During the 'thrilling' Champions League draw on Thursday there were also the presentations of the (Inter Milan dominated)UEFA players of the year awards. It got me to thinking, which players would currently be in a world eleven constructed by me.
With the World Cup still fresh in all our thoughts (unfortunately), it’s obvious that the players who performed well in South Africa would have to be at the forefront of any team. Rightly so as well, this, after all is the pinnacle of the sport, despite the fact that the Premier League and the Champions League are probably a hell of a lot more entertaining.
Who would be in your current world eleven? Kaka, Ronaldo, Lampard, Drogba, Rooney, Gerrard, Torres, Asharvin, Milito????
Many of the domestic global stars had very poor tournament's in South Africa for several reasons. Some lacklustre performances could be attributed to injury, some to a lack of form. But either way, they cannot really justify a place in my side if they failed to perform on the biggest stage. I think most critics would agree.
So... In a slightly left field blog this week, here is my current 'August 2010 World Eleven'.
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid and Spain)
It may seem like a simple choice, but I do actually believe there are better goalkeepers out there. Gianluca Buffon is a fantastic keeper, but has recently become very injury prone, while Peter Cech was probably better than Casillas is now, pre 2007.
The Brazillian and Inter stopper - Julio Cesar - should really be winning this award, but he tarnished his reputation with a horror show against the Netherlands in South Africa.
In contrast, Casillas barely put a foot wrong during the World Cup and any keeper that can keep Pepe Reina (opening weekend error aside) out of a team (and also someone who can be so candid in front of his girlfriend on live television) is good enough for my elite group of stars.
Right back: Maicon (Internazionale and Brazil)
This was a close call. Philip Lahm certainly performed better during the World Cup and also (in opposition to Maicon at Bayern) played in the Champions League final this year.
The German is probably better defensively, but lacks the dynamicism of the Brazillian. He is also not capable of scoring such a spectacular array of goals.
So Maicon gets the nod, but it’s touch and go and this was probably the most difficult of all the positions to decide on.
Left back: Ashley Cole (Chelsea and England ‘hater’)
This is not a vintage period for the left back position. There is no Paolo Maldini or Roberto Carlos around these days. Brazil don’t even have an out and out left back.
But Ashley Cole is a prolific medal winner and a terrific all round full back.
He can defend well and attack with vigor and despite his well publicised social life, he is a supreme athlete and a fantastic professional.
Cole may be a little mouthy on the pitch, but Jose Mourinho stil coverts him and that is probably enough to get him the nod.
The former Arsenal star is always one of England’s better performers and the best of a bad bunch.
Centre half: Gerard Pique (Barcelona and Spain)
It has to be said that letting Pique leave Old Trafford was not one of the better decisions Sir Alex made. Credit where it’s due for noticing the Spaniard's gifts as a youngster, but to shift him out of Old Trafford just when Rio Ferdinand's injuries were really beginning to hamper him was a lack of judgment not usually associated with the great man.
Pique, meanwhile, has gone from strength to strength at a stunning rate of progress.
After picking up a league title and Champions League winners medal at Old Trafford, but barely featuring in 2008, in the subsequent two years he has won a treble with Barcelona, another league title and capped it all off by adding a World Cup winners medal to his tally in July.
For me, the best defender in South Africa, his inclusion is an easy one.
Centre half and Skipper: Lucio (Internazionale and Brazil)
A World Cup winner eight years ago, a European Champions League winners medal this year was the icing on the cake for a player who was in the Bayer Leverkusen side defeated way back in 2002 (remember Klaus Toppmoller anyone?)
Lucio had a good World Cup up to the Holland match where he (along with the rest of his team mates) was poor in the second half. However, this cannot disguise his superb season at Inter where he was the rock of all rocks in their miserly defence.
There is arguably no better ball playing defender in world football, and in addition the Brazillian is a superb leader.
Despite a frustrating amount of play acting during many games, his bravery is also second to none.
A fantastic leader and my choice as captain.
Defensive midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Finally came of age this year, and although still only 25, has been a potentially brilliant player for many years.
The German used to be a right midfielder, but has discovered his true niche in front of the back four.
Schweinsteiger was magnificent for Bayern in the second half of last season and during the World Cup, in my view, there was no midfielder who could rival him for consistency throughout the competition.
