We Should Be Used To This By Now?

There are a number of “silly seasons” in English football. Typically these come around when there isn’t much football being played or when we get to significant decision points in the season (end of season run in, transfer windows, England playing etc.)

Well this week has seen two of these silly events occur, creating almost a perfect storm of ridiculousness. The first, the sacking of Martin O’Neil by Sunderland and the second, the debacle surrounding the selection/non-selection of Rio Ferdinand for England and the subsequent venting of frustration by England’s loyal followers.

Let’s take the O’Neil sacking first. The legendary Irishman hasn’t had the best of tenure’s with Sunderland I’ll be the first to admit. Getting sacked though after the home defeat by ManYoo on the 30th of March is nothing more than the symptom of sheer blind panic by a clearly clueless Sunderland board that are scared to death of relegation. Granted, the problem is probably caused by next seasons record breaking £3 billion Sky deal. The deal reportedly giving the bottom club next season an estimated £65 million (that’s £5 million more than Man City got for wining the 2012 title!) The reason therefore is the fear of not being part of that, but sacking arguably one of the best managers in the country surely isn’t the solution?

If you examine the improbable task of the new appointment (someone who must already have an offer as he is due in the next few days) it makes the decision to sack O’Neil even more difficult to understand. They have 7 games to play, the next 2 away (to Premiership high flyers Chelsea & the small matter of a rabid North East derby against Newcastle). What chance is there for a new manager to get his feet under the table? If as expected Sunderland return the expected zero points from these 2 games then that leaves 5 for the new messiah to turn it around. I’m sorry Mackems but there is only 1 phrase that springs to mind “No chance!”

Thereafter, the future looks decidedly Wolvesesque. A massive wage bill that the Championship can’t support and the spiralling date with oblivion that Leicester, Forest, Leeds, Norwich, Portsmouth & Southampton can all attest to. Unfortunately at least one of those clubs is probably gone forever. I hope this massively badly thought out reaction to getting beat by the Champions elect doesn’t see the end of one of this country’s best supported and greatest clubs? I sincerely hope Ellis Short(minded) sleeps well tonight. I know the thousands of dedicated and loyal Black Cats won’t.

Now onto the Ferdinand debacle. Hodgson recalls the forgotten hero(?) due to his Premiership form despite his legs leaving him at least a season ago. Alright, I suppose you can’t really argue with that alone, but what follows is borderline implausible.

Firstly, Rio says he can’t now turn out for our beloved country due to his training regime. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but unless Mr Ferdinand needs physically to train in Manchester (and nowhere else) then this shouldn’t be a factor in any decision making process. It is clear that the FA has the best facilities in world football, so to say that he can’t train with the team is an insult. Furthermore, what regime can’t be replicated anywhere else? I suspect that this excuse is somewhat connected a nice, warm commentary gig in Qatar? Sir Alex said “he had 3 days off so why not?” SO WHY NOT???? Well clearly he only had 3 days off because he wasn’t playing for the 3 Lions in the first place. Ridiculous!

As if this debacle wasn’t enough there’s more during the actual San Marino game itself. England fans, who as always have paid a considerable amount of their “not £115k a week wages” to follow the national team are entitled to watch the best players, regardless of the opposition. So, they vent their frustration by singing some unsavoury songs (relating to the stacking of the Brothers Ferdinand upon a stack of kindling and chucking a match upon the pile). Not a very pleasant song I’ll agree (and I believe all antagonistic chants should be removed from the game) however, certainly not racist!

When I turned on the radio the morning after the game and heard that the FA was investigating alleged racist chanting I was gob smacked. The song is actually about a white Yorkshire man (one Guy Fawkes) and has been sung in playgrounds for years. Forest fans sing this song almost every week substituting the names of the Ferdinands for the teams of Derby County and Leicester City. Is this racist? No. Apparently the song has under tones of the deep South in the US (lynching’s and burning’s during the era of the KKK) but I’m sure that if this was sung nobody was singing about burning slaves? In fact, I doubt many would know where Mississippi is? What if the recipients of the chants were Lampard and Gerrard? Would this be racist? Nasty? Yes. Racist? No.

What really rankles is the fact that English players can have monkey chants etc. aimed at them during every game in Eastern Europe and that gets a “rap on the knuckles” from UEFA? As usual the self-flagellating English need a reason to unjustifiably beat themselves up again.

Racism is wrong. It needs to be stopped but it can only be stopped when there is something to be stopped.

Sacking managers in the way it happens today is also wrong and part of me hopes that the Sunderland board pays the penalty. The irony of all of this is that it is reported that Steve McClaren will be the Black Cats new boss. That’s relegation guaranteed then!

Still, like I said upfront, we should be used to all of this by now. So, someone tell me why I’m not then?

Better than Building a Ship?

