Tuesday, 3 June 2014

Meet the new boss: All change across Europe as managerial merry-go-round starts to turn

14:14

By: TBMU Admin On: 14:14   In:   No comments

Meet the new boss: All change across Europe as managerial merry-go-round starts to turn

Meet the new boss: All change across Europe as managerial merry-go-round starts to turn

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 04:30 AM PDT

While some nondescript kickabout in Brazil hogs all the sports headlines a quiet revolution is taking place in the managerial dugouts of European football. Barely a speck of dust has settled on the 2013/14 yearbooks, yet already a number of high-profile managerial changes have taken place as clubs make plans for next season. Let's take a look at the major wheelings and dealings so far… THE MAJOR REBUILDS Louis van Gaal Netherlands to Man United They say Louis Van Gaal has wanted to manage in England for some time, so the Manchester United vacancy came at a perfect time for the famously outspoken Dutch gaffer. A serial pot-collector in Holland, Germany and Spain – most notably winning the Champions League with the legendary Ajax team of the mid-1990s – Van Gaal is a moulder of talent and proven winner: just what England's twenty-time champions need after a year of proven fiasco. Supposedly, Van Gaal signed his contract, handed the United board a list of transfer targets and whistled off back to international duty without a care in the world. He may be in for a shock, therefore, if he expects to turn up post-World Cup and have his targets presented to him at Carrington in red ribbons. United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward spectacularly bungled last season's transfer dealings and the early signs suggest United are on course to repeat that history, which would leave Van Gaal starting with one hand tied behind his back much like his predecessor a year ago. A major rebuild is required at Old Trafford and with Van Gaal away in Brazil until late June at the earliest he could be handicapped from day one, unless the board prove themselves fit for purpose in the coming weeks. Biggest challenge: Finding the right players – Van Gaal is a renowned tactician, a respected leader and a stringent taskmaster. Bending the players to his will won't be the main issue. Getting them through the door in the first place, will. Luis Enrique Celta Vigo to Barcelona It seems strange to think that after five league defeats in 2013/14 (as many as the previous two seasons combined), two transfer scandals, a botched presidency and a campaign of near perennial turmoil, Barcelona still went into their final game of the season with a chance of winning the league. That they took the lead at home to eventual champions Atletico Madrid, before throwing it away in the second half, summed up Barcelona's annus horribilis – a shoddy season both on and off the field. It's now five years since Guardiola's 'Pep Team' won the treble and with legendary figures like their bushy-haired beast of a captain Carles Puyol and the consistently underrated Victor Valdes riding off into the sunset (along with many other less celebrated players) the end of a glorious cycle in the Catalan capital has arrived. Luis Enrique's job is therefore a mammoth one. Lucho, as he is known, joins from Celta Vigo having played for Barca and coached their B team for three seasons between 2008 and 2011. Biggest challenge: Barca lack the funds to compete with the riches available at Real Madrid, PSG or Manchester City so Luis Enrique will have to work shrewdly in the transfer market. He must also re-motivate a team in the midst of a minor identity crisis, integrate academy players like Gerard Deulofeu and Rafinha and work out how to get the best from Lionel Messi and Neymar. Easy, right? Marcelo Bielsa Unattached to Olympique Marseille The hipsters' choice is back. After a year long break presumably spent crouched in front of a TV screen watching beaten up videotapes of old football matches, one of Argentina's finest managerial minds returns to the limelight, this time at France's best supported club, Marseille. The Rosario native has signed a two-year deal at the Stade Velodrome and his remit will be to make the fans dream again after three years spent in the shadow of the enemy, Paris Saint-Germain. The appointment is hugely intriguing, and a massive coup for French football. It represents a total contrast in styles – a high intensity, ultra-attacking, forward thinking coach in a league renowned for its conservativism. Bielsa revolutionised Chile's style of play - a legacy that continues today - and took Athletic Bilbao to the Europa League and Copa del Rey final in 2012. His philosophy is simple: "11 men attack, then when they lose the ball they defend." How he adapts at arguably France's biggest club will be fascinating. Biggest challenge – Taking on two clubs in PSG and Monaco who boast annual budgets meatier than the GDP of various minor European nations. THE UPWARDLY MOBILE Mauricio Pochettino Southampton to Tottenham After a frankly inspirational season on the South Coast in which he guided Southampton to their highest ever top-flight finish whilst playing some of the most attractive, free-flowing, organised football in the Premier League, it was only a matter of time before Mauricio Pochettino began to attract longing glances from envious chairmen at clubs with greater means. Behind the scenes Pochettino's future had been uncertain for some time. His relationship with former chairman Nicola Cortese, who resigned mysteriously in January, was strong. So strong that Pochettino wore a tie given to him by Cortese at his final game in charge at St. Mary's against Manchester United, one final display of loyalty in cravat format. Of course we've been here before. Spurs have represented something of a poisoned chalice for bright, up-and-coming managers in recent years. Juande Ramos and Andre Villas Boas arrived with better CVs and similarly promising reputations. Neither succeeded. Pochettino arrives with a five-year contract and a hearty endorsement from chairman Daniel Levy ringing in his ears. What could possibly go wrong? Biggest challenge: Managing expectations – 8 managers in 13 years under Levy's stewardship shows he is not afraid to pull the trigger if deemed necessary. He may admire the Argie now, but immediate results will be expected. Pochettino will have to skilfully tread the thin line between talking the club up and making sure the lofty expectations don't overwhelm him. Hubert Fournier Reims to Lyon The scenario is becoming more and more of a rarity in England: relatively unknown domestic manager works consistently well at a smaller club within a meagre framework and, after years of overachieving, is handed the keys to a bigger vehicle. Such is the case for Hubert Fournier, who took Reims back into France's top-flight after a 33-year absence and established them in Ligue 1, finishing 14th in their first season and 11th in 2013/14. His reward is a job at one of France's biggest clubs, Lyon, who needed a new gaffer after one-time Arsenal defender Remi Garde declined to renew his contract. An English equivalent would be Steve Bruce getting a job at Chelsea or Arsenal, which, let's face it, would never happen. Fournier played for Lyon in the late 1990s and has been recompensed for the simple virtues of hard work, shrewd management and steady, consistent progress. Biggest Challenge: Keeping hold of Lyon's best players. "Maxime Gonalons is the player around whom the future of Lyon should be built," Fournier commented in his very first press conference. "It's not my decision though and bigger clubs are always sniffing around." Lyon's captain is heavily linked with a move to Napoli and they could lose several key players this summer. Roger Schmidt Red Bull Salzburg to Bayer Leverkusen Some managers are hired because they fit into an already-existing framework within the club. Pochettino as head coach alongside a director of football, for example. Others are hired because they match the club's tactical vision. This is the case with Roger Schmidt at Bayer Leverkusen. For the past few years the German club have played to a fast-paced tactical plan with emphasis on speed and fast breaks. After Sami Hyppia's sacking in April they needed a new manager who could fit into this desired approach. Enter Roger Schmidt, whose Red Bull Salzburg team had pundits swooning in Austria last season thanks to their energetic, frantic style. Schmidt's high-energy 4-2-4 formation helped Salzburg romp to the Austrian title, finishing 18 points clear of second place with 110 goals scored in 36 games. A 6-1 aggregate win over Ajax in the Europa League further raised Schmidt's profile, and the German coach will take the reins in North Rhine-Westphalia next season. Biggest challenge: Walking the walk. "[Schmidt] stands for physical, fast and attractive attacking football," Bayer CEO Michael Schade raved after the appointment "We've extensively discussed Bayer's future philosophy, and aim for a long-term partnership with Roger Schmidt." THE FIRST-TIMERS Claude Makelele Bastia So good they named a position after him, Claude Makelele heads into next season hoping to master a new role – that of a successful manager. It's the next step in the Frenchman's career after spending the past three years since retirement working as an advisor to former PSG sporting director Leonardo and assistant coach to Carlo Ancelotti and Laurent Blanc. Makelele's first job as numero uno is at Corsican club Bastia. He takes over from Frederic Hantz, a popular manager who won back-to-back promotions from France's third tier to Ligue 1 before consolidating them as a top-flight outfit. A big test for little Claude awaits. Biggest challenge: Matching up to the standards set by Hantz at a fiercely passionate and sometimes hot-headed club, at which there will be scrutiny from day one. Filippo Inzaghi AC Milan? AC Milan were 11th in Serie A and 30 points behind leaders Juventus when Clarence Seedorf was appointed in January. He won 11 out of 19 games (compared with 5 wins in Milan's first 19 games) and finished 8th, just one point off qualifying for the Europa League. Sounds like progress, right? Seemingly not enough to impress the Milan board. Only five months into a two-and-a-half year contract Seedorf is about to be ditched. The current worst-kept secret in Italian football is that youth team coach Filippo Inzaghi is the man they want to replace him, with the appointment reportedly set to be announced sooner rather than later. Biggest challenge: Juggling the egos in the Milan boardroom and revitalising a squad packed with underachievers and lacking the talent to challenge for honours. Willy Sagnol Bordeaux A robust right-back in his day, Willy Sagnol won five league titles, four domestic cups and the Champions League during eight years at Bayern Munich as well as a league title at Monaco. He also has a World Cup runners-up medal; Sagnol started the 2006 final against Italy and scored one of France's three converted penalties, albeit in vain. Sagnol wanted to be a police commissioner when he was younger and once famously told a high-profile critic of the France national team to "shut his mouth." Perhaps it's this hardline approach which attracted Bordeaux, who snapped him up from his spell as France's U20 coach after being shunned by their first choice Zinedine Zidane. Biggest challenge: Working to a tight budget at a club with big aspirations.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Southampton confirm offers for star players

