Munich: The Aftermath

Remarkable. Logic-defying. Emotional...there really aren't enough superlatives to truly capture the essence of Chelsea's conquest in Munich this past Saturday night. After a roller-coaster 9 months,just a fraction of what has been a 9 year pursual, the Blues finally lifted the most coveted prize in club football; the Champions League trophy. Quite how they managed it will be keenly debated for years to come. A glance here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18132980) will give you some insight as to just how impressive this victory was, yet there is only so much statistics can tell you in instances such as these. This was essentially the sort of game that sums up why football is the most cherished of all sporting past-times, the sort of game where anything can happen, where the chaos of months past is put to one side, and where sheer determination and unity triumphs over all else. But where do Chelsea go from here?

Several months ago, I described the Chelsea job as a poisoned chalice in the wake of the ruthless sacking of Andre Villas Boas, who was quickly cast aside by owner Roman Abramovich despite the significant cost of his acquisition from Porto. The young Portugese had fallen on his sword just a matter of months into what he had described as a three year plan for the club, in which he sought to establish them as a major force both domestically and in Europe. Having made the initial implementation of his master-lan a little too radical for most of the senior players liking, AVB was shown the door, following a long line of coaches (8 in total) who had failed to live up to the expectations of Abramovich. Roberto Di Matteo was ushered in, asked to oversee the final three months of a campaign that had unravelled almost as soon as it had begun. With Chelsea out of contention in both the Premier League title race and the League Cup, the unassuming Italian's mandate was merely to avoid similar catastrophe in the FA Cup and the Champions League. Indeed, there was little pressure on the new interim manager as nobody seemed to think he had any chance of being given the job on a permanent basis, an assumption that at the time was completely logical.

That has been the beauty of Chelsea's end to the season; logic has quite literally gone out of the window. Di Matteo was quick to unite the dressing room and subsequently galvanise the players efforts on the pitch. First came the astounding comeback against Napoli, a 4-1 victory at Stamford Bridge overturning the 3-1 deficit suffered in the first leg. Benfica were then swept aside with relative ease, setting up a semi-final tie with Barcelona, a game which many (myself included) expected to be a mere formality for the Catalonians. Instead, a combination of good fortune and an incredible defensive effort, not to mention potent counter-attacking play, saw Chelsea overcome the oft-labelled 'greatest team in the world' and reach their second Champions League final. By this point, Di Matteo had gone from rank outsider for the job to firm favourite. The FA Cup triumph over Liverpool only strenghtened the almost universal clamour for him to be offered the post permanently, and yet Abramovich relented, continuing his silence on the matter.

Amidst this frenetic end to the season, 34 year old Didier Drogba was enjoying the most stunning of on-field revivals. After enduring a sluggish start to the campaign, where he continually vied with the out-of-sorts Fernando Torres for a starting place, the Ivorian suddenly became Chelsea's key player once again, scoring key goals in the triumphs over Napoli and Barcelona. On Saturday, the striker came full circle by scoring his side's decisive equaliser against Bayern Munich, before cooly scoring the penalty that delivered the club their first ever Champions League trophy. Such accolades are impressive in any context, but the fact that Drogba has scaled such heights whilst his future remains so uncertain make his exploits all the more significant.

Indeed, it was quite fitting to see Di Matteo and Drogba embrace so eagerly at the scene of their collective and individual triumphs, both men having overcome the auspices of an uncertain summer to aid the club in this most unlikely of victories. Such endeavour and humility is a rare sight in football nowadays and one can only sense that the future of these two men represent a significant footnote in Chelsea's history. Will Abramovich reward them for delivering the trophy that he has sought for almost a decade? Or will he keep with tradition and coldly cast them aside, making way for new, more fashionable faces? One can only hope that in this instance, logic will prevail and the Russian will go with the former.

But there are other sub-plots to this most riveting of tales; for example, the future of Fernando Torres. The man who holds the title of most expensive British transfer ever was quick to go on record in voicing his displeasure at starting the final on the bench, whilst he also made the point that he needs reassurances from the clubs board regarding his future role in the team. Were it not for the £50 million fee paid to bring Torres to Chelsea, it is hard to see him being able to substantiate such claims. With just 11 goals to his name this season, the Spaniard did not cover himself in glory when called upon, despite his strong end to the campaign. At 28 years of age, however, he still has time to make a lasting contribution to the Blues future, whereas Drogba has perhaps a maximum of two to three years left to add to his already glistening Stamford Bridge CV. Is it possible to keep both men at the club? Can Torres step out of the shadow of his colleague? And will the presence of such considerable reputations hinder the progress of the younger strikers at the club, such as Romelu Lukaku and Daniel Sturridge?

Similar questions could be raised about the futures of Michael Essien, Paulo Ferreira, Florent Malouda and, to a lesser extent, John Terry and Frank Lampard. These players have contributed significantly to Chelsea's rise to the zenith of European football, but how long their contribution can continue is an issue that needs to be considered carefully by Abramovich. When the backbone of the current Chelsea team retire, what will be left? It would seem that it would be wise for Chelsea to look to this summer to begin a gradual rebuilding process that will protect the long-term future of the club, rather than continue to trade on both past and present glories. Whether Abramovich and his trusted team of delegates choose to apply such foresight remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain, though, and that is that Roberto Di Matteo indisputably deserves the opportunity to continue his sterling work of the past three months, regardless of the risk it provides to his legacy at the club. He has provedthat he can balance the egos of the dressing room with optimum skill and can also organise the team against the most accomplished of foes. After being discarded at West Bromwich Albion, it is clear that Di Matteo has taken stock of his mistakes and has grown significantly as a coach, developing a thick skin as a result (something which is more than necessary for any employee of Abramovich). The way in which he conducted himself in the wake of victory on Saturday was highly impressive, and I along with many others sincerely wish to see him rewarded for his accomplishments. Any other outcome will cast a serious shadow over Chelsea's glorious triumph.



What's All The Fuss About?

Since I started this blog, much has altered in the setup of the England national team. Fabio Capello departed the job despite his lush £6 million salary, prompting fevered speculation that Harry Redknapp would be asked to take the reins, a choice that would supposedly wet the appetite of the nation. We now know, of course, that England will not be led out at Euro 2012 and beyond by Redknapp, but instead by Roy Hodgson, a man that has undergone a remarkable revival in the past 16 months or so. After being discarded so ruthlessly by Liverpool, Hodgson underwent the task of steadily establishing West Bromwich Albion as a Premier League side, a job he did to considerable but not altogether rapturous appraisal. The parallels to the task awaiting Hodgson as coach of the Three Lions and the repair job he did at The Hawthorns, however, are more apparent than some may think.

