It has taken nearly three full days to gain a measure of clarity and a sense of perspective following the events which unfolded at Stoke on Saturday evening.
Having digested, analysed and reviewed all of the available footage and media reaction I can now state that Stanley Victor Collymore, as well as being a ballbag of the highest order, is to journalism what John Terry is monogamy.
At approximately 6.45pm on February 27, arguably the most promising British player of his generation was maimed by an act of recklessness on the part of Ryan Shawcross.
Having seen, for the third time in four years, one of his charges suffer a potentially career-ending injury, Arsene Wenger was understandably unwilling to second the shining post match character reference Shawcross received from his boss, Tony ‘Total Football’ Pulis.
Wenger stopped some way short of demanding a life-ban for Shawcross, as he had when Martin Taylor all but chopped Eduardo in half at St Andrews almost exactly two years ago, labelling Shawcross’s challenge, rather conservatively as “unacceptable” before stating it wasn’t his place to “play the judge.”
Though his refusal to condemn William Gallas for the tackle which ended Mark Davies’ involvement in Bolton’s 4-2 defeat at Emirates Stadium in January leaves Wenger open to obvious accusations of hypocrisy, is he deserving of the poisonous agenda-ridden nonsense Collymore has pedalled in the wake of this unsavoury incident?
Unfortunately, with his TalkSport radio show boasting an audience of over a million people, Britain’s most famous dogger holds, in journalistic terms, a position of considerable power – which is why I was deeply shocked by the following exchange which took place last night. (I forget the name of the caller, so for arguments sake we’ll call him P. Enis.)
P. Enis: “If Arsene Wenger and Arsenal don’t like it, then he can clear off back to France.”
S. Collymore: “There we go then. P. Enis from the Midlands with his views on Arsene Wenger. Nothing wrong with a bit of xenophobia now and again, as they say.”
Excuse me Stanley. Who exactly are they and when do they say it? Adolf Hitler in 1930s Germany? Nick Griffin on Question Time? Robert Mugabe any time in the past 25 years per chance?
As if that shite, perhaps the most unprofessional and ill advised comment to have been broadcast over our national airwaves since Ron Atkinson questioned Marcel Desailly’s application and work rate, wasn’t enough, this morning we were treated to an article in the Daily Mirror which went someway to explaining why that rag is dieing a slow death.
Rather than questioning a disciplinary system so deeply flawed that Emmanuel Adebayor will be out for virtually the whole of March for sweet fa, while the soon to be England international will miss one less game than the Togolese having snapped Ramsey’s leg like a stick of rhubarb, Collymore opted to launch into an unfounded tirade against Wenger.
His arguments are so poorly constructed and without substance, I feel it necessary, almost as an act of self therapy, to rip them apart piece by piece.
Here we go.
“It is blatantly obvious the Frenchman wants to buck the trend and traditions of English football.”
Would this be the tradition that has seen, until Wenger’s arrival on these shores, English football based on the famous bulldog spirit which has yielded precisely zero international honours since colour TV was introduced? Attempting to put technique and skill ahead of stamina and aggression hardly seems like crime of the century. It seems to work quite well for Spain and Brazil.
“But if he doesn’t like English working conditions, whereby players are physical and try to win the ball, then maybe he should disappear to La Liga or Serie A.”
First up, in case you hadn’t noticed Stan, Aaron Ramsey won the ball with a strong, physical tackle. His reward – an oxygen mask and a hospital bed. Secondly, I would suggest that having spent over 13 years of his working life at Arsenal, Wenger is relatively familiar with English working conditions. Moreover, having won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, he is acutely aware of what is required to succeed in the ultra competitive world of English football. Stan Collymore, with a grand total of zero Premier League titles and zero FA Cups, perhaps isn’t.
“Shawcross was distraught after injuring Ramsey.”
So fucking what? By showing some semblance of human emotion does that somehow excuse Shawcross for jeopardising a fellow professional’s career? Of course not.
“But if Wenger, or any Arsenal fans, think there is a connection between Abou Diaby, Eduardo and now Ramsey all getting seriously injured, they are deluded.”
The connection, dear Stanley, is that two Arsenal players have missed, and in Ramsey’s case will miss, a significant chunk of their careers as a result of brainless and unnecessary tackles. Until there is a serious deterrent in the form lengthy bans via retrospective punishment, Ramsey won’t be the last player to leave an English football ground in an ambulance.
“And I think Wenger was completely out of order with his post-match comments about Shawcross.”
Excuse me, am I missing something? Did Wenger brand Shawcross a rapist? An axe murderer? A dog botherer? A deranged psychopath in football boots? I don’t think so. In fact, mentions of the surname Shawcross in Wenger’s post-match press conference: zero. For the record, he actually said: "A three-match ban is just ridiculous. But I would prefer to give my support to Ramsey rather than to play the judge.” Scathing, I don’t think.
“Ramsey, 19, will be a big loss to Arsene Wenger’s side but they still recorded an admirable 3-1 win at Stoke to remain in the title race. It just shows how Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have gone backwards since last season.”
I have to say I am not entirely sure what Stanley is getting at here. It’s probably fair to assume, however, that he is already laying the groundwork for a future written masterpiece entitled: Arsenal 2009/10 - the worst side ever to lift the Premier League trophy.
I pray he gets the chance to pen it.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Monday, 1 February 2010
You don't need 3D glasses to spot Arsenal's defficiencies...
After his poisonous attack on Alan Wiley earlier this season, should Alex Ferguson still doubt the ability of referees to keep pace with the frenetic nature of the modern day game, I would invite the Manchester United manager to review footage of his side’s third goal against Arsenal on Sunday.
Sir Fergie was probably too busy marvelling at the clinical execution of Ji-Sung Park’s game clinching third to notice arbiter Foy, 47, grey of hair and large of arse, comfortably accelerating past Denilson, 21, professional athlete and relative veteran of over 150 top level games, in pursuit of the Korea winger.
Though not solely responsible, the Brazilian was also culpable in the build-up to United’s opening two goals and by the time he was withdrawn with half an hour remaining, it was a minor miracle that the usually unforgiving Emirates regulars spared him the ‘Eboue treatment’, opting for ironic cheers instead of boos.
Arsenal have fielded players of limited ability by the bucket load in the past. Hell, they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1994 with a midfield which included Steve Morrow and Ian Selly, men who would struggle to spell the word creativity, let alone provide an imaginative pass.
Denilson, despite recent evidence to the contrary, is not an appalling footballer, but unlike Morrow and Selly, he is completely ignorant of his defensive responsibilities.
And in that regard, it is his manager who is to blame.
