Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Dowding

Owen Capture Signalls Ferguson's Intent

Chris Dowding — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:21:17 -0400

It has been a summer of intrigue at Old Trafford so far. On the back of losing to Barcelona in the Champions League Final. The footballer widely recognised as the finest in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo has departed for Real Madrid, Carlos Tevez and his dummy appear to be on their way to local rivals Man City.

Thus far, Sir Alex Ferguson has only signed two replacements, Antonio Valencia from Wigan and, to the shock of nearly everyone, Michael Owen.

There are many things I never thought I would see, and the sight of Michael Owen in a Manchester United shirt is pretty close to the top of the list.

His signing has been met with mixed reactions, from surprise to delight.

When you consider the bigger picture however, it is a brilliant signing and one that points to a possible change in style for Ferguson's team. A style that has served him well in the past.

United's 68 Premier League goals last season was a paltry return when you consider the array of attacking talent at Ferguson's disposal. At times it felt as though the players were playing within themselves and that there was another gear to be found. But they rarely found that gear.

The fact of the matter is, they didn't need to. While Liverpool were breaking their backs to win games, United were hardly breaking sweat. While that might look like a nice statement, it made for a season that was, in parts, underwhelming.

That is not to say that the success was underwhelming, far from it. But to see the players seemingly just going through the motions and doing just enough was disappointing.

Width seemed to be a problem last season. Ferguson loves a good winger, and while Cristiano Ronaldo is nominally a winger, his all round game is so good that he could operate anywhere across the front line. And he frequently did. This meant that certain players had to almost sacrifice themselves for the good of the team.

Cheif among these players was Wayne Rooney, who patrolled the left flank with great distinction for much of the latter half of the season.

Build up play was slow, and the free flowing attacking football which has been one of Manchester United's trademarks was lost.

That looks set to change in the forthcoming season.

In Valencia, Ferguson has a winger in the finest traditions. He has a trick or two in his locker, but his biggest asset is blistering pace. Tricks are all well and good, but the ability to push a ball past a fullback and race onto it and then deliver a telling cross is much loved at Old Trafford.

Many feel that one of the greatest exponents of this art at United was Andrei Kanchelskis. Valencia has the tools to emulate the flying Ukrainian.

What of Owen, where does he fit into this?

Since Ruud van Nistelrooy left Old Trafford and the retirement of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, United have lacked a real predator. Owen can be that man.

His fitness is, of course, a concern. Many of the games he missed at Newcastle were as a result of being pressed back into action too soon and picking up another knock as a result.

That shouldn't be a problem at Manchester United. There is enough talent in the squad for the team to manage the absence of Owen if he is not fit.

Indeed, it is unlikely will begin life as a first team starter. Owen may well fill the Solskjaer role as a super-sub, at least initially.

If he is kept fit, he will be an invaluable weapon for Ferguson's side. The chances that they will create—especially if they return to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation, using pace and width—will have someone in the box who is more than capable of finishing them off.

Owen's motivation is there for all to see. He gets a chance to prove the doubters wrong, to keep his fitness up, to play Champions League football again. Perhaps the biggest motivation is to make England coach Fabio Capello sit up and take notice.

The fact that Owen's two year contract is largely made up of a "pay as you play" structure says everything about his determination.

This current Manchester United side is still developing, and maybe needs further tweaking, both in personnel and style.

Owen's arrival may ensure that an area in which it laboured at times last season, will not be such an issue this time around.

Sticking the ball in the net.

The Curious Case of Dimitar Berbatov

Chris Dowding — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:51:11 -0400

When Manchester United (by fair means or foul) signed Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur minutes before the transfer window slammed shut in September of last year, the excitement among their supporters was almost at fever pitch.

Here were the English and European Champions, signing one of the finest centre forwards in the Premier League to compliment the already formidable firepower at their disposal.

Berbatov, a player of grace and poise, who had scored goals for Spurs of such a high quality, would only improve the Old Trafford outfit, surely.

Fast forward six months, and the reality is far different from the heady ideals of September.

So far, United supporters have seen precious little of the abundant flair that made Berbatov such a threat at White Hart Lane. Allied to that, would be the apparent lack of effort and heart shown by the Bulgarian.

Eight goals in 28 games does not represent a good return from a player who cost his employers over £30 million.

But it is not that which has disappointed Manchester United supporters. It is his almost unwillingness to get involved, to fight for the team, to look even remotely interested in what is happening around him.

There can be no doubting his talent, and he has turned it on in the United colours; a piece of skill against West Ham to set up a goal for Wayne Rooney almost defied belief, but he has not produced enough.

Some would rightly point to, for example, the FA Cup game away at Southampton, where Berbatov was almost untouchable and unplayable. With all due respect to Southampton and the club's supporters, if Berbatov cannot play well against them, there is no hope for him.

If you think back over the last few years, United's attacking play has often left defenders dizzy.

The likes of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, and (when fit) Louis Saha would swap positions with almost telepathic regularity, dragging opponents around the pitch, leaving space for others and providing plenty of options for the man on the ball.

They would generally line up with one or two "centre forwards" but in reality, each of them could play there, while the others dropped deep or went wide.

Throw Berbatov into the mix and this no longer happens. In much the same way as when Ruud van Nistelrooy was at Old Trafford, United have a spearhead for the attack, a fixed point that they can focus on and aim for.

Van Nistelrooy was, as is well documented a "box-player", but his goal return was quite incredible. If Berbatov had produced such a return, there would be no qualms about him, but the fact of the matter is, he hasn't.

One thing that football supporters will always appreciate, no matter the limited skill of a player, is effort. Diego Forlan had a hard time at Old Trafford in terms of goalscoring (something he has remedied quite spectacularly since his move to Spain), but his work rate was unbelievable, endearing him to the supporters.

Ji-Sung Park isn't the most talented of players in the Manchester United squad, lacking the nous and guile of a Ryan Giggs, but his willingness to chase lost causes and run until the very last whistle has made him a cult figure. They don't call him "Three Lungs" for nothing.

