With the amount of scrutiny projected onto football these days, it is hardly surprising that managers seem to be sacked more frequently that Jordan appears on the front page of the Daily Star.
But do clubs really think things through?
Are they really so influenced by the numerous online fanzines, radio phone in’s and blogs that are so freely available both to the football fan and the board room members.
Nobody can tell me that some club executives don’t read or tune into these media outlets ? I’m sure some of them do.
There are numerous examples of sets of fans probably regretfully thinking ‘we should be careful what we wish for next time’. And for me, two examples in particular, spring to mind.
Firstly, there is Alan Curbishley at Charlton. He originally took the London club up to the Premiership in 1998, but they went straight back down again in 1999 after a season which saw them lose twelve successive league matches.
However, the former West Ham and Birmingham midfielder had learned his lesson and was up to the challenge.
Curbishley took the Addicks back up as champions in 2000 and there they stayed until 2006.
The club not only escaped relegation with ease throughout those six years, they were more often that not in ‘nose bleed’ territory for a club with such a small fan base.
In 2001 and 2004, Charlton finished in the top ten. In 2003-2004 they only finished three points off a European place, completing a league double over Liverpool in the process. It was their highest top flight finish since the 1950s.
In the other four seasons the club were positioned comfortably in mid-table come the season’s end, and were rarely under any serious threat of going down. But fans’ expectation had been lifted. The near miss of glory in 2004 meant that various fans dialled into various radio shows calling for Curbishley to go after the club had finished a mere 11th in 2005.
The boss, rightly so, felt hugely hurt by this and he quit the following year.
A short lived Iain Dowie stint followed, but his reign was a disaster and the club were relegated to the Championship in 2007.
This year Charlton were relegated again and now languish in League One.
From being a mid-table Premiership team as recent as May 2006, the Addicks are now lumbering in the same league as Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United. Sometimes fans really should be careful what they wish for.
The other club that springs to mind are Newcastle United. A club, who in my view, perceive themselves to be a little bit higher than their natural station suggests.
After two seasons of Champions League football in the early part of this decade, the Toon reached the UEFA Cup semi finals in 2004, as well as finishing fifth in the Premiership. It proved to be Sir Bobby Robson's last year at the helm, as the boardroom's thirst for success and an unrealistic expectation that the club could topple all of the big four, took fruition.
Following a poor opening three games of the 2004-2005 season, the former England manager was shipped out. Despite being 71 years young at the time, there was no obvious candidate who could be talked about in the same breath as the football legend.
In the five years he was there, Robson had led Newcastle from the bottom of the table to a third place finish in 2003.
Graeme Souness took over. Hardly a man with a terrific track record at big clubs, he was a disaster from the moment he began, finishing well down the table in his first season and being ousted half way through his second.
Glen Roeder then took over and started off brightly, steadying the ship. But in 2007 ‘big’ Sam Allardyce, who’s outstanding record at Bolton almost got him the England job, landed the Newcastle hot seat.
The club started off with some excellent results, but by December, they had slipped into mid table and once again the impatient Toon faithful grew restless.
While, still being a big improvement on Sounesss, the football he played was deemed un-attractive by the supporters. The board once again bowed to fan power and 'Big Sam' was sacked at the end of 2007.
The return of 'King Kevin' Keegan steered the club away from relegation by the end of the season, and being the fans choice, the former boss was a popular appointment.
Again though, the boardroom squabbles proved to be too much for Keegan and he walked out at the beginning of the 2008-2009 season.
Despite having a squad worthy of a mid-table position in the Premiership, the club now find themselves in the Championship.
Alan Shearer, the expected ‘saviour’ didn’t deliver at the end of the last campaign, despite having eight games to get just four points. He was once again paraded as the club legend and local boy who would turn around the fortunes through his passion for the club. It backfired terribly.
The power of the supporters at St James’ Park has left the club in ruins. They wanted Keegan, they wanted Shearer, but they didn't want Allardyce and were given what they wanted. Has it paid dividends? No.
When the fans called for Alladyce to be sacked two years ago, they probably never envisaged being in the Championship eighteen months later. If the former Bolton boss had stayed, and I doubt many fans disagree with me, Newcastle would certainly still be in the Premiership, and probably in the top half. This is not unrealistic, when you consider Big Sam’s track record.
There are other examples of fans over-reacting to a few bad results and then later, looking like fools. It is, thankfully, because the boardrooms involved, sensibly didn’t react to their supporters' over-exaggeration.
Steve McClaren is another manager who deserved far more respect than what he got from a minority of supporters when he was manager at the Riverside.
The Yorkshire man won the League Cup in 2004, Middlesbrough's first major silverware. He then took the club to seventh place in the league and European spot in 2005. To cap it all of, he took the team (and the fans) on a roller coaster ride to the UEFA Cup final in 2006.
What do supporters really desire? Following a heavy home defeat to Aston Villa in February 2006, McClaren had a Boro shirt thrown at him in the dug out by a ‘fan’. Two weeks later the club beat Chelsea 3-0 and all was forgotten as he took them on that unforgettable run. I'm sure McClaren, himself, didn't forget though.
Every club has periods of poor results. Sir Alex Ferguson is the most famous example of a manager who was under-achieving and probably even deserved the sack, but didn’t get it. The rest as they say, is history.
The Scot was on the verge of being given the boot in January 1990. The club had been First Division runners-up in 1988, but had finished a lowly 12th in 1989 after an appalling run of results. They were again languishing in mid table in the middle of the 1989-90 season and had crashed out of the League Cup at home to Tottenham at the third round stage.
The Scot's team went to Nottingham Forest (then a superior side under Brian Clough) with an injury-ravaged team. Media knives were sharpening, knowing that a defeat would almost certainly spell the end of Ferguson's three year reign. They won the tie courtesy of a Mark Robins header, went on to win the FA Cup (primarily down to Robins’s goals) and we all know what happened in the subsequent two decades that followed.
