The Way We Play

With the World Cup coming up, I can help but think how far England will get! Think about it, we have produced some incredible players in the past, but have only come to success in 1966. Currently in the team we have World Class players, such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry (whether you like it or not) and Wayne Rooney with a shadow of a dought, yet we still cannot cut it with the big boys. I have noticed that Spain and Brazil like to play ‘on the ground’ football and seem to be having the greatest success. They will not hesitate to make passes to players that are being marked, they have the technical ability to keep the ball (but so do we), and will take a risk in possession if it means it can cut through the defence or get it in that dangerous area between the midfield and defence.

I feel that England play it too safe, don’t get me wrong, with Wayne Rooney’s number of headed goals this season and Peter Crouch on the team; who says we shouldn’t cross instead of trying it on the floor. But I think we don’t make enough intra-cut passes and the slower rate of passing and zipping the ball around only haunts us back. Wayne Rooney has good vision for a forward player; he makes some of the best switch passes I have ever seen. Gerrard and Lampard have the ability to spice things up a bit too. If it does go wrong, with a hard working England team we can drop back; Terry and Rio can keep things on lockdown. If I was the England manager, I think a 4-2-3-1 formation would be perfect. Wayne Rooney out on his own like he does for Manchester United at times suits him best.

Put Gerrard in the role he does with Fernando but just Rooney instead in the middle of the 3 to give support and connection, a slice of pace on either side of him with Lennon (he causes problems even if his crossing isn’t fantastic and can really cut into the defence), with Wright-Phillips/ Walcott/ Milner/ Ashley Young/ Downing possibly. Defensive Midfield Lampard Huddlestone/Barry covering beside him, with only one having a passport to explore at a time. We are pretty much sorted in the defence. If we make the right passes, Lennon will not have to hesitate and can pick out a cross under less pressure, which he is more than capable of doing. Let’s hope England can play with a bit of style and key players are fit for the summer, roll on the World Cup and Good Luck Mr. Capello!

Just to leave you with a thought, shouldn’t Zamora be given a chance for England?

Chirag Bhatti (http://twitter.com/Chirag_Bhatti)

FA Cup semis look done deals

The FA Cup semi-finals look done deals if Saturday’s dress rehearsals are anything to go by.

The Premier League fixture computer paired up Chelsea with Aston Villa and Spurs against Portsmouth over the weekend – the two matches which will determine this season’s FA Cup finalists.

And while goals were on the agenda, both games were very one-sided – especially at Stamford Bridge where Villa were thumped 7-1. Chelsea took an early lead through Frank Lampard, who ended up with four, but Villa levelled things up through John Carew before the home side went into overdrive.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men put in a powerful and scintillating attacking display and although they won’t have home advantage in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley they are strong favourites to return there for the final in May. Chelsea are 10/11 favourites with  the FA Cup betting odds to retain the trophy they won last season against Everton and Saturday’s performance will certainly strike fear into their rivals.
But it’s back to the drawing board for Villa boss Martin O’Neill, who masterminded a home victory over Chelsea earlier in the season. Now O’Neill has to prepare his side to face Chelsea in the capital again on April 10 having capitulated over the weekend.
Across the capital Tottenham, who are 9/4 to win the FA Cup, were making light work of beleaguered Portsmouth. Pompey old boys Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar did the damage for Spurs, who will be heavy favourites to reach the final. In truth Spurs never really got out of second gear at White Hart Lane and the quote of 16/1 about Portsmouth winning the cup looks genuinely skinny.

Avram Grant’s men are heading into the Championship and they will have to pull out a top-drawer performance to deny Spurs in the semi. They will have to do so without their best player – Spurs loanee Jamie O’Hara – and their task looks near impossible.

Elsewhere, there is lots of talk surrounding World Cup Betting at the moment, with Spain and Brazil the favourites for the tournament for this stage.

Ex England Star Parlour Hosts Arsenal Themed TV Show

After host Tom Watt comically proclaimed at the inaugural event ‘An audience with Tony Adams’ that they started with the best and that they were only going to get worse after ‘Mr Arsenal’ I was unsure of what to expect when I turned up at the media entrance at The Emirates.

Like Adams, I found myself gripped hearing stories as told by Parlour. Having met him before the event had started, I found him to be extremely easy to talk to and extremely open whilst not taking things said too seriously.

The most amusing anecdote of the night left the audience in a fit of laughter this

was a story from a game where he played a practical joke on Martin Keown during a warm up in the Invincibles season which led to Keown almost strangling Wenger as result. But you’ll have to wait till next week to hear the full story on Arsenal TV Online.

