As the African Cup of Nations gets underway in Ghana this Saturday, objecting voices over the tournament’s timing are coming thick and fast from the English Premier League. No fewer than thirty-four players have left UK shores for the competition, which runs until February 10. Between now and then three full weekends of Premiership fixtures, in addition to fourth round FA Cup ties and Carling Cup Semi-Final second legs, are to be played.
Aston Villa, Derby County, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic are the only clubs not to have a representative in Ghana, while other teams are facing up to reality of losing between three and four first team players. Only time will tell if the African Cup of Nations is to have any serious ramifications in the championship race, relegation dog fight or battle for European qualification places. One thing is for sure though, the league’s managers will refuse to hide their distain for the international competition until each and every one of their African stars are back in England, fit and ready to put on their club jerseys.
One of the strongest objectors to the African Cup of Nations being played in its current calendar spot is Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger. The French manager has lost three key first team players to the tournament, at a crucial time when the Gunners find themselves level on points with Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue are to represent the Ivory Coast while Alex Song will be playing for Cameroon. Their departure will leave a major gap in the north London side’s defence as they prepare for a weekend trip to Fulham and Tuesday’s Carling Cup Semi Final, second leg against rivals Tottenham. Arsenal’s only relief is that top goal scorer Emmanuel Adebayor will be staying in London as his Togo side failed to qualify for the tournament.
Wenger has called for the African Cup of Nations to be held just once every four years, rather than biennially and that it should be played in the summer instead of winter. He has also gone on record as stating that if the tournament’s timing is not changed, it could mean that English clubs no longer look to buy African players. "(Organisers) know more and more players play in Europe for the big clubs, and the big clubs don't want to pay the price," Wenger recently told the BBC. "That means it will be detrimental to the African players because the big clubs will not give them a chance any more."
The Arsenal boss commented this week that he thinks his Gunners side along with Chelsea and Portsmouth will be the Premiership clubs most effected by the African Cup of Nations. That seems a fair assessment looking at the list of players who have left for Ghana. Chelsea have lost Michael Essien (Ghana), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Ivory Coast) and John Obi Mikel (Nigeria). The shock waves of those departures should be eased by the Blues’ January signings of striker Nicolas Anelka and defender Branislav Ivanovic however.
Portsmouth are to be without Sulley Muntari (Nigeria), Geremi (Cameroon), Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye (both Senegal). Like Arsenal, Pompey boss Harry Redknapp can at least draw comfort in the fact their most prolific hit man this season, Benjani, wont be required in the competition, as Zimbabwe also missed out on qualification. The Fratton Park club have been quick to seek cover for their departing players, adding the 22-year-old French international defender Lassana Diarra to their squad this week.
The Premiership and other top European leagues will gain encouragement from FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s view that the African Cup of Nations should be moved to June and July sooner rather than later. He has set the Confederation Football Africain (CAF) the challenge of moving the tournament to the summer months by 2016. That’s despite CAF’s insistence they want to keep the biennial competition in its original calendar position, claiming the weather in Africa is better for football then. Some signs of a compromise with football’s world governing body have been evident this week though, when CAF announced the African Cup of Nations will kick off ten days earlier in Angola in 2010. This will ensure players return to their clubs in good time ahead of Champions League and UEFA Cup matches.
The inconvenience felt by the Premiership’s high and mighty over the African Cup of Nations is set to run long after the February 10 final. Given the Premier League’s profile and power, it will be interesting to see just how long CAF can continue to frustrate England’s elite clubs with their defiance over a January tournament in the future.
© Andy Greeves & Soccerphile
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football Premier League Arsenal Betting
|
|---|
Showing posts with label Arsenal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arsenal. Show all posts
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Thursday, November 22, 2007
England all played out again
The Emperor has no clothes and it’s official.For the first time within the walls of the awesome citadel that is the new Wembley Stadium, the English national team has come a cropper in a big way, and this time there can be no hiding from the naked truth.
Now let these sombre words ring out across our green and pleasant land: England are a mediocre football nation and it’s high time we accepted it.
One final appearance in 57 continuous years of international football competitions tells its own story and cannot by any logic justify the perennial Mount Everest of expectations heaped upon the Three Lions.
As the 3-2 victory over England by a competent yet not exceptional Croatian eleven on Wednesday proved once more, there is simply no case for believing we deserve a place at the high table of the world’s football nations, so please don’t try to make it.
After such a miserable and humiliating surrender, can anyone seriously believe we can win the 2010 World Cup? Will the patriotic punters be out in force again to waste their money, like they have for the last forty years since we won the World Cup at home?
That the English invented the sport and still sustain a 92-team professional league is utterly immaterial if the national team consistently fails to perform, yet year after year, an inferno of fan fervour is stoked up by London’s boorish tabloid media with no basis in reality.
But the media is only partly to blame for the unrealis
tic expectations and to a great extent is only a mirror of the national zeitgeist.The obscenely ballooning waistline of the cash cow that is the FA Premier League is also only reinforcing an existing tunnel vision shared by millions throughout the home of football.
There is a foreign influx in our leagues and globalization all around us, but it clearly does not follow that a great domestic league can produce a world-class national team.
So who do we blame this time?
The usual suspects for the latest shambles are lining up and while they all shoulder a part of the blame, are mostly red herrings while the prime suspect is still at large.
Steve McClaren is not the main culprit and I take no pride in having predicted as soon as he was appointed that he would fail.
Although guiding your club to 15th place in the Premier League is not the best preparation for coaching your country, McClaren had served apprenticeships under Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson and there were no realistic alternatives for England last summer.