At his age, what price Schweinsteiger? If James Milner is 26 million?????....
An easy choice, a wonderful year, and he can only get better.
Midfield: Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana)
This may sound crazy, but I believe Ghana may well have reached the World Cup final with Essien in their team.
He was cruelly ruled out of the World Cup, but the African side were still only a penalty kick away from the semi finals. No one could possibly suggest that the Ghanians would have been inferior with the colossus that is Essien in midfield.
A supreme athlete, Chelsea can also only be stronger this season with him in their side if he can steer clear of injury. He was injured for much of the last campaign.
The former Lyon star can pass accurately, he can shoot from anywhere, has a supreme engine and he can finish like a forward.
Michael Essien is the ultimate midfielder.
What a player!
Midfield: Wesley Schniejder (Internazionale and the Netherlands)
Bizarrely, I don’t actually think Sneijder played that well in South Africa, but he just kept on scoring and ended up as joint top scorer.
However, he is obviously a standout match winner who has a magnificent shot and a wonderful range of passing. Real Madrid should be ashamed they let him go so cheaply.
There are not many players on Sneijder’s level when it comes to technique and for someone who is not very big he can also hold his own physically against much bigger players.
Along with his fellow Dutchman, Arjen Robben, the shaven headed playmaker was arguably the best player in last year’s Champions League.
But the fact he missed out on World Cup glory and did not play particularly well in the final may count against him come the end of the year awards.
A fantastic year though, and a true superstar of the game.
Midfield: Andres Iniesta
The Barcelona star is probably (along with Sneijder) the main contender for the Ballon d’Or and World Player of the year. The scorer of the winning goal in South Africa, the little genius was fantastic during the knockout stages and really performed when it mattered.
He can pass brilliantly, both long and short, while his first touch is magical. He can also dribble and is able to use both feet comfortably.
Considering Iniesta was injured for much of last season and was a doubt coming into the World Cup, his performances should be given even more kudos.
Iniesta is arguably the world’s best player right now and deserves every ounce of praise he receives, despite the presence of the next player in my team.
Attacking Midfield/Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Argentina)
It was tough to leave Arjen Robben out of the side, but Messi is a better team player and plays more games.
The little Argentine however, does not deserve to retain his World and European Player awards from last year as he did not have an effective World Cup, despite a promising start. He was way below par and for such a prolific player at club level to score no goals was very disappointing.
Messi appeared to tire during the knockout stages, but did perform the best out of the so called ‘big three’ coming into the tournament, of himself, Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo.
His supreme performances for Barcelona mean he has to be in the side. But South Africa proved he still has some way to go before he can compare himself to Maradona.
Striker: David Villa (Barcelona and Spain)
I still have to admit I am not his greatest fan. He is a great finisher, but I believe he is a little too selfish and still needs to prove himself on the really big occasion.
This may sound ridiculous considering what he has just achieved and no one (including me) can deny his ability to win games.
And, while Villa was certainly crucial to Spain in South Africa where he often played as a left sided attacker cutting in, he will probably play as central striker at Barcelona, where I don't consider him to be so effective.
In fact, with the service he will have coming from behind him at the Nou Camp he should really score over forty goals this season. But I don't think this will be the case.
While Fernando Torres’ lack of fitness meant that Villa dramatically outshone him in Spain, Torres is arguably a more effective team player and a better lone striker. I may be proved wrong, but I am still not convinced.
Basking in all Spain's glory, it's easy to forget that Villa's performances against the really top sides in South Africa were still a little disappointing, as they were in Euro 2008. He failed to score in both the semi final and the final and was quite subdued on both occasions.
Although you may think I am being churlish, Villa, while being really good player, will never be a ‘true great’ in my eyes.
However (despite reservations about playing Villa as a lone striker), his main compeition for the striker's berth in my team following the World Cup is Diego Forlan, so there is only one winner really isn't there?
For all your qualities Diego, I just can't include in a world eleven of superstars. Sorry.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
BENNY'S VALUABLE INFORMATION OF THE WEEK
The final round of Champions League qualifying took place this week.
Watching it made me suddenly consider some Champions League stats from the last 18 years.
Here are a few of them (remember the Champions League began in season 1992/1993. Before this it was the old style, straight knockout European Champions Cup).
