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.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
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)?
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.
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.
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...
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...
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!
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...
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!
'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...
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...
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