While some fans are slating McClaren for starting with 4-5-1 at home, without Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney his striking options were limited and when reinforcements did arrive in the shape of Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe, the much-needed punch up front was still lacking.
In fact, the catalyst for England’s comeback was the arrival of David Beckham, in perhaps his last national team appearance, after halftime, a player from Major League Soccer who provided an artistry and finesse with the ball otherwise lacking from his team on the night.
The English players’ superstar salaries are almost irrele
vant too. Serie A pays huge wages but that never stopped Italy’s national team winning the World Cup impressively last summer. And English players certainly do not lack passion. If anything, they play with too much heart and not enough head, yet England critics routinely bemoan a lack of passion and self-belief as the reasons for falling short.That there may be too many foreign players in England for the national team’s good is also an argument that looks shakier by the day. In fact, on the evidence of last night, no wonder Arsene Wenger shops overseas.
The dissections and post mortems on the corpse of England’s latest failure are everywhere, though few have realised the fatal disease is merely an inherited and myopic attitude that the English way is best.
Like Charybdis, the fearsome whirlpool of Greek mythology, our semi-permanent debate on the national team ends up going round in circles of self-delusion, our consistent demand for unrealistic success devouring all passing managers lured too close to the job.
This insular hara-kiri was evident off the field as well as on. Thousands of England fans pointedly ignored the Wembley announcer’s request to respect both national anthems by booing Croatia’s loudly, before revelling in taunting the traveling fans with several renditions of ‘You’re not singing anymore’, only to be confounded as supersub Mladen Petric speared a spectacular 25-yard winner with 13 minutes remaining.
‘Rule Britannia’ is still one of our favourite songs, but its boasting of global dominance had a particularly pathetic ring at Wembley last night, a specious self-aggrandizement amid the carnival of English obsolescence on the field.
Sheltering from the Wembley monsoon while the queues to the tube station still stretched down Bobby Moore Way a full hour after the final whistle, I got talking to some Croatian fans, who gave me some refreshing points of view on our particular malaise.
The heavens were downright miserable, but there was some blue-sky thinking to be found beneath the deluge.
“England has good players, but they don’t play as a team,” thought Branko from Dubrovnik.
“You’re right,” I said, “but we don’t know any different.” Contrary to some opinions aired this week, England can produce great talents.
I could reel off names such as Bobby Charlton, Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews, but from more recently, what about John Barnes, Paul Gascoigne, Gary Lineker and Chris Waddle from the 1980s and David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Owen and Rooney from the ‘90s.
“Your style is twenty years behind the times,” offered Zlatko from Mostar. “You hit long high balls to the big forward, Crouch. We know that is what the English do. It is simple to play against.”
“Well Crouch did score tonight,” I offered in defence
, but I broadly agreed with his analysis.“Look at the Germans,” said Goran from near Split. “They work hard the whole time too, but they do it as a team.”
I then racked my brains for times in my life when England have played with great fluidity and got stuck on a handful of occasions: In the latter stages of Italia ’90, for the first half of a friendly against Mexico in 2001, against Italy in Rome in 1997 and most famously smashing the Netherlands 4-1 at Wembley in Euro ’96 and Germany 5-1 in Munich five years later.
Our national style still leans towards passionate and direct attacking – ‘droit au but’ –‘straight to goal’, as the motto of Marseille says. And we have to change this mindset, wholesale, from the grass roots up, if we want to challenge for international trophies.
One final in 57 years of FIFA and UEFA competition is surely proof there is a hairline fracture in the monolith of the Football Association, a lingering faultline that cannot and should not be attributed to any particular coach or set of players.
The one excuse I didn’t hear on the tortuous journey from the Wembley mega-arena back to my home in North London was perhaps the most obvious one: Croatia were just better than us.
“Wake up,” Croatia coach Slaven Bilic said succinctly post-match. “We’re simply a better team.”
They undoubtedly were the superior side, having defeated England home and away in the qualification campaign, yet I still heard a fan moaning that England had played badly and lost to ‘a shit team’. ‘Yeah, they are a shit team,’ echoed his equally dim friend.
Well, relativism aside, any team who tops a UEFA qualification group cannot by any sound reasoning be made of caca.
The Croats gave England a footballing lesson in both Zagreb and London in soaking up pressure, throwing bodies into attack or defense appropriately, counter-attacking and
shooting from distance.But what really stood out for me at Wembley was their outfield players’ superior technique.
The Croats’ creed is possession, like it is for all great football nations, while England still go for broke in the final third and try to hit that killer ball into the channels or lump it onto the head of that big lad in the box, too often finding their optimistic punts intercepted or overhit instead.
On the night, Shaun-Wright Phillips typified what is wrong with English football. Energetic and brimming with passion, the Chelsea winger charged goalward whenever he was given the ball, but too often his ardour burned out as he mishit a cross, collided with a defender or ran the ball out of play.
Time and again, England played without any telepathy when they managed to get the ball near the opponents’ box, while every Croatian tap, layoff or backheel seemed to be wired to an incoming teammate.
The Croats clearly knew how to counter-attack better than we did, sprinting upfield, stretching our retreating defence and hitting first-time passes to runners without hesitation. They built a shape-shifting, multi-dimensional game which defeated our rigid, one-dimensional structure with ease.
We might lazily lump all Eastern European football nations together as tough, former communist, crack army sides from chilly lands, but remember Croatia, like Romania, is essentially a Mediterranean country whose warm weather breeds skilful ballplayers.
Facing Italy across the Adriatic, Croatia has only been a country since 1991 and with a population of under five million, has in that short space of time, produced stars of the calibre of Zvonimir Boban, Alen Boksic, Robert Prosinecki and Davor Suker.
Yet however you compare the two countries, England should be a far better football nation than Croatia.
