Wolverhampton Wanderers’ star striker Kevin Doyle has again moved to play down speculation linking him with a move away from Molineux this summer.
The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland frontman has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal following a successful first season with Wolves.
However, Doyle, who scored nine times in 37 appearances for Mick McCathy’s men last season, says that he is content to stay in the Black Country for the foreseeable future.
He told the Birmingham Mail:“Nothing has changed, I am very happy here.
“It doesn’t mean I’m not ambitious and want to play at the highest level, but I am happy here and have enjoyed every minute of it.
“It is a pleasure to play for Wolves. All of the players, we all get on so well together and with the manager and everyone.
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“It is tough doing this pre-season, but it is still enjoyable to come in and see everyone.”
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Manager Mick McCarthy is confident that £7million signing Steven Fletcher will prove to be a big success with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The 23-year-old Scotland international scored 12 goals in 38 appearances for Burnley last season, before being snapped up by Wolves following the Clarets’ relegation from the Premier League.
McCarthy told the Express & Star:“We’ve won some and lost some on transfers, but we’ve won with him because whatever we paid for him, he’s worth every penny.
“I’d always been impressed by him, but he’s better than I thought which is always nice when you sign someone. He can play with anyone, he’s a good footballer and he works hard.
“Before we signed him, all I could appreciate about him was what we saw on the pitch.
“But since we signed him, I’ve been able to see him train on a daily basis and I appreciate him even more.
“We looked at him when he was at Hibs, but it just never happened and then Burnley signed him.
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“I don’t beat myself up about not signing him at the time – we have won some and lost some. I’m just glad we’ve got him now.”
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In Francis Fukuyama’s 1992 book, The End Of History And The Last Man, the philosopher and political economist postulated that history may well be coming to an end. His words weren’t those of a raving soothsayer – he did not claim that everything everywhere would end in an apocalyptic hellfire; quite the opposite. He argued that history, as a social and political evolution, will have reached its final form, unable to move beyond or advance towards anything ‘better’ than Western liberal democracy.
A similar thesis could be applied to football. After 150 years of the game, it may be argued that, in an evolutionary sense, the game has stagnated in recent times. Leagues are often ruled predominantly by the same teams sporting similar formations while smaller sides attempt containment to prevent a crushing wallop into the lower divisions. Arrigo Sacchi, often considered one of football’s last great innovators, has said that it is ‘remarkable’ how little advancement there has been since the development of his 1989 AC Milan European Cup winning side (that won Real Madrid 5-0 on the way to the final).
That though is not strictly true. Since the 90’s an increasing number of teams have let the number 10 drop off the striker to create a five-man midfield. Others, evolving in turn from that change, have then decided to push up their two wingers into advanced positions creating a 4-3-3, like Jose Mourinho did while at Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti repeated towards the end of last season in their 8-0 demolishing of Wigan.
Innovation or Continuation?
However, these changes do share a continuum with the past. In the 1930’s a wonderfully gifted yet wiry Austrian forward named Matthias Sindelar was forced to retreat from his forward position, away from burly centre-halves to collect the ball (Nandor Hidegkuti –England’s Hungarian nemesis – followed in a similar manner). Five-man midfields were also arguably a product of the 1930’s, manufactured by Vittorio Pozzo’s Metodo which, in today’s terms, may be seen as a 2-3-2-3. As for wingers playing up alongside the forward, they’re perhaps as old as the game itself.
Genuine innovation then, given all that has come before, coupled with the current globalization and growing homogeneity of the game, is nearing the impossible. Nevertheless, recent occurrences have shown that ingenuity in football is all but dead.
Inversion the next Innovation?
The unforeseen use of inverted wingers, for example, has shown that it is still possible to take a nuanced view on even one of the oldest traditions of the game. Lionel Messi was probably the man that sparked the idea, turning, as he does, inside from the wing and launching the ball towards goal with his favoured foot in any number of games for Barcelona. Louis van Gaal, evidently inspired, began utilizing Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben on their opposite flank. Roberto Mancini likewise began placing Adam Johnson on the right and Craig Bellamy cutting in from the left. Even Steve Bruce popped Steed Malbranque on his usually adjacent flank.
This subtle change is partly so effective because it goes against the grain of the defenders that attempt to prevent it. Full-backs are often taught relentlessly that they should show the winger inside onto his unfavoured foot and into the congested midfield. Up against an inverted winger, however, the defender is letting the winger turn onto his favoured foot. By a way of response, some managers have attempted to stymie the inverted winger’s progress by employing an inverted full-back.
