Bleacher Report - Articles by Saleh Karaman

Why FIFA's Ban On Chelsea Is The Pivotal Moment In English Football

Saleh Karaman — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:23:43 -0400

For fairness sake to all of those Chelsea fans out there, I'll start this article off by saying I'm a fan of Arsenal FC.

When I first heard about FIFA's ban placed on Chelsea, I'll admit that I was somewhat happy at the fact that one of the biggest competitors in the top four had been dealt a huge blow, meaning a more open title race.

But then I realized that this decision by FIFA, should it stick and be maintained until it's 2011 time frame, is not only as close to death blow as possible to one of England's most storied clubs, but a war on English football's dominance in European competition.

The ban on transferring players into the club, which lasts until 2011, has to be the most calculated legal maneuvering in football history. To understand why, imagine the structure of the club on which the ban was placed.

Chelsea in it's modern form is a buying club. It buys players for higher prices and often sells them for lower prices after their talents have been used up. It's not an attack on Chelsea's structure, it's simply the way the club operates.

Chelsea supporters would be truly hard-pressed to say that the club employs a strong youth program in which academy players can fill up the first-team ranks. Chelsea buy stars at their peak, win trophies, and are juggernauts in Europe. No apologies needed.

So it is too coincidental that a team of Chelsea's average age, which is admittedly getting up there in years, is strapped with this kind of punishment. It's the worst possible scenario that could've happened for what is a simple case of a breach of contract.

Think about it like this: If Arsenal were banned for buying players for a year and a half, would they survive internally? It's a far different scenario than for their London rivals.

The age of the team, a problem which Gus Hiddink smartly pointed out last year, is the club's Achilles heal. The team needs to buy players often to maintain that speed and continental skill in order to stave off other top four and European competitors.

There's no doubt that Chelsea can whether such a storm because of there competitiveness (who wouldn't want Lampard and Terry on their team?), but the question is, how long?

There simply is no contingent plan for something like this. The club has never truly invested in youth, so it's almost tragically ironic that this ban would happen over a youth product's transfer.

You can be certain too, that players within the club won't be as confident of their club with this storm hanging above their heads. Will they be able to pull through and remain winners? Only time will tell. But the added pressure will not help.

Also something to consider is the timing of the ban. It comes right as Chelsea are on a hot streak domestically, with Carlo Ancelotti behind the helm. Not just any coach ladies and gentlemen, Carlo Ancelotti. The two time UEFA Champions League winner. The man who's speciality is winning big on the European stage.

It's seems a little paranoid to call all of this a conspiracy by FIFA to stop English in-roads to Champions League trophies, but the facts just keep coming.

Let's all be fair and keep this is perspective as well. Chelsea are not simply victimized club. They currently have an ongoing suit against Adrian Mutu which can only be described as the outright murder of the player's career.

Let's also not forget that smaller clubs have their rights as well, and that big continental powers have been poaching youth for years from these little competitors.

But let's call it what it is and spare diplomacy for a moment. This is FIFA's way of all-out war on the English dominance of Europe. The 6+5 rule is bad enough (even if it has some noble intentions). This is simply an outright attack to defang the blue tiger that is Chelsea in Europe's biggest competition with one of the best coaches in the world.

It doesn't stop there. Currently FIFA is investigating the case of Paul Pogba going to Manchester United. Yes. The Red Devils could also be facing a transfer ban in this, what could be their definitive period of rebuilding before the eventual retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

What next? Arsenal can't buy youth players like they have for near a decade? Liverpool and their frankly abysmal youth program continues to suffer even more?

If this doesn't shake English football to it's foundations, nothing will. This ban sets a horrifying precedent that could stagnate English football for years to come, should it become popularized. It's a scary thing that the most exciting, blistering, and heart-stopping showcase of footballing talents could go the way of Italy before too long.

There is one, very small glimmer of hope. If there is one coach who can make an ageing team competitive, it's Carlo Ancelotti. Can he win the Champions League with a team this old? He's done it before, he can do it again.

And hey, it could all just blow over and Chelsea could come out stronger than ever by solving their problems internally.

But the more likely answer? This is a deep wound through the heart of the London blue boys. This moment in history could be one of those that marks a decided and forced change for European football as a whole.

The Upside of Arsenal's Manchester United Loss

Saleh Karaman — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:24:48 -0400

The Arsenal-Manchester United matchup on Saturday, another blazing fixture in a rivalry that dates back to the late '80s with a stomp on Lee Dixon sparking one of the greatest football rivalries in history, was a fantastic lesson for both sides. It was more interesting for the Arsenal starting XI, though, because it was the first of massive tests for the Gunners.

In terms of a measuring stick for the reason of the Premier League season, a loss to Manchester isn't exactly a call for the end of Arsenal incredible football. Manchester lost by the same margin last season and still won the title.

