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The Super Seven of Manchester

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:01:43 +0000

Not quite as idealistic as Akira Kurosowa’s Seven Samurai and not quite as stylish as John Sturges Magnificent Seven, Manchester United’s Super Seven are the ones expected to employ new methods to restore traditional ways. Dynamic, fluid, classy, clinical and with a point to prove the seven strikers on Manchester United’s first team books have been assembled by Sir Alex Ferguson, are expected to score goals and lead the club back to glory. The seven are Michael Owen, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Mame Biram Diouf, Danny Welbeck and Federico Macheda. A trio of Englishmen, a Bulgarian, a Mexican, a Senegalese and an Italian. There is diversity, experience and promise.

Michael Owen, a thirty year old England international, is a proven goalscorer trying to find a way back into the team. He will be expected to offer guidance to some of the younger strikers and display the efficacy in front of goal for which he became renowned. Dimitar Berbatov, the twenty nine year old Bulgarian who has yet to win over the majority of Manchester United fans, will be asked to provide more then the odd display of virtuosity. Wayne Rooney, approaching the age that the best strikers typically thrive at, will demand of himself that he improves on last seasons remarkable tally. Rooney will be the focal point and leading striker. Javier Hernandez, the diminutive young pacey striker, is expected to feature from the bench, offering an immediate goal threat. Federico Macheda, who Sir Alex Ferguson considers the most prolific striker in front of goal at the club, will perform when injuries provide opportunity or a desperate situation requires the type of remedy he offers – lethal striking. Danny Welbeck, only nineteen years old, appears, from a distance, to be the most exciting and technically capable of the young contingent. Welbeck offers skill, creativity and a wonderful long range shot. Lastly, Mame Biram Diouf, offers strength, tenacity and a keen eye for goal. Diouf, according to reserve team coach and Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, has everything required to be an important player at Manchester United but needs, perhaps, a little bit of luck. The talent is definitely there even if it only demonstrates itself through odd moments of brilliance accentuated by a general clumsiness.

It is apparent that not all seven of the strikers are going to make Manchester United’s squad of twenty five. Not only would it be impractical in terms of squad balance but it would also be harmful to the individuals. Sitting on the bench and featuring in no more than a handful of games will not be of any benefit to the younger players so it is expected that at least two of them will go on loan, probably Danny Welbeck and Mame Biram Diouf. As it stands, however, Sir Alex Ferguson himself has already contended it might not turn out like that. In one way or another, the Super Seven will decide Manchester United’s season. More pertinently, five of the super Seven represent Manchester United’s future and the two others, Berbatov and Owen, the senior samurai or gunslingers, if you will, will be expected to support their progression. If even four of the super seven are at Manchester United in three or fours years time the mission will have been accomplished. The Seven Samurai saved the village and restored peace, then the Magnificent Seven did the same. Now the Super Seven have to bring back the trophies and restore success.

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Premier League News, Daily Ticker: July 30

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:01:38 +0000

James Headed To Championship

England goalkeeper David James has secured a move to Championship side Bristol City on a free transfer.

James, who started three of England’s World Cup matches in South Africa, inked a one-year deal with the option of an additional year after the 39-year-old successfully passed a physical on Thursday. “I’ve had offers to stay in the Premier League but it is more important that I play football – which I love – for the right club and be a family man,” James told the Bristol Evening Post. “I had a long conversation with the chairman Steve Lansdown and I liked what he said about the club and his ambition.

James was released from Portsmouth after Pompey’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in May’s FA Cup final. James also said that his goal was to help Bristol, who finished 10th in the Championship last season, secure promotion into the Premier League.

“The South West has not had a club in the Premier League and that needs to change,” said James.

“I’m delighted David James has agreed to sign. My ambition is for this football club to play at the highest level – the Premier League – and in the best surroundings, hence the work on the training ground and new stadium,” said Bristol chairman Steve Lansdown. ”We need good quality players to make that happen and that’s why I’m thrilled that David has agreed to come on board.”

Puyol Warns That Keeping Fabregas Could Hurt Arsenal

Barcelona captain, and World Cup teammate of Cesc Fabregas, Carlos Puyol has expressed concern that forcing the Arsenal captain to stay in the EPL could hurt Arsenal long term.

“He is having to stay at a club where he no longer wants to be for another year. I wonder how intelligent it is keeping a player who doesn’t want to be there,” said Puyol. ”After seven years of great service, I thought Arsenal could have granted him his dream move.”

Fabregas’ interest in returning to his boyhood club and Arsenal’s subsequent refusal has dominated headlines for months, culminating in Febregas’ donning of a Barcelona jersey during a World Cup celebration.

