Category: Football

Carlos Tevez’s departure from Manchester to Turin has been new Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini’s first major decision. Was it the right one though? The Argentine striker has no doubt been a revolutionist in English football since making the move to West Ham in 2006, and after further spells at both Manchester sides, the 29 year old has decided to move on, with current Italian champions Juventus signing him for just £12 million.  Where though does this leave Manchester City?

The strike force has become very limited now that Tevez has moved on, with just Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko the two prolific strikers in the squad.  Question marks have surrounded Edin Dzeko since he came to England from Wolfsburg in January 2010; he has a decent goal to game record although many of those appearances have been off the bench. Many would therefore claim that Dzeko is an impact player and not one who can perform at the highest level for the full 90 minutes.

Sergio Aguero is a world class striker. He has the ability to terrorise defences as proved last season when he came on in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford last season and changed the game. The striker however has had consistent problems with his groins and hamstrings which restrict him playing as much as he could. If Aguero was to pick up another injury this season, then City will find themselves in a real mess.

That is unless they don’t spend in the next few weeks ahead of the new campaign. City have already splashed over £50 million pounds on the capturing of Fernandinho from Shaktar and Jesus Navas form Sevilla. City, like many clubs, have been linked with Edison Cavani, perhaps the most wanted player in the world right now. The Napoli and Uruguay talisman has a £50 Million buy-out clause in his contract which makes him too overpriced in City’s eyes. But perhaps this player is needed for City to mount a serious title challenge next season.  Other possible strikers that the side could bring in are Real Madrid outcast Gonzalo Higuian and Bayern striker Mario Gomez.

Overall, this move in my eyes has hindered City’s chances to retake the Premier League this coming season unless they spend big. A top club like City needs a world class squad and they haven’t got the depth to mount a challenge if they don’t spend and bring in world class players. Say a player gets suspended and injured, the team needs a player with the same attributes and ability to come on and replace that player and City do not have that up front at the moment.

Manuel, get your cheque book out….

Lionel Messi, the worlds’ greatest footballer, has been summoned to Court on 17^th September over tax allegations. The four time world footballer of the year has been accused over not paying up around £3.4m to the Spanish authorities along with his father.

Currently, the Argentine’s average net salary at Barcelona is around £16m a year, making him one of the highest paid footballers on the globe as well as gaining cash from advertisement, most noticeably Adidas.

If the 25 year old is found guilty of these accusations along with his dad Jorge, then the superstar could face a lengthy 6 years imprisonment and a hefty fine according to the judge.

The pair has been given their full backing by FC Barcelona, claiming that they believe their most prized possession is innocent of these allegations and will continue to dominate on the football field.

Adidas have also come out to support their advertising idol, and claim that they will continue to work with the best footballer on the planet.

Although these allegations will no doubt be a blow to Messi’s reputation, as he will now not be seen as one of the games most humble figures.

For the past five years, Spain have been the unstoppable force in the footballing world, conquering the European championships in 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010. The question on everyone’s lips heading into the Confederations cup in Brazil this summer is who can end this somewhat Spanish rule?

One of those teams will be the hosts, Brazil. Having not played much competitive football of late, the team have fallen down the FIFA world rankings- however this isn’t a team to rule out of any competition, with young talent like Neymar and Lucas and more experienced leaders in Luis Fabino and Julio Caesar, the team has a good mix of players. The captain, Thiago Silva, is a leader and still young. Playing in the PSG side that won their domestic league last season only adds to his experience and leadership ability.

Another side to watch out for is Italy. Since their embarrassing attempts to defend the World Cup (that they won in Germany in 2006) in South Africa 3 years ago, the side has regrouped and reformed under the management of Cesare Prandelli. They were surprising finalists at the European Championships last summer and with players like Mario Ballotelli the Italians can certainly turn up and win this competition.

Uruguay are another team that have been successful of late, Semi finalists at the World cup followed by a Copa America triumph a year later, the south Americans will be trying to win the competition for the first time. The destructive strike force that this side has (Edison Cavani, Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez) will be a handful for any defence and they could lead this side to further glory in Brazil this summer.

Obviously to win this competition, the three above nations as well as the other 4 competing nations (Japan, Tahiti, Mexico and Nigeria) must beat Spain. The team have steamrolled their way to win three of the last four competitions they have entered (they didn’t win the Confederations cup in 2009). The Spanish squad is strong throughout, as many of the players could make the starting eleven in any other national side, and the other competitors must play to the best of their ability to knock this powerhouse off the top of the footballing ladder.

England U21s crashed out of the 2013 UEFA U21 European Championships tonight after losing to their Norwegian counterparts 3-1.  After this disappointing performance in the tournament, does the future look bleak for England as a nation going into future competitions?

Well, the answer is no. The majority of the players are still only 21 or under, meaning they are still to mature. They can only get better and players such as Wilfred Zaha, who will join up with his new Manchester United team mates in the summer, will develop their skills as they progress on in their careers. Other players who were on loan last season such as Danny Rose and Nathaniel Chalobah will be returning to their parent clubs hoping to break their way through into the respective first teams.  Future Captains like Jordan Henderson need to gain more experience at both Liverpool and the England seniors in order to progress in his career but he will no doubt be the “Steven Gerrard” of the future.

Perhaps a managerial change is needed. Stuart Pearce has failed to really push the U21s to European success in the last two championships- and maybe a change at the helm would be beneficial, but who would take over? Perhaps a Neil Warnock or a more iconic figure in the International game… Glenn Hoddle?

Anyway, these players will be one day be given the chance to represent us, the general public in world cups and European Championships in the near future (Russia 2018 and Euro 2020); and by then these players will hopefully be the ones taking the Premier League by storm and make us successful once again.

Chelsea have reappointed the “Special One” as Jose Mourinho was unveiled the clubs new manager today on a four-year contract. This will be the Portuguese’s second venture into the Chelsea dugout having previously managed the club between 2004 and 2007.

Having won the UEFA Champions League in 2004 with Porto, Mourinho moved to Stamford Bridge with high optimism, and declared himself the “Special One” at his first press conference as the manager of the Blues. Mourniho won his first game in charge as his side beat Manchester United 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho won five major trophies in his first tenure, including two league titles in his first two seasons at the helm, with the best win percentage of premier league matches to date (71%). He also managed to win two league cups and a community shield before getting the sack in 2007 after a falling out with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. Before his reappointment, he was the longest serving boss under the Russian since he took over the club.

Since his sacking, Jose Mourinho has won the Italian and Spanish domestic titles with Inter Milan and Real Madrid respectively. He also won the Champions League again with Inter in 2010. However the Portuguese wasn’t happy in Madrid and wanted to return to where he was loved- which in his mind is Chelsea and Inter.

In order to be a success once again at Chelsea- he must win trophies. His main target will be to regain the Premier League and snatch back the dominance that the two Manchester clubs have in England. The two previous seasons, Chelsea haven’t had a sniff in the title race as the two Manchester clubs ran away with the league. It will be down to Mourinho to bring back domestic success to the Bridge.

His other main aim will be to bring the Champions League back to Chelsea, and win it for a third time as a manager (and a first time with Chelsea).  This was the one trophy that eluded the previous Mourinho era at Chelsea. However, this resurgence of German football, the big money spending PSG and obviously the teams from Spain and Italy will make the competition even harder to win- which only makes it better for the neutrals.

Many say never go back…. Let’s see how Mourinho: Part 2 plays out, and if the success comes like it did first time around.

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.