Football is littered with clichés, those throw away phrases that are used all too often to tell us absolutely nothing. ‘It was a game of two halves’, ‘he gave 110%’ and ‘there are no easy games’ came make any supporter sick.
But perhaps the most poisonous comment that anybody can make is that somebody has “potential”.
It is the proverbial noose, ready to strangle anybody that threatens to be the next best thing.
And while often it is used to define that young starlet set to burst onto the scene, it can also brand managers who are destined for the top. But instead of rising to the challenge, they have fallen into the all too common pit of “What might have been”.
Here are ten managers whose undoubted talents have gone to waste – click on Hoddle to unveil the list
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Tottenham’s Europa League campaign hangs in the balance after they suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat to PAOK on Wednesday night.
Harry Redknapp fielded a largely second string team, but with Luka Modric, Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe in his starting XI will be disappointed with the result.
First half goals from Dimitris Salpigidis and Stefanos Athanasiadis gave the visitors a first half lead, before Konstantinos Stafylidis was sent off for handling on his goal-line.
Luka Modric converted the resulting penalty, but the White Hart Lane outfit could not break the Eastern European team’s resolve in the second half, even with a man advantage.
Spurs are three points behind Rubin Kazan in Group A of the tournament, and must hope that PAOK beat the Russian in their last game of the pool, whilst Tottenham need to overhaul a five goal deficit against Shamrock Rovers.
Redknapp was not convinced of his team’s chances of doing this, and was disappointed with the showing against the Greeks.
“I am disappointed now because we are not going to be in the last 32,” Redknapp told The Daily Mail.
“It’s very slim – it is very difficult now. I wanted to stay in the competition but it wasn’t to be. Full credit to the opposition, they worked hard and looked dangerous.
“We started sloppy and didn’t defend well. It was a new back four and for the first 10 minutes we started like we did not know each other.
“The kid handballed it on the line and we made it 2-1 and at that point I thought we would come back and win it, but they got bodies back and it was difficult,” he concluded.
Spurs will look to bounce back from the defeat against Bolton in the Premier League on Saturday at White Hart Lane.
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Meanwhile Birmingham and Celtic also were beaten in the competition, with Braga and Atletico Madrid claiming victories over the English and Scottish sides.
Blackburn boss Steve Kean goes into the game against Liverpool still hanging onto his job by thread after being given a stay of execution by the clubs owners.
Beating the Reds will be a gruelling task with Kenny Dalglish’s side keen to return to winning ways after dropping two points away at Wigan on Wednesday. With the Luis Suarez racism scandal currently overshadowing everything on Merseyside their draw at the DW Stadium clearly displayed the effect it’s had on the players. A drab display from Liverpool was summed up by Charlie Adam’s missed penalty as their drive for the top four came to a stuttering halt. Dalglish knows his side need to keep recording victories if they are to finish in the Champions League places. Beating Blackburn, who he led to a Premier League title 16 years ago, will be high on the Scots agenda as continues his rebuilding job at Anfield. With Suarez seemingly distracted by his impending eight game ban Dalglish may opt to give £35 million man Andy Carroll the chance to stake a claim for a first team place against Blackburn. The Geordie striker has endured a frustrating first year since his big money move from Newcastle but could be the man to lead Liverpool to victory at Anfield.
Winning is something that has become alien to Rovers as they continue to teeter on the edge of the abyss. They slipped back to the foot of the table after losing the relegation six-pointed against Bolton on Tuesday leaving manager Kean on the brink. The coach-turned-manager has been given a stay of execution and will be given the opportunity to turn things around at Anfield on Boxing Day. His cause hasn’t been helped by an injury list boasting more players than he has wins during his year in charge with eight players sidelined including goalkeeper Paul Robinson. The former Tottenham man has picked up calf muscle and is rated as doubtful for the trip to Anfield. It’s the last thing Kean needs after seeing his back four decimated by injuries with Gael Givet, Scott Dann and Ryan Nelsen all out until the New Year at the latest. With supporters once again expected to protest against their manager’s presence in the dugout it could be a bleak Christmas for Blackburn.