Player with the longest period between first final and last final: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan): 14 years 1993-2007
Player(s) with longest period between first and last winners' medal: Edwin Van de Sar* Ajax and Manchester United): 13 years 1995-2008 and Paolo Maldini: 13 years 1994-2007
(NB. Paolo Maldini: first final and winners medal in old European Cup was in 1989; 18 years)
Most Champions League winners medals: Clarence Seedorf: 4 (1995 Ajax, 1998 Real Madrid, 2003,2007 AC Milan)
Most consecutive finals: AC Milan 1993-95, Juventus 1996-98.
Most Wins: AC Milan 3 (1994,2003,2007)
Real Madrid 3 (1998,2000,2002)
Most successful managers: Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan 2 wins, 1 defeat)
Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester Utd, 2 wins, 1 defeat)
Jose Mourinho (2 wins, Porto and Inter Milan)
Vincente Del Bosque (2 wins, Real Madrid)
Ottmar Hitzfeld (2 wins, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, 1 defeat)
Marcello Lippi (Juventus, 1 win, 3 defeats)
Two managers have taken their sides to three successive Champions League finals:
Marcello Lippi (Juventus, 1996-98)
Fabio Capello, yes Fabio Capello (AC Milan) 1993-95.
He was good once you know...
* indicates still playing
Watching it made me suddenly consider some Champions League stats from the last 18 years.
Here are a few of them (remember the Champions League began in season 1992/1993. Before this it was the old style, straight knockout European Champions Cup).
Player with the longest period between first final and last final: Paolo Maldini (AC Milan): 14 years 1993-2007
Player(s) with longest period between first and last winners' medal: Edwin Van de Sar* Ajax and Manchester United): 13 years 1995-2008 and Paolo Maldini: 13 years 1994-2007
(NB. Paolo Maldini: first final and winners medal in old European Cup was in 1989; 18 years)
Most Champions League winners medals: Clarence Seedorf: 4 (1995 Ajax, 1998 Real Madrid, 2003,2007 AC Milan)
Most consecutive finals: AC Milan 1993-95, Juventus 1996-98.
Most Wins: AC Milan 3 (1994,2003,2007)
Real Madrid 3 (1998,2000,2002)
Most successful managers: Carlo Ancelotti (AC Milan 2 wins, 1 defeat)
Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester Utd, 2 wins, 1 defeat)
Jose Mourinho (2 wins, Porto and Inter Milan)
Vincente Del Bosque (2 wins, Real Madrid)
Ottmar Hitzfeld (2 wins, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, 1 defeat)
Marcello Lippi (Juventus, 1 win, 3 defeats)
Two managers have taken their sides to three successive Champions League finals:
Marcello Lippi (Juventus, 1996-98)
Fabio Capello, yes Fabio Capello (AC Milan) 1993-95.
He was good once you know...
* indicates still playing
Saturday, August 14, 2010
ENGLAND'S FAILINGS - GRASS ROOTS, TOO MANY FOREIGNERS OR JUST REALITY?
Football is a funny old game game isn’t it? Spain are the team of the moment, but people in football have short memories and forget just how much things can change in such a limited space of time.
Many analysts and pundits are suggesting that the Spanish model of coaching should now be introduced into English football. But there are many questions that should be addressed first.
Are Spain really the right model to follow? Does their history suggest it is right to do so? And do they just happen to be experiencing the fruits of a a cyclical 'golden generation'?
In addition, will this Spanish team keep on winning? Will they even win one of the next two major tournaments?
The answers to all those questions (as the law of averages suggests)are probably not.
Football is, on the whole, both a cyclical and un-forgiving business and in two years time, we will probably all be talking about the next model we should be following.
It is important to remember that the Spaniards also crashed out in the second round of the World Cup four years ago, just like England this time round. They were a side well beaten by an ageing French team and there was no indication then of the world domination that was to follow.
In Euro 2004, they didn’t even progress past the group stages, so is it really the best idea to follow their model of coaching? (whereby they coach children to play the game for fun and not in a competitive manner. The main aim being to keep possession of the ball). In truth, is it actually even the Spanish FA who deserve the credit?
Spain have been fortunate in that they have so many players playing together at club level In many respects much of Spain's current success can be attributed to Frank Rijkkard and Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. Eight of the eleven players who started the World Cup final in South Africa play together at the Nou Camp and the understanding and continuity between them is there for all to see.
