Friday 2 July 2010

Stop With The Madness

England’s dire plight in this years World Cup has struck me a mighty blow. Each time I try and lift my weary fingers to type I am gripped by a feeling of despair, woe and anger that slams my laptop closed before I can try.

I am also struck by the old adage, if you’ve got nothing nice to say then perhaps it’s better to say nothing at all.

I watched England’s dismal capitulation against Germany in the front row of a crowd of 90,000 at this years Glastonbury and thank goodness I had Stevie Wonder in tow to lift my chin off the floor, it could have got messy.

Once things had been placed in their proper perspective however I remarked to my friend how this was probably the least painful England exit from a major tournament I have had to endure. Whether this is consoling or not I am still not sure.

Of course we could hark on about the injustice of the goal that never was but if we’re going to be honest with ourselves we went out because we were rubbish, abject, uninspired and frankly not good enough!! *Sigh…. hard words for me to write.

What now? Lets blame someone is usually the way we like to go and its no surprise that Mr Capello seems to be the man with the big red target on his back.

Oh how short sighted and fickle people are. Six weeks ago an expectant nation considered themselves rightly lucky to have one of the most successful managers of this generation at the helm, a man who had guided us through our best qualification in recent memory.

Now we are bemoaning our luck at the prospect of being stuck with this incompetent and overpaid foreign buffoon for another two years.

I despair at the knee jerk manner in which people think and sacking Capello will not only be a mistake but take attention away from the real villains of the piece, the players.

Roy Keane was recently interviewed by the BBC and gave the most commonsensical evaluation of England’s plight that I have heard thus far. It made me feel rather silly for even believing that we stood a chance of winning the competition at all. I invite you to follow the link and see if you agree:


Roy Keane Interview



Whatever your personal opinion on Roy Keane I think he is spot on.

But lets get this straight. I’m not saying Capello’s World Cup was blemish free and there is no doubting mistakes were made. But how can a manager, regardless of tactics and formations, legislate for his players defending like they did against Germany.

People hark back to squad selection and there seems to be a view that if Adam Johnson had been there instead of SWP or Joe Cole had a few more minutes on the pitch it would have been all so different. Rubbish!!

Our big players failed. Nothing has frustrated me more than people telling me that you can’t play Gerrard on the left because he will always have the tendency to drift in. Slurry!

Have some discipline man and stick to the position you were told to play. The one game he stuck to his role on the left was against Slovenia, our best game of the World Cup.

Of course inquests need to be made and there is clearly something rotten going on with English football. Sacking Capello at this stage is no solution.

In summary my thoughts are thus.

1. The Premier league should be reduced to 18 teams and a winter break established.
2. A limit of foreign players in English teams should be imposed. (impossible to implement I fear)
3. Despite what I have said I want future English managers to be English
4. Thirdly and most importantly our entire youth coaching system needs to be overhauled.

I was recently given a startling statistic which I believe spoke volumes about the problems we face. There are currently in the region of 150 English UEFA A Qualified coaches working in England, about 95% of these coaches are working for professional teams.

Compare this to Spain. They have over 750 similarly qualified coaches with over 600 of these coaches working within schools and education. This goes some way to explain not only the added quantity of Spanish talent coming through but also its vastly superior technical quality.

Money is not the issue as to why these changes cannot be made and anyone who thinks that Capello’s much publicised paycheque is a huge burden on an FA with fantastically bulging pockets is very much mistaken.

The FA is a rudderless ship filled with very few football men and with far too much focus on commercial activity.

When, how and who will make these changes is a matter of much debate and my fear is that as long as the money is flooding in, the only thing England will be able to have any pride in is the quality of its Premier League.

One thought that could be a ray of light for the future. Bobby Robson’s Euro “88 campaign resulted in three dismal defeats in a row, he was still learning as an international manager. Italia “90 went rather better for him. As long as there is air in my lungs I suspect blind faith will usually overcome sound judgement.

But its getting harder and harder to believe.

Sunday 13 June 2010

More Questions than Answers

As the sun rises on a new World Cup day we are forced to face the reality that England’s campaign has not started well.

Doubtless the Sunday Papers will be full of scathing criticism angled towards Mr Green and the flames of the goalkeeper debate that has plagued our World Cup preparations have been well and truly fanned.

There is no doubting that the negatives outweigh the positives on a frustrating and emotional evening but this is not to say that there are no positives to take from the game.

