Bleacher Report - Articles by Phil Tomlinson

Carlton Cole to Spearhead England Challenge?

Phil Tomlinson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 06:42:02 -0400

Where did that display come from?

West Ham striker Carlton Cole might not have grabbed the headlines on Thursday morning, but the mobile frontman put in a performance against Holland that has made people sit up and take note.

I cannot have been the only one that thought Cole’s inclusion in the England squad was misguided, but I bow to Fabio Capello’s greater knowledge.

Cole arrived as a second-half sub in Amsterdam and played his part as England, through two Jermain Defoe goals, earned a deserved 2-2 draw.

The 25-year-old’s all round contribution was first class.

His hold up play was good, his control excellent and he almost capped his performance with a goal that hardly anyone except Capello and co knew he was capable of.

Cole crashed a volley inches wide of the post after a terrific piece of control and trickery, which would have been more at home from Wayne Rooney.

West Ham coach Gianfranco Zola has been bleating on all summer about Cole’s form and his fellow Italian Capello has been listening.

"I will choose the players who are in the best form at that time," said Capello.

"I saw Carlton Cole for West Ham against Napoli and I chose him because I could see he was in fantastic form.

"I spoke with one of the other coaches about Defoe who said he was doing really well. He has scored goals in the friendly matches he has played, so I chose him for that reason."

Cole is chasing one of probably four striking berths for next summer’s World Cup finals and with Rooney and Defoe heavily tipped for two of them, the battle for the remaining two spots will be intense.

Michael Owen looks up against it, especially when you consider that it’s likely to be either Defoe or Owen and not them both, while it's good odds Cole could have put himself ahead of Capello’s favourite Emile Heskey and the beanpole from Spurs, Peter Crouch.

Mike Ashley's Newcastle Decision Just Baffling

Phil Tomlinson — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 09:36:16 -0400

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley's reluctance to appoint a permanent manager is a baffling one.

Ashley has put the club up for sale and while there has been some interest in the struggling club, there is still no offer on the table.

It's not surprising really when you consider the shambolic state of the Tyneside outfit.

The huge wage bill at St James' Park and question marks hanging over the commitment and desire of many of the squad to return to the Premier League after last season's relegation would certainly be enough to put off the majority of potential investors.

But Ashley certainly hasn't aided the selling process by failing to install a management team.

Ashley, who has been described as a former billionaire, has on the face of it decided to cut his losses with the Magpies and is refusing to invest any more money in the club.

However enough investment to stabilise the club with a permanent manager and coaching team would not only be a good footballing decision, but also a sound business decision as well.

Newcastle would be a far more saleable asset with a good management structure and with Alan Shearer revealing he would be keen to take up the hot-seat, Ashley's hesitation is even more confusing.

It's a safe bet that Newcastle legend Shearer is the fans' choice and the experienced coaching team Shearer would bring with him would help steady the club, not to mention boost season ticket and merchandise sales.

Newcastle with Alan Shearer as manager would most definitely be a more attractive proposition to any potential moneymen, but Ashley can't see it and he seems content to continue with caretaker Chris Hughton at the helm.

However while things off the field look gloomy the Magpies at least regained some dignity with a battling 1-1 draw with West Brom in their Championship opener on Saturday, so maybe all is not yet lost for the Newcastle supremo.

The Champions League Draw Celtic and Arsenal Didn't Want

Phil Tomlinson — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 08:12:17 -0400

It was the draw Arsene Wenger and Tony Mowbray were dreading. An all-British play-off tie between Arsenal and Celtic later this month to reach the Champions League group stages.

After the Hoops' magnificent victory in Moscow in midweek it's a draw which will have brought Mowbray and his men back down to earth with a bump.

Celtic made history on Wednesday night as they recovered from a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Dinamo Moscow to progress 2-1 on aggregate thanks to an impressive 2-0 away triumph.

The Hoops had never won a European tie after losing the first game at Parkhead and they were notably buoyant after their success in Russia, but their next test is the most difficult Mowbray's men could have landed.

Lyon, Stuttgart, Sporting Lisbon, and Panathinaikos were all potential opponents for Celtic.

It is the first time the two clubs will have met in European competition and the prize will be a path to the lucrative stage of the competition.

The first leg will take place at Celtic Park on August 18 or 19, days after both sides begin their league campaigns, with the return a week later.

Arsenal will go into the two-legged knock-out, which will bring back memories of Manchester United's recent battles with Celtic and Rangers' historic tussles with Leeds, as the 1/3 favourites to progress, but boss Wenger will be cursing his bad luck over the draw.

The clash not only represents a mighty difficult obstacle, but Wenger has already spoken about his concerns over his side's fixture congestion with a squad which has been recently trimmed down.

Wenger said: "What is tricky is we have an international friendly on the 12th, France plays an official game, Croatia plays an official game.

"Then we play on the 15th, the 19th, the 22nd, at Manchester United, then again on the 25th, the second leg of the Champions League.

"It is a very heavy schedule, and that is why I have to find the right balance in every game and to have no injuries is important."

Champions League betting on this one could be very interesting.

Sir Alex Ferguson Shows Signs of Cracking

Phil Tomlinson — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:38:35 -0400

It's not often that you can accuse Sir Alex Ferguson of losing the plot but he certainly seems to have been ruffled during this close season.

The Manchester United manager is king of the "mind games" but it has been a tough pre-season for the wily old boss and he certainly seems to be letting matters outside Old Trafford get to him.

Fergie, who has guided United to three successive Premier League titles, hasn't had things his own way over the last few months and he appears to have taken his eye off the ball.

Ferguson was unable to stop Cristiano Ronaldo leaving for Real Madrid, despite saying earlier in the year that he, "wouldn't sell that lot a virus" and, despite giving a public blessing to the Portuguese star's exit, it's understood he was desperately hoping to hang on to the player.

Then Fergie was unable to broker a deal to keep Carlos Tevez at Old Trafford and to make matters worse he had to watch the Argentinian striker switch to rivals Manchester City.

Uncharacteristically, the United boss got caught up in a slanging match with Tevez over who had contacted who, or not as the case may be, and what offer had been put on the table to the forward.