While the likes of Park, Rooney and Tevez chase down defenders looking to force them into a mistake and chase every ball and put everything they have into getting a result for the team, Berbatov seems disinterested. He often looks as though he may be strolling around with a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth.

Rather than not yet justifying his vast transfer fee and wages, it is this that will turn supporters against him.

Yet all is not lost for Berbatov.

His style of play is certainly different to any other player at Sir Alex Ferguson's disposal, and a player with his talent will surely produce on some level soon enough.

The difference between the way United play compared to his previous clubs (the Bulgarian played for German side Bayer Leverkusen prior to coming to England) is noticeable, and this must take some adjusting to.

His second season will be telling. If he doesn't adapt—and make no mistake, he needs to adapt to the team and their style of play, not the other way round—then it could be said that his signing is a big money flop in the Juan Sebastien Veron mould.

On the other hand, if he finally finds his rhythm within the team and produces performances that justify not only his transfer fee but continued presence in the starting line up, then Manchester United will once again be the attacking force they have been over the last three years.

But more than anything, if Berbatov can find it within himself to give more to the team, to offer himself for more passes, to make runs that leave space for others, to chase the lost causes then he will have the whole of Old Trafford behind him.

If anything will persuade him that he is in a fight worth fighting, it will be that.

David Beckham's Italian Dream Damns MLS

Chris Dowding — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:16:50 -0500

What was supposed to be a loan move for David Beckham from LA Galaxy to AC Milan looks like it may become permanent.

A temporary placement in Milan was meant to keep Beckham fit during the close season in the States, but Beckham has impressed the Milan management so much they want to keep him.

That he seems to be keen to stay is hardly a surprise. Beckham's goal is to be in the England squad for the 2010 World Cup, and if he goes back to LA, his chances of doing that seem slim.

England coach Fabio Capello has intimated that if Beckham stays in Milan, his chances will improve dramatically.

The Milanese money men will be delighted by this, and given the impressive performances in his three games for Milan (including a goal against Bologna), Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti won't be sorry either.

But what of those he is leaving behind?

If anything was ever going to belittle Major League Soccer, it is this. Eyebrows were raised when Beckham left Real Madrid for LA Galaxy, and more were raised at his largely indifferent performances.

The sorry fact is that MLS is not competitive enough—or, frankly, good enough—to attract the top players when still at the heights of their powers.

Beckham agreed a move to LA at a time when he had been marginalised from the Real Madrid squad (ironically, by then Madrid coach Capello) and was pretty much out of the reckoning for England. A recall due to injuries followed, and Beckham became an integral part of the Real side during a La Liga run-in that saw them win the League.

Had Beckham not agreed to the move already, it is possible he would have stayed at Madrid, but the contract had been signed and off he went. It is hard not to think he went with some regrets about a decision made almost in haste.

Beckham's time in LA has been unsuccessful. The initial excitement died down quickly, and Galaxy found themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table. Beckham's almost pedestrian style of football did not get the crowds out of their seats. Well-delivered crosses and set-pieces that may have been capitalised upon by players of more talent went unrewarded.

There is still a place for David Beckham at the top table of European football, and if he can maintain form and fitness, in the England squad as well. A league comparable to the English Championship in terms of quality is not big enough for Beckham.

Maybe a player of David's Beckham style is not big enough for MLS. While the standard of football seen in America remains average, the star who will catapult it into the forefront of world football will never join, whoever he may be.

If the FA Cup Is Dying, It Is the FA Who Are Killing It

Chris Dowding — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 08:24:20 -0500

According to many, it's the greatest cup competition in the world. Others like to wax lyrical about the "romance of the cup."

However you look at it, the FA Cup is a competition on the brink of implosion.

It has provided many of English football's most endearing and dramatic moments, with memorable matches and, of course, the much loved acts of "giant killing".

There can be no doubt, the FA Cup is a very special competition but it is now a victim of the immense popularity and subsequent over-exposure of football in this country.

Managers field weakened teams in order to preserve players for that all important league game three days later—and don't be fooled into thinking that it is just Premier League managers who adopt this attitude.

Manchester United's decision not to defend the Cup in 2000, taken in conjunction with the FA and the government to allow United to compete in the World Club Cup in Brazil—the hope being that this would aid England's bid for the 2006 World Cup—remains a sad blight on the competition's glittering history.

It would now seem, however, that the FA Cup is suffering at the hands of the governing body who's name it bears: The Football Association.

It is a widely held belief that the FA are about as useful as a chocolate fireguard, that they frequently make the wrong decision and that their organisational skills are poor at best.

A look at the farce that was the planning and building of the new Wembley gives this belief some weight, and it is Wembley itself that is one of the integral problems with the modern-day FA Cup.

On a few occasions now, the FA have experimented with the playing of the semifinals at Wembley or during Wembley's prolonged construction, Cardiff's Millennium Stadium (also the venue of the final during this period).

Each time they have tried it has been unpopular with the clubs, their fans, and the media.

Surely, one of the great FA Cup moments has to be seeing your team walk out at Wembley after a long and hard run through the rounds?

Would seeing them do the same thing a mere month earlier in the semifinal not devalue that accomplishment?

The main motivation here, as with most things in football today, is money. The gate receipts from a packed out Wembley will far outstrip what could be earned at a packed Villa Park.

But do the FA consider the fans in this fiscally motivated move?

In 1994, Oldham and Manchester United contested the semi-final at Wembley. Two sets of fans based very close together had to organise and pay for travel to London, and all the extras associated with such a day.

Oh yes, and their match ticket which may well have cost more than if the match had been contested elsewhere. The match ended a 1-1 draw, and the replay was held at Maine Road, Manchester—a ground easily accessible for all.

Now, bear in mind that this was 15 years ago, and while football has moved on (for better or worse), it would seem that the FA have not.

The playing of this year's semifinals at Wembley is a horribly transparent move by the FA to raise money to help pay off the debt that stadium has landed them with.

