ARCHIVE - FEBRUARY 2011
TORUL GUNNER RULE - ARSENE PINCHES ANOTHER OFF THE BARCA CONVEYOR BELT Nick, 28/02/11
Following our look at the evolution of
poaching players in international football, Arsène
Wenger obviously decided to help out the FA and sign Jon Miquel Toral
Harper, a midfielder eligible for both Spain and England. Paying
£400,000 for a boy born in 1995 is a decision that has been
questioned and heavily criticised in some quarters.
However, Wenger's reign at Arsenal, beginning just a year after Torul was born, has seen him pluck the likes of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira from relative obscurity, leaving few to truly doubt his latest recruit. The case for Torul to be a name of the future is further strengthened when we take a little 'Pique' at the fellow graduates from the school of La Masia, Barcelona’s academy of sheer excellence.
La Masia was set up in 1979. Central to its initial foundation and its current philosophy was Johan Cryuff's aim of revolutionising the style of Barcelona's football to become 'tika-taka'. Having strengthened their own first team with the likes of Xavi, Messi and Iniesta, Torul follows Merida and joins Fabregas at Arsenal as a La Masia alumni. There are, of course, many important questions to be raised from this. Why aren’t we investing in our own 'La Masia' youth systems? Wenger shouldn't think for one minute he can skirt around the 'home-grown' rule by scouting abroad for teenagers with tenuous links to Englishness. For every Torul and Fabregas there is a dynamic teenage midfield playmaker, running a game on Hampstead Heath or on the streets of Islington, destined only to miss out. But such questions shall be saved for a rainy day deserving of a Wenger puffy trenchcoat.
Amidst an epic Champions League clash between the two sides, Mr. Wenger's latest acquisition is somewhat of a positive advance – a happy moment, for Fresh Air Football. It's not a Gary Hooper and he may not reap the rewards of Simone Perotta, but it is a movement towards a bright future at Wembley. Jon Torul not only has the potential to thrive at Arsenal, but is now firmly on the England radar. Though England could be losing Danny Welbeck to Ghana, should Toral follow in Wilshere's footsteps, the England team could be 'tika-taking' like an Accra carnival.
The English football team may then have to thank Mr. Wenger for, intentionally or not, poaching bigger than Buffalo Bill's biggest buffalo.
However, Wenger's reign at Arsenal, beginning just a year after Torul was born, has seen him pluck the likes of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira from relative obscurity, leaving few to truly doubt his latest recruit. The case for Torul to be a name of the future is further strengthened when we take a little 'Pique' at the fellow graduates from the school of La Masia, Barcelona’s academy of sheer excellence.
La Masia was set up in 1979. Central to its initial foundation and its current philosophy was Johan Cryuff's aim of revolutionising the style of Barcelona's football to become 'tika-taka'. Having strengthened their own first team with the likes of Xavi, Messi and Iniesta, Torul follows Merida and joins Fabregas at Arsenal as a La Masia alumni. There are, of course, many important questions to be raised from this. Why aren’t we investing in our own 'La Masia' youth systems? Wenger shouldn't think for one minute he can skirt around the 'home-grown' rule by scouting abroad for teenagers with tenuous links to Englishness. For every Torul and Fabregas there is a dynamic teenage midfield playmaker, running a game on Hampstead Heath or on the streets of Islington, destined only to miss out. But such questions shall be saved for a rainy day deserving of a Wenger puffy trenchcoat.
Amidst an epic Champions League clash between the two sides, Mr. Wenger's latest acquisition is somewhat of a positive advance – a happy moment, for Fresh Air Football. It's not a Gary Hooper and he may not reap the rewards of Simone Perotta, but it is a movement towards a bright future at Wembley. Jon Torul not only has the potential to thrive at Arsenal, but is now firmly on the England radar. Though England could be losing Danny Welbeck to Ghana, should Toral follow in Wilshere's footsteps, the England team could be 'tika-taking' like an Accra carnival.
The English football team may then have to thank Mr. Wenger for, intentionally or not, poaching bigger than Buffalo Bill's biggest buffalo.
KEEP THE FAIRYTALE ALIVE Will C, 25/02/11
Oh,
the magic of the FA Cup. The founder of the footballing fairytale, the
basis of lower league dreams. But recent discussions in circles of
football snobbery have suggested that the giant killings are not good
for the game. To combat this, it has been suggested that arguably the
best domestic competition in the world, should be seeded after the fifth
round, to ensure that the closing stages contain the best sides in the
country.
I’ve searched far and wide for a better way to describe this idea. I tried dictionaries, thesaurus', word banks, but couldn’t find the appropriate term. So here it is – I think it's bullshit.
In my opinion, the main attraction of the FA Cup is that it provides lower league sides with an opportunity to dream. I can’t imagine that any member of the Crawley Town side ever believed in their wildest dreams that they would be taking on Manchester United, in a competitive match, at Old Trafford.