The problem with these fixtures is that they are completely out of the ordinary for both teams. Never have matches been as angry, as physical, or as intense and those between the Mancs and the Gunners. Don't let the so-called reconciliation between Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger fool you. These guys are massive competitors, and their teams really, really don't like each other.

But the results of Saturday's match, though registering a loss, was an immensely positive and hopeful show from the North London boys.

Arsenal have a strong, defensive midfield now. It's almost impossible to believe, but Alex Song and Denilson were bullying the Manchester engine room in the center pitch.

Who knew? If the results from last season show anything, those two aren't exactly injury prone either. Denilson had the most caps of any player on the squad. All of the sudden those two are workhorses, strong, and adept at passing.

Not only that, but more importantly the back four were absolute dynamite. Save for one near goal by Fletcher, Gallas and Vermaelen were tough, rugged, strong center backs who didn't give Rooney a sniff. All of a sudden, Vermaelen is as tenacious and strong as Martin Kneown. His partnership with Gallas could be the one that Arsenal has been crying out for. Sagna and Clichy? Well, they might be the best fullback pair in the Premiership.

Arshavin yesterday proved that he is not only a leader, but that he is a big game player who can change matches. Robin van Persie never gave up hope for even a moment, and although he really isn't suited for a central role, his attacking prowess has only gotten better over the years.

That's not to say that there aren't problems. Diaby's own goal (which was actually one hell of a goal, only in the wrong net) could happen to anyone, but it shows that he really isn't ready for the big-time just yet.

In order for Arsenal to be the well-oiled machine that it has been, Fabregas, or another attacking midfielder is key. Because of Fabregas' injury problems, Wenger may even try to buy another attacking player, like Van der Vaart, who has the class to fill in for the Spaniard, because without the young captain, Arsenal's bite isn't as sharp.

Also, there needs to be a central striker. Whether Eduardo or Bendtner, there needs to be a man in the box to really be at the end of all of Arshavin and van Persie's creativity. Marouane Chamakh, who is a strong player who makes everyone around him look good, may just be that player. Andre-Pierre Gignac could also be a goal-scoring threat, but, whoever it is, they need to lead the line, and they need to do it soon.

Finally, one serious issue that has been bugging this writer since last season: Manuel Almunia. The penalty that he gave away to Rooney wasn't just a slip, it was a game losing error of massive proportions. You give away a penalty to Manchester United, you are asking for a world of hurt from a team who make it their lives' mission to come from behind.

While the uncapped Spanish keeper can do "well" between the sticks, he will lose big games. Last year champions league fixtures against Manchester, Almunia, although proving fantastic in the first leg basically lost the second due to his poor positioning for Ronaldo's free kick.

It's a massive problem that needs to be addressed. If he fails as continuously as he does in the only matches that matter, then Arsenal simply cannot win silverware. Being an " OK" keeper with a poor big-game performance record is a liability that Arsenal cannot afford.

Coming on as a substitute for Jens Lehmann in a Champions League final may not have been fair for the keeper, but he wasn't a young boy back then, and that ball that slipped between his legs sent Arsenal off course for a long time.

Mark these words. If Almunia stays between the sticks without any real improvement or show of strength, Arsenal are going to lose big games.

The Good and Bad Of Arsenal's Super-Start

Saleh Karaman — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 14:26:49 -0400

It seems like a footballing miracle. A 6-1 demolition of Everton, a 2-0 win away at Celtic—a footballing ground where no English team has been victorious in decades. Then, a 4-1 "Invincibles" style cutting down of Portsmouth.

For the Arsenal die-hard fans, it's a spiteful battle cry in the face of harsh detractors and critics. This super-start has even been magical enough for bookmakers, a group of individuals who have an uncanny aptitude at Premiership prediction.

But for those who have the patience and ability to look through all the conflicting hype, there is a reality behind the numbers and sparkling performances, and the knowledge that awards aren't given for great starts.

So in an attempt to bring a more grounded perspective to the discussion, the bad, as well as the good, should be accurately assessed towards what clearly appears to be a superstar start for a group of young men tired of underachievement.

The bad

With results like 6-1 and 4-1, you'd expect the names on the scoresheet to be from the frontmen. That hasn't been the case with Arsenal. Of all the strikers, only Eduardo, with a typical fox-in-the-box type goal, has managed to bulge the back of the net. Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin, and Nicklas Bendtner, who are expected to be the consistent goal scorers to fill in for Emmanuel Adebayor, have not gotten on the scoresheet yet.

There are many reasons for this. One is simply that the frontmen, who are playing in a slightly different 4-3-3 formation, are still getting used to their new, wider positions.

Another, possibly more alarming explanation, is that the main three simply do not have the goal-scoring consistency to maintain a high premier league level. Arshavin and Van Persie are fantastic second-strikers who like to play in the whole, but they've never been consistent goal-scorers. Bendtner is a only a young man, and he is still a long way from from reaching the French phenom's level of skills (Thierry Henry, as non-worshippers like to call him).

