Where have all the good goalkeepers gone?

Chelsea's Petr Cech has failed to reproduce his amazing form since his head injury in 2006

The so-called traditional ‘big four’ teams in the Premiership – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United have all conceded more goals so far this season than at the same stage last year.

This statistic perhaps comes as no surprise when you consider those horror defensive moments from normally stalwart defences.

Take, for example, United’s Rio Ferdinand’s weak challenge on Liverpool striker Fernando Torres as he goes in on goal last Sunday or the freakish moment at the Stadium of Light with the much reported ‘beach ball incident’.

These incidents, along with Arsenal’s record Premiership goal tally for this stage in the season has made for an exciting watch but it begs the question,

What has happened to those top quality defenders and keepers that have made that top four so impenetrable in the past?

Let’s have a quick glance at the goalkeeping situation of the ‘Big Four’ so far this season:

• Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation, or lack thereof, is the most laughable. The Gunners have come to rely on a 21-year-old Italian, Vito Mannone, who after an impressive display at Craven Cottage in late September has kept the No 1 position despite some shaky performances thereafter.

Since Arsenal’s preferred No 1, Manuel Almunia was brought down with a rather convenient “chest infection” after a less than convincing start to the season he has been unable to wrestle back his first team place from the Italian rooky. Despite his horror moments, most notably at Old Trafford when he brought down Wayne Rooney in the penalty area, Almunia is the best experienced option the Gunners have and therefore the most reliable option in my opinion for the forthcoming game with old derby foes Tottenham Hotspur.

• Manchester United and Chelsea’s international goalkeepers, Edwin Van der Sar and Petr Cech respectively, are two very experienced goalkeepers and have a collection of European and home cups between them. But arguably neither of them have that invincibility that they once had.

Van der Sar was sidelined for two months at the start of the 2009/10 season with a broken finger and a flappable yet promising Ben Foster took his place.

Cech is yet to re-produce that form since his horrific head injury in 2006 that made him one of the contenders for best goalkeeper on the planet. A low point so far this season came with his sending off at Wigan Athletic after he brought down Wigan attacker Hugo Rodallega in the box - a game Chelsea went on to lose 3-1.

• Liverpool’s Pepe Reina is perhaps the only goalkeeper in the ‘Big Four’ so far immune from criticism. Apart from the beach ball incident, he continues to be reliable and alert and the way in which he ran the length of Anfield’s pitch last Sunday when the home side clinched their win against Manchester United, indicates his level of commitment to the team. If anything, the thirteen goals Liverpool have conceded so far would be in part down to the legendary, yet ageing legs of Jamie Carragher and the lack of a stable central defensive pairing.

ITV at odds with Sunderland Manager

England midfielder, David Beckham
(Courtesy of soccergoalx1)

ITV will not be best pleased with Sunderland manager and ITV football pundit, Steve Bruce, this evening as he conceded that England's international game against Belarus last Wednesday was "a pretty dull affair until David Beckham entered the arena".

Bruce was defending his decision to hand the man-of-the-match award to Beckham, despite the fact that he only played half the game and England striker Peter Crouch scored two goals.

The Sunderland manager has clearly forgotten the primary role of the modern day sports pundit: to exaggerate the importance of every pass, throw-in, substitution, even if the game is boring you to tears.

Antagonising ITV bosses

As well as perhaps antagonising ITV bosses with this comment, Bruce also failed to produce any tactical awareness in his analysis of what was largely an uncompetitive affair.

England had already secured qualification to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Belarus had no chance.

With nothing at stake, the game lacked tempo and aggression as it was a chance for England's fringe players like Ben Foster, Shaun Wright-Philips and Gabriel Agbonlahor to claim a place in the World Cup Finals squad.

So Bruce was right. The game was dull. But perhaps he could have cast off the mediocre punditry for once and explained as to why.

Olympic hopeful Rachel Tullett lands award

Rachel Tullett, Prize winner

Trampolinist Rachel Tullett won the Junior Disabled Prize at last night's Kingston Borough Sports Awards capping off a very successful debut year within the sport, having reached the British Trampoline Finals in July.

Despite suffering from cystic fibrosis, the 17-year-old gymnast trains at least three times a week at Kingston College’s Trampoline Academy.

Tullett has experienced a great start to her trampolining career, which has been further boosted by the news that she has been selected for the 2009/10 Great Britain GMPD TRA National Development Squad.

