Saints Ressurected

The days of Matthew Le Tissier scoring thunderbolts at The Dell and Premier League football have become a distant memory for Southampton supporters.It has been almost three years since the Saints faced the prospect of playing in the third-tier of English football, after being handed a 10-point deduction by the Football League that saw them stranded at the bottom of the Championship table.

But their are positive signs that the good old days might be on the horizon, those Premiership nights and the prospect of top-tier football could soon become a reality.

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The Line Between Decency & Loyalty

Tribalism is defined in the dictionary as follows; "A strong feeling of identity with and loyalty to one's tribe or group". That definition in itself perfectly describes what it is like to support a football club. Through the good times and the bad, the passion runs deep and sometimes gets in the way of sound judgment.

Battle lines are drawn with a stick in the sand. You are either on one side or the other. Red or blue, black or white; There is no room for a difference of opinion when you are part of something that is bigger than you are. That is where the problem lies, having a blind allegiance to a group just because you wear the same colours and cheer for the same team.

Only two people will ever know the truth about the events that transpired at Anfield in October, and they are Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra. The facts have yet to be released as to exactly what was said between the two on the pitch that day and who was around to hear it, the case depends on one man’s word against another and a whole lot of hearsay in-between. Without any actual proof people have taken a hard line stance based on what side of the sand their tribe stands, forgetting about the real issue at hand.

Discrimination has no place in society, let alone sports, and ignorance is no excuse. Do I think Suarez is a racist – absolutely not. Evra was quoted as saying the same thing, but I do think that once you are made aware about your transgressions you should step up and accept your offense, even if your actions were innocuous. Now that Suarez has been made aware his mistake, it is up to him to learn the cultural differences and connotations associated with those words. Unfortunately this is a normal occurrence in our society, some place more than others, but as public figures you have the opportunity to set an example and make a change.

I am disgusted with some of the hateful remarks that have been floating around social media sites these past couple of days –It is appalling to say the least. Evra has now been branded a villain by many for speaking up about an incident he deemed offensive, with his credibility and manhood coming into question. In response to the suspension handed down by the Football Association, some have decided to take it upon themselves to racially abuse the Manchester United right-back on Twitter.

Hate begets hate, so I cannot understand the logic of these ignorant people who were outraged by the Suarez ban and in turn have no problem doing to Evra what the Uruguayan has been accused of, however trying to find any morality amongst this herd is illogical and a waste of time. The Liverpool striker may not have implied his words in a derogatory context, but the tribe of thugs online meant every lewd comment.

It is difficult to make a proper judgment on the issue without having all the evidence, but an independent commission decided there was enough evidence to convict Suarez of racial abuse. Liverpool was shocked by the ban and the hefty fine awarded down, but has stuck by their teammate’s version of events since day one, from the board all the way down to the supporters. The player’s recent display of unity with Suarez was condemned, but I would like to hope they know the type of man Suarez is better than the people trying to crucify him, but a fair and unbiased assessment cannot be made until all the documentation from the hearing is made public.

It is one thing to be loyal, but without the facts you should not let that blind common human decency. The accusation is serious but the matter in which it is handled is of far greater importance. The FA should not just throw the book at Suarez just to make an example. What about John Terry? The England captain has been charged with the same offense but the same type of punishment has not been handed down, instead he is being prosecuted in court for racial comments made to Anton Ferdinand during a match. Even Evra has been alleged to have made a malicious remark towards Suarez during their altercation. Where does it end?

Surely having the head of FIFA making controversial remarks on a wide variety of discriminatory topics through the years without any repercussions sends the wrong message. But Sepp Blatter is not the one who is under the microscope of a disciplinary board, instead the focus is shifted on to the players.

This is not only a football problem, it is a moral one, and after all it is just a game. You should not make decisions based on a collective because you wear the same scarf around your neck, fearful of your clubs decline without the services of their superstar. Whether it was a matter of semantics, that is for the disciplinary board to decide and the punishment should warrant the offence, arguing against that fact is ridiculous.

I have been a Liverpool supporter all my life through the best and worst of times, but this loyalty does not cloud my better judgment and moral code. When the evidence finally does surface and we are able to fill in the gaps to make a proper assessment on the matter, only then can you choose a side. If Suarez is guilty, the punishment should not be what upsets you most. But if Evra is caught over-embellishing the truth, what should his punishment be?

It is difficult to rule on what every individual deems offensive, although commenting on a person’s race, gender or sexual preferences should be dealt with severe consequences, prejudice on any level for something you cannot control should not be tolerated. Only then will justice be served.

Eriksen Destined For Stardom

When you think of Ajax Football Club, one thing comes to mind - Success. For decades it has been a breeding ground for some of the greatest players to ever play the game, the list of superstars that have developed their talent in Amsterdam is endless. From Johan Cruyff to Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard to Dennis Bergkamp, Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and many more. Christian Eriksen is next on that list.

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Udinese: Defying the Odds

The city of Udine has reveled in the unexpected success of thier football club for over a year, defying the odds and punching above their weight despite being for the most part a selling club. All this can be attributed to the tremendous work of manager Francesco Guidolin after taking charge in the summer of 2010. Udinese have continued to defy the odds with their surprising form in Serie A.

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Cole Loving Life at Lille

The French first division (Ligue 1) has grown accustomed to selling their top commodities to the highest bidder. It has been a long time since the opposite were true, that a player would make the journey the other way in the hopes of reviving their career. Joe Cole has now become the exception to the rule.

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Round One to Barcelona

Barcelona paid a visit to the Santiago Bernabeu Saturday and emerged with a 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the latest edition of “El Clasico.” It has been over three years since Los Blancos last tasted victory in the league, with the Catalans owning the early bragging rights after winning the Spanish Super Cup over two legs which kicked off the season.

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What Now For United and City

The football world was in complete shock with the exits of both Manchester clubs from the Champions League. While the Europa League awaits, the spotlight is now focused on domestic supremacy.

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Introducing... Jay Spearing

Liverpool were dealt a major blow mid-week when it was confirmed that Lucas would miss the rest of the season with significant anterior cruciate ligament injury, suffered during the victory against Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup. The Brazilian has been one of the first names on the team sheet and an integral part of Kenny Dalglish's system, raising questions as to who will step up to fill the massive void in the heart of mid-field for Liverpool.

Club captain Steven Gerrard is not an option, suffering from an ankle infection that has kept him on the sidelines since the tail end of October, with no timetable in place for his return. Jonjo Shelvey has been re-called from his loan spell at Blackpool in an effort to provide more options. One player’s misfortunes is another's opportunity, Jordan Henderson will relish the chance to play in his favored position up the middle, starting slow but coming on strong of late and elevating his form to earn a look. But the player best suited to provide cover for the injured Lucas just happened to be his partner on the pitch that same night at Stamford Bridge. 

The journey into the first team has been a road well-travelled for Jay Spearing. Having been a member of the Liverpool youth set-up since 1997 as a schoolboy, promotion to Melwood was achieved ten years later, culminating a boyhood dream for the Wallasey born mid-fielder. But the battle to establish himself and carve out a place on the roster was just beginning.

Even a spot on the bench was tough to come by early on for Spearing, with the likes of Gerrard and Xabi Alonso holding down both places in the starting eleven, way down in the pecking order with Javier Mascherano and Yossi Benayoun next in line. His only appearances came in the Champions League, coming in as a substitute for Rafa Benitez during big wins against PSV and Real Madrid. One for the future, Liverpool made sure to lock him up on a brand new three-year deal that summer.

Spearing has the look of a rugged veteran written all over his face, despite being only twenty-three and having less than fifty senior appearances under his belt. Strong performances when called upon have seen his appearances double season after season under three different managers, small steps but positive signs moving forward.  

It is hard not to overlook a player of his stature, especially when the job requires a physical presence. Spearing stands five feet seven inches and weighing just eleven stones. But what may be lacking in size, he more than makes up for with sheer determination and the heart of a lion, never backing down to any challenge. Most are amazed at the strength he possess, even bullying bigger players off the ball with relative ease, and more importantly knowing how to properly close down the passing lanes to put pressure on his opponents. Not really blessed with blistering pace, Spearing's football I.Q. is what separates him from the group of worthy contenders vying for a place in the starting eleven.

