Beer or wine on Champions League nights…?

ab10828vintage-wine-i-postersWhen it comes to those fancy European nights filled with sexy Champions League football, do you guys stick with the ice cold brew or do you shift to wine? Is it even possible to make football and wine work together? Do wine and football only speak to chicks and metrosexuals? Wine wouldn’t really go with a dirty burger right? Absolutely wrong. If we’re able to drink wine with a rancid plane meal, then surely a glass or two of red or white could wash down a dirty burger or meat pie?

Perhaps it’s the evening kick-off schedule that makes us feel like consuming less carbs? Or is it the spirit of the competition taking place in cultural Europe that drives us to the Off License or Liquor Mart before the game starts? Does it make more sense to be drinking a Merlot or Cabernet if you are watching Bordeaux vs Marseille or Barcelona vs Sevilla?

It’s Champions League night. It’s time to order a drink. What’s your tipple?

Chelsea sack Scolari…

dunn_516x596_22280a-750654Chelsea have sacked Phil Scolari as their manager. After only seven months in the job, the big Brazlian is out and I for one am not surprised. This time, Roman Abramovich has got it right. Managing in the Premier League is very different to being an international manager. The job comes with such intense pressure and the daily grind is tough, tough, tough, even for a coach from Brazil. I laughed when Scolari said in a press conference, “you think this is pressure. No this is not pressure. This is such a small country, there is no pressure. Brazil is pressure.” Really Phil?

I was never enthused when Chelsea announced him as their new manager. They were much better off keeping Avram Grant who was at least building on what Jose Mourinho had done. But the owner chose to go with a big name and supposedly big personality. It failed miserably and towards the end, Scolari lost the owner, the fans and even the dressing room. When players start to complain about training methods and a lack of intensity, you know everything is about to implode. Scolari deserved the sack.

The first signs of trouble were when Liverpool ended their ridiculous run of games unbeaten at Stamford Bridge. Under Mourinho and even Avram Grant, you always had a feeling Chelsea could win a game even if they were a goal down. But that fire and drive was gone. The bravado was no more. He also lost at home to an under-achieving Arsenal team. And to be frank, Manchester United humiliated Chelsea at Old Trafford. He was unable to inspire his team to beat any of the elite four in the Premier League.

How much of Chelsea’s problems this season are related to Steve Clarke going to West Ham? He was a huge influence in the dressing room and on the training pitch. The players trusted him. You can never under estimate the value of an assistant coach built like Clarke. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Chelsea tried to prize Clarke and Zola from West Ham? Anything is possible in today’s game. Zola is unproven as a manager, but he is a Chelsea legend and together with Clarke, they could be the magic ingredient that leads the Blues back to their confident, arrogant ways.

For now, this might be a good thing for Chelsea. Anyone coming in as manager can only have a positive effect. Who’d have thought the morale would be so low under Scolar? The so-called “Mr.Motivator” didn’t turn out to be the Messiah they had all hoped for. And he never looked the part of being Chelsea manager did he? Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez always wear a suit when their team is playing. There is the odd occasion you’ll find them in a tracksuit, but that is rare. Jose Mourinho always looked the part as well. I was always taught that if you have been given the responsibility in an important role in your career, you should always look the part. And for a team that can boast to be located in one of London’s poshest areas, their manager didn’t present himself that way. He didn’t seem dressed for success from the beginning, and just like his tactics, Scolari always looked a mess. Down the King’s Road, that’s enough to give anyone the boot…

Another round of Becks please…

142496_u9fq3u8k_szuivkgks1lia6n_-736192After playing in football wilderness with the LA Galaxy for 18 months, David Beckham is about to make an incredible comeback to the big leagues. His determination to keep his England career alive and his desire to become the most capped English player are the main ingredients that could trigger a crazy transfer for the never-say-die superstar. Why is anyone shocked? He’s made it clear he wants to continue playing for his country for as long as he’s asked. The quality of football in the MLS is not comparable to Serie A in Italy. And didn’t you all think the motive to go to Milan in the first place was to somehow wangle a permanent move to fulfill his final ambitions in the twilight of his career? The fact the LA Galaxy let this happen in the first place is shocking. Surely they knew this was coming.

