Author: Liam_Richner

As the domestic season drew to a close; attention now turns to the two international fixtures celebrating the FAs 125^th Anniversary starting with a game against the Republic of Ireland at Wembley tonight, followed by a trip to Brazil on Sunday.

Ashley Cole will captain the side tonight under the Wembley arch, after achieving 100 caps for the three lions. There have been rumours that Cole will only walk the side out, and Frank Lampard would then take on the famous England armband, however England have confirmed that Cole will captain the side for the duration of the game. The manager has called for supporters to respect the Irish fans by chanting appropriately in support of the team and nothing against the travelling fans. This will be the first time the two nations have met since 1995.

Following this match, the team then head towards South America, to take on the most successful nation in world football, Brazil. The English defence will have to deal with Neymar, who last week completed a move to Spanish giants Barcelona for a rumoured £30m. Along with Neymar, England will have to deal with a resurgent Ronaldinho, who has been in top form and perhaps back to his best since returning to his native Brazil.

England will face two very stern tests as they celebrate the FAs’ Anniversary but these two fixtures should provide entertainment and excitement for the fans watching the games either at the stadiums or on their Televisions.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez’s future is still in doubt after the Spaniard will not announce his plans until next week, but where is he most likely to go, and what he will have to do to be successful there? I have decided the 3 clubs that I believe are his most likely destinations, come the start of next season…

Wigan Athletic

If Martinez is to stay at the Latics, then it will be a new adventure for both him and a majority of the Wigan team as they compete in the Europa League for the first time in their history. There are no other vacancies that Martinez is linked with which offer European football. His relationship with Chairman Dave Whelan is one that is very strong and it will be very difficult to break the bond between these two.

However, a tough Championship campaign next year will make his job tougher, the bigger players will want to move on to bigger clubs in the Premier League if an offer comes in, and in contrast to previous seasons in which the Wigan boss has been linked with more established Premiership clubs, the chance to return to the top flight would be much harder to turn down.

Everton

Everton are perhaps the biggest club that are possibly after Roberto. They have just completed a magnificent final campaign under David Moyes- who leaves to take over at Manchester United. Everton have a team full of character- much like Wigan, and Martinez man management skills will benefit the team from Merseyside. If Roberto can create a relationship to Bill Kenwright similarly to Dave Whelan, then he could be in the Goodison Park dugout for a long time.

Problems that would face Martinez is the fact Everton don’t have the biggest budget and perhaps his eyes in the transfer market and finding affordable talent isn’t his strongest point as a manager. Martinez will also have to keep hold of star players such as Maraoune Fellani and Leighton Baines.

Stoke City

After the dismissal of Tony Pulis earlier in the week, Stoke will be looking for a manager to bring in fresh ideas to the club and perhaps a change in philosophy, something which Martinez can bring to the table. He may be able to transform a team famous for its physicality to perhaps one that likes to play it along the floor.

That won’t be an easy transition though, it will take time for the set of stoke players to adapt- hence a major set of transfers may be required. Stoke will be a challenge to keep in the Premier divison next year whoever maybe in charge, and if Stoke want stability- perhaps Martinez isn’t a manager to take the chance on.

In the end, I personally think Martinez will remain Wigan boss next season; I’m sure the Spaniard would prefer the prospect of trying and secure promotion rather than another relegation scrap he could face at Stoke or even Everton. The opportunity of European Football is rare for a manager who isn’t at one of the “big” clubs- and to pass that on would be a catastrophe for Martinez- as you are not sure how many chances he will get in a Europa League or Champions League. Finally, to break the connection he has with Dave Whelan will be heartbreaking and although things don’t last forever, I don’t think another year at Wigan will hurt.

It’s as you were at Chelsea Football Club- another trophy to add to the cabinet, that’s now 10 trophies in the last 9 years. Yesterday saw the west Londoners win the Europa League, becoming the first side to hold both the Champions League (although it shall be leaving for Germany soon) and the Europa League trophies at the same time.

Their opponents Benfica started the game much more positively. The first real opening fell to Guitan, but the winger’s shot blazed over the crossbar. It was again Benfica who had the next opportunity but Luisao slipped from 7 yards out which caused him to miss hit his shot and Chelsea could escape yet again.

