The Latin Quartet



With the festive season upon us and 2011 almost over, I thought it would be good to take a look at the leading lights that have lit up the Premier League during the calendar year. Where better to start and focus on the players we as fans look at to score the goals, get off our seats, and leave us in awe. Yes that’s right folks, the strikers.

The motley crew featured are a mere four players cherry picked from impressive list of top strikers who have been influential for their respective teams this year. I should stress the chief word here people is influential. Personal off the field conduct has been overlooked on this occasion and the focus is entirely on the football. With that said and to tie-in with the holiday period, let’s get cracking. Cheesy pun I know but you get the point.

First up is the enigmatic Carlos Tevez. Yes many of you reading this are probably thinking, what!!! But putting his unprofessional conduct to one side, Carlos Tevez had been immense for Manchester City in the backend of the 2010-2011 season. His goals and performances despite wanting a departure from the Etihad Stadium were at times the only source of goals for team. Leading the attack and leading by example on the field, Tevez finished as joint top goalscorer for the season. A factor which helped City clinch a third place finish in the league, Champions League football, and ending a long trophy drought by winning the FA Cup.

Equally Tevez has also been influential for his team for the wrong reasons so far this season, yet this negative impact has aided his team. His troublesome spirit has rather galvanised the Manchester City squad on the field at least, as his manager Roberto Mancini is potentially drilling a well oiled winning machine. A football machine that has been framed on players who want to be at Manchester City, give their fullest on the pitch, and acquire the rather nice taste of victory. A feature that brings me to the next hot shot that is seen as Tevez’s replacement for scoring City's goals, and this is Sergio ‘Kun’ Agüero.

Son-in-law of the great Maradonna, Agüero in his own right has carved up a reputation as one of the most highly regarded players in the world. His thirty minutes debut for City where he scored two goals and provided an assist in a 4-0 win against Swansea put Premier League defences on high notice. Since that night in August, the 23-year old has gone on to post a tally of 13 goals so far this season and 15 goals in all competitions. One key goal of note in my mind was the injury-time winner against Villarreal in the Champions League.

Okay as a campaign the Champions League was not a stellar success for Manchester City, but that Agüero goal from my perspective helped cement an already growing confident team produce one of the most outstanding results in the league so far this season a few days later. Yes that’s right, I am talking about the 6-1 victory at Old Trafford. Agüero is a different player to Tevez and is played slightly differently to his fellow countryman; however his goals along with his colleagues upfront have collectively replaced the goals Tevez was readily scoring for Manchester City. It is now a case of Carlos who?

Staying in the city of Manchester but moving to the red half of town, comes the young baby faced assassin mark II, who Alex Ferguson likens to Ole Gunnar Solskjær. He goes by the name of Chicharito to some, but is more universally known as Javier Hernández. Quite simply I wax lyrical to anyone who would listen to me about this player, and think he is an absolute breath of fresh air to the Premier League. Hernández is a well-mannered lad who is humble, professional, whilst possessing an insatiable appetite for goals and success. 

Purchased for a mere £6 million and initially to be used by Manchester United as a squad player during the 2010-2011 season, Ferguson by his own admission was staggered at how well Hernández performed during the season. Having little choice but to field Hernández for United’s key and important games, Ferguson saw his young Mexican striker flourish each time with well taken goals. Hernandez dislodged United’s established frontman of Dimitar Berbatov, who was the other leading top marksman in the Premier League last season along with Carlos Tevez. Wayne Rooney seems to thrive playing with Hernandez, as this allows Rooney to play in his most lethal position of being playing in the hole and a traditional number ten.

So far this season Hernández’s appearances have been chequered thanks to injuries. But if having a fully fit group to choose from, I have no doubt Ferguson would be looking at his young starlet to produce the goods for his Manchester United team in the latter part of this season. How I wished he donned the red of Liverpool and not of Manchester United. However, the Anfield reds have a talented frontman of their own who has been nothing less than immense since arriving at the Shankly gates, cue Mr Luis Suárez.

In recent years, those who fill the kop have cheered the goals of a certain Fernando Torres. To most, his departure would all but leave a massive attacking hole that may take years to fill for Liverpool. Personally I was glad that Torres left to break the disgraceful situation that a club of Liverpool’s statue and fanbase, convinced themselves that one man’s goals was more than enough going forward. Nevertheless, Torres’ goals and presence would be hard to replace, but Suárez as an attacking force has very much taken over from Torres in a mere matter of months.

Terrier-like off the ball and giving defenders no rest bite at any minute, Suárez’s linkup play with his fellow teammates has been sensational. Assists and goals have made Suarez a key component for Kenny Dalglish’s men going forward. Despite his current off the field troubles, Suárez is proving himself to be one of the Premier League’s gems and key player for his Liverpool team. A little too key perhaps, given the fact that he is slowly gaining an unwanted reputation that no team wants. If he does not score or is not involved in a Liverpool goal, the team simply do not put the ball in the back of the net. Could this be Torres version two?

So with 2012 soon approaching, you would hard-pressed to look past these players repeating their on field box of tricks for their respective English clubs. Well three of them at least anyway.          

Races and Faces - Part 1

Wow!! That was my reaction when I heard the eight game ban and £40,000 fine Liverpool’s Luis Suarez received by the FA of being found guilty for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. A few people have asked me why I have not given my opinion on the whole episode which dates back to mid-October when the initial incident occurred. Well in such a delicate matter and not knowing the full facts, such a situation really needs a full investigation before passing a viewpoint. Plus what further muddied the waters were the counter arguments both players gave of their version of events.

From a personal point of view and before the FA found Suarez guilty of racist comments, I found myself asking this question in pondering what to accept as true. Do I believe Luis Suarez is capable of doing what he had been alleged to have done? Possibly yes. Why some may ask? Well because the talented Uruguayan is what could be construed as a spiky character, who is no stranger to controversy and could mentally at least in my mind envisage him doing what he stood to be accused of. However, could I see Patrice Evra using the serious and highly sensitive issue of racial mistreatment to prove a point, and get one over on an opponent who has riled him up or got the better of him? Then the answer would be yes also. I could see this course occurring for the similar reasons for what I gave regarding Luis Suarez, and that being Evra has got that prickly nature in his locker.

Even though Evra was proven to be correct and Suarez had a case to answer after the FA's investigation, it saddens me that coming from a similar ethnic origin as Patrice Evra, I really was not sure if what he was saying had occurred and if this was a case of him just being vengeful. I am in no way saying that claims of discrimination should be down to one's personal character, but it is a real shame that today’s footballer in most cases seem to lack a moral code or hold faint fibres of decency or respect. So when situations like this occur, for me at least it is very hard to eliminate the personal conduct of those who we cheer for on the field, and have to bring in the case of the boy who cried wolf when assessing such a serious matter. 

