The 2012 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship gets underway this Thursday, as 72 players prepare to battle it out for a winners cheque of £200,000, the biggest prize in the sport, and a place among the all time greats. Can Adrian Lewis defend the title he won for the first time in 2011? Will another new face lift the famous trophy? Or will Phil Taylor win his 16th World title on the 2nd January?
The Power is obviously the man to beat despite last week's failure to win the Players Championship finals. His loss to Mervyn King and earlier wobble against Terry Jenkins suggests that he isn't unbeatable, but this is the Worlds, where the long format really plays into his hands. The Stoke ace faces what looks like a comfortable passage into the 2nd round with a game against either Haruki Muramatsu or Dennis Nilsson, but Taylor has been around long enough to know that no game is a gimme, and if it is to be the Swede, he will give Dennis Nilsson the respect he would give Dennis Priestley. The vast majority of fans, pundits and indeed players, would fancy him to reach the quarter-final, where he is seeded to meet his old rival, the 8th seeded Raymond van Barneveld.
A televised tournament win has eluded Barney for four years now, and apart from perhaps the Premier League, where he lost a tight semi-final to eventual winner Gary Anderson, he hasn't looked like ending his run. If he is indeed to challenge in the later stages, he will most likely have to defeat Paul Nicholson in the 3rd Round before the Taylor quarter-final. There is no doubt that an in-form and a happy van Barneveld is capable of winning both of those ties, indeed the whole event, but the man we usually see is far removed from that. If only we could get the Barney of 2007 back to give Taylor a game we remember like that final five years ago. Time will tell which turns up.
I expect the seeding to take its course, which means a 3rd round encounter between van Barneveld and Nicholson, but the Geordie-Aussie, who now lives in Chorley, will have to be at his very best against Mensur Suljovic in Round 1. The Austrian may rarely feature in the big tournaments, but when he does, he gives the big boys real tests. In my preview for last year's Worlds, I said it would not surprise me if he reached the 3rd Round by defeating James Wade. He did just that, so Nicholson will be on his toes. Win or lose however, The Asset will surely be one of the most talked about players at the Alexandra Palace, as his Marmite image and personality continues to divide the fans.
The likely semi-final opponent for Taylor, van Barneveld or Nicholson (in fact I would be shocked if anyone else won the second quarter of the draw) is Gary Anderson. Last year's runner up and the 2011 Premier League champion has had a kind draw in the first round, against Jyhan Artut of Germany. Colin Lloyd or an improving Scott Rand could await in the 3rd Round, but an in-form Scot should have enough over a long format for those, and he has been helped by the fact that Simon Whitlock, who he would play in the last 8 if it goes according to seeding, is struggling with an ankle injury that has kept him out of the Grand Slam and the Players Championship finals. The Aussie will be desperate to not only compete, but to at least reach a clash with Anderson. Some may say he has to get that far, if not further. He is defending runners-up money from 2010 and a slip down the rankings awaits should Anderson, or Steve Beaton or Mervyn King (his seeded 2nd and 3rd Round opponents) put him out. He has been given the longest possible recovery time by the organisers; his tie with the veteran Dennis Smith is on the final day of first round play.
As for the bottom half of the draw, Adrian Lewis is 5/2 favourite with the sponsors to reach the final. If he shows anywhere near the blistering form of last year, he should easily make his way into a last 16 encounter with probably Wayne Jones, who has had a couple of iffy tournaments of late since his terrific rise up the rankings in the last 12-18 months. After that it ought to be Wes Newton, whose brilliant year, including a UK Open final, has put him in the reckoning for a Premier League place in the new year. Jackpot gave us the highlight of the event in the final, with a magical 9-darter in just the third leg against Anderson, and no doubt he will fancy his chances of at least one more during the event. His tournament win featured a record 60 180s in total, and he could go close to that landmark as well.
If Lewis does reach the semi-finals, and I think he will, Mark Webster or James Wade will provide a very tough test. They are scheduled to meet in the last 8, and have already had some very tense games this year, notably the UK Open semi-final, where Wade edged the Welshman out in a deciding leg. Webster has arguably the best record in the Sky majors in 2011 - although without a win, he is the only player to reach at least the quarter-finals in all of them, and in addition, was runner-up to Kevin Painter last week in Doncaster. He is nothing if not tenacious and difficult to beat, yet perhaps lacks the killer instinct that Wade has when it comes to key, game-changing doubles.
The Machine added the UK Open to his trophy cabinet this year, although he is continually targeted by those who insist that somehow they aren't 'real' victories because he hasn't knocked out Phil Taylor to win any. He is desperate to put that right and defeat The Power in the final, yet he would take beating whoever it takes I'm sure. He is however sometimes prone to losing games he should win (see Suljovic last year, Scott Waites in the Grand Slam final). If he gets his head for the game right, he is as dangerous in every form of the game as is necessary to win his first World title.
As always, the quality of the field gets higher and higher, and the number of players knocking on the door of the top 32 is growing. Some seeds, in my opinion, are in big danger of pre-Christmas exits. They include former finalist Mark Dudbridge, who faces rising star and former Lakeside finalist Dave Chisnall. Vincent van der Voort will have to be at his best to beat Mark Hylton. Andy Hamilton could have had easier ties than Antonio Alcinas, and Colin Osborne, a player who has had a difficult year, faces Michael van Gerwen, who will surely prove why he has been lauded as a wonderkid for so many years now.
All the action is on Sky Sports HD, and I can't wait for it to start!
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Thursday, 10 November 2011
Newcastle United: Controversial or Canny?
Newcastle United have renamed their St. James' Park ground the Sports Direct Arena, in a move which many will see as controversial, yet others may possibly understand and even embrace.
While sponsored stadiums are hardly rare these days, they have usually been restricted, at the top level at least, to newbuild stadiums such as Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, and renaming has so far only been done by Manchester City, whose Etihad Stadium, formerly the City of Manchester Stadium has only been home since 2003. Newcastle have played at their home for 119 years, so they are removing as much a part of their history as the black and white stripes. But they will be earning hundreds of millions of pounds to do it, and in this billionaire era of football we live in, any means of gaining a financial advantage has to be looked at. If it means being controversial, then so be it in my opinion. For Newcastle, that money could be the difference between merely existing in the Premier League and having the clout to really challenge at the top end of the table again.
If fans do not want to use the new name, they don't have to. How many fans of Bradford City (Coral Windows Stadium), Leyton Orient (Matchroom Stadium) or Stevenage (Lamex Stadium) use their sponsored names? At a guess, I would imagine they would mostly still refer to their homes as Valley Parade, Brisbane Road and Broadhall Way. Yet are they all grateful for the extra money in the coffers those names bring? What do you reckon?