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 03:47 AM PDT

The south-coast side drew plaudits for a string of excellent performances in the Premier League last season, as they achieved a record points tally in England's top flight. Southampton's success has already seen Mauricio Pochettino depart for Tottenham last month, while England international Rickie Lambert joined boyhood club Liverpool earlier on Monday. Rumours have also persisted that captain Adam Lallana will make the switch to Anfield, while full-back Luke Shaw is thought to be Manchester United's radar. While revealing that offers have been received, a club statement rejected suggestions they could be forced to sell their prized assets. "Southampton Football Club can confirm that we have received multiple offers for some of our players in the past weeks," it read. "This is a confirmation of the depth of the development that is ongoing in our academy and of the present standing of our first team within the Premier League. "We are staying true to our plan and vision and, as a result, we have no need to accept any offers. We are deep in the process of appointing a new manager who will continue to move our club forward. "It remains our preference not to partake in any transfers until the new manager is in place. Our scouting recruitment department continues to monitor targets we have identified to improve our squad, and the new manager will have final input into our recruitment process." Southampton did, however, state that there are circumstances in which the club would accept bids, as was the case with Lambert who asked to join the team he supported in his youth. The statement continued: "There may be circumstances under which the club will feel it is right for a player to move on. Those circumstances have to be right for the club and the player. This is the case with Rickie's move to Liverpool. "When Rickie Lambert requested to leave for Liverpool, the club felt it could not stand in the way of having him fulfil his boyhood dream of playing at home. "It will be a big challenge to replace him and our intention is to source a quality replacement who will fill his shoes now but also for many years to come."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

82: Norman Whiteside, record breaker

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 02:02 AM PDT

Did you expect to play for Northern Ireland at the World Cup, thus becoming the youngest player ever to appear in the finals? I knew I was doing alright in practice matches. We prepared at the University of Sussex in Brighton and I don't think I've ever been fitter. I was at my physical peak at 17 so I wasn't surprised to be picked for the opener. Billy [Bingham] always tells the story that a goal I scored at the university made his mind up about me starting. It was the spit of the goal I scored in the 1985 FA Cup Final, only this one eluded Pat Jennings' snow-shovel hands by millimetres. I was given the No.16 shirt, maybe to throw reporters off the scent. Billy always maintained that he knew I'd line up against Yugoslavia after a few days at Brighton, but he carried on the illusion that I was more possible than probable. He knew the firestorm would come and instructed television crews to steer clear of me and stop going on about "the new George Best". What are your memories of Gerry Armstrong's goal against Spain? Our couple of thousand fans were going deranged in the corner, but Gerry thought the goal had been disallowed because there was a silence in the rest of the stadium. Then he heard me yelling, "Gerry, Gerry, it's a goal!" as I jumped on his back. The match up to then had been the most physically and mentally demanding of my career, but the remaining 43 minutes were more like the Alamo than a game of football. How was the homecoming? Because of holidays and a sense of surprise at our quarter-final achievement, no civic reception had been arranged and we didn't do the open-top bus ride through Belfast until November. My memories of walking through three airport arrivals halls at Heathrow, Manchester and Belfast in the space of 24 hours are dominated by flash-bulbs and reporters thrusting microphones in my face. I walked into a media storm. Can you describe Billy Bingham's management? The levels of professionalism he showed were remarkable. He had booked all the training facilities and had back-up plans if they didn't work out. He had attention to detail, but his strength was his motivational skills. His methods worked for me; it was great to know that he believed in me. Interview: May 2010.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Moyes: Man United long-term planning over

Posted: 01 Jun 2014 02:29 AM PDT

The Scot endured a torrid 10-month spell in charge at Old Trafford, after being handpicked by compatriot Alex Ferguson as his successor following 27 trophy-laden years. United surrendered the Premier League crown to local rivals Manchester City with a whimper, and failed to qualify for European football following a seventh-place finish in the Premier League. However, Moyes is of the opinion that he could have reversed United's fortunes had he been afforded more time to put his stamp on the squad. "I never had the chance to thank the Manchester United supporters for the backing they gave me during my time as manager. I wish them every success in the future." Moyes wrote inThe Sunday Times. "They now appreciate, I am sure, that things are changing at their club and it could well be that gone are the days of long-term planning. They were fully aware of the task I had. It was unfortunate I wasn't given more time to succeed." Despite having been dismissed less than 12 months into his six-year deal, Moyes insists he has moved on and is now pondering his next move. He added: "Since leaving, I have received some very good offers and am tempted by one or two of them. "I have not closed the door on anything and am open-minded about my next step in management, and whether it will be in the UK or abroad. "Another possibility is that I may choose to have a break and enjoy watching and observing football throughout the world. What I do know for sure is that I have moved on." Moyes also believes he retained the support of Ferguson until the end of his tenure, and stated he attempted to follow his predecessor's advice as best he could. "I have spoken to Sir Alex Ferguson on several occasions and we met recently at a dinner in London," Moyes explained. "I believe I had nothing but support from him. "He advised me of some changes that had to be made. I took his advice and started to implement the necessary changes. I became aware of other changes that had to be made and put plans in place."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Rooney: I hope 2014 World Cup is my tournament