No consideration for the fans, no consideration for the teams. In short, no bloody clue at all.

Another problem that the FA have caused is that of television rights.

It is now widely accepted that if you want to watch Premier League matches live, you need to either subscribe to SKY, go to the pub or a friend's, or go to the match itself. In these times of great economic strife, these are not always viable options.

This has now been the way for over fifteen years and people deal with this, whether they are happy with it or not.

But should the FA Cup not be free for all to see? After all, it is the oldest cup competition in the world and the most famous (depending on who you choose to believe).

By selling half the television rights to a subscription only channel (previously SKY, now Setanta), the FA are depriving people from seeing the FA Cup at a time when it most needs their support.

This weekend sees a Merseyside derby in the FA Cup, a special occasion at any time, but this year given more poignancy as this year will be the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster.

Surely a match of this importance and emotional magnitude deserves to be watched by all who choose to do so, regardless of whether they have subscribed to a specific television channel or not?

Of course it does, but the money the match will generate for the FA and Setanta seemingly outweighs the "needs" of supporters.

The FA Cup seems to be a competition in danger of losing its allure. It will always be special—who doesn't love to watch the pampered Premier League playboys struggle in mud and rain at a tiny ground in the middle of January?—and it will always have a place in hearts of football supporters.

Modern day football has seen football supporters become increasingly alienated and priced-out of the game, certainly in terms of the Premier League and European competitions. The FA Cup now seems to be going down the same route.

There is not much tradition left in the English game anymore, and what little there is seems to be invested in the FA Cup.

This needs to be maintained and clung on to for dear life, or the FA Cup will become a shadow of its former self. The FA should realise this and act accordingly.

Sadly, it would seem that a healthy balance sheet carries more weight than the competition loved and cherished by many.

Ryan Giggs: A True Legend

Chris Dowding — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:47:38 -0500

When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his team to play Chelsea in last Sunday's Premier League clash, there were more than a few raised eyebrows at the inclusion of Ryan Giggs in a central midfield role.

Against a powerful midfield of Joe Cole, Michael Ballack, Deco, John Obi Mikel, and Frank Lampard, surely the 35-year-old Giggs would be outnumbered, outplayed, and outfought?

Not a bit of it. Instead, the veteran gave a midfield master class, helping control the game, putting in a sound shift defensively, and providing guile and craft going forward. Not bad for someone who spent a good 16 years playing on the left wing.

Giggs has been almost as central the success Manchester United have enjoyed over the last decade and a half as Sir Alex Ferguson.

His medal haul speaks for itself: 10 Premier League triumphs, four FA Cups, two League Cups, two Champions League victories, seven Community Shields, one UEFA Super Cup, one Intercontinental Cup, and one FIFA Club World Cup.

Considering he was on Manchester City's books as a youth player, he must be glad that Sir Alex Ferguson stepped in.

Giggs has, in part, been the architect of his own success, having to reinvent himself a couple of times.

He started out as a flying winger, not always sure of when to release the ball instead of taking on his full-back. If his end product, whether in the form of a goal or a telling cross, had not been so good, there is a chance he would not have received the plaudits he did.

As in Argentina, the search for "the new Maradona" is never ending (although Lionel Messi seems to fit the bill for some people). The search in Manchester has been for the "new George Best." Giggs is as close as anybody has come to filling that title.

Giggs had competition on the wings at Manchester United. Lee Sharpe was considered a contender for the title of "the new Best," also a left winger like Giggs. On the other flank was the flying Ukranian, Andrei Kanchelskis.

Rotation of these three classic wingers was essential, and it was rare that the same combination played week in, week out. The one constant always seemed to be Giggs, whether on the left or right flank.

Soon, the buzz over the young winger spread to Italy, and Inter reportedly made a big offer for Giggs. He himself had admitted he considered the move, but his longing to play at Old Trafford overcame his curiosity and he stayed.

As Giggs matured, so did his play. He began to realise that a ball infield or back to his full back (normally the ever reliable Denis Irwin) could be just as effective as a dazzling run. His understanding of keeping possession and the improvement of his delivery from wide positions helped him become a better player.

Championships began to pile up, and in 1999 came the incredible Treble. Giggs played a major part in each success. In the league he provided goals and assists. In the FA Cup semifinal replay he scored one of the great goals of all time.

Picking up on a loose pass from Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, Giggs beat five men before smashing the ball high into David Seaman's goal. His celebration—waving his shirt above his head to reveal a chest so hairy that Neanderthal man might have felt like a bit of a girl—has become almost as famous as the goal.

In the Champions League, he scored a late equaliser against Juventus at Old Trafford in first leg of the semifinal. This helped set up a win to take United to the final.

The final itself was a disappointment for Giggs. United had been stripped of their central midfield pairing of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes through suspension, forcing David Beckham into central midfield for the final. Giggs lined up on the right for the final, with Swede Jesper Blomqvist on the left.

Despite the incredible win, United were poor and Giggs found it hard to get into the game. His work over that season, however, had been invaluable, and he deserved his medal as much as any other player.

So, fast-forward nearly a decade and we find Giggs looking a bit grey, with a noticeable bald patch beginning to form, and without the pace to fly up and down the wing for 90 minutes.

For some players, this would be the beginning of the end.

Not for Giggs. Once again, he reinvented himself, this time into a central midfielder, still with a fair turn of pace, but with over 15 years of experience. In a team packed with midfield talent, Giggs realises he will be used sparingly, often as an impact player with 20 minutes left.

The 2008 Champions League Final saw Giggs break Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record for Manchester United, as United triumphed in the biggest club game in the world for the third time.

In the modern game, a player like Giggs is a rare commodity. He is a one-club man who has won everything there is to win with his club. AC Milan's legendary defender Paolo Maldini is someone who can point to a record that is better than Giggs. Not many others can.

Some will argue that Giggs' biggest weakness has been his nationality, which is Welsh. Born in Cardiff but raised in Salford, the Welshman with the Manc accent could have played for England.

