Bleacher Report - Articles by illya mclellan

Sunderland and Steve Bruce Out of the Shadows and into the Light?

illya mclellan — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:28:39 -0500

Steve Bruce's Sunderland side have already produced results this season that inspired debate in more places than just the public bars of Sunderland.

An excellent performance away to Manchester United in which they were denied the three points by a typically late United goal, as well as a startling home victory against the Anfield red's, courtesy of a piece of Liverpool inspired memorabilia.

They have also made things extremely difficult for themselves on several occasions with losses against sides that would dream of victories against opponents that Sunderland have defeated.

The weekend gone saw them beat an Arsenal side that looked decidedly ordinary when faced with a midfield and a defensive unit that was able to stifle their creativity for long periods. Wenger was in denial after the match insisting that it was a lucky win but other results this season already, immediately prove the Frenchman wrong.

Not only that though, the Mackems were able to play football that the Arsenal side could not cope with and could easily have gotten two more goals had Malbranque or Richardson taken chances that were procured for them.

This presents a quite stunning turnaround from the side that were so woefully unpredictable under the management of Roy Keane. While they still have bad days, notably this season when they were beaten well by premiership new boys Burnley, although they are in good company there with Manchester United also suffering a defeat at Burnley.

But somewhat surprisingly it has been their ability to bounce back from these slips that has proven to be the catalyst for talk of them finally making a realistic crack at finishing within striking distance of the powerhouses of the premiership.

To some though, it is not as surprising as it seems, with the clubs first team now under the watchful eye of Steve Bruce, it was more of a question as to how long it would take the former Manchester United centre back to impose his designs on the team and get them playing his game.

After spending his most successful playing years under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson, he must certainly have taken notice of things that went on in his time at Old Trafford and formed his own opinions on how to use such knowledge as well as sounding out his own ideas while on his own managerial journey.

Sunderland are now the sixth side that Bruce has managed and it is at this club that perhaps he finally has the means and the backing to finally make one of his sides a consistent performer in the premiership.

Bruce's signings in the summer window have proved to be well thought out with his resolve to strengthen the spine of the side clearly shown in the acquisition of strong mobile players through the center of his playing side.

The stand out signings so far have been the impressive Albanian, Lorik Cana and of course, Darren Bent, who has a goalscoring record that many top strikers would envy.

Cana, who made a name for himself playing in France, on the weekend proved to be vital in the undoing of Wenger and Arsenal. He put on a menacing and intelligent display that once again showed that Bruce is able to make some extremely inspirational transfer moves that benefit his teams to no end.

Darren Bents goals have also been a massive boost to the side and it will be interesting to see if Bruce is able to keep the powerful striker's morale high so that he can finally put the ghosts of past seasons inconsistencies behind him. Though in some quarters it was thought he was treated rather poorly in his time at Spurs.

His penalty miss in the Spurs game was a moment that could have brought it all tumbling back, but to Bent's credit he has shrugged it off and gotten a crucial winner against a London side that many expected to win easily on their visit to the "Stadium of Light".

Bruce and Sunderland have a long way to go, but the ingredients for an impressive season have been put into the bowl, it now remains to be seen whether Bruce is able to follow his old boss Ferguson's recipe for success and make moves for the top of the table.

Rafa Benitez's Bargain Hunting Costing Liverpool Dearly

illya mclellan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:21:43 -0500

At the close of last season, it was thought that Liverpool were finally going to end the run which has seen them not lift the league trophy since the managerial tenure of Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish.

Now, a mere 12 games into the new season, they seem to be out of the title race. Not only this, but Europe is looking grim as well.

For Liverpool fans across the globe, this has come as a shock and has brought them back to earth to face the grim reality that the cost cutting measures of the financial crisis has meant that the club entered the new season under-prepared, unready and with a squad that is still far too reliant on two key players.

The question here is whether the blame is solely Benitez's or if it is to do with the clubs ownership not being true blue reds.

After all, can the American owners really understand the nature of the passion of Kop end regulars? Or any Liverpool fans for that matter?

It is hard to imagine many of the premier leagues foreign owners really understanding what the game means to the people who flow through the turnstiles to place their hopes and dreams at the feet of their heroes.

So if Benitez was forced to curb spending because of budgetary constraints, it now appears extremely ironic that they are now in danger of slipping out of the lucrative champions league positions which guarantee the club millions in revenue every season.

So in order to cut costs, they went into the new season with a squad that has only two real world class players and a lot that have had the odd good day followed by a few bad ones.

When the only major signing Benitez made in the off-season being the acquisition of the unfortunate Aquilani, who though a very good player, has been hindered terribly in his time in Italy through injury and so far not helped his new club at all to bear the burden of the loss of the Spaniard Alonso.

Perhaps complacency crept in to the Liverpool camp.

After all, last season they should really have won the league at a canter, whereas they instead found themselves in the familiar position of looking up the table at Manchester United.

Four points behind the champions at the close of the season they clearly lost the title because of the sides inability to close out fixtures against mediocre opposition. Drawing 11 games to United's six.

This was clearly the problem that needed to be addressed and it was widely expected that Benitez would go some way toward solving the problem of the teams heavy reliance on Gerrard and Torres with the signing of at least one more world class striker and one more world class midfielder.

World class is not used lightly in this context either, by world class it is meant the players should be able to make a shadow squad for a world 11 or other such all star side.

Instead the cash was spent on an injury prone midfielder who has struggled to play in Italy and now has not appeared yet in the EPL, which by many peoples standards is a much more physically demanding competition than Serie A.

Perhaps Benitez should have taken more time to appeal to his bosses to unlock more funds to his command so that he was able to buy two quality players that could have functioned in the place of the two players that seem to be irreplaceable when they are absent.

Instead, he chose to get Aquilani for under twenty million when he realistically should have been looking at buying two players at a cost of up to £60 million.

While this figure seems high, in comparison with the revenue amounts the club gains from the champions league every year along with advertising and exposure for the club brand through appearances in the champions league it is nothing.

If the players that were purchased would have helped them to reach the last 16 of the CL and kept them in the hunt for the EPL trophy its a good piece of management.

Now it seems that bargain hunting has cost Liverpool millions, may cost Benitez his job and maybe even herald danger that Liverpool could slip out of the top four and maybe even creaked the hinge on the door to mid table mediocrity.

The bargain hunting nature of the football manager is always lauded as a great gift,where in actuality most managers at successful clubs have to part with large amounts of cash in order to guarantee the continuation of that success.

Liverpool have to salvage their season from here on in and the January transfer window will need to be utilised in order to shore up the team.

Astonishingly two players that perhaps could have been ideal for the positions that Liverpool needed to fill and find adequate cover for, have been languishing out of the squad at Lazio. Goran Pandev and Cristian Ledesma are both out of favor with the ownership of the Italian side because both are eager to move on to greener pastures.

Perhaps Benitez needs to forget about bargains and just splash the cash so that Liverpool do not fall too far behind the clubs they have tried so hard to dethrone in the last few seasons.

NZ Football's Dream Now Reality After Magic Night in the Windy City

illya mclellan — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:49:02 -0500

On an amazing night at Wellington's westpac trust stadium, the dream of thousands of New Zealand football fans became a reality before their eyes as the "All Whites" finally made the World Cup finals tournament for only the second time in their history.

The game was a tight, tense affair, that, as is often the case in many such sporting sudden death qualification games, was played on a knife edge as both teams moved about the pitch knowing that any wrong move could result in the end of their country's attempt to make the finals in South Africa next year.

In my seat at the northern end of the ground, I felt every moment with the intensity of emotion that comes with being part of a crowd that is hoping for glory and horrified by the prospect of defeat.

Looking about at the crowd around me I saw hundreds of strangers and a smattering of friends but in all the faces I saw there was a hope that was not only quite magical to witness, but infectious and somewhat awe-inspiring.

We walked out of the bowels of the ground into the light just as the ref blew the whistle and so missed the anthems and the pre-match hype.

The buzz surrounding the stadium and in the city was enough to have us ready to become a part of the cauldron that lay before us as we made our way down the steps toward our seats.

It was a cauldron like no other I had experienced, a gathered mass of white-clad energy. The crowd danced and moved with every kick of the ball.

The Bahrain contingent were doing their best to compete, and to their credit, they kept their drums beating for much of the match.

But compete with the noise of the assembled Aotearoans they could not, as the crowd gave a surge of energy to the players every time they touched the ball.

Leo Bertos, the local lad who plies his trade with the Wellington Phoenix, was a focal point of the crowd.

Every time he seemed to get the ball the buzz around the stadium would increase slightly at the possibility of him unleashing a piece of magic that could change the game and book NZ's finals place.

It was not Bertos that came up with the magic that started off the period play that would lead to the New Zealand goal,however, but another Wellington lad, Chris Killen, who hit the cross bar with a volley that was wondrous to behold.

But despairingly for the crowd and the team, it struck the cross bar and flew into the air and away.

This proved to be a signal to New Zealand that maybe it was going to be their night as the team fed off the energy that moment gave them.

The crowd spurred them on to surge confidently forward, picking holes in the Bahrain side as they searched and prodded for the opening that they believed would come.

Just before the end of the half, it was to be elation for New Zealanders on the pitch and everywhere as Bertos swung in a corner kick that was to prove the undoing of the Bahrain keepers sterling efforts to keep his goal intact.

Six foot four Rory Fallon rose amidst a crowd of players and slammed the header into the back of the net and the stadium erupted in a burst of white.

To those within the stadium, it shook the ground like the eruption of one of the many volcanoes that litter the New Zealand landscape might have many years ago.

It was a glorious moment as people danced in the aisles, hugged complete strangers, and sang unintelligible lyrics that just seemed to sound right.

Half time was like a dream as we strolled about the cavern of the stadium, marveling at the elation on the faces of all present. Truly a memory that will be impossible to forget, the sheer beauty of it is something that I will remember always.

Back in our seats we were soon to get a shock that would bring us back to earth with a shudder equally as earth shaking.

New Zealand defender Tony Lochead was unfortunate enough to foul his opponent in the area and the referee wasted no time in pointing straight to the spot. Tragedy, we flung up our hands in horror as all seemed lost.

It was in this moment that another hero was to come into his own beneath the windy skies of New Zealand's capital.

Mark Paston was under an injury cloud after taking a knock in an A-League match recently and on top of this was only playing in the tie as a replacement for the suspended NZ No. 1, Glen Moss.

This was all forgotten as Bahrain's Sayed Mohamed Adnan stepped up to take the penalty that could bring the game level and put the Bahrain team into the finals.

The crowd was the quietest it had been all night as he made the strike that could break New Zealand's World Cup dreams into pieces.

But then, Paston saved it.

Again, it was euphoria, more hugging strangers, dancing, and hoarse-throated chanting of unintelligible lyrics.

After that save, the game visibly shifted toward the New Zealanders as the Bahrain side realized they might have lost their chance to make the finals again.

It was not over yet though, because despite tearing the Bahrain defence to pieces again and again, they could not find the finish that would seal the victory.

Bahrain had of course stolen victory from the jaws of defeat in the last game they played against the Saudi Arabians, and Paston was called into vital action on several more occasions.

Injury time seemed to drag into an eternity before those magical peeps were heard from the officials whistle, like a Bacchian symphony signalling the dawn of an ancient mythical festival, the signal for the crowd to roar the triumph to the ends of the country.