Posted: 31 May 2014 11:30 PM PDT

The Manchester United star has been questioned leading into Brazil 2014, having been to two World Cups without scoring. That statistic annoys Rooney, 28, as Roy Hodgson's men prepare to face Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica. Rooney said having no injury problems ahead of the tournament meant he was optimistic heading to Brazil. "I have always been honest with myself and the truth is that, while I've been lucky enough to win a lot of things with United, I do feel there is something missing in my career with England," he told the Sunday Mirror. "After the injury problems I have had in the build-up to my two previous World Cups, I really hope this can be my tournament. "I haven't scored at a World Cup yet and that's something I want to put right because it does wind me up. "I want to do better this time – not just for myself – but because I know that, if I am playing well, then I'll be helping the team." Rooney had special praise for his international team-mates, labelling the squad the best he has been involved with. But he said their inexperience could make a difference at the World Cup. "The one weakness is that we have a lot players who haven't got any real experience of tournament football," Rooney said. "I don't think anyone can predict what will happen to England in Brazil – and that's why I am really excited about this World Cup. "I've got absolutely no idea how we are going to perform. "We could have a massive impact on the tournament, go all the way to the final and surprise everyone. All I can say is that the potential and quality we have got in this squad is really exciting. "I look at lads like Daniel Sturridge, Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana and I can't help but be positive about what we can do. "It's mad because we've got so many good young players."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Hodgson: Nations Rooney obsession is sad

Posted: 31 May 2014 09:44 PM PDT

Rooney, 28, has been questioned leading into the FIFA World Cup as his form and ability to perform on the biggest stage comes under the spotlight. Hodgson is bemused by all the attention surrounding the Manchester United striker and said he just expected Rooney to play his role. "It is a bit sad that the country is so Wayne Rooney-obsessed," he said. "I don't think Wayne sets himself up to be anything other than a very important member of the squad, someone who does his best and tries his best at all times. "Talk about combinations doesn't interest me. All I want is for Wayne Rooney to play well and Daniel Sturridge to play well. "We don't share this obsession with Wayne, we also think that people like Danny Welbeck, Sturridge, Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Adam Lallana are in there to play well and help us score goals, too. "That's what a squad is about." Another of Hodgson's strikers, Rickie Lambert, appears close to finalising a move from Southampton to Liverpool. Hodgson said he had noticed a 'very happy' Lambert, congratulating Liverpool and the 32-year-old on the move. "I congratulate him. And I congratulate Liverpool signing a good player," Hodgson said. "When he plays you will see a fella running around with all the joy that his heart can muster because he is very happy to be with England and he's very happy that the move to Liverpool has gone through."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

De Gea wants Iniesta to sign for Man United

Posted: 31 May 2014 02:41 AM PDT

The Dutchman will take over at Old Trafford after the Netherlands' FIFA World Cup campaign as he seeks to turn United around following a dismal campaign last time out. Under predecessor David Moyes, United finished seventh and relinquished their Premier League crown. De Gea feels Spain team-mate and Barcelona midfielder Iniesta would serve as a major boost for the champions, should Van Gaal opt to sign him. "(If I could) I'd sign Iniesta," he told Movistar. "I'd bring him to United because for me if he's not the best player in the world, he's one of them. "He has personality, lots of quality, a goal in him. He's got everything." In terms of potential outgoings, De Gea also stated his desire for Juan Mata to remain - with the former Chelsea man contributing six goals in 15 appearances after joining midway through a turbulent season at Old Trafford. "I wouldn't sell him," De Gea explained. "We have that extra bit of quality with him, he's a great player and has fitted into the dressing room really well. "People love him and in my opinion he's a really important player."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Familiarity key to Spain success, says Mata

Posted: 30 May 2014 12:12 PM PDT

Defending champions Spain will start the finals as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, having beaten Netherlands 1-0 in the 2010 showpiece. Either side of that victory, they won UEFA Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 and further success would only increase their standing as one of the greatest national sides in world football. And Mata feels having a core of players that have played together for years, both at club and international level, has played a key role in their triumphs. "I think we are like a family," he told Laureus. "We've known each other for a long time and we've played together for the last six, eight years so we feel really comfortable between us and I think this is the key. "If we can win this World Cup, winning the South African one and two Euro Cups in a row we will be talking about the most successful national team. "I think there are a lot of good teams. Probably Brazil who are the favourites and then Argentina, Holland, Germany, France, Italy, England, I think they can try to win." Mata describes winning the World Cup four years ago as his fondest football memory, but it is testament to Spain's embarassment of riches that the gifted playmaker is not guaranteed a place in Vicente Del Bosque's final party of 23. "Probably I have the best memories that I have in my career winning the World Cup the first time for Spain and being part of the squad was probably my best moment in my career and one of the best moments in my life," he added. "I think it's a privilege for a player to be here, to be in the 23 that travel to the World Cup and I will try my best as I always do."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

