Harry Redknapp sees no reason why his Tottenham side cannot win this season's Premier League title, particularly after they hit back from two goals down to beat Arsenal 3-2 in the north London derby.
Spurs were outclassed in the first half and were fortunate to only be 2-0 down at the interval, Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh netting for the Gunners.
However, Redknapp's team were transformed after the interval and hit back to claim the three points thanks to Gareth Bale's goal, a Rafael van der Vaart penalty and Younes Kaboul's late winner.
The weekend results have left Spurs six points adrift of stuttering leaders Chelsea, leading Redknapp to say:"It's wide open this league this year, wide open.
"Chelsea aren't as good as they were, Man United aren't as good as they were three or four years ago. They're still excellent teams but they're not the force they were. They were almost invincible, the pair of them.
"I think Tottenham are now getting closer and the championship is wide open. I said that to the players on Friday morning. 'Why can't you win the championship? Who says you can't?'.
"It's wide open for somebody who can put a run together. It's there for someone to have real go at it this year. Why should we all be fearful and keep saying, 'We can't win it'?
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"I wouldn't be saying it if we had a bad group of players. I'm a realist, I'm not dreaming. It's difficult to do but it's not impossible.
"This is the best chance anyone's going to get this year. There's very little to choose between the top five or six teams at the moment."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
The candidates for this season’s PFA Players of the Year have been named, with Manchester City having three of the six possible winners.
Goalkeeper Joe Hart, playmaker David Silva and striker Sergio Aguero head the list of players ready to claim the prestigious accolade.
The Etihad Stadium trio are joined by Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, Arsenal goal-machine Robin van Persie and Tottenham’s midfield dynamo Scott Parker.
Last year’s winner Gareth Bale is not included in the six candidates, but will be considered for the Young Player of the Year award, along with Spurs team-mate Kyle Walker.
Aguero is again included in the Young Player of the Year reckoning, as is Chelsea forward Daniel Sturridge.
Danny Welbeck is rewarded for his breakthrough at Old Trafford with inclusion in the running for the Young Player award, with Arsenal Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain completing the list.
The awards will be presented on April 22nd at a ceremony in London.
PFA Player of the Year shortlist: Joe Hart, Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie, Scott Parker.
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PFA Young Player of the Year shortlist: Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kyle Walker, Sergio Aguero and Gareth Bale
England put in another shocking display which Fabio Capello put down to simply tiredness. It seems like a poor excuse from the outset, especially given the shocking errors from certain individuals.
In the papers this morning there have been a mixed bag of stories that includes Crouch set to quit England, Wenger looks to rebuild squad, Chelsea must wait for Hiddink.
*
Tevez – I decide my future – Sky Sports
Capello says his players were ‘exhausted’ after long season – Guardian
Chelsea must wait for Hiddink, says agent – Guardian
‘Hughes was too ambitious for Fulham’ – Guardian
Maradona: Fifa bosses are dinosaurs – Daily Telegraph
Cole set to end Anfield misery as Tottenham transfer nears completion – Daily Mail
I will expose Blatter: Angry CONCACAF president Warner promises to reveal all – Daily Mail
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Crouch quits Capello’s England: Swiss snub last straw for Spurs hitman – Daily Mail
City and United in £30m battle for Inter star – Mirror
Wenger cancels summer holiday to rebuild squad as three key stars face boot – Mirror
“It’s a f****** conspiracy!” The angry lady behind me shouted in the general direction of Mark Clattenburg as he neared my side of the pitch. “You’re a f****** cheat. I hope you’re f****** happy with your f****** paycheque, ref! You’ve f****** earned it today!” She, like everyone else in the stand, was annoyed that the referee of Manchester City’s defeat to Arsenal last Sunday awarded a goal kick to the visitors, overruling his linesman who had given a corner kick to the home side.
I’ve never truly understood the chant “you’re not fit to referee!”. Of course, the influence is subconscious, but it’s not exactly going to win the referee around to giving the next 50-50 decision to your team.
In fairness to the angry lady, she was right about that call; it was incorrect for Mark Clattenburg to award the goal kick and ignore the decision of his assistant. What didn’t help her case is that she directed a similar torrent of abuse towards the referee after every decision he made that wasn’t in City’s favour. Of course, I wouldn’t expect any football fans of any club to have a totally unbiased view – I do it and you do it. It’s human nature that we all see decisions with our team in mind.