The cheering seemed to go on forever as we stood in our seats and sang and yelled the glory that was upon us in that magic moment.

The triumphant team did the lap of honor to the delight of the fans and special applause and adoration was saved for coach Ricki Herbert who could barely contain his emotion at the significance of his achievement in bringing the team to this moment.

We trooped out of the ground and into the night, elation in our eyes, smiles on our faces, and a warmth in our hearts that not even the coldest and strongest Wellington wind could blow away.

New Zealand are going to the World Cup for the second time ever and no matter what happens at the tournament, we have already won our final.

United and Liverpool's Player Losses Are Chelsea and Arsenal's Gains

illya mclellan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:13:22 -0500

This weekend saw one proud manager face defeat at an arch rivals ground when Manchester United was beaten at Chelsea, thanks to a dubious free kick decision.

Dubious the free kick may have been, but it is not as if United have never benefited from dubious refereeing calls on their own home ground. The free kick still had to be taken, and after it was, the ball was in the net.

Another manager of another proud red clad team watched as the team he put out put on a toothless display at home, and were saved embarrassment by another rather dubious decision.

For Sir Alex Ferguson, it was not only the loss at Chelsea that spoiled his weekend, but also the bitter pill he had to swallow when he saw Arsene Wengers Arsenal overtake him in the league standings.

One thing about Sir Alex Ferguson is that he hates a defeat more than anything else, which is why his teams invariably do not lose often. But going behind his great rival Wenger is something that will pour salt onto an already open wound.

For Rafa Benitez, the proud Spaniard who has reaffirmed Liverpool's position as one of the world's premier footballing powers, despite his failure to emulate Dalglish, it has been week after week of torturous waiting games, as he finds himself without his two principle weapons, Gerrard and Torres, for game upon game.

The loss in form of both of these sides has seen them overtaken in the league and on the pitch by the two London sides that now sit above them on the table.

It is easy to see that the London sides are playing the beautiful game, while the northern clubs are just struggling at times to put things together on the pitch, let alone worry about making it look good.

Coincidentally, both United and Liverpool have sold players to Real Madrid, players that wanted to go, much to the dismay of both clubs sets of fans.

Manchester United, of course, sold the player that had been the jewel in its crown for the past few seasons, Cristiano Ronaldo, a princely sum for a prince of football.

Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso, who decided he would play his best season ever for Liverpool, after it was made fairly obvious by Benitez that he no longer wanted his countryman on his side after he courted the signature of Gareth Barry.

Alonso had been inconsistent in the season before Benitez toyed with the idea of making Barry a Liverpool man, and at the time, it seemed that he was on his way out. In the end, Benitez decided he did not like Villa's asking price and made up with Alonso, for a season anyway.

After these departures, there was all sorts of speculation all over the world as to who would fill the gaps left in these teams by these gifted players.

Manchester United was thought to be courting the signatures of several global superstars before settling on Antonio Valencia from Wigan and Michael Owen on a free.

Not exactly breaking the bank considering the amount of money they received for the Portuguese maestro.

But Sir Alex has remained steadfast in his assurances that he again has the players to challenge not only for the premiership, but also amongst the elite clubs of Europe in the champions league. He has been proved largely correct, as United are certainly in the more favourable position of the two clubs.

Rafa Benitez was also confident at the start of the season that he was also in the position to do the same. This without him having really signed a player who could adequately fill the void left by Alonso.

But as the season has progressed, both sides have looked below par when compared with the exploits of the season past.

While Liverpool have stuttered and lurched from game to game like a punch drunk fighter waiting for the bell, United at times have not looked any better as they have stumbled at home in the league and Europe.

However, United are still third, having put together enough good performances to stick to the heels of the London clubs, whereas Liverpool are well off the pace, despite beating their Manchester based rivals.

The major difference here was that United lost an attacker with the ability to turn games on their head with a moment of brilliance. A massive loss to any side, but in the case of United they did not really lose much in terms of the basis on which their attacks were built.

So while at times they have looked to be struggling in terms of important and game-breaking goals, most noticeably at the weekend as they barely threatened Chelsea at all, they have on the most part looked like the United of years past in terms of possession and chance creation.

Liverpool, however, lost the anchor at the heart of their midfield. This meant they lost structure and a keystone in the formation of their attack, defense and general play.

This has been almost unnoticeable when Gerrard and Torres have been present because of the confidence that the players surrounding these two gain while they are there, it has become woefully apparent when they are missing, that something quite different is going on at Anfield this season.

So it has now transpired that Chelsea sit proudly atop the table followed by an Arsenal side that was roundly written off in all quarters when the season kicked off.

Both of the London sides have looked more consistent and steady when compared with their northern rivals and though Arsenal actually lost to United, on the day in that game they were in fact the better side until they lost Arshavin to injury.

While Chelsea and Arsenal have also lost games, their overall form has proven to be far superior to the bumbling antics seen at times by United and Liverpool fans.

The loss of these key players has had a huge affect on these sides and will no doubt continue to be seen in the coming weeks.

As is often the case, one team's loss is more than one other team's gain. And it has been seen to benefit the two London sides that the northern sides have looked so out of sorts without their southern European stars.

Sir Alex will no doubt be feeling considerably more comfortable than Benitez as his team is returning to full strength and in a good position considering the stage of the season we are at.

His team is challenging on all major fronts still, which is more than can be said of Benitez's Liverpool, who are on the verge of crashing out of Europe and have already lost too many points in the league to be considered realistically as title contenders.

Benitez does of course have time to recover and will be thanking the creator that his players have time to recuperate before the league resumes after the international break.

Chelsea and Arsenal will have only themselves to blame if they let United off the hook, considering the advantage they have both garnered over the Manchester powerhouse.

One thing about Manchester United, is that you can never write them off.

Chelsea's Early Losses Could Propel Them To the EPL Trophy

illya mclellan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 20:56:28 -0500

This season there have been a few shocks in the league. Two of these shocks have come in matches that involved the league leader Chelsea.

Away at Wigan they lost their keeper and the game as Wigan played intelligent football and kept the ball away from their undermanned opponents. Chelsea are by no means the first side to discover that football is incredibly difficult to play when your team is a man down.

The next league loss they suffered was away to Villa, who took advantage of sloppy defending from set pieces to nab the points after a solid defensive effort combined with a good dose of luck.

Looking at the table now, though, it is Chelsea who stands well clear of the pack with a five point lead that makes them the masters of their own fate from here on in.

The ability to grind out a result against quality opposition was again shown this weekend as they fought their way to a precious victory against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

It is no coincidence that they have tightened up at set pieces and generally shown more urgency at certain times during games following the two losses they suffered earlier in the season.

Therefore, to this writer it seems that while no team wants to lose, Ancelotti's Chelsea have benefited enormously from having the wind knocked out of them on their travels.

Suddenly, they realized that this season was not going to be the walk in the park it seemed to be early on. Suddenly, they realized that there are teams up and down the table who can and will pull surprises out of the hat that will cripple the chances of the high flyers.

The value of the early losses will be seen more as the season progresses and Chelsea look to increase the lead they have already garnered for themselves. A stumble is something that checks enthusiasm with caution and tempers arrogance with awareness.

Much has been said about the impact of the African Cup of Nations, and the players that will be lost for the duration of this tournament.

However, if Chelsea continues to gain points week to week, by the time the tournament is upon them they may not need to worry about missing players as they will be well and truly comfortable at the head of the table; if recent form and this weekend's results is anything to go by.

The way they are playing has been at times magical, and ironically they have at times looked more like Manchester United than Manchester United.

A loss is never welcomed by anyone, except maybe the bookies, but two early losses for Chelsea could well be the spur that the Londoners need to win the league for the first time since Mourinho was in charge.

With the position they find themselves in now, the memory of these losses will keep them well aware that any nonchalance will be punished by almost any team in the competition.

In two weeks time they will face London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates.

The two sides have been the most consistent in recent weeks, which is reflected in the standings, with Arsenal second thanks to a plus-22 goal difference.

Chelsea have plus-21 goals, so neither have had any trouble scoring thus far.

It could quite possibly be a war of attrition that materializes at the Emirates as both sides will be well aware of the danger presented by their opponents.

Chelsea's difficulties at Wigan and Villa could well come to haunt Arsenal though, as the Blues will be in no mood to taste the bile of defeat again. The experience and age that Chelsea have could well be the difference in what will be an intriguing match.

The EPL trophy could well end up in London this season, and the match on Nov. 29 could go a long way towards deciding where in London it will be.

Man City's Millionaires Exposed by Bothersome Burnley

illya mclellan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:37:59 -0500

The club with the biggest budget in world football should not find themselves trailing two nil on their home ground to a side that had not gained any points on the road this season so far.

This was however, exactly the position the Mark Hughes managed Manchester City found themselves in as the second half drew to a close. Luckily for the millionaires of Eastlands one of their number finally put them on the scoreboard with a deflected effort that ended up squeezing in just inside the post.

Somewhat amusingly it was former City academy product and Chelsea cut price sale item, Shaun Wright-Phillips and not one of his expensively acquired team-mates, who did the damage. Wright-Phillips a stand out for the home side as he later set up Bellamy to put them one up in the second half.

With a final score showing three goals apiece, this was not a game for anyone wishing to study defensive tactics in the English top flight.

Mark Hughes could not be blamed for the malaise that seemed to hang over his side as they cantered about the pitch waiting for something to happen.

When Joleon Lescott decided to put his arms out to block a cross it was as if he was joking when he asked "What for?" after referee Atwell pointed to the spot. Arrogance is a lethal weapon in football on occasion, though in this case it proved the Achilles heel of the former Everton stalwart.

Veteran Graham Alexander stroked home with ease that defied the skill of City anchorman Given who had only last week saved a penalty at Birmingham.

This was footballing 101, "When defending in the area, an outfield player should keep his arms away from the ball or risk conceding a penalty."

Lescott's signing is beginning to look like an expensive error as his play is far from world class and certainly not of the high standard that Hughes demands of his defensive units.

This is a manager who built a Blackburn side that was renowned for its ability to grind out results through stoic defending and solid organisation.

This organisation was shown to be lacking from his new side though as after Gareth Barry gave away the ball with a horrible piece of control, it was given to Chris Eagles who calmly centred for Stephen Fletcher to stroke the ball home, as he was kept onside by none other than Joleon Lescott who will be wanting to forget this game as soon as possible it would seem.

Lescott later managed to make up for his mistakes in setting up fellow central defender Kolo Toure with the equalizer when he got on the end of a Gareth Barry free kick. Unfortunately for him, in the dying minutes he failed to track the run of Burnley's McDonald who calmly slotted the equalizer that consigned City to yet another draw that should have been a victory.

It would be too much to place all the blame on the shoulders of Lescott, as it was the entire Manchester City side that took the foot off the gas after Bellamy put them ahead.

The little Welsh dynamo got on the end of a lovely piece of play that finished with Wright-Phillips squaring a beautiful ball to the Welshman who slotted with power and precision to finally put the money men ahead.

Prior to and in the aftermath of the Welshman's goal it looked as though City would finally put a side to the sword in the manner they had threatened to several times already this season.

They certainly looked impressive for awhile in this match, but being impressive for awhile is not the way that trophies are won and this team certainly needs to start bearing this in mind as they take the field.

