Premier League: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

The second twofootedtackle Premier League match report of the day comes from Anfield, where Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez dropped Dirk Kuyt and gave starts to Alberto Aquilani and Yossi Benayoun to replace the Dutchman and suspended midfielder Javier Macherano. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres also made the starting eleven. Mick McCarthy opted for a strong line-up against the Reds and set Wolverhampton Wanderers up to make a real fist of their Boxing Day match.

The home side are under massive pressure at the moment and will be delighted with a 2-0 win, though it was far from convincing for the first hour. Overall, the game was absorbing. But it was spoiled to some extent by a moment of unparalleled incompetence from Andre Marriner and Torres' demonstration of his remarkable ability to acclimatise to Merseyside, moaning loudly at Marriner on a number of unjustified occasions including one incident in which he gave the referee the old "spectacles" routine after an innocent first half collision with Wolves defender Richard Stearman.

Liverpool started brightly and tested Marcus Hahnemann within the first ten minutes. Emiliano Insua nicked the ball away from his marker and found Torres, who took his time to compose himself and carve out a shooting opportunity which the Wolves goalkeeper turned comfortably over his crossbar. The American had already had a feel of the ball, easily fielding a low shot from skipper Gerrard after a neat Liverpool move in front of a deathly quiet Anfield crowd.

The home side settled quickly and some nice one-touch football after 15 minutes belied their league position and institutional stagnation. Wolves countered well on occasion, and in the 22nd minute Matt Jarvis bolted down the left wing and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake turned smartly in the area but could only fire his shot straight at Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal. Jarvis had been Wanderers' main outlet in the first half and his pace caused one or two problems for Glen Johnson early on.

In the 24th minute a lethal corner from Nenad Milijas presented the game's clearest opportunity so far to Wolves. The expressions of Kevin Doyle and Ebanks-Blake as the Irishman sent his free header clear of Reina's goal told the story, but Wolves kept applying the pressure and Milijas dragged a left-footed half-volley wide under pressure from an on-rushing defender.

Gerrard didn't dominate the game like he so often does, but when on the ball he was both efficient and inventive. By contrast, Torres had a difficult first half and there was a wastefulness about his finishing until he popped a breathtaking lob over Hahnemann after being flagged offside just before the half hour mark. Marriner's assistant gave the correct decision but it was a lot closer than it appeared on first viewing. Shortly afterwards, Gerrard threw himself into two vicious challenges in quick succession and was luckier than a footballer on an assault charge to escape a booking. ESPN summariser Chris Waddle laughably labelled the first a "good challenge" but then we all know he has the smarts and elocution of a demented gibbon.

Liverpool ended the half much as they'd operated for the bulk of it, taking control of sustained periods of the game but unable to prise open a solid Wolves rearguard. They had played reasonably well in the first 45 minutes but appeared to have been sapped of all their confidence by their travails so far this season, missing a touch of swagger when it really mattered. For their part, the visitors broke well - particularly through Jarvis on the left wing - but created little outside a promising five-minute spell in the middle of the first half.

Gerrard had the first meaningful effort on goal in the second half, drawing a save from Hahnemann with a low drive in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, Stephen Ward was at the centre of a very controversial moment which highlighted yet again the ridiculous inability of our officials to make the most basic decision. Having been stupidly booked for holding Benayoun minutes earlier, Ward committed a foul on the edge of the Wolves box. Christophe Berra was a good ten yards from the incident and yet it was the big Scot who was initially - and completely inexplicably - yellow carded.

Thanks to Liverpool's protests Ward was eventually dismissed, but McCarthy was visibly irritated by the way Benitez and his players forcibly informed Marriner of his idiocy. Sorry, Mick - it was clearly Ward and you'd have rightly done the same were the tables turned. Marriner and his assistant referee should be on the wrong end of a suspension because there really was no room for an error like that. The ease with which Liverpool's Lucas hit the deck is another matter, and one which will be completely ignored.

Just after the hour, the eleven men of Liverpool took a deserved lead. Insua's cross was an undefendable delivery across the edge of the six yard box and Steven Gerrard rose high above his markers to head the ball home and make it 1-0. It didn't take long for the Reds to double their lead. Piling on the pressure, a sweeping cross from Fabio Aurelio took a flick-on and found Yossi Benayoun in miles of space at the far post, and the Israeli cut inside a defender before finding the net thanks to a deflection off Karl Henry.

By the last 20 minutes, Liverpool were using the extra man to stretch and dominate the play. With the comfort of a two-goal and one-man cushion, Benitez's men relaxed and began to knock the ball around well. Wolves' desperation was clear, but with Liverpool exploiting their advantage well the Black Country team became more and more resigned to defeat at a drenched Anfield.

The final ten minutes fizzled out without much to stimulate the senses, but that will suit Liverpool just fine. Three points in the bag will ease the pressure on Benitez, but his team will travel to Aston Villa in seventh place on Tuesday.

(Pic via Blackpool FC)

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Premier League: Birmingham City 0-0 Chelsea

Ah, Boxing Day. A day traditionally boasting wall to wall football, brought to you live and exclusive by one polished, calculated media behemoth or another. Today's top-flight action began at St Andrews, where in-form Birmingham City fancied their chances against a Chelsea side which spearheads a floundering so-called "Big Four". To compound Chelsea's poor recent results, Didier Drogba will soon lead an exodus of important players to Angola to play in the Africa Cup of Nations and Nicolas Anelka will miss the festive period with injury. Daniel Sturridge started against City at lunchtime.

The goals were not forthcoming in South Birmingham but the game was played at a hectic pace and was an intriguing encounter. The league leaders finished with ten men thanks to a pair of stupid bookings earned by Florent Malouda, who was given a red card in a rare correct decision by today's referee.

Carlo Ancelotti's side dominated the early minutes, looking lively as they pressed hard and made it very difficult for Birmingham to get out of their own half. Branislav Ivanovic came close in the 11th minute, heading just over from a Frank Lampard corner. Birmingham then started to get a grip on the game and a blistering run by Christian Benitez drew a foul by Alex when Benitez had options ahead of him.

Ivanovic picked Drogba out inside the area with a cross from deep, and the Ivorian striker did well to get a volleyed effort away but couldn't get it on target. A minute later, Joe Hart was at full stretch to turn a low shot from Sturridge around his post. Two successive corners followed, with Chelsea centre back Alex winning the aerial battle for both. Chelsea had a certain fluidity, but lacked their usual imperious assuredness. Ancelotti would have been concerned about their habit of giving away silly free kicks forty yards from goal, given how susceptible they seem to be from high balls into the area lately.

In the 28th minute, Lampard missed a golden opportunity. Having brilliantly sprung the offside trap, he met Hart face to face and forced a superb reaction save from the Birmingham 'keeper. Despite Hart's impressive reflexes, the England midfielder really should have opened the scoring. Two minutes later, with Drogba lying injured in the Chelsea box, Liam Ridgewell beat Petr Cech and found Benitez racing in to slide the ball home. Referee Peter Walton disallowed the goal for offside, a decision which was - for the second time for Benitez today - very questionable. Chelsea's officials were displeased that play was allowed continue in the first place, but it was Birmingham who had the right to feel aggrieved.

Walton got another decision wrong in the 38th minute. Benitez tricked John Obi Mikel right in front of the linesman, who watched Mikel then pull down the man from Ecuador as he headed through on goal. Walton's assistant correctly flagged for a Birmingham free kick which would have resulted in a certain booking for Mikel, but Walton decided he knew better and penalised the hosts for Benitez's initial challenge on the Chelsea man. All in all the first half performance by Walton was - and bear in mind here that I'm an Aston Villa supporter and despise Birmingham City - a total disgrace.

And City were almost punished five minutes before the break. Alex, who we know can strike the ball like a cruise missile, hit a free kick from 35-odd yards out, had Hart beaten and almost snapped the crossbar. In first half stoppage time, a cross from Drogba found Sturridge at the far post and the former Manchester City man missed the target on his first Premier League start for Ancelotti's side to ensure the first period ended goalless.

The game became stretched at the beginning of the second half, with Chelsea playing a faster passing game and Birmingham opting for more direct balls into the channels. The first chance of the half saw Ashley Cole foiled by an excellent late challenge by Roger Johnson. Alex again won a free header from the resulting corner but failed once more to do any damage with it. The quality and integrity of the refereeing was another continuation from the first half - City were getting absolutely nothing out of Walton and it seemed destined to continue.