Spearing made only five appearances for the Reds in 2009/10, which was the last for Benitez as Liverpool manager. It might seem like a small amount but the mid-fielder did well in those performances, enough to earn a loan spell with Leicester City to end the year. Never going to get many minutes at Liverpool with Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas and Alberto Aquilani ahead of him, the move was a positive sign that the club had real long term plans invested in his development, making nine appearances for the Foxes in the short loan spell and scoring his first and only goal at the senior level. 

If you’re looking for flash and flare, Spearing is not that type of player. But that is not what Liverpool need at the moment. Lucas did the dirty work in the middle, getting stuck into tackles, breaking up possession and generally pestering the opposition for ninety minutes, giving Gerrard and Charlie Adam the time and space to move forward in attack. The Reds need a defensive midfielder with similar qualities that is fearless and ready to do the work that usually goes unnoticed by the average viewer, although the importance of this type of player is crucial to a team's success in the modern era of football. Spearing possess all those qualities and can be that player for Liverpool.

Last season for the most part was a disaster for Liverpool, under Roy Hodgson the club was a mess and plummeted down the table. One embarrassing loss after another cost the new manager his job a week into the new year, but for Spearing it proved to be successful. For the first time the midfielder was included in the club's twenty-one man squad for the Premiership, and saw his minutes substantially inflated with numerous appearances in the Europa League. 

Unfortunately an ankle injury suffered in training put a temporary damper on things, keeping him sidelined for almost two months. But under the watchful eye of club legend and new manager Kenny Dalglish, the youngster was given a real chance to break through and hold down a place, finishing with eleven appearances in the league and ironically forming a solid partnership with Lucas, while filling in for the injured Gerrard.

With the influx of midfielders arriving at the club this past summer, games have been harder to come by for Spearing. All but one appearance have come by way of the Carling Cup. Instead of sulking and asking for a loan move that would secure first team minutes, Spearing continues to knuckle down and fight for a place at Liverpool. The window of opportunity has finally presented itself with the club in need of reinforcements. The time has come for Spearing to rise to the challenge and take hold of what he has worked so hard to achieve, it is difficult to argue someone more deserving of that chance.

Most folks outside Liverpool do not have the slightest clue about Jay Spearing, the one's that do have always kept an eye on the mid-fielder's progress within the ranks at Melwood. Barely able to make the fringes with foreign imports dominating the squad list on match-days in recent years. The new found British revolution happening at Anfield has provided optimism for a growing list of players from the Academy. Martin Kelly leads the list of home-grown talent making the step into the first team, next on that list is Jay Spearing. 

Dalglish will be hard pressed to justify the money spent on Henderson, and may lean to him to fill the void initially, although Spearing has caught the eye of his manager on the back of some gritty performances. Tailor-made to play that holding midfielder role, having similar attributes to the man he is aiming to replace. It seems like the most obvious decision to make, but it is up to the players to do the hard work in training and convince their manager they are worthy of his selection. 

The Unfit Referee: RVP For MVP

It is a scary notion for Arsenal supporters to imagine life without Robin Van Persie. If ever there was a player whose performance dictated the results for his club, the Flying Dutchman is the best example. With the departure of club captain Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer, Van Persie's presence in the squad has now become more of a necessity for Arsene Wenger; any long term absence would be catastrophic.

Awarded the captaincy at the start of the season to replace the departed Fabregas, Van Persie responded to the added responsibility by scoring goals at a tremendous rate. Having already amassed thirteen goals in as many games, which remarkably is half of Arsenal's total tally, providing additional proof of how much the team depends on their marksman to win games.

Despite a disastrous start Arsenal have been able to dramatically reverse their fortunes and rescue their season before things could get any worse, early lop-sided losses had a lot to do with a long injury list, coupled with the squad trying to get accustomed to life without Fabregas and Nasri, who were both an integral part of Wenger's system. It took time for the players to gel with one another following all the off-field disruptions that plagued the club, but most of the credit must go to Van Persie and his left foot. Leading by example, and single-handedly pulling the Gunners out of the fire on numerous occasions this season.

Currently, the Gunners are six games undefeated in the Premier League following the derby day loss to bitter rivals Tottenham. Van Persie has found the net ten times, scoring back-to-back braces against Sunderland and Stoke City that earned Arsenal maximum points. That was followed by an unbelievable hat-trick performance against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that restored some much needed confidence within the squad. The scoring continued with one against West Bromwich, and the following week a vital come from behind brace against Norwich City that stole all three points. The numbers speak volumes to Arsenal's position in the table at the moment due in large part to their prolific captain.

Those heroics have continued in the Champions League with Arsenal being the only English club at the moment to have clinched a place in the knockout rounds, a feat which would have been unthinkable, judging by their early season form. Van Persie has found the back of the net three times in five matches, ironically half of the Gunners goal production. The most recent coming in the form of a brace at the Emirates against Borussia Dortmund which earned Arsenal top spot, and more importantly a favorable draw in the next round.

If Van Persie could stay healthy for the long haul Arsenal can challenge for a top four finish, but that is a really big if, considering his history. Marginally used in his inaugural season in the Premiership, third choice behind Thierry Henry and Jose Antonio Reyes, although the Dutchman did manage to break through enough to score ten goals. But in a sign of things to come Van Persie ended the season injured and out of the line-up, putting the brakes on a great start to life in England.

Unfortunately the trend of injuries continued and any progress made would always get cut short, making it difficult for Van Persie to build on his impressive form. It seemed just when things were going well, a lengthy spell on the sidelines would soon follow. In 2006, just days after signing a contract extension the striker broke his toe, one year later a fractured metatarsal kept Van Persie out for much of the season, but surprisingly still finishing with the most goals that year for the club. The following season Van Persie was riddled with injuries again, suffering a horrible knee injury that initially kept him on the shelf for two months. The 2007/08 campaign was a write off for the Dutchman.

When healthy Van Persie is unstoppable, despite being hit with injury after injury, there is not a better striker in the Premiership that you would want leading the attack. The start-stop trend has plagued the striker throughout his career with Arsenal, having only played one season injury free. That was in 2008/09, which turned out to be his most productive, scoring eleven goals and adding a league leading ten assists. Van Persie never gets enough credit for his set-up play, a natural striker of the ball in every sense, whether going for goal or picking out a teammate you can always count on him to make the right decision.

In 2009, an ankle injury picked up on international duty limited Van Persie to nineteen overall appearances for the Gunners, yet another injury set-back to add to the growing list. But still the striker managed to contribute an impressive ten goals and eight assists. Imagine what his numbers would be had injuries not cut short previous seasons, allowing a player of such immense quality and skill to reach the heights he is definitely capable of reaching.

Van Persie recently became the fifth player in Premier League history to net thirty goals in a calendar year, an unbelievable achievement. Goals look effortless, blessed with a thunderbolt of a left-foot, fantastic pace and tremendous ball control, it is hard to find any holes in the Dutchman's game. The model professional, the summer ahead will undoubtedly test Van Persie's loyalty to Arsenal, with a number of Europe’s elite clubs chasing his signature. The Gunners have a strict contract policy that in theory makes complete business sense, but ends up leading to the departure of their best players, either chasing the money or the chance to win trophies. Naturally the importance of Van Persie should be enough to trump this strict policy.

Having only won two pieces of silverware in over seven years at Arsenal (2004 FA Community Shield & 2005 FA Cup), Van Persie's ambition might now be at a level that the Gunners will find difficult to match. Upon signing his latest deal back in the summer of 2009, the striker displayed his love for the club by stating, "My heart is with Arsenal and I just can't picture myself in a different shirt". Van Persie has so far refused to commit his future to Arsenal, having under two years left to run on his current deal. Wenger will hope to get him signed long term this summer and dodge another agonizing transfer saga, but with more players being sold than bought by the club, Van Persie might follow the mass exodus of players out the door at the Emirates.

If Arsenal fail in their efforts to resign their captain it will almost certainly lead to Wenger's departure, tired of watching the talent he discovered and molded through the years being poached without response from the club's hierarchy. The loss of Van Persie would be a catastrophe of epic proportions, one that would have a disastrous impact on the club moving forward. It is not enough just to re-sign the Dutchman, Arsenal need to prove their ambition by surrounding Van Persie with players that will help challenge for titles and ease the burden that has been placed on his shoulders.

At the moment Arsenal sit seventh in the table, three points off fourth spot and the coveted European place it represents. The Champions League place provides a necessary bargaining chip for the RVP sweepstakes. Robin Van Persie has always been a loyal son to Arsenal, sticking by Wenger through thick and thin, the last of a generation of players full of potential, that unfortunately were never able to win any silverware.

