UK Football

By now you all should know about the Thierry Henry handball saga.  Anybody that doesn’t see Republic of Ireland as having the short end of the stick, is watching a different replay than I am.  Ireland got cheated out of a possible place in the World Cup finals, end of story.  Sure Thierry Henry’s handball was in the heat of the moment, and he can’t be blamed for playing on with no whistle.  But the goal never should have been allowed.

Thierry Henry isn’t the problem I have here though.  I don’t think anybody can say that a striker playing for your country wouldn’t do the same in his shoes.  But FIFA’s actions are unforgivable.  First the seeding which clearly favored the bigger countries.  Then Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, of which both were in attendance, fail to comment on the clear wrong doing thrown at Ireland.  Then FIFA turning down Ireland’s appeals for a replay outright, without even considering the issue at length. 

FIFA can clearly review the fact that Henry deceived the referee to control the ball, and set up the goal.  FIFA can also see that Ireland were unbreakable that day, and played one hell of a match.  But that doesn’t seem to matter.  All FIFA cares about here, is a big country like France making their way to the World Cup.  It’s better for t-shirt sales if France makes the finals, opposed to Ireland.

I’m disgusted and have a serious lack of faith in Football’s governing body.  This is absolutely appalling.  Especially when Henry, the man at the center of the controversy, backs a France v Ireland replay to settle the situation fairly. 

And to think, FIFA could have done the right thing here, and at least used this controversy to make the game better.  Bring in modern technology so that bad calls like these become a thing of the past.  Or at least stick a referee behind the goal at all times.  That ref would have a decent chance of seeing questionable acts, more so than the 1st official himself.

Something needs to change, because it’s unforgivable to decide a four year World Cup campaign on a goal that was wrongfully allowed. 

photo: Service d’information du gouvernement

UEFA president Michel Platini is planning on meeting with the European Club Association to discuss the possibility of a European Super League to replace both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League.  The Super League would be comprised of three tiers with 20-22 teams in each tier, and relegation and promotion would work just as in domestic leagues now, between each of the tiers.  Part of the proposition would also involve changing the way a season progresses for domestic leagues.  Competitions like the Premiership would have to cut back on their amount of matches per season to account for the extra matches teams at the top of the table, would have to play in the “Super League”.

This proposal sounds absolutely horrid to me.  The greatness of the Champions League and UEFA Cup is in the knockout stages, and the fact that every match counts because you have to win to remain in the competition.  Not to mention how great it is to see your club knock out a team that you hate, or a longstanding club rival.  You completely lose that aspect of the game if the Champions League and UEFA Cup change from tournament format, to League format.

Who cares if Manchester United, the top team in England, face off against Inter Milan and the best Serie A have to offer, if the match doesn’t really matter in the long run?

The tournament format should not be changed, or else the appeal of earning a European title will be lost on the fans.  We have our domestic leagues like the Premiership, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Le Championnat to name a few, if you’re looking for that match format.  But don’t take away the excitement of a knockout tournament where the best in Europe clash with each other, battling over the right to hoist either the Champions League trophy or the UEFA Cup.

Wayne Rooney is set for a comeback after his lengthy absence with a hamstring injury.  The United striker was out for five weeks, and is set for a return this weekend against Blackburn, and there is still a possibility of the England man showing up on United’s bench for Wednesday’s fixture against Fulham.  United have been lacking that killer instinct that Rooney brings to the squad through his movement and incredible passing, and now that he can take his rightful place back from Carlos Tevez, United will really be set to extend their lead at the top of the Premiership table.

Adding to Chelsea’s money woes, owner Roman Abramovich, who has sunk an estimated £700million+ into the club, has been affected fairly harshly in these tough economic times by posting an almost £7billion loss last year.  Meaning Chelsea really could be in deep trouble, what with all the wasted money that’s been shelled out on managers and senior staff lately.

The debt is piling up, and Abramovich isn’t going to have the money to pay off the banks when the time comes, meaning Chelsea could end up being owned by someone who can’t float the bill for their recent style of buying a player to strengthen the squad, instead of developing talent.  Also meaning Chelsea could be prepared for a drop in their placement on the table, sooner rather than later.