Birmingham's game developed into a swift counter-attacking style and Benitez fooled Florent Malouda on the hour mark, winning City a free kick 20 yards out. Larsson's fine, swerving strike was clawed away by Cech who collided very heavily with the post. The Czech goalkeeper's fall caused concern for Chelsea but he was able to continue in time to face yet another awful delivery from the appalling James McFadden.

A few minutes later Malouda had the chance of the match so far, being found unmarked by substitute Saloman Kalou after a clever run and failing to hit the target with the goal gaping just six yards ahead of him. Kalou's bright start continued and he was picked out by a Juliano Belletti only to be blocked by another good save by Joe Hart.

A quick break from Chelsea in the 73rd minute was followed by an even quicker one from Birmingham, and Cameron Jerome's run at pace from his own half was only rendered fruitless when John Terry put the brakes on by catching up with him in the penalty area. It summed up the tempo of the second half, played at a frantic pace but unable to produce more than a handful of goalscoring opportunities.

With eight minutes left, Stephen Carr made a huge mistake. Meeting a diagonal pass inside the Birmingham area, he chose to head it low across goal right into the path of Drogba. Hart bravely flew off his line to take the ball cleanly, but Drogba caught the England hopeful with his boot as he jumped over him. I hope the self-righteous, whining moaner in the other goal was paying attention after his precious indignation at suffering an injury in a similar incident a few years ago. Shortly afterwards, the Premier League went up a rung on the ladder of thuggishness with the return of Damien Johnson for City.

And with stoppage time approaching Malouda picked up an idiotic yellow card for an unnecessary foul on Carr deep in Birmingham's half. It was his second, and a deserved red card means I'm glad I won't be him when Ancelotti considers the further weakening of his options for the remainder of the festive period. Six minutes of stoppage time couldn't separate the teams and Birmingham's unbeaten run goes on. Chelsea drop yet more points in their quest for the title, and the demise of the so-called "Big Four" continues to look like a very real prospect.

(Pic via Sniffing the Touchline)

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Interview with Chris Pontius, DC United

Ho ho ho! It's Christmas Day in football land, and everyone here at twofootedtackle would like to wish everyone out there a very happy holiday. As a festive gift to you and (mostly) to ourselves, we're delighted to bring you a tinsel-adorned and turkey-stuffed interview with the very man who is the focus of the humble website at which this interview was originally posted.

I was naturally chuffed to bits when Chris agreed to spend a few minutes on the phone with me just a couple of days before Christmas. Even better, a fluke of timing meant that I spoke to DC's number 13 on the day the United States national team coach, Bob Bradley, announced his 30-strong training roster for next month's camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

"I'm very pleased with it," said Chris when asked about his call-up. "It's one of my goals. I'm playing soccer to get called up for the national soccer team and I think getting called up to the training camp is the next step for me. I'm excited and thrilled to be called in but I want to go in there and perform well.

"I like our draw for the World Cup a lot. England's obviously going to be a really, really tough game and I think they're the favourites to win the group but I expect us to do well in the group stage and move on. The first game against England is going to be a big game and hopefully we can get some points out of it, but other than that I really like our draw. I was pleased to see Slovenia and Algeria come out in the draw. They're not easy teams but I think we should get out of the group stage."

After a successful summer in 2009 and a favourable group draw for World Cup 2010, Pontius is optimistic about the USA's chances in South Africa.

"Watching us in the Confederations Cup, people have seen how far we can really go. Once you get into the knockout rounds anything can happen. It's about whichever team shows up on the day, and it's up to the US to play well and if we can surprise one or two of the better teams like we did in the Confederations Cup then I think we can get deep into the knockout rounds."

2009 was less impressive domestically, as DC United failed again to make the playoffs and, despite a mighty effort, couldn't progress from the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. Coach Tom Soehn has since departed, and change is afoot at RFK.

"We had so many games in the season and obviously we did well in the US Open Cup and the Champions League. We didn't advance but we put in a good showing. With all the games we played, we found it difficult to make the playoffs but I thought we played well in a lot of games and there's a good chemistry between the players."

My highlight of the Champions League run was the goal which put United ahead in a tough away tie at Toluca, a stunning volley by the Californian rookie. He didn't mention it, of course, so I decided to remind him.

"I think it's the best goal I've ever scored. It was one of those things, you don't think about it and just react. I reacted and put in a great finish. I didn't realise until I saw it afterwards what a good goal it was so I was pretty surprised."

Pontius appeared in 28 of DC United's MLS games in 2009, scoring four times and contributing three assists. He occupied a variety of positions but settled in remarkably well for a rookie, and made the Rookie of the Year shortlist along with Stefan Frei and eventual winner Omar Gonzalez. Fellow rookie Rodney Wallace also played a huge part in DC's season, and Pontius believes the pair settled in well thanks to a little help from the likes of Ben Olsen and Jaime Moreno.

"We got on really well with the older players. When we first came in we were pretty timid but as we broke out of our shells we earned the respect of the older players and got along with them. That's partly due to them, because they were very welcoming and took us under their wings and helped us along with the transition from the college game to the pro game."

So, with positives to take from 2009, DC United and Chris Pontius face a pivotal 2010. The player has his foot in the door with Bradley and the USMNT, but United will have a new coach, new players and, hopefully, a new sense of urgency. Major League Soccer's most decorated club must turn around its fortunes in the league's fifteenth season.

"We start pre-season with DC on February 1st, so after spending January with the US camp I should be fit and ready to go into pre-season and I'm excited to get back there as well. I know there's going to be a lot of changes in the organisation but I'm sure they'll all be for the better and I think we're headed in the right direction.

"I have very, very high expectations of DC next year. Obviously anything less than the playoffs will be considered a failure and I think with the players we have we should be battling it out for the Supporters Shield and for MLS Cup. We're not in the Champions League next year so we don't have that competition to worry about, and we can focus on the competitions we're in and have a good run at MLS Cup final."

For DC United fans, talk of MLS Cup is music to the ears after a couple of difficult seasons. Pontius will play a huge part in the 2010 season under a new head coach, and, judging by his 2009 form, will be a joy to watch. And in a potentially crucial year for the development of the US Soccer market, with the USA's draw against England sure to open yet more eyes to the beautiful game, Chris Pontius is more than capable of making a name for himself.

And with that, we'd like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas on both sides of the Atlantic. Many thanks to Chris for taking the time to speak to me, and to Kyle Sheldon for working with me to set up the interview - a very helpful chap and no mistake. Here's to a prosperous New Year for everyone connected with the Black-and-Red.

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Craig Bellamy: a hated man redeemed?

Football supporters love to hate certain players, and it's usually deserved to some extent. But it's a little rarer for these public enemies to improve their social stock almost regardless of what they do.

Craig Bellamy was, once upon a time, a remarkably easy man to dislike. His constant mouthing off on the pitch did little to endear himself to supporters, while several ugly incidents went a long way to making him one of those players who get booed week in, week out at countries the length and breadth of the nation.

But while I always considered Bellamy to be an abrasive little shit, there's often been a nagging feeling that he didn't really do anything I wouldn't have considered an achievement had I done it myself.

After all, I'd tell Coventry City I was leaving if they got relegated. I'd call Alan Shearer worse names than Bellamy could ever conjure up. I'd also happily have a quiet word with John Arne Riise with a golf club handy. The man picks his "victims" well - he's like a violent little Robin Hood of morality.

I'm joking of course, but the point is that none of these incidents necessarily make Bellamy a bad bloke. It's easy to see that he might just be a stupid one, or rather he used to just be a stupid one.

I think Craig Bellamy is a vastly different player and man from the one who went around burning bridge after bridge throughout the early part of his career. He seems so much more mature (when did he last do something which justified the abuse he gets?), and he does more good than bad. I'll come back to morals, here. Unlike most footballers, he wants to help people less fortunate than himself and stand up for his beliefs.

That has to be admired.

His work in the war-torn West African state of Sierra Leone is a well-known and oft-cited example of the Welsh international's good intentions and strong moral fibre. His latest episode would appear to be a stand against the sacking of Manchester City manager Mark Hughes.

I have no time for Hughes, but I have total respect for the fact that Bellamy gets on well with him - after all, Hughes got the best out of Bellamy for City, Blackburn Rovers and the Welsh national team - and is displeased with his shoddy treatment by Garry effing Cook and Manchester effing City.

