Sunday, November 16, 2008
Mourinho and Sparky
Feel a bit sorry for Mark 'Sparky' Hughes - the old warhorse has proved himself a shrewd, resolute boss at Blackburn and for Wales, but it looks like it is all going pear shaped at Man City. It is not easy when you are a young manager trying to manage with a dark shadow looming over your shoulder...especially when that shadow is linked with brilliance and magic. Yes, Jose could be on his way back to England - two or three years earlier than we had expected. It has always been assumed he would land back on our shores when Sir Alex hung up his chewing gum for the last time in either 2010 or 2011, but there are flashing lights suggesting he is the man the United Arab Emirates based bosses of City may admire. Would Jose come? Well, would you change jobs for £15million a year? Especially as Italy now does not seem quiet so sparkling a place now those bad boys of the Press are ganging up on him over there. It will certainly be good to see the special one back in business...football in England hasn't had the same mischievous sparkle since he went away. But it would be sad to see Sparky'd caeer derailed - however temporary that would turn out to be.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Luiz Felipe - the man behind the mask
From InChelsea Nov 08...
TOP OF THE LEAGUE AND TOP OF THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE group - and playing a more exciting brand of football than has been seen at the Bridge since the early days of Mourinho. Not a bad start for the big man from Brazil, hey?
And to think there were those who questioned the wisdom of bringing in Luiz Felipe Scolari on account of him never having managed a club side in Europe before.
They conveniently forgot he had worked all over the world as a club and international manager and had won trophies in his homeland, Kuwait and, of course, the World Cup as Brazil boss in Japan in 2002.
Along with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger he is one of the three top managers in the Premiership and, I would contend, the world as it is difficult to come up with better names than that trio wherever you travel on this planet of ours.
Scolari has done so well with the players at his disposal. When Mourinho arrived he seemed intent on playing with flair and attacking adventure - as exemplified by the flying wingers (Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips) he brought in.
Then the pragmatic side of the man weighed in and he seemed to decide results mattered above all else.
An undeniably brilliant manager nonetheless but at the end of his time at Chelsea his team’s solid, ‘no one shall pass’ style wasn't as exciting to watch as his biggest rivals Man United or Arsenal.
That would contribute to his downfall at the club as Roman Abramovich stressed time and time again to him that he wanted to win with style.
Scolari, who officially joined Chelsea on July 1, has managed to achieve what Jose couldn't sustain - and in just three months.
He is winning but winning with tactics that have brought a smile to the faces of both the owner and the fans.
It also strikes me how very likeable a man Big Phil is.
Prior to his arrival we were swamped with scare stories in the Press and on the internet suggesting he would be lucky to last the season given his alleged propensity to aggression and a totally maverick attitude. That image was fostered by the tales of him telling his players to cheat - by fouling and kicking the ball away to waste time - when he was boss of Gremio and Palmeiras in Brazil.
And then there was the well documented left hook he landed on the face of Ivica Dragutinovic just over a year ago. Big Phil reacted when he and the player exchanged words following Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
The 'punch' was actually a half-hearted graze but the Press went to town.
So when it was announced Scolari was on his way to Chelsea fears were voiced that he would fall foul of the FA - that he would be in hot water that could see him banned or forced out if he allowed his temper to get the better of him.
The reality, as is so often the case in football, has proved dramatically different to the myths.
Big Phil has proved himself a mature, strong, measured character - a man who respects others and who deserves our respect.
This man is no nutter brought in on a whim: he has shown himself to have the gravitas of Wenger and Ferguson and the same skills as a manager of the highest esteem.
He is charm personified at the club - whether it be with the cleaners or the suits - and has endeared himself to Chelsea FC and the English footballing world.
He is no show off or big mouth. When his work is done he humbly returns to his Surrey home and spends time with his wife Olga.
He is a family man and a fine footballing man.
Humility was hardly the word I expected to use in connection with Big Phil, but that is one of his key assets, perhaps the key one.
It enables him to keep things in perspective and to not get carried away. He has no sense of self-importance; he is merely another worker at Chelsea FC. He knows he is privileged to work at the Bridge, that he has hit the jackpot in terms of the players he inherited, the facilities and the money available for transfers.
