The Benefit of Hindsight

The benefit of hindsight. Oh what a wonderful thing. If you could look back at the decisions you or your team have made, were they the correct ones? Would you change them?

Looking at the season so far and the events that have transpired, I think to myself, were United correct in the purchases they made? Did we miss out on the one big name that could have made the difference?

Anyone who knows anything about football and followed the last transfer window will know exactly which players I am referring to. But that is not the focus, I’d rather analyse what we do have and their contribution to the team thus far. 

Starting with the biggest amounts paid for our footballers and working down, we commence with our speedy new winger, Ashley Young. Most people were not jumping up and down at the prospect of this Premier League proven quality player joining the ranks. However, since his arrival, he has managed to win over a number of doubters with some great goals, assists and general contribution to the team.

Although brought in for his set piece & crossing ability, he only seems to be able to deliver a top quality ball 1 of 4 which is not a good enough return. Young also tends to take that second too long to put the ball in which allows defenders to block the shot or cross. I’m sure Fergie will sort that out sooner rather than later. He has plenty room for improvement, and although his ability should not be doubted, he still has some way to go to satisfy the price tag. An injury hindered his progress in recent times and he looked slightly out of form just before, but looking forward I believe he will push on and play a crucial role for United this season.

Next on the list is the mercurial young talent that is Phil Jones. I cannot heap enough praise on a player who initially worried about whether he would get enough game time at United in his first season.  It so turns out he has played the most out of everyone in the squad! This 19 year sensation has shown he is not only up for the challenge, but ready to embrace everything that is United. His performances thus far have been nothing short of exemplary, defending with courage and carrying the ball up from the back with a presence and determination.

Another positive characteristic about the guy is his versatility and ability to adapt into different roles. With United’s current injury problems, this is working to the team’s benefit. However, I believe Fergie needs to start playing him in one position more consistently; otherwise in the long run his versatility may become more of a hindrance than an asset. Once again I state that I’m sure Fergie knows this already and is merely seeing what options are available from this awesome talent. Personally I see him with Smalling in the middle of the defence for the next 10 years; however it's good knowing when injuries hit, we have options. And for the record, he is not a midfielder.

David De Gea. I have absolutely no doubt that he is the right choice for us and will make making many match winning saves for years to come. You can see how well he reads the game, distributes the ball and makes sharp shot-stopping saves. Yes, he may still be a tad careless and yes he did start he career with a few fumbles, but look how strong he has come back. Does that alone not show the character of the guy? What were you doing at 20 years old – it surely wasn’t recovering your form, settling into a foreign country where you can’t speak the language and playing for one of the biggest teams in the world in front of 75 000 fans? 

De HEYA has a bright future ahead and hopefully the lure of going back to Spain doesn’t come around for the next 15 years (at least).

And I end off with the combined analysis of Danny Welbeck & Tom Cleverley. As I mentioned, these “new singings” have given United a breath of fresh air, with their youthful exuberance injected perfectly into the team. Mates on and off the field, they have both staked a claim for starting berths in the team.

Unfortunately, due to our lack of quality in the middle of midfield, there has been a huge amount of additional pressure placed on Cleverley. Admittedly, he did make a difference in the games he has played thus far, but he is still young and needs to be given time. He is a part solution to our midfield dilemma. We still need the “experienced x-factor match-winner” for him to learn from. Fletch & Carrick have the experience but no x-factor, Anderson (sadly) is not one to look up to and Giggs cannot keep going forever.

For Welbeck the reality of having 7 strikers available presents a different type of pressure. It’s the situation whereby you have to take your chance when the opportunity presents itself. I believe he has done just that and done so with a touch of class. Both these players will part of the English foundation of United, along with Smalling, Jones & Rooney, for the next decade.

So looking at the progress of our signings I think they have all contributed and shown that they have the quality to succeed. News just broke today regarding Anderson’s latest injury blow which rules him out until February next year. Cleverley is currently sidelined too. Once again, the concern is completely focussed on the centre of the park, an area which Fergie did not sufficiently address and we may pay the consequences for it. 