Eleven league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, two European Cups and one Cup Winners’ Cup later, only us old enough to remember know just how close he was to leaving that cold January day in Nottingham.
The 'big' clubs tend to stay big clubs over a long period because they are loyal to their managers and don’t panic when things go a little awol. There have however, been occasions when loyalty has stretched too far.
Liverpool, for example, stuck with Graeme Souness far too long. The former midfield legend led the club to two sixth place finishes in his two full seasons in charge. He also managed to watch his team crash out of the FA Cup third round in successive seasons to lower league clubs at Anfield.
It was a far cry from the Daglish, Fagan and Paisley years that preceded him.
The Scottish boss managed to destroy the club, by trying to change the old guard too quickly and really should have been fired a year earlier when the club were in 17th position in March 1993.
The Merseysiders also stuck with Gerard Houllier too long. At the beginning of November 2002 the club were top of the league with 30 points from 12 matches, but were seventh by mid January and had only taken six points from a possible 33. He somehow kept his job for another 17 months.
However badly a manager is performing though, sticking by him for as long as possible keeps the club stable and the players settled. This is why Liverpool will always be somewhere near the top most of the time, and the same rule applies for clubs such as Aston Villa, Everton and Arsenal.
Chelsea are a very recent example of not being particularly objective with their managers and actually bowing to another modern day phenomonen, player power.
The West London club can attract the biggest names, but the only one of their recent managers not to be a big name was the one who was an inch away from being the greatest.
When Jose Mourinho left the post in September 2007, the club had 15 points from nine games and were already ten points off the pace in the league. Avram Grant, known little outside his native Israel, turned their fortunes round quite spectacularly. Whether this was by luck or judgment, his record as Chelsea boss is astonishing.
They reached the League Cup final (losing to Tottenham) and reached the FA Cup quarter finals. But most remarkably, they took the title race down to the last day after being six points behind at the end of March, and finally defeated Liverpool in the Champion’s League semi final, something the ‘great’ Mourinho never managed to do.
The Blues were one John Terry penalty kick away from European glory and also twice hit the woodwork during the 120 minutes played in Moscow.
The Israeli was therefore, a fraction away from immortality, but was sacked and replaced by a bigger name, Phil Scolari.
The Brazillian was nowhere near as successful in his time there, but once again was only given six months at the helm. Who knows what he might have achieved given time, however, he was once again, as with Grant, forced out of the exit door by player power.
Carlo Ancelotti has made a similar start to that of Scolari, but it wouldn’t surprise me if a bad sequence of results gets the spoilt Chelsea players and fans in a pickle once again
Martin Jol led Tottenham to two fifth place finishes in the middle part of this decade, but had a poor start to the 2007-2008 season and was fired.
His replacement Juande Ramos, won only four league games in charge, and despite winning the League Cup with Jol’s team, he was a complete flop.
After taking only two points from his first eight games as boss in 2008-09, the Spaniard was un-surprisingly given his marching orders.
People now talk up Harry Redknapp’s team as Champions League contenders and top six material, but they also were under Martin Jol. In fact in the 2005-2006 season, they were fourth until the last day.
It’s taken an expensive dismissal and appointment to take the club back to where they were two years ago. Was it really all worth it?
Back to the current day, and the speculation regarding Phil Brown’s departure is, in my opinion, disconcerting.
Hull City’s fans must remember where the club was three years ago and where it is now. Who would be his obvious replacement?
In his two seasons at the club he has achieved both of his aims – promotion and staving off relegation. However, he just happened to beat a few big teams along way to provide the Hull fans with some novel excitement. That’s all it should be.
Instead it has raised expectations to a much higher level than they should be.
Hull are not at breaking point, they have a few points in the bag this season. Granted, the manager's record in 2009 is woeful, but the club are still in dreamland and the fans should remember that. I have a feeling they may 'do a Charlton' if Brown is forced out.
The eccentric boss has earned the right to take the club through another full season in the top flight. He did, after-all, get them there in the first place.
Middlesbrough’s recent dismissal of Gareth Southgate is puzzling. They were only one point off the top of the Championship at the time, but Steve Gibson – who can never be criticised for being disloyal – has a lot to answer for on this occasion.
Make no bones about it, Boro were awful last year. But why wasn’t Southgate fired in the summer, and not when the team lies in fourth place in their league?
I personally think Southgate will go on to become an excellent manager, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that he led the club to mid-table finishes in 2007 and 2008, so he can manage competently at the highest level.
It also has to be remembered that his transfer budget was slashed and he was forced to sell key players. Any manager would struggle when placed in the same boat.
Rafael Benitez, Fabio Capello and Marcello Lippi are a just a few big names who have been fired more than once in their managerial careers. Clubs and fans should be more patient with their managers' and ignore some of the ridiculous media tirades that occur in this day and age.
The examples of Charlton, Newcastle and other clubs like Norwich City (who sacked Nigel Worthington) and Southampton (Gordon Strachan) should be assessed and taken note of by other clubs looking to make what could be make or break decisions.
The decision makers involved only have to look at where those clubs are now, and look at where they were when the fore-mentioned managers were dismissed.
This is one of the more frustrating aspects of our wonderful modern game. Everyone just needs to step back and take a deep breath.
Things take time, just ask the Old Trafford faithful. What were you thinking back in September 1989 when you lost 5-1 at Maine Road to your biggest rivals? They probably don't even remember.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
BENITEZ REALLY DOES DESERVE MORE RESPECT
Following the defeat to Lyon on Tuesday, I listened in despair to ‘so called’ Liverpool fans dialing into various radio phone-in’s calling for Rafael Benitez’s head.
This scenario would be sheer madness, and really could spell the beginning of the end for the eighteen times league champions.