Hodgson's mandate over the ensuing months will be to make England competitive on the international stage once again, certainly after the debacle that occurred in South Africa two years ago. Post Euro 2012, he will be asked to undergo a steady but significant overhaul of the structure of the national team, with a strong emphasis based on the development of young talent, with the great hope being that by the 2014 World Cup the makeup the squad will be considerably different to that of previous tournaments. As admirable a policy as this is (and it is one that I fully endorse) it has also ensured that Hodgson is to undergo an unnecessarily difficult start to his tenure. For evidence of this, look no further than the reaction to the announcement of his first squad yesterday.

Whilst some sections of the press have reacted favourably to Hodgson's choice of players, there is an undercurrent of dissent from the media and public alike. Take, for example, the comments of former England manager Terry Venables, who has suggested that the squad for Euro 2012 looks 'naked' in the absence of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand. Or simply view some of the more general responses on Facebook or Twitter yesterday, where many people have voiced concern at a seeming lack of quality within the 23 man pool that is to represent the country in Poland and Ukraine. This is obviously part of the territory for any England manager, but it certainly illuminates the size of the task awaiting the new man next month, where he will be expected to guide England to the quarter finals at the very least.

But is Hodgson's squad really deserving of criticism?

Stewart Downing aside, the squad is pretty much the same as had been fore-casted prior to yesterday's confirmation. Statistics (4 assists in his last 5 for England) would also argue that the inclusion of the maligned Liverpool winger is not as illogical as his club form may suggest. Many of those chosen have been involved heavily in England's qualification campaign for Euro 2012, a hint that Hodgson is set to persevere with the 4-3-2-1 system that Capello deployed to considerable success in many of the post-World Cup fixtures. This strikes me as being a wise tactic to employ, as it enables the players to continue to perform in a system that they have become suited to over the past 2 years. Gareth Barry and Scott Parker have become very efficient at shielding the back four, and the tendency of the new manager to deploy wingers with a knack of cutting in will be of great benefit to the likes of Ashley Young and rookie Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Wayne Rooney will also be able to slot in comfortably after he has served his two-game suspension, with Andy Carroll or Danny Welbeck a capable foil for the Manchester United star to play off.

The much debated exile of Ferdinand at first seemed like a major surprise, but when you consider his international input pre and post South Africa you can begin to understand better the logic deployed by Hodgson. Ferdinand has played just once since the World Cup, a tournament which he missed entirely due to injury. Though he has recovered admirably from a poor start to the season with Manchester United, it is an indisputable truth that Ferdinand is now a fitness liability, and with that in mind it is hard to argue against his omission. The inclusion of the controversial John Terry is admittedly a big call, especially considering the moral implications it harbours after the early season race row between the Chelsea captain and Anton Ferdinand. However, Hodgson will feel that the ex-England captain is a sufficient influence in the dressing room and will have been encouraged by early signs of promise in his partnership with club team-mate Gary Cahill.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's selection is a bold and imaginative one, and the Arsenal midfielder will no doubt inspire much optimisim amongst supporters. He is a rare talent, the sort that can lift you off your seat with a mere touch of the ball, and many defences will be ill-suited to his style of play, meaning he has all the attributes of that most rare type of England player; a wild card. John Ruddy's involvement is admittedly more of a formality but a demonstration that Hodgson is not afraid to reward lesser known quantities if they are capable of showing consistency at the highest level. Some might argue this claim, especially considering the overlooking of Ruddy's team-mate Grant Holt, but it would have been a major gamble to take a forward that has spent just one season in the Premier League, regardless of how well he has performed. Andy Carroll, in my opinion, is a much more sensible option as he has already proved, though fleetingly, that he is capable of unsettling any defence, such is the raw nature of his talent.

Indeed, the England squad is not a spectacular one, but that is merely indicative of the pool of talent that Hodgson has had to cast his eye over. It is worth noting that the new man has also been deprived of the likes of Ben Foster, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes, who have opted to withdraw their services to their nation for a myriad of reasons. Rather, we will head into this summer's competition with a group of players that are familiar with one another and are capable of, at the very least, qualifying from their group. Hodgson will in the coming weeks attempt to organise his starting eleven to ensure they are, like much of his club sides, difficult to break down, a necessary measure given the nature of our performances in the World Cup.

So whilst some may be up in arms about Roy's choice of player, the reality is that he has picked what is available to him and has had the foresight not to attempt to break up a group of players that have, at the very least, managed to avoid the disaster of 2008, when we failed to qualify for the European Championship. The squad selected should be cause for cautious optimism, but even if success does not come our way (and by success, I mean a quarter or semi final birth) then it is likely that Hodgson will begin the desired revamp of his team when business is concluded this summer. Only then will we be able to truly judge the latest inheritant of the most difficult job in football... 



Season Review

There is no doubt that the 2011/2012 Premier League season will be remembered as one of the most entertaining, as well as one of the most unpredictable. Never before has England's top flight been contested in such an open and inconsistent manner, and though we might bemoan the drop in the quality of the defending on display, we can only marvel at the giddy heights attacking play has reached. Naturally, the tendency of each set of fans to either laud or rue such offensive proficiency varies according to each clubs league position, with some acting as the exhibitors of such play and others finding themselves on the receiving end of it. Thus, we come to the purpose of this blog...to cast an eye over all 20 Premier League clubs, to review their season and see what the 2012/2013 campaign may have in stall for them...

Another year, another trophy-less campaign for Arsenal. But should we be surprised? The club allowed its two prized assets to depart the club last summer, seemingly in the name of financial prudence. I have taken to this blog before to applaud the work of the Arsenal board in their attempts to keep the club financially solvent, despite the apparent need to provide radical investment in the first team, the quality of which is well below par when compared to past Gunners sides. It would seem, at least according to recent financial figures, that this summer may be the time for such an investment, with the club's house seemingly in order. They have shown signs this year that they could potentially challenge the Manchester clubs, though these have admittedly being all but too fleeting. If they can persuade the indispensable Robin Van Persie to renew his contract, as well as add one or two new recruitments (preferably in defence and midfield), then I really do think Arsene Wenger may be able to deliver a trophy to the club after seven years of waiting. If they fail to do this, however, then I really do fear for their future as Champions League regulars.

What a wretched ordeal this campaign has been for Aston Villa fans. The club has just embarked on its worst season for some time, and manager Alex McLeish has subsequently paid the price, the Scotsman being dismissed yesterday after just 11 months at the helm. Supporters of the club greeted the news with rapturous appraisal, and you can see why...McLeish oversaw just 7 league wins all season, 4 of which were at Villa Park, as well as a mammoth 16 draws. However, to blame the former Birmingham City manager solely for Villa's shortcomings this season would be naive to say the least. Villa have been on a downward spiral ever since Martin O'Neill was allowed to leave the club on the eve of the 2010/2011 campaign. Investment has halted (Darren Bent's £18 million transfer aside) and stability has receded, with two managers falling on their sword in the space of just two years. So to say that the next appointment is crucial is an understatement...it will possibly determine the long-term future of the club as a whole. Deliver a capable coach with long-term ambitions for the club and Randy Lerner is back on course, fail to do so and Villa could find themselves spiralling down to the Championship next season.

