Robin Reliant?

Fatman and Robin might be a little mocking, but the Dynamic Duo can help propel Manchester United to silverware

As Robin van Persie sits on the edge of a bed in Bridgewater Hospital he will be thinking of two things. Firstly, that he passes his medical, obviously. And secondly, should he sign for Manchester United as expected, he will be thinking of the magnitude of the opportunity that lies at his feet. He will have joined United at an extremely desirable time, despite what has been made of the club's financial situation in recent weeks (I will not be going into the minutiae of the IPO here - go to a MUST blog for that!). He will know from history, how successful his new boss has been at recovering from setbacks - and there is no bigger setback than losing the championship title to your local rivals with the final kick of the entire season, subsequently being condemned to a trophyless season for the first time in seven years. With this in mind, he has signed for a club angry and hurting, and determined to snatch the title of 'England's best' back from City Van Persie has joined up with a squad now bursting with talent and his only ambition is to win the medals he felt he should have won with Arsenal.

Comparisons between van Persie and another Dutch striker immediately surface. But whereas Ruud van Nistelrooy was unfortunate to be at United during a (relatively-speaking) downturn in the club's on-field fortunes (think only one title won during his spell, and particularly the unspoken-of 2004/5 campaign), van Persie is, with all due respect, fortunate not to have the likes of Alan Smith, Liam Miller and Eric Djemba-Djemba as his first-team colleagues. Instead, he will relish linking up with the ever-formidable Wayne Rooney and one of the German league's standout players last season in Shinji Kagawa, as well as hoping to receive the consistent quality service from Nani, Antonio Valencia et al that was too often absent from his Arsenal team mates since the departure of Cesc Fabregas, save perhaps from Alex Song. If van Persie goes anywhere near to replicating van Nistelrooy's goalscoring record at United (150 goals in 219 appearances), then there should be no qualms about not about filling his and United's cabinets of honours.

Positively for United, recent history has shown that he may be near his best form as a professional footballer. After stuttering for form and fitness through most of his Arsenal career, He enjoyed the best season of his career last campaign, almost single-handedly hauling Arsenal above rivals Tottenham into third place and, while fans of the Gunners may have enjoyed that moment, they will now be left with feelings of disgust that yet another talismanic player has slithered out of reach. Van Persie's performance at the recent European Championships was uninspiring, yet while he missed a host of goalscoring chances, the deeper problems in Poland and Ukraine lay with the managerial approach to each game and the over-indulgence of the individual rather than the collective. Of course, it is not exactly hard to note that this will not be allowed to happen at Old Trafford. On domestic form, van Persie can gather evidence from past players who have peaked after turning 30. In the relevant striking department in particular, one Didier Drogba played his best football at Chelsea past said landmark. At 29, time is still on his side, and with a four-year-contract to his name, it is clear that Sir Alex Ferguson prays it is the case of the late bloomer rather than the one-season wonder. The latter could be applied to Ferguson's last highest-of-profile signings, that of Dimitar Berbatov. Berbatov's time at United hasn't quite worked out. He may have finished one season as the club's highest goalscorer, but the fan favourite's style of play has seemed out of tandem with Ferguson's swift counter-attacking approach, to the point where he became more accustomed to the uncomfortable reality of the bench than the fine surface of the pitch last season. At over £30m, Berbatov's transfer was laced with much more risk, but van Persie's falls way below that price bracket. Depending on who you read, £15m with appearance and trophy-related add-ons for a player with a year remaining on his contract in the form of his life is excellent business. Even the £24m figure widely quoted is decent for a player who can arguably be considered world-class, not to mention this is all considering the unofficial taboo on selling best players to great rivals.

Somewhat neglected is the fact that van Persie is a leftie. No, not his political stance, but his striking stance. With the exception of Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs (and possibly Nani), United are desperately short of left-footed players, which can often lead to an imbalance. For instance, too often last season saw Ashley Young come inside from the left, thus requiring Evra to fill his wide position for attacks, leaving the Frenchman caught out when the opposition countered. This would have been less of a problem had Evra not been in poor form. Van Persie, while mainly required for his goals, can still deliver a peach or two - and he will doubtless use his left foot.

The issue of the central midfielder rages on both despite and because of van Persie's arrival. On the face of it, his signing appears more an indication of United's buying power with the eyes of City and Chelsea observing, rather than a truly needed player. Yet injuries are never far from any squad and it is more than likely that throughout the course of a season, the rapidly improving Danny Welbeck will be depended on even if van Persie is fit. Javier Hernandez, too, can contribute his share of goals, not forgetting that four strikers are always better than three (see 1999). I personally believe Ferguson will not make another major signing this summer, and the combination of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley (if consistently fit) will be first choice in that hotly debated central area. England last night against Italy were the most impressive they have been since Roy Hodgson took over - and Carrick and Cleverley were at the centre of England's possession game. Cleverley also looked sharp at the Olympics for Team GB. This, coupled with the extremely promising sight of Darren Fletcher getting a run-out for United at Aberdeen on Tuesday after a lengthy break from the game due to illness, and all of a sudden the lack of a new central midfielder does not seem so devastating. Should none of the hopes for a functioning midfield work out, it may end up being a case of simply outscoring the opponent this season for United. With Robin van Persie helping to lead the line, that responsibility will not seem so daunting, and he may just earn himself some of those medals he has missed out on.

London's Lasting Legacy Should Be More Famous Faces

Well done, but who are you?

The universal appeal of the Olympics is undeniable. Competitors from around two hundred countries gather in one location for a couple of weeks every four years and the crowds gather to cheer them on. Thousands have flocked to London to witness the greatest show on Earth and have, for the most part, been thoroughly entertained. For the home crowd, Britain's athletes have been phenomenal, surpassing the half century in total medals won. The greatest haul since 1908 gives us many reasons to celebrate. Jess Ennis, Mo Farah and Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy have taken all of us to cloud nine in recent days. But there are others who have, too. Therefore, the pressing issue is this: before they stood upon the podium, arms aloft, with what resembles a giant chocolate coin around their necks, how many of these medal winners had we actually heard of?

For example, Britain's sole taekwondo gold medallist Jade Jones was a total unknown last week - I myself had no knowledge of the Welsh 19-year-old until her superb semi-final win against the world number one in her weight category. If that wasn't spectacular enough, she won her gold medal match with poise and aggression, with her coach full of praise for the work she had put in prior to coming to London. The shooter Peter Wilson also raised nobody's eyebrows until his dominant display in the final. And the Brownlee brothers to most must have sounded like an accountancy firm rather than gold and bronze medal-winning triathletes.

On a side note, it is perhaps a tad ironic that in the pool, a venue where more names than most are uttered within the average British household, the medal return was the most disappointing. After Rebecca Adlington's two golds in Beijing many were expecting British swimming to build upon the Nottingham swimmer's success. In reality, however, three medals is the outcome four years down the line. Adlington's two commendable bronzes in successive tough finals coupled with Michael Jamieson's superb silver appear to be the peak performances at the London Olympics. What then of others such as Hannah Miley, Fran Halsall, James Goddard or Jemma Lowe? These names often appear in major swimming events and are not new to the sport, yet while some made finals (an unquestionable achievement in itself), there lacked the final strokes that are so desperately needed for a medal place. One hopes that this is merely a blip in the calendar of competitive swimming in Britain and that by next year's FINA World Championships the collective faults will have been ironed out.