And amongst all that, he speaks like an erudite and intelligent man and has been in the form of his life. At West Ham United, he impressed me hugely. No surprise, then, that he's made a success of his time at City and escaped an undeserved potential exit from the club when the Abu Dhabi bottomless pit bored itself through the soul of a proud old football club.

His pace and strength are his best assets, and he also has wonderful vision and a vicious shot of which I, as an opposing supporter, am frankly terrified. His ability has never really been in question. But these days his application is undeniably good and he's reaping the rewards.

So is Craig Bellamy...(gulp)...one of football's good guys? I'd love him at my club, that's for sure.

(Pic via Jalcorn)

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Prediction League: Week 17 - Results

Welcome along to the final Prediction League round-up of 2009. I shall get straight down to business, and leave the season's greetings until the end. Here is how we fared on the final weekend of the year:

Arsenal 3-0 Hull
A comprehensive victory for the Gunners at the Emirates as they keep banging in the goals this season, their tally now stands at 44. The points go right across the board here.

Aston Villa 1-0 Stoke
This fixture was Villa's downfall last season conceding to late goals to draw 2-2, but this time it was different, as they keep the pressure on Man United and Arsenal. Once again, points to everyone.

Blackburn 0-2 Tottenham
Tottenham get back to winning ways at Ewood Park with a Peter Crouch double, keeping them right in check with the Big Four. I predicted a draw, so no points to me, but the points do go to Gary and Chris who correctly predicted an away win.

Fulham 3-0 Man United
Fulham seem to becoming Man United's Achilles heel having bet them in this fixture also last season, all I can say it the Red Devils deserved to be beaten, Fulham were fantastic. I was toying with the idea of predicting Fulham, and so was Gary, but neither of us did it, so no points here.

Man City 4-3 Sunderland
Not even this victory could save Mark Hughes' job, as he was sacked following the game. Then again, it was only City's third victory in 11 games. Roberto Mancini will really need to tighten up they leaks at the back because City's defence is going backwards faster than Liverpool's title challenge. I digress; we all envisaged a home win, giving us one point each.

Portsmouth 2-0 Liverpool
Hands up who feels sorry for Liverpool? Anybody? It's really hard to believe they have lost once again, and this time to basement club Portsmouth. Despite Liverpool's form we did not predict this one.

Everton 1-1 Birmingham
It is hard to believe Everton finished 5th last season, because going by their current form they should be lucky to secure a mid-table finish. Birmingham on the other hand are racking up as many points as possible, and are now unbeaten in nine games. A draw meant points go to me and Gary.

West Ham 1-1 Chelsea
Maybe I do have psychic powers? Considering Chelsea's recent form I predicted a draw between the London sides and I was right one point to me.

Wolves 2-0 Burnley
Mick McCarthy's surrender last Tuesday against Manchester United paid off as his Wolves side recorded at very important victory against the Clarets. One point goes to me and one point goes to Gary.

Wigan P-P Bolton
Due to the wintery conditions this game was called off. So, because it is the season of goodwill and the last round of fixtures until after the New Year I am going to award everyone a point.

As we go into the New Year, Chris remains top of the TFT Prediction League, but once again the gap is beginning to narrow. Now only seven points separate first and third, while four points separate first and second:

1.Chris - 81 points
2.Gary - 77 points
3.Ian - 74 points

That is it for the Prediction League in 2009. Before I go, I would like to wish all the readers of twofootedtackle a very Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2010.

We shall resume the Prediction League next year on January 9th, so until then, take care.

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The "Big Four": not dead, but in a coma

Bad news for Mad Rafa Benitez: the so-called "Big Four" is on life support.

It's not dead, yet. Even if one of them drops out of the top four this season, they'll most likely be favourites to return next year. For me, the death of the top four would mean it's been broken up two years in a row. This year, it looks as if Liverpool are goners. Rafael Benitez is clearly feeling the pressure and is becoming more abhorrent and irritating by the week. Amazing, give how much I disliked him before this season.

But the idea of a "Big Four" means dominance. It means the striking of fear into the hearts of other teams. It means it's a miracle to beat one of the four, and it's worth celebrating a draw like there's no tomorrow.

All of that has gone, and so even if the top four come May does consist of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool (which it won't), the concept of a "Big Four" is on its arse. Suddenly, Premier League football is worthwhile again.

The Premier League's cabal was dealt another blow this weekend.

Portsmouth severely dented Liverpool's top four chances by beating them 2-0 at Fratton Park with lovely strikes by Nadir Belhadj and Frédéric Piquionne. Bottom of the table, Portsmouth are no mugs but should be easy pickings for a side with any hope of qualifying for the Champions League. With Liverpool's early exit from this season's competition and next season's participation looking increasingly unlikely, it's difficult to see why Benitez is still in employment.

In far less danger of long-term decline are Manchester United, but they are looking far from unbeatable. A heavy defeat at Fulham may have been partly caused by United's injury problems but it comes soon after a home loss to Aston Villa and suggests that United aren't the imperious, universally feared outfit of years gone by. They're not dropping out of the top four but, if teams can routinely take points from them, does the "Big Four" really exist?

It's the same story for Chelsea. They're a magnificent side who will most likely win the title this year and be in the top two or three for the next ten. But they are beatable, as Wigan Athletic and Villa have discovered. They're equalled too regularly too, and West Ham United have a case for arguing that yesterday's point would have been three but for a controversial penalty decision which went against them.

Finally, of course, we have Arsenal. Despite last season's significant wobble, it's almost as if they're the most reliable member of the so-called "Big Four" this term. Despite this, they do drop too many points for Arsene Wenger's liking and this contributes to the overall impression that the "Big Four" are no longer the impenetrable fortress they once were.

On any given day, they can be beaten. And not just one of them, which would have been a surprise last year. This weekend, only Arsenal won. That says something about the supposed impossible strength of the so-called "Big Four" as an entity. Yes, they might well finish as the top four. But they're far from invincible and that can only be good for the game.

Long may it continue.

(Pic via This Is London)

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Manchester City axe Mark Hughes, appoint Roberto Mancini

Perhaps strutting around like cock of the walk wasn't the best strategy for Mark Hughes after all. Having joined Manchester City after successful spells with Wales and Blackburn Rovers, Hughes survived the Abu Dhabi takeover of the club and quickly bought into the big club hyperbole when he would have been better served by a little humility.

He was, after all, unproven at City's new desired level. And he was only in a position to guide a club to that level because he happened to be in charge of a club that was taken over by a group of people in order to promote a destination.

And yet he acclimatised all too quickly to the idea that City were a cert to gatecrash the top four. He moaned like Arsene Wenger, with whom he clashed earlier this month. Wenger, incidentally, has declined to reveal exactly what Hughes said to him. According to reports, it would paint the spat in a different light and expose Hughes as a foul-mouthed upstart getting too big for his boots.

Like most managers, he attacked referees far too often. But he did so with the "do you know who we are?" indignation usually reserved for Alex Ferguson. In short, Hughes lost all sense of who he was and what he'd achieved, allowing himself to be blinded by the owners' wealth and acting with the assurance that money means you can do what you want in football.

Only he forgot that he was dispensable.

When a manager is in post simply because the new owners kept faith with him, it's essential to provide results. But Mark Hughes has no experience of dealing with large budgets and multiple dressing room egos, and he failed. Not "failed" in the traditional sense - City's losing record this season shows an impressive ability to match anyone on their day - but failed to meet the added demands which come from not being the ownership's man.

Hughes should have known all of this, and had he carried himself more humbly throughout this calendar year, it would have been easy to have some sympathy following his harsh sacking. As it is, football supporters everywhere are laughing into their beers. If you're going to get people's backs up, Sparky, make sure your own position is secure.

But aside from Hughes getting carried away and ending up with egg on his face, City's ownership has blown a hole in its football facade.

Listening to the horrific Alan Green on 6-0-6 last night, the City-supporting callers all disagreed with Hughes' sacking and began to question the owners' fluency in footballese.

That's a valid concern, and it's nice to see City fans finally willing to question their owners. The sight of a few idiots hanging around Eastlands with towels on their heads lent a visual representation to a deeper acceptance of the cash-rich unknown which stemmed from a one-eyed desire to usurp Manchester United. Some City fans were all to willing to gloat about being linked to the likes of Kaka when the actual signings made have been overpriced.

Now, though, people are embarrassed by the City ownership. That's a positive development.