Here two experienced national squad coaches, Paul Coates and Justine Abraham, will be challenging Tullett to fight for a place in the 2012 Olympic squad.

Tullett was delighted:

"This is my ultimate dream and I now have the chance to train alongside 15 other gymnasts who are the very best in my discipline."

Arsenal and Everton Ladies set the bar once again

Arsenal Ladies' summer signing, defender Jennifer Beattie, was among the goals at the weekend in the North London team’s 8-1 annihilation of Doncaster Belles.

It was the Scottish defender’s third goal of the campaign and she has been equally useful at the back, helping the defence to concede just two goals so far this season.

The ease with which the Gunners tore apart Belles’ defence does again raise concerns of the disparity in quality between teams within the Premier League.

Looks like another two-horse race between Arsenal and Everton Ladies

(Courtesy of Matt Stringberd)

Of the 17 English internationals who were awarded FA central contracts in May, 10 of them play for either Arsenal or Everton Ladies.

The Toffees, who were close runners up last season, also enjoyed a comfortable victory, putting five past the current leaders Millwall Lionesses.

The 2008/09 Premier League title was settled on goal difference, with the Gunners edging the Toffees by 12 goals.

Arsenal's last season Player’s Player of the year, Kim Little, looks on target to amass a record goal tally for her side, already notching up 13 so far.

The long awaited English Women’s Super League might finally take off

The FA have finally initiated the start of the new Women’s Super League in England by inviting clubs to apply for membership this month.

The Super League will run over the summer months and it promises women footballers the chance to play semi-professionally in an initial eight club competition. This number is expected to grow to a maximum of 12 clubs by 2014.

The FA will invest up to £70,000 to each club per season, with the aim of making women’s teams self-sufficient rather than reliant on their male counterparts.

Delayed start

The new women’s league was originally meant to start in March 2010, until the FA deferred its start date to summer 2011 earlier this year citing “the current global financial downturn” as a primary reason for the delay.

The fact that the FA didn’t see their investment in a Women’s Super League as “the most appropriate and meaningful” area to spend their budget, came as no surprise to the English women’s game, who have been waiting for a professional league for nearly 40 years.

The delay came as a huge disappointment nonetheless and some working in the industry doubted it would ever take off.

"I personally believe it's been shelved indefinitely," said Vic Akers, former manager of Arsenal Ladies, back in April.

"It's sad that the girls' game always seems to take the mallet over the head. We've already lost five national players to the United States, including the iconic Kelly Smith. We'll lose more, and that can't be good for the game in England."

So the FA’s latest announcement will come as a relief to the English women’s game, but whether it will stop the migration of our finest players to the United States’ Women’s Professional Soccer League (WPS) is doubtful.

WPS

• The WPS firstly pay their players so they are not forced to work 40-hour weeks along with vigorous training in their free time.

• They boast many of the world’s best female stars, most notably the Brazilian star Marta (pictured below) who was awarded the 2009 Michelle Akers Player of the Year Award in August.

Brazilian star Marta is a great attraction in the MPS

• Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Español air weekly Sunday night matches and the WPS All-Star Game with Fox Sports Net will air the semi-final and league championship contests.

By contrast, the Women’s FA Cup final in May each year is the only women's game broadcasted on national television.

The creation of the Women’s Super League aims to raise the profile of the women’s game in England and indeed to secure more sponsorship and media coverage.

The fact that the league’s schedule will coincide with the men’s game’s summer break will hopefully draw in the football starved fans.

The FA’s most promising move to date had been the awarding of central contracts to 17 English international women players in May. This decision aimed to allow the players the time to concentrate on helping England to qualify for major tournaments.

And these international sportswomen more than proved their worth by reaching the finals of the European Championships in Finland for the first time in September.

As the FA invite applications to the Women’s Super League, 2009 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in English women’s football.

Is Women's Boxing ready for the 2012 Olympics?

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will announce later this week whether or not women's boxing will be included for the first time at London 2012.

In the lead up to this decision, the IOC have been considering a number of key issues, among them are:

• Is women's boxing a global sport?
  
• Does it have sufficient strength and depth so safety and competitiveness are not an issue?
• How best can we integrate women's boxing into the already crowded men's programme?
• Are there any ramifications for men’s boxing if a women's competition went ahead?
• Would reducing the weight classes for men and women compromise the safety of the sport?