The atmosphere against Arsenal was very feisty, something that was caused by the fans’ perceived view that the referee had given an incorrect red card and then, later, an incorrect penalty, both against City. From where I was sitting, I felt aggrieved about the red card. Looking through my blue shaded glasses, I’d seen Boyata win the ball, but even I couldn’t convince myself that Fabregas had dived, despite my best efforts and the efforts of those around me who had successfully convinced themselves. I had to check with a Belgian friend of mine, who is biased towards all things Belgian, and he told me that both decisions were correct. If he couldn’t find a way for the offending Belgians to be let off, then I wasn’t going to be able to.
I feel sorry for Boyata. It was only his third Premier League start and he’s made a genuine attempt to win the ball from a forward dashing towards goal. There’s no question that he fouled him and no question that a red card was the correct decision, but it’s from instances like this that he will learn. With just five minutes played, allowing Chamakh a shot on goal would probably have been the better decision – with Hart in inspired form this season, there’s no guarantee he’d have scored if he had hit the target. Even if he had netted, it would have left City 85 minutes to pull back the 0-1 deficit with a full complement of players, instead of trying to win the game a man down.
However, there’s no doubt that he’s a rising talent in the City squad and one mistake doesn’t change that. That he was selected over Lescott will show to him how much the manager values him.
Now, of course, only the hardcore of the hardcore City fans are still contesting those two major decisions; the referee got them both correct. But, at the time, those two decisions, combined with a few incorrect yellow cards and fouls – which went both ways – ensured a vitriol of abuse from the home fans. In fact, I’d go as far as saying the Clattenburg’s performance in that match was better than his previous performance at Eastlands when he officiated the match with Blackburn.
There were other contentious decisions besides the sending off and penalty. Some blues are upset, and in my opinion rightly so, by Cesc Fabregas’s imaginary card waving antics towards the referee after Boyata’s foul. A few years ago we were told that it would be a bookable offence because it was ungentlemanly conduct or not in the spirit of the game, but it’s a ruling that’s been applied rather haphazardly since it was introduced. Fabregas may have been lucky to escape a card there mainly because he did it whilst the referee wasn’t looking at him.
But had he been shown a yellow card for that incident, it’s impossible to say that he would have been sent off for the foul he committed later; without getting into a metaphysical debate on causality, if he was on a yellow card he might not have made the challenge that led to the foul.
Continued on Page TWO
Later in the half, having already been shown a yellow card for a foul, a lot of the City support around me was convinced Fabregas should have been sent off for a second yellow card that, they believe, was given to wrong man. However, if my memory serves me correctly, the reason Djourou was shown the card was because he committed a foul and the ball broke to Tevez, who continued with the ball as the referee played the advantage. When Tevez lost the ball to Fabregas, it was clear there was no advantage and the play was brought back to where the foul was committed and a free kick was given.
There are, of course, some decisions by Mark Clattenburg on Sunday that I didn’t agree with. I do believe that Alex Song should have seen a second yellow card; principally because, having already been booked, he committed a very similar foul that had seen City’s Gareth Barry cautioned. Throw in the odd free kick wrongly awarded or ignored and this, to the angry lady at least, showed a definite bias against City.
But that inconsistency doesn’t prove that Mark Clattenburg cheated; it simply proves he is human.
Manchester City vs. Arsenal, however, wasn’t a particularly bad game for him, either. He has no anti-City agenda as seems to be the general consensus amongst my fellow City fans. A few wrong decisions on Sunday and the fact that he gave Craig Bellamy a second yellow card for diving when he was tripped almost a year ago when Mark Hughes was still in charge just proves he can get things wrong.
Those same fans forget, for example, the advantage he played that allowed Wright-Phillips to cross for Adebayor’s header in the City vs. Arsenal fixture last season. In fact, before Sunday, City had never lost a Premier League game with him in charge. Decisions do balance out over the course of a season and City have already had a slice of good and bad.
In fact, it’s all too easy for the word ‘cheat’ to roll off the tongue. It’s a serious allegation and one I don’t believe to be true of the game (there are so many things wrong with football, but this, in my view, isn’t one of them). Making mistakes isn’t cheating. But, then again, I suppose chanting ‘incompetent’ or ‘having a bad day at the office’ doesn’t scan.
The most interesting aspect of the allegation of a “conspiracy” to stop City from breaking into the top four is that, this season, City have been on the receiving end of some quite beneficial decisions. Take Blackpool away: Tevez’s first goal was offside and, on his second, he clearly fouled the defender he stole the ball off. The match previous to that, Sam Williamson gave away a penalty for a fair tackle on Tevez outside the box.