Liverpool 6th : 30 points
Team news: Liverpool have no new injury worries with Steven Gerrard and Lucas Leiva the only two players sidelined. Kenny Dalglish may opt to rest Luis Suarez for this one.
Key Player: Charlie Adam
Aside from his missed penalty against Wigan the Scotland midfielder is proving to be one of the bargains of the summer. His passing and driving runs from midfield will be key to ensuring victory over a weak Blackburn side.
Blackburn Rovers 20th : 10 points
Team news: Keeper Paul Robinson is likely to miss the trip to Anfield with a calf strain adding to the ever-increasing injury list Steve Kean has to deal with.
Key Player: Yakubu
Despite Blackburn’s problems the Nigerian striker has been a shining light since his move to Ewood Park scoring 10 goals this season. Supporters will be expecting him to convert the chances made for him on Boxing Day and kick start Rovers’ survival bid.
PREDICTION
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Liverpool will be desperate to get back on the winning trail following their draw at Wigan and will be confident of beating Blackburn. Rovers are in freefall once again and will likely succumb to another defeat that could push Steve Kean closer to the exit door.
After recently hearing an American football pundit talking about how football would be changed if re-invented in modern times, it got me wondering what new additions to the sport would actually be worth considering. There are the serious suggestions that are under a common consensus with footy fans or more wild ideas that’d be worth pondering over a pint with your mates.
With the history of association football dating back for well over a 100 years, there has been many advancements and changes to the game. The disciplinary procedure of red and yellow cards, the offside rule, substitutions or even the duration of matches, but now in 2011, what should we be considering for the future of the game, for better, not worse.
Taking all these points into account, I’ve created a top ten list, some entries are serious and worth some thought whilst others may be more outside the box suggestions.
Click on the officials below to see the top 10 additions that could improve football
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Inter president Massimo Moratti has confirmed that the Serie A giants are interested in bringing Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez to Italy.
The Argentina international looks set to leave the Etihad Stadium this January after one too many indiscretions and acts of indiscipline.
AC Milan have been heavily linked with the South American forward, and have already had a loan offer for Tevez refused by Roberto Mancini’s men, who would prefer to sell the attacker.
Moratti however has admitted that Inter want to beat their rivals to Tevez’s signature.
“Our interest in Tevez is real, it’s not a joke,” Moratti told fcinternews.it.
“We think it might be a good operation. We tried to get information (from City) to understand how things were, if there was room or not (for us), then we’ll see if we can take him or not.
“It’s not a matter of being optimistic or pessimistic, but just wait and see what happens.
“There are still 20 days at the end of the transfer market, there is so much time,” he concluded.
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Its fair to say that this has been one of the most exciting Premier League seasons in quite some time, and there’s one good reason for this, goals, goals, goals.
So far the various nets around the Premier League have bulged 713 times, 24 more so than at the same stage of the 2009/10 season. Of course with goals come big scorelines, and there have been no shortages in this department, with Manchester United thrashing Arsenal 8-2, Bolton avenging their FA Cup defeat of last season with a 5-0 victory over Stoke and this weekends 5-0 defeat for Newcastle at the hands of Tottenham.
This isn’t just a freak season by any means; there are a few reasons for such high scoring, the first being the form and quality of strikers throughout the league. The standout candidate is Arsenal’s Robin van Persie, who simply cannot stop scoring at the moment with a staggering 22 in 25 league games. Demba Ba at Newcastle is in, arguably, the form of his life while Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero can feed from the wealth of creative talent in the Sky Blue’s midfield. It’s not just strikers from the Premier league’s ‘big boys’ who are firing on all cylinders, Grant Holt and Steve Morison have 17 between them for Norwich, while Steven Fletcher of Wolves is already in double figures.
