Ferguson must stick with Berbatov for the sake of title challenge

Mercurial forward may hold the key to United's title challenge, and Sir Alex needs to realise that to get the best out of the Bulgarian, he must be used consistently.

Dimitar Berbatov divides opinion like almost no other player in the game (with the possible exception of Emile Heskey). He dazzles some with remarkable displays of nonchalant brilliance, but baffles others with his seemingly indifferent attitude and questionable work-rate. What is beyond debate though is that out of Manchester United's last five games, the three victories came with the Bulgarian in the starting XI, while for the two defeats, he started on the bench.

Of course, to judge a player and his impact on the team based purely on their last five games fails to tell the whole story. Berbatov remains something of an enigma at United, and has yet to show his best form consistently. However, he has shown in the past that his best form comes when he is starting regularly (in fact, whose doesn't?), and that he tends to hit his stride in the second half of the season.

During his two years at Spurs Berbatov started slowly each season, but came into his own during December. In 06/07, he scored twice against Charlton to add to a total of just seven goals up to that point. He ended the season with 23 in all competitions. In 07/08, it took four goals against Reading at the end of December to kick-start his season - again he ended with 23 in all competitions. His Manchester United career thus far has been stop-start, but the team might just benefit from him having an extended run in the starting XI. He has scored in his last two games, and we might just be starting to see the emergence of the player so many United fans have waited so long to see.

Of course, at United you are expected to deliver straight away, especially after commanding such a large transfer fee. In that respect, Berbatov has been a disappointment so far. However, it is hard to deny that when he hits his stride, there are few players who are better to watch for sheer technique and vision in that central striker role, and with this style he can complement the athletic industry of the likes of Rooney, Valencia and Park behind him.

In fact, if United are to play the 4-2-3-1 formation that has become almost the default for top teams, Berbatov is by far the most suitable player to spearhead the attack. The use of Berbatov in this position is characteristic of the way the game has changed in recent years, and tactics employing forwards like the Bulgarian as a lone forward are becoming more and more commonplace (and effective) at the pinnacle of the world game. Jonathan Wilson comments that the traditional centre-forward as goal-poacher has long since departed at the top level. His comments on the future of the striker provide a fascinating insight into the way the game is changing, and Dimitar Berbatov perfectly fits the description of his modern "hybrid" forward. His outstanding close control, unrivalled vision and ability to thread a telling pass, together with his potency in and around the six-yard box make him a handful, and capable of playing the dual role of provider and finisher - previously split between two forwards - on his own.

An attacking line-up with Berbatov at the tip and Rooney behind, flanked with willing runners, appears to present both the best chances of success for United, and the highest potential for exciting and attractive attacking football. Let's hope that Ferguson persists with the talented forward, and that we start to see the full array of talent that this exciting player can produce on a regular basis.

Tottenham: Pavlyuchenko's ill-advised comments may be damaging for career

The Good of The Game believes that Tottenham's Russian Roman may be harming his future prospects by his repeated outbursts, and in this instance player-power might not be the answer.

Roman Pavlyuchenko has once again subjected us to his innermost thoughts in a bid to buy a one-way ticket out of N17 and end his disappointing spell with Tottenham Hotspur.

In the latest of a number of carefully worded comments to the press, Pavlyuchenko has taken one step further towards guaranteeing his exit from the club, claiming that manager Harry Redknapp is "mocking" the Russian by refusing to play him.

I can't help however, but think that Pavlyuchenko is only making his situation worse by confiding these self-indulgent comments to the wider world. That his Tottenham career is coming to an end is beyond doubt - Redknapp has staunchly refused to use Pavlyuchenko in any match of any importance this season. But I wonder which big clubs will want to take a look at the Russian, and perhaps take a gamble on him, when they know his propensity to moan to the press whenever things are not going his way.

Pavlyuchenko's great advantage is that he hasn't played European football this year, so he could be picked up by a side that has progressed to the latter stages of either the Champions or Europa Leagues. However, I struggle to see any side in either of those competitions where Pavlyuchenko would walk straight into the starting XI, something which he seems to think he is entitled to.

Rumours have been surfacing all season about potential moves to the likes of Roma, Liverpool and a host of clubs back in his home country. It seems like a move back to Russia may be his only option because surely he would not be content to warm the bench at another club in the same manner as he has been doing at Spurs this season?

A big part of me feels that if Pavlyuchenko had handled his current situation with more dignity he would be a more attractive prospect for big clubs, and may have found himself given another chance to prove himself at the highest level. After all, even the very best players occasionally suffer from a transfer to an ill-fitting club, and rejuvenate their fortunes by moving to a more suitable side. However, the striker has been so obsessed with speeding up his exit from White Hart Lane, that he might just have severely limited his future options.

Player power is of course a big part of the game today. Players enjoy a large amount of freedom in moving between clubs, and are entitled to request permission to be transferred, or to speak with another interested party if they wish to leave their current club. Of course they have benefited from this free market immensely in financial terms, and now have the right to seek the best deal for them. However, in cases like this would it not be more beneficial for the player to show a good attitude in the public domain, and quietly air his grievances to the club behind closed doors?

Engineering a transfer through communicating to the press (either in person or through an agent) is the most messy way to leave a club and often significantly damages the reputation of the outgoing player. Is it really the way to go about your business? If you're a Ronaldo or Berbatov this may not matter as you have another big (or bigger) club to walk straight into. They may have had poor attitudes, but they had the form to fall back on as evidence to potential buyers. But for the likes of Pavlyuchenko, displaying a poor attitude to go with poor form, the future does not look quite so bright.

Terry must keep his head down for sake of England

Matthew Syed writes today in The Times about his incredulity that John Terry has managed to maintain his status as England captain despite a downward spiralling of his public image in recent months.

As a nation, England need Terry to stay out of the limelight for the next 6 months. His influence on England's remarkable run of results under Fabio Capello cannot be underestimated. Terry is the man, after all, that Capello turned to after his extensive audition period for the role, and who are we to question the judgement of the man who has given England their smoothest passage to a major tournament in living memory?

