Bangladesh Vs BahrainThe match commenced at the National Bank Ltd. Ground in Karachi. The manner in which the Bahrain’s team showed its incompetence and lack of courage to face the Bangladesh bowling indicated it to be a one sided affair. To the horror of cricket fans the match designed to last 90 overs finished in less than 20 overs, with Bangladesh defeating Bahrain by 10 runs.The Bahrain’s innings was a touch and go affair. They had more ducks in the team than players, letting 6 of them loose to walk about in the field and search for a pond to dip in.Except for Haroon Naseer who was run out after playing a thrilling knock of 35 in 29 balls, the remaining players fell like the autumn leaves. The second highest being Asif Siddique with 5 runs. The whole side crumbled for 52 in 13.4 overs. Sharif ul Islam grabbed 4 wickets for only 2 runs while Talha Jubair clinched 3 for 25.A victory target of 53 being peanuts for Bangladesh, they achieved it in 6 overs without losing a wicket. The two openers Nafees Iqbal (32) and Mohammad Ashraful (12) plus 9 extras made up the target to bring a glorious victory to Bangladesh.
Wolves youngster Connor Ronan needs to seal a permanent move away from Molineux despite his undoubted ability, according to journalist Tim Spiers.
The Lowdown: Ronan shining out on loan
The 24-year-old is currently out on loan at St Mirren, having joined the Scottish Premiership side on a temporary basis last summer.
Ronan has done well during his time there to date, scoring seven goals and registering three assists in 21 league starts, catching the eye in the middle of the park.
It is just the latest of many loan moves for the midfielder, however, and it could be that a permanent Wolves exit makes sense this summer.
The Latest: Spiers calls for permanent Wolves exit
That is certainly the opinion of Spiers, who took to Twitter on Thursday to laud Ronan’s quality but also admit it is time for him to leave Wanderers for good:
“Lage likes him, in fact everyone does. Not sure how you couldn’t really, his technique is so good. Just never quite fitted in and the first team standard is so high. He’s 24, the loans have been good for developing his game and he needs a permanent home now.”
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The Verdict: Makes perfect sense
At 24, this is now a crucial point in Ronan’s career and he needs to be settled at a new club in order to reach his potential.
Jumping between teams on loan can be good experience for a player in his late teens or early 20s but the Irishman is now beyond that point and has to become less nomadic.
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It is hard to see how he will ever become a key figure at Wolves – he has only made 13 first-team appearances for the club – so a move away makes sense for all parties.
In other news, Spiers has also been left wowed by one Wolves player. Find out who it is here.
Spain and Barcelona’s success in recent seasons has led to both the club and national teams being discussed as among the best teams ever. It is not just the amount they have won, with Spain becoming the first ever country to achieve three consecutive major international tournament triumphs, but the way in which they have done it. An aesthetically pleasing brand of quick, high-intensity pass-and-move football, coupled with high pressing and squeezing of opponents to win the ball when not in possession. In short, ‘tiki-taka’.
Both sides appear to be turning the whole of the pitch into midfield. Every player is technically gifted and comfortable with the ball at their feet, similarly to the Dutch ideology of ‘Total Football’. It makes it difficult to win the ball in any area of the pitch and opponents must be on guard as they can be picked apart at any moment. As seen at Barcelona and with Spain at Euro 2012, even conventional strikers made way for midfielders as the ‘false nine’ role took to the international stage.
At the heart of the team are Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Two midfielders of a slight build whose deft control and unerring precision with the ball, as well as the amount they utilise it, have made them icons of the game. And with countries across the globe worshipping this style of football, many want to replicate it.
In Brazil, the lack of shorter technically gifted players in the ilk of Xavi or Iniesta is being bemoaned by their national press. In their squad they only possess midfielders at either end of the spectrum. Robust holding-midfielders or energetic, playmaking attacking-midfielders. Spain have stolen the moniker of ‘home of the beautiful game’ from Brazil, and it seems the general consensus is that they must join them in their style of play to regain that title.
It would not work.
Many of the Spanish team have grown up with the possession-based philosophy promoted at every stage of their development, while in Brazil the dedication is less intense and there is still that extra admiration and encouragement of individual brilliance. The majority of the Spaniards also adhere to such notions week in week out whereas none of the Brazilian side can boast that they play in such a 4-2-3-1 system, with a similar passing style, at club level.
