The World Cup comes to Africa for the first time next year, but I am not convinced South Africa 2010 will increase the probability of an African country finally winning the big one.
It’s not that I intend to rain on anyone’s parade, but way too much has been made of Africa’s World Cup chances purely on the strength of the finals holding on the continent for the first time. Of course, hosts South Africa will be lifted by playing on familiar territory, in a climate they’re used to and in front of large partisan crowds, but will Ghana, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Algeria really have an edge over their group opponents purely as a consequence of playing in Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria? I am not convinced, and there are two reasons why.
First, the climate doesn’t offer any extra advantage to these countries, all from west and North Africa. If anything, the South African winter may provide more of an edge for the Europeans and South Americans. Of course, all the African teams are staffed by Europe based pros now so they shouldn’t have a problem adjusting, but clearly the weather will not give them any kind of edge.
Second, I don’t think the African representatives will have that much of an edge with supporters either. For one thing, it’s still unclear how many African fans will be making the long trek to South Africa – probably not a lot, given the sheer size of the continent and the relatively high costs of air travel. We are quite unlikely to see the kind of influx Germany experienced from neighbouring countries like Holland, Italy and France at the last finals. For all we know, there may well be more fans travelling from Europe for the finals than from within the continent. South African fans can be counted on to turn out in large numbers, at least when Bafana Bafana play. I’d be surprised if they came out in significant numbers to cheer on the other African countries.
Nevertheless, this may well turn out to be one of Africa’s better showings at the mundial – even if the draw could have been kinder.
No one would argue that the continent’s biggest hope is Ivory Coast, yet they have again been dropped into one of the toughest groups, alongside Brazil, Portugal and North Korea. The Elephants boast an impressive array of stars, led by the experienced bunch of Didier Drogba, the Toure brothers and Didier Zokora, as well as an emerging younger cadre represented by Lille youngster Gervinho, but they’ll need to be at their best to secure one of the two spots in Group G. Of course, Brazil and Portugal also know they’ll need to be on their game to see off this Ivory Coast team.
Ghana will be no pushovers either, especially if their midfield tandem of Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah stay in-form and healthy. They remain a little light-weight in attack and will be hoping that Under-20 World Cup winning sensation Dominic Adiyiah matures in time to support Asamoah Gyan and Matthew Amoah up front. But they’ve got an even tougher draw, in a more evenly matched Group D where they face Australia, Germany and Serbia.
Oddly enough, I think the host country – home advantage and all – have the slimmest chance of progressing. South Africa, in Group A with Uruguay, Mexico and France, have a group that both the Elephants and Black Stars would have loved, and although they will have improved by June, I doubt that the midfield promptings of Stephen Pienaar and Kagisho Dikgacoi, the defensive nous of Matthew Booth and Aaron Mokoena, and all the vuvuzelas in Jo’burg will be enough to see them through to the next round.
Cameroon return to the finals after missing out last time and the Indomitable Lions will fancy their chances against Holland, Denmark and Japan. Not only do they boast, in Samuel Eto’o, one of the very best strikers in world football, he also leads a fine cast of accomplished players – Idris Kameni, Jean Makoun, Stephane Mbia, Alex Song and Achille Emana – and they should ruffle more than a few feathers in South Africa.
Algeria will have to continue their giant-killing ways to get out of Group C, where England awaits them alongside the dangerous but under-rated duo of USA and Slovenia. A team with few star names, the Algerians persevere on their strong work ethic and one-for-all attitude. Nevertheless, experienced pros like Rafik Saifi, Karim Ziani and Nadir Belhadj will give their opponents a few worries come June.
Then there’s Nigeria’s Super Eagles, drawn in an eerily familiar group with Argentina and Greece – two of the teams they faced in 1994 – as well as the tricky South Koreans. Of course, Greece, champions of Europe in 2004, are far from the whipping-boys they were 16 years ago and that should make for a keenly contested group. Then again, the Eagles are not the Super team they were in ‘94 either and were hardly impressive in the qualifiers. A team blessed with a surfeit of attacking options – Obafemi Martins, Aiyegbeni Yakubu, Victor Obinna, Ike Uche, Osaze Odemwingie and Chinedu Obasi– has looked severely handicapped by a lack of creative types in midfield and a general lack of cohesion. If coach Shaibu Amodu can coax a performance from this bunch at the Nations Cup finals, that would bode well for their chances in June.
Still, a lot could happen between now and June and the Nations Cup finals – scheduled for Angola in January - may well reveal much about what to expect in June.
We’ll wait and see.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Notes on El Clasico
If you missed last Sunday’s El Clasico – that much hyped clash between European champions Barcelona and moneybags Real Madrid – then you missed something quite special. Okay, it wasn’t on the same level as last year’s eight-goal barnstormer at Madrid’s Stadio Bernabeu but this game certainly lived up to the hype. Real’s big names carved the best openings and worked hard to stifle Barca’s intricate play, but the blaugranas’ teamwork and finishing triumphed in the end, a spectacular goal from Zlatan Ibrahimovic separating the two sides after ninety minutes.
For me, three things came to mind:
First, while a lot has been made of Barcelona’s attacking play – with good reason too – a big part of their success has to be an often overlooked yet equally resilient defence. Carles Puyol yet again proved a barrier too solid to breach for Real, and two last ditch blocks – on shots by Marcelo and Karim Benzema – helped maintain Barca’s clean sheet. A bigger part of their success for me is the poise and sterling team play of Gerard Pique, the ex-Man U reserve who has thrived superbly - he’s now a starter for Spain - since returning home last season. This guy is fast becoming one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the game – kind of like Rio Ferdinand used to be before injuries and age took their toll. Take Barca’s winning goal on Sunday. The move actually started with Pique smoothly taking the ball off Ronaldo in the Barca box, then rather than hoof it upfield, he strode to the centre line before passing it off to Messi deep in Real territory. The little Argentinian then found Dani Alvez wide on the right and his pin-point cross was smartly finished by Ibra. From one box to the other, just three passes, and all started by the solid defending and smart ball-playing of Pique.
Second, the brilliance and impact of Lionel Messi was again to the fore in another high profile game. To think some bozo on a BBC chatroom – don’t know why I bother - had actually stated a few months ago that Messi is over-rated! Sure, this was on the strength of Argentina’s struggles to qualify for the World Cup, but I daresay that can only be down to other factors – management, tactics, teammates – rather than any failing on the part of the little magician. For all the close attention he gets and the knocks he takes, Messi never hides, always looks for the ball, never shies away from taking on defenders – no matter how tight the space – and always carves chances for himself and others. Of course, having great teammates always helps and playing alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta – experts in finding space where there seems to be none – only brings out the best in Messi’s game. But that can’t be the whole story. After all, Real Madrid’s Marcelo, rather than look good with all the stars around him, only sticks out like a sore thumb. Messi’s the real deal. If his U-20 World Cup exploits in 2005 didn’t convince you; or last year’s Champions League Final left you with doubts; or Barca’s 6-2 win at the Bernabeu last season still didn’t do the trick, then last week’s El Clasico should be more than enough.
Third, the interesting contrast between Barcelona and Real Madrid was again clear to see on Sunday. And not just with regards to their style of play either. Granted, the Madridistas are still a work in progress following the high profile arrivals of Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema, Alonso, Albiol and Diarra in the last 12 months, but their quick counter-attacking game, relying largely on individual skills - the passing of Alonso, and the speed and craft of Kaka and Ronaldo - was a stark contrast to Barcelona’s team-focused, patient, possession-based passing game. Beyond that though, is the different philosophies adopted by both teams; while Real Madrid is clearly a side built by buying the best players money can buy, Barca’s focus is more on building from within. Of the eleven starters for Real on Sunday, only two – goalkeeper Iker Casillas and the recently-returned Alvaro Arbeloa – are home-grown. Indeed, only five of that team were even at the Madrid club just 12 months ago. Barcelona on the other hand, started with seven homebred players, all well-steeped in the club’s traditions and playing style. Of course, that is not to suggest that Barcelona do not buy big name players. Far from it; they currently have Ibrahimovic, one of the most expensive players in world football, and Dani Alvez, the most expensive full back in history, and their past his littered with names like Cruyff, Laudrup, Stoichkov, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
Yet the core of this current team – ably managed by another home-grown former star, Pep Guardiola – is very clearly home-bred. It sure helps if those players are named Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, but it is Barcelona that has nurtured them to these heights and with the likes of Pedro and Sergio Busquets also coming through, there is definitely much to praise about the club’s grooming traditions.
Indeed, if Barcelona needed any further commendation, it came this week when the results of the Ballon d’Or poll – for European player of the year – was published. Messi, as expected, took the prize with a record number of points, while teammates Xavi and Iniesta finished 3rd and 4th.
One more thing: the next El Clasico is scheduled for Madrid on April 11 2010.
Make it a date.
For me, three things came to mind:
First, while a lot has been made of Barcelona’s attacking play – with good reason too – a big part of their success has to be an often overlooked yet equally resilient defence. Carles Puyol yet again proved a barrier too solid to breach for Real, and two last ditch blocks – on shots by Marcelo and Karim Benzema – helped maintain Barca’s clean sheet. A bigger part of their success for me is the poise and sterling team play of Gerard Pique, the ex-Man U reserve who has thrived superbly - he’s now a starter for Spain - since returning home last season. This guy is fast becoming one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the game – kind of like Rio Ferdinand used to be before injuries and age took their toll. Take Barca’s winning goal on Sunday. The move actually started with Pique smoothly taking the ball off Ronaldo in the Barca box, then rather than hoof it upfield, he strode to the centre line before passing it off to Messi deep in Real territory. The little Argentinian then found Dani Alvez wide on the right and his pin-point cross was smartly finished by Ibra. From one box to the other, just three passes, and all started by the solid defending and smart ball-playing of Pique.
