Bleacher Report - Articles by Miles Kent

Cristiano Ronaldo Will Never Be a Manchester United Legend

Miles Kent — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:53:18 -0400

"You can argue as much a you like Miles but Ronaldo will never ever be a Man Utd legend!"

This was the scathing and agitated response I got from a mate who happens to be a Manchester United fan through and through. As a modest Charlton Athletic supporter it beggared belief that this thought could be the consensus amongst Reds fans, so here beings the investigation.

Firstly I refuse to patronize the footballing masses by trawling through the various achievements, trophies and accolades amassed by Cristiano Ronaldo under Sir Alex Ferguson.

What is fact is that the right winger scored 118 goals in 292 appearances and what is obvious is that he was United's most influential and important player, as well as being certified as officially the best player on the planet at the peak of his United career.

For a midfielder his scoring record was exceptional and his goals per game ratio eclipses that of any other midfielder let alone right winger to have ever played for Manchester Untied. A prolific dead ball specialist, an accomplished dribbler, a deft finisher from range, a predator in the box and in the air he scored all types of goals and in important matches too.

He netted several crucial goals in Premier League matches in three seasons of dominance for the north east team including goals in an FA Cup Final, a League Cup final and a Champions League final to boot. The talisman also topped the assists charts setting up his team mates as often as he found the back of the net himself.

The exclusive group of players that go down in folklore at Manchester United are never disputed and this is probably why Ronaldo rouses so much debate in this field. Many fans feel he treated the club that made him with disrespect by openly pursuing his dream move to Real Madrid in what would turn out to be a world record breaking £80 million fee.

Others point to some of his on field antics as a reason he may not be appreciated as much as he should be. Everyone bar opposing defenders enjoys the silky skills of the Portuguese superstar, playing his game with a cocky arrogance which in fact is an undeterred belief and confidence in himself to be the best he can possibly be.

But when things were not going so well United fans were exposed to a different Ronaldo. Diving to win free kicks or going down too easily, arguing with officials, sulking and moaning, choking when he needed his composure the most.

In the eyes of some United fans that alone restricts him from sitting side by side with the greats to have pulled on the red shirt but to me it washes as a senseless and weak argument typical of the modern football fans selective memory bank.

His ability is unquestionable but it's when you throw the likes of Bobby Chalrton, Mark Hughes, Roy Keane or George Best into the mixer that the debate intensifies. An 11 year old United fan would not try to pretend that Eric Cantona or Denis Law are they're favourite players to have donned their teams colours. So there is a great number that would feel Ronaldo would probably be the best player they have ever seen in United colours.

But for a 60 year old veteran supporter, opinion would surely differ. But that insight into the understanding of the clubs history should not distort the fact that Cristiano Ronaldo is amongst some of the best players to have played for that club in decades.

Manchester United's most prolific goal scorer Ruud Van Nistelrooy will be held in the highest esteem at Old Trafford even though he left the club on sour terms. The same should apply to Ronaldo. Ironically Both players scored for Real Madrid in yesterday's emphatic 5-0 drubbing of newly promoted Xerez and that's not the only thing they have in common.

Both players were the crucial linchpins in different United sides and were absolutely central to the success of the team at the time they played. And both left the club at times when they clearly had a lot more to give.

Cristiano Ronaldo will no doubt excel to even further heights in the Spanish capital as he is yet to hit his peak and his staggering individual performances continue to be backed with unquestionable stats for Madrid which already speak confidently for themselves.

After much thought I have come to the conclusion that only a bitter and stubborn United fan would deny Cristiano Ronaldo legendary status at Manchester United. Maybe through a reluctance to induct new generations of players into that list of past time greats, or an attempt to preserve a very specific nature or style of players that are called legends at a club which has such a prestigious history.

What is fact is that Cristiano Ronaldo's record is equal or better than some of the names that already occupy that list at Manchester United. Once more the debate is centered around that perception of a word that is unfortunately used too frequently in football today.

Wayne Rooney: The Only Player Whose Petulance, Aggression Show "Passion"

Miles Kent — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:01:43 -0400

Ironically, the advertising banner pasted on the away bench last night in Istanbul read "Respect" as can be seen in the picture above.