The first and most glaringly obvious negative is Rob Green’s howler. Opinion was unanimous going into the Tournament that the goalkeeping department was our weak link and unfortunately so it has proved.

It is difficult to legislate for a mistake of that nature, these mistakes will happen to every goalkeeper at some stage in their career but you just hope it happens in the last minute of a Carling Cup game where you are already four nil up.

Was it the pressure of the big occasion? Was it difficult to mentally prepare when you only find out you are included two hours before kick off? On both counts the answer is possibly yes but the most important question is; Where does Rob Green go from here?

If David James is fit should he come back into the side?

It is very possible this would have been the case even with a blemish free performance from Green. If not is Rob Green mentally strong enough to brush off the error and regain the focus that is required.

Regardless of Capello’s decision the fact remains that England do not have a top class goalkeeper that has been tested and is experienced at the very highest level. This is a problem and unfortunately it is a problem that is not going to go away.

Another big worry coming from yesterday evening is that Ledley King could only complete 45 minutes of football. He was replaced by Jamie Carragher who is an undoubtedly capable defender but his shortcomings were there for all to see as Altidore burst through with seeming ease with only Rob Green and the inside of the post saving us from disaster.

Capello brushed off Kings injury as a minor problem saying he should be available on Friday but again on a night where England wanted to put these debates to bed, incidents on the pitch have served only to magnify them.

Similarly there will be many “I told you so’s” from people regarding Emile Heskey’s performance. Rock solid stuff from big Emile he did everything that was asked of him, dominant in the air and a handful all evening.

However when through on goal with the chance to silence his nay-sayers he can only shoot limply into Howard’s midriff. Another debate that will have to rage on.

The other major disappointment of the evening was James Milner’s dismal showing. Credit to Capello for his decisive decision to remove him after only 30 minutes before the referee made the decision for him.

It was certainly not the James Milner we have seen all season and one can only hope it was the effects of the virus he had been carrying rather than big game nerves that effected him.

But this too begs the question, if he was not one hundred percent what on earth was he doing starting the game? Plenty for people to talk about with regards the midfield then.

So apart from our Goalkeepers, our shaky defence, unsettled midfield and having no-one to partner Wayne Rooney we can feel very good about things.

Of course I am being flippant with such doom mongering but the weeks papers will all be looking at these things with a far more critical eye than I have cast.

The fact is we have to move on. The World Cup is underway and we now have a platform from which to build and move forwards. The USA were never going to prove a walkover and there were elements of our performance which were encouraging.

We produced a dominant second half performance and one should give some credit to a resilient and athletic American display.

Steven Gerrard has started well and his goal was expertly taken, perhaps lending weight to the argument he should be moved into the hole allowing Rooney to get himself into the box more often.

Both full backs put in a good shift, with America able to pose threat from wide areas and both looked dangerous going forward. Particularly Glen Johnson, although Ashley Cole sensibly restricted himself in order to blunt the influence of Landon Donavon.

Aaron Lennon showed glimpses of why he is in the team but more will be expected. Rooney and Lampard had slow starts but surely there is more to come from both players as the tournament progresses.

A disappointment yes, a disaster no. In a game that threw up more questions than it answered we have come away with a draw and should still finish our group on top.

The road to the final was never going to be smooth and last night was merely a taster of the emotion and drama that lie ahead of us in the next few weeks. It wouldn’t be fun if it was easy!

Friday 11 June 2010

Too Much Hype??

Once again the hype surrounding the World Cup has gotten a little bit out of control. Each long day that passes is another day for our media to create stories and speculation to fill the void before the action kicks off.

It is hard to judge the effects this hype has over the England team itself. On the one hand you can argue as top class professionals the England players are used to blanket press coverage and having to fend off and ignore the stories that the press generate.

However, there is nothing quite like the World Cup and the England team seems to attract more attention than most- if not all- other nations.

We saw earlier in the week Fabio Capello reprimanding some reporters for over stepping the mark. This was followed by ridiculous stories that Capello was ‘showing the strain’. Utter nonsense. The reporters were out of order, Capello told them so, end of story.

This small event became the big news story of the day and was the topic of much debate. One would hope that the England team do not allow such attention to ruffle them. We will never be sure of any negative effects this has but we can be positive that nothing positive will come from it.

