Oasis rock star Liam Gallagher a devoted Manchester City fan waves to the crowds

The group from Manchester, arguably the greatest band to come out of Britain after the Beatles, have a long-standing love for the blue half of Manchester. They regularly turn up at Manchester City’s home matches in the league and cup competitions, and were there in the VIP lounge when Aguero stroked home the injury time winner against QPR on the last day of last season. They even played a massive gig at City’s old ground, Maine Road, in 1996.

2. Brian Johnson (AC/DC) – Newcastle United

The AC/DC front man is a well-known Geordie, and has made his love known to the public on many occasions in the past. This passionate Geordie even played a cameo role in ‘Goal:The Movie’, wearing a Newcastle United shirt and even saying a few lines.

3. Fatboy Slim – Brighton Hove Albion

DJ and Brighton and Hove Albion fan Fatboy Slim (centre, back) launches his new album ‘Palookaville’ at Withdean Stadium in Brighton on October 2, 2004 in Brighton, England

Perhaps the world’s most famous DJ, Quentin Leo Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim is a die-hard supporter of his home town club, Brighton Hove Albion. He even owns a 12% stake in the club, and is keenly involved in the day-to-day running of the club.

4. Kasabian – Leicester City

The 4-man English rock band from Leicester are childhood supporters of their hometown club. Their love for the club is well-known by the club as well as the fans, so much so that a song of theirs is played after every goal is scored at the Liberty Stadium. Their guitarist, Serge Pizzorno, is no mug at the game either. Have a look at this exquisite piece of skill -

5. Stone Roses – Manchester United

The lead singer of this popular Mancunian band has possessed a season ticket for the Stretford End for the past several years. Their popular song, ’This is the one’, is played at Old Trafford just before the teams walk out of the tunnel.

Redknapp Out

While the relationship between the boss and the chairman is undoubtedly a very important one for the stable and smooth functioning of a football club, it is certainly not as important as that between the manager and the players. And as long as that relationship is healthy and running, there should be no reason to make a drastic decision as the one that was made last week.

Daniel Levy is a shrewd businessman. We’ve seen that over the years. He managed to sell Dimitar Berbatov at a highly inflated price to Manchester United on the final day of the transfer market, after sensing their desperation. He managed to acquire Dutch playmaker Rafael Van Der Vaart at a throwaway price, again on the last day of the transfer market. But business sense is best kept in the boardroom, and when a club is doing rather well on the field, there isn’t really a need to change anything.

The relationship between the manager and the chairman doesn’t always need to be a very healthy one. That between Redknapp and Levy would be, at best, described as cordial. One wonders how much of a relationship Sir Alex shares with the owners, the Glazers, and the same goes for Arsene Wenger and his boardroom staff. But no matter the status of the relationship, Wenger and Ferguson are allowed to do what they want, when they want.

The important parameter here, is support. Ferguson and Wenger are supported by their boardroom staff. The same should have been for Levy and Redknapp. It is ofcourse for the greater good of the club.

Though irreconcilable differences may be down to the ego issues of Redknapp OR Levy, I’d place Levy at fault here. That is because, whatever Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is today, is all down to Harry Redknapp. Yes, you can make great bargains in the transfer market (Berbatov and VDV) , but ultimately, the performances on the pitch count. And that’s where Harry Redknapp trumps Levy. Redknapp is the bigger man here. Levy should have realized that.

Harry Redknapp took over as the Spurs manager when they were languishing bottom of the table a quarter into the season. In about 2 and a half years, the turnaround is there for all to see. Spurs qualified for the Champions League the next season, lit up the Champions League with some scintillating football and were downright unlucky to not make it to the Champions League again this season. Credit to stabilizing a sinking ship must surely go to Redknapp. Spurs always had the players to make the difference, the belief and the thrust was provided by Redknapp.

Every Spurs fan would have dreaming at the turn of the year, dreaming of the Championship. A 5-0 thrashing of Newcastle at home, and nothing could go wrong at White Hart Lane. But then came all the gossip about the next England manager. Being a successful English manager, Redknapp was obviously in the fray for the job.

You can’t blame Redknapp for that, can you? For any Englishman associated with football, the job of the National Team Manager is the pinnacle of one’s career. It was a media-fuelled frenzy, and Redknapp got distracted. A horrendous run of results later, a manager who could do no wrong was suddenly insecure about his present job.

Once the dust settled and Hodgson was appointed, Spurs got back on its feet and stitched together a few results to cement 4^th place. That wouldn’t prove to be enough eventually.

Talk of Redknapp extending his contract with Spurs, with a handsome salary to boot, evaporated. The tabloids said that he’d do well to hold onto his job.

We all know what happened next.

Spurs will struggle to keep hold of Modric and Bale

Expect a mass exodus at Spurs this transfer season. Modric and Bale, the 2 pillars of the team, are being courted by Manchester United and Barcelona respectively. Others may follow suit. They were here for Redknapp,not Levy. They believed in Harry’s project, of Spurs being a top club again.

Daniel Levy would need to bring in a big name now to continue its fantastic domestic performances in the last 3 years as well as further Spurs’ European dreams. Someone like David Moyes or Roberto Martinez just would not do. These are not the names that one would associate big trophies with year after year. Someone like a Laurent Blanc, who may just have realized that club management suits him best and may well be looking for an opening in the Premier League, or an Andre Villas-Boas, who has tasted success before and was rather unfairly sacked at Chelsea, would be perfect for the club. Such a big name would even persuade Modric and Bale to further their careers at White Hart Lane.

We would not like to see Spurs slip back into mid-table mediocrity. After the highs of 4^th place twice in 3 seasons and a Champions League quarterfinal, what a shame would that be.

1. Eric Cantona attacks a fan after being sent off
Type ‘cantona’ on Youtube and ‘Cantona kung fu kick’ is the 1^st search result you’ll get.  After being sent-off for elbowing a defender, albeit unknowingly and without intent, Cantona was walking off the pitch, being escorted by stewards. An opposition fan, secure in the knowledge that one could sledge a player without expecting a backlash, started off. Poor guy, little did he know that he was dealing with a certain Eric Cantona.

2. De Jong on Alonso-Holland vs. Spain, 2010 World Cup Final

A kick straight out of kung-fu manuals. Holland, fully aware of Spain’s ability to keep the ball, resorted to physical and pressure tactics, spearheaded by the 2 terriers in midfield, captain Mark van Bommel and Nigel de Jong. Both were better known for their physicality than their skill with the ball. One wonders how Alonso escaped without his ribs being smashed. One also wonders how de Jong got away with it. Parental guidance advised.

