The Luis Suarez saga; time to move on

The media may have contributed somewhat to the downfall in his love affair with Liverpool and the English game, but they cannot possibly be held fully accountable for Suarez' intention to leave Liverpool.

Luis Suarez arrived from Ajax in a similar situation to the one he finds himself in now; a ban for biting. This inevitably gave him a bad reputation ahead of his arrival in the Premier League, along with his deliberate handball for Uruguay whilst on International duty against Ghana, a deliberate handball on the line which ultimately led to a missed penalty, along with Ghana's opportunity to progress in the World Cup.

Suarez is certainly guilty of some undeniably severe infingements during his time at Liverpool, and they have stood by him through times of sheer madness, both during Dalglish's time as manager and since Brendan Rodgers took the reigns. The media has been drawn to his inability to suppress his anger and frustration on the pitch; he repeatedly loaded the bullets for the press to fire them back in his direction.

His statements in recent interviews have been unfathomable. His claims of lack of support from Liverpool are without substance, and quite contradictory to what he has been saying earlier this year following his punishment being confirmed by the FA,  when he iterated his desire to remain a Liverpool player.

Perhaps his head has been turned by someone in Spain. His agent could possibly have received contact from someone in the Spanish game to discuss interest in his services, and a possible way forward in enabling Suarez to leave Liverpool and join the ranks of one of La Liga's most successful sides.

The rumours continue to circulate that Real Madrid are indeed going to put an offer forward. Liverpool have since come forward and commented on the recent development, confirming their intention to keep Suarez for the remainder of his contract.

Indeed he has said in his interviews that he remains a Liverpool player and he has a contract to honour, however he has also made it clear that he wishes for the club to listen to him and is insistent upon leaving.

If he goes, he'll be the same player; capable of moments of individual brilliance, sparking the toughest of games to life, however he will always play on the edge, one step away from his next controversy, something that the British football community have grown all too familiar to over the past two years...

Perhaps the behaviour he has demonstrated in England will not have quite the same impact upon the media and the Spanish footballing body as it has over here. Somehow I doubt that though. He will take with him a reputation for controversy, and despite the incredible talent he possesses, he is likely to attract the wrong attention from day one, both from the officials and opposing team players, meaning it'll be highly unlikely that we'll be talking about his incredible footballing prowess; instead we will be mulling over the latest drama he has taken centre stage in.

Liverpool need to decide, and act quickly. They know that for the first six games of the season they will be without their top goalscorer of 2012/13, but is his quality worth the wait? His current attitude could also be taken into account; he clearly wants away from the club, and the country, to move over to greener pastures, so perhaps this will psychologically affect his performances when he does return.

For the substantial sum of money Liverpool would receive for Suarez, they'd be capable of bring either one top striker, or one or two good quality players to bolster their squad even more. The colossal task of replacing Suarez as their star striker, however, could prove near impossible. He demonstrated just the other evening against Spain in the 88th minute of their defeat just how capable he is at pulling a goal out of the hat when it seems so unlikely.

The lack of Champions League football will also prove to be a sticking point when it comes to attracting players of the highest caliber. However, Liverpool have been improving even when Suarez hasn't played. Their style of football hasn't suffered too much, and since the capture of Coutinho and Sturridge, their form in the second half of the season proved to be that of a top four team.

I believe Liverpool can move on from this. Sell Suarez, bring in a replacement, perhaps without instant impact, but certainly the potential to reach the heights which Suarez did, but, notably, without the lows.

Unwanted media attention can cause great impact on a team, and their outlook, and perhaps within the dressing room the atmosphere can change. Any team would be better without the disruption Suarez has brought, and so, in the best interests of the image of this  club as a whole, they should close the final curtain on the Suarez saga.

Football's Worst Kept Secret is Out

'The Special One' - Mourinho

Today, football's worst kept secret has finally been 'revealed'.  The time has finally come, when the most worshipped manager in recent times at Chelsea returns home.

Jose Mourinho.

A 4 year contract has been agreed between Mourinho and his former club, Chelsea, to work his magic and bring the glory days back to Stamford Bridge.

Significantly, the one thing Roman Abramovic desired the most was the one thing Mourinho couldn't provide in his previous tenure as the Blues boss; the Champions League trophy. Instead, the first person to succeed at satisfying Roman's craving was Roberto Di Matteo. This, however, did little in guaranteeing his position on the touchline, and despite being handed a contract as a reward for winning Europe's elite competition, his days with the European champions were numbered.