In an FA Cup game against Manchester City, Tony Pulis fielded Stoke City right-back Andy Wilkinson in a left-back position to stymie Mancini’s inverted wingers. However, somewhat unexpectedly, Mancini fielded Wright-Phillips on the right and consequently Wilkinson looked like a duck out of water.
Meanwhile, in the World Cup right-footed Uruguayan Jose Martin Caceres was positioned on the left to stymie the catalyzing effect of Arjen Robben in the semi-final. To a certain extent this worked and Robben was forced to reposition himself within proximity of Robin Van Persie to get into the game (he eventually scored from the middle with his head). It will be interesting to see whether, in the coming years, inverted full-backs will become as regularly used as their winger counterparts.
Next Stop Chile?
Possibly the most exciting innovation of recent times though has been Marco Bielsa’s Chile. Although the side’s 3-3-1-3 formation isn’t entirely new (Bielsa used the same approach as Argentina manager nearly a decade ago) it has certainly yet to win worldwide interest.
What makes Bielsa’s formation so unique is its absolute reliance on player fitness. Had Chile attempted to play like this before the refinement of player nutrition, training and fitness that has taken place in the last two decades, each player would’ve lasted no longer than 45 minutes given the velocity both their defence and attack requires. Anyone who saw them play against Spain would’ve noted how quick they were to close down the Spanish players and how incredibly fast they were at getting a remarkable number of men into the box.
In addition to their pace, phenomenal pressing and attacking proficiency, Chile exemplified more than anyone else the growing universality in players. Players, wherever they found themselves, were unfazed by the task they needed to accomplish and each man was keen to cover for a man who had powered his way up field. Every man was comfortable on the ball and could see a pass or attempt a dribble (a far cry from England’s disappointments).
In a way, they appeared to be a dynasty of Totaalvoetbal, refined and re-mastered. But, at a time when teams are preoccupied with avoiding humiliation, Bielsa’s willing – and arguably successful – departure from that negativity should be heralded as a tantalizing glimpse of what the future of football may behold.
Unfortunately for those of us living in England, it’s highly unlikely that any serious or dramatic changes will occur in the current environment of football celebrity, televised scrutiny or monetary disparity amongst the lower and higher leagues.
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Bolton boss Owen Coyle has responded to critical comments from Arsene Wenger by suggesting his Arsenal counterpart is two-faced.
Coyle saw his side beaten 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium last weekend but revealed his surprise at hearing criticism from Wenger a few days after the match.
Wenger claimed Paul Robinson's tackle on Abou Diaby which went unpunished by the referee was a clear red card.
The Gunners boss went on to suggest that his players are too often the victims of overly-aggressive tackling.
"Pot and kettle are the words that come to mind. I sent Arsene a text after the game to apologise for missing him and he sent me a text saying we were a very good team," explained Coyle.
"I understand if people say things after games when a player gets injured. We all do that. I have no problem people having things to say. But if I am there, say it to my face.
"Maybe Arsenal know they were in a really tough game and that is a compliment.
"I could say Kieran Gibbs should have been booked and then sent off for going into the back of Kevin Davies.
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"If we want to harp back, look at the tackle on Mark Davies by William Gallas last season.
"People have to give balance and look at their own team."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Shortly after winning an unprecedented treble with Internazionale the self-proclaimed ‘special one,’ Jose Mourinho took charge of Real Madrid. Following two trophyless seasons at the Bernabeu, the club dismissed Manuel Pellegrini and brought in a manager to match their galactico players. Before his move was sealed, Mourinho targeted a “grand slam” of Spanish, Italian and English league titles, a feat yet to be achieved by a manager or player. Having made an indifferent league start, has the former Chelsea manager already indicated where his next challenge lies? He declared an interest in coaching the Portuguese national team for their two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month. Will a man whose ambition and ego are unrivalled take to the international stage next?
Madrid flaunted their ample check book again this summer but not to the dramatic effect of the previous year. Nonetheless Mourinho signed Germany’s Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira as well as Ricardo Carvalho and Angel Di Maria. Last week Sir Alex Ferguson said of his task, “The Real Madrid job is the hardest challenge in Jose’s career. I’ve spoken to Jose a couple of times and he is not managing a normal football club.” His words were prescient as the Portuguese tactician has already faced criticism for his cautious yet clinical brand of football. Thus far his star-studded side have played five, winning three and drawing two. In his first game as manager the team lost Cristiano Ronaldo to injury and drew to Mallorca. Whistles from the home crowd blemished their 1-0 victory over Osasuna. Los Blancos sit comfortably in fourth place, however, one point behind behind Barcelona who he will attempt to dethrone as league champions.