The Flying Dutchman will turn twenty-nine in the summer; the window of opportunity to win trophies is slowly closing. Will loyalty trump ambition? Or will RVP be the latest star to pack his bags? Time will tell, but one thing is certain, Arsenal without Van Persie would be a major problem.

The Unfit Referee: The Impact Of Beckham In America

With the final curtain coming down on David Beckham's five-year MLS career all the focus has centered on what will be his next move, after getting the story book finish by winning the MLS Cup. The media attention surrounding the event was over the top as expected with Beckham's every move being covered by in-depth analysis. It all became kind of ridiculous.

But unlike two years ago when they choked in the final, this time the Los Angeles Galaxy were able to provide MLS commissioner Don Garber with the iconic image he has been waiting for ever since bringing the former England captain to America, and that is Beckham lifting the MLS Cup.

Making only seventy-four appearances in five years, many have questioned the impact Beckham has actually made for the sport considering the amount of money invested in luring him from Real Madrid. The media storm following his announcement of signing with the Galaxy drove ticket sales through the roof, stadiums across the country were being sold out at record pace with everyone circling the date in their calendar for when Beckham came to town.

Galaxy shirt sales were also at an all-time high and flying off the shelves with retailers struggling to keep them in stock, the stream of revenue continued to pour in from sponsorships to television rights. The Beckham brand succeeded in promoting the league on a global scale and recording a remarkable profit on investment before even a ball was kicked on the pitch.

Off the field the Beckham’s were the toast of Hollywood, being wooed by A-listers that came out in droves to welcome the family to the neighborhood. Soccer was now becoming more main stream with the likes of Tom Cruise, Will Smith and Kobe Bryant all attending matches at the Home Depot Center to watch Beckham in action. The Galaxy started to become a hot ticket item.

The team travelled in luxury, treated to five-star hotels, chartered flights and red carpet events all because of their new captain. Most of the squad were making a salary in the low five figures but were enjoying the perks that went along with having Beckham as a teammate.

On the field Beckham failed to make the same impact, picking up a knee injury that kept him out for six weeks in his first season. Only one goal and three assists in six league appearances was his total contribution and the Galaxy finished outside of the play-offs. Year two provided more appearances and goals but the season ended in overall disappointment as the Galaxy missed out on the post-season once again. The money tied into Beckham made it difficult to set-up an adequate supporting cast around him, although rule changes were just around the corner.

The MLS continued to grow in the Beckham era despite the below-par results by their poster boy for the Galaxy. The biggest change was the newly implemented designated player rule which allowed teams to field a player that did not count against the salary cap. It was a smart move as this opened the doors for foreign imports to pour into the league, giving the MLS even more exposure.

It started out small with Juan Pablo Angel, Darren Huckerby and Freddie Ljungberg being part of the first wave of players making the journey overseas, helping to legitimize the league and paving the way for the likes of Thierry Henry, Rafael Marquez and Robbie Keane to see soccer in America as a viable option to extend their careers. None of this would have been possible without Beckham's influences. In time the designated player rule went from one to three as the league continues to thrive. The speed in which the MLS has grown in the last five years is amazing.

Beckham was then loaned out to AC Milan for the purpose of staying in contention for a place on Fabio Capello's England side. This caused a huge uproar with most critics questioning his commitment to the Galaxy and the MLS. Missing half the year, things were made worse when Beckham expressed his desire to make the move permanent. But that desire proved to be futile and a timesharing agreement was made for Beckham to play in Milan during the MLS off-season.

Fans in Los Angeles never warmed to the idea and voiced their displeasure to Beckham throughout the season, one supporter even got into a heated exchange with Beckham that forced security to step in before a fight broke out.

In 2009 the Galaxy made the MLS Cup final but a loss in a penalty shootout to Real Salt Lake was the end result. Beckham controversially returned to Milan for his second loan spell in the hopes of donning the England kit for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Unfortunately a ruptured achilles tendon ended that dream early, forcing a lengthy rehabilitation process which saw him sidelined for six months.

Beckham returned to captain the Galaxy to the Supporters Sheild as the league’s best team in the regular season, although the MLS Cup continued to elude a man used to success and winning titles. Not that his on-field performances merited anything more for the Galaxy, looking back Beckham was nothing more than a part-time player in Los Angeles. The majority of his success happened off the pitch.

It is hard to imagine one player having enough power to influence an entire nation into embracing a sport, but Beckham was able to accomplish in America what Pele never could, and that’s creating a foundation of success that will continue long after his playing days are over. Since his arrival the league has grown to nineteen teams, expanding to seven new cities with three clubs residing north of the border in Canada.

All this progress can be attributed to one man, not that it would have been impossible to do without the leagues poster boy but his popularity and star power put the MLS on the map globally, instantly giving credibility to the league, encouraging signs for potential investors.

The MLS has now even surpassed the NBA and NHL in overall attendance becoming the third most watched sport in the United States. Soccer specific stadiums are going up all over the country with communities embracing the culture and committing to the development of the sport. The league proved it was here for the long haul.

Beckham enjoyed his most productive season in 2011 recording an impressive fourteen assists and adding two goals. The Galaxy won the Supporters Shield en-route to being crowned champions. It was the perfect ending to a fantastic season in what will ultimately prove to be his last as a player in the MLS. Considering his age Beckham is in high demand with a number of European teams targeting the veteran’s signature.

Paris St. Germain will be his most likely destination, as it is hard to imagine Beckham playing for another Premiership side other than his beloved Manchester United. There is a slim chance of re-signing for the Galaxy since the family has settled in Los Angeles and enjoying life in America, but a temporary move abroad looks more certain.

PSG are enjoying a soccer revolution under their new wealthy Qatari ownership group, making the club more attractive and proving their ambition with a rash of big money signings over the summer transfer window. Beckham is used to winning titles so this looks like the perfect match.

You can be sure this is not the last you've seen of Beckham in America, upon signing his contract with the MLS a provision was put in place giving him the option to buy a franchise at a set price, becoming the only player ever to be awarded this type of offer by the league's owners. It turns out to be good business for both parties. Beckham gets his wish of working on the business end of a start up franchise while the MLS can continue to use the Beckham brand to promote the league.

The New York Cosmos are being touted on becoming the leagues twentieth expansion franchise and potentially could begin play in 2013 at the earliest. Their vice-chairman is football agent Terry Byrne who is a close friend and former personal manager of Beckham's. Combine the marketing power of the Big Apple and the star power of Beckham, success is almost guaranteed from a business stand point.

The Cosmos already employ club legend Pele as their honorary president, Eric Cantona was installed as Director of Soccer with American international Cobi Jones as his associate. This would be the most logical and profitable decision for Beckham to make and exercise his unique contract option.

Major League Soccer would not be where it is today without David Beckham. Soccer has exploded onto the scene in North America and has made steady progress year after year as the popularity continues to rise. Beckham will forever be regarded as the spark that lit the flame of professional soccer on the continent.

Johnson Lifts Liverpool To Victory At The Bridge

Eyebrows were raised when the team sheets where handed in by Kenny Dalglish and Andre Villas-Boas, both decided on keeping some of their high-priced talent on the bench. The stand-out being Fernando Torres and his fifty-million dollar price-tag deemed only fit enough to be amongst the reserve as Didier Drogba was preferred. In mid-field more surprisingly was the absence of Raul Meireles and his great range in distributing the ball in favor of a more defensive John Obi Mikel.

For Liverpool Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing started the match alongside one another on the bench, over seventy million pounds worth of players not in the starting eleven. What did look positive was Craig Bellamy was inserted to play behind Luis Suarez in attack. The Welshman's quickness and football IQ is better suited to compliment the Uruguayans style of play, both having established a solid partnership and understanding on the field.

Maxi Rodriguez was also given the surprise start for Dalglish on the right, early efforts showed a little bit of rust by getting out-muscled and out-worked in possession, first by John Terry and then by Branislav Ivanovic, tossing the Argentine aside with a shoulder barge to break-up a threat on goal. Although his presence was threatening when able to link up with Suarez and Bellamy on the counter attack, tucking inside giving Jose Enrique space down the wing to provide another option when going on the offensive.

