May Cause Offence

2011 has yet again served up a footballing platter of delight, with Mario Balotelli at one end of the table banging his fists on the woodwork and Pele at the other end in a triangular power struggle with Messi and Neymar, whilst Sir Alex Ferguson revels in his 25th year in charge at Manchester United and Arsene Wenger continues his creche project down at the Emirates: all this is going on with the continuous shaking of hands under the watchful eye of Sepp Blatter, making sure no offence is caused, whilst causing offence himself.

Many favourite moments on yesterday’s Twitter trending hashtag,#2011Footballmemories,  culminated with tales of tragedy, tenacity and typical Mario Balotelli behaviour and so much so, that it began trending as its own entity: #2011favouritebalotellimoment. The mischievous, yet overly generous, intelligent, yet overly simplistic and clever, yet overly crazy Balotelli could dominate a whole story with his tales of 2011. Over the past 12 months, Mad Mario has: taken an iPad with him to sit on the substitute bench to play Angry Birds, celebrated a 6-1 derby victory with a  ”Why Always Me?” shirt, winked at Rio Ferdinand as the England defender bulged out of his very shirt, given £200 at a midnight mass, caused fire damage at his own house with fireworks before becoming an ambassador for a fire safety campaign, confronted a school bully, jokingly asked a reporter who Jack Wilshere is, announced he has an allergy to grass and displayed signs if ineptitude when it comes to sporting clothes, when he struggled to put on a bib in a warm up. I am certainly a fan of Mario Balotelli.

On a personal level, 2011 is full of brilliant footballing memories for me as a Saints fan: it has been the most successful year we’ve enjoyed in my life time and the achievements of the club under the Italian eye of Nicola Cortese and the fluid passing mentality of inspirational manager Nigel Adkins and tactician Andy Crosby, have been nothing short of record breaking. 

In 2011, finishing with a loss against Bristol City on Friday night, Southampton F.C have gone over 12 calendar months unbeaten in league games at home (and their only league loss was the one last night), set a new club record of a 21-match winning home run and won promotion from League 1, to set sail straight to the Premier League, leading the pack at the top of the Championship going into 2012.  

Meanwhile, Adam Lallana and Jose Fonte have both signed new long-term deals, Rickie Lambert is the top scorer in the Championship silencing all of his pre-season critics and Lallana was officially recognised as the best player of the Championship by a fans poll conducted bytheseventytwo.

However, it hasn’t just been Mario Balotelli and my hometown club that has made 2011 for me: England have managed to qualify for an international competition once more, with the idea of Wilshere, Cleverley, Sturridge, Jones and Rodwell genuinely exciting me about an England team for the first time since 2002; the PL has served up mammoth results at the top of the table with Man Utd 8-2 Arsenal, Man utd 1-6 Man City, Chelsea 2-1 Man City, Arsenal 5-3 Chelsea, Man Utd 3-1 Chelsea and Barcelona have continued to dominate club football across the world while supplying the majority of the Spanish first team, who continuously impress against all opposition and expectantly go into Euro 2012 as favourites to win the Championship back-to-back.

However, the game has had its low points too and they’re the moments that can tarnish the game’s reputation or remind the world that football is, after all, just a game in the wider context of life. Racism has seemingly dominated the last quarter of the 2011 footballing year and it all stemmed from a comment “lost in translation” from the Uruguayan Luis Suarez to the Frenchman Patrice Evra, heightened by John Terry’s alleged remarks that have resulted in a CPS investigation, empowered with an 8-match ban for Luis Suarez, but made a mockery of throughout by Sepp Blatter and his slapdash remarks in defence of the game he is responsible for, “There is no racism,  maybe a word or gesture that is not correct, [but] the one affected by this should say this is a game and shake hands.” Furthermore, the loss of footballing greats such as Socrates and Gary Speed, particularly the way in which the latter left us, has put the game into perspective: it as after all, just a game.

However, the good bits, the rushes of adrenaline such as Jonathan Forte scoring a brace against MK Dons to draw the game level from 2-down, the fist pumping moments, such as Richard Chaplow’s goal against Manchester United and the hug a stranger moments, such as Rickie Lambert’s goal against Portsmouth, have made 2011 great for me and for the footballing world. Everyone’s year would have been made by different clubs, different players and different outcomes: in 2009, mine was that I still had a club to support thanks to the generosity of Markus Liebherr, in 2010 it was winning the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and in 2011 it was promotion to the Championship and then going into the New Year top. Next year I hope I can go into 2013 supporting a Premier League club, but what has been your favourite moment of 2011 and what are you proud to go into 2012 having experienced?

Tell us below

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Every year, twice a year, friends of cousins, mechanics and the local airport run taxi driver become so “in-the-know” they are second only to the lovechild of Graham Carr and Willie McKay, when spotting talent and thus predicting and even claiming that transfer deals have been sealed. Twitter is a hotbed for it with the “Fourth_Official” and “footballagentPM”, just a few of the “in-the-know” or claimants to be, that get the plaudits if they get it right and the pops at if they are well off the mark.  However, everyone’s at it come January 1st and some of the rumours are truly bizarre, if not admirable for their audacity.

As a Southampton fan, I have obtained an automatic response to transfer rumours or news that appears anywhere other than the official site, “not happening,” and with good cause: at the time of writing, it is midday on Thursday 29th December and I have already read at least 3 accounts of players joining us with so-called “credible” sources. Firstly, and perhaps most realistically, (I use realistically loosely, in the same sort of way that I’d use it to describe what is more likely to happen, “living on Mars or becoming Prime Minister”) is the alleged free transfer for of Stern John back to us. “[It] came from a member of his close family,between us and Brum apparently: ”I am very sceptical but this person should know! I wouldn’t post this if it had been from mate in the pub.” That was the justification and as another poster pointed out he, “was last seen in the Trinidad & Tobago Pro League; hardly the edge of the EPL.”

However, what is possibly up there with past Southampton January transfer rumours, such as Oliver Bierhoff in 2001, is the announcement one poster on my beloved Saints Forum made, [I’m] being told by another colleague that he has a very reliable source [and]  that we have made a rather shocking and bold bid for FC Basle star Xherdan Shaqiri.” Yes, that is right, Xherdan Shaqiri, a player dubbed by some as the “next Messi,” playing for the team that has just progressed in the Champions League knocking out Manchester United en route: however, it is justified, of course: “Just passing on the info and yes I do realise how unlikely this would be, however this rumour comes from another club.” That must be that then: I’m excited already.

While we are more likely to secure a player on loan and make one or two rather low key signings in the grand scheme of footballing economics, there is sure to be a melee of over-priced bartering going on further up the footballing ladder and for every Rafael Van Der Vaart bargain there will be an Andy Carroll rip-off. However, what is the silliest and most unrealistic transfer rumour you have heard this season, for your club, or any other?

Last year we were blessed with Blackburn’s pursuit of Ronaldinho, to entertain us through a rather predictable and quieter January transfer window, unless you were a Liverpool fan, and this year, there is sure to be many a story on par. In the summer transfer window, an equally silly season, especially with the heat, Michael Owen was apparently set to move to Brighton joining them in their new funky Amex Stadium and Carlos Tevez was going to have a reminiscent love affair with the East End of London, playing alongside the likes of Abdoulaye Faye under the leadership of Sam Allardyce at West Ham.

To get your silly senses shooting off down all synapses, here are some of my favourites that I have already bore witness to: Liverpool F.C., not content with having a prolific Andy Carroll, a banned Uruguayan, an abusive Welshman and a Dutch model up front, are interested in Stoke striker Jonathan Walters and are set to table a bid of around £8 million for the Irish striker. At least if this happens, Andy Carroll will acquire some much needed breathing space whilst the limelight is rightly thrusted on Kenny Dalglish for a “lack of ambition.”

Meanwhile, whilst you can admire Chelsea’s apparent correct level of ambition in comparison to Liverpool, this story  sees them spending over roughly £100m in a January transfer window, for three players that will be cup-tied for the Champions League: Mesut Ozil is in talks with Chelsea over joining Villas-Boas’ side in January. Out of favour under Jose Mourinho, the young German international will still command a £30m price tag due to his ability and potential. The deal will have to be wrapped up quickly, however, so Chelsea can secure Cavani and Pato to revamp their strikeforce….or so the story goes.

Whether you support Doncaster Rovers or Manchester United, the transfer window can, even if it is for a day and purely speculative, see a star player with his name in the same breath as your club. The combinations are vast and the reliability is questionable, but for one month anything is possible. As I have heard many a time as a justification for ludicrous prospective Southampton signings, “Who would’ve though the European Player of the Year would have joined Saints?” But he did and Kevin Keegan enjoyed 42 goals in 80 appearances for us.

So what is the most preposterous deal you have heard your club is supposedly lining up this transfer window and what is your favourite rumour of years gone by?

Share yours below in the comments section. 

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

As the Spaniards whimsically flamenco dance into 2012, whilst frivolously clicking their castanets towards January 6th, The Day of the Kings, their shining and leading star, FC Barcelona sit on the throne as the once-again newborn kings of the footballing world. They earned this right, at least officially, by winning the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup and thus replacing the previous best team in the world, Inter Milan. The tournament is questionable in its competitiveness for a start: according to the final standings of the competition, as well as Neymar’s inflated but so-far unjustified ego, behind the rightful (even before the Japanese-hosted competition in which Barca didn’t even have to participate in until the semi-final stage) winners Barcelona, were Santos and Al-Sadd as the 2nd and 3rd best club teams in the world, apparently. Neymar agrees with the competition’s result, that has only ever served one useful purpose, making Sir Alex Ferguson bend over, “we are the second-best team in the world and for us that is a great reward.” I’m happy to bet that at least 20 teams in the world would want to contest that.

However, despite Neymar’s kicking and screaming and attention-grabbing, whilst carefully constructing his Mohawk and fathering a child with his 17-year old girlfriend in August, Messi turned up, rather like a missionary from King Herald, and ensured that for a while, at least, Neymar shall not become the new king of the world and remains, as Sportsnet put it, “underhyped” alongside that other sports person that no-one’s heard of, Novak Djokovic. No, really: according to Perry Lefko you need to be an “aficionado” of the corresponding sports to have heard of these performers.

It won’t be Neymar moving to Barcelona that could derail Chelsea’s European hopes, which Roman Abramovich has so long fostered and repeatedly seen snatched from within his grasp, though. It won’t be Messi pirouetting round a fallen Ashley Cole, whilst dummying a pass to Sanchez, just to pass it back to one of his loyal supporters, Xavi or Iniesta, before ghosting through the back line to receive a beautifully weighted through ball from one of the World Cup winners before curling a dipping shot past Petr Cech, either: although, it could be. With Chelsea doing their best impression of a disappointed child on Christmas Day, “It will be difficult, Napoli were in the same group as Man City and Man City are unfortunately no longer with us,” on finding out their tie for the second round of the Champions League, even if they did beat Cavani Ft. Lavezzi & Co. it won’t be the three kings halting their progress with gifts of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi. If Chelsea fail in Europe, it will be due to the loss of one man that Barcelona supposedly hold the right to sign back: Oriol Romeu.

Oriol Romeu has the appearance of his Chelsea team-mate Alex, but the playing style of fellow La Mesia product Sergio Busquets and his impact on The Blues’ campaign has been valued as equal to that of fellow Spaniard and Chelsea team-mate Juan Mata. His performances in the hole between midfield and defence, more popularly known as the Makelele role, have been pivotal in Chelsea’s now-smoothing form, after a fluctuating start. It is no surprise that it is Spaniards that are making the difference at the top clubs (note in the top 6, all but Tottenham possess at least one in their starting XI): Mata, Romeu, Silva, Arteta, De Gea, Reina and Jose Enrique are all proving vital to their club’s successes and what with them coming from the country of international and club champions of the World and Europe, it really is no surprise that they are the definitive factor. However for Chelsea, while his talent has influenced a resurgence with the Barca product happily destroying other teams as they come forward and thus instigating his team’s next wave of attack, it has also influenced Pep Guardiola into bringing him home much sooner than he did Cesc.

Oriol Romeu’s defensive displays as part of a midfield unit, has been the difference between Chelsea and many of their opponents and it hasn’t gone unnoticed: a lack of out-and-out anchormen in the Manchester United squad, previously filled by Scholes, Keane and even Butt in bouts, had seen them, up until the ultimate fixture before Christmas, concede the 5th highest amount of shots on target in the PL this season. Furthermore, Barry has done the defending and dispatching in the City side, Tottenham have Scott Parker, as do England now, chopping and chastising in the midfield and Romeu’s first club are benefiting for Sergio Busquet’s unselfish committal to the cause, in purely his own half. Meanwhile, Manchester United keep the pace with City out of sheer ingenious from Sir Alex Ferguson, combating his, not only lack of holding midfielders, but lack of players in general.

However, unlike Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United, Andre Villas-Boas cannot cope without a holding midfielder; his attacking style, his high wing back, his general high line and his zonal marking, won’t allow it and losing Romeu will be an ultimate blow to a slowly growing Chelsea side. His impressively confident self-assurance has understandably kindled an interest from back home and Marcia, a Spanish paper, are reporting that Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola is interested in signing him back as part of the two-year agreement built into his contract. As it stands, allegedly, should Chelsea agree, Barcelona can buy back the u-21 Spanish international for one of two agreed fees depending on when the prospective purchase is made.

Chelsea, though, simply can’t afford for him to go and Andre Villas-Boas is insistent on keeping him - he has to be. However, if Barcelona choose that they want him back, regardless of the finer details of contracts and pleasantries, the appeal of playing for the team you grew up playing for, the lure of lining up with your fellow nationals for the best team in the world, is unmatched and the Premier League has already bore witness to one boy that left home for the Premier League and ended up returning the prodigal son. If they don’t achieve success in Europe this season - it is unlikely - the potential loss of Romeu remains as the dead albatross around their neck and Andre Villas-Boas will have the constant threat of losing a player that he can build his team on and manage his transition around. Wenger lost his cornerstone in one prolonged transfer to Barcelona and he is handling the aftermath well, but Villas-Boas so early in his Chelsea career, cannot afford the same circumstances. If Barcelona take him back, Chelsea’s European hopes are derailed.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

With British football taking a break for the Christmas weekend, apart from Scotland because they’re so fearless they play on Christmas Eve and so fearless that their league leaders can get two men sent off and still wi……..lose 2-1 to St. Mirren, it was a chance for managers to have a brief break from the autonomous life of having their name echoing in the terraces and instead sit down for a Christmas meal with their nearest and dearest.

Arsene Wenger didn’t though, he never stops, “On the 25th, you think Wolves. To do well against Wolves. You think about the next game, that’s all.” Joyeux Noël indeed, Mr. Wenger. Unlike the majority of the Premier League fixtures over Christmas, Arsenal didn’t host Wolverhampton Wanderers on Boxing Day, it was moved back 24 hours to December 27th due to another display of London inefficiency - the Boxing Day strikes. However, despite the cause, “coz’ once again the tube’s on strike, the greedy bastards want extra pay, for sitting on their ass all day,” it was no excuse for Arsenal’s eventual 1-1 draw with 10-men Wolves, who played the last 15 minutes with the man deficit. “I want my *expletive” money back” probably wasn’t the overriding tone of Arsenal fans however, as they witnessed a gallant performance from Wayne Hennessey in which Wolves earned their first point on the road since August. The ‘keeper said, “take your oyster card and shove it up your…….”

Steve Kean didn’t take the opportunity to have a short stop from the autonomous life of having to listen to his name echo around the terraces either. Instead of sitting down for a Christmas meal with his nearest and dearest (suspects include David Moyes, Sir Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish and the Last King of Scotland) Steve Kean tucked into his Venky’s Christmas pie with David Dunn Potato Smileys, alongside the Bishop of Blackburn for some guidance from above. No, really.

After having his name aggressively chanted before the defiant cry of “Out!” the Scottish manager has finally come into a run of luck, at least off-the-pitch, and it is seemingly going to copy suit over into his Premier League form. Having had the Scot Sir Alex Ferguson state, “It doesn’t say a lot for society - for goodness sake, give the lad a break,” the Scot Kenny Dalglish say, “results aren’t purely down to what the manager does,” and the Scot David Moyes snap that he can’t, “believe the criticism they gave the manager, I thought it was disgusting,” someone other than a Scot jumped to the defence of the Scot. The Right Reverend Nicholas Reade, the Bishop of Blackburn has urged fans to, “please, always remember the human being, always remember that he’s part of a family - that other people will be suffering because people have got him in their sights.” Merry Christmas indeed, Mr. Kean. His present was a 1-1 draw against Liverpool with the reverberation of local band The Beatles in his mind, “Oh I get by with a little help from my friends,” from the aptly-named Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

For the teams that stuck to the rules and played on Boxing Day, a permanent fixture in the heart of sport since 1860, many acts of boxing clever behaviour was on display. As aforementioned, Steve Kean boxed clever, standing in his corner with a group of rowdy Scots and a Bishop, and rightly earned a point – after all Boxing Day is The Feast of Stephen. However it wasn’t just our recently righteous Kean that made the 26^th of December count: Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United all “used inventive thinking above all other attributes in order to achieve an end goal.” – def. Boxing Clever.

It wasn’t so much a Feast on Boxing Day though, well at least not in the Premier League: out of the 7 games, 5 were draws, low-scoring draws at that and it was left to the tactically brave to secure three points. One thing many fans would have never have expected to see at Old Trafford on Boxing Day afternoon, was a back four of: Valencia, Carrick, Evra and Fryers, and they may have blamed it on Christmas Day drinking; but for 45-minutes that is what they bore witness to. It worked too: having had to change Evans for Fryers at half-time, Evra slotted into centre-back alongside Michael Carrick and a half-time lead of 2-0 was increased by 3. Sir Alex Ferguson was boxing clever.

Holding Manchester City back from three points is something only three teams had done previous to Boxing Day, and 2 of those shortcomings were in their past 5 games. However, a spirited West Bromwich performance ensured that City’s away form continued to be their only Achilles heel. Similarly, Alan Pardew was having to face up to the form books: Newcastle went into the festive football fixture with the worst 6-game form in the top flight, with only two points from an available eighteen and were coming up against Bolton Wanderers, a side who had just halted a run of five straight defeats by piling pressure on Blackburn with a 2-1 victory. Pardew managed to win, away from home, by two goals though, with the boss putting the win down to “patience” and “determination.” Alan Pardew was boxing clever.

To all those who boxed clever this Christmas period, have a Happy New Year. 

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

With 2012 only a matter of days away, theseventytwo, an independent website offering opinions on the Football League, announced their results from the poll they conducted on Twitter to discover who the fans think is the best player in the Championship. A number of players from the second tier of the English footballing pyramid have already been linked with a move to the top flight and it is no surprise to see their names appear in the 25-man shortlist.

Albert Adomah, a reported January transfer for Fulham, came in at #23 and the Ghanaian international is only in his second season out of League 2, where he plied his trade for Barnet. Another Fulham target, a club who have plundered the Championship in seasons gone by for such names as Jonathon Greening, is Leeds’ Robert Snodgrass, who features in the top 25 alongside fellow teammate Ross McCormack, who has scored 10 goals so far this season.

If your club is looking for a goalscorer this January transfer window, to ignite a low-returning front line, then a glance at the top 5 scorers in the Championship isn’t a bad bet with five of them included on the 25-man list. Rickie Lambert has fired Southampton to the top of the n-Power Championship this campaign, in a team that contains a Brazilian forward with a personal return of 7, a striker who was a Championship winner with Sunderland, scoring 13 in the process, and an attacking midfielder than has been capped by England at each level bar full international. However, with promotion hopes in their own hands, targeting Lambert may well prove a lost cause, especially considering Nicola Cortese’s image as a stubborn dealer in the negotiations room, as Arsenal will know.

The highest scorers, after 15-goal Lambert, on thesenentytwo shortlist, are: Ross McCormack, Billy Sharp, Robert Snodgrass, Grant McCann and Peter Whittingham. The last, a former England u-21 international, had only ever scored one league goal when he came to Welsh side Cardiff in the January transfer window of 2007 from Premier League Aston Villa: since then he has scored 51 goals in the Championship, including his Golden Boot winning season of the 2009/10 campaign. His return so far this season 0f 8, 3 off of his return last time round, has rekindled top-flight interest that ex-Bluebirds boss Dave Jones, said was burning last season, “the fans will be upset with me, but if you are a Premiership manager and you are looking for a midfielder that can not only create but can score then I’m sure they’ll be looking at him. There were one or two sniffs last year from Premiership clubs.”

With injury threatening to hamper any early, and possibly premature, hopes of European football at the Franchised Arena of the North, next season, Alan Pardew is understandably looking to add defensive reinforcements to his Newcastle team, “we are having to look at our squad because we are stretched, especially defensively.” Taye Taiwo had been exclusively linked with a move to the Toon from Serie A giants AC Milan, having made just a handful of appearances for the i Rossoneri, however Pardew has inexplicably ruled it out, “There’s no interest,” said the boss, “I don’t know anything more about that.”

The top defenders, according to the results of the poll, can be found at Hull City and Cardiff and come in the form of Manchester United Academy product James Chester and infrequent Scotland international Kevin McNaughton. More fitting to Alan Pardew’s Newcastle team, and particularly his signings, is James Chester. Already at Newcastle, having previously played in the Manchester United set-up, is Danny Simpson, Danny Guthrie and Gabriel Obertan. More importantly though, is age: James Chester is just 22-years old and since hiring Carr as chief scout, the emphasis on signings has moved from big name-high wage, resulting in signings such as Kluivert and Owen, to high potential-within means wage, resulting in younger talent and more prosperous returns, such as Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote. Chester, according to John Verrall, is, “ doing one of the hardest things to do in football - proving Sir Alex Ferguson wrong,” as part of 5th best defence in the Championship.

Coming in at #1 on the 25-man shortlist, with “twice as many votes as anyone else” according to theseventytwo, was Southampton’s midfield metronome, Adam Lallana. As a Southampton fan, it came as no surprise that Lallana won it, even with bias. They say that “form is temporary” whilst, “class is permanent” and that can be justified when it comes to Southampton’s #20. His campaign has been good and productive, granted: however, with his 6 goals and 7 assists aside,  it is fair to say his performances this season have been subject to purple patches. Furthermore, while it may be unfair and indeed unjust to say that at times he has gone unnoticed, his impact has sometimes been stunted. However, his moments of brilliance stand as a testament to his class: the shimmy at Leicester to send Pantsil to the floor; his cross to Lambert which, having been delicately cushioned saw Guly stab home against Hull, before scoring the 2nd to complete a turnaround against Hull at St. Marys and finally his exquisite turn and teasing run against Portsmouth live on television. Luckily for Southampton, he won’t be leaving, “‘I can understand why Premier League teams might be looking at our players but we would not welcome any interest,” said Saints boss Nigel Adkins, ‘‘we have got a group of players here who are all under long-term contracts and they want to get this fantastic club back into the Premier League.”

The list is not only a healthy test of one’s Football League knowledge, but a great resource and guide to any budding football experts and can be found here. Some stand out performers include the lethal Nicky Maynard and equally dangerous Billy Sharp, whilst the list also includes some of the obvious candidates for the accolade, such as West Ham’s Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble, who finished 2nd. Two goalkeepers made the list: Leicester’s shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel and Lee Camp, who came in at 5th place. There was no room for the two most expensive summer signings though, as Matthew Mills and Jermaine Beckford failed to record a place in the top 25, whilst teammates Andy King and Schmeichel did.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/  For more articles like this visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

A New Year resolution defines as a commitment that a person makes to complete a set of goals or break certain habits, for the better. Since Mario Balotelli joined Manchester City, you could argue that, as a player, he’s slowly breaking habits that had hounded his career to date. However, while he is improving his attitude and performance on-the-pitch, his off-the-pitch antics continue to intrigue, interest and infuriate everyone.  

Making a New Year’s resolution, should prove itself as beneficial to the person making the commitment. It is a goal, or a set of goals, that should, over the forthcoming year, improve a person’s worth and accomplish something worthwhile. Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll probably share similar New Year’s resolutions, to score goals more frequently, and Steve Kean’s is probably something to do with continual deceitfulness throughout the entire year, in what can only be described as lawful extortion. 

By committing to a New Year’s resolution, a person is acknowledging the need for new traits in new beginnings. It comes after reflection upon their wrongdoings over the previous year and culminates in seeking forgiveness and it seems that Mario Balotelli has already started, or at least the air of comical mystery around him has, to seek that forgiveness. 

His habits, that Mancini advises he should change, “I hope the New Year can bring a different way for him,” have included, among many other happenings, driving into an all-female prison in his Mercedes Coupe with his 17-year old brother because they were, “especially curious at the fact it was a women’s prison,” handing £1000 to a homeless man as he left a casino and exclaiming, when asked by police why he had £5000 in £20 notes in his pocket, “because I can. I’m rich.” Some may see this, including myself, as a rich man’s lighthearted ways, but The Guardian label it as “self- aggrandising acts of vulgarity.” 

What the writer of the article entitled, “Mario Balotelli gives Britain a new buffoon” in which he states that the Italian’s behaviour makes Wayne Rooney seem parochial, fails to do, among slamming the Manchester City striker as a “real idiot’s idiot,” is credit him for the good things he has done off-the-pitch, or attempt to search for some logic in his lightheartedness.

Mario Balotelli was born in Sicily to a Ghanaian couple and as an infant, he suffered a serious illness that is fatal to most, having to undergo a series of operations on his intestines. This was all before he had reached the age of 2. Then, aged 3, social workers in Brescia, where he was being raised, advised that the young Ghanian Italian should be fostered, as they struggled to raise a young Mario in a cramped home. From 3-years old, Balotelli was brought up by a white Italian couple, who he now, after growing apart from his biological parents, calls mamma e papà. Now, as a professional footballer, playing for mega-rich Manchester City, he is aware that he has a, “a responsibility as a role model to children,” before adding, “I try to fulfil that.” A far cry from the unsurprisingly unnamed blogger that  described Balotelli as the new “idiot laureate.” Balotelli is giving back. 

If Balotelli is expected to go all out on a New Year’s resolution, merely slating his off-the-pitch behaviour and grouping it as “off-the-field misdemeanors” is shallow. In his first act of pleading for forgiveness, Super Mario supposedly  drove around Manchester handing out money to passers-by, all whilst donning a Father Christmas outfit. If that isn’t worth forgiveness, then driving around Manchester after the Blue half had beaten the Red half, high-fiving all City fans from his convertible Bentley is. Unfortunately, like many stories about Balotelli, both of the above are unconfirmed; just think of him as the Chuck Norris of football.

Most heart-warming of all the Mario myths, be they true, false or unconfirmed, is his quest for justice in the playground; a story quite believable considering the racist taunts he suffered, growing up as a black child to white adopted parents in a racist part of Italy. One morning, having finished training at Manchester City’s Carrington training ground, Balotelli jogged over to where fans were watching, to sign shirts and autograph books. He was faced with a young lad asking him for his signature and Balotelli quizzed the kid over why he wasn’t in school. When the Italian was told by the youngster that he was being bullied at school, he drove the kid and his mum, who was with him at Carrington, to the school before demanding to see the headteacher. He then proceeded to identify the bully and saw over an apology and handshake, before leaving again in his Maserati.

Whether it’s true or not will remain a mystery unless Balotelli confirms the many unconfirmed stories of generosity and the ridiculous. However, that remains unlikely, “‘I am a very, very private person, I know some players like being the centre of attention and I admit that when I first became a player I liked fame, too. But that feeling lasted only for three months. Then I realised what it was really like to be the centre of attention all the time. It isn’t all good.” It is believable though; a porter at the apartment block where Mario resides has stated that, ‘Mario treats me really well, he’s a good guy. When I asked him for a signed shirt it was  there, he’s very kind.’

Either way, the hearty Italian should not curb his ways: “With enigmatic players like Balotelli, you have to ignore a lot of what they do - he’s worth the hassle,” said Keown. After all, Balotelli won’t change his ways; ”Every day I fight against Mario and sometimes I would like to give him a punch.” said Mancini. “He couldn’t. I do Thai kick-boxing,” replied Balotelli. Of course, he was joking. His character is infectious, his behaviour is admirably rebellious and his talent is supreme. But is he a, “new figurehead for footballing buffoons” like The Guardian claims, or is he in fact a, “playful jiber, delivering with affection: a young man who does not always wish to take life so seriously,” like the Daily Mail states?