Soon after that Ferguson targeted France forward Karim Benzema as the man he wanted to replace Tevez.

However that pursuit also ended in failure as Benzema snubbed a move to Old Trafford in favour of a big-money transfer to "that lot", or Real Madrid to be more precise.

It's been an eventful summer for Ferguson and certainly one that has prompted him to hit out at their rivals.

Fergie was fuming at Manchester City's welcoming of Tevez.

City officials had a billboard created which read: "Carlos Tevez, welcome to Manchester."

It didn't go down too well with Fergie and was branded "arrogant", while he also slammed City as a "small club with a small mentality".

Ferguson has also spoken about Real Madrid and believes Ronaldo's arrival could unbalance the Spanish giants.

It's unlike Fergie to focus his attention and energy on anything else other than matters concerning United and could be an indication that he's feeling the heat with the champions.

Whether any of this affects Premier League betting or Champions League betting remains to be seen.

County's Sven Deal Doomed to Failure

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:54:51 -0400

Sven-Goran Eriksson is reportedly poised to join the staff at Notts County, but how can the prospective link-up ever work out?

Eriksson’s CV is impressive, with the associations of England, Mexico, and Manchester on the list of his former employers, but an imminent move to England’s football basement is baffling.

After Middle Eastern group Munto Finance took charge last month, the Magpies, who finished a massive 19 points out of the playoffs last term, have set their sights on being in the Premier League within 10 years,

There’s nothing wrong with setting your sights high, but how could Eriksson, who has spent all of his career coaching the elite, help the Magpies crawl up the league ladder?

It could be argued that football in England’s bottom-tier is a completely different game that Eriksson is unfamiliar with. It is questionable how much the Swede knows about Grimsby’s forward line, or the merits of playing a flat back four at Accrington on a cold winter’s night.

There’s no time for flair in League Two; it’s all about hard work and effort. A manager is only as good as the players they have around them.

With Ian McParland retaining his position as manager, the Former Lazio chief is being earmarked for a director of football role at Meadow Lane...an even more baffling decision when you consider Eriksson’s hands-on approach, and his desire to work with his players on the training field.

Maybe it’s Sven’s contacts that the Meadow Lane board is gunning for, but I can’t see the charms of Sven being able to lure Mexico’s finest to Nottingham.

It’s a bizarre partnership, and one which looks doomed to failure, but it’s certainly got people talking about the new League Two title favourites, so Munto Finance will be happy at least.

When It Comes to Buying Players, George Graham Had It Right!

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:13:33 -0400

With the summer transfer market in full swing with clubs up and down the country looking to wheel-and-deal, it’s a difficult job for managers to recruit the correct talent.

But ex-Arsenal boss George Graham had it right.

He maintained to never buy a player who thinks he is taking a step down to join you, Graham believed the player would act as if he was doing you a favour by just being there.

Graham built title-winning teams at Highbury in 1989 and 1991 based on hungry players from so-called lesser clubs and although it’s almost impossible to repeat that feat at the very top now, it’s a theory that still holds water lower down the leagues in English football.

It’s often seen by lower league managers as the way forward to draft in players who have played at a higher level, but more often than not it doesn’t work out.

It’s vital players arrive for the right reasons and to achieve success and further their footballing careers rather than just picking up their wages at the end of the week.

Time after time you see players who have enjoyed most of their careers higher up the league moving down the pyramid for a final payday before hanging up their boots.

And it was always a scenario that Graham used to avoid in his time at the helm at Arsenal. He believed the mentality of the players he signed had to be right and that recruiting players who were improving was the way forward and it seems a good football bet that it's still worth adhering to today.

Gazidis's Soccer Salary Cap Call Is Off the Mark

Phil Tomlinson — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:58:33 -0400

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has this week called for the introduction of a salary cap in Premier League football, but I have serious doubts over its effectiveness.

Gazidis, formerly the deputy commissioner of Major League Soccer in the USA, said: “I think it is worth our while to investigate whether there are elements of the salary cap system, which they have in the US in NFL and baseball, which would benefit football.

“Clubs have a duty to provide more stability in our business models and some form of wage restraint is one element worth looking at. There are many ways in which it could work.”

In theory, there are two main benefits to the salary capping—promotion of parity between teams and control of clubs’ costs.

Primarily, an effective salary cap prevents wealthy teams from dominating leagues by luring all the best talent and enables each team to have the same pulling power and thus making the league more competitive.

Caps are already up and running in America in baseball and American football and in the Australian NRL and Super League with the NRL a fine example of its effectiveness with eight different winners of the grand final in the last 11 years.

However in Super League only teams times have triumphed in the last 10 years, with Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Bulls, and St Helens dominating the sport.

Whether the cap would be successful in the Premier League is debatable because transfer fees would still exist under Gazidis’ proposals and so the big guns would still be the only ones being able to break the bank for players regardless of the details of the salary cap.

Practice Makes Perfect for Stuart Pearce's England

Phil Tomlinson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:44:38 -0400

Stuart Pearce's England have practiced penalties in every training session for two years and on Friday in Gothenburg it paid off.

England's Under-21s were 3-0 up at half-time against the hosts Sweden in the European Championship semifinals, but a second-half collapse allowed the Swedes back in and after a goalless extra half an hour, penalties, which had never seemed likely, ensued.

Pearce had bowed out at the last-four stage on spot-kicks twice as a player, and two years ago as a coach and he was desperate not to repeat the feat again.

However after James Milner's slip and subsequent miss first up, England's players and staff looked away in disbelief, but that was the last wasted kick and England's well-drilled line-up eventually triumphed 5-4.

Whether it was luck or Pearce's attention to detail he certainly did everything in his planning and preparation to make sure nothing was left to chance and in the end made sure England's unwanted penalty record was not added to.

Before Friday's semifinal Pearce had described how he and his team had meticulously analysed the most successful way for each of his players to score from the spot and researched the order of the kicks.

"I will have a list of one to 23 penalty takers," he said. "I know the order which we take penalties. The only thing in doubt is the 11 on the pitch at that stage.