The first chance fell to Chelsea, Juan Mata volleying the shot wide from a tough angle after losing his marker Enrique during the buildup. Plenty of half chances followed for Liverpool but nothing really threatened Petr Cech with his defenders making timely blocks to break up the play. Majority of possession was focused in the mid-field as both sides started out very aggressive to set the tone, tackles were flying in hard and quick but referee Lee Probert did a good job of allowing play to continue.

The crowd inside Stamford Bridge thought Drogba had equalized on a brilliantly placed free kick that rippled the net meshing leaving Pepe Reina frozen to his line, fooling everyone watching at home including the match score keeper. But the shot went about a foot wide. That was the only attempt on goal for Chelsea in the first half as the match took a turn for the worse and became stale with both teams failing to impose themselves offensively.

Whenever the Reds did venture forward they were able to get behind Chelsea's high defensive line rather easily and allowed too much space to try and create from, Terry was being targeted and exposed for his lack of pace and got caught in possession on numerous occasions or was forced into a late challenge causing a foul. The Blues looked extremely nervous and sloppy with the ball in their own end; it was only a matter of time before an error at the back was going to cost them.

The deadlock was broken just past the half-hour mark due to a poor decision by Cech to play the short pass to Mikel down the middle; Charlie Adam read the play and immediately pressured to force the turnover. Bellamy then played a nice one-two with Suarez before squaring it to Rodriguez for the easy one-timer past Cech. It was a touch of class by Liverpool following a terrible blunder by the veteran goalkeeper.

Reina was mainly a spectator in the first half as Chelsea's big guns were held silent, never threatening the Spaniards goal mouth. Frank Lampard and Mata were anonymous and unable to create chances for Drogba to attack, without options through the middle Florent Malouda struggled to compensate and pick up the slack down the wing either. The Blues were completely flat which kept Stamford Bridge silent for much of the first half. Liverpool controlled and dominated the first forty-five minutes.

Villas-Boas made necessary changes for the second half bringing in Daniel Sturridge for Mikel hoping that the switch would bring his team to life offensively. Chelsea responded positively when Drogba came close to netting the equalizer within five minutes of the re-start, shaking off two defenders but sending the shot wide. Chelsea looked the different side and continued to slice through Liverpool's defensive line at will, Martin Skrtel having to make a last ditch effort to block a chance by Mata that would have tested Reina.

All the possession and pressure soon paid off as the Reds were caught on their heels; Malouda was able to walk through untouched providing the perfect cross for Sturridge to net the tying goal, somehow left unmarked at the far post. The play started rather innocently when Terry made an unchallenged run down the left which kept Johnson honest deciding not to pressure Malouda, but if you look closely it was Dirk Kuyt that failed to pick up the dummy run by the Blues captain forcing Johnson into a difficult position and choice. If he followed the initial run by Terry the play would have been broken up.

Having all of the momentum Chelsea were unlucky not to have taken the lead a minute later, Lampard sent a nice cross into the danger zone off a set-piece that found the head of David Luiz only for Reina to produce the save of the match by quickly getting down to push the shot wide of his post. It was a testament to his cat-like reflexes and sheer class being able to make the save from such a close distance.

Liverpool were rattled and looked more than happy to escape the Bridge with a point after initially being the better side. What caused Chelsea problems in the first half was the combination of Suarez, Bellamy and Rodriguez. But all-three struggled to get involved and were largely non-existent in the second half. All the focus was placed on not surrendering another goal and preserving the point.

Malouda was next to threaten Reina's goal, doing well to chest down a cross with his back to goal and attempting an audacious half-volley between two defenders that went wide off the mark . He followed this up five minutes later with another volley from a tough angle, but this time the effort was less impressive.

It was Suarez that was able to claw back some of that early momentum, silent for the majority of the second but coming to life in the final ten minutes and produced some quality runs with some of that fancy footwork  which have become his trademark.  Luiz was on the receiving end of one of these tantalizing runs, Suarez calmly playing the ball through his legs to get by with ease, leaving the Chelsea defender looking foolish in his wake. The tide started to turn with the visitors becoming the aggressors.

Torres was subbed on for Drogba with just over five minutes remaining, and Ramires made way for Meireles. As expected El Nino was greeted with a chorus of boos by the travelling supporters, although the home crowd tried to drown out the negativity by giving their striker a standing ovation hoping to boost his confidence, the winner providing the possible story book finish that could knock the monkey of his back and kick-start a good run of form. But Torres ended up being a non-factor and his performance went unnoticed.

Henderson was another high-priced substitute that entered the contest mid-way through the second half, the mid-fielder almost set-up the winner with a nice run down the right flank doing well to avoid two heavy challenges before crossing into the box and placing Kuyt in a perfect position to score. Unfortunately the shot fizzled wide failing to test Cech. Suarez looked to be in a better position and was furious not to have received the lay-off by Kuyt that could have potential won the match. But a minute later it was a former Chelsea player that provided the knockout punch for Liverpool that also bailed Kuyt out of squandering his earlier chance.

Glen Johnson sealed the victory for the Reds three minutes before injury time, finding space down the right side thanks to Adam's pinpoint cross-field pass. Johnson showed great control before nut-megging Ashley Cole and slotting the ball past Cech and the last ditch effort by Terry on the goal-line to block the shot. It was a sensational solo run by the defender that will be a contender for goal of the season.

The victory allowed Liverpool to catch Chelsea in the table and created a four-way tie for the coveted final Champions League place, although Tottenham have two games in hand on the field. It was the Reds fourth win on the road having already equaled last season’s total tally. Dalglish will be happy his side earned the hard fought victory going into next week’s encounter with league leaders Manchester City at Anfield.

The Blues title ambitions have now come into question, losing three of their last four matches and having failed to earn a single point against rivals Arsenal, Manchester United and now Liverpool. The Villas-Boas revolution might be dangerously close to its expiration date should negative results like this continue to accumulate.

The Unfit Referee: Tyneside Celebrating Toon Turnaround

The feel good factor on Tyneside has miraculously lasted well into November. Newcastle is in third spot one point behind Manchester United and only six off the pace of high-flying Manchester City at the summit. Even the most loyal Geordie would admit that the clubs form is quite shocking. Undefeated after eleven matches in the Premier League, their only blemish is a loss to Blackburn in the Carling Cup. Alan Pardew has done a fantastic job with the limited resources available.

Owner Mike Ashley promises of big spending in the summer were never taken seriously by the supporters, with the money made off the Andy Carroll transfer to Liverpool marginally invested back into the rebuilding of the squad. Add to the equation the fire sale which followed the loss of club captain Kevin Nolan, gifted left-back Jose Enrique, and crowd favorite Joey Barton, their roster was left decimated and in desperate need of able bodies just to keep the ship afloat and avoid another humiliating relegation battle.

What came in to replenish the ranks went largely unnoticed by anyone outside Tyneside, missing were the big marquee signings that could provide relief and bestow a sense of confidence amongst the loyal supporters. The biggest coup was the signing of Yohan Cabaye from Lille for a modest fee of just over four million pounds. Right from the start Cabaye became a leader on the pitch, pulling the strings from mid-field and providing the quality Newcastle have severely lacked for years, someone with the ability to distribute the ball properly.

Gabriel Obertan arrived from Manchester United, Sylvain Marveaux snubbed Liverpool to join the Magpies and the return of Hatem Ben Arfa after a horrific injury sustained early last season was an added bonus. The French mid-fielder recently signed a permanent deal after initially coming in on loan from Marseille. Hopefully he can rediscover some of that good form witnessed prior to suffering a double leg fracture courtesy of a reckless challenge by Nigel De Jong. Ben Arfa has only played in four games so far this season, slowly working towards regaining peak fitness he will be a major asset down the stretch.

Most important was the acquisition of Demba Ba. The Senegalese striker is the real deal and has done a fantastic job so far with eight goals in ten games, almost half of the team’s total tally. The cheaper option turned out to be the best for Newcastle, Ba showed his worth last term with West Ham United scoring seven in twelve games after coming in on loan from TSG Hoffenheim during the winter transfer window.

Prolific in the Bundesliga, Ba scored thirty-seven in just under one hundred matches for Hoffenheim. Pardew will sorely miss his services in the new year when the striker will be away competing in the African Cup of Nations. Another absentee during this time will be Chieck Tiote, one of the first names on the team sheet every week for his manager, the mid-fielder will be difficult to replace for the duration of the tournament.

