Always the perennial underachievers, the last few years have seen that theory put to bed.  Though the senior team went out in the second round in the 2006 world cup, their previous group performances were electric and a sign of things to come, only hiccuping when faced with a certain purple patch conjured by the majestic Zinedine Zidane and assisted by a blatant dive from the then golden boy Thierry Henry.

RECENT PAST
It could be argued that the turning point was Euro 2004, lazy as it may seem.  In a group with hosts Portugal, underdogs Greece and a Russia of old (as in for a long time there was no vision, hence no hope  – until revitalised by a certain Mr Hiddink several years later)) they were expected to grab one of the two place to wualify for advancement.  Nobody in that championship were expecting Greece to be so stubborn to win that trophy, so they are not the only team to fall behind them then. 

But, despite some leading lights like Raul, there were too many average players knocking about (good, but way behind todays calibre).  Iniki Saez was sacked immediately after, once again they underachieved, a worrying trend now being that they had crashed out of the group stages twice in four major tournaments ( World Cup France 1998 being the other).  Enter Luis Aragones, and a new era.

NEW APPROACH
In the build up to 2006, new players had entered the fray, such as Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta, and among others, David Villa.  David Villa’s inclusion was a big change, with huge criticism over his involvement.  It would be hard to see now, but his presence copped some serious flack.  Why?  Because a certain Raul Gonzalez lost his place, which was sacrilege.  Conspiracy theories were abound that Aragones didn’t pick him because he was the icon of Real Madrid and Aragones had a long standing history with rivals Atletico.  Much was heard about Villa before the World Cup that he was the real deal, but I for one didn’t know who he was.  His inclusion not just seemed to demerit the apparent ego that Raul was to have over the first team squad, but seemed to replace it with a more virtuoso figure as well.  Nowadays, there is no argument, Villa is one of the best five players in the world, no doubt.

In 2006, they ran roughshed over the group stages, hammering the second best team in the group Ukraine to a 4-0 washout.  Particularly memorable was the goal from Fernando Torres.  the finish was an instinctive low drive by the then Atletico forward, but the build up was probable the best football seen at that tournament early on.  Involving everyone, particularly Puyol, it was a sweeping quick move that left their opponents flabbergasted.  Until they went out to France in the second round, they looked like serious contenders.  Being eliminated seemed harsh when it happened, but they deservedly lost 3-1 (Editor’s Note: Thanks to a simulated Henry foul that gave them them the free kick from which to equalise).

That was about as low as it got however, for ever since then the Spanish have revolutionised football, and demolished all that stand before them.

SUPREME DOMINATION
Paying homage to Barcelona’s “tiki-taka” psychology, they swept through their competition at Euro 2008.  They beat everyone the played deservedly and with style, though the most significant victory on that journey had to have been against World Champs Italy in the quarter finals.  They also added bite.  Brazilian born midfield general Marcos Senna may have has a starting berth in the previous World Cup, but he was rather rushed into the team.  When two years had passed, he was fully blooded.  0-0 after 120 minutes against Italy, Spain had reached the shootout.  If they had lost, more tired conotations of “choking it” would surely have arisen.  Tired as it would have been to hear, it was true.  Spain had supreme talent for various World Cup and European campaigns, but the mentality of “underachievement” weighed down like an anvil.  This is when they banished it truely.  One week later, the hoodoo was broken, and they were European champions.

For all level of football enthusiasts however, this was to be not so surprising, as in the last decade especially, Spain have excelled in tournaments at under age level, such household names as Fernando Torres, Fabregas, Iniesta, David Silva and Iker Casillas have rightly caught the eye as ones for the future and have duly been a part of Spain’s most successful era.  On Saturday  night, they gained yet another underage trophy, the under 21′s cup in Denmark.  Once again, they swept all in front of them.  Once again, there are several who caught the eye, playing the Tiki-Taka they will eventually be bedded into.

Barcelona’s emergence as the greatest club in the world ties in perfectly with the national team, as they are nearly duplicates of the other.  Aside from captain and everpresent goalkeeper Casillas, bombing Sergio Ramos, technically brilliant Xavi Alonso and the apparent black sheep of the team Joan Capdevila, this was the Barcelona team.  Puyol, the master defender, the dominant Xavi and Iniesta, who together are too much for any midfield, pulling the strings, as well as Pique, Pedro and Busquets, who were not involved whatsoever in the 2008 triumph but now firmly entrenched in the first team without question.  Add in the enigmatic Villa, who had signed for but not played for Barcelona, and that is 7 starters from the catalan giants.  Vicente Del Bosque was a safe pair of hands, relied upon to carry on the breakthrough work of Luis Aragones.  Like any good coach, instead of changing everything around, he just added elements to the previous success.

DOMINATION ONLY STARTING?
There is plenty left in the tank too.  Ramos, David Silva, Fabregas, Pique and Pedro are all 25, 25, 24, 24 and 23 respectively, Iniesta, and Torres are arguably only entering their prime now, and Casillas is only 30 years of age, young by goalkeeping standards.  If he gets injured or off form, he ahs two world class replacements in Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes ready to step in, and eventually, Manchester United boun David De Gea.  At the rate they are producing players of the calibre of Jeffren, Thiago Alcantara,Iker Muniain, Juan Mata, Javi Martinez (the latter two involved in the World Cup campaign last year) and many others, the skies the limit.