Arsenal have already rejected a £29 million bid for Fabregas.

Liverpool Cruise In Europa League Qualifier

Roy Hodgson started off his tenure with Liverpool on the right foot with a 2-0 Europa League qualifying victory over FK Rabotnicki in Macedonia.

David Ngog scored a brace for Liverpool, who were playing without Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and new-signing Joe Cole.

It was also a debut for Liverpool’s new black and yellow third shirt. Hodgson’s side will finish off their Europa League tie at home Aug. 5.

Other Stories

Newscastle United becomes the eight EPL team to ban Vuvuzelas.

Martin O’Neill promises that James Milner will be welcomed back into the side he can’t secure a transfer to Manchester City.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka is suing L’Equipe for libel after the French newspaper published details of his tirade directed at manager Raymond Domenech.

Latest Transfer Rumors

Liverpool are looking at Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen.

Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli’s suspected transfer to Manchester City still not close to completion due to wage demands.

Manchester United is now the clear front-runner for Mesut Ozil as they prepare a £12 million bid.

Charles N’Zogbia has been given assurances by Wigan that they will not block a potential move.

Lazio have poached Manchester City left-back Javier Garrido.

West Brom are looking at Hull City keeper Boaz Myhill for £1.5 million.

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What Does the Home-Grown Rule Mean to Premier League Football?

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:01:34 +0000

It probably doesn’t matter that Clint Dempsey’s now-famous daisy-cutter turned poor, hapless Robert Green into the best football punchline since Titus Bramble.

See, even in the wake of the U.S.’s 1-1 draw vs. England at the 2010 World Cup, one of the few solaces English fans probably still have is looking down their noses at the “Colonies” and sneering at the Yankee approach to the game. English fans in need of a pick-me-up can just dial up three letters — MLS — and console themselves.

For all their insecurities and self-doubt produced by the continued failures of the Three Lions at big tournaments, English fans will always have Americans to kick around. At least for the time being.

One easy way for Americans to get even with the English — cut them down to the core, in fact — is to call out their decades long quest toward producing the first major trophy for England since 1966.

The latest cure-all for England’s international woes is “youth development” as if this blanket term will lead England to soccer’s Holy Grail.

Since the turn-of-the-century a chorus in England has grown louder-and-louder that Premier League clubs need to start developing their own young players, as opposed to spending major money on foreign imports. The England FA has looked at models in Holland, Spain, France and around almost all of Europe — it’s got to be the system, not the players themselves. (Remember England fans either a) think the team should win every game it plays or b) think they’ll never win another game they play.)

It’s a noble intention that’s almost taken on a life of it’s own. Yet to think a foreigner-heavy Premier League and lack of youth development is the sole reason England has flopped on the International stage is beyond myopic. Remember Middlesbrough publicly committed to building through its academy and was eventually relegated in 2008-09.

Finally in May, under pressure from Michel Platini’s UEFA “home grown” campaign, Richard Scudamore and the rest of executives at the Premier League acquiesced and accepted some change was necessary.

Beginning with the 2010-11 Premier League season, clubs must have at least eight “home grown” players. In short, players under the age of 21 who’ve been registered with the club at least three years.

All-and-all, not a terrible idea.

Will it eventually increase the number of Englishmen in the Premier League? Probably.

Is this necessarily a good thing? Hard to say.

Will it ever lead England to Euro or World Cup glory? We’ll see.

What’s most interesting about this development isn’t the home grown portion of the rule. It’s that Premier League clubs are only allowed a squad of 25 players from the start of September, which cannot be changed until the January transfer window. Players under the age of 21 don’t count toward the cap.

Can’t you imagine that someone during the Premier League’s executive meeting — looking something like the fictitious Sterling-Cooper boardroom from “Mad Men” — just before the meeting adjourned and as everyone began to step away from the conference table someone sounding like Bert Cooper let slip, ” … and oh by the way, gentlemen, we’re setting the squad limit at 25.”

It’s hard to look at this any differently than a rider tacked on and attached under pages of other ideas. At the time the Premier League announced the “homegrown” amendment, the roster cap was certainly buried under the bigger news and forgotten.

Perhaps it’s true the only way clubs will actually be forced to play these home grown players was under a roster cap. It wouldn’t have been hard for the big teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, the Manchester duo, etc. to fill their quota of eight players, keep them with the reserves and continue doing business as usual.

That said, tying home grown players to roster caps seems doesn’t seem like the most well-thought out idea in the history of English soccer, which is saying something. Tying it to the noble intention of local level, youth development is one of those proverbial, “robbing Peter to pay Paul” scenarios.

