I have in a previous blog berated my beloved England team for failing so predictably in yet another tournament. On the other hand Wales, appearing in a their first major tournament since 1958, stormed to the Semi-Finals; topping their group in the first round of matches. So why did Wales succeed where England failed? Let's look at the evidence...
Chris Coleman was an excellent leader on and off the pitch. Although the Euro campaign was a huge emotional assignment for him and the nation, his approach was uncomplicated, his players showed great discipline and the supporters were fabulous. Wales have always had excellent players but rarely had elite ones; Ryan Giggs was in that category but his commitment to International Football rarely matched the desire of his superlative Manchester United contributions; and as a result Wales were becoming a habitual nearly team. Gareth Bale, on the other hand, is brilliant, oozes fire and brimstone and more pertinently regularly stepped up to deliver game-changing performances in the qualifying games. His contribution has created an atmosphere of belief in the Welsh team and despite the blip against England on June 16th, the reaction to despatch Russia so ruthlessly was a real statement of their intentions to progress. Achieving a Semi-Final place by beating Belgium was no surprise, after all their star man whilst Eden Hazard had a patchy season at Chelsea last season, Bale won the Champions League and was no bit-part player. The surprise, was the nature of the execution with three brilliant goals that had me rising out of my seat with elation. Wales were sensational!
Despite the pockets of hooliganism in France, I enjoyed the way supporters of each nation arrived in healthy numbers and heartily cheered on their teams. Although the Welsh supporters were outnumbered by their Belgian counterparts, in THAT Quarter Final, they were never going to be out-sung!! After Ashley Williams equalised, the choir struck up and probably mesmerized not just the opposition fans but the players on the pitch!! There are very few more pleasing sounds on the ears than a Welsh choir; maybe those mischievous Russians ultras were disarmed by the beautiful lyrical phrasing of the fans. It's worth noting that there was no more trouble from them following that match!
Much has been made following my last blog about the number of foreigners 'invading' our Premier League and suppressing English talent. The entire Welsh squad was drawn from the same Premier AND Football League of the English players, but they succeeded and England failed. As I mentioned in that Blog, the Premier League is very strong from top to bottom and I actually expect greater success in the next European clubs' campaign from British teams. Chris Coleman achieved because of his leadership, team dynamics, belief and critically the presence of a world class match winner. In the defining Semi-Final, Cristiano Ronaldo's brilliance was the heart-breaking difference; sometimes you have to celebrate special players and his top drawer contribution was the only thing that could kill off Wales. In the same way Antoine Griezmann despatched the Germans in the other semi-final. On another night that might have been Bale's moment and then the trophy would have been lifted by Ashley Williams.
History one day will put this achievement into context for future generations to marvel. Congratulations Wales for making the summer of 2016 so inspiring for their nation, and the rest of us.
Monday 25 July 2016
Sunday 24 July 2016
The Unthinkable Has Happened Twice...
So, after posting my last blog which spoke about how Leicester City might win the Premier League, they achieved it and rocked the football world in the meantime. Could anyone top that? Yes! England were dumped out of the Euros 2016 by a nation of which 10% of the population were watching from the stands; namely Iceland. And here we are as the Olympics approach waiting breathlessly for one of the most anticipated Premier League campaigns ever.