3. Micah Richards on Nemanja Vidic-Manchster City vs. Manchester United

Back in the days when City had not being taken over by the Arabs, when Benjani used to lead the City attack, comes this totally unintentional kick on Vidic. In footballing jargon, it may be said that both had eyes only for the ball. If Richards was aiming to hurt somebody, he probably chose the wrong guy. Vidic is as strong as Premier League defenders come.

4. Hernanes kicks Benzema-France vs. Brazil ,International Friendly

Mano Menezes had pledged to bring the ‘beautiful’ back in Brazil’s play after taking over as the new coach. Even he would have gasped in horror at Hernanes’ ugly kick out on Benzema, straight out of a heavyweight championship bout. Only a red card ensued. You can’t ban people for fouls committed in a friendly, can you?

5. Santana on Ramos-Paraguay vs. Spain, World Cup 2010 Quarterfinals

Amongst the din of vuvuzelas, came Santana’s kick on the face of Spanish centre back Sergio Ramos. The last minute kick proved the highlight of an otherwise dull and disappointing match. Both teams managed to miss a penalty each. David Villa would prove to be the difference between the 2 sides. They would ultimately go on to lift the cup.

Do you agree with the list? Post any other incident that comes to your mind in the Comments section below.

Various conspiracy theories were floated by the Italian media that both teams would eventually play out a 2-2 draw which would enable both the teams to progress, at Italy’s cost. Memories of Euro 2004,where Denmark and Sweden played out a 2-2 draw to progress at Italy’s expense were rekindled to magnify Italy’s sense of betrayal and helplessness.

But fears of a conspiracy proved to be, as predicted, highly off the mark.

Spain don’t seem to have a Plan B.

Though it’s debatable how much Spain exactly wanted to win this match, considering the strength of their opponents and the comfort of their position in the group, what was apparent was that Spain, like Barcelona, don’t seem to have a Plan B in place. They keep doing the same things, repeating the same patterns, over and over again. While Barcelona have Lionel Messi to provide the added spark and inspiration, Spain lack a cutting edge.

The FIFA Rankings don’t lie.
While most would consider a country as small as Croatia, with a population of about 4 million, as underdogs at any tournament they go to, not many know that they are actually ranked number 8 in the world. Seeing their discipline and shape while defending against a technically superior Spanish side (ranked number 1 in the world), it wasn’t that much of a surprise.

Modric will go places.

If this was Luka Modric’s audition to prove himself worthy of bigger clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid, he passed with flying colours. He was immense on the pitch, popping up everywhere to provide an outlet for his teammates. His run and subsequent cross to Rakitic was spectacular, to say the least. It’s a pity that his team had to bow out early.

Football is a cruel, cruel game.
Croatia bowed out of the tournament due to a late sucker punch delivered by the Spanish while they were going for the jugular, knowing that they needed a goal to progress. Croatia can blame no one for their exit, not even themselves. They brought forth a freshness and vibrancy that is seen lacking in most international sides today. It’s sad that they’d have to exit the tournament prematurely. We’d all like to see them in two years at the World Cup in Brazil.

After a below par  first couple of games for his national side, Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo finally came to the party against the Netherlands. After his superbly timed run and well-taken goal, the smile was back, the swagger was back and the confidence was back. It was finally like the Ronaldo we were used to seeing week-in week-out in La Liga. He has generally been a disappointment at major tournaments for his country. How he would dearly like to change that!

Theatrics unwanted and unnecessary

It was disgusting to see the cheap theatrics the players resorted to, to earn some cheap fouls and free-kicks. This is a component of the game that looks ugly and should be weeded out. Specially in a do-or-die match like this, with both teams possessing such highly skillful players, the theatrics were a poor distraction from all the end to end action the game witnessed.

Van Der Vaart justifies his selection in the starting 11

After publicly voicing his displeasure over not being in the starting 11 for the matches against the Danes and the Germans, Rafael Van Der Vaart stamped his authority on this match with a wonderful strike from outside the box and another fantastic effort which hit the post in the 2^nd half. Playing alongside Nigel De Jong in midfield, he played the role of the linkman between the defence and attack perfectly, picking the ball up from centrebacks Vlaar and Mathijsen and pinging accurate passes forward for Van Persie, Sneijder and Robben.

The Dutch have only themselves to blame

It has been a shambolic tournament for the Dutch, both on and off the field. One of the 3 favourites to go on and win the tournament, they couldn’t even manage a single victory in the group stages. Perhaps too many big egos and alleged favouritism (captain Mark Van Bommel is coach Bert Van Marwijk’s son-in-law) has hurt their cause. It has been an embarrassing trip to Poland and Ukraine for the Dutch fans.

The Portuguese can go all the way

After starting the tournament slowly, with a rather unlucky defeat against the Germans, the Portuguese have finally impressed. They showcased their never-say-die spirit with a thrilling win against the Danes, and didn’t panic when the Dutch took the lead early in the game. They have a very settled look to their team, and with their confidence sky high after the win against the Danes and the Dutch, they should be looking forward to the knockout stages.

]]> http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/18/5-key-takeaways-from-portugal-vs-netherlands/feed/ 4 41693145 http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/16/englands-obsession-with-4-4-2/ http://www.sportskeeda.com/2012/06/16/englands-obsession-with-4-4-2/#comments Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:53:50 +0000 mananbhan http://www.sportskeeda.com/?p=308921 The 4-4-2 is a very English formation. Two hard-working box to box midfielders, which the English game has produced in abundance, 2 wingers who can cross the ball well and can also track back to help out defensively and 2 strikers who can link up well and hold up play excellently for each other. Add to that 2 wing backs who run up and down the touchline for the whole 90 minutes, and thus you get a well-drilled team.

England won the 1966 World Cup with a 4-4-2, so you’d expect a certain level of fascination with the formation and style of play with every subsequent English team. That has turned out to be dead true. Even foreign managers like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello have come and gone, but the 4-4-2 has always been an integral style of play and has never been ditched.

1966 World Cup winners

One would have atleast expected Capello to change the system, for Capello’s teams have always had the one striker alone upfront, being supported by an attacking midfielder/playmaker, a position in which England has always been found lacking. Paul Gascoigne was perhaps the last known English player of this kind. Joe Cole is perhaps his modern equivalent, but is way too inconsistent and beset with injuries that he has never been considered a serious contender for a permanent spot in the national side. Wayne Rooney plays this kind of a role for United domestically and is slated to play a similar role for England at the Euros, but is, for all intents and purposes, a striker first.