I would not mind, within reason, what my team's ground was called. The money it generates, and stability that can bring is worth more than a name.
While sponsored stadiums are hardly rare these days, they have usually been restricted, at the top level at least, to newbuild stadiums such as Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, and renaming has so far only been done by Manchester City, whose Etihad Stadium, formerly the City of Manchester Stadium has only been home since 2003. Newcastle have played at their home for 119 years, so they are removing as much a part of their history as the black and white stripes. But they will be earning hundreds of millions of pounds to do it, and in this billionaire era of football we live in, any means of gaining a financial advantage has to be looked at. If it means being controversial, then so be it in my opinion. For Newcastle, that money could be the difference between merely existing in the Premier League and having the clout to really challenge at the top end of the table again.
If fans do not want to use the new name, they don't have to. How many fans of Bradford City (Coral Windows Stadium), Leyton Orient (Matchroom Stadium) or Stevenage (Lamex Stadium) use their sponsored names? At a guess, I would imagine they would mostly still refer to their homes as Valley Parade, Brisbane Road and Broadhall Way. Yet are they all grateful for the extra money in the coffers those names bring? What do you reckon?
I would not mind, within reason, what my team's ground was called. The money it generates, and stability that can bring is worth more than a name.
Monday, 3 October 2011
A new era at Nottingham Forest
Well, that went well, didn't it?
The Steve McClaren era at Nottingham Forest is already over after just ten league games. The whole situation has left me disappointed for a number of reasons.
One aspect which annoyed me as a fan is that he and the team were never allowed to get on with the job. When McClaren was appointed in June, the national press was obviously and understandably interested in how it would work out, and what, if anything would change from the relatively successful couple of years under Billy Davies. What we got, however, was a national press, who in my opinion, were desperate for Forest, and particularly McClaren, to fail. We are very often, for whatever reason, slow starters to seasons, but the goldfish bowl atmosphere can't have helped at all.
I was prepared to forgive McClaren himself for Forest's disappointing run of results; after all, it wasn't he who was crossing the white line every Saturday. Some of the individual errors which have led to opposition goals have been little short of embarrassing, and I felt for the management team, who surely couldn't have legislated for them happening time and again.
That is why I wanted to give McClaren more time than some of Forest's fans were. Many wanted him out a lot earlier than yesterday, particularly after we were beaten, and frankly embarrassed at home by Derby County's ten men. Obviously a few didn't want him in at all, but that's neither here nor there. My opinion finally changed after the Birmingham defeat yesterday.
I expected a tough game, but Birmingham didn't really threaten much at all early on. The first half went entirely according to plan. Forest, back in the 4-4-2 formation after two games of 5-3-2, with very different outcomes, were stopping the visitors from playing, and we were moving the ball about well and creating decent opportunities. the 1-0 lead at half time was deserved, and with an hour gone, it could if not should have been 2-0 or more. There was no need for it to change. We all knew it, the eleven players on the pitch knew it. If only McClaren knew it.
Off went Radi Majewski, who yet again ran his socks off for the cause, to be replaced by Jonathan Greening, who was booed onto the pitch my a minority of his own supporters. There is protecting a lead, but this was entirely different. It completely changed the way the game was being played, to a point where Greening may as well have entered the pitch in a blue shirt. I have been unfortunate enough in my time to see some bad players play for Forest, but Greening's start to his Reds career has been little short of a shambles. When Guy Moussi is on his own in the holding role, he knows his place and he is an absolute colossus, but doesn't know whether to attack or defend with Greening, or Paul McKenna last season, alongside him. That, and Greening's incompetence and inability to pass a ball forwards or even to a red shirt, meant that we may as well have played the last 30 minutes with nine men.
Birmingham's equaliser, although well taken, was avoidable, and despite our dominance of the game up until that point, it then became pick-a-number stuff for the Blues. A comfortable 1-0 lead had become a desperate 3-1 defeat basically because of one manager's insistence to play his golden goose.
The reaction at the end was almost vitriolic. I for one have never seen or heard anything like it at the City Ground. McClaren just had to go. I am disappointed for him in a way, inasmuch as the promises he was given weren't being delivered, but that cannot justify the ineptitude of his team to throw the game away like they did. It has happened more than once, and had he stuck around, it probably would have happened again.
He leaves with the season still young enough for Forest to recover their league position. In terms of promotion or play-offs, the season is over, but I don't think we are in a relegation battle quite yet. The new manager simply has to get us to 50 points as quickly as possible, finish as high as we can, and start again next year.
There are a few candidates for the managerial vacancy, some obvious, some less so. As I write, Karl Robinson, the MK Dons manager, is the bookies' favourite. I'm not too sure whether he would get it, or who I would like to see come in quite yet. But for me, apart from the obvious task of win some games, his key objective is to make this Forest team his team. That was Steve McClaren's problem. It was still ultimately Billy Davies' squad, and I'm not too sure that there were enough players who believed they could play for McClaren like they could play for Davies.
The Steve McClaren era at Nottingham Forest is already over after just ten league games. The whole situation has left me disappointed for a number of reasons.
One aspect which annoyed me as a fan is that he and the team were never allowed to get on with the job. When McClaren was appointed in June, the national press was obviously and understandably interested in how it would work out, and what, if anything would change from the relatively successful couple of years under Billy Davies. What we got, however, was a national press, who in my opinion, were desperate for Forest, and particularly McClaren, to fail. We are very often, for whatever reason, slow starters to seasons, but the goldfish bowl atmosphere can't have helped at all.
I was prepared to forgive McClaren himself for Forest's disappointing run of results; after all, it wasn't he who was crossing the white line every Saturday. Some of the individual errors which have led to opposition goals have been little short of embarrassing, and I felt for the management team, who surely couldn't have legislated for them happening time and again.
That is why I wanted to give McClaren more time than some of Forest's fans were. Many wanted him out a lot earlier than yesterday, particularly after we were beaten, and frankly embarrassed at home by Derby County's ten men. Obviously a few didn't want him in at all, but that's neither here nor there. My opinion finally changed after the Birmingham defeat yesterday.
I expected a tough game, but Birmingham didn't really threaten much at all early on. The first half went entirely according to plan. Forest, back in the 4-4-2 formation after two games of 5-3-2, with very different outcomes, were stopping the visitors from playing, and we were moving the ball about well and creating decent opportunities. the 1-0 lead at half time was deserved, and with an hour gone, it could if not should have been 2-0 or more. There was no need for it to change. We all knew it, the eleven players on the pitch knew it. If only McClaren knew it.