Let's talk about England. In early June, I stumbled upon two significant sporting people from my childhood in a famous American Diner in Northampton. One was my P.E. teacher, an ex Cricket Captain and my sporting mentor as a teenager, the other a serious childhood rival on the football field who become a Professional footballer; both are still working currently at the high end of Professional sport. They are both, like myself, well known locally. It was an absorbing hour of memories, opinions and mutual acknowledgement of each other's individual legacies. England's participation was discussed and it was widely agreed that grass roots football was strong and healthy at present and the current England squad was quietly confident of progressing to the semi-finals. Then, the tournament began. Frustration in match one was followed by desperate relief after match two and disbelief after the concluding third match. My personal trainer Joe Power, a trusted football man, assured me during our session on match day Monday that we would destroy Iceland that night and have enough guile to disarm France at the weekend; I had an uneasy feeling; Iceland won the game and the rest as they say is history. So what actually went so badly wrong? A cursory glance at England's football tournament history reveals that one of the attributes that define us as a nation, consistently fails us in the hostile heat of tournament football; mental strength and indisputable belief. With a highly decorated, talented and experienced warrior like Wayne Rooney as general and rampant goal-scorers like Kane, Vardy and Rashford leading the line backed up by hard-bitten razor-tongued coaches like Gary Neville. Why were we so clueless, when it mattered most? My simple conclusion, after watching Northamptonshire's Andrea Leadsom surrender so meekly and swiftly after fluffing her lines with a seasoned media hack, one emotional weekend in the choppy waters of a leadership campaigning, Roy Hodgson simply, despite a wealth of experience, could not handle the pressure of clinical decision making when it mattered most.
There are many attributes that Roy Hodgson possesses, he is statesman-like, multi lingual, comfortable in foreign cultures, eloquent on camera and respected by the European football community. Sadly the unpleasant odour that defines his history of weakness in high pressure scenarios would have troubled the nostrils of a City Head-Hunter if he were a Merchant Banker. Of course life is too simplistic to say that his failures at Blackburn and Liverpool were a concern; everyone has a bad day at the office. Great leaders roar back from a set-back, objctively. Looking back the Blackburn experience overwhelmed him, at a time when the club should have achieved more; Blackburn went into free-fall just before Christmas 2010 when a certain Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties for not producing glitzy football and having Ronaldinho's agent in his contact book by those deluded Venky's. The sheer intensity and bravado that Jurgen Klopp exudes at Liverpool, starkly contrasts the meek press conference he tried to conduct, at Ewood Park ironically, before eventually being sacked. Big games require a big a game mentality, on the training pitch, inside the dug-out and then critically during a 90 minute match. I have, in my career worked alongside numerous actors, amateur and professional who have astounded and amazed me in the rehearsal studio only to crumble or resemble something entirely different when they tread the boards in front of a live audience or an intense Television studio. Regrettably Roy is one of those, we found out too late.
Many people have said that the players let Roy down but the reality is that players like any workforce need an enforceable, clear but flexible blueprint that everyone understands. With the exception of the Wales game, which was won by desperation more than guile, Roy failed to make an inspired call during the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the trophy on Sunday 10th July for Portugal, but because of his unfortunate injury, the final was actually won by his team-mates who collectively succeeded as a unit. I am relieved that with Sam Allardyce at the helm that will not be an issue for the next campaign for England.
Sam Allardyce has his wish, to manage at the highest level. If he succeeds in winning a tournament, he will simply be awarded the freedom of England. I do not think, he will achieve this but, he will be an improvement on what has gone before because he has been preparing for this moment for the last 15 years! Now is his chance to truly define his philosophy with the national side. My own view is that Sam cannot fail because England are a poor team. Forget those friendlies, we have not progressed to the Quarter-Finals in a tournament for 10 years and since 1966 have reached the Semi-Finals of a major tournament twice - World Cup Italia '90 and Euro '96 losing both on penalties to eventual winners Germany. Can Sam reach those dizzy heights? Is he a 'special' manager? Bobby Robson and Terry Venables were both in that elite class; both succeeded at Barcelona and Robson was also a huge success in Portugal after producing miracles with a small but enthusistic Suffolk club called Ipswich Town. I know that Sam has huge self-belief, intelligence and an obsession to absorb great ideas from revolutionary thinkers. I am reassured that we have the right man. Let's see how he manages when the real business starts in September.