This whole incident is clearly bigger than sport and goes beyond the parameters of football. Since the punishment was announced, those who since turned this situation into a Liverpool-Manchester United thing, or a Alex Ferguson influence, comments are said in the heat of a game but not genuinely meant, or how will Liverpool as a team cope with the possible loss of their newly installed talisman, or Luis Suarez is simply not a racist person are missing the point entirely. Putting my Liverpool football bias on the back-burner and describing myself primarily as someone who absolutely despises inequity of any kind. This includes discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, colour, creed, cultural background or any situation where one is intolerant of another human being, if the English football authorities have found Luis Suarez guilty of abuse based on race than the punishment fits the crime.

From what is being said, Suarez’s case of defence is founded on him using a term/s that is acceptable in his native homeland and pleading a case of ignorance. In this framework I do not believe ignorance is any sort of plausible excuse to shield Luis Suarez from this punishment. He has played in Europe for quite some considerable amount of time, and more importantly claiming lack of knowledge for the want of a better term should not be used as justification where racism is involved. I am pleased that time was taken to check the facts, and a recognised football authority took such a hard stance on review in dealing against racism in football, and racism as a whole.

For far too long the sport’s respective governing bodies and authorities, have turned a blind eye from being proactive in tackling prejudice in the beautiful game, and merely look to sweep the whole issue under the carpet. You only have to look at past incidents when former Spanish coach Luis Aragones was fined a laughable £2,060 by the Spanish Football Federation for racist remarks Aragones made about Thierry Henry in 2004. Countless times reports are given of certain black players in the England squad being subjected to chants when playing international games in certain parts of Europe, yet authorities doing very little in terms of punishment or trying to eradicate the problem. It really is of no surprise that such timid actions are taken when the leader of the sport’s governing body, FIFA President Sepp Blatter, comes out with outrageous comments that there is no racism on the field of play, and that racist abuse between players on the pitch should be settled by a handshake. 

The only positive thing about this particular incident which strangely occurred during the month of October in which Britain celebrates Black History Month, and the Kick It Out campaign and message of Let's Kick Racism Out of Football is very visable, shows as a society and as football admirers both in and out of the game there is still work to be done. In no way do I feel racism is rife in English football particularly when compared to the dark days of the 70’s and 80’s, when I can remember images of my footballing hero John Barnes backhealing a banana being thrown at him by the crowd. But in no way should racism or discrimination for that matter be seen as an existence confined to yesteryear. As a nation I do feel England is showing to be a prominent force in dealing with this negative matter and hope other football organisations look at this example being set and try to follow suit. Such a stance taken by the impending punishment of Luis Suarez should act as a firm deterrent to others who may contemplate acting out prejudice within the game.

Look out for part two in the coming days but to end on a more lighter note, I do wish everyone a happy holidays!

Derby Sunday

What a weekend! If you were a sports fan, you would have enjoyed a bumper-packed couple of days where top level competition was literally coming out of every possible angle. The Rugby World Cup finally drew to a close, and hearty congratulations are in order to the New Zealand team. In a repeat of the final 24 years ago in the first World Cup Final, New Zealand posted the same winning result and collected a second tournament crown in defeating France 8-7.

Thankfully the final was not a blow-out which many feared. What we had was a final that was not spectacular but was keenly contested. As the match was edging towards full-time and with one point separating the two outfits for much of the second half, the result really could have gone either way which created it sown sense of theatre.

With the confetti flying high in the Auckland night sky for New Zealand’s victory, eyes shifted to the Northern Hemisphere and the much anticipated derby between Manchester United and Manchester City. With many hyped games such as this, there tends to be a bit of a lull when the match is played and often disappoints. However, the Old Trafford encounter did not let us down and produced a remarkable match. Manchester City racked up a 6-1 victory in the backyard of their bitterest of rivals.

But with a result such as this, there is often a procedure of knee-jerk reactions to follow of the sides featured. So what did we really learn about the two clubs. Has the result unearthed a sizable power shift, or was it merely just another three points won against a cross-town adversary? Are we any closer to knowing the possible destination of the Premier League title for this season?

Well in my opinion not a lot can be concluded, particularly if you are a follower of the red half of Manchester. Is Manchester United out of the title race? Emphatically no is the answer for me. A humbling defeat no doubt, but a five point gap in the table is far from terminal for Alex Ferguson’s men. A factor heightened as all eyes will now be intensely fixed on Manchester City after Sunday’s result.

City has shown that they are the team to chase at this present moment in time, and from the bookmakers vantage point the new favourites to take the title also. We all know Manchester United are masters at going the course and distance in the Premier League. But with 30 games still to play, time will tell if Manchester City can handle the pressure and clinch their first English league championship in 42 years.

In the recent past, eyebrow raising results like the one recorded at Old Trafford have happened before to Manchester United. Newcastle’s 5-0 demolition of The Red Devils in the 1996-97 season could be one drawn out from this category. Additionally famed for when the then Newcastle chairman Sir John Hall announced, “You have seen the Premiership champions today”. He was indeed right, Manchester United ended up retaining their crown for that campaign.

Chelsea repeated the same feat of beating Manchester United 5-0 at Stamford Bridge, and similar echoes of Chelsea being lauded as the likely champions for the 1999-2000 season began. But again Manchester United went on to retain the league championship. More recently in 2009, United suffered a 4-1 reverse at home to major rivals Liverpool. But yes you guessed it, it did not stop United collecting Premier League crown number eleven, and consigning a revived Liverpool from years gone by into second place in the league for that season.

So with that brief trip down memory lane and just as the saying goes, ‘one swallow does not make a summer’. The proposed shift in power at the top of the English game is a little far off from fully occurring if at all. Ferguson has held of the challenges of Arsène Wenger and his Arsenal team, and kept at bay the riches of Roman Abramovich and proposed domination that South-West London club posed to Manchester United. So the emergence of Manchester City will not instantly see Manchester United being dislodged from being the team to beat in English football, well not at this stage.

What should concern Ferguson is that United are indeed conceding more opportunities at present than in recent times, and that is a worry. Friends of mine who are United fans have made comments that Rio Ferdinand is now a weak link in defence, and is no longer a player who deserves automatic team selection if fit. I do think that there is an element of truth with this, but feel it is more of a collective issue of Manchester United’s defensive unit.

The defence is in transition. New talented defenders in Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are playing well so far this season, but these young players are still bedding in to the United way. Adding to this, United has two goalkeepers in David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard trying to fill in the shoes of stalwart Edwin Van Der Sar which is not an easy task.