The basis of their argument is that there is likely to be a higher public interest in a final between, let's say, Arsenal and Chelsea than there would be in a game between Portsmouth and Cardiff. But why shouldn't they be in the final? They haven't been given a bye; they have won the relevant number of games and therefore earned their right to compete at Wembley.
But the current format is beneficial in more than just footballing ways. A good cup run for a lower league side can be the difference between staying afloat and going out of existence. Leyton Orient's replay against Arsenal at the Emirates is said to be a life jacket for the London-based club. Especially after the decision to allow West Ham the chance to play at the Olympic Stadium, which incidentally is located just minutes from Orient's ground.
The calls for a seeding process and a change to the traditional format simply have no substance. If the seeding is upset by a lower league side that doesn’t stick to the status quo and knocks out a bigger side, who do you seed? If Crawley had beaten United, would they have been seeded? After all they would have beaten the best side in the country. And what would you base your seeding system on? If it's league position; what happens if Chelsea have a Liverpool-esque off-season and finish below Blackburn? Do you seed Blackburn over Chelsea?
The FA Cup has provided the real football supporter with a number of incredible days out. I remember watching Bristol Rovers away at Derby County, back when they were a very mild force in the Premiership. Rovers won 3-1 with Nathan Ellington scoring a hat trick. It was an amazing day and I hope opportunities of this nature are not eliminated from the game.
I hope I speak on behalf of football supporters all over the country; "big club snobbery" has no place in English football.
I’ve searched far and wide for a better way to describe this idea. I tried dictionaries, thesaurus', word banks, but couldn’t find the appropriate term. So here it is – I think it's bullshit.
In my opinion, the main attraction of the FA Cup is that it provides lower league sides with an opportunity to dream. I can’t imagine that any member of the Crawley Town side ever believed in their wildest dreams that they would be taking on Manchester United, in a competitive match, at Old Trafford.
The basis of their argument is that there is likely to be a higher public interest in a final between, let's say, Arsenal and Chelsea than there would be in a game between Portsmouth and Cardiff. But why shouldn't they be in the final? They haven't been given a bye; they have won the relevant number of games and therefore earned their right to compete at Wembley.
But the current format is beneficial in more than just footballing ways. A good cup run for a lower league side can be the difference between staying afloat and going out of existence. Leyton Orient's replay against Arsenal at the Emirates is said to be a life jacket for the London-based club. Especially after the decision to allow West Ham the chance to play at the Olympic Stadium, which incidentally is located just minutes from Orient's ground.
The calls for a seeding process and a change to the traditional format simply have no substance. If the seeding is upset by a lower league side that doesn’t stick to the status quo and knocks out a bigger side, who do you seed? If Crawley had beaten United, would they have been seeded? After all they would have beaten the best side in the country. And what would you base your seeding system on? If it's league position; what happens if Chelsea have a Liverpool-esque off-season and finish below Blackburn? Do you seed Blackburn over Chelsea?
The FA Cup has provided the real football supporter with a number of incredible days out. I remember watching Bristol Rovers away at Derby County, back when they were a very mild force in the Premiership. Rovers won 3-1 with Nathan Ellington scoring a hat trick. It was an amazing day and I hope opportunities of this nature are not eliminated from the game.
I hope I speak on behalf of football supporters all over the country; "big club snobbery" has no place in English football.
AND THEY SAY THAT A HERO CAN SAVE US? Greg 21/02/11
Claudio Ranieri barely had time to
tinker with himself before Vincenzo Montella was confirmed as Roma's
coach for the rest of the season. The rather handsome Italian is the
latest club icon to find himself in the managerial hot-seat. So how
well does this trend of appointing club legends as manager work?
We have seen it across the world, and it seems to make sense if only to get the club moving in the same direction again. Clubs usually change their manager when things are going badly (Newcastle apart, who seem to do it as often and Ant and Dec are on TV). So regardless of the bloke who has just lost his job, bringing in a man with pedigree and an affiliation with the supporters is bound to have a positive effect on the whole place. Take Liverpool for example – whatever Kenny Dalglish does, his arrival has got the Kop right back behind the club again and results have improved. Didier Deschamps won eight trophies at Juventus as a player before pulling the club together in their hour of need and leading them back to Serie A at the first attempt following Calciopoli.
So are these club heroes just glorified cheerleaders brought in to bring back a positive atmosphere? Before you dwell on the image of King Kenny with a set of pom-poms, there are plenty of examples where legends have managed to become more than just a way of winning over supporters. Nowhere is this more evident than at Barcelona.
Think Barca, and you think of technical, crisp, fluid football and a team who seem to do more for Jamie Redknapp than Louise could ever dream of. This tiqui-taca style has spread from Catalonia and beyond, as seen in the Spanish national side and in England with Arsenal. One man started it all – Johan Cruyff.