And he has got Chelsea playing attractive football with the same players who served under Jose and Avram Grant - plus the two men he has brought in, Deco and Mineiro.
The jury is out on the Brazilian player, but Deco was an inspired buy, taking the team to another level until injury struck.
Scolari has also revitalised Nicolas Anelka by spending time with the Frenchman and trying to build up his fragile self belief and self esteem.
Many people were shocked to learn that the man labelled 'Le Sulk' at previous clubs is actually not suffering from arrogance but confidence in himself.
Full marks to Big Phil for understanding the truth of it with Anelka and working with him. It certainly paid a dividend given Didier Drogba's early season absence from injury. Chelsea may have suffered from a lack of a goal threat when the Ivory Coast man was out, but a recharged Anelka helped them over that potentially tricky spell.
With full-backs Jose Boswinga and Ashley Cole encouraged to charge forward and Frank Lampard hitting the form of his life the Big Phil machine is conquering everything placed before it.
The only worry is that the squad seems lacking numbers. Sure, there is strength in depth if a man gets injured, but if his replacement also is sidelined then Felipe could have problems. But I have heard he is planning for that eventuality – he aims to make a couple of major signings when the transfer window opens in January.
You know, if he can beef up his squad then, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Scolari confirms his worth by lifting the Champions League come May next year. This man is a winner and Chelsea are fortunate to have him for what will surely be the best years of an already glittering career.
TOP OF THE LEAGUE AND TOP OF THEIR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE group - and playing a more exciting brand of football than has been seen at the Bridge since the early days of Mourinho. Not a bad start for the big man from Brazil, hey?
And to think there were those who questioned the wisdom of bringing in Luiz Felipe Scolari on account of him never having managed a club side in Europe before.
They conveniently forgot he had worked all over the world as a club and international manager and had won trophies in his homeland, Kuwait and, of course, the World Cup as Brazil boss in Japan in 2002.
Along with Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger he is one of the three top managers in the Premiership and, I would contend, the world as it is difficult to come up with better names than that trio wherever you travel on this planet of ours.
Scolari has done so well with the players at his disposal. When Mourinho arrived he seemed intent on playing with flair and attacking adventure - as exemplified by the flying wingers (Arjen Robben and Shaun Wright-Phillips) he brought in.
Then the pragmatic side of the man weighed in and he seemed to decide results mattered above all else.
An undeniably brilliant manager nonetheless but at the end of his time at Chelsea his team’s solid, ‘no one shall pass’ style wasn't as exciting to watch as his biggest rivals Man United or Arsenal.
That would contribute to his downfall at the club as Roman Abramovich stressed time and time again to him that he wanted to win with style.
Scolari, who officially joined Chelsea on July 1, has managed to achieve what Jose couldn't sustain - and in just three months.
He is winning but winning with tactics that have brought a smile to the faces of both the owner and the fans.
It also strikes me how very likeable a man Big Phil is.
Prior to his arrival we were swamped with scare stories in the Press and on the internet suggesting he would be lucky to last the season given his alleged propensity to aggression and a totally maverick attitude. That image was fostered by the tales of him telling his players to cheat - by fouling and kicking the ball away to waste time - when he was boss of Gremio and Palmeiras in Brazil.
And then there was the well documented left hook he landed on the face of Ivica Dragutinovic just over a year ago. Big Phil reacted when he and the player exchanged words following Portugal's 1-1 draw with Serbia in a Euro 2008 qualifier.
The 'punch' was actually a half-hearted graze but the Press went to town.
So when it was announced Scolari was on his way to Chelsea fears were voiced that he would fall foul of the FA - that he would be in hot water that could see him banned or forced out if he allowed his temper to get the better of him.
The reality, as is so often the case in football, has proved dramatically different to the myths.
Big Phil has proved himself a mature, strong, measured character - a man who respects others and who deserves our respect.
This man is no nutter brought in on a whim: he has shown himself to have the gravitas of Wenger and Ferguson and the same skills as a manager of the highest esteem.
He is charm personified at the club - whether it be with the cleaners or the suits - and has endeared himself to Chelsea FC and the English footballing world.
He is no show off or big mouth. When his work is done he humbly returns to his Surrey home and spends time with his wife Olga.