One would expect a similar dominance of the 4-4-2 system in the English domestic league also, but this is not the case, even for teams having a British manager. The success of the one striker system has caught on in the EPL as well. The presence of continental talent and managers of varied nationalities has meant that 2 strikers are rarely used in the game from the start.

Continental players have brought with them a finesse and a playmaking ability that have negated the need for a second striker and instead heightened the need for an auxiliary midfielder to provide the attacking thrust.

Thus, the 4-2-3-1 has gained prominence in the English game and is now the dominant style of play.

The evolution of the classical midfielder has also been a major reason for this change. Over the years, midfielders have evolved from being standard box-to-box runners to playing specific roles within the team. Thus, the emergence of the tough-tackling and ball-winning defensive midfielder and the creative goal-scoring attacking midfielder. Midfielders are increasingly encouraged to join in in the attacking third of the pitch and score vital goals. Thus, a steady supply of goals from the midfield has somewhat reduced the space for  2 strikers. The 3 midfielders in the middle of the pitch also give a further defensive cover against teams with technically superior flair players (Mata,Silva).

New age midfielders – Silva, Mata and Alonso

An analysis of the most successful  team in the league reveals a preference for the lone striker.

Manchester United, for long exponents of the 4-4-2 with exactly the same characteristics that I described at the start of the article, have since incorporated elements of the continental game to enhance their record in the Champions League, a tournament in which they have arguably underperformed. Such an evolution of their game has thus wiped out their defensive frailities to a large extent, specially away in Europe and allowing them to dominate midfield with 3 central midfielders, the most crucial area of the field on a tight and tactical European night. We’ve also seen this trend replicated domestically and thus the emergence of a withdrawn 2^nd striker. Credit for this major tactical shift must go to former assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz.

This tactical change has thus allowed them to contest 3 European finals in 4 years and 4 domestic titles in 5 years (not considering this season).

Thus, it is safe to say that even Ferguson has realized the futility of playing with 2 strikers (and thus 1 midfielder less) against foreign teams with a host of flair players, and conceding the midfield to the opponents.

Similar logic should also apply to the national side.

Frankly, given the lack of striking talent at Roy Hodgson’s disposal, playing 2 strikers would be suicidal. Though a well-known fan of the 4-4-2 himself, Hodgson would be better advised to pack the midfield instead and go for a goal on the break or from setpieces. England should be willing and ready to win ugly, especially with the absence of Rooney for the 1^st 2 matches. The combined striking talents of Welbeck, Carroll and Defoe wouldn’t inspire much confidence in any English fan.

This tournament must finally signal the end of the 4-4-2 for England ,if they wish to go far in the tournament. It is high time that the English realize that they aren’t technically and tactically superior to the big European footballing nations and should stick to their strengths, that of playing a physical game, harrying and hassling the opponents. They can no longer depend on dominating teams in open play and would start as underdogs in most matches they play. Despite having the richest and most watched domestic league, the national team still finds it difficult to defeat 2^nd rate European teams like Norway.

Well, atleast the expectations and the hype surrounding the team is considerably low this time!

One could argue that Porto over-achieved under Mourinho, and whether that’s down to Mourinho’s own tactical acumen and man-management skills or the talents of the young (predominantly Portuguese) team is debatable. Nevertheless, they won the UEFA Cup in 2003 and subsequently, reached the pinnacle of European club football in 2004 on a famous night in Gelsenkirchen, masterminded by the Portuguese playmaker Deco. They beat the likes of Manchester United on the way to the title courtesy of a last minute away goal. (How can any football fan forget Mourinho famously running down the Old Trafford touchline following Costinha’s last-minute winner?)

FC Porto – 2004 Champions League Winners

Porto were thus the toast of Europe. 2 European trophies in 2 years. An exciting young team. Unbeaten at home in the league for 2 years. A manager who could do no wrong.

Perhaps the club became the victim of their own fame and adulation. From the peak of being UCL winners, it all went downhill. Mourinho was lured away to Stamford Bridge with the promise of millions to shape the Chelsea team his own way. With him went half the team that had started that Champions League final. Others also didn’t stay much longer. By 2005, everyone who had started that game had left the club, except keeper Vitor Baia. Porto had become a selling club, scouting new Portuguese and South American talent and outsourcing them to the bigger clubs and the bigger leagues in Europe.

That trend, sadly, still continues.

4 coaches came and went in the 2 years following Mourinho’s departure. They won the league in 2006 but failed to even make it out of the group stages of the Champions League.

An interesting fact is that, the team built to replace the UCL winners of 2004 was equally talented, if not more. The 2006 team possessed the likes of Pepe, Diego, Anderson and Raul Meireles. The club cashed in on these talents too for substantial transfer fees and recruited further talent from either its own academy or from South American clubs.

2006-2010 was a period of stability under Jesualdo Ferriera. They won the league thrice and made a Quarterfinal appearance in the Champions League. Further talents were nurtured, the likes of Hulk and Lisandro Lopez.

2009 saw the arrival of Columbian striker Radamel Falcao, who would go on to light up the newly-christened Europa League.

FC Porto would also prove to be the stepping stone of Andre Villas-Boas, who at 34 years of age, became the youngest manager to lift the European trophy. His tactical acumen and preference to play a fluid, attacking system garnered much praise. He would subsequently move on to Chelsea, where he was to enjoy an unsuccessful stint. Maybe the move to a club of Chelsea’s stature came too early for him.

His successful team had a unique South American flavour to it with players like Brazilian Hulk, Columbians Falcao and Fredy Guarin and Uruguayan full-backs Jorge Fucile and Alvaro Perreira.

Hulk and Falcao

History was to repeat itself. Like Jose Mourinho and his European champions, the team was broken up that very year. Villas-Boas moved on to manage Chelsea, Falcao accepted a big money move to Atletico Madrid (where he would go on to win the Europa League again) , Fucile went back to South America with Santos and Guarin went on-loan to Inter, with an option of a permanent signing. Reports indicate a very strong possibility of Hulk moving on to Chelsea this end-season.

We can clearly make out a trend here. Despite being Portugal’s most successful club and being regular competitors in the Champions League, Porto has largely remained a selling club. With their strong South American scouting network and decent academy structure, they have preferred to outsource talent rather than build a nucleus of a team, under a coach with a long term vision for the club, to dominate domestically and be a force to reckon with in Europe.

Now, there can be 2 reasons for such a policy. One, the club realizes that despite its domestic dominance, it doesn’t have the capability to put up a good fight in Europe. That doesn’t look like a good argument at all, as the club has a dedicated legion of fans who flock to every home game and are successful in making the Estadio Do Dragao a cauldron at every home game. It has one of the most beautiful stadiums in Portugal and boasts of healthy infrastructure. It also doesn’t have any major debt issues and the club is run very professionally.