The Chelsea man may not be the most spectacular footballer in the world - indeed he may not even be the most talented central defender England can boast - but his leadership qualities on the pitch and within a team environment are second to none, and that is what England will need if they are to get through the sternest of challenges that await them if they are to reach the latter stages in South Africa.

However, by accepting money from three "businessmen" (undercover reporters for the News of The World) for a private tour of Chelsea's training facility, and the secretive nature in which he handled the situation, Terry has done his best to throw his tenure as England captain into the spotlight of public scrutiny. There is no doubt that Terry is in footballing terms the best man to lead England at the World Cup, but he is becoming something of a PR disaster (not helped by his family), and the integrity that is expected of someone who is asked to lead their country has slipped away from him in the light of this incident. He needs to tread carefully from now on and avoid any more slip-ups, or else England might be forced to look elsewhere for the man to lead them to glory.

I'm sure Mr Capello will be in contact with Terry before the England squad next gets together in March, to remind him of his responsibility to his country and the high standards that are expected of him in his elevated position as leader of the nation's hopes. I only hope it gets through to him, and we can enjoy the run up to the tournament safe in the knowledge that we don't have to worry about the conduct of Terry, of whom so much is expected next summer.

Kroenke could inject new life into stagnant Arsenal

A few days ago I made a comment that the situation at the Emirates is a little stagnant, there were a few dissenting comments so I feel compelled to explain myself.

Arsenal is certainly an organization that has enjoyed a certain degree of stability over the years provided by Arsene Wenger and many loyal players.

Lets look at the last few performances in the Premier League:

2008/9: 72 points, finished 4th
2007/8: 83 points, finished 3rd
2006/7: 68 points, finished 4th
2005/6: 67 points, finished 4th
2004/5: 83 points finished 2nd

From a consistency perspective you cannot fault Arsenal - this is a phenomenal feat to achieve and on the surface these results look impressive but if we look at them differently we can see how far off winning the league Arsenal have been.

2008/9: 18 points behind 1st
2007/8: 4 points behind 1st
2006/7: 21 points behind 1st
2005/6: 24 points behind 1st
2004/5: 12 points behind 1st

My point is that Arsenal are a good side, continually lauded in the press for playing wonderful football, but aside from the 2007/8 season, have not even been close to challenging for the title. Not even close.

Currently the Gunners sit 6 points behind 1st with a game in hand and an excellent goal difference. So the question is: does this Arsenal team have what it takes to close the gap on 1st and 2nd place? I am going to say that no, they do not. I think they will struggle in the last 3/4 of the season and will probably end up in a fight with Aston Villa, Man City and Liverpool for the 3rd and 4th places in the league.

Stan Kroenke has a track record of injecting cash into the teams that he owns and will bring a wealth of experience to the table at the Emirates. He may be able to provide the impetus for Arsenal to change from attractive bridesmaid to actually standing at the altar and winning the Premier League again.

Mancini: already causing trouble

Roberto Mancini was unveiled as Manchester City manager yesterday and already will have displeased his new employers.

Lets not forget that he was sacked at Inter and had well publicized differences with president Massimo Moratti. Now he has openly contradicted his new boss, chief executive Garry Cook. In a statement Cook said that Mancini was offered the managers position at Eastlands after the defeat to Spurs last week. However at the press conference today Mancini told of how he was contacted about the position two weeks ago, forcing Cook to confirm these actions.

Publicly contradicting your chief executive is not exactly the description of a great first day at work.

We shall continue to keep an eye on Mancini.

Lionel Messi: a man predestined for greatness

Lionel Messi was on Monday crowned the Fifa World Player of the Year for 2009 at an awards ceremony in Zurich. It marks the end of an outstanding year for the Argentine who has stood head and shoulders above the competition. Rarely has there been a more deserving recipient.

Three weeks ago, The Good of The Game predicted that Messi would follow his European Ballon d'Or with the Fifa award, following Cristiano Ronaldo who achieved the same feat in 2008. He has duly delivered, no surprise considering the quality and consistency he has achieved this year.

Above all however, perhaps it is his sense of occasion that has marked him out as the truly great player of the past 12 months. Like Diego Maradona, his Argentinian predecessor who he has been so closely compared to, or the French magician Zinedine Zidane, Messi has shown that he can produce his very best football on the very biggest occasions - truly the sign of a great player. Messi's moment came in the 2009 Champions League final as he scored a remarkable headed goal to seal victory for Barcelona against Manchester United. It was as if he was born for that stage, and it seemed inevitable that he would influence the game in such a profound way.

Ed Smith sums up this characteristic of sporting greatness in his fascinating book What Sport Tells Us About Life, and I think it's particularly relevant to the example of the great Lionel Messi:

Scratch a brilliant sportsman deeply enough and you reach a layer of self-certainty in his own destiny. The greater the sportsman, usually the more convinced he is of his own predestined greatness. The big stage means it must be his stage, victory has been prearranged on his terms, it is his destiny to win the World Cup or the Olympics or the Ashes. It might be perfectly rational for a great player to believe he has a good chance of decisively influencing the big occasion. But that isn't what he thinks. He thinks it is inevitable.

For me this perfectly sums up the genius of Lionel Messi, and why he is perhaps the most worthy winner of this award since Ronaldinho in 2005. While others such as Ronaldo have stuttered on the biggest stage of all, seemingly losing faith in their ability, Messi never looks anything other than totally convinced of his right, perhaps even his obligation, to command the very biggest stage. That's why The Good of The Game loves Lionel Messi, it's why he has been the greatest player on the planet this year, and it's why he will prove very hard to beat again in 2010.

What Sport Tells Us About Life, by Ed Smith, is published by Penguin.

Kroenke has right CV for Premier League

Stan Kroenke is now only a few shares away from being forced to launch a takeover of the club.

While fan opinion seems to be divided, we see no reason why Arsenal would not welcome Stan The Man with open arms. He is an accomplished businessman who is listed by Forbes as one of the world's richest men. He built an empire through real estate and has since diversified into the sports industry.