Returning to the opening discussion, the main problem afflicting these British 'unknowns' is the relative lack of interest in their respective sports. It is hard to believe that a lack of excitement is the problem. These sports are fascinating in their own ways and I have enjoyed them immensely. The word 'exposure' is the key. The Olympics is likely to be the only competition in which these sports are exposed to a large audience, and once every four years is not often enough to garner regular interest. The same could be applied to swimming to a lesser extent, but the idea is the same. It is a domino effect: the lack of interest will inevitably lead to a lack of participation, which results in funding cuts and a downward spiral of performances in major international competitions. Yet this does not have to be the case. Those athletes who have shone in their sports are the paradigms for the somewhat off-putting 'Inspire a Generation' motto. Of course, the motto is not what is important here. What is are the consequences of these games 20 years down the line. People such as Wilson, Ed McKeever (today's K1 200m champion) and one-two canoe pairings of Tim Baillie and Etienne Stott, and David Florence and Richard Hounslow are now the ideal ambassadors for their events.

In another remarkable story to emerge from London, horse-dancing expert (AKA team and individual dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin) belied the privileged traditions of her sport, having been brought up without the secure financial backing to fund the high costs of the rigours of equestrian training - going to show that truly anyone can fulfil their ambitions with the right character traits and support. According to officials, 90% of the country is watching the Olympics in some form, and these athletes must be hopeful that this monumental advantage of having the Olympics on their doorstep will render them household names for the foreseeable future just so it prompts even the laziest of Brits to head down to the gym for a light workout. As these Games have shown, everyone has to start somewhere, and in time, the negative substance of the domino effect may just become positive. Cue heightened interest, regular participating, increased funding and more medals in coming years.

While this may have only touched upon the issues in British sport that require resolving, the Olympics has done much to ignite the talk. The peaking interest is the first step. Let us hope that, like the countless Mexican waves attempted at London 2012's football matches, it doesn't fizzle out and become less than a footnote in the history of this country's sporting prowess.

Four days in: Disappointment, Doping, and Defying the Odds

Even by the end of the first week of the London Olympics, it is highly likely the majority of the population will still be talking about the truly fabulous opening ceremony on Friday. Today, the intricacies of Daniel Craig's royal confrontation were being carefully deciphered amongst those I was working with, as day four of the Games rolled on. One might be forgiven for forgetting there are actual sporting events occurring! Yet they are, and we have witnessed some fantastic drama befitting of the grandeur of the occasion and the skill of those on show.

While the medals started to clear off the shelves and around the necks of those most deserving, others were left with more than a sense of extreme disappointment at having missed out, despite the immensity of the efforts involved. Britain's men were unable to ferry Mark Cavendish to the sprint finish he so desperately craved. It seems the road racing team were the victims of their own incredible success over the past month, as the rest of the peloton appeared to expect the Brits to single-handedly pedal it back into touch with the early breakaway. Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, the winner and runner up of the Tour de France, were selfless in this respect, with the former possibly putting his own time trial chances in doubt for the benefit of his colleague. The women's race on day two was a resounding success, as Lizzie Armitstead did manage to ride herself into contention at the climax and subsequently delivered the country's first medal of the games, quelling the fears of a stuttering start to GB's medal haul.

In the aquatics centre, the first noticeable controversy began to swirl in the waters of the swimming pool on day two. China's Ye Shiwen, aged just 16, swam a relentless final length in the women's 400m individual medley - faster than Ryan Lochte's equivalent 50m - to claim gold and a new world record. Almost immediately, the eyebrows were raised on Twitter and the tube (even the BBC's Claire Balding prodded at the possibility of the d-word). The reaction was unsurprising given China's undesirable doping past. However, the lack of any solid evidence for such foul play and a staunch defence headed by several high-ranking Olympic officials suggest Ye's performance was nothing more than an extraordinary piece of athleticism. We surely must instead feel privileged to have witnessed such a feat, though the debate will no doubt rage for weeks to come. Moreover, of course, questions will continually be asked about the ethical processes by which China produces its talent for various Olympic sports, but with 23 medals so far - 13 of them gold - and atop the medal table, something seems to be working. On the outside lane of that very same pool, Rebecca Adlington, Britain's defending champion in the 400m freestyle defied her difficult position to claim an excellent bronze medal. In many ways that result was as impressive as her winning swim in Beijing four years ago.

The host nation's most feel-good success was undoubtedly in the men's team event in gymnastics. It was a very well-written script: the last time Britain's men won a medal in the event was in 1912. The Titanic had just sank in icy waters back a century ago, but 2012's competition was fiercely heated. After all the apparatus, the scoreboard had Britain in second before a Japanese appeal pushed them to third. Make no mistake: any colour of medal in this event defied all expectations, rightly deserved a storming moshpit of celebration and got something like it (as well as a chorus of boos when asked to recognise the judges' contribution). The five fresh-faced gymnasts - the youngest being 23 -  were equally elated despite the demotion to second and have simultaneously captured the nation's enduring pride.

The opening days to the Olympics has also had a royal tint of silver. Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaugher was a part of the three-day eventing equestrian team who finished second overall. She can now at least boast being the most successful Olympian in her family (her mother, Princess Anne was unsuccessful on her horse in 1976). On the other hand, her single success does not budge the 4kg of medals hanging on another Olympian's scales. Michael Phelps tonight became the most decorated Olympian of all time. The swimmer added a silver in the 200m butterfly and another gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay to take his tally to 19. More are to come in the coming days which could potentially take him to 22, and while some may not hail him as the greatest Olympian in history, there is no doubt his legacy is secured regardless of how his critics have viewed his arguably less-dominant performances in London than seen in Beijing and Athens. It has been quite a few opening days, and while this has been but a taste of what has transpired, expect more of the same.

A Games to be Proud of, in Spirit and in Substance.

There is no denying that the next 17 days will be 17 of the most unique that we as Brits have ever witnessed. The Olympic Games. Sport will take centre stage as - for a couple of weeks at least - all the economic misery and subsequent social unease are put to one side, and we can instead all look forward to a bloody good show from London and the rest of Great Britain. The work to get to tonight has been observed and reported sporadically by news outlets over the past seven years since that magical day on July 6th 2005 when it was officially announced that London would host the Games, yet for the people involved the work has been constant, and the fruits of their labours will be revealed in a matter of hours. The excitement has only reached noticeable levels as 2012, the year of the Games began. Now that the moment until the Games officially begin has gotten ever closer, there has scarcely been a pinch of coverage that has not mentioned the Olympics every few seconds.