Cruyff played at Barcelona in the mid-1970s, making himself a hero with the fans as much for his political ideas and mentalities as his sublime ability. But it was as manager where he instilled his playing style at the club. From the first-team down to the youngest children in the now famous academy, players were encouraged to express themselves technically. Even after leaving, his presence remained through fellow Dutchmen Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard, and today through his protégé Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola himself is quickly catching Cruyff's record of eleven major trophies as manager at Barcelona. He is another example of a playing legend who is following up his playing success with trophies from the dugout. Well, not so much dugout but space-age heated seat area.
Newcastle United, who are something of flag-bearers for the returning hero policy, have shown what can happen if it doesn't quite work out. Kevin Keegan's latest spell as manager proved that in the modern game status and enthusiasm is no substitute for tactical acumen and experience. Alfredo Di Stefano, arguably the greatest player to have played at the world's greatest club, only managed two trophy-less seasons as Real Madrid manager.
The advantage that these men have is that they will find it near-impossible to damage their status as club hero. Di Stefano is still as revered in Madrid as Cruyff is by Barca fans. Tony Mowbray played at Middlesbrough for nearly a decade, and was as such welcomed to the Riverside despite a patchy managerial record. Alan Shearer failed to save Newcastle from relegation but, amongst Geordies at least, has barely a stain on his reputation. Ally McCoist will take over at Rangers next year with no managerial experience whatsoever and few people will question it.
So the jury is out on Montella. He may even be merely keeping the seat warm for Carlo Ancelotti. One thing is certain though – bringing a legend back to the club is a romantic notion which whips up a storm of enthusiasm, and who can resist that? Ryan Giggs for next United manager anyone?
We have seen it across the world, and it seems to make sense if only to get the club moving in the same direction again. Clubs usually change their manager when things are going badly (Newcastle apart, who seem to do it as often and Ant and Dec are on TV). So regardless of the bloke who has just lost his job, bringing in a man with pedigree and an affiliation with the supporters is bound to have a positive effect on the whole place. Take Liverpool for example – whatever Kenny Dalglish does, his arrival has got the Kop right back behind the club again and results have improved. Didier Deschamps won eight trophies at Juventus as a player before pulling the club together in their hour of need and leading them back to Serie A at the first attempt following Calciopoli.
So are these club heroes just glorified cheerleaders brought in to bring back a positive atmosphere? Before you dwell on the image of King Kenny with a set of pom-poms, there are plenty of examples where legends have managed to become more than just a way of winning over supporters. Nowhere is this more evident than at Barcelona.
Think Barca, and you think of technical, crisp, fluid football and a team who seem to do more for Jamie Redknapp than Louise could ever dream of. This tiqui-taca style has spread from Catalonia and beyond, as seen in the Spanish national side and in England with Arsenal. One man started it all – Johan Cruyff.
Cruyff played at Barcelona in the mid-1970s, making himself a hero with the fans as much for his political ideas and mentalities as his sublime ability. But it was as manager where he instilled his playing style at the club. From the first-team down to the youngest children in the now famous academy, players were encouraged to express themselves technically. Even after leaving, his presence remained through fellow Dutchmen Louis van Gaal and Frank Rijkaard, and today through his protégé Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola himself is quickly catching Cruyff's record of eleven major trophies as manager at Barcelona. He is another example of a playing legend who is following up his playing success with trophies from the dugout. Well, not so much dugout but space-age heated seat area.
Newcastle United, who are something of flag-bearers for the returning hero policy, have shown what can happen if it doesn't quite work out. Kevin Keegan's latest spell as manager proved that in the modern game status and enthusiasm is no substitute for tactical acumen and experience. Alfredo Di Stefano, arguably the greatest player to have played at the world's greatest club, only managed two trophy-less seasons as Real Madrid manager.
The advantage that these men have is that they will find it near-impossible to damage their status as club hero. Di Stefano is still as revered in Madrid as Cruyff is by Barca fans. Tony Mowbray played at Middlesbrough for nearly a decade, and was as such welcomed to the Riverside despite a patchy managerial record. Alan Shearer failed to save Newcastle from relegation but, amongst Geordies at least, has barely a stain on his reputation. Ally McCoist will take over at Rangers next year with no managerial experience whatsoever and few people will question it.
So the jury is out on Montella. He may even be merely keeping the seat warm for Carlo Ancelotti. One thing is certain though – bringing a legend back to the club is a romantic notion which whips up a storm of enthusiasm, and who can resist that? Ryan Giggs for next United manager anyone?
CAPELLO NEEDS TO HOOP PRIZES TO PREVENT ANOTHER BALE
Nick 17/02/11
How often has it been said that an
England team with Ryan Giggs would have been one to rival any
international team over the past 20 years? Though we now have the
emerging talents of Jack Wilshere and apparently Andy Carroll, the
performances of Welshman Gareth Bale seems to have refuelled the
burning question for England fans – 'what if?'