Unlike many other Premier League owners Kroenke has an accomplished history in the sports industry, so much so that BusinessWeek listed him in the top 100 most influential people in sports. He owns the Denver Nuggets NBA organization, the Colorado Rapids Major League Soccer franchise, the Colorado Avalance NHL (ice hockey) franchise and the St. Louis Rams. Incidentally all of his teams have been extremely successful.

In addition he purchased the Pepsi Arena (home of the Nuggets) and has launched a regional sports television channel. He also owns a ticket company, cattle ranches and a winery. He is married to Anne Walton - an heir to the Wal-Mart fortune.

Kroenke is in the sports business to make money, that much is clear. So what to expect if he does fulfill the takeover?

Firstly, he is a quiet man who prefers the background to the limelight so don't expect a huge press conference or frequent interviews or even to hear from the man himself. Arsenal can expect considerable investment to achieve greater success, as he has spent on all his current teams to bring them glory.

Americans have a good track record in the Premiership so far with the Glazers bringing a number of trophies to Old Trafford and Randy Lerner presiding over the rapid improvement of Aston Villa.

Kroenke is already a member of the board at Arsenal so clearly they understand the experience and value of the man. A takeover, while not announced or even necessarily expected, may not be a bad thing at a stagnant Emirates Stadium.

Mick McCarthy: Excellent management decision to make 10 changes

The decision made by Wolves manager Mick McCarthy to make ten changes ahead of playing Premier League Champions Manchester United was met with wide-spread derision and anger around the country. Many fans felt 'ripped-off' and 'cheated' by the decision, but today hopefully they are enlightened with the bravery and common sense of the changes.

On Monday Wolves are three points better off than they were last week following a two-nil defeat of Burnley, fellow relegation rivals. With seven points separating the bottom 11 teams, those three points were vital for Wolves. Big Mick knows what he is doing, he knows that he will on average (in our opinion), lose to Manchester United 8 or 9 times out of 10 . Given that they only play each other twice a year, the odds are stacked against Wolves, so he made a brave and sensible decision.

A couple of points here;

1 - He is the manager he can do what he wants. Why should the Premier League write to him to ask 'why'? What are they hoping is going to happen here?

2 - As the leader of a multi-million dollar group of assets you have to manage them in order to maximise your returns. If we look at the last two games as a single entity; vs Man United and vs Burnley, what is the best outcome for Wolves? I would say it is 3 points. Maybe they could have scraped 4 points if Manchester United had an off day. McCarthy did the maths, he figured the best way to get maximum return from these two games given the assets at his disposal was to make ten changes for the United game. And he was proven correct.

Wolves are now lying 12th in the Premier League but face a difficult trip to Liverpool on Boxing Day and then have Manchester City at home on the 29th. Gaining three points before Christmas was vital to Wolves, McCarthy understood this and managed his squad correctly.

We certainly applaud him for his decisions and hope that fans understand that staying in the Premier League is more important that putting in a good performance at Old Trafford.

The Independent: are they getting their stories from The Good of The Game??

Take a look at this article in today's Independent - see any similarities to our last post?

Aside from the fact that its a little more eloquently written and they probably paid for the rights to the picture they used, the overarching point seems to be the same. For anyone that failed to read yesterday's post (shame on you) let me sum it up quite simply:

Roberto Mancini had been incredibly lucky with situations he has walked into and was helped immeasurably by the scandal in Italy involving Juventus, Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio.

He may or may not be a great manager, we are not really sure. His accomplishments so far should come with an asterisk.

It is our aim here at The Good of The Game to drive intelligent football debate so kudos to The Independent for saying something that no-one has said yet (except us of course!).

Mancini: managerial genius or fortunate fool?

Mark Hughes was, in unfortunate circumstances, sacked yesterday by Manchester City and replaced by Roberto Mancini. Judging by the newspaper reports and radio discussions the general consensus seems to be that this is a decision that will behoove the blue half (three-quarters??) of Manchester.

However, we are here to tell you that although clearly Mancini has been more successful than his predecessor, there is not a huge gulf in ability between him and Hughes and certainly not the difference that the press and the City brass will have you believe.

Firstly, Hughes entered management a full two years before Mancini and has managed over 300 top-level matches. That being said his formative years in management were with Wales, which may have delayed his career advancement prior to his signing with Blackburn.

He left Blackburn with an impressive 44% win rate, and a team that was well respected and tough to beat. He bought and sold well and was deserving of the City appointment.

Mancini's great success came at Internazionale, where he won 3 consecutive Serie A titles, becoming the clubs most successful manager in 30 years. However, the 2005-6 title was handed to them as a virtue of Juventus being re-assigned to Serie B following the Calciopoli scandal. Imagine the success that Chelsea could have had over last few years if Manchester United had suddenly been relegated to The Championship? Avram Grant could have been the most successful Chelsea manger of the last 30 years! That is essentially what happened in Italy. Was the title handed to him the following two years? No, but it was certainly made easier, particularly given the outstanding players in the Inter team.

To say Mancini is a bad manager would be untrue, but are his successes more circumstance that managerial brilliance? Maybe. And are these circumstances forgotten? Certainly.

City have made a bold move with this appointment, and as we understand it there is a clause in his contract that will allow the club to end relations with him at the end of the current season if things don't go well.

City, let's not forget, are a class side, packed full with some of the best players in the league. They will be a strong team for the remainder of the season no doubt. Their recent form will improve, particularly given their next eight opponents in the Premier League: Stoke, Wolves, Blackburn, Everton, Stoke, Portsmouth, Hull, Bolton. They may not drop a point until February. Every other team in the league would be jealous of this fixture schedule. It does not get any easier than this in the Premier League.

If City were indeed to go on and win these eight games (which they should), Mancini will undoubtedly be heralded as an instant hero at Eastlands, but yet again his success would be more circumstance than genius.

We may have to wait two or three years to fully understand whether or not Mancini is the real deal, and worthy of one of the most lucrative coaching contracts in world sports. Rarely will there ever be a better situation than this to walk into.

