The 2010 World cup was the last chance saloon for the 'Golden Generation' of English players to prove their worth, but as we all know they proved to be fake gold, aging and rusting with no proof of worth at international level. The questions has to be asked. Why were they ever dubbed the golden generation in the first place? and Will the next generation of players have such a hefty reputation to live up to?
Former FA chief Adam Crozier was the architect that labeled this generation back in 2001. And who could blame him? A Young Michael Owen bursting onto the scene of world football, John Terry and Rio Ferdinand both formidable Central defenders that know striker already didn't like facing and a central midfield of a young Steven Gerrard that broke through the Liverpool academy just like Michael Owen and Frank Lampard just one of many English talents coming through the impressive West Ham Academy.
But it was this tag that put this massive pressure on these professionals that have led us to be even more disappointed every World Cup. The 2002, 2006 and 2010 World Cup were all World Cups that English fans felt apprehensive about with the team growing more and more in experience together and becoming the world class players and club legends they are today. There is no excuse for the players as they have had the quality, there's no denying that but the 2010 world cup was the final curtain for these boys when they were outclassed by a young German side led by Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller, albeit for an obviously massive decision that could have changed the game dramatically where Frank Lampards 'goal' was disallowed... But maybe that just sums up the 'Golden generation'.
It is very upsetting to know that is very unlikely to see legends like John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard etc to lift the World Cup trophy as it is highly unlikely that they will be involved in the next one at the age of roughly 35 an average. So do we look optimistic into the future of English football. Well in the same time as the World Cup was going the English U19s were enjoying a good run in the European U19 Championship were they were knocked out to an impressive Spain side in the semi-finals, who were unlucky to lose to France in the final.
Also this season has seen a mass break-through of young British talent in the premier league. The top sides has taken full advantage of the new rule in the league to blood homegrown talent into their squad with Manchester United and Liverpool doing just that with Chris Smalling a remarkable story, and Martin Kelly proving the Liverpool academy isn't dead at all coming out with performances knocking current England Right-Back to play Left-Back. A position that will be toughly competed in the future England team is the centre of midfield and wings.
Jack Wilshere has proved to be a dynamic midfielder at the tender age of 19, but the lion heart that English fans just love to see, much like a Paul Gascoigne figure, he stands out in his Arsenal surroundings as a bullish terrier that can run a park just to make a tackle. Jordan Henderson is another young English midfielder who has shone under a manager who has strong belief in his ability. Many other young British Centre midfielders have broke through into the Premier League first elevens that can only mean a lot of promise for the future. Strikers and wingers are always promising for England with every generation providing World Class strikers and with Wayne Rooney a rather young 25 and Andy Carroll seeming to be worth £35 million can't be a bad partnership for the next World Cup.
One thing we as fans have to learn from the last generation is the high expectations we CANNOT heap onto these youngsters. We are currently revelling in the prospects of a new start for England just like we did in 2001 and then beating an old Germany side 5-1 only enhanced our expectations and it was somewhat ironic that the opposite happened in 2010 to end the generation. One thing is for certain, the future of England is definitely all white.
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Will King Kennys return be the final stepping block Liverpool need to show they are back?
King Kenny received a resounding ovation from the public when they heard he will be taking over as care-taker manager of his beloved Liverpool until the remainder of the season. His short stint back in charge has seen pundits and fans of football notice the quick effect he has had on the teams performances with wins against Chelsea and Manchester United. But with his short stint looking to be extended in the summer, will Liverpool fans sing their usual start of the season song 'This will be our year!'
Kenny Dalglish was the last manager for Liverpool to win the title all the way back in 1990, and since his departure there has been something missing that has halted Liverpool's long title haul and seem stuck on 18. His shock resignation in 1991 was said to be of health reasons but returned to management 8 months later with Blackburn where he led them to a remarkable league title. Surely Kenny hadn't fallen out of love with his beloved Liverpool?