Spain as a nation, just seem to be going from strength to strength, when arguably the standard of international football has decreased rapidly.  That is a harsh indictment, though it is backed up by the decline of nations with the history of Brazil and Italy.  A refocus on youth and freshness is the primary concern for the usual favourites now.  Germany are making the most headway, changing their philosophy after a less than flattering Euro 2004 just like the current world champs, whereas others like France and Brazil have put an emphasis on youth, though for different reasons.  France, disgraced into change, have got a manager of vision, one of their all time greats Laurent Blanc who is eager to make representing the team mean something.  Brazil have been in need of a new approach after their World Cup exploded in their face, blooding in and trusting homebased stars like Neymar and Ganso.  Italy, appear to be at a crossroads, with young talent in small abundance, while Argentina have a wealth at their disposal but underachieve due to various factors.

When the next Euro’s starts in 2012, Spain will no doubt be favourites and likely to win it again, with maybe only Germany causing hassle, and in the 2014 tournament, hosts Brazil will surely pose a threat, as well as Argentina who are never short of talent.

Whatever the case, don’t be surprised if Spain win them both.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

In the last several years of the Championship, there has been a trend developing that I’m surprised has not been made a big deal of.  Since the end of the 2005/2006 season, it has been the most unlikely team (in terms of recent history) who have gone up on the final day.  Not just in terms of recent history, but, more importantly, the momentum they have been building after being overlooked for a long portion of the season.

This year, I am sticking money down on (see below) and I believe it is the smart move (hopefully).

The last several years has seen a trend of clubs never before of the Premier League era go up, but that is not a prerogitive to put your money on someone.  There are 2 teams in the play offs this year who have never before competed at the top, but they are missing something that all the previous winners have had – the unbridled momentum they had going into the play offs.  On a tide of unrealistic achievement, Hull, Burnley and Blackpool have swished to victory.

But, as I said, this is no reason for Swansea or Cardiff to go up.  Here is my assessment.

Recent History
There are two types of teams who generally go up, either one who has been an established team, in their mind at least, and has come close several times but fallen short.  These teams eventually had all the right elements in place and gained the long sought after promotion in time.

They include, of recent memory, Ipswich Town who achieved playoff success in 2000 after several years of pushing back into the league in which they were original founders.  After a great initial season where they surprised everybody and finished fifth, they were dumped the next season and have not yet returned to the top, only being close on one or two occasions.

Bolton Wanderers had a couple of spells in the Premier League in the 90′s, and had gotten the bug and sustained a decent push towards promotion before achieving this again in 2001.  They have never looked back and are established in the League.

Birmingham City, though never in the Premier League, had been building towards it for years before they got the 2002 crown.  Aside from a couple of relegations since the 2002/2003 campaign, they have asserted themselves as a Premier League identity, quickly coming back up the 2 years they have been back in the Championship.

Like their midlands rivals, Wolves had been building towards promotion several years before they eventually achieved it.  An uncertain position in the Championship whenever they compete (they are usually as likely to do well as they could do bad), they would like to cement the place they want.  The initial relegation from the Premier League in 2004had them waiting 5 years before they were back in the big time.

Crystal Palace won the 2004 play offs in what may have been the most unlikely scenario possible that season.  Flirting with relegation and all sort of financial doomsday scenario’s in December 2003, Iain Dowie’s appointment looked a piece of genius.  he somehow took them not only to the playoffs, but to promotion.  Crystal Palace are one of the original alumni’s of the Premiership, but they have never survived a season in the top flight.  An unlikely story that mirrors some of the past winners that have been recent.

West Ham got promoted at the second time of asking in 2005.  They were always contenders for it.  The amount of drama that surrounds them means they are a big club, even if not at the level of other big clubs in England.

Watford fully deserved to win the 2006 play offs.  They were brilliant in the league, had a brilliant young manager and some brilliant diamonds (Ashley Young in particular).  They were unlikely at the start of that season to go up, and unsurprisingly were relegated for the second time in the Premiership a year later.  A case of too much too soon, as they weren’t prepared for the Premiership, languishing in the wrong end of the table of Division 1 / The Championship for years.  This is the beginning of the crazyness of the nPower (then Coca Cola) championship, where everyone could just as easily be a contender as relegation certainties.

Derby County hadn’t impressed on their return to the Championship back in 2002, their relegation from the Premier League had been hard to muster.  Until 2007, that is, they hadn’t really showed serious signs of promotion.  They beat a good West Brom side that day at Wembley, but were not equipped to go up at all, as the disaster of their final top flight season proved.  Another case of too much too soon.

In 2008, the Championship had long reached a reputation of unpredictability.  Whereas in the early part of the decade where teams had a solid grounding in the league, and if they missed out on promotion would be just as likely to be in the mix a year later, since Watford were promoted the whole dynamic of the league had radically changed.  Teams that were considered good quality for the division were slipping up and getting surprised in league position on regular occasions (read Ipswich, Leicester).  In turn, new clubs such as Hull were breaking the boundaries and getting promoted against all the rules.  Never before in the top division, they should not have had a right by history’s rules.

One year later, Burnley were promoted for the first time in over 30 years in another unlikely story.  With years gone by, they had mustered at best the top 10.  Under Owen Coyle’s inspirational leadership, Burnley were unlikely playoff winners as well.  Like several of the other playoff routed stars, it was a case of too much too soon, as they had never really prepared for the possibility of Premier League football.  Burnley’s stay was brief, but they made a lot of friends, and a new level of standard to build to.

Finally, last year, little Blackpool were promoted at the expense of one of this years contenders Cardiff.  As has been the case for three years on the spin, Blackpool were another team who by recent and overall history had no right to be competing in the playoffs, albeit winning the thing.  Time will tell whether or not they go up or down, but they have had a fruitful and competitive season amongst the big boys.

Fact
Since 2000, 2 promoted sides via play offs still remain in the top league, 5 have avoided relegation, and 6 had never been in the Premiership before victory.