Aston Villa, Spurs, Man City: who will break the top 4? Part 3

All week we have been looking at the teams most likely to break the Premier League's top-four this season. On Thursday, Aston Villa's chances were introduced while yesterday it was the turn of Tottenham's exciting yet unpredictable challenge to be analysed. Today it's the turn of Mark Hughes's Manchester City to come under the scrutiny of our columnist.

Manchester City

Prior to the start of the season, Manchester City were considered by many to be a shoe-in to break the top-four (as they had been the previous year), and perhaps challenge for the Premier League title. A frenzy of transfer activity in the close season saw players heralded as marquee signings at the start of the summer ousted from their lofty position within the squad by upgraded signings before they'd even kicked a ball for the club. The season ahead was an exciting prospect for City fans who were drooling in anticipation at seeing the attacking talents available to Hughes.

City started the campaign with a bang and the 4-2 win over Arsenal in September appeared to validate the views of so many who had tipped them for greatness. Adebayor looked unplayable, and with the likes of Carlos Tevez and Robinho yet to come into the side there was seemingly only one way that City were travelling: up the table. However, eight days later Manchester United inflicted a perhaps undeserved defeat on City, and in the space of just over a week, doubt was cast over the whole project. Seven successive draws in the Premier League during October and November did nothing to shed light on this enigmatic team and further confused those who had backed City for greatness.

As with Aston Villa and Spurs, there is no doubting the wealth of resources available to City manager Mark Hughes. He has an intimidating array of attacking talent in his squad and players like Martin Petrov and Roque Santa Cruz would surely be guaranteed starters at almost any other Premier League side. The trio of Carlos Tevez, Adebayor and Robinho is a fearsome prospect when in full flow and ticks every box in the attacking handbook - pace, power, flair, technique, creativity and movement.

However, despite this seemingly unplayable attacking lineup, City have often flattered to deceive this season, and it has been the less glamorous players who have perhaps proved the most important. Shaun Wright-Phillips, Craig Bellamy and Nigel De Jong may not sound as exciting as the aforementioned attacking trio, but they are arguably at the heart of any success City are likely to achieve this season. De Jong may yet prove to be the most important signing Hughes has made in his time at the club (along with the exceptional Shay Given), and has already overshadowed the much lauded Gareth Barry in central midfield for the club.

Bellamy and Wright-Phillips also bring an element of reliability that is sadly missing from some of the big names in the squad, and this is what Hughes will need in abundance if he is to have a realistic chance of achieving Champions League qualification. It is encouraging that players such as Stephen Ireland are still being given chances in this City side when they could so easily have been overlooked by "bigger names". Surely Hughes's hope lies in keeping these players integral to his operation, as it appears that he can't fall back on his so-called superstars to deliver when it matters. The anonymity of the likes of Robinho and Adebayor at Spurs this week suggests the harsh winter months could be difficult for City unless some of their more battle-hardened players step up to the plate and take responsibility.

City have a great run of fixtures in the Premier League over the next few months that may make or break their season. With the talent they have at their disposal, they could conceivably go into the back-to-back games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham in February and March unbeaten in nine league games, but it will need a significant effort, and for everyone in the squad to pull their weight to achieve this.

Like Spurs, City are at times capable of producing exhilarating football that is a joy to watch. They are capable of turning over the very best teams in the very biggest matches, but it is their ability to knuckle down and graft that will define their season. Doubts still remain over their mental strength and vulnerability in defence, with Toure and Lescott an apparent mismatch in the heart of defence, and this may see them fall short of what is required to enter the Premier League's elite at this time of asking. If Hughes can address the clear shortcomings of his squad in the January transfer window, then they may stand a chance. If not then we'll have to wait until next season before exclaiming City to be top-four contenders once again.

What do you think? Who will finish in the Champions League places this season? Have your say by leaving a comment below!

Aston Villa, Spurs, Man City: who will break the top 4? Part 2

All this week The Good of The Game is bringing you their own insight into the teams pushing for a top-four Premier League finish. Yesterday, Aston Villa's chances were unpacked by our columnist, and found to be showing great promise but perhaps suffering from an overly-pragmatic approach which may prove to be simultaneously their greatest strength and the biggest weakness. Today is the turn of perennial under-achievers Spurs, who have grown from the ashes of Juande Ramos's ill-fated reign to being one of the most eye-catching sides in the country under the guidance of Harry Redknapp.

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs invariably provide the Premier League with more entertainment for your money than any other side. For supporters, Spurs create great moments of euphoria and belief, followed by troughs of humiliating defeat, indignation and doubt. For the neutrals there are periods of exhilarating attacking football, and more than enough slapstick comedy to keep them as the most talked about side never to have qualified for the Champions League.

This season so far has been typical of the roller-coaster ride that Spurs almost always promise to deliver. From the unusual excellent start, to the helplessly elevated expectations of supporters, to the humbling against great rivals. From emphatic victories to frustrating defeats, Spurs have kept us guessing all season.

What's true about Spurs is that their first XI is undeniably bursting with talent and is at times a joy to watch. In Luka Modric and Aaron Lennon Spurs have two of the most exciting attacking midfield players that the Premier League has seen in years. They mix the creative elements of electrifying pace and scheming short-game that characterised Arsenal at their greatest, and are comfortable playing a skewed midfield with only one genuine wide man because they have players who are comfortable interchanging positions during the course of a game in the tradition of the great Dutch sides of the 1970s.

Spurs have the in-form striker of the season in Jermain Defoe and while Peter Crouch and Robbie Keane have been subjected to criticism this year, they bring something different to the table and show enough glimpses of brilliance to justify their places. Goals have not been in short supply this season, but defensively Spurs still look vulnerable at times. Of course, any team would miss the defensive duo of Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King, and while Michael Dawson and Sebastian Bassong have proved as able deputies as you're ever likely to find in the Premier League, still there is a nagging feeling that Spurs are one slip away from conceding a goal at any point in any given game.