During his stint as Liverpool manager he enjoyed massive success winning the league 3 times, the FA Cup twice and the League cup. But he also experienced some of the most emotional times as a Liverpool fan. He was appointed Liverpool manager after Joe Fagan's resignation after the tragic Heysel disaster. But the disaster that most affected him and Liverpool supporters was the Hillsborough disaster, claiming 96 lives. Kenny was known to be seriously affected by this emotionally but built even more respect by attending most funerals. So maybe these tragedies had taken toll on him and couldn't do any more for the club than he has done. But 20 years on after his resignation he is appointed Liverpool manager and the side immediately show an exuberance in their attitude and with the Kop singing Dalglish all throughout the games.
His return to the hot seat as Liverpool manager has been a party for Liverpool players and supporters, but looking at the bigger picture managers only stay in a job, especially a job at Liverpool, for winning trophies and with only a few months under his belt in the Premier League, it is hard to look at the big picture and ask if Liverpool can really win the league under Dalglish. Can one man really change a club that much by beaming his smile across Liverpool? No. But what his reputation does for the players playing for him is give them a sign of respect to their manager, something Roy Hodgson or even Rafael Benitez was able to get fully. Being a club legend at Liverpool that's done and won it all for the club makes it easy for the players to look up to him and play for him the way he wants them to play - the old Liverpool 'pass and move' way.
What fans have to be careful of is that every manager in the Premier League comes under pressure from the media for maybe a bad run. If Liverpool go for a bad run under Dalglish the media will say 'He can't cope with managing nowadays' or 'He's been out of the game too long' But it's how they deal with it that makes them great managers. Ian Holloway is a fine example of dealing with media, he manages a side that is never expected to win anything but his attitude with his players and press make him a respected figure. That's exactly what Kenny has shown in his few months back in charge of Liverpool.
Maybe it's time for Liverpool to show they are back in business. New owners willing to back King Kenny with whatever he seems to want. And a new vibrant attitude around Anfield that can only be compared to the last stint Kenny had in charge of Liverpool. Liverpool fans state 'This year will be ours' every summer. But this summer them words may become a bit more believable with what seems a whole new Liverpool.
But for now Kenny will keep on smiling and enjoy his time as Liverpool boss as much as fans love seeing him there. His biggest test is yet to come.
Kenny Dalglish was the last manager for Liverpool to win the title all the way back in 1990, and since his departure there has been something missing that has halted Liverpool's long title haul and seem stuck on 18. His shock resignation in 1991 was said to be of health reasons but returned to management 8 months later with Blackburn where he led them to a remarkable league title. Surely Kenny hadn't fallen out of love with his beloved Liverpool?
During his stint as Liverpool manager he enjoyed massive success winning the league 3 times, the FA Cup twice and the League cup. But he also experienced some of the most emotional times as a Liverpool fan. He was appointed Liverpool manager after Joe Fagan's resignation after the tragic Heysel disaster. But the disaster that most affected him and Liverpool supporters was the Hillsborough disaster, claiming 96 lives. Kenny was known to be seriously affected by this emotionally but built even more respect by attending most funerals. So maybe these tragedies had taken toll on him and couldn't do any more for the club than he has done. But 20 years on after his resignation he is appointed Liverpool manager and the side immediately show an exuberance in their attitude and with the Kop singing Dalglish all throughout the games.
His return to the hot seat as Liverpool manager has been a party for Liverpool players and supporters, but looking at the bigger picture managers only stay in a job, especially a job at Liverpool, for winning trophies and with only a few months under his belt in the Premier League, it is hard to look at the big picture and ask if Liverpool can really win the league under Dalglish. Can one man really change a club that much by beaming his smile across Liverpool? No. But what his reputation does for the players playing for him is give them a sign of respect to their manager, something Roy Hodgson or even Rafael Benitez was able to get fully. Being a club legend at Liverpool that's done and won it all for the club makes it easy for the players to look up to him and play for him the way he wants them to play - the old Liverpool 'pass and move' way.
What fans have to be careful of is that every manager in the Premier League comes under pressure from the media for maybe a bad run. If Liverpool go for a bad run under Dalglish the media will say 'He can't cope with managing nowadays' or 'He's been out of the game too long' But it's how they deal with it that makes them great managers. Ian Holloway is a fine example of dealing with media, he manages a side that is never expected to win anything but his attitude with his players and press make him a respected figure. That's exactly what Kenny has shown in his few months back in charge of Liverpool.