This is not something to be groaned at. Rather, it should be embraced as a genuine once-in-a-lifetime event. A real 'where were you?' moment. Perhaps the greatest 'where were you?' sporting event since 1966, and one of the greatest national events since the end of the Second World War. For the entire world has sat up and taken notice that (despite reports of many turbulent events in the build-up) London may actually be ready to amaze the planet. Thousands of foreigners have descended upon this not-so-sunny island with hopes of retuning with the glow of having been lit up by the skill and determination of the 10000 athletes who will compete. Boris Johnson offered his 'we are ready' speech to the delight of thousands at Hyde Park yesterday, and we as a nation of proud cynics may also join those in being delighted; firstly by Danny Boyle's £27 million opening ceremony, and secondly by the wide array of sporting events that are to follow. The Paralympics too are not to be missed, and will showcase the incredible display of those who have not let their disabilities hinder their desires.

The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, has not had the ideal preparation to defend his 100m and 200m titles, but it is not foolish to expect him to do something special. His countryman Yohan Blake may also write his name into the record books. The man they once called the human dolphin is returning to the swimming pool to try and win another stockful of gold medals. Countless others who may not possess the same level of superstardom but certainly possess just as much of the talent will be aiming to take as many medals back to their respective countries and to see their hard work and dreams fulfilled in some form. Whether it be for the satisfaction of personal achievement, the desire for recognition and respect, or just for the pure national pride, they will all be pushing themselves to the limits of human potential.

Looking closer to home, and there are dozens of athletes who have endeared themselves to the public, especially since Beijing's Games in 2008. A few names stand out and keen eyes will be fixed upon these men and women more than most. Rebecca Adlington, A virtual unknown four years ago,  is now the country's inspiration in the water. Hopes are high that she cuts through the waters rather than treading them. In another water sport, poster-boy Tom Daley has overcome personal tragedy to once again take on the might of Chinese 'robot' Qiu Bo off the edge of the 10m platform. Having lost his father to cancer last year, he arguably has extra motivation to top the leaderboard. Newly crowned Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins turns his attention to the vélodrome, while his Team Sky compatriot Mark Cavendish, the fastest man in the world on two wheels, will set out to cement that undeniable fact. On the running track, Jessica Ennis has overcome injury woes in order to prove herself as the most well-rounded athlete the country - and the world - can boast.

The concept of a 'home' Games has allowed for a reigniting of our country's national sport once again in Olympic competition. For the first time in the lives of all of two generations, football has come home (at least for the Olympics). In the men's competition Ryan Giggs finally took his bow on the international stage last night for Team GB, ironically at the stadium where he has won most of his club medals. Beforehand, he made it clear what the competition meant to him as a Welshman who never had his chance at a European Championship or a World Cup. 'An Olympic gold would be up there with my European medals', he remarked. It is still amazingly refreshing to see the 38-year-old with the same drive he had twenty years ago. With a host of young talent alongside him, he and the rest of Team GB can hope to build on their somewhat unfortunate draw with Senegal.


The preparation has had it's dazzling highs and earth-shattering lows, but the impact of the next two and a half weeks of competition will shape Great Britain's legacy for the next century, and though nowadays we cannot claim the greatness we once had, confidence should be had in Great Britain's readiness to create a legacy worthy of its name (and win a hell of a lot of medals!). Let the Games begin.

There were 11 sky-blue bottlers on the wall... (plus Vieira)

Garry Cook once said of AC Milan, 'If you want my personal opinion they bottled it'. This now infamous line was said in relation to Manchester City's audacious proposal to bring Kaka to the City of Manchester Stadium for a word-record £100 million back in 2009. I am going to borrow the first part of former chief executive Cook's statement about the Italian giants for my own purposes. If you want my personal opinion, to 'bottle' something is to crumble in the face of mounting pressure. Three years ago, AC Milan merely did not wish to sell their player to City (Kaka instead went to Real Madrid that summer) and it is unlikely that this constitutes a meltdown - keeping hold of your best player is hardly a dreadful thing. Three years later and substantially more than £100 million spent and it appears City are contriving to do some bottling of their own. Unlike the sour anti-climactic dealings with Milan, this bottling is being done on the football pitch. After Mikel Arteta's wonderful late strike at the Emirates condemned them to a fifth defeat in their last nine away games, City must hardly believe that they find themselves an astonishing eight points behind Manchester United and two goals behind them on goal difference (when at one point it was 17 in their favour). This is a period of crumbling if ever I saw one.

The demise seen at the Etihad in the last few weeks was not beyond prediction. There exist a range of reasons, some small and some striking, for the complete change in attitude from City's players. Apart from the glaring tactical problems (a chronic lack of width together with a lack of adequate cover at the back) most players just haven't performed for their manager and the badge they wear on their shirts. Mancini seemed to be largely behind the scenes when Kaka was sought after once upon a time, and now it appears his lack of man-management skills has lent itself to a poor attitude on the pitch and subsequently poor performances, especially away from home. David Silva is completely out of form. Sergio Aguero has stopped scoring. He has given up on Joker-In-Chief Mario Balotelli (or should that be Joke-In-Chief?) after yet another red card against Arsenal, seventy minutes after he should have walked for a disgraceful lunge on Alex Song. The striker's petulant lack of professionalism has spread like a poison through the dressing room, and it appears Mancini has just about lost patience. 'I can do nothing', he replied post-match when questioned about Balotelli's attitude, which says more about the greying Italian's coach-to-player capabilities than it does about his immature countryman. A second player-related misjudgement has been to allow Carlos Tevez back into the squad. Despite his undoubted talent, it is unlikely that many managers would go back on their word not to play him again, after his antics on the bench in Munich and subsequent five-month departure to Argentina to play golf and sing in karaoke bars. Mancini has failed to see through the potential disruption it can cause, and though not as significant as the Balotelli problem, it raises some issues about the inner workings at the club.

Heading away from the literally and metaphorically muddy dressing room up to the clean and neatly furnished offices and we come to one Patrick Vieira, the 'Football Development Executive' at the club. Apparently, all Vieira can find time to do is to begin the annual title race mind games with Sir Alex Ferguson (or whoever else is in with a shout). After stating that bringing Paul Scholes out of retirement was 'weakness', he proceeded to claim United get preferential treatment from referees. Now United are no angels when it comes to discipline and lucky decisions, but City should also take a look at themselves as well. No examples necessary. Regarding the Scholes situation, Vieira should choose his words more carefully. Scholes scored the second goal against QPR to seal three points and is enjoying a mini-renaissance at the heart of United's midfield, while Vieira himself spent most of his last year as a footballer on City's substitute bench. Perhaps he should get back to his day job, whatever that may entail.

There is no one reason for the swing in fortunes for the Manchester clubs, and though City have not yet lost the league there is more than a sense of inevitability around the fate of the Premier League trophy. At Old Trafford, it is a case of getting the job done with minimal distraction. Ferguson even took his players to St Andrews for a round of golf before the Blackburn match to escape from the hype of the title race. At the Etihad, Roberto Mancini has allowed a sense of self-importance to fester over several months (which may have ironically started with the 6-1 thrashing of their rivals) and is now showing in the dismal displays on the pitch, reports of scuffles between current players, and unnecessary comments from former players. Add that to the usual pressure that comes with being top of the league for so long and an implosion was always in the making. In Manchester City's case, the implosion is the sound of a lot of bottles falling off the summit and smashing into many tiny pieces.