For me, this year, if Balotelli is to set a New Year’s Resolution, like his boss suggests, it shouldn’t be to have “a different way.” Balotelli has reignited many a love affair with football and his only commitment for 2012 should be, “To keep them asking, why always me?”

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

The Premier League has served up some stories fitting of your Christmas dinner table this season: Newcastle have had two separate home runs, going unbeaten in the 2011/12 campaign at St. James’ Park, but losing 2 from 3 since it’s renaming to the Sports Direct Arena; Steve Kean has managed to record a PL win ratio of 12%, but still get support from every other, seemingly Scottish, manager in the Premier League and Manchester City are top of the Premier League table to be the 3rd different team at the summit in as many seasons, slamming any critics claiming the league is predictable.

However for every cracker we’ve had in the 2011/12 campaign, there has been some real turkeys too: England’s captain, John Terry, has managed to get himself tangled up in a vicious and embarrassing race row, as has Luis Suarez; Mario Balotelli set fire to his house with fireworks, just to be mistaken for a burglar when he returned to collect his belongings and Manchester United failed to qualify for the second round of the Champions League, just 6 months after their Champions League final appearance at Wembley.

Yet, whatever has happened up until now, may hold no relevance come May 2012 or it may hold such a relevance to you, that you put your house on it. For those fans who follow in their manager’s traits who are just following, well, ancient tradition of annually reviewing one’s performance and setting targets for the New Year, more popularly known as a New Year’s resolution, Christmas throws up some interesting figures when it comes to going up and coming down. But what does Christmas bring for your club?

Well, despite Newcastle’s strong start to the season, going unbeaten until they met fellow unbeaten team Manchester City, they now sit on a run of six games without a win and have the worst 6-game form in the Premier League, picking up 2 points from an available 18. Premature talks of European football, next season, rumbled around Tyneside, but unless Pardew can steer the ship through the rough seas, a mid-table finish is their best hope. After all, the last time to be in the top ten at Christmas, but relegated come May, was only last season: Blackpool.

When it does come to relegation, mind, Steve Kean, if he wasn’t already limited in talent, is limited in survival chances: in the previous six PL campaigns, the team scraping at the barrel when St. Nicholas comes to town donning a large red coat, have finished bottom. If Blackburn are to break the trend, I’d advise they break their contract arrangements with Steve Kean too. *Cue many Scottish managers to speak out at ugly protesting*

Luckily for Bolton Wanderers, their triumph in the six-pointer, their first win in six games since stomping all over Stoke in a 5-0 destruction of Pulis’ men, puts the form books well and truly onside, for no club of the last eight occupying 19th place on the 25th December have suffered relegation. This Coyle-pleasing fact, includes Bolton Wanderers of 2009 and extends to the teams 18th-placed at Christmas too, meaning Roberto Martinez’ recent return of only one loss in six games and 9 points picked up from an available 18, is as important as it is timely. For Bolton, a chance to string back-to-back victories provides itself, as they face Newcastle United on Boxing Day, as aforementioned, the team with the worst 6-game form in the Premier League.

Looking towards the right end of the table, and there is still hope for Tottenham Hotspurs: in 2008, eventual winners Manchester United were sat in 4th place and 7 points adrift of Christmas chart toppers Liverpool, who went on to finish runners-up. Tottenham sit in 3rd and a victory in their game in hand would cut the gap between them and top to six points. However, no team more than 7 points away from the top at Christmas has gone on to win the Premier League since the turn of the century, thus ruling out Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League.

As for Manchester City, the team top at Christmas the past two seasons, Manchester United and Chelsea, have gone on to win the title; United’s lead was one point smaller than Mancini’s City and Chelsea’s was double the Italian’s at four. However, fans and betters alike should be aware that their closest rivals, in terms of position and locality, have come from behind the Christmas leaders three times to win the title and that equates for half of Ferguson’s Premier League titles since the turn of the century.

If Manchester City are to win the title, however, they’ll have to break a trend that has seen the Premier League titles dominated by Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the past 16 campaigns and there has only been one other winner of the Premier League, Blackburn in the 1994/95 season. 

Have a Merry Christmas, whoever you support, and a Happy New Year!

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/  For more articles like this visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

In September, Sir Alex Ferguson gave what was an insightful interview to the sincere and frank talking Gordon Burns, as part of his week’s worth of “perfect” interviews, as he left his post as presenter of North West Tonight. The interview covered most things Ferguson, but a particular focus fell on the future and what Fergie phrased as a, “modern Manchester United” which he and his backroom staff started building immediately after their 2009 Champions League final loss in Rome to Barcelona.

Ferguson’s words were “focused on youth” and how, at present, Manchester United are building a “nucleus” that can compete together for years to come. “When you’re building teams, you want to build a team lasting 5 or 6 years, you need that consistency about them,” said the Scot. However since, what the boss described as a, “flying start,” much of that “nucleus” has been eroded by injury.

 The manager, who now has a stand at Old Trafford named after him, was referring to the nucleus of players he has now, consisting of home grown home nationals: Welbeck, Cleverley, Jones and Smalling, as well as having Carrick, Fletcher, Ferdinand, Giggs, and Rooney. To Ferguson, the importance of this is unparalleled, “it’s very hard to get players together that can play well together for a period of time,” he told Burns. “We had that in Scholes, Giggs, the Nevilles, Beckham, that era of players,” he further added, eluding the midfield anchorman that tied up his midfield so neatly for the best part of 12 years: Roy Keane. 

United, fully undergoing a revamp under Ferguson once more, took the  League Cup as an opportunity to get “the kids in” both on and off the pitch. Using the sickening, yet accurate, cliché, “they are the future,” Ferguson highlighted the importance of doing so and was confident in his team’s ability to have a good cup run. However, it wasn’t to be as Manchester United crashed out to Crystal Palace in the quarter-finals, in a game that, beforehand Ferguson had described as a, “valuable development aid for our younger players” and afterwards apologised for an embarrassing performance, holding his criticism back some what, due to the many young players that had played, “my apologies are to the fans because that was not a Manchester United performance. I am just very disappointed.”

The transition he is clearly making from the old to the new, focussing on a generation of players that he feels must be built over years, “nobody talks about sacking Alex Ferguson so I can have the vision of looking two, three years ahead,” has been hounded by setbacks all season in the form of injuries. Before Wednesday night’s game against Fulham, the best part of that “nucleus” had already been wiped out: Nemanja Vidic (out for the season), Darren Fletcher (out indefinitely), Rio Ferdinand (out for 2 games), Michael Owen (6 weeks), Anderson (2 months), Tom Cleverley (3 months) and Fabio (6 weeks). By the end of the 5-0 demolition at Craven Cottage, a further two had been added: Phil Jones and Ashley Young.

Phil Jones’ injury, “doesn’t look good,” according to Ferguson and he is to have an x-ray on his jaw and cheekbone, having been dealt an elbow to the face by Clint Dempsey. Ashley Young also got crocked as Manchester United strolled to victory: being taken down by Dickson Etuhu has ensured the England winger will be sidelined for the next 2-3 weeks. As Manchester United’s injury list builds, it is looking more and more likely that Ferguson will have to dig deep in January and give his “modern Manchester United” side a revamp.

Back in September, he stated in the interview, “a third of teams have spent more than us in recent years,” eluding to the fact that Hull, Blackpool and Burnley have all spent more than Manchester United, whilst in the Premier League in recent years, “I look at them and think, how are you doing that?” However, the self-asserting money savvy Ferguson may well have no choice when the window reopens. 

As his injury list has mounted up, the Scot has remained adamant that his side is strong enough to continue and with each hit the team takes, Ferguson stands strong by his words, “It’s easy to buy a player, but buying the right player is more difficult. We don’t have a scatter-gun approach to signing players,” (speaking in November.) However, now Jones and Young are both out and Fletcher, who Ferguson backed to fill the midfield void, is sidelined indefinitely, adding to the rest on the list, that approach may have to change.  

Manchester United have been linked with many a player as we approach the January transfer window: Christian Eriksen, Cheick Tiote, Nicolas Gaitan, Xherdan Shaqiri and Jack Rodwell. The rumours suggest that it’s almost certain Manchester United will sign a midfielder and Ferguson’s comments support this, “we’re all right in the striker department,” said Ferguson in faint praise of Welbeck and Berbatov and no praise of Michael Owen, “it’s in other areas we are picking up injuries.”

If Ferguson really is building a “modern Manchester United,” to compete over the next “5 or 6 years” a January face lift for his already young-faced side is needed, as well as justified, especially considering Manchester City’s relentless push for a Premier League title continues and undoubtedly will strengthen in January.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/  For more articles like this visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

When Andy Carroll left Newcastle United last January for £35m, he became the most expensive England player ever. The new record amount paid for a British player, was done so when Andy Carroll, Newcastle academy product, had only been capped by his country once and had only recorded 14 Premier League goals. Now, a year on from his move from the black and white of the North East to the red side of Merseyside, the 6’3 striker has so far only returned a pitiful 4 PL goals in a Liverpool shirt and could be on the verge of having his transfer fee ridiculed even more.

Andy Carroll’s struggle has been well documented: at the time, finding a Liverpool fan willing to justify the fee paid was as hard as finding one that wouldn’t miss Fernando Torres. Bizarrely, the combined £85m strike duo have performed more like a strike force worth a tenth of that; or in playing terms, a strike force of Emile Heskey and Kevin Davies; they’ve scored just as many since the record-breaking moves. Unless Carroll improves significantly and quickly, it is possible that he is to be sold at a considerable loss, despite Dalglish’s iron will over the matter, “Andy is young. But he’s an excellent player and will be a valuable asset for us. I don’t understand the obsession. The price tag is irrelevant. We’re delighted with the business we did in January for Andy Carroll.”

However, this possible January signing for Liverpool may well contrast Carroll’s fee and talent like never before. On the surface of it, an £100k signing from a striker plying his trade in the IFA Premiership for a semi-professional club, is nothing like the Dalglish signings so far: £35m for Carroll, £25m for Suarez, £20m for Henderson and Downing. However, as Dalglish has said, “The price tag is irrelevant. If we get someone in on a Bosman, does that mean he is rubbish? Should he not play because we haven’t paid any money for him?” And he has answered his own question with Bellamy this season, who has contributed with 2 goals, 2 assists and over 400 minutes of PL football this season. So, if Dalglish does move for this £100k hit-man of the IPA Premiership, it might  not be too long before he’s redounding to a far greater extent than the man who cost 350 times his potential transfer fee.

But who is he? Well, the striker, who only made his semi-professional debut last year, has scored 17 goals so far this season and stands an inch shorter than Andy Carroll, is Rory Donnelly of Cliftonville F.C. The prolific youngster started to attract interest, initially from the Football League, when he hammered four goals home in one game, in November. Cliftonville boss Tommy Breslin confirmed that an un-named club had expressed an interest in Donnelly, but confirmed that no bid had been made, ”We won’t stand in his way but it has to be right for him and the club,” said Breslin. Just over a month later and the list of clubs chasing his signature is growing, with Everton, Brentford and Swansea, also looking to sign him in January. As of yet, only Swansea had lodged an official bid, £100,000, which has been accepted.

But, the 19-year old Cliftonville striker was allegedly holding talks with Kenny Dalglish on Tuesday about a possible move to Anfield, having been contacted by the Reds boss on Sunday. Dalglish said of the matter, “We’ve registered our interest, that’s as far as it goes,” but if a deal is to be done, it must be done soon, as the Belfast outfit want Donnelly’s future to be sorted out before Christmas. With Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers already having an £100k bid accepted for him and Everton manager David Moyes already having met the striker, Dalglish will have to move quickly and efficiently if he hopes to sign the youngster.

There is a defence for the continuously toiling Carroll, though: the comparisons to John Toshack could well have hindered the start of the Geordie’s Liverpool career. The aerial prowess is uncanny, the strength and power too; even the similarities, reminiscent to the little and large partnership of Toshack and Keegan, are akin in Suarez and Carroll; however the players aren’t as alike as they may have been made out. Dalglish has seemingly expected Carroll to replicate the playing style of John Toshack, at least that’s how it seems in the way in which Carroll is being made to play at Liverpool; a style a world away from his trade at Newcastle.

At the Toon, when Carroll was played in with a ball to run onto, he’d approach it with the aim of hitting it first time, left-footed, goal-bound: more often than not, he’d score. The plaudits he gained from Keegan and the like, with many saying his aerial talent exceeds Toshack’s, came from his runs from deep, into the box to head home corners and crossings: his style of play and lack of pace, naturally made him the later arrival. However, At Liverpool, the insistence to play the ball up to him at his feet is detrimental to his game. The striker is 6’3, he prides himself and his game, on power and strength, not pace. Receiving the ball deep, at his feet has entirely changed his game from his strengths. He is unable to turn quick enough and beat his man. For this partnership to work, he must be played as the target-man for Suarez to play off of; knock downs, arriving late for Suarez to cross to and beating his man in the air: that is his game.

No matter what happens, according to comments Dalglish has previously made, the potential signing won’t belittle Carroll, “Everyone will be treated the same way, whether they are the most expensive or the cheapest.” That comment was made in the last week of September when Carroll was again being criticised for his performances in a Liverpool shirt and with Dalglish continuing to stand by his record signing, stating that, “Everybody’s got to be prepared and ready to play [over Christmas], they will all expect to play some part in some of the games, and Andy Carroll is no different,” it seems nothing has changed, yet. What does need to change though, is Liverpool’s scoring record in the Premier League this season. This campaign, Liverpool have scored fewer than Norwich, Blackburn and bottom of the league Bolton, and Rory Donnelly could well be the answer.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Last Monday, in the fixture soon to be known as the Oil Rag derby - at least by my regular readers, Chelsea hosted Manchester City at Stamford Bridge, with the Premier League leaders 10 points clear of their hosts. A week and two fixtures later, including Manchester City’s first loss all season to a media-persecuted Chelsea side, and the gap between the two sides has only shrunk by one to nine points.

Before the game, Roberto Mancini was quick to display his awareness of his fellow title contenders, in a season where pundits and press continue to link City and the title synonymously, “I think [Chelsea] can win it,” said Mancini, of the side that won the title in 2010, “Last year Chelsea had a big lead [over Manchester United] but in the end United won the title by seven or eight points plus,” stated the Italian, showing an appreciation of Ferguson’s bounce-back-ability. It is a threat that Manchester City are fully aware of, “In my opinion, United are still favourites. They’ve been there and done it,” said Manchester City right back Micah Richards, “United were favourites at the start of the season and regardless of how we’ve played, they are still firm favourites,” continued the defender, downplaying a derby demolition of United, that saw 6-1 illuminate the Old Trafford scoreboard. The words may have seemed unambitious to title-aspiring Citizens, especially considering they went on to lose to to Andre Villas-Boas’ men, but in hindsight the consciousness displayed was wise.

Despite losing, ultimately to a Frank Lampard penalty fired home straight down the middle, Manchester City revived their run of form instantaneously, winning a less than straightforward tie against Arsenal at Etihad on Sunday. A David Silva goal was enough to secure all three points in a game which ensured Manchester City would have the status as top for Christmas in their own hands, something they’ve achieved three times previously, but never going on to win the league. Silva’s goal was Man City’s 50th Premier League goal this season, 16 games in, making them the fastest team to reach this tally since Spurs in 1962/63. Their 1-0 victory against the Gunners was their last fixture against teams in the top 7.

In their fixtures against Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle, City have acquired 13 points from an available 18, losing only once - their only loss all season. This is where Manchester City are proving their mettle, with Mancini, against the best. Last season, Manchester City gained just 9 points against the 2009/10 Top Four. This season, Manchester City have already leveled that points tally against the Top Four of 2010/11, excluding themselves. 

This potential, and most-importantly on-target, improvement in form against the top teams in the Premier League, is where Manchester City can make up the points that will keep their heads above, who they consider, the favourites still, Manchester United. Last season City proved that they could start rolling out default victories against the lesser teams of the division, picking up 18 points from 18 against the three teams promoted to the Premier League. They’ve done it again so far this season too, picking up victories against Q.P.R, Norwich and Swansea, but last year’s campaign questioned City’s credentials as title contenders as they came unstuck against the bigger teams. Convincing and at times comprehensive, defeats to Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool ensured that Manchester City finished 3rd, 9 points off of their rivals, Manchester United, who won the top-flight for the 19th time.

This season it is Manchester City that can go into Christmas as the league leaders, but it isn’t just their improved form against the top teams that are keeping Manchester City as the pace setters. In a modern game, increasingly lacking in demure, it is Mancini’s modest approach, becoming more and more transpired through his players too with every interview, that could act as a strong foundation for the richly-assembled squad to go on and win City’s first top-flight title in over 40 years.

“We can’t think that we can win the title without a fight from United,” said Mancini, appreciating that experience can often stand strong against talent, “It’s impossible.” Mancini’s demeanor, the coiffed hair, brazen scarf and affable suits make his appeal all the more thorough and the attitude he display, is setting his players in the right mindset for a title challenge in which, despite the evident quality and unparalleled form so far this season, they don’t seem to be the favourites to everyone. If there’s one man you want on board to disseminate a message from the manager to the fans, the players, the world, it is the only player playing every week that has been there since his youth career: Micah Richards. 

“Just because we were clear for so long does not mean we’re going to walk the title,” said the England international, “In my mind there is no pressure on us because teams like United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool have been doing it for so long.” He continued to emphasize the Mancini-imposed philosophy of continuity, which is becoming ever more present at the Etihad - they’re unbeaten there in 2011 at home winning 26 from 28 and drawing two, “‘It’s about carrying on doing what we’ve been doing. We’ve done well because we feel there’s no pressure on us. We just go out and play our football.” If City continue to impress against the best, there is no stopping them in their quest for the Premier League, ‘We came into the season just trying to build on last time and fighting United, who are current champions. To win the league would be a massive achievement.”

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit 

The past week in football has served up many battles on personal, club and trophy-contending levels: we’ve had Barcelona take on Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in El Clasico, and thus Messi versus Ronaldo in a personal Ballon d’Or rivalry and Guardiola pitted against Mourinho in a battle of wit and bravery, the oil-rich play toys of Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan went head to head in Black Monday and lastly, on a cold South coast afternoon, we had the Red versus the Blue of Hampshire. Apparently, even as news to me as a Saints fan, it was now referred to as El Clasicoast.

Since the final whistle sounded at St. Mary’s last week, having drawn at home, a rarity in the past twelve months, to Blackpool, all attention turned to their first league fixture against their most fierce rivals, Portsmouth Football Club, since 2005. Southampton boss Nigel Adkins, said, during last week, in the build up to the South coast derby, “they’ve got a good home record but not as good as (Southampton’s)” and he was right to say so: the draw to Blackpool ended The Saints’ run of 21 successive home victories in all competitions. Their last loss on home soil was the 2-1 FA Cup defeat to Manchester United and the draw at Blackpool saw, despite not winning, Southampton stretch their unbeaten run at home to 12 months. Southampton were away to Portsmouth though and that didn’t make for as pleasing reading: Southampton had lost their last two away games to Doncaster Rovers and Bristol City, and Portsmouth headed into El Clasicoast with 13 points from 15 at home and were unbeaten at Fratton Park since their 3-2 loss to Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough back in September.

The enormity of this fixture was expressed through manager, player, fan and even the police: the FA Cup tie in February 2010 in which the then Premier League Portsmouth triumphed 4-1, saw bricks, bottles and chairs chucked by fans outside St Mary’s stadium in violent scenes, with 12 arrests and sentences and therefore, this time round, with Saints making the trip away, the police chose to enforce “The Bubble.” 

The Bubble tactic, as a Hampshire police spokesman described, was about, “balancing the enjoyment of football fans and the rights of others not to be subjected to violence,” and was the first deployment of the strategy in Hampshire. Southampton fans were forced to purchase their tickets with compulsory club travel if they wished to attend El Clasicoast and the 60-strong coach convoy was police escorted into the city to avoid contact between the fierce rivals. Although the measures did threaten to subdue the day for some, in particular self-anointed but not respected nor representative independent and idiotic fan groups and their spokesman’s inability to go to a football game on a bus without drinking, when that whistle was blown to start the first South coast derby of the 2011/12 season, all that mattered was the football. All that really mattered in the build-up was the football.

Despite Michael Appleton quickly assuring fans that he, “(knew) the importance of the result,” talking promisingly of Portsmouth, “not going to beat Southampton just by rolling sleeves up and being blood and thunder,” stating that, “you have to be a bit cuter than that,” once the game got underway it seemed that Portsmouth were happy to play a scrappy game and play for the draw. In the end it was what they got, but to get it they had to change: Southampton took the lead through a goal that was almost a carbon copy of the last one Saints scored against a Portsmouth side. Where it was Dan Harding whipping in a left-footed ball from near the halfway line for Rickie Lambert to rise highest and head home last time, it was Danny Fox to this time provide the same ball to the same man with the same result. 

With just under half an hour for Southampton to see out a result and Nigel Adkins having to balance changes with stability, it seemingly became a game of who had the bigger balls in the dugout. It may have been, in hindsight, Michael Appleton. As soon as Southampton scored, Portsmouth became a more forward and attacking team and it wasn’t without its risks, with Guly, Schneiderlin and Lallana all having chances to seal a victory. Huseklepp came on for Lawrence, adding more dynamic flair to their attacks and shortly after, Mullins came off for a striker, the towering Futacs. Portsmouth had changed to a 4-4-2 and were looking for the equaliser. Southampton made one change: a like for like left back swap, with 13 minutes remaining. Pompey equalised in the last ten minutes, with Portsmouth-born Joel Ward grabbing a headed goal under no pressure from Southampton’s Guly Do Prado. The game finished 1-1.

Portsmouth fans and indeed Portsmouth Football Club came away as the happier side of the divide, but for Southampton Football Club, pride and bragging rights aside, the point gained is statistically huge. Their 44th point of the season, ensures that the Red and White team of Hampshire go into Christmas as the league leaders, one point ahead of Sam Allardyce’s West Ham. For Southampton, history and the form books are on their side: the club top at Christmas have gone on to gain promotion to the Premier League in five of the last six seasons and with Southampton averaging two points a game, their form this season is enough to have won three of those last six titles.

Of course, as Adkins has said, “it [was] a special game, but it [was] just one game,” and for the fans, as Southampton’s academy starlet, Adam Lallana said, “it doesn’t matter what you do in the season as long as you win at Pompey, or don’t get beat!” Both have been realised: it was a special game and Southampton didn’t lose and now, going into Christmas as the league leaders, Saints must concentrate on making destiny definite. With their next two games on home turf, Saints will be expected to take all six points from the last games of 2011, despite not yet winning in December. For Saints and Adkins, it is time to draw a blue line under their last result and keep chipping away: “it’s about winning football games - it’s as simple as that.”

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

“It is a very tough championship with a lot of big players and a lot of big teams.” Well, yes it is; however, England just haven’t got it right on the big stage, against the rest of Europe’s elite clubs, like they once did. There was a time when English clubs flaunted their talents overseas, marauding their ability in the likes of Spain, Italy, Germany and France: but it’s become more infrequent, less impressive and harder to achieve than it used to be for the elite of England. In 59 Champions Leagues, formerly the European Cup, England have taken home 11 of them, with Liverpool, fans quick to remind, accountable for nearly half of them with five. Furthermore, English teams have featured in only 18 of the 59 Champions League finals. Unfortunately, only 2 of the 11 English Champions League successes have been in the last decade. Before Sir Alex Ferguson’s famed ‘99 triple, including the Champions League, England had been on a 15-year dry run in the Champions League. The Premier League: the self-anointed Best League in the World.

“I don’t know when, but it would be great to play in Premier League.” The same player, the proud owner of a Ballon d’Or and a World Cup winners’ medal, said this, too: he still hasn’t played in the Premier League. At the time of quoting, in 2008, he was reportedly looking for a new club; he ended up in La Liga, not the Premier League. Seemingly more than ever, players are choosing to either; stay in La Liga or move there instead of, or from, the Premier League: the self-anointed Best League in the World.

“I think it is the best championship in the world.”  Our mystery quoted player stated, in the same breath as his aforementioned quotes. This was said at the height of England’s only real continuous phase of European dominance in the past decade, 2008, in which Manchester United won the Champions League on penalties against another English club, Chelsea, a year after Liverpool had made the Champions League Final, to be defeated by AC Milan. Manchester United, again, made the final the following year, but were comprehensively beaten by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.  Our mystery player, a deceivingly praising one at that, is Kaka. He chose to join Real Madrid over the self-anointed Best League in the World in 2009.

It seems, however, that unless English clubs buck up their ideas when it comes to the final stages of the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League, the credibility, if there is any, to their claim at being the  Best League in the World, will dwindle, die and disappear. Sunday night provided 2011 with the most watched domestic club football game in the world, El Clasico; Real Madrid v. Barcelona; Guardiola v. Mourinho; Messi v. Ronaldo. It recorded over a staggering 450 million viewers, making it only second to the Champions League final, in terms of viewing figures. Monday night’s Oil Oligopoly of the Premier League contest got severely fewer views.

Tottenham & Fulham had their European adventure cut short last week and both ended with rather distasteful happenings: Harry Redknapp took the opportunity to clench his fist at his Irish opposition, not content with just hammering them 4-0 and Fulham let their qualification hopes slip from a 2-goal lead in the last minute to draw two apiece. However, for the rest of the English clubs left in Europe, be in Manchester United, Manchester City and Stoke City, in the Europa League, or Chelsea and Arsenal in the Champions League, the draw for the next round got underway on Friday.

A cup that serves the purpose of serving up the cream of the crop from various European crops across the continent, was met with disdain by English clubs when they did, indeed, get served with the creams of their respected crops. “If I’m honest there are other teams we may have preferred,” said David Miles, Arsenal secretary, on his club’s draw of AC Milan. “It will be difficult, Napoli were in the same group as Man City and Man City are unfortunately no longer with us,” stated David Barnard, Chelsea secretary. It is a cup to find the best and, as the saying goes, you have to beat the best to be the best: so why the moaning?

It is time for English clubs to stand up to the mantle if they want to keep, or their fans at least want to keep, their title as the best league in the world.  The Premier League is proving to be more competitive than it has been for awhile, if you ask fans and anyone from Manchester City to Liverpool are in with a shout for the title, reckons Andre Villas-Boas. The competitiveness at the top has been undoubted this season. In the top five alone, these results have appeared: Man utd 8-2 Arsenal, Man utd 1-6 Man City,Chelsea 2-1 Man City, Arsenal 5-3 Chelsea, Man Utd 3 Chelsea 1. If a season could be said as blown open in regards to the title, this season is in contention for the tag.

With clashes in Europe providing the chance to make a positive statement of intent and the misfortune of City and United pitting them in the Europa League, now more than ever is the time to stop whinging and whining about, “quite hard” fixtures and opposition that they, “may have preferred,” in place and instead turn their heads to earning the right to call their league the best in the world.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Now Paul’s become more integrated into the FCI family, attending training regularly, getting a decent run of games and finally joining the list of FCI ‘keepers to keep a clean sheet, oh wait he hasn’t, along with Mike Florit (2) and Nathan Hussey (3), it is time for his One-on-One.

The 18-year old ‘keeper, who is also competent across the back four, isn’t unfamiliar with FCI players: having played in previous teams with Ross, Goddard, Breen, Hannides and the Florits, Paul Redhead settled well into the FCI line-up, when he isn’t busy working his way up the professional refereeing ladder.

Outside of FCI, Redhead plays for Sky Blues in the Southampton Sunday Youth League and is a budding referee, currently refereeing the Wessex League as well as frequenting Southampton F.C’s training ground, as the man in the middle for many Southampton FC u-18 fixtures.

1. Paul, for FCI you play in goal, however for your Sunday team you are normally seen in the left and right back positions. Where do you prefer and why?

I have always played in goal since I was little in front of the garage at home with the older brother smashing footballs at me and I have never looked back really. I love playing in goal, so I will say I prefer there, even though I have always liked the idea of getting forward and I get that playing as a full back. It always a great buzz to make a good save that can potentially win a game and I suppose you don’t get the same buzz after a big tackle, because as a keeper there’s no one behind you to bail you out; so making a good stop is always good.

2. Last season, you were the #1 for Lighthouse in the same team as Goddard, Ross, Breen and the Florits: how do FCI differ from Lighthouse in the pitch?

They can play football for a start and from the games I’ve played I don’t have to pick the ball out the net so much! The boys are better as well don’t get me wrong, at Lighthouse there were some good lads but this lot tops it all round: the banter is quality and most of the boys have knowledge of how to play football that the management team of Lighthouse certainly didn’t have.