The desire to imitate the Iberian teams suggests there is a notion of the right way to play, something which Jonathan Wilson speaks at in length in Inverting the Pyramid. This is not the case. While Barcelona’s football may have wowed fans all over the world, they found themselves stifled by the defensive tactics of Chelsea in last season’s Champions League semi-finals. The Blues were derided for their negative ‘anti-football’, but they ended up as champions. Added to Real Madrid’s dethroning of the Catalan club in La Liga last season, it show the ‘right’ way is not always the winning way.
Brazil have become far more of a pragmatic sideover the last 30 years. Current coach Mano Menezes has recently introduced a high pressing game as part of Brazil’s make-up, but when it comes to possession they should aim to utilise the current tools they have to their maximum. If they cannot hold the ball against a team like Spain then they must exploit their pace on the wings (Hulk, Neymar and Lucas Moura) and robust midfield (Lucas Leiva, Sandro, Ramires) to counterattack. It is a method that has frequently been used in an attempt to best La Roja and the Catalan club, though admittedly only to limited effect.
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It is not as easy as suggesting playing in a completely different manner in two years time. You need the correct players to do it. If the success of Spain has encouraged Brazil to return to the more fluid, dynamic football of old then that is what they should seek to begin instilling at youth level. Of course, the successes of Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic Bilbao and Jorge Sampaoli at Universidad de Chile have shown that such a philosophy can be rapidly installed at club level, but they train their players on a far more regular basis than at international level. If they attempted to implement such changes on the senior national team with the current crop of players in two years time, it would be a complete failure.
When it comes to the World Cup in 2014, Brazilian football fans will be desperate for glory. If they manage to lift the trophy, it will not matter too much if they do not win by playing the swaggering passing game with which the Spanish have been so successful. La Roja did not become successful overnight. It has taken years of work in youth development yet while ‘tiki-taka’ may be lauded and put upon a pedestal, it is not the only way to claim silverware as both Real Madrid and Chelsea have shown.
Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan has defended himself following his loan move to the United Arab Emirates to play for Al-Ain, with details of a huge financial bonus for the Premier League club being revealed.
The Ghana international forward, much to the annoyance of manager Steve Bruce, completed the temporary move on Saturday and has admitted he had little choice in the affair.
“The offer was too good to refuse. But I did not have a choice once Sunderland accepted Al-Ain’s proposal. I am now looking forward to playing in the UAE,” the forward told Sky Sports.
Meanwhile, The Daily Mail claim that the Wearside club have received a world record loan fee of £6million for the former Rennes player, who will also be unavailable for club selection early next year as he will feature in the African Cup of Nations.
The move leaves Sunderland light on the ground in attack, with the deadline day loan move for Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner providing them with some relief.
Bruce also can call upon summer signings Ji Dong-Won and Connor Wickham, but has previously stated that both were prospects for the future, and are not yet ready for Premier League football.
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Tottenham can leave the memory of their 4-0 drubbing at Fulham behind them as they travel to Blackburn in the Premier League on Wednesday.
Spurs were humiliated at Craven Cottage on Sunday as Fulham cruised into the fifth round of the FA Cup, but Harry Redknapp’s men cannot afford to dwell on the loss for too long as they face another challenging road trip in the league.
A rejuvenated Blackburn are up to eighth in the Premier League after turning their season around under new manager Steve Kean.
Tottenham sit three places higher on the table and are in the middle of a battle for a top-four spot with Chelsea, making Wednesday’s game a pivotal one for both sides.
Spurs’ confidence might have been dented by their abysmal performance against Fulham, but defender Sebastien Bassong said they needed to move on quickly and refocus on the Blackburn game.
“It was a bad day for us and we have to forget it and move on,” Bassong said.
“We now have to go up to Blackburn and try to win that game. We have no choice.”
“We have to look forward and the good thing is that the next game comes around very quickly and that will help us move on.”
“We’ve showed already that we have character in this team and now we have to do it again.”
Both sides could be fielding several new faces after a flurry of transfer activity on Monday.
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Kean added Mauro Formica and Ruben Rochina to his squad on the final day of the transfer window, having already secured Roque Santa Cruz and Jermaine Jones on loan.
El Hadji Diouf has gone to Rangers on a six-month loan deal, while defender Pascal Chimbonda was released on a free transfer.
Redknapp has personnel issues of his own, with injuries keeping Ledley King, Tom Huddlestone, Gareth Bale, Jonathan Woodgate and Younes Kaboul out of the side, while defender Michael Dawson will miss through suspension after being sent off in the loss to Fulham.
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus is condemned to roll a large boulder up a hill for the entirety of his afterlife. Zeus creates a situation whereby every time Sisyphus nears the top the boulder rolls to the bottom again, the Greek king is condemned to the perpetuity of futile effort and frustration.