United aside, more can be concluded from this result if you are a Manchester City fan. Firstly to put it into context, the last minute winner Sergio Agüero scored in the Champions League against Villarreal last week played a huge part in guiding City to the big win at Old Trafford. I am a firm believer that it gave The Blues a lease of life and a confidence to showcase their worth against their opponents. If City were possible pretenders to the Premier League title, well with this result to marry up with their strong performances so far this season, City are very much certified contenders to crown.

What can also be drawn from Sunday’s game is despite the rollercoaster scene of events that have taken place at the club over recent years, Mancini is very much showing that he is the man in the driving seat where it matters, on the field. His vision of the Manchester City project is very much taking shape. If you are a player at Manchester City the directive is clear from Mancini, either you buy into my philosophy or you do not.

Those who are brought in, have responded by turning themselves into the key players of the team. Those who have not, are watching the parade go by with or without them. If it was not already confirmed before, it seems solidified that Manchester City are in no desperate need for the services of Carlos Tevez, and are looking to achieve great things without him.

The star men from the game and who have rightly gained the acclaim that they deserve include Micah Richards and David Silva, and are just two of the names who were immense on the day. Mario Balotelli just seemed destined to produce a spark or two after his latest explosive off field antics during the weekend. But I thought it was an intriguing masterstroke from Mancini in fielding James Milner, as it would have been easy to have selected the creative play of Samir Nasri in a game like this. But in matches of this magnitude, it is not always about flight and fancy play. The key attributes of passion, grit, and determination are also on required as well as dynamism. Milner exhibited all of these characteristics.

But if this match was not enough, minutes later we had a good old fashioned contest with two West-London clubs in QPR and Chelsea, which for me stole the show on Sunday. Drama, action, commitment, and controversy were all on show. We were treated to a snapshot of all that is good about the Premier League. The coming weekend seems like a lifetime before we get another Premier League helping. But next up, only the same matter of Chelsea and Arsenal playing each other this weekend, bring it on!   

Roonatic!

So the big news this week in the world of football was Wayne ‘Wazza’ Rooney’s impending three-match ban at next year’s European Championships in Poland and Ukraine. Much dialogue has taken place amongst England fans and the media in trying to analyse Rooney’s petulant kick at Montenegro’s Miodrag Dzudovic, and discover why Rooney would do such a thing? Why would the Manchester United ace potentially jeopardise England’s fortunes during the Euro 2012 qualifier and in-turn, hinder the team’s chances during the championships as a whole next summer? So many questions!! 

Quite simply we could never answer all these queries, yet I would like to propose a thought. Perhaps quintessentially this is the makeup of Wayne Rooney for both Manchester United and England, and for the respective fans of both outfits they just have to take the rough with the smooth with such an enigmatic player.

However, the whole episode shows a murky passage in which England has this fixation on pinning their hopes on a particular individual to carry the nation’s entire football fortunes at a big international competition. Some of you may be quizzically wondering where I am going with this? Well let us have a look at the recent past. Currently Rooney is seen as the mainstay for England’s pursuit for honours, but before Rooney it was David Beckham (and his broken metatarsal) holding this position. At times old ‘goldenballs’ was working in tandem with former hotshot Michael Owen for the right to acquire this tenuous spot. Before Beckham and Owen it was Alan Shearer, and for a long spell post World Cup Italia ‘90, it seemed Paul Gascoigne was the key to England footballing success.

A phenomenon I have long thought unnecessary to assign one player the role of keystone of the team, whilst also fully installing a get-out clause if the team does not achieve the desired goal of tournament victory. In this case, if Rooney does not perform well in a competition or did not show up in its staging, here lies the acceptable reason why the team performed woefully. This observable fact is not exclusive to football I may add. If we use rugby union as an example, for many years Johnny Wilkinson held this role for his respective sport, and was still seen as ‘the man’ England hopes rested on going into this year’s Rugby World Cup. Kevin Pietersen holds a similar role for English cricket team, or had done for a spell until other top players have been performing well within the side particularly at test-match level.

I have never really understood why there always seems the need to single out one performer and make them the linchpin when things are going well, or the focus of anger for the lynch mob waiting to place blame onto them when things go awry. I totally recognise that indeed within a collective there are certain individuals that make the team better and very well may make the difference between success and failure. Nevertheless as brilliant as he was, I do not believe the successful French teams of the 1998 World Cup and the European Championships in 2000 respectively, were wholly dependent on Zinedine Zidane. Nor do I believe Brazil’s international successes in the 1990’s and early part of this century was based on the recently retired Ronaldo. Barring Maradonna's heroics of the 1986 World Cup, is it not the team that determines the success?

Greece and their Euro 2004 triumph prove a stark illustration that football is about the team. I cannot recall one starlet in that team who carried his side all the way to glory. Current World and European Champions Spain to my mind are not solely reliant on David Villa, Fernando Torres, Xavi Hernández, Andrés Iniesta, David Silva, Carles Puyol, or Iker Casillas. Perhaps an unfair comparison to make as they are undisputedly the team to beat in international football, but as star names in their own right, the Spanish squad operate as cohesive collective despite their obvious individual talent and make it work on the field where it counts.

Now I am hardly a fan of Gary Neville and often drift away whenever he talks, but the former Manchester United right-back has hit the nail right on the head in his assessment of England and its preparations in international tournaments. When asked about his thoughts on England Neville claims, 

“Going into major tournaments we always put all our pressure and hopes on one man. I've seen it before with Rooney in 2006 and 2010 or David Beckham in 2002. Even before them, it was Kevin Keegan or Bryan Robson in the '70s and '80s. It's as though we think that one world-class player might be able to propel us to a major trophy, and now we're talking about Rooney possibly missing two games of Euro 2012 when what we should be talking about is the spine of a team that has no mobility and can't keep the ball”.

Personally I think Rooney’s ban is a blessing in disguise and should give other players the possibility to show their worth going forward for England. Now with Rooney’s ban and theoretically not featuring at all during the Euro 2012, the tournament’s build-up matches and the championships themselves take on a different guise and the stakes become higher for the players looking to fill-in the Rooney void. Also, the event will not be hyped-up centered on one individual to deliver the goods. Rather, the team will have to focus and come together to function, and execute its tasks if they have any chance of performing well in next summer’s competition.

However, no doubt the media spotlight of Rooney and his ban during Euro 2012 will cast a heavy shadow over the team to an almost frenzied circus on how Fabio Capello is utilizing him during training. Expect random camera shots of Rooney sitting in the stands during the games that he is suspend for, and constant scrutiny if or where the Liverpudlian will start should England negotiate the group phase. Oh it is all too predictable!