England enlist psychologist to help them deal with inevitable World Cup glory

Posted: 30 May 2014 07:40 AM PDT

Dr Steve Peters, who has previously helped Ronnie O'Sullivan and Chris Hoy cope with their success, has been brought in by manager Roy Hodgson to prepare England's stars for the avalanche of praise that is certain to come their way after they triumph in the Maracanã in July. He joins a squad brimming with self-belief, with fans wondering not so much whether England will lift the trophy as how their idols will remain humble and levelheaded after they do. He told FourFourTwo: "England teams of the past have spent a lot of time thinking about how they will win tournaments. Fortunately, we don't have to worry about that." "But just because an English victory is certain, that doesn't mean our players should wave their medals in the faces of their Spanish, Brazilian and Italian rivals," he continued. "It is unthinkable that a player like Wayne Rooney should start acting like entitled throbber." Hodgson himself is sanguine about his post-World Cup-winning prospects. He said: "I may or may not get a peerage, but I'm not going to make a fuss about where my statue goes, or whether it's made of gold or marble. At the moment I'm only thinking about a knighthood, followed by the pick of jobs in world football. "All I know is that Liverpool will be begging me to come back, and I've got unfinished business there." More from Back of the Net IN THE WEEKLY Don't Panic: Why England shouldn't fear Group D (except Costa Rica)

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

This is how it feels to be City: The 30 years of hurt and the 15 years that followed

