Wednesday, August 24, 2011

NASRI - FRIMPONG WILSHERE DING DONG

I LOVE the new boy at Arsenal - Emmanuel Frimpong. Only 19 but a powerhouse and he WILL be the new Vieira given time.

Even at so tender an age he had a hell of a lot of balls.

Look at how he stuck it up Jack Wilshere over Samir Nasri's departure to Man City.

Wilshere, a tough little nut himself, had said all the usual crap when Nasri sold his soul for more money.


‘Good luck to my friend @Nanas08 (mr Nasri) learnt a lot from him. World class player! Will be missed!’ Wilshere creeped on Twitter.


Not so Frimpong. The big guy dismissed Jack's words with a heavy dose of cynicism and truth: ‘Pfffff come on Jack.’

The implication being that, no, Nasri's exit was a bad one - and that he hadn't been pulling his weight since his head was turned by the sheik's millions.

Good lad, Manny...keep it up!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

FABREGAS - HIGHLIGHTING HOW BARCELONA HAVE AN UGLY SIDE

Barcelona are the greatest club football team on earth.

Their play is beautiful and dazzling - as I witnessed first hand when they crushed Man United 3-1 at Wembley last month.

But they are no saints. Beneath the beauty likes a tough, sometimes cynical layer.

It sometimes is revealed on the pitch when some players (yes you Dani Alves and Busquets) go down as if they have been shot after a tackle - and when they confront the ref mob-handed.

It also has come to light in their current pursuit of Cesc Fabregas.

Their arrogance is breathtaking - they believe they should get special treatment simply because they are Barca...'more than just a club'??!!

They want Fabregas to sit on the bench until Xabi finally gets too old to continue. But they don't want to pay the appropriate fee for him - as they need to keep their limited transfer fund for Sanchez.

So their despicable president Sandro Rossell comes out with the usual crap - 'Cesc wants to come and is doing everything he can, but we don't think he is worth £35million'. Well, Mr Rossell, forget it, then! That is what I would say if I was Arsene Wenger or the Arsenal board.

Clearly, Rossell is manipulating the situation in the hope that Fabregas will force through the deal on Barca's terms. That he will say he will strike, he will not play, so that Arsenal have to sell.

Someone at the Emirates needs to tell this pumped-up little shit to either put up - or shut up. They think they're the world's biggest club - well, act like it then - pay the money that Fabregas is worth, even if you have to raise it by selling Villa...instead of playing little games...or crawl back under your stone and keep quiet.

Lampard to Tottenham in Modric deal?

More noises coming from the Bridge after the shock appointment of Andre Villas-Boas...

Roman is still desperate to sign Luka Modric and one plan being mooted is to offer Frank Lampard to Spurs as a £5million makeweight in a £32million deal.

The idea being that Lampard would be a sweetener to help calm Harry Redknapp down - how could he complain about getting his nephew, even if he did lose his second best player (after Baley)?

Andre Villas-Boas - Roman's biggest gamble

I have just been told by Stamford Bridge insiders that Andre Villas-Boas has resigned as Porto boss and is on his way to London to take over from Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.

The decision to appoint the 33-year-old former 'facts man' for Mourinho is Roman Abramovich's biggest gamble yet.

How will he cope with the huge egos in the Chelsea dressing room - particularly older stars like Lampard and Terry who think they are as influential voices at the club as the manager?

And how will he persuade big names from around the world to join him - the likes of Sanchez or Neymar would probably say 'who' if you asked them whether they would like to work for Villas-Boas.

Roman is aware of all that - indeed it has been said he had even considered Terry or Lampard as coach with Hiddink as director of football.

In the end, he threw the dice and decided to go for broke with Villas-Boas. The Portuguese has been promised he will have major funds to spend and that he will be backed if there is any friction with any of those big, older names in the dressing room.

Roman wants the team to play better football and be sharper - and it has been mentioned that one of Villas-Boas's more unpleasant tasks will be to actually dismantle the team of the big egos, and replace them with younger alternatives.

Good luck Andre - you will need it, you have a major overhaul of a job on your hands.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

MAN UTD SIGN PHIL JONES

Man United have just signed Blackburn defender Phil Jones for £16million.