Yet every fundamental of the word was abandoned yet again by a furious Wayne Rooney as he launched into a rage fueled strop after being substituted in Manchester United's 1-0 win against Besiktas last night.

As Rooney's number came up midway through the second half, he reacted by enthusiastically shaking his head before exchanging some heated words with the boisterous Besiktas fans behind the bench.

Storming to the bench, Rooney then removed his boots slamming them into the ground before slouching into his seat in a display reminiscent of a child like tantrum.

Yet such behavior by him continues to be defended by his fans and his own manager, marketing his temperament as a display of his passion for the game, a fuel that drives his will to win.

And of course, it is the main reason that Manchester United fans and England fans in the broader spectrum love him so much.

It is his aggressive yet productive nature on the field that makes him such a widely respected talent and when that aspect is removed, it is debatable which version of Rooney any manager would prefer in their starting line up.

But this situation was different. Unlike his last moment of aggression against Fulham last season when he threw the ball across the pitch and punched the corner flag after being sent off, this fit of rage was sparked by an event instigated by his own manager.

When that aggressive nature of Wayne Rooney is not channeled into his football and spills over into off field tantrums such as this one, then it is a visibly blatant display of disrespect to the manager, the coaching staff and to the rest of the team. But for one reason or another, this doesn't apply to Wayne Rooney in this situation.

"He's never pleased to come off as he has that kind of energy. He wants to play all the time." the United manager reflected in his post match interview.

Doesn't every player in the 23-man United squad want to play all the time? Of course they do but there is something I haven't quite figured out about Wayne Rooney that can be accepted to such a degree by his playing peers and defended by his manager so frequently.

Had it been Dimtar Berbatov last night, How many United fans would have called for his head?

What makes this situation so different?

When Cristiano Ronaldo threw his tracksuit to the floor and had a fit of rage of his own after being subbed whilst still playing at Old Trafford, he was on the receiving end of plenty of criticism from footballing pundits and fans.

But once more Wayne Rooney escapes any criticism for one reason or another. But to continually allow him to express his emotions in such an immature manner will only create the illusion that he can get away with showing disrespect to his manager and team mates.

But worst of all, create the illusion that his aggression channel into his football on the pitch is as productive or similar to his aggression off it.

Carlos Vela: The Answer for Arsenal

Miles Kent — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:17:32 -0500

This is my response to Hasan Ejaz and Nathan Lowe's articles which focused on how players can make an impact at their clubs. After Carlos Vela's four goals in two games in Carling Cup competition, this article analyzes the exciting prospect that is Carlos Vela.

For some Arsenal fans he is a prospect that seemed to emerge from nowhere. But the talented Mexican forward had been on their books for the best part of two years, having played for numerous European clubs on loan as he waited to receive his work permit.

He emphatically announced his presence with his hat-trick in Arsenal's 6-0 win earlier in the Carling Cup, and his latest goal against Wigan should be enough to get Arsenal fans excited about their new striker that has bags of promise.

Arsenal's attacking prowess is already highlighted with quality strikers like Eduardo, Adebayor, and van Persie on their books, but what Vela has shown in his recent performances is that he has the capability of challenging those forwards for a place in the first team as the seasons progress over the next couple of years.

He certainly has enough to establish himself ahead of Bendtner, whose inconsistency leaves a lot to be desired.

In the light of the current forwards available, Vela offers the Gunners a different approach. He has unbelievable close control of the ball, blistering pace, has the ability to link play and pick out a pass, and has the skillful unpredictability in his attacking play that rivals the likes of Quaresma, Benzema, or Messi in Europe.

His finishing ability is strikingly mature for his age, and he seems to be ahead of his years in terms of his ability to read the game.

The established fixture in the front two for the North London club is obviously Adebayor, with his psychical presence and his finishing consistency. What Vela would offer alongside him is the ability to complement Adebayor's physical strengths and open up play by creating space for attacking minded midfielders like Nasri and Fabregas to take advantage of.

Given the chance the pair could strike an interesting partnership. Wenger has gone as far as describing Vela as "calm and clinical in front of goal." Amongst Wenger's phenomenal batch of talented young prospects Vela must be the name on Gooners lips.

Regardless of his youthful age, does he have enough to offer the Arsenal first team and how highly does he rank amongst Arsenal's impressive and exciting crop of youngsters?

