Because Football is Life

Back soon

2009-09-15T18:27:00.000+01:00

Bear with me, it's been a long Summer and a hectic start to the new academic year, but i'll be back with my opinionated views on the beautiful game very very soon.
Watch this space!

Turning the Game on Its Head...

2009-07-16T20:18:00.003+01:00

I said at the start of the summer that this transfer window could be a groundbreaking few months..and we have not been disappointed. This summer has seen the winds of change blow over Europe, as the balance of power has shifted significantly...from one side of the city to the other.

Let's start at the top (or should that be in mid-table?), with Manchester City. The City revolution is in full swing, with Mark Hughes being given access to the limitless funds that were promised by the new owners.
What is even more poignant, is that City have actually found success. Yes, Eto'o turned them down, but City fans have found solace in the fact that Barry, Tevez, Santa Cruz and (possibly) Adebayor have all been tempted by the money....sorry, ambition of the club.
Are they doing the right thing? Well, it depends on who you are. If you are City fan, then this is the best time of your life. Your side have all the money and big ambitions that your squad will have to live up to. However, if you are a fan of one of the big 4 then your calls of foul play on the part of City will fall on deaf ears, because, frankly, it is exactly what the big 4 have done for years and years and years. However, you have to feel sorry for clubs such as Everton. Everton have been run extremely well in recent years by Bill Kenwright, and he will be bitterly disappointed that a lot of his hard work that has been done over a number of years has been dissolved in a year or so by a few rich Arabs.
Personally, I am shocked at the fact that this summer alone, City have even taken players from 2, and possibly 3 of the big 4. Tevez has already signed, with rumours around that Adebayor will be the next player to sign on at City, and those stories about John Terry to City will just not go away...

Meanwhile, thanks to the return of Perez, the biggest teams in Europe hafe suffered severely in their respective bids to sign the very best players in the world. United may have £80 million in the bank, but if there is no-one to spend the money on, then you cannot do anything. The top 4 are being comprehensively beaten in wages and transfer fees; even Manchester City are offering John Terry higher wages than Chelsea! Top players such as Ribery and Benzema are choosing Madrid over other sides because they feel that the return of the Galacticos will bring them fame, fortune, trophies...and a hell of a lot of money.

It has also been a hugely significant transfer window at home; it has been apparent that Premier League clubs are more willing to trading players with their rivals. Transfers that take place are setting in motion a chain of events whereby one transfer has indirectly caused 4-5 others. One such example is the possible transfer of Bobby Zamora from Fulham to Hull or Stoke could see Fulham launch a bid for Pompey striker (or is that lamppost?) Peter Crouch. That transfer could well see Pompey chasing a new striker, such as one of the millions in the wings at Manchester City...Crazy!

It has also been interesting to see that the majority of Premier League clubs have been chasing the same players. It is intriguing to see how certain managers have gone about their business; Harry Redknapp has continued his streak of courting players in public (that really got him far with Downing now, didn't it?), but Martin O'Neill has chosen to do his work behind closed doors, to try and get the job done without alerting his rivals. While Liverpool, Arsenal and eventually Man City went after Gareth Barry, Blues found themselves in a 3-way fight out for Oguchi Onyewu, that they somehow managed to lose, to a team who weren't even part of the 3-way fight out to start with!
Burnley, Blues and Wolves all went after Bobo Balde, with Burnley and Blues pulling out of potential deals, allowing Wolves to take Balde on trial. While Blues pulled out of that deal, they jumped in at the last to beat Wolves to the signing of Scott Dann (don't you just love it?!), at the 11th hour. Stoke, Hull and Everton all went after Michael Owen, before Manchester United won the race for his signature (no, i still can't believe it happened either).
Villa and Spurs have gone head-to-head on numerous occasions in the past, but this transfer window has brought the two head-to-head yet again, in the race to sign Fabian Delph, Stuart Downing and Tuncay.

With this transfer window, the game really has turned on its head. Apparently, Chelsea don't have ambition! It is simply ludicrous! John Terry is not impressed with his club because of the lack of summer signings, if you believe what you read in the papers. Terry was shocked that only an unknown Russian had been added to the ranks during a summer when the Premier League looks like it will be an open race next season. However, if Chelsea, the side who changed the face of our game for good, have no ambition, then I hate to think about whether Accrington Stanley have any ambition!

It has most certainly been a summer of change for clubs across Europe, and I believe that there are still shocks in store for football fans as we head towards another exciting season.

Watch this space.

Back in My Day...

2009-07-08T22:15:00.002+01:00

The classic 4-4-2.
The forward pair who work...together.
Those were the days...
Sadly, the days of 2 strikers playing in tandem are numbered.
Gone are the days of Yorke and Cole. Shearer and Sutton are nothing but a few videos and a few records.

The explanation for the change in tendencies of football clubs is by no means straight forward. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the change in attitudes of football managers, resulting in more and more teams playing a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation.

One popular theory says simply that there aren't any strikers like that around nowadays. Some people argue that the type of striker who works for his team and his partner is nearing extinction. However, that idea can be overcome by the presence of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres, to name but a few.
These strikers are good by themselves, but even more effective when placed in partnerships with other players who complement their natural ability.