Moving our best player out of position to compensate for the missing quality surely proves this? Rooney is class and can play anywhere, and hopefully when he reaches 30 he can drop back into midfield, but now is not the time. We have options everywhere except in the engine room of the team. Let’s trust in Fergie once more and try push through with what we have.

So in hindsight, if Fergie knew what he knew now, would he have pushed harder for Sniejder or Modric? 

The Best of Enemies - Liverpool Reality Check

It’s always interesting getting an opinion from the other side of the fence. Most times we won’t agree but occasionally you come across those few fans that appreciate game and watch their teams without those tinted/bias specs on, something I struggle to do. So I was pleasantly surprised to read how realistic and grounded this Scouser actually is.

Liverpool Reality Check

Reality - the state of things as they actually exist as opposed to how they may appear or may be imagined.

In the case of Liverpool football club, a serious dose of reality was handed to players and supporters alike, over the last two weekends, as a virtually fully-fit Reds side labored to a 1-0 loss at Stoke City and then proceeded to get hammered 4-0 at Spurs. Reminiscent of losses to the likes of Blackpool, Wolves, as well as Tony Pulis’s men last season, much of the hype and euphoria of the recent changes at the club were somewhat diminished following more unproductive away performances.

Positive results against a weakened Arsenal side and a struggling Bolton, along with the opening day home draw with Sunderland, meant that The Reds were off to their best start in recent memory, earning a respectable 7 points from their first three premiership encounters. Fans and players were oozing with optimism and positivity but both sets of sentiments have now been somewhat dampened as a result of the two most recent setbacks. Granted that both The Britannia Stadium and White Hart Lane are never easy places to go, let alone win, a point was a necessity from both games to convince fans and players alike that Liverpool are genuine top four contenders once again.

Not for one second am I dismissing the magnitude of the turnaround that the club has undergone since the disgraceful previous American owners and, more recently, Roy Hodgson left the club, but the recent Stoke defeat, as well as the day-to-forget at White Hart Lane, came as a timely reminder that this is all still very much a work in progress.

I have no doubt that with King Kenny at the helm, accompanied by the likes of Steve Clarke and Damien Comolli, Liverpool will once again be a force to be reckoned with. The signings since January are indicative of the direction in which the club is going but these players are still in the process of jelling as they attempt to complement each other in the best possible manner.

As oppose to looking at a bench laden with inexperience and mediocrity, the depth at Dalglish’s disposal is a rare luxury that hasn’t often been afforded to managers of Liverpool in times gone by. While Benitez settled for the likes of Milan Baros and Florent Siname-Pongolle to act as game changers during his tenure, King Kenny can now call on the likes of Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy and Jordan Henderson, to name a few, to positively impact any match.

While there is seemingly adequate depth and cover in the attack and midfield departments, I’m of the opinion that a re-shuffle is needed in defence. A fully-fit Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly make the right fullback slot the most accomplished in the defensive structures while the real issues lie in the central department. Jamie Carragher is not getting any younger, and while he still reads the game like a book, it’s becoming more and more common to see him falling short when asked to match strikers for pace. Daniel Agger may be able to complement Carra and provide cover for the 33-year old if need be, but the constant concerns surrounding his fitness mean that he’s only made 98 appearances during his 5 years at the club. Martin Skrtel was an ever-present last season, and was solid enough alongside Carra, but one gets the feeling that Liverpool require a more accomplished world-class presence in the heart of the defence should they wish to challenge for top honours once more.

Looking ahead to the home game against Wolves this weekend, anything less than a convincing victory over Mick McCarthy’s men will be unacceptable. It is imperative that Liverpool show the rest of the league that they are better than what they have produced of late and in turn earn another victory in front of a packed Anfield crowd. The timely and long overdue return of Steven Gerrard will be another reason to expect victory as Kenny attempts to rally his troops once more and avoid any further reality checks with games against Everton and United on the horizon. 