If this season was painful for Villa fans, then one can only imagine the agony Blackburn Rovers supporters find themselves in at the moment. Their club has seemingly descended into disarray over the past 18 months, namely the time elapsing since the purchase of the club by Venky's. The arrival of these poultry experts has resulted in the undoing of everything that was once good at Blackburn, most significantly their Premier League status. The appointment of Steve Kean now appears more absurd than ever, though credit should be given to him for contending with such vitriolic opposition to his appointment in the manner in which he has. However, Kean's dignity in the face of adversity does not mask the fact that he has been exposed as a woefully inept manager, a truth which was exposed by Rover's late season capitulation after they had seemingly hauled themselves away from trouble. With the finances of the club supposedly bleak, and with a likely player exodus on the horizon, an immediate return to the top flight looks increasingly unlikely. Especially if Venky's and Kean are allowed to stick around.

Bolton Wanderer's relegation is one of the more perplexing ones in recent times. Last season, they looked a technically efficient and vibrant side and, despite a late dip in form, they finished the season in a safe position. Whether the psychological effects of their 5-0 FA Cup mauling at the hands of Stoke were ever shaken off is debatable, but it would seem to me that they have been hampered this season more so by the loss of key players to horrific injuries. They have not managed to get influential midfielder Stuart Holden on the pitch all year, and winger Chung-Yong Lee only managed to return in the final throes of the campaign. Take into account also the shocking loss of Fabrice Muamba, whose services they were deprived of in the most unfathomable of circumstances, and you can see why Bolton found themselves entrenched in a dogfight all year. However, such misfortune cannot be allowed to mask the reality that they finished the season with the second worst goal difference in the league, shipping an almighty 77 goals. Owen Coyle is a capable enough manager to orchestrate a fightback next season, but their is a real need for Bolton to return to the top flight at the first time of asking, such is the gravity of their current financial situation.

Surely, this is the most bizarre Chelsea season in recent years, if not ever? They began the season full of optimism following the ambitious appointment of 33 year old Andre Villas Boas, and yet they end the season relying on an unlikely Champions League triumph to ensure themselves of a place in next season's premier European competition. Failure to achieve this will leave Chelsea and their owner Roman Abramovich in an unfamiliar position, one in which their endless supplies of cash won't be as decisive as they have been so often in the past. Villas Boas must be saddled with much of the blame for Chelsea's disastrous league campaign; the former Porto manager was too quick to ostracise key men in an attempt to stamp his authority, and perhaps his image, on the club. Roberto Di Matteo has performed admirably in his role as interim manager, returning balance to a Chelsea dressing room that is notorious for the amount of egos it contains. Having overseen an FA Cup triumph and on the cusp of delivering the one trophy that Abramovich has sought since his purchase of the club, it's fair to say that the former West Bromwich Albion chief deserves an opportunity to continue in the job full-time. Defeat to Bayern Munich, however, will ensure that he has the toughest possible start to next season.

David Moyes continues to ensure Everton roll with the punches in the Premier League, guiding them to a thoroughly impressive 7th placed finish, and a first finish above Liverpool since the 2004/2005 campaign. The January acquisitions of Steven Piennar and Nikica Jelavic proved to be invaluable, the latter finishing remarkably as the club's top goalscorer and the former adding creativity to a midfield that up until the turn of the year looked more than a little rusty. The contributions of key men such as Phil Jagielka, Johnny Heitinga, Marouane Fellaini etc once again were decisive in the Toffee's strong end to the campaign, and much optimism can be carried into the 2012/2013 campaign. Harry Redknapp's failure to land the England job will also dispel rumours of Moyes's departure for at least another year, and the Blues supporters can only hope that chairman Bill Kenwright, subject of unwarranted abuse this year, can find a suitable buyer for the club in that time. Inability to do so will mean continued short-termism for the club and ongoing speculation about its key players, both on and off the field.

A highly impressive debut season for new manager Martin Jol saw Fulham ensure a second consecutive top half finish, though supporters will perhaps be more satisfied with the football on display this term than they were with Mark Hughes's offering in the previous campaign. Clint Dempsey, in particular, has enjoyed a highly impressive campaign, finishing the season with a remarkable 23 goals, a statistic which is sure to make him the subject of much transfer speculation this summer. However, Jol will feel confident that unless an offer from a significant European force is forthcoming that he can keep hold of his key assets and build for next season, when qualification for the Europa League is likely to be the ambition. Having unearthed a number of young prospects this term as well as raising the game of some of the senior players at the club, Jol can feel very satisfied with his work this season and indeed the prospects for next.

One can only scratch their head at the nature of Liverpool's season. They began the term as potential Champions League candidates, only to be brutally exposed as being some way off being suitable to line up alongside the best Europe has to offer. Subsequently, they have ended the season in the most disorderly of fashions; an FA Cup final defeat, a poor league finish (not least below their neighbours Everton) and with several key executive figures being relinquished of their duties. The shuffle in the boardroom seems to suggest that FSG are far from content with what they have seen on the field this year, and some would say after an investment of well over £100 million last summer that they have every right to be. But this is ignoring the fact that Liverpool are becoming an increasingly difficult club to judge. There seems to be no clear strategy in place, something which is evidenced by their bizarre acquisitions in the transfer market since Kenny Dalglish was restored to the position of manager. Alongside the now departed Damian Comolli, Dalglish put together a squad that can only be described as being thoroughly average, with only Luis Suarez really justifying his lavish price-tag (and let's not forget the controversy Suarez brought upon the club earlier in the season). The season concluded with question marks hanging over the head of Liverpool's manager, but relieving him of his duties is unlikely to solve all the club's problems. They are no longer a consistent European competitor, and so their appeal to prospective managers has been significantly diminished. It would seem more prudent to allow Dalglish to attempt to restore the club to a top four finish and then identify a long-term successor, though there is no guarantee that King Kenny is up to that task. Whatever happens, I anticipate another season of uncertainty at Anfield next term.