I decided to go out and find a coach and take to the ring myself in order to learn more about the safety regulations, training and basic skills within the sport.

Below is an extract of my 30 minute radio documentary on the debate surrounding women boxing at the Olympics.

Van Persie set to sign new contract?

Robin van Persie has revealed that there is a 'big chance' that he will sign an extension to his contract that expires at the end of next season.

Now that Arsenal have reached the semi-finals of two major competitions, both domestically and within Europe, van Persie recognises that Arsenal can fulfil his trophy ambitions.

But what happens if it all amounts to nothing? That Arsenal strive hard but fall short in experience and depth of squad, given their defensive injury list.

Will the dutchman retract his latest positive comments regarding a new deal and flee to an established European club like AC Milan that has failed to qualify for the Champions League this season?

Winning trophies

To be fair to the striker, another trophyless season is likely to unsettle other Arsenal's young stars. Captain Cesc Fabregas is a winner too and will continue to attract the greats in Europe.

To relieve the pressure from this young talented squad, a trophy is in order. But with the prospect of an ebullient Chelsea and resilient Manchester United in these knock-out competitions, Arsenal can not afford to show any weakness in age or fight to get through.

A night at Wimbledon dogs

(Courtesy of Flickr)

Mike Doyle, a punter with forty years experience under his belt, punches the air as he wins his sixth race on the trot.

Mr T. Davison’s Talksport Miss put in a tremendous effort when coming from a seemingly hopeless position to win the fifth race on Tuesday night’s bags meeting at Wimbledon.

Despite his slow start, Talksport Miss recovered brilliantly and Mr Doyle reflected that this is key to a successful finish, “Sometimes it’ll get out awkwardly and get eased out but it is how it breaks – that makes all the difference.”

The following race went with form. Having finished in the top two in his past five races, Droopys Wren was a red-hot 8-13 to win and had the inside draw in his favour.

Youngster Ashley Sea failed to make his nice turn of early pace count and slumped back to a disappointing finish.

Race of the day

Still the punters were not downhearted but rather getting warmed up for what proved to be the race of the day. Bardy Boy, the favourite at 2-1, managed to nick a big enough lead to hold on, but Mr Gage’s Aldworth Blaze came away cleanly and forced a photo finish. By the sounds of the groans of the crowd, it seemed many had tried their luck on this 22-1 outsider.

It’s this sense that anything can happen which creates a real buzz to the place. As Tote Manager, Sue Walter, commented, “Flukes do happen, a rank outsider might come in and that’s what makes it exciting.”

The demise of Walthamstow Stadium has clearly boosted the popularity of Wimbledon dog meetings, having now only Romford to compete against in London.

The introduction of the Super Six Pack deal, which includes drink, food and most cleverly by the marketing team, a £5 return voucher, more young people were amongst the regulars.

Comfortable win sees Arsenal on course for silverware

Arsenal cruised into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup against Championship side Burnley thanks to goals from Carlos Vela, Eduardo, their captain of the day, and Emmanuel Eboue.



Burnley started brightly looking to capitalise on the match of the inexperienced Kieran Gibbs with the trickery of Chris Eagles. The forwards Martin Paterson and Robbie Blake harried the Arsenal rearguard, whilst the central midfield pairing of Chris McCann and Joey Gudjonsson sought to provide extra bite going forward.

Only the young Gibbs managed to subdue Eagles, as Arsenal soon started to dominate proceedings.

The intelligent Andrey Arshavin gained possession near the touchline. In quick succession, he controlled it before encouraging Vela to skip past his man and run through on goal.

Here Vela atoned for his miss at Turf Moor earlier in this season’s Carling Cup, with a sublime chip to dupe goalkeeper Brian Jensen.

Arsenal on song

Both goalkeepers were largely untroubled until Arsenal added a second. Alexandre Song’s cross-field chip found Eduardo on the far post, whose sublime volley left Jensen hapless.

Burnley’s first effort at goal came on fifty three minutes when Martin Paterson’s curling shot narrowly strayed past goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski’s left-hand post.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle added reinforcements to his attack. Only little materialised and it was Arsenal who stepped up a gear and put the tie to bed.

Song capped a fine display with his second assist that saw Eboue latch onto his back heel. Renowned for being wasteful, Eboue finished with aplomb, striking the ball hard and low into the bottom right-hand corner.