That will most likely see the departure of Darron Gibson and Wes Brown to Sunderland for a combined £7million.

John O'Shea may also join them at the Stadium of Light.

Utd did not expect to have to pay full wack for Jones but their hand was forced by the late intervention of Liverpool.

Jones and Smalling is the preferred centre-back pairing of the future for Fergie - and that could also mean Jonny Evans leaving the club. He has not progressed as expected over the last 12 months.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

THE REAL CAPELLO DILEMMA

The real problem with Fabio Capello in the England job is that he has no incentive to develop the team for the World Cup of 2014.

He has 12 months to go on his contract so all his efforts are tied to Euro 2012. It means he has no carrot to get more younger players into the team. Hence the retention of the likes of Lampard, Terry, Rio, Barry.

While the big guns - like Spain, Germany and Argentina and Brazil - have lowered the age of their teams, ours remains relatively stagnant.

Also, he seems more naturally inclined to promote journeymen befoe artists - hence the ridiculous decision to use Milner instead of Ashley Young from the start of the Switzerland encounter!

It don't look good for 2014 onwards...

ASHLEY YOUNG MAN UTD

JUST heard that Ashley Young IS now going to sign for Man United.

A great move for player and club. Ashley is probably the most improved player in the Premier League and on the international stage over the last 12 months.

He will provide the much needed creativity Utd have lacked in midfield - he can play either wide left or centre midfield left. I know he can also play in 'the hole' but Fergie hasn't bought him for that role. Rooney and Chicharito are the two men in possession around that area of the field!

United now need one more central midfield player to lift spirits (and to believe they can get closer to Barca). Perm one of three from Nasri, Modric or Sneider...

Monday, June 6, 2011

MARK HUGHES - GETTING TOO BIG FOR HIS BOOTS

SO Mark Hughes left Fulham because he thought he should be at a bigger/better club - and becaue they could not match his ambitions.

What a bloody big head! Old Sparky used to be one of my heroes in the 80s but he has gone down in my estimation now.

Just what has he done as a manager to make him think he is so good?

He has won nothing and Roberto Mancini is doing a much better job at Man City.

Hughes did well with Wales and kept Blackburn up and led Fulham to 8th spot in the league - a place lower than previous incumbent Roy Hodgson!

I would be amazed if Chelsea go for him - has he proved he can handle big-name, big ego players like Terry and Lampard?

And Aston Villa? Surely they would be better off with the man Hughes seems to think he is as good as...the man who is top notch and who doesn't need to shout about it...yes, DAVID MOYES...although I would imagine Everton fans would, quite rightly, have something to say about that!

THE HUMAN LEAGUE - MARTIN RUSHENT

Very sad to hear the great Martin Rushent has died.

I came to know him when I worked for what used to be Melody Maker in Sheffield in the 1980s.

He produced one of the great albums of all time - The Human League's DARE.

From that album came one of the seminal pop singles ever - the brilliant Don't You Want Me, which came to encapsulate the era for me and which remains one of my favourite (if not the) of all time.

RIP Martin - and thanks for the great memories...

Thursday, June 2, 2011

MAN UTD - A MESSAGE OF HOPE AFTER THE BARCA DESPAIR

If you are a Utd fan, thought you might enjoy this message of hope - brought about via an interchange between two loyal Utd supporters the Monday after the 3-1 loss to Barca at Wembley...

'JOHN'

Can't really believe I'm daring to ask this, and I am feeling very low, but I will: Has SAF reached the end of the road? He is the greatest manager on these shores. But, even if he kept plugging away for the next ten years, would he overcome Barca? Even when the likes of Xavi and Iniesta have packed it in they will still have enough to shaft us (cos Messi will still be there) ...unless the Glazers dig deep. And we know the answer to that, don't we?
God, I feel gutted today. Awful, awful, awful

'MIKE'

Morning John...a sickener, yes, but not the end of the road (or the world). We keep the faith and believe...remember those dark days of 2004 and 2005? When we finished third in both seasons behind Arsenal in 04 and Chelsea in 05? When it looked like we might never win the league again as the Abramovich era truly kicked in? When Chelsea had money to blow and United looked to be in decline under the parsimonious new dawn of the Glazers? When all that was confirmed by Chelsea retaining the league title in 06?
When Fergie was being abused by his own fans - and Chelsea looked unbeatable?
What happened next? Somehow Fergie breathed new life into his team - and Manchester United miraculously won the title in 07, 08 and 09...and the Champions League in 08!