However, the problem is that these players can also play so well by themselves, that managers choose to leave them alone up front. Sir Alex Ferguson often chooses to shove (quite literally) Wayne Rooney out to the left, and he has also used Tevez as the sole striker, whilst Rafa Benitez has played Torres by himself for the sole reason that he does not have another world class centre-forward to work alongside the Spaniard.

Recent examples of strike partnerships, such as McCarthy and Santa Cruz at Blackburn, and Carew and Agbonlahor at Villa have done their job when it comes to scoring goals and working together. On the flip side, these partnerships have not been as fruitful as past examples, such as Yorke and Cole, and current variations on the 4-4-2, such as the Liverpool setup where Gerrard plays in behind Fernando Torres.

Then, there is always the other theory that partnership are not needed. Many people argue that with the new breed of player, such as Ronaldo, 2 strikers are not needed. It is argued that the winger is as much a forward and an attacking threat as any possible partner for the striker. However, this idea is flawed. Back in the days of SAS and the smiling assassins, there were the likes of Ginola, Zidane and Figo who consistently found the back of the net, providing the team with yet another source of goals.

My view?
I believe that the death of the footballing partnerships can be explained in two parts.
Firstly, I believe that top clubs have adopted the 4-5-1 formation as a way of playing expansive football with players who are comfortable in possession. That, is clear enough. However, for the second part of the explanation, I need to take you back in time...

Back in time to the creation of BskyB, and the influx of money into the game. Clubs were given more money to spend, and as history shows, they spent it. They spent more money than they recouped, and even the worst businessman in the world could tell you that such a lifestyle would always end in disaster.

Disaster. Liquidation. Administration. Clubs folding.
The threat continues to linger over the heads of many clubs, and there is nothing that they can do about it. Clubs fight tooth and nail to stay in the top divisions of English football to ensure that the steady flow of money into the club continues. The pressure on football managers is so extreme that many revert into their shell, preferring negativity over an expansive, open style of play. If you look at Premier League sides, the vast majority play a 4-5-1 system with counter-attack being the order of the day. This negative style of play (and yes, before you say...it is negative) has had a direct effect on strike partnerships, with clubs preferring bulkier, stronger strikers who can lead the line, a la Drogba.

Is there anything that can be done?
I'm not so sure. If my theory is correct, then fewer and fewer partnerships will emerge from the shadows, as more and more clubs change their strategies.
Gone are the days of the smiling assassins. Now is the time for the midfielder that gives you extra.

The Kings are dead, long live the King...

Owen and out?

2009-07-02T21:19:00.002+01:00

Michael Owen.
The athlete; the ambassador; the icon
At least, that is what his brochure says.

There are strong rumours doing the rounds that Michael Owen could be on his way to Manchester, to the red half of the city.
Shocked? Join the club.
However, the links make sense. United have their backs against the wall. They have lost Ronaldo and Tevez, and recent reports suggest that they lost out in the race to sign French wonderkid Karim Benzema.
United have lacked a real goalscoring striker since the sale of Ruud Van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid. Yes, Ronaldo and co. have proved successful enough, but at the end of the day, every team could do with a greedy striker who is goin to score 20+ goals a season.
Is Owen that man? Maybe. There was a time when he was the most feared striker in the world. Sadly, those days have now passed him by, but that does not mean that Owen's career is as good as over.
Over the past couple of years, he has tried in vain to reinvigorate his playing style to suit his body. He no longer has the electric pace that we have come to associate with the England striker, but he still has that killer instinct.

Just like the Masters football advert says - class is permanent. Owen knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. He probably knows it, and how to do it, better than most strikers in the Prem nowadays.

Yes, Owen has his faults. But, at the end of the day, he is still a good striker. Maybe he is not world class anymore. Maybe.

However, he is most definitely not a has-been. I may be a romantic, believing that Fifa '98 could happen again, but that does not matter.

Here is an icon.
Here is a real striker.
Here is Michael Owen.

Come and get your very own icon, at cheap prices.
(While stocks last)

Has Africa Got What it Deserved?

2009-06-28T21:13:00.003+01:00

And so, the Confederations Cup has come to an end, with Brazil running out as the victors. The United States were worthy opponents on the day, but a superb Brazil fightback led Dunga's side to victory.
Spain started the tournament looking bright and full of energy, but they ended the competition looking lethargic and in need of a summer's rest after losing their unbeaten run.
South Africa, the hosts, finished in fourth place, having given Spain an almighty scare in the 3rd place play off.

But, who is the real winner here?

Without a doubt, South Africa and the South African authorities are the real winners after this tournament as they have shown that the country can handle the pressures of hosting a world tournament.

Yes, there were problems, but the world will not remember the problems. The world will not remember the untrained staff who did not know how to deal with the influx of visitors. The world will not remember the poor transfer routes. The world will not remember the faults.
The world will remember the football...and that is all that the authorities could have ever hoped for.

South Africa will host the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

But, I'm not happy.

South Africa will host the 2010 World Cup.

That sentence...it still doesn't quite make sense to me. I wonder...do they deserve it?

Sepp Blatter has always said that he would give Africa a World Cup. He promised it. He has delivered it. But why? Is the country ready? No chance.

The transport links are appalling. The roads (and there aren't many) are in poor condition and work that is to be carried out to make new roads and new transport links is still going on. Will it be ready? I'm not sure. Will it be rushed? I hope not. I really do. The football grounds are nowhere near ready for a World Cup. Yes, there has been some progress made, but that is not enough. The stadia are currently nowhere near the required level, and the plans made for stadia are still that...plans.

