A quick answer from Old Trafford is no, while the Russian at Stamford Bridge is in favour. There is hardly a universal answer, but most teams sitting at the bottom of the Premier League decided to put the blame on their former managers. It can only be known in May how effective their moves are. The Linesman pre-assesses case-by-case whether the decisions of the board are justified.
Reading: Was it the manager’s fault?
They have surely produced some entertaining football. Two goals in the last ten minutes frustrated Chelsea; leading Manchester United three times was nullified by conceding four goals before the interval; and the improbable 5-7 loss in Capital One Cup, despite leading Arsenal 4-0 at half time.
Yes they can score, but they are better at giving away goals. Brian McDermott could not elevate the team to another level, but in fact, the quality of the squad and their playing style are just short of Premier League standard. Being the best defensive team in Championship last season, limited emphasis were placed on further improving their defence. This only made their mission even harder.
Is solid defence what Nigel Adkins is going to bring? He was more well-known for leading the exciting and attacking Southampton. Even if he is an expert in defence, how influential could he be with six matches to go?
Sunderland: A little bit too late?
In contrast to Reading, the Black Cats can’t quite find a way to score. 7 goals in 9 matches since Danny Graham has joined is not what Martin O’Neill anticipated. The spending on Steven Fletcher, Adam Johnson, as well as the existing talents of Stephane Sessegnon and James McClean hardly manifested on the scoresheet. Martin O’Neill has failed to transform the attacking form he brought to Aston Villa to the Stadium of Light.
The decision to farewell O’Neill only came when the alarm started to ring – currently at the edge of safety zone on goal difference. The aggressive and controversial Paolo Di Canio is appointed, attempting to re-ignite the team. With the Italian made himself available a month ago, has Sunderland left it all a bit too late?
Aston Villa: Staying faithful
The humiliating 0-8 night at Stamford Bridge was followed by two more white-washed defeats. Entering the year 2013 on a low, Aston Villa is starting to discover the way of winning. The somewhat stubborn Paul Lambert is adamant youth is the key to success. There might be more experienced players in the squad than Andres Weimann and Christian Benteke, but their enthusiasm and desires are what Lambert embraces. There are occasionally schoolboy errors, but the growth and improvement throughout the season is encouraging and a sign that Lambert is keen for long-term development rather than a stepping-stone onto a bigger club. Although still far from guaranteeing Premier League status next season, their tolerance and faith towards Lambert is a rarity and at least a partial success in the realistic world.
Southampton: Doing it the right way?
David Puncheon rescued the Saints at Stamford Bridge, but could not save the job of Nigel Adkins. It was a debatable decision to sack the manager on a high. Now it proves Pochettino is indeed the right man to rely upon.
The Argentine is able to bring Southampton to the next level of football with the same crop of players. Utilising the work rate and pace of their frontline, characteristic in the Championship last season, Pochettino advocated a high pressing style, which further eases the pressure at the back. It is a risky tactic but Southampton has been executing it close to perfection, in particular Ricky Lambert and Jay Rodriguez. Victories against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City say it all. There is more work to be done before claiming it safe, but the Saints are looking very confident at this crucial stage of the season.
QPR: It is Just All Wrong
They have got quality players; they knew Mark Hughes’ philosophy did not work; they made the right decision as early as in December. Unfortunately, it is the players that disappoint the supporters and left Harry Redknapp dejected.
The ex-Tottenham manager first restored the order by solidifying the defence. The arrival of Loic Remy, Andros Townsend and Jermaine Jenas represents stage two of the fight for survival — playing to win. Just when it seems they are about to produce a miracle, they self-destructed. Christopher Samba was worryingly clumsy at Craven Cottage, raising doubt if the seldom-used Nedum Onuoha is even fitter. Bobby Zamora’s ruthlessness and more crucially Stephane M’bia’s indiscipline took away the important 3 points against Wigan.
These are all out of Harry’s hands, who has already done a marvellous job to restore hope for QPR. While the board made a logical decision in managerial change, it could be the promised relegation clauses that contributes to the lack of fighting spirit in Loftus Road.
Thursday 11 April 2013
Fan power is alive and kicking, just ask Chester FC
Saturday 6th April saw one of the most studied football turnarounds completed in record time and I for one was delighted to see Chester FC “Return” to the Conference just three years after going completely out of business. Cast your mind back to March 2010, Chester City FC as was were in the Conference, unable to complete fixtures, fans were boycotting games which in my opinion is the death knell for start! At the same time the club were financially wrecked with players going on strike and the future looked non-existent. It was a difficult time for a club that had realistically been struggling for 20 years since they left their Sealand Road ground then had to play for two seasons at Macclesfield Town’s Moss Rose ground, a 70 mile round trip as the crow flies. Yo-yoing between the Football League and Conference did not do them too many favours as perhaps people expected too much from a club and read too much into their potential at a time when they should have consolidated and built on what they had.
The club went out of business and literally had to start from scratch, a bunch of die-hard supporters refused to let the game die in the town and hastily got a collective of supporters, professionals, businessmen and ex-players alike to get a team name registered and raise funds to get a club restarted again but without the baggage of its previous regime. The club successfully applied to the Evo-Stik League and was admitted to Step four, which is known as The Evo-Stik League Division One North, featuring sides such as Lancaster City, Cammell Laird, Clitheroe and others. In a way they were lucky to get admitted to such a high level as most new clubs would have to apply at Step six or lower, just as Wimbledon, Maidstone and Aldershot! They secured the lease of the former clubs ground, The Deva Stadium and backed by a tremendous amount of goodwill and support the club gained three successive titles.
The game this weekend which saw Chester win 1-0 at home against Boston at the Deva Stadium was watched by 3685 people, higher than several League Two home games that took place on the same day and shows what potential they will bring to the Conference Premier. A total of 33 wins and an unbeaten run of 30 games shows that Neil Young’s team will not be any pushovers either. Whoever takes on the sponsorship of the Conference levels of football will surely be rubbing their hands at the prospect of a Conference Premier that looks just as strong, if not stronger than its League Two counterpart. The progress through the leagues was swift but effective, yes they swept all before them but they re-learned their trade and have made friends throughout the non-league pyramid, not to mention boosting the coffers of many clubs with much needed away gate revenue. Last season when I was at Marine FC, Chester fans came to the game at the Arriva Stadium, they were respectful to the level of football that they were at, knew their football and contributed to the clubs Floodlight fund collection and that effect was probably similar at lots of clubs at that level.
For me though, the “Return” of Chester to a high level of football shows a lot more than a club being able to steamroller through divisions on a momentum of support and results, it shows eternal hope to fans of many clubs who are struggling or out of touch, or just living on borrowed time. It shows that however much a business or owner can get their hands into a club, the power of a clubs support can ultimately decide whether a club lives or dies. It provides credence to the belief that fan power still exists and that whatever situation a club finds itself in, in this modern age of football there is always hope. I’m not for one minute saying that fans of clubs in severe trouble should start AFC Clubs or abandon their own to re-start for the sake of re-starting but it does show that fans of clubs like Darlington 1883, Scarborough Athletic, AFC Halifax Town and so on are not joking when they say that they will be back. Chester provide a prime example of what a well run fan orientated and operated club can achieve.