Players such as Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets instinctively seem to know where and who each other are. And while it does suggest that this could be the recipe to success, it is still unlikely to transmit itself to England in the near future.
The Premier League is, without doubt, the most cosmopolitan league in the world, and the top clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City would do well to field even eight English players between them at the current time.
Even Manchester United regularly field more foreign players than they used to.
Tottenham and Aston Villa possess many English players in their starting line ups, but these are not players who are playing at the very top level of European football week in and week out. Although Tottenham will attempt to show the way this season and be successful in the Champions League, it is highly unlikely that they will advance past the last 16 at best.
What also has to be considered, is that the 'Barca' model is not one that always automatically brings success even at the very highest level. The Liverpool European Cup winning vintage of 1977 consisted of eight Englishmen, two Welshman and one Irishman. But bizarrely, this coincided with probably the most depressing period in English football history.
The national team failed to qualify for both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, so the argument in this instance (probably the best example concerning a top English side) carries little weight, both in the ideology of top clubs having so many English players in their side or indeed bringing through as many English players as you can from the youth set-up's.
In opposition to the argument concerning clubs having too many foreigners. The Italian national team that travelled to the USA in 1994 are probably the best example. At that time Serie A was by far the most cosmopolitan of all the top European leagues, but it didn't stop the Italians progressing to the World Cup final that year.
In a domestic capacity, there was also the marvellous Dynamo Kiev team of the late 1990s. This was yet another example of a team which was virtually all made up of native Ukranians. However the national team of that period was nowhere near the top of the international football ladder.
On the other side of the coin however there are notable examples of strong club sides clearly aiding their national teams.
The Bayern Munich side of the mid 1970s coincided with perhaps the greatest period of dominance the (West) German team has ever had. While there were also the Ajax teams of the early 1970s who preceded the golden generation of Dutch football, when they reached two consecutive World Cup final's.
As with most things, there are arguments both for and against, but it is certainly not something that is carved in stone. Even though having so many players playing regularly together at club level surely helps, there are not many examples concerning England or English teams which really suggest it makes that much of a difference.
For me, the issues go much deeper. There is something intrinsically defective within the English psyche. There have been so many false dawns, but time and again we put that to one side and always believe that 'this time' it will be different.
Germany and (usually Italy) appear to have that X factor in their psyche that they can perform right up to the very final stages of mosts competitions, time after time. Perhaps this is not the case every four years, but certainly every eight or twelve years they seem to get to at least one major final.
England’s history suggests otherwise and perhaps, reluctantly, we just have to face reality.
These floors could be put down to a number of reasons. Perhaps the players suffer from severe home-sickness, or perhaps they are just a group of players unable to play well enough as a team due to the immense pressure. Maybe even the club issues that cause rifts within the camp are worse than we think. Who knows?
One thing is for sure. The trials and tribulations of the England football team cannot all be attributed to Fabio Capello's lack of English. It didn't seem to be a problem during qualifying did it?
Perhaps it is now the time to take a leaf out of the German's book. They are not afraid to use 'foreigners' who, under citizenship and naturalisation laws, qualify to play for Germany, despite not being born in the country.
Players such as Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski are examples of German internationals who have benefited from these laws and have gone on to flouish for their 'adopted' country.
I firmly believe that Mikel Arteta - now eligible for England and unlikely to ever play for Spain - should be brought into the England squad. He is a more mobile, more skilful and younger version of Gareth Barry and is better technically too. He is just what England require to free up the dynamic and under-utilised Steven Gerrard.
It's a must....
It is not all doom and gloom though. England do have promising young players and analysts who harp on about the development (or lack of) of youngsters in this country do not look at all the facts.
England won the European Under 17s title this year, reached the semi final of the Under 19s version and last year, progressed to the final of the Under 21s tournament. If that is not promising, I don’t know what is! Are we supposed to win the lot?
Joe Hart (goalkeeper), Adam Johnson, Jack Wilshere, Keiran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, Jack Rodwell, Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O’Hara and Mark Noble and are all gifted, technically able players.
It may be a cliche, but as I stated at the beginning of this passage, things can change frightningly quickly in football. Just ask the Netherlands...
They didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 2002, went out in the last 16 in 2006, but were only four minutes away from a penalty shoot out in the World Cup final this time round.
