The great Jimmy Greaves once said "It's a funny old game!" and of course he is right but perhaps back in the 1980s when he made that statement he was being more cryptic than we'll ever realise. There's the simple game of 22 men chasing a pig's bladder full of wind...and then there's all that other stuff; the business!
There was the pandemic when everything stopped, then racism became everybody's narrative for a while, then the football resumed. without fans, then we eventually had the Euros during which England's manager, Gareth Southgate, showed Prime Minister Boris how to portray the role of a true Statesman without a whiff of irony, whilst giving us a sense of pride and identity riding the crest of a lucky wave. Then we had the Jack Grealish situation, the Lionel Messi drama, a cameo with Lukaku and as I write we are still awaiting the Captain 'Arry Kane soap opera to conclude. I am already knackered keeping up with it all and the season is about to start!!
Before I start, let's get one thing straight! Not playing physical engagements has been a dream come true for me because it allowed me a much overdue rest and the headspace to follow every single nuance of the beautiful game without the logistics of 300 engagements that I might have been doing during that period. That said I am currently writing three books, planning and filming numerous online courses and have been busily engaged networking with every inch of the United Kingdom and most of the globe. So, the answer to "Did I Miss Performing Live Gigs" is a big fat No! Apart from the many special individuals that have been taken from me, Lockdown has been a fabulous window of many opportunities; and following football obsessively has been on the top of that pile!
Let's start with the Euros and England. My tip to win the tournament from the start was Italy. They were the one team that were solid, had a consistent unbeaten record with a high calibre experienced manager Roberto Mancini whose in-game execution was unrivalled by any other. It was Mancini that won that first trophy for Manchester City back in 2011 at the expense of a mis-firing Manchester United team in a definitive semi-final F.A.Cup time on an April afternoon. That day United sorely missed their suspended talisman Wayne Rooney. His deputy Dimitar Berbatov repeatedly fluffed his lines and Mancini seized his opportunity to inflict defeat on their neighbours for the first time in the competition and guide the disbelieving blue Mancunian faithful to their first major trophy. The following season he eased them over the line for the Premier League title in THAT pulsating game against QPR before his premature sacking after an F.A.Cup Final defeat to (current Belgium manager) Roberto Martinez and his Wigan Athletic team in 2013 (who were relegated days later, and have never returned to the Premier League). A major tournament with the final at Wembley Stadium, was too big an opportunity for an emotive creature like Mancini to miss and his tactical acumen in the second half of the Euro Final against England was a masterclass in game management at the highest level.
That said, the England team showed a resilience that has never been seen before and by hanging on, we almost did to the Italians what they have routinely done to other nations in past tournaments; We all know that Marcus Rashford would score that penalty 999 times out of 1,000 and sadly for him and the nation that one time was Sunday 11th July 2021; fine margins indeed.
Despite berating Southgate for being inferior to Mancini's tactical acumen, I must salute him for his success in creating a calm and collective belief in the psyche of his players. It is widely accepted that the majority of the squad now have big match experience with their clubs but the manner in which they dealt with all their opponents, and I will include Scotland revealed a tournament strategy that we have never seen before. Croatia, Scotland and Czech Republic were credible group opponents, as were Germany and Denmark. It must never be forgotten that playing and beating England is a huge deal for other nations regardless of what others may tell you. Our Premier League is envied and our home grown stars are widely discussed globally. For the first time in my life, I am looking forward to a World Cup tournament that we can genuinely win in Qatar and the other nations are worried. For the first time in my lifetime, we have a collection of formidable individuals with a cohesive and effective mindset, something that ultimately destroyed the highly fancied and talented French squad. The victories against Germany and Denmark were special evenings that we, like many families shared together and will always treasure.
Whenever I think about the finances of Barcelona and Real Madrid, I keep returning to the tale of the Emperor's new clothes. Beyond the very slick P.R. and mystique of both clubs, since the Coutinho transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona in January 2018, I have been struggling to understand how the business model was operating under financial fair play rules because the revenue of both clubs despite their huge global brand awareness was not that far ahead of say Manchester United who, despite the unease of the fanbase with the Glazers, is clearly defined; despite the current lack of on-pitch success. Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Madrid for Turin was, for me. much deeper than a genius footballer "who wanted another challenge in another culture." He was sold because quite simply Madrid were broke and desperately needed to claw back cash hastily; at that time, Barcelona genuinely believed they were untouchable; "living on the never never" was a fantasy existence that was destroyed by the pandemic. All of us that are in business know that when September kicks in, the banks will show their real teeth and be ruthless. The Messi situation is sadly an embarrassment for the Catalonian club and a warning for everyone involved operating in the murky shadows of the football business. As I said in the previous paragraph, the Premier League product is watched avidly around the world and thankfully, for now, all and sundry are keen to pay that premium price because quite simply, every match is competitive. On the other hand La Liga without it's two biggest stars is no longer the huge draw it once was, and is in danger of resembling the Scottish Premier League with Celtic and Rangers fighting one another every season. Time to watch those pennies a little closer chaps and then the pounds...
