Signing Of The Summer

Despite the new Premier League season coming on the back of what was certainly an interesting World Cup, the talent that was showcased has certainly not been snapped up as quickly as the tabloids suggested. Wesley Sneijder, who won practically everything last season, was linked with Manchester United, but nobody really thought that would happen did they? Indeed, United’s most famous worldwide signing was Juan Sebastian Veron, at his peak when bought in 2001, but even then the move was helped by Veron being at the time embroiled in a passport investigation. One imagines a more settled Veron would have stayed in a Serie A competition that was better than any league in the world at that time.

David Villa was joint top scorer in the World Cup, yet his recent move to Barcelona was not only expected but was wrapped up before the World Cup. His Spain and Valencia team-mate David Silva joined Manchester City during the World Cup also, thus despite the pair being two of the world’s greatest players, the transfers were not subject to the kind of sensationalism such moves normally attract.

Silva is likely to be the signing that will garner most attention when the new Premiership starts in August. Fortunately for the Spaniard, City gaffer Roberto Mancini has brought in other expensive signings Yaya Toure, Aleksander Kolarov and Jerome Boateng, who although aren't likely to be involved in glorious attacking football and headline-grabbing individual displays, have cost enough to take some of the pressure of Silva.

One wonders what players would currently be arriving at Eastlands if Mark Hughes was still in charge. Hughes, dismissed from Eastlands last December, was clearly taking City forward, but not at the rate desired from the club’s new owners. Harsh treatment for a manager who is used to success, and who would clearly have achieved it had he been given another few years to mould the team into his own. Hughes needn’t have worried that being British would have failed to attract some world ‘superstars’. Mancini certainly had success at club level as a player, but he is still yet to become a legendary veteran of European club management himself. Indeed this shows how much of a factor money and a promise of a new ‘revolution’ is in attracting players like Silva and Boateng.

At the time of writing, Hughes is set to become boss at Fulham, who saw their own manager depart Roy Hodgson depart for ‘crisis-club’ Liverpool, a club so in ‘crisis’ they are in the Europa Cup and have players like Pepe Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres at their disposal. How Hodgson must regret the day he turned his back on Chris Baird, Paul Konchesky and Dickson Etuhu, in favour of pastures new.

It is thus Hughes who is responsible for taking control of Fulham’s fortunes. A club that reached the Europa Cup final last season and yet still continued to impress in the league, particularly at Craven Cottage. Fulham may just have made the signing of the season in appointing Mark Hughes as their manager. What makes the signing so impressive is that Fulham paid no transfer fee for the unemployed Hughes.

Hughes is a stubborn sort. Brought up within the super-manly arms of Ron Atkinson, and witness to Alex Ferguson’s hairdryer treatment, Hughes certainly knows how to get what he wants. In the five years he spent as manager of Wales, Hughes revolutionised the national set-up, developing an almost unhealthy obsession with everything that affected the first team, from the training facilities, to the Welsh youth-set-up, right up to Robbie Savage’s deodorant choice. His demands on his players and indeed loyalty to them are such that most players end up loving him. Indeed Hughes’s teams are often known for a never-say-die attitude, combined with a modest quality that can surprise the best.

Fulham are a club that have apparently over-reached in recent years, despite having an excellent chairman, a fine coaching and playing staff, and a London location that would attract most footballers. The size of their ground is obviously something people point to when considering the size and worth of Fulham Football Club, but if truth be told, Fulham have that to their advantage. The claustrophobic environment of Craven Cottage helped the club dispose of so-called giants Juventus and Roma last season, and also helped the team gain maximum points in home fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United.

Hughes is the perfect choice for Fulham, and they have every right to set their sights on qualifying for Europe again this season. They have an excellent defence in players like Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland, and even if Mark Schwarzer does leave, there will be no shortage of top-class keepers elsewhere that will be eyeing up the vacant goalkeeper's jersey. Danny Murphy and Zoltan Gera add craft to their play, whilst Bobby Zamora and the brilliant Clint Dempsey will always score goals. Hughes will be working hard to improve a good team, indeed his favourite son Craig Bellamy is bound to join him sooner rather than later. Fulham fans pondering whether Hodgson’s departure will signal the end of what has been a brilliant period should fear not. Mark Hughes was a great signing as a player for many clubs, and he continues to have such an effect as a manager.

Joey Barton Superstar?

THE controversial Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton yesterday revealed his belief that he is as good as anyone in the country. At first glance, it would appear that Barton has rejuvenated himself, with a droll, dry sense of humour to match. However, upon close inspection, the man Sam Allardyce once relied on to try and keep Newcastle in the Premiership (and failed), was actually truthfully stating his apparent worth to the England football cause.

Although some fans would argue that Barton would have offered England an improved tenacity in midfield than what was present in South Africa, what England were in need of most was the ability to keep possession. Both a lack of world-class technique and an aptitude to look for a short pass was the downfall of Fabio Capello’s team. (Though it doesn’t help when your defenders are out-paced by Miroslav Klose) It would take the most ardent of Newcastle United fans or even a close family member of Joey Barton to claim that he would have improved England in that area.