Why is this important? The teams that had already been Premiership teams in recent years (Ipswich, Bolton, West Ham) before going back up the play off route, had been building steadily or hastily towards a return for years, depending on the club itself.  In recent years, the most unlikely team has won the final, as in the team that was expected to be nowhere near contention.  Below are the list of this year’s finalists.

In the mix

Cardiff have been perennial choke artists for quite some time.  They have several excellent players, and have been building up to something for quite a few years, but they always seem to slip whenever they are in a destiny in their own hands type of situation.  By all rights, with their squad depth they probably should have already been in the Premier League, but there is a fragility in the club.  They have been in great positions over the last 3 or so years, but always seem to fall by the wayside.  When Blackpool took a 3-2 lead in last years play off, they seemed to lose belief when they were excrutiatingly close.  With their latest low against Middlesborough (a 3-0 home deficit), they are still clearly in this funk.  If they did get promoted, they would probably be in good shape for a promoted side, but thats a big if.

Swansea have done very well.  Like Cardiff, they have built as a club well the last few seasons, and also like Cardiff, plenty would fancy seeing a Welsh team in the English top flight.  There is a great support and a good football style projected by the club so those are plusses.  if they were promoted it would be all the better at the expense of Cardiff who have been more likely in recent years and they would have a fervent support. 

They seem to still be building up though as a club, and I don’t expect them to “choke” so to speak, but I would reckon they are not quite ready to take the next step.

Should Nottingham Forest get promoted, I expect them to go the way of Derby County, which would not be in anyones best interests.  Nothing against Billy Davies, he has done a great job, but out of anyone in contention they look the most patchy of the lot, which is just a coincidence, nothing to do with Davies himself.  They have a few good youngsters and seasoned pro’s at the club which is in their pro list. 

They have a great history, a Premiership history, and competed in the play offs last year, so they have every chance, but they have been away for such a long time that should they get promoted I would only see disaster ahead.  I don’t expect it either, as they have been prone to underwhelming performances.  Though I would love to see three originals back where they belong in a romantic sense.

Reading are going to win the play offs.  The last several years has seen a trend of clubs never before of the Premier League era go up, but that is not a prerogitive to put your money on someone.  There are 2 teams in the play offs who have never before competed at the top, but they are missing something that all the previous winners have had – the unbridled momentum they had going into the play offs. 

On a tide of unrealistic achievement, Hull, Burnley and Blackpool have swished to victory.  I expect no different from Reading.  Last season they were in horrendous shape and not coping with life outside of the Premiership at all.  A lot of what the club had become had disintegrated and it seemed they nearly had to start from scratch.  Brian McDermott got everybody thinking straight again, they finished 2009/10 in good form,  Aside from a mid season blip, they have blistered into contention in such a way that their play off place was assured some time ago, when it looked against all odds. 

There is an overwhelming trend the last few years for form being a major factor in the play offs, and why shouldn’t it?  It is still the same season after all and training continues as normal for all clubs involved.  The most unlikely team to be in the play offs is basically the team who were not expected to be in the mix.  If you have gone from underachieving to overachieving your form is obviously sensational and this is where Reading are at.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Alex McLeish has set the foundations now to build something special at Birmingham City. In two years he has set his side up to comfortably survive in the Premier League, to such an extent that the clubs current status in and around the relegation zone has made them look more unflattering than their performances deserve.

Whatever the case though, they have one reason to look up, they have just won the Carling Cup final when they were true underdogs. Whatever the manner of the win and how the winner came, this is silverware and silverware breeds confidence which breeds success.

After a few seasons in which they had become a yo-yo club, last season they were massively impressive, comfortably safe for the vast majority of the season and even ruffling quite a few feathers along the way. Built on an untried but successful defence, this overshadows that they have great talent around the pitch. Players do not just impose themselves in defence but also in midfield and attack, where he has plucked several from obscurity to be relevant.

Steven Carr had once retired after his spell at the imploding Newcastle had no doubt destroyed his zest for the game. Lee Bowyer was thought of as a lost cause, but has been a major part of the clubs destiny. Keith Fahey was completely unknown in England, and now is a regular starter for Birmingham and is involved in the Republic of Ireland squad with much success so far. His two main centre backs Roger Johnson and Scott Dann never once played a top flight game between them, but they have become the cornerstones along with Carr and Liam Ridgewell who was discarded by Aston Villa.

The same rivals let go of Craig Gardner as well, who has been an inspiration this season and is as local if not more so than Steven Gerrard (he always supported Everton before he wore red, Gardner is Birmingham through and through). He has some players who have big reputaions as well, Zigic, Hleb, Beausejour and last night’s scorer Obafemi Martins.

Right at this moment, they can consider themselves the biggest team in the Midlands. With European football to come and likely survival, and still another possible trip to Wembley in the FA Cup, this is the second of 2 progressive years in the top flight. Chock full of character right down from the manager, with a little further investment from their owners who thus far have backed up their word with money, the skies the limit .

Another few years of Premier League establishment beckons.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

A sea of Oranje, waves of Azzuri and Mexicans, the samba brigade and the Vuvezula army are on their way…

Four years have passed but this is brand new to me, as if the World Cup never happened before. A festival of football is on the way that I’ll never forget.

Stadiums chock full of life, nations that may even breathe new life, teams that can become inspirational heroes and believe that this is their time, and the blistering sunshine all combine to create one big almighty party.

The Vuvezula will be everywhere this summer, you can hate it, or get used to it and go with the flow. One thing, its not going away. That will be the South African symbol of the tournament, and surely everybody hopes they can do the improbable and get out of their group. If this happens, the whole tournament will not just be a success for the host country, but as a whole. Whoever your team is, you should have a place in your heart for Bafana Bafana.

Unglorified countries such as New Zealand, Honduras, North Korea and Slovakia have made it to the world cup beyond heir wildest dreams, either finally taking a place at the centre of the universe or making a long overdue return.