Much of the aforementioned unpredictability of this season was down to the topsy-turvy nature of Manchester City's title triumph. Having started the season in startling fashion, they appeared to self-implode and hand the initiative to their old rivals across the road, allowing United to amass a seemingly insurmountable 8 point lead. Yet they still managed to claw back the deficit, capturing the title on the final day in the most memorable of circumstances. Only a staunch United loyalist would dispute that City were deserving of their first title victory in 44 years, especially considering that they thoroughly outplayed the Red Devils on three occasions this season, two of which resulted in a first league double in some time. It would seem now that the sky is the limit for City, with many anticipating a period of domination for the blue half of Manchester, though I see this as being slightly wide of the mark. City still remain under pressure to organise their finances, considering the impending implementation of UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations, something which could jeopardise the club's ambitions in the Champions League. However, the current City board seem fully aware of this and you would presume that measures will be taken over the next two seasons to trim the wage bill, with some of the excess of Mark Hughes tenure at the club being allowed to move to pastures new. Indeed, City are probably only two or three players short of being major contenders in Europe, and unless significant measures are taken by their ousted rivals then it would seem that next season's league title is their for the taking. Nonetheless, I sincerely hope that City's recent success does not usher in an era of reckless excess.

After their first season without a trophy in 7 years, Manchester United's immediate prospects do not look entirely appealing. Though they remain one of the most recognisable brands in the world, it has been well documented that the Glazer's tenure at the club has saddled them with a debt that is going to prove hard to shake, and has subsequently hindered development on the field. Though Sir Alex Ferguson has been able to strengthen his squad consistently, this season has shown that such improvements have been marginal. United remain dependent on their senior pro's, particularly in the most decisive points of a league campaign. Youngsters like Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Javier Hernandez and so forth have shown flashes of real potential, but have not produced consistently enough to deliver the title to Old Trafford. This summer may well be the most decisive for United in a long time, such is the need to reinvigorate the squad, particularly in midfield. This is not to say that the Red Devils are not capable of challenging next season, because any Sir Alex Ferguson team is capable of a title challenge, even against foes as formidable as City. Let's not forge that United took this year's title chase down to the last day, something which many would not have thought possible at the beginning of the campaign. However, if United wish to restore themselves to the zenith of the Premier League and also if they wish to re-establish themselves in the upper echelons of the Champions League, they are going to have to rely on their controversial owners to back their man when the transfer market opens once again.

Newcastle United continue to be the most unpredictable club in the Premier League, having rubbished pre-season predictions of a year-long struggle by finishing four points shy of a (potential) Champions League place. This has been largely down to the colossal effort of their players, the finest to wear the club's colours for some time, and the work of their initially unfavoured manager Alan Pardew. Indeed, Pardew's triumph has been one of the more rewarding stories of the season, such was the opposition to his appointment in December 2010. Since then he has gone about his job quietly and diligently and, with the help of chief scout Graham Carr, has assembled a very efficient squad that has this year punched above its weight in a manner befitting of the most unfancied of underdogs. Credit must also go to Mike Ashley, who after years of mismanagement seems to have found the knack of what it takes to be a successful Premier League chairman, applying a smart business strategy to ensure that the recklessness of previous seasons has been undone. When the likes of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton were sold this summer, eyebrows were raised. But none would question the wisdom shown by Ashley, Pardew and co now that players of Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote's ilk are pulling the strings in midfield. With a fine goalkeeper in Tim Krul as well as the menacing strike-force of Demba Ba and the magnificent Papiss Cisse, one can only envisage further success for the Magpies next term. That is, if they manage to keep the squad together...

It would be disparaging to Norwich City's efforts this season to fill this review with speculation about the future of their manager Paul Lambert, but the subject is undeniably crucial to the club's future prospects as a Premier League club. Lambert has continued the sterling work which saw the Canaries enjoy two consecutive promotions this year by keeping them in the top flight comfortably, playing a brand of football that is easy on the eye and highly productive all the while. The squad is probably one of the fittest in the league (a crucial factor to their success) and was assembled on a tight budget, all of which means it is inevitable that Lambert will be linked with a move elsewhere this summer, particularly now the Aston Villa job is vacant. If the former Celtic captain rejects any overtures from elsewhere, then Norwich can head into next season feeling relatively confident of another comfortable campaign. If the opposite occurs, and Norwich head into the summer in search of a new manager, then you have to fear for their future as a Premier League club.

QPR ensured Premier League survival in a manner that was perhaps befitting of the club's recent history: thoroughly dramatic. Anybody who managed to see the fly-on-the-wall documentary 'The Four Year Plan' will know that the club has travelled the most bizarre route to to the top flight possible, and this season proved to be no time to break the habit. Tony Fernandes's late arrival as owner saw a flurry of spending towards the end of the transfer window, and when results failed to match the investment Neil Warnock was ruthlessly dispensed with. Mark Hughes arrived, presumably with the mandate to comfortably guide the club away from the drop zone, with the aid of a considerable transfer war chest in the January window. What ensued was quite the opposite. A number of high profile players arrived, but they did not gel quickly enough to ensure a comfortable second half to the season. Rather, the R's had to rely on Stoke City to ensure another season of football at the highest level. What awaits Hughes now is a key summer in which he must, along with new chief executive Mike Brigg, address the state of the Rangers squad, which is almost 40 people strong. Vital decisions must be made on the future of Joey Barton, who has consistently dragged the club into disrepute this year, and the identity of back four when the new season gets underway, so ill-equipped have the current crop been this campaign. Thankfully, Hughes has a well-earned reputation for being a tough task-master and for organising football sides, so the 2012/13 campaign should be a slightly less stressful one for fans of the club. But don't bet on it...

Stoke ended the season in worrying fashion, registering only one win in their last 10 fixtures. However, it is easy to forget that they have navigated more fixtures this term than many other Premier League clubs, due to their involvement in the Europa League and their decent run in the FA Cup. Whilst Tony Pulis's squad would be expected to deal with such an effort, considering its size, it is still difficult to judge the physical implications such a run of games can have on a player, and it is perhaps understandable that the Potters faded in the final throes of their league campaign. Having said this, it is still commendable that Pulis has engineered another campaign that has seen his side finish 9 points clear of the drop zone. Once again, the Welshman showed a shrewd nature in the transfer market, the acquisition of Peter Crouch in particular proving an excellent bit of business. But I do feel as if this season could be a significant side for Stoke; their goal difference was uncharacteristically poor this term (-17), and they scored the lowest amount of goals in the division. This would suggest that the club's fringe players either need to be moved on or raise their game, and with the team now out of Europe it may prove difficult to attract adequate replacements. Perhaps next year could be the year that Pulis finds himself in a relegation battle...only a brave man would bank on it though.

Sunderland fans must be counting their blessings, because were it not for the decision to replace the hapless Steve Bruce with Martin O'Neill in December, their club would probably be contemplating life in the Championship now. Whilst their is undoubted talent in the current squad, it was consistently undermined prior to O'Neill's arrival by a series of poor performances, usually at the hands of average players and poor tactics. However, after navigating them away from trouble, O'Neill will now feel he can look forward to next season with a degree of optimism, though the size of the task at hand should not be taken  for granted. The current Black Cats team is in need of a revamp, and this can only be achieved via further financial investment from chairman Ellis Short, who has already dug deep since his arrival at the club. If such a financial injection is forthcoming, then Sunderland have every chance of establishing themselves in the top half next season. If the chairman keeps his hands out of his pocket, however, then the club will have to rely on O'Neill to continue to work his magic and keep their heads above water.

