New column in Chelsea mag. Published June 11, prior to Scolari appointment

LET'S BEGIN AT THE END...the end of last season that is...and get one thing straight right away.
The sacking of Avram Grant was the right decision if, and it is a big if, it takes the club forwards in the way that say the sacking of Sven Goran Eriksson has done at Manchester City.
Few City fans backed the decision by Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra to dump the former England manager, arguing he had done a decent job at Eastlands.
They demonstrated at their last game of the season, demanding he be retained. But they are not demonstrating now. Indeed many are secretly applauding the decision.
Why? Easy answer in two words: Mark Hughes.
Few of them had given Shinawatra the perception and vision to appoint a man who arguably can take them to heights they have not scaled since the late 60s and the heyday of Lee, Summerbee, Bell etc
And the similarities with the Bridge are uncanny: a foreigner (Roman Abramovich) is once again seen as having no real perception of how a club should be run and managed, and it is widely believed he does not have the vision, or even the discipline, to appoint the right man to coach his team.
Yet for their faults, both Shinawatra and Abramovich have come into clubs that were in a financial mess and turned them around quickly on the field (the Thai with Eriksson, Roman with Jose Mourinho). Now they both want to improve on the foundations they have laid - and what is wrong with that? Surely, we should give them more credit than we do?
Some Chelsea fans argued Grant should be granted (excuse the contrived play on words!) an extension; that his feat in taking the club to runners-up spot in the Premiership and the same outcome in the Champions League had earned him a chance to at least establish his credentials over a full season.
Many others believed he was out of his depth and that the club had stormed to an end of season push purely because of player power. I am one of those in the latter bracket: I do not feel Grant is good enough to take on Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger on a regular basis. Like the Blue non-believers, I would go along with the opinion that Chelsea FC largely managed themselves for the run-in - or more particularly John Terry, Frank Lampard and the ever improving and influential Michael Ballack did.
Grant's role appeared more that of a benign uncle sat on the touchlines, ready to embrace the players with a hug and keep spirits up - and full credit to him for that. In that sense, he was a success, but I do not see him having the footballing vision, perception or tactical nous to usurp Ferguson.
Which brings us to the future and his successor.
For me, there were always three major candidates for the job: Carlo Ancelotti, Frank Rijkaard and Big Phil Scolari. Outside those, there were Hughes and the sacked Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini. I contend Hughes is a fine choice at Man City, but don’t know if he would have been for Chelsea. I am not convinced he can put together an entertaining enough team to satisfy Blues fans, or even for that matter, Manchester United fans given he is always mentioned as a possible successor to Ferguson when old purple face finally hangs up his chewing gum.
My pick would have been Ancelotti. Yes, I know you could argue he failed last season at AC Milan (they finished 5th, outside the Champions League spots), but he has won the Champions League twice - and that is what Roman Abramovich craves more than anything. He is also a proven motivator of big names (Kaka being the biggest) and, despite looking like a knackered Italian version of the Pilsbury dough man, is the right age at 49. He is a winner.
Of the other two, either would bring charisma to the job - and both Scolari and Rijkaard are also winners. Scolari's detractors would argue he has not managed in Europe - well, the last I heard, the Portuguese national team was still in Europe, and he ain't done a bad job there! He may seem a maverick, but there is much more depth to the man than meets the eye.
As for Rijkaard, again his record speaks for itself - particularly winning the Champions League with attacking, wonderful football with Barca in 2006.
Even the outsider Mancini could surely do a better job than Grant although I rated him the least attractive option of the big names. Having said that, he did win three Serie A crowns with Inter Milan.
Which brings us nicely to Mr Mourinho, still regarded by many as the king of Stamford Bridge, even almost a year after he was sacked. I am going to stick my neck out here and say I think Jose has made a big mistake succeeding Mancini at the San Siro.
I am one of his biggest fans and admirers, but I can't see the logic in the move - apart from the bulging salary, of course. Jose is a man who takes on teams with potential and takes them higher, turns them into champions and is a man who regenerates clubs from top to bottom with his mighty ego and managerial brilliance.
In short, he casts a large shadow wherever he goes; he lifted the blues at Porto and at Chelsea, even winning the Champions League with the little-fancied Portuguese club.
Yet Inter may provide problems. The players already believe they are champions after winning those three successive Serie A titles, and may not be as receptive of his methods (and his ego!) as were Porto and Chelsea.
He has to win the Champions League in his first season at Inter to show the dismissal of Mancini was the correct decision, and I don't think he will do it. I believe Chelsea or Man Utd will win it and have him crying in his pasta.
My feeling is that Jose’s heart remains at Stamford Bridge and that one day - when he has accumulated sufficient millions - Chelsea will have a new foreign owner if Roman tires of the job. That man will be Jose Mourinho – and I bet few Blues fans would argue then about the owner trying to pick the team!