There are football federations that feel re-evaluated by being here, such as Algeria, conspired out of contention in 1982 and long gone, Greece who last made an appearance in 1994, Denmark who like to make their presence felt, and Uruguay, a team whose previous success must hurt from not being a part of it all, such as in 2006.

There are teams who will be eager to make the most of their potential that has always shown on this stage, and finally achieve what they want. Teams like Mexico who have always had something in their locker in times past, Serbia, who have gone through radical transformation but still have the capability of producing stars of technical and aggressive brilliance, and those perennial underachievers, Spain.

There will be the continents local boys. In previous years we have seen the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon inspire the world over and nearly go the whole way, Likewise Senegal, who nearly bettered the former in 2002 shocking everybody to a place in the quarter finals, along the way beating favorites and world champs France. The hugely talented Nigeria side of 1998, a team who could have actually gone the whole distance, however sadly lost their way.

The most vibrant teams in Africa, Ghana and Ivory Coast, compete in arguably the toughest groups of the lot, but you can be sure they aren’t here to make up the numbers. If they go far, it should shock no one.

There will be dark horses. Might be Japan, Paraguay, Chile, USA or even Slovenia. May even be someone else, it’s impossible to speculate until the big kick off.

Of course, the teams likely to make up the end of the tournament are the names that get thrown about like confetti.

The champions of the world, Italy, eager to show the critics they aren’t past it and prove that they are the best when it really comes to crunch time and deservedly still hold the cup in their hands.

The Netherlands cheered on by their fervent Oranje support. The site of their following is an inspiration in itself, but a compact unit that may have learned from past mistakes with a sprinkling of attacking brilliance may just achieve what they yearn to do.

The Portuguese have banished their regular absence from the competition and replaced it with a real presence in the last decade, and a certain star player can take them the whole way.

The German national team, now recognized for their talent instead of their dogged reputation of old, feel no doubt overdue and have some vibrant young exciting players and may take the tournament by storm.

Another national treasure supported by an array of talented strikers and play-makers under the supervision of a national god may be enough to take Argentina back to the top. If they could play to their strengths and field all their attackers, they would be a shoe in.

It’s hard to believe that a France side littered with talent are in the state they are in now. Love them or hate them, only a fool could completely write them off.

Under expert direction and with some genuine match winners, England may even finally put the ghosts of 66 behind them and write a new chapter.

Without a doubt though, the two favorites are crystal clear.

Brazil may have a defensive minded coach who has made some shocking exemptions, but their samba style is still capable of destroying all in their path, and World Cup winning captain and manager Dunga may just know what he is doing after all. The Selecao’s recent World Cup history may be an omen for all else concerned, 94 win, 98 loss, 02 win, 06 loss, 2010 win?

La Seleccion not just have an intimidating nickname, but on paper they have the most intimidating squad around. Thankfully, this is not a free wheeling hacking side, but an awesome display of technical brilliance in midfield and attack,aided by a super-powered goalkeeper, a compact defense, and in reserve it seems a whole team who could slot in to the starting eleven easily. They no longer go into a world cup with a dark horses tag, the European champions are in the face of everybody.

Pele, Garrincha, Just Fontaine, Eusebio, Bobby’s Moore and Charlton, Beckenbauer, Cruyff, Grzegorz Lato, Gerd Muller, Rudi Krol, Jairzinho, Tostao, Mario Kempes, Passarela, Paul Breitner, Tardelli, Rossi, Conti, Zico and Socrates, Maradona, Platini, Lineker, Matthaus, Gascoigne, Roberto Baggio, Stoitchkov, Romario, Zidane, Suker, Bergkamp, Owen, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ballack, Klose, Pirlo, Cannavaro…

This is a collection of names who have owned world cups past and others who have seen their careers go into orbit and become one of the faces of football. They will all be remembered for their past exploits.

Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres, David Villa, Fabiano, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Higuain, Carlos Tevez, Bastian Schweinstiger, Michael Essien, Kaka, Robinho, Daniele De Rossi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Franck Ribery, Gourcuff. Who will join the forementioned names. Time will tell.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

With this new job of mine I rarely get the time to write anything up here, and its quite unfortunate cause I was really starting to enjoy spouting my opinions on things while I sat on the underrated dole queue. I’d actually love to do this kind of stuff for a living (fantasy land….) so I’m going to make time somehow. For example, I exchanged a morning possibly lying in a bed of my own vomit, a la tequila shots to do the sensible thing and take it easy for the night and get some well earned rest. After all, there’ll be plenty of vomit filled nights to look forward to.

Anyway, I was going to go on a massive rant about Tony Mowbray’s ill-fated Celtic tenure, but I left things late once again and everything that could be said has already been said. But nobody’s really (in the past few days at least) brought up something I was going to talk extensively about. Is Premier League notoriety just a tad little over-the-top? I think so and hopefully people see my points.

THE BEST RELEGATED MANAGER… IN THE WORLD

Mr Mowby had spent one, short season amongst the big boys in the best league in the world. In this time, he presided over a team who were rock bottom the majority of the season and really had no chance of staying up, even though most neutrals admired their team spirit and their “play the game the right way” mentality.

Surely 10 years ago, a manager who failed so miserably might not have been seen on that golden island for some years, if at all, but this lucky sod somehow got the Celtic job. CELTIC!!!!! No offence to West Brom but they piss on that club from a great height, even if they are in the SPL. At the possibility of going on too much about Tony’s qualities as a manager, I will say he will possibly be a decent mid table manager in several years, but that’s it. The hype machine even gets relegated bosses top European jobs.