Lauded by many a pundit for their expansive style this season, Swansea, like Norwich, deserve much credit for the way they approached their debut Premier League campaign. Brendan Rodgers is an admirable coach who has looked to Europe, namely Spain, so as to devise a fresh means of tackling the 'big boys', a plan that has paid off handsomely, with the Swans finishing 11 points clear of the drop zone. Such was the ease with which they avoided relegation, many of the club's supporters attended the final home game against Liverpool in Elvis outfits after one 'expert' had suggested at the beginning of the season that there was more chance of Elvis being alive than Rodger's sides beating the drop. Michel Vorm, Ashley Williams, Danny Graham, Scott Sinclair and pretty much the entire midfield have looked at home amongst the glitz and glamour of the Premier League, and most will expect them to continue to cope with the demands of top flight football next season. However, much depends on their ability to keep their key players, as well as the answer to the question regarding where loan star Gylfi Sigurrdson's future lies. Let's not forget also the importance of keeping Rodgers, who is sure to have his suitors amongst many a Premier League chairman. Swansea are, however, a progressive football club and have coped with change in the past, so should be able to continue their good work next season.

Tottenham Hotspur initially evaded my attention when first putting this post together, which is perhaps fitting given the way their season petered out after such a promising start. There is no denying that Harry Redknapp has assembled a highly talented team at White Hart Lane, and this was clear for all to see as they threatened to break the duopoly of the Manchester clubs in race to become Premier League champions. However, off-the-field issues and the loss of form of one or two key players (not to mention a spate of unfortunate injuries) coincided with a slide down the table for 'Arry's men, meaning the climax of their season involved a race to merely obtain fourth place. This would suggest that Spurs are in need of investement this summer, especially considering they are unlikely to acquire the full-time services of influential spearhead Emmanuel Adebayor. However, speculation is rife that chairman Daniel Levy is not all together enamoured with the current incumbent of the manager's job, which could possibly lead to a difficult 2012-2013. I for one, hope that I am wrong as Spurs are a fine club and their presence in the top five has been nothing more than refreshing over the past 3 seasons.



Jeremy Peace, West Bromwich Albion's chairman, deserves much credit for the Baggie's ascension to the Premier League. After years of being patronised by the 'yo-yo club' tag, they have stabilised themselves in the top division and the future looks rosy, despite the departure of Roy Hodgson to the England manager's job. Hodgson has done a remarkable, understated job in organising what was previously a very gung-ho Albion team, evidenced by their decent goal difference this term (-7). He has got the best out of players such as Jonas Olsson and Youssuf Mulumbu, who are not perhaps blessed with bags of natural ability yet have found a level of consistency that has seen them become key players for their club. It will be interesting to see who Albion move for in the wake of Hodgson's departure, but the decision is unlikely to risk any of , the sound, long-term planning that Peace and technical director Dan Ashworth had been putting in place long before the club's return to the Premier League. Indeed, the new incumbent to the Albion hot seat is likely to be a coach capable of continuing to build on the foundations lad down by not just Hodgson, but Roberto Di Matteo and Tony Mowbray before him. Considering the club's financial stability and comfortable final placing (10th), the job is likely to attract many suitors, and that in itself is evidence of the excellent work being done behind the scenes at this club.

Some of you will recall a previous blog post of mine written in response to Wigan's 'shock' win over Arsenal at the Emirates, achieved in the midst of an impressive revival that saw them claw away from relegation trouble. The general gist of my argument was that the media portray Wigan, and clubs of a similar stature, in a very patronising way i.e. as the constant underdog whose ability to survive in the Premier League is a mystery to us all. Hopefully, the exploits of Roberto Martinez's team this year will have exposed this view as a fallacy. Wigan survive as a result of astute management by the impressive Martinez and the commitment of their chairman Dave Whelan, the former of which has built a relatively young, vibrant team that is probably the best to grace the DW Stadium in some time. The attacking talent of Victor Moses has been a joy to watch throughout the season, and players such as Franco Di Santo have shown real potential, particularly in the final embers of the season. If Martinez continues to demonstrate the loyalty he did last summer, when he rejected Aston Villa's advances, then Wigan have a real chance of shedding their tag of relegation favourites. Poor match-day revenue may continue to cripple their ambition, though survival alone will continue to be regarded as an achievement of the highest order, though hopefully for the right reasons from now on.

Earlier I spoke of Aston Villa's struggles this season but perhaps the one saving grace for fans of the Villains is that they are not supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have endured one of the most miserable seasons in the club's history. Everything that could have went wrong for Wolves this season did exactly that and they have duly finished bottom of the Premier League, a miserable 12 points from safety. Their league position owes much to their astounding ability to ship 82 goals in the Premier League, which makes their defence arguably one of the most inefficient in the country, let alone the top flight. But whilst the team's rearguard has much to answer for on-the-field, mismanagement off the field also played a big part in the demise of the old gold and black this year. Mick McCarthy's decision to hand the captaincy to Roger Johnson at the expense of lifelong Wolves fan Karl Henry caused clear divisions in the dressing room and undermined McCarthy's position. The hesitation of the board to dispense with their manager was also fatal; rather than make a change earlier in the campaign when things could have been turned around by a fresh face, they opted to wait until after the humiliating 1-5 home defeat by West Brom, by which time players and supporters knew it was a matter of time before the former Republic of Ireland manager was dismissed. The decision to sack McCarthy was undoubtedly harsh, considering his stellar work in returning the club to the top flight, but it was clearly a necessary measure too; Wolves had become all to predictable and many players had been exposed as being woefully ill-equipped for top flight football. Terry Connor was given the miserable task of overseeing the inevitable, but was thankfully spared any riposte from the supporters, who instead turned their bile towards chairman Steve Morgan and Jez Moxey. Both men will hope that new boss Stale Solbakken is able to re-invigorate the club this summer and return them to the Premier League at the firs time of asking, a task that should not be beyond the Norwegian, given the club's strong financial position.

AND FINALLY...

A quick run through my awards for the season...