OK, Barca are good - brilliant, in fact - but they haven't yet experienced a rocky run. Messi has never been sidelined for a long spell with injury. Eventually their luck with injuries will run out - how would they cope if Messi, Xavi and Iniesta were out? Let's wait and see. They have been incredibly lucky but their luck will run out - and look how Chelsea struggled when Lampard was out injured.

If they suffered injuries in midfield, how would the defence cope if they were under siege? Barca are also not that good in central defence...how would Pique cope with sustained attacks?

We know they have the best team in the world, but do they have the best squad - do they have men capable of coming in to do the same job as Messi and Co?

Plus Fergie will already be plotting how to strengthen the team. Basically, Giggs and Carrick were not strong enough to cope with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. There is an argument that we would have been better off with the bustle, hustle and pace of Fletcher and Anderson.

We have already set up a deal for Ashley Young and if we could get Luka Modric or Wesley Schneider, we would be stronger and more able to have a go. Plus Valencia and Chicharito will get better - they froze at Wembley, and our new keeper will hopefully be sharper than VDS was (he should have at least stopped the Messi goal).

For all their possession they only beat us by two goals - and one of those should have been saved.

I am confident Fergie will sort it and we will be back - just as we came back in 2007after it looked like Chelsea would dominate. Keep the faith!

PS I also believe Mourinho could well derail Barca next season - you never know, it could be us v Real Madrid in Munich come May 2012!

MICHAEL OWEN - THE FUTURE FOR MAN UTD?

After the humbling United suffered at Wembley at the hands of Barca, most Utd fans I know were looking for a sign from Fergie of how he intended to get closer to the Catalans next season.

A big signing - a la Modric, Sneijder, or even a semi major one like Ashley Young - would have appeared the perfect antitode to lift spirits.

Especially as just days after the defeat at Wembley, Paul Scholes announced he was off into the Chadderton sunset.

So all I heard was a collective groan of despair - and disbelief - when Fergie trumpeted the signing of...Michael Owen...or at least his re-signing for another year.

Is this a warning of things to come? That a bloke who has lost a yard of pace will still be vital as Utd try to make up ground on Barca? Are the Glazers still refusing to let go of the purse strings?

Surely Fergie would have been wiser to have allowed Owen to go to Aston Villa - and let Danny Welbeck have his chance if Utd are short of money? A depressing start to the new world after the Barca hiding for Man Utd fans...

Thursday, May 19, 2011

DAVID BOWIE

Really great to see the Thin White Duke looking well in Manhattan last week at a party hosted by Rhiannon.

I had heard grim stories that Bowie was having treatment for this and that in NYC and that friends were very worried about his state of health.

Those rumours were fuelled by David becoming a virtual recluse in his apartment.

But now we have the proof that he is still OK - great news - he is, in my humble opinion, the greatest music legend ever...along with Lennon. Long may you continue to reign, Ziggy!

PS Any chance of one final legendary tour, David??

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Man City want Drogba, Tevez to Chelsea?

Another 'highly possible' move is that of Didier Drogba to Man City in the summer - with the Blues 'very keen' to take Carlos Tevez to London to partner Torres.

Ashley Young to Man Utd, Scott Parker to Arsenal

Have heard from good sources that Villa's Ashley Young will join Man Utd this summer, with Nani possibly departing.

Also that Scott Parker will become one of the few players over 30 Arsene Wenger will deign to sign - and that the Arsenal boss (along with Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish) is interested in Villa's Nigel Reo-Coker, who is available on a free transfer this summer.

Man United Champions league final tickets

Manchester United's army of loyal fans can feel rightly aggrieved by the club's stance on the distribution of Champions League final tickets.