It should be of deep concern to Arsene Wenger that William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen and the one authentic defensive midfielder Arsenal have on their books, Alex Song, have been his side’s most consistent performers this season, Cesc Fabregas aside.
And yet 28 goals have been haemorrhaged. Significantly 12 in the four games they have played against the Manchester clubs and Chelsea this season – ignoring the three conceded against City in the Carling Cup.
“We did let in too many goals last season and decided to rectify our defence and the system as well. We play an attacking game and sometimes we pay the price,” said Wenger at last October’s AGM.
And therein lies the problem. How can a side whose manager views the concession of goals as an occupational hazard, hope to overcome the mean machines which reside at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge?
Gael Clichy is having a nightmare of it at the moment, but were he to receive the same support Park and Darren Fletcher provided for rookie right-back Rafael, Sunday’s outcome may have been different.
Sadly, while Wenger sends out his troops in the misguided belief that their supposed superior technical abilities are capable of overcoming any obstacle, Arsenal’s trophy drought will continue.
As the final few hours of the transfer window whittle away, Arsenal fans are unlikely to be impressed with their manager’s activity over the course of January.
So far, other than a geriatric centre-half and a set of crimson red goal nets, Wenger has been typically frugal at a time when even gentle, rather than radical investment could have strengthened his hand.
That said, wholesale changes in terms of personnel are not required to transform Arsenal from pretenders into contenders. A rethink of the romantic notion Wenger has of winning matches by paying scant regard to anything that might constitute what he would brand anti- football should be his priority, however.
The Premier League is not Mexico 1970. It’s a completely different beast even to the one Wenger ruled six years ago. He needs to move with the times or he risks falling by the wayside.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Big freeze or big wheeze...
Patrick Vieira is back in the Premier League, but if this namby pamby state we live in has anything to do with it, he'll have to wait until it's deemed safe to walk the streets without a woolly scarf and a pair of thermal gloves to make his debut.
The adverse weather has wreaked havoc with this weekend's sporting schedule, and while it's harsh to expect a four-year-old novice to slide its way across frozen turf and clear the fences at Fontwell, it's more than a tad frustrating to see Premier League football clubs calling off their fixtures because of safety fears.
Had the snow and ice deemed playing surfaces too dangerous, you'd hold your hands up and say "fair play God, Saturday sale shopping with missus it is" but that's not the case at Fulham and Liverpool, nor was it the case at Arsenal in midweek - is it too much to suggest something slightly sinister is afoot?
Arsene Wenger's side were due to play the game in hand they've held over their immediate rivals since August on Wednesday, but despite the efforts of the gritters (random thought, but what does a gritter for the 50 weeks of the year when snow and ice isn't an issue?) some safety bod decided the surrounding areas were unsafe, while there were also concerns that fans relying on public transport might be letdown by London's undergound system.
Did said safety bod consider the fact that London's commuters expect nothing more than constant disappointment even in times of glorious sunshine? Probably not, and in any case, at 21.45, when roughly 60,000 fans were due to exit Emirates Stadium, Transport For London's website stated there were no delays on any of the underground lines.
In Arsenal's defence, they did everything they could to get the game on, and other than the outside possibility of Arsene Wenger preferring to play Bolton at a time when he would be able to call upon Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Nicklas Bendtner, there was no reason for the club to want to postpone the fixture on football grounds.
Could the same be said for Fulham and Liverpool this weekend?
The Cottagers suffered two damaging injuries during Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Stoke with Brede Hangeland limping off and Bobby Zamora's season now in tatters following a broken collar bone. Would it be churlish to suggest that Roy Hodgson fancied an extra week off in order to find suitable replacements for his most commanding defender and most influential striker?
Certainly the fans who braved the less than arctic conditions to congregate outside Craven Cottage and offer their opinions on Sky Sports News this afternoon seemed somewhat surprised to learn that tomorrow's match against Portsmouth was off. As a side issue, you had to laugh at the bloke who'd flown round the world specifically to watch Mark Schwarzer in action.
Word of advice, if you are going to embark on a spot of globetrotting hoping to see your favourite Socceroo do anything more than shielding his eyes from low sunshine, make sure Portsmouth aren't the visitors to west London first.
If that seems odd, then what on earth are Liverpool doing postponing their match against Spurs a full 48 hours before kick-off? Has Merseyside turned into some sort of Narnia? Is it so cold and treacherous up there that fans would be forced to huddle together 'March of the Penguins' style in order to make it to Anfield safely? Highly doubtful.
Interestingly, roughly 100 miles away and Birmingham, currently on an 11 match unbeaten run and sensing an ideal opportunity to cause an upset against wobbling Manchester United, have managed to get their game on, while Wigan, whose DW Stadium is about 30 minutes down the road from Anfield, will play host to Aston Villa tomorrow.
Could it be that Liverpool, who look likely to possess a radically re-shaped squad by the end of the month, would prefer to face upwardly mobile Spurs, a direct rival for fourth place, with Maxi Rodriguez and potentially several other new faces on board?
Hiding behind fears for the safety of fans certainly provided the club with the ideal opportunity to put that idea into practise, and interestingly in this case, it was Liverpool who made the first move in seeking advice from the police.
Either way it's a pretty pathetic state of affairs when you consider that over in America, the land of the lawsuit, never has an NFL match been called off due to inclement weather, and believe me, they get plenty of that.
As Wenger said in his Friday press conference: "It is the price we pay for living in a society where everybody wants 100 per cent security."
More is the pity.
The adverse weather has wreaked havoc with this weekend's sporting schedule, and while it's harsh to expect a four-year-old novice to slide its way across frozen turf and clear the fences at Fontwell, it's more than a tad frustrating to see Premier League football clubs calling off their fixtures because of safety fears.
Had the snow and ice deemed playing surfaces too dangerous, you'd hold your hands up and say "fair play God, Saturday sale shopping with missus it is" but that's not the case at Fulham and Liverpool, nor was it the case at Arsenal in midweek - is it too much to suggest something slightly sinister is afoot?
Arsene Wenger's side were due to play the game in hand they've held over their immediate rivals since August on Wednesday, but despite the efforts of the gritters (random thought, but what does a gritter for the 50 weeks of the year when snow and ice isn't an issue?) some safety bod decided the surrounding areas were unsafe, while there were also concerns that fans relying on public transport might be letdown by London's undergound system.
Did said safety bod consider the fact that London's commuters expect nothing more than constant disappointment even in times of glorious sunshine? Probably not, and in any case, at 21.45, when roughly 60,000 fans were due to exit Emirates Stadium, Transport For London's website stated there were no delays on any of the underground lines.