Whilst it was great to hear stories of old, his knowledge of the youngsters at Arsenal was equally as impressive and engaging. The player he cited as ‘the one to watch’ is midfielder/right back Francis Coquelin. When prompted about English players he thought would make the jump to the first team in the near future, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Jack Wilshere were the named. Whilst both Emmanuel –Thomas and Wilshere seem fairly obvious choices with their improving form with

their respective loan clubs, Coquelin proved to be the more interesting choice with Parlour clearly expressing how impressed he was with Cocquelin’s performances for the reserve side.

Theo Walcott’s current form was discussed with Parlour agreeing with many pundits of the importance for Theo to be consistent week in, week out whilst also getting a decent run of games together.

He also discussed how he believes Nicklas Bendtner will be important this season and for seasons to come. Parlour revealed that he liked Bendtner as a player and believed that Bendtner was strong enough to cope with the negativity from the media.

On the whole the event was a chance to bask in memories of a more successful Arsenal side with a few anecdotes thrown in. However it was clear that Ray wanted

the fans to believe that the current Arsenal squad were good enough to win trophies

and coming from a member of the Invincibles, who are we to disagree.

Ferguson wary of Arsenal threat

Sir Alex Ferguson has poured scorn on Chelsea by suggesting it is Arsenal rather than them who are Manchester United’s main challengers for the Premier League title.

A 3-0 win over Fulham by United on Sunday ensured they ended the weekend at the top of the Premier League, with Chelsea and Arsenal both sitting two points behind them although the Blues do have a game in hand.
The Gunners have the easiest run-in out of any of the Premier League title challengers, while United and Chelsea must face each other at Old Trafford on April 3rd.

Ferguson has admitted it is a very close title race with eight games remaining and goal difference could even come into the equation. He called on his United squad to win all their games and hope that injuries do not hit them between now and the end of the season.

“It’s also going to be a hard-fought tussle, with Arsenal coming strongly now, and I have a suspicion that they might yet mount the biggest challenge,” the Scot said.

United’s run-in could be affected by the absence of key defender Wes Brown, who suffered a broken bone in their recent win over Wolves.

The 30-year-old England international is expected to be out for between four to six weeks and will miss crucial games in his side’s bid to win both the Premier League and Champions League.

Brown’s absence could also be a blow for England who are currently third favourites in this year’s World Cup betting.

Has the FA Cup lost its magic?

The FA Cup is the most prestigious club tournament in the world, but has it lost sparkle?

Depending on who you speak to you will receive a different answer to the question, but this season’s tournament has hardly been memorable. In fact only Leeds’s third round victory over Manchester United springs to mind and the semi-final line-ups look far from tasty and the online football betting suggests Chelsea should win the trophy easily.

Football Supporters’ Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke has called for the game to come together to restore the magic. Clarke highlighted the third round meeting between Wigan and Hull, which was watched by just 5,335 people, as an example of the competition’s struggle. Apparently there were more fans at Dean Court to watch League Two Bournemouth take on Northampton over the same weekend.

However,  the FA have defended the competition and said the 28 third round ties attracted 514,172 supporters, an average of 18,363, compared with 19,160 30 years ago.

“Every year we monitor attendances at FA Cup ties closely,” said an FA spokesman. “We will continue with clubs, supporters and media to do all we can to promote the competition.”

The success of the Premier League and the quality and prestige that now goes hand in hand with the Champions League has had a huge impact on the FA Cup. The league and Europe qualification have become the top two objectives for the big Premier League teams and unfortunately now the FA Cup, which was founded in 1872, comes a sorry third.

The idea of solely playing FA Cup matches under floodlights has been suggested to try and bring back the sparkle, but I fear the answer is more complex than that and the FA might just have to dig deep to revive the ailing tournament.

Meanwhile, Tottenham are set to face Fulham in a sixth round replay next month and the FA Cup betting suggests the home side should make it through.

In Arsene We Trust

“In Arsene We Trust” is a phrase you’re likely to see on many Arsenal-related forums or blogs. The French tactician is revered by many due to his transformation of Arsenal Football Club. Wenger, despite all his success, doesn’t get the respect he should from some sectors of Arsenal’s expansive fanbase. The trophy drought has some people calling for his head. He is seen by some as being very shrewd unwilling to “splash cash” to better his team. Wenger is sometime guilty of letting his pride cloud his judgment.