There is nothing like a new football season to wash away the weeds of despair that follow another disappointing tournament campaign. This one has excitement written all over it.My own team Middlesbrough are back in the elite along with Burnley and Hull, humble Bournemouth are there spoiling to fight and scrap like teams such as Stoke, Southampton and Swansea, Watford and West Brom. Newly homed West Ham, and all those teams with new Head-Teachers like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Sunderland, and Hull City. It feels like a proper new school term. Then perched on the top are...Leicester City!! Their impossible title achievement has, alongside the huge injection of money to the Premier League raised the bar for every club. Can THEY do it again? "Surely not" everyone cries! Claudio Ranieri will easily achieve his 40 points this season. If he manages 6th place this season after all those additional European fixtures and energy sapping travelling, that will be another amazing achievement. I personally believe that he can, after all, his players have learned the all important lesson of crossing the white line of victory; for me it's still a huge advantage for a well backed club.
In a season when all the big clubs bombed so spectacularly, except Arsenal who quietly finished in second place - let's not forget that(!) much is expected from the big sharks for this coming season. The roster of managers makes very impressive reading: Koeman, Guardiola, Mourinho, Klopp, Comte, Wenger, Moyes, Bilic etc. It is also well worth noting, that Premier League players from all 20 clubs featured prominently in the Euros this summer; the rank and file footballer in our league is very strong. Who will win it? To be honest, for once, I truly don't know because the variables of tactical approaches, mind games, personalities and quality on show will be akin to a wedding reception sweet trolley, it's mouth-watering. The Manchester clubs are going to be strong, so will Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool and Tottenham will be in the conversation perhaps but for this coming season, there will alas be no more 'winnable games!' Every club has inventive players, but we won't learn a thing, in earnest, until October when the clocks go back!! Let the madness begin...just like the hot sunny days.
Let's talk about England. In early June, I stumbled upon two significant sporting people from my childhood in a famous American Diner in Northampton. One was my P.E. teacher, an ex Cricket Captain and my sporting mentor as a teenager, the other a serious childhood rival on the football field who become a Professional footballer; both are still working currently at the high end of Professional sport. They are both, like myself, well known locally. It was an absorbing hour of memories, opinions and mutual acknowledgement of each other's individual legacies. England's participation was discussed and it was widely agreed that grass roots football was strong and healthy at present and the current England squad was quietly confident of progressing to the semi-finals. Then, the tournament began. Frustration in match one was followed by desperate relief after match two and disbelief after the concluding third match. My personal trainer Joe Power, a trusted football man, assured me during our session on match day Monday that we would destroy Iceland that night and have enough guile to disarm France at the weekend; I had an uneasy feeling; Iceland won the game and the rest as they say is history. So what actually went so badly wrong? A cursory glance at England's football tournament history reveals that one of the attributes that define us as a nation, consistently fails us in the hostile heat of tournament football; mental strength and indisputable belief. With a highly decorated, talented and experienced warrior like Wayne Rooney as general and rampant goal-scorers like Kane, Vardy and Rashford leading the line backed up by hard-bitten razor-tongued coaches like Gary Neville. Why were we so clueless, when it mattered most? My simple conclusion, after watching Northamptonshire's Andrea Leadsom surrender so meekly and swiftly after fluffing her lines with a seasoned media hack, one emotional weekend in the choppy waters of a leadership campaigning, Roy Hodgson simply, despite a wealth of experience, could not handle the pressure of clinical decision making when it mattered most.
There are many attributes that Roy Hodgson possesses, he is statesman-like, multi lingual, comfortable in foreign cultures, eloquent on camera and respected by the European football community. Sadly the unpleasant odour that defines his history of weakness in high pressure scenarios would have troubled the nostrils of a City Head-Hunter if he were a Merchant Banker. Of course life is too simplistic to say that his failures at Blackburn and Liverpool were a concern; everyone has a bad day at the office. Great leaders roar back from a set-back, objctively. Looking back the Blackburn experience overwhelmed him, at a time when the club should have achieved more; Blackburn went into free-fall just before Christmas 2010 when a certain Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties for not producing glitzy football and having Ronaldinho's agent in his contact book by those deluded Venky's. The sheer intensity and bravado that Jurgen Klopp exudes at Liverpool, starkly contrasts the meek press conference he tried to conduct, at Ewood Park ironically, before eventually being sacked. Big games require a big a game mentality, on the training pitch, inside the dug-out and then critically during a 90 minute match. I have, in my career worked alongside numerous actors, amateur and professional who have astounded and amazed me in the rehearsal studio only to crumble or resemble something entirely different when they tread the boards in front of a live audience or an intense Television studio. Regrettably Roy is one of those, we found out too late.