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When Will Fergie Bring Back The "Old" Guard?

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Does Fantasy Football Influence Your True Football Feelings?

The Premier League is back! From my side, I’m happy for United to have begun the campaign with a win, but there is a long way still to go. The best league in the world always has twists & turns, excitement & heartbreak as well as the final month’s glory & disappointment for everyone involved. It’s the moments deep in the second half when your team is defending a lead or pushing for the winner, and you are feeling your heart is pumping harder than usual, that you know it’s back. That feeling is pure. Its passion flowing through your veins and it makes you realise why you love the game and your team.

But for a while now there has been something which could be seen as an invasion on your true football feelings. This “game within a game” creates an unnatural feeling towards opposing teams and players which should not be there in the first place. I thought I could also repress these feelings, but while you are in the game, there is no denying it. I’m talking about the game that everyone gets fickle over, especially when you are at the bottom, and that’s Fantasy Football.

I was watching the opening fixtures last weekend with a group of mates and noticed something horribly wrong. When Stoke won a free-kick in the dying minutes of the game against Chelsea, a mate piped up and said: “Hold up Chelsea, I need that clean sheet!”  Was this die hard football fan cheering for the “wrong” result? That’s when I knew things had already started off on the wrong foot, yet again. All of us who play, and please note that I have been an active player since 2004, have had those moments when we hope for that goal or clean sheet to happen for the teams we are supposed to despise. That just is not good enough. That part of me, my mates and all others who play Fantasy football, who hope for those immoral results to happen, need to have a rethink. We are betraying our teams and ourselves. For what? A few more points? Come on now, we all need to do better!

How should you be feeling?

Let’s recap how you should feel if Fantasy was not involved. You should want what’s best for your team in terms of the matchday result (i.e. victory). You should want your rivals to drop points. You should WANT to see them concede in injury time, making the damage of the dropped points hurt even more. So why does a part of us not want to see the ball land up in the back of our opponents net? For pride? Respect? Let’s ask ourselves, what do we get if we win a Fantasy league amongst our mates? A few hundred bucks? Surely the glory you get from mocking opponent fans for conceding late on or winning the league come the end of the season trumps it?!

How do you end up feeling?

It’s just so much fun when you get it right. When your captain scores a double, 2 of your defenders provide assists and your keeper keeps a clean sheet, you just feel like you understand football and are able to predict what happens next. You gloat amongst your friends and let them know who is boss. However, football changes very quickly, and your feelings are completely different the next gameweek when not a single player performs and you see the dreaded red arrow pointing down. You get over it and wonder why you play. It all seems quite fickle to me, but it’s all part of the fun! You have to take the good with the bad, and that should start from the top, where the real game is happening. And let’s also all agree that we all wish we knew the weekend’s results on the Friday, imagining if we had picked the defender who scored a double, kept a clean and got all the bonuses as captain?!

However, Fantasy does have another positive aspect to it. It allows you to find interest in games that you may not have watched in the first place – like a Wigan vs. Blackburn or a Wolves vs. West Brom (not disrespect). You hope for Al-Habsi to keep that clean, Samba to score, Jarvis to assist a goal or Odemwingie to grab that elusive winner. In turn, you are exposed to new teams, players and managers which you may previously had known little about. That is one big benefit of Fantasy football for the game in general.

My point is that however fun the game is, we all need to keep it in perspective. We must acknowledge that it is a game based on the real game and wouldn’t exist without the real football. Your team and football in general deserves better than for you to be cheering for the “wrong” results. If you are a neutral and enjoy the game just for the actual football, then by all means cheer on whoever you want. But if you are a United supporter and you AREN’T cheering for Liverpool, City, Chelsea or Arsenal (in that order) to concede in the last minute because you have their defenders in your team, then you should feel ashamed and know that you are betraying your team. The occasional slip is fine, but when it’s happening week in week out, then you should reconsider where your passion actually lies. But like real football it’s an addiction which I struggle to under control. 