Regardless of contrasting football beliefs between the manager and the supporters, his short tenure at the club so far has been overshadowed by a story linking him to the Portuguese national job, albeit temporarily. After dismissing Carlos Queiroz the Portuguese Football Federation approached Mourinho about the prospect of presiding over two impending qualifiers against Denmark and Iceland. The functioning workaholic was purportedly interested in the offer. “I don’t understand why Real will not let me coach Portugal when I have almost nothing to do in Madrid.” There will be no La Liga fixtures during the forthcoming international break. A frank exchange with the club’s general director, Jorge Valdano presumably ensued as Mourinho has since acknowledged that the interim role was not feasible.
Nevertheless this intriguing episode has alerted bookmakers as to where Mourinho will go next. International glory would undoubtedly allow him to realise his dream of being the world’s most successful football manager. His current target is to bestow Real Madrid with a record tenth European Cup and to become the first tactician to win the Champions League with three different clubs. It is worth noting that Chelsea fired him for failing in this regard and Massimo Moratti considered doing the same after his first season at the San Siro. Patience was a virtue for the Milanese club and the same quality may be required at Madrid, especially after warning that he is, “not Harry Potter.”
If he can conquer this challenge and not falter in his ambitions there is surely only one destination left for him, international management. Similarly Carlo Ancelotti has stated that his one unfulfilled ambition in football is to manage an African team at the World Cup. Two noteworthy former Real Madrid managers, Fabio Capello and Vicente del Bosque took to the international arena with mixed effect in recent times. Few would bet against Mourinho following that illustrious route.
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So it’s this time again. Fabio Capello’s squad for the upcoming Montenegro match came under the spotlight, as would be expected following The World Cup performance. Bolton’s 33 year old Kevin Davies won the battle for the media’s attention, after a call up for the first time in his career. But it was another premiership star that turned my head.
Joe Cole. One of England’s most technically gifted players. Back where he very much should be. With Davies, his inclusion was a surprise as it’s felt he no longer has the legs for international competition. But the shock with Cole is that he seems to be so far out of Capello’s plans. Right or wrong, he doesn’t seem one of the England bosses favourites. But why? He got fewer minutes than Paul the Octopus at The World Cup, has rarely started under Capello, and is further down the pecking order than Aaron Lennon and Theo Walcott. Correct me if I’m wrong, but he’s never let England down and has always performed to a good level with his club side. And that’s club sides which include Chelsea and Liverpool.
This is a player that has won Premierships, FA Cups, played in Europe and has over 50 caps for England. A short walk down the Kings Road on a match day last season shows evidence that Chelsea fans wanted Cole to stay. Behind John Terry and Frank Lampard, he was one of their own. When it became clear Cole wanted out, you only have to look who came calling. Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool were all linked, with the latter prevailing for the race to his signature. A player being linked with those clubs is surely worthy of a few more minutes on the Wembley turf.
It’s suggested that the key to success in the international game, is using the ball intelligently. Germany, Spain, Brazil, and certain Holland players all do this. As does Joe Cole when called upon. Was it just me shouting for Cole to enter the fray numerous times in South Africa? I’d be surprised if it was. In fact I know I wasn’t. As John Terry said in his somewhat controversial press conference “I personally think that him and Wayne are the only two in the side who can really open things up and be the key to breaking down defences”. Of course he shouldn’t have said it, but maybe he had a point.
Going back to his technique. I don’t believe many England players can compete alongside Spanish or Brazilian stars when it comes to technique. Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, and yes Joe Cole, are the only potential candidates from our shores. I encourage any doubters to watch his goal against Sweden on the 20th of June 2006. A volley which very few could pull off. Especially under the Worlds eye. And just for the record, Cole got man of the match in that game.
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I don’t personally know Capello or Cole. What goes on behind closed doors may be to Capello’s dislike, which is why Cole doesn’t play. Fair enough. But Joe Cole on a football pitch is without doubt a major asset to England, and how many of The 2010 World Cup squad can we say that about?
Manchester United fans are a forgiving lot, well this is according to Gary Neville. In his column for the Sunday Times of Malta, Neville has taken it upon himself to assume the feelings of the United fans and believes that the vast majority will forgive Wayne Rooney for his recent shambolic conduct. Rooney has managed to ascertain an increased amount of money in his contract, whilst simultaneously creating a sordid affair that leaves onlookers dismayed and confused. Surely it could have all been dealt with privately and with a certain degree of decorum? Whereas now the fans are being told that they will forgive Rooney by Neville, but I think this is more of a rallying cry and pleading with United fans than anything else.