To conclude however, I must say UEFA’s three-game ban on Rooney is terribly harsh. A three-game suspension for what he did seems grossly over the top, and cannot help but think all this does not meet the eye in this situation. Now I am not one to brand nationality as a reason for decisions made, and some may call me a cynic for what I am about to say, but I very much doubt had this been another player from a different part of Europe who performed this act that they would not be receiving this same penalty.

Past examples of star names in a similar situation have shown UEFA to take a different course of action. Russia’s Andrei Arshavin acted out a near mirror image of what Rooney did in Montenegro, and got himself sent off in the last game during qualifying for the 2008 European Championships in an away fixture against Andorra. Strangely in comparison the Russian received a two-game ban for the start of the 2008 tournament, which I feel would have been the sufficient punishment for Rooney’s transgression. Especially as the England striker did not go launching into the opposing player, or perform a career-threatening tackle to the aggrieved. One has to wonder what Michel Platini and his motley crew would have handed out as punishment if Rooney loaded up with a running clothesline or elbow that you might see in the octagon circle of an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ring. I think something untoward is afoot in the halls of UEFA on this one folks.   

Trying to Kick for Glory

Amongst you eager-eyed sports fans; you may have noticed that over that last few weeks a certain major event has been taking place in New Zealand. To those not in know, well let me put you out of your misery and enlighten you that rugby union’s version of the World Cup is currently being competed for. Unbelievably I am still pondering how four years have already passed since the 2007 edition held in France, and how South Africa complete with a jubilant president Thabo Mbeki, held the trophy aloft after a 15-6 win over the then defending champions England. Wow, time really does fly by!

Putting history to one side, if you are like me you would have enjoyed the rugby spectacular despite for some of us, the owl-like early starts to watch some of the matches. Highlights have included the colour and vibrant cultures on show, namely the war dances of some of the Pacific nations. Could we ever have a rugby union World Cup without the cries of New Zealand’s Haka? It just would not be a World Cup without it, truly a great sporting sight.

Other positives have included competitive contests at the elite-end, with some of the Home Nations namely Wales and Ireland, giving the Southern Hemisphere tri-nations something to think about. Also Argentina continuing the forward progression in the sport, dispelling thoughts that their two victories over France en-route to securing third place in 2007 tournament was a one-off.

But what has disappointed me is still seeing the high cricket scores posted when the elite nations face the lesser likes of Romania, Russia, and Namibia. Surely it cannot be good for the sport. But what has really frustrated me is the constant kicking game that we have seen during some of the games. Okay, I fully acknowledge that the kicking element is a prominent part of the game, particularly in applying pressure to the opposing team. However, unfortunately the teams have taken this tactic too far. All we see is teams playing negative rugby and launching the ball long, trenched within their own half.  

A feature that English winger Mark Cueto has commented in the past and claimed, “The way it is at the moment, if you get the ball deep in your own half, the easy option is to drill the ball long, put the pressure back on the opposition, wait for mistakes then take the points.” Well Cueto’s claims were very much true in this tournament as I was not sure if I was watching rugby's distant cousin of soccer being played. I like a bit of try-scoring in my rugby. I might be going out on a limb here, but is that not what we as watching fans draw us to the sport?

This brings me to another bugbear I have, the quick need for teams to kick for goal from a penalty. Some cynical detractors of the game claim that if you have a really good kicker, a team can boot their way to victories. I have always thought such a notion is a little harsh, but I do feel this theorem holds a component of truth, especially when a penalty kick is worth three points along with a drop goal. Yet the most important part of rugby in scoring a try is only worth five points.

Indeed scoring a try and conversion kick can result in seven points in this passage of play, but there does not seem to be much enticement for teams to go down this route. I do not blame the teams and their respective players opting to kick rather than fully going for a try. With only a two point difference from scoring a try and kicking between the posts, it is easy for sides to play the percentages and go for the open points of kicking for goal.

A bit radical thought but here is a suggestion for the IRB (International Rugby Board), why not lessen the points of kicking for goal to two points, and reward a try scored with 6 points. It would create an incentive of attacking play which we all want to see as fans, and help nullify some of the negative play that we have seen with some of the top teams competing in New Zealand. It would certainly get more bums on seats in the stadiums, which reportedly seemed to be a bit of a problem for the organisers of this year’s event.

Mad-chester City!!!

FBJ is back once again folks, hope all is well with you all. Now before I get to the nitty-gritty of this article and its topic, I want to give a big thanks to all the positive feedback I have received of late regarding Frankly Speaking. Thank you all very much for your support, and indeed it is greatly appreciated. Now with the niceties done, it is amongst some of you that have also been asking me my thoughts on the whole Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini, Manchester City debacle from last Tuesday night.

Well those of you who are regular readers of Frankly Speaking, you will know I like to take the long-term view in my assessment to a particular issue. But in saying that, blimey where does one begin? No hold on wait a minute, here’s a good place, how about the moment the club unceremoniously handed Mark Hughes his P45 in December of 2009. To those who may recall, it seemed general knowledge that Hughes had been effectively replaced before his team were taking to the field in a home Premier League fixture against Sunderland. The fans knew it, the media were aware of the state of affairs, but there appeared to be a strange underhand situation that the club had created, in making Hughes a dead man walking. Surely knowing he was going to lose his job, or had been told minutes before stepping out into the stadium that this was to be his final game; Hughes still took to the touchline to lead his team out.

The official word was given out almost two hours after recording a 4-3 home win over Sunderland, that indeed Hughes had been given his marching orders. The swift fallout centered on how the club could sack Hughes on the basis of seven straight draws, and only losing two games in all competitions. One of those defeats came in that memorable, and controversial added-on injury time winner for Manchester United, in the derby match at Old Trafford. Nevertheless the club’s hierarchy felt Hughes just simply was not getting the best of the team.

Now obviously it is too simplistic to state that this is when all Manchester City’s problems have started from, but in my mind it set a certain precedent of haphazard, and care-free management of the club at all levels off the pitch. City’s defeat to Bayern Munich and all that surrounded the match was a mere conclusion to what has steadily been transpiring at the club both on and off the pitch. Think I am wrong? How many times have seen reports with clear images showing the players fighting between themselves, and with the manager Roberto Mancini? 

We have heard the reported situations where former captain Kolo Toure fought with Emmanuel Adebayor, and to those in the know would recognise that these two at the time were regarded as a good friends. The recently departed Jerome Boateng, who played for Bayern Munich last Tuesday night against Manchester City also had a run-in with Mario Balotelli. A deep though I know, but is it not a bit strange how Manchester City’s recent past and present was all laid bare on one night in Munich. Maybe it was written in the stars that a major issue was about to transpire that night, either that or maybe I have been listening to Tinie Tempah's smash hit song a bit too much.