MANAGER OF THE SEASON: 1. Alan Pardew 2. Roberto Mancini 3. Roberto Martinez

PLAYER OF THE SEASON: 1. Robin Van Persie 2. Vincent Kompany 3. Wayne Rooney

SIGNING OF THE SEASON: 1. Sergio Aguero 2. Yohan Cabaye 3. Mikel Arteta

WORST SIGNING OF THE SEASON: 1. Joey Barton 2. Roger Johnson 3. Jordan Henderson

GAME OF THE SEASON: 1. Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6

GOAL OF THE SEASON. 1. Robin Van Persie v Everton 2. Papiss Cisse v Chelsea 3. Hatem Ben Arfa v Bolton

TEAM OF THE SEASON: Joe Hart; Kyle Walker, Fabricio Colloccini, Vincent Kompany, Leighton Baines; Antonio Valencia, Yohan Cabaye, Yaya Toure, Juan Mata; Wayne Rooney Sergio Aguero

(Feel free to disagree...; ) 

The (Alternative) Team of the Year

So, it's that time of the year again, when the legions of football experts compile their team of the season and the rest of us all complain and disagree. Whilst I'm sure there's plenty of debate to be had about the merits of this year's PFA Team of the Season, there's little point in me adding to the grumbles of discontent. Rather, I've decided to tip my hat to the unsung heroes of this Premier League campaign, the type of player who slips under the radar despite their overall consistency. Here goes...

Ali-Al Habsi, David De Gea, Shay Given, Tim Krul, John Ruddy...there are plenty of goalkeepers currently plying their trade in the Premier League who produce consistently for their club without getting the recognition they deserve, but none more so than Wayne Hennessey. The 25-year old has had to contend with the 'protection' of one of the worst back fours in the country and has yet managed to endure an overall good seasons. He's had plenty of saves to make (Wolves are the most attacked club in the Premier League) and despite being involved in many a heavy defeat, very few Wolves supporters would lay any of the blame at the Welshmen's feet. Cruelly sidelined with a knee injury for the next 6 months, it looks as if Hennessey will have to work his way back up to the top flight with Wolves as he'd have surely attracted suiters this summer had he managed to stay fit.

Kyle Walker has received almost universal praise for his displays at right back this season, and rightly so, but he's not the only young English player deserving of praise for his efforts this season. Danny Simpson has become a mainstay of a remarkably successful Newcastle United team, starting all of their Premier League fixtures this term. After being discared (perhaps rather rashly) by Manchester United, he has proved himself to be a more than competent top-flight defender, and were it not for the performances of Walker and Micah Richards this season, as well as the continued popularity of Glen Johnson amongst England coaches, he'd surely be in contention for Euro 2012.



  

Some would argue that the inclusion of Jonny Evans in an alternative Team of the Season is contradictory, given the praise he has received for his performances in the latter half of the season. But I imagine that many who read this post will still chuckle at the inclusion of a player who is still derided by many. When Manchester United crushed Wolves 5-0 at Molineux (a game I attended) many casual or opposing fans reacted with incredulity at the fact that Evans managed to score past us, it being deemed hilarious that a player deemed so bad after his poor start to the campaign managed to bag a goal against us. But this is an incredibly short-sighted view...Evans is maturing into a calm, composed and deceptively strong defender who could yet become a permanent fixture in United's back four, considering that the legs of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are continuing to creak.

Most would agree that Ashley Williams has enjoyed a fine debut campaign in the Premier League, yet he has garnered little praise from the press. The 27 year old Welshman has played in all but one of Swansea's Premier League fixtures this season, a campaign in which they have impressed particularly at home, where they have conceded only 14 goals (the joint second best in the division). Having caught the Swans several times on the box, it became apparent to me that Williams sees an awful lot of the ball, such is his team's tendency to recycle possession around the park. This means he is often a key component when starting attacking moves, making him a key player at both ends of the field. If he could add more goals to his repertoire (only 2 this term) then he would arguably be a much more coveted player. Still, there's no doubt that Williams is a class act.

John Arne Riise has always struck me as being a 'fashionable' player, by which I mean people seem to rate him without actually having any idea of whether he's any good or not. I've always presumed this is because he possesses that most fashionable of skills...a decent shot. However, since he returned to the Premier League with Fulham he has shown himself to be a more than competent defender, starting all but 3 of their league fixtures, whilst also providing 3 assists. He appears to have bedded in well to a Fulham side that has in my opinion become more expansive under the tutelage of Martin Jol, evidenced by the fact they have scored a considerable 34 goals at home. Riise's unpredictable play down the left, where he can both overlap and shoot effectively, has played a big part in this change of style.

The choice of a player who has 22 caps for England may throw many of you, but hear me out. Walcott is an under-valued player...if I can refer to another anecdote from a recent experience at Molineux, then you might understand my point a little more clearly. During Arsenal's (relatively) routine 0-3 defeat of Wolves, the home support constantly abused Walcott, suggesting that if he was good enough to play for his country, then so were they. I found myself baffled by this; firstly, because Walcott is an England international, and I have never understood the logic of abusing a player that has been asked to represent your country. Secondly, I have always rated Walcott...he is a modern, dynamic winger who is more often than not a real handful for defenders. What he lacks in his decision-making, he often makes up for in goals or assists, evidenced by his tally of 8 goals and 8 assists this season. Indeed, when presented with his PFA Player of the Year award, Robin Van Persie thanked the efforts of his team mates, particularly Walcott, for creating so many goal-scoring chances for him. If he's good enough for a guy that's scored 27 goals this season, he's good enough for me.

Admittedly, the choice of Marouane Fellaini is not purely down to this season's performances alone, but that doesn't detract from the fact that the Belgian midfielder deserves more recognition than he receives. Since Everton signed him for £15 million, an eyebrow-raising fee at the time, he has become a key component of their midfield. This season he has only managed to make 27 league appearances, but played in all 6 of their FA Cup games, a competition in which they reached the semi-finals. Were it not for the doubts about his overall fitness, I think he would attract far more interest from clubs around Europe. Indeed, I have often thought him to be the type of midfield enforcer that Manchester United have missed since the retirement of Roy Keane and the sad decline of Darren Fletcher. Nonetheless, his goal at Old Trafford on Sunday showed how key a player he is for the Toffees, as it inspired a comeback from two goals down, demonstrating that this is a player that deserves more recognition than he receives.

When compiling this team, I told myself that I would try not to include more than one player from the same club. However, the cases of Alex Song and Theo Walcott are ones I believe to be similiar in that they are both criminally under-valued. Song has taken time to establish himself in Arsenal's midfield, gathering interest for his hairstyles more than he has his football. However, over the past couple of seasons there is no doubt that he has become one of the most improved players in the league, so much so that I believe him to be deserving of a place on the Player of the Year shortlist. This season alone has provided 9 assists, and has been involved in all but four of Arsenal's league fixtures. His range of passing is very impressive, evidenced by the gorgeous lobs he layed on for Robin Van Persie when the Dutchman scored remarkable volleys against Everton and Blackburn. His physical stature also means that he is more than capable of dominating most midfield duels, something which he has done frequently this year. Were Arsenal to further invest in the centre of the field, they would surely be capable of challenging for greater honours than they have over the past few seasons. Regardless, there is no doubt that Song has now established himself as being, along with Van Persie and Vermaelen, one of their most important players.