As mentioned in my previous post titled 'Mourinho - The Special One', Benitez replaced Di Matteo, and succeeded in stabilising Chelsea last season in the Barclays Premier League, proving his doubters wrong in the process, but as interim coach his impending replacement was the subject of unrelenting speculation. With a little help from Mourinho himself, all eyes were soon fixed firmly on the Bernabeu, following a spate of hints dropped and comments made by the self-proclaimed 'Special One', pointing towards an almost romantic return to the Premier League.

Starting today, Mourinho will commence his plans to take Chelsea to the top of English football, and indeed, he will undoubtedly be gunning for that coveted yet seemingly elusive Champions League trophy, and to banish that European hoodoo which indeed haunted him during his first spell at the London club.

My question is, where will he start? Does he stand by the experience of veterans Terry, Lampard, Cole and Cech, or does he turn over a new leaf, and start his own revolution at the club?

In celebratory mood...

Rumours are already surfacing regarding the possible sale of David Luiz to long-admiring Barcelona, for a reported £30m. If this is indeed true, then a defensive signing would certainly seem logical and extremely probable.

He is inheriting a squad which is teeming with creativity, class and competition, but he has his own style, his own vision; one which will slowly become clear as the transfer window and pre-season progress. I'm sure we'll see some outbound transfers, but you can bet your mortgage that Mourinho will have a reason for these; a higher calibre replacement.

Manchester's top two clubs, United and City, will be looking over their shoulders now, that's for sure.

Whatever the season holds for Mourinho, I'm under no illusions when I say it will be eventful, entertaining, and exciting. 

The Premier League awaits...

The nPower Championship season concluded yesterday, with the third and final team claiming their long awaited and well deserved place in the Premier League next season via the play-offs; that team being Crystal Palace.

Come August, they will be joining Cardiff and Hull in battle against the English elite (and Welsh), testing their mettle in the toughest league in the country. 

Wilfred Zaha - key to their promotion

They have endured a tough season, but the effort that each player has put into this campaign has proved worthwhile in the end. Zaha in particular can certainly feel proud of his contributions this season; especially in the play off semi-final, scoring a brace to gain the Palace a place at Wembley, and in his man of the match performance at Wembley on Sunday afternoon, drawing the crucial foul which led to the winner; a spot kick despatched in fine fashion by 39-year-old veteran Kevin Philips - the perfect candidate for a high pressure occasion such as this.

For Zaha, however, the celebrations didn't last long before his mind wandered to the thoughts of his future, with the recently crowned champions of the Premier League, Manchester United. It was clear to see that the emotion of the occasion had got to him, knowing that he may have played his last game for The Eagles, a club which clearly means a lot to him.

If Palace are to survive the Premier League, renewing the loan contract for Zaha is of paramount importance, I feel. He has proved influential in the majority of their matches this season, and in the Premier League, his skill and pace is sure to provide a tough challenge for any top defense.

Holloway himself knows how difficult a task survival in the BPL can be, having suffered relegation with Blackpool just two years ago, despite a hard-fought points total of 39, which ironically would have been enough to ensure safety if obtained over the past two seasons.

Barking orders at Wembley

But a new task lies ahead of him, with a new team, and he may need to call on that experience to help see him through, managing a side who have been Premier League contenders on 5 seperate occasions, but have been relegated at the first attempt every time. The odds are stacked against them....

They will take comfort, then, from the fact that the last two play off winners, West Ham & Swansea, have succeeded in avoiding the drop and pushed on to cement themselves in the mid-table of the BPL.

What struck me though, was Holloway's statement regarding the £120m of funds which will be generated for the club over time as a result of this promotion. He confirmed that the majority of this will be spent on redeveloping Selhurst Park.

I can understand the need to develop the stadium and it's facilities, but how much does he mean by 'majority'? In addition, he said "How much you spend on your group isn't always what gives you success. It's what's inside their hearts and how much they work for you."

I agree completely!

A newly promoted side from the championship, however, who are potentially losing one of their key squad members, need to invest in new talent.

Reading, QPR and Wigan are just a few teams that have quality players in abundance, who will be itching to return to the Premier League, following their side's dismal campaigns.

I like Ian Holloway, and I've enjoyed watching Crystal Palace this season. I'm glad they've secured a long awaited return to the Premier League.

But if the Eagles don't ruffle a few feathers and reinforce their squad, they will come crashing back down, of that I'm sure....

Mourinho - The Special One

'The Special One' to return to 'where he is loved'.

My previous post suggested Mourinho was the perfect candidate for the then vacant manager's seat at Old Trafford. Now that Moyes has taken the reigns at the Theatre of Dreams, the spotlight turns to Stamford Bridge...