Once again, I fear we will skirt around the answer to our ills – a complete and radical overhaul of the coaching culture.
The intangibility of the problem and its equally nebulous solution just discourage us from addressing it properly, and so England stumble to under-achievement every time.
It almost seems a treasonable offense to the Anglo-Saxon virtues ingrained in our national game to tell our kids to keep the ball instead of to ‘get it in there!’, to think about their shape and position instead of to ‘get stuck in lad!’ and to bring others into attack instead of to ‘go on your own, son, have a pop!’ etc.
The continental method does seem anathema to a windy Sunday morning league game in Rotherham, but ask yourself who is the more successful soccer nation – Italy or England?
‘Look at Arsenal,’ Zlatko continued. ‘They have a great coach and play in a European style but are an English team’.
Treating football seriously from a young age also draws us into a political debate we would rather steer clear of, that of mass education’s historic lack of importance in England in general.
If we want well trained footballers, we need well educated players, who understand the professional commitment and the intellectual ability the game demands at the highest level.
‘What about Wayne Rooney?’ you holler. Nothing can compensate for raw talent like his, surely; only to a point. Imagine what Gascoigne could have done with the self-discipline of a Zinedine Zidane, or how Rooney could prosper with the spatial awareness of strikers like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry or Henrik Larsson.
On the train home, there was no anger, nor misery at England’s premature exit from Euro 2008, just a resigned mood, an unspoken acceptance that we have seen it all before.
I really felt that maybe for the first time, an accommodation of our ineptitude had begun to set in with the fans, a growing acceptance of the obvious mediocrity we have been dealing with for years.
‘What about Wayne Rooney?’ you holler. Nothing can compensate for raw talent like his, surely; only to a point. Imagine what Gascoigne could have done with the self-discipline of a Zinedine Zidane, or how Rooney could prosper with the spatial awareness of strikers like Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry or Henrik Larsson.
On the train home, there was no anger, nor misery at England’s premature exit from Euro 2008, just a resigned mood, an unspoken acceptance that we have seen it all before.
I really felt that maybe for the first time, an accommodation of our ineptitude had begun to set in with the fans, a growing acceptance of the obvious mediocrity we have been dealing with for years.
Make no mistake. This umpteenth failure for England will not be the last, unless we do start again from the grass roots, bite the bullet and admit the FA’s manuals are mistaken in many ways and our coaching outdated.
Or, we can bury our heads in the sand once more, blame Steve McClaren or whoever underperformed last night and come 2010, summon up the blood to bellow from the rooftops our belief that England can win the World Cup, if only we the fans and they the players want it enough.
Unless there is a revolution, the future history of the England team writes itself.
All may not be lost however. As I traipsed down the many steps from Wembley’s upper tier, and some fans began to sing ‘Jose Mourinho’, I began to think that the foreign influx in our game could end up being the solution instead of the problem, whoever the next coach may be. The tide of the world game is all around us now, at home and abroad.
And what is for sure is that England’s national football culture, more than ever, is all played out.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
World Soccer News
World Soccers News for the week of October 24
Lehmann "humiliated" by Wenger
Arsenal's goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said he felt humiliated by being left out of the team in the past weeks and warned the coach Arsene Wenger that his patience had limits. The veteran goalkeeper has not played after committing a blunder against Blackburn on August 19th.
"I have taken all of this as a humiliation," said Lehmann to pay tv Premiere. "But I believe no player should be humiliated for a long time".
The beneficiary of Lehmann's situation has been the Spaniard Manuel Almunia, the first choice keeper ever since, with Lukasz Fabianski of Poland on the bench.
Sill, Lehmann has maintained his number one spot in the German squad, although the coach Joachim Löw has commented that the keeper should soon be back in action with his club if he wanted to keep his place in the national team.
"I am convinced I'll play soon. Almunia has not shown he can win games yet. I cannot recall him or Fabianski having won titles," added Lehmann, Oliver Kahn's successor at last year's World Cup in Germany.
Nagoya offers Stojkovic the coaching job
The recently resigned Red Star chairman, Dragan Stojkovic, could take over as coach at his old club, Nagoya Grampus8, where he played for eight seasons in the J-League.
"We have offered Stojkovic a coaching spot and we are expecting his reply. We see him exclusively as a coach, while we have not considered him as a possible director," said Nagoya's chairman Yoshihiro Fukunishi.
The former international and president of the Serb FA has accepted a role in Nagoya, but has not confirmed which position he will hold.
Recently he was quoted as saying by a German newspaper that he had quit Red Star because of "mafiosi" involved in the Serb soccer. Subsequently, Stojkovic denied ever using that exact phrase.
Sao Paulo close to Brazilian title
By beating Cruzeiro 1-0 with a goal from Jorge Wagner at their Morumbi Stadium, Sao Paulo have come extremely close to their second consecutive Brazilian league title. The triple world champions have a 13 points advantage over Palmeiras, while Cruzeiro have slipped to third, a further point adrift with only six rounds to go. Sao Paulo's coach Muricy Ramalho still warns his players and coach about relaxing.
"We must not suffer the fate of McLaren and Hamilton, overtaken by Ferrari and Kimi Räikkönen in the last race," said the wise coach.
Rogério Ceni in Guinness Book of Records
Sao Paulo's goalkeeper Rogério Ceni has found himself in the new edition of the Guinness Book of Records for 2008 as the top scoring goalkeeper in history, succeeding the Paraguayan José Luis Chilavert.
Curiously, the book prints ten month old statistical data, according to which Ceni scored just 66 goals. Although that figure also warrants Ceni the record, in the meantime the 34-year old goalkeeper has scored another ten goals.
