One of the big talking points over the last few days has been whether or not Spain are an exciting team to watch.
When I saw Barcelona play Arsenal at the Emirates back in April, their slick passing game was indeed a joy to watch. The link up play between Xavi, Messi and co was at times breathtaking.
The Spaniards however, are slightly different. They have a slower, more patient and far less attacking style of play. Perhaps some of their slow build up and pedestrianism could actually be attributed to them lacking a Lionel Messi type player, who knows??.. But I don't feel like jumping of the edge of my seat.
Maybe if Fernando Torres was fully match fit they may well have played with a little more urgency during this competition. But their tactic has involved keeping possession, wearing the opposition down and then banking on conjuring up a goal when the opposition starts to lose concentration in the second half.
In fact, during the knockout stages, Spain have won three games 1-0 and not one goal has been scored before the hour mark. It is a tactic that is obvious, but still extremely difficult to counteract. They also have a very strong defence, which obviously helps.
So, although it is clearly effective, is Spain's style of play actually that exciting?
I witnessed Alan Hansen drawling over their performance after the Germany game. I also heard Ray Parlour and Micky Quinn on Talk Sport suggesting that you could not possibly be a football fan if you didn't find Spain’s style of play invigorating. I have to say I disagree.
Although I admire their astounding ability to keep the ball for long periods of play, there is, to some extent (Andres Iniesta apart) a sense of the ‘catenaccio’ about them, especially in the midfield.
And, while it may not mimic the standard form of 'catenaccio' synonymous with Italian teams of the 1970s and 80s, it must be noted that the phrase did originally stem from defences spraying the ball around to each other in their own half without showing any desire to win the game.
The scenario, therefore, would be that the opposition were virtually bored to death by the middle of the second half and the more negative team were able to pounce.
Is this really the style of football we want from such a talanted team? Of course Spain are not identitical because they want to win the game, but only when it suits them.
While such choice is a wonderful gift to have, I feel their midfield, on several occasions during their World Cup matches, has lacked ambition. It is not entirely dissimilar to 'catenaccio' is it?
I would personally rather watch the current German side play. They may lack the individual ability of the Spanish players but they always attack with purpose and on mass. They also have the talent to retain possession well in the middle of the field, but they certainly show a greater desire to score goals.
Scoring goals are the main objective in football isn't it? Or is it keeping possession? Football is entertainment after all.
Just imagine how good this Germany team could be come Brazil 2014? And although this young side may have been out-passed by the Spanish last Wednesday, I still consider them to be a more exciting team to watch.
Some analysts have suggested that this current Spanish side mimics the Holland teams of 1974 and 1978. But in my opinion, there are some notable differences.
Those Holland teams didn’t just inter-pass, they also interchanged. It was ‘pass and move’ football at its best and was far more fluid because they also played with width. This Spanish side do not play with as much width and do not inter-change with such velocity. It means they often remain static and they rely on their full backs for width.
Perhaps some of you are thinking that I am not pragmatic enough and that I am just too used to the English game, which despite being techincally inferior, is full of passion, speed and excitement. But despite my criticisms, I would obviously be delighted if England could have done what Spain have done in this World Cup, but it doesn't mean they are entertaining.
Or does it alter the fact that in the first half of most of their matches, the Spanish, deliberately or not, have sucked the life out of most of their games and destroyed them as spectacles.
And what makes it even more frustrating is that we know that these players are capable of so much more. Is it down to Vicente Del Bosque being afraid to lose? I can't answer that.
But did Spain really need to play both Busqets and Alonso in midfield against Paraguay? They may have won the game (quite fortunately as it happens), but not in the free scoring style we have come to expect from them in the last two years.
John Ashdown of the Guardian hit the nail on the head. He suggested that the Spanish contingent of Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta, Villa etc are so much better technically than any other side, they can just pass it side to side, very rarely lose possession and gradually wear the opposition down into a state of mental supression. And it will probably be the same story tonight.
But if Marc Van Bommel (the Holland midfielder) continues to bizarrely escape punishment for the endless fouls he commits, perhaps the Netherlands can manage to nick the ball from the Spaniards at the right times and catch them on the counter attack. And with Robin Van Persie and, particularly, Arjen Robben at their disposal, the Dutch are more than capable of causing problems for Spain's defence.
In addition to that, on the flanks, Sergio Ramos and Joan Capdevila (the full backs) are the weak links of the Spanish side. So if both Dirk Kuyt and Robben (again) can be bold and frequently put them under pressure, Spain may well be punished for their ‘Arsenal like’ over indulgence and desire to score the perfect goal. But I doubt it.