FRANK WORRALL

Joy and Division Two

Was just reading a site on The Smiths - and noticed that I am down as having done the first solo interview with Morrissey.
http://www.passionsjustlikemine.com/smiths-m.htm
I remember it now, the Midland hotel in Manchester up from the Free Trade Hall, me and Mozza sharing a bottle of wine! In 1973 I saw my first concert at the Free Trade Hall...it was a lifechanging moment. David Bowie with the Aladdin Sane tour. Had a big effect on me, a young boy from Heywood who was shy and a bit fearful.

Which brings me to the movie Control. Have just seen it on DVD and wished I had seen it at the cinema.I can honestly say it is one of the best films I have ever seen -in the top 10. Sam Ryan is brilliant as the tortured genius who was Ian Curtis,and the music is stunning. I used to know the film's producer Anton Corbjin from my days as a music journalist - you have done good old mate. I think it is a much better film that 24 Hour Party People, much more realistic and challenging.

My favourite Joy Division song? Shadowplay.

I also have the distinction of naming a song for New Order - The Perfect Kiss.I did the first interview with the band backstage at the Hacienda in the early 80s and told Hooky that I really liked the song called The Perfect Kiss.He told me they had no song of that name - but knew the one I meant. On the album it was there in all its glory - and called The Perfect Kiss as Hooky and Bernard had liked my suggestion.

Ah, nothing like a bit of nostalgia, hey??!!

Back to the 70s...I see that there's a book coming out with the musings of Tommy Docherty's first wife Agnes. I loved the Doc and his style of football.I was just a youngster standing nervously on the Stretford End when he transformed the team from the dreg ends of the Busby era and established his own exciting team...from 6ft 2 eyes of blue, Big Jim Holton's after you to Gordon Hill's king of all cockneys. I know the Ferguson era has been the most successful but the era of the Doc remains my favourite. The bull in a china shop who blew away the cobwebs and laid the foundations of a new United.


To the centre of the city where all roads
meet looking for you
To the depths of the ocean
where all hopes sank searching for you
Moving through the silence without motion
waiting for you
In a room with no window in the corner,
I found truth




...thanks again Ian, and thanks Tommy, for some great memories.

Bits and pieces

DIDN'T think much of Sir Alex Ferguson's putdown of the United crowd - when he described the atmosphere as being like a funeral after Manchester United's 1-0 win over Birmingham City on New Year's Day. "The crowd were dead," he complained. "That was the quietest I have heard the crowd and it's disappointing because we needed the crowd today. We have come through a difficult period of game after game and in moments like these we need a lift. But it was like a funeral out there." Not very appropriate words there, Alex, given that Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell had died the previous Saturday after collapsing during a Scottish Premier League match against Dundee United - and that there were tributes to him during the New Year's Day games.

UNITED'S automatic cup scheme for season ticket holders needs sorting. I see David Gill said the system would be tinkered with - ie season ticket holders will not have to buy Carling Cup tickets next term - but surely it needs a proper overhaul? People I know say there should be a two tier set-up - with a return to league match ticket books and season tickets. The former would by definition get LMTBs, the latter the full monty. Others say the set-up should return to that of the 70s and 80s when your season ticket meant you got all the league matches and the FA Cup, and paid extra for any other games, if you wanted. I think the latter is a fair deal, but I doubt the Glazers will go for it.

I AM not sure about Mark Hughes as the next manager of Man Utd. My feeling is that his teams are functional and not entertaining enough. If Utd are going for grinding out results Mourinho is surely a better bet? It would not surprise me if the Portuguese is the next manager at Old Trafford - it is going to take a big man to walk into the shadow cast by Ferguson...that man certainly is not Queiroz whose one claim to the post is that he is well in with the Portuguese/Brazilian players at OT.

Sparky could do worse than prove me and other people wrong by taking up the Newcastle job - and turning the club around. I wonder if Shearer has the guts to finally put up - if not he should shut up and let the club get on with its business. It is a difficult enough job without him playing a Phantom of the Opera role around St James'...

David Beckham should not play for England against Switzerland just so he can get that 100th cap and boost the Wembley gate. If he does, it will make a mockery of Fabio Capello's claim to be an iron man who puts out the best team on the day. Becks was great for United, but his day has gone.