Second, the brilliance and impact of Lionel Messi was again to the fore in another high profile game. To think some bozo on a BBC chatroom – don’t know why I bother - had actually stated a few months ago that Messi is over-rated! Sure, this was on the strength of Argentina’s struggles to qualify for the World Cup, but I daresay that can only be down to other factors – management, tactics, teammates – rather than any failing on the part of the little magician. For all the close attention he gets and the knocks he takes, Messi never hides, always looks for the ball, never shies away from taking on defenders – no matter how tight the space – and always carves chances for himself and others. Of course, having great teammates always helps and playing alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta – experts in finding space where there seems to be none – only brings out the best in Messi’s game. But that can’t be the whole story. After all, Real Madrid’s Marcelo, rather than look good with all the stars around him, only sticks out like a sore thumb. Messi’s the real deal. If his U-20 World Cup exploits in 2005 didn’t convince you; or last year’s Champions League Final left you with doubts; or Barca’s 6-2 win at the Bernabeu last season still didn’t do the trick, then last week’s El Clasico should be more than enough.
Third, the interesting contrast between Barcelona and Real Madrid was again clear to see on Sunday. And not just with regards to their style of play either. Granted, the Madridistas are still a work in progress following the high profile arrivals of Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema, Alonso, Albiol and Diarra in the last 12 months, but their quick counter-attacking game, relying largely on individual skills - the passing of Alonso, and the speed and craft of Kaka and Ronaldo - was a stark contrast to Barcelona’s team-focused, patient, possession-based passing game. Beyond that though, is the different philosophies adopted by both teams; while Real Madrid is clearly a side built by buying the best players money can buy, Barca’s focus is more on building from within. Of the eleven starters for Real on Sunday, only two – goalkeeper Iker Casillas and the recently-returned Alvaro Arbeloa – are home-grown. Indeed, only five of that team were even at the Madrid club just 12 months ago. Barcelona on the other hand, started with seven homebred players, all well-steeped in the club’s traditions and playing style. Of course, that is not to suggest that Barcelona do not buy big name players. Far from it; they currently have Ibrahimovic, one of the most expensive players in world football, and Dani Alvez, the most expensive full back in history, and their past his littered with names like Cruyff, Laudrup, Stoichkov, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho.
Yet the core of this current team – ably managed by another home-grown former star, Pep Guardiola – is very clearly home-bred. It sure helps if those players are named Messi, Xavi and Iniesta, but it is Barcelona that has nurtured them to these heights and with the likes of Pedro and Sergio Busquets also coming through, there is definitely much to praise about the club’s grooming traditions.
Indeed, if Barcelona needed any further commendation, it came this week when the results of the Ballon d’Or poll – for European player of the year – was published. Messi, as expected, took the prize with a record number of points, while teammates Xavi and Iniesta finished 3rd and 4th.
One more thing: the next El Clasico is scheduled for Madrid on April 11 2010.
Make it a date.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
No SA for Egypt, Guus and Trap
Forget about who’s going to the World Cup, the real story is who’s NOT going. African champions Egypt, Russia’s Andrii Arshavin and Yuri Zhirkov, fading Ukrainian legend Andrii Shevchenko, and Bosnia-Herzegovina’s classy striking duo of Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic – if you haven’t heard of those two, you should really get your nose out of the Premiership and catch some Bundesliga action. Of course, I haven’t even mentioned top coaches Giovanni Trapattoni and Guus Hiddink, both of whom fell short at the last hurdle, but more on those later.
Egypt’s World Cup jinx continued in Khartoum, where they lost out to Algeria in what must be the biggest match ever staged in Sudan. Two things struck me about this game: First, if ever a goal deserved to send a country into the World Cup finals, it was Antar Yahia’s superb volley, a cracking effort from an acute angle that flew into the roof of the net on Essam el Hadary’s near post. It will certainly live in Algerian memories for years to come.
Second is the fact that sealing qualification on neutral territory – rather than in Cairo last Saturday – was probably best for the Algerians. Remember, four Algerian players had already been hurt when the team bus was attacked BEFORE the Cairo match-up. I shudder to think how that Cairo crowd would have reacted had Emad Motaeb’s late header not forced the Khartoum playoff.
I think the African challenge will be weakened by Egypt’s absence though – we all saw what they are capable of at the Confederations Cup in June – and the finals will certainly be the poorer for the absence of players like Wael Gomaa, Mohammed Aboutrika, Mohammed Zidan, Hosni Abd Rabou and the evergreen Ahmed Hassan.
All the talk in Europe is about France and their handball-assisted conquest of Ireland at the Parc des Princes. There’s no question about the foul, even the main villain in the plot, Thierry Henry, has admitted as much. Yet, it’s naïve to expect that the French could have done anything different once the goal was given – there’s way too much at stake and besides, I doubt the ref would have chalked off the goal even if Henry had admitted he “had a hand in it”. Was this some big conspiracy to help France reach South Africa? I don’t buy that – even if UEFA president Michel Platini is French. I think the ref and his assistant, who were behind the play and had several players between them and the incident, just missed what looked an obvious call to Irish ‘keeper Shay Given, who was three yards away – and the rest of us who had the benefit of several replays from four different angles.
The real debate here should be about the use of technology in football officiating, something I’ve been railing about since Victor Ikpeba’s penalty was wrongly ruled out in the African Nations Cup final shoot out nine long years ago, and something the powers that be at Fifa have been too quick to dismiss. A quick review of the video would have confirmed Henry’s handball and helped the ref to make the right decision in this case. There’s an argument that it would slow down the game to stop for every little decision. Fair enough, but it could just be reserved for cases like this in which the ball is already in the net – or otherwise dead - and it would surely have taken less time than it took the ref to fight off the incensed Irish protests that followed William Gallas’s goal.
I may be wrong, but I kinda think that had France been on the wrong end of this decision, we may well be closer to the use of technology than we are now.
The other game I caught midweek was what I had hoped, given what transpired in the first leg, would be a cracking affair between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Portugal. In the end, the Portuguese won easily leaving their hosts rueing the absence, through injury, of four key regulars who had featured in the first leg, especially their inspirational captain and midfield muse Zvjezdan Misimovic. There were still a few Bosnian players that caught the eye though, not least the aforementioned strikers, Dzeko and Ibisevic, and Lyon youngster Miralem Pjanic.
I couldn’t help but wonder what could have been had the old Yugoslavia still been in existence today. Just think, they could have lined these Bosnians up alongside Croatian stars Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Mladen Petric, Ivica Olic and Eduardo; Serbians Nemanja Vidic, Neven Subotic, Dejan Stankovic, Milan Jovanovic and Nikola Zigic, who will be in SA; and the less heralded but also World Cup bound Slovenians Robert Koren and Milivoje Novakovic. Mouth watering, no doubt, but just a thought.
On a final note, a word about those top coaches that will not be making the trip to SA – at least not with their current employers. I know a lot of Nigerians are hoping Mr Amodu gets canned right away to make way for another of those fly-by-night foreign “Technical Advisers” – think Messrs Bora and Vogts. It’s not that I have anything against foreign managers – I really liked Clemens Westerhof and I think sacking Philipe Troussier in 1997 was a big mistake – as long as they are of the right calibre and we give them time to work. I certainly don’t think six months to the World Cup – or two months to the Nations Cup - is the best time to appoint a new coach, yet if we must then we have to get the cream of the crop. Two of those may just be newly available in the shape of Hiddink and Trapattoni, fresh from their respective disappointments with Russia and Ireland. Now would be the time to start talking.
Enough said.
Egypt’s World Cup jinx continued in Khartoum, where they lost out to Algeria in what must be the biggest match ever staged in Sudan. Two things struck me about this game: First, if ever a goal deserved to send a country into the World Cup finals, it was Antar Yahia’s superb volley, a cracking effort from an acute angle that flew into the roof of the net on Essam el Hadary’s near post. It will certainly live in Algerian memories for years to come.
Second is the fact that sealing qualification on neutral territory – rather than in Cairo last Saturday – was probably best for the Algerians. Remember, four Algerian players had already been hurt when the team bus was attacked BEFORE the Cairo match-up. I shudder to think how that Cairo crowd would have reacted had Emad Motaeb’s late header not forced the Khartoum playoff.
I think the African challenge will be weakened by Egypt’s absence though – we all saw what they are capable of at the Confederations Cup in June – and the finals will certainly be the poorer for the absence of players like Wael Gomaa, Mohammed Aboutrika, Mohammed Zidan, Hosni Abd Rabou and the evergreen Ahmed Hassan.
All the talk in Europe is about France and their handball-assisted conquest of Ireland at the Parc des Princes. There’s no question about the foul, even the main villain in the plot, Thierry Henry, has admitted as much. Yet, it’s naïve to expect that the French could have done anything different once the goal was given – there’s way too much at stake and besides, I doubt the ref would have chalked off the goal even if Henry had admitted he “had a hand in it”. Was this some big conspiracy to help France reach South Africa? I don’t buy that – even if UEFA president Michel Platini is French. I think the ref and his assistant, who were behind the play and had several players between them and the incident, just missed what looked an obvious call to Irish ‘keeper Shay Given, who was three yards away – and the rest of us who had the benefit of several replays from four different angles.
The real debate here should be about the use of technology in football officiating, something I’ve been railing about since Victor Ikpeba’s penalty was wrongly ruled out in the African Nations Cup final shoot out nine long years ago, and something the powers that be at Fifa have been too quick to dismiss. A quick review of the video would have confirmed Henry’s handball and helped the ref to make the right decision in this case. There’s an argument that it would slow down the game to stop for every little decision. Fair enough, but it could just be reserved for cases like this in which the ball is already in the net – or otherwise dead - and it would surely have taken less time than it took the ref to fight off the incensed Irish protests that followed William Gallas’s goal.