Maybe it's time for Liverpool to show they are back in business. New owners willing to back King Kenny with whatever he seems to want. And a new vibrant attitude around Anfield that can only be compared to the last stint Kenny had in charge of Liverpool. Liverpool fans state 'This year will be ours' every summer. But this summer them words may become a bit more believable with what seems a whole new Liverpool.
But for now Kenny will keep on smiling and enjoy his time as Liverpool boss as much as fans love seeing him there. His biggest test is yet to come.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
An Unpredictable Premier League Season
This Premier League season we haven't seen one team really come out and take charge, Manchester United seem to have always been there but they're like Ferrari in Formula 1, they always seem to get a result even if they haven't performed that well on the day. But with nobody taking charge of the title race with under 10 league games left who is going to win the league?
You always hear it for a Manchester United game or a Chelsea or Arsenal game: "This is a must win game for them if they are looking to win the title." But this year more than ever the teams all over the Premier League are upsetting this cliche for them teams to win and throwing the title race wide open to where nobody can 100% put their money on who will win the title.
At some points you see Manchester United play with such elegance and freedom that you can't help but think the title is theirs, then they lose their first league game against Wolves and seem to crumble after that with back-to-back defeats from Chelsea and then Liverpool. You see Chelsea play with the class that they expressed last season by achieving the double where they can open up defences with the slightest of ease and then you see them not even turn up against Liverpool back in November losing 2-0 and then after that only registering 3 league wins out of 11. Arsenal's season has been so turbulent that you wouldn't be able to point out a low and then a high, they seem to always hold that 'potential' and Arsene Wengers arrogance that he sticks with his young guns seems to work wonders sometimes, and then spitting their dummies out the next.
The introduction of Tottenham and Manchester City into the competition for the top four has only added to this dilemma of who wants to win the title. Manchester City's investments finally seem to be coming of age as they spending seems to take a halt while Mancini can finally work with a squad that won't be changing every season. Tottenham have been led majestically by Harry Redknapp orchestrating what seemed to be a team that was always destined not to fulfil their potential into an attacking force now feared in Europe.
For many years pundits and fans across the UK and World had always been waiting for that breakthrough into the top four but they never seemed to get it. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all seemed reluctant to let that happen, but with last year Tottenham finally breaking in that seems to have unsettled the 'top four' and they don't seem to know how to cope with it. This year has seen the neutral fan enjoy the Premier League better than ever with countless upsets and nothing being settled up until now in the race for the title/ the battle for fourth place and even the relegation places haven't been settled yet.
All these battles up and down the table are making this the most exciting Premier League season to date with anyone of four or even five teams in with a chance of the title because no team seems sure of winning their next game, whoever the opponent. In past seasons around now teams would have a good idea of where they are going to finish and not really have anything to lose, but with relegation undecided, the European places changing every match day and the title race unpredictable everything is to play for still.
All one of the top sides needs is a run of 3 or 4 games to be staking their claim for the title but nobody seems capable of that form. Frustrating for the fans of the sides battling for the title but for the side that comes out on top it will be that even more satisfying that they won and broke free of a very tight top four.
You always hear it for a Manchester United game or a Chelsea or Arsenal game: "This is a must win game for them if they are looking to win the title." But this year more than ever the teams all over the Premier League are upsetting this cliche for them teams to win and throwing the title race wide open to where nobody can 100% put their money on who will win the title.
At some points you see Manchester United play with such elegance and freedom that you can't help but think the title is theirs, then they lose their first league game against Wolves and seem to crumble after that with back-to-back defeats from Chelsea and then Liverpool. You see Chelsea play with the class that they expressed last season by achieving the double where they can open up defences with the slightest of ease and then you see them not even turn up against Liverpool back in November losing 2-0 and then after that only registering 3 league wins out of 11. Arsenal's season has been so turbulent that you wouldn't be able to point out a low and then a high, they seem to always hold that 'potential' and Arsene Wengers arrogance that he sticks with his young guns seems to work wonders sometimes, and then spitting their dummies out the next.