"We have analysed the direction in which players take penalties, which is the most successful way for each of our players, the success rate of those players, and obviously the goalkeeper's technique in saving penalties.

"We have spent two years working on those lessons. From years gone by the one thing that comes out is that when a manager walked out to the centre circle they had no idea who his best penalty takers were. He would ask who fancies it. That is not exactly a precise science, is it?"

In contrast Sweden coach Jorgen Lennartsson said: "We only practiced penalties once. I don't believe in practice. It is 90 per cent mental in that situation."

I think it's a safe international football bet that Pearce, whose reputation as a coach is growing by the day, had the last laugh.

Karim Benzema A Must for Manchester United

Phil Tomlinson — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:55:41 -0400

With Cristiano Ronaldo almost gone and Carlos Tevez not returning for a third season at Old Trafford, it seems a safe football bet that Sir Alex Ferguson must now make his move for Karim Benzema.

Ronaldo’s £80 million move to Real Madrid will be sorted out by the end of the month, as long as the parties can come to an agreement over the Portuguese star’s image rights, and Tevez has now revealed he will be moving on after United refused to make him the club’s biggest earner.

It leaves Manchester United with a huge void to fill when you consider the pair blasted 41 goals between them last season and an amazing 61 goals the previous campaign.

Expect Fergie to employ Wayne Rooney down the middle next season, but the United chief will surely have something up his sleeve to replace the dynamic duo, and French international Benzema can go some way to replacing the missing goals in United’s squad.

The 21-year-old announced himself on the big stage in 2007-08 when he fired 33 goals as Lyon triumphed in Ligue 1, and he followed that up this term with 24 goals as they finished in third spot.

The France international is contracted to Lyon until 2013, but an offer in excess of £25 million will be too good for the French outfit to refuse.

"He is with us, but nobody knows what will happen," said OL sporting director Bernard Lacombe.

"We didn't think Michael Essien would leave at the time, but when Chelsea arrived with the cheque...

"If United, who as we know have plenty of cash available, came and said we want to buy Benzema, what can you do? Not much."

Benzema looks to have all the attributes of a future United player with pace, terrific movement, and finishing ability, and with World Cup 2010 just around the corner, the player might decide to test himself in the Premier League.

Marcus Berg Set to Break Ice with Big Guns

Phil Tomlinson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:50:29 -0400

Sweden striker Marcus Berg looks set to be the hottest property to emerge from the Under-21 European Championships this summer.

The Under-21 hitman blasted a superb hat-trick in the hosts' opening 5-1 demolition of Belarus earlier in the week and the big guns across Europe are sure to send scouts to check on the Groningen man in the remainder of the tournament.

The 22-year-old showed lightning speed, terrific movement and fine heading and finishing ability as Sweden came from behind to overpower Belarus in Malamo with the help of Berg's well-taken treble.

Berg, who was born in Torsby—the hometown of Sven-Goran Eriksson—has not played for the Under-21 side for over year after making the senior side, but he took little time to settle back in and almost headed home a fourth goal only for the Belarus keeper to make a terrific flying stop.

Numerous clubs both in England and on the Continent will be keeping an eye on his progress in the tougher tests to come against Italy Under-21s and Serbia Under-21s and his Dutch club side will have a battle to keep hold of him.

Groningen landed Berg in 2007 for £2.5million from IFK Gothenburg after he helped them to the Swedish title by scoring 14 goals in 17 matches.

Since then Berg has developed in the Eredivisie and blasted 30 goals in his first 50 Dutch top-flight games, which has seen him capped by the Swedish senior side.

Berg in fact scored his first senior international goal in the 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over Malta earlier this month.

Wayne Rooney to Thrive on Ronaldo Exit

Phil Tomlinson — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:51:27 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo's impending world-record transfer to Real Madrid will give Wayne Rooney the opportunity to stake a long-term claim for a central striking role at Old Trafford.

The England ace has been craving a continued crack down the middle with Manchester United and the chance to forge an effective partnership with Dimitar Berbatov.

Rooney's recent displays for England show just how dangerous he can be playing centrally and his two goals in the 6-0 win over Andorra on Wednesday have taken his tally to 10 goals in his last seven England internationals.

Sir Alex Ferguson last season often used Rooney on the left of a three-pronged forward line and in the Champions League semifinal and final, Ronaldo played down the middle with Ji-Sung Park on the right.

It's a position that Rooney has filled admirably, but let's face it, Rooney is the type of whole-hearted player who would give his all in any position—even in goal.

He very rarely speaks about his desire to play as a central striker, probably out of respect for Sir Alex, but there's no doubt about the fact he would prefer to play down the middle, where he can be a bigger goal threat.

With Ronaldo seemingly on his way to Real Madrid for 'silly' money, Sir Alex looks set to sign Carlos Tevez on a permanent basis, but he will still be in the market for another forward.

Antonio Valencia, Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema are all names who have been linked with United as they try and draw a line under the exit of the World Player of the Year.

United undeniably will miss the goals of Ronaldo, but Fergie has sold big players in the past such as Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooy and still managed to put together world-class teams and now will be no different.

Hull Boss Phil Brown's Antics Just Shameful

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 27 May 2009 05:10:38 -0400

Unfortunately I can't get the image of Hull boss Phil Brown singing karaoke out of my head.

It was a truly undignified sight, not to mention X-rated to listen to as well.

How a manager can celebrate with such gusto after watching his struggling side survive in the top flight, virtually by default, is at the very least galling.

His Tigers side managed just one win in their final 22 Premier League games, and that was a fortunate last-gasp smash and grab triumph at Fulham, to somehow stave off the threat of relegation.

I've got to say my dislike for the former Bolton assistant boss goes back to December when he handed his men a public dressing down on the pitch at Eastlands after going in 4-0 down to Manchester City at half-time.

Then there were indications Brown had got ideas above his station after guiding Hull to four straight wins in September and October, including away triumphs at Arsenal and Spurs.

Of course he should be happy at avoiding relegation in his first season in with the big boys, but the undignified way in which Brown grabbed the microphone and the limelight after Hull's 1-0 defeat by a third-string Manchester United side on Sunday was shameful.