It is almost astounding (but sadly not surprising) that the PFA managed to conspire to ignore both Victor Moses and Scott Sinclair when compiling their Young Player of the Year shortlist. The inclusion of Sergio Aguero and Gareth Bale, both established players, suggests that whoever was responsible for the selection of the final six had very little idea about the level of young talent currently plying their trade in this country. Indeed, the choice between Sinclair (scorer of 8 goals this year) and Moses (scorer of 4) was a difficult one. The decision to plump for the Wigan starlet was based on age (he is, at 21, two years younger than Sinclair) and the fact that his employers are mired in a relegation dog-fight, which means that his recent performance,  and indeed those from now until the end of the season, are of paramount importance. Moses is a thoroughly exciting talent, a player that is capable of creating something out of nothing due to his combination of power and pace. He is also something of an entertainer, his drag-back past Bacary Sagna in Wigan's 1-2 defeat of Arsenal being evidence of his taste for flair. If his club do manage to beat the drop, it is paramount to their chances of future success that they manage to tie him down to a new deal. Don't be surprised if he has plenty of high-profile suitors this summer though.

Considering that at one point this season, Marc Antoine-Fortune was plying his trade at now relegated Doncaster Rovers and that he may not even be a West Bromwich Albion player next season, his story is more than a little impressive. After a relatively in-auspicious second spell at the club, Fortune was loaned to Donny by manager Roy Hodgson, presumably with a view to a permanent move away from the club. However, after an injury crisis forced Hodgson's hand, Fortune was back at the club and in the starting eleven to face Stoke City. The French forward put in a virtuoso performance, leading the line with aplomb and guding his side to a rare win over the Potters. He repeated his heroics in their 1-5 mauling of Black Country rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, and was a key component in a run of form that has seen them steer themselves away from relegation trouble and into the top half. A true unsung hero.

In a fair world, Yakubu Aiyegbeni would be a much more respected centre forward than he is. A consistent goal-scorer at Premier League level, he has never really been given the opportunity to shine on a bigger stage. Indeed, this time last season it looked like his time as a top-flight player was drawing to a close. Farmed out on loan to struggling Leicester City, his goals steered the club away from a perilous position and towards the top half of the Championship table. How the Foxes wish they could have held on to the Nigerian. Instead, he moved to Blackburn Rovers and has since been on a one-man mission to fire the club to safety, scoring an impressive 16 goals in 27 games, almost half of their overall tally for the season. Still only 29, you have to believe (or perhaps hope) that one or two more established clubs are preparing to parachute Yakubu out of Ewood Park should Rovers find themselves relegated at the end of the season.

So there it is, folks. An attempt at a tip of the hat to the players that won't be making the end of season teams of the year. Feel free to harass me on Twitter (@benrasmin) if I've missed anyone out!



















Everybody's New Favourite Team

First of all, congratulations to Wigan Athletic for their victory over Arsenal on Monday night. They played with the sort of determination and enthusiasm that supporters of some of their relegation rivals (namely Blackburn and Wolves) can only dream of. More importantly, they have put together a run of form that should ensure their safety for yet another season. Why, though, are we surprised by this?

Whilst watching the game on Sky Sports 1, I couldn't help but be annoyed by some of the patronising comments made by the coverage team, in particular the usually likeable Niall Quinn. He spoke of the game as if it were a cup tie, and his co-commentator (whose name evaded me) remarked consistently that it was a game that Wigan supporters 'would never forget'. Whilst this is probably true, these remarks seemed to bear no acknowledgment of the fact that Wigan had enjoyed similarily impressive victories over Liverpool and Manchester United recently. Was there victory over Arsenal any more astounding than those triumphs? Probably not.

I am not criticising the commentary on Monday night specifically, more so the English media as a whole. They cannot help but continually patronise clubs like Wigan, despite the fact that this is there seventh consecutive season in the top flight. I wonder if Sunderland, for example, would have been treated in a similar vein had they secured three points at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night? The answer is of course no, because Sunderland are a much more fashionable club than Wigan, probably because of the considerable cost of their current squad, the size of their stadium and other such paraphernalia. And that is what is wrong with the current coverage of English football...this continued undermining of clubs who operate on a shoe-string budget, or who don't (or rather, can't) regularly fill their stadium.

This is, admittedly, a delicate matter, but one that struck me as needing adressing after the fallout from Monday's result. I guarantee that when you tune in to Gillette Soccer Saturday or Match of the Day (both fine shows I might add) on Saturday, then the talk will be of how Wigan have 'defied the odds' over the past few weeks, and how remarkable a job Roberto Martinez has done there. All true. But just a matter of weeks ago, the same shows will have been speculating about the future of Martinez when Wigan were mired at the foot of the table. This is not a slight on those involved with either show, or any such programme, but it does demonstrate an innate sloppiness within the coverage of the beautiful game. The same argument can be applied to tabloid newspapers...though I would argue that they are more guilty of zealous over-reaction than (most) television shows.

As my profile will tell you, I am an aspiring sports journalist, and what I am trying to say by means of this post is that there are things that can be changed about the way football is covered. For example, my interpretation of Monday's night game is simply as follows...Wigan beat Arsenal because they were the better side. Martinez tactically out-manouevred his counterpart, Arsene Wenger, who subsequently reacted badly to his side's defeat. The result, in itself, is not that much of a shock, considering that Arsenal lost recently to QPR, a side currently undergoing their first season back in the top flight (was that result treated to such fervour???). These are basic, accurate points that I think are worth more than nonsensical talk such as 'Oh, didn't Wigan play well?' or 'Since when were Wigan this good?', just some of the ridiculous comments I read on Twitter after the game.

I must point out that there are some fantastic football pundits and writers currently working in the game, some of which who are involved in the programmes I previously namechecked. But they are good at what they do because they avoid the cliched 'David v Goliath' plot outline that we are so used to (and bored of). When talking of Norwich or Swansea this season, they have discussed how they have adjusted so well to the top flight, not how much of a shock it is that they have. If Newcastle is the assigned topic, they will point to statistics that show just how savvy they have been in the transfer market, not merely point out that Papiss Demba Cisse is a good finisher (most genuine followers of the game will have known this before he arrived). When discussing the struggles of Blackburn and Wolves, they will note that their failures are not purely down to the fact that they controversially changed manager, but more to do with the shortcomings of their squad. These are the finer points to the game's talking points, and ones which should be observed more dilligently than they are.

So, for the record, Wigan have always tried to play good football under their current manager (and they have often succeeded) and their 2-1 victory is no more a shock than other such side's victories over Arsenal were. Please, let's acknowledge, not patronize. 