What Has Lewis Hamilton Done To Formula 1 Racing?

Miles Kent — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 05:51:52 -0400

Lewis Hamilton helped recapture the worlds interest in Formula 1 racing after a stunning debut season in 2007. Since then, his performances have continued to attract audiences and broader interest in motorsport. If he wins the racing title in the penultimate race of this season, he will regain their attention once more.

When Hamilton began performing on the Formula 1 circuits around the world, the British media took a great interest in his progression to becoming a great driver and played a big role in making him a household name.

Hamilton's skills on the track complimented the hype as he began to build a reputation as a driver who was comfortable not playing by the book to win, much to the annoyance of his fellow competitors. As he won more and more races, a media frenzy transformed the exposure of the English starlet and his skills as well as the exposure of Formula 1.

Top companies from around the globe where quick to cling onto the coat tails of the new racing icon, not passing up the opportunity to forge extremely lucrative sponsorship deals. Tag Heuer, Vodafone and Santander are just some of the institutions that have capitalized on brand Hamilton.

The media circus will return in force once more this weekend as record numbers are expected to tune in to the last race of the season, to see if Hamilton will win his first championship. He, like other champions, have a rare ability to attract neutrals to the sport.

His sole presence on the track in Brazil this weekend will draw millions of viewers who haven't bothered to follow the F1 season until now and that is the power Lewis Hamilton has been able to achieve with his talents.

Wembley's Greatest Game and the Missed Penalty that Cost £10m

Miles Kent — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 11:52:26 -0400

The Premiership beckoned for Charlton Athletic or Sunderland in a match that is widely regarded as the finest in the history of the great Wembley Stadium. A tremendous thriller in a Playoff final between the South London team and the Tyneside outfit has etched itself into folklore as one of the classic matches in the rich history of English football.

Monday 25th May 1998. The sun reflects over a colourful 77,000 capacity crowd prepared to witness a turbulent match of football that would decide which team would get promoted to the Premiership.

It began quite a cagey affair, the two sides desperately trying to avoid a defeat that would be costly to whoever walked away as losers. Promotion and £9.85 million in TV Rights awaited the victors, and so the hesitance of the two teams in the opening minutes emphasised what was at stake.

Charlton slowly began to gain control of the match. But a corner at the other end nearly gave Sunderland the lead. A header from their unmarked captain from the centre of the box flew just over the crossbar. Sunderland began to threaten.

The Addicks early domination was too much for Sunderland to contain, and the equalising goal came courtesy of a sublime finish from their prolific marksman Clive Mendonca. The red half of the stand erupted with uncontainable joy after a nervy 23 minutes.

Sunderland fought back and almost immediately began creating chances to attempt to level the game to counter Charlton's opportunities. Half time, 1-0, and the Charlton fans shook the terraces as they sang all the way through the 15 minute break. But Sunderland had finished the half the better of both teams and their fans where silently optimistic; subdued and thoughtful as they waited for the teams to re-emerge.

The second half began and Sunderland carried their determination through the break to earn a hard earned equaliser. It come through Niall Quinn, who lost his marker in the box to head the ball low into the back of the net. The Charlton faithful were silenced.

Sunderland were back in the game, fresh start, clean slate.

The contest was even. The intensity of chanting increased in the stands and the tempo of the game increased. A brilliantly constructed Charlton free-kick almost immediately put the Addicks back in front. A confused Sunderland back four recovered, but looked far from solid as they were continually getting caught on the counter attack.

But the momentum stayed with Sunderland. A chipped through ball over the Charlton defence opened up Charlton and let Kevin Phillips in, who stabbed the ball past the on rushing and helpless 'keeper.

2-1 to Sunderland, and Charlton fans where silenced once more. The Sunderland following erupted at the realisation the pendulum had just swung their way.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley calmly reacted tactically by making some substitutions. A lobbed ball into Charlton front man Mendonca was instantly controlled with his first touch and then taken away from the diving defender as he sprinted for the goal. The keeper covered his post, but he wasn't ready and Mendonca lashed the ball past him into the net.

2-2. All witnessing knew they were in for a classic match by this point.

The game finished 4-4 in normal time after a superb Mendonca hat-trick which lit up a spectacular game. Penalties were going to settle it and the tension was unbearable, terrible for all watching, worse for those playing.