In stark contrast on the very same day, Sunderland found themselves in a similar situation to Hull.

They also knew a win would secure their survival, but they were beaten 3-2 by Chelsea and had to rely on defeats for Middlesbrough and Newcastle to confirm their top-flight status.

Indeed defeats for the Magpies and Boro meant Sunderland, like Hull survived, but boss Ricky Sbragia showed a certain humility.

Sbragia recognised the fact that his men had been fortunate and then announced he was stepping down in order for Sunderland to appoint a "big name" manager.

It was a humble act from Sbragia and one which Brown could do with taking note of.

Sir Alex Ferguson's Selection Set to Rile Prem Pair

Phil Tomlinson — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:00:01 -0400

I can hear the bleatings from the North-East already as Sir Alex Ferguson prepares to rotate his squad on the final day of the Premier League season.

Fergie takes his Manchester United side to relegation-haunted Hull on Sunday and with the champions in action in Europe’s biggest club competition the following Wednesday, Sir Alex will rightfully rest his star men at The KC Stadium.

That’s not going to go down too well in the north with Middlesbrough and Newcastle both dependant on United doing the business in East Yorkshire.

It looks like a safe football bet that Boro are doomed and need to win and hope for a four-goal swing as well as relying on defeats for Hull and Newcastle.

The Geordies on the other hand, who face Aston Villa at Villa Park, are a point behind Hull and need to better the Tigers’ final day result.

Toon boss Alan Shearer will be praying that Fergie throws his big guns into action against Hull, but with the title already sewn up and the date in Rome so close it seems unlikely.

Ferguson will field a second-string side, but players such as Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov, Rafael and the suspended Darren Fletcher could all feature, however that is unlikely to appease the Newcastle management.

They are nailed on to voice their disapproval, but Fergie won’t buckle under pressure and why should he with another European title at stake?

In truth the modern game is about managing a squad and Fergie certainly knows how to do that. He’s the best in the business at picking the right team for the right occasion.

The only grumble Shearer and co can have is that they haven’t already picked up enough points to be safe.

Martin Laursen Retirement Has Martin O'Neill on the Lookout

Phil Tomlinson — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:48:16 -0400

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill will be forced to open his chequebook this summer after the retirement of central defender Martin Laursen.

Laursen, 31, will be a massive miss for Villa who have alarmingly slipped away in the Premier League this season.

When Danish lionheart Laursen was lodged at the heart of the Villa back four, O’Neill’s men were flying high in fourth place, but after his injury in December Villa found cleansheets hard to come by.

It now looks like a safe football bet that Villa are destined for a sixth or fifth-placed finish after a wretched recent spell of just one win in 11 in the Premier League.

Curtis Davies, Zat Knight, and Carlos Cuellar will be the men vying for the two centre-back slots next term, but O’Neill is certain to try and bolster his defence and a leader like Laursen will be hard to come by.

Laursen, who announced his retirement on Friday, signed for Villa from AC Milan for £3million in May 2004—after impressing in the European Championships of that same year.

In three seasons after his transfer from Milan he endured a frustrating time with injury, but in 2007-08 he emerged from his injury hell and proved to be a diamond at the back.

This season started brightly after being named captain before the start of the campaign and scoring the terrific opening goal against Ajax in the UEFA Cup.

However he suffered injury once again during the defeat of West Ham at Upton Park last December and he only returned to action against West Brom in January but he suffered a reaction after the derby clash and that proved to be his farewell appearance.

He made 91 appearances and scored 11 goals for the claret and blue troops.

Fulham Boss Roy Hodgson Needs Crowning

Phil Tomlinson — Sun, 10 May 2009 08:06:32 -0400

Forget Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson should be named Manager of the Year.

Fergie looks all set to add more silverware to the Old Trafford trophy cabinet—aided by a multi-million budget—but Hodgson’s assembled a top-10 Premier League outfit on peanuts.

The 61-year-old London-born tactician has been inspirational since his arrival at Craven Cottage in December 2007.

Hodgson somehow managed to keep the doomed Cottagers in the top flight last season as they won their last three games to fend off the threat of relegation to the Championship and this season they have gone from strength to strength.

The Cottagers sit in ninth place and are targeting a seventh-placed finish which would mean a place in the Europa League next season.

With three games remaining Fulham look well placed to surpass their highest ever league position—ninth in the Premier League in 2004 under Chris Coleman.

The former Swiss national team boss also has an eye for a player and the signing of centre-back Brede Hangeland in January 2008 from Copenhagen for a bargain £2.5million was a masterstroke.

The Norway international is now rated in £10million-plus bracket and the London club will do well to keep hold of the 27-year-old in the summer.

Hodgson was also shrewd in his decision to offload talisman Jimmy Bullard to Hull for £5million. The 30-year-old midfielder was after a lucrative long-term deal at the Cottage, but Hodgson decided to allow the injury-prone star to leave and he’s been proved correct as the player picked up another long-term knee problem in his first game for the Tigers.

And all the credit has to go to Hodgson, who has developed a well-drilled, competitive footballing side on a limited budget.

Only Half a Job Done for Bosingwa and Chelsea

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:06:10 -0400

Jose Bosingwa was given a huge pat on the back for the man-marking job he did on Lionel Messi on Tuesday as Chelsea held Barcelona to a goalless draw in the Champions League.

But it’s only half a job well done and Guus Hiddink’s men must not get carried away as Messi and Co. are likely to pose a bigger threat away from home in the second leg.

Bosingwa was switched from right-back to left-back to keep the world’s best player, Messi, quiet and, against all the football odds, he did so admirably.

Only on a few occasions did Messi drift infield and pose the Blues any real problems.

“I think the biggest compliment should go to Jose because I think it was the second time in his life that he played at left back and it was against Messi," said heroic keeper Petr Cech.

"But you couldn't see Messi on the pitch today. John (Terry) was also fantastic and I have to say so were all the other guys because it is not easy to come here and deal with all their attacking threat.”

