Amazing how tides turn, isn’t it? Six short weeks ago, Liverpool looked a side in dire trouble and manager Rafa Benitez a match away from losing his job. All the brouhaha surrounding the American owners and their spat with the manager certainly didn’t help matters, but then neither did a shocking run of six matches without a win – including an embarrassing 2-1 home loss to lowly Barnsley in the FA Cup.
That’s all history now. Five straight Premiership wins and two impressive Champions League wins have suddenly made Liverpool a key factor in the championship race. Sure, with 11 points separating the Anfield side from leaders Man U, Rafa’s boys are unlikely to claim the title now. But they play both Man U and Arsenal in the weeks ahead, and with the kind of form Liverpool have been in, there’s a good chance that one of those two will be lamenting at the end of the season.
It’s not just that Liverpool are winning again, but they’ve been playing some great football too. For a perfect example of that, look no further than the two Champions League games against an Inter Milan side that has dominated Serie A for the past 18 months. The first leg at Anfield came right on the heels of that debacle against Barnsley and I am sure I wasn’t the only one who was less than optimistic about Liverpool’s chances against the nerrazurri.
Yet, the Italians hardly got a shot on target as Liverpool dominated the game and deservedly grabbed two late goals. Inter were admittedly reduced to 10-men for most of the game but that usually makes top teams harder to break down.
Inter were again reduced to 10 men in the return at the San Siro and Liverpool – riding their luck at times – came away with an impressive 1-0 win.
Liverpool’s new lease of life can be put down to a number of factors, primary among which is the great scoring instincts of star striker Fernando Torres. The Spanish “El Nino” has 27 goals in all competitions this season and hit the target 8 times in the last five league games.
Then there is Torres’ growing partnership with captain Steve Gerrard, which is gradually becoming one of the most unorthodox and effective tandems in the Premiership. Benitez seems to have finally resolved the long-standing question about the best way to use the exuberant skills of his captain, and in the process he’s found the best formation for his talented squad.
The early season tactical flirtations have finally given way to a regular 4-2-3-1 formation that – despite the presence of two “defensive” midfielders - is certainly much more offensive than it would appear. In effect, this is more an attack minded 4-2-4 than the pragmatic-sounding 4-2-3-1 looks on paper: the free-roving Gerrard is more striker than midfielder, and the flanking Dutchmen Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are capable forwards in their own right.
In addition, Benitez has finally settled on his best team. The wholesale team changes are no more and Liverpool now show a greater team consistency built around the spine of Pepe Reina in goal, Jamie Carragher in defense, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in midfield, and Gerrard roving behind the prolific Torres upfront. Add to that the resurgent veteran Sami Hyppia, newboy Martin Skrtel and the exciting Babel and you have the reasons for Liverpool’s new found pizzazz.
Liverpool have looked fresh too, a consequence, perhaps, of the much maligned rotation policy that was often blamed for some of the team’s failings in the early going.
Nevertheless, the jury is still out on Liverpool’s season and the real test of this new-found lease of life begins this afternoon with the usually dreaded trip to Old Trafford. It’s one thing to rack up 15 goals in an unbeaten sequence against Middlesbrough, Reading, Bolton, West Ham and Newcastle, it’s another to come up with the goods against Man U, Everton and Arsenal, all of whom they face over the next two weeks.
I think Rafa’s team is up to the challenge – yes, I’m a Liverpool fan. Man U usually win these games, even if Liverpool more than often dominate the play. I still remember Rio Ferdinand heading home a late winner last season, and of course, John O’Shea’s last minute goal achieved the same result at Anfield last year.
If Liverpool maintain their new-found effectiveness in front of goal – and manage to shackle the rampant Ronaldo - they just might sneak this one.
Liverpool fans everywhere will be hoping for a return to those days in 2001 and 2003, when Danny Murphy’s goals earned memorable wins at Old Trafford.
PS: If you’re reading this after the Man U game – very likely – well, I’m either spot on or dead wrong. If it’s the former, let the comments flow. Otherwise, don’t!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Should Have Been Keshi
I thought I’d be ushering in the new season of change in Nigerian soccer this week; instead I’m left to marvel at what can only be described as the failure of leadership that continues to plague our game.
I can think of no more civil way to describe the NFA’s decision to chicken out of naming a new coach for the Super Eagles, and instead drag our football back 30 years by naming James Peters interim coach.
If this is the quality of decision-making that will guide Nigerian football into the future, then I guess we’d better enjoy the “success” of Ghana 2008 now. No, I’m not kidding. If Nigerian football continues along this road to mediocrity, Ghana 2008 would go down as a success compared to what lies ahead.
After all, just six years ago Shaibu Amodu was kicked out for finishing 3rd at the Nations Cup finals. With the benefit of hindsight – and compared to the debacle of 2008 – those sure look like the good old days now, don’t they?