This has been proved when points have been dropped at home to Stoke and Wolves, while a soft goal conceded away to Aston Villa in November made hard work of a game that Spurs really should have won. The feeling is that Spurs are perhaps one or two central midfielders away from being genuine contenders this season. Wilson Palacios has vindicated the decision of the Spurs board to splash out £14m on him almost a year ago, but he has at times been rendered helpless by the lack of defensive support he receives from those around him. Tom Huddlestone can produce sublime moments of skill and technique, but there are still doubts about his desire to win and he certainly doesn't impose his considerable physical presence enough in key games. Spurs look likely to address this problem in January with the signing of the Brazilian prodigy Sandro, but whether he is able to adapt to the English game quickly enough to make a positive impact on this season is open to question.

Yesterday Aston Villa were described as perhaps overly pragmatic in their approach to the game, but there are lessons that Spurs could learn from their sometimes cautious approach. It is hard to think of a more markedly different approach than that seen by Villa and Spurs, which was clearly on show when the two sides met at Villa Park last month. The old saying goes that "fortune favours the brave", but the eagerness of Harry Redknapp to throw a spanner in the works against top sides this season, by changing the Spurs system, has so far proved fruitless.

Redknapp is not afraid to make big selection decisions and mix his team up in order to try and keep an element of surprise about Tottenham's play, but it is arguably when Spurs have a settled starting XI that they are at their most effective. When Redknapp arrived just over a year ago he found a side struggling for any kind of form and seemingly lacking both a sense of what was their best XI and any kind of tactical approach to the game. Redknapp quickly sorted this problem out and Spurs went on a terrific run to pull themselves out of the mire.

With Luka Modric returning from injury, perhaps Spurs will once again return to their tried and tested formula, though it would be a travesty to see the excellent Niko Kranjcar dropped given his current form. Many will point to the fact that Spurs have a squad with great strength in depth, and that they should use all of the tools at their disposal, but if you remove three or four of those tools, as Redknapp is expected to do in January, then the squad starts to look a little lacking in depth. This could be a blessing in disguise as it will force Redknapp to pick his best XI every week, but could Spurs regret moving those players on later in the season? Aston Villa have shown last season what happens if you lack genuine squad depth and have addressed the problem this term. Spurs would be well advised to heed that warning.

So we look forward to seeing which Spurs side will show up for their next game away to Blackburn, and remain secure in the knowledge that all is as it should be at N17 - completely unpredictable. Tottenham will continue to impress and frustrate in almost equal measure, but looking at the strength of the challenge posed their rivals, they may just have enough to propel them into the footballing elite this time round.

Check back tomorrow (19/12/09) for The Good of The Game's evaluation of Manchester City's chances of gaining a top-four place this season, in the last of the series.

Aston Villa, Spurs, Man City: who will break the top 4? Part 1

As a round of midweek Premier League games again provides compelling evidence both for and against the case for a new team breaking the so-called "big four", The Good of The Game jumps on the bandwagon by - over the next three days - offering their own insight into the debate that's being dubbed "the new can-Lampard-and-Gerrard-play-together?".

There seems to be an almost unspoken consensus amongst those who follow football - and indeed, those who write about it - that Liverpool will this year fail to finish in the Champions League qualifying places for the first time since they won Europe's top prize yet finished only 5th in the domestic championship in 2005. This of course leaves the door open for a team outside the cartel to break up the party and shake up the stagnant and predictable pond that is the English Premier League. To even the most casual of observers it is evident that the three teams best equipped to launch an assault on the summit of English football (or at least a plateau just below the summit that Sky has told everyone is the top), are Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

All three sides have shown glimpses of exactly why so many people are backing them, but they've also shown evidence of both mental and technical weaknesses that suggest if one of them does manage the "seemingly impossible", it will owe more to the missed opportunities of the other contenders than to their own superiority amongst the best of the rest.

Indeed, even those who are paid to offer their unrivalled insight and wisdom on the game to the wider public - the journalists and pundits - seem to swing wildly from backing one team one week, to another the next based purely on the previous week's results and performances. This is perhaps symptomatic of the fickle nature of those who follow the game, even those who are paid to do so.

So, The Good of The Game has decided to throw it's hat into the ring and offer the definitive guide to each sides chances of finishing 4th or higher this season. Let's start by looking at the team currently in possession of that elusive 4th place, Aston Villa:

Aston Villa

It seems fashionable these days to herald Martin O'Neill as some kind of footballing messiah, a man of almost alchemic powers to transform average teams to very good ones, with his understated and likeable demeanour winning him many supporters amongst football's cognoscenti. The truth of the matter is that he has turned Aston Villa into very real contenders, and a side capable of producing eye-catching results against the very best. Only this season they've managed to upset Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool and have placed themselves in a strong position going into the crucial Christmas period which will see them take on Arsenal and Liverpool, and give us further insight into their credentials for a top-four finish.

There is no doubt that Martin O'Neill has now assembled a squad which contains sufficient depth to sustain a challenge throughout the course of an entire season, putting them immediately in a more favourable position than last season where their squad deficiencies were exposed in the second half of the campaign. Signings such as Richard Dunne, James Collins, Habib Beye and Stephen Warnock in the defensive area drew raised eyebrows in the summer for their apparent lack of ambition, but they have once again proven O'Neill to be an astute judge of character and ability as all three have brought valuable quality to the Villa squad. Dunne and Collins in particular have turned in imperious performances in the very biggest matches to make Villa - along with the evergreen and good-as-ever Brad Friedel - a defensive force to be reckoned with.

Going forward Villa boast an embarrassment of English riches, with Stewart Downing added in the summer to an already impressive attacking arsenal containing World Cup hopefuls James Milner, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Add to that the muscular physicality of John Carew and the much maligned yet extremely effective Emile Heskey and you have an attack that offers dynamic options and an imposing threat on the break and at set-pieces. Milner has developed this season into an integral piece of the jigsaw, while Downing's recovery from injury and subsequent promising performances have only strengthened Villa's hand.

There's clearly no doubting the tools at Villa's disposal - they have a squad that many Premier League managers would kill for. However, there are still those who are critical of the side and what many consider to be an overly pragmatic approach. The great debate over form against function, the aesthetic versus the pragamtic, is one that has dominated tactical debates for over half a century, and it is one that will be again addressed in part two and three of this series as it plays such a crucial role in analysing the three teams in question.