£2 billion is being pent on the country for the tournament, but if there was that money available, why was it not spent on improving policing, health services or education? Yes, this event has given the country a new lease of life, but it may lead to many more lives being ended. If fans stray away from recommended areas, then they will be in real danger. Yes, the crime rate has dropped recently in South Africa, but it has barely dropped when you look at the figures in detail. It has dropped from a very high number, to a high number. Either way, innocent people are dying. Last year, 18,500 people were murdered, and 36,000 raped. And those were the cases that were reported...there could easily have been many more...And you want to hold a World Cup there?

Countries are rewarded, when they are awarded the Finals. However, I would like to know, how has South Africa deserved this tournament?

The argument that we should help these countries now, so that they can grow in stature is a compelling one...until you realise this.
This is the WORLD CUP. This is the BIGGEST football competition in the world...bar none. This is not the testing ground for Fifa. This is not time for an experiment.

What should we do?
If I'm honest, I'm not sure exactly. Maybe the Confederations Cup could simply be held in a developing country whilst the World Cup is held in the actual host country.

However, if the country is not ready, it should not be given the Finals. It's not fair. The biggest tournament in world football deserves to go to a country who is ready. A country who is raring to go.

Sadly, South Africa is not that country. Not yet.

Ways to Survive the Summer!

2009-06-22T19:19:00.001+01:00

http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2009/06/penny-for-your-thoughts-16/

Enjoy!

Get the Diary

2009-06-17T22:40:00.004+01:00

And so, in the space of 5 minutes one morning, your diary goes from being completely empty every weekend from August 2009 to May 2010 to being jam packed full of trips to Anfield or the Emirates or the Keepmoat (just for you Newcastle fans).

You have to love the day when the fixtures are released. The days before fill your head of images of one giant super computer that magically selects all of your team's fixtures for the forthcoming campaign. The reality, is quite different, but then again, who cares about reality?

The release of the fixtures brings a sharp intake of breath from fans, players and management. This is the time when it hits home that your side will be playing in the Premier League next season. This is the time when you plan every game, months and months before the game.

Immediately after the release, fans frantically run from friend to friend, exchanging stories about your forthcoming trip to Blackpool on a Tuesday night, or your dream start to the season, away at Old Trafford. Wait, did I say dream...or nightmare?

Well, in any case, my very own Birmingham City have been given that 'pleasure' next season. We get to travel to the home of the champions.

In some respects, that could be the best thing for us. Not only will you be brought down to earth (with a resounding thud), you also get out the way one of the hardest fixtures of the season. Below are the opening day fixtures for the Premier League:

Aston Villa v Wigan
Blackburn v Manchester City
Bolton v Sunderland
Chelsea v Hull
Everton v Arsenal
Manchester Utd v Birmingham
Portsmouth v Fulham
Stoke v Burnley
Tottenham v Liverpool
Wolves v West Ham

It will be interesting to see how Aston Villa fare, especially if the likes of Ashley Young move on in the summer after a certain amount of discontent coming from the Villa fans over O'Neill's transfer policy.

It will also be interesting to see how Everton match up against Arsenal, as David Moyes once again sets out his game plan - break in to the top 4.

Robbie Keane will be grateful (or not) to the fixture computer as he will face his former side in the first game of the season after facing them in the last game of last season.

When the fixture list is released, excitement for the new season can start to build up. This is it. A new start. A new beginning. A chance to make a mark.

Old Trafford, Portman Road, Elland Road, the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Wherever your side start the new season, enjoy it. This is what it's all about.

New Article - Birmingham City Transfer News!

2009-06-14T10:25:00.003+01:00

Attention all Blues fans!

Below is an article looking at our activity in the transfer market, and also looking at our possible transfer targets in the next couple of months.

http://brum.blogsfc.com/birmingham-city-transfer-news.html

New Article - Penny for Your Thoughts?

2009-06-12T13:43:00.002+01:00

Enjoy!

http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2009/06/penny-for-your-thoughts-14/

Ronaldo's on the Move

2009-06-11T20:09:00.005+01:00

When Perez, the Madrid President, said that he wanted to bring back the era of the 'Galacticos', many people dismissed him and his ideas as dreams. Well, he and Madrid are well and truly living the dream today as they have had a world record £80 million pound bid for Cristiano Ronaldo accepted by Manchester United.

It has been an astonishing week for Real Madrid and perhaps even more astonishing that Sir Alex Ferguson has decided to cash in on the best player in the world. There were rumours throughout the past 12-18 months that Ronaldo was on his way to Madrid, and even though a bid never materialised, Ronaldo continued to suggest that a move would come...eventually.

Relations between the two clubs broke down completely with Sir Alex's statement that he would not sell Madrid a "virus", after the way that they approached United through the papers, regarding Ronaldo.

Why did Fergie sell? The media have painted a picture that there has been a bust up between Fergie and Ronaldo over the player's attitude towards others. However, I'm not too sure. Personally, I think that Fergie looked at the situation, and just decided that it wasn't worth the hassle of all the rumours surrounding Ronaldo.
This way, United get £80 million to refresh the side, even if they have lost their star marksman.