3. Can FCI, promotion depending, make the step up to Lighthouse’s Division and do a job? 

To be fair there isn’t a team we played last year that I don’t think the FCI boys can’t beat. On our day, if we actually turn up and play we can do anyone in this league not just Division 2, Lighthouse turned over some teams in division 2 so if they can do it, why not?

4. If FCI were to face Lighthouse tomorrow, who would win and what would your score prediction be?

Pointless question! FCI would smash them, hopefully I’d bag a penalty and maybe put a cheeky tackle in on a certain few people, but I reckon a 7-0 win.

5. We always benefit from having you in goal as you bring something different to Mike and Nath with your constant vocal presence. Mike is quick off his line, adopting a sweeper keeper approach; Nath is unlevelled when it comes to point blank shot-stopping, what is your best trait?

Got it in one I think: a keeper that can organise a team saves himself loads of work cause if your defence are organised that should stop more attempts on goal. Other than that I do have a knack for saving penalties.

6. Outside of playing, you also referee at quite a high level for your age: what have been your best experiences when it comes to refereeing?

Refereeing in the States has to be number one for me: it’s such a good experience to do games with FIFA referees. You do learn a lot, also the girls out there aren’t too bad either and that makes refereeing the women’s games a big bonus. 
At home I find myself getting to know the upcoming Saints stars as I often referee the youth sides at Staplewood, so not only is it good money but also a little claim to fame if a few of them make it. 

Being on Sky-sports last year was amazing. As a referee it was a joke cause Jeff Stelling is so poor but it was a great day getting to meet all the pundits, and of course got on the box on Christmas day, not many people can claim that one!

 

Paul playing at St. Mary’s

7. Are your ambitions to become a professional referee, on the telly, in the Premier League, bossing the big games?

 I would love to be a professional referee, yet like anything in football getting to the pro level is hard. I aim to make it on to the Football League as I think that is realistic but we will see how the next few years go, really.

8. Who do you look up to in the world of football officiating?

After Last week I better not say Chris Hoy oh s**t it’s Foy! Most would probably say Howard Webb because of his achievements in the last few years but I am a big fan of both Mark Clattenburg (looks a bit like me) and also Lee Probert as he is a local lad.

9. And what about on the pitch? Do you have split heroes due to being a ‘keeper and outfielder?

Since the minute he signed for us I fell in love with Antti Niemi. He was a god to me as a kid and got a chance to speak with him a few times at various things, without doubt the best keeper ever to grace Southampton Football Club on a regular basis; would leave me breathless with the saves he would pull off.

As a Full Back, I would say Frazier Richardson. I watch him a lot when we play at home and I like to think I am similar in being not the quickest but can still deliver a nice ball once in a while.

10. Lejay Giles-Pilgrim is quoted as saying, “You look like a bearded Jimmy Carr,” what are your views on this?

I heard Jack Whitehall the other day but I don’t think my hair is that bad. I don’t really see it but maybe he’s just referring to my witty banter and humour? 

11. At FCI, as well as being one big happy family, we literally have a couple of mini families going on; Nath & Jack, Dad and I and the Lakemans: do you enjoy playing with your Uncle Mike and your nearest and dearest cousin?! 

Aha its good as it’s nice to come into a team that is so accepting. If I’m honest the atmosphere around is amazing; everyone gets on and it’s nice to be able to come in for a game and fit straight back in. As for the family, I am used to it now I suppose. If anything, iy means I can get on your back more than anyone else if you do something wrong! I love playing with you two, as to be honest, without football I would hardly see you two!

12. As well as being related to Jordan and loving him lots, you also ball boy with him and Ryan Breen down at St. Mary’s. You’re into your third year of that now, what’s been the best moment?

Yeah I know! What did i start there? Invite one of you and get a whole clan! I think probably my first season was good, getting to go into the changing rooms with all the team and get a shirt signed or perhaps witnessing promotion last year. Banter with Kelv is always a highlight.

13. Obviously, as all top football fans are, you are a Saints fan: what are your predictions for them this year?

As a realistic Saints fan, I think we will finish 2^nd as things are going at the moment. To be honest, I don’t care if we finish 1^st or 2^nd, I want to go up automatically: can’t be doing with those rascal play-offs. I do think we started really well, but now teams are starting to play for a point against us and that will hurt in the long run.

14. Do they need any signings in January to achieve what you think they can potentially do, and if so who?

Another striker would be nice. I think Rickie is top drawer but I’m personally not Guly’s biggest fan and think we should bench him. We need to get someone with a bit of Premiership experience in that can still hack it when we go up at the end of the season. 

15. Going into Christmas, fingers crossed, Saints, as well as FCI, will be top of the league: both teams have a cup fixture in January and FCI have a chance to progress to the semi-final of the cup, do you fancy our chances of going all the way? 

I’m the cup keeper so enough said? In all seriousness i don’t see a reason why FCI can’t win the cup, yet I don’t think the Saints have a chance. It would be nice to do the double I think Nath and I can have a trophy each!

16. Haha, you actually are yet to feature in the cup! Nath and Mike have played one each. If the cup game goes ahead on the 14^th of January, Nath’s in goal again! Obviously, by the time this publishes on Monday, FCI would’ve had their Christmas bash. Therefore, it’ll be good to get some predictions off you beforehand to see how accurate you are! First one to feel sick/throw up?

Depends who drinks though, my bet’s you on this Florit.

17. Most likely to pull by the end of the night?

Again a hard question, Ryan Breen is always telling me of his power with the ladies, yet I have not yet witnessed this but I, for some reason, trust his word: Ryan Breen.

18. Acts the bore all night?

I am going to go for Tom Lewis

19. Goes home early?

Refer to 16 boy who can’t handle his drink, I imagine.
  
20. Lastly, the most important prediction to see if you get right, the scores for Saints and FCI this weekend?

FCI: I reckon a large number to -0 because I want a clean sheet and Saints fans, I am sorry but the derby has a draw written all over it for me; 2-2.

That’s all until the New Year Folks, when it comes to One-on-Ones. In the place of Boxing Day’s One-on-One, will be a 2011 fun fact review, player by player!

Come back then to see what you’ve done at FCI, that no-one else has!

Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

The January transfer window is imminent, moves are being planned and pre-planned and in swift attempts to shift deadwood for “transitional phases”, players are being told they can leave. One player to already fall victim to age discrimination in the workplace, is 32-year old Nicolas Anelka, who has been told he doesn’t feature in Chelsea’s long term plans under Andre Villas-Boas, stating that, “the club has decided to work with Chelsea’s players of the future and I have accepted this.” Just how long Villas-Boas has to regiment his troops, fluctuates with the week and whether or not his vice-captain on the field of duty, Frank Lampard, is starting, or if his captain’s racially slurring his way through games next to an incompetent David Luiz.

However, as the fashionable debonair critic slayer continues to slay critics fashionably, whilst remaining debonair, “ the talent of this team is not in question,” he told reporters a week after having to defend his team’s talents, “this has been a continuous persecution of Chelsea, continuous aggression of one club. We have become your target. We have to accept it,” in the background, he’s been ushering players out of the door quietly. Some are, understandably, reluctant and are holding on to the door frame Winston-Bogarde-style.

A further five players could be set to follow Nicolas Anelka out of Stamford Bridge, however unlikely to do so in the wage-increasing style the Frenchman is, with a new path in his career in China with Shanghai Shenhua starting in January. Ivorian pair Drogba and Kalou have apparently been offered a way out, as well as the already transfer-listed Alex and Portuguese defensive duo, Paulo Ferreira and Jose Bosingwa. One player not aging, not cheap and not expected as potentially on the transfer list is Fernando Torres.

This isn’t because he’s top class, banging goals in week-in-week-out, or because he’s in high demand, this is because he cost Chelsea £50m less than a year ago. However, over thirty appearances later, Fernando Torres has spent much of his playing time in a pedestrian manner and has only scored five times. In a career that could be valued at £395,480.00 a goal, spreading his total transfer fees over his total goal count, he has cost Chelsea over twenty times that, at £10m a goal. If they do want to get shot of him, it’s to cut their losses, not make a profit.

The rumoured fee for the European Championships and World Cup medalist is as little as £20m, £30m less than Chelsea acquired him for from Liverpool, and the same fee at which the Merseyside club brought him for, before enjoying his services 81 times in front of goal in 142 appearances. At 27-years old, his career is far from over, and many a player has slumped mid-career, before reinvigorating themselves elsewhere. It should be no different for a player that was arguably up there with the best just a few years ago. Signing him would be a gamble, but it could be a gamble that could see a player with class, just no form, signed at a cut-price deal with the ability to quickly prove his weight in gold.

Another player with just as many goals, as well as the same price-tag, as Fernando Torres in the past two months is Carlos Tevez. The difference is that one has been frozen out by his own accord, and the other has been frozen out, making just one start in his club’s last 8 games, by his manager. For Carlos Tevez, there is no questions being asked of his quality, or whether he still has it, it is over his attitude. The Argentine has managed to steal much of Manchester City’s limelight in a season that has seen them spend the majority of it at the top. His refusal to take to the pitch, whether it happened or not, his failure to return from Argentina and countless claims and counterclaims of defamation, have hindered all the good work going on at the Etihad. January may provide both parties with a way out.

The only deliberation left, is how to get rid of him. Carlos Tevez is wanted, make no mistake about it. His clash at Manchester City is very much on a personal level, and while he is lambasted as a mercenary, a sap to the game, a bad tag to the game even, a move away is the only feasible way a reasonable judgement can be made on the player. This is where the problem lies: Mancini only wants him to leave on a permanent transfer and to a club abroad; the interest is with other English clubs or loan offers.

There is no denying that these two performers have ability in abundance. One is a shell of a former self. One currently lives in a shell. However, with reasonable fees on their heads, in a time of unproven English starlets selling for £10m, a cut-price quickfire double bid for the both of them could make a club’s season. A team such as Tottenham, a team such as Manchester United if Paul Ince is to believed on his views of Manchester United, could benefit tenfold by signing these two strikers.

However, as easily as the players could make a club’s season, they could break it. Torres has only scored 5 goals in the past 11 months and Tevez hasn’t been playing football since September. His attitude could turn on any team that takes a chance on him, and together, if both players were to act as they are currently, one club would quickly become broken.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

FCI have had a prolonged break from league football since their last fixture, a 3-1 away victory over Waterside A. That game, won thanks to efforts from Ely, Giles-Pilgrim and Goddard, would’ve been exactly four weeks ago when FCI took to the pitch this morning, for their last game of 2011.

Much has happened since that victory in which FCI took their unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions and a further three including friendlies: Ryan Breen has made his long-awaited return to football, following a three-month absence due to a damaged achilles heel, Jordan Florit has faced a set-back that has put him out of contention for today’s game, breaking his collarbone and Tom Lewis scored another long-range effort in the hard grafted 3-0 win against Asian outfit Hazara FC.

Today’s opponents, Hedge End Blues, are one of the more familiar teams to Florit and Goddard, having played them twice previously on neutral grounds. In FCI’s two previous games against Lee Berry’s team, FCI have racked up 20 goals and have had 7 different scorers against the fellow newly-formed team. In both games, which were friendlies, FCI have enjoyed clean-sheets with M.Florit and N.Hussey in goal respectively. FCI’s third bout with Hedge End Blues will bring yet another ‘keeper, this time FCI’s #2 Paul Redhead will be the man standing between the sticks. Wesley Regular comes back into the team, having missed the Hazara tie, hoping to add to his personal attack against Hedge, which already stands at 6 goals in two games.

FCI go into the game stronger than ever, with a settled formation, a settled XI and a settled squad. As the table stands, FCI are top by four points with a game in hand. A win today will put a seven point gap between FCI and Hedge End St. Lukes. With Hedge End St. Lukes forming FCI’s first fixture of 2011, Florit and Goddard will be aiming to get six points from six, to put a real wedge of intent between them and 2nd place.

December 17^th 2011                     FCI 7-0 Hedge End Blues

 FC Independence (4-3-3): Redhead, Ross, M.Florit, Broadway, Lewis, Saribiyik, Hannides, Giles-Pilgrim, Regular, J.Hussey, Ely Subs: Breen, Goddard, Neave

Attendance: 12

FCI 6-1 Hedge End Blues

FCI started the game in a somewhat different manner to their performances of late, failing to punish the opposition in the final third and capitalise on opportunities that prevailed themselves. Much of the opening stage of the game was frustrating for FCI, with rhythm stuttering and attacks breaking down frequently. Lejay Giles-Pilgrim managed to penetrate the defence with a well-controlled run 20 minutes in, but his cross wasn’t converted as Wes Regular pulled wide to the ‘keeper’s right.

A very stop start game in the middle of the park threatened to undo the passing game of FCI. Dan Broadway and Tom Lewis was firing down the flanks for the home side in an attempt to add emphasis to the attacks, but Hedge End Blues were displaying a spirited performance in the cold weather of Winchester.

On the half hour mark, manager Jordan Florit made his first batch of substitutions replacing Regular, Giles-Pilgrim, Ely and Hannides. Neave, R.Lakeman and Goddard all came on to add hard work and hassling to the proceedings, as well as the returning Ryan Breen, who’s efforts in the midfield role have been missed. His break up play was a particular highlight for the tireless midfielder, on his return from injury.

The substitutions looked to have caused immediate damage to the opposition. The skillful and aesthetically pleasing style of the subbed were replaced with grit and determination and it was the midfield battle that won the ball for FCI, seeing Neave with the ball and options on both sides, as he approached the box. Mitat Saribiyikhad broken through from his holding roll and latched on to Neave’s through ball to knock it past the ‘keeper and fire home. 1-0 FCI.

However, with the subs came goals for both sides. Almost immediately, FCI were on the back foot from the restart and a back pass from Mike Florit was hard for Paul Redhead to deal with and the clearance from the latter hit the former and the ball made its way across an open FCI goal mouth. Redhead scrambled across his line, but was beaten at the back post for a Hedge End equaliser. 1-1.

Half time

With Florit officiating the game, in an anonymous style, Ross and M.Florit were left to ring any tactical changes at half time. With Jordan none the wiser to what was discussed during the break, the second half commenced in the same fashion as much of the first half had adopted. 

If Jordan Florit had any worthwhile contribution to the proceedings in his playing absence, the majority would feel it wasn’t in his commanding refereeing presence. He didn’t command and wasn’t very present. However, the deaf-eared man in the middle did change the game for FCI according to the opening scorer Saribiyik and M.Florit with his changes on the hour mark.

The players that had departed in the first half, come back on for Saribiyik, Broadway, Lewis and Hussey, and the tempo of the game changed instantly. Technique overpowered tussles, skill outweighed slide tackles and ability outshone abuse. Hannides fired a ball through the middle, which Lejay Giles-Pilgrimaccelerated after, to burst into the box with his first touch and send the ball into the net with his second. A new breath of life breathed into the FCI team, just as frustration looked set to prevent three points. 2-1 FCI.

With still 25 minutes on the clock, FCI had a second win about them with their reestablished lead. Shortly after Lejay’s goal, the scorer turned provider for Ryan Lakeman, who latched on to a dropping through ball to beat the oncoming ‘keeper with his first touch and wrestle to the line with the defender to ensure the ball crossed it. 3-1 FCI. 

Hedge End had performed valiantly for 60 minutes and with a free-flowing game, mainly due to a hard to persuade and somewhat mute referee, in full swing, FCI continued to attack. Wes Regular, now filling in the left back position, hit a deft pass up the left flank, which Goddard received acutely, rounding the keeper and firing home on his weaker left foot. 4-1 FCI.

In a game which saw a new scorer for FCI open the scoring, it looked set to be finished with a new scorer too. With FCI earning yet another corner, thanks to come top drawer saves from the Hedge keeper, Ross joined the attack in an attempt to head home. However, the cross was well defended and guided away from the box. Ross stayed up and as Neave pumped the ball back into the box,Ross turned it in for his first goal of the season. 5-1.

It wasn’t going to be the last goal though. If FCI’s 2nd and 3rd goal was quickfire, this was rapidfire, as shortly after Lakeman was guiding the ball home from the edge of the box to the top left corner of the goal, following a superb ball from Lejay Giles-Pilgrim. 6-1 FCI. 

Full time.

The game, at times, looked set to ruin FCI’s 100% record in 2011, however the subs came at the right time, as did the goals, to take the wind out of a battling and determined Hedge End Blues. Today’s man of the match goes to Ryan Lakeman for his continued commitment to the FCI attacks, which returned him with two goals. 

Whilst the English footballing world turned their heads to watch the battle between Russian oil tycoon and United Arab Emirati oil tycoon, through the medium of Chelsea versus Manchester City, in a clash that was fitting of the title Black Monday, though not due to monetary collapse, quite the opposite in fact, the early rounds of the F.A Youth Cup continued on Monday night.

It was the Third Round proper and even the likes of Corby Town FC and Thurrock had battled through to face Premier League academies flush with the potential future stars of the Premier League. As Mancini’s side fell to their knees for the first time this season, falling victim to Frank Lampard’s 36th Premier League penalty, their u18s recorded another victory following their 6-1 league win at the weekend over Wolves to replace them at the top of the Barclays Premier Academy League Group C. With their “star striker” Jordi Hiwula rested by u18 manager Adam Sadler for the weekend league victory, he returned to smash in a hat-trick against Corby Town FC, helping his team to a 4-1 victory.

Manchester City’s academy looks to be building on already strong foundations and Sadler described the “critical years” between the ages of “5,6,7 which is the age (Manchester City) tend to recruit at nowadays,” as the “key stages” which have brought them to “arriving at the first team” and their position at the top of their league pays homage to that. Their cup-tie hat-trick hero, Jordi Hiwula, is one of their brightest prospects at the moment and he only made his Elite Development Squad (EDS) debut in October.

Hiwula had already scored seven goals for the academy when he got his debut for the EDS and he bagged in his first game for them too, in City’s win over Stockport County. Having only turned 17 a month earlier, Hiwula has quickly made his advances through Manchester City’s youth set-up and has made his intentions clear to end up playing in the Premier League, ”I go and watch the first team on a regular basis and I’m striving to get there one day.” His quick rise through the youth set-up hasn’t put the Ghanaian under any illusions though, “I’ll hopefully just take one step at a time. I want to get more games for the EDS, score more goals and take it from there.”

Now a mega-rich owner is pumping copious amounts of money into Manchester City’s transfers, exemplified by the rumoured £88m move for Porto’s Brazilian striker Hulk but already seen in the £35m acquisition of Sergio Aguero, one might expect the route for youth to the first team to be somewhat stifled, however City look set to make provisions for the the youth set-up that has previously seen 38 players play in the top flight and a further ten represent their countries at full international level, including Shaun Wright-Phillips, Micah Richards and Stephen Ireland.

Ex-Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan and Inter midfield stronghold, Patrick Vieira, now Football Development Executive at Manchester City, unveiled their ambitious plans for an Etihad Campus that would see full integration of the club from grassroots to millionaire pay packets, “England does not produce as much talent as it should based on the passion for the game and the number of kids who are playing,” said the World Cup and Euro Championships winner. “I think as a football club you always want to see young players coming from the local community and that facility will give them the chance to show their skills and to improve,” continued the recently retired City player, talking of the impressive blueprint for the Etihad Campus. The £100m facility will include: 15 full-size pitches, two half-size pitches, all with undersoil heating and floodlights; A 7,000-seat mini-stadium; facilities capable of training 400 young players, with an education centre for 200 more; accommodation for up to 40 youth players and a 5.5-acre area reserved for community use including a sixth-form college and swimming pool.

Elsewhere in the F.A Youth Cup, fans with a vested interest in their club’s financial future, or hopes of seeing boys become men for the first team, saw Charlton, Burnley and Southampton all secure comfortable 7-0 victories. Blackburn Rovers gave their club something to smile about, flattening Thurrock’s u18s 8-0; Curtis Haley and Osaya Osawe both record braces.

Last year’s winners, Machester United, beat Torquay 4-0 at home, however arguably the most impressive victory was Southampton’s third round cup-tie, which pitted them against Under 18 Premier Academy League Group D Sheffield United, who were last year’s finalists, finishing runners-up to Manchester United. 

Southampton’s famed academy, which currently boasts James Ward-Prowse, Jake Sinclair and Luke Shaw, and has Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and Alex Chamberlain all to their list of graduates, secured a 7-0 victory on home turf against Sheffield United. Southampton, who sit 3 points adrift of Arsenal in Group A of the u18 leagues, were already 4-0 up at half-time, before adding a further three in the second half and former Southampton right-back, Jason Dodd, who manages the u18s, said of the result, “The pleasing thing is that they are showing people what we think they are capable of, and that is playing some decent football and scoring lots of goals.”

With Southampton currently sitting 3 points clear at the top of the Championship and Manchester City topping the Premier League by 2, the future looks bright for English football and its youth prospects, and with the introduction of the Elite Player Performance Plan, it may not be too long before the Premier League can boast homegrown talent as skilled and as vast as Barcelona’s La Mesia.

Which youth prospects are you excited about at your club and why?

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Some teams at the top have been questioned over their defence this season: Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, surprisingly. However, this campaign has seen a high volume of goals conceded and in fact, they’ve been flying in at a rate higher than any campaign since Manchester City last won the top division in 1967/68. They’ve conceded fewer than 17 of the other Premier Leagues teams and sit top. They’ve also scored the most.

With goals coming thick and fast since August, not only does it highlight some lacklustre defending that we’ve been gifted from the likes of Bolton and Blackburn, but it has given a platform for the men behind them; the often described “loneliest players on the pitch”, the last line of defence and the point winners (Michel Vorm) or the point losers (Bartosz Bialkowski.) As is the nature of the role, they’re either lauded by their team mates after making a terrific save and earning their team victory, or they’ve just suffered the pains of the most unforgiving role in football.

But in between the sticks - who has been the best and worst this season?

Paul Robinson - the worst?

At the beginning of last season the former-England ‘keeper may not have been former anymore; when Fabio Capello called him up for the first set of friendlies post-World Cup melancholy, it was the Blackburn ‘keeper that was the deciding factor in him not featuring in the games - he pulled the plug on his international career, retiring at the ‘keeping young age of 31. He, unlike the F.A, told Capello “no more” having been mucked around enough by the meddling Italian. 

15 months later and I for one am grateful that Paul Robinson didn’t seize the opportunity to step between the sticks for England once more. While Hart enjoys an unbeaten spell for England of 16 games and sits at the top of the Premier League, having conceded only 15 in 15 games, with Manchester City, Paul Robinson is second to bottom in the league with Blackburn Rovers, having conceded the most goals in the league. Quickfire critics will shout the obvious “Joe Hart’s got Richards, Lescott, Kompany and Clichy in front of him,” and I’ll give you that; well done, good knowledge. However, Paul Robinson’s not just behind the 2nd worst defence: he’s got the lowest saves-to-shots ratio of any regular Premier League goalkeeper this season at 52%, he’s only 14th in the leader board for most saves, despite facing 69 shots, and he’s the ‘keeper that’s seen the most points lost from leading.

Michel Vorm - the best?

When the Nederlands World Cup second-choice goalkeeper was signed for little over £1m from FC Utrect, by Premier League new boys Swansea City FC, predicting such success would’ve been hasty. However, the international shot-stopper, who’s been capped by his country 8 times, has arguably been the best Premier League goalkeeper so far this campaign. His penalty save against Clint Dempsey in the dying stages of his club’s weekend 2-0 home win against Fulham, was his second penalty save of the season, making him the #1 in that category along with Howard, Hennessey and Al-Habsi, and his 59th save of the season. Only David de Gea, Hennessey and Brad Friedel have made more saves, but what they can’t brag is a home record that stands at only two goals conceded. 

In Michel Vorm’s 15 games in goal for The Swans this season, in the Premier League, only two of the twenty goals they’ve shipped have been at home and they’ve kept six of Vorm’s seven clean sheets at the Liberty Stadium. No ‘keeper has kept as many clean sheets as Vorm has so far this season and none can brag as many home clean sheets either. At home, Michel Vorm’s side has only lost once - a 1-0 loss to Manchester United, thanks to an acute header from the Mexican, Javier Hernandez. Vorm has kept a clean sheet whilst making over five saves, three times too.

The rest of the contenders - who else is shutting teams out or letting leads slip?

Brad Friedel’s debut saw the most saves in one game so far this season with 13 shots being stopped by the aging American, but he let 3 past him, meaning that save success rate for one game comes in at 81%. Over the campaign, Friedel’s only been on the losing side three times, but in the top six, only Arsenal have conceded more and 8 of them were in one game.

David de Gea has conceded fewer than all other #1s bar Pepe Reina, who has conceded the fewest in the whole Premier League with 13, and this is down to his own handy work, not his defence; Manchester United’s Spaniard’s saves-to-shot ratio was 79% 10 games into the Premier League, 33% better than his Top 4 rival’s, Petr Cech, who at the same point in the season had the then worst saves-to-shot ratio, since taken by Paul Robinson. Since then the Czech has kept 3 clean sheets in his last five games.

The weekend highlighted the enormity of contribution a ‘keeper can have, with Victor Valdes showing how you can give away a goal 22 seconds in and Michel Vorm showing how you can take all three points with a penalty stop 87 minutes in. Whether you’ve got Paul Robinson, John Ruddy or Joe Hart in goal, who’s been the best between the sticks for you?

 Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

His contribution to Arsenal Football Club was recognised this weekend with the unveiling of a bronze cast of himself in his iconic sliding celebration that he had the option to do 226 times for Arsenal after each one of his Gunner goals. He stands as Arsenal leading goal scorer of all time with 226 goals in 369 appearances for the Gunners over a period of eight years. His goals to game ratio, 0.61 gpg, exceeds Arsenal’s current hit man, Robin Van Persie’s 0.45, by 0.16; however Robin Van Persie could be set to break Henry’s record for most Premier League goals in one season for Arsenal, 30, if he’s left to do the job alone. He’s already on 15.

So far this calendar year, Robin van Persie has scored 33 goals in 32 Premier League games and he still has four games in which to increase that tally; there is no denying that he is on fine form in front of goal for Arsenal and this has led to many questions over how they’d cope without him: after all, he is responsible for half of Arsenal’s Premier League goals this season and has further contributed with five assists. He’s arguably the world’s best striker, at current.

However, the pressure on him is sizable and with Chamakh seemingly not fit for purpose and Gervinho joining him for the African Cup of Nations as it is, in January, anyway, could Wenger do with moving for Thierry Henry in the January transfer window?

“As for Thierry Henry, I would say ‘No’,” said Arsene Wenger, when quizzed over the possibility of bringing him back. Yet again, the Gunners boss is looking to the youth to carry Arsenal forward, “we have players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

 and Ju Young Park to come in,” stated the Gunners’ boss. But for once could Wenger do with breaking a habit of a lifetime, by bringing his former protege back?

Yes. Although his last rule-breaker hasn’t particularly paid off yet, the 6ft 6’ Per Mertesacker who broke Wenger’s rule of signing no player taller than himself, Thierry Henry has proved he can deliver everywhere he’s gone since his transition from the wing to front man; Arsenal, Barcelona and now New York Red Bulls. His scoring ability has built him a, “ sensational career simply down to his class,” - Wenger’s words. At 34, some may stand by Wenger’s decision not to look back - but this is a striker who is still slamming goals home, he scored 14 goals in 26 games in his recently finished campaign with NY Red Bulls, and an experienced proven striker that Arsenal may well need during January.

The alternative has been stated by Wenger himself, “we have players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrey Arshavin and Ju Young Park.” However, Arsenal are relying on these three men to fill a void of what Wenger describes as “one of this year’s top signings in the Premier League,” a player who has scored 3, assisted 5 and has  had 24 shots on target, already this campaign and a performer who Wenger describes losing in late January, as a “concern.” It is a big ask. It is, however, no ask for a man that Wenger says is “at home here,” and is as competent in Van Persie’s role as he would be in Gervinho’s role. He isn’t just someone who could fill in for RVP when the flying Dutchman needs a rest; in three seasons during his Arsenal career, Henry provided 55 assists - a rate of 0.37 a game. Gervinho’s current rate is 0.38; it’s almost a like for like stop-gap.