Ten years for Moyes, but how much longer will he stay?

Moyes will hope for more moments like this on Tuesday in the Merseyside derby

On March 14^th 2002 at Goodison Park, a 38-year-old Scot named David Moyes was unveiled to the media as the new manager of Everton Football Club. Presumably, Moyes himself could not have forseen the impact of the words he uttered that day. ‘I am joining the people’s football club’, he declared. Who would have thought that almost ten years later, those words still ring true to the majority of the blue half of Merseyside? Even more remarkably, who would have thought that the man who said them would still be in the job? The people, it is clear to see, love Moyes. For anyone unfamiliar with Everton or the workings of modern football in general, lasting ten years at one club must mean the manager is doing pretty well.

Indeed, Moyes has performed wonderfully at Everton for a decade and there are no signs that his performance at the helm is on the wane. Saturday evening saw an excellent 1-0 home win against Tottenham, to add to the scalps of Manchester City and Chelsea already taken this season. Results like these are nothing new to Moyes’s Everton. They have helped him guide the club to consistent top-half league finishes for several years, with perhaps his greatest achievement coming in 2005 when Everton ended the season in fourth place, displacing their great city rivals Liverpool and disrupting the ‘top four’ that had previously been thought of as ‘unbreakable’. Since then the club have finished inside the top eight in all but one season. An FA Cup final in 2009 was another highlight, and they have enjoyed several well-earned European journeys under the stern ginger Glaswegian. In the decade he has walked the corridors at Goodison, Everton fans will most likely tell you that they are in a much better state than they once were.

Moyes’s success has come against a backdrop of severe financial limitations. Many fans feel that a lack of new investment and a lack of transparency over club economics from owner and chairman Bill Kenwright has hindered the club’s progress. Still, it is a testament to his managerial abilities that Moyes has been able to operate in a manner that belies the restraints that have clearly prevented Everton from again becoming one of English football’s dominant forces. He has been astute in his recruitment of players season after season, with perhaps current skipper Phil Neville his most underrated and influential acquisition. Overseeing Everton’s academy has yielded fruit, too. Moyes professes that a certain Mr. Rooney is the most talented player he has ever seen at the club. Several other signings such as Tim Cahill, record signing Marouane Fellaini and the recently departed Mikel Arteta have helped endear Moyes to the supporters. Apart from Fellaini and very few others, Everton have been forced to spend small under a burden of debt and rely on offloading and loan signings to reform and bolster a squad that has also been extremely unfortunate with injury. Yet still Moyes has soldiered on and in 2012 Everton’s current 7-game unbeaten run sees them in ninth, just two points off the men in red across Stanley Park.

The question ‘what next?’ has been sounded many a time with regards to David Moyes. He has the unwavering support of Kenwright and the board – something that is refreshing to see in today’s game and one of the reasons he has been able to celebrate ten years in charge. However, with concerns over the club’s long-term ambitions and whispers of managerial movements elsewhere, it is not imprudent to suggest that Moyes may not be at Everton much longer. Many believe Moyes would fare expertly at a club who can provide the funds he likely craves. Moyes himself is a highly determined character and may see the lure of riches and potential trophies at other clubs too tempting to refuse. He has been touted as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor at Old Trafford, as well as being linked with the post at Chelsea and at Tottenham. But for now, what is clear is that Moyes loves the club, and the club and its people love him. What is also clear is that whatever happens in the near future, it will be a long time before the words ‘David Moyes’ and ‘Everton’ don’t fit snugly together in a sentence.

Give Pearce a Part-time Chance, We've Got Nothing to Lose

Last Wednesday’s friendly against Holland provided some interesting revelations about this current England team. For one, Fabio Capello’s work over the last few years has yielded little fruit, save for the necessary (and welcome) introduction of a new generation of players to take the mantle from the forever disappointing ‘old guard’ when it comes to the international scene. It was the under-21 coach Stuart Pearce who took charge in the 3-2 defeat last week and for the most part he was correct in fielding a youthful team to aid several players in their transition to the senior side. He was explicit in stating his motives: ‘It is disappointing but the object of the exercise was to learn.’ He would have learned that it is not a question of a lack of ability, but a lack of experience that is a problem, and will be for any side featuring players such as Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Phil Jones, Fraizer Campbell or Chris Smalling. Even the older heads are not exactly used to the national setup – captain Scott Parker, at the age of 31, was earning just his 11th cap, and Gary Cahill his eighth. Until Arjen Robben’s last minute winner England had done well to fight back from two goals down, belying the relative inexperience of the squad in terms of collective caps.

Subsequently, the question was raised to Pearce about a summer job. He replied that he is available should the Football Association be unable to install a new manager before the upcoming European Championships. Since then, general secretary Alex Horne has revealed that the new man will not be appointed until near the end of this season. This would give a month, perhaps five weeks, for the new man to imprint his ideas upon those who will wear the white shirt in Ukraine against France on June 11^th. It is a meagre amount of time for any incoming boss to really get inside the heads of his players, for that is what is required if England are to succeed in any way. Pearce, however, knows his players extremely well, especially those whom he took to the 2009 under-21 Championship final. There is some pedigree there, despite what may be said about his managerial ability. Five years with the under-21s in an age where managers come and go as quickly as Lionel Messi is a sign of excellent loyalty to his country and it would be harsh not to allow him his shot at the big time.

Nobody is trying to convince anyone otherwise, but the side currently and bizarrely ranked fifth in the world by FIFA are not exactly favourites for this competition. The rejuvenated French, the youthful and efficient Germans and the love-in at the Spanish camp headed by Xavi and Iniesta are all well ahead of England in most ways. Were Don Fabio still in charge, that familiar national expectation that builds up the Three Lions to a footing akin to winning a World War would inevitably be astronomical. Were anyone new in charge (for example, a certain Mr. Redknapp of White Hart Lane, N17) that expectation increases several-fold, understandably but wrongly. With Pearce in charge, that expectation would certainly be diminished. This is not a bad thing. England might just be able to get on with the job of getting past France, Sweden and Ukraine without a public outpouring of anger, exasperation and eternal condemnation for their country’s footballers. Who knows where a good run in the group stage might lead?

Seeing as England are in all probability not going to win the Euros, let us spare the country the ‘build ‘em up high to knock ‘em down low’ mentality and give Pearce a chance to do what he can with a team that will need more than just the period between May and June to be moulded into a competitive force on the world stage. Another shake-up in terms of squad selection and possibly captaincy so close to a major tournament is going to do more harm than good. Psycho, as he became affectionately known, has missed penalties when it matters and therefore has something in common with several players. He might just impart some wisdom and that personal touch. He’s been there before as a player. He’s already there now as a manager.