In Arsenal's defence, they did everything they could to get the game on, and other than the outside possibility of Arsene Wenger preferring to play Bolton at a time when he would be able to call upon Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas and Nicklas Bendtner, there was no reason for the club to want to postpone the fixture on football grounds.
Could the same be said for Fulham and Liverpool this weekend?
The Cottagers suffered two damaging injuries during Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Stoke with Brede Hangeland limping off and Bobby Zamora's season now in tatters following a broken collar bone. Would it be churlish to suggest that Roy Hodgson fancied an extra week off in order to find suitable replacements for his most commanding defender and most influential striker?
Certainly the fans who braved the less than arctic conditions to congregate outside Craven Cottage and offer their opinions on Sky Sports News this afternoon seemed somewhat surprised to learn that tomorrow's match against Portsmouth was off. As a side issue, you had to laugh at the bloke who'd flown round the world specifically to watch Mark Schwarzer in action.
Word of advice, if you are going to embark on a spot of globetrotting hoping to see your favourite Socceroo do anything more than shielding his eyes from low sunshine, make sure Portsmouth aren't the visitors to west London first.
If that seems odd, then what on earth are Liverpool doing postponing their match against Spurs a full 48 hours before kick-off? Has Merseyside turned into some sort of Narnia? Is it so cold and treacherous up there that fans would be forced to huddle together 'March of the Penguins' style in order to make it to Anfield safely? Highly doubtful.
Interestingly, roughly 100 miles away and Birmingham, currently on an 11 match unbeaten run and sensing an ideal opportunity to cause an upset against wobbling Manchester United, have managed to get their game on, while Wigan, whose DW Stadium is about 30 minutes down the road from Anfield, will play host to Aston Villa tomorrow.
Could it be that Liverpool, who look likely to possess a radically re-shaped squad by the end of the month, would prefer to face upwardly mobile Spurs, a direct rival for fourth place, with Maxi Rodriguez and potentially several other new faces on board?
Hiding behind fears for the safety of fans certainly provided the club with the ideal opportunity to put that idea into practise, and interestingly in this case, it was Liverpool who made the first move in seeking advice from the police.
Either way it's a pretty pathetic state of affairs when you consider that over in America, the land of the lawsuit, never has an NFL match been called off due to inclement weather, and believe me, they get plenty of that.
As Wenger said in his Friday press conference: "It is the price we pay for living in a society where everybody wants 100 per cent security."
More is the pity.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
The window is open so who needs what part 2....
As if to back up the introduction to yesterday's post, latest transfer window highlights include Jamie O'Hara saying the word 'obviously' 27 times in a 60 second interview, Sky Sports News' Brian Swanson playing around with a new gizmo which allowed him to touch a picture of Patrick Vieira in a delicate place and confirmation of the big one...Richard Cresswell joining Sheffield United from Stoke on a permanent basis.
To say it's been slow going is like saying Britain's transport system has had difficulty in standing up to a bit of snow. Either way, I've started so I'll finish...
Stoke:
Tony Pulis might look more like a plumber than a Premier League manager, but he showed just why a book should never be judged by its cover 12 months ago with two shrewd additions in the shape of James Beattie and Matthew Etherington. Pulis has been linked with adventurous bids for the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, but despite last night's victory over Fulham, his side are just six points clear of the relegation zone. Now is not the time for Stoke to be getting ideas above their station, and a couple of additions in the Beattie / Etherington mould will ensure Premier League survival.
Everton:
Events across Stanley Park have ensured the spotlight hasn't burned as brightly on Everton's failings as it might otherwise have done. Louis Saha's form and the returns of long-term injury victims Yakubu and James Vaughan will see Everton score enough goals, but the defensive stingeyness upon which last season's success was built is but a distant memory. The Toffees conceded just 37 times last term and are already just five shy of that total with Sylvain Distin just a couple of steps behind his old Portsmouth teammate Sol Campbell on the road to the reject bin, while Johnny Heitinga has played more in midfield than defence due to injuries. Reinforcements at the back are a necessity.
Blackburn:
Under Mark Hughes Rovers were rather harshly dismissed as cynical cloggers. But the side which included Tugay, Craig Bellamy and a motivated Benni McCarthy were more than pleasing on the eye. Unsurprisingly, with Sam Allardyce in charge, Blackburn are just plain ugly these days. In fairness to Big Sam, Bolton's success was built on the nous of fading greats like Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro. Summer signings such as Steven N'Zonzi, Lars Jacobsen and Nikola Kalinic hint that Allardyce, who also bought some dross at Newcastle, may have lost his once golden touch in the transfer market. He desperately needs to rediscover it and find a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz if Blackburn are to survive.
Burnley:
Could Owen Coyle's departure be something of a blessing in disguise? Though Coyle's commitment to attacking football was highly commendable, there's only so many pastings you can take away from home before a change of approach needs to be considered. Whether Coyle has it in him to set a team up to win points the ugly way is a matter of conjecture. Having conceded 31 times on their travels already, Burnley need to get streetwise, and quickly. Robbie Savage, when he's not busy regaling us with tails of high jinx in his Daily Mirror column, is regularly demonstrating he's way past his best at Derby, but Burnley could do with an irksome little git like him to complement their skilled technicians.
Wolves:
Lethal in the Championship, lousy in the Premier League, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, welcome to a club which also includes the likes of David Nugent, Nathan Ellington and Fraizer Campbell. After scoring a bundle in last season's promotion campaign, the former Manchester United youngster has only a scuffed penalty against Aston Villa back in October to his credit this time around. Former non-scoring strikers Carlton Cole and Bobby Zamora could at least point to providing a nuisance factor during lean times, but Ebanks-Blake has neither the touch nor intelligence to be an effective foil for Kevin Doyle. Mick McCarthy has shown an admirable amount of faith in last season's top scorer, but it's time for change up front at Molineux. Wolves fans must, however, be praying that Big Mick has deleted Jon Stead's number from his mobile.
Wigan:
Note to Roberto Martinez: no more players from Swansea, please. For someone who gives the impression of being forward thinking, the Spaniard has been particularly unimaginative in the transfer market to date. His two recruits from his old club, Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez, have contributed nothing, while the two signings from his homeland, Mohamed Diane and Antonio Amaya, haven't even threatened to acclimatise to life in England. Any success Wigan have enjoyed over the past six years has been built on a British core and Martinez desperately needs to look at home, rather than abroad, for a solution to his side's worrying form. A defence which features Titus Bramble as its most consistent performer also needs bolstering.