Many teams are now changing their defensive philosophies too. Full-backs are becoming second wingers, encouraged to get forward at any opportunity. This allows for greater numbers in an attacking sense, but leaves gaping holes at the back for the counter attack. Kyle Walker and Benoit Assou-Ekotto are the epitome of the modern day full-back combination, with bags of pace, plenty of technique and various defensive frailties. As well as Tottenham, Chelsea employ attack minded defenders in the shape of Ashley Cole and Jose Bosingwa and even teams further down the division such as Fulham allow John Arne Riise to get forward at almost any opportunity.
Injuries to various teams across the league have prevented many established sides from creating a settled back line. Manchester United have seen Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling all sidelined, forcing the likes of Michael Carrick to fill in at centre-back. This of course means goals, and the defending champions have shipped 25 so far including three at home Blackburn. Arsenal have also suffered, with first choice full backs Andre Santos and Bacary Sagna both missing long periods of the campaign.
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As well as injuries and changing philosophies there has also been the death of the ‘Makalele’ in midfield. Many of the top sides are no longer employing an out and out destroyer to sit in front of the back-line and mask his defenders. As a result centre-backs are often exposed and playmakers have the added space to create mayhem, which has clearly benefited the likes of David Silva, Juan Mata.
Alan Hansen may be tearing his hair out on a regular basis at the sight of so many goals, but for the fans it’s been a fun filled campaign. Long live the goal.
Let’s commence with a player enjoying a remarkable start to life in England. He may not even be able to speak English but this hasn’t hindered Papiss Demba Cissé’s goal scoring ability. The Senegalese now has seven goals in seven games in the Premier League. The striker netted a double against a lacklustre Liverpool side. It meant Newcastle went 11 points clear of their opponents on Sunday. If Cissé’s recent goal scoring exploits continue in the next eight games, the Magpies can certainly challenge Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea for a Champions League place.
Goal of the Weekend
It’s been another odd week for Manchester City what with Sergio Aguero’s bizarre injury and Mario Balotelli turning up at an Inter Milan press conference on Wednesday. Saturday brought disappointment with a dogged Sunderland claiming a draw at the Etihad. It did see the man who cannot keep himself out of the headlines net a blinding second for City. Mario Balotelli may have argued over a free-kick in the second half but his curving effort which helped to pull City back into the game was sublime. Having scored a spot-kick in the first half, he unleashed what Sergio Aguero might describe as a blistering effort past Simon Mignolet from just outside the penalty area.
Miss of the Weekend
Firstly Wigan deserve credit for turning in another fantastic display as Roberto Martinez’s side continue in their fight for survival. However, even though it’s been a while since the “Miss of the Weekend” section has been used, Jean Beausejour’s performance gave enough reason for it to be revived once more. The winger signed from Birmingham City should have celebrated two goals on Saturday but instead, he conspired to miss two gilt-edged chances for the Latics.
In the first half, the Chilean managed to let the ball roll up his shin from just over four yards out with the goal gaping whilst in the second period, he arrowed an effort straight at Asmir Begovic from a similar distance under no pressure from a Stoke player. Yet when it came to crossing, Beausejour was on much better form as he provided the assist for Wigan’s first goal. Maybe it’s best then that Beausejour is kept out of the opposition’s penalty area.
Dive of the Weekend
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It just hasn’t worked out for Andy Carroll at Liverpool. Perhaps then at St. James’s Park (or the Sports Direct Arena – for all the pedants out there), we saw a late audition by Carroll for the Team GB Diving team with the Olympics just months away. As much as Kenny Dalglish may protest otherwise, the former £35 million forward dived having taken the ball past Tim Krul early on in Sunday’s encounter.
