Mr. Wayne Rooney
Here is Dale’s latest article.
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Growing up in the mean streets of Croxteth, is it no surprise that Wayne Rooney has always had a sharp edge to his character. As a youngster is was football that dragged him away from the avenues of crime and mischief and provided him with a passion. A true passion that now, 76,000 people can bear witness to on a Saturday afternoon. Like many young lads before him, Rooney aspired to “make it”. Growing up watching the big, bustling and sometimes belligerent Duncan Ferguson, he found a childhood hero to aspire to be. Joining his boyhood club Everton at the age of ten, Rooney started to turn heads in Liverpool and many branded him as the “next big thing”. Then, a goal that would propel the prospect to unprecedented heights. Reigning champions Arsenal were the visitors at Goodison and on the back of a 30 match unbeaten run. A hard fought 1-1 draw beckoned as the clock ticked onto the 90th minute. Then off the bench stepped up 16 year old Wayne Rooney. A spectacular 30 yard strike cannoning off the underside of the bar made Rooney the youngest goal scorer in Premier league history and ending the gunner’s fantastic run.
Two years later, Rooney’s performances caught the eye of Sir Alex Ferguson and after seeing off Newcastle in a bidding war for the young starlet, the Evertonian was to join Manchester United for £25.6 million pounds. Rooney marked his debut against Fenerbahce with a hat-trick in a 6-2 win against in the champion’s league. He went on to bag 11 goals in his opening season and received the PFA Young Player of the Year Award for 04/05. However Rooney’s aggressive nature also provided some of the more forgettable instances during his career. Sarcastically clapping the referee for booking him earned him a sending off coupled with another dismissal for an alleged elbow on now Real Madrid defender Pepe during the Amsterdam tournament of 2006. That same year many national newspapers blamed Rooney for England’s departure from the 2006 world cup, after stamping on Ricardo Carvalho in the quarter-final tie earning a red card from referee.
However it was the arrival of Christiano Ronaldo that somewhat overshadowed Rooney’s performances and although the Englishman was still a prized asset to United, it was Ronaldo that began to run the show. His 12 goals during the 07/08 season was by no means an underachievement but the 31 goals and string of world class performances by Ronaldo issued a new star of the Stretford End.
Ronaldo parted company with United, opting for Real Madrid as his preferred destination for the fee of £80 million. This sparked doubts in many critics’ columns as to who would fill a void of goals and assists that Ronaldo previously acclaimed. Many believed United would falter without the Portuguese superstar but there was no need for Alex Ferguson to spend some of the money made available on a striker. As the remedy was right under their noses, like a big ginger chunk of vapour rub, in Wayne Rooney. Rooney currently occupies a more central role at United in every sense of the word. Playing down the spine of the team, the United striker has evolved into one of the most accomplished, classy and gifted players to grace English football. His grit and determination to get the ball from the opposition has made him a fans favourite and coupled with his improved goal scoring record, Rooney has become the ultimate player.
England travel to South Africa this summer in their quest for World Cup Glory. Spearheading their attack is non-other than the new and improved Wayne Rooney. Undoubtedly a more mature, professional and prolific player that previously put on the three lions shirt in a major competition. If the form of this transformed and rejuvenated striker continues, England may just have a chance of doing the unthinkable. Rooney brings something to a team that no other player can. Not only has he immense talent, quality and skill but he has the bite, the determination and the grit that sets him apart. He can produce moments of quality but unlike his Bulgarian team mate Berbatov he will work tirelessly for the team. As an Englishman, I hope and pray that Wayne Rooney can transfer his performances for his club onto an international scale and fire England to world cup glory in South Africa this summer.
Ladies and Gentlemen I give you, Mr. Wayne Rooney.
Style over Substance?
Here is Dale’s latest article.
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The world of football has been blessed with immense talent in recent years, from the days of Zidane’s ingeniousness, Ronaldinho’s trickery and Messi’s balance and grace. Couple this with the likes of Christiano Ronaldo, Torres, Kaka, Gerrard, Iniesta, the list goes on! The La Liga and Premiership has emerged as the two titanic platforms in which the beautiful game has very much lived up to its name. However, a question remains. With all the flamboyant skill, talent and ability in the Spanish and English leagues, are fans starting to prefer style over substance? Arsenal and Barcelona are two prime examples. Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger, the new young maverick and the established wise Frenchman. Both have created, managed and developed teams whose style has been labelled as the purest form of football. Skills, technique, grace and elegance on a football pitch has produced a spectacle which very few can match. Those who have witnessed the Catalan giants in the amphitheatre of Camp Nou will have experienced something magical. Something which only the Gunners at the Emirates stadium can replicate and the rest of us envisage. Passages of play that result in turning to the equally astounded person next to you, usually your dad or mate, and laugh at how good it was.
