The Sunday Papers

NEWS OF THE WORLD

Cristiano Ronaldo has pledged: “I am staying at Manchester United.”

Manchester City have stepped up their chase for Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

Xabi Alonso has rocked Liverpool by admitting he wants to quit Anfield.

Goodison legend Peter Reid is trying to buy his beloved Everton.

Chelsea are planning for life without Didier Drogba by moving for Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero.

Manchester City are desperate to push through a new deal for Stephen Ireland while Nedum Onuoha is set to sign a three-year contract.

Chelsea’s £25million move for Zenit St Petersburg’s Portugal midfielder Danny has been dealt a serious injury blow.

Newcastle are desperate to keep young goalkeeper Fraser Forster.

Wigan want to sign Alan Smith from Newcastle.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has lined up a move for FC Twente’s Austria striker Marko Arnautovic.

Everton face stiff competition for Inter Milan striker David Suazo with Manchester City and Villarreal also interested.

THE PEOPLE

Angry Patrice Evra has accused Cesc Fabregas and Arsenal of trying to kick him out of the Champions League final.

Sunderland are set to have a £200million transfer budget thanks to new owner Ellis Short.

Gareth Southgate will be asked to oversee a fire sale of players if Middlesbrough are relegated.

Bayern Munich want Portsmouth’s England right-back Glen Johnson.

Manchester City are ready to offer Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry £19million in wages to tempt him to Eastlands.

Arsenal are ready to launch a club-record move for Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz.

Aston Villa are set to make another move for David Bentley of Tottenham.

Stephen Hunt and Andre Bikey are on their way out of Reading. Hunt is a target for Everton while Wigan want Bikey.

Everton are closing in on a £12million deal for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Moutinho.

Manchester United want Charlton’s England youth defender Carl Jenkinson.

Middlesbrough want Leeds winger Robert Snodgrass.

Leicester boss Nigel Pearson is ready to sign Hibernian’s Polish goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski.

Lucas Neill and West Ham are set to agree a new deal.

Kettering boss Mark Cooper is favourite to take over at Chesterfield.

Salomon Kalou has hinted he may leave Chelsea.

Preston boss Alan Irvine is on Reading’s short-list for their vacant managerial position.

DAILY STAR SUNDAY

Djibril Cisse is closing down his classy Newcastle clothes shop The Pr9ject – sparking fears that the Sunderland striker will be leaving in the summer.

Manchester City are set to join the race to land Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

Tottenham will switch their attention to Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta – if they fail to land Kenwyne Jones from Sunderland.

Derby are launching a £500,000 bid for Blackpool defender Shaun Barker.

Southampton winger Nathan Dyer is wanted by Ajax.

French club Marseille have joined Wigan in showing an interest in Tottenham midfielder Didier Zokora.

Oldham want Bradford skipper Graeme Lee on a free.

Coventry are chasing Leicester outcast DJ Campbell.

Derby manager Nigel Clough is ready to get rid of £3million flop Claude Davis to Crystal Palace – for nothing.

SUNDAY MIRROR

David Beckham is set to join Chelsea as part of Carlo Ancelotti’s blueprint for the club.

Kanu is anxiously awaiting a decision from Portsmouth as to whether he is to be offered a new deal.

Micah Richards has been assured he has a future at Manchester City.

Aston Villa are preparing a £9million offer for Almeria’s 27-year-old left-back Mane.

Ipswich and Sunderland want Bristol City midfielder Marvin Elliott.

Fulham have turned down the chance to sign Derby’s Giles Barnes on a permanent deal.

MAIL ON SUNDAY

Sir Alex Ferguson insists Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at Manchester United but Carlos Tevez looks set to leave.

SUNDAY EXPRESS

Texan millionaire Ellis Short will complete his buy-out of Sunderland this week.

Liverpool’s pursuit of Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson is gathering pace.

A New Chelsea

 

The take over of Manchester City last season led many City fans to believe that they could be the new Chelsea. Despite spending more than ever, a great start to the season, and doing better than they had for a long time, their rebirth as the new Chelsea didn’t happen. It has now.

The Abu Dhabi United Group have transformed City to a club with new heights to scale and and challenges to compete for. That the take over and transformation happened over night, and on the last day of transfer activity, means that we are unlikely to feel the effect of this move until January, when the transfer window reopens, at the earliest.