"At least this guarantees my spot in next year's edition of Guinness," said Ceni, who scored 45 goals from free kicks and 31 from the penalty spot.
Drogba silences rumours over leaving Chelsea
Chelsea's forward Didier Drogba has denied the veracity of rumours which say he may be close to joining Juventus.
"If you are not happy somewhere, you cannot give a hundred percent. But, I am giving my one hundred percent because I'm feeling well here. I adore the fans. I believe they have shown me their respect and this is very important," the Ivorian told BBC Radio.
Drogba confirmed he was in permanent contact with his former boss, José Mourinho, and explained why he missed him.
"He was the one who brought me to England, the best league in the world. He was always behind me protecting me. (...) But, I am a Chelsea player and I'll stand by my current coach as well as by my teammates and the club."
The big African joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2004 on Mourinho's insistence.
Robinho: party, music and sex
Brazilian international Robinho is said to have organized a glamourous party in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate his masterful display against Ecuador during the World Cup 2010 qualifiers. According to the O Globo daily, Robinho, Ronaldinho and a couple of their teammates had a good time in a leading Rio disco after the 5-0 drubbing of Ecuador. Robinho supposedly covered all the expenses, including drink, music, women and 40 condoms which he shared among the guests.
Later Real's player claimed he was just an innocent participant, not the party organizer.
"It was a friend's party of which I was merely a reserved guest. I remind everyone I am soon to be married with my girlfriend, who is five months pregnant," said Robinho who was late in his return to Madrid and hence sidelined for the Espanyol game which Real duly lost 2-1 in Barcelona.
Alex Aguinaga says farewell with "tears from heaven"
One of the greatest players in Ecuador's history, Alex Dario Aguinaga, ended his playing career in an exhibition game in the country's capital Quito.
Throughout the match it was raining, which the local reporters described as "heavenly sorrow" over this popular midfielder's departure. Aguinaga featured for Ecuador in eight South American Championships and the first World Cup this country ever played in Japan and Korea 2002.
Aged 39, Aguinaga will join the board of directors of Necaxa of Mexico City, where he spent most of his career.
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Lehmann "humiliated" by Wenger
Arsenal's goalkeeper Jens Lehmann said he felt humiliated by being left out of the team in the past weeks and warned the coach Arsene Wenger that his patience had limits. The veteran goalkeeper has not played after committing a blunder against Blackburn on August 19th.
"I have taken all of this as a humiliation," said Lehmann to pay tv Premiere. "But I believe no player should be humiliated for a long time".
The beneficiary of Lehmann's situation has been the Spaniard Manuel Almunia, the first choice keeper ever since, with Lukasz Fabianski of Poland on the bench.
Sill, Lehmann has maintained his number one spot in the German squad, although the coach Joachim Löw has commented that the keeper should soon be back in action with his club if he wanted to keep his place in the national team.
"I am convinced I'll play soon. Almunia has not shown he can win games yet. I cannot recall him or Fabianski having won titles," added Lehmann, Oliver Kahn's successor at last year's World Cup in Germany.
Nagoya offers Stojkovic the coaching job
The recently resigned Red Star chairman, Dragan Stojkovic, could take over as coach at his old club, Nagoya Grampus8, where he played for eight seasons in the J-League.
"We have offered Stojkovic a coaching spot and we are expecting his reply. We see him exclusively as a coach, while we have not considered him as a possible director," said Nagoya's chairman Yoshihiro Fukunishi.
The former international and president of the Serb FA has accepted a role in Nagoya, but has not confirmed which position he will hold.
Recently he was quoted as saying by a German newspaper that he had quit Red Star because of "mafiosi" involved in the Serb soccer. Subsequently, Stojkovic denied ever using that exact phrase.
Sao Paulo close to Brazilian title
By beating Cruzeiro 1-0 with a goal from Jorge Wagner at their Morumbi Stadium, Sao Paulo have come extremely close to their second consecutive Brazilian league title. The triple world champions have a 13 points advantage over Palmeiras, while Cruzeiro have slipped to third, a further point adrift with only six rounds to go. Sao Paulo's coach Muricy Ramalho still warns his players and coach about relaxing.
"We must not suffer the fate of McLaren and Hamilton, overtaken by Ferrari and Kimi Räikkönen in the last race," said the wise coach.
Rogério Ceni in Guinness Book of Records
Sao Paulo's goalkeeper Rogério Ceni has found himself in the new edition of the Guinness Book of Records for 2008 as the top scoring goalkeeper in history, succeeding the Paraguayan José Luis Chilavert.
Curiously, the book prints ten month old statistical data, according to which Ceni scored just 66 goals. Although that figure also warrants Ceni the record, in the meantime the 34-year old goalkeeper has scored another ten goals.
"At least this guarantees my spot in next year's edition of Guinness," said Ceni, who scored 45 goals from free kicks and 31 from the penalty spot.
Drogba silences rumours over leaving Chelsea
Chelsea's forward Didier Drogba has denied the veracity of rumours which say he may be close to joining Juventus.
"If you are not happy somewhere, you cannot give a hundred percent. But, I am giving my one hundred percent because I'm feeling well here. I adore the fans. I believe they have shown me their respect and this is very important," the Ivorian told BBC Radio.
Drogba confirmed he was in permanent contact with his former boss, José Mourinho, and explained why he missed him.
"He was the one who brought me to England, the best league in the world. He was always behind me protecting me. (...) But, I am a Chelsea player and I'll stand by my current coach as well as by my teammates and the club."
The big African joined Chelsea from Marseille in 2004 on Mourinho's insistence.
