The joy of youth and the fallability of humanity; our ability to dream, to believe that anything is possible.
For the majority of people, time erodes their fantasies (and the crawling nature of time makes it almost acceptable). For an unselected few, life just snatches them away. We all regret our actions or inaction at various points in our life but at least that can be founded on autonomous control. It's hard to imagine, for all those unaffected, how it must feel to be powerless, for out hopes to be not simply 'slipping away' but 'gone.' And gone for good.
Perhaps the closest imitation, for the majority, is a sudden realisation that what we once thought possible is no longer, but as long as we have our faculties about us, belief persists. Usually, such recognition will occur later in life once our story book is pretty much complete. Imagine being in your teens or twenties and with grand designs on your future and have that dismissed by circumstance?
Whether we achieve our aims and realise our dreams or not (and often actually getting to the goal is not nearly as gratifying as getting there), we all deserve the chance to do so. That's liberty. That's freedom. To lose the chance, that's a nightmare.
Friday, 29 May 2009
Jimmy Bullard Select XI
Players you would want to go for a drink with:
GK - Heurelho Gomes, certainly wouldn't be dull.
RB - Moritz Volz, a funny German? got to be worth a punt/pint.
LB - Paolo Maldini, bring some class to proceedings.
CB - Curtis Davies, once said that he plays like a pub footballer, hope he drinks like one...
CB - Neil Ruddock, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GyhzeYBbrE, you might have to invite Dave also...
CM - Nolberto Solano, 'call me Nobby.' class.
CM - Jimmy Bullard (c)
CM - Tim Cahill, always up for a scuffle.
CF - Peter Crouch, give him a couple of drinks, get him to do the robot.
CF - Adrian Mutu, just in case. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3750588.stm
CF - Dirk Kuyt, at the very least you know he would pick up the cheque.
Manager - Gianfranco Zola/Slaven Bilic
And 11 you wouldn't
GK - Jens Lehmann, guarenteed to bitch and moan if you didn't invite him.
RB - Gary Neville, just shut up about Liverpool for two minutes.
LB - Ashley Cole, 'cashley' isn't buying a round, he's only on like £90,000 a week.
CB - William Gallas, so you're having a nice quiet drink and the SOMEBODY wants to have a sit down protest....come on.
CB - Ledley King, couldn't handle a couple of shandies.
RM - Joey Barton (c)
LM - El-Hadji Diouf, who actually spits on people? that's so 80's.
CM - Daniele de Rossi, truly mental.
CF - Craig Bellamy, last time i heard that he was out drinking, John Arne Risse got a golf club in his face.
CF - Antonio Cassano, literally never has anything but pants on.
CF - Nicklas Bendtner, would always want to be center of attention. you are the fillet of fish of the footballing world...never first choice.
Manager - Dennis Wise
GK - Heurelho Gomes, certainly wouldn't be dull.
RB - Moritz Volz, a funny German? got to be worth a punt/pint.
LB - Paolo Maldini, bring some class to proceedings.
CB - Curtis Davies, once said that he plays like a pub footballer, hope he drinks like one...
CB - Neil Ruddock, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GyhzeYBbrE, you might have to invite Dave also...
CM - Nolberto Solano, 'call me Nobby.' class.
CM - Jimmy Bullard (c)
CM - Tim Cahill, always up for a scuffle.
CF - Peter Crouch, give him a couple of drinks, get him to do the robot.
CF - Adrian Mutu, just in case. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/3750588.stm
CF - Dirk Kuyt, at the very least you know he would pick up the cheque.
Manager - Gianfranco Zola/Slaven Bilic
And 11 you wouldn't
GK - Jens Lehmann, guarenteed to bitch and moan if you didn't invite him.
RB - Gary Neville, just shut up about Liverpool for two minutes.
LB - Ashley Cole, 'cashley' isn't buying a round, he's only on like £90,000 a week.
CB - William Gallas, so you're having a nice quiet drink and the SOMEBODY wants to have a sit down protest....come on.
CB - Ledley King, couldn't handle a couple of shandies.
RM - Joey Barton (c)
LM - El-Hadji Diouf, who actually spits on people? that's so 80's.
CM - Daniele de Rossi, truly mental.
CF - Craig Bellamy, last time i heard that he was out drinking, John Arne Risse got a golf club in his face.
CF - Antonio Cassano, literally never has anything but pants on.
CF - Nicklas Bendtner, would always want to be center of attention. you are the fillet of fish of the footballing world...never first choice.
Manager - Dennis Wise
Thursday, 28 May 2009
Champions Elect
The embers of this year's Champions League are still warm but I can't help but look forward to next season's competition. The following is a ranking of the teams already qualified and likely to qualify for 2009/10 version of European football's most celebrated tournament.
A possible 32 for next seasons Champions League (not all qualifiers confirmed). The rankings are weighted against teams that have to enter early qualifying rounds.
The ‘Nobody will remember you were in it by February’ Section
32. Dinamo Bucharest - Might just pinch the Romanian Liga 1 and would be automatic qualifiers for the group stage as a result. The ‘Red Dogs’ are built on domestic talent and have two of the nation’s top forwards in Marius Niculae and Ionel Daniculescu (who has scored twice for his country, both in a 5-1 thrashing of Germany in 2004)
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Gabriel Torje
31. Dynamo Moscow - The club is probably most notable for being the home of Lev Yashin, possibly the best goalkeeper of all time. The current incarnate of a team that has not been competitive at a high level since the 70’s (with a brief comeback in the mid 90’s) will probably need a kind draw to make the group stage.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Aleksandr Kerzhakov
30. FC Twente - Steve McClaren’s charges resigned the likes of Ajax and PSV to Europa League football in the coming year while Twente will enter the qualifying rounds but are unseeded. They seem destined to lose highly rated 20 year old forward Marko Arnautovic but will be heavily recompensed should he leave. They may also find it tough to hold on to the former England manager.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Edson Braafheid
29. Rubin Kazan - Current Russian champions (and they lead the standings this year also) and first-timers to any major European tournament. Will do well to be anything but makeweights in the group stage but do have some players with European experience like Serhiy Rebrov (formerly of Spurs and West Ham) and captain Sergei Semak and a squad studded with internationals.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Alejandro Dominguez
28. Celtic - Whoever becomes the new manager of Celtic will have a hard act to follow. Despite no league championship this season, the green side of Glasgow have seen three straight league titles and two trips to the Champions League knockout round (losing to AC Milan and Barcelona). To really progress in the tournament, they will have to improve their form away from Celtic Park which has seen them, amazingly, collect just one draw in 18 games.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Aiden McGeady
The ‘Oh, did you see that goal by that fella against Arsenal?’ Section
27. Standard Liege - Victories over Everton, Sevilla and Sampdoria (and almost one over Liverpool) as well as the sale of Marouane Fellaini have brought plenty of attention to this club over the past year. They qualified for Europe’s premier tournament by defeating rivals Anderlecht in a playoff and could be a dangerous proposition for their group opponents. The group is very young and with limited experience at the top level; will their youth be a blessing or will a lack of experience be their undoing?
This Season - Third Qualifying Round
Key Man - Steven Defour
26. Besiktas - Lead the Super Lig with one game left and should clinch their spot in the Champions League proper at lowly Denizlispor. Hardly seen since their 8-0 spanking at the hands of Liverpool a couple of years ago, this side should be better equipped to deal with the continents best and in forward Bobo, have a player capable of netting at this level.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Matias Delgado
25. Dynamo Kyiv - Beaten by upstarts Shakhtar in the UEFA Cup semis this year but managed to win their 13th league title and have qualified automatically for the group stage. Unfortunately, the current version is not quite the standard of the side that almost made the Champions League final in 1999 (the team of Rebrov and Shevchenko) but they will provide a stern test for anybody at home and possess some real attacking flair. Dismissed Spartak Moscow 8-2 in qualifying for this years Champions League and won 1-0 in Porto.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Oleksandr Aliev
24. Marseille - Eric Gerets has inspired L’OM to a title challenge but will not be around next year, he will be replaced by Didier Deschamps. Marseille have finished 3rd in successive group phases but have made life difficult for Liverpool in both campaigns. Will Brandao be able to ‘batter’ his way through Europe’s best? Can Hatem Ben Arfa come of age on the big stage? What will Deschamps make of Tyrone Mears?
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Lorik Cana
23. CSKA Moscow - CSKA qualified courtesy of finishing second in the Russian Premier league last November and will be near the end of their season when the group stages begin in September. Last season, the Russians easily disposed of Aston Villa, Deportivo and Feyernord and did so with some style. Vagner Love was the tournament’s top scorer with 11 goals and he is aided by a number Russia’s impressive EURO 2008 squad including Igor Akinfeev and Yuri Zhirkov.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Milos Krasic
The 'You have absolutely no chance of winning it but well done for making the knockout round and getting the opportunity to get battered by Barca' Section
22. Girondins de Bordeaux - Laurent Blanc’s team seem poised to be crowned French champions and in Yoann Gourcuff (who will join on a permanent deal from Milan in the summer and has been labelled as the next Zidane) have the best performer in the league this year. Bordeaux were overmatched by Chelsea and Roma in the group stages of this years event.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Yoann Gourcuff
21. Sporting Lisbon - Another who may face a tough fixture in order to qualify, Sporting will be desperate to make up for their embarrassing 12-1 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Last 16. Liedson will lead the line and has been a prolific scorer both in the league and in Europe. The last three seasons they have finished 4th, 3rd and 2nd in their group with the latter ensuring European football after Christmas; Can they make the next step to become contenders?
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Joao Moutinho
20. Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Cup winners have not always been prosperous in the following season; of the past five winners, only Sevilla have made the Champions League knockout stages. But Shakhtar only need look a little further back to Porto, who achieved the double of UEFA Cup and Champions League in successive seasons in 2003 and 2004. The newly reworked qualifying process wont be easy to navigate but, if they can make the group stage, should benefit from this years European adventure and it bears remembering that they were the only team to beat Barcelona in this year’s tournament.
This Year - Group Stage
Key Man - Darijo Srna
19. Glasgow Rangers - The season looked lost almost before it begun when they crashed out to FBK Kaunas in this years qualifying round but, with their 52nd league title secured, they will be in the group stages of next year’s tournament. The lost revenue from failing to qualify last year could limit their summer spending but Walter Smith has fashioned a decent squad without great funds so far. A lot may depend on whether Smith can negotiate a way to bring back Allan McGregor and former captain Barry Ferguson from exile.
This Season - Second Qualifying Round
Key Man - Steven Davis
18. AZ - Another newcomer to the competition, AZ went unbeaten in 28 games on their way to their second Eredivisie title, their first in 28 years. They lose Louis Van Gaal, the former Ajax and Barcelona coach, but gain Ronald Koeman. Koeman had difficulties at Valencia but has reached the Champions League quarter finals with three different sides in the past - Ajax, Benfica and PSV. He inherits a young squad but may struggle to keep his best players.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Stijn Schaars
17. VFB Stuttgart - Former Germany and Liverpool defender Markus Babbel lead Stuttgart to third place in the Bundesliga and with it, a chance to qualify for the Champions League. However, they will have to do so without star striker Mario Gomez, who will join Bayern. Without Gomez, Stuttgart will have to rely on Ciprian Marica to score the goals but will look to strengthen and do possess two of the most exciting young German prospects in Samir Khedira and Serdar Tasci.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Thomas Hitzlsperger
16. Fiorentina - ‘La Viola’ failed to make it out of the group stage this year (in a tough group with Lyon and Bayern) and will hope to qualify next season for a chance to make more of an impact. Cesare Prandelli has been with the club since 2005 (virtually an age considering the team had 11 managers in the previous 4 ½ years) and built a competitive team built on Italian talent like Marco Donadel, Alessandro Gamberini, Riccardo Montolivo and former European Cup winner Alberto Gilardino.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Adrian Mutu
15. VFL Wolfsburg - Recently crowned German champions and Champions League debutants. Felix Magath has worked wonders with the ’Wolves’ and can call upon the two top scorers in the Bundesliga this year, 28-goal Brazilian Grafite and 26-goal Bosnian Edin Dzeko as well as key creator Zvjezdan Misimović and new signing Thomas Kahlenberg. Again the draw will be important but Wolfsburg could be dark horses next season.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Edin Dzeko
The ‘Eh, you never know if they get the right draw’ Section
14. Atletico Madrid - Atletico will qualify as long as they avoid defeat against Almeria in their final game of the season after a terrible start which saw popular coach Javier Aguirre sacked. Should they do so, the Champions League will be rewarded with some superb attacking talents; Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan (who is likely to finish as the pichichi), Simao and Maxi Rodriguez in particular. They will have to be better defensively but the experience gained this year should serve them well.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Maxi Rodriguez
13. Olympique Lyonnais - Finally deposed as French champions after seven straight titles, Lyon will be without the influential Juninho next year after his decision to leave. Claude Puel, should he stay, will be under pressure to regain the dominance of the past and also avoid the kind of defeat they suffered against eventual champions Barcelona, conceding four goals in the first half of their knockout match at the Nou Camp.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Karim Benzema
12. Sevilla - A consistent performer domestically over the last few years, Sevilla are back for their second shot at glory in this competition after back to back UEFA Cup triumphs in 2006 and 2007. The biggest problem for them will be keeping the likes of Diego Capel and Julien Escude, vital components of their recent success, and the draw that will likely see them paired with at least two more fancied clubs.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Frederic Kanoute
11. Porto - Came very close to knocking out Manchester United in the quarter final stages this year and of course won the tournament as recently as 2004. The squad’s balance of function and flair has been rewarded with yet another league title, their fourth straight, and feature some of the best players outside the ’big three’ leagues; strong defender Bruno Alves, dangerous striker Lisandro (6 goals in this years competition) and one of the most underrated players around, the ‘commander’ Lucho Gonzalez.