There will however be a few nervous glances over their shoulders by the big four. While Spurs and Everton have flirted with the hope of a top four finish, and the Champions League that is the reward, there is now a realistic chance, and hope, that a real sustained challenge is on the horizon.

This news will worry Liverpool, and maybe Arsenal the most. Chelsea may now have the second richest backer in football, but they still have the financial clout to keep buying their way into title challenges, and ensuring a top four finish for years to come. United have never finished out of the top three since the Premiership began, and as they have shown with back to back titles, after a three year drought, they relish the challenge of competing against the irresponsible spending of the blank cheque Chelsea. Arsenal have never been a big spending team, and are starting to look like a selling club at times, but instead rely on the prodigious talent and potential of their young stars. At times Arsenal are the best team in the country, and the world, and on rare occasions they are muscled out of games and end up chasing third place and not first. They will have a cautious look at what is happening in Manchester now, especially since they have refused to entertain the idea of being bought out by many on looking billionaires.

The most nervous of all the big four will be Liverpool. They have some of the best players in the world in Steven Gerrard and, inparticular, Fernando Torres, and have added the guile and unorthodix skill of Robbie Keane to their ranks. Keane and Torres could be the best strike duo in Europe. The potential is there, they complement each other, the only thing they need, and this is where Liverpool have failed over the last 18 years, is for them to click. The back ground squabling by the owners, the manager, the chief executive and anyone else who cares to have a go, that has made Liverpool a virtual laughing stock of the elite clubs, and the news of yet more problems with the planned new stadium, mean that Liverpool are at risk of losing their top four place to the new kid on the block, Manchester City.

City wasted no time in flexing their new financial might, with bids for Robinho, Berbatov, Torres, Villa, van Nistelrooy and another player, thought to be Huntelaar of Ajax. All bids were over the British record mark of 30 million pounds that Chelsea paid for Schevchenko, with the Torres bid in excess of 50 million. They only managed to bring in Robinho from Real Madrid for a new British Record of 32 million pounds. Significantly they signed Robinho when he appeared to be heading to Chelsea, who had even been selling shirts with his name on the back last week. Come January they have made it known that they will be spending whatever it takes to bring the best players in the world to Eastlands. Bids for Christiano Ronaldo, thought to be 135 million pounds, Cesc Fabregas and Buffon (70 million pounds) are in the pipe line, as well as many many more.

Chelsea’s new transformation under Abromovic saw a spree of spending that could not be believed. City look to make that look small. These are interesting times for English football, and with the league crying out for a challanger to the top four it seems they may have found one.

 Buying success may not always work, but it has for Chelsea, so why not City?

 

Pic from teamtalk.com

Thanks For Spain and Holland

With Euro 2008 about to reach its knock out stage, the business end of the tournament, the most pleasing aspect of the two weeks of matches thus far has been the progress of Holland and Spain. Their performance has been a triumph for football, as much as Euro 2006 was a dark period in recent international competitions.

While the title can never be taken away from Greece, they won it ahead of much better teams and should rightly be pleased with that moment of history, it was still a blight of a tournament that bored rather than entertained. At that stage, at the end of a long season, the Greeks managed to bore the world better than the rest of the field. Blame it on whatever you like, tired legs, the fact that the Greeks were mile fresher then any other team, luck, good for the Greeks, bad for everyone else, history will still tell you that in 2006 Greece won the European Championships. And that’s all it will say. There will be no side not about the way they played, or rather the way they didn’t. So it has always been. This would have been the excuse needed by all in sundry to put out the same stall as the Greeks, and make sure that results are all that matter. 2006 was a tournament that saw teams put out predominately 4-5-1 formations and look to wear the opponents down, get a goal, put everyone behind the ball, and hold out for the win, creating little and using very little imagination or artistry. The Greeks weren’t the only ones to do this, they just managed to do it well at this time. This was the way football was headed, with results become of far more importance than entertainment. Today in England Arsenal and Manchester United are commended for their attacking, flowing, entertaining play. Yet only United have married this with winning. Arsenal must be given credit for continuing with this philosophy despite the lack of trophies. They will continue with it for as long as Wenger is in charge and so lets hope that that is for a long time to come. They could easily adopt the style, or lack of it, of Chelsea and Liverpool, the other two forces of the “Big Four” in England. Liverpool play with one up front, pack the midfield, and launch balls up to the terrific pace of Torres. Chelsea say they play a 4-3-3 and on paper it is exactly that. But on the field, where it matters, they play a 4-5-1. They have been successful with it and so have persisted with it. Abramovich wants fantasy football, like United, Arsenal and Barcelona play, but both Mourinho and Grant brought dull but effective football to the Bridge, winning was more important than putting on a show. Abramovich will be hoping Scolari shares his vision but must be aware that there is a lot of pressure on a manager who spends 100 million a season, pressure to make sure he wins, and this will become more important than how he wins. Will he be happy with a season where his team play the best football in the world, as Arsenal have at times, yet finish with nothing? I doubt that.