Two is the players’ own tendency to seek greener pastures elsewhere, realizing that the domestic league isn’t the strongest or the most competitive in Europe. Thus, we regularly have witnessed ex-Porto players enjoying successful careers in England and Spain.

Thus, due to intense transfer activity out of FC Porto these past 10 years, the club is said to have received about $850million worth of transfer fees. There have been no marquee signings made by the club, and so most of this money has gone into the youth and scouting system of the club.

Yes, it is desirable for any club to have a strong youth and scouting system, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of the first team. The club authorities, of course, aren’t entirely at fault here. Producing such super-talented players from time to time, the club is perhaps the victim of its own fame.

Roy Hodgson has forever been a believer of pragmatism over adventure. His tendency to defend with 2 banks of 4 just outside the penalty area and attacking with quick counter attacks and set-pieces has reaped him dividends in all his coaching assignments. He seems to be replicating this with the English team. With the limited attacking options at his disposal, the ‘Hodgson way’ is the best way forward for England at the moment.

 Malouda is a liability for the French

Except for his vast international experience, there is no way that Laurent Blanc can justify Florent Malouda’s inclusion in the starting 11. A player who was, at best, a bit part player for his club, Chelsea, should not be starting a game of this magnitude. One wonders why Youann Gourcuff wasn’t even selected in the 23-man squad for the tournament. His play-making ability in the midfield would have been an ideal foil to the skills of Nasri, Ribery and Benzema in attack.

 Scared of a loss >> Willingness to win

There was a distinct lack of ambition from both sides on the pitch. While such an approach from the English is perhaps understandable, the French had the game for the taking. Coach Blanc should have taken off one of the defensive midfielders, Alou Diarra or Florent Malouda, for another attacking outlet a bit earlier.

 Counter-attack is the way forward, this summer

There has been an overwhelming preference for even top European sides to play on the counter. Italy did that with reasonable success while Portugal were unlucky to not take anything from their game against the Germans. And we all knew already exactly how England would line up tactically.

Come the knockout stages of the tournament, and counter-attacking football would further be in vogue.

 Substitutions need to be made earlier for greater impact

The 1^st substitution of the match was not until the 77^th minute. The 1^st French substitution was even later. Perhaps both managers missed a trick so as to salvage a result in the later stages. The substitutions were made too late in the day to make any sort of influence on the proceedings. It was a pity that substitutes Marvin Martin, Hatem Ben Arfa and Jermain Defoe barely had 5-10 touches of the ball after coming on.

In my 10 years of watching European football, I have only seen AS Roma successfully get away without playing a recognized central striker. AS Roma flourished in the 4-6-0 formation under Italian tactician Luciano Spalletti, with Francesco Totti at the head of the 6 midfielders. Going in for this extreme formation right at the start of a big tournament, against European powerhouses Italy proved to be a largely unsuccessful move. One could see the difference when Torres came on, simply by the number of clear-cut chances he missed.

A 3-man defence with a ball-playing defender/defensive midfielder (as seen today with AS Roma man Daniele de Rossi) as its sweeper, provides an extra man in defence who can also play the ball out of defence effectively. One could see the difficulty that Spain had in playing through the heart of the defence, with an extra man in there sweeping up. There were some panic moments in the Italian defence, but mostly it was easy going for the resolute Italians.

Di-Natale was absolutely crucial for the Italians

34-year old Udinese striker Antonio di Natale can easily be considered a late bloomer. Having narrowly missed out on top-scoring the Serie A this season (he won the Capocannoniere award in 2010 & 2011), he announced his arrival in Gdansk with a wonderful finish off a defence-piercing Pirlo throughball. Playing for a relatively small club like Udinese, and playing in the Europa League for most of his career instead of the Champions League (although Udinese has qualified for the UCL for two years running) hasn’t diminished his predatory instincts. The beautiful finish past a hapless Iker Casillas was proof of that.

An international football match is as much won by the manager’s astuteness, as by the ability of the players on the field. The match-up of Spain’s 4-6-0 (later modified to a 4-3-3 with the introduction of Fernando Torres) vs Italy’s 3-5-2 was a tactical treat to watch. Spain’s usual style of neat short passes between Xavi, Iniesta and Silva perfectly complemented Italy’s willingness to play on the break, with the strength and speed of Balotelli and the guile of Cassano, who was Italy’s biggest threat until Di-Natale’s arrival.

Proving that their last friendly defeat to Russia was merely an aberration, the Italians put up a disciplined performance to secure a deserved draw. With Pirlo pulling the strings in midfield, Marchisio and Motta providing the thrust from deep and the mercurial talents of Cassano, Balotelli and Di Natale up front, Italy have the required firepower to go all the way. They only need to guard against silly defensive errors.

The drama started even before the actual season did. Luka Modric contract talks took up a lot of precious pre-season time. Thus Spurs never really got going in the early stages. Their 1st match against Everton at home was postponed, and they kicked off their season away against Manchester United. With Modric not in the right ‘frame of mind’ to play, Scott Parker not yet signed from West Ham United, Huddlestone on a long-term injury (I gather he is still a long way off from 1st team action) and a flamboyant (and pre 1-6 Man city) Manchetser United, Spurs had a lightweight midfield of Kranjcar and Livermore. They never stood a chance.

Their next game turned out to be an embarrassment, a 5-1 home defeat to Man City, with Edin Dzeko scoring 4 spectacular goals. After 2 games, they were in the relegation zone!

So it would be fair to say that Spurs’ season really started from the 3rd game. Away to Wolves, they ground out a 2-0 win to finally kickstart their season.

From here on in, they went on a 9 game unbeaten run,which included fantastic wins against Liverpool and Arsenal at home, 4-0 and 2-1 respectively. Their excellent unbeaten run was ended away at Stoke, where I must admit they were unlucky to not get anything out of the game due to dodgy refereeing decisions.

Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool

Still, 1/3rd of the season done, they were in the Champions League places and even possible title contenders.

Decent results followed, further establishment of the fact that Tottenham were a hard team to score against and beat both at home and away.

Such stability was brought about by consistent team selections by the manager Harry Redknapp. With the dependable Brad Friedel in goal, the solid defensive pairing of Kaboul and King, the hard working midfield of Scott Parker and playmaker Luka Modric, and the attacking prowess of Van Der Vaart and the enigmatic Emmanuel Adebayor (on loan from Manchester City), Spurs finally looked like a team that could cut open any team on their day with fluid attacking football. Spurs were slowly becoming a joy to watch.