Transfer Season - Reading Through The Bullshit

Sifting Through The Lies

As we all long for the football season to return, the majority of us find “satisfaction” in following a variety of different sources through the various mediums available – trying to find latest breaking news which direct us towards which players could ultimately sign for our respective clubs. Whether people want to believe it or not, even the true football fans can be swept away and get overly excited about prospects that the media, bloggers and “people in the know” throw in our faces. What all of us need to understand is that all these people understand the needs of the public and are sometimes willing to put whatever headlines are necessary to gain the publicity. More often it is the lower tier bloggers and young journalists who instil a false (and sick) sense of hope that certain players will be joining our clubs. 

It’s so easy to jump on the bandwagon. As a huge fan of Twitter and a big Tweeter myself, I have built a solid stream of everyone I consider credible and who, on occasion, obtain “inside” or breaking news before others. These few newspapers, journalists and editors truly understand the game and have an excellent overall knowledge which can be admired and commended. And to those people I raise my hat and salute you. You are few and far between.

For the rest, I urge you to get a life and gain some humility. Being in the online industry and having studied marketing, your reputation (especially online) is crucial. And you only get one chance. If your reputation is damaged, the chances are firstly that you will be found out and secondly, no one will ever trust you again. That is why whenever I find an interesting article I always credit the person who wrote it and if I give an opinion, I do so with thought and the understanding of consequences. I know many people can get away with their crimes, but I believe people are finally starting to see these vultures for what they really are. I am no journalist or person in the know, I’m a football enthusiast, a fan, a passionate follower of the beautiful game and I most importantly, I am a realist.

Knowing the NON Credible Sources

One of the key points of the article is also help you determine who the unreliable sources are, the ones who fabricate stories just to generate excitement, hype and lies amongst the public. These people lack substance, lack the backbone to follow through on their statements and are practically writing articles and headlines which satisfy the public’s thoughts. They give us hope, tap into our inner emotions and tug at the heart strings which are connected to our clubs. These people should be lynched.

Example 1: Goal.com

When it comes to bullshit, Goal are the primary candidates. These guys will do anything to drive traffic to their website. When it comes to analysis and interesting articles, I can’t fault them, but when you read about a signing or fee agreed, be cautious and think twice. It’s generally going to be bullshit. Always check the quotes and their sources. Or maybe just don’t visit the website.

Example 2: Caughoffside.com

These guys (so I hear) are most definitely NOT journalists and are just guys looking to create hype and generate headlines. They are not credible sources. They have the exact amount of “inside information” as us fans have – none. Do not believe what they say and do not get excited about any headline you read. In fact, if you are following them on Twitter, unfollow them because they will just get you excited over nothing.

Transfer Examples & Predictions

As far as the transfer window predictions go, here are some examples and predictions for the rest of the transfer period. I have used these 2 examples as I’m a United fan and they quite possibly have some similarities as to the outcome. 

1. David de Gea

Synopsis:

I will not go through the timeline of quotes that came out of this boy’s mouth. But for everyone who can read through the bullshit, we all knew he was going to join United the moment Fergie came out and said it. He claimed he wanted to wait until the end of the European U21 Championship to decide his future, but he was merely waiting for his new agent’s contract to come into effect and the deal was done.

Outcome:

He joined United almost immediately after the tournament and expressed his delight at joining one of the biggest clubs in the world.

2. Wesley Sneijder

Synopsis:

Warning – this is a touchy, complicated and tiresome subject. This is my simplified take on the whole transfer saga.

Paul Scholes has retired. Owen Hargreaves has been released. United’s midfield already lacked creativity even with both these players. It’s time to find a solution, to install some of that “x-factor” which has been missing since Ronaldo left. There are 3 options of players who suite the mould of a United player in terms of quality, creativity and experience. These players are Luka Modric, Samir Nasri & Wesley Sneijder.

Now before I continue, let me put my personal preference of the player I want at United. It’s Wesley Sneijder. I have wanted him for over a year and believe he is perfect of us. This is debatable with numerous people arguing their case for each player. I don’t care. If he comes, he will be awesome.