The new found roster cap rule came to a head over the weekend when numerous stories were filed during Manchester City’s summer tour that the club would have to release, transfer or loan out at least 20 senior side members.

As it stands today, Roberto Mancini’s club is at 37 senior players. That’s peanuts compared to Liverpool, where Roy Hodgson walked into Rafa Benitez’s free-spending, mass transfer policy, left the club with nearly 45 player under contract. Rules or not, is there any good reason for the Reds to have six goalies on the books at Anfield?

Think this is only a problem for the “big” teams with deep cash reserves? Wolves, a modest club by most accounts, has nearly 40 players in the squad.

And what of all the players deemed surplus parts? Will they be loaned or farmed out to the Championship? Kept around for training sessions?

It’s not only player numbers and movement that’s puzzling on the roster restrictions.

As we know, players end up injured in the Premier League at a rather alarming rate. Will there be an injured reserve list, like we see in American sports? Simply plugging in a raw 21-year-old reserve player, which is allowed without counting toward the 25-man cap, doesn’t seem like the best solution. Eventually, yes, maybe when club’s devote more time to their academies, but right now?

Will we end up with a situation where clubs are forced to keep players around almost exclusively for European or Cup duty, where the restrictions aren’t in place. Sure you could argue Arsene Wenger already does this at Arsenal, but that’s usually to give his younger players first team minutes, not by necessity.

Granted, these are arguments that might cause managers to whine about, but since all 20 clubs are playing under the same rules are fair.

Last season, looking at the top seven clubs from the 2009-10 table, the restrictions might not be a huge issue. Arsenal had 21 players make over double-digit appearances (including subs), while Aston Villa only had 14.

What the roster limits are more likely to do is force managers to axe any players with lingering injuries or take less gambles on foreign players who may or may not adjust to life in English football. Clubs won’t be able to afford carrying dead weight like they have in the past, so there’s nothing necessarily wrong with curbing that.

In the long term this might help level the playing field, or at least clubs with smaller, cohesive squads who have to battle with teams with seemingly unlimited funds for backups and part-timers. The trouble will likely arise in the big clubs playing concurrently in Europe as they juggle their rosters over the crowded fixture lists.

No matter how it breaks, can’t you already picture an angry Sir Alex Ferguson sometime in November, sarcastically talking about the rule while his club battles with would-be injuries to key performers? He’s gone his whole adult coaching life at Old Trafford with a squad however big he deems fit, not some arbitrary rule.

Overall the Premier League’s new rules to develop and play more homegrown talent is, at it’s core, a noble if not jingoistic idea. In the long term it’ll likely help curb club spending and end the death spiral of debt that is eventually going to catch up with the league.

Yet tying it together with an arbitrary roster limit doesn’t seem all that well thought out and will certainly have clubs and managing screaming bloody murder by the crowded Boxing Day fixtures if not sooner.

In fact, to the horror of English purist, the move to limit rosters is if anything — an American professional sports idea.

Editor’s note: You can read more of Mike Cardillo’s articles on his blog, That’s On Point. Plus, you can follow Mike on Twitter @thatsonpoint

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How Good Is Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez for Manchester United?

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:01:26 +0000

Rarely have I seen a player make such an impressive debut for a club than the one I saw Wednesday night when Javier Hernandez came on as a second half substitute for Manchester United against the MLS All Star team. I’ve seen him play for Mexico before, but all of his skills were crystalized before my eyes in an incredible 30 minutes of action.

Simply said: This. Man. Is. Amazing.

Hernandez (aka Chicharito) possesses pace and skill that is far beyond the average Premier League footballer. He is a gifted two-footed player who is a natural goalscorer. And on top of that, he can launch blistering attacks that will definitely rip apart weaker defenses. This is, by far, the player I’m most looking forward to watching this upcoming Premier League season. The prospect of seeing him lining up alongside Wayne Rooney and seeing them create a goalscoring partnership is mouthwatering and I’m not even a Manchester United supporter.

The last time I saw a player make such an impression on me was when Wayne Rooney scored a sensational goal against Arsenal after the 16-year-old came on as a substitute. That was eight years ago. In between 2002 and now, I’ve seen plenty of players come and go, but no one has been close to the promise that Hernandez shows.

When he arrives in England and begins playing there, he’ll need to adapt to a different culture and lifestyle. And a much different style of play on the soccer pitch. But I’m hoping he can keep himself focused on doing what he does best, which is on the field.