Robinho: party, music and sex
Brazilian international Robinho is said to have organized a glamourous party in Rio de Janeiro to celebrate his masterful display against Ecuador during the World Cup 2010 qualifiers. According to the O Globo daily, Robinho, Ronaldinho and a couple of their teammates had a good time in a leading Rio disco after the 5-0 drubbing of Ecuador. Robinho supposedly covered all the expenses, including drink, music, women and 40 condoms which he shared among the guests.
Later Real's player claimed he was just an innocent participant, not the party organizer.
"It was a friend's party of which I was merely a reserved guest. I remind everyone I am soon to be married with my girlfriend, who is five months pregnant," said Robinho who was late in his return to Madrid and hence sidelined for the Espanyol game which Real duly lost 2-1 in Barcelona.
Alex Aguinaga says farewell with "tears from heaven"
One of the greatest players in Ecuador's history, Alex Dario Aguinaga, ended his playing career in an exhibition game in the country's capital Quito.
Throughout the match it was raining, which the local reporters described as "heavenly sorrow" over this popular midfielder's departure. Aguinaga featured for Ecuador in eight South American Championships and the first World Cup this country ever played in Japan and Korea 2002.
Aged 39, Aguinaga will join the board of directors of Necaxa of Mexico City, where he spent most of his career.
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Arsenal's Dein steps down after 24 years
David Dein, one of the top movers and shakers in European football, has resigned as vice-chairman of Arsenal, the club he first joined in 1983.
Dein cited "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board, but was effectively fired for attempting to lever US sports tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns 11% of the shares, into the club.
Hours before Dein's departure was announced, Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood told the Guardian: "We would be horrified to see ownership of the club go across the Atlantic," referring to Kroenke as "some stranger".
Dein was synonymous with the modern breed of entrepeneurial, commercially-aware directors of the Premier League, but interestingly was against the construction of the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium for Arsenal, preferring a rental of the new Wembley.
The former sugar trader is best known as the man who brought Arsene Wenger to Highbury in 1996, but was also important on an international level as chairman of the G-14 group of top European clubs, a position he surely should no longer maintain, and a former vice-chairman of England's Football Association.
Dein was criticized in his latter role for a conflict of interest when helping select the new England coach in both 2001 an 2006, keeping his friend and employee Arsene Wenger away from the selection process.
Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho questioned his dual role, Ferguson on the grounds that FA disciplinary committees seemed less harsh on Arsenal than his team, and Mourinho on account of the Gunners' allegedly smoother fixture list.
Dein's business ethics were also called into question when Belgian police found a cash injection to Beveren from Highbury may have breached FIFA guidelines and Dein opposed a ban on clubs keeping agents on the payroll. Crystal Palace's outspoken chairman Simon Jordan labelled him "one of those smiling assassins".
Dein, a Jewish activist who ensured "Think Israel" was displayed around the field at the Emirates, may yet merge his 14.5% with Kroenke's 11.2% holding and angle to reach 30% ownership, which would trigger an automatic takeover bid.
Plus, given that his son Darren is Thierry Henry's agent and was best man at his wedding, football and Arsenal are unlikely to have seen the last of David Dein.
(C) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile.
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Dein cited "irreconcilable differences" with the rest of the board, but was effectively fired for attempting to lever US sports tycoon Stan Kroenke, who owns 11% of the shares, into the club.
Hours before Dein's departure was announced, Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood told the Guardian: "We would be horrified to see ownership of the club go across the Atlantic," referring to Kroenke as "some stranger".
Dein was synonymous with the modern breed of entrepeneurial, commercially-aware directors of the Premier League, but interestingly was against the construction of the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium for Arsenal, preferring a rental of the new Wembley.
The former sugar trader is best known as the man who brought Arsene Wenger to Highbury in 1996, but was also important on an international level as chairman of the G-14 group of top European clubs, a position he surely should no longer maintain, and a former vice-chairman of England's Football Association.
Dein was criticized in his latter role for a conflict of interest when helping select the new England coach in both 2001 an 2006, keeping his friend and employee Arsene Wenger away from the selection process.
Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho questioned his dual role, Ferguson on the grounds that FA disciplinary committees seemed less harsh on Arsenal than his team, and Mourinho on account of the Gunners' allegedly smoother fixture list.
Dein's business ethics were also called into question when Belgian police found a cash injection to Beveren from Highbury may have breached FIFA guidelines and Dein opposed a ban on clubs keeping agents on the payroll. Crystal Palace's outspoken chairman Simon Jordan labelled him "one of those smiling assassins".
Dein, a Jewish activist who ensured "Think Israel" was displayed around the field at the Emirates, may yet merge his 14.5% with Kroenke's 11.2% holding and angle to reach 30% ownership, which would trigger an automatic takeover bid.
Plus, given that his son Darren is Thierry Henry's agent and was best man at his wedding, football and Arsenal are unlikely to have seen the last of David Dein.
(C) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile.
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Arsene! Coffee!
Luck is an alien concept. At a recent fancy dress party to celebrate my father in law’s exit from the closet, the wife turned all ‘Paul Gascoigne’ on me. One minute, I was politely chatting to Britney Spears, the next thing I knew, the wife was repeatedly pommeling me with an oversized clown’s shoe. There’s nothing amusing about domestic violence.
Physical altercations have no place in the home and equally no place on the touchline. Only an Arsenal victory over Liverpool can save Rafa Benitez from an Arsene attack; the Gunners are a superb bet at 11/10 to knock out the Reds.
Peter Crouch is an optimist, he believes that Liverpool can still win the title. He probably also believes in the tooth fairy, or to use her Latin name, ‘Jermainus Defoe’. It’s over five years since the Scousers last won away at Arsenal, sink your teeth into a 2-0 win for the Gunners at 9/1.