The lack of a killer instinct was shown to be painfully obvious as they eased off as the final whistle grew closer and seemed quite content to hold the slender lead they had fashioned earlier.

This proved the undoing of the Manchester side as once again defensive frailty in the final third cost them points that could so easily have been in the bag had one of their number taken the initiative and stepped up the play to kill Burnley off.

Battling Burnley have to be admired for the way they did not give up even though for much of the second half they seemed to be chasing lazy shadows.

The nonchalance of his players will be something Hughes needs to address before they visit Anfield next weekend, for if Liverpool sense any hint of a lackadaisical approach they will surely bury the sky blues and enjoy doing so.

Burnley's Owen Coyle will take the point happily and has much more to smile about in the aftermath of this result than will his counter-part Hughes.

Andrei Arshavin: The Cure For an Ailing Premiership?

illya mclellan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:01:43 -0400

Amidst all the wailing and gnashing of teeth that has been taking place as the "big four" and their fans suffer the ignominy of having to work for results this year, it has been a revelation of sorts to see one footballer in particular who is really enjoying himself.

The little Russian maestro, Andrei Sergeyevich Arshavin, has brought a smile back to the face of the Premiership with a cheeky freestyle method that is not only enjoyable for fans of the gunners but for football lovers in general.

His general demeanor off the pitch is refreshing as well, as he has a humorous remark ready to deliver in most interviews and seems to be endowed with the humility that often comes with being at the top of your game.

These qualities alone make him a precious commodity in world football, but when you couple this with stunning technique and a natural goalscoring ability, you have a player who is very different to the stars that we have grown accustomed to seeing over the years.

Bursting on to the scene last season when he was signed in the January transfer window, it was interesting to see that many were unsure about whether he was all he had been hyped up to be after his fantastic performances at the Euro.

It was not long before he let his actions show that he was in fact an excellent signing, when he picked up the April 2009 player of the month award with some electrifying displays and proved he was definitely capable of living up to the expectations of Arsenal fans, who as Eboue will attest, are not always the most accommodating supporters.

He is however, not only good for Arsenal, he is good for the Premiership as he is in some ways a very old fashioned player and something very different than the pompous and preening twits who we have grown used to seeing from week to week.

This is something to do with the way he tends to go about his business and the obvious joy that he experiences doing so. It is also to do with the class that he has and the promise that this class has shown, that there is still more to come from him as a player.

His single-handed dominance of Manchester United before he was taken out of the tie, in a horrible foul that was an obvious penalty a few weeks ago, was quite wonderful to watch and it was very disappointing to see him trudge off injured soon afterward.

Funny as it may seem, this writer has always preferred United to Arsenal, though when you love football, it is the football you love in the end more than the teams that are represented.

Andrei Arshavin could well be one of Wenger's best ever signings, this season will go along way in showing whether the old fox has done it again.

Arsenal are very much in contention for this seasons honors and the little Russian Arshavin will be a huge part of it.

Manchester City's Impressive Start Makes Them Serious Contenders

illya mclellan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:46:24 -0400

The world is well aware by now that Manchester City have become one of the new powerhouses of world football. While this power has been largely said to be financial and not a threat to the current crop of top teams for another season or so, it has in fact become apparent from their early seasons results, that they have transferred this power from potential to reality.

Like a gathering storm they are threatening to destroy the status quo and rip asunder the foundations for the power base of the premiership big boys.

With ridiculous amounts of cash that defied the recessionary times the last transfer window was conducted in, they have overnight becoming a European footballing giant.

This was demonstrated in them being invited to take on the European Champions, Barcelona, at the Nou Camp in a pre-season trophy match which was won by the visitors.

They have on most occasions so far this season looked very impressive in their work and the only loss they have endured in the league is to hated rivals Manchester United. Who by any-ones standards are opponents that are exceedingly difficult to get a result out of.

Other than this, they have recorded five victories and two draws.

Notably, they have beaten Arsenal and also taken a point at Villa park, which proved to much for Chelsea at the weekend gone.

Interestingly enough in their game they were reduced to 10 men away to Wigan, which was where Chelsea had the same happen and unlike the Londoner's they still stuck out for a point.

Are these quirky little facts mere blips in the face of footballing time? Or do they signal something more worrying for fans of the entrenched top four and other challengers to the premierships status quo?

The thing that many pundits and fans alike have been pointing out is that while Manchester City may look good going forward, they are woeful at times at the back.

But then again for a side that is apparently in trouble defensively they have still only lost one game. The longer that they are able to continue to win while conceding the odd goal, the stronger the defensive group will become.

Whilst defensive frailty seems to be a worry for manager Mark Hughes and his coaching staff, there is also no question that they are well aware of it and are doing their utmost to remedy the seemingly brittle nature of their back four.

In Shay Given, they have a sturdy and experienced keeper who has made more of a difference this season than the amount of goals conceded would suggest. It seems they just have to work through the four players in front of him and the variations that they will need to use as the season progresses.

The worrying thing for their opponents to come is that once play is able to be linked more securely from the back to the front and back again it will most likely become evident that this side is ready to make the step up to being genuine contenders a lot faster than many have said.

A telling thing in this respect could well be the teams absence from European competition, meaning they can focus on the league more thoroughly. Their main rivals will have a little bit more to sink their teeth into, which may lead to toothache in certain fixtures that Manchester City will not experience.

They have as a team threatened to bury sides on occasion already this season and it has been apparent that they are still growing accustomed to each others method of play and variance of play.

The likes of Adebayor, Tevez, Robinho, Bellamy, Ireland, and Petrov to name a few, are players who given enough time, will soon learn where and when each other most likes the pass and it should not be long before we see this team flatten an opponent.

Statistically speaking, they are in a strong position and seem to be gaining a cohesion that will put them not only in the mix as contenders for CL spots, but with the stuttering form of the top sides already this term, it seems that they could even be serious contenders for the title itself.

This type of conjecture was laughed at pre-season as many were saying that there was no way that this team could get things together so soon and mount a challenge.

This has actually turned out to be denial, as they have shaken the tree already with a solid victory over Arsenal and a last gasp loss at Old Trafford.

There are, of course, many tests yet to come but if they continue to brush aside the less challenging opponents as they have done already, they will be in a very strong position on the table and in a very good state of morale when they come to more serious games.

This will be demonstrated in the coming weeks as they take on Fulham at home, Birmingham away and then Burnley at home, before a trip to Anfield to take on a Liverpool side that has looked less than convincing so far this season.

If they are able to take maximum points in the next three fixtures, they will certainly be in a position to mount a serious challenge to Liverpool and make a definite signal of their intent.

The future is no doubt bright for followers of this side and the members of the organization itself but they will be under no illusions as to how difficult a task sits before them.

They have made a strong start and sent a definite signal that they are here to play this season. They have also picked up eight of their seventeen points away from home and form away from home is something that has been lacking in the past couple of seasons for this side.

The signs are there now and things are looking ominous for those who were rubbishing the chances of the blue side of Manchester.

There could be many who are eating their words as the season progresses, I am of the mind that I will not be one of them.

Maradona and Messi: Legend and Heir Apparent, Will They be at 2010 World Cup?

illya mclellan — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:50:36 -0400

Diego Maradona has recently threatened to quit unless his "demands" are met in regards to coaching, etc.

This is becoming more of a sideshow by the day as the hero of his country's world cup history finds himself foundering like a fish out of water in his quest to take Argentina onto the biggest international stage.

Something that is no doubt worrying FIFA is the prospect of a tournament without Messi present.

No doubt it is worrying Messi as well.

Could we see this happen? At this stage it is looking quite likely, surprisingly enough, as the Argentinian side has looked less than convincing and really has to step up to the plate in their next two games if they wish to be at the tourney.

Away from Argentina's horrible WC qualifying campaign, Lio Messi seems to be going from strength to strength and is rightfully regarded as one of the world's premier players, if not the premier player.

In this respect it is remarkable that perhaps the best player in Argentina's distinguished football history, Maradona, is possibly going to sabotage the chances of the new great hope, Messi, for Argentina's first World Cup since Maradona inspired his side to the trophy in 1986.

Maradona could never fall from grace in the eyes of the Argentinian nation however, as he is revered to a staggering level and his worldwide appeal has not diminished even with his much publicised battles with drugs and incidents with paparazzi, etc.

The man was so good, that discrepancies are merely that, discrepancies, that pale in comparison to the gifts that Maradona gave to the world. He is without a doubt a legend of the game.

For Argentina his coaching record has been less than encouraging up to this point and it would be viewed as a national tragedy if they do not make South Africa and there will no doubt be much anger and frustration.

Not only in Argentina, but also the world over as Messi as a player and Argentina as a proud and prestigious footballing nation, engage the world football public like few things in football ever do.

Messi seems to be blessed with a certain humility and of course excellent ability, it is these two traits that make him stand out from the crop of egotistical big heads that grace the modern game.

Somewhat surprisingly, these traits are familiar in certain great names over the years, though somewhat amusingly, humility and Maradona are not two words you would see together often.

Apart from this glaring difference the two men played a similar game and though small in stature they were and are able to strike terror into the hearts of the biggest and strongest on the pitch.

This is of course one of the great appeals of football, the triumph of skill and finesse over brute strength. It is something that encourages the imagination to run wild, with images of nimble-footed maestros racing past physically intimidating opponents, like an accomplished matador outmaneuvering his four-footed adversary.

Messi is a player who plays for the love of it, as is seen in the immense enjoyment he gets out of the game, his smiling face is a common sight when watching his Barcelona side push aside all opponents in European and Spanish competition.

His skill and talent gives him a monstrous persona on the pitch which is amazing considering his size.

But with Argentina in a mess, it will be the duty of the man Messi, to clean up in the coming matches and to restore the reputation of one of his idols, Maradona, whilst easing the fears of a proud footballing nation.

The tragedy of a World Cup without Argentina could soon be upon us, it would not be the same without them and the world will watch with baited breath.

The Big Four Are As Strong Ever Despite Media Reports Otherwise

illya mclellan — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:31:58 -0400

Recently in the press it has been reported throughout the world and the web that the recent few seasons powerhouses of the EPL had experienced a waning and were now becoming shadows of themselves.

Strangely enough, contrary to the media's much touted idea that the "big four" have weakened the table has taken up a recurring look for this time of the year despite the addition of a couple of new names and of course the new name phenomenon occurs every year and is not really anything new to people who are familiar with the competition.

Of course, there is the emergence of Manchester City, who gave Arsenal a slight pasting a few weeks ago and narrowly lost at Old Trafford.

Other than this there have been the usual hiccups and the "big four" as they are known in some quarters, keep doing the business, from week to week.

Tottenham were trumpeted for a couple of weeks as challengers for the title before being schooled by Chelsea and United. They are admittedly still in a strong position and will only have themselves to blame if they aren't right there for the season.

But all in all the leagues powerhouses are still smashing teams on the odd week before battling to draws or wins on the other week. This is a fairly typical beginning to a season, if anyone disagrees, take a look back into the league stats over the years since its inception.

Chelsea still look very strong and after the loss to Wigan it is able to be seen that they are only human when one of their own is sent from the field. Really this loss just demonstrated the old rule that any team that loses a player will struggle if the opposition plays measured and controlled football.