This Season - Quarter Finals
Key Man - Lucho Gonzalez
The ‘November: They’re gonna win it, March: Never stood a chance’ Section
10. Juventus - The ‘Old Lady’ has appeared in four Champions League finals and, after their humbling relegation a few seasons back, are getting back to form. The squad is embedded with some talented young players and experienced campaigners plus they have already made two of the largest close-season signings in Brazilian playmaker Diego and Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Gianluigi Buffon
9. Real Madrid - Madrid have failed to progress beyond the first knockout round in any of the past five tournaments and were demolished 5-0 on aggregate by Liverpool this year. Juande Ramos will be charged with reversing that series of results, particularly as Barca now reign supreme at home and abroad. The ‘galacticos’ are gone but there is the talent, should they play to their potential.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Iker Casillas
8. Bayern Munich - Unfortunate to play Barcelona with an injury riddled team this season but the Germans have perhaps the best chance of any club outside of the ‘big three’ leagues. They have a new coach in Louis Van Gaal and they have already strengthened the squad (Anatoliy Tymoschuk and forwards Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez are confirmed) but will have to work hard not to lose one of their stars, Frank Ribery.
This Season - Quarter Finals
Key Man - Miroslav Klose
7. Arsenal - The Gunners will have to qualify but have done so for the last nine years and, during that streak, have reached the quarters or further on five occasions. However, the gap between Arsenal and the remainder of England’s ‘big four’ appears to have widened over the past few years. Could Arsene Wenger’s young guns be ready to break out next season?
This Season - Semi Finals
Key Man - Cesc Fabregas
The ‘David Beckham is the fifth choice free kick taker but that doesn’t win you games’ Section
6. AC Milan - Milan return to the top table next season after being one of this year’s notable absentees. Questions surround the manager but nobody can question that they are one of Europe’s most successful clubs or the combined experience of some of the most celebrated players of the last decade. An infusion of youth may help their cause.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Kaka
The ‘Anything but playing in the Bernabeu in May would be a disappointment’ Section
5. Internazionale - 4 straight Serie A titles but Inter have only been to one Champions League semi final. That could all change under the newly re-signed Jose Mourinho, he is special you know (but then again he did sign Ricardo Quaresma...)
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Esteban Cambiasso
4. Chelsea - They could be a team in flux over the summer with a change of manager and probably plenty of movement in the transfer market but one thing will remain consistent; they will have a team as strong as any in Europe. The return to fitness of Michael Essien is key and his goal put them within moments of the final this year.
This Season - Semi Finals
Key Man - Frank Lampard
3. Liverpool - Not just European specialists any more, Liverpool are a team on the rise and maybe only a player or two away from having a squad that can challenge both at home and abroad. In Fernando Torres, they have arguably the best forward in the competition.
This Season - Quarter Finals
Key Man - Steven Gerrard
2. Manchester United - Beaten finalists and perennial challengers for the trophy. They failed to perform to their peak in the final but this crop of players have proven they know how to win. How much more can the remnants of the golden generation of Giggs, Scholes and Neville offer and how does Ferguson react to seeing his team being taken apart in the final?
This Season - Finalists
Key Man - Cristiano Ronaldo
1. Barcelona - Reigning champions and the finest footballing side on the planet. Little reason to suggest that this team cannot repeat as champions under Pep Guardiola as long as the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are in the side but no team has ever retained the trophy and the target on their chest has consumed all before them.
This Season - Champions
Key Man - Leo Messi
A possible 32 for next seasons Champions League (not all qualifiers confirmed). The rankings are weighted against teams that have to enter early qualifying rounds.
The ‘Nobody will remember you were in it by February’ Section
32. Dinamo Bucharest - Might just pinch the Romanian Liga 1 and would be automatic qualifiers for the group stage as a result. The ‘Red Dogs’ are built on domestic talent and have two of the nation’s top forwards in Marius Niculae and Ionel Daniculescu (who has scored twice for his country, both in a 5-1 thrashing of Germany in 2004)
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Gabriel Torje
31. Dynamo Moscow - The club is probably most notable for being the home of Lev Yashin, possibly the best goalkeeper of all time. The current incarnate of a team that has not been competitive at a high level since the 70’s (with a brief comeback in the mid 90’s) will probably need a kind draw to make the group stage.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Aleksandr Kerzhakov
30. FC Twente - Steve McClaren’s charges resigned the likes of Ajax and PSV to Europa League football in the coming year while Twente will enter the qualifying rounds but are unseeded. They seem destined to lose highly rated 20 year old forward Marko Arnautovic but will be heavily recompensed should he leave. They may also find it tough to hold on to the former England manager.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Edson Braafheid
29. Rubin Kazan - Current Russian champions (and they lead the standings this year also) and first-timers to any major European tournament. Will do well to be anything but makeweights in the group stage but do have some players with European experience like Serhiy Rebrov (formerly of Spurs and West Ham) and captain Sergei Semak and a squad studded with internationals.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Alejandro Dominguez
28. Celtic - Whoever becomes the new manager of Celtic will have a hard act to follow. Despite no league championship this season, the green side of Glasgow have seen three straight league titles and two trips to the Champions League knockout round (losing to AC Milan and Barcelona). To really progress in the tournament, they will have to improve their form away from Celtic Park which has seen them, amazingly, collect just one draw in 18 games.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Aiden McGeady
The ‘Oh, did you see that goal by that fella against Arsenal?’ Section
27. Standard Liege - Victories over Everton, Sevilla and Sampdoria (and almost one over Liverpool) as well as the sale of Marouane Fellaini have brought plenty of attention to this club over the past year. They qualified for Europe’s premier tournament by defeating rivals Anderlecht in a playoff and could be a dangerous proposition for their group opponents. The group is very young and with limited experience at the top level; will their youth be a blessing or will a lack of experience be their undoing?
This Season - Third Qualifying Round
Key Man - Steven Defour
26. Besiktas - Lead the Super Lig with one game left and should clinch their spot in the Champions League proper at lowly Denizlispor. Hardly seen since their 8-0 spanking at the hands of Liverpool a couple of years ago, this side should be better equipped to deal with the continents best and in forward Bobo, have a player capable of netting at this level.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Matias Delgado
25. Dynamo Kyiv - Beaten by upstarts Shakhtar in the UEFA Cup semis this year but managed to win their 13th league title and have qualified automatically for the group stage. Unfortunately, the current version is not quite the standard of the side that almost made the Champions League final in 1999 (the team of Rebrov and Shevchenko) but they will provide a stern test for anybody at home and possess some real attacking flair. Dismissed Spartak Moscow 8-2 in qualifying for this years Champions League and won 1-0 in Porto.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Oleksandr Aliev
24. Marseille - Eric Gerets has inspired L’OM to a title challenge but will not be around next year, he will be replaced by Didier Deschamps. Marseille have finished 3rd in successive group phases but have made life difficult for Liverpool in both campaigns. Will Brandao be able to ‘batter’ his way through Europe’s best? Can Hatem Ben Arfa come of age on the big stage? What will Deschamps make of Tyrone Mears?
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Lorik Cana
23. CSKA Moscow - CSKA qualified courtesy of finishing second in the Russian Premier league last November and will be near the end of their season when the group stages begin in September. Last season, the Russians easily disposed of Aston Villa, Deportivo and Feyernord and did so with some style. Vagner Love was the tournament’s top scorer with 11 goals and he is aided by a number Russia’s impressive EURO 2008 squad including Igor Akinfeev and Yuri Zhirkov.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Milos Krasic
The 'You have absolutely no chance of winning it but well done for making the knockout round and getting the opportunity to get battered by Barca' Section
22. Girondins de Bordeaux - Laurent Blanc’s team seem poised to be crowned French champions and in Yoann Gourcuff (who will join on a permanent deal from Milan in the summer and has been labelled as the next Zidane) have the best performer in the league this year. Bordeaux were overmatched by Chelsea and Roma in the group stages of this years event.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Yoann Gourcuff
21. Sporting Lisbon - Another who may face a tough fixture in order to qualify, Sporting will be desperate to make up for their embarrassing 12-1 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Last 16. Liedson will lead the line and has been a prolific scorer both in the league and in Europe. The last three seasons they have finished 4th, 3rd and 2nd in their group with the latter ensuring European football after Christmas; Can they make the next step to become contenders?
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Joao Moutinho
20. Shakhtar Donetsk - UEFA Cup winners have not always been prosperous in the following season; of the past five winners, only Sevilla have made the Champions League knockout stages. But Shakhtar only need look a little further back to Porto, who achieved the double of UEFA Cup and Champions League in successive seasons in 2003 and 2004. The newly reworked qualifying process wont be easy to navigate but, if they can make the group stage, should benefit from this years European adventure and it bears remembering that they were the only team to beat Barcelona in this year’s tournament.
This Year - Group Stage
Key Man - Darijo Srna
19. Glasgow Rangers - The season looked lost almost before it begun when they crashed out to FBK Kaunas in this years qualifying round but, with their 52nd league title secured, they will be in the group stages of next year’s tournament. The lost revenue from failing to qualify last year could limit their summer spending but Walter Smith has fashioned a decent squad without great funds so far. A lot may depend on whether Smith can negotiate a way to bring back Allan McGregor and former captain Barry Ferguson from exile.
This Season - Second Qualifying Round
Key Man - Steven Davis
18. AZ - Another newcomer to the competition, AZ went unbeaten in 28 games on their way to their second Eredivisie title, their first in 28 years. They lose Louis Van Gaal, the former Ajax and Barcelona coach, but gain Ronald Koeman. Koeman had difficulties at Valencia but has reached the Champions League quarter finals with three different sides in the past - Ajax, Benfica and PSV. He inherits a young squad but may struggle to keep his best players.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Stijn Schaars
17. VFB Stuttgart - Former Germany and Liverpool defender Markus Babbel lead Stuttgart to third place in the Bundesliga and with it, a chance to qualify for the Champions League. However, they will have to do so without star striker Mario Gomez, who will join Bayern. Without Gomez, Stuttgart will have to rely on Ciprian Marica to score the goals but will look to strengthen and do possess two of the most exciting young German prospects in Samir Khedira and Serdar Tasci.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Thomas Hitzlsperger
16. Fiorentina - ‘La Viola’ failed to make it out of the group stage this year (in a tough group with Lyon and Bayern) and will hope to qualify next season for a chance to make more of an impact. Cesare Prandelli has been with the club since 2005 (virtually an age considering the team had 11 managers in the previous 4 ½ years) and built a competitive team built on Italian talent like Marco Donadel, Alessandro Gamberini, Riccardo Montolivo and former European Cup winner Alberto Gilardino.
This Season - Group Stage
Key Man - Adrian Mutu
15. VFL Wolfsburg - Recently crowned German champions and Champions League debutants. Felix Magath has worked wonders with the ’Wolves’ and can call upon the two top scorers in the Bundesliga this year, 28-goal Brazilian Grafite and 26-goal Bosnian Edin Dzeko as well as key creator Zvjezdan Misimović and new signing Thomas Kahlenberg. Again the draw will be important but Wolfsburg could be dark horses next season.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Edin Dzeko
The ‘Eh, you never know if they get the right draw’ Section
14. Atletico Madrid - Atletico will qualify as long as they avoid defeat against Almeria in their final game of the season after a terrible start which saw popular coach Javier Aguirre sacked. Should they do so, the Champions League will be rewarded with some superb attacking talents; Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan (who is likely to finish as the pichichi), Simao and Maxi Rodriguez in particular. They will have to be better defensively but the experience gained this year should serve them well.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Maxi Rodriguez
13. Olympique Lyonnais - Finally deposed as French champions after seven straight titles, Lyon will be without the influential Juninho next year after his decision to leave. Claude Puel, should he stay, will be under pressure to regain the dominance of the past and also avoid the kind of defeat they suffered against eventual champions Barcelona, conceding four goals in the first half of their knockout match at the Nou Camp.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Karim Benzema
12. Sevilla - A consistent performer domestically over the last few years, Sevilla are back for their second shot at glory in this competition after back to back UEFA Cup triumphs in 2006 and 2007. The biggest problem for them will be keeping the likes of Diego Capel and Julien Escude, vital components of their recent success, and the draw that will likely see them paired with at least two more fancied clubs.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Frederic Kanoute
11. Porto - Came very close to knocking out Manchester United in the quarter final stages this year and of course won the tournament as recently as 2004. The squad’s balance of function and flair has been rewarded with yet another league title, their fourth straight, and feature some of the best players outside the ’big three’ leagues; strong defender Bruno Alves, dangerous striker Lisandro (6 goals in this years competition) and one of the most underrated players around, the ‘commander’ Lucho Gonzalez.