And finally, the revelation that has been Carlton Cole at West Ham will be sorely missed over the next two weeks, as the England striker picked up an ankle sprain during the Hammers FA Cup draw with Middlesbrough at the weekend.  Carlton Cole has become West Ham’s most important attacking component, and after losing Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy this season, West Ham are running out of players that can successfully bolster that attack and keep them winning matches.

Jose Mourinho has predicted that he will once again make a return to Chelsea, no doubt partially because the Premiership is just much more exciting than Serie A.  Mourinho spoke in a press conference about the possibility of his return to Stamford bridge, saying “If you ask me if one day I think I’ll return to Chelsea, I’ll tell you yes I think so, because we were so happy together

“But when I say one day, I am not saying to you when.”

Which means, Abramovich needs to contact this guy, I know they’ve had a falling out, but Chelsea have never had a manager as good as Jose Mourinho.  Getting him back at the club, should there be any opportunity to do so, should be at the top of Abramovich’s to do list.  Scolari couldn’t cut it, Hiddink won’t cut it, even if Chelsea somehow get Ancelotti to make the switch I seriously doubt he’ll have anything to add in terms of real positive forward progression.  Chelsea need Mourinho if they want to make the most of their Russian billions, while they have them.

And West Ham suffer another injury blow to striker Dean Ashton.  The England man has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after requiring yet another ankle surgery.  At this point Dean Ashton’s career is looking seriously doubtful as having a possibility of ever getting back on track.  Which is very unfortunate, because Ashton is one of the most potentially great strikers that the Prem has to offer, and losing him to injury would be a huge blow to the game itself.

photo:  JohnnyTerry

Despite reports to the contrary, Chelsea assistant Ray Wilkins has said that there is no division in the locker room, despite the sacking of Scolari.  Although I’d have to disagree considering even John Terry said that he was confused as to Abramovich’s decision to fire the Brazilian.  Wilkins, in his obvious bid to downplay the club’s internal strife, said of the story “The reports are totally untrue, we don’t have any sort of split, none whatsoever.

“Every coach has their own methods and some players like them, some don’t - it happens at every football club.”

And while Wilkins is probably right about how little of an impact Scolari’s firing will have, but I’d still have to say that it’s bad for a club and player mentality overall, to change managers three times in little more than a year.

Martin O’Neill is reportedly furious with Fabio Capello for having played Emile Heskey in England’s friendly with Spain, in which Heskey aggravated a previous Achilles injury.  And Martin O’Neill has a good point, something has to be done about midweek internationals like these, because important players always seem to be injured in them.  And it’s pointless really, considering the match counted for nothing, and now Aston Villa are out a star striker for a few matches.

Chelsea look to be seriously starting to hurt financially, mostly because of Roman Abramovich’s shoddy involvement as owner of the club.  Chelsea have revealed that they have posted a £65.7million loss on the year, a huge portion of which, £23million to be exact, wasted on the managers and coaching staff that Abramovich keeps flushing through the club at an alarming rate.  After firing Mourinho, Avram Grant, and now Scolari, not to mention the high compensation demanded by interim coach Guus Hiddink, Abramovich’s financial commitment to the club has reached in excess of £710million.

Also sparking my interest as to how far Abramovich could be running Chelsea into debt.

The way things are going Chelsea could become the next Leeds, I don’t care how rich Abramovich is, when that debt is called in, Chelsea will most definitely feel the impact.

photo:  Calebrw

AC Milan really want David Beckham apparently, they have offered up £10million for the England man in hopes the LA Galaxy will accept the departure of their star player.  Carlo Ancelotti has also weighed in to say that AC Milan should be willing to make sacrifices to ensure the acquisition of David Beckham.  With Beckham’s form of late, and considering he’s been not only Milan’s best player, but also the biggest driving force in their attack, Carlo Ancelotti has a point as to just how important Becks can be.