The fact is Fabio Capello or someone at the FA (what does Trevor Brooking actually do?) needs to spot these talents from a young age and funnel them into the English set up. English football needs to be far more ruthless. Though some may argue nationality is not and should not be chosen, for many it can in fact be a big decision. Much of the success of the England cricket team for example has been down to powerful officials at the ECB poaching players like Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan from the jaws of other nations. The England Rugby team too finds itself with many members with tenuous links to English nationality, yet they still run out and give their all in an England shirt, ultimately contributing to the team and the nation's success.
If more incentive had been shown in the late 1980's the legend that is Ryan Giggs could well have been nurtured by the FA into the full England squad from his schoolboy days. In a day where a grandmother that once went on holiday to Gretna Green seems to be enough to get a lad more cockney than Dot Cotton into the Scotland team, I believe there are many players in the home nation's teams England could have benefited from. The work rate and tenacity of Darren Fletcher marks him as down one of Man. United's best players and I’m sure he could have put a timely end to Michael Carrick's international career by now. The rise of Charlie Adam is definitely one for the FA to watch with envy as he may well produce the goods for Scotland, whilst Kris Commons has always been an exciting left footer, and always had an East Midlands accent.
Though we could not have stolen the Bales, Ramseys, Keanes or Givens, we can remain fairly confident that this will not result in our closest neighbours becoming world-beaters anytime soon. However the complacency and lack of hunger from those at the top of the FA chain could at well be at fault for similar characteristics on the pitch. It is important the same mistake is not made again.
The current potential for a major FA blunder lies at the feet of Celtic striker Gary Hooper. Hooper has scored goals throughout his career and like many players who now wear the England shirt the 23 year-old's career seems to be on the rise at quite a rate. Though he may not have been noticed in the yawnfest that is the SPL, the Essex-born striker has scored 11 goals in 15 games at Celtic. If we capped Jay Bothroyd, then why not cap him? At least once Capello has handed him the shirt, even for 5 minutes in a friendly, Craig Levein can stop sniffing around him like Mr. Hines to our Lassie. Furthermore the FA must hold on to emerging talents, the Connor Wickhams of school-boy football, in order to prevent another Giggs-esque decamp, just because they have a better national anthem than us.
Our failure, after all, to follow the predatory example of the other English sporting teams could be very detrimental. Look at Roma’s Simone Perotta. Born in Ashton-under-Lyme, Perotta now has a World Cup winners medal stowed away in his cabinet. How did we let that one slip through our fingers?
So Mr Bernstein and Mr Capello, give the shirts out and get the scouts out. I’m sure there are some kids on a Brazilian beach who Gary Speed will be luring into the Welsh team just for their ability to pronounce three L’s in a row. And I’m pretty sure they could skin Gareth Barry too.
The fact is Fabio Capello or someone at the FA (what does Trevor Brooking actually do?) needs to spot these talents from a young age and funnel them into the English set up. English football needs to be far more ruthless. Though some may argue nationality is not and should not be chosen, for many it can in fact be a big decision. Much of the success of the England cricket team for example has been down to powerful officials at the ECB poaching players like Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan from the jaws of other nations. The England Rugby team too finds itself with many members with tenuous links to English nationality, yet they still run out and give their all in an England shirt, ultimately contributing to the team and the nation's success.
If more incentive had been shown in the late 1980's the legend that is Ryan Giggs could well have been nurtured by the FA into the full England squad from his schoolboy days. In a day where a grandmother that once went on holiday to Gretna Green seems to be enough to get a lad more cockney than Dot Cotton into the Scotland team, I believe there are many players in the home nation's teams England could have benefited from. The work rate and tenacity of Darren Fletcher marks him as down one of Man. United's best players and I’m sure he could have put a timely end to Michael Carrick's international career by now. The rise of Charlie Adam is definitely one for the FA to watch with envy as he may well produce the goods for Scotland, whilst Kris Commons has always been an exciting left footer, and always had an East Midlands accent.
Though we could not have stolen the Bales, Ramseys, Keanes or Givens, we can remain fairly confident that this will not result in our closest neighbours becoming world-beaters anytime soon. However the complacency and lack of hunger from those at the top of the FA chain could at well be at fault for similar characteristics on the pitch. It is important the same mistake is not made again.
The current potential for a major FA blunder lies at the feet of Celtic striker Gary Hooper. Hooper has scored goals throughout his career and like many players who now wear the England shirt the 23 year-old's career seems to be on the rise at quite a rate. Though he may not have been noticed in the yawnfest that is the SPL, the Essex-born striker has scored 11 goals in 15 games at Celtic. If we capped Jay Bothroyd, then why not cap him? At least once Capello has handed him the shirt, even for 5 minutes in a friendly, Craig Levein can stop sniffing around him like Mr. Hines to our Lassie. Furthermore the FA must hold on to emerging talents, the Connor Wickhams of school-boy football, in order to prevent another Giggs-esque decamp, just because they have a better national anthem than us.