Off went Radi Majewski, who yet again ran his socks off for the cause, to be replaced by Jonathan Greening, who was booed onto the pitch my a minority of his own supporters. There is protecting a lead, but this was entirely different. It completely changed the way the game was being played, to a point where Greening may as well have entered the pitch in a blue shirt. I have been unfortunate enough in my time to see some bad players play for Forest, but Greening's start to his Reds career has been little short of a shambles. When Guy Moussi is on his own in the holding role, he knows his place and he is an absolute colossus, but doesn't know whether to attack or defend with Greening, or Paul McKenna last season, alongside him. That, and Greening's incompetence and inability to pass a ball forwards or even to a red shirt, meant that we may as well have played the last 30 minutes with nine men.
Birmingham's equaliser, although well taken, was avoidable, and despite our dominance of the game up until that point, it then became pick-a-number stuff for the Blues. A comfortable 1-0 lead had become a desperate 3-1 defeat basically because of one manager's insistence to play his golden goose.
The reaction at the end was almost vitriolic. I for one have never seen or heard anything like it at the City Ground. McClaren just had to go. I am disappointed for him in a way, inasmuch as the promises he was given weren't being delivered, but that cannot justify the ineptitude of his team to throw the game away like they did. It has happened more than once, and had he stuck around, it probably would have happened again.
He leaves with the season still young enough for Forest to recover their league position. In terms of promotion or play-offs, the season is over, but I don't think we are in a relegation battle quite yet. The new manager simply has to get us to 50 points as quickly as possible, finish as high as we can, and start again next year.
There are a few candidates for the managerial vacancy, some obvious, some less so. As I write, Karl Robinson, the MK Dons manager, is the bookies' favourite. I'm not too sure whether he would get it, or who I would like to see come in quite yet. But for me, apart from the obvious task of win some games, his key objective is to make this Forest team his team. That was Steve McClaren's problem. It was still ultimately Billy Davies' squad, and I'm not too sure that there were enough players who believed they could play for McClaren like they could play for Davies.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
The Greatest Goals Scored by Goalkeepers
I hope you liked my look at some of the greatest own goals ever scored in last week's blog. It made me realise there were so many awesome ones that I didn't put on there, so it may be a topic I go back to in the future.
The own goals blog was one I had planned to do for a while, and just as I was thinking of how to follow it up, Preston's Iain Turner did this...
Yes, that's right, I bring you the greatest goals scored by goalkeepers!
Turner wasn't the first Preston keeper to do it though, Andy Lonergan popped up with one a few years earlier at Leicester, made all the more entertaining by the unbelievably bad commentary.
Lonergan now plays for Leeds United, whose former stopper Paul Robinson famously got them out of trouble in a cup-tie against Swindon with this effort.
Not content with that, he scored the 'other' goalkeeper's goal a couple of years later, for Tottenham versus Watford, and his then England teammate Ben Foster.
Here's probably the greatest ever headed goal from a corner, keeper or no keeper. This is Mart Poom, for Sunderland against his former club Derby.
Some keepers are more famous for their goals than for their shot-stopping. Here's probably the maddest of the lot, Jose Luis Chilavert. A master of free-kicks and penalties, and, er, speculative efforts from the halfway line?
Last, but not least, the greatest goal in history scored by a goalkeeper. May 1999. Carlisle United had to win to avoid relegation out of the Football League. With the score at 1-1, deep into time added on for stoppages, the Cumbrians pile everyone into Plymouth's box, and I mean everyone. Enter one Jimmy Glass, on loan from Swindon, playing his third and final game for the club. The rest, as they say, is history...
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
The greatest own goals in the world
This week I was made aware of one of the great own goals in recent history. It occured in the Under-21s game between Spain and Georgia. Spain were 6-0 up and cruising. It would take something special for Georgia to get a consolation...
Wow. Not even David De Gea was to blame for that one!
It's certainly up there with my favourites of all time.
Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace v Portsmouth)
There's a phrase in football, 'If in doubt, kick it out.' Which is fine, unless this happens...
Jan Lecjaks (Anderlecht v Partizan)
If you are going to clear it from your own box, don't do it with the wrong foot. Also, make sure it's not a key Champions League play-off tie before you drop yourself in it...
Mind you, if you think that's funny, look up the penalty shoot-out which decided this tie. Some of Anderlecht's are now in orbit.
Speaking of key games, don't put diving headers in your own net if it's a Dutch League title decider. Denny Landzaat (FC Twente v Ajax), take note for future reference...
Franck Queudrue (Lens v Bastia) had a decent spell in the Premier League, but before then, he scored this cracker...
We're getting to the good ones now. Jamie Pollock. If you know your own goals, this needs no introduction...
And finally, the greatest own goal in the history of football. An FA Cup tie in 2000 between Morecambe and Forest Green Rovers. The hero of the piece? Wayne Hatswell. An effort so good that the Match of the Day team played it on coverage of every subsequent round until the final, and to this day, will find an excuse to air it. Here we go...
Let me know some of your favourites via my Twitter page (@adamgray50) or on this blog.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Premier League Predictions
The Barclays Premier League is back this weekend for a new season, and although a big part of its charm is its unpredictability, there are always a few events which are less surprising than others. Instead of the usual preview, with who I think will win the league, who will get relegated and that sort of thing, I thought I would look into some of those easy-to-predict events. I have looked deep into my crystal ball to offer you just a few stories which I think will happen in the upcoming campaign.
Steve Kean will be sacked as Blackburn Rovers manager.
Blackburn's owners, the Venky's group, sacked Sam Allardyce early last season with the club reasonably well placed in the league table, or at least as well as was to be expected. For the Indians to declare their top-six ambitions and then to replace a top, experienced boss in Big Sam with Kean was a very strange move, and since then, Rovers have dropped like a stone. An Allardyce-led Blackburn would never have needed a final day win at Wolves to stay up, and I can't see it getting any better before the owners decide that enough is enough. With or without Kean, I see a very tough year for the Ewood Park outfit, and that's before the possible loss of Chris Samba.
Fernando Torres will score 15 league goals.
Everyone knows the ability that Torres has, and at times in his career, especially in the early years at Liverpool, he has looked every bit the best striker in the world. It is easy to write strikers off during barren spells in front of goal, yet also easy to forget how difficult it must be for a January signing to adapt to a new club and its style of play. Edin Dzeko didn't seem to get the stick Torres got despite an equally disappointing start for Manchester City last season. I also expect him to be a lot better this year. I think Torres can continue to form partnerships with Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and possibly Romelu Lukaku and become the dangerman that his £50m price tag suggests he must be.
Arsenal will again flatter to deceive at the back.