While anything is possible when you have players such as Robben and Wesley Sneijder in your side, I still predict either a 2-0 or 2-1 win for Spain.
Aside from their obvious talent, the fact that Spain have seven first team players from Barcelona is probably the clearest explanation on why they are able dominate possession so much in the first place and why they have become such a successful side.
The Spaniards will, in fact, create a record this evening for fielding the most players from one club side (Barcelona) in a World Cup final, if, as expected, Pedro starts the game in place of Torres.
This statitistic alone, surely reinforces the view that English teams should try and develop as many home grown players as they can if they want to be successful at international tournaments (boring or not). But that is can of worms waiting to be opened on another day...
For now, let's just hope I am proved wrong tonight and that it's a match to remember in Soccer City. Unfortunately for football fans around the world, I fear we will all be left feeling disappointed.
MY SOUTH AFRICA 2010 TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
As I believe the final will be a low scoring match with no one individual truly standing out, I will (all be it dangerously) select my team/squad of the tournament prior to the final.
Please take a look below and see if you agree...
I have selected a 4-1 3-2 formation with seven substitutes.
GK: Vincent Enymea (Nigeria)
Not a great tournament for goalkeepers, but Enymea was truly outstanding against both Argentina and Greece, despite making an error late in the latter clash. Deserves a move to a bigger club - currently at Maccabi Haifa.
RB: Philipp Lahm (Germany)
He has barely made a mistake and is a superb leader of men. A giant, both defensively and attacking wise. There is no competition as far as I’m concerned.
LB: Giovanni Van Bronkhurst (Holland)
He is 35 and his best days are well behind him. But his leadership qualities are there for all to see and his 40 yard semi final thunderbolt is worth a place in this team all on it’s own.
CB: Gerard Pique (Spain)
The former Manchester United youngster has matured into an outstanding centre back. He can tackle, is good in the air and also so calm in possession. Was superb in the semi final win over Germany.
CB: Jorge Fucile (Uruguay)
Uruguay conceded no goals in the group stages and went on to reach the semi finals. The determination and ability of this man is a major reason for this un-expected run.
DM: Bastian Schwiensteiger (Germany)
Was by far the best defensive midfielder in the competition and was truly awesome during the knockout stages. Comfortable in possession but knows exactly when to ‘sit’ or attack. Frank Lampard should learn a thing or two from the Bayern Munich man, six years his junior. Truly world class.
CM: Keisuke Honda (Japan)
The Spartak Moscow midfielder is superb in possession and is positive and dynamic going forward. He was one of the few central midfield players to truly shine. Is still only 24 and his best years are certainly ahead of him.
CM: Wesley Sneijder (Holland)
I don’t think he has been at his dynamic best during this tournament, but has scored goals when it has really mattered. He has also battled when he has needed to and at times his passing has been nothing short spectacular. What a season for him and Real Madrid are looking a little foolish.
AM: Thomas Mueller (Germany)
The best young player of the tournament and his late runs into the box have been fantastic. He looks a hell of a lot older than his age and has played like he is a seasoned international. Brilliant.
CF: Diego Forlan (Uruguay)
Runs his heart out and scores spectacular goals. Has been a breath of fresh air.
CF: David Villa (Spain)
Has been Spain's match-winner on five occassions and has kept the Spanish in the tournament single-handedly at times. He has certainly proved me wrong. Looks more dangerous when coming in off the left flank.
SUBS:
Alexis Sanchez (Chile)
Andres Iniesta (Spain)
Eduardo (Portugal)
Arjen Robben (Holland)
Bruno Alves (Portugal)
Mesut Ozil (Germany)
Kevin Prince Boateng (Ghana)
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
FORLAN IS HAVING A LAUGH. ISN'T HE??..
So the first of the World Cup semi final clashes takes place in Cape Town tonight. But the question I want to ask is, are this quartet really the best four teams in world football ?
Germany are certainly there on merit and probably so to are Holland. But are Uruguay really one of the four best teams out there, or have they made it this far mainly due to the luck of the draw?
Prior to the World Cup, Spain would clearly have been selected by nearly everyone as one of the four best teams, but have they honestly been better than Argentina, Brazil, Ghana or even Japan during this tournament? They were fortunate to beat ten-man Chile and were very poor against both Switzerland and Paraguay.
The European Champions' only decent performance came in the second half against Portugal. But maybe this suggests that they can raise their game against the so called ‘stronger’ teams. We shall see tomorrow night.
I am debating this point because of something Diego Forlan blurted out, and it made me think. Forlan was interviewed by ITV immediately after the shoot out win over Ghana (this may explain his outrageous statement) and he suggested that Uruguay are now one of the four best teams in the world. Are they really? They are according the record books.