Was it a good move? Well, it depends on who replaces Ronaldo. The problem is, that both Chelsea and Madrid seem to be cornering the market when it comes to top class players, and so United have to try and make inroads into the transfer market, proving that there is room alongside the two superheavyweights when it comes to funds for transfers.

I would like to see Fergie look for the next David Beckham. Obviously that won't be easy, but maybe it's time that Fergie reverted to the old style of wingers. Giggs will retire soon and Nani and co. have not proved to be adequate replacements for the United legends of days gone by. However, if Fergie did this, he would still need to go after a poacher. A real striker. A Van Nistelrooy. A Hughes. A David Villa? Maybe, but Fergie will need to be quick, as Madrid look set to sign the striker in the next couple of weeks.

For Madrid, this is a top signing. This is the one that they really wanted. This saga has suggested that players see Madrid as bigger than United, and that is a major bonus for Perez in his bid to bring back the Galacticos.

Kaka on Monday, Ronaldo on Thursday...I can't wait to see what Perez has planned for the weekend.

Silly Season is Well and Truly Underway

2009-06-09T22:04:00.008+01:00

The Summer.
It's the time when a club on the up build on the successes of the previous season. It's the time when clubs desperately try to rebuild a ship that has sunk under the weight of its own incompetence. It's the time when clubs go crazy. Quite literally, in some cases.

Let's start from the top. The premier example. The number one case study. Newcastle United Football Club, or Newcastle United (football) if your name is Mike Ashley.
Ashley recently said that he would be "willing" to sell the club for £100 million...i.e., he is desperate. But, let's face it. If you had a spare £100 million, would you really waste it on Newcastle? Ashely spent over £110m buying the club and he then spent a further £110 million trying to pay off some of the debts that the club had...and look where that got him.
He initially offered the club to prospective buyers at an absolutely astronomical price. Obviously, that failed.
Now, Ashley has set an asking price of £100 million. Overpriced, yet again.
'Experts' say that the club's true value is about £80 million. At least Ashley was close this time.

It has been reported that Singapore-based group could be in the running to take over the club. Why? Cause no-one else is deluded enough to even enter negotiations with Ashley.

Is anyone a winner in this situation?
Well, they can't offer the Shearer the job because the club could be about to change hands. They can't offer the likes of Owen a new contract because the new owners may not like the deals offered. Players such as Steven Taylor will be torn apart mentally between his love for his club, but the yearning to play Premier League football at a crucial stage in his career. And Ashley...Ashley is hated by just about everyone residing in Newcastle (and that's probably an understatement.)

Going from the ludicrous to the extreme, it appears that Tottenham are on the verge of signing Ruud Van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid for a meagre £1.5 million.
The 32 year old striker looks set to return to the Premier League as Harry Redknapp looks for short term solutions to fire Spurs towards European football.
When he was in England previously, Van Nistelrooy was absolutely sensational for Manchester United, and his move to Real Madrid came as a shock to many who felt that the striker still had a few years left at the top of his game.
However, whether he still has the ability to readjust to the Premier League at this stage in his career is doubtful.
My personal opinion is that Van Nistelrooy is the right player for Spurs, but at the wrong time.
He was a top striker, but whether he is still the main man is doubtful. He missed much of the last season through injury and it remains to be seen whether he can regain top form.

Across the city, Chelsea have shown their ambitions, with a supposed £45 million pound bid for Sergio Aguero, the Athletico Madrid forward. There are also rumours abound that Chelsea are chasing the AC Milan striker Alexander Pato. Milan always said that they would be reluctant to sell either Kaka or Pato, and it was hoped that due to the subsequent departure of Kaka, Milan would be able to keep Pato at the club for the forseeable future.
However, there are reports circulating that Chelsea are after Pato, and personally, that would make sense to me as I was mystified that they were not fighting Madrid tooth and nail for the services of the Brazilian. Maybe they held the ace up their sleeve with the bid to sign Pato? You never know.
Could Chelsea be about to challegne Real Madrid in the long term in the battle to create the team of Galacticos?

Finally, on a personal note, it has been a very interesting couple of hours for myself and others connected to Birmingham City Football Club. A local radio station reported that the Blues are set to sign 3 defensive players in the next 24 hours, with one player set to sign in a £4 million deal.
The news will excite Blues fans, especially after the recent record signing in the form of Christian Benitez.
Fans will already know about the impending arrival of Giovanny Espinoza, and the possible arrival of Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. Fans have been trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle, with many unsure of who the 4 million signing could be. In the past week, we have read stories that Blues have had a £5 million bid for Cardiff's Roger Johnson rejected, and there were rumours of a bid for Coventry City's Scott Dann.

These are exciting times for fans everywhere...just not in the North East.

Trading at Recession Busting Prices

2009-06-07T11:50:00.001+01:00

Here is an article looking at whether football could be the thing to lead the world out of the great recession. Don't believe me? Take a look:

http://www.birmingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=156715

Spain away at Azerbaijan!

2009-06-05T22:48:00.001+01:00

Here's a match preview for the Spain friendly away against Azerbaijan.

This is their chance to have a warm up before the Confederations Cup.

Enjoyy!

http://spain.blogsfc.com/azerbaijan-vs-spain-preview.html

Setanta on the Ropes

2009-06-05T20:45:00.005+01:00

They came. They came to challenge Sky Sports.
They came to add another dimension to the viewing pleasures of football fans everywhere.
They came to offer more games, at a better price.
They failed.