Anyway back to the matter at hand and speaking of Mario Balotelli, we cannot seem to go one week without some mad story documented about the Italian causing some sort of trouble or another. Though on a side note I do feel at times Balotelli is an easy target by the media, and like to embellish certain stories that involve him because of he is a irritable character and has a chequered past. However putting that to one side, let us not forget Balotelli himself has had his own public altercations with Roberto Mancini, the latest occurring this summer during a pre-season game against David Beckham and his LA Galaxy team-mates, in the USA.

Up until a few weeks ago, City were employing a senior executive deemed to be an influential figure within the club, and a man who should demonstrate responsible conduct in and around the Manchester club. What was displayed was a man in Gary Cook who thought it wise to ridicule the severe ailing health of a fellow human being, and someone who is the mother of Nedum Onuoha, a player that represents Manchester City. How can an individual in such a lofty position exhibit such actions which simply go beyond football, are a matter of life and death, and show a complete lack of respect for a fellow human being?

I have merely just highlighted just some of the wild incidents that have transpired at City in the last two years, and have failed to even mention the steady stream of public flashpoints that Tevez and Mancini have had in the past before last Tuesday night’s shenanigans. This brief recap in history really boils down to the simple fact of this, there is something incoherently going wrong internally at the Etihad Stadium.

The madness in Munich only compounds this theorem, and in my mind, the events that we saw were simply only a matter of time before exploding. How can a player in Edin Džeko, to my knowledge at least has no major record of challenging the manager and throwing a strop at the dare notion that a manager wants to substitute him? The exacting story has not come out yet but we saw Pablo Zabaleta having some sort of heated exchange with Mancini. And to top it all off we have Tevez who allegedly refused to go on to the pitch while his team are losing two-nil in a high stakes match. Why? Because supposedly his head was not right place, or his nose was out of joint at not being the first substitute used from the City bench. This is craziness!! Could you ever imagine all this going on at a club under the stewardship of an Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, or Harry Redknapp?

This is no way a reflection of my opinion to Roberto Mancini’s style of management, however questions must be asked. But I feel more importantly, the latest issue that currently surrounds City is from the result of the club’s slapdash approach of trying to buy success at breakneck speed under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group. Are there any sound building blocks in place at the club? What happened to holding any positive, principled, and traditional attributes that the club used to have? Such as the successful academy setup that was producing solid talent, and the unyielding pros who knew that playing football was a privilege. Instead, the club shines as a beacon for individuals to come to the club and treble or quadruple their weekly salaries, with the club and not really knowing if their staff is going to conduct themselves accordingly with what a professional should exemplify in a work environment.

From a neutral perspective, I have always welcomed the way that Manchester City has helped shake the monopoly of what was ‘the big four’. Along with Tottenham Hotspurs, we have a legitimate significant six that can all stake some sort of claim to potentially being crowed English Premier League Champions. But at the very least, all these teams are realistic shouts for occupying the four Champions League berths the English Premier League has available. I just wish it was not at my team’s expense.

But in any case, I have always often said that Manchester City’s one true policy of buying anybody and everybody was a recipe for disaster. Acquiring top draw players for the pure sake of it without any necessity will come with consequences. The club had in my eyes a world-class goalkeeper in Shay Given warming the bench for most of last season. Putting it bluntly, Given could not complain because in Joe Hart, stood a player in front of him is that is every bit the world class keeper. Now with Shay Given being the top professional that he is, or what I like to call ‘old skool’, we never saw the histrionics that now goes before some of Manchester City’s players. To be fair it is not an attitude that is exclusive to Manchester City, but unfortunately it seems that this phenomenon is embedded with today’s modern day footballer.

Today’s football is indeed a squad game, and no one player is merited an automatic starting place. But when a competitive athlete performs well in one game and is dropped for the next several matches, whilst being regarded as one of the best in their profession, at times it is not that easy to accept. Unquestionably City should buy for what is needed and incorporate their acquisitions into the general setup of the playing squad, not stack several players for one position and only use sparingly. From the outside looking in, it will only create a problematic situation in the long term for both manager and their relationship with the players, and if not used wisely, can distort the employment of the key personnel used for a match.

Joleon Lescott has worked well with Vincent Kompany for much of the backend of last season, and so far this season the two have continued to perform well. But in trying to keep a top player happy, Mancini fields Kolo Toure who looked sluggish, slow, and woefully short of match fitness to start the game against Bayern Munich and in my viewpoint, his selection was only on the basis to make him feel part of the squad. Surely in such a key area of the team where continuity is paramount, selection should rather be based on the current form of the team to post a positive result.

Look at the players that did not either start, or feature in the match squad during the Champions League game in Munich. The register includes, Joleon Lescott, Stefan Savic, Aleksandar Kolarov, Adam Johnson, James Millner, Mario Balotelli, Owen Hargreaves, Dedryck Boyata, Nedum Onuoha, Pablo Zabaleta, Nigel de Jong, and of course Carlos Tevez. It will be him and his actions that I will focus upon chiefly in the next article, but I will conclude this post with this thought.

In the post match analysis of Manchester City’s last Premier League against Everton, in which Mancini’s men won 2-0, the studio analysts for that televised game for UK viewers were Jamie Redknapp and Joe Royle. In debating how they thought Tevez could be used going forward for the rest of the season, Jamie Redknapp claimed that Mancini should not isolate Tevez too much from the team and have a major problem on his hands during this campaign. Although things are going swimmingly for City now, he felt that the season is a long one and with injuries or loss of form of others, Mancini may have to call upon the services of Tevez for a prolonged period of time to be that match winner like he was many times last year. Clearly Jamie Redknapp must have felt something in his waters of things to come.

Pain In The Arsène – Part 2

Okay folks as promised the second part of this article is forthcoming, and considering I have not been mobbed by Arsenal fans baying for my blood, perhaps some of the Emirates faithful agree with me and my thoughts from part one. Either that or the 3-0 win over Bolton last weekend has helped matters.

Speaking of which, I do believe congratulations are in order to Robin Van Persie as his brace during the game helped to post 100 goals scored for the Dutchman at Arsenal. Again as I mentioned in the previous part, should Arsenal lose Van Persie in a similar fashion to recently departed Cesc Fàbregas and Samir Nasri, I think it is safe to assume it just does not bare thinking about for Arsenal fans. But anyway back to the matter at hand of the Arsenal inquest.

Arsène Wenger’s has often shown to have this quest of proving a point of achieving success in a certain manner. Trying to demonstrate that achievement can be done with the promise of youth, and without the gleam of proven star names. Providing a platform for the young and unearthed diamonds to be given their chance, and abiding to a certain tradition of building a football team rather than buying one, is a really commendable act on Wenger’s part.