An undeserved defeat at Man City perhaps brought an end to their title ambitions. Having been 2 goals down at the Etihad, Spurs fought back from goals by Jermain Defoe, following a mistake by keeper Joe Hart, and a stunner from Gareth Bale. They even had the chance to win it at the end with a swift counter attack right at the end, Jermain Defoe being millimetres away from sliding the ball in from a low Bale centre. Fate would have other plans though, as a clumsy tackle by Ledley King brought about a penalty, which Balotelli converted with the last kick of the game. (Balotelli shouldn’t even have been on the pitch, escaping action for a dreadful stamp on Parker.)

Manchester City v Tottenham Hotspur

They took positive steps to cement 3rd spot, with a 5-0 thrashing of the most impressive team of the season, Newcastle United. This was perhaps the best I’ve seen Spurs play in the league for a long, long time. They thus opened up a 10 point gap between them and 4th placed Arsenal.

From that high, it was all to go down in the following weeks.

Fabio Capello, the England manager, resigned due to differences with the English FA over their handling of the John Terry-Anton Ferdinand racism case. Thus started the whole clamour of who would be the next manager. There was overwhelming support for an Englishman to take over the job. Redknapp was, and perhaps still is, undoubtedly the favourite to land the job. He had earlier also stated his willingness to one day manage his country’s football team. It is anyway an honour and a privilege for an Englishman to manage his country’s football team.

But the FA dragged its feet on this matter, and appointed Stuart Pearce on an interim basis. The gossips continued for subsequent weeks. This distraction proved too costly for Redknapp’s present employers. Already feeling the effects of a gruelling season, the core 14-15 players started feeling the heat of playing week-in week-out.

Thus began their horrendous run, which would allow Arsenal to catch up and eventually overtake them for the race for the 3rd and final automatic Champions League spot.

Tottenham’s season had thus, nosedived. After being possible title contenders mid-season, it was thought that they’d do well to even hold on to 4th spot (and thus a chance in the Champions League qualifiers).

Finally, a new manager was appointed for England, and it was not Harry Redknapp. The FA had perhaps played a cruel joke on him. All the support for his candidature from the media would count for nothing. Roy Hodgson got the job.

Ironically, Redknapp perhaps had the last few games of the season to save Spurs’ season and his own job!

And save he did. With 3 wins out of the last 4 games, Spurs had managed to take the fight for the 3rd spot upto the last day, but eventually coming 4th.

Their place in the Champions League now entirely depended on the Champions League final between Chelsea and Bayern Munich. For if Chelsea were to win, their spot in the Champions League qualifiers would go to Chelsea, as the previous year’s winners.

One last ironic twist was still left in the tale, and Chelsea pulled off a highly improbable upset and thus lifted the crown.

After all the hue and cry of titles and Champions Leagues, it had all fizzled out with a whimper for poor Tottenham Hotspur.

Chelsea vs Bayern Munich

Ever since the start of the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, there has been incessant talk of how Bayern Munich would be extra motivated to reach the final because it would be held at their home ground, the Allianz Arena in Munich.

Now that Bayern actually have reached the finals, slated to be held on the 19^th of May, after a brilliant penalty shootout victory against Real Madrid, I would like to analyse whether Bayern would really enjoy any home advantage and delve deeper  on what, if anything, constitutes home advantage.

Technically seen, Bayern actually don’t enjoy much of this so-called home advantage.

For many of us, home advantage deals with the presence of a partisan crowd cheering for the home team. For the Champions League final, as for any major tournament final, there is an equal seat allocation for fans of both teams and the rest is divided between allocations for the sponsors, the European football authorities and some are reserved for the general public. So ofcourse, no real brownie points for being a Bayern Munich season ticket holder. And so, no cauldron like atmosphere at the Allianz Arena on the 19^th. Ffan base wise, the fact that the final is being held in Munich is merely a coincidence. It may well have happened in London and wouldn’t have made that much of a difference.

The dimensions of the playing area and the goals are, ofcourse, the same. Munich is an hour’s flight from London, so no problems there. Both get the same amount of time to prepare for the big night.

I seriously believe that modern day technology and communication has wiped out what traditionally constituted home advantage. Home advantage in earlier times, to a large extent, meant travelling long journeys to play in largely alien conditions with little, if any, home support. Now, those barriers have largely been wiped out.

Sample this, there have been maximum number of away wins in this season’s English Premier League in the League’s 20 year history, including freak results like United 1-6 City and Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal.

Home advantage is purely psychological. If you are a decent footballer, you’ll be a decent footballer anywhere, in any stadium. Hostile crowds are even said to drive some players to achieve greater heights. Cristiano Ronaldo is probably the best example of this fact that I’ve come across. Deemed ‘Public Enemy Number ’1 after the infamous quarterfinal vs England in World Cup 2006, he came back to United and had an astonishingly successful season, despite being booed at every ground in the country.

A shrewd manager, positive tactics and the effective implementation of those tactics would make for a solid and well-drilled team on any away day. Bayern themselves played such a controlled game at the Bernabeu in the 2^nd leg of the semis of the Champions League.

Home advantage. Or not?

Trust Manchester United legend, Bobby Charlton, to hit the nail on the head.

‘ I’m often asked how home advantage can be so important. Of course the crowd count for a great deal. These fans of ours could lift any team. But it’s more than that. It’s like being in your own house. You know exactly where everything is and precisely where you stand in relation to every piece of furniture.’

‘As a player, it’s the same  geography. Your radar works off every landmark. For my generation, at first, it used to be the factory chimneys. You could see them from inside the ground. They were all different and when your brain picked them up from the corner of your eye as you were running you just knew instinctively how hard to hit the pass, precisely where to aim the shot, exactly when to send over the cross. Now it’s a curve in the seating line, the angle to the scoreboard, the lettering in the roof of the stand, the mouth of the dressing room tunnel. It’s subliminal.’

All this theory will be tested on the night of the 19^th. It remains to be seen how much curve on the seating lines would help Bayern ‘s cause to add another European trophy to their cabinet. A dogged and determined team like Chelsea won’t obviously take it lying down and would be brimming with confidence, after miraculously coming back from the dead to beat Barcelona. Chelsea actually won’t mind being the ‘away’ team in this case. After all, they played like an away team would even in the 1^st leg vs Barcelona at the Bridge, and came away with a positive result!

Chelsea have a decent away record in the knockout stages this season. They came away with a deserved 1-0 success at Benfica in the quarters. They had a poor game in Naples in the Round of 16, a game that signalled the end of the Villas-Boas era at the club.