Chelsea are still in the strongest position with a team that has just beaten a fellow contender and played some nice football doing so. Not looking too stagnant at present, actually quite the opposite, effervescent even as they bounce back from a league loss to Wigan and beat Liverpool.

Shades of last year almost, though of course Ancellotti is a different manager and looks to know what he is doing so far, with the added benefit of taking the coaching plaudits of the recovery demonstrated with the victory over Liverpool.

They look as strong as the have since their last title win.

Liverpool are stuttering as Benitez looks for answers. Mind you they have also played some lovely football this season so far and over the years since perhaps just after the new century have become like their former Europe dominating selves again, after a decade or so of lying dormant.

No longer should early defeats rattle them too much after the form of recent seasons.

With the return of Aquilani still to come they are in some ways an unknown quantity as the Italian is an accomplished player and could be just the man the team needs. Benitez as we all know, is not stupid and would have a fair idea of his incoming transfers abilities.

Similar in his long range passing skills to Alonso and also known for knocking the odd ball into the net, he could well take up the continental duties where the Spaniard left off. Which puts Liverpool in a strong position when he returns.

Still looking like a challenger and playing good football, easily capable of being right in it until the last game.

Manchester United seem strong though jittery as always at the beginning of a campaign. With injured players still to return they are also slightly depleted and the return of Hargreaves is something many think will have a positive impact on the side.

Mind you despite some terrible periods of play they have also at times been at their imperious best, reducing good sides to spectators as was seen at the JJB Stadium.

Of course, Chelsea went on to lose there which gave the United fans cause to chuckle, though after watching the Wigan v United game it was plain that it was more of a tussle than the 5-0 scoreline suggested.

Still extremely strong though not quite settled they are always there or thereabouts at the end and everyone would be surprised if they are not. Strong challengers as always.

Arsenal have had two losses but are again playing good football and schooling teams on occasion. Wenger is always about and it is well known he has a fair idea how to manage a side.

Playing some magic football at times they are also very much in it and showed at Fulham that this season perhaps they are more capable of battling to a victory in certain places this season.

Of course, there is the loss at City but these things happen before combinations are settled and happen to every team. After all, once again, there are no undefeated teams in the league now, a statistic that is close to mind for Arsenal fans after the efforts of a certain Wenger side a few seasons ago.

Will be in the mix somewhere as they have been recently, do have a new adversary to contend with in Manchester City, but as it is they play them once more, at home and the rest of the job is elsewhere. Consistency is the key for Arsenal and so far they have been hot and cold, but as the season progresses we will definitely see more quality from Wenger's side.

They are the "big four" and have been for some time, there is of course a new powerhouse in the Abu Dhabi financed Manchester City who have turned a few heads already with some good attacking play and reasonably shoddy defending.

They seem to be dangerous though which of course was demonstrated against Arsenal and Manchester United.

But despite this, it is in the most part business as usual for England's top sides and with all the worry over the new power-shift to the continent it was interesting to see Real Madrid lose to Sevilla at the weekend.

Sevilla of course are a typically strong side in La Liga and are right up there with Barca and Real. But the veil of invincibility is definitely gone after that result.

To read several articles throughout the media saying that the power has shifted and the English sides have stagnated was strange considering this season still looks like many before it.

There is a long way to go and a short time to get there, in a few weeks we will begin to really see if these predictions about stagnation etc are right. Of course either way there will be myriad articles written on the outcomes but don't be surprised if things are remarkably similar in all forms of football.

"Bad Boy" Bellamy Silencing the Critics

illya mclellan — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:59:32 -0400

After a big money move to Manchester City last season, many were heard to say that Welshman Craig Bellamy would be on the out soon after the beginning of this season. He was widely regarded to be a proven disruptive influence and more of a stop gap signing than a player to build a trophy winning side with.

His goals last season were important to Hughes however, as they helped immensely in putting a gloss on a relatively disappointing season after the promise in the air when the club became the richest in the world and snatched Robinho from Chelsea.

It is no surprise to see that Hughes has kept faith with his hot-headed countryman and kept him very much on board. The older Welshman has long been an admirer of Bellamy and has previously signed him for Blackburn Rovers after initially coaching him with the Welsh national side.

Bellamy has repaid his boss' faith with goals and inspirational performances, including two equalizers at Old Trafford and another earlier today against Villa.

Actions speak louder than words and the man who Bobby Robson famously said "could start a fight in an empty room," is acting fast this season to make himself a first team regular, by knocking in goals that are making his manager sing his praises.

As well as silencing those who thought his tenure at City would be short, after the Manchester side made the acquisition of so many strikers during the recent transfer window.

From the beginning of his career when he started out with Norwich City he has shown promise, though it did not really begin to fully materialize until he went to Newcastle United.

Funnily enough he is now probably the only person more hated than Mike Ashley when it comes to Newcastle United (incidents involving a thrown chair and a member of staff and Alan Shearer saying he would "knock his block off" have not endeared him to the toon army), although when he started out he was absolutely adored for his goal scoring exploits, including the winner over Feyenoord which took Newcastle through to the knockout phase of the Champions League.

His partnership with the older and wiser Alan Shearer was famous for a time and yielded goals for both players.

It was also during his time at Newcastle that he won the PFA young player of the year award in the 2001-02 season.

After things went horribly wrong at Newcastle due to disciplinary problems and personal disagreements, Bellamy has moved on to several different clubs including Celtic, Blackburn (under Mark Hughes), Liverpool, and West Ham.

Problems have followed him wherever he has gone including the famous incident with a golf club and his Liverpool team mate John Arne Riise which led to him being nicknamed "The nutter with the putter."

As is often the case with hot-headed personalities, his gifts have continued to wow fans and opponents alike, as his lightning pace and excellent control and shooting have enabled him to continue his love hate relationship with the big clubs of the world game and of course their fans as well.

His recent efforts at Old Trafford have again confirmed that he is a prodigious talent and someone that Hughes has kept an eye on for some time after their first working relationship with the Welsh National side and then later when Hughes signed him for Blackburn Rovers.

Luckily for him he has a manager who admires his playing style and is willing to make press releases defending him from the media time and again.

With only a Scottish Cup medal he won while on loan with Celtic and the 2006 Community Shield he won with Liverpool, it is definitely time for Bellamy to shine. With the players around him and a few more years under his belt he could well do that.

Watching his performances this season it seems the little Welshman might well have realized this chance could be the best he has ever had to really get some decent medals hanging above the fireplace.

It is so far so good with four goals from six games in the league which is a good return by anyone's standards.

It will be interesting to see if he can keep his demons at bay in the twilight of his top level career.

Football Folklore: The Duty Of The Football Writer

illya mclellan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:43:14 -0400

Throughout history, there have been the heroes and the scribes who seek to portray the exploits of said heroes to the people.

At best, these portrayals have been sweeping epics that engage the mind of the reader and cause the imagination to run wild with ideas of emulation and adoration.

From Beowulf to Pele, thousands of years have passed from hero to hero, and though the endeavor of these characters has changed considerably from what they were once engaged in, both the writer and the reader are still able to identify with the "hero factor."

The duty of the football writer is to take the efforts of the heroic footballer and transcribe them to the page in whatever form it takes and try to recapture the magic that was for a moment seen emanating from the individual or team that is supported by a particular group of people.

At times, this is easy because the individual being written about is universally admired by the majority of the footballing public. At other times, it someone who is a villain to some and a super hero to others.

In either case, the situation remains remarkably similar, in that the hero fills a place in the psyche of the writer and reader that is reserved for those who take the ordinary,which is—in the case of football—a football boot and a ball and transform it into the extraordinary.

This, of course, is made possible through the mythology of the game and the preceding years that have seen heroes rise and fall and dynasties do the same.

The mythology of any sport is vital to the evolution of its coverage, and in this media-saturated age, we find ourselves bombarded with more coverage than ever before. In some cases rendering the mythology useless as people become bored and indifferent to the stories that litter the journalistic landscape.

But in any case, it is with memories and information that any writer starts to write. And based on the freshest information garnered on the bedrock of prior knowledge, they are able to attempt to engage their reader in the point they are making and, in doing so, attempt to do their duty.

And that duty is to tell heroic tales and amazing exploits that can range from the crazy career of someone like Robin Friday to the controlled and disciplined efforts of Ryan Giggs.

In any case, the story will always be written because there are those who love to write, and those who give these writers material to write about.

The folklore of the game is as vital to the game as the football because it creates the mythology and enables the fan to bridge the gap between games with stories and reports of both greatness and villainy, along with victory and defeat.

Gone are the days of people hunching over in the alley next to the newsagent, reading the latest match report, but still the stories are written. With the click of a button, the stories are on their way; some into the realm of folklore and others to the increasing archive of ignominy.

Ryan Giggs: The True United Timewarp

illya mclellan — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:16:28 -0400

Ryan Giggs passed a milestone recently when he struck his free kick at White Hart Lane to rule out Defoe's opener.

Soon after he put the ball in the top corner, the commentator mentioned he had scored in 20 consecutive seasons playing for Manchester United. Two seasons were in the old first division and then a staggering 18 consecutive EPL seasons.

Truly his form is the timewarp that people have been speaking of, for he is still producing utterly mesmerising performances that belie his advanced years.

The most remarkable thing of all is that he is still playing wonderful ball and showing critics who wrote him off in seasons past that he is still of sufficient class and skill in his twilight years as he was when he took the league by storm all those years ago during United's league campaign in '91-'92.

In fact, that season and the next saw him win PFA young player of the year twice in a row, though the agony of losing out to Leeds United in the title race would have taken the sheen off the first one.

Over the years his game has changed considerably from what it once was. His early years at Old Trafford saw him occasionally being put up front by Ferguson to win games that seemed destined for draws.

This occured perhaps most notably in the drought breaking season of '92-'93 when he got two in 10 minutes to deny Southampton a famous Old Trafford victory that would have seriously dented United's title hopes.

He was truly electrifying at times and it was during these years he was frequently compared to George Best, though the modesty of the man would invariably cause him to nip such comparisons in the bud.

Obviously this comparison was because of his lightning pace and phenomenal dribbling skills, which at the time they were witnessed in full flourish, make Cristiano Ronaldo's step overs look ridiculous.

A true exponent of foot coordinated skill, he still pulls out a move every now and again that takes many United fans back to the early years of his tenure. A notable instance was during last season's West Ham away game when he danced inside the defense to slot a goal that was vital to the Manchester sides premiership victory.

Another exceptional thing is how he has performed in United's two most recent victories, over Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. He has stepped up once again to shoulder the weight of being United's fulcrum again, inspiring his teammates with consummate ease, as he literally tears apart opposition sides with cultured and precise passing that puts many of the world's more highly rated central midfielders to shame.

Ferguson could never take the contribution of the Welsh wizard for granted and as has been seen by his continued faith in him he never has.

At 36 years old, his age is a talking point because when he is on the ball the years seem to melt off, making the obsession with youth of today's game seem laughable.

It can be seen for all who wish to witness that he still makes the difficult seem easy, with true inimitable talent and is one who surely deserves to join the likes of Law, Best, Cantona, Robson and Charlton as a true United Legend.

With the season still only in its early stages it will be magnificent to see how Giggs carries on, for he has already shown that he is more than capable of still teaching a team of upstarts a lesson in how to play football.

Mark "Sparky" Hughes would have been no doubt seriously worried about the impact his former club and international team-mate would have on the match.