It’s easy, when things are going badly, to blame the manager. And, while Liverpool have had money to spend during his tenor, Benitez has often had to sign his second or third choice player, rather than his desired choice.
There are numerous examples of this actually happening, but the media endlessly criticise his bad judgement in the transfer market. Sometimes there even appears to be a witch-hunt against the Madrid born coach.
Two seasons ago the Spaniard was keen to sign Florent Malouda instead of Ryan Babel, but ended up buying the Dutchman due to Malouda's wage demands. Back in 2006 the Spanish boss wanted to sign Simao, but ended up purchasing the enigmatic Jermaine Pennant. That same season Benitez wanted to purchase Daniel Alves (then a Seville player), but instead signed the much cheaper, although vastly underrated Alvaro Arbeloa.
More recent examples are the farce of the board choosing to sign Robbie Keane and not Gareth Barry, and, in August, the acquisition of Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Benitez would have preferred Michael Turner or Matthew Upson as more powerful options in central defence.
One welcome piece of news for Red's fans is that Alberto Aquilani, an expensive Benitez signing, played fifteen minutes for the reserves last night.
A judgment can be made on him in the very near future and the Italian certainly does have the ability to influence games with his neat passing and powerful shooting. And despite the undoubted pressure being placed on his shoulders the former Roma star should prove a hit with the Anfield faithful.
It must also be remembered that Daniel Agger is back in the side and building up his match fitness. Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson will all be back sooner rather than later and none of their injuries are long term. The fortunes of the Anfield giants could well look very different in a month’s time.
While it is disappointing for Liverpool that they have lost four games in succession, it’s still very early in the campaign.
In the league, so many teams have been dropping points to each other and it seems the Premiership has finally become the unpredictable circus we have all craved.
Many are already predicting that Liverpool will be out of the top four by the end of the season, but haven’t we heard this all before concerning the big four?
I vividly recall the 2001-2002 season. Manchester United had lost six games by the end of November, and were being written off by endless ‘experts’ and by the bookies (they were as much as 12-1 for the title at that stage). Inspired by Ruud Van Nistelroy, United then won eight league games in a row, and by the beginning of January were top.
It only takes a run of wins (which Liverpool are more than capable of) and a decent run of fixtures for everything to change.
No one can say that the five times European champions are playing well, but having a bad run in October does not automatically mean the end of the season.Liverpool supporters bemoaning Benitez’s decision making need to be more objective.
I heard a fan call Five Live on Tuesday night suggesting that Benitez was still living off the Istanbul drama of 2005. The caller also said that Liverpool won the FA Cup in 2006, but were lucky. Most annoyingly, he suggested that they had done "nothing" since. This observation is totally unfounded. Has this 'fan' forgotten that the team got to the European Cup final in 2007? Yes, the European Champions League final, is that really "nothing"?
Two years later, Liverpool nearly won the title, completing the double over Manchester United and Chelsea, and only lost two games in the entire campaign. No supporters, however frustrated, can say that during the three trophy-less years at Anfield, the club have not been in contention for the major trophies some way or another.
At this juncture I want to point out an obvious, but often discarded fact. Only one team can win each competition, something fans seem to forget in all the aftermath of disappointing defeat.
The 'big' clubs such as Liverpool or Arsenal should always be challenging on all fronts, and that's what the fans should expect. Liverpool have certainly done that, home and abroad in recent seasons.
Unhappy fans need to imagine the possible follow-on effects of sacking Benitez. If he left, would his Spanish or Spanish speaking players follow him out of the Anfield exit door? Quite possibly. Reina, Mascherano, and most unthinkable of all, Fernando Torres would probably all depart to pastures new.
Rafael Benitez is a top manager. As I have mentioned previously, in Gerard Houllier’s last season, Liverpool were eliminated in the UEFA Cup fourth round and scraped fourth place in the league with a megre 60 points. Last season Benitez’s team finished second with 86 points. There is no comparison.
If some people reading this are thinking that one season is too little a time to make a judgement, it must also be added that Houllier’s team were fifth the previous season with 64 points. The Frenchman’s team had been going backwards for a while. Benitez’s team have just had a few bad results in the last month or so.
Twice a La liga winner winner with Valencia, Benitez has taken his Liverpool team to two European Cup finals, a semi final and a quarter final. He has led the club to three comfortable top three finishes, an FA Cup win, and a League Cup final in his five years as boss. Anyone comparing his record to Houllier's is a fool.
In fact, if you compare the former Valencia manager’s record with that of Arsene Wenger’s over the same period, it is far superior.
The Gunner’s exciting start to this season has meant that Wenger is now a media darling once again. But football fans and pundits’ alike have short memories.
Arsenal are being praised to high heaven for their performances this season, but this time last year the Londoners had lost five league games. There were plenty of fan's calling for Wenger's dismissal then, but now the Gunners are being held in a positive spotlight once again.
People are so fickle and contradictory concerning their football analysis. We constantly hear how teams like Holland are technically superior and how all their players are comfortable on the ball, when England play badly. However, we also regularly hear how Liverpool's two Dutchman, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are not good enough to play for Liverpool.
Meanwhile, last night, Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 at home to AC Milan (a poorer team than Lyon), but Xavi Alonso was in the team. Where was his protective midfield play there I wander? Is he really so special now?
There is hope for Liverpool. Two seasons ago they only had one point from their first three Champions League group games. Subsequently, the team won their last three group games and qualified in style.
They then went on to beat Inter Milan and Arsenal in the knockout stages, and only lost in an incredibly tight two legged semi final to Chelsea, that went to extra time.
When all the players’, particularly Aquilani, are fully fit, Benitez can be judged more thoroughly. For now, it’s too early in the season.
In my view, the most important statistic Liverpool fans must look at is that the Merseysiders finished 29 points behind the champions Arsenal in 2004, when Benitez took over. Since then, Benitez’s Liverpool teams have finished above Arsenal in three out of the last four seasons and finished 14 points ahead of them in the last campaign.