Without meaning to sound melodramatic, there are comparisons between Sisyphus and David Moyes. Despite the Glaswegian’s best efforts, over a decade at Goodison Park has brought him little success. The 04/05 season saw Everton qualify for the Champions League yet their dream was short-lived. Moyes’ side also made it to the FA Cup final in 2009 only to lose out to Chelsea; yet apart from those instances there have been few moments where silverware was within reach.
Moyes’ Everton have always been a formidable side, always capable of beating the best in the league. There isn’t one team in England that looks forward to an away day at Goodison Park and the city’s ‘family’ club have a number of players coveted by other managers.
Why, then, has David Moyes not achieved the success that a three-time LMA Manager of the Year perhaps deserves? The uncomfortably familiar trend to each season must be wearisome for both the talented manager and the fans. In the last ten years Everton have come 7th, 16th, 4th, 11th, 6th, 5th, 5th, 8th, 7th and 7th.
So, in his first full season at the club Moyes took Everton to 7th place, last season he did the same. There have been peaks and troughs in between but the pattern is largely tainted by a sense of déjà vu. However, this consistency should not be undervalued. For Moyes to have come in the top eight for eight out of his ten seasons at the club is hugely impressive considering the budget on which he operates.
Arsene Wenger often receives praise for how he maintains Arsenal’s Champions league status whilst spending very little and, proportionately to the amount of money Everton have, Moyes’ achievements are not dissimilar.
Nobody could claim that Everton’s Premier League performances have been below par during Moyes’ tenure. However, what is evident is that with the club’s competitors increasing their financial investments, Everton are in danger of being left behind. To have consistently built and managed strong sides at Everton, despite his financial restraints, is an achievement that cannot be underestimated yet neither is the fact that Everton have been riding their luck with Moyes – few managers could run the club as efficiently as he does, yet if this lack of funding continues he could be tempted away from the north-west.
Without investment from Bill Kenwright, Jon Woods or Robert Earl the club will be unable to keep up with those around them yet the three majority shareholders in the club have already explained that investment on their part is not a possibility.
The only option, it would therefore seem, would be to sell the club. Easier said than done. Everton are haemorrhaging money.
Their most recent financial statements revealed that although their loans had been reduced from £30.5m to £23.7m their overdraft has increased from £5.1m to £9.1m. The service charges and interest on these debts alone is a huge burden.
On top of this they also sold their Bellefield training ground in 2007 for just over £9m. That money, however, has already been spent and the club now has to pay £1m per year to rent their new training ground at Finch Farm in Halewood.
In order to stay afloat it has been said that Everton will need to sell, on average, one decent player every summer.
Consequently, finding a buyer has been a difficult task. Moreover, the comparison between David Moyes and Sisyphus becomes a little clearer. Just as Sisyphus suffers catastrophic set backs every time he nears the top of the hill, David Moyes is forced to sell one of his star players at the end of every season. How he is ever supposed to build a truly successful team under such circumstances is something of a mystery.
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Perhaps Everton’s owners are happy to merely cling on for now, hoping that Moyes’ stewardship will safeguard them until some frivolous and foolhardy new buyer steps up to save the club; however until such time it appears the satus quo of the club will remain.
You can comment by following me on Twitter @H_Mackay
An exciting new era for youth football begins this evening, with the Next Gen series kicking off. It is an international tournament, with 16 of the worlds best clubs showcasing their stars of the future in an exciting knockout competition. The likes of Liverpool, Aston Villa, Tottenham, Manchester City, and Celtic are all featuring in the inaugural challenging 6 month international competition. In light of the competition, should the FA look to set up an elite Premier League for the academy sides rather than the regional Premier Academy Leagues which currently exist?
Next Gen is hailed as the new era in competitive football, providing competition on a level that isn’t seen through the regional Premier Leagues. Players will be able to test themselves against world class opposition players trained and nurtured by the best sides in Europe, which can only be of benefit for youth development in this country. It’s a unique opportunity for youth players to experience all aspects of a competitive, large international tournament, including adapting to an unfamiliar style of play, prolonged periods of travel and two match weeks, which are more likely to help them transition into the first team, than the current Premier Academy Leagues, with its lack of competitiveness, as well as its constraints and restrictions.
Unlike playing in the reserves or the Premier Academy League, Next Gen will stretch players, and this is likely to improve their play. Many promising young academy graduates haven’t been provided with enough consistent high quality challenges in the regional leagues, so it could help more to reach senior levels, but more needs to be done on the domestic front to improve the standards of youth football.
