There's talk that Brazil centre-forward Luis Fabiano would like to join Man United from Seville...
That would surely be a great piece of business for Fergie? The guy has scored three goals in four games for his country at the World Cup and is a class, proven act.
If he turns down AC Milan for United, it would also provide an excellent opportunity for Fergie to unload Dim Berbatov to the San Siro boys?
What an excellent piece of business - a winner for a loser...
But knowing the Glazers they will put a block on it, saying the Fab fee is too high for a 29-year-old.
Note to the Glazers: Berba is also 29...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Capello Press conference, why Fab must STAY
Have just watched Capello on SkySports News for his final Press conference in South Africa - and have changed my opinion on him...
I know I said yesterday that he should go...but nowt is set in stone, is it?
Now I believe he should STAY. He looked to me like a man who had learned many lessons - yes, he agrees we should build with young players and I am sure he will weed out the deadwood and the stirrers. He looked contrite and even humble...the great Capello humbled! Whatever next...
But the main reason he should stay (apart from those 12 million smackers which, rather than being used to pay him off could be employed to more useful benefit like opening up the national centre for excellence in Burton) is that here is a man who had a point to prove.
For the first time in a distinguished career Fabio Capello is being viewed as a FLOP. He has the ideal motive to make England great again - to salvage his own rep - so give him two years to do it.
Two years to give us a team we can be proud of. A young team playing with vibrancy, urgency and passion for the shirt.
I believe it is a win-win situation if we keep him.
I know I said yesterday that he should go...but nowt is set in stone, is it?
Now I believe he should STAY. He looked to me like a man who had learned many lessons - yes, he agrees we should build with young players and I am sure he will weed out the deadwood and the stirrers. He looked contrite and even humble...the great Capello humbled! Whatever next...
But the main reason he should stay (apart from those 12 million smackers which, rather than being used to pay him off could be employed to more useful benefit like opening up the national centre for excellence in Burton) is that here is a man who had a point to prove.
For the first time in a distinguished career Fabio Capello is being viewed as a FLOP. He has the ideal motive to make England great again - to salvage his own rep - so give him two years to do it.
Two years to give us a team we can be proud of. A young team playing with vibrancy, urgency and passion for the shirt.
I believe it is a win-win situation if we keep him.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Germany 4 England 1: Why defeat can be good for us, Capello and the future
SO THERE WE GO AGAIN.
Mass hysteria after mass expectation led to heartache.
England. Our dear England. Our torturuos nightmarish England, more like.
Well, what did you expect? The same as the last 40 years I suppose...that we would win the World Cup with something to spare...
Someone once told something very profound that we, as England believers should always bear in mind when we go over the top with our dreaming...the definition of INSANITY is doing the same thing time and time again and expecting a different outcome. Ring any bells with the English national football team?
What if I said the loss to Germany might actually do us some good? That we could now use it to move forward and build what we have not had since 1990...an England TEAM...
Sure, we have the individual players, but they do not work as a team when they are imported from their clubs.
When we beat the Germans 5-1 in Munich in 2001, we were, typically, ecstatic. We were going to conquer all and win the Euros and the World Cup. The Germans, in contrast, used the agonising loss they suffered to rebuild and to plan for the future. On the surface, they simply appeared to pull themselves together and marched into the World Cup final (which they lost to Brazil) a year later.
But much deeper momentum was developing behind the scenes as they planned for the future.
Their manifesto hinged on building a team for the future - by encouraging young German players to develop and make their way through the ranks together. To play top level football within the Bundesliga and to come up through the ranks together at international level.
It worked - as exemplified by the German Under 21 team that taught our Under 21s a lesson a year ago in the Euro Under 21s final. The German team that night read: GERMANY (4-1-4-1): Neuer, Beck, Howedes, Boateng, Boenisch, Hummels, Johnson, Castro, Khedira, Ozil, Wagner.
Note the names Neuer, Boateng, Khedira and especially OZIL, the star of the show. Yes, key components of the team that also helped thrash the English national team a year later.
We need to rebuild from now, encouraging English youngsters to move forward and break through in the Premier League, finally setting up that centre of excellence in Burton, and bringing youngsters who have the talent and who could BECOME a team into the national set-up for the Euro qualifying campaign.