The American election is brilliant viewing on the box - much better than some of the football swill served up by Sky. Barack Obama is inspirational, but can he beat the Clinton machine? Hope so...

Plug of the month...all the best for this year to Angelo at Red Legends. A great man and a fine business. Good seeing you in December mate - see you again later this year. Also a big hello to Russell Forgham - another fine man and an inspirational figure who lives life to the full.

England manager

I HAVE my doubts about the three men being feted as the main contenders for the England job. Of Jose Mourinho, Fabi Capello and Martin O’Neill, I would plum for Jose - but even his appointment would be a gamble. Undoubtedly he is the people’s choice - but look what happened to the national team under the last unanimous man of the people...Kevin Keegan. His reign ended in dismay in the toilets at the old Wembley stadium. Not that Mourinho is naive tactically, no, his undoing would not be down to that - but would he be able to stand the long drawn-out days of doing nothing, the boredom of not having every-day work? Or would he end up like another former England chief...the late Don Revie, who walked out on the country to take the readies on offer in the United Arab Emirates. It is easy to imagine Jose getting bored and walking off to Barca, Madrid or Milan - and leaving us in the lurch. That is the worry - at least in the much-maligned Revie’s defence, he did also shuffle off to help get some much needed cash to help his poorly wife Elsie, who was suffering from Parkinson’s. That is not a known fact; Revie is usually painted as a money-grabbing traitor. As for Capello - he could do a fine job, he is the right age and has the character to make tough decisions and build a mental strength among a group of players lacking in that area. But I worry that he also threw his hat in the ring to be boss of Australia and said he would not mind working in America. It suggests he is just another mercenary - although that would not matter if he could turn the team around by 2010. As far O’Neill, his legendary prevarication is a worry - he just can’t seem to make up his mind and that could prove disastrous...he could be another McDonut, although his spell at Celtic would suggest not. Whichever man is chosen, I would like to see a role found for Steve Coppell who admits he has neared the end of the line at Reading. He is an intelligent Englishman with a good vision and could be groomed for the job full-time when either Jose, Fabio or Martin eventually walk away.

Celtic United

Dear Mr Worrall,According to The Sun, for whom you write regularly, Celtic United gives promotion to the dubious assertion that Manchester United supporters sang 'You'll Never Walk Alone' on a sports terrace first.[1]Is this report an accurate reflection of your new book, and if so, did you search for and manage to find corroborating evidence for Jane Hardwick's claim, as originally printed in the Manchester Evening News,[2] or did you take her account at face value?[1] http://tinyurl.com/2bzdev[2] http://tinyurl.com/2holk5





Thanks Anon for your contribution - you are a prolific author, I have seen your name on many many articles on many many sites! Let me explain a little what this is all about... My new book Celtic United is out this week and has made a fair start in terms of sales etc. I believe it is my best book to date providing a full, interesting, entertaining picture of the two biggest clubs in Britain - and how their development, fortunes and history mirror each other in a remarkable way. As the title suggests the book is about Celtic FC and Manchester United FC and the bond between them. Now, in the introduction section I lightheartedly mentioned that United fans need not fear antagonistic about their Hoops counterparts singing You'll Never Walk Alone as it also had Old Trafford connections as well as Anfield. It was a piece of fun - rounded off with an exclamation mark. Naturally, the national press picked up on it (and ignored what the book is really about!) and outraged of Anfield (including our wondrous Anon!) decided it was a knock on Liverpool FC. Which it wasn't - it was a bit of fun.

I have received several indignant emails from Liverpool fans but Anon's was the best in that it summed up the ludicrous nature of the situation. No, I have not been busy digging out 'corroborating evidence' - what do you think I am, bloody Inspector Morse, old bean! This is a bit of footballing fun mate, not a murder hunt! Also I see Anon is keen to knock me by saying the stuff about the anthem was also in the MEN - well, so what? I can tell our Anon is not that much of a detective himself - it was actually also in the Stockport Express Advertiser before the MEN! Not all United and Celtic's huge army of supporters live in Manchester and Stockport, Anon - there is a worldwide base of fans and not all of them get the MEN and Stockport Express Advertiser! This is new to them, as indeed it was to me. Re the corroboration...I do remember my old grandad and his friends telling me about United fans singing the song at a Munich memorial at Old Trafford in 1958 - five years before it was sung at Anfield - so maybe that corroborates it?

I tell you what, Anon, you send me an email with your real name and address and I'll send you a signed copy of the book. Have a read and you'll know what I am saying...and thanks for writing in - good to hear from you, I wish you well.