And if there was an enormous movement to protect the established top four, then Tottenham wouldn’t have just pipped City to the post last season. Surely both City and Tottenham would have been out of the running by then?
In fact, on one particular City forum, it’s become a bit of a predictable occurrence to see a thread posted about who the referee for the next game will be, followed by comments about how that referee never gives City anything or how that referee hates the club. It gets tiresome and clearly isn’t true.
Blaming the referee for a defeat like Sunday’s is an easy conclusion to come to. It absolves the team from any blame (not that I feel City should be blamed in any way). I can understand where Mancini is coming from when he says that City’s performance shows how far the team has come; 0-3 was a very flattering scoreline towards an Arsenal side that were matched for large portions of the game by a team with a man less.
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But it’s not Clattenburg’s fault that Boyata fouled Chamakh and nor is it his fault that the rules say he had to send Boyata off. It’s not even his fault that another referee in another match with a very similar incident has incorrectly shown a yellow card instead of a red.
Consistency is what is needed in decisions, but consistently correct decisions.
Talk of a conspiracy against City is embarrassing. There just isn’t one.
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It certainly wasn’t pretty, the win over Bradford coming just three days after the proud victory over runaway league leaders Swindon Town, but behind all the tension and the nerves shredded by the mild night under the floodlights at Gresty Road, it was 3 points.
Crewe needed nothing else but Steve Davis’ eleventh win from his 21 game long tenure and they got it, as teams like Manchester United are accustomed to, it doesn’t matter how at this time of the season, the win is the be all and end all.
If anybody was calm enough to be immune from nerves before the game, they surely had to be felt after around fifteen minutes of a scrappy opening in which neither side could ascertain any solid possession of the ball. Bradford were robust in the tackle, singling out the majestic ability of Nick Powell somewhat after his controversial showing up at Valley Parade on Boxing Day, but it was a handball which triggered a penalty concession just after the twenty minute mark. The ball pinged around the area, Adam Dugdale tried to settle it in front of goal before having it whisked away by a sly movement of the palm by Andrew Davies, referee Dean Whitestone did well to notice it and award a spot-kick that was duly dispatched by Harry Davis, emphatically considering the jitters felt around the ground and the breakthrough settled them to a degree.
It was a relief to break down the Bradford back-line that was proving stubborn in the face of the movement of Ajay Leitch-Smith and the trickery of Powell. On the flanks things were quite subdued; Byron Moore was seemingly prioritised with a defensive job on the dangerous Kyel Reid who had built a reputation on a devastating recent performance for the Bantams against Oxford, while Dan Shelley struggled to affect proceedings from his station on the left-side. Shelley, in a performance that replicated his struggle against Swindon, appeared sluggish and unwilling to go past his man, often ending his bout of possession with a dead-stop and a raking, ambitious long ball to the diminutive Leitch-Smith and so, the ball was lost easily to a taller back-line.
There was no dominant side, neither goalkeeper had a lot to do and it just heaped more uneasiness on the collective bag of nerves that is synonymous with expectation. Whistle that word quietly, after an eight game unbeaten run which has included latterly a three match winning streak, Crewe were favourites to beat a Bradford team languishing in 19th position before the ball was kicked. But it’s never as simple as that with Crewe and a new sensation of pre-match optimism is certainly an alien one given the slide down the leagues of recent years. As if such tension wasn’t enough, Crewe were unwilling to seize the initiative in the wake of Davis’ opener and, in what appears to be a signature style of Crewe’s recent run of performances, sat back to invite a degree of pressure.
Bradford were much the better side after half-time, Dean Smalley wasted a header whilst shortly after volleying over James Hanson somehow heading wide after Dave Artell missed a header, Kyel Reid dragged a shot just wide of Steve Phillips’ goal. Bradford’s front two of Hanson and Chris Dagnall were dangerous throughout in terms of movement but it’s testament to the work the back four have done with moving as a unit and the importance of cover, they appeared anaemic in the realms of true goal threat. But it still wasn’t an easy watch, the Alex back-line had been disrupted somewhat by an injury to Matt Tootle and even though loanee Jordan Brown impressed in coming on to left-back, there was a feeling that the substitution had perturbed the fluency of the team. Powell was largely on the periphery, Ajay was isolated and Crewe were lacklustre in moving the ball from the back when a counter-attack presented itself. Luke Murphy battled hard alongside Ashley Westwood in the midfield engine room, but there was no obvious out-ball when it was won, leading to a relatively basic concession of the football and the encouragement of more pressure.