This Season - Quarter Finals
Key Man - Lucho Gonzalez
The ‘November: They’re gonna win it, March: Never stood a chance’ Section
10. Juventus - The ‘Old Lady’ has appeared in four Champions League finals and, after their humbling relegation a few seasons back, are getting back to form. The squad is embedded with some talented young players and experienced campaigners plus they have already made two of the largest close-season signings in Brazilian playmaker Diego and Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Gianluigi Buffon
9. Real Madrid - Madrid have failed to progress beyond the first knockout round in any of the past five tournaments and were demolished 5-0 on aggregate by Liverpool this year. Juande Ramos will be charged with reversing that series of results, particularly as Barca now reign supreme at home and abroad. The ‘galacticos’ are gone but there is the talent, should they play to their potential.
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Iker Casillas
8. Bayern Munich - Unfortunate to play Barcelona with an injury riddled team this season but the Germans have perhaps the best chance of any club outside of the ‘big three’ leagues. They have a new coach in Louis Van Gaal and they have already strengthened the squad (Anatoliy Tymoschuk and forwards Ivica Olic and Mario Gomez are confirmed) but will have to work hard not to lose one of their stars, Frank Ribery.
This Season - Quarter Finals
Key Man - Miroslav Klose
7. Arsenal - The Gunners will have to qualify but have done so for the last nine years and, during that streak, have reached the quarters or further on five occasions. However, the gap between Arsenal and the remainder of England’s ‘big four’ appears to have widened over the past few years. Could Arsene Wenger’s young guns be ready to break out next season?
This Season - Semi Finals
Key Man - Cesc Fabregas
The ‘David Beckham is the fifth choice free kick taker but that doesn’t win you games’ Section
6. AC Milan - Milan return to the top table next season after being one of this year’s notable absentees. Questions surround the manager but nobody can question that they are one of Europe’s most successful clubs or the combined experience of some of the most celebrated players of the last decade. An infusion of youth may help their cause.
This Season - DNQ
Key Man - Kaka
The ‘Anything but playing in the Bernabeu in May would be a disappointment’ Section
5. Internazionale - 4 straight Serie A titles but Inter have only been to one Champions League semi final. That could all change under the newly re-signed Jose Mourinho, he is special you know (but then again he did sign Ricardo Quaresma...)
This Season - Last 16
Key Man - Esteban Cambiasso
4. Chelsea - They could be a team in flux over the summer with a change of manager and probably plenty of movement in the transfer market but one thing will remain consistent; they will have a team as strong as any in Europe. The return to fitness of Michael Essien is key and his goal put them within moments of the final this year.
This Season - Semi Finals
Key Man - Frank Lampard
3. Liverpool - Not just European specialists any more, Liverpool are a team on the rise and maybe only a player or two away from having a squad that can challenge both at home and abroad. In Fernando Torres, they have arguably the best forward in the competition.
This Season - Quarter Finals
Key Man - Steven Gerrard
2. Manchester United - Beaten finalists and perennial challengers for the trophy. They failed to perform to their peak in the final but this crop of players have proven they know how to win. How much more can the remnants of the golden generation of Giggs, Scholes and Neville offer and how does Ferguson react to seeing his team being taken apart in the final?
This Season - Finalists
Key Man - Cristiano Ronaldo
1. Barcelona - Reigning champions and the finest footballing side on the planet. Little reason to suggest that this team cannot repeat as champions under Pep Guardiola as long as the likes of Messi, Xavi and Iniesta are in the side but no team has ever retained the trophy and the target on their chest has consumed all before them.
This Season - Champions
Key Man - Leo Messi
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
How United beat themselves
The Champions League final offered what every fan and pundit had hoped for; creativity, technique, work rate, slick passing and ultimately goals. Unfortunately for Manchester United, most of the meaningful examples of these were delivered by Barcelona.
Not that United didn't have chances. If they had taken advantage of a ferocious opening to the game, or scored when the Catalans lead by a single goal, then the result may have been very different. However, United didn't play near their peak while Barcelona looked every bit the team that has been so lauded throughout this season. Coincidence? No.
Sir Alex Ferguson selected the wrong team. His loyalty to Ji-Sung Park, giving him the opportunity to play after ommiting him from the sqaud for last years' final, was misplaced. Park, who has played regularly in Europe and started in four of their last six Champions League games, offered them very little in this match. The theory was that he would help defend United's left flank against Leo Messi yet started on the right and was anonymous as Barcelona controlled the ball. Rooney was innefective for long periods while resigned to the left but Park was unable to impact the game in any way and, for a player who is usually quite tactically aware, failed to understand the tempo and direction of the play. In fairness to the South Korean, Ronaldo was so direct in the central role that Park was given few opportunities early and, once Etoo had opened the scoring, United saw very little of the ball in the attacking third. Park was replaced after 66 minutes by Dimitar Berbatov.
United took the wrong approach to start the second half. At the break, Ferguson replaced Anderson with Carlos Tevez and essentially switched to a 4-2-4, playing into the hands of Barca. Manchester United couldn't get enough of the ball and failed to keep it. Barcelona, in contrast, had almost a free reign in the middle of the field with the most combative central midfield player, Anderson, now off the field. Xavi and Iniesta controlled the game, forced United to chase the ball up and down the pitch and sapped the life out of them physically and mentally. There was absoultely no pressure on Xavi in the build up to the second goal and he was allowed as much time as he wanted to pick out Messi with a cross, which he duly converted. United began the game with a 'full court press,' attempting to limit the space and time for Barca's midfield and cause them discomfort. There was little evidence of this after about a half hour and Barca capitalised.
Manchester United never replaced Owen Hargreaves, who has missed virtually the entire season after having multiple knee surgeries. In their squad, for all its depth and strength, United have only the one 'destroyer' and that is Hargreaves. Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes and even the suspended Fletcher do not have the defensive presence, dilligence and tenacity to harry and hurt the two little maestroes in the middle for Barcelona. Chelsea played a smothering and physical game in their two meetings and had the players to do so whereas United gained little from Anderson, Carrick and Giggs (although Giggs' role was more advanced). Barcelona's confidence and swagger were allowed to grow as the game progressed and by the final whistle, the were playing as if they were on the training field. Excuses can be made for errors in judgement but not for lack of industry. Barcelona are so good on the ball but their ability to retain possession is matched by their work rate to win it back.
United failed to build on their beginning to the game. Ronaldo, in particular, started the game brilliantly and looked to be scaring the life out of Gerard Pique and Yaya Toure in Barcelona's improvised defence. Etoo's goal on literally their first attack must have shocked the Reds but, for a team that has played in so many big games and has such a reputation for never being beaten, they seemed to lose their rhythm and courage and only Ronaldo and the goalkeeper came out of this game with any credit. Time after time, United tried to play balls in behind and round the side of the centre backs rather than playing the ball into the feet of their attackers and allow Ronaldo in particular to run at a central defender on a yellow card (Pique), a central defender who very rarely plays there (Toure) and a 35 year old left back who has appeared infrequently this season (Sylvinho). In addtion, the pitch was clearly playing lightning fast and controlling the pace of through balls was a hard task.
In reality, Barcelona made Manchester United look far worse than probably anybody else could but you have to question the desire of some of the players who won this magnificent trophy last year. Roy Keane famously criticised his team mates in the years that followed United's 1999 Champions League victory, claiming they no longer had the ambition and thirst to chase the biggest prize in European football. No team has ever retained the title in its current format and it seems natural to suffer a slip in motivation having been to the mountain top. Barcelona won the tournament in 2006 but only three starters returned for this final - Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol and Samuel Etoo, whereas there were seven for the Mancunians (and every single starter was with the club last year). Were the reactions of Ronaldo and Giggs during and after the game purely from personal frustration or did they not see that hunger from their colleagues?
It seems almost vulgar to declare that United lost this rather than Barcelona won it. Such a brand of attacking, aesthetically pleasing football should be applauded and rarely have we seen a team with the ability and artistry that exuded from the Catalans on wednesday evening. Barcelona are the new European champions, outplaying and dethroning Manchester United, but seldom have we seen the English side so devoid of leadership, so unavailing and so subdued on the big stage.
Not that United didn't have chances. If they had taken advantage of a ferocious opening to the game, or scored when the Catalans lead by a single goal, then the result may have been very different. However, United didn't play near their peak while Barcelona looked every bit the team that has been so lauded throughout this season. Coincidence? No.
Sir Alex Ferguson selected the wrong team. His loyalty to Ji-Sung Park, giving him the opportunity to play after ommiting him from the sqaud for last years' final, was misplaced. Park, who has played regularly in Europe and started in four of their last six Champions League games, offered them very little in this match. The theory was that he would help defend United's left flank against Leo Messi yet started on the right and was anonymous as Barcelona controlled the ball. Rooney was innefective for long periods while resigned to the left but Park was unable to impact the game in any way and, for a player who is usually quite tactically aware, failed to understand the tempo and direction of the play. In fairness to the South Korean, Ronaldo was so direct in the central role that Park was given few opportunities early and, once Etoo had opened the scoring, United saw very little of the ball in the attacking third. Park was replaced after 66 minutes by Dimitar Berbatov.
United took the wrong approach to start the second half. At the break, Ferguson replaced Anderson with Carlos Tevez and essentially switched to a 4-2-4, playing into the hands of Barca. Manchester United couldn't get enough of the ball and failed to keep it. Barcelona, in contrast, had almost a free reign in the middle of the field with the most combative central midfield player, Anderson, now off the field. Xavi and Iniesta controlled the game, forced United to chase the ball up and down the pitch and sapped the life out of them physically and mentally. There was absoultely no pressure on Xavi in the build up to the second goal and he was allowed as much time as he wanted to pick out Messi with a cross, which he duly converted. United began the game with a 'full court press,' attempting to limit the space and time for Barca's midfield and cause them discomfort. There was little evidence of this after about a half hour and Barca capitalised.
Manchester United never replaced Owen Hargreaves, who has missed virtually the entire season after having multiple knee surgeries. In their squad, for all its depth and strength, United have only the one 'destroyer' and that is Hargreaves. Carrick, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes and even the suspended Fletcher do not have the defensive presence, dilligence and tenacity to harry and hurt the two little maestroes in the middle for Barcelona. Chelsea played a smothering and physical game in their two meetings and had the players to do so whereas United gained little from Anderson, Carrick and Giggs (although Giggs' role was more advanced). Barcelona's confidence and swagger were allowed to grow as the game progressed and by the final whistle, the were playing as if they were on the training field. Excuses can be made for errors in judgement but not for lack of industry. Barcelona are so good on the ball but their ability to retain possession is matched by their work rate to win it back.
United failed to build on their beginning to the game. Ronaldo, in particular, started the game brilliantly and looked to be scaring the life out of Gerard Pique and Yaya Toure in Barcelona's improvised defence. Etoo's goal on literally their first attack must have shocked the Reds but, for a team that has played in so many big games and has such a reputation for never being beaten, they seemed to lose their rhythm and courage and only Ronaldo and the goalkeeper came out of this game with any credit. Time after time, United tried to play balls in behind and round the side of the centre backs rather than playing the ball into the feet of their attackers and allow Ronaldo in particular to run at a central defender on a yellow card (Pique), a central defender who very rarely plays there (Toure) and a 35 year old left back who has appeared infrequently this season (Sylvinho). In addtion, the pitch was clearly playing lightning fast and controlling the pace of through balls was a hard task.
In reality, Barcelona made Manchester United look far worse than probably anybody else could but you have to question the desire of some of the players who won this magnificent trophy last year. Roy Keane famously criticised his team mates in the years that followed United's 1999 Champions League victory, claiming they no longer had the ambition and thirst to chase the biggest prize in European football. No team has ever retained the title in its current format and it seems natural to suffer a slip in motivation having been to the mountain top. Barcelona won the tournament in 2006 but only three starters returned for this final - Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol and Samuel Etoo, whereas there were seven for the Mancunians (and every single starter was with the club last year). Were the reactions of Ronaldo and Giggs during and after the game purely from personal frustration or did they not see that hunger from their colleagues?
It seems almost vulgar to declare that United lost this rather than Barcelona won it. Such a brand of attacking, aesthetically pleasing football should be applauded and rarely have we seen a team with the ability and artistry that exuded from the Catalans on wednesday evening. Barcelona are the new European champions, outplaying and dethroning Manchester United, but seldom have we seen the English side so devoid of leadership, so unavailing and so subdued on the big stage.
Magic v Cavs, Game 5 Play by Play
It wasn't meant to go like this. Cleveland were heavy favourites to rout the Magic and proceed to the NBA Finals virtually unscathed behind the MVP and Larry Bird/Magic Johnson/Michael Jordan incarnate, Lebron James.
James has been as advertised but the supporting cast have struggled to contain their opponents and have been shooting poorly. Orlando, on the other hand, have surprised everybody by being an defensive force, hitting just about every big shot that has come their way and would be 3-0 up in the series if not for some of King James' heroics in game 2.
Tonight is huge for both teams. An Orlando win and they are a game from the finals, a Cleveland victory and they regain home-court advantage. Everything to play for then in game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Pre-game - virtually a must-win for the Cavs, Mo Williams has gone as far to guarantee it, but they have yet to win at Amway Arena this season and have shown few signs of the dominance that most people expected. I think Cleveland might just steal this one but they have to limit Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis to contested shots and find some way to slow down Dwight Howard (Lebron driving at him and getting him in foul trouble as he did in game 3 could be the answer, just don't leave Big Z on him for 30 minutes). Offensively, with the exception of James, their field goal percentage has been abysmal. Delonte West (.419), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (.382) and particularly Mo Williams (.321, .250 from 3 range) have struggled and have all missed easy shots with regularity. Cleveland have to find other scoring threats and limit the turnovers that hand the Magic points in transition. For Orlando, it's business as usual; spread the ball around, get big contributions off the bench (which the Cavs have failed to do) and take what the Cavs give you (either down low to Dwight or on the edge to Hedo, Rashard and Rafer). The one concern for them will be how to stop Lebron, particularly if the guys around him start to pick up their game. Ideally, they would bring Howard up towards the key to stop James driving into the lane and picking up all those foul shots while pressing him into errors. Mickael Pietrus has been a big part of the campaign to stop Lebron and there's a good piece on his journey to the NBA here http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=pietrus-090526
1st quarter
12:00 - tip off in Orlando. Cleveland with the first point on a Mo Williams' technical. Alston immediately replies with a 3. Hard to remember them missing many of those.