Setanta took the Sky Sports model, copied it, and then sent it back out as their own idea, hoping to attract millions of subscribers. However, they soon realised that Sky's stranglehold over the footballing game, and the public, was something that could not be broken. In desperation, Setanta did everything possible to buy the rights to England games, FA Cup games, Scottish games, and more Premier League games than ever before.

However, their aim to beat Sky overshadowed common sense, and Setanta took it too far. They paid £125m for 4 seasons of exclusive coverage of the Scottish Premier League..something that Sky would never do. Why? Because, let's be honest, how many English football fans enjoy watching SPL games? Let's be honest, SPL games just aren't very popular.

Setanta also broke the bank to buy the rights to certain England games...what a mistake. What a shambles. The FA should never ever ever have allowed England games to move on to pay-per-view TV. Even Sky never did it. They realised its importance to the public and they wanted the games to be on BBC/ITV, free-to-air to the British public. In an angry response, fans turned their back on Setanta, many going to the pub to watch the England games instead of subscribing to Setanta.

Now?
Now the are in massive trouble. They can't find the money to pay the final installment (a meagre £3m) to the SPL board for the coverage this season. There are rumours going around that the England game on Setanta tomorrow will be the last England game that Setanta broadcast, because they just don't have the money.

This was the big chance for someone to challenge the authority and power that is Sky. Setanta failed. End of story.

Well, What a Day!

2009-06-03T21:27:00.005+01:00

It's been an enthralling day in the footballing world, both at home and abroad, as the end of season merry-go-round has gotten into full swing.
First off, there have been a few managerial appointments that have been confirmed today as clubs look towards the summer and the chance to rebuild their team.

QPR appointed a new manager (again), as Jim Magilton, the ex-Ipswich manager was given the chance to work under owners who have been quick to chop and change in the past. Personally, I feel that Magilton is a top manager, who gets his team to play good, honest attacking football. However, I feel that in the past, Magilton has not been given the funds that he has needed to improve the squad, and therefore, I feel that this move to Rangers could provide him with the perfect opportunity. He has a half-decent squad at present, and with room to manoeuvre in terms of his transfer budget, he can look foward to starting next season with a team that can aspire to gain a place in the Play-Offs, at the very least.

And then, there was good ol' Brucie, who left another club in the lurch to jump at the chance to join the revolution at Sunderland. Wigan got their compensation, and Sunderland got a Newcastle United fan. In his press-conference, Bruce said that he had waited 9 years to manage club the "size" of Sunderland, but I'm a bit lots. When he was at Blues, he was offered the chance to go to Newcastle, and he was in the chase for the job before Joe Kinnear was hired, but both times, he came out and turned down the job. For Sunderland, they have hit the jackpot - even though their fans may not agree with me. Bruce is an adequate manager, who has the ability to motivate a team to go out and play for the fans, and I think he could do well at the club. However, the Sunderland fans will still be mulling over the fact that their new manager in charge is a massive Geordie by the time that next season kicks off. Some will love him, and some will hate him but then again, Bruce has never had it easy.

While all this was happening, Wigan owner Dave Whealen appeared on Sky Sports News, and appeared to be wishing Steve Bruce all the best in his new job. Well done Mr Whealen, very kind and admirable of you...Oh...what's that? You're still talking?...Ahh, and there is the reason that Whealen appeared on Sky Sports News. Tapping up Roberto Martinez. Whealen constantly referred to the fact that he allowed Sunderland permission to speak to Bruce "immediately" because he feels that people ahve the right to talk to who they want to. Whealen then put an immense amount of pressure on the Swansea hierachy, by constantly linking Bruce's situation to the storm clouds gathering above the Liberty Stadium. Along with Wigan, Celtic are seriously considering Martinez for their managerial position, and this means that Swansea Chairman Huw Jenkins will have a massive fight on his hands if he is going to keep the manager who has performed admirably since joining the Welsh club.

...And that was just the managerial news!

The summer is traditionally the time of year when the big money transfers take place, and this summer, even in its infancy, has been no different.

On the home front, my very own side, Birmingham City, have smashed their own record transfer fee to sign 23 year old striker Christian Benitez from Mexican side Santos Laguna for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £6.5 with another £3 million pounds in add-ons. The striker has a good scoring rate for his club and country. He has scored 14 goals in 18 games for his club side this term, along with 10 goals in his past 17 appearances for Ecuador.
Benitez is a 5 foot 6 bundle of energy who is built like the hulk according to all reports. It is said that he is one of the hottest talents in South America, and a top 6 Premier League side, along with a few European sides were after his signature, and therefore it is a major coup for the Blues that Alex McLeish has got him to sign on!

Across the city, Gareth Barry has had an eventful few days, as he went from potential Liverpool target, to Manchester City's new signing. Barry moved for £12 million but his move has caused outrage amongst Villa fans who believe that he has let down the club. Barry said that he wanted to leave (last summer) because he wanted to go and play Champions League football, and so fans find it ridiculous that he has moved to Manchester City, who are nowhere near getting into Europe, forget the Champions League.

In the aftermath of his transfer, with the desire to clear his conscience clear for many to see, Barry wrote an open letter to Aston Villa fans through the local paper, where he tried to justify his move. He praised those who have helped him in the past and he would have hoped that this letter would put him back in the good books of Villa fans. The first reaction that I received from a friend and Villa fan? "He's still a tosser." Oh well Gareth, better luck next time.