As a crowd, there was an air of gratitude for every minute that ebbed away with the slender single goal lead still intact. There was no action on the Crewe bench despite Bradford’s double substitution on the 70 minute mark and they only goal threat mustered by the home side were two long range shots from Powell and Shelley that cleared the bar. Memories of Swindon on Saturday were being evoked when an element of luck was needed to avoid an implosion in the face of copious amounts of pressure as Di Canio’s men struck the woodwork twice in a one-sided last 30 minutes. But thankfully, that intense pressure never really materialised from Phil Parkinson’s men until stoppage time. A free-kick was flung into the box, confusion reigned in the Alex back four until substitute Dave Syers held off Adam Dugdale and to the tune of three thousand home fans holding their breath, turned his left-footed shot narrowly wide of the right hand post. Ref Whitestone gasped on his final whistle shorty after and the Railwayman could breathe again. The torture was over and another win had been achieved, grinded out by the satisfying notion of a 1-0 score line.
That is the only thing that mattered, behind all the concern of match-tiredness spoken of by Davis and the baffling reluctance to make use of the subs bench with that in mind, those three points had been added to the tally to make it 58 from 38 games played. “The key to everything is that the three points is vital at this stage and the lads showed some real grit to get them” was Davis’ verdict as the play-offs come within touching distance, a single win, with another eight games still to play. Relegation threatened Hereford loom next on the horizon for the Davis’ side as they aim to whittle down each game as it passes, but if they can beat league leaders Swindon, they can beat 23rd placed Hereford. Right? Unfortunately, things are never so simple with Crewe and more nerves and fingernails will be eaten before the 5th May. This play-off lark isn’t easy, but any Crewe fan wouldn’t swap it for anything else.
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Kevin Keen believes West Ham’s promotion battle starts on Sunday when they host Sunderland looking to finish a desperately disappointing season on a positive note.The Hammers were relegated after last Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Stoke, with manager Avram Grant sacked in the immediate aftermath.
Keen has been placed in temporary charge and admits he would love the job on a full-time basis, claiming he intends to impress the owners by bringing attractive football back to Upton Park.
“As far as I am concerned the first game of next season is this Sunday,” Keen said.
“I have a lot of young players chomping at the bit to play. It will be a West Ham side.”
“That is what I want, players who will go out and show a real desire to play for the claret and blue shirt, and hopefully show a flair and ability on the football that this club deserves.”
“We have got a game on Sunday we want to win. We owe the supporters so much.”
“My focus has been on making sure the players are aware of that.”
Keen said he wanted the coaching job at Upton Park.
“I am West Ham United through and through. I had nine years as a player and this is my ninth season back coaching.”
“Anyone who has got that connection with the football club would love to be given that opportunity.”
“If the opportunity was given to me it would be a great honour and I’d love to be able to do it.”
“I know the way the supporters want us to play, I know the way I want us to play, attacking football with flair and passing, but at the same time some of that Billy Bonds or Julian Dicks spirit, that when a tackle is there to be made they make it.”
“That is what the supporters want and hopefully that is what the future holds for West Ham.”
Keen admits it has been a woeful season under Grant, claiming the entire club’s staff and players should take responsibility.
“Whenever a manager leaves it is disappointing,” he said.
“You saw after the game last week how humble and disappointed Avram was that things hadn’t gone his way.”
“We underperformed as staff and as players they have underperformed.”
“There is no denying that. We are bottom of the league and we have underperformed.”
“Now I want to focus on getting West Ham a win and repaying the supporters who have backed us to the bitter end.”
The FA Cup is underway again and we’ve had our first of many upsets. Rochdale 2-3 FC United of Manchester. On a chilly Friday evening at Spotlands, the magic of the cup was in full flow. Goals, drama, and Adrian Chiles reporting from a caravan made for compelling viewing. I enjoyed the match as a neutral, but never have I been so biased towards a team I have no affiliation towards.
FC United of Manchester formed in 2005, after Malcolm Glazer and company forced Manchester United shareholders to sell up. The Glazers have privately owned the club ever since, so a number of Man United fans turned their backs on Old Trafford and formed the ‘Red Rebels’ as a result of these events. This is why I see Friday evening’s scenes as a victory for football, but more specifically a victory for fans.