A position that to some degree is absent in the grand scheme of things in many other industries, but that is another point entirely. However, in football I do believe it is really a shame that in this sport, finance governs success. But has Wenger’s stance compromised the club’s quest for trophies in recent years? It is hard to argue otherwise especially when allied to the fact that this standpoint has suited the Arsenal board. With Wenger working on a shoestring budget by comparison to the club’s fellow top teams whilst saving the club money, it has given the brass at the club full licence to be less than proactive in business-related endeavours.

Nonetheless, other ideals Wenger has installed must be questioned on. Is the need to have a hard and fast attitude to judge players over thirty at the club on their age, rather than their current ability to perform a fruitful position for the red and whites? He might not be a current favourite with Arsenal fans, but is William Gallas that much inferior to the current defensive centre-backs that Arsenal regularly employ as his replacement? And lastly why haven’t any of Arsenal’s revered past players not been offered a coaching role or executive position within the club?

I often could never understand how someone of Dennis Berkamp’s football prestige and experience, was not offered a coaching or adviser position within the club after he called time on his playing career. He is the current assistant manager with Ajax, yet if he is good enough for the famed Ajax surely he was and is good enough for Arsenal? And how can Patrick Viera, a man who currently holds the title of Football Development Executive at Manchester City, not be taking up such a position at the halls of Arsenal’s stadium where he has legendary fame? Surely such figures would have benefited Arsenal’s young guns over the last six years by passing on their successful experiences, and respected statuses within the club?

One definitive factor that has always sent me into a spin regarding Wenger is how he brought an air of picking and choosing what competition to focus on. Obviously without doubt, a domestic league championship and Europe’s Champions League are the two biggest prizes a club look to obtain this side of the world. But with so much competition for these coveted prizes, there is no guarantee of glory in putting all your eggs in one basket so to speak.

If you compare Wenger to long-time rival Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager wants to win everything available and keep the trophy count ticking over. Yes he may tinker with personnel in certain areas, for perhaps the supposed lesser matches. Examples may include the early stages of the League Cup, but once it gets to ‘squeaky-bum-time’ as he calls it, he goes in all guns blazing. While Wenger would not take the same attitude when put in the same situation. The 2007 League Cup final is a prime illustration when Arsenal faced Chelsea and left a few of his top guns so to speak, such as Thierry Henry out of the team line-up in wanting to give others a chance.

On that occasion Wenger’s actions are laudable indeed, particularly when a certain 6-3 away day result was achieved a few rounds earlier against Liverpool (oh the pain still remains). But the accomplishment of winning or giving yourself the best possible chance of winning, is no better experience for a talented but young squad of players. I should say there is a good friend of mine who is an Arsenal fan, and no doubt is reading this and is probably sick to death of me repeating this point ever since the defeat in the final, but I do believe there is a strong truth in this. Winning trophies breeds a winning mentality, no matter what age you are. Who knows where Arsenal could have been with silverware gleaming in the trophy cabinet.  

From my perspective it was in this same year of 2007, where today’s cracks started to emanate from. The summer transfer window of this year saw the club’s lynchpin Thierry Henry leave as many thought this would be the end of Arsenal as a top force. But in fact the team grew from strength to strength, and it is strange how when Arsenal were last written off like they have been currently, was the beginning of the 2007-2008 season.

Despite the claims for the doomsayers, Fabregas came to boil as the main man at Arsenal and world class player. Emmanuel Adebayor was establishing himself as Arsenal’s top gun up-front, and the team was playing some sublime stuff. Does anyone remember Adebayor and Fabregas’ goals against Tottenham at White Hart Lane? An interesting thought to bring up in light of the upcoming North London derby.

You maybe wondering so where do today’s problematic areas surface from that season. But the 2007-2008 campaign soon all unravelled, and in my opinion most stemmed from Wenger’s almost arrogant attitude when his team faced Manchester United in the quarter-finals of FA Cup. A half-baked team fuelled by a half-baked attitude towards the game from Wenger saw his team defeated 4-0. Disappointing but not terminal, but the real knockout blow would come in the next game when Arsenal faced Birmingham.

Yes, those with a good memory will recall that this was the fixture where Eduardo broke his leg. Arsenal threw away a 2-1 lead in the dying moments of the game when now the  recently departed Gaël Clichy conceded a penalty, which was despatched by Birmingham. The Arsenal captain at that time, Willaim Gallas lost his rag and sat on the pitch when the players left the field as the game was over. Arsenal simply has never recovered from that game, despite good moments since. Lingering frailties seen from that game are very much entrenched within the Arsenal setup during a season. Promising up until March, yet when the big games come thick and fast and the scent of silverware is in the air, the season merely unravels. Perhaps I maybe wrong, but Arsenal fans and keen football followers, would I be wide of the mark in saying this?

As stated previously, I am a massive fan of Wenger and I think he has been brilliant for Arsenal Football Club. He has changed the club’s image from top to bottom from an ultra defensive team, to an exciting dynamic outfit that at times takes one’s breath away when they are really in the mood. The most hardened of football fans would only disagree with this, and the fact that Wenger has brought a refreshing influence to British football.      

Based on history, success, fan support along with finance, Arsenal rank only behind Manchester United and Liverpool respectively as England’s top tier clubs in my opinion. For Wenger, the club’s board, or more likely both to allow a situation where the club only has one world class player in Robin Van Persie and perhaps Thomas Vermaelen when fit, quite frankly something is drastically going wrong. 

As a Liverpool fan I always detested the way that a club of Liverpool’s nature, almost entirely relied on Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres being present and performing well to post any kind of result for a prolonged period of time. Often felt that, that in itself was a disgraceful situation the club found itself in, given the status it holds in the sport. Since the dark days Rafa Benitez and Roy Hodgson respective reigns, the club look to be heading in the right direction with the squad being improved.

With sound squad strengthening and loosening the ideals on the club, if anyone can turn Arsenal’s troubles around I do not think you will find anyone better than Arsène Wenger. Maybe a touch profound, but football is like anything else in life. It only takes a moment for the supposed murky periods to lift, and celebrate the triumphant moments. The 2005-2006 was dire by the club’s standards under Wenger, until Henry’s solo goal against Real Madrid in quarter-finals of Champions League sparked a return of form for the club. We all know how that ended, an appearance in the final itself.

With the new signings which it has to be said was acquired hurriedly before the summer transfer window closed, and with the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford fresh like a open wound, perhaps it will act as a catalyst that the club seem to need both in and around the club to ride this rocky patch.