I may be wrong, but I kinda think that had France been on the wrong end of this decision, we may well be closer to the use of technology than we are now.
The other game I caught midweek was what I had hoped, given what transpired in the first leg, would be a cracking affair between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Portugal. In the end, the Portuguese won easily leaving their hosts rueing the absence, through injury, of four key regulars who had featured in the first leg, especially their inspirational captain and midfield muse Zvjezdan Misimovic. There were still a few Bosnian players that caught the eye though, not least the aforementioned strikers, Dzeko and Ibisevic, and Lyon youngster Miralem Pjanic.
I couldn’t help but wonder what could have been had the old Yugoslavia still been in existence today. Just think, they could have lined these Bosnians up alongside Croatian stars Luka Modric, Niko Kranjcar, Mladen Petric, Ivica Olic and Eduardo; Serbians Nemanja Vidic, Neven Subotic, Dejan Stankovic, Milan Jovanovic and Nikola Zigic, who will be in SA; and the less heralded but also World Cup bound Slovenians Robert Koren and Milivoje Novakovic. Mouth watering, no doubt, but just a thought.
On a final note, a word about those top coaches that will not be making the trip to SA – at least not with their current employers. I know a lot of Nigerians are hoping Mr Amodu gets canned right away to make way for another of those fly-by-night foreign “Technical Advisers” – think Messrs Bora and Vogts. It’s not that I have anything against foreign managers – I really liked Clemens Westerhof and I think sacking Philipe Troussier in 1997 was a big mistake – as long as they are of the right calibre and we give them time to work. I certainly don’t think six months to the World Cup – or two months to the Nations Cup - is the best time to appoint a new coach, yet if we must then we have to get the cream of the crop. Two of those may just be newly available in the shape of Hiddink and Trapattoni, fresh from their respective disappointments with Russia and Ireland. Now would be the time to start talking.
Enough said.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Super Eagles: Kudos For Job Done
It sure wasn’t pretty, but somehow Nigeria’s Super Eagles booked their place at next year’s World Cup with that 3-2 win after a topsy-turvy game in Nairobi – and after a topsy-turvy qualifying campaign. For Super Eagles’ fans, it a time to celebrate a return to the big time, and also a time to reflect, with the benefit of some perspective, on what has been an emotional rollercoaster for many.
While Nigeria’s performance at Nyayo Stadium was hardly mouth-watering, Tunisia’s last minute capitulation in Maputo added a rather interesting twist to the Eagles’ qualifying odyssey. It’s just seven months ago that they kicked off their campaign with a much maligned and heavily criticised goalless draw at the very same Maputo Stadium that’s just dealt the death knell to Tunisia’s Mundial hopes.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but that one point gained in Maputo – by the way, the only point gained in Mozambique by any visiting team in this group - sure turned out valuable, and in the final analysis, that draw wasn’t quite the disaster it had been made out to be back in March. Of course, had Tunisia managed the win they so badly needed on Saturday, this would be a different story.
It’s not only about hindsight though; it’s also about knowledge and expectations, and how the former should inform the latter. For instance, a little research would have revealed to the interested that Maputo hasn’t been the easiest of places to visit in recent times. Just over a year ago, Ivory Coast – a far better team than Nigeria, let’s face it – only got away with a 1-1 draw. But, of course, many Super Eagles fans – some in ignorance, some in arrogance - always expect a win AND a spectacular performance, regardless of opposition or venue, or else the coach has to go, and the team “overhauled”, whatever that means. It’s great to expect the most from your team – nothing wrong with ambition – yet it seems those expectations often stray into the realms of the unrealistic. Like when some fans criticise the team for getting “only” a draw in Tunis.
I will admit that the performance on the field hasn’t been impressive – and I’ll get into that later – but now that all the chips are down, we can reflect on what in my opinion has been a decent, if nerve-wracking, qualifying campaign. The goal was to qualify and that, despite some twists and turns, was accomplished. If there was one dark spot, it was the shocking inability to hang on to a lead in the 2-2 draw with Tunisia in Abuja. It was surely an opportunity lost in a game that seemed a must-win at the time, and it took our fate out of our hands. Yet it came after a well-deserved 0-0 draw in Tunis and surely didn’t merit the vile reaction of some fans who took to booing the team in the next home match against Mozambique. One would have thought the journey was over at that point, yet what would prove the pivotal point of the campaign came in that Mozambique game, when Victor Obinna scored the winning goal in the 3rd minute of added time to keep the Eagles in contention till the final round.
A year ago, after six wins from six first round qualifiers, I wrote commending Shaibu Amodu for a job well done – you can’t argue with results like that – and also to point out areas of concern. Now, given that I didn’t expect another 100% sweep, I again have to commend the coach and his team for another unbeaten run, and for grabbing the much wanted ticket. It might not sound like much, but only one other country – Ivory Coast - got through its 12 match schedule without a single loss. Contrast that to African champions Egypt, who’ve lost twice – to Malawi and Algeria; or Ghana, who lost in Gabon, Libya and Benin; or Cameroon, who lost to Togo and were then held goalless at home by Morocco, before winning four straight to secure qualification.
The truth is; it’s tough to get through World Cup qualifiers. There are no easy games anymore. Everyone is well organised and everyone has savvy foreign-based pros, and the fact that there are only a few days to prepare for each match is far from ideal, even for established teams like Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana. Nigeria, with a team in transition after the mess of the last Nations Cup finals, was bound to have some challenges too, and in that light should be commended for seeing the job through.
There are issues to resolve and I am not suggesting that the fact that qualification was achieved should paper over obvious cracks. I have my thoughts about this team, the coach and its chances at the upcoming Nations Cup and World Cup Finals. But those are issues for another day – and in the near future too. Today, I’ll like you to join me as I charge my glass and sip a toast in honour of Shaibu Amodu and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
See you in SA!
While Nigeria’s performance at Nyayo Stadium was hardly mouth-watering, Tunisia’s last minute capitulation in Maputo added a rather interesting twist to the Eagles’ qualifying odyssey. It’s just seven months ago that they kicked off their campaign with a much maligned and heavily criticised goalless draw at the very same Maputo Stadium that’s just dealt the death knell to Tunisia’s Mundial hopes.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but that one point gained in Maputo – by the way, the only point gained in Mozambique by any visiting team in this group - sure turned out valuable, and in the final analysis, that draw wasn’t quite the disaster it had been made out to be back in March. Of course, had Tunisia managed the win they so badly needed on Saturday, this would be a different story.
It’s not only about hindsight though; it’s also about knowledge and expectations, and how the former should inform the latter. For instance, a little research would have revealed to the interested that Maputo hasn’t been the easiest of places to visit in recent times. Just over a year ago, Ivory Coast – a far better team than Nigeria, let’s face it – only got away with a 1-1 draw. But, of course, many Super Eagles fans – some in ignorance, some in arrogance - always expect a win AND a spectacular performance, regardless of opposition or venue, or else the coach has to go, and the team “overhauled”, whatever that means. It’s great to expect the most from your team – nothing wrong with ambition – yet it seems those expectations often stray into the realms of the unrealistic. Like when some fans criticise the team for getting “only” a draw in Tunis.
I will admit that the performance on the field hasn’t been impressive – and I’ll get into that later – but now that all the chips are down, we can reflect on what in my opinion has been a decent, if nerve-wracking, qualifying campaign. The goal was to qualify and that, despite some twists and turns, was accomplished. If there was one dark spot, it was the shocking inability to hang on to a lead in the 2-2 draw with Tunisia in Abuja. It was surely an opportunity lost in a game that seemed a must-win at the time, and it took our fate out of our hands. Yet it came after a well-deserved 0-0 draw in Tunis and surely didn’t merit the vile reaction of some fans who took to booing the team in the next home match against Mozambique. One would have thought the journey was over at that point, yet what would prove the pivotal point of the campaign came in that Mozambique game, when Victor Obinna scored the winning goal in the 3rd minute of added time to keep the Eagles in contention till the final round.
A year ago, after six wins from six first round qualifiers, I wrote commending Shaibu Amodu for a job well done – you can’t argue with results like that – and also to point out areas of concern. Now, given that I didn’t expect another 100% sweep, I again have to commend the coach and his team for another unbeaten run, and for grabbing the much wanted ticket. It might not sound like much, but only one other country – Ivory Coast - got through its 12 match schedule without a single loss. Contrast that to African champions Egypt, who’ve lost twice – to Malawi and Algeria; or Ghana, who lost in Gabon, Libya and Benin; or Cameroon, who lost to Togo and were then held goalless at home by Morocco, before winning four straight to secure qualification.
The truth is; it’s tough to get through World Cup qualifiers. There are no easy games anymore. Everyone is well organised and everyone has savvy foreign-based pros, and the fact that there are only a few days to prepare for each match is far from ideal, even for established teams like Cameroon, Egypt and Ghana. Nigeria, with a team in transition after the mess of the last Nations Cup finals, was bound to have some challenges too, and in that light should be commended for seeing the job through.
There are issues to resolve and I am not suggesting that the fact that qualification was achieved should paper over obvious cracks. I have my thoughts about this team, the coach and its chances at the upcoming Nations Cup and World Cup Finals. But those are issues for another day – and in the near future too. Today, I’ll like you to join me as I charge my glass and sip a toast in honour of Shaibu Amodu and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
See you in SA!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Gunners Reborn
On a weekend when Chelsea beat Man U to build a sizeable lead at the top of the Premiership, I can’t help but think that Arsenal may yet be the team to watch this season. Of course, no one could ever argue that the Gunners aren’t always a joy to watch; Wenger’s kids, with the free flowing passing game the professor favours, are always easy on the eye. But after four barren seasons, Arsenal may just be ready to step back into the silverware this season.