SCHLICK SCHTEVIE McSCHTEVE

None more so than Schteve McLaren back in the day. I seem to remember watching the footy, wondering, whats the fuss about. I was quite impressed one season where he led Boro to 8th/9th in the table once, but I seem to remember the rest of the league campaigns were dull and rather pointless. When they had the excuse of winning Carling Cups and getting to Uefa cup finals you could say he was doing a good job but not a messiah like job as his reputation suggested.

Mr Eriksson had something to do with this particular publicity though. His piss-taking ways truly had the English public yearning for a home grown manager, someone they could relate to and didn’t have underwear models on his agenda instead of preparing for major tournaments. Besides, Schteve was his number two and had an opportunity to bend the FA’s ear for a few years before his appointment. I think everybody knows how his England reign went, he accommodated stars that he referred to as JT, Stevie G and Big Daddy Cool Heskey, switched goalkeepers around with alarming frequency, left out Beckham, brought him back, and became overnight the “wally in the brolly”, in the process making Slaven Bilic look a world class manager and giving senor Capello a new career as headmaster.

The Wally can now be seen in the Eredivisie perfecting his dutch accent and actually doing rather well with unfashionable FC Twente, it has to be said.

MODERN DAY MERCENARIES

McLaren also sent the Joleon Lescott hype into overdrive mode. I must admit, at Everton I thought he was the real deal, a solid centre back/full back who had a knack for scoring too many goals for any defender.

But throw a few England caps here and there, and you can create a monster of a PR machine. In a short matter of time, a “source from the club” will tell the Daily Mirror that Manchester City, with their new endless pot of cash, are willing to invest.

Eventually, City start believing “Lescott!!??! Why not, lets buy his soul, you can never have enough minions!”. Some super agent then manages to slip into Joleon’s bed and tell him “Do you know who you are. You’re Joleon Lescott, THE Joleon Lescott, City want you and I want to make you a star”… Joleon Lescott starts thinking “I’m Joleon Lescott” and overall smugness ensues.

The player thinks he’s too good for little Everton who plucked him from obscurity and forces a long drawn out transfer (as is now the norm) to the future of the premier league, the new Chelsea in many ways. And then what happens…..

BLAME WAYNE

25 MILLION!!!! WHA!!! Somehow this whole thing spirals out of control and Joleon is now worth as much as Wayne Rooney. Funny that. Currently Lescott can be see seen warming the City bench, looking every inch the embodiment of money value while Wazza is doing phenomenal things.

With English players though, at least, it is probably Wayne Rooneys fault that they have an over inflated sense of their abilities. That and agents. Rooney was the last of the great generation of English players to come out. The first of this generation. And definitely the best to transpire both. Its not his fault to be so blessed, but after years of Beckham-mania (which never really ended till Galaxy days), Owen-Mania, Gerrard-mania, Francis Jeffers-mania (yes really!) and too much mania for me to remember, Wayne appeared. The last great player of the lot.

But suddenly every “prospect” is now worth 15 million minimum. Its like that with most young players around the world now, but I’d take a Gonzalo Higuain over a Theo Walcott any day. Prove me wrong Theo. Well, I think I’ve made my point. I could keep going on but I’m in danger of boring myself and potentially anybody who might read this. Apart from Wayne everyone here I have mentioned (apart from the underrated Gonzalo Higuain) has gotten some over the top reward for their, at best, mediocre efforts in the game. Mowbray may have been third choice but he never should have been near the club at all. Maybe his reign will make clubs cop on to these PR teams behind these people, but I frankly doubt it.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Goal Machine

As of right now Wayne Rooney already has 27 goals in all competitions, with 10 league games, a cup final and a possible few games in European competition to add to his tally, which I’m sure he will.

In fact he is on course to add significantly to his numbers for the season, he is without doubt one of the form players in the world at the moment.

He has already broken his previous record total of 23 with ease, and there are no signs of the Rooney juggernaut ending. Nearly a goal a game so far this season makes him very likely to reach astronomical figures.

But is he worth the hype?

So he may even get the 42 that Cristiano Ronaldo was so deservedly lauded for. He may even get more. This throws up the question, do United really miss Ronaldo that much? By the end of the season will we be talking about Rooney in the same breath that we did with Ronaldo in 07-08, when his gigantic haul guaranteed world player of the year status?

He is a raging bull of a player, with the determination that Roy Keane once had but with the finishing that the Cork native could only dream of. If Rooney gets himself over 42, will it still be fair to compare him to Ronaldo?

Meeting the standard bearer

As loathesome as Ronaldo comes across, anybody who dismisses his qualities as a player is frankly, stupid! He has absolutely everything, the definition of the modern super player. If Rooney does equal or surpass his record I doubt that he would have made as big a mark as Ronaldo.

Ronaldo, you see, didn’t just get a remarkable 42 goals in one season, he got a remarkable 42 goals from the right of midfield. Of course he often ventured into a centre forwards position, but his base position was right midfield. Midfielders, center, attacking and wingers, getting 15, 20 goals a season is quite delightful for players, they can hold their head high. Ronaldo took the goalscoring midfielder into new territory.

Rooney getting all his goals is a tremendous result, but not as impressive when you compare a centre forward to a right sided attacker.

Still, plenty can happen in the rest of the season to increase his importance in this personal race with Ronaldo. He can score more crucial goals, in the league, Europe and maybe even in the Carling Cup Final against Villa, but he’ll never be Ronaldo…

Whatever the case, here’s a reason to be cheerful

I must say I’m delighted about this new free scoring premier league campaign.

The soap drama and overstated importance of premier league players is always a topic for debate but the sole important thing of football is goals, goals and goals.

When once only Alan Shearer, Andy Cole and Thierry Henry got bucket loads of goals and left the also rans for dust in their respective free-scoring seasons, and other seasons where the top marksmen were finishing around the measly 18 goal mark, it good to see strikers like Rooney, Drogba and Defoe being unstoppable again!