No longer the boy wonder, he is now a grizzled veteran, a wily campaigner who senses weakness and exploits it with precision that has been garnered through years of sensational success and at times heart-breaking failure.

Unlike many who have gone before him in the EPL, he is still playing wonderful football despite his advancing years, a testament to his drive and determination to always be the best.

If you fancy a chance to slip back in time any time soon, I suggest catching a United game and seeing Giggs holding court, dodging tackles, slipping passes, whipping crosses and slotting goals, it seems to be the same as it ever was and for someone who grew up with him as a far off hero, it is magic to see.

So here's too Giggsy, a bonafide United legend and also the real reason United won against City, because he simply played to the final whistle, as every player always should.

Unqualified Rant About Football

illya mclellan — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:53:13 -0400

Football, that strange pastime which so many of us are obsessed with, most notably highly payed managers and players, it is surely odd that some can say that the game means nothing when they do not even understand the nature of the fan and the entity of a football club or team.

Alternatively it could be said that there do exist a large number of things that are more important than football, like stopping war and negotiating the survival of the species.

The thing is no one who knows the game and what it can do for the individual in different moments of emotion will agree that its importance is negated due to its lack of a fatalities list.

After all, centuries of identity are carried with national sides and there is a swagger associated with the older powers of football. Victory guarantees adulation and defeat is considered vile in the extreme.

The game itself is excellent for morale and uniting groups of population and enabling all sorts of commercial rewards. It creates a pinnacle for devotees that is rarely reached but continually striven for.

In its own way, it is as the religions are, a tool of population control.

But all the same after this I admit I am a devotee of the game just because it is fun to play. The associated elements are sometimes welcome and at times unwelcome but in a quite wonderful way the game of football is a peace that is an amazing thing to experience.

NZ Football's World Cup Dream Closest For 28 Years

illya mclellan — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:00:44 -0400

The anticipation is rising amongst the football public of New Zealand like it hasn't been seen since the heyday of the side (pictured) that qualified for the World Cup in Spain 1982.

All that stands between New Zealand and the glory of World Cup qualification is a two-legged tie against either Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.

Easily the closest we have been to the World Cup in many years. The '82 campaign is legendary amongst the New Zealand football public and is the only time that NZ's football side have made it to the tournament.

In the qualifying for the '82 tournament they went through a torrid battle that was chequered with great victories and nerve-wracking draws. A quest that captured the minds of NZ's sporting press and transformed the "sissy's game" into something quite different.

Extended national coverage for the game that existed in the shadow of rugby union for so long.

At the time New Zealand travelled further (55,000 miles), played more games (15), scored more goals (44), and took the longest time of all nations before them to qualify for the finals. Add to that the record (since eclipsed) score of 13-0 against Fiji, the longest time without conceding a goal (921 minutes) and New Zealand soccer was making all the right headlines.

This time however, 28 years of being left in the footballing wilderness could finally come to an end for the team from the bottom of the earth. They finally have a chance to make the leap into the cauldron of international tournament football, thanks to the exit of the more well developed Australian side to the Asian qualifying group.

That and FIFA's decision to change the old qualification rules to comprise of just one game after the Oceania group stage against an Asian qualifier rather than the old format which involved two games, the second against the fifth placed South American qualifier which was always a difficult task.

Now with the changes that have taken place New Zealand have found themselves once again at threshold of the pinnacle of world football, the FIFA World Cup.

The Confederations Cup experience was not all bad, with the low point when the team was given a footballing lesson by the Spanish, but also the high point of the pre-tournament ambush of a lackluster Italy, when the minnows held the World Champions to within one goal in a thrilling seven-goal match. Also the draw in the group play with Iraq with could so easily have been a victory with a little more luck.

The side is very different from the one that included names as Rufer, Sumner, and Herbert, Rufer of course becoming New Zealand's most famous player and winning the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the Swiss Cup, the German Cup twice, as well as the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen.

Late in his playing career after stints in Japan and NZ he returned to Germany to help Kaiserslautern to promotion from Bundesliga 2.

New Zealand has a proud history that is littered with teams that were to smash against the wall that was Australia, until recently their football association opted for the increased competition of the Asian qualifying group.

This time it could well be New Zealand's turn as they have the best side they have had since the glory days of 82.

The most high profile of course being Blackburn Rovers defender Ryan Nelsen. The big lad from Christchurch was, sadly for NZ fans and the team and coaching staff, absent from the side that played in the recent Confederations Cup. Not currently playing while he recuperates from injury, he will be a key figure in the New Zealand side's quest for success in either Saudi Arabia or Bahrain.

Of course there is also Chris Killen, who is currently scoring the odd goal for Celtic and Shane Smeltz who is lighting up the A-League with his goal-scoring exploits. Not to mention Leo Bertos who is playing some good football for the Wellington Phoenix.

The first game is away to either opponent and will be vital in terms of the tie for the New Zealand side. Two-legged ties are a lot more basic than is sometimes let on, all it takes is two good games and you normally walk out as the winner.

However in any knock out game there is luck and for the sake of NZ football and its passionate fans hopefully fortune will favor the brave Antipodeans, as they take on the world in the quest for World Cup glory, even if it is just making the tournament.

With acknowledgement to sources including NZ Football and Wikipedia for statistical and factual data.

EPL Horror Stories: Will Dos Santos Be As Unlucky As Cudicini?

illya mclellan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:50:14 -0400

In the last few years it has become almost ridiculous the amount of players who could probably have extremely rewarding careers for all sorts of teams around the world while they have instead rotted on the bench and in the reserves for clubs in the English Premier League.

One example that always shone out for me was at Chelsea with Cudicini and Cech.

While Cudicini had been comfortable at Chelsea and had even won the golden gloves award while playing for them, it seemed that Claudio Ranieri was not quite convinced he had the right man for the job when he decided to sign Petr Cech.

Both of them were excellent goalkeepers and though at first it seemed there would be a bit of a conundrum concerning keepers for Jose Mourinho, Cech became the first choice leaving Cudicini to wait in the wings. Perhaps he had a good contract and was content to wait for his opportunity while he sat there as Cech got the plaudits from the press and the adoration from the fans.

He was even criticised in some quarters as lacking in ambition because of his willingness to play second fiddle to the Czech maestro, Cech.

Either way he ended up waiting far too long and is now not quite the keeper he seemed capable of becoming a few years ago.

His performances for Tottenham have looked shaky and though he has every opportunity to rise to the heights he once found himself at with Chelsea, it seems that Redknapp is not quite sold on him, as he was trying to bring David James to White Hart Lane before the transfer window closed.

While this incident underlines the point I was making about talent going to waste on the benches of the league, it is actually quite common around the world when it comes to championship-winning sides and their squads.

There are always players who could play starring roles elsewhere sitting on the bench for the bigger clubs.

However, in the last few seasons we have seen the problem spreading as more and more of the clubs in England's top tier begin to have quite top heavy squads.

An alarming example was made just a few days ago when young Giovani Dos Santos had a screaming game for Mexico in the FIFA World Cup CONCACAF qualifying group against Costa Rica, where the player who cannot seem to get a look in at Spurs scored a fine goal and laid on two others.

Now Spurs may be a fine old club and could even be considered by some to be a big club, they are not however anywhere near as successful as their London neighbors Arsenal and Chelsea have been in the last few years.

In terms of prestige they are somewhat lacking when ranked alongside the likes of Real Madrid, Liverpool, or AC Milan who have been clubs that have had ridiculously skilled benches at times over the years.

Dos Santos was brought into the Spurs setup by the unfortunate Juande Ramos, who had a torrid time at the Lane which saw Spurs have their worst start to the season in almost 100 years.

However he was kept on the books by Redknapp and shrewd campaigner that he is, he may hopefully, for the youngster's sake, sit up and take notice after the performance Dos Santos gave for his national side.

The sad thing is that he has been wasting away on the bench at not only Spurs but also Ipswich which is bordering on absurd considering the performances he has been turning out for the Mexican national team of late.

Not only impressing in this match but before the new English season kicked off he was partly responsible for the embarrassment of the U.S. team when they travelled to Mexico loudly proclaiming they would finally end their record of never having defeated the Mexicans on their home turf.

Hopefully for the sake of one of the world's bright young footballing talents Redknapp is willing to give him a shot, or we may again see talent go to waste again like in the case of the unfortunate Carlo Cudicini.

What other players do you think have been robbed of a chance over the years after showing glimpses of their capabilities?

Martin O'Neill Deserves Credit for Villainous Victory at Anfield

illya mclellan — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:56:47 -0400

Martin O'Neill has taken little credit so far in the press for his part in Villa's Anfield robbery '09, named so because with Liverpool's statistical domination it seemed that the visitors had literally stolen the game from the hosts at the final whistle. It was completely unexpected and villainous in its execution.

As is often the case with the romantic ideal of the artful thief, the Villa side were perceived as not being a threat and then when the guard was let down, they struck with artistry and speed.

Like the Pink Panther outwitting Inspector Clouseau, they were ruthless in their work and made security look silly on several occasions.

Much of the debate in the press has been based around the ineffectiveness of the Liverpool side on their home turf, as well as the apparent unwillingness of Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez to take the blame for the defeat.

Before the match, Martin O'Neill was a manager approaching the mire with the poor form shown at the close of last season, carrying over into their new season which had seen the team being booed off Villa Park during their opening day loss to Wigan.

But with this astounding victory against arguably the form team of last season's competition, they have erased the pain of the loss they started the new season with, with one excellent and unexpected result.

O'Neill is a highly-respected manager and on evidence of this result his reputation is again bolstered by his team's execution of a game plan in the face of odds that were apparently too much for the side that had capitulated at Villa Park.

After a shaky start they took the game to the hosts and were seemingly energized by the lack of urgency displayed by the home team.

They harried for possession and stole it from under the noses of a Liverpool side who looked a little too comfortable on the ball for their own good.

The goals were invariably well worked and came as the result of periods of pressure, that came directly on the back of the Liverpool teams inability to convert their dominance into goals.

In saying that, the Villa side were excellent in the midfield with Steve Sidwell, Nigel Reo-Coker, and Stiliyan Petrov all contributing to an effort that would have made the fans who were so quick to boo recently squirm in their seats in embarrassment.

Their disloyalty to a team that is capable of taking any game this season to the wire with inspired and resolute play hurt and angered O'Neill, and obviously gave the team that extra bit of a reason to prove that the fans need not worry about their ability and resolve in the face of pressure.

Liverpool seemed again to be unable to deal with a side that sat back and defended for periods and then unleashed counter-attacks with ruthless efficiency.

After all this description could so easily be made of them in many of their matches.

O'Neill can take a bow anyway because his plan for the game was executed successfully and his charges have now proved that they are just as capable as they seemed at times last season in beating one of the media's genuine challengers for the title.

A result that was completely unexpected and one that has blown open the league, along with a few other surprises we have already seen this season, not least, Owen Coyle's Burnley side's home success against the title holders.

Roll on the weekend, so we can see what else lies in wait for us, in what looks to be the beginning of an intriguing season.....

Bertos and Phoenix Defy Bookies with Glorious Victory Over Perth

illya mclellan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 06:40:17 -0400

The Wellington Phoenix seemed to be living up to their billing as rank wooden spooners in this seasons A-League after clawing their way back from two down last week only to lose it at the death away to the Newcastle Jets.