OK, they only get 25,000 from a total of 86,000 for the clash with Barca at Wembley at the end of the month.

But surely they could have allocated them more fairly?

My understanding is that 8,000 of the 25,000 were immediately handed over to 'corporate fans' - ie the lucky buggers who can afford £50k a season for an 'exec' season ticket.

Surely it would have been fairer to have lumped the 8,000 tickets into a ballot with the remaining 17,000? ie put all 25,000 into a one-off ballot?

Just because the blokes in the boxes have more money doesn't mean they are any more loyal to the club than the bloke who has a £500 season ticket in the Stretford End. Well, does it?

Thursday, May 12, 2011

How an Arsenal fan came to revere Sir Alex Ferguson

Thanks to Frank Scicluna of Man Utd website TrulyReds for the following review on my book on Sir Alex Ferguson...

How an Arsenal fan came to revere Sir Alex
By: Frank Scicluna on 13 February 2011

If you are anything like me, reading a good book on a lazy Sunday is one of the most enjoyable times of the week – unless you have a game to watch which in this day and age happens more often than I would like. Call me an old fart if you want but a 3pm kick off on a Saturday afternoon is what I grew up with and freely admit that I yearn for the return of those long gone days. For those who may feel the same way, Truly Reds will therefore attempt to review one of the many Manchester United related books each Sunday which may tempt you to go out an get for a relaxing weekend read.

One you may have missed is Walking in a Fergie Wonderland: The Biography by Frank Worrall simply because most of the focus in 2010 was on Football – Bloody Hell!: The Biography of Alex Ferguson by Patrick Barclay. It’s a great pity because Wonderland is a wonderful read in its own right. The author is a journalist who writes regularly for the Sunday Times and the Sun. He is also the author of number one bestseller Roy Keane: Red Man Walking, and countless football books including Rooney: Wayne’s World, Giggsy and The Magnificent Sevens.

As Arsenal supporter Ben Felsenburg explained on Amazon.co.uk after coming across the book by sheer chance “I’ll confess: I’m an Arsenal fan, and I wouldn’t ordinarily think of reading a biography of Alex Ferguson. But staying round at a friend’s house who is a lifelong United supporter, I grabbed his newly purchased copy of Walking In A Fergie Wonderland more or less at random as a bedtime read and found it so hard to put down it was only four hours later, having got to the end, that I could turn the light out.

As Worrall makes clear, Ferguson is the definitive manager of the last 30 years, the man who straddles the game in the manner of Paisley, Clough and Busby and the other titans of old, a figure of adoration for Manchester United fans and for the rest of us the worthiest of foes. Worrall outlines Ferguson’s copious achievements – multiple domestic and European glory on both sides of the border – with the full, incisive analysis they merit, spiced up with telling anecdotes of Robson, Giggs, Cantona, Rooney and the United boss’s other loyal troops.

This is a proper football book, focused on the game and the players’ activities on the pitch because true fans don’t want any of that peripheral celebrity gossip. It’s clear that Worrall has the insider’s connections and expert insight and he tells Ferguson’s incredible story with compelling simplicity and an empathetic feel for the Scotsman’s extraordinary character.

In short, it’s an unmissable read for Manchester United fans but there’s also plenty here to interest anyone with the slightest interest in football in the modern age. It won’t stop me cheering Arsenal on just as loudly next time they play Ferguson’s men, but I’ll understand the reverence United fans feel for their hero and saviour much more.”

It’s certainly refreshing to find a fan of one of United’s fiercest rivals being so fulsome in his acclaim for Sir Alex so it may say something about his story as told by the author. Who knows, I may come across a similar biography of Arsene Wenger one day which may prompt me to acquire the same admiration for him.

Is it really so difficult to show your admiration for a rival player or manager?

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Guardiola Arsenal, Mourinho Man Utd, Barcelona, Real Madrid

Was disappointed that Barca won 2-0 at Madrid last night.

It means the final at Wembley will probably not be as exciting.

Man Utd v Real Madrid had lots of potential with two even teams.

