Free of injury and two goals in the Emirates Cup Final. The season augurs well for Robin Van Persie. Talent never in doubt, but questions marks have hung over the Dutchman. Did he have the mentality to match his gifts? The self-belief to be a leader? The departure of Henry to Barcelona provides the perfect opportunity for Van Persie to take centre stage. Thierry Henry was a positive infleunce on Arsenal’s development. He set the tone for their expression. The cultural leader. The orchestrator of Wenger’s vision. The one the team looked to in turning moments. Now he’s gone. And […]

Free of injury and two goals in the Emirates Cup Final. The season augurs well for Robin Van Persie. Talent never in doubt, but questions marks have hung over the Dutchman. Did he have the mentality to match his gifts? The self-belief to be a leader? The departure of Henry to Barcelona provides the perfect opportunity for Van Persie to take centre stage. Thierry Henry was a positive infleunce on Arsenal’s development. He set the tone for their expression. The cultural leader. The orchestrator of Wenger’s vision. The one the team looked to in turning moments. Now he’s gone. And in it, an […]

It’s the final of the Asia Trophy and David James is in prime form. Penalty saves from Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres give Portsmouth the trophy. And James the plaudits. So why, after losing his England place to Paul Robinson, is James showing his best ever form? England form. Well attitude certainly comes into it. As does motivation – motivation to prove people wrong. Make a point. These provide the foundation of excellence. There is, however, another level top professionals can attain. A place beyond excellence. But it’s for the few, not the many. The level of mastership. Mastership is […]

Just two weeks after signing for West Ham United, French mid-fielder Julian Faubert, ruptures his Achilles tendon. He is out of action for 6 months. The West Ham physio tells us that Julian has never had any achilles trouble before. This is major shock to them. But maybe this shock can be explained. We are told that Faubert’s first choice of departure from Bordeaux was Glasgow Rangers. His agent said that he had wanted to go to Rangers and had given them his word. West Ham outbid Rangers and so he ended up in the East End. Then the French manager […]

So Brazil win the Copa America, despite all the pre-match hype suggesting an Argentinian win. This is a country that knows how to win. It’s in their football DNA. This batch of Brazilians may not match teams of the past for flair, verve and individual briliance, but they delivered when it mattered the most. The coach, Dunga, gave an insight into ther victory. He said,” We came to rescue the self-esteem of the Brazilian worker, who wakes up in the morning and returns home late at night, whose only satisfaction in life is seeing Brazil win a football match.” This […]

Firstly this is not a debate about whether Jamie Carragher is a ‘bottler’ or not. It’s questioning why a player would consider giving up their international career. This tells us more about the disaffection Carragher feels about the England set-up. Many fans feel the same way. Once diehard nationalists no longer care about the England team. One underperformance after another at major events, supported by mediocre, unambitious football has alienated fans. And players it seems. It doesn’t look like fun. Steve McClaren must view Carragher’s decision as a wake up call. Players don’t want to be part of the set-up. […]

Chelsea Chief Executive, Peter Kenyon, has spoken recently of the need for the club to make, at least, the final of the Champions League in order for them to be acknowledged as a ‘world brand.’ But many diehard fans, who would rather see their team win the Premiership, don’t agree. There may be developing a sense of disconnect between these fans and the club they support. A gap in credibility which refuses to be bridged by clever merchandising. Football clubs have been driven by a deep-rooted set of values which provide the foundation for everything that happens at the club. […]

So Fernando Torres is to join Liverpool from Athletico Madrid for 26m. Is he going to be the catalyst that finally ignites Liverpool’s title challenge? Or will he join Stan Collymore, Emile Heskey, Craig Bellamy and Djibril Cisse, and fail to live up to the publicity and hype? If he is to make a difference, the first thing I would do if I was working with him, would be to steep him in history. I would create a specific induction process for him. An induction into the history of great Liverpool forwards…Liddell, Thompson, Hunt, St. John, Keegan, Toshack, Dalgleish, Rush. […]

It’s the division one play off and the City Ground, Nottingham is buzzing. Forest are eight minutes away from a Wembley assignation which history and destiny seem to demand. Rolling back the years, The Championship is within touching distance. Suddenly, Yeovil pull a goal back and panic sets in. Coach, Colin Calderwood tries to defend his now precarious lead, but it is too late. They have lost the initiative. In extra time Forest are down to nine fit men. Exhausted and dishevelled they are ready to capitulate. Yeovil seize the moment and plunder a fifth goal. At the final whistle […]

Its half time in Englands European Championship qualifier against Andorra and an angry mob has gathered to abuse the underperforming, lifeless, England players. The majority of the venom however is directed at the manager. Its the lowest point yet in Steve McClarens brief tenure as England boss. At the time of McClarens appointment, his predecessor, Sven Goran Erikksson said, I have no doubt that he has all the credentials to be very successful in the job and wish him all the best.” Nine games later, there are online petitions calling for McClarens resignation, and he is being hounded by the […]