If you had read the press reports in South Africa, you would have thought that the Dutch were a far superior football nation to England, but history suggests that this is clearly not the case.
England are in some respects, very similar to the Netherlands in that they have endured endless high’s and low’s in previous tournaments and qualification campaign. In fact the Dutch are possibly even worse at penalty shoot-outs than England are.
Both nations lack the consistency of the Germans, the Italians or the Brazillians and fundamentally just have to wait their turn when it comes round. These nations at the top of the second tier of football require everything to just fall into place at the right time. Remember this was Holland's first final for 32 years. Success does not come easily, no matter who you are.
Maybe it’s just a matter of England having to wait until 2018 to win the damn thing, hopefully on home soil. We’d take that right now, wouldn’t we?...
PREDICTIONS FOR THE COMING SEASON:
For what it’s worth, these are my predictions for the Premiership season ahead:
1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Manchester City
4 Arsenal
5 Liverpool
6 Everton
7 Tottenham
8 Blackburn
9 Sunderland
10 Aston Villa
11 West Ham
12 Fulham
13 Bolton
14 Stoke
15 Newcastle
16 Birmingham
17 Wolves
18 West Brom
19 Wigan
20 Blackpool
TOP SCORER: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Wayne Rooney (It’s bound to happen)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Adam Johnson (Man City)
FA Cup Winners: Liverpool
League Cup Winners: Manchester City
Champions League Winners: Inter Milan
Many analysts and pundits are suggesting that the Spanish model of coaching should now be introduced into English football. But there are many questions that should be addressed first.
Are Spain really the right model to follow? Does their history suggest it is right to do so? And do they just happen to be experiencing the fruits of a a cyclical 'golden generation'?
In addition, will this Spanish team keep on winning? Will they even win one of the next two major tournaments?
The answers to all those questions (as the law of averages suggests)are probably not.
Football is, on the whole, both a cyclical and un-forgiving business and in two years time, we will probably all be talking about the next model we should be following.
It is important to remember that the Spaniards also crashed out in the second round of the World Cup four years ago, just like England this time round. They were a side well beaten by an ageing French team and there was no indication then of the world domination that was to follow.
In Euro 2004, they didn’t even progress past the group stages, so is it really the best idea to follow their model of coaching? (whereby they coach children to play the game for fun and not in a competitive manner. The main aim being to keep possession of the ball). In truth, is it actually even the Spanish FA who deserve the credit?
Spain have been fortunate in that they have so many players playing together at club level In many respects much of Spain's current success can be attributed to Frank Rijkkard and Pep Guardiola at Barcelona. Eight of the eleven players who started the World Cup final in South Africa play together at the Nou Camp and the understanding and continuity between them is there for all to see.
Players such as Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets instinctively seem to know where and who each other are. And while it does suggest that this could be the recipe to success, it is still unlikely to transmit itself to England in the near future.
The Premier League is, without doubt, the most cosmopolitan league in the world, and the top clubs such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City would do well to field even eight English players between them at the current time.
Even Manchester United regularly field more foreign players than they used to.
Tottenham and Aston Villa possess many English players in their starting line ups, but these are not players who are playing at the very top level of European football week in and week out. Although Tottenham will attempt to show the way this season and be successful in the Champions League, it is highly unlikely that they will advance past the last 16 at best.
What also has to be considered, is that the 'Barca' model is not one that always automatically brings success even at the very highest level. The Liverpool European Cup winning vintage of 1977 consisted of eight Englishmen, two Welshman and one Irishman. But bizarrely, this coincided with probably the most depressing period in English football history.
The national team failed to qualify for both the 1974 and 1978 World Cups, so the argument in this instance (probably the best example concerning a top English side) carries little weight, both in the ideology of top clubs having so many English players in their side or indeed bringing through as many English players as you can from the youth set-up's.
In opposition to the argument concerning clubs having too many foreigners. The Italian national team that travelled to the USA in 1994 are probably the best example. At that time Serie A was by far the most cosmopolitan of all the top European leagues, but it didn't stop the Italians progressing to the World Cup final that year.
In a domestic capacity, there was also the marvellous Dynamo Kiev team of the late 1990s. This was yet another example of a team which was virtually all made up of native Ukranians. However the national team of that period was nowhere near the top of the international football ladder.