The club went out of business and literally had to start from scratch, a bunch of die-hard supporters refused to let the game die in the town and hastily got a collective of supporters, professionals, businessmen and ex-players alike to get a team name registered and raise funds to get a club restarted again but without the baggage of its previous regime. The club successfully applied to the Evo-Stik League and was admitted to Step four, which is known as The Evo-Stik League Division One North, featuring sides such as Lancaster City, Cammell Laird, Clitheroe and others. In a way they were lucky to get admitted to such a high level as most new clubs would have to apply at Step six or lower, just as Wimbledon, Maidstone and Aldershot! They secured the lease of the former clubs ground, The Deva Stadium and backed by a tremendous amount of goodwill and support the club gained three successive titles.
The game this weekend which saw Chester win 1-0 at home against Boston at the Deva Stadium was watched by 3685 people, higher than several League Two home games that took place on the same day and shows what potential they will bring to the Conference Premier. A total of 33 wins and an unbeaten run of 30 games shows that Neil Young’s team will not be any pushovers either. Whoever takes on the sponsorship of the Conference levels of football will surely be rubbing their hands at the prospect of a Conference Premier that looks just as strong, if not stronger than its League Two counterpart. The progress through the leagues was swift but effective, yes they swept all before them but they re-learned their trade and have made friends throughout the non-league pyramid, not to mention boosting the coffers of many clubs with much needed away gate revenue. Last season when I was at Marine FC, Chester fans came to the game at the Arriva Stadium, they were respectful to the level of football that they were at, knew their football and contributed to the clubs Floodlight fund collection and that effect was probably similar at lots of clubs at that level.
For me though, the “Return” of Chester to a high level of football shows a lot more than a club being able to steamroller through divisions on a momentum of support and results, it shows eternal hope to fans of many clubs who are struggling or out of touch, or just living on borrowed time. It shows that however much a business or owner can get their hands into a club, the power of a clubs support can ultimately decide whether a club lives or dies. It provides credence to the belief that fan power still exists and that whatever situation a club finds itself in, in this modern age of football there is always hope. I’m not for one minute saying that fans of clubs in severe trouble should start AFC Clubs or abandon their own to re-start for the sake of re-starting but it does show that fans of clubs like Darlington 1883, Scarborough Athletic, AFC Halifax Town and so on are not joking when they say that they will be back. Chester provide a prime example of what a well run fan orientated and operated club can achieve.
Let the axe fall on the Arsenal players heads and not the managers
The news has again been released that Abou Diaby is set to be out of action for a lengthy period of time. This is disappointing but inevitable news, Diaby seems to be cursed with the constant injuries that look to ravage his promising career. It does seem an unfortunate occurrence that key players at Arsenal to either be consistently injured or under performing. This has left Arsenal with a skeleton selection of trustworthy players and often a floundering team. This may be part of the reason that Arsenal have struggled and suffer with periods of lacklustre performances. The news of Diaby’s 9 month lay off, comes on the same day that Arsenal reported Jack Wilshere would be fit to return in April. This sounds like good news but it just highlights the injury difficulties that Wilshere still can’t get over. Everyone hoped his return from his 17 months injury lay off would bring the renewed start of the rest of his career. Yet, already he is inactive in the Arsenal set up and on the pitch they dearly miss him. Even though there is very little in Arsenal’s power they can do about serious injuries, it is a shame and a bit unusual for two key midfielders to suffer this same fate.
It isn’t just long term injuries that have blighted Arsenals season. They seem to have a small group of players that are inconsistent who do not perform when the club really needs them. I don’t like placing blame but feel I should name names to illustrate who I think are contributing to Arsenal’s issues. These players include Sagna, Mertesacker and Gervinho. All three players have great reputations from internationals and previous clubs and although they haven’t been a huge let down for the club, their inconsistency and often casual performances have an effect. Arsenal need players that really perform, who have grit and want to win. Gunner’s players have been criticised for lack of effort in the past and seeing Jack Wilshere screaming on the pitch for action has been a familiar site since his return. Arsenal need a fighting spirit and too many of the Arsenal core aren’t showing that.
Arsene could do with yielding to fan pressure and attempting to sign some star players. First though, he would need a clear out, there are many players out on loan that aren’t part of Arsenes plans including Johan Djourou, Marouane Chamakh Nicklas Bendtner. Other bit players could face the chop too. Arshavin and Rosicky have seen less and less football and are not the players Arsenal need to really progress forward.
Arsenal need to hold onto their better players and can’t let players like Wilshere, Walcott, Vermaelen and Oxlade-chamberlain go if they want to avoid being a selling club. They need to bring in some world class players or at least spend money on players of the calibre who can challenge for the title. They rely too much on their injured players and if Diaby can not play they need to find a replacement who can.
Every team looks stronger with a very solid defensive midfielder holding the line and Arteta is not the answer. They need that midfielder who can allow Cazorla and Wilshere to move forward without leaving the team vulnerable. A player like Yann M’Villa, who they were linked with before his move to Rubin Kazan. Arsene needs to get his scouts out searching.
Although Arsenal have scored a lot of goals, they score in fits and starts, scoring 5 or more in over 4 games. They havn’t really replaced Van Persie and need an out and out goalscorer, a match winner. Players like Stevan Jovetic or Loic Remy would win them games. Raiding QPR could really help Arsenal if they could steal Samba as well to strengthen that often leaky defence.
If Arsenal can steer themselves away from being a selling club and bring in players of a better calibre then maybe Arsenal will concrete themselves as a top 4 team again. Even though Arsene Wenger has come under pressure I think it will be on the players where the axe will drop and maybe that’s the best course of action.
It isn’t just long term injuries that have blighted Arsenals season. They seem to have a small group of players that are inconsistent who do not perform when the club really needs them. I don’t like placing blame but feel I should name names to illustrate who I think are contributing to Arsenal’s issues. These players include Sagna, Mertesacker and Gervinho. All three players have great reputations from internationals and previous clubs and although they haven’t been a huge let down for the club, their inconsistency and often casual performances have an effect. Arsenal need players that really perform, who have grit and want to win. Gunner’s players have been criticised for lack of effort in the past and seeing Jack Wilshere screaming on the pitch for action has been a familiar site since his return. Arsenal need a fighting spirit and too many of the Arsenal core aren’t showing that.
Arsene could do with yielding to fan pressure and attempting to sign some star players. First though, he would need a clear out, there are many players out on loan that aren’t part of Arsenes plans including Johan Djourou, Marouane Chamakh Nicklas Bendtner. Other bit players could face the chop too. Arshavin and Rosicky have seen less and less football and are not the players Arsenal need to really progress forward.
Arsenal need to hold onto their better players and can’t let players like Wilshere, Walcott, Vermaelen and Oxlade-chamberlain go if they want to avoid being a selling club. They need to bring in some world class players or at least spend money on players of the calibre who can challenge for the title. They rely too much on their injured players and if Diaby can not play they need to find a replacement who can.
Every team looks stronger with a very solid defensive midfielder holding the line and Arteta is not the answer. They need that midfielder who can allow Cazorla and Wilshere to move forward without leaving the team vulnerable. A player like Yann M’Villa, who they were linked with before his move to Rubin Kazan. Arsene needs to get his scouts out searching.
