UK Football

photo: Oldelpaso

I think Mark Hughes has a different idea on the key to success, than Manchester City’s new owners Abu Dhabi United Group do. Obviously with City becoming the richest club in the world now, the new owners don’t want to be sitting on all that money with a mid-table club, and probably aren’t too happy about going into the new year in 13^th. So I don’t imagine that any of the higher ups really agree with Mark Hughes assessment that City will take probably up until the 2010/2011 season before they challenge legitimately for a title.

In fact, with the next transfer window only a short while away, I’m guessing Abu Dhabi is banking on building a much better club sooner rather than later. And why not? Mark Hughes wants to take it slow, but Manchester City are in the process of building a dominant football force, in the Chelsea money spending vein, so I just don’t see them taking time and finding the right players for the right positions to play well together. I completely see City throwing money at their issues, why build the team when you can buy a few of the world’s biggest names and then worry about chemistry later?

That was more or less the Chelsea strategy, and it bought them two Premiership titles in a row. Although to be fair Jose Mourinho is a legendary manager, opposed to Mark Hughes who is just a good manager.

But for football’s sake, I hope City spend hugely in January. Because I love the drama, and I would love to see a suddenly massively reshaped Manchester City try their hand at climbing the table in 2009.

photo: Mr. Phillip Chambers

Steven Gerrard now has apparently been charged with assault, following his arrest yesterday from a Merseyside nightclub. Liverpool issued a statement today to voice their support for Gerrard, but the main thing that should be taken from all this, is that Liverpool have to hope Gerrard is caught up in the trial or even jail time afterwards. Liverpool are making a remarkable run to stay atop of the Premier League so far this season, and the loss of their captain could prove fatal for the clubs chances of hoisting the title come seasons end.

But one club will be on a high until Premiership fixtures continue after next weekend’s FA Cup fixtures, and that is Aston Villa. The Villans have proven themselves to have one of the most necessary assets to a successful Premiership run, luck. Villa have ground out a seemingly impossible 1-0 victory against Hull today, a lucky goal sure, but a goal nonetheless.

Martin O’Neill has got his men more disciplined than I’ve ever seen them, and Ashley Young, Agbonlahor and Gareth Barry seem to have finally settled in together. Meaning that attacking talent we always knew Aston Villa was spoiled with, is finally achieving the potential every football fan saw possible. If they can continue the good fortunes just a bit longer, Villa may yet find themselves with a Champions League spot at the end of the year. Because let’s face it, Arsenal is set up to drop out of Champions League territory, and with the way they’re playing, will anyone be surprised?

photo: Nigel Wilson

Well, I’m going to have to change my tune about Liverpool apparently, considering their conviction to stay top of the league this season. The route of Newcastle, at St. James Park no less is the most clear statement of intent I’ve seen from Liverpool in some time. And they did it all without, as I would call him, pretty much useless striker Robbie Keane. Keane spent the entirety of the match on the bench, and Liverpool dominated a talented Newcastle side for 90 minutes anyway, looking better in attack than they ever have with Keane or even Fernando Torres on the pitch.

Newcastle looked pathetic under the constant Liverpool pressure which saw the reds net 5 before all was said and done, and sure Newcastle got one back, but is that even a consolation goal at that point. The Geordies got completely thrashed, that’s all there is to it. Kinnear has one or two things to think about now, and Chelsea having again dropped points with a draw, need to do some serious damage control or they could find themselves out of the title race in no time.

I would draw your attention to the fact that United always finish strong, and being three games behind Chelsea, theoretically United can already overtake them, and step within one point of Liverpool. Scolari had things so easy at the beginning of the season, I’m beginning to seriously wonder if the Brazilian has the managerial chops to help Chelsea out of the hole they’re digging. Too many draws has been Chelsea’s problem the last two seasons, and they’re setting up for another troublesome record this year if something doesn’t change soon.