Just five months ago they finished four points behind the current champions and 14 points ahead of Arsenal (a 43 point swing over five years). Have Liverpool made progress under Benitez’s stewardship? Of course they have.
Finally, if you believe in coincidences, the last time Liverpool lost four games in a row was late in the 1986-1987season. A mere four months later they were playing the most exquisite football with a team being heralded by many as the greatest side they ever had. The team went 29 games unbeaten and won the League at a canter the following year.
Things can change so quickly in football, just ask Sir Alex Ferguson. Mark Robins, the City Ground anyone? Watch this space.
This scenario would be sheer madness, and really could spell the beginning of the end for the eighteen times league champions.
It’s easy, when things are going badly, to blame the manager. And, while Liverpool have had money to spend during his tenor, Benitez has often had to sign his second or third choice player, rather than his desired choice.
There are numerous examples of this actually happening, but the media endlessly criticise his bad judgement in the transfer market. Sometimes there even appears to be a witch-hunt against the Madrid born coach.
Two seasons ago the Spaniard was keen to sign Florent Malouda instead of Ryan Babel, but ended up buying the Dutchman due to Malouda's wage demands. Back in 2006 the Spanish boss wanted to sign Simao, but ended up purchasing the enigmatic Jermaine Pennant. That same season Benitez wanted to purchase Daniel Alves (then a Seville player), but instead signed the much cheaper, although vastly underrated Alvaro Arbeloa.
More recent examples are the farce of the board choosing to sign Robbie Keane and not Gareth Barry, and, in August, the acquisition of Sotirios Kyrgiakos. Benitez would have preferred Michael Turner or Matthew Upson as more powerful options in central defence.
One welcome piece of news for Red's fans is that Alberto Aquilani, an expensive Benitez signing, played fifteen minutes for the reserves last night.
A judgment can be made on him in the very near future and the Italian certainly does have the ability to influence games with his neat passing and powerful shooting. And despite the undoubted pressure being placed on his shoulders the former Roma star should prove a hit with the Anfield faithful.
It must also be remembered that Daniel Agger is back in the side and building up his match fitness. Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Glen Johnson will all be back sooner rather than later and none of their injuries are long term. The fortunes of the Anfield giants could well look very different in a month’s time.
While it is disappointing for Liverpool that they have lost four games in succession, it’s still very early in the campaign.
In the league, so many teams have been dropping points to each other and it seems the Premiership has finally become the unpredictable circus we have all craved.
Many are already predicting that Liverpool will be out of the top four by the end of the season, but haven’t we heard this all before concerning the big four?
I vividly recall the 2001-2002 season. Manchester United had lost six games by the end of November, and were being written off by endless ‘experts’ and by the bookies (they were as much as 12-1 for the title at that stage). Inspired by Ruud Van Nistelroy, United then won eight league games in a row, and by the beginning of January were top.
It only takes a run of wins (which Liverpool are more than capable of) and a decent run of fixtures for everything to change.
No one can say that the five times European champions are playing well, but having a bad run in October does not automatically mean the end of the season.Liverpool supporters bemoaning Benitez’s decision making need to be more objective.
I heard a fan call Five Live on Tuesday night suggesting that Benitez was still living off the Istanbul drama of 2005. The caller also said that Liverpool won the FA Cup in 2006, but were lucky. Most annoyingly, he suggested that they had done "nothing" since. This observation is totally unfounded. Has this 'fan' forgotten that the team got to the European Cup final in 2007? Yes, the European Champions League final, is that really "nothing"?
Two years later, Liverpool nearly won the title, completing the double over Manchester United and Chelsea, and only lost two games in the entire campaign. No supporters, however frustrated, can say that during the three trophy-less years at Anfield, the club have not been in contention for the major trophies some way or another.
At this juncture I want to point out an obvious, but often discarded fact. Only one team can win each competition, something fans seem to forget in all the aftermath of disappointing defeat.
The 'big' clubs such as Liverpool or Arsenal should always be challenging on all fronts, and that's what the fans should expect. Liverpool have certainly done that, home and abroad in recent seasons.
Unhappy fans need to imagine the possible follow-on effects of sacking Benitez. If he left, would his Spanish or Spanish speaking players follow him out of the Anfield exit door? Quite possibly. Reina, Mascherano, and most unthinkable of all, Fernando Torres would probably all depart to pastures new.
Rafael Benitez is a top manager. As I have mentioned previously, in Gerard Houllier’s last season, Liverpool were eliminated in the UEFA Cup fourth round and scraped fourth place in the league with a megre 60 points. Last season Benitez’s team finished second with 86 points. There is no comparison.
If some people reading this are thinking that one season is too little a time to make a judgement, it must also be added that Houllier’s team were fifth the previous season with 64 points. The Frenchman’s team had been going backwards for a while. Benitez’s team have just had a few bad results in the last month or so.
Twice a La liga winner winner with Valencia, Benitez has taken his Liverpool team to two European Cup finals, a semi final and a quarter final. He has led the club to three comfortable top three finishes, an FA Cup win, and a League Cup final in his five years as boss. Anyone comparing his record to Houllier's is a fool.
In fact, if you compare the former Valencia manager’s record with that of Arsene Wenger’s over the same period, it is far superior.
The Gunner’s exciting start to this season has meant that Wenger is now a media darling once again. But football fans and pundits’ alike have short memories.
Arsenal are being praised to high heaven for their performances this season, but this time last year the Londoners had lost five league games. There were plenty of fan's calling for Wenger's dismissal then, but now the Gunners are being held in a positive spotlight once again.
