Category: Premier League

Arsenal sign someone…

thomas_vermaelen_3Arsenal have splashed the cash people! Thomas Vermaelen has signed for the Gunners in a deal worth 10 million pounds. The  23 year old ex-Ajax defender is the first big signing of the season and hopefully not the last for Arsenal fans. Wenger was monitoring the Belgian international closely and he finally sealed the deal knowing the board want some quality defenders ready to go when the season starts in August.

Vermaelen comes to Arsenal with Champions League experience and will definitely add some toughness to the weak defense that cost them so many games last season. He’s still only 23, so it seems like a good investment for the North London club. 

Have you seen Vermaelen play? Do you think he’s a good signing for Arsenal? Could he end up being a Vidic type signing for the Gunners? It’s about time they spent some money and it seems they may have found a gem…

Inhale…exhale…Chelsea have a new coach…

FBL-ENG-ITA-PR-CHELSEA-ACMILAN-ANCELOTTINot that I want this to become a Chelsea blog…but news is news people! Carlo Ancelotti was today named as the successor to Guus Hiddink. Do you think Chelsea hired Ancelotti because he looks a little like Guus? Check out the picture of Guus with the F.A. Cup below and judge for yourselves. Perhaps the owner and executive team hired the Italian master so the players can feel “comfortable” with a familiar face in the dressing room! 

Chelsea have hired someone with real pedigree in Carlo Ancelotti. He has been hugely successful in his career as a player and a coach. Ancelotti arrives at Stamford Bridge following a mediocre season at AC Milan, but don’t be fooled…this man has won it all! The Italian Cup, the Super Cup, the World Club Championship, the UEFA Cup and Serie A. He is also part of an elite footballing group being one of only 6 players who have won the Champions League as a player and a coach. The most recent coach to do that was Pep Guardiola this year with Barcelona. 

Ancelotti is an interesting character too. I think he’ll live upto that character a lot more than Phil Scolari did. Some people say he’s as fascinating as Jose Mourinho. In order to manage a club like Chelsea or the “big four” in general, you have to have that something special. Hiddink had it, plus he also started to help erase the memory of Mourinho during his time with the Blues. If you look at Ancelotti’s successes as a player and coach, it appears he might be able to erase the memory of Mourinho completely in his first season. Unless he smokes during training of course and gives his players unnecessary respiratory problems to the point where they are unable to compete and have to forfeit their season.

Do you think Chelsea have made the right choice? Can you see them winning the title with Ancelotti next season? Do you think the Italian master will bring any of his ex-players with him from AC Milan? And will he be able to square-up to Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger?

Goal of the season…

fernandoIt’s that time of year where we harp on about the greatness of players, teams and managers. Us fans like to have our say in who wins what.

First-up is a fan favourite – Goal of the Season. With so many great games and performances, it really was difficult to pick the best goal. There were great individual goals and also incredible team goals scored in the Premier League this term. But who ranked in the top 3? Do you agree with the choices? Have your say… 

1. {Fernando Torres} vs Blackburn. A great ball from Jamie Carragher and then the beautification of football personified by the sheer brilliance of Torres. Check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypmpc1dUls4&feature=related.

2. {David Bentley} vs Arsenal. Who knows if Bentley will even be at Tottenham next season. He will always leave Spurs fans with one of their greatest memories against Arsenal. Rough quality, but you can still see this amazing goal very clearly.       http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1941068/david_bentley_goal_for_tottenham_vs_arsenal_on_29_10_08/

3. {Paul Konchesky} vs West Ham. Against his former club, Konchesky takes the ball himself and blasts the back of the net with a stunning shot. Take a peek and remind yourselves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_IOJhE0fgI

Honorable mentions also go to Andrei Arshavin’s goal against Blackburn, Glen Johnson’s goal against Hull City and Carlton Cole’s goal against Wigan.

Newcastle are gone baby gone…

newcastle-shearer_1392814cNewcastle United have been relegated. After almost 20 years in the top flight of British football, the once impressive and glamorous Toon Army are toast. Their fall from grace was heard across the football universe today and Chairman Mike Ashley, his executive team and even the players can point the finger at themselves for this disaster. 

Were any of them aware that it’s a privilege and not a right to play in the Premier League? Their arrogance was intolerable to observe. They made some bad decisions. They screwed it up. They are to blame and now it’s the fans that will pay the price. Instead of relishing an encounter with Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea next season, they can look forward to playing teams like Preston North End, Doncaster Rovers and Plymouth Argyle. And to make it even more painful, Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland survived being relegated which means they get to play Premier League football again next term. That’s rotten.

I’ve never felt the pain of my team being relegated and I can’t imagine there is anything worse to experience as a fan of football. To lose the elite status of being a Premier League team is not only gut-wrenching, but it also costs your team millions and can set them back for years to come. There is no guarantee of an immediate return. Just ask Leeds United, Charlton and Southampton fans. It’s got to hurt worse than a punch from Mike Tyson circa 1986. It’s got to hurt worse than a root canal. It’s got to be the worse pain in the world. 