Barca had netted in every home game this season and with Messi, Samuel Eto’o, and Thierry Henry scoring over 90 goals between them this term, Chelsea’s defensive display has to be applauded.

However, at Stamford Bridge in the semi-final second leg there will be more onus on Bosingwa to get forward and support Chelsea’s narrow midfield, which will allow Messi more time and space.

It might be that Dutch coach Hiddink instructs either Michael Essien or John Obi Mikel to keep an eye on Messi when Bosingwa marauds forward as an away goal for Barca will leave the Blues needing to score twice.

But Hiddink may decide to restore the suspended Ashley Cole to the side at left-back in the second leg, which may mean Bosingwa switching to his natural right-back berth.

Alternatively, Bosingwa’s fine job in the Nou Camp may persuade Hiddink to keep the Portuguese star at left-back with Cole or Branislav Ivanovic on the opposite flank.

Guus Hiddink No Fan of Rotation Policy

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 04:33:38 -0400

Rest assured if you're planning to buy a ticket for the FA Cup final, Guus Hiddink will be fielding his strongest Chelsea XI.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has come under fire for fielding a second-string side in Sunday's FA Cup semifinal defeat to Everton and pundits and the tabloid press alike have been quick to deride Fergie's thinking.

Ferguson has though stuck by his decision and pointed to the heavy Wembley pitch and the club's crucial games in the Premier League and Champions League as the reason why he rotated his line-up.

But whether you agree with Fergie's decision to stick with the youngsters, many of whom had played in the previous rounds, or believe his actions showed no respect for the world's greatest domestic cup competition, Mr Hiddink won't be following suit.

The Dutch coach is not a fan of the rotation system and Chelsea, who like United are still chasing glory in the Premier League and Champions League, will be at full strength in every game with the season drawing to its conclusion.

"If there is a player who has frequently started, they love to play, they love to train," Hiddink told the club's website.

"I am very well informed by my eye and by Ray Wilkins' eye, and by facts and data from our staff who are backing up all the details. We have the info and with some players you must be aware that they are not getting in an overload situation, but not rotation as a system.

"The physical fatigue is also to do with the mental fatigue. The body is able to do a lot of things but most of the time the mental part is obstructing the body. So you can do a little bit more sometimes and even more when you are in a good sequence of games."

It's reassuring for the fans who know the Blues will be "at it" in every game but his methods, like Fergie's, will only be judged at the end of the season when the silverware is being handed out.

Ross McCormack Looks to Fire Bluebirds to Promotion

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:57:25 -0400

The race to join the Premier League has been as competitive as ever this season and with a month to go, at least five clubs are still dreaming of automatic promotion.

Wolves are top with 83 points and are all but sure of a place in the top two, but with just four teams below them separated by seven points it's the team who can hold their nerve that will be promoted.

Cardiff are in decent position in fourth spot just four points behind second placed Birmingham, as they have a game in hand, but more importantly a striker in the form of Ross McCormack.

The Scottish frontman has looked a class act over the last few months, he is on top of his game and could be the key man for the Bluebirds.

The 22-year-old, who signed on a free transfer from Motherwell in the summer of 2008, has proved a shrewd acquisition after netting 21 Championship goals this season.

The former Rangers man has developed as a player at Ninian Park and his talents have also been recognized by Scotland. The striker has been capped three times and netted in the recent 2-1 win over Iceland.

Cardiff have won their last three games with four goals from McCormack, handing the forward seven goals in his last seven games. With four games to go he looks primed to fire the Bluebirds to promotion.

While the title looks out of reach, Cardiff are 2.8 for promotion and could be entering a winning run that will see them finish second. Sheffield United are the form team, but the goalless draw with Nottingham Forest ended their run.

The on-form McCormack might be enough for Cardiff to overcome three away trips from their last four games.

The Bluebirds face Preston, Charlton, and Sheffield Wednesday away and Ipswich at home.

But only PNE look set to have anything to play for with a faint hope of the playoffs, and that could work in Cardiff's favour. Charlton will already be relegated, while Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich are midtable fodder.

It could well go down to the final day, but Cardiff looks in good shape, and you should use your next football bet to back McCormack having his say over the last four games.

Big Night for Big Peter Crouch

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:03:46 -0400

England coach Fabio Capello looks set to put his faith in Peter Crouch against Ukraine at Wembley on Wednesday night.

Capello has been hit by several injuries to his forward line with Emile Heskey, Carlton Cole and Darren Bent all ruled out leaving Crouch as the man to partner Wayne Rooney.

Crouch was a substitute in the 4-0 win over Slovakia at the weekend, but Wednesday's date is back to business and a World Cup qualifier and even though Capello might have reservations about his beanpole striker, 'Crouchie' will come up with the goods.

"Crouch is the best forward I can put on there," said the England boss.

"He can do the job that Heskey did. But the most important thing will be the movement near him because he cannot play in exactly the same way as Heskey.

Crouch has netted an impressive 14 goals in 32 international appearances for the Three Lions and the Portsmouth star has never let England down when called upon. He has come under fire for not scoring against the so-called big sides, but the simple fact is he hasn't played in many games against top opposition.

The 28-year-old has recently ended a barren run for his club side and if you're looking for a first goalscorer against the Ukraine then Crouch could be a decent football bet at 6.6.

With four wins from four in Group Six another victory over a dangerous Ukrainian outfit will go a long way to securing England's place at the 2010 World Cup and Crouch, who made his England bow in 2005 under Sven-Goran Eriksson, can be a big part of the finals squad.

Crouch has never started a game for Capello and went through a period when he did not even make the Italian's squad, but for the 28-year-old Wednesday is a big night and with the supply likely to come from David Beckham, Aaron Lennon and Steven Gerrard, then Crouch won't disappoint.

Aston Villa Boss Right to Slam Agbonlahor Detractors

Phil Tomlinson — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 06:34:57 -0400

Aston Villa chief Martin O'Neill is not one of my favourite managers, but he was well within his rights to vent his fury at Villa ‘fans’ after their negative reaction towards Gabriel Agbonlahor on Sunday.

Agbonlahor has been terrific this season for O’Neill, a fact that the Irishman acknowledged after the young striker was booed off in the 2-1 home defeat by Spurs.