Many Arsenal fans believe Wenger should be more active in the transfer market. Perhaps they see the Real Madrids and Manchester Cities of the world spending millions upon millions of pounds on players in the summer and Arsenal spending a lowly ten million on an unproven defender. But that’s where Arsene’s genius lies. He’s able to easily spot diamonds in the rough. You need only look at our line-up to see the gems he has unearthed. Fabregas, Diaby, Eboue, Song, Vermaelen; the list goes on and on. You have to feel that, given his track record, the other members of the squad who are, perhaps, underperforming will come good in the end.

Wenger’s youth policy has come under scrutiny from many Arsenal fans. Some prefer that Wenger spend his money on proven talent as opposed to developing his stars. But this is where “The Professor” shines again. You need only look at the rising debts of our closest rivals to know that Wenger is doing the right thing. Sure, we haven’t won anything in a few years but we’re hot on the trail of the Premier League title and we’re still in the hunt for the Champion’s League. And we’ve accomplished all these things while turning record profits this year.

Wenger doesn’t deserve some of the bashing he gets in the media and on blogs and forums. He’s a great man and an even better manager with an eye on Arsenal’s future. Through his brilliant youth policy and prudent spending, Arsenal can look forward to prosperity for years to come.

By Sean.

Gallas Watch: Will He Stay, Or Will He Go

As Arsenal step up their efforts to secure the future of key players and up-and-coming talents, there have been speculations about a few players who have yet to put pen to paper on new contracts. Gilles Sunu and Fran Merida make up part of this list (whose contracts are yet to be renewed), but the major concern has been on a veteran key player in the heart of Arsenal’s defense. William Gallas has been the subject of growing speculation as his contract runs out in the summer of 2010.

Amidst all the uncertainties, the latest piece of rumour reports that Claudio Ranieri, the current Roma manager is extremely interested in bringing the French international to the Stadio Olimpico on a free transfer. Gallas’ past working relationship with Ranieri at Chelsea before joining Arsenal seems to have contributed to the high possibility of this rumoured transfer. Having said that, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will not easily let Gallas go. After all, the French tactician is still a huge admirer of Gallas’ intelligent defensive display week in week out for the North London club.

However, the rollercoaster ride endured by the 32 year old defender during his time at Arsenal might also have an influence on his future. William Gallas first joined Arsenal from Chelsea on a swap deal involving Ashley Cole going the opposite direction after an intense war of words between him and the then Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, claiming that he would “score an own goal” if he wasn’t allowed to leave the club. During his tenure at the Emirates Stadium, he have reached the climax of his Arsenal career by earning the captaincy of the club during season 2007/2008. He led the team to the top of the Premier League for months until the Eduardo incident at St Andrews occurred and took away his captaincy.

Despite that, he stayed on at Arsenal in the following summer and slowly rebuilt his confidence and enhanced his performance for the club. But it was without another controversy, where it was reported that he has fallen out with former Gunner Kolo Toure. This incident has been speculated as the reason for the departure of the Ivorian centre defender. This season though, he has formed a very solid partnership with newly signed Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Currently, Gallas is still nursing a calf injury for a month after Wenger announced that he has suffered another setback on his journey to recovery. Some Arsenal fansites/blogs speculate that this injury might be the beginning of the end for his Arsenal career but today’s news contradict this speculation. Quoted from the latest article on the club’s official website (as of Thursday), Wenger said the club will try hard to find a solution to the Gallas situation.

Whether he will be at Arsenal in the summer of 2010, it is still a bit early to say. There might be some twists along the way and it now entirely depends on how much the club wants him to stay.

Article By Kelvin

Exciting Hoilett Earmarked For Bright Future

Junior Hoilett is one of Blackburn Rovers stars of the future, since turning down Manchester United at the age of 12 was just the beginning of his rollercoaster. Since turning down a chance to play football at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ the Blackburn Rovers starlet has had to overcome a work permit nightmare, serious homesickness and playing football in five different countries to reach the big stage of the Premier League.

The 19-year-old Canadian who recently signed a deal to stay at Ewood Park till 2010 has earned the chance to establish himself as a regular in the world’s biggest league, but there were times when even he doubted it would ever happen. Like when the government refused him a visa to play in England aged 16, having spent the last three years of his life learning his trade in Rovers’ youth set-up, or when he missed his family so much it would have been easy to have turned his back on his dreams and return to Canada.