Of course, Wenger pulls no punches when it comes to blooding the youth and with Alex Chamberlain being earmarked for game time in Gervinho’s absence, Arsenal fans can expect it to be the case again. However, the four games in the Ivorian’s absence are, by no means, easy fixtures: Manchester United & Blackburn at The Emirates and Bolton & Sunderland on the road. Even as a Saints fan, therefore with a natural allegiance to our  former academy product, I know who I’d rather have tormenting Smalling and Evra down the wings; the Frenchman.

Despite eluding to more game time for Andrei Arshavin during Gervinho’s African Cup of Nations campaign with the Ivory Coast, which will please the diminutive Russian who has stated that he, ” still wants to play for 90 minutes, but now I am glued to the bench,” talk of his departure has been rife. According to The Daily Mail, Arsenal are set for a January clear out and Arshavin is among the five-player shortlist.

Playing a player that knows his days are numbered may prove to be just as disastrous as placing the weight of victory on the shoulders of an 18-year old yet to start a Premier League game and when their is a player with “absolutely everything you dream to have — physical potential, technical level, super intelligence and dedication,” it would seem ignorant.

So, should Wenger give in when it comes to signing this Ex-Gunner?

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

It’s the most widely followed game in club football: and why wouldn’t it be? Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Alves & Sanchez and that’s just Barcelona’s contribution. But this time round, it was the smaller figures, the ones on the table, that mattered more than the viewing figures. If Barcelona lost, then Jose Mourinho’s men would open up a six point gap; and that would be with a game in hand too.

If Mourinho’s record and poker face was to be believed, Pep Guardiola was set for a season of catch-up and with The Special One’s self-assessing words in the air, “judge me on my second season,” ringing around La Liga like a school bell, all eyes were on how Barcelona would match Madrid, not the opposite.

Labeling Old Trafford the Theatre of Dreams is justified, if Santiago Bernabeu is the Stage of Legends, because that is what it was late Saturday night; the coming together of two greats, Barcelona and Real Madrid, the amalgamation of the the three-man Ballon d-Or shortlist and the clash of two managerial masters.

Going into the contest, Real Madrid had won the last 72 games they’d taken the lead in and 22 seconds after the referee had signaled the start of this derby, the Catalan giants were behind. To ensure a balanced and passionate account of El Clasico was achieved, I caught up with two rival fans.

O.Townsend, Barcelona Fan:

It was a commanding victory in the end from Los Cules, outclassing Real Madrid after weathering the early storm. Given the massive importance of this game, the early goal was terrifying from a Barca point of view, but they showed great composure to work their way into the game. By the end, it could and should have been more than 3. Particularly satisfying, was seeing Ronaldo once again show that he isn’t on the same level as Messi, by barely having an impact on the game and falling short when he had the opportunities. He might be a great flat-track bully, tearing weak opponents apart, but he’s not a big game player like the Barca boys are. We can now go to Japan as the top team in Spain this season. Alves had a great game, though can anyone work out where he was actually playing today?! Not even Mourinho has an answer to Barca’s style of football, which shone through in the end. Refreshingly the game didn’t turn sour this time either.

A.Goddard, Real Madrid Fan:

Real Madrid’s intentions were clear from the very first whistle, get at them. Barcelona’s defence refused to play long balls and Valdes was guilty of a terrible clearance; pressure from those in white, a slice of luck, and 1-0 - Benzema. Madrid were massively lifted by this and Barca looked shocked. The first 20 minutes were dominated by the home side and Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets couldn’t string more than a few passes together. Barcelona struck back after a moment of magic from Messi released Sanchez to finish expertly. Moments earlier Ronaldo had squandered a clear opportunity with Di Maria better placed for a certain goal to his right.

The match before half time was more akin to basketball with both teams breaking at speed; counter attacks were followed by counter attacks. After the break it was Barcelona’s turn to make the early impact. They took the lead when a somewhat innocuous looking effort from Xavi took a cruel deflection and beat Casillas. Madrid needed their talisman Ronaldo to step up with a moment of brilliance. He had two free kick opportunities in quick succession. Cue the trademark backward steps, the puff of the cheeks, but sadly for the home side, both efforts failed to truly test the rather erratic looking Valdes. But another chance fell the Portguese’s way, a well-crafted move down the left, a sublime clip by Xabi Alonso and the ball landed on Ronaldo’s head. However, the man who scored a wonderful header to beat Barca in the Copa Del Rey last season, fluffed his lines again.

That moment proved crucial, as within barely a minute, a strikingly similar move saw Barca add a third. A sumptuous whipped cross invited Cesc Fabregas to arrive and unlike Ronaldo, the former Arsenal skipper finished with aplomb.

Barcelona were now set. Madrid made changes with Kaka, Khedira and Higuain introduced. However, Mourinho’s troops had lost their way somewhat and the cunningly devised game plan which was so effective in the first half descended to desperation. Surprisingly for a Clasico, the game rather petered out.

Barcelona had won, and in the end they had won convincingly. Mourinho was visibly dejected at the final whistle, 90 minutes after he’d theatrically knelt as he came out of the tunnel, and he had good reason to be. On home turf, the hosts were the only side with a 100% record in La Liga and a win against their fierce rivals would take their run of consecutive victories to 15 - the cusp of a new record. But the stats proved to be the oxymoron. The way the game started suggested Madrid would win; the 72 games that saw Madrid take the lead first, prior to the derby, did and the four games that Barcelona weren’t leading by half-time this season, did. They didn’t though and this could prove to be Guardiola’s most important El Clasico win, taking the momentum well and truly out of Real Madrid.

Before the game much of the hype was aimed at Los Galacticos: how they’d win and how Barcelona would stop them. The greater momentum was with Madrid and Mourinho was reveling in his season of judgement. This loss will hurt. It showed him up and it has shown Ronaldo up, just weeks before the winner of the Ballon d’Or is announced. Jose Mourinho has lost to Barcelona more than any other team, with eight defeats to the club that once served as his employer. Furthermore, Pep Guardiola has enjoyed eight victories over Los Blancos now; more than any other opponent he has faced.

Statistics become psychological barriers and Pep has just cleverly built another one.

The real damage will surface in the wake of the game, however. Before it, the two club’s catalysts were being pitted against one another once more and comparisons were hastily knocked up. Messi had 17 goals in 15 La Liga starts and 27 goals in all competitions and Ronaldo had 17 and a further 4 in all competitions. Messi had scored 207 times in 292 games for Barcelona and Ronaldo had scored 107 in 109. Neither scored in this El Clasico, but Messi came out on top and not just because he was on the winning side. He set-up Barcelona’s equaliser with a split moment of class, he was involved in the heart of the game, getting yellow carded in the process, and he played his part in everything fantastic about Barcelona. Ronaldo, once more, became a shadow of himself in a big game, squandering chances, failing to make an impact and frequently going missing. If Messi goes on to win a third consecutive Ballon d’Or, the media won’t even sniff in Cristiano’s direction and the plaudits will fall at Camp Nou’s player. Real Madrid cannot afford for their goal machine to disappear in the shadow of his much smaller La Liga counterpart.

Accolades become pyschological barriers and Messi just cleverly built another one.

Ultimately it is the two teams as wholes that will define where they go from here, but again, Barcelona have derailed Real Madrid like Messi has Ronaldo. They’ve brought their impressive streak to an end, they’ve closed the gap at the top and they’ve now beaten them seven times in their last eight meetings. The only Real Madrid victory was in the Copa Del Rey.

Barcelona were in danger of slipping behind their title rivals, but they’ve got the three points and they head to Japan for the Club World Cup. Their quest for another trophy starts with a semi-final tie on Thursday and Santos will be hoping they can meet Guardiola’s side in the final so another player can try and prove himself against Messi; Neymar.

When Real Madrid and Mourinho were at their most potent, Barcelona and Guardiola slayed them. This may well be Pep’s most significant El Clasico triumph.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

He’s short, he’s stylish, and he’s skilful: it is Wesley Regular. He’s part of FCI’s Marks & Spencers’ clan along with Jo Pyle, Nathan Hussey and Jim Neave and at 17, he is the youngest player for the Division 3 hopefuls. Available from the off, Wes Regular enjoyed a productive pre-season in front of goal and got the accolade of Arthur Goddard’s Player of Pre-season Award. He scored 6 goals in 4 games, including a Man of the Match performance against Hedge End Blues in which he scored five goals; an FCI record. Since the season started Regular, who is comfortable anywhere down the left, has contributed with 3 assists, 1 goal and has played in both of FCI’s competitive clean sheets.

On Facebook you are known as Wes “Lallana” Regular; care to explain?

He has great pace, skill, and is very loyal to a great club, which makes him very admirable. Moreover he has the ability to make a chance out of nothing and I’d like to think that occasionally I am capable of producing the same.

We know you are a Saints fan, who is your favourite Saints player and why?

Well I hope you can guess by my Facebook name that it’s Lallana. He’s such an incredible player and I love watching him play - especially when he leaves defenders on their bums - like Florit junior does occasionally ;)

Why thank you Wes! I’ve often attempted to draw any link I can to my favourite club, Saints, do you see any sparkling similarities between us and the Red and Whites?

Firstly the kit - obviously with the stripes. We both have great managers and multiple leaders within the team - which is great for any side.

Both teams have a great shot stopper, strong defense, inventive midfield, and mesmerizing (at times) attack- which leaves teams hopeless. Moreover we are both more than capable of competing with the teams in the divisions above. And i sometimes wonder if Jose Fonte’s will adopt Florit Senior’s warrior cries in order to scare off attackers - or just make them laugh.

Well, like Saints, we are top of the league with aims of winning it; how do you think both sides will do?

FCI to win the double!! Southampton to gain automatic promotion - providing Davis and Lallana stay fit.
(written before Saturday’s lacklustre performance from Bialkowski)

We’ve got our cup run continuing in January, on the 14^th, with a cup quarter final, will you be playing?

Of course. After seeing Totton play the other day I think our players deserve a chance to prove their worth on such a good stage, therefore I am going to do my best to help the team reach our full potential.

As you know, we are in the bottom division of three; how do you fancy our chances if we draw one of the top division’s sides?

No question about it, we proved pre-season that we can compete with the best and we are stronger now, through experience, and can consequently beat the best. After all you have to beat the best to be the best.

Probably a better quote of inspiration than Mikey Hannides’ last week! In important games, you’ve been favoured at left-back; where are you most comfortable?

Left back has its positives. Although i am willing to play anywhere and enjoying doing so, I enjoy playing a central attacking midfield role; like Silva for city, having the freedom to roam and create chances.

So you are one of the babies of the team! Potentially the youngest across all three divisions, a title I held for a good three years! What’s the step up like from youth?

Baby of team? Isn’t jack? I’m 17 and do see myself as a youngster but I try to use this to my advantage - as the opposition tend to underestimate me.
Step up from youth? 
Ermmm well the football fci play is top-notch the majority of the time and it’s far more enjoyable than youth. 

You’re playing for Whiteley too, how are they doing and where are you used for them?

Whitley aren’t doing too bad considering you pinch me every so often. They’ve won 2 with me, 1 without me, and lost a few. But they are out of the cups- which will enable me to feature in a black and blue shirt more often!

 We’ve got our last game of 2011 coming up on Saturday, you’ve scored 6 goals in two games against these lot, are you hopeful to make it another game of goals for Regular?

6 in 2 against Hedge End Blues: another goal? Haha yeah well maybe you should play me up top more often Mr Florit!

What’s your score prediction for our opposition? We’ve beaten them 12-0 and 8-0.

I’m gunna go for a healthy balance of 10-0, with ten outfield players on the score sheet.

I’ve suffered a reoccurring injury that will put me out for the game and maybe the first game back in 2012, this will see you elevated to the strike force, are you confident of helping FCI towards the league title from the front?

Yes I hear you have obtained another injury (sorry to hear about that) when KES were knocked out by Itchen’s 3rds - that’s unfortunate. My friend, the goalkeeper of Itchen, informed me that he scored from inside his own box. I’d be surprised if Mikey doesn’t try that soon. Anyway, Yeah well I’ll be wearing my shooting boots and will do my best to create chances for the team - however if an opportunity presents itself I won’t hesitate to stick the ball in the net.
 

2012 will be a tough start to the year with a home game to 2^nd placed Hedge End St. Lukes and a cup quarter final. What’s been your toughest test in a FCI shirt?

There’s been a few but I think it’s fair to say the one and only game we’ve lost against Locks Heath. Although to be honest we didn’t have a full squad and were fairly new to playing with each other in 11-a-side. I’m sure if we were to meet them again with a full squad we’d absolutely splatter them (likes Nathan’s spaghetti down his shirt at work).

Big news for FCI, you’ve passed your theory test; was that a first time pass?

Yes passed first time!! It’s a shame Mikey doesn’t do the same one the pitch!!

Haha, top banter! Do you have your driving test booked?

Instructor has told me to get it booked for end of January/beginning of February. (Hopefully Mikey will have learned to pass first time by then).
We see Mr. Regular most weeks on the touchline, was he ever a gifted footballer?

Gifted pffft- he’s about as gifted as your right foot Jordan! However I know he used to play in goal for an old church team, but he has just informed me that he won a 6-a-side season at Fleming Park in the 1990’s!

Okay, we’ll get your predictions now. Who will finish top scorer for FCI?

Ooooo it’s a toughie but I think Neave will come on strong come the end of season- especially with the service he’ll be receiving from me over the next few games. 

Who is your player of the season so far and will they win Player of the Year?

Once again it’s a toughie. I think everyone has over performed so far which is fantastic but if I had to choose one, I’d have to say Florit Junior due to his management skills, enthusiasm, skill, determination, and goal scoring ability. Come the end of the season I will vote for whoever wins us the SCFL CUP 

Will FCI win the League?

FCI FOR LEAGUE DOMINATION!

Will FCI win the Cup?

FCI CONQUERERS OF THE SCFL CUP!! 

Wes Regular will be playing his 4^th league game for FCI on Saturday when Hedge End Blues come to play at King George V Playing Fields Winchester. With Jordan Florit out, Wes Regular is likely to start at left wing. With 6 goals in 2 games against the visitors, Regular will be looking to continue his fine form against them, which includes two man of the match performances! Come back Saturday to see how FCI fared before heading out for FCI’s Christmas Bash at Golden Palace, Southampton!

Before inevitably taking the post as England manager after Fabio Capello slumps more than he has ever slumped before this summer, Harry Redknapp has realistic title hopes to contend with; unless of course Jack Wilshere’s positiveness acts as a catalyst for Wenger’s warriors to push on to a second half of the season surge. When the returning injured midfielder was asked if Arsenal could win the Premier League he replied with, “Why not?” To add to the credentials of his statement he also said of Wayne Rooney’s match ban reduction, “his brain is miles ahead of most English players,” in a ringing endorsement to the average IQ of the England football team. In what just seems like a subtle, rivalry-induced, agenda against Tottenham Hotspur, he’s also plumped Wenger as direct competition for Redknapp, not only in the Premier League but for the England job, “[Wenger] and Sir Alex Ferguson are the best managers in the league and, if the boss at Arsenal wanted the job with England, I’d be delighted with that.”

However, if a North London club are to compete with Manchester City, and maybe Manchester United, I’d hedge my bets against Wilshere’s boyhood club and sit on the white side of the divide. Their run of late is admirable: before the weekend, they sat in 3rd place with the potential to leapfrog Manchester United with their game in hand and were on a six game winning streak that is unmatched; their only defeaters sat above them. Tottenham fans will be hoping Stoke was a blip, in an otherwise brilliant run of results.

Looking at their January fixtures, you’d forgive Tottenham for thinking they could pick up near-maximum points: they play 4 of their 5 games that month at White Hart Lane and 3 of the teams currently occupy positions in the wrong half of the table. West Brom, Everton and Wolves are their first three games at the Lane and after an easy away day at The Etihad, they return to their home ground to knock five shades of blue and white into bottom-of-the-table Wigan Athletic. If on paper, their fixtures don’t look manageable enough for you, they have won 10 of their last 12 games and have already beaten 3 of the 4 teams they’ve already faced from their January calendar.

If getting knocked out of the European tournament that Harry Redknapp wasn’t fussed about in the first place, aided Tottenham in their quest for the English title they are fussed with, then they’ll be happy to see two of their title rivals drop into the said European tournament having been knocked out of the one Harry Redknapp is aiming for, too. That would have satisfied old Harry Redknapp enough, seeing two of the Premier League big boys battle the likes of FC Metalist Kharkiv and PAOK Salonika in the quest for the Europa League accolade, but he’s been the beneficiary of a cruel twist of fate for his current closest competition, United, as well.

Losing 2-1 to FC Basel was hard enough for Manchester United fans to take and even harder for the, again, apologetic Sir Alex Ferguson, but losing Nemanja Vidic, who single-handedly makes United’s defence better (when the Serbian doesn’t play opposition’s shots on target increase by 70%)  was a blow on an even larger scale. With Rio Ferdinand having a fluctuating season, again plagued by niggles, and United’s defence being a shadow of seasons gone, there’s a real threat that without a stop-gap signing in January, Spurs could be the sunny side of United before too long. The problem won’t be solved quickly either, Vidic looks set to see the rest of the season from the sidelines; if not a year.

A saving grace for United, that is more of a curse for Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City, is that they won’t be losing any pivotal players to the African Cup of Nations in January. As aforementioned, all of Spurs’ close rivals will do though; Chelsea lose Drogba and Kalou, Manchester City may lose their Toures and Arsenal will lose one of their brightest stars this season, Gervinho. Tottenham don’t lose any of their African trio, with Adebayor retired and his country banned and Cameroon failing to qualify, leaving Assou-Ekotto and Bassong to play their football in the Premier League.

This is where Tottenham must capitalise; January is crucial, January is their’s to lose and January will be their making. Simply, Spurs must make the most of their peer’s shortcomings, misfortune and losses. Luck may have shone on them so far and therefore Redknapp will want to be in a comfortable position when it stops shining; January provides that. Along with United losing Vidic for the season, Liverpool have lost Lucas for the same duration, have no player of the same elk to plug the gap and will lose their top-scorer, Suarez for the majority of January. Newcastle have lost Steven Taylor for the remainder of the campaign and three other first-teamers are currently out with various injuries. That’s the teams immediately below and the teams immediately above, all being inhibited in some way and some more than others.

Chelsea may well be the least affected in January; they look set to strengthen during January with AVB undergoing his first transition, despite stating, “this is not a period of transition,” and Drogba and Kalou haven’t exactly been the flagship for Chelsea’s football this season - the latter has perked up though. Luckily for Tottenham, Chelsea are three points behind Spurs having played one more game and face Manchester City on Monday night. Manchester City may also brush off Tottenham’s threat during January; Yaya Toure will be missed as a vital part of City’s engine room, but, as City have shown, for Aguero there is Balotelli, for Milner there is Johnson and for Yaya there will be many many choices that can aptly fill the void.

One team that may not be able to win with the hand they’ve been dealt with, is Manchester United; Vidic is out, their Champions League exit is costing a rumoured £20m and Sir Alex Ferguson has now had to apologise for two cup exits already this season. In January they play their rivals City in the F.A Cup and an exit from that would leave Manchester United with two hopes; the Europa League and catching City. Without Vidic, fans would be right to fear. Unfortunately for United fans, a signing in January isn’t looking hopeful; since selling Ronaldo to Madrid, their net spend is lower than that of the Championship’s Hull, Blackpool and Burnley.

Ultimately, this is where Tottenham must capitalise; January is crucial, January is their’s to lose and January will be their making.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

When it was first suggested, in The Independent before its later removal, that AVB was looking to “comprehensively overhaul” his Chelsea squad, the article was rubbished and the writer slain. However, ever since, the story has gathered weight and Anelka and Alex’s transfer requests and consequent listings have continued to allow the debate over who is heading in and out of Stamford Bridge to snowball.

Supposedly, The Blues are to renovate their first team mid-season, in an attempt to at least secure Champions League football again next season and put up as much of a challenge for the title as possible. Among the names being chucked about as possible departures, are presumed African Cup of Nations participants, Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou. It’s already been well accounted for that Didier Drogba is not having the best of seasons and I have been one of his harsher critics, pointing out his lacklustre return this season, which is dwarfed by hopeful England international, Daniel Sturridge.

While flogging Drogba in January may well be smart business with his contract up in the summer, there are two obstacles to factor in. Firstly, he hasn’t stated any intent to go, in fact it’s quite the opposite, “I always said that I will honour my contract with Chelsea until the very end,” and secondly, also applying to Kalou, is the question of ease: how easy will it be to sell with the players away on international duty and with Drogba being available on a free transfer a few months later. Some speculation has arisen over moves to Anzhi and L.A Galaxy though, as well as Tottenham being linked to the Ivorian. 

While the focus is on who is leaving in January, for the rejuvenation to take place, Chelsea will have to bring in players of suitable quality, ready to make an instant impact. Luis Suarez did it last year for Liverpool and AVB will hope to find his catalyst for a second-half push up the table.

Danijel Pranjic

At 30 years old, this possible signing may well contradict the concept of rebuilding a team that can grow together over years under steady and consistent guidance. However, for every few young and inexperienced players, an older and more experienced player is needed for tutelage. This signing wouldn’t be purely instrumental though; the Croatian international plugs a gap that Chelsea have been reliant on ever since Makelele had it branded as his own.

 Michael Essien has efficiently slotted into the Makelele role, which shields the defence so well, enabling Cole and formerly Bosingwa to bombard the flanks; however, in his injury-inflicted absence, Chelsea have been punished. Terry’s slip against Arsenal to gift Robin Van Persie the easiest of goals emphasised their lack of a deep-lying ball player. Had Essien been there, Terry wouldn’t have been and the Ghanaian would’ve instigated a Chelsea attack, rather than an Arsenal goal. Pranjic could prove to be the spur for players such as Mata to thrive off of in the second half of the campaign.

Eduardo Vargas

The South American could be Chelsea’s Javier Hernandez. He has the attributes; diminutive, pacey and a real goal poacher. Therefore, it is no real surprise that he has been touted as Nicolas Anelka’s successor, as he confirmed he shall be leaving in January. The Chilean 22-year old, currently plying his trade at Chile’s top team Universidad de Chile, has been nominated for the South American Player of the Year Award, having enjoyed a fruitful season in front of goal, netting on average a goal every other game, with 16 from 32. The accolade is quite an achievement, considering he is competing against players of Brazil and Argentina among others. Last year, wonder kid Neymar finished third. The rumoured asking price for this young striker is £10m. Would Abramovich provide the financial muscle to see off competitors for his signature, supposedly including Liverpool?

Lazar Markovic

One possible transfer target with real, rather than speculative, strength to it is this Serbian 17-year old. Whilst I attach a certain amount of gravitas to the possibility of this right winger coming to Chelsea, I hasten to add it comes because of Markovic’s apparent love of Chelsea F.C and an openness to negotiations, while other possible targets may be as unaware of a transfer as indeed Chelsea may be. “I had all the pictures of the team on my wall when they had Gianfranco Zola,” said the 17-year old selling himself as best as he can, “Chelsea is the place I want to play.” Having a £10m price tag slapped on him, much like Vargas, may deter any interested parties from bidding. He isn’t even 18 yet and with Romelu Lukaku already occupying the token young player spot on the bench, I doubt whether Markovic would be worth his weight in gold, at least not immediately and immediacy is the conundrum.

Alexandre Pato

If Chelsea fans reading this had so far been unimpressed with the names speculatively linked to them, despite unspectacular status, then this A.C Milan hit man may well be more to their acquired palate of big names and accompanying big prices. The likelihood of this transfer is unbeknown; however his name has been linked with Arsenal on this very site and Manchester City look like the current Premier League team to be linked with “The Duck.”

Pato is still only 22-years old and to state that he is five years older than one of Chelsea’s other alleged targets, seems surreal. However, with five more years under his belt, he’s likely to be more suitable for the footballing equivalent of a quick shot of botox and that is what AVB’s Chelsea needs: a facelift. Having dropped out of favour at A.C Milan, the Brazilian striker may well be heading for the Premier League. Chelsea were linked to him back in the summer and if Manchester City don’t scupper their chances, AVB may well move for him once more.

Luka Modric

Unfortunately for Tottenham fans, this is one rumour that seemingly won’t die; much like the love triangle between Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal and Barcelona. However, as unlikely as I view this rumour, it might be Chelsea fans hoping Modric doesn’t end up at Stamford Bridge. Why? Because it would come at the cost of Frank Lampard.

Harry Redknapp has had his name chucked into a hat with many other players and managers during this period of no transfer activity and the regular syndicate being withdrawn is Redknapp with (insert player of big club over the age of 27) and more frequently than not it has been Didier Drogba and now Frank Lampard. Supposedly, a cash plus player deal could be offered to Tottenham in the January window and that player is Frank Lampard.

Only January will reveal for certain who is set to join The Blues and AVB as he seeks to refurbish his new lodgings, but with six players being told they can leave, you’d hope another six would be joining. There are only five names above and how likely they are to join can be debated. So, who do you think Chelsea should punt for in January?

Have your say below……………..

Tottenham are flying high at the moment and their form in unparalleled. Over the past 6 Premier League games, Tottenham have picked up all available 18 points. No other team in the Premier League can match that recent unbeaten streak and it has, of course, drawn plaudits. Since a condemning start to the Premier League campaign, which saw Spurs on the wrong end of a 3-0 and 5-1 loss to Manchester City and then their rivals Manchester United, Harry Redknapp’s men have only conceded a further eight goals.  This means that half their total goals conceded came in those first two games. Since then, Tottenham have been unbeaten, winning 10 of their 11 since United and only Manchester City have gone unbeaten for longer this season. Rightly so then, Tottenham will go 2nd if they win their game in hand, leapfrogging Manchester United.

Missing those first two games of the season, in which Spurs let in 50% of their total conceded goals, was Ledley King. The Tottenham centre-back, a one-club man and club captain, missed his club’s pre-season tour of South Africa after yet another knee operation. Initially just a doubt for the planned season opener against Everton, King missed the first two games of the PL campaign, even though he was given an extra week due to the London Riots enforced postponement of the Everton clash. It was an all too familiar story for King and his fans. His recurrent lingering knee problems had again infringed his season, but come the third game of the season, he was back and so were Tottenham’s winning ways.

In Ledley King’s 9 starts this season, Spurs have conceded 5 goals. Comparable to conceding 13 without him in 4 games and 60 minutes of football, it is clear when Tottenham are better. When their captain is in the back four, they only concede once every 150 minutes of football; without him they let in a goal every 32.92 minutes. Their 428 minutes of playing time without King, are 428 minutes of poorer defending. His defensive ability and leadership of the back line is essential. Simply put, they’re defensively five times better when King is playing.

So does Tottenham’s skipper deserve a plane ticket to Poland & Ukraine next summer? Well, yes. Unfortunately though, his international career has arguably been even more hampered by injury than his club career. Along with his ever-present knee condition, King has suffered a fractured foot bone and a groin strain, which have both resulted in untimely departures from England camps. His regularity at the physio’s table has limited, “without doubt one of the best central defenders in England,” in Capello’s opinion, to a meagre 21 international caps.

In Ledley King’s 21 appearances for England, since his debut against Italy in a friendly on 27th March 2002 aged 21, they have conceded 13 goals. Therefore, when the Tottenham centre-back is featuring for the Three Lions, they concede on average 0.62 goals per game. Since his debut, England have played 127 games and in the 106 without King, England have conceded 80 goals. Comparably put, England have conceded 0.75 goals per game, when King isn’t participating. The country’s defence is 0.13 goals better off when the Spurs skipper is in the back four.

Despite the stats clearly showing both club and country being better off with Ledley King in the starting XI, the former may well show reluctance when it comes to calling the 31-year old up. In the 4 international competitions that England have qualified for since King made his debut, the centre-back has only featured in 2. He wasn’t part of Sven Goran-Eriksson’s 2002 World Cup squad, but was in his Euro 2004 squad. For the World Cup 2006, King was left at home, having fractured a bone in his foot and four years later, his World Cup in South Africa only lasted 45 minutes after pulling his groin in the first half against U.S.A.

A lot of the weight of the decision will fall on King’s fitness come next summer. He is unlikely to play in any games for England between now and the European tournament, with Harry Redknapp stating that as much as he’d, “love to see him play for England, he simply cannot play two games in a week.” He said that back in 2009 and with the story being no different two years later when it comes to fixture congestion and Ledley’s knee, it is likely to still stand. As it is, King only trains with his team the day before a match, spending the rest of the week training alone, in the pool or on a bike.