Many people have said that the players let Roy down but the reality is that players like any workforce need an enforceable, clear but flexible blueprint that everyone understands. With the exception of the Wales game, which was won by desperation more than guile, Roy failed to make an inspired call during the tournament. Cristiano Ronaldo lifted the trophy on Sunday 10th July for Portugal, but because of his unfortunate injury, the final was actually won by his team-mates who collectively succeeded as a unit. I am relieved that with Sam Allardyce at the helm that will not be an issue for the next campaign for England.
Sam Allardyce has his wish, to manage at the highest level. If he succeeds in winning a tournament, he will simply be awarded the freedom of England. I do not think, he will achieve this but, he will be an improvement on what has gone before because he has been preparing for this moment for the last 15 years! Now is his chance to truly define his philosophy with the national side. My own view is that Sam cannot fail because England are a poor team. Forget those friendlies, we have not progressed to the Quarter-Finals in a tournament for 10 years and since 1966 have reached the Semi-Finals of a major tournament twice - World Cup Italia '90 and Euro '96 losing both on penalties to eventual winners Germany. Can Sam reach those dizzy heights? Is he a 'special' manager? Bobby Robson and Terry Venables were both in that elite class; both succeeded at Barcelona and Robson was also a huge success in Portugal after producing miracles with a small but enthusistic Suffolk club called Ipswich Town. I know that Sam has huge self-belief, intelligence and an obsession to absorb great ideas from revolutionary thinkers. I am reassured that we have the right man. Let's see how he manages when the real business starts in September.
There is nothing like a new football season to wash away the weeds of despair that follow another disappointing tournament campaign. This one has excitement written all over it.My own team Middlesbrough are back in the elite along with Burnley and Hull, humble Bournemouth are there spoiling to fight and scrap like teams such as Stoke, Southampton and Swansea, Watford and West Brom. Newly homed West Ham, and all those teams with new Head-Teachers like Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Sunderland, and Hull City. It feels like a proper new school term. Then perched on the top are...Leicester City!! Their impossible title achievement has, alongside the huge injection of money to the Premier League raised the bar for every club. Can THEY do it again? "Surely not" everyone cries! Claudio Ranieri will easily achieve his 40 points this season. If he manages 6th place this season after all those additional European fixtures and energy sapping travelling, that will be another amazing achievement. I personally believe that he can, after all, his players have learned the all important lesson of crossing the white line of victory; for me it's still a huge advantage for a well backed club.
In a season when all the big clubs bombed so spectacularly, except Arsenal who quietly finished in second place - let's not forget that(!) much is expected from the big sharks for this coming season. The roster of managers makes very impressive reading: Koeman, Guardiola, Mourinho, Klopp, Comte, Wenger, Moyes, Bilic etc. It is also well worth noting, that Premier League players from all 20 clubs featured prominently in the Euros this summer; the rank and file footballer in our league is very strong. Who will win it? To be honest, for once, I truly don't know because the variables of tactical approaches, mind games, personalities and quality on show will be akin to a wedding reception sweet trolley, it's mouth-watering. The Manchester clubs are going to be strong, so will Chelsea and Arsenal. Liverpool and Tottenham will be in the conversation perhaps but for this coming season, there will alas be no more 'winnable games!' Every club has inventive players, but we won't learn a thing, in earnest, until October when the clocks go back!! Let the madness begin...just like the hot sunny days.
Sunday 7 February 2016
Can Leicester REALLY win the Premioer League?