I know I'd be questioning the owners of my club in the same situation, which is summed up by the involvement of Garry Cook. The marketing man has no interest in or aptitude for football, and has exposed himself time and again to be an A-grade spanner. From accusing AC Milan of "bottling" the Kaka deal to referring to City as "Manchester United", Cook would not be welcome at my club.

His lack of knowledge has again been revealed by City's appointment of Hughes' replacement. Roberto Mancini has been airlifted in to rescue City's season, but it seems as if he was selected simply because he managed Inter Milan to a few league successes. On the surface, he sounds like a big signing, and the surface is as deep as Cook and the Abu Dhabi group go.

But take a closer look. Mancini's honours with Inter were achieved with no little help from the Calciopoli scandal which neutered AC Milan and Juventus and left Inter with an open goal in terms of becoming Italy's leading side. In Europe, he singularly failed to make an impact. He's also been linked to every job going in both England and Italy - with the whispers suggesting he's been angling for several of them himself - and been picked up by nobody.

Taking all that into account, he's hardly the calibre of manager the club's owners may have been told he is. Mourinho? Hiddink? Not even close.

(Pic via On The Break)

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Mick McCarthy was wrong to weaken Wolves

Everybody's talking about Mick McCarthy. On Tuesday night, he made ten changes to the Wolverhampton Wanderers side that beat Tottenham Hotspur and sent out a weakened team to be beaten 3-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford. Only goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann survived, and the inevitable controversy has boiled over in the hours and days since.

McCarthy has been asked to explain his team selection by the Premier League. Premier League sides are obliged to field their strongest possible line-up for every game, but the Wolves boss has boxed clever from the start. By defending his right to treat his squad as a collective of equals and pointing out the holes in the idea of a "strongest eleven" in modern football, McCarthy has most likely dodged any threat of official censure. The message from the boardroom at Molineux has been the same, suggesting that the decision to make so many changes had backing from above and was taken well in advance and in full knowledge of possible repercussions.

But, as Mick and the club will now be well aware, cleverly playing the rules doesn't necessarily get you off the hook. There are several arguments out there in the world of football which suggest that McCarthy was in the wrong when he decided to weaken his Wolves side for the trip to Old Trafford. I tend to agree with many of them, but it's important to note that McCarthy's job is to keep Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. I have a lot of sympathy for that side of the argument - I just think significantly and openly weakening a team for a Premier League game is hugely problematic.

"42 quid to watch reserves"

Football used to be about football, but now it's about business - like it or not. Marketing matters, value for money matters, customer service matters. And while McCarthy's approach may have been the best thing for Wolves on the field (in his mind at least, and he's the man paid to make that decision), it's a worrying move in customer relations terms. Ticket prices in the Premier League are a complete disgrace, and Wolves supporters paid on average £42 to go to Old Trafford on Tuesday - and that's just for the ticket.

Add in the cost of travel, itself ludicrous in the UK, and United away amounts to an expensive away day. Loathe as I am to compare football to "entertainment", there must be some element of trust between the paying public and those that run the product they're purchasing. A section of supporters apparently chanted "42 quid to watch reserves" on Tuesday night and I don't blame them. Rest Kevin Doyle, my all means. Or Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, or any key player. But to make ten changes (albeit I believe one or two knocks were picked up between the Spurs and United fixtures) is an explicit two-fingers to the fans.

You've paid over forty pounds to support us, but we're not interested. Were I a Wolves supporter, I wouldn't be happy with that sort of message.

Losing mentality

Thankfully, I'm not a Wolves supporter. But Aston Villa made a similar-but-different decision last year in the UEFA Cup. Level with CSKA Moscow after the first leg, and in fine league form, Martin O'Neill sent a severely weakened squad to Moscow in order to focus squarely on Champions League qualification. The error he made - and McCarthy has now made too - is that one game affects the next.

It has been argued that O'Neill, by sending Villa into a game with an increased likelihood of defeat, triggered a very poor run of form. It's not about one game in isolation, basically. Villa almost avoided the repercussions by beating Stoke City, but threw away a 2-0 lead at home. Paired up, those two matches destroyed the season. Momentum and a winning mentality are important in football. Ordinarily, losing at Old Trafford wouldn't create a losing mentality. But heading into the game with such a defeatist approach probably does begin to have that effect.

Pick your battles, sure. But the message was so clear in this case that I think it could start to make Wolves look (and feel?) as if they don't belong. That's bad news.

Integrity of the league

Arsene Wenger is a right moany old git, that much we know. Tony Pulis agrees, and Phil Brown agrees. I have no sympathy for his complaint that Arsenal have a little bit of fixture congestion (well, two games in a week) - Villa have to play Arsenal and Liverpool in the space of three days over Christmas. He omitted that little nugget in his whining diatribe, of course.

But he has room for complaint when it comes to McCarthy's controversial team selection at Old Trafford. McCarthy's primary concern is his own team's fortunes, of course, but his actions could have a significant effect on matters elsewhere in the table. The very cornerstone of league football is the idea of a level playing field. If Wolves roll over for United and not for Arsenal, or Chelsea, McCarthy is fundamentally undermining the integrity of the Premier League. And it's so lacking in integrity off the pitch, it needs all it can get on it.

Phil Brown moment?

Could Tuesday have been the night McCarthy lost the confidence and goodwill of some of his players? I know that had I been promoted to the Premier League and just beaten Spurs, I wouldn't be pleased with being robbed of the chance to play at Old Trafford. As Brown discovered, it's all too easy to forget that footballers are human beings and will react as such when they feel mistreated. Brown's on-pitch half time bollocking at Eastlands last season was an exercise in attention-seeking, but it's possible footballing virtue - that the players were playing poorly and needed to be brought down a peg - was negated by the fact that people don't like to be humiliated.

Similarly, McCarthy's seemingly sound managerial move in gutting his starting eleven might just have unforeseen results, i.e. a shitload of defeats. I'm sure it won't be as dramatic as Hull's 2009 form but it could undo McCarthy's good work nonetheless.

(Pic via Paddy The Flea)

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London-on-Ice: fancy a game?

Readers in London will know that's it's absolutely FREEZING outside today - probably not the best conditions for football, particularly with more snow on its way this afternoon (you heard it hear first, weather fans).

I got an email from Castrol Football's press office which disagreed. Extreme football, so they say, has a lot to be said for it. To back it up, they've made a neat video showing two teams, managed by Nigel Winterburn and Martin Keown, playing football on ice and on some...er...really wet sand.

It's PR shizzle but it's pretty cool to watch. The game on ice is probably the best quality game ever played in Basingstoke, and I wouldn't mind a go.

Check out the video for an especially vicious two-footed tackle on Weston-Super-Mare beach. Harsh!

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Prediction League: Week 17 - Predictions

Just a quick note that this will be our last weekend of predictions before Christmas. We have all decided that it's best we take a break for the holidays and recharge our minds. Hopefully over the new year we might actually start getting some psychic powers, I shall be back on Tuesday to round up the results for the final time this year.

Arsenal vs. Hull
Chris: Arsenal
Ian: Arsenal
Gary:Arsenal

Aston Villa vs. Stoke
Chris: Aston Villa
Ian: Aston Villa
Gary: Aston Villa

Blackburn vs. Tottenham
Chris: Tottenham
Ian: Draw
Gary: Draw

Fulham vs. Man United
Chris: Man United
Ian: Man United
Gary: Draw

Man City vs. Sunderland
Chris: Man City
Ian: Man City
Gary: Man City

Portsmouth vs. Liverpool
Chris: Draw
Ian: Liverpool
Gary: Liverpool

Everton vs. Birmingham
Chris: Everton
Ian: Draw
Gary: Draw

West Ham vs. Chelsea
Chris: Chelsea
Ian: Draw
Gary: Chelsea

Wolves vs. Burnley
Chris: Draw
Ian: Wolves
Gary: Wolves

Wigan vs. Bolton
Chris: Bolton
Ian: Draw
Gary: Wigan

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Interview with Rob Warner, Umbro

Back in the summer, my friend and colleague Atheer Al-Salim visited his mother in Uganda. She's there for two years doing voluntary work in the village of Miirya, near Masindi. Ath asked me if I could get my hands on a couple of footballs he could take with him to donate to a school or similar and I knew exactly who to ask. (Incidentally, Ath gave his "lucky" Manchester United shirt to a little boy during his travels. His form has been in a ditch ever since.)