Pain In The Arsène – Part 1

Now that September’s round of international fixtures has passed, and last week saw UEFA club competitions officially begin, I often feel that this is when a new season really kicks into gear. Players are starting to near their peak from all the pre-season training undertaken during the summer, to become both physically and mentally ready for the new season ahead with games coming thick and fast. Teams are juggling domestic league duties with the rigours of cup games, along with a prolonged European campaign in the Champions League or Europa League for certain clubs. Not to mention top players participating in autumn international qualifying fixtures. So if you thought the summer off-season was a long one, well folks football is back with full force!

The main subject matter that was going to be put under the microscope in this article, was going to feature a certain Premier League club that wears red in North London. Clearly the article title and picture featured was a bit of a clue. But fearful of any backlash from Arsenal fans who may think I am having a go, I was not sure if I should still go ahead with the post. But as a long enthusiast of Arsène Wenger’s brand of football, I thought it would have been a waste if I did not proceed.

I must stress that this was written before the events of last Sunday and those who know me, if I wrote about Liverpool’s dire performance we would be here till kingdom come. Rest assured Liverpool fans, an article about Liverpool’s season will be coming soon. So with all that said readers, in a first for Frankly Speaking there are two parts to this post so keep an eye out for part two in the coming days.

Let’s get down to business, many of the key stories that have dominated this season so early on, have all seemed to feature Arsenal. Headlines which have focused on the players to depart the Emirates Stadium, to the club’s supposed inactivity to bolster a current squad of players perceived to fall short in keeping pace with its major rivals both home and abroad. Last Saturday’s loss against Blackburn have not helped matters, but the biggest story that sent Arsenal fans into a state of distressed panic was their humbling defeat by Manchester United.

With an 8-2 outcome, many might have thought that this was a scoring update from the famed cricket venue of Old Trafford. Needless to say, it was the end result from Manchester United’s home ground as they entertained perennial Premier League rivals, Arsenal. Thankfully a few weeks have past, and the crazed frenzy declaring the terminal decline of Arsenal as a major force that followed the result has died down a little, in which we can pick the bones of what’s gone wrong and where Arsenal go from here?

But before that is looked upon, one must give credit to Alex’s Ferguson’s men. With new summer signings being integrated into the first team with academy players such as Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverly given a concentrated run into team, you may be forgiven that the ruthless streak associated with Ferguson, and many of his sides during his 25 years at the helm would be lost with new look United side. Well this has not been diluted in any way shape or form with United scoring at will in what was jaw-dropping match. The faces may change but Fergie’s winning machine just keeps rolling on.

With the plaudits taken care of, United’s win compounded more misery and pressure on the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger. We have all heard the theories from people suggesting what is going wrong at the Emirates. Thoughts have ranged from the club selling quality players and not adequately replacing them, to not being positively active in the transfer market and relying heavy on potential rather than proven players. But whose fault is it, and more importantly how does Arsenal improve their present plight?

Wenger clearly is in the firing line, and quite frankly he does have to shoulder some of the blame. However, as an outsider looking in, it is not for the reasons many currently place at his door. A near 15 years at Arsenal, half of Wenger’s reign could only be described as nothing more than stellar. But in the latter half of his tenure I have often felt that Wenger has allowed his own personal ideologies to overshadow the club’s possible fortunes on the pitch.

Fortunes perhaps being the operative word, as during most of Wenger’s time he has brought little name players with poultry transfer fees and turned them into either global superstars or players who furthered enhanced their reputation. Either disgruntled or under-performing once they left the London club, their departures has always commanded high transfer tags that have looked good on the Arsenal balance sheets. Former players such as Nicloas Anelka, Marc Overmars, Emmanuel Petit, Patrick Viera, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Kolo Tourè are a few that come to mind. Clearly top names, but perhaps unearths the first major problem at Arsenal, where has all this money gone? Has it been used to fund or payoff the spectacular Emirates Stadium?

If so, then perhaps this demonstrates that Arsenal to a degree have actually been over performing for a few years now in mounting any sort of major trophy challenge. With restrained resources compared to their rivals, maybe now it is a question that Arsenal is now being exposed. Maybe Wenger’s managerial skill had papered over these cracks, and constructed a team to perform far better than what lies behind the changing room.

Conceivably, in performing these wonders and the manager himself putting a brave face on things on the field, perhaps naively Wenger has taken on the club’s business short-comings squarely on his shoulders, and drawn such ire from certain disgruntled home supporters who call for his head. If this is the case, and Wenger has been game to do this whilst those above at board level go unaccountable, then Wenger really only has himself to blame for covering the failings of others.

But another major question that has to be queried is the player business policies at Arsenal. What top club in this day in age can allow one of its marquee players to enter the last 24 months of their contract without a solution being found that is beneficial for the club? And by solution I mean either the player gets tied down to an extended contract, or the club cashing-in and willing to sale at a top price. Rather than letting a negative course of action being taken and the transfer valuation of the footballer drop, and the player being in a strong position of leaving absolutely free to another top club?

Well in Samir Nasri’s case, he only had one year left on his contract before leaving for Manchester City this summer. Granted Nasri did not leave for free, but Arsenal were hardly in a strong position as it was clear with one year left on his contract, Nasri would be leaving definitively either this summer or next summer. As a club, why was there no suitable replacement lined up or already acquired for a player destined to go? Along with Wenger, what are the key executive men who thrash out player contracts doing at Arsenal? And here’s a worrying thought, newly installed captain and current talisman Robin Van Persie is entering his final 24 months of his current contract, are the lessons being learnt?  

Keep an eye out for part two coming soon in the next few days............. 

New Role For Raul

Written By Robert Amanze

I suppose Raul Meireles’ last-gasp £12 million move from Liverpool to Chelsea was the stand-out, from a rather underwhelming transfer deadline day.  

So, what have Chelsea now got in Raul Meireles? Is he a Modric clone that will link play and pirouette through the midfield? No, Meireles doesn’t have those attributes. He is far more likely to rampage through a midfield than dribble around it.  

However at 28 years of age, Chelsea have purchased an experienced International footballer who will give their midfield much needed exuberance and mobility. Meireles is an energetic player who provides versatility, assists and goals. 

Some will ask where Raul Meireles will fit in at Chelsea? Cynics suggest he was a panic buy by Villas-Boas, after being thwarted in his efforts to sign Luka Modric. Others think that Meireles and Lampard will struggle to co-exist in an attacking midfield. Both like to readily vacate central positions and get in the box. Both like to hang around the edge of the area and shoot at distance. Surely they’ll make the same runs and get into each others way?  

These connotations couldn’t be further from the truth. What I believe Chelsea have actually done, is finally fill the void left by Michael Ballack last summer. With Lampard and Meireles, Chelsea now have much more of a goal threat from central midfield. There will be less pressure on Didier Drogba to be the clubs principle source of goals. Chelsea do not look the same team when Drogba is unavailable or off-form (as we saw last season). Heck, the additional goal threat might even take the spotlight off the misfiring Fernando Torres. 