He could have actually scored had he stayed on his feet but matching the efforts of Tom Daley seemed higher on his list of priorities. Newcastle’s James Perch was eager to challenge Carroll late on, judging by his reaction to Pepe Reina’s headbutt. He dramatically flung himself to the floor after the Liverpool goalkeeper brushed his nose albeit not in the most affectionate manner. For someone of Reina’s experience though, it was silly to lean his head in as he did but had Perch displayed a little more sportsmanship, the Spaniard would have remained on the field.
For more Premier League musings, follow @archiert1 on Twitter
Dirk Kuyt’s agent has admitted that the Dutch striker may well leave Liverpool this summer, with a switch to Roma a possibility.
The Netherlands international has been a bit-part figure this season at Anfield, and reports in the British press yesterday indicated that he could be on his way out of the Merseyside club when the transfer window reopens.
With speculation continuing, Rob Jansen confessed that Kuyt was keeping his options open.
“Kuyt is considering his future,” Jansen told pagineromaniste.com, translated to English by Sky Sports.
“He still has a contract with Liverpool which expires in 2014.
“AS Roma could be an option for Dirk. They are a prestigious club that is fighting for important objectives. With (Roma’s sporting director, Walter) Sabatini there is an excellent relationship.
“I can say that Roma is part of the list of clubs that Kuyt would take seriously into account,” the representative concluded.
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It may not have been the highest quality, but it was certainly one of the most entertaining seasons in living memory, with the most amazing climax. In the end, Manchester City claimed their first top-level title in 44 years, beating Manchester United on goal difference, whilst Arsenal claimed third place, neighbours Spurs finishing in fourth, pipping a gallant Newcastle to a Top 4 Spot. No Premier League title has ever been decided on goal difference before, and it is only the 6th time the top division has been decided this way.
At the other end of the table, Wolves went down with a whimper after the sacking of Mick McCarthy, and were eventually joined by Steve Kean’s Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, who ended an 11 year run in the top division. In between, and the three promoted teams stayed up, only the second time this has ever happened.
Here’s a look at the hi and lowlights of the season:
Pre-Season Predictions:
No review can be complete without crying tears of laughter at how the “experts” saw the season panning out. Predictions are a dangerous game, and we have all made some terrible ones, but some of what follows was drivel right from the start.
BBC: Only six teams featured in the predictions, and their survey found that Manchester United were the overwhelming favourites to retain their title, with only three votes going to Manchester City and one to Liverpool.
Mark Lawrenson: 1 Man Utd 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Liverpool.
“Sir Alex Ferguson always gets the pre-season training right to gear United up for their traditional strong finish at the end of season. They have got a squad to cope with all the cup competitions, and the Champions League, and real competition for players and a winning mentality too. They have got the best team, the best squad and the best manager. Basically, they have got the lot.”
Mark Bright: 1 Liverpool 2 Man Utd 3 Man City 4 Arsenal.
“Liverpool finished 22 points behind United last season but only Sir Alex Ferguson amassed more points than Kenny Dalglish since the ‘king’ took over from Roy Hodgson. Why will they win it? The Reds have four players who could grace any team in the Premier League: Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll, then add to the mix promising youngsters like John Flanagan, new faces like Charlie Adam and Stewart Downing plus team spirit, desire and 21 years of hurt.”
Nigel Adderley: 1 Man Utd 2 Liverpool 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal.
“I can’t see beyond United winning the title again. There will be no World Cup hangover for players like Wayne Rooney this season which should help their youngsters integrate into the team. Liverpool have so much attacking flair now so Steven Gerrard should benefit from not being overburdened. Chelsea need Fernando Torres to start scoring quickly and also develop an understanding with whoever plays alongside him. Arsenal should scrape into the top four providing the Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri money is spent on the right areas of the team. Despite the millions lavished on their squad, I think City may miss out on the top four – rather like Tottenham last season – a decent run in the Champions League could have a negative impact on their domestic results.”
Oliver Holt (Daily Mirror) – “Charlie Adam could be the buy of the season.” (a view backed up by Phil Thompson).