When he landed in the States, LAX came to a standstill as fans and the world’s media greeted him and his wife Victoria. He did the ESPN documentary while Posh Spice appeared in a one-off reality show on network television. He became one of the many celebrity faces sitting court side cheering on the Los Angeles Lakers. Hollywood’s elite – Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Will sSmith and Jada Pinkett Smith – rolled out the red carpet and hosted an extravagant welcome party for Lord and Lady Becks. But the truth is, as much as he loves all the attention and trimmings of fame, this Essex boy has only ever wanted to play football. He loves the game and now he believes he can play at the highest level again.

Ultimately, the people who will miss out are the LA Galaxy and MLS fans in general. It will hurt more though for those Galaxy fans. They have had to pay increased prices for tickets and merchandise in order to subsidize the wages of Mr.Beckham. They totally bought into the idea of #23 and were desperate for him to succeed by bringing the MLS Cup home. The hopes and dreams of the Galaxy fans could be dead. Meanwhile, for Becks, his dreams are very much alive…

Football + Christmas = Paradise…

new_years_toast-746564Happy New Year to the world. May 2009 be filled with health, happiness and bloody good football! I’m not sure about you guys but I’ve just emerged from the festive season having indulged in some major soccer. It was pure gluttony and I loved every single second. Sure there are a group of managers that complain about not having a Christmas break. And we can all understand this based on how strenuous the season gets. But as fans, we love it. We can’t get enough of it. And if you gave us more, we’d eat it all up, just like our Christmas leftovers.So thank you Premier League for making the festive season exactly that…festive. Here’s to a great year for the beautiful game…

Future Divo…

ashl-young-756455Aston Villa’s game against Everton could be a defining moment in their season. They have dropped some crucial points against inferior teams and most critics agree they have underperformed thus far. However, when a team does have a moment of change, it is usually sparked by a certain decision by the manager, or most likely, the sudden impact of a particular player. Step forward Ashley Young.

His game against Everton was inspired. Young scored two beautiful goals that illustrated his pure natural talent. The composure he maintained when threading the ball past Tim Howard was impressive. His second half goal that came from an almighty gaff from Phil Jagielka was pleasing on the eye too. It’s great to watch a young England player doing so well.

Aston Villa have the ability to break into a Champions League spot. They have so many talented players. Gareth Barry, Gabriel Agbonlahor, James Milner and Steve Sidwell all played well this weekend. Sidwell scored a screamer himself after only 34 seconds! But the performance from Ashley Young garners him the player of the week…

Another own goal from Gallas…

william_gallas_280x_441703a-718945William Gallas delivered a dagger through the hearts of Arsenal fans this week with his announcement of infighting on the field and in the dressing room. Some would say his actions show he cares and that he’s passionate and at least illustrates a desire to succeed and win. However, most would say he’s behaved liked a petulant child as opposed to a leader of men. The problem is, Gallas didn’t have the men to lead in the first place, he had boys. We all know the major issue at Arsenal is leadership. So if we know it, why can’t Arsene Wenger see it?

The man has been a legend at Arsenal over the last 10 years. He got everyone to buy into his philosophy of football and the team reaped the rewards with much success. The reason for that success though was the ability to blend English players with foreign players. Adams, Bould, Bergkamp, Keown, Viera and many other quality guys came together and achieved. When he introduced youth to his team, the veterans were able to steer and guide them in the right direction. The problem however was the English and veteran players had gone and they were never replaced.

In the 90’s Sir Alex Ferguson introduced a young group of Manchester United players to the Premier League and everyone questioned if they could challenge for the title. The media were all over it. But we all know what happened next don’t we? That same team dominated English football for years. They succeeded with a blend of experience, youth, English players and foreign players too. Beckham, Neville, Scholes and Giggs and the support of Keane, Schmeichel, Bruce and Cantona. The balance of the team was perfect and Arsenal can certainly learn from what Sir Alex Ferguson did.

This is a very young Arsenal team and Gallas has been burning on their lack of maturity for a while now. These thoughts and opinions he’s expressed didn’t come out of nowhere. Much of what he’s said this week is probably true. But there are fights at every club. Nobody is perfect and to announce family secrets to the world’s media was probably the worse thing he could have done. He makes some worrying claims for the fans. What do we make of this player Gallas claims nobody likes? Who is the player throwing insults at his own team during the game? And why would Gallas go public now?