Indeed, he played for England Schoolboys, but when the senior call came, he chose to represent his nation of birth. But while being Wales' most exciting player, Giggs frustrated the nation by constantly pulling out of friendly matches—a rare blot on his copybook.

If Giggs had chosen to represent England he surely would have filled the gaping hole in the left-side of midfield that has plagued the Three Lions for the last decade.

Perhaps the exposure on the world stage would have made Giggs an even bigger star. Maybe it would have been a catalyst for more overseas clubs to look to sign him.

There is a case for saying that in global terms, Ryan Giggs is not appreciated as much as perhaps he should be. While he is still playing, this may remain the case.

The last week saw speculation that Giggs' hometown club Cardiff City are considering making a bid for his services. While they would no doubt love to have Giggs in their lineup for the first game at their new St. David's Stadium next season, they shouldn't hold their breath.

Ryan Giggs is Manchester United through and through.

Perhaps for now the most fitting tribute one can pay to Ryan Giggs is recognizing that with every game he is breaking and extending his own record for games played for Manchester United.

To have been such an integral part of one of the world's biggest clubs, with one of football's most ruthless managers, for such a long time is incredible and not to be underestimated.

The true value of Giggs to his club and football in general will only be felt once he hangs his boots up and gives his notoriously dodgy hamstrings a rest.

No matter who you support, it is hard to disagree over Giggs' contribution to football: enduring brilliance, sensational goals, and a medal collection that most players can only dream of. With a distinct and welcome lack of controversy away from the pitch, the man is a true role model.

This word may be overused at times, and many are hesitant to apply it to players still active in the game, but for Giggs it is perhaps the only title that does him justice: legend.

History Beckons for World Club Cup Winners

Chris Dowding — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 03:33:27 -0500

In theory, the FIFA World Club Cup (FWCC for the purposes of this article) should evoke thoughts of Manchester United facing Boca Juniors, of Barcelona taking on Flamengo, and other such mouthwatering fixtures.

Gamba Osaka squaring off against Adelaide United doesn't exactly capture the imagination, but that is one of the fixtures that this year's FWCC has produced. Based on that, it is only natural for people to think of it as a nothing competition, just another FIFA money spinner.

For now, that reasoning may still be valid. In the future, less so.

The competition is now down to two teams, European champions, Manchester United and The Copa Libertadores winners LDU Quito of Ecuador. The two will meet in this Sunday's final, competing for the right to call themselves World Champions.

That's right, there is a chance that after the game, LDU Quito may be able to proclaim that they are the "best team in the world."

Based on that, a lack of interest, especially from European-based fans is, to a degree, understandable. But even back in "the old days" of the Intercontinental Cup, this was the case.

In South America, it is a different story altogether. In terms of club football, the term of World Champions is considered the pinnacle; a two-fingered salute to the money laden Europeans.

The FWCC has the potential to, in the future, mean as much to European clubs and their fans, as it does to their South American counterparts. FIFA are placing a lot of faith in a tournament that brings the champions from each continent together. Whether this faith is miss-placed or not, remains to be seen.

Should a team like LDU Quito face a surprise Champions League winning side in the future, a team who are not held in such high regard as Manchester United, AC Milan, or Real Madrid, then the FWCC's stock will fall dramatically. What then?

Would it go the same way as the Champions League, where almost three quarters of the sides competing are not champions at all? The introduction of teams who have not earned the right to be in the competition would devalue a tournament already under intense scrutiny.

But what if FIFA's plans come together? What if this tournament throws up fixtures worthy of its title?

The Oceana representatives will always be there to make up the numbers, unfortunately. Gamba Osaka demonstrated against Manchester United that they were capable going forward, producing some nice attacking football (their defending left a lot to be desired, on the other hand) and showed that Asian football is going in the right direction.

Africa produces some fine players, and teams like Zamalek and Al-Ahly, both of Egypt, have massive followings. Their presence at the competition will always be welcome.

That leaves North and South America and Europe. It is likely that the North will normally be represented by a Mexican team (Pachuca being this year's entry), unless MLS teams can improve dramatically. We already know what the South Americans and Europeans bring to the table.

A good final this year will be key to the FWCC's future well-being. Manchester United have taken a strong squad to Japan, and Sir Alex Ferguson knows well the prestige that the title brings. LDU Quito, while not being a team filled with household names will be a hard side to beat.

They will go into the match with the mentality of all South American teams in this fixture, that this is the most important club game of their careers.

It may take some time, but maybe one day, European clubs will adopt the same attitude.

A strong performance from Manchester United will go some way to ensuring that is the case.

England's Nerves Nearly Get the Better of Them

Chris Dowding — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 07:48:05 -0400

For 50 minutes at Wembley this evening, the fear, nerves, and lack of confidence that should have been dissipated by a storming performance in Croatia were rife in Fabio Capello's England side.

Passes that players would normally complete with aplomb were going astray. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard failed to dovetail—again. In short, England were a side that seemed to be waiting and hoping for something to happen, rather than making it happen.

If they were up against one of the hard-hitters of the international scene, this might be understandable. Against a young Kazakhstan team, it was unforgivable.

Maybe that is a touch harsh on the Kazakhs. They played with grit and determination, challenging for every ball, and forced England into unforced errors early on. And their 'keeper had a miniature mullet, which is always nice to see.

Unlike Samson though, his hair did not give him strength, as he flapped at a corner early in the second half, allowing Rio Ferdinand to head home. A welcome relief for Capello's men, who trudged off at half time with a fair bit of booing in their ears.

An own goal doubled England's tally soon after, before the boos started up again, this time aimed at Ashley Cole. His careless ball, played in the general direction of David James, was pounced upon by Kukeyev, who calmly slotted home.

For the next 15 minutes Cole, not the most admired footballer in the land to start with, was treated with derision at his every touch of the ball.

The exact opposite could be said of David Beckham after his introduction in place of Theo Walcott. The crowd cheered whenever he received the ball, and as cameo roles go, his wasn't a bad one. His delivery from out wide remains as good as ever, and he was later to set up England's fourth goal.