Somehow Newcastle manages to push through all the in-house drama and skeptical critics, which has a lot to do with the unity amongst the players in the dressing room, fully committed to their manager’s system and style of play. From an organizational standpoint the club has been revamped completely, more focused defensively with a great structure that’s been almost impenetrable thus far, proving why the Magpies own the best defensive record in the Premiership, conceding only eight goals to date. It all starts from the back with Tim Krul, the goalkeeper has been a revelation this season taking over the starters spot from long time club veteran Steve Harper.

Not to give Krul all the credit, although the keeper does deserve much of the spotlight, the back four have been stellar in front of their Dutch number one. Captain Fabricio Coloccini leading the way complimented by workhorse Jonas Gutierrez and free-kick specialist Ryan Taylor, all three in top form having developed a strong partnership. Newcastle’s most loyal son Steven Taylor endured many low moments in the black and white through the years, defensive shortcomings became a trend, but what was a position of weakness has now become a weapon with Taylor playing a huge role in the revival.

It was inevitable though that for all the positives happening on the field something would tarnish the feel good factor outside of football. An announcement came that the naming rights to St. James Park will go up for sale to generate revenue, but until an investor is found the 119 year old football stadium will be knows as the Sports Direct Arena, another slap in the face by the owner to the clubs loyal supporters.

The timing could not be worse, with Newcastle enjoying their best run in the Premiership in quite sometime. Using the excuse of the need to build the club into a global brand and bring in additional funding which is in dire need. Questions can be raised as to what happened to the transfer money generated from player sales because only a small portion was put back into the squad. Just when you think Mike Ashley has made strides to win back Geordie nation, this news did little to help his popularity. Football is big business nowadays but you should never bite the hand that feeds you.

More bad news could be on the horizon as the Magpies will face their biggest test to date this season. The next three weeks will see them face Manchester City and Manchester United away, before coming home to take on Chelsea. The daunting fixture list ahead will prove one of two things; Newcastle is capable of punching above their weight-class and will be part of the dogfight for European places, or this is the beginning of a slow decent back to reality and a mid-table finish at best.

Blessed with a relatively tame schedule to start the season it will be interesting to watch how Newcastle will react when faced with adversity. Poor results could potentially cause a ripple effect that could ruin all their hard work and early success. Whatever happens from now until May this group of players have put together a fantastic run and should be applauded for their efforts.

Klose & Ozil Lead German Blitzkrieg Over Dutch

The date was June 21, 1988; Volksparkstadion in Hamburg was the venue for the European Cup semi-final between hosts Germany and their neighbors Netherlands. It was a rematch from the 1974 World Cup final that also took place on German soil, but on this night the Dutch were able to exact some revenge and beat the Germans en route to being crowned champions of Europe.

Since then the stadium has been completely renovated but returning to the same site of the nation’s biggest footballing accomplishment was a strong contingent of Oranje supporters that were not shy in reminding the home crowd of the memorable feat that took place over twenty-three years ago. Germany finished qualification for this summer’s European Cup unbeaten with ten wins and an amazing tally of thirty-four goals scored, only conceding seven times in the process. Had it not been for a loss to Sweden on the final day of qualifying Netherlands would have finished unbeaten as well but Bert van Marwijk decided to rest a key number of starters since the game was meaningless to the Dutch by that point.

Both teams decided to field strong starting line-ups for the friendly fixture in Hamburg, the rivalry is hotly contested although the games have been relatively tame in comparison to years past, which has a lot to do with player integration amongst the various leagues in Europe. Robin Van Persie was given the night off by van Marwijk at Arsene Wenger's request, and Rafael van der Vaart was nursing an injury. Both would be sorely missed on the night. 

The home side established their dominance right from kick-off showing early signs of what was to become a long and forgettable night for everyone in orange. Germany took control and never let up for a moment, attacking in waves that created cracks through the Dutch defensive line. Moving the ball well into space with pinpoint precision and timely runs, Netherlands were visibly struggling to keep up and were committing silly challenges that in large part went unnoticed by the official. Clearly behind the pace the Dutch were looking more like the squad that was condemned for their roughhousing during the 2010 World Cup final rather than the side known for their entertaining brand of total football. 

Miroslav Klose timed his run to perfection setting up the first of three for Germany, staying onside and one-touching Toni Kroos' sublime cross right into space for Thomas Muller to bury into the bottom corner of the net, leaving Maarten Stekelenburg frozen to his spot. It looked almost too easy and Netherlands never recovered. Forcibly losing possession in dangerous area's that allowed the Germans to exploit the space on the counter. Another goal seemed inevitable under all that pressure, and it came before the half-hour mark courtesy of Thomas Muller, running through the gaping hole on the right side of mid-field instantly drawing any surrounding defenders inside before releasing Mesut Ozil free down the wing. Klose was left unmarked in perfect position to score one of his trademark headers past Stekelenburg who for the second time was left rooted to the spot. 

The heavy tackling continued by the visitors, Mark Van Bommel being the biggest offender, which is not surprising given his reputation, Ozil was on the receiving end of one of those reckless challenges which brought a huge uproar from the crowd but failed to provide even a warning by the official. One of many that should have resulted in a stiffer penalty.

Muller and Ozil did the most damage creating opportunities by ripping every defender they came across to shreds with tantalizing runs, mainly focusing on the obvious weakness down the right side and humiliating Edson Braafheid continuously throughout the match. It was astonishing that van Marwijk opted not to make a change going into the second half considering the damage that had been done by this point.

Caught out of position the Dutch could not create anything offensively and gave away the ball far too easily, having had a couple of half-chances go wide early on, the first shot to reach Manuel Neuer happened right on the hour mark, Ryan Babel took a shot from distance that was easily handled by the German goalkeeper. Netherlands found it impossible to break through the blockade despite desperately throwing players forward, eventually getting caught for their lack of focus on the opposite end of the pitch. Nigel De Jong made the unfortunate error minutes after entering the match, failing to control the ball awkwardly and gifting possession to Muller who did well to fight of Braafheid. Klose and Ozil then finished off a nifty pass combination which was finished off with easy touch into the gaping net by the Madrid midfielder. 

The lop-sided result really demonstrated how powerful this German side has now become. Their young stars have grown tremendously, constructing a force which is extremely dangerous on both ends of the field. Despite only being a friendly it was the ease in which they dismantled the Netherlands that was impressive. Die Mannschaft will be one of the favorites heading into Poland and Ukraine for next summer’s European Cup, in great position to do one better than their runners-up medal from 2008. Dethroning Spain will not be an easy task but the potential of a new German dynasty taking over international football is a realistic possibility.

England Triumphant At Wembley Over Spain

Over a decade has gone by since England have been victorious over Spain, to give you a better example of the time that has passed, Sven Goran Eriksson was making his début behind the bench for the Three Lions. More recently Vicente del Bosque got the better of Fabio Capello two years ago in Spain, easily winning the match 2-0. Clearly the reigning European and World Cup champions were the heavy favorites despite Wembley being the venue on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney was an obvious absentee as Capello continued to experiment with his line-up, Phil Jones was given the start in mid-field partnering Scott Parker and Frank Lampard, while Darren Bent was the lone striker up front. Spain fielded a ruthless starting eleven, Xabi Alonso flanked by Xavi and Sergio Busquets in the middle, complimented by the attacking force of David Silva, Andres Iniesta and David Villa. Nine players in total have previous experience against England which is quite remarkable.

From the first touches Spain took control pinning the home side deep inside their own end with everyone behind the ball, Darren Bent immediately was isolated up front. Chasing shadows would best describe the opening exchanges, England seemed content on conceding possession and absorbing the pressure, an aspect which would continue throughout ninety-minutes.

Phil Jones was doing a good job exposing any space that opened up and had a couple of daring runs on the counter, keeping Spain honest in their countless waves of attack. Despite having minimal possession the back four did a tremendous job in extinguishing any threat on goal, Joe Hart had little to do. Considering all the movement in possession Xavi and Alonso found it extremely difficult to breach the defensive wall set up by Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka.

Spain were on the bad end of two questionable offside decisions by the linesman, on both occasions replays showed Villa and Silva were clearly onside and would have posed a serious threat if play was allowed to continue. The first shot on target surprisingly fell to England, Lampard attempted from distance which was calmly handled by Iker Casillas after Jones found space again behind Busquets, but that was the only decent opportunity of the half. Having three quarters of possession proved to be of minimal importance, Spain was misfiring in the final third.