Another problem we see, although slightly played down, is the fact that air-battles are still a bit of a height issue. No one can fault Gallas and Vermaelen for trying, but they simply do not have the height or heft of someone like Nemanja Vidic to push around opposition and beat them out in aerial battles.

The final problem, and in this writer's opinion the most serious, in the seemingly ever-present issue of injuries. Samir Nasri with a broken leg, Tomas Rosicky with another injury in a seemingly endless line of physical problems, Lukasz Fabianski out for a lengthy period, and Theo Walcott with resulting injury of attempting to carry on his back England-U21’s attack. The only way to counter-attack this issue, at least in the short term, is simply putting more quality players on the roster; but with that possibility quickly fading with a closing transfer window, the injury crisis is poised for a lengthy stay.

The good

The midfield with Arsenal, as it should be with all great teams, is a footballing masterclass. The ease of their play, the dedication and the classy ability to find passes and play for each other is something quite special to behold, not just for youngsters, as the press likes to highlight constantly, but for any team. The improvement alone speaks volumes of what kind of team Arsenal has.

Denilson, as hard-working as ever, actually seems to be growing as a player and as a skilled part of the Arsenal attacking machine. Song, who still needs to step-up to firmly stamp his defensive presence onto every game he plays in, can now track opponents, cut off channels, and even make some solid tackles. Even Diaby, who everyone wrote off, may just be a secret weapon in the attack as opposed to his previous, more defensive role.

The second good talking point are the transfers. It’s strange to think of the transfer period as a positive point, considering the sparse nature of a necessary influx of players, but all the purchases and sales have been spot-on. Sure Adebayor is a skilled striker, but his form of 2007-2008 seems more like a transient phase than a solid starting block for the rest of a career. Plus, a 25 million pound sale isn’t too shabby considering his frankly ambivalent attitude towards Arsenal and towards football in general (but not to money of course, never to money).

Kolo Toure, although not soon to leave Arsenal hearts, was also a fantastic sale.

Not only was he sold for around 15 million pounds (a tremendous earning for Arsenal considering his initial 150,000 pound purchase), but his conflict with Gallas was threatening to tear the defensive partnership apart. In terms of who was the better defender, although Toure is a nostalgic favorite, it’s clear that Gallas had far more ability and leadership that his Ivorian partner.

It’s ironic that Toure would speak of Arsenal losing too many leaders during his time there, simply because Toure himself was never a leader. No offense to the man, who seems as kind and as courteous as players come, but he could never be confused with a Tony Adams-esque defender.

Vermaelen, a universally panned purchase because of his aforementioned height, is working like a charm beside his French elder. He has the tactics, from his blocks you can tell he can read the game along with the best of them, and he actually has a decent jump and pace to him.

But the best of the best of Arsenal is no doubt the spirit, which can best be exemplified by the captain, Cesc Fabregas. No longer is the young Spaniard lowering his head in shame at his team’s efforts, no longer is he a somewhat distraught figure on the field. The young superstar has exactly the right attitude to win games. He fights, he wins free-kicks and he never for a moment seems to doubt his abilities.

But foremost, you can tell with every breath he takes on the field that he fights with heart and conviction for a team that has given him everything since he was 18 years old. Forget the transfer flirtations with Barcelona, the young man has his eyes on the prize and his convictions for the club are nothing short of astounding.

He’s no longer the Barcelona youth-product who Arsenal snatched. He’s the North London figurehead who during the match against Celtic, kept his cool when Caldwell threatened him for going down too easily (which he most certainly did, proving his mettle to win free-kicks), so he could strike a fierce shot to aid the first goal.

Fabregas knows what he has to do to for Arsenal to win, and if that takes all of his creativity, calm, and sheer will to win at any cost, then he will push for it on all fronts.

So, for all the Arsenal fans out there swept up in the frenzy of amazing results, there are still problems clear as day in the starting line-up. However, some of the deep-lying issues that show the true character and mentality of a club have all come up positive.

What does this mean for the ensuing season? Only time, and a bevy of beautiful football, will tell.

Arsenal Will Lose in the Short Term and Win in the Long Run: Here's Why

Saleh Karaman — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:52:08 -0400

It was around the time that Sunderland signed Lorik Cana for £5m that the hope started to fade again. When Milan snatched up Klaas-Jan Huntelaar it took another hit. When even Marouane Chamakh was deemed too rich for Arsenal blood, it was enough to make the fans cringe with the summertime blues.

Hinting back and forth at being both satisfied with his current squad and talking about the big burst of transfers during the waning hours of the period, Arsene Wenger has all of us white-knuckled and at the edges of our seats. Patiently, many wait for a big man to come through the doors and be the bully that keeps the Arsenal boys from getting their lunch money stolen.

But no matter how much you search for any tabloid written gossip linking anyone to Arsenal, the facts most clearly show that there isn't going to be outrageous spending or consensual opening of wallets in the Red and White boardroom. It's going to be one or two guys, but maybe even that's asking too much.