Aside from the FA Youth Cup, English youngsters don’t really have enough competitive games, in order for them to frequently test themselves. The Premier Academy League is made up of 40 clubs currently split into four regional leagues, 2 southern and 2 northern, meaning the best sides may only play each other once over the season or not at all, this format lacks that competitive edge for players to be able to benefit from it. Youth football in this country has been stagnant, and now is the time for long overdue progressive ideas to make the difference.
Should the FA do away with the regional leagues and set up one elite Premier Academy League for the best academy’s in the country? It would perhaps provide a greater competitive edge, if there was one elite league and the matches week in week out were of a higher standard. If the best academy’s are playing against similar opposition, then this is likely to increase competitiveness and standards. Playing against similar level opposition on a consistent basis is likely to improve the youth development in this country.
However, there are some problems associated with making a single elite Premier Academy League. It is likely to widen the gulf between the Premier League elite teams and the rest. This could pose a big problem to the smaller academies, with restrictions and constraints on travel and rules lifted, they could find themselves forced out of being able to compete on that level with the cash rich Premier League sides. It could potentially go the other way and kill youth development in the country with smaller clubs in different regions missing out, and subsequently the talent in the local area slipping through the net. Academies could also become more elitist, and it could encourage young players to join bigger clubs, with clubs like Crewe, Huddersfield, and Mk Dons missing out. However, small the academy, they serve to fulfil the potential of local talent around the community, so to wipe this out would be a travesty.
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It is difficult to see where the FA should go next. If they set up an elite Premier Academy League and replace the regional leagues, it is likely to improve standards short term, and provide those players with a consistent competitive basis, through which to improve. However, if it is only the cash rich Premier League sides who can afford to compete on such a level then it could spell disaster for the youth development in this country as a whole, as smaller academies will simply be unable to compete and could potentially be wiped out. Whatever the FA decide to do next to improve the standards of youth football in this country, it is important that the changes come from them, and not just the Premier League, it is key that the football leagues must be consulted as well. Youth football standards certainly need to improve, and the Next Gen series is likely to provide the basis for that, now it is time for the FA to start thinking things through and see whether an elite Premier Academy League could be the way forward.
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Do you think the FA should set up an elite Premier Academy League? Let me know your thoughts by commenting below or follow me on Twitter @LaurenRutter for more comment and debate.
Japan manger Alberto Zaccheroni praised midfielder Shinji Kagawa for his match-winning performance in their Asian Cup win over Qatar.
Kagawa scored a brace to help book his side a spot in the final four of Asia’s premier soccer tournament on Friday, as they came from behind with 10 men to beat the host nation 3-2 in Doha.
The Qataris had the game in their own hands when they went 2-1 up in the second half following the dismissal of Japan’s Maya Yoshida, but Zaccheroni’s side were inspired by the 21-year-old Kagawa’s equaliser and found a winner late on through Masahiko Inoha.
Zaccheroni said Kagawa’s second-half performance inspired Japan to victory.
“I know what he can do on the pitch and what he can do for the team. The way he performed today I am very satisfied,” Zaccheroni said.
“In the first half he did not really show what he can do on the pitch but in the second half he did.”
The Italian boss said the way Japan toughed out victory was a credit to the spirit of the side.
“It was a great comeback and I could see the good mentality from our players. Eventually Inoha grabbed the winner and that shows what Japanese football is all about,” he said.
“Even though we were a man down, normally teams think about defence but we didn’t, we had the bravery to keep attacking and eventually we won the match.”
Qatar manager Bruno Metsu was proud of the performance his squad put up on Asian football’s biggest stage.
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“We played very well against Japan. We frightened them and we were very skilful in the match,” Metsu said.
“Not many teams could play so well against a good team like Japan and I think we should applaud the Qatari team for a very good technical performance.”
“We have shown the whole world that Qatar is a strong team. We showed that we can play good football, although we still made mistakes and we conceded goals because of these mistakes.”
There’s no end to the drama being a Nottingham Forest fan.
Whilst fans of other clubs rest, put their feet up, and cheer on the nation in their Euro 2012 campaign, the Forest takeover saga has occupied the minds of the supporters, and largely occupied their tweets.
We knew it was set to be an exciting, rumour filled summer, but we didn’t quite expect it to be this hectic.
Kuwaitis, Russians, Americans, Chinese, Malaysians and Irish have all been linked to the takeover of the club, either through the newspapers, or those intent on being at the heart of a rumour on Twitter. Some rumours though, have been beyond ridiculous. Big Phil Scolari was allegedly seen wandering around Nottingham, searching for a new home. This link may seem bizarre to some, but Scolari took an interest in Forest under the Brian Clough days, and since then, has often been labelled a ‘Forest admirer’. Surely the rumours could struggle to top that.