Despite calls to do so, Arsene Wenger has again (at the time of writing) failed to sign a top-class defender or goalkeeper. Although Wojciech Szczesny looks the part in goal, there are still question marks about him experience-wise. Thomas Vermaelen was a huge miss last season, and while he looks like one of the league's great defenders, it became far too apparent that his colleagues just aren't up to it at times. I'm still not convinced by Sebastien Squillaci. Carl Jenkinson has come in from Charlton, but with the greatest respect, I don't think he was the defensive acquisition the Gunners fans had in mind this pre-season. Their defensive ineptitude was highlighted at Wembley in the Carling Cup final, but more so at Newcastle in the 4-4 draw. Can you really expect Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City to have not won there? No, yet I still wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal had a similar result this year.
Mario Balotelli will find himself in trouble.
Balotelli is no stranger to finding himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons rather than the right, and I can't see that changing in a hurry. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he ended the season away from the Etihad Stadium if Roberto Mancini loses patience with him. He is obviously a very good player, but he needs to show it far more often. What best summed him up last season was his display at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion, where he scored twice yet was sent off in a 2-0 win. He isn't showing signs of maturity quite yet though, and he was described as 'an embarrassment' by Sky Sports' Gary Neville during the Community Shield coverage. Something has to change, but will it? Not likely.
Twitter will get a player into trouble.
We have seen it before (Ryan Babel), we are currently seeing it (Joey Barton), and I am certain we will see Twitter get some other player into trouble this season. Twitter is brilliant; it gives fans access to players that had been lost in recent years, and a lot of them tell us things that perhaps they couldn't in official interviews. Perhaps that is the problem. Its quick nature means that players often tweet without thought and it is very easy to publish information they may regret. Babel's doctored photo of Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt, and Barton's war of words with Newcastle United are two examples of that. A few managers have talked about banning it. I hope that doesn't happen, but players need to be aware that we are all watching them.
We will have 'a breath of fresh air'.
In the last few years, we have seen promoted sides take the Premier League by storm in the early months with no-nonsense, all-out-attack football. It's great to see, but ultimately it doesn't get you anywhere. 38 games is a long time for the league to work you out, just ask Blackpool last year, Hull a couple of years ago, and West Brom under Tony Mowbray. All of those sides went down, despite playing some great football at times. Some may even call it 'a breath of fresh air'. I hate that phrase. The bad thing about it last season was that all of the pundits seemed so unaware of its overuse. I must have heard it hundreds of times. It's meant as a compliment, yet all they mean is 'they can't defend for toffee, but aren't they brave'. It's patronising to say the least, and I would be astonished if Swansea or Norwich didn't get the treatment. They would rather not though. Give me a 1-0 any day of the week.
Liverpool will get back into the top four.
I'm not sure at who's expense, although right now Arsenal look the most likely, but this is the year that Liverpool will finally get back into the Champions League. Kenny Dalglish has arrived and completely changed the club. Their second half of last season couldn't have gone better, in contrast to a first half which couldn't have been worse. Liverpool is now a club that feels they're going places again, and a full season of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez's partnership, plus the new midfield signings to come in and support them is an exciting prospect. In addition, the emergence of the likes of Jay Spearing, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson means that they have genuine strength in depth that has not been there in the last few years. Although the fans wish they did have it, they have no Europa League football as a potential distraction to league form.
Let me know what you think, as well as offer your own predictions via this blog, or at twitter.com/adamgray50
Steve Kean will be sacked as Blackburn Rovers manager.
Blackburn's owners, the Venky's group, sacked Sam Allardyce early last season with the club reasonably well placed in the league table, or at least as well as was to be expected. For the Indians to declare their top-six ambitions and then to replace a top, experienced boss in Big Sam with Kean was a very strange move, and since then, Rovers have dropped like a stone. An Allardyce-led Blackburn would never have needed a final day win at Wolves to stay up, and I can't see it getting any better before the owners decide that enough is enough. With or without Kean, I see a very tough year for the Ewood Park outfit, and that's before the possible loss of Chris Samba.
Fernando Torres will score 15 league goals.
Everyone knows the ability that Torres has, and at times in his career, especially in the early years at Liverpool, he has looked every bit the best striker in the world. It is easy to write strikers off during barren spells in front of goal, yet also easy to forget how difficult it must be for a January signing to adapt to a new club and its style of play. Edin Dzeko didn't seem to get the stick Torres got despite an equally disappointing start for Manchester City last season. I also expect him to be a lot better this year. I think Torres can continue to form partnerships with Nicolas Anelka, Didier Drogba and possibly Romelu Lukaku and become the dangerman that his £50m price tag suggests he must be.
Arsenal will again flatter to deceive at the back.
Despite calls to do so, Arsene Wenger has again (at the time of writing) failed to sign a top-class defender or goalkeeper. Although Wojciech Szczesny looks the part in goal, there are still question marks about him experience-wise. Thomas Vermaelen was a huge miss last season, and while he looks like one of the league's great defenders, it became far too apparent that his colleagues just aren't up to it at times. I'm still not convinced by Sebastien Squillaci. Carl Jenkinson has come in from Charlton, but with the greatest respect, I don't think he was the defensive acquisition the Gunners fans had in mind this pre-season. Their defensive ineptitude was highlighted at Wembley in the Carling Cup final, but more so at Newcastle in the 4-4 draw. Can you really expect Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City to have not won there? No, yet I still wouldn't be surprised if Arsenal had a similar result this year.
Mario Balotelli will find himself in trouble.
Balotelli is no stranger to finding himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons rather than the right, and I can't see that changing in a hurry. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he ended the season away from the Etihad Stadium if Roberto Mancini loses patience with him. He is obviously a very good player, but he needs to show it far more often. What best summed him up last season was his display at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion, where he scored twice yet was sent off in a 2-0 win. He isn't showing signs of maturity quite yet though, and he was described as 'an embarrassment' by Sky Sports' Gary Neville during the Community Shield coverage. Something has to change, but will it? Not likely.
Twitter will get a player into trouble.
We have seen it before (Ryan Babel), we are currently seeing it (Joey Barton), and I am certain we will see Twitter get some other player into trouble this season. Twitter is brilliant; it gives fans access to players that had been lost in recent years, and a lot of them tell us things that perhaps they couldn't in official interviews. Perhaps that is the problem. Its quick nature means that players often tweet without thought and it is very easy to publish information they may regret. Babel's doctored photo of Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt, and Barton's war of words with Newcastle United are two examples of that. A few managers have talked about banning it. I hope that doesn't happen, but players need to be aware that we are all watching them.
We will have 'a breath of fresh air'.