The sad thing for Newcastle fans is not even their hero Alan Shearer could save them from the drop. He probably feels the same pain as they do today. Perhaps it’s a little easier for Shearer though. A nice family holiday in the Bahamas or Bermuda will help ease the pain of relegation. But what will the hard-up Newcastle supporters do to erase the memory of the 2008-09 season? My guess is they’ll dust themselves off, buy a new shirt and start talking about how they are going to return to the Premier League. Football is in their blood. Football is their life. Football is Newcastle United. But who will lead them? Shearer? Or will King Kev return? Let’s hope for the fans sake, the club makes the right decision…

Champions of England again…

APTOPIX Britain Soccer Premier LeagueCongratulations Manchester United. They’ve done this 18 times now and they’re not getting bored. Sir Alex Ferguson is amazing. The greatest manager in football history. Nobody can match what he’s done. It’s a shame the F.A. couldn’t convince him to be England manager. He’d probably have won them the World Cup by now.

For me, Manchester United’s best player this season was Michael Carrick. In fact Carrick makes me want to start a whole new category on the BSD…”Unsung Hero.” Carrick is certainly one of those. His passing is sublime. He threads the ball, he caresses it, he strokes it. If he scored more goals, people would put him in the same bracket as Gerrard or Lampard. For me he is in the same league as those guys. Next term could be a breakthrough season for Carrick. If United win the league again and also do well in Europe, how could Fabio Capello ignore him for England and the World Cup?

The only sour note about United’s end to the season is the whole Tevez saga. Do you guys think he will stay? Would Sir Alex Ferguson ever sell him to a Premiership rival? He wants to stay in the Premier League and the word is Tottenham and Liverpool want him. But United have shown if they don’t want to sell to a particular team they won’t. The manager and board refused to let Gabriel Heinze join Liverpool a couple of seasons ago. Argentina’s left back was desperate to be a Liverpool player but he ended up at Real Madrid. I can’t see United letting Tevez join Liverpool either. What is it about Manchester United and problems with their Argentine internationals? Remember Juan Sebastian Veron, then Gabriel Heinze and now Carlos Tevez. No matter what happens with Tevez, Sir Alex Ferguson has proved life at United goes on regardless who leaves. It doesn’t seem to affect their winning formula does it?

Who do you think was United’s best player this season? Will Sir Alex Ferguson keep going? Who should United bring in during the summer transfer window? Can any other team catch them?

Steve Gerrard Gerrard…

gerrard1Surprise. An award was presented today and it didn’t go to a Manchester United player!

Steven Gerrard was voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writer’s Association. Congratulations. You deserve the accolade. Gerrard played a lot more than 13 games this season. 29 in the Premier League and 40 total for the season. He would have played more if it wasn’t for injuries. What then? Would he have been the PFA Player of the Year? And would Liverpool have been crowned Premier League Champions by now?

Whatever the outcome this season, Steven Gerrard is one of those football players we’ve just loved to watch. I think he’s also one of those players every fan would love in their team. He’d be captain of my team. He’s got balls and spirit. He deserves to win a title with Liverpool. It’s the trophy that’s eluded him thus far. Gerrard wants to win the Premier League as bad as Roger Federer wants to win the French Open. But will it happen for them? Will this be their year?

Red card…

baldrefwithredcard1A red card must go to the entire Arsenal team. Why? Dumped out of the Champions League by Manchester United. Humiliated by Chelsea at home in the Premier League on Saturday. Gutless. Spineless. Spiritless. What’s to like about this Arsenal team? Who are they? What do they stand for? They have no identify. No leadership. Where are the men? Houston…we have a major @#$%^&* problem.

Get your cash ready this summer Mr.Wenger. Don’t be shy to spend it. You can’t let another transfer market slip you by. Otherwise the gap between you Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool will grow as wide as the Grand Canyon. You need word class talent. You need game-changers. You need men. Get rid of Adebayor, your defense and your goalkeepers. Have a chat with Van Persie to make sure he really wants to be there. And make Arshavin your captain. Doesn’t seem Fabregas is quite upto the task. Oh and buy some British players will you. We find that really helps on a soggy Saturday afternoon in Hull, Stoke or Wigan.

Fancy football is not paying the bills for Arsenal fans. You’ve got one more season and then they’ll really start turning. Sorry fellas…it’s got to be red…

Where’s the love for Lampard..?

389016-50474lampard_large-797999There’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…

How many fingers am I holding up…?

picimg_premier_league_arshavin_11c2What a night at Anfield! Liverpool 4 – 4 Arsenal. It was breathtaking to watch. We saw beautiful football and ugly mistakes too. The star of the show was undoubtedly Andrei Arshavin. The wee Russian is going to be a superstar at Arsenal. If all goes well for him at the club, he could become a legend.

Scoring 4 goals against Liverpool is ridiculous. And they weren’t just average goals. Shifting left, moving right, Arshavin was like a Ninja as he darted through the Liverpool midfield and defense all night long. He had them all quaking in their personally designed football boots! 

If you are an opponent, you need antibiotics to help you get over the sick talent he displays over 90 minutes. He leaves competitors with aches and pains as he runs them ragged during a game. They sweat and call for their mummy’s when they are in pain late at night. Arsene Wenger on the other hand can sleep like an angel knowing he spent well in the January transfer window. If only you had played him in the F.A. Cup Semi-Final against Chelski…

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…