Not to burst anyone's preseason bubble, but we all know the truth. Arsenal's defense is weak, the midfield isn't strong enough, and there isn't enough money. Fourth place might be just enough, but only just.

That isn't because of Manchester City's spending. Of course they'll be stronger this time around, but when you have eight strikers in your lineup, that's not simply a misuse of money, it's a show of improper managing judgement.

Mark Hughes is a good manager, and he may even win a few trophies with Man City, just like Blackburn did when they basically bought the league back in 1995.

Good for Manchester City fans. Everyone deserves a little bit of hope for the team they love.

Arsenal fans deserve hope as well. The simple fact is, Arsene Wenger is one of the greatest managers in history. Not simply because of his footballing style, his youth policy, or the fact that he's the best seller in world of football, but the fact that he has done for Arsenal what Johan Cruyff did as coach of Barcelona.

He has created a footballing culture, a beautiful mentality that has everyone from North London to Saigon wearing the red and white. The man has built a club from "dull as ditchwater" status to gorgeous invincibles.

This period, however, is the natural occurrence, the symptom, of what Arsene has strictly followed. In order to found a club on youth (something which is only a recent phenomenon) and in order for youth to grow and develop, they need years—years which have cost Arsenal trophies for almost half a decade.

But it's not all Arsene's fault. When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and dipped into his Scrooge-McDuck-sized vault, it was a monetary knife in the heart of all other Premier League competition. Chelsea had always been competitive, but now the club was an 800-pound gorilla knocking down the doors of clubs that had developed slowly and gracefully over decades.

Manchester United felt the heat for a while, then fought back with a money splurge that left them in massive debt. Liverpool did the same, so much so that at the beginning of the summer, Rafa Benitez was left with a slashed transfer kitty and a nervous pair of American owners unsure if they could pay back their loans.

Now Manchester City.

They'll be competitive, certainly, but they won't last. So many clubs have come and gone with pockets full of money, and only a handful remain. Mark Hughes isn't a world beating coach, and the club doesn't have the infrastructure built over patient years like those toiled over by Arsene Wenger and Alex Ferguson. What they will do, however, is push Arsenal back many years.

For the short yet foreseeable future, Arsenal are going to struggle in ways that may or may not destroy Wenger's career. There will be a trophy drought of heart-wrenching proportions, there will be young players sold, and there will be beautiful football, as always.

But if Arsene survives? Well, there's only so much money in this world to be spent on clubs. All the bony-nosed Frenchman has to do is wait and survive.

Ferguson knows what he's talking about when he says that Arsenal are contenders.

Sure it's a mind-game to put off Man City, but Ferguson has always been watchful of Wenger. He knows if any coach is going to destroy his legacy in the Premier League, it'll be the man from Strasbourg.

Think about it like this; Jose Mourinho, as amazing a coach as he is, could only do what he could with exorbitant amounts of cash and older more experienced players. Although a great man-to-man motivator, players didn't improve under his tutelage, they only remained consistent.

Benitez, although achieving amazing things in the Champions League, doesn't seem to be able to pull off any sort of English success. Carlo Ancelotti isn't much of a league man either. Mark Hughes? Well he's neither. He is, and seemingly always will be, just an ok coach. (Of course many people would kill just to be an ok coach!)

So who does that leave surviving in the Premiership? Ferguson isn't a young man anymore, and we would all do well to remember that Fergie has a decade more of experience over Wenger in England. Can you imagine Wenger's power given the time he needs? The possibilities are simply staggering.

But he's not quite there. Not yet.

I may be entirely wrong. Arsenal could stomp their way over to the end of the Premiership season, gracefully pirouette over to the trophy, put a few through balls in along the way, score 17 goals against Manchester City, and go on a 38-game winning streak.

But in reality, the possibility of Francesc Fabregas hoisting a major trophy over his head come next year is a fading image in an already murky pond.

In a few years however?

With the proper growth of Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Samir Nasri, and Thomas Vermaelen, the "golden era" that Wenger has occasionally spoken of might just be fun to watch.

There is of course one caveat to this grand vision of the future: the survival of Arsene Wenger.

Karim Benzema: The Best of the Galactico Trio

Saleh Karaman — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:45:30 -0400

What were you doing when you were 17? You were most likely still in school, or maybe even working at your first job. Karim Benzema? He was winning the the UEFA U-17 European Cup.

What were you doing at 19? Still in school? Working at a job? An internship? Well Karim Benzema was being given the attacking keys to the juggernaut of French football that is Olympique Lyon.

At 21 you were probably in school, while Benzema was being made as the successor to R9 at Real Madrid in one of the biggest transfers of the summer. And you thought you were getting ahead in life.

Karim Benzema was brought into Lyon's setup in 2004 after a promotion from the youth team and has never looked back. He was the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the 2007-08 season as well as the best player. Even with a dramatically collapsing Lyon at the end of last season, Benzema was still bringing in the goals with cool precision.