West Ham:
There's no happy conclusion in view to the wrangle over the club's ownership, and while that saga rumbles on Gianfranco Zola must fear his better players being cherry picked by the bigger boys. The press have already put two and two together and linked Arsenal with Carlton Cole, and it won't be long before they do the same with Valon Behrami and Liverpool. James Tomkins is a promising young defender, but Matthew Upson is having to chaperon him at the moment, and the England man's form is suffering as a result. God only knows how Julien Faubert still gets a game and a new right-back would be an added bonus for a manager who has plenty on his plate.
Bolton:
Trotters fans got what they wanted even before the window opened with the sacking of Garry 'no-mates' Megson. Ginger and balding, you already felt a bit sorry for Meggo before Bolton fans started laying into him for no good reason. He wasn't allowed to spend anywhere near as freely as his predecessors, although after blowing £10 million on Johan Elmander you suspect that was part of the reason he had his hands tied. Owen Coyle is being treated as something of a Messiah, but he has no proven record in the transfer market and with Bolton in need of fresh blood in all departments, his imminent appointment represents a major risk. Moreover, other than possibly Chris Eagles, there's nobody whom Coyle could bring with him from Burnley to put bums on seats at the Reebok.
Hull:
There will plenty of neutrals hoping Hull bite the dust, if only to avoid another grotesque Phil Brown karaoke session. Hull's mini revival in November coincided with the return of Jimmy Bullard and immediately fizzled out when the former Fulham midfielder hurt his less dodgy knee. Brown has a decent record at recruiting players with the, and I apologise for using the phrase, X-Factor and he needs to find another gem to boost morale. A solid replacement for the much missed Michael Turner is a pre-requisite while the Tango Man cannot afford another mistake up front. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Jozy Altidore, Caleb Folan, Craig Fagan and Daniel Cousin were all bought by Brown, and all have flopped more pathetically than a drunk whose spent three days on the razzle.
Portsmouth:
There are two things Pompey need to stay afloat. Anyone connected to the club whose surname starts 'Al' needs to bugger off and following that, a miracle of biblical proportions is required.
To say it's been slow going is like saying Britain's transport system has had difficulty in standing up to a bit of snow. Either way, I've started so I'll finish...
Stoke:
Tony Pulis might look more like a plumber than a Premier League manager, but he showed just why a book should never be judged by its cover 12 months ago with two shrewd additions in the shape of James Beattie and Matthew Etherington. Pulis has been linked with adventurous bids for the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, but despite last night's victory over Fulham, his side are just six points clear of the relegation zone. Now is not the time for Stoke to be getting ideas above their station, and a couple of additions in the Beattie / Etherington mould will ensure Premier League survival.
Everton:
Events across Stanley Park have ensured the spotlight hasn't burned as brightly on Everton's failings as it might otherwise have done. Louis Saha's form and the returns of long-term injury victims Yakubu and James Vaughan will see Everton score enough goals, but the defensive stingeyness upon which last season's success was built is but a distant memory. The Toffees conceded just 37 times last term and are already just five shy of that total with Sylvain Distin just a couple of steps behind his old Portsmouth teammate Sol Campbell on the road to the reject bin, while Johnny Heitinga has played more in midfield than defence due to injuries. Reinforcements at the back are a necessity.
Blackburn:
Under Mark Hughes Rovers were rather harshly dismissed as cynical cloggers. But the side which included Tugay, Craig Bellamy and a motivated Benni McCarthy were more than pleasing on the eye. Unsurprisingly, with Sam Allardyce in charge, Blackburn are just plain ugly these days. In fairness to Big Sam, Bolton's success was built on the nous of fading greats like Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Fernando Hierro. Summer signings such as Steven N'Zonzi, Lars Jacobsen and Nikola Kalinic hint that Allardyce, who also bought some dross at Newcastle, may have lost his once golden touch in the transfer market. He desperately needs to rediscover it and find a replacement for Roque Santa Cruz if Blackburn are to survive.
Burnley:
Could Owen Coyle's departure be something of a blessing in disguise? Though Coyle's commitment to attacking football was highly commendable, there's only so many pastings you can take away from home before a change of approach needs to be considered. Whether Coyle has it in him to set a team up to win points the ugly way is a matter of conjecture. Having conceded 31 times on their travels already, Burnley need to get streetwise, and quickly. Robbie Savage, when he's not busy regaling us with tails of high jinx in his Daily Mirror column, is regularly demonstrating he's way past his best at Derby, but Burnley could do with an irksome little git like him to complement their skilled technicians.
Wolves:
Lethal in the Championship, lousy in the Premier League, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, welcome to a club which also includes the likes of David Nugent, Nathan Ellington and Fraizer Campbell. After scoring a bundle in last season's promotion campaign, the former Manchester United youngster has only a scuffed penalty against Aston Villa back in October to his credit this time around. Former non-scoring strikers Carlton Cole and Bobby Zamora could at least point to providing a nuisance factor during lean times, but Ebanks-Blake has neither the touch nor intelligence to be an effective foil for Kevin Doyle. Mick McCarthy has shown an admirable amount of faith in last season's top scorer, but it's time for change up front at Molineux. Wolves fans must, however, be praying that Big Mick has deleted Jon Stead's number from his mobile.
Wigan:
Note to Roberto Martinez: no more players from Swansea, please. For someone who gives the impression of being forward thinking, the Spaniard has been particularly unimaginative in the transfer market to date. His two recruits from his old club, Jason Scotland and Jordi Gomez, have contributed nothing, while the two signings from his homeland, Mohamed Diane and Antonio Amaya, haven't even threatened to acclimatise to life in England. Any success Wigan have enjoyed over the past six years has been built on a British core and Martinez desperately needs to look at home, rather than abroad, for a solution to his side's worrying form. A defence which features Titus Bramble as its most consistent performer also needs bolstering.
West Ham:
There's no happy conclusion in view to the wrangle over the club's ownership, and while that saga rumbles on Gianfranco Zola must fear his better players being cherry picked by the bigger boys. The press have already put two and two together and linked Arsenal with Carlton Cole, and it won't be long before they do the same with Valon Behrami and Liverpool. James Tomkins is a promising young defender, but Matthew Upson is having to chaperon him at the moment, and the England man's form is suffering as a result. God only knows how Julien Faubert still gets a game and a new right-back would be an added bonus for a manager who has plenty on his plate.
Bolton:
Trotters fans got what they wanted even before the window opened with the sacking of Garry 'no-mates' Megson. Ginger and balding, you already felt a bit sorry for Meggo before Bolton fans started laying into him for no good reason. He wasn't allowed to spend anywhere near as freely as his predecessors, although after blowing £10 million on Johan Elmander you suspect that was part of the reason he had his hands tied. Owen Coyle is being treated as something of a Messiah, but he has no proven record in the transfer market and with Bolton in need of fresh blood in all departments, his imminent appointment represents a major risk. Moreover, other than possibly Chris Eagles, there's nobody whom Coyle could bring with him from Burnley to put bums on seats at the Reebok.