Of course Luis Suarez – by handling on the goal-line- did what any member of any team would have done. And this event was especially high profile and given abnormally wide coverage because it was done in the last minute of a World Cup quarter final when the scores were level.
If it had been in the 15th minute, no one would really have remembered it. But the fact remains that the Ajax striker did cheat, and that’s why Forlan’s statement left me a feeling a little ill at ease.
Holland (or the Netherlands, let’s not be pedantic here..) meanwhile, remind of me a lot of France in 1998. They are more functional than the fluent passing team we often associate with the Dutch and they possess hard working and willing runners ready to do the so-called -dirty work'.
Players such as Marc Van Bommel, Dirk Kuyt and Nigel de Jong are far from the ‘total football’ type Dutch players were are used to enjoying, but they are proving to be effective.
The combination of those players and, in addition, two or three fantastically gifted flair players is doing the trick for Holland. And just like the French in 1998, they are winning without performing at their best and by very narrow margins.
In addition, the twice beaten finalists have an excellent goalkeeper in Maarten Stekelenburg and an extremely organised defence – something many of us thought would be their downfall. Make no mistake, they have been lucky at times, but you need that to win this competition.
We must also remember however, that the Dutch have been very unfortunate in tournaments gone by, so maybe now is their time. It is clear that Suarez is a huge loss to Uruguay and I expect another narrow win for the Netherlands tonight. Wesley Sneijder will probably once again prove to be the difference.
Holland's defeat of Brazil was mainly down to the Brazilian’s uncharacteristic errors and lack of discipline. Dunga’s side should really have killed that game off before the break when they were totally in the ascendancy. Previous Brazil teams would have done that, but this team lacks a certain cutting edge.
The five times winners were disappointing throughout their campaign. And though I didn’t expect them to display a lot of flair during the tournament, I did expect their defence to be tighter. It was much vaunted prior to the competition.
They do however lack the graceful, exhilarating players of the past, and you have to question Dunga’s decision to leave both Pato and Ronaldinho out of his squad. Of this crop of players, Robinho is inconsistent (this tournament was almost like a miniature version of his Manchester City spell) while Fabiano can frequently go missing and get frustrated. Kaka looked short of match fitness throughout and appeared to have the whole world on his shoulders at times.
But in four years time, despite the pressure of being the host nation, you wouldn’t bet against them would you? This last eight years have been a blip in their colourful World Cup history, but 12 years is nothing really, try 44…!!!
The outstanding team of the tournament so far has been Germany. It is no coincidence that both England and Argentina – two fancied sides – capitulated against the swift counter attacking of Joachim Loew’s young outfit.
Much of the credit has to go to the coach, who pin-pointed the weaknesses of both teams perfectly. With England he pinpointed their lack of mobility in the centre of the pitch and against Argentina, Loew noted how little the front three of Tevez, Higuain (especially) and Messi track back past the half way line. The Germans punished both this flaw and the lack of creativity of the Argentines in the middle of the park and his tactics worked brilliantly.
Maradona probably regrets not playing Juan Veron in the middle, but quite honestly with that defence his team would still have been comfortably beaten. As Alan Hansen pointed out on the BBC – three of the German goals were from about three yards out!
Even if a team, such as Argentina, have a brilliant front three of four, you cannot have an average back seven and win the World Cup and there were just too many flaws, Messi or not.
I think the quarter finals were as good as the Argentines could have expected, and Maradona has had a decent first World Cup as boss. It will probably also be his last, but he can leave South Africa with his head held high (although that still wouldn’t be very high would it? And ironically his side was defeated by Loew...)
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the player of the quarter finals and has probably been the player of the World Cup so far. He keeps possession brilliantly, but being a natural right winger, is also not short of skill, as he demonstrated by his weaving run to create Germany’s third goal. Louis Van Gaal switched him to central midfield at Bayern Munich earlier in the season and must be given a huge amount of credit for identifying Schweinsteiger’s more natural gifts.
On Saturday, he was majestic and his performance was reinforced even further by the sound of his catchy German name. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a commentator mention one single player’s name as much as Schweinsteiger’s was said on Saturday. Or maybe Steve Wilson - the BBC commentator - just over did it for the effect. Either way it was an outstanding performance from the 25 year old.
Schweinsteiger’s central midfield partner, Sami Khedeira, has also been outstanding although in a less eye catching manner. And it just goes to show how teamwork and a clear understanding of the basics can defy age barriers when it comes to performance. England should take note.