Thierry Henry has asked the Arsenal fans not to leave before the final whistle. I’m not sure how it works in France, but most Englishmen struggle to last 90 minutes. Henry has scored five goals in his last two home appearances against the Pool, he can keep the fans satisfied by banging in the opener at 9/2.
If West Ham beat Middlesbrough, Alan Pardew has promised a more subdued celebration; possibly two jigs and a conga. The Hammers looks a fair investment at 5/2 to waltz away from the Riverside with three points.
Newcastle are in crisis and the Toon army are revolting. Nobody wants to kick a man when he’s down (although I can’t speak for Arsene Wenger) but the appointment of Roeder was flawed from the very beginning. Man City can stick the boot in at 11/10.
It was always going to be an uphill task for Watford to avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge, but without Marlon King, it’s like climbing Mount Everest with Frank Lampard in your rucksack. Chelsea will win, but there’s no value to be found at a top priced 1/6.
Ashley ‘I ain’t working for no £55,000 a week’ Cole believes that referees are ‘robbing’ Chelsea. His autobiography retails at £18.99; he definitely knows his subject matter. You can nick a few quid off the bookies by covering a 2-0/3-0/4-0 win for the champions at a much friendlier 6/4.
Aston Villa have only taken one point out of a possible fifteen at Goodison Park in recent seasons, but that was under David O’Leary, when they rolled over more than Andy Johnson. It’s a different ball game under Martin O’Neill; the draw looks a great shout at 9/4.
I’m certainly not an economist, but I believe that the divide between the north and the south has dramatically diminished. A West Ham fan could only spare 2p to throw at Robin Van Persie last week, yet an Everton supporter was more than happy to clobber Claus Jensen with an inflation busting 50p piece. Backing ‘no goalscorer’ at Goodison Park can increase the wealth at 8/1.
Kanu believes that praying to a higher power has been a contributory factor towards Portsmouth’s superb start to the season. Unfortunately, my own attempt at prayer proved much less successful; she came home. Fulham have never won at Fratton Park in the Premiership; back Pompey at a tambourine shaking 5/6.
Sheffield United v Bolton looks a tough match to call. The Blades destroyed Newcastle at St James’ last week, but Bolton are a far tougher cookie. I’m edging towards Bolton at 6/4, but only because Diouf is in excellent striking form.
Henri Camara must have a bad back, he’s been carrying Emile Heskey for three months. Camara netted a hat-trick as Wigan destroyed Charlton 3-0 at the JJB last season, he’ll lead a vastly improved Wigan to another three points at 10/11.
Tottenham completed a double over Reading the last time they were in the same league, although the more cynical amongst you may question the relevance of form from the 1930’s. Spurs can land a royal knockout at 13/10.
A defeat at the hands of Southend was not the anniversary present Sir Alex was hoping for; he had his fingers crossed for nose make-up. United will get back on track at Blackburn; they’re a confident call at 8/13.
Rio Ferdinand was sent off in this fixture last season, or as he would put it, he got ‘murked’. Like Rio, I know all the cool slang. Saha’s ‘the blaze’, Scholes is ‘sick’ and Rooney is ‘well phat’. I’m backing Ronaldo at 15/2 to net the opener, it’s totally emu.
This week’s accer is so solid; Paul Gascoigne, Arsene Wenger and El Hadji Diouf have all embraced pacifism as a direct result. Arsenal, Wigan, Portsmouth and an Everton draw are the four beefcakes; the payout is a burly 21/1.
Weekend Betting:
Man City v Newcastle Saturday 11th November 12:45 Live on Sky
Man City 11/10
Draw 9/4
Newcastle 11/4
Get on: Man City
Match Special:
Samaras to score the first goal 7/1
Chelsea v Watford Saturday 11th November 15:00
Chelsea 1/6
Draw 6/1
Watford 22/1
Get on: Chelsea
Match Special:
Chelsea to win 3-0 13/2
Everton v Aston Villa Saturday 11th November 15:00
Everton 11/10
Draw 9/4
Aston Villa 11/4
Get on: Draw
Match Special:
Phil Neville to be booked 5/2
Middlesbrough v West Ham Saturday 11th November 15:00
Middlesbrough 6/5
Draw 9/4
West Ham 5/2
Get on: West Ham
Match Special:
Harewood to score the only goal of the game 50/1
Portsmouth v Fulham Saturday 11th November 15:00
Portsmouth 5/6
Draw 23/10
Fulham 7/2
Get on: Portsmouth
Match Special:
Portsmouth to win and keep a clean sheet 19/10
Sheff Utd v Bolton Saturday 11th November 15:00
Sheff Utd 19/10
Draw 9/4
Bolton 6/4
Get on: Bolton
Match Special:
Bolton to win 1-0 7/1
Wigan v Charlton Saturday 11th November 15:00
Wigan 10/11
Draw 9/4
Charlton 3/1
Get on: Wigan
Match Special:
Camara to score two or more goals 13/2
Blackburn v Man Utd Saturday 11th November 17:15 Live on Premiership Plus
Blackburn 11/2
Draw 11/4
Man Utd 8/13
Get on: Man Utd
Match Special:
Ronaldo to score direct from a free kick 7/1
Reading v Tottenham Sunday 12th November 13:30 Live on Sky
Reading 11/5
Draw 9/4
Tottenham 13/10
Get on: Tottenham
Match Special:
Tottenham to score three or more goals 9/2
Arsenal v Liverpool Sunday 12th November 16:00 Live on Sky
Arsenal 11/10
Draw 9/4
Liverpool 11/4
Get on: Arsenal
Match Special:
Thierry Henry to score two or more goals 9/2
Copyright (c) Gerry McDonnell & soccerphile.com
English Premiership Betting
Tags
Premiership soccer football betting soccer betting betting
Physical altercations have no place in the home and equally no place on the touchline. Only an Arsenal victory over Liverpool can save Rafa Benitez from an Arsene attack; the Gunners are a superb bet at 11/10 to knock out the Reds.