In the last few years, we have seen promoted sides take the Premier League by storm in the early months with no-nonsense, all-out-attack football. It's great to see, but ultimately it doesn't get you anywhere. 38 games is a long time for the league to work you out, just ask Blackpool last year, Hull a couple of years ago, and West Brom under Tony Mowbray. All of those sides went down, despite playing some great football at times. Some may even call it 'a breath of fresh air'. I hate that phrase. The bad thing about it last season was that all of the pundits seemed so unaware of its overuse. I must have heard it hundreds of times. It's meant as a compliment, yet all they mean is 'they can't defend for toffee, but aren't they brave'. It's patronising to say the least, and I would be astonished if Swansea or Norwich didn't get the treatment. They would rather not though. Give me a 1-0 any day of the week.
Liverpool will get back into the top four.
I'm not sure at who's expense, although right now Arsenal look the most likely, but this is the year that Liverpool will finally get back into the Champions League. Kenny Dalglish has arrived and completely changed the club. Their second half of last season couldn't have gone better, in contrast to a first half which couldn't have been worse. Liverpool is now a club that feels they're going places again, and a full season of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez's partnership, plus the new midfield signings to come in and support them is an exciting prospect. In addition, the emergence of the likes of Jay Spearing, John Flanagan and Jack Robinson means that they have genuine strength in depth that has not been there in the last few years. Although the fans wish they did have it, they have no Europa League football as a potential distraction to league form.
Let me know what you think, as well as offer your own predictions via this blog, or at twitter.com/adamgray50
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
A new season brings new optimism.
The new npower Football League season gets underway this week, and as ever, it is excellently previewed in the September issue of FourFourTwo magazine. For those that don't know, it asks a fan of each club a set of questions about their team and the season. I am a Nottingham Forest fan, and here are my answers to those questions:
Dream season:
Automatic promotion. I think we're some way off that though, especially looking at some of the squads in the division.
Our fans think our team is:
Short of a left back and a 20-goal-a-season striker, yet capable of beating any team in the league on their day.
Best away ground in your division:
The atmosphere at Upton Park was brilliant when we went there in the Cup last season. A proper ground with passionate support.
Manager's popularity out of 10:
There seems to be cautious optimism at the moment, yet you can't doubt Steve McClaren's pedigree, England notwithstanding. I'll say 7. I get the feeling that the national press will be breathing down his neck if we make a poor start though.
Unsung hero at the club:
With Luke Chambers and Wes Morgan doing so well for us, it's easy to forget Chris Gunter's role in our side. One of the best right backs in the league right now.
Opposition player you admire:
There must be some great left backs around in the Championship. We can't be the only team without one.
Do you think McClaren has learned much since his 'Wally with the Brolly' England days?
He had a bad time with England, but that shouldn't be the be-all and end-all. After all, he has been successful before and since. One bad experience doesn't make you a bad manager.
Dream season:
Automatic promotion. I think we're some way off that though, especially looking at some of the squads in the division.
Our fans think our team is:
Short of a left back and a 20-goal-a-season striker, yet capable of beating any team in the league on their day.
Best away ground in your division:
The atmosphere at Upton Park was brilliant when we went there in the Cup last season. A proper ground with passionate support.
Manager's popularity out of 10:
There seems to be cautious optimism at the moment, yet you can't doubt Steve McClaren's pedigree, England notwithstanding. I'll say 7. I get the feeling that the national press will be breathing down his neck if we make a poor start though.
Unsung hero at the club:
With Luke Chambers and Wes Morgan doing so well for us, it's easy to forget Chris Gunter's role in our side. One of the best right backs in the league right now.
Opposition player you admire:
There must be some great left backs around in the Championship. We can't be the only team without one.
Do you think McClaren has learned much since his 'Wally with the Brolly' England days?
He had a bad time with England, but that shouldn't be the be-all and end-all. After all, he has been successful before and since. One bad experience doesn't make you a bad manager.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Can football have its own England v Exiles game?
Friday night saw Rugby League's first ever International Origin match between England and the Exiles, a side made up of the best overseas players currently in the Super League. For the record, the Exiles won the game 16-12 at Headingley, in front of a decent crowd of 14,000.
While I am not the world's biggest Rugby League fan, I do take my hat off to those at the RFL who are not afraid to try something new to lure fans into what has traditionally been a sport that has played second fiddle to Union in most of the country. The scoreline certainly suggests that it was a better game and more of a spectacle than the annual thrashings that England have given out to France in the past at this time of year anyway.
Which got me thinking. Could the FA and the Premier League organise such a game? Would they? Or even should they? England v a Rest of the World Premier League side. I for one would love to see it, even if it is just a one off fixture. Of course, international football is much more common than it is in Rugby League, and there would be many managers who would shudder at the thought of their superstars playing even one more game than necessary. But I would imagine that there are a lot of fans who would love to see it, and it may even go some distance to ending the debate that my friends and I often have, namely how well would England get on in the Premier League. Last time, we decided 4th, if you're interested.
Assuming the game was to take place this week, I have taken the England XI from last week against Switzerland, with the following exceptions. Wayne Rooney would be involved (he was suspended last week), and Ashley Young would start, as he should have done at Wembley in the 2-2 draw.
England: Joe Hart; Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole; Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young; Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent.
Subs: Rob Green, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker, Stewart Downing, Bobby Zamora.
I have chosen the 'Exiles' squad based on the season just finished in the Barclays Premier League. Not an easy choice, and it will be interesting to hear what your squads would be. For me they would line up as follows:
Rest of the World PL: Edwin van der Sar; Fabio, Nemanja Vidic, David Luiz, Patrice Evra; Antonio Valencia; Yaya Toure, Cesc Fabregas, Gareth Bale; Robin van Persie, Carlos Tevez.
Subs: Pepe Reina, Brede Hangeland, Vincent Kompany, Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Hernandez.
That would be some game, although sadly I think the World team would win it. It would be tight though, the odd goal would probably decide it.
Let me know your thoughts on the idea of the game, and of my 'exiles' squad. Look forward to hearing from you.
While I am not the world's biggest Rugby League fan, I do take my hat off to those at the RFL who are not afraid to try something new to lure fans into what has traditionally been a sport that has played second fiddle to Union in most of the country. The scoreline certainly suggests that it was a better game and more of a spectacle than the annual thrashings that England have given out to France in the past at this time of year anyway.
Which got me thinking. Could the FA and the Premier League organise such a game? Would they? Or even should they? England v a Rest of the World Premier League side. I for one would love to see it, even if it is just a one off fixture. Of course, international football is much more common than it is in Rugby League, and there would be many managers who would shudder at the thought of their superstars playing even one more game than necessary. But I would imagine that there are a lot of fans who would love to see it, and it may even go some distance to ending the debate that my friends and I often have, namely how well would England get on in the Premier League. Last time, we decided 4th, if you're interested.