Another friend of mine, Rob Warner, is Umbro's new(ish) Design Director - Performance Apparel. Thanks to him, Umbro sent three footballs to me and they promptly found their way to Uganda and now reside in a health centre in the East African republic. Football may not change the world for the young men targeted by the centre, and the western world can do so much more to help them. But footballs are symbolic of a united world and I'm delighted to have been a small part in a small chain which will, at least, give some people the chance to have a ruddy good kickabout.

So too is Rob. By coincidence he donates money on a regular basis to help a girl in Uganda, so he was only too happy to help. Being ever the intrepid investigator, I had a chat with Rob about life at Umbro, his donations to Uganda and - of course - the importance of football in global affairs.

But first, some disclosures and disclaimers. World Vision, the charity through which Rob sponsors a child in Uganda, is a client of my employer, Porter Novelli. This is a coincidence - Rob and I have known each other since long before he took up that sponsorship and I took up my current employment. Also, the opinions expressed here are Rob's and do not necessarily apply to Umbro. Similarly, Rob's relationships with World Vision, twofootedtackle and myself are not related to his job or his employer. Ah, good to get all that off my chest.
"The World Vision thing came about when I was just about to move from Germany to Amsterdam in 2007," says Rob. "I was feeling particularly fortunate for the opportunities I'd had in my life and thought that I'd like to give something back and help someone else to get chances that they wouldn't have otherwise. I'd seen a fair bit on TV in the past about sponsoring kids and thought that it had always sounded like a great thing to do - both humbling and inspirational.

"I love the interaction of being able to write to my sponsored child and she sends me stuff back - usually drawings as she has only just started school. Her most recent picture had English words in for the first time and it meant a huge amount to me. The money I spend on sponsorship is nothing in the grand scheme of things, and certainly not in comparison to the effects it has on both the child and myself."

Without knowing this, I contacted Rob about Ath's trip and he and Umbro kindly sent some footballs to me in London to send to Uganda with Ath. I firmly believe that football is important in poorer nations and can bring joy to lives where it is painfully difficult to find. Rob agrees.

"Football is one of the most instantly accessible sports - all you need is something vaguely round to kick. Apart from running it's the easiest thing to facilitate, but the importance of enabling people to do it is massive. In the wealthier countries we see a glossier side of football where it's all fancy tricks and slow motion replays on TV, and you can buy the exact same boots as your hero to replicate the moves of the professionals. In the poorer countries it’s a lot more about the roots of the sport.

"It's a chance for people to express themselves, to join in as part of a team, to build something in the community and a chance to have some fun. When you're playing football you’re not poor, or under-educated or unhappy - you're a footballer, just like John Terry or Michael Owen."

And, while Rob's football career may not have taken him where he'd hoped, he has been lucky enough to work in a high-profile role in a related industry. "I lead the Performance Apparel design team, so clothing for use in football training or matches," he explains. "That covers everything from Sunday league teams through to Manchester City and England. It's an exciting and challenging role as everyone is a stakeholder when it comes to things like the new England shirt. Football and design are alike in that everyone has an opinion on it.

It's a fantastic privilege and one I never take for granted. You get to do something which plays a role in football history - if you design a shirt which wins a World Cup or league title then those pictures are beamed around the world with your vision adorned upon the players. It's an amazing feeling. Sometimes, though, you lose a little bit of the magic and mystery around football because you’re exposed to the internal workings of it. You meet players and officials quite often so they lose some of that 'Santa Claus' factor, although I must admit to still getting butterflies when I meet the really big names.

"I was fortunate enough to spend an hour or so with Pelé once and that was an unbelievable experience. Being exposed to the internal working of the football industry is a small price to pay for being an active participant in something which means so much to so many people.

Here at twofootedtackle we rarely miss an opportunity to ask a question we've been curious about for a while, so I asked Rob how the shirt design and production process works.

"We always begin with athlete insights. By talking to footballers we can learn about what they do and don't want in a kit. If you're designing for a particular team then you obviously research their history and talk to the fans too in order to get valuable information that might not be apparent on the surface. From there we look at trends within the sport and the general design world and begin thinking about what the kit will look and feel like from the stands, on the pitch, in the shop and on the fans.

"At Umbro, with our roots as a tailoring company, a lot of work is done on mannequins to make sure that our fit and function is absolutely what we want it to be. Fabrics are carefully selected and the designs begin to take shape.

"There's always an end goal in sight too. We'll have an idea about the message we want to get across - futuristic, historical, graphical or tailored like the current England home shirt. Once we’re happy with the kit we'll get it tested on some players. The club or association will sign off the kit and then it goes into production and eventually hits the shelves.

Simple as that, huh?

"It's an incredibly long process and there can be many pitfalls along the way, for example if a sponsorship deal isn't agreed until right before the start of the season then the shirts have to be produced first and sponsors applied later which slows things down. It's a challenge at times but it's worth it when you get feedback from the fans and see it on the pitch."

I'd like to thank Rob for that fascinating insight, and for his kindness and time.

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TFT Podcast Ep 30

Ho ho ho!

It's nine days until Christmas, and despite my moody demeanour I love winter and I'm one festive SOB. So to appease my needs of the season, we've recorded an almighty Christmas Special podcast, with our great friends Terry Duffelen, Chris Oakley and Graham Sibley of SPAOTP and Onion Bag infamy.

And we're not the only ones with a Christmas podcast - our guests did one too, and it's out now. Gary and I have starring roles, natch.

Anyway, back to TFT. This week's show features the Premier League, Notts County, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and the Europa League. There are many, many laughs to be had and, like Tiger Woods, this week's show has a bit of a problem with its length.

You can download the show via iTunes, click to listen to this MP3 or visit the media player at CSRN.

We'll be back on either 4th or 12th of January to kick off 2010 in style.

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Prediction League: Week 16 - Results

This weekend was an absolute shambles. Out of a possible 30 points available collectively we managed six between us. With six draws, and us having only predicted two it’s not really a surprise. I have to say for Christmas we should all look for a crystal ball perhaps.

Birmingham 1-0 West Ham
Birmingham keep up their fantastic form since being promoted with another good win, a well earned three points, while one point goes to me for predicting a home win.

Bolton 3-3 Man City
A thrilling game at the Reebok as Manchester City fall back into old habits by drawing for the eighth time in nine games. It’s safe to say we did not see a draw, having all predicted an away win.

Burnley 1-1 Fulham
The Clarets keep up their great home record as they notch up another point. Certainly a fair result for both sides, giving myself and Gary a point in the process.

Chelsea 3-3 Everton
Chelsea’s defence is again being questioned as they continue to concede goals from set-pieces. Not a result we saw coming.

Hull 0-0 Blackburn
A snooze fest at the KC Stadium, a point for the sides in question, and a point for Chris and Gary too.

Man United 0-1 Aston Villa
Villa keep up their 100% record against the Big Four this season by beating the Red Devils. Having seen the way Saturday had went before this evening kick-off I wasn’t surprise at their win. Sadly though, none of us predicted it.

Stoke 2-2 Wigan
A fantastic game, with some great goals by both sides, certainly Wigan fans will be happy after gaining a point at the Britannia, however we all predicted a home win.

Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth
A late goal gave Pompey a much needed point they will be very pleased having got it but Sunderland will be very unhappy to lose two points. It wasn’t a result we envisaged.

Tottenham 0-1 Wolves
Two wins in a row for Mick McCarthy’s side, not bad in the run up to Christmas. Spurs seem to be going downhill since that 9-1 win over Wigan. No points for us here either.

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal
It seems an ear bashing from Arsene Wenger at half time was just the trick for the Gunners as they beat Liverpool who lead at half-time. Only one person predicted this result, and that was Gary.

Once again there is no change in the league table, but the gap is beginning to narrow even further at the top:

1.Chris - 76 points
2.Gary - 70 points
3.Ian - 67 points

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Mazzarri cleans up Donadoni's mess

When Napoli splashed out to strengthen the squad in the summer of 2009, myself and many others were cautiously optimistic about the season ahead. But I was concerned about one weakness: Roberto Donadoni.

Even so, Napoli's start to the season under the former Italy coach was surprisingly dismal. Only Livorno and Siena were defeated and heavy defeats at the hands of Genoa and Inter made certain Donadoni's exit before a 2-1 loss to Roma sealed the deal. Pierpaolo Marino was removed as sporting director in the meantime (somewhat harshly, in my opinion), and president Aurelio De Laurentiis was clearly running out of patience with Donadoni too. Eventually he was removed and replaced with former Sampdoria coach Walter Mazzarri, ending a disastrous run of form which stemmed right back into the end of Edy Reja's reign.