We need to put JOE HART in goal...now. He has the most amazing confidence to back up his burgeoning talent.
We need a new right back to put pressure on the inconsistent Glen Johnson. Maybe Micah Richards will come good again with proper management?
KIERAN GIBBS can come in to put pressure on Ashley Cole.
IN central defence, JOHN TERRY survives, but it must be made clear to him that any further attempts to delegate himself as skipper/manager will result in him being dropped from the squad...for good.
RIO also survives for the Euros, but we need to find another quality centre back, who is speedy and classy. Maybe CHRIS SMALLING will fit the bill in a year or two?
In midfield it is time for ASHLEY YOUNG, JAMES MILNER, JACK WILSHERE and JACK RODWELL to be given a run. And THEO WALCOTT must be brought back in.
With ROONEY up front and GERRARD behind him.
Rooney becomes skipper, the responsibility could bring the best out of him.
Manager/head coach? Hard to see how Capello can survive. He clearly is not in tune with the English psyche and sending on Emile Heskey as a sub when we needed three goals probably nailed the lid on his coffin.
Put it this way...would we have lost 4-1 with Mourinho in command?
Given we cannot get Jose now, I would put HARRY REDKNAPP in charge, with DAVID BECKHAM his assistant.
And if we need a boost right now - and hope that we do have the talent for the future - let's not forget that England won the Under 17s Euros recently.
As Arnie once said, 'we'll be back'...but we must get it right this time, not waste the opportunity to use this crushing defeat for our benefit.
Mass hysteria after mass expectation led to heartache.
England. Our dear England. Our torturuos nightmarish England, more like.
Well, what did you expect? The same as the last 40 years I suppose...that we would win the World Cup with something to spare...
Someone once told something very profound that we, as England believers should always bear in mind when we go over the top with our dreaming...the definition of INSANITY is doing the same thing time and time again and expecting a different outcome. Ring any bells with the English national football team?
What if I said the loss to Germany might actually do us some good? That we could now use it to move forward and build what we have not had since 1990...an England TEAM...
Sure, we have the individual players, but they do not work as a team when they are imported from their clubs.
When we beat the Germans 5-1 in Munich in 2001, we were, typically, ecstatic. We were going to conquer all and win the Euros and the World Cup. The Germans, in contrast, used the agonising loss they suffered to rebuild and to plan for the future. On the surface, they simply appeared to pull themselves together and marched into the World Cup final (which they lost to Brazil) a year later.
But much deeper momentum was developing behind the scenes as they planned for the future.
Their manifesto hinged on building a team for the future - by encouraging young German players to develop and make their way through the ranks together. To play top level football within the Bundesliga and to come up through the ranks together at international level.
It worked - as exemplified by the German Under 21 team that taught our Under 21s a lesson a year ago in the Euro Under 21s final. The German team that night read: GERMANY (4-1-4-1): Neuer, Beck, Howedes, Boateng, Boenisch, Hummels, Johnson, Castro, Khedira, Ozil, Wagner.
Note the names Neuer, Boateng, Khedira and especially OZIL, the star of the show. Yes, key components of the team that also helped thrash the English national team a year later.
We need to rebuild from now, encouraging English youngsters to move forward and break through in the Premier League, finally setting up that centre of excellence in Burton, and bringing youngsters who have the talent and who could BECOME a team into the national set-up for the Euro qualifying campaign.
We need to put JOE HART in goal...now. He has the most amazing confidence to back up his burgeoning talent.
We need a new right back to put pressure on the inconsistent Glen Johnson. Maybe Micah Richards will come good again with proper management?
KIERAN GIBBS can come in to put pressure on Ashley Cole.
IN central defence, JOHN TERRY survives, but it must be made clear to him that any further attempts to delegate himself as skipper/manager will result in him being dropped from the squad...for good.
RIO also survives for the Euros, but we need to find another quality centre back, who is speedy and classy. Maybe CHRIS SMALLING will fit the bill in a year or two?
In midfield it is time for ASHLEY YOUNG, JAMES MILNER, JACK WILSHERE and JACK RODWELL to be given a run. And THEO WALCOTT must be brought back in.
With ROONEY up front and GERRARD behind him.
Rooney becomes skipper, the responsibility could bring the best out of him.