But this is not an away match, as many would like to think. It should be seen as a one-off match, which incidentally is being held in Munich. If we consider the curve on the seating lines or not, the better team will win. And after seeing Bayern’s capitulation this weekend in the German Cup Final, it increasingly looks like Chelsea would lay their hands on the trophy.

And how ironical would that prove to be.

All this, following a week in which Barcelona were twice found out on the big stage as fragile and one-dimensional. How Chelsea were allowed to score twice with ten men and Real Madrid bagged a comfortable victory at the Camp Nou, defies belief.

After 4 years of utter domination on the world stage, it finally looks like Barcelona have been sorted out by rival teams, starting with local rivals Levante and Osasuna and ending with the Clasico defeat at the Camp Nou.

Pep Guardiola – An era ends.

With a new coach but with more or less the same personnel, is it time to evolve a new approach? They have been labeled one-dimensional, after all. Yes, Guardiola’s approach to football was highly successful and would still prove to be good enough against most teams domestically. But to succeed on the continental stage time and again, they would certainly need to evolve a Plan B.

I do feel that Barca need to evolve a physical dimension to their play too, to counter physical sides like Chelsea. It was surprising to see Didier Drogba bullying and physically dominating the likes of Puyol, Mascherano and Dani Alves in both legs of the UCL semis.

The tiki-taka football that Barca employ is pleasing to the eye, but with teams sitting back and ‘parking the bus’, that just reduces to playing the ball side to side, without any real penetration. Opponent teams are willing to concede possession and territory to Barca and make them play in front of them, and relying on speedy counter attacks to inflict damage. A new physical dimension of their play would give them more options in attack and help break down teams better.

Andy Gray,the Sky Sports commentator (his ‘Take A Bow, Son’ is etched in Premier league folklore) who was unceremoniously sacked for sexist comments on live television, once famously said that the current Barca team would struggle on a cold, windy night at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke City and their direct style of play, and his comment may not be totally off the mark.

Another question that may come to one’s mind concerns the golden generation of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. Is it time for them to seek new challenges? After all, they have won everything there is to win in club football. (Xavi and Iniesta have even won the World Cup, Iniesta scoring the winning goal vs Holland in extra time). Is it time for them to seek newer pastures? How about trying their hands in English or Italian football? Succeed in alien conditions against a more physical and high tempo English game or the tactical Italian game, and that would be a true measure of their greatness. Of Course, any club would have to break the bank to sign any one of these 3 superstars.

Xavi and Iniesta, outcasts under previous coach Frank Rijkaard, have come of age in the Guardiola era. They have dominated the Barca midfield with their astonishing pass completion rate and their eye for a killer pass or goal. It would really be interesting to see how the Braca midfield would re-adapt, if both of them were to move on to newer challenges. Cesc Fabregas, whose had a low-key time at Catalunya since arriving from Arsenal,would really have to step up to the plate and deliver week-in week-out, much like his Arsenal days. Even talented midfield prospect, Thiago Alcantara, would then have to deliver consistent performances to merit a place in the starting 11 for each game.

The case of Lionel Messi is perhaps even more intriguing. He is undoubtedly the fulcrum of the Barcelona attack, and Guardiola’s preference to play with a ‘False 9’ has suited him perfectly. It remains to be seen whether Vilanova prefers to play with the same formation and tactics. If he doesn’t, then it will be interesting to see the extent of Messi’s influence on the team. This apprehension arises out of the fact that how Messi, so prolific at club level, fails to replicate the same form at international level, with arguably the same quality of players around him. Football is a lot about tactics and formations after all.

Will the magic sustain?

The new coach, also, is a relative unknown, whereas Guardiola was already a Barca legend and a Barca man through and through. Till now, he was a part of the backroom staff, but would now be constantly in the spotlight as manager of one of the most well-known clubs in the world. That would mean intense scrutiny of his every action and every reaction. It would be interesting to see how he copes with all the limelight, for the step up from an assistant to head coach is a tough and not always successful one. (Just ask Carlos Queiroz, the United assistant manager under Ferguson, who went on to have unsuccessful spells at Real Madrid and the Portugal National Team). That is where another problem may lie. How much of an authority would Vilonova enjoy? Would he go on to stamp his style of play on the team, or would it be the case of continuing with Guardiola’s tried and tested methods? Would he be able to command the dressing room and keep dissent to a minimum?

So, the challenges that Vilanova faces are aplenty. Also, he would have to make some tough decisions right at the start of the campaign that would go on to define his reign at the Camp Nou. He would have to quickly decide what he wants to do with the super-talented and the super-successful team that he inherits. The Barca bosses would also have to show some patience with the new manager and give him time to work his methods and succeed.

Barcelona’s critics say that any manager could win the amount of trophies that Guardiola did with the kind of team that he had under his watch. Next season would really be the time to test this theory.

Yes, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid on penalties in the 2nd leg of the UEFA Champions League semi – finals, and earned the right to play the final to be held at their home ground, the Allianz Arena, on the 19th of May. On a closer and more technical review of the game, there was a very interesting sub-plot to the whole 120 minutes of open play and beyond. That of the away goals rule.

The opening 30 minutes were played at a frantic pace – Real Madrid gaining the upper hand with a harsh penalty decision and then a clinical finish by Cristiano Ronaldo. But once Toni Kroos’ cross from the right wing earned Bayern a penalty (which Robben was lucky to score from), the game went into a shell. Bayern and Real were now level on aggregate, and if the scoreline remained the same, we would be going into extra time and penalties.

Real Madrid became over-cautious, fearful of committing too many men forward and thus being caught on the break. For if Bayern were to score again, Real would need 2 goals to progress. The well-drilled Bayern team, on the other hand, played a controlled and waiting game, relying on their 2 wing wizards, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, to conjure up some magic for Mario Gomez to gobble up.

None of this happened, and the game fizzled out for the rest 60 minutes of normal time. 30 minutes of extra time also didn’t help in separating these 2 great European club teams. Thus it came down to the lottery of penalties, a situation which both teams at that time must have been happy to accept. And in the shootout, we all know that German efficiency trumped Spanish flair.

Thus, another blockbuster European night was dominated by the spectre of the away goals rule. As a neutral, it was heartbreaking to see 2 teams with such attacking flair curbing their natural instincts for pragmatism.