On the other side of the coin however there are notable examples of strong club sides clearly aiding their national teams.
The Bayern Munich side of the mid 1970s coincided with perhaps the greatest period of dominance the (West) German team has ever had. While there were also the Ajax teams of the early 1970s who preceded the golden generation of Dutch football, when they reached two consecutive World Cup final's.
As with most things, there are arguments both for and against, but it is certainly not something that is carved in stone. Even though having so many players playing regularly together at club level surely helps, there are not many examples concerning England or English teams which really suggest it makes that much of a difference.
For me, the issues go much deeper. There is something intrinsically defective within the English psyche. There have been so many false dawns, but time and again we put that to one side and always believe that 'this time' it will be different.
Germany and (usually Italy) appear to have that X factor in their psyche that they can perform right up to the very final stages of mosts competitions, time after time. Perhaps this is not the case every four years, but certainly every eight or twelve years they seem to get to at least one major final.
England’s history suggests otherwise and perhaps, reluctantly, we just have to face reality.
These floors could be put down to a number of reasons. Perhaps the players suffer from severe home-sickness, or perhaps they are just a group of players unable to play well enough as a team due to the immense pressure. Maybe even the club issues that cause rifts within the camp are worse than we think. Who knows?
One thing is for sure. The trials and tribulations of the England football team cannot all be attributed to Fabio Capello's lack of English. It didn't seem to be a problem during qualifying did it?
Perhaps it is now the time to take a leaf out of the German's book. They are not afraid to use 'foreigners' who, under citizenship and naturalisation laws, qualify to play for Germany, despite not being born in the country.
Players such as Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski are examples of German internationals who have benefited from these laws and have gone on to flouish for their 'adopted' country.
I firmly believe that Mikel Arteta - now eligible for England and unlikely to ever play for Spain - should be brought into the England squad. He is a more mobile, more skilful and younger version of Gareth Barry and is better technically too. He is just what England require to free up the dynamic and under-utilised Steven Gerrard.
It's a must....
It is not all doom and gloom though. England do have promising young players and analysts who harp on about the development (or lack of) of youngsters in this country do not look at all the facts.
England won the European Under 17s title this year, reached the semi final of the Under 19s version and last year, progressed to the final of the Under 21s tournament. If that is not promising, I don’t know what is! Are we supposed to win the lot?
Joe Hart (goalkeeper), Adam Johnson, Jack Wilshere, Keiran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, Jack Rodwell, Tom Huddlestone, Jamie O’Hara and Mark Noble and are all gifted, technically able players.
It may be a cliche, but as I stated at the beginning of this passage, things can change frightningly quickly in football. Just ask the Netherlands...
They didn’t qualify for the World Cup in 2002, went out in the last 16 in 2006, but were only four minutes away from a penalty shoot out in the World Cup final this time round.
If you had read the press reports in South Africa, you would have thought that the Dutch were a far superior football nation to England, but history suggests that this is clearly not the case.
England are in some respects, very similar to the Netherlands in that they have endured endless high’s and low’s in previous tournaments and qualification campaign. In fact the Dutch are possibly even worse at penalty shoot-outs than England are.
Both nations lack the consistency of the Germans, the Italians or the Brazillians and fundamentally just have to wait their turn when it comes round. These nations at the top of the second tier of football require everything to just fall into place at the right time. Remember this was Holland's first final for 32 years. Success does not come easily, no matter who you are.
Maybe it’s just a matter of England having to wait until 2018 to win the damn thing, hopefully on home soil. We’d take that right now, wouldn’t we?...
PREDICTIONS FOR THE COMING SEASON:
For what it’s worth, these are my predictions for the Premiership season ahead:
1 Manchester United
2 Chelsea
3 Manchester City
4 Arsenal
5 Liverpool
6 Everton
7 Tottenham
8 Blackburn
9 Sunderland
10 Aston Villa
11 West Ham
12 Fulham
13 Bolton
14 Stoke
15 Newcastle
16 Birmingham
17 Wolves
18 West Brom
19 Wigan
20 Blackpool
TOP SCORER: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Wayne Rooney (It’s bound to happen)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Adam Johnson (Man City)
FA Cup Winners: Liverpool
League Cup Winners: Manchester City
Champions League Winners: Inter Milan
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