Manager/head coach? Hard to see how Capello can survive. He clearly is not in tune with the English psyche and sending on Emile Heskey as a sub when we needed three goals probably nailed the lid on his coffin.
Put it this way...would we have lost 4-1 with Mourinho in command?
Given we cannot get Jose now, I would put HARRY REDKNAPP in charge, with DAVID BECKHAM his assistant.
And if we need a boost right now - and hope that we do have the talent for the future - let's not forget that England won the Under 17s Euros recently.
As Arnie once said, 'we'll be back'...but we must get it right this time, not waste the opportunity to use this crushing defeat for our benefit.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Man City and Man Utd transfers summer 09
Classic mind games stuff from Sir Alex today - saying Man City are not a threat to United and that Tevez is not worth £25.5million.
I agree with him on both counts - although Man City certainly have the money and potential to be a major threat in England and Europe. Tevez was a tryer and a battler but did not score enough goals to elevate him to top class (although you could also argue Ferguson bought Berbatov for £4million more and he was neither a tryer nor a battler and does not score enough goals).
Also I think Man City are lopsided. As Fergie says they have 10 strikers but no foundations - a bit like a Real Madrid lite. Adebayor is a lazy whinger - but a class act when he is in the mood, but what is the point of buying him when you have just splashed out £17million on a like for like player in Santa Cruz?
Gareth Barry? Overated and too ponderous. Only in the England team because Owen Hargreaves is always injured - if Hughes had vision he would surely have gone for Everton's Jack Rodwell who will end up taking Barry's England place within a year or two.
Shay Given? Top class. Man United should have bought him given the understandable feeling that Ben Foster might not be quite good enough - Foster may turn out to be a modern day Chris Turner for Utd. Good, but not quite top notch.
Wayne Bridge? Solid, sound buy.
John Terry? (If he goes) Great leader and inspiration, worth it for that. Injury question marks and pace question marks.
As for Ferguson saying he is not making a marquee signing this summer because the market is inflated, well, wasn't the £80m for Ronaldo itself inflated? I would question the wisdom of bringing in two unproven foreign players for £23million - Obertan and Valencia - when the Champions Lge format will soon demand clubs have more English players in their squads. I would have splashed out on three English players - Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and the aforementions Rodwell. That would have shored up United in midfield and given them pace in attack (which they could have done with given the leaden feet of Berba and Owen). They would have got Young for £22m, Agbonlahor for £12m and Rodwell for £10m - almost half the money from the Ronaldo sale for an injection of excitement and hope.
Better those three in than the money sitting in the Glazers' bank account (or paying off some of their debts) eh??
I agree with him on both counts - although Man City certainly have the money and potential to be a major threat in England and Europe. Tevez was a tryer and a battler but did not score enough goals to elevate him to top class (although you could also argue Ferguson bought Berbatov for £4million more and he was neither a tryer nor a battler and does not score enough goals).
Also I think Man City are lopsided. As Fergie says they have 10 strikers but no foundations - a bit like a Real Madrid lite. Adebayor is a lazy whinger - but a class act when he is in the mood, but what is the point of buying him when you have just splashed out £17million on a like for like player in Santa Cruz?
Gareth Barry? Overated and too ponderous. Only in the England team because Owen Hargreaves is always injured - if Hughes had vision he would surely have gone for Everton's Jack Rodwell who will end up taking Barry's England place within a year or two.
Shay Given? Top class. Man United should have bought him given the understandable feeling that Ben Foster might not be quite good enough - Foster may turn out to be a modern day Chris Turner for Utd. Good, but not quite top notch.
Wayne Bridge? Solid, sound buy.
John Terry? (If he goes) Great leader and inspiration, worth it for that. Injury question marks and pace question marks.
As for Ferguson saying he is not making a marquee signing this summer because the market is inflated, well, wasn't the £80m for Ronaldo itself inflated? I would question the wisdom of bringing in two unproven foreign players for £23million - Obertan and Valencia - when the Champions Lge format will soon demand clubs have more English players in their squads. I would have splashed out on three English players - Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and the aforementions Rodwell. That would have shored up United in midfield and given them pace in attack (which they could have done with given the leaden feet of Berba and Owen). They would have got Young for £22m, Agbonlahor for £12m and Rodwell for £10m - almost half the money from the Ronaldo sale for an injection of excitement and hope.