Hull:
There will plenty of neutrals hoping Hull bite the dust, if only to avoid another grotesque Phil Brown karaoke session. Hull's mini revival in November coincided with the return of Jimmy Bullard and immediately fizzled out when the former Fulham midfielder hurt his less dodgy knee. Brown has a decent record at recruiting players with the, and I apologise for using the phrase, X-Factor and he needs to find another gem to boost morale. A solid replacement for the much missed Michael Turner is a pre-requisite while the Tango Man cannot afford another mistake up front. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Jozy Altidore, Caleb Folan, Craig Fagan and Daniel Cousin were all bought by Brown, and all have flopped more pathetically than a drunk whose spent three days on the razzle.
Portsmouth:
There are two things Pompey need to stay afloat. Anyone connected to the club whose surname starts 'Al' needs to bugger off and following that, a miracle of biblical proportions is required.
Tuesday, 5 January 2010
The window is open so who needs what part 1....
Like most innovations in football these days, the January transfer window promises much but ultimately delivers very little. Though the Georgie Thompson cleavage-ometer goes through the roof at this time of year, it's wild speculation football fans crave in order to quicken the pulse.
History tells us few significant deals are done at this time of year - for every Andrey Arshavin there are a dozen Ryan Taylors - yet that doesn't stop us religiously tuning into Sky Sports News willing that yellow bar to run across the bottom of the screen telling us our team has signed someone with an exotic name.
What we usually get, however, are umpteen shots of reporters wired up to mobile phones claiming to be in possession of a text from Charles N'Zogbia's agent proclaiming it's his client's destiny to play for Real Madrid, shortly before he's packed off to Wigan.
Even so, it's a manager's only opportunity to cover for any clangers dropped in the summer, so here's what your team needs part 1.
Chelsea:
The fixture computer has been particularly kind to Carlo Ancelotti, who shouldn't miss his band of African stars too much with January providing some cosy looking assignments. With Branislav Ivanovic improving as an attacking outlet from right-back, finding cover for Jose Bosingwa is no longer a pressing issue. A new goalkeeper is sure to be a consideration come the summer, while Ancelotti may also have to wait until after the World Cup - FIFA ban permitting - to land the fantasy signing Chelsea have been reluctant to make since the Shevchenko experiment.
Manchester United:
Sir Alex Ferguson has a pretty dodgy track record when it comes to making quick-fix defensive signings (see Laurent Blanc and William Prunier) but with Rio Ferdinand's comeback date yet to be confirmed, Nemanja Vidic doing a Jaap Stam and their backup woefully inadequate - we're looking at you Wes Brown - Sir Fergie needs to act. A midfield enforcer to complement Darren Fletcher would be a bonus, while Dimitar Berbatov's slight improvement has probably given him another five months to save his Old Trafford career.
Arsenal:
Despite their obvious flaws, Arsene Wenger's side are genuine title contenders. After a period of slight adjustment following the season ending injury suffered by Robin van Persie, the Gunners have just about muddled through in his absence, thanks largely to a kind run of fixtures. The last time Arsenal were in this position two seasons ago, Wenger refused to strengthen in January and paid the price as injuries took their toll. Their season will unravel in a similar fashion should either William Gallas or Thomas Vermaelen - neither of whom have missed a minute of league action this season - take the knock. Wenger gives the impression he's looking to Nicklas Bendtner to replace Van Persie's goals, but there is nothing in his track record, nor in Arsenal's medical history, to suggest he will fill the void or avoid a return to the treatment table before May.
Tottenham:
If you consider Harry Redknapp's main target to be Champions League qualification he already looks well equipped to break the big four's monopoly. Spurs have already, and inevitably, had to cope without their injury-prone first choice centre back pairing for a large chunk of the campaign, while Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Luka Modric have also been missing for significant periods of the season without the catastrophic results many would have predicted. Indeed, Spurs chances of finishing fourth may depend more on what their rivals do in January than any wheeler dealing Redknapp indulges in.
Manchester City:
It's unfeasible to envisage the month passing by without Roberto Mancini adding to his squad, but the early signs suggest he's likely to be pragmatic with the funds available. Experience and know-how are likely to be crucial over the run-in which would go some way to explaining City's interest in Patrick Vieira. Even the most successful recruits of the Mark Hughes reign - the likes of Gareth Barry, Shay Given and Craig Bellamy - have limited experience of successfully competing for honours, and a smattering of wise old heads who are unlikely to indulge in Robinho boat rocking antics would not go amiss.
Aston Villa:
Back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool have handed Villa's sagely manager a timely reality check. Villa were chugging along nicely at this stage last time around before a spectacular capitulation saw them drop from third to sixth - January surgery is required if they are to avoid a similar fate. Were O'Neill able to pioneer a machine that could combine the skills of John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor to create a hybrid player - Johnriel Agbonlarew, perhaps - he'd have room to accommodate a link forward with the guile and imagination that neither of his two main strikers possess. The less said about Emile Heskey, the better.
Liverpool:
Where to start. It's clear a drastic overhaul of the playing staff isn't, for any number of reasons, an option this month. Assuming Rafael Benitez will be allowed to spend any money, his priority must be to find a midfield schemer, a bright spark whose first move is forward rather than sideways - someone in the mould of Everton's Steven Pienaar - and a reliable winger. Addressing those areas first up would force Benitez to gamble on Fernando Torres steering clear of injury for the rest of the season, and his hamstrings are hardly the most reliable.
Birmingham:
The surprise package of the season to date have money to play with this month, and much of what Alex McLeish has done at St Andrews suggests he'll spend it wisely. The former Rangers boss has already displayed a sound knowledge of obscure foreign markets with Ecuadorian Christian Benitez making a solid fist of his first season in English football. Two seasons ago the livewire Argentine Mauro Zarate's arrival nearly kept Brum up, and if McLeish can use Carsen Yeung's cash to recruit someone of Zarate's talismanic status, his side will continue to progress. Making Joe Hart's loan move from Manchester City a permanent one must also be a priority.
Fulham:
Don't expect Roy Hodgson to err from his successful policy of plundering unheralded Scandinavians and reviving the careers of supposed hasbeens. Fulham's European adventure, which will take in a trip to the Ukraine at the very least, means their squad will be tested to the limit and a new faces in defence, midfield and attack would be welcomed. As a priority, however, Hodgson will look to keep hold of those players who have propelled Fulham into uncharted waters. There are several sides in this league in need of a powerful centre forward, and Bobby Zamora's transformation won't have gone unnoticed by the likes of Aston Villa or Liverpool.