Over in London, it has been yet another busy day at Chelsea FC, where Ricardo Carvalho expressed his desire to leave the club this summer. He reflected on his "wonderful" spell at the club but he felt that it was about time to move on to a new challenge. Carvalho cited reasons such as his frustration at not having played enough games this season, but at the end of the day, that is because he was injured more often than not.
Methinks that Carvalho is dreaming of a move to Inter Milan where he would once again be reunited with ex-manager Jose Mourinho. Mourinho managed Carvalho at Porto and then brought him to Chelsea and Carvalho has always proclaimed his great respect for Mourinho and the job he has done. Nevertheless, Chelsea will be hit hard by Carvalho's remarks, as when alongside Terry, Chelsea are a much improved side. However, this is the perfect chance for Michael Mancienne to come in and try and leave their mark the team, along with Alex, the defender who has profited the most this season from Carvalho's injuries.

And now we come, to the biggest transfer story since, well, January. Kaka to Real Madrid...Or was that Chelsea? It appeared yesterday that Kaka was all set to sign for Real Madrid before reports which stated that Kaka's father demanded that Kaka talked to Chelsea before making his final decision.
Then, it was mid-afternoon today when startling reports emerged. These reports said that Chelsea had made a massive £73.5 million bid for the star, with a contract offer that would leave the Brazilian with £10 million a year, after tax.

If that wasn't good enough for you, there was yet more developments a few hours ago when Chelsea categorically denied making a bid for the star. So the plot thickens...

Well, what a day it has been! The breaking news just kept coming, and I'm sure that we haven't heard the last of a few of the issues mentioned above.
Rumours. Don't you just love them?!

New Article- Penny For Your Thoughts

2009-06-02T13:00:00.003+01:00

I've got a new article on Joys & Sorrows, where I discuss the farce that is Real Madrid, the decision by the Welsh FA to give their supporters free tickets, the upcoming trials of 5 referees in a game and I give my team of the season.

If any of that takes your fancy, then please follow the link below:

http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2009/06/penny-for-your-thoughts-13/

Is Ancelotti The Man?

2009-06-01T19:26:00.005+01:00

Finally, the worst kept secret in football was revealed with the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as the new manager of Chelsea, as he was awarded the task of trying to replace Guus Hiddink.

Is he the man for the job?

Well, his greatest problem is clear - the language barrier. However, news of his problems have been widely exaggerated by the media. He gave his first interview in complete english for Chelsea TV after signing up to the Russian Revolution and while his English was far from perfect, it was of a good enough standard to survive at half-time when you need to tell Drogba to keep his mouth shut and his head in the game.

However, is that it? Is that the end of his problems? I'm not too sure.

Ancelotti is a good manager, but one Serie A title in his whole stay at AC Milan does not say much for the man. Yes, he won two Champions League Titles, but he lost another.
One thing that you can be sure of, is that he had, and still has, many friends at AC. It is said that many players were in tears when he announced that he was leaving the club, including hard man Gennaro Gattuso.

What is my gut instinct?
I think that Abramovic will get what he wants - a Champions League trophy.
However, I feel that this appointment will be doomed to failure on the domestic front. I can't see Ancelotti leading the side to success in the Premier League, but the Champions League? That is a completely different prospect.
For Chelsea, the Champions League has always been their Holy Grail, just like Liverpool and the Premier League title...the trophy that they want so desperately that always avoids them.
Their side is good enough to get to the semi-final - they have proved that enough times in the past, but I feel that Ancelotti's know-how of the European game will enable them to pass the final hurdle.

That is, if Abramovic doesn't get bored and wield the sword before Ancelotti gets that far.
Anything is possible...after all, this is Chelsea.

The Season That Was...

2009-05-30T22:38:00.011+01:00

So, another season has come to an end.

Manchester United have remained top dogs, but on the European scale, Barcelona have laid down a marker for others to try and beat. They have produced scintillating performances on a regular basis throughout the year as goals came at an even faster rate than yellow cards for Marouanne Fellani.

Real Madrid were shown up to be nothing but a bunch of pretenders in both the Champions League and then La Liga, while in Germany, Hoffenheim provided the game with a feel-good factor as they pushed forward in the race to win the Bundesliga before having their hopes cruelly hit by an injury to their star forward.

Closer to home, Newcastle United have come back down to Earth with an almighty bang, and their fans will be planning for trips to Scunthorpe and Blackpool next season, while followers of their greatest rivals, Sunderland, will continue to plan for trips to Old Trafford and Anfield.

Liverpool staked their claim for greater honours, as did Aston Villa and Everton, but as they say, the table never lies, and all three sides finished up where they deserved to finish, but not exactly where they wanted to finish.

After installing new managers, West Ham and Manchester City had contrasting seasons. While West Ham struck gold with the appointment of magic main Gianfranco Zola, City struggled to match the expectations of the fans who were sent into dreamland with the whirlwind entrance of their rich owners and their new 'star' player, Robinho.

On a personal note, it was a tremendous season for my local side Birmingham City who 'got the job done' as we were promoted back to the Promised Land along with Wolves and Burnley who won the lottery of the play-offs. The season was long and difficult, but all three sides should approach the 09/10 Premier League season with no fears at all after seeing their competition in action in the 09/10 Prem season.