Posted: 30 May 2014 05:50 AM PDT

Around the end of the last century, you could read a surprising amount about Manchester City. I kept the cuttings just for the sheer, abysmal masochism of it all. It was less a time of false dawn and more one of Apocalypse Now. Bill Borrows had been commissioned to write a piece for Loaded, which carried the simple title "The Fall and Rise of Manchester City"; In Arena magazine Paul Morley had penned a wonderfully satanic piece called "City of Lost Souls", while FourFourTwo carried a five-page Robert Jeffrey splash on "30 years of Hurt" - the opening spread is pictured above. To complete the set, GQ magazine (disaster and turmoil brings you a wide range of interested parties) carried an article entitled "It's Been Emotional", with a spread of pictures showing players, fans and administrators in a state of considerable flux. They were all in tears, every last one of them; from Gio Kinkladze to that chubby kid on the terraces at Stoke the day City went down to the third tier. The rest of us were not far behind. In tears, in turmoil, in denial. As Manchester United marched to the European crown with that never-to-be-forgotten night in Barcelona that still makes Clive Tyldesley get up in the night for a cup of water and a sheet or two of toilet paper, City were heading for Rotherham and Bury and preparing for a blizzard of insults and a gale of laughter wherever they went. To top the lot, The Times had Mark Hodkinson trail behind us through those third division grounds, writing a weekly column that later appeared as a book, "Down Among The Dead Men With Manchester City". The wonderful imagery of Manchester City and its bedraggled fans traipsing into the Racecourse Ground and asking the way to Bootham Crescent was a story not to be missed. Heather, toasters and bananas From the Glory Days of Malcolm Allison and Joe Mercer, to the beginnings of a concert hall joke with Eddie Large on the subtitute's bench, we had never seen anything like this. An idiosyncratic club to be sure. Helen Turner, a flower seller outside Manchester Royal Infirmary, would sit in the front rows of the North Stand and offer Joe Corrigan a sprig of lucky heather before every game and then thunder her bell every time City won a corner. In 1978 the club bought Kaziu Deyna, the Polish World Cup captain, for a consignment of toasters and fridges, a deal arranged by electircal goods magnate and megalomaniac chairman Peter Swales. Someone stumbled onto the away terrace at West Brom with an inflatable banana and, within weeks, there were thousands of the things, joined by paddling pools, crocodiles and fried eggs, cramming every City game. It was a club with a heart and a sense of humour, which was often turned on itself for good measure. But, by 1998, we didn't need the self-deprecating jokes and stories - everyone else had learned to do it better. Manchester City, English League Champions in 1968, proud European trophy winners in 1970, were in the third division and staring at a triple-X fixture list, whose first few weeks offered us the delights of Wrexham, Chesterfield and Northampton. Cup defeats to the likes of Shrewsbury and Halifax in the good old days had raised a laugh and helped cement City's professional profile as a maverick, drop-dead-funny club, but this was different. This was cry-your-eyes-out sad. It felt a little like death creeping near and raking its nails down your back. The money had been frittered away. The best players had been sold. The ground looked tired and delapidated. The fans, morose and sick to the back teeth of incompetent adminstrators and awful players, were flat on the floor. Then a strange thing happened. As the new season's fixtures crept closer, an upswell of bugger-them-all support began to flood around the old precincts. By the time City took to the field for serious third division combat, season ticket sales had gone past the previous year's figure in Division Two. As the City players walked out on a bright and sunny Saturday 8th August 1998, 32,134 cheering fans were waiting to greet them. It would prove to be just enough, as City – refusing to pull up any trees even in these desperate circumstances – averaged more than 28,000 throughout a season, which would end at Wembley for an unforgettable climax infront of 40,000 Blues fans against Tony Pulis's Gillingham. It seems strange to think that this all happened relatively recently. We flocked in our thousands to Wycombe and Walsall, To Bristol Rovers and Colchester, to cheer on the likes of Craig Russell, the flimsy Gary Mason (later to star for Dunfermline) and the even-then heavy-legged Jamie Pollock. These threadbare offerings were all we had, but it was our City and we weren't going to give up a habit of a lifetime, just because they were absolutely rubbish.There were times when giving up might have been the wisest thing to do. FourFourTwo published a gatefold colour picture featuring the large, half exposed backside of a well-proportioned City fan hauling himself up the fencing on the spartan away end at Macclesfield, City's local derby for the season (Bury and Stockport were a division above). The ground stretching out infront of the City supporters was so low, so unassuming, it might have belonged to Sunday League. And yet here we all were, with the bravado of the inebriated shouting our heads off for Shaun Goater and Paul Dickov. Football fans the length and breadth of the country thought we were mad and they were probably right. That season ended in a triumph of kinds, if you can call a penalty shoot out success against Gillingham a triumph. It was followed by another promotion, under Joe Royle, straight into the Premier League, producing another rash of articles on the resurrection of City from joke to would-be big hitters once again. But this, naturally enough, was anathema to a club brought up on the legends of its own slapstick existence. Down we went again, only for Kevin Keegan to ship up in Moss Side promising us the