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

]]> http://soccerlens.com/could-wayne-rooney-surpass-ronaldos-42/41396/feed/ 4 http://soccerlens.com/the-premier-league-the-tv-series/40179/ http://soccerlens.com/the-premier-league-the-tv-series/40179/#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:49:51 +0000 Scullion David http://soccerlens.com/?p=40179

The Premier League – The TV Series - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Oh what a season its been! It’s been so full of twists and turns that you just don’t know whats going to happen next.  Scandal, despair, scandal, glory, scandal, great quotes and yet more scandal. Sorry Portsmouth I was just reading about Portsmouths latest debacle (I’ll let you ponder what today’s big issue is) and...

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]]> The Premier League – The TV Series - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Oh what a season its been!

It’s been so full of twists and turns that you just don’t know whats going to happen next.  Scandal, despair, scandal, glory, scandal, great quotes and yet more scandal.

Sorry Portsmouth

I was just reading about Portsmouths latest debacle (I’ll let you ponder what today’s big issue is) and i couldn’t help but have a little laugh.

Of course this is terrible for the fans, and especially the hardcores with “POMPEY O8 – NEVER GONNA DIE” tattooed on their faces, bellys, arses, fingers and wherever else, but reading through all today’s stories i wondered how funny football has become.

This is nothing new, football hasn’t just entertained me for years in a sporting form, but also it’s soap storied antics leave a lot to be desired.  I’m not fond of all that depressing stuff, but take some cue from the papers stories and youll all be in big business.  If only there was a football based soap? oh wait……. Dream Team plagued us for years.

Portsmouth are a gold mine for any overpaid tv writers struggling for ideas.  If only there was a “next time on Portsmouth FC” after every story, itd be like proper tele.  The fun is in the surprise i suppose, which is why the ratings (coverage) is so high at the moment.

This week we were all surprised to hear of Avram Grant’s antics in the “brothel”. According to his wife, the “brothel” was actually a “massage” parlour that she herself is waiting to become an honorary member of…. Portsmouth is such a hot bed of tasty journalism that this is about the 30th big story to break out of the club in the last 7 days.

Enough of Portsmouth, its becoming overkill.

Public Enemy #1

Right now John Terry’s going down his “this lads actually a dodgy geezer” stage.  The sucking up to John Terry when he first started hitting the big time was actually quite phenomenal.  Here’s why everybody fell over themselves to proclaim him the greatest of all time for a short enough while at least.

• He was English – not just English but centre-back English, who was tough as nails (He might be as good as Roger Moore, and maybe even as good as Bobby Moore)
• He was a leader (hence more building up as the modern day Bobby Moore)
• When he became England captain, he became untouchable (or was he?)

It is the classic story of the everyman hero becoming public enemy number 1.  It’s like Hulk Hogan turning into a bad guy and getting booed outta Wrestlemania.

Rafa’s Guarantee

The harrowing story of Rafael Benitez and his eternal struggle has been the most ever-present of the campaign so far.    It has been hilariously entertaining, and is comedy gold at it’s best.  It appears that everything has been at ease in the last few weeks, and they are just getting back on track. 

I for one hope however that it is just the calm before the storm, and there is one momentous disaster left in the pipeline – I’m sure that a Europa League exit to some team from some “little” country and a 6th place finish n the prem will make suffice

Arsene’s Wonderland

Master Wenger appears to be losing his marbles once again too. His stages of genius to buffoon and back again have become legendary in the last few years. His side went on a great winning streak to get back in the mix (genius), he made an enemy of Martin O’Neill (he’s quite the vicious one) and James Collins (notoriously outspoken) and then ended up losing badly in a home match to classic enemy and evil overlord of the Premier League Darth Vader (buffoon).

Now he has given a ringing endorsement of belief regarding Theo Wally. Is this him staying in his buffoonery stage or has he already leaped into back into genius territory for the next 6 weeks? 

There really isn’t any point in including the blue half of Manchester in this because, there’s frankly too much to say and they would need their own timeslot, and I’m outta time folks!

 

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

]]> http://soccerlens.com/the-premier-league-the-tv-series/40179/feed/ 0 http://soccerlens.com/football-goes-crazy/38203/ http://soccerlens.com/football-goes-crazy/38203/#comments Sun, 13 Dec 2009 19:19:27 +0000 Scullion David http://soccerlens.com/?p=38203

Football Goes Crazy - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Stamford Bridge 3.00 pm – Everton go to league Leaders Chelsea where the home team have only conceded 1 league goal all season. Stamford Bridge 4.50 pm – Everton and Chelsea take place in a heartstopping 3-3 draw, which puts it up there in the matches-of-the-season category. Then why are the boos so deafening? I...

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]]> Football Goes Crazy - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

Stamford Bridge 3.00 pm – Everton go to league Leaders Chelsea where the home team have only conceded 1 league goal all season.

Stamford Bridge 4.50 pm – Everton and Chelsea take place in a heartstopping 3-3 draw, which puts it up there in the matches-of-the-season category. Then why are the boos so deafening?

I don’t know why i was shocked to hear the loud discontent of the supporters, as you hear it after every game, but I was.

Maybe the poor Chelsea fans had every right to boo their team, maybe it would make some sense to me if I wore blue. After all, like Liverpool aren’t they in a period of “crisis” and “meltdown”. They can’t even beat Everton, for shame!

Yes! the goals Chelsea gave away were poor. Yes! They are in a little bad run of form. Yes! Any team worth £250 million or whatever it is should deliver all the time as stated by the laws of the Tesco Value range.

But they also came up against Everton. That’s right Everton, a team who have firmly established themselves as one of the good-but-not so good teams in recent years, and by virtue of their overall league form they are at the top of that particular tree.