Peter Crouch is an optimist, he believes that Liverpool can still win the title. He probably also believes in the tooth fairy, or to use her Latin name, ‘Jermainus Defoe’. It’s over five years since the Scousers last won away at Arsenal, sink your teeth into a 2-0 win for the Gunners at 9/1.
Thierry Henry has asked the Arsenal fans not to leave before the final whistle. I’m not sure how it works in France, but most Englishmen struggle to last 90 minutes. Henry has scored five goals in his last two home appearances against the Pool, he can keep the fans satisfied by banging in the opener at 9/2.
If West Ham beat Middlesbrough, Alan Pardew has promised a more subdued celebration; possibly two jigs and a conga. The Hammers looks a fair investment at 5/2 to waltz away from the Riverside with three points.
Newcastle are in crisis and the Toon army are revolting. Nobody wants to kick a man when he’s down (although I can’t speak for Arsene Wenger) but the appointment of Roeder was flawed from the very beginning. Man City can stick the boot in at 11/10.
It was always going to be an uphill task for Watford to avoid defeat at Stamford Bridge, but without Marlon King, it’s like climbing Mount Everest with Frank Lampard in your rucksack. Chelsea will win, but there’s no value to be found at a top priced 1/6.
Ashley ‘I ain’t working for no £55,000 a week’ Cole believes that referees are ‘robbing’ Chelsea. His autobiography retails at £18.99; he definitely knows his subject matter. You can nick a few quid off the bookies by covering a 2-0/3-0/4-0 win for the champions at a much friendlier 6/4.
Aston Villa have only taken one point out of a possible fifteen at Goodison Park in recent seasons, but that was under David O’Leary, when they rolled over more than Andy Johnson. It’s a different ball game under Martin O’Neill; the draw looks a great shout at 9/4.
I’m certainly not an economist, but I believe that the divide between the north and the south has dramatically diminished. A West Ham fan could only spare 2p to throw at Robin Van Persie last week, yet an Everton supporter was more than happy to clobber Claus Jensen with an inflation busting 50p piece. Backing ‘no goalscorer’ at Goodison Park can increase the wealth at 8/1.
Kanu believes that praying to a higher power has been a contributory factor towards Portsmouth’s superb start to the season. Unfortunately, my own attempt at prayer proved much less successful; she came home. Fulham have never won at Fratton Park in the Premiership; back Pompey at a tambourine shaking 5/6.
Sheffield United v Bolton looks a tough match to call. The Blades destroyed Newcastle at St James’ last week, but Bolton are a far tougher cookie. I’m edging towards Bolton at 6/4, but only because Diouf is in excellent striking form.
Henri Camara must have a bad back, he’s been carrying Emile Heskey for three months. Camara netted a hat-trick as Wigan destroyed Charlton 3-0 at the JJB last season, he’ll lead a vastly improved Wigan to another three points at 10/11.
Tottenham completed a double over Reading the last time they were in the same league, although the more cynical amongst you may question the relevance of form from the 1930’s. Spurs can land a royal knockout at 13/10.
A defeat at the hands of Southend was not the anniversary present Sir Alex was hoping for; he had his fingers crossed for nose make-up. United will get back on track at Blackburn; they’re a confident call at 8/13.
Rio Ferdinand was sent off in this fixture last season, or as he would put it, he got ‘murked’. Like Rio, I know all the cool slang. Saha’s ‘the blaze’, Scholes is ‘sick’ and Rooney is ‘well phat’. I’m backing Ronaldo at 15/2 to net the opener, it’s totally emu.
This week’s accer is so solid; Paul Gascoigne, Arsene Wenger and El Hadji Diouf have all embraced pacifism as a direct result. Arsenal, Wigan, Portsmouth and an Everton draw are the four beefcakes; the payout is a burly 21/1.
Weekend Betting:
Man City v Newcastle Saturday 11th November 12:45 Live on Sky
Man City 11/10
Draw 9/4
Newcastle 11/4
Get on: Man City
Match Special:
Samaras to score the first goal 7/1
Chelsea v Watford Saturday 11th November 15:00
Chelsea 1/6
Draw 6/1
Watford 22/1
Get on: Chelsea
Match Special:
Chelsea to win 3-0 13/2
Everton v Aston Villa Saturday 11th November 15:00
Everton 11/10
Draw 9/4
Aston Villa 11/4
Get on: Draw
Match Special:
Phil Neville to be booked 5/2
Middlesbrough v West Ham Saturday 11th November 15:00
Middlesbrough 6/5
Draw 9/4
West Ham 5/2
Get on: West Ham
Match Special:
Harewood to score the only goal of the game 50/1
Portsmouth v Fulham Saturday 11th November 15:00
Portsmouth 5/6
Draw 23/10
Fulham 7/2
Get on: Portsmouth
Match Special:
Portsmouth to win and keep a clean sheet 19/10
Sheff Utd v Bolton Saturday 11th November 15:00
Sheff Utd 19/10
Draw 9/4
Bolton 6/4
Get on: Bolton
Match Special:
Bolton to win 1-0 7/1
Wigan v Charlton Saturday 11th November 15:00
Wigan 10/11
Draw 9/4
Charlton 3/1
Get on: Wigan
Match Special:
Camara to score two or more goals 13/2
Blackburn v Man Utd Saturday 11th November 17:15 Live on Premiership Plus
Blackburn 11/2
Draw 11/4
Man Utd 8/13
Get on: Man Utd
Match Special:
Ronaldo to score direct from a free kick 7/1
Reading v Tottenham Sunday 12th November 13:30 Live on Sky
Reading 11/5
Draw 9/4
Tottenham 13/10
Get on: Tottenham
Match Special:
Tottenham to score three or more goals 9/2
Arsenal v Liverpool Sunday 12th November 16:00 Live on Sky
Arsenal 11/10
Draw 9/4
Liverpool 11/4
Get on: Arsenal
Match Special:
Thierry Henry to score two or more goals 9/2
Copyright (c) Gerry McDonnell & soccerphile.com
English Premiership Betting
Tags
Premiership soccer football betting soccer betting betting
Friday, April 28, 2006
European Club Cups - Fun Facts
European Cups 2006
1-0 in the semis, a sure formula for winning the trophy!