Premier League Team of the Year 2011

It's one thing to come up with a team of the season, but another thing entirely to come up with a team of the year. It has to take into account accumulated statistics, consistency over two separate halves of two separate seasons, and general overall performances for whichever clubs are fortunate to possess the players who make the difference. Add in a summer transfer and a new lavish contract and we have two clubs contributing to a player's inclusion in this prestigious blog. So, here it is.

Premier League Team of the Year (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper – Brad Friedel (Aston Villa and Tottenham)

In terms of consistency in 2011, there is no goalkeeper equal to the big American in the Premier League. He has not missed a league game since the 2004/5 season, and is subsequently the current record holder for the most consecutive appearances in the top-flight. Oh, and he is 40 years old. To have moved clubs in the close season and still managed to have kept his rightful position as Spurs’ number 1 (usurping Heurelho Gomes in the process) says it all about his temperament, approach to the game in the autumn of his career, and of course his ability as a shot-stopper.

RB – Micah Richards (Manchester City)

Roberto Mancini must have had good reason to offer Micah Richards a new five-year contract in the summer of 2011. An FA Cup winner’s medal aside, stellar performances, particularly in the latter part of the last campaign helped them keep a league-high 18 clean sheets and propel them to third. Again a consistent performer, Richards has been constantly on City’s team sheet this campaign while they challenge for the title, and his impressive performances have merited a regular place in a competitive line-up. His technical traits have all improved, while his beast-like strength and speed on the ball has made him a threat in attack as well as a top defender.

CB – Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United)

“He comes from Serbia, he’ll f**kin’ murder ya”, goes the song from the Stretford End. Very fitting. United’s team captain will challenge for every aerial ball and will most likely win. He makes block after block, times his tackles to perfection, and has been 2011’s best central defender in the league. Soon after scoring in the win against Chelsea which all but wrapped up United’s 19^th title, Vidic was named the Barclays Player of the Season. This season his return to the side after injury coincided with a run of clean sheets after United’s earlier uncertain form. News that he will miss the rest of the season is a huge blow for the club.

CB – Phil Jones (Blackburn and Manchester United)

It is hard to believe that this boy is not yet 20. The praise he has received from peers has been overwhelming. Now being talked of as a new Keane or Duncan Edwards, despite being a natural centre-back, Phil Jones has had a fantastic breakthrough year – not allowing the media hype to affect his performances for club, and now country. He finished his time at Blackburn in stellar fashion – notably keeping a clean sheet at Arsenal – prompting Sir Alex Ferguson to pay £16m for him in the summer. At United he has simply flourished, playing more games than any of his team-mates this season.

LB – Leighton Baines (Everton)

Being left out of the England squad to South Africa may have, on some level, helped Leighton Baines. Since that disappointment, and especially this year, he has, by a distance, been Everton’s best player. Baines is an ever-present on David Moyes’s team sheet, and for good reason. He has been the league’s highest assisting defender in 2011, contributing quality crosses from the left, while also taking responsibility for most of The Toffees’ penalties and free kicks. He possesses a wonderful left foot, and has often left Goodison Park applauding the left-back’s style and composure on the ball.

DM – Scott Parker (West Ham and Tottenham)

It is perhaps a little bittersweet that Scott Parker is playing the best football of his career after he has turned 30. This year has undoubtedly been his most productive year, despite undeservedly being relegated with West Ham. He earned the Football Writers’ Player of the Year due to his committed defensive midfield performances for the stricken Hammers. His subsequent transfer to Tottenham has given him the ability to showcase his passing and controlling of games in a team of real quality, forging in particular a wonderful partnership with Luka Modric in midfield. It is no coincidence that he remains unbeaten for Spurs when he has played for them.

CM/CAM – David Silva (Manchester City)

Since Manchester City became genuine title contenders, all the talk has been of this little Spaniard. Constantly referred to as the league’s best midfielder, he has it all: dazzling trickery, the ability to accelerate away from opposition players, fantastic determination, and a lethal finish – pretty much everything required to be a playmaker. He has chipped in with his fair share of goals, and has assisted with 9 already this current season. In Silva there is an air of a young boy just enjoying his football, while keeping his team flying high atop the Premier League as 2011 ends.

CM/CAM –Rafael van der Vaart (Tottenham)

There was a time in 2011 when Rafael van der Vaart carried Tottenham single-handedly through games to victory. The exceptionally talented Dutchman produced the goods and the goals, at times from nowhere, to ensure Spurs had something to shout about come May. He ended last season as their highest assist-maker and top scorer; the latter is a stat that is all the more remarkable considering he is not even a striker. This incredible form continued after the summer break, when van der Vaart equalled a Tottenham record by scoring in five consecutive league games.

ST – Demba Ba (West Ham and Newcastle)

Another player who has benefitted from performing well for a relegated team, Demba Ba has been a terrific addition to English football. He is a no-nonsense striker with a devastating eye for goal, and since joining West Ham in January has scored 18 goals in the league – 11 of them this campaign. Alan Pardew at Newcastle has given him the perfect tactical set-up with which to add to his tally, and he has repaid his manager’s faith. He has two hat-tricks already this season for the Magpies, while his goals and link-up play has contributed to their best start in years.

ST –Daniel Sturridge (Bolton, on loan, and Chelsea)

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has recently questioned why Daniel Sturridge was allowed to leave the club in 2009 under old management. It is clear now that he would gladly have him back. Being loaned out by Chelsea to Bolton in January 2011 proved crucial for the 22-year-old, and has resulted in a breakthrough year for the speedy forward. He was magnificent for the Trotters, and scored 8 goals in just 12 appearances. He has returned to Chelsea with confidence and as a genuine goal threat. A further 8 league goals since August has kept the misfiring Fernando Torres sat firmly on the bench, which says much about Sturridge’s current form.

ST – Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

There are not enough superlatives to describe this player in 2011. A round of applause from Thierry Henry after his stunning volley against Everton might just do his year justice, for van Persie is one goal from equalling Henry’s club record of 34 goals in a calendar year, and just three behind Alan Shearer’s all-time record in the same period. 33 goals in 32 league games is the kind of form Messi and Ronaldo are so used to, so it is not outrageous to say the Dutchman is, in terms of form, up with the greatest players in the world this year.

Losing at Chelsea Won't Result in a City Train-wreck

Last night's entertainment - El Cashico, if you will - at the Bridge revealed what most of us knew, or at least thought. Manchester City are not unbeatable. I even called it myself, feeling Chelsea would overturn the shock concession of a goal less than two minutes into the game and come away with the three points. Of course, gut feelings from fans count for very little unless they are somehow in André Villas-Boas's inner circle. For the first 20 minutes, City were dominant, and for periods were unplayable. Sergio Aguero and David Silva looked sharp, as they should be with the talent they both possess. Behind them, Yaya Toure and Gareth Barry were passing through Chelsea's midfield with relative ease. It has been that way throughout most of the season. Before last night, the same, or similar setups in City's formation had seen them drop just four points since the beginning of the campaign. For all we can say about their unbelievable spending power, it is still quite a feat to manage, especially considering the potentially volatile individual egos strutting around the dressing room at the Etihad Stadium. Roberto Mancini has kept City on a steady course, and has not allowed his players to become too arrogant about the fact that they are many people's favourites to grab the Premier League trophy from the steely Govan knight who resides across Manchester.