He is a family man and a fine footballing man.
Humility was hardly the word I expected to use in connection with Big Phil, but that is one of his key assets, perhaps the key one.
It enables him to keep things in perspective and to not get carried away. He has no sense of self-importance; he is merely another worker at Chelsea FC. He knows he is privileged to work at the Bridge, that he has hit the jackpot in terms of the players he inherited, the facilities and the money available for transfers.
And he has got Chelsea playing attractive football with the same players who served under Jose and Avram Grant - plus the two men he has brought in, Deco and Mineiro.
The jury is out on the Brazilian player, but Deco was an inspired buy, taking the team to another level until injury struck.
Scolari has also revitalised Nicolas Anelka by spending time with the Frenchman and trying to build up his fragile self belief and self esteem.
Many people were shocked to learn that the man labelled 'Le Sulk' at previous clubs is actually not suffering from arrogance but confidence in himself.
Full marks to Big Phil for understanding the truth of it with Anelka and working with him. It certainly paid a dividend given Didier Drogba's early season absence from injury. Chelsea may have suffered from a lack of a goal threat when the Ivory Coast man was out, but a recharged Anelka helped them over that potentially tricky spell.
With full-backs Jose Boswinga and Ashley Cole encouraged to charge forward and Frank Lampard hitting the form of his life the Big Phil machine is conquering everything placed before it.
The only worry is that the squad seems lacking numbers. Sure, there is strength in depth if a man gets injured, but if his replacement also is sidelined then Felipe could have problems. But I have heard he is planning for that eventuality – he aims to make a couple of major signings when the transfer window opens in January.
You know, if he can beef up his squad then, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Scolari confirms his worth by lifting the Champions League come May next year. This man is a winner and Chelsea are fortunate to have him for what will surely be the best years of an already glittering career.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
www.redhetvoetbal.net
A site well worth a look. Gives you an idea of what is happening football-wise on the continent and an introduction to one of the top football writers there - one of the good guys, step forward Raf Willems in Antwerp. Raf is an independent sportswriter/author & campaigner (football & good causes) in the Low Countries. He has written more than 15 books about the (social) history of football & one of them is named: Manchester United, rebels & betoverend. (Manchester United, glamorous rebels). Keep up the good work, Raf...all the best.
Marcos
Marcos, hello there - great to hear from you mate. Hope all is well down in sunny old Brighton. Thanks for the kind words. I think Chelsea are on target for winning at least the Prem and possibly the Champions League with Big Phil at the helm. The man is a proven World Class talent, up there along with Ferguson, Wenger and Mourinho as one of the best four club managers in the world game right now. My only reservation is if he does not get the cash backing from Roman Abramoovich in the January transfer window. He has shown he can do the business with the players he inherited but has only had the readies to splash out on Deco so far (yes, I know Deco has been a bit off colour of late, but he is recovering from injury and remember his brilliance at the start of the season: the link-up he has with Frank Lampard, which everyone says would flop, has been one of the highlights of the season). The Chelsea squad is top class but needs reinforcements in a couple of areas - in particular I am still not convinced by Malouda and Kalou. I know Big Phil wants to bring in a couple of men to strengthen the squad in those areas - he needs financial backing to do so.
Bad result in Rome - but not the end of the world. The only real thing to come from that match was that the Champions League final should not be played there. The city doesn't deserve it while trouble continues to flare outside the Olympic Stadium, caused by some of the locals. There was aggro again when Chelsea played there (on the back of that dished out when Man United visited last year) and the continued failure to control the troublemakers means the city should forfeit he right to host the CL Final in my eyes. If it was a stadium in England and English fans had caused the trouble, you can be sure the final would already have been taken away and given to another country.
Bad result in Rome - but not the end of the world. The only real thing to come from that match was that the Champions League final should not be played there. The city doesn't deserve it while trouble continues to flare outside the Olympic Stadium, caused by some of the locals. There was aggro again when Chelsea played there (on the back of that dished out when Man United visited last year) and the continued failure to control the troublemakers means the city should forfeit he right to host the CL Final in my eyes. If it was a stadium in England and English fans had caused the trouble, you can be sure the final would already have been taken away and given to another country.
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