Fast forward to the weekend just gone. Napoli were 2-0 up at Cagliari and were rightly disappointed with a final result of 3-3. But their third goal came from a stoppage time equaliser after conceding in the 90th minute. Mariano Bogliacino's header ensured that Napoli remain unbeaten in Serie A under Mazzarri.

Ninth place might not sound like much but for Napoli it's a welcome rise through the ranks. Amazingly, it's also only one point shy of the top four. A win over Bologna in Mazzarri's first match was followed by the Azzurri's first away win at Fiorentina in years. In the next game, Napoli went 2-0 down at home to AC Milan in the first five minutes and scored two 90th minute goals to secure a valuable point. A win at Juventus preceded draws with Catania, Lazio and Parma as their form evened out, but a dramatic win over Bari got them back to winning ways before Saturday's draw with Cagliari.

It's been a scintillating run of form characterised by drama and late goals. But what exactly has Mazzarri done to turn the tide? How have Napoli gone from desperate underachievement to talk of the Champions League? Even De La has caught the bug.

From my point of view it seems to be a simple case of persuading a very talented bunch of players to believe in their ability and to fight for the cause. Some of the performances have been determined and gritty in a way Donadoni could only have imagined, and that's all been inspired by Mazzarri. Napoli never know when they're beaten, and that's a trait every team could use. The late goals are flowing, and while the best teams dominate matches, there is plenty of mileage in passion and team spirit. Of course, we mustn't forget that Mazzarri is working with a squad so many of us had high hopes for at the start of the campaign.

And he's getting the best out of his players. Over at Napoli Offside, Neil has written a brilliant summary of Mazzarri's tactical approach and how it has affected Napoli's fortunes. Neil reckons that Mazzarri's most significant change has been to break up Donadoni's (and indeed Reja's) five-man midfield by allowing Marek Hamsik the freedom to play a role which allows him to support Fabio Quagliarella and Ezequiel Lavezzi both from behind and from both wings. Hamsik's energy is certainly better used now, and Walter Gargano and Michele Pazienza can sit deep to form a solid defensive midfield.

Hamsik is supported in his wing play by Christian Maggio and Salvatore Aronica (though Aronica is more defensive) and with Lavezzi's ability to run the channels, Napoli are profiting from a new focus on the wide areas of the pitch.

All told, Napoli's tactics and attitude are a world away from the Napoli of a few months ago. Who knows what they might be capable of?

(Pic via Calcio Blog)

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Now or never for Landon Donovan

To many European football supporters, the United States' attack-minded midfielder Landon Donovan is something of an enigma. He's played in Europe twice but never to his potential, and yet his stock Stateside is sky high.

He is considered his country's greatest ever footballing talent, but his inability to shine on the world stage does nothing for his global profile. The list of Americans who have made an impact in Europe is ever lengthening, and yet the man who has made the biggest impact since the demise of the original North American Soccer League doesn't get near it.

As a young man, Donovan spent time at Bayer Leverkusen, and returned to Germany earlier this year for a short loan spell with Bayern Munich. On both occasions, he failed to live up to his reputation in the States, raising serious questions about his maturity and his apparent comfort with being a big fish in a small pond.

When the United States is bidding to host another World Cup and making strides on the field, the biggest talent in the side should arguably be more ambitious than that. For better or worse, Europe is the epicentre of football's bowel movements and Donovan is most certainly good enough to take part in the money-driven flatulence.

As expected, it seems Donovan is heading back to Europe for another crack - only this time it's not Germany. Premier League side Everton are in talks with Major League Soccer for the LA Galaxy man and it's safe to say that life is a little different for Landon Donovan now.

Questions of his maturity have largely subsided thanks to assured captain's performances for both the Galaxy and the US national team. He's performed admirably in the wake of various David Beckham controversies in 2008 and 2009 and forged a relationship with the Englishman in which he is at least an equal partner.

The timing works too. Donovan was often said to be reluctant to move to Europe because of the career of wife Bianca Kajlich, but the two separated in the summer and Donovan can now head for Europe without family concerns. It sounds cold, but at this stage in his football career it could be just what he needed to fulfil his potential.

The January move to Merseyside is not sealed yet, but let's assume Donovan will play much of the second half of the Premier League season on loan at Goodison Park. What will he bring to the side?

On form, Donovan is a superb footballer. He is deceptively quick, possesses excellent vision and a good range of passing, and a decent eye for goal. He can take a mean set piece and is almost a cert from the penalty spot, MLS Cup's shoot-out miss notwithstanding. Everton lack some creativity without Mikel Arteta and Donovan's signing would go some way to making up that shortfall.

Jo, Yakubu and, in particular, Louis Saha, will appreciate his input. He provides chance after chance after chance for a good finisher, and more often than not those opportunities are placed right where strikers want them - just ask Mike Magee.

The concern, of course, is that Donovan simply isn't meant to play in Europe. Perhaps he has a mental block when it comes to European football and his stints in Germany were indicative of a more worrying trend.

The question mark remains, but it's not over his quality. I think he'll do just fine.

(Pic via Glenn Davis Soccer)

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Serie A: AC Milan 0-2 Palermo

Juventus blew the Scudetto race wide open with a Derby D'Italia win over Inter Milan last weekend, but a 3-1 defeat to Bari yesterday has put Ciro Ferrara in grave danger of losing his job. The beneficiaries from both games were AC Milan, who kicked of at San Siro this afternoon just four points behind Inter and a point ahead of the Bianconeri with a game in hand.

Leaders Inter played at the same time at Atalanta and conceded a late Simone Tiribocchi equaliser to drop two valuable away points.

The opponents for the Rossoneri were Palermo, and Delio Rossi's side made a quick start, testing Dida twice in the first five minutes and carving the Milan defence open on another occasion. Milan also looked dangerous early on, as the game opened up and made a mockery of popular assumptions about the pace of the Italian game.

Milan had the first clear chance of the match. Ronaldinho, in decent form in the first half, set up Clarence Seedorf to flash the ball across the front of goal. Marco Borriello's slide was closest, but the ball swerved tantalisingly past his toes.

Palermo should have taken the lead just before the half hour. Edinson Cavani's tricky run resulted in a flick through to Mark Bresciano but the Australian international could only fire wide from a superb position. Borriello then found himself in a similar position and dragged the ball past the far post by a matter of centimetres.

The game reached half time at 0-0 but it's difficult to see how. Both teams showed a great sense of adventure and the open game allowed them to create plenty of goalmouth action at either end. Although Ronaldinho gave Mattia Cassani a difficult time, the right back dealt with him well and Palermo's defending was arguably a little more assured than that of the hosts.

No such trouble in front of goal in the second half. In the 49th minute Palermo took the lead after piling on the pressure right from the restart. Milan failed to deal with their attack and Fabrizio Miccoli cut inside his man before bending in a lovely shot from the left hand side of the penalty area.

Milan quickly created two chances to equalise but Borriello's headers were remarkably poor. He followed up with a cynical elbow to the face of Simon Kjaer which went entirely unpunished.

Despite Milan's chances, Palermo stretched their lead in the 62nd minute. Dazzling wing play from Miccoli found substitute Javier Pastore, who turned smartly in the area before seemingly being fouled. The loose ball rolled invitingly for Mark Bresciano who blasted it into the roof of the net for 2-0. Three minutes later, Edinson Cavani wasted a great chance to make it three.

Milan didn't look like pulling two goals back, largely because Palermo didn't allow the pattern of the game to change and kept looking for the killer goal. Alexandre Pato and Pippo Inzaghi both came on from the substitutes' bench and looked no more effective than their colleagues. Palermo played strong and fast, and Milan often couldn't cope with their energetic attacks.

Milan woke up for the last five minutes but a few decent efforts on goal at 2-0 down will have done little to appease Leonardo, who will be under renewed pressure this week. On an afternoon which could conceivably have ended with Milan just one point behind their neighbours, Inter stretched their lead to five points with an unimpressive point in Bergamo.

Palermo are beginning to knock on the door of the top half, and victory away at Milan will do their confidence the world of good.

(Pic via Sporting Life)

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I like funny pictures...