As a Liverpool fan, I know first-hand how good Meireles can really be. Especially, in a free-flowing team that play with fluidity and pace. He’ll exploit gaps and make a ridiculous amount of runs for the team. One of the reasons he settled so well into life in the Premier League is because he’s an extremely intelligent player. Let’s not forget he won the 2011 PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award in his debut season.   

Trust me when I say that the deadline day deal for Raul Meireles, was a clever coup by Andrea Villas-Boas. He now has a player who was one of the few success stories from Liverpool’s dismal 2010/2011 season. Meireles has also played regularly in the Champions League. Something that will come in handy as Abramovich’s Chelsea plot another pursuit of club football’s richest prize. 

I would go as far as saying that this transfer may have swung a title challenge back in Chelsea’s favour. With Meireles, Mata and Lukaku added to Chelsea’s already strong but slightly ageing spine, they now have a squad capable of keeping pace with both of Manchester’s early pacesetters. Man City and Man Utd have been playing sparkling football thus far, but weren't we saying the same thing about Chelsea this time last season? You don’t win anything in September, as the pundits love to say. 

It is unfair to make direct comparisons with the man Abramovich eyed (Luka Modric) and the man he ended-up with (Raul Meireles). Modric is a creator who can win you a game single-handedly. Meireles is perpetual motion and makes others around him tick. They are very different players but equally excellent, just in varying ways. This is despite the fact both players created exactly, 66 goal-scoring chances for their respective clubs last season.  

This is an interesting tidbit to finish off with. Only two players scored for Liverpool against Chelsea during the whole of last season (Torres and Meireles). Now both ply their trade with the club from Kings Road. The two clubs will clash again this season on November 20th 2011 and 5th May 2012. I wonder what will happen if Steven Gerrard or Luis Suarez score in any of those games? Just a thought. 

Soccer’s Summer

We are back!! Yes folks after a summer break, FBJ and the Frankly Speaking column have returned to try and spread a little sunshine to life. Well that is the hope anyway. Right then, while one was away what has been happening in the football world.

Well to those who were around me when many of the European leagues were drawing to a close last May, I was beginning to look at upcoming football offerings to see how my rejuvenated football taste buds would be satisfied over the summer. With my supported team in Liverpool having such a strong finish to the season after a tumultuous start, and the awe-inspiring Champions League Final where Barcelona defeated Manchester United 3-1 at Wembley stadium, my football world seemed joyful again.

To tide me and the average football fan until the club season began again; we had the Under-21 European Championships, South America’s Copa América, and the Women’s World Cup during the off-season. I mention the three tournaments in this specific order for a particular reason which I will remark upon in a little while.

Reviewing each competition, the Under-21 European Championships was a consistent tournament, but hardly compelling. Spain and Switzerland were plus points of the event held in Denmark, with both teams playing attractive football en-route to the tournament’s final. However the competition seemed to lack any real spark or imagination from the other competing teams, and the tournament suffered as a result. Moderately staged, but definitely would not go down as a stellar tournament.

What we did discover is beneath the established and successful Spanish stars of Iker Casillas, Xavi Hernandez, and Andrés Iniesta in the senior setup, lays a talented core group of young players waiting in the wings. Names like David de Gea, Juan Mata, and Thiago Alcântara showed that they are ready to try and continue Spain’s current monopoly on the major international honours for many years to come. A frightening thought eh? Plus the Swiss senior team potentially have a bright future too, with some exciting prospects coming through the ranks with Xherdan Shaqiri, and Jonathan Rossini performing well in the tournament.

As this competition reached its end, footballing eyes shifted across the Atlantic Ocean to South America and its continental championship, the Copa América. This year’s tournament took place in Argentina, a nation historically known as a football superpower and could call upon the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, and Sergio Aguero amongst its current ranks. It would have been very easy to assume that the tournament both on and off the field would be set alight by such a partisan football country.

Well the Argentinean fans did their bit for the tournament, and supported their national team admirably. Unfortunately their side and its pool of quality players which on paper, is on-par with World Champions Spain if not better, once again flattered to deceive. But they were not the only ones to frustrate, as Brazil were equally atrocious to mirror their flat 2010 World Cup campaign. The tournament was competitive to a degree but was so awful to watch, devoid of quality and flair that we come to expect of South American football.

A series of grim matches perhaps summed up by Paraguay, who navigated a path to the final without winning a single match in 90 minutes or in extra time. One positive aspect is that we had two new teams contesting the final for the first time in eight years. No sight of Brazil and Argentina in battling it out like the previous two tournaments, as Paraguay and eventual winners Uruguay took centre stage. Solidifying both teams good runs at the 2010 World Cup, and showing that football truly is and global game. Most teams both at club and international level around the globe are well organised and process solid quality, and if you are a supposed big name team, the days of an easy fixture are almost non-existent.

But the big shock to me of the footballing summer was how fantastic the Women’s World Cup was, this year held in Germany. The country and its fans embraced the event like any other major tournament, and flocked to the stadiums in their droves to watch high quality and exciting games. I will freely admit that this tournament was not even on my radar, and had no plans to watch the tournament during the summer. Now before I get abuse from the ladies at my omission, and astonishment at how good the tournament was, allow me to explain.

Indeed I had been a fleeting watcher of women’s football at international level for a few years whenever shown on television. This included the 2007 Women’s World Cup. In the UK, the main television broadcaster of that event was the BBC, and credit must be given that they tried to present solid coverage with some matches being shown on its main channels. But in the intervening years, women’s football has been treated as nothing more than a quiet whisper.

Coverage of this year’s World Cup was simply put on the backburner by the BBC with a lack of reference, and gave the event interactive coverage as opposed to being included on main programming. So with a growing sport given little chance to shine, quite frankly I had no set plan to watch the tournament at all.  How wrong was I when I viewed it accidentally with an exciting game between Brazil and the USA at the quarter-final stage. I was amazed at the high quality of play, and this standard heightened throughout the remaining matches in the tournament with Japan crowned as winners. Expansive, tremendously skilful, and thrill-a-minute are key words I would describe the tournament as I watched. It was a damn sight better to view than the weak play the Copa América was serving up.

With the English FA creating a Super League for its domestic clubs, and staged during the summer whilst being televised by ESPN, perhaps the exposure and coverage the women’s game needed certainly on British shores will start to become more apparent. Perhaps people will judge the sport on its own merits as opposed to comparing it to its male equivalent. I definitely now subscribe to this theorem, and if this year’s World Cup was anything to go by, I look forward to Canada 2015 and wonder how far the women’s game can grow to?