People are so fickle and contradictory concerning their football analysis. We constantly hear how teams like Holland are technically superior and how all their players are comfortable on the ball, when England play badly. However, we also regularly hear how Liverpool's two Dutchman, Dirk Kuyt and Ryan Babel are not good enough to play for Liverpool.
Meanwhile, last night, Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 at home to AC Milan (a poorer team than Lyon), but Xavi Alonso was in the team. Where was his protective midfield play there I wander? Is he really so special now?
There is hope for Liverpool. Two seasons ago they only had one point from their first three Champions League group games. Subsequently, the team won their last three group games and qualified in style.
They then went on to beat Inter Milan and Arsenal in the knockout stages, and only lost in an incredibly tight two legged semi final to Chelsea, that went to extra time.
When all the players’, particularly Aquilani, are fully fit, Benitez can be judged more thoroughly. For now, it’s too early in the season.
In my view, the most important statistic Liverpool fans must look at is that the Merseysiders finished 29 points behind the champions Arsenal in 2004, when Benitez took over. Since then, Benitez’s Liverpool teams have finished above Arsenal in three out of the last four seasons and finished 14 points ahead of them in the last campaign.
Just five months ago they finished four points behind the current champions and 14 points ahead of Arsenal (a 43 point swing over five years). Have Liverpool made progress under Benitez’s stewardship? Of course they have.
Finally, if you believe in coincidences, the last time Liverpool lost four games in a row was late in the 1986-1987season. A mere four months later they were playing the most exquisite football with a team being heralded by many as the greatest side they ever had. The team went 29 games unbeaten and won the League at a canter the following year.
Things can change so quickly in football, just ask Sir Alex Ferguson. Mark Robins, the City Ground anyone? Watch this space.
Friday, October 16, 2009
THRILLING END OF SEASON FINALE BREWING OVER IN THE FAR EAST..
Although the standard of football here in China is not the best, there can surely not be a more compelling title race in world football.
Beijing Guo an (my adopted team) are currently leading the table on goal difference from Henan Jianye. But there are only two points separating the top six teams, with three matches left of the campaign.
In a mildly exciting statistic, there is a similar scenario concerning Guo an than that of Liverpool. The seven times champions have not won the 'lian cai' since 1990, however, unlike the Merseysiders they have had several near misses in recent times.
I have become quite a passionate 'qui mi' (fan) of the Peking side over the last six months (glory hunter that I am) and have, on a few occasions headed to Gong ti (The Workers stadium) to watch their games.
What's especially amusing during the games is when the stadium blasts out rock music at the point when supporters begin to chant out abusive words. This is done to prevent the people watching on television from having these vulgar obscenities transmitted into their living rooms.
It certainly brings a smile to the faces of visiting expats such as myself.
There are currently six teams involved in the title race. In addition to Beijing and Jian ye, Tianjin Teda, Shanghai Shenhua, Shandong Luneng and Changchun Yantai are also in contention.
Shandong and Changchun are arguably the two most fluid teams, but Guo an are the team with the least defeats and by far the best goal difference. They also appear to be the team acquiring the most luck as every time they slip up, all the other challengers manage to drop points as well.
With a superior goal difference to Jianye, three wins will almost certainly clinch the title for the team from the capital. Their final league game happens to be on the evening of Halloween, so hopefully there will be no ghosts to exercise next season.
As always, the state of Chinese football is an emotive topic in the People’s Republic.
As I have stated previously, there are many skilful players, but unfortunately, they have a tendency to panic when in possession of the ball.
The goalkeepers are excellent, and the technique of the midfielders and wide players are sound enough. But the finishing of some of the strikers frequently leaves a lot to be desired.
I do to some extent, think that many Chinese coaches under-rate the Chinese players too much and select some of the foreign players in their squad just for the sake of it.
There is such a lack of confidence in the ability of Chinese footballers at the moment, that many coaches just automatically think that any foreigners they have available will be better.
For instance, there are three Australian players in Beijing’s team who I believe are no better than the Chinese players who play in the same position. In fact they are technically far inferior, but seem to play virtually every week.
Several months ago I wrote an article on Chinese football suggesting possible reasons why it is at such a low ebb.
After further research I believe there are several other reasons for it's downfall, including one particularly important factor.
China first entered the World Cup during the qualification stages for the 1982 tournament and were agonisingly close to qualifying.
It took a freak 5-0 victory for New Zealand over Saudi Arabia to eliminate them, when the Kiwi’s needed to win by four goals. It left the nation pulling their hair out in disbelief at such an astonishing turn of events.
In 1986, a victory at home to Hong Kong in Beijing was all that was required, but a surprise 2-1 defeat ensued, resulting in the worst scenes of football violence ever witnessed in China. There has not been in an international match played in the city since.
China have only qualified once for the finals, in 2002. However, that was more down to the fact that Japan and South Korea - the traditional powerhouses of Asian football - qualified automatically as hosts.
China were therefore able to breeze through what would usually be an extremely difficult qualifying process.
The fans were not fooled though. They were fully aware this achievement was not down to their team showing any signs of prowess on the international stage.
The national team has gone even further down the world pecking order since then, and these days, is not even competitive in Asia. It is an eternity way from the heady days of the 1980s.
So what is the main reason for this decline? It's simple – the one child policy (and quite possibly the two child policy that preceded it).
Now let's get something straight here, I'm not giving a view on whether this policy is correct or not in a social sense, but it is certainly a major reason why the football team has had such poor results.
Before 1975, families could have more than two children, and many couples had half a dozen children or more.
But in the last two decades the single offspring (girl or boy) has been expected to study hard at school, go to university (often studying subjects that their parents want them to study) and earn a good salary so they are able to take care of their parents when they get older.
Before the mid 1970s, it was a totally different scenario and this generation of children included the Chinese footballers who helped the national team peak in the 1980s.
Players born in the late 1950s and early 1960s were largely from big families and were able to take a risk and exercise their talents on the football field. And it would be left to the other siblings to study attentively and, if possible, achieve on an academic level.