Modric – This is not happening for 2 reasons – firstly Spurs don’t want to sell and secondly he prefers a move to Chelsea in London. Finished.

Nasri - We “bid” for Nasri 3 weeks ago. Wenger is in a serious predicament as the player won’t sign an extension, has 1 year left and if they don’t take the offer, and he will leave for free at end of the season. But how can he sell him to a rival? It’s a toughie, I won’t lie. In terms of United, I don’t think he will come for numerous reasons – but mainly he is going to go to City because (and I hate to say it) they are on the up and they are a serious threat and will be for many years. Oh yes, and they will pay him a fuckload more.

Sneijder - To sum up and conclude on everything I have just said. I have always believed Wesley was going to come. He has the chance to stay with us for the rest of his career, play under the greatest manager of all time, in front of a 75 000 strong Old Trafford crowd and join the Champions of England. He has won in Holland, Spain & Italy. It’s time for him to reach the pinnacle of his career with the most successful club in England.

Is he coming?

He has stated he is happy in Italy, he loves the fans etc. He has to say that. If not, his price would decrease and therefore hurt the fans and club he loves. And look at the sources of the information. He spoke to Vanity Fair the other day and said how his wife is happy in Milan. She was probably sitting right next to him.

People need to get a grip of the situation and read closer into it. There have been meetings that have taken place last week with the Milan board. So logic dictates that anything that is said from anyone other than one of the people in that meeting is most likely BULLSHIT. 

Lastly, Wesley needs to WANT to come to United. And he seriously cannot demand wages bigger than Rooney. This will cause problems and if he is not willing to come for the whole greater picture that comes with it, then we deserve better. His Dutch coach, all United fans and many journalists say he is coming, whereas Inter’s directors, fans and players think he is staying. I believe (hope) that he will come. I have my doubts and my feelings seem to swing each day, but I urge everyone to have the same attitude as me – 

Don’t stop believing until the transfer window is closed

Conclusion:

Logic needs to dictate your thoughts on which players could join certain clubs. Even though it makes sense to YOU, that doesn’t mean it will happen. The media are powerful, they are cunning and they are clever – they see the logical transfers and create the rumours which seem to make sense. Be cautious, don’t get overly excited until the picture with the manager and player holding their new club’s shirt starts circulating. Even then, it could be photo shopped. This is a dangerous game being played and people’s reputations get damaged. Make sure you are not one of them and trust in your managers, I know I do.

Note:

In my opinion, the most trusted media sources are: The Guardian, The Telegraph and Official Man United Writers. I have also found certain journalists such as Henry Winter, Daniel Taylor and Oliver Kay are all credible, fair and knowledgeable. There are many more but the focus of this article is to call the bullshitters.

Post Season Updates

Post football season would be extremely boring if it wasnt for the transfer gossip that occurs daily. Stories can change so drastically from one day to the next, its difficult to keep up and determine which ones are accurate and true. So I have started an Updates posting whereby I will post only the relevant, truthful stories as well as some interesting off-season links.

• Ashley Young in United Medical

http://yfrog.com/h815439894j - Picture showing his arrival at Bridgewater Hospital 

• Van Der Sar confirms handful of players to be involved with his testimonial

1. Rio Ferdinand
2. Nemanja Vidic
3. Paul Scholes
4. Gary Neville
5. Alessandro Del Piero
6. Mark Overmars
7. One of the de Boer brothers

• Chelsea name Andre Villas-Boas as new Manager

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7001161,00.html

• Spurs stand firm on Modric - follow through with him as their model for new kit

http://aggbot.com/link.php?id=13976067&r=tw&c=46

• List of Total Transfer Ins & Outs So Far

http://aggbot.com/link.php?id=13976067&r=tw&c=46

More links & updates to follow as they happen.

Keep the Passion Alive!