Better those three in than the money sitting in the Glazers' bank account (or paying off some of their debts) eh??
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Pearce a shocker, Capello a disgrace
IF there was one bit of good news to come out of England U21s' 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany in last night's final, it was that Stuart Pearce has surely shot his chances of being the next England boss. The man failed at Man City and is not technically gifted enough to be manager of the national side. He is Kevin Keegan lite - a fist on the chest, all-passion, all brawn operator. His failure last night was to be able to change tactics when things went wrong and to mess with his best player. Yes, his treatment of Theo Walcott, who went out on a limb with his club boss Arsene Wenger, to make the trip to Sweden was terrible. Dropping him, questioning whether he would even play him in the final in a Press conference and then not having the brains to work out a formula to get the ball to him in the match.
Pearce needs to learn a little finesse and civility if he is to progress - both in terms of his team and himself.
As for the man who is leading England seniors to South Africa and World Cup 2010, well, Fabio Capello's management has been excellent - certainly something old 'Psycho' could learn from. But his absence from the U21 final last night was an absolute disgrace. He blamed it on missing a flight from the Confederations Cup final - but what was he doing there, anyway? He should have been in Sweden encouraging Pearce and showing he is committed to the English cause from the semis onwards. His absence merely confirms the suspicion that he will be on his way after next summer - otherwise he would surely want to check out the form and the ability to cope with competitive tournament football of the young men who could infiltrate his squad in a year or two?
And if he goes - please don't promote Pearce and take us back to the nightmare years of Steve McClaren. Roy Hodgson or Harry Redknapp are the best (English) men for the job - with Glenn Hoddle (yes, I know he failed in 98, but he is older and wiser now and one of the best tactical brains out there) a younger alternative.
Pearce needs to learn a little finesse and civility if he is to progress - both in terms of his team and himself.
As for the man who is leading England seniors to South Africa and World Cup 2010, well, Fabio Capello's management has been excellent - certainly something old 'Psycho' could learn from. But his absence from the U21 final last night was an absolute disgrace. He blamed it on missing a flight from the Confederations Cup final - but what was he doing there, anyway? He should have been in Sweden encouraging Pearce and showing he is committed to the English cause from the semis onwards. His absence merely confirms the suspicion that he will be on his way after next summer - otherwise he would surely want to check out the form and the ability to cope with competitive tournament football of the young men who could infiltrate his squad in a year or two?
And if he goes - please don't promote Pearce and take us back to the nightmare years of Steve McClaren. Roy Hodgson or Harry Redknapp are the best (English) men for the job - with Glenn Hoddle (yes, I know he failed in 98, but he is older and wiser now and one of the best tactical brains out there) a younger alternative.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Sad he is dead...
...Steven 'Seething' Wells was one of my contemporaries and rivals when I worked for MM in the 80s in the north - and he was doing the same for NME. I liked the man and his writing, you will be missed Swellsy...
....as for Michael Jackson - am I alone in thinking the hype and outpouring of grief a la Princess Di may come back to haunt some of those who are weeping the most?
Sure, Wacko Jacko was a pop genius (but let's not forget the part Quincey Jones played in the whole extravaganza) and the likes of Billie Jean are true pop classics - but isn't there an element of Robert Maxwell in the mix? Remember, when Capn' Bob died and the Daily Mirror eulogised him for a week - but quickly changed their tune when they found out he had diddled them out of their pensions?
I would harbour a guess that opinion may not be so sympathetic of Jacko if stories leak out (which I am told they will) about his treatment of family and friends. Then there may be some questions asked about why 16-page glorifications of his life were rushed out. Or maybe I'm just an old cynic and have got it all wrong...time will tell...
....as for Michael Jackson - am I alone in thinking the hype and outpouring of grief a la Princess Di may come back to haunt some of those who are weeping the most?
Sure, Wacko Jacko was a pop genius (but let's not forget the part Quincey Jones played in the whole extravaganza) and the likes of Billie Jean are true pop classics - but isn't there an element of Robert Maxwell in the mix? Remember, when Capn' Bob died and the Daily Mirror eulogised him for a week - but quickly changed their tune when they found out he had diddled them out of their pensions?