Nowadays with only one child there is hardly any chance of this happening at all. Study and security is the number one priority. The risk involved in becoming a footballer is something frowned upon in Chinese society.
In a recent change of policy it is now possible for two children from the one child generation to marry and have two offspring. This is a welcome social change, but whether or not it can improve the fortunes of the Chinese football team is yet to be seen.
Perhaps though, it just offers that little ray of sunshine that the Chinese public need. After all, they are not asking for world beaters, they just want a team that is not down right embarrassing.
Beijing Guo an (my adopted team) are currently leading the table on goal difference from Henan Jianye. But there are only two points separating the top six teams, with three matches left of the campaign.
In a mildly exciting statistic, there is a similar scenario concerning Guo an than that of Liverpool. The seven times champions have not won the 'lian cai' since 1990, however, unlike the Merseysiders they have had several near misses in recent times.
I have become quite a passionate 'qui mi' (fan) of the Peking side over the last six months (glory hunter that I am) and have, on a few occasions headed to Gong ti (The Workers stadium) to watch their games.
What's especially amusing during the games is when the stadium blasts out rock music at the point when supporters begin to chant out abusive words. This is done to prevent the people watching on television from having these vulgar obscenities transmitted into their living rooms.
It certainly brings a smile to the faces of visiting expats such as myself.
There are currently six teams involved in the title race. In addition to Beijing and Jian ye, Tianjin Teda, Shanghai Shenhua, Shandong Luneng and Changchun Yantai are also in contention.
Shandong and Changchun are arguably the two most fluid teams, but Guo an are the team with the least defeats and by far the best goal difference. They also appear to be the team acquiring the most luck as every time they slip up, all the other challengers manage to drop points as well.
With a superior goal difference to Jianye, three wins will almost certainly clinch the title for the team from the capital. Their final league game happens to be on the evening of Halloween, so hopefully there will be no ghosts to exercise next season.
As always, the state of Chinese football is an emotive topic in the People’s Republic.
As I have stated previously, there are many skilful players, but unfortunately, they have a tendency to panic when in possession of the ball.
The goalkeepers are excellent, and the technique of the midfielders and wide players are sound enough. But the finishing of some of the strikers frequently leaves a lot to be desired.
I do to some extent, think that many Chinese coaches under-rate the Chinese players too much and select some of the foreign players in their squad just for the sake of it.
There is such a lack of confidence in the ability of Chinese footballers at the moment, that many coaches just automatically think that any foreigners they have available will be better.
For instance, there are three Australian players in Beijing’s team who I believe are no better than the Chinese players who play in the same position. In fact they are technically far inferior, but seem to play virtually every week.
Several months ago I wrote an article on Chinese football suggesting possible reasons why it is at such a low ebb.
After further research I believe there are several other reasons for it's downfall, including one particularly important factor.
China first entered the World Cup during the qualification stages for the 1982 tournament and were agonisingly close to qualifying.
It took a freak 5-0 victory for New Zealand over Saudi Arabia to eliminate them, when the Kiwi’s needed to win by four goals. It left the nation pulling their hair out in disbelief at such an astonishing turn of events.
In 1986, a victory at home to Hong Kong in Beijing was all that was required, but a surprise 2-1 defeat ensued, resulting in the worst scenes of football violence ever witnessed in China. There has not been in an international match played in the city since.
China have only qualified once for the finals, in 2002. However, that was more down to the fact that Japan and South Korea - the traditional powerhouses of Asian football - qualified automatically as hosts.
China were therefore able to breeze through what would usually be an extremely difficult qualifying process.
The fans were not fooled though. They were fully aware this achievement was not down to their team showing any signs of prowess on the international stage.
The national team has gone even further down the world pecking order since then, and these days, is not even competitive in Asia. It is an eternity way from the heady days of the 1980s.
So what is the main reason for this decline? It's simple – the one child policy (and quite possibly the two child policy that preceded it).
Now let's get something straight here, I'm not giving a view on whether this policy is correct or not in a social sense, but it is certainly a major reason why the football team has had such poor results.
Before 1975, families could have more than two children, and many couples had half a dozen children or more.
But in the last two decades the single offspring (girl or boy) has been expected to study hard at school, go to university (often studying subjects that their parents want them to study) and earn a good salary so they are able to take care of their parents when they get older.
Before the mid 1970s, it was a totally different scenario and this generation of children included the Chinese footballers who helped the national team peak in the 1980s.
Players born in the late 1950s and early 1960s were largely from big families and were able to take a risk and exercise their talents on the football field. And it would be left to the other siblings to study attentively and, if possible, achieve on an academic level.
Nowadays with only one child there is hardly any chance of this happening at all. Study and security is the number one priority. The risk involved in becoming a footballer is something frowned upon in Chinese society.
In a recent change of policy it is now possible for two children from the one child generation to marry and have two offspring. This is a welcome social change, but whether or not it can improve the fortunes of the Chinese football team is yet to be seen.
Perhaps though, it just offers that little ray of sunshine that the Chinese public need. After all, they are not asking for world beaters, they just want a team that is not down right embarrassing.
Friday, October 9, 2009
IS THERE A MYTH ON MERSEYSIDE?
I’m probably not the only football fan fed up with the lack of insight that so many football pundits seem to have these days.
The two words ‘Xabi’ and ‘Alonso’ are predictably mentioned every time Liverpool lose a game, but are predictably, barely used when they win.
It is the nature of the game's media to jump on certain bandwagons, but this also appears to be yet another media tirade against poor Rafa Benitez.
Firstly, I want to get one thing straight here. Xabi Alonso is a terrific player who is capable of scoring spectacular goals (occasionally). He also has the ability to control the pace and direction of a game and protect his defence, due his sound positioning and desire to receive the ball.