Our failure, after all, to follow the predatory example of the other English sporting teams could be very detrimental. Look at Roma’s Simone Perotta. Born in Ashton-under-Lyme, Perotta now has a World Cup winners medal stowed away in his cabinet. How did we let that one slip through our fingers?
So Mr Bernstein and Mr Capello, give the shirts out and get the scouts out. I’m sure there are some kids on a Brazilian beach who Gary Speed will be luring into the Welsh team just for their ability to pronounce three L’s in a row. And I’m pretty sure they could skin Gareth Barry too.
THERE'S ONLY ONE RONALDO Will C, 14/02/11
'Legend'
is a term that is brandished rather loosely and recklessly throughout
the beautiful game. It is very easy to become carried away with a
player’s ability and impact on football, however revolutionary.
Take Thierry Henry – an incredible goal scorer with the potential
to win a game on his own. Fantastic player? Of course. Legend?
Definitely not.
So who are the 'legends' of the game? I’m talking players that filled stadiums, players that shone at their brightest on the biggest stage, and players whose unquestionable class and ability stood out for all to bow down to in admiration. Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini and more recently Zinedine Zidane.
But into which category does Ronaldo fall? Not the Portuguese drama queen, but the 'real' Ronaldo, or if you like, 'fat' Ronaldo. The great Brazilian powerhouse centre forward today announced his retirement. His statistics paint a picture of a magnificent career; 326 goals in 466 games at club level as well as 62 international goals in 97 games for the world-beating Brazilian side of that era. A quite phenomenal record considering the list of great European clubs he played for. It's fair to say that anyone who plays for Barcelona, Real Madrid and both Milan clubs in the same career is quite some player.
It is also fair to say that alongside his steamrolling runs and aptitude with either foot was a battle with a belly. Ronaldo’s weight was an issue throughout his career and has been accredited to his progressively loose lifestyle. The late and most definitely great Sir Bobby Robson claimed that buck-toothed Brazilian’s best years came before he discovered the perks of being a world class footballer. He said:
“Ronaldo, for the short time we had him at Barcelona, was phenomenal. There were no girls for Ronaldo then. No disco, no fashion, no earrings, no flash cars. He had the need to be a great player - and so he listened.”
Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima, as he is fully known, was a unique player (with an even more unique hair style). It's difficult to think of a more complete striker in the modern era, someone as comfortable with both feet as he was in the air. Someone who accompanied power with fast, precise footwork and someone with the sheer knack of scoring goals.
As great as he was, one can only wonder at what might have been had he stayed injury and controversy-free. In France 98, Ronaldo was at the peak of his powers and the final should have been his greatest moment. However, he played under a cloud and we will never know what really went on before that game. As it turns out, it was Zidane who secured his status as football legend that Parisian night.
As an English supporter I feel disappointed that the greatest league in the world was not graced with the presence of one of the game's greatest players. Followers of the Premier League will have no doubt sung the praises of Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in England. Some would even argue that he is now the player that springs to mind whenever the surname is spoken.
But for me, there really is only one Ronaldo. His silver and blue R9 boots were pretty good too.
Does Ronaldo fall into the same category as the likes of Pele, Maradona and Zidane?
So who are the 'legends' of the game? I’m talking players that filled stadiums, players that shone at their brightest on the biggest stage, and players whose unquestionable class and ability stood out for all to bow down to in admiration. Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini and more recently Zinedine Zidane.
But into which category does Ronaldo fall? Not the Portuguese drama queen, but the 'real' Ronaldo, or if you like, 'fat' Ronaldo. The great Brazilian powerhouse centre forward today announced his retirement. His statistics paint a picture of a magnificent career; 326 goals in 466 games at club level as well as 62 international goals in 97 games for the world-beating Brazilian side of that era. A quite phenomenal record considering the list of great European clubs he played for. It's fair to say that anyone who plays for Barcelona, Real Madrid and both Milan clubs in the same career is quite some player.
It is also fair to say that alongside his steamrolling runs and aptitude with either foot was a battle with a belly. Ronaldo’s weight was an issue throughout his career and has been accredited to his progressively loose lifestyle. The late and most definitely great Sir Bobby Robson claimed that buck-toothed Brazilian’s best years came before he discovered the perks of being a world class footballer. He said:
“Ronaldo, for the short time we had him at Barcelona, was phenomenal. There were no girls for Ronaldo then. No disco, no fashion, no earrings, no flash cars. He had the need to be a great player - and so he listened.”
Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima, as he is fully known, was a unique player (with an even more unique hair style). It's difficult to think of a more complete striker in the modern era, someone as comfortable with both feet as he was in the air. Someone who accompanied power with fast, precise footwork and someone with the sheer knack of scoring goals.