Germany have revolutionised the traditional thinking of football analysts in this World Cup, and have been an absolute joy to watch. Would Michael Ballack have even made a difference had he been fit? It’s hard to imagine them playing any better.
Saying that, the Spanish will not present such as easy obstacle in the German’s next match, and I predict either a narrow Spanish win or a penalty shoot out in the second semi final in Durban.
It is a repeat of the Euro 2008 final when Spain were comfortable winners and I feel their passing game may just wear out the Germans this time round. The Spanish are more creative in midfield than both England and Argentina and have very few weaknesses. They give little away at the back and I believe the German’s counter-attacking game may actually be nullified by the similar style of the Spanish.
I am also predicting a Fernando Torres goal as I feel the Spanish (also remarkably reminiscent of France in 1998. Although minus Zidane, they have better attacking players) will finally come to life and show the world what they are capable of tomorrow evening.
While Spain were average against an organised, but functional Paraguay side, they should have had another stone wall penalty and just about deserved to win. I think the fact that the team are still in South Africa when they probably shouldn’t be will inspire them.
Expect a much better performance from Del Bosque’s side and one thing’s for sure, it certainly won’t be a three or four goal German victory, mark my words!
Finally a small mention has to go to everyone’s second team – Ghana. While they were average in the early group stages, against Germany in the last match of Group D they began to show signs of their potential.
The heroes of Africa undoubtedly grew as the tournament progressed and it was genuinely heart-breaking to see them crash out on Friday night in such dramatic fashion.
In both the last 16 game against the USA and in the quarter finals the Ghanaians were terrific. The team - who were without Michael Essien remember? – worked tirelessly, passed fluently and played some of the best football of the competition in extra time against the Uruguayans.
Kevin Prince Boateng’s stock must have risen three fold during this tournament and unlike so many African teams of the past, Ghana were very organised at the back and kept their discipline in midfield. Also, despite them only playing one up front, they were still invigorating to watch in the true African style. And let’s face it, without meaning any disrespect to Uruguay, Ghana deserved a semi final place.
Just imagine how good they could have been if Essien had been fit? We will never know, but I felt almost as disappointed for Ghana - and especially their Rennes striker – Asamoah Gyan - as I did when England lost to Germany. At least the Ghanaians gave everything.
Hopefully other African nations can be inspired by the performances of Ghana and begin to produce several teams of a similar stature in the near future. We have all been waiting for that African domination but it has never come close to happening. Maybe this could be a turning point.
Congratulations to Ghana for their sterling contribution in South Africa. They have been a shining light in a tournament that, in all honesty, has been quite disappointing.
Now let’s hope it produces two memorable semi final matches over the next two days. And I for one cannot wait for the Germany-Spain clash tomorrow night.
Many people are craving for a repeat of the 1974 final between the then West Germans and Holland, when the ‘boring’ Germans defeated the Johan Cruyff inspired, ‘total football’ Dutch side. This time it could be classed as roles reversed if the two countries meet on July 11th, but I don’t think this will happen.
I fully expect it to be a Netherlands v Spain final on Sunday night in Johannesburg. Watch this space...
Germany are certainly there on merit and probably so to are Holland. But are Uruguay really one of the four best teams out there, or have they made it this far mainly due to the luck of the draw?
Prior to the World Cup, Spain would clearly have been selected by nearly everyone as one of the four best teams, but have they honestly been better than Argentina, Brazil, Ghana or even Japan during this tournament? They were fortunate to beat ten-man Chile and were very poor against both Switzerland and Paraguay.
The European Champions' only decent performance came in the second half against Portugal. But maybe this suggests that they can raise their game against the so called ‘stronger’ teams. We shall see tomorrow night.
I am debating this point because of something Diego Forlan blurted out, and it made me think. Forlan was interviewed by ITV immediately after the shoot out win over Ghana (this may explain his outrageous statement) and he suggested that Uruguay are now one of the four best teams in the world. Are they really? They are according the record books.
Of course Luis Suarez – by handling on the goal-line- did what any member of any team would have done. And this event was especially high profile and given abnormally wide coverage because it was done in the last minute of a World Cup quarter final when the scores were level.
If it had been in the 15th minute, no one would really have remembered it. But the fact remains that the Ajax striker did cheat, and that’s why Forlan’s statement left me a feeling a little ill at ease.
Holland (or the Netherlands, let’s not be pedantic here..) meanwhile, remind of me a lot of France in 1998. They are more functional than the fluent passing team we often associate with the Dutch and they possess hard working and willing runners ready to do the so-called -dirty work'.
Players such as Marc Van Bommel, Dirk Kuyt and Nigel de Jong are far from the ‘total football’ type Dutch players were are used to enjoying, but they are proving to be effective.