Quite simply, he wants a transfer to another team in January. You don’t cause all this drama without having an ulterior motive. Whether he’s right or wrong, what he did was totally inappropriate for a professional sportsman, especially as captain of one of the world’s biggest and best football teams. Arsenal fans say au revoir Gallas. Get lost to you and your own goals and don’t let the door hit you on the way out…

Legend Eric Cantona…

eric_cantona_caricatureThis week’s legend is French genius Eric Cantona. Before Arsenal played beautiful football, there was King Eric spreading the ball about the pitch as smooth as nutella on a slice of toast. He mesmerized the Old Trafford faithful with his magical feet and unbelievable passion. He made goals, he scored goals, and even created a litte bother along the way.

Long before Zinedine Zidane’s infamous head butt in the World Cup Final, Cantona was doing a little Kung Fu fighting with an abusine Crystal Palace fan. The fan yelled profanities about his mother and before he could yell some more, Cantona took his magical feet to the fan Bruce Lee style. After his moment of madness, Cantona was banned from the game he loves for a good few months. And it wasn’t just Manchester United fans that missed him. Everyone loved to watch the King.

Just who is the greatest player to have served in the Premier League? Zola? Bergkamp? Henry? Giggs? They are all world class players, but did Eric Cantona have that little extra that made him more special? I think he went beyond a footballer and entertainer. Cantona possessed the torture and angst of a great artist. We loved the beast that lived within his footballing soul. He painted beautiful pictures for us with his feet and we couldn’t get enough of him. He powered the Theater of Dreams. Long live the King…

Harry Redknapp Houdini strikes again…

re_delle_manette2-761666The smartest thing Spurs have done in years is to hire Harry Redknapp. A strong character in the dressing room and an experienced Premiership manager, Harry knows how to rebuild bottom up! He is one of those characters that galvanizes people and gets them to believe in what he’s trying to do. Evidently, the cockney rebel’s influence is already working its magic down at the Lane.

Like a fine wine, Harry seems to get better with age. He took good players to Portsmouth and turned most into great Premier League players. He created a team. He saved Portsmouth from relegation and then in the very next year won them the F.A. Cup, his first major trophy as a manager.

Harry knows what it takes to survive in the Premier League and he knows what it takes to try and be competitive to win the title. And he knows how to instill that bullish spirit in his team when it comes to a London derby battle. Arsenal were shocking last night. Their defense was a mess and Alumnia’s display was comparable to a Sunday league goalkeeper suffering from a Saturday night hangover. Credit to Spurs for fighting on and believing they could get the win and a slice of London derby pride. That was Harry’s influence. He gave the players belief and Spurs looked like a completely different team.

If Harry adds the likes of Teddy Sheringham to his coaching staff, Spurs will really be building a solid foundation for future management. Before they appointed Harry Redknapp as their new boss, things were looking gloomy for their fans and their so-called revolution of new signings. Now they have Houdini in their corner, anything is possible…

Legend Dennis Bergkamp…

dennis_bergkampThis week, the “Nod” goes to Arsenal and Dutch genius Dennis Bergkamp. Classy, entertaining and inspirational would best describe Sir Dennis. His magical feet wooed the Arsenal faithful for years and the rest of the world got to appreciate his talent when he played in the World Cup and European Championships.

His goal scoring show reel is absolute poetry. His touch was amazing, his finishing clinical and his attitude towards the game an example for every young professional. He was responsible for the odd dirty foul, but it didn’t overshadow his footballing brilliance. Is he the best to have played in the Premier League? Let the debate begin.

There’s only one Dennis Bergkamp, one Dennis Bergkamp, we’re walking along, singing a song, walking in a Bergkamp wonderland…

Phil Brown and his Tigers are grrreat…

tony-the-tiger-frosties-756942Hull City’s start to Premier League life has been like a fairy tale. After 104 years of lower league existence, the Tigers are out to prove they are worthy of their promotion from the Championship. Their thirst for success is evident and they play with huge confidence and belief.

It also appears as though they have developed a lust for beating London teams. And not just any London teams. They beat Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham convincingly. What are the odds on Hull City beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge? That home record has to go sometime, doesn’t it?

Hull City may not continue on this run of form, but they’ve lit up the league and given us all something to talk about. It’s as though they’ve been invited to the world’s most exclusive football party and they’ve decided to just let their hair go and have a good time. Let’s hope they don’t get too drunk on their current success. Phil Brown seems to be a good manager. Eye of the tiger baby, eye of the tiger…