And that really is what Benzema is all about. The boy has nerves of steel and calmness in front of goal that is undeniable. He has scored against just about everyone, big teams, small teams, it doesn't matter, Benzema is always sharp and always ready to pounce. He plays like few strikers do nowadays, right down the center, just like his bald idol R9.

You may have forgotten about Benzema amongst the massive super-spending of Real Madrid this summer. He was there, tacked on right after Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Of the Big Three that Madrid swooped for, the French boy wonder easily received the least aplomb at his Bernabeu arrival. But that's ok, because on the pitch, he will most likely be the one to shine.

The reasons are fairly simple. Kaka, although languid and full of technique like Zidane, is no French playmaker. The brazilian's career has been plagued with injuries and although he'll most likely have the class to continue playing at the top flight, he'll never truly be able to recapture his otherworldly skills during 2006-07 Champions League run with Milan.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is a bit more difficult. He is seemingly at the top of his game, and has the ability to score from anywhere with his sheer power, but it's unlikely to last. His dependence on immense physicality is breathtaking to behold, but how long can his string of injury-free seasons last?

Once Ronaldo starts to slow down, which he will, it's going to noticeably detract from his game, and it'd be challenge to try and recover that. Plus, even with certain exceptions, Alex Ferguson doesn't sell players so they can show their best for other clubs. Once he's done with them, they're not likely to reproduce a stunning show ever again.

So that leaves the French sensation. Still a young man, still powerful, and still on the cusp of what could be the breakthrough of a lifetime. Just look at the stats. Although he's "only" scored 43 goals in 112 game for Lyon, he's only 21. That's even better than Alan Shearer's 23 goals in 118 games for Southhampton, and similar to Eto'os 48 goals in 120 games for Mallorca.

Everything is in place for Benzema to breakthrough and stun the world. The fact that he scored the first and winning goal in Real's preseason is only a good omen of things to come. So watch this space, because if I'm correct, then the player who seemed surplus to all requirements considering the current state of Higuain may just be the greatest of all the Galacticos.

The Keys to the Mancunian Throne: Who Will Take Sir Alex Ferguson's Place?

Saleh Karaman — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:38:37 -0400

Sir Bobby Robson, once gaffer of Newcastle United, recalled a few years ago a meeting he had with Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson. In that interview, Ferguson told Robson that he wasn’t really up for coaching into his 70’s, unlike Robson who was a head coach until he was 72.

Robson tried to convince Ferguson that as long as he was healthy and fit to coach, he should keep doing it. Ferguson, however, would be a hard man to convince.

Sir Alex Ferguson, who will most likely go down in history as one of the greatest coaches ever to live, has won it all. By won it all, it’s meant to be taken in the most literal sense. There isn’t a trophy that he hasn’t laid his hands on, there isn’t a footballing stage on this Earth that he has risen above.

He has taken a club with an already rich history out of the dark depths that were the 80’s and made it the richest and most successful club modern times.

Sure, there is one little pesky landmark that he hasn’t surpassed. During the late 80’s and 90’s when Ferguson was just beginning to shine, the legendary Brian Clough spoke of Ferguson’s success in the 1999 Champions League and said:

"For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn't got two of what I've got. And I don't mean balls."

Ever since then it seems Ferguson been keen on not only equalling Clough’s European Cup record (which he has) but surpassing it. Also, if we want to get technical with the trophies, he still hasn’t surpassed Bob Paisley’s enormous three European Cup trophy haul with Liverpool, but at this point in Ferguson’s career, it may be a prize waiting just around the corner.

But really, save for personal supremacy, Ferguson doesn’t need any more shine to show off his illustrious career. So it begs the question, who will take his place once he realizes it's time to go back home to his wife and grand kids?

That’s a question that the board behind Ferguson and United must be asking themselves constantly. They know that for the short-term Ferguson will bring in some more trophies and leave the club on a high as opposed to the tragic low that ended Clough’s alcohol-riddled coaching career at Nottingham Forest.

But for the long term, there are maybe four options that the club has available to them.

The first is the most interesting and headline grabbing; The Special One. Jose Mourinho is one hell of a coach, of that there can be no question. Disregarding the fact that he led the Chelsea revolution which almost destroyed Ferguson’s career and still threatens to topple Arsene Wenger’s kingdom at Arsenal, Mourinho would be a fine fit at such a high level.

The man has stepped up to every challenge and new stage in his career with bravado, brashness, and a man to man management system that none can match. He can grind out results and it’s already been established that the man can win domestically and on the European level.

But there is one very serious problem that throws his entire candidacy into question.

Youth.

If there is one problem that Jose has in his coaching, it’s youth development. Manchester United, ever since the Busby Babes, have been a club that have prided themselves on youth policies that have built the greatest Enlgish football players to ever grace a pitch, from Charlton to Best to Giggs to Beckham.