The combination of those players and, in addition, two or three fantastically gifted flair players is doing the trick for Holland. And just like the French in 1998, they are winning without performing at their best and by very narrow margins.
In addition, the twice beaten finalists have an excellent goalkeeper in Maarten Stekelenburg and an extremely organised defence – something many of us thought would be their downfall. Make no mistake, they have been lucky at times, but you need that to win this competition.
We must also remember however, that the Dutch have been very unfortunate in tournaments gone by, so maybe now is their time. It is clear that Suarez is a huge loss to Uruguay and I expect another narrow win for the Netherlands tonight. Wesley Sneijder will probably once again prove to be the difference.
Holland's defeat of Brazil was mainly down to the Brazilian’s uncharacteristic errors and lack of discipline. Dunga’s side should really have killed that game off before the break when they were totally in the ascendancy. Previous Brazil teams would have done that, but this team lacks a certain cutting edge.
The five times winners were disappointing throughout their campaign. And though I didn’t expect them to display a lot of flair during the tournament, I did expect their defence to be tighter. It was much vaunted prior to the competition.
They do however lack the graceful, exhilarating players of the past, and you have to question Dunga’s decision to leave both Pato and Ronaldinho out of his squad. Of this crop of players, Robinho is inconsistent (this tournament was almost like a miniature version of his Manchester City spell) while Fabiano can frequently go missing and get frustrated. Kaka looked short of match fitness throughout and appeared to have the whole world on his shoulders at times.
But in four years time, despite the pressure of being the host nation, you wouldn’t bet against them would you? This last eight years have been a blip in their colourful World Cup history, but 12 years is nothing really, try 44…!!!
The outstanding team of the tournament so far has been Germany. It is no coincidence that both England and Argentina – two fancied sides – capitulated against the swift counter attacking of Joachim Loew’s young outfit.
Much of the credit has to go to the coach, who pin-pointed the weaknesses of both teams perfectly. With England he pinpointed their lack of mobility in the centre of the pitch and against Argentina, Loew noted how little the front three of Tevez, Higuain (especially) and Messi track back past the half way line. The Germans punished both this flaw and the lack of creativity of the Argentines in the middle of the park and his tactics worked brilliantly.
Maradona probably regrets not playing Juan Veron in the middle, but quite honestly with that defence his team would still have been comfortably beaten. As Alan Hansen pointed out on the BBC – three of the German goals were from about three yards out!
Even if a team, such as Argentina, have a brilliant front three of four, you cannot have an average back seven and win the World Cup and there were just too many flaws, Messi or not.
I think the quarter finals were as good as the Argentines could have expected, and Maradona has had a decent first World Cup as boss. It will probably also be his last, but he can leave South Africa with his head held high (although that still wouldn’t be very high would it? And ironically his side was defeated by Loew...)
Bastian Schweinsteiger was the player of the quarter finals and has probably been the player of the World Cup so far. He keeps possession brilliantly, but being a natural right winger, is also not short of skill, as he demonstrated by his weaving run to create Germany’s third goal. Louis Van Gaal switched him to central midfield at Bayern Munich earlier in the season and must be given a huge amount of credit for identifying Schweinsteiger’s more natural gifts.
On Saturday, he was majestic and his performance was reinforced even further by the sound of his catchy German name. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a commentator mention one single player’s name as much as Schweinsteiger’s was said on Saturday. Or maybe Steve Wilson - the BBC commentator - just over did it for the effect. Either way it was an outstanding performance from the 25 year old.
Schweinsteiger’s central midfield partner, Sami Khedeira, has also been outstanding although in a less eye catching manner. And it just goes to show how teamwork and a clear understanding of the basics can defy age barriers when it comes to performance. England should take note.
Germany have revolutionised the traditional thinking of football analysts in this World Cup, and have been an absolute joy to watch. Would Michael Ballack have even made a difference had he been fit? It’s hard to imagine them playing any better.
Saying that, the Spanish will not present such as easy obstacle in the German’s next match, and I predict either a narrow Spanish win or a penalty shoot out in the second semi final in Durban.
It is a repeat of the Euro 2008 final when Spain were comfortable winners and I feel their passing game may just wear out the Germans this time round. The Spanish are more creative in midfield than both England and Argentina and have very few weaknesses. They give little away at the back and I believe the German’s counter-attacking game may actually be nullified by the similar style of the Spanish.
I am also predicting a Fernando Torres goal as I feel the Spanish (also remarkably reminiscent of France in 1998. Although minus Zidane, they have better attacking players) will finally come to life and show the world what they are capable of tomorrow evening.