As great as he was, one can only wonder at what might have been had he stayed injury and controversy-free. In France 98, Ronaldo was at the peak of his powers and the final should have been his greatest moment. However, he played under a cloud and we will never know what really went on before that game. As it turns out, it was Zidane who secured his status as football legend that Parisian night.
As an English supporter I feel disappointed that the greatest league in the world was not graced with the presence of one of the game's greatest players. Followers of the Premier League will have no doubt sung the praises of Cristiano Ronaldo during his time in England. Some would even argue that he is now the player that springs to mind whenever the surname is spoken.
But for me, there really is only one Ronaldo. His silver and blue R9 boots were pretty good too.
Does Ronaldo fall into the same category as the likes of Pele, Maradona and Zidane?
IT MUST BE LOVE Nick, 14/02/11
It’s that time of year again. The time where the petrol station flowers become unjustly demonized; the time at which a lovers behaviour will be unnecessarily scrutinized and we foolishly feel the need to remind people of the colour of roses. However there is the assumption that the modern day of St. Valentine must involve and exclude certain things, and football has unfairly fallen on the wrong side of this festival of romance. For this reason Fresh Air Football passes you the metaphorical bucket and shows you how romance can be a fine thing in the right context. That context being football.
Football often revolves around partnerships: a solid centre-back pairing, a clockwork midfield two and thriving strike partnership are what makes a team tick. The beautiful game has seen some truly brilliant duos display a mutual understanding and delight for each other that could make any couple hang their heads into their Dopiaza this Monday night. Who can forget the brilliance of Cole and Yorke in the Manchester United treble winning side? Dwight in particular, seemed to take so much enjoyment from his time playing with Andy Cole, maybe because it meant he didn’t have to be near Jordan? The footballing brilliance of Henry and Bergkamp, the comfort of Lineker to Gazza, the kissing of Blanc to Barthez and sheer comedy of Savage and Kuqi, are all crucial 'Ricky and Bianca stories' in the real-life, Pat St. Clement-free, soap opera that is football.
Football romance is by no means limited to the players either. The increasingly stylish world of football management has seen partnerships blossom and not all involve Ulreka Johnson. In fact Sven and Tord Grip must be highlighted as a true footballing romance; these two go everywhere together. Take a look at Grip’s job history and you’ll see he even went to Notts County with Sven, a move which has claimed many established relationships as victims. There's Clough and Taylor, a relationship famously described as 'love/hate'. It produced many a memorable quote and many more a memorable footballing achievement which saw the love exceed the hate in the eyes of many a football fan nationwide, if sadly, not the men themselves. With the mockery of Capello and Pearce continuing to provide us with hope for a modern, managerial storyline, it would seem romance and football walk hand in hand into 2011 Valentines Day.
At the heart of it, Valentine's Day is just another 'Americanized' day in our calendar (they had their Superbowl last week, what more do they want!?!) The fact remains that romance in football will outlast any box of chocolates or last minute rose, be it Interflora or Texaco standard. The power of football allows its many partnerships to provide drama to rival the Jolie and Pitt talk that kills many an acre of rainforest thanks to the glossy mags. However, where the true romance in football lies is with the fans. A Blackburn fan's love for a Samba clearing header, a Stoke fan's love for a Delap throw-in and a Norwich fans love for a Delia recipe are all enough to shatter any courting couples Valentine's Day Chianti.
The womanizing antics of the likes of Balotelli and Marlon King can cast a dark shadow over the romance in world of football. However the fact that thousands of men and women, some undoubtedly harnessing the power of football for a Valentines Day date, will turn up at Craven Cottage shows there is more love in football than just Vagner Love.
What other great romances have graced the world of football?
Football often revolves around partnerships: a solid centre-back pairing, a clockwork midfield two and thriving strike partnership are what makes a team tick. The beautiful game has seen some truly brilliant duos display a mutual understanding and delight for each other that could make any couple hang their heads into their Dopiaza this Monday night. Who can forget the brilliance of Cole and Yorke in the Manchester United treble winning side? Dwight in particular, seemed to take so much enjoyment from his time playing with Andy Cole, maybe because it meant he didn’t have to be near Jordan? The footballing brilliance of Henry and Bergkamp, the comfort of Lineker to Gazza, the kissing of Blanc to Barthez and sheer comedy of Savage and Kuqi, are all crucial 'Ricky and Bianca stories' in the real-life, Pat St. Clement-free, soap opera that is football.
Football romance is by no means limited to the players either. The increasingly stylish world of football management has seen partnerships blossom and not all involve Ulreka Johnson. In fact Sven and Tord Grip must be highlighted as a true footballing romance; these two go everywhere together. Take a look at Grip’s job history and you’ll see he even went to Notts County with Sven, a move which has claimed many established relationships as victims. There's Clough and Taylor, a relationship famously described as 'love/hate'. It produced many a memorable quote and many more a memorable footballing achievement which saw the love exceed the hate in the eyes of many a football fan nationwide, if sadly, not the men themselves. With the mockery of Capello and Pearce continuing to provide us with hope for a modern, managerial storyline, it would seem romance and football walk hand in hand into 2011 Valentines Day.