As the press conferences and interviews have rolled on this week one thing has become apparent in the demeanour of the England players; they are absolutely itching to get going, to finally thrust themselves into competitive action and finally halt the banal repetitive questions they are facing on a daily basis.

As I write this the World Cup is just 20 minutes away from kick off and yesterday as I walked through Borough Market I could handle the anticipation no longer. I had to find out what will become of England this World Cup.

I pulled a pound coin from my pocket, turned to my friend and said ‘Heads England win The World Cup.’ The coin went up, landed on my palm but bounced away into a bag of cheese I was carrying. Upon inspection of the inside of the bag I found that the coin had wedged itself upright in between a Spanish Blue and some goats cheese.

The coin proved inconclusive and unfortunately I- like everyone else- is just going to have to wait. Not long now though. Best of luck to Bafana Bafana and of course England.

Monday 7 June 2010

Smithy Meets The England Team

I think this clip is quite old but I watched it for the first time today. You may have seen it already but it made me chuckle.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq_cwwWcyqQ

The Final Countdown

The countdown is nearly over and the days of idle speculation will soon be behind us. The last ten days have certainly given everyone much to ponder upon though and it just wouldn’t be a World Cup if there were not one or two twists in the tale.
Firstly there is the matter of Capello’s squad selection and the farcical way in which it was announced. For me the squad selection held nothing that was of any great surprise. Of course the main subject on everybody’s lips was the omission of Theo Walcott which was perceived as unexpected by some. I however do not understand how a player who has not played well or has ever really consistently performed is expected to be in an England World Cup Squad. I for one was happy at Walcott’s absence and such a commonsensical decision is a far cry from Sven’s inclusion of Walcott four years previous, I feel we are in safer hands than ever before.
Obviously there is probably an argument for each of the other six players who missed out that they are a touch unlucky. Bent and his supporters must wonder what else he could possibly do to get the nod, but the truth is at international level he will always come up a fraction short. Scott Parker is an outstanding professional whose work effort is second to none, but it has been argued, I believe correctly, his aggressive style may not suit the World Cup arena. Tom Huddlestone must have thought he had a chance after some limp performances from Michael Carrick this season, but Capello once again plumped for experience. The same must be said of Upson’s selection over Michael Dawson, going strictly on form you would have to say Dawson should get the nod. Lastly Leighton Baines dug his own grave to a certain extent with subpar performances in the friendlys followed by airing his homesickness anxiety to the press.
The general theme of those close calls is experience has been given priority by Mr Capello and its hard to argue with the rationale. Ultimately though, whether we win the World Cup or not will not hinge upon these tough decisions the manager had to make. The main heart of the team picks itself and keeping these players fit and working together in a system that suits the opposition we are up against will provide the key to our success. Yes the squad has a good depth to it, but any more injuries to key players will be felt much harder than the recent loss of our captain.
That brings me nicely on to the big news of the week, the loss of Rio Ferdinand and the drafting in of Michael Dawson to replace him. At first this news came as a real shock and my initial reaction was that our World Cup hopes had been dealt a severe blow. One thing is certain, losing your captain a week before a major tournament is far from ideal preparation and a big worry is how it could potentially unsettle other players. Looking at the practical problem Rio’s injury throws up it certainly could have been a lot worse. In Ledley King we have a top draw replacement who has always distinguished himself when he has pulled on the three lions in the past. His knees are a worry, but it is a problem King has learnt to manage so we must put our faith in England’s physio and coaching staff that he can come through unscathed. There is also the fact we have lost our captain, but let’s be honest, John Terry may not wear the armband any more but when that whistle blows he does not need an armband to marshal and inspire his troops. Doubtless losing Rio is a blow but when looked at in the proper perspective I don’t think we are really that much worse off. It has left us on a bit of a knife edge however and as I mentioned before if any more of our high profile names suffer injuries the consequences will be far graver.

Friday 28 May 2010

I wrote this article in february 2008, in a dingy hotel/brothel in pondicherry in India, and i've always been proud of its prothesising qualities. its outdated to be sure, but I quite like it. feel free to agree or disagree.