While Spain were average against an organised, but functional Paraguay side, they should have had another stone wall penalty and just about deserved to win. I think the fact that the team are still in South Africa when they probably shouldn’t be will inspire them.
Expect a much better performance from Del Bosque’s side and one thing’s for sure, it certainly won’t be a three or four goal German victory, mark my words!
Finally a small mention has to go to everyone’s second team – Ghana. While they were average in the early group stages, against Germany in the last match of Group D they began to show signs of their potential.
The heroes of Africa undoubtedly grew as the tournament progressed and it was genuinely heart-breaking to see them crash out on Friday night in such dramatic fashion.
In both the last 16 game against the USA and in the quarter finals the Ghanaians were terrific. The team - who were without Michael Essien remember? – worked tirelessly, passed fluently and played some of the best football of the competition in extra time against the Uruguayans.
Kevin Prince Boateng’s stock must have risen three fold during this tournament and unlike so many African teams of the past, Ghana were very organised at the back and kept their discipline in midfield. Also, despite them only playing one up front, they were still invigorating to watch in the true African style. And let’s face it, without meaning any disrespect to Uruguay, Ghana deserved a semi final place.
Just imagine how good they could have been if Essien had been fit? We will never know, but I felt almost as disappointed for Ghana - and especially their Rennes striker – Asamoah Gyan - as I did when England lost to Germany. At least the Ghanaians gave everything.
Hopefully other African nations can be inspired by the performances of Ghana and begin to produce several teams of a similar stature in the near future. We have all been waiting for that African domination but it has never come close to happening. Maybe this could be a turning point.
Congratulations to Ghana for their sterling contribution in South Africa. They have been a shining light in a tournament that, in all honesty, has been quite disappointing.
Now let’s hope it produces two memorable semi final matches over the next two days. And I for one cannot wait for the Germany-Spain clash tomorrow night.
Many people are craving for a repeat of the 1974 final between the then West Germans and Holland, when the ‘boring’ Germans defeated the Johan Cruyff inspired, ‘total football’ Dutch side. This time it could be classed as roles reversed if the two countries meet on July 11th, but I don’t think this will happen.
I fully expect it to be a Netherlands v Spain final on Sunday night in Johannesburg. Watch this space...
Saturday, July 3, 2010
ROY HODGSON FINALLY GETS HIS CHANCE AT A MAJOR ENGLISH CLUB... BUT IS HE THE RIGHT CHOICE?
There has been no action in South Africa over the last three days, but the biggest domestic news story of the summer was one we have seen coming for a while.
In Tuesday’s article I suggested that Roy Hodgson would be an excellent choice as England manager, but that will not now be the case. The 62 year old is heading to Anfield in a three year deal.
The Croydon born coach surely deserves his chance at a major English club and now has what he calls ‘the biggest job in football’, but I have some doubts about the appointment.
The main issue must be his age. He is old enough for a free bus pass and this is clearly not an appointment with a clear vision of the future. Yes, Sir Alex Ferguson is 68 years old but he been at Old Trafford for 24 years, Hodgson is starting from scratch
In addition, the former Finland and Switzerland boss has no record of winning things in his homeland. Isn’t this what Liverpool fans crave most? - Winning things. Or is it just a matter of stabilising an apparent ‘sinking ship’ and attempting to get the team back into the top four? Is that really enough?
As a Liverpool fan, another thing that would concern me is Hodgson’s status and prestige. Rafa Benitez was a glamour name and was able to attract some of the biggest names in football. Can Hodgson attract stars with the stature of Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Glen Johnson, Maxi Rodriguez and Xavi Alonso to the club. Does he even have the pulling power to attract top young stars such as Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger to Anfield. At the time they were both purchased by Benitez, they were two off the hottest young properties in Europe. The Spaniard did have that knack that not many managers possess.
In his defence, Hodgson can certainly spot a talent when he sees one, and perhaps due to Liverpool’s limited budget and apparent lack of spending power, he is the suitable choice.
The former Fulham boss also has excellent contacts around Europe and is able get the best out of his players.
If Hodgson can manage to keep the majority of his stars and bring that extra ten per cent out of the young, promising players such as Lucas and Emilio Insua, Liverpool could be in business.
I also think Hodgson could be the right man to get the best out of some of Liverpool’s under-used gems. Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani are individuals full of supreme talent and in Babel’s case, untold potential. But they were players who were not always fully utilised by a stubborn Benitez.