And so we come back to Euro 08. Spain and Holland have played football the way it should be played and, with Spain to complete their group matches tonight, have both topped their groups and thus far have both got 100% records. Holland have counter attacked with a true 4-3-3 formation, not Chelsea’s false one, with pace and drive down the flanks, and Ruud in the middle. Spain have done what so many in international and club football have forgotten to do – play with two up front. With Villa and Torres up front you always know that if you create chances they will be put away – and so they have been.

International football was headed into the dark ages but has been rescued by Holland and Spain this year. It would only be right if one of these two teams were to take home the trophy in 10 days time and show the world you don’t have to be dull to win. Football is about passion and entertainment. Let them entertain.

Veloso To Milan?

Miguel Veloso, the Sporting Lisbon midfielder currently with the Portugal squad at Euro 08, has long been touted as being Premiership bound, with Manchester United seemingly favourites to land the talented central player, and Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Newcastle and even Everton ready to pounce. It now seems he may be heading to Italy to join AC Milan.

While a host of club scouts are no doubt waiting to see Veloso in action at Euro 08 before making their move Milan may have jumped the line by taking action. The link to Milan is not new but where as before it was coming out of Veloso’s camp, and denied by Milan, they have now revealed that Veloso could be a Milan player in the future.  Milan director Ariedo Braida has said that the club are interested in Veloso and he could see him being a Milan player in the future. While this does open the door to a move to Italy it does put a vague spin on the time scale. He hasn’t said that they will be moving for Veloso this transfer window but merely that he sees him at Milan in the future.

With the Milan squad an aging one, and any new signings tending to be for the future, as a new Milan is born, with the likes of Pato leading the way, Veloso would fit the mould of the type of midfielder MIlan would want, probably taking over from Gattuso in the middle of the park. However with a host of clubs monitoring the situation anyone interested in Veloso will have to make a move soon, and would have to meet Sportings valuation of the player, which wont be cheap.

For now he is still a Spoting player, but it is only a matter of time before he makes the move to one of Europes elite.

Someone Said No

Roman Abromovich may still be reeling from the shock of someone actually saying no to him, even when bag loads of money were thrown at them. Last night reports began circulating that Chelsea had met with Carlo Ancelotti’s representatives and a deal for a reported 24 million euro’s over 3 years had been agreed with the AC Milan manager.

After this story broke the AC Milan vice president, Adriano Galliani, came out and revealed that he had spoken to Ancelotti who had told him that he is 150% staying at Milan and will not go to Chelsea. Galliani went on to say that Ancelotti had already started arranging the teams pre season friendly programme and would be the manager for next season, 100% guaranteed.

So has it turned out that someone has actually said no to Abromivich and his money? When the Russian bought Chelsea he went on a spending spree that took the team from mid table to the top 2 in England over the last 4 years. Almost every player he wanted he got. Manchester United and Juventus wanted Drogba, Abromovich got him, United wanted Essien and Robben, Abromovich got them, the same with Ballack, Schevchenko and almost anyone else they wanted. He wanted a top manager in Jose Mourinho, they got him, even though the special one was thought to be headed to Spurs. He wanted a chief executive, he took Peter Kenyon from Manchester United. He even got away with expensive flops, Mutu, Crespo, Veron all came for big money, and all were soon gone. He wanted his friend Schevchenko, his manager Mourinho did not, he got him. He wanted Mourinho out, even though the special one had delivered 2 league titles in 2 seasons, after Chelsea had gone 50 years without a single league title. Mourinho was removed and replaced with another of his good friends, Avram Grant. Abromovich is used to getting what he wants and almost always get it.