Barton instead is a battler, a destroyer if you will, who although showed a goalscoring streak during his Manchester City career, would not be expected to fulfill such a goal-scoring responsibility at international level. However, supporting England shouldn’t just come down to claiming an average midfield battler would do a better job than our current crop. ‘Get Batty on’ was often the desperate cry of the Elland Road faithful in 2004, though to no avail, as they saw their beloved Leeds United (and David Batty) slide out of the Premier League. Surely fans in the 21st century, who are regularly witnesses to Pro-Zone, Andy Gray's numerous on-screen gadgetry, and even Andy Townsend's 'Tactics Truck' can suggest a more innovative and intelligent tactic than just sending your enforcer on to ‘sort em out.’

At 27 years old, Barton has less than 200 top-flight appearances to his name, and he is rightly more well-known for his altercations, both and off the pitch. He is one-paced, a competent passer, not blessed with real skill, and has an awful disciplinary record. Apart from a decent shooting ability, Barton’s only real positive attribute is his ability to influence and drive on others around him. However, team-mates look to these types of players to set standards and positive examples, and they usually demand ultimate respect. One feels that Barton cannot fully gain this respect with what he has done previously in not only his career, but also his life to date.

His only real accolade to date was his one and only England cap, coming on for Frank Lampard against Spain in 2007, for just over 10 minutes. He hasn’t played for the national side since. Even ex-Bolton striker Michael Ricketts played more minutes for England, albeit just 45, in a friendly against Holland in 2002. Ricketts however, is wise not to come out in the press and laud his own abilities to the national press. Quite what Barton was thinking is somewhat-baffling, and suggests his impending return to the Premiership in August should be one to watch.

Why Manchester City Will Win The League

FIFTEEN years ago, FA Premier League fans all over the world awaited the start of a new season. Unlike the present day, where millions watched the South African World Cup, football fans in 1995 had to deal with a football-free summer. What is that match that Sky Sports teases us all with, a week before the start of the new season, masquerading as a ‘classic’ to kick off a ‘new showcase season’? Ah yes, that awful Charity Shield... The 1995 Charity Shield was even more lacklustre than normal. The only notable point was that it was the only Charity Shield since the Premiership began that didn’t feature one of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. Why? Answer: The 1994/95 season saw Blackburn Rovers crowned champions...

Blackburn had finally pipped Manchester United to the title in 1995, and although they would go on to lose that subsequent Charity Shield match against Everton, they still set an important benchmark that year – that money could buy you the title. In just a few years, Kenny Dalglish used Jack Walker’s millions to buy the best around (at the time). Shearer, Flowers, Sutton, Ripley, Sherwood, Le Saux et al, and yes even David ‘pass it sideways’ Batty. In fact David Batty already had a league winner’s medal after winning the title with Leeds in 1992.

As we approach the end of summer 2010, it is now the turn of Manchester City to try and pose a new threat to the established elite. Despite losing out on qualification for the Champions League, City have crucially still managed to attract the calibre of player they needed to improve. Jerome Boateng and Aleksandar Kolarov (should he sign) will bolster a defence that often bottled it at crucial times last season. More significantly, any City fans concerned about David Silva’s lack of involvement in South Africa need not worry. Silva is the real deal. Even Barcelona-bound Cesc Fabregas isn’t first choice for Spain...

City are improving at a steadyrate, though United and Chelsea seem to have, squad-wise at least, stalled. Chelsea have released smug German international Michael Ballack, and more surprisingly Joe Cole, and have failed to build on an ageing squad. United still lack a world-class central midfielder, and also the firepower to aid Wayne Rooney. The defences of the top two, in particular, are unstable, whether through injuries or personal issues. In fact, John Terry now seems to resemble an ageing house-cat, lumbering about with misplaced arrogance, relying on others to help to clean up after him.

It is the quality and depth of squad that City has this season which is their main advantage. When it comes down to it, week after week, quality counts. Silva and Andrew Johnson will be fluid and dangerous on the wings. Nigel De Jong and Yaya Toure will prove as tough as anyone to get past in midfield. Shay Given and Joe Hart are outstanding keepers on their day. Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure are experienced defenders hungry for success, and even Micah Richards may yet prove he has a degree of footballing ability an. Tevez and Adebayor have plenty of class up front, and more importantly goals. Indeed it’s hard to watch a game in which Carlos Tevez plays in, and for you to not expect the Argentinean to emerge victorious. He’s just that stubborn. Those that argue that Craig Bellamy will be a huge miss for City should he go should just bear in mind that Craig Bellamy has been playing Premiership football for 10 years, never attracted a top club, and only has a Charity Shield winners medal to show for his time in English football. And you know how I feel about the Charity Shield...

I just can’t see the current top two being on their game enough this season to stop the momentum of City. I don’t expect a revolution of such in future years, but Chelsea and United need to be better than they currently are, if they are to thwart City’s chances. City have been knocking on the door, and although sceptics will say that City lack the experience to win the league, experience will only get you so far. In fact Chelsea won the title in 2005 without any serious title-challenges in the years leading up to their first Premiership trophy. So it’s City for me this year. Of course, I’ve actually wagered 25 quid on City to win the league, via Betfair, so chances are that City will finish 7th...