Okay, I’m not going to go as far as declare the title race over right now. Afterall, Chelsea still have the lead and are looking pretty strong, and the defending champions, Man U, are not likely to give up without a fight. After 11 matches though, I think Arsenal will be very much in the mix this season.
That’s not a notion that was widely shared when Arsenal started the season with Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure jumping ship to join nouveau riche Man City. But Mr Wenger always has a trick up his sleeve and his wards have responded superbly to get them off to a flying start. It’s early days yet, but their can be no complaints about a young team that now lie in second place, just five points behind the leaders – and with one game in hand too.
And they have been simply rampant in their march up the table too, scoring a league high 36 goals and posting a goal difference of +22 in the process. Not impressed yet? That’s an average of more than 3 goals per game. In contrast, leaders Chelsea have scored 29 goals, while 3rd place Man U – level with Arsenal on 25 points – have just 23 goals. And they’ve both played one game more too.
Sure, they’ve lost twice already, but defeats at Man U and Man City are hardly catastrophic, and save for the 2-2 draw at West Ham they’ve been simply perfect so far.
So how has last season’s 4th placed team turned things around so spectacularly?
First, the arrival of Philip Vermaelen from Ajax has added much needed steel and guile to central defence. The Belgian international settled in right away and has contributed immensely in both defence and attack. Toure has hardly been missed.
In midfield, captain Cesc Fabregas is back to his very best – especially with Alex Song finally settling into the defensive role beside him (I always thought his skills were wasted in defence) – and farther forward, Dutchman Robin Van Persie is finally injury free and scoring freely, and Russian Andrii Arshavin has adjusted nicely to the Premiership pace, and the whole team just seems to be getting along like a house on fire.
Then there’s Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Carlos Vela, Eduardo and up and coming kids Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. Well, you get the picture.
Of course, there are still some weak spots – not least in goal – but the Gunners sure have the ammo and the swagger to go all the way this term. I think they’ll get much closer than last term for sure, but on current form I doubt they’ll get past those Stamford Bridge millionaires.
Okay, I’m not going to go as far as declare the title race over right now. Afterall, Chelsea still have the lead and are looking pretty strong, and the defending champions, Man U, are not likely to give up without a fight. After 11 matches though, I think Arsenal will be very much in the mix this season.
That’s not a notion that was widely shared when Arsenal started the season with Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure jumping ship to join nouveau riche Man City. But Mr Wenger always has a trick up his sleeve and his wards have responded superbly to get them off to a flying start. It’s early days yet, but their can be no complaints about a young team that now lie in second place, just five points behind the leaders – and with one game in hand too.
And they have been simply rampant in their march up the table too, scoring a league high 36 goals and posting a goal difference of +22 in the process. Not impressed yet? That’s an average of more than 3 goals per game. In contrast, leaders Chelsea have scored 29 goals, while 3rd place Man U – level with Arsenal on 25 points – have just 23 goals. And they’ve both played one game more too.
Sure, they’ve lost twice already, but defeats at Man U and Man City are hardly catastrophic, and save for the 2-2 draw at West Ham they’ve been simply perfect so far.
So how has last season’s 4th placed team turned things around so spectacularly?
First, the arrival of Philip Vermaelen from Ajax has added much needed steel and guile to central defence. The Belgian international settled in right away and has contributed immensely in both defence and attack. Toure has hardly been missed.
In midfield, captain Cesc Fabregas is back to his very best – especially with Alex Song finally settling into the defensive role beside him (I always thought his skills were wasted in defence) – and farther forward, Dutchman Robin Van Persie is finally injury free and scoring freely, and Russian Andrii Arshavin has adjusted nicely to the Premiership pace, and the whole team just seems to be getting along like a house on fire.
Then there’s Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Carlos Vela, Eduardo and up and coming kids Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere. Well, you get the picture.
Of course, there are still some weak spots – not least in goal – but the Gunners sure have the ammo and the swagger to go all the way this term. I think they’ll get much closer than last term for sure, but on current form I doubt they’ll get past those Stamford Bridge millionaires.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Eagles Must Play Smart
Tunisia once again stands between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and a place in the World Cup Finals. I suppose that would be simplifying matters a little bit – after all, the Eagles do have to play both Kenya and Mozambique as well before the Group’s sole ticket is decided later this year.
But it’s the Tunisians who have emerged – as expected – as the team we’ll have to better to win a place in South Africa next year. We’ve been down this road before of course – and the memories are from sweet. In 1977, a Godwin Odiye own goal gave the Tunisians a most painful victory in Lagos, and cost the Eagles a place at the Argentina 78 finals. Then, 8 years later, the Tunisans again triumphed, 2-1 on aggregate, to end Nigeria’s dreams of reaching Mexico 86.
This weekend’s clash in Rades could well be the make or break tie of these series. The Tunisians lead the group with 6 points, while the Eagles, on account of that goalless draw in Mozambique, trail them by two points. Nigeria need to avoid defeat to stay in touch – they have to assume that Kenya and Mozambique won’t be doing them any favours – while a win either way will put the victors firmly in the driver’s seat.
So, this is definitely not a must-win for Shaibu Amodu and his wards. If they draw here, that’ll come in the home tie in September, and that gives the much-criticised coach a little room in terms of tactical approach and game plan. I am not suggesting that the Eagles play for a draw – God knows that carries enormous risk – but while I certainly expect them to play for the win, they don’t have to throw all caution to the wind as though anything less than three points would spell disaster.
In two words: play smart. Leave the desperation to the Tunisians. Yes, they don’t have to win either, but they’ll have to attack in front of their home fans, and knowing that they still have to travel to Nigeria in the next round, they’ll be under pressure to get the business done as quickly as possible.
The bigger debate, of course, regards what kind of team Amodu will name. Should he stick with the youngsters who were so impressive in the 1-0 defeat of France three weeks ago, yet so disjointed even as they saw off Kenya in the last round? Or put in all the so-called “tired legs” that got them through the last round without defeat, but looked uninterested in Maputo last March?
How about a little bit of both? For me, the key word in any line-up is balance – both in terms of attack to defense and in terms of youth/energy to experience. Amodu clearly has to make some brave decisions, and it’s how brave he proves that will ultimately decide how well he does at international level.
Courage apart, here’s what else we’ll need to take something away from Rades:
First, he has to pick a side that is both experienced and able enough in defence to match what could be a relentless onslaught of Tunisian attack, at least early in the game. For me that would indicate a return of Joseph Yobo and Taiye Taiwo in defence, to support the impressive Niyi Adeleye.
Second, the Eagles have to be savvy and skilful enough to patiently keep possession for long periods and use the ball very very smartly, pretty much as they did for long stretches of the France game. I think that would call for a role of some sort for John Obi Mikel, who remains our best passer of the ball, as well as team captain Nwankwo Kanu, who sure knows how to play keep-ball and whose introduction against Kenya proved decisive.
Third, this team will have to have pace, mobility and aggression on the attacking end, since counter-attacks may well prove our best hope of grabbing what would be a truly crucial win. Here’s where the younger players must come to the fore. The injury enforced absence of Oba Martins and Aiyegbeni Yakubu as already forced Amodu’s hand somewhat, but I really think the trio of Osaze Odemwingie, Ike Uche and Victor Obinna have earned their place on merit, and – along with Chinedu Ogbuke - they embody the, smarts and finishing touch that the Eagles will need to see them through this group.
If I had to pick – and I obviously lack Amodu’s first hand knowledge of his players and any kind of coaching experience – our team for this match would look something like this:
(4-4-1-1) Enyeama; Odiah, Yobo, Adeleye, Taiwo; Odemwingie, Mikel, Olofinjana, Obinna; Kanu; Uche I
I’ll take a draw – but I’ll be most grateful for a win.
But it’s the Tunisians who have emerged – as expected – as the team we’ll have to better to win a place in South Africa next year. We’ve been down this road before of course – and the memories are from sweet. In 1977, a Godwin Odiye own goal gave the Tunisians a most painful victory in Lagos, and cost the Eagles a place at the Argentina 78 finals. Then, 8 years later, the Tunisans again triumphed, 2-1 on aggregate, to end Nigeria’s dreams of reaching Mexico 86.
This weekend’s clash in Rades could well be the make or break tie of these series. The Tunisians lead the group with 6 points, while the Eagles, on account of that goalless draw in Mozambique, trail them by two points. Nigeria need to avoid defeat to stay in touch – they have to assume that Kenya and Mozambique won’t be doing them any favours – while a win either way will put the victors firmly in the driver’s seat.
So, this is definitely not a must-win for Shaibu Amodu and his wards. If they draw here, that’ll come in the home tie in September, and that gives the much-criticised coach a little room in terms of tactical approach and game plan. I am not suggesting that the Eagles play for a draw – God knows that carries enormous risk – but while I certainly expect them to play for the win, they don’t have to throw all caution to the wind as though anything less than three points would spell disaster.
In two words: play smart. Leave the desperation to the Tunisians. Yes, they don’t have to win either, but they’ll have to attack in front of their home fans, and knowing that they still have to travel to Nigeria in the next round, they’ll be under pressure to get the business done as quickly as possible.
The bigger debate, of course, regards what kind of team Amodu will name. Should he stick with the youngsters who were so impressive in the 1-0 defeat of France three weeks ago, yet so disjointed even as they saw off Kenya in the last round? Or put in all the so-called “tired legs” that got them through the last round without defeat, but looked uninterested in Maputo last March?
How about a little bit of both? For me, the key word in any line-up is balance – both in terms of attack to defense and in terms of youth/energy to experience. Amodu clearly has to make some brave decisions, and it’s how brave he proves that will ultimately decide how well he does at international level.