10.48 - Dwight Howard with a stuff, 5-1 Orlando
Cleveland seem to be going to Mo Williams early to get him in rhythm. He has responded with all 5 of their points so far, 8-5 Orlando.
8.36 - Lebron gets the dunk in transition after a Turkoglu turnover, 10-9 Orlando.
7.00 - Dwight with a big block, only his third of the series as Mo Williams drives. At the other end he is fouled and heads to the line. Howard was 14/19 in game 3 and hits both here to move Orlando up 17-12.
5.35 - AMAZING pass from LBJ as he finds Varejao with a behind the back pass, 19-16 Orlando and the first timeout by Orlando.
Varejao just picked up his second foul, Cleveland can't afford to have him sitting on the bench for large portions of the game.
2.07 - Lebron hears nothing but net as he nails an uncontested three. Orlando have gone a little cold in the last few minutes and the Cavs lead by 4, 23-19.
End of 1st - Orlando finish on a 0/9 run and the Cavs lead 25-21. Good quarter for Cleveland as their movement is much improved and have already seen some impact from their bench. Orlando have lost their touch but have spent most of the early periods of the previous games behind so won't be too phased by this.
2nd Quarter
Howard immediately powers down a dunk that shook the arena, 13 points for him so far.
10.40 - You can't leave Hedo Turkoglu that much space on the perimeter...or Mickael Pietrus. Back to back threes and Orlando move ahead 29-27.
Lebron is off the floor right now and it shows. They are lacking direction offensively and giving up some good looks to the Magic. Speaking of, turnover by the Cavs and Anthony Johnson has an easy lay up.
Lebron returns, grabs a rebound, draws a foul and hits both, 35-33 Orlando.
6.45 - Quick ball movement and Pietrus scores from downtown. Turkoglu is running the show right now and Orlando lead by 5.
4.48 - It's all going the Magic's way now as Pietrus drives and feeds Gortat who has an easy slam. The role players for Orlando are the difference in this series right now and Gortat looks to be as good a backup centre as there is in the league. He's keeping Howard on the bench! 43-35 Orlando
Cleveland roll on a 7-0 run. Simply can's predict the momentum of this game. Lebron now scores on a nice move to put Cleveland back ahead 44-43.
1.51 - What a move by Lebron. Pietrus has proved a tough defender tonight (and in the series) and with nowhere to go, Lebron backs in before spinning and getting a shot off under a lot of contact. Count it plus the foul. 50-46 Cleveland
1.12 - Welcome to the party Daniel Gibson. A three from the young guard who has hardly played in the playoffs after being a major contributor in his rookie year.
0.00.6 - Gibson hits another three, he came to play.
End of 2nd - Cleveland finish the half up 58-50. James is playing efficiently but not having to carry his team (17/5/5). Big threes by Gibson to end the half but Orlando are only a streak of threes away from the Cavs right now, as is the nature of this game and the Magic's style of offense.
3rd quarter
9.49 - A nightmare start to the half for Cleveland. Alston hits seven straight points and the Cavs are playing some sloppy offensive series. 58-57 Cleveland and a timeout.
8.41 - Williams speeds to the basket and scores but Alston scores yet again from outside. Varejao answers and the pace of this game has picked up considerably. Much to my annoyance but probably correctly, Van Gundy calls a timeout with Cleveland stretching ahead 67-60.
6.46 - Mo Williams now has 16 points after making a tough shot and getting another from the line. 70-63 Cavs.
This game is really heating up as the Cavs go small and are hustling up and down the court while Orlando's stars seem to have awoken from their slumber.
4.11 - Big moment in the context of this series. Howard makes a good move, scores a lay up and gets fouled by Anderson Varejao but then gives up a technical foul for taunting (and a harsh call it appears). That could lead to a suspension. 74-71 Cleveland after the foul throws and some more taunting, this time towards the officials from the crowd.
LBJ just hit a ridiculous three. He had no right to take the shot let alone sink it. 24 now for him.
'Retro' Ben Wallace as he stifles Howard in the paint. A former defensive MVP showing he can hang with the current defensive MVP.
Shaq-Diesel is in the crowd. He looks pretty baked.
0.36 - Rafer Alston lays in another and has 15 in the quarter.
End of 3rd - 79-78 Cleveland. James took a couple of poor shots towards the end of the quarter and despite some firm D from Ben Wallace, Orlando have found themselves right back in this game. Real quiet night for Rashard Lewis so far; only 4 points, 5 boards and no assists.
4th quarter
10.51 - Again Orlando start a quarter on the front foot, Pietrus benefiting from quick ball movement and hitting from outside the arc. 81-79 Magic.
Rafer Alston is on fire. Another three and he now has 26 points, a playoff career high for him, and on 10/14 shooting. 86-83 Orlando.
Cleveland are looking ragged, poor possessions and little defence. The demons of the first three games are rearing their heads now as Orlando burst once again. How psychologically damaging is the speed at which the Magic can string together points?
7.46 - Courtney Lee receives the feed from Turkoglu and hits from three. 91-83 Orlando and this is their biggest lead of the night. At this rate, Cleveland will be staring down the barrel when the series heads back to the Q.
The Cavs are asking Lebron James to do it all on his own once again. This strategy is surely doomed but hey, he is the King. He has 27 points in 38 minutes of play so far.
4.54 - Timeout by the Magic as they continue to lead but only 93-90. One minute they look unstoppable, the next, well...you get the picture. I know Lebron will be pleased with the chance to catch breath.
4.19 - On cue, Rashard Lewis is starting to ignite. His three comes right after Delonte West missed a wide open chance to level the score after good work from James. 96-90 Orlando and Lewis has 11 points.
Alston wide open...but he misses. And he is made to pay as Varejao completes a three-point-play. Any big three (and they are shooting a ridiculously high 50% from threeland) for Orlando could yet be the final dagger. 96-93 Magic.
1.58 - After giving the ball away in consecutive possessions, Lebron slices through and dunks all over the Magic. Cleveland have stepped up their defence in the closing minutes. 96-95 Orlando
Dwight Howard scores one of two from the line but Delonte West, who has played very well tonight, drives right at Howard and scores. 97-97 with only a 1.10 remaining.
1.05 - Lebron draws the foul but scores just one. Enough to give them their first lead in forever.
0.21 - James has the chance to finish the game but hits the rim on a step back J. Orlando can win this right now.
0.07 - Pietrus misses the three shot and the ball goes out of bounds. Magic ball with 6.4 seconds left and the Cavs up by one. Another great finish here. You have to love playoff basketball.
Big 6 odd seconds here, this could be decisive. Everything that was on the line before the game is condensed into probably one play. Where do the Magic look? Alston has had a big game but I figure they look for Rashard.
0.04.1 - They do go to Lewis and he HITS FROM THREE! 4 seconds remaining and Orlando are up by 2! This guy has ice in his veins and nails another big shot in these playoffs. But have they scored too early. Lebron, your team needs you...
Orlando cannot make the same mistake they did in game 2 and let Lebron hit the game-winner. Make Mo Williams or Delonte West make the shot.
0.00.5 - James does receive the ball and is tripped as he tries to pass. With no time left, he has two free throws to tie the game and send us to OT. His free throw shooting in this series has been inconsistent and is 10/14 from the line tonight.
First shot...scores
Second shot...to tie the game...and send us to OT...the big shot...no pressure...hey batter, batter, batter, batter... he makes it (just)...of course. Scores tied.
Orlando may have the chance for one final shot. Turkoglu to inbound it and he looks for Howard on the lob but he can't quite get it under pressure from Varejao. The crowd are screaming for a foul but it looked like a fair collision. 100-100 and we are headed for another period in this cracker of a basketball game.
end of 4th - Drama here in Florida, will the extra minutes put in by the Cavs starters cost them in extra minutes?
Overtime (5 minutes)
4.34 - First blood Cleveland as Daniel Gibson scores two foul shots. 102-100 Cavs
3.39 - Howard with two storming dunks to give Orlando back the lead. He looks absolutely fierce right now.
3.08 - LBJ from downtown. 37 points for the MVP but Howard responds in the paint again to maintain the edge for the Magic.
Varejao is fouled out as he tries to strip Howard. That won't help. Big Z will now have to cover Dwight.
2.10 - Pietrus with a three, the Magic's 17th of the game and its a 4 point margin.
Lebron commits another tired looking turnover (his 8th of the game) and Howard is able to stretch the lead as he taps in Turkoglu's shot. 111-105 Orlando with time running out. Howard is dominating in this overtime.
1.06 - Lebron makes a near impossible basket with his left hand. Lead down to 4 but the clock is the Cav's biggest opponent now.
0.39 - James back to the line and he hits both. 111-109 Orlando.
0.21 - Dwight is fouled. Hows his FT shooting tonight? 5/7 coming into this but he nails both to restore the lead to 4.
We have seen nothing of Mo Williams since the first half.
Lebron drives in the lane but gets blocked by Dwight Howard. Jump ball and if Orlando can tip this, the game is as good as over, but they don't. Cleveland ball and a foul by Pietrus.
0.07.4 - Ilgauskus scores two free throws to cut the advantage to 2. West then fouls Lewis on the inbounds and he goes to the line. One...and two. Looks, finally, to be beyond the Cavaliers now. 115-111 Orlando and King James could be on the way to being dethroned before he even gets coronated. That was the plan right? Cleveland v Lakers? Lebron v Kobe? Maybe not.
0.04.1 - Or just maybe as Lebron scores a three and they foul Rashard immediately. 115-114 Orlando.
Lewis misses the first FT. Game on.
Lewis scores the second and now the Cavaliers have 3.2 seconds to get the ball up court and get a shot off. Tense.
Williams throws the ball up to LBJ who heads across mid-court and launches...he misses. A real tough shot but I bet everybody in the arena thought he would score right there.
End of OT - Orlando 116 - 114 Cleveland. Tough loss for Cleveland; energy sapping, emotion draining and physically back-breaking. The Cavs head home and must look for some inspiration to overcome a team they have yet to get to grips with. For the Magic, they are 3/4 of the way there. Lebron scored 44 but Orlando had big contributions in each quarter and seem to have more options for the big shot. Alston, Turkoglu, Lewis and Pietrus all played their part but this game was won by Dwight Howard's aggression and nerve down the stretch.
Game 5 is in Cleveland on Thursday.
James has been as advertised but the supporting cast have struggled to contain their opponents and have been shooting poorly. Orlando, on the other hand, have surprised everybody by being an defensive force, hitting just about every big shot that has come their way and would be 3-0 up in the series if not for some of King James' heroics in game 2.
Tonight is huge for both teams. An Orlando win and they are a game from the finals, a Cleveland victory and they regain home-court advantage. Everything to play for then in game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Pre-game - virtually a must-win for the Cavs, Mo Williams has gone as far to guarantee it, but they have yet to win at Amway Arena this season and have shown few signs of the dominance that most people expected. I think Cleveland might just steal this one but they have to limit Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis to contested shots and find some way to slow down Dwight Howard (Lebron driving at him and getting him in foul trouble as he did in game 3 could be the answer, just don't leave Big Z on him for 30 minutes). Offensively, with the exception of James, their field goal percentage has been abysmal. Delonte West (.419), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (.382) and particularly Mo Williams (.321, .250 from 3 range) have struggled and have all missed easy shots with regularity. Cleveland have to find other scoring threats and limit the turnovers that hand the Magic points in transition. For Orlando, it's business as usual; spread the ball around, get big contributions off the bench (which the Cavs have failed to do) and take what the Cavs give you (either down low to Dwight or on the edge to Hedo, Rashard and Rafer). The one concern for them will be how to stop Lebron, particularly if the guys around him start to pick up their game. Ideally, they would bring Howard up towards the key to stop James driving into the lane and picking up all those foul shots while pressing him into errors. Mickael Pietrus has been a big part of the campaign to stop Lebron and there's a good piece on his journey to the NBA here http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=sheridan_chris&page=pietrus-090526
1st quarter
12:00 - tip off in Orlando. Cleveland with the first point on a Mo Williams' technical. Alston immediately replies with a 3. Hard to remember them missing many of those.
10.48 - Dwight Howard with a stuff, 5-1 Orlando
Cleveland seem to be going to Mo Williams early to get him in rhythm. He has responded with all 5 of their points so far, 8-5 Orlando.
8.36 - Lebron gets the dunk in transition after a Turkoglu turnover, 10-9 Orlando.
7.00 - Dwight with a big block, only his third of the series as Mo Williams drives. At the other end he is fouled and heads to the line. Howard was 14/19 in game 3 and hits both here to move Orlando up 17-12.
5.35 - AMAZING pass from LBJ as he finds Varejao with a behind the back pass, 19-16 Orlando and the first timeout by Orlando.