Paul Merson
Champions: Man Utd
Second: Chelsea
Third: Man City (but lower if Tevez goes)
Bottom three: QPR, Swansea, Norwich
Top scorer: Fernando Torres
Best buy: Charles N’Zogbia
Charlie Nicholas
Top scorer: Javier Hernandez
Best buy: David de Gea
Worst buy: Sergio Aguero isn’t value for money
[ad_pod id=’unruly-2′ align=’left’]
The Season Itself…..
Early Season Madness:
Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2, Tottenham Hotspur 1 Manchester City 5, Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6. Were defenders taking the season off? Well no, nothing had changed really, It was a momentary lapse in the space-time continuum, and soon we returned to normal. Well except for Arsenal 5 Tottenham 2, Manchester United 4 Everton 4, Chelsea 3 Arsenal 5, or…..
Racism & Off The Field Controversy
This was the season when much of the talking points revolved around events away from the kicking of a football. Whilst Carlos Tevez was busy reducing his golf handicap, this was also the year of racism scandals. The biggest domestically came at the end of the year as Luis Suarez was banned for eight games for racist comments made towards Patrice Evra. The row rumbled on as Liverpool refused to accept their lot, but with John Terry due in court after the Euros, the topic is going to remain in the news. If only everyone had taken Sepp Blatter’s advice and shaken hands at the end of the match – problem solved. Needless to say, Anton Ferdinand and Patrice Evra were portrayed as the guilty parties in all of this by some of the cretins that reside in our green and pleasant land, and death threats inevitably followed.
Tragedy
The end of 2011 also plunged the world of football into deep shock, as Gary Speed took his own life. It was a story that people struggled to comprehend, a man who seemingly had it all, but it turned out didn’t. A reminder, along with the tragic death of Gary Ablett in the New Year, that it is only a game. It will never be more important than life or death. Never had a disputed penalty or a last minute equalizer seemed less important. Football had lost one of the great servants of the Premier League era. At least for Patrice Muamba, there was a happier ending, but the occurrences of natural athletes suffering with heart problems seems to be more problematic than ever before. Italy has some of the most stringent tests in this area. Let’s hope the English game follows suit as soon as possible.
Returning Heroes
Paul Scholes and Thierry Henry decided they couldn’t stay away, and did their bit in pushing on their respective teams. Even Robbie Keane showed his face again for a short while. What it showed more than anything was that two of the big teams were short on depth of quality to resort to such moves, and whilst talk of Scholes returning to the England team is ludicrous, it also hints at the paucity of talent available to England manager Roy Hodgson.
Tottenham Hotspur and the FA’s Role In Their Decline
On the day Harry Redknapp left court a free man, Fabio Capello and the FA called it a day. Fabio got the TV, the house and a few million pounds, but for Redknapp, presumed by the world’s media to be Capello’s successor, it all went downhill thereafter. Many blamed it on the speculation about the England job distracting Spurs, but it’s a weak argument. They thrashed Newcastle before their form fell away, the more likely reason being Redknapp’s reliance on key players, who understandably became jaded. In the end, they were relying on a Chelsea Champions League defeat to gain access to next year’s competition.
Promotion and Consolidation
Quite an achievement, as all three promoted sides stayed up, and stayed up playing good football. There was no compromise in style, though QPR had the resources to expect a stay in the top league. Either way, they were, and will be, worthy additions to the premier league. Brendan Rogers has turned down an approach from Liverpool, but Grant Holt’s transfer request (declined) shows that with success comes a whole new set of problems and challenges.
Another Varied Season For Arsenal
Same old, same old. Some brilliant play, some suspect defending, low points and calls for the manager’s head before a resurgence which ultimately left them where they began. This could go on forever, or else at some point Wenger has to compromise on his principles and bring in some established big names, and go for the title. If they don’t, we will all be subjected to playground bully Piers Morgan’s expert opinions for the next 20 years. And no one deserves that.