O’Neill was upset at the catcalls Agbonlahor received after the striker failed to make an impact against Tottenham at Villa Park. Agbonlahor has netted 11 goals this season but only two since mid-December, and he was booed by supporters when replaced by Nathan Delfouneso in the latter stages.

O’Neill said: "Gabby has been fantastic for this football club and I am very disappointed with what happened when he was substituted. Ever since I have known him, two and a half years ago, he has been brilliant.

"He is going through a period where his confidence is low but I have got to tell you that is no way to treat him after what he has done here. I can put up with many other things but that was uncalled for and people have short memories. I've always said if you pay your money you can do what you want but that sort of thing doesn't help anybody."

O’Neill got it wrong last month when he played a weakened team in the UEFA Cup defeat by CSKA Moscow, but he always backs his players and he knows the young England striker will be a key man for club and country over the next few years.

Maybe the youngster is being made a scapegoat for Villa’s poor recent form—they’ve not won in seven games—but the Villa ‘fans’ who booed Agbonlahor over the weekend should hang their heads in shame.

Middlesbrough Desperate for Afonso Alves Goals

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 14:00:50 -0400

Middlesbrough are in a relegation dogfight and club-record signing Afonso Alves needs to deliver before Boro find themselves in the Championship.

Gareth Southgate paid around £12 million for the Brazilian frontman, who arrived on Teesside with a formidable goalscoring record. The 28-year-old plundered 45 goals in just 39 appearances for Heerenveen in the Dutch League, including a record seven in one match as Heracles Almelo were brushed aside 9-0.

His efforts in Eredivisie persuaded Southgate to pay big bucks for the Belo Horizonte-born star, but so far the big striker has failed to deliver and Boro face relegation into the Championship.

The Teessiders are next to bottom and at today's latest odds as short as 2.38 to be relegated into the second tier and how they could do with their former Malmo striker to find his form.

Alves, who signed back in Jan. 2008, has managed only four Premier League goals in 28 top-flight matches this season. Southgate has continued to back his man, but even he appears to be losing faith with Alves, who has been an unused substitute in the last two matches—a 4-0 defeat by Spurs and a 2-0 success over Liverpool.

Boro's frontline striker has just one strike to his name in his last 14 Premier League games and the Riverside club's lack of goals—just 20 in 28 games—must be a concern for Southgate with the end of the season in sight.

Turkey star Tuncay and England winger Stewart Downing do have the ability to give Boro a fighting chance of survival, but Alves must start scoring and fast or else Middlesbrough can forget the Premier League.

Phil Tomlinson is a professional sports writer who blogs about football and football betting.

Did Aston Villa Boss Martin O'Neill Get It Wrong?

Phil Tomlinson — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:52:20 -0500

Aston Villa were cruising to three precious Premier League points with three minutes to go on Sunday and then they conceded two late goals to relegation-threatened Stoke City.

It was a game Villa and their expectant fans had earmarked for three points especially after Martin O'Neill selected a reserve side for last week's UEFA Cup clash with CSKA Moscow. But they had to settle for just a point after the battling Potters rescued a 2-2 draw at Villa Park.

So in a week after Villa were knocked out of the UEFA Cup and failed to open up a bigger gap on fifth-placed Arsenal, who could only draw against Fulham, did O'Neill get it right leaving out his big guns in Moscow?

I can't help thinking Villa missed a trick in the UEFA Cup. A full-strength Villa would have given CSKA Moscow a tough time and I'm confident Villa's young guns are fit enough to have played twice in the space of four days because their squad simply isn't big enough.

But O'Neill made the decision to field a shadow side in Moscow with several of the squad having very little first-team experience. In fact just three players kept their places for the date with Stoke. As expected Villa were beaten 2-0 in the Russian capital, but I believe the selection policy then placed added pressure on a 'fresh' Villa to beat Stoke.

It didn't happen, but O'Neill, who is one the finest coaches around, is sticking to his guns.

O'Neill said: "I took the decision to do what I did (in Moscow). People seem to forget that in every FA Cup game we've gone as strongly as possible.

"We went really strongly in the first game against CSKA and tried to get ourselves in front and then we looked a bit tired in the following game against Chelsea.

"On the basis of what is ahead of us, I made the decision. Not for one minute do I think the UEFA Cup is unimportant. But in terms of priority, I had to make a decision.

"I am a football manager and that is my job."

Villa still lead Arsenal by six points and at today's latest odds are 1.62 to finish in the top four.

O'Neill will rightly be lauded if his men secure Champions League football, but will he rest players in the Champions League next season if Villa are going well again in the Premier League?

By Phil Tomlinson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football and football betting.

Stuart McCall Molding Bradford City Into Winners

Phil Tomlinson — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:12:34 -0500

In his playing days Stuart McCall was a determined midfield dynamo with a never-say-die attitude. And now the former Scotland international seems to have instilled those qualities in his beloved Bradford City.

The Bantams, who were in the Premier League in 2001, now find themselves in the Football League basement, but after several depressing seasons in Yorkshire the club have high hopes of promotion to League One.

The promotion favourites lie in fifth place just four points adrift of table-topping Brentford with 15 games remaining and ready to pounce on a top-three finish.

The bookies have the Bantams priced at football odds of 9.4 to win the league and if you believe the saying "cleansheets win titles" then Bradford are in with a shout. McCall's men have picked up 10 points from the last 12, but more importantly they have not conceded a goal in that four-match run.

It's six hours since goalkeeper Rhys Evans conceded and as McCall enthusiastically points out, only one goal conceded from "open play" in 11 matches.

It's an impressive run from the West Yorkshire side, who regularly pack in over 12,000 fans at their Coral Windows Stadium, and considering the enforced changes in McCall's back four, it is even more admirable.

Skipper Graeme Lee has been a rock, while new boy Zesh Rehman has arrived on loan from QPR and added experience and composure.

But McCall's find of the season must be young defender Luke O'Brien, 20, who has made the left-back berth his own and who has been impressing the watching scouts with his consistent displays.