And considering Chelsea drew level with Fulham 2-2, my point about Chelsea needing to spend money on defenders and not attackers seems much more valid now eh?

photo: John Dobson

Chelsea are making a new striker their top priority come next month’s transfer window. And I wonder why exactly. Their biggest problem hasn’t been attacking, their goal differential speaks for itself. So why not pump that money into defence, because clearly something could be better in the Chelsea back four, as their lacklustre compared to last year home form needs to shape up if they want to permanently overtake Liverpool in the title race.

Sure John Terry and Carvalho are brilliant, but Ashley Cole is a disappointment often enough at left back, and the right back position has never been as solid as a club of Chelsea’s stature should be. You have Nicolas Anelka, who’s playing brilliantly and functions better as a lone striker. You have Drogba who could be playing better, but functions best as a lone striker, so you have him if Anelka get’s injured. Soloman Kalou is an incredible option for either to play off of, and Joe Cole can play any attacking position you need him to, which means he counts as a fourth brilliant striker.

Chelsea are spoiled for attacking talent, and their line up is built for a 4-5-1, meaning if they utilize their best formation, Chelsea have a lead striker and three solid back up options. Spend your money elsewhere Abramovich, because overstocking attacking talent has lost you the Premier League two years running. And it lost you every piece of silverware Chelsea were up for last season. Bolster your defence, because that’s the difference in winning and losing titles, and Chelsea have lost enough now to know that.

photo: Paul Blank

Well, Arsenal, the former top four club that has struggled the most this season, has once again flopped, and shown Aston Villa and it’s supporters that the Villans deserve their fourth place spot over Arsenal. Sure it was a draw, but it was a match that Arsenal should have had wrapped up after scoring once in the first half, and then pretty much immediately in the second half. But Martin O’Neill has done something different with his men this season, and that’s the inspiration he has instilled.

As evidenced by Villa’s late rally with a Gareth Barry penalty in the 65^th minute, and then the equaliser in stoppage time to hand Villa it’s very well earned point. The major thing to take away here, is that Arsenal will be lucky to finish fifth in the league the way they are playing. To be in the top four you can lose to other clubs in the top four, but you have to win your matches against the smaller clubs, and right now Aston Villa would be considered a smaller club for their results of the last few season.

A match that Arsenal should have won, because they desperately needed the three points, but I just don’t think that the Gunners have the depth to win a title anymore. And they haven’t been since the departure of their former captain Henry. With Henry they had the ability to come from behind and turn defeat into victory, or a sure draw into three points with a late winner. But now Arsenal are just sad, and Arsene Wenger is running them into the ground.

I think Wenger has done all he can do at Arsenal, he’s not Sir Alex Ferguson, he is not a franchise making manager. I think it’s time for both to part ways.

photo: FvS

Sir Alex Ferguson has said that Manchester United will not purchase any new players next month when the transfer window opens. And I agree with that decision, as United is spoiled for talent, and considering the global economy crisis, who can afford to go further into debt. Especially when that shirt sponsor money you should have been able to count on went bust.

Ferguson had high praise for his players in his statement, saying “I do not think there will be any January transfers, I am happy with what I have got.“We are probably going to bring back a couple of young players who have been on loan. That may just give us extra protection.

Arsenal’s season is well and truly over. With the club already getting disappointing results much too often this season, an already weak Arsenal squad is about to get weaker as Cesc Fabregas is expected to be out for four months after rupturing ligaments in his knee. The injury came during Arsenal’s match with Liverpool at the weekend, in which Fabregas went into a 50-50 challenge with Xabi Alonso, and needless to say came out worse for wear. Fabregas was clearly bothered as he hobbled off to the sideline as the half came to an end, and you know the Spaniard was injured, because Fabregas is one of the few class players that would never feign injury in hopes of a foul or spot kick.

