05.02.09
Want a mad cup final?
4-4 aet, 3 sending-offs, 15-14 on pens?
If Chelsea v Everton will be anything like this come the end of the month, we’re in for a really nice treat.
11.27.08
Squad numbers game
By bringing on Number 80 Jonathan Obika against NEC Nijmegen in the UEFA Cup, Tottenham have broken the record for fielding the player with the highest squad number for an English team in all competitions. The previous one was a Brazilian youth player for Arsenal, Juan, wearing number 57 for a League Cup game. Special mention must go for Ade Akinbiyi who holds the record for league competition, wearing 55 at Palace.
I love squad numbers and especially high ones, I’ve always wanted to write an article about squad numbering. We all know that leagues like Serie A and the Turkish league are very lax with numbering, but did you know that the strictest football association in Europe with this is the LPF of La Liga? The numbers 1 to 23 are mandatory numbers. Sevilla couldn’t retire the number 16 worn by Antonio Puerta because of this.
The English and Scottish FA is in the middle of the strictness policy – while it is not discouraged that players have high squad numbers, nobody could take any high number as he likes. Thus, one way of overcoming this is to give squad numbers to all your youth players, filling up the space so that the first-team player gets his preferred number. This is why Celtic have some players on high numbers – until this season, McManus wore my favourite 44, while McGeady, O’Dea, Cuthbert, Caddis etc. still keep their numbers given to them while they were still in the Celtic youth team.
The same principle is happening at Spurs now, that’s why Obika has number 80. Before I proceed, I was in the hopes that those players who were ousted from the team in Ramos’ reign would return, now that they are given squad numbers by Redknapp, but since Ramos didn’t name them in the A list for European competition, they wouldn’t be eligible. So Redknapp has to rely on the B list, and to Ramos’ credit he lists practically the whole youth setup in it. And for them to be in that list you need to give them squad numbers…
Juande Ramos, I salute you – even if you’ve already left and before that you brushed away players I rated, you’ve shown the way for other Premier League sides how to give their players the chance to own high numbers.
11.22.08
No I haven’t forgotten about my footie blog
Yes it has been a busy few weeks for me. On a positive note, I’ve started playing again (only futsal for the moment) and have been picked for the last few games for my club. I’m still trying to find back my feet and fitness though.
The big four failed to score this week – and the blame goes to the international midweek matches. With these the clubs do not have the time to train together and discuss team tactics with their internationals, and often they come back with sometimes severe injuries, like Theo Walcott’s.
I don’t accept the argument that every club has their internationals going away, because frankly not all clubs have about 15 internationals. You can now see why some players quit their national football team to concentrate on club football. Sure, playing for your country is an honour and is relished by all footballers, but it’s not quite the daily job that pays you at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, not only that no matter how much I and other club managers would argue, these internationals will still be held, I could not offer any other alternative. I myself do feel that national teams need to gather around once in awhile and play, players too need their caps, but it would be better if they are held when the domestic leagues are not at a crucial stage.
On another recent subject of interest, Monsieur Gallas now needs a break from all the retaliation he got from speaking his mind out. People easily forget that he is a winner – one of the very few in that Arsenal squad. Thus he understands the need to win more than the rest of the squad he once led. Sure, his way of telling things and conducting his own image is wrong, but now that he’s not captain anymore, it’s time to stop giving him the stick.
11.26.07
England: Take 2
I needed a couple of days and a few reads to compile this.
You can’t help but feel sorry for the team, once world champions (they say “only once”, I say “that’s a mean feat, just ask Holland”) and now in shambles. Not participating in EURO 2008 is such a disappointment considering where they are amongst the top teams in the world.
I’ve read people pointing the finger at mostly McClaren, some to the players themselves, some to the untimely injuries, some to the influx of foreigners in the league. In fact, it could be said that everything could be blamed for it.
Let’s face it – it’s not a tempting job. A club manager has his players almost every week, he could talk to them, understand their demands, console them and such. Sven is a wonderful club coach, and I never had any doubt he could do what he has now done at Man City, a club looking to be falling into the abyss until he came (okay, along with Thaksin’s millions, fine). Yet, his time as England coach is percieved as a failure (I disagree but that argument should be better left alone for the time being), after several “early exits” from major tournaments.
That was because Sven, and McClaren after that, only had their players in that handful of days, culminating in the summer when most of them are already knackered after a long hard domestic season. There was no continuity.
On the other hand, look at the players who they have picked – most of them were playing for English clubs. This no-English-exports problem has been around since the start of the 90’s. How come countries with their own top leagues like Spain, Italy, France and Germany could export their players well? Are English players that rubbish? Or are they too dismayed by going abroad?
The times of Waddle, Hoddle, Ince and Gazza have gone. It actually enlightens me when an English player moves abroad. Look at Owen’s Real record, everybody says he never gets a game but I don’t think he was unhappy there. His other Real teammates then, Becks couldn’t move anywhere else in England after his rift with Sir Alex, and Woodgate was still loved by the Real fans even in his horror debut.
Fact is, we need English players to be back in demand. We need English coaches to be in demand too; it wasn’t that long ago when you have the likes of Roy Hodgson managing top teams. I am pretty sure that most Premier League matches do not exactly clash with La Liga or Serie A games, and it does have quite a following in those countries as well.
Lampard needs to move to Barca, if he’s ever going to want to improve. A swap deal with any of Barca’s squad players could be ideal for Chelsea – look at how Belletti’s doing.
You see, probably there’s so few English talent being showcased in the Premier League right now. The youth systems of teams like Man U and Boro are there but you need your Crewes and Southamptons, you need top English teams’ coaches wanting them to play for them and then it will work.
That has an effect in the current England side too. For a team that has always produced quality centre-backs and central midfielders, the pairing against Croatia last time out, Campbell and Lescott, weren’t even 3rd choice. When too few English players are playing for their clubs, the national team is at a loss on playing the bare bones when they get injured. Tell you what, I wouldn’t be sure England would be in this if Neville, Ferdinand, Terry and Ashley Cole was fit… no, actually I’m certain England would be safe.
See where I’m heading (this has been such a long-winded article…)? England would need to produce good young players and let them go. England would need to export their managers and let them buy English players for their team too.
We need a new Sir Bobby Robson-like. A new Becks. England would need to seek high and low to find such a talent, though. But it’s well worth it, in order not to taste this current calamity they’re experiencing.
After all, it’s just the European Championships! Look at who the holders are, the winners at 2004. Geez, that team has only 1 in 625 chance of winning at the start? Surely you jest. Shows you how serious the top international teams take of this tournament eh?