Chelsea had got off to a stuttering start in the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season, but, following the dismissal of Roberto Di Matteo (which I felt was the wrong decision- later to be proved wrong, I admit), and the appointment of Rafael Benitez, their domestic and European campaigns were soon back on track and heading for glory.

'The Special One'

Met with unwelcoming taunts and chants at his first few games, it would have been understandable if Benitez stepped down. But no; his unrelenting determination to make a success of the London club's season shone through, and he stuck by his principles as interim coach at The Blues, guiding them to a very respectable 3rd place finish in the Premier League. They also claimed victory in the Europa League final, making Chelsea the first club in history to hold both European Crowns at the same time.

Mix that with the achievement for Frank Lampard, breaking the record of all-time top goalscorer for Chelsea, previously held by Bobby Tamlin, and surely that can be deemed a successful season...?

Leaving with his head held high, Rafael Benitez transformed the fortunes of the club within such a short space of time, and has left the building blocks in place for his successor to progress the club to the next level. The opportunity of mounting a serious challenge for the title next season doesn't seem that unrealistic...

But who has the tactical knowledge and quality which such a challenge would demand?

Jose Mourinho. He's done it before, in successive seasons, and I doubt that there is a better man out there at the moment who has the skill set required...

He's recently announced his decision to depart the Bernabeu after three years at Real Madrid as Manager,  and in numerous press conferences he has been quotes as saying 'I will go where I am loved'.

Make of that what you will; what I believe it to be is a sly message to all those fans who have been yearning for the return of the 'Special One', a message that says 'London... I'm coming home.'

The love affair between the English press and Football's most eccentric manager will commence once more.

We'll be graced with quotes the like of which we have never even comprehended, such as “It is like having a blanket that is too small for the bed. You pull the blanket up to keep your chest warm and your feet stick out. I cannot buy a bigger blanket becuase the supermarket is closed. But I am content because the blanket is cashmere. It is no ordinary blanket.”

I love him. I want him back in the Premier League, and I'm sure the majority of the footballing community want him back. 

There will be changes at Stamford Bridge. Players out. Players in. One manager out. One manager in.

Chelsea will rise to the top once more, that's his plan. 

He's not arrogant. He's special.
 

Sir Alex Ferguson Retiring at End of 2012/13 Barclays Premier LeagueSeason

The end of the line for Sir Alex

This morning I woke up to the news that there was a lot of speculation and rumour being thrown around, hinting at Sir Alex Ferguson's reign as Manchester United manager finally coming to an end.

The first thing I thought was 'rubbish!'.

I was reading, not too long back, an article which included some quotes from Sir Alex, stating he had no intention of walking away, despite the impending surgery he had looming over his head come the end of the season... 

As you can imagine, when the confirmation from Old Trafford that Sir Alex intends to retire at the end of the season came on the news I was gobsmacked. That's it. No more Fergie hurling abuse at refs from the touchline. No more Fergie chewing gum until his jaw aches with frustration. No more Fergie jumping with joy like a jack-in-a-box when United score.

I glanced at Fergie's record as manager at United, and while I knew he had won a lot of competitions, I was still left astonished... Just take a look at this:

Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013.
FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004
League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010
Champions League: 1999, 2008
Cup Winners Cup: 1991
Fifa Club World Cup: 2008
Uefa Super Cup: 1992
Inter-Continental Cup: 1999
FA Charity/Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

Impressive, don't you think?

I can't really see how United will ever replace such an iconic, successful, influential manager as Ferguson, which is why I feel his appointment to the board of directors as an ambassador for the club is a key decision. 

Whoever comes in to fill his rather large boots on the toucline will have an incredibly difficult task ahead of them. Not just to gain success, which has become a standard for any season at Old Trafford,  but to gain the respect and trust of the fans. Somehow I just know they'll be a tough nut to crack. Fergie's wisdom from his 26 years at the reigns will prove invaluable to his successor, without a shadow of a doubt.

Mourinho seems to be the word on everyone's lips at the moment, and prior to this news, in fact only yesterday, I was suggesting it was likely he'll be back at Stamford Bridge next season, charming the media and the fans with his unmistakeable charisma and infectious sense of humour. But now, I'm not so certain; it seems the timing for him to step in at Old Trafford is impeccable. Almost like it has been planned...

David Moyes is also in the running, with discussions on his suitability for the job having already taken place in earlier years. He's always been one that would seem likely to go for it, after making a success of his time at Everton, battling through difficult financial times along the way. 
The one downfall Moyes has is the lack of trophies in his cabinet; make that zero.