It is the question on everybody's lips. Back in the Autumn, the excitement centred around Jamie Vardy breaking the Premier League record for scoring goals in consecutive matches, then once broken he actually did not score, but Leicester continued to find the net and more significantly kept winning and sit on top of the Premier League 5 points clear of Arsenal. It has in equal measure shocked and excited us all. But, can they REALLY win it? Let's look at the evidence...
A fact that no-one can dispute is that, in the past, teams that are leading the league table in February usually go on to win the title. So the simple answer ought to be Yes! they can. Yet, watching the pundits Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier and Phil Thompson expertly marshalled by Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports Super Saturday yesterday, you sensed that the cynics still believe that they will tumble, and tumble hard. Watching the ruthless defeats of Liverpool and Manchester City, they were executed with high quality possession play and exquisite finishing. Although I didn't watch the entire match, the league defeat at White Hart Lane of Tottenham was a real head-turner; because Spurs are a team in a rich vein of form, and yet they grafted, rode their luck, muzzled a rampant Harry Kane, and scored a critical winner as though they'd been at it for years!
What about Arsenal? I can hear you gooners loud and clear! Leicester lost at home to a rampant Arsenal side in late September 2-5, who then despatched, alas no! Blitzed Manchester United with a first half demolition the following week only to fluff their lines against lowly Olympiakos days later. On paper, Arsenal ought to easily defeat 'lowly' Leicester, but the team that they meet pack a real punch and after the Valentine's Day showdown, high-flying Hull breeze into town in the FA Cup looking to prove their Premier League pedigree as they (for the moment) sit at the summit of the Championship table, followed by the magicians of Catalonia; namely Barcelona and then a much improved Manchester United; February could make or debilitate Arsenal - history would suggest the latter, which strengthens Leicester's pursuit of the title. But, all of that could be purely academic, after all this is the season of surprises and the biggest one could be Arsenal finally discovering some backbone?
What about Tottenham? For me, they are the only true rivals for Ranieri's Foxes. In Harry Kane they have a red hot striker, in Dele Alli they have a fabulous play-maker and their defence is mean; in short they are an awesome package and are in striking distance of the title...if Leicester falter. Can Daniel Levy hold his nerve when 'squeaky bum time' comes? More importantly, can Spurs the club handle it? I am not convinced myself, Pochettino himself can handle anything, some of his players? I am not so sure; mentally they are new to all of this. Being one step from the trap-door last season and winning the battle will give Leicester an advantage, they are pursuing a positive target this time that has no consequence and Ranieri is the perfect manager to guide them. I need to be convinced about the Spurs collective; maybe an FA Cup instead?
That brings us to Manchester City. For me, Manuel Pelligrini has suffered the ultimate betrayal. He somehow has to continue and pursue four trophies; he may win them all but in all probability may win nothing at all. The speculation involving Pep Guardiola has been as damaging as last season's ill-timed warm weather jaunt prior to the ill-fated FA Cup tie with my team Middlesbrough. Speculation undermined Mark Hughes, then Roberto Mancini but with Pelligrini, it was unforgivable. For the Leicester game, focus should have been 100% on the match. This defeat may define their season; the distraction due to poor news management by the club will be costly. As I have stated in these blogs time and time again, small details can make or break a season. Vanity on this occasion is a curse for Manchester City; the cost of Guardiola's appointment may be greater than the deep pockets Sheik Mansoor can absorb...
The usual suspects like Manchester United and Chelsea are probably out of the conversation in terms of winning the title but may affect the ultimate destination. Both teams are obstacles to the title chasers and I sense that any of the above that can avoid defeat against these powerhouses will lift the Premier League title. For different reasons, both of these teams have rediscovered their DNA but too late to hit the front. I believe that if they negotiate Paris St German, a huge tie Chelsea could be a surprise package in the Champions League, and the Europa Cup could provide silverware and a launching pad for United respectively. Both teams are led by savvy street-wise Dutch Generals in Hiddink and Van Gaal, the latter has shown the depth of his strength and resolve to rescue what at times looked like a total disaster. Recent trips to watch both teams play live and today's fixture between them has been a timely reminder of the depth of high quality present. With both of them still in the FA Cup, do not be surprised if one of them lifts the trophy at Wembley. As one ponders those possibilities, it becomes clear how desperately badly both teams have performed this season. For the sake of their huge army of loyal and high spending fans, not to mention the sponsors, it is imperative that Manchester United and Chelsea restore pride and status as a matter of urgency. But, even with Pep Guardiola at City, these two will be back into the Premier League conversation next season alas! with new managers - expect Box-Office appointments! Jose Mourinho will be at the Theatre of Dreams but who's the other one? Surely not Ranieri? Now that could be VERY interesting!