At current, he is enjoying a rare run of consistent games in the Premier League and the talk of a new contract is in the air, with his current one set to expire in the summer. A string of performances that reads unbeaten for almost 16 months, with 12 wins out of 13, should warrant himself another extension, meeting Redknapp’s expectation of 2009, “I hope we can get another four of five years out of him - and maybe for England.”

But does Ledley King deserve another reward in the summer of 2012 - a place in Capello’s 23-man squad?

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

England will now crash out of Group D with Wayne Rooney, it has emerged. It had previously been thought that the England striker, who statistically makes England more likely to lose when playing, would miss The Three Lions weakly limp out of Euro 2012 after drawing 0-0 with co-hosts Ukraine, to register a grand total of two points.

However Rooney’s three-match ban, given out for his swift swipe at Miodrag Dzudovic’s calf, due to his frustration at his law-breaking match-fixing father, has been reduced to two.

Unsurprisingly, the seemingly intimidating figure of the F.A has yet again forced a major footballing power to back down. Having cornered FIFA with poppies on a stick and beaten them into submission, England, minus Rooney, beat Spain 1-0 whilst wearing memorial armbands with the red flower emblazoned on them. This proved to be a moral victory, as well as a rare victory, for England over a clearly stronger force.

This time the F.A used fictitious blah blah and Wayne Rooney Snr. to secure a “big result for the F.A and England.” Despite Dzudovic clearly stating that, “it is a lie that I wrote a letter of support to UEFA,” Rooney’s appeal included a written letter supposedly by Dzudovic asking that the ban be reduced. “It couldn’t be further from the truth,” said Rooney’s victim when asked if he had done such a thing; either England fixed the hearing by supplying a false document, much like Rooney’s father would fix a Scottish football game, or Wayne Rooney’s handwriting is so illegible that his letter pleading for a reduction has been mistaken for Montenegrin.

Either way, further securing a victory for England and the F.A was the X-Factor fitting sob-story of Wayne Rooney’s previous 24 hours in the build up to his red card. In a script that wouldn’t be out of place on Jeremy Kyle, the F.A considered using Rooney Snr’s arrest as a bargaining tool. Using basic playground experience, his argument would have run similar to this: “My dad made me angry so I kicked that foreign fella.”

Continuing the weird set of events was the eventual decision - Wayne Rooney’s ban has been reduced to a two-game ban and the third game has been suspended for four years - possibly the most bizarre and prolonged punishment ever witnessed in football. While Rooney will be 30-years old, probably an alcoholic and part of Harry Redknapp’s World Cup squad of drunkards, criminals and Tottenham players, by the time his third game ban expires, it can be activated before then if Rooney is dismissed in Europe again. Luckily for Rooney, this is only when on international duty for England and dismissed by result of a red card, otherwise his dismissal from Europe by Basel would have sufficed.

Much like when any player of any considerable merit hits the headlines for the wrong reasons, every other fan, player and manager has something to say about it. “It’s a bit strange,” bleated a jealous Scot, “(the F.A) are supposed to be setting an example.”

The said jealous Scot is Kenny Dalglish and he was probably one of four people in the game that shouldn’t have entered a discussion on “setting an example.” Along with Blatter, Terry and Suarez, Dalglish questioning a point of authority for standing by its man, is a tad short-sighted. Whilst questioning exactly what type of example the F.A are setting, Dalglish continues to set an example of double-standards, supporting the racist one-finger saluting Luis Suarez, who according to Gus Poyet is entitled to say what he likes and blame it on culture, “England needs to understand how the rest of the world lives. If someone is fat we (Uruguayans) call them fat boy, if someone has a big nose we call them big nose and if someone is black we call them negro.”

“Poland and Ukraine is that way son.”

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

It was an open criticism under previous managers and regimes; the Chelsea team are too old was the critique that came from fan, pundit and commentator. It was a valid one too; the average age of their starting XI has been consistently high for the past 3 seasons and growing. Last year their aging squad hit its all-time high of 29.9 years of age, 3.3 years older than Mourinho’s Chelsea that became the fifth English team post-war to win back-to-back Premier League titles. Furthermore, the last time Chelsea had an older squad was the 1999/2000 PL campaign and that year they finished 5th, 26 points adrift of the eventual winners Manchester United. It was their lowest finish for three campaigns.

For a short while at the beginning of this campaign, the ominous age factor eluded the media, AVB’s possible list of excuses and indeed the fans; at least it wasn’t publicly utilised. The fact that the age problem was tentatively remedied somewhat, with the reduction in the average age by 1.9 years, through the introduction of Sturridge into the starting XI and the purchases of Lukaku, Romeu, Mata and Meireles, may be why.

Sturridge and Mata in particular have shone this season, breathing fresh life into what would’ve been a dying Chelsea squad without their contribution. The former looks like his form so far may well earn him his plane seat to Poland & Ukraine next summer as he continues to blossom in the wide role of Chelsea’s front three. In Chelsea’s 14 PL games this season, Sturridge has played in 10 and scored 7. His scoring success is 70% from 10 shots on target and his goal tally is greater than Chelsea’s other front men put together. In fact, out of Chelsea’s top 5 scorers, he is the only striker.

Unlike Mata, most creative midfielders suffer from stagnated spells and purple patches; for the Spaniard he hasn’t stopped producing. In Chelsea’s past 9 games, Mata has laid on 7 assists and scored a further three in the Premier League, averaging direct involvement in 0.71 goals per game (gpg) in a Chelsea side that are averaging 2.2gpg. After Mata and Sturridge, the most fruitful Chelsea player is their evergreen midfield spearhead, Frank Lampard. Despite being Chelsea’s second top scorer with 6 goals and a further 4 assists, Lampard hasn’t escaped the limelight of the aging squad debate and his frustration at his withdrawal on the hour mark, at the weekend against Newcastle, was evident.

Before Chelsea’s away fixture at an emotional St. James’ Park, The Blues were the only team in the top 7 that hadn’t picked up points against any of the other top seven sides. Allegedly, despite stating that, “this is not a period of transition,” AVB has caved into to an excuse synonymous of the recent Chelsea team and has supposedly started to plan for a comprehensive overhaul of Chelsea’s aging squad in the summer, not happy with the start his side has made.

If this is the case, who should bow out at Stamford Bridge?

Didier Drogba?

Drogba, whether Chelsea fans like it or not, is a shadow of his former self, putting shots wide where he previously would’ve seen them end their flight path in the net and firing headers over where he normally would’ve buried them. Once a force, as recently as last season proven by leading the charts for the most shots on target, Drogba has only returned 2 goals this campaign. He’s had flashes of the Drogba that has hit 29 Champions League goals for Chelsea, but he has sunk into the background and if it wasn’t for Fernando Torres’ even worse form, I’d imagine AVB would’ve already considered showing him the door in the summer. As it is, speculation has surrounded the Ivorian and a possible move to Tottenham has already been mentioned, however Drogba has insisted that, “I am fine here and my personal case is not an important factor for me at the moment,” perhaps subconsciously eluding to his poor form and return.

Nicolas Anelka?

The former PSG, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester City striker is almost certainly heading out of Stamford Bridge and has claimed he already knows the destination once he moves. Time under AVB has been miserable for the elite club journeyman: he hasn’t played for Chelsea in the PL since Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat at Loftus Road back in October and to add more pain to the Frenchman’s campaign, he’s only completed one 90-minute run out and has only scored once. Anelka has been a model professional throughout AVB’s tenure, and having been officially transfer listed, the striker said, “The club, which is going through a difficult time, has decided to work with Chelsea’s players of the future and, as I am a good professional, I have accepted this.” The rumours are he is heading to China.

Petr Cech?

Once hailed as the greatest ‘keeper in Europe, twice in a three year period, the Czech ‘keeper has endured a tough start to life under AVB. The Portuguese is building a team based on the formation and philosophy of attacking minded wing backs, ball playing centre backs and a high back line. Cech has had to quickly adjust to a team that had been constructed with a mentality of defence, still existing from the Mourinho era, that set a record for the least goals conceded in the Premier League: 15. The stats would suggest he hasn’t stepped up: after 10 PL games, Cech’s saves to shots ratio was 46%, 33% worse than de Gea’s and he’d only kept 1 clean sheet, their first game of the campaign. Their desire to improve and adapt to the high line, resulted in Chelsea averaging more bookings per game under AVB than any other manager since Ranieri. He has gone on to keep three more clean sheets, including a current run of 180 minutes without conceding, but will AVB soon turn to his Belgian prodigy, Thiabaut Courtois?

Jose Bosingwa?

The touchline-bombing right back cost Chelsea just over £16m, when fellow countryman Scolari brought him to the club along with another Portuguese international, Deco. Deco’s spell at Chelsea proved to be much shorter than Bosingwa’s, having departed at the beginning of last season. Bosingwa stayed and has had his Chelsea career plagued by a knee injury that put him out of the majority of the 2009/10 campaign as well as the World Cup. With David Luiz seemingly preferred at centre-back alongside Terry, Ivanovic has been pushed out to right back, effectively dislodging Bosingwa. Despite regularly getting 90 minutes at the beginning of the season, they are drying up and at 29, AVB may well choose to cash in now.

Frank Lampard?

Surely not? However, Frank Lampard’s part to play at Chelsea may well be on the downward decline now. At the beginning of the season, the questions over his career rang out. I was never in doubt; for me he is essential to Chelsea, as was Scholes for 15 years of his time at Manchester United. However, the paper read the end and since then the speculation has mounted. Question marks fell over his England career and he replied in the best possible way: he captained his country and headed them to victory over the European and World Champions. Question marks fell over his Chelsea career and he replied effectively: he scored a hat-trick against Bolton, firing Chelsea to a 5-1 success over Bolton. However, some have said AVB is not treating Lampard as the necessity predecessors have. He was dropped for Chelsea’s fixture against Swansea, having only played 45 minutes the week before and since then, Lampard has again become familiar with the bench. In Chelsea’s last two games, Lampard only played a total of 80 minutes from an available 180.

Departures are not necessary, look at Chelsea’s title rivals of recent years: Manchester United. Gary Neville eased out of the game, going from a 90 minute regular to a regular position sharer with the other club’s right backs, before eventually retiring. Ryan Giggs is still playing, but not as much as before. He has accepted that. Scholes ducked out knowing he wanted to quit before he was past his best. Ferguson has been the master of managing numerous transitions. He is in the middle of one now; last year’s average age at United was 30.1 and the vital experience of older players such as Giggs and Scholes was pivotal to their title success. However, Ferguson has involved himself with another rebuilding of the first team, taking the average age down to 25.3: a cut of nearly five whole years. While departures are not necessary, a reshuffle is. If certain players don’t want to leave, they may well have to settle with less game time.

Should anyone go, and if so who?

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

England managed to finish their 2011 fixtures in the same manner that they started them; with two wins. The first two came back in February and March with a 2-1 win over Denmark and a 2-0 victory over the late Gary Speed’s Wales team and they finished 2011 with victories too. A 1-0 win over European and World champions Spain, was enough to send the media into sensationalist overkill and the same score line against Sweden saw England march into 2012 with a 9-game unbeaten run.

Fabio Capello’s Three Lions went all of 2011 unbeaten, winning six of their nine fixtures and scoring 15 along the way. It was a stark contrast to the year before, which saw England fail miserably in South Africa, slumping to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Germany in the World Cup. Their doom and gloom didn’t end there though; having been scrupulously damned from fan to pundit, Capello had a task of rejuvenating England in time for Poland and Ukraine. When the young changed face of England, including two debutants, then lost 2-1 to a half-strength France side in November 2010, it looked like 2011 would be an arduous year of preparation in vain for Poland and Ukraine. However, 32 players, 6 wins and a few minor controversies later, England are beginning to shape up for the European Championships 2012.

This year has been England’s first unbeaten year since 1994 and you could argue this year was more successful; despite England only conceding one goal that year, it was down to the fact they failed to qualify for the World Cup in the United States and were therefore playing the likes of Norway, Greece and Denmark in meaningless friendlies. This year has seen the emergence of Joe Hart as England’s #1 and the resurgence of Scott Parker in the national team, who received his first call up since October 2006. It’s also seen Welbeck, Jones and Walker, among others; make the step-up from under-21s to the full side.

Last year, Ashley Cole won the England Player of the Year Award. The award is given to best performing player in the calendar year, based on an online poll carried out by the F.A. Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney have both received the accolade, which has been in existence since 2003 and first won by David Beckham, twice. So, out of the 32 players that have featured for The Three Lions this year, who are the genuine contenders?

Joe Hart

Frustratingly, for most England fans, this 24-year old shot stopper didn’t feature once in South Africa. However, since then he has grasped his chance with both gloved hands, building on the three sub appearances he had prior to the World Cup. In between the sticks, Joe Hart is yet to lose in an England shirt and is one of only two players to feature in every game in 2011, effectively guaranteeing himself the #1 jersey in South Africa. Furthermore he is the only player to go 14 games unbeaten for England since ’96. In 9 starts in 2011, Hart has conceded just 6. His goalkeeping exploits surely warrants a top three finish in this year’s award.

Scott Parker

Last season, Scott Parker was one of the few blazing beacons at Upton Park and his sensational form and inspirational team talks of footballing legend, ensured he stayed well and truly in Capello’s plans. There was a smidgen of controversy when The Hammers went down and Capello highlighted the problem Parker would face staying in the Championship, “The problem is the Championship is a play-off. If you go straight to the Premier League, no problem, but the play-off will play to June and another thing is, they play 46 games – more than the Premier League.’ However, Scott Parker moved to Tottenham controversy-free and since then he has become the lynchpin of Tottenham’s midfield, making 5.96 tackles a game and he has carried his form across to the world stage. Against Spain, a man-of-the-match performance was churned out by the Charlton graduate and his passing ability and defensive duties saw England take away a 1-0 victory.

 

James Milner

Alongside club and country team-mate Joe Hart, Milner has played in the majority of England’s fixtures in 2011. In the 8 games, Milner has played over 600 minutes of football for The Three Lions and the once ever-present under-21 international, who holds the record of most caps at that level – 46, has cemented his place at left midfield. With 6 starts out of 8 games, only missing Montenegro, Milner looks like he is to play a pivotal role in Capello’s plans for Euro 2012 and with regular match time in a star-studded Manchester City team, England are fortunate to have a consistent and natural left-midfielder for the first time in ten years.

Ashley Cole

Having won the trophy last year, Chelsea’s left back entered 2011 in a rich vein of form and continued it throughout the season, putting in seasoned performances in 7 of England’s 9 fixtures. Only missing Sweden and Ghana, both friendlies, Ashley Cole has continued to prove he is England’s best left back into his 92^nd and 93^rd England cap. Euro 2012 may well be Ashley Cole’s last major tournament for England, as by the time Brazil comes around, the Chelsea defender will be 33. For now though, he is keeping an impressive Leighton Baines out of the England squad.

Frank Lampard

For a short while, the media managed to whip up a concoction of intoxicants that all had us wondering if Lampard’s England career was done and dusted. The Daily Mail brashly stated in July that, “Frank Lampard’s career as a first-choice England midfielder is finally over.” Lampard went on to start two of England’s remaining four games, captain his country against the World champions and score the match-winning goal.  That goal, his third of the year, meant that Lampard has now got the joint most goals at Wembley, with Peter Crouch at 9. Lampard has already taken home the trophy twice for England and considering Wayne Rooney’s recent performances in an England shirt, if anyone is going to make it a hat-trick of awards, it is England’s midfield evergreen.

There are 32 players to choose from, ranging from Gareth Barry, who scored England’s 2000^th goal, to Jack Wilshire, who is heralded as England’s future.  Take your pick and leave your winner and why in the comments below.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Remarkably, this tenacious and ferocious versatile midfielder is yet to be booked. His style of defending is “industrious” as Jo Pyle would say. He takes no prisoners and is not concerned with punching above his weight or causing offence. In fact, he does both weekly. He is, however, a vital player for FCI and with 7 goals and three assists his contribution is invaluable. He is our top scorer and a calming presence whether he is controlling the ball up front in the box, in the midfield round his man or on the edge of his own box in defence. Hannides is talented and tricky to manage in equal balance. He is mischievous and mocking and as sarcastic as he is strong. This is his One-on-One.

1.       Mikey, nice to get you into the One-on-One hot seat. It had become far trickier to secure you since your Facebook deletion! How come you chose to show Facebook the door?

Too many bitches stalking me.

2.       I was first made aware of your interest in joining FCI when Ryan Breen informed me that you wanted to play having heard we were. You missed pre-season and your first run out was a 45 minute stint against Romsey Saints. You came on and scored and assisted. Did you feel like you were behind without a pre-season?

“Some are born with greatness; others need practice to achieve greatness.”

3.       Not too sure, if the phrase is exactly that, but it fits you well. You’ve done well since you have come in, featuring through the spine of the team at centre back, centre midfield and up front. Where do you most enjoy playing and with whom?

I enjoy midfield best in a physical game, and Mitat; he’s a thug.

4.       Your another one that also plays college football on Wednesdays; which do you prefer and why?

FCI , better standard on the pitch and better management.

5.       That’s guaranteed starting XI roles for the rest of the season then! Captaining the school side obviously puts you in a position of authority and responsibility; do you prefer being a leader or a team player?

I enjoy being part of a unit but my big mouth means I can use it to motivate, though it’s a work in progress.

Mikey realising he isn’t always the best with motivational words

6.       You have improved, tremendously; you’re, for me, a calming player on the pitch and you’re not afraid to play the ball out from the back; do you base your game style on anyone in particular and do you have a role model?

My role model would have to be Ike; he’s not afraid to assert his authority and I enjoy the way the Saints back 4 ping it about.

Controversial as always

7.       As well as playing your part at centre back, including keeping a clean sheet against Division Two leaders Victory Gospel, who have only lost one other game, you’ve fired FCI to victory as well. Are goals the most important thing for you?

Goals are crucial to win but I enjoy more putting in a big challenge and getting the boys fired up.

8.       Well you are FCI’s top scorer with 7 goals, one ahead Neave, Giles-Pilgrim and Hussey all on 6. You’re the joint top FCI league scorer with 4 along with myself. Can you get the Division Three golden boot? The current leader has 7.

Current leader is a pussy, he can only go down now but I can go up.

Mikey proving he fears no one and his mouth doesn’t either

9.       FCI are in the quarter final of the cup and top of the league by five points. How much will we win this season?

Win it all.

10.   And will you be around next season for FCI?

As long as my wages are paid I’m here.

Mikey isn’t actually paid wages, before you ask.

11.   Ryan Breen has announced his immediate return to first team football; are you looking forward to playing with your natural partner across the years?

Breens is quality and I am eagerly awaiting the chance to show him up; however, I feel his Redknapp likeness means injury could be more common than his fouls.

12.   How far do you two go back, footballing wise?

We go back years, the days of Year 3.

13.   Who have you been playing for most recently before FCI?

I was unemployed before FCI.

14.   And how are you enjoying your time here?

Loving it , they are like family.

15.   What has been your highlight so far this season?

Tom Lewis hitting screamers.

16.   We’ve got the all-important Christmas night out coming up, have you got any specific party tricks we can expect to see?

Wait and see.

17.   Our next game is on December 17^th, I know you took a heavy knock to your knee last week in college football; will you be back?

I’ll be returning, just call me the Jedi.

18.   Jedi, what part do you expect to play in the game?

I’m going for the De Jong role.

19.   Lastly, what are your personal goals for the rest of the season?

Consistently play to my ability to be more reliable than a liability.

Guys, I’ll tell you something; that is the most eloquent and deep sentence that has ever left Mikey’s mouth. 

20.   And most intriguing for me, will we go the season unbeaten?

We will not just go unbeaten, we will go without losing or drawing; we won’t drop a point.

I expected, knowing Mikey for seven years now, this to be very different; instead of it being continuously sarcastic and overly cocky, it was assertive and confident. There is a fine line, but Mikey draws it and it’s a valuable trait that he brings to games. He pushes limits, he pushes players too, but mostly limits.

His answers were self-representational; short and sweet. He’ll continue be an evergreen for FCI, as one of the core players that are yet to miss a match. At current, he is nursing a swollen knee, however he is confident of a return for the Hedge End 2011 finale and will be going head to head with the likes of Ryan Breen for that starting XI spot.

Come back next week for the latest instalment of One-on-One.

It used to be highly fashionable to slag off Lucas Leiva and everyone did it. Whether he was pulling on the yellow and blue of Brazil or the red of Liverpool, Lucas Leiva was the fan’s whipping boy. However, the anchor-man of Liverpool’s midfield was dealt a cruel blow on Thursday 1st December when his fears over his anterior cruciate ligament were confirmed.

The tireless workhorse that makes Dirk Kuyt look lazy is set to be out for six months and has effectively been ruled out of the rest of the Premier League season with the unfortunate news of his injury coming at an unfortunate time for King Kenny. Dalglish will have to act quick, and he already has to an extent; Jonjo Shelvey has been recalled from his loan at Blackpool and Jay Spearing and Jordan Henderson are ready made replacements. However, Lucas Leiva has been vital for Liverpool since his move to the Merseyside from Gremio, picking up two player of the year awards along the way; the young player of the year and the full award.

If an injury could come at a “right” time for someone, it kind of has in a strange way. Although Lucas, as The Times’ Ben Smith pointed out, “would’ve been better off breaking his leg,” injury-wise, the injury has no doubt emphasized his value to the club that hasn’t always appreciated him; or at least not all fans have. His form this season is arguably the best he has had and it had led to some boo-boys turning their heads and taking note of the superb job the Brazilian does in the middle of the park. Replacing him will be no easy feat and until January, Dalglish will have to plug the gap with one of his own.

Measuring up to the man is trying to step into the shoes of Sir Alex Ferguson when he retires. No, really. When Lucas plays, Liverpool have a win ratio of 48% and when Lucas doesn’t, Liverpool rarely win. In fact, when the hardworking centre midfielder is not starting, Liverpool’s win ratio drops by nearly 20% to 29%. Furthermore, the hard-hitting tenacious midfielder has made more tackles than any other Premier League player this season, averaging 5.67 per game, making 68 to date. That isn’t surprising either when you consider that he finished last season with more tackles to his name than any other player, making 8 against Manchester City back in April and averaging a tackle every 18 minutes of play throughout the season; a rate quicker than any other. In his position, he truly is unrivaled in the Premier League.

One possible solution for Dalglish’s midfield vacancy is Jonjo Shelvey. Although matching a player who regularly tops the most tackles made and the most passes made per game charts is hard, Shelvey has spent the first part of this season cutting his teeth in the Championship with Blackpool and has impressed too. “Obviously this is a setback to us as Jonjo has done ever so well in his short time with us, we will be in regular contact with Liverpool about trying to bring him back in January,” said The Tangerines boss Ian Holloway.

This time last month, I stated that the player most likely to return to Anfield with a much-deserved, and reinstated, reputation would be Jonjo Shelvey, and 10 games and six goals later, the 19-year-old Romford born midfielder may well have his chance to do exactly that; reinstate his reputation having bossed the midfields of the Championship and terrorising the defences. However, two other internal solutions to the How to solve a problem like Lucas are apparent; Jordan Henderson and Jay Spearing. Henderson has been at Liverpool since pre-season and the £16m man has said that he’s, “played a lot in central midfield and people might say that’s (his) best position,” but he’s been playing in numerous roles in front of The Kop. Lucas Leiva’s injury may provide the former Sunderland central midfielder his chance there and his creative nature, shown by last season’s Opta tables (49 chances created throughout the season) may well provide the foil Liverpool need to fire their way into the top four, but it may well cause them to suffer defensively.

Looking to the January transfer window may be their best bet. Although Henderson could slot in competently and Spearing suitably impressed against Chelsea in the League Cup quarter-finals, Liverpool fans would hope for a more permanent replacement when the transfer window reopens in the New Year. But who could they bring in?

Cheick Tiote continues to perform to high standards in a formidable Newcastle team and with Manchester United briefly linked with the Ivorian, it may well be so that a move to a team that consider themselves superior, is a natural progression for the young star. Alternatively, Yann M’Vila, previously linked with Manchester City and Arsenal, could tie up the midfield aptly. The Frenchman adopts the holding role naturally and many have coined him as the next Patrick Vieria, a ringing endorsement for any blossoming holding midfielder.

Dalglish might choose to plunder a team below them in the Premier League for their replacement for Lucas Leiva and undoubtedly between now and January a whole host of names will find themselves attached to the red of Liverpool, but who do you think Kenny Dalglish should sign?

Have your say……………..

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Steve Kean has talent, shocking I know but he does. Anyone that manages to stay in a Premier League job despite only seven Premier League wins in a year must have some ability, some working faculty, that has managed to trick Venky’s into keeping them. He has continuously flattered to deceive.

Flattering to deceive - complimenting someone or something by pointing out their good features in order to allow them comfort around you, thus enabling you to con them.

How many lies does Kean tell per interview? Answer is in the picture
 

Despite his deception never lasting very long, it somehow still manages to occur and flatters meanwhile. Kean was originally hired until the end of last season to “prove his abilities,” as  a Venky’s owner with apparently no definition of “ability” stated. However, the contract was offered two months later after 10 points from 18, including three of Steve Kean’s seven Premier League victories to date. The run of form that saw Kean earn himself a contract until 2013 was arguably just; he’d accumulated a win ratio of 50%. However, come the end of the season, Kean had only won a further three Premier League games and he now sits on a win ratio of under 20% averaging one point a game. That 6 match ability-proving run was nothing more than Kean flattering to deceive.

A year on, Steve Kean has managed to continually flatter to deceive in various guises. His post-match interviews are cringe-worthy and whilst fans cannot help but inanely grin wondering how this man is still in a job, the various Indian businessmen lap it up and apparently, according to Mr. Flatteringly Deceiving, “the owners have backed (him) and the players are totally behind what (Blackburn) are trying to do.” Unfortunately, despite Kean telling more lies than a pathological liar anonymous meeting, this was a true statement. It came in the wake of his reviewed contract and Kean received a pay rise. I can only presume this was in result of a successful trading period for Venky’s or the countless times Kean has sucked up to the owners.

So, when Kean stated on Tuesday afternoon that his team, “have got a good tie and scoring goals on the road,” I was deceived once more. His flattery was impeccable as he delivered the lies with a toothy grin and the lighting delicately bouncing off his head created an air of honesty. Talking up his side’s chances was expected. I am yet to see a manager actively advocate a performance of abysmal proportions, prior to a game. However, his flattering statement, “we’re scoring goals on the road,” was ultimately nothing more than window dressing; Blackburn, in 8 away games, have accumulated a goal difference of minus 10, conceding 17 times.

Having listened to Steve Kean talk of a,  ”competition that (Blackburn) want to go all the way in,” before stating that he was, “confident (Blackburn) can go and get a result,” I was easily sold. I looked at their run of fixtures and thought, “Kean will want to win this and kick start their season in time for a run of winnable results.” I was deceived by his flattery, the charmer.

I imagine his charm wooed the Scottish lasses during his “playing” days

Blackburn were dismembered to epic proportions by a Cardiff team made to look like Hannibal Lecter. Having harboured small dreams of success for Rovers, fuelled by Kean’s self-interested propaganda, I was mildly upset when I saw he had sold his own fans down the river. “We have forfeited going through and having the chance to reach a cup final,” said Steve Kean in the wake of his side’s 2-0 loss to the Championship’s 3rd placed Cardiff City and seemingly foreseeing a season-defining change in form that would be needed to dispose of either Manchester City, Crystal Palace or Liverpool in the semi-final, whilst he was at it. His comments came less than 24 hours after he had signaled his ambition for the club to reach the final of the cup. This may be a record for Kean; a one day cycle of flattery that preceded the deception and the murky realisation the smarmy Glasswegian had lied.

While his choice of reason may have been just, “(Blackburn) have games against sides within touching distance in the league and we need to treat those games as cup finals,” his ever-constant unchanging trait of flattering to deceive, not only conned the 1000-or-so fans that crossed the border to Wales to see their team half-heartedly run round a pitch, but it was unnecessary too.

Mancini was clearly as distracted by the annual fixture congesting cup, expressing that he thought it was mad and unfair to expect Manchester City to play Arsenal just two days after playing Liverpool. ”We should play with 11 young players. Maybe 14 or 15 years old to make a statement,” said the again scarf donning Italian, “it is not right but we’ll go there and try to win it, of course.” That is where the two managers differ, one lied outright to his fans stating his aim to reach the cup final and consummately dispose of his Welsh opposition and the other one aired his grievance and then declared his intention to get on with it.

