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.

Steven Gerrard’s role model status under threat

(courtesy of Wikipedia)


The darling of English football and Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard (pictured above) has been charged with assault and affray after a fracas at a Merseyside nightclub early Monday morning.

Five other men were arrested along with Gerrard, near the Lounge Inn in Southport.

A 34-year-old man was taken to hospital with facial injuries following the alleged incident.

Hours earlier, Gerrard had been a two-goal hero for Liverpool, heralded as the club’s driving force in their emphatic 5-1 victory over an abysmal Newcastle side.

In a season that promises much for Liverpool and much for their devoted and long suffering captain, as they look make history by clinching the Premiership title, it is peculiar timing for such an occurance to take place.

But perhaps it is a sign that his ego might have got too big. When you are worshipped to the extent that Gerrard is, is it that surprisingly that it might go to his head, and on this occasion take his idol-like status one step too far.

The Times reported that Gerrard asked the alleged victim Marcus McGee to change the music at the club, and then asked for the music card that operates the sound system.

When Mr McGee refused, Gerrard apparently elbowed him - “although this is not known if this was deliberate or not” – which then sparked a brawl.

Reign in expectations

But perhaps it is our own expectations of a football player that have to be reigned in.

Gerrard’s loyalty to Liverpool and his skilful and passionate approach to the game have led many a pundit this season to willingly profess their desire for him to win the title – irrespective if the other ten players deserve it.

After all, he has shown that rare quality seen nowadays in the English game – he has stayed at his club.

Gerrard resisted the temptations of ready-made trophies at Chelsea and has done it the hard way, captaining a side that has never really looked like genuine title contenders until this season.
He has always performed for his club when it mattered most. It was Gerrard that scored the equaliser against West Ham in the FA Cup final in 2006, it was Gerrard who scored the first goal in Liverpool’s sensational comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005.

Despite all this, Gerrard is just a bloke who makes mistakes. Perhaps it is time for us to appreciate his football, but show less partiality to the individual.

Should referees be allowed to call players by their first names?

(courtesy of Wikipedia)

As referee Howard Webb (pictured above) beckoned over to Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard in the fractious game at the Emirates yesterday, he called him “Steven” – because yes, that’s right, that’s his name.

But would he have shown the same familiarity to let’s say Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna if he was requesting his attention. “Bacary! Bacary!” I think not.

A simple note perhaps, but one that raises the issue of inconsistency in refereeing.

In March this year, when the FA were amidst yet another of their ineffective ‘Respect the Ref’ campaigns, Chelsea and England left-back Ashley Cole turned his back on referee Mike Riley as he called over to him “Ashley!” after a heavy challenge on Tottenham’s Alan Hutton.

I remember Mike Riley sounding so meak as he repeated his name, and then finally producing a yellow card which was widely viewed as lenient for a dangerous, studs-up tackle.

Calling out of surnames in army fashion – irrespective of a player’s nationality - could perhaps be a more authoritative and consistent way of communicating with players.

At least this way Mr Webb might show some consistency to one area of his refereeing.