Talking of great managers, Jurgen Klopp has been a fabulous appointment for Liverpool Football Club. Watching him at work with his intense desire to make good from what is clearly not up to scratch is absorbing, entertaining and refreshing. I love the way greets all the players at the conclusion of a game, his players and opponents alike are given hearty respect and acknowledgement; it's great to be a part of Jurgen's world! Yet, he has edge, and plenty of it. Like Van Gaal, he is always on the front foot with his media briefings, unique, open honest and last week at Leicester he was blunt. Liverpool have been screaming for this type of manager for a long time, and it was apparent to everyone who saw his first media briefing, Jurgen Klopp will deliver. Sunday 28th February could be the springboard that this club has been craving since that Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea. One way or the other, this will be a watershed season.
Let's get back to the present and Leicester City, because this is their time and their moment. After the Manchester City I believe they will lift the title because they possess collective graft, a great manager, star quality in the penalty area and no fear. For the last game of the season on Sunday 15th May, they are away at the current champions Chelsea. The beautiful game will change forever if they lift the title and parade it around Stamford Bridge; how ironic that the trophy could make two outings in the same venue with different teams! I, like many football fans, want to see all my friends, that follow Leicester City to be drunk with disbelief alongside my mates in Teeside celebrating promotion for Middlesbrough as champions and all the Northamptonians cheering the Cobblers winning the league to move to League One. All the folks in Dorset keep telling me as they watch the Cherries host Premier League fixtures, that dreams really do come true, I want to believe it too! Come on Leicester!
A fact that no-one can dispute is that, in the past, teams that are leading the league table in February usually go on to win the title. So the simple answer ought to be Yes! they can. Yet, watching the pundits Charlie Nicholas, Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier and Phil Thompson expertly marshalled by Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports Super Saturday yesterday, you sensed that the cynics still believe that they will tumble, and tumble hard. Watching the ruthless defeats of Liverpool and Manchester City, they were executed with high quality possession play and exquisite finishing. Although I didn't watch the entire match, the league defeat at White Hart Lane of Tottenham was a real head-turner; because Spurs are a team in a rich vein of form, and yet they grafted, rode their luck, muzzled a rampant Harry Kane, and scored a critical winner as though they'd been at it for years!
What about Arsenal? I can hear you gooners loud and clear! Leicester lost at home to a rampant Arsenal side in late September 2-5, who then despatched, alas no! Blitzed Manchester United with a first half demolition the following week only to fluff their lines against lowly Olympiakos days later. On paper, Arsenal ought to easily defeat 'lowly' Leicester, but the team that they meet pack a real punch and after the Valentine's Day showdown, high-flying Hull breeze into town in the FA Cup looking to prove their Premier League pedigree as they (for the moment) sit at the summit of the Championship table, followed by the magicians of Catalonia; namely Barcelona and then a much improved Manchester United; February could make or debilitate Arsenal - history would suggest the latter, which strengthens Leicester's pursuit of the title. But, all of that could be purely academic, after all this is the season of surprises and the biggest one could be Arsenal finally discovering some backbone?
What about Tottenham? For me, they are the only true rivals for Ranieri's Foxes. In Harry Kane they have a red hot striker, in Dele Alli they have a fabulous play-maker and their defence is mean; in short they are an awesome package and are in striking distance of the title...if Leicester falter. Can Daniel Levy hold his nerve when 'squeaky bum time' comes? More importantly, can Spurs the club handle it? I am not convinced myself, Pochettino himself can handle anything, some of his players? I am not so sure; mentally they are new to all of this. Being one step from the trap-door last season and winning the battle will give Leicester an advantage, they are pursuing a positive target this time that has no consequence and Ranieri is the perfect manager to guide them. I need to be convinced about the Spurs collective; maybe an FA Cup instead?