Varejao just picked up his second foul, Cleveland can't afford to have him sitting on the bench for large portions of the game.
2.07 - Lebron hears nothing but net as he nails an uncontested three. Orlando have gone a little cold in the last few minutes and the Cavs lead by 4, 23-19.
End of 1st - Orlando finish on a 0/9 run and the Cavs lead 25-21. Good quarter for Cleveland as their movement is much improved and have already seen some impact from their bench. Orlando have lost their touch but have spent most of the early periods of the previous games behind so won't be too phased by this.
2nd Quarter
Howard immediately powers down a dunk that shook the arena, 13 points for him so far.
10.40 - You can't leave Hedo Turkoglu that much space on the perimeter...or Mickael Pietrus. Back to back threes and Orlando move ahead 29-27.
Lebron is off the floor right now and it shows. They are lacking direction offensively and giving up some good looks to the Magic. Speaking of, turnover by the Cavs and Anthony Johnson has an easy lay up.
Lebron returns, grabs a rebound, draws a foul and hits both, 35-33 Orlando.
6.45 - Quick ball movement and Pietrus scores from downtown. Turkoglu is running the show right now and Orlando lead by 5.
4.48 - It's all going the Magic's way now as Pietrus drives and feeds Gortat who has an easy slam. The role players for Orlando are the difference in this series right now and Gortat looks to be as good a backup centre as there is in the league. He's keeping Howard on the bench! 43-35 Orlando
Cleveland roll on a 7-0 run. Simply can's predict the momentum of this game. Lebron now scores on a nice move to put Cleveland back ahead 44-43.
1.51 - What a move by Lebron. Pietrus has proved a tough defender tonight (and in the series) and with nowhere to go, Lebron backs in before spinning and getting a shot off under a lot of contact. Count it plus the foul. 50-46 Cleveland
1.12 - Welcome to the party Daniel Gibson. A three from the young guard who has hardly played in the playoffs after being a major contributor in his rookie year.
0.00.6 - Gibson hits another three, he came to play.
End of 2nd - Cleveland finish the half up 58-50. James is playing efficiently but not having to carry his team (17/5/5). Big threes by Gibson to end the half but Orlando are only a streak of threes away from the Cavs right now, as is the nature of this game and the Magic's style of offense.
3rd quarter
9.49 - A nightmare start to the half for Cleveland. Alston hits seven straight points and the Cavs are playing some sloppy offensive series. 58-57 Cleveland and a timeout.
8.41 - Williams speeds to the basket and scores but Alston scores yet again from outside. Varejao answers and the pace of this game has picked up considerably. Much to my annoyance but probably correctly, Van Gundy calls a timeout with Cleveland stretching ahead 67-60.
6.46 - Mo Williams now has 16 points after making a tough shot and getting another from the line. 70-63 Cavs.
This game is really heating up as the Cavs go small and are hustling up and down the court while Orlando's stars seem to have awoken from their slumber.
4.11 - Big moment in the context of this series. Howard makes a good move, scores a lay up and gets fouled by Anderson Varejao but then gives up a technical foul for taunting (and a harsh call it appears). That could lead to a suspension. 74-71 Cleveland after the foul throws and some more taunting, this time towards the officials from the crowd.
LBJ just hit a ridiculous three. He had no right to take the shot let alone sink it. 24 now for him.
'Retro' Ben Wallace as he stifles Howard in the paint. A former defensive MVP showing he can hang with the current defensive MVP.
Shaq-Diesel is in the crowd. He looks pretty baked.
0.36 - Rafer Alston lays in another and has 15 in the quarter.
End of 3rd - 79-78 Cleveland. James took a couple of poor shots towards the end of the quarter and despite some firm D from Ben Wallace, Orlando have found themselves right back in this game. Real quiet night for Rashard Lewis so far; only 4 points, 5 boards and no assists.
4th quarter
10.51 - Again Orlando start a quarter on the front foot, Pietrus benefiting from quick ball movement and hitting from outside the arc. 81-79 Magic.
Rafer Alston is on fire. Another three and he now has 26 points, a playoff career high for him, and on 10/14 shooting. 86-83 Orlando.
Cleveland are looking ragged, poor possessions and little defence. The demons of the first three games are rearing their heads now as Orlando burst once again. How psychologically damaging is the speed at which the Magic can string together points?
7.46 - Courtney Lee receives the feed from Turkoglu and hits from three. 91-83 Orlando and this is their biggest lead of the night. At this rate, Cleveland will be staring down the barrel when the series heads back to the Q.
The Cavs are asking Lebron James to do it all on his own once again. This strategy is surely doomed but hey, he is the King. He has 27 points in 38 minutes of play so far.
4.54 - Timeout by the Magic as they continue to lead but only 93-90. One minute they look unstoppable, the next, well...you get the picture. I know Lebron will be pleased with the chance to catch breath.
4.19 - On cue, Rashard Lewis is starting to ignite. His three comes right after Delonte West missed a wide open chance to level the score after good work from James. 96-90 Orlando and Lewis has 11 points.
Alston wide open...but he misses. And he is made to pay as Varejao completes a three-point-play. Any big three (and they are shooting a ridiculously high 50% from threeland) for Orlando could yet be the final dagger. 96-93 Magic.
1.58 - After giving the ball away in consecutive possessions, Lebron slices through and dunks all over the Magic. Cleveland have stepped up their defence in the closing minutes. 96-95 Orlando
Dwight Howard scores one of two from the line but Delonte West, who has played very well tonight, drives right at Howard and scores. 97-97 with only a 1.10 remaining.
1.05 - Lebron draws the foul but scores just one. Enough to give them their first lead in forever.
0.21 - James has the chance to finish the game but hits the rim on a step back J. Orlando can win this right now.
0.07 - Pietrus misses the three shot and the ball goes out of bounds. Magic ball with 6.4 seconds left and the Cavs up by one. Another great finish here. You have to love playoff basketball.
Big 6 odd seconds here, this could be decisive. Everything that was on the line before the game is condensed into probably one play. Where do the Magic look? Alston has had a big game but I figure they look for Rashard.
0.04.1 - They do go to Lewis and he HITS FROM THREE! 4 seconds remaining and Orlando are up by 2! This guy has ice in his veins and nails another big shot in these playoffs. But have they scored too early. Lebron, your team needs you...
Orlando cannot make the same mistake they did in game 2 and let Lebron hit the game-winner. Make Mo Williams or Delonte West make the shot.
0.00.5 - James does receive the ball and is tripped as he tries to pass. With no time left, he has two free throws to tie the game and send us to OT. His free throw shooting in this series has been inconsistent and is 10/14 from the line tonight.
First shot...scores
Second shot...to tie the game...and send us to OT...the big shot...no pressure...hey batter, batter, batter, batter... he makes it (just)...of course. Scores tied.
Orlando may have the chance for one final shot. Turkoglu to inbound it and he looks for Howard on the lob but he can't quite get it under pressure from Varejao. The crowd are screaming for a foul but it looked like a fair collision. 100-100 and we are headed for another period in this cracker of a basketball game.
end of 4th - Drama here in Florida, will the extra minutes put in by the Cavs starters cost them in extra minutes?
Overtime (5 minutes)
4.34 - First blood Cleveland as Daniel Gibson scores two foul shots. 102-100 Cavs
3.39 - Howard with two storming dunks to give Orlando back the lead. He looks absolutely fierce right now.
3.08 - LBJ from downtown. 37 points for the MVP but Howard responds in the paint again to maintain the edge for the Magic.
Varejao is fouled out as he tries to strip Howard. That won't help. Big Z will now have to cover Dwight.
2.10 - Pietrus with a three, the Magic's 17th of the game and its a 4 point margin.
Lebron commits another tired looking turnover (his 8th of the game) and Howard is able to stretch the lead as he taps in Turkoglu's shot. 111-105 Orlando with time running out. Howard is dominating in this overtime.
1.06 - Lebron makes a near impossible basket with his left hand. Lead down to 4 but the clock is the Cav's biggest opponent now.
0.39 - James back to the line and he hits both. 111-109 Orlando.
0.21 - Dwight is fouled. Hows his FT shooting tonight? 5/7 coming into this but he nails both to restore the lead to 4.
We have seen nothing of Mo Williams since the first half.
Lebron drives in the lane but gets blocked by Dwight Howard. Jump ball and if Orlando can tip this, the game is as good as over, but they don't. Cleveland ball and a foul by Pietrus.
0.07.4 - Ilgauskus scores two free throws to cut the advantage to 2. West then fouls Lewis on the inbounds and he goes to the line. One...and two. Looks, finally, to be beyond the Cavaliers now. 115-111 Orlando and King James could be on the way to being dethroned before he even gets coronated. That was the plan right? Cleveland v Lakers? Lebron v Kobe? Maybe not.
0.04.1 - Or just maybe as Lebron scores a three and they foul Rashard immediately. 115-114 Orlando.
Lewis misses the first FT. Game on.
Lewis scores the second and now the Cavaliers have 3.2 seconds to get the ball up court and get a shot off. Tense.
Williams throws the ball up to LBJ who heads across mid-court and launches...he misses. A real tough shot but I bet everybody in the arena thought he would score right there.
End of OT - Orlando 116 - 114 Cleveland. Tough loss for Cleveland; energy sapping, emotion draining and physically back-breaking. The Cavs head home and must look for some inspiration to overcome a team they have yet to get to grips with. For the Magic, they are 3/4 of the way there. Lebron scored 44 but Orlando had big contributions in each quarter and seem to have more options for the big shot. Alston, Turkoglu, Lewis and Pietrus all played their part but this game was won by Dwight Howard's aggression and nerve down the stretch.
Game 5 is in Cleveland on Thursday.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
How do you solve a problem like Big Papi?
An ode to a hero of the Red Sox' two recent World Series triumphs who, a long time a go in a season not quite forgotten, actually hit 54 home runs.
To the tune of 'How do you solve a problem like Maria' from the Sound of Music
How do you solve a problem like Big Papi?
How do you get him to hit the homer?
How do you find the form that means Big Papi?
A swing of the bat
A roar of the crowd
A run!
Many a pitch you'd like to him to hit
Many a time he ought to walk to first
But how do you make him great?
And return to his former state?
Why did the bubble have to burst?
Oh how do you solve a problem like Big Papi...
How can his season get any worse...
Alternate Ending:
Oh how do you solve a problem like Big Papi...
How do you turn his .304 slugging percentage and .196 batting average into anything remotely respectable for the love of god.
To the tune of 'How do you solve a problem like Maria' from the Sound of Music
How do you solve a problem like Big Papi?
How do you get him to hit the homer?
How do you find the form that means Big Papi?
A swing of the bat
A roar of the crowd
A run!
Many a pitch you'd like to him to hit
Many a time he ought to walk to first
But how do you make him great?
And return to his former state?
Why did the bubble have to burst?
Oh how do you solve a problem like Big Papi...
How can his season get any worse...
Alternate Ending:
Oh how do you solve a problem like Big Papi...
How do you turn his .304 slugging percentage and .196 batting average into anything remotely respectable for the love of god.
Sports Betting
The concept of gambling seems so much more acceptable if it is preceded by the term 'sports,' as if it were just a pleasant hobby. With that in mind, here are my picks for the next couple of days:
Cleveland to beat Orlando, 5/6
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals is essentially a must-win for the Cavs. Basketball is a game of momentum and while this has resided in Florida so far this series, Cleveland can wrestle it back tonight with a victory. I think the Cavs improve their anaemic non-Lebron FG% and win this one.
188+ points between Orlando and Cleveland 5/6
Every game in this series so far has yielded at least 188 points so far.
Barcelona to beat Man Utd 17/10No team has ever retained the Champions League and there has to be some element of 'destiny' attached to their late, late winner at Stamford Bridge.
Ronaldo to score first but Barcelona to win 2-1 80/1
A bit of a shot in the dark but Ronaldo appears United's likeliest scorer and Barca are one of the few teams that wouldn't be phased by falling behind in a final like this. These are two very attacking teams and there should be goals.
Patrice Evra to receive the first yellow card 10/1, Carles Puyol to receive the first yellow card 11/1
Evra will be up against Messi and his magnetic touch. Puyol missed the second leg of the semi as a result of suspension and will likely be matched up against the irrepressible Ronaldo. A difficult task for both and either could be subject to a caution early.
Lazio to beat Juventus 7/1
The draw is at 3/1 and may be the better bet here but Lazio have won their last two games while Juve have just one in their last eight. Juventus' home record is fairly average and Lazio's away record pretty good, so with both teams having little to play for, Lazio could spring a surprise.
And a couple for the long term:
Wladimir Klitschko to beat David Haye 1/2
It's tempting to wager on Klitschko winning in Round 3 at 12/1 but Heavyweight fights often involve a 'feeling out' process early on. The size, reach and experience advantage all reside with Klitschko and Haye will be hard pressed to survive this fight for long. Could Haye win by KO (7/1)? Hard to imagine but realistically it seems like his best chance to win the fight.
The Twins to win the AL Central 4/1
This is a scrappy division and is essentially wide open. Minnesota's pitching has underperformed so far but in Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Glen Perkins and Nick Blackburn have a solid rotation that should improve its numbers and in Joe Nathan, have arguably the best closer in the game. Offensively, they have been good with Joe Mauer playing out of his mind and the likes of Morneau, Kubel and Cuddyer all contributing. Detroit lead the division and really any of the teams could make a run at the pennant but Minnesota may provide the best value. (possible side bet on the White Sox at 13/2)
Cleveland to beat Orlando, 5/6
Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals is essentially a must-win for the Cavs. Basketball is a game of momentum and while this has resided in Florida so far this series, Cleveland can wrestle it back tonight with a victory. I think the Cavs improve their anaemic non-Lebron FG% and win this one.