It is perhaps more of what Chelsea did after the first quarter of their rain-soaked clash with City that changed the game. They dropped much deeper and their defensive line was much less at risk from any runs in behind from the tricky duo of Silva and Aguero, or from the raw pace and power of Mr. Balotelli up front, which was seen 98 seconds after Mark Clattenburg blew to kick things off. Tasting defeat for the first time thanks to Frank Lampard's substitute heroics from penalty spot may not be a bad thing for Mancini's men. It has showed them that they are vulnerable at times, and they will no doubt strive to right wrongs and plug defensive gaps that are there. There is little that needs reassessing in tactical domestic terms (their brief European adventure aside) because of the quality of their players and the subsequent quality of their play going forward: 49 goals scored in the league says as much. They have suffered little through injury: a huge factor for any championship-challenging team, and perhaps most importantly the strength of their squad will go a long way to guiding them through the difficult winter period. Mancini, however, must improve his side's discipline if they are to keep up their push for silverware. Against weaker teams losing a man will not, and has proved not to be too detrimental to their results, considering City have usually been in winning positions for large periods of matches. Against the stronger teams, it is a different story, as Gael Clichy's dismissal showed last night. For the final half an hour, there was a sense of inevitability that the ten men would succumb to AVB's boys. Yet losing at Chelsea will not spark a derailment of City's title aspirations. They are too good for that. Starting against Arsenal next week, we will likely see improvement and a powerful message that they are not going to be dropping down the table anytime soon.

Transfer Deadline Day

Just what is it that makes Transfer Deadline Day (TDD) so enthralling to watch as events unfold (and then fold back up as the inevitable “dead in the water” phrases are circulated on Sky Sports News and the Twitterverse simultaneously)? Is it Jim White’s many phones? Bryan Swanson’s special touch screen? Talks of helicopters flying from London to Newcastle at the eleventh hour? Or the dramatic cutaway to the chimes of Big Ben as the clock signals the end of another window? There really is nothing quite like it. Of course, we accept that it is massively hyped up by the media and by us fans who lap it up with glee, but it is extremely entertaining viewing when all is said and done. I personally would have given awards to SSN’s coverage of the summer 2008 deadline day, if there were such accolades - remember Berbatov and Robinho? Oh, and January 2011 wasn’t bad either...

Arriving at the present, it appears that the current TDD did not yield that marquee signing that leaves everyone talking, in terms of both reputation and transfer fee (though still managing to keep us sports enthusiasts on the edge of our seats beyond 11pm). An example of such a recent signing would evidently be Fernando Torres, a proven striker on the world stage, heading from the banks of the Mersey to the extravagance of the King’s Road in Chelsea for a British record £50 million (ignoring his post-transfer toil in front of goal). Others in this ‘elite’ band of players signed for ridiculous amounts of money include Andy Carroll, who, although not of the same reputation as his Anfield predecessor, managed to leave the country astonished with the drama that his move from Newcastle generated.

Yes, August 31^st did bring us transfers involving players of considerable proven quality, but it is unlikely that many will consider any of these world class talents. Instead, the bulk of these marquee arrivals to the Barclays Premier League, especially from abroad, were done, somewhat more sensibly, earlier on in the summer. Sergio Aguero stands out as perhaps the most high-profile signing of the summer with his £38 million move to the blue side of Manchester, while their rivals across the city acquired David de Gea for £18 million, undoubtedly a goalkeeper with world class potential. Liverpool and Chelsea also both strengthened their squads sometime before the deadline.

The names we saw flashing across the Sky Sports ticker last night were not particularly gobsmacking. North London appears to be an exception to the ‘get it done early’ policy, especially on last night’s evidence. Harry Redknapp seems to like it. Both Arsenal and Tottenham bought (and sold) late, the Gunners especially –and about time – but the names hardly jump out of the page: Mertesacker, Park Chu Young, Benayoun, Santos, Arteta, Parker. Perhaps the clearest indication that TDD wasn’t a blockbuster in terms of substance is the fact that the highest fee paid for any player was £12 million for Raul Meireles to go to Chelsea. It is probably the expectations of the modern football fan that wishes to see the huge fees paid for top players coming to England, but it was almost lukewarm content last night, and it is realistic not to anticipate such action every TDD. Only the season will tell whether all these deadline day signings help their clubs to success. However, TDD was, as a spectacle, as good as ever for viewing, and there is no doubt that we will be seeing more of the same from Jim White and co for many transfer windows to come. And we’ll love it.

Villas-Boas Needs Longer Than a Season, Roman!

New dream team? Villas-Boas and his coaching staff

With many players returning to their respective clubs this week to begin the rigorous pre-season fitness regimes that will undoubtedly rid them of all holiday thoughts, Chelsea's players will return to their Cobham base with a renewed sense of optimism following the ludicrous sacking of Carlo Ancelotti on the final day of last season. Despite the Italian's take-notice European record at AC Milan and a league and FA Cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge, Roman Abramovich was dissatisfied by Chelsea's failure to win any silverware in 2011. The Russian oligarch has waved his wad of cash again to pinpoint the man he believes can replicate the great José Mourinho's domestic success, but surpass his semi-final woes in Europe.

As fate would have it, he has chosen another Portuguese and former protegé of the Special One, Andre Villas-Boas, formerly a scout when Mourinho ruled over these parts, and subsequently went on to manage Académia de Coimbra and Porto in his home country. His stint with the latter brought him tremendous plaudits and recognition by the European elite for an unbeaten league season in which they finished 21 points clear of Benfica. Throw in a Portuguese Cup and a Europa League triumph and you can see what motivated Abramovich to fork out £13.3 million for his services. Villas-Boas is breaking records even before his Chelsea team have kicked a ball in a competitive match. He is not only the most expensive manager in history but is, at 33, the youngest manager in Premier League history (the same age as Didier Drogba). Quite some feat when you also consider he had never played football professionally - highly unusual for any coach.

Apparently at Chelsea reputation now counts for very little. Inability to deliver on the big stage will cost a manager his job regardless of past triumphs, something that Ancelotti, Scolari, Avram Grant, and even Mourinho himself will testify to the high heavens. A record of five managers in seven years does little to disprove the notion that Abramovich is a very impatient man. What he covets more than anything is that elusive big-eared trophy that Barcelona currently have locked away in the catacombs of the Nou Camp.

With plenty of time (and more money) Villas-Boas can stamp his brand of football on the club and transform them into the force they have only sporadically been in the past four years. He possesses the charisma and enthusiasm that will be vital to reviving the club's fortunes in Europe. Key squad players such as Lampard and Drogba are in the autumn of their careers, and Abramovich must let Villas-Boas buy players of his own accord for that classic blend of youth and experience with a view to replacing the old guard. He must not intervene in the transfer market as he has done so in the past (the acquisition of a certain Spaniard smacks of it, and we all remember the shambles that was Shevchenko). Of course, having swamped the club with his own personal fortune Abramovich will feel he has the right to do what he wants, and this is acceptable to an extent but it should not be to the detriment of the team or the manager. If Chelsea fail to win any silverware this season Villas-Boas should not pay for it with his job. As has been repeated and proven countless times, stability is the first foundation for success. It would be a shame if Abramovich's ego and lust for footballing domination blinded him to this crucial ideal.