For Villa and O'Neill, the foundation of their success so far this season has been defensive solidity. It was hailed as the reason behind their famous victories against Manchester United and Chelsea, and provides their attacking players with the platform to break at pace and counter attack against sides worn down by the dogged determination of Dunne and his defensive warriors. However, this pragmatic approach has also been their weakness at times.

In displays against Tottenham (when they played more like an away side at Villa Park) and Everton (where they failed to create enough against a side who had lost three and drawn two of their previous five games), Villa dropped points when those hoping for them to break the top-four would have expected more. Against Spurs in particular it was the manner of the performance that planted seeds of doubt in the minds of many. Villa sneaked an early goal despite barely showing the desire to pressurise the understrength Tottenham defence, and were then happy to sit back and absorb the pressure. Spurs eventually grabbed a point, but to all who observed the match, clearly deserved all three and Villa defended for their lives to keep hold of that solitary point.

If Aston Villa are to break into the Champions League places this season, shouldn't their supporters - and indeed their players and manager - expect to be doing more to take their chances? After all, it is unlikely to be the points gained against the very top sides that decides where teams like Villa will finish this season, but those against their immediate rivals and those below them. Last season Spurs had the best record against the "top-four" of any side in the league, but finished 8th due to poor results against weaker sides.

Surely Villa could be doing more week-in, week-out to mark themselves out as clear contenders for 4th place? They certainly have the tools at their disposal to do so, but it remains unclear whether Martin O'Neill will use those tools to their greatest potential. They may grab the attention of the country with eye-catching results, but in truth it may be the performances that give a more accurate glimpse of Villa's chances this season.

Click back to The Good of The Game tomorrow (18/12/09), when we'll be looking at Tottenham's chances of finishing in the top-four this season.

Premier League Highlights Saturday Dec 5th

West Ham vs Manchester United

Portsmouth vs Burnley

Is this the best goal miss ever???

Two referees for football?

Well well well anyone surprised with FIFA's decision to do....err.....absolutely nothing?

Today they have decided that they will not use goal-line assistants at the World Cup to assist the referee. I struggle to think of any good reason why.

Lets take a look at other sports for a moment:

Cricket - 2 umpires + tv umpire
Rugby - 1 referee, 2 linesman, tv official
Baseball - 4 umpires + tv offical
Basketball - 3 referees
American Football - 7 plus tv officials

Why is it that football is persisting with a system that is clearly out of date and clearly not working? While I do not think that goal-line assistants are the answer I do support any changes to increase the accuracy of the decision making during a game of football.

My preference would be the following:

1. Introduce goal-line technology so that the referee can refer to it at his discretion for important decisions.

2. Add an additional on-field referee so that one person does not have to cover so much territory. It is quite unrealistic that we expect the referees to be able to keep up with professional athletes for 90+ minutes.

3. Use a countdown clock that is on display in the stadium and is controlled by the 4th official. For injury stoppages the clock is actually stopped and everyone can see it. This would remove the current ambiguity that exists with the referee and when to stop the game. For some reason there is always more stoppage time in the 2nd half than the first - can anyone explain that? This solution would put an end to this ridiculous phenomenon.

With these three (simple) changes incidents like Henry's handball against Ireland,Eduardo's dive against Celtic in the Champions League and Drogba diving all over the place would be more likely to be run out of the game. The curious thing about all football governing bodies is that they do not seem to be interested in protecting the game from its less savoury aspects (i.e. cheating). Im bored watching the Premier League at the moment because of the amount of diving, swearing at the referee, petulant behaviour, bad decisions.

Am I the only one?

Messi wins Ballon d'Or as journalists prove they know best

Lionel Messi has been crowned European Footballer of the Year for 2009 in the award organised by France Football Magazine. There is surely no debate that those who cast their vote selected a worthy winner, with the Barcelona maestro winning by a record margin and collecting a total of 473 points out of a possible 480.

Messi had as close to a perfect year at his club as you could wish for. Top scorer in last season's Champions League, where he scored the winner, and earning his team a La Liga title with 23 goals along the way: the stats speak for themselves, even before you consider the heady mixture of flair, grace and power that he exudes on a football pitch - those abstract yet critical elements that you can't boil down to a number.

Glancing down the list of the top 30 shortlisted players, and the order in which they were finally placed, it's hard to argue against any of it. The list is dominated by those plying their trade in the Champions League, but then how many players outside of Europe's marquee competition would merit inclusion based on their performances over the last year? Perhaps only Luka Modric, Gareth Barry or Shay Given could claim to have merited representation from the Premier League, but certainly not at the expense of any of the players who made the cut. Barcelona players flood the top 10, but then who would argue that they have not been the overwhelmingly dominant force over the past 12 months?

The journalists of Europe therefore, seem to have done themselves proud and it is a credit to them that they have come up with a list which proves so difficult to pick holes in. Nods to the emerging talents of Wolfsburg's Edin Dzeko and Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff prove that this list is not purely the preserve of Europe's "big three" leagues, or indeed that of its poster-boy players, but the impact of these players on Europe has not been overstated (positions of 13 and 20 seem fair).

The fanfare surrounding the announcement of Fifa's World Player of the Year award will follow in the coming days - and surely Messi will match Ronaldo from 2008 in winning both awards in the same year. Despite all the hype though, it is the European award, voted for by the critics, that carries more weight than it's Fifa counterpart. Just like the Football Writer's Player of the Year in England compared to the Player's Player award, there is a certain credibility in the winning the journalists' approval that just cannot be matched.

So for now, thanks to Lionel Messi for a wonderful year of football, and thanks to the journalists, who continue to get it right!