Del Bosque made three changes for the second half, in came Pepe Reina for Casillas, with Cesc Fabregas and Juan Mata replacing Xavi and David Silva. Capello responded with only one change of his own, Stewart Downing taking the place of Theo Walcott who struggled with his defensive responsibilities for the entire first half. Spain continued where they left off and tried in vain to pass their way through the strong core of Lampard and Scott Parker. Alvaro Arbeloa made an impressive run and cut inside Ashley Cole, Villa accepted the lay-off but skied the ball way over the target, the striker struggled to find that final touch needed to complete the positive build up play.

Lampard was awarded the captains armband for the match with John Terry on the bench, and the Chelsea man made his presence known by scoring the opener to give England the lead. Never quitting on the play and being rewarded for his efforts with a gift on the goal line. James Milner sent in a nice ball from the set-piece, Bent fought off Sergio Ramos to send in a clinical header off the post which ricocheted right into Lampard's path. That was the second and last shot of the match for the Three Lions.

Before the hour mark Spain finally breached the English back four, Villa made a good run to get behind Jagielka and was clear through but Hart did well to come out and push the striker wide enough for his shot to hit side-netting. Sergio Ramos was then lucky to escape seeing red for an audacious two-footed challenge on Bent, getting away with only a caution by the referee. The visitors continued to apply immense pressure as England fought valiantly to hold on to the lead. Twice Glen Johnson had to be bailed out for poor clearances, the worst resulting in a superb half-volley attempt by Villa that struck the post, it is worth noting Fernando Torres showed no effort to follow the rebound and had his back turned to the play.

The last ten minutes saw England defending deep as Spain pressed for the equalizer, Parker was the difference for England, shutting down the passing lanes and closing down space and diving into tackles at the appropriate times. This was his best game for the national side and deserved being named man of the match. Parker was everywhere on the pitch, even making a last ditch effort to block Fabregas of a golden opportunity to even the score, hustling back to break up the pass to Gerard Pique who would have tested Hart from such a close distance. 

Fabregas had two other chances before injury time but came up short on both occasions, the first showed great technical ability to spin off his defender before testing Hart with a shot that dangerously deflected off Jagielka before reaching the target. But the final chance was by far the best, in acres of space with Hart at his mercy following a great ball by Villa, this time his effort shaved the far post missing the net completely, it was horrendous miss that summed up Spain's performance on the day.

No one would have expected England to be victorious yet somehow they managed to grind out the result with some hard-nosed aggressive football. Beating the defending World Champions will give the team a much needed moral boost and confidence moving forward. Despite having fewer than thirty percent of possession England managed to finish off with the same tally of shots on target, two. But Spain had twenty-one that went off target to the home sides three. Now is the time to rejoice and celebrate the victory even though it was just a friendly, enough of the analysis and negativity that usually follows, on this day England may have not been the better side but their performance was good enough to earn a positive result. 

Uninspired Canadians Through To Next Round

Focusing on the bigger picture Canada earned the point needed to qualify to the next phase of CONCACAF World Cup qualification, mission accomplished. But recent performances have been extremely disappointing. Another scoreless draw versus weaker opposition does little to build confidence moving forward.

The atmosphere inside Warner Stadium on the tiny island of St Kitts and Nevis was surprisingly upbeat and festive. The sound of steel drums could be heard echoing around the modest athletic facility, the crowd was energetic and really got behind the home side as they crammed inside the aging concrete stadium.  If you missed the match which was aired via live stream on sportsnet.ca, the pitch was equivalent to what you would play on at your nearest neighborhood park, not for professionals. Lucky for Canada the match was played at night rather than mid-day which would have provided all sorts of problems because of the heat and humidity.

Both sides had chances in the opening exchanges but neither could muster up a decent opportunity. Simeon Jackson squandered a good chance early on, sending his shot over the bar. The Sugar Boyz responded back and were inches away from taking the surprising lead, thirty-nine year old Keith Gumbs beat Lars Hirschfeld with his header but the ball skipped inches wide of the post.

The game continued with a barrage of half-chances but it was evident from the beginning Canada was out of sync struggling to put two passes together offensively, content with playing the long ball dump and chase. The middle of the field was a black hole, void of any creativity. Josh Simpson and Dwayne De Rosario took turns moving the ball up the field but were forced wide and left isolated in no man's land without any options due in large part to Canada's lack of movement off the ball. The performance was stale and uninspired, almost settling for the draw instead of going for the kill.

Defensively the Canadians were lucky not to concede on a number of occasions, stronger opposition would have made them pay dearly for their laziness at the back. The man-marking was atrocious across the board. If they continue to play like this an early exit in the next round is inevitable. St. Kitts were able to enjoy long spells of possession uncontested, dictating the pace and virtually outplaying Canada in every facet of the game. It looked as if Canada expected this to be a walk in the park. Overall their performance was dull and lifeless.

I’m not sure if the resort-like surroundings played a role in Canada's lethargic performance, it must be hard not to relax in that type of atmosphere. But every player looked extremely rusty with every touch of the ball. The second half provided much of the same from the home side, firmly in control Ian Lake sent a shot wide from inside the eighteen yard box, followed by a penalty appeal by Isaac George which was not given by the referee. The pep talk by Stephen Hart in the locker room obviously did nothing to motivate his players.

As the match progressed Canada did have a handful of opportunities to break the deadlock with Jackson and Julian de Guzman each coming closest to scoring, unfortunately both struggled with their control and final ball all night, failing to test Akil Byron with a proper shot on goal. With time winding down St. Kitts had another appeal for handball turned down by the referee following a corner kick which pin-balled inside Hirschfeld's area before going out of bounds.

Deep in injury time Jackson was sent clear through on the breakaway from almost the half-way line, but the Premiership striker's finish was dreadful as Byron came out hard on the challenge to make a decent kick save. A player of his caliber should have done much better after having so much time to pick his spot. Jackson was one of many that had an off night.

After starting out with three straight victories, scoring fourteen goals and conceding only one, it was safe to say confidence was at an all-time high in the Canadian camp. Any momentum gained has now been lost following two uninspired performances that resulted in zero goals scored. The final match in the group takes place on Tuesday, instead of taking it easy and fielding a weaker line-up Hart should look at this match as an opportunity to regain some much needed confidence within the squad. Go for the jugular in Toronto and restore some of that earlier good form.

Nothing short of undying patriotism and love of soccer was needed in order to sit through these last two matches; both were dreadful to watch. If for nothing else but to pay back the supporters who stick by the national team and help to promote the sport from coast to coast, Canada needs to put on the same type of performance as in St. Lucia, which sadly was not televised. Going into the next round on a positive note should be priority number one as the fixtures only get harder from here on out.  

The Unfit Referee: European Cup Play-off Preview

In five days the road to the European Championships in Poland and the Ukraine will end and the nations participating will be known, only four spots remain as the play-offs are set to kick-off Friday with the return legs commencing on Tuesday. The match-ups are all intriguing with each having their own side story attached for added drama. The favorites are obvious but nothing is ever a guarantee in football.


Bosnia-Herzegovina over Portugal (2-1 on aggregate)

Always the bridesmaid and never the bride, unfortunately Portugal will suffer the humiliation of not even being invited to the wedding at Euro 2012. The Portuguese have been on the cusp of achieving something major in international football for quite some time. The much-hyped "Golden Generation" produced some exquisite players but failed to bring home any silverware. They have been below-par in qualifying, losing to Denmark on the final day has handed Portugal the difficult task of beating a strong Bosnia-Herzegovina team that were just twelve minutes away from a miraculous upset victory in the Stade de France which would have seen them win the group.

Paulo Bento has clashed with his players since taking charge; Ricardo Carvalho and more recently Jose Bosingwa have temporarily retired from the squad due to conflicts with the manager. Cristiano Ronaldo will have to shoulder much of the burden and step up his game tremendously for Portugal to advance, never the same player for country as he is for club. Portugal will need the Real Madrid Ronaldo to make an appearance in both legs. Bosnia is tough to break down especially on home soil, losing 2-0 to France was their only defeat, and one other goal breached their goal-line in the remaining home fixtures.

Normally you hope to host the return leg but in Bosnia's case getting off to a great start at home is most important to gain confidence. They lost both legs 1-0 in the playoffs for the 2010 World Cup to Portugal so a quick start is vital for progression. Give them the edge defensively; Asmir Begovic is of higher standard in goal over his counterpart Rui Patricio. Going the opposite way Portugal have superior attacking options than the Bosnians, especially in mid-field but still are missing that expert marksman to put the ball into the back of the net. Both legs will be low scoring and extremely tight, but Bosnia have the X-factor in Edin Dzeko. The Manchester City striker is in tremendous form and will be very difficult to keep quiet. Revenge will be on his mind, never wanting to re-live another failure at this stage, I see him scoring the crucial goal that will gain his country qualification to their first major tournament.