With his friend Grant let go Chelsea had a 2 man short list of Ancelotti and Mark Hughes as their top targets for the vacant managers position. Ancelotti has apparently said no and Hughes is about to be named as the new manager of Manchester City, unless Chelsea manage to hijack that deal, and they have very little time to do so. Both their targets seem to be lost to Chelsea and they will now have to move further down their list of managers for the job.

Abramovich does not get turned down often and will no doubt not be enjoying this morning too much. Don’t expect him to lay down and accept defeat. Milan can expect a fight for their manager, and Abramovich will no doubt only give up when its clear to him that he has been defeated, and that money can’t get him everything. A theory he will surely be testing in the coming days.

For now we must commend Ancelotti, if it is indeed true that he has turned down the millions on offer at Chelsea, to stay at the club he loves, the club he played for, the club he has won the Champions League with as both a player and as a manager. For today it seems that love has won over money. For today.

No Christmas Cheer for Liverpool and Chelsea

 

While many of the top European teams will be heading for a winter break after this weekends round of matches, those in England will be heading into their busiest period of the season. This weekends games will be followed by the boxing day, next weekends and New Years fixtures. Squads will be tested and it is this period that will see the league table really begin to take shape. Come January and we can expect the league to truly become a two horse race, with Arsenal and Manchester United fighting for the title in May.

United’s slow start to the season, where they failed to win any of their first 3 matches, is well and truly behind them. They now trail Arsenal by only a single point, have safely progressed through a difficult Champions League group, with 5 wins and a draw, and have beaten both Chelsea and Liverpool, as well as drawing with Arsenal, who needed a late goal to rescue a point. With Ronaldo still the driving force of last season, the Tevez and Rooney partnership getting better each week, Giggs still leading from the front, and new boys Nani, Anderson and Hargreaves settling in nicely, United are looking very strong this season, and have a squad that can cope with injury and loss and form, and that should see them in a strong position come May, this season could be very fruitful for the Red Devils.

Arsenals young stars have caught everyone by surprise, by coping with the loss of Thierry Henry by blazing out in front, playing an attractive style of football that has managed to marry entertainment with results, something they failed to do last season, even with Henry. Cesc Fabregas has become the new leader of this young team, a role that he could fulfill for many years to come, and a role that could end with him being Arsenals greatest ever player. What Arsenal do lack however is experience, particularly in depth. So it could be a year or two too soon for them to maintain a sustained title challenge, particularly when they are still involved in Europe. However they have maintained their form for the first half of the season, and they will feel there is no reason why they wont be able to replicate this run in the crunch part of the year. So long as the poison that is Jens Lehmann does not harm team spirit within the camp, Arsenal could be giving their brand of football the perfect acknowledgment this May – a Premier League trophy.

Chelsea have had a rocky season thus far, and that could lead to the type of inconstancy that will end up with them being satisfied with a Champions League place and not a title challenge. What they will fear is that this season is the beginning of the end for their brief period of dominance and not the transition that they hope it is. The arrogance and cockiness of Jose Mourinho’s period in charge is being diluted by a identity crisis within the camp. The team is stuck between the steely resolve of Mourinho’s team, and wanting to be Arsenal, owner Abromovich’s wish. Convincing wins over high flying Manchester City and struggling teams have been nullified by loses and poor performances against title challengers and rivals Manchester United and Arsenal. When Terry doesn’t play, and that’s becoming more and more frequent this season, Chelsea look vulnerable at the back and lack in leadership. Lampard has not been the player of seasons past, and fleeting performances not withstanding, is not going turn draws in wins and loses into draws, feats he used perform when Chelsea were going well. The Chelsea dream may be bursting this season.

Liverpool have been Liverpool once again this season. Changes in personal have not helped them find the consistency that is needed to sustain a long championship challenge. This has been in no small part due to the too frequent rotation policy of manager Benitez. They brought in Fernando Torres for big money from Spain and in the first few weeks he showed that he was every bit as good as his Spanish reputation. Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal must have been kicking themselves for allowing a player of that quality to go to Liverpool. Yet instead of playing him every week Liverpool have rotated him as they would other squad players. A big mistake that may cost Benitez his job. Liverpool, for all their talk and self hype are still no closer to ending their 18 season wait for another league title.

