Coaching For The Brave

I know there's a lot going on and its the business end of the season but one small issue seems to be passing everyone by. Firstly, there is a real chance that a team GB Olympic team could go further in their competition than England could in their European Championships.  Secondly, has anyone realised that that David Beckham could get his wish and play in a final major competition! The amount of goodwill and sentiment that follows Beckham is unbelievable. Unfortunately, the fact that Beckham is still on Stuart Pearce's short list seems entirely down to these 2 factors. Goodwill and Sentiment. The picture above will give you the biggest clue as to why he should not be included in the final squad. Beckham has spent the whole of this season warming the LA Galaxy bench. Now, no disrespect, but if team GB are to progress in the Olympics they will need to be far better than Galaxy. A team that Beckham has played for only 6 times this season. Yep, just 6 times...

Much has been made recently of Chelsea's change of fortune and recent run of results. A few month's ago, an FA Cup Final, Champions League Final and a top four position was unthinkable. The team was seen as dysfunctional with ageing superstars calling the shots and unwilling to play for their new manager. Villas Boas looked like a man who wished he had never taken the call from Abramovich's advisers and had stayed in warm, friendly Portugal. The Chelsea players were roundly criticised by the media especially everyone's favourite pantomime villain John Terry. Their poor results was seen as justification as age had caught up with them. Could there be another reason why the players looked like shadows of their former selves? If you read any "team building for idiots" book it will point out the real reasons why Chelsea players could not rally around their new coach.  Any new boss in any field faces many difficulties and Villas Boas ...

Originally posted 1st April on live4footy.com live4footy.com Whisper it quietly but is King Kenny running out of time? The Messiah was hailed on his return to Anfield and rightly so. Kenny Dalglish has a track record of success not only at his beloved Liverpool but also at Blackburn.  The "feel good factor" was massive especially as the club also had new owners and a sizeable war chest to improve a mediocre team. There was a massive wage bill and far too many average players who cared nothing about Liverpool's history. Kenny was the man for the job. Or was he? Football has moved on considerably since Dalglish was in charge and it could be argued that the move now looks to have backfired. What would Benitez have been able to achieve with over £100 million to play with? Kenny has spent poorly. Henderson does not seem to have it in him to progress to an acceptable level although he is young so who can tell? Downing seems to have gone backwards and Carroll has...

Originally posted 2nd April on live4footy.com live4footy.com Yet again, Mario Balotelli has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Mancini has confessed that he almost substituted him after only 5 minutes.  During this weekends draw with Sunderland even the crowd seemed to turn on him for his moody, petulant display.This is a worrying change of events for Mario as until now he has been a firm favourite. Previously, when Inter defeated Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final it was a cause for huge celebration for the Nerazzurri fans and Inter players alike. Except Balotelli, that is. The moody striker instead ripped off his shirt and threw it at the fans in disgust for their reaction to his disinterested display during the game. So this is not a one off. However, we think the City faithful are wrong to fall out of love with Mario.Not least for the fact that he has been a very potent striker for them this season. Only Dzeko and Aguero have scored more in the leag...

After being introduced as the new England Manager less than 24 hours ago, Roy Hodgson proceeded to give an eloquent, thoughtful press interview. How did our tabloids decide to report the appointment this morning?  With disgraceful, snide comments about a speech impediment that effects large numbers of the population and their readers.  In less than one day, the tabloids have succeeded in making fun of our National Team Manager and sowing the seeds for his no doubt demise.  Did anyone, apart from simple minded journalists, listen to Roy yesterday and even notice that he rolls his "R's"? I didn't, I was too busy listening to his interesting introduction and thinking about how Roy may actually be just what England need. With only 40 days left until the start of the Euro's it looks like certain parts of the press are already praying for Roy to fail.  I tried long and hard to try to see some kind of funny side hoping I was jus...

Tonight’s Manchester Derby is tantalising for various reasons. Possible title decider, local bragging rights and Top Dogs against Noisy Neighbours. It’s also a great example of Fergie’s long-standing problem, his Central Midfield.  Take a look at tonight’s team sheet and you will see, in black and white, a problem that has haunted United for years and is due to get worse as the years drag on. Whereas City’s Centre Midfield will look strong and dependable with touches of genius, United’s will look old slow and at least 5 years out of date. United’s monumental success over the last 20 years has been built on the stability and quality of his midfield schemers. Namely Paul Scholes and Roy Keane. This was supplemented with able recruits Nicky Butt and Michael Carrick.  The sheer force of nature that these two players were almost guaranteed United points and Championships.  Fergie knows he was lucky to have the 2 together for such a long time. However, he has ne...

live4footy After reading my last blog “48 days to go”, the FA sprang into action and the country got what it had been asking for. Roy Hodgson. Wait, that’s not right. What happened to Harry? Yes the FA’s best and brightest have thrown us again and announced they are in talks with Roy Hodgson for the role of England Manager. Nothing wrong with Roy, he’s capable, experienced and a safe pair of hands. Only thing is, he’s not Harry Redknapp. For the last 3 months, every pundit, player, ex-player and fan had Harry as a “shoe in” as the next manager. The Bookies had him has 1/3 odds on favourite. So, how can we all have been so wrong? Let’s leave aside the fact that Roy has a better record than Harry. Taking 53% of all points available in his Managerial career compared to Harry’s 49%. Let’s leave aside the fact that Roy has all his coaching badges and Harry has none. Let’s forget Roy’s experience of International and Foreign football and his pedigree of sitting on Uefa and Fifa T...