Next year’s Manchester City Carling Cup side

With words of expectation chucked in the air by Kean for Blackburn fans to inhale and intoxicate themselves with, the expectation of a win came with an expectation of a relatively strong side. Instead, Kean dropped his ‘keeper and 3 of his 4 defenders, as well as others, including Yakubu.  With words of condemnation filtered through Mancini’s interview for Manchester City fans to hear and repeat to all that may fear Wenger’s youth might have snatched a win, the expectation of a weakened side but a desire to win came across. Blackburn lost and Manchester City won. Kean made eleven changes and Blackburn were outplayed. Mancini carried through his ideas and only Nasri from Sunday’s starting XI started. One lied and one stayed true to his word.

He continuously flatters to deceive and unfortunately for Blackburn, as well as the rest of English football, he looks as if he will remain at Ewood Park for the foreseeable future; not only has he recently received a pay increase on his existing contract, but he claims he has been given a January transfer kitty to splash. Let’s hope for the fans’ sake it isn’t on journeymen or Robert Pires.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Harry Redknapp has told the F.A not to announce him as the successor to Fabio Capello until after he has won the Premier League 11/12 campaign with Gareth Bale, Adebayor and Van der Vaart.

“It’s very difficult for the FA to choose another manager if he’s already working, It wouldn’t be fair to the club. You can’t do it during the season,” chin-wobbled Redknapp. Having seemingly suffered a bout of memory loss when in hospital for his heart surgery, Redknapp continued to forget his team’s name, simply calling them a club,“to give it to someone who’s working at a club is unfair to the club he works for.”

Redknapp will take the reigns in July 2012, having seen his country finish 3rd in Group D behind France and Sweden who will both defeat The Three Lions 1-0.

Having watched various blonde women and blond men spin, dance, hop and spin further still round a well illuminated stage in Kiev, the draw for Euro 2012 started. Well, it did after the Ukrainian President overran his allocated time for his FIFA-approved speech, viewers were treated to a slideshow of the venues accompanied by jittery string music, a woman participated in a performance akin to karaoke with a catchy bridge Capello may adopt for his pre-match team talks, “never give in,” and numerous other loose forms ofentertainment took place.

Several best and worst case scenarios for England were mocked up by varying websites and pundits and the general consensus was that a Group of Spain, Portugal and France would prove England’s toughest possible test. Capello made it clear who he wanted to dodge, “I think you need to avoid the first pot, so Spain and Holland,” declared the Italian, “After that there is also Portugal and France in the third and fourth pot, and these are the teams I would prefer to avoid in the group stage.” According to the stats, number geniuses Opta revealed England’s best case scenario as Greece, Ukraine and Denmark, because England are most likely to win against these teams based on previous results.  Capello also made a point out of wanting to veer clear of his countryman Giovanni Trapattoni in the group stage and he’d be wise to; England’s third worst win ratio against the 16 teams is indeed against the Republic of Ireland.

The draw eventually got underway and the arduous process churned out perhaps the easiest group first; Group A. Group A features joint hosts Poland alongside Russia, Czech Republic and Greece. Group B chucked up Germany and Holland in the same group as well as Denmark and Portugal and Group C is made up of current holders Spain, Italy, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland. England were the last team out of the numerous hats and their rivals for getting out of Group D are France, Ukraine and Sweden.

Fabio Capello’s 23-man squad, having been placed in Group D, may want to reassess their base. They’ve located themselves in Krakow for Euro 2012, and having been drawn in the last group, they aren’t in the same country as their fixtures. This means that, unless they relocate, they face round trips of nearly 2000 miles to and from their Group D fixtures. Furthermore, being in Group D takes up even more precious time for Capello’s men; as well as having to rack up more air miles than Steve Kean during his regular trips to India, England will have the least amount of time to prepare for games if they make the latter stages of the tournament. Teams in Group A & B have two extra days’ rest than their semi-final opponents from Group C or D. If England somehow manage to guide themselves to the final, their eventual opposition will have between 3-4 days more recovery time than the Three Lions.

If dates, times and travelling doesn’t provide England with enough excuses to underwhelm in Poland & Ukraine, perhaps the form book will; England are yet to win a competitive fixture against Sweden, losing twice and drawing the remaining five and France are unbeaten in their last 5 games against England, winning four of them. The only game you’d put money on England winning is their last in the group, Ukraine. It may well be the decider for England and luckily for The Three Lions, their history against the co-hosts is their second best in the tournament. England have won 75% of their games against Ukraine, only beating Greece more frequently. However, having the game on home turf may well be enough to shut out England.

It will be Capello’s last games in charge of England having confirmed today that he will not be staying on further than his current contract, “as an England manager, this is it for me,” said the Italian. Hopefully, it will be a case of so long farewell for England fans and not a case of good riddance. Here’s hoping Fabio can impress and go out on a high.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Willie McKay ft. Aging Africans FC have yet again wowed the British footballing world over. This time Lamine Diatta, who once played 30 minutes of football for Newcastle United, joined the team of ex-Premier League stars, who barely command the title stars, let alone Premier League.

Lamine Diatta is 36 years old and was last seen plying his trade in Tunisia for Étoile du Sahel. However, being released by a club I have never heard of, Diatta went to that corner of the world famous for churning out footballing greats, Singapore. The former World Cup number maker upper participated in trials in Singapore and was resoundingly told that he wasn’t good enough.

However, Dean Saunders, who must believe a bunch of Singaporean footballers would get the better of his African Nations veterans, was impressed by Diatta and commented that, “we need all the bodies we can get,” a ringing endorsement for Diatta’s footballing ability and an insult to their current centre backs.

If Saunders is looking for anymore bodies, he can contact Arksey Lane cemetery in Doncaster on Station Road on the number 01302 535 191.

The comparisons were inevitable, let’s be honest. They were being made before he even joined Chelsea. It was as likely to happen as the comparisons between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin Van Persie and Steve Kean and a potato in a suit. The three above comparisons have varying plausibility and some are the work of lazy journalism. When it comes to the Special One and the Special Two, I am still undecided on whether it is the result of the former or the latter.

Characteristics akin to both men led to the younger of the two acquiring the praise/pressure of the “Special One” tag; both are Portuguese, both put tremendous legwork in before they landed a managerial role of their own and both owe much of their success to the late Sir Bobby Robson. Robson picked up Mourinho when he was managing Lisbon and in need of a translator and then the duo picked up AVB at their next club, Porto. 

When Jose Mourinho was manager of Porto, he hired AVB as an assistant coach and as Mourinho conquered Portugal, the Champions League, England, Italy and the Champions League once more, AVB followed from club to club, in the same familiar role. His breakthrough, or his first of many, came at a young age and has epitomised his style; he challenges convention. He challenged Robson on his team selections aged just 16 and now he’s challenging a convention that Mourinho instilled into Chelsea; an onus on defence.

Mourinho’s record at Chelsea stands for itself and its only blip on an almost picture perfect canvas, was his inability to bring the Champions League to Stamford Bridge. To Abramovich, the Champions League is much like the son Henry VIII always wanted, chopped and changed, literally, to get and then, when he eventually got within touching distance, lost in a sad twist of fate. Much like Henry’s assorted, and differing spellings of, Catherine and Anne failing to produce a son only Jane Seymour could, Abramovich is yet to marry a man to the club capable of winning the Champions League. It isn’t without trying either; since The Special One’s departure, that came without a P-45, may I add, and with an unbeaten home record intact since he took over, Abramovich hired and subsequently fired Grant, Scolari, and Ancelotti. Hiddink featured at the helm for 4 months between Scolari and Ancelotti, but his role was only ever temporary and despite calls to stay, he returned to focus solely on managing Russia. Unsurprisingly, he’s the only manager to be linked with a move back to the London club.

When Abramovich broke all records previous in paying £13m for Andre Villas-Boas to rejoin Chelsea, this time as manager, from his post at Porto, he thought he had finally found his Jane. If ever there was a perfect C.V, AVB had it and Abramovich lapped it up. A win ratio of 84%, a Portuguese treble of the league, the cup and the Europa League and ringing endorsements from some of the world’s best including his comparison and compatriot, was as many referees you needed on your portfolio.

However, the going thoughts of many at the moment is that Chelsea are falling short and Roman Abramovich won’t wait, and seemingly no amount of outlandish statements, “He didn’t pay £13m to get me out of Porto and another fortune to get me out of Chelsea,” window-dressing, “I have to reflect on the games that went past and we didn’t deserve to lose, we showed things that could have won these games,” and stating of the obvious, “To be competitive in terms of the Premier League we will need to have a good December,” will eradicate the speculation.

It’s easy to draw the comparison between Mourinho’s success and AVB’s lack of so far and whack out a condemning one liner of the future of the current Chelsea manager. Its unwarranted though. Yes, Chelsea are 5th in the Premier League and yes, they are yet to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Champions League with only one game left, but Manchester City and Manchester United are yet to qualify too and they are teams with stability, in the case of United, and constant replenishment, in City’s. It is easy to point the finger with manic decry and waggle it infuriatingly before pointing to the door, but AVB, despite claims that, “there is no calling this a year of transition,” is in a year of transition. 

His war chest for summer spending didn’t really receive a reception of an accompanying war cry, more of a shout of, “this will do.” Arguably, only two of his signings were going to make an immediate improvement to the starting line-up; Meireles and Mata, and the former may not have improved the XI much, if at all. On top of that, Drogba’s seemingly already retired, and now just takes Saturday afternoons as an opportunity to go for a paid lacklustre jog round a football pitch, Anelka has gone missing and he was last seen with Torres’ shooting boots, so no one has a clue really. Firing Chelsea to any minor triumph they will achieve this season is Danny Sturridge and if the nation will benefit from Chelsea’s, so far below par, campaign, it is through the experience this man will get up front.

He may not be so special right now, but I for one hope Villas-Boas is given the time on his contract to live up to hype he didn’t ask for and comparisons he didn’t draw. It’s been well accounted for that Chelsea’s side is aging and seemingly people have forgot this with AVB’s arrival; give him time to build his own side, and like Ferguson, let him build a new team on top of an old team, again and again. After all, Ferguson didn’t win a trophy until his fourth year at the club. That gamble’s paid off, hasn’t it?

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

For as long as there has been a Premier League, there has seemingly been an apparent “Big Four.” This “Big Four” are responsible for winning 18 of the 19 Premier League campaigns. The anomaly is Blackburn Rovers; having won the 94/95 title, only three teams have won the Premier League since: Chelsea, Arsenal and most frequently and recently Manchester United. Liverpool are the fourth component of this alleged quartet and the name is arguably justified: until now.

Dominating the Champions League spots for 16 of the 19 years since the founding of the Premier League has justified the name and its grievance with the rest of the Premier League falls in the increased revenue the top four teams earn by their reward of Champions League entry.  As the top four remained consistent year upon year, it became more of an issue that the gap would not close; the top four would get more money and therefore continuously improve and further the gap, pulling away from the rest of the pack for good.

But no; when Everton finished 4th in 2005 and thus qualified for the Champions League qualifiers, it looked to be a once-off and this was emphasized when, for the next 4 years, no other team managed to break the “Big Four.” However, the past two seasons have bucked the trend, held a finger up to tradition and started to throw punches back at the big boys and to great effect. Harry Redknapp guided Tottenham to a Champions League spot of fourth in 09/10 and the following season Manchester City went one better and finished 3rd. It was, however, at the expense of Tottenham, who finished 5th.

The Big Four is dead.

Some may naturally agree with the above statement and nod to themselves thinking, yes it is no longer the Big Four, it is a Big Two who will dominate the Premier league for years to come. Well, not quite. While you could make a case for the two teams of Manchester to possess the Premier League trophy for the next 5 or so years, it would tempt fate and most of all, it would be slightly premature. Last season was the first time the top three was broken since 03/04, when Ranieri guided Chelsea to a 2nd place finish having gone all season unbeaten and setting a club record for the least goals conceded and most points accumulated, let alone someone outside the Top Four winning the Premier League. If Manchester City go the distance, they’d be the first team outside of the Big Four to win it since Blackburn.

The Big Four is dead.

Seven teams could well finish in the Top Four this season, if you ask me. Looking at the current Premier League table a case could be made for all teams from Arsenal up. As it stands, 3 of the Big Four aren’t even in the Big Four. Newcastle continue to impress; having started the Premier League in a rich vein of form, they’ve continued to last the pace to the third-way through mark. Last week’s lost to Manchester City was their first of the season and City now remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier League. Their stellar start has threatened to add another anomaly to the Big Four dominance and the more frequently these anomalies occur, the less valid calling them anomalies become. As it stands, after Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle have the best Premier League form; they are both on a run of 16 games that only includes one loss. Ironically, they’ve only dropped points to Manchester City and drew to each other.

Mancini’s Manchester look set to “break” the Top Four once more and Tottenham’s relentless season further strengthens the likelihood of the Big Four being well and truly dead, blown to smithereens and never to return in its current form. In 2011, City have averaged 2.23 points per game (PPG), the 3rd highest in the whole of the Football League and the highest in the Premier League. United are just behind their Manchester rivals with 2.22  and the Manchester clubs are the only PL clubs in the top 5 for PPG in 2011. Although Manchester United look like they’re slowing up, the stats don’t lie. Despite the fact that Manchester United have only scored exactly one goal in each of their last six Premier League matches, including their 6-1 drubbing to Manchester City, they’ve accumulated 30 points from 13 games. That’s 2.3 points a game and therefore, over a season a grand total of 88 and that has been enough to win 3 of the last 4 Premier League titles. Granted, it might not be enough this year, as City spend their way to footballing heaven, but IT is more than enough to make a case for them remaining in the top four. If you’re not convinced, Manchester United have not finished lower than 3rd since the Premier League was formed. 

With a case made for both Manchester teams and Newcastle, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham still remain with a valid case and a genuine belief that they can qualify for the Champions League. For Chelsea, it is quite simple; if they don’t AVB will be out of a job and Abramovich will begin to wonder how much success really costs and then he may well look to Al Mubarak. For Arsenal, a top four finish has been a guarantee, 84% of the time and under Wenger it is has been an 100% guarantee, to date. When anomalies have occurred the team from the Big Four to suffer has been Liverpool. However, as an original member of the Big Four, they may feel they will warrant a top four position out of commonplace. Tottenham will seek to threaten that right for the 3rd season on the bounce; they sit on a run of 10 games unbeaten and 9 of them were wins. So far this season, Spurs have only dropped points to then unbeaten teams or the current title-holders; an impressive record to brag.

For me the Big Four as we’ve always known it (Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool) is over. A new Big Four will form eventually; however, for the next 2 or 3 seasons the Premier League’s top four will under go a transition and the long term future of the elite will count on the success in the near future. Tottenham have the ability to break the big four up permanently but it will rely on constant top four finishes to attract, not only the revenue it brings, but the players it brings. Newcastle are more likely to be that anomaly and I cannot see them threatening the big four season upon season. Manchester City are here to stay without a doubt. So who will have to make way?

Have your say………….

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Two shocking things have gone on at Blackburn Rovers this week and losing wasn’t one of them. Losing is only shocking when it happens infrequently and undeservedly.

Firstly, Kean’s contract was reviewed and, because of the amazing job he is doing at Ewood Park, it surprisingly passed and was resigned on reviewed terms.

Secondly, Kean was honest for once; when he announced that he’s been handed a transfer kitty for January he replied to the reporter’s interest in who is on his radar with, “I wouldn’t like to speculate or comment on any names at this stage because it would be unfair to any player.” 

Well, yes it would. Linking a player with Blackburn is disgraceful and not even Emile deserves it, like he said, “it would be unfair to any player.”

Steve shakes the hand of his future successor, a 12 year old boy 

As January comes closer with each week, marked by the door slamming shut on the emergency loan window for the Football League, it is only natural for every Tom, Dick and Harry to get linked with every United, Rovers and Athletic. It has been no different this year. Even though he is 30 next year, World Cup winner Kaka is being linked with Chelsea for a bizarre £30m. Manchester City are slowly being linked with every player that gets the better of them; and as predicted by The Guardian’s football blog, The Fiver, Mancini is allegedly lining up Edinson Cavani as he oversaw Napoli get the better of City. More prolonged transfer gossip include; Willie McKay’s Doncaster dynasty continuing to plunder small fortunes into African has beens in the hope that they can lift them off the Championship floor, Beckham deciding where he will cash in his final paycheck and who Arsenal won’t buy because they never spend much but we will link them with a £20m move anyway.

However, a smaller, if not for much longer, team have slowly progressed up the Premier League to where they sit now at 9th. Having joked that he would take, “7 points from 9; easy,” against Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City, his team took three and pushed Man City all the way. Q.P.R have come some way from their opening day drubbing at the hands of Bolton. The unquestionable financial platform provided by the new owner Tony Fernandes, helped Q.P.R kick start their season. The Malaysian tycoon put his money where Warnock’s mouth was and five signings were made immediately, at the end of the summer transfer window. His impressive performance at the helm of the Loftus Road club, including a win over Chelsea, looks set to earn Warnock his second transfer kitty for January.

“We are on the lookout for four or five,” proclaimed Sheffield born Warnock, “”I’m not saying they’re all going to be big-name signings but we need numbers in the squad.” For me, as hopeful as I was of David Beckham returning to the Premier league, this draws a big red cross through the idea if Warnock’s comments, “I personally can’t see where Beckham is going to get in the team at the moment,” didn’t.

Warnock sent out a ringing endorsement for his current hit man too, when hinting at what Rangers fans can expect, “You could spend £10million on a striker and he will not play as well as Heidar ” stated the QPR boss. That paired with his exclamation that “big-name signings,” aren’t guaranteed, can provide fans with a small window of opportunity to second guess who they may sign.

So far, unlike most of the Premier League, rumours for players into Loftus Road have been fairly muted but not entirely non-existent. The Daily Mail audaciously claimed that QPR were putting together £10m bid for an “out-of-favour” Jermain Defoe, which is unlikely for two reasons; firstly Warnock indirectly claimed that a £10m striker couldn’t match his Heidar and secondly, Joe Jordan, Redknapp’s right hand man stated that Defoe can play his way into the England Euro squad, “”I wouldn’t say Darren Bent has got to go to the Euros because I think that between now and then you still have to prove that you are a good player. And Jermain Defoe can do that.” As well as Defoe, fellow Spurs man Bassong has been linked with a London switch and as aforementioned, “Beckham”, “Warnock” and “QPR” has resulted in numerous Google results ever since the MLS began to draw to a close.

As is normally the case, however, the signings made in January will probably be players no one has mentioned; hints were given though, “If we sign a few players from Asia it will definitely help QPR develop as a brand,” said the manager when it emerged he had traveled to the continent in mention to watch South Korea do battle with U.A.E. It is likely that Warnock is on the trail of countrymen of the former rather than the latter and the omens are good for any potential signing.

The Premier League already has the Korean trio of Arsenal’s Park, Manchester United’s Park and Sunderland’s Ji Dong-Wong and the United midfielder has enjoyed illustrious success under Ferguson with a reputation of determination, commitment and a regular in Fergie’s big game teams. His contemporaries have had less time to settle in to the Premier League, but both have shown promise: “Park is a quality player, we see that in training, and he is a very intelligent player, believe you will see more and more of Park,” said Wenger having seen his new recruit net on his 2nd appearance last month. As for Ji, Bruce has told fans that, ““Ji plays up front with the lad from Arsenal, but in his country Ji is the rising star – he’s the new Park Ji-sung.”

Warnock was supposedly watching three players in particular, but there is more than just footballing ability at play, “it will definitely help QPR develop as a brand,” explained Warnock, ”By owning a Premier League club Tony has shot up in profile over there. This is the start of something and I feel the club can develop a global presence because of the owners and the contacts they have.” However fans worried that money will be ill-spent on players purely to flagship an Asian QPR can be assured that players will be bough to strengthen, “By all means we want to improve the squad long-term, as well immediate.”

Dipping into the Asian market may well be a move taken up by many soon and Warnock’s quick move to start scouting firsthand now, may give him the first pick of the Korean class of the future. “Two aspects of the development of the game; one will come from the States, the second big part I’m convinced will be Asia,” said Arsene Wenger, who has managed in Japan. “In these two countries and continents they have an aptitude to have a team attitude and hard-working attitude and I think once they get the education they will produce good players.”

Who could QPR expect though; Koo Ja-Cheol, Nam Tae-Hee or Son Heung-Min?

Have your say……………..

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

He is distractingly quiet. We don’t know why. That is the distraction. He is distractingly slow. He doesn’t have to be. That is the distraction. He is a distracting distraction. He manages to block his team’s own shots on the opposition goal line. He manages to infuriate Jo Pyle to the levels of unheard of insults such as, “you hit and hope with no skill, it is industrious.” However, he scores, he dribbles, he has the first touch that competes with Lejay’s and he works through the night and plays in the morning. He is Neavemar, Neaville, Neavestar, Neaveatov and Neaveahimovic. Jim Neave.

1.There have been rumours you’re not a striker. Some have bantered that you can’t score and others just don’t think you play like a striker. However, most concerning was the rumour that you are actually a right back. Are you?!

For the record.…..No! I wouldn’t want to in our team as Dan and The Welsh giant seem to be doing well in games so I’ll stick to what I’m good at! 

2.Do you have any idea where the right back rumour came from? What other positions have you played in before FCI?

Well I’ve played in a lot of different positions over my career like rm lm cm cdm cf gk on the occasion, but my favourite has to be cf with a winger either side of me. But as for the rumours it must of been when I was a bit younger I had a huge kick on me and would clear more than half the pitch that’s the only one I can think of.

3.Who did you play for before FCI and how long ago was it?

It was 2 years ago; I played for a team called Wessex Athletic had a good half year, then players didn’t turn up and had to play some matches with 8 men! So I decided to have a year out and then I was playing 5 a side one minute next minute I was another big name free agent snapped up for the mighty FCI!!! 

4.Have you played for many football teams over the years? College, school, work, Saturday/Sunday League?

Yeah play for school team and Sunday league; enjoyed it but love playing Saturday league now. It means I can go and get Lionel Messi on a Saturday night and have Sunday to recover! 

5.No matter what people tell you, you are my Pavlychenko. You score, even if it doesn’t seem like it! You’re FCI’s 3rd top scorer behind Hannides on 7 and Lejay and jack joint on 6. With 5 goals to your name, can you go on to push for FCI’s Golden Boot?

Of course I can! The only reason Mike and Jack are up there is because they never pass unless it is an impossible angle! As you found out against Waterside A I was in for an open goal and Jack refused to pass..says it all really! He must know I’m going to take that golden boot off him and as for Mike concentrate on assisting me and stop being greedy, 

aha! 

6. Now, last week Jack Hussey compared you to Dimitar Berbatov. You’ve compared yourself to many players. Many many world class players; Neavemar, Neaveatov, Neaveahimovic and Gary Neaville. Who are you cloaking yourself as at the moment?

Umm that’s a tough one! At the moment I’m going to have to say Neavatelli ( Balotelli ) seeing as he is finding his scoring form and playing in a team still unbeaten this season.

 

7.Do you feel FCI have any genuine copycats in the team? For example, I think Arthur Goddard plays exactly like Scott Parker? 

Umm I think there’s a lot! You have Nathan who is like John Ruddy - has his on and off days! Dan - like Danny Simpson up and down the wing like a yoyo! Mike Florit - Carragher who takes no prisoners , Jordan Florit - Bale never stops running and Ryan Breen and Kieron Dyer always in the medical room! Think that covers a few? 

8 .It’s been a question I have been burning to ask; how fast can you actually run when you bother?

Well when I’m not doing silly hours at work and I’ve had a good sleep and refreshed I’m a white version of Obertan!

 

Neave and Florit

9. Interesting. You’re part of the former deadly M&S trio, which is now a quartet. Out of Wes, Nath and Jo, who do you spend the most time with at work and what do you get up to?

Umm well I’m on opposite weeks to Nath so I don’t see him a lot so at work its Wes and Jo I see most and have a good laugh but when I do see Nath I try to avoid him as he smells as bad as a tramp’s armpit!

10.Nath enjoys some lovely moments with you on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Where most people would stop, Nathan continues, almost telling you, you won’t score; is the banter as strong at work?

Yes! Sometimes gets out of hand and I end up getting taken in an office! 

11. Changing topic now, some found it hard to believe you are 22. What do you put your babyface looks down to?

Umm not sure really but I suppose it’s better to have a babyface than have no hair like Alan Shearer, hey Nath? 

 

12.Interesting. Well you’ve managed to stay fresh faced on match days, even if it is fuelled on Red Bull! How do you think FCI have done so far this season?

Yuck! Not red bull all about monster or relentless!! But as for FCI it has been an awesome start to the season with only one poor excuse for an injury in sick note Breeny but were scoring goals playing well just need Nath to follow in mike Florit’s shoes and keep a clean sheet! 

13. And how do you feel you’ve done on a personal level?

I think I’ve got better as season has gone on obviously I had a slow start but started to get goals and playing well week in week out. 

14.What are you expecting from FCI for the rest of the season?

Hopefully unbeaten all season would be a buzz as would getting to a cup final would be the highlight of the season so if we keep up the form we have been doing lately we should have a good chance! 

15. And do you have any goals on a personal level?

Yeah I’d like to snatch the golden boot or score goal of the season to take it away from Breen as he think he has it but I’ve seen better this season.

16. I hear you are getting new boots to keep your scoring tally up! What boots are you getting? 

New lime green / volt vapours; might make me run faster if you’re lucky! 

17. Available after Christmas was what I was told. Are they on your list for Santa?

Yeah they are! I’m addicted to buying new boots just can’t help myself but I don’t have to pay for these ones.

18.Who for FCI most looks like Santa? I’d say Jamie.

I wouldn’t say Jamie. I’d say Mike Florit as he’s a bit older than most with a white fluffy beard he will look just like him. And I’m guessing Santa can get in a miserable mood just like Mike after conceding a penalty?! 

19. What is your favourite Christmas song? 

Easy! I wish it could be Christmas every day! Don’t you agree? 

20. Now, I don’t. I prefer The Pogue – Fairytale of New York. The all-important 20th question; what do you want for Christmas?

 I want to be played striker and not a wing forward as jack has younger legs and can get used to passing on the wings!

A Top interview, by a normally quiet Jim Neave! He originally didn’t want to do the interview but I gave him no choice! He needed to speak out and now he has. The beast is unleashed. Unfortunately there is no game until the 17^th of December now, but come back next Monday for the next One-on-One!

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

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Around 12:30 on Sunday 27th November, it was announced by many online sources that Gary Speed was dead. At the age of 42, a police spokesman stated that “it was not in suspicious circumstances” and announced that the Wales football manager had hanged himself. The FAW announced in a statement that they, ”extend our sympathies and condolences to the family. We ask that everyone respects the family’s privacy at this very sad time.” At current, their has been no speculation over why Speed took his own life. Gary Speed leaves behind his spouse and two children.

His death shocked the nation and within 5 minutes of the news breaking on The Telegraph the topic was widespread on Facebook with “R.I.P Gary Speed” occupying the news feed of all and furthermore it had already trended on Twitter. His death was sudden and shocking and the the rate at which tributes and condolences appeared online acts as testament to the former Newcastle midfielder.

The effect of the untimely death of the former Sheffield United player and manager was only emphasized further by the fact that he was on our screens across the nation the day before alongside Dan Walker on Football Focus. The 34-year old British sport journalist tweeted immediately following the Welshman’s death, “Staggered by the news of Gary Speed’s death. Was with him for much of yesterday. I genuinely cannot believe it. Thoughts with his family.” The touching tweet came just 22 hours after Walker had expressed his delight at Speed’s presence on the BBC football show, “Thought McAllister & Speed were class today,” and his sentiments were echoed in numerous replies and retweets stating that he was a “likable guest.”

Dan Walker was clearly heavily affected by the news, further tweeting as the news broke, “Gary was full of life yesterday talking about his kids, bright future with Wales, twitter, golf. Can’t get my head round it. So sad.”

Speed with McAllister, just yesterday on Football Focus

The former Welsh international, who gained 85 caps for his country, had only retired from football in 2010 aged 41 and immediately thrusted himself into the managerial side of the game with his then current club, Sheffield United. His spell was short-lived though, with Wales stating their desire to have him at the helm just four months into his managerial career and last December he was announced as his country’s boss. Less than a year later the former Wales and Everton captain is no longer with us.