Although Arsenal have scored a lot of goals, they score in fits and starts, scoring 5 or more in over 4 games. They havn’t really replaced Van Persie and need an out and out goalscorer, a match winner. Players like Stevan Jovetic or Loic Remy would win them games. Raiding QPR could really help Arsenal if they could steal Samba as well to strengthen that often leaky defence.
If Arsenal can steer themselves away from being a selling club and bring in players of a better calibre then maybe Arsenal will concrete themselves as a top 4 team again. Even though Arsene Wenger has come under pressure I think it will be on the players where the axe will drop and maybe that’s the best course of action.
Could Chelsea cope without a manager?
After Rafael Benítez’ inevitable departure at the end of the season, Roman Abramovich will have seen four Champions League winning managers leave his club, only one of whom has succeeded in leading Chelsea to a Champions League final. Despite high-profile managers coming and going on a regular basis, Chelsea’s two Champions League final appearances have come during periods of transient management following a sacking of a high profile manager: Avram Grantin 2008 who replaced Jose Mourinho and Roberto Di Matteo in 2012 who took charge following André Villas-Boas’ departure. Roberto Di Matteo of course went one further than Grant, leading Chelsea Football Club to their first ever Champions League title whilst serving as ‘Interim Manager’; however there is much doubt as to how much of an effect he really had on Chelsea’s success following the sacking of the unsuccessful André Villas-Boas.
Much of Villas-Boas’ failure at Chelsea came from his inability to overcome the renowned player power at Stamford Bridge, resulting in him dropping Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard for the away leg of Chelsea’s clash with Napoli – a game which Chelsea went on to lose, and Villas-Boas was sacked not soon after. After taking over in early March, Di Matteo resorted to the simplest solution to the evident player power problem at the club – work with it, as opposed to fruitlessly attempting to hold it back. Immediately he began to perform in opposition to Villas-Boas’ previous management, bringing back both Lampard and Cole for the home tie against Napoli, who along with Terry, Drogba and Čech, contributed to Chelsea’s unexpected come-back, and took Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Having gone off injured in extra –time, Terry was seen barking orders on the touchline – as if he was the manager himself, and from that moment on, the question was raised as to who was really in control of the Chelsea squad; Di Matteo, or a subdivision of the squad itself.
A similar scenario developed under Avram Grant’s management in 2008 following the sacking of Mourinho – the club’s (at the time) greatest ever manager, and father-figure to a majority of the squad. Rather than go into the dressing room and implement his own ideals and disciplines, Grant simply continued Mourinho’s legacy, befriending the players, and granting (excuse the pun) power to the influential players within the dressing room. The result of this was a team that each game went out onto the pitch with 5 or 6 captain figures, who worked alongside each other, and carried their team all the way to the Luzhniki Stadium, culminating in Chelsea being a few inches away from Champions League glory.
Following Di Matteo’s success, Abramovich took a number of months to decide whether or not to hand the Chelsea legend a permanent managerial contract. During this period, Chelsea signed Eden Hazard and César Azpilicueta, both of whom during their times under Di Matteo would have known that they might not necessarily have been in Di Matteo’s transfer plans. The same can be said for the likes of Torres and Shevchenko who were reportedly forced upon their respective managers at the time of their arrival.
Knowing that their manager may not want them in the squad, a player cannot attach himself to his boss in the way that the Barcelona squad did with Pep Guardiola for example. Under Guardiola’s management, Barcelona went on to conquer the football-world, partly down to the strong bond between Guardiola – the managerial leader-figure – and his immensely talented squad. Upon his arrival, Guardiola set about removing those he deemed to be surplus – including former world player of the year Ronaldinho – and completely reshaped Barcelona from top to bottom. Appreciating that Barcelona would see through Guardiola’s project and not sack him in the way the Chelsea board tend to do, the squad bought into his methods, and developed into arguably the greatest club team ever.
Under both Grant and Di Matteo, the Chelsea squad consisted of a number of cliques, all attached to separate managers. Rather than try to win them over in the way that Scolari, Villas-Boas and even Ancelotti to an extent failed to do, the ‘interim’ bosses instead permitted these players to work to whichever conditions suited them. Being intrinsically linked with the glory days under Mourinho; Terry, Lampard and Drogba were naturally the leaders of the dressing-room, which both managers used to their advantage, allowing the powerful players to fill in for the missing presence of the ‘special one’, and it is no coincidence that both saw their team reach un-expected heights during their provisional periods. As long as the so called ‘big-names’ in the dressing room are contracted to Chelsea, this division will continue – making it near impossible for any manager to bring sustained success to the club. As we saw under Ancelotti, given time the player power will overcome any boss who tries to contain it, thus making Chelsea’s best chance for success short periods of caretaker management.
The question as to whether or not the club even needs a manager depends on how we define ‘manager’. Tactically, the players themselves are inept and would never be able to suppress a team like Barcelona as Chelsea achieved under Di Matteo; therefore as a tactician, a ‘manager’ is most certainly required. As a motivator and leader however, nobody but Mourinho himself would be able to overcome the influence of those linked with his time at the club, meaning whoever manages the club would have limited control over his own squad. Of course Chelsea would never do such a thing as let Terry, Lampard and Co. run the team as player-manager like figures (just imagine a different player each week attending post-match managerial press conferences and shaking hands with the opposition manager before each game); however by maintaining a constant cycle of managers in and out of the club, Abramovich is simply fuelling the player-power within the squad, which in the short-term allows interim bosses to come in and bring success to the club, however until the ‘old-guard’ of Chelsea leave the club, long-term sustained success is most definitely out of the question.
Much of Villas-Boas’ failure at Chelsea came from his inability to overcome the renowned player power at Stamford Bridge, resulting in him dropping Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard for the away leg of Chelsea’s clash with Napoli – a game which Chelsea went on to lose, and Villas-Boas was sacked not soon after. After taking over in early March, Di Matteo resorted to the simplest solution to the evident player power problem at the club – work with it, as opposed to fruitlessly attempting to hold it back. Immediately he began to perform in opposition to Villas-Boas’ previous management, bringing back both Lampard and Cole for the home tie against Napoli, who along with Terry, Drogba and Čech, contributed to Chelsea’s unexpected come-back, and took Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Having gone off injured in extra –time, Terry was seen barking orders on the touchline – as if he was the manager himself, and from that moment on, the question was raised as to who was really in control of the Chelsea squad; Di Matteo, or a subdivision of the squad itself.
A similar scenario developed under Avram Grant’s management in 2008 following the sacking of Mourinho – the club’s (at the time) greatest ever manager, and father-figure to a majority of the squad. Rather than go into the dressing room and implement his own ideals and disciplines, Grant simply continued Mourinho’s legacy, befriending the players, and granting (excuse the pun) power to the influential players within the dressing room. The result of this was a team that each game went out onto the pitch with 5 or 6 captain figures, who worked alongside each other, and carried their team all the way to the Luzhniki Stadium, culminating in Chelsea being a few inches away from Champions League glory.
Following Di Matteo’s success, Abramovich took a number of months to decide whether or not to hand the Chelsea legend a permanent managerial contract. During this period, Chelsea signed Eden Hazard and César Azpilicueta, both of whom during their times under Di Matteo would have known that they might not necessarily have been in Di Matteo’s transfer plans. The same can be said for the likes of Torres and Shevchenko who were reportedly forced upon their respective managers at the time of their arrival.