Nicolas Anelka hit top form for Chelsea as he finished as top goalscorer, but it was Didier Drogba who hit all the headlines for his antics during the Champions League semi-final.

It was the season when Fabio Capello started to extract some of the undoubted talent from within the England side, and a season when Newcastle went through more Messiah's than I went through hot dinners.

It seems that Premier League players took the storylines from 'Roy of the Rovers' a little too seriously, as Kiki Macheda stole the headlines not once, but twice with crucial goals against Villa (yayy!) and Sunderland.

It was a strange season where Chelsea's home form disappointed in comparison to previous seasons, in direct comparison to Stoke City who had an absolutely fantastic season at home, mainly thanks to their vociferous crowd who never gave up hope.

Ryan Giggs seemed to defy the laws of ageing as continued to ply his trade at the very highest level for United, as Sir Alex search for a new central midfielder came to an abrupt end with the sensational form of Darren Fletcher, who finally emerged from the shadows to become a key player in the United side.

It was a Premier League season when playing the Arsenal-way brought few rewards for both Wenger's side and Mowbray's great pretenders as Arsenal held on to 4th place (just) and West Brom suffered relegation (for the 1 millionth time).

Hull were given a right royal dressing down by their manager on the City of Manchester Stadium pitch, but Harry Redknapp chose a more traditional mode of managing as he saved a Spurs side from the humiliating fate of relegation (which eventually befell Newcastle instead).

This has been another monumental season in the history of the beautiful game. It has been a season full of joy, pain, laughter, tears and anything else you can think of. It is the only game that can make big men cry, and unite men and women, young and old, to stand together as one.
It is the only game of its kind.
It is our game.
What a season.

Can't wait for next season?
Join the club.

Hiddink Leaves On A High

2009-05-30T22:06:00.003+01:00

Guus Hiddink finished his stint as Chelsea's temporary manager with an excellent victory over Everton in the FA Cup Final, where a Chelsea team full of class and experience dealt with the big-game situation better than an Everton side that lacked ideas on a warm day in London.

I must say that like many neutrals, I was gutted that Everton were not victorious, and they were given the perfect start after 25 seconds when Louis Saha's exquisite shot found the back of the net to provide Everton with a 1-0 lead and the record of the quickest goal in an FA Cup final...ever.

One must pay respect to Guus Hiddink's side in the resilience that they showed in coming back to equalise through a powerful header from the effervescent Didier Drogba before the half-hour mark. Everton's attacking influence was nullified by a combination of the strong Chelsea midfield and the weather conditions which made it extremely dificult for the two sides to play at a high-tempo.

Chelsea were always on top in the match and Everton never really got going, and so Chelsea's second goal, that came courtesy of Frank Lampard, came as no real surprise.
Lampard finished with aplomb but Tim Howard will probably be a bit annoyed with himself that he failed to get a better touch on the shot to tip the ball beyond the far post. Florent Malouda's blast looked to have crossed the line but you can't blame the assistant for not awarding the goal, because you can never be sure with those kind of shots.

Louis Saha had one final chance to take the game to extra time with a header but as the ball went north of the goal, Everton's chances of victory went south. Chelsea ran out winners and Everton can have no complaints.
David Moyes put on a brave face after the game but it was obvious that he, like many of the playing squad, were simply gutted at the result.
For Chelsea, the victory was all the more sweeter as it was the first victory since the enigmatic Jose Mourinho left the club for good, and the players dedicated the victory to the exiting manager Hiddink, who has been praised constantly throughout the season for his professional approach.

Everton missed out on their big chance to get their first piece of silverware, but something tells me that with David Moyes in charge, they will get a fair few more chances in the future.

The Greatest Cup Competition In The World

2009-05-30T09:07:00.008+01:00

The FA Cup.
The single greatest cup competition in the world.

The magic of the great cup continues, as Everton look to win their first piece of silverware under manager David Moyes.
Chairman Bill Kenwright has always said that his one goal is to one day hold up a trophy to crown his success at the club. Kenwright is an Everton fan himself, and he has said that he will treat FA Cup final day as an experience, just like any other Everton fan.

Wouldn't hear Roman Abramovich saying that now, would you?

Everton are a fantastic side with a manager to match. Since arriving as an unknown manager from Preston all those years ago, David Moyes has created a legacy at Everton, establishing them as probably the 'Best of the Rest' in the Premier League.
However, there is one blot on his CV. Moyes has never won a Cup trophy. Beating Chelsea would be the crowning glory for a manager who has completely transformed his Everton side.

What is more amazing is that in a season where Everton have been blighted by injuries to key players, Everton have had continued success. Mikel Arteta, probably the club's best player, has been missing since February, and the club have been without an out-and-out striker for large parts of the season, yet Moyes has still managed to lead them to 5th place in the League and an FA Cup Final. Moyes doesn't even know the meaning of the words 'squad rotation' (take note Messers O'Neill and Benitez) and he has excelled by mixing his experienced stars with young players such as Rodwell and Gosling.

Everton's determination to be victorious in the FA Cup has helped to restore some of the magic of the cup that was damaged by comments from Reading in the not too distant past where manager and player Dave Kitson dismissed the FA Cup as "irrelevant".