At the heart of it, Valentine's Day is just another 'Americanized' day in our calendar (they had their Superbowl last week, what more do they want!?!) The fact remains that romance in football will outlast any box of chocolates or last minute rose, be it Interflora or Texaco standard. The power of football allows its many partnerships to provide drama to rival the Jolie and Pitt talk that kills many an acre of rainforest thanks to the glossy mags. However, where the true romance in football lies is with the fans. A Blackburn fan's love for a Samba clearing header, a Stoke fan's love for a Delap throw-in and a Norwich fans love for a Delia recipe are all enough to shatter any courting couples Valentine's Day Chianti.
The womanizing antics of the likes of Balotelli and Marlon King can cast a dark shadow over the romance in world of football. However the fact that thousands of men and women, some undoubtedly harnessing the power of football for a Valentines Day date, will turn up at Craven Cottage shows there is more love in football than just Vagner Love.
What other great romances have graced the world of football?
MAGNIFICENT 'OLLY Will C, 09/02/11
This current Premier League season has
showcased a variety of memorable incidents, from Berbatov banging in
five to Andy Carroll becoming the most expensive British player in
history (a bargain if you ask me...). But it has also seen the
presence of a man whose reputation as a manager as well as an
entertainer is growing by the week. A Bristolian with the ability to
make the press salivate at the mere thought of a press conference.
Ian Holloways’ charm and charisma are distinct, his honesty, unrivalled. Which is a refreshing change from the ‘I didn’t see it’ merchants, such as Messrs Wenger and Ferguson.
His sharp and witty humour has livened up many a press conference and has encouraged the press to vary the topic of question from football to life, the universe and everything. The Holloway interview is now a weekly feature on many sporting news channels and his air time appearances are fast approaching the number of times ‘magnificent’ is quoted by the great man (have a count, it’s quite amusing).
Many would argue that if the Sports Personality of the Year award took the ‘Ronseal’ stance (and did exactly what it said on the tin), then the opinionated Bristolian could well have added that to his play-off final winners medal. Unfortunately, SPoTY is closer to being a sporting achievement award than a measure of personality, hence Andy Murray being a regular nominee.
But behind his ravishing opinions and memorable rants is a ‘magnificent’ football brain. Getting Blackpool promoted is one thing, but making an impact on the greatest league in the world is most certainly another. Their 4-3-3 attacking formation and never say die attitude has been a pleasure to watch and, without getting too carried away, it could well be a tactic that keeps them up.
Another eye-catching characteristic of Ian Holloway is his unquestionable passion and pride; for Blackpool and for football in general. Added to this his outspoken nature, which ties in with is unreserved passion and you have someone that could well be rivalling footballs elite for a while.
Unsurprisingly, his latest book became a best-seller quicker than you can say ‘Charlie Adam,’ who, incidentally is a player that Mr Holloway rates very highly, haven’t you heard? Ok, so maybe he gets carried away sometimes, especially when it comes to comparing his players to the greats of modern football. It’s fair to say that as a good a player as Charlie Adam is, few clubs are going to cough up more than £10 million for him.
So fingers crossed that the tangerines can hang in there and retain their Premier Leauge status, after all, Match of the Day wouldn’t quite be the same without his west-country wisdom.
Ian Holloways’ charm and charisma are distinct, his honesty, unrivalled. Which is a refreshing change from the ‘I didn’t see it’ merchants, such as Messrs Wenger and Ferguson.
His sharp and witty humour has livened up many a press conference and has encouraged the press to vary the topic of question from football to life, the universe and everything. The Holloway interview is now a weekly feature on many sporting news channels and his air time appearances are fast approaching the number of times ‘magnificent’ is quoted by the great man (have a count, it’s quite amusing).
Many would argue that if the Sports Personality of the Year award took the ‘Ronseal’ stance (and did exactly what it said on the tin), then the opinionated Bristolian could well have added that to his play-off final winners medal. Unfortunately, SPoTY is closer to being a sporting achievement award than a measure of personality, hence Andy Murray being a regular nominee.
But behind his ravishing opinions and memorable rants is a ‘magnificent’ football brain. Getting Blackpool promoted is one thing, but making an impact on the greatest league in the world is most certainly another. Their 4-3-3 attacking formation and never say die attitude has been a pleasure to watch and, without getting too carried away, it could well be a tactic that keeps them up.
Another eye-catching characteristic of Ian Holloway is his unquestionable passion and pride; for Blackpool and for football in general. Added to this his outspoken nature, which ties in with is unreserved passion and you have someone that could well be rivalling footballs elite for a while.