The introduction of Tottenham and Manchester City into the competition for the top four has only added to this dilemma of who wants to win the title. Manchester City's investments finally seem to be coming of age as they spending seems to take a halt while Mancini can finally work with a squad that won't be changing every season. Tottenham have been led majestically by Harry Redknapp orchestrating what seemed to be a team that was always destined not to fulfil their potential into an attacking force now feared in Europe.
For many years pundits and fans across the UK and World had always been waiting for that breakthrough into the top four but they never seemed to get it. Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all seemed reluctant to let that happen, but with last year Tottenham finally breaking in that seems to have unsettled the 'top four' and they don't seem to know how to cope with it. This year has seen the neutral fan enjoy the Premier League better than ever with countless upsets and nothing being settled up until now in the race for the title/ the battle for fourth place and even the relegation places haven't been settled yet.
All these battles up and down the table are making this the most exciting Premier League season to date with anyone of four or even five teams in with a chance of the title because no team seems sure of winning their next game, whoever the opponent. In past seasons around now teams would have a good idea of where they are going to finish and not really have anything to lose, but with relegation undecided, the European places changing every match day and the title race unpredictable everything is to play for still.
All one of the top sides needs is a run of 3 or 4 games to be staking their claim for the title but nobody seems capable of that form. Frustrating for the fans of the sides battling for the title but for the side that comes out on top it will be that even more satisfying that they won and broke free of a very tight top four.
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
The FA Cup seems to have rebuffed some shine back into the cup this year.
The FA Cup in recent years has seemed to have dwindled in excitement with the top sides doing so well in Europe they have treated the FA Cup much like its shadow, and less decorated cup, the Football League Cup. But with this Premier League campaign being the most unpredictable to date for a long time it seems to have rubbed off some magic back into the FA Cup, and for a neutrals point of view that is as exciting as it gets.
With English sides dominating Europe over the past 6 or so years they have been mistreating the domestic cups with hardly any respect. The Football League Cup hadn't had a good reputation before but now teams like Liverpool especially were fielding a fully different side to the ones fans were familiar with. The FA Cup, the most decorated trophy IN THE WORLD has been replaced by the money available by just qualifying for Europe. Before the turn of the millennium English sides weren't too favourable in Europe after the Heysel tragedy banning them from the competition from 1985-91 so during that time the top sides in England saw the FA Cup as obviously the next best thing to the league title, but with money piling into football quicker than Roman Abramovich can write a cheque the rewards of European football are just to hard a choice to turn down for any team.
Yes European nights are great, Istanbul is probably one of the best finals ever to be played, not only just in Europe, and yes you see the worlds best players in the competition, but that is what makes the FA Cup so magical, literally anyone from the off can win it, from the Ryman divisions all the way to the Premier League, roughly 800 teams take part in it each year, and for those non-league sides that battle through the qualifying stages even though they are battling up the leagues to get into the Football League they know making a name for themselves in the FA Cup is something special and something that can't be copied in the European competitions.
This years FA Cup is the 130th birthday of the worlds oldest association cup, and the English teams have been partying all year round with giant-killings and very near ones too. It is only at the 5th round stage but already we had a mouth-watering 3rd round clash with Liverpool and Manchester United on which Man U came out on top 1-0 winners; the reigning champions Chelsea knocked out by Championship side Reading; a miraculous run by Crawley Town halted at the 5th round by giants Manchester United but only by the 1 goal; Leeds forcing a replay against Arsenal in the 3rd round and then Leyton Orient repeating that same feat with the replay being played tonight; Leicester City did the exact same to Manchester City and again copied by Notts County; Stevenage overcoming Newcastle 3-1 in the 3rd round; Burton Albion overcoming former Premiership side Middlesborough 2-1... That's just the upsets.
We have seen some great quality games that have included goal galore: Lower league sides Hereford and Lincoln playing an enthralling 2-2 draw to set up a replay that resulted in Hereford triumphing 4-3 in the 2nd round; Wolves finding some form in the FA Cup by thumping 5 past League 1 high-flyers Peterborough; Chelsea turning on the style that saw them win it last year easing past Ipswich 7-0; Birmingham City and Coventry playing out a 5 goal thriller of which Birmingham came out on top 3-2; the same being repeated by West Ham and Nottingham Forest with West Ham continuing their rich run of form in the domestic cups by triumphing 3-2 also.