Finally Burnley started to play more adventurously. Their best chance of the game fell to their captain Steven Caldwell whose header evaded everyone but the crossbar.

Arsenal were also wasteful in front of goal. Robin van Persie and Eduardo were both guilty of failing to add to the home side’s tally. Long-term absentee Theo Walcott should have scored on his return when free one-on-one, only his tame effort was well saved by the ‘keeper.

Afterwards, Arsene Wenger was bullish about his sides chances of winning silverware this season: “Is it possible to win two trophies? Yes because we are in there. After that it is important to give everything we can to make it happen.”

Villa still to prove their European credentials

As Aston Villa stay on course for a Champions League spot this season, the issue of their strength and depth will come into play.

With James Milner and Emile Heskey out for their UEFA Cup home leg tie against the capable CSKA Moscow, Craig Gardner slotted in on the right and the experienced John Carew started up front with Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Villa’s commitment was there from the outset, but they struggled to contain the Russians’ classy technique and beautiful one-touch passing. The home side’s defenders will need to become well-attuned to dealing with the quality of attackers like Vagner Love and Milos Krasic if they are to build upon a Champions League qualification.

As it was, for the first goal, it was all Villa’s defence could do but to sit back and admire Love’s precise one-two with Alan Dzagoev before releasing a left-foot shot past Brad Guzan.

Home side's confidence

The home side’s confidence this season came through in the second half when Ashley Young delivered brilliant crosses into the box and Stiliyan Petrov made some powerful runs through the centre.

The equaliser came after another Ashley Young delivery, Craig Gardner got on the end and played John Carew in to finish.

Craig Gardner

In the absence of Milner, Craig Gardner played one of his brightest games for Villa, his excellent work ethic and runs forward showing the benefits of having a competitive squad. Manchester United have shown that again this season, and it often decides the fate of a team’s success within Europe.

The Russians had not played a competitive game for three months since their season finished in December. Villa were unable to exploit that by adding a winner in the final minutes, so a difficult tie will face them on the plastic pitch of the Luzhniki Stadium in two weeks time.

Villa will have come off playing Chelsea this weekend, and the Russians will be fitter and stronger, thus providing them with a real test of their European credentials.

Villa exposes the gulf between European Champions and England

Spain’s two goal victory over England in Seville came as no surprise or huge embarrassment, but it did once again raise the question of the quality of the Premier League.

Phil Jagielka, winning his second cap in the centre of defence, was selected on form, on his recent emphatic performances at nullifying Premier League attackers.

Fabio Capello would have noted Jagielka’s three commanding displays against Fernando Torres in the Merseyside derbies over the last couple of weeks.

David Villa

But Jagielka was unable to handle David Villa’s intricate and quick movements that led to the striker’s opening goal in the 36th minute. Darting either side of the Everton defender, Villa found space for himself to coolly finish past the hapless David James in goal.

David Villa’s class provided a sharp reminder to both Jagielka and the rest of the England team of the step-up to international football. Stewart Downing and Shaun Wright-Phillips might be star men for their respective clubs every week, but the wingers provided rare moments of that overlapping play that typifies Spanish football.

Equalling Bobby Moore’s record in making his 108th appearance for England, David Beckham produced some precise passes to justify his second half inclusion. Delivering a long ball across to Wright-Phillips on the left, the wide man cut inside and shot towards José Manuel Reina.

In the final moments, Beckham’s energy did not waver as he retrieved the ball in the centre and made an exquisite through-ball to Carlton Cole, who beat Reina but not Carlos Marchena on the goal line.

"basic errors"

Such was the strength and depth of Spain’s attack that the second goal came from 23- year-old substitute Fernando Llorente. The striker scored his debut goal for Spain after another defensive mistake by England, when Matthew Upson conceded a free kick, midfielder Xavi delivered and Llorente rose to head in.

Both Spain’s goals were adept finishes, but as Sam Allardyce concluded in ITV’s post-match analysis, it was “basic errors” that cost England victory.

Opta to cover the MLS

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

For those who say that David Beckham’s aim to boost the profile of US soccer has failed to bear fruit, is surely mistaken after Opta look to cover Major Soccer League games now too.

Opta stats collate all the player statistics for the Premiership, Italy's Serie A, the German Bundesliga and France's Ligue One for newspapers and broadcasters and now it must be an indication of how far the MLS has risen in global importance, the statistical company are to cover their games as well.