Equally as impressive are Real Madrid and Manchester United who have won more domestic titles than their exuberant counterparts in Barcelona and Arsenal. Both Madrid and United play magnificent football at times but do not quite reach the fluidity and entertaining spectacle which you can get at Arsenal or Barcelona. That said, they win trophies. 31 of the past 50 La Liga titles has gone to the Galactico’s with Manchester United and Liverpool tied at the top of the domestic winners list in England on 18 each. Therefore in a metropolitan megacity such as London and Barcelona, is it simply sexier to play stylish football at the expense of silverware?
Football in England has become the quickest and most athletic, travelling at a pace which tests the eyesight of the crowd at times! Players 6 foot and taller are not a rare sight in the English Top Flight, testing the physical attributes of all those who dare to participate in the most unforgiving of leagues. Spain however have adopted a more technical style of play with pin point passing, fluid movement and lightening speed all properties of successful teams. The elegance, chic and sophistication of the Spanish League are admired worldwide with more of a Latino South American samba influence. Regardless of the country, winning the biggest domestic trophy is regarded by most as the major achievement. The champion’s league is and always has been a prestigious competition but the continuity and consistency that the domestic league demands pitches it above the European tournament format that the Champions League offers. Therefore, it is surely a question of entertainment over achievement. Does a typical señor crave to see his beloved Barcelona lift the La Liga title with a string of gritty and ugly victorious games or will he sacrifice the domestic silverware to see week after week the classy and majestic performances that are currently in full flow at Barcelona?
However here is where out romance between the pie and paella depart. England’s Premier League is much more physically demanding with hard hitting challenges and powerful athletes competing for possession of the ball. This has shown that having all the technique and skill is not enough to top the table in such an environment. Spain however, is more suited to the more cultivated and artistic player, meaning teams can be entertaining and successful. Barcelona has shown that the style in which they play does not have to be compromised in order to win domestic and European competitions. Arsenal on the other hand will have to re-evaluate their stance on style and substance? Are they content with having the label of the most beautiful footballing team in the country but not winning any silverware? Or will we see a change in Arsene Wenger’s approach to the physical 38 fixtures in the most athletic league in the world in order to see his team lift a domestic trophy for the first time since 2004?
Style over substance, a matter of countries, leagues and the product of a multi million pound entertainment business known as “The Beautiful Game”
Penny For Your Thoughts?
Here is this week’s Penny for your Thoughts article from akvbcfc.
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The Real Deal?
Ronaldo, Kaka and Albiol have all recently passed through the great revolving doors of Real Madrid, and following the lavish unveiling of Cristiano Ronaldo, all the critics are asking the same question – Have Madrid done enough?What we do know, is that the Galacticos are back. Florentino Perez has made that clear enough to anyone who will listen. However, has he learnt from his mistakes? It is ironic that time, something that cannot be bought or sold, resulted in the eventual failure of the club with endless amounts of funds.
During his previous reign, Perez brought the very best players in the world to the Bernabeu, regardless of price, or age. In his first 3 years in charge, Madrid won everything possible. However, Perez’s greatest failure lies in the fact that he let the team grow old together. He did not replace ageing stars due to their popularity within the country and abroad. He kept faith with the players who had delivered the fame and fortune that he craved.
Personally, I would say that Madrid have made a good start. However, it is only that. Look at last season, and you will see that Madrid’s attack was half decent, but their greatest weakness came in defence. Well, in their lack of a defence.
In the Madrid side, only Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Raul Albiol are world class defenders. However, Ramos spends half his time in the opposition penalty area, and Albiol has weaknesses that can be exposed by top class attackers. In short, Madrid don’t have a defence.
Manuel Pellegrini (or should that be Florentino Perez?) needs to go out and sign top defenders if Madrid are to survive a long gruelling season. Whilst Casillas is the best keeper in the world, one man does not make a team. The previous Galacticos side had an excellent defence built on the strength of Hierro, Roberto Carlos and Casillas.
If Madrid are to succeed, they need to have a team, not just 11 attackers.
It’s a decent start, but that’s it. It is only a start.
Too Busy?
So, Tuncay, Mido and Afonso Alves have all failed to report back to Middlesbrough for the start of pre-season. Word has it, that Tuncay was allowed extra time off to recuperate after playing for the national side. However, there appears to be absolutely no reason why Mido and Alves should not have been at training. The question on the lips of every Middlesbrough fan is obvious and appropriate – WHY?! Yes, the club got relegated, but who’s fault was that? Mido was always eating and Alves couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo even if he was given assistance.