The busy period in English football will end up with the league table showing no real positional changes at the top, Arsenal and United will still be top, something that wont change for the rest of the season. The title race is well and truly a two horse race.

Englands Failure

England, rather predictably, failed to qualify for Euro 2008, when the rest of the world tried their hardest to get them there. A week earlier they seemed all but out, and then Croatia lost to Macedonia and Israel got a last minute winner against Russia, all of which meant that England now just needed a draw, at home, with Croatia to qualify. They had been given another chance. Another chance for redemption for Steve Mclaren, a chance to save his job, a chance for the declining reputations of Englands super stars to shine again, to walk the walk. And they blew it.

England talked of the need to get through, of how important it was for a major tournament to have England in it, of how they realized that they owed it to the country, to the fans, who they have let down, to get the job done. They talked of the respect that they had for Croatia, and how they would not take the draw they needed for granted. If you asked most of the England team to jot down the expected Croatian starting line up most would have Niko Krankjaer and Edwardo de Silva at the top of their page – and very few names after that. That’s the type of respect they had for a team that have now beaten them twice and topped the group.

Success has to be earned and is not a given right and that is where this England team fell short. Much has been made of the short comings of Steve Mclaren and many will feel that his firing has come a year to late, but these are international players called up from the top league in the world. They are training at Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs everyday. They are working under the best coaches and best conditions in the world. There’s not to much an international manager under these conditions can do but to pick the team. He may be able to inspire passion and enthusiasm in his team talks, but if you can’t generate those yourself for representing your country, you have no place in international football. And maybe that’s the clue.

Too many of this England team have under performed when they have played for England. The excuses have flown thick and fast as to what the problem is with England, from the over talked about and little substance feeling that there are too many foreign players in the league, to the wrong man, in Mclaren, being in charge, to the lack of young players coming through. The buck starts and ends with the players. Any team that has John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney in it, not to mention David Beckham when fit and available, should be competing to win a title and not failing to qualify. Yet, as Real Madrid found out during their Galactico’s phase, big names don’t win you anything if there is no desire and spirit there.

Much has been made of the inability of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to play together. Two of the leagues best players should, on paper, make up a dream central pairing in midfield. Yet match after match they failed to deliver. Lampard has received much of the criticism at international level yet Gerrard should not escape this consternation either. Gerrard inspires and drives Liverpool yet fails to do the same for England. When he has been needed most, when England need to dig deep and look for someone to drive them forward, Gerrard has been anonymous. England have needed him to take games by the scruff of the neck and immerse himself in the battle, but he has failed them here. Lampard, the free scoring midfielder at club level may have been exposed at international level. He has been brilliant at Chelsea, when playing next to Essien and Makalele. If he were to move to Juventus or Barcelona he may be effective because of the quality around him, but when he needs to be as big as his reputation he has fallen short. His rise in the England set up coincided with Beckhams best period, and with the likes of Scholes around, he doesn’t deliver alone.

Wayne Bridge, Wright Phillips, Crouch, Bent, Defoe and Johnson have all been exposed at international level. Although this may have a lot to do with the fact that , apart from Johnson, they spend most weekends on the bench waiting for a 15 minutes or less of play each match day. All the high class training in the world can’t match actual game time. If these players harbour any ambition of being good players, and not just rich players, they owe it to themselves and the English fans, to move to clubs that will allow them to play week in and week out. If this stops them from sitting on the bench and collecting medals as squad players then so be it. Gareth Barry has been Englands best midfielder of the qualifying campaign. Barry isn’t the most talent midfielder in the squad, but is a hard working, disciplined player, who, at Aston Villa, plays every minute of every game. That is what the England squad needs. To pick players that are first choice at club level, and to widen their pool of selection. The best players should be found in the entire Premiership and not on the benches of Chelsea and Liverpool.

While Phil Neville may not be seen as a good footballer outside of Manchester and Everton, he should have started at left back against Croatia. Not only does he play every week, unlike Bridge, but with a rookie keeper in Carson, an inexperienced Lescot at centre back, a player of the experience and big match temperament of Neville was needed. He may not be the most flashy player, but he would have done the job, and brought a calmness that England lacked at the back.

