Meant to say this after France's emphatic 2-1 win over England at Wembley last week...
Laurent Blanc has yet again reinforced his case to be considered as one of the three favourites for the Manchester United job (along with Mourinho and Moyes) when Fergie finally hangs up his chewing gum for good.
He did a fine job previously at Bordeaux, guiding them to the 2009 league and cup double and took over a mess after Raymond Domenech's reign rightly collapsed after the fiasco suffered by the Frencg in South Africa.
Already Blanc has turned things around - bringing much more vitality, creativity and energy to the French national side, as exemplified by their easy demolition of England.
If the United board decide Mourinho would only come in for a couple of years - and would pay no attention to youth development etc as is his usual way - Blanc would rival Moyes as a serious empire builder at Old Trafford. And Blanc has also the advantage of playing at Old Trafford at the end of his career.
He might just be l'homme spécial...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Messi, Ronaldo, Mourinho, Guardiola...and Mark Hughes!
Well, that was a shock result was it not - 5-0 to Barca as they crushed Real Madrid at the Old Camp last night (it should be renamed the Old Camp rather than the Nou Camp as it is such an old crumbling wreck of a stadium - or at least it was when I last visited it three years ago).
I am sure Jose Mourinho will have been up most the night following the crash plotting how he can reshape his team to make it more like his bonecrushing Inter outfit of the previous season. I am not convinced by his three summer signings - di Maria can run like a greyhound but is not in the same class as Antonio Valencia, Luis Nani, Ashley Young or Florent Malouda, let alone Messi and Ronaldo. Marty Feldmen, sorry Mesut Ozil has gone backwards since the World Cup and Sami Khedira looked a journeyman holding midfielder.
But, apart from the scoreline, the biggest shock of the night - for me, anyway - was the sight of Mark Hughes on the touchline as part of the SkySport's analysis team.
In the middle of a week when he would surely have been better advised to stay in the cold of London to work on his struggling Fulham team, he is out in Spain being paid money he surely does not need for work he surely does not need.
If I were Mohamed Al Fayed or any of those Fulham players looking for inspiration as a relegation battle looms, I would be a bit peeved at the sight of the manager enjoying a nice little earner over in Spain...
I am sure Jose Mourinho will have been up most the night following the crash plotting how he can reshape his team to make it more like his bonecrushing Inter outfit of the previous season. I am not convinced by his three summer signings - di Maria can run like a greyhound but is not in the same class as Antonio Valencia, Luis Nani, Ashley Young or Florent Malouda, let alone Messi and Ronaldo. Marty Feldmen, sorry Mesut Ozil has gone backwards since the World Cup and Sami Khedira looked a journeyman holding midfielder.
But, apart from the scoreline, the biggest shock of the night - for me, anyway - was the sight of Mark Hughes on the touchline as part of the SkySport's analysis team.
In the middle of a week when he would surely have been better advised to stay in the cold of London to work on his struggling Fulham team, he is out in Spain being paid money he surely does not need for work he surely does not need.
If I were Mohamed Al Fayed or any of those Fulham players looking for inspiration as a relegation battle looms, I would be a bit peeved at the sight of the manager enjoying a nice little earner over in Spain...
Thursday, November 18, 2010
ANDY CARROLL ENGLAND
Andy did good against France for England - as I said he would!
He was big and confident in the air but, more impressively, was also excellent on the ground for a big fella. One little jink past two defenders in the first half would have left any winger proud.
So it is important Capello perseveres with him. It will be especially interesting to see how he works with Rooney when Wayne returns to the England fold next time.
Of the rest of the England team - Kieran Gibbs and Jordan Henderson...OK fragile but deserve another chance.
The one man who should be out of the team - and surely will be when Jack Wilshere finally makes the first XI after injury - is Gareth Barry. I am baffled what Capello sees in him - passes astray, poor tackling and a yard off the pace.
He was big and confident in the air but, more impressively, was also excellent on the ground for a big fella. One little jink past two defenders in the first half would have left any winger proud.
So it is important Capello perseveres with him. It will be especially interesting to see how he works with Rooney when Wayne returns to the England fold next time.
Of the rest of the England team - Kieran Gibbs and Jordan Henderson...OK fragile but deserve another chance.
The one man who should be out of the team - and surely will be when Jack Wilshere finally makes the first XI after injury - is Gareth Barry. I am baffled what Capello sees in him - passes astray, poor tackling and a yard off the pace.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
ANDY CARROLL
The big raw Newcastle centre forward must play for England against France next week.
At last, we have found a striker who can hopefully prove a proper foil to Rooney.
Crouch, Heskey etc - all pretenders.
Carroll has the fear factor they never had. A big horrible bastard (and I mean that as a compliment, Andy!) who scares the shit out of defenders.
A Mark Hately for the 2010s. Bring him on...
At last, we have found a striker who can hopefully prove a proper foil to Rooney.
Crouch, Heskey etc - all pretenders.
Carroll has the fear factor they never had. A big horrible bastard (and I mean that as a compliment, Andy!) who scares the shit out of defenders.
A Mark Hately for the 2010s. Bring him on...
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
HARRY REDKNAPP INTER MILAN
Big moment for 'Arry tonight...
He desperately needs a win against Internazionale at White Hart Lane.
He ain't won against any of the Prem's big four for an eternity - but a win against the European champs would reinforce his credentials to be viewed as the next manager of England.
Defeat would be a body blow - my opinion is that he has got a great midfield with Huddlestone and Modric etc but needs a real striker to replace Crouch (Andy Carroll of Newcastle maybe??). Plus his defence - without King and Dawson - could well struggle against Sneijder, Milito and Co.
By the way , it was great to see 'Mad Rafa..I talk about facts' Benitez' back in London.
He did himself proud in his eternal pursuit of Eric Cantona's crown as football's enigmatic linguistic master, with the line: 'Some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar.'
But he is wasting his time. He will never be as talented - off or on the pitch - as the legend who is King Eric.
He desperately needs a win against Internazionale at White Hart Lane.
He ain't won against any of the Prem's big four for an eternity - but a win against the European champs would reinforce his credentials to be viewed as the next manager of England.
Defeat would be a body blow - my opinion is that he has got a great midfield with Huddlestone and Modric etc but needs a real striker to replace Crouch (Andy Carroll of Newcastle maybe??). Plus his defence - without King and Dawson - could well struggle against Sneijder, Milito and Co.
By the way , it was great to see 'Mad Rafa..I talk about facts' Benitez' back in London.
He did himself proud in his eternal pursuit of Eric Cantona's crown as football's enigmatic linguistic master, with the line: 'Some people cannot see a priest on a mountain of sugar.'
But he is wasting his time. He will never be as talented - off or on the pitch - as the legend who is King Eric.
Coronation Street has a problem
An unusual one this, I know it ain't got nothing to do with football...
But it struck me today that I bet the Corry producers are praying there are no casualties from today's gas blast in Salford.
If there were, it would be inappropriate to say the least if they were still to go ahead with their planned tram disaster episodes next month, which apparently result from a gas blast below the viaduct at Coronation Street...in Salford.
A million pound special could be in jeopardy...
But it struck me today that I bet the Corry producers are praying there are no casualties from today's gas blast in Salford.
If there were, it would be inappropriate to say the least if they were still to go ahead with their planned tram disaster episodes next month, which apparently result from a gas blast below the viaduct at Coronation Street...in Salford.
A million pound special could be in jeopardy...
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