After their shambolic display at the World Cup, England national manager Fabio Capello said he would “introduce new players to give the team new energy and I will use all my experience to take England forward”. This promise, just like the one he made when he first took the job at the end of 2007 regarding picking players in form and not on reputation, has already proved to be an empty one when we look at the squad for the Euro 2012 Qualifiers on Friday and Tuesday week announced last night. Thirteen of the twenty-four men selected were in South Africa, with trio Theo Walcott, Adam Johnson and Darren Bent all having been in the provisional thirty. The stubbornness, some might even call it obstinacy, of the England coach is underlined by the fact two thirds of our current pool were in contention for or made it onto the plane in June.
The percentage of the same old players would be even higher were it not for the fact that Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and John Terry sustained injuries last week. This is not to ignore the other eight players selected, though all but Bolton’s Gary Cahill have been capped. Kieran Gibbs who made his international debut in the 2-1 win against Hungary earlier this month is the youngest in the squad at twenty, with the average age of the players just over twenty-six. Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere has been demoted to the Under-21s and his arrest on Saturday night will not have done him any favours. Everton’s Jack Rodwell who is tipped to be a future England senior regular in the future also takes his place in Stuart Pearce’s squad as does Newcastle’s in-form Andy Carroll.
With the greatest of respect to Bulgaria, England’s opponents at Wembley on Friday, they are a shell of the side they used to be. Long gone are the days of the Hristos, Stoichkov and further back Bonev. Manchester United’s Dimitar Berbatov who has started the season impressively retired from international football at the end of last season, having become the nation’s record goalscorer, but his fire power and skills are a huge miss. It places a huge burden on a player who once plied his trade for the Red Devils’ neighbours at Eastlands Valeri Bojinov who has begun rebuilding his career in Serie A with Parma after a long-term injury. It will fall to Aston Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov to run things in the middle of the park and his namesake Martin of Bolton will be charged to exploit the endeavour of the England full backs. For me the one to watch is Ivelin Popov, heavily linked with a move to Blackburn from domestic side Litex Lovech. The twenty-two year old attacking midfielder was voted the Bulgarian league players’ player of the year last season.
Turning back to England how can Capello justify some of the recalls he has issued? Shaun Wright-Phillips has made only one start from Manchester City’s four games played this season, remaining an unused substitute in the other three in league and Europe. Matthew Upson is part of a West Ham defence that has conceded nine goals in three Premier League matches and sits bottom of the table. It is also difficult to forget his culpability along with Gareth Barry for the 4-1 defeat to Germany, the heaviest lost the Three Lions have ever suffered in a World Cup. Scott Carson’s return to the England fold is also intriguing. Those of us with long memories will recall the West Brom keeper’s gaffe in the 3-2 defeat to Croatia at Wembley which ended hopes of qualifying for the last Euros in Austria and Switzerland that rightfully cost current Wolfsburg manager Steve McClaren the national hot seat. The former Liverpool stopper has largely played in the second tier of English football due to the yo-yo nature of the Baggies. Though responsibility may not lie with him for their opening day 6-0 thrashing by champions Chelsea the message being sent out by his recall is difficult to understand. He has no chance of playing with Joe Hart emerging ahead of Shay Given between the sticks at Eastlands and the penalty saving heroics of Ben Foster for Birmingham. The former is the clear favourite to keep the number one jersey for Friday.
Carlton Cole’s retention surprised me simply because of the good form of Andy Carroll. Both are the same height, excellent in the air and can play that target man role which gives their sides a dimension. The difference between them at the start of the season is end product. Cole has yet to find the net, having had a penalty saved in West Ham’s 3-1 defeat to Bolton, whereas Newcastle’s number nine has scored four goals, including a hat-trick against Villa. I have not been a fan of Carroll’s off the field conduct in recent times, but if he continues to develop and bag goals then the twenty-one year old should definitely be given an opportunity to prove his worth. Spurs pairing Crouch and Defoe thoroughly deserve their returns after guiding their club into the Champions League proper. Though England should not fear Bulgaria, I believe the away fixture with Switzerland that follows it will be more of a test. A full report and analysis on Friday's match will be up after the match.
Monday, 30 August 2010
Friday, 27 August 2010
Benitez Beaten as Madrid Marvel at Super Cup Glory
Inter Milan 0 Atletico Madrid 2
Life after Jose Mourinho will not yield the clean sweep of six trophies in the San Siro’s cabinet in 2010 as his successor presided over a 2-0 defeat, seeing the European Super Cup go to the red half of Madrid. Quique Sanchez Flores’s side won UEFA’s curtain raiser in Monaco with second goals from former Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero.
Though the atmosphere in the Stade Louis II could not be faulted the fixture retained its frustrating feel after a goalless first half largely devoid of action. Though Inter showed glimpses of what they produced last season early on they were very pedestrian this evening and looked lob-sided with Dejan Stankovic joining Argentine pair Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso in the centre, leaving Samuel Eto’o to provide width. Maicon, the Champions League defender of last season, had an awful performance. He seldom showed his attacking intent and was exposed defensively by Atletico’s captain Simao time and again. UEFA’s forward of the year Diego Milito also had a frustrating night, seeing his ninetieth minute penalty brilliantly saved by David de Gea though in truth it was not the best of spot kicks.