earth. Instead we got Ali Bernbia and Eyal Berkovic, a continuation of a rich history of sumptuous attacking football and yet another promotion. Now, if you are following this, even if you are a committed Blue, the sheer number of ups and downs will have started to produce a kind of sickly dizziness. I know, I saw each one, counted them all and was ill after most of them. Lay them all down alongside each other and you will have enough comings and goings to enact your very own Ealing Comedy. And comedy it was. None of us knew whether we were coming or going, sticking or twisting, laughing or crying. To the backdrop of Champagne Supernova, City had become a laughing stock, a cult and a hill of confusion all run into one. Scroll forward through the enforced ownership of a Thai dictator and the surpise arrival of the biggest football investment in the history of the game and you will see the same faces as before, with the addition of a few shiny new ones, attracted by the smells and glitter of the new era at City. Those old faces, stretched now with wide grins and glassy-eyed expressions of "we're not really here" have faced the driving rain of relegation with the same spirit they now bask in the warm glow of Premier League title success number two, of two domestic trophies in the same season, of the splenour and magnificence of Yaya Touré and David Silva, of Sergio Aguero and the rock that is Vincent Kompany. And, yet still we all laugh at ourselves, at our grand stroke of luck, at the never-to-be-forgotten trip we have all been on, at the beauty of Martin Demichelis running full pelt with the Premier League trophy, at the sheer bloody nonsense of the last thirty-odd years. We now find ourselves in a state of considerable flux. We, who have trod the boards at Darlington and felt the soft mud of Macclesfield under our feet, are still not sure if this is meant to be. All these wins, all these goals, all these people who admire us from foreign fields, and all those closer to home who now hate what we have become. It never used to be like this, in the cosy days of failure and flotsam, of Andy Morrison and Craig Russell. In the days when Tony Book's flares whipped in the wind like all our lost hopes, when the buzz was about Garry Flitcroft's bob and Nigel Gleghorn's goalkeeping gloves. When there was nothing else but Liam Gallagher and Richard Jobson. The easy option? No longer do we straddle the high moral steps of constant, dismal failure. Kun Aguero, Yaya and the little magician Silva have seen to that. All that dashed, squashed hope has been replaced by giddy emotion. The howls of indignation are no longer ours but now seep towards us from Islington and Nyon, Salford and Munich. To support City in the olden days was "to believe that God might have trouble running things on this planet", wrote Paul Morley in 1998. "It is to accept with heroic willingness the dreadful flat fact that the universe is cold and hostile and that nothing good will come of it. To tackle head on the crushing pointlessness of existence and to attempt to make something of it. Why do it? Because somehow it seems more dignified and fulfilling than taking the easy way out and supporting Manchester United...." So what do we do with our gallows humour and our belted songs of attrition now that City have become one of those dreaded easy teams to support? How do we hold on to that magical keep-going-and-be-damned attitude that saw us through disaster after disaster when now we inhabit a land of milk and honey that not one lost soul from the Kippax could have imagined? Manchester City the title holders. Manchester City the Abu Dhabi Royal Family's team. Manchester City the Champions League regulars. Manchester City this and Manchester City that. The glittering football, delivered by a squad of global superstars (and Jack Rodwell), the pristine pitch, the flashlights, the screams of tourists, the prestigious visitors, the friendship scarves with Barcelona and Real Madrid. A scarf, half Real half City! Half Barcelona (we may call them Barça with time) half City. What a thing is this? What of our cheap ski hats in 1983? Sat forlornly over our Morrissey quiffs and our Bunnymen side burns, our half-Rangers-half-City tributes to tribal nothingness. Where are they now in this maelstrom of Champions League brick-a-brac? Instead, we nod to the past as best we can. We stand upright in the present and open our wallets towards the future. Silently, guiltily, we know the truth. There is no going back. What once was can never be again. For now we must embrace the new era, the dawn of prawn, the sun-up over SportCity, the ever-lasting glow of the wealthy, the healthy. The stark light gleaming off the glass sides of our blue-chip sponsored ground reflects beaming faces, painted musicians and hand held mics. People jump up and down with their backs to the action where once we leant forward and covered our eyes from the gales of oblivion. Where dread and fear stalked, a Mancunian version of proud self-belief now jostles for position. No slinking out at Wolves, no peering down alleyways at Huddersfield, no shirking the second half at Grimsby, just frothy glasses of Mahou, freshly fried calamares and a fridge magnet of the Bernabeu. Manchester City, the new vastly improved Manchester City, may bear little resemblance to what went before, but those wizened, cracked old faces remain as a stark reminder of who we were and who we are. A club with wonky DNA and a set of extraordinary followers who have been and still are willfully, whimsically, stubbornly, recklessly, heart-warmingly blue through and through. This is how it feels to be City, the song goes. You signed Phil Jones, we signed Kun Aguero. Well, this is also how it felt to be City and they can never take that away from those who have waited forty years to feel the sunshine on their faces.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Meet the goalscoring Swiss defender Premier League clubs are queueing for this summer