Turkey over Croatia (3-1 on aggregate)

Another heartbreaking defeat is on the horizon for Croatia at the hands of Guus Hiddink's revamped Turkey. It will be the second time the Croats will be knocked out of European competition by their Turkish opponents following the loss in 2008, taking the lead with only one minute of normal time left in the quarterfinal, victory was moments away. Remarkably Semih Senturk tied the score deep into injury time to force penalty kicks in which Turkey prevailed. It was an absolute gem of a match, instantly becoming a classic for football lovers. But was a disastrous end for Slaven Bilic's side following a great qualifying campaign and an undefeated record in the group stages. Revenge is definitely on the minds of everyone dressed in the famous red and white checkers of Croatia.

Turkey had suffered through some difficulties in qualifying but managed to hold off the improved Belgians to clinch second spot. Hiddink's biggest blip was a humiliating away defeat to minnows Azerbaijan, and more alarming winning only one match from five on the road. Croatia had similar slip ups to weaker opposition, losing to Georgia earlier this year, but earning just a single point out of six to eventual group winners Greece is the main reason for having to qualify through the play-offs. Looking purely at the statistics Croatia should be able to get by Turkey and earn some much needed revenge. Undefeated at home in qualifying and surrendering just seven goals in ten matches, it is very difficult to look past the numbers. Consider Turkey's low goal production, all signs point to a play-off exit for Hiddink's men. But I do believe in this case the statistics will not mirror the eventual final result.

This probably will be Turkey's last hurrah under Hiddink and the Dutchman is not accustomed to failure. Arda Turan will be looked at to lead the charge by his manager, for Croatia Luka Modric will shoulder the bulk of the load, both are in fantastic form at the moment. Istanbul and Zagreb respectively provide an intimidating atmosphere to play in so it will come down to which team can score more goals on home turf. I gave the edge to Turkey because of their tendency to rise to the occasion when the chips are stacked against them, if anyone can motivate a group of players to achieve greatness I can think of none other better than Hiddink. A big win in the first leg will catapult Turkey into qualification.


Montenegro over Czech Republic (1-0 on aggregate)

Eight years ago the Czech Republic were being touted as an up and coming football powerhouse on the international scene, watching their free-fall has been quite shocking. It all started back in Portugal and the loss to eventual 2004 European champions Greece, losing by the horrible silver goal rule right at the death. A bitter pill to swallow considering Czech football was at an all-time high, the shocking defeat started a negative ripple effect that has yet to fully settle. Qualification started on a sour note with a home loss to Lithuania, not the ideal start. Unlucky to be drawn in the same group as Spain, the Czech's luck appeared when it mattered most, at Hampden Park during an important encounter with Scotland. Awarded a penalty following a blatant dive by Jan Rezek, the spot kick was converted giving them a crucial share of the points. This result played a direct role in qualifying ahead of the Scots.

Montenegro has a roster full of gritty battle-hardened players that form an impenetrable force behind the ball, not much was considering their short existence on the international stage. Blessed with a solid core of experience and youth, The Brave Falcons defied the odds and finished above the likes of Switzerland and Bulgaria en-route to the play-offs. It was far from an entertaining brand of football but effective in achieving their objective. The obvious spot of weakness is scoring goals, only seven in eight matches, makes you wonder how they got this far with such a low tally. However their weapon is on the defensive end, suffocating their opponent’s style of play, forcing opponents to make mistakes, giving them opportunities to score on the counter attack. Just ask Wayne Rooney about how frustrating it can be playing against that type of system.

Petr Cech is determined to start the first leg despite recovering from broken nose suffered on the weekend. He looks like a bionic goalkeeper from the future after being fitted with a face mask, complimenting the head gear which has now become his trademark. The veteran keeper will be relied on heavily by his team-mates to lead from the back and keep the defensive line from being breached. Montenegro is more capable of poaching a road goal rather than surrendering in Podgorica, the hostile atmosphere makes things much more difficult for any visiting team. Stevan Jovetic will play a major role in earning his country a spot in Euro 2012, a tremendous accomplishment for this small nation of just over a half million, makes it even more remarkable this was all done in five years after being granted membership into FIFA.


Ireland over Estonia (3-1 on aggregate)

The luck of the Irish has rarely sided with The Boys in Green on the football pitch. How can we forget the intentional handball by Thierry Henry, which led to the winning goal, denying Ireland a much deserved spot in South Africa. FIFA will never escape that PR nightmare after the Irish were unjustly eliminated. However under Giovanni Trapattoni the team has put together a respectable record, losers of eight in all competitions under the Italian. It would have been a major disappointment not to finish in the top two places in the group, with Russia and Slovakia being the biggest threat, although Armenia surprisingly finished third. Strength away from home has been an added weapon, undefeated in qualifying, surrendering a single goal in the process.

The award for the biggest surprise in qualifying definitely goes to Estonia, miraculously finishing second behind Italy to earn one of the coveted eight play-off spots. No one would have ever predicted the new hero's of Tallinn to better Serbia, Slovenia or even Northern Ireland for that matter. Taking nothing away from Estonia, progression to the next phase was more to due with the under achievements of others rather than their own good form, but manager Tarmo Ruutli did guide his side to shocking away victories against the three sides that finished directly below them which was a massive shock, showing the squad is capable of handling the pressure. The 3-1 win in Serbia was most impressive because of the intimidating atmosphere Belgrade provides.

What a Cinderella story it would be if Estonia some how managed to eliminate the Irish, improbable yes, but nothing is impossible. Ireland will hobble into the first leg without the services of Leon Best and Shane Long; both are out due to injuries. This is coupled by the absence of Kevin Doyle through suspension. But Trapattoni can rely on the in form Jonathan Walters or Simon Cox to partner Robbie Keane up front, and with Shay Given in net it is hard to see another Irish failure on the horizon. Estonia are delighted to have made it this far but should not be overlooked, anything can happen over two-legs. Unfortunately for The Blue Shirts they will be up against an experienced veteran keeper in Given who will be the difference. Both nations finished with fifteen goals scored, however Estonia allowed twice as many against than their opponents. Dublin will be a great place to be come Tuesday when Ireland books their spot to Euro 2012.


Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee

Liverpool Lacking Killer Instinct

It has becoming increasingly obvious that Liverpool's lack of goal production will inevitably harm their chances of earning a top four finish this season, only finding the back of the net fourteen times in eleven matches is surely not the formula for success Kenny Dalglish had in mind when constructing his team in the off-season. The delivery from the flanks has been for the most part poor and off the mark, either going behind their intended target or embarrassingly out of play. When the distribution has been there, the finishing has been non-existent.

Stewart Downing has under-performed, lacking the accuracy in his distribution that brought him much praise at Aston Villa. Jordan Henderson is another one of Dalglish's recent signing that has struggled to make a positive impression, mostly looking lost and out of position. These are still early days but both will need to step it up in a hurry. Dirk Kuyt has become the forgotten man since all the new arrivals at Anfield, losing his starting place to Henderson for reasons I find difficult to understand. No one can match his work rate on the pitch and dedication to the team, endearing himself to the Kop and deserving of a place in the starting eleven.

Dropping points at home has become an alarming trend these days at Anfield, suffering humiliating draws to Sunderland, Norwich City and most recently Swansea City, shockingly unable to beat two newly promoted teams on home turf. That is six points that could make or break their European ambitions come May. It has been a long while since Anfield has been regarded as a fortress, the feverish support emanating from the terraces still provides an intimidating atmosphere for the opposition. Shamefully the performance on the pitch falls short of the input given by the twelfth man in the stands.

While Luis Suarez has been the clubs savior and top performer since his arrival back in January, earning much of the spotlight with relentless pace in attack and his never say die attitude, Andy Carroll has been a major disappointment. The price-tag for his services is well-known, plenty was expected from the thirty-five million pound man, sadly for Liverpool their return on investment has been a woeful three goals in all competitions this season, not good enough plain and simple.

