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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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/12/28/michalakos_blog/

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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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/12/23/michalakos_blog/



 

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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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/12/19/michalakos_blog/

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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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/12/14/michalakos_blog/

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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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/12/11/michalakos_blog/
 

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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http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/12/08/michalakos_blog/

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.