Every sense of the FA Cup seems to have changed for the better this year with lower league sides ever more determined to make a big name for themselves in the cup and show their credentials, and the top sides equally determined to not let that happen is exactly what makes the FA Cup something magical, that feel of rivalry between top sides and lower league sides where they lesser sides have nothing to lose and the top sides have everything to lose in their pride.
It's really refreshing to see top sides pay respect to the cup once again by fielding their first eleven against lesser opposition to make sure they get the result they are expected to get, and for the top sides that aren't quite showing that same respect, they have been shown the ultimate punishment of being knocked out of this cup.
This year still has Birmingham, Bolton, stoke, west ham, reading, Arsenal/Leyton Orient, Manchester City/Aston Villa and of course Manchester United in it and with what has unfolded in the earlier rounds, expect to see a few more upsets until the final at Wembley.
With English sides dominating Europe over the past 6 or so years they have been mistreating the domestic cups with hardly any respect. The Football League Cup hadn't had a good reputation before but now teams like Liverpool especially were fielding a fully different side to the ones fans were familiar with. The FA Cup, the most decorated trophy IN THE WORLD has been replaced by the money available by just qualifying for Europe. Before the turn of the millennium English sides weren't too favourable in Europe after the Heysel tragedy banning them from the competition from 1985-91 so during that time the top sides in England saw the FA Cup as obviously the next best thing to the league title, but with money piling into football quicker than Roman Abramovich can write a cheque the rewards of European football are just to hard a choice to turn down for any team.
Yes European nights are great, Istanbul is probably one of the best finals ever to be played, not only just in Europe, and yes you see the worlds best players in the competition, but that is what makes the FA Cup so magical, literally anyone from the off can win it, from the Ryman divisions all the way to the Premier League, roughly 800 teams take part in it each year, and for those non-league sides that battle through the qualifying stages even though they are battling up the leagues to get into the Football League they know making a name for themselves in the FA Cup is something special and something that can't be copied in the European competitions.
This years FA Cup is the 130th birthday of the worlds oldest association cup, and the English teams have been partying all year round with giant-killings and very near ones too. It is only at the 5th round stage but already we had a mouth-watering 3rd round clash with Liverpool and Manchester United on which Man U came out on top 1-0 winners; the reigning champions Chelsea knocked out by Championship side Reading; a miraculous run by Crawley Town halted at the 5th round by giants Manchester United but only by the 1 goal; Leeds forcing a replay against Arsenal in the 3rd round and then Leyton Orient repeating that same feat with the replay being played tonight; Leicester City did the exact same to Manchester City and again copied by Notts County; Stevenage overcoming Newcastle 3-1 in the 3rd round; Burton Albion overcoming former Premiership side Middlesborough 2-1... That's just the upsets.
We have seen some great quality games that have included goal galore: Lower league sides Hereford and Lincoln playing an enthralling 2-2 draw to set up a replay that resulted in Hereford triumphing 4-3 in the 2nd round; Wolves finding some form in the FA Cup by thumping 5 past League 1 high-flyers Peterborough; Chelsea turning on the style that saw them win it last year easing past Ipswich 7-0; Birmingham City and Coventry playing out a 5 goal thriller of which Birmingham came out on top 3-2; the same being repeated by West Ham and Nottingham Forest with West Ham continuing their rich run of form in the domestic cups by triumphing 3-2 also.
Every sense of the FA Cup seems to have changed for the better this year with lower league sides ever more determined to make a big name for themselves in the cup and show their credentials, and the top sides equally determined to not let that happen is exactly what makes the FA Cup something magical, that feel of rivalry between top sides and lower league sides where they lesser sides have nothing to lose and the top sides have everything to lose in their pride.
It's really refreshing to see top sides pay respect to the cup once again by fielding their first eleven against lesser opposition to make sure they get the result they are expected to get, and for the top sides that aren't quite showing that same respect, they have been shown the ultimate punishment of being knocked out of this cup.
This year still has Birmingham, Bolton, stoke, west ham, reading, Arsenal/Leyton Orient, Manchester City/Aston Villa and of course Manchester United in it and with what has unfolded in the earlier rounds, expect to see a few more upsets until the final at Wembley.
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