Unsurprisingly, his latest book became a best-seller quicker than you can say ‘Charlie Adam,’ who, incidentally is a player that Mr Holloway rates very highly, haven’t you heard? Ok, so maybe he gets carried away sometimes, especially when it comes to comparing his players to the greats of modern football. It’s fair to say that as a good a player as Charlie Adam is, few clubs are going to cough up more than £10 million for him.
So fingers crossed that the tangerines can hang in there and retain their Premier Leauge status, after all, Match of the Day wouldn’t quite be the same without his west-country wisdom.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE SUPERBOWL? Nick 07/02/11
The once strictly American razzmatazz of the
Superbowl is now seeming to grip the world. Fresh Air Football asks
the question of what we in the UK can learn from the beautiful games
ginger twin from across the Atlantic?
The Superbowl is undoubtedly a magnificent occasion. It’s an annual date in the diary of typically unnecessary American flamboyance. The scale of the event can be measured by the multi-million dollar, one-off adverts shown by all the world’s major companies and corporations. Google 'Superbowl 2011' and you'll find that the top results are more about how Christina Aguilera fluffed her lines at half-time rather than the actual football. With bars across the UK staying open throughout the night to show events in North Texas it is important to examine this event that seems be sticking its nose in to a land where 'football' is just football and a world series is understood to involve more than one nation.
Peel away the layers of glittered foundation plastered on to the face of the Superbowl and you are left with what is essentially any other individual game in which the aim is to score more than the other team. Just like the Champions League final, millions tune in around the world, each perhaps with a preference to one side; the press ready to plaster the key moments on front and back pages of newspapers. Should the fakeness of the jewel encrusted February finale be peeled away to reveal a perfectly attractive face, perhaps it would be the case that there would be many things to gain from our American cousins. As it is there are many reasons why we should be severing all ties with the ugly, ugly game.
The Superbowl and American 'Franchise' football as a whole are the root cause of what makes our own football so frustrating today. As if the arrival of snoods and gloves on our shores wasn’t enough, the names Glazer, Lerner, and New England Sports Ventures (yee-haw) are all associated with the growing 'enfranchisement' of English football. The tactic of buying your way to success seems all the more prominent following a frantic January transfer window which saw £218 million exchanged providing, if not better football, at least some satisfactory staff room or canteen conversation fuel.
The answer then to what we can gain from the Superbowl is simple – very, very little. The infection does however seem to have spread in the short time since the days when Steve McManaman was a big money signing. Though seeing Lionel Messi place a 24 carat 2011 Champions League ring on his team-mate's finger would be a cheesy snap to please many Americans, the game of football can please far more people over here by simply existing in its flowing simplicity.
An American style salary cap may swing some towards sympathising with those over the pond, but it is best if the idea of a 'Super Soccer League' including the franchises Liverpool Fury and Krispy Kreme Park Rangers is one which is locked firmly away with the key flushed down our very own super-bowl.
The Superbowl is undoubtedly a magnificent occasion. It’s an annual date in the diary of typically unnecessary American flamboyance. The scale of the event can be measured by the multi-million dollar, one-off adverts shown by all the world’s major companies and corporations. Google 'Superbowl 2011' and you'll find that the top results are more about how Christina Aguilera fluffed her lines at half-time rather than the actual football. With bars across the UK staying open throughout the night to show events in North Texas it is important to examine this event that seems be sticking its nose in to a land where 'football' is just football and a world series is understood to involve more than one nation.
Peel away the layers of glittered foundation plastered on to the face of the Superbowl and you are left with what is essentially any other individual game in which the aim is to score more than the other team. Just like the Champions League final, millions tune in around the world, each perhaps with a preference to one side; the press ready to plaster the key moments on front and back pages of newspapers. Should the fakeness of the jewel encrusted February finale be peeled away to reveal a perfectly attractive face, perhaps it would be the case that there would be many things to gain from our American cousins. As it is there are many reasons why we should be severing all ties with the ugly, ugly game.
The Superbowl and American 'Franchise' football as a whole are the root cause of what makes our own football so frustrating today. As if the arrival of snoods and gloves on our shores wasn’t enough, the names Glazer, Lerner, and New England Sports Ventures (yee-haw) are all associated with the growing 'enfranchisement' of English football. The tactic of buying your way to success seems all the more prominent following a frantic January transfer window which saw £218 million exchanged providing, if not better football, at least some satisfactory staff room or canteen conversation fuel.
The answer then to what we can gain from the Superbowl is simple – very, very little. The infection does however seem to have spread in the short time since the days when Steve McManaman was a big money signing. Though seeing Lionel Messi place a 24 carat 2011 Champions League ring on his team-mate's finger would be a cheesy snap to please many Americans, the game of football can please far more people over here by simply existing in its flowing simplicity.
An American style salary cap may swing some towards sympathising with those over the pond, but it is best if the idea of a 'Super Soccer League' including the franchises Liverpool Fury and Krispy Kreme Park Rangers is one which is locked firmly away with the key flushed down our very own super-bowl.