With a newly signed five-year contract sealed for all parties involved, how are Manchester United fans to react? Do they have a certain degree of gratitude that Rooney felt the club just about meet his immense amount of ambition or do they renounce and revile the player altogether? Gary Neville writes: “The main thing is that after a difficult week the best outcome was reached for all parties. He has apologised to the fans and everyone else connected with the club so we have to put it to bed now.” Is that the end of it? No further repressed feelings of irritation or resentment will be held by any one of the players at United who were deemed inferior by Rooney. This is only speaking of the players, what of the fans? Do they completely absolve Rooney of all of his misdemeanors?
What can be confidently said is that time is short and football is a fickle business. For if Rooney reasserts himself as the goal scoring force we saw last season, it will go an innumerable distance towards winning the favours of everyone at the club. This is what Neville holds true to by stating that, “While there will always be fallout from an incident like this, as soon as we get back to playing football and Wayne gets back on the pitch it will all be forgotten about.”
Let us construct a parallel reality in which Rooney doesn’t recapture his previous form and continues upon this terrible vein of form he presently finds himself. He will no doubt incur the wrath of opposing supporters nationwide and, I believe to be fairly safe in saying this, United fans will lose patience with a player who won’t have justified the money being paid him. There seems only one reality that Rooney must use all of his powers in order to fashion; otherwise a troubled future lies ahead.
“He has always given 100 per cent when he has pulled on a United shirt, and that is the overriding factor. No-one can doubt that he loves playing football for this club and I have no doubt the fans will support him through the rest of his career here.” These sorts of statement, including the aforementioned ones, can come across as peremptory. They seem to suggest knowledge of the fans that can be, beyond all reason, affirmed. Does it align with your instinct or thoughts concerning the player?
But enough of my thoughts and perspective of Neville’s faith in Manchester United fans, how do you feel about this saga? Will United fans be so easily forgiving and fully back Rooney? Or has the time come that just because you’re a highly talented sports professional doesn’t mean you can disrespect fans without being reprimanded? Are fans superfluous when it comes to matters of this regard? All of your thoughts are welcome below.
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Everton manager David Moyes has allowed youngster Jack Rodwell to team up with the England Under-21s squad, despite not being fully-fit.
He has not featured for the Toffees since injuring an ankle in the defeat to Aston Villa on August 29, but after being named on the bench for the previous three games, Moyes believes it will do him some good linking up with Stuart Pearce's young lions ahead of next week's game with Germany.
With a Premier League clash against Arsenal at Goodison Park next up, the Scot has also suggested he may be ready to make a return.
"Today is the first day I have actually thought, 'Yes, you're looking better'," he said.
"He's said this morning he is feeling more confident in his ankle, so I'm happy for him to go with the under-21s.
"With a bit of luck he might get a bit of that game, which will help him improve his fitness and give him some match time.
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"He is closer, he has got a chance of starting this weekend. I don't think in the last couple of games he was, but he is now just about there."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
Avram Grant may be excused for having a face like the Grinch over his turkey this Christmas Day. He will be fully aware that only one side has avoided the drop having being bottom on Christmas Day, and whilst his side are not the no hopers of Premier League turkeys from seasons past, there are some major issues to be resolved heading into 2011.
The Hammers do have some cash to spend in January, and from that point of view they have been linked with some big Premier League names. This fixture, however, may be key in establishing how many of West Ham’s transfer targets take the plunge and make the move to Upton Park.
In comparison, the pressure on Fulham boss Mark Hughes has been minimal thus far. Whilst his side are only a handful of points better off than Grant’s men, there is an air of goodwill around Craven Cottage, and the former Manchester City manager will be given time to rebuild after last season’s exploits.
Both teams need the points, but with Fulham being the league’s stalemate specialists, I expect both sides to draw a blank in this Boxing Day game of charades.
If there is one lesson Gerard Houllier has learnt since making a return to the Premier League, it is that the pressure for results has not decreased during his six-year spell out of English football.
Only a month on from a very credible draw with Manchester United, one that attracted much praise from the media, Villa find their small squad struggling to cope with the demands of the Premier League season’s busiest period.
West Brom have picked up recently after their own run of poor form. Two wins in as many games have certainly eased fears of an immediate return to the Championship, however a game against local rivals Villa will guard against any complacency.
This year already has the smell of a transition period for the Villains, and with an intensive Christmas period looming Houllier will be desperate not to spend the festive period staring over his shoulder at the sides below.
Villa welcome back Emile Heskey to their squad, and with goal scoring revelation Peter Odemwingie out, the Baggies may find the trip to Villa Park a fruitless one.
Prediction: 2-0
[poll ]
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