That brings us to Manchester City. For me, Manuel Pelligrini has suffered the ultimate betrayal. He somehow has to continue and pursue four trophies; he may win them all but in all probability may win nothing at all. The speculation involving Pep Guardiola has been as damaging as last season's ill-timed warm weather jaunt prior to the ill-fated FA Cup tie with my team Middlesbrough. Speculation undermined Mark Hughes, then Roberto Mancini but with Pelligrini, it was unforgivable. For the Leicester game, focus should have been 100% on the match. This defeat may define their season; the distraction due to poor news management by the club will be costly. As I have stated in these blogs time and time again, small details can make or break a season. Vanity on this occasion is a curse for Manchester City; the cost of Guardiola's appointment may be greater than the deep pockets Sheik Mansoor can absorb...
The usual suspects like Manchester United and Chelsea are probably out of the conversation in terms of winning the title but may affect the ultimate destination. Both teams are obstacles to the title chasers and I sense that any of the above that can avoid defeat against these powerhouses will lift the Premier League title. For different reasons, both of these teams have rediscovered their DNA but too late to hit the front. I believe that if they negotiate Paris St German, a huge tie Chelsea could be a surprise package in the Champions League, and the Europa Cup could provide silverware and a launching pad for United respectively. Both teams are led by savvy street-wise Dutch Generals in Hiddink and Van Gaal, the latter has shown the depth of his strength and resolve to rescue what at times looked like a total disaster. Recent trips to watch both teams play live and today's fixture between them has been a timely reminder of the depth of high quality present. With both of them still in the FA Cup, do not be surprised if one of them lifts the trophy at Wembley. As one ponders those possibilities, it becomes clear how desperately badly both teams have performed this season. For the sake of their huge army of loyal and high spending fans, not to mention the sponsors, it is imperative that Manchester United and Chelsea restore pride and status as a matter of urgency. But, even with Pep Guardiola at City, these two will be back into the Premier League conversation next season alas! with new managers - expect Box-Office appointments! Jose Mourinho will be at the Theatre of Dreams but who's the other one? Surely not Ranieri? Now that could be VERY interesting!
Talking of great managers, Jurgen Klopp has been a fabulous appointment for Liverpool Football Club. Watching him at work with his intense desire to make good from what is clearly not up to scratch is absorbing, entertaining and refreshing. I love the way greets all the players at the conclusion of a game, his players and opponents alike are given hearty respect and acknowledgement; it's great to be a part of Jurgen's world! Yet, he has edge, and plenty of it. Like Van Gaal, he is always on the front foot with his media briefings, unique, open honest and last week at Leicester he was blunt. Liverpool have been screaming for this type of manager for a long time, and it was apparent to everyone who saw his first media briefing, Jurgen Klopp will deliver. Sunday 28th February could be the springboard that this club has been craving since that Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea. One way or the other, this will be a watershed season.
Let's get back to the present and Leicester City, because this is their time and their moment. After the Manchester City I believe they will lift the title because they possess collective graft, a great manager, star quality in the penalty area and no fear. For the last game of the season on Sunday 15th May, they are away at the current champions Chelsea. The beautiful game will change forever if they lift the title and parade it around Stamford Bridge; how ironic that the trophy could make two outings in the same venue with different teams! I, like many football fans, want to see all my friends, that follow Leicester City to be drunk with disbelief alongside my mates in Teeside celebrating promotion for Middlesbrough as champions and all the Northamptonians cheering the Cobblers winning the league to move to League One. All the folks in Dorset keep telling me as they watch the Cherries host Premier League fixtures, that dreams really do come true, I want to believe it too! Come on Leicester!
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