He is not, however, irreplaceable.
Pundits harp on about Alonso in the same way that they harp on about Ronaldo, but the Portuguese star won three league titles in his six years at Old Trafford.
The Spanish midfielder won no league titles in five years at Anfield.
Liverpool crave the league title, so why shouldn’t Alonso be sold for three times the amount he was bought for.
I don’t recall any people saying Liverpool missed the Spaniard when they took ten points from their first eight games in 2005-2006. I don’t remember pundits suggesting Liverpool needed Alonso when they lost three out of their first seven league games in 2006-2007.
I also don’t recall people suggesting Liverpool missed Alonso when they only collected 16 points from their opening eight matches two seasons ago (only one more point than they have now).
The reason - because he was actually there and contributing to these 'poor' results.
I am not suggesting Xabi Alonso will not be missed by the five times European Cup winners, he may well be. But now is way too early to judge.
Alberto Aquilani, his replacement, is set to make his debut before the end of the month, but even he needs a little time to adjust to the pace of the Premiership.
If Liverpool fail to finish in the top four (or finish 5th and win the Champions League), a scenario which never occurred while Alonso was at the club, then it would be right for pundits to say the 27 year old has been missed.
I would personally like to know on what basis he has been missed so far. As usual I don’t believe people are looking at the bigger picture.
In Europe (against continental sides) I think there may be an argument to be made. Against Fiorentina, Liverpool lacked somebody to control and dictate play. Steven Gerrard was forced to retreat backwards to collect possession and was therefore not so effective further up the pitch.
In the Premiership however, there is substantial evidence to suggest that Alonso’s influence is a ‘Merseyside myth’.
I can point out plenty of impressive recent Liverpool performances of note which did not include the former Real Sociedad star in the starting line up.
While I admit one off games are not always an effective tool of judgment, the emphatic 4-1 victory over Manchester United last season was achieved with a midfield two of Javier Mascherano and Lucas. Yes Lucas Leiva everybody. Are any pundits actually aware of this fact?
Did anyone mention Alonso’s absence after that game last March? No of course not, but they would have had Liverpool lost (but they didn't).
What about the 2007 Champions League semi final at Anfield against Chelsea? This was a game which Liverpool won and progressed to the final in Athens. Alonso was surprisingly left on the bench by his fellow countryman, Benitez. Any mention of this after the game? No.
How about the superb 1-0 win against Inter Milan in the San Siro two seasons ago?
While Alonso was in Merseyside attending the birth of his first child, the much maligned Lucas produced a very solid performance resulting in an excellent win against the Champions of Italy. Again, there was no mention of the Spaniard (concerning on-field matters anyway).
Nobody is suggesting Lucas is a superior player, but he is still young. He is also a Brazillian international who does really deserve more respect.
Alonso was terrific for Liverpool in the first half of his first season (2004-05), and the first half of last season.
But, for three years in the middle of that period he did not produce the same form on a consistent basis. This is why Benitez wanted to sell him in the summer of 2008 and sign Gareth Barry.
Of course in hindsight, Alonso had a very good campaign last year, so people highlight his loss more.
At this juncture, it is important for me to point out Alonso's weaknesses and suggest that thirty million pounds is an incredibly good piece of business from Benitez.
His passing, could at times, be so good that the amount of times he gave away possession (which was in fact relatively frequently) was actually forgotten.
I actually believe if I had a pound for the amount of times a commentator said "Ooo Alonso has given the ball away, that’s so unlike him" I think I would be approaching millionaire status by now. Again the word 'myth' springs to mind.
Xabi Alonso's absence is not the reason for Liverpool’s defensive problems so far this season.
I think Javier Mascherano has been distracted by both the summer interest of Barcelona and Argentina’s qualification problems. As captain of the national side he is taking much of the burden. The former West Ham star’s performances have been so below his normal standard that the defence has suffered and Lucas has been left to conduct the job of almost two players. Hence, the Brazillian's mistakes have been highlighted so much more.
In addition to being caught in possession a lot more than people think, Alonso didn’t score enough goals. The Euro 2008 winner also frequently slowed down Liverpool’s tempo, especially at home, when more urgency was needed. This certainly, contributed to Liverpool's inability to break down the so called 'weaker times in the last campaign.
If anyone saw the game at home to Hull City last year, they will know what I am talking about. And as long as Aquilani manages to stay clear of injury (and it's a big if), he should provide more going forward than Alonso ever could.
2-2 and 0-0 draws at home to Hull and Stoke City last year have been upgraded to 4-0 and 6-1 victories respectively this campaign. But of course, all that is forgotten in the media hype that surrounds a defeat.
Liverpool did lose to Chelsea last week, and yes they did win there last season with Alonso in the side.
However, the Spaniard also played in four Liverpool sides that lost at Stanford Bridge and was involved in three further defeats at to the Blues at Anfield during his five seasons.
Any arguments that he was severely missed last week are actually floored when all the evidience is analysed.
As I stated before, this article is not a vendetta against the Real Madrid star. He is a gifted player who will be remembered as a fine servant to the club.
But the press and punditry medium really need to hold fire and look at the facts before releasing such rubbish.
Xabi Alonso wanted to leave Liverpool and return to his native homeland.
Alberto Aquilani, a slightly different, more attacking player, is a new chapter in the history of Liverpool Football Club. With eleven caps for Italy and at only 25, he may just be the final part of the jigsaw for Rafa Benitez's team (although we have heard that one before).
If he is not, and Liverpool are not in club football’s biggest competition next season, then I will be content to eat my words.
I do though, somehow doubt, that this will happen.
The two words ‘Xabi’ and ‘Alonso’ are predictably mentioned every time Liverpool lose a game, but are predictably, barely used when they win.
It is the nature of the game's media to jump on certain bandwagons, but this also appears to be yet another media tirade against poor Rafa Benitez.