Assuming the game was to take place this week, I have taken the England XI from last week against Switzerland, with the following exceptions. Wayne Rooney would be involved (he was suspended last week), and Ashley Young would start, as he should have done at Wembley in the 2-2 draw.
England: Joe Hart; Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole; Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard, Jack Wilshere, Ashley Young; Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent.
Subs: Rob Green, Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines, Gareth Barry, Scott Parker, Stewart Downing, Bobby Zamora.
I have chosen the 'Exiles' squad based on the season just finished in the Barclays Premier League. Not an easy choice, and it will be interesting to hear what your squads would be. For me they would line up as follows:
Rest of the World PL: Edwin van der Sar; Fabio, Nemanja Vidic, David Luiz, Patrice Evra; Antonio Valencia; Yaya Toure, Cesc Fabregas, Gareth Bale; Robin van Persie, Carlos Tevez.
Subs: Pepe Reina, Brede Hangeland, Vincent Kompany, Luka Modric, Rafael van der Vaart, Dirk Kuyt, Javier Hernandez.
That would be some game, although sadly I think the World team would win it. It would be tight though, the odd goal would probably decide it.
Let me know your thoughts on the idea of the game, and of my 'exiles' squad. Look forward to hearing from you.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Survival Sunday: Who's for the drop?
After ten months and 37 games, and many twists, turns, shocks and surprises, the fate of five Barclays Premier League clubs comes down to 90 minutes. Survival Sunday is well and truly upon us.
Going into the final day, Wigan and Blackpool (both 39pts) occupy the two remaining relegation places, with Birmingham (39) outside on goal difference. Wolves host Blackburn (both on 40 pts), where the winners are guaranteed safety, and that is where I shall start my preview.
This game could very easily turn into an Austria v West Germany situation. On that occasion, the sides pre-arranged a 1-0 German win that benefited both countries, changing the rules for last-day fixtures. I am not suggesting there will be any pre-game chat here between Messrs Kean and McCarthy, but if the other games are going their way both teams will certainly settle for a draw and play keep-ball for as long as necessary. The caveat is that a draw would send both sides down if all of the other three relegation rivals win, and Wolves alone would drop if any two of the other three emerge with three points.
Wolves therefore will be more keen for the win, but despite their very good form of late, I think this game will be a draw.
Blackpool are off to Old Trafford to take on the champions Manchester United, where in all likelihood, they will have to win the game to stay up. Only West Brom have taken so much as a point from the Theatre of Dreams this season, and even that looks a tall order for the Tangerines, irrespective of Sir Alex Ferguson's team selection. In my opinion he can put the youth team out with no arguments; I think its fair to say that he has earnt the right to select any 11 players he likes. Whichever side comes out, they ought to be too strong. After all, their 'reserves' have already beaten Schalke 04 4-1 this season.
I'll go for a comfortable home win to send Blackpool back into the Championship.
Wigan have, in my opinion, the most winnable of the final fixtures against a Stoke side who must surely have their summer holidays in mind following the FA Cup final defeat. That said, it won't be a gimme for the Latics, the Britannia Stadium is still one of the more difficult grounds from which to take a result home. That said, I think Wigan's hunger alone - emphatically shown by their comeback last week against West Ham - can get them the result they hope will keep them up.
As I said, of all the opponents they could have had, Wigan probably would have chosen Stoke, and I think they will get the point they need for survival.
That is because Birmingham, who have dropped like a stone since winning the Carling Cup, are at a Tottenham side who still have fifth place, and a Europa League berth, to secure. Spurs are seemingly over their wobble, and their win at Liverpool was one of the more impressive results of the season. Despite Harry Redknapp's apparent lack of interest in the Europa League, he will be desperate to ensure that they finish as high as possible, ie. 5th, to secure it.
I can only see an easy home win here, sorry Blues fans.
So it's Blackpool and Birmingham to join West Ham in the second tier next season in my opinion. I'm sure it won't be that simple though. They will probably all be safe or down at some point, and I can't wait to see it unfold. Apparently there are 81 different permutations today, we may even see most of them. See you at 4.00!
Going into the final day, Wigan and Blackpool (both 39pts) occupy the two remaining relegation places, with Birmingham (39) outside on goal difference. Wolves host Blackburn (both on 40 pts), where the winners are guaranteed safety, and that is where I shall start my preview.
This game could very easily turn into an Austria v West Germany situation. On that occasion, the sides pre-arranged a 1-0 German win that benefited both countries, changing the rules for last-day fixtures. I am not suggesting there will be any pre-game chat here between Messrs Kean and McCarthy, but if the other games are going their way both teams will certainly settle for a draw and play keep-ball for as long as necessary. The caveat is that a draw would send both sides down if all of the other three relegation rivals win, and Wolves alone would drop if any two of the other three emerge with three points.
Wolves therefore will be more keen for the win, but despite their very good form of late, I think this game will be a draw.
Blackpool are off to Old Trafford to take on the champions Manchester United, where in all likelihood, they will have to win the game to stay up. Only West Brom have taken so much as a point from the Theatre of Dreams this season, and even that looks a tall order for the Tangerines, irrespective of Sir Alex Ferguson's team selection. In my opinion he can put the youth team out with no arguments; I think its fair to say that he has earnt the right to select any 11 players he likes. Whichever side comes out, they ought to be too strong. After all, their 'reserves' have already beaten Schalke 04 4-1 this season.
I'll go for a comfortable home win to send Blackpool back into the Championship.
Wigan have, in my opinion, the most winnable of the final fixtures against a Stoke side who must surely have their summer holidays in mind following the FA Cup final defeat. That said, it won't be a gimme for the Latics, the Britannia Stadium is still one of the more difficult grounds from which to take a result home. That said, I think Wigan's hunger alone - emphatically shown by their comeback last week against West Ham - can get them the result they hope will keep them up.
As I said, of all the opponents they could have had, Wigan probably would have chosen Stoke, and I think they will get the point they need for survival.
That is because Birmingham, who have dropped like a stone since winning the Carling Cup, are at a Tottenham side who still have fifth place, and a Europa League berth, to secure. Spurs are seemingly over their wobble, and their win at Liverpool was one of the more impressive results of the season. Despite Harry Redknapp's apparent lack of interest in the Europa League, he will be desperate to ensure that they finish as high as possible, ie. 5th, to secure it.
I can only see an easy home win here, sorry Blues fans.
So it's Blackpool and Birmingham to join West Ham in the second tier next season in my opinion. I'm sure it won't be that simple though. They will probably all be safe or down at some point, and I can't wait to see it unfold. Apparently there are 81 different permutations today, we may even see most of them. See you at 4.00!