Man Utd v Barca is likely to be a repeat of the 2009 final when Utd struggled to get the ball.

I think there is something in what Mourinho had to say about Barca and refs: They do seem to favour the Catalans. If, as likely, it is Utd v Barca at Wembley you're better off putting your money on which Utd player Alves and Co are likely to get sent off....probably in this order...1. Rafael (if he plays) 2. Rooney 3. Vidic. 4. Evra.

Barca are hard to play when it is 11 v 11. Hopefully the Wembley ref will have the guts to stand up to their play acting. Sure, they are a beautiful team but they are also no angels. Like Mourinho, they are masters of the dark arts - only they are more subtle in how they employ them.

Mourinho v Guardiola is shaping up into the next big battle of the bosses for the next decade.

Just as we had Ferguson v Wenger for many years, so the Mour/Pep rivalry could come to dominate English football for the next decade.

I can see Mourinho taking command at United and Pep continuing Wenger's good work at Arsenal.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Brilliant Beatles book by Martin Creasy

If you're looking for a top-notch book to read why not try Beatlemania: The Real Story of The Beatles UK Tours by Martin Creasy.

It is the No 1 Beatles book of the moment - both in chart placings and quality - and I can thoroughly recommend it.

Creasy delves behind the headlines to bring a wealth of minute detail and previously unknown facts about the Fab Four.

And the boy has certainly put in the leg work! I understand it took him THREE YEARS of interviews and research to get the book together and it shows. Meticulous, entertaining and definitely one of the best books of the year so far.

You can get it from -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beatlemania-Real-Story-Beatles-Tours/dp/1849386595/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302784404&sr=1-1

Giggs v Raul

The enduring talents of Ryan Giggs and Raul are likely to decide who faces Barcelona or Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Giggs, 37, and Raul, 35, have been the star men in both Manchester United's relative cruise to the semis and Schalke's surprise arrival there.

Looking at it on paper, you would say United were lucky - that they got the easiest route to the final with Schalke rather than Barca or Real.

But the Germans are no one's fools and could pull off another shock if Utd are not at their very best, or if Giggsy gets injured beforehand.

I still go for United to triumph with maybe a 2-1 win in Germany and a 1-1 draw at OT. United's record against German teams (apart from 1999 of course) does leave a lot to desire, and they will have to overcome that particular 'jinx' if they are to go on to Wembley.

In the other semi, I know Barca should win, but who can write off Mourinho? He has set up a disciplined, hard-to-beat and yet attacking force and they could just upset the odds.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Drop Wayne Rooney for Hernandez

That overhead super goal against Man City apart, Wayne Rooney has simply not justified his starting place in the Man United line-up this season.

He is out of form and seems to be suffering mentally. He needs to get some help from a therapist to overcome the problems that are clearly dogging his return to something like the Rooney we knew a year ago.

In the meantime, it is simply not right that the brilliant, in-form Chicarito stays sidelined on the bench while Rooney struggles. The Mexican boy should be in the team - he is the new Solskjaer.

ALEX McLEISH BIRMINGHAM 'SMALL CLUB' CLANGER

Congratulations to Birmingham City and their fans on that stunning Carling Cup win over much-fancied Arsenal.

Also to Alex McLeish for masterminding the victory - he has now staked his claim to be seen as a top manager in England as well as Scotland.

Just a word to the wise though, Alex, old chum...it is not a good way to endear yourself to Birmingham supporters by describing their football club as 'a small club' towards 'big club Arsenal'!

Check the history books - Brum haven't always been struggling at the bottom of the league, Alex. In England they are considered more than a small club - they are a club with a big history and good support!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Dalglish Carroll Torres Adam

Why the big deal over yesterday's spending spree in the football world?

I see people shaking their heads and moaning that it is a disgrace, that it is inappropriate in the current econmic climate.

My view is the exact opposite - that it is great news and a real boost to the game. It is the stuff of fantasy football - and isn't that what football is, after all?

Fantasy - an escape from the doldrums and harshness of reality?

I am very proud that the English league is the biggest spender in all of Europe - it shows we are still tops, still thriving and not on our knees as some would have had you believe.