Barcelona - Arsenal finale je koje je priželjkivala većina neutralnih ljubitelja nogometa, to jest onih koji nisu navijači Milana i Villarreala kao direktno zainteresiranih suparnika u polufinalu, te Real Madrida i Espanyola kao tradicionalnih "mrzitelja" Barce odnosno Chelseaja i Tottenhama, kao povijesnih suparnika Arsenala.
Iako smo i mi u Nogometu navijali za ovakav finalni sraz, način na koji su Barca i Arsenal dospjeli do završnice u Parizu nije nas zadovoljio. Villarreal, klub koji nikad u povijesti nije ništa osvojio, tek se nedavno probivši u španjolsku i kontinentalnu elitu, više je zavrijedio prolaz u finale od Arsenala! Dok je artiljerija "Topnika" šutjela, "Žuta podmornica" ispalila je salve torpeda prema meti, vratima Jensa Lehmanna, a sportska je nepravda što u Nijemčevu mrežu nije ušao nijedan projektil.
U žalovanju za Villarrealom, čiji smo poraz istinski željeli prije no što su susreti odigrani, tješi nas jedino činjenica da jedanaesterac nad Jose Marijem nikako nije postojao, pa je promašaj Riquelmea s bijele točke neutralizirao sudačku pogrešku. S druge strane, nismo sigurni da je
na Highburyju postojao jedanaesterac za Španjolce, koji sudac nije dosudio, a zbog čega je Villarreal prosvjedovao.
Milan je u Barceloni teško oštećen odlukom Marcusa Merka da poništi potpuno regularan pogodak Andrija Ševčenka, koji bi Talijane vjerojatno bio odveo u produžetak. Kad se sve zbroji, Milan i Barca pružili su u 180 minuta jednako kvalitetnu igru te bi najpravednije bilo da je dvoboj odlučen jedanaestercima.
Copyright Soccerphile
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
1-0 in the semis, a sure formula for winning the trophy!
Barcelona - Arsenal finale je koje je priželjkivala većina neutralnih ljubitelja nogometa, to jest onih koji nisu navijači Milana i Villarreala kao direktno zainteresiranih suparnika u polufinalu, te Real Madrida i Espanyola kao tradicionalnih "mrzitelja" Barce odnosno Chelseaja i Tottenhama, kao povijesnih suparnika Arsenala.
Iako smo i mi u Nogometu navijali za ovakav finalni sraz, način na koji su Barca i Arsenal dospjeli do završnice u Parizu nije nas zadovoljio. Villarreal, klub koji nikad u povijesti nije ništa osvojio, tek se nedavno probivši u španjolsku i kontinentalnu elitu, više je zavrijedio prolaz u finale od Arsenala! Dok je artiljerija "Topnika" šutjela, "Žuta podmornica" ispalila je salve torpeda prema meti, vratima Jensa Lehmanna, a sportska je nepravda što u Nijemčevu mrežu nije ušao nijedan projektil.
U žalovanju za Villarrealom, čiji smo poraz istinski željeli prije no što su susreti odigrani, tješi nas jedino činjenica da jedanaesterac nad Jose Marijem nikako nije postojao, pa je promašaj Riquelmea s bijele točke neutralizirao sudačku pogrešku. S druge strane, nismo sigurni da je
na Highburyju postojao jedanaesterac za Španjolce, koji sudac nije dosudio, a zbog čega je Villarreal prosvjedovao.
Milan je u Barceloni teško oštećen odlukom Marcusa Merka da poništi potpuno regularan pogodak Andrija Ševčenka, koji bi Talijane vjerojatno bio odveo u produžetak. Kad se sve zbroji, Milan i Barca pružili su u 180 minuta jednako kvalitetnu igru te bi najpravednije bilo da je dvoboj odlučen jedanaestercima.
Copyright Soccerphile
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Monday, March 20, 2006
Highbury
From Highbury to the Emirates
Arsenal's new Emirates Stadium is taking shape and will be ready in time for the start of the 2006-2007 season. 
Just a few minutes walk from the old Highbury (which opened in 1913, capacity 38,500) the new Emirates Stadium at Ashburton Grove (capacity 60,000) will be a spectacular sight from Highbury Hill. Highbury will be demolished and replaced by new flats.
The stadium is easily accessible from Holloway Road and Arsenal tube stations on the Piccadilly Line and Drayton Park railway station.
World Cup Tickets
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Arsenal 7 Middlesborugh 0
I'll be at the bottom of the canal if anyone needs me...
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Bet with Bet 365
World Soccer News
Soccer betting tips
Soccer Books & DVDs
Tags
Soccer News soccer football J-League K-League Betting
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