My Top Five Managers 2010/11

"Some complete... person..."

5. Ian Holloway (Blackpool)

Although the Seasiders felt the agonising pain of relegation on the final day of the season, no one can doubt the hugely positive impact they have had upon the Premier League, and none exemplified that impact more than their infectiously vibrant manager, Ian Holloway. From his not so serious rant over the World Cup in which he lampooned FIFA and UEFA (“you’re wrong!”) to the entertaining football his team displayed throughout most of the season, Holloway was a breath of fresh air to a league that has too often lacked the sincere characters willing to speak their mind. Let’s hope he’s back soon.

4. Tony Pulis (Stoke)

Pulis has turned Stoke from potential relegation candidates into a proven Premier League club. By coaching his players to play to their strengths, he has overseen a remarkably encouraging season in which the Potters reached the first FA Cup final in their history – thrashing Bolton 5-0 in the semi-final – and therefore a shot at European football for next season. This coupled with a strong 13^th place finish in the table, has firmly embedded them as a top flight club. He has made good decisions to develop his squad, notably with the acquisitions of Kenywne Jones and Jermaine Pennant.

3. David Moyes (Everton)

No matter how limited the Scot’s resources appear to be at Everton, David Moyes has proved season after season that he is one of the top managers in the country. Very few managers could guide the Toffees to consistently high finishes in the Premier League with such a small transfer budget. Of course, Moyes may wonder what might have been had Everton not endured a horrific start to the season and injuries to several key players such as Mikel Arteta. Regardless, Moyes knows the club like the back of his hand and has forged extremely strong bonds with his players. If Everton obtain investment in the future, who knows what could be achieved.

2. Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)

There may be those who suggest City should have achieved more than just a first trophy (the FA Cup) in 35 years and automatic qualification to the Champions League group stages after spending the best part of £500 million since being overrun by a gazillionaire in 2008. However, the Italian has still managed to meet expectations and City are now a serious force in English football, no matter how many detractors they may have. He has been under enormous pressure to deliver success and has handled it well. Question marks remain over his squad harmony, but further investment is likely and Mancini appears to be ticking the right boxes.

1. Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United)

There are very few words to describe what Sir Alex has accomplished in the season he became United’s longest serving manager. A record 19^th Premier League title and a possible 4^th European crown is just the story of 2011. Indeed, it is impossible to forget the innumerable honours he has gathered unto the people of Old Trafford in the past 25 years. It has been repeated so often that this has not been his most ‘vintage’ squad, but in all honesty this only makes United’s glory sweeter. A phenomenal unbeaten home record was the foundation of success, as well as a certain Little Pea proving there can be no doubt of Ferguson’s mastery in the transfer market and in the dressing room. Sir Matt will be smiling.

Oh Arsene...

We've been here before. Extreme optimism and genuine belief turns into despair and resentment in the space of a few short (long, for Arsene Wenger) weeks. The last time such a collapse happened was in 2008, following Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Birmingham which memorably saw captain William Gallas sulking like a child on the floor in the opposition half alone while his team conceded a last minute penalty. It started a downward spiral that saw the Gunners' season crumble away. They were going well in the league and cup competitions before then, and now three years later I could substitute the same story and apply it to the present, with only minor details to change. The situation is still the same and the problem is still the same. Although the season is not completely over and I take the risk in writing them off too soon, many will agree, even Arsenal fans, that it is over after losing to Bolton on Sunday, and that they will finish their 38th Premier League game of 2010/11 without the title, and of course no other trophies as consolation. This will make it six years without any silverware, and for a club of Arsenal's stature, many will see it as unacceptable. Cesc Fabregas was even recently quoted as saying his manager Wenger would probably have been sacked from an equivalent club in Spain if he had presided over such a lengthy trophy drought. That is another matter, as this is England, and not Spain.

Some of the personnel may have changed since Arsenals 2007/08 late-season demise, yet the manager remains in place, the younger players that were on the fringes then and have remained at the club have arguably improved, and despite what may be made of Wenger's supposed reluctance to bring in 'big' players, the squad, I believe, is better than it was. Samir Nasri and Andrey Arshavin, for instance, are hardly unknown talents. However, the manager has remained, and the footballing philosophy is the same. With this unwavering Wenger philosophy of beautiful football inevitably comes the dissenting shouts of "frail" and "lack of maturity" whenever the excellent technical prowess that Arsenal possess as a team do not quite yield the right results that Manchester United or Chelsea would more likely be able to grind out. A valid summary of Arsenal's current predicament was aptly provided in two words on a football forum yesterday: "S**t Barcelona". Recent results have shown that Arsenal lack the grit to get the job done. I am not doubting the ability of any of the Arsenal players. On the contrary, I feel they have one of the best squads in the league in terms of ability. If the league was decided by mental state of mind, however, they would be mid-table at best, and I stress 'at best'. It is difficult to pinpoint the nature of this problem, though. Wenger clearly knows these players inside-out, yet when it comes to the crunch, it is left to him to come up with excuses about refereeing decisions or some other wild myths to account for the failings of those he sends out to win games.

People talk about the lack of big-money signings, and yes, they perhaps should be made in the summer to bring a bit more steel - psychological steel, if anything. Even one or two older heads would bring a balance to the squad, as too much pressure is heaped on Fabregas as captain to inspire and lead, and frankly he hasn't been consistent enough as a leader this season. The dire goalkeeping situation doesn't help either. Edwin van der Sar, for one, has shown that a championship winning team needs a world-class stopper, and the keepers that Arsenal have used this season have cost them more than they have saved them, most notably in the Carling Cup final. Stan Kroenke's increasing involvement with the club at a corporate level is an unknown entity. It is most likely the funds will be there for Arsene Wenger should he feel the need to utilise them, but his future, like the future of the club's ownership (with supporter shareholders unwilling to sell to the American) is uncertain. He still is the right man for the job, but those dissenting voices are not getting quieter.

The FA - A Paradigm of Incompetency

After yet another frenetic and unpredictable weekend in the Barclays Premier League that saw Arsenal and Chelsea's title hopes slide further away, Manchester United did what they have seemingly done all season by winning another game they might have lost. 2-0 down to West Ham at half time and looking as if they might hand their rivals a lifeline in the race for the championship, United conjured up that familiar resilient, never-say-die mindset and blew the Hammers away in the second half, thanks in the main to a hat-trick from the boy Rooney. I use the word 'boy' in this context to illustrate his reaction to scoring his third. With a Sky Sports camera hovering inches from his face, and, glowing with passionate anger, he stared into the lens and shouted, "What? F***ing what? F*** off." It was an outburst not unlike that of a young, angry teenager (pretty much all of the time).