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
A decent effort, but Forest fall short again
Nottingham Forest suffered another play-off disappointment last night, the defeat at Swansea's Liberty Stadium means the club has now failed in four such campaigns. But what do the fans take from the season? Pleasure from another decent attempt at promotion, or frustration that they came up short again? Probably both.
Some may look back at the season and think of it is a disappointment, a failure even, but for me, far from it. At the start of the campaign another tilt at the big time looked an awful long way off after a summer of discontent at the club. I blogged at the end of August expressing my anger at what I assumed would be the start of a downward spiral and a year of, at best, mid-table mediocrity. I did mention however that we hadn't become a bad side overnight either, and that's how it turned out to be fair.
We were, at the start of the season, a difficult team to beat without being spectacular, or indeed winning enough games, and that was how we continued really for too long. Players came in, which was an improvement on last year, but they were replacements rather than additions, and the squad was still far too thin. Although we were challenging for a top-two place as recently as February, there was a feeling in my head that it was almost too good to be true. There followed a sharp decline in form in the spring was in a part down to our lack of strength in depth and injuries and suspensions hitting that had stayed away a few weeks earlier.
The promotion season in League One saw Forest look out of the reckoning, before 6 wins in the last 7 got that side over the line. This season looked similar to that. Defeat at Norwich left us needing - in my opinion at the time - an unlikely 10 points, or even 12, from the last four games. We got 12 to get into the play-off places again. Unbelievable. I didn't see that coming after the Carrow Road game. Would momentum take us over the line? If only it was that simple, but I did have a feeling that the underdogs tag would suit us, as opposed to being the huge favourites we were against Blackpool, and before that, Yeovil Town. Sorry for the reminders!
As it turned out, we were underdogs for a reason. Swansea defended brilliantly at the City Ground with ten men, although were helped by Forest's alarming lack of ambition in the first half. The 0-0 scoreline felt like a win for them and Forest had, in my eyes, missed the boat. The second leg performance was much better from the Reds, but the Swans deserved the win. You have to take your chances, you cant afford to miss ones like those not taken by Marcus Tudgay and David McGoldrick.
Of course I was disappointed to have lost, but not devastated like in the aforementioned semi-finals. Rightly or wrongly, it didn't feel as bad. Overall it has been a decent season, but are decent seasons enough? Now we know we are a Championship club once again, we can get down to the business of sorting out the futures of those out of contract. I really hope the final-year trio of Guy Moussi, Nathan Tyson and Rob Earnshaw do not see their futures elsewhere. I would also like to see on-loan Kris Boyd at the club full time. There will probably be a few departures, but as long as more come in than go out we should be ok and ready to have another go next season.
Some may look back at the season and think of it is a disappointment, a failure even, but for me, far from it. At the start of the campaign another tilt at the big time looked an awful long way off after a summer of discontent at the club. I blogged at the end of August expressing my anger at what I assumed would be the start of a downward spiral and a year of, at best, mid-table mediocrity. I did mention however that we hadn't become a bad side overnight either, and that's how it turned out to be fair.
We were, at the start of the season, a difficult team to beat without being spectacular, or indeed winning enough games, and that was how we continued really for too long. Players came in, which was an improvement on last year, but they were replacements rather than additions, and the squad was still far too thin. Although we were challenging for a top-two place as recently as February, there was a feeling in my head that it was almost too good to be true. There followed a sharp decline in form in the spring was in a part down to our lack of strength in depth and injuries and suspensions hitting that had stayed away a few weeks earlier.
The promotion season in League One saw Forest look out of the reckoning, before 6 wins in the last 7 got that side over the line. This season looked similar to that. Defeat at Norwich left us needing - in my opinion at the time - an unlikely 10 points, or even 12, from the last four games. We got 12 to get into the play-off places again. Unbelievable. I didn't see that coming after the Carrow Road game. Would momentum take us over the line? If only it was that simple, but I did have a feeling that the underdogs tag would suit us, as opposed to being the huge favourites we were against Blackpool, and before that, Yeovil Town. Sorry for the reminders!
As it turned out, we were underdogs for a reason. Swansea defended brilliantly at the City Ground with ten men, although were helped by Forest's alarming lack of ambition in the first half. The 0-0 scoreline felt like a win for them and Forest had, in my eyes, missed the boat. The second leg performance was much better from the Reds, but the Swans deserved the win. You have to take your chances, you cant afford to miss ones like those not taken by Marcus Tudgay and David McGoldrick.
Of course I was disappointed to have lost, but not devastated like in the aforementioned semi-finals. Rightly or wrongly, it didn't feel as bad. Overall it has been a decent season, but are decent seasons enough? Now we know we are a Championship club once again, we can get down to the business of sorting out the futures of those out of contract. I really hope the final-year trio of Guy Moussi, Nathan Tyson and Rob Earnshaw do not see their futures elsewhere. I would also like to see on-loan Kris Boyd at the club full time. There will probably be a few departures, but as long as more come in than go out we should be ok and ready to have another go next season.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Darts' night of shame
Last night saw the long awaited rematch of January's Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship final between Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson in week 6 of the 888.com Premier League. What was expected was a top-class display of arrows that would wow us like the Alexandra Palace showpiece did, all done before a partisan but well behaved Scottish crowd. What we got was one of the most shameful hours in the competition's - no, the sport's history.
Of course we expected the World Champion to be subjected to a rough reception - he was playing a Scotsman in Scotland after all, but nobody could have expected or can condone the line which was crossed by a small minority.
Lewis had beer thrown at him during his walk-on, and as if that wasn't bad enough, he then had to withstand a barrage of coins thrown at himself and even the dartboard during his visits to the oche. I don't think any player would have been able to take that, and nobody was surprised when Anderson, at this point visibly upset and embarrasssed at his countrymen's actions, raced into a 3-0 lead.
Anderson looked even more rattled by it than Lewis did, and at one point picked a coin up from the stage, pocketed it, and then missed three darts at double top, arguably deliberately, to gift Lewis a leg he nearly got booed out of.
Although the professional standard these days means that players are rarely put off their stride by crowd noise, this was something else, and both players posted averages (Lewis 88.18, Anderson 87.28) a full eleven and twelve points lower than their respective 99's at the World final in January. The majority of the supporters - who it must be said had been well behaved, and had earlier given Raymond van Barneveld an unbelievable reception - had every right to feel cheated.
Sadly, the PDC's tournaments, and especially the Premier League, are no stranger to misbehaving fans, but this is surely the incident - which has to be seen to be truly believed - that makes Barry Hearn and his team stand up, take notice and realise that the players and the real fans will not stand for it any longer.
Of course we expected the World Champion to be subjected to a rough reception - he was playing a Scotsman in Scotland after all, but nobody could have expected or can condone the line which was crossed by a small minority.