Hoilett can look forward to a more settled future but he won’t forget the long and, often frustrating, journey he has taken to get where he has. He said: “I have had to go over a few hurdles but they have all helped me. They have all made me stronger and I feel I am ready for anything. “They have made me stronger as a player and a person. This is just the start but it feels as though I have been through a lot to get here. There were times when I had little doubts and I guess it would have been easy to have taken the easy option and gone home. I have always wanted to be a professional footballer though and that helped me through some difficult times.”

It was a tournament in Wales that was to prove the turning point in his life though as an 11-year-old Hoilett travelled with a Canadian team to play against teams from around the world. He was competing for fun but, by the end of the 10 days, scouts had spotted his obvious potential and his Premier League adventure was just around the corner.

“I didn’t know a tournament that lasted 10 days was going to change my life,” he said. But a Blackburn scout came up to my father, a number of scouts came up to my father actually. They all asked me to come on trial. Manchester United was the first club I came to on trial to but I decided to come to Blackburn and I liked Blackburn so I came here. Manchester United were quite keen on me at the time and asked me back but I had decided to come to Blackburn. The tournament was in July and I came over in March to Blackburn. Then I went back in the summer. They wanted me to move over but I needed a year to think about it.”

Blackburn Rovers and a new life in East Lancashire it was then, albeit not before a year of soul searching for him and his family about him leaving home in pursuit of a professional football career. Mother Ingrid took three months off work to help Junior settle in but, while Hoilett senior also regularly flew back and forth to support his middle son, life was far from plain sailing in those early days. He said: “The first year was very difficult but I got used to it. Everyone supported me and it showed with my football.”

But since then Hoilett has made a big impact in Blackburn Rovers’ Premier League Season making 10 appearances for the team Holiett has made improvements to the team in vital moments but will he continue to do so well next season? Only time will tell.

Article By Charlotte

Player Profile – Javier Hernandez Balcazar

Javi also known as ‘El Chicharito’ is a 22 year old Mexican forward who plays for ‘Chivas’. The Hernandez name is as famous in Mexican football as Maldini is in Italian football. With both his father and grandfather being Chivas legends with the former playing in the 1986 world cup it is easy to see why. With 19 goals in 22 appearances this season he currently is the in form forward for the national side and looks set to follow his father’s footsteps with a trip to the world cup.

After being selected by Javier Aguirre to face Bolivia last Wednesday, he repaid the call up with a brace and an assist he added to his international goal tally against New Zealand with a goal minutes after coming on to the pitch as a substitute. With the world cup in just under 100 days, Javi is ‘the’ Mexican player to be watched in the run up to the World cup as he is an extreme threat in front of goal with the ability to score with both feet as well as being a competent header of the ball too.

Despite his goal tally being continually added to, many people assume that this has only been reached to due to him playing against inferior opposition. However unlike his team mates who play in Europe, his goal scoring form is consistent for both club and country, which has led to reports in Mexico that a deal for a transfer to Barca after the World cup has been agreed. As things stand it’s hard not see Javi on that plane to South Africa; but as we all know, in football nothing can be taken for granted

Article By Marissa

Carragher – Torres makes Liverpool a better team

Jamie Carragher hopes Fernando Torres can enjoy an injury-free spell to help fire Liverpool into the Premier League top four.

The Anfield defender saw the Spanish striker celebrate his first Liverpool start since January by scoring the winning goal as his side beat Blackburn 2-1 in the Premier League at the weekend – although the game was marred for Carragher as he gave away a penalty to allow the opposition back into the match.

The victory made sure Liverpool remain in the battle for fourth after a weekend which saw rivals Manchester City and Spurs both record wins.

As a result Liverpool are now one point behind Spurs who are in fourth place, although they have played more games than rivals City and Aston Villa. However, the Premier League odds make Liverpool favourites to secure the final Champions League place.

Torres was absent for six weeks of the season and Liverpool missed his goals during this time. Indeed, he remains the side’s top scorer with 13 goals in 17 Premier League appearances.

Carragher admits is “goes without saying” that Liverpool miss the forward as he is a “special player” who can make a real difference in games.

“He’s a big, powerful lad, who is right up for the fight, and he’s ideally suited to English football,” the defender said.

“He makes a big difference and you can see we are a much better team when he is with us.”

Liverpool face Wigan in their next Premier League game before resuming their Europa League battle later that week against Lille.

For his part, Torres will be looking to ensure he is in peak condition going into the World Cup.

The World Cup odds make Spain favourites for the competition and Torres should play a key part in their tournament.