Knowing that their manager may not want them in the squad, a player cannot attach himself to his boss in the way that the Barcelona squad did with Pep Guardiola for example. Under Guardiola’s management, Barcelona went on to conquer the football-world, partly down to the strong bond between Guardiola – the managerial leader-figure – and his immensely talented squad. Upon his arrival, Guardiola set about removing those he deemed to be surplus – including former world player of the year Ronaldinho – and completely reshaped Barcelona from top to bottom. Appreciating that Barcelona would see through Guardiola’s project and not sack him in the way the Chelsea board tend to do, the squad bought into his methods, and developed into arguably the greatest club team ever.
Under both Grant and Di Matteo, the Chelsea squad consisted of a number of cliques, all attached to separate managers. Rather than try to win them over in the way that Scolari, Villas-Boas and even Ancelotti to an extent failed to do, the ‘interim’ bosses instead permitted these players to work to whichever conditions suited them. Being intrinsically linked with the glory days under Mourinho; Terry, Lampard and Drogba were naturally the leaders of the dressing-room, which both managers used to their advantage, allowing the powerful players to fill in for the missing presence of the ‘special one’, and it is no coincidence that both saw their team reach un-expected heights during their provisional periods. As long as the so called ‘big-names’ in the dressing room are contracted to Chelsea, this division will continue – making it near impossible for any manager to bring sustained success to the club. As we saw under Ancelotti, given time the player power will overcome any boss who tries to contain it, thus making Chelsea’s best chance for success short periods of caretaker management.
The question as to whether or not the club even needs a manager depends on how we define ‘manager’. Tactically, the players themselves are inept and would never be able to suppress a team like Barcelona as Chelsea achieved under Di Matteo; therefore as a tactician, a ‘manager’ is most certainly required. As a motivator and leader however, nobody but Mourinho himself would be able to overcome the influence of those linked with his time at the club, meaning whoever manages the club would have limited control over his own squad. Of course Chelsea would never do such a thing as let Terry, Lampard and Co. run the team as player-manager like figures (just imagine a different player each week attending post-match managerial press conferences and shaking hands with the opposition manager before each game); however by maintaining a constant cycle of managers in and out of the club, Abramovich is simply fuelling the player-power within the squad, which in the short-term allows interim bosses to come in and bring success to the club, however until the ‘old-guard’ of Chelsea leave the club, long-term sustained success is most definitely out of the question.
Swansea City the Premier Leagues surprise package
Swansea’s recent rise and successful retaining of their Premier League status has been outstanding but with the club seemingly going from strength to strength they now have the chance to really stamp themselves as a top 10 team. This would be huge for a club that was only promoted to the Premiership in 2011 and now are one of the most exciting and dangerous teams outside the European places. So what has given Swansea such an epic rise from underachieving football league team to Premier League starlets?
First of all is the man who has over seen this rise since taking over ten years ago, Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins. His plan for Swansea has worked excellently, starting with building a stadium and building the club and allowing the team to move smoothly up the ranks whilst bring stability to the club. The method of Swansea’s rise has been sensible and Jenkins has recently called himself “dull” enough to take over the Swansea reigns. I’d call it rational Huw.
A large part of the success at the Liberty Stadium has been down to the fantastic succession of managers that have graced Swansea. Firstly it was Roberto Martinez who pulled Swansea into the Championship, before Brendan Rodgers again got them promoted. After an impressive debut season, his departure left a worry the Swans would struggle. Again, though, they bought in a manager who would continue to improve the team: Michael Laudrup. One the main strong points of the small succession of managers is that they have been prepared to continue from where the last left off rather than to change the style of the team. There have been very little periods of adjusting, with Swansea continuing under new ideas rather than faltering as new initiatives are established and tried. The team has stayed quite similar in itself as well, with some players staying with The Swans through the leagues. This has been important for the Welsh club as it means that players blend in easier when they are bought and new managers know precisely what to expect in training.
One of the most important attributors to Swansea’s accomplishments is their playing style. Their sharp passing and possession tactic has worked wonders allowing them to overcome many of the major teams in the league. Their ability to keep the ball and make more triangles than Dairylea has made them a feared team in the English top flight. This tactic has been carried on through Rodgers and Laudrup, both seemingly happy to keep the general style with their own managerial tweaks. The ethos of Swansea in recent years is of evolution and not revolution, a commendable philosophy for a football club.
On the other hand, a club seemingly fighting above their weight division could easily evolve into a selling club. Joe Allen, Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham have all left the club for substantial fees in 2012 and 2013, though the latter was because of missing out of the starting XI. Even so, with reported interest for star man Michu and Vice-captain Ashley Williams, only the ambition and depth of Swansea’s pockets will seal the futures of the clubs finest players. With the first piece of silverware in their history and a European spot for next season, you would hope Swansea’s expectation of success is surely met.
First of all is the man who has over seen this rise since taking over ten years ago, Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins. His plan for Swansea has worked excellently, starting with building a stadium and building the club and allowing the team to move smoothly up the ranks whilst bring stability to the club. The method of Swansea’s rise has been sensible and Jenkins has recently called himself “dull” enough to take over the Swansea reigns. I’d call it rational Huw.
A large part of the success at the Liberty Stadium has been down to the fantastic succession of managers that have graced Swansea. Firstly it was Roberto Martinez who pulled Swansea into the Championship, before Brendan Rodgers again got them promoted. After an impressive debut season, his departure left a worry the Swans would struggle. Again, though, they bought in a manager who would continue to improve the team: Michael Laudrup. One the main strong points of the small succession of managers is that they have been prepared to continue from where the last left off rather than to change the style of the team. There have been very little periods of adjusting, with Swansea continuing under new ideas rather than faltering as new initiatives are established and tried. The team has stayed quite similar in itself as well, with some players staying with The Swans through the leagues. This has been important for the Welsh club as it means that players blend in easier when they are bought and new managers know precisely what to expect in training.
One of the most important attributors to Swansea’s accomplishments is their playing style. Their sharp passing and possession tactic has worked wonders allowing them to overcome many of the major teams in the league. Their ability to keep the ball and make more triangles than Dairylea has made them a feared team in the English top flight. This tactic has been carried on through Rodgers and Laudrup, both seemingly happy to keep the general style with their own managerial tweaks. The ethos of Swansea in recent years is of evolution and not revolution, a commendable philosophy for a football club.
On the other hand, a club seemingly fighting above their weight division could easily evolve into a selling club. Joe Allen, Scott Sinclair and Danny Graham have all left the club for substantial fees in 2012 and 2013, though the latter was because of missing out of the starting XI. Even so, with reported interest for star man Michu and Vice-captain Ashley Williams, only the ambition and depth of Swansea’s pockets will seal the futures of the clubs finest players. With the first piece of silverware in their history and a European spot for next season, you would hope Swansea’s expectation of success is surely met.
Can Gervinho revive his Arsenal career?
Before last Saturdays game against Reading, the vast majority of Arsenal fans would have said that Gervinho should be one of many victims of a summer clear-out at the Emirates. Although, his confident performance against Nigel Adkins new side may have caused second thoughts.