188+ points between Orlando and Cleveland 5/6
Every game in this series so far has yielded at least 188 points so far.
Barcelona to beat Man Utd 17/10No team has ever retained the Champions League and there has to be some element of 'destiny' attached to their late, late winner at Stamford Bridge.
Ronaldo to score first but Barcelona to win 2-1 80/1
A bit of a shot in the dark but Ronaldo appears United's likeliest scorer and Barca are one of the few teams that wouldn't be phased by falling behind in a final like this. These are two very attacking teams and there should be goals.
Patrice Evra to receive the first yellow card 10/1, Carles Puyol to receive the first yellow card 11/1
Evra will be up against Messi and his magnetic touch. Puyol missed the second leg of the semi as a result of suspension and will likely be matched up against the irrepressible Ronaldo. A difficult task for both and either could be subject to a caution early.
Lazio to beat Juventus 7/1
The draw is at 3/1 and may be the better bet here but Lazio have won their last two games while Juve have just one in their last eight. Juventus' home record is fairly average and Lazio's away record pretty good, so with both teams having little to play for, Lazio could spring a surprise.
And a couple for the long term:
Wladimir Klitschko to beat David Haye 1/2
It's tempting to wager on Klitschko winning in Round 3 at 12/1 but Heavyweight fights often involve a 'feeling out' process early on. The size, reach and experience advantage all reside with Klitschko and Haye will be hard pressed to survive this fight for long. Could Haye win by KO (7/1)? Hard to imagine but realistically it seems like his best chance to win the fight.
The Twins to win the AL Central 4/1
This is a scrappy division and is essentially wide open. Minnesota's pitching has underperformed so far but in Kevin Slowey, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Glen Perkins and Nick Blackburn have a solid rotation that should improve its numbers and in Joe Nathan, have arguably the best closer in the game. Offensively, they have been good with Joe Mauer playing out of his mind and the likes of Morneau, Kubel and Cuddyer all contributing. Detroit lead the division and really any of the teams could make a run at the pennant but Minnesota may provide the best value. (possible side bet on the White Sox at 13/2)
Monday, 25 May 2009
The First 11...Roy Keane Moments
For Jack, The 11 defining moments of Roy Keane's playing career.
Roy Keane has re-emerged into the footballing world recently as the new manager of Ipswich Town after his acrimonious departure from Sunderland last December. For all his media exposure however, Roy Keane, the manager, is still somewhat of an unknown quantity but Roy Keane, the player, was one of the most storied, recognised and notorious individuals in recent memory.
For many footballers, their highs and lows all take place on the field but it would be a prohibitive task to reduce his career to just a series of matches. Really, to abbreviate the man’s achievements (and failings) to a series of bullet points doesn’t quite do justice to a man who has had more said and written about him, plenty by himself, than just about anybody, but here goes:
11. Trial at Nottingham Forest 1990
Where it all began. Keane was playing semi-professional football for Cobh Ramblers in Ireland when he was offered a trial for Nottingham Forest in 1990. Brian Clough, then the manager of Forest, liked what he saw and parted £47,000 for the then 18 year old Keane. He became a regular in the side by the start of his second season and learnt under one of the finest managers in the game before he ever joined Manchester United.
10. Keane signs for United 1993
It seemed that Roy was set to join Blackburn Rovers after Forest were relegated following the 1992/3 campaign but, at the last minute, Alex Ferguson swooped in to steal Keane away from an irate Kenny Dalglish. Blackburn were a team on the rise - backed by the funds of Jack Walker they had finished 4th that season and had already broken the English transfer record for a young Alan Shearer, but Keane chose United and signed for £3.75 million that summer and helped develop a dynasty.
9. Manchester United 2 - 2 Crystal Palace 1995
The first of Keane’s 11 red cards. Keane collected them almost as readily as he did silverware during his 12 years with the Red Devils but, for all his combative tendencies, Keane had not shown the kind of malice that was seen in the FA cup semi final at Villa Park that day; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkqx8hL4MrA) Keane’s original challenge was poor but the stamp that would follow was the first of many actions that would bring his name into disrepute. United would win the replay only to lose to Everton in the final while Keane was fined £5,000 and suspended for three games.
8. Keane wins PFA and FWA Player of the Year 2000
Keane won the Player’s Player of the Year (by the largest margin ever) and Football Writer’s Association Player of the Year awards in 2000 after driving Manchester United to their 6th title in eight seasons and scoring six goals in twelve European games (he was arguably the best player in the Champions League that year until their second leg defeat to Real Madrid). Keane was the heartbeat of the United machine for many years, worked tirelessly for the cause, was as team orientated as they come and managed to get the best from his team mates but should not be considered anything but one of the best individual talents to grace the Premiership. He deservedly won individual honours for his efforts and was later described by Sir Alex Ferguson as ‘the best midfield player in the world of his generation.’
7. Leeds United 1 - 0 Manchester United 1997
Keane would later describe the injury caused by a reckless lunge on Alf-Inge Haaland in this game as ‘a good thing,’ suggesting that it was a turning point in his career and allowed him to see ‘the bigger picture.’ It may be better know as the first instalment of one of the most infamous and personal feuds in English football history. Keane would snap the cruciate ligament in his knee and fell to the floor in agony while Haaland, thinking that Keane was feigning injury to avoid a caution, would lean over him and voice his disdain. Such an accusation would live with Keane for the nine months that it took to heal and almost four years until he would face Haaland again. Yet, perhaps Keane was right. He would return the following season and lead United to the treble and his form over the next three years would see him peak as a player.
6. Keane blasts Rio on MUTV 2005
Roy Keane’s United career may have been edging to its conclusion anyway; he had intimated that he would leave the club at the end of the 2005/6 season when his contract expired and had rowed with Ferguson regarding the team’s pre-season arrangements. But one incident really got the ball rolling on his November 18th exit, his infamous rant on MUTV. Man Utd had been beaten 4-1 by Middlesbrough in the league, dropping to 7th place in the league, and Keane was not about to go easy on his team mates. Keane himself was sidelined by a foot injury sustained against Liverpool six weeks previously but with United stuttering, he unleashed a scathing attack on several players who appeared against Boro. The interview was so abrasive and damning that it was pulled by Reds’ hierarchy and the exact transcript is unknown but the suggestion was that Keane criticised Darren Fletcher, John O’Shea and Kieron Richardson among others. His strongest attack though was reserved for Rio Ferdinand, who had been substituted three minutes from time so that other players ‘did not have to cover his position’ (the words of assistant manager Carlos Quieroz). Keane was quoted as saying ‘Just because you are paid £120,000-a-week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you are a superstar’ in reference to Ferdinand and this appeared to be the final straw in his disrespectful war of words with other members of the team and management and would ultimately lead to the divorce from the team he represented for 12 years.
5. Arsenal 2 - 4 Manchester United 2005
Keane played in many big games and has an extensive list of match-winning performances (he was superb when Ireland beat Holland 1-0 at home in WC 2002 qualifying, scored both when United beat early in the 1999/00 season and immense as they beat Juventus in Turin in both 1999 and 2003) but few games gained the exposure that this match in February 2005 received. Chelsea would go on to win the league and Arsenal would take second but this match held more implications than league points. Patrick Viera and Roy Keane were the two best central midfielders in the country between 1999 and 2003 and while both were slightly waning from their exalted standard when they met towards the end of the 2004/5 season, they were still bitter rivals. They were the captains and ultimate representatives of two teams that had fought for the title for the best part of ten years and the antagonism between the sides was at its height in this game at Highbury.
The charged pre-match atmosphere almost boiled over before the teams came out of the tunnel as Patrick Viera confronted Gary Neville for a foul he had committed on Jose Antonio Reyes in their previous encounter. Roy Keane decided to step in and launched a verbal attack on Viera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFkYRXlwQxA) that threatened to force Graham Poll to send both players off before the kick off. In a game that was marred by some fairly appalling challenges, it was miraculous that there was only a single dismissal and that both Viera and Keane would see out the 90 minutes. Arsenal lead 2-1 after goals from Viera and Bergkamp but United would go on to win the game thanks to goals from Giggs, Ronaldo (2) and O’Shea. The match was testament to the leadership, aggression and determination of Keane and the controversy that surrounds him.
4. Eric Cantona retires 1997
Cantona, one of the clubs great icons, would unexpectedly retire at the end of the 1997 season and Roy Keane became his successor going into the 1997/8 season. Unfortunately for Keane, he would make just 9 league starts in the campaign as he would suffer a cruciate ligament injury against Leeds United but would become the most successful captain in the history of the club. With him at the helm, United would win 4 league titles, 2 FA cups and the Champions league and he embedded himself as the heart and soul of United for the some of the club’s finest years.
3. Walking out on Ireland 2002
Keane was captain of his country and veteran of 58 caps when Ireland headed for their World Cup training camp in Saipan, ahead of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Not shy of an opinion, Keane had voiced his displeasure about the lack of professionalism in the Irish set up ever since he debuted for his country in an under-21 fixture in 1991. He had disliked former manager Jack Charlton and was no more favourable to Mick McCarthy, the man who had lead them to the World Cup (in a very tough group also featuring Portugal and Holland). Keane was enraged by the inadequacies of their training facilities and the late arrival of the team’s training equipment after being reassured by McCarthy that the days of amateurish practice sessions were a thing of the past. He rowed with several coaches before requesting to return to Manchester but was convinced to return, however he detailed his concerns in an interview with the Irish Times.
The report that followed instigated a confrontation between manager and player as McCarthy, in front of the entire squad, questioned Keane only for Keane to launch an astonishing tirade, highlighted by the memorable quote ‘Mick, you're a liar … you're a f***ing wanker. I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person. You're a f***ing wanker and you can stick your World Cup up your arse. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your bollocks’
Keane left the training camp and, despite the best efforts of the Irish head of government, the FAI and the media, Keane refused to apologise and missed the World Cup that he had been so instrumental in qualifying for. Ireland, without their star and captain, would reach the second round before losing to Spain on penalties. Keane would return under the next manager, Brian Kerr, but Ireland’s failure to beat Switzerland in their final game meant that they missed the 2006 World Cup finals and Keane retired from international football.
2. Manchester United 1 - 1 Manchester City 2001
With the title essentially won, United would face their cross-town rivals on April 21st with only one thing on the mind of their captain. Five minutes from full time, Keane would plant his right foot into the knee of Haaland, the man who had goaded him almost four years previous, and received a straight red card from David Ellery. The ‘tackle’ did not, as some have contended, end the Norweigan’s career (he played for Norway only days later) but the foul was as blatant and malevolent as you will ever see.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRF2Zjyl29g&feature=related)
His autobiography commented on the incident: ‘I f**king hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c*nt. And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries.’ Keane was originally fined £5,000 and banned for three matches, however the remarks made in his autobiography increased his fine by £150,000 and his ban by five games.
1. Juventus 2 - 3 Manchester United 1999
One of the crowning glory’s of Keane’s career in one of the great games in European history. United met Juventus in the Stadio delle Alpi after drawing 1-1 at home in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash but fell two goals behind within 11 minutes and were seemingly beaten. Juventus were a European powerhouse and had qualified for three consecutive Champions League finals but their air of invincibility was destroyed by United. The epic comeback, a month before they would repeat the trick in Barcelona, was lead by Keane; he scored United’s first after 24 minutes but was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Zidane, ruling him out of the final should the Reds win the tie. Many a player would have been dispirited but not Keane. Ferguson stated that ‘Roy seemed to redouble his efforts. It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I've seen on a football field, inspiring all around him.’
Keane delivered a virtuoso performance and goals from Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, seven minutes from time, sent United through to their first Champions League final in 31 years. At every opportunity, Roy pushed United forward and seemed to will his team over the finish line. In typical fashion, his finest hour was marred by the booking that kept him out of the final and, despite United beating Bayern Munich to secure European football’s biggest prize, Keane viewed the game as one of the ‘worst experiences’ he had endured in football. Some say he has never even looked at his winner’s medal.
The standards set by that United team may have negatively effected Keane throughout the remainder of his playing career; unable to return to that level of success with United, he found regular opportunity to criticise the complacency he perceived in others. The frustrations he felt appeared to manifest itself in his ill discipline both on and off the field - red cards and outbursts, but it was his relentless drive for victory (that personified United at their best) that defined him most as a player and never was it more evident than that night in Turin.
Roy Keane has re-emerged into the footballing world recently as the new manager of Ipswich Town after his acrimonious departure from Sunderland last December. For all his media exposure however, Roy Keane, the manager, is still somewhat of an unknown quantity but Roy Keane, the player, was one of the most storied, recognised and notorious individuals in recent memory.
For many footballers, their highs and lows all take place on the field but it would be a prohibitive task to reduce his career to just a series of matches. Really, to abbreviate the man’s achievements (and failings) to a series of bullet points doesn’t quite do justice to a man who has had more said and written about him, plenty by himself, than just about anybody, but here goes:
11. Trial at Nottingham Forest 1990
Where it all began. Keane was playing semi-professional football for Cobh Ramblers in Ireland when he was offered a trial for Nottingham Forest in 1990. Brian Clough, then the manager of Forest, liked what he saw and parted £47,000 for the then 18 year old Keane. He became a regular in the side by the start of his second season and learnt under one of the finest managers in the game before he ever joined Manchester United.