Mourinho fills his rosters with seasoned, experienced veterans, and while this most definitely works in short term trophy hauls, it fails in the long term due to a rising average age.

Take Mourinho’s Chelsea. Massive competitors, English champions, but now with an age problem so widespread that only another massive Abramovich bankroll would pull them out of their age crisis.

Inter Milan right now only have Ballotelli and Santon as first team youth products in a team filled with old, trophy winning veterans who won’t be around in a few years time. So in the long term, Mourinho isn’t the best to take the reins at Manchester’s red half.

Another option is Aston Villa’s Martin O’Neill. A veteran of the English game as a midfielder with Brian Clough’s super-powered Nottingham Forest and a veteran coach as a Leicester and Celtic manager.

He plays a fast and effective 4-3-3 formation with wingers and has the type of flair and personality that would fit for a big club like Manchester. The problem with O’Neill though, is that at 57 he isn’t exactly a trophy grabber.

Yes he did win his fair share with Celtic, but to have success at either Celtic or Rangers in the SPL isn’t an achievement, it’s an expectation.

There is also the dark horse of Roy Hodgson. A personal favorite, the man is a master-class in poise, professionalism and immense success with scarce resources. He certainly wouldn’t fit in terms of Red Devil flair with his defensive minded systems, but he is a fantastic manager nonetheless.

His success with Fulham should be fully acknowledged and his cosmopolitan coaching experience around Europe is an important achievement. However, he is as of yet fairly untested when it comes to a big name club like Man United, so he would be a big gamble.

The final choice, and the best in this writer’s opinion, is a certain strawberry-blonde Scotsman by the name of David Moyes. He is, behind Ferguson and Wenger respectively, the longest tenured coach in the Premier League. That alone speaks volumes of his skill and character as a manager.

He has taken Everton from relegation threatened outsiders to top four upstarts, and he did it without all the huffing and puffing of a certain Portuguese charmer. He has the class of Hodgson with a bit of O’Neill’s flair, and like Wenger, he’s done it all with a shoestring budget.

He’s bred young players while finding a nice mix of experience and has made nothing but smart choices in all his transfer spending. Tim Cahill was right in saying that other Premier Clubs were envious of Everton’s money spending in correlation with their success.

But maybe even more telling than Moyes’ youth success and classy reputation is his style of club building which strangely resembles that of another wily Scot.

Moyes, like Ferguson, builds his teams from the midfield. Hodgson builds from the back four with players like Brede Hangeland, as does Mourinho. O’Neill likes his wingers and well as big, attack minded forwards.

But all of Moyes’ big transfer talk over the years hasn’t been on attackers or defenders, but on strong, varied, and all-around midfielders.

Moyes is smart enough to understand that the midfield is where championships are won and lost. Yes he has respect for the back for with such cultured players as Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka. But he prides himself on purchases like Steven Pienaar, Tim Cahill, Leon Osman, and Marouane Fellaini, all robust midfielders with box-to-box talents.

Everton’s recent striker dilemma following an injury crisis that included Louis Saha proved that games can still be won through the midfield. Speaking of Saha, Moyes even saw the same potential that Ferguson saw in Saha without the injury problems.

Sir Alex Ferguson is a legend who will never be properly replaced. To try and find someone as fitting as the gaffer is an impossibility. But if given the chance and the opportunity to shine, Moyes might just be the best path that the Manchester Reds could take.

At 46, the man who’s survived the highs and lows of the most difficult league in football can only get better.

An Economics Lesson From David Dein

Saleh Karaman — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:20:38 -0400

On the eve of Thierry Henry's departure from Arsenal to Barcelona, he posted a letter and had a press conference to give a final word to the fans that he had served so diligently for nearly a decade.

In his farewell, he spoke about his reasons to leave. He discussed his initial unveiling as an Arsenal player, and remembered that on one side of him sat his mentor and coach Arsene Wenger, and on the other sat the vice-chairman of Arsenal.

He spoke about how that vice-chairman was now gone from Arsenal, and that he believed that soon Arsene would leave as well. Arsene has, to the unknown benefit of the club, remained and has remaining firm in his commitment.

The vice-chairman is long gone.

The vice-chairman was named David Dein, and he was quite the most important businessman to ever enter Arsenal's boardroom.

From 1983 to 2007 he was the director of Arsenal before selling a portion of his shares to ease financial burden, then being appointed vice-chairman. For every Arsenal fan as well as every fan of Premier League football, the 1983 to 2007 period represents the long term growth of Arsenal from shoddy, mid-table team to effective (if boring) trophy winners under George Graham, then a mid-90's collapse, followed by the resurgence-in-style under a certain professorial Frenchman circa 1996.

Want to take a guess as to who brought about the appointment of said bony-nosed French mastermind?

David Dein.

Who supported Arsene with immense player connections and talent agencies at his fingertips?

David Dein.