It’s fair to say that Gervinho hasn’t won many fans since his move to the Emirates in the summer of 2011. He has never really got his career going, which may be down to having to depart to the African Nations during January and some of February. Reports were coming in last week that Wenger was ready to have a summer clear-out including Szczesny, Podolski, Gervinho, Rosicky, Sagna, and other fringe players.
After his performance it might be that Wenger takes Gervinho off that list. Speaking to Arsenal.com, Wenger had this to say:
“He finishes well now, much better than when he arrived and he will get better and better. But his finishing is linked with his psychology.
“To be honest he is not clinical however when he is completely relaxed he is quite good. He rushes his finishing because when he arrives in front of the goal he wants to get rid of [the ball].
“But you can gain experience and calmness. He wants to do well. He is a hard worker and, physically, you cannot fault his effort. Even when he had a bad period, he has always tried very hard.”
So, with seven games left, will there be enough time for Gervinho and his team mates to save their Arsenal career and qualify for the Champions League?
It’s fair to say that Gervinho hasn’t won many fans since his move to the Emirates in the summer of 2011. He has never really got his career going, which may be down to having to depart to the African Nations during January and some of February. Reports were coming in last week that Wenger was ready to have a summer clear-out including Szczesny, Podolski, Gervinho, Rosicky, Sagna, and other fringe players.
After his performance it might be that Wenger takes Gervinho off that list. Speaking to Arsenal.com, Wenger had this to say:
“He finishes well now, much better than when he arrived and he will get better and better. But his finishing is linked with his psychology.
“To be honest he is not clinical however when he is completely relaxed he is quite good. He rushes his finishing because when he arrives in front of the goal he wants to get rid of [the ball].
“But you can gain experience and calmness. He wants to do well. He is a hard worker and, physically, you cannot fault his effort. Even when he had a bad period, he has always tried very hard.”
So, with seven games left, will there be enough time for Gervinho and his team mates to save their Arsenal career and qualify for the Champions League?
Wednesday 10 April 2013
Are Real Madrid favourites for the Champions League?
The Spanish giant ended last season’s champions league campaign in a disappointing defeat to Bayern Munich on penalties in the semi-finals. Having won the title in nine occasions and the most recent one was back in 2001, since then Real Madrid have struggled to get back in to their champions league form. Different coaches have tried to get the tenth title of the competition within the years of 2001 till date; the likes of Pelligrini, Fabio Capello and Juande Ramos have all tried and failed to deliver. Jose Mourinho was signed two year ago from Inter Milan and has shown great promises as he came very close last year.
The beginning of this season was a one to forget for all Real Madrid players, fans and everyone associated to the club as they suffered to get their domestic form in the top flight and they now thrill 12 points behind the league leaders, Barcelona. But the domestic form is not affecting their European form as they emerged out of the group that is known as the group of death constituting, the German champions, Dortmound, the English champions, Manchester City and the Dutch Champions, Ajax. Loosing just a game from six and finishing second was not bad even though much was expected from them.
Manchester United was next for Real Madrid as they qualified for the next round, a lot of questions were asked as to who is going to stop the Dutch striker Robin Van Persie as well as the goal machine Christiano Ronaldo who has been reunited with his old team mates and of course his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson who branded Ronaldo the best player before the game. The last time these two teams met was back in 2003 were real Madrid became victor over the two legs. Jose Mourinho was also reunited with his colleague manager, Sir Alex from his time at Chelsea as they always have good contest in the English premier league
The first led ended in a stalemate as Ronaldo canceled Wellbeck’s strike at the Santiago Bernabeu with Real Madrid dominating the game but could not capitalize on that and Manchester united got the advantage as they go back to Old Trafford with an away Goal. United have made some good counter attacks as they look to defend their precious away goal and got a goal from the foot of Real Madrid’s captain of the night, Sergio Ramos. Moment later, a controversial decision from the referee saw Nani out of the game and Madrid took advantage of that to get a two goals from Modric and the ever-reliable Ronaldo.
The question is can Real Madrid win the champions league considering the form of the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, Dortmound as well as bitter rivals Barcelona
The beginning of this season was a one to forget for all Real Madrid players, fans and everyone associated to the club as they suffered to get their domestic form in the top flight and they now thrill 12 points behind the league leaders, Barcelona. But the domestic form is not affecting their European form as they emerged out of the group that is known as the group of death constituting, the German champions, Dortmound, the English champions, Manchester City and the Dutch Champions, Ajax. Loosing just a game from six and finishing second was not bad even though much was expected from them.
Manchester United was next for Real Madrid as they qualified for the next round, a lot of questions were asked as to who is going to stop the Dutch striker Robin Van Persie as well as the goal machine Christiano Ronaldo who has been reunited with his old team mates and of course his manager, Sir Alex Ferguson who branded Ronaldo the best player before the game. The last time these two teams met was back in 2003 were real Madrid became victor over the two legs. Jose Mourinho was also reunited with his colleague manager, Sir Alex from his time at Chelsea as they always have good contest in the English premier league
The first led ended in a stalemate as Ronaldo canceled Wellbeck’s strike at the Santiago Bernabeu with Real Madrid dominating the game but could not capitalize on that and Manchester united got the advantage as they go back to Old Trafford with an away Goal. United have made some good counter attacks as they look to defend their precious away goal and got a goal from the foot of Real Madrid’s captain of the night, Sergio Ramos. Moment later, a controversial decision from the referee saw Nani out of the game and Madrid took advantage of that to get a two goals from Modric and the ever-reliable Ronaldo.
The question is can Real Madrid win the champions league considering the form of the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus, Dortmound as well as bitter rivals Barcelona
The JPT, a chance for glory or a waste of time?
The final of the Johnstone Paint trophy will soon be played, giving the chance for a lower league team to bring silverware back to the club. With Bradford losing the Capital One Cup final and no representative from League 1 or 2 in the FA Cup semi-finals the JPT is the only opportunity for cup success for the lower leagues. Two teams have progressed from the southern and northern finals but the Wembley date is the decider for the competition.
Crewe Alexandra represent the north and Southend United the south, but what have these teams really won or lost by progressing through the rounds? The first worry fans and managers may have is the effect a good cup run can have on the league. Southend United are currently 6 points off a playoff position in League 2 and would consider themselves still in contention. If they had exited the JPT in the earliest round then you must beg the question as to whether they could be above the dotted line of the playoffs at this point of the season. Crewe on the other hand have 54 points in League 1 and would consider themselves safe, however are too many points off a promotion push so now safety is secured, the JPT is no distraction. Southend would therefore be hoping that the JPT is worth the risk of a few lost points in the league.
If the JPT is not a distraction, either through no worthy bid for promotion or depth of squad to handle competitions, then it still is not financially great. The winnings for reaching the final are known to be poor and would not match up to a third round FA Cup game against a big Premiership team but recent statistics have shown that by reaching the final teams may expect a decent windfall. The money, however is not what the competition is about, it is about giving the chance for fans to have bragging rights against rival clubs. Mostly, the only true success a lower league team can really have is from promotion and a windfall from an FA Cup game when the big teams enter. So what better way to let clubs battle it out to bring success for the fans that rarely have that kind of experience and enjoyment that brings? Crewe or Southend will be champions and cup winners, something teams like Arsenal and Everton can’t say and while the cups may be fought on different battlegrounds the celebrations and feeling of ecstasy when the trophy is lifted is the same. That experience of Wembley is something amazing for English football fans and this competition gives the opportunity for fans to see their teams win in the home of English football.
The ripple effects from a successful Johnstone Paint final can be great for the winning club. In previous years, winners of the JPT have carried on to more success, in the past twenty years alone, six of the winners have since become Premiership teams, two of which have won it twice. Teams have in the past won it and used that experience to springboard up the tables, using the JPT as another platform to perform and get used to winning. The JPT could therefore be seen as a possible glimpse into the future of which teams are ready for, or moving towards, long term success.
The reputation of JPT victory for managers therefore, could be great, and even though Phil Sturrock has lost his job at Southend, his JPT trophy run wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. For Crewe, however, it may be a bit different, with their manager Steve Davis guiding Crewe to playoff success last season after an unbeaten run of 19 games. With safety and a JPT now added to his CV this season, a JPT victory would really stand out for him. After being linked with Burnley earlier in the season he is definitely lower league hot property now and the JPT can only move to prove that.
The Johnstone Paint Trophy may not draw the greatest crowds yet when Coventry entertained Crewe in the first leg of the regional finals there were over 31,000, a record for the Johnstone Paint outside of a final. It shows an interest for the competition that rivals the cynicism that it often has to deal with, it shows that lower league teams want to see their teams fight for success and that winning competitions is important to all football fans.
Crewe Alexandra represent the north and Southend United the south, but what have these teams really won or lost by progressing through the rounds? The first worry fans and managers may have is the effect a good cup run can have on the league. Southend United are currently 6 points off a playoff position in League 2 and would consider themselves still in contention. If they had exited the JPT in the earliest round then you must beg the question as to whether they could be above the dotted line of the playoffs at this point of the season. Crewe on the other hand have 54 points in League 1 and would consider themselves safe, however are too many points off a promotion push so now safety is secured, the JPT is no distraction. Southend would therefore be hoping that the JPT is worth the risk of a few lost points in the league.
If the JPT is not a distraction, either through no worthy bid for promotion or depth of squad to handle competitions, then it still is not financially great. The winnings for reaching the final are known to be poor and would not match up to a third round FA Cup game against a big Premiership team but recent statistics have shown that by reaching the final teams may expect a decent windfall. The money, however is not what the competition is about, it is about giving the chance for fans to have bragging rights against rival clubs. Mostly, the only true success a lower league team can really have is from promotion and a windfall from an FA Cup game when the big teams enter. So what better way to let clubs battle it out to bring success for the fans that rarely have that kind of experience and enjoyment that brings? Crewe or Southend will be champions and cup winners, something teams like Arsenal and Everton can’t say and while the cups may be fought on different battlegrounds the celebrations and feeling of ecstasy when the trophy is lifted is the same. That experience of Wembley is something amazing for English football fans and this competition gives the opportunity for fans to see their teams win in the home of English football.
The ripple effects from a successful Johnstone Paint final can be great for the winning club. In previous years, winners of the JPT have carried on to more success, in the past twenty years alone, six of the winners have since become Premiership teams, two of which have won it twice. Teams have in the past won it and used that experience to springboard up the tables, using the JPT as another platform to perform and get used to winning. The JPT could therefore be seen as a possible glimpse into the future of which teams are ready for, or moving towards, long term success.
The reputation of JPT victory for managers therefore, could be great, and even though Phil Sturrock has lost his job at Southend, his JPT trophy run wouldn’t have gone unnoticed. For Crewe, however, it may be a bit different, with their manager Steve Davis guiding Crewe to playoff success last season after an unbeaten run of 19 games. With safety and a JPT now added to his CV this season, a JPT victory would really stand out for him. After being linked with Burnley earlier in the season he is definitely lower league hot property now and the JPT can only move to prove that.
The Johnstone Paint Trophy may not draw the greatest crowds yet when Coventry entertained Crewe in the first leg of the regional finals there were over 31,000, a record for the Johnstone Paint outside of a final. It shows an interest for the competition that rivals the cynicism that it often has to deal with, it shows that lower league teams want to see their teams fight for success and that winning competitions is important to all football fans.
FA Cup a necessity for Manchester City and Mancini
This time last year Mancini was left facing down the barrel of Sheikh Mansour’s loaded gun. He dodged that bullet with the most extraordinary season end we are ever likely to see. 12 months on and he finds himself in an even more precarious position.
Given the money available to Manchester City, and the squad they had going into last summer, they should certainly not be 15 points behind Manchester United with 8 or so games to play.
Mancini must be held responsible for their relatively tame defence of their Premier League title, and there are several reasons for this.
Lack of top quality signings in the summer was the first issue. Javi Garcia arrived with a big reputation and an equally big price tag, but has looked way out of his depth in his first season in English football, which hasn’t softened the blow of losing Nigel de Jong to Milan.
One player who had proven he was capable of performing in the Premier League was Scott Sinclair. This was a strange transfer for me, as Sinclair was clearly ready to play at a higher level but needed to be playing regular football. However, to say he has been a bit part player would be a massive understatement. He has been given no first team opportunities whatsoever, and Mancini has been naive in not using a talented wide man who would offer something different. Sinclair is also to blame here, as he was surely aware that he was going to the Champions knowing he would be given limited time on the pitch, when he should have been progressing as a player and playing regular first team football.
The one transfer who has shone this season though is Nastasic. One of the more underwhelming singings Mancini has made looks to be a real find. He reads the game superbly well, isn’t afraid of a tackle and is supremely calm when on the ball. If he can carry on his form into his second season at City then he could develop into a top class centre half.
Everyone knows the Tevez saga last season was poorly managed by Mancini, yet I was willing to allow this as the situation was one he shouldn’t of been put into in the first place.
However, his man management skills have become poorer ever since then and this has proved detrimental to a squad that seems to lack harmony throughout the ‘tough’ times in a season. Rows with Balotelli, Nasri and Kompany have been well documented and with a squad full of big characters and egos this will only cause more difficulties and Mancini does not have the necessary skills to deal with such characters.
This seems to have rubbed off on Yaya Toure who doesn’t seem to be enjoying his football at the minute and certainly isn’t the player he was last season. Not celebrating a goal, as he did against Newcastle, for me always gives rise to a player who is not enjoying himself at the football club.
The final problem Mancini has had this year is his own tactics. Title winning sides need stability and a regular starting XI, which Manchester City had last season. Chopping and changing full backs and the support strikers only upsets the balance of a team, whereas last season he knew exactly who he would be playing, and in what position.
His favoured formation of 3-5-2 can be a very effective system when deployed in the right way, with the right players. Unfortunately this has not been the case for Mancini and this has often blown up in his face when his players look like they have no clue who is playing where and what their role is.
The FA Cup now offers a saving grace for Mancini, because if they can go on to beat Chelsea then they will be huge favourites to go on and lift the Cup for a second time in three seasons. If they can achieve that, then it will be difficult for Mansour to sack Mancini as he would have delivered three trophies in three seasons, something Arsenal could only dream of!
However, given the investment made by the Abu Dhabi Group, and the money available to Roberto Mancini, if they do not win the FA Cup it will give the Sheikh suitable grounds to get rid of Mancini.
And with Mourinho available in the summer, could it be perfect timing?
Given the money available to Manchester City, and the squad they had going into last summer, they should certainly not be 15 points behind Manchester United with 8 or so games to play.
Mancini must be held responsible for their relatively tame defence of their Premier League title, and there are several reasons for this.
Lack of top quality signings in the summer was the first issue. Javi Garcia arrived with a big reputation and an equally big price tag, but has looked way out of his depth in his first season in English football, which hasn’t softened the blow of losing Nigel de Jong to Milan.
One player who had proven he was capable of performing in the Premier League was Scott Sinclair. This was a strange transfer for me, as Sinclair was clearly ready to play at a higher level but needed to be playing regular football. However, to say he has been a bit part player would be a massive understatement. He has been given no first team opportunities whatsoever, and Mancini has been naive in not using a talented wide man who would offer something different. Sinclair is also to blame here, as he was surely aware that he was going to the Champions knowing he would be given limited time on the pitch, when he should have been progressing as a player and playing regular first team football.
The one transfer who has shone this season though is Nastasic. One of the more underwhelming singings Mancini has made looks to be a real find. He reads the game superbly well, isn’t afraid of a tackle and is supremely calm when on the ball. If he can carry on his form into his second season at City then he could develop into a top class centre half.
Everyone knows the Tevez saga last season was poorly managed by Mancini, yet I was willing to allow this as the situation was one he shouldn’t of been put into in the first place.
However, his man management skills have become poorer ever since then and this has proved detrimental to a squad that seems to lack harmony throughout the ‘tough’ times in a season. Rows with Balotelli, Nasri and Kompany have been well documented and with a squad full of big characters and egos this will only cause more difficulties and Mancini does not have the necessary skills to deal with such characters.
This seems to have rubbed off on Yaya Toure who doesn’t seem to be enjoying his football at the minute and certainly isn’t the player he was last season. Not celebrating a goal, as he did against Newcastle, for me always gives rise to a player who is not enjoying himself at the football club.
The final problem Mancini has had this year is his own tactics. Title winning sides need stability and a regular starting XI, which Manchester City had last season. Chopping and changing full backs and the support strikers only upsets the balance of a team, whereas last season he knew exactly who he would be playing, and in what position.
His favoured formation of 3-5-2 can be a very effective system when deployed in the right way, with the right players. Unfortunately this has not been the case for Mancini and this has often blown up in his face when his players look like they have no clue who is playing where and what their role is.
The FA Cup now offers a saving grace for Mancini, because if they can go on to beat Chelsea then they will be huge favourites to go on and lift the Cup for a second time in three seasons. If they can achieve that, then it will be difficult for Mansour to sack Mancini as he would have delivered three trophies in three seasons, something Arsenal could only dream of!
However, given the investment made by the Abu Dhabi Group, and the money available to Roberto Mancini, if they do not win the FA Cup it will give the Sheikh suitable grounds to get rid of Mancini.
And with Mourinho available in the summer, could it be perfect timing?
Who next for Leeds United?
As Neil Warnock closes the door on his way out of Elland Road and his managerial tenure with the mighty whites, one question looms large, who next for Leeds United?
It comes as no surprise that Warnock has left the club, having made his intentions perfectly clear that it was promotion or bust in the ER hot seat.
However there is a timid hint of surprise as his departure comes with six league games of the championship season remaining.
Nevertheless, the revelation comes after a sorry performance again by the whites, this time a home defeat to Derby County.
More points dropped and chances of promotion back to the Premier League a fleeting thought to be resurrected next season.
A club statement shortly after Warnocks departure outlined the strategy of appointing a successor:
“This may well be after the end of the season dependent on the availability of the club’s preferred choice to become the next manager.
“A short-list has already been prepared as Neil was always going to leave at the end of the season in the event that we did not get promotion
“However, with availability of suitable candidates changing all the time then we will adopt a flexible approach, so as to ensure that we make the right appointment
Academy manager Neil Redfearn will take caretaker charge of the first team until a permanent candidate for the role is found, a decision the powers that be are in no rush to make.
Leeds Chief Exec Shaun Harvey stated: ‘We need to look to the future and the search for his replacement is under way’
“There is no fixed timescale as securing the services of the right person is the primary objective to give us the best chance of promotion next season.”
Warnock spent 14 months at the Leeds United helm, replacing Simon Grayson in February 2012.
“We would like to thank Neil for his efforts during his time as our manager and share his disappointment that we could not achieve promotion,” added Harvey.
“We would also like to thank Mick Jones and Ronnie Jepson, who will leave the club with Neil, for all their hard work.”
Early front runners to the vacated managers office include Mark Hughes, Owen Coyle, Gus Poyet, Brian McDermott and Martin O’Neill.
The bookies have former Reading boss McDermott at the shortest price of 5/4, followed by Poyet at 9/2 and Martin O’Neil at 8/1.
Gus Poyet is the only one of these names to have spent time at Elland Road as a member of the clubs backroom staff, serving as Dennis Wise’s assistant between October 2006 and October 2007. Poyet, now manager at Brighton, is held in high regard by the Leeds faithful.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reported over the weekend that sources close to the former Reading boss Brian McDermott, have stated he wants his next managerial role in football to be at Elland Road.
Read into that what you will.
McDermott’s availability comes after his former club Reading sacked him after four successive defeats; this coming after the manager had claimed the manager of the month award for January.
Prior to that, he led Reading to the Championship title the previous season, pipping Southampton to the trophy by a single point, winning an impressive 16 league games from 19 to close out the season.
However the newest managerial casualty from the top flight, needs no introduction to some Leeds fans, most recently Sunderland found him to be surplus to requirements, their loss could be the mighty whites gain.
The name Martin O’Neill is familiar to supporters of Leeds United, once upon a time he nearly signed with the Elland Road outfit whilst at Celtic.
The Northern Irishman could be back on United’s radar as their top target, however it is thought O’Neill will be taking a short break after his dismissal and look for a new position over the summer.
A scenario Leeds perhaps wouldn’t turn their nose up at if ‘no fixed timescale’ were the intended plan of action alluded to by Chief Exec Shaun Harvey.
Who do you think should be Neil Warnock’s successor?
Tottenham keep pace in race to Europe
Andre Villas-Boas claims Tottenham is not a one-man team. As Arsenal is marching on in the race for top four, playing against Everton was not the perfect moment to prove himself right. The team did not let him down though and salvaged a 2-2 draw via Sigurdsson’s late equaliser, despite leading early in the match. The spiritual team effort kept them at third, marginally ahead of their North London rival.
Living without Bale is something the Yids could not imagine. It was a worrying formation for Spurs as they had to play without their biggest assets — wingers Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, but Emmanuel Adebayor and Jan Vertonghen alleviated the concerns with barely a minute into the match. Player of the month Vertonghen delivered a cunning cross that caught John Heitinga and Sylvain Distin. Adebayor, unmarked at the far post, seemed to have re-discovered his scoring boots and tapped in the opening goal past Tim Howard.
A surprise to the home crowd, yet an unpleasant one for David Moyes. A goal created from the flank in a winger-less formation only demonstrated the lack of concentration in the Toffees’ defence. Moyes could count himself a bit lucky, as Tottenham did not quite have the quality this afternoon to pile on further after the early goal.