The role of on-loan Rangers midfielder Dean Furman should also not be underestimated in City's new-found defensive stability. The all-action 20-year-old is similar in style to McCall in his City playing days and the Cape Town-born star has been inspirational over the last few months.

McCall, who took over in the summer of 2007, has moulded Bradford into a side who are defensively sound and resolute and with Nicky Law, Peter Thorne, Michael Boulding and Steve Jones to get the goals they look to be in as good a shape as any of their rivals heading into the final third of the season.

By Phil Tomlinson, an online sports writer for Betfair—Check them out for Cheltenham odds.

Gianfranco Zola's West Ham in Fine Fettle

Phil Tomlinson — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:00:47 -0500

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola needs a huge pat on the back for his work at Upton Park this season.

The former Italy Under-21 coach took up the reins in the east end in September 2008 and has come through a rocky patch with the capital club to find them sitting in the eighth spot in the Premier League with plenty of optimism for the future.

Zola took over from Alan Curbishley and his reign started in superb style with two wins in his first two games. However, things went pear-shaped with the Hammers, who then went seven games without a win.

It was a tough spell for the former Chelsea star and a time when pundits and fans alike were calling for the head of the diminutive Italian, but Zola's character saw him through it and he has since thanked the Hammers for their patience.

"It took me a long time and maybe I would have been sacked at a different club after two months, so you definitely need time," Zola said.

Zola's men have lost just once since their slump, falling to Premier and UEFA champions Manchester United last week.

However, before that the Hammers played seven top-flight games with their success due to a strong backbone and a nice blend of youthful exuberance and experience.

In Robert Green, the Hammers have a goalkeeper who, unlike his England colleague David James, is rock-solid and rarely makes a mistake.

England defender Matt Upson is also reliable alongside Welsh star James Collins, but it's Zola's midfield quartet of Scott Parker, Jack Collison, Valon Behrami, and Mark Noble that have been eye-catching.

Parker, 28, and Noble, 21, must be the hardest working midfield pair in the Premier League, while 23-year-old Behrami and 20-year-old Collison provide the flair.

Swiss international Behrami looks a snip of £5 million, while Wales dynamo Collison looks like the pick of the bunch. The youngster looks to have all the qualities of a modern-day midfielder with energy, determination, and an eye for the goal, and Zola might have a job keeping the starlet, who has made the step up to senior international football with Wales.

The Hammers have the in-form Carlton Cole leading the line and it will be interesting to see how new £9 million-signing Savio performs after his arrival in the transfer window.

Zola also has youngsters Freddie Sears and James Tomkins waiting in the wings as the Hammers push for a top-six spot.

That might just prove out of their reach this term, but they face Middlesbrough in the FA Cup this weekend, and at football odds of 15.5 they might be worth a punt to go one better than they did in May 2006 when they were beaten in the showpiece on penalties by Liverpool.

By Phil Tomlinson, an online sports writer for Betfair. Check them out for Cheltenham betting odds.

West Ham Would be Right to Axe Dyer

Phil Tomlinson — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 15:18:55 -0500

West Ham's patience with injury-prone midfielder Kieron Dyer has finally snapped, according to recent tabloid reports.

The 30-year-old midfielder has not played a full 90 minutes for the Hammers since August 2007 and if the club have secretly decided to cut their loses on the £6million recruit it would not be a surprise.

Dyer, who was signed from Newcastle in 2007, picked up a virus whilst on the verge of a comeback in December and now the former England man is understood to have been hit by a hip problem.

Dyer made two 90-minute appearances last season before he suffered a double leg fracture in a cup clash with Bristol Rovers in August 2007.

Since then Dyer has been the forgotten man at Upton Park and has made just two sub appearances—both in January 2009 for a total of 23 minutes football.

Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury is believed to be paying Dyer around £60,000 a week and the club are believed to be keen to offload Dyer at the end of the season.

New boss Gianfranco Zola is keen to stamp his authority on the squad and the performances of Jack Collison, Scott Parker and Valon Behrami will mean Dyer won't be missed at Upton Park.

The midfield trio have been terrific in West Ham's recent revival which has seem them climb into eighth place in the Premier League and football odds of 9.0 to break into the top six this season.

Dyer's team-mate Dean Ashton could also be a victim after his own injury problems.

The 25-year-old former Norwich striker hasn't played a game since September 2008 after picking up an ankle knock, but with age on his side Zola might be best advised to persist with Ashton, who was tipped to become an England regular.

By Phil Tomlinson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football and football betting.

Joe Kinnear's Slip Up Very Apt

Phil Tomlinson — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:51:43 -0500

Joe Kinnear's slip of the tongue on Wednesday night might just have hinted what's ahead of him over the next few months after referring to (Charles) N'Zogbia as "Insomnia".

Twice in the post-match interview the Newcastle boss insisted his French midfielder's name was a sleeping disorder, but after another reverse at Manchester City, Kinnear looks set to become better acquainted with the word.

The Magpies slipped to their fourth defeat in five games leaving them in 16th place in the Premier League, but only two points clear of bottom-placed West Brom.

And Kinnear has now lost Michael Owen and Joey Barton, who will be sidelined for six and eight weeks respectively after picking up injuries at Eastlands.

Barton has broken a metatarsal, while Owen has an ankle injury leaving Kinnear down to the bare bones ahead of Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland.

The Geordies are already without Mark Viduka (Achilles), Claudio Cacapa (knee), Obafemi Martins (hernia surgery), Shola Ameobi (knee), Habib Beye (ankle) and Tamas Kadar (broken leg), while Shay Given looks all set to jump ship to Manchester City.

It looks like more dark days for Newcastle, who are fourth favourites for the drop in the Premier League betting.

The Magpies, who have picked up 19 points in 18 games since Kinnear's arrival in September, are football odds of 3.85 for the drop, with only Stoke, West Brom, and Middlesbrough shorter.

"It is one thing after another and life is seriously tough at the moment," said Kinnear.

"The credit crunch is killing us.

"Mike has lost £2billion quid in his own businesses and shares. He is just about paying the wages but it is not an easy situation.