In fact when you observe how Hodgson has transformed Bobby Zamora and revitalised Danny Murphy’s career, he has certainly demonstrated what an excellent man-manager he is. This is probably the one thing Benitez really lacked and I personally feel Babel is a similar type of character to Zamora who needs to believe in himself more. If Hodgson can help the Dutchman fulfil his potential then I believe there is a real star in the making.
It has already been rumoured that Gilberto Silva and/or Danny Murphy could be signed if Javier Mascherano decides to leave Anfield. Hodgson certainly does like that mix of vast experience and young players in his side and perhaps a calm, experienced head in the centre of the park is what Liverpool have required ever since Alonso’s departure last summer.
Another reason why the Englishman may prove to be a shrewd choice is that he appears to be from the ‘Liverpool school’ of coaching and management. He does have that kind of Bob Paisley or Joe Fagan feel about him in the way that he is fully respectful to others, rarely gets flustered and knows the game inside out, but portrays this knowledge in a quiet, modest manner.
Hodgson is a true gentleman who lacks any form of arrogance, but must also have a tough streak somewhere to have got as far as he has. Maybe just maybe that is exactly what is needed at Liverpool in these uncertain times.
Hodgson actually began his management career at the time when Liverpool were the top club in world football. So I’m sure he is fully aware of the history and expectations at England’s most successful club. This makes him ideal for the job in some ways, and perhaps gives him a greater grasp of the club that another foreign manager may have.
He is also an articulate, clever man who speaks five languages. It is a skill that is obviously an important element in the modern game, but perhaps at such a big English club it is particularly helpful – especially in their current predicament - to have a fluent English speaker at the helm.
As I've stated before, I felt that Benitez was so often a victim of ‘lost in translation’ games conjured up by the English press and frequently appeared to be the victim of a media witch hunt. Hodgson will surely not fall for those tricks and he certainly doesn’t attract them.
It is shrewd appointment by the Anfield board for commercial and emotional reasons as well. Hodgson is not known for being confrontational and could even be perceived as a bit of a ‘yes man’ . It is probably something that the board will appreciate following on from Rafael Benitez.
But ‘our Roy’ is also very likeable, and this makes it difficult for the fans to really turn against him. The Anfield faithful will certainly give him a chance, that’s for sure, and he will certainly not be hated at any point, you can guarantee that.
On the playing side however, there are grave concerns. The London born coach clearly did a terrific job at Fulham, but hey were a club who were only really able to play their best at Craven Cottage. Whilst at the club, Hodgson's side only won nine away games in two and a half seasons.
At Liverpool, the team will always be strong at home, whoever is in charge, but last year they also fared very poorly away from home.
Hodgson will need to alter his style on Merseyside and the Anfield faithful will obviously expect more than what Hodgson offered at Fulham. While I’m sure he is fully aware of this it will probably take a little time for him to stamp his authority on the team and the team's style, but does he have time? He has a three year contract and is approaching 63 years old. This is the concern.
What’s also a little worrying is that Hodgson, although vastly experienced, does lack any long term experience at a truly, globally renowned club. He had two short spells at Inter Milan, but only really as an interim manager with limited success.
The biggest job he has had in England was at Blackburn Rovers, where he had money to spend. But after a good first season he had a disastrous second campaign. The Ewood Park club actually ended up going down that year following Hodgson’s dismissal in December. He will be hoping his second stint in the North West of England is a better one.
Liverpool will not be relegated, but can he get them back into the top four? He says he can, but with only 12-15 million currently available in the transfer market, he’s going to need to use all his persuasive skills and use his full quota of contacts to get this great club back to the top.
As I stated earlier though, good luck to the man. He certainly deserves this chance, whatever happens…..
In Tuesday’s article I suggested that Roy Hodgson would be an excellent choice as England manager, but that will not now be the case. The 62 year old is heading to Anfield in a three year deal.
The Croydon born coach surely deserves his chance at a major English club and now has what he calls ‘the biggest job in football’, but I have some doubts about the appointment.
The main issue must be his age. He is old enough for a free bus pass and this is clearly not an appointment with a clear vision of the future. Yes, Sir Alex Ferguson is 68 years old but he been at Old Trafford for 24 years, Hodgson is starting from scratch
In addition, the former Finland and Switzerland boss has no record of winning things in his homeland. Isn’t this what Liverpool fans crave most? - Winning things. Or is it just a matter of stabilising an apparent ‘sinking ship’ and attempting to get the team back into the top four? Is that really enough?