Who was the sole defender of Arsene in the boardroom when he needed transfer money?

Well you can answer that.

With Dein's departure, now all the problems that Arsene has been going through, modestly defending the club's monetary power, standing up for the board, and even taking a punishment like no other manager ever has at a shareholder's meeting (where he was asked the question if he was teaching his players to defend corners), makes sense.

Arsene Wenger is far from a fool.

But he has certainly been made to look like one.

So it's understandable then why Thierry Henry decided to leave Arsenal when he did. He adored the club, there can be no doubt about that, and he wanted to take it straight to the top. But his last two years at Arsenal, when he knew David Dein was leaving and Arsene Wenger would be by himself to fight for money in already tightly closed pocketbook along with the newly built stadium, were fraught with sadness and regret.

Henry cast an angry figure, even one time sadly saying to news reporters that "Arsenal will never be a big club".

These weren't words of contempt, these were words of deep sadness, in knowing that he would have to leave the place he called home to find ultimate success in Europe.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the key to all of these monetary problems. Arsenal have never been a spending club. Plain and simple. Arsene Wenger, on the other hand, is an advocate of the beautiful game and winner to boot. He doesn't mind pulling out the checkbook every once in a while.

Don't for a second believe this "youth policy" thing is a self-inflicted form of torture on the Arsenal faithful. Do you think Vieira, Henry, Pires, and all the other players that Wenger ran through at the turn of the century were cheap?

The problem is a deep-seated business issue that can only be described as a form of economical stability. Stay in the Champions League, play pretty football, bring in fans to a big new stadium, and get those TV rights.

Hey there's even a Highbury Flats development deal.

See, economically, it may not even be worth it to try and finance through deficit the buying of new players in order to win trophies. It may be more costly to win trophies than to simply make it in the top four.

Why is it then that only when there was threat of a below-four finish that the money came out for Arshavin?

Of course I'm not an economics expert. I'd really like to hope that there's another answer to this problem.

I really do.

The boardroom is comfortable with keeping Wenger because he is a wizard. No one, and I mean no one, can do what he has done with the team he has. Denilson and Song in the midfield and you can earn a top four spot?

That's a challenge that would make even Fergie blush.

Ivan Gazidis, who has taken over the many roles of David Dein, recently stated that although Arsenal's youth had a great deal of promise, they needed to show that promise by winning trophies. Ivan Gazidis is no David Dein.

Ivan Gazidis, with all due respect, is an idiot. With statements like that, which only put the onus of pressure on Arsene Wenger, he can't even compare to big league stature of David Dein.

So, I'd like to personally thank David Dein, the man who made Arsenal and Arsene possible.

It certainly hasn't been the same without him.

The Unexpected Rebuilding: Alex Ferguson's Last Gift to the Red Devils

Saleh Karaman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:30:41 -0400

Unknown to Manchester United fans, the club may be about to undergo one of the most serious and pivotal rebuilding periods of its time.

Many in the press and fan world have had mixed opinions about the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid, stating that it was either a deft move of the part of Ferguson to remove a troubled asset from the club, or a foolish old man's last orders.

In terms of he evidence in Fergie's favor, I'd say the wiley Scot knows exactly what he's doing. But, to the possible disappointment of United fans, I don't believe that the goal here is for short term success.

The truth of the matter is that Sir Alex Ferguson has sold his highest scoring player for a very large sum of a money to be used in a market already scrubbed bare. Ferguson himself has said that he wouldn't be making any gigantic, exorbitant spending sprees, unlike the "White House" he's sold his former protege to. He's far too smart for that.

No, what Sir Alex Ferguson understands about his club is that through certain massive spending sprees in the recent past, the club is in a massive amount of debt, with aging professionals who are only a few years off from the almost ancient nature of Chelsea's current lineup.

Soon Giggs, Scholes, and Neville will all be gone and the last vestiges of the class of '99 will have vanished with them. So for all those fans expecting big massive transfers to immediately kick United back into it for a fourth consecutive league championship, you may be in for a disappointment.

Instead of big name signings, Ferguson is buying players like Valencia, Obertran, and even Michael Owen when most fans were clamouring for the likes of David Villa. What's the possible reasoning behind this?

Sustainability.

Sir Alex Ferguson may feel young at heart, but at 67, he's just resolutely lost a Champions League final, and although performing fantastically domestically has come to grips with the fact that he may have made some cruicial errors with his team.

Last year he bought Dimitar Berbatov for a staggering 30 million euros, only to receive nine league goals against the likes of West Brom and Bolton. Carlos Tevez, for all his hard work and Argentinian flair simply didn't make the grade when it came to outright goalscroing. Fergie couldn't even really figure out what to do with Wayne Rooney.

So in what are most certainly his final years at the club, Ferguson understands that he must put it through one more period of rebuilding, much like the painful one that followed the 2004 season.