Thinking back, Chicharito’s debut for Manchester United was far more impressive than that of one Cristiano Ronaldo. When the Portugese wizard began for United, he made an immediate impression but it was a combination of wonderful skills but with all of those silly stepover moves. Ronaldo, at the time, was also guilty of having a poor final cross. Over time, Ferguson and his coaching staff turned Ronaldo into a more complete footballer and Ronaldo’s stepover moves – for the most part – vanished.

But with Chicharito you have a player who is already more advanced than what Ronaldo was when he joined United. Plus Chicharito has already proven himself in the World Cup when he scored two goals for Mexico. Interestingly, he was clocked as the fastest player during the entire tournament.

If you want to see for yourself how gifted Chicharito is and how much he means to Mexico, watch Manchester United’s game tonight against Hernandez’s former team C.D. Guadalajara on ESPN Deportes and ESPN3.com at 10pm ET. The game was organized as part of the transfer deal that saw Chicharito move to United in April. This is going to be a wonderful game to see how well Hernandez plays on his home turf in front of a crowd of approximately 45,000. Plus, it’s the first game to be played at Chivas’s brand-new stadium, so expect a carnival atmosphere on a hot and humid night in Mexico.

If you missed his performance Wednesday night against the MLS All-Star team, here are the highlights on video:

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Thoughts Heading Into Big Series

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:01:12 +0000

With just two games separating them in the standings, the two best teams in baseball, the Yankees and Rays, are set for a three game series this weekend in Tampa. Neither team has been willing to cede ground to the…

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The LeBron Hate Spills Over Into Baseball

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:01:03 +0000

July 30, 2010 – Kevin Burke
If you thought the widespread hate for LeBron James was just germane to the basketball world, guess again. It has apparently seeped into other sports as well, namely baseball. A few nights ago at Progressive Field in Cleveland, the hometown Indians were hosting the New York Yankees. There were more [...]

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DeJuan Blair Makes His Rap Debut [Video]

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:00:55 +0000

July 30, 2010 – Allen Moll
A lot of NBA players seem to have too much free time on their hands and don’t know what to do with it during the Summer months. While rookies are getting their first taste of NBA action in the Las Vegas and Orlando Summer Leagues, players like Carmelo Anthony decided [...]

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Mid Summer Top 50 Free Agent Tracker

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:00:50 +0000

July 30, 2010 – Allen Moll
With the 2010 prized NBA Summer of free agency officially fizzling down, it’s time to once again check in on out Top 50 Free Agent Tracker. While most of the top prospects like Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, and Paul Pierce resigning with their original teams in the first few weeks, all [...]

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Premier League News: Daily Ticker, July 29

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:42:03 +0000

Robinho Recalled To Manchester City

It looks like the tumultous tenure of Robinho at Manchester City will continue into the 2010-11 season as the Brazilian striker was recalled to England.

The 26-year-old had been on loan to the Brazilian club Santos since January. Robinho returns to Eastlands reluctantly after his discontent made headlines last winter.

City manager Roberto Mancini has told Sky Sports that he had no issue welcoming Robinho back into the side. “But it depends on him,” he said.

Robinho has one week left on his loan deal with Santos and then a friendly against the USA on Aug. 10 before he returns.

Given Saves Two Penalties In City Win Over Club America

Shay Given emphatically made his claim for the starting goalkeeper job by saving two penalties in Manchester City’s shootout victory over Club America in Atlanta.

Given, playing in his first match since dislocating his shoulder in April, replaced Joe Hart at halftime. The Republic of Ireland international is facing strong competition for the No. 1 shirt from the England upstart.

The match also marked Yaya Toure’s debut for City, who will finish out their North American tour in Baltimore against Inter Milan on Saturday.

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Defending the Defensive Midfielder

admin — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 00:41:58 +0000

During the excellent world cup coverage on my home channel RTÉ, two ex-footballers decried the rise in the defensive midfielder. Johnny Giles and Liam Brady are two certified legends of Irish football both won multiple trophies at club level and Brady is currently the director of Arsenal’s famed youth system. Both were also midfielders who played at an elite level for most of their careers and have commented on football and have provided genuine insight into the game.

Their point of contention on the evening in question was the rise of the defensive midfielders, they made reference to the fact that the position didn’t exist when they played football as they were able to both defend and attack effectively. Not so in the modern game, the rise of the technically limited ‘reducer’ has led to players like Nigel De Jong taking up prominent roles in elite teams. Giles and Brady saw this as an indictment of the modern game. Despite my respect and admiration for the men I have to disagree, much like the rise and fall of the Libero and the now ‘Old-fashioned’ number 9, football is an evolving and changing game where the tactics, players and mentality have all changed and continue to change.