I have nothing against Rochdale. They played their part in a cup tie worthy of television coverage and maybe deserved more from the game. But it’s so interesting to see how far raw fan power can get you. Admirably rare in fact. To put things into perspective, consider how unfairly clubs now treat fans. Ticket prices are ever increasing, often pricing your everyday fan to revert to the armchair for their football fix. This considered, the fans turning their back on such a global brand as Manchester United is to be noted on many levels, especially in the Old Trafford board room.
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It made me proud to be a fan of the sport. Seeing fellow football fans protesting against what is wrong, and doing it in a successful way. Many of whom have followed FC United from day one, or converted from ‘The Red Devils’ to ‘The Red Rebels’ during their existence. Resisting the temptation of watching Rooney, Vidic and Scholes every week in favour of the rough and tumble of The Evo-Stick Premier Division. I have to say I was rejuvenated by an aspect of the FC United following on Friday. These are fans that have celebrated numerous League Championships, FA Cup wins, and European glory. Yet the passion they greeted Friday’s final whistle with, was phenomenal. It ignited emotions that are normally seen after Man United dumped Barcelona out of the Champions League. A mass pitch invasion and chanting of The Red Devils songs ensued. Raw passion from real fans. A massive component of the game we all love.
Is this the first step to fans regaining an element of power in their Club? Maybe, because we shouldn’t be ignored as fans. Without us there would be less passion, less interest, less atmosphere and empty grounds across the country. As an integral part of a Club, we have every right to be heard. And hopefully FC United will continue to make noise.
The Club have certainly returned to the roots of football. Sensible ticket prices, standing on the terraces, rubbing shoulders with real fans who are there for the football, and only the football. Miles away from prawn sandwiches, and where the closest thing to a corporate box is a goalkeeper standing in a penalty area in his pre match suit.
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Admittedly it’s still early days for FC United in the 2010 FA Cup and they may struggle to overcome Brighton or Woking in the 2nd Round. But they’ve certainly got the media attention and glory that their initiative deserves. How far they can go? Only time will tell but I for one will keep a keen eye on the developments of one of the country’s most unique clubs.
In a country where political issues have been very much the demise of a nation such as Nigeria, it’s quite easy to suggest that matters off the football pitch have affected matters on the pitch.
It was just recently, a statement was released by the federal crown court in Abuja on the 21st of January, stating that the Nigerian football federations were being disbanded from football, “The Nigerian football federation (NFF) and Premier League (NPL) will be dissolved.”
Recent competitions haven’t been kind to Nigeria, especially big tournaments such as the World Cup. Their last two saw them knocked out in the group stages in 2010 and 2002.
The ‘Super Eagles’ have been crowned African champions twice both in 1980 and 1994, and their uncharacteristic failure to not qualify for the African nations cup in 2012 was the first time since 1986.
Many will be very much surprised to not see Nigeria in this month’s African Nations Cup, and the national side only have themselves to blame, the 2-2 Guinea draw on the 8th of October, in Abuja was enough to ensure Nigeria did not cement their place in the tournament.
The former Nigerian coach Samson Siasia, was suggested to have many fall outs with the first team players, which one could easily link to being one of the problems for West African side. His recent spat came with West Bromwich Albion forward Peter Odemwingie, which led to Odemwingie not being part of his squad.
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However, it could be argued that the ego’s of many of the first team players have not helped the progress of Nigeria as a football nation, the likes of Chelsea’s John Obi Mikel have fallen off dramatically throughout the course of last year for club and country, which has left many critics wondering where the future lies for them.
In all fairness, it would be cruel to suggest that the NFF are not trying to rectify the situation, the new appointment of Stephen Keshi has at least indicated for the mean time Nigeria expect drastic changes to be made within the next coming years.
Keshi was the captain of the last Nigerian side to win the African Nations Cup in 1994, and will know what it takes to make sure Nigeria are right back in it next year. His Job specification is quite simple, qualify for the African Nations Cup in South Africa 2013 and ensure his team makes the quarter-finals in Brazil for the World Cup 2014.
The future is not all doom and gloom for Keshi’s men, he’ll be pleased to know he has a lot of talent he can work with, in the next few years. Inter Milan’s Joel Obi is just one of those many talents, the 21 year old is highly rated by the Nigerian camp and although he hasn’t featured a lot for the Italian outfit, his versatility in the midfield is very much admired.
Another player to watch out for is the 18 year old Ahmed Musa, a young winger plying his trade in Russia for CSKA Moscow, the lighting quick winger is known for his hard work and determination on the field, standing at 5ft 7 the young speed demon is well equipped to trouble wingers on both flanks.