But they’re struggling? Yes but they are still the same team as they have been all this time, no doubt their position is the result of a crippling injury list.

To hear that reaction, you would think that Chelsea have blown their title chances drawing at home to Hull (apologies to Hull, but you still aren’t established).

I expect that reaction from a Liverpool match, not a team 3 points ahead in the title race.

When the top team in the division draws with a team who have finished in the top 6 3 years on the trot and they get booed out of the proverbial building, yes football is truly mental these days!

But I love it! My beloved Blackburn beat the Chelski on penalties to actually have a chance of doing something this season, it was good to see Man City beat Chelsea, a team from Cyprus – drawing 2-2 in England – What? Ah fair play I suppose!

Blues have only lost 1 out of 4 in the standard 90 minutes. Not the end of the world is it?

Have to say, I’m enjoying the big teams not having it all their own way. Look at Villa, they have now beaten Chelsea, Pool and United and now sit in third.

Spurs are electrifying and can flatten certain teams with ease, yet still seem to display that self-destructive factor we all love so dearly.

Liverpool are the new Newcastle, all that’s missing is relegation. Maybe one or two years?

And with City only having lost once thus far, who can say they aren’t genuine contenders? (really!)

Yes, everything seems to have gone topsy turvy across the country, and football has lost it’s mind.

Maybe it’s for the best

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

]]> http://soccerlens.com/football-goes-crazy/38203/feed/ 1 http://soccerlens.com/so-has-football-lost-its-soul/37441/ http://soccerlens.com/so-has-football-lost-its-soul/37441/#comments Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:32:46 +0000 Scullion David http://soccerlens.com/?p=37441

So has football lost its soul? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

What an emotional, mentally draining week its been.  Monsieur Henry’s handball has been talked to death at this stage, im sure some people will be rolling their eyes at another article over this much talked about topic, but I haven’t given my two cents yet and I’ve got some things to get off my chest....

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]]> So has football lost its soul? - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

What an emotional, mentally draining week its been.  Monsieur Henry’s handball has been talked to death at this stage, im sure some people will be rolling their eyes at another article over this much talked about topic, but I haven’t given my two cents yet and I’ve got some things to get off my chest.

As an Irishman, I am one of many millions affected.  In the build up to the afforementioned match on Wednesday night, I had an enthusiasm about our chances that had been missing for at least 4 years.  1 unlucky goal down, a perceived arrogance (unperceived once Lass Diarra showed his character) from the French,  memories of Paris 2004, all served to make us dream again.

After 33 minutes, enter dreamland.  Keano pulled us back into the tie.. Beautiful.  After 90 minutes, we deserved the victory.  “We could nick this” was a collective feeling.  I never rated Keith Andrews, Glenn Whelan, Darron Gibson, but they were immense.  With a backbone of the colossal Dunne and the impressive fearless St. Ledger, we had it in our hands.  One more goal and we would surely be through, and we were creating chances.

Never had a defeat been so crushing for me personally, especially in the circumstances.  I support Blackburn you see, so its not particularly surprising to lose. 

Currently as I write this, there are 374,691 fans on a petition to have Ireland v France replayed page on Facebook.  Of course I’m on the page, but one thing is for sure, there will be no replay.  Unjust? Yes.  Fair?  Absolutely not!

This is classic Fifa, and conspiracy theories are at an all-time high for anything I’ve experienced as a football fan.  Mr. Henry himself, captain of the national side and the perpetrator at the centre of this episode, would welcome a replay.  The French public are ashamed of their side, world cup or not.  WE definitely feel we deserve a replay.  Everybody’s on board except Fifa and the FFF (French Football Federation), and of course, Mr. Popular Raymond Domenech.

This has been talked to death, everybody has an opinion on it.  Our players and pundits have said that if the decision went in our favour, we would’ve kept quiet too, which is the truth.  

The big loser in this has been Thierry Henry.

A proper modern day legend, his reputation has been tarnished by Media and fans alike.  I know alot of casual fans, who know f**k all about football who have never liked Henry because he looks so “arrogant” when he scores a goal.  In my opinion, he was so good he ran out of celebrations.  Not everybody can do a corkscrew somersault y’know.  He remains one of the top 5 players I’ve seen in my lifetime, he was undoubtedly the star of the Premier League for at least 4-5 years.  I know that proper fans with the exception of United and Spurs fans have often applauded his skills. 

Though I am abit peeved at the fact that he did cheat.

It’s high time I reckon that video technology, or more linesmen are brought into the game, sharpish, not in the next three years or whatever.  I agree with Robbie Keane’s theory that Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini “were probably clapping their hands and texting each other”, and Duffer’s outburst that Adidas have alot of pull too.  Our game shouldn’t be corrupt anymore, it should have been sorted out a long time ago.  It should have been sorted out least back after Euro 96 when Romania took a shot that rattled off the bar, clearly crossed the line, but wasn’t given.  Two weeks on from the uproar of David N’Gog’s dive, he has been replaced by Henry as the latest cheat.  Henry won’t suffer abuse for too long, next high profile controversy and everybody will forget.  I give it a week or two.

In my opinion, the only reason video tech has never been introduced is because the “romance” and “drama” of the game might be distinguished.  I could go on more, but everybody’s already heard the arguments before, how it’s used in other sports blah blah blah!

It’s a shame that we’re not going to South Africa.  But I feel we’ll be at Euro 2012.  Our boys are a determined, passionate bunch.  We’re in love with our national team again, and our young team are going to feel like making a point. 

But as sad as it is to say, football needs an overhaul.  Divers shouldn’t prosper, games shouldn’t be decided by incompetant referees, who aren’t that I reckon (maybe bar Graeme Poll), why is there 1 linesman on each side, how about 1 per quarter pitch?  And of course, goals should be given that cross the line, not given when handballed in or to a team-mate.