I would harbour a guess that opinion may not be so sympathetic of Jacko if stories leak out (which I am told they will) about his treatment of family and friends. Then there may be some questions asked about why 16-page glorifications of his life were rushed out. Or maybe I'm just an old cynic and have got it all wrong...time will tell...
Springsteen saves Glastonbury
The best Glastonbury ever? I think maybe Michael Eavis should hand over the reins to his daughter now rather than in a few years if he truly believes that. No way was it the best ever - in fact, it was probably one of the worst. Turgid acts galore and no spark of invention with mediocrity ruling the day.
Thank God then for the Boss. Yes, Brucey babe came, he saw and he conquered. His set was an oasis in the desert of crap that covered the three days (and I don't mean the mud). His set steamrolled over the drab, dull and mind-achingly boring and overrrated acts that had gone (Lily Allen etc) and those still to come (yes, we are looking at you, Blur). I thought one of the most telling comments of the whole weekend came when Lily Allen was asked what she thought of Bruce. She replied: 'Old'. It did not reflect well - if the boot were on the other foot, she would have been well pissed off if a group of people had been asked what they thought of Lily Allen, I bet. Especially as the most likely one-worder would surely be: 'Privileged'. Yep, singing songs of dismay, regret and hardship when you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth; a junior member of a showbiz dynasty. Also I thought Damon Albarn was arrogant and too full of himself - as if he were a genuine rock icon rather than just a shadow of Liam Gallagher. And weren't Blur always that really? A shadowplay of Oasis, in reality not fit to lick the Mancunians' boots?
The Boss made a connection with the crowd and gave what was arguably HIS best performance ever. My favourite band ever is The Clash and Springsteen almost brought a tear to my eyes - he was a double for the late great Joe Strummer - and the set was spot on, with a mix of the classics (Thunder Run, The River etc) and the hits (Glory Days, Dancing In The Heart) and the oddities (including the haunting Outlaw Pete).
I note that a lot of people have been knocking the BBC for sending 427 operatives to the festival. Well, the end result was worth it - excellent coverage throughout. If they are going to blow our money, better on the biggest festival in the world - and something that matters..ie music - than the likes of Ascot or some remote outreach programmes. The one area I would quibble with is the Beeb's too easy backing down over the demands of the bands - ie not showing all Bruce's set because he wanted to save some surprises for the Hyde Park gig the following night and the same with Blur and the other highlight of the festival, Dizzee Rascal.
Thank God then for the Boss. Yes, Brucey babe came, he saw and he conquered. His set was an oasis in the desert of crap that covered the three days (and I don't mean the mud). His set steamrolled over the drab, dull and mind-achingly boring and overrrated acts that had gone (Lily Allen etc) and those still to come (yes, we are looking at you, Blur). I thought one of the most telling comments of the whole weekend came when Lily Allen was asked what she thought of Bruce. She replied: 'Old'. It did not reflect well - if the boot were on the other foot, she would have been well pissed off if a group of people had been asked what they thought of Lily Allen, I bet. Especially as the most likely one-worder would surely be: 'Privileged'. Yep, singing songs of dismay, regret and hardship when you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth; a junior member of a showbiz dynasty. Also I thought Damon Albarn was arrogant and too full of himself - as if he were a genuine rock icon rather than just a shadow of Liam Gallagher. And weren't Blur always that really? A shadowplay of Oasis, in reality not fit to lick the Mancunians' boots?
The Boss made a connection with the crowd and gave what was arguably HIS best performance ever. My favourite band ever is The Clash and Springsteen almost brought a tear to my eyes - he was a double for the late great Joe Strummer - and the set was spot on, with a mix of the classics (Thunder Run, The River etc) and the hits (Glory Days, Dancing In The Heart) and the oddities (including the haunting Outlaw Pete).
I note that a lot of people have been knocking the BBC for sending 427 operatives to the festival. Well, the end result was worth it - excellent coverage throughout. If they are going to blow our money, better on the biggest festival in the world - and something that matters..ie music - than the likes of Ascot or some remote outreach programmes. The one area I would quibble with is the Beeb's too easy backing down over the demands of the bands - ie not showing all Bruce's set because he wanted to save some surprises for the Hyde Park gig the following night and the same with Blur and the other highlight of the festival, Dizzee Rascal.
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