Another player that should have started was David Beckham. He may not have played much in the last few months but in a one off match, that this game was, he should have been allowed to play as long as possible to influence the game in a way that none of the chosen midfield were able to. Beckham may not be the most intelligent of people but he has a very good footballing brain. The little time he had on the pitch showed that. Until Crouch scored the equalizing goal he had been starved of service. It took Beckham to deliver the cross that was needed. His range of passing and ability to pick out a target should have been utilized from the beginning. Yet ego’s seem to play a big part in this England set up. Why was Barry withdrawn for Beckham and not Lampard who was the unnoticed during the game, or the equally ineffectual Gerrard?

While the international careers of James, the Nevilles, Beckham and Campbell may be now be over, although Beckham may be allowed to gain the one cap he needs to go to 100, others should be considering their futures. Lampard, Gerrard, Cole and Robinson should all be asking themselves if they have the desire and hunger to play for their country or if they are doing more harm than good for their international team. Hard working, as well as talented, skillful, players are needed ahead of the ego’s and inflated reputations. A fresh approach is needed, an injection of players who want to represent their country and not players that have to. Players like David Bentley and Kevin Nolan, both playing for hard working, unglamourous, clubs like Blackburn and Bolton are needed. Players who will give all for the shirt.

Euro 2008 will not have England competing this summer, and as much as the big international teams are needed in this tournaments, only the teams deserving a place will be there. England aren’t one of those deserving teams.

Englands Foreign Problem?

 

Whether or not England gain the point they need to sneak into Euro 2008, thanks to Russia’s stage fright in Israel more than anything England have done, much will be made of the debate as to why England have been so toothless and inept over the last few years. Excuses and explanations can be found in every corner, from the manager, Steve Mclaren, just not being up to the job, from the players showing little desire, to the players just being not up to scratch and relying on over inflated reputations carved out of being carried by good club teams. The explanation that is gathering the most voices focuses on the influx of foreign players in the English league system, to the detriment of home grown players, and thus to the nation team.

Those who are most vocal about this being the reason England are battling on the international scene, while their club teams are some of he best in the world, point to Arsene Wengers Arsenal as to the best example of the problem. Generally when Arsenal play there are no English players in the starting 11, and one when Theo Walcott makes a rare start. The team, describes by many as the most entertaining footballing team in the world today, rely on a cosmopolitan team made up of talented players from across the globe. Theo Walcott waits on the bench for rare starts. Justin Hoyte rarely makes an appearance either. But would the Emirates be filled every week if Arsenal was made up of average English players? Would they be playing the same brand of football that has made the Premiership stand out from the more tactical, but mundane, Italian league? The issue of whether or not foreign players, and foreign managers too, have helped or harmed the league is a simple one to answer. Without a shadow of a doubt they have made the league better.

At first there were only a sprinkling of foreign players in England. Cantona, Zola and Bergkamp brought a level of professionalism and flair to a game that was missing both. The days of players going out for a drink after training, of players eating anything they wanted, and of players not doing the extra work that was required to take them to a new level, where left behind. Players playing with these stars were quick to see that they had to change their habits and adapt or be left behind. This was the future of world football and it took the English league up to a new standard rather then have it lag increasingly behind as it had been doing. The best players needed to come to England, rather then Italy, as had been the case for many years.

With increased skill, flair and entertainment, came more money. Money poured into the English game, and this money has just increased and increased to such a state that the top teams weren’t the only one that could afford and attract the class and calibre of player that was craved by the team and fans. Without the foreign invasion there would be no money because the league would not be as entertaining and popular as it is now.

Leaving behind the obvious reason as to why the league can not issue a restriction on non England players per squad, that is slaps in the face the freedom of employment laws that all EU citizens have, that is would this be illegal, there is a far simpler case as to why it is not needed. If the English players were good enough they would be in the team. England is not producing players of a high enough standard to merit selection into the teams that are at play today. When less foreign players plied their trade in England obviously more English players played. Yet these players would have been in the same class as Championship players these days, with the exception being the Bryan Robsons, Terry Butchers and Gary Linekers. These players would have still gotten into any of todays teams simply because they were good enough. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, John Terry and Michael Owen will all start for any club team because they are good enough. If Arsenal had any players of this calibre they would be playing. The best players will come through no matter what is infront of them.