The chances have been there for Carroll to prove himself, missing a header from six yards out against Norwich that would have sealed victory for Liverpool in injury time, striking the crossbar on a complete sitter with the net at his mercy against Swansea City this past weekend, the opportunity for redemption has been within his grasp only for Carroll to fall short at every attempt. Those examples are the most memorable, although their have been many other shortcomings. Not to knock the big man too much, his aerial prowess has been strong in knocking down balls to teammates and linking up play. However strikers are judged on goal production and Carroll needs to step it up.

Statistically Liverpool has enjoyed the majority of possession in their matches thus far, controlling the flow and dictating the pace early on but having nothing to show for all their hard work. You can see the frustration build in the eyes of the manager and supporters as the clock continues to tick away along with the chance to earn maximum points. Scoring from set-pieces is almost non-existent, comical even, looking at the amount of corners or free kicks that have been wasted. Charlie Adam was bought specifically for this reason, but so far has been inconsistent in his distribution of the ball, sometimes being at fault for over-complicating things with a brash long ball rather than the safer short pass to keep possession.

Despite owning the league's third best defensive record with only ten goals allowed, the majority have come from poor man marking on set-pieces or defensive errors that could have been avoided, dropping precious points from winning positions after controlling large portions of the match. Martin Skrtel has been below-par and has proven incapable of covering his marker, Daniel Agger has recently returned from another injury set-back that continues to sabotage his form, the Dane has found it difficult to stay healthy for long stretches.

The only positives defensively have come from the flanks; Jose Enrique has been outstanding at left-back, strengthening a position of weakness for Liverpool. Melwood graduate Martin Kelly is the other bright spot; the youngster has been a revelation at right-back, wrestling away the starting spot from Glen Johnson with his reliability and skill on both ends of the pitch. A future call-up to England’s senior side is a definite possibility for the Whiston born defender.

For all the slack he receives because of his age and lack of pace, Jamie Carragher is still the heartbeat of the squad and an integral part of Dalglish's formula defensively. Without his experience commanding the back line Liverpool would be lost. While Steven Gerrard continues to struggle through injuries that have forced the club captain to watch from the stands, Carra's leadership on the field is needed now more than ever.

Even Pepe Reina has struggled with consistency this season. The Spaniard has built a reputation of being one of the Premiership's best between the posts, having a collection of golden glove awards as proof. But the past two seasons have been extremely difficult, constantly picking the ball out of his net after countless defensive mistakes despite his best efforts, surprisingly able to keep his confidence through theses rough patches. Always dependable and a true leader on the field, Reina has looked shaky at times. Normally a gifted distributor of the ball with tremendous skill at reading crosses into his area, both have seen spells of inconsistency, coupled with Liverpool's shoddy man marking, it's not surprising Reina has kept only kept four clean sheets in all competitions this term.

Liverpool were never going to challenge for the title this season although more was expected after making such a huge splash in the transfer market this past summer. John W. Henry made his expectations known, expecting nothing less than Champions League qualification; this cannot be attained if the team continues to struggle at home against inferior opposition. Their failure to close out matches has not gone unnoticed by the rest of the league, absorbing the pressure and striking back on the counter attack as Liverpool start to get sloppy after every missed opportunity.

Like a boxer who out-punches his opponent but fails to provide the knock-out blow with him teetering on the ropes, only to get caught in the later rounds by a lucky punch. Liverpool is lacking that killer instinct needed to win games, especially at Anfield. Dalglish needs to find the right formula to get his under-performing stars firing on all cylinders if Liverpool expects to finish in the top four.


Comments and opinions, I want to hear them, don't be shy, let your voice be heard.

The Unfit Referee: The Suarez Effect

It has been less than a year since Luis Suarez burst onto the scene for Liverpool, scoring on his debut with one of his now trademark runs, showcasing the flash and cocky demeanor we have all grown accustomed to seeing game after game. The little Uruguayan has made a major impact on Merseyside, single-handedly taking control of matches with his high energy style and constant bombardment of the opponent’s goal, already making the Kop forget about their former start striker who jumped ship during those dark days at Anfield, what was his name again?

El Pistolero, meaning "The Gunslinger", definitely has lived up to his moniker in the Premiership, terrorizing defenders and keepers alike with his unpredictable footwork. Given the beloved number seven shirt by Kenny Dalglish upon his arrival, Suarez performance on the pitch has surpassed expectations that have come along with the price tag attached for his services.

The positives are endless, unbelievable technical ability that is complimented by steady pace on the ball, determination going forward at all times creating chances out of thin air; his quick adaptation to the English game has been a blessing for all Kopites worldwide. It has been a perfect match for club and player. Suarez gives you ninety minutes of pure intensity on the pitch, with the passion to win at all costs, never will you see him quit on a play no matter who the competition or what score line. The will to win surpasses potential to fail.

Not far from controversy, Suarez has had a couple moments of madness in his career. The most bizarre happened when playing for Ajax in an Eredivisie match against rivals PSV, biting Otman Bakkal almost vampire-like on the pitch after being on the receiving end of an apparent stomp on the foot, giving him proper nutter credentials. Playing with so much aggression, the Uruguayan tends to allow his emotions to get the better of him at times. Things have calmed down since then, but you can never be too sure Suarez can keep himself in check.  So far he has done a good job controlling his behavior with Liverpool, only compiling two yellow cards to date for dissent. That is what I like most about Suarez; his hunger to win is like no other.

The World Cup in South Africa was the venue for his most famous controversy, purposely sticking an arm out to block a sure goal by Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan that would have sent Uruguay crashing out of the tournament, receiving a straight red card for the deliberate handball, Ghana missed the resulting penalty and eventually lost the match. Many condemned Suarez for his action, although most players would admit to reacting in the same manor if put in a similar situation. It is tough to question his loyalty to the cause.

Liverpool bought an absolute gem in Suarez, never fatigued despite playing almost two years without a proper break, always hungry to play in every match and visibly disappointed when subbed off. Suarez is a manager’s dream, involved in every play; his commitment on the field rubs off on the rest of the squad. Blessed with a bag of tricks, Suarez has the ability to attack defenders at will, at times he can be accused of being a little selfish opting to shoot or take on multiple defenders when a pass is the better option, but that desire to go forward is what makes him such an unpredictable force in attack.

This past summer he won the Copa America with Uruguay and was voted best player of the tournament, scoring four goals in the process. Instead of taking an extended break, ever the model professional Suarez was on the pitch playing for Liverpool within three weeks of the final in Argentina, scoring his clubs only goal on opening day at Anfield. Dalglish would have rather given him a couple weeks rest instead of thrusting him back into the squad on virtually no rest, but the little Uruguayan insisted on starting the match, proving his fitness to the club and ready to compete at the highest level.

Critics will point the finger at the ratio of shots to goals being on low end, but where would Liverpool be without Suarez leading the charge? The impact he has had on the team is immense, I would gladly take five missed chances if it produces one goal. It is hard to only judge missed chances when his work rate is extraordinary, always pressuring for possession of the ball and pestering the opposition.

Another aspect that garners much attention in Suarez’s game but for all the wrong reasons is his rate of going to ground rather easily. It is ridiculous to judge him a diver, positioning is a tremendous skill which Suarez has plenty of, doing an amazing job of getting to a spot before his marker to gain the important edge that forces the defender to make a quick decision, usually resulting in a foul. That is the sign of an intelligent footballer not simulation, although we can do without the extra rolling around on the ground that sometimes follows.

It has taken longer than expected but a strong partnership with Andy Carroll is slowly coming to fruition. The big Englishman was injured for the most part last season and has had a slow start to the new campaign, where Suarez has thrived; Carroll has struggled tremendously with life at Liverpool. However in the last three matches the two have linked up quite well and have shown strong signs of improvement, Carroll knocking down balls to Suarez to play off of and exploit spaces with his pace, sucking defenders in with his technical ability to allow his counterpart to get free and in a scoring position. I expect big things to be on the horizon when these two kick into high gear down the stretch.

The loss of club captain Steven Gerrard has been a huge blow to the club, only recently making his return from a lengthy lay-off; the midfielder has now been put on the shelf for a second time leaving Liverpool without their leader on the pitch.  The Suarez effect has allowed Liverpool to be less reliant on their captain and give Gerrard the necessary time needed to heel.

Without question Suarez has proven worthy of wearing the number made famous by his manager, only time will tell if he can earn the same type of status reserved only for Anfield legends and win trophies for the club, a feat which is long overdue.


Check back next week for a new edition of The Unfit Referee