All the best for now,

Frankie W

Lewis, the other McClaren, Rangers and the Kop

The contoversy over my Lewis Hamilton book continues to rage on amazon. As I explained in the previous blog, the book's publishers inadvertantly sent the 'pitch' I had given them (ie that the book would come out just after Hamilton had hopefully won the title) to amazon - and they published it verbatim. Some followers of Fernando Alonso continue to believe that I was actually predicting the result of the season in the book! (see also the contribution from anonymous on the previous blog) and are still rather bitter. To them I say - get a life! What's the point of getting all het up about the fortunes (or misfortunes) of men who are being paid (certainly in Alonso's case) millions of pounds whether they win or lose? Okay, be a fan of them but don't let it rule your own life as you struggle to meet the rent or the mortgage.
As for Hamilton - well, he blew it, didn't he? Simple as that. Nerves and inexperience cost him in the last two races. Looking back at it, all he needed was one fifth place finish from those two races to clinch the title and he could not manage it. I've no doubt that he will win the title next season or the one after (although I think Alonso will win it for the third time if, as expected, he joins Ferrari in 2009). Lewis blew it as he tried to race Raikkonen in China and Alonso in Brazil - and after poor decisions by his garage over the tyres and a faulty car - when all he needed was to think strategically. But he will learn and come back stronger.
England's footballers and rugby players also failed the same week. The rugby boys went down in the final, but was that failure? Hardly, more like a massive success given the quality of the squad and management, but it was certainly disappointing to see the footballers lose in Russia. I cannot stand Guus Hiddink - he is one of those bloated self-important coaches - like Ancelotti of Milan - who believe they are the greatest, and I would have loved it if McClaren had put another one over on him. Sadly it was not to be - and we then had Hiddink blowing his own trumpet saying how he had masterminded the victory with his superior tactical nous. I would rather have McClaren in charge than this pompous ass - and that is saying something.
Seriously, McClaren's time is surely over? I can honestly see Israel taking a point off Russia which would mean McClaren would be in charge for Euro 2008, if England beat Croatia.What would we not give for Jose Mourinho to take command, hey?
Still on football, I was saddened to hear Rangers fans booing Ronaldinho and Henry when Barca played in the Champions League at Ibrox. You get two works of art on display, as opposed to the many SPL journeymen who usually take on the Gers at Ibrox, and you boo them? What's going on here, guys? I supported Bury FC when I was a boy and I was so grateful when we drew big teams in the cups - certainly I did not boo them, I felt good to have witnessed such talent. I would have thanked my lucky stars to have seen Ronaldinho and Henry in the flesh!
One final talking point: Benitez and Gerrard...how long can this simmering feud continue? It seems to me that old Rafa is envious of the place Stevie G holds in the hearts of those on the Kop - and wasn't it a similar story with Michael Owen? But which of the two do you keep if it comes to a 'this town ain't big enough for the both of us' showdown? My money would be on Gerrard - even though Benitez has taken Liverpool to two European Cup finals...

Cheques and bugs and rock n roll

It's been an 'interesting' start to the week. Today my new book is out - Lewis Hamilton: The Biography. When the publisher (John Blake) decided to go ahead with the book at the end of July he asked me to provide a synopsis. I did, writing it as if Lewis had won the drivers' championship. I guessed that he would more or less have it sewn up by October 1, the day after the GP in Japan. Unbeknown to me, that synopsis went out on amazon! It caused a real storm around the world - honest, if you don't believe me, just type in my name and Lewis Hamilton on google .com. F1 fans were up in arms around the world, knocking me - well , as it turned out, barring a massive shock, I was right, wasn't I! And it gives me great joy to say that. Lewis is a genius; I think that is the best word to describe him, and a genuine great guy, too.
One thing that I think is wrong, but pse tell me if I am incorrect - he will not be the first rookie to win the drivers' title, will he? Surely that accolade inevitably (logically) rests with Giuseppe Farina in 1950, as that was the first time the title was won?
Football...I think the treatment of Avram Grant at Chelsea is disgraceful. No one is saying he is another Mourinho, but surely he deserves a chance and to be afforded a basic human decency? If he messes up, so be it, but lay off the man. Also on the beautiful game...Man Utd need to cut those double standards of expecting season ticket holders to compulsorarily pay out extra for matches they may not want to attend, and then Ferguson puts out a second rate team. If it is a proper match, the crowd deserve proper treatment - it must work both ways. If the Glazers want the guaranteed readies then United must guarantee to take the match seriously, and send out Ronaldo etc. Okay, until next week...frankie w