Lionel Messi playing at Paris Saint Germain is, for me, a very sobering sight. His tears were genuine, Barcelona has been his whole life and an unavoidable business decision has delivered him to France. To justify the whole circus, he has to win the Champions League next season. However, with an outlay of probably £300 million this summer, so must Manchester City; after failing spectacularly in the final against a very slick Chelsea who have smartly signed Romelu Lukaku. For both coaches Pochettino and Guardiola, there is absolutely no other show in town and I genuinely fear that both of them will fail again. So what happens then? Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, a man who himself has trodden those faltering steps as a deal-maker correctly described the Messi signing, on the radio station "TalkSport" as a "Harlem Globe-Trotters" acquisition. Last season, neither Messi nor Ronaldo were anywhere near the business end of the Champions League; and in reality, they are yesterday's headline-makers in real footballing terms. Time waits for no man, even Usain Bolt lost a 100 metres race eventually. It is a young man's game! So, despite the huffing and puffing of the Middle Eastern millions, it could be the silent Russian in West London who has the last laugh. Watch this space...
Talking of huge signings, as I alluded to in the previous paragraph, I am not convinced that the presence of Jack Grealish will signal a Champions League title for Manchester City in the coming season. Pep's big chance for that trophy was last season after dumping PSG emphatically on route to the final. The professional manner in which the team survived the brilliance of that all action forward line, and make no mistake here Mbappe, Neymar and Co. were scintillatingly terrifying at times in those first 30 impressive minutes of that Champions League Semi-final first leg. The manner in which they achieved their victory and made PSG unravel so spectacularly was equalled by the absurdly disappointing lack of sharpness in the actual final that Chelsea exploited so effectively. Understanding the intricate demands of an intensive warrior like Guardiola will feel like an never-ending boot camp of the intensity Grealish will have never encountered before. I do believe he will shine but like Mahrez, coming to the boil will be a gradual process. In the coming season, I am expecting to see him start games where he will be regularly experiencing those lower league cauldrons in numerous cup games like the EFL and the F.A.Cup as he acclimatises to the high table of regular elite football.
Chelsea are a team I am expecting to see featuring on the landscape next season; Tuchel is a highly experienced operator in the unique environment of dealing with mystical obscenely wealthy paymasters who are quietly obsessive about having everything monitored and reported by shady aides who behave like human CCTV systems. The appointment of Frank Lampard was a masterstroke to appease the Chelsea fanbase who would have loved the temporary P.R. narrative of promoting from within. However, his removal was brutal, though not wholly unexpected especially when an under-par and injury-ravaged Manchester City visited "The Bridge" on Sunday 3rd January, and suddenly were allowed to find their rhythm and momentum with a ruthless 3-0 first half display to romp unhindered to the title. By the time Leicester had humiliated them 2-0, 16 days later, Mrs Thomas Tuchel had already received the memo to sort the moving arrangements for the family photographs and the bed linen to London. Marina Granovskaia is world class at removing clutter; my wife often prays that she might visit my music room one day soon and do the same! But, the Premier League is a long and arduous project, despite the Champions League victory, the results at the end were indifferent at best; we are watching...and so is Abramovich!
Everyone knows that Harry will leave Spurs for a vast sum of money at some point very soon. Unfortunately, Spurs owner Joe Lewis and his General Daniel Levy will strive to extract a maximum profit for the deal, but at the expense of the dynamic of the playing staff and it's new manager Nuno. I like Nuno but he'll need a few transfer windows to create anything close to a side to seriously challenge the elite top 4. I should say in reality Top 6 because Leicester and Everton are the best of the rest by a country mile. But, I digress! Harry Kane, once he moves, will need to find his shooting boots in the Champions League from February because that is when Manchester City need him most, to bridge the gap to the elusive Champions League. Winning the Premier League is not the priority regardless of what the hierarchy at City are saying out loud. Can they really do it this season?
There is something very eerie about the lack of noise coming out of Old Trafford. The Jaidon Sancho business is done, he and Marcus Rashford are already established as gaming mates, but little has been said about Paul Pogba which for United is great news, and all the other players have, it seems, rested effectively. Manchester United, despite that final defeat to Villareal have a formidable line-up, make no mistake. There are numerous revitalised game-changing players in that squad like Jesse Lingard, Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes and the brilliant Luke Shaw who know and understand "the project" and what is required and expected. The return of 75,000 roaring fans in a rocking Old Trafford is going to be very big advantage. Despite the manner of the defeat in the Europa Cup Final, you sense that everyone from top to bottom at the Carrington Training Complex is ready to explode into life.