And finally, Joe Kinnear will be sidelined for at least two months, after requiring surgery to repair is heart.  Which makes me wonder if Kinnear will take the message and realize his body just can’t take the stress and pressure of management anymore, or if Mike Ashley will make the decision for him and look for a replacement to take the reins at Newcastle.

I don’t know that Kinnear is that good of a manager to begin with, so I don’t see the point in him risking his life to manage the Toon Army.

photo: Paul Blank

Well, Chelsea are of course now desperately searching for a new manager, after stupidly firing Scolari after only seven months in charge.  And it should come as little surprise to anyone that Gus Hiddink is the front runner for the job, because Abramovich looks to anything involving Russia first when considering who to hire at the club.  I have to say, I understand the aura of legend around Hiddink, he’s just not right for Chelsea, or for the Premiership.

Hiddink is praised for his ability to surpass expectations with any team he is given, the problem with Hiddink managing Chelsea, is that he’s never managed a club of that calibre.  I don’t know that Hiddink has the creativity or the assertiveness to manage Chelsea and the ego’s that come with a collection of high priced players, and I think Abramovich will be making yet another mistake in his bid to bring Chelsea back to their dominant form of the Mourinho years.

Pompey are also back in the manager search, although I think Portsmouth are another club, just like Chelsea, that shouldn’t have fired their manager.  Reportedly leading in the running for the job are Avram Grant, Sven Goran Eriksson and Alan Curbishley.  Hopefully Pompey are smart enough to turn down Avram Grant, because his squad decisions were laughably bad, never highlighting the talents of an extraordinarily talent spoiled squad, put him at Pompey with the same wacky philosophy and they’re dead in the water.

Sven Goran Eriksson is one of the best managers the Premiership had to offer once, but he keeps being disrespected every time he takes a job in England, and they’ve all ended so bitterly, leading me to believe that Eriksson has to be fed up with even trying.  Leaving Alan Curbishley as Pompey’s only real choice, and probably a good bet for being able to turn around the horrid run Portsmouth are on.  After all, he saved West Ham more than once during his stay in London.

Mere days after Woodgate’s proclaimation of confidence in Tottenham’s ability to turn things around, Woodgate is changing his story.  Tottenham lost to Udinese yesterday in the UEFA Cup 2-0, and it has sparked Woodgate to admit that Tottenham is in a ‘one million percent’ relegation battle in the Premiership, and their chances for European glory are seriously shaken.  For those who may have forgotten, because Tottenham just aren’t a factor in anyone’s mind these days.  Tottenham is at the bottom of the Premiership with 2 points, and still haven’t fired Juande Ramos.

On a side note, MLS commissioner Ivan Gazidis has said that a loan move to AC Milan for David Beckham is not a foregone conclusion.  So it looks as though the MLS is not fit to let it’s cash cow leave, but hopefully Beckham will fight the MLS should he have any desires to continue his England run, or have a remotely respectably ending to his fantastic career.  

photo: Calebrw

Thank the football gods David Robert Joseph Beckham looks as though he won’t be ending his career in the exile of the MLS.  Finally Becks has awakened a bit and realized that America just isn’t where he wants to spend the few football years he has left, according to reports that the England legend has received offers for a loan deal from AC Milan.  I would be absolutely thrilled to see Beckham once again in one of the world’s finest leagues, because Theo Walcott has been useless since his hat trick against Croatia, leaving Beckham the chance to take back a starting position for England if he can only prove his worth with a reputable club.

That might be just enough to make me a Portsmouth fan.

photo:  Gordon Flood

I feel bad for the guy of course, but I can’t help but also find Martin Petrov’s luck a little bit comical.  Given the situation at Manchester City, the fact that the club has enough money to buy anyone and everyone, Petrov just can’t make his case on why City needs him, because of his constant injury.  After having literally just returned from his previous hamstring injury, has apparently injured a knee ligament upon his return to play with Bulgaria, another reason managers hate international breaks.

Manchester United are rolling now, just like Ferguson said they would come October, showing that Chelsea still have a lot of fight to put up should the blues or anybody else hope to take either of United’s titles.