What next, the Queen arriving in Nottingham to finalise a deal to take over the club?
Oh no, we’ve had that as well. Luckily however, there was a lot more humour connected to that, than the others.
Forest, a few days ago, were without a sponsor, without a kit, ownerless, and player sales seemed inevitable, and the mood was fairly gloomy. Fortunately, having found a sponsor, in ‘John Pye & Sons Auctioneers’, and with that, releasing an away kit, things seem to be picking up, improving the mood.
Following the arrival of the new sponsors, came contrasting statements. John Pye claiming “a takeover is imminent”, with Mark Arthur, the CEO, attempting to lower the expectations, and calm the people down who may have got carried away by Pye’s words, by stating, “We are hopeful to have new owners in for the new season”,
The last thing Mark Arthur said he was more than hopeful for?
Darren Pratley and Peter Whittingham “wanted to join the club”, commented the much criticised Chief Executive. The Forest fans can be forgiven, for taking what he says with a pinch of salt.
The summer at Forest up to this point, has been eventful, to say the least. The fascinating factor being, most of these rumours have come from journalists in Kuwait, linking businessman Fawaz Al-Hasawi with the takeover. It doesn’t take much to get Forest fans excited, and dreaming of being the next Manchester City, and this has certainly been the case.
Many of the Forest faithful urging this pending takeover to hurry up, as they wait impatiently, seeking assurances of Forest’s future.
To these fans, it must be asked, would they rather the process was long, drawn out, and strenuous, consequently meaning the owner could be intensely researched, to find out whether they do have the financial tools they’re promising…
Or, do they want a rushed takeover, because those involved in the takover looking after the Forest side of the technicalities are too keen on ensuring Forest’s short term future is secure, so they could now focus on starting the season?
The latter introducing the strong risk everything could go wrong within months, and Forest would be left in tatters. Whilst it may be frustrating, the delay the fans are suffering currently, is the best thing for us, although it may not feel it.
If recent rumours are to be believed, the sleeping giant of Nottingham Forest may finally be awoken. Despite the uncertainty over the Kuwaiti businessman’s wealth, the plans that have been reported would get even the most pessimistic of Forest fans sitting up, and taking notice.
Neil Warnock’s name has been frequently linked over the past few weeks, and his tussle with Ken Bates continues, increasing the likelihood that this may happen. Warnock, a proven winner and Championship expert “has always wanted to manage Forest”, according to David Johnson, who knows him from his loan spell at Sheff Utd.
Whilst all of this speculation goes on, Steve Cotterill is preparing for the worst case scenario, that Forest won’t get new owners, and he has to begin the season with a threadbare squad. As he posed for photos during the away kit reveal, it must have been lingering in the back of his mind, that all of this may plunged into irrelevance, in just a few weeks time.
One thing that can’t be doubted about Cotterill, is the way he’s conducted himself, when his position has been questioned, by either newspaper rumours, or fans.
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When the time comes, and the takeover does indeed go through, Twitter and fans forums will combust with excitement.
What may not be visible, is the reality needed when a takeover goes through. Nottingham Forest aren’t Man City. Money does not buy success.
It feels like the chapter of finding a new owner may be coming to an end, but there’s a longer chapter to come, with a lot more drama…
Cesc Fabregas will meet with Arsene Wenger this week in an attempt to force through a move to Barcelona, according to the Guardian.
The saga, which has engulfed the 24-year-old midfielder’s career for the last few years, finally looks like coming to an end.
Fabregas, valued at £35 million, will plead with Wenger to allow him to move to his boyhood club. The Frenchman is resigned to losing his most prized asset despite insisting he would keep Fabregas at the club.
Arsenal have just returned from their tour of Malaysia and China and Fabregas will look to discuss the situation with Wenger face to face, instead of handing in a transfer request that could ruin their relationship.
The Spaniard is grateful to the Gunners boss for turning him into one of the best midfielders on the planet and hopes to convince Wenger that allowing him to join Pep Guardiola’s side is the best solution for him and the club.
Barcelona are just £4 million away from Arsenal’s apparent valuation and Wenger believes the whole saga has to come to an end for the good of the players at the club.
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Wenger said: “We have to stop at some stage … I hope we can close that very quickly in our favour. For us, it’s important that the team settles psychologically as quickly as possible because we have a tough start.”
He is confident of keeping Samir Nasri but it looks increasingly likely that Fabregas will be playing at the Nou Camp as opposed to the Emirates Stadium next season.