Here’s what really gets me: Why go through the whole rigmarole of interviewing candidates if the best you can come up with is James Peters?
And there I was thinking the NFA would do the right thing – for once – and name Stephen Keshi to the top job. I thought they would show courage and leadership and at least apply a bit of logic at this most crucial time in our soccer history.
I must have been dreaming, I guess. This is the NFA we’re talking about after all. Words like logic, leadership and courage aren’t exactly what one would usually associate with an oganisation that has appointed nine coaches in the 14 years since Clemens Westerhoff was hounded out in 1994.
So, instead of looking forward to new beginnings this week, I am left to lament the news that Keshi is about to be named new coach of the Eagles ……..of Mali. Great news for Mali, of course, but another missed opportunity for Nigeria.
I suppose that leaves two contenders on the NFA’s shortlist for the job – Amodu and Samson Siasia – but here’s why I think Keshi should have been given the nod:
Leadership
No matter what else might be said about Keshi, there can be no denying that this guy is a born leader. Captain of the national team by the age of 23, he would go on to skipper almost every club he played for – NNB, Stade Abidjan, Anderlecht and Strasbourg. It’s not for nothing that Keshi became known as the “Big Boss” during his 14 year tenure in the national side, even if that often led to accusations of undue influence over team selections during the Westeroff era.
Experience
Starting with an unsuccessful spell with the Nigeria U-20s in 2001, Keshi has spent the better part of the last seven years learning his craft in international football. He was part of the Amodu-led team that turned around a near-disastrous campaign to lead the Super Eagles to World Cup qualification in 2002, and then went on to achieve the miraculous four years later by qualifying Togo for the 2006 World Cup. That Mali have come calling only underlines the growing profile of one of Africa’s top emerging coaches.
European exposure
Sure, playing experience doesn’t necessarily translate to coaching pedigree, but there’s no question that an understanding of the workings of the European game can only be an asset in today’s Eurocentric soccer environment. For newcomers to the game, six years at Anderlecht might seem to be a career in the minors, but those in the know would acknowledge that Anderlecht were a true European power during Keshi’s spell in Brussells, regularly reaching the latter stages of the Champions Cup and Cup Winners Cup. At a time when African players were few and far between at those levels, Keshi was making a a name for himself and gaining invaluable experience that can only serve him in good stead as a coach.
Of the three candidates, I believe Keshi has the best mix of qualities required to lead the Super Eagles. Sure, Siasia also boasts valuable European experience and has proved a resourceful leader of the U-20 and U-23 teams in the last three years, but Keshi’s record at full international level gives him an edge.
Amodu boasts an impressive CV coaching at club level, but his international credentials, after two spells at the helm, are less stellar. On the plus side, he led the Eagles to World Cup qualification in 2002, but his leadership was seriously called to question after the chaotic Nations Cup of 2002. Then, there’s that whole European exposure thing. Sure, one can coach effectively without it – after all the very European Berti Vogts proved a disaster – but that would require a functional, effective NFA. Good luck with that.
This is all moot now anyway. With Keshi almost certainly heading to Bamako, one of Amodu or Siasia will get the job. I would pick Siasia because I believe his performance with the age-group teams have earned him a chance, and also just to have a fresh-face with new ideas, rather than wheeling Amodu out for the third time.
Siasia’s duties with the Olympic-bound U-23 team may well preclude him in the end – meaning that the NFA, when they eventually name a coach, could end up picking the third best man for the job by default.
All thanks to a confused, rudderless and cowardly approach to decision-making.
I can think of no more civil way to describe the NFA’s decision to chicken out of naming a new coach for the Super Eagles, and instead drag our football back 30 years by naming James Peters interim coach.
If this is the quality of decision-making that will guide Nigerian football into the future, then I guess we’d better enjoy the “success” of Ghana 2008 now. No, I’m not kidding. If Nigerian football continues along this road to mediocrity, Ghana 2008 would go down as a success compared to what lies ahead.
After all, just six years ago Shaibu Amodu was kicked out for finishing 3rd at the Nations Cup finals. With the benefit of hindsight – and compared to the debacle of 2008 – those sure look like the good old days now, don’t they?
Here’s what really gets me: Why go through the whole rigmarole of interviewing candidates if the best you can come up with is James Peters?
And there I was thinking the NFA would do the right thing – for once – and name Stephen Keshi to the top job. I thought they would show courage and leadership and at least apply a bit of logic at this most crucial time in our soccer history.
I must have been dreaming, I guess. This is the NFA we’re talking about after all. Words like logic, leadership and courage aren’t exactly what one would usually associate with an oganisation that has appointed nine coaches in the 14 years since Clemens Westerhoff was hounded out in 1994.
So, instead of looking forward to new beginnings this week, I am left to lament the news that Keshi is about to be named new coach of the Eagles ……..of Mali. Great news for Mali, of course, but another missed opportunity for Nigeria.