Courage apart, here’s what else we’ll need to take something away from Rades:
First, he has to pick a side that is both experienced and able enough in defence to match what could be a relentless onslaught of Tunisian attack, at least early in the game. For me that would indicate a return of Joseph Yobo and Taiye Taiwo in defence, to support the impressive Niyi Adeleye.
Second, the Eagles have to be savvy and skilful enough to patiently keep possession for long periods and use the ball very very smartly, pretty much as they did for long stretches of the France game. I think that would call for a role of some sort for John Obi Mikel, who remains our best passer of the ball, as well as team captain Nwankwo Kanu, who sure knows how to play keep-ball and whose introduction against Kenya proved decisive.
Third, this team will have to have pace, mobility and aggression on the attacking end, since counter-attacks may well prove our best hope of grabbing what would be a truly crucial win. Here’s where the younger players must come to the fore. The injury enforced absence of Oba Martins and Aiyegbeni Yakubu as already forced Amodu’s hand somewhat, but I really think the trio of Osaze Odemwingie, Ike Uche and Victor Obinna have earned their place on merit, and – along with Chinedu Ogbuke - they embody the, smarts and finishing touch that the Eagles will need to see them through this group.
If I had to pick – and I obviously lack Amodu’s first hand knowledge of his players and any kind of coaching experience – our team for this match would look something like this:
(4-4-1-1) Enyeama; Odiah, Yobo, Adeleye, Taiwo; Odemwingie, Mikel, Olofinjana, Obinna; Kanu; Uche I
I’ll take a draw – but I’ll be most grateful for a win.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Champions League: Red Devils Favoured, But Barca Is It
I’m beginning to sound like a Manchester United supporter but I think the Red Devils are favourites to win a second consecutive Champions League title when they face Barcelona in Rome tonight.
Man U have the edge for two reasons. First, while everyone raves about the potency of their attack, Man U, on their day, have the defensive nous to keep Barcelona’s equally frightening attack at bay. They’ll miss the work rate of the suspended Darren Fletcher in midfield, but Anderson will be a more than adequate replacement alongside Michael Carrick in front of the back four. If Rio Ferdinand returns, as expected to partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence – and they have a good game – Braca’s attack will have a hard time breaking them down.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, Braca’s defence is racked with suspensions and injury trouble. Full backs Dani Alvez and Eric Abidal are out suspended; centre backs Rafa Marquez and Gaby Milito are out injured, and although Carles Puyol should return to partner Gerard Pique - or fill one of the full back slots – it’s going to be a make-shift Barca defence against the guile and power of Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo in one of the most potent attacking pairs in Europe. If they don’t improve on their showing at Stamford Bridge in the semis it could be a long night.
So, it’s advantage Man U – at least on paper.
But having said all that, there are two things that could swing this for Barcelona.
First, of course, is the crazy attacking talent on this team and their ability to keep the ball and carve openings out of nothing. There’s no question that they’ll dominate possession, and those pint-sized maestros, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, are as creative as they come, and if anyone can breach United’s vaunted defence, they can. Then ahead of them are three of the most skilled poachers in world football – Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o - who have already scored 97 goals between them this season. They weren’t quite as prolific against Chelsea in the semis, but I doubt Man U will play as defensively as the Blues did, and that might well give Barca room to play.
The second factor in favour of a Barca win is tradition. The Champions League – and the European Cup before it - is strewn with a long history of final upsets – underdogs overcoming their favoured rivals time and again to lift “the cup with the big ears”.
Where to begin? I could go as far back as 1962, when a favoured Barcelona fell short against Benfica, but I’ll try and keep it a little more contemporary – lest I begin to date myself. In 1983, Juventus, packed with Italian World Cup winners from the previous year – Rossi, Tardelli, Gentile etc. – and superstars Platini and Boniek, were taken out by German upstarts Hamburg; three years later, Barcelona lost to Steau Bucharest on penalties, in Spain, and the following year, Rabah Madjer’s cheeky back-heel helped Porto beat Bayern Munich.
There’s more: Red Star Belgrade topped star-studded Marseilles in 1991, and then Marseilles themselves beat much-favoured AC Milan in ’93. The following year, Barcelona’s “Dream Team” – Romario, Stoichkov and co – was expected to run over a Milan side deprived of regulars Baresi, Costacurta and Marco van Basten yet it was the Italians that won 4-1.
Two more: Juventus were big favourites against Dortmund in 1997, yet a pimply-faced teenager called Lars Ricken scored the decider in a 3-1 Dortmund win. And then there’s Istanbul in 2005, when Liverpool came from three down to beat Milan.
Man U may be favourites, but I’m not sure that tag means much where Champions League finals are concerned.
I’m looking forward to a Barcelona win – against all the odds.
Enjoy.
Man U have the edge for two reasons. First, while everyone raves about the potency of their attack, Man U, on their day, have the defensive nous to keep Barcelona’s equally frightening attack at bay. They’ll miss the work rate of the suspended Darren Fletcher in midfield, but Anderson will be a more than adequate replacement alongside Michael Carrick in front of the back four. If Rio Ferdinand returns, as expected to partner Nemanja Vidic in central defence – and they have a good game – Braca’s attack will have a hard time breaking them down.
Second, and perhaps more importantly, Braca’s defence is racked with suspensions and injury trouble. Full backs Dani Alvez and Eric Abidal are out suspended; centre backs Rafa Marquez and Gaby Milito are out injured, and although Carles Puyol should return to partner Gerard Pique - or fill one of the full back slots – it’s going to be a make-shift Barca defence against the guile and power of Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo in one of the most potent attacking pairs in Europe. If they don’t improve on their showing at Stamford Bridge in the semis it could be a long night.
So, it’s advantage Man U – at least on paper.
But having said all that, there are two things that could swing this for Barcelona.
First, of course, is the crazy attacking talent on this team and their ability to keep the ball and carve openings out of nothing. There’s no question that they’ll dominate possession, and those pint-sized maestros, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, are as creative as they come, and if anyone can breach United’s vaunted defence, they can. Then ahead of them are three of the most skilled poachers in world football – Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o - who have already scored 97 goals between them this season. They weren’t quite as prolific against Chelsea in the semis, but I doubt Man U will play as defensively as the Blues did, and that might well give Barca room to play.
The second factor in favour of a Barca win is tradition. The Champions League – and the European Cup before it - is strewn with a long history of final upsets – underdogs overcoming their favoured rivals time and again to lift “the cup with the big ears”.
Where to begin? I could go as far back as 1962, when a favoured Barcelona fell short against Benfica, but I’ll try and keep it a little more contemporary – lest I begin to date myself. In 1983, Juventus, packed with Italian World Cup winners from the previous year – Rossi, Tardelli, Gentile etc. – and superstars Platini and Boniek, were taken out by German upstarts Hamburg; three years later, Barcelona lost to Steau Bucharest on penalties, in Spain, and the following year, Rabah Madjer’s cheeky back-heel helped Porto beat Bayern Munich.
There’s more: Red Star Belgrade topped star-studded Marseilles in 1991, and then Marseilles themselves beat much-favoured AC Milan in ’93. The following year, Barcelona’s “Dream Team” – Romario, Stoichkov and co – was expected to run over a Milan side deprived of regulars Baresi, Costacurta and Marco van Basten yet it was the Italians that won 4-1.
Two more: Juventus were big favourites against Dortmund in 1997, yet a pimply-faced teenager called Lars Ricken scored the decider in a 3-1 Dortmund win. And then there’s Istanbul in 2005, when Liverpool came from three down to beat Milan.
Man U may be favourites, but I’m not sure that tag means much where Champions League finals are concerned.
I’m looking forward to a Barcelona win – against all the odds.
Enjoy.
Good Season for 'Pool, but Man U Better
Man Utd may have claimed a third consecutive title, but for me, that’s not the real story of 2008/09 English Premiership season.
Don’t get me wrong, Man U were certainly worthy winners – you get what you deserve after a 38 game season – and there can be no arguments about why they finished top of the pile again. They obviously boast the biggest and best squad in the league, have quality players all over the pitch (and bench and beyond), had a time-tested and pretty stable team in place, and in Sir Alex Ferguson, they have the most accomplished football coach of this generation – and any other for that matter. They started the season as favourites, and despite some rough patches along the way, finished as many expected they would.
For me though, the real story is the emergence of Liverpool – ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal - as the biggest threat to Man U’s crown. As a Liverpool fan, I know I’m going to get slated for bias, but numbers don’t lie and the fact that the Anfield Road side finished just four points behind the champions (and greatly improved on last term’s 4th place finish) is just the tip of the iceberg. For one thing, when the season kicked off in August, only the most hardcore of Liverpool fans would have truly believed that they would still be within shouting distance of the title in May.
Yet Liverpool turned in what, in Premiership terms, was a watershed season to push Man U all the way to the tape. In the process, they lost just two matches all season (Man U lost 4, Chelsea 5 and Arsenal 6) and finished with 86 points – their best ever tally in the Premiership, and a 10 point improvement on last season.
Liverpool also scored more goals than any other team (77); had the best goal difference (+50); and were the only Premiership team not to lose on their home field – the first time they’ve achieved that since 1988. Add to these home and away conquests of BOTH Chelsea and Man Utd, and it’s clear that Liverpool have just had a season like they haven’t since the halcyon days of the 1980s.
That they didn’t crown a great season with the title is for me just another testament to the quality of the team that finished above them, and not – as some would argue – down to the “failings” of manager Rafa Benitez, or “too many draws”.
To address the first point, it’s curious that the very same critics that have labelled Liverpool a “two-man team” can now turn around and criticise a manager that has led that same team within 4 points of the title. Surely, if the players aren’t up to scratch, - and, remember, those two trees that make a forest were missing for large chunks of the season - the manager must have had something to do with the team’s progress. Benitez has slowly and surely built a team that has proved that it can compete with the best teams in Europe and I find it ridiculous that some are quite happy to blame the man for every little slip while failing to acknowledge the tremendous strides he’s made in 5 years at Anfield.