Apparently the pundits had installed Wellington as most likely to finish last this season before a ball had even been kicked.

The first round result was cause for optimism in the Phoenix camp and would have definitely caused some surprises with the way the Phoenix were able to come back from two goals down too come within moments of snatching a precious away point.

Even though it was a loss the boys from the windy city would have felt they were extremely unlucky not to come away with something from the match.

Sunday nights game in New Zealand's capital has changed all that with the Phoenix able to take their first three pointer courtesy of a star turn from one of their local lads, Leo Bertos, who in a delightful twist was playing against his former club.

The diminutive Wellingtonian was in excellent form that saw him set up former Crystal Palace striker Paul Ifil with the equalizer and then snatch the points for the home side with a stonking free kick in the 85th minute.

Though it took a slight deflection it was still a goal that any player would want to score, at home in front of a good vocal crowd and at such a time that it decided the outcome of an entertaining game.

Though the Perth Glory will feel aggrieved that they came away from the game with nothing, they have no one to blame but themselves for the result. Though they perhaps enjoyed longer periods of dominance they were fought with ferocity in the midfield and given no quarter by a Wellington side desperate to prove the pundits wrong.

This result will no doubt boost the Phoenix in their upcoming matches and another huge positive is that Ifil was able to open his account which means both of the Wellington sides imported strikers have now gotten off the mark.

Chris Greenacre is the other striker they have brought in from abroad and he was able to open his account in the defeat to Newcastle in the opening game of the season.

Positive signs for the Phoenix faithful and three points in the bank in what will be a defining season for the Wellington side.

Bertos will take the plaudits for a great game against his old team and deserves them for his belief in his ability and giving the Wellington fans a moment they will remember for many years to come.

With a tough away trip to face the Queensland Roar next up, the Phoenix will be hoping that their tenacity and skill will again come to the fore in what will be a challenging match up. The Roar are without a victory so far with a defeat in the opening weekend and a draw in the last round.

Picked to be a form team this season it will be interesting to see how the Wellington side are able to compete with the Brisbane outfit.

Will Anyone Ever Compare to the Legends of Years Gone By?

illya mclellan — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:21:49 -0400

As the years go by, mist grows over the edges of memories of greatness and skill that were seen from the terraces and stands around the world, not to mention listened to on radios and seen in grainy broadcasts on ancient televisions.

It is with increasing nostalgia and reverence that the great players of the past are given almost mythological levels of skill and talent.

But then for anyone who wishes to see the amazing skill and strength that players such as Pele, Garrincha, Cruyff, Best and Maradona to name but a few, it is actually a mouse click away at sites on the world wide web such as YouTube and others.

A hugely noticeable skill that these players had that is seen less and less in today's game, due to tactical shifts and other factors such as ego and self importance, has seen the desire to score and finish a chance replaced by the desire to win a free kick or a penalty.

If you are lucky enough to look up video of past greats you will often notice them riding two or even three heinous tackles on the way to scoring sumptuously and enjoying every minute of it.

Now here is the rub, the type of fouls that used to exist and that players were often able to get away with were not just nightmarish but often criminal.

The outlawing of certain types of play and the protection of skillful players is more of a blessing than a curse as it has in many cases enabled us to see the talents of players for increased amounts of time due to the new longevity of particular careers given to us by stricter controls on cynical play and tactics.

But the downside to this is that players now will often fall at the slightest hint of a physical challenge, even in certain situations where the goal seems to be almost at their mercy.

A telling example of this was seen in last season's EPL when Manchester United entertained Blackburn at Old Trafford and Morten Gamst Pedersen decided a challenge he received in the area warranted a penalty and duly fell to the floor in apparent agony.

Strangely enough it seemed that if he had carried on with his run he may have been able to score or at least lay a goal on for one of his team mates.

A terrible example of something that blights the modern game, robbing us all, including the players, of potential moments of greatness.

The adverse to this was witnessed in none other than the so called "soft" La Liga last season in a match between Barcelona and Real Betis.

The Argentinian Lionel Messi was on a run toward goal in a game where he had terrorised the opposition with his skill for most of the 90 minutes and was again leading the Betis players on a merry dance.

He was fouled three times by two different players before finally being brought down and duly awarded a free kick.

The best was yet to come as rather than writhing in agony on the turf he quickly got to his feet and took the free kick without the theatrics we have become used to from many of the game's current stars.

So it seems that in some quarters that skill coupled with strength is still very much a part of today's football.

The worrying thing is that the option to fall on the merest contact is becoming more prevalent than the option to use strength to punish opposition indiscretion with the ultimate riposte in sticking the ball in the back of the net.

The big question is how many skillful and potentially awe-inspiring moments are we missing out on because of the apparent unwillingness in players to attempt to carry on under duress?

As a junior football coach I have noticed several times this season that youngsters are falling more often than ever before because of the example set them by their footballing heroes around the world.

Perhaps it is time that coaches, players and fans around the world start to remember that football is a game encompassing many different variants of talent, whether it is strength, timing, ball skill, power or even hard-hitting tackling ability, these things are all a reason why the game is at the place it is today as the world's premier sporting pastime.

Long may physical strength coupled with skill be something that inspires awe in followers of the beautiful game.

The greats of years gone by must look on in horror on occasion, seeing the play-acting that has taken over around the world, whether they be still with us or in the great stadium in the sky.

In the season to come and the years that follow, hopefully the old grit that formed so much a part of the game and gave us all moments of skill and athleticism like the world had never seen will still be a part of this great game.

If it is not, then it is an uncertain future ahead in terms of what we will come to expect from the stars and players of the future.

To those who have gone before us, we salute you, may we emulate the gifts and talents that you have shown us and never forget the magic that burst forth in certain moments, where the glory was more important than the paycheck and the physical challenge was just as much a part of the game as the deft flick or sleight of foot.

Is "Big Four" Still A Relevant Term In the Premier League?

illya mclellan — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:30:58 -0400

The Premier League has borne witness to many changes in form and participants over the years, and while certain big names have fallen from grace in almost horrific fashion over time it was slowly established by certain elements that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester United could be considered the "big four".

While some have never agreed with the terminology it has been embraced by the media and has become a commonly used term in all forms of media coverage.

However, despite the continuing use of the term it is now emerging that a few sides are in very strong positions going into this season and that the strength has been growing in several different quarters for a number of years.

It seems to be only a matter of time before a power shift is seen and interestingly it may not just involve the most obvious protagonists. There are certain other sides that have been carefully going about their business and slowly building strong and experienced squads.

It could be a redundant term in relation to its current "members" by the time the World Cup rolls around. With the added prize of representing their countries at the world's premier tournament in South Africa next year, there will be several players across the league who will be lifting their games to new heights.

This could seriously effect the continuity of some of the sides in the league who have grown used to winning certain fixtures without seeming to bat an eyelid.

Out of the "big four" now there are four relatively solid squads though some are stronger than others. True strength will not be known until the transfer window has closed as managers leave their bargaining to the last few minutes.

With a few sides that are currently outside the "big four" having been strengthening over the years into more powerful positions to challenge the old guard of the league.

Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa, and Manchester City are the obvious choices for games that could yield a stronger challenge for teams who in the past would have been confident of taking points from both fixtures.

Add to this Bolton, Blackburn and Fulham, as well as surprise package Hull City, who shone a beacon for clubs that have ambitions of putting up a sustained and vigorous challenge on their entry to the league.

You now have all sorts of possible problems for teams that have been taking their place in the top few places on the table for granted in the last few seasons.

When the shades come down on what looks to be another action-packed season of footballing action, perhaps there could be a vague or vastly different shape to the final table placings.

If it remains as it is it will be a testament to the vision and drive of the current "big few". If it is changed then it will be something that has been brewing for many years with many twists and turns.

Everton to Be Buoyed By the Return of "The Yak"

illya mclellan — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:54:36 -0400

Something quite remarkable about Everton's storming finish to last year's league season is that they were missing Yakubu Aiyegbeni, the club's premier striking talent, since the end of November when he ruptured his Achilles against Tottenham.

You have to wonder whether Arsenal would have been able to hold them off had they been able to count on the goals that Yakubu brings to any team he plays for.

He burst into the spotlight in 2002 season when he scored two notable hat-tricks in the Champions League, one against Olympiacos and the other against none other than Everton's great rivals Manchester United.

Soon after this he was playing in England for Portsmouth and after scoring crucial goals for them and Middlesbrough he eventually found himself at Goodison.

He scored on debut ten minutes in, in a victory over Bolton and has not really looked back.

A big, strong and exceptionally mobile striker, he is possessed with a fine natural athleticism which gives him an excellent starting point in any match in the more robust Premier League competition.

His absence was a headache for David Moyes last season as he was left having to play Tim Cahill as a front man on many occasions. This lessened the effectiveness of Everton as a goalscoring outfit, even though the Australian made the difference in several games he is not a natural striker and is much more suited to playing in support of someone like Yakubu.

Moyes will be as pleased as punch to have the big Nigerian back in the team and will be relishing the prospect of taking on the big guns as an underdog again this season. The Scotsman has pledged his foreseeable future to the Liverpool outfit and his talent as a manager seems to be increasing as the years go by.

For fans of Everton and the game it will be great to see Yakubu back out on the pitch and hopefully he can start knocking them in again for the sake of one of England's proudeeplst football clubs.

Appreciation to Wikipedia for statistics and factual information.

Who is in the Running for the Premier League Golden Boot This Season?

illya mclellan — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:55:20 -0400

Last season in a turbulent campaign which involved ups and downs for many teams and players it was somewhat reassuring for some purists out there that a striker ended up topping the league goalscoring charts in Nicolas Anelka.

The season before had seen a winger, Cristiano Ronaldo, even though he was able to play pretty much where he felt like during that season and also the last due to the nature of Ferguson's plans for his team.

The question now is, who can step up this season? As well as, which team will be able to lay on goals for their strikers like Chelsea were able to for Anelka? Anelka did extremely well last season to prove a lot of those wrong who insisted he was overrated and a trouble maker by letting his feet do the talking.

Fortunately for him and unfortunately for the naysayers out there, his feet were speaking the universal language that football fans love to hear, no matter who they support.

The language of goals and the silky whispering of the ball sliding across the net.

There was much comment in the media that any decent striker could have finished the chances that were presented to Anelka by his team mates. However, it takes an instinctive striker to be in the right position to finish and as always is the case, a cool head to bury chances that others would miss or flap at.

This season throws up the usual questions in terms of some of the cream of the leagues talent. Can Torres play a season free from injury and really hit the goal scoring heights that he seems capable of?

Can Owen reignite the form that saw him take part in the previous "Galacticos" era? Can Adebayor recapture the form of his time at Arsenal two seasons ago when the Arsenal faithful thought they had found some one to replace the legendary Henry?

Or will it be someone else entirely? A new sensation who takes the league by storm?

A look at last seasons top twenty scorers gives an insight into the players who could be there or thereabouts come the end of next season.