These two clowns are at fault, just like any other Boro player. I am sure that they both stayed away believing that this would help their cause as they try to engineer moves to different clubs. If my suspicions are true, then I am truly appalled.
This is no way to behave. Disgraceful.
When Will They Learn?
Sheffield United keeper Paddy Kenny has been suspended by his club after he failed a drugs test. He faces a ban from the game after testing positive for the stimulant ephedrine after the play-off semi-final against Preston. Kenny says that ephedrine was present in a cough mixture that he bought over the counter, but why would he be so foolish?
With WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) pressurising different sports to sign up to its strict testing routines, Kenny has not aided the cause of his fellow professionals.
It is up to players to check exactly what is in the medicine that they are taking, otherwise there could be grave consequences.
It has been quite a slippery slope for Kenny, who was praised from all quarters for his performances for the Blades against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final a few years ago. Kenny may have made a mistake, and he will probably pay for it. It’s about time that footballers realised the consequences of their actions.
By akvbcfc
Please visit my website, for more of my views on the beautiful game.
Penny For Your Thoughts?
Here is akvbcfc’s latest article.
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The Merry-Go-Round Begins…
Kaka to Madrid. Done.
Ronaldo to Madrid. Done.
Those two monumental transfers seem to be only the tip of the iceberg as the influx of money into English and Italian football has set pulses racing. United have cash to spend. AC Milan, a team who never spend big, have money to spend. Then, of course, there are also teams such as Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Inter and Barcelona who have excess cash burning holes in the owners’ very large pockets. Oh, and there is the small matter of Real Madrid.
It seems that this summer will be the summer when we see transfer fees explode from top to bottom. The steady rise in fees paid for players has been absolutely obliterated during the close season after a couple of big, big money moves.
This has set the wheels in motion and an extraordinary process is set to unfold where Europe’s top clubs battle for the signatures of the very best that this world has to offer. Karim Benzema. David Villa. David Silva. Samuel Eto’o. Xabi Alonso. Didier Drogba.
Let the games begin.
It seemed that United had made the first move, when it was reported that they had agreed a £35 million transfer fee for the Frenchman. However, Real Madrid have trumped their English rivals (again), as they have agreed a £30 million fee for the striker.
With Benzema off the table, the scramble for players will intensify yet further, with fewer and fewer clubs looking to sell their top players. The likes of Manchester United and Barcelona will be desperately searching for new talent due to the transfers that have already taken place; United have lost (a lot) of ground on their rivals by selling Ronaldo to Madrid, and the return of The Galacticos Era to Madrid has put Barca at a disadvantage in the transfer market and on the field of play.
Exactly which players will be on the move is debatable, but what can be said for sure is that things are going to get interesting. Watch this space.
Beaten, but not Humiliated
Yes, the England Under-21 lost out to Germany in the Euro Under-21 Championship final on Monday. However, the side and their manager, should not be written off. Pearce has worked wonders with the side, turning them into a well-drilled, efficient and determined side. It is my honest opinion that losing this final will be the making of this side. If they had won, then the pressure of a nation would have shifted onto the new Golden Generation, thus making prospects of success at forthcoming tournaments seem as bleak as ever.
Team spirit will raise yet further by this latest setback, and the team will bounce back. Again. A new generation will come and fly the flag that has so elegantly soared in recent times. These were Pearce’s boys. These are our boys.
A Return to The Way It Was
The BBC will show 10 live Championship games during the 2009/2010 season, as football reverts back to the old ways of showing live football on free-to-air television. Personally, I think that it is an absolutely fantastic idea. Many football fans nowadays are blinkered by Premier League football and the coverage that it receives from media outlets across the world. For many fans, the Championship and the lower leagues are unimportant, and that view is one that should be changed as soon as possible.
Highlights of the lower leagues can be found on ITV at times that are inconvenient to the masses, so that doesn’t help. However, with the deal in place that the BBC shall show 10 live games during the season; this should enable a larger number of fans to gain access to one of the most exciting leagues in the world.
Summer Time Fun
Can you feel it? This is it. This is the time when fans implore their club to sign new talent, but at the end of the day, they don’t really care about us. This is the time of year when managers have tough decisions to make. They will wanna’ be starting somethin’, holding on to some players for dear life, and telling others to beat it. Don’t bet against Spurs coming back to Berbatov, desperately pleading I want you back.
The game has moved on, and signing a player is not as easy as ABC. With foreign players and agents approaching clubs all the time, you don’t know your Ben from your Billy Jean.
For years, United fans have praised Ronaldo for the way that he makes them feel, but his promises that he’d be there did not prove true has he has gone off to Madrid. Perez snuck up on English football and stole its brightest star like a smooth criminal. Ronaldo’s stay at United was a thriller…He rocked our world…But United fans will hope that the old adage that there ain’t no sunshine when he’s gone is false.