Frank Lampard had the best opportunity for Chelsea, when his fierce shot was parried over the bar spectacularly by Artur.

Benfica haven’t had the best form in finals, since their last triumph against Real Madrid back in 1951, the team have made seven finals and lost them all. And the curse seemed to continue when a long ball from the ever present Petr Cech found its way to Fernando Torres who outmuscled the Benfica skipper Luisao and rounded the Benfica goalkeeper to slot the ball home from close range to give Chelsea the lead.

The lead didn’t last long however as full back Azpilicueta handled the ball inside the penalty box- resulting in giving the Portuguese outfit the chance to level from 12 yards out. Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo kept his cool and slotted the penalty into the bottom left corner, although the striker’s celebrations were cut short by cramp.

As the game looked to be heading to extra time, Chelsea finally changed into higher gears and when Frank Lampard, skipper for the night due to John Terry’s absence, found himself in plenty of room, he released a beast of a shot which rattled the crossbar and bounced back into play.

But in stoppage time at the end of the match, an in swinging corner from Juan Mata was met by Serbian Branislav Ivanovic and his header drifted into the far corner, sending all the Chelsea players, management and fans into raptures.

Another one for the trophy cabinet back at Stamford Bridge then, and if the rumours are true regarding Jose Mourinho returning to Chelsea, then we can expect more to flood into west London in the near future.

Well what a week it has been in the football world; especially at Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson has finally decided to draw a curtain over what has been an illustrious 26 year tenor at Old Trafford, as the 71 year old announced his retirement on Wednesday. Today saw the start of the new era for the Red Devils as David Moyes, currently the manager of Everton, was announced officially as Sir Alex’s successor.

Moyes will obviously have big shoes to fill as he takes over from the most successful British manager in history. He has be given a six-year contract by United, which indicates that he will be given time to find his feet and hopefully produce trophy after trophy such as Sir Alex has done for the past quarter of a century.

David Moyes has had a rather successful managerial career. After guiding Preston North End into the old Division One (now known as the Championship); and a play off final defeat to Bolton Wanderers, Moyes accepted the job at Everton in March 2002.

The scot has done a magnificent job at a club in which funds are difficult to find to compete with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham although he has finished fourth with Everton in 2004, and the taste of Champions League football- all be it was only a Champions League qualifier against Villarreal which they lost.

If David is to replicate the great Sir Alex, then he will have to keep United as the dominant team in the Premier League. It may take some time but I do believe that David Moyes has the managerial ability to take the pressure of a job of this size and thrive under it. The trophies will come, believe you me, but if I were a Man United fan- I wouldn’t expect too much of him in his first couple of seasons- perhaps a league or FA cup here and there but for someone to come in and make an instant impact and win the league is very difficult and rare; especially if they have come from a team like Everton.

For the first time, Moyes will have large funds to use in the transfer window to buy good quality players, and will take over a side who let’s be honest, have dominated the league this season. For a manager to take over a team who have done so well this year, it will be a challenge in itself to replicate the performances that have won them the league comfortably. This is a very similar scenario to that in Germany when Pep Guardiola will take over from Jupp Hynekes as Bayern boss in the summer.

Overall, I believe that Moyes is the right man for United and the six-year contract clearly shows that United believe they have the right man to drive United forward for the foreseeable future.

After being defeated by Bourssia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-final last night, Jose Mourinho dropped his biggest hint yet that he could be making a dramatic return to England in the summer.

In an interview with ITV, Mourinho was asked if we would see him next season in the top European competition with the Spanish giants; “maybe not….” was the special one’s response. This was followed by the question “where?”- The Madrid boss replied “somewhere where I’m loved…” the interview was disappointingly shortened as ITV had to cut off.

In a later interview he expressed his love for the English fans, media and ‘especially one club’.  As speculation grows about the Portuguese manager’s future, Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez today declared it was none of his business and has a job to finish at the London club this season.

Chelsea does seem the most favoured destination for Mourinho if he does leave Madrid at the end of the season- although teams such as Manchester City and PSG may also be interested in the 3-times champions’ league wining coach.