On the other hand, the FA Cup was probably the least of Chelsea's worries a few months ago but after conceding defeat in the race for the title, and then their controversial exit from the Champions League, the FA Cup has been left as the only way for manager Guus Hiddink to get his hands on some silverware before returning to Russia.
There isn't much about Chelsea to say, that you won't already know. They are one of the best clubs in the land, and the players will be desperate to give Hiddink a good send off.

It's going to be one hell of a final.
Who am I supporting?

Well, in the battle of money - the team who have it against the team who don't, I will be rooting for the team who I feel deserve it.
Everton deserve it. Bill Kenwright deserves it. David Moyes deserves it.

Saving Southampton

2009-05-29T20:58:00.006+01:00

It has emerged that Southampton's administrators are entering into a period of exclusivity with the Pinnacle Consortium over a takeover of the club.
What fantastic news.
The group is being fronted by Matt Le Tissier.
Even better.

Personally, I'm delighted that this has happened. Why?
Now that's a question.
I've seen the Saints live once (a 2-1 victory for the Blues at home!), but that's it.
I've never met a Saints player, or a manager.
I've never been to St Mary's.

It's just something about the club that draws affection from all corners. You cannot identify why...it's just the magic of football.

For that reason, every neutral football fan felt for the club when they were relegated to League 1 at the end of the 08/09 season, and every fan feared the worst when the club entered administration.
For years, the club has been in a bad shape. However, they have always survived...just about. This time, this time the owners took the club to the brinks of extinction.
Fans feared for their club like never before. All hope seemed lost.

But then, arriving in the distance on a white horse rode the man himself. Le God. He has fronted the takeover bid which could well save the club from extinction.
You have to respect Le Tiss. Not because he was an awesome player. Not because he scored great goals. Not out of sympathy for the man who was never utilised fully by the national side.
Because he was a true gent. A loyal, honest football who deserves to be rewarded.

Good for Le Tiss. Good for the Pinnacle Consortium. Good for the long-suffering Southmapton fans. Good for football.

Johnson's gone?

2009-05-29T20:44:00.003+01:00

There are rumours doing the rounds that Adam Johnson, the Middelsbrough winger could be on his way to either Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, or maybe even Real Madrid.
...Are you serious?
Come on. Be reasonable. The kid has talent. He has potential, and he definitely has a future, so why would he go to one of those clubs?
If he goes to any one of the aformentioned clubs, he will not get a game. It's as simple as that.
He should take this opportunity to move to a club like Everton, West Ham or Spurs where he has a good chance of playing week in week out.
Footballers play the game to go out there and play football...not sit on the sidelines.
Simple.

A New Article

2009-05-29T18:50:00.001+01:00

I've started writing a Birmingham City Blog for BlogsFC, and you can see my first article here:

http://brum.blogsfc.com/blues-in-need.html

Ireland's Your Man

2009-05-29T12:14:00.006+01:00

Who is Manchester City's best player?
Richard Dunne? Elano? Martin Petrov? Craig Bellamy? Surely it's Robinho?
Not a chance.
Stephen Ireland...by a distance.

Forgett all that has gone before, and all the trouble that he has got himself into (the 'my grandmother passed away...again trick). He has had a fantastic year in which he has outshone the majority of the underperforming, work-shy Manchester City side. He has just signed a new 5 year deal and my word, he deserves it. If you took a random person off the street and made them watch videos of Manchester City (hell, i know) before asking them who they believed was the 30 million pound signing, everyone would point to Ireland.
His distribution has been excellent, his teamwork is improving all the time and he is finally starting to grab a few goals to make him the complete midfielder.

What should the owners of Man City be looking to do in the transfer market this Summer?
Forget Terry, Kaka and Ronaldo, sign a team of Stephen Irelands.

Welcome to the Site!

2009-05-28T21:30:00.003+01:00

Who are ya?

May I welcome you to my new blog. First things first, an introduction.
My name is Arun, I'm 17, a sixth form student, and as you can guess, a massive football fan. The game is my passion, and my team are none other than my local team, Birmingham City Football Club. I love the club, and the magic surrounding it. At their best, their fans are the best in the land. Sir Alex Ferguson said that they made the atmosphere more "intimidating" than the Galatasary fans themselves...and that is some feat.

My aim one day is to become a professional sports journalist, and currently I write for two websites and a magazine.
Under the name akvbcfc, I write for a website all about my team:
http://www.birmingham.vitalfootball.co.uk/
and another fantastic website called Joys & Sorrows:
http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/
Along with those two, I also write for a brilliant fanzine (a magazine wrote by fans for fans), sold at Birmingham City home games, called Made In Brum. And may I say, if you ever find yourself at St Andrews for a game, be sure to go and pick up a copy!

Why create this blog?

Why? It's a good question.
I chose to create a blog, so that I could share my views about the beautiful game with an even larger audience (hopefully!).
I am passionate about football, and talking/writing about football, and therefore I believe that a blog is the best way forward.
I hope that you enjoy this blog, and if you have any opinions on what I say, then please do not hesitate to let me know.
If you like what I think, let me know. If you think i'm a complete idiot...let me know (nicely)!

Anyway, now the Premier League season has come to an end, I will give my take on some of the stories hitting the headlines, and then after a focus on the Internationals, and after the Summer break, I will return with my views on the greatest game in the world.

To paraphrase Bill Shankly, how can you even consider calling football a matter of life and death?
Come on...Seriously...We all know that isn't true.
It's much, much more important than that.