Posted: 30 May 2014 04:30 AM PDT

The 60-second story Wil is a small city in north-eastern Switzerland, nestled in the rolling hills of the Swiss Plateau. It is better known for its well-preserved medieval architecture than for football. That could soon change, though, as one of Wil's recent exports is making a name for the national teamand drawing interest from big clubs across Europe. Schär burst onto the international scene by scoring three goals in his first two competitive matches for the senior side during qualification for the 2014 World Cup. The 22-year-old has also drawn rave reviews for his performances with perennial Swiss favourites FC Basel. But until July 2012, the young centre-back was still playing for his boyhood club FC Wil, in a 6,000-seat stadium that holds about a quarter of the city's population and is framed by the white peaks of the Appenzell Alps. Basel signed Schär from this relative obscurity and he quickly established himself as a regular member of the starting XI. In addition to providing a solid presence at the heart of defence, his goal-getting has particularly caught the eye; between the Swiss Super League, Champions League and Europa League, Schär has already scored 14 times in 73 appearances for Basel. Why you need to know him Schär was a frequently rumoured target of clubs from Arsenal and Barcelona to Borussia Dortmund and Juventus in January, but a knee injury played its part in keeping him at Basel until the summer at least. The transfer talk has not died down, though, and he has recently been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, among others. The young defender will also have a chance to increase his stock at this summer's World Cup; Schär will be a key member of a Swiss side that should advance through the group stage. His defensive strength fits in well with a team that has conceded only one goal in the last two World Cup tournaments, and his ability to find the net could make a big difference if Switzerland can make it to the knockout rounds. A strong finish to this season – Basel once again won the Swiss domestic league – coupled with a standout performance in Brazil could mean Schär heading to one of Europe's biggest clubs this summer. It'd all be only two years removed from the Swiss second tier. Strengths "He's sort of Mr. Cool," Swiss national team manager Ottmar Hitzfeld told FFT when asked about Schär's strengths. Aside from the stopper'spoise, which in Hitzfeld's estimation is "very exceptional for such a young player", the two-time Champions League winning coach is also impressed with Schär's aerial game at both ends. "His timing is very good," Hitzfeld added. "He knows how to read the game very well. And he has got both the eye and technical skill to launch plays with a long ball out of the defence right into offensive play." Nowhere was that more evident than in Basel's November 2013 victory over Chelsea in the Europa League, when Schär's long diagonal pass found the foot of now-Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah for the game's only goal. Axel Thoma, Schär's long-time manager at FC Wil, concurs, adding free-kicks to the list of strengths he sees in his former protégé. This is particularly important for the Swiss national team, who lack a world-class striker – they must be able to score from their set-pieces if they are to find success in Brazil. Skip through to 0:35 for the good bit... Weaknesses Schär does not have any glaring weaknesses in his game –if he did, they would be quickly exposed playing in a vulnerable position like centre-back against top competition. That has not happened, although Thoma noted Schär could develop his ability to play one-on-one in tight spaces. Schär also needs to improve his speed, suggested his old manager. In the past he may have been able to mask a lack of pace with his aforementioned ability to anticipate play, but that may not be the case once he is playing week in, week out against the best strikers in England or Germany. They said... "He was sort of the revelation of the year," Hitzfeld said, referring to Schär's swift rise from the Swiss Challenge League to Basel and the national squad. As an illustration, Schär was eligible for the Swiss side that won the 2009 U17 World Cup – included were current national team members like Granit Xhaka and Haris Seferovic –but wasn't selected. However, Schär did play at the 2012 Olympics, just after his transfer to Basel, and a year later the young centre-back was scoring for the senior side in World Cup qualifying. Did you know? In Switzerland, apprenticeships are still very much in vogue for many professions. Schär served his as a bank clerk while still playing for FC Wil. This isn't uncommon for Swiss athletes; Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean worked part-time in a bank earlier in his career, while also jetting around the world on the Grand Prix circuit. If Schär does end up at a big European club, he will never need to work another day in his life in a regular job – but his bank experience should come in handy keeping track of his millions. What happens next? Schär helped Basel secure their fifth straight league championship, and with a number of teams sure to take a run at him this summer, finding the right fit for his future will surely be on his mind. Another year at Basel shouldn't hurt: Schär said the experience of manager Murat Yakin, one of the best centre-backs Switzerland has produced, is helpful for his development, but Yakin left the club earlier this summer and has been replaced by Paulo Sousa. The exposure and financial rewards that would come from one of the top clubs in Europe will be tough to resist, but Schär will want to ensure he ends up with a team that will play him regularly as he continues to grow and learn. His national team-mate Xherdan Shaqiri left Basel in 2012 for Bayern Munich, but he has been played sparingly in a star-studded squad. Former boss Thoma says: "I think if he is ready for the step to a big European club, he will take this chance for sure. The question is: When is the best time, and which is the right club?"