I suppose that leaves two contenders on the NFA’s shortlist for the job – Amodu and Samson Siasia – but here’s why I think Keshi should have been given the nod:
Leadership
No matter what else might be said about Keshi, there can be no denying that this guy is a born leader. Captain of the national team by the age of 23, he would go on to skipper almost every club he played for – NNB, Stade Abidjan, Anderlecht and Strasbourg. It’s not for nothing that Keshi became known as the “Big Boss” during his 14 year tenure in the national side, even if that often led to accusations of undue influence over team selections during the Westeroff era.
Experience
Starting with an unsuccessful spell with the Nigeria U-20s in 2001, Keshi has spent the better part of the last seven years learning his craft in international football. He was part of the Amodu-led team that turned around a near-disastrous campaign to lead the Super Eagles to World Cup qualification in 2002, and then went on to achieve the miraculous four years later by qualifying Togo for the 2006 World Cup. That Mali have come calling only underlines the growing profile of one of Africa’s top emerging coaches.
European exposure
Sure, playing experience doesn’t necessarily translate to coaching pedigree, but there’s no question that an understanding of the workings of the European game can only be an asset in today’s Eurocentric soccer environment. For newcomers to the game, six years at Anderlecht might seem to be a career in the minors, but those in the know would acknowledge that Anderlecht were a true European power during Keshi’s spell in Brussells, regularly reaching the latter stages of the Champions Cup and Cup Winners Cup. At a time when African players were few and far between at those levels, Keshi was making a a name for himself and gaining invaluable experience that can only serve him in good stead as a coach.
Of the three candidates, I believe Keshi has the best mix of qualities required to lead the Super Eagles. Sure, Siasia also boasts valuable European experience and has proved a resourceful leader of the U-20 and U-23 teams in the last three years, but Keshi’s record at full international level gives him an edge.
Amodu boasts an impressive CV coaching at club level, but his international credentials, after two spells at the helm, are less stellar. On the plus side, he led the Eagles to World Cup qualification in 2002, but his leadership was seriously called to question after the chaotic Nations Cup of 2002. Then, there’s that whole European exposure thing. Sure, one can coach effectively without it – after all the very European Berti Vogts proved a disaster – but that would require a functional, effective NFA. Good luck with that.
This is all moot now anyway. With Keshi almost certainly heading to Bamako, one of Amodu or Siasia will get the job. I would pick Siasia because I believe his performance with the age-group teams have earned him a chance, and also just to have a fresh-face with new ideas, rather than wheeling Amodu out for the third time.
Siasia’s duties with the Olympic-bound U-23 team may well preclude him in the end – meaning that the NFA, when they eventually name a coach, could end up picking the third best man for the job by default.
All thanks to a confused, rudderless and cowardly approach to decision-making.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
End Of A Milan Era
Arsene Wenger’s youngsters ended AC Milan’s hold on the Champions League trophy in midweek, beating the Rossoneri 2-0 at the San Siro, no less.
Guess we should have seen that one coming. As I hinted in my Serie A preview several months ago, this could well be the year when age finally catches up with Milan’s battle-weathered warriors. They’ve been far from impressive in Serie A, failing to win any of their first 7 home matches, and it’s only since the New Year – and the arrival of the Brazilian prodigy Pato – that they’ve slowly creeped up the table and back into contention for 4th place.
They haven’t had the best of luck with injuries either. Talisman Kaka has just returned from a spell on the sidelines, and was far from his brilliant best on Tuesday, while first choice ‘keeper Dida, Dutchman Clarence Seedorf and striker Ronaldo are all nursing injuries on the sidelines.
No doubt, Seedorf and Ronaldo were sorely missed against the Premiership leading Gunners, but Milan’s overall showing betrayed a glaring waning in the team’s legendary powers. This was not the Milan side that dominated Man U over two legs of last year’s quarter final. Far from it: Arsenal dominated possession for most of the game and Milan’s famed ball possession and game control was only conspicuous in its absence.
The youthful pair of Fabregas and Flamini cramped Kaka and Pirlo in midfield, reducing the Italian side to an uncharacteristic reliance on hopeful long balls to Inzaghi and Pato upfront.
Milan were as disciplined and organized as ever in defense, and it took a superb 25-yard shot from Fabregas to break the deadlock, although in truth, the Gunners had spurned a number of chances before then. More alarming was Milan’s impotence at the other end where they hardly ever looked capable of scoring. Arsenal’s second goal, deep into injury time, was no less than the Londoners deserved and it was as indicative as anything else of the key difference between these two teams. The prodigious, fleet-footed Theo Walcott chased down a long optimistic pass down the right flank, leaving the lumbering, lunging Kaladze in his youthful wake before setting Adebayor up in front of a gaping goal. It was the triumph of youth over experience, of exciting flair and pace over stodgy steadiness. Milan, with eight players over the age of 30, had been put to the sword by Wenger’s kid brigade.