As for the second point, how many draws is too many? It’s all relative, isn’t it? Sure, Liverpool should have won a few more games, especially at home, but 11 draws is only too many because Man U drew just 6. But it’s become almost gospel for all the TV talking heads to say “they drew too many games”.
The funny thing, as I just learnt, is that the last time Liverpool lost two matches in a season, back in 1988, they drew 12 matches – and still won the title by 9 points! And did you know that Arsenal drew 12 matches in 2004? Yes, that was the same season they completed a full season without a single defeat and won the title by 11 points!
So can we really pinpoint how the title was lost in such simple terms? After all, if Liverpool had won at both Tottenham and Middlesbrough – the two matches they lost – they’d be champions now. Even one win and a draw would have sufficed. So, maybe they lost too many matches??
And you know what else? Chelsea drew “only” 8 matches, but I’m sure they would have loved to swap their 5 losses for draws, a scenario that would have left them with 12 draws. Too many, surely, but good enough to overhaul Liverpool and earn 2nd place.
Of course, there are no prizes for second place, and all these are scant consolation for us Liverpool die-hards. Yet, when earlier this week a friend asked why Liverpool “failed to win the title”, it was hard for me, as you might have gleaned, to think of this season as a failure.
My answer: Liverpool had a very good season, better than most – except Man U, who had a great season.
Don’t get me wrong, Man U were certainly worthy winners – you get what you deserve after a 38 game season – and there can be no arguments about why they finished top of the pile again. They obviously boast the biggest and best squad in the league, have quality players all over the pitch (and bench and beyond), had a time-tested and pretty stable team in place, and in Sir Alex Ferguson, they have the most accomplished football coach of this generation – and any other for that matter. They started the season as favourites, and despite some rough patches along the way, finished as many expected they would.
For me though, the real story is the emergence of Liverpool – ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal - as the biggest threat to Man U’s crown. As a Liverpool fan, I know I’m going to get slated for bias, but numbers don’t lie and the fact that the Anfield Road side finished just four points behind the champions (and greatly improved on last term’s 4th place finish) is just the tip of the iceberg. For one thing, when the season kicked off in August, only the most hardcore of Liverpool fans would have truly believed that they would still be within shouting distance of the title in May.
Yet Liverpool turned in what, in Premiership terms, was a watershed season to push Man U all the way to the tape. In the process, they lost just two matches all season (Man U lost 4, Chelsea 5 and Arsenal 6) and finished with 86 points – their best ever tally in the Premiership, and a 10 point improvement on last season.
Liverpool also scored more goals than any other team (77); had the best goal difference (+50); and were the only Premiership team not to lose on their home field – the first time they’ve achieved that since 1988. Add to these home and away conquests of BOTH Chelsea and Man Utd, and it’s clear that Liverpool have just had a season like they haven’t since the halcyon days of the 1980s.
That they didn’t crown a great season with the title is for me just another testament to the quality of the team that finished above them, and not – as some would argue – down to the “failings” of manager Rafa Benitez, or “too many draws”.
To address the first point, it’s curious that the very same critics that have labelled Liverpool a “two-man team” can now turn around and criticise a manager that has led that same team within 4 points of the title. Surely, if the players aren’t up to scratch, - and, remember, those two trees that make a forest were missing for large chunks of the season - the manager must have had something to do with the team’s progress. Benitez has slowly and surely built a team that has proved that it can compete with the best teams in Europe and I find it ridiculous that some are quite happy to blame the man for every little slip while failing to acknowledge the tremendous strides he’s made in 5 years at Anfield.
As for the second point, how many draws is too many? It’s all relative, isn’t it? Sure, Liverpool should have won a few more games, especially at home, but 11 draws is only too many because Man U drew just 6. But it’s become almost gospel for all the TV talking heads to say “they drew too many games”.
The funny thing, as I just learnt, is that the last time Liverpool lost two matches in a season, back in 1988, they drew 12 matches – and still won the title by 9 points! And did you know that Arsenal drew 12 matches in 2004? Yes, that was the same season they completed a full season without a single defeat and won the title by 11 points!
So can we really pinpoint how the title was lost in such simple terms? After all, if Liverpool had won at both Tottenham and Middlesbrough – the two matches they lost – they’d be champions now. Even one win and a draw would have sufficed. So, maybe they lost too many matches??
And you know what else? Chelsea drew “only” 8 matches, but I’m sure they would have loved to swap their 5 losses for draws, a scenario that would have left them with 12 draws. Too many, surely, but good enough to overhaul Liverpool and earn 2nd place.
Of course, there are no prizes for second place, and all these are scant consolation for us Liverpool die-hards. Yet, when earlier this week a friend asked why Liverpool “failed to win the title”, it was hard for me, as you might have gleaned, to think of this season as a failure.
My answer: Liverpool had a very good season, better than most – except Man U, who had a great season.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Red Men, Wenger’s Boys and Blues’ blues
I think Patrice Evra hit the nail on the head when he described that Arsenal – Man U Champions’ League semi-final in midweek as “Eleven men against Eleven babies”. Quite frankly, I was thinking along similar lines – men v boys, actually – as the Red Devils toyed with Arsene Wenger’s team at the Emirates on Tuesday. Man U showed yet again why they are favorites to retain the Champions League this season while Arsenal looked, yet again, like a group of promising youngsters. Nothing wrong with that, of course, except that Arsenal has been a team of promising youngsters for three to four years now.
Will they ever fulfill that potential? Time will tell, and if they keep buying the likes of Andrei Arshavin they’ll certainly have a good chance. But if, like last year, their best players keep leaving for greener pastures, that trophy drought may extend well beyond the current five year mark.
Tuesday certainly did nothing to bring to mind the thrilling Arsenal-Man U clashes of just a few years ago. When the likes of Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry often matched and sometimes bested whatever Man U had to offer. Those days sure served up a more compelling contest than the one-sided fare we sat through last week.
As for Man U, what else is there to say? On Tuesday’s form, the Premiership title is a sure lock. Or can Arsenal, with nothing to play for save pride, be truly expected to mess things up at Old Trafford next week? It was another demonstration of both the resources at Sir Alex’s disposal as well as the wily old man’s tactical acumen. How many managers – if they had them - would leave 60 million pounds worth of strikers on the bench in a Champions’ League semi final, even if they did have a slender lead from the first leg? Yet, with Ronaldo’s special abilities, Man U could afford to start with both Berbatov and Tevez on the bench, and still win convincingly without ever getting out of second gear. Sure, the early goals helped, but, let’s face it; the rest of the game was hardly a contest.
You can’t say the same about what transpired at Stamford Bridge the next day though. That was a full-fledged battle between two highly committed teams. Chelsea’s early goal meant they could then spin their spider-web across their penalty area and sit back and watch Barcelona constantly get entangled in it. Barcelona, needing to come forward in search of a goal, invariably left gaps at the back and Chelsea – who defended superbly - had the better of the game and certainly had the chances to put it away.
Some people say Chelsea’s gameplan was negative and not what they’d call “good football”. I say that’s nonsense. Defending is as much a part of the game as attacking, and it would have been foolhardy on Guus Hiddink’s part to set up his team to Barcelona’s advantage. The only failing in Chelsea’s strategy is that they didn’t see it through. Barcelona had a poor game by their standards, but that’s largely because Chelsea wouldn’t let them play. Ballack and Essien played like an advanced pair of centre backs, denying Eto’o and Iniesta any space in the middle, while Malouda tracked Dani Alvez at every turn. It must irk every Chelsea fan that the one decent cross Dani Alvez managed all game, led to Iniesta’s late, late equalizer – which was also Barca’s first shot on target.
Then there were all those penalty appeals that had the Chelsea players in attack mode – on referee Ovebro – after the game. Okay, Pique’s ball-handling was clear enough and should have been a penalty – unless the ref was unsighted and didn’t see it or ruled it unintentional. As for the other three, I think they were all debatable. When Dani Alvez fouled Malouda in the first half, it’s clear that the initial contact happened outside the box. Drogba did have his shirt pulled – and then left – when he went past Abidal in the box, but he didn’t need to collapse so dramatically and you have admit, that would have been a really soft penalty. As for the last minute Ballack shot into Eto’o, yes, I’ve seen them given but surely a man jumping in the box with his back to the ball shouldn’t be called for a penalty. Besides, Ovebro then sent off Abidal, giving Chelsea a one-man advantage – they never made it count – with a quarter of the game to play.
Nevertheless, I’ll concede that Chelsea were unlucky that they didn’t have another referee on the day, but that’s part of the game. You don’t always get the calls you want or deserve and it’s quite futile to attack the ref after the fact, as Drogba and co. shamefully did on Wednesday night.
It’s often said that small details determine close games and for me, Chelsea fans should consider two incidents as the seek answers for their team’s failure to reach Rome:
First, on 51 minutes, Anelka set Drogba up with a perfect pass and a great opportunity to put Barca away. He did well to calmly take Pique out with a neat cutback, but then, with a gaping goal beckoning, he hit his shot straight at the onrushing Valdez and the chance was gone.
Then, right at the end, when John Terry’s clearance of Alvez’s cross fell to Eto’o in the box, his heavy first touch gave Essien the opportunity to toe poke the ball to safety. He missed the ball completely, allowing Messi to set up Iniesta and, well, to use that time-worn cliché, the rest is history.
Sure, you can blame the referee, but, right or wrong, what he does isn’t within the team’s control. But Drogba had the chance to score, and Essien the chance to stop Barcelona. It was within their control. They failed, and Chelsea failed.
And that’s why it’ll be Barcelona v Man U in Rome on May 27.
A few words on the Premiership race, which could very well end this weekend. It’s Man Utd’s title to lose now since they have to drop 6 points for Liverpool to have any chance at all.