It was Flores’s side that profited from this faltering display and Reyes blasted past Julio Cesar from a tight angle on the hour mark. De Gea had very little to do between the posts and the defensive frailties of last season see to have been put behind. Diego Godin made his debut for Madrid and though he looked a little shaky in places I retain the praise I had for him off his World Cup performances. The same cannot be said for Brazil captain Lucio who must admit responsibility along with compatriot Maicon for the second goal. Simao was allowed to slip a ball across with the latter did nothing to prevent and the former failed to cut out leaving Kun Aguero to tap in.
On tonight’s evidence, Atletico fans should be expecting their side to finish well above last season’s ninth place. As for Inter for me Benitez perhaps needs to freshen it up a little by making a signing or two before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday and put his own mark on the team.
Life after Jose Mourinho will not yield the clean sweep of six trophies in the San Siro’s cabinet in 2010 as his successor presided over a 2-0 defeat, seeing the European Super Cup go to the red half of Madrid. Quique Sanchez Flores’s side won UEFA’s curtain raiser in Monaco with second goals from former Arsenal winger Jose Antonio Reyes and Sergio Aguero.
Though the atmosphere in the Stade Louis II could not be faulted the fixture retained its frustrating feel after a goalless first half largely devoid of action. Though Inter showed glimpses of what they produced last season early on they were very pedestrian this evening and looked lob-sided with Dejan Stankovic joining Argentine pair Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso in the centre, leaving Samuel Eto’o to provide width. Maicon, the Champions League defender of last season, had an awful performance. He seldom showed his attacking intent and was exposed defensively by Atletico’s captain Simao time and again. UEFA’s forward of the year Diego Milito also had a frustrating night, seeing his ninetieth minute penalty brilliantly saved by David de Gea though in truth it was not the best of spot kicks.
It was Flores’s side that profited from this faltering display and Reyes blasted past Julio Cesar from a tight angle on the hour mark. De Gea had very little to do between the posts and the defensive frailties of last season see to have been put behind. Diego Godin made his debut for Madrid and though he looked a little shaky in places I retain the praise I had for him off his World Cup performances. The same cannot be said for Brazil captain Lucio who must admit responsibility along with compatriot Maicon for the second goal. Simao was allowed to slip a ball across with the latter did nothing to prevent and the former failed to cut out leaving Kun Aguero to tap in.
On tonight’s evidence, Atletico fans should be expecting their side to finish well above last season’s ninth place. As for Inter for me Benitez perhaps needs to freshen it up a little by making a signing or two before the transfer window slams shut on Tuesday and put his own mark on the team.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
How Tottenham Can Earn Their Spurs in the Champions League
Tottenham fans can look forward to a trip to the San Siro this autumn after Harry Redknapp’s side were drawn in the same group as the reigning and defending champions of Europe Inter Milan now managed by Rafa Benitez. Having negotiated in convincing fashion the qualifying round, demolishing Young Boys Berne 4-0 (and 6-3 on aggregate) last night, the Champions League proper debutants are also joined by the third placed team from the Bundesliga Werder Bremen and Dutch champions FC Twente completing Group A.
Inter are the clear favourites to come out on top, though Benitez is yet to put his mark on what in effect is the side built by Jose Mourinho now in charge of Real Madrid. The Serie A winners have an array of proven talent and experience, though they are somewhat lacking in Italian players, a fact that has not escaped commentators’ notice. What is also striking is that thirteen members of the squad are aged thirty and over; by the end of next season that will increase. That said it is hardly the last chance saloon for players such as Diego Milito, Dejan Stankovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel and Lucio who formed the spine of the side that reached the final and lifted the trophy in the Bernabeu in May. From Spurs’ perspective any points they can take off the Nerazzurri will be a bonus.
Turning to the German opposition on paper they remind me a lot of the North London outfit. Both sides have strength and depth up front. Markus Rosenberg, Claudio Pizarro, Marko Arnautovic and Hugo Almeida are all decent strikers and when playing regularly can expect at the very least to be in squads for their national teams. Tim Borowski and Bremen captain Torsten Frings, one of the most underrated players in his position, provide a solid and resolute central midfield that is arguably better than Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone. One weapon the Germans have that Tottenham do not is exceptional height at the back Brazilian Naldo and Per Mertesacker both stand at a shade under two metres tall, so between them there ought to be enough to neutralise Peter Crouch. It will be this fixture home and away in Group A for me that will be the most absorbing.
With Steve McClaren having left Twente behind for the bigger job of Wolfsburg, it falls to Belgian Michel Preud’homme to guide the Dutch champions through the Champions League. I fear he has an impossible task ahead of him and will go so far as to say that one of Holland’s big two clubs will wrest the Eredivisie title back from the Enschede team. In Europe they will not just be there to make up the numbers however, but the squad he has to work with for me lacks depth and is unproven at this level. The fact that they have David Carney playing for them, who little more than a year ago was so bad on loan at Norwich you could’ve rightly made the case that top flight football was well beyond him, means they’ve no hope of progression. Bryan Ruiz scored goals for fun last season, but the Costa Rican with all due respect must be taken with a pinch of salt. The van Nistelrooy’s and Bergkamp’s the Dutch league produces are few and far between. The likes of Kezman, Huntelaar, Afonso Alves and many others who get goals by the bucket load there struggle to reproduce this form in European competitions or are found out when exported elsewhere.
Bearing this mind it is quite possible that Redknapp’s men can make it through to the knockout stages in the New Year. As stated above I believe it all hangs on the ties against Bremen and if these go well then twelve points (six from Twente being a given) will be enough to see them navigate the Group Stage. If the Germans best Spurs then the consolation prize of the Europa League would be still be of value as it will ensure the club is still playing in Europe in 2011. The biggest test of all might not be in how far Tottenham do in Europe, but in replicating a fourth place finish in the Premier League, guaranteeing another crack at the big time in future.