This defeat surely now marks the end of Milan’s latest triumphant era. An era marked by two Champions League wins – 2003 and 2007 – flanking of course the spectacular reversal against Liverpool in the 2005 final. Sadly, it also marks the final bow in this competition for the evergreen Paolo Maldini, first choice in the Milan team since making his debut in 1986. After 22 years and 5 Champions League winners’ medals, the 40-year-old defender draws the curtains on an illustrious career at the end of this season.
Others are likely to follow: Think 30-somethings like Ambrosini, Cafu, Emerson etc.
Milan clearly need to rebuild, but it’s unlikely that process will be under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti. The former Milan player has enjoyed a successful six year spell, but he should have started re-tooling this team last year, after his oldies squeezed out that Champions League win in Athens. Instead, the only new arrivals were Pato and the 34-year-old Emerson. As a result, this summer would more than likely herald the arrival of a new high-profile coach, the key suspects being “Special One” Jose Mourinho and former Milan favourite Frank Rijkaard. My money is on Mourinho.
In Brazilians Kaka and Pato, as well as creative fulcrum Pirlo, Milan boast the beginnings of another great team, but they’ll need to add a few new faces to take some of the pressure off the aging legs of Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf et al.
So expect wholesale changes at Milanello in the summer. A new coach and some quality personnel should see Milan once again challenging for top honors pretty soon.
Guess we should have seen that one coming. As I hinted in my Serie A preview several months ago, this could well be the year when age finally catches up with Milan’s battle-weathered warriors. They’ve been far from impressive in Serie A, failing to win any of their first 7 home matches, and it’s only since the New Year – and the arrival of the Brazilian prodigy Pato – that they’ve slowly creeped up the table and back into contention for 4th place.
They haven’t had the best of luck with injuries either. Talisman Kaka has just returned from a spell on the sidelines, and was far from his brilliant best on Tuesday, while first choice ‘keeper Dida, Dutchman Clarence Seedorf and striker Ronaldo are all nursing injuries on the sidelines.
No doubt, Seedorf and Ronaldo were sorely missed against the Premiership leading Gunners, but Milan’s overall showing betrayed a glaring waning in the team’s legendary powers. This was not the Milan side that dominated Man U over two legs of last year’s quarter final. Far from it: Arsenal dominated possession for most of the game and Milan’s famed ball possession and game control was only conspicuous in its absence.
The youthful pair of Fabregas and Flamini cramped Kaka and Pirlo in midfield, reducing the Italian side to an uncharacteristic reliance on hopeful long balls to Inzaghi and Pato upfront.
Milan were as disciplined and organized as ever in defense, and it took a superb 25-yard shot from Fabregas to break the deadlock, although in truth, the Gunners had spurned a number of chances before then. More alarming was Milan’s impotence at the other end where they hardly ever looked capable of scoring. Arsenal’s second goal, deep into injury time, was no less than the Londoners deserved and it was as indicative as anything else of the key difference between these two teams. The prodigious, fleet-footed Theo Walcott chased down a long optimistic pass down the right flank, leaving the lumbering, lunging Kaladze in his youthful wake before setting Adebayor up in front of a gaping goal. It was the triumph of youth over experience, of exciting flair and pace over stodgy steadiness. Milan, with eight players over the age of 30, had been put to the sword by Wenger’s kid brigade.
This defeat surely now marks the end of Milan’s latest triumphant era. An era marked by two Champions League wins – 2003 and 2007 – flanking of course the spectacular reversal against Liverpool in the 2005 final. Sadly, it also marks the final bow in this competition for the evergreen Paolo Maldini, first choice in the Milan team since making his debut in 1986. After 22 years and 5 Champions League winners’ medals, the 40-year-old defender draws the curtains on an illustrious career at the end of this season.
Others are likely to follow: Think 30-somethings like Ambrosini, Cafu, Emerson etc.
Milan clearly need to rebuild, but it’s unlikely that process will be under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti. The former Milan player has enjoyed a successful six year spell, but he should have started re-tooling this team last year, after his oldies squeezed out that Champions League win in Athens. Instead, the only new arrivals were Pato and the 34-year-old Emerson. As a result, this summer would more than likely herald the arrival of a new high-profile coach, the key suspects being “Special One” Jose Mourinho and former Milan favourite Frank Rijkaard. My money is on Mourinho.
In Brazilians Kaka and Pato, as well as creative fulcrum Pirlo, Milan boast the beginnings of another great team, but they’ll need to add a few new faces to take some of the pressure off the aging legs of Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf et al.
So expect wholesale changes at Milanello in the summer. A new coach and some quality personnel should see Milan once again challenging for top honors pretty soon.
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