This upcoming season even has some of the familiar flavors of that pear-shaped time. A rumored move for Sergio Aguero is almost too coincidental considering his partnership with the United flop of Diego Forlan (who turned out to be one hell of a striker).

Considering the track record of Argentinians in the Premier League, I wouldn't expect much if Aguero were to don the Mancucian red. Anderson may even be the new Jose Kleberson; his performances speak for themselves. Nani could be Juan Sebastian Veron, Michael Owen could be Alan Smith, Obertran...well you understand.

But if such a period were to come about and be characterized by a lack of success, it wouldn't at all spell a long-term decline to United.

In fact, I believe that Sir Alex may just try and force the club through a difficult rebuilding now rather than later to avoid the club he loves so much ever being in the situation of today's Chelsea, who are massive competitors but are ageing so fast that only a miraculous influx of money could keep their talent afloat.

So with all these young and untested signings entering the picture, Manchester United fans shouldn't worry about the long term success of the club. While they may struggle for a season or two following Ronaldo's loss, it can almost certainly be assured that Sir Alex would never leave the club he loves so much without one last parting gift.

Arsenal and the Great Midfield Dilemma

Saleh Karaman — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:21:57 -0400

There are fierce debates in the modern EPL as to who was the best central midfielder. Many would say that Roy Keane with his crunching tackles and fierce (occasionally violent) demeanor would easily take the title. A winner and a fighter at heart, he pounded through yellow cards and a stern Italian defense to get his team through to the 1999 Champions League Final where they would win without him due to his suspension.

But on the other side of that debate there is always Veira.

With all of Keane's brutality and desire, Viera had that and a skill set that would baffle any defense. As a captain he was Arsenal's best following Tony Adams, and his incredible versatility in both defense and offense meant that you could pair any midfielder alongside him and some sort of magic would occur. It's almost poetic that he be the one to score the winning penalty against Manchester United to seal Arsenal's last piece of silverware.

Five years later and things have changed. Arsenal haven't won any trophies since that moment and have been in occasionally dire league form. Their mastery of passing and attacking have made them forces to be reckoned with in Europe, yet they consistently and painfully fall short at the key moments. This wouldn't be the first article to suggest that losing Viera meant losing out on the key cog that made Arsenal's midfield tick.

This is the first article, however, to suggest that the problem in the midfield may be their young Spanish superstar Francesc Fabregas.

By problem, I mean in terms of how to play with him. Fabregas is a tenacious, skilled, and frankly fantastic deep-lying playmaker. However, in pairing him up with midfield partners, Arsenal has gone through more players than they care to remember.

Edu couldn't work due to his attacking nature. Gilberto, who seemed like a midfield maestro next to Viera, couldn't stop a fast-break onslaught to save his life, and Flamini, with all of his hard work and determination, was not the powerhouse Wenger had anticipated.

But what should be even more displeasing for Arsenal fans to hear is that the answer to the midfield could've been in the youth program the entire time. Lassana Diarra was once an Arsenal player before being shuffled around the league and ending up at Real Madrid, where he has become the new Claude Makele. Would his speed and love of pure defense been the perfect foil to Fabregas's passing? The answer is most likely yes. Even the England U-21 starlet Patrice Muamba, who Stuart Pearce has lavished with praise, was once a member of the Arsenal Youth program. But the bad news doesn't end there.

Only yesterday it was reported that Filipe Melo, an Arsenal target and a player who's all—around abilities could've done immeasurable good to the squad, was snatched up by Juventus because Arsenal couldn't meet the highest bid. Sulmaan Ahman, a writer for goal.com, has said that this could spell the end of success at Arsenal. I wouldn't be as pessimistic, but then again, I'm not hoping for miracles.

While Wenger has fought for players like Diaby and Song to replace Viera, it's plain as day by watching the 2-1 Arsenal win over Chelsea at the end of November that they never will be. That game, although saved by the sheer artistry and will of Robin van Persie, was a mess to watch. There were times when you forgot Song was even on the pitch, and only Gallas and Djourou could stand by to hold back a Chelsea barrage. That isn't even close to what Arsenal needs, an all—around combative player who can break up plays and actually compliment the decidedly specialized talents of Fabregas.

The most damning remark came from a very polite and frank Thomas Sorensen of Stoke following their victory over Arsenal:

"They are a fantastic football side, but they are just lacking that bit of physicality.
When Chelsea came here, they matched us in the challenges, but Arsenal weren't quite there. That's the difference. They lack that bit of spine you need."

There are reports that certain players have been targeted. One is Gokhan Inler, a big, strong and combative player who can also get the flow of the game moving again. Another is Lorik Cana, a big Albanian national who seems to want to win more than Djibril Cisse wants attention for his hairstyles. There are even suggestions that Miguel Veloso could be a target.

Whoever the player is, Wenger has the nightmarish job of trying to find a player who can compliment Fabregas and also screen the defense. Good luck to that, because as of yet in English football, the only player who could manage that with any level of success is the man pictured above.