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Gerrard defends Rooney over Scholes comments

Posted: 29 May 2014 11:22 PM PDT

Scholes questioned whether his former United team-mate had already peaked, despite the 28-year-old netting 19 goals in all competitions in 2013-14. But Gerrard backed Rooney, who has entered the past two FIFA World Cups with injuries and failed to net at both. "Paul Scholes is wrong. He's been Manchester United's best player at home and in Europe. He's been in terrific form," Gerrard said. "What I've seen from his performances in the United team, his form has been really positive. "He's in a better frame of mind going into this tournament than he's had going into previous tournament when he's had injuries." In a column for Paddy Power, Scholes said: "There's a chance he's worn out. "Wayne's peak may have been a lot younger than what we'd expect of footballers traditionally. Age 28 or 29 has been the normal 'peak'." England face Uruguay, Italy and Costa Rica in Group D at the World Cup.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Football Weekly, FREE from FourFourTwo

Posted: 29 May 2014 09:40 AM PDT

The app, which works on all Apple and Android devices, updates ahead of each weekend's fixtures to bring football fans content on their mobiles. With entirely separate content from the monthly magazine (also now available in abespoke-for-iPad version), theWeeklybrings interviews, analysis, reaction and previews. The 12th issue, available now, gears up for the 2014 World Cup by looking back to 1994 and discovering what Roy Hodgson learnt as Switzerland coach in the USA and reveals why England needn't worry about Group D favourites Uruguay. Instead, the Three Lions should be watching out for Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas, and FFT provides the lowdown on the Levante shot-stopper who could break English hearts. We also speak to Brazil forward Bernard about Ronaldinho, 'Big Phil' Scolari, Japan and London, while Michael Cox casts an eye over Italy's attacking conundrum ahead of the Azzurri's clash with England in Manaus. Back on the domestic scene, Chris Miller ponders which members of the Tottenham sqaud will fit into the favoured system of new head coach Mauricio Pochettino, and which will face the chop. And Jonathan Fadugba looks at the managerial merry-go-round which is already swinging with intent around Europe. And if that's not enough to tickle your fancy, there's the best photos, quotes and quirky stories from the past seven days. TheFootball Weeklyis downloadable for free atGoogle Playand theApp Storeand updates every Thursday evening.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Scholes: England should play like Liverpool

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:37 AM PDT

Brendan Rodgers' Liverpool lit up the Premier League this season with their attacking displays, scoring 101 goals with a breathtaking brand of football. Their performances this season have been rewarded by five call-ups to Roy Hodgson's squad for the finals in Brazil, with Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge all included in the party of 23. And Scholes, who played 66 times for England, scoring 14 goals, urged Hodgson to copy Liverpool's expansive style of play when the World Cup campaign gets underway in just over two weeks' time. "It would be refreshing for England to adopt Liverpool's attacking mentality in Brazil," he wrote in a blog for Paddy Power. "Really go for it. That means certainly four, and possibly five, Liverpool players in the England starting XI against Italy on June 14. "South Africa in 2010 was so negative with boring draws. Nothing seemed to happen. England fans, and myself as an England fan, would rather three-all games than dull, nil-nil draws. "I'd love to see Roy be brave enough to play like Liverpool (or Man United teams of the past). "The reports I'm hearing now from the international set-up are very positive and while I still doubt Roy Hodgson will start with such an attacking Liverpool-style approach, I'd love to see it. "Much has been said already about the Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge partnership for the club, but Steven Gerrard, Sturridge and Raheem Sterling can offer a huge goal threat playing together for England."

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Written by TBMU Admin

We are Manchester United Fan located around the World which provides user friendly, effective and easy to browse info regarding our Team. Each support/info is free. Support us by clicking the ads located in this site. Thanks

0 comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )
Click Picture Below for More Info

Popular Posts

Share

 





© 2013 TBMU . All rights resevered. Published by The Best Manchester United Admin Blogger

Back To Top