With four games left to play, that’s unlikely to happen, even when you consider that two of those games are usually two of the toughest tests that Man U would face in any season. They host city rivals Man City on Sunday, and then welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford a week later.
With the other two games away to Wigan and Hull, there’s no question that the two home matches offer the only hope of a Man U upset and Liverpool fans everywhere – including yours truly – will be hoping against all hope.
But when you consider that Man U have won 15 of 17 matches at home this season, you’ll understand why it’ll take a minor miracle to dethrone them from their perch. That’s not to say it’s impossible though –even if Liverpool must take maximum points from their last three games (West Ham, West Brom and Spurs) to complete this unlikely scenario.
Bottom Line: If Man City don’t repeat last season’s Old Trafford win on Sunday, the race is done and dusted.
Will they ever fulfill that potential? Time will tell, and if they keep buying the likes of Andrei Arshavin they’ll certainly have a good chance. But if, like last year, their best players keep leaving for greener pastures, that trophy drought may extend well beyond the current five year mark.
Tuesday certainly did nothing to bring to mind the thrilling Arsenal-Man U clashes of just a few years ago. When the likes of Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires and Thierry Henry often matched and sometimes bested whatever Man U had to offer. Those days sure served up a more compelling contest than the one-sided fare we sat through last week.
As for Man U, what else is there to say? On Tuesday’s form, the Premiership title is a sure lock. Or can Arsenal, with nothing to play for save pride, be truly expected to mess things up at Old Trafford next week? It was another demonstration of both the resources at Sir Alex’s disposal as well as the wily old man’s tactical acumen. How many managers – if they had them - would leave 60 million pounds worth of strikers on the bench in a Champions’ League semi final, even if they did have a slender lead from the first leg? Yet, with Ronaldo’s special abilities, Man U could afford to start with both Berbatov and Tevez on the bench, and still win convincingly without ever getting out of second gear. Sure, the early goals helped, but, let’s face it; the rest of the game was hardly a contest.
You can’t say the same about what transpired at Stamford Bridge the next day though. That was a full-fledged battle between two highly committed teams. Chelsea’s early goal meant they could then spin their spider-web across their penalty area and sit back and watch Barcelona constantly get entangled in it. Barcelona, needing to come forward in search of a goal, invariably left gaps at the back and Chelsea – who defended superbly - had the better of the game and certainly had the chances to put it away.
Some people say Chelsea’s gameplan was negative and not what they’d call “good football”. I say that’s nonsense. Defending is as much a part of the game as attacking, and it would have been foolhardy on Guus Hiddink’s part to set up his team to Barcelona’s advantage. The only failing in Chelsea’s strategy is that they didn’t see it through. Barcelona had a poor game by their standards, but that’s largely because Chelsea wouldn’t let them play. Ballack and Essien played like an advanced pair of centre backs, denying Eto’o and Iniesta any space in the middle, while Malouda tracked Dani Alvez at every turn. It must irk every Chelsea fan that the one decent cross Dani Alvez managed all game, led to Iniesta’s late, late equalizer – which was also Barca’s first shot on target.
Then there were all those penalty appeals that had the Chelsea players in attack mode – on referee Ovebro – after the game. Okay, Pique’s ball-handling was clear enough and should have been a penalty – unless the ref was unsighted and didn’t see it or ruled it unintentional. As for the other three, I think they were all debatable. When Dani Alvez fouled Malouda in the first half, it’s clear that the initial contact happened outside the box. Drogba did have his shirt pulled – and then left – when he went past Abidal in the box, but he didn’t need to collapse so dramatically and you have admit, that would have been a really soft penalty. As for the last minute Ballack shot into Eto’o, yes, I’ve seen them given but surely a man jumping in the box with his back to the ball shouldn’t be called for a penalty. Besides, Ovebro then sent off Abidal, giving Chelsea a one-man advantage – they never made it count – with a quarter of the game to play.
Nevertheless, I’ll concede that Chelsea were unlucky that they didn’t have another referee on the day, but that’s part of the game. You don’t always get the calls you want or deserve and it’s quite futile to attack the ref after the fact, as Drogba and co. shamefully did on Wednesday night.
It’s often said that small details determine close games and for me, Chelsea fans should consider two incidents as the seek answers for their team’s failure to reach Rome:
First, on 51 minutes, Anelka set Drogba up with a perfect pass and a great opportunity to put Barca away. He did well to calmly take Pique out with a neat cutback, but then, with a gaping goal beckoning, he hit his shot straight at the onrushing Valdez and the chance was gone.
Then, right at the end, when John Terry’s clearance of Alvez’s cross fell to Eto’o in the box, his heavy first touch gave Essien the opportunity to toe poke the ball to safety. He missed the ball completely, allowing Messi to set up Iniesta and, well, to use that time-worn cliché, the rest is history.
Sure, you can blame the referee, but, right or wrong, what he does isn’t within the team’s control. But Drogba had the chance to score, and Essien the chance to stop Barcelona. It was within their control. They failed, and Chelsea failed.
And that’s why it’ll be Barcelona v Man U in Rome on May 27.
A few words on the Premiership race, which could very well end this weekend. It’s Man Utd’s title to lose now since they have to drop 6 points for Liverpool to have any chance at all.
With four games left to play, that’s unlikely to happen, even when you consider that two of those games are usually two of the toughest tests that Man U would face in any season. They host city rivals Man City on Sunday, and then welcome Arsenal to Old Trafford a week later.
With the other two games away to Wigan and Hull, there’s no question that the two home matches offer the only hope of a Man U upset and Liverpool fans everywhere – including yours truly – will be hoping against all hope.
But when you consider that Man U have won 15 of 17 matches at home this season, you’ll understand why it’ll take a minor miracle to dethrone them from their perch. That’s not to say it’s impossible though –even if Liverpool must take maximum points from their last three games (West Ham, West Brom and Spurs) to complete this unlikely scenario.
Bottom Line: If Man City don’t repeat last season’s Old Trafford win on Sunday, the race is done and dusted.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Don't Bet On Chelsea
I know. It’s been a while. But is there a better time to return to action than now? With matters coming to a head in the Champions League and the Premiership race dragging on I have little choice but to put pen to paper - or fingers to keyboard, I suppose – and offer up my tuppence worth. Of course, there’s also the little matter of the battle for supremacy in La Liga - which by the way appears to have been settled at the Bernabeu last Saturday. And even Ligue One in France has it’s share of drama, with both Bordeaux and Marseilles looking to upstage perennial champions Lyons, who are looking for a 8th consecutive title.
After last week’s semi-final first leg results, the odds must be on Man Utd and Chelsea making it a repeat of last year’s Champions League Final, although I am positive that both Arsenal and Barcelona will yet have a say in how things turn out. Indeed, anyone who witnessed Barcelona’s weekend demolition of Real Madrid in La Liga would hesitate to put any money on Chelsea reaching a second consecutive final. If you missed it, you sure missed a treat, as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi painted little passing patterns around the Meringues, and Thierry Henry – looking like his old Arsenal version – plundering two goals on their way to an emphatic 6-2 rout - and on enemy turf, to boot.
Chelsea’s stiff defensive showing at the Nou Camp did just about enough to stifle Pep Guardiola’s attacking machine in the first leg, but I’ll be shocked if the Blues resort to the same negative mindset in front of their home fans and this one should be a more open affair. As Barcelona showed at the weekend, they’ll play the same way, home or away, and if Chelsea give them the room they could be on the end of a hiding. Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of Barcelona’s less than stellar defense, especially with Carles Puyol suspended and Rafa Marquez injured, and they could do some damage from set-pieces where their superior physique – think Ballack, Drogba, Terry, Ivanovic, Alex – puts them at an advantage. It’s a tough call, and Chelsea will be no pushovers, but I think Barcelona will shade this one.
Arsenal managed to escape Old Trafford with a slim one goal deficit last week, but they’ll need to be at their very best to see off an in-form Man Utd at the Emirates. Sadly, Arsenal at their best includes Andrei Arshavin these days and the little Russian is ineligible for Champions League play. Man U seem to have found their best form again, since Sir Alex switched Wayne Rooney to that wide left role and let Carlos Tevez run riot down the middle, and if they have a good day it’s hard to see Arsenal winning this one. Most teams would be adequately distracted by a league championship race to take their eyes of the ball, but Man U boast a squad of both depth and quality and the likes of Ronaldo, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand will return refreshed after sitting out the weekend win at Middlesbrough. Regardless of what happened last week, Arsenal have been playing with confidence and the craft of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor should be enough to earn them a goal or two. But keeping United off the scoresheet will prove a mountain too high to climb and the Red Devils should be on course for Rome come Tuesday night.
Whatever happens, enjoy the football. I‘ll be back with more on the Premiership, La Liga and France later in the week.
After last week’s semi-final first leg results, the odds must be on Man Utd and Chelsea making it a repeat of last year’s Champions League Final, although I am positive that both Arsenal and Barcelona will yet have a say in how things turn out. Indeed, anyone who witnessed Barcelona’s weekend demolition of Real Madrid in La Liga would hesitate to put any money on Chelsea reaching a second consecutive final. If you missed it, you sure missed a treat, as Xavi, Iniesta and Messi painted little passing patterns around the Meringues, and Thierry Henry – looking like his old Arsenal version – plundering two goals on their way to an emphatic 6-2 rout - and on enemy turf, to boot.
Chelsea’s stiff defensive showing at the Nou Camp did just about enough to stifle Pep Guardiola’s attacking machine in the first leg, but I’ll be shocked if the Blues resort to the same negative mindset in front of their home fans and this one should be a more open affair. As Barcelona showed at the weekend, they’ll play the same way, home or away, and if Chelsea give them the room they could be on the end of a hiding. Chelsea will be looking to take advantage of Barcelona’s less than stellar defense, especially with Carles Puyol suspended and Rafa Marquez injured, and they could do some damage from set-pieces where their superior physique – think Ballack, Drogba, Terry, Ivanovic, Alex – puts them at an advantage. It’s a tough call, and Chelsea will be no pushovers, but I think Barcelona will shade this one.