The away goals rule was introduced in the 1960’s and was hailed as a game-changing addition to the continental competitions. At that time, I admit it was significant, for away sides had to endure long journeys and alien conditions to play in their opponents den. Also, the away goals rule signalled the end of replays (which would take place if the 2 teams were level on aggregate. Replays are still common in the FA Cup, where this is no away goals rule.), which were economically unviable.

But that was then. Much has changed since then. Better communication and transport facilities and the advent of technology has made the gap between continental clubs seem insignificant and redundant.

Nearly 5 decades later, the away goals rule continues to influence European nights. They say it is better to lose 2-1 than 1-0, even better to lose 3-2 than 2-1 (A loss should, after all, remain a loss) . It has made teams playing away in the 1st leg play an overly defensive brand of football, hoping to nick an away goal on the counter and swing the tie in their favour. At the same time, even home teams in the 1st legs are increasingly willing to settle for a 0-0 draw, content in the fact that if they do manage to score away in the 2nd leg, they would be in pole position to progress. Thus, all in all, 1st legs are generally cagey affairs. The excitement is reserved for the 2nd leg.

Being a Manchester United fan, I recall a classic example of the away goals rule ruining some of the best football I’ve seen United play in Europe. 2010 Champions League quarter – final 2nd leg at Old Trafford vs Bayern Munich ( Statistically, Bayern has been the team to have benefited the most from the away goals rule in the knockout stages of the Champions League. )

Trailing 2-1 from the 1st leg at the Allianz Arena, United went 3-0 up within the 1st 30 minutes with a Darron Gibson strike and a brace from Nani ( The 1st a delightful backheel from an Antonio Valencia cross). Bayern pulled one back before half-time through Ivica Olic , and panic set in in the United ranks. A needless red card for Rafael followed, and Bayern realized they just had to keep their calm and score once to progress. A man disadvantage proved too much for United to counter. The match winner was the best Champions League strike I’ve seen live, Arjen Robben volleying directly from just inside the box from a Ribery corner.

Thus, United, after a superb 1st half performance, were eliminated on the away goals rule.

I wish to emphasize that the comfort and confidence the away goals rule gives to the away side makes European footballing nights less about adrenaline, more about tactics.

I suggest the abolishment of the away goals rule and the introduction of the Golden Goal to European nights, if the tie finishes level on aggregate. (Remember Senegal in the 2002 World Cup?) 30 minutes of extra time in which the Golden Goal is applicable, which if unable to separate the 2 sides, takes the game to penalties.

This tweak in the rules would make the game a lot more interesting to the average spectator and would go a long way in enhancing the beauty of The Beautiful Game. Yes, tactical supremacy on the pitch would still be key, but so would be the focus on attack and not only containment.

The away goals rule is an archaic and outdated rule that has taken the beauty out of European football to a large extent. Football matches should be won on out-scoring opponents, independent on which team has scored where.

Antonio Cassano is a footballing oddity. He is the type of character one would rarely find in football, probably similar to Mario Balotelli in a lot of ways. He is a misunderstood  genius.

Playing as a Trequartista (Italian term for a second striker), he is one of the most talented players that Italy has ever produced. At just 30, he at the peak of his playing career.

Fans call him ‘Fantantanio’. That says a lot about how much they admire him. He is fantastic, but only when his head is in the right place. Watching any of his compilations on Youtube would leave anyone of us in awe of this man. The exquisite close control, passing and dribbling ability he possesses is second to none.

Fabio Capello coined an interesting term (Cassanata) to describe his short temper combined his outstanding ability on the pitch.

Starting his playing career with his hometown club Bari,  he rose through the the youth ranks to make his debut for the senior team in 1999 . His exploits at Bari earned him the title  ‘Il Gioiello di Bari Vecchia’ (The Jewel of Old Bari).

After two years at Bari, he moved to the then reigning Serie A champions AS Roma where he formed a volatile on and off-field partnership with teammate and fellow maverick , Francesco Totti . It was at Roma that he first came in contact with Fabio Capello, and it was here that the term ‘Cassanata’ first came into use. During Cassano’s spell at Roma from 2001-2006, he oversaw the sacking and appointment of four different coaches. Further off-field troubles resulted in him moving to Real Madrid in 2006 for a pittance.

Despite scoring against Real Betis after just three minutes into his debut, he would go on to have a rather acrimonious time at the Santiago Bernabeu. He would be regularly benched along with a certain David Beckham, off-field troubles continued to haunt him, and it extended to a point where the club had to fine him for being overweight.

Another club, another case of unfulfilled potential.

Sampdoria offered him salvation by taking him on loan and agreeing to pay half of his wages. He formed a fearsome partnership with goal-poacher Gianpaolo Pazzini. They have lead Sampdoria to two years of relative success, and the Cassano-Pazzini partnership was often compared to the Vialli-Mancini partnership of the previous decade when Sampdoria last won the Serie A title .

Stability and Cassano don’t go hand in hand. Cassano had a heated argument with the club’s chairman about attending an awards ceremony and Sampdoria appealed to the league arbitration panel for Cassano’s contract to be terminated. That resulted in further loss of playing time for him. Sampdoria has never recovered from losing Pazzini and Cassano, and were relegated the next season .

After lengthy negotiations, he signed for AC Milan in January 2010. Since then, he hasn’t been a regular starter for them, always being behind Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Pato in the pecking order.

Cassano’s international career has also been a subject of intense scrutiny. He has a grand total of 16 caps and 4 goals over 10 years. He wasn’t really favoured by any Italian national team coach over the past 10 years, despite strong media and public sentiments rooting for him. There was a strong shout from the fans for him to be included in Italy’s (eventually humiliating) 2010 World Cup campaign under coach Marcelo Lippi, but it wasn’t to be the case. Lippi argued that including Cassano would go against the team spirit and disrupt their harmony .

The new national team coach Cesare Prandelli probably realizes Cassano’s importance to the national team more than any other coaches in the recent past and has earmarked an important role for him and even Mario Balotelli in the Italian squad for the Euros.

Presently, Cassano is down with a serious heart ailment which threatens to derail his Euro 2012 dreams where he would have been a certain starter .

I feel it is the presence of temperamental geniuses like Cassano, Balotelli, Cantona  and Gascoigne that makes football all the more interesting and beautiful. These type of players should rather be nurtured and celebrated rather than publicizing their short coming.

It’s no surprise that so many managers have taken a chance with Cassano, despite being fully aware of his dodgy temperament. They know he is a sensational talent and an invaluable asset who can turn a match at his will in a tight, tactical contest with a wonderful pass or a scintillating solo dribble past defenders .

Antonio Cassano will be back, stronger and more mature than before.