Sunderland:
So far so adequate for Steve Bruce. Delusions of grandeur accompanied victories over Liverpool - helped by the beach ball - and Arsenal - a fixture which followed the international break in which Robin van Persie was crocked. Darren Bent has clearly been an unqualified success, while Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole have also proved shrewd purchases, but despite an enormous amount of transfer activity at the Stadium of Light over the past three years, there still appears to be an enormous amount of dead wood. Like Liverpool, Sunderland have been without a decent winger for years, while a new goalkeeper is an absolute must. The Black Cats were stung to the tune of £9 million for Craig Gordon and might be unwilling to head back to the SPL for Rangers' Allan McGregor, but he couldn't be any worse than Gordon or Marton Fulop.
History tells us few significant deals are done at this time of year - for every Andrey Arshavin there are a dozen Ryan Taylors - yet that doesn't stop us religiously tuning into Sky Sports News willing that yellow bar to run across the bottom of the screen telling us our team has signed someone with an exotic name.
What we usually get, however, are umpteen shots of reporters wired up to mobile phones claiming to be in possession of a text from Charles N'Zogbia's agent proclaiming it's his client's destiny to play for Real Madrid, shortly before he's packed off to Wigan.
Even so, it's a manager's only opportunity to cover for any clangers dropped in the summer, so here's what your team needs part 1.
Chelsea:
The fixture computer has been particularly kind to Carlo Ancelotti, who shouldn't miss his band of African stars too much with January providing some cosy looking assignments. With Branislav Ivanovic improving as an attacking outlet from right-back, finding cover for Jose Bosingwa is no longer a pressing issue. A new goalkeeper is sure to be a consideration come the summer, while Ancelotti may also have to wait until after the World Cup - FIFA ban permitting - to land the fantasy signing Chelsea have been reluctant to make since the Shevchenko experiment.
Manchester United:
Sir Alex Ferguson has a pretty dodgy track record when it comes to making quick-fix defensive signings (see Laurent Blanc and William Prunier) but with Rio Ferdinand's comeback date yet to be confirmed, Nemanja Vidic doing a Jaap Stam and their backup woefully inadequate - we're looking at you Wes Brown - Sir Fergie needs to act. A midfield enforcer to complement Darren Fletcher would be a bonus, while Dimitar Berbatov's slight improvement has probably given him another five months to save his Old Trafford career.
Arsenal:
Despite their obvious flaws, Arsene Wenger's side are genuine title contenders. After a period of slight adjustment following the season ending injury suffered by Robin van Persie, the Gunners have just about muddled through in his absence, thanks largely to a kind run of fixtures. The last time Arsenal were in this position two seasons ago, Wenger refused to strengthen in January and paid the price as injuries took their toll. Their season will unravel in a similar fashion should either William Gallas or Thomas Vermaelen - neither of whom have missed a minute of league action this season - take the knock. Wenger gives the impression he's looking to Nicklas Bendtner to replace Van Persie's goals, but there is nothing in his track record, nor in Arsenal's medical history, to suggest he will fill the void or avoid a return to the treatment table before May.
Tottenham:
If you consider Harry Redknapp's main target to be Champions League qualification he already looks well equipped to break the big four's monopoly. Spurs have already, and inevitably, had to cope without their injury-prone first choice centre back pairing for a large chunk of the campaign, while Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Luka Modric have also been missing for significant periods of the season without the catastrophic results many would have predicted. Indeed, Spurs chances of finishing fourth may depend more on what their rivals do in January than any wheeler dealing Redknapp indulges in.
Manchester City:
It's unfeasible to envisage the month passing by without Roberto Mancini adding to his squad, but the early signs suggest he's likely to be pragmatic with the funds available. Experience and know-how are likely to be crucial over the run-in which would go some way to explaining City's interest in Patrick Vieira. Even the most successful recruits of the Mark Hughes reign - the likes of Gareth Barry, Shay Given and Craig Bellamy - have limited experience of successfully competing for honours, and a smattering of wise old heads who are unlikely to indulge in Robinho boat rocking antics would not go amiss.
Aston Villa:
Back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Liverpool have handed Villa's sagely manager a timely reality check. Villa were chugging along nicely at this stage last time around before a spectacular capitulation saw them drop from third to sixth - January surgery is required if they are to avoid a similar fate. Were O'Neill able to pioneer a machine that could combine the skills of John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor to create a hybrid player - Johnriel Agbonlarew, perhaps - he'd have room to accommodate a link forward with the guile and imagination that neither of his two main strikers possess. The less said about Emile Heskey, the better.
Liverpool:
Where to start. It's clear a drastic overhaul of the playing staff isn't, for any number of reasons, an option this month. Assuming Rafael Benitez will be allowed to spend any money, his priority must be to find a midfield schemer, a bright spark whose first move is forward rather than sideways - someone in the mould of Everton's Steven Pienaar - and a reliable winger. Addressing those areas first up would force Benitez to gamble on Fernando Torres steering clear of injury for the rest of the season, and his hamstrings are hardly the most reliable.
Birmingham:
The surprise package of the season to date have money to play with this month, and much of what Alex McLeish has done at St Andrews suggests he'll spend it wisely. The former Rangers boss has already displayed a sound knowledge of obscure foreign markets with Ecuadorian Christian Benitez making a solid fist of his first season in English football. Two seasons ago the livewire Argentine Mauro Zarate's arrival nearly kept Brum up, and if McLeish can use Carsen Yeung's cash to recruit someone of Zarate's talismanic status, his side will continue to progress. Making Joe Hart's loan move from Manchester City a permanent one must also be a priority.
Fulham:
Don't expect Roy Hodgson to err from his successful policy of plundering unheralded Scandinavians and reviving the careers of supposed hasbeens. Fulham's European adventure, which will take in a trip to the Ukraine at the very least, means their squad will be tested to the limit and a new faces in defence, midfield and attack would be welcomed. As a priority, however, Hodgson will look to keep hold of those players who have propelled Fulham into uncharted waters. There are several sides in this league in need of a powerful centre forward, and Bobby Zamora's transformation won't have gone unnoticed by the likes of Aston Villa or Liverpool.
Sunderland:
So far so adequate for Steve Bruce. Delusions of grandeur accompanied victories over Liverpool - helped by the beach ball - and Arsenal - a fixture which followed the international break in which Robin van Persie was crocked. Darren Bent has clearly been an unqualified success, while Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole have also proved shrewd purchases, but despite an enormous amount of transfer activity at the Stadium of Light over the past three years, there still appears to be an enormous amount of dead wood. Like Liverpool, Sunderland have been without a decent winger for years, while a new goalkeeper is an absolute must. The Black Cats were stung to the tune of £9 million for Craig Gordon and might be unwilling to head back to the SPL for Rangers' Allan McGregor, but he couldn't be any worse than Gordon or Marton Fulop.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Whatever happened to the Golden Generation....