Every single spot kick went in and it was 7-6 when Michael Gray stepped up to level it for Sunderland and keep them in the tie. The spot kick was saved by Charlton's man of the hour Sasa Ilic, who had been playing non-League football only a season before.

Sunderland sank, Charlton were victorious. The pendulum had swung once more and a jubilant set of supporters erupted into ecstasy. Even amidst the celebrations the penny hadn't dropped.

Charlton Athletic were going to the Premiership for the first time ever. Sunderland had played their part in an epic contest, but the day belonged to the South London team who had not only participated in one of the greatest Playoff finals in history, but one of the greatest games ever seen at Wembley Stadium.

Charlton Athletic: The Legacy of Alan Curbishley

Miles Kent — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:50:52 -0400

Alan Curbishley was manager of Charlton Athletic for fifteen years, and took an obscure South London club from the pits of Division Two to an established Premier League team in a spell of success that will be unmatched for years to come.

His ability to bring through youth players and turn them into regular first team players gradually became regarded as second to none by his fellow professionals.

Paul Konchesky and Scott Parker sit amongst some of his better examples of such work, and they were part of a team that helped maintain a high level of consistency that kept Charlton challenging in the upper half of the Premiership for a number of seasons.

He was a thoughtful tactician and a knowledgeable football man, who made careful investments in the players he brought to The Valley—including the likes of Darren Bent and Dean Kiley—during his stint as manager.

He was instrumental in the club's rise to the Premiership as he oversaw the rejuvenation of the Addick's home ground after their promotion in 2000. The Valley now seats just over 27,000, and is a far cry from the horrific image of the ground in the main picture.

Funnily enough, Charlton's record attendance is an astonishing 75,000, in a match against Aston Villa the late 1930's. A figure that rivals the likes of the San Siro, the Santiago Bernabeu or Old Trafford at the Valley is a frightening thought that makes you wonder were the risk assessment team were hiding.

In the history of the club Curbishley will always be considered a legend for how far he brought a small club. Initially joining as a part time 34-year-old player, Curbishley won over the trust of a board that kept faith in him and supported his decisions for a very long time, even after relegation in 1991.

Even with all the accolades one can give Curbishley, he never won a lot of domestic trophies during his entire time at the club—apart from the trophies recived for gaining promotion.

He still proved himself to be a capable manager, however, when he helped West Ham narrowly survive a relegation battle that saw them escape in the 2006-07 season by three points.

It's unlikely another manager will come close to mirroring the sort of dedication Curbishley gave the Addicks, and the days of 15-year managers seem to be grinding to an end.

His presence at West Ham eventually became unappreciated, but what he helped Charlton Athletic achieve will always be regarded as a great service to the club by the fans.

Will Charlton Takeover Threaten Future of Talented Academy Players?

Miles Kent — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:43:07 -0400

Dubai based investors have indicated an interest in taking over South London club Charlton Athletic and if we were playing word association, you know what sort of words that would cook up.

Tons of money, foreign investors, and truck loads of new players.

But Charlton's Academy is one that has been producing talented youngsters that are slowly beginning to break into the first team. Could a takeover threaten a tried and tested system that has been producing good players for the club in recent years?

The Valley has recently seen an influx of young players that are breaking into the first team from the U-18's. Aswad Thomas, Harry Arter, Chris Solly, Scott Wagstaff, Danny Uchechi, Jonjo Shelvy, Rashid Yussuf, and Grant Basey are all products from the academy who where only plying their trade in the U-18's a couple of seasons ago.

But today they are members of the first team and this is the best signal that the youth system at Charlton is one that works efficiently.

Since the Addicks relegation after their seven-year stint in the Premiership, the squad has changed dramatically. Now the new wave of players that will create the future foundations of the squad are being slowly ushered in by manager Alan Pardew. But my biggest concern is that any foreign ownership could alter a club structure that has been running well for a very long time, without the backing of billionaires.

The current crop of academy starlets include Tamer Tuna, Sam Long, and Liam Bellamy amongst others that work their socks off at the Addicks' Sparrows Lane traning ground every home game.If their chance to eventually break into the first team is threatened by owners that won't have the confidence to trust in the youth system, fans won't be the only ones suffering effects.