Firstly, I want to get one thing straight here. Xabi Alonso is a terrific player who is capable of scoring spectacular goals (occasionally). He also has the ability to control the pace and direction of a game and protect his defence, due his sound positioning and desire to receive the ball.
He is not, however, irreplaceable.
Pundits harp on about Alonso in the same way that they harp on about Ronaldo, but the Portuguese star won three league titles in his six years at Old Trafford.
The Spanish midfielder won no league titles in five years at Anfield.
Liverpool crave the league title, so why shouldn’t Alonso be sold for three times the amount he was bought for.
I don’t recall any people saying Liverpool missed the Spaniard when they took ten points from their first eight games in 2005-2006. I don’t remember pundits suggesting Liverpool needed Alonso when they lost three out of their first seven league games in 2006-2007.
I also don’t recall people suggesting Liverpool missed Alonso when they only collected 16 points from their opening eight matches two seasons ago (only one more point than they have now).
The reason - because he was actually there and contributing to these 'poor' results.
I am not suggesting Xabi Alonso will not be missed by the five times European Cup winners, he may well be. But now is way too early to judge.
Alberto Aquilani, his replacement, is set to make his debut before the end of the month, but even he needs a little time to adjust to the pace of the Premiership.
If Liverpool fail to finish in the top four (or finish 5th and win the Champions League), a scenario which never occurred while Alonso was at the club, then it would be right for pundits to say the 27 year old has been missed.
I would personally like to know on what basis he has been missed so far. As usual I don’t believe people are looking at the bigger picture.
In Europe (against continental sides) I think there may be an argument to be made. Against Fiorentina, Liverpool lacked somebody to control and dictate play. Steven Gerrard was forced to retreat backwards to collect possession and was therefore not so effective further up the pitch.
In the Premiership however, there is substantial evidence to suggest that Alonso’s influence is a ‘Merseyside myth’.
I can point out plenty of impressive recent Liverpool performances of note which did not include the former Real Sociedad star in the starting line up.
While I admit one off games are not always an effective tool of judgment, the emphatic 4-1 victory over Manchester United last season was achieved with a midfield two of Javier Mascherano and Lucas. Yes Lucas Leiva everybody. Are any pundits actually aware of this fact?
Did anyone mention Alonso’s absence after that game last March? No of course not, but they would have had Liverpool lost (but they didn't).
What about the 2007 Champions League semi final at Anfield against Chelsea? This was a game which Liverpool won and progressed to the final in Athens. Alonso was surprisingly left on the bench by his fellow countryman, Benitez. Any mention of this after the game? No.
How about the superb 1-0 win against Inter Milan in the San Siro two seasons ago?
While Alonso was in Merseyside attending the birth of his first child, the much maligned Lucas produced a very solid performance resulting in an excellent win against the Champions of Italy. Again, there was no mention of the Spaniard (concerning on-field matters anyway).
Nobody is suggesting Lucas is a superior player, but he is still young. He is also a Brazillian international who does really deserve more respect.
Alonso was terrific for Liverpool in the first half of his first season (2004-05), and the first half of last season.
But, for three years in the middle of that period he did not produce the same form on a consistent basis. This is why Benitez wanted to sell him in the summer of 2008 and sign Gareth Barry.
Of course in hindsight, Alonso had a very good campaign last year, so people highlight his loss more.
At this juncture, it is important for me to point out Alonso's weaknesses and suggest that thirty million pounds is an incredibly good piece of business from Benitez.
His passing, could at times, be so good that the amount of times he gave away possession (which was in fact relatively frequently) was actually forgotten.
I actually believe if I had a pound for the amount of times a commentator said "Ooo Alonso has given the ball away, that’s so unlike him" I think I would be approaching millionaire status by now. Again the word 'myth' springs to mind.
Xabi Alonso's absence is not the reason for Liverpool’s defensive problems so far this season.
I think Javier Mascherano has been distracted by both the summer interest of Barcelona and Argentina’s qualification problems. As captain of the national side he is taking much of the burden. The former West Ham star’s performances have been so below his normal standard that the defence has suffered and Lucas has been left to conduct the job of almost two players. Hence, the Brazillian's mistakes have been highlighted so much more.
In addition to being caught in possession a lot more than people think, Alonso didn’t score enough goals. The Euro 2008 winner also frequently slowed down Liverpool’s tempo, especially at home, when more urgency was needed. This certainly, contributed to Liverpool's inability to break down the so called 'weaker times in the last campaign.
If anyone saw the game at home to Hull City last year, they will know what I am talking about. And as long as Aquilani manages to stay clear of injury (and it's a big if), he should provide more going forward than Alonso ever could.
2-2 and 0-0 draws at home to Hull and Stoke City last year have been upgraded to 4-0 and 6-1 victories respectively this campaign. But of course, all that is forgotten in the media hype that surrounds a defeat.
Liverpool did lose to Chelsea last week, and yes they did win there last season with Alonso in the side.
However, the Spaniard also played in four Liverpool sides that lost at Stanford Bridge and was involved in three further defeats at to the Blues at Anfield during his five seasons.
Any arguments that he was severely missed last week are actually floored when all the evidience is analysed.
As I stated before, this article is not a vendetta against the Real Madrid star. He is a gifted player who will be remembered as a fine servant to the club.
But the press and punditry medium really need to hold fire and look at the facts before releasing such rubbish.
Xabi Alonso wanted to leave Liverpool and return to his native homeland.
Alberto Aquilani, a slightly different, more attacking player, is a new chapter in the history of Liverpool Football Club. With eleven caps for Italy and at only 25, he may just be the final part of the jigsaw for Rafa Benitez's team (although we have heard that one before).
If he is not, and Liverpool are not in club football’s biggest competition next season, then I will be content to eat my words.
I do though, somehow doubt, that this will happen.
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