1	Nicolas Anelka	Chelsea	19

2	Cristiano Ronaldo	Man Utd	18

3	Steven Gerrard	Liverpool	16

4	De Souza Robinho	Manchester City	14

5	Fernando Torres	Liverpool	14

6	Gabriel Agbonlahor	Aston Villa	12

7	Darren Bent	Tottenham	12

8	Kevin Davies	Bolton	12

9	Dirk Kuyt	Liverpool	12

10	Frank Lampard	Chelsea	12

11	Wayne Rooney	Man Utd	12

12	John Carew	Aston Villa	11

13	Peter Crouch	Portsmouth	11

14	Ricardo Fuller	Stoke City	11

15	Robin van Persie	Arsenal	11

16	Emmanuel Adebayor	Arsenal	10

17	Djibril Cisse	Sunderland	10

18	Carlton Cole	West Ham Utd	10

19	Jermain Defoe	Tottenham	10

20	Kenwyne Jones	Sunderland	10

As always there are players amongst those listed who will be lining up for new clubs. Other notables who will no longer be on the list are C.Ronaldo and D.Cisse who are lining up abroad this season.

The bulk of the them will be in contention to make the list however, though it is obvious that only a few are capable of pushing for twenty or more league goals.

Seeing that no player did this last season it is a tough ask to guess who it could be.

While goalscoring is a fundamental part of football and a talent that players either have or do not have, it is the team that a particular player plays for that contributes to the amount the player scores rather than the ability of the player to fashion his own chances out of thin air.

If there is no platform for goals created by strong defence and calculated midfield play then there will be no big scoring player on a team.

In saying this it is possible for any player to hit a rich vein of form and start banging them in from anywhere which in itself can contribute to a teams morale and continuity.

Only time will tell but it is always interesting to hazard a guess at how things may materialise.

From Chelsea you would be inclined to think perhaps Anelka could have another shot at it and that if Drogba is injury free he will be up there as well.

At Manchester United you would consider Berbatov and Rooney with Owen a dark horse, providing he can also keep injury in check.

Liverpool have of course the pub brawling Gerrard to look to for goals as well as Torres, who again, needs to have some luck with injuries if he is to trouble the statisticians this coming season.

Arsenal have a striking position left vacant but still have the likes of Eduardo, Van Persie and Bendtner to look to for goals.

Then of course there is Manchester City who last season had Robinho in the top twenty but no one else. They of course now seem to have more strikers than any club in the world so if they can sort their side out could have a player or two who lights up the goal charts.

There are of course others worth mentioning outside of these clubs, including, Yakubu at Everton and perhaps Defoe or Keane at Spurs.

This sort of thing is all part of gearing up for the new league season and just one of the guessing games on offer, it is now up to you the reader and the bookies to have a guess at who it could be.

As the season gears to commence it is the players themselves who will be bending the knee to pray to the gods of goals and glory, praying that these gods will smile on their endeavors as they strive to make their name a legend.

Michael Owen Can Restore His Former Glory at United

illya mclellan — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:38:44 -0400

Sir Alex Ferguson's recent statement that United would not make any more transfers in this window was greeted by some with surprise and many with a worrisome remark.

Ferguson went on to say that the big spending clubs were ruining it for everyone else in increasing the value of players to exorbitant levels. United's biggest signings have been Valencia from Wigan and Micheal Owen on a free.

There seemed to be expectation everywhere that United would make another big purchase and they may still but no one really knows until the window closes.

At this stage, it seems that Owen will be one of United's go-to players, with him getting the legendary seven jersey. Worn in the past by such gifted players as the legendary George Best and England stalwart Bryan Robson, as well as the never to be forgotten Frenchman Eric Cantona, not to mention Beckham and the recently departed C. Ronaldo.

It is a signal for the player and the world that United and Ferguson expect a certain level of excellence from the former Liverpool and Real Madrid man that they also believe he can deliver.

Owen now has the opportunity to go out where he once was.

Winning trophies and representing England at the World Cup is the reward that awaits him if he can recapture his excellence with a new game that relies less on pace and more on guile and precision. The role of the converter of built up chances that rely on possession and passing precision in and around the area.

Based on his efforts with Newcastle last season, it seems Ferguson still sees some of the world beater in Owen and in the cosmopolitan Premier league being a world beater is vital.

Interestingly, as Tevez leaves a small quick skillful player is brought in to play a similar role. Ferguson did seem to labor over the decision to let Tevez go and in Owen he may think he has a suitable replacement.

Perhaps the type of player who can step up to the unenviable position of emulating some of the greatest players to have graced Old Trafford with their own brand of skill.

For three or more seasons Owen can play the role he always dreamed of at a premier European footballing power, though admittedly there will be concern over possible injuries.

Remembering the injury problems he began to suffer at Anfield there may even be certain Liverpool supporters that in the strangest way might like to see Owen play well as long as it isn't against them. That could just be an illusion though.

But there is no doubt that fans of the game everywhere would be overjoyed to see Owen representing England in South Africa 2010 again after his personal disappointment in Germany 2006.

A shark in the 18-yard box, he is able to lurk about until an opportunity arises and make a telling contribution without ever taking center stage until the goal itself is scored.

Despite this talent he does have an oft-forgotten ability in the procurement of chances for team mates though in doing this he does benefit extremely if the ball is passed back to him from his initial pass.

All the ingredients of a player that United are used to in the contributions of C. Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistlerooy. The 'tap in guy' to put it plainly. The 'tap in guy' is invariably someone who becomes very important to a team because of the instinctual finish they provide to potential scoring moves.

This was seen for United previously with the two aforementioned players and notably elsewhere with Inzaghi or even Shevchenko (before his move to Chelsea) both at AC Milan.

Owen again has the opportunity to be one of the worlds most feared strikers, it will be interesting to see if he can do it and possibly legendary if he is able to pull it off.

EPL: Championship Trophy Could Remain in Manchester Another Year

illya mclellan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:06:07 -0400

It is enough to make a die-hard Liverpool supporter shudder.

The thought that after coming so close to finally ending one Manchester team's dominance they now have to deal with another. The signs were there last season that things were changing when Manchester City signed Robinho from Real Madrid.

After all, not a bad player really, no matter what anyone says about him. He also has genuine ambition and as a Brazilian and former Madrid man he knows what it is like to win trophies.

All the rumor and conjecture in the press over who Manchester City will sign and who they will miss out on has drawn the attention away from the fact that even if they don't sign any more players this offseason they already have one of the best squads in Europe.

In addition to the players they had at the close of last season, they have recently acquired the services of Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry, Roque Santa Cruz, and Stuart Taylor. All of these players have experience and genuine talent and will only add to an already talented squad.

There is now no doubt that City will be a force to be reckoned with this season in English football. It would be a brave person who bets against them soon becoming a force in Europe.

Money talks and City's new owners are currently babbling the language of currency that other clubs are unable to ignore. This is obviously because most football clubs do not have billions in the bank. While the world is currently in a recession, Manchester City are rolling in it.

But this is nothing new and football has always been about big clubs making big signings. It is just the amounts that have changed.

In England, Liverpool made big signings in the '80s, Manchester United in the '90s, and Chelsea in the new century. In Europe it has been similar, AC Milan and Real Madrid have been waving the cash for years.

This is why I have recently been perplexed by Sir Alex Ferguson's complaints about the money that the two big spending clubs have been throwing around. I am an ardent admirer of Fergie, and his record speaks for itself. But realistically, it is ridiculous for him to be complaining about Manchester United being priced out of the transfer market.

They have been the ones doing the same on many occasions in the last twenty years. Mark Hughes must have chuckled when he heard his old boss make that comment.

Now it seems, it is finally City's turn.

So for Liverpool this season it could well be that they face two trips to Manchester and visits from, that decide whether their title drought will end.

Somewhat cruelly, Liverpool could end up finally usurping one Manchester club that has been its most hated rival only to be trumped by another one from the same city that, in another disturbing turn for fans of the Anfield side, wears a strip that is a lighter shade of their bitter cross town rivals, Everton.

When this season comes to a close, I would not be surprised to once again see the EPL trophy in Manchester, the question will be which part of Manchester now, which for many City fans out there is a cause for excitement that they have never before experienced in their lives.

Interesting times indeed. Roll on match-day one.

The Inextricable Link Between Money and Football

illya mclellan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 07:08:32 -0400

in·ex·tri·cable (in eks′tri kə bəl; often in′ek strik′ə bəl, -ik-) adjective: so complicated or involved as to be insolvable.

Every season it is the same, the familiar moaning and gnashing of teeth as the masses see one of their superstar footballers go up for sale for a huge sum and with the inevitable wage hike to follow. New "records" go up and are soon smashed within considerably shorter time frames. Take the most recent example with the transfers of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The recent story circulating has been about the tax laws and respective differences, between Spain and England. Jermaine Pennant has recently made the move to Spain because of the tax laws. I like to think it is more because he thought it might be cool to go play football in Spain.

The money will no doubt be a point in the move's favor, but either way he gets to play a game he has enjoyed from a young age as a job and as a source of income. Professional footballers are normally possessed of a enduring drive to perfect the game they love. In the case of Pennant I choose to think that he has made the move to experience a new type of football and the cumulative benefits.

Benefits that he can enjoy physically and mentally as he develops his game, as well as the security in knowing his future is relatively secure.

This can be where the inextricable link between money and football is seen today.

Football is money.

Whatever level it is played at there is money involved in some way.

Be it the equipment, whether it is an old can or a brand new football, somewhere along the way money was somehow involved. From the humble beginnings of a can being used as a football on a street somewhere there are product lines, sponsorship deals, television rights, and advertising revenue etc.

A great example in terms of a can on the street would be a billion dollar soft-drink line. Massive audience figures equate to massive sales and huge amounts of money. They are ardent admirers of football because of its ability to sell and motivate buyers.

In the majority of cases the buyers are so enamoured with the football itself that they buy the aforementioned products and the money changes accounts all over the world which down the line enables a football club to pay a huge amount for the services of a particular marketable player.

Basically the fact of the matter is that money and football are forever linked and the transfer fees and money involved with the game will continue to rise at phenomenal rates.

I think the time has come to stop worrying about it and get back to enjoying the football. After all, we are all paying for it.

International Football: The Magic Of The Upset

illya mclellan — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:52:58 -0400

Fans of the game were stunned today as they saw Egypt down the World Champion Italians 1-0 in the Confederations Cup. The Italians had looked shaky in the lead up with a scrambled 4-3 win over south sea minnow New Zealand.

In their first group game they beat a reasonably organised USA side that were unlucky that one players petulance cost them a result.

This happened as Brazil beat Egypt in a thrilling game of football that gave a glimpse of the World Cup matches of yesteryear. It was 4-3 at the final whistle and the last kick of the game by Kaka won the Brazilians the day, after an Egyptian defender was seen to use his arm to block a shot.

A penalty to decide a thrilling game in which the Brazil side was in control before being stunned by two equalisers before launching an ferocious assault on the Egyptian goal late in the match and capitilising with a penalty in the last minute.

So by no means a bad side, evidently, were the Egyptians.

The win over the Italians for Egypt was built on belief and hard work and on the day they had the luck and the desire to achieve the result.

The best thing about a result like this is that it keeps alive the belief in the heart that burns in the footballer and fan to always believe in the result and the chance it can be achieved.

Great upsets have been a feature of football throughout the history of the game.

Highly skilled Italy would have been expected to even grind out a result here based on the quality of their midfield alone. Unfortunately for them they were harried into frunstration and their luck was not with them.