As for Walcott, he failed to build on his three goal performance in Zagreb, with sometimes poor decision making. However, a few scintillating runs did remind us of what a talent he is, and will be in the future.

A couple of goals for Wayne Rooney and a late strike from his replacement, Jermain Defoe, rounded off the game for England. A scoreline of 5-1 may have flattered England slightly, but once the goals started to flow, it was evident that the players were enjoying their football again.

So, what would Fabio Capello have ascertained from the match?

Well, unless those glasses of his are rose-tinted, he would have seen that Gerrard and Lampard simply do not work together as a partnership in midfield. They are too similar and as a result of that they want to be in the same place at the same time. Lampard emerged from the game with more credit on this occasion, as Gerrard's ball retention (and not for the first time in an England shirt) was poor.

He will also have come to understand the true value of Emile Heskey. The Wigan man put in a selfless performance up front, bringing players into the game and bullying the Kazakhstan defence with his power.

Heskey is an almost unique player, in that he is a forward who performs for the team and the team alone. Not personal glory for Emile; the team is everything. In international football, this is a priceless commodity, and one Capello should look to use on a regular basis.

True, Heskey will not score many goals—he has only hit the net once so far for Wigan this season—but as his club colleague Amir Zaki will testify, his efforts create chances for others.

Perhaps above all, Capello will have realised that his side thrive on confidence. For over half of the match, England did a good job of making Kazakhstan look assured. Some of his players look like the shadows of those who perform to the highest standards in the domestic game and in European club competition.

With playing for England comes pressure, of course, but if players can't go into this kind of fixture off the back of a superb performance against Croatia brimming with confidence, when will they? This is a question that not only Capello, but also his team need to address.

If England are to progress to the World Cup and make a positive impact there they need belief in themselves. The supporters need to believe in the team as well, and while jeering and booing the players doesn't help, it is a two-way thing. If England want the fans on their side, they need to get them there.

Nine goals in two games will go some way to achieving that, but there is still a lot of work for Don Fabio and his men to do.

Is Money Ruining "Our" Beautiful Game of Football?

Chris Dowding — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:25:40 -0400

In almost every walk of life, the old saying "the rich get richer while the poor get poorer" is true. Football is no exception.

The big clubs make millions, and spend millions, often ploughing revenue back into the club to attain success.

Lower down the leagues however, clubs struggle to make ends meet, have to sell their best players, and often flirt with the threat of administration.

The first thing to make clear is this: Nobody is to blame for this current state of affairs. It has been an almost organic growth, in tune with football's popularity and the game's economic state.

Football has never been more accessible that it is now. Numerous channels broadcast games from across the world, the matches they show reaching billions of people. The internet has seen the advent of a multitude of football related websites, broadcasting opinions, match reports, and match highlights.

One now has the opportunity to use the internet to purchase merchandise from the club of their choice, ranging from replica kits to mouse-mats.

Put simply, not only has football never been more accessible, it has never been so popular. Football has a worldwide market, and as such, it is marketed to a whole world of consumers.

The arguments are compelling. Is money ruining the game? Has it improved it? Both questions are equally valid, and both as hard to answer.

Someone who supports one of the world's biggest and richest clubs would argue that money has improved the quality of the game. It allows the world class players we watch at the World Cup, European Championships and Copa America to go to those clubs and ply their trade.

They often thrill and entertain, and the buzz of watching a world-class player doing what he does best can eradicate the lingering doubts one might have over the astronomical wages he earns.

Footballers earn a ridiculous amount of money, but again, this is in step with the way the game has gone economically. If the game was in the same financial state it was in twenty years ago, players would still be earning what would be considered ludicrous money.

Does it really make a difference to the man on the street if a player employed by Chelsea makes £25,000 per week, or £125,000 a week? Either way, the player will make more in a month than the average person will in a couple of years, or even a lifetime.

Footballers are given an incredible talent, as evidenced by the depressingly large amount of young players that don't make it. Make no mistake about it, most Premier League players have more talent in their little toe than you or I have in our dreams.

Should their unique talents not be rewarded?

At the other end of the scale, you have the clubs who are almost unable to operate due to financial constraints that they simply cannot set themselves free from.

In the case of some clubs such as Leeds United, this is down to poor management at executive level. The money Leeds earned from television revenue was not spent wisely, and they have spent the last four years paying the price for that.

The best hope for some clubs is that they can get an FA Cup draw against one of the top sides—a guaranteed money maker. That this is the biggest hope they have for making money is a sad state of affairs indeed.

The days of lower league teams producing talent to be sold on to clubs in the top flight seem few and far between now. Promising young players are picked up by the scouting networks of the big teams, thus depriving smaller clubs of a source of income they once relied heavily on.

The mega-money takeovers that Manchester City and Chelsea have been subject to are a world away.

So, is money ruining "our" beautiful game of football?

As I said, the arguments are compelling, and everyone will have a different view. Money may well be ruining football, but in some cases, the blame lies with the clubs themselves. Players and their agents will always be considered greedy. Sponsorship will continue and probably grow. More clubs will go out of existence. Sooner or later, as with any market driven by money, the walls may come crashing down.

Football could be a victim of its own success and popularity.

However, while football continues to be the most popular sport on the planet, there will always be a market for it. And where there is a global market for something, there will always be money.

For the forseeable future, money in football is here to stay.

Who In Their Right Mind Would Want To Manage Newcastle United?

Chris Dowding — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:36:54 -0400

It has often been said that the job of managing the English national side is the toughest in football. It has become evident over the last decade that it is closely followed by managing Newcastle United.

With the almost inevitable departure of Kevin Keegan comes the realisation that Newcastle are an almost unmanageable club. If Keegan, the Geordie Messiah, cannot succeed—who can?

The obstacles that will hinder any manager are seemingly endless; lack of money for transfers, a squad lacking on quality in depth, a board that appear to be unwilling to back the manager, and for the next man that comes in—the supporters.