For two years now, one Cristiano Ronaldo has soaked up the plaudits, for his scintillating and often superlative displays of pace, skill and flair. His individual brilliance has not only stamped his authority as one of footballs most precocious talents, but also brought the end product that ended Manchester United’s Premiership drought.
However, perhaps one of the biggest boons of Ronaldo’s headline making has been the shift of the spotlight from United’s other blisteringly hot tempered and sublimely gifted young star. In the midst of Ronaldo’s twists, turns, step-overs, rockets and runs; has been Wayne Rooney, whom if you speak to his manager, has been at the absolute heart of all United are striving to achieve.
Over the years Alex Ferguson’s teams have been renowned for their combination of quick decisive passing, with a genuine physical combativeness that leaves teams breathless. In Ronaldo and Rooney he has two players who embody this style of play. Able to weigh their considerable technical ability against their physical prowess, to both mesmerise and bully their opponents in equal measure.
The last twelve months have seen accolade after accolade fly Ronaldo’s way and rightly so, but the real superstar at United remains Wayne Rooney. Obviously when dealing with two such unerring talents to separate one above the other seems futile, but the selfless, often overzealous, determination of Wayne Rooney to utilise his talents in any way shape or form for the overall benefit of the team, is what sets him aside from his fellow genius.
Rooney is still a mere boy at 22 years of age, yet at such a tender age he has become the standard bearer for Manchester United. As they once did for Roy Keane, it is now Rooney’s war cry that the Red Devils rally to. Not only can Rooney bring a technical awareness to turn a game, but a desire and passion to infect and inspire his teammates. It is etched across his face each time he takes to the field, and his inability to contain this passion, on occasion, will assure him a tarnished disciplinary record until he retires, but this is a small price to pay.
It has often been said a player of Rooney’s calibre should weigh in with more goals, but to measure a player of Rooney’s type in goals is sheer folly. The true measurement of the man is the results united achieve with Rooney against those without. Manchester United has lost five competitive games this season with Wayne Rooney not playing any part in each. The most recent being a 2-1 home collapse against their fierce City rivals. Ryan Giggs was quoted after this performance as saying United must be prepared to “Win ugly”. Recognising they cannot produce their unique brand of firestorm football week in week out, and invariably the title will be decided in those games where you stumble and falter, and never quite put your best football together, yet still find a way to carve out three points. These are the games where you need a talismanic figure to carry you over the finish line. In the case of Manchester United, despite the impossible talents of Cristiano Ronaldo, that talisman is Wayne Rooney. Once again Sir Alex Ferguson (and David Moyes) has nurtured a fantastically raw talent into a brilliant cut diamond with that all important Champion mentality.

Thursday 27 May 2010

A Dose of Unreality

“A Dose of Reality”, seems to be the cliché on the lips of many following England’s- admittedly flawed- victory over Mexico. Although excitement is mounting and World Cup Fever has planted its roots; underneath it all there seems to be an overwhelming national feeling of... well, reality, behind the furore. Yes, England has a line-up of world class talent, Yes we finally have a sensible manager and yes we have Wayne Rooney, but seriously, we’re not really going to win the World Cup, it is England after all. It seems to me that what the nation really needs is a dose of unreality.
The truth is England have deficiencies in most areas of the pitch and on paper the attacking line-ups of Argentina and Spain should tear shreds through what seemed a rather papery back line against Mexico. But the most important truth, is that truth is merely relative.
The truth I choose to believe is that, in the immortal words of Jimmy Greaves, “Football is a funny old game”, and if we hold this epitaph close to our hearts anything is possible. England has actually won the World Cup before, but did Geoff Hurst’s strike truly cross the line. The truth, like 1960’s goal lines, is a shaky business. The sensible conclusion is that England will not win the World Cup and English fans it seems have become a thoroughly sensible bunch.
Now for the dose of unreality: England dispense with the likes of USA, Algeria and Slovenia in unspectacular yet efficient style. Australia proves a sterner second round test than expected, but memories of the Ashes are replayed as we once more win out. With national feeling galvanised we meet our old foes like Harry and The Iron Duke at Agincourt and Waterloo. The French, not being the force they once were, fall at the wayside as we march on to the semis and our first real test. The Brazilians, a defensively solid unit under the guardianship of Dunga, fight out a dour nil all draw. For so long our Achilles heel penalties this time prove our saviour and a final against Argentina awaits. The game is poised, one a piece, five minutes to go, Wayne Rooney, having already cancelled out Messi’s opener with an individual piece of genius, rises to meet Gerrard’s cross, a roar goes up; “Was that his head, it looked like something else”, it matters not the World Cup is ours, and the Gods once again smile upon us. Maybe I just need to get real, but you have to admit it would be nice.