10. Keane signs for United 1993
It seemed that Roy was set to join Blackburn Rovers after Forest were relegated following the 1992/3 campaign but, at the last minute, Alex Ferguson swooped in to steal Keane away from an irate Kenny Dalglish. Blackburn were a team on the rise - backed by the funds of Jack Walker they had finished 4th that season and had already broken the English transfer record for a young Alan Shearer, but Keane chose United and signed for £3.75 million that summer and helped develop a dynasty.
9. Manchester United 2 - 2 Crystal Palace 1995
The first of Keane’s 11 red cards. Keane collected them almost as readily as he did silverware during his 12 years with the Red Devils but, for all his combative tendencies, Keane had not shown the kind of malice that was seen in the FA cup semi final at Villa Park that day; (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkqx8hL4MrA) Keane’s original challenge was poor but the stamp that would follow was the first of many actions that would bring his name into disrepute. United would win the replay only to lose to Everton in the final while Keane was fined £5,000 and suspended for three games.
8. Keane wins PFA and FWA Player of the Year 2000
Keane won the Player’s Player of the Year (by the largest margin ever) and Football Writer’s Association Player of the Year awards in 2000 after driving Manchester United to their 6th title in eight seasons and scoring six goals in twelve European games (he was arguably the best player in the Champions League that year until their second leg defeat to Real Madrid). Keane was the heartbeat of the United machine for many years, worked tirelessly for the cause, was as team orientated as they come and managed to get the best from his team mates but should not be considered anything but one of the best individual talents to grace the Premiership. He deservedly won individual honours for his efforts and was later described by Sir Alex Ferguson as ‘the best midfield player in the world of his generation.’
7. Leeds United 1 - 0 Manchester United 1997
Keane would later describe the injury caused by a reckless lunge on Alf-Inge Haaland in this game as ‘a good thing,’ suggesting that it was a turning point in his career and allowed him to see ‘the bigger picture.’ It may be better know as the first instalment of one of the most infamous and personal feuds in English football history. Keane would snap the cruciate ligament in his knee and fell to the floor in agony while Haaland, thinking that Keane was feigning injury to avoid a caution, would lean over him and voice his disdain. Such an accusation would live with Keane for the nine months that it took to heal and almost four years until he would face Haaland again. Yet, perhaps Keane was right. He would return the following season and lead United to the treble and his form over the next three years would see him peak as a player.
6. Keane blasts Rio on MUTV 2005
Roy Keane’s United career may have been edging to its conclusion anyway; he had intimated that he would leave the club at the end of the 2005/6 season when his contract expired and had rowed with Ferguson regarding the team’s pre-season arrangements. But one incident really got the ball rolling on his November 18th exit, his infamous rant on MUTV. Man Utd had been beaten 4-1 by Middlesbrough in the league, dropping to 7th place in the league, and Keane was not about to go easy on his team mates. Keane himself was sidelined by a foot injury sustained against Liverpool six weeks previously but with United stuttering, he unleashed a scathing attack on several players who appeared against Boro. The interview was so abrasive and damning that it was pulled by Reds’ hierarchy and the exact transcript is unknown but the suggestion was that Keane criticised Darren Fletcher, John O’Shea and Kieron Richardson among others. His strongest attack though was reserved for Rio Ferdinand, who had been substituted three minutes from time so that other players ‘did not have to cover his position’ (the words of assistant manager Carlos Quieroz). Keane was quoted as saying ‘Just because you are paid £120,000-a-week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you are a superstar’ in reference to Ferdinand and this appeared to be the final straw in his disrespectful war of words with other members of the team and management and would ultimately lead to the divorce from the team he represented for 12 years.
5. Arsenal 2 - 4 Manchester United 2005
Keane played in many big games and has an extensive list of match-winning performances (he was superb when Ireland beat Holland 1-0 at home in WC 2002 qualifying, scored both when United beat early in the 1999/00 season and immense as they beat Juventus in Turin in both 1999 and 2003) but few games gained the exposure that this match in February 2005 received. Chelsea would go on to win the league and Arsenal would take second but this match held more implications than league points. Patrick Viera and Roy Keane were the two best central midfielders in the country between 1999 and 2003 and while both were slightly waning from their exalted standard when they met towards the end of the 2004/5 season, they were still bitter rivals. They were the captains and ultimate representatives of two teams that had fought for the title for the best part of ten years and the antagonism between the sides was at its height in this game at Highbury.
The charged pre-match atmosphere almost boiled over before the teams came out of the tunnel as Patrick Viera confronted Gary Neville for a foul he had committed on Jose Antonio Reyes in their previous encounter. Roy Keane decided to step in and launched a verbal attack on Viera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFkYRXlwQxA) that threatened to force Graham Poll to send both players off before the kick off. In a game that was marred by some fairly appalling challenges, it was miraculous that there was only a single dismissal and that both Viera and Keane would see out the 90 minutes. Arsenal lead 2-1 after goals from Viera and Bergkamp but United would go on to win the game thanks to goals from Giggs, Ronaldo (2) and O’Shea. The match was testament to the leadership, aggression and determination of Keane and the controversy that surrounds him.
4. Eric Cantona retires 1997
Cantona, one of the clubs great icons, would unexpectedly retire at the end of the 1997 season and Roy Keane became his successor going into the 1997/8 season. Unfortunately for Keane, he would make just 9 league starts in the campaign as he would suffer a cruciate ligament injury against Leeds United but would become the most successful captain in the history of the club. With him at the helm, United would win 4 league titles, 2 FA cups and the Champions league and he embedded himself as the heart and soul of United for the some of the club’s finest years.
3. Walking out on Ireland 2002
Keane was captain of his country and veteran of 58 caps when Ireland headed for their World Cup training camp in Saipan, ahead of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Not shy of an opinion, Keane had voiced his displeasure about the lack of professionalism in the Irish set up ever since he debuted for his country in an under-21 fixture in 1991. He had disliked former manager Jack Charlton and was no more favourable to Mick McCarthy, the man who had lead them to the World Cup (in a very tough group also featuring Portugal and Holland). Keane was enraged by the inadequacies of their training facilities and the late arrival of the team’s training equipment after being reassured by McCarthy that the days of amateurish practice sessions were a thing of the past. He rowed with several coaches before requesting to return to Manchester but was convinced to return, however he detailed his concerns in an interview with the Irish Times.
The report that followed instigated a confrontation between manager and player as McCarthy, in front of the entire squad, questioned Keane only for Keane to launch an astonishing tirade, highlighted by the memorable quote ‘Mick, you're a liar … you're a f***ing wanker. I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person. You're a f***ing wanker and you can stick your World Cup up your arse. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country! You can stick it up your bollocks’
Keane left the training camp and, despite the best efforts of the Irish head of government, the FAI and the media, Keane refused to apologise and missed the World Cup that he had been so instrumental in qualifying for. Ireland, without their star and captain, would reach the second round before losing to Spain on penalties. Keane would return under the next manager, Brian Kerr, but Ireland’s failure to beat Switzerland in their final game meant that they missed the 2006 World Cup finals and Keane retired from international football.
2. Manchester United 1 - 1 Manchester City 2001
With the title essentially won, United would face their cross-town rivals on April 21st with only one thing on the mind of their captain. Five minutes from full time, Keane would plant his right foot into the knee of Haaland, the man who had goaded him almost four years previous, and received a straight red card from David Ellery. The ‘tackle’ did not, as some have contended, end the Norweigan’s career (he played for Norway only days later) but the foul was as blatant and malevolent as you will ever see.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRF2Zjyl29g&feature=related)
His autobiography commented on the incident: ‘I f**king hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c*nt. And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries.’ Keane was originally fined £5,000 and banned for three matches, however the remarks made in his autobiography increased his fine by £150,000 and his ban by five games.
1. Juventus 2 - 3 Manchester United 1999
One of the crowning glory’s of Keane’s career in one of the great games in European history. United met Juventus in the Stadio delle Alpi after drawing 1-1 at home in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash but fell two goals behind within 11 minutes and were seemingly beaten. Juventus were a European powerhouse and had qualified for three consecutive Champions League finals but their air of invincibility was destroyed by United. The epic comeback, a month before they would repeat the trick in Barcelona, was lead by Keane; he scored United’s first after 24 minutes but was then shown a yellow card for a foul on Zidane, ruling him out of the final should the Reds win the tie. Many a player would have been dispirited but not Keane. Ferguson stated that ‘Roy seemed to redouble his efforts. It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I've seen on a football field, inspiring all around him.’
Keane delivered a virtuoso performance and goals from Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, seven minutes from time, sent United through to their first Champions League final in 31 years. At every opportunity, Roy pushed United forward and seemed to will his team over the finish line. In typical fashion, his finest hour was marred by the booking that kept him out of the final and, despite United beating Bayern Munich to secure European football’s biggest prize, Keane viewed the game as one of the ‘worst experiences’ he had endured in football. Some say he has never even looked at his winner’s medal.
The standards set by that United team may have negatively effected Keane throughout the remainder of his playing career; unable to return to that level of success with United, he found regular opportunity to criticise the complacency he perceived in others. The frustrations he felt appeared to manifest itself in his ill discipline both on and off the field - red cards and outbursts, but it was his relentless drive for victory (that personified United at their best) that defined him most as a player and never was it more evident than that night in Turin.
Time to Move on
I've been starting to think, as of late, that life and sport may share on of the most important maxims - you have to know when to move on.
In sport, of your'e not shooting well, pass the ball. In life, if your'e bored of your job, perhaps its time to leave. Veteran player not doing doing it anymore? Let him go or trade him away. Girl not returning your phone calls? Plenty more fish in the sea.
Failing to recognise this causes some of the most depressing moments in both sport and life. Rather than getting a little burnt, recognising it and finding a solution, you end up at the very bottom; rebuilding your franchise = rebuilding your life, being embarrassingly bad = feeling embarrassingly bad. Stayed at the same club too long = stayed at the same club too long.
Seems like a positive symmetry. Considering the amount of sport i watch, i really shouldn't make that mistake.
In sport, of your'e not shooting well, pass the ball. In life, if your'e bored of your job, perhaps its time to leave. Veteran player not doing doing it anymore? Let him go or trade him away. Girl not returning your phone calls? Plenty more fish in the sea.
Failing to recognise this causes some of the most depressing moments in both sport and life. Rather than getting a little burnt, recognising it and finding a solution, you end up at the very bottom; rebuilding your franchise = rebuilding your life, being embarrassingly bad = feeling embarrassingly bad. Stayed at the same club too long = stayed at the same club too long.
Seems like a positive symmetry. Considering the amount of sport i watch, i really shouldn't make that mistake.
Sunday, 24 May 2009
New-castle
24.05.09 Newcastle Utd are relegated to the Championship. An abject season in which they rarely appeared to have enough quality or desire to survive.
08.08.09 Newcastle Utd will begin their first season in the Championship, their first in the second tier of English football since 1993. My money is on an away tie at Peterborough.
How they got here? Mismanagement from the dugout, conflict in the board room, poor decisions in regard to personnel both on and off the field; the recent history of the Magpies is as tumultuous as any in this country. The fact that it took so many blows to finally knock out one of England's most famous and well supported clubs is testament to the position that this club was in at its recent peak, when Bobby Robson managed the club to consecutive Champions League qualifying finishes in 2002 and 2003. Robson was fired in 2004 after a poor start to the 04/05 campaign and 'only' a fifth placed finish the year previously in the league. Newcastle were considered to have a young, up-and-coming, vibrant group of players that could challenge at the summit of English football for years to come (featuring the likes of Jermaine Jenas, James Milner, Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Craig Bellamy and of course talismanic centre forward, Alan Shearer)
The clubs last major trophy came in 1969 - The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and despite challenging for the title in the mid-90's, Newcastle's futility, coupled with their relegation, have begun to redefine what 'success' means to this club. Their immediate priority will be to return to the Premier League. Should they do that, they will have to ensure their survival, a task that is the primary requirement of at least half the teams in the hyper-competitive top flight.
So, now that Newcastle have redetermined the boundaries of the phrase 'too good to go down,' how do they go about rebuilding and returning to the Premiership? Here's a couple of ideas:
Revolution - a sudden, complete or marked change in something
As Shearer professed after the defeat to Aston Villa (The post-match interview on Sky Sports was one of the most honest and forthright I have sever seen) the team, indeed the entire club, needs complete overhaul. Mike Ashley, the current owner, surely won't be inclined to sell the club now that they have plummeted down a division and are therefore, worth far less than a Premiership outfit. Ashley has been under immense scrutiny ever since his involvement with the club began but has been unable to find a potential buyer and has taken the club off the market.
Ashley’s administration has seen numerous incident to rile the Toon Army but, with the appointment of Shearer and the dismissal of Dennis Wise, Ashley’s cohort in the dubbed ‘cockney mafia,’ he appears to have somewhat reset the feelings of the Geordie faithful. Wise will not be replaced which indicates the manager, whomever that will be, will have autonomy in regard to personnel decisions and it is in this area that the club will make the most headlines. However, for the club to be successful, the board, the chairman, the owner, the manager and every other member of the club’s staff will have to buy into the same vision, something that has not been evident for a long time.