Interestingly enough North Korea have qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1966 where they were also responsible for upsetting the Italians. Adopted by the Middlesbrough crowd for their enigmatic style they were a popular side for the locals and the fact their number one kit was red would have helped also.

They famously played a fast brand of attacking football and stunned everyone by playing football that rivalled the best teams in the world, after beating Italy in the group they were three goals to the good against highly fancied Portugal when one of the most famous footballers in world history, Eusebio, stepped in to score four goals and the Portuguese overpowered the North Koreans 5-3.

But again their thrilling run was an example of the amazing results that have occured and still do as people grow too complacent of form guide and team cohesion.

Many fancied the Italians for the mere reason the they were world champions and their players were more well known internationally than the Egyptians. They were sorely mistaken as they were beaten in the style that Italy made so famous over the years.

All in all a magic and tragic day for many people, but one that will remembered for many years to come.

There is nothing like a good upset.

New Zealand Scare Italy In Prelude To Confederations Cup

illya mclellan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:47:29 -0400

Early this morning, New Zealand time, I witnessed something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. My beloved NZ football side scoring first against the world champions.

Not only that but it was a cracking goal, from the head of target man Shane Smeltz who benefited from a beautifully weighted free kick from the cultured boot of NZ wide man Leo Bertos.

The Italians themselves were struggling to produce fluency in their play and were extremely lucky not to find themselves two down. Smeltz made the most of sloppy defending from the World Champions to get free in the area only to see his shot slide agonizingly wide of the right hand upright.

But as NZ found out in the 33rd minute, the Italians are not World Champions for nothing. Gilardino was able to slot home a header from close range to equalize after some great work on the left by Quagliarella.

Many here, including myself, thought it would be the Italians who should have had the edge from the start because of the recent end of their domestic seasons and the fact that most of the New Zealanders were still due to start their A-League campaigns.

But then up pops one of NZ's European based contingents, Chris Killen, to nod home a blasting header from a corner to put NZ in front for the second time in the match. The jubilation was plain to see and it looked as though the Kiwi's were loving every minute of walking up the tunnel at the break with the lead.

The introduction of midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo at the break showed that Marcelo Lippi was not going to take the game lightly and the Milan man immediately changed the game with the extra bit of quality the Italians had been missing.

Soon after the resumption of play, Quagliarella and Gilardino combined again to excellent effect, which resulted in the Italians equalising for the second time in the match.

The game was slowly being taken over by the stronger and more experienced Italian side when in the 57th minute, low and behold, Chris Killen was brought down in the area by Italian shot stopper Amelia and Killen duly converted the spot kick to give New Zealand the lead for the third time in the match.

This was fairy tale stuff for the New Zealand football fans everywhere. Not to mention the players themselves, who were without a doubt, loving every minute of it.

It was soon after this that Lippi introduced Iaquinta, who was to change the game with two goals.

The first came from some sloppy play by the New Zealand midfield by giving the ball away for nothing in their own defensive third. Pirlo received it and played a textbook through-ball to Iaquinta, who equalised for Italy for the third time in the match in the 68th minute.

Soon after this, the quality of the Italians really began to show and the New Zealanders lack-of-match fitness also became evident.

Ricardo Montolivo made a nice exchange of passes on the edge of the area and hit a good shot which was partially saved by NZ custodian Glen Moss. Iaquinta was unfortunately on hand to smash in the rebound and end any thoughts of some sort of upset from the hands of the south-sea minnows.

All in all, a great day for football though and one that will live long in the memory of NZ fans everywhere who are not used to seeing their footballers go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Italians.

A great experience for the NZ team and this will no doubt be a morale booster, despite the loss before Saturday's first Confederations cup group game vs. European champions Spain. It doesn't get any easier but hopefully the Antipodean outfit can turn a few heads again though the Spanish are arguably the world form team of the moment and will show no mercy to the underdogs.

A tough assignment followed by matches against South Africa and Iraq, which should be less difficult but still extremely challenging for the Kiwi's.

Italy will have to try to brush up on their defence from set plays and try to lessen the impact of tall opposition players. They were out-muscled in the air today for most of the match, which will without a doubt cause coach Lippi some concern. Certainly the USA side would have looked on at this result with some interest ahead of their opening game vs. the Italians this weekend.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert said post match that they were aiming to take some points and goals home with them from the games they have and on the basis of this result you would fancy their chances.

After a result like this, the New Zealanders can return home with their heads held high, no matter what happens in the tournament.

Kaka Leaving Is Ronaldinho's Chance to Show He Is Still the Best

illya mclellan — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:39:17 -0400

With the recent furore over Kaka and his record-breaking move to Real Madrid, much has been said about the decline of the Serie A and in particular the reduction of Milan's chances in competing with the other big European clubs.

To lose a player of Kaka's quality would be a blow to any side and Milan will have work to do if they are to soften the blow of his exit.

A little mentioned thing is the ability of a certain Brazilian maestro who made a move to the San Siro last year. Cruelly and ridiculously labelled a has-been and a seat filler, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira—or Ronaldinho—is still one of the world's most talented footballers and still capable of carrying a team to greater levels of achievement.

At 29-years-old he is on the verge of his last few seasons in the game and this has been seen in the past to be something that can spur many a player to greater things to light up the twilight of their careers.

Without doubt one of the most gifted individuals to grace the world stage with his skills, he is still held in the highest regard across the world, despite the criticism of many journalistic hacks who if they encountered a football at their feet would invariably trip over it.

Not so the Brazilian who in 2005 was named world footballer of the year for the second consecutive year. An amazing feat and something that sets him apart from the footballing world as one of the true greats of the game. Although known by many to like the nightlife, it is at this stage of his career that his maturity could now hold him in good stead to really make his mark in Italy.

With Kaka gone he should become the lynch-pin of the side which should suit him beautifully and enable him to impose his will on the side in a more authoritative manner.

A simply incredible player to behold in full flight, his talents are at times breath-takingly magical in their execution and grace. A goalscorer as well as creator, his day could well have come again with the transfer of his international team mate.

As Kaka leaves the fold everyone wonders who can step into the void that the he leaves. To this writer the answer is astonishingly simple and, luckily for Leonardo, exists within his current squad.

Two time world footballer of the year and key part of the side that took Brazil to the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldinho.

It is time for Ronaldinho to show the world again why they fell in love with him in the first place, you would doubt he will get a chance like this again.

Good luck "Gaúcho".

Football's Early Ambassadors and the Legacy Of Their Toil

illya mclellan — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:05:50 -0400

The worldwide appeal of football owes a lot to the playability of the game itself and the accessibility of the equipment to all who desire to play.

The ball and two goals is all that is really needed besides the players themselves. So in some ways it would not have been a very hard sell as far as garnering interest in it went.

But despite these notions, it is also the contribution of many who played the game in its formative years and carried the love of it with them to the corners of the earth.

As of 1 May this year there are currently 208 FIFA member nations. This is a hugely impressive amount and gives some idea of the immense popularity of football around the world.

Much of the credit for this can be attributed to the people who took the game to the world in the form we see it today. Introducing the game and its basic rules would have been a pleasant task for anyone who loved it.

In a sense it is quite appealing that you are able to look past the individuals who have been credited with the spread of the game and see that the spread of football was in fact down to the collective strength of the many and they are, as a group, responsible for the spread of football.

The game's worldwide appeal does not touch every nation in the same manner, and in some countries football plays a strong second fiddle to a more popular sport. In others again it is sometimes drowned out by the sheer weight of adherents there are indulging in their particular preferred pastime.

But it is present across the globe in some shape or form, which has enabled the game on the advent of worldwide mass communication to beam matches live and direct to all parts of the globe. This, of course, has meant that certain teams and leagues have managed to popularise their brand in many different parts of the world.

This is easily seen in many countries with the popularity of Brazil in quite random locations across the world. The same randomness can be seen in the popularity of club sides like Manchester United, Liverpool or Real Madrid. Huge names that were revered everywhere in the days before mass satellite communication was possible.

The ease of transition that resulted in the game increasing in its popularity in the new age of technology can in a large way be attributed to the pioneers who went forth with the game in their head and a fire in their eyes.

The art form that football has become was always artistry in the eyes of its devotees. Those who were present in the early years loved the game as much as those who continue its traditions today.

While some have condemned the game as a distraction that takes away our attention from real human problems like war and inequality of income distribution it is in fact as ingrained in human behavior as these ills themselves. Football can be anything to anyone as well, regardless of religion, race or colour.

When the World Cup takes place next year in South Africa the eyes of the world will again be trained on this spectacle. When the first match kicks off and the crowd roars, remember the pioneers that made it all possible and how they loved the game as much as those roaring fans.

Thierry Henry Finally Gets CL Medal He Deserves

illya mclellan — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:28:21 -0400

When I awoke at quarter to six this morning I realised that in a technical sense I would be one of the first to see the 2009 Champions league final.

New Zealand is ahead of every time zone on the globe except for some island which I forget the name of because it puts a slight taint on my claim to be one of the first to see the game. But we are ten to twelve hours ahead of Europe which works completely in the favour of the idea that we see the game first.

Back to the lead up to the game there though. I walked through the cool morning streets cutting a solitary figure amidst the calm of the dawn. The few people I saw had no idea why I had a Manchester United scarf on.

The scarf had been a purchase of my fathers for me when we were walking to Old Trafford in 1992 before the Ipswich game where Chris Kiwomya scored for Ipswich to open affairs at the near post from a poorly defended throw in past Peter Schmeichel.

Denis Irwin later scored an unstoppable equaliser which was pure magic from the Irishman.

But back to this mornings game then. Arriving at the bar I was slightly late and walked into Ronaldo hitting a shot wide in what was possibly the ninth minute.

Things seemed promising before I ordered my breakfast and sat down to observe the match. Within minutes I noticed that Barcelona were in control and United were chasing the game. This came as a thunderbolt when Samuel Eto'o got free in the area and smashed a shot beyond the despairing Van Der Sars near post.

Ten minutes gone and one nil would have been the neutrals dream, to either team, but Barcelona were not going to loosen things up for United at all and for United fans the game had few moments of excitement as their team was completely dominated by a polished Barcelona outfit.

A stand out moment for me though was the exuberance of Henry as he celebrated the winner with Messi. The elation told the story as the Frenchman finally got the medal that had eluded him at Arsenal.

Without doubt one of the greatest strikers to play the game he was unlucky not to score himself as Van Der Sar had spread well to spoil his chance.

In terms of football it was an enormously impressing performance from Guardiola's Barca who have in one season gone from a laughing stock to champions of Europe.

Barcelona are in a powerful position now with a young hungry manager and a well balanced side with reasonable longevity throughout. We could well have seen the beginning of a legacy, as Ferguson dreamed of winning his second CL trophy in a row Guardiola could next season well do it.

What? You might say! What an outlandish prediction. But no my friends the side he has is in very good shape age-wise and the replacements eventually needed should fit into the side easily under the seemingly gifted tutelage of Guardiola.

Speaking of outlandish predictions the final panned out as I thought it might many months ago (here is the evidence).

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/79754-champions-league-who-will-meet-barcelona-in-the-final

Guardiola has this season shown the faith in Henry that was not quite there last season and Henry has performed excellently to confirm his managers confidence.

Though today his teamates will take the goalscorer's plaudits the French World Cup winners contribution could never be underestimated.

A great player and a true footballing maestro and hero.