My view is that they have a perfect candidate in Jose Mourinho, a natural born winner, who has plenty of desire for both domestic and continental success. His unique character would make him a fan favourite at United, similarly to his days at Stamford Bridge, where he led Chelsea to back-to-back Premier League titles. It would take time though - his induction would be a tough one, but with the board's backing, including Fergie's, I'm sure this wouldn't cause significant issues and he'd be able to get to winning ways soon enough. Not to mention the fact that he would already be inheriting a '90% there' squad...

Mourinho could also bring a little golden nugget with him. Cristiano Ronaldo. The lure of Old Trafford and Mourinho surely would be too much for the fans' favourite number 7 to resist...? If this happened, the fan's support would almost definitely be secured. It's just a question of whether the club's American owners would be willing to shell out the significant amount of coin which Madrid would demand...

Whichever way this pans out, I'm glad in a way that Fergie has stepped down. While we may not see a greater manager with even half as much success grace the Premier League (or football in general), I'm sure other Premier League managers are cracking open a bottle of champagne, and drinking to the future, because the doubts will begin surfacing whether United will enjoy the same level of success again. There may also be a few grins on faces at the fact this may spell the end of the now infamous 'Fergie Time'.

Sir Alex Ferguson - what a triumph his career has been. Speaking as a Leeds United Fan, I should be pleased he's leaving the touchline for good, but truthfully?  I think this is football's loss. A great manager, a great leader, a great man.

Mourinho & Moyes - If either of you takes the reigns, good luck.

Let me know your thoughts - Will United never be the same, or has Sir Alex left them in a position where the foundations are firm to push on for more success?

Monty Gimpel's departure from Leeds United

Monty Gimpel -  the star that never was

What has happened to the youngster with 'huge potential' that was Monty Gimpel? Signed for Leeds United back in 2011, after they had managed to beat off the likes of Premier League big guns Liverpool & Chelsea, with Arsenal also showing an interest, it seemed like Leeds had signed a real coup...

Winner of the Independent Schools U16 Football Player of the Year, it was clear that we were looking at a rising star. Touted to be one of the next big players in defense, Leeds United, and Simon Grayson, were evidently very pleased to have secured his services for the future.

He had been told he would be in serious contention for a first team spot within 6 months of joining the club, but this possibility never seemed to develop into a reality.

Having heard nothing of the youngster, and with Leeds United's youngsters being so difficult to keep tabs on, it was no surprise to find that, along with nine other players no longer in McDermott's plans for the new project at Leeds United, Gimpel was being released.

I've every confidence in McDermott and his plans for the future, but when I see players being released who received so many plaudits, I guess I can be forgiven for failing to understand the reasoning behind it.

This has happened with Leeds United on so many occasions; sign a player, praise a player, release them the following season... For all the success the academy at Leeds is supposed to have had, I find it baffling that we've not seen more talent break through into the first team lately...(other than the likes of Sam Byram...)

So... why has he gone? What happened to that great potential? No questions seem to have an answer no matter where you look on the web; only rumours and speculation can be found.

If anybody knows anything about Gimpel, please let me know, because I'm dying to find out just why we never got to see the Full Monty...

Luis Suarez - Why did he do it?

Why did he do it? 

The question that has been asked of football's most controversial player all too often is being asked once again; what was going through his mind; what was he feeling at the time?

Luis Suarez has gained infamy for all the wrong reasons since his arrival at Anfield. Well, since his arrival in top level football really...

There was the ridiculous goal denying handball for Uruguay against Ghana in the World Cup 2010, and the wink that followed. Then you have the biting incident in the Dutch league, when he was on Ajax' books. A 7 match ban was enforced as a result, only for Liverpool to save him from this anguish half way through it.

Since then Liverpool have had to defend him for all sorts of reasons, and found themselves talking about the player instead of the results. This, of course, is not how it should have been.

Racial slurs, diving, gestures towards fans, and now, another bite, this time on the unfortunate Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea.

I strongly believe that he is an amazing talent, and one that Liverpool must keep hold of. He is key to their progress, and I think the Merseyside club are every bit as important to him and his career as well. But if they are to stand by him any longer, he needs to conquer his self-control issues, and most importantly of course, he needs to refrain from taking a bite out of his opponents!

Hopefully he'll bounce back from this 10 game ban he's been handed by the FA, and hopefully those anger management sessions recommended by the PFA will provide us with a changed man. Still every bit as competitive, but without the insanity that ensues...

You either love him or hate him; much the same as a certain spread you can purchase from your local supermarket. You ask me? He's fantastic and I'd hate to see him leave the premier league. 

But, I fear if he doesn't take control of himself soon, we might find that he's shipped back across the channel to grace another European league, and Liverpool are unlikely to be able to replace that level of talent in their squad should that be the case...