Let me firstly say that language like this is not appropriate at any time, and I don't condone someone screaming expletives like that, especially when it is by a professional footballer to millions of viewers on the television. They are role models to thousands of young aspiring players and should act accordingly. Yet I would like to point out that such a reaction is understandable, particularly when someone shoves a camera down your throat. It's provocative and asking for trouble and the subsequent mass hysteria that has predictably emerged. Still, everyone loves a talking point.

However, it is not the actions of Rooney that I wish to discuss. It is the response of the Football Association to the incident. Rooney had, after the final whistle, immediately apologised for his outburst via the club's website. Sensible, yes. He apologised for his behaviour and that should have been the end of it. But no. Why? Because the British media love a witch-hunt. That it is Rooney makes it extra-special. It is not in the nature of the media to 'let it go', and so, on this occasion, they haven't. On the other hand, I very much doubt if it were a West Ham player - Carlton Cole, for example - who had sworn into the camera, the same would have been made of it. What if an overseas player had done the same thing, in a different language? I very much doubt there is a special room at the FA where dozens of translators are all sat in front of monitors waiting for a foreign player to swear on TV.

All of this, in turn, puts an enormous amount pressure on the FA to make an example of the player in question. It turns out that the player in question is Rooney, arguably England's most important player. They have charged him for using offensive language, and he now faces a two-match ban. By the way, who was 'offended' by his language? Was there a bloke called Steven sitting at home watching the game in Basingstoke with a can of Carlsberg who thought Rooney was actually telling him to "F*** off"? Rooney even said it himself in his apology: "It was not aimed at anyone in particular." The charge itself, therefore, is something to question.

Another issue is the FA's superb record of inconsistency. I agree that Rooney should have been banned for elbowing a Wigan player earlier this season, but the FA didn't take action. Perhaps the FA felt that because they didn't ban him when they should have done, this is a perfect opportunity to do so. But two wrongs don't make a right. It seems that whoever is dishing out these punishments has no sense of priority. There was a racism claim against the families of some West Ham players during Saturday's match - they could easily be monitoring that situation instead in conjunction with West Ham and the police. The countless other incidents that have gone unpunished, such as Steven Gerrard's elbow against Portsmouth's Michael Brown last season, merely exacerbates the problem, while the incidents that barely qualify as incidents (arguably Saturday's) are dealt with more severely. The problem for the FA is that if they don't act, they are jumped on by the media, but if they do, then surely they must continue to do so in the same vein. Therefore, banning every player that has ever sworn during a football match would be a good start. This, of course, is impossible and stupid and so what the FA must do is sort out the more petty occurrences in the game - which at most deserve a quiet slap on the wrist - from those that are unacceptable in this game and must rightly be extremely dealt with.

Easier said than done, and I feel that nothing will change for the foreseeable future.

A Quick Word on "Bibotelli"

Following Manchester City's disappointing Europa League exit at the hands of Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night, all the talk was of their £20 million summer signing, the Italian striker Mario Balotelli. Indeed, the boy got himself sent off for - and I could easily use expletives to emphasise what transpired -  a reckless and frankly idiotic chest-high foot on a Kiev player, causing his manager Roberto Mancini to voice his anger and doubt his place in the team for the weekend game against Chelsea. But it was not the only talking point from last night surrounding the undoubtedly talented, but at times volatile (and possibly mentally unstable) player. As ESPN's coverage focused on Balotelli during the warm up the presenting team had to watch and 'discuss' for over a minute the absurd sight of the Italian attempting to put on a training bib without success (see picture). Of course, this is not justification for any knee-jerk reactions along the lines of "modern footballers get paid thousands of pounds a week but are thick as two planks". Balotelli is not helping suppress any such opinions, however. This, combined with his exceptionally poor attitude - a reason for his well publicised spat with former manager Jose Mourinho - suggest he would not look out of place in a young offenders institute with a criminal record, no real education or any qualifications, had he not been fortunate enough to possess real footballing potential. This is a rather extreme view, but after City's European demise, Mario 'Bibotelli', as pundit Robbie Savage so eloquently commented, should at the very least reassess the manner in which he approaches his profession. Apologising today to his team mates for his dismissal is a good start.

Return of the Baby-faced Assassin

Arsenal pride themselves on the acquisition of young players from all over the world, in the hope of moulding them into Barclays Premier League stars of the highest quality. Kolo Toure is one example of how an obscure player, signed for a small fee, has developed into an excellent footballer. At 21, he signed for the relatively cheap amount of £150,000 in 2002 from his Ivorian club, ASEC Mimosas, and subsequently became one of the most recognised centre backs in Europe for his technical and physical prowess as a defender and role in the Gunners' 'Invincible' season of 2003/4. Arsene Wenger is masterful at times at moulding potential into the finished product, but after Manchester United's 2-1 win over Marseille in the Champions League last night, he may be cursing having missed out on one such gem.

Javier Hernández, now known almost universally as Chicharito, the 'Little Pea', is rapidly travelling upon a similar road taken by Toure and many others who have come seemingly out of nowhere to make a huge impact upon the clubs they sign for. He scored two goals at Old Trafford as United knocked out the French champions after two legs of their last 16 encounter. Sir Alex Ferguson was quite right in swooping for the 22-year-old Mexican striker in April, before the World Cup, during which Hernandez proved his scoring capabilities against established world powers such as France and Argentina. He was signed from Chivas de Guadalajara for around £7 million, considerably higher than Arsenal paid for Toure but understandable considering that the world's economy isn't in the best of health, and football transfer fees are, for the most part, hugely inflated nowadays. His transfer value has undoubtedly skyrocketed following his performances in South Africa, but more importantly during United's season - a season in which he has scored 16 goals in just 17 starts for the club. In this respect, £7 million appears more of a bargain by the day. Stood alongside the yet to score Fernando Torres, whom Chelsea bought for over seven times that amount, Ferguson has probably had a quiet chuckle to himself.

The Mexican's scoring ratio after his 33 appearances this season is about one every two games, remarkable for a player who has needed to adapt to the increased quality of English football, and who has made most of his impact as a substitute. The 'super-sub' factor has lead to inevitable comparisons with the most famous one of them all - Ole Gunnar Solsksjaer (type into Youtube 'champions league final 1999' if you need reminding).

It is not just the substitute role that has ignited the discussion. The two possess extremely similar qualities. Hernández is quick, if not quicker than the Norwegian was. His movement is terrific in the penalty area, he is adept at timing his runs behind the opposition to perfection, and as a finisher, he has the gift of the natural goalscorer, not unlike, for instance, Liverpool FC's great Robbie Fowler. Believers of fate may even point out that Hernandez looks much younger than he is. Solskjaer was called the 'baby-faced assassin' for the same reason - surely a sign that the phenomenon has returned to the Theatre of Dreams. The two goals Hernández scored last night were tap-ins from within the six-yard-box, bringing to mind the phrase 'in the right place at the right time'. He certainly is at the right place, and should his talent help United to more silverware in the years to come, the time will be right as well. Not for Arsene Wenger, though.