The Post Domestic Football Season Starts With A Bang

Internationals:

We are all already suffering from a lack of domestic football. I can see it in the eyes (and the tweets) of my fellow football lovers. International football is one thing, but especially for me where my country does not rank up there with the top footballing nations, I find the gap between the two to be extremely large. Regardless, I do enjoy watching internationals because its football at the end of the day and at this moment, I’ll take anything. It also allows me to watch the game in an unbiased and fairly neutral manner. This is a pleasant change; it’s nice to remove the red specs once in a while and appreciate the game without any strings attached. I especially love watching England play, because for me, it works both ways whether they win or lose. I prefer seeing them win, as all of their players play in the Premier League and I watch them week in week out, so it’s good to see them perform from an outsiders perspective. However, if they lose, well I just love watching the media dismantle and shame the team like they have for all these years, as if each of the players had intentionally set out to irritate and disappoint the public and their fans. Hilarious and classic, every time. 

But overall, it seems like something is missing and will be missing for some time yet. I actually can’t wait for pre-season tours to begin, to watch the players in their new kits and see the team together again. Last year we had the World Cup and next year we will have the European Championships to pass the time, however this time round there is really only one thing that gives us a real sense of footballing pleasure (unless you’re an 

Arsenal fan), and that’s the transfer window.

Some Interesting Transfers:

Wednesday, in particular, produced a peach in terms of transfer activity. It was announced that Liverpool had signed the promising youngster, Jordan Henderson, from Sunderland for 20 Mil, with David Ngog included in the deal. A good piece of business in all honesty, as they get rid of Ngog and add some depth (and youth) to their midfield. Even though United showed some interest in the lad, the truth is we already have one of our own in Tom Cleverley and need a more experienced player to come in and do the job. Both players are English, young and creative centre midfielders. I believe Cleverley will be given his chance this season and hopefully he will grab it with both hands. Liverpool are also looking to add Charlie Adam and Stuart Downing to their ranks, along with Roma goalkeeper Doni. Let’s see which of these actually happen, but I do expect major ins and outs to happen at the Scousers throughout the transfer window.

However, the best news of the day happened a little after the Henderson deal. Just when everyone thought Liverpool had secured their next target, United popped up and grabbed him from right under the noses of the scousers. A truly Houdini type of act performed by the master Sir Alex Ferguson. Phil Jones, what a surprise coup! According to reports Jones met with Wenger last night but still chose to join United instead in a deal rumoured to be around the 15-20 million mark. At this moment in time, with the transfer market completely inflated, most clubs are going to overpay for the players they really want. Especially if the player they want are English! They have become precious commodities, prized long term assets seen as investments in the clubs’ future to ensure they meet the UEFA “homegrown” criteria. Most of the players bought do not match and warrant the price tag they are accompanied with; however, they represent an overall larger investment which has to be made by the clubs.

With that said, I see Phil Jones as an old fashioned, uncompromising powerhouse defender with bags of commitment and promise. I have not seen him have a bad game for Blackburn and stats show their winning percentage is higher when he is in the team (34% vs. 25%). Sources also say that Fergie only really wanted to bring the player in the season after next, however after Liverpool and Arsenal showed their interest, SAF knew he had to move quickly and in the end he got his man. A long term investment, and with Smalling as his English U21 centre back partner as it stands, United have some great young defenders in the team. With two Englishmen and two Brazilians in our backline, there will be a perfect mixture of youth, speed, commitment and flair which opposition teams will one day fear.

I look forward to Wesley Sneijder, Luka Modric or Samir Nasri making their way to Old Trafford in the near future. My personal preference would be Sneijder, I’ve been a fan for a really long time and it would give me great pleasure to see him don our shirt. Modric, however, is pure class, Premier League proven and a player I would take in a heartbeat. With Ashley Young and David De Gea looking certain to join United by the end of the month, this season’s transfer activity is looking to be really exciting.

Who wouldn’t want to play under Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager of all time? Play at Old Trafford, the largest stadium in the league and join up with the Champ19ns of England? Did I say I took my 

red specs off? I think they may have slipped back on sometime during this article.