He led his team within 3 points of the chance to progress further, but the victories came a bit too late and all of his 9 points in qualifying came in three of the last four games. Victories over Switzerland and Montenegro twice ensured that Wales finished the qualifying stages on a high, even if they failed to progress. Their future looks bright too and this is undoubtedly down to the turnaround in fortunes that Speed oversaw, including their FIFA ranking increasing from their lowest ever of 117th to 45th. Speed continued his work with Wales right up until Wednesday, where he was in Brussels for the scheduling of fixtures for the 2014 World Cup and his comments were positive and focused on the future, “This is such a well-balanced group that we knew everyone would be looking for an early advantage, said Speed in a statement for the FAW, “As always, there had to be some give and take, but I am very glad that we did not have to use the June qualifying dates.”

As a player, Speed was an evergreen in the Premier League, being the first player to make 500 appearances in the 19 year-old competition, until his move to Sheffield United saw him drop into the second tier of English football for the first time since he won the Football League First division with Leeds in a midfield department that boasted Strachan, Batty and McAllister.

His honours speak for themselves and in 2010 his contribution to football was acknowledged with an MBE in the Birthday Honours. The man will be sorely missed and his mark on English and Welsh football will forever be a benchmark for loyalty and patriotism.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

“It’s great that it’s with a huge club like Sheff Wed so it is good to get a taste of action in the Championship.” - said Newcastle’s Tavernier clearly unaware that he’ll be plying his trade in League One, following his loan move to The Owls.

Looking a bit mystified having realised he is in League One

14 men made the trip to King Geroge V Playing Fields for the home friendly against Hazara FC. Following last week’s momentous victory over 3rd placed Waterside A, in which a superb performance was turned in, the aim was to continue the good football that had created a crest of confidence that was duly being ridden by FCI. The Black and Blues have set goals and targets all season and today’s friendly fixture was no different. The goal was to win the game and the aims to achieve were a clean sheet and to stick to our “shape and space” approach that has produced 42 goals in 10 games. 

Injured with poorly tonsil problematic swelling syndrome

Jack Hussey and Dan Broadway were the only absentees from today’s squad with Breen still out for the foreseeable future and Regular featuring in a league game for Whiteley. After today’s game FCI have one remaining fixture in 2011, a league game on December 17th to Hedge End Blues. A win today would have set up FCI with the chance to go 2011 unbeaten.

Following last week’s 3-1 win courtesy of Ely, Goddard and Giles-Pilgrim
 

November 26^th 2011                     FCI 3-0 Hazara FC

 FC Independence (4-3-3): Hussey, Ross, M.Florit, Pyle, Ely, Goddard, R.Lakeman, M.Lakeman, Giles-Pilgrim, J.Florit, Hannides Subs: Lewis, Saribiyik, Neave

Attendance: 7

FCI 3-0 Hazara FC

The management team were well aware of the problems that Hazara could cause and Mike Florit’s experience shown through in the build up to the match with calming and insightful words for the game. With warnings of a tough midfield battle to dominate the game, FCI took to the pitch for their last game of November.

The game started brightly for the visitors and the early midfield battle could well be put down as a success for the away side. Their one touch football was often too much for FCI and it was only a lack of an end-product that was lacking in the early performances of Hazara.

However, with consistency firmly in place for FCI and confidence ever-growing, the game quickly changed direction. Breaks became to emerge for the home team to creep through the Hazara defence and Hannides found himself in the box with the ball at his feet thanks to a ‘keeping error that saw a poor goal kick lose possession. However, Hazara defender Zac, was quick to come across and cut the first chance for FCI out.

It was a case of patience for FCI in a game that was best described by all-round defensive utility man Mike Florit, “generally, I thought it was a scrappy game.” It was for much of the first half, however changes on the 30 minute mark breathed a new lease of life into the game and it was only a matter of time before FCI found themselves in front.

Having seen Hazara have the odd shot on goal against a solid Nathan Hussey, FCI were beginning to bombard down the wing. Jim Neave had come on after 30 minutes, along with Lewis and Saribiyik, and the striker was released one-on-one with the opposition’s ‘keeper, but the early shot from outside the box was tepid and was never troubling the ‘keeper.

It was the first of many clear cut chances for FCI and Neave and the next one was fortuitous. Jordan Florit received the ball out wide with Tom Lewis providing strong cover for the cascading winger and his first time through ball found Neave who cut inside his man deep and fired home from a tight angle. It was his goal celebration that will be remembered, though: having scored his 3rd goal in as many games, Neave lifted his shirt to reveal a candid copy of Balotelli’s “Why Always Me?” shirt. 1-0 FCI.

The goal had literally broken the barrier and it wasn’t long before FCI slipped through once more. Although the midfield game was being won by the opposition the determination and grit displayed by the midfield trio to provide the wingers with balls wide kept FCI as the dominant threat. As FCI broke down the right flank and allegedly fouled the Hazara left back, they pressed up high and boxed in the opposition. The resulting free-kick was eventually won back by FCI and Neave and Goddard burst into the box for the scorer to turn provider with Goddard powerfully hitting home on the half volley to score his 4th goal of the season. 2-0 FCI.

Half time was perhaps needed when it came for FCI as the performance became stagnated and Hazara were stringing countless passes together from the tip of their D to the tip of FCI’s. Players switched positions to best cope with a strong possessive display from the visitors and Goddard said after the game that, “the central midfield will be a little disappointed that they were rarely dominant, but we won’t play a team like this in a competitive match, who flood the midfield and press so hard.” 

The second half performance will not be remembered for years to come, “(there was) a lot of chopping and changing,” said M.Florit post-match, “but it was good to be playing and stretching the legs.” While the game wasn’t FCI’s best, it served its purpose of trying players in different positions, keeping a consistency to the team and most importantly, a win.

All three were achieved with Saribiyik, Ely, Lewis and Hannides getting run outs in unfamiliar positions, a home win for FCI and FCI’s 10th successive win of the season. The most memorable feat of the game will be the third and final goal; Having broken down the left wing and squared for Neave, J.Florit saw his side earn an indirect free-kick 6 yards out. Ely’s resulting shot thundered off the cross bar and fell to Lewis’ feet 25 yards out and having flashed a look up, he sent the ball goal bound for it to end up finishing its flight path in the ‘keepers top left corner. 3-0 FCI and a genuine contender for goal of the season.

It was Lewis’ 2nd goal this season, both coming from performances at left back and it now takes him to tenth place in the leader board for FCI scorers. FCI have had 11 scorers to date with Wes Regular being the lowest scoring player in the team, with 1. 

6 changes were made throughout the second half to ensure everyone had a run out and the result was efficiently seen out with FCI’s most experienced players; Pyle, M.Florit and Ross sitting in the back four for the final stages. Assistant manager Goddard said of the trio, “The senior guys, Mike, Jo and Jamie kept the line organised,” and he continued to praise the defensive performance which brought Ross and Florit their 5th clean sheet of the season, the most clean sheets out of all of FCI’s players, “ Mikey put in a very composed showing at centre half. Tom had a consistently strong game too.”

After the game, Jordan Florit caught up with goalscorers Goddard and Neave as well as Mike Florit for their views on the game.

“We’ve now only conceded 2 goals in 360 minutes of football, including two clean sheets on the trot for Hussey. How did the defence do for you today?”

“The defense played very well to a man. Nathan was reliable when called upon and distributed well,” said Goddard.

“And if you took 3 positives and 1 negative, what would they be?”

“Positive to win again. It’s been a while since anyone got a result against us. Clean sheet is always pleasing and testament to the performance of Nathan and the defense. Mitat’s tenacity in the centre of the park was very encouraging. There aren’t too many negatives. I think the central midfield will be a little disappointed that they were rarely dominant, but we won’t play a team like this in a competitive match, who flood the midfield and press so hard. So all in all, it was pleasing.”

It wasn’t only Goddard who gave the plaudits to Saribiyik who takes this week’s Man of the Match Award, “Mitak played really well I thought” said M.Florit, before adding that, “they would do well in our division.”

Jim Neave, who bagged a goal and an assist, was happy with the team performance, “I think I did well; obviously missed a few flick ons but got some good passes off and had my targets on goal,” he continued to express delight at the overall display of FCI, “ I think we did well considering they did well at passing and we pressured them when they had the ball.Overall I think we done well.”

Come back on Monday to read Jim Neave’s One-on-One interview.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

It emerged late Monday night that David Silva believes Manchester City could win the Champions League in their first season in the competition. “We’ve got to do well in the Champions League and we should aim to win it,” stated a confident Silva and when questioned on whether they could actually go on to do so, his reply was ambitious, “”Why not? I don’t think that is out of the question.”

While he is correct to claim it is not out of the question, the Group stage is not even over yet and furthermore they won’t be winning their group. Going on history, there isn’t any condemning figure to slam down their unquestionable ambition. 2010 winners, Jose Mourinho’s Inter, drew their first two games in the group stage and finished 2nd in their group to Barcelona. They went on to beat Bayern Munich in the final 2-0.

Since stuttering to a slow start in the Champions League, a draw followed by the now infamous loss to Bayern Munich, which preceded their first ever Champions League win, a last minute 2-1 victory over Villarreal courtesy of Sergio Aguero, City picked up 7 points from their opening four games and lost on Tuesday night, to leave them with an outside chance of even qualifying.

However, their slow start may have already cost them in their chance of qualifying and it isn’t a start synonymous with Champions League winners; the last team to win the Champions League after an equally poor start, 1 point from the opening two games, was Mourinho’s Porto who won the 2004 Champions League Final having drawn and lost their opening games. Porto went on to finish 2nd in their group and in the final they defeated Monaco 3-0. Monaco now ply their trade in the second tier of French football, Ligue 2.

What’s the common denominator in winning the Champions League when the odds are against you from the Group stage onwards?

Jose Mourinho.

Manchester City don’t have The Special One, but they do have the Vincent Kompany, Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Yaya Toure - the list is exhaustive. Last season, as Silva pointed out, was a season in which City won their, “first trophy for 35 years and qualified for the Champions League, claiming a place amongst the best teams in Europe.” It was a the mark of the rising blue moon as some have phrased it. The season was a season of transition; from top ten to top four, from aiming for Europe to aiming for the Champions League final, from aiming to beat United to serious title contenders.

Their ambition doesn’t stop at wanting to conquer Europe at the first time of asking. “We must finish in the top four in the Premier League and secure Champions League football every season,” said a demanding Silva.  At current, City sit comfortably top. They are five points clear of 2nd placed rivals Manchester United and they remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier League having beaten Newcastle 3-1 on Saturday. Even with Harry Redknapp harrumphing on about Spurs, “If we keep up [our] form, we’ll win the league,” Manchester City remain unfazed by anyone. Their 6-1 result against Manchester United will remain as a testament to that for as long as they remain top.

Can their ability match their ambition though?

Wanting to win the Champions League and Premier League and stating it is their aim in no uncertain, yet most public, terms, is a brave and brash statement. When funded by oil-money and having a bench that more closely resembles a world-beating seven a-side football team than a Premier League bench, the statement suddenly seems more warranted than ambitious. 

They’ll lose the Toure double-act in the New Year to the African Cup of Nations and Yaya will be much missed in the role he plays in midfield. 1037 minutes have already been played by Yaya Toure in the Premier League, a figure only beaten in the City dressing room by Joleon Lesscott and Joe Hart who have played 90 minutes week in week out for The Citizens and then still the difference is only 43 minutes; less than a half.

The ever present, who has started every single league game this season, is pivotal to the way Manchester City play. Although playing in quite an advanced role in the midfield, he is responsible for a lot of break up play in opposition attacks and going forward, the Ivorian has assisted 5 goals and scored one himself. 

Luckily, so far, the absenteeism of Carlos Tevez has played no part in dislodging his fellow team mate’s season. Furthermore, City are always in a position to strengthen. Signings will bolster their Premier League squad, however it is unlikely that anyone they buy will be available for Champions League selection, unless of course they buy from outside the continent.

Their ambition is undoubted but will they have the ability to go the full length?

With City still in the League Cup and the F.A Cup yet to start for the Premier League, City may well be inline to match United’s famous treble. Now that would annoy Fergie.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

It’s a career that Beckham has looked back on and said, “It is exactly the same, doesn’t matter where I am playing, what country, what team. When you are successful and win, it all means the same thing.” The Essex-born midfielder is best placed to decide, too. He has amassed a trophy cabinet that most Englishmen could only dream of; 6 Premier League titles, 2 F.A Cups, a UEFA Champions League, a La Liga and lest we forget his second not-so-acclaimed career triple of the MLS’ Supporters Shield, the MLS Western Conference title and Sunday night’s MLS Cup.

Like a true English Brave, ex-England captain David Beckham, battled through his side’s 1-0 cup final win over Houston Dynamos with a tear in is hamstring. Having lifted the cup, kissed it affectionately like it was his attractive celebrity wife, then put it down on realising it was larger and heavier than his better half, Beckham was quick to assure any remaining football snobs that the trophy meant as much to him as the, “European Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, La Liga, (it) all means the same thing.” The defiance displayed lent itself as homage to the club that paid a fortune to bring football’s attention to America, “I always think about being successful whichever club I have been at, I have played for two of the biggest clubs in the world in Real Madrid and Manchester United and been successful with them, now I have played for the biggest club in America and had success.”

Whether you are one of those football snobs or you are one of the many admirers of the ever-progressing, talent flourishing MLS, Beckham makes a valid point in nodding in the direction of success in three different countries. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is only the second Englishman to achieve league titles in three different countries. His Premier League, La Liga and Western Conference titles measure up to another ex-England right midfielder, Trevor Steven’s First Division title with Everton, the Scottish Football League with Rangers and the Ligue 1 title with Marseille. When Steven had achieved his 3rd title from a 3rd country, he returned to Rangers, where he had played before Marseille and went on to win more titles and cups with the Scottish club. He was 29 when he returned to Britain, Beckham would be 36, but could a similar move be on the cards?

Firstly and perhaps most likely, is a move similar to Steven’s; PSG are knocking on the door for Beckham’s signature and the mega-rich Qatari investment into the French capital’s side could fund the move for Beckham’s costly acquisition. Steven went to Marseille and in one season he achieved the French league title, Ligue 1, before moving back to Rangers as financial pressure mounted for the Southern French side. Money won’t be a problem if this similar trade-off takes place and at the age of 36, a move to one of Europe’s big clubs still competing in the Europa League may tempt Becks. The move would have Victoria’s backing too;  the fashion icon had admitted that, although their long term future remains in America, an 18-month spell in Paris is “imminent” and “ideal” for the woman that has forged a career off the back of her music, dipping into the clothes, perfume and accessories market, under the label VB Rocks. Ultimately though, if the decision is to have football at the heart of it, it is Beckham’s brain and not Victoria’s ventures that must cast the final say. “It won’t make any difference,” Beckham said of winning the Cup on Sunday night, “I said that before whether we won or not, it would not change my future.” It seems David’s mind is made up and the obvious advantages, money, a happy wife and remaining in the eye of the English, seem to all present themselves with a move to PSG.

It isn’t the only choice and it may not be the best. PSG are quickly saturating their squad with more stars than the Milky Way and getting game time may be sporadic. It is all well and good earning big bucks and being on the payroll of one of the best clubs in the world, but it’s not going to get you into the England team. Therefore, a move to the Premier League may be the better option and it is one that would be welcomed by fans of all and clubs too. He’s the brightest ambassador for English football and is still much-loved for his commitment, his patriotism and determination on and off-the-field for the Beautiful Game and indeed his country.

Although Harry Redknapp has openly said that David is a, “fantastic player and a great influence in and around the club” he has admitted the only drawback for the midfielder joining would be that Tottenham have, “an abundance of talent in midfield so it’s difficult to work out how and when (Redknapp could) play him.” The simple suggestion that seems obvious to me, is to sign him up as soon as possible and allow him the captaincy of the European squad.

He would not be cup-tied for the competition and Redknapp has made no qualms in hiding the fact that the competition to him is nothing more than a tournament that, “disrupts things,” and his approach to the Cup was clear from the back end of last season, “teams who get into the Europa League want to get out of it.” So it was no surprise when Redknapp took the competition as a chance to field a mixture of fringe and youth players up and coming at White Hart Lane. Jake Livermore has featured regularly, impressing, and Harry Kane has been leading the front line.

Much like Owen to Ferguson, Beckham would provide Redknapp with advantages outside of his ability on the pitch. Owen brings Ferguson an intellectual conversation, a shared passion for horses and effectively another coach on the training pitch as his stature and ability as a footballer serves as a strong and superb influence on the younger players at United.

Beckham would bring influence to the younger players, leadership in the Europa League and perhaps the unforeseeable; a potential step-up in gaining the England job. Beckham’s influence on the F.A may be understated or go unrecognized,  but I am sure that if Harry has David’s backing, Harry has the nation’s and most importantly, the F.A’s. His possible destinations in the Premier League, look to be Tottenham at 5/1 and QPR at 3/1.

His final and most unlikely choice is staying at L.A Galaxy. It hasn’t been ruled out but it may be prevented by the simple fact that money may talk. Another zero-heavy contract  has been waved under Beckham’s nose, but apparently not with as many 00’s as before. Beckham has already dropped hints he will stay, but as aforementioned, these are supposedly long term plans, thus allowing for a short spell away before returning to America purely for retirement, not for soccer. 

I’d love to see him back in England, most of all I want to see him captain GB in the Olympics but whatever he does, he is sure to bring attention and sure to hit the headlines. Either way, if he is still at Galaxy on December 6th, his current side will be playing at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium in a friendly. It may be your last chance to see Becks on English soil before the Olympics.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

At the beginning of the season I was confident in predicting success for Tony Pulis’ Stoke side and was even audacious enough to make an early prediction of a 9th place finish. Whilst I am aware it is early days still, with only a third of the season gone, I may have a job in defending my premature forecast.

Summer as a Stoke fan may have looked promising; coming in through the Britannia Stadium doors were Jonathan Woodgate and Matthew Upson, capped England centre backs that had both played at the top of the game. Furthermore, had the ex-Spurs defender not endured a career of knocks and knacks, he may well have still been prevalent in Capello’s push for a promising European Championship. Having captured two experienced and hardened battle axes, along with already boasting Shawcross and Huth in the centre back department, you would have expected Stoke to build a campaign on the solid foundations of a strong defence. This hasn’t been the case.

An equivocal Pulis shouldn’t have been what was on the cards; a team was being assembled to compete in the Premier League and it was a team expected to do so with talent and flair, less dependent on the grit and determination that had hard-nosed it’s way through three consecutive Premier League campaigns. I for one was an advocate of a more skilled, attacking and aesthetically pleasing Stoke side, however, in hindsight the signs were there for a more underwhelming season.

Slowly amalgamating fierce battlers, skillful wingers and efficient strikers, Pulis was looking far and beyond last season’s F.A Cup final misery, but all the plaudits and shadowing reaching an F.A Cup final brings, masked a more serious issue. Away from the cup run, league form had slipped, even if it was purely slight, and Pulis’ Potters ended up with a surprisingly record low finish of 13th , following on from 11^th and 12^th placed finishes in the previous two seasons in the top flight.

It seemed like a small blip at the time and wasn’t an issue. It still may prove to be the anomaly in Stoke’s consistent mid-table finishes. After all, West Brom endured a rocky mid-season losing 13 games in an 18 game duration last season before Roy Hodgson was brought in and steered them to an 11th placed finish. The same could happen for Stoke, however the wheels aren’t quite off yet, so any talks of needing a resurgence may be as premature as my 9th place prediction.

It is a cause for a debate though; while Stoke remain unbeaten in Europe seemingly scoring freely with at least a goal every game, four against FC Thun and a clean sheet in half of their European games, their Premier League campaign is far less pleasing on the eye. Although they have kept four clean sheets, Stoke’s back line have been busy bees. Asmir Begovic has been forced into making 44 saves this season and the defence have leaked more goals than any other team outside the bottom three at 22. That means only Wigan and Blackburn, who are in a free-fall mode, and Stoke’s last away opponents Bolton have conceded more.

Sitting in 14th place is no cause for looking to the possible firing of Pulis and ultimate evaporation of all things Stoke and so on and so forth. Their 12 fixtures to date have included 6 of the top ten and 5 of the top 7; A baptism of fire for the Potters. Ironically though, out of the 5 of the top 7 they’ve played, they’ve picked up a win and two draws, only losing to Arsenal and Newcastle. It is the teams around them, that will prevent Stoke from climbing the table. A 5-0 hammering at the hands of 18th placed Bolton and a 2-0 loss to newly-promoted Swansea, contrasted with a 1-0 win and 0-0 draw at Liverpool and Chelsea respectively, epitomise Stoke’s season; unpredictable and inconsistent. That isn’t a good mix.

Shipping goals at an alarming rate doesn’t necessarily mean the team can’t do well; look at Arsenal. They’ve conceded just as many as Stoke, yet they sit 7 places higher in 7th place and continue to climb. The difference is goals; Arsenal are scoring them. No one in the Premier League have scored fewer goals than The Potters and only Wigan have a worse goal difference.

Their inability to score is worrying. It is more worrying when you consider they paid £10m for Peter Crouch and his margin of return diminishes with every game; the lanky forward has scored 2 goals in 9 for Stoke. The next best striker, on paper, would be Kenwyne Jones and he’s only scored one this campaign. His value to Stoke since moving from the other Premier League’s striped Red and Whites, Sunderland, works out as £800k per Premier League goal.

Stringing a couple of passes together would be a start; their last game, QPR, reaped only 118 successful passes for Stoke. Shooting however, is far worse: they have the worst shooting accuracy in the Premier League, 35%, a fifth of their goals have come from the penalty spot and Wayne Rooney has had as many shots on target as the whole of Stoke’s squad.

Although their best strikers, on paper, weigh in at £18m pound, their failure to score could cost Stoke this season. Goals aren’t coming regularly enough and if they can’t rely on the defensive displays they have so often produced in the past, then they need to start producing up the other end. The middle of the table has been blown well open this season. Anywhere from 7th to 17th is up for grabs and if Stoke can’t start getting results against the teams around them, they’ll find them self the wrong end of that segment. Their European adventure may well be proving successful, but with how much cost to their Premier League campaign?

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

They haven’t started badly but they haven’t set the world alight either. West Brom were, for the past decade, the perennial yo-yo dieters; feasting on the delights of the Old Trafford buffet dinner one season and munching on Blackpool’s discount foie gras the next. However, the last two seasons seem to have halted the bungee rope successes of the Midlands club.

West Brom were promoted from the Championship under Roberto Di Matteo and they achieved their best Premier League start ever with the Italian at the helm. Unfortunately, West Brom’s good start to the campaign wasn’t to last and early in February 2011, the Italian was sacked having gone 11 games with only one win. For the fans, the hiring of Roy Hodgson may have been somewhat underwhelming yet reliable. The Wise Old Owl had achieved relative success with Fulham, leading them to a Europa League final, and many were touting him for the England job. However, his move to Liverpool failed to act as a catalyst for the talented manager; it did quite the opposite. The pressure of a top four team, or at least one with the expectation, was seemingly too much for Hodgson and without having time to have his tyres stolen, Hodgson was dismissed from his post at Liverpool.

It proved to be the latter, reliable, and Hodgson resurrected a West Brom season that had seen the Baggies lose 13 of their last 18 games before he took the reigns. Consistency is what is almost guaranteed with Hodgson and it is what was needed at The Hawthorns. Having seen as much of Cardiff as they had Chelsea in the past decade, you’d forgive the club for wanting someone to steady the ship and ensure West Brom could stay up and stay up convincingly. With the then current LMA Manager of the Year running things, Albion achieved their best top flight finish for 28 years; 11th place and only 2 points off his former club, Fulham.

It was a good finish. It was better than expected. It shouldn’t be admired though. West Brom need to build on this and take their chance in a season where results are fluctuating like the predictions of the end of the world. The goals to game ratio is the highest it’s ever been since the formation of the Premier League at 2.97, the top half of the table is more open than ever and, apart from Wigan, there’s no team sinking without a trace, just yet.

With Reliable Roy in charge, they know they can finish mid-table, but who wants mid-table mediocrity every week? Hodgson can boast Premier League consistency; he has won 33% of games with West Brom, he won 34% with Fulham & 35% at both Liverpool & Blackburn, but now he needs to step up a level.

One problem to be remedied was highlighted last season. Whilst Odemwingie occasionally went missing, Chris Brunt didn’t; in fact, Chris Brunt finished fourth in the assists leader board last season and started this one as the provider or scorer for half of all West Brom goals. It was obviously a cause for concern for Hodgson and signing Shane Long has eased the pressure on the Nigerian and Northern Irish, who paired up to the tune of 19 goals and 20 assists. Since coming in, the Irish international has bagged four goals in ten games

Secondly, whilst WBA are starting brightly, scoring 55% of their goals in the first 15 minutes of the game, they are still leaking goals like a poorly fastened tap. Last season, West Brom only kept two clean sheets, the fewest ever in a Premier League campaign and they haven’t kept a clean sheet away from home since the end of the 08/09 season, conceding an average of 2.15 goals a game on the road since. Seemingly, this hasn’t improved much, if at all, with a goal difference of -5 away from home having conceded 11 in 6.

So what is holding West Brom back?

Do they still lack firepower and a provider? Probably not, Odemwingie and Long are scoring and Gera has been added to the midfield department.

Is it because they are conceding too many away from home? Possibly, but this time last season they had conceded 4 more and most importantly, although they still concede at an alarming rate away from home, that figure is lowering.

What it may be, however, is the apparent lack of influence from an assistant manager. When you look at most great teams, or most great managers, there is an unsung hero behind the man. He’ll be there in the dug-out, with a book, inanely scribbling notes and dealing with press conferences when the manager isn’t talking to the media.

Sir Alex Ferguson has Mike Phelan and before him he had Carlos Queiroz, Steve McClaren, Brian Kidd and Archie Knox. All assistants went on from their post under Sir Alex to manage themselves. Andre Villas Boas was assistant to Mourinho at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan before pursuing his own career. Pat Rice has been Arsene Wenger’s assistant at Arsenal since day one. There is a lot to say for the importance of the assistant manager and witnessing it first hand at my club, Southampton, Andy Crosby is as vital to Nigel Adkins as Peter Taylor was to Brian Clough.

West Brom have just lost their assistant manager, Michael Appleton, to Portsmouth where he has taken the managerial post. When Hodgson was questioned on his feelings concerning losing his assistant manager his reply was less than resounding, “we are not desperate to bring someone else in.” If ever there was a premature damning “vote of confidence” to be issued, that was it. His comments insinuate Appleton was of little use during Hodgson’s spell and Appleton’s tenure at the Hawthorns began in 2009, 2 years before Roy’s spell began. If Appleton was never any use and was so useless that Hodgson sees no point in hiring another assistant manager in his departure, not only have Portsmouth inherited a potentially talentless manager, but West Brom are missing a trick.

Hodgson, according to Ray Lewington, who was his assistant at Fulham, “does a lot of the coaching himself even at 62 years of age, at least 75% of it.” This may well explain why he isn’t too bothered about the departure of Appleton, “Roy is in the minority of managers in respect of doing most of the coaching himself,” said Lewington, who is again the assistant manager of Fulham. If there is a missing link to the success of Hodgson, this may well be it. He has achieved success in many different countries, but a lot of the time it is nearly-achievements, for example he has guided two teams to the final of the Europa League, (firstly, Inter when it was the UEFA Cup and then Fulham as the Europa League) but he has never won it. His title successes come in Scandinavia, arguably not as strong as the Premier League or Serie A, and hiring a young hungry enthusiastic assistant manager in the AVB mould might just give West Brom that edge in an attempt to build on last season, not dwell on it.

Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Take Rickie Lambert’s chant, “He stands at over 6’3 Rickie, Rickie. He’ll take us to the Premier League, Rickie, Rickie. He gets the ball, he takes the piss, he wears the shirt of Matt Le Tiss, Rickie Lambert Southampton’s goal machine.” It is an enjoyable song; however, it has its inaccuracies. He isn’t quite 6’3 and he is more than just a goal machine. However, the accurate comments are akin to Jack Hussey’s exploits; he will take us to Division One, whilst, like Rickie, being more than just a goal machine. The young forward has made just three starts for FCI and every start has reaped a brace. His scoring ability has seen him rise to FCI’s 2^nd top scorer and 2^nd in the assists charts. When Jack is on the pitch he scores or assists a goal every 24.3 minutes, more often than anyone else. Read the young hit man’s interview below…..