Inter are the clear favourites to come out on top, though Benitez is yet to put his mark on what in effect is the side built by Jose Mourinho now in charge of Real Madrid. The Serie A winners have an array of proven talent and experience, though they are somewhat lacking in Italian players, a fact that has not escaped commentators’ notice. What is also striking is that thirteen members of the squad are aged thirty and over; by the end of next season that will increase. That said it is hardly the last chance saloon for players such as Diego Milito, Dejan Stankovic, Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel and Lucio who formed the spine of the side that reached the final and lifted the trophy in the Bernabeu in May. From Spurs’ perspective any points they can take off the Nerazzurri will be a bonus.
Turning to the German opposition on paper they remind me a lot of the North London outfit. Both sides have strength and depth up front. Markus Rosenberg, Claudio Pizarro, Marko Arnautovic and Hugo Almeida are all decent strikers and when playing regularly can expect at the very least to be in squads for their national teams. Tim Borowski and Bremen captain Torsten Frings, one of the most underrated players in his position, provide a solid and resolute central midfield that is arguably better than Wilson Palacios and Tom Huddlestone. One weapon the Germans have that Tottenham do not is exceptional height at the back Brazilian Naldo and Per Mertesacker both stand at a shade under two metres tall, so between them there ought to be enough to neutralise Peter Crouch. It will be this fixture home and away in Group A for me that will be the most absorbing.
With Steve McClaren having left Twente behind for the bigger job of Wolfsburg, it falls to Belgian Michel Preud’homme to guide the Dutch champions through the Champions League. I fear he has an impossible task ahead of him and will go so far as to say that one of Holland’s big two clubs will wrest the Eredivisie title back from the Enschede team. In Europe they will not just be there to make up the numbers however, but the squad he has to work with for me lacks depth and is unproven at this level. The fact that they have David Carney playing for them, who little more than a year ago was so bad on loan at Norwich you could’ve rightly made the case that top flight football was well beyond him, means they’ve no hope of progression. Bryan Ruiz scored goals for fun last season, but the Costa Rican with all due respect must be taken with a pinch of salt. The van Nistelrooy’s and Bergkamp’s the Dutch league produces are few and far between. The likes of Kezman, Huntelaar, Afonso Alves and many others who get goals by the bucket load there struggle to reproduce this form in European competitions or are found out when exported elsewhere.
Bearing this mind it is quite possible that Redknapp’s men can make it through to the knockout stages in the New Year. As stated above I believe it all hangs on the ties against Bremen and if these go well then twelve points (six from Twente being a given) will be enough to see them navigate the Group Stage. If the Germans best Spurs then the consolation prize of the Europa League would be still be of value as it will ensure the club is still playing in Europe in 2011. The biggest test of all might not be in how far Tottenham do in Europe, but in replicating a fourth place finish in the Premier League, guaranteeing another crack at the big time in future.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Crime and Punishment: The French National Football Farce
The French national team will not be able to count on two of its most experienced players for their sternest tests in European Championship qualifying for Poland-Ukraine 2012 as a result of the decision of the disciplinary hearing held by the country’s football federation this week. Franck Ribery and the man who captained Les Bleus in South Africa Patrice Evra will both miss the trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina on September 7th and remain unavailable when Romania come to the Stade de France at the beginning of October. The Bayern Munich playmaker received a three-match ban whilst the Manchester United left back will have to sit out internationals for the rest of the calendar having been handed a suspension for five games. It is these players along with Nicolas Anelka, Jeremy Toulalan and Eric Abidal that are believed to have been the main perpetrators in the revolt against outgoing national manager Raymond Domenech. Though the charges and sentences differ it appears to be the opinion of the French Football Federation that these five men in particular shoulder the blame for the dismal performance at the World Cup.
Do the punishments fit the crimes? Have these disciplinary actions meted out by the men upstairs shot the French national team in the foot? More importantly, how much more difficult have they made matters for new coach Laurent Blanc? Only time will tell. The former Bordeaux manager has already gone on record saying anything less than qualifying for the EUROs will see him resign admitting defeat. Irish fans will not want us to forget that Domenech’s side only reached South Africa by foul means, a fact reflected perhaps in Thierry Henry’s notable absence from the latest Gillette adverts. By hook or by crook France reached the greatest show on earth and then the Federation made its first mistake. They announced Blanc would succeed the longest serving manager of Les Bleus after the World Cup. Were Domenech a widely respected figure in the game this move would have been no problem, but as he wasn’t, isn’t and never shall be the news of the appointment of his successor was a gaffe most serious.
Why Blanc stepping into the hot seat had to be made public before the tournament is something I could not understand at the time and still it baffles me. The decision lacked common sense and so I believe the federation cannot point the finger at the players with an entirely clear conscience. Their own shortcomings now exposed that does not detract from the fact that the twenty-three failed to behave in a professional manner, but no matter how well the squad performed changes were going to occur before their friendly with Norway. In no sense am I trying to defend the actions of Anelka or the others but there is a combination of factors at work here.
Turning our attention to the man in charge, it is an understatement to say Domenech is a controversial figure. I will not pretend I know anywhere near as much about astrology as he does but it my view it has no relationship to or place in football. If we look beyond the reasoning behind his tactics at his achievements and measure him against the man who has replaced him then new light may be shed upon the manner in which he was and remains despised. As a player Domenech won the French Cup with both Lyon and Bordeaux, the French championship with Strasbourg and amassed eight caps for his country. Blanc on the other hand easily matches these achievements and can add the UEFA Cup Winners Cup from his time with Barcelona and a Premier League title whilst at Manchester United, not to mention nearly a century of France caps and a back-to-back World Cup and European Championship to boot. As managers although Domenech has guided Les Bleus to a World Cup final on his CV his club management credentials show no titles, no cups, nothing. The solitary silverware he has lifted is the Toulon Tournament whilst in charge of the French youth side, a glorified series of friendlies. Blanc won the Ligue 1 championship and French league cup in his second season in charge at Bordeaux and though he failed to defend either during the last campaign he is widely regarded as a talented and relatively young manager.
If you were a French footballer who would you respect more? The incoming hero who has translated success from the pitch to the dugout or the stargazer who believes those with a Leo rising can’t play in a 4-5-1? Domenech sadly was a victim of the talent that he helped to bring through to the national side from his days in the youth setup. They may have played for him in the Toulon and reached the 2002 European Youth Championship final but since going to the same stage in the 2006 World Cup France have been on a downward spiral. France had to work for their place in Austria/Switzerland famously losing 1-0 to Scotland and James McFadden’s strike in Paris. From there they finished bottom of their Group in the EUROs with a single point. In spite of his unpopularity and repeated failures the federation never sacked Domenech and these constituted opportunities to do so.
As I have already said the players themselves cannot be ignored either. Nicola Anelka’s eighteen match ban is not much of a loss. Whatever his good form and wherever he plays for Chelsea an international record of fourteen goals from sixty-nine games is nothing to write home about. Les Bleus have also lost record goalscorer Henry as he retired from internationals and is in effect semi-retired altogether plying his trade in the MLS for the New York Red Bulls. There is cover at left back for the suspended Evra, the likes of Arsenal’s Gael Clichy and Aly Cissokho will provide a similar service. These suspensions give Blanc the chance to blood some younger talent which is definitely a way forward for France.
Do the punishments fit the crimes? Have these disciplinary actions meted out by the men upstairs shot the French national team in the foot? More importantly, how much more difficult have they made matters for new coach Laurent Blanc? Only time will tell. The former Bordeaux manager has already gone on record saying anything less than qualifying for the EUROs will see him resign admitting defeat. Irish fans will not want us to forget that Domenech’s side only reached South Africa by foul means, a fact reflected perhaps in Thierry Henry’s notable absence from the latest Gillette adverts. By hook or by crook France reached the greatest show on earth and then the Federation made its first mistake. They announced Blanc would succeed the longest serving manager of Les Bleus after the World Cup. Were Domenech a widely respected figure in the game this move would have been no problem, but as he wasn’t, isn’t and never shall be the news of the appointment of his successor was a gaffe most serious.
Why Blanc stepping into the hot seat had to be made public before the tournament is something I could not understand at the time and still it baffles me. The decision lacked common sense and so I believe the federation cannot point the finger at the players with an entirely clear conscience. Their own shortcomings now exposed that does not detract from the fact that the twenty-three failed to behave in a professional manner, but no matter how well the squad performed changes were going to occur before their friendly with Norway. In no sense am I trying to defend the actions of Anelka or the others but there is a combination of factors at work here.
Turning our attention to the man in charge, it is an understatement to say Domenech is a controversial figure. I will not pretend I know anywhere near as much about astrology as he does but it my view it has no relationship to or place in football. If we look beyond the reasoning behind his tactics at his achievements and measure him against the man who has replaced him then new light may be shed upon the manner in which he was and remains despised. As a player Domenech won the French Cup with both Lyon and Bordeaux, the French championship with Strasbourg and amassed eight caps for his country. Blanc on the other hand easily matches these achievements and can add the UEFA Cup Winners Cup from his time with Barcelona and a Premier League title whilst at Manchester United, not to mention nearly a century of France caps and a back-to-back World Cup and European Championship to boot. As managers although Domenech has guided Les Bleus to a World Cup final on his CV his club management credentials show no titles, no cups, nothing. The solitary silverware he has lifted is the Toulon Tournament whilst in charge of the French youth side, a glorified series of friendlies. Blanc won the Ligue 1 championship and French league cup in his second season in charge at Bordeaux and though he failed to defend either during the last campaign he is widely regarded as a talented and relatively young manager.
If you were a French footballer who would you respect more? The incoming hero who has translated success from the pitch to the dugout or the stargazer who believes those with a Leo rising can’t play in a 4-5-1? Domenech sadly was a victim of the talent that he helped to bring through to the national side from his days in the youth setup. They may have played for him in the Toulon and reached the 2002 European Youth Championship final but since going to the same stage in the 2006 World Cup France have been on a downward spiral. France had to work for their place in Austria/Switzerland famously losing 1-0 to Scotland and James McFadden’s strike in Paris. From there they finished bottom of their Group in the EUROs with a single point. In spite of his unpopularity and repeated failures the federation never sacked Domenech and these constituted opportunities to do so.
As I have already said the players themselves cannot be ignored either. Nicola Anelka’s eighteen match ban is not much of a loss. Whatever his good form and wherever he plays for Chelsea an international record of fourteen goals from sixty-nine games is nothing to write home about. Les Bleus have also lost record goalscorer Henry as he retired from internationals and is in effect semi-retired altogether plying his trade in the MLS for the New York Red Bulls. There is cover at left back for the suspended Evra, the likes of Arsenal’s Gael Clichy and Aly Cissokho will provide a similar service. These suspensions give Blanc the chance to blood some younger talent which is definitely a way forward for France.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Tricky Trees Share Spoils With Lilywhites
Nottingham Forest 1 Leeds United 1
Honours were even at the City Ground in this afternoon’s match in the Championship as two former Premier League heavyweights met. Both Leeds and Forest got off the mark for the campaign registering their first points of the season. Billy Davies’s side took the lead inside the first ten minutes when enterprising fullback Chris Gunter crossed expertly on his weaker left foot for Dexter Blackstock to head in across the dive of Kasper Schmeichel. Having made a flying start Forest should have probably been two or three up but only took that single chance, allowing the Lilywhites to equalise on thirty-five minutes when mammoth centre half Wes Morgan made an uncharacteristic error allowing Bradley Johnson’s cross to be met by Lloyd Sam to nod past Lee Camp.
From then on the game became a scrappy affair with the Reds unrecognisable in the second forty-five from the team that played with such freedom and creativity in the first. Gunter was involved in an unsavoury incident where he stamped on Sanchez Watt and was lucky to escape with only a booking. This will bring into question the young defender’s temperament once more as he has been ‘wound up’ like this on previous occasions, most notably during last season’s Midlands derby with Nigel Clough’s Derby County. Leeds substitute Adam Clayton was also lucky not to be punished for both kicking the ball away in dissent and a poor tackle late on almost immediately after taking to the field.
There can be no doubt Simon Grayson will be happier with a draw than Billy Davies, but United continue to be without key trio Patrick Kisnorbo, Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel who remain unavailable due to injuries and suspension. The Leeds manager thus named the same side that lost to Derby on the opening day and the brushing of Lincoln in the Carling Cup midweek aside their start to the campaign has for me exposed their lack of strength and depth. Besides the tireless Luciano Becchio quality is lacking up front, with Billy Paynter also on the treatment table and then there is the fact that he and the club’s other forwards Mike Grella and Davide Somma are unproven in this division. As I said last week mutterings of how to go about replacing Jermaine Beckford will continue but another forward option is essential for the Lilywhites and they have two weeks to make a purchase before the transfer window slams shut.
As for Forest, there certainly is more to come from them in the middle of the park. Captain Paul McKenna and the more attacking-minded Radoslav Majewski failed to impress today, perhaps the reflecting the long ball tactics and wing play focus that summed up the match. Positives to take from this for Billy Davies are firstly there was no evidence of Wes Morgan’s defensive partner Kelvin Wilson being unsettled by interest from Celtic, as had been reported in some quarters during the close season. Second the continuing good form and impressive displays of Camp between the sticks is encouraging. He displayed real bravery today, fearlessly rectifying a mistake when the ball slipped through his fingers from a set piece but recovering well, getting a knee in the head and a nasty wound for his trouble. It is this sort of bravado that makes the fans warm to a player.
Honours were even at the City Ground in this afternoon’s match in the Championship as two former Premier League heavyweights met. Both Leeds and Forest got off the mark for the campaign registering their first points of the season. Billy Davies’s side took the lead inside the first ten minutes when enterprising fullback Chris Gunter crossed expertly on his weaker left foot for Dexter Blackstock to head in across the dive of Kasper Schmeichel. Having made a flying start Forest should have probably been two or three up but only took that single chance, allowing the Lilywhites to equalise on thirty-five minutes when mammoth centre half Wes Morgan made an uncharacteristic error allowing Bradley Johnson’s cross to be met by Lloyd Sam to nod past Lee Camp.
From then on the game became a scrappy affair with the Reds unrecognisable in the second forty-five from the team that played with such freedom and creativity in the first. Gunter was involved in an unsavoury incident where he stamped on Sanchez Watt and was lucky to escape with only a booking. This will bring into question the young defender’s temperament once more as he has been ‘wound up’ like this on previous occasions, most notably during last season’s Midlands derby with Nigel Clough’s Derby County. Leeds substitute Adam Clayton was also lucky not to be punished for both kicking the ball away in dissent and a poor tackle late on almost immediately after taking to the field.
There can be no doubt Simon Grayson will be happier with a draw than Billy Davies, but United continue to be without key trio Patrick Kisnorbo, Robert Snodgrass and Max Gradel who remain unavailable due to injuries and suspension. The Leeds manager thus named the same side that lost to Derby on the opening day and the brushing of Lincoln in the Carling Cup midweek aside their start to the campaign has for me exposed their lack of strength and depth. Besides the tireless Luciano Becchio quality is lacking up front, with Billy Paynter also on the treatment table and then there is the fact that he and the club’s other forwards Mike Grella and Davide Somma are unproven in this division. As I said last week mutterings of how to go about replacing Jermaine Beckford will continue but another forward option is essential for the Lilywhites and they have two weeks to make a purchase before the transfer window slams shut.
As for Forest, there certainly is more to come from them in the middle of the park. Captain Paul McKenna and the more attacking-minded Radoslav Majewski failed to impress today, perhaps the reflecting the long ball tactics and wing play focus that summed up the match. Positives to take from this for Billy Davies are firstly there was no evidence of Wes Morgan’s defensive partner Kelvin Wilson being unsettled by interest from Celtic, as had been reported in some quarters during the close season. Second the continuing good form and impressive displays of Camp between the sticks is encouraging. He displayed real bravery today, fearlessly rectifying a mistake when the ball slipped through his fingers from a set piece but recovering well, getting a knee in the head and a nasty wound for his trouble. It is this sort of bravado that makes the fans warm to a player.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
England Respond to World Cup Slump
England largely played in a 4-2-3-1 system in a 2-1 victory over Hungary at Wembley this evening. The Three Lions first game since their disappointing show at the World Cup saw them play in front of a notably reduced crowd who watched captain Steven Gerrard score both goals in the friendly international. A gate of more than 72000 was significantly less than the attendance to Sunday’s Community Shield. The fans voiced their displeasure modestly, only jeering and booing the men in white at half time, with John Terry and Wayne Rooney receiving some individually. Although manager Fabio Capello brought youngsters into the squad there was no player making a debut from the start.
Rooney played as a lone striker in the first half, a role in which he displayed the discipline he had lacked in South Africa. Before Bobby Zamora made his England bow for the second forty-five there was none of the drifting ludicrously deep in search of the ball we so often see when he begins to get isolated or lacks service. Old habits then surfaced and I find it so irritating when a forward drops back into his own half to receive the ball. Despite the brightness of recalled widemen Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson the final ball is still missing, but an increase in freedom and creativity was encouraging. Walcott particularly looked completely reinvigorated, having missed out on the plane to South Africa and going through a full pre-season with Arsenal; his display was almost unrecognisable from the timid performances of the pre-tournament warm-up friendlies. Unafraid to run at defenders and drawing fouls successfully he has done his chances of playing against Bulgaria on September 3rd a lot of good.
Everton’s Phil Jagielka impressed too. He looked solid positionally and a threat from set pieces. His central defensive colleague Michael Dawson must take responsibility for Hungary’s goal however. The Tottenham player’s mistake led to Jagielka’s desperate lunge that has not conclusively been proved to have crossed the line despite the French assistant referee’s flagging for a goal; this, in spite of Dawson’s best efforts to clear off the line. In the end this lapse was of no significance thanks to Gerrard’s double. His first was smashed in from the edge of the D after debutant Kieran Gibbs passed infield. The young Arsenal player looks very much to be in the mould of Ashley Cole, the man he replaced at half time. Gibbs’s endeavour should be praised but I reserve judgment on his defensive abilities. His club teammate Jack Wilshere got only ten minutes, not enough time to show what he could offer in truth, but it marks another significant milestone in the career of the 18-year old.
Zamora showed his abilities to play in a target man on the international stage, winning everything he chested and his willingness to run into the channels to hold the ball up is encouraging as it shows a mobility England simply did not have with Emile Heskey. Ashley Young may have missed an opportunity to make himself a regular in the squad, despite his pass into Gerrard for the second goal as it was the captain’s own work which gave the Three Lions the lead. Joe Hart can be pleased with his first start and full ninety minutes as everything thrown at him by Hungary was easy to deal with, the likes of Zamora’s Fulham teammate Zoltan Gera and Ipswich’s Tamas Priskin failed to really test the Manchester City stopper.
Hungary looked organised, the centre halves that played the first forty-five were solid, but former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly was easily their best player on the night, keeping the score respectable, making a top save to deny Zamora a debut goal late on. He regularly denied England and came out of his area to deal with through-balls when required. There are clear positive signs for Fabio Capello to take as he looks to the next game and the start of the European Championship qualifiers.
Rooney played as a lone striker in the first half, a role in which he displayed the discipline he had lacked in South Africa. Before Bobby Zamora made his England bow for the second forty-five there was none of the drifting ludicrously deep in search of the ball we so often see when he begins to get isolated or lacks service. Old habits then surfaced and I find it so irritating when a forward drops back into his own half to receive the ball. Despite the brightness of recalled widemen Theo Walcott and Adam Johnson the final ball is still missing, but an increase in freedom and creativity was encouraging. Walcott particularly looked completely reinvigorated, having missed out on the plane to South Africa and going through a full pre-season with Arsenal; his display was almost unrecognisable from the timid performances of the pre-tournament warm-up friendlies. Unafraid to run at defenders and drawing fouls successfully he has done his chances of playing against Bulgaria on September 3rd a lot of good.
Everton’s Phil Jagielka impressed too. He looked solid positionally and a threat from set pieces. His central defensive colleague Michael Dawson must take responsibility for Hungary’s goal however. The Tottenham player’s mistake led to Jagielka’s desperate lunge that has not conclusively been proved to have crossed the line despite the French assistant referee’s flagging for a goal; this, in spite of Dawson’s best efforts to clear off the line. In the end this lapse was of no significance thanks to Gerrard’s double. His first was smashed in from the edge of the D after debutant Kieran Gibbs passed infield. The young Arsenal player looks very much to be in the mould of Ashley Cole, the man he replaced at half time. Gibbs’s endeavour should be praised but I reserve judgment on his defensive abilities. His club teammate Jack Wilshere got only ten minutes, not enough time to show what he could offer in truth, but it marks another significant milestone in the career of the 18-year old.
Zamora showed his abilities to play in a target man on the international stage, winning everything he chested and his willingness to run into the channels to hold the ball up is encouraging as it shows a mobility England simply did not have with Emile Heskey. Ashley Young may have missed an opportunity to make himself a regular in the squad, despite his pass into Gerrard for the second goal as it was the captain’s own work which gave the Three Lions the lead. Joe Hart can be pleased with his first start and full ninety minutes as everything thrown at him by Hungary was easy to deal with, the likes of Zamora’s Fulham teammate Zoltan Gera and Ipswich’s Tamas Priskin failed to really test the Manchester City stopper.
Hungary looked organised, the centre halves that played the first forty-five were solid, but former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly was easily their best player on the night, keeping the score respectable, making a top save to deny Zamora a debut goal late on. He regularly denied England and came out of his area to deal with through-balls when required. There are clear positive signs for Fabio Capello to take as he looks to the next game and the start of the European Championship qualifiers.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Carlo's Chelsea Surrender Shield
Chelsea 1 Manchester United 3
Manchester United regained the Community Shield from Chelsea in front of a crowd of over 84000 at Wembley with a 3-1 win in the official curtain raiser for the new season. A first half that very much retained the feel of the traditional friendly-like nature of the match ended with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in front after man of the match Paul Scholes played a delightful cross-field ball to Wayne Rooney who put it across for Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia to finish. Although there were no debutants from the start the Red Devils changed their front two at the interval with new signing Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov replacing English duo Rooney and Michael Owen. Chris Smalling, signed from Fulham, also came on to make his bow for United whilst Israel captain Yossi Benayon made his first official appearance in a Chelsea shirt.
Though the Blues pressed more during the second half, improving their use of possession vastly on the first forty-five minutes they found themselves two down inside the last fifteen minutes. Valencia’s cross was turned in by Hernandez who will not be proud of the finish but relieved he found the back of the net as his miskick hit him on the head and crossed the line, having Ashley Cole’s adventurous style. Although the otherwise disappointing Salomon Kalou pulled one back for the Stamford Bridge outfit, tapping in the rebound after substitute Daniel Sturridge’s shot was parried by Edwin Van Der Sar, Berbatov sealed the game with a cool chip over the advancing Hilario completing a slick twenty pass move.
Chelsea seemed to lack a cutting edge today, with talisman Didier Drogba only getting half an hour off the bench. Of their forwards Sturridge was most impressive drawing a couple of saves out of the United keeper. One positive Carlo Ancelotti can take from today is the threat that Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic, playing at centre half instead of right back, poses from set pieces. Twice in the first half he got the better of the Red Devils defence, on the first occasion beating national team mate Nemaja Vidic in the air by some distance.
Only four of the players on show today could feature at Wembley again on Wednesday when England face Hungary in a friendly. One encouraging sign for Fabio Capello is an improvement to the much-maligned pitch which was reportedly a perfect playing surface according to those who contested the Shield on it this afternoon. The Italian has named five uncapped players in his squads, including first time call-ups for Fulham frontman Bobby Zamora and promising Arsenal youngsters Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere.
Manchester United regained the Community Shield from Chelsea in front of a crowd of over 84000 at Wembley with a 3-1 win in the official curtain raiser for the new season. A first half that very much retained the feel of the traditional friendly-like nature of the match ended with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in front after man of the match Paul Scholes played a delightful cross-field ball to Wayne Rooney who put it across for Ecuadorian winger Antonio Valencia to finish. Although there were no debutants from the start the Red Devils changed their front two at the interval with new signing Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov replacing English duo Rooney and Michael Owen. Chris Smalling, signed from Fulham, also came on to make his bow for United whilst Israel captain Yossi Benayon made his first official appearance in a Chelsea shirt.
Though the Blues pressed more during the second half, improving their use of possession vastly on the first forty-five minutes they found themselves two down inside the last fifteen minutes. Valencia’s cross was turned in by Hernandez who will not be proud of the finish but relieved he found the back of the net as his miskick hit him on the head and crossed the line, having Ashley Cole’s adventurous style. Although the otherwise disappointing Salomon Kalou pulled one back for the Stamford Bridge outfit, tapping in the rebound after substitute Daniel Sturridge’s shot was parried by Edwin Van Der Sar, Berbatov sealed the game with a cool chip over the advancing Hilario completing a slick twenty pass move.
Chelsea seemed to lack a cutting edge today, with talisman Didier Drogba only getting half an hour off the bench. Of their forwards Sturridge was most impressive drawing a couple of saves out of the United keeper. One positive Carlo Ancelotti can take from today is the threat that Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic, playing at centre half instead of right back, poses from set pieces. Twice in the first half he got the better of the Red Devils defence, on the first occasion beating national team mate Nemaja Vidic in the air by some distance.
Only four of the players on show today could feature at Wembley again on Wednesday when England face Hungary in a friendly. One encouraging sign for Fabio Capello is an improvement to the much-maligned pitch which was reportedly a perfect playing surface according to those who contested the Shield on it this afternoon. The Italian has named five uncapped players in his squads, including first time call-ups for Fulham frontman Bobby Zamora and promising Arsenal youngsters Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Derby's Opening Day Delight
Leeds United 1 Derby County 2
Nigel Clough’s Derby County inflicted a first opening day defeat on Leeds for twenty-one years with an away win at Elland Road in the late game on the first Saturday of the football league season. In an open first half, Rob Hulse opened the scoring for County netting against his former club, powerfully finishing from Paul Green’s perfectly timed and weighted pass. The Lilywhites got back on level terms quickly after fifteen minutes with academy product Johnny Howson skipping past rams captain Robbie Savage and the centre halves before squaring to Luciano Becchio who simply had to tap the ball home. The winner came from the penalty spot just before the half hour when Kris Commons slotted in coolly from twelve yards. Former Wigan forward Tomasz Cywka, who turned his loan spell at Pride Park into a permanent move over the summer, won the spot kick after ex-Charlton winger Lloyd Sam lunged in with a typical forward’s tackle.
Simon Grayson’s League One runners-up from last season fielded four debutants from the start. Sam was joined by ex-Swansea left-back Fede Bessone, last season’s League Two goalkeeper of the year Kasper Schmeichel and Derby’s old right-back Paul Connolly all playing in a Leeds shirt for the first time competitively. The Rams fielded put out three new signings, ex-Crewe pair John Brayford and James Bailey joined former Doncaster left back Gareth Roberts. It was the son of Danish and Manchester United legend Peter, Schmeichel junior who was the most impressive of the fresh faces on display however, making a string of outstanding saves, including an unbelievable double save after the seventy-five minutes, the second a point blank block from Derby substitute Shaun Barker. Clough had left the 2010 Jack Stamps Trophy winner for player of the season out of the starting XI due to him recently returning from a knee operation, preferring Russell Anderson. In the first half both sides definitely had defensive question marks over them and whilst some commentators will continue to talk up United losing top scorer Jermaine Beckford on a free transfer, today the injured Patrick Kisnorbo was for me a bigger miss from the Leeds backline. In the first half particularly the Rams defence were not doing enough to win the second ball.
Kris Commons showed some real flashes driving forward cutting in from the left and County’s number ten may be looking back to his best after injuries limited him to less than half the league games during the last campaign. Paul Green caught the eye too and there is now some tangible evidence to a wider audience to the midfielder being brought into the Republic of Ireland setup by national manager Giovanni Trapattoni. By contrast, I felt Sanchez Watt was something of a disappointment for the Lilywhites. The Arsenal youngster who has joined on loan for a second spell struggled to get into the game and struggled somewhat to do anything to change it, but it is important to consider his age and the fact that he is far from the finished product. Johnny Howson, Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson continue to be solid performers though, giving the team a strong spine along with United captain Richard Naylor who hit the bar in the first half from close range. What needs to improve is service from wide areas as Becchio simply did not get enough from Sam and Watt.
Clough will look to build on the result by negotiating the first round of the Carling Cup in midweek away at Crewe before another test comes in a home match with Cardiff, whilst Leeds have the perfect opportunity to bounce back against Chris Sutton’s Lincoln City on Tuesday. Elsewhere in the Championship two of the bookies favourites lost. Middlesbrough threw away a 1-0 lead at home to Ipswich who put three goals past Gordon Strachan’s side and Nottingham Forest were sunk by a debut goal from Burnley’s Chris Iwelumo.
Nigel Clough’s Derby County inflicted a first opening day defeat on Leeds for twenty-one years with an away win at Elland Road in the late game on the first Saturday of the football league season. In an open first half, Rob Hulse opened the scoring for County netting against his former club, powerfully finishing from Paul Green’s perfectly timed and weighted pass. The Lilywhites got back on level terms quickly after fifteen minutes with academy product Johnny Howson skipping past rams captain Robbie Savage and the centre halves before squaring to Luciano Becchio who simply had to tap the ball home. The winner came from the penalty spot just before the half hour when Kris Commons slotted in coolly from twelve yards. Former Wigan forward Tomasz Cywka, who turned his loan spell at Pride Park into a permanent move over the summer, won the spot kick after ex-Charlton winger Lloyd Sam lunged in with a typical forward’s tackle.
Simon Grayson’s League One runners-up from last season fielded four debutants from the start. Sam was joined by ex-Swansea left-back Fede Bessone, last season’s League Two goalkeeper of the year Kasper Schmeichel and Derby’s old right-back Paul Connolly all playing in a Leeds shirt for the first time competitively. The Rams fielded put out three new signings, ex-Crewe pair John Brayford and James Bailey joined former Doncaster left back Gareth Roberts. It was the son of Danish and Manchester United legend Peter, Schmeichel junior who was the most impressive of the fresh faces on display however, making a string of outstanding saves, including an unbelievable double save after the seventy-five minutes, the second a point blank block from Derby substitute Shaun Barker. Clough had left the 2010 Jack Stamps Trophy winner for player of the season out of the starting XI due to him recently returning from a knee operation, preferring Russell Anderson. In the first half both sides definitely had defensive question marks over them and whilst some commentators will continue to talk up United losing top scorer Jermaine Beckford on a free transfer, today the injured Patrick Kisnorbo was for me a bigger miss from the Leeds backline. In the first half particularly the Rams defence were not doing enough to win the second ball.
Kris Commons showed some real flashes driving forward cutting in from the left and County’s number ten may be looking back to his best after injuries limited him to less than half the league games during the last campaign. Paul Green caught the eye too and there is now some tangible evidence to a wider audience to the midfielder being brought into the Republic of Ireland setup by national manager Giovanni Trapattoni. By contrast, I felt Sanchez Watt was something of a disappointment for the Lilywhites. The Arsenal youngster who has joined on loan for a second spell struggled to get into the game and struggled somewhat to do anything to change it, but it is important to consider his age and the fact that he is far from the finished product. Johnny Howson, Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson continue to be solid performers though, giving the team a strong spine along with United captain Richard Naylor who hit the bar in the first half from close range. What needs to improve is service from wide areas as Becchio simply did not get enough from Sam and Watt.
Clough will look to build on the result by negotiating the first round of the Carling Cup in midweek away at Crewe before another test comes in a home match with Cardiff, whilst Leeds have the perfect opportunity to bounce back against Chris Sutton’s Lincoln City on Tuesday. Elsewhere in the Championship two of the bookies favourites lost. Middlesbrough threw away a 1-0 lead at home to Ipswich who put three goals past Gordon Strachan’s side and Nottingham Forest were sunk by a debut goal from Burnley’s Chris Iwelumo.
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