Lewis had beer thrown at him during his walk-on, and as if that wasn't bad enough, he then had to withstand a barrage of coins thrown at himself and even the dartboard during his visits to the oche. I don't think any player would have been able to take that, and nobody was surprised when Anderson, at this point visibly upset and embarrasssed at his countrymen's actions, raced into a 3-0 lead.
Anderson looked even more rattled by it than Lewis did, and at one point picked a coin up from the stage, pocketed it, and then missed three darts at double top, arguably deliberately, to gift Lewis a leg he nearly got booed out of.
Although the professional standard these days means that players are rarely put off their stride by crowd noise, this was something else, and both players posted averages (Lewis 88.18, Anderson 87.28) a full eleven and twelve points lower than their respective 99's at the World final in January. The majority of the supporters - who it must be said had been well behaved, and had earlier given Raymond van Barneveld an unbelievable reception - had every right to feel cheated.
Sadly, the PDC's tournaments, and especially the Premier League, are no stranger to misbehaving fans, but this is surely the incident - which has to be seen to be truly believed - that makes Barry Hearn and his team stand up, take notice and realise that the players and the real fans will not stand for it any longer.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Chelsea and Liverpool dominate Deadline Day
The January transfer window has seen unprecedented spending this year, especially when compared to the same period last season. Barclays Premier League clubs have spent over £200m this month compared to around £30m in 2010.
Of course, two clubs dominated the headlines on yesterday's Deadline Day. Chelsea had had a quiet time of it in recent transfer windows, not least because of the Gael Kakuta saga a couple of windows back, but this time they announced their re-emergence on the top financial table with a vengeance. The long-awaited, will they, won't they story finally reached a conclusion with the sensational signing of Benfica's David Luiz. Oh, and they signed some bloke called Torres as well.
Of course, Luiz adds defensive options to the club that perhaps they have lacked since Ricardo Carvalho's departure in the summer, and there have been questions about the form and fitness of Alex, Jose Bosingwa and John Terry. I'm sure he will be a great addition to the back line, but it is the Torres signing from Liverpool, for a British transfer record fee of £50m, that has really got the Blues fans excited.
Liverpool would have been desperate to keep their star striker, one who on form is possibly the best in the world, although this season he has cut a forlorn figure, and especially during the Roy Hodgson era, looked like a player who wished he was anywhere else. But every player has his price, and as soon as it became apparent that El Nino wanted to leave, Liverpool would have been crazy to turn the money down. Now, Torres has got his move, I expect him to hit the ground running. A goal against Liverpool on Sunday would be the perfect way to announce his arrival at Stamford Bridge. Of course, one added benefit is that he is not cup-tied for the Champions League this season, unlike the majority of big money January buys have been down the years. Torres is as desperate as Chelsea are to win what the club sees as the holy grail, their first European Cup.
The £50m didn't stay in the Anfield coffers for long though. The £22.8m deal to bring in Ajax's Luis Suarez had been done before Torres' move south, and that should be a great piece of business, but it was their second purchase which really got heads turning.
Newcastle frontman Andy Carroll is obviously a player of huge talent, and tremendous potential, but a £35m price tag is one worthy of all-time greats - David Villa was signed by Barcelona for £34m for example- not players with just 34 career goals, and only half a season of regular Premier League starts. That said, he has proven himself to be capable of playing with a huge weight of pressure on his shoulders - he was Newcastle's number 9 of course, and they don't give that shirt away in a raffle. With a good strike partner in Suarez, and service from Steven Gerrard, he should bang them in when he is fit, but if not, there will be questions asked about just why Liverpool paid quite so much money.
Of course the positive PR for the new owners might have had a great deal to do with it. What better way for John W. Henry and his team to announce 'We are not Hicks and Gillett, we are here for this club and its fans' than to spend the sort of money that could put Liverpool back to where they feel it belongs?
One thing is for sure, Sunday's game at Stamfor Bridge between Chelsea and Liverpool is sure to be a fiery one. Their intense rivalry which has developed over the last six or seven years or so is about to enter a whole new exciting chapter.
Of course, two clubs dominated the headlines on yesterday's Deadline Day. Chelsea had had a quiet time of it in recent transfer windows, not least because of the Gael Kakuta saga a couple of windows back, but this time they announced their re-emergence on the top financial table with a vengeance. The long-awaited, will they, won't they story finally reached a conclusion with the sensational signing of Benfica's David Luiz. Oh, and they signed some bloke called Torres as well.
Of course, Luiz adds defensive options to the club that perhaps they have lacked since Ricardo Carvalho's departure in the summer, and there have been questions about the form and fitness of Alex, Jose Bosingwa and John Terry. I'm sure he will be a great addition to the back line, but it is the Torres signing from Liverpool, for a British transfer record fee of £50m, that has really got the Blues fans excited.
Liverpool would have been desperate to keep their star striker, one who on form is possibly the best in the world, although this season he has cut a forlorn figure, and especially during the Roy Hodgson era, looked like a player who wished he was anywhere else. But every player has his price, and as soon as it became apparent that El Nino wanted to leave, Liverpool would have been crazy to turn the money down. Now, Torres has got his move, I expect him to hit the ground running. A goal against Liverpool on Sunday would be the perfect way to announce his arrival at Stamford Bridge. Of course, one added benefit is that he is not cup-tied for the Champions League this season, unlike the majority of big money January buys have been down the years. Torres is as desperate as Chelsea are to win what the club sees as the holy grail, their first European Cup.
The £50m didn't stay in the Anfield coffers for long though. The £22.8m deal to bring in Ajax's Luis Suarez had been done before Torres' move south, and that should be a great piece of business, but it was their second purchase which really got heads turning.
Newcastle frontman Andy Carroll is obviously a player of huge talent, and tremendous potential, but a £35m price tag is one worthy of all-time greats - David Villa was signed by Barcelona for £34m for example- not players with just 34 career goals, and only half a season of regular Premier League starts. That said, he has proven himself to be capable of playing with a huge weight of pressure on his shoulders - he was Newcastle's number 9 of course, and they don't give that shirt away in a raffle. With a good strike partner in Suarez, and service from Steven Gerrard, he should bang them in when he is fit, but if not, there will be questions asked about just why Liverpool paid quite so much money.
Of course the positive PR for the new owners might have had a great deal to do with it. What better way for John W. Henry and his team to announce 'We are not Hicks and Gillett, we are here for this club and its fans' than to spend the sort of money that could put Liverpool back to where they feel it belongs?
One thing is for sure, Sunday's game at Stamfor Bridge between Chelsea and Liverpool is sure to be a fiery one. Their intense rivalry which has developed over the last six or seven years or so is about to enter a whole new exciting chapter.
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