Arsenal managed to escape Old Trafford with a slim one goal deficit last week, but they’ll need to be at their very best to see off an in-form Man Utd at the Emirates. Sadly, Arsenal at their best includes Andrei Arshavin these days and the little Russian is ineligible for Champions League play. Man U seem to have found their best form again, since Sir Alex switched Wayne Rooney to that wide left role and let Carlos Tevez run riot down the middle, and if they have a good day it’s hard to see Arsenal winning this one. Most teams would be adequately distracted by a league championship race to take their eyes of the ball, but Man U boast a squad of both depth and quality and the likes of Ronaldo, Michael Carrick and Rio Ferdinand will return refreshed after sitting out the weekend win at Middlesbrough. Regardless of what happened last week, Arsenal have been playing with confidence and the craft of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Adebayor should be enough to earn them a goal or two. But keeping United off the scoresheet will prove a mountain too high to climb and the Red Devils should be on course for Rome come Tuesday night.
Whatever happens, enjoy the football. I‘ll be back with more on the Premiership, La Liga and France later in the week.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Nothing To Fear…..But Man U
Just in case you thought they weren’t paying attention, Manchester United laid down a marker at the weekend in what was a comprehensive 3-0 trouncing of close rivals Chelsea.
With Liverpool failing to beat Stoke City for the second time this season, Man U’s win at Old Trafford puts them just one point behind Chelsea and five points behind leaders Liverpool. Of course, the fact they still have two outstanding matches – at home to Wigan and Fulham – means they now firmly hold the aces in the race for the Premiership title.
How’s it all going to end? No one knows for sure, but Man U’s demolition job clearly emphasized two things:
First, the defending champions are without question the team to beat this season. They’ve now gone 8 games without a loss - and without conceding a single goal as well – and, in terms of quality and balance, they certainly boast the best squad in the league. And it’s not just about big name players either; teamwork is the key to United’s success. Consider that Man U took Chelsea apart without Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez. Man for man, Chelsea certainly looked the stronger side on paper. They had Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack in central midfield facing off with the unsung Darren Fletcher and 35-year-old Ryan Giggs. Yet, Man U clearly posed the bigger threat and Chelsea did not manage a single shot on target.
Man U’s schedule also puts them in a better position than any of the other contenders. Apart from their outstanding matches – which they still need to win – all their rivals still have to visit Old Trafford before the season is over, and the defending champions seldom slip up at the ‘Theatre of Dreams” where they’ve now won 23 of their last 25 matches.
Second, Big Phil Scolari’s regime at Chelsea is going anything but smoothly. It’s true that Chelsea have been injury-plagued all season, with Joe Cole, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho all just returning and the influential Michael Essien still out missing. Yet Chelsea’s capitulation on Sunday wasn’t just down to underperforming personnel and questions have to be raised about Big Phil’s game approach and attention to detail. This was a far cry from Jose Mourinho’s well-drilled, ruthlessly swift attacking machine and a preponderance of square midfield passes and lack of width took the edge off their attacking game, leaving Drogba increasingly isolated and constantly tracking back into midfield.
The defensive lapses were even more alarming. Individually, Chelsea’s star-studded back four are more than a match for any attack, yet the team’s collective defending of set-pieces left much to be desired on Sunday. For the first goal, Nemanja Vidic’s free header could have been kept out by a defender on the far post, as was the constant in years past. To be fair, Chelsea are hardly the only top team to have abandoned this practice and I am constantly amazed at the number of goals that go in from corner kicks for lack of a defender at the post.
The third goal was even more shocking – or maybe Chelsea had already given up by then. I shook my head in disbelief when Chelsea left 19-year-old substitute striker Franco di Santo – 6 feet 4 but inexperienced - to mark Dimitar Berbatov as Ronaldo shaped up for a free kick from the left and it was no surprise when the youngster was easily screened off by Vidic leaving Berbatov free to
score. I’m no big Mourinho fan but there is no way di Santo would have been marking Berbatov under his watch – little details like that can make or break a season.
Chelsea will still trouble many teams this season, especially once their returnees settle in, but they are more vulnerable than they’ve been in years and the manner of their loss at Old Trafford – not just the result itself – only confirms what earlier draws with West Ham and Fulham had suggested.
As for leaders Liverpool? Well, another frustrating draw at Stoke suggests that Rafa Benitez’s team isn’t the finished article yet and the wait for a Premiership title isn’t quite over yet. Steven Gerrard very nearly saved the day again, but his supporting cast will have to take a little more of the burden if Liverpool want to stay in the running till March. The missing link at Stoke was the calm control and distribution of the injured Xabi Alonso, for my money, Liverpool’s most consistent player of the season so far.
Liverpool fans would have been further frustrated by Benitez’s refusal to go for broke and toss Robbie Keane into the mix as the clock ebbed away. Yet, that would have meant pulling Gerrard back into midfield for Lucas or Javi Mascherano – and thus moving the team’s top scorer and most likely goal scorer farther away from goal. It’s easy to point fingers after the fact, but Rafa’s decision came within a post’s width of paying off.
Nevertheless, Liverpool will rue results like these if they fall short in April. It’s been a decent run so far – one loss in 21 matches – and their taste for the big occasion might well keep them on track. A team that has given up a lead just once all season – in that defeat at Spurs – shouldn’t be written off too hastily but they’ll need to keep pace with United to have any chance at all.
With Liverpool failing to beat Stoke City for the second time this season, Man U’s win at Old Trafford puts them just one point behind Chelsea and five points behind leaders Liverpool. Of course, the fact they still have two outstanding matches – at home to Wigan and Fulham – means they now firmly hold the aces in the race for the Premiership title.
How’s it all going to end? No one knows for sure, but Man U’s demolition job clearly emphasized two things:
First, the defending champions are without question the team to beat this season. They’ve now gone 8 games without a loss - and without conceding a single goal as well – and, in terms of quality and balance, they certainly boast the best squad in the league. And it’s not just about big name players either; teamwork is the key to United’s success. Consider that Man U took Chelsea apart without Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick, Paul Scholes and Carlos Tevez. Man for man, Chelsea certainly looked the stronger side on paper. They had Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack in central midfield facing off with the unsung Darren Fletcher and 35-year-old Ryan Giggs. Yet, Man U clearly posed the bigger threat and Chelsea did not manage a single shot on target.
Man U’s schedule also puts them in a better position than any of the other contenders. Apart from their outstanding matches – which they still need to win – all their rivals still have to visit Old Trafford before the season is over, and the defending champions seldom slip up at the ‘Theatre of Dreams” where they’ve now won 23 of their last 25 matches.
Second, Big Phil Scolari’s regime at Chelsea is going anything but smoothly. It’s true that Chelsea have been injury-plagued all season, with Joe Cole, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho all just returning and the influential Michael Essien still out missing. Yet Chelsea’s capitulation on Sunday wasn’t just down to underperforming personnel and questions have to be raised about Big Phil’s game approach and attention to detail. This was a far cry from Jose Mourinho’s well-drilled, ruthlessly swift attacking machine and a preponderance of square midfield passes and lack of width took the edge off their attacking game, leaving Drogba increasingly isolated and constantly tracking back into midfield.
The defensive lapses were even more alarming. Individually, Chelsea’s star-studded back four are more than a match for any attack, yet the team’s collective defending of set-pieces left much to be desired on Sunday. For the first goal, Nemanja Vidic’s free header could have been kept out by a defender on the far post, as was the constant in years past. To be fair, Chelsea are hardly the only top team to have abandoned this practice and I am constantly amazed at the number of goals that go in from corner kicks for lack of a defender at the post.
The third goal was even more shocking – or maybe Chelsea had already given up by then. I shook my head in disbelief when Chelsea left 19-year-old substitute striker Franco di Santo – 6 feet 4 but inexperienced - to mark Dimitar Berbatov as Ronaldo shaped up for a free kick from the left and it was no surprise when the youngster was easily screened off by Vidic leaving Berbatov free to
score. I’m no big Mourinho fan but there is no way di Santo would have been marking Berbatov under his watch – little details like that can make or break a season.
Chelsea will still trouble many teams this season, especially once their returnees settle in, but they are more vulnerable than they’ve been in years and the manner of their loss at Old Trafford – not just the result itself – only confirms what earlier draws with West Ham and Fulham had suggested.
As for leaders Liverpool? Well, another frustrating draw at Stoke suggests that Rafa Benitez’s team isn’t the finished article yet and the wait for a Premiership title isn’t quite over yet. Steven Gerrard very nearly saved the day again, but his supporting cast will have to take a little more of the burden if Liverpool want to stay in the running till March. The missing link at Stoke was the calm control and distribution of the injured Xabi Alonso, for my money, Liverpool’s most consistent player of the season so far.
Liverpool fans would have been further frustrated by Benitez’s refusal to go for broke and toss Robbie Keane into the mix as the clock ebbed away. Yet, that would have meant pulling Gerrard back into midfield for Lucas or Javi Mascherano – and thus moving the team’s top scorer and most likely goal scorer farther away from goal. It’s easy to point fingers after the fact, but Rafa’s decision came within a post’s width of paying off.
Nevertheless, Liverpool will rue results like these if they fall short in April. It’s been a decent run so far – one loss in 21 matches – and their taste for the big occasion might well keep them on track. A team that has given up a lead just once all season – in that defeat at Spurs – shouldn’t be written off too hastily but they’ll need to keep pace with United to have any chance at all.
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