But what about Liverpool? Virgil van Dijk is back in business, along with a rejuvenated Jordan Henderson and THAT forward line. What will Jurgen Klopp's boys bring to the party? This is a squad that many predict will bounce back and win the Premier League title. I myself am not convinced they have refreshed the squad in enough depth to achieve that but a fast start is a must for the boys from Anfield. Everton's huge advancement under the brilliant Carlo Ancelotti and their extremely settled squad will be a distraction in the city too and I am expecting them to close in on one of the knock-out cups this season too. Merseyside is going to be an interesting watch.
To welcome Brentford to the Premier League is a wonderful boost for football fans everywhere who dream that one day their unfashionable team may realise that dream. Striker Ivan Toney is a very confident young man who has grafted hard for his chance at the top table since scoring an outrageous bicycle kick at Dagenham and Redbridge at the age of 17 to save my beloved Northampton from non-League oblivion in 2013. As the youngest player in our history to play for the Cobblers, the whole town is hoping he can become a success this season. The harsh reality is that for Brentford to have any hope of survival, he will need 20 goals against some of the world's meanest defenders. Can he and the Bees achieve that amazing feat? More importantly, are there three weaker squads than Brentford in the Premier League this season? That's another blog for the Maestro to explore in the coming weeks. I wish them, Norwich and Watford well.
Arsenal like Tottenham have fantastic stadia and yet, neither are any closer to success now than at any time in their existences. Not building upon the momentum of an F.A.Cup victory the previous season was a huge mistake for Arsenal and the sacking of Jose Mourinho on the Monday before the Carabao Final was sheer madness. After watching a fluid Leicester City team win the F.A. Cup in May and then cheekily pick-pocket an under-strength Manchester City team with their Box Office record signing Grealish stealing all the pre-match headlines at Wembley, was a clear indicator of how steep the curve is for Tottenham and Arsenal. A clean balance sheet is important but football is about powerful emotive experiences and neither team look like exciting their fans anytime soon. With all due respect to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Nuno Espirito Santo is navigating different waters in the capital and losing your star player for £160 million is not a great look; unless of course that Harry Kane does not actually leave Spurs and is content that £200K is plenty to live on for now. Let's be frank, anything is possible with Levy! Mikel Arteta has to show a lot more than he did in a feeble 2-0 defeat at new boys Brentford on Friday. He cut a weary figure throughout on the TV screen, Arsenal fans need to see a serious uplift immediately or his Emirates adventure will be consigned to a refuse skip and the Gunners will be forced to start again. How he fares in the next few fixtures will be critical for him.
There is much to say about the subject of racism as a proud Englishman who happens to be black. The George Floyd situation blasted open the doors of debate about discrimination and ignorance, which has been overwhelmingly positive. I began attending Cobblers matches with my father in 1974 and like the theatre and the concert hall audiences we did not encounter many people of colour. Racism was subtle but as I became older and more established with my Piano studies, I started to recognise systemic barriers thst were inexplicable and built purely on ignorance. Contrary to the metropolitan narrative, there are many football club communities with very little experience of dealing with ethnic minorities and with a lack of enlightenment racial probelems develop and thrive comfortably. There are many sports that I will not name here that have no engagement or very little with people of colour and many of those environments breed destructive attitudes that exist unchecked. There is a long way to go regarding tackling racism and I am fully supportive of the players taking the knee, because by doing so, they are determined to make the stand that they are not prepared to let the issue go away and Gareth Southgate's conduct in this regard was brilliant. Despite his expensive Etonian education, Boris Johnson's stance, on the issue, was at best embarassing and at worst a disgrace.
The most powerful aspect of the England team, during the European Championships was the way they conducted themselves throughout the campaign and brought the nation together. As a result, the push back from the general public in response to the online abuse, suffered by the three penalty takers Marcus Rashford, Jordan Sancho and Bakary Sako, was overwhelming.
Collectively, the British public is back in love with the game of football and breathlessly excited about returning, albeit cautiously, to engaging with the match-day experience. The beautiful game is back at the elite level and we are braced for some terrific competitive action. As strange as these times are, I am desperate to feel the hum of an expectant crowd before kick-off. This weekend, I will be with Jeff Stelling and the Sky Sports pundits along with their counterparts at BT Sport but it won't be long before I am back at the Riverside, Sixfields and all the other great and humble stadia arguing with fellow football nuts about the finer details. Football is coming home!
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