Simply put, the influx of foreign players in England has brought out the best in English talent. The players that are good enough are playing in their clubs teams. Players like Wright Phillips, Crouch and Defoe need to leave their clubs to get first team football. The system is not to blame, the players are.

 

England failed to qualify for USA 94 when there were few foreign players in the league.

Testing Times Ahead for Chelsea

 

For all those Chelsea fans who feel that the tide has turned, the storm is over, and the skies have cleared around Stamford Bridge, be cautious, it may not have even begun.

While almost all outside of Stamford Bridge, all football fans not bored housewives, claimed to hate the “Special One” the truth is that it was more of a case of hating Chelsea, and what they stand for, throwing money at problems, hiring mercenaries, and inflating transfer fees, they would in truth love to have Mourinho managing their club. The full affect of Mourinho’s influence on Chelsea wont be felt for another month or so, when Chelsea lose Essien, Drogba. Mikel and Kalou to the African Cup of Nations. Not only will the strength of their squad be tested, but so will the team spirit of the squad, a team spirit that was cultivated by Mourinho, and has been found wanting at times since his resignation.

When Mourinho was shown the door the call from the owners box was for attractive, attacking football. That wasn’t seen in the first weeks of Avram Grants tenure as Chelsea manager. In his first game Chelsea went down 2-0 to Manchester United in performance that was so bereft of life and spirit that would have left many of Chelsea’s fans wondering if this the end of the line for their spell as one of the top teams in the country. While always assuming that Mourinho had a substantial influence on the squad, the actual size of this, judging by that performance, must have been alarming.

Mourinho, although spending a lot of money during his time at the Bridge, had inserted a backbone of Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba in the Chelsea team. These were all Mourinho men, willing to go to battle for their leader, and always giving their all. Since his departure there has been a lot of grumbling in the press, of a fall out between Terry and Mourinho leading to his departure, of Terry and Lampard not being on speaking terms as a result, and of Drogba’s devastation at the loss of Mourinho and the subsequent wishes to leave. The team spirit at Stamford Bridge is being tested, and while Terry, Cole, Lampard and co may come out and speak about the support they have for the new man, Avram Grant, and that he is the right man for the job, you can’t but feel that this is merely the standard press line by the players. While being shocked, and outraged even, by Mourinho forced fall, they must have been livid by the replacement. Not only did it now seem that Grant must have been lined up months before to take over the managers job, but while they could have expected many of the big names in world football to have at least been talked to, the owner seems to have given the job, the job of coaching of the top teams in the world, to a friend, a friend with no record of all at managing in a top league, a friend that may just be a puppet to increased interference by Mr. Abramovic. That may be the key reason why other coaches weren’t even approached, no manager with any pride would allow interference of any kind in the running of the club. So Abramovic has his man.

While Grant pay point to a 6-0 thrashing of Manchester City as proof that the team are playing more attractive football, and that he is doing the job well, the truth is little can be taken from that result. Chelsea still play with the 4-3-3 formation that Mourinho employed, with the 3 up front spit to 2 out wide and only 1 in the middle, and is playing to pretty much Mourinho’s tactics. They happened to catch an over confident City side on a very bad day. One performance does not make a season. They have looked lackluster in the league and in Europe, often doing just enough and no more. The draw against Everton would not have been allowed to happen under Mourinho. Tight discipline would have lead to Chelsea holding on to their 1-0 lead and not conceding in the last minute.

While Chelsea have a squad brimming with talent, the way they play, and the results show this, is that they are a one man team. They are over reliant on Drogba. Without Terry at the back they seem venerable and less assured. The same can be said about Cech. When Lampard is missing there is a certain drive that isn’t there, and Essien may be the energy of the team, but it is Drogba that has been Chelsea over the last 2 years. He has won games for them, and rescued draws, when Chelsea haven’t deserved anything. His goals are the reason they were able to Challenge last season. If Drogba were to leave Chelsea would have to find a replacement to be the focal point of their play, and one that is up to it. A lot will be seen of how well Chelsea will cope with Drogba when he leaves for the African Cup of Nations in January. Should the Ivory Coast do well, and they should, he could be gone for 6 weeks. Pizzaro, Schevchenko and Kalou are all good players, but have not shown that they are able to carry a team, particularly when things aren’t going for you. This is when the team spirit at Chelsea will be tested, this is when they will have to stand up and show what they are made of. Under Mourinho there is no doubt that the steal would have been there. Grant will find out during this testing period whether the players really are with him or not – more than what is said in the press.