...but I don't usually post them. I'll make an exception for this one, though, because it sums up a man in probably the fewest number of letters possible. I wish I knew who to credit with it, but I don't - so I'm just going to chalk it up to "common sense".

Apologies for the language. Non-sweary business as usual will be resumed shortly.

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Tragic Ashton retires from football

Football retirements don't come much sadder than that of a talented player who never stayed fit enough to fulfil his potential. That certainly applies to Dean Ashton, the West Ham United striker who announced his retirement from football at the age of 26 on Friday after failing to fully recover from an ankle injury as badly timed as it was serious.

At the start of the 2006 season, Ashton was set to make his England debut but a challenge in training from Shaun Wright-Phillips broke his ankle, delayed his international debut until June 2008 and, eventually, ended his career.

Fit and in form, Ashton would have been one of the best strikers of his generation. Although he was rightly seen by many as a potential heir to Teddy Sheringham, he had more strings to his bow than might be remembered. An impeccable finisher, he arguably played with Sheringham's assurance but more strength. He could have been the complete striker: a goalscorer, a supplier, a string-puller and a battering ram.

By the time he left Crewe Alexandra, I knew enough about Ashton to be desperate for him to sign for Aston Villa. It's a sad reflection on his career that I'm now relieved such a move never materialised.

But while we look back over the great goals and performances of Ashton's career and wonder what might have been, particularly for England, let's remember that this is a player who must have known by the age of 16 that he was international class and has been robbed of a sparkling career by his remarkable ability to pick up injuries and the extraordinary length of time it seems to take him to recover from each one.

The immense sympathy I feel towards Ashton is tempered slightly by talk of legal action against Shaun Wright-Phillips, the England colleague who caused Ashton's injury during national team training, the injury which eventually forced him to give up the ghost.

In general, I'd say it's important to take each challenge as it comes and I think there are tackles in football which could understandably result in court action. Roy Keane should have faced criminal charges for demolishing the leg of Alf-Inge Haaland, let alone civil action. There are countless others.

And yet in Ashton's case, it seems a little desperate, almost like lashing out. Premature retirement must cause extreme bitterness and Wright-Phillips has been known to put in a rash challenge. But he does so out of frustration and a lack of quality rather than malice. Bad players make bad tackles, and if Wright-Phillips controlled Ashton's ankle with the same "deft" touch with which he caresses a ball, it's a surprise the poor kid's leg didn't come off.

But I sincerely hope Ashton steps back from legal action. It's a murky world and six months after retirement he might be able to look back more calmly on the incident. Having said that, I haven't seen the tackle - if it was worse than I imagine, I'll gladly back down on that.

Of course, I'd like to wish Dean the best of luck for the future. Retirement isn't a decision he'll have taken lightly and for being man enough to take the tough choice he deserves our respect. He was a hard working, very likeable and exceptionally talented player and it's a real shame he couldn't continue.

(Pic via Dean Ashton Official Website)

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Prediction League: Week 16 - Predictions

Birmingham vs. West Ham
Chris: Draw
Ian: Birmingham
Gary: Draw

Bolton vs. Man City
Chris: Man City
Ian: Man City
Gary: Man City

Burnley vs. Fulham
Chris: Burnley
Ian: Draw
Gary: Draw

Chelsea vs. Everton
Chris: Chelsea
Ian: Chelsea
Gary: Chelsea

Hull vs. Blackburn
Chris: Draw
Ian: Blackburn
Gary: Draw

Man United vs. Aston Villa
Chris: Man United
Ian: Man United
Gary: Draw

Stoke vs. Wigan
Chris: Stoke
Ian: Stoke
Gary: Stoke

Sunderland vs. Portsmouth
Chris: Sunderland
Ian: Sunderland
Gary: Sunderland

Tottenham vs. Wolves
Chris: Tottenham
Ian: Tottenham
Gary: Tottenham

Liverpool vs. Arsenal
Chris: Liverpool
Ian: Draw
Gary: Arsenal

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Sheriff Kimbo's Thursday Thoughts #13

Hello all. Just as I get (most of) my computer issues sorted, I get ill thanks to my flu jabs. My 'Thursday Thoughts' are rapidly becoming a fortnightly event! Um, what is, "That is still too often" supposed to mean...?

Well the shenanigans of Tiger Woods have meant that footballers are not the number one sports topic for the news. James Beattie did his best to get in there though, didn't he. I have never really liked that bloke. Dunno why, he just comes across as a proper big-time Charlie - and he really aint that good! Sure, Ronaldo is annoying, but at least he is genuinely one of the best in the world. Sure, Collymore was an absolute waste of talent but at least he had it to waste. Just what is it that makes James Beattie appear so big-headed? Modern-day footballers, hey...

Since I last wrote for this fine site, the World Cup draw has been made. Now those of you that are thinking England's group is going to be easy are clearly underestimating Alge... Sorry, I can't do it! Great stuff! I am the first to admit I have lost a lot of interest in international football but the World Cup is still an absolutely fantastic event, and I was strangely excited on the day of the draw. But that draw exceeded my hopes really, it looks great for England and anything other than topping the group will be a failure. I am very confident that it will be three wins from three though, even allowing for the fact that the USA will certainly not be any pushovers.

Speaking of kind draws, I couldn't help but punch the air with delight when Blackburn beat Chelsea, knowing that we had drew the winner in the semi-final of the League Cup. Actually what is it officially called now? Is it the Carling Cup? I'm going to check... Yes it is. Thought it was. Anyway I know non-Villa fans - and probably some Villa fans - will disagree but I always think of this cup as our cup, and when someone else wins it, it is like we are just lending it out! It has been nice to get a cup run going again given the way we have gone out the last few years; I just hope we can do the same again in the FA Cup.

Which raises a question; which is more important - Champions League qualification or winning a trophy? Ideally, assuming the Premiership is pretty much a two-horse race already (sorry Arsenal), as a Villa fan the best possible outcome for our season would be to win the two domestic cups and finish in the top four. But let's say we could be guaranteed one but only one, which would people choose? First of all, the League Cup would be a great day and guarantees a European place as early as February. That said, while the FA Cup isn't sorted until the end of the season, it is more prestigious and for any Villa fan that can't remember 1957, it's something we haven't witnessed. Finally, there is the Champions League. It is a sad indictment of modern-day football that 4^th place - and most definitely 3^rd - is seen as a far more successful season that winning a trophy, because of the carrot at the end of it. Of course, if those league positions were simply still the UEFA Cup (sorry, Europa League) then it would not be the case, but the virtual European Super League that we have going on means that league position is the most important factor for a club now. But should that really beat the romance and drama of a great cup run and a day out at Wembley?

Obviously this is not just a question for Villa fans. It very much applies to Manchester City, and while they are now out of the League Cup it almost certainly applies to Tottenham Hotspur and, dare I say it, Liverpool this season. On recent league finishes it should also include Everton although looking at the Premiership table, 8^th is probably as high as they can hope for, in my opinion.

So what do you think people? Do you want the drama and a great memory of a cup run, or is the Champions League the be all and end all? I assume that the latter will be the general consensus, but feel free to leave your opinion below. Right, all being well, I will actually be back next week!

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TFT Podcast Episode 29

Ladies and gents, TFT Podcast Episode 29 is now available for your listening pleasure. You can subscribe via iTunes, or listen to this MP3. You can also tune in using the media player at CSRN.

Gary and myself were joined in the studio by Ollie Irish of Who Ate All The Pies to talk about the Premier League, the World Cup draw and the Carling Cup semi-finals, before Sara Mathew and Amber Allen invaded the studio to tell the story of their insane choice to follow Oldham Athletic despite being American medical students in the Cayman Islands.

The second half of the show is a little unusual but it's a lot of fun and the girls' story is absolutely...weird. Enjoy - normal service will be resumed next week.

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Prediction League: Week 15 - Results

I am happy to say we've (or I've) finally got back on track after last weekend's showing. Still not top notch predicting but we've got time to prepare before next summer's World Cup prediction league - yes it is happening! Anyway, I am digressing; here are this week's results:

Portsmouth 2-0 Burnley
If Burnley's away form was named after a Michael Jackson song, it would be called Bad. Important win for Pompey, which means I earn one point.

Arsenal 2-0 Stoke
Stoke are no pushovers, but Arsenal really should have won this by a bigger margin. Everybody gets the points here.

Aston Villa 3-0 Hull
I know it was only Hull, but this was a great win for Villa, the points go to both me and Chris.

Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool
I really don't know what to say other than this is a game Liverpool really should have won. They need Fernando Torres back, and fast. No points here.

West Ham 0-4 Man United
A dominant win for Man United, despite the injuries, three points for the Red Devils, and a point each here for us.

Wigan 2-3 Birmingham
Birmingham are doing very well to notch up the points this season, sadly none of us saw them winning this one. Wigan seem to be a very dodgy side.

Wolves 2-1 Bolton
A vital home win for Wolves, while Bolton lose again. I'm glad to say I predicted a win for Wolves, so one point to me.

Man City 2-1 Chelsea
After seven draws City finally win, and what better way to do it in beating league leaders Chelsea. We all predicted a win for the Blues, so, no points here.

Fulham 1-0 Sunderland
The Black Cats seem to be able to beat the big boys, but it's the smaller teams they are falling down to. Good win for Fulham, and the points go to Chris and Gary.

Everton 2-2 Tottenham
Spurs lose a two goal lead to draw this game, which is a pity because they deserved to win this one. Gary gets the points here.

No changes in the league table once again, but the gap is beginning to narrow, finally.

1.Chris - 75 points
2.Gary - 67 points
3.Ian - 65 points

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On the podcast this week...

Gary Andrews and myself will be recording a slightly unusual podcast this week. Firstly, we'll be recording on Wednesday evening (meaning a late upload, iTunes fans). We'll be speaking to Who Ate All The Pies? head honcho Ollie Irish, which is weird enough in itself.

But in truth, I've asked Ollie to come into the studio to help provide some protection for me against two crazy-ass Americans. And I don't mean two 18-stone man-mountains wearing bandanas and carrying guns.

We'll be meeting Sara Mathew and Amber Allen, two twentysomething students who spent over £9000 to watch Oldham Athletic play at Millwall (Millwall!). This despite knowing nothing about football, Oldham or, presumably, Bermondsey.

Gary wrote up their whole story back in October, and now they're back. Should be an interesting one...

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Steven Gerrard: King of the Hypocrites

World Cup fever has gripped all of us here at twofootedtackle, but it's been tempered by the fact that I will, metatarsals permitting, have to support one of football's biggest cheats and hypocrites. Steven Gerrard is and has always been a diver and has had the cheek to speak out against diving and deception, claiming that some of the Premier League's well-known foreigners are "ruining the game".

Oh really, Steve? So where exactly does your constant referee-baiting, diving and "over-enthusiastic" tackling fit into all this? The same goes for Fernando Torres, whose previous assertion that he would never dive because it would upset Gerrard is laughable on several levels.

The video above shows the tip of the Gerrard iceberg. My personal favourite moment of Gerrard play-acting comes from Villa Park on opening day a few years ago. Liverpool looked for all the world like they were leaving with only a point, until the brave, brave England warrior spotted a foot being dangled out by Stiliyan Petrov and did the high jump over it from a couple of yards away. Free kick given, he did what he should do best, and found Scott Carson's top corner with a stunning free kick.

And we've all got stories about this player cheating us. He is, in truth, as bad as any foreigner in the English game (now that Cristiano Ronaldo's finally buggered off, that is). And we all know it, because we see him launching himself to the ground week in, week out. The man is an utter disgrace and if I might be so controversial, I'd like to suggest that he is in no position to be throwing stones, lest he smash the windows of his glass chav-mansion.

The most annoying thing about Gerrard's regular bouts of cheating is the utter hypocrisy it creates, not only in himself but in the media. As today's Mediawatch notes, their moral outrage about diving seems to be lost down the back of the sofa whenever "Stevie G" attempts to deceive the referee. I say attempts - in fact the regularity with which he succeeds is sufficient to create yet more frustration at his antics.

Where, pray tell, is the kind of fury directed towards Eduardo, or Gerrard's synchronised swimming partner David Ngog, or even Portsmouth's walking irritant Hermann Hreidarsson? The Pompey man clearly dived to win a penalty on Saturday, and Mediawatch is bizarrely willing to take his word that he just fell over - the nationals are rightly giving him some stick for his dive, but there's no such questioning of Gerrard. Why?

So before we lambast foreigners for "ruining the game" and ask them to kindly refrain from diving on pain of crucifixion-by-media, let's start by getting our own house in order, shall we? And while we're at it, can we stop calling him Stevie f***ing G?

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Prediction League: Week 15 - Predictions

Portsmouth vs. Burnley
Chris: Draw
Ian: Portsmouth
Gary: Draw

Arsenal vs. Stoke
Chris: Arsenal
Ian: Arsenal
Gary: Arsenal

Aston Villa vs. Hull
Chris: Aston Villa
Ian: Aston Villa
Gary: Draw

Blackburn vs. Liverpool
Chris: Liverpool
Ian: Liverpool
Gary: Liverpool

West Ham vs. Man United
Chris: Man United
Ian: Man United
Gary: Man United

Wigan vs. Birmingham
Chris: Draw
Ian: Wigan
Gary: Wigan

Wolves vs. Bolton
Chris: Draw
Ian: Wolves
Gary: Bolton

Man City vs. Chelsea
Chris: Chelsea
Ian: Chelsea
Gary: Chelsea

Fulham vs. Sunderland
Chris: Fulham
Ian: Draw
Gary: Fulham

Everton vs. Tottenham
Chris: Tottenham
Ian: Tottenham
Gary: Draw

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TFT Podcast Ep 28

Another Wednesday, another podcast. This week, Chris Nee and Gary Andrews are joined by ITV Football's Mark Segal (wee disclosure, here: Gary works at ITV) to talk about all the issues from the past week.

We review the FA Cup 3rd Round draw and preview the World Cup 2010 draw, as well as looking at the demise of Chester City, the revival of NASL, MLS Cup Final, the Premier League and the possible Liverpool/Everton groundshare.

Episode 28 is now available via iTunes, this MP3 or the media player at CSRN.

As always, your comments, criticism and praise are more than welcome in the comments below. If anything's out of date, we recorded on Monday night so our sincerest apologies.

And finally, we mentioned twofootedtackle's new World Cup 2010 blog in the show but didn't give out the address: http://tftworldcup.blogspot.com

Go and whack that into your RSS reader - you know you want to!

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Prediction League: Week 14 - Results

It was a bit of a lacklustre weekend for us in the Prediction League; let’s just say our predictions were poor, and even at that it is an understatement. Between us we picked up 11 points out of a possible 39. Here is who earned what:

Blackburn 0-0 Stoke City
A bore draw here, the points go to twofootedtackle’s finest, Chris and Gary.

Fulham 1-1 Bolton
No points here, we all thought Fulham would walk this one.

Man City 1-1 Hull City
Another draw for Man City, this time against Hull, no points for anyone here either.

Portsmouth 1-4 Man United
Not exactly a scintillating performance from Manchester United, but, Rooney’s hat-trick was the highlight of the game, points across the board on this.

West Ham 5-3 Burnley
A strong win for The Hammers, they look to be back on track, finally, the points go to Chris and Gary here.

Wigan 1-0 Sunderland
Wigan bounce back from last weekend’s 9-1 defeat to Tottenham, while the Black Cats fail to keep the momentum of beating Arsenal last weekend. No points here.

Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham
I think both sides will take a point from this game, as will Chris and Gary.

Staines 1-1 Millwall
Fantastic result for Staines Town, earning a replay at the New Den, let’s hope they go there and get a result, sadly, none of us saw this one coming.

Bath City 1-2 Forest Green
Hard luck to Bath City who bow out of this seasons FA Cup, while Forest Green progress to the Third Round, we went for the underdogs in this game, so no points here either I’m afraid.

Wolves 0-1 Birmingham
Birmingham seem to be notching up the points here and there this season, I think they have a strong team, and should stay up. We didn’t see them winning this tie though.

Everton 0-2 Liverpool
I think it’s quite funny that none of us predicted a Liverpool win, but I suppose we were going on their current form. Sadly that means no points to anyone.

Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea
An emphatic win by Chelsea, thoroughly deserved, as they are the champions in the making, just one person saw Chelsea winning this, me, so one point to add to my tally.

Kettering 1-1 Leeds
Great result for Kettering Town, both teams will be up for the replay, as Manchester United awaits them in the Third Round. Chris saw this one coming, so one point to him.

Let’s take a look at the league table, it’s as you were position wise, just with more points:

1.Chris - 71 points
2.Gary - 63 points
3.Ian - 60 points

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