2009 Ballon d'Or - the full list:

1 Lionel Messi (Argentina, Barcelona), 473 points

2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid), 233

3 Xavi (Spain, Barcelona), 170

4 Andres Iniesta (Spain, Barcelona), 149

5 Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Internazionale), 75

6 Kaká (Brazil, Real Madrid), 58

7 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Barcelona), 50

8 Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United), 35

9 Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), 33

10 Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), 32

11 Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool), 22

12 Cesc Fábregas (Spain, Arsenal), 13

13 Edin Dzeko (Bosnia, Wolfsburg), 12

14 Ryan Giggs (Wales, Manchester United), 11

15 Thierry Henry (France, Barcelona), 9

16= Luis Fabiano (Brazil, Sevilla) 8

16= Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United), 8

16= Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid), 8

19 Diego Forlan (Uruguay, Atlético Madrid), 7

20 Yoann Gourcuff (France, Bordeaux), 6

21= Andrey Arshavin (Russia, Arsenal), 5

21= Júlio César (Brazil, Inter), 5

21= Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea), 5

24 Maicon (Brazil, Inter), 4

25 Diego (Brazil, Juventus), 3

26= David Villa (Spain, Valencia), 2

26= John Terry (England, Chelsea), 2

28 Franck Ribéry (France, Bayern Munich), 1

28= Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast, Barcelona), 1

30 Karim Benzema (France, Real Madrid), 0

Poll: is video technology the way forward for football? You decide!

During the last week, the debate over the use of video technology to eradicate wrong decisions and injustices in football has reached fever pitch.

It is clear that something needs to be done to ensure that incidents such as last week's between France and Ireland are not allowed to happen again. Fifa have called crisis talks following the incident and will surely discuss the issue of the use of technology during this much-needed get-together. UEFA president Michel Platini favours the use of an extra official behind each goal to help make goal-related decisions, and there are many who believe this will be rolled out across the board following a trial period in this year's Europa League.

What do you think is the answer to this debate? Should video replay technology be introduced for the World Cup in 2010, or would Platini's suggestion be more effective? Is there some other form of technology that would be more accurate, such as the use of a modified Hawk-eye system?

Leave your vote in the box to the right of this post, and ener the debate by leaving a comment below.

Wayne Rooney's Street Striker Videos

For the video of the final of Wayne Rooney's Street Striker:

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

Lennon and Defoe make Capello's job easier

Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon moved yesterday to end the debate over two of England's so-called "up-for-grabs" places for the final squad to take to South Africa.

Of course, this was only one performance against a Wigan side so woeful on the day that you wondered quite how they could beat anyone in this league, let alone Chelsea as they did just a few weeks ago. Of course, there is a long season ahead and plenty of opportunities for other players to impress, as well as chances for Lennon and Defoe to fall down the pecking order.

However, this display by the pair was so emphatic that I doubt it will be surpassed by any of the other England hopefuls this season. Lennon notched up a goal and three superb assists, and appeared to silence the critics who have slammed his ability to deliver accurate crosses, while Defoe went some way to burying the debate over who is England's best goal-poacher with a stunning display of his finishing talents.

Whatever Mr Capello's thoughts on the matter, it is clear that Lennon and Defoe have thrown down the gauntlet to their challengers, and the likes of Walcott, Wright-Phillips and Milner, and Owen, Bent and Agbonlahor will be hard pushed to make a more convincing case than the diminutive Spurs duo forwarded at White Hart Lane yesterday. This was the kind of football that gets people off their seats, the kind of football that is a credit to the game, and the kind of football that fans will want to see of England next summer.

English snobbery drives our failures

Simon Barnes sums up so much of what is wrong with English sports in today's Times. In a weekend that saw the former champions of the world in rugby suffer their second embarrassing loss in three games Barnes goes for the jugular in this article.

While it is not directly related to football, his insights transcend rugby and are applicable across all sports in England.

Take a read here

The quote below, in my opinion sums up so much of what is wrong with British football. Why are ex-players deemed to be capable managers? Why was Roy Keane deemed to be an appropriate person to lead the multi-million pound organization that was Sunderland? Why was Alan Shearer thought to be that person too? Nowhere else in the world in business are people treated this way except in football.

Martin Johnson was a great rugby player, a wonderful on-the-pitch leader. So the English authorities assumed he would be a great coach and made him team manager. It is another part of English culture, we assume coaching is just an aspect of the magic of leadership. We don’t accept that it is a skill, something you acquire, something you get better at.

Look at the most successful managers in the Premier League: Ferguson, Benitez, Ancelotti and Wenger. The one thing they have in common? All are vastly experienced. When will clubs wise up and realise that experience trumps everything else? How are the England football team doing? Who is in charge I hear you ask. A man of vast experience? Yup.

Hopefully the RFU will realise that this morning and do something about Martin Johnson.

Henry's Call for Replay is Hollow Gesture

The Times is reporting this afternoon that Thierry Henry has called upon Fifa to order a replay of France's World Cup play-off second leg with Ireland.

Henry appears to be attempting to rebuild his reputation that has been left in tatters following his extra-time handball on Wednesday night , but my feeling is that the statement he has made is nothing more than that. Henry doesn't believe Fifa will order a replay. In fact, he's waited until Fifa have actually ruled out the possibility of a replay before making this statememt. To me it seems like a calculated gesture designed to repair significant damage to the reputation of a player who has been obsessed with self-image for the whole of his career.

I'd really rather Henry stayed out of our faces for the foreseeable future, as the only way he is really going to recover from this is by doing his talking on the pitch by balancing his exhilirating style of play with a hefty measure of honesty and integrity. It might be harder than trying to talk his way out of it, but it's the only way back now.

Did UEFA and FIFA miss something?

Take a look at uefa.com, find the match report from last night's game between France and Ireland, take a read, anything seem strange?

Here is how UEFA reported William Gallas' goal:

And so came extra time where in the eighth minute a hopeful France free-kick found its way to Henry, who squared for Gallas to head the goal that takes his country to South Africa.

Hmmmm.......

Well that surely must have been an oversight, surely FIFA - the world governing body wouldn't have missed the same thing would they?

Les Bleus came into the contest after the break but remained vulnerable to Irish attacks, meaning the tie had to be resolved in extra time, when William Gallas equalised to send his team through to their fourth consecutive finals.

Interesting......