In the Papers

NEWS OF THE WORLD:

Avram Grant has become a laughing stock among his own Chelsea stars who are backing him to get the boot by Christmas.

David Dein’s Arsenal dream is in tatters as Alisher Usmanov prepares to send him into exile.

Jose Mourinho could be back in management within a month – replacing Claudio Ranieri at Juventus.

Mark Hughes is the latest manager to be linked with Martin Jol’s job at Spurs.

Liverpool and Arsenal are chasing £10million-rated French star Samir Nasri.

Peter Reid is a surprise candidate to replace Sammy Lee as Bolton manager.

SUNDAY MIRROR:

Jose Mourinho is lined up to take over as Tottenham manager next summer.

THE PEOPLE:

Roy Keane is set to be offered an extension to his Sunderland contract.

Harry Kewell is running out of time to save his Liverpool career.

Manchester United starlet Lee Martin is set to join Plymouth on loan, with a view to a parmanent move.

Manchester City are lining up a £6million swoop for Juan Roman Riquelme.

Spurs are keeping tabs on Southampton winger Nathan Dyer.

SUNDAY EXPRESS:

Ajax striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar wants to move to the Premier League – news that could interest Manchester Untied, Arsenal and Newcastle.

THE SUN

Chelsea stars have been told that Avram Grant is the future of the club. John Terry is set to be fit for England’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia. Michael Owen is also aiming to play in both games. Frank Lampard has suffered a setback in his bid to be fit for Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Valencia. Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung has assured Birmingham he will complete his takeover by the end of the year. Everton midfielder Tim Cahill aims to return for the Merseyside derby on October 20. Roma star Francesco Totti has apologised to a Manchester United fan for the violent police action in the Stadio Olimpico. DAILY MIRROR England boss Steve McClaren faces a massive dilemma for the crunch Euro 2008 qualifiers with Estonia and Russia over John Terry and Michael Owen. Liverpool are lining up a deal for Hamilton youngster James McCarthy. Middlesbrough’s Andrew Davies will hold talks with Hull about a loan move with a view to an £800,000 permanent move. Celtic outcast Jiri Jarosik will spark a bidding war between Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Wigan when the transfer window reopens. Fulham pair Moritz Volz and Collins John are January targets for Southampton. DAILY MAIL Roma have reopened the wounds of last season’s bitter Champions League clash by claiming Manchester United players deliberately whipped up a hostile atmosphere ahead of the second-leg tie. Jussi Jaaskelainen’s agent has confirmed the Finn is unlikely to sign a new deal at Bolton and would jump at the chance of being reunited with Sam Allardyce. John Toshack has launched an astonishing attack on Jose Mourinho. THE INDEPENDENT Chelsea captain John Terry is ready to play against Valencia on Wednesday night after surgery to repair a fractured cheekbone – and could wear a protective mask. Wales coach John Toshack has launched a bizarre attack on Jose Mourinho. Former Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd has reacted angrily to reports Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer were bugged. THE TIMES After successfully undergoing surgery at the weekend, Michael Owen could return for Newcastle on Sunday. John Terry has promised he will be fit for England’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia. DAILY EXPRESS Chelsea are set to ban broken cheekbone victim John Terry from facing Valencia, even though he has begged to be allowed to play. DAILY TELEGRAPH Chelsea want the FA to consider retrospective disciplinary action against Fulham’s Clint Dempsey for the challenge that broke John Terry’s cheekbone. DAILY STAR After undergoing surgery to repair a fractured cheekbone, John Terry has vowed to play through the pain for Chelsea and England. THE GUARDIAN Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck has attacked a minority element of the club’s support for anti-semitic abuse of their manager Avram Grant. Francesco Totti has sought to defuse tensions between the supporters of Manchester United and Roma.