Other than Steve McClaren and penalty shoot-out, the two words that strike fear and loathing into the hearts of England supporters more than any other are Golden Generation.
Three years ago, England strutted around Germany looking and sounding like world champions and confidently proclaimed football would finally be coming home.
When England's luxury jet returned to these shores, however, the only things of value to be found in the luggage compartment were the designer products purchased by our world class WAGs.
Under Fabio Capello, any such talk of an elite group of players re-writing football history in South Africa next summer is unheard of, and for good reason - on current form we don't have any elite players.
That so-called Golden Generation is again likely to form the bedrock of England's assault on the World Cup in South Africa, and yet it seems to have gone unnoticed, amid the furore surrounding Manchester City, that it's a jolly good thing things aren't kicking-off tomorrow...just look at the evidence.
Rio Ferdinand:
Last seen impersonating the defender formerly known as Rio during Manchester United's no show at Anfield in late October. His form prior to that 2-0 defeat was hardly inspiring - witness his inability to keep pace with Craig Bellamy in the Manchester derby and brain dead back pass which gifted Holland the lead in an August friendly - and his increasingly fragile body suggests he's not the sort of player who can be relied upon to withstand the rigours of potentially playing seven games in the space of a month.
John Terry:
If you're the captain of England, surely no good can ever come of befriending someone who goes by the name Terry 'the ticket' Bruce. Even so, in relation to this latest tabloid rumble, the first question we should concern ourselves with is what type of moron pays £10,000 for the privilege of watching Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack enjoy a bubble bath together in their Speedos?
That aside, Terry's form is of increasing concern and there are some who believe he has never looked the same commanding figure he is for Chelsea on the international stage. Petr Cech has copped most of the flak for his side's set piece weakness, but as skipper, defensive organiser and their strongest aerial presence, Terry appears to have got off pretty lightly in the blame game.
Frank Lampard:
Take away his contributions from the penalty spot and you'd be hard pressed to find enough footage to fill a Frank Lampard 2009/10 youtube compilation video. Under Carlo Ancelotti, like Michael Essien, England's most eloquent midfielder is in danger of becoming just another cog in the wheel at Chelsea, rather than the all-action driving force he was under previous managers.
He went 10 games without a club goal earlier this season, and although you couldn't argue he's been anything other than neat, tidy and efficient over the course of the last month, you could say the same about Mark Noble at West Ham, and he won't be lining up for England against USA on June 12.
Steven Gerrard:
I never thought I'd live to see the day that the most talented all-round footballer this country has produced since Paul Gascoigne - forget Wayne Rooney, we'll come to him in a minute - would be out thought and out battled by a player as limited as Portsmouth's Michael Brown. December 19, 2009 was a dark day for English football, not just Liverpool FC. Fitness issues can longer be offered as an excuse for Gerrard's lack of dynamacism.
He's started his side's last eight matches, three of those alongside Fernando Torres, and has only 'that' penalty against Birmingham to show for his efforts. Were Rafael Benitez to contemplate dropping his captain, the Spaniard might as well douse himself in petrol, take a seat on the Kop and ask the closest cheeky scouser for a light.
The master of the sideways pass, Lucas, bears the brunt of the abuse dished out by the Kop, but Liverpool fans expect nothing of him and aren't overly disappointed when his only contribution over the course of 90 minutes is winning the race to congratulate the goalscorer. Of Gerrard, infinitely more is expected.
Wayne Rooney:
Sorry to bang on about it, especially as we are likely to need reliable penalty takers in the summer, but take away Rooney's efforts from 12 yards this season and you're left with eight goals from open play this season. While that's far from a disgraceful return, it needs to be measured against the standards set by the man he has effectively replaced, Cristiano Ronaldo.
At this stage of the campaign 12 months ago, the Portugal forward had scored ten times, having missed the first month of the season and, before you say it, only one of those came from the penalty spot.
As United's linchpin, Rooney's prerequisite is not to dominate or decorate certain games, he's expected to dictate an entire campaign. Rooney hasn't been United's 'go to' man in the big games this season, indeed it's been Darren Fletcher who has caught the eye in the heavyweight contests.
Nobody can doubt Rooney's abundant talent, but the feeling persists that neither Sir Alex Ferguson nor Capello can truly say they have concocted a way of harnessing it to its full potential. If they had, Rooney, not Lionel Messi, would've been accepting Fifa's World Player of the Year gong this week.
Here's hoping Capello can break the code ahead of next summer.
Three years ago, England strutted around Germany looking and sounding like world champions and confidently proclaimed football would finally be coming home.
When England's luxury jet returned to these shores, however, the only things of value to be found in the luggage compartment were the designer products purchased by our world class WAGs.
Under Fabio Capello, any such talk of an elite group of players re-writing football history in South Africa next summer is unheard of, and for good reason - on current form we don't have any elite players.
That so-called Golden Generation is again likely to form the bedrock of England's assault on the World Cup in South Africa, and yet it seems to have gone unnoticed, amid the furore surrounding Manchester City, that it's a jolly good thing things aren't kicking-off tomorrow...just look at the evidence.
Rio Ferdinand:
Last seen impersonating the defender formerly known as Rio during Manchester United's no show at Anfield in late October. His form prior to that 2-0 defeat was hardly inspiring - witness his inability to keep pace with Craig Bellamy in the Manchester derby and brain dead back pass which gifted Holland the lead in an August friendly - and his increasingly fragile body suggests he's not the sort of player who can be relied upon to withstand the rigours of potentially playing seven games in the space of a month.
John Terry:
If you're the captain of England, surely no good can ever come of befriending someone who goes by the name Terry 'the ticket' Bruce. Even so, in relation to this latest tabloid rumble, the first question we should concern ourselves with is what type of moron pays £10,000 for the privilege of watching Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack enjoy a bubble bath together in their Speedos?
That aside, Terry's form is of increasing concern and there are some who believe he has never looked the same commanding figure he is for Chelsea on the international stage. Petr Cech has copped most of the flak for his side's set piece weakness, but as skipper, defensive organiser and their strongest aerial presence, Terry appears to have got off pretty lightly in the blame game.
Frank Lampard:
Take away his contributions from the penalty spot and you'd be hard pressed to find enough footage to fill a Frank Lampard 2009/10 youtube compilation video. Under Carlo Ancelotti, like Michael Essien, England's most eloquent midfielder is in danger of becoming just another cog in the wheel at Chelsea, rather than the all-action driving force he was under previous managers.