Resolution - the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action
The club need a plan, not just to gain promotion, but to build a team that can compete amongst the best in the country; the fans will accept nothing less. The side has been managed by 9 men in just three seasons and have suffered, as most teams do, from a constant revision of tactics and ideology. If this team is to find a place back amongst the elite they need to return to the consistency and evolution that were evident under Robson and Keegan (in his first spell). At this moment, it is difficult to determine how talented a manger Shearer may be but certainly nobody can question his passion and commitment to the cause and, if he wants the job, retaining Shearer should be Mike Ashley’s initial concern. If nothing else, he knows the limits of the playing staff currently under contract and will have the fan’s backing. If and when Shearer is confirmed as the permanent manager of Newcastle United, the work can begin on resolving how to rebuild this team.
Rejuvenation - to restore to a former state; make fresh or new again
Expect a fire-sale; Newcastle’s wage budget currently stands at around £800,000 per week and this is simply too rich for the Championship. Michael Owen, Fabricio Coloccini, Alan Smith, Xisco, Geremi, Damien Duff, Jonas, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins (some of the highest wage earners) are all likely to leave while the contracts of Cacapa and Peter Lovenkrands expire at the end of the season. Joey Barton definitely will not be back. Unfortunately, few of these players will fetch a high price - Coloccini and Xisco may recoup less than half the estimated £15 million that they were signed for, and with the club’s revenue certain to fall markedly next year, their may be meagre funds to work with in replacing their ‘premier’ talents. Despite Ashley’s estimated £1.3 billion fortune, Newcastle spent less money than they recouped over the past year (including selling Shay Given to Manchester City despite clearly fighting against relegation) and there is no guarantee that the owner will supplement a spending spree.
And nor should he. No doubt they will have to sign players, even if just to fill the gaps left by the exodus from St. James’ Park, but this team will not necessarily be improved by throwing money at big names. In the likes of Steve Harper, Ryan Taylor, Danny Guthrie, David Edgar, Shola Ameobi, Steven Taylor, Andy Carrol, Sebastien Bassong, Habib Beye, Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt (Beye and Bassong may be hardest to keep) the team have a base of players that want to play for the club and can be relied upon at the level they will find themselves at next term. In addition, Newcastle have a number of young players that have shown promise in the Reserve and Youth teams; Nile Ranger is a quick and strong forward, Mark Doninger has 12 goals from midfield for the reserves, Tamas Kadar and Ben Tozer are young defenders signed in January that may both get the chance to impress and Kazenga LuaLua, brother of former player Lomano LuaLua, is a vastly talented winger that has already appeared 5 times for the Toon.
Newcastle should focus on developing some of their young talent and complementing them with high-character individuals who have the ability to perform in both the Championship and eventually the Premiership.
The temptation will be to lure experienced players to the club to ensure promotion at the first attempt and then address the following campaign when need be. But Newcastle have an opportunity to use one of their darkest days as a catalyst to rebuild the club. Newcastle fans must be tired of seeing players whose best years are behind them and don’t have the legs anymore. They need something to be excited about, some heroes to cheer, some home-grown stars in the image of their manager. Ok, so that’s a tough ask of a side that fell out of the top flight with hardly a whimper but with a fresh start comes almost infinite possibility.
Optimism may be far from any Geordie’s heart or head right now, perhaps that’s a good thing considering the fate of many of the teams relegated from the Premiership; Leeds United languish in League 1, Norwich, Southampton and Charlton will all be there next season and 40% of the teams that have been relegated have not returned. If Newcastle weren’t too big or too good to go down this year, then why not next year? Well managed clubs, those that don’t panic buy and are fiscally prudent, tend to challenge quite rapidly though; of the three teams relegated to the Championship last year, Birmingham secured a quick return, Reading made the playoffs (and may well have finished in an automatic promotion slot but for an end of season slump) and only Derby struggled (although they were the worst team in Premier League history). A couple of seasons ago, perennial Premiership-Championship yo-yo teams all finished in the top 4. Newcastle will have to show desire and can’t take anything for granted but this club, for all it’s problems, has a strong enough base both on and off the field to concern itself more with the top of the table than the bottom.
Which players might Newcastle identify as individuals that can propel them back to the big time and beyond? Daniel Fox (Coventry) is young, highly-rated left back that was linked with Newcastle in January, Joe Ledley (Cardiff) is considered one of the most gifted players outside the Premiership and at just 22, has more caps for his country, 27, than he has had birthdays. Fabien Delph (Leeds) is another that has already garnered attention from Newcastle and the 19 year old phenom is a future star. Darron Gibson (Manchester Utd) has been a strong contributor towards the end of the year but his contract expires in the summer and may be available. Newcastle would also be well served to venture into the loan market - Manchester United have proven that their reserve team is better than a number of first teams in the Premiership and a number of talents could be available from the top four. The two things they must avoid are overpaying for veterans that have limited re-sale value and handing out large, long contracts to average players. Either could burden them financially, particularly if they fail to return to the Premiership at the first attempt.
Rehabilitation - to restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges
When all is said and done, anything but a quick return to the promise land will be seen as a disappointment. Newcastle will continue to draw huge crowds even in the Championship and will provide a bonanza for every opponent next season. The target will be on their back all year but for a club that is used to used to such internal combat and external pressure, that should provide little extra tension.
The club has been plagued by mistakes over the last few years and has finally paid the price. The extent of their demise, an almost unthinkable relegation, should refocus them off the field. If they can respond by retooling the squad and recovering the pride of one of the world’s most loyal and enthusiastic fan bases then Newcastle United will once again be playing on the same field as the best in the country.
08.08.09 Newcastle Utd will begin their first season in the Championship, their first in the second tier of English football since 1993. My money is on an away tie at Peterborough.
How they got here? Mismanagement from the dugout, conflict in the board room, poor decisions in regard to personnel both on and off the field; the recent history of the Magpies is as tumultuous as any in this country. The fact that it took so many blows to finally knock out one of England's most famous and well supported clubs is testament to the position that this club was in at its recent peak, when Bobby Robson managed the club to consecutive Champions League qualifying finishes in 2002 and 2003. Robson was fired in 2004 after a poor start to the 04/05 campaign and 'only' a fifth placed finish the year previously in the league. Newcastle were considered to have a young, up-and-coming, vibrant group of players that could challenge at the summit of English football for years to come (featuring the likes of Jermaine Jenas, James Milner, Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Craig Bellamy and of course talismanic centre forward, Alan Shearer)
The clubs last major trophy came in 1969 - The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, and despite challenging for the title in the mid-90's, Newcastle's futility, coupled with their relegation, have begun to redefine what 'success' means to this club. Their immediate priority will be to return to the Premier League. Should they do that, they will have to ensure their survival, a task that is the primary requirement of at least half the teams in the hyper-competitive top flight.
So, now that Newcastle have redetermined the boundaries of the phrase 'too good to go down,' how do they go about rebuilding and returning to the Premiership? Here's a couple of ideas:
Revolution - a sudden, complete or marked change in something
As Shearer professed after the defeat to Aston Villa (The post-match interview on Sky Sports was one of the most honest and forthright I have sever seen) the team, indeed the entire club, needs complete overhaul. Mike Ashley, the current owner, surely won't be inclined to sell the club now that they have plummeted down a division and are therefore, worth far less than a Premiership outfit. Ashley has been under immense scrutiny ever since his involvement with the club began but has been unable to find a potential buyer and has taken the club off the market.
Ashley’s administration has seen numerous incident to rile the Toon Army but, with the appointment of Shearer and the dismissal of Dennis Wise, Ashley’s cohort in the dubbed ‘cockney mafia,’ he appears to have somewhat reset the feelings of the Geordie faithful. Wise will not be replaced which indicates the manager, whomever that will be, will have autonomy in regard to personnel decisions and it is in this area that the club will make the most headlines. However, for the club to be successful, the board, the chairman, the owner, the manager and every other member of the club’s staff will have to buy into the same vision, something that has not been evident for a long time.
Resolution - the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action
The club need a plan, not just to gain promotion, but to build a team that can compete amongst the best in the country; the fans will accept nothing less. The side has been managed by 9 men in just three seasons and have suffered, as most teams do, from a constant revision of tactics and ideology. If this team is to find a place back amongst the elite they need to return to the consistency and evolution that were evident under Robson and Keegan (in his first spell). At this moment, it is difficult to determine how talented a manger Shearer may be but certainly nobody can question his passion and commitment to the cause and, if he wants the job, retaining Shearer should be Mike Ashley’s initial concern. If nothing else, he knows the limits of the playing staff currently under contract and will have the fan’s backing. If and when Shearer is confirmed as the permanent manager of Newcastle United, the work can begin on resolving how to rebuild this team.
Rejuvenation - to restore to a former state; make fresh or new again
Expect a fire-sale; Newcastle’s wage budget currently stands at around £800,000 per week and this is simply too rich for the Championship. Michael Owen, Fabricio Coloccini, Alan Smith, Xisco, Geremi, Damien Duff, Jonas, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins (some of the highest wage earners) are all likely to leave while the contracts of Cacapa and Peter Lovenkrands expire at the end of the season. Joey Barton definitely will not be back. Unfortunately, few of these players will fetch a high price - Coloccini and Xisco may recoup less than half the estimated £15 million that they were signed for, and with the club’s revenue certain to fall markedly next year, their may be meagre funds to work with in replacing their ‘premier’ talents. Despite Ashley’s estimated £1.3 billion fortune, Newcastle spent less money than they recouped over the past year (including selling Shay Given to Manchester City despite clearly fighting against relegation) and there is no guarantee that the owner will supplement a spending spree.
And nor should he. No doubt they will have to sign players, even if just to fill the gaps left by the exodus from St. James’ Park, but this team will not necessarily be improved by throwing money at big names. In the likes of Steve Harper, Ryan Taylor, Danny Guthrie, David Edgar, Shola Ameobi, Steven Taylor, Andy Carrol, Sebastien Bassong, Habib Beye, Kevin Nolan and Nicky Butt (Beye and Bassong may be hardest to keep) the team have a base of players that want to play for the club and can be relied upon at the level they will find themselves at next term. In addition, Newcastle have a number of young players that have shown promise in the Reserve and Youth teams; Nile Ranger is a quick and strong forward, Mark Doninger has 12 goals from midfield for the reserves, Tamas Kadar and Ben Tozer are young defenders signed in January that may both get the chance to impress and Kazenga LuaLua, brother of former player Lomano LuaLua, is a vastly talented winger that has already appeared 5 times for the Toon.
Newcastle should focus on developing some of their young talent and complementing them with high-character individuals who have the ability to perform in both the Championship and eventually the Premiership.
The temptation will be to lure experienced players to the club to ensure promotion at the first attempt and then address the following campaign when need be. But Newcastle have an opportunity to use one of their darkest days as a catalyst to rebuild the club. Newcastle fans must be tired of seeing players whose best years are behind them and don’t have the legs anymore. They need something to be excited about, some heroes to cheer, some home-grown stars in the image of their manager. Ok, so that’s a tough ask of a side that fell out of the top flight with hardly a whimper but with a fresh start comes almost infinite possibility.
Optimism may be far from any Geordie’s heart or head right now, perhaps that’s a good thing considering the fate of many of the teams relegated from the Premiership; Leeds United languish in League 1, Norwich, Southampton and Charlton will all be there next season and 40% of the teams that have been relegated have not returned. If Newcastle weren’t too big or too good to go down this year, then why not next year? Well managed clubs, those that don’t panic buy and are fiscally prudent, tend to challenge quite rapidly though; of the three teams relegated to the Championship last year, Birmingham secured a quick return, Reading made the playoffs (and may well have finished in an automatic promotion slot but for an end of season slump) and only Derby struggled (although they were the worst team in Premier League history). A couple of seasons ago, perennial Premiership-Championship yo-yo teams all finished in the top 4. Newcastle will have to show desire and can’t take anything for granted but this club, for all it’s problems, has a strong enough base both on and off the field to concern itself more with the top of the table than the bottom.
Which players might Newcastle identify as individuals that can propel them back to the big time and beyond? Daniel Fox (Coventry) is young, highly-rated left back that was linked with Newcastle in January, Joe Ledley (Cardiff) is considered one of the most gifted players outside the Premiership and at just 22, has more caps for his country, 27, than he has had birthdays. Fabien Delph (Leeds) is another that has already garnered attention from Newcastle and the 19 year old phenom is a future star. Darron Gibson (Manchester Utd) has been a strong contributor towards the end of the year but his contract expires in the summer and may be available. Newcastle would also be well served to venture into the loan market - Manchester United have proven that their reserve team is better than a number of first teams in the Premiership and a number of talents could be available from the top four. The two things they must avoid are overpaying for veterans that have limited re-sale value and handing out large, long contracts to average players. Either could burden them financially, particularly if they fail to return to the Premiership at the first attempt.
Rehabilitation - to restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges
When all is said and done, anything but a quick return to the promise land will be seen as a disappointment. Newcastle will continue to draw huge crowds even in the Championship and will provide a bonanza for every opponent next season. The target will be on their back all year but for a club that is used to used to such internal combat and external pressure, that should provide little extra tension.
The club has been plagued by mistakes over the last few years and has finally paid the price. The extent of their demise, an almost unthinkable relegation, should refocus them off the field. If they can respond by retooling the squad and recovering the pride of one of the world’s most loyal and enthusiastic fan bases then Newcastle United will once again be playing on the same field as the best in the country.
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