Foreign owners' desire to employ players from other clubs is a way of life in top flight football that has become the norm. It's only a division up where the likes of Manchester City and Chelsea have owners that completely disregard talented young players, and continue to pretend they still care about the youth system while they invest millions in other established players from elsewhere.

My biggest hope is that football teams continue to trust in the talent they spend so much time nurturing to become the players of the future.

Why The English Media Are To Blame For England's Failings

Miles Kent — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:54:45 -0400

The English media's coverage of the Ashley Cole situation against Kazakhstan has proved that they have the ability to be the architects of England's downfall.

The attention they have consistently given the incident, has blown a minor situation out of proportion and taken away all the attention from what was a convincing win in a good performance, albeit against a team ranked 135th in the world.

So the boo boys were out again after a shocking error by Cole that handed Kazakhstan a goal on a silver plate with a napkin, through their eccentric forward Kukeyev. But by the end of Englands 5-1 win, my concern was not with the fans who had every right to voice their displeasure at Wembley—but the focus the media decided to give the incident above all things.

English journalists didn't want to talk about how well the team played but instead wanted to ask every player that came out of the home dressing room how they felt about fans booing Ashley Cole.

The presenters in the studio thought that wasn't enough and felt it necessary to add their opinion and if that wasn't enough, the sports news channels decided the focus of the game was Cole and not a 5-1 victory in a World Cup qualifier, barely even a mention of the goalscorers and the substitutes that came on and played well.

Sunday morning, and the incident was covered once again. Splashed all over the back pages of the newspapers and the sports channels are still moaning and interviewing various people, getting their views on the same situation.

For those who had the conscious to look beyond the garbage the media was feeding everyone, the coverage was even more embarrassing than our home supporters jeering our own players.

The power of the media in mainstream football is immense and in England, it's all that times ten. Its influence on how some fans perceive the way the team is performing is huge. It's not a great performance unless the media say it is and the players live by this rule when they play for the team.

It would be interesting to really know if they are playing for each other and the manager or they are playing to satisfy the press.

Should Playoffs Be Introduced in the Premiership?

Miles Kent — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:11:44 -0400

I was looking over the Coca Cola Championship table, checking whether my local team—Charlton Athletic—still stood a realistic chance of promotion to the Premiership this season when the idea struck. Imagine if there were playoffs in the Premiership for the last Champions League spot...

The system of playoffs operates in the six different tiers directly beneath the Premier League. This is where, at the end of the season, the teams finishing in third to sixth place get to play against each other in a knockout-style competition to eventually decide which team joins the Premiership; alongside the teams that finished in first and second.

For this system to work in the main league, the current format would have to change dramatically. It would mean fourth place no longer guarantees you the chance to qualify for the Champions League, but it only enters you into the playoffs against the teams that finished seventh, sixth, and fifth. To use last season's standings as an example, this would be Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa, and Blackburn.

Giving anyone of those four teams the opportunity to compete for the chance to enter Europe's elite competition can only be a good thing for English football. It would make the league more interesting, as teams finishing higher up know it not only gives them their UEFA Cup slots but the chance to get into the Champions League for real if they finish higher than seventh.

Imagine it; the competition would be fierce. The financial opportunities would be ripe and the versatility a system like it can give the league standings each season will be unpredictable. It would make breaking that illusive top four a myth. And the more I write about it, the more I think it would genuinely work.

At the moment, you can pretty much guess which four English teams would represent England in the Champions League before the competition had even began. But with a playoff system at work in the Premiership, this could open doors for other English clubs, who don't have the mega budgets, big players, and huge squads at expense of the bigger teams that have built that kind of infrastructure over the years.

Even if the other big European League like La Liga and Serie A didn't follow suite, it wouldn't harm the Premiership. It would work to making the incentive on each game more exciting.

The Premiership itself would actually get more interesting to watch, because then you would have teams from about 12th place to eighth place competing to enter these playoffs during the season. This would also nicely categorise the Premiership into three nice and tidy categories: Race for the Premiership, Playoffs for Fourth Champions-League Spot, and Relegation Battle.

I'm tired of the same old big fish in the Champions League spots. Whilst a playoff system may not send four of the most consistent teams into the Champions League each season, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. So, could a playoff system work in the Premiership?