As he looks at the man in the mirror, Sir Alex will know that he has a job on his hands. He needs new blood. Be they black or white, young or old.
R.I.P. Michael Jackson – the King of Pop.
By akvbcfc Please visit my website for more of my views on the beautiful game.
Penny for your thoughts?
The latest from Akvbcfc.
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It’s The Debt Man…Run!
“There is only one (Premier League) club that is debt-free and that is Birmingham. Everyone else is carrying too much debt,” Dave Whelan, Wigan Chairman.
Astonishing. Simply astonishing.
For years, many have assumed this to be true, but this admission from Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has confirmed our worst fears. Many people say that our league is the richest league in the world. Clubs seem to be loaning more and more money to try and keep up with their rivals, and that cannot bode well for the future. Clubs are using short-term strategies to solve all their problems, believing that ‘it will all turn out alright’, but it’s about time that clubs realised that it won’t be alright.
Some clubs are in serious danger, and it’s not the kind of trouble that a loan or a refinancing deal can fix. Portsmouth have been saved, and they have been the recipient of what can only be seen as an Arabian miracle. Without the new investors, Portsmouth would be in a critical situation, and even if the new investors come to take over the club, Pompey could still be in trouble. Top stars on top wages will need to be moved on otherwise dark days lie ahead.
It’s not just Portsmouth. Liverpool are in financial difficulty. No matter what propaganda emerges from the Merseyside club, they are in trouble. Whilst I can assure you that the club will not enter administration, it is clear that George Gillett and Tom Hicks did not think clearly before investing in the club and there is a massive whole in the finances of the club.
Talking of not thinking before investing, what about our good old friends in the North-East. The Newcastle saga continues, with Mike Ashley willing to sell (but only for the right price), and with others unwilling to buy (at any price).
For once, Blues fans can be proud that their team are a shining light of inspiration to other clubs, due to the management style of the current Board. Many fans have slated the Board over the years for not spending, but their prudent style has worked wonders for the club. They took a club who looked dead and buried, and they took them to the Premier League…three times.
Foreign owners? Debt? Who needs ‘em?
Real finally seeing the real picture?
For the first time in what seems to be an eternity, common sense has returned to Madrid as director of sport Jorge Valdano has recognised the fact that Madrid might not be able to sign every single player on the planet.
After sweet-talking Manchester United into submission, Liverpool are the next target as Florentino Perez looks to Xabi Alonso. In typical Perez fashion, Madrid have sounded out the player before making a move. Don’t worry, they haven’t ‘tapped him up’. They haven’t broken he rules. They’ve just completed their business in an underhand and sneaky fashion. Madrid have gone through the papers to try and sound out the player, and their latest trick comes as no surprise. It’s what Madrid do. They put their interest out in the open and they wait for the player’s head to be turned.
Classy.
Technology In Use?
Has it happened? Did it happen? Who cares, at least it produced the right decision. In the Confederations Cup game between Egypt and Brazil, a tense game entered injury time with the sides locked in a 3-3 draw. Then, Brazil won a free kick. The ball was floated over, and then, in the blink of an eye, the ball was cleared off the line by Ahmed El Mohamady.
What a block. Fantastic. Webb points for a corner to Brazil, and EL Mohamady goes to ground holding his face. As Brazil players appeal for a penalty, Webb appears to be talking to one of his assistants through the electronic headset provided by FIFA.
Replays for those at home were conclusive. El Mohamady handled the ball. It was blatantly obvious. However, were the replays just for those at home? It is unknown as to whether the fourth official, who communicated with Webb, had seen the replay on a television before talking to the English official. Whatever happened, Webb awarded a penalty, sent off El Mohamady, and Kaka stepped up to score the 7th goal of an enthralling game that ended with Brazil the victors, by 5 goals to 4.
Honestly, I don’t care if replays were used in this situation. Egypt complained to FIFA after the game suggesting that the fourth official had seen the replay, but, who cares? Webb made the right decision eventually, and El Mohamady was rightly punished because he cheated. End of story.
It’s Time to Realise
It is the time that Birmingham City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley fans have been looking forward to for weeks, and it’s the time that Newcastle, Middelsbrough and West Brom fans will be dreading.
Wednesday 17th June, 10AM. The day that the fixtures for the new season are released, and it really hits home for fans that next season you will see the likes of Ronald…(nevermind)…Gerrard, Rooney and Lampard. Or, in the case of the relegated trio, next season you will see players that have never even heard of.
Love it.
By akvbcfc
Please visit my website, for more of my views on the beautiful game.
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