Arsenal have no one to fill Fabregas’ shoes at this point, well any club would have trouble filling in for a Fabregas really, and considering the already too close to call title race, losing Arsenal’s captain for everything but maybe the final five Premier League fixtures doesn’t bode well for Wenger’s men staying in the top four. Especially not with Aston Villa on fire, and a face off against the Villans on Boxing day looming. Arsene Wenger and Arsenal now face their biggest uphill battle, and all without their captain.

photo: Oldelpaso

Well, big Sam Allardyce started Blackburn’s holiday off perfectly with a well deserved 3-0 victory against Stoke. And I have to say, I know Stoke aren’t the best club in the world, but Blackburn looked completely differently, and would not be denied. I have to say, Ince looked depressed on the sidelines every time Blackburn took the pitch, which is understandable considering their poor run of form under Ince. But if Allardyce has done one thing right, it’s about the same thing Harry Redknapp did to turn Tottenham around, and that’s let your players know how talented they are, and inspire them.

Ince just looked too depressed to inspire anything, standing on the sideline looking like his girlfriend just broke up with him, Ince didn’t know how to get the players going again. But clearly in the span of a week, Allardyce has inspired his men to become a club that isn’t going to be threatened by relegation come next year.

The physical presence I predicted Blackburn would have under Allardyce’s tutelage was completely evident, as Blackburn really only needed three sniffs of goal and they scored each time, all in the first half. Sure they started things off in the ninth minute with a McCarthy penalty, but that still counts. And any injection of life at this point is exactly what Blackburn needed, and what Ince didn’t have the experience to provide.

photo: Austin Osuide

Well the Champions League is off to a dream start with Manchester United facing Inter Milan in the round of 16, which means we will get to see the two most ingenious managers of the modern game in Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho, battle things out once again. Given Mourinho’s success over Ferguson with Porto, and then Chelsea, I’m intrigued to see what Mourinho can do with a new club like Inter. Now I really can’t wait for February.

Chelsea face an uphill challenge against Juventus, especially considering Chelsea’s awful home record of late in the league, 2 losses and a draw in their last five at Stamford Bridge, and Juventus’ slight advantage by being able to play the second leg at home. Clearly, should Scolari hope to win the Champions League his first crack at the competition with Chelsea, the Brazilian already faces an uphill battle.

Liverpool will feature in an interesting tie with Real Madrid, as we’ll have the most successful English side in Champions League history up against the most successful period. I don’t know that Real Madrid have the strength to conquer Liverpool this time around, as I still see something missing in their squad. Real Madrid lacks the fortitude to play as a team, and Steven Gerrard has always been an incredible guiding force for Liverpool to pull victories out of certain defeat. Liverpool won’t have a problem.

And Arsenal will be clashing with Roma, and I don’t know how to call this match. Roma is awful this season, compared to the club we saw last year. And Arsenal is way off their level of play from last season. So basically it’s the battle of two clubs that might not qualify for the competition next year. But I’d still expect Roma to flop before Arsenal undoubtedly does, although the aggregate will be close, Roma just don’t have the depth for a European Championship.

photo: Gordon Flood

Manchester United predictably surpass a Gamba Osaka side that were unprepared for such a club, despite showing enough grit to battle until the match’s end.  An eight goal thriller in which one thing became very evident to me, and that is that Carlos Tevez has no place in the Manchester United squad anymore.  He has no chemistry with the other players, and fails to manufacture anything decent from his own attempts on goal.

Tevez had 70+ minutes and did nothing, Wayne Rooney comes on and scores two goals in a five minute time span.  Rooney is a forward, he’s always moving to keep the defenders moving around to match him, which opens up a ton of space that Rooney can run into and make himself completely open for that final pass in the box to assure himself a goal.  Tevez tries to dance around the outside, and either ends up on his back from a tackle after attempting one too many moves, or missing a wide open Ronaldo to his left or right  and instead taking a shot that goes incredibly wide of the goal.

Don’t make his loan deal permanent, United.  Berbatov doesn’t score as much as one would expect him to at United.  But Berbatov understands the offence, and how United flows in it’s counterattack.  Tevez just doesn’t anymore, and his usefulness has worn out.  Time for him to join a different club.