12 months ago a deluded Scotsman (fired by the reflection of a legend in the mirror) paid a king's ransom for the cousin of a prince (twice removed). Quite what King Kenny saw in the yobbish Andrew Carroll remains a mystery to all but Kenny himself. It could not have been for his undeniable aerial power, for this simply isn't the way the Red half of Merseyside conducts their footballing business. Besides, from whence were the crosses to originate? Stuart Downing? Err, no. Maybe it was the sylph like fluidity of his dancing feet and superior close control? Maybe, but that part of young Andy's game remained at home on The Toon when Andrew left for the golden paved streets of Scouseland. In short, he would have difficulty controlling his bladder. Of course, we must consider his cutting wit and dressing room motivational speeches, an unrivalled skill than can propel a mediocre team to the lofty heights of success. Why aye man. So why then? Perhaps we seek the answer in the wrong place? Maybe the King did not devise this cunning plan after all? Perhaps it originated in an all together different place? Mr Carroll himself? Consider for a minute Andrew's prospects. Sit around a 2nd rate team for a few years trying to be as good as the legendary Alan, win nothing, ultimately fail gloriously and then to spend the rest of eternity touring the Gateshead after dinner circuit. Not a very promising prospect for a decidedly average geordie. But wait, The King is interested and wants to give him 80 grand a week. He won't even have to earn it, as by the time he's fit everyone will have worked out he's not very good thus preventing him from being picked any further. Finally, a return home, on the same wage, to play in an average team where he won't be recognised for being talentless, scoring the odd goal or 2 in front of an adulating public. Who's the talentless fool? I think Liverpool may have already realised that?

The Destruction of our Heritage

How much?

That is the question the multi-billion dollar laden Sheikhs, Oligarks & Air Con manufacturers ask when enquiring about our precious football clubs.

Not, “how many fans do you have?”

Not, “is your support loyal?”

Not, “what are your season ticket sales like?”

Not, “Do you remember when Francis scored that goal?”

Not, “Do  you remember driving back from somewhere on that nasty Tuesday night?”

For some this is alright. I’m sure there aren’t too many Citeh/Chelski/ManYoo fans who would argue? But for every smiling Manc there’s a desperate Pompey fan.

You see, it can go 2 ways. Either the lauding of a myriad of super stars who go on to achieve greatness, silverware and the plaudits of many (let’s be honest, 2012 was the best end to a football season ever), or, the other way. The way of “cut and run” and leave our beloved club in the mire after a year or 2 flagrant disinterest.

Some have fallen by the wayside during the renaissance of English football, promised the riches of the Premiership only to find that their benefactor has been arrested or worse, disappeared completely. I’m sure Birmingham City celebs queued up to buy tickets when Tai Kwon Doe took over? Premiership result, err, no!

Pompey fans, blissfully cacooned in the anesthetic euphoria of terminal stupidity, thought the 2nd time round would be different? Err, no!

Ask a Blackburn fan if they are happy? Liverpool? Rangers? The list goes on.

But the reasons this happens are simple, they just don’t care. About our club, about the football or about us, and therefore once they become bored or disinterested they pack their Ambre Solaire and head off to Monaco for a car race. 

The saving grace thus far has been that a minority have succeeded (as mentioned above) but no “big club” has failed. Sure, I feel the pain of Pompey etc but these are not iconic English clubs. No one has taken on one of the sleeping giants, until now. Nottingham Forest have been bought by the Al Hasawi family. Promises of an iconic manager have already been broken. The massive transfer kitty seems to top no more than £8m (by all accounts) and unless the youth team turns up for training at the same time there aren’t enough players for a quick 5-a-side!

Maybe I’m jumping the gun? Maybe this is the start of a meteoric rise back to our rightful place? But the warning signs are already there and the death of another English club would be too hard to bare, particularly mine.

Please Fawaz & Omar, consider us locals, consider our history, but most importantly consider long and hard before you walk away and leave us!!

Is Chinese Grass Greener?

Didier Drobga was unrevealed today as the latest capture by Shanghai Shenhua, to play alongside former blue Nicolas Anelka.

His interview itself was very interesting: 

Quote 1 - "I'm not moving for the money"

Reports have estimated his weekly salary at £200,000 a week which is a substantial amount for a man from the slums of Abidjan who at 34 is reaching the end of his career.

Quote 2- "I'm moving for the challenge"

Really? A challenge would be playing at the top level in a top league. He wasn't exactly lightening up Ligue 1 whilst at Marseille when Chelsea brought him to England. Rumours were that the two Milan clubs were interested as were Seria A champs Juventus. 

Moving to China is risk...but can it be considered a calculated risk? Anelka went, and after initial injuries become a belated part of the management team and was then involved in altercations with fans and as recently as 7 June wanted to return to England. He found that the grass wasn't greener.

China's football is on the rise admittedly with attendances at their highest and investment from local and international quarters significantly higher than the leagues rebranding in 2004. However the national team has seen failure to qualify for the previous 2 world cups as well as two awful performances in the last 2 Asian Cups.