A few strikers to watch out for are Emmanuel Emenike, 24, who has scored eight goals in 11 games for Fernabache, Ideye Brown, 23, has scored 10 in 18 games for Dynamo Kyiv and Anthony Ujah has scored 27 in 36 games last season for Lillestrom.
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The Nigerian side will be hoping a merge of hot prospects and talent will be enough to get them back into the AFCON next year. The manager knows the task at hand won’t be easy but he brings with him experience in abundance, whether his winning mentality can rub off on his current squad remains to be seen.
It will be a shame to not see the Super Eagles in this year’s AFCON but I’m pretty sure a fresh start a long with a new direction will ensure them a part in South Africa next year.
Unai Emery has been granted a one-year contract extension as manager of Valencia, the Spanish club has announced.Emery has put pen to paper on a new deal tying him to Valencia until June 30, 2012, rewarding him for guiding the club to the Champions League for a second successive year.
That Emery managed to do so despite the absence of star players David Villa and David Silva – sold to ease financial strain at the club – makes the achievement all the more remarkable.
Expectations of Valencia were tempered prior to the season given the loss of Villa and Silva, but Emery still managed to lead his side to a third-place finish in La Liga behind Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Valencia President Manuel Llorente was delighted to have retained the services of his coach, who he believes can take the club to even greater heights in the next campaign.
“Unai has proven himself. To go directly into the Champions League is very valuable and we greatly appreciate his desire to improve us and his ability to do so,” Llorente said.
“We are growing, giving hope and joy to the fans. The challenge is to take another step forward in performance and be better every year and Unai is ambitious.”
“He has all the requirements and the confidence of the club.”
Emery added: “I am very happy to have another year with one of the best clubs in the world. It is my intention to keep developing this club and that project drives me.”
“The goal we have set is to improve and take further steps to make the most of our performance. We have a great team and they can give us great joy.”
Today, football is bigger than ever. The number of followers is ever-increasing and the money involved has reached epic proportions. But what has actually happened to the standard of play and how does it compare to years gone by?
There is no doubting that advances in technology and the increasing money in the sport has led to some major changes being implemented throughout the sport, even at grass roots level. When Arsene Wenger joined Arsenal much was made of the way he was able to change the philosophy of how a professional footballer should live their life. Never before had the diets and the training regimes of players been so closely monitored. The almost instantaneous success he achieved made others take notice.
It could be argued that these improvements have made people more athletic. In fact, perhaps they have contributed to the evolution of the human race. If you were to look at the world record for the 100m sprint, over time it has kept dropping – maybe people are evolving and becoming faster. The same could be said for the marathon.
Either way, there has clearly been a step up in terms of the standard of athlete. This is no exception for football. Many people talk about the great players of the past such as Maradona and Pelé. Whilst it is almost impossible to compare players of different eras, it would be very interesting to see if these players would still be stand-outs if they played in today’s game. You often see players with a very high standard of technical ability struggle in the top leagues today. It has become a requisite that every player is not only technically brilliant, but also a super athlete. I often ask myself whether Maradona would have been able to keep pace in a league such as the Premiership today with the lifestyle he used to live.
It seems clear that to excel in the world of football today you must be incredibly dedicated. Players cannot afford to live the lifestyle that many footballers did in the past otherwise the results will be obvious on the pitch. Two of the greats of English football, George Best and Bobby Moore, could be seen down the pub after the game on a Saturday. If that were to happen in today’s game, it would lead to them being fined or even sacked.
In the modern game, not only do players train more, but they train in more sophisticated, scientific ways. The improvements in technology (e.g. the pitches, the boots and the training equipment) have led to more effective time spent on the training ground. In my opinion, this has resulted in players also being technically better than they ever have been. With players being stronger, fitter and quicker, it seems almost inhuman the way Lionel Messi can waltz round a whole team. In older times, when George Best used to play, teams would often only have very small squads. This meant that players often had to play through injury, especially with the medical facilities being far less effective. When you look at it this way, does what George Best did compare to what Messi does today? In my eyes it is a clear no.
Yet there is still a majority who would regard the great players of past generations as the best ever. I often wonder whether people consider the overall improving standards or just judge it by who stood out the most from their generations.
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It is disappointing that we will never find out how many of these players compared, but judging by the improvements that have been made in the last fifty years, the future of football looks very exciting indeed.