Chelsea’s Season Of Two Halves
Another big name manager under pressure, who eventually fell on his sword. With hindsight, Villas Boas and his methods seemed doomed from the start, and by the time he left, Chelsea’s season resembled a train-wreck. It just goes to show the fine lines in football, as under Roberto Di Matteo, the club have picked up the FA Cup, and tonight will aim to become the first London side to win the Champions League. If they don’t, it’s the Europa League for them next season. No pressure then.
Never Go Back
Liverpool might go back to Rafa Benitez this summer, but going back to King Kenny ultimately didn’t work out. Were they close to usccess or a million miles away? Well Dalglish brought a trophy back to the club, and almost a second, but the league form was far from acceptable, his big money purchases utterly underwhelming, and they finished the season below neighbours Everton. It was a bridge too far for Liverpool’s American owners.
He Came From Italy, To Manage Man City
Hard to imagine, but only a month ago, Mancini’s job was on the line. Obituaries had been written on him and City’s season. Now, he has delivered the first title to the blue half of Manchester in 44 years. A week is a long time in football, and judging by the QPR match, so is 15 seconds.
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Awards:
Manager of The Year
How do you choose the best manager? Many think the winner should be the manager of the Champions. Fair enough. All three promoted teams stayed up, so there are merits to choosing Brendan Rogers or Paul Lambert, but for me Alan Pardew is a worthy winner – fighting for Champions League football until the last day of the season, they were a team I expected to struggle for survival after losing key players in the summer.
Player of The Year
Robin Van Persie would be a perfectly acceptable winner, but in the end he was probably pipped by the inspirational Vincent Kompany, who led his team to the title by example, scoring the crucial winner in the Manchester Derby on April 30th.
Biggest Flop
Stewart Downing – it’s quite some achievement to have no goals or assists over a whole league campaign (when regularly picked). This led to a million tweets about the sacking of Kenny Dalglish being his first assist of the season. Still, I have vague memories of him scoring against Oldham, as did Roy Hodgson clearly, who amazingly thinks he’s good enough for the England squad.
André Villas-Boas wasn’t far behind, but he’ll be back, and stronger for it.
Best Goal
Papiss Cissé’s second v Chelsea. An astonishing feat to beat a goalkeeper of Petr Cech’s quality from that angle, that distance and with a half-volley with the outside of the right foot, though the little voice in my head still insists he just swung his foot and got lucky.
Runner up prizes for Hatem Ben Arfa for Newcastle in a 2-0 win v Bolton in April, and Peter Crouch’s volley against Manchester City.
Best Match
Manchester City 3-2 QPR. What more could you ask for? Great goals, defensive howlers, red card madness, the risk of relegation, then being saved from relegation, the lead changing hands three times, an injury-time comeback and a title won with the last kick of the season. Not bad, when all said and done. Other contenders can be found in the high-scoring madness mentioned earlier.
And In The End…
And on the 7thday, god created a Manchester City title – a true miracle. Steve Kean is still in a job, but many more fell at the hurdles. A crazy season full of talking points delivered right to the end. It wasn’t always pretty, it wasn’t always pleasant, but it was never boring. Long may it continue…..
With just one week to go until the start of Euro 2012, the England boys have been relaxing ahead of their opening encounter with France.
Roy Hodgson and his players have been on the golf course, playing in the England Vauxhall Golf Day at The Grove Hotel in Hertford.
Here is Chelsea defender Gary Cahill with Liverpool and England captain Steven Gerrard, as the pair share a joke.
Can you come up with a funny caption for this picture?
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Leave your suggestions in the comments section below…
This week you can win a signed Chelsea or Liverpool football shirt!
The football shirts have been signed by the 2011/12 Chelsea and Liverpool squad respectively, a perfect gift for any Blue or Red.
For the FootballFanCast.com Caption Competition Terms and Conditions click here
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Check out our Caption Competition Gallery for some inspiration and to see the winners so far.
Last week’s winner: Sean Dentith – click here to see all entries