amazing talent, and the most expensive footballer in history. Although Portugal have knocked out England in recent times, I would love to see Ronaldo lighting up the tournament, at least up until the Quarter Finals.

Secondly, the shambles that is the management style of Diego Maradona looks likely to condemn Argentina to miss their first FIFA World Cup in 39 years. Late, late, late in to Saturday night a last minute goal by the 57 year old striker Martin Palermo (okay, 35) meant Argentina scraped a victory against Peru (the same Peru team that had played eight games, lost them all, scored two goals and conceded 24). They now have to look to their final match away against Uruguay and hope results go their way to clinch the last Qualification spot or even the South American Play-Off place. Maradona has used a staggering 70-something players during Qualification and by no means is he left with an easy fixture as Uruguay have a phenomenal record at Montevideo.

He seems to make impulsive decisions before and during matches. If Messi ends up missing the 2010 FIFA World Cup, not only will Adidas be smarting (he is their lead global athlete) but the tournament will feel like something is missing – now imagine if both were to miss out.

What this could mean is a real shift in the perception of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Usually a tournament is talked about through the players. The Ronaldo World Cup of 2002, the Baggio World Cup of 1994, Pele 1958, Maradona 1986.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup could change that and move from superstar flair players, to organised and combative teams – working together towards the common goal. Victory.

 This will give the likes of Germany and excellent chance in South Africa, and also should see Brazil do well as Dunga has evolved a team of eleven isolated players in 2006 into a physical and powerful unit, with a hint of flair.

I can’t wait for next summer, but I just hope that come December 4^th Portugal and Argentina are in the hat and we avoid a FIFA World Cup being remembered as per Euro 2004 – the Greek Tragedy.

Loading mentions Retweet

Last night at about 8:07PM I was able to begin to wipe from my mind the memory of the last time I saw Croatia play at Wembley on that dark, wet and miserable night back in 2007 when England were eliminated from qualification for UEFA Euro 2008. As Frank Lampard stepped up to convert the penalty it felt like it was going to be a great night. The team playing well, keeping the ball, creating chances and scoring goals - but there was one element which I was getting a bit stuck on. Good old Emile Heskey.

Before the game I was fully bought in to starting Heskey over Defoe. Sure Defoe has been on fire for Spurs so far this season, but the England team look so much more balanced and get the best from Rooney and Gerrard when there is a big guy who can hold the ball up. However, the two chances that Heskey missed in the first half are ones that I am confident Harry Redknapp's wife could of scored - and if we have designs on winning the FIFA World Cup then we need two strikers who can offer a goal threat.

He is great at doing his job, has pretty good movement and makes Rooney play well - but I think that now we have the luxury of secured qualification Fabio Capello should turn to Carlton Cole. We know Heskey can do the job well. However, could Cole offer the complete package that as well as the hard graft and link play delivers an eye for goal?

It stunned me to find this from the Daily Mail;

Cole is easily the best option to replace Heskey.

I believe that he should start, and finish, both of the remaining competitive FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifiers. There are 9 months for the team to be developed and refined and you could argue that with a fully fit crop of players only the right midfield and partner for Rooney are the ones that do not pick themselves (assuming David James is fit and playing well). Lennon deserves a run in the team - and he should get that after his MoM last night - but if we do not give Carlton Cole the minutes on the pitch we will never know and then what happens if Heskey gets injured in the first match?

Come on Carlton, don't let me down

Loading mentions Retweet

We all know that there is previous between England and France. It started a long time ago and still seems to rumble on. With Michel Platini's surge to power at UEFA it seems as though each season there is something new to talk about that demonstrates his passion against the success of the Barclays Premier League.

Right now it is the amazing decision against Chelsea that will stop them buying any new players till 2011. The punishment was dealt out by FIFA after the club was found guilty of getting a young winger, Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

Since achieving UEFA Presidency in 2007 Platini has tried to launch, and shared an official opinion on a number of new ideas and innovations to the game. However, to me it seems that often these are born out of Platini trying to fight the dominance of the English game in Europe.

The vast TV Rights money, huge transfer fees, foreign ownership and clubs mounting debts has created an aura of negativity across Europe against the Barclays Premier League, and the Chelsea ruling seems to be the latest battle. I am sure that this kind of thing has gone on in football for decades and all the top teams from all the top leagues must be guilty of it. I am not saying that I agree with it, and think it is very harsh to punish the young player as well as the club, it is just that it always seems that English teams suffer most.

I grew up watching Italian, Spanish and English football and Eduardo's 8.0 against Celtic looked like a cruncher compared to other examples I have seen throughout European football. Yet it is Arsenal who suffer the ban. It would not surprise me if the paper talk is proved right and Manchester United are the next team to suffer the same kind of ruling as Chelsea, then probably Manchester City. With these two incidents the authorities have set the precedent, and they now have to enforce them each time - I can't wait to see what happens the next time there is a dodgy penalty award against Arsenal.