He went 10 games without a club goal earlier this season, and although you couldn't argue he's been anything other than neat, tidy and efficient over the course of the last month, you could say the same about Mark Noble at West Ham, and he won't be lining up for England against USA on June 12.
Steven Gerrard:
I never thought I'd live to see the day that the most talented all-round footballer this country has produced since Paul Gascoigne - forget Wayne Rooney, we'll come to him in a minute - would be out thought and out battled by a player as limited as Portsmouth's Michael Brown. December 19, 2009 was a dark day for English football, not just Liverpool FC. Fitness issues can longer be offered as an excuse for Gerrard's lack of dynamacism.
He's started his side's last eight matches, three of those alongside Fernando Torres, and has only 'that' penalty against Birmingham to show for his efforts. Were Rafael Benitez to contemplate dropping his captain, the Spaniard might as well douse himself in petrol, take a seat on the Kop and ask the closest cheeky scouser for a light.
The master of the sideways pass, Lucas, bears the brunt of the abuse dished out by the Kop, but Liverpool fans expect nothing of him and aren't overly disappointed when his only contribution over the course of 90 minutes is winning the race to congratulate the goalscorer. Of Gerrard, infinitely more is expected.
Wayne Rooney:
Sorry to bang on about it, especially as we are likely to need reliable penalty takers in the summer, but take away Rooney's efforts from 12 yards this season and you're left with eight goals from open play this season. While that's far from a disgraceful return, it needs to be measured against the standards set by the man he has effectively replaced, Cristiano Ronaldo.
At this stage of the campaign 12 months ago, the Portugal forward had scored ten times, having missed the first month of the season and, before you say it, only one of those came from the penalty spot.
As United's linchpin, Rooney's prerequisite is not to dominate or decorate certain games, he's expected to dictate an entire campaign. Rooney hasn't been United's 'go to' man in the big games this season, indeed it's been Darren Fletcher who has caught the eye in the heavyweight contests.
Nobody can doubt Rooney's abundant talent, but the feeling persists that neither Sir Alex Ferguson nor Capello can truly say they have concocted a way of harnessing it to its full potential. If they had, Rooney, not Lionel Messi, would've been accepting Fifa's World Player of the Year gong this week.
Here's hoping Capello can break the code ahead of next summer.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Arsene's tirade was spot on, but long overdue...
Arsene Wenger is not a man to take drastic action at the drop of a hat. A subtle variation in the amount of water sprinkled on the pitch prior to a match at Emirates Stadium is as close to radical change as the Frenchman usually gets.
But with the stench his side created by virtue of a wretched first-half performance at Anfield clogging up his Gallic nostrils, Wenger realised it was time to fire up the hair-drier and tell a few home truths.
Too many times in the past the ire that follows defeat has been directed at an inappropriate target. The Dutch FA, Didier Drogba and the fixture compilers have all been responsible this season for Arsenal's failure to hang onto Chelsea's coat tails, according to their manager.
Though the opening 45 minutes verged on inexcusablel, it was by no means an isolated instance of his side failing to compete physically against opposition set-up to expose the weaknesses that have been apparent in Wenger's fragile side ever since Patrick Vieira tucked away an FA Cup winning penalty.
Wenger would have been well within his rights to question whether his mollycoddled youngsters were fit to wear their shirts following gutless defeats at Fulham, Stoke and Manchester City last season.
Of course, he chose not to and suffered the consequences as his team tried to ballet dance their way to the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, only to be chewed up and spat out by footballing giants who appreciate it takes more than performing triple saltos to win important matches.
Yesterday's half-time dressing down, however, may have represented a turning of the tide. In actual terms, a victory at Anfield these days is not the badge of honour it once was, but having rightly assessed that this season's champions won't have to live up to the heights hit by recent Premier League winners, Wenger knew this was an opportunity his side could ill afford to pass up.
That his verbal assault prompted a recovery within 15 minutes of the restart cannot be labelled the masterstoke many are claiming it to be on account of the helping hand they were given by the incompetent Glen Johnson.
Indeed, Wenger was merely reading a riot act that should have been delivered a long time ago to a group of players who give the impression they don't quite share their manager's conviction regarding their ability to mount a serious challenge to Manchester United and Chelsea.
We are never likely to learn just how how cutting Wenger's half-time oration was. How far it sank into the collective conscience of his squad wil, however, be revealed at Burnley on Wednesday.
Anything less than a repeat of the application they demonstrated in the second 45 minutes will suggest his words were forgotten by the time the team coach reversed out of the famous Shankly Gates.
But with the stench his side created by virtue of a wretched first-half performance at Anfield clogging up his Gallic nostrils, Wenger realised it was time to fire up the hair-drier and tell a few home truths.
Too many times in the past the ire that follows defeat has been directed at an inappropriate target. The Dutch FA, Didier Drogba and the fixture compilers have all been responsible this season for Arsenal's failure to hang onto Chelsea's coat tails, according to their manager.
Though the opening 45 minutes verged on inexcusablel, it was by no means an isolated instance of his side failing to compete physically against opposition set-up to expose the weaknesses that have been apparent in Wenger's fragile side ever since Patrick Vieira tucked away an FA Cup winning penalty.
Wenger would have been well within his rights to question whether his mollycoddled youngsters were fit to wear their shirts following gutless defeats at Fulham, Stoke and Manchester City last season.
Of course, he chose not to and suffered the consequences as his team tried to ballet dance their way to the finals of the FA Cup and Champions League, only to be chewed up and spat out by footballing giants who appreciate it takes more than performing triple saltos to win important matches.
Yesterday's half-time dressing down, however, may have represented a turning of the tide. In actual terms, a victory at Anfield these days is not the badge of honour it once was, but having rightly assessed that this season's champions won't have to live up to the heights hit by recent Premier League winners, Wenger knew this was an opportunity his side could ill afford to pass up.
That his verbal assault prompted a recovery within 15 minutes of the restart cannot be labelled the masterstoke many are claiming it to be on account of the helping hand they were given by the incompetent Glen Johnson.
Indeed, Wenger was merely reading a riot act that should have been delivered a long time ago to a group of players who give the impression they don't quite share their manager's conviction regarding their ability to mount a serious challenge to Manchester United and Chelsea.
We are never likely to learn just how how cutting Wenger's half-time oration was. How far it sank into the collective conscience of his squad wil, however, be revealed at Burnley on Wednesday.
Anything less than a repeat of the application they demonstrated in the second 45 minutes will suggest his words were forgotten by the time the team coach reversed out of the famous Shankly Gates.
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