What are we to make of this? Regardless of intent or the characters involved what occurred last night was an injustice, and a significant one at that. The World Cup is the self-proclaimed biggest show on earth and for any player probably the pinnacle of their career. To deny a nation the opportunity to compete because of this kind of error is nothing short of a travesty.

The response of FIFA and UEFA? Apparently it never happened. Presumably they hope that everyone on the planet gets their football news through uefa.com and fifa.com and they are looking for complete ignorance of the issue?

So will FIFA or UEFA make a statement about this? Will they do ANYTHING? Well when your leader is Sepp Blatter, reality is not often something that you have to deal with, so I am going to stick my neck out here and say.....no.

Nowhere to hide for cheat Henry

Tonight witnessed one of the great footballing injustices as Thierry Henry's blatant double-handball in Paris gave France an aggregate World Cup play-off victory against Ireland.

Let me set my stall out from the off: there is no situation where cheating in order to gain advantage for your team is acceptable. Doubtless there will be those who, while not condoning Henry's actions, will accept it as part of the game. However, the notion that he did what he did because he had to, and any of us would have done the same is a total fallacy.

There is no excuse for Henry's actions. Some may say that it was an instinctive action, that his arm automatically stretched out to keep the ball in play and as such he is not responsible for those actions. Let me dispel this myth. Handling in order to keep the ball in play is not an instinctive reaction for a footballer. If it was, we'd see it week in, week out in domestic football, but we simply don't. Henry's actions may have played out in a split second, but as a footballer you need less than that time to decide to do something, and Henry clearly made a decision tonight.

Of course this incident will also raise familiar discussions surrounding officials and video replays. That however, is a debate for another day. Tonight there is nothing but a sense of pure injustice on behalf of the Irish who fought so hard and so well, and deserved so much more than to be eliminated by the actions of a cheat.

Craig Burley on point

Today Craig Burley, a man who when he speaks I usually find myself thinking of how on earth this guy made it onto television with as much regularity as he seems to, actually spoke some sense.

While he may be related to George Burley, and has represented Scotland many times before I was glad that he came out with some strong criticism of the Scotland players. George Burley has won close to 300 games a manager and has a win percentage comparable with many of the top Premier League managers so he clearly has a strong pedigree and did not just become a bad manager.

True that sometimes some situations just plain and simple do not work out, but as Craig Burley suggests this is one situation where the blame has to be laid at the door of the Scotland players. One player with a phenomenal scoring record refused to represent his country. Two other players got themselves banned for behaviour not in line with what Burley and the SFA consider appropriate conduct. Burley should be credited for standing up and backing his beliefs and convictions through this debacle. So often in football (and professional sports) doing what "is right" is rarely the key driver in any decision (just look at The FA's behavior towards Jack Warner for evidence of this). I am sure that Burley will manage again, and that he will be successful again.

So what's next for Scotland?

Walter Smith seems to be the only logical choice as it seems he will leave Rangers at the end of year (if not sooner) anyway. He has already walked out on the team once, but that certainly should not preclude him for being considered as the first choice option in what we can presume to be a fairly weak candidate pool.

Breaking News: England B Won't Win World Cup

England's friendly defeat to Brazil on Saturday in Doha really proved nothing more than we already knew: that England's B team aren't good enough to win a World Cup, and that the expectations of the English public become distorted beyond reasonable levels in the run-up to any major tournament.

This starting XI was nothing like the side that England will line up with for their first match of the finals in South Africa - in fact only one player from that team will be guaranteed to start if fit. However, the prevailing mood of the British public in the wake of this narrow defeat is almost inevitably one of gloomy pessimism at our chances next summer.

Let's face it, England's reserve players are not really fit to lace the boots of the first-choicers, but as Patrick Barclay suggests in The Times this morning, is this really much of a surprise?

Maybe it would be better if we all harked back to the days of good ol' Sven, when no-one actually cared about the outcome of such meaningless friendlies.

Dismissal of Gartside's proposals exposes short-sighted leadership

Click here to read about Phil Gartside's proposals for a revamp of the structure of the Premier League

It appears as though Bolton chairman Phil Gartside’s proposals for an overhaul of the structure of the Premier League have been dismissed by those who attended last week’s league meeting. This news comes as no surprise, and in truth Gartside’s proposals appeared half-baked and somewhat apologetic of the need to re-structure the so-called “greatest league in the world”.

That the plans have received such a frosty reception however, suggests cause for concern. Much of the power base of football – the men in high places – acknowledge that something needs to change in our game, yet even the most tentative of proposed plans are dismissed out of hand. I’m not suggesting that Gartside’s proposals should have been embraced and adopted by the league, but the nature of the reception is worrying.

This response does little to dispel the notion that football is clouded by an “everything’s ok” attitude, and that we can go on as we are indefinitely. I’m not sure why, as to me it seems that radical changes need to occur to drag football, and the Premier League into the 21^st century. The much debated issue of club ownership and spiralling football debts aside, I see a league that fundamentally needs a radical structural reorganisation.

For all the posturing of Sky TV, and their ruthless promotion of the Premier League as the most intense, dramatic and edge-of-the-seat theatre available to the armchair consumer, the reality is that the majority of Premier League fixtures really offer very little to get excited about. At least half of the teams in the league fight for nothing more than survival, while another five or six contend for the scraps left by the “top-four”. Added to that, the fixture list is jam-packed with woeful mismatches and unappealing fixtures. A glance at the next round of league games offers the delights of Chelsea v Wolves and Bolton v Blackburn – one an embarrassing mismatch and the other a fierce Lancashire derby for the title of “least bad” team in the league.

Of course the Premier League can offer up excitement and drama and intrigue (thank you, referees), but the reality is that the current formula could be vastly improved upon. The games leaders however – and many of the fans who are happy to see things continue as they are – appear to be doing the game a disservice. Perhaps it is the old English assumption that “we invented the game”, and therefore it must be perfect as it is, that is holding the tide of footballing change back, but something needs to be done to open their eyes. I only hope it’s not too late by the time they realise.

The greatest hat-trick of all time?

Is this hat-trick by Barcelona's Rivaldo the greatest ever scored? Discuss below!