Beckham might not have necessarily improved the quality of the MLS, or most probably see out his contract, but since his arrival he has sold many a shirt and undoubtedly drawn attention to a league that was anonymous beforehand.

And to that end, should LA Galaxy fans be really that disgruntled at his inevitable departure? How many had heard of this club before Beckham’s surprising arrival in 2007?

Essentially putting LA Galaxy on the map and the MLS on the radar of football fans around the world, more than enough paid back Beckham’s hefty signing-on fee.

Keane Pleads Professionalism in Case Against Disrespectful Benitez

(Courtesy of Wikipedia)

When things go wrong, and rather hastily, the separation, when it inevitably happens, does so in similar fashion. Robbie Keane was at Liverpool for a total of 189 days and if you thought that the Irishman’s return to White Hart Lane for £15million on transfer deadline day would be the end of his somewhat bitter sweet stay at Liverpool, you were largely mistaken.


Lack of Support?


Earlier in the week the Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez expressed his disappointment of Keane’s unsuccessful spell at the club, and insisted it was never down to a lack of support from the manager.


"When we signed him, I thought he could be a fantastic partner for Fernando Torres. I thought he could guarantee goals, but that clearly wasn't the case.


"Another factor is that Liverpool are a different club from most. Expectations are really high, people are asking questions every week and the pressure is on all the time. Maybe that was why he found it so difficult.


"Do I feel any responsibility for what happened? I supported him as much as I could and gave him plenty of opportunities to show his quality. He was not treated badly.


No Respect


Although not wanting to get “into a feud with anybody” suggesting he has “too much respect for that,” the Irishman spoke of being “baffled” about his swift return to Tottenham, and even admitted receiving a medal (if Liverpool win the league) come May “would not mean anything at all.”


Keane, who was largely frustrated at being deployed out of position and consistently substituted, claims his professionalism and respect for the Merseyside club was never reciprocated by Benitez.


"I never had one bad word to say about anybody there, I didn't have a problem with the manager, I never had a fall-out with the manager ... I was never late for training, I trained every day and I worked my socks off. It's as simple as that. You're probably as baffled as I am."


The Last Straw


Keane is strong-minded and has experienced something similar previously – at the age of 19 a gifted yet inexperienced Keane moved to the Italian giants Inter Milan only to be used sparingly – and so it is unsurprising to hear him speak of his short-lived career at Anfield philosophically;

“It wasn't a mistake for me to go there, it just didn't work out for whatever reason. I didn't fit into the way that rafa plays football. With a different manager there, maybe it could have worked."

It has been reported he knew his time was up when the unproven teenager David Ngog was a preferred choice in the squad ahead of him against Everton; yet, Keane is looking forward to his new position as club captain ahead of Tottenham's derby game against Arsenal, "I am a Spurs player now and Liverpool is gone."

Arsenal are crying out for Arshavin’s dynamism

Andrei Arshavin’s much speculated move to Arsenal would rejuvinate the North London side’s season, providing them with much needed bite and creativity.

Since the Russian playmaker’s highly effective appearances in Euro 2008, in which he was twice given man of the match against Sweden and Holland, his departure from UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg has been inevitable.

Barcelona seemed the most likely to secure his services last summer after Arshavin himself expressed his “dream” to play there. But Barcelona bought Arsenal’s Alexander Hleb to fulfil that role for a cheaper price at £12m and with Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Bojan, Iniesta and Xavi they are hardly in need of any more exquisite playmakers.

Beat a man

Arsenal, however, are in desperate need. Without the pace of Theo Walcott, who is out with a shoulder injury, they have no ability to beat a man and take pressure off their defence.

Belarusian midfielder Alexander Hleb could retain the ball gracefully and curtsy around defenders with ease.

Hleb’s movement thrust the team forward and gave the strikers something to latch hold of. Hleb’s replacement, Samir Nasri, certainly does not do this at well.

Too often he is seen passing back to the defence, rarely does he run at players and he is shown to offer little width, looking far more comfortable like Luka Modric playing in the centre behind the strikers.

Sport-Express Player of the Year, Andrei Arshavin, at 27, has shown time and time again that he can do this.

Pundits and Gooners are calling out for defenders, goalkeepers, strikers etc. but realistically, the frugal Mr Wenger is not going to buy three or four players.

And to be fair to Wenger, Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said little money would be available to him.

Arsenal have one shot at the transfer window. And the dynamic Russian should be it.