Platini has recently backed the 6+5 idea (six home international players and five foreign players) to be introduced in top flight team in Europe. Platini has also backed caps on wages and transfer spending - and all foreign ownership of clubs. He has stated that he wants to cut the number of Italian, Spanish and English teams in the UEFA Champions League to a maximum of three instead of four and has also talked about banning clubs from European competition based on the debts of the clubs. All are valid ideas, but it seems that English clubs will get hit the hardest.

Too much money, not enough home-grown talent, clubs built on debt and foreign ownership, money taking over the game, players running clubs. These are Platini's view of the English game and he seems set to try and disrupt it.

I love the Barclay's Premier League, and it is so great because of the big business it has become and I have enjoyed English clubs having success in Europe (and the benefits this seems to be having on the national side) and hope that an English team can lift the UEFA Champions League trophy in Madrid in May and see Platini grit his teeth and applaud.

Sod it, I even wouldn't mind if it's Chelsea.

Loading mentions Retweet

So Liverpool are out of the title race. Spurs are going to win the league and Everton are going to get relegated.

Well that is the story of the Barclays Premier League table if you look at it today. The first three matches have been played and there have been more than a few shocks. Manchester City look a tight unit, Burnley are world beaters and Michael Owen has forgotten where the goal is.

However, that is the classic knee-jerk reaction that some Fantasy Football managers would adopt when they pick Abou Diaby from Arsenal because he scored two against Portsmouth at the weekend (he only scored 4 goals in 36 matches in 2008/2009). The football season throws up numerous shocks at the start, players gaining fitness and learning to play new systems and with new team-mates. Just think about Hull last season in the Barclays Premier League.

What I think is the interesting thing this year is that the difference between the top teams and the rest of the division is becoming less, and the competitiveness of the 'mid-table' Barclays Premier League teams is growing each season. The TV cash and sponsorship is still growing the game at the elite level and will continue to do so as brands invest more in players and passions (of which football is one of the greatest) and broadcasters pin more and more of their strategy on top tier live rights.

But for me the big change has come with the power shift to Spain's La Liga as Manchester United and Liverpool have lost two key players to that league and although Chelsea are still strong (and I believe will be Champions) they have not been able to strengthen as more and more players choose La Liga over the Barclays Premier League. Meanwhile, Manchester City have eaten away at the Arsenal Squad with the signings of Adebayor and Toure.

With the Big Four not being able to strengthen as much as they would like, and emerging teams like Spurs, Sunderland, Aston Villa and Manchester City all spending big I expect more of the Big Four to lose games.

I still believe that the usual suspects will be there or thereabouts come May, with maybe Manchester City crashing the party, but I can see the required points total for the champions being lower than recent seasons and more teams taking points off the Big Four, I think the United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool will each lose 4-5 games. I might even be so bold as to say within a couple of seasons it will be more a Super Seven...  

Loading mentions Retweet

For the last few weeks there has been endless speculation about the coming season. Will Manchester United suffer without Tevez and Ronaldo? Can Burnley continue to beat Barclays Premier League opponents as they did in last seasons Carling Cup? Will Carlo Ancelotti unite the Chelsea millionaires?!

Almost daily there have been predictions on what the final outcome will be come May, and following the flurry of interest that surrounds Fantasy Football League selections it felt that I should also host my own prediction. So here goes..

Champions: Chelsea. Without losing any key squad members and the momentum from the back end of last season when all seemed lost I can see Chelsea winning back the title. In Terry, Lampard and Anelka they have a strong core and additions of Zhirkov and Sturridge will add an extra dimension to their attack. Solid, consistent and a winner at the helm. Think United will push them close but it's Chelsea for me.

Champions League: Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City. The City prediction is a bold one, and fully dependant on their start. They have lots of goals in them, Barry and Toure are great signings and if Hughes can sign one transfer window central defender they have a strong squad. A lot depends on the first few games. If they get a good start and get confident and the pressure eases then its game on and think they can break the top four.

Surprise Package: Sunderland. I think Steve Bruce has bought well and Kenwyne Jones, Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent will score goals - Lee Catermole is also one step and learning to control his agression away from a senior England place. Bruce has a great knowledge of South American football and da Silva could prove the difference to his defence. I see them causing a few upsets and going close in both the domestic cups.

Relegation: Hull City, Portsmouth and Birmingham. Poor old Pompy, too many good players have left and unless they get loads of cash in January they are going to be in trouble. Think even by then it could be too much for them. Hull showed great spirit last season but by the turn teams had found them out, and sadly for Phil Brown that will continue and the new boys in town will push on and survive. Well, that said apart from Birmingham. I just dont see them having the firepower to stay up. It will be close but think they will always be there or thereabouts and get sucked in towards the end of the season.

Loading mentions Retweet