Are Chinese clubs masking their country's poor showing by investing in foreign players?

Drogba has gone to sell shirts, and boost revenue and interest of neutral sports fans. A superstar playing football in china can only have a positive effect on the attendances of the national team. I feel though that this is a safe decision and probably not the last we see of both 'Le Drog' and 'Le Sulk'.

A Tainted Victory?

Chelsea's dramatic penalty shoot-out win in the Allianz Arena was the 4th time since the tournament's rebranding in 1993 that the lottery of penalties decide the outcome. 

Each of those games with exception of the 2003 bore draw between Juventus and AC Milan have featured a definitive example of a team trying to win a football match. Chelsea on the other hand - did not.

In 1996 Juventus and Ajax played out a thrilling draw that pitted Dutch attacking flair against (surprisingly) an attack minded Italian side.

2005 saw arguably the greatest football match for the last 25 years with the 'Miracle of Istanbul'. Liverpool after a poor start, and a lesson in football from Carlo Ancelloti's AC Milan had to come out and throw caution to wind. Against Bayern Munich however Chelsea seemed reluctant to play in the opposition half through fear of losing possession and being punished on the counter.

"A heroic defensive effort" hailed 'The Sun'. The daily mirror championed Chelsea's warrior like defending.

However I put to you this: If a Spanish team or an Italian team played in such a manner I can guarantee the headlines would read 'Anti-Football' 'Boring' 'A victory for non-football'. Yet when an English side do it, the media hypocrisy begins. It seems we are reluctant to accept that a method of play from outside of the British Isles can be proven successful and transferred to our top teams. Chelsea's victory was a defensive performance, did they deserve to win? Not at all. Bayern has more possession, played more attractive football and didn't smash the ball into channels for Didier Drogba to chase for 120 minutes? But thats football - the best team doesn't always win, I just hope that fans realise this instead of hiding behind cliches coined by media writers.

Well done to Mr Abramovich - for the money you've pumped in you deserved something more substantial than a few FA Cups and League Titles. However I feel that such a robotic and structured defensive effort should be accepted for what it was - a continental attempt to stop the opposition from playing. And that when such a performance happens against an English side, it should be applauded and respected also.

The End of the Number 9

Following Spain's successful (and straightforward) defence of their European title, the main talking point was the lack of a recognised striker for 5 of their 6 games. Do teams need a focal point as a means to attack?

20 years ago the question in this Country would have been 'of course', and phrases such as 'leading the line' and 'hit the big man' would be as frequent as a Spaniard in possession!

This years Euro's saw a lot of teams come away from this stereotype and looked to play less direct and more to feet, with attacking force coming from off the ball movement and quick ball movement. A new theory has evolved - the 4-6-0 - attack with 6 men going forwards and when the ball breaks down the same 6 defend as a unit and press the ball in high areas. Rather than a lumbering front man chasing shadows, the opposition has less time on the ball and potential options are cut off - thus a change in possession.

England's over reliance on diagonal balls to the fleet footed yet aerially weak Danny Welbeck caused their downfall. This was only compounded with the introduction of Andy Carroll, and against Italy the reluctance to hold onto the ball lead to a masterclass in possession football by Pirlo + co.

The Dutch dilemma of which 'number 9' to play (Huntelaar or RVP) resulted in an arial assault which Kjaer and Agger, Hummels and Badstuber, and Alves and Pepe lapped up. Goals against Denmark + Portugal were conceded from the inability to protect the ball in the final third. The one front man lost his uphill battle against 2 centre halves.

Spain have broken the mould yet again...and their demolition of Italy demonstrated movement and work rate not seen since the 1970 Brazil team.

Up For Sale?

Following the recent takeovers of Nottingham Forest and Watford, the number of foreign owners in the Championship alone has rose to 6. From Sheikhs to Italians, from Americans to Malaysians the allure of Championship clubs is more prominent than ever. But why? With average attendances only bettered by leading leagues in Spain, Italy and Germany (and the EPL) the Championship is well watched and well followed. The fan base is there, as are stadiums and player ability and perhaps that extra financial clout can be the difference between a late promotion push or a belated top 6 finish.  The long term aim is to reach the promised land of the Premier League, however if unsuccessful, will owners be as quick to pull the plug - thus shattering dreams and optimism of loyal fans. James, a season ticket holder at Vicarage Road echoes this scepticism. "If we go up, then the owners will be the best thing since sliced bread, however if the upcoming season is unsuccessful then we could be without funding and ridden with debts - just look at Portsmouth!" So the question is, are businessmen literally 'playing' with the fortunes of historic establishments, all for their own financial gain? They are in a 'win-win': if success is achieved then great, well done the owners. However in the event of failure and possible negative media - owners can walk away and take solace in their billions and luxury yachts. A businessman's playground then.