"You look at Tottenham paying £16million here and £14million there. I would love to spend money like that but I can't. You can see why so many people bottled this job."

Time For Harper To Step Out Of The Shadows

Phil Tomlinson — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:02:21 -0500

Newcastle keeper Steve Harper, along with Carlo Cudicini, must be one of the greatest understudy goalkeepers the top flight has ever seen.

But while Chelsea stopper Cudicini was sealing a move to London rivals Tottenham this week, Harper was putting the final touches to a new three-year contract extension.

The 33-year-old's decision to accept a new deal, which will keep him at St James' Park until the summer of 2012 will take his stay to 19 years, but for the last 10 years Harper has played second fiddle to Shay Given.

Harper has made only 101 appearances for the Geordies in a career which started on Tyneside in 1993. It's a staggering statistic when you consider what a talent the Easington-born keeper actually is.

True he has spent numerous periods out on loan thoughout his time with the club, but to have started only 65 league games for Newcastle in 15 years is simply amazing.

Harper, who has not played a game this season, might have been told by the Newcastle hierarchy that No. 1 Given is moving on, with the football odds heavily stacked in favour of Manchester City, therefore he could have received assurances that he is going to be elevated into the number one position.

If that's the case then it's easy to see why Harper has agreed to extend his stay, but beyond that, is Harper blindly loyal or does he possess little if any ambition?

It's a question that has been raised before concerning Harper, who took five years to make his senior debut for the Toon Army.

Loyalty in football is uncommon in modern times and although I'd like to think he bleeds black and white, I cannot help feeling he just needs to broaden his horizons and move on.

If he is going to be Newcastle's number one then not before time, but otherwise cut your loses Steve and earn your keep.

By Phil Tomlinson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football and football betting.

Press Have a Laugh With Nigel Quashie Link

Phil Tomlinson — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:53:37 -0500

The British press have at least got a sense of humour after journeyman midfielder Nigel Quashie was linked with Newcastle this week.

The 30-year-old West Ham man is not the type of player your club needs to be signing if you've got ambitions of making inroads in the Premier League.

Quashie, who is currently on loan at Birmingham, also comes with a CV which includes four relegations from the Premier League with Queens Park Rangers, Nottingham Forest, Southampton and West Brom.

But no sooner had some Toon fans begun to convince themselves Quashie could "do a job" for the Magpies at a bargain fee—the Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear had poured cold water on the talk.

Newcastle are struggling for money and Kinnear is being forced to look in the bargain basement while his top flight counterparts are shopping in Harvey Nichols, but Quashie can't be touched with a barge pole considering his relegation record.

Quashie has extended his loan with Birmingham and boss Alex McLeish is pondering a £500,000 move for the player, who is available for transfer at Upton Park.

But Blues, who are a shade odds on with the football odds compilers to win promotion, will have to axe Quashie quickly if they reach the top tier or the face certain relegation with him in the ranks!

Middlesbrough Must Let Stewart Downing Go

Phil Tomlinson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:30:34 -0500

Middlesbrough need to swallow their pride and allow Stewart Downing to move on.

The Boro winger, who is wanted by Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, has submitted a transfer request, which has been rejected by the club.

Redknapp has been searching for a wide player to play on the left to balance up his Spurs side, and England man Downing is top of his list.

However, Boro boss Gareth Southgate and chairman Steve Gibson seem unwilling to play ball and look destined to fight tooth and nail to keep the 24-year-old.

The club are eager to keep Downing, who has risen through the ranks with the club and who has over 200 appearances for Boro.

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb said: "We received a written transfer request from Stewart this morning. It was considered before being rejected.

"Prior to receiving the transfer request, we received an improved offer for Stewart from Tottenham.

"We immediately rejected this offer and informed Tottenham that Stewart Downing is not for sale and any further interest they have in the player will not be entertained."

It's certainly the attitude the fans want to see on Teesside, but how long can you keep a player that wants to leave?

Usually not very long.

Manchester United are reported to have managed it in the summer when Real Madrid came knocking for Ronaldo, but the Riverside is a million miles away from the European champions at Old Trafford, and Boro simply have to start making plans for life without Downing.

Of course Boro might already be resigned to losing Downing, but are holding out to ramp up his £15million-plus asking price.

In that case then it is a shrewd move, but Redknapp won't wait around forever, and there is a danger that Boro could be left with a player who has no desire to play for the club any longer.

"Middlesbrough are a good club and if the chairman (Gibson) decides he doesn't want to sell him, that's his right to do that and that's the end of that one," said Redknapp.

The football odds are stacked with Downing making the move south in a bid to win some silverware, and Boro need to pat him on the back and thank him for his terrific service.

Man City Boss Cool Despite Growing Pressure

Phil Tomlinson — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:36:10 -0500

With the pressure being cranked up on Manchester City boss Mark Hughes, Sparky seems to be as cool as a cucumber, despite seeing his side slump to their third defeat in four Premier League games on Sunday, against bottom-of-the-table West Brom.

The former Blackburn chief watched in horror as Roman Bednar headed West Brom a last-gasp winner at the Hawthorns, to leave City in the relegation zone.

It's not a position that Hughes anticipated being in when new money-bags chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, took over the club in September.

In fact, the football odds compilers were running scared and shortened City to around 50/1 to win the league. But after just one win in nine in the top flight, City can now be backed at 1000/1 on Betfair.

Meanwhile, the tabloid press will already be writing Hughes' City obituary. However, the pressure certainly doesn't appear to be getting to Hughes, and he is confident City's mega-rich owners will give him the time and cash he needs to turn the Eastlands outfit into a major force.

Hughes said, "Am I confident I will be given the money myself to spend? That is the intention. That's my view and I've had assurances from (City's owner) Sheikh Mansour and the chairman, who are very positive."

City will undoubtedly bolster their squad in January, and Hughes believes he will be the man to spend the money.

The City boss knows he must turn things around quickly, and hinted he might focus on home-based players as he tries to put things right immediately.

"There is no guarantee how many we will bring in but it is clear we do need help. We have to make sure we bring players in who will make an immediate impact," added Hughes.