Nationality: English
Date of Birth: 15/05/95
Height: 5’7
Squad Number: 99
Position: Striker

1. Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pale of water, Jack saw FCI and began to cry, ‘cos he saw the way they slaughter. If we had fans, they’d probably sing that. What’s your favourite song?

It would be ’ Jordan and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pale of water, Jordan saw Jack have a crack and he began to cry, cause he knew, he had found, a top quality striker, …… to score (more than Jim Neave)

This will eventually be my favourite song when FCI hit the premiership but until then it would have to be Nickelback ‘burn it to the ground’ 

2. Mine is probably Bon Iver - Re: Stacks, it is a truly touching song, give it a listen. The Salaam Shuffle was pretty intense stuff too, though. If you could choose a song to describe FCI’s start to the season, what would it be? 

The script ‘the man who can’t be moved’ and the FCI version ‘the team who can’t be moved.

3. Good choice Hussey; talking of Hussey’s, what is it like having your brother play in the same team as you? Is it something that has happened before?

It’s the first time we’ve played together in a team, I think it’s a good partnership with him stopping the shots (when he actually plays well) and me scoring the shots, and I usually get a lift to footy, always a bonus!

4. And on match days he is quite the opposite of you; erratic, loud and aggressive. Is he like it out of football too?

Well not really apart from his laugh which kind of hurts my ears it’s that loud, on rare occasions he shows anger but he backs down to my dominance!

5. What is he like as a brother? Is he like Gary to Phil, Rod to Danny? 

He is a legend as a brother particularly as he buys me a lot of shizz, pizza, coke, boost bars, McDonalds, b&q burgers and bacon rolls and any other junk so it’s nice having a caring brother and pretty much a second wallet haha!

6. How do you think he’s done so far this season?

i think pre-season where he was rusty he was a little Gomes but now were well into the season he is actually pulling out some quality saves and the occasional clean sheet which is always a bonus to him and the team. (You really don’t want to mention in the car he didn’t keep a clean sheet after the match, you’ll be walking home)

 

7. Now you’ve had a great start to the campaign; how do you feel about your introduction and breakthrough to pretty much starting every week?

Well its good see youth gets the go ahead over lazy, lanky pile of dog crap ‘Jim Neave’. Nah, only joking; I think me a Jim have gelled quite well the last couple of games and i am quite surprised how I was only suppose to the ‘referee and be the make up the numbers boy’ but I’m really glad I’m playing most games with some top draw goals, haha jokes!

8. Well it has been well earned. I have some statistics that may shock you; you’re our 2nd top scorer and 2nd top assister since the season started, despite missing some games and starting the season as an impact sub. Not only that, but statistically, you’re involved in a goal more regularly that any other player. Every 24.3 minutes you’re on the pitch for, you score or assist. Were you aware of your vital role to our scoring exploits?

No, I was quite shocked at that but it’s good to hear I’m making a good impact at my new club.

9. It really is a top achievement and we definitely miss you when you’re not available or refereeing. Do you enjoy refereeing?!

I actually quite enjoy it (but only when I’m paid the wonga)

10. You’re actually a very fair and stern referee, not many people will realise you are now the baby of the team; younger than Wes, is this the first men’s team you have played for?

It is the first men’s team I’ve played for in my career

11. How does it differ from playing for Marchwood?

Well playing against my own age its very tiring compared to the men’s league as everyone has pace and agility compared to only some in the men’s league, but it’s much more physical so I’m in the gym most weeks building my strength up! And, I seem to be playing better for FCI than last season with Marchwood.

12. Did you play up front for Marchwood and were you as prolific in front of goal?

I did and I actually have scored 134 goals for Marchwood in 6 years of 11 a side, my worst being last year with only 9 goals and my best being under 11’s scoring 38.

13. That is an impressive 22 goals a season, on average!  Like the good lads of the team, you are a Saints fan! Our last game of 2011 is a day before the Saints Portsmouth game; a big weekend! Our game is against Hedge End Blues, what are your predictions for those two games?

Portsmouth 1-4 Saints (return the favour from the F.A cup)
Hedge End Blues 0-11 FC Independence

14. I’m eating a Mars Bar, what is your favourite chocolate bar?

Galaxy cookie crumble

15. I know you’re addicted to Call of Duty, but what is better COD or FIFA?

Call of duty modern warfare 3

16. Who is your favourite player and who do you most try and play like?

Alan Shearer because he looks like Nathan, scores goals and has the engine of a Mustang; he just kept going till he had wrinkles.

17. Jim is your main striking rival up top; will you outscore him this season?

Are you trying to make me laugh? Jim Neave scores more goals than Jack Hussey? NEVER! My gran scores more goals than he does he can’t hit a barn door most days. So yes I shall score more!

18. Who do you think Jim most plays like?

Dimitar Berbatov Jim Neave
lanky lanky 
casual casual
can’t score can’t score
always the linesmen always the linesmen
moans moans

……….. Noticing a trend? Need i continue

19. If you were to liken your partnership with Jim to a famous striking partnership; who would they be?

Rooney and Berbatov 
Jack Jim 
obviously!

20. Thanks for doing the interview Jack. My last question for you is: will we win the league and will you get top scorer?

For FCI hopefully, for the whole league? I might do, I just try each week to bag a goal or two and will see at the end.

Thanks again Jack!

FCI face stiff opponents on Saturday in the form of UK Asian League team Hazaria IFC. It is the first team FCI have faced outside the SSCL and therefore it is sure to be a different test to the physicality of the typically English league. Expect the opposition to be quick, technically capable and feisty!

Come back here to see how we do! 

It has been much covered in the media as of late, that Wales are approaching a generation that affords their nation the best chance of some success on the international scene. They have Gareth Bale, capped over 30 times already for The Dragons and he’s hit the back of the net six times. His arrival on the Welsh international scene dates back to 2006, when Bale was aged just 16 and still at Southampton. Four years later, the left winger is plying his trade at Tottenham on the back of a PFA Player of the Year award and he’s pulling on the white shirt of Spurs well aware that Barcelona and the rest of Europe’s elite envy him and wish to sign him in equal balance.

It’s an opportunity Wales won’t want to ruin; they were fortunate enough to have Bale, as although he was born and bred in Wales, he was eligble to play for England and it was only out of failure to contact him earlier that cost The Three Lions a much needed solution to their apparent left-midfield problem that has hampered Steven Gerrard’s international career. With Ramsey captaining the new look Welsh side along with his North London counterpart heading the team towards a brighter future, Swansea’s elevation to the Premier League and Cardiff’s continual threat of entry, making the past two Championship play-offs, the future of Welsh football looks good.

If England fans feel they have had to endure 45 years of hurt then Welsh fans can consider themselves martyrs; the footballing minnows, ranked 45th after halving their distance from Spain’s #1 ranking with a 45-place jump last time the table was configured, are part of a 61-year and counting wait for World Cup football and their failure to qualify for Euro 2012 means that Wales haven’t qualified for the European Championships for 36 years now. Swansea may well offer a remedy for Wales world football woes.

Swansea’s top flight exploits have been nothing but admirable as they embark on their first ever season in the Premier League; last season, as the South Wales Echo cleverly pointed out, the average Championship team made 312 passes a game, Arsenal made 428 and Swansea made 98 more at 526. Further still, their record of 756 in one match was not bettered by any team of the 92 in the Football League. Swansea have continued this free flowing football into the heavens of English League football; they’ve averaged 513 passes per PL game this season, 16 more than Manchester United.

I don’t want to tempt fate, but their impressive start encourages me to and I can’t help thinking further into Swansea’s Premier League future, into next year, the year after and five years down the line. Swansea’s place in the Premier League brings numerous benefits to Welsh football. Firstly, having a Welsh team in the Premier League is a milestone for Welsh football and purely by being there the interest in the sport, in a predominantly Rugby following country, should increase. Secondly, a Welsh team now has its place in, allegedly, the best league in the world and that acts as an incentive and as a club of role models for young players and Welsh children and one would expect the amount of Welsh kids taking up the sport over others will increase.

However, they are the blatant advantages, the advantages that boroughs and councils benefit from on a smaller scale when a team manages to break into the Premier League when they have never done so before. One advantage that may outweigh all other benefits put together, is the direct effect of having a Welsh team in the Premier League.

Imagine a scenario in which, not only Swansea remain in the Premier League, but Cardiff achieve promotion; if they were both in the Premier League the majority of Welshmen, as well as following their local clubs, would have an allegiance to either the Swans or the Bluebirds. This would subsequently provide a potential for both clubs to sell-out, or nearly sell-out, every week as there are no other nearby clubs. Liverpool, arguably the only club of distinguished note near Wales, is over 206 miles from Cardiff, leaving at least South Wales to choose between Swansea or Cardiff.

With the revenue that would be generated through sell-out crowds and Premier League status, considerable investment can be placed in youth and this is where the two Welsh clubs have the ability to exploit a unique advantage only they have. By exploiting the unparalleled benefits of being a member of the Premier League, yet being a non-English team, the two clubs could massively contribute to the Welsh national team.

Now they are in the best league in the world, their capabilities in the transfer market have increased hugely. By investing in youth and young talent, not only Welsh but English and European too, the clubs, providing they secure the services of any player for at least five years, are passively enhancing the pool of players eligible to play for Wales. By the letter of the law, any uncapped player that has lived in a country for five years has the right to claim for citizenship and therefore represent the nation of which they ply their trade in. An easy example would be Manuel Almunia; who has played football in England for over five years now and has British citizenship and is thus eligible to play for England.

Some may argue that, whilst Wales may gain access to more and perhaps better players, it isn’t ethically right to field a team representing Wales that is flooded full of non-Welshmen. However, although this seems like a sensible argument at first, the current Welsh team aren’t as Welsh as you think; out of the 26 most recent call-ups to the team, 14 weren’t even born in Wales and in fact, the 14 non-Welshmen could compose a strongly competitive 11. So now, when you imagine an XI of non-Welshmen representing Wales, it isn’t as detached from what happens already.

Robert Earnshaw, born in Zambia

So, as abstract as it may sound, Swansea’s existence in the Premier League may well act as a catalyst for the improvement in the Welsh national team, for more than just the obvious reasons. Their chances to qualify for the World Cup in 2014 aren’t far-fetched; Ramsey, now fully fit, will captain The Dragons in their charge to qualify and with Bale cascading down one wing and Myhill and Bellamy responsible for stopping and scoring goals, their return to the big stage may well be just around the corner.

Even if they fail to qualify for Brazil 2014, you’d put money on them qualifying for the Euros in 2016, wouldn’t you? After all 32 teams will be competing in France.

Written by Jordan Florit forwww.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Jordan Florit was blessed with a full squad this week with a very strong 14 available. It was a much needed boost to Florit and Goddard’s preparations with a top of the table clash facing them in Hythe & Dibden in the form of Waterside A.

Waterside B proved tough opposition a month back on October 15th, but despite numerous injuries and a lacklustre performance, FCI got all three points in a 3-2 win. The goals that day came from Giles-Pilgrim, Ely and Breen. The former two are available again today but Ryan Breen is still sidelined with achilles damage. 

Injured with probable poorly ankle

Today their A team will want to pull off a result against the unbeaten league leaders to keep them in touching distance of promotion, however Florit intends to go into the Christmas break with 21 points from 21 points and has no place for sympathy for Waterside.

In 5 games, W.A have pulled off 3 victories, their most recent coming against Testwood, who FCI are all too familiar with having beaten them 4-1 and 4-2. The latter score was repeated in the Waterside Testwood game with all 3 points going to Waterside. FCI’s most recent result was a 8-0 hammering of Hedge End Blues who, when up against Waterside, bravely battled but were ultimately defeated 5-1.

Going into the game FCI were 5 points clear of 2nd place 

November 19^th 2011                     Waterside A vs. FCI

 FC Independence (4-3-3): Redhead, Ross, M.Florit, Reguar, Lewis, Hannides, Goddard, Giles-Pilgrim, J.Florit, Neave, J.Hussey Subs: Broadway, Saribiyik, Ely

Attendance: 5

FCI 3-1 Waterside A

Arriving at the ground, it was clear that both teams had their eye on promotion. A Waterside player was brash enough to suggest the trophy was their’s already and the game started at a rapid pace with the flow very much being dictated by the midfield of either side.

With Paul Redhead making his first league start of the campaign with regular shot-stopper Nathan Hussey unavailable for selection, the defence had earned a very commanding presence. His voice was an ever-present feature of a game that fluctuated throughout. 

It took until the half-hour mark for one of the teams to truly stamp their authority on the game and it was instigated with the changes made at 25 minutes. Ely, Saribiyik and Broadway came into the mix and it was the former two that combined on the edge of the box for FCI to take the lead. Having the ball in the box was always going to be a threat and when it came out of the area to hang in the air, Saribiyik was the quickest to act; nodding the ball down set-up Scott Ely to hit the ball on the half-volley and send it flying past, the so far faultless, ‘keeper into his bottom right corner. 1-0 FCI.

Scott Ely’s second goal in Black and Blue was a just reward for the first half efforts that saw a whole host of chances missed. Mikey Hannides was particularly fruitful in the first half, linking up with Lejay to good effect and holding his own up-front admirably. However, with numerous opportunities squandered FCI were to be tested down the other end. When a Waterside striker did get inbetween the defence and the ‘keeper, Paul Redhead was equal to the effort and gathered the ball with consummate ease.

HT 1-0.

So impressive was Mikey Hannides’ start to the game, the FCI management team were forced to play their hand at half-time. The cypriot midfielder was due to come off at 25 minutes and then back on at the break however, his display was too good to stunt. Having to make a tough decision, Florit replaced Hannides with Hussey and Ross and Neave made way for Lewis and Goddard. 

The second half was productive and the score line could perhaps have flattered Waterside A at half-time and so FCI set about constructively unflattering the flattered. Wes Regular’s display down the left flank was one of many highlights of the performance and it was his determination and foresight that brought about the second goal. As the pass up-field came at J.Florit, so did the man to the aforementioned and the left winger flicked the ball on for an oncoming Giles-Pilgrim to latch on to, before setting Goddard up for a Balotelli-esque finish. As the ball rolled to Goddard, he aligned his body and placed the ball coolly into the back of the net; again to the keeper’s right. 2-0 FCI.

Over the next 15 minutes, Florit staggered the final three substitutions as FCI once again were forced into shuffling the pack to suit positions. Eventually, Regular and the two Florits took to the sideline for Neave, Hannides and Ross to take up the positions for the final spell.

Hannides impressed at centre-back, controlling the tempo and remaining calm in possession. Ross’ presence steadied an understandably nervous Lewis, who was making his debut as a centre-back and felt a little out of place. Neave’s short second half spell wasn’t as long as J.Florit would’ve wanted, but within the final ten minutes of the game, Neave was unlucky not to score and linked up well with Goddard to produce some good deliveries into the box.

It was the goal just before the trio took to the pitch that sealed the game, though. J.Florit’s whipped corner was met by Lejay Giles-Pilgrim on the volley, who had managed to peel away unmarked, and the ball was sent crashing home. 3-0 FCI.

Florit’s men has been attempting to sow an ethic of defence into their performances as of late and it looked like another clean sheet was to come their way, however, following a dubiously taken throw-in a Waterside A hit a shot goal bound and the perfection it was struck with was always going to beat the ‘keeper and it did. 3-1 FCI. 

Lejay won the Man of the Match award 

The win saw FCI put 8 points between them and Waterside, who now sit firmly in 3rd place at least. With other results still to come in the final score could potentially be more damaging than first thought for Waterside. Hedge End St Lukes pulled off a 4-1 win against Hedge End Blues and therefore the 5 point gap still remains.

Come back Monday for Jack Hussey’s One-on-One.

Frenchmen in England don’t have the best reputation as day-to-day life goes; labelled as frog-eating garlic-smelling owners of hairy wifes, isn’t the best tagline to describe the men from across the channel. Take the French footballers that inhabit England, however, and you have a different story. The Premier League has 650 players registered from 68 countries and apart from Englishmen, the best represented country is France.

France contributes to The Premier League with 32 players and only five teams have a squad absent of any of  Les Tricolores’ eligible players. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal have the most Frenchmen in their 25-man squad with 20% of Wenger’s team coming from his home country. However, Newcastle are the team this season plying their transfer activity in France. Although both The Gunners and Blackburn have as many or more Frenchmen than The Toon Army, it is the sudden influx of Ligue 1 based players to the Tyneside club that has grabbed the attention of other clubs now having their heads turned by the cream of the crop available by crossing the channel.

A quick look at the Newcastle team sheet will only afford you four Frenchmen and they’re all midfielders; Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Sylvain Marveaux and Gabriel Obertan, however if you look at where Pardew’s been conducting his scouting and most of his transfer activity, France will be your destination. A brief glance at past and present French stars in the Premier League and any justification needed is found; Barthez, Sagna,  Desailly, Gallas, Evra, Makelele, Viera, Pires, Ginola, Cantona and Henry, to name a pretty competent XI.

Much of Newcastle’s activity can be attributed to just one man: Graham Carr, former manager-turned-scout, who has previously worked under David Pleat and Sven Goran-Eriksson. The father of television’s Chatty Man, Alan Carr, was hired in February 2010 and the man has wasted no time in making his work and knowledge Newcastle’s gain and talent. Since his position at St. James’ Park, yes I said St. James’ Park, as chief scout start over 18 months ago, Carr has overseen the transfers of all four of Newcastle’s Les Bleus’, as well as Davide Santon, Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba. Not only is this a highly European ensemble, but it is a talented core that can arguably lead Newcastle back to Europe. But why are the English clubs choosing to plunder France of their talent?

Well firstly, taking Newcastle’s example, Carr states that wages and convenience are the cornerstone of the availability of French stars to the Premier League, “Our strategy is quite clear. We have realistic targets. We are not going to pay £20M for anybody,” stating in no uncertain terms that the days of signing Owens and Kluiverts, just for neither to score prolifically are over, “What we are looking for are good players at the right age and at the right price.”

As well as the evident cost saving advantages that dipping into the French market has, as displayed by the average weekly wage in Ligue 1( $50,000 less than in the Premier League), the ease of accessibility for scouts carry huge benefits, “It’s easy to get to northern France because only 60 miles from Calais are three teams, Lille, Lens and Valenciennes, you can take in three matches with one visit.”

Carr brags that he has been “watching Cabaye since he was 18,” and he goes on to state that he “liked him so much (he) asked Chris Hughton to come along when he was boss to watch him.” However, at the time £10m was wanted and under the highly scrutinized, yet barely flawed running of the club under Mike Ashley, it was deemed too much. Fortunately for Newcastle, and the Premier League, Cabaye was allowed to leave for £4.7m in the summer.

Although Newcastle look set to carry on pillaging the teams of France for their stars of tomorrow with rumours circulating that Olivier Giroud and Alain Traore are set to sign in January, they aren’t the only Premier League team to be reaping the rewards of up and coming Ligue 1 performers. Yann M’Vila will almost certainly be leaving Rennes at the end of the season, whether it is for Real Madrid or Arsenal, however ex-Gunner Patrick Vieira, the acknowledged man in the “next Vieira” tagline M’Vila is slapped with, reckons Manchester City will compete for his signature.

The retired Frenchman, who now operates as City’s executive of football development, told French TV that, “Yann could seize his opportunity in the French team. I like the image he is showing. I am sure City is not the only club attracted by him,’ all but confirming that City are indeed interested in him.

So, in a time where everyone from Adam to Zane are quick to lambast clubs for paying extraordinary fees for less than ordinary players, it may well be the case that you’re just reading the tabloid headlines, your paper is being buried under by snippets of so-and-so being linked with Manchester City as they slowly buy every name in the telephone book or you might just be one of those fans that isn’t happy unless your club is spending vast amounts every window. Irrelevant of which heading you fall under, their is no denying that there is some wise business being carried out in the Premier League and France looks like being the bargain basement for the time being.

I leave you with three French starlets that will hit the big time in the next 5 years; M’Baye Niang, Tony Huston and Alexandre Lacazette.

Written by Jordan Florit forwww.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Despite the constant and almost fashionable put-down of the MLS, made all the more arguable by players such as Robbie Keane and Darren Huckerby heading to America for their final pay packet, whilst playing football that Del Piero states needs to be “more competitive,” it seems that the American Dream of a rising standard of soccer is looking all the more valid.

David Beckham joined the MLS as an L.A Galaxy player in 2007 and told the world that he was going there, ”to make a difference, to play football,” however he admitted that going over to the States didn’t mean it was going to, “make soccer the biggest sport in America,” further admitting it, “would be difficult to achieve.” He did however end his inspirational PR-fuelled ode to the MLS with a, in hindsight, accurate prediction for the future of American football, “I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think I could make a difference.”

As Beckham’s multi-million pound contract trickles to an end in Los Angeles it is unquestionable that he has brought positive attention to the league, as well as inspiring aging has-beens to follow suit. Wenger is one of the biggest admirers of the MLS, “the United States (is) where football is becoming more and more popular and the quality is rising,” said the Frenchman, “I think (America and Asia) will be the future of the game. America will produce more and more top level players.” His explanation is down to the mental attributes of the players, ”they have an aptitude to have a team attitude and a hard-working attitude too. Once they get the education, they will start to produce good players.” With these comments in mind, the first MLS star with a future in the Premier League is Brek Shea and his possible future in the World’s best league may lie under Arsene Wenger.

Brek Shea is a 6’3 winger and height out wide is no bad thing, Ronaldo is 6’1 and a combination of pace and power makes for one of the most-feared players in the world. The 21-year old has already enjoyed a spell of English football, training with Bolton Wanderers in 2007 aged only 17. Bolton are a club that have invested in American talent with Stuart Holden having signed from Houston Dynamo in 2010. Shea was drafted in for FC Dallas in 2008 and the USA international has this year been shortlisted for the MLS MVP award, along with two other players. His ability has not gone unnoticed and Arsene Wenger has moved quickly to ensure he is in the best footing to sign the creative midfielder.

Arsenal.com announced that Brek Shea has joined The Gunners on a temporary basis, and Wenger added that “he will practice with the top team when it’s possible, practice with the best prospects of the club as well outside the normal sessions and have a contact with top level football in the world,” also hinting at the player featuring for the reserves, “if it is possible I would like to do it.”  Arsenal will assess the American whilst he trains with the first team and if he impresses during his time at the club, Wenger may be inclined to sign the player on loan in the January transfer window. Shea would be available to sign on a three-month loan contract with the American football calendar in it’s off-season and it is rumoured that if Wenger doesn’t make the move, David Moyes will. Moyes knows fully the advantage MLS players can bring to his club mid-season, having signed Landon Donovan on loan in January 2010.

Landon Donovan is another MLS star that may well have a future in the Premier League, similarly, on loan, at least initially. As aforementioned, the USA’s all-time highest goalscorer with 46 goals in 138 games, has already starred in the Premier League for Everton and a move back to the Merseyside club looks like a possibility with Everton cash-strapped for transfer in the January window.

The Daily Mail have suggested that “Moyes is keen to see Landon Donovan return to Goodison Park in January,” and the acquisition of the L.A Galaxy player may assist the Scot in tempting his fellow countryman Brek Shea to the Toffees, should Arsenal choose not to move for the FC Dallas player. ”It’s something we will probably try and look to to see if there’s an interest,”explained Moyes, “Donovan was popular here, and we could do with some speed and width on the right. It wouldn’t be something we’d be against, that’s for sure.” However, it would only be a loan with Moyes perhaps eluding to the lack of funds at Everton, “It’s unrealistic to sign him on a permanent deal, though.”

Tim Ream may well be the third American that could be joining the Premier League in the future and yet again it is Arsenal at the heart of the speculation. The centre-back plays for New York Redbulls and it was teammate and ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry that allegedly brought the name to Wenger first. Apparently Henry, who has recently jumped to the defence of NY Redbulls’ “dirty tactics” and Wenger over criticism to Arsenal’s start, has tipped off his former boss and believes that his current team’s centre-back is good enough for his former team and as a fan of The Gunners, you’d trust Henry’s opinion, wouldn’t you?

Only January will tell how many, if any, of the three MLS players make the move across the pond. However, with Brek Shea already training at Arsenal and Donovan having enjoyed a previous flirt with the EPL, the American internationals may well have a future in the Premier League. Following the paths of Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride and most recently, Stuart Holden, would prove that the skill gap is continually closing and The Professor of football is certain that America is the “future of the game.”

Written by Jordan Florit forwww.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit

Between the three of them, they have a combined age of 111. They have won all of Europe’s most highly regarded competitions, including; eight Premier League titles, five F.A Cups, two Champions Leagues, one La Liga, seven Serie A titles, four Italian Cups and one Spanish Cup. If that isn’t already enough to impress you, they’ve won, internationally, two World Cups and one European Championship.

They all feature in Pele’s scribed “FIFA 100” and as it stands, two are running out of contracted time at their current clubs and one is unattached. The three aging stars aren’t exactly stagnating either, perhaps with one exception – the Frenchman – with recent achievements including the MLS Western Conference, the MLS Supporters’ Shield and the Italian has continued to extend his lead as record goal scorer and appearance holder for his club.

If you haven’t figured out who the three players are by now, shame on you. The French midfielder, who has last seen telling a disillusioned Willie McKay that he has no urge to play for a team bottom of the nPower Championship, despite the Scot’s unfounded promise that anyone who joins the Keepmoat team will be with (them) for six months before playing in the Premier League,” is spending his time desperately trying to secure a move to Qatar or Russia. His particular choices of preferred destinations just happen to coincide with clubs that offer ridiculous money to big name signings and that might be the pulling factor for Robert Pires. However he has hinted at his desire for a move back to the top flight of English football, stating that he’s “not convinced that a life in England outside the Premier League” would suit him. The question is, Pires, who would want you?

The second player of our much-acclaimed European trio has been involved in a bitter battle of egos at his current club and understandably the nineteen year servant of the club defeated the club president, who has only been in power for 18 months. Del Piero was told he will not be offered a new contract at the end of the current season, having managed to secure this one quite fortunately. Publicly stating he would sign a blank contract for his beloved Turin club was enough to force Andrea Agnelli, club president, into offering him a one year extension back in February.

With Agnelli announcing that this season will most definitely be Del Piero’s last at the Old Lady, the World Cup winner declared that he has, “to confess,” he loves “the Premier League. What a great league.” He carries on, “Of course I would like to play there before retiring.” His comments have sparked interest, allegedly, with Tottenham’s Harry Redknapp supposedly interested, along with Blackburn, West Ham and Everton. Of course, it is all speculation, but he has publicly announced his wish to play in a “more competitive league” than the MLS or the clubs of the United Arab Emirates; countries of destination also speculatively linked with the Italian forward.

Akin to other players who have flirted with the Premier League in their twilight years, such as Larsson, Davids and Montella, is our last Musketeer. Perhaps the most suited, definitely the most welcomed and undoubtedly the most likely to happen is David Beckham.

He has continued to make comments of ambition ahead of his final weeks at L.A Galaxy; “”People have been saying [I am too old] for the last 10 or 15 years and I’ve still continued to play.” This isn’t mathematically enlightening, Beckham was 21 fifteen-years ago, but it is still ambitious. “Right now, I feel fit and still love playing, so I’m not finishing yet,” he said when questioned on wanting to captain Great Britain at the Olympics. Most ambitious of all, though, are his comments of commitment and determination, “right now I’m a Galaxy player and I will continue to be a Galaxy player until we win the league - the MLS Cup - and then we’ll see. As long as I feel I can play at a high level, then I’ll continue. Once that changes, I’m going to have to accept I need to stop.”

PSG are apparently closing in on the former England captain, who would be available to sign for a Premier League team in the January transfer window. QPR’s seeming omission from the race to sign Beckham, may indicate the French side are crossing the line but Tottenham may pip them to the post yet.

“David’s a fantastic player and a great influence in and around the club. He’s someone that I have always admired and is a great role model. I would take him, for sure, but my dilemma is being able to guarantee him first-team football. I have an abundance of talent in midfield so it’s difficult to work out how and when I can play him.” Harry Redknapp spoke highly of the hopeful Olympian, but remained realistic about his first team chances at White Hart Lane.

Beckham returning would be a dream come true for me. His free-kick against Greece, his tears whilst wearing our nation’s shirt and his emotion when he received the lifetime achievement award, are the makings of a true English great. If anyone deserves a swansong in the Premier League it is the biggest ambassador of English football across the entire globe.

Written by Jordan Florit forwww.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit