Ballack – BRITISH SOCCER {DIVA}

Future Divo…

Jack Wilshere has been dubbed the most exciting prospect in English football and he absolutely deserves the tag. There’s a fearlessness to Wilshere that is undeniable and there’s no doubt he’s a breathtaking player to watch.

Wilshere has had an incredible pre-season with Arsenal and was without question the star at the Emirates Cup. He showed a maturity and intelligence for the game that we haven’t seen in a few of Arsene Wenger’s youngsters. Wilshere reminds people of former Arsenal legend Liam Brady and if you’re a Gooner, this can only be hopeful news in an off-season where not much has happened in the transfer market. He also has a little Gazza in him when he has the ball at his feet and he’s running at players. Wilshere truly is a delicious footballer.

There isn’t one pundit or writer that isn’t raving about this lad. He has impressed so much that some are saying he deserves to start before Theo Walcott. Some have even gone as far to say Arshavin and Fabregas love to play with him because he knows how to read their runs in a world-class player kind of way. Could Wilshere challenge Walcott for a place in the starting line-up this season?

The great thing about Wilshere is he’s an Arsenal boy through and through. He is a rising star born from the Gunners exceptionally run academy and he is an example of the type of player Wenger wants to breed. His High School P.E. teacher compared him to Wayne Rooney and he believes Wilshere will burst onto the world stage just like the Boy Wonder did a few years ago. If that’s the case, Arsenal and England have much to look forward to.

Talk of him playing for England in the World Cup seems far off when he hasn’t played regularly for Arsenal in the Premier League yet. How will he match-up against the likes of Gerrard and Mascherano at Liverpool, Lampard and Ballack at Chelsea and Carrick and Fletcher at Manchester United? Something tells me he’ll do just fine. Wilshere isn’t phased by all this and he’s just waiting for his chance to show the world what he can do. Those who have seen the Wilshere trailer love what they have witnessed thus far.

Jack Wilshere…we will be watching you closely this season. Good luck son. You are without question a Future Divo…

Classless in Chelsea…

48343_news Chelsea might be based in one of London’s poshest areas, but some of their players certainly didn’t display any etiquette or class at the end of the Champions League game against Barcelona last night. There’s no question the referee made some horrible decisions. For Chelsea it must have been like a heavyweight title fight having to sustain one bad blow after the other. But if you are a professional footballer being paid six figures a week by a team like Chelsea, you need to behave better than that.

Referee Tom Henning Ovrebo will need a bodyguard next time he’s cruising down the King’s Road. And he better not run into Michael Ballack or Didier Drogba in a dark alley anytime soon. Drogba’s behaviour was disgusting. The world witnessed a foul-mouth attack by a player who has phoned-in his performances this season. When Scolari was manager he practically rolled over and gave-up. Despite his bad relationship with Scolari, he couldn’t even make the effort out on the pitch for his team mates. He let them down. And now he’s crying Blue tears. What a fake. Do you think he’ll play for Chelsea next season? Not likely…

Ballack’s display was no better. Following another controversial penalty decision by the muppet officials, Mr.Germany chased the referee halfway down the pitch screaming his head off and spitting blood. It was pure venom and a lovely visual for every aspiring young soccer star and fan to see. He has been such a waste of valuable space this season. Chelsea would do well to get rid of this over-pampered, over-paid has been.

You know I’ve never been a big fan of John Terry, but on Wednesday night he won me over. Sure he questioned the referee, but he kept his head. Over the two legs he was a great leader. He was also the only Chelsea player to congratulate Barcelona for their victory. Terry went into their dressing room to shake their hand. Perhaps there is one player that can still walk down the King’s Road with his head held high.

As for the referee. You should be voted the worse referee in the history of the game. You stunk up Stamford Bridge with your obvious bad decisions. You gave football an ugly name last night. You made people think you were on the take. We hope you are not on the take. Perhaps people should be asking Monsieur Platini some serious questions…

Where’s the love for Lampard..?

389016-50474lampard_large-797999 There’s no question Frank Lampard is a world-class footballer. So why doesn’t he get the love he deserves for his achievements? Sure he’s struggled for England over the last few years, but what English footballer hasn’t struggled playing for their country? If Lampard played for Manchester United or Liverpool or was an Italian, French or Brazilian national, would he not be in the running for player of the year every year?

Five Manchester United players (yes that’s five) and one Liverpool player have been nominated for PFA Player of the Year. Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic all deserve their nominations for the team’s defensive record. And Ryan Giggs has been an inspiration for the team showing composure and leadership. Has he played enough games though? Cristiano Ronaldo has come into form late in the season, but I’m not sure he deserves to be in the running for #1 again. Steven Gerrard is the only non-United player and he has certainly lifted Liverpool’s spirits this season has they pursue the Holy Grail…the Premier League title.

But what about Lampard? I think he’s beome a far more important player to Chelsea than John Terry. And after Deco was wheeled in during the summer, there was so much speculation about Lampard’s future. He always knew where he wanted to play and he signed a new contract, proving once again his love and passion to play for Chelsea (and the money was great)! He’s worth every penny because he is the man that makes the Blues tick. He scores around 20 goals every season and he works hard around the park for his team. Chelsea can afford to lose Ballack, Cole or Mikel, but when they lose Lampard, they lose a piece of their identify and drive.

Over the last year or so, Lampard has also shown that in adversity, he has the mental strength to fight on and prove he’s one of the best. As well as Chelsea’s woes this season, he’s had a very difficult time personally as he continues to deal with the death of his mother and the break-up of his relationship to long-term partner Elen Rives. But his will to win, coupled with his leadership and style of play has helped drag the millionaire maestros to an F.A. Cup final and a Champions League semi-final. And all that in a so-called poor season for Chelsea. I think it’s high-time someone showed him the love…

Chelsea sack Scolari…

dunn_516x596_22280a-750654 Chelsea 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…