When Kevin Keegan was appointed by Mike Ashley at the start of the year, it was evident from the off that an uphill battle faced him. The team was in a poor run of form and expectations were unrealistically—but understandably—high.

Within two weeks, Ashley brought in Dennis Wise as Executive Director of Football. It was made clear that Wise would have the final say on transfers, leaving Keegan to manage the team.

All of a sudden, King Kev realised that the job description didn't match the role he had undertaken.

The writing was on the wall for Keegan a few months later, when he admitted that his side simply could not break into the "Big Four". Not the words the club's owner wanted to hear.

He had ensured a blaze of glory and publicity accompanied Keegan's return to St James' Park, the returning man's name and the number one emblazoned on the shirt he wore when sitting amongst the fans.

The manager's candid comments could have been perceived as self defeating. All they served to illustrate was what the rest of the Premier League knew, and Keegan was all too aware of that.

Fast forward, and Keegan was gone, leaving of his own accord (if we are to believe what is coming out of St James' Park), but with a bitter taste in the mouth. Keegan claims he was hindered by interference from on high, which the club refutes.

Keegan was never going to succeed, and maybe bringing him back was a mistake. The appointment of Sam Allardyce at the start of last season seemed to be promising, but he ended up turning Newcastle into a shadow of his old Bolton side. The fans wanted entertaining football, Allardyce couldn't provide that.

Keegan's return was nothing more than a crowd-pleaser, an old hero come back to save the club and entertain the Toon Army. He was on a hiding to nothing from the start.

Mike Ashley now finds himself in a position of needing to persuade a new manager to sip from the poisoned chalice. The fan's choice (again) is Alan Shearer, but he has far too much nous to be draw into the shamble that is Newcastle United, and has ruled himself out of the running quickly.

Smart man.

The only option, to make the club successful in its current set up, is to appoint someone from abroad. Continental managers are more familiar and comfortable with having someone bring players in for them. True, they may not always want them, as evidenced by Carlo Ancelotti's apparent disquiet over the return of Andriy Shevchenko to Milan, but it is a system they know and accept as the norm.

There are no shortage of options and it is likely that Newcastle with compete with West Ham, also manager-less in an alarmingly similar fashion, for the appointment they want. Any manager considering moving to Newcastle would do well to carry out some extensive research before accepting the job.

They need to be aware of the burden of expectation placed on them, the club set up and the fact that they are most likely to fail.

The support at Newcastle United is so infuriated at the club's mis-management that any manager who comes in is likely to be treated with suspicion, and scepticism. They want Keegan back, and the next manager will have that to contend with that.

Newcastle United's next manager needs to be aware of that, and he also needs to be aware that he's taking on a job as difficult as any in English football.

Good luck to him. He'll need it.

England need goals and steel against Andorra and Croatia

Chris Dowding — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:31:47 -0400

Tomorrow evening, Fabio Capello will take charge of his first competitive match as England manager. Minnows Andorra should hold no fear for him or his players, but Capello needs to be aware that nothing less than a goal-fest will suffice.

In March of last year England laboured to a 3-0 win in the same fixture, away in Barcelona, booed off by their traveling support at half-time. They had not scored and against a side made up of primarily part-time players, this was not good enough.

Therefore, for those who are making the trip this time, the memory of those unhappy jeers should be fresh in the memory.

For Capello, this match represents an opportunity for him and his team to make a statement of intent. If England can go in at half time with three goals to their name and add a few more in the second half, it won't make the rest of the football world shudder.

What it will signify though, is that here is a group of players with belief and a confidence. Given the talent there is in the England team, that might worry a few sides in the qualification group. For Capello, who's reign has got of to the most inauspicious of starts, a win is the first priority.

To win with style would go some way to getting the press on his side, and the fans off his back. The common consensus is that little has changed since the last regime, and now the time for experimentation is over. Andorra may be the next opponents, but three point are at stake nonetheless.

England will then travel to Zagreb for the first real test of Capello's campaign, against Croatia. A 2-0 defeat in Croatia, and the 3-2 loss at Wembley that saw the demise of Steve McClaren and England's chances of qualification for Euro 2008, will be fresh in the minds of the nation.

A win would have a cathartic effect for both players and supporters. Only a fool would believe this will be easily achieved. As the games against England and the Croat's performances in Euro 2008 demonstrated, Capello's men will face a very well organised, inventive, and hard working team.

Players such as Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic are able to unlock defences with a run or pass and in Ivica Olic and Ivan Klasnic, two strikers able to finish off the chances created for them. England needs to come away from Zagreb with a win. A draw will not suffice, and could be a result that is later reflected on if qualification is not attained.

Ball retention will be key, as Croatia keeps the ball well, and will look to drag players out of position at every opportunity. Given England's profligate nature when in possession, this could prove critical, and the likes of Beckham have a responsibility to use the ball wisely.

If England can have a night where they click as a team, play for each other as opposed to just for themselves and maybe score a couple of goals, they will win. On paper, England have better players than Croatia - they need to believe that. Croatia manager Slaven Bilic is a master at motivation, and will have his players worked up and ready for the match.

Capello needs to match that. If he sends his players on the pitch in Zagreb doubting their ability to win the match, in front of a partisan and hostile crowd, they might just freeze. That is Capello's real test. If he can get that right, England might be basking in the warm glow of maximum points from their opening two games by the time the final whistle blows against Croatia. If he fails? An uphill task awaits him, both on and off the pitch.

Steven Gerrard's Absence May Have Silver Lining for England

Chris Dowding — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:45:17 -0400

When it was reported that Steven Gerrard would be going under the knife for a groin operation after Liverpool's Champions League qualifier against Standard Liege, there was a discernible amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth across the country. Nearly as much as there was when watching Liverpool's lifeless performance against the Belgian side.

Those with his club’s best interest at heart regard Gerrard as a talisman, and there are many who place him on a similar pedestal for the England team as well. When Liverpool need a goal he is normally there, saving his side. As for England? Not quite the same story.