Jack Charlton had once said of his game “I couldn’t play football, but I could stop you from playing it”. Defense is a key-part of any sport and in football it is role that goes unsung. Only on the very rarest of occasions are the defensive merits of a team the talking point of a competition. So it was that in 2006 Fabio Cannavaro won the Ballon D’or and a season before that a Chelsea midfielder was named their player of the year and it wasn’t Frank Lampard.

The modern defensive midfielder is exemplified by Claude Makélelé; his role in Chelsea’s success can be seen as the jumping point from where other managers took up the idea. However it wasn’t Makélelé’s inherent talent that led to this rise but rather the system he was employed in. Makélelé was a periphery part of Real Madrid’s galactic system. When he handed in a transfer request after a dispute over wages Florentino Perez said:

“We will not miss Makélelé. His technique is average, he lacks the speed and skill to take the ball past opponents, and ninety percent of his distribution either goes backwards or sideways. He wasn’t a header of the ball and he rarely passed the ball more than three metres”

Surprisingly similar to the remarks made by the Irish pundits, after a season under Ranieri at Chelsea, Makélelé came to the fore when Jose Mourinho took charge. At Porto Mourinho had used Costinha effectively in a similar role, but in Makélelé Mourinho had the best in the world in this specific role. In terms of tactics Makélelé’s role was to break up attacks through timely tackles or interceptions in the gap between midfield and attack. However he would also be required to effectively cover the full-backs who would need to press higher up the pitch to support the forwards. The reason for this move is that counter-attacking football had become so effective that having a dedicated defender who could cover several positions was elementary in preventing goals. Through this tactic and an excellent defense and goalkeeper Chelsea had the best defensive season on record with only 15 goals conceded.

This brand of football was highly successful but far from beautiful. Many teams have been praised for winning ugly when they have to but Chelsea had made a habit out of it. What followed over the next 4 years was that those limited midfielders with good positioning and tackling were able to make a career for themselves. Players like Javier Mascherano, Nigel De Jong, Sergio Busquets and Thiago Motta were taking pivotal roles in hugely successful teams. As Javier Mascherano prepares to leave Liverpool there is a sense of ‘good riddance’ as over the past season he and Lucas were unable to provide something going forward. This ignores the fact that Mascherano is being chased by the current and former European champions and the ‘key’ member of the Argentina squad. Mascherano bore the brunt of Liverpool’s ire over the past season as the team struggled to score goals. Never mind that their main attacking talents were injured and his playmaker partner sold, the perfect defensive midfielder would be able to break up attacks and launch them but very few of these players exist. Modern elite midfields consist of the Spoiler, the Deep Lying Playmaker and the Creative Midfielder with no defensive duties (Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard. Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta.)

The problem with this role is the temptation to put ‘no-nonsense’ reducers in this role which can lead to scrappy games with a high card ratio. Players like Lorik Cana, Nigel De Jong and Michael Brown exemplify this combative and abrasive role and can stop better teams in their tracks through negative tactics. That’s not to say that there is no place for this in football, quite the opposite, whatever tactic that wins is the best one. It’s just that this can lead to talented midfielders not getting the chance in lower teams to establish themselves as creative or a playmaker. If they are big, physical players ahead of them they are more likely to play. It is these teams that spark the debate over the role of defensive midfielders in the modern game and cause worries over the development of young players in some countries. A player who should not fall into this role would be Jack Rodwell, a player with the physical capacity to play at the heart of a Premiership midfield or defence he also has sublime technical skill under a less talented manager than David Moyes he could be consigned to the ‘reducer’ role. In Moyes capable hands Rodwell has the talent to develop into a true box-to-box midfielder in the mould of Roy Keane or Patrick Vieira in their prime, unfortunately Rodwell is the exception rather than the rule.

If Liverpool do lose Mascherano, they can use the considerable funds to purchase another defensive midfielder, though probably not as an effective one. Mascherano may be limited technically but so was Claude Makélelé. Liverpool will be losing a world-class player but one which their midfield no longer needs. In response to Johnny Giles and Liam Brady I would contend that in the modern game where pace and power have overtaken some of the more technical roles in football (we will not see another Jan Molby) the game no longer develops at a pace where midfielders can do two roles, only the Legends of Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira have displayed this recently. For the same reason as there are no Beckenbauers, Sammers or Matthaus’ either. In the counter-attacking and set-piece nature of modern football a defensively minded midfielder is necessary if teams are to succeed. Arsenal, AC Milan and Real Madrid have all suffered without one whilst Chelsea with Makélelé and Barcelona with Busquets now flourish with them.

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