Video Tech might take up some time, about as much time as players protesting against a decision.

When a player like Darren Fletcher, much joked about, can transorm himself into an energetic midfielder who’s important to the Man United cause and score a half volley of Gerrardesque quality, doesn’t that prove that football still has romance and soul?

From a disgruntled Irishman, adios!

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

]]> http://soccerlens.com/so-has-football-lost-its-soul/37441/feed/ 7 http://soccerlens.com/dont-write-them-off-barcelona-are-still-the-best-in-europe/36333/ http://soccerlens.com/dont-write-them-off-barcelona-are-still-the-best-in-europe/36333/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:52:36 +0000 Scullion David http://soccerlens.com/?p=36333

Don’t write them off; Barcelona are still the best in Europe - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

What a shocking couple of weeks it had been for the Catalans. They have torn through all and sundry in La Liga up until their hosting of Almeria at the Camp Nou on October 4th.  They may have come away with the result but it’s a sign of the times that ONLY a 1-0 win...

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]]> Don’t write them off; Barcelona are still the best in Europe - originally posted on Soccerlens.com

What a shocking couple of weeks it had been for the Catalans.

They have torn through all and sundry in La Liga up until their hosting of Almeria at the Camp Nou on October 4th.  They may have come away with the result but it’s a sign of the times that ONLY a 1-0 win for Barcelona is considered a bad performance.  To be fair to Almeria, they put a stiff man-marking job on Barcelona but were unlucky to come away with a point.

The next performance was against a talented and always hard to beat Valencia team.  Drawing 0-0 was always going to be a disappointment, but in truth Valencia have been one of Spain’s top teams for a decade.

Fast forward to last Tuesday in the Champions League, and newcomers Rubin Kazan had obviously been paying attention to that afforementioned match.  Barcelona couldn’t find a way past them (barring one Ibrahimovic goal), and Kazan eventually popped up with a winner to record the most famous victory in their history.  They stifled the likes of Messi and Iniesta to the status of spectator and deserved their win.

Around last Christmas, after dominating the league from the offset, Barca went on a similar kind of run.  It seemed easier for the critics to write off Barca, after two years of inner turmoil and no titles, an unproven coach and Real Madrid in stalking mode.

But NEVER write off Barcelona!

Every team goes through a dip in form at sometime and they responded the way they always do – by murdering the opposition.  A 6-1 result over Real Zaragoza is now usually the norm for the Catalans these days. 

Barca romped to a 4-0 lead, with two apiece from Seydou Keita and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.  Ibra’s two goals were deserving of applause. His first an absolute screamer of a free-kick and the second a very well composed finish after a cross from Keita.

As Zaragoza found out, sometimes the worst thing you can do is score against Barcelona.

Their goal was an absolute ripper to bring it to 4-1.  A minute or two later it was 5-1, little Lionel with one of those classy dinks over the opposing keeper we’ve become accustomed to seeing.  But this match particulaly belonged to Keita, not a household name but definitely a crowd favourite.

He popped up with a towering header to bring Barca’s tally to 6, and claim his hat-trick.  Keita is the box-to-box midfielder that all the top teams covet.  He is abit of Makelele, abit of Gerrard!  Though people who don’t follow La Liga or pay closely in the Champs League would know nothing about him.  In direct competition with Yaya Toure, he is usually overlooked.  That may be about to change, as I can’t recall a Yaya hat-trick.

Also, isn’t the much criticised deal of the summer, £40 million + Samuel Eto’o for mr Ibrahimovic now looking like a masterstroke?

Ibrahimovic’s two goals last night took his Barca tally to 7 out of 7, along with his solitary champions League goal.  He has certainly settled in, and after much derision over such a deal that saw the clubs talismanic striker cast out, we may be just seeing the evolution of Barcelona.

It is true that I may be wearing my blue and red tinted glasses as I write this, but Barca’s european and League rivals are in my opinion even further behind than before.

Real Madrid, despite their millions in investments, are still far from the finished article.  With Ronaldo out injured, their fantastic start has somewhat panned out.  I’m sure once he returns they will certainly be competitive, but there is still a defensive frailty that lingers over the Bernebeau.

The team Barca dominated in last years European final, Manchester United, have recently lost to a Liverpool side that were on the edge of their own personal extinction, and are some way off Champions League glory with two defeats against their biggest rivals and an uncovincing win over basement boys Debrecen!

United miss Ronaldo, who was their one performer of note in that final, while Inter Milan also had a hard time against the surprising Rubin Kazan.  AC Milan are a shadow of their former selves, while Bayern Munich are losing to Bordeaux and Juventus are laboring to wins over Maccabi Haifa!

I wouldn’t bank against a dream Arsenal – Barcelona final, but I think the catalans toughest test will come from Chelsea. 

Chelsea look the best equipped of teams to trouble Barca in my opinion, and a fierce rivalry has developed between them in the last few years.  They know how to play against Barcelona (even if it isn’t pretty) and maybe they just need a bit of luck on their side.

However, luck is definitely needed to topple Barcelona.

With players like Iniesta, Xavi, Messi so dominant last season (and bound to even get much, much better), a new outrageously gifted striker who is matching the feats of their former primary predator, plus all the other specially gifted performers who slip into the background past their more headline grabbing peers (Dani Alves, Keita, Yaya, Puyol & more) along with some established breakthrough performers (Pique, Busquets) and an ever emerging talent pool (Bojan, Pedro and Jeffren), Barca look like they will be even more scary to opponents this time round.

They are bang in form (despite a couple of hiccups), they are still evolving and they are still getting better!

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

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