As a Liverpool fan, another thing that would concern me is Hodgson’s status and prestige. Rafa Benitez was a glamour name and was able to attract some of the biggest names in football. Can Hodgson attract stars with the stature of Fernando Torres, Javier Mascherano, Glen Johnson, Maxi Rodriguez and Xavi Alonso to the club. Does he even have the pulling power to attract top young stars such as Ryan Babel and Daniel Agger to Anfield. At the time they were both purchased by Benitez, they were two off the hottest young properties in Europe. The Spaniard did have that knack that not many managers possess.
In his defence, Hodgson can certainly spot a talent when he sees one, and perhaps due to Liverpool’s limited budget and apparent lack of spending power, he is the suitable choice.
The former Fulham boss also has excellent contacts around Europe and is able get the best out of his players.
If Hodgson can manage to keep the majority of his stars and bring that extra ten per cent out of the young, promising players such as Lucas and Emilio Insua, Liverpool could be in business.
I also think Hodgson could be the right man to get the best out of some of Liverpool’s under-used gems. Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani are individuals full of supreme talent and in Babel’s case, untold potential. But they were players who were not always fully utilised by a stubborn Benitez.
In fact when you observe how Hodgson has transformed Bobby Zamora and revitalised Danny Murphy’s career, he has certainly demonstrated what an excellent man-manager he is. This is probably the one thing Benitez really lacked and I personally feel Babel is a similar type of character to Zamora who needs to believe in himself more. If Hodgson can help the Dutchman fulfil his potential then I believe there is a real star in the making.
It has already been rumoured that Gilberto Silva and/or Danny Murphy could be signed if Javier Mascherano decides to leave Anfield. Hodgson certainly does like that mix of vast experience and young players in his side and perhaps a calm, experienced head in the centre of the park is what Liverpool have required ever since Alonso’s departure last summer.
Another reason why the Englishman may prove to be a shrewd choice is that he appears to be from the ‘Liverpool school’ of coaching and management. He does have that kind of Bob Paisley or Joe Fagan feel about him in the way that he is fully respectful to others, rarely gets flustered and knows the game inside out, but portrays this knowledge in a quiet, modest manner.
Hodgson is a true gentleman who lacks any form of arrogance, but must also have a tough streak somewhere to have got as far as he has. Maybe just maybe that is exactly what is needed at Liverpool in these uncertain times.
Hodgson actually began his management career at the time when Liverpool were the top club in world football. So I’m sure he is fully aware of the history and expectations at England’s most successful club. This makes him ideal for the job in some ways, and perhaps gives him a greater grasp of the club that another foreign manager may have.
He is also an articulate, clever man who speaks five languages. It is a skill that is obviously an important element in the modern game, but perhaps at such a big English club it is particularly helpful – especially in their current predicament - to have a fluent English speaker at the helm.
As I've stated before, I felt that Benitez was so often a victim of ‘lost in translation’ games conjured up by the English press and frequently appeared to be the victim of a media witch hunt. Hodgson will surely not fall for those tricks and he certainly doesn’t attract them.
It is shrewd appointment by the Anfield board for commercial and emotional reasons as well. Hodgson is not known for being confrontational and could even be perceived as a bit of a ‘yes man’ . It is probably something that the board will appreciate following on from Rafael Benitez.
But ‘our Roy’ is also very likeable, and this makes it difficult for the fans to really turn against him. The Anfield faithful will certainly give him a chance, that’s for sure, and he will certainly not be hated at any point, you can guarantee that.
On the playing side however, there are grave concerns. The London born coach clearly did a terrific job at Fulham, but hey were a club who were only really able to play their best at Craven Cottage. Whilst at the club, Hodgson's side only won nine away games in two and a half seasons.
At Liverpool, the team will always be strong at home, whoever is in charge, but last year they also fared very poorly away from home.
Hodgson will need to alter his style on Merseyside and the Anfield faithful will obviously expect more than what Hodgson offered at Fulham. While I’m sure he is fully aware of this it will probably take a little time for him to stamp his authority on the team and the team's style, but does he have time? He has a three year contract and is approaching 63 years old. This is the concern.
What’s also a little worrying is that Hodgson, although vastly experienced, does lack any long term experience at a truly, globally renowned club. He had two short spells at Inter Milan, but only really as an interim manager with limited success.
The biggest job he has had in England was at Blackburn Rovers, where he had money to spend. But after a good first season he had a disastrous second campaign. The Ewood Park club actually ended up going down that year following Hodgson’s dismissal in December. He will be hoping his second stint in the North West of England is a better one.
Liverpool will not be relegated, but can he get them back into the top four? He says he can, but with only 12-15 million currently available in the transfer market, he’s going to need to use all his persuasive skills and use his full quota of contacts to get this great club back to the top.
As I stated earlier though, good luck to the man. He certainly deserves this chance, whatever happens…..
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