The latest FIFA rankings places India at the 165^th position. This is India’s lowest ranking in a long time. There have been relatively very few highs for Indian football lately, and I feel the Indian team has largely regressed under the present manager, Savio Medeira. After the high of participating in the Asian Football Championships, managed by the journeyman Bob Houghton, and putting up respectable performances against the likes of South Korea, it has largely been downhill since then. Houghton was then unceremoniously sacked and Medeira was told to take over.

But that is not what I want to talk about. I want to take my readers back to the glory days of Indian football. How the seeds of Indian football were sown, and how the team was once a fearsome rival.

Kolkata is largely thought to be the nerve center of Indian football. Football’s popularity goes back to the formation of dozens of amateur football clubs in the city in the late 19^th century, and the setting up of the Indian Football Association(IFA).

The defining moment came in 1911 in the IFA Shield tournament (considered to be the 4^th oldest football tournament in the world), when Mohun Bagan defeated the British side, East Yorkshire Regiment, and took home the shield. This was Indian football’s ‘Lagaan’ moment. The 11 players who took to the field that day have since been immortalized in the Kolkatan footballing culture.

Mohun Bagan thus became the first Indian and also the first Asian team to beat a foreign team, in front of 80000 proud Bengalis. Since then, there have been movies, posters, postage stamps and songs published, celebrating that stupendous achievement.

Fast forward to 1950’s, India was regarded as an Asian footballing powerhouse. Few know that India had actually qualified for the 1950 Football World Cup that was held in Brazil, but weren’t allowed to participate because of their unwillingness to play wearing studs. Actually, India qualified automatically without playing a single game because other teams withdrew, citing the high costs in participating in the qualifiers. Despite repeated correspondence between FIFA and the Indian authorities, the Indian team were not allowed to play barefoot, thus were unable to participate.

The football tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne was another high point for Indian football. Though only 11 teams eventually participated due to boycotts and withdrawals, India were able to make it to the semis and eventually finish fourth.

It got a walkover to the quarters because of the non-participation of the Hungarian football team. Hungary, at that time, were being oppressed by the Soviet Union. In the quarters, India met the hosts Australia, a great footballing team, which had the Australian Soccer Hall of Famer Ron Lord in its playing 11.

In one of the greatest matches in Indian footballing history, India managed to beat the Aussies, helped by a stunning hat-trick by striker Neville D’Souza. Thus, D’Souza became the first Asian to score a hat-trick in an Olympic football competition. The final score read 4-2 in favour of the Indians.

In the semis, India were paired against Yugoslavia, a team hoping to be in their third consecutive Olympic final. India again started brightly and took the lead, D’Souza adding another goal to his tally. But the Yugoslavs proved to be too strong for the Indian, and eventually won the match 4-1.

In the bronze medal playoff, India clashed against the Bulgarians and lost 3-0.

In 1977, New York Cosmos came to play an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan in Kolkata.  The great Pele was once a Cosmos player and he started in the friendly match . That match actually ended 2-2! The Bagan great, Goutam Sarkar, was described as ‘India’s very own Beckenbauer’, by the Anand Bazaar Patrika.

Since then, Indian football has gone through a period of neglect and instability, a predicament which was brought upon the game by the neglect authorities.

Yes, Indian football had seen better days.

Chelsea Football Club has had a rebirth of sorts since the departure of Andre Villas-Boas and the appointment of his assistant, Roberto Di Matteo as the interim manager. They have had a good run lately, winning a major percentage of their matches, and most importantly, tightening up their defence.

Roberto Di Matteo last held the managing reigns at West Bromwich Albion, where he helped them gain promotion to the Premier League and made them play an attractive brand of football. They were the only club to take any points off Manchester United at Old Trafford last season, and they did that by coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2. A commendable achievement, to say the least.

But, they were on win less run, and were placed dangerously close to the relegation zone. This led to the sacking of Di Matteo and the appointment of Roy Hodgson, the former Liverpool manager.

Working under Villas-Boas from the start of the season, he saw AVB try (and ultimately fail) to tackle the player power at Chelsea. The infusion of young blood like Daniel Sturridge into the team and relegation of the Bridge hero Frank Lampard to the bench, didn’t go down well with the senior members of the team.

Following a series of poor results, including an astonishing 3-3 draw at home with Manchester United, where United came back from three goals down and almost won the game, AVB was sacked. A poor away performance at Napoli in the Champions League quarters, after taking the lead was probably the last chance that he had.

What didn’t help AVB was the failure to assert authority in the dressing room. AVB, in fact, is just a few months older than the senior members of the team.

Thus, left yet another manager in the Abromovich era, failing to deliver the holy grail (Champions league).

Villas-Boas’ assistant, Di Matteo was appointed as the interim manager. Since then, the hunt for a new top-drawer personality to take over the reigns at Chelsea has begun. The return of Mourinho, or the arrival of Pep Guardiola or Didier Deschamps has been mooted in many newspaper columns. All three of them, as expected have been non-committal in taking over the job. But in football, and specially in European footballing circles, things should never be taken by face value.

Anyway, the 1^st thing Di Matteo did was to set right the balance of power  in the dressing room. The influence of the senior pros was back, and thus signaled the return of the old guard. The laidback approach of Di Matteo has worked till now, with Chelsea regaining their defensive solidity and getting results. They are now back in contention for the fourth and final champions league spot.

They also overcame an enigmatic Napoli side in a thrilling 2^nd leg of the Champions League quarters, after trailing 1-3 from the 1^st leg in Naples. That match saw John Terry, after being substituted, passing instructions to the outfield players, and Di Matteo stood there watching. This was just another indication of the growing player power at Chelsea. It can hardly do any good for any club, when players start imagining themselves as bigger than the club itself.

Now, after a wonderful week for Chelsea, where they thrashed Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley to qualify for the FA Cup Final, and a spirited victory at home against a rampaging Barcelona side, things are looking up for Di Matteo and his team.

The FA Cup title, a Champions League final spot and a 4^th place finish, and we may well be talking about Di Matteo becoming a permanent fixture at Chelsea.

Of course, Liverpool, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur would beg to differ.

But, a man not fit enough to lead West Bromwich Albion for a whole season of Premier League football, where expectations were at best –  a mid-table finish, surely isn’t the right man for the Chelsea job. The amount of expectations are a lot higher, and a top-four finish is a must every season. Chelsea Football Club is expected to fight for the League title, and reach the semis of the UEFA Champions League. Anything else is just not good enough, according to Roman Abramovich.

But of course, we’ve seen stranger things happen in football. So, Di Matteo will remain at the Bridge next season?

Its anybody’s guess.