Big Eck's Big Gamble

On 17 June 2011, Alex McLeish will have been Aston Villa manager for 12 months. Usually, such anniversaries are celebrated by manager and supporter alike. However, it's almost certain that next to none of the claret and blue faithful will be raising a glass to toast their current gaffer, and I'm not entirely sure whether Big Eck himself will be opening a glass of the good stuff to mark the occasion. This has surely been the most difficult period in the Scotsman's coaching career, as he had to constantly fan the flames both on and off the pitch. It's unlikely that he would have expected any different, though, considering the controversial nature of his switch from St Andrews, home of rivals Birmingham City, to Villa Park. But does McLeish deserve the antagonism from the clubs supporters that he has received throughout this Premier League campaign? The answer, in my opinion, is not as clear cut as most Villa fans would tell you it is.

Whilst it takes a man of considerable gall to make the move across the Second City, McLeish is not the most brazen of characters. Rather, he has always struck me as a quiet, methodical figure and I have heard no reports to the contrary from those that have met him. In fact, a friend of mine who has just finished a week's placement with BBC WM informed that he was told by one of the chief sports reporters there that McLeish is one of the nicest gaffers currently working in the Midlands. Now, nice guys don't always come first, granted, but this does suggest that the Villa manager is not the sort of disrespectful character that he has been portrayed as by large sections of Birmingham City supporters. Take into account the reality of McLeish's situation last summer and suddenly his move to Villa does not seem as outrageous as it did when the news first broke.

The Birmingham hierachy, we are led to believe, made it clear that in no uncertain terms the club had to be promoted at the first attempt or McLeish would find himself out of work. Considering the club later underwent a fire-sale of the squad assembled by Big Eck over four years in the job and were also preparing to undergo a season in which they would be competing in four competitions, the ultimatum delivered by the powers that be was a particularly daunting one, and is further proof of the credit deserving of McLeish's replacement, Chris Hughton, for managing such a task. However, Hughton was a manager out of work and in need of a job, whereas McLeish was a coach who was offered a better job (if only marginally) in a higher division, so comparisons between the two are somewhat short-sighted.

The mandate at Villa Park wasn't entirely dissimilar to the one being left behind at St Andrews, but the deciding factor (presumably) was the offer of Premier League football and assurances that, providing there were no disasters, there was no threat of dismissal at the end of the season. To McLeish's credit, there have been few disasters in his first year in charge. Yes, it has been turbulent, but when you inherit a squad that sold it's two best players and released ten others during the summer, struggles of some sort are to be expected. Villa, though not safe yet, are likely to secure another season of Premier League football, despite having to navigate the final throes of the season with a considerable injuries to an already threadbare squad.

As well as this, a promising crop of academy graduates have been eased into the first-team squad, with some looking as if they could play a big part in the club's future. It is my belief that with a considerable degree of investment from their elusive owner, Randy Lerner, Villa could well be a side capable of finishing in the top half of the table again next season. McLeish was allowed to invest in his two years as a Premier League manager at Birmingham, and in the first of those campaigns he guided them to an unlikely top half finish. If he hadn't have been so unlucky with injuries in the following campaign (and, admittedly, been a bit more adventurous tactically) it is unlikely that the club would have been relegated. This to me suggests that the future at Villa is not as bleak as their attendance figures would suggest, that is presuming that Lerner remains as committed as he was in the early stages of his chairmanship.

Why Moyes Should Stay Put

Everton are a club seemingly in limbo...each season, they appear to stand in between European qualification and mid-table mediocrity. The reasons for this are because, if you believe what you read, they are desperately short of money. Their chairman Bill Kenwright has had the club up for sale for several years now, but no (suitable) offer has been forthcoming. Why? Nobody, other than presumably Kenwright, knows. But this eternal stalemate has raised very serious questions about the future of the club's outstanding manager, David Moyes.

Moyes has received almost universial credit for the job he has done at Everton, where he persistently squeezes blood out of a stone year after year, ensuring the Toffees consistently finish in the top ten, despite having one of the thinnest squads in the division. He does this through shrewd acquisitions in the transfer market and tactical acuteness (34 goals conceded this season). Naturally, it is fair to presume that his work at Goodison Park over the past 10 years will have caught the eye of one or two Premier League chairmen. There has been speculation that Moyes is of some interest to Tottenham Hotspur and possibly even Chelsea, two clubs that can offer far greater financial windfall than he will be afforded at his current club.

However, to presume that a lack of money is a sufficient reason for Moyes turning his back on a club where he has built his reputation is short-sighted, especially considering that Everton, as previously stated, are a club in limbo. They are not down and out, they sit 7th in the Premier League table (above their wealthier neighbours) and will this Saturday partake in an FA Cup semi-final, 3 years after they took on Chelsea in the final. If they were teetering on the brink of relegation, then perhaps there would be more reason to believe that Moyes was in need of a move elsewhere. But they aren't, rather, they're doing this season what they do everywhere...over-performing. It's plausible to believe that this will be the case next season, and the season after that.

As you will have noted in my previous posts, I am a big believer in hindsight. It is a trait rarely applied to football, mainly because of the omnipresence of money in the game and, of course, the irrational nature of football supporters (myself included). Take the 'Blue Army' protests at Everton this season, for example. The aim of this movement is to force Bill Kenwright to relinquish control of the club, presumably to the highest bidder. Considering it was not long ago that George Gillet and Tom Hicks were almost single-handingly destroying Liverpool, a club situated the other side of Stanley Park, you'd think the blue half of the Mersey would have more sense. The transfer of ownership of a Premier League club is a delicate matter, one that, more often that not, ends in disaster. Just take a trip to Fratton Park for proof.

Kenwright seems to be committed to selling the club to somebody who fits his ideal of an Everton owner...someone who has the club's long-term interest at heart, and not somebody who is determined to make a quick buck off the back of irrational promises and high-profile signings. He should be applauded for that, not lambasted. I would wager that one of the main reasons Moyes has stayed put as long as he has is due to the relationship he has with his chairman, though of course I may be wrong. But let us indulge in some fantasy football for just a second...

What if Everton were bought out, by a wealthy investor who is determined to implement a long-term strategy, a la Manchester City, to make them a dominate Premier League force? What if the new board retain the previous owner's devout trust in Moyes, and give him the transfer kitty he has desired for so long? What if the manager is then able to add top-class international players to play alongside the ones he already has? Suddenly, things don't look so bleak...Everton would be the force they have threatened to be for so long.

Obviously, this is pure guesswork...the club may not be sold for some time, and Moyes may well choose to end his tenure this summer. But there is certainly a convincing argument for him to stay, just a little while longer. After all, nobody knows what the future may bring...