Gerrard's problem at the international level stems from problems at his club. True, he pops up with a 25-yard screamer in the final minute of a big game, hence his talisman status. But does his manager Rafa Benitez know his best position? Does England manager Fabio Capello? More to the point, does Steven Gerrard?

Gerrard's all-action style is his downfall, his versatility his undoing. Liverpool's lack of width has been a problem for some time, leading Benitez to often do the following: to stick Gerrard out wide in one game, play him in the middle the next, behind Fernando Torres the game after that, before sticking him out wide again.

So, when it comes to the England side, what should we do with this enigmatic player? In England's last match against the Czech Republic, Gerrard took up a position on the left of the England midfield. He didn't stay there, constantly wandering infield to look for the ball—a natural instinct for a player who puts so much faith in his right foot.

This needs to be remedied, and Joe Cole put out on the left. Whilst not a left-footed player, he at least knows how to play the role for the national side. Gerrard does not. With matches against Andorra and, more critically, Croatia on the horizon, one of Capello's biggest problems has been removed.

Make no mistake about it, for all his undoubted talent, Gerrard poses a problem. He is not a holding midfielder, so playing him with Frank Lampard is, as proven, an unsuitable selection. He is an attacking midfielder, which means he needs someone alongside him to sit back and protect the back four.

Carrick is a playmaking option in this role, Hargreaves a more defensive choice. The other concern with Gerrard is the amount of games he simply does not perform in. His attitude and hunger cannot be questioned, but his ability to retain position for his team can be.

Granted, he can hit raking 60-yard balls as well as anyone, but his use of the ball is often poor. He is the main man in the Liverpool midfield, and is a regular in the England midfield as well. Both are poor at ball retention, and Gerrard can often be cited as a culprit.

Fabio Capello can now pick a midfield that may have more balance. Lampard will, no doubt, be the first pick in the centre, backed up by someone who can effectively perform a role working around him. Barry, Carrick, and Hargreaves all have valid claims to the position, and will all bring different qualities to it.

This is Lampard's chance to cement a firm partnership in the heart of the England side—and perhaps it is the chance for one of the players mentioned above.

They need to take it, otherwise, for all the problems he may present, Gerrard will be ready to step back in. Gerrard has the potential, even at this stage of his career, to become an England legend.

While Benitez and Capello continue to pick square pegs for round holes, the chances of this diminish all the time. If Gerrard can find it within himself to cut the unforced errors out of his game, he might just help them.

One City, Two Ronaldo's?

Chris Dowding — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 04:57:32 -0400

When Mark Hughes left Blackburn Rovers to take up the reigns at Manchester City, there was feverish talk of Ronaldinho ditching the sun and sangria of Barcelona and joining Hughes for a pint of Boddingtons in the rain. As we all know, the move never transpired, and Ronaldinho pitched up at AC Milan.

Since then Hughes has found his fledgling tenure at Eastlands beset by problems in the boardroom, and indifferent performances on the pitch. Today a story broke, albeit tentatively, linking Ronaldo with City. Not the world beating, transfer touting Ronaldo of rival Manchester United, but the other Ronaldo. Oh come on, you must remember him.

Brazil, PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Flamengo, buck-teeth, lots of goals, nearly as many injuries, three transvestite prostitutes on a night out? Ring any bells? That's right, the player once considered the best in the world, might be on his way to the City of Manchester Stadium. Amusing, is it not?

If ever a sign that City officials are on the verge of losing the plot, this is it. If Ronaldo had not had the problems, which have been so well documented, this would be a move of epic proportions. By the same token, if Ronaldo had not had those problems, this is a move that would never even be considered.

If City thinks that they're getting a player who can set the Premiership alight and score them a hatful of goals, then they're mistaken. Sad though it may be, Ronaldo is finished. The injuries he has had to endure, in addition to the pounds he has piled on over the years, have ripped his once incredible pace away from him, and that was by far his greatest asset.

Sure, he was an incredibly accomplished finisher and his build up play was more than reasonable, but mentally he knows he cannot hit the same heights again, admitting after his most recent injury that he didn't know if he would play again. In addition, here we are, with him being linked to the blue half of Manchester.

Some of City's signings over the last twelve months or so have been astute - Corluka, Elano and Petrov among them. They have a talented young manager who, given time, could turn them into a team that regularly competes in Europe.

However, the boardroom shenanigans and a seemingly overwhelming desire to out-do Manchester United could be City's undoing this season. There seems to be an almost needy requirement for a "superstar" to play in blue, one that might rival the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

If City buy Ronaldo they may have their superstar, but they won't have a player who can inspire his team and perform when most needed.

Wayne Rooney: The Time Has Come To Deliver

Chris Dowding — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:37:04 -0400

Let us not beat around the bush, Wayne Rooney is already the most talented English player of his generation. It seems like there is nothing he cannot do, and his willingness to track back, defend and generally put in a good shift for his team can only be met with admiration.

His appreciation for helping his team in defence and attack is one of Rooney's greatest assets. It is also, along with his penchant for animated discussions with match officials, his major failing.

It is in Rooney's nature to want to be involved in every aspect of play, in every area of the pitch, and you feel that he gets as much satisfaction from it as he does from thundering in a first time volley from 25 yards. While this is invaluable to Manchester United and England, he needs to be a more selfish player.

His goal return for United has always been consistent, his contribution never in question. But he is capable of so much more.

The way Manchester United currently line up (with a fully fit side) see Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo constantly swap positions, confusing the opposition and making space for each other. While each player excels in this endeavour, with an almost telepathic understanding of where their teammates are, this is a waste of Rooney's sublime talents.

Rooney is the closest Manchester United and England have to a classic "No. 10", a player who can sit between the midfield and attack and create. While Carlos Tevez is an exceptional player he, like Rooney, enjoys dropping deep and participating in play in midfield.

This leaves Rooney up front on his own, and there are spells in matches when he seems to be on the periphery of events. Unplanned interruptions through injury have also hampered his progress.