Michael Dawson’s poor pass at the back had already triggered the alarm. Leon Osman could not make Dawson pay for the mistake, but Phil Jagielka made it count 3 minutes later. Hugo Lloris was two-minded on Leighton Baines’ corner. Jagielka towered above Vertonghen and headed the ball between Lloris’ legs. Tottenham’s lead only briefly lasted for a quarter of an hour.
A very hardworking bunch but lacking the flair and creativity, long shots were the best Tottenham could manage against the solid Everton. The away side held on until Moyes made a decisive change after the interval. Niko Jelavic joined Victor Anichebe up front and the ambitious move exposed the space at Tottenham’s defence. While fullbacks were urged to press on, centre backs were stretched by the striker pair. The determined Kevin Mirallas raced down the right and beat several defenders before firing a fantastic shot past Lloris. Despite trailing early, Everton fought all the way back in the battle for top 4.
Kyle Walker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Clint Dempsey all tested Tim Howard with shots outside the box, but it was Moussa Dembele who had the best chance. Tim Howard saw the Belgian’s right foot shot late and squandered the shot which then somehow hit the post. With Arsenal on their shoulders, this was the best chance Tottenham could have created.
When Andre Villas-Boas finally decided to change, it proved to be an impactful one. Tom Huddlestone, returning from a lengthy layoff from a knee injury, came in to orchestrate the midfield. The crowd did not welcome AVB’s decision to take off Dembele, but Huddlestone’s presence allowed the influential Scott Parker to field more daring runs to support the fullbacks. His range of passing also made Tottenham’s attack more dynamic.
David Moyes got a goal after his substitution. AVB finally got one back as well after his tactical change. Adebayor calmly controlled Walker’s cross in the box and curled past Tim Howard, only to be denied by the post kept. The ball bounced off into Sigurdsson’s path and the Icelandic midfielder once again scored an important equaliser for Tottenham with three minutes to go.
There was hope this was going to be another comeback victory with four minutes of added time. Tottenham, though, required Lloris to make sure the one point was safe. Anichebe and Jelavic were both granted space in injury time but Lloris made no mistakes. The dramatic 2-2 draw put Tottenham two points ahead of Arsenal, who has a game in hand, but saw Everton’s Champions League dream faded away further. Everton will soon be boosted by Fellaini’s return from suspension, but Gareth Bale’s recovery is still in the mist. Tottenham still have a steep mountain to climb to clinch the Champions League spot.
Living without Bale is something the Yids could not imagine. It was a worrying formation for Spurs as they had to play without their biggest assets — wingers Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale, but Emmanuel Adebayor and Jan Vertonghen alleviated the concerns with barely a minute into the match. Player of the month Vertonghen delivered a cunning cross that caught John Heitinga and Sylvain Distin. Adebayor, unmarked at the far post, seemed to have re-discovered his scoring boots and tapped in the opening goal past Tim Howard.
A surprise to the home crowd, yet an unpleasant one for David Moyes. A goal created from the flank in a winger-less formation only demonstrated the lack of concentration in the Toffees’ defence. Moyes could count himself a bit lucky, as Tottenham did not quite have the quality this afternoon to pile on further after the early goal.
Michael Dawson’s poor pass at the back had already triggered the alarm. Leon Osman could not make Dawson pay for the mistake, but Phil Jagielka made it count 3 minutes later. Hugo Lloris was two-minded on Leighton Baines’ corner. Jagielka towered above Vertonghen and headed the ball between Lloris’ legs. Tottenham’s lead only briefly lasted for a quarter of an hour.
A very hardworking bunch but lacking the flair and creativity, long shots were the best Tottenham could manage against the solid Everton. The away side held on until Moyes made a decisive change after the interval. Niko Jelavic joined Victor Anichebe up front and the ambitious move exposed the space at Tottenham’s defence. While fullbacks were urged to press on, centre backs were stretched by the striker pair. The determined Kevin Mirallas raced down the right and beat several defenders before firing a fantastic shot past Lloris. Despite trailing early, Everton fought all the way back in the battle for top 4.
Kyle Walker, Emmanuel Adebayor and Clint Dempsey all tested Tim Howard with shots outside the box, but it was Moussa Dembele who had the best chance. Tim Howard saw the Belgian’s right foot shot late and squandered the shot which then somehow hit the post. With Arsenal on their shoulders, this was the best chance Tottenham could have created.
When Andre Villas-Boas finally decided to change, it proved to be an impactful one. Tom Huddlestone, returning from a lengthy layoff from a knee injury, came in to orchestrate the midfield. The crowd did not welcome AVB’s decision to take off Dembele, but Huddlestone’s presence allowed the influential Scott Parker to field more daring runs to support the fullbacks. His range of passing also made Tottenham’s attack more dynamic.
David Moyes got a goal after his substitution. AVB finally got one back as well after his tactical change. Adebayor calmly controlled Walker’s cross in the box and curled past Tim Howard, only to be denied by the post kept. The ball bounced off into Sigurdsson’s path and the Icelandic midfielder once again scored an important equaliser for Tottenham with three minutes to go.
There was hope this was going to be another comeback victory with four minutes of added time. Tottenham, though, required Lloris to make sure the one point was safe. Anichebe and Jelavic were both granted space in injury time but Lloris made no mistakes. The dramatic 2-2 draw put Tottenham two points ahead of Arsenal, who has a game in hand, but saw Everton’s Champions League dream faded away further. Everton will soon be boosted by Fellaini’s return from suspension, but Gareth Bale’s recovery is still in the mist. Tottenham still have a steep mountain to climb to clinch the Champions League spot.
Is Bergkamp the right man to replace Wenger?
It is true that Dennis Bergkamp has Arsenal DNA, and with coaching experience as assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax, he could be the ideal successor to Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Bergkamp had a wonderful 11 year spell at Arsenal before deciding to hang up his boots. Upon retiring, he said that he would not be taking up coaching. He later on decided to reject an offer from Arsenal to be a scout. In 2008 he decided to start coaching and has built his way all the way up to Ajax assistant manager.
When Wenger eventually leaves the Arsenal post it will be very hard for Stan Kroenke and co. to find a replacement who will have the football knowledge and passion Wenger has displayed throughout his time at the club. The name that was the clear favorite in the fans’ eyes, Pep Guardiola, has now taken up the role as manager at Bayern Munich. With Jose Mourinho looking to be heading towards either Chelsea or PSG, Bergkamp could be the right man for the job. With a clear love for the club and his well known football intelligence, Bergkamp surely has to be considered by the Arsenal board.
It’s now coming up to 8 years without a trophy for Arsenal but Wenger has made it clear he has no intention to leave at the end of the season and that he will stay at least until his contract expires in the summer of 2014.
When Wenger eventually leaves the Arsenal post it will be very hard for Stan Kroenke and co. to find a replacement who will have the football knowledge and passion Wenger has displayed throughout his time at the club. The name that was the clear favorite in the fans’ eyes, Pep Guardiola, has now taken up the role as manager at Bayern Munich. With Jose Mourinho looking to be heading towards either Chelsea or PSG, Bergkamp could be the right man for the job. With a clear love for the club and his well known football intelligence, Bergkamp surely has to be considered by the Arsenal board.
It’s now coming up to 8 years without a trophy for Arsenal but Wenger has made it clear he has no intention to leave at the end of the season and that he will stay at least until his contract expires in the summer of 2014.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)