And as for the deals? All excellent in my humble opinion. All beneficial to the clubs involved and all have given a major lift to those clubs.

Liverpool get rid of a disgruntled employee who now becomes non disgruntled as he heads for a fantasy strike force that could win Chelsea the Champions League - yes, Torres and Drogba.

Liverpool then bring in the best homegrown forward since Shearer to lift their spirits and put some fire into the belly of their team and their fans. Andy Carroll is not overpriced if he fires Liverpool into the top four and he could link up well with the more subtle Luis Suarez.

My only quibble if I were a Liverpool fan would be that they did not buy Charlie Adam. All the talk is of how Liverpool's new owners have splashed out millions, which proves they are not like the old owners. But do the math as those very same Yank owners might say - have they actually splashed out that much? Torres went for £48million while Carroll cost £35.5million and Suarez cost £22.5m - a total of £58million. So the new owners have actually invested £10million. Is that big bucks these days? Surely they could have upped their bid for Adam from £10m to the £12.5m which would have secured him? That would have made their investment a total of £22.5m.

Liverpool now have the firepower with the two new men up front, but do they have the man to supply them with the ammunition? Debatable. Adam is that man - he has all the makings of a new Paul Scholes and I believe Kenny may have dropped a clanger by not signing him. My information is that Adam will now end up replacing Scholes at Old Trafford come July.

Also, why would he have gone to Tottenham? And why would Redknapp have bought him? His urgent need is for a top-class centre forward, he has quality midfielders aplenty.

Perhaps the best deal was the one that has claimed the least number of column inches...David Luiz. The Brazilian centre half is just what Chelsea need as they still to struggle to cope with the loss of Carvalho, the absence through injury of Alex and the rocky form of Terry. Luiz is young, strong and can, along with Alex when fit, become the new bedrock from which the Blues can build anew.

It all makes for a much more interesting, exciting season...

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Twitter

Am now (as of yesterday) on Twitter if you want to keep up with instant gossip/news etc...eg I said yesterday that Kenny Dalglish should sign Charlie Adam - he obviously reads my stuff, he is now in the chase for him!

Monday, January 10, 2011

DALGLISH SHOULD BUY CHARLIE ADAM

..and one wee tip, Kenny boy - why don't you spend the best £2.5million you will ever spend and sign Charlie Adam from Blackpool if you want to add some creativity to that struggling midfield? He is a good lad, Scottish like you and could be the buy of the season (and this is from a Manchester lad genuinely trying to help you out for old time's sake!!)

DALGLEEESH! THE RETURN OF KENNY DALGLISH

Welcome back Kenny...it has been a long time since I last saw you - and many things have changed.

You have made a good move in appointing Steve Clarke as head coach, he was after all the man behind the throne with Mourinho at Chelsea...

Also good to see you getting all stressed and angry when decisions went against you. A big club like Liverpool needs a man of passion. Good luck - you may need it...but remember, in your favour, is the fact that probably only the aforementioned Mourinho could steal your limelight, and he is heading for Man United next...

ROY HODGSON PAUL JEWELL IPSWICH TOWN

It strikes me that Ipswich Town have dropped a major blunder by appointing Paul Jewell as their new manager.

Jewell is a renowned firefighter but can he take the club forward - is he not a Roy Keane without the stardust?

Surely the board should have seen that the very man to take them on a step or two has just become available - in fact, he is headline news - yes, Mr Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson and Ipswich were made for each other. He always does his best work at family style clubs (think Fulham) and could have 'done a Bobby Robson' at Portman Road.

It is a big chance missed for Town. Shame.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

JOOLS HOLLAND

Is it me - or is the Jools Holland hootenanny no longer any good?

Watched a bit of it on NYE but turned it off. It has never been the same since I learned it was not live, but taped a while before NYE.

It feels as if we are being taken the piss out of when a load of bloated, freeloading 'celebs' are seen knocking back the wine etc and pretending it is NYE, when it is probably actually Dec 10.

The solution? Holland needs to live up to his 'man of principle' persona and insist that from next NYE the show goes out live. Jeez, if the stars of Corrie can do it, why can't Jools?