The search for a recognised striker, someone who will lead the line, is on-going at Old Trafford. Dimitar Berbatov seems to be the likely option, with Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Roque Santa Cruz of Blackburn also in the frame.

Such a signing would, of course, benefit the team as a unit. But the main beneficiary would be Wayne Rooney.

An out-and-out striker like the ones mentioned above would afford Rooney the opportunity to play where many feel is his favoured position—in the "hole". This would force the opposition into a dilemma, do they bring a defender out to mark him, or sacrifice a man from midfield to keep an eye on him?

It is no coincidence that some of Rooney's best performances have come when his talents have been allied with a striker who can win the ball in the air and hold it up. When Rooney has been positioned just off a striker such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Louis Saha or for a brief period, Henrik Larsson, he has played his best football—because of the service such players provide.

When Rooney finds himself on the edge of the box, with options to the side and in front, that's when the fun begins. He has always had games where he sits deep and creates, and games where he finishes what his team mates have started. But when Rooney puts both of those facets of his game together, he's virtually unplayable.

With the support for Cristiano Ronaldo among the Old Trafford faithful waning, and a new strike partner in the offing, this could be the season where Rooney really begins to fulfil the promise he has shown for the last five years.

In terms of his career, he's not even got out of third gear yet. Watch the sparks fly when he does.

Michael Carrick: Your Country Needs You

Chris Dowding — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:09:33 -0400

First of all, an admission: I didn't watch England labour to a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic last night. But then again, I didn't need to, and watching a high-lites package edited to try and show the English performance in a good light confirmed that. An England friendly comes with a few guarantees nowadays:

1. You will not be entertained.

2. You will be disappointed.

3. You will sit there and struggle to watch it almost as much as the floundering players on the pitch struggle to perform.

One thing is evident when watching the English national team, so abundantly clear yet without a seemingly obvious solution. A blatant lack of creativity. This is a team that generally lines up with four central midfielders, playing in a line across the middle of the park.

The four that lined up against the Czechs were Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and David Beckham. Hardly sets the pulses racing, does it?

The lack of a player who can provide genuine quality on the left flank is something that has plagued England for well over a decade. Stewart Downing certainly isn't the answer, and putting a right footed player out there only means that the position is often left vacant as the incumbent wanders infield to look for the ball.

The right wing, in theory shouldn't be a problem, but this being England, it is. Shaun Wright-Philips flatters to deceive, Aaron Lennon hasn't improved since his promising cameos at the last World Cup and David Beckham is bereft of the pace required.

The real problem though, lies in the middle of the pitch, and the answer is Michael Carrick. Here is a player that, on his day, can grab a game by the scruff of the neck, not by putting in bone-crunching challenges, or making driving runs into the heart of opposition territory, but by controlling the pace of the game.

Not since Paul Scholes played in the heart of the national side has there been a player who puts his foot on the ball, and with a cool head plays the right pass, whether it be a defence splitter or one that simply retains possession.

But here's the problem. Michael Carrick is only that player when he is in the right frame of mind. Watching Carrick when he's on form is a joy, and you could be mistaken for thinking you're watching that most talented of deep lying play makers, Andrea Pirlo, at work.

But when Carrick is having a shocker...he really does have a shocker. And then there's the games where his performances are so non-descript you would be forgiven for forgetting he was even on the pitch.

Now is the time for Michael Carrick to step up and become the player he has the potential to be. A player who can become the creative heartbeat of a team, who will play the defence splitting balls after he has won it from an opponent, who can, potentially, become one of the finest midfield play makers in the world.

If he can discover that in himself (and his performances at times for Manchester United have shown that on his day, he has it in spades), then all of a sudden the creative crisis that the English national team finds itself in could be resolved.

Tweety Enters The Arse?

Chris Dowding — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:45:01 -0400

Fear not! My first article here isn't some terrible cartoon/posterior fantasy. Far from it. It is about the, quite frankly, surprising news to which I awoke this morning. Mikael Silvestre, Tweety to his... friends, has left Manchester United and joined Arsenal.

Now, let me get something cleared up here and now. I couldn't care less that he has gone. I've never rated Silvestre—at times he does a very good impression of a supporter who has won a competition to play at Old Trafford. And is colour blind, with the co-ordination of an elderly giraffe on a bouncy castle.

Whether I could care less or not is an irrelevance though. He's gone to Arsenal and I just can't fathom it. Despite my dislike for Silvestre, I would rather he not go to one of our rivals, Not out of bitterness, but purely because I am concerned he might come good. And more specifically, he might come good against us.

Classic example. Samuel Eto'o is on Real Madrid's books. They don't like the cut of his jib, so they offload him to Mallorca, where he scores a shed load of goals and earns himself a move to Barcelona.

At Barca he becomes one of the most feared strikers on the planet, let alone Spain, and scores more goals. And guess who came back to haunt Madrid on more than one occasion?

Football is littered with stories of revenge, teams avenging previous defeat, England being punished for inventing the game by penalty shootouts and players haunting their previous clubs.

Silvestre spent nine (long, and often painful, error strewn) years at Manchester United. He has a lot of qualities—lightening pace, decent delivery from out wide and a head shaped like a kidney, so he might be an attractive signing for some clubs.

The smart money at the start of the summer was a return to France with Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux, then a move to Sunderland was mooted before a move across Manchester to the bitters seemed likely. And then Arsene Wenger stepped in to take him to Arsenal. We all know Arsene has a penchant for French talent, but surely he's seen Silvestre play?!

Surely he is aware of his chronic lapses in concentration and often woeful tackling (a game against Necaxa of Mexico springs instantly to mind, where he tried to get an unwanted piggyback off an opposing striker)? I know Arsenal are thin on numbers in defence, but surely someone younger would be a better option?

Either way, Silvestre has departed Old Trafford and in Evra and hopefully in half of the da Silva twins, Fabio, United are well catered for in the left back slot.

So, farewell Tweety. I do hope you